bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ventricle-valve-aorta flow analysis with the Space–Time Isogeometric Discretization and Topology Change
Authors: Terahara Takuya , Takizawa Kenji , Tezduyar Tayfun E. , Tsushima Atsushi , Shiozaki Kensuke 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe address the computational challenges of and presents results from ventricle-valve-aorta flow analysis. Including the left ventricle (LV) in the model makes the flow into the valve, and consequently the flow into the aorta, anatomically more realistic. The challenges include accurate representation of the boundary layers near moving solid surfaces even when the valve leaflets come into contact, computation with high geometric complexity, anatomically realistic representation of the LV motion, and flow stability at the inflow boundary, which has a traction condition. The challenges are mainly addressed with a Space–Time (ST) method that integrates three special ST methods around the core, ST Variational Multiscale (ST-VMS) method. The three special methods are the ST Slip Interface (ST-SI) and ST Topology Change (ST-TC) methods and ST Isogeometric Analysis (ST-IGA). The ST-discretization feature of the integrated method, ST-SI-TC-IGA, provides higher-order accuracy compared to standard discretization methods. The VMS feature addresses the computational challenges associated with the multiscale nature of the unsteady flow in the LV, valve and aorta. The moving-mesh feature of the ST framework enables high-resolution computation near the leaflets. The ST-TC enables moving-mesh computation even with the TC created by the contact between the leaflets, dealing with the contact while maintaining high-resolution representation near the leaflets. The ST-IGA provides smoother representation of the LV, valve and aorta surfaces and increased accuracy in the flow solution. The ST-SI connects the separately generated LV, valve and aorta NURBS meshes, enabling easier mesh generation, connects the mesh zones containing the leaflets, enabling a more effective mesh moving, helps the ST-TC deal with leaflet–leaflet contact location change and contact sliding, and helps the ST-TC and ST-IGA keep the element density in the narrow spaces near the contact areas at a reasonable level. The ST-SI-TC-IGA is supplemented with two other special methods in this article. A structural mechanics computation method generates the LV motion from the CT scans of the LV and anatomically realistic values for the LV volume ratio. The Constrained-Flow-Profile (CFP) Traction provides flow stability at the inflow boundary. Test computation with the CFP Traction shows its effectiveness as an inflow stabilization method, and computation with the LV-valve-aorta model shows the effectiveness of the ST-SI-TC-IGA and the two supplemental methods.
Heritable genetic variation but no local adaptation in a pine-ectomycorrhizal interaction
Authors: Downie Jim , Silvertown Jonathan , Cavers Stephen , Ennos Richard 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLocal adaptation of plants to mycorrhizal fungi helps determine the outcome of mycorrhizal interactions. However, there is comparatively little work exploring the potential for evolution in interactions with ectomycorrhizal fungi, and fewer studies have explored the heritability of mycorrhizal responsiveness, which is required for local adaptation to occur. We set up a reciprocal inoculation experiment using seedlings and soil from four populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) from Scotland, measuring seedling response to mycorrhizal inoculation after 4 months. We estimated heritability for the response traits and tested for genotype × environment interactions. While we found that ectomycorrhizal responsiveness was highly heritable, we found no evidence that pine populations were locally adapted to fungal communities. Instead, we found a complex suite of interactions between pine population and soil inoculum. Our results suggest that, while Scots pine has the potential to evolve in response to mycorrhizal fungi, evolution in Scotland has not resulted in local adaptation. Long generation times and potential for rapid shifts in fungal communities in response to environmental change may preclude the opportunity for such adaptation in this species, and selection for other factors such as resistance to fungal pathogens may explain the pattern of interactions found.
Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen: viel Zustimmung, aber auch große Ablehnung
Authors: Schupp Jürgen 
Published: February 2020

ZusammenfassungDas bedingungslose Grundeinkommen wird schon seit vielen Jahren diskutiert. Es soll Probleme lösen, die durch den demografischen Wandel, die Digitalisierung und Automation entstehen können. Dabei sind in Hinblick auf die Details ganz unterschiedliche Konzepte Grundlage für die Diskussion. So ist nicht geklärt, welche Höhe ein solches Grundeinkommen haben sollte, welche Sozialleistungen dadurch ersetzt werden können und vor allem, wie es zu finanzieren ist. In der Praxis wurde es als Feldexperiment in Finnland durchgeführt. Hier wurde vor allem die Frage gestellt, inwieweit das Grundeinkommen bei Arbeitslosen Arbeitsanreize auslöst oder schwächt.
Voucher für Glasfaseranschlüsse: Warum Bund und Länder auf sie verzichten sollten
Authors: Gerpott Torsten J. 
Published: February 2020

ZusammenfassungSeit einigen Jahren wird von verschiedenen Seiten empfohlen, nachfrageseitig den Ausbau von Glasfaseranschlüssen in Deutschland mit „Gigabit-Vouchern“ staatlich zu subventionieren. Solche Gutscheine weisen jedoch erhebliche Nachteile auf. Bundes- und Landesregierungen sollten sie deshalb nicht einsetzen.
Contrast-free high-resolution 3D magnetization transfer imaging for simultaneous myocardial scar and cardiac vein visualization
Authors: López Karina , Neji Radhouene , Mukherjee Rahul K. , Whitaker John , Phinikaridou Alkystis , Razavi Reza , Prieto Claudia , Roujol Sébastien , Botnar René 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Objective
To develop a three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution free-breathing magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) sequence for contrast-free assessment of myocardial infarct and coronary vein anatomy.

Materials and methods
Two datasets with and without off-resonance magnetization transfer preparation were sequentially acquired to compute MTR. 2D image navigators enabled beat-to-beat translational and bin-to-bin non-rigid motion correction. Two different imaging sequences were explored. MTR scar localization was compared against 3D late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in a porcine model of myocardial infarction. MTR variability across the left ventricle and vessel sharpness in the coronary veins were evaluated in healthy human subjects.

Results
A decrease in MTR was observed in areas with LGE in all pigs (non-infarct: 25.1 ± 1.7% vs infarct: 16.8 ± 1.9%). The average infarct volume overlap on MTR and LGE was 62.5 ± 19.2%. In humans, mean MTR in myocardium was between 37 and 40%. Spatial variability was between 15 and 20% of the mean value. 3D whole heart MT-prepared datasets enabled coronary vein visualization with up to 8% improved vessel sharpness for non-rigid compared to translational motion correction.

Discussion
MTR and LGE showed agreement in infarct detection and localization in a swine model. Free-breathing 3D MTR maps are feasible in humans but high spatial variability was observed. Further clinical studies are warranted.
The New Biology as an Example of Newspeak: The Case of Polish Zoology, 1948–1956
Authors: Strządała Agata 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe “New Biology” that arose in the Eastern Block during Stalinist times was based on the idea of the heritability of acquired characteristics. In rejecting the paradigm of Mendelian chromosome genetics as well as science-based farming, the New Biology led to a deterioration of scientific life and the free exchange of ideas. In imposing Lysenko’s ideas onto zoology, the New Biology adopted the totalitarian language of Newspeak, which dominated public discourse in communist countries. Newspeak had several defining elements: a limited dictionary, strong valuations, binary oppositions, the magical function of language, militarization, and ritualization of language. In this study, the concept of Newspeak is used to analyze primary sources (publications, speeches, and conference discussions) in Polish zoology in the period between 1948 and 1956. Once the practice of Newspeak began to wane, so did the New Biology that had been founded on this specific ritualistic language.
Opto-thermal Radiometry for Detection of Surface Contamination
Authors: Zhang X. , Bontozoglou C. , Xiao P. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe aim of this work is to conduct a proof-of-concept study on detection of surface contamination by biological and chemical agents using opto-thermal transient emission radiometry (OTTER). OTTER is an infrared remote sensing technology that has been developed in our research group for skin measurements. It is based on the measurement of laser-induced transient thermal emission spectra in the infrared fingerprint region, and has advantages of non-contact, non-invasive, spectroscopic in nature, and can work on arbitrary surfaces of any materials. In this paper, two types of experiments were conducted, different ingredients on the surface of a sample material and different ingredients on the skin surface. The results show that by measuring the OTTER signal at different detection wavelengths, e.g., 6.05 μm, 6.48 μm, 7.79 μm, 8.5 μm, 9.5 μm, 11.5 μm, 13.1 μm, it is possible to differentiate from skin and skin with different ingredients on the surface. The next step is to develop mathematical models and analytical algorithms to quantify the ingredient concentration on the surface.
Scheduling in data gathering networks with background communications
Authors: Berlińska Joanna 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this work, we study scheduling in star data gathering networks with background communications. The worker nodes of the network hold datasets that have to be transferred directly to the base station. The communication speed of each link changes with time, due to other applications using the network, independently of the speeds of other links. Our goal is to gather all data within the minimum time. We show that while the preemptive version of this problem can be solved in polynomial time, the non-preemptive variant is strongly NP-hard. We propose for it an exact exponential algorithm based on dynamic programming, several polynomial time heuristics and local search algorithms. Theoretical performance guarantees and the existence of dominance relations between the heuristics are studied. The performance of the proposed algorithms is also tested in a series of computational experiments.
The development of soil organic carbon under young black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) trees at a post-mining landscape in eastern Germany
Authors: Kanzler Michael , Böhm Christian , Freese Dirk 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of short rotation alley cropping systems (SRACS) to improve the soil fertility of marginal post-mining sites in Brandenburg, Germany. Therefore, we annually investigated the crop alleys (AC) and black locust hedgerows (ABL) of a SRACS field trail under initial soil conditions to identify the short-term effects of tree planting on the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its degree of stabilization by density fractionation. We detected a significant increase in SOC and hot-water-extractable organic C (HWEOC) at ABL, which was mainly restricted to the uppermost soil layer (0–10 cm). After 6 years, the SOC and HWEOC accumulation rates at ABL were 0.6 Mg and 46 kg ha−1 year−1, which were higher than those in the AC. In addition, comparatively high stocks of approximately 4.6 Mg OC and 182 kg HWEOC ha−1 were stored in the ABL litter layer. Density fractionation of the 0–3 cm soil layer at ABL revealed that the majority of the total SOC (47%) was stored in the free particulate organic matter fraction, which was more than twice that of the AC. At the same time, a higher and steadily increasing amount of SOC was stored in the occluded particulate organic matter fraction at ABL, which indicated a high efficiency for SOC stabilization. Overall, our findings support the suitability of black locust trees for increasing the soil fertility of the reclaimed mining substrate and, consequently, the high potential for SRACS to serve as an effective recultivation measure at marginal sites.
Equilibrium: an elasticity controller for parallel tree search in the cloud
Authors: Kehrer Stefan , Blochinger Wolfgang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractElasticity is considered to be the most beneficial characteristic of cloud environments, which distinguishes the cloud from clusters and grids. Whereas elasticity has become mainstream for web-based, interactive applications, it is still a major research challenge how to leverage elasticity for applications from the high-performance computing (HPC) domain, which heavily rely on efficient parallel processing techniques. In this work, we specifically address the challenges of elasticity for parallel tree search applications. Well-known meta-algorithms based on this parallel processing technique include branch-and-bound and backtracking search. We show that their characteristics render static resource provisioning inappropriate and the capability of elastic scaling desirable. Moreover, we discuss how to construct an elasticity controller that reasons about the scaling behavior of a parallel system at runtime and dynamically adapts the number of processing units according to user-defined cost and efficiency thresholds. We evaluate a prototypical elasticity controller based on our findings by employing several benchmarks for parallel tree search and discuss the applicability of the proposed approach. Our experimental results show that, by means of elastic scaling, the performance can be controlled according to user-defined thresholds, which cannot be achieved with static resource provisioning.
Bioavailability of aspirin in fasted and fed states of a novel pharmaceutical lipid aspirin complex formulation
Authors: Angiolillo Dominick J. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Lanza Frank , Deliargyris Efthymios N. , Prats Jayne , Fan Weihong , Marathi Upendra 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDyspeptic symptoms are common with aspirin and clinicians frequently recommend that it be taken with food to reduce these side effects. However, food can interfere with absorption, especially with enteric-coated aspirin formulations. We evaluated whether food interferes with the bioavailability of a new, pharmaceutical lipid-aspirin complex (PL-ASA) liquid-filled capsule formulation. In this randomized, open label, crossover study, 20 healthy volunteers fasted for ≥ 10 h and then randomized as either “fasted”, receiving 650 mg of PL-ASA, or as “fed”, with a standard high-fat meal and 650 mg of PL-ASA 30 min later. After a washout of 7 days, participants crossed over to the other arm. The primary outcome was comparison of PK parameters of the stable aspirin metabolite salicylic acid (SA) between fasted and fed states. Mean age of participants was 36.8 years and 55% were male. The ratios for the fed to fasted states of the primary SA PK parameters of AUC0−t and AUC0−∞ were 88.7% and 88.8% respectively, with 90% confidence intervals between 80 and 125%, which is consistent with FDA bioequivalence guidance. Mean peak SA concentration was about 22% lower and occurred about 1.5 h later in the fed state. Food had a modest effect on peak SA levels and the time required to reach them after PL-ASA administration, but did not impact the extent of exposure (AUC) compared with intake in a fasted state. These data demonstrate that PL-ASA may be co-administered with food without significant impact on aspirin bioavailability.Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT01244100
A fast, simple, high efficient and one-step generation of composite cucumber plants with transgenic roots by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation
Authors: Fan Yinglun , Xu Fenglin , Zhou Huizhen , Liu Xinxin , Yang Xinyue , Weng Kaixia , Sun Xinlu , Lyu Shanhua 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAgrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation is widely used in different species with various purposes. The development of composite plants (wild-type shoot with transgenic roots) has been a milestone for functional characterization of genes. Previously, composite plants were generated by two steps from inducing of hairy roots to growing in the growth medium. Hairy roots were induced in an induction medium and the growth of composite plants generated were in another different growth medium. The composite plants produced was subject to transplanting. Here, we describe an improved and optimized protocol for generation of composite plant achieved by one-step in cucumber, which has not been reported previously in living plants. Incubation of explants post inoculation to induce transgenic roots and the growth of rooted explants were in the same medium. The primary root of 5-day-old seedling was excised and the slant cut of residual hypocotyl with 1 cm length was inoculated with A. rhizogenes harboring the desired gene construct followed by directly planted into a pot with wet sterile vermiculite. More than 90% of the infected seedlings can produce positive transgenic root. In addition, we further used the one-step transformation protocol to analyze the function of Arabidopsis YAO promoter. The result indicated that pYAO::GUS was highly conserved expression in whole root and high activity in the root tips. Therefore, a fast, expedient, high efficient, and one-step transformation method of composite cucumber produced is established, which is suitable for promoter functional analysis and other root-related events.
TLRs and RAGE are elevated in carotid plaques from patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Authors: Olejarz Wioletta , Głuszko Alicja , Cyran Agata , Bednarek-Rajewska Katarzyna , Proczka Robert , Smith David F. , Ishman Stacey L. , Migacz Ewa , Kukwa Wojciech 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere is growing evidence that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) promotes vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. Pathways that mediate this pathology may include Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) which play a significant role in proinflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to measure the expression of the above-mentioned receptors in relation to OSA severity in carotid plaques obtained during open endarterectomy.MethodsThis prospective study included patients with a sleep study prior to surgery and a plaque specimen obtained during standard open endarterectomy. Immunohistochemistry of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, RAGE, HMGB1, and NF-κB was performed on atherosclerotic plaques from carotid arteries of patients with and without OSA.ResultsThere were 46 patients (22 women, mean age 73.2 ± 1.3 years): 14 control patients, 13 with mild, 11 with moderate, and 8 with severe OSA. The expression of all TLRs and RAGE increased proportionately with increasing OSA severity. The largest differences between patients with severe OSA and no OSA were found for TLR2 (2.88 ± 0.35 vs. 1.27 ± 0.47,p< 0.001), TLR4 (2.88 ± 0.35 vs. 1.64 ± 0.5,p< 0.001), TLR9 (2.38 ± 0.52 vs. 1.45 ± 0.52,p< 0.01), and RAGE (2.5 ± 0.53 vs. 1.82 ± 0.6,p< 0.05).ConclusionTLR2, TLR4, TLR9, and RAGE expression was significantly increased in carotid plaques of patients with moderate-to-severe OSA when compared with control patients with no OSA and those with mild OSA. TLR and RAGE-mediated pathways may play a significant role in OSA-dependent atherogenesis.
Assessing environmental impacts of large centralized wastewater treatment plants with combined or separate sewer systems in dry/wet seasons by using LCA
Authors: Rashid Siti Safirah , Liu Yong-Qiang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRainfall can affect influent flow rate and compositions of wastewater, and thus further affect wastewater treatment performance and the effluent quality. This study aims to study the influence of rainfall on the environmental impacts of centralized wastewater treatment plants. The correlations between rainfall, and influent flow rate and compositions of wastewater in wet and dry seasons with two sewer systems, i.e. combined and separate sewer systems, were primarily established. Environmental impacts were assessed with life cycle assessment (LCA) to understand the temporal environmental burdens in wet and dry seasons. Functional units as per m3 treated wastewater (FU1) and as per kg PO43-eq. removed (FU2), respectively, were used to evaluate impacts of wastewater treatment to the environment. Strong correlation between rainfall and the influent flow rate was found in the wastewater treatment plants with either a combined sewer system (with Pearson correlation coefficient r at 0.66) or a separate sewer system (with r at 0.84), where r represents the strength of the association between two variables. The rainfall effect is more obvious on the eutrophication potential and global warming potential than on other environmental indicators while sewer system, i.e. combined or separate, seems not important in the two cases studied. Both wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) show a lower environmental burden in the wet season than in the dry season partially due to the dilution of wastewater by using FU1. The WWTP receiving high strength wastewater, however, demonstrates higher environmental impacts in the wet season by using FU2 than FU1, due to the less efficient treatment caused by heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, it is found that environmental impacts from the WWTP receiving low strength wastewater have no difference when using either FU1 or FU2. The results indicate that the environmental burdens particularly eutrophication and global warming caused by WWTPs are dependent on the correlations of rainfall intensity with wastewater quantity and quality instead of combined or separate sewer system. This could be used to guide a stricter control of eutrophication in a more sensitive season in more vulnerable receiving waters.
Thermally enhanced shale gas recovery: microstructure characteristics of combusted shale
Authors: Cao Yuan-Hao , Chen Wei , Wang Teng-Xi , Yuan Yin-Nan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRecently, thermal recovery technologies such as combustion have been studied for shale gas recovery. Thus, understanding of the microstructure of combusted shale is essential for evaluating the effects of thermal treatment on shale gas transport capacity. In this study, the effect of combustion on shale microstructure changes was investigated. Firstly, different-sized shale samples were combusted at 450 °C for 30 min. Afterward, shale microstructure properties including surface topographies, porosity and permeability of the raw and combusted shale samples were measured and compared. It was found that the pore volume and specific surface area increased after combustion, especially for small pulverized samples. According to surface topography obtained from atomic force microscope, more rough surfaces were obtained for the combusted shale due to larger pores and generation of thermal fractures caused by the removal of organic matter. Based on the mercury intrusion porosimetry measurements, the porosity of the shale samples increased from 2.79% to 5.32% after combustion. In addition, the permeability was greatly improved from 0.0019 to 0.6759 mD, with the effective tortuosity decreased from 1075.40 to 49.27. As a result, combustion treatment can significantly improve the gas transport capacity.