bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selection of a rational algorithm for data processing of the weight measuring system of a hoisting crane
Authors: Ivanov S D , Nazarov A N , Mikhalchik N L
Published: June 2021

The paper deals with the choice of the algorithm for processing the data of the load sensor of the crane weight measuring system being developed. The requirements for the weight measuring system are based on the operating conditions of the crane (the nature of the dynamic process, the limitation of the weighing time) and the planned use of information about the weight of goods (the required accuracy). A comparison of 5 signal processing algorithms is presented: direct averaging, search for extremes with two different modes of pre-smoothing, nonlinear regression, and averaging using a short-term memory buffer. A series of experiments was conducted to compare the methods. The data was obtained on the KMG-201 bridge crane. Based on the results of numerical evaluation of the results of experimental data processing, conclusions are drawn about the applicability of the considered algorithms for analyzing the dynamic process of the crane lifting mechanism. The algorithms for finding extremes, regardless of the pre-smoothing modes, did not show the required accuracy (the relative error was 5%). The averaging algorithm using a short-term memory buffer showed the highest accuracy (the relative error was 1%). The influence of the parameters of the data reception board on the result of the algorithms is estimated. The parameters varied in the range: bit depth 10-12 bits, sensor polling frequency 4.1-256 Hz. Most experiments showed an increase in accuracy with increasing bit depth. Also, according to the results of the experiments, it was found that an increase in the sensor polling frequency of more than 64 Hz in the conditions of this dynamic process does not affect the accuracy of determining the weight of the load. The study showed the need for further work in the direction of determining the optimal parameters of the averaging algorithm with a short-term memory buffer and determining the limit of increasing accuracy with increasing the bit depth of the data reception board.
Research of the composition of cement-sandy binders modified by waste of processing of petroleum bituminous rocks
Authors: Kuatbayeva T K , Zhambakina Z M , Abiyeva G S , Karshyga G O
Published: June 2021

The paper deals with the issues of technology of binding silicate materials with the use of mineral waste from the processing of petroleum bituminous rocks (PBR) – optimization of the ratio of raw components of the mixture of binders, development of optimal technological parameters for their production.

The optimal compositions of binders were studied using waste from the processing of PBR as an activating component of cement. The influence of mechanic and chemical activation on the change in the acid-base parameters of the suspension from the crushed material was revealed. The effect of the content of additives on the degree of hydration was studied. The influence of the hardening conditions on the strength of the binder with additives of waste from the processing of PBR was studied. As a result of the experimental work carried out, technological processes for the production of binders based on waste from the processing of PBR were justified and developed. The optimal ratio of the mixture of waste from the processing of PBR with cement and the technological parameters that allow ensuring the optimal grade of the cement-sand binder are found. Silicate materials based on it have high physical and mechanical properties, meet regulatory requirements and have high resistance under operating conditions.
Effective building mixtures based on hemihydrate plaster and highly dispersed mineral fillers
Authors: Petropavlovskaya V , Zavadko M , Novichenkova T , Sulman M , Buryanov A
Published: June 2021

The work was aimed at developing a gypsum dry construction mixture with highly dispersed fillers based on industrial waste for interior decoration. The problem of creating effective gypsum materials was solved by improving the structural, physical and mechanical properties of gypsum stone by modifying it with highly dispersed fillers. The effect was achieved by creating a multicomponent composition based on hemihydrate plaster. The proposed work is aimed at developing a gypsum dry construction mixture with highly dispersed fillers for interior decoration of buildings. Dry construction mixes based on gypsum binder are one of the most relevant materials on the building supplies market. They meet the most important aspects from the standpoint of efficiency and safety - environmental, fire and others. However, the problem of ensuring high performance properties requires a solution. In this work, the problem is solved by improving the structural, physical and mechanical properties of gypsum stone by modifying it with highly dispersed fillers. The effect was achieved by creating a multicomponent composition based on plaster. Additionally, the problem of environmental protection is being solved, since secondary products were used as fillers - waste from the production of basalt products and thermal power plants. They differ in the required grain and chemical composition. Acid ash was used. Basalt and acid ash particles have a mechanical effect on the structure of the gypsum stone and influence the processes of structure formation of the gypsum stone. They change the morphology of gypsum crystals. This improves the mechanical strength, the average density of the modified gypsum stone and other physical and mechanical characteristics.
Changes in the structural and phase composition and strength characteristics of concrete during liquid corrosion in chloride-containing media
Authors: Rumyantseva V E , Konovalova V S , Narmaniya B E
Published: June 2021

The results of physico-chemical studies that allow us to judge the changes occurring in the cement stone under the influence of liquid chloride-containing media are analysed. Samples of CEM I 42,5N Portland cement with a water-cement ratio of W/C = 0,3 were exposed to solutions of 2 % MgCl 2, 0,001 % HCl and 0,1 % CaCl 2 for 150 days. Changes in the strength characteristics of CEM I 42,5N Portland cement samples under the influence of chloride-containing media were studied. It is established that the 2 % MgCl 2 solution is an extremely aggressive medium in the conditions of liquid corrosion of concrete, its action causes a deterioration in the strength characteristics of concrete by 1,5 times. The changes in the structural and phase composition of concrete that occur under the influence of chloride-containing media are studied. The relationship between the characteristics of the cement stone structure and the strength parameters of the cement stone is established. The decrease in the strength of cement concrete is associated with the decomposition of calcium hydrosilicate C 2SH under the influence of liquid aggressive chloride-containing media, as evidenced by the decrease in intensity and the disappearance of the lines corresponding to this compound on X-ray images.
Control of rock massifs state for sustainability of natural and man-caused slopes and underground structures under influence of contemporary seismic and tectonic processes
Authors: Melikulov A D , Salyamova K D , Yu Gasanova N , Ismailov A S
Published: June 2021

The article deals with issues related to the peculiarities of the formation and change in time of the stress-strain state of rock massifs as objects of active man-caused impact of engineering facilities, both surface and subsurface, hydrotechnical and road construction, mining operations, including development of mineral deposits by open-cut and underground methods. Arrays of rock formations have a wide range of properties that manifest themselves as hazardous natural geological events, and also under any technological influences to them, including the method of blasting destruction. The peculiarities of the behavior of such arrays consist in the combination of the characteristics of solid as elastic and plastic bodies, including brittle, and viscous-flowing bodies, and creep.

Technological impact on the rock mass can lead to undesirable dangerous consequences both from the point of view of the object’s stability and safety, and the need for additional material costs to maintain the equilibrium in the new conditions. The identification of the potential area of permissible deformations and the conditions for the destruction of such an array of rocks, taking into account the time factor, is of practical interest for selecting effective parameters of mining technology that allow the prevention of dangerous undesirable consequences of destruction.
Research methods of the process of heat and mass transfer in different media with diffusion and subdiffusion
Authors: Aleroeva H , Aleroev T
Published: June 2021

The problem of studying the laws governing the formation of the radon environment is not new. The development of the mining industry (to study the regularities of the formation of the radon environment in mine workings, it was necessary to simulate the flux of radon density, which led to the construction of various models of radon transfer), became the main catalyst for in-depth research in this direction. It should also be noted that according to the RF radiation safety standards (NRB-99), the average annual equivalent equilibrium volumetric activity (concentration) of radon in the air of residential and public buildings should not exceed the established limit. To implement this decree, various models of mass transfer (radon) were built. Most of these models are based on the advection-diffusion equation, which simulates the processes of mass transfer of matter or heat transfer in a medium with fractal geometry (in particular, in porous media). Moreover, the order of the fractional time derivative in this equation corresponds to the proportion of channels (the system described by this equation is open, that is, it is connected to the outside world either by a finite or infinite number of communication channels) open for flow in a fractal (porous) medium. This process is non-local in time. And the environment in which this process takes place will be an environment with memory. In this paper, we analyze boundary value problems for the considered equation. A method based on the separation of variables is presented, while the solution of the problems posed is written out in the form of an infinite series in the eigenfunctions of the operator generated by an ordinary differential expression of the fractional order (the order of the fractional derivative is greater than one but less than two) and boundary conditions of the Sturm-Liouville type.
Development of innovative methods of increasing the service life of equipment and pipelines
Authors: Sadigov Rovshan , Mehdiyeva Almaz , Sardarova Ijabika
Published: June 2021

Knowing the specific technological parameters of water source and piping systems, it is possible to determine the service life of the pipe set, as water source as pipelines, by the offered method. Complex-acting, multifunctional, thermally resistant, bactericidal type new corrosion inhibitor based on naphthenates has been developed; The technology of insulation of the surface of metal pipes with coatings made of non-corrosive, shock-resistant and corrosion-resistant basalt-plastic and glass-plastic materials has been developed. Possibility of application of basalt-plastic and glass-plastic materials in construction and repair of tanks and other capacities was studied; Technologies for the production of protective belts, transport pipes, as well as rods from pure basalt-plastic and fiberglass materials in the highly corrosive environment were developed and their application together with metal pipes and rods was analyzed. Knowing the specific technological parameters of water source and piping systems, it is possible to determine the service life of the pipe set, as water source as pipelines, by the new method. During the research, the physicochemical factors affecting the object were investigated and methods of elimination were developed: Innovative methods of corrosion protection to increase the service life of equipment and transport pipelines, as well as a statistical method to determine the dependence of the capacity of equipment and transport pipelines on mechanical, physical and chemical factors; complex-acting, multifunctional, thermally resistant, bactericidal type new corrosion inhibitor based on naphthenates has been developed.
Instability and merging of a helical vortex pair in the wake of a rotor
Authors: Schröder D , Leweke T , Hörnschemeyer R , Stumpf E
Published: June 2021

We present results from an experimental investigation of two closely spaced helical vortices. The two co-rotating vortices are generated in a water channel by a one-bladed rotor, whose tip geometry is modified by the addition of a perpendicular fin on the pressure side. The fin parameters are tuned so that the two vortices have approximately equal circulation. Dye visualisations and flow field measurements from Particle Image Velocimetry show that the vortices merge into a single tip vortex within less than one rotor rotation. This fast merging is caused by a rapid increase of the core radii of the initial vortices, which indicates the presence of an instability phenomenon. Analysis of the vortex velocity profiles identifies it as a centrifugal instability, linked to the presence of opposite-signed vorticity in the blade tip region. We further explore the origin of this vorticity by modifying the streamwise fin position. Measurements suggest that the interaction between the secondary fin vortex and the blade surface is partly responsible for the generation of the unstable velocity profile. The vortex resulting from the merging has a significantly larger core size than the one developing without a fin, indicating that this configuration could be beneficial in the context of Blade-Vortex Interaction noise for helicopters, or for the reduction of fatigue loads on wind turbine rotors caused by the interaction with concentrated tip vortices in the wake of upstream turbines.
LES Modelling of Highly Transient Wind Speed Ramps in Wind Farms
Authors: Andersen S J , Sørensen N. N. , Kelly M.
Published: June 2021

Large eddy simulations of wind farms are often performed with canonical atmospheric conditions, where the background flow is based on precursor simulations with idealized model setups yielding statistically stationary turbulent flows. However, precursor simulations can only handle gradually changing flow conditions, and are not capable of modelling highly transient and statistically non-stationary flows, e.g. frontal passages or large gusts. Such flows frequently occur in nature, and can influence the operation—and potentially design—of wind turbines. It is generally not possible to impose non-stationary features through inlet boundary conditions, if the imposed flow violates the most fundamental assumption of micro-scale flow simulations, namely conservation of mass.

This work presents a method for modelling highly transient wind speed ramps by extending and adapting the method of applying body forces to achieve specific flow scenarios, where the wind speed ramps are embedded as constrained turbulent boxes. Several scenarios with significant increases in the streamwise wind speed are simulated. Analyses of the transient wake dynamics, as the wind speed ramps propagate through large wind farms are performed to show how well the momentum is maintained throughout the numerical domain and the influence and operation of turbines during the ramp passages.
Farm to farm wake interaction in WRF: impact on power production
Authors: Mayol ML , Saulo AC , Otero AD
Published: June 2021

This work focuses on the study of interactions between neighboring wind farms through a mesoscale numerical modelling approach. High resolution simulations with three wind farm parameterizations (WFP, EWP and IAWFP), implemented on the WRF model, over a set of “real world” neighboring onshore wind farms are performed. The sensitivity of the three parameterizations to wake development is analyzed. The older version of the WFP is also included to account for differences between versions in terms of wake length and intensity, and TKE production and advection. Finally, the impacts of upstream wind farms are studied through a series of simulations where they are “disabled” and the increases in power at downstream farms are quantified. These results and the adopted methodology have direct application and are highly relevant for the feasibility assessment of new wind farms in the shadow of other existing ones.
Production and Cost Assessment of Offshore Wind Power in the North Sea
Authors: Sørensen J N , Larsen G C , Cazin-Bourguignon A
Published: June 2021

A minimalistic model complex for determining the available wind power and associated costs related to the development of large–scale offshore wind power was recently developed by Sørensen and Larsen [1]. The model complex demands only a few global input parameters, such as turbine rotor diameter, nameplate capacity, area of wind farm, number of turbines, water depth, and mean wind speed Weibull parameters for the site. Using actual wind climate and bathymetric data for the North Sea, the model is in the present work used to map the annual energy production and levelized cost of energy (LCoE) for wind farms located in the North Sea. As a main conclusion, exploiting all locations with water depths down to about 45 m comply with the electrical power demand of Europe, which is about 3500 TWh/year. In this case, the LCoE is found to be about 7 ∈cents/kWh for wind farms consisting of 15 MW wind turbines and an interspacing between the wind turbines of 8 diameter, corresponding to 2 km.
Exploring the application of reinforcement learning to wind farm control
Authors: Korb Henry , Asmuth Henrik , Stender Merten , Ivanell Stefan
Published: June 2021

Optimal control of wind farms to maximize power is a challenging task since the wake interaction between the turbines is a highly nonlinear phenomenon. In recent years the field of Reinforcement Learning has made great contributions to nonlinear control problems and has been successfully applied to control and optimization in 2D laminar flows. In this work, Reinforcement Learning is applied to wind farm control for the first time to the authors’ best knowledge. To demonstrate the optimization abilities of the newly developed framework, parameters of an already existing control strategy, the helix approach, are tuned to optimize the total power production of a small wind farm. This also includes an extension of the helix approach to multiple turbines. Furthermore, it is attempted to develop novel control strategies based on the control of the generator torque. The results are analysed and difficulties in the setup in regards to Reinforcement Learning are discussed. The tuned helix approach yields a total power increase of 6.8% on average for the investigated case, while the generator torque controller does not yield an increase in total power. Finally, an alternative setup is proposed to improve the design of the problem.
Tool changing 3D printer for rapid prototyping of advanced soft robotic elements
Authors: Conrad Stefan , Speck Thomas , Tauber Falk J
Published: June 2021

In the field of soft robotics, pneumatic elements play an important role due to their sensitive and adaptive behavior. Nevertheless, the rapid prototyping of such actuators is still challenging since conventional 3D printers are not designed to fabricate airtight objects or to specify their bending behavior by combining materials of different stiffness. In order to address this challenge, a tool changing multi-material 3D printer has been constructed, which can be equipped with various print-heads fitted to the specific application. By alternately processing filaments with varying mechanical properties, a series of pneumatic elements was produced. The actuators were printed in thermoplastic polyurethane with shore hardness A70 for flexible parts and D65 for stiff parts. A novel procedure for the feature adaptation of the flow rate allowed the fabrication of vertically printed flexible membranes with a thickness of just 500 μm. This way the bending and expanding printed structures can all be actuated with a pressure of 100 kPa or less. Furthermore, a new kind of generic actuator that is customizable to specific tasks and can perform complex motion behavior was designed. All together, these actuators demonstrate the high potential of the developed platform for further research on and production of soft robotic elements and complex pressurized systems.
Light absorption enhancement and radiation hardening for triple junction solar cell through bioinspired nanostructures
Authors: Vasileiou Thomas , Llorens José M , Buencuerpo Jerónimo , Ripalda José M , Izzo Dario , Summerer Leopold
Published: June 2021

Multi-junction solar cells constitute the main source of power for space applications. However, exposure of solar cells to the space radiation environment significantly degrades their performance across the mission lifetime. Here, we seek to improve the radiation hardness of the triple junction solar cell, GaInP/Ga(In)As/Ge, by decreasing the thickness of the more sensitive middle junction. Thin junctions facilitate the collection of minority carriers and show slower degradation due to defects. However, thinning the junction decreases the absorption, and consequently, the expected photocurrent. To compensate for this loss, we examined two bioinspired surface patterns that exhibit anti-reflective and light-trapping properties: (a) the moth-eye structure which enables vision in poorly illuminated environments and (b) the patterns of the hard cell of a unicellular photosynthetic micro-alga, the diatoms. We parametrize and optimize the biomimetic structures, aiming to maximize the absorbed light by the solar cell while achieving significant reduction in the middle junction thickness. The density of the radiation-induced defects is independent of the junction thickness, as we demonstrate using Monte Carlo simulations, allowing the direct comparison of different combinations of middle junction thicknesses and light trapping structures. We incorporate the radiation effects into the solar cell model as a decrease in minority carrier lifetime and an increase in surface recombination velocity, and we quantify the gain in efficiency for different combinations of junction thickness and the light-trapping structure at equal radiation damage. Solar cells with thin junctions compensated by the light-trapping structures offer a promising approach to improve solar cell radiation hardness and robustness, with up to 2% higher end-of-life efficiency than the commonly used configuration at high radiation exposure.
Relation between micro- and nanostructure features and biological properties of the decellularized rat liver
Authors: Bobrova Maria M , Safonova Liubov A , Efimov Anton E , Iljinsky Igor M , Agapova Olga I , Agapov Igor I
Published: June 2021

Organ decellularization is one of the promising technologies of regenerative medicine, which allows obtaining cell-free extracellular matrix (ECM), which provide preservation of the composition, architecture, vascular network and biological activity of the ECM. The method of decellularization opens up wide prospects for its practical application not only in the field of creating full-scale bioengineered structures, but also in the manufacture of vessels, microcarriers, hydrogels, and coatings. The main goal of our work was the investigation of structure and biological properties of lyophilized decellularized Wistar rat liver fragments (LDLFs), as well as we assessed the regenerative potential of the obtained ECM. We obtained decellularized liver of a Wistar rat, the vascular network and the main components of the ECM of tissue were preserved. H&E staining of histological sections confirmed the removal of cells. DNA content of ECM is equal to 0.7% of native tissue DNA content. Utilizing scanning probe nanotomogrphy method, we showed sinuous, rough topography and highly nanoporous structure of ECM, which provide high level of mouse 3T3 fibroblast and Hep-G2cells biocompatibility. Obtained LDLF had a high regenerative potential, which we studied in an experimental model of a full-thickness rat skin wound healing: we observed the acceleration of wound healing by 2.2 times in comparison with the control.
Informing the planning of rotating power outages in heat waves through data analytics of connected smart thermostats for residential buildings
Authors: Wang Zhe , Hong Tianzhen , Li Han
Published: June 2021

With climate change, heat waves have become more frequent and intense. Rotating power outages happen when the power supply is unable to meet the cooling demand increase resulting from extreme high temperatures. Power outages during heat waves expose residents to high risks of overheating. In this study, we propose a novel data-driven inverse modelling approach to inform decision makers and grid operators on planning rotating power outages. We first infer the building thermal characteristics using the connected smart thermostat data, and used the estimated thermal dynamics to simulate the thermal resilience during a heat wave event. Our proposed method was tested for the California power outage in August 2020 by using the open source Ecobee Donate Your Data dataset. We found in California the power outage should not last more than two hours during heat waves to avoid overheating risks. Informing the residents in advance so they can prepare for it through pre-cooling is a simple but effective strategy to expand the acceptable power outage duration. In addition to assisting power outage planning, the proposed method can be used for other applications, such as to evaluate a building energy efficiency policy, to examine fuel poverty, and to estimate the load shifting potential of building stocks.
Computational design of ultrashort peptide inhibitors of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein
Authors: Pei Pengfei , Qin Hongbo , Chen Jialin , Wang Fengli , He Chengzhi , He Shiting , Hong Bixia , Liu Ke , Qiao Renzhong , Fan Huahao , Tong Yigang , Chen Long , Luo Shi-Zhong
Published: June 2021

Targeting the interaction between severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-receptor-binding domain (RBD) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is believed to be an effective strategy for drug design to inhibit the infection of SARS-CoV-2. Herein, several ultrashort peptidase inhibitors against the RBD–ACE2 interaction were obtained by a computer-aided approach based on the RBD-binding residues on the protease domain (PD) of ACE2. The designed peptides were tested on a model coronavirus GX_P2V, which has 92.2 and 86% amino acid identity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and RBD, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy analysis predicted a potential binding pocket on the RBD of the spike protein, and this was confirmed by the specifically designed peptides SI5α and SI5α-b. They have only seven residues, showing potent antiviral activity and low cytotoxicity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay result also confirmed their inhibitory ability against the RBD–ACE2 interaction. The ultrashort peptides are promising precursor molecules for the drug development of Corona Virus Disease 2019, and the novel binding pocket on the RBD may be helpful for the design of RBD inhibitors or antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Social Work Practitioners and Human Service Professionals in the 2016 Alberta (Canada) Wildfires: Roles and Contributions
Authors: Drolet Julie L , Lewin Bonnie , Pinches Alison
Published: June 2021

The 2016 Alberta wildfires resulted in devastating human, economic and environmental impacts. Social work practitioners and human service professionals are increasingly involved in disaster contexts yet there remains a pressing need to better understand their professional role and contributions. The wildfire resulted in the mobilisation and engagement of social work practitioners and human service professionals to meet the needs of individuals, families, groups and affected community members. Research was undertaken to identify the roles and responsibilities of social work practitioners and human service professionals in the context of the wildfires in Fort McMurray, AB, Canada. Forty social work practitioners and human service professionals were interviewed about their direct experience in the provision of social services in the context of the 2016 wildfire. This article shares the findings based on four themes: social work practice in disaster contexts; social work role in disaster management; building capacity and advocacy, wellness and self-care. Implications and recommendations discuss the need to enhance understandings of the roles and contributions of social work practitioners and human service professionals in disasters with a particular focus on long-term disaster recovery.
CDC42EP3 is a key promoter involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer
Authors: Chen Wenchao , Zhu Yuanzeng , Zhang Wei , Zhang Han , Zhou Yang , Sun Peichun , Wu Gang
Published: June 2021

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent cancers and severely endangers human health. Due to the low rate of diagnosis, most patients with GC are diagnosed as advanced. CDC42 effector protein 3 (CDC42EP3) has been revealed to be involved in several types of human cancers’ development and progression. However, the function of CDC42EP3 in GC is not yet clear. CDC42EP3 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot assay in tumor tissues and cell lines of GC. CDC42EP3 knockdown cell models were constructed by lentivirus transfection. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The wound-healing assay and the transwell assay were utilized to assess the cell migration. Also, the cell apoptosis and the cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry. Moreover, the mechanism was investigated by Human Apoptosis Antibody Array. The in vivo experiments were conducted to verify the effects of CDC42EP3 knockdown on the tumor growth of GC. The expression level of CDC42EP3 was up-regulated in tumor tissues. High CDC42EP3 expression was positively related to more advanced tumor grade. CDC42EP3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration, promoted cell apoptosis and suppressed the tumor growth. On the other hand, it was also found that the silencing of CDC42EP3 inhibited HSP27 and IGF-1sR expression as well as promoted Caspase3, p53, TNF-α, TNF-β, TRAILR-1 and TRAILR-2 expression. CDC42EP3 was revealed to work as a tumor promoter in the development and progression of GC, which could be a promising therapeutic target for the therapy of GC.
Confessional Approach to Disclosure of Medical Error
Authors: Mason Jordan
Published: June 2021

Recent literature on the ethics of medical error disclosure acknowledges the feelings of injustice, confusion, and grief patients and their families experience as a result of medical error. Substantially less literature acknowledges the emotional and relational discomfort of the physicians responsible or suggests a meaningful way forward. To address these concerns more fully, I propose a model of medical error disclosure that mirrors the theological and sacramental technique of confession. I use Aquinas’ description of moral acts to show that all medical errors are evil, and some accidental medical errors constitute venial sins; all sin and evil should be confessed. As Aquinas urges confession for sins, here I argue that confession is necessary to restore physicians to the community and to provide a sense of absolution. Even mistakes for which physicians are not morally culpable ought to be confessed in order to heal the physician–patient relationship and to address feelings of professional distress. This paper utilizes an Episcopal theology of confession that affirms verbal admission and responsibility-taking as freeing and relationally restoring acts, arguing that a confessional stance toward medical error both leads to better outcomes in physician–patient relationships and is more compassionate toward physicians who err.
Alteration in Urease-producing Bacteria in the Gut Microbiomes of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Ryvchin Ron , Dubinsky Vadim , Rabinowitz Keren , Wasserberg Nir , Dotan Iris , Gophna Uri
Published: June 2021

Background and Aims

Bacterial urease is a major virulence factor of human pathogens, and murine models have shown that it can contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD].

Methods

The distribution of urease-producing bacteria in IBD was assessed using public faecal metagenomic data from various cohorts, including non-IBD controls [n = 55], patients with Crohn’s disease [n = 291] or ulcerative colitis [n = 214], and patients with a pouch [n = 53]. The ureA gene and the taxonomic markers gyrA, rpoB, and recA were used to estimate the percentage of urease producers in each sample.

Results

Levels of urease producers in patients with IBD and non-IBD controls were comparable. In non-IBD controls and most IBD patients, urease producers were primarily acetate-producing genera such as Blautia and Ruminococcus. A shift in the type of the dominant urease producers towards Proteobacteria and Bacilli was observed in a subset of all IBD subtypes, which correlated with faecal calprotectin levels in one cohort. Some patients with IBD had no detectable urease producers. In patients with a pouch, the probiotic-associated species Streptococcus thermophilus was more common as a main urease producer than in other IBD phenotypes, and it generally did not co-occur with other Bacilli or with Proteobacteria.

Conclusions

Unlike all non-IBD controls, patients with IBD often showed a shift towards Bacilli or Proteobacteria or a complete loss of urease production. Probiotics containing the species S. thermophilus may have a protective effect against colonisation by undesirable urease-producing bacteria in a subset of patients with a pouch.
Does External Monitoring from the Government Improve the Performance of State-Owned Enterprises?
Authors: Li Shengyu , Zhang Hongsong
Published: June 2021

In this paper we investigate the impact of external monitoring from the government on state-owned enterprise performance, using the variation in monitoring strength arising from a nationwide policy change and firms’ geographic location in China. We utilise a structural approach to estimate input prices and productivity separately at the firm level using commonly available production data. We show that enhanced external monitoring, as a key component of corporate governance, can substantially reduce managerial expropriation in procurement (proxied by input prices) and shirking in production management (proxied by productivity). The results suggest that government monitoring can be an effective policy instrument to improve state-owned enterprise performance.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Discrimination of Charcoal from Eucalyptus and Native Cerrado Species—Contribution to a Database for Forestry Supervision
Authors: Nisgoski Silvana , Gonçalves Thaís A P , Sonsin-Oliveira Júlia , Ballarin Adriano W , Muñiz Graciela I B
Published: June 2021

The illegal charcoal trade is an internationally well-known forest crime. In Brazil, government agents try to control it using the document of forest origin (DOF). To confirm a load’s legality, the agents must compare it with the declared content of the DOF. However, to identify charcoal is difficult even for specialists in wood anatomy. Hence, new technologies would facilitate the agents’ work. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) provides a rapid and precise response to differentiate carbonized species. Considering the rich Brazilian flora, NIR studies are still underdeveloped. Our work aimed to differentiate charcoals of seven eucalypts and 10 Cerrado species based on NIR analysis and to add information to a charcoal database. Data were collected with a spectrophotometer in reflectance mode. Partial least square regression with discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied to confirm the performance and potential of NIR spectra to distinguish native Cerrado species from eucalyptus species. Wavenumbers from 4,000 to 6,000 cm−1 and transversal surface presented the best results. NIR had the potential to distinguish eucalypt charcoals from Cerrado species and in comparison to reference samples. NIR is a potential tool for forestry supervision to guarantee the sustainability of the charcoal supply in Brazil and countries with similar conditions.
Morphogenesis of Iridescent Feathers in Anna’s Hummingbird Calypte anna
Authors: D’Alba Liliana , Meadows Melissa , Maia Rafael , Yeo Jong-Souk , Manceau Marie , Shawkey Matthew D
Published: June 2021

Color is a phenotypic trait of utmost importance, particularly in birds, which are known for their diverse color signals and color-producing mechanisms including pigment-based colors, light scattering from nanostructured feather tissues and combinations thereof. Bright iridescent plumage colors of hummingbirds are caused by light scattering by an organized array of flattened, pigment organelles, containing air-filled vesicles, called melanosomes. These hollow platelets are organized in multilayer arrays that contain numerous sharp air/melanin refractive index interfaces, producing brilliant iridescent colors. Despite their ecological significance and potential for inspiration of new optical materials, how platelets form and spatially arrange in nanostructures in growing feathers remains unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that melanosome formation and organization occurs mostly through passive self-assembly processes by assembling a developmental time series of growing hummingbird feathers using optical and electron microscopy. We show that hummingbird platelets contain air bubbles or vesicles upon their formation in pigment-producing cells, melanocytes. When melanosomes are transferred to neighboring keratinocytes (the cells shaping barbule structure) they drastically expand in size; and variation in this enlargement appears to be driven by physical constraints caused by the placement of the melanosomes within the barbule plate and their proximity to other melanosomes. As the barbule elongates and narrows, polymerizing feather corneous beta-protein orients melanosomes unilaterally, forcing them into a stacked configuration. These results reveal potentially novel forces driving the self-assembly of the nanostructures producing some of the brightest colors in nature.
Regional Patterning in Tail Vertebral Form and Function in Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
Authors: Luger Allison M , Watson Peter J , Dutel Hugo , Fagan Michael J , Van Hoorebeke Luc , Herrel Anthony , Adriaens Dominique
Published: June 2021

Synopsis

Previous studies have focused on documenting shape variation in the caudal vertebrae in chameleons underlying prehensile tail function. The goal of this study was to test the impact of this variation on tail function using multibody dynamic analysis (MDA). First, observations from dissections and 3D reconstructions generated from contrast-enhanced µCT scans were used to document regional variation in arrangement of the caudal muscles along the antero-posterior axis. Using MDA, we then tested the effect of vertebral shape geometry on biomechanical function. To address this question, four different MDA models were built: those with a distal vertebral shape and with either a distal or proximal musculature, and reciprocally the proximal vertebral shape with either the proximal or distal musculature. For each muscle configuration, we calculated the force required in each muscle group for the muscle force to balance an arbitrary external force applied to the model. The results showed that the models with a distal-type of musculature are the most efficient, regardless of vertebral shape. Our models also showed that the m. ilio-caudalis pars dorsalis is least efficient when combining the proximal vertebral shape and distal musculature, highlighting the importance of the length of the transverse process in combination with the lever-moment arm onto which muscle force is exerted. This initial model inevitably has a number of simplifications and assumptions, however its purpose is not to predict in vivo forces, but instead reveals the importance of vertebral shape and muscular arrangement on the total force the tail can generate, thus providing a better understanding of the biomechanical significance of the regional variations on tail grasping performance in chameleons.
Students’ Perceptions of FSBio 201, A CURE-Based Course that Scaffolds Research and Scientific Communication, Align with Learning Outcomes
Authors: Thu Yee Mon , French Lauren B , Hersh Bradley M , Nelson Margaret K , Whitenack Lisa B
Published: June 2021

Incorporating active research opportunities into undergraduate curricula is one of the most cited elements demonstrated to improve inclusive excellence and retention in all STEM fields. Allegheny College has a long and nationally-recognized tradition of collaborative student-faculty research within the academic curriculum and as co-curricular opportunities. We present an example of the former, a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE), FSBio 201, that has been central to Allegheny’s biology curriculum for over two decades. The course emphasizes biological research design, execution, and communication. We have coded and analyzed feedback from student evaluations and from the national CURE project database, both of which measure students’ perceptions and attitudes toward the course. The majority of the student feedback related to the course learning outcomes of fostering independent research and communication skills was positive. However, we also see areas for improvement, such as how we employ peer-to-peer mentoring and how we teach quantitative and computer-based skills. We conclude that students’ self-reported data are in line with our learning outcomes and provide FSBio 201 as a model for introducing college undergraduates to biological research.
A margin for the margin of appreciation: Deference in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Authors: Bertelsen Soledad
Published: June 2021

Despite its extended criticism, is there any room for the margin of appreciation in the Inter-American Human Rights System? The article claims there is, if we ground the doctrine in the principle of subsidiarity. This principle gives a solid foundation to the margin of appreciation and shows that the doctrine does not respond to an exclusively European reality. It also helps to identify the factors that determine the width of the margin given to the states and how they interact with each other: the absence or presence of absolute rights, the quality of the domestic judiciary, and the need for a closer participation of the community and the expertise of the state. These conditions are analyzed in the light of the case law of the inter-American human rights system. The article explores the proper role of the margin of appreciation within human rights adjudication and its compatibility with the doctrine of conventionality control developed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
DeepADEMiner: a deep learning pharmacovigilance pipeline for extraction and normalization of adverse drug event mentions on Twitter
Authors: Magge Arjun , Tutubalina Elena , Miftahutdinov Zulfat , Alimova Ilseyar , Dirkson Anne , Verberne Suzan , Weissenbacher Davy , Gonzalez-Hernandez Graciela
Published: June 2021

Objective

Research on pharmacovigilance from social media data has focused on mining adverse drug events (ADEs) using annotated datasets, with publications generally focusing on 1 of 3 tasks: ADE classification, named entity recognition for identifying the span of ADE mentions, and ADE mention normalization to standardized terminologies. While the common goal of such systems is to detect ADE signals that can be used to inform public policy, it has been impeded largely by limited end-to-end solutions for large-scale analysis of social media reports for different drugs.

Materials and Methods

We present a dataset for training and evaluation of ADE pipelines where the ADE distribution is closer to the average ‘natural balance’ with ADEs present in about 7% of the tweets. The deep learning architecture involves an ADE extraction pipeline with individual components for all 3 tasks.

Results

The system presented achieved state-of-the-art performance on comparable datasets and scored a classification performance of F1 = 0.63, span extraction performance of F1 = 0.44 and an end-to-end entity resolution performance of F1 = 0.34 on the presented dataset.

Discussion

The performance of the models continues to highlight multiple challenges when deploying pharmacovigilance systems that use social media data. We discuss the implications of such models in the downstream tasks of signal detection and suggest future enhancements.

Conclusion

Mining ADEs from Twitter posts using a pipeline architecture requires the different components to be trained and tuned based on input data imbalance in order to ensure optimal performance on the end-to-end resolution task.
Acute Intoxications Involving Valerylfentanyl Identified at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner
Authors: Walsh Erin , Forni Amanda , Pardi Justine , Cooper Gail
Published: June 2021

The detection of novel fentanyl analogs in both seized drugs and toxicological specimens has presented a significant challenge to laboratories with respect to identification, sourcing reference drug standards, the time required for method development and ensuring sufficient method sensitivity. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has included testing for valerylfentanyl as part of a panel of synthetic opioids since May 2017 but did not identify the first valerylfentanyl-positive case until July 2018. Unlike many other illicit fentanyl analogs that were briefly identified before being replaced with a new analog, valerylfentanyl has persisted over time and continues to be identified in New York City acute polydrug intoxications. Since July 2018, a total of 69 cases were identified to be valerylfentanyl positive, but there were no cases where it was the sole intoxicant. Eighty-four percentage of decedents were male, with the majority being Hispanic males (49%) between the ages of 50 and 59 years (39%). The cause of death in all 69 cases involved acute polydrug intoxications, while the manner of death was deemed an accident in 68 cases and undetermined in one case. Concentrations of valerylfentanyl in postmortem blood ranged from <0.10 to 21 ng/mL, with 44.9% (N = 31) of the concentrations at or below the lower limit of quantification (0.10 ng/mL) but above the limit of detection (0.05 ng/mL). Fentanyl was present in 100% of the cases and in higher concentrations (1.6–116 ng/mL). The most common other drug classes detected with valerylfentanyl were other opiates (76.8%), cocaine/metabolites (50.7%), benzodiazepines (29%) and ethanol (21.7%). Valerylfentanyl is a relatively unknown fentanyl analog with limited information in the scientific literature. This study presents the first publication detailing a series of postmortem cases involving valerylfentanyl in acute intoxications and includes key demographic information and femoral blood concentrations for improved interpretation and analysis.