bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the early performance of silica fume-slag inorganic polymer
Authors: Zhang Hengbo , Xu Jinyu , Luo Xin , Yu Huang , Nie Liangxue
Published: July 2020

Based on the slag inorganic polymer, the silica fume-slag inorganic polymer (SSIP) with the ordinary and semi-dense silica fume slag content of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25 and 30%, respectively, were prepared, the working performances, early mechanical properties and the phase of SSIP were studied. The results show that: two kinds of silica fume both can prolong the initial and final setting time of SSIP to a certain extent and improve the working performance, but on the whole, the addition of silica fumes will weaken the compressive and flexural strength, thus reduce the early mechanical properties; The XRD spectrum of SSIP has no obvious change after adding silica fumes, the phase composition of two kinds of SSIP was similar, and the larger the silica fume content is, the higher the amorphous content of SSIP is.
Seismic Performance of Assembled Buckling-Restrained Braced Frame Structure with Replaceable Plasticity-deformation Controllable Steel Hinges
Authors: Wang Di , Xiao Xiaofei , Yan Guiyun , Chen Cheng , Xue Panrong
Published: July 2020

Joints and connections of assembled frame structures are weak in earthquake events, and it is difficult to repair these structures after the earthquake damage. To this end, an assembled buckling-Restrained braced frames structure with replaceable plasticity-deformation controllable steel hinge is presented. Push-over analysis and dynamic time-history analysis are carried out to obtain the seismic behaviour of the new structural such as failure sequence and decreasing ratio for interstory drift angle, and to compare with the traditional assembled frame structure. The results show that the proposed new assembled structure is better than the traditional assembled structure in bearing capacity, lateral resistance, and structural ductility. Also, it can effectively control the nonlinear response of the structure including the displacement of the floor.
Fracture Considerations for the Thermal Shock Resistance of Porous Ceramic Materials
Authors: Zhang Yunxia , Wang Baolin , Shang Yanliang
Published: July 2020

The influence factors of thermal shock resistance of porous ceramic materials are analysed from the point of stress criterion and energy criterion. Results show that material properties, relative density and initial crack have important effects to thermal shock fracture of porous ceramic materials. In energy criterion, the total elastic energy is given. The driving force for crack propagation is provided by the elastic energy stored at fracture. When the elastic energy stored in porous ceramic materials is larger than the fracture energy, the crack will propagate. The relationship between crack length and initial crack length is given. In addition, the reason why the thermal shock resistance of porous ceramic materials is larger than dense ceramics is explained.
Stability Analysis of Fan-shaped Hyperboloid Spiral Pipe Truss Under Different Construction Conditions
Authors: ShaoLi Yao , Zheng Yang , ChunTing Lu
Published: July 2020

The analysis of the stability of fan-shaped hyperbolic spiral tube trusses is still inadequate in China. In this paper, through numerical simulation analysis of structures with different column spacings, the stability bearing capacity of such structures under different column spacings is obtained, and the optimal column spacing is obtained. At the same time, the influence of factors such as section type, pipe truss section size and wall thickness on the structural stability performance is obtained, and the general law is obtained, which provides very important guiding significance for construction.
Durability Evaluation Method of Reinforced Concrete Beam Bridge Based on Extension Interval Number Theory
Authors: Liu Fangping , Yi Wentao
Published: July 2020

In this paper, a method for evaluating the durability of reinforced concrete simple supported beam bridge was proposed based on the extension interval number theory and analytic hierarchy process. Firstly, the multi-layer durability evaluation model of simply supported beam bridge is established, which includes sub index layer, index layer, project layer and target layer. Then, the interval number of extension theory is used to replace the number of points to construct the judgment matrix in the model, which solves the fuzzy and uncertainty problems of the traditional AHP expert experience judgment. Due to the uncertainty of the factors affecting the bridge, the normal correlation function is constructed, and the correlation degree of each evaluation element to each grade is used as the basis for the quantitative evaluation of the bridge. Each layer is evaluated based on the results of the following assessment. The bridge durability can be obtained through the level by level evaluation. Finally, an example of a beam in Chao-yang bridge is used to illustrate the method and process of evaluation. The results are reliable and applicable. The assessment process proved that the method presented here is an effective one to solve the paradox in bridge evaluation, where qualitative and quantitative coexistence takes place.
Test study on secondary consolidation behavior of soft soil under different loading paths
Authors: Zhou Qiujuan , Chen Xiaoping , Liu Zhongxiang , Liu Guangwen , Ma Lijia
Published: July 2020

Based on a series of one-dimensional consolidation tests for undisturbed samples in Guangzhou Nansha, the relationship between secondary consolidation properties and the stress history, load ratios and overload pre-pressure had been researched. The results show that the division of primary and secondary consolidation of soft soil is not only associated with the consolidation pressure, but also with loading ration, soil compression process and soil permeability decreased, etc factors. The main factors to affect the secondary consolidation coefficient are the loading ratio, pre-consolidation pressure, load duration, pre-consolidation pressure pc etc. Cα presents different regularities. For example, the larger the ratio is, the greater the influence of the coefficient of secondary consolidation is; secondary consolidation coefficient has a peak value when consolidation pressure equal to the pre-consolidation pressure;the longer duration of the front load, the smaller secondary consolidation coefficient of the later load. After preloading, the secondary consolidation ratio Cα and compression index Cc is a constant: Cα/Cc≈0.03. The test results indicate that preloading processing is a good way to reduce post-construction settlement: the secondary consolidation coefficient is small when the soil is over-consolidated state, and it can greatly reduce the amount of secondary consolidation deformation.
Research on deformation control and prevention measures of pile anchor support system in foundation pit
Authors: Yudian Li , Yanjun Shi , Haibo Li , Yaxin Luo , Qiuyue Gao , Chao Wang , Songwang Zhang
Published: July 2020

With the rapid development of urban modernization, the pile anchor support system has been widely used in the deep foundation pit project. Because the deformation of the pile anchor support system directly affects the overall stability of the foundation pit and brings serious potential safety accidents to the construction of the deep foundation pit, avoiding the deformation of the pile anchor support system can effectively prevent the occurrence of the construction safety accidents of the deep foundation pit. Based on many years of construction experience, the deformation rule of pile anchor support system of deep foundation pit is taken as the research object. This paper starts from the scheme design of pile anchor support system and the monitoring data of the foundation pit, and combines with the actual deformation of the pile anchor support system in the construction site, summarizes the causes and prevention measures of the deformation of the pile anchor support system in the construction stage. The research results show that in the initial stage of construction, the top of the pile anchor support system inclines forward to the pit and gradually changes into a bow shape. This kind of deformation is related to the increase of excavation depth and the erosion of active soil pressure area by surface water. In the later stage of construction, the deformation of the top of the foundation pit converges and the bottom of the pile anchor support system protrudes into the pit, which is related to the erosion of the passive soil pressure area by rainwater and the embedded depth of the pile foundation.
Damage assessment and reinforcement measures of prestress concrete bridge after fire
Authors: Li Dai , Jianqiang Wu , Lin Mao
Published: July 2020

In order to provide reasonable advice for the maintenance and reinforcement of Bridges after fire, it is necessary to assess the damage of Bridges after fire. In this paper, the damage area of a fire-damaged concrete highway bridge is divided according to the concrete apparent detection, and the damage degree of different parts is determined. Carbonization depth and springback detection were used to determine the area and depth affected by fire. Based on the analysis of the surface fire temperature of components in different areas and the internal temperature of concrete, the degradation of the mechanical properties of concrete and steel bars is further deduced, and the damage assessment of the bridge performance is finally carried out.
Experimental study on mixing proportion of reactive powder pavement concrete
Authors: Yan XiKang , Zhou Ming
Published: July 2020

Experimental study is carried out on mixing proportion of reactive powder pavement concrete. Writer studied influence of concrete admixtures such as silica fume, metakaolin and RPC special mineral filler. Studies have shown that: Silica fume can improve compressive strength of RPC. When metakaolin is used to replace some silica fume, compressive strength will decrease, but workability of concrete mixture will improve obviously. Thus, metakaolin should be add up according to specific situation. Special mineral filler can obviously improve construction performance of concrete mixture, reduce viscosity and increase slump without affecting compressive strength. Therefore, it should be add up firstly. At the same time, RPC100, which is suitable for road surface engineering, was successfully prepared, and its mixing proportion and related mechanical properties were obtained.
Static loading test and analysis of prestressed concrete bridge
Authors: Xie Ruqiang , Chen Jianwei
Published: July 2020

In order to test the structural performance for the bridge of Linxi 9th road project, the static test of precast prestressed concrete bridge hollow slab was carried out by four stage static loading method. Under the condition of elastic working, the flexural bearing capacity, crack propagation and relative residual displacement of the main control sections of the hollow slab are mainly investigated. The results of static loading test show that, when the efficiency of static loading test is 97%, the structural calibration coefficient, residual displacement of main measuring points and crack propagation meet the requirements.
The investigation of fatigue growth and CTOD test of structure steel
Authors: Wu Changqing , Yu Qiming , Wang Fei , Gong Weibo , Zhao Wei
Published: July 2020

Due to the inherent and unavoidable defects of the steel structure of the bridge, CTOD (crack tip opening displacement) tests were carried out on E43 steel specimen under a condition of fatigue. The results provide an experimental base and computing foundations for the bridge steel-using. In this paper, CTOD fatigue pre-cracking tests for E43 steel was studied.
A planar heat conduction element improving temperature-related simulation accuracy
Authors: Jun Duan , Ban Yuxin
Published: July 2020

In the numerical study of temperature field in the fields of freezing and thawing cycles in cold regions, geothermal energy and functionally graded materials, the selection of heat conduction elements of the finite element method has an important influence on the numerical calculation results. Based on the fundamental solution and heat conduction theory, the fundamental solutions of the two-dimensional heat conduction control equation were added in the temperature interpolation function of the conventional planar 4-node quadrilateral heat conduction element. A new planar heat conduction non-coordination element with the fundamental solutions was established. The element interpolation function and the stiffness matrix were derived, and the element convergence was examined. The calculation accuracy was compared among the plane heat conduction non-coordination element with the fundamental solutions, the conventional finite element method and the analytical solution. The results showed that the planar heat conduction non-coordination element with the fundamental solutions proposed in this paper is high in calculation method and precision.
Construction Strategies of Rural Residential Management Data Platform—A Case Study of Crystal Town Residence in Pingwu County, Mianyang
Authors: Mei Wu , Dan He
Published: July 2020

There are large numbers and areas of rural dwellings in China. Because of remote locations of many villages or improper protections of local residents, countless historical villages and traditional dwellings are gradually disappearing. Digital information platforms will preserve data of residential buildings through professional surveys and mappings, which timely and effectively integrate all kinds of residential information, share data to the maximum extent and protect valuable residential buildings.
Research on Coordinated Charging and Discharging Operation Mode of Electric Vehicle Based on Time-Space Double-layer Optimization
Authors: Li Lei , Zhang Jian , Zhang Jing , Li Taoyong , Liu Weidong , Li Dan , Liu Zhibin
Published: July 2020

In order to reduce the adverse impact of electric vehicles (EVs) charging load on the grid and guide users to participate in the grid interaction reasonably and effectively, an coordinated charging and discharging control model of EVs based on the two dimensions of time and space is established in this paper to meet the dynamic and economic needs of users’ coordinated charging and discharging. Considering the space-time distribution characteristics of EVs, the model is decoupled into an optimal scheduling sub-model based on time and space scale, and the model is solved by genetic algorithm and power flow calculation. The example shows that the model can effectively reduce the peak-to-valley difference, achieve the effect of peak-cutting and valley-filling, and the dual optimization goals of optimizing the operation of the system and encouraging users to participate in V2G are achieved.
Construction of Curriculum System for Software Engineering Major under Background of New Engineering—A Case Study of Anhui Sanlian University
Authors: Yu Jiujiu , Zhang Jishan , Wu Ning , Mei Yingying , Zhu Canglu , Zhang Deqing , Xiao Gang , Zhu Lili
Published: July 2020

The innovation of the curriculum system of software engineering major has become an important part under background of new engineering currently that cannot be ignored. As a case study of Anhui Sanlian University, from the three aspects of talent training, knowledge of vocation, curriculum setting to explore the construction of curriculum system for software engineering major under background of new engineering. Finally, further work is expected in the future. Firstly, sustainable agile teaching system for competitiveness should be developed. Secondly, a local platform for innovative practice on “Five Classes” based on Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) should be established.
Controlling the electronic bands of a 2D semiconductor by force microscopy
Authors: de Araújo Daniel B , Almeida Rodrigo Q , Gadelha Andreij C , Rezende Natália P , Salomão F C C S , Silva F W N , Campos Leonardo C , Barros Eduardo B
Published: July 2020

In this work, we investigate the transverse transport properties of few-layers MoS2 using a Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy based technique. We find that the system changes between a low-force regime, characterized by a nearly-ideal contact between the MoS2 flake and the substrate, and a high-force regime, for which this contact starts to become highly non-ideal. We propose a 3-diode model that effectively describes the current-voltage characteristics of few-layers MoS2. From this model, we estimate how fast the energy gaps of two-dimensional MoS2 materials change as a function of the applied force. From our analysis, we estimate that MoS2-Au Schottky barrier heights change at the rate of 0.21, 0.23, and 0.78 meV nN−1 for the few-layers, three-layers, and two-layers MoS2, respectively. Our work opens up new possibilities of investigating and controlling the electronic properties of 2D semiconducting materials.
The impact of graphene nanofiller loading on the morphology and rheology behaviour of highly rigid polyurethane copolymer
Authors: Albozahid Muayad , Habeeb Salih Abbas , Ismael Alhilo Naaem A , Saiani Alberto
Published: July 2020

This work attempts to study the effects of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (xGNP) on the rheology properties of new version of polyurethane copolymer with 1,5 pentane diol as chain extender , containing a high amount of hard blocks. Two- step polymerisation was employed to synthesise this kind of polymer. The thermal and electrical conductivity of this copolymer was also investigated. Meanwhile, the rheology response has been analysed by measuring the viscosity It was found that the viscosity increases by 68% and 2 × 105% at loadings of 0.5 wt.% and 15 wt.% of xGNP, respectively, compared with that of neat polyurethane copolymer. This means that the melt viscoelastic behaviour of highly rigid polyurethane copolymer (HRPUC) is influenced by the presence of xGNP contents, transforming the behaviour of nanocomposite from liquid-like to solid-like. This result was attributed to the network formation and interaction between hard segments of the HRPUC structure and xGNP due to strong shear thinning behaviour. In addition, the thermal conductivity of HRPUC increases to 0.97 W m−1.k (410%), electricity conductivity rose to 102s m−1(1000%). SEM morphology images showed overall dispersion of xGNP in the HRPUC, implying a reduction in the interspacing of flakes with increasing xGNP concentration. Further investigation into HRPUC morphology and its nanocomposites was conducted using the TEM method, illustrating that the xGNP stacking resulted from poor ability to disperse at greater loadings of xGNP.
Phytochemical-assisted biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Ajuga bracteosa for biomedical applications
Authors: Afreen Afshan , Ahmed Rashid , Mehboob Saadia , Tariq Muhammad , Alghamdi Huda Ahmed , Zahid Alap Ali , Ali Imran , Malik Kausar , Hasan Anwarul
Published: July 2020

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from plant extracts are widely used for the cure of many diseases from fever to cancers. Keeping in view the medicinal value of AgNPs, here we report a cost-effective phytochemical method for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Ajuga bracteosa. A. bracteosa is an important medicinal plant used to cure fever, appetite-loss, and cancer. Silver-nanoparticles were prepared from the aqueous extract of the plant. The methanolic extract of A. bracteosa (ABMF) was separated and n-hexane (ABHF) and chloroform (ABCF) fractions were obtained from the methanolic crude extract. The AgNPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectrophotometer, FTIR, XRD, and TEM. The total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) in different fractions were determined and compared with AgNPs. The medicinal value of ABMF, ABHF, ABCF, and AgNPs was evaluated by antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity bioassays. The UV-visible spectrum showed a peak at 484 nm while FTIR results suggested strong capping of phytochemicals on AgNPs which was confirmed by a high amount of TPC and TFC. XRD analysis depicted a high degree of crystallinity and smaller size of AgNPs. TEM results showed spherical shaped AgNPs of size range 50 ± 12 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed better antibacterial activity than plant extract fractions. Similarly, AgNPs have shown better antioxidant, cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines in-vitro, and anti-inflammatory activity in-vivo than a plant extract. The great medicinal value of A. bracteosa might be due to the presence of pharmacologically active phytochemicals such as diterpenoids, neo-clerodane flavonol glycosides, ergosterol, iridoid glycosides, phytoecdysones, and other polyphenols. These phytochemicals surround the silver nanoparticles during green synthesis and therefore, this capping of phytochemicals over silver nanoparticles results in enhanced biomedical applications of plant extracts.
Hard carbons for sodium-ion batteries and beyond
Authors: Xie Fei , Xu Zhen , Guo Zhenyu , Titirici Maria-Magdalena
Published: July 2020

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are one of the most promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to the much more abundant resources of Na compared with Li in the world. Developing SIB technology to satisfy the increased demand for energy storage
is therefore a significant task
. However, one of the biggest bottlenecks is the design of high-performance and low-cost anode materials, since the graphite anode in commercial LIBs is not suitable for SIBs due to thermal dynamic issues. Hard carbon materials have been regarded as having the greatest potential as anodes in commercial SIBs owing to their excellent cost-effectiveness, but their relatively limited performance compared to the graphite in LIBs as well as the dimness of the sodium storage mechanisms still need further investigation. In this review, we summarize the progress of recent research into hard carbons for SIB applications, including the fundamentals of SIBs, sodium storage mechanisms, structures and the electrochemical performances of different types of hard carbons in SIBs and other types of sodium-based energy storage as well as the main challenges in this field. We aim to provide a general insight into hard carbons and their applications in SIBs, opening up future perspectives and possible research directions.
Soil microbes alter seedling performance and biotic interactions under plant competition and contrasting light conditions
Authors: Xi Nianxun , Bloor Juliette M G , Chu Chengjin
Published: July 2020

Background and Aims

Growing evidence suggests that the net effect of soil microbes on plants depends on both abiotic and biotic conditions, but the context-dependency of soil feedback effects remains poorly understood. Here we test for interactions between the presence of conspecific soil microbes, plant competition and light availability on tree seedling performance.

Methods

Seedlings of two congeneric tropical tree species, Bauhinia brachycarpa and Bauhinia variegata, were grown in either sterilized soil or soil conditioned by conspecific soil microorganisms in a two-phase greenhouse feedback experiment. We examined the interactive effects of soil treatment (live, sterilized), light availability (low, high) and plant competition (no competition, intraspecific and interspecific competition) on tree seedling biomass. We also investigated the linkages between the outcomes of soil feedback effects and soil microbial community structure.

Key Results

The outcomes of soil feedback effects on seedling biomass varied depending on both competition treatment and light availability. Under low light conditions, soil feedback effects were neutral irrespective of competition treatment and plant species. Soil feedback effects were negative in high light for seedlings with interspecific competition, but positive for seedlings growing alone or with intraspecific competition. Soil feedback effects for seedlings were driven by variation in the Gram-positive:Gram-negative bacteria ratio. Light and conspecific soil microbes had interactive effects on the competitive environment experienced by tree species; in low light the presence of conspecific soil microbes decreased plant competition intensity, whereas in high light both the intensity and the importance of competition increased for seedlings in the presence of soil microbes, irrespective of plant species.

Conclusions

Our findings underline the importance of light and plant competition for the outcomes of soil feedback effects on young tree seedlings, and suggest that reduced light availability may reduce the influence of conspecific soil microbes on plant–plant interactions.
Constructing Playful Talk through Translanguaging in English Medium Instruction Mathematics Classrooms
Authors: Tai Kevin W H , Wei Li
Published: July 2020

Recent studies on English-Medium-Instruction (EMI) classroom interaction have begun to look at the role of translanguaging as a pedagogical practice in supporting participants to exploit multilingual and multimodal resources to facilitate content teaching and learning. The present study contributes to this growing body of literature by focusing on playful talk in multiple languages and modalities in EMI mathematics classrooms in a secondary school in Hong Kong. Based on the data collected from a linguistic ethnography, we analyze how the teacher constructs playful talk in order to achieve various pedagogical goals including building rapport, facilitating content explanation and promoting meaningful communication with students. The analysis demonstrates that translanguaging appears to be a critical resource and that several social factors, including the teacher’s personal belief, history, sociocultural, and pedagogical knowledge, play a role in constructing playful talk. The playful talk transforms the classroom into a translanguaging space, which in turn allows the teacher and students to perform a range of creative acts and experiment with a variety of voices to facilitate the meaning making and knowledge construction processes.
GeoBoost2: a natural languageprocessing pipeline for GenBank metadata enrichment for virus phylogeography
Authors: Magge Arjun , Weissenbacher Davy , O’Connor Karen , Tahsin Tasnia , Gonzalez-Hernandez Graciela , Scotch Matthew
Published: July 2020

We present GeoBoost2, a natural language-processing pipeline for extracting the location of infected hosts for enriching metadata in nucleotide sequences repositories like National Center of Biotechnology Information’s GenBank for downstream analysis including phylogeography and genomic epidemiology. The increasing number of pathogen sequences requires complementary information extraction methods for focused research, including surveillance within countries and between borders. In this article, we describe the enhancements from our earlier release including improvement in end-to-end extraction performance and speed, availability of a fully functional web-interface and state-of-the-art methods for location extraction using deep learning.

Availability and implementation

Application is freely available on the web at https://zodo.asu.edu/geoboost2. Source code, usage examples and annotated data for GeoBoost2 is freely available at https://github.com/ZooPhy/geoboost2.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Single-sequence and profile-based prediction of RNA solvent accessibility using dilated convolutional neural network
Authors: Hanumanthappa Anil Kumar , Singh Jaswinder , Paliwal Kuldip , Singh Jaspreet , Zhou Yaoqi
Published: July 2020

Motivation

RNA solvent accessibility, similar to protein solvent accessibility, reflects the structural regions that are accessible to solvents or other functional biomolecules, and plays an important role for structural and functional characterization. Unlike protein solvent accessibility, only a few tools are available for predicting RNA solvent accessibility despite the fact that millions of RNA transcripts have unknown structures and functions. Also, these tools have limited accuracy. Here, we have developed RNAsnap2 that uses a dilated convolutional neural network with a new feature, based on predicted base-pairing probabilities from LinearPartition.

Results

Using the same training set from the recent predictor RNAsol, RNAsnap2 provides an 11% improvement in median Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and 9% improvement in mean absolute errors for the same test set of 45 RNA chains. A larger improvement (22% in median PCC) is observed for 31 newly deposited RNA chains that are non-redundant and independent from the training and the test sets. A single-sequence version of RNAsnap2 (i.e. without using sequence profiles generated from homology search by Infernal) has achieved comparable performance to the profile-based RNAsol. In addition, RNAsnap2 has achieved comparable performance for protein-bound and protein-free RNAs. Both RNAsnap2 and RNAsnap2 (SingleSeq) are expected to be useful for searching structural signatures and locating functional regions of non-coding RNAs.

Availability and implementation

Standalone-versions of RNAsnap2 and RNAsnap2 (SingleSeq) are available at https://github.com/jaswindersingh2/RNAsnap2. Direct prediction can also be made at https://sparks-lab.org/server/rnasnap2. The datasets used in this research can also be downloaded from the GITHUB and the webserver mentioned above.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hypertensive nephropathy: a major roadblock hindering the advance of precision nephrology
Authors: Carriazo Sol , Vanessa Perez-Gomez Maria , Ortiz Alberto
Published: July 2020

In the 2017 Annual Report of the ERA-EDTA Registry, hypertension continues to be the second or third most common cause of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Europe, tied with glomerulonephritis. There is, however, one little issue: hypertension-induced end-stage renal disease (ESRD) might not exist at all as currently understood, that is, as hypertensive nephrosclerosis. In this regard, the incidence of RRT due to hypertensive nephropathy is related to the incidence of other causes of ESRD but not to the burden of hypertension per country. The current definition of hypertensive nephropathy is non-specific, outdated and only allows a delayed diagnosis by exclusion. It is not helpful that 80% of chronic kidney disease patients develop hypertension and kidney biopsy has no findings specific for hypertensive nephropathy. There is an urgent need to redefine the concept of hypertensive nephropathy with a clear and comprehensive set of criteria that at least should indicate how other nephropathies, including familial nephropathies, should be excluded. Correct causality assessment and aetiology-based therapy is a key to the progress of nephrology and it should no longer be accepted that ‘hypertensive nephropathy’ serves to disguise a suboptimal diagnostic workup. A diagnosis of nephropathy of unknown cause would be more honest when the full range of alternative aetiological diagnoses is not explored.
Diet Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Better Options Than Nil Per Os
Authors: Palchaudhuri Sonali , Albenberg Lindsey , Lewis James D
Published: July 2020

Hospitalizations are a time when providers often have uncertainty about what to feed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While there are many trials evaluating the role of diet in the management of IBD, the role of diet for the hospitalized patient is less clear. The hospitalization may serve as an opportunity to educate patients about the role of diet, try different diets, and develop dietary recommendations for after discharge. Here, we review the literature for dietary considerations during hospitalizations and acute settings, as well as upon discharge. Patients with IBD benefit from screening and nutritional support for malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies. Enteral nutrition and exclusion diets are promising as induction and maintenance therapies, but no specific recommendations during hospitalization for adult patients are available currently. There are very few reasons to enforce bowel rest or clear liquids other than bowel obstruction, uncontrolled sepsis, or need for urgent or emergent surgery; most patients—including many with penetrating or stricturing disease—benefit from feeding in whichever capacity is tolerated, with enteral and parenteral nutrition used as needed to reach nutritional goals. Future studies are needed to define how the use of different diets can influence the outcomes of patients hospitalized for IBD.
Left atrial structure and function among different subtypes of atrial fibrillation: an echocardiographic substudy of the AMIO-CAT trial
Authors: Olsen Flemming Javier , Darkner Stine , Chen Xu , Pehrson Steen , Johannessen Arne , Hansen Jim , Gislason Gunnar , Svendsen Jesper Hastrup , Biering-Sørensen Tor
Published: July 2020

Aims 

Little is known about cardiac structure and function among atrial fibrillation (AF) subtypes; paroxysmal AF vs. persistent AF (PxAF), and across AF burden. We sought to assess differences in left atrial (LA) measures by AF subtype and burden.

Methods and results 

This was a cross-sectional echocardiographic substudy of a randomized trial of AF patients scheduled for catheter ablation. Patients had an echocardiogram performed 0–90 days prior to study inclusion. We performed conventional echocardiographic measures, left ventricular (LV) and LA speckle tracking. Measures were compared between AF subtype and burden (0%, 0–99%, and 99–100%) determined by 72-h Holter monitoring. Of 212 patients, 107 had paroxysmal AF and 105 had PxAF. Those with PxAF had significantly reduced systolic function (LV ejection fraction: 48% vs. 53%; P < 0.001), larger end-systolic and end-diastolic LA volumes (LAVi and LAEDVi), reduced LA emptying fraction (LAEF: 29% vs. 36%, P < 0.001), and reduced LA strain (LAs) (LAs: 20% vs. 26%, P < 0.001). LA measures remained significantly lower in PxAF after multivariable adjustments. All LA measures and measures of systolic function were significantly impaired in patients with 99–100% AF burden, whereas all measures were similar between the other groups (LAVi: 40mL/m2 vs. 33mL/m2 vs. 34mL/m2; LAEDVi: 31mL/m2 vs. 21mL/m2 vs. 22mL/m2, LA emptying fraction: 23% vs. 35% vs. 36%, LAs: 16% vs. 25% vs. 25%, for 99–100%, 0–99%, and 0% AF, respectively, P < 0.001 for all). These differences were consistent after multivariable adjustments.

Conclusion 

LA mechanics differ between AF subtype and burden and these characteristics influence the clinical interpretation of these measures.
Health professional mobility in the WHO European Region and the WHO Global Code of Practice: data from the joint OECD/EUROSTAT/WHO-Europe questionnaire
Authors: Williams Gemma A , Jacob Gabrielle , Rakovac Ivo , Scotter Cris , Wismar Matthias
Published: July 2020

WHO Member States adopted the Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel 10 years ago. This study assesses adherence with the Code’s principles and its continuing relevance in the WHO Europe region with regards to international recruitment of health workers. Data from the joint OECD/EUROSTAT/WHO-Europe questionnaire from 2010 to 2018 are analyzed to determine trends in intra- and inter-regional mobility of foreign-trained doctors and nurses working in case study destination countries in Europe. In 2018, foreign-trained doctors and nurses comprised over a quarter of the physician workforce and 5% of the nursing workforce in five of eight and four of five case study countries, respectively. Since 2010, the proportion of foreign-trained nurses and doctors has risen faster than domestically trained professionals, with increased mobility driven by rising East-West and South-North intra-European migration, especially within the European Union. The number of nurses trained in developing countries but practising in case study countries declined by 26%. Although the number of doctors increased by 27%, this was driven by arrivals from countries experiencing conflict and volatility, suggesting countries generally are increasingly adhering to the Code’s principles on ethical recruitment. To support ethical recruitment practices and sustainable workforce development in the region, data collection and monitoring on health worker mobility should be improved.
The recruitment of bacterial communities by the plant root system changed by acid mine drainage pollution in soils
Authors: Li Yang , Yuan Liang , Xue Sheng , Liu Bingjun , Jin Gang
Published: July 2020

This study aims to better understand the relationship between the response to acid mine drainage (AMD) stress of tolerant plants and changes in root-related bacterial communities. In this study, reed stems were planted in AMD-polluted and unpolluted soils, and high-throughput sequencing was conducted to analyze the bacterial community composition in the soil, rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endosphere. The results showed that the effect of AMD pollution on root-associated bacterial communities was greater than that of rhizo-compartments. Proteobacteria were dominant across the rhizo-compartments between treatments. The microbiomes of unpolluted treatments were enriched by Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria and depleted in Gammaproteobacteria ranging from the rhizoplane into the endosphere. However, the opposite trend was observed in the AMD pollution treatment, namely, Gammaproteobacteria were enriched, and Alphaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria were mostly depleted. In addition, endophytic microbiomes were dominated by Comamonadaceae and Rhodocyclaceae in the unpolluted treatment and by Enterobacteriaceae in the AMD-polluted soils. PICRUSt showed that functional categories associated with membrane transport, metabolism and cellular processes and signaling processes were overrepresented in the endosphere of the AMD-polluted treatment. In conclusion, our study reveals significant variation in bacterial communities colonizing rhizo-compartments in two soils, indicating that plants can recruit functional bacteria to the roots in response to AMD pollution.
Antibacterial effects of plant extracts with hurdle technology against Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Kayira Tabitha Mlowoka , Nakano Hiroyuki
Published: July 2020

Vibrio cholerae is an etiological cause of cholera implicated in several pandemics. Antibacterial activity of plant extracts has been established. However, these extracts exhibit activity at a concentration that may alter organoleptic attributes of water and food, hence limiting their application. In this light, there is need to device ways of reducing plant extracts' effective levels in order to widen their application. Thus, this study was conducted to improve activities of plant ethanolic extracts through combination with other generally recognized as safe antimicrobials. Combination of plant extracts with sodium acetate (NaOAc) 0.4% at pH 7.0 reduced minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clove, lemon eucalyptus, rosemary and sage from 0.2 to 0.025%. At pH 6.4, combinations were more effective reducing MICs of clove, lemon eucalyptus, rosemary and sage from 0.2 to 0.0125% with NaOAc at 0.2%. At pH 7.0, the combination resulted in additive effect. Nevertheless, at pH 6.4, synergic effect was established. No interactive effect was observed with combinations involving glycine. Combination of plant extracts with NaOAc at mildly acidic pH creates a hurdle effect that may have potential application to control the growth of V. cholerae.
Human Rights Universalism in Practice: What the Iranian Women’s Rights Movement Can Teach Us
Authors: Nickerson Nicole
Published: July 2020

Does practice demonstrate the legitimacy of international human rights law? This article explores this question via a case study of the women’s rights movement in Iran. Current human rights sceptics question the system’s legitimacy because of a lack of universality and an excessive top-down approach. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran has a remarkable community of grassroots activists. The bottom-up women’s rights initiative of the One Million Signatures Campaign utilised human rights discourse in combination with local, indigenous values in pursuit of gender equality. The article argues—via the case study of this movement—that there is practical evidence to support a theory of human rights universalism, as positive human rights law empowers the existing subjectivity of individuals. The universal legitimacy of international human rights law does not primarily come from a global network dictating common values, but from members of civil society mobilising their status as rights holders.
IVF and IUI in couples with unexplained infertility (FIIX study): study protocol of a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial
Authors: Prentice Lucy , Sadler Lynn , Lensen Sarah , Vercoe Melissa , Wilkinson Jack , Edlin Richard , Chambers Georgina M , Farquhar Cynthia M
Published: July 2020

STUDY QUESTIONS

In couples with unexplained infertility and a poor prognosis of natural conception, are four cycles of IUI with ovarian stimulation (IUI-OS) non-inferior to one completed cycle of IVF for the outcome of cumulative live birth? Are four cycles of IUI-OS associated with a lower cost per live birth compared to one completed cycle of IVF? Will four cycles of IUI-OS followed by one complete cycle of IVF result in as many live births at lower cost per live birth, than two complete cycles of IVF? Will four cycles of IUI-OS followed by two complete cycles of IVF result in more live births at lower cost per live birth, than two complete cycles of IVF alone?

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

IUI is widely used in the USA, the UK and Europe as a low cost, less invasive alternative to IVF for couples with unexplained infertility. Although three to six cycles of IUI were comparable to IVF in the three major studies carried out to date, gonadotrophin ovarian stimulation was used in the majority of cases, and this also resulted in a high multiple pregnancy rate in some studies. Ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate is known to have lower multiple pregnancy rates.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

The FIIX study is a multicentre, open label, parallel, pragmatic non-inferiority randomized controlled trial of 580 couples with unexplained infertility comparing four cycles of IUI-OS with clomiphene citrate and one completed cycle of IVF. Variable block randomization stratified by age and clinic with electronic allocation will be used.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Couples with poor prognosis for natural conception and who are eligible for publicly funded fertility treatment in six fertility clinics in New Zealand.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

Auckland Medical Research Fund (3718892/1119003), A+ Trust, Auckland District Health Board (A + 8479), Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust (3718514). No competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12619001003167.

TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE

15 July 2019

DATE OF FIRST PATIENT’S ENROLMENT

02/08/2019
Endogenous financial constraints and innovation
Authors: Lahr Henry , Mina Andrea
Published: July 2020

We investigate which indicators of a firm’s innovation activities are associated with financial constraints and analyze the nature and direction of causal links between innovation and financial constraints. By estimating simultaneous bivariate probit models on data from the UK Innovation Surveys, we show that among innovation inputs, research and development (R&D) activity increases the likelihood that firms face financial constraints. Among innovation outputs, only new-to-market products generate financial constraints. Reverse effects on innovation appear limited to external R&D.
Climate change and the future productivity and distribution of crab in the Bering Sea
Authors: Szuwalski Cody , Cheng Wei , Foy Robert , Hermann Albert J , Hollowed Anne , Holsman Kirstin , Lee Jiwoo , Stockhausen William , Zheng Jie
Published: July 2020

Crab populations in the eastern Bering Sea support some of the most valuable fisheries in the United States, but their future productivity and distribution are uncertain. We explore observed changes in the productivity and distribution for snow crab, Tanner crab, and Bristol Bay red king crab. We link historical indices of environmental variation and predator biomass with observed time series of centroids of abundance and extent of crab stock distribution; we also fit stock–recruit curves including environmental indices for each stock. We then project these relationships under forcing from global climate models to forecast potential productivity and distribution scenarios. Our results suggest that the productivity of snow crab is negatively related to the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and positively related to ice cover; Tanner crab’s productivity and distribution are negatively associated with cod biomass and sea surface temperature. Aspects of red king crab distribution and productivity appear to be related to bottom temperature, ice cover, the AO, and/or cod biomass. Projecting these relationships forward with available forecasts suggests that Tanner crab may become more productive and shift further offshore, red king crab distribution may contract and move north, and productivity may decrease for snow crab as the population contracts northward.
Chimney technique for solitary pelvic kidney
Authors: Ertugay Serkan , Posacioglu Hakan , Bozkaya Halil , Parildar Mustafa
Published: July 2020

The combination of solitary pelvic kidney and abdominal aortic aneurysm is extremely rare. In this report, we present chimney graft implantation in a patient with solitary pelvic kidney. A 63-year-old man had the diagnosis of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm made incidentally. Preoperative computed tomography illustrated a fusiform abdominal aortic aneurysm accompanying a solitary ectopic kidney in the pelvis with aberrant renal artery. A bifurcated endograft was implanted, and a covered stent graft was placed into the renal artery by use of the chimney technique. Good patency of the chimney graft was documented with early postoperative and first month scans. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the chimney technique used in a solitary pelvic kidney.
Improving knowledge and confidence in foundation doctors during specialty changeover
Authors: Dave Madhav Sanatkumar , Mobarak Shahd , Spiers Harry V M , Tarazi Munir , Jamdar Saurabh
Published: July 2020

Quality problem

Foundation year junior doctors rotate every 4 months into different specialties. They are often expected to manage patients with complex underlying conditions despite inadequate clinical induction.

Initial assessment

No structured induction was offered to junior doctors rotating to hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery, a complex and highly specialized discipline within general surgery. We hypothesized that junior doctors will be lacking in both knowledge and confidence when managing these patients.

Choice of solution

Create a structured induction programme and evaluate its effectiveness in improving knowledge and confidence amongst doctors.

Implementation

Plan Do Study Act methodology was used along with driver diagrams to map change. A learning resource was developed in the form of a booklet, which included relevant clinical information, processes for escalation and referral as well as guidance for managing acutely unwell patients. A structured 1-hour teaching programme was delivered to junior doctors alongside this. Pre- and post-session questionnaires and statistical analysis were used to determine effect.

Evaluation

Marked improvements in both knowledge and confidence were seen. The intervention showed a statistically significant improvement.

Lessons learned

Clinical induction resources can improve junior doctors’ knowledge and confidence in managing their patients. Such induction is both valuable and necessary. Similar interventions can be used with allied health professionals and can involve the use of technology and virtual learning.