bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is valued in conservation? A framework to compare ethical perspectives
Authors: Latombe Guillaume , Lenzner Bernd , Schertler Anna , Dullinger Stefan , Glaser Michael , Jarić Ivan , Pauchard Aníbal , Wilson John R. U. , Essl Franz
Published: September 2020

Perspectives in conservation are based on a variety of value systems. Such differences in how people value nature and its components lead to different evaluations of the morality of conservation goals and approaches, and often underlie disagreements in the formulation and implementation of environmental management policies. Specifically, whether a conservation action (e.g. killing feral cats to reduce predation on bird species threatened with extinction) is viewed as appropriate or not can vary among people with different value systems. Here, we present a conceptual, mathematical framework intended as a tool to systematically explore and clarify core value statements in conservation approaches. Its purpose is to highlight how fundamental differences between these value systems can lead to different prioritizations of available management options and offer a common ground for discourse. The proposed equations decompose the question underlying many controversies around management decisions in conservation: what or who is valued, how, and to what extent? We compare how management decisions would likely be viewed under three different idealised value systems: ecocentric conservation, which aims to preserve biodiversity; new conservation, which considers that biodiversity can only be preserved if it benefits humans; and sentientist conservation, which aims at minimising suffering for sentient beings. We illustrate the utility of the framework by applying it to case studies involving invasive alien species, rewilding, and trophy hunting. By making value systems and their consequences in practice explicit, the framework facilitates debates on contested conservation issues, and complements philosophical discursive approaches about moral reasoning. We believe dissecting the core value statements on which conservation decisions are based will provide an additional tool to understand and address conservation conflicts.
Cancer predisposition syndromes as risk factor for early second primary neoplasms after childhood cancer – a national cohort study
Authors: Waespe Nicolas , Belle Fabiën N. , Redmond Shelagh , Schindera Christina , Spycher Ben D. , Rössler Jochen , Ansari Marc , Kuehni Claudia E. ,   for the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG)
Published: September 2020

Background

Childhood cancer patients are at increased risk of second primary neoplasms (SPNs). We assessed incidence and risk factors for early SPNs with a focus on cancer predisposition syndromes (CPSs).

Patients and methods

This cohort study used data from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We included patients with first primary neoplasms (FPN) until age 21 years from 1986 to 2015 and identified SPNs occurring before age 21. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and absolute excess risks (AER) using Swiss population cancer incidence data and cumulative incidence of SPNs. We calculated hazard ratios (HR) of risk factors for SPNs using Fine and Gray competing risk regression.

Results

Among 8,074 childhood cancer patients, 304 (4%) were diagnosed with a CPS and 94 (1%) developed early SPNs. The incidence of SPNs was more than 10-fold increased in childhood cancer patients compared to neoplasms in the general population (SIR 10.6, 95%-confidence interval [CI] 8.7-13.1) and the AER was 179/100,000 person-years (CI 139-219). Cumulative incidence of SPNs 20 years after FPN diagnosis was 23% in patients with CPSs and 3% in those without. Risk factors for SPNs were CPSs (HR 7.8, CI 4.8-12.7), chemotherapy (HR 2.2, CI 1.1-4.6), radiotherapy (HR 1.9, CI 1.2-2.9), hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HR 1.8, CI 1-3.3), and older age (15-20 years) at FPN diagnosis (HR 1.9, CI 1.1-3.2).

Conclusion

CPSs are associated with a high risk of SPNs before age 21 years. Identification of CPSs is important for appropriate cancer surveillance and targeted screening.
Health professionals practice and associated factors towards precautionary measures for COVID-19 pandemic in public health facilities of Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mersha Abera , Shibiru Shitaye , Girma Meseret , Ayele Gistane , Bante Agegnehu , Kassa Mekidim , Abebe Sintayehu , Shewangizaw Misgun
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease, which caused by a novel coronavirus. The disease disrupts health systems and resulting in social, political, and economic crises. Health professionals are in front of this pandemic and always work in a high-risk environment. Currently, there is no vaccine or drug for the disease. Therefore, strictly practicing precautionary measures are the only option to save the life. Some studies reported health professional’s practice of precautionary measures for COVID-19. Nevertheless, a few have identified factors affecting. As such, this study aimed to fill those research gaps in the study setting.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 428 health professionals were involved from the public health facilities of the Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia. A simple random sampling method was employed, and the data collected by the interviewer-administered Open Data Kit survey tool and observational checklist. The data analyzed in Stata version 15 and a binary logistic regression model used to identify factors. In this study, a statistically significant association was declared at P < 0.05.

Results

In this study, 35.3% (95%CI: 30.7%, 39.8%) of health professionals’ had a good practice on precautionary measures for the COVID-19 pandemic. Use hand sanitizer or wash hands continuously with soap and water (68.9%), cover nose and mouth with a tissue during sneezing or coughing (67.3%), and use facemask in crowds (56.8%) were the most common practice reported by study participants. Marital status, being married (AOR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.06, 3.18), good knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic (AOR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.02, 3.18), and positive attitude towards precautionary measures for COVID-19 were factors showed signification association with the practice.

Conclusions

The magnitude of good practice of precautionary measures for the COVID-19 pandemic among health professionals was low. As such, different interventions to improve the knowledge and attitude of health professionals in the health care system are highly needed to boost the practice and to advance service delivery.
Conserved cysteines in titin sustain the mechanical function of cardiomyocytes
Authors: Herrero-Galán Elías , Domínguez Fernando , Martínez-Martín Inés , Sánchez-González Cristina , Vicente Natalia , Lalaguna Laura , Bonzón-Kulichenko Elena , Calvo Enrique , González-López Esther , Cobo-Marcos Marta , Bornstein Belén , Briceño Ana , Ochoa Juan Pablo , Garcia-Aznar Jose Maria , Suay-Corredera Carmen , Pricolo Maria Rosaria , Fernández-Trasancos Ángel , Velázquez-Carreras Diana , Badía Careaga Claudio , Prados Belén , Gutiérrez-Agüera Francisco , Abdellatif Mahmoud , Sedej Simon , Rainer Peter P. , Giganti David , Giovinazzo Giovanna , Bernal Juan A. , Pérez-Jiménez Raúl , Rasmussen Torsten Bloch , Hey Thomas Morris , Vivo-Ortega Inmaculada , Piqueras-Flores Jesús , Lara-Pezzi Enrique , Vázquez Jesús , Garcia-Pavia Pablo , Alegre-Cebollada Jorge
Published: September 2020

The protein titin determines cardiomyocyte contraction and truncating variants in the titin gene (TTN) are the most common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Different to truncations, missense variants inTTNare currently classified as variants of uncertain significance due to their high frequency in the population and the absence of functional annotation. Here, we report the regulatory role of conserved, mechanically active titin cysteines, which, contrary to current views, we uncover to be reversibly oxidized in basal conditions leading to isoform- and force-dependent modulation of titin stiffness and dynamics. Building on our functional studies, we demonstrate that missense mutations targeting a conserved titin cysteine alter myocyte contractile function and cause DCM in humans. Our findings have a direct impact on genetic counselling in clinical practice.

One sentence summary

Mutations targeting cysteines key to the mechanoredox control of titin cause human dilated cardiomyopathy
Novel Three-Dimensional Organoid Sarcoidosis Granuloma Model
Authors: Calcagno Tess M. , Zhang Chongxu , Tian Runxia , Ebrahimi Babak , Mirsaeidi Mehdi
Published: September 2020

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disorder of granulomatous inflammation which most commonly affects the lungs. Its etiology and pathogenesis are not well defined in part due to the lack of reliable modeling. This article presents the development of a novelin vitrothree-dimensional lung-on-chip organoid designed to mimic granuloma formation. A lung on chip fluidic macrodevice with three channels for cell culture insertion was developed and added to the previously developed a lung-on-membrane model. Granulomas were cultured from blood samples of patients with sarcoidosis and then inserted in the air-lung-interface (ALI) of the microchip to create a three-dimensional organoid sarcoidosis model (OSGM). The model was tested for cell viability with fibroblasts. We measured the cytokine profiles in medium of OSGM and compared with lung model without granuloma. Concentration of IL-1beta, Il-6, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma were found significantly higher in OSGM group. The current model represents the first 3D OSGM created by adding a microfluidics system to a dual-chambered lung on membrane model and introducing developed sarcoid-granuloma to its ALI.
Cooperative efforts on developing vaccines and therapies for COVID-19 Cooperative efforts for COVID-19
Authors: Basso Fernanda Gisele , de Paulo Alex Fabianne , Porto Geciane Silveira , Pereira Cristiano Gonçalves
Published: September 2020

Health organizations have always sought partnership to join competencies in innovation, even with fierce competition in this sector. In this pandemic moment it is relevant to observe how organizations behave to seek quick and safe answers. The present research analyzes how the cooperation networks were set off considering the clinical trials on therapies and vaccines that were developed specifically to treat or prevent COVID-19. Social Network Analysis technique was used to build cooperation networks and apply metrics that characterize these connections. There was an evaluation of statistics of Strength of cooperation and Unilateral dependence of cooperation that identify the cooperation strength between two organizations, and the dependence of this relations. A total of 415 clinical trial were identified, of which 42% are in cooperation. From organizations that have partnership, firms are the first, followed by universities. We extracted the main categories that concentrate 74% of partnerships in the trials of antibody, and vaccine. Several organizations cooperate in multiple categories of trials, evidencing the efforts to focus on different strategies to treat the disease. We found high strength of cooperation and an assimetryc dependency between partners, which can be assigned to specialized models of partnership and it occurs in competitive enviroments like this pandemic moment. Cooperation were not limited to geographical proximity and the advent of Chinese players can represent a new change in the biotechnological development axis. Finally, the challenge of finding therapeutic or immunological solutions for COVID-19 demonstrates a clear composition of cooperation groups that complement their skills to manage organizational strategies to beat the pandemic. In this new paradigm, there can be partnerships not only in clinical trial but also in pre-competitive technologies development. This experience is expected to change the way of organizations define their R&D strategies and start to adopt more a collaborative innovation model.
Notable sequence homology of the ORF10 protein introspects the architecture of SARS-COV-2
Authors: Hassan Sk. Sarif , Attrish Diksha , Ghosh Shinjini , Choudhury Pabitra Pal , Uversky Vladimir N. , Uhal Bruce D. , Lundstrom Kenneth , Rezaei Nima , Aljabali Alaa A. A. , Seyran Murat , Pizzol Damiano , Adadi Parise , Abd El-Aziz Tarek Mohamed , Soares Antonio , Kandimalla Ramesh , Tambuwala Murtaza , Lal Amos , Azad Gajendra Kumar , Sherchan Samendra P. , Baetas-da-Cruz Wagner , Palù Giorgio , Brufsky Adam M.
Published: September 2020

The global public health is endangered due to COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite having similar pathology to MERS and SARS-CoV, the infection fatality rate of SARS-CoV-2 is likely lower than 1%. SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to be uniquely characterized by the accessory protein ORF10, which contains eleven cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of nine amino acids length each, across various human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtypes. In this study, all missense mutations found in sequence databases were examined across twnety-two unique SARS-CoV-2 ORF10 variants that could possibly alter viral pathogenicity. Some of these mutations decrease the stability of ORF10, e.g. I4L and V6I were found in the MoRF region of ORF10 which may also possibly contribute to Intrinsic protein disorder. Furthermore, a physicochemical and structural comparative analysis was carried out on SARS-CoV-2 and Pangolin-CoV ORF10 proteins, which share 97.37% amino acid homology. The high degree of physicochemical and structural similarity of ORF10 proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and Pangolin-CoV open questions about the architecture of SARS-CoV-2 due to the disagreement of these two ORF10 proteins over their sub-structure (loop/coil region), solubility, antigenicity and change from the strand to coil at amino acid position 26, where tyrosine is present. Altogether, SARS-CoV-2 ORF10 is a promising pharmaceutical target and a protein which should be monitored for changes which correlate to change pathogenesis and clinical course of COVID-19 infection.
Computationally validated SARS-CoV-2 CTL and HTL Multi-Patch Vaccines designed by reverse epitomics approach, shows potential to cover large ethnically distributed human population worldwide
Authors: Srivastava Sukrit , Verma Sonia , Kamthania Mohit , Agarwal Deepa , Saxena Ajay Kumar , Kolbe Michael , Singh Sarman , Kotnis Ashwin , Rathi Brijesh , Nayar Seema. A. , Shin Ho-Joon , Vashisht Kapil , Pandey Kailash C
Published: September 2020

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA coronavirus responsible for the ongoing 2019-2020 COVID-19 outbreak. The highly contagious COVID-19 disease has spread to 216 countries in less than six months. Though several vaccine candidates are being claimed, an effective vaccine is yet to come. In present study we have designed and theoretically validated novel Multi-Patch Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Methodology

A novel reverse epitomics approach, “overlapping-epitope-clusters-to-patches” method is utilized to identify multiple antigenic regions from the SARS-CoV-2 proteome. These antigenic regions are here termed as “Ag-Patch or Ag-Patches”, for Antigenic Patch or Patches. The identification of Ag-Patches is based on clusters of overlapping epitopes rising from a particular region of SARS-CoV-2 protein. Further, we have utilized the identified Ag-Patches to design Multi-Patch Vaccines (MPVs), proposing a novel methodology for vaccine design and development. The designed MPVs were analyzed for immunologically crucial parameters, physiochemical properties and cDNA constructs.

Results

We identified 73 CTL (Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte), 49 HTL (Helper T-Lymphocyte) novel Ag-Patches from the proteome of SARS-CoV-2. The identified Ag-Patches utilized to design MPVs cover 768 (518 CTL and 250 HTL) overlapping epitopes targeting different HLA alleles. Such large number of epitope coverage is not possible for multi-epitope vaccines. The large number of epitopes covered implies large number of HLA alleles targeted, and hence large ethnically distributed human population coverage. The MPVs:Toll-Like Receptor ectodomain complex shows stable nature with numerous hydrogen bond formation and acceptable root mean square deviation and fluctuation. Further, the cDNA analysis favors high expression of the MPVs constructs in human cell line.

Conclusion

Highly immunogenic novel Ag-Patches are identified from the entire proteome of SARS CoV-2 by a novel reverse epitomics approach. We conclude that the novel Multi-Patch Vaccines could be a highly potential novel approach to combat SARS-CoV-2, with greater effectiveness, high specificity and large human population coverage worldwide.

Abstract Figure

ABSTRACT FIGURE:

A Multi-Patch Vaccine design to combat SARS-CoV-2 and a method to prepare thereof.

Multi-Patch Vaccine designing to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection by reverse epitomics approach, “Overlapping-epitope-clusters-to-patches” method.
Intellectual capital and asset quality in an emerging banking market
Authors: Asare Nicholas , Laryea Margaret Momo , Onumah Joseph Mensah , Asamoah Michael Effah
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study examines the causal relationship between intellectual capital and asset quality of banks in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Using annual data extracted from audited financial statements of 24 banks from 2006 to 2015, a ratio of non-performing loans to gross loans and advances is employed to estimate asset quality growths while the value-added intellectual coefficient by Pulic (2008, 2004) measures intellectual capital. The panel-corrected standard errors estimation technique is used to estimate panel regressions with asset quality as the dependent variable.

Findings

Asset quality of banks in Ghana is generally not affected by intellectual capital. However, when intellectual capital is divided into its components, the study indicates that there are significant positive relationships between asset quality and two components of intellectual capital. Thus, structural capital and human capital efficiencies positively affect the asset quality of banks.

Practical implications

The findings of the study implore managements of banks to increase structural and human capital investments and efficiencies to improve asset quality. Furthermore, the results have direct implications on developments in financial markets in emerging economies.

Originality/value

The study analyses the link between typical intellectual capital and asset quality of banks which is yet to be empirically examined in an emerging banking market.
Angels and Crowds
Authors: Varma Jayanth R. , Jacob Joshy
Published: September 2020

The case focuses on the key choices and decision issues that entrepreneurs face in the fast evolving mode of startup funding, known as ‘crowdfunding’. It is centred around three products which vary significantly on many dimensions such as the level of innovativeness, risk, social good generated by the product, and the target group. The products presented facilitate rich discussion on the key crowdfunding decisions such as relative merits of angel funding and crowdfunding, choice of the crowdfunding platform, nature of campaign, target amount and reward structure. The case highlights financing issues of startups and compare the two products in their attractiveness for reward crowdfunding.
Whether stock market provides high returns: evidence from skewness of individual stocks in China
Authors: Ma Tianning , Li Shuo , Feng Xu
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper studies whether individual stocks provide higher returns than government bond in the Chinese market.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors compare individual stock returns and government bond returns in the Chinese market.

Findings

The authors find that more than half of individual stocks underperform government bonds over the same period in China, which highlights the important role of positive skewness in the distribution of individual stock returns. The high return of a few stocks is the reason why the stock market return is higher than that of government bond in China.

Originality/value

The results of this paper emphasize that portfolio diversification plays an important role in the Chinese market.
Development of an empowering leadership scale for salespeople: validation and reliability
Authors: Na-Nan Khahan , Kanthong Suteeluck N. , Khummueng Kattikamat
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore development and validation of an empowering leadership instrument for salespeople.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 20 items were developed for an empowering leadership instrument based on published research, concepts and theories. The instrument was applied as a cross-sectional study for salespeople working in small and medium enterprises. The collected data were assessed using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to ascertain construct validity.

Findings

The instrument established excellent reliability at 0.904. Five factors such as “Showing concern and developing strong relationships with members”, “informing”, “coaching”, “participative decision making” and “leading by example” were extracted and validated from the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Originality/value

The validity of this questionnaire will facilitate future research to extend the boundaries of empowering leadership measurement in the context of supervision and management in organisations. This instrument will assist researchers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of empowering leadership and further investigate its potential in future studies.
Perceived threats of terrorism and helping behavior: the role of dispositional mindfulness in an ethical dilemma
Authors: Memon Ubedullah , Ali Anees Janee , Nisa Zaib Un , Pathan Zahid Hussain
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to curtail the negative effect of job stress on the female teachers’ helping behavior amidst terrorism threat through their dispositional mindfulness.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research design surveyed a self-administered questionnaire from the female teachers serving in the hard areas of Pakistan. To analyze the data, descriptive and interferential statistics were performed in SPSS (version 23) and SmartPLS3.

Findings

The results revealed the significant positive relationship between teachers’ perceived threats of terrorism and their job stress. The findings also confirmed the significant negative relationship between teachers’ job stress and their helping behavior, and vice-versa. Further, the indirect effect of teachers’ perceived threats of terrorism on helping behavior through their job stress was confirmed. Finally, the moderating effect of dispositional mindfulness to weaken the negative relationship between teachers’ job stress and their helping behavior was also found significant. The results also showed that the job stress of female teachers accounted for 12.9% of variance in their helping behavior.

Research limitations/implications

To address complex ethical issues, relying solely on a research method cannot provide deep insights. Hence, future scholars are directed to combine elements of quantitative and qualitative research methods to investigate female teachers’ helping behavior in grievous conditions. Notwithstanding, the present study revitalizes educational institutions through teachers’ helping behavior in the risky work environment.

Originality/value

Since the past two decades, female education has witnessed exponential growth in terrorist attacks, but there is a scanty research on the vulnerability of female teachers in Pakistan. Nevertheless, the present study is limited yet of the highest importance to foster teachers’ helping behavior in the risky work environment.
Macroeconomic shocks and credit risk stress testing the Iranian banking sector
Authors: Abdolshah Fatemeh , Moshiri Saeed , Worthington Andrew
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The Iranian banking industry has been greatly affected by dramatic changes in macroeconomic conditions over the past several decades owing to volatile oil revenues, changing fiscal and monetary policies, and the imposition of US sanctions. The main objective of this paper is to estimate potential credit losses in the Iranian banking sector due to macroeconomic shocks and assess the minimum economic capital requirements under the baseline and distressed scenarios. The paper also contrasts the applications of linear and nonlinear models in estimating the impacts of macroeconomic shocks on financial institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a multistage approach to derive the portfolio loss distribution for banks. In the first step, the dynamic relationship between the selected macroeconomic variables are estimated using a VAR model to generate the stress scenarios. In the second step, the default probabilities are estimated using a quantile regression model and the results are compared with those of the conventional linear models. Finally, the default probabilities are simulated for a one-year time horizon using Monte-Carlo method and the portfolio loss distribution is calculated for hypothetical portfolios. The expected loss includes the loss given default for loans drawn randomly and uniformly distributed and exposed at default values when loans are assigned a fixed value.

Findings

The results indicate that the loss distributions under all scenarios are skewed to the right, with the linear model results being very similar to those of quantile at the 50% quantile, but very unlike those at the 10% and 90% quantiles. Specifically, the quantile model for the 90% (10%) quantile generates estimates of minimum economic capital requirement that are considerably higher (lower) than those using the linear model.

Research limitations/implications

The study has focused on credit risk because of lack of data on other types of risk at individual bank level. The future studies can estimate the aggregate economic capital using a risk aggregation approach and a panel data (not presently available), which could further improve the accuracy of the estimates.

Practical implications

The fiscal and monetary authorities in developing countries, specially oil-exporting countries, can follow the risk assessment approach to assess the health of their banking system and adapt policies to mitigate the impacts of large macroeconomic shocks on their financial markets.

Originality/value

This is the first paper estimating the portfolio loss distribution for the Iranian banks under turbulent macroeconomic conditions using linear and nonlinear models. The case study can be applied to other developing and emerging countries, particularly those highly dependent on natural resources, prone to extreme macroeconomic shocks.
Transforming into a platform provider: strategic options for industrial smart service providers
Authors: Beverungen Daniel , Kundisch Dennis , Wünderlich Nancy
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify strategic options and challenges that arise when an industrial firm moves from providing smart service toward providing a platform.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual study takes on a multidisciplinary research perspective that integrates concepts, theories and insights from service management and marketing, information systems and platform economics.

Findings

The paper outlines three platform types – smart data platform, smart product platform and matching platform – as strategic options for firms that wish to evolve from smart service providers to platform providers.

Research limitations/implications

Investigating smart service platforms calls for launching interdisciplinary research initiatives. Promising research avenues are outlined to span boundaries that separate different research disciplines today.

Practical implications

Managing a successful transition from providing smart service toward providing a platform requires making significant investments in IT, platform-related capabilities and skills, as well as implement new approaches toward relationship management and brand-building.

Originality/value

The findings described in this paper are valuable to researchers in multiple disciplines seeking to develop and to justify theory related to platforms in industrial scenarios.
Control-Oriented Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Riemann Brody J. C. , Li Jie , Adewuyi Kasim , Landers Robert G. , Park Jonghyun
Published: September 2020

Battery management systems (BMSs), which monitor and optimize performance while ensuring safety, require control-oriented models, i.e., models tailored to the design and implementation of estimation and control algorithms. Physics-based electrochemical models describe detailed battery phenomena, but are too computationally intensive for use in estimation and control applications. Single particle models (SPMs), which retain some of the physics of electrochemical models, are often used for control-oriented battery modeling since they are computationally efficient; however, they are only valid over very low frequency ranges and C-rates. Empirical equivalent circuit models (ECMs) are also used for control-oriented battery modeling since they are computationally efficient and can describe battery behavior over wide frequency ranges; however, they provide no physical understanding of the battery and, therefore, have limited applicability. Further, fractional order terms (e.g., Warburg impedances) are often employed, making the models unwieldy for use in the time domain. This work provides a control-oriented battery model that combines the benefits of SPM and ECM models, while overcoming their limitations. The proposed model incorporates some of the battery physics found in electrochemical models, can easily be used in both the time and frequency domains, and describes battery behavior over its entire frequency range. A linearized single particle model, which incorporates key electrochemical parameters, is used for modeling battery physics at very low frequencies. For low frequencies, integer-order linear systems are used to approximate diffusion physics described by Warburg impedances, and high frequency behavior is modeled by the double layer capacitance effect. The proposed battery model is more computationally efficient than full electrochemical models since it does not require the solution of PDEs, is accurate for a wider frequency range than the SPM considered in this paper, and does not suffer from the unwieldiness and limited applicability of empirical ECMs. The model is validated in the time and frequency domains via a comparison to pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) model simulations and experimental data.
Hybrid Compound Function/Subinterval Perturbation Method for Kinematic Analysis of a Dual-Crane System With Large Bounded Uncertainty
Authors: Zhou Bin , Zi Bin , Li Yuan , Zhu Weidong
Published: September 2020

By introducing the subinterval perturbation method (SIPM), a hybrid compound function/subinterval perturbation method (HCFSPM) is presented for a dual-crane system (DCS) with large interval variables. The HCFSPM employs the SIPM to decompose a large interval variable into several subinterval variables with small uncertain levels. The interval kinematic compound function vectors and their inverses are approximated by the first-order Taylor and Neumann series, respectively. Based on the monotonic technique, the bounds of original luffing angle vectors are derived. Compared with the first-order compound function/interval perturbation method and the Monte Carlo method, numerical examples verify the effectiveness of the HCFSPM at conducting uncertain kinematic analysis of the DCS, especially when it comes to large uncertain levels.
Closed-Loop High-Fidelity Simulation Integrating Finite Element Modeling With Feedback Controls in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Wang Dan , Chen Xu
Published: September 2020

A high-precision additive manufacturing (AM) process, powder bed fusion (PBF) has enabled unmatched agile manufacturing of a wide range of products from engine components to medical implants. While finite element modeling and closed-loop control have been identified key for predicting and engineering part qualities in PBF, existing results in each realm are developed in opposite computational architectures wildly different in time scale. This paper builds a first-instance closed-loop simulation framework by integrating high-fidelity finite element modeling with feedback controls originally developed for general mechatronics systems. By utilizing the output signals (e.g., melt pool width) retrieved from the finite element model (FEM) to update directly the control signals (e.g., laser power) sent to the model, the proposed closed-loop framework enables testing the limits of advanced controls in PBF and surveying the parameter space fully to generate more predictable part qualities. Along the course of formulating the framework, we verify the FEM by comparing its results with experimental and analytical solutions and then use the FEM to understand the melt-pool evolution induced by the in- and cross-layer thermomechanical interactions. From there, we build a repetitive control (RC) algorithm to attenuate variations of the melt pool width.
Static Friction Behavior of Spherical Contact With Ultrathin Soft Coating
Authors: Zhang Haibo , Etsion Izhak
Published: September 2020

A surprising behavior of ultrathin soft coating is described in the relevant literature showing discontinuity (sharp drop) between the static friction coefficients before and after an ultrathin soft coating is applied on a harder substrate. Existing finite element (FE) models are unable to explain this unusual behavior since they suffer from convergence problem due to excessive distortion of elements in such ultrathin films. To address this problem, an FE model based on the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) method is presented. This method is able to capture the unexpected behavior of ultrathin soft coatings and hence, to provide a reliable scientific explanation to the experimental observation reported in the literature.
Computation of the Alpha Cabin Sound Absorption Coefficient by Using the Finite Transfer Matrix Method (FTMM): Inter-Laboratory Test on Porous Media
Authors: Santoni Andrea , Bonfiglio Paolo , Fausti Patrizio , Pompoli Francesco
Published: September 2020

The transfer matrix method (TMM) has become an established and widely used approach to compute the sound absorption coefficient of a multilayer structure. Due to the assumption made by this method of laterally infinite media, it is necessary to introduce in the computation the finite-size radiation impedance of the investigated system, in order to obtain an accurate prediction of the sound absorption coefficient within the entire frequency range of interest; this is generally referred to as finite transfer matrix method (FTMM). However, it has not been extensively investigated the possibility of using the FTMM to accurately approximate the sound absorption of flat porous samples experimentally determined in an Alpha Cabin, a small reverberation room employed in the automotive industry. To this purpose, a simulation-based round robin test was organized involving academic and private research groups. Four different systems constituted by five porous materials, whose properties were experimentally characterized, were considered. Each participant, provided with all the mechanical and physical properties of each medium, was requested to simulate the sound absorption coefficient with an arbitrary chosen code, based on the FTMM. The results indicated a good accuracy of the different formulations to determine the finite-size radiation impedance. However, its implementation in the computation of the sound absorption coefficient as well as the upper limit of the range of incidence angles within which the acoustic field is simulated, and the model adopted to describe each material, significantly influenced the results.
Effect of Modal Interactions on Friction-Damped Self-Excited Vibrations
Authors: Woiwode Lukas , Gross Johann , Krack Malte
Published: September 2020

It is well-known that nonlinear dry friction damping has the potential to bound the otherwise unboundedly growing vibrations of self-excited structures. An important technical example are the flutter-induced friction-damped limit cycle oscillations of turbomachinery blade rows. Due to symmetries, natural frequencies are inevitably closely spaced, and they can generally be multiples of each other. Not much is known on the nonlinear dynamics of self-excited friction-damped systems in the presence of such internal resonances. In this work, we analyze this situation numerically by regarding a two degrees-of-freedom system. We demonstrate that in the case of closely-spaced natural frequencies, the self-excitation of the lower-frequency mode gives rise to non-periodic oscillations, and the occurrence of unbounded behavior well before reaching the maximum friction damping value. If the system is close to a 1:3 internal resonance, limit cycles associated with much higher frictional damping appear, however, most of these are unstable. If more than one mode is subjected to self-excitation, the maximum resistance against self-excitation is at least given by the damping capacity of the most weakly friction-damped mode. These results are of high technical relevance, as the prevailing practice is to analyze only periodic limit states and argue the stability solely by the slope of the damping-amplitude curve. Our results demonstrate that this practice leads to considerable mis- and overestimation of the resistance against self-excitation, and a more rigorous stability analysis is required.
NfoR: Chromate Reductase or Flavin Mononucleotide Reductase?
Authors: O’Neill Audrey G. , Beaupre Brett A. , Zheng Yuanzhang , Liu Dali , Moran Graham R.
Published: September 2020

Chromate is a toxic by-product of multiple industrial processes. Chromate reduction is an important biological activity that ameliorates Cr(VI) toxicity. Numerous researchers have identified chromate reductase activity by observing chromate reduction. However, all identified chromate reductase enzymes have flavin as a cofactor or use a flavin as a substrate. We show here that NfoR, an enzyme claimed to be a chromate reductase, is in fact an FMN reductase. In addition, we show that reduction of a flavin is a viable way to transfer electrons to chromate but that it is unlikely to be the native function of enzymes. We propose that upregulation of a redox-active flavoprotein is a viable means to detoxify chromate that relies on adventitious reduction that is not catalyzed.
Early Antiretroviral Therapy Prevents Viral Infection of Monocytes and Inflammation in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Rabezanahary Henintsoa , Clain Julien , Racine Gina , Andreani Guadalupe , Benmadid-Laktout Ghita , Borde Chloé , Mammano Fabrizio , Mesplèdes Thibault , Ancuta Petronela , Zghidi-Abouzid Ouafa , Estaquier Jérôme
Published: September 2020

Despite the administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV persists in treated individuals and ART interruption is associated with viral rebound. Persistent chronic immune activation and inflammation contribute to disease morbidity. Whereas monocytes are infected by HIV/SIV, their role as viral reservoirs (VRs) in visceral tissues has been poorly explored. Our work demonstrates that monocyte cell subsets in the blood, spleen, and intestines do not significantly contribute to the establishment of early VRs in SIV-infected rhesus macaques treated with ART. By preventing the infection of these cells, early ART reduces systemic inflammation. However, following ART interruption, monocytes are rapidly reinfected. Altogether, our findings shed new light on the benefits of early ART initiation in limiting VR and inflammation.
The Amino Acid at Position 8 of the Proteolytic Cleavage Site of the Mumps Virus Fusion Protein Affects Viral Proteolysis and Fusogenicity
Authors: Hüttl Sarah , Hoffmann Markus , Steinmetzer Torsten , Sauder Christian , Krüger Nadine
Published: September 2020

Mumps virus (MuV) is the causative agent of the highly infectious disease mumps. Mumps is mainly associated with mild symptoms, but severe complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, or orchitis can also occur. There is evidence that the virulence of different MuV strains and variants might correlate with the ability of the fusion protein (F) to mediate cell-to-cell fusion. However, the relation between virulence and fusogenicity or the mechanisms responsible for the varied fusogenicity of different MuV strains are incompletely understood. Here, we focused on the amino acid residue at position 8 (P8) of the proteolytic cleavage site of MuV F, because this amino acid residue shows a striking variability depending on the genotype of MuV. The P8 residue has a significant effect on the proteolytic processing and fusogenicity of MuV F and might thereby determine the route of viral spread within infected tissues.
How the Anaerobic Enteropathogen
Clostridioides difficile
Tolerates Low O
2
Tensions
Authors: Kint Nicolas , Alves Feliciano Carolina , Martins Maria C. , Morvan Claire , Fernandes Susana F. , Folgosa Filipe , Dupuy Bruno , Texeira Miguel , Martin-Verstraete Isabelle
Published: September 2020

Although the gastrointestinal tract is regarded as mainly anoxic, low O
2
tension is present in the gut and tends to increase following antibiotic-induced disruption of the host microbiota. Two decreasing O
2
gradients are observed, a longitudinal one from the small to the large intestine and a second one from the intestinal epithelium toward the colon lumen. Thus, O
2
concentration fluctuations within the gastrointestinal tract are a challenge for anaerobic bacteria such as
C. difficile
. This enteropathogen has developed efficient strategies to detoxify O
2
. In this work, we identified reverse rubrerythrins and flavodiiron proteins as key actors for O
2
tolerance in
C. difficile
. These enzymes are responsible for the reduction of O
2
protecting
C. difficile
vegetative cells from associated damages. Original and complex detoxification pathways involving O
2
-reductases are crucial in the ability of
C. difficile
to tolerate O
2
and survive to O
2
concentrations encountered in the gastrointestinal tract.
Rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with cystic fibrosis: challenging treatment options
Authors: Delaney-Nelson Kelly Lynn , Henry Sheena Marie , Siva Chokkalingam
Published: September 2020

A 26-year-old Caucasian male patient with a history of cystic fibrosis presented with a 6-month history of diffuse joint pain and swelling. He was found to have active synovitis in bilateral wrists and proximal interphalangeal joints of the hands on physical examination. He was diagnosed with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis since he had positive anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and erosions on hand and foot X-rays. The patient has responded well to abatacept which may have less infection risk compared with other biological therapies.
COVID-19-associated meningoencephalitis treated with intravenous immunoglobulin
Authors: El-Zein Rayan S , Cardinali Serge , Murphy Christie , Keeling Thomas
Published: September 2020

A 40-year-old man presented with altered mental status after a recenthospitalisation for COVID-19 pneumonia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed lymphocytosis concerning for viral infection. The CSF PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was negative, yet this could not exclude COVID-19 meningoencephalitis. During hospitalisation, the patient’s mentation deteriorated further requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Brain imaging and electroencephalogram (EEG) were unremarkable. He was, thus, treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for 5 days with clinical improvement back to baseline. This case illustrates the importance of considering COVID-19’s impact on the central nervous system (CNS). Haematogenous, retrograde axonal transport, and the effects of cytokine storm are the main implicated mechanisms of CNS entry of SARS-CoV-2. While guidelines remain unclear, IVIg may be of potential benefit in the treatment of COVID-19-associated meningoencephalitis.
Association between night-shift work, sleep quality and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study among manufacturing workers in a middle-income setting
Authors: Lim Yin Cheng , Hoe Victor C. W. , Darus Azlan , Bhoo-Pathy Nirmala
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Night-shift work may adversely affect health. This study aimed to determine the impact of night-shift work on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and to assess whether sleep quality was a mediating factor.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

11 manufacturing factories in Malaysia.

Participants

177 night-shift workers aged 40–65 years old were compared with 317 non-night-shift workers.

Primary and secondary outcomes

Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographics and lifestyle factors, 12-item Short Form Health Survey V.2 (SF-12v2) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The Baron and Kenny’s method, Sobel test and multiple mediation model with bootstrapping were applied to determine whether PSQI score or its components mediated the association between night-shift work and HRQoL.

Results

Night-shift work was associated with sleep impairment and HRQoL. Night-shift workers had significantly lower mean scores in all the eight SF-12 domains (p<0.001). Compared with non-night-shift workers, night-shift workers were significantly more likely to report poorer sleep quality, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction (p<0.001). Mediation analyses showed that PSQI global score mediated the association between night-shift work and HRQoL. ‘Subjective sleep quality’ (indirect effect=−0.24, SE=0.14 and bias corrected (BC) 95% CI −0.58 to −0.01) and ‘sleep disturbances’ (indirect effect=−0.79, SE=0.22 and BC 95% CI −1.30 to −0.42) were mediators for the association between night-shift work and physical well-being, whereas ‘sleep latency’ (indirect effect=−0.51, SE=0.21 and BC 95% CI −1.02 to −0.16) and ‘daytime dysfunction’ (indirect effect=−1.11, SE=0.32 and BC 95% CI −1.86 to −0.58) were mediators with respect to mental well-being.

Conclusion

Sleep quality partially explains the association between night-shift work and poorer HRQoL. Organisations should treat the sleep quality of night-shift workers as a top priority area for action to improve their employees’ overall wellbeing.