bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chimarrão consumption and prognostic factors in breast cancer: Correlation with antioxidants and blood caffeine levels
Authors: Calixto Maria Rachel Pedrazzoli , Rech Daniel , dos Santos Vanessa L. , Madeira Tiago Bervelieri , Nixdorf Suzana Lucy , Fagundes Tatiane Renata , Davis Rachel Ann Hauser , Bastos Frederico Freire , Bastos‐Neto Jayme da Cunha , Bastos Vera Lucia Freire da Cunha , Zanandrea Ana Carolina , de Lima Josivan Ribeiro , Victorino Vanessa Jacob , Panis Carolina
Published: September 2020

Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy among women. Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil, known as yerba mate, is widely consumed in southern Brazil as a hot infusion drink known as chimarrão. This herb has a complex chemical composition and is rich in antioxidants, which may interfere in the course of chronic inflammatory diseases as breast cancer. This study investigated the impact of chimarrão consumption on the clinicopathological profile of women with breast cancer attended at Francisco Beltrão Cancer Hospital, Paraná, Brazil. Blood antioxidants and caffeine profiles were assessed. Decreases in reduced glutathione and metallothionein levels, and increase in catalase activity were observed among breast cancer patients that were chimarrão consumers. The levels of circulating caffeine in breast cancer patients with luminal A tumors were higher than those in patients with luminal B and HER‐2 subtypes. Furthermore, overweight patients presented higher caffeine levels than the eutrophic ones. It was found positive associations between chimarrão intake and high body mass index, and chimarrão intake and menopause at diagnosis. Altogether, these findings suggest that chimarrão consumption affects the blood antioxidants of breast cancer patients, and that the caffeine present in this mixture may favor the development of tumor of good prognosis.

Highlights

Chimarrão consumption may affect the course of chronic inflammatory diseases, as breast cancer.

Chimarrão intake changed blood antioxidants in breast cancer patients who were current consumers when compared to the non‐consumers ones.

High levels of caffeine were detected in patients bearing luminal A tumors, suggesting a protective role.
Event‐triggered dynamic output feedback control for networked nonlinear systems
Authors: Liu Xinxin , Su Xiaojie , Shi Peng
Published: September 2020

In this article, the problem of event‐triggered dynamic output feedback control is investigated for a class of networked nonlinear systems with mixed delays and packet dropouts. By applying the cone complementary linearization technique, sufficient conditions are developed such that the resulting closed‐loop system dynamics is mean square asymptotically stable with a desired performance level. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated via an illustrative example.
Lost in Translation? Challenges in Connecting Reading Science and Educational Practice
Authors: Seidenberg Mark S. , Cooper Borkenhagen Matt , Kearns Devin M.
Published: September 2020

Can the science of reading contribute to improving educational practices, allowing more students to become skilled readers? Much has been learned about the behavioral and brain bases of reading, how students learn to read, and factors that contribute to low literacy. The potential to use research findings to improve literacy outcomes is substantial but remains largely unrealized. The lack of improvement in literacy levels, especially among students who face other challenges such as poverty, has led to new pressure to incorporate the science of reading in curricula, instructional practices, and teacher education. In the interest of promoting these efforts, the authors discuss three issues that could undermine them: the need for additional translational research linking reading science to classroom activities, the oversimplified way that the science is sometimes represented in the educational context, and the fact that theories of reading have become more complex and less intuitive as the field has progressed. Addressing these concerns may allow reading science to be used more effectively and achieve greater acceptance among educators.
Translational Science: A Road Map for the Science of Reading
Authors: Solari Emily J. , Terry Nicole Patton , Gaab Nadine , Hogan Tiffany P. , Nelson Nancy J. , Pentimonti Jill M. , Petscher Yaacov , Sayko Sarah
Published: September 2020

Despite scientific advances that have informed our understanding of reading acquisition and development, a profound gap exists between empirical findings and the implementation of evidence‐based practices in the assessment and instruction of reading in school settings. The debate regarding the practical implications of the science of reading (SOR) and its implementation in authentic school settings is palpable. As researchers, practitioners, policymakers, parents, and other educational stakeholders engage in this latest version of the debate on how best to teach young learners to read, a familiar, almost cyclical, narrative has emerged. As an interdisciplinary group of researchers who study diverse facets of reading development, assessment, and instruction, it is troubling how little the current and past debates have focused on processes that could ensure that the instructional experience students receive in classrooms is informed by existing science. Specifically, the authors contend that the persistent gap between the SOR and its school‐based implementation exists because the field has yet to invest in the appropriate methodologies and processes to develop an effective model of translational science. The authors argue not only that much can be learned from previous iterations of this debate but also that advances in translational science provide a framework for how to address the SOR debate differently and more productively in the current climate. Thus, the authors propose a road map for translational science for the SOR, acknowledging the breadth of work done in translational science in other fields and recognizing and describing the added complexities in the emerging field of translational science in educational settings.
Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 Nanorods for High Performance Supercapacitor Electrode Application
Authors: Harichandran Gurusamy , Radha Sivasubramanian , Yesuraj Johnbosco , Muthuraaman Bhagavathiachari
Published: September 2020

In the present study, Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 electrode materials were prepared by CTAB assisted hydrothermal method. Thermal, crystalline and bonding properties of freshly prepared samples were confirmed by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), x‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman analyses. The surface morphological features of Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 electrode materials were observed via Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The concentration of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) template has much influenced in nanomaterial formation and the high concentration (3 mM) of CTAB provides nanorod structures. The electrochemical analysis of Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 electrodes were demonstrated via cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP) and cyclic stability analyses. The electrochemical investigations of Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 electrode provide remarkable specific capacitance of 532 F g−1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1 and good cyclic stability of 98 % retention even after 5000 cycles at a scan rate of 20 mV s−1 with good rate capability. These outcomes prompted to assign a probable application for the synthesized Cu3( MoO4)2(OH)2 to utilize as a capable electrode material for supercapacitor applications.
Contribution of Polylactic Acid and Pd Nanoparticles in the Enhanced Photothermal Effect of Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Neelgund Gururaj M. , Oki Aderemi
Published: September 2020

The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been successfully modified to absorb in near‐infrared (NIR) region by synergetic functionalization with an important biopolymer, polylactic acid (PLA) and subsequent in‐situ deposition of Pd nanoparticles. This process has also extended the absorption ability of Pd nanoparticles towards NIR region apart from its classical absorption in UV and visible regions. Thus fabricated CNTs‐PLA‐Pd demonstrated excellent photothermal effect under exposure to 980 nm laser and significant stability against photo‐bleaching and corrosiveness. A stepwise increment in the photothermal effect of CNTs was attained by covalent grafting of PLA and successive deposition of Pd nanoparticles. The photothermal effect of CNTs‐PLA‐Pd was proportional to its concentration level and photothermal conversion efficiency calculated for CNTs‐PLA‐Pd was 26.5 %. The photothermal effect of CNTs‐PLA‐Pd under illumination to 980 nm laser was higher than that of 808 nm laser. The temperature attained during photothermal effect for CNTs‐PLA‐Pd was beyond 60 °C, which far exceeds the temperature survival level of cancer cells. Overall, the rational integration of CNTs, PLA and Pd nanoparticles in CNTs‐PLA‐Pd by reported strategy could offer a suitable avenue for advancement of cancer therapy.
Language evolution and healthiness for critical cyber‐physical systems
Authors: Banach Richard , Zhu Huibiao
Published: September 2020

In the effort to develop critical cyber‐physical systems, it is tempting to extend existing computing formalisms to include continuous behaviour. This may happen in a way that neglects elements necessary for correctly expressing continuous properties of the mathematics and correct physical properties of the real‐world physical system. A simple language is taken to illustrate these possibilities. Issues and risks latent in this kind of approach are identified and discussed under the umbrella of ‘healthiness conditions’. Modifications to the language in the light of the conditions discussed are elaborated, resulting in the language Combined Discrete and Physical Programmes in Parallel (CDPPP). An example air conditioning system is used to illustrate the concepts presented, and it is developed both in the original ‘unhealthy’ language and in the modified ‘healthier’ CDPPP. The formal semantics of the improved language is explored.
A Review on Explorations of the Oxygen Blast Furnace Process
Authors: Zhang Wei , Dai Jing , Li Chengzhi , Yu Xiaobing , Xue Zhengliang , Saxén Henrik
Published: September 2020

The oxygen blast furnace (OBF) process has been extensively studied theoretically because of the potentials of promising energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction. Herein, investigations of the OBF process are reviewed and some suggestions for its future development are presented. The main findings can be condensed into the following: static and dynamic models of the OBF should be revised to considering the newest theoretical findings in the thermodynamics and kinetics involved as well as the particular limitations of the technology. Models focusing on energy demand and emissions should be further developed and applied to enhance the design for increased efficiency and sustainability of the complicated OBF system. It will be challenging to operate the full OBF process with top gas recycling (TGR). The development of mathematical models focusing on the practical operation is therefore warranted and would provide useful tools for tackling control problems and difficulties that will arise in forthcoming industrial trials. Considering these potential challenges, a medium oxygen‐enriched blast furnace with TGR as a forerunner is suggested because its operation conditions show greater resemblance with those of the traditional blast furnace. This furthermore provides a path of transition to the use of the full OBF in industrial scale.
The opposing roles of the mTOR signaling pathway in different phases of human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ cell erythropoiesis
Authors: Liu Qian , Luo Linhong , Ren Chunhong , Zou Muping , Yang Siqin , Cai Bozhi , Wu Libiao , Wang Yunsheng , Fu Shan , Hua Xu , Tang Nianping , Huang Shiping , Huang Xianxi , Xin Wen , Chen Feiheng , Zhang Xin
Published: September 2020

As an indispensable, even lifesaving practice, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is challenging due to several issues, including supply shortage, immune incompatibility, and blood-borne infections since donated blood is the only source of RBCs. Although large-scale in vitro production of functional RBCs from human stem cells is a promising alternative, so far, no such system has been reported to produce clinically transfusable RBCs due to the poor understanding of mechanisms of human erythropoiesis, which is essential for the optimization of in vitro erythrocyte generation system. We previously reported that inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling significantly decreased the percentage of erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow of wild-type mice. In contrast, rapamycin treatment remarkably improved terminal maturation of erythroblasts and anemia in a mouse model of β-thalassemia. In the present study, we investigated the effect of mTOR inhibition with rapamycin from different time points on human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ cell erythropoiesis in vitro and the underlying mechanisms. Our data showed that rapamycin treatment significantly suppressed erythroid colony formation in the commitment/proliferation phase of erythropoiesis through inhibition of cell-cycle progression and proliferation. In contrast, during the maturation phase of erythropoiesis, mTOR inhibition dramatically promoted enucleation and mitochondrial clearance by enhancing autophagy. Collectively, our results suggest contrasting roles for mTOR in regulating different phases of human erythropoiesis.
Competing‐risks model for prediction of small‐for‐gestational‐age neonate from maternal characteristics, serum pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A and placental growth factor at 11–13 weeks' gestation
Authors: Papastefanou I. , Wright D. , Lolos M. , Anampousi K. , Mamalis M. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To expand a new competing‐risks model for prediction of a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) neonate, by the addition of pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) and placental growth factor (PlGF), and to evaluate and compare PAPP‐A and PlGF in predicting SGA.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of 60 875 women with singleton pregnancy undergoing routine ultrasound examination at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. We fitted a folded‐plane regression model for the PAPP‐A and PlGF likelihoods. A previously developed maternal history model and the likelihood models were combined, according to Bayes' theorem, to obtain individualized distributions for gestational age (GA) at delivery and birth‐weight Z‐score. We assessed the discrimination and calibration of the model. McNemar's test was used to compare the detection rates for SGA with, without or independently of pre‐eclampsia (PE) occurrence, of different combinations of maternal history, PAPP‐A and PlGF, for a fixed false‐positive rate.

Results

The distributions of PAPP‐A and PlGF depend on both GA at delivery and birth‐weight Z‐score, in the same continuous likelihood, according to a folded‐plane regression model. The new approach offers the capability for risk computation for any desired birth‐weight Z‐score and GA at delivery cut‐off. PlGF was consistently and significantly better than PAPP‐A in predicting SGA delivered before 37 weeks, especially in cases with co‐existence of PE. PAPP‐A had similar performance to PlGF for the prediction of SGA without PE. At a fixed false‐positive rate of 10%, the combination of maternal history, PlGF and PAPP‐A predicted 33.8%, 43.8% and 48.4% of all cases of a SGA neonate with birth weight < 10th percentile delivered at ≥ 37, < 37 and < 32 weeks' gestation, respectively. The respective values for birth weight < 3rd percentile were 38.6%, 48.7% and 51.0%. The new model performed well in terms of risk calibration.

Conclusions

The combination of PAPP‐A and PlGF values with maternal characteristics, according to Bayes' theorem, improves prediction of SGA. PlGF is a better predictor of SGA than PAPP‐A, especially when PE is present. The new competing‐risks model for SGA can be tailored to each pregnancy and to the relevant clinical requirements. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Transperineal and endovaginal ultrasound for evaluating suburethral masses: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Okeahialam N. A. , Taithongchai A. , Sultan A. H. , Thakar R.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To evaluate the utility of pelvic floor ultrasound (US) in the detection and evaluation of suburethral masses, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of US and MRI scans of all women with a suburethral mass on clinical examination at a single urogynecology clinic over a 13‐year period (February 2007 to March 2020). All women were examined using two‐dimensional transperineal US (2D‐TPUS) with or without three‐dimensional endovaginal US (3D‐EVUS). All patients underwent unenhanced T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted MRI, which was considered the reference standard in this study. Presence of a suburethral mass and its size, location, connection with the urethral lumen and characteristics were evaluated on both pelvic floor US and MRI. Agreement between pelvic floor US and MRI was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC; 3,1).

Results

Forty women suspected of having a suburethral mass on clinical examination underwent both MRI and US (2D‐TPUS with or without 3D‐EVUS). MRI detected a suburethral mass in 34 women, which was also detected by US. However, US also identified a suburethral mass in the remaining six women. Thus, the agreement between US and MRI for detecting a suburethral mass was 85% (95% CI, 70.2–94.3%). The ICC analysis showed good agreement between MRI and 2D‐TPUS for the measured distance between the suburethral mass and the bladder neck (ICC, 0.89; standard error of measurement (SEM), 3.64 mm) and excellent agreement for measurement of the largest diameter of the mass (ICC, 0.93; SEM, 4.31 mm). Good agreement was observed between MRI and 3D‐EVUS for the measured distance from the suburethral mass to the bladder neck (ICC, 0.88; SEM, 3.48 mm) and excellent agreement for the largest diameter of the suburethral mass (ICC, 0.94; SEM, 4.68 mm).

Conclusions

2D‐TPUS and 3D‐EVUS are useful in the imaging of suburethral masses. US shows good‐to‐excellent agreement with MRI in identifying and measuring suburethral masses; therefore, the two modalities can be used interchangeably depending on availability of equipment and expertise. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
‐ Legal Statement: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Stimulated radar collider for probing gravitationally weak coupling pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons
Authors: Homma Kensuke , Kirita Yuri
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We propose a stimulated pulsed-radar collider to directly produce pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons as candidates for dark components in the Universe and simultaneously induce the decay by mixing two radar beams. We have extended formulae for stimulated resonant photon-photon scattering in a quasi-parallel collision system by including fully asymmetric collision cases. With a pulse energy of 100 J in the GHz-band, for instance, which is already achieved by an existing klystron, we expect that the model-independent sensitivity can reach gravitationally weak coupling domains at a mass range 10−7–10−6 eV, if two key technological issues are resolved: pulse compression in time reaching the Fourier transform limit, and single-photon counting for GHz-band photons. Such testing might extend the present horizon of particle physics.
Local Existence of Strong Solutions of a Fluid–Structure Interaction Model
Authors: Mitra Sourav
Published: September 2020

We are interested in studying a system coupling the compressible Navier–Stokes equations with an elastic structure located at the boundary of the fluid domain. Initially the fluid domain is rectangular and the beam is located on the upper side of the rectangle. The elastic structure is modeled by an Euler–Bernoulli damped beam equation. We prove the local in time existence of strong solutions for that coupled system.
Invariance Principle for the Random Lorentz Gas—Beyond the Boltzmann-Grad Limit
Authors: Lutsko Christopher , Tóth Bálint
Published: September 2020

We prove the invariance principle for a random Lorentz-gas particle in 3 dimensions under the Boltzmann-Grad limit and simultaneous diffusive scaling. That is, for the trajectory of a point-like particle moving among infinite-mass, hard-core, spherical scatterers of radius r, placed according to a Poisson point process of density $$\varrho $$
ϱ
, in the limit $$\varrho \rightarrow \infty $$

ϱ
→
∞

, $$r\rightarrow 0$$

r
→
0

, $$\varrho r^{2}\rightarrow 1$$

ϱ

r
2

→
1

up to time scales of order $$T=o(r^{-2}\left| {\log r}\right| ^{-2})$$

T
=
o
(

r

-
2

log
r

-
2

)

. To our knowledge this represents the first significant progress towards solving rigorously this problem in classical nonequilibrium statistical physics, since the groundbreaking work of Gallavotti (Phys Rev 185:308–322, 1969, Nota Interna Univ di Roma 358, 1970, Statistical mechanics. A short treatise. Theoretical and mathematical physics series, Springer, Berlin, 1999), Spohn (Commun Math Phys 60:277–290, 1978, Rev Mod Phys 52:569–611, 1980) and Boldrighini–Bunimovich–Sinai (J Stat Phys 32:477–501, 1983). The novelty is that the diffusive scaling of particle trajectory and the kinetic (Boltzmann-Grad) limit are taken simultaneously. The main ingredients are a coupling of the mechanical trajectory with the Markovian random flight process, and probabilistic and geometric controls on the efficiency of this coupling. Similar results have been earlier obtained for the weak coupling limit of classical and quantum random Lorentz gas, by Komorowski–Ryzhik (Commun Math Phys 263:277–323, 2006), respectively, Erdős–Salmhofer–Yau (Acta Math 200:211–277, 2008, Commun Math Phys 271:1–53, 2007). However, the following are substantial differences between our work and these ones: (1) The physical setting is different: low density rather than weak coupling. (2) The method of approach is different: probabilistic coupling rather than analytic/perturbative. (3) Due to (2), the time scale of validity of our diffusive approximation—expressed in terms of the kinetic time scale—is much longer and fully explicit.
Cyto- and myeloarchitectural brain atlas of the pale spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) in CT Aided Stereotaxic Coordinates
Authors: Radtke-Schuller Susanne , Fenzl Thomas , Peremans Herbert , Schuller Gerd , Firzlaff Uwe
Published: September 2020

The pale spear-nosed bat Phyllostomus discolor, a microchiropteran bat, is well established as an animal model for research on the auditory system, echolocation and social communication of species-specific vocalizations. We have created a brain atlas of Phyllostomus discolor that provides high-quality histological material for identification of brain structures in reliable stereotaxic coordinates to strengthen neurobiological studies of this key species. The new atlas combines high-resolution images of frontal sections alternately stained for cell bodies (Nissl) and myelinated fibers (Gallyas) at 49 rostrocaudal levels, at intervals of 350 µm. To facilitate comparisons with other species, brain structures were named according to the widely accepted Paxinos nomenclature and previous neuroanatomical studies of other bat species. Outlines of auditory cortical fields, as defined in earlier studies, were mapped onto atlas sections and onto the brain surface, together with the architectonic subdivisions of the neocortex. X-ray computerized tomography (CT) of the bat’s head was used to establish the relationship between coordinates of brain structures and the skull. We used profile lines and the occipital crest as skull landmarks to line up skull and brain in standard atlas coordinates. An easily reproducible protocol allows sectioning of experimental brains in the standard frontal plane of the atlas. An electronic version of the atlas plates and supplementary material is available from 10.12751/g-node.8bbcxy
Terminal complement complex formation is associated with intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Teixeira Graciosa Q. , Yong Zhiyao , Goncalves Raquel M. , Kuhn Amelie , Riegger Jana , Brisby Helena , Barreto Henriksson Helena , Ruf Michael , Nerlich Andreas , Mauer Uwe M. , Ignatius Anita , Brenner Rolf E. , Neidlinger-Wilke Cornelia
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The complement system is a crucial part of innate immunity. Recent work demonstrated an unexpected contribution to tissue homeostasis and degeneration. This study investigated for the first time, in human disc tissues, the deposition profile of the complement activation product terminal complement complex (TCC), an inflammatory trigger and inducer of cell lysis, and its inhibitor CD59, and their correlation with the degree of disc degeneration (DD).

Methods

Disc biopsies were collected from patients diagnosed with DD (n = 39, age 63 ± 12) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS, n = 10, age 17 ± 4) and compared with discs from healthy Young (n = 11, age 7 ± 7) and Elder (n = 10, age 65 ± 15) donors. Immunohistochemical detection of TCC and CD59 in nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF) and endplate (EP) was correlated with age, Pfirrmann grade and Modic changes.

Results

Higher percentage of TCC+ cells was detected in the NP and EP of DD compared to Elder (P < 0.05), and in the EP of Young versus Elder (P < 0.001). In DD, TCC deposition was positively correlated with Pfirrmann grade, but not with Modic changes, whereas for Young donors, a negative correlation was found with age, indicating TCC’s involvement not only in DD, but also in early stages of skeletal development. Higher CD59 positivity was found in AIS and DD groups compared to Young (P < 0.05), and it was negatively correlated with the age of the patients.

Conclusion

TCC deposition positively correlated with the degree of disc degeneration. A functional relevance of TCC may exist in DD, representing a potential target for new therapeutics.
Flavonoids: nutraceutical potential for counteracting muscle atrophy
Authors: Kim Changhee , Hwang Jae-Kwan
Published: September 2020

Skeletal muscle plays a vital role in the conversion of chemical energy into physical force. Muscle atrophy, characterized by a reduction in muscle mass, is a symptom of chronic disease (cachexia), aging (sarcopenia), and muscle disuse (inactivity). To date, several trials have been conducted to prevent and inhibit muscle atrophy development; however, few interventions are currently available for muscle atrophy. Recently, food ingredients, plant extracts, and phytochemicals have received attention as treatment sources to prevent muscle wasting. Flavonoids are bioactive polyphenol compounds found in foods and plants. They possess diverse biological activities, including anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammation. The effects of flavonoids on muscle atrophy have been investigated by monitoring molecular mechanisms involved in protein turnover, mitochondrial activity, and myogenesis. This review summarizes the reported effects of flavonoids on sarcopenia, cachexia, and disuse muscle atrophy, thus, providing an insight into the understanding of the associated molecular mechanisms.
Tailoring of rheological properties and structural polydispersity effects in microfibrillated cellulose suspensions
Authors: Cinar Ciftci Goksu , Larsson Per A. , Riazanova Anastasia V. , Øvrebø Hans Henrik , Wågberg Lars , Berglund Lars A.
Published: September 2020

Industrial production of low-charge microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) typically results in wide fibril size distributions. This polydispersity influences viscosity, overall colloidal stability, and rheological properties of MFC suspensions and gels in aqueous systems. In this work, a systematic rheological analysis is performed for industrially prepared MFC and fractions of different size distributions. Gel formation and flow characteristics (e.g., shear-thinning) of each fraction are examined under neutral and acidic conditions and compared with the unfractionated MFC suspension. The effects of size, aspect ratio, and surface charge on the rheology of semi-dilute MFC suspensions are discussed. The results demonstrate that particle size and aspect ratio distribution control the viscoelasticity and shear-thinning properties of MFC suspensions. An increased fraction of small diameter nanofibrils, by ex situ addition of the fine particles with high aspect ratio or removal of the coarsest particles (with lower aspect ratio) by fractionation, significantly enhances the storage modulus and the yield stress of the complex mixture, compared to the properties of the coarser fractions. New insights are also reported on the tailoring of the rheology of highly polydisperse fibrillar mixtures, where the rheological contributions of each fraction are discussed.

Graphic abstract
Changing the means of managerial work: effects of automated decision support systems on personnel selection tasks
Authors: Langer Markus , König Cornelius J. , Busch Vivien
Published: September 2020

To enhance the quality and efficiency of information processing and decision-making, automation based on artificial intelligence and machine learning has increasingly been used to support managerial tasks and duties. In contrast to classical applications of automation (e.g., within production or aviation), little is known about how the implementation of automation for management changes managerial work. In a work design frame, this study investigates how different versions of automated decision support systems for personnel selection as a specific management task affect decision task performance, time to reach a decision, reactions to the task (e.g., enjoyment), and self-efficacy in personnel selection. In a laboratory experiment, participants (N = 122) were randomly assigned to three groups and performed five rounds of a personnel selection task. The first group received a ranking of the applicants by an automated support system before participants processed applicant information (support-before-processing group), the second group received a ranking after they processed applicant information (support-after-processing group), and the third group received no ranking (no-support group). Results showed that satisfaction with the decision was higher for the support-after-processing group. Furthermore, participants in this group showed a steeper increase in self-efficacy in personnel selection compared to the other groups. This study combines human factors, management, and industrial/organizational psychology literature and goes beyond discussions concerning effectiveness and efficiency in the emerging area of automation in management in an attempt to stimulate research on potential effects of automation on managers’ job satisfaction and well-being at work.
Cost–benefit analyses to assess the potential of Operational Earthquake Forecasting prior to a mainshock in Europe
Authors: Douglas John , Azarbakht Alireza
Published: September 2020

In the past couple of decades, Operational Earthquake Forecasting (OEF) has been proposed as a way of mitigating earthquake risk. In particular, it has the potential to reduce human losses (injuries and deaths) by triggering actions such as reinforcing earthquake drills and preventing access to vulnerable structures during a period of increased seismic hazard. Despite the dramatic increases in seismic hazard in the immediate period before a mainshock (of up to 1000 times has been observed), the probability of a potentially damaging earthquake occurring in the coming days or weeks remains small (generally less than 5%). Therefore, it is necessary to balance the definite cost of taking an action against the uncertain chance that it will mitigate earthquake losses. In this article, parametric cost–benefit analyses using a recent seismic hazard model for Europe and a wide range of inputs are conducted to assess when potential actions for short-term OEF are cost–beneficial prior to a severe mainshock. Ninety-six maps for various combinations of input parameters are presented. These maps show that low-cost actions (costing less than 1% of the mitigated losses) are cost–beneficial within the context of OEF for areas of moderate to high seismicity in the Mediterranean region. The actions triggered by OEF in northern areas of the continent are, however, unlikely to be cost–beneficial unless very large increases in seismicity are observed or very low-cost actions are possible.
Nonlinear optimization of district heating networks
Authors: Krug Richard , Mehrmann Volker , Schmidt Martin
Published: September 2020

We develop a complementarity-constrained nonlinear optimization model for the time-dependent control of district heating networks. The main physical aspects of water and heat flow in these networks are governed by nonlinear and hyperbolic 1d partial differential equations. In addition, a pooling-type mixing model is required at the nodes of the network to treat the mixing of different water temperatures. This mixing model can be recast using suitable complementarity constraints. The resulting problem is a mathematical program with complementarity constraints subject to nonlinear partial differential equations describing the physics. In order to obtain a tractable problem, we apply suitable discretizations in space and time, resulting in a finite-dimensional optimization problem with complementarity constraints for which we develop a suitable reformulation with improved constraint regularity. Moreover, we propose an instantaneous control approach for the discretized problem, discuss practically relevant penalty formulations, and present preprocessing techniques that are used to simplify the mixing model at the nodes of the network. Finally, we use all these techniques to solve realistic instances. Our numerical results show the applicability of our techniques in practice.
Comparison of structure analyses and core collections for the
management of walnut genetic resources
Authors: Bernard Anthony , Barreneche Teresa , Donkpegan Armel , Lheureux Fabrice , Dirlewanger Elisabeth
Published: September 2020

The preservation of maximum diversity within the smallest number of
accessions is one of the challenges of germplasm management, and the assessment of
the population structure, the relationships between the accessions, and the
construction of core collections are the key steps. The choice of suitable molecular
markers is often the starting point. In this study, we analyzed a part of the INRAE
walnut germplasm collection, which is highly diverse and unique in Europe,
consisting of 150 accessions from American, European, and Asian continents. Based on
genotypic data already available, using 13 SSRs or 364,275 SNPs, we showed that the
first level of structure is detected equally. We also highlighted empirically that
approximately 100 SNPs are needed to obtain similar clustering to 13 SSRs in
Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). We constructed eight core collections
following two strategies (percentage of total allelic diversity or number of
accessions) and two construction methods based on different algorithms (“maximum
length subtree” and “entry-to-nearest-entry” methods). We showed that core
collections based on few SSR markers are able to capture at least 99.5% of the SNP
allelic diversity, irrespective of the construction method used. Then, core
collections based on each marker type are highly similar, using both construction
methods. All these steps are crucial to identify the suitable tools and methods to
improve plant genetic resources management.
Mechanisms of action of ionic liquids on living cells: the state of the art
Authors: Kumari Pallavi , Pillai Visakh V.S. , Benedetto Antonio
Published: September 2020

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a relatively new class of organic electrolytes composed of an organic cation and either an organic or inorganic anion, whose melting temperature falls around room-temperature. In the last 20 years, the toxicity of ILs towards cells and micro-organisms has been heavily investigated with the main aim to assess the risks associated with their potential use in (industrial) applications, and to develop strategies to design greener ILs. Toxicity, however, is synonym with affinity, and this has stimulated, in turn, a series of biophysical and chemical-physical investigations as well as few biochemical studies focused on the mechanisms of action (MoAs) of ILs, key step in the development of applications in bio-nanomedicine and bio-nanotechnology. This review has the intent to present an overview of the state of the art of the MoAs of ILs, which have been the focus of a limited number of studies but still sufficient enough to provide a first glimpse on the subject. The overall picture that emerges is quite intriguing and shows that ILs interact with cells in a variety of different mechanisms, including alteration of lipid distribution and cell membrane viscoelasticity, disruption of cell and nuclear membranes, mitochondrial permeabilization and dysfunction, generation of reactive oxygen species, chloroplast damage (in plants), alteration of transmembrane and cytoplasmatic proteins/enzyme functions, alteration of signaling pathways, and DNA fragmentation. Together with our earlier review work on the biophysics and chemical-physics of IL-cell membrane interactions (Biophys. Rev. 9:309, 2017), we hope that the present review, focused instead on the biochemical aspects, will stimulate a series of new investigations and discoveries in the still new and interdisciplinary field of “ILs, biomolecules, and cells.”
Detection of Fracture in Steel Members of Building Structures by Microstrain Measurement
Authors: Iyama Jun
Published: September 2020

This paper discusses a possibility of detecting structural damage caused by an earthquake, by measuring the time history of the strain of beams and columns before and/or after the earthquake. An index called “local stiffness” is defined as the ratio of section force amplitude to representative displacement amplitude, and this ratio can be physically interpreted as stiffness. By calculating section force amplitude at a section or node from the measured strain amplitude under a microtremor or small aftershocks and comparing it with the results of a static pushover analysis, it becomes possible to detect any structural damage, such as fractures. This methodology was applied and the microstrain data of a steel moment frame were measured in a large-scale shaking table test; beam-end fractures were observed after some excitation tests. After the beam-end fracture formed, the measured local stiffness dropped significantly below the analysis value, indicating the possibility of employing this value to detect fractures using the analysis value as a threshold value.
Full-scale multi-functional test platform for investigating mechanical performance of track–subgrade systems of high-speed railways
Authors: Zhai Wanming , Wang Kaiyun , Chen Zhaowei , Zhu Shengyang , Cai Chengbiao , Liu Gang
Published: September 2020

Motivated by the huge practical engineering demand for the fundamental understanding of mechanical characteristics of high-speed railway infrastructure, a full-scale multi-functional test platform for high-speed railway track–subgrade system is developed in this paper, and its main functions for investigating the mechanical performance of track–subgrade systems are elaborated with three typical experimental examples. Comprising the full-scale subgrade structure and all the five types of track structures adopted in Chinese high-speed railways, namely the CRTS I, the CRTS II and the CRTS III ballastless tracks, the double-block ballastless track and the ballasted track, the test platform is established strictly according to the construction standard of Chinese high-speed railways. Three kinds of effective loading methods are employed, including the real bogie loading, multi-point loading and the impact loading. Various types of sensors are adopted in different components of the five types of track–subgrade systems to measure the displacement, acceleration, pressure, structural strain and deformation, etc. Utilizing this test platform, both dynamic characteristics and long-term performance evolution of high-speed railway track–subgrade systems can be investigated, being able to satisfy the actual demand for large-scale operation of Chinese high-speed railways. As examples, three typical experimental studies are presented to elucidate the comprehensive functionalities of the full-scale multi-functional test platform for exploring the dynamic performance and its long-term evolution of ballastless track systems and for studying the long-term accumulative settlement of the ballasted track–subgrade system in high-speed railways. Some interesting phenomena and meaningful results are captured by the developed test platform, which provide a useful guidance for the scientific operation and maintenance of high-speed railway infrastructure.
Matrix Representations of Asymmetric Truncated Toeplitz Operators
Authors: Jurasik Joanna , Łanucha Bartosz
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we describe the matrix representations of asymmetric truncated Toeplitz operators acting between two finite-dimensional model spaces$$K_1$$K1and$$K_2$$K2. The novelty of our approach is that here we consider matrix representations computed with respect to bases of different type in$$K_1$$K1and$$K_2$$K2(for example, kernel basis in$$K_1$$K1and conjugate kernel basis in$$K_2$$K2). We thus obtain new matrix characterizations which are simpler than the ones already known for asymmetric truncated Toeplitz operators.
Higher cut-offs for the number of lymph nodes harvested do not predict better prognosis in patients with colon cancer
Authors: Guner Osman S. , Tumay Latif V.
Published: September 2020

Background Current threshold for minimum lymph node harvest may not be adequate for appropriate staging in colon cancer and newer surgical techniques may allow more lymph nodes to be harvested. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic role of harvesting and examining lymph nodes higher in number than the recommended threshold (≥12), in patients with colon cancer.

Methods This retrospective study included 179 patients that underwent open colon resection for adenocarcinoma of the colon. A D3 resection with high vascular ligation was made so that large number of lymph nodes was removed in most patients. Differences in overall survival between below and above three cutoff points (≥18, ≥24, ≥40) were estimated.

Results During median 33 months of follow-up, 45 patients died and mean overall survival was 108.7 ± 5.6 months (95% CI, 97.7–119.7). The mean number of lymph nodes harvested and examined was 44.0 ± 25.7 (median 38; range, 7–150). No significant effect was found for three different cut-off values (≥18, ≥24, or ≥40 nodes) on mean overall survival (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). The same was true for the whole study population as well as for N0 (N negative) and N1-2 (N positive) patient subgroups, when they are analyzed separately.

Conclusions Our findings do not support the survival benefit of substantially higher number of lymph nodes harvested in colon cancer.
Call centres: going voice-first in the post-Covid world
Authors: Hrabí Michal
Published: September 2020

The infamous first wave of Covid-19 has largely passed. Depending on the country concerned, the pandemic has been contained to some degree and many important lessons have been learned. Evidently, this global panic over such a tiny object travelling through the air has shaken old behaviours and long-established patterns, causing massive (transformative) changes in our society.
The impact of COVID-19 on health systems, mental health and the potential for nursing
Authors: Frawley T. , van Gelderen F. , Somanadhan S. , Coveney K. , Phelan A. , Lynam-Loane P. , De Brún A.
Published: September 2020

This paper offers a perspective on nursing and lived experience responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It charts health systems and mental health impacts with a particular focus on children and adolescents, older people and people availing of mental health services. Issues of moral distress and the nursing reaction are considered alongside psychological and social concerns which continue to rapidly evolve. The perspective of a person attending adult community mental health services and the experience of engaging with a mental health service remotely is provided. Matters of note for acute inpatient mental health nursing are highlighted and informed by the lived experience of a mental health nurse. The need for integrated health systems responses across nursing disciplines and the wider interdisciplinary team is elucidated.
On the polarization of shear Alfvén and acoustic continuous spectra in toroidal plasmas
Authors: Falessi M. V. , Carlevaro N. , Fusco V. , Giovannozzi E. , Lauber P. , Vlad G. , Zonca F.
Published: September 2020

In this work, the FALCON code is adopted for illustrating the features of shear Alfvén and sound continuous spectra in toroidal fusion plasmas. The FALCON codes employ the local Floquet analysis discussed in (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 26, issue 8, 2019, 082502) for computing global structures of continuous spectra in general toroidal geometry. As particular applications, reference equilibria for the divertor tokamak test and ASDEX Upgrade plasmas are considered. In particular, we illustrate the importance of mode polarization for recognizing the physical relevance of the various branches of the continuous spectra in the ideal magnetohydrodynamics limit. We also analyse the effect of plasma compression and the validity of the slow sound approximation.
Freedom in Marriage? Manumission for Marriage in the Roman World
Authors: Huemoeller Katharine P. D.
Published: September 2020

This article examines marriage as a pathway to free status for enslaved women in the early imperial Roman world, arguing that women manumitted for marriage to their former owners experienced a qualified form of freedom. Analysis of a funerary altar from early imperial Rome alongside larger bodies of legal and epigraphic evidence shows that in this transactional mode of manumission, enslaved women paid for their freedom by foregoing certain privileges, including, to varying degrees, the ability to enter and exit the marriage at will and the separation of their property from that of their husbands. Through a close examination of one mode of manumission and the unequal unions that resulted from it, this paper offers further evidence that freedom was not uniform, but varied in its meaning depending on who achieved it and by what means.
Artificial Intelligence and Race: a Systematic Review
Authors: Intahchomphoo Channarong , Gundersen Odd Erik
Published: September 2020

This paper examines peer-reviewed publications to learn about the relationships between artificial intelligence (AI) and the human race. For this systematic review, papers were collected from three academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and Academic Search Complete. From 1,222 papers reviewed, 36 papers were included. The findings indicate that there are four relationships between AI and race (i). AI causes unequal opportunities for people from certain racial groups, (ii). AI helps to detect racial discrimination, (iii). AI is applied to study health conditions of specific racial population groups, and (iv). AI is used to study demographics and facial images of people from different racial backgrounds. To widen the knowledge related to AI and race, all four finding categories in this review included supplementary studies as lessons learned for legal information management research. The authors, Channarong Intahchomphoo and Odd Erik Gundersen, use these findings to discuss how AI could impact libraries and how legal information management professionals might have to cope with the problem of biased AI.