bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility Study of Thorium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide Assembly In Light Water Reactors
Authors: Mustafa S. S. , Amin E. A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThorium-plutonium mixed oxide, (Th,Pu)OX, is currently used as an alternative fuel in the light water reactors in the world. The main objective of this paper is not only to show the benefits of using the thorium, but mainly to study how the way thorium is introduced in the fuel affects the neutron parameters. Among these benefits is the possibility of extending the operating cycle length and the reduction of the increasing stockpiles of plutonium. The first investigated method is introducing thorium as (Th,Pu)OX. The second one is a homogeneous model of thorium plutonium oxide. It is carried out by adding an amount of plutonium separated from the uranium oxide cycle at 50 GWd/ton of heavy metal to the same amount of thorium. Thus, we studied three assemblies; the reference assembly is uranium oxide of 4.2% enrichment containing borated water as a moderator of concentration 500 ppm (part per million) of B-10. The second is a (Th,Pu)OX and the third one is an assembly with homogenized thorium plutonium. All three assemblies are modeled using MCNPX. A comparison is held between the results of the three lattices. The factors compared are the effective multiplication factor, the inventory of plutonium and uranium isotopes, and the depletion of B-10, the pin by pin power distribution at 0 and 60 GWd/ton and the relative pin radial power for the three lattices. The comparison is aimed to show the effect on the cycle length, the reduction in the Pu content and the power flattening across the assembly. It is found that the evolution of the multiplication factors shows a similar behaviour using (Th-Pu)OX fuel in the assembly as UOX cycle inspite of lowering the K-eff of fresh (Th-Pu)OX fuel (1.19847). The power flattening which is favorable in reactor operation is clearer in (Th,Pu)OX fuel. It is noticed that the mass of Pu-239 decreases by 1.07% from its initial value at the end of life. For homogeneous (Th,Pu)OX, the mass decreases by 0.0832%. The high power peaking factor for (Th,Pu)OX is not expected to cause significant effects during reactor operation but it can be reduced by adding burnable poisons.
Temporal and spatial dynamics of Bacteria, Archaea and protists in equatorial coastal waters
Authors: Chénard Caroline , Wijaya Winona , Vaulot Daniel , Lopes dos Santos Adriana , Martin Patrick , Kaur Avneet , Lauro Federico M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSingapore, an equatorial island in South East Asia, is influenced by a bi-annual reversal of wind directions which defines two monsoon seasons. We characterized the dynamics of the microbial communities of Singapore coastal waters by collecting monthly samples between February 2017 and July 2018 at four sites located across two straits with different trophic status, and sequencing the V6-V8 region of the small sub-unit ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA gene) of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota. Johor Strait, which is subjected to wider environmental fluctuations from anthropogenic activities, presented a higher abundance of copiotrophic microbes, including Cellvibrionales and Rhodobacterales. The mesotrophic Singapore Strait, where the seasonal variability is caused by changes in the oceanographic conditions, harboured a higher proportion of typically marine microbe groups such as Synechococcales, Nitrosupumilales, SAR11, SAR86, Marine Group II Archaea and Radiolaria. In addition, we observed seasonal variability of the microbial communities in the Singapore Strait, which was possibly influenced by the alternating monsoon regime, while no seasonal pattern was detected in the Johor Strait.
Humoral Immunogenicity and Efficacy of a Single Dose of ChAdOx1 MERS Vaccine Candidate in Dromedary Camels
Authors: Alharbi Naif Khalaf , Qasim Ibrahim , Almasoud Abdulrahman , Aljami Haya A. , Alenazi Mohamed W. , Alhafufi Ali , Aldibasi Omar S. , Hashem Anwar M. , Kasem Samy , Albrahim Raed , Aldubaib Musaad , Almansour Ali , Temperton Nigel J. , Kupke Alexandra , Becker Stephan , Abu-obaidah Ali , Alkarar Ali , Yoon In-Kyu , Azhar Esam , Lambe Teresa , Bayoumi Faisal , Aldowerij Ali , Ibrahim Osman H. , Gilbert Sarah C. , Balkhy Hanan H. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMERS-CoV seronegative and seropositive camels received a single intramuscular dose of ChAdOx1 MERS, a replication-deficient adenoviral vectored vaccine expressing MERS-CoV spike protein, with further groups receiving control vaccinations. Infectious camels with active naturally acquired MERS-CoV infection, were co-housed with the vaccinated camels at a ratio of 1:2 (infected:vaccinated); nasal discharge and virus titres were monitored for 14 days. Overall, the vaccination reduced virus shedding and nasal discharge (p = 0.0059 and p = 0.0274, respectively). Antibody responses in seropositive camels were enhancedby the vaccine; these camels had a higher average age than seronegative. Older seronegative camels responded more strongly to vaccination than younger animals; and neutralising antibodies were detected in nasal swabs. Further work is required to optimise vaccine regimens for younger seronegative camels.
Learning leads to bounded rationality and the evolution of cognitive bias in public goods games
Authors: Leimar Olof , McNamara John M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn social interactions, including cooperation and conflict, individuals can adjust their behaviour over the shorter term through learning within a generation, and natural selection can change behaviour over the longer term of many generations. Here we investigate the evolution of cognitive bias by individuals investing into a project that delivers joint benefits. For members of a group that learn how much to invest using the costs and benefits they experience in repeated interactions, we show that overestimation of the cost of investing can evolve. The bias causes individuals to invest less into the project. Our explanation is that learning responds to immediate rather than longer-term rewards. There are thus cognitive limitations in learning, which can be seen as bounded rationality. Over a time horizon of several rounds of interaction, individuals respond to each other’s investments, for instance by partially compensating for another’s shortfall. However, learning individuals fail to strategically take into account that social partners respond in this way. Learning instead converges to a one-shot Nash equilibrium of a game with perceived rewards as payoffs. Evolution of bias can then compensate for the cognitive limitations of learning.
The use of canid tooth marks on bone for the identification of livestock predation
Authors: Yravedra José , Maté-González Miguel Ángel , Courtenay Lloyd A. , González-Aguilera Diego , Fernández Maximiliano Fernández 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHistorically wolves and humans have had a conflictive relationship which has driven the wolf to extinction in some areas across Northern America and Europe. The last decades have seen a rise of multiple government programs to protect wolf populations. Nevertheless, these programs have been controversial in rural areas, product of the predation of livestock by carnivores. As a response to such issues, governments have presented large scale economic plans to compensate the respected owners. The current issue lies in the lack of reliable techniques that can be used to detect the predator responsible for livestock predation. This has led to complications when obtaining subsidies, creating conflict between landowners and government officials. The objectives of this study therefore are to provide a new alternative approach to differentiating between tooth marks of different predators responsible for livestock predation. Here we present the use of geometric morphometrics and Machine Learning algorithms to discern between different carnivores through in depth analysis of the tooth marks they leave on bone. These results present high classification rates with up to 100% accuracy in some cases, successfully differentiating between wolves, dogs and fox tooth marks.
Human Health Risk Assessment associated with contaminants in the finest fraction of sidewalk dust collected in proximity to trafficked roads
Authors: Adamiec Ewa , Jarosz-Krzemińska Elżbieta 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe objective of the study was to determine concentration of metals in sidewalk dust collected in close vicinity to heavily congested roads in Poland in order to assess non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk for both children and adults associated with the ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation of sidewalk dust. Results revealed that sidewalk dust from Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw and Opole is heavily contaminated especially with Sb, Se, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, considered as indicators of traffic emission. Hazardous indices determined for different exposure pathways indicated that the greatest health risk for both children and adults is associated with the ingestion of sidewalk dust. Carcinogenic risk associated with the ingestion of sidewalk dust by children, calculated for As, Cd, Ni and Pb exceeded safe level of 1 × 10−4 in all cities except for Warsaw. Non-carcinogenic risk of ingestion for children was two orders of magnitude higher than dermal risk and four to five orders of magnitude higher than risk of inhalation. Non-carcinogenic risk associated with the ingestion of sidewalk dust by adults is comparable with dermal contact risk and five orders of magnitude higher when inhalation risk.
Species-wide Metabolic Interaction Network for Understanding Natural Lignocellulose Digestion in Termite Gut Microbiota
Authors: Kundu Pritam , Manna Bharat , Majumder Subham , Ghosh Amit 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe structural complexity of lignocellulosic biomass hinders the extraction of cellulose, and it has remained a challenge for decades in the biofuel production process. However, wood-feeding organisms like termite have developed an efficient natural lignocellulolytic system with the help of specialized gut microbial symbionts. Despite having an enormous amount of high-throughput metagenomic data, specific contributions of each individual microbe to achieve this lignocellulolytic functionality remains unclear. The metabolic cross-communication and interdependence that drives the community structure inside the gut microbiota are yet to be explored. We have contrived a species-wide metabolic interaction network of the termite gut-microbiome to have a system-level understanding of metabolic communication. Metagenomic data of Nasutitermes corniger have been analyzed to identify microbial communities in different gut segments. A comprehensive metabolic cross-feeding network of 205 microbes and 265 metabolites was developed using published experimental data. Reconstruction of inter-species influence network elucidated the role of 37 influential microbes to maintain a stable and functional microbiota. Furthermore, in order to understand the natural lignocellulose digestion inside N. corniger gut, the metabolic functionality of each influencer was assessed, which further elucidated 15 crucial hemicellulolytic microbes and their corresponding enzyme machinery.
Changes in ventricular depolarisation vectors during exercise caused by regional myocardial ischaemia
Authors: Vellani Cameruddin W. , Hashmi Satwat , Mahmud Sadia , Yusuf Mohammad , Awan Safia , Kazmi Khawar 
Published: November 2019

AbstractResearch at the Aga Khan University for several years has been directed to find a reliable, low-cost, portable, non-invasive method for identification of coronary artery disease, its location and extent. A new method has been devised to measure the magnitude and direction of cardiac electrical vectors in three perpendicular planes during physical exercise to identify reduction in myocardial excitability as the electrophysiological marker of hypoxia. This report shows that changes in electrical forces due to exercise-induced regional hypoxia serve as indicators of reversible myocardial ischaemia. Changes in the magnitude and direction of vectors at stages of the Bruce protocol were measured in healthy volunteers, and patients undergoing the same exercise protocol for distribution of a radioactive tracer injected intravenously at peak exercise and after recovery (myocardial perfusion scan). Alterations in the magnitude and direction of resultant vectors during exercise were scored to enable analysis. Analysis identified slow progression of myocardial depolarisation as the electrophysiological marker of regional hypoxia relative to physical work. Compared with myocardial perfusion scan the sensitivity and specificity of electrical vectors for identification of ischaemia were 88% and 71%, respectively. Accuracy of ischaemia shown by electrical vectors is being assessed in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography.
Freezing method for rock cross-cut coal uncovering I: Mechanical properties of a frozen coal seam for preventing outburst
Authors: Yue Jiwei , Yue Gaowei , Wang Zhaofeng , Li Minmin , Wang Binbin , An Fenghua 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA comprehensive technology is proposed to realize fast and safe rock cross-cut coal uncovering (RCCCU) based on artificial freezing engineering method. This comprehensive technology includes four steps, namely, drilling a borehole, wetting the coal body by water injection, gas drainage and freezing the coal seam by liquid nitrogen injection. In this paper, the compressive strength, tensile strength and shear strength of frozen coal specimens are tested to obtain the mechanical parameters of the specimen. Then, for RCCCU under freezing temperatures, the outburst prevention effects are calculated and quantitatively analysed with regard to three aspects, namely, the enhancement of coal the mechanical properties, the reduction in the coefficient of outburst hazard (COH) in the distressed zone and the reduction in the interfacial elastic energy ratio (IEER) between the coal seam and the roof/floor. The results show that a considerable improvement in the mechanical properties of frozen coal and that the coal mechanical parameters, such as the compressive strength and the tensile strength, increase linearly with decreasing temperature. The coefficient of outburst hazard in the distressed zone decreases rapidly and drops from above 0.8 to below 0.3. The interfacial elastic energy ratio is greatly reduced from dozens of times of that of the roof/floor before freezing to several times of that of the roof/floor after freezing, which effectively weakens the sudden change of the elastic energy at the coal-rock interface.
Feline bocavirus-1 associated with outbreaks of hemorrhagic enteritis in household cats: potential first evidence of a pathological role, viral tropism and natural genetic recombination
Authors: Piewbang Chutchai , Kasantikul Tanit , Pringproa Kidsadagon , Techangamsuwan Somporn 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFeline bocavirus-1 (FBoV-1) was identified in cats from different households with hemorrhagic enteritis during outbreaks of an unusual clinical presentation of feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) in Thailand. Use of polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of the FBoV-1 DNA in several tissues, suggesting hematogenous viremia, with the viral nucleic acid, detected by in situ hybridization (ISH), was localized in intestinal cells and vascular endothelium of intestinal mucosa and serosa, and in necrosis areas primarily in various lymph nodes while FPLV-immunohistochemical analysis revealed viral localization only in cryptal cells, neurons, and limited to leukocytes in the mesenteric lymph node. Full-length coding genome analysis of the Thai FBoV-1 strains isolated from moribund cats revealed three distinct strains with a high between-strain genetic diversity, while genetic recombination in one of the three FBoV-1 strains within the NS1 gene. This is the first report identifying natural genetic recombination of the FBoV-1 and describing the pathology and viral tropism of FBoV-1 infection in cats. Although the role of FBoV-1 associated with systemic infection of these cats remained undetermined, a contributory role of enteric infection of FBoV-1 is possible. Synergistic effects of dual infection with FPLV and FBoV-1 are hypothesized, suggesting more likely severe clinical presentations.
Impregnation of poly(L-lactide-ran-δ-valerolactone) with essential bark oil using supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Tsutsumi Chikara , Manabe Souta , Nakayama Susumu , Nakayama Yuushou , Shiono Takeshi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis work studied the incorporation of essential bark oil from Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae, which is known to repel various insects, in poly(L-lactide-ran-δ-valerolactone) [poly(L-LA-ran-VL)] using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The poly(L-LA-ran-VL) was synthesized by first purifying the monomers by azeotropic distillation with benzene, followed by polymerization with Sn(oct)2 using the same equipment, representing an efficient one-pot process. The copolymerization of L-LA with VL using this technique at a feed ratio of 90/10 mol/mol gave poly(L-LA-ran-VL) (91/9) with a molecular weight of 6.48 × 104 g/mol and a high yield of 74.9%. Products with molecular weights over 5.0 × 104 g/mol were obtained at L-LA feed proportions of 70 to 90%. Impregnation trials were conducted between 40 and 120 °C at 14 MPa for 3 h. The oil content of a 73/27 specimen was found to increase significantly during processing at 100 or 120 °C. During enzymatic degradation with proteinase K, the 91/9 specimen showed the fastest degradation rate. Although the 71/29 sample was slowly hydrolyzed in a phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, the release of oil vapor from this material was slightly higher than that from the 91/9 specimen, and the vapor release rate continuously increased throughout the hydrolysis process.
Association of NCF1 polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis but not with ANCA-associated vasculitis in a Japanese population
Authors: Yokoyama Nozomi , Kawasaki Aya , Matsushita Takashi , Furukawa Hiroshi , Kondo Yuya , Hirano Fumio , Sada Ken-ei , Matsumoto Isao , Kusaoi Makio , Amano Hirofumi , Nagaoka Shouhei , Setoguchi Keigo , Nagai Tatsuo , Shimada Kota , Sugii Shoji , Hashimoto Atsushi , Matsui Toshihiro , Okamoto Akira , Chiba Noriyuki , Suematsu Eiichi , Ohno Shigeru , Katayama Masao , Migita Kiyoshi , Kono Hajime , Hasegawa Minoru , Kobayashi Shigeto , Yamada Hidehiro , Nagasaka Kenji , Sugihara Takahiko , Yamagata Kunihiro , Ozaki Shoichi , Tamura Naoto , Takasaki Yoshinari , Hashimoto Hiroshi , Makino Hirofumi , Arimura Yoshihiro , Harigai Masayoshi , Sato Shinichi , Sumida Takayuki , Tohma Shigeto , Takehara Kazuhiko , Tsuchiya Naoyuki 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGenome-wide association studies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese and Korean populations demonstrated strong association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in theGTF2I-NCF1region, rs73366469 (GTF2I), rs117026326 (GTF2I), rs80346167(GTF2IRD1) and rs201802880 (NCF1). This region has also been associated with susceptibility to Sjögren syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis; however, association studies with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have not been reported. Here we made an attempt to confirm their associations with SLE in the Japanese population, to find the primarily associated SNP, and to investigate whether these SNPs are also associated with susceptibility to SSc and AAV. By genotyping these four SNPs on 842 SLE, 467 SSc, 477 AAV patients and 934 healthy controls, striking association was confirmed in Japanese SLE. In addition, these SNPs were significantly associated with susceptibility to SSc, but not with AAV. Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that the association ofNCF1rs201802880, a missense SNP encoding p.Arg90His, can account for the association of other SNPs by linkage disequilibrium. These results suggested thatGTF2I-NCF1region is associated with susceptibility to multiple autoimmune rheumatic diseases but not with AAV, and the primarily associated variant may be the missense SNP inNCF1.
A robust, hand-powered, instrument-free sample preparation system for point-of-care pathogen detection
Authors: Zhao Fei , Lee Eun Yeong , Noh Geun Su , Shin Jaehyup , Liu Huifang , Qiao Zhen , Shin Yong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHere, we describe a simple, universal protocol for use in nucleic acid testing-based pathogen diagnostics, which requires only hand-powered sample preparation, including the processes of pathogen enrichment and nucleic acid isolation. The protocol uses low-cost amine-functionalized diatomaceous earth with a 1-μm Teflon filter as a reaction matrix in both stages of the process, using homobifunctional imidoesters. Using a simple syringe as a pump, the capture efficiency for a large sample volume (<50 mL) was enhanced by up to 98.3%, and the detection limit was 1 CFU/mL, 100-fold better than that of common commercial nucleic acid isolation kit. This protocol can also be combined with commercialized 96-well filter plates for robust sample preparation. Our proposed system is robust, simple, low-cost, universal, and rapid (taking <20 min), and it works regardless of the ambient environment and sample pretreatment, requiring no electricity or instruments. Its benefits include the simplicity of producing its components and its ease of operation, and it can be readily integrated with other assays for point-of-care diagnostics.
Nowcasting lightning occurrence from commonly available meteorological parameters using machine learning techniques
Authors: Mostajabi Amirhossein , Finney Declan L. , Rubinstein Marcos , Rachidi Farhad 
Published: November 2019

AbstractLightning discharges in the atmosphere owe their existence to the combination of complex dynamic and microphysical processes. Knowledge discovery and data mining methods can be used for seeking characteristics of data and their teleconnections in complex data clusters. We have used machine learning techniques to successfully hindcast nearby and distant lightning hazards by looking at single-site observations of meteorological parameters. We developed a four-parameter model based on four commonly available surface weather variables (air pressure at station level (QFE), air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed). The produced warnings are validated using the data from lightning location systems. Evaluation results show that the model has statistically considerable predictive skill for lead times up to 30 min. Furthermore, the importance of the input parameters fits with the broad physical understanding of surface processes driving thunderstorms (e.g., the surface temperature and the relative humidity will be important factors for the instability and moisture availability of the thunderstorm environment). The model also improves upon three competitive baselines for generating lightning warnings: (i) a simple but objective baseline forecast, based on the persistence method, (ii) the widely-used method based on a threshold of the vertical electrostatic field magnitude at ground level, and, finally (iii) a scheme based on CAPE threshold. Apart from discussing the prediction skill of the model, data mining techniques are also used to compare the patterns of data distribution, both spatially and temporally among the stations. The results encourage further analysis on how mining techniques could contribute to further our understanding of lightning dependencies on atmospheric parameters.