bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Antioxidant on Storage Performance and Life Prediction of HTPB Propellant
Authors: Yongqiang Du , Jian Zheng , Jianzhuang Zhi , Xin Tu
Published: June 2019

In order to study the aging property of HTPB propellant in storage and the effect of antioxidant on the storage life of propellant, accelerated aging tests were carried out for two types of propellant. A non-linear aging model was introduced into the classical Arrhenius equation, and the starting point of aging was modified. With the maximum elongation as the evaluation parameter, the storage life at 25 °C is 9.6 years with the critical value is 20%, and the storage life is 17.5 years with the critical value is 15%. By controlling the content of antioxidant in propellant, the formula of type I propellant was modified, and the life of propellant after modification was predicted. The storage life is 12.4 years at 25 °C with the critical value is 20%, and the storage life of propellant is 21.3 years when the critical value is 15%. It was proved that the storage life of propellant could be effectively improved by controlling the content of antioxidant.
Aerodynamic Performance of Dragonfly Forewing–Hindwing Interaction in Gliding Flight
Authors: Luo Yun , He Guoyi , Liu Huixiang , Wang Qi , Song Hang
Published: June 2019

In order to study the aerodynamic performance of dragonfly forewing-hindwing interaction in gliding flight, the three-dimensional (3D) model with corrugation of dragonfly forewing and hindwing are established. This paper studied the aerodynamic effects of dragonfly forewing-hindwing interaction at gliding motion using the method of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for angles of attack changing from 0° to 25°(with an interval of 5°). Numerical simulation indicates that the interactions between forewing and hindwing enhance the aerodynamic performance of both forewing and hindwing to varying degrees compared to independent wings, especially the effect of forewing is more evident at small angle of attack.
Reduction of Trailing-Edge Noise by Means of Brush-Serrated Coupling Bionic Structure
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhao Yu , Tian Hao , Zhao Kun , Song Yu-Bao
Published: June 2019

Bio-inspired noise reduction based on the silent flight characteristics of the owl is an effective passive aerodynamic noise control method. Inspired by the silent flight of owls, this paper investigates trailing edge noise control of the NACA 0012 airfoil by using a brush-serrated coupling bionic structure at chord based Reynolds numbers ranging from Rec
=6×105 to Rec
=1.2×106. Preliminary experimental results showed that the proposed brush-serrated coupling bionic structure can not only avoid low-frequency vortex shedding tonal noise caused by single serrated trailing edges, but also reduce noise emission in a wider frequency range, which can be widely used in aerodynamic noise control.
Particle Concentration Distribution Control Based on Shear Rate Gradient and Marangoni Convection in Microchannel
Authors: Shen Jinxin , Zhang Xiangjun , Zhong Hao , Cheng Wenjun , li Yong
Published: June 2019

The application of the microfluidic chip to the immunoassay has many advantages such as high efficiency, low cost, and high integration. It is of great significance to understand the flow characteristics of fluids in microchannel, which can improve the efficiency and accuracy of detection. In this paper, the effects of microchannel structure on the particle concentration distribution in two-phase flow and the flow behaviour of near-wall layer are studied by microfluidic observation technique. Also, a kind of microchannel structure was designed to increase the particle concentration in the front-end of microfluidic.
Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of Cutterhead System with Uncertain Loads
Authors: Youneng Bao , Junzhou Huo , zhaohui Xu
Published: June 2019

Tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a large and complex tunnel tunnelling equipment, which is widely used in underground works such as water conservancy, transportation, national defense and energy. In the construction of TBM, it is very difficult to predict the dynamic characteristics of the cutterhead system, because of its complexity and the uncertainty of the service environment, geological uncertainties and manufacturing process. To solve the above problems, first of all, this paper applies concentrated mass method, establishing a multi degree of freedom coupling dynamic model of TBM cutterhead system under uncertain excitation. Considering the changes between hob location and establishing the uncertain geological condition model, the load boundary with uncertainties is obtained and replaced by the load boundary. The dynamic characteristics of TBM cutter head system with uncertain load are obtained, which provides important basis for TBM vibration reduction and optimization design.
Optimization of experimental parameters for the mechanical characterization of thin elastic films
Authors: Gross Wolfgang , Kress Holger
Published: June 2019

Indentation experiments are a common tool to measure the elastic properties of many different kinds of samples. However, only few techniques are available to measure the elastic modulus and the Poisson ratio of thin elastic films. Recently, we have described a novel technique based on the steel sphere method to simultaneously measure both parameters of a thin elastic film in a single experiment by placing millimeter-sized steel spheres on the films. In this work, we investigate how various measurement parameters can be tuned to increase the measurement accuracy significantly. These parameters include the number, size, and density of the spheres, the number of data points per sphere and the film thickness. With experiments and simulations we demonstrate that the precision of the measurement can be improved drastically if the parameters are chosen appropriately. We show how to adjust the number of data points to achieve a good balance between workload and accuracy. Additionally, the accuracy can be improved by covering a wide range of different indentation geometries. In particular the use of larger spheres and spheres with a higher density is generally more favorable. We provide Java software to easily adopt the technique and to simplify the data analysis.
The Snow Queer? Female Characterization in Walt Disney’s Frozen
Authors: Llompart Auba , Brugué Lydia
Published: June 2019

Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’ (1845) and its film adaptations have been examined from multiple perspectives by previous scholarly criticism. Recently, Gender and Queer theories have placed particular emphasis on the presence of non-normative romantic relationships between characters, namely, attraction between a young boy and an older woman (Kay and the Snow Queen), homoeroticism (Gerda and the Robber Girl), and even incestuous desire (Kay and Gerda), among others. In this paper, we will concentrate on how the original fairy-tale female characters and their interrelationships have been reworked in Walt Disney’s Frozen (Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, 2013), and we will analyse how the film’s representations of love, desire, and femininity simultaneously resemble and differ from its literary source. Firstly, we will explore how Andersen’s alluringly dangerous Snow Queen has been turned into a sympathetic character, Queen Elsa. Secondly, we argue that Gerda and Kay’s friendship has been transformed into sisterly love between the two female protagonists in the film, Elsa and Anna, whereas romantic heterosexual love, on the other hand, seems to have been relegated to a secondary narrative arc or done away with altogether, as the absence of a romantic partner for Elsa shows. Interestingly, having a Disney queen whose quest does not involve finding a husband has led some Frozen fans to speculate that Elsa could be the first lesbian Disney princess. Thus, we will also analyse Elsa’s character in connection with the different definitions of ‘queerness’. In light of all this, we discuss that Frozen is an example of the recent Disney trend to redefine true love and prioritize female bonding and empowerment. However, if we compare it to its literary precedent, the Disney adaptation seems to be less daring when it comes to portraying non-normative manifestations of love and femininity than Andersen’s original.
Neuropsychological Predictors of Decision-Making Capacity in Terminally Ill Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Kolva Elissa , Rosenfeld Barry , Saracino Rebecca M
Published: June 2019

Objective

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the neuropsychological underpinnings of decision-making capacity in terminally ill patients with advanced cancer.

Method

Participants were 108 English-speaking adults. More than half (n = 58) of participants had a diagnosis of advanced cancer and were receiving inpatient palliative care; the rest were healthy adults. Participants completed a measure of decision-making capacity that assesses four legal standards of capacity (Choice, Understanding, Appreciation, and Reasoning), and several measures of neuropsychological functioning.

Results

Patients with terminal cancer were significantly more impaired on measures of capacity and neuropsychological functioning. Surprisingly, in the terminally ill sample, there were no significant correlations between neuropsychological functioning and decision-making capacity.

Conclusion

The terminally ill sample exhibited high levels of neuropsychological impairment across multiple cognitive domains. However, few of the measures of neuropsychological functioning were significantly associated with performance on the decisional capacity subscales in the terminally ill sample. It is possible that end-of-life decisional capacity is governed by general, rather than domain-specific, cognitive abilities.
Community curation of bioinformatics software and data resources
Authors: Ison Jon , Ménager Hervé , Brancotte Bryan , Jaaniso Erik , Salumets Ahto , Raček Tomáš , Lamprecht Anna-Lena , Palmblad Magnus , Kalaš Matúš , Chmura Piotr , Hancock John M , Schwämmle Veit , Ienasescu Hans-Ioan
Published: June 2019

The corpus of bioinformatics resources is huge and expanding rapidly, presenting life scientists with a growing challenge in selecting tools that fit the desired purpose. To address this, the European Infrastructure for Biological Information is supporting a systematic approach towards a comprehensive registry of tools and databases for all domains of bioinformatics, provided under a single portal (https://bio.tools). We describe here the practical means by which scientific communities, including individual developers and projects, through major service providers and research infrastructures, can describe their own bioinformatics resources and share these via bio.tools.
RAISS: robust and accurate imputation from summary statistics
Authors: Julienne Hanna , Shi Huwenbo , Pasaniuc Bogdan , Aschard Hugues
Published: June 2019

Motivation

Multi-trait analyses using public summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are becoming increasingly popular. A constraint of multi-trait methods is that they require complete summary data for all traits. Although methods for the imputation of summary statistics exist, they lack precision for genetic variants with small effect size. This is benign for univariate analyses where only variants with large effect size are selected a posteriori. However, it can lead to strong p-value inflation in multi-trait testing. Here we present a new approach that improve the existing imputation methods and reach a precision suitable for multi-trait analyses.

Results

We fine-tuned parameters to obtain a very high accuracy imputation from summary statistics. We demonstrate this accuracy for variants of all effect sizes on real data of 28 GWAS. We implemented the resulting methodology in a python package specially designed to efficiently impute multiple GWAS in parallel.

Availability and implementation

The python package is available at: https://gitlab.pasteur.fr/statistical-genetics/raiss, its accompanying documentation is accessible here http://statistical-genetics.pages.pasteur.fr/raiss/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
RAbHIT: R Antibody Haplotype Inference Tool
Authors: Peres Ayelet , Gidoni Moriah , Polak Pazit , Yaari Gur
Published: June 2019

Antibody haplotype inference (chromosomal phasing) may have clinical implications for the identification of genetic predispositions to diseases. Yet, our knowledge of the genomic loci encoding for the variable regions of the antibody is only partial, mostly due to the challenge of aligning short reads from genome sequencing to these highly repetitive loci. A powerful approach to infer the content of these loci relies on analyzing repertoires of rearranged V(D)J sequences. We present here RAbHIT, an R Haplotype Antibody Inference Tool, that implements a novel algorithm to infer V(D)J haplotypes by adapting a Bayesian framework. RAbHIT offers inference of haplotype and gene deletions. It may be applied to sequences from naïve and non-naïve B-cells, sequenced by different library preparation protocols.

Availability and implementation

RAbHIT is freely available for academic use from comprehensive R archive network (CRAN) (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/rabhit/) under CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Findings From a Longitudinal Qualitative Study of Child Protection Social Workers’ Retention: Job Embeddedness, Professional Confidence and Staying Narratives
Authors: Burns Kenneth , Christie Alastair , O’Sullivan Siobhan
Published: June 2019

The retention of social workers in child protection and welfare is an ongoing concern in many countries. While our knowledge based on the turnover of child protection and welfare social workers is growing, much less is known about ‘stayers’—those who undertake this work for over 10+ years. This article draws on the data gathered over a decade in Ireland on these social workers. The article addresses three questions: (i) What can we learn from social workers with 10+ years’ experience of child protection and welfare about their retention? (ii) Does job embeddedness theory help explain their choices to stay? (iii) Does the ‘career preference typology’ (Burns, 2011. British Journal of Social Work, 41(3), pp. 520–38) helps to explain social workers’ retention? The main findings are that if you can retain social workers beyond the 5-year point, their retention narrative intensifies, their embeddedness in the organisation and community strengthens and they have a stronger sense of professional confidence as they move out of the early professional stage. A surprising finding of this study was that nearly all of the social workers in this study had a staying narrative that changed little between their interviews a decade apart.
DNA barcodes fail to accurately differentiate species in Hawaiian plant lineages
Authors: Stallman Jeffery K , Funk Vicki A , Price Jonathan P , Knope Matthew L
Published: June 2019

DNA barcoding has been largely successful in differentiating animal species, but the most effective loci and evaluative methods for plants are still debated. Floras of young, oceanic islands are a challenging test of DNA barcodes, because of rapid speciation, high incidence of hybridization and polyploidy. We used character-based, tree-based and genetic distance-based methods to test DNA barcoding of 385 species of native Hawaiian plants constituting 20 lineages at the nuclear ITS(2) locus, nine lineages at each of the plastid loci trnH-psbA and rbcL, eight lineages at the plastid locus matK and four lineages with concatenated data. We also incorporated geographical range information and tested if varying sample sizes within a lineage influenced identification success. Average discrimination success was low (22% maximum) with all methods of analysis across all loci. The character-based method generally provided the highest identification success, there were limited benefits from incorporating geographical data and no relationship between number of species sampled in a lineage and identification success was found. Percentages of identification success are the lowest reported in a DNA barcoding study of comparable scale, and multi-species groups that radiated in the Hawaiian archipelago probably cannot be identified based on current DNA barcoding loci and methodologies.
The nutritional environment determines which and how intestinal stem cells contribute to homeostasis and tumorigenesis
Authors: Li Wenge , Zimmerman Samuel E , Peregrina Karina , Houston Michele , Mayoral Joshua , Zhang Jinghang , Maqbool Shahina , Zhang Zhengdong , Cai Ying , Ye Kenny , Augenlicht Leonard H
Published: June 2019

Sporadic colon cancer accounts for approximately 80% of colorectal cancer (CRC) with high incidence in Western societies strongly linked to long-term dietary patterns. A unique mouse model for sporadic CRC results from feeding a purified rodent Western-style diet (NWD1) recapitulating intake for the mouse of common nutrient risk factors each at its level consumed in higher risk Western populations. This causes sporadic large and small intestinal tumors in wild-type mice at an incidence and frequency similar to that in humans. NWD1 perturbs intestinal cell maturation and Wnt signaling throughout villi and colonic crypts and decreases mouse Lgr5hi intestinal stem cell contribution to homeostasis and tumor development. Here we establish that NWD1 transcriptionally reprograms Lgr5hi cells, and that nutrients are interactive in reprogramming. Furthermore, the DNA mismatch repair pathway is elevated in Lgr5hi cells by lower vitamin D3 and/or calcium in NWD1, paralleled by reduced accumulation of relevant somatic mutations detected by single-cell exome sequencing. In compensation, NWD1 also reprograms Bmi1+ cells to function and persist as stem-like cells in mucosal homeostasis and tumor development. The data establish the key role of the nutrient environment in defining the contribution of two different stem cell populations to both mucosal homeostasis and tumorigenesis. This raises important questions regarding impact of variable human diets on which and how stem cell populations function in the human mucosa and give rise to tumors. Moreover, major differences reported in turnover of human and mouse crypt base stem cells may be linked to their very different nutrient exposures.
Too big to manage: US megabanks’ competition by innovation and the microfoundations of financialization
Authors: Cerpa Vielma Nicole , Cömert Hasan , D’Avino Carmela , Dymski Gary , Kaltenbrunner Annina , Petratou Eirini , Shabani Mimoza
Published: June 2019

Disagreements over the systemic implications—the future—of financialization can be traced in part to the absence of sustained attention to the role of banking firms in driving this secular shift forward. That is, the financialization literature lacks an adequate microfoundation. Accounting for the drivers of financialization processes solely at the macro level overlooks the problems of how these processes came about and whether they are sustainable. This paper addresses this explanatory gap, arguing that a key independent microeconomic driver of increasing financialization did exist: the incessant efforts by money-centre banks in the USA to break out of Depression-era restrictions on their size, activities, and markets. These banks’ growth strategies in turbulent times led to an institutional (meso) shift—the rise of a megabank-centred shadow banking system—that now shapes global financial architecture even while operating in ways that are unsustainable. In short, too-big-to-manage megabanks are at the heart of the fragility and instability of the economy today.
Imaging for screening cardiovascular involvement in patients with systemic rheumatologic diseases: more questions than answers
Authors: Sade Leyla Elif , Akdogan Ali
Published: June 2019

Cardiovascular involvement due to systemic rheumatologic diseases (SRDs) remains largely underdiagnosed despite causing excess mortality and limiting the favourable effect of therapeutic developments on survival. Traditional risk scoring systems are poorly calibrated for SRD patients. There is an unmet need to develop a cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification tool and screening algorithm for CV involvement dedicated to asymptomatic patients with SRDs. Even though accelerated atherosclerosis is the most prominent cause of major CV events, a more comprehensive approach is crucial to detect different pathological processes associated with SRDs that are leading to CV complications. In that regard, incorporation of imaging parameters obtained from echocardiography and carotid ultrasound (CUS) might help to improve risk models, to detect and monitor subclinical CV involvement. These two imaging modalities should be an integral part of screening SRD patients with suspicion of CV involvement on top of electrocardiogram (ECG). Cardiac magnetic resonance and multi-slice computerized tomography angiography and nuclear imaging modalities seem very important to complement echocardiography and CUS for further evaluation. However, to answer the question ‘Should asymptomatic patients with SRDs undergo screening with echocardiography and CUS on top of ECG?’ necessitates large studies performing cardiac screening with a standard approach by using these imaging methods to obtain longitudinal data with hard CV outcomes.
Vocal cord paralysis after cardiovascular surgery in children: incidence, risk factors and diagnostic options
Authors: García-Torres Enrique , Antón-Pacheco Juan L , Luna-Paredes Mª Carmen , Morante-Valverde Rocío , Ezquerra-Pozo Elena , Ferrer-Martínez Alicia , Villafruela Miguel A , Jiménez-Huerta Ignacio , López-Díaz María , Carrillo-Arroyo Isabel , Boni Lorenzo
Published: June 2019

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) in children after cardiovascular surgery. The secondary aims were to identify the factors potentially associated with VCP and to assess the diagnostic utility of laryngeal ultrasound (US).

METHODS

This study is a retrospective review of patients who underwent aortic repair, patent ductus arteriosus ligation and left pulmonary artery surgeries from 2007 to 2017. The following data were collected: patient demographics, gestational age, weight and age at surgery, comorbidities, cardiovascular anomaly and type of procedure, laryngoscopic and US evaluation results. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify the variables associated with VCP.

RESULTS

Two hundred and six patients were included in the study. Seventy-two patients (35%) were preterm and 32.5% showed comorbidities. At surgery, median age and weight were 0.6 months [interquartile range (IQR) 0.3–2.1] and 3.0 kg (IQR 1.3–4.0), respectively. Postoperatively, symptomatic patients underwent endoscopic evaluation and VCP was detected in 25 cases (12.1%). Laryngeal US was performed in 8 of these showing an excellent diagnostic relationship. On univariable analysis, factors significantly associated with VCP were prematurity, young age and lower weight at surgery and the presence of comorbidities. The presence of comorbidities and weight at surgery exhibited a significant risk of developing VCP postoperatively on multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

VCP is not an unusual complication of cardiovascular surgery. Certain factors were associated with VCP development but only the presence of comorbidities and weight at surgery were statistically significant on multivariable analysis. Flexible laryngoscopy is the standard diagnostic technique and laryngeal US appears to be a reliable complement.
Predicting cardiac electrical response to sodium-channel blockade and Brugada syndrome using polygenic risk scores
Authors: Tadros Rafik , Tan Hanno L ,   ESCAPE-NET Investigators, el Mathari Sulayman , Kors Jan A , Postema Pieter G , Lahrouchi Najim , Beekman Leander , Radivojkov-Blagojevic Milena , Amin Ahmad S , Meitinger Thomas , Tanck Michael W , Wilde Arthur A , Bezzina Connie R
Published: June 2019

Aims

Sodium-channel blockers (SCBs) are associated with arrhythmia, but variability of cardiac electrical response remains unexplained. We sought to identify predictors of ajmaline-induced PR and QRS changes and Type I Brugada syndrome (BrS) electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods and results

In 1368 patients that underwent ajmaline infusion for suspected BrS, we performed measurements of 26 721 ECGs, dose–response mixed modelling and genotyping. We calculated polygenic risk scores (PRS) for PR interval (PRSPR), QRS duration (PRSQRS), and Brugada syndrome (PRSBrS) derived from published genome-wide association studies and used regression analysis to identify predictors of ajmaline dose related PR change (slope) and QRS slope. We derived and validated using bootstrapping a predictive model for ajmaline-induced Type I BrS ECG. Higher PRSPR, baseline PR, and female sex are associated with more pronounced PR slope, while PRSQRS and age are positively associated with QRS slope (P < 0.01 for all). PRSBrS, baseline QRS duration, presence of Type II or III BrS ECG at baseline, and family history of BrS are independently associated with the occurrence of a Type I BrS ECG, with good predictive accuracy (optimism-corrected C-statistic 0.74).

Conclusion

We show for the first time that genetic factors underlie the variability of cardiac electrical response to SCB. PRSBrS, family history, and a baseline ECG can predict the development of a diagnostic drug-induced Type I BrS ECG with clinically relevant accuracy. These findings could lead to the use of PRS in the diagnosis of BrS and, if confirmed in population studies, to identify patients at risk for toxicity when given SCB.
Comparative analysis of gut bacterial communities in housefly larvae fed different diets using a high-throughput sequencing approach
Authors: Xue Zhijing , Zhang Junli , Zhang Ruiling , Huang Zhendong , Wan Qing , Zhang Zhong
Published: June 2019

Housefly larvae are a synanthropic host for various bacteria, including pathogens and commensals and an important protein source for monogastric animal feed. Many factors, such as diets, life stages, host habitats can influence microbial community structure. In this study, the diversity of bacterial communities in the gut of housefly larvae fed on different artificial diets was comprehensively characterized using high-throughput sequencing with the aim shedding light on an optimal larval diet. The results showed that the dominant bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla were related to polysaccharide degradation. The comparative analysis indicated that the dominant intestinal bacteria of larvae fed on high-protein were similar to those on high-fat diet. The same was the case in larvae fed high-starch diet and wheat bran alone. In addition, the diversity of intestinal bacteria at genus level in larvae fed high-protein and high-fat diet was higher than in larvae fed the other two diets. Further analysis indicated that the increase of potential commensals and decrease of pathogens in larvae fed on high-fat diet contributed to the increase of housefly larvae immunity. It established a foundation for further research on improvement of nutrition of housefly larvae used for poultry and fish feed.
Estimating lateral and vertical resolution in receiver function data for shallow crust exploration
Authors: Subašić Senad , Piana Agostinetti Nicola , Bean Christopher J
Published: June 2019

In order to test the horizontal and vertical resolution of teleseismic receiver functions, we perform a complete receiver function analysis and inversion using data from the La Barge array. The La Barge Passive Seismic Experiment was a seismic deployment in western Wyoming, recording continuously between November 2008 and June 2009, with 55 instruments deployed 250 m apart—up to two orders of magnitude closer than in typical receiver function studies. We analyse each station separately. We calculate receiver functions and invert them using a Bayesian algorithm. The inversion results are in agreement with measurements from nearby wells, and from other studies using the same data set. The resulting posterior probability distributions (PPDs), obtained for each station, are compared to each other by computing the Bhattacharyya coefficients, which quantify the overlap between two PPDs. Our results indicate that (a) the lateral resolution of 8 Hz receiver functions is approximately equal to the width of their first Fresnel zone, (b) minimum investigable depth is about 400 m at 8 Hz, (c) lateral resolution depends on the local geology as expected and (d) velocity inversion in the shallow-crust can be resolved in the first few kilometres, even in case of dipping interfaces.
The tree-canopy effect in gravity forward modelling
Authors: Yang Meng , Hirt Christian , Rexer Moritz , Pail Roland , Yamazaki Dai
Published: June 2019

High resolution and accurate digital terrain models (DTMs) are frequently used as input data sets to define the topographic masses in gravity forward modelling, for example, for terrain corrections in the context of regional gravity modelling. However, over vegetated areas such as forests and scrublands, the radar- and image-based digital elevation models (DEMs) may contain a tree bias, and therefore do not represent the bare-ground surface. The presence of vegetation-induced signals in DEMs, denoted here the tree-canopy effect, will introduce errors in the gravity forward modelling. In this study, the role of the tree-canopy effect in gravity forward modelling calculations is numerically investigated. First, spectral forward modelling techniques were applied to analyse a global tree-canopy bias model with a horizontal resolution of 1 km x 1 km and to quantify its effect on global gravity forward modelling results. We demonstrate that tree-canopy signals in the DEM produce a positive bias in the topographic gravitational field over vegetated areas, with values ranging from 0 to ∼2.7 mGal for gravity disturbances. Second, the role of the tree-canopy effect in high-frequency gravity forward modelling is studied using well-known residual terrain modelling (RTM) techniques. As DEM data sets, we used the 3″ SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital 9 m Elevation Database) V4.1 (containing vegetation biases) and the 3″ MERIT-DEM (Multi-Error-Removed Improved-Terrain Digital elevation model) as a representation of the bare-ground elevations. Using Tasmania and the Amazon rainforest regions as test areas with significant tree-canopy signals we show that the tree-height effect on RTM calculations is of high-frequency nature, with rather small signals which reach in extreme cases amplitudes of ∼1–2 mGal occurring at forest boundaries. Third, using ground gravity observations, validation experiments were performed over the Australian Alps, Tasmania and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. All validation experiments show that the bare-ground elevation model MERIT-DEM performs better than SRTM V4.1 in terms of reduction of the discrepancies between modelled and observed gravity values. As a general conclusion, bare-ground DEM models should be preferred in any gravity forward modelling application to avoid or reduce the tree-canopy effect.
Judging constitutional conventions
Authors: Ahmed Farrah , Albert Richard , Perry Adam
Published: June 2019

The study of constitutional conventions is anchored in three assumptions that have so far remained largely unchallenged: that there is a shared “Commonwealth approach” to constitutional conventions; that Commonwealth courts will recognize and employ conventions but never enforce them; and that conventions are always distinguishable from rules of law. After setting out a new taxonomy of modes of judicial engagement with constitutional conventions, we overturn each of these assumptions. We draw on recent case law from Canada, India, and the United Kingdom to show that there is no shared “Commonwealth approach” to the treatment of constitutional conventions. We show that some Commonwealth courts do, in fact, enforce conventions. Finally, we show that at least some constitutional conventions have crystallized into law. These insights disrupt much of what is foundational in the study of constitutional conventions.
The Double Complex of a Blow-up
Authors: Stelzig Jonas
Published: June 2019

We compute the double complex of smooth complex-valued differential forms on projective bundles over and blow-ups of compact complex manifolds up to a suitable notion of quasi-isomorphism. This simultaneously yields formulas for “all” cohomologies naturally associated with this complex (in particular, de Rham, Dolbeault, Bott–Chern, and Aeppli).
Comparison of enteral nutrition with total parenteral nutrition for patients with locally advanced unresectable esophageal cancer harboring dysphagia in definitive chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Furuta Mitsuhiro , Yokota Tomoya , Tsushima Takahiro , Todaka Akiko , Machida Nozomu , Hamauchi Satoshi , Yamazaki Kentaro , Fukutomi Akira , Kawai Sadayuki , Kawabata Takanori , Onozawa Yusuke , Yasui Hirofumi
Published: June 2019

Background

The nutritional status of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) harboring dysphagia is often poor. The efficacy and safety of enteral nutrition (EN) versus total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have not been addressed in patients with ESCC requiring nutritional support during definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT).

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 51 locally advanced unresectable ESCC patients with dysphagia receiving EN (n = 28) or TPN (n = 23) during dCRT between 2009 and 2016.

Results

Patient characteristics in EN vs. TPN were as follows: median age (range), 67 (34 to 82) vs. 66 (57 to 83); ECOG performance status 0/1/2, 11/15/2 vs. 7/14/2; dysphagia score 2/3/4, 11/15/2 vs. 14/8/1; and primary tumor location Ce/Ut/Mt/Lt/Ae, 4/6/14/3/1 vs. 2/2/16/1/2. Median changes in serum albumin level one month after dCRT were +8.8% (−36 to 40) in EN and −12% (−64 to 29) in TPN (P = 0.00377). Weight, body mass index, and skeletal muscle area were not significantly different between the groups. Median durations of hospitalization were 50 days (18 to 72) in EN and 63 days (36 to 164) in TPN (P = 0.00302). Adverse events during dCRT in EN vs. TPN were as follows: catheter-related infection, 0 vs. 6 (27%); aspiration pneumonia, 3 (11%) vs. 2 (9%); mediastinitis, 3 (11%) vs. 1 (5%); grade ≥3 neutropenia, 6 (21%) vs. 14 (64%) (P = 0.00287); and febrile neutropenia, 0 vs. 6 (27%) (P = 0.00561).

Conclusions

EN may be advantageous for improving serum albumin level, and reducing hematological toxicity and duration of hospitalization compared with TPN during dCRT in ESCC patients.
Treatment results of 99 patients undergoing open partial hypopharyngectomy with larynx preservation
Authors: Shinozaki Takeshi , Hayashi Ryuichi , Okano Wataru , Tomioka Toshifumi , Higashino Takuya
Published: June 2019

Objective

Hypopharyngeal cancers frequently go undetected until advanced stages. However, recent advances in endoscopic technology have enabled earlier detection of hypopharyngeal cancer. We evaluated the effectiveness of larynx-preserving surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 99 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent partial hypopharyngectomy with larynx preservation between September 1992 and December 2009 at the National Cancer Center Hospital East. Of these, 91 patients underwent larynx-preserving surgery as initial treatment; eight patients underwent salvage surgery for recurrent disease after previous radiotherapy. Also, 9 of our patients had undergone previous radiotherapy in the head and neck for a different cancer. Before surgery, the TNM stage and tumor location was recorded. Free-flap reconstruction was performed in 60 patients, while the hypopharyngeal mucosa was closed without a free flap in 39 patients.

Results

The 5-year overall survival rate in our cohort was 66.9%, and 59 patients are currently alive without recurrence. Thirty-three patients died due to primary recurrence (n = 5), regional recurrence (n = 10), distant metastasis (n = 9), postoperative death (n = 1), and unrelated disease (n = 8). Laryngeal function could not be preserved in 19 patients, 2 of whom had undergone previous radiotherapy, and 7 of whom had undergone both previous radiotherapy and other salvage surgeries.

Conclusion

Partial hypopharyngectomy can preserve laryngeal function in patients with pharyngeal cancer with careful patient selection.
Sex-biased dispersal and inbreeding avoidance in Hokkaido brown bears
Authors: Shirane Yuri , Shimozuru Michito , Yamanaka Masami , Tsuruga Hifumi , Nakanishi Masanao , Ishinazaka Tsuyoshi , Nose Takane , Kasai Shinsuke , Shirayanagi Masataka , Masuda Yasushi , Fujimoto Yasushi , Mano Tsutomu , Sashika Mariko , Tsubota Toshio
Published: June 2019

Natal dispersal likely plays an important role in avoiding inbreeding among large carnivores. We tested the hypothesis that male-biased dispersal reduces close inbreeding by limiting the spatial overlap of opposite-sex pairs of close relatives in brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. We genotyped 837 individuals collected in 1998–2017 at 21 microsatellite loci and performed parentage analysis. To calculate natal dispersal distance, we considered the site where the mother was identified as the birthplace of her offspring, and the site where the offspring were identified as their dispersed place. As predicted, we found that dispersal distances were significantly greater for males (12.4 km ± 1.0) than for females (7.7 km ± 0.9), and those for males increased from 3 years old, indicating that males begin to disperse around the time sexual maturation begins. Relatedness decreased with distance among pairs of females, and the mean relatedness was significantly higher between pairs of females than between pairs of males or between female–male pairs within 3 km. Closely related female–male pairs rarely (5–6%) resided in close proximity (< 3 km), compared with pairs of closely related females. Our study revealed that the potential for close inbreeding was low in Hokkaido brown bears because males are effective dispersers.
Star formation quenching imprinted on the internal structure of naked red nuggets
Authors: Martín-Navarro Ignacio , van de Ven Glenn , Yıldırım Akın
Published: June 2019

The formation and assembly process of massive galaxies is a combination of two phases: an initial in-situ-dominated one followed by an ex-situ-dominated evolution. Separating these two contributions is therefore crucial to understand the baryonic cycle within massive haloes. A recently discovered population of so-called naked red nuggets, galaxies that shortcut the ex-situ stage preserving their pristine properties, presents a unique opportunity to study in detail star formation in massive galaxies without the confounding effect of later accretion. We investigate the spatially resolved star formation histories of a sample of 12 naked red nuggets. We measure how their radial light distributions, star formation rates, and central densities evolved in time. We find that, while forming stars, red nuggets become gradually more concentrated, reaching a maximum concentration at quenching. After being quenched, they kept forming stars in a more discy-like configuration. Our measurements suggest that supermassive black holes and host galaxies grow their mass in a self-regulated way until a characteristic M•/Mhalo is reached. Once black holes are massive enough, red nuggets get quenched and depart from the star formation main sequence. While in the main sequence, red nuggets evolve at roughly constant star formation rate. This can explain up to ∼0.3 dex of the scatter of the star formation main sequence, as well as its higher normalization observed in the early Universe. Hence, our results suggest that the main sequence is composed of populations of galaxies at different evolutionary stages and that the scatter is therefore due to secular processes.
hiss, a new tool for H i stacking: application to NIBLES spectra
Authors: Healy J , Blyth S-L , Elson E , van Driel W , Butcher Z , Schneider S , Lehnert M D , Minchin R
Published: June 2019

H i stacking has proven to be a highly effective tool to statistically analyse average H i properties for samples of galaxies which may or may not be directly detected. With the plethora of H i data expected from the various upcoming H i surveys with the SKA Precursor and Pathfinder telescopes, it will be helpful to standardize the way in which stacking analyses are conducted. In this work we present a new python-based package, hiss, designed to stack H i (emission and absorption) spectra in a consistent and reliable manner. As an example, we use hiss to study the H i content in various galaxy sub-samples from the NIBLES survey of SDSS galaxies which were selected to represent their entire range in total stellar mass without a prior colour selection. This allowed us to compare the galaxy colour to average H i content in both detected and non-detected galaxies. Our sample, with a stellar mass range of $10^8 \lt {{ M}}_\star \, (\text{M}_\odot) \lt 10^{12}$, has enabled us to probe the H i-to-stellar mass gas fraction relationship more than half an order of magnitude lower than in previous stacking studies.
Unusual flare activity in the extreme-velocity −81 km s−1 water-maser feature in W49N
Authors: Volvach L N , Volvach A E , Larionov M G , MacLeod G C , Wolak P
Published: June 2019

We report the detection of significant flaring events of the water masers associated with W49N using the radio telescopes RT-22 (Simeiz) and RT-32 (Torun). Two flares were detected between 2017 September to 2018 November. The −81 km s−1 water-maser feature reached a maximum of ∼50 kJy during these flares. The correlation of the observed exponential growth in flux density with a decreasing line width is consistent with the expected behaviour of an unsaturated maser. Possible mechanisms producing energy releases sufficient to power the water-maser flares in W49N are discussed.
Short- and long-term outcomes after incident pneumonia in adults with chronic kidney disease: a time-dependent analysis from the Stockholm CREAtinine Measurement project
Authors: Su Guobin , Trevisan Marco , Ishigami Junichi , Matsushita Kunihiro , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia , Carrero Juan Jesus
Published: June 2019

Background

Little is known about the health sequelae of pneumonia in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

We studied adults with CKD in Stockholm during 2006–11, who not previously been diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infections. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox regression with pneumonia as a time-varying exposure to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] for the events of death, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), acute kidney injury (AKI), CKD progression or hospitalization for urinary tract infections (UTIs)/sepsis. Cataract and knee/joint replacement served as negative control outcomes.

Results

We identified 71 931 adults (mean age 79 years, 59% women), of whom 8379 (12%) were diagnosed with pneumonia during follow-up; incident pneumonia was associated with 10 times higher adjusted mortality risk during the first 90 days [HR = 10.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.5–10.5] and double the mortality beyond 90 days from pneumonia diagnosis (HR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.9–2.1). Incident pneumonia was similarly associated with higher adjusted risk of MACE (<90 days: HR = 12.6; 95% CI 12.0–13.3; ≥90 days: HR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.4–1.6). The adjusted risk of CKD progression and UTI/sepsis hospitalization was highest within 90 days from pneumonia but remained elevated thereafter. For AKI, the association with incident pneumonia was only seen within 90 days. Neither cataract nor knee/joint replacement was related to pneumonia.

Conclusions

Incident pneumonia was associated with increased risks of MACE, CKD progression, severe UTI/sepsis and death, with risks highest soon after pneumonia diagnosis but extending beyond 90 days. Our findings highlight the susceptibility for adverse outcomes of CKD patients following pneumonia diagnosis, and may inform clinical decisions regarding vaccination strategies.
Economic insecurity and political stability: a case for growth-targeting systemic vote
Authors: Matakos Konstantinos , Xefteris Dimitrios
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we focus on the years before the Great Recession (1960–2007) and, after addressing possible issues of endogeneity, we study the effects of economic fluctuations on political stability. We find that when the economy is not in turmoil, there is a strong positive relationship between unemployment (i.e the major macroeconomic determinant of economic insecurity) and electoral support for systemic parties (i.e. parties with a serious aspiration to governing). That is, democratic politics respond to increasing economic insecurity by enhancing the prospects of political stability and, consequently, economic prosperity and growth.
A Phase I, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Study of CC-11050 in People Living With HIV With Suppressed Plasma Viremia on Antiretroviral Therapy (APHRODITE)
Authors: Boulougoura Afroditi , Gabriel Erin , Laidlaw Elizabeth , Khetani Vikram , Arakawa Ken , Higgins Jeanette , Rupert Adam , Gorelick Robert J , Lumbard Keith , Pau Alice , Poole April , Kibiy Angela , Kumar Princy , Sereti Irini
Published: June 2019

Objective

Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors (PDE4i) are novel anti-inflammatory medications that have been approved for rheumatologic diseases and have been tested as host-directed therapy in tuberculosis. We examined the safety of CC-11050, a potent PDE4i in people living with HIV (PLWH) with suppressed HIV plasma viremia. We hypothesized that CC-11050 could be used to modulate HIV-related inflammation.

Method

Thirty PLWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≥ 1 year with suppressed HIV viremia were enrolled and randomized 2:1 to 12 weeks of CC-11050 200mg twice daily or placebo with follow-up at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16. Primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints were the effect of CC-11050 on cytokines, monocyte, and T-cell activation and potential pharmacokinetic interaction between CC-11050 and Efavirenz (EFV).

Results

At baseline, median age was 49.5 years and CD4 count 459 cells/µL. Most frequent adverse events (grade 1 and 2 only) in CC-11050 group were headache, diarrhea, nausea, cough, nasal congestion, and restlessness. Over a 12-week period, the CC-11050 group had lower level of IL-8, adjusted for baseline level, group, and week (0.72-fold, P = .02), lower percentage of NK cells (0.87-fold, P = .02) and higher IL-6 level (1.48-fold, P = .03) compared to placebo (0.87-fold, P = .02). CC-11050 and EFV co-administration did not reveal any pharmacokinetic interaction.

Conclusions

CC-11050 was well tolerated in PLWH, without affecting CD4 counts or plasma viremia, and led to a decrease in NK cells and plasma IL-8 level after 12-weeks of administration. Further study will be needed to elucidate the efficacy of CC-11050 as potential anti-inflammatory adjuvant strategy in HIV.