bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards safer stable isotope probing — effect of formamide on the separation of isotope-labeled and unlabeled Escherichia coli RNA by isopycnic density ultracentrifugation
Authors: Weis Severin , Schnell Sylvia , Egert Markus
Published: March 2020

RNA-based stable isotope probing (RNA-SIP) is used in molecular microbial ecology to link the identity of microorganisms in a complex community with the assimilation of a distinct substrate. The technique is highly dependent on a reliable separation of isotopic-labeled RNA from unlabeled RNA by isopycnic density gradient ultracentrifugation. Here we show that 13C-labeled and unlabeled Escherichia coli RNA can be sufficiently separated by isopycnic ultracentrifugation even in the absence of formamide. However, a slightly lower starting density is needed to obtain a distribution pattern similar to that obtained when formamide was used. Hence, the commonly used addition of formamide to the centrifugation solution might not be needed to separate 13C-labeled RNA from unlabeled RNA, but this must be verified for more complex environmental mixtures of RNA. Clearly, an omission of formamide would increase the safety of RNA-SIP analyses.
Differing marine animal biomass shifts under 21st century climate change between Canada’s three oceans
Authors: Bryndum-Buchholz Andrea , Prentice Faelan , Tittensor Derek P. , Blanchard Julia L. , Cheung William W.L. , Christensen Villy , Galbraith Eric D. , Maury Olivier , Lotze Heike K.
Published: March 2020

Under climate change, species composition and abundances in high-latitude waters are expected to substantially reconfigure with consequences for trophic relationships and ecosystem services. Outcomes are challenging to project at national scales, despite their importance for management decisions. Using an ensemble of six global marine ecosystem models we analyzed marine ecosystem responses to climate change from 1971 to 2099 in Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under four standardized emissions scenarios. By 2099, under business-as-usual emissions (RCP8.5) projected marine animal biomass declined by an average of −7.7% (±29.5%) within the Canadian EEZ, dominated by declines in the Pacific (−24% ± 24.5%) and Atlantic (−25.5% ± 9.5%) areas; these were partially compensated by increases in the Canadian Arctic (+26.2% ± 38.4%). Lower emissions scenarios projected successively smaller biomass changes, highlighting the benefits of stronger mitigation targets. Individual model projections were most consistent in the Atlantic and Pacific, but highly variable in the Arctic due to model uncertainties in polar regions. Different trajectories of future marine biomass changes will require regional-specific responses in conservation and management strategies, such as adaptive planning of marine protected areas and species-specific management plans, to enhance resilience and rebuilding of Canada’s marine ecosystems and commercial fish stocks.
Measurements of juvenile Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) size using an unmanned aerial system
Authors: Jech J. Michael , Johnson Jennifer J. , Lutcavage Molly , Vanderlaan Angelia S.M. , Rzhanov Yuri , LeRoi Don
Published: March 2020

An APH-22 vertical-takeoff-and-landing hexacopter was used to collect aerial images of schools and individuals of juvenile Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT; Thunnus thynnus) at the sea surface in the southern Gulf of Maine. Quantitative measures of fish length, width, and inter-fish spacing were obtained from these images by applying calibration settings and performance measures from calibrating, testing, and evaluating the onboard motion and altimeter sensors and the digital camera and lenses. The accuracy and precision of the onboard motion sensors, camera, and lens calibrations were sufficient to provide length measurements to sub-centimeter precision, but the altimeter performance was least reliable and required additional information, such as images of known-sized objects during each flight, to provide measurements at the accuracy and precision needed for data to be incorporated in fisheries management. The APH-22 was ideal for acquiring images of ABFT individuals and schools and may be a useful tool for remotely monitoring the behavior and body condition of these elusive animals.
Effect of welding sequence on stress and deformation field of Invar alloy multi-layer and multi-pass welding: A simulation study
Authors: Gao Qiyu , Zhan Xiaohong , Shen Honglie , Ling Wanli , Bu Hengchang
Published: March 2020

The welding sequence has an important influence on the formation of stress and deformation in multi-layer and multi-pass welding (MLMPW). In this paper, a 3D finite element model of Invar alloy welding that can calculate the welding stress and deformation has been established using MSC. Marc. The simulation results show that there is high residual tensile stress in the welding zone. For six-layer twelve-pass welding, the welding sequence has little effect on maximum stress value. Meantime, welding deformation is mainly distributed far from the weld metal area and is mainly affected by welding sequence under similar other welding conditions. It is found that the deformation angle of welding sequence D is the smallest, with a value of [Formula: see text].
Geochemistry and Nd isotopic composition of the Permian Ko Sire Formation, Phuket Island, Thailand: implications for palaeoclimate and palaeogeographical configuration of the Sibumasu Terrane
Authors: Seo Inah , Lee Yong Il , Ampaiwan Tianpan , Kwon Hyosang , Kim Mun Gi
Published: March 2020

The Sibumasu Terrane is a continental block in SE Asia that is considered to have been attached to Gondwana before its collision with Indochina during the Triassic. The elemental geochemistry and Sm–Nd isotopic composition of mudrocks from the lower Permian Ko Sire Formation of the Phuket Group on Phuket Island (central Sibumasu Terrane), Thailand, were analysed to investigate its provenance, weathering history and palaeogeographical location prior to its separation from Gondwana. The whole-rock elemental geochemistry identified a felsic, granodioritic source rock, which is consistent with the general consensus regarding Gondwanan sediment provenance. Despite the evidence for sediment recycling, such as abundant dropstone clasts derived from sedimentary rocks, the low degree of chemical weathering and lack of zircon enrichment indicate a cold and arid palaeoclimate in its source area, which resulted in ice-rafted transportation of clasts and suspension deposition of fine-grained clastic sediments. Sm–Nd isotopic data and previously published detrital zircon U–Pb age spectra provide more detailed information on the source-rock composition, which was similar to that of the North Australian crustal element, suggesting that the central Sibumasu Terrane was located on the northern margin of north Australia during the late Paleozoic.

Supplementary material
: A table of trace element concentrations is available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4877289
Development of a new empirical method for Tunnel Squeezing Classification (TSC)
Authors: Farhadian Hadi , Nikvar-Hassani Arash
Published: March 2020

The characterization of squeezing phenomena as a geological hazard is of great importance because squeezing has a crucial role in the selection of the route and type of tunnels and in the characteristics of the excavation device. Tunnel squeezing is also the basis for the designation and construction of tunnelling-related structures. We present a new tunnel squeezing classification tool to predict tunnel squeezing based on two parameters:
Q
, the tunnelling quality index; and
H
, the depth of the tunnel. We used data collected from published papers to train the model; these data included 225 case histories from different countries, including Andorra, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Spain, Turkey and Venezuela. Validation of the model indicated that our tunnel squeezing classification tool is more accurate than the speculative and analytical methods currently in use. The proposed model will help tunnelling experts to classify tunnelling media from the point of view of squeezing hazards.
Everyone Loves File
Authors: Kuszmaul Bradley C. , Frigo Matteo , Paluska Justin Mazzola , Sandler Alexander (Sasha)
Published: March 2020

Oracle File Storage Service (FSS) is an elastic filesystem provided as a managed NFS service. A pipelined Paxos implementation underpins a scalable block store that provides linearizable multipage limited-size transactions. Above the block store, a scalable B-tree holds filesystem metadata and provides linearizable multikey limited-size transactions. Self-validating B-tree nodes and housekeeping operations performed as separate transactions allow each key in a B-tree transaction to require only one page in the underlying block transaction. The filesystem provides snapshots by using versioned key-value pairs. The system is programmed using a nonblocking lock-free programming style. Presentation servers maintain no persistent local state making them scalable and easy to failover. A non-scalable Paxos-replicated hash table holds configuration information required to bootstrap the system. An additional B-tree provides conversational multi-key minitransactions for control-plane information. The system throughput can be predicted by comparing an estimate of the network bandwidth needed for replication to the network bandwidth provided by the hardware. Latency on an unloaded system is about 4 times higher than a Linux NFS server backed by NVMe, reflecting the cost of replication. FSS has been in production since January 2018 and holds tens of thousands of customer file systems comprising many petabytes of data.
Effects of resveratrol or estradiol on postexercise endothelial function in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women
Authors: Ozemek Cemal , Hildreth Kerry L. , Blatchford Patrick J. , Hurt K. Joseph , Bok Rachael , Seals Douglas R. , Kohrt Wendy M. , Moreau Kerrie L.
Published: March 2020

Regular exercise enhances endothelial function in older men, but not consistently in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women. Estradiol treatment improves basal endothelial function and restores improvements in endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, FMD) to aerobic exercise training in postmenopausal women; however, estradiol treatment is controversial. Resveratrol, an estrogen receptor ligand, enhances exercise training effects on cardiovascular function and nitric oxide (NO) release in animal models, but impairs exercise training effects in men. We conducted a randomized cross-over, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study to determine whether acute (single dose) resveratrol (250-mg tablet) or estradiol (0.05 mg/day transdermal patch) treatment enhances FMD at rest and after a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in healthy estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women ( n = 15, 58.1 ± 3.2 yr). FMD was measured before and after (30, 60, and 120 min) a 40-min bout of moderate-intensity treadmill exercise (60–75% peak heart rate) under the respective conditions (separated by 1-2 wk). FMD was higher ( P < 0.05) before exercise and at all post-exercise time points in the resveratrol and estradiol conditions compared to placebo. FMD was increased from baseline by 120 min postexercise in the estradiol condition ( P < 0.001), but not resveratrol or PL conditions. Consistent with our previous findings, estradiol also enhances endothelial function in response to acute endurance exercise. Although resveratrol improved basal FMD, there was no apparent enhancement of FMD to acute exercise and, therefore, may not act as an estradiol mimetic.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The benefits of endurance exercise training on endothelial function are diminished in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women, but estradiol treatment appears to restore improvements in endothelial function in this group. We show that basal endothelial function is enhanced with both acute estradiol and resveratrol treatments in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women, but endothelial function is only enhanced following acute endurance exercise with estradiol treatment.
Effect of a single bout of exercise on clock gene expression in human leukocyte
Authors: Tanaka Yoshiaki , Ogata Hitomi , Kayaba Momoko , Ando Akira , Park Insung , Yajima Katsuhiko , Araki Akihiro , Suzuki Chihiro , Osumi Haruka , Zhang Simeng , Ishihara Asuka , Takahashi Keigo , Shoda Junichi , Nabekura Yoshiharu , Satoh Makoto , Tokuyama Kumpei
Published: March 2020

Mammals have circadian clocks, which consist of the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the peripheral clocks in the peripheral tissues. The effect of exercise on phase of peripheral clocks have been reported in rodents but not in humans. Continuous sampling is necessary to assess the phase of the circadian rhythm of peripheral clock gene expressions. It has been assumed that the expression of the genes in leukocyte may be “an accessible window to the multiorgan transcriptome.” The present study aimed to examine whether exercise affects the level and phase of clock gene expression in human leukocytes. Eleven young men participated in three trials, in which they performed a single bout of exercise at 60% V̇o2max for 1 h beginning either at 0700 (morning exercise) or 1600 (afternoon exercise) or no exercise (control). Blood samples were collected at 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, and 2300 and at 0600 the next morning, to assess diurnal changes of clock gene expression in leukocytes. Brain and muscle ARNT-like protein 1 ( Bmal1) expression level increased after morning and afternoon exercise, and Cryptochrome 1 ( Cry1) expression level increased after morning exercise. Compared with control trial, acrophase of Bmal1 expression tended to be earlier in morning exercise trial and later in afternoon exercise trial. Acrophase of Cry1 expression was earlier in morning exercise trial but not affected by afternoon exercise. Circadian locomotor output cycles kaput ( Clock), Period 1–3 ( Per1–3), and Cry2 expression levels and those acrophases were not affected by exercise. The present results suggest a potential role of a single bout of exercise to modify peripheral clocks in humans.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study showed that a single bout of exercise affected peripheral clock gene expression in human leukocytes and the effect of exercise depended on when it was performed. Brain and muscle ARNT-like protein 1 ( Bmal1) expression was increased after exercises performed in the morning and afternoon. Cryptochrome 1 ( Cry1) expression was also increased after the morning exercise. The effect of exercise on acrophase of Bmal1 depended on the time of the exercise: advanced after morning exercise and delayed after afternoon exercise.
Corn Response Across Plant Densities and Row Configurations for Different Moisture Environments
Authors: Balkcom Kipling S. , Bowen Kira L.
Published: March 2020

Corn (Zea mays L.) production in the Southeast can be negatively impacted by erratic summer rainfall and drought-prone, coarse-textured soils, but irrigation combined with conservation tillage and cover crops may support greater plant densities arranged in different row configurations to improve yield. We examined five site-years of data across two soil types in Alabama to compare corn yields in a conservation system across three plant densities for single- and twin-row configurations in dryland and irrigated moisture regimes. Treatments were arranged with a split plot treatment restriction in a RCB design with three replications. Main plots were irrigation level (no irrigation and irrigation), and subplots were a factorial arrangement of three plant densities (5.9, 7.4, and 8.9 plants m−2) and row configurations (single and twin). A moisture environment (low and moderate) variable, defined by growing season rainfall, was used to average over site-years. In general, irrigation in the moderate-moisture environment improved each measured variable (plant height, stover yield, corn yield, and test weight) and decreased grain N concentration and aflatoxin levels compared to the low-moisture environment with no irrigation. Benefits of increased rainfall and irrigation to reduce soil moisture stress across drought-prone soils were evident. Pooled results across all site-years indicated no yield response as plant density increased, but greater yields were observed with the greatest plant densities in the moderate-moisture environments. No advantage for twin-row corn production was observed across five site-years in Alabama, which indicates either row configuration can be successfully adopted.
Effect of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Xenogeneic T and B Cells Isolated from Lupus-Prone MRL.Faslpr Mice
Authors: Lee Hong Kyung , Kim Eun Young , Kim Hyung Sook , Park Eun Jae , Lee Hye Jin , Lee Tae Yong , Kim Kyung Suk , Bae Sang-Cheol , Hong Jin Tae , Kim Youngsoo , Han Sang-Bae
Published: March 2020

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized by hyperactivation of T and B cells. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) ameliorate the progression of SLE in preclinical studies using lupus-prone MRL.Faslpr mice. However, whether hMSCs inhibit the functions of xenogeneic mouse T and B cells is not clear. To address this issue, we examined the in vitro effects of hMSCs on T and B cells isolated from MRL.Faslpr mice. Naïve hMSCs inhibited the functions of T cells but not B cells. hMSCs preconditioned with IFN-γ (i) inhibited the proliferation of and IgM production by B cells, (ii) attracted B cells for cell–cell interactions in a CXCL10-dependent manner, and (iii) inhibited B cells by producing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. In summary, our data demonstrate that hMSCs exert therapeutic activity in mice in three steps: first, naïve hMSCs inhibit the functions of T cells, hMSCs are then activated by IFN-γ, and finally, they inhibit B cells.
Anti‐Inflammatory Activity of Pleurotus ostreatus, a Culinary Medicinal Mushroom, in Wistar Rats
Authors: Jayasuriya W. J. A. Banukie N. , Handunnetti Shiroma M. , Wanigatunge Chandanie A. , Fernando Gita H. , Abeytunga D. Thusitha U. , Suresh T. Sugandhika
Published: March 2020

Context. Pleurotus ostreatus (P.o) is a culinary mushroom which is commonly called as “oyster mushroom” belonging to the Basidiomycetous fungi of the order Agaricales and family Pleurotaceae. Objectives. The present study investigates the anti‐inflammatory potential of P.o and the underlying mechanisms of activity. Materials and Methods. Anti‐inflammatory activity was evaluated using suspensions of freeze‐dried and powdered (SFDP) P.o and acetone extract (AE) of P.o in normal and alloxan‐induced diabetic rats using the carrageenan‐induced rat paw oedema model. The mechanisms by which P.o is mediating the anti‐inflammatory activity were studied using in vivo and in vitro assays. Results. At doses of 500–1000 mg/kg, the SFDP of P.o showed long‐lasting activity at both early and late phases of carrageenan‐induced rat paw oedema. The dose of 750 mg/kg showed the most potent inhibitory activity (92% inhibition) in healthy rats. The AE of P.o showed maximum inhibition of oedema of 87%. P.o exerted protective effects on the inflammatory pathologies in rats with diabetes. The possible mechanisms by which P.o mediates the anti‐inflammatory activity were antihistamine activity (52.1%), inhibition of cell migration to the site of inflammation (45.4%), in vitro membrane stabilizing activity (52.6%), and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production (91.2%) (P < 0.05). Dose‐dependent inhibition of NO production was seen with in vitro treatment of rat peritoneal cells with AE of P.o (r = 0.95; P < 0.05). Discussion and Conclusion. The promising activity of culinary mushroom P.o against inflammation suggests its potential application as a functional food during inflammatory conditions.
N-terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Malnutrition in Patients on Hemodialysis
Authors: Ducros Jacques , Larifla Laurent , Merault Henri , Galantine Valérie , Bassien-Capsa Valérie , Foucan Lydia
Published: March 2020

Natriuretic peptides, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are mainly known as diagnostic markers for heart failure with high diagnostic and prognostic values in the general population. In patients who are undergoing hemodialysis (HD), changes in NT-proBNP can be related to noncardiac problems such as fluid overload, inflammation, or malnutrition and can also be influenced by the dialysis characteristics. The current review aimed to summarize findings from studies on the association between NT-proBNP and malnutrition in HD patients. Articles published after 2009 and over a ten-year period were considered for inclusion. We first briefly discuss the traditional functions of NT-proBNP, and after, we describe the functions of this prohormone by focusing on its relation with protein energy wasting (PEW) in HD patients. Mechanisms that could explain these relationships were also discussed. Overall, 7 studies in which the investigation of the relations between NT-proBNP and nutritional status in HD patients were among the main objects were taken into account. NT-proBNP levels correlated with several factors described in the 4 categories of markers indicative of PEW (body mass and composition, muscle mass, biochemical criteria, and dietary intakes) and/or were associated with PEW. Interactions between several parameters could be involved in the association between NT-proBNP and malnutrition with a strong role of weight status. NT-proBNP is elevated in HD patients and is associated with malnutrition. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of NT-proBNP on nutritional status should be evaluated.
Analysis and Prediction of Compressive Properties for Steel Fiber‐and‐Nanosilica‐Reinforced Crumb Rubber Concrete
Authors: Gao Danying , Zhang Tao , Wang Yihong , Kong Yiming , Li Dawei , Meng Yang
Published: March 2020

The disposal of waste tire rubber has gained more attention from the viewpoint of green, environmental protection, and sustainability. Numerous attempts have been stated on the properties of crumb rubber concrete (CRC) and observed that there is a large reduction of compressive strength and elastic modulus of CRC with the increase of the rubber substitution rate. Based on the CRC with the crumb rubber volume content of 5%, the steel fibers and nanosilica were added to CRC to make steel fiber‐and‐nanosilica‐reinforced crumb rubber concrete (SFNS‐CRC) in this paper. The effects of the steel fiber volume content and nanosilica content on the compressive properties of SFNS‐CRC were studied, including compressive strength, elastic modulus, peak strain, compression toughness, and failure pattern. The test results indicated that the modulus of elasticity and compressive strength of SFNS‐CRC have the increasing tendency with the addition of steel fibers and nanosilica. Moreover, the peak strains have a significant increase with the increase of the steel fiber content and nanosilica replacement ratio. The compressive stress‐strain curves of SFNS‐CRC gradually plump with the increase of the steel fibers and nanosilica. Finally, the prediction formulas for the compressive strength, elastic modulus, and peak strain of SFNS‐CRC were set up. A simple predicted model of the stress‐strain curve for SFNS‐CRC was proposed, which considers the effect of steel fibers and nanosilica.
Computationally Derived Image Signature of Stromal Morphology Is Prognostic of Prostate Cancer Recurrence Following Prostatectomy in African American Patients
Authors: Bhargava Hersh K. , Leo Patrick , Elliott Robin , Janowczyk Andrew , Whitney Jon , Gupta Sanjay , Fu Pingfu , Yamoah Kosj , Khani Francesca , Robinson Brian D. , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Feldman Michael , Lal Priti , Madabhushi Anant
Published: March 2020

Purpose:

Between 30%–40% of patients with prostate cancer experience disease recurrence following radical prostatectomy. Existing clinical models for recurrence risk prediction do not account for population-based variation in the tumor phenotype, despite recent evidence suggesting the presence of a unique, more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype in African American (AA) patients. We investigated the capacity of digitally measured, population-specific phenotypes of the intratumoral stroma to create improved models for prediction of recurrence following radical prostatectomy.

Experimental Design:

This study included 334 radical prostatectomy patients subdivided into training (VT, n = 127), validation 1 (V1, n = 62), and validation 2 (V2, n = 145). Hematoxylin and eosin–stained slides from resected prostates were digitized, and 242 quantitative descriptors of the intratumoral stroma were calculated using a computational algorithm. Machine learning and elastic net Cox regression models were constructed using VT to predict biochemical recurrence-free survival based on these features. Performance of these models was assessed using V1 and V2, both overall and in population-specific cohorts.

Results:

An AA-specific, automated stromal signature, AAstro, was prognostic of recurrence risk in both independent validation datasets [V1,AA: AUC = 0.87, HR = 4.71 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.65–13.4), P = 0.003; V2,AA: AUC = 0.77, HR = 5.7 (95% CI, 1.48–21.90), P = 0.01]. AAstro outperformed clinical standard Kattan and CAPRA-S nomograms, and the underlying stromal descriptors were strongly associated with IHC measurements of specific tumor biomarker expression levels.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that considering population-specific information and stromal morphology has the potential to substantially improve accuracy of prognosis and risk stratification in AA patients with prostate cancer.
“Liquid Gold” - The unTAPped Potential of Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis?
Authors: Glitza Oliva Isabella C. , Tawbi Hussein A.
Published: March 2020

Obtaining blood and cerebrospinal fluid is generally less invasive than standard tumor biopsy, and are increasingly used to develop surrogate biomarkers. Leptomeningeal disease, a devastating complication of cancer, represents a unique opportunity for using liquid biopsies for diagnosis, treatment, and to elucidate underlying mechanisms of resistance to therapy.

See related article by Smalley et al., p. 2163
Paradoxical Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Patients Receiving TNF-α Inhibitors: Case Series, Systematic Review, and Case Meta-Analysis
Authors: Salvador-Rodriguez Luis , Montero-Vílchez Trinidad , Arias-Santiago Salvador , Molina-Leyva Alejandro
Published: March 2020

Background/Aims: TNF-α inhibitors represent the most advanced approved therapeutic option for moderate and severe forms of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, in recent years, cases of paradoxical HS secondary to the use of these biological drugs have been described, with very few cases reported in the literature. The aims of this study are (1) to present 2 new cases of paradoxical HS and (2) to perform a systematic review of scientific evidence regarding paradoxical HS with TNF-α inhibitors. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study in which we searched all the cases of paradoxical HS secondary to the use of TNF-α inhibitors published in the literature and included two additional cases observed in our clinical practice. Results: A total of 34 patients under TNF-α inhibitor treatment were included (adalimumab = 21; infliximab = 9; etanercept = 4). The median delay from exposure to TNF-α inhibitor and the development of paradoxical HS was 12 months (range 1–72). The majority of patients were Hurley stage II (58.8%). Clinical improvement and complete remission were more frequent when the TNF-α inhibitor was stopped or switched to another biological agent with a different therapeutic target rather than maintenance or change to another TNF-α inhibitor. Conclusions: Paradoxical HS is an unusual adverse effect of TNF-α inhibitors. When this adverse effect appears, interruption or substitution of treatment is associated with a better clinical outcome.
Strasbourg Medical Expulsion Rulings: Beyond the Deathbed Requirement
Authors: den Exter André
Published: March 2020

For decades, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has applied a restrictive interpretation on the Article 3 threshold in extradition cases. The removal of aliens from the contracting state is lawful unless the applicant faces an imminent risk of death (D v. the United Kingdom (St Kitts)). However, with the Paposhvili ruling the Court has lowered the deathbed requirement to a more favourable standard as confirmed in the latest Savran case. But will those facing medical expulsion really benefit from this new standard at national level?
The Development of the Basil Valentine Corpus and Biography: Pseudepigraphic Corpora and Paracelsian Ideas
Authors: Principe Lawrence M.
Published: March 2020

Early modern alchemical literature is full of pseudonymous corpora. One of the most famous of these is connected with the name Basil Valentine, a supposed Benedictine monk and master of both medicinal and transmutational chymistry. Accreted over a period of nearly a century, the Valentine corpus is complex and heterogeneous. This paper endeavors to organize and recount the construction of the corpus by an array of authors, editors, publishers, and bibliographers, to sort out some of its strata, and to trace the origins and modifications of some of its texts. This exercise will be useful not only for further investigations of Basil Valentine and other pseudonymous chymical corpora, but also for broader studies of forgery and book history.
Religiosity, Social Influence, and Drinking Among Iranians
Authors: Tofangsazi Bashir
Published: March 2020

Most traditional interpretations of Islam view alcohol consumption as strictly forbidden and more than a dozen Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, have prohibited alcohol use. Nevertheless, many Muslim residents of these countries continue to consume alcohol. While this paradox merits scholarly attention, little has been done to clarify it. This paper utilizes Iran as a case study to assess the determinants of alcohol consumption and of attitudes towards the Islamic decree on alcohol use among Muslims. To do so, this study uses a survey of 84 Iranians. Utilizing a small non-random sample, this paper serves as an exploratory foray into the topic. Results show that social influence is strongly and positively associated with alcohol use. Identifying as Muslim, however, is not significantly associated with alcohol use. Among different aspects of religiosity, only religious practices is negatively associated with alcohol use. Additionally, those who have higher scores on a scale of spiritual experiences are more likely to believe that alcohol is not forbidden in Islam, while those with higher scores on a religious practice scale are more likely to conform to the conventional view that considers alcohol use forbidden for Muslims. This suggests that researchers should disaggregate Muslim religiosity into different dimensions to explain its relationship with alcohol consumption.
From Radical Secularism to Islamic NationalismThe Historical Evolution of Politico-Religious Relationship in Turkey
Authors: Chen Yang
Published: March 2020

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (jdp) has continuously won elections and consolidated its power since 2002, while Turkish society has become increasingly conservative at the same time. The official implementation of the presidential system after June 2018 has triggered the world’s concerns and reflections about the future direction of Turkish society: a secular road, an Islamic road, or a new path of balance between religion and secularism. This necessitates an historical analysis of Turkey’s politico-religious relations. The role of Islam in Turkish society can be roughly divided into the following five stages: the suppression of Islam (1923–1950), the release of Islam (1950–), the re-politicization of Islam (1970–), the co-optation of Islam (1980–), and the new development of political Islam (2002–). During the jdp period, a fragile balance between secularism and Islamism had been achieved. But after the July 15th coup in 2016, the jdp adjusted its ideology from radical secularism to Islamic nationalism. The combination of Islamism and nationalism brings more challenges to the solidarity of Turkish society.
Distortions in Time Perception: How the Production Rate of Linguistic Stimuli Influences the Perception of Elapsed Time
Authors: Plastira Miria N. , Avraamides Marios N.
Published: March 2020

In this study we examined whether the exposure to speed-altered audio clips of speech-like stimuli can distort systematically the subjective sense of time. Participants listened to stimuli of varying durations and speeds and reproduced their durations. Results revealed that both speed and actual duration influenced the length of reproduced durations. In particular, participants reproduced durations as longer when they listened to fast compared to slow speech-like stimuli of the same actual duration. In addition, the reproduced durations of long stimuli deviated more from their veridical durations compared to those of short stimuli. Notably, a significant interaction indicated that the effect of speed was greater for stimuli of short than of long actual durations. We argue that listening to fast speech-like stimuli speeds up the pacemaker component of the internal clock, leading to overestimation of the actual duration. The implications of these findings for the theories of time perception are discussed.
New and little known Agraeciini species from Hainan, China (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini)
Authors: HE ZHU-QING , WANG HAN-QIANG , LIU YUN-FENG , TIAN DI , LI KAI
Published: March 2020

Agraeciini species from Hainan, China were investigated from 2017~2019. One new species, Nahlaksia hainanensis He & Wang sp. nov., is described. Liara (Acanthocoryphus) brevis Ingrisch, 1998 and Mesagraecia gorochovi Ingrisch, 1998 are first recorded from Hainan, China. The COI genes of three species are provided and songs of L. (A.) brevis are first reported. The type species are deposited in Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU) and Shanghai Entomological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SEM, CAS).
New species of Eurythenes from hadal depths of the Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean (Crustacea: Amphipoda)
Authors: WESTON JOHANNA N. J. , CARRILLO-BARRAGAN PRISCILLA , LINLEY THOMAS D. , REID WILLIAM D. K. , JAMIESON ALAN J.
Published: March 2020

Eurythenes S. I. Smith in Scudder, 1882 are one of the largest scavenging deep-sea amphipods (max. 154 mm) and are found in every ocean across an extensive bathymetric range from the shallow polar waters to hadal depths. Recent systematic studies of the genus have illuminated a cryptic species complex and highlighted the benefits of using a combination of morphological and molecular identification approaches. In this study, we present the ninth species, Eurythenes plasticus sp. nov., which was recovered using baited traps between the depths 6010 and 6949 m in the Mariana Trench (Northwest Pacific Ocean) in 2014. This new Eurythenes species was found to have distinct morphological characteristics and be a well-supported clade based on sequence variation at two mitochondrial regions (16S rDNA and COI). While this species is new to science and lives in the remote hadal zone, it is not exempt from the impacts of anthropogenic pollution. Indeed, one individual was found to have a microplastic fibre, 83.74% similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in its hindgut. As this species has a bathymetric range spanning from abyssal to hadal depths in the Central Pacific Ocean basin, it offers further insights into the biogeography of Eurythenes.
From Insurgency to Movement: An Embryonic Labor Movement Undermining Hegemony in South China
Authors: Li Chunyun
Published: March 2020

This article provides a new analysis of Chinese labor politics. Most scholars suggest that China has no labor movement because Chinese labor protests are apolitical, cellular, and short-lived, and thus inconsistent with the properties of social movements identified in the political process model. By contrast, the author draws on Antonio Gramsci’s ideas regarding movements undermining hegemony and on ethnographic and archival research to demonstrate that the activities of movement-oriented labor nongovernmental organizations (MLNGOs) coupled with associated labor protests since 2011 constitute the embryo of a counterhegemonic labor movement. MLNGOs have reworked the hegemonic labor law system to undermine the regime’s legal fragmentation of workers, nurtured worker leaders who speak for and represent migrant workers to temporarily substitute for impotent workplace unions, and developed alternative organizational networks of labor organizing that challenged the union’s monopoly. This incipient counterhegemonic movement persisted several years after state repression in late 2015 but was curtailed by another wave of repression in January 2019. The very severity of state repression suggests that a movement countering hegemony has been formed.
Worlds apart! Environmental injustices in Mauritius, Peru and Sweden
Authors: Rambaree Komalsingh , Båld Maria , Backlund Rambaree Brita
Published: March 2020

During the last few years, there has been a growing concern for environmental justice within international social work. This article connects to such concerns and aims to present and discuss environmental injustices faced by local communities in Mauritius, Peru and Sweden. Primary data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with a total of 25 key representatives of local communities in the three countries. Secondary materials were combined with the primary data in ATLAS-ti v.8.3 for a deductive critical discourse analysis. The findings describe the substantive, distributive and procedural environmental injustices faced by local communities in the three case studies. The article then considers the implications of the findings for international social work interventions in promoting environmental justice. The article concludes on the need for international social workers to continue their efforts and practices towards achieving environmental justice for all, in promoting global sustainable development.
Power relations in a school context: Resistance of Chinese caregivers of school-aged children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Ho Hannah Wai Ming , Ma Joyce Lai Chong , Lai Kelly Yee Ching
Published: March 2020

This study draws on Michel Foucault’s framework on power relations to explore the power of parents, as evidenced by various resistance strategies, in relating to teachers of their children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This qualitative study had seven focus group interviews, involving 58 caregivers from 47 Chinese families of children with ADHD. Thematic analysis was used and three themes were identified: (1) cognitive resistance, (2) behavioral resistance, and (3) the transcendent vision of education. Resulting from the study, a culturally sensitive three-dimensional empowerment model is proposed for social workers to engage in advocacy that can facilitate a transformation of family–school power relations.
Pathways for the economic empowerment of female entrepreneurs in emerging economies: Implications for social work
Authors: Boateng Doris Akyere
Published: March 2020

In many emerging economies, owning and operating a small/medium-scale business is essential in the creation of wealth, empowering business owners and helping to address the developmental challenges of the society. Although many women are venturing into family businesses in Ghana, there are still some challenges that hinder their economic empowerment. Interviewing 15 women in small, family businesses in Accra, this article identifies three main concerns of the women which are identified as critical pathways that social workers interested in the economic empowerment of female entrepreneurs could follow. The implications of the findings for social work practice are discussed.
Health, social support, resilience and successful ageing among older Chilean adults
Authors: Gallardo-Peralta Lorena P , Mayorga Muñoz Cecilia , Soto Higuera Abel
Published: March 2020

The promotion of successful ageing (SA) has become a strategy. But there has been little examination of the dimensions that are associated with SA from an integrative perspective that takes into account potential particularities among indigenous older adults. This study explores the predictors of SA for a sample of 800 older Chilean adults. The results show that demographic, health and psychosocial variables are associated with SA, with resilience being of particular note. The findings of this study underline the importance of assessing SA, using multidimensional approaches and emphasising heterogeneity and the particularities of indigenous cultural contexts.
Removal of disperse dye from alcoholysis products of waste PET fabrics by nitric acid-modified activated carbon as an adsorbent: Kinetic and thermodynamic studies
Authors: Li Mengjuan , Lu Jing , Li Xiaoqiang , Ge Mingqiao , Li Yonggui
Published: March 2020

Decolorization technology is a critical problem of high-quality chemical recycling and recovery of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) textiles. In order to deal with this problem, nitric acid-modified activated carbon (AC-HNO3) was utilized as an adsorbent for removal of C.I. Disperse Red 60 (DR60) from the glycolysis products of waste PET fabrics. The glycolysis product was bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET). The pore structure and surface properties of AC and AC-HNO3 samples were characterized by N2 adsorption, differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) and elemental analyses (EA). Modification with nitric acid increased the amount of oxygen groups of the activated carbon from 12.3% to 18.0% and enhanced the electrostatic attraction between dye molecules and activated carbon. The average color removal ratio of DR60 on AC-HNO3 increased into 97.6 ± 0.5%, which is better than that on raw AC (85.0 ± 1.6%). Relative whiteness of BHET increased from 40.3 ± 0.9% to 98.3 ± 1.1%. The adsorption kinetics for DR60 on the AC-HNO3 were studied using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models and fitted to the latter well ( R2 = 0.9999). To investigate the adsorption equilibrium behavior, Freundlich and Langmuir models were examined. The results showed that the Langmuir model provided better correlation ( qmax = 163.9 mg/g). The adsorption isotherms at different temperatures were used for the determination of thermodynamic parameters. Based on the data of Δ G0 , Δ H0 and Ea, the adsorption process was physisorption.
Study of adaptive thermochromic camouflage for combat uniform
Authors: Viková Martina , Pechová Marcela
Published: March 2020

Adaptive camouflage refers to the adaptation of an object, such as a military vehicle or soldier, to its surroundings. Although the use of camouflage by military forces dates back to the First World War, this research will address the development of an adaptive color changeable system based on selected thermochromic inks following the colors used in Czech woodland and desert combat uniforms. The printed color pattern mimics leaf design, which transforms into desert design based on thermal conditions (hot air and body temperature). Target colors were prepared using six thermochromic inks, which were combined into a suitable mixture based on measured spectral and colorimetric data. The transition temperature of each thermochromic ink was measured together with the fastness properties of the printed color pattern. The data on rubbing fastness were satisfactory. Nevertheless, at high concentrations, thermochromic ink in the printing paste caused an unacceptable decrease in fastness. The wash property of printed fabrics showed reasonably good fixation of colors to the fabric surface. From the point of view of light fastness, the results confirmed that commercial thermochromic pigments are less resistant against solar radiation, and the resulting light fastness is between 1 and 2 on the blue scale. The special hydrophobic and UV treatment applied by the knife-over-roll method improved light fastness by 3–4 times. In this research, we demonstrated the potential to create a complex and dynamic range of patterns on textiles, with the promise of using one uniform for camouflaging in different types of environment.
Politicalization or Professionalism? A Case Study of the Military’s Discourse in China
Authors: Luo Zhifan
Published: March 2020

After decades of military reform, how does the Chinese military justify its persistent role in politics and social life? This mixed-methods study examines the discursive strategies used by military deputies to understand how a semi-professional military speak to its relations to the Party, its own organizational missions and goals, and potential conflicts between them. Computer-assisted text analysis is combined with targeted deep reading to identify and examine latent topics in comments made by military deputies between 2001 and 2017. The findings show that the military deputies simultaneously mobilize a political discourse and a discourse of professionalism. This duality of discourse constitutes a source of legitimacy for the military’s pursuit of corporate interests.
A super-twisting sliding mode observer for boost inverter-based hybrid photovoltaic -battery system control
Authors: Pati Akshaya K , Sahoo Nirod C
Published: March 2020

This paper proposes an observer-based control scheme for a three-phase differential boost inverter in a hybrid PV-battery system. In a conventional control scheme for three-phase differential boost inverter (DBI)-based PV system, the measurements of input inductor current and voltage across output capacitors are required for obtaining the desired voltage at the load end. In a typical three-phase differential boost inverter operation, four voltage sensors and seven current sensors are required to achieve the desired AC voltage. In this paper, an observer-based strategy for elimination of these sensors without compromising power quality is reported. For estimation of boost inverter inductor current and output capacitor voltage, only DC-link capacitor voltage and the load currents are measured. A super-twisting sliding mode observer is used for estimation of the states of the boost inverter. A comparative study between the first-order sliding mode observer and super-twisting sliding mode observer is also presented. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed observer-based control scheme works satisfactorily under various operating conditions such as sudden change of load, changes in solar insolation, and also under unbalanced load conditions.
Design of distributed guidance laws for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles cooperative attack of a moving target based on reducing surrounding area
Authors: Wei Xiaoqian , Yang Jianying , Fan Xiangru
Published: March 2020

Based on minimizing the enclosed area around the target of multi-attackers, two novel guidance laws are created to address the issue of cooperative encirclement and simultaneous attack. The only requirement for the multi-attacker communication network is that it should contain a directed spanning tree, and does not require all attackers to observe the target information, where at least one can observe the target. To reduce the remaining relative distances between the target and attackers simultaneously, and to make the overload in direction perpendicular to the line of sight converge to zero, the multiple-attackers-single-target problem is effectively solved and can avoid collisions among attackers as well as difficulties in estimation of remaining time. Simulation results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed guidance laws.