bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strong divergent selection at multiple loci in two closely related species of ragworts adapted to high and low elevations on Mount Etna
Authors: Wong Edgar L. Y. , Nevado Bruno , Osborne Owen G. , Papadopulos Alexander S. T. , Bridle Jon R. , Hiscock Simon J. , Filatov Dmitry A. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRecently diverged species present particularly informative systems for studying speciation and maintenance of genetic divergence in the face of gene flow. We investigated speciation in two closely related Senecio species, S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius, which grow at high and low elevations, respectively, on Mount Etna, Sicily and form a hybrid zone at intermediate elevations. We used a newly generated genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset from 192 individuals collected over 18 localities along an elevational gradient to reconstruct the likely history of speciation, identify highly differentiated SNPs, and estimate the strength of divergent selection. We found that speciation in this system involved heterogeneous and bidirectional gene flow along the genome, and species experienced marked population size changes in the past. Furthermore, we identified highly‐differentiated SNPs between the species, some of which are located in genes potentially involved in ecological differences between species (such as photosynthesis and UV response). We analysed the shape of these SNPs’ allele frequency clines along the elevational gradient. These clines show significantly variable coincidence and concordance, indicative of the presence of multifarious selective forces. Selection against hybrids is estimated to be very strong (0.16–0.78) and one of the highest reported in literature. The combination of strong cumulative selection across the genome and previously identified intrinsic incompatibilities probably work together to maintain the genetic and phenotypic differentiation between these species – pointing to the importance of considering both intrinsic and extrinsic factors when studying divergence and speciation.
New research directions on disparities in obesity and type 2 diabetes
Authors: Thornton Pamela L. , Kumanyika Shiriki K. , Gregg Edward W. , Araneta Maria R. , Baskin Monica L. , Chin Marshall H. , Crespo Carlos J. , de Groot Mary , Garcia David O. , Haire‐Joshu Debra , Heisler Michele , Hill‐Briggs Felicia , Ladapo Joseph A. , Lindberg Nangel M. , Manson Spero M. , Marrero David G. , Peek Monica E. , Shields Alexandra E. , Tate Deborah F. , Mangione Carol M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObesity and type 2 diabetes disproportionately impact U.S. racial and ethnic minority communities and low‐income populations. Improvements in implementing efficacious interventions to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes are underway (i.e., the National Diabetes Prevention Program), but challenges in effectively scaling‐up successful interventions and reaching at‐risk populations remain. In October 2017, the National Institutes of Health convened a workshop to understand how to (1) address socioeconomic and other environmental conditions that perpetuate disparities in the burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes; (2) design effective prevention and treatment strategies that are accessible, feasible, culturally relevant, and acceptable to diverse population groups; and (3) achieve sustainable health improvement approaches in communities with the greatest burden of these diseases. Common features of guiding frameworks to understand and address disparities and promote health equity were described. Promising research directions were identified in numerous areas, including study design, methodology, and core metrics; program implementation and scalability; the integration of medical care and social services; strategies to enhance patient empowerment; and understanding and addressing the impact of psychosocial stress on disease onset and progression in addition to factors that support resiliency and health.
Morphological, structural and physiological differences in heteromorphic leaves of Euphrates poplar during development stages and at crown scales
Authors: Zhai J. T. , Li Y. L. , Han Z. J. , Li Z. J. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica Oliv.) has heteromorphic leaves including strip, lanceolate, ovate, and broad‐ovate leaves from base to top in the mature canopy.

To clarify how diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height affect the functional characteristics of all kinds of heteromorphic leaves, we measured the morphological anatomical structure and physiological indices of five crown heteromorphic leaves of P. euphratica at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 m from the same site. We also analysed the relationships between morphological structures and physiological characteristics of heteromorphic leaves and DBH and the height of heteromorphic leaves.

The results showed that the number of abnormalities regarding blade width, leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, cuticle layer thickness, palisade tissue thickness, and palisade tissue/sponge tissue ratio increased with size order and sampling height gradient. Net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, instantaneous water use efficiency, stable delta carbon isotope ratio, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased with DBH and sampling height. By contrast, blade length, leaf shape index, and intercellular CO2 concentration decreased with the increase in path order and sampling height gradient. Although MDA content and leaf sponge thickness were not correlated with DBH or sampling height, other morphological structure and physiological parameters were significantly correlated with these variables. In addition, correlations were found among leaf morphology, anatomical structure, and physiological index parameters indicating that they changed with path order and tree height gradient.

The differences in the morphology, anatomic structure and physiological characteristics of the heteromorphic leaves ofP. euphratica are related to ontogenesis stage and coronal position.
Distortions in oil contract allocation and environmental damage in the presence of corruption
Authors: Akaeze Henry O. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis article investigates how distortions in oil contract allocation can alter a government official’s decisions and shows that corruption enlarges the parameter space over which multinational oil companies win the contract against the smaller companies. It is found that corruption superficially creates an equilibrium outcome that looks efficient even when it is not, and diminishes the official’s concern for environmental damage by weighing damage to the public less and oil revenues more. Sensitivity analyses show that for all levels of environmental damage and corruptibility, multinational oil companies always win the contract. An important policy implication is that corruption distorts optimal decisions and causes oil contract allocation decisions to be based primarily on monetary benefit than social welfare.
Pentalogy of Fallot: A case report and overview dental implications
Authors: Kaushal Drishti , Kalra Namita , Tyagi Rishi , Khatri Amit , Biswas Krishna 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPentalogy of Fallot is a rare congenital cyanotic heart disease and a variant of tetralogy of Fallot, in which tetralogy of Fallot is associated additionally with an atrial septal defect. It is characterized by right to left intracardiac shunting of blood leading to decreased pulmonary blood flow resulting in the development of cyanotic episodes. The case report aims to present the dental management of an 8‐year‐old child with a repaired cardiac anomaly of pentalogy of Fallot. His medical condition was assessed and physician consent was sought for procedural intervention. All invasive procedures were planned under antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent bacteremia associated endocarditis. Elaborate chairside dental intervention was carried out beginning with preventive schedule, oral prophylaxis and topical fluoride application followed by interception of carious progression with multiple GIC restorations and extractions of retained and grossly decayed teeth. Patient was reviewed on follow‐up visit and no pain, discomfort, or complications were reported. Based on the case report it can be concluded that the medical status in patients affected with Pentalogy of Fallot must be taken into consideration to plan dental treatment and precautions must be taken for prevention of stress induced cyanosis and bacterial endocarditis in such cases.
How old can we go? Evaluating the age limit for effective DNA recovery from historical insect specimens
Authors: Lalonde Melanie M.L. , Marcus Jeffrey M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHistorical museum specimens are valuable for exploring population genetics and evolutionary questions because they can provide snapshots of morphological and genetic characteristics from populations over space and time. Unfortunately, DNA found in older museum specimens is frequently degraded, so obtaining genotypes from many individual samples necessary for rigorous molecular population genetic studies is challenging. Previous studies have varied greatly in their success at obtaining genotypes from older preserved insect material. Many well‐intentioned collection curators have used research results showing poor preservation of DNA preserved in museum specimens to inform curatorial best practices, in some cases choosing not to allow DNA extraction by destructive sampling because, in their estimation, the likelihood of success would be low. Recent methodological advances in DNA extraction, amplification, and genotyping have allowed some researchers to include mid‐19th century samples in molecular genetic analyses. Here we present a robust, high‐throughput, and low‐cost DNA extraction and genotyping protocol for historical insect specimens employing restriction digests of PCR products followed by high sensitivity electrophoresis. Using this technique, we obtained mitochondrial haplotypes for 100% of 48 New World Junonia butterfly specimens (Nymphalidae) ranging in age from pre‐1813 to 1909 and show that the haplotype frequencies obtained are statistically indistinguishable from 20th‐century and contemporary reference populations of Junonia (1632 specimens) matched by geographic region. As most extant insect specimens were collected after 1813, based on our findings we would expect that many or even most pinned specimens preserved in museum collections contain usable DNA for mitochondrial haplotyping.
Ultrasonographic appearance of the coelomic cavity organs in healthy veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis)
Authors: Melero Adrián , Novellas Rosa , Mallol Claudia , Ríos José , Silvestre Albert Martínez , Martorell Jaume 
Published: December 2019

AbstractVeiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) are the most popular chameleons over the world, and consequently, two of the most frequent species presenting to veterinary practices. However, published studies on normal ultrasonographic anatomy for these lizards are currently lacking. The objectives of this prospective anatomic study were to develop an ultrasound protocol for evaluation of the coelomic cavity in these species and describe the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the coelomic organs. Seventeen healthy veiled chameleons and 15 healthy panther chameleons were included. A linear 18 MHz transducer was used. Chameleons were sedated and restrained in right lateral recumbency by an assistant. Longitudinal and transverse images were acquired, and authors recorded qualitative and quantitative ultrasonographic characteristics of the coelomic structures. The kidneys, liver, caudal vena cava, hepatic veins, portal vein, gallbladder, wall of the stomach and intestine, gonads and, when distended, urinary bladder could be visualized during ultrasonography of the coelomic cavity in both species. The spleen, pancreas, and adrenal glands could not be identified. Findings from the current study supported the use of ultrasonography for veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) with suspected intracoelomic diseases and provided normal reference information for future studies of these chameleon species.
Improving Fuel Economy Estimates on a Chassis Dynamometer Using Air Conditioner Correction Factors
Authors: Reyes Jose Alejandro M. , Quiros Edwin N. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Carmakers, regulatory agencies, and consumers share an interest in accurately determining a vehicle’s fuel efficiency under operating conditions that match the expected use. Previous studies have shown that a vehicle’s air conditioning (A/C) system is the most energy-intensive non-propulsive system and significantly reduces fuel economy.
This study aims to design and validate a new method of improving fuel economy estimates obtained on non-climate-controlled chassis dynamometers, as such laboratories are limited to measuring fuel economy with the A/C system deactivated. The methodology proposed herein uses a chassis dynamometer to measure the fuel economy penalty caused by the A/C system at different steady-state conditions. The hypothesis is that these penalties can be imposed accordingly for a given drive cycle to obtain an additional fuel consumption due to A/C.
To validate the proposed methodology, a vehicle was outfitted with a data acquisition system and was driven 50 times around a predefined route using varying A/C settings. The proposed method was then used to estimate the additional fuel consumption due to A/C usage for each of the runs. Comparing the calculated and actual fuel economies showed an average error of 1.924%. It was concluded that the proposed methodology is a viable alternative to existing procedures.
An Energetic and Exergoeconomic Analysis of a CCHP System With Micro Gas Turbine, Organic Rankine Cycle and Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration Cycle
Authors: Doiphode Ganesh V. , Najafi Hamidreza 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Combined cooling, heating and power generation (CCHP) systems can be utilized for commercial or multi-family residential buildings as efficient and reliable means to satisfy building power requirements and thermal loads. In the present paper, a CCHP system consist of a Bryton cycle, an Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and an absorption Ammonia-water cycle is considered. A detailed model is developed via MATLAB to assess the performance of the considered cycle from energy, exergy and economic perspectives. Appropriate ranges for inputs are considered and the first law efficiency, second law efficiency and ECOP of the cycle are determined as 77.17%, 33.18% and 0.31 respectively for the given inputs. Exergy destruction rates are found to be greatest primarily in the generator and the absorber of refrigeration cycle followed by the combustion chamber. The total exergy destruction rate in the system is found as 5311.51 kW. The exergoeconomic analysis is performed using SPECO approach to evaluate cost flow rate equations of the complete system and its individual components. Summation of capital investment cost rates and cost rates associated with the exergy destruction for the whole system is found as $18.245 per hour. A parametric study is also performed to provide an understanding on the effect of total pressure ratio and turbine inlet temperature of ORC on the performance of the system.
Optimization of a Biomass Torrefaction Plant With Near Zero Emissions
Authors: Hasan Mahmudul , Haseli Yousef 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the emissions from conventional torrefaction processes is the second largest contributor to the supply chain. This article presents a torrefaction unit that operates based on oxy-combustion concept, whereby preventing carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions. The oxygen required in the process is supplied from an Air Separation Unit (ASU) and the working fluid of the new system is carbon dioxide. The process model is implemented in Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and simulation is conducted using the design data of a conventional plant which torrefies wood at 553 K for 17.5 minutes. The overall efficiency of the plant which accounts for both thermal and electrical energy requirement of the process is found to be 88%. The total energy consumption of the system exhibits a minimum at an optimum torrefaction temperature. With willow as the feedstock, the optimum temperature is determined to be 536 K at a residence time of 20 minutes, at which the total equivalent thermal energy required is 2 MJ/kg dry biomass and the energy yield is as high as 91%. The results show that the optimum torrefaction temperature is feedstock dependent and it is lower for a longer residence time.
Numerical Modeling of the Hot Forming Process of Composite Materials
Authors: Wang Hao , Li Bo , Fan Zongyue , Li Xiaobai 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
We present a fully coupled thermomechanical simulation of the hot forming process of composite materials. The raw material is a mixture of resin powders, strengthening particles and reinforcing fibers. Complex material responses in the process, such as phase change (melting and polymerization) and reorientation of the fibers, determine the microstructure and the performance of the final product. A phase-aware incremental mesh-free Lagrangian method is presented to overcome the challenges, which combines the Optimal Transportation Meshfree (OTM) method and the variational thermomechanical constitutive updates, and simulation results including the compression ratio, material properties of the final product and orientation distribution of fibers are recorded. By comparing the simulation results with the experimental measurements, the computational framework is validated, which enables robust and efficient analysis of the sensitivity of the performance of composite materials on their processing parameters.
Model Tests and Numerical Simulation on Effect of Spudcan Penetration on P-Delta of an Adjacent Pile
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Fan Yifei , Guo Dong 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Model tests under 1g condition and numerical simulations of spudcan penetration in the silty fine sand were conducted to study effects of spudcan penetration on the p-delta effect of adjacent free-head and elastic-head piles subjected to lateral and vertical head loads. The p-delta factors were defined and determined based on the maximum pile shaft bending moments and pile head deflections before and after spudcan penetration, which were used to analyze the variations of the p-delta effect with the spudcan penetration depth. The conclusions were obtained as follows. The p-delta effect depends on the pile head constraint condition, the direction of the lateral pile head load and the spudcan penetration depth. For a free-head pile, the p-delta factors decrease with increasing the spudcan penetration depth. For an elastic-head pile, the p-delta factors also decrease during spudcan penetration and the decreases depend on the spudcan penetration depth and the lateral pile head load direction. The decrease associated with the lateral load direction facing back to the spudcan is larger than that associated with the lateral load direction facing to the spudcan. Therefore, the spudcan penetration does not increase the p-delta effect of adjacent piles subjected to lateral and vertical head loads. But the maximum bending moment and its occurring position change during spudcan penetration.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of Deep-Water Fish Cage in Waves Based on Two Different Methods
Authors: Wang Yihou , Xu Yuwang , Li Shuai , Ren Haojie , Fu Shixiao 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
A fish cage is usually composed of steel columns, buoys, flexible nets and mooring lines. Elastic deformations will occur on these components under waves. The effects of these deformations on the global dynamic responses of the fish cage are still unclear. In this paper, a method considering hydroelastic deformation and a method considering the cage as rigid structure are employed to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance of a fish cage structure. The wave forces acting on these slender components are calculated based on Morison formula. The displacement of the cage and tension forces in the mooring lines obtained from these two methods are compared and the effects of hydroelastic deformation are discussed.
Investigation of the Performance of a Three Stage Combined Power Cycle for Electric Power Plants
Authors: Nageswara Reddy Pereddy , Rao J. S. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
A three stage combined power cycle with a Brayton cycle as the topping cycle, a Rankine cycle as the middling cycle and an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) as the bottoming cycle is proposed in the present investigation. A two-stage Gas Turbine Power Plant (GTPP) with inter-cooling, reheating and regeneration based on the Brayton cycle, a single-stage Steam Turbine Power Plant (STPP) based on the Rankine cycle, and a two-stage ORC power plant with reheating based on ORC with atmospheric air as the coolant is considered in the present study. This arrangement enables the proposed plant to utilize the waste heat to the maximum extent possible and convert it into electric power. As the plant can now operate at low sink temperatures depending on atmospheric air, the efficiency of the combined cycle power plant increases dramatically. Further, Steam Turbine Exhaust Pressure (STEP) is positive resulting in smaller size units and a lower installation cost. A simulation code is developed in MATLAB to investigate the performance of a three stage combined power cycle at different source and sink temperatures with varying pressure in heat recovery steam boiler and condenser-boiler. Performance results are plotted with Gas Turbine Inlet Temperature (GTIT) of 1200 to 1500 °C, Coolant Air Temperature (CAT) of −15 to +25 °C, and pressure ratio of GTPP as 6.25, 9.0 and 12.25 for different organic substances and NH3 as working fluids in the bottoming ORC. Simulation results show that the efficiency of the three stage combined power cycle will go up to 64 to 69% depending on the pressure ratio of GTPP, GTIT, and CAT. It is also observed that the variation in the efficiency of the three stage combined power cycle is small with respect to the type of working fluid used in the ORC. Among the organic working fluids R134a, R12, R22, and R123, R134a gives a higher combined cycle efficiency.