bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The health‐related quality of life of nursing workers: A cross‐sectional study in medical institutions
Authors: Lu Jingjing , Kong Jingxia , Song Jisu , Li Lu , Wang Hongmei
Published: June 2019

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the health‐related quality of life of nursing workers and influential factors.

Background

Nursing workers are under great occupational stress. However, few population‐level studies of nursing workers' health conditions have been reported from China.

Design

This was a cross‐sectional study conducted in 12 medical institutions in east China between January and March 2015.

Methods

Social‐demographic information, nursing workers' work‐related information and health‐related quality of life using the Chinese (mainland) version of the Short Form 36 health survey were collected by a self‐administrated questionnaire.

Results

Nursing workers reported significantly lower scores of the vitality, mental health dimensions, and mental component summary of the Short Form 36 survey compared with general population reference values. They scored significantly higher for five other dimensions and comparably for the physical role dimension. Pre‐job training, families' positive attitudes to their job, and good relationships with clients were positively related with nursing workers' mental well‐being.

Conclusion

To promote nursing workers' mental health, compulsory work‐related training, voluntary psychological counselling, and targeted legislation are needed.
‘There is no progression in prevention’ – The experiences of mental health nurses working with repeated self‐harm
Authors: Murphy Caroline , Keogh Brian , Doyle Louise
Published: June 2019

Caring for people who self‐harm is an everyday experience for mental health nurses and an important part of their role. How mental health nurses respond to and support those who self‐harm can have a significant impact on the outcomes for service users and their intentions to seek help in the future. Repeated self‐harm can be a particularly challenging phenomenon as it is often misunderstood and can have a negative impact on the therapeutic relationship. This qualitative descriptive study aims to explore how mental health nurses understand and work with repeated self‐harm. Nine nurses working in a range of mental health settings within one service participated in semi‐structured interviews which were analysed thematically. Findings are presented in two themes exploring participants’ perceptions and understanding of repeated self‐harm, and the process of learning to work with repeated self‐harm, and are reported in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines (COREQ). Participants reported that nursing practice relating to repeated self‐harm remains largely focused on maintenance of safety and prevention of self‐harm despite the identification that this often does not work. It was accepted that there is sometimes a lack of understanding about the function of self‐harm; however, participants reported understanding increased following specific education about self‐harm. Participants also identified the potential for more empowering and recovery‐orientated responses, including the utilization of harm reduction approaches, to the care of those who repeatedly self‐harm.
Pancreatic fat is related to the longitudinal decrease in the increment of C‐peptide in glucagon stimulation test in type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Ishibashi Chisaki , Kozawa Junji , Hosakawa Yoshiya , Yoneda Sho , Kimura Takekazu , Fujita Yukari , Fukui Kenji , Iwahashi Hiromi , Shimomura Iichiro
Published: June 2019

Aims/Introduction

The relationship between pancreatic fatty infiltration and diabetes is widely known, whereas the causal relationship is not clear. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether pathogenesis of pancreatic fat is similar to that of liver fat. We aimed to clarify the contribution of this type of fat to glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes patients by cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Material and Methods

A total of 56 patients with type 2 diabetes who had been hospitalized twice were analyzed. We evaluated the mean computed tomography values of the pancreas (P), liver (L) and spleen (S). Lower computed tomography values indicate a greater fat content. We defined indices of pancreatic or liver fat content as the differences between P or L and S. We assessed the associations among fat content for the two organs (P‐S, L‐S) and clinical parameters at the first hospitalization, and then analyzed the associations between these fat contents and changes in glycometabolic markers (the second data values minus the first).

Results

In the cross‐sectional study, P‐S negatively correlated with the increment of C‐peptide in the glucagon stimulation test (r = −0.71, P < 0.0001) and body mass index (r = −0.28, P = 0.034). L‐S negatively correlated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r = −0.73, P < 0.0001), body mass index (r = −0.62, P < 0.0001) and some other obesity‐related indicators, but not with the increment of C‐peptide in the glucagon stimulation test. In the longitudinal study, P‐S positively correlated with the change of the increment of C‐peptide in the glucagon stimulation test (r = 0.49, P = 0.021).

Conclusions

In type 2 diabetes patients, pancreatic fat was less associated with obesity‐related indicators than liver fat, but was more strongly associated with the longitudinal decrease in endogenous insulin‐secreting capacity.
Renibacterium salmoninarum iron‐acquisition mechanisms and ASK cell line infection: Virulence and immune response
Authors: Bethke Jorn , Arias‐Muñoz Eloisa , Yáñez Alejandro , Avendaño‐Herrera Ruben
Published: June 2019

Renibacterium salmoninarum is the aetiological agent of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) in salmonid farms. This pathogen possesses at least three iron‐acquisition mechanisms, but the link between these mechanisms and virulence is unclear. Therefore, this study used RT‐qPCR to assess the effects of normal and iron‐limited conditions on iron‐uptake genes controlled by IdeR and related to iron acquisition in Chilean R. salmoninarum strain H‐2 and the type strain DSM20767T. Further evaluated was the in vitro immune‐related response of the Atlantic Salmon Kidney (ASK) cell line, derived from the primary organ affected by BKD. R. salmoninarum grown under iron‐limited conditions overexpressed genes involved in haemin uptake and siderophore transport, with overexpression significantly higher in H‐2 than DSM20767T. These overexpressed genes resulted in higher cytotoxicity and an increased immune response (i.e., TNF‐α, IL‐1β, TLR1 and INF‐γ) in the ASK cell line. This response was significantly higher against bacteria grown under iron‐limited conditions, especially H‐2. These observations indicate that iron‐acquisition mechanisms are possibly highly related to the virulence and pathogenic capacity of R. salmoninarum. In conclusion, treatments that block iron‐uptake mechanisms or siderophore synthesis are attractive therapeutic approaches for treating R. salmoninarum, which causes significant aquaculture losses.
Impact of acid straightener's pH value in the hair fiber properties
Authors: Goshiyama Alessandra Mari , Dario Michelli Ferrera , Lima Cibele Rosana Ribeiro de Castro , de Araújo Gabriel Lima Barros , Baby André Rolim , Velasco Maria Valéria Robles
Published: June 2019

Background

Acid straightener products are widely used, and it can cause changes in the hair shaft properties. The pH value of these products established by ANVISA (Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency) as secure is above 2.0. However, the industries are interested in working at lower pH values in order to increase the straightening effect. Unfortunately, there are a lot of products in the market with pH value under the permitted.

Objective

Analyze two different pH values (1.0 and 2.0) of acid straightener formulation and the influence of this difference in the hair shaft properties. In order to provide information to professionals as cosmetologists, dermatologists, and hairdressers.

Methods

Combing and colorimetric analyses, tensile strength, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), and tryptophan content.

Results

The tresses treated at pH 1.0 had a better result in the straightening capacity, improving the combing test in 59.4%, while those at pH 2.0, only in 33.0% compared with virgin hair. However, the tensile strength, at pH 1.0 decreased by 16.0% and 9.0% to the pH 2.0. In addition, the tryptophan content was lower in the tresses treated with formulation at pH 1.0. The DSC analysis showed impairment in the straightened tresses. The images by ESEM, indicated a possible formation of a film around the fiber.

Conclusions

It was possible to conclude that the pH value interferes in the hair shaft properties. Tresses treated with pH 1.0 had more modifications than tresses treated with pH 2.0.
The extent to which adequacy of staffing predicts nursing teamwork in hospitals
Authors: Bragadóttir Helga , Kalisch Beatrice J. , Bergthóra Tryggvadóttir Gudný
Published: June 2019

Aims and objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which staffing adequacy predicts nursing teamwork, controlling for demographic and background variables.

Background

Findings from former studies indicate that hospital, unit and staff characteristics may be related to nursing teamwork, such as type of hospital and unit, role, gender, age, work experience, type of shift worked, shift length, number of working hours per week, overtime and staffing adequacy. Teamwork as well as staffing is identified as significant contributors to patient and staff safety in hospitals. However, the contribution of staffing to the quality of nursing teamwork is scarcely studied.

Design

This was a quantitative descriptive cross‐sectional study using the paper‐and‐pencil questionnaire Nursing Teamwork Survey‐Icelandic.

Methods

The study was conducted in 27 inpatient units in eight hospitals in Iceland with a sample of 925 nursing staff members. Participants were 567 registered nurses, practical nurses, unit secretaries and nurse unit managers. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist was used for this paper.

Results

When controlling for unit type, role, experience on current unit and intent to leave, perceived adequacy of staffing alone explains up to 10% of overall teamwork. Unit type, role, years of experience on current unit and perceived staffing adequacy correlated significantly with overall teamwork.

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicate that unit and staff characteristics, including perceived adequacy of staffing, are associated with and explain the variability in nursing teamwork on inpatient hospital units. The findings of this study provide important information for clinical nurses, nurse managers, policymakers and instructors in health care.

Relevance to clinical practice

The findings underline the importance of adequate staffing for nursing teamwork in inpatient hospital units.
Partial projective mapping and ultra‐flash profile with and without red light: A case study with white wine
Authors: Smith Amy M. , McSweeney Matthew B.
Published: June 2019

Partial projective mapping (PM) is a sensory method that is used to evaluate one sensory modality (flavor, texture, or appearance). The objective of the study was to determine if the use of red light to mask subtle differences in the colors of the wine influenced the consumers' flavor descriptions of white wines. The results of partial PM tasks for flavor completed under white light (n = 45 and n = 52) and under red light (n = 66 and n = 67) were compared. The participants who completed the projective task under white light could adequately separate the wines based on the grapes used during production and adequately described the wines. The participants' evaluations were altered when red light was used, and mouthfeel characteristics were emphasized. The participants could not categorize the wines based on grape varieties. There was no correlation between the evaluations completed under white light and those completed under red light (RV = 0.211, 0.318, 0.220, and 0.277). These results indicated that although the participants were asked to concentrate on the flavor attributes of the white wine, the color masking task affected their evaluations. Future work needs to explore when it is best to mask the color of samples during a partial PM task.

Practical Applications

Partial projective mapping (PM) tasks ask panelists to focus on a specific sensory modality and have led to better discrimination than global PM (Marcano et al., Food Research International, 67, 323–330). In a trial involving only one sensory modality (flavor or texture), red light may be used to mask differences in the appearance or color of the products. This study investigates the effect of red light on untrained participants' evaluation during a partial PM task for flavor. No correlation was found between the participants' evaluations under red light when compared to those who completed the task under white light. Further examination is necessary; however, this shows that the red light influences the participants' evaluation and affected the description of the products being tested.
An appraisal of the in vivo role of phosphate as a modulator of urinary ammonium and titratable acid excretion in the acidotic rabbit
Authors: Walsh Patrick A. , O’Donovan Daniel J.
Published: June 2019

Previous studies have shown that the intravenous infusion of inorganic phosphate increased urinary ammonium excretion 8‐ to 10‐fold in the acidotic rabbit. This was considered to be a very important observation at the time and to be unique to the rabbit. While investigating this finding, we discovered that the formol titration procedure, used to measure urinary ammonium by this research group, is subject to interference by phosphate, casting doubt on the validity of the urinary ammonium excretion data reported by them in the literature. In order to re‐assess the importance of phosphate as a potential modulator of urinary ammonium excretion in the acidotic rabbit, renal net acid excretion studies were carried out in phosphate‐loaded acidotic animals. We observed that while urinary ammonium excretion increased significantly (p < 0.05) after 50 min of phosphate infusion, the maximum concentrations excreted were substantially less than previously reported in the literature. However, through its urinary buffering capacity, we observed that inorganic phosphate, via an experimentally induced phosphaturia, could substantially enhance titratable acid excretion. Contrary to earlier reports, we demonstrated that phosphate plays a relatively minor in vivo modulator role in enhancing renal net acid excretion through the vehicle of ammonium during acute metabolic acidosis in the hyperphosphataemic rabbit. The findings reported in this study constitute an important update on ammonia metabolism in the acidotic rabbit.
The Lyme disease spirochete's BpuR DNA/RNA‐binding protein is differentially expressed during the mammal–tick infectious cycle, which affects translation of the SodA superoxide dismutase
Authors: Jutras Brandon L. , Savage Christina R. , Arnold William K. , Lethbridge Kathryn G. , Carroll Dustin W. , Tilly Kit , Bestor Aaron , Zhu Haining , Seshu Janakiram , Zückert Wolfram R. , Stewart Philip E. , Rosa Patricia A. , Brissette Catherine A. , Stevenson Brian
Published: June 2019

When the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, transfers from a feeding tick into a human or other vertebrate host, the bacterium produces vertebrate‐specific proteins and represses factors needed for arthropod colonization. Previous studies determined that the B. burgdorferi BpuR protein binds to its own mRNA and autoregulates its translation, and also serves as co‐repressor of erp transcription. Here, we demonstrate that B. burgdorferi controls transcription of bpuR, expressing high levels of bpuR during tick colonization but significantly less during mammalian infection. The master regulator of chromosomal replication, DnaA, was found to bind specifically to a DNA sequence that overlaps the bpuR promoter. Cultured B. burgdorferi that were genetically manipulated to produce elevated levels of BpuR exhibited altered levels of several proteins, although BpuR did not impact mRNA levels. Among these was the SodA superoxide dismutase, which is essential for mammalian infection. BpuR bound to sodA mRNA in live B. burgdorferi, and a specific BpuR‐binding site was mapped 5′ of the sodA open reading frame. Recognition of posttranscriptional regulation of protein levels by BpuR adds another layer to our understanding of the B. burgdorferi regulome, and provides further evidence that bacterial protein levels do not always correlate directly with mRNA levels.
Distinctive genetic variation of long‐segment Hirschsprung's disease in Taiwan
Authors: Yang Wendy , Chen Szu‐Chieh , Lai Jin‐Yao , Ming Yung‐Ching , Chen Jeng‐Chang , Chen Pei‐Lung
Published: June 2019

Background

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder with the absence of myenteric and submucosal ganglion cells within distal gut. Due to multigenic inheritance and interactions, we employed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate genetic backgrounds of long‐segment HSCR (L‐HSCR) in Taiwan.

Methods

Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood of L‐HSCR patients was subjected to capture‐based NGS, based on a 31‐gene panel. The variants with allele frequency <0.05 and predicted by computational methods as deleterious were further validated by Sanger sequencing in patients and their family as well to tell de novo from inherited variants.

Results

Between 2015/04 and 2018/05, this study enrolled 23 L‐HSCR patients, including 15 (65.2%) sporadic cases and 8 (34.8%) familial patients in 4 different families. Six sporadic and seven familial cases showed possible harmful variants across eight different genes, accounting for an overall detection rate of 56.5%. These variants mainly resided in SEMA3C, followed by RET, NRG1, and NTRK1. Three sporadic and 2 familial cases exhibited strong pathogenic variants as a deletional frameshift or stop codon in RET, L1CAM or NRG1. In a HSCR family, the father passed on a pathogenic RET frameshift to two daughters; however, only one developed HSCR.

Conclusion

Using NGS, we disclosed deleterious mutations such as a frameshift or stop codon in either familial or sporadic patients. Our cases with isolated L‐HSCR or even total colonic aganglionosis appeared to exhibit complex patterns of inheritance and incomplete penetrance even in families with the same genetic variants, reflecting the possible effects of environmental factors and genetic modifiers.
Synthesis and In Vitro Biological Evaluation of Psoralen‐Linked Fullerenes
Authors: Hashimoto Akiko , Takamura‐Enya Takeji , Oda Yoshimitsu
Published: June 2019

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a widely used medicinal treatment for the cancer therapy that utilizes the combination of a photosensitizer (PS) and light irradiation. In this study, we synthesized two novel C60 fullerene derivatives, compounds 1 and 2, with a psoralen moiety that can covalently bind to DNA molecules via cross‐linking to pyrimidine under photoirradiation. Along with several fullerene derivatives, the biological properties of several novel compounds have been evaluated. Compounds 1 and 2, which have been shown to induce the production of hydroxyl radicals using several ROS detecting reagents, induced DNA strand breaks with relatively weak activities in the in vitro detection system using a supercoiled plasmid. However, the psoralen‐bound fullerene with carboxyl groups (2) only showed genotoxicity in the genotoxicity assay system of the umu test. Compound 2 was also seen to have cytotoxic activities in several cancer cell lines at higher doses compared to water‐soluble fullerenes.
The Effect of General Health Checks on Healthcare Utilization: Accounting for Self-Selection Bias
Authors: Yoon Sungwook , Jun Duk Bin , Park Sungho
Published: June 2019

The general health check is one of the most common preventive healthcare measures in many countries. In this study, we propose an empirical approach which jointly models the decision to obtain a general health check and healthcare utilization, tackling the self-selection problem by using eligibility to obtain a health check for free as an instrumental variable. Eligibility has some exogenous variations by design and this helps us to partial out the effect of general health checks from self-selection biases. We apply the model to a large 12-year panel data set provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. We find that participation in the general health check increases healthcare utilization and ignored self-selection generates substantial upward bias in the estimates. We also find that the health check effect shows noteworthy heterogeneity across gender and income groups. Before health checks, healthcare utilization of males and people in low income groups is lower than those of females and people in high income groups respectively. However, these become comparable across different groups after health checks. This finding implies that general health checks can be an effective vehicle for health equity.
Characterization of lymphatic malformations using primary cells and tissue transcriptomes
Authors: Kaipainen Arja , Chen Emy , Chang Lynn , Zhao Bing , Shin Hainsworth , Stahl Andreas , Fishman Steven J. , Mulliken John B. , Folkman Judah , Huang Sui , Fannon Michael
Published: June 2019

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are disfiguring congenital anomalies characterized by aberrant growth of lymphatic vessels. They are broadly categorized histopathologically as macrocystic and microcystic. Although sclerotherapy has shown some success in the treatment of macrocystic malformations, there has been less progress with developing treatment strategies for microcystic malformations. In this study, we characterized lymphatic endothelial cells isolated from lymphatic and lymphaticovenous malformations. When compared to cells from normal lymphatic vessels, we found that the primary cultured malformed cells are morphologically different and also exhibited differences in binding, proliferation, migration and tube formation. Transcriptome analysis identified several genes whose expression was substantially higher in malformed compared to normal lymphatic endothelium, including DIRAS3 and FOXF1. Further analysis of LM tissue samples revealed distinguishing gene expression patterns that could pave the way to understanding the molecular pathogenesis of LMs. Based on gene expression signatures, we propose a new hypothesis that the subtype of localized LMs could be formed because of disruptions in lymph node development.
Severe acute cellulitis and sepsis caused by Aeromonas spp. in a dog on immunosuppressive therapy
Authors: Worthing Kate Alice , Norris Jacqueline M. , Briscoe Katherine Anne
Published: June 2019

Objective

To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic investigation, and medical management of a dog on immunosuppressive therapy that developed a severe soft tissue infection attributed to Aeromonas hydrophila/caviae.

Case summary

A 5‐year‐old female neutered Border Collie dog was presented for investigation of a rapidly growing skin lesion. The dog had been diagnosed with immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia and was receiving immunosuppressive therapy for 5 weeks. Physical examination at initial presentation revealed no abnormalities except a 6 cm raised, erythematous, firm, and painful swelling on the ventral abdomen. Within 12 hours of admission, the lesion had expanded to cover much of the ventrum and some areas had begun to slough. The patient had also become obtunded and exhibited pyrexia, tachypnea, tachycardia as well as extreme pain around the lesion. The dog's clinical signs and hematology results were consistent with sepsis. Histopathology showed severe acute suppurative cellulitis and panniculitis and a heavy growth of A. hydrophila/caviae was obtained on tissue culture. The infection was treated with trimethoprim sulphadiazine, based on culture and susceptibility results.

Unique information provided

This is the first reported case of severe panniculitis and cellulitis caused by Aeromonas spp. in a dog. Aeromonas spp. should be considered a differential diagnosis for cases of severe soft tissue infection, especially in immune‐compromised animals or those with a history of aquatic exposure.
MAGNETIC AND MICROWAVE ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF NEODYMIUM DOPED NICKEL FERRITE USING MILLING TECHNIQUE
Authors: Yunasfi Yunasfi , Mashadi Mashadi , Mulyawan Ade
Published: June 2019

Nickel ferrite doped by neodymium in the form of (Ni(1-x)NdxFe2O4) with (x =  0.0 ; 0.2 and 0.4) have been synthesized using solid state reaction method with milling technique from NiO, Nd2O3 and Fe2O3 powder. The mixture of those compound materials was milled using High Energy Milling (HEM) machine for 10 hours and then sintered at 1000 °C for 5 h. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that a single phase of spinel ferrite has been formed in all of the compositions. The result of morphological observation using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) exhibited a homogeneous structure has been formed with particle size about 200 nm. The magnetic measurement using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) showed that the sample exhibited a ferromagnetic behavior, where the Ms value decrease (around of 58.4 to 39.40 emu/g) and value of Hc increased (around of 116-170 Oe) along with the addition of the Nd3+ ion (x values) content. While the ability of microwaves absorption measured by using Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) indicates that the maximum value of Reflection Loss (RL) obtained at the composition of x = 0.4 up to -29 dB at a frequency of 10.81 GHz. It means the Ni0,6Nd0,4Fe2O4 sample can absorb microwave up to ~ 96.5% at a frequency of 10.81 GHz.
EFFECT OF FOAMING AGENT IN SELF CONSOLIDATING LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE (SCLC)
Authors: Mohd Fauzi Mohd Afiq , Mohd Ridzuan Ahmad Ruslan , Jasmi Nurliza , Arshad Mohd Fadzil , Harun Mohd Shafee
Published: June 2019

Self-Consolidating Lightweight Concrete (SCLC) is relatively a new concept and can be regarded as a revolutionary development in the field of concrete technology. It is a type of concrete that might not require vibration for placing it and could be produced by reducing the density of concrete. However, the density of normal Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC) is similar to normal concrete approximately 2400kg/m3. By using foaming agent, the density of concrete can be reduced up to 1800kg/m3. Due to the heavy density of concrete, it will give the initial higher supply cost over conventional concrete, has slowed down its application to general construction. It is also hard to handle for construction and transportation. Therefore, it is advantages to produce SCC with lower density to provide benefit and enhancement of its performance by a combination of two types of concrete technology that is SCC technology and Lightweight Foam Concrete technology. This paper was focused to identify the effect of foaming agent on the fresh properties and compressive strength of SCLC. The influence of foaming agent contained in the range from 0 second, 1 second, 2 second, 3 second and 4 second to the strength characteristic identified in the SCLC. The specimens were tested for compressive strength at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. The result indicated that the compressive strength of SCLC is decreasing when foaming agent content was added. Meanwhile, the flowability of SCLC is increasing when foaming agent content added. Based on the finding, SCLC containing 3 second of foaming agent is achieving the density target, which is 1800kg/m3 and better compressive strength performance.
Stress Field Prediction in Cantilevered Structures Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Nie Zhenguo , Jiang Haoliang , Kara Levent Burak
Published: June 2019

The demand for fast and accurate structural analysis is becoming increasingly more prevalent with the advance of generative design and topology optimization technologies. As one step toward accelerating structural analysis, this work explores a deep learning-based approach for predicting the stress fields in 2D linear elastic cantilevered structures subjected to external static loads at its free end using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Two different architectures are implemented that take as input the structure geometry, external loads, and displacement boundary conditions, and output the predicted von Mises stress field. The first is a single input channel network called SCSNet as the baseline architecture, and the second is the multichannel input network called StressNet. Accuracy analysis shows that StressNet results in significantly lower prediction errors than SCSNet on three loss functions, with a mean relative error of 2.04% for testing. These results suggest that deep learning models may offer a promising alternative to classical methods in structural design and topology optimization. Code and dataset are available.2
Nucleation and Boundary Layer Growth of Shear Bands in Machining
Authors: Yadav Shwetabh , Sagapuram Dinakar
Published: June 2019

We demonstrate a novel approach to study shear banding in machining at low speeds using a low melting point alloy. In situ imaging and an image correlation method, particle image velocimetry (PIV), are used to capture shear band nucleation and quantitatively analyze the temporal evolution of the localized plastic flow around a shear band. The observations show that the shear band onset is governed by a critical shear stress criterion, while the displacement field around a freshly nucleated shear band evolves in a manner resembling the classical boundary layer formation in viscous fluids. The relevant shear band parameters, the stress at band formation, and local shear band viscosity are presented.
Two-Dimensional Pore Pressure Distribution Model to Evaluate Effects of Shale Semipermeable Membrane Characteristics
Authors: Wei Jia , Cheng Yuanfang , Yan Chuanliang
Published: June 2019

During the drilling of shale formations, drilling fluids can intrude into the wellbore, raise the pore pressure, and lead to wellbore instability. Based on the thermodynamic theory, a new model was established to calculate pore pressure. The model considers the effects of solute diffusion and solution convection and conducts sensitivity analyses. The results show that the drilling fluid activity significantly affects the pore pressure distribution. The pore pressure under high drilling fluid activity will increase rapidly in the early stage. Low drilling fluid activity can effectively suppress the growth of pore pressure. And a low effective diffusion coefficient of solute and a high membrane efficiency also help to reduce pore pressure. Therefore, reducing drilling fluid activity should be conducted in priority in drilling fluid design. Lowering its solute effective diffusion coefficient and increasing its viscosity can also be considered as auxiliary methods.
Optimal Command for Photovoltaic Systems in Real Outdoor Weather Conditions
Authors: Abouadane Hafsa , Fakkar Abderrahim , Oukarfi Benyounes
Published: June 2019

The photovoltaic panel is characterized by a unique point called the maximum power point (MPP) where the panel produces its maximum power. However, this point is highly influenced by the weather conditions and the fluctuation of load which drop the efficiency of the photovoltaic system. Therefore, the insertion of the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is compulsory to track the maximum power of the panel. The approach adopted in this paper is based on combining the strengths of two maximum power point tracking techniques. As a result, an efficient maximum power point tracking method is obtained. It leads to an accurate determination of the MPP during different situations of climatic conditions and load. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed MPPT method, it has been simulated in matlab/simulink under different conditions.
Chamber musicians' acoustic impressions of auditorium stages: Relation to spatial distribution of early reflections and other parameters
Authors: Panton Lilyan , Yadav Manuj , Cabrera Densil , Holloway Damien
Published: June 2019

Characterizing stage acoustics using objective parameters has seen some recent resurgence—several studies have noted the importance of the directionality of early stage reflections to musicians, which is not adequately represented using existing omnidirectional stage-support parameters. This study examines the subjective impressions of 19 chamber musicians against omnidirectional [reverberation time, early and late support (STEarly, STLate), etc.], and proposed spatially-defined parameters (TH and TS), along with simple ratios of stage dimensions derived from measurements on eight purpose-built stages. TH is a ratio of early energy from “above” to that from the “horizontal,” while TS relates energy from above to that from the “sides” of the stage. Robust mixed-effects analyses showed that the musicians' overall acoustic impression ratings are predicted (i) by TH within a linear model; (ii) by TH × STEarly,TH × STLate, and TS × STEarly,TS × STLate; (iii) by STEarly, STLate each within parabolic models; and (iv) by several architectural parameters' linear and parabolic models. These findings reinforce recent studies of spatially-defined parameters to more fully account for the subtleties of onstage sound fields. Some simple design recommendations are presented, although future studies are needed to confirm these findings/recommendations for a wider range of auditorium stages.
Review: Rheology of noncolloidal suspensions with non-Newtonian matrices
Authors: Tanner Roger I.
Published: June 2019

This review deals with non-Brownian (noncolloidal) suspension rheology; experimental and computational works are compared where possible. The matrix fluids are non-Newtonian, and the rigid particles have an aspect ratio close to one. Volume fractions of 0.5 and below are considered. Shearing and extensional flows are discussed; the former are fairly well understood but the latter are not prominent in the literature. Unsteady and oscillatory flows are surveyed. A comparison of Newtonian and viscoelastic suspension rheology is made, and some aspects of finding constitutive models for these suspensions are discussed. While progress has been made, it appears that satisfying agreement between computation and experiment is rare. More attention to rheological and frictional modeling is needed, and improved computational methods need to be developed.
Lateral variation of the Main Himalayan Thrust controls the rupture length of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal
Authors: Bai Ling , Klemperer Simon L. , Mori James , Karplus Marianne S. , Ding Lin , Liu Hongbing , Li Guohui , Song Bowen , Dhakal Sanjev
Published: June 2019

Gross morphological structures of the Main Himalayan Thrust control the rupture length of the 2015
M
w
7.8 Nepal earthquake.
Genetic basis of species-specific genitalia reveals role in species diversification
Authors: Fujisawa Tomochika , Sasabe Masataka , Nagata Nobuaki , Takami Yasuoki , Sota Teiji
Published: June 2019

Genomic study of beetle genital divergence suggests that genital evolution can be a primary driver of species diversification.
Regulation of
waaH
by PhoB during P
i
Starvation Promotes Biofilm Formation by Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: Vogeleer Philippe , Vincent Antony T. , Chekabab Samuel M. , Charette Steve J. , Novikov Alexey , Caroff Martine , Beaudry Francis , Jacques Mario , Harel Josée
Published: June 2019

Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 is a human pathogen that causes bloody diarrhea that can result in renal failure. Outside of mammalian hosts,
E. coli
O157:H7 survives for extended periods of time in nutrient-poor environments, likely as part of biofilms. In
E. coli
K-12, the levels of free extracellular P
i
affect biofilm formation; however, it was unknown whether P
i
influences biofilm formation by
E. coli
O157:H7. Our results show that upon P
i
starvation, PhoB activates
waaH
expression, which favors biofilm formation by
E. coli
O157:H7. These findings suggest that WaaH is a target for controlling biofilm formation. Altogether, our work demonstrates how adaptation to P
i
starvation allows
E. coli
O157:H7 to occupy different ecological niches.
Epidemiology of congenital cerebral anomalies in Europe: a multicentre, population-based EUROCAT study
Authors: Morris Joan K , Wellesley Diana G , Barisic Ingeborg , Addor Marie-Claude , Bergman Jorieke E H , Braz Paula , Cavero-Carbonell Clara , Draper Elizabeth S , Gatt Miriam , Haeusler Martin , Klungsoyr Kari , Kurinczuk Jennifer J , Lelong Natalie , Luyt Karen , Lynch Catherine , O’Mahony Mary T , Mokoroa Olatz , Nelen Vera , Neville Amanda J , Pierini Anna , Randrianaivo Hanitra , Rankin Judith , Rissmann Anke , Rouget Florence , Schaub Bruno , Tucker David F , Verellen-Dumoulin Christine , Wiesel Awi , Zymak-Zakutnia Natalia , Lanzoni Monica , Garne Ester
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To describe the epidemiology and geographical differences in prevalence of congenital cerebral anomalies in Europe.

Design and setting

Congenital cerebral anomalies (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code Q04) recorded in 29 population-based EUROCAT registries conducting surveillance of 1.7 million births per annum (29% of all European births).

Participants

All birth outcomes (live births, fetal deaths from 20 weeks gestation and terminations of pregnancy after prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly (TOPFA)) from 2005 to 2014.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence, proportion of associated non-cerebral anomalies, prenatal detection rate.

Results

4927 cases with congenital cerebral anomalies were identified; a prevalence (adjusted for under-reporting) of 9.8 (95% CI: 8.5 to 11.2) per 10 000 births. There was a sixfold difference in prevalence across the registries. Registries with higher proportions of prenatal diagnoses had higher prevalence. Overall, 55% of all cases were liveborn, 3% were fetal deaths and 41% resulted in TOPFA. Forty-eight per cent of all cases were an isolated cerebral anomaly, 25% had associated non-cerebral anomalies and 27% were chromosomal or part of a syndrome (genetic or teratogenic). The prevalence excluding genetic or chromosomal conditions increased by 2.4% per annum (95% CI: 1.3% to 3.5%), with the increases occurring only for congenital malformations of the corpus callosum (3.0% per annum) and ‘other reduction deformities of the brain’ (2.8% per annum).

Conclusions

Only half of the cases were isolated cerebral anomalies. Improved prenatal and postnatal diagnosis may account for the increase in prevalence of congenital cerebral anomalies from 2005 to 2014. However, major differences in prevalence remain between regions.
Neonatal diabetes mellitus: remission induced by novel therapy
Authors: Dalwadi Pradip , Joshi Ameya S , Thakur Darshana Sudip , Bhagwat Nikhil M
Published: June 2019

A female child with deafness was diagnosed to have neonatal diabetes mellitus at the age of 6 months, on routine evaluation prior to cochlear implant surgery. She presented to us at 11 months of age with diabetic ketoacidosis due to an intercurrent febrile illness. Her haematological parameters showed megaloblastic anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Therefore a possibility of Thiamine Responsive Megaloblastic Anaemia (TRMA) syndrome was considered. She was empirically treated with parenteral thiamine hydrochloride (Hcl). Subsequently, due to the unavailability of pharmacological preparation of oral thiamine Hcl in a recommended dose she was treated with benfotiamine. She had a sustained improvement in all her haematological parameters on oral benfotiamine. The insulin requirement progressively reduced and she is currently in remission for last 2 years. The genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of TRMA syndrome. Thus benfotiamine can be considered a new treatment option in management of TRMA syndrome.
Rare case of Bing-Neel syndrome treated successfully with ibrutinib
Authors: Hashmi Hamza , Dhanoa Jugraj Singh , Emmons Robert
Published: June 2019

Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) is a lymphoproliferative disorder of the B cell origin. It is characterised by the presence of IgM paraprotein in the serum and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma cells in the bone marrow with extranodal involvement relatively uncommon. Bing-Neel syndrome (BNS) is a neurological complication of WM that results from infiltration of the central nervous system by malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells. We present an interesting case of BNS that responded remarkably to ibrutinib monotherapy.
Homological codes and abelian anyons
Authors: Vrana Péter , Farkas Máté
Published: June 2019

We study a generalization of Kitaev’s abelian toric code model defined on CW complexes. In this model, qudits are attached to [Formula: see text]-dimensional cells and the interaction is given by generalized star and plaquette operators. These are defined in terms of coboundary and boundary maps in the locally finite cellular cochain complex and the cellular chain complex. We find that the set of energy-minimizing ground states and the types of charges carried by certain localized excitations depends only on the proper homotopy type of the CW complex. As an application, we show that the homological product of a CSS code with the infinite toric code has excitations with abelian anyonic statistics.
Optimal b-symbol constacyclic codes with respect to the Singleton bound
Authors: Dinh Hai Q. , Wang Xiaoqiang , Sirisrisakulchai Jirakom
Published: June 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be the finite field of order [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a power of odd prime [Formula: see text]. Assume that [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are nonzero elements of the finite field [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we determine the [Formula: see text]-distance of [Formula: see text]-constacyclic codes with generator polynomials [Formula: see text] of length [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. As an application, all maximum distance separable (MDS) [Formula: see text]-symbol constacyclic codes of length [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] are established. Among other results, we construct several classes of new MDS symbol-pair codes with minimum symbol-pair distance six or seven by using repeated-root cyclic codes of length [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, where [Formula: see text] is an odd prime.
η-Ricci solitons and almost η-Ricci solitons on para-Sasakian manifolds
Authors: Naik Devaraja Mallesha , Venkatesha V.
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we study para-Sasakian manifold [Formula: see text] whose metric [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton [Formula: see text] and almost [Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton. We prove that, if [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton, then either [Formula: see text] is Einstein and in such a case the soliton is expanding with [Formula: see text] or it is [Formula: see text]-homothetically fixed [Formula: see text]-Einstein manifold and in such a case the soliton is shrinking with [Formula: see text]. We show the same conclusion when the para-Sasakian manifold [Formula: see text] is of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is an almost [Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton with [Formula: see text] as infinitesimal contact transformation. Finally, we prove that, if the para-Sasakian manifold [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] admits a gradient almost [Formula: see text]-Ricci soliton with [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] is Einstein. Suitable examples are constructed to justify our results.
China’s Cooperation with Neighboring Developing Countries: Achievements and Challenges Ahead
Authors: Li Chenyang , Yang Xiangzhang
Published: June 2019

Developing countries in China’s neighborhood have occupied a unique position in China’s foreign policy since the beginning of the 21st century. China’s cooperation with neighboring developing countries has been intensified due to a number of factors including, among other things, growing overall national strength, increasingly urgent development needs of neighboring countries, and extraterritorial powers’ shifting strategic focus. Over the past decades, closer economic cooperation between China and neighboring developing countries has facilitated the formation of a network of partnerships and sharpened China’s sense of global responsibility. However, multiple challenges have to be tackled before China can elevate its relations with its neighboring countries to a new level, such as inadequate protection of China’s expanding overseas interests, lingering misunderstanding and disputes between China and its neighbors, as well as interference from extraterritorial powers.
Applicability of 3D Spectral Element Method for Computing Close-Range Underwater Piling Noises
Authors: Jeong C. , Manalaysay A. , Gharti H. N. , Guan S. , Vignola J.
Published: June 2019

Pile driving is used for constructing foundation supports for offshore structures. Underwater noise, induced by in-water pile driving, could adversely impact marine life near the piling location. Many studies have computed this noise in close ranges by using semi-analytical models and Finite Element Method (FEM) models. This work presents a Spectral Element Method (SEM) wave simulator as an alternative simulation tool to obtain close-range underwater piling noise in complex, fully three-dimensional, axially-asymmetric settings in the time domain for impacting force signals with high-frequency contents (e.g., frequencies greater than 1000[Formula: see text]Hz).

The presented numerical results show that the flexibility of SEM can accommodate the axially-asymmetric geometry of a model, its heterogeneity, and fluid-solid coupling. We showed that there are multiple Mach Cones of different angles in fluid and sediment caused by the difference in wave speeds in fluid, a pile, and sediment. The angles of Mach Cones in our numerical results match those that are theoretically evaluated. A previous work18had shown that Mach Cone waves lead to intense amplitudes of underwater piling noise via a FEM simulation in an axis-symmetric setting. Since it modeled sediment as fluid with a larger wave speed than that of water, we examined if our SEM simulation, using solid sediment–fluid coupling, leads to additional Mach Cones. Because this work computes the shear wave in sediment and the downward-propagating shear wave in a pile, we present six Mach Cones in fluid and sediment induced by downward-propagating P- and S-waves in a pile in lieu of two previously-reported Mach Cones in fluid and sediment (modeled as fluid) induced by a downward-propagating P-wave in a pile. We also showed that the amplitudes of the close-range underwater noise are dependent on the cross-sectional geometry of a pile. In addition, when a pile is surrounded by a solid of an axially-asymmetric geometry, waves are reflected from the surface of the surrounding solid back to the fluid so that constructive and destructive interferences of waves take place in the fluid and affect the amplitude of the underwater piling noise.