bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative oxidation study of aviation lubrication oil
Authors: Ma J , Sun Y B , Jiang X F , Fei Y W , Ruan S J , Li L B
Published: March 2020

The kinematic viscosity, lubricity, acid number of 928 and 50-1-4Φ aviation lubrication oils are investigated in this paper. Oil samples were oxidized at 150 and 175°C for 120 h to evaluate their performance variation. The results suggest that 928 lubrication oil is easily oxidized and generates acidic products, which increase its acid number. The comparative analysis revealed that 928 lubrication oil tends to react in oxidizing atmosphere, which increases its viscosity, acid number, and weight-bearing performance. Meanwhile, wear scar diameters of both oxidized oil samples were found to be nearly the same.
Synchrotron radiation imaging and characterization of creep cracks in 2219 aluminum alloy
Authors: Xu F M , Guo Q , Xu Y X , Dong W , Li T T , Fu Y N
Published: March 2020

Aluminum alloys are lucrative aerocraft materials due to their high-temperature performance, which involves creep crack propagation. However, it is difficult to acquire three-dimensional morphology, volume, and quantity through traditional imaging and characterization techniques, as metallic alloys are optically opaque. The development of synchrotron radiation X-ray tomography has facilitated the study of creep crack propagation. In this study, samples obtained by an interruption experiment were subjected to X-ray tomography observation. Based on reconstruction and visualization software analysis, cracks were first formed inside the material and then propagated via the growth and connection of creep voids. While propagating forward, the cracks also propagated toward the material surface, with the inside of the material propagating more than the surface of the material. When the main crack propagated, irregularly shaped microcracks and large independent branch cracks were generated, promoting the propagation of the main crack.
An explicit high-efficiency algorithm for simulating high-cycle fatigue behavior of metals
Authors: Wang S Y , Zhan L , Xu Z H , Xi H F , Xiao H
Published: March 2020

This article presents a direct and efficient algorithm for simulating high-cycle fatigue failure effects within the framework of a recently proposed elastoplastic model, in which fatigue failure effects of metals are incorporated as inherent constitutive features. Toward bypassing very time-consuming procedures in conducting numerical integrations of the elastoplastic rate equations for extremely large number of loading cycles, from the new model it is possible to derive an explicit expression for the fatigue life directly in terms of the stress amplitude. Numerical examples show that the new algorithm thus established is much more efficient than usual direct numerical procedures and that is particularly the case in simulating fatigue failure effects with very high cycle number.
Research of microscale silver particle paste on Al2O3, pre-dried dielectric layer and pre-fired dielectric layer substrate by a co-firing process
Authors: Tongxin Liu , Jian Wan , Yucai You , Ningze Zhuo , Haibo Wang
Published: March 2020

In this paper, the silver paste was prepared by highly dispersed spherical silver powders with an average particle size of 0.85 um. The silver conductive thick films were printed on Al2O3 and dielectric layer by screen-printing, the dielectric layer had been heat-treated differently, one was dried, the other fired. The corresponding sintering behaviors, electrical and mechanical properties of silver films were investigated systematically. Besides, we made a chip resistor to test performance. The results show that the silver conducting film on fired dielectric is compact, uniform and defect-free, the resistivity and adhesion are 2.54 uΩ·cm and 20.3 N mm−2 respectively. With the increase of sintering times, the conductivity of silver films on the fired dielectric layer increases first and then decreases, while the adhesion increases continuously. We proposed that the diffusion quantity of glasses from the dielectric layer to the surface was the key step in the period of the properties of silver films. The silver film on the fired dielectric layer has better applications in the high current chip resistors.
Thermal response of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites irradiated by thermal radiation
Authors: Gao Yinjun , Gao Lihong , Ma Chen , Ma Zhuang , Zhang Xianghua , Peng Guoliang , Tian Zhou
Published: March 2020

Although carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites (CF/EP) have been widely used in many fields, it is still unknown if such composites could be used in extreme environments exposed to high-intensity thermal radiation that could result in severe damage to materials. In this case, CF/CP has been prepared through thermocompression method and the thermal radiation experiment has been designed and performed. The obtained results show that the parameters including irradiation power density and irradiation time directly affect the damage degree. After irradiation with 4–6 W cm−2 of thermal radiation, decomposition occurred in all CF/EP composites. In addition, the numerical simulation method was used to calculate the effect process, and the results showed that when the thermal radiation coefficient was 0.88, the calculated temperature history was consistent with that of the experiment. After irradiated at 6 W cm−2 for 30 s, the decomposition thickness reaches to 0.7 mm, indicating the high-intensity thermal radiation has caused an obvious effect on CF/EP.
Effect of V2O5 on crystallization tendency and chemical durability of Mo-bearing aluminoborosilicate glass
Authors: Lian Qihui , Zhang Xingquan , Ji Hongjia , Yu Pengpeng , Guo Xiaofeng , Wan Wei , Liu Haifeng , Zheng Kui , Zhu Yongchang , Wang Haibin , Huo Jichuan
Published: March 2020

Abstact

The effect of V2O5 addition on molybdates crystallization tendency, glass structure and chemical durability of aluminoborosilicate glass belonging to SiO2-B2O3-CaO-Na2O-Al2O3-MoO3 system has been studied. The results confirm that V2O5 addition can effectively suppress the crystallization tendency of powellite and enhance the molybdenum solubility in the glass. The MoO3 solubility limit is found to be 2.8 mol% in the V2O5-containing aluminoborosilicate glass. Raman results reveal that V2O5 addition seems to modify the local structural environment of isolated MoO4 units and increase their chemical disorder in the glass, which is favored for molybdenum incorporation in the glass. The molar volume and glass transition temperature of samples are found to depend on V2O5 content. Product consistency test (PCT) results show that the normalized leaching rates of the V2O5-containing aluminoborosilicate glass maintain at a fairly low level compared with standard borosilicate glassy waste form.
Ambient temperature fluctuations exhibit inverse-cubic spectral behavior over time scales from a minute to a day
Authors: Lowen Steven B , Mohan Nishant , Teich Malvin Carl
Published: March 2020

Ambient temperature fluctuations are of importance in a wide variety of scientific and technological arenas. In a series of experiments carried out in our laboratory over an 18-month period, we discovered that these fluctuations exhibit 1/f
3 spectral behavior over the frequency range 1.0 × 10−5 ≤ f ≤ 2.5 × 10−2 Hz, corresponding to 40 s ≤ T

f
 ≤ 1.2 d, where T

f
 = 1/f. This result emerges over a broad range of conditions. For longer time periods, 1.2 < T

f
 ≤ 11.6 d, corresponding to the frequency range 1.0 × 10−6 ≤ f < 1.0 × 10−5 Hz, we observed 1/f
2 spectral behavior. This latter result is in agreement with that observed in data collected at European weather stations. Scalograms computed from our data are consistent with the periodograms.
Reversible and concerted atom diffusion on supported gold nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Pei , Madsen Jacob , Schiøtz Jakob , Wagner Jakob Birkedal , Hansen Thomas Willum
Published: March 2020

Traditionally, direct imaging of atom diffusion is only available by scanning tunneling microscopy and field ion microscopy on geometry-constrained samples: flat surfaces for STM and needle tips for FIM. Here we show time-resolved atomic-scale HRTEM investigations of CeO2-supported Au nanoparticle surfaces to characterize the surface dynamics of atom columns on gold nanoparticles. The observed surface dynamics have been categorized into four types: layer jumping, layer gliding, re-orientation and surface reconstruction. We successfully captured atoms moving in a concerted manner with a time resolution of 0.1 s. A quantitative approach for measuring the dynamics in various gaseous surroundings at elevated temperatures is presented. An approach for measuring quantitative electron beam effects on the surface dynamics is presented by counting atom column occupation as a function of time under a range of dose rates in high vacuum.
Risk From Within: Intraminority Gay Community Stress and Sexual Risk-Taking Among Sexual Minority Men
Authors: Burton Charles L , Clark Kirsty A , Pachankis John E
Published: March 2020

Background

Sexual minority men remain highly impacted by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with social stress being a clear predictor of their risk for infection. The past several decades of stress research regarding sexual minority men’s HIV-risk behaviors has almost exclusively focused on the influence of stress emanating from outside the gay community (e.g., stigma-related stress, or minority stress, such as heterosexist discrimination). However, recent evidence suggests that sexual minority men also face stress from within their own communities.

Purpose

We sought to examine whether stress from within the gay community, or intraminority gay community stress, might influence sexual minority men’s risk behaviors, including HIV-risk behaviors, over-and-above more commonly examined stressors affecting this risk.

Methods

We tested whether intraminority gay community stress was associated with sexual minority men’s HIV-risk behaviors in a large national survey of sexual minority men (Study 1), and experimentally tested intraminority gay community stress’s impact on behavioral risk-taking and attitudes toward condom use (Study 2).

Results

Self-reported exposure to intraminority gay community stress was positively associated with HIV-risk behaviors when accounting for the effects of several commonly examined minority stressors and general life stress (Study 1). Participants who were rejected from an online group of other sexual minority men evidenced greater risk-taking in a subsequent task and reported fewer benefits of condom use than participants who were accepted by the online group, when accounting for state affect (Study 2).

Conclusions

Sexual minority men’s experiences of stress and rejection stemming from their own community may be an important and overlooked predictor of HIV infection and transmission.
Use of prescription medication in the last years of life: a population-based comparison of two oldest old Danish birth cohorts born 10 years apart
Authors: Pedersen Jacob Krabbe , Jensen Troels Mygind , Waldorff Frans Boch , Søndergaard Jens , Christensen Kaare
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Age limits for diagnostics and treatments have been largely removed and replaced by an active diagnostic and treatment practice among the oldest old and has led to concerns about potential overtreatment during the last years of life.

Methods

Use of prescription medication in the last years of life was assessed from 1995 to 2012 for the entire 1905 and 1915 Danish birth cohorts using nationwide register data. Medication use was quantified as the number different pharmacy-redeemed drugs during 120 days up to a given date.

Results

For both cohorts, prescription medication use increased with proximity to death and calendar year, while age at death had little impact; use in the 1915 cohort was markedly higher than in the 1905 cohort. Average number of prescription medications varied from below 3 to above 9 depending on age, calendar year and proximity to death. From 1995 to 2005, average number of prescription medications for a 90-year-old person in the last month of life increased from 6.0 to 8.7. Out of 90-year-old persons dying in 2005, 82% were exposed to polypharmacy, up from 63% in 1995.

Conclusions

Prescription medication use accelerates throughout the last of years life among two Danish oldest old cohorts born 10 years apart, with substantially larger use in the most recent cohort. This pattern suggests an increase in drug prescribing regimens in the period 1995–2012, reinforcing the need for evidence-based guidelines on medications in the particularly vulnerable population of the oldest old patients in their last years of life.
The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function®-Adult Version is Related to Emotional Distress, Not Executive Dysfunction, in a Veteran Sample
Authors: Shwartz Susan K , Roper Brad L , Arentsen Timothy J , Crouse Ellen M , Adler Marcy C
Published: March 2020

Objective

In three studies, we explore the impact of response bias, symptom validity, and psychological factors on the self-report form of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A) and the relationship between self-reported executive functioning (EF) and objective performance.

Method

Each study pulled from a sample of 123 veterans who were administered a BRIEF-A and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) during a neuropsychological evaluation. Participants were primarily middle-aged, and half carried a mood disorder diagnosis. Study 1 examined group differences in BRIEF-A ratings among valid, invalid, and indeterminate MMPI-2 responders. Analyses were conducted to determine the optimal cut-score for the BRIEF-A Negativity Validity scale. In Study 2, relationships were explored among MMPI-2-RF (restructured form) Restructured Clinical (RC) scales, somatic/cognitive scales, and the BRIEF-A Metacognition Index (MI); hierarchical analyses were performed to predict MI using MMPI-2-RF Demoralization (RCd) and specific RC scales. Study 3 correlated BRIEF-A clinical scales and indices with RCd and an EF composite score from neuropsychological testing. Hierarchical analyses were conducted to predict BRIEF-A clinical scales.

Results

Invalid performance on the MMPI-2 resulted in significantly elevated scores on the BRIEF-A compared to those with valid responding. A more stringent cut-score of ≥4 for the BRIEF-A Negativity scale is more effective at identifying invalid symptom reporting. The BRIEF-A MI is most strongly correlated with demoralization. BRIEF-A indices and scales are largely unrelated to objective EF performance.

Conclusions

In a veteran sample, responses on the BRIEF-A are most representative of generalized emotional distress and response bias, not actual EF abilities.
Efficacy of Ultrasound for Localized Fat Treatment on Clinical and Psychological Outcomes: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Lopes Jaqueline Santos Silva , dos Santos Sinara Pereira , de Almeida Lívia Maria Borges , Kayser Ariadne Pereira , Reis Elcilene Franciele Oliveira , de Oliveira Ketelly Alves , do Amaral Queiroz Mirella Carina , da Silva Luaneia Pereira , Marques Ana Beatriz Ferreira , da Silva Borges Bethânia Monteiro , de Almeida Aline Castilho
Published: March 2020

Background

The use of ultrasound for localized fat treatment on possible psychological influences is little explored to date. Therefore, it is relevant to elaborate studies that include a placebo group in order to measure the real effects of the exclusive application of ultrasound.

Objectives

To verify the influence of ultrasound application for localized fat treatment on clinical, functional, and psychological outcomes.

Methods

Thirty female participants who were candidates for localized abdominal fat treatment were included and randomly divided into three groups: control (CG, n = 10), experimental (EG, n = 10), and placebo (PG, n = 10). The CG did not receive any intervention. The EG received 10 ultrasound sessions for 20 minutes. For the PG, ultrasound was also applied for 20 minutes, but with zero intensities. Anthropometric assessment, cardiovascular parameters, circumference measurements, photography, endurance test, and subjective questionnaires were performed before and after the treatment protocols.

Results

The EG photographs show an improvement of 60% in the visual appearance. Regarding the other analyzed outcomes, no statistically significant differences were found between moments and groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Pretreatment and posttreatment photographs analysis demonstrate visual improvement in the appearance of abdominal localized fat in the EG. However, ultrasound application, when compared with CG and PG, is not a superior method for improving clinical, functional, and psychological parameters.

Level of Evidence: 2
Inference under unequal probability sampling with the Bayesian exponentially tilted empirical likelihood
Authors: Yiu A , Goudie R J B , Tom B D M
Published: March 2020

Fully Bayesian inference in the presence of unequal probability sampling requires stronger structural assumptions on the data-generating distribution than frequentist semiparametric methods, but offers the potential for improved small-sample inference and convenient evidence synthesis. We demonstrate that the Bayesian exponentially tilted empirical likelihood can be used to combine the practical benefits of Bayesian inference with the robustness and attractive large-sample properties of frequentist approaches. Estimators defined as the solutions to unbiased estimating equations can be used to define a semiparametric model through the set of corresponding moment constraints. We prove Bernstein–von Mises theorems which show that the posterior constructed from the resulting exponentially tilted empirical likelihood becomes approximately normal, centred at the chosen estimator with matching asymptotic variance; thus, the posterior has properties analogous to those of the estimator, such as double robustness, and the frequentist coverage of any credible set will be approximately equal to its credibility. The proposed method can be used to obtain modified versions of existing estimators with improved properties, such as guarantees that the estimator lies within the parameter space. Unlike existing Bayesian proposals, our method does not prescribe a particular choice of prior or require posterior variance correction, and simulations suggest that it provides superior performance in terms of frequentist criteria.
Is There an Association Between COVID-19 Mortality and the Renin-Angiotensin System? A Call for Epidemiologic Investigations
Authors: Hanff Thomas C , Harhay Michael O , Brown Tyler S , Cohen Jordana B , Mohareb Amir M
Published: March 2020

Mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. These disorders share underlying pathophysiology related to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that may be clinically insightful. In particular, activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is dysregulated in cardiovascular disease, and this enzyme is used by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to initiate the infection. Cardiovascular disease and pharmacologic RAS inhibition both increase ACE2 levels, which may increase the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 within the lung and heart. Conversely, mechanistic evidence from related coronaviruses suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection may downregulate ACE2, leading to toxic overaccumulation of angiotensin II that induces acute respiratory distress syndrome and fulminant myocarditis. RAS inhibition could mitigate this effect. With conflicting mechanistic evidence, we propose key clinical research priorities necessary to clarify the role of RAS inhibition in COVID-19 mortality that could be rapidly addressed by the international research community.
Outcomes for School-Aged Children with Aural Atresia
Authors: Hyland Anna , Arnott Wendy L , Rushbrooke Emma , Cheadle Simone
Published: March 2020

This study compared the language, reading, classroom, and quality of life outcomes of primary school-aged children with aural atresia (AA) to matched controls. Participants included 10 children with AA (eight unilateral) and 10 children with typical hearing matched by chronological and mental age. All children with AA had been fitted with an amplification device. Outcome measures included standardized tests of language, reading, and functional communication questionnaires of children’s classroom performance and hearing quality of life. The children with AA recorded significantly reduced hearing quality of life. The two groups did not differ on any other measures. The present preliminary findings suggest that children with AA who receive early amplification have similar language, communication, reading, and classroom outcomes as their typically hearing peers. Despite these promising outcomes, however, the children’s quality of life is significantly reduced. Further research is needed to further elucidate these findings.
Minimally invasive esophagectomy is associated with superior survival, lymphadenectomy and surgical margins: propensity matched analysis of the National Cancer Database
Authors: Worrell Stephanie G , Bachman Katelynn C , Sarode Anuja L , Perry Yaron , Linden Philip A , Towe Christopher W
Published: March 2020

Despite excellent short-term outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), there is minimal data on long-term outcomes compared to open esophagectomy. MIE’s superior visualization may have improved lymphadenectomy and complete resection rate and therefore improved long-term outcomes. We hypothesized that MIE would have superior long-term survival. Patients undergoing an esophagectomy for cancer between 2010 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database. MIE included laparoscopic/robotic approach, and conversions were categorized as open. A 1:1 propensity match was performed. Lymphadenectomy and margin status were compared between MIE and open using Stuart Maxwell marginal homogeneity and Wilcoxon matched-pair signed-rank test. Survival was compared using log-rank test. 13,083 patients were identified: 8,906 (68%) open and 4,177 (32%) MIE. Propensity matching identified 3,659 ‘pairs’ of MIE and open esophagectomy patients. Among them, MIE was associated with higher number lymph nodes examined (16 vs. 14, P < 0.001) and similar number of positive lymph nodes (0 vs. 0, P = 0.33). MIE had higher rate of negative pathologic margin (95 vs. 93.5%, P < 0.001). MIE was also associated with shorter hospitalization (9 vs. 10 days, P < 0.001). Survival was improved among MIE patients (46.6 vs. 41.4 months for open, P = 0.003) and among pathologic node-negative patients (71.4 vs. 61.5 months, P = 0.005). These data suggest that MIE has improved short-term outcomes (improved lymphadenectomy, pathologic margins, and length of stay) and also associated improved overall survival. The etiology of superior overall survival is likely secondary to many factors related and unrelated to surgical approach.
Contemporary management of patients with syncope in clinical practice: an EHRA physician-based survey
Authors: Dan Gheorghe-Andrei , Scherr Daniel , Jubele Kristine , Farkowski Michal M , Iliodromitis Konstantinos , Conte Giulio , Jędrzejczyk-Patej Ewa , Vitali-Serdoz Laura , Potpara Tatjana S
Published: March 2020

Syncope is a heterogeneous syndrome encompassing a large spectrum of mechanisms and outcomes. The European Society of Cardiology published an update of the Syncope Guidelines in 2018. The aim of the present survey was to capture contemporary management of syncope and guideline implementation among European physicians. A 23-item questionnaire was presented to 2588 European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) members from 32 European countries. The response rate was 48%, but only complete responses (n = 161) were included in this study. The questionnaire contained specific items regarding syncope facilities, diagnostic definitions, diagnostic tools, follow-up, and therapy. The survey revealed that many respondents did not have syncope units (88%) or dedicated management algorithms (44%) at their institutions, and 45% of the respondents reported syncope-related hospitalization rates >25%, whereas most (95%) employed close monitoring and hospitalization in syncope patients with structural heart disease. Carotid sinus massage, autonomic testing, and tilt-table testing were inconsistently used. Indications were heterogeneous for implanted loop recorders (79% considered them for recurrent syncope in high-risk patients) or electrophysiological studies (67% considered them in bifascicular block and inconclusive non-invasive testing). Non-pharmacological therapy was consistently considered by 68% of respondents; however, there was important variation regarding the choice of drug and device therapy. While revealing an increased awareness of syncope and good practice, our study identified important unmet needs regarding the optimal management of syncope and variable syncope guideline implementation.
Lighten Up! Postural Instructions Affect Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Older Adults
Authors: Cohen Rajal G , Baer Jason L , Ravichandra Ramyaa , Kral Daniel , McGowan Craig , Cacciatore Timothy W
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

Increased fall risk in older adults is associated with declining balance. Previous work showed that brief postural instructions can affect balance control in older adults with Parkinson’s disease. Here, we assessed the effects of brief instructions on static and dynamic balance in healthy older adults.

Research Design and Methods

Nineteen participants practiced three sets of instructions, then attempted to implement each instructional set during: (1) quiet standing on foam for 30 s with eyes open; (2) a 3-s foot lift. “Light” instructions relied on principles of reducing excess tension while encouraging length. “Effortful” instructions relied on popular concepts of effortful posture correction. “Relax” instructions encouraged minimization of effort. We measured kinematics and muscle activity.

Results

During quiet stance, Effortful instructions increased mediolateral jerk and path length. In the foot lift task, Light instructions led to the longest foot-in-air duration and the smallest anteroposterior variability of the center of mass, Relax instructions led to the farthest forward head position, and Effortful instructions led to the highest activity in torso muscles.

Discussion and Implications

Thinking of upright posture as effortless may reduce excessive co-contractions and improve static and dynamic balance, while thinking of upright posture as inherently effortful may make balance worse. This may partly account for the benefits of embodied mindfulness practices such as tai chi and Alexander technique for balance in older adults. Pending larger-scale replication, this discovery may enable physiotherapists and teachers of dance, exercise, and martial arts to improve balance and reduce fall risk in their older students and clients simply by modifying how they talk about posture.
Trace operators of the bi-Laplacian and applications
Authors: Führer Thomas , Haberl Alexander , Heuer Norbert
Published: March 2020

We study several trace operators and spaces that are related to the bi-Laplacian. They are motivated by the development of ultraweak formulations for the bi-Laplace equation with homogeneous Dirichlet condition, but are also relevant to describe conformity of mixed approximations. Our aim is to have well-posed (ultraweak) formulations that assume low regularity under the condition of an $L_2$ right-hand side function. We pursue two ways of defining traces and corresponding integration-by-parts formulas. In one case one obtains a nonclosed space. This can be fixed by switching to the Kirchhoff–Love traces from Führer et al. (2019, An ultraweak formulation of the Kirchhoff–Love plate bending model and DPG approximation. Math. Comp., 88, 1587–1619). Using different combinations of trace operators we obtain two well-posed formulations. For both of them we report on numerical experiments with the discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin method and optimal test functions. In this paper we consider two and three space dimensions. However, with the exception of a given counterexample in an appendix (related to the nonclosedness of a trace space) our analysis applies to any space dimension larger than or equal to two.
The Anti-deterrence Hypothesis
Authors: Mégret Frédéric
Published: March 2020

Although there is by now considerable debate on how much general deterrence effect international criminal justice has, there has been far less discussion of a discreet dimension that has long been identified in the criminology literature, namely the possibility that criminal justice would have an anti-deterrent effect. Along what lines, then, might we understand international criminal justice to be partly ‘criminogenic’? This article sketches some ways in which this phenomenon might be understood, taking into account the specificities of international justice. It argues that the risk of further violence by suspects, of imperfect justice revealing its weaknesses and creating a backlash, and of romanticization of ‘outlaws’ can all count as potential anti-deterrent effects, although their significance for the larger project remains hard to gauge.
Sensitivity of Polyvoltine Thai Strains of Bombyx mori to a BmNPV Isolate From Mahasarakham
Authors: Suraporn Siripuk , Terenius Olle
Published: March 2020

Virus infection by the Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is the most severe disease in Thai sericultural practice of polyvoltine silkworms. Here, we characterized a newly isolated BmNPV isolated from the Mahasarakham province in Thailand (BmNPV-MSU). The purity and morphology of BmNPV-MSU were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIBs) of BmNPV-MSU appeared in tetragonal, hexagonal, octagonal, and globular forms. The virions were both single and multiple embedded as observed by transmission electron microscopy. We also determined the virulence of BmNPV-MSU for six different Thai polyvoltine strains by LC50 and time to death after infection. The LC50 values of Nang Lai, NK04, and Sam Rong strains were 5.05–1.52 × 107 PIBs per ml and mortality peaked 7- to 8-d after inoculation. For Nang Noi, SP2, and RE05 strains the LC50 values were 7.91–1.82 × 106 PIBs/ml and mortality peaked 4–5 d after inoculation, thus having lower chance of survival to infection by BmNPV-MSU.
Worker Trust in Management and Delegation in Organizations
Authors: Meagher Kieron J , Wait Andrew
Published: March 2020

Using a unique employee–establishment survey, we find a causal relationship between an individual employee’s trust of management and their decision-making rights (delegation). We utilize both fixed effects (FE) and instrumental variables to control for unobserved factors: establishment-level FE control for management quality, practices, culture, and other characteristics; our instruments of inherited trust in management, and trust of equivalent workers in a different but similar country address the possible endogeneity of employee trust. Across all specifications, we find that delegation to a worker is more likely if that employee trusts management. In our preferred model, which includes establishment FE and accounts for endogeneity, we find a 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in employee trust increases delegation by approximately 0.6 of 1 SD. Our results are robust to the inclusion of worker preferences for individualism (which favors delegation), incentives/bonuses, and alternative measures of decision authority. (JEL D23, L22, L23).
The Competitive Effects of the GDPR
Authors: Gal Michal S , Aviv Oshrit
Published: March 2020

The GDPR is the Magna Carta of data protection, the importance of which cannot be overstated. Yet, as this article shows, the price of data protection through the GDPR is much higher than previously recognized. The GDPR creates two main harmful effects on competition and innovation: it limits competition in data markets, creating more concentrated market structures and entrenching the market power of those who are already strong; and it limits data sharing between different data collectors, thereby preventing the realization of some data synergies which may lead to better data-based knowledge. To illustrate its claims, the article analyzes the competitive dynamics created by the GDPR, focusing on how it affects the options available to firms for amassing the data necessary for their operations, and their resultant ability to realize economies of scale and scope in data analysis. It identifies seven main parallel and cumulative market dynamics that may limit data collection and data sharing, only some of which have been recognized so far. As shown, under some market conditions, the GDPR has unintended and so far unrecognized effects on competition, efficiency, innovation, and the resultant welfare. The dynamics identified in this article offer partial explanations for some of the troubling empirical evidence regarding investment in EU data-driven markets following the adoption of the GDPR. Furthermore, the analysis enables us to identify which effects are short-term and which are here to stay. The effects on competition and innovation identified may justify a reevaluation of the balance reached to ensure that overall welfare is increased. The article suggests some means of reducing harmful competitive effects, while still protecting the vital goal of privacy, including reaching a better balance between data protection and competition law, reducing uncertainty in the GDPR, creating certification mechanisms for GDPR compliance, and structuring of mandatory data-sharing obligations under other laws in a way, which is sensitive to the dynamics of data markets.
HIV Care Continuum and Meeting 90-90-90 Targets: Cascade of Care Analyses of a U.S. Military Cohort
Authors: Anglemyer Andrew , Haber Noah , Noiman Adi , Rutherford George , Ganesan Anuradha , Blaylock Jason , Okulicz Jason , Maves Ryan C , Lalani Tahaniyat , Schofield Christina , Mancuso James , Agan Brian K ,   The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program HIV Working Group
Published: March 2020

Introduction

The new initiative by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) aims to decrease new HIV infections in the U.S. by 75% within 5 years and 90% within 10 years. Our objective was to evaluate whether the U.S. military provides a good example of the benefits of such policies.

Materials and methods

We conducted an analysis of a cohort of 1,405 active duty military personnel with HIV enrolled in the Natural History Study who were diagnosed between 2003 and 2015 at six U.S. military medical centers. The study was approved by institutional review boards at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and each of the sites. We evaluated the impact of Department of Defense (DoD) HIV care policies, including screening, linkage to care, treatment eligibility, and combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation on achieving viral suppression (VS) within 3 years of diagnosis. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated the DoD’s achievement of UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.

Results

Nearly all (99%) were linked to care within 60 days. Among patients diagnosed in 2003–2009, 77.5% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 73.9–80.6%) became eligible for cART within 3 years of diagnosis, 70.6% (95% CI 66.6–74.1%) overall initiated cART, and 64.2% (95% CI 60.1–68.0%) overall achieved VS. Among patients diagnosed in 2010–2015, 98.7% (95% CI 96.7–99.5%) became eligible for cART within 3 years of diagnosis, 98.5% (95% CI 96.4–99.4%) overall initiated cART, and 89.8% (95% CI 86.0–92.5%) overall achieved VS.

Conclusions

U.S. military HIV policies have been highly successful in achieving VS goals, exceeding the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. In spite of limitations, including generalizability, this example demonstrates the feasibility of the DHHS initiative to decrease new infections through testing, early treatment, and retention in care.
Lessons from isavuconazole therapeutic drug monitoring at a United Kingdom Reference Center
Authors: Borman Andrew M , Hughes Jessica M , Oliver Debra , Fraser Mark , Sunderland Julie , Noel Alan R , Johnson Elizabeth M
Published: March 2020

We determined isavuconazole serum concentrations for 150 UK patients receiving standard isavuconazole dosing regimens, including serial therapeutic drug monitoring for several patients on prolonged therapy. Mean trough isavuconazole concentrations in these patients were virtually identical to those reported previously from clinical trials, although greater variability was seen in patients below 18 years of age. Serial monitoring in patients receiving prolonged therapy suggested gradual, near-linear accumulation of the drug over many weeks.
Inferred time-scales for common envelope ejection using wide astrometric companions
Authors: Igoshev Andrei P , Perets Hagai B , Michaely Erez
Published: March 2020

Evolution of close binaries often proceeds through the common envelope stage. The physics of the envelope ejection (CEE) is not yet understood, and several mechanisms were suggested to be involved. These could give rise to different time-scales for the CEE mass-loss. In order to probe the CEE-time-scales we study wide companions to post-CE binaries. Faster mass-loss time-scales give rise to higher disruption rates of wide binaries and result in larger average separations. We make use of data from Gaia DR2 to search for ultrawide companions (projected separations 103–2 × 105 au and M2 > 0.4 M⊙) to several types of post-CEE systems, including sdBs, white dwarf post-common binaries, and cataclysmic variables. We find a (wide-orbit) multiplicity fraction of 1.4 ± 0.2 per cent for sdBs to be compared with a multiplicity fraction of 5.0 ± 0.2 per cent for late-B/A/F stars which are possible sdB progenitors. The distribution of projected separations of ultrawide pairs to main sequence stars and sdBs differs significantly and is compatible with prompt mass-loss (upper limit on common envelope ejection time-scales of 102 yr). The smaller statistics of ultrawide companions to cataclysmic variables and post-CEE binaries provide weaker constraints. Nevertheless, the survival rate of ultrawide pairs to the cataclysmic variables suggest much longer, ∼104 yr time-scales for the CEE in these systems, possibly suggesting non-dynamical CEE in this regime.
Relative alignment between dense molecular cores and ambient magnetic field: the synergy of numerical models and observations
Authors: Chen Che-Yu , Behrens Erica A , Washington Jasmin E , Fissel Laura M , Friesen Rachel K , Li Zhi-Yun , Pineda Jaime E , Ginsburg Adam , Kirk Helen , Scibelli Samantha , Alves Felipe , Redaelli Elena , Caselli Paola , Punanova Anna , Di Francesco James , Rosolowsky Erik , Offner Stella S R , Martin Peter G , Chacón-Tanarro Ana , Chen Hope H-H , Chen Michael C-Y , Keown Jared , Seo Youngmin , Shirley Yancy , Arce Hector G , Goodman Alyssa A , Matzner Christopher D , Myers Philip C , Singh Ayushi
Published: March 2020

The role played by magnetic field during star formation is an important topic in astrophysics. We investigate the correlation between the orientation of star-forming cores (as defined by the core major axes) and ambient magnetic field directions in (i) a 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulation, (ii) synthetic observations generated from the simulation at different viewing angles, and (iii) observations of nearby molecular clouds. We find that the results on relative alignment between cores and background magnetic field in synthetic observations slightly disagree with those measured in fully 3D simulation data, which is partly because cores identified in projected 2D maps tend to coexist within filamentary structures, while 3D cores are generally more rounded. In addition, we examine the progression of magnetic field from pc to core scale in the simulation, which is consistent with the anisotropic core formation model that gas preferably flows along the magnetic field towards dense cores. When comparing the observed cores identified from the Green Bank Ammonia Survey and Planck polarization-inferred magnetic field orientations, we find that the relative core–field alignment has a regional dependence among different clouds. More specifically, we find that dense cores in the Taurus molecular cloud tend to align perpendicular to the background magnetic field, while those in Perseus and Ophiuchus tend to have random (Perseus) or slightly parallel (Ophiuchus) orientations with respect to the field. We argue that this feature of relative core–field orientation could be used to probe the relative significance of the magnetic field within the cloud.
Evolving grain-size distributions embedded in gas flows
Authors: Sumpter R , Van Loo S
Published: March 2020

We present a numerical approach for accurately evolving a dust grain-size distribution undergoing number-conserving (such as sputtering) and/or mass-conserving (such as shattering) processes. As typically observed interstellar dust distributions follow a power law, our method adopts a power-law discretization and uses both the grain mass and number densities in each bin to determine the power-law parameters. This power-law method is complementary to piecewise-constant and linear methods in the literature. We find that the power-law method surpasses the other two approaches, especially for small bin numbers. In the sputtering tests, the relative error in the total grain mass remains below 0.01 per cent independent of the number of bins N, while the other methods only achieve this for N > 50 or higher. Likewise, the shattering test shows that the method also produces small relative errors in the total grain numbers while conserving mass. Not only does the power-law method conserve the global distribution properties, it also preserves the inter-bin characteristics so that the shape of the distribution is recovered to a high degree. This does not always happen for the constant and linear methods, especially not for small bin numbers. Implementing the power-law method in a hydrodynamical code thus minimizes the numerical cost while maintaining high accuracy. The method is not limited to dust grain distributions, but can also be applied to the evolution of any distribution function, such as a cosmic ray distribution affected by synchrotron radiation or inverse-Compton scattering.
Uncovering the cellular capacity for intensive and specific feedback self-control of the argonautes and MicroRNA targeting activity
Authors: Wang Degeng , Wang Tingzeng , Gill Audrey , Hilliard Terrell , Chen Fengqian , Karamyshev Andrey L , Zhang Fangyuan
Published: March 2020

The miRNA pathway has three segments—biogenesis, targeting and downstream regulatory effectors. We aimed to better understand their cellular control by exploring the miRNA-mRNA-targeting relationships. We first used human evolutionarily conserved sites. Strikingly, AGOs 1–3 are all among the top 14 mRNAs with the highest miRNA site counts, along with ANKRD52, the phosphatase regulatory subunit of the recently identified AGO phosphorylation cycle; and the AGO phosphorylation cycle mRNAs share much more than expected miRNA sites. The mRNAs for TNRC6, which acts with AGOs to channel miRNA-mediated regulatory actions onto specific mRNAs, are also heavily miRNA-targeted. In contrast, upstream miRNA biogenesis mRNAs are not, and neither are downstream regulatory effectors. In short, binding site enrichment in miRNA targeting machinery mRNAs, but neither upstream biogenesis nor downstream effector mRNAs, was observed, endowing a cellular capacity for intensive and specific feedback control of the targeting activity. The pattern was confirmed with experimentally determined miRNA-mRNA target relationships. Moreover, genetic experiments demonstrated cellular utilization of this capacity. Thus, we uncovered a capacity for intensive, and specific, feedback-regulation of miRNA targeting activity directly by miRNAs themselves, i.e. segment-specific feedback auto-regulation of miRNA pathway, complementing miRNAs pairing with transcription factors to form hybrid feedback-loop.
Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Program as an Adjunct to the Standard Treatment for Smoking: A Pragmatic Design Pilot Study
Authors: Weiss de Souza Isabel Cristina , Kozasa Elisa Harumi , Bowen Sarah , Richter Kimber P , Sartes Laisa Marcorela Andreoli , Colugnati Fernando Antônio Basile , Noto Ana Regina
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Posttreatment relapse is a major roadblock to stemming the global epidemic of tobacco-related illness. This article presents results from a pilot trial evaluating the feasibility and initial efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) as an adjunct to standard relapse prevention treatment (ST) for smoking cessation.

Aims and Methods

Smokers (n = 86) in the maintenance phase of treatment were randomized to receive either ST plus MBRP (MBRP) (n = 44) or ST alone (ST) (n = 42). Data were collected at baseline and at 4-, 12-, and 24-week follow-up points. We evaluated the feasibility of the protocol with frequency analysis, and the efficacy with both intention to treat and complete case analyses of the effects of MBRP on abstinence. Secondary outcomes included mindfulness, craving, depression, anxiety, and positive/negative affect.

Results

High adherence suggested MBRP is acceptable and feasible. Participants in the MBRP group reported increases in mindfulness (M = −7.833, p = .016), and reductions in craving (M = 17.583, p = .01) compared with the ST group. Intention to treat analysis found that, compared with MBRP (36.4%), ST (57.1%) showed trend-level superiority in abstinence at Week 4 (Prevalence Ratio = 0.63, p = .06); however at Week 24, the ST group (14.3%) demonstrated a twofold greater decrease in abstinence, compared with the MBRP group (20.1%) (Prevalence Ratio = 2.25, p = .08). Therefore, the MBRP group maintained a higher abstinence rate for longer. Reported effects were greater in the complete case analysis.

Conclusions

MBRP holds promise for preventing relapse after aided tobacco quit attempts.

Implications

Findings suggest that MBRP is acceptable, feasible, and valued by participants. At 24-week follow-up, there was a large effect size and a statistical trend toward fewer MBRP patients relapsing compared with ST patients. MBRP conferred ancillary benefits including reductions in craving and increases in levels of mindfulness. MBRP for tobacco cessation is highly promising and merits further research.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov.

Identifier

NCT02327104.