bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contribution of heat loss by infiltration to energy saving and microclimate in multi-family residential buildings
Authors: Elistratova Y V , Kireev V M , Seminenko A S
Published: April 2020

The problem of energy performance takes a leading position in world politics today. In the territory of RF a number of regulatory documents have been developed and put in force in construction industry, regulating the activity of design and construction organizations in the field of energy performance, including energy loss issues. The article analyses current methodology of calculating infiltration heat loss in a multi-storey residential building with account of the number of storeys. Calculation results in graphic form have been shown for the determination of infiltration heat loss for a 14-storey typical residential building, and imperfection of the methodology has been shown on the basis of these results. A conclusion has been drawn that infiltration loss calculation using current methodology gives overestimated values leading to unreasonable excess consumption of heat energy, and consequently, to economic losses. The article will be useful for engineers of designers of heating systems, employees of management companies.
Determination of the thermotechnical measures of the condensing water heating boiler’s high-temperature section
Authors: Gubarev A V
Published: April 2020

This paper presents the experimental data processing results, obtained during tests of the fuel-saving condensing water heating boiler, that has been designed by the employees of the Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov. The mentioned boiler can be used in heat supply for residential, industrial and office buildings. The paper presents the justification of the stand-alone systems actuality use for heat supply of consumers with different needs, and also the use of such systems as a heat-generating unit in condensing boiler type as a heat source. It demonstrates the functional diagram and description of the test bench for the condensing water heating boiler specimen with heat production of 250kW, and also gives an operation description of this test bench. The paper presents the heat transfer agent values of flow rates and temperatures, obtained during the boiler’s tests under different loads. It also describes the test result processing methods, presents formulas for calculations. It presents dependences of the energy carrier parameters, and also heat transfer coefficients in the boiler’s high-temperature section elements on its load. The results analysis of the experimental data processing has been conducted. The conclusions about prospective use of the suggested condensing water heating boiler as the heat-generating unit in heat supply stand-alone systems for consumers with different needs have been formulated.
Development of an algorithm for analyzing the causes of increased oxygen content of condensate
Authors: Iglina T V , Popov A I , Krasnova N P , Rakhimova J I , Gorshenin A S
Published: April 2020

To increase the efficiency of condensers, one of the most important methods is to constantly maintain a high hydraulic density, since malfunctions of the condensing unit lead to a significant reduction in electricity generation. The increased air content in the wet vapor in the condenser and the air suction into the turbine, lead to exceeding the standard values of the condensate oxygen content and therefore have a significant impact on the uninterrupted operation of the TPP, causing the pipeline to corrode from the condensation unit to the deaerating unit. In addition, the increased oxygen content makes heat transfer difficult, since an insulating layer is formed between the condensate film on the heated surface and the steam. Currently, there are a number of methods for thermal calculation of a condensation unit. In this work, the most accurate Iglin-Shepelev technique was used. Using the developed algorithm, the work of the Kirov CHPP-4 and Bezymyanskaya CHPP was analyzed. The experimental data with the calculated characteristics plotted on them are also clearly shown at various temperatures of cooling water with an average flow rate of circulating water, and the reasons for the increased oxygen content of the condensing units of the stations under consideration are identified. Based on the calculation results, measures were proposed to eliminate the increased oxygen content.
Use of the PMU Infrastructure to Determine the Location of Short-circuit Power Lines
Authors: Buryanina N , Korolyuk Yu , Koryakina M , Suslov K , Solonina N , Lesnykh E
Published: April 2020

One of the serious problems of the normal operation of power systems is a violation of efficiency of overhead power lines. Short circuits are especially dangerous. The probability of occurrence of faults is reduced, but not reduced to zero, with an increase in the quality of installation, reliability, insulators and conductive materials. The proposed method is based on the fact that the short circuit current at the beginning of the transmission line of power electric system depends on the distance (location) to the fault point. This article discusses the following topics: theoretical possibility of fault location on the time of arrival of the responses to the beginning and end of the line, the development of the algorithm processing of information, the development of the block diagram of additional devices that are not included in the phasor measurement units (PMU). The article gives an example of the application of this technique.
The method of power transformers and autotransformers windings condition determination
Authors: Gayfutdinova E R , Bulatova V M , Ilkevich A R
Published: April 2020

In article advantages and shortcomings of a method of the frequency analysis of a condition of windings of transformers are considered. This control method of a condition of windings of the transformer is based on comparison of the amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) of the diagnosed transformer with its amplitude-frequency characteristics in good repair. It is reported that in various frequency ranges it is possible to find manifestations of various defects and bruises of windings of power transformers and autotransformers. Using a pulse frequency analysis method, the amplitude frequency response spectrum is examined in frequency ranges from zero to 2 MHz. Types and places of defects of transformer winding are determined from value and direction of frequency offset of amplitude-frequency characteristic lines. Such types of defects can include changes in the state of windings, violations of the pressing mechanism, displacement of winding turns relative to each other. In order to determine the type and magnitude of the defect, this method creates a mathematical model of the transformer. An important task in the simulation of transformer windings is the connection between strain types and transformer elements.
Electric Grids Technical Evaluation Method based on their Failure Probability
Authors: Kompaneets B S , Boyarkov D A
Published: April 2020

The article provides the substantiation of the necessity to develop a mechanism for determining the electric grid element with the lowest reliability taking into account the equipment operation peculiarities in the Russian Federation. Critical analysis of existing approaches to identifying dilapidated electrical equipment, as well as recommendations of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on assessing technical condition of electric networks has been carried out. It is proposed to determine the technical condition of electric grids by the value of their failure probability. Failure probabilities mathematical models for large groups of emergency modes are given: insulation failure, failure of current-carrying elements and failure due to mechanical damage, as well as for all electrical equipment on the whole. Criteria and an algorithm for mechanical defects of electric grids elements expert evaluation are presented. The calculation of the failure probabilities for two elements of real electric grid is made. The conclusions is made on the feasibility of replacing one of the considered elements.
Development of an evaluation method for electromechanical systems unification
Authors: Titova L N , Pertsev U A , Samodurova S A , Nuhin P O
Published: April 2020

The paper examines problematic areas of electromechanical systems unification, formulates and presents formal writing of problem for systemic unification of electromechanical systems and its solution procedure, describes general evaluation scheme of technical-and-economic effect from implementation of different variants of electromechanical systems unification. Presents results of the calculation relations that allow to carry out full and thorough formulation of technical specifications with due consideration of possible unification variants that brings out maximum result at the designing and execution project stage, operation and servicing of the electromechanical systems. Method is designed to evaluate values of technicaland-economic outcome from work that is being conducted in the interests of the suggested unification variants implementation for electromechanical system specimens at the development stage. Presented method is the primary way to construct criterial function of system unification problem. Project’s future outlook can be determined at any point of the designing stages with consideration to service life of the product that is being in development, product family, its components, which included in the electromechanical system, as a separate entity and also as a part of an entire system.
Review of technologies for suppressing emissions of benzo(a)pyrene at energy enterprises
Authors: Rikker Yu O , Kobylkin M V
Published: April 2020

Power engineering enterprises have a great impact on the environment. Flue gas emissions contain solid ash particles, sulfur oxides SO2, SO3, nitrogen oxides NOx, carbon monoxide CO (monoxide) CH hydrocarbons; in some cases, there may be a danger of radiation contamination, but the most dangerous substance emitted into the atmosphere is benzo(a)pyrene C20H12, which has a negative effect on human health. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), including benzo(a)pyrene contained in flue gas emissions from energy enterprises, have a serious impact on human health. Taking measures to suppress other harmful emissions from thermal power plants (nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides) can increase the content of benzo(a)pyrene, which poses a serious problem for modern researchers. As part of this study, various technologies for suppressing benzo(a)pyrene emissions at energy enterprises were considered. The main disadvantages of the described methods are highlighted. The possible danger of increasing benzo(a)pyrene emissions when trying to suppress other emissions is noted.
Analysis of the unsteady temperature condition of a building during non-working hours when heating load is decreased
Authors: Svirin M V , Bychikhin S A , Trubaev P A , Seminenko A S
Published: April 2020

This paper examines the issue of fuel and energy resources conservation through the non-working hours heating load decrease. The paper’s objective is the determination of savings when non-working hours heating load is decreased, considering the unsteadiness of the heat transfer processes through the enclosing structures, heating modes determination, which ensure the required microclimate parameters in the building during working hours. The analysis of the unsteady temperature condition has been conducted using systems of differential equations, the heating load decrease method has been suggested with further calculation for the existing building and technical-and-economic evaluation of the suggested energy conservation measure. To solve this problem the mathematical model was constructed, which considers the unsteadi-ness of weather conditions and temperature conditions of the building when the heating load is decreased. The method of heating load decrease was suggested with further savings calculation for the High School № 4 in Belgorod city. The modeling helped to establish that to ensure steady microclimate parameters in the building after period of heating load decrease to 12°C ends, it is necessary to conduct short-duration overheating of the building by increasing inside temperature to 21°C for the period from 5:00 till 9:00, to prevent loss of heat by the enclosing structures. When the room temperature during non-working hours is decreased to 12°C the cal-culated economy is 10%.
The study of ecological impact of fly ash-based geopolymer binders on soil and aquatic biota
Authors: Vasilenko M I , Lebedev M S , Goncharova E N , Kozhukhova N I , Kozhukhova M I
Published: April 2020

Coal power plants represent the large source of environmental pollution in soils, ground and surface water by leaching out toxic compounds from open landfilled and impounded coal combustion residuals (CCR) such as fly ash. The use of fly ash as a main component in geopolymer binder (GB) systems is one of the effective methods of CCR beneficial utilization. The toxicity assessment as well as leachability of harden geopolymers were tested in aqueous media where oat seeds were used as affected test objects. Bio-resistance of the developed geopolymers was evaluated by the resistance to mold fungi growth. The developed geopolymers demonstrated a very low toxicity and leachability to the biota based on the low effect to germinating ability and growth retardation of the exposed oat seeds. Therefore, the studied fly ash products were proved to be environmentally safe when used in GB systems. The absence of fungi growth observed on the surface of geopolymer samples demonstrates high bio-resistance.
Evaluation of the hazardous emissions from different types of RDF combustion in low power boilers
Authors: Kornilova N V , Trubaev P A
Published: April 2020

Content evaluation of the hazardous substance emission from different types of waste combustion in two solid-fuel water heating boilers was carried out. For 100 kW pyrolysis boiler the content in exhaust gases of the following compounds was determined: NO2, NO, CO, CH4, phenol, benzol, SO2, formaldehyde, HCl. For 200 kW stoker grate boiler the content in the exhaust gases of the following compounds was determined: CO, NO2, NH3, mercaptans, H2S, phenol. For the targeted factors, the calculated hazardous substance ground-level concentrations don’t exceed the maximum allowable concentration limit. The hazardous substance emissions in low power boilers are comparable with high power analogs but have lower combustible efficiency. Waste combustion in the pyrolysis boilers creates 2-10 times less hazardous substances than in grate firing. It was established that combustion mode influences only the carbon monoxide content. The content of other hazardous compounds in the exhaust gases doesn’t depend on the combustion parameters. The additive criterion of total emissions was suggested, which presents the sum of the ratio of the calculated ground-level hazardous substance concentrations to maximum allowable concentrations. Unlike the existing dimensionless concentration, the criterion considers hazard class and compound fraction in gases. The highest criterion value of the total emissions was noted during wood waste combustion (windows, doors, furniture) and RDF fuel, which contains a large amount of plastics
Energy efficiency tools of buildings design solutions in information and analytical management systems for construction and overhaul process
Authors: Avilova I P , Krutilova M O
Published: April 2020

The energy efficiency of construction and overhaul of buildings, including the optimization of energy consumption in production of building materials, construction and technological support of construction, has a significant role in energy efficiency assessment of construction as a whole, being the most important component of the implementation of green building principles. At the same time, the organizational-economic balance of interests of construction investors and authorities in the field of environmental rationalization in structural design as well as the motivation of developers to use green building materials and technologies, as assessed within economic tools, has still not developed in the Russian construction community. The paper proposes to consider the basic principles of the author’s methodology for assessment of energy efficiency of construction and optimizing the structural design, which allows one to implement the tool into the information-analytical systems for managing the construction and overhaul process of buildings an instrument of promotion of green building, operating with quantitative energy efficiency assessments and cost indicators of design solutions.
Energy intensity decrease in chlorella growth technology by electro ozonation
Authors: Normov D A , Samarin G N , Vasilyev A N , Shevchenko A A , Goldman R B
Published: April 2020

This paper examines process efficiency problems in chlorella microphytic alga growth for quality feed of livestock and poultry. Ozone-air mixture for microphytic alga growth simulation and development is being suggested for use. Paper describes experimental research methods realization and some experimental equipment. Experimental plant to carry out research was built, which produces ozone-air mixture, with required ozone concentration, and delivers it to the tank that contains chlorella microphytic alga suspension. Moreover, equipment was selected in a way so it doesn’t interfere with the main technological process of microphytic alga growth, special attention was given to an energy saving effect of the equipment and technology in general. Experimental research results discussion demonstrates some statistical data and dependence curves, constructed using these results, and also derived on this basis regression equation. Research results were processed by the “Statistika 6.0” software, obtained results indicate sufficiently close correlation relationship between examined data. Some experimental work results were summarized in the conclusions, and substantial efficiency of the suggested technology was verified, which allows to reduce energy consumption in forage production.
Heat transfer efficiency in PEBC synthesis
Authors: Pliushchev V V , Kharitonova O S , Nazarova M A , Bronskaya V V , Manuyko G V , Shaikhetdinova R S , Aminova G A , Balzamov D S
Published: April 2020

The kinetics of propylene and ethylene copolymerization in a fluidized bed reactor is considered. Dynamic reactor model based on material balance of monomers, copolymer and copolymerization kinetics has been developed in order to obtain predicted data on monomer flow, copolymer concentration under different process conditions. The complex two-phase model is presented based on two models: well-mixed and two-phase model. The profiles of concentrations and temperatures in microparticles are obtained, and the average concentrations and temperatures at the active sites of the catalyst are determined. The dependences of temperature on the height of the fluidized bed of the reactor at different gas incoming velocity and at different temperature of the monomer input are obtained. Mathematical model that is basis of creating expert control complex of PEBC synthesis process and allow to make quantitative connection between technological parameters of reactors which allows to control technological mode with the acceptable accuracy is presented. Experiment catalytic system is microspheric titanium trichloride (MS-TiCl3) and co-catalyst-diethylaluminum chloride.
The Relative Contributions of Socioeconomic and Genetic Factors to Variations in Body Mass Index Among Young Adults
Authors: Kim Rockli , Lippert Adam M , Wedow Robbee , Jimenez Marcia P , Subramanian S V
Published: April 2020

In light of recent findings on the small proportion of variance in body mass index (BMI) explained by shared environment, and growing interests in the role of genetic susceptibility, we assessed the relative contribution of socioeconomic status (SES) and genome-wide polygenic score for BMI to explaining variation in BMI. Our final analytic sample included 4,918 white and 1,546 black individuals from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health Wave IV (2007–2008) who had complete measures on BMI, demographics, SES, genetic data, and health behaviors. We used ordinary least-squares regression to assess variation in log(BMI) as a function of the aforementioned predictors, independently and mutually adjusted. All analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity in the main analysis, and further by sex. The age-adjusted variation in log(BMI) was 0.055 among whites and 0.066 among blacks. The contribution of SES and polygenic score ranged from less than1% to 6% and from 2% to 8%, respectively, and majority of the variation (87%–96%) in log(BMI) remained unexplained. Differential distribution of socioeconomic resources, stressors, and buffers may interact to produce systematically larger variation in vulnerable populations. More understanding of the contribution of biological, genetic, and environmental factors, as well as stochastic elements, in diverse phenotypic variance is needed in population health sciences.
TranspoScope: interactive visualization of retrotransposon insertions
Authors: Grivainis Mark , Tang Zuojian , Fenyö David
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Retrotransposition is an important force in shaping the human genome and is involved in prenatal development, disease and aging. Current genome browsers are not optimized for visualizing the experimental evidence for retrotransposon insertions.

Results

We have developed a specialized browser to visualize the evidence for retrotransposon insertions for both targeted and whole-genome sequencing data.

Availability and implementation

TranspoScope’s source code, as well as installation instructions, are available at https://github.com/FenyoLab/transposcope.
Re-assessing the Consistency of Sentencing Decisions in Cases of Assault: Allowing for Within-Court Inconsistencies
Authors: Brunton-Smith Ian , Pina-Sánchez Jose , Li Guangquan
Published: April 2020

Empirical research has repeatedly focused on the potential existence of sentencing disparities. In particular, a growing number of studies have used multilevel models to quantify the extent that ‘similar’ offences are treated alike in different courts. This reliance on multilevel models has resulted in a natural focus on differences in the mean sentence awarded between courts, with the amount of within-group variability generally assumed to be the same in each court. In this paper, we show how multilevel models can be extended by allowing the magnitude of within-court differences to be different in each court. This provides a natural framework to connect between-court disparities with the sentencing differences that are thought to originate between judges operating within the same court, particularly in the absence of more fine-grained sentencing data about the judge residing in each case. Focusing specifically on cases of assault sentenced in 2011, we show that there are substantial differences in the range of sentences awarded in different courts, with the range almost twice as large in some courts. We also find that it is those courts that appear to show the traits of more homogeneous sentencing that sentence more harshly and that offences involving the presence of a weapon or evidence of good character and/or exemplary conduct were associated with higher levels of internal consistency.
An overview of general practitioner consultations in China: a direct observational study
Authors: Zhong Chenwen , Luo Zhuojun , Liang Cuiying , Zhou Mengping , Kuang Li
Published: April 2020

Background

General practitioner (GP) consultation has long been considered an important component of general practice, but few studies have focused on its characteristics in China.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the content and elucidate the characteristics of GP consultations in general practice in China.

Methods

A multimethod investigation of GP consultations in eight community health centres in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China was conducted between July 2018 and January 2019. Data from 445 GP consultations were collected by direct observation and audio tape and analysed by a modified Davis Observation Code with indicators for frequencies and detailed time durations. GP and patient characteristics were collected by post-visit surveys.

Results

The mean visit duration was approximately 5.4 minutes. GPs spent the most time on treatment planning, history taking, negotiating, notetaking and physical examination and less time on health promotion, family information collecting, discussing substance use, procedures and counselling. The time spent on procedures ranked first (66 seconds), followed by history taking (65 seconds) and treatment planning (63 seconds). Besides, patients were very active in the consultation, specifically for topics related to medicine ordering and drug costs.

Conclusions

This study described the profile of GP consultations and illustrated the complexity of care provided by GPs in China. As patient activation in GP consultations becomes increasingly important, future studies need to explore how to promote the engagement of patients in the whole consultation process other than just requesting for medicine.
Response of aquatic microbial communities and bioindicator modelling of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water
Authors: Zhong Cheng , Nesbø Camilla L , Goss Greg G , Lanoil Brian D , Alessi Daniel S
Published: April 2020

The response of microbial communities to releases of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water (PW) may influence ecosystem functions. However, knowledge of the effects of PW spills on freshwater microbiota is limited. Here, we conducted two separate experiments: 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with random forests modelling was used to assess freshwater community changes in simulated PW spills by volume from 0.05% to 50%. In a separate experiment, live/dead cell viability in a freshwater community was tested during exposure to 10% PW by volume. Three distinct patterns of microbial community shifts were identified: (i) indigenous freshwater genera remained dominant in <2.5% PW, (ii) from 2.5% to 5% PW, potential PW organic degraders such as Pseudomonas, Rheinheimera and Brevundimonas became dominant, and (iii) no significant change in the relative abundance of taxa was observed in >5% PW. Microbial taxa including less abundant genera such as Cellvibrio were potential bioindicators for the degree of contamination with PW. Additionally, live cells were quickly damaged by adding 10% PW, but cell counts recovered in the following days. Our study shows that the responses of freshwater microbiota vary by spill size, and these responses show promise as effective fingerprints for PW spills in aquatic environments.
Three-Year, Postintervention, Follow-up Comparison of Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study
Authors: Brown Joshua D , Wang Ching-Yu , Groessl Erik J , Pahor Marco , Manini Todd M
Published: April 2020

Background

The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study physical activity (PA) intervention was found to be cost-effective compared to health education (HE). However, long-term effects postintervention are unknown.

Method

This was a secondary analysis of LIFE Study data linked to Medicare claims data (2014–2016). Participants were linked via Social Security Numbers to Medicare claims data. Utilization and cost variables were analyzed using generalized linear models with negative binomial and Tweedie distributions. Unadjusted means and 95% confidence intervals were compared by year and overall stratified. Each model compared PA versus HE and adjusted for other baseline characteristics and stratified by study site. Additional models were stratified by baseline physical functioning assessment scores.

Results

Of the 1,635 LIFE Study participants, 804 (53.5%) were linked to Medicare claims with an average of 33 months of follow-up time during the 3-year data linkage period. Mean outpatient (6.6 vs 6.8), inpatient (0.40 vs 0.40), and other utilization metrics were similar between PA and HE groups. Costs were also similar for each group and each type of service, for example, outpatient: $2,070 versus $2,093 and inpatient: $4,704 versus $4,792. Regression results indicated no statistically significant differences between PA and HE groups.

Conclusions

While the LIFE Study demonstrated that PA reduced mobility disability in older adults and was cost-effective, it did not appear to affect long-term health care utilization costs posttrial. These findings suggest that it remains challenging to affect long-term health care costs using PA interventions effects.
Isotropic seismic radiation from rock damage and dilatancy
Authors: Lyakhovsky Vladimir , Ben-Zion Yehuda
Published: April 2020

We present semi-analytical and numerical results on isotropic radiation expected to be generated by seismic sources with damaged dilatant materials that sustain during failure an overall shear deformation. The results are derived for inclusions with different stiffness components, including those responsible for shear-volumetric coupling in dilatant material, and different geometries, in a surrounding elastic solid. The obtained relations indicate that the isotropic seismic potency and seismic moment components are proportional to the shear potency components multiplied by the aspect ratio between the thickness and length of the source zone. For a typical rupture zone with a thin tabular geometry, the expected small aspect ratio explains the general seismological observations of small isotropic radiation. However, isotropic radiation induced by dynamic dilation for short and thick sources is more pronounced and may reach for spherical sources sustaining shear deformation 18 per cent of the shear components. Sources that include also tensile components and explosions can produce larger isotropic radiation. The results provide rigorous relations that can be used to estimate different source properties in numerical simulations, experiments and field studies.
What can be expected from GNSS tracking of satellite constellations for temporal gravity field model determination?
Authors: Zhou Hao , Zhou Zebing , Luo Zhicai , Wang Kang , Wei Min
Published: April 2020

The goal of this contribution is to investigate the expected improvement of temporal gravity field determination via a couple of high-low satellite-to-satellite tracking (HLSST) missions. The simulation system is firstly validated by determining monthly gravity field models within situ GRACE GPS tracking data. The general consistency between the retrieved solutions and those developed by other official agencies indicates the good performance of our software. A 5-yr full-scale simulation is then performed using the full error sources including all error components. Analysis of each error component indicates that orbit error is the main contributor to the overall HLSST-derived gravity field model error. The noise level of monthly solution is therefore expected to reduce 90 per cent in terms of RMSE over ocean when the orbit accuracy improves for a magnitude of one order. As for the current HLSST mission consisting of a current GNSS receiver and an accelerometer (10−10 and 10−9 m s–2 noise for sensitive and non-sensitive axes), it is expected to observe monthly (or weekly) gravity solution at the spatial resolution of about 1300 km (or 2000 km). As for satellite constellations, a significant improvement is expected by adding the second satellite with the inclination of 70° and the third satellite with the inclination of 50°. The noise reduction in terms of cumulative geoid height error is approximately 51 per cent (or 62 per cent) when the observations of two (or three) HLSST missions are used. Moreover, the accuracy of weekly solution is expected to improve 40–70 per cent (or 27–59 per cent) for three (or two) HLSST missions when compared to one HLSST mission. Due to the low financial costs, it is worthy to build a satellite constellation of HLSST missions to fill the possible gaps between the dedicated temporal gravity field detecting missions.
Killing Reindeer: A Spatial Analysis of Nordic States and Nomadic Forms of Life in the Arctic
Authors: du Plessis Gitte
Published: April 2020

To conceptualize the violence of the Nordic states in the Arctic, this article provides a spatial analysis of relationships between Norway, Sweden, and Finland and the Sámi and reindeer inhabiting their northern parts. The analysis is informed by Deleuze and Guattari's concepts of smooth and striated space and examines how the Nordic states, through their striation activities, are perpetrating violence toward nomadic forms of life. Rather than casting the spatial relationships between states and reindeer herders as “land use conflicts,” the article shifts the focus from competing activities to violence toward one form of life perpetrated by another. Tracing state efforts of bordering, rationalization of reindeer herding as an industry, infrastructure developments, and cultivation of selected predatory lines of flight, the article illuminates an indirect violence that is slowly eliminating nomadic forms of life. This loss highlights that in the sixth great extinction, the world is losing not only distinct biological species but also different forms of life within species. Ultimately, the striation activities of the biopolitical Nordic states, in their narrow focus on Western knowledge regimes, security, profit, and geopolitical positioning for an impending Arctic resource boom, enact a violent and destructive homogenization of what constitutes life.
Toward an Urban Security Research Agenda in IR
Authors: Ljungkvist Kristin
Published: April 2020

Theorizing about the manner in which urban dimensions influence global security and vice versa is still in an embryonic stage. The central argument of this article holds that scholars in the fields of international relations (IR) and security studies largely remain blind to contemporary urban dimensions of global transboundary security issues, and have not yet adequately assessed its dynamics or political implications. In order to stimulate and structure further research, this article sets out to situate issues pertaining to urban security within a wider IR theoretical context. I suggest that the contemporary global security environment can be conceptualized in terms of a global–urban security nexus. This nexus points, on the one hand, to a changing spatial dynamic of security where urban places and practices become increasingly imperative and, on the other hand, to a rescaling of state power where urban actors are becoming increasingly empowered. I suggest that the global–urban security nexus as a point of analytical departure is equally relevant to the more traditional, narrow understanding of security as it is to the broadened security agenda, and it captures contemporary spatial security dynamics as well as changing security governance, in terms of both involved actors and practices. I finally draw out an urban security research agenda for IR that puts focus on global and transboundary security problems and their urban facets, and offers a novel way forward for studying global security dynamics in terms of its urban spaces, agents, and practices.
The in vivo functions of ARPF2 and ARRS1 in ribosomal RNA processing and ribosome biogenesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Choi Ilyeong , Jeon Young , Yoo Youngki , Cho Hyun-Soo , Pai Hyun-Sook
Published: April 2020

Yeast Rpf2 plays a critical role in the incorporation of 5S rRNA into pre-ribosomes by forming a binary complex with Rrs1. The protein characteristics and overexpression phenotypes of Arabidopsis Ribosome Production Factor 2 (ARPF2) and Arabidopsis Regulator of Ribosome Synthesis 1 (ARRS1) have been previously studied. Here, we analyze loss-of-function phenotypes of ARPF2 and ARRS1 using virus-induced gene silencing to determine their functions in pre-rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis. ARPF2 silencing in Arabidopsis led to pleiotropic developmental defects. RNA gel blot analysis and circular reverse transcription–PCR revealed that ARPF2 depletion delayed pre-rRNA processing, resulting in the accumulation of multiple processing intermediates. ARPF2 fractionated primarily with the 60S ribosomal subunit. Metabolic rRNA labeling and ribosome profiling suggested that ARPF2 deficiency mainly affected 25S rRNA synthesis and 60S ribosome biogenesis. ARPF2 and ARRS1 formed the complex that interacted with the 60S ribosomal proteins RPL5 and RPL11. ARRS1 silencing resulted in growth defects, accumulation of processing intermediates, and ribosome profiling similar to those of ARPF2-silenced plants. Moreover, depletion of ARPF2 and ARRS1 caused nucleolar stress. ARPF2-deficient plants excessively accumulated anthocyanin and reactive oxygen species. Collectively, these results suggest that the ARPF2–ARRS1 complex plays a crucial role in plant growth and development by modulating ribosome biogenesis.
How does nitrogen shape plant architecture?
Authors: Luo Le , Zhang Yali , Xu Guohua
Published: April 2020

Plant nitrogen (N), acquired mainly in the form of nitrate and ammonium from soil, dominates growth and development, and high-yield crop production relies heavily on N fertilization. The mechanisms of root adaptation to altered supply of N forms and concentrations have been well characterized and reviewed, while reports concerning the effects of N on the architecture of vegetative and reproductive organs are limited and are widely dispersed in the literature. In this review, we summarize the nitrate and amino acid regulation of shoot branching, flowering, and panicle development, as well as the N regulation of cell division and expansion in shaping plant architecture, mainly in cereal crops. The basic regulatory steps involving the control of plant architecture by the N supply are auxin-, cytokinin-, and strigolactone-controlled cell division in shoot apical meristem and gibberellin-controlled inverse regulation of shoot height and tillering. In addition, transport of amino acids has been shown to be involved in the control of shoot branching. The N supply may alter the timing and duration of the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive growth phase, which in turn may affect cereal crop architecture, particularly the structure of panicles for grain yield. Thus, proper manipulation of N-regulated architecture can increase crop yield and N use efficiency.
Interactions between the N- and C-termini of the mechanosensitive ion channel AtMSL10 are consistent with a three-step mechanism for activation
Authors: Basu Debarati , Shoots Jennette M , Haswell Elizabeth S
Published: April 2020

Although a growing number of mechanosensitive ion channels are being identified in plant systems, the molecular mechanisms by which they function are still under investigation. Overexpression of the mechanosensitive ion channel MSL (MscS-Like)10 fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) triggers a number of developmental and cellular phenotypes including the induction of cell death, and this function is influenced by seven phosphorylation sites in its soluble N-terminus. Here, we show that these and other phenotypes required neither overexpression nor a tag, and could also be induced by a previously identified point mutation in the soluble C-terminus (S640L). The promotion of cell death and hyperaccumulation of H2O2 in 35S:MSL10S640L-GFP overexpression lines was suppressed by N-terminal phosphomimetic substitutions, and the soluble N- and C-terminal domains of MSL10 physically interacted. We propose a three-step model by which tension-induced conformational changes in the C-terminus could be transmitted to the N-terminus, leading to its dephosphorylation and the induction of adaptive responses. Taken together, this work expands our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction in plants.
Cosmology dependence of galaxy cluster scaling relations
Authors: Singh Priyanka , Saro Alex , Costanzi Matteo , Dolag Klaus
Published: April 2020

The abundance of galaxy clusters as a function of mass and redshift is a well known powerful cosmological probe, which relies on underlying modelling assumptions on the mass-observable relations (MOR). Some of the MOR parameters can be constrained directly from multi-wavelength observations, as the normalization at some reference cosmology, the mass-slope, the redshift evolution, and the intrinsic scatter. However, the cosmology dependence of MORs cannot be tested with multi-wavelength observations alone. We use magneticum simulations to explore the cosmology dependence of galaxy cluster scaling relations. We run fifteen hydrodynamical cosmological simulations varying Ωm, Ωb, h0, and σ8 (around a reference cosmological model). The MORs considered are gas mass, baryonic mass, gas temperature, Y and velocity dispersion as a function of virial mass. We verify that the mass and redshift slopes and the intrinsic scatter of the MORs are nearly independent of cosmology with variations significantly smaller than current observational uncertainties. We show that the gas mass and baryonic mass sensitively depends only on the baryon fraction, velocity dispersion, and gas temperature on h0, and Y on both baryon fraction and h0. We investigate the cosmological implications of our MOR parametrization on a mock catalogue created for an idealized eROSITA-like experiment. We show that our parametrization introduces a strong degeneracy between the cosmological parameters and the normalization of the MOR. Finally, the parameter constraints derived at different overdensity (Δ500c), for X-ray bolometric gas luminosity, and for different subgrid physics prescriptions are shown in the appendix.
The mystery of photometric twins DES17X1boj and DES16E2bjy
Authors: Pursiainen M , Gutiérrez C P , Wiseman P , Childress M , Smith M , Frohmaier C , Angus C , Castro Segura N , Kelsey L , Sullivan M , Galbany L , Nugent P , Bassett B A , Brout D , Carollo D , D’Andrea C B , Davis T M , Foley R J , Grayling M , Hinton S R , Inserra C , Kessler R , Lewis G F , Lidman C , Macaulay E , March M , Möller A , Müller T , Scolnic D , Sommer N E , Swann E , Thomas B P , Tucker B E , Vincenzi M , Abbott T M C , Allam S , Annis J , Avila S , Bertin E , Brooks D , Buckley-Geer E , Burke D L , Carnero Rosell A , Carrasco Kind M , da Costa L N , De Vicente J , Desai S , Diehl H T , Doel P , Eifler T F , Everett S , Flaugher B , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gaztanaga E , Gerdes D W , Gruen D , Gruendl R A , Gschwend J , Gutierrez G , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D J , Kim A G , Krause E , Kuehn K , Maia M A G , Marshall J L , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Ogando R L C , Palmese A , Paz-Chinchón F , Plazas A A , Roodman A , Sanchez E , Scarpine V , Schubnell M , Serrano S , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Suchyta E , Swanson M E C , Tarle G , Wester W
Published: April 2020

We present an analysis of DES17X1boj and DES16E2bjy, two peculiar transients discovered by the Dark Energy Survey (DES). They exhibit nearly identical double-peaked light curves that reach very different maximum luminosities (Mr = −15.4 and −17.9, respectively). The light-curve evolution of these events is highly atypical and has not been reported before. The transients are found in different host environments: DES17X1boj was found near the nucleus of a spiral galaxy, while DES16E2bjy is located in the outskirts of a passive red galaxy. Early photometric data are well fitted with a blackbody and the resulting moderate photospheric expansion velocities (1800  km s−1 for DES17X1boj and 4800  km s−1 for DES16E2bjy) suggest an explosive or eruptive origin. Additionally, a feature identified as high-velocity Ca ii absorption ($v$ ≈ 9400 km s−1) in the near-peak spectrum of DES17X1boj may imply that it is a supernova. While similar light-curve evolution suggests a similar physical origin for these two transients, we are not able to identify or characterize the progenitors.
Clinical impact of urinary CD11b and CD163 on the renal outcomes of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis
Authors: Yokoe Yuki , Tsuboi Naotake , Imaizumi Takahiro , Kitagawa Akimitsu , Karasawa Munetoshi , Ozeki Takaya , Endo Nobuhide , Sawa Yuriko , Kato Sawako , Katsuno Takayuki , Maruyama Shoichi , Yamagata Kunihiro , Usui Joichi , Nagata Michio , Sada Ken-Ei , Sugiyama Hitoshi , Amano Koichi , Arimura Yoshihiro , Atsumi Tatsuya , Yuzawa Yukio , Dobashi Hiroaki , Takasaki Yoshinari , Harigai Masayoshi , Hasegawa Hitoshi , Makino Hirofumi , Matsuo Seiichi ,   Japan Research Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare for Intractable Vasculitis and for Intractable Renal Disease
Published: April 2020

Background

The detection of leukocyte-derived CD11b (α subunit of integrin Mac-1) and CD163 (scavenger receptor) in urine may reflect renal inflammation in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN). The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of urinary CD11b (U-CD11b) and CD163 (U-CD163) in ANCA-GN.

Methods

U-CD11b and U-CD163 were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in ANCA-GN urine samples from our institutional cohort (n = 88) and a nationwide cohort (n = 138), and their association with renal histology was subsequently analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were performed on a nationwide ANCA cohort to determine the associations of the two urinary molecules with renal remission failure at 6 months or with yearly estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope over a 24-month observation period.

Results

U-CD11b and U-CD163 were significantly associated with cellular crescent formation and leukocyte accumulation in glomerular crescents. With regard to interstitial inflammation, both levels of U-CD11b and U-CD163 at diagnosis remarkably increased in ANCA-GN compared with the levels observed in nonglomerular kidney disorders including nephrosclerosis, immunoglobulin G4-related disease and tubulointerstitial nephritis; however, the presence of U-CD11b alone was significantly correlated with tubulointerstitial leukocyte infiltrates. Although neither U-CD11b nor U-CD163 at diagnosis was associated with remission failure at 6 months, multivariate analysis demonstrated that the baseline U-CD11b levels were significantly associated with the increase in eGFR following immunosuppressive therapy.

Conclusions

Although both U-CD11b and U-CD163 reflect renal leukocyte accumulation, U-CD11b at diagnosis provides additional clinical value by predicting the recovery rate after the treatment of ANCA-GN.
The effect of fish oil supplementation on the promotion and preservation of lean body mass, strength, and recovery from physiological stress in young, healthy adults: a systematic review
Authors: Heileson Jeffery L , Funderburk LesLee K
Published: April 2020

Context

Military personnel are subjected to physiologically stressful environments during combat and its associated training. Evidence suggests that fish oil–derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (FO n-3 PUFAs) may affect military personnel’s performance by promoting or preserving lean body mass, strength, and power, while enhancing recovery from training-associated muscle damage.

Objective

Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review assessed the evidence for FO n-3 PUFA supplementation across various military-relevant outcomes related to physical performance in healthy adult populations.

Data Sources

The PubMed, Embase, and the CINAHL databases were searched along with references lists of selected articles and reviews.

Data Extraction

Eighteen trials were assessed for bias, and descriptive data were extracted.

Data Analysis

Of the 18 studies included, 12 trials favored FO n-3 PUFA supplementation in ≥ 1 of the performance outcomes.

Conclusion

Overall, FO n-3 PUFA supplementation likely preserves strength and very likely enhances recovery from physiological stress in young, healthy adults. However, FO n-3 PUFAs’ role in promoting or preserving lean body mass or promoting strength is unclear and warrants additional investigation.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020152786.