bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERFORMANCE CHARECTERISTICS FORMULATION OF UNCONVENTIONAL MATHEMATICAL ASYNCHRONOUS ELECTRIC DRIVE
Authors: Lokarev Valentyn
Published: September 2019

A new mathematical formulation of the performance characteristics of asynchronous electric drives, mechanical ω(M) and electromechanical I(M) ones, has been considered. They are widely used in engineering practice and educational process of higher educational institutions when designing and studying industrial electromechanisms.

The article aim is to increase the amount of computational tools for the formulation of motor electromagnetic properties, enhance their form and structure in order to improve the accuracy and performance of the computational process. The method of performing the work is a divergence from the conventional mathematical formulation of the performance characteristics of asynchronous electric drives, the search for new more efficient forms in terms of the objectives. The new mathematical formulation of the performance characteristics of asynchronous electric drives is obtained by bringing the known formulas of Kloss and Shubenko to the relative values, replacing the slip with a system value and performing a series of mathematical transformations. At this, the total number of formulas for calculating the performance characteristics doubled. Two groups of formulas were developed: with one independent variable ν(m) and i (m) and with two variables ν(m, i) and i (m, ν). The first group of formulas is independent and self-sufficient. Mechanical ν(m) and electromechanical i (m) characteristics are based on the motor passport data. The formulas for their calculation contain repetitive elements, do not require to involve other characteristics, that determines an effective and productive calculation. The mechanical characteristics can be constructed using the second group of formulas, if electromechanical one is known and vice versa. All the obtained formulas differ from the traditional ones by the uniformity of structure and form and close interaction, so any mechanical characteristics can be constructed by electromechanical and vice versa. As well as the original traditional formulas, the new formulas perfectly describe the working areas of characteristics, but can make significant errors in the starting ranges. In order to eliminate this disadvantage, the correction of the formulas was performed. The basic formulas are used when calculating the working areas, and the corrected ones — at starting ranges. The results of the work can be used in engineering practice and educational process of higher educational institutions when designing and studying industrial electromechanisms.
DEVELOPMENT OF A FAST WIRELESS BATTERY CHARGING TECHNOLOGY FOR ACCUMULATORS USED IN CLEAN ENERGY TRANSPORT VEHICLES. STATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERIES-TO-SERIES RESONANT CONVERTER FOR CONTACTLESS INDUCTIVE ENERGY TRANSMISSION
Authors: ChunXiang Huang , Pavlov Henadiy , Pokrovskyi Mykhailo , Obrubov Andriy , Vinnychenko Iryna
Published: September 2019

The research object is the electromagnetic processes in the semiconductor power converters based on the schemes with circuit commutation and containing resonant circuits of reactive elements and transformers with a small coupling coefficient. The research aim is to develop a technology for a fast wireless battery charging for the use in clean energy vehicles, which would be based on a resonant converter with a pulse-count adjustment with a phase shift control.

The latter provides a high energy performance in a wide range of regulation and a low sensitivity to changes in the magnetic system parameters.

This is a final report. The report presents the results of the work performed in accordance with the Terms of Reference for the second stage of the scientific and research work. The following theoretical problems have been solved: development of a mathematical model of a series resonant converter with a pulse-count adjustment for contactless inductive energy transmission, which provided a high accuracy for the studies of the electromagnetic processes in the power section of multi-circuit resonant converters for contactless energy transmission, as well as an opportunity to assess the energy parameters of multi-circuit converters at pulse-count adjustment; compilation of mathematical dependencies of the average input and output current values on the number of half-cycles of resonant oscillations during energy transmission to the circuit and energy dissipation, the supply voltage and the resonant circuit’s parameters, which allowed assessing the converter’s energy parameters over a wide control range; compilation of the dependencies of the converter’s output power and coefficient of efficiency on the number of halfcycles of resonant oscillations during energy transmission to the circuit and energy dissipation, on supply voltage and on the resonant circuit’s parameters, which made it possible to evaluate the efficiency of the pulse-count adjustment of resonant converters for contactless energy transmission; realization of a dynamic model of a resonant converter for contactless energy transmission in the form of transfer functions for small disturbances caused by fluctuations in supply voltage, which made it possible to estimate the effect of its instability on the quality of output current stabilization.
A Density-dependent van der Waals Model under the GW170817 Constraint
Authors: Lourenço O. , Dutra M. , Lenzi C. H. , Bhuyan M. , Biswal S. K. , Santos B. M.
Published: September 2019

We propose a density-dependent function for the attractive interaction in the original van der Waals model to correctly describe the flow constraint at the high-density regime of the symmetric nuclear matter. After a generalization to asymmetric nuclear matter, it was also possible to study the stellar matter regime from this new model. The mass–radius relation for neutron stars under β-equilibrium is found to agree with recent X-ray observations. The neutron-star masses supported against gravity, obtained from some parameterizations of the model, are in the range of (1.97–2.07)M
⊙, compatible with observational data from the PSR J0348+0432 pulsar. Furthermore, we verify the reliability of the model in predicting tidal deformabilities of the binary system related to the GW170817 neutron-star merger event and find a full agreement with the new bounds obtained by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration.
Mimetic DBI Inflation in Confrontation with Planck2018 Data
Authors: Nozari Kourosh , Rashidi Narges
Published: September 2019

We study mimetic gravity in the presence of a Dirac–Born–Infeld (DBI)-like term, which is a non-canonical setup of the scalar field’s derivatives. We consider two general cases with varying and constant sound speeds and construct the potentials for both the DBI and mimetic DBI (MDBI) models. By considering the power-law scale factor as a = a
0
t

n
, we search for the observational viability of these models. We show that the MDBI model in some ranges of the parameter space is free from ghost and gradient instabilities. By studying the behavior of r–n

s
and α

s
–n

s
in confrontation with Planck2018 data, we find some constraints on the model’s parameters. We show that, for the case with varying sound speed, power-law DBI inflation is not consistent with Planck2018 TT, TE, EE+lowE+lensing data, but the MDBI inflation is consistent with the same data at 95% confidence level, in some ranges of the model’s parameter space such as 40 ≤ n ≤ 55; the model is also free from instabilities in these ranges of parameters. For a constant sound speed, we study both DBI and MDBI models numerically by adopting some sample values of c

s
, and find n ∼ 102 for the DBI model and n ∼ 10 for the MDBI model. We also compare the results with Planck2018 TT, TE, EE+lowE+lensing+BK14+BAO data and see that the DBI and MDBI models with varying sound speed are ruled out by these joint data. However, these models with constant sound speed are consistent with the same data, with n ∼ 102 for the DBI model and n ∼ 10 for the MDBI model. In this case, we find some tighter constraints on the corresponding sound speed.
Heavy Element Absorption Systems at 5.0 < z < 6.8: Metal-poor Neutral Gas and a Diminishing Signature of Highly Ionized Circumgalactic Matter
Authors: Cooper Thomas J. , Simcoe Robert A. , Cooksey Kathy L. , Bordoloi Rongmon , Miller Daniel R. , Furesz Gabor , Turner Monica L. , Bañados Eduardo
Published: September 2019

Ratios of different ions of the same element encode ionization information independently from relative abundances in quasar absorption line systems, crucial for understanding the multiphase nature and origin of absorbing gas, particularly at z > 6 where H i cannot be observed. Observational considerations have limited such studies to a small number of sightlines, with most surveys at z > 6 focused upon the statistical properties of individual ions such as Mg ii or C iv. Here we compare high- and low-ionization absorption within 69 intervening systems at z > 5, including 16 systems at z > 6, from Magellan/FIRE spectra of 47 quasars together with a Keck/High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) spectrum of the “ultraluminous” z = 6.3 quasar SDSSJ010013.02+280225.8. The highest redshift absorbers increasingly exhibit low-ionization species alone, consistent with previous single-ion surveys that show the frequency of Mg ii is unchanging with redshift, while C iv absorption drops markedly toward z = 6. We detect no C iv or Si iv in half of all metal-line absorbers at z > 5.7, with stacks not revealing any slightly weaker C iv just below our detection threshold, and most of the other half have

. In contrast, only 20% of absorbers at 5.0–5.7 lack high-ionization gas, and a search of 25 HIRES sightlines at z ∼ 3 yielded zero such examples. We infer that these low-ionization high-redshift absorption systems may be analogous to metal-poor damped Lyα systems (∼1% of the absorber population at z ∼ 3), based on incidence rates and absolute and relative column densities. Simple photoionization models suggest that circumgalactic matter at redshift six has systematically lower chemical abundances and experiences a softer ionizing background relative to redshift three.
Evolution of the Extended X-Ray Emission from the PSR B1259–63/LS 2883 Binary in the 2014–2017 Binary Cycle
Authors: Hare Jeremy , Kargaltsev Oleg , Pavlov George , Beniamini Paz
Published: September 2019

We have performed a series of Chandra X-ray Observatory observations of the gamma-ray binary LS 2883, which is composed of a young pulsar (PSR B1259–63) orbiting a massive Be star with a period of 1236.7 days. The system was observed in five epochs, spanning a range from 352 to 1175 days after the periastron passage on 2014 May 4. The observations confirmed the recurrent nature of the high-speed ejecta that appear as an extended X-ray structure (clump) moving away from the binary. Compared to the results of the previous monitoring campaign (between the 2010 and 2014 periastron passages), this time we find evidence suggesting that the clump is accelerated to a projected velocity

with an acceleration

s−2 (for uniformly accelerated motion), assuming that it was launched near periastron passage. The observed X-ray properties of the clump are consistent with synchrotron emission from pulsar wind (PW) particles accelerated at the interface between the PW and the clump. We have also performed contemporaneous observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, which are used to set an upper limit on the optical flux of the extended emission.
Exploring the taxonomic composition of two fungal communities on the Swedish west coast through metabarcoding
Authors: Retter Alice , Nilsson R. Henrik , Bourlat Sarah J.
Published: September 2019

Fungi are heterotrophic, unicellular or filamentous organisms that exhibit a wide range of different lifestyles as, e.g., symbionts, parasites, and saprotrophs. Mycologists have traditionally considered fungi to be a nearly exclusively terrestrial group of organisms, but it is now known that fungi have a significant presence in aquatic environments as well. We know little about most fungi in limnic and marine systems, including aspects of their taxonomy, ecology, and geographic distribution. The present study seeks to improve our knowledge of fungi in the marine environment. The fungal communities of two coastal marine environments of the Kattegat sea, Sweden, were explored with metabarcoding techniques using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) metabarcode. Our data add new information to the current picture of fungal community composition in benthic and coastal habitats in Northern Europe.

The dataset describes the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and their taxonomic affiliations in two littoral gradients sampled on the Swedish west coast, Gothenburg municipality. Our data include basic diversity indices as well as chemical and edaphic sediment/soil parameters of the sampling sites. From the sites, 3470 and 4315 fungal OTUs, respectively, were recovered. The number of reads were 673,711 and 779,899, respectively, after quality filtering. Within the benthic sites, more than 80% of the sequences could not be classified taxonomically. The phylum composition of the classifiable sequences was dominated in both localities by Dikarya, which made up around 33% of the OTUs. Within Dikarya, Ascomycota was the dominant phylum. Guild assignment failed for more than half of the classifiable OTUs, with undefined saprotrophs being the most common resolved guild. This guild classification was slightly more common in the ocean sediment samples than in the terrestrial ones. Our metadata indicated that ocean sites contain organisms at a lower trophic level and that there are predominantly endophytic, parasitic, and pathogenic fungi in the marine environments. This hints at the presence of interesting and currently poorly understood fungus-driven ecological processes. It is also clear from our results that a very large number of marine fungi are in urgent need of taxonomic study and formal description.
Mumame: a software tool for quantifying gene-specific point-mutations in shotgun metagenomic data
Authors: Magesh Shruthi , Jonsson Viktor , Bengtsson-Palme Johan
Published: September 2019

Metagenomics has emerged as a central technique for studying the structure and function of microbial communities. Often the functional analysis is restricted to classification into broad functional categories. However, important phenotypic differences, such as resistance to antibiotics, are often the result of just one or a few point mutations in otherwise identical sequences. Bioinformatic methods for metagenomic analysis have generally been poor at accounting for this fact, resulting in a somewhat limited picture of important aspects of microbial communities. Here, we address this problem by providing a software tool called Mumame, which can distinguish between wildtype and mutated sequences in shotgun metagenomic data and quantify their relative abundances. We demonstrate the utility of the tool by quantifying antibiotic resistance mutations in several publicly available metagenomic data sets. We also identified that sequencing depth is a key factor to detect rare mutations. Therefore, much larger numbers of sequences may be required for reliable detection of mutations than for most other applications of shotgun metagenomics. Mumame is freely available online (http://microbiology.se/software/mumame).
Bolbitis lianhuachihensis (Dryopteridaceae), a new species from Taiwan
Authors: Chao Yi-Shan , Huang Yu-Fang , Dong Shi-Yong , Huang Yao-Moan , Liu Ho-Yih
Published: September 2019

A new species ofBolbitis,B. lianhuachihensissp. nov., was found in central Taiwan. It most resembles B. virens var. compacta andB. hainanensis. A phylogenetic tree of Taiwanese and other Asian species ofBolbitisspecies supports the recognition of the new species. Morphologically, the combination of anastomosing venation and fewer sterile pinnae are critical characters to discriminateB. lianhuachihensisfrom other TaiwaneseBolbitisspecies.Bolbitis lianhuachihensiscan be further distinguished from B. virens var. compacta andB. hainanensisby having lanceolate sterile pinnae and absent or fewer free veinlets in small areoles of sterile pinnae. The morphological descriptions, illustration, ecology and distribution of the new species are presented. A key to all TaiwaneseBolbitisis also provided.
Capabilities of Mean-Field Approaches for the Description of the Elasto-Plastic Behavior of Composite Materials
Authors: Sekkate Zoubida , Aboutajeddine Ahmed , Seddouki Abbass
Published: September 2019

Composite materials offer potential avenues for tailoring materials with desired properties intended to innovative applications. To speed up this scheme, trial and error practice is evolving to a more rational and organized material design process. This trend depends on our ability to bridge the micro-scale to the system level. An important brick of this process is constituted of micromechanical models that bridge the gap between micro and macro scales in materials. Unfortunately, to forecast the behavior of complex composite materials microstructures, these models remain rudimentary, particularly for the nonlinear regime. Accordingly, our ambition is to highlight the limitations of existing micromechanical models and examine their respective capabilities to predict elastoplastic behavior of composite materials. The assessment reveals that in order to reduce the disparity between micromechanical models predictions and corresponding numerical or experimental results, new robust and efficient micromechanical models are needed. These models have to accurately describe different interactions in the composite and deal with multiphase and two-phase composites with high volume fractions under different loading paths.
Finite Element Analysis of a FDM 3D Printer Liquefier
Authors: Ouballouch Aissa , Elalaiji Rachid , Ouahmane Issam , Lasri Larbi , Sallaou Mohammed
Published: September 2019

This paper deals with the analyzing and comparing the thermal performance of heat dissipation system and other components in the design of E3D liquefier using Finite Element Modeling (FEM) for three different filaments namely Polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene(ABS). This work evaluates the influence of airflow generated by means of a fan coupled to the extruder. The printable materials are also taken as variable in this investigation. The heating process should ensure the balance between proper heating of the material and controlling the temperature along the extruding body, so it reaches above 140 degrees in function of raw material on the tip of the nozzle and must be lower at the top of the liquefier for the correct perseveration of the 3D printer and its durability.
Prediction of the Lifetime of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), by Calculation of Damage by Two Methods: Damage Based on Residual Stresses and Damage by Stages Evolution
Authors: Sabah Fatima , Wahid Achraf , Nassih Fatimaezzahra , El Ghorba Mohamed , Chakir Hamid
Published: September 2019

The development of polymers has not stopped growing and taking more and more emphasis in our lives. From high-performance industries to mass-market industries, polymers are ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives, from where comes the pressing need to know their properties, characteristics, and behaviors more rigorously. This work is based on a study of the mechanical characterizations of thermoplastic polymers under the effects of damage. To serve this purpose, an experimental study was carried out on thermoplastic ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) specimens. At first, we worked on altered specimens to define the mechanical characteristics of our material such as the elastic limit, the stress maximum, the breaking stress and the Young's modulus. On the one hand, and on the other hand we have created geometrical defects (discontinuity) on specimens in (ABS), to have the effect of defects on the mechanical characteristics of the material, afterwards a study of damage carried out by two methods to determine the critical fraction of life. To determine the lifetime of the ABS.
Monocyte/Macrophage Abnormalities Specific to Rheumatoid Arthritis Are Linked to miR-155 and Are Differentially Modulated by Different TNF Inhibitors
Authors: Paoletti Audrey , Rohmer Julien , Ly Bineta , Pascaud Juliette , Rivière Elodie , Seror Raphaele , Le Goff Benoit , Nocturne Gaetane , Mariette Xavier
Published: September 2019

Proinflammatory macrophages and miR-155 are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We studied membrane TNF (mTNF) expression on blood monocytes, polarization into macrophages, miR-155 expression, and the effect of anti-TNF on these biomarkers in RA patients. Sixty-seven RA patients and 109 controls (55 healthy, 54 with spondyloarthritis and connective tissue diseases) were studied. Monocytes were isolated and differentiated into macrophages with or without anti-TNF. mTNF expression was increased on monocytes from RA patients, but not from other inflammatory diseases, correlated with disease activity. Under human serum AB or M-CSF, only monocytes from RA had a defect of differentiation into M2-like macrophages and had a propensity for preferential maturation toward M1-like macrophages that contributed to synovial inflammation. This defect was correlated to mTNF expression and was partially reversed by monoclonal anti-TNF Abs but not by the TNF soluble receptor. miR-155 was increased in M2-macrophages except in adalimumab-treated patients. Transfection of healthy monocytes with miR-155 induced a decrease in M2-like markers, and transfection of RA monocytes with antagomir-155 allowed restoration of M2-like polarization. Defect in differentiation of monocytes into M2-like-macrophages linked to increased miR-155 and correlated with increased mTNF on monocytes could play a key role in RA pathogenesis. Monoclonal anti-TNF Abs but not the TNF soluble receptor partially restored this defect.
T Cell– and Monocyte-Specific RNA-Sequencing Analysis in Septic and Nonseptic Critically Ill Patients and in Patients with Cancer
Authors: Washburn Michael L. , Wang Zhang , Walton Andrew H. , Goedegebuure S. Peter , Figueroa David J. , Van Horn Stephanie , Grossman Julie , Remlinger Katja , Madsen Heather , Brown James , Srinivasan Roopa , Wolf Amaya I. , Berger Scott B. , Yi Victoria N. , Hawkins William G. , Fields Ryan C. , Hotchkiss Richard S.
Published: September 2019

Sepsis is characterized as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host immune response to infection. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the differential effect of sepsis on innate versus adaptive immunity, in humans, by examining RNA expression in specific immune cell subsets, including monocytes/macrophages and CD4 and CD8 T cells. A second aim was to determine immunosuppressive mechanisms operative in sepsis that might be amenable to immunotherapy. Finally, we examined RNA expression in peripheral cells from critically ill nonseptic patients and from cancer patients to compare the unique immune response in these disorders with that occurring in sepsis. Monocytes, CD4 T cells, and CD8 T cells from septic patients, critically ill nonseptic patients, patients with metastatic colon cancer, and healthy controls were analyzed by RNA sequencing. Sepsis induced a marked phenotypic shift toward downregulation of multiple immune response pathways in monocytes suggesting that impaired innate immunity may be fundamental to the immunosuppression that characterizes the disorder. In the sepsis cohort, there was a much more pronounced effect on gene transcription in CD4 T cells than in CD8 T cells. Potential mediators of sepsis-induced immunosuppression included Arg-1, SOCS-1, and SOCS-3, which were highly upregulated in multiple cell types. Multiple negative costimulatory molecules, including TIGIT, Lag-3, PD-1, and CTLA-4, were also highly upregulated in sepsis. Although cancer had much more profound effects on gene transcription in CD8 T cells, common immunosuppressive mechanisms were present in all disorders, suggesting that immunoadjuvant therapies that are effective in one disease may also be efficacious in the others.
Analyzability of newly developed/commercially promoted drugs among young medical and dental doctors
Authors: Gupta Sonu , Bansal Ravinder Nath
Published: September 2019

Introduction:

The development of a new chemical entity into a drug is of indispensable importance for the progression of health care. As physicians play the main and important part of any clinical trial, it is necessary to know about their awareness about clinical research, drug development, good clinical practices, and regulatory authorities.

Objective:

This study was designed to assess and compare the knowledge and awareness toward drug development process among medical interns, dental interns, and postgraduates (PGs).

Methodology:

This was a cross-sectional study enrolling 186 professionals of medical college and 110 professionals of dental college in Punjab who were given a prevalidated questionnaire that included 27 questions related to knowledge regarding drug development process. Data were analyzed for percentage correct responses, mean values, and intergroup comparison by applying t-test using SPSS version 20, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA.

Results:

It was found that medical and dental college professionals had a very poor awareness and knowledge about drug development process to the tune of 33%. Professionals of dental college had 53.7% knowledge of clinical research in comparison to 43.2% of medical college. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference for sections on drug development, clinical research, and regulatory authority among interns and PGs was found with interns possessing better knowledge.

Conclusion:

It is concluded that regulatory authorities such as Board of Studies of various medical universities, Dental Council of India, and Medical Council of India must take necessary steps to increase the knowledge of drug development process among dental and medical professionals. Incorporation of this topic in educational curriculum in the initial stages of graduation and postgraduation would be beneficial.
Stunting Is Preceded by Intestinal Mucosal Damage and Microbiome Changes and Is Associated with Systemic Inflammation in a Cohort of Peruvian Infants
Authors: Zambruni Mara , Ochoa Theresa J. , Somasunderam Anoma , Cabada Miguel M. , Morales Maria L. , Mitreva Makedonka , Rosa Bruce A. , Acosta Gonzalo J. , Vigo Natalia I. , Riveros Maribel , Arango Sara , Durand David , Berends Maitreyee N. , Melby Peter , Utay Netanya S.
Published: September 2019

Stunting, defined as height-for-age Z score equal to or lower than −2, is associated with increased childhood mortality, cognitive impairment, and chronic diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between linear growth, intestinal damage, and systemic inflammation in infants at risk of stunting. We followed up 78 infants aged 5–12 months living in rural areas of Peru for 6 months. Blood samples for biomarkers of intestinal damage (intestinal fatty-acid–binding protein [I-FABP] and zonulin) and systemic inflammation (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], soluble CD14, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein [LBP]) and fecal samples for microbiome analysis were collected at baseline and closure of the study. The children’s growth and health status were monitored through biweekly home visits by trained staff. Twenty-one percent of the children became stunted: compared with non-stunted children, they had worse nutritional parameters and higher levels of serum I-FABP at baseline. The likelihood of becoming stunted was strongly associated with an increase in sCD14 over time; LBP and TNF-α showed a trend toward increase in stunted children but not in controls. The fecal microbiota composition of stunted children had an increased beta diversity compared with that of healthy controls throughout the study. The relative abundance of Ruminococcus 1 and 2, Clostridium sensu stricto, and Collinsella increased in children becoming stunted but not in controls, whereas Providencia abundance decreased. In conclusion, stunting in our population was preceded by an increase in markers of enterocyte turnover and differences in the fecal microbiota and was associated with increasing levels of systemic inflammation markers.
Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection or Mixed Infection with Scrub Typhus in South Korea in 2000–2003
Authors: Thi Hai Yen Nguyen , Kim Chaewon , Jeong Seonyoung , Jeon Kyeongseok , Choi Hooncheol , Ro Hyo-Jin , Kim Hong-Il , Kim Yuri , Kang Jun-Gu , Park Dahee , Choi Myung-Sik , Lee Keun Hwa , Cho Nam-Hyuk
Published: September 2019

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome is a tick-borne viral disease, with a high mortality rate that was first reported in China in 2009. Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a bacterium transmitted to humans through chigger mite bites. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and scrub typhus are endemic to South Korea. To investigate evidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection or mixed infection with scrub typhus in South Korea, we examined 2,329 sera samples collected from patients presenting from November 1, 2000, to November 1, 2003, for the diagnosis of rickettisal diseases at Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea. We found retrospective evidence of SFTSV infection or mixed infection with scrub typhus in South Korea in 2000–2003. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infections in South Korea occurred before previously reported cases and were more concurrent with those in China. It is important to consider SFTSV infection in patients with scrub typhus.
Deregulation and productivity in healthcare
Authors: Gaspar Katalin , Ikkersheim David , Koolman Xander
Published: September 2019

Deregulation and the related rise in competition are generally believed to spur productivity growth. This relationship is one of the main arguments used for the liberalization of healthcare industry. But the exceptional nature of healthcare markets, the presence of asymmetric information and physician-induced demand casts doubt on whether this also holds for the provision of care. Using the healthcare reform of 2006 in the Netherlands, we evaluated how productivity changed when the market was opened to competition. Our results indicate that improvements in productivity were smaller after products were transferred to the liberalized-segment (by 9.5 and 6.6% in 2008 and 2009), suggesting a negative relationship between competition and productivity in healthcare. Our paper also shows that higher levels of productivity gains were reached using hospital budget financing compared to open competition. Competition in healthcare provision has several advantages, such as moderating the growth in product prices and improving patient-choice, but it is more susceptible to physician-induced demand. Meanwhile, budget financing has the advantage of boosting productivity, but the resulting economic gains are generally assumed by the provider. Therefore, we conclude that competition could be socially optimal if volumes and treatment activity could be effectively controlled, and likewise that budgets could be optimal if hospital savings earned through productivity gains could be passed on to society.
The impact of measures to reduce ambient air PM10 concentrations originating from road dust, evaluated for a street canyon in Helsinki
Authors: Stojiljkovic Ana , Kauhaniemi Mari , Kukkonen Jaakko , Kupiainen Kaarle , Karppinen Ari , Denby Bruce Rolstad , Kousa Anu , Niemi Jarkko V. , Ketzel Matthias
Published: September 2019

Abstract. We have numerically evaluated how effective selected potential
measures would be for reducing the impact of road dust on ambient air
particulate matter (PM10). The selected measures included a reduction of
the use of studded tyres on light-duty vehicles and a reduction of the use of
salt or sand for traction control. We have evaluated these measures for a
street canyon located in central Helsinki for four years (2007–2009 and
2014). Air quality measurements were conducted in the street canyon for two
years, 2009 and 2014. Two road dust emission models, NORTRIP (NOn-exhaust Road TRaffic Induced Particle emissions) and FORE (Forecasting Of Road dust Emissions), were
applied in combination with the Operational Street Pollution Model (OSPM), a street canyon dispersion model, to
compute the street increments of PM10 (i.e. the fraction of PM10
concentration originating from traffic emissions at the street level) within
the street canyon. The predicted concentrations were compared with the air
quality measurements. Both road dust emission models reproduced the
seasonal variability of the PM10 concentrations fairly well but under-predicted
the annual mean values. It was found that the largest reductions of
concentrations could potentially be achieved by reducing the fraction of
vehicles that use studded tyres. For instance, a 30 % decrease in the
number of vehicles using studded tyres would result in an average decrease
in the non-exhaust street increment of PM10 from 10 % to 22 %,
depending on the model used and the year considered. Modelled contributions
of traction sand and salt to the annual mean non-exhaust street increment of
PM10 ranged from 4 % to 20 % for the traction sand and from 0.1 % to 4 % for the traction salt. The results presented here can be used
to support the development of optimal strategies for reducing high
springtime particulate matter concentrations originating from road dust.
Validation of MAX-DOAS retrievals of aerosol extinction, SO2 and NO2 through comparison with lidar, sun photometer, Active-DOAS and aircraft measurements in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region
Authors: Davis Zoë Y. W. , Frieβ Udo , Strawbridge Kevin B. , Aggarwaal Monica , Baray Sabour , Schnitzler Elijah G. , Lobo Akshay , Fioletov Vitali E. , Abboud Ihab , McLinden Chris A. , Whiteway Jim , Willis Megan D. , Lee Alex K. Y. , Brook Jeff , Olfert Jason , O'Brien Jason , Staebler Ralf , Osthoff Hans D. , Mihele Cristian , McLaren Robert
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Vertical profiles of aerosols, NO2, and SO2 were retrieved from Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements at a field site in northern Alberta, Canada, during August and September 2013. The site is approximately 16 km north of two mining operations that are major sources of industrial pollution in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. Pollution conditions during the study ranged from atmospheric background conditions to heavily polluted with elevated plumes, according to meteorology. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the aerosol and trace gas retrievals through comparison with data from a suite of other instruments. Comparisons of AODs from MAX-DOAS aerosol retrievals, lidar vertical profiles of aerosol extinction, and AERONET sun photometer indicate good performance by the MAX-DOAS retrievals. These comparisons and modelling of the lidar S-ratio highlight the need for accurate knowledge of the temporal variation in the S-ratio when comparing MAX-DOAS and lidar data. Comparisons of MAX-DOAS NO2 and SO2 retrievals to Pandora spectral sun photometer VCDs and Active-DOAS mixing ratios indicate good performance of the retrievals except when vertical profiles of pollutants within the boundary layer varied rapidly, temporally and spatially. Near-surface retrievals tended to overestimate Active-DOAS mixing ratios. The MAX-DOAS observed elevated pollution plumes not observed by the Active-DOAS, highlighting one of the instrument's main advantages. Aircraft measurements of SO2 were used to validate retrieved vertical profiles of SO2. Advantages of the MAX-DOAS instrument include increasing sensitivity towards the surface and the ability to simultaneously retrieve vertical profiles of aerosols and trace gases without requiring additional parameters such as the S-ratio. This complex dataset provided a rare opportunity to evaluate the performance of the MAX-DOAS retrievals under varying atmospheric conditions.
Technical note: Interferences of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on methane concentration measurements
Authors: Kohl Lukas , Koskinen Markku , Rissanen Kaisa , Haikarainen Iikka , Polvinen Tatu , Hellén Heidi , Pihlatie Mari
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Studies that quantify plant methane (CH4) emission rely on the accurate measurement of small changes in the mixing ratio
of CH4 that coincide with much larger changes in the mixing ratio of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here, we assessed whether 11 commonly occurring VOCs (e.g. methanol, α- and β-pinene, Δ3-carene) interfered with the quantitation
of CH4 by five laser-absorption spectroscopy and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) based CH4 analysers, and quantified the interference of seven compounds on three instruments. Our results showed minimal interference with laser-based analysers and underlined the importance of identifying and compensating for interferences with FTIR instruments. When VOCs were not included in the spectral library, they exerted a strong bias on FTIR-based instruments (64–1800 ppbv apparent CH4 ppmv−1 VOC).
Minor (0.7–126 ppbv ppmv−1)
interference with FTIR-based measurements were also detected when the spectrum of the interfering VOC was included in the library. In contrast, we detected only minor (<20 ppbv ppmv−1)
and transient (< 1 min) VOC interferences on laser-absorption spectroscopy-based analysers.
Overall, our results demonstrate that VOC interferences have only minor effects on CH4 flux measurements in soil chambers, but may severely impact stem and shoot flux measurements. Laser-absorption-based instruments are better suited for quantifying CH4 fluxes from plant leaves and stems than FTIR-based instruments; however, significant interferences in shoot chamber measurements could not be excluded for any of the tested instruments. Our results furthermore showed that FTIR can precisely quantify VOC mixing ratios and could therefore provide a method complementary to proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS).
Monitoring ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streamflow: a dataset from 182 sites in the Attert catchment, Luxembourg
Authors: Kaplan Nils Hinrich , Sohrt Ernestine , Blume Theresa , Weiler Markus
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The temporal and spatial dynamics of streamflow presence
and absence is considered vital information to many hydrological and
ecological studies. Measuring the duration of active streamflow and dry
periods in the channel allows us to classify the degree of intermittency of
streams. We used different sensing techniques including time-lapse imagery,
electric conductivity and stage measurements to generate a combined dataset
of presence and absence of streamflow within various nested sub-catchments
in the Attert catchment, Luxembourg. The first sites of observation were
established in 2013 and successively extended to a total number of 182 in
2016 as part of the project Catchments As Organized Systems (CAOS).
Temporal resolution ranged from 5 to 15 min intervals. Each single
dataset was carefully processed and quality controlled before the time
interval was homogenised to 30 min. The dataset provides valuable
information of the dynamics of a meso-scale stream network in space and
time. This can be used to test and evaluate hydrologic models but also for
the assessment of the intermittent stream ecosystem in the Attert basin. The
dataset presented in this paper is available at the online repository of the
German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ,
https://doi.org/10.5880/FIDGEO.2019.010, Kaplan et al., 2019).
Error in hydraulic head and gradient time-series measurements: a quantitative appraisal
Authors: Rau Gabriel C. , Post Vincent E. A. , Shanafield Margaret , Krekeler Torsten , Banks Eddie W. , Blum Philipp
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Hydraulic head and gradient measurements underpin practically all investigations in hydrogeology. There is sufficient information in the literature to suggest that head measurement errors can impede the reliable detection of flow directions and significantly increase the uncertainty of groundwater flow rate calculations. Yet educational textbooks contain limited content regarding measurement techniques, and studies rarely report on measurement errors. The objective of our study is to review currently accepted standard operating procedures in hydrological research and to determine the smallest head gradients that can be resolved. To this aim, we first systematically investigate the systematic and random measurement errors involved in collecting time-series information on hydraulic head at a given location: (1) geospatial position, (2) point of head, (3) depth to water, and (4) water level time series. Then, by propagating the random errors, we find that with current standard practice, horizontal head gradients <10-4 are resolvable at
distances ⪆170 m. Further, it takes extraordinary effort to measure hydraulic head gradients <10-3 over distances <10 m. In reality, accuracy will be worse than our theoretical estimates because of the many possible systematic errors. Regional flow on a scale of kilometres or more can be inferred with current best-practice methods, but processes such as vertical flow within an aquifer cannot be determined until more accurate and precise measurement methods are developed. Finally, we offer a concise set of recommendations for water level, hydraulic head and gradient time-series measurements. We anticipate that our work contributes to progressing the quality of head time-series data in the hydrogeological sciences and provides a starting point for the development of universal measurement protocols for water level data collection.
A Three-Pronged Approach to Helping Students Internalize APA Style based in Self-Determination Theory
Authors: Daniels Lia M. , Kennedy Kathleen E.
Published: September 2019

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) is an invaluable resource for students and faculty members in the social sciences. However, many students and researchers fail to recognize the value of APA style in supporting writing excellence. In this research note we describe an innovative pedagogical approach to APA style that is rooted in self-determination theory. We provide preliminary retrospective evidence of internalization through students’ responses to questionnaire items and a student’s personal reflection.
Educational Leadership in Teaching Excellence (EnLITE): A Peer-Driven Faculty Development Program
Authors: Buchholz Andrea C. , Wolstenholme Janet , Varghese Jeji , Robinson J. Andrew , Spencer Jennifer , Reniers Jennifer
Published: September 2019

Educational Leadership in Teaching Excellence (EnLITE) is an 11-month faculty development program at the University of Guelph, Ontario. Created and led by faculty members and educational developers, EnLITE is designed to engage participants in the principles, practice and theory of teaching and learning in higher education and to promote a learner-centred approach to teaching. Participants critically examine and discuss scholarly topics on teaching and learning and in their own disciplines; collaborate with one or more teaching mentors; engage in peer classroom observation; and participate in other teaching-related activities informed by their individual learning plans. Our objective was to determine the perceived impact of EnLITE on participants’ teaching-related practices and experiences. We collected pre-, post- and one-year post-program quantitative and qualitative survey responses from each of the 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 EnLITE cohorts (N = 17 participants representing a variety of disciplines; 71% female). There were significant improvements in participants’ perceived teaching practices related to critical self-reflection (13% increase from pre- to one-year post-program), student engagement (+28.2%), collaborative learning (+31%) and learner-centred pedagogy (+22.9%, all p < 0.05). There was little to no change in use of technology, student assessment, leadership, participation in communities of practice, or dissemination of teaching-related scholarship. These results provide empirical evidence of the effectiveness of a peer-driven faculty development program in promoting a learning-centred approach to teaching. Future research should determine whether these changes translate into improved student learning, and whether such programs demonstrate longer term improvements in engagement in teaching-related leadership, communities of practice and dissemination.
The Possible Learning and Teaching Benefits of Short Mind-calming Exercises in Undergraduate Courses
Authors: Grogan Paul
Published: September 2019

The potential benefits of meditation exercises to promote more focused student attention and engagement have only rarely been quantitatively investigated at the college/university level. Here, I report student perceptions on the impacts of regular short mind-calming exercises at the beginning of every class in second, third, and fourth-year biology undergraduate courses, using voluntary anonymous surveys that were completed by at least two-thirds of each class (total enrollments 326, 68, and 15 respectively).

In the third year course, 93% of respondents indicated that the exercise was “enjoyable and relaxing”, 73% indicated that it was “a valuable use of lecture time because I feel it enhances deep learning”, 75% found it a useful perspective “to achieving balance/calm in my life”, and 76% rejected the suggestion that although “the exercises are useful, they are not course-related material and therefore are inappropriate within class time”. Responses to several other distinct survey statements were also strongly positive, and furthermore, very similar favourable results as above were obtained in the other two courses. Overall, although it is unclear whether these very short exercises actually enhanced learning, many students perceived that it did. Finally, my teaching performance in university-based student assessments of the third-year course was significantly elevated in the year with mind-calming exercises compared to each of the previous nine iterations in which I had been an instructor. Together, these quantitative results suggest that the regular use of such exercises has multiple direct and indirect benefits that may contribute to more effective undergraduate learning and teaching.
Emergence of Different Perspectives of Success in Collaborative Learning
Authors: Falcione Sarina , Campbell Eleanor , McCollum Brett , Chamberlain Julia , Macias Miguel , Morsch Layne , Pinder Chantz
Published: September 2019

Collaborative learning involves an interdependence between success of the individual and success of the group, requiring both personal preparation and teamwork. Asynchronous work, in combination with group interaction and problem solving, differentiates collaborative learning from other interactive teaching methods. In this study, three professors and five student participants individually reflected on a past collaborative learning experience that they considered successful. Reflections were coded using thematic analysis. Themes that emerged from participant’s descriptions of successful collaborative learning were: (a) familiarity with collaborative learning, (b) relationships, (c) benefits, (d) motivations, and (e) design and process. Furthermore, a phenomenographic theoretical framework revealed that a participant’s prior experiences generated significant variation in what characteristics they described as promoting success in collaborative learning. Past experiences that can generate this variation include training in educational theory, participation in and familiarity with related research, the individual’s role, prior experience with collaborative learning as a student, and advocacy by one’s professor before participation in collaborative learning. Our findings can inform educational practice, improving the implementation of collaborative learning pedagogies.