bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying and modeling the impact of interconnection failures on the electrical performance of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules
Authors: Annigoni Eleonora , Virtuani Alessandro , Levrat Jacques , Faes Antonin , Sculati‐Meillaud Fanny , Despeisse Matthieu , Ballif Christophe 
Published: February 2019

AbstractFailures in the metallic interconnections are among the main degradation modes for photovoltaic modules. Fatigue accumulation due to thermomechanical stresses can result in deterioration of the solder joints or in broken ribbons. In this paper, we first quantify experimentally how the module performance is affected when one or more cell interconnect ribbons are cut or disconnected. For this purpose, we manufactured a set of minimodules, composed by six monocrystalline silicon cells with three bus bars connected in series. Cells were encapsulated in a glass/backsheet construction, employing a polymeric (ETFE) backsheet that can be easily opened. We then sequentially cut one or more ribbons. We observe that the power loss strongly depends on the ribbon's position with respect to the cell (external or central ribbon). In a second step, we implemented an electrical model in LT‐SPICE where the solar cell is composed by three subcells (as the number of cell bus bars) and show that this model is able to reproduce the experimental results with a good accuracy. We then use the model to demonstrate that these results are directly transferable to the case of large‐area modules composed of 60 or 72 cells. Finally, we analyze the case when the disconnections are randomly distributed in the module. As a first approximation, a module with 10% of disconnections has a Pmax variation between −1.34% and −2.75% in average, while 20% of disconnections lead to a Pmax variation in the range of −2.83% and −5.64%.
N‐(3‐methoxybenzyl)‐(9Z,12Z,15Z)‐octadecatrienamide promotes bone formation via the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Ting , Sun Chun‐han , Zhong Hao‐bo , Gong Yan , Cui Zhong‐Kai , Xie Jing , Wang Yan‐peng , Liang Chuang , Cao He‐he , Chen Xiao‐rui , Zou Zhi‐peng , Li Sheng‐fa , Bai Xiao‐chun 
Published: February 2019

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. N‐(3‐methoxybenzyl)‐(9Z,12Z,15Z)‐octadecatrienamide (MBOC) is one of the macamides isolated from Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.), a cruciferous plant from the Andes of Peru. In this study, C3H/10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells were treated with MBOC in osteogenic induction medium. An ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model was used to investigate the effect of 1‐month MBOC treatment on the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Remarkably, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and bone volume/tissue volume of the distal femoral metaphysis were significantly increased in OVX + MBOC mice compared with OVX mice, as revealed by microcomputed tomography analysis. Trabecular separation was decreased in OVX + MBOC mice compared with OVX mice. Consistently, MBOC increased the levels of osteocalcin and runt‐related transcription factor 2 in OVX mice, as well as the expression of runt‐related transcription factor 2, osterix, and alkaline phosphatase in C3H/10T1/2 cells. Mechanistically, MBOC activates the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway via inhibiting phosphorylation of GSK‐3β at Tyr216 and maintaining β‐catenin expression. Collectively, the current study demonstrates the robustness of MBOC in the induction of mesenchymal stem cells osteogenic differentiation and consequent bone formation, suggesting that MBOC may be a potentially effective drug to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Dispersal of gram-negative bacilli from contaminated sink drains to cover gowns and hands during hand washing
Authors: Hajar Zeina , Mana Thriveen Sankar Chittoor , Cadnum Jennifer L. , Donskey Curtis J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe demonstrated that hand washing resulted in frequent dispersal of gram-negative bacilli from colonized sink drains in hospitals to cover gowns and hands. A plastic drain cover reduced but did not eliminate the risk for contamination. This mechanism of dispersal could result in contamination of healthcare personnel and patients.
Associations of dietary intake with cardiometabolic risk in a multi-ethnic cohort: a longitudinal analysis of the Determinants of Adolescence, now young Adults, Social well-being and Health (DASH) study
Authors: Goff Louise M. , Huang Peiyuan , Silva Maria J. , Bordoli Claire , Enayat Elli Z. , Molaodi Oarabile R. , Cassidy Aidan , Maynard Maria , Harding Seeromanie 
Published: February 2019

AbstractUnfavourable dietary habits, such as skipping breakfast, are common among ethnic minority children and may contribute to inequalities in cardiometabolic disease. We conducted a longitudinal follow-up of a subsample of the UK multi-ethnic Determinants of Adolescent Social well-being and Health cohort, which represents the main UK ethnic groups and is now aged 21–23 years. We aimed to describe longitudinal patterns of dietary intake and investigate their impact on cardiometabolic risk in young adulthood. Participants completed a dietary behaviour questionnaire and a 24 h dietary intake recall; anthropometry, blood pressure, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol and HbA1c were measured. The cohort consisted of 107 White British, 102 Black Caribbean, 132 Black African, 98 Indian, 111 Bangladeshi/Pakistani and 115 other/mixed ethnicity. Unhealthful dietary behaviours such as skipping breakfast and low intake of fruits and vegetables were common (56, 57 and 63 %, respectively). Rates of skipping breakfast and low fruit and vegetable consumption were highest among Black African and Black Caribbean participants. BMI and cholesterol levels at 21–23 years were higher among those who regularly skipped breakfast at 11–13 years (BMI 1·41 (95 % CI 0·57, 2·26), P=0·001; cholesterol 0·15 (95 % CI –0·01, 0·31), P=0·063) and at 21–23 years (BMI 1·05 (95 % CI 0·22, 1·89), P=0·014; cholesterol 0·22 (95 % CI 0·06, 0·37), P=0·007). Childhood breakfast skipping is more common in certain ethnic groups and is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in young adulthood. Our findings highlight the importance of targeting interventions to improve dietary behaviours such as breakfast consumption at specific population groups.
Pawangs on the Frontier: Miracles, prophets, and divinities in the ricefields of modern Malaya
Authors: SEVEA TEREN 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis article unearths two Jawi manuscripts pertaining to Muslim miracle-workers, orpawangs, who were key intermediaries of agrarian change in the interior of modern Malaya. These compendia of frontier patois are analysed to recount a history of rice worlds and environments wherein forest clearing and rice cultivation were directly associated with the Islamic esoteric science (ilmu) ofpawangs. As professional miracle-workers,pawangswere employed to spearhead a broad range of socio-economic activities in western Malaya. As pivots of cults joined by Malay peasants,pawangswere venerated as heirs of agrarian prophets and saints from earlier Islamic periods, and esteemed for their fertility rituals and miracles in contemporary forests and ricefields. This article analyses the elaborate Islamic genealogies ofpawangsand popular historical traditions that were recorded in these texts, and investigates how these documents were informative about the religio-economic sensibilities of cultivators. This article also pays particular attention to howpawangsnegotiated with a variety of Islamic and African spirits in Malayan forests, to lead forest clearing and rice production and to mobilize labourers. It further presents explorations into the social and spiritual cosmopolitanism ofpawangsand peasants upon the modern Malay frontier, whose labour and connected histories are yet to be written.
Unified Kinematics of Prismatically Actuated Parallel Delta Robots
Authors: Baran Eray A. , Ozen Ozhan , Bilgili Dogacan , Sabanovic Asif 
Published: February 2019

SummaryThis paper presents a unified formulation for the kinematics, singularity and workspace analyses of parallel delta robots with prismatic actuation. Unlike the existing studies, the derivations presented in this paper are made by assuming variable angles and variable link lengths. Thus, the presented scheme can be used for all of the possible linear delta robot configurations including the ones with asymmetric kinematic chains. Referring to a geometry-based derivation, the paper first formulates the position and the velocity kinematics of linear delta robots with non-iterative exact solutions. Then, all of the singular configurations are identified assuming a parametric content for the Jacobian matrix derived in the velocity kinematics section. Furthermore, a benchmark study is carried out to determine the linear delta robot configuration with the maximum cubic workspace among symmetric and semi-symmetric kinematic chains. In order to show the validity of the proposed approach, two sets of experiments are made, respectively, on the horizontal and the Keops type of linear delta robots. The experiment results for the confirmation of the presented kinematic analysis and the simulation results for the determination of the maximum cubic workspace illustrate the efficacy and the flexible applicability of the proposed framework.
The role of tumour volume as a prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with definitive radiotherapy
Authors: Joyce R. , O’Boyle G. , McDermott R. L. , Small C. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundIt has been shown that patients with a greater tumour volume have poorer outcomes following definitive radiotherapy but its exact role remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of tumour volume as a prognostic indicator in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with definitive radiotherapy in a single institution over 10 years.MethodsIn total, 167 patients with NSCLC treated by definitive (chemo)radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed between 2006 and 2015. Patient demographics, disease characteristics and tumour volume parameters were collected. Univariate analyses were carried out using Kaplan–Meier survival curves to assess the association of potential prognostic factors with the primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) rates and locoregional recurrence rates. Multivariate analyses were carried out using a Cox regression method.ResultsThe median total tumour volume (TTV), defined as the gross tumour volume plus the volume of involved nodes, was 103 cm3. Patients were divided into small and large tumour groups based on this median. OS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years for smaller volumes were 69%, 24% and 13% and for larger volumes 48%, 14% and 8%, respectively. On univariate survival analyses larger TTV was significantly associated with poorer OS (p= 0·019). The concurrent use of chemotherapy significantly improved survival (p= 0·026). Nodal involvement (p= 0·03) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p&lt; 0·001) were also significant independent prognostic factors of OS. On multivariate analysis TTV was strongly predictive of survival (p= 0·03; hazard ratio 1·702, 95% confidence interval 1·198–2·415). There was no association between nodal volume, tumour stages, overall stage, age, histology and radiation dose with any of the primary endpoints.ConclusionTTV is a significant prognostic factor in patients with advanced NSCLC treated by radical radiotherapy. In this cohort of patients TTV is more reliable at predicting survival than T stage and overall stage.
General Features of Radar‐Observed Boundary Layer Convergence Lines and Their Associated Convection Over a Sharp Vegetation‐Contrast Area
Authors: Huang Yipeng , Meng Zhiyong , Li Wanbiao , Bai Lanqiang , Meng Xuefeng 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBoundary layer convergence lines (boundaries), an important trigger of convective storms, can be produced by land surface contrasts. This study explored a five‐year summertime radar climatology of boundaries and their associated convection in response to vegetation contrast around the bend of the Yellow River in North China. A total of 323 boundaries were identified with 44% being convection‐associated. The boundaries especially the convective boundaries were more frequent over the arid area than those over the vegetated area and tended to have an orientation parallel to the vegetation contrast line. The boundary activities collocated well with the diurnal variation in surface temperature difference across the vegetation contrast. Compared with the nonconvective boundaries, the convective boundaries formed earlier and moved faster into the inner arid area, obtained maximum length around midday, and then initiated convection. Vegetation contrast might also affect the high‐frequency location and magnitude of boundary‐associated convective precipitation.
Understanding the Behaviors of Thermospheric Nitric Oxide Cooling During the 15 May 2005 Geomagnetic Storm
Authors: Li Zheng , Knipp Delores , Wang Wenbin 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe behaviors of thermospheric nitric oxide (NO) cooling during the 15 May 2005 intense geomagnetic storm are studied using measurements by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry instrument on board the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite and simulations by the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model. The geomagnetic storm was the most intense (Dst = −247 nT) of 2005 with a short and rapid main phase and long‐lasting recovery (more than 3 days). NO cooling responded globally to the geomagnetic storm within 2 hr after the onset of storm main phase. The most significant NO cooling increases occurred at middle and low latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere and at middle latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. The model outputs agree with observations in general but overestimate the NO cooling at high latitudes and underestimate the NO cooling elsewhere. Furthermore, observations show a significant upward shifting of the NO cooling peak altitude in the storm main phase and a significant downward shifting of the NO cooling peak altitude during the storm recovery phase at low latitudes. An unusual double‐peak structure in the NO cooling rate appeared during storm main phase and recovery phase. By investigating the NO cooling vertical profiles, we suggest that the horizontal equatorward transport plays an important role in inducing these significant variations of the NO cooling peak altitude.
Brain region-specific alterations of RNA editing in PDE8A mRNA in suicide decedents
Authors: Chimienti Fabrice , Cavarec Laurent , Vincent Laurent , Salvetat Nicolas , Arango Victoria , Underwood Mark D. , Mann J. John , Pujol Jean-François , Weissmann Dinah 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPhosphodiesterases (PDE) are key modulators of signal transduction and are involved in inflammatory cell activation, memory and cognition. There is a two-fold decrease in the expression of phosphodiesterase 8A (PDE8A) in the temporal cortex of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Here, we studied PDE8A mRNA-editing profile in two architectonically distinct neocortical regions in a clinically well-characterized cohort of age- and sex-matched non-psychiatric drug-free controls and depressed suicide decedents. By using capillary electrophoresis single-stranded conformational polymorphism (CE-SSCP), a previously validated technique to identify A-to-I RNA modifications, we report the full editing profile of PDE8A in the brain, including identification of two novel editing sites. Editing of PDE8A mRNA displayed clear regional difference when comparing dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA9) and anterior cingulate cortex (BA24). Furthermore, we report significant intra-regional differences between non-psychiatric control individuals and depressed suicide decedents, which could discriminate the two populations. Taken together, our results (i) highlight the importance of immune/inflammatory markers in major depressive disorder and suicide and (ii) establish a direct relationship between A-to-I RNA modifications of peripheral markers and A-to-I RNA editing-related modifications in brain. This work provides the first immune response-related brain marker for suicide and could pave the way for the identification of a blood-based biomarker that predicts suicidal behavior.
Tryptophan-kynurenine pathway attenuates β-catenin-dependent pro-parasitic role of STING-TICAM2-IRF3-IDO1 signalosome in Toxoplasma gondii infection
Authors: Majumdar Tanmay , Sharma Shagun , Kumar Manmohan , Hussain Md. Arafat , Chauhan Namita , Kalia Inderjeet , Sahu Amit Kumar , Rana Vipin Singh , Bharti Ruchi , Haldar Arun Kumar , Singh Agam P. , Mazumder Shibnath 
Published: February 2019

AbstractRecent studies have documented the diverse role of host immunity in infection by the protozoan parasite,Toxoplasma gondii. However, the contribution of the β-catenin pathway in this process has not been explored. Here, we show that AKT-mediated phosphorylated β-catenin supportsT. gondiimultiplication which is arrested in the deficiency of its phosphorylation domain at S552 position. The β-catenin-TCF4 protein complex binds to the promoter region of IRF3 gene and initiates its transcription, which was also abrogated in β-catenin knockout cells. TBK-independent phosphorylation of STING(S366) and its adaptor molecule TICAM2 by phospho-AKT(T308S473) augmented downstream IRF3-dependent IDO1 transcription, which was also dependent on β-catenin. But, proteasomal degradation of IDO1 by its tyrosine phosphorylation (at Y115 and Y253) favoured parasite replication. In absence of IDO1, tryptophan was catabolized into melatonin, which supressed cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and boosted parasite growth. Conversely, when tyrosine phosphorylation was abolished by phosphosite mutations, IDO1 escaped its ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation system (UPS) and the stable IDO1 prevented parasite replication by kynurenine synthesis. We propose thatT. gondiiselectively utilizes tryptophan to produce the antioxidant, melatonin, thus prolonging the survival of infected cells through functional AKT and β-catenin activity for better parasite replication. Stable IDO1 in the presence of IFN-γ catabolized tryptophan into kynurenine, promoting cell death by suppressing phospho-AKT and phospho-β-catenin levels, and circumvented parasite replication. Treatment of infected cells with kynurenine or its analogue, teriflunomide suppressed kinase activity of AKT, and phosphorylation of β-catenin triggering caspase-3 dependent apoptosis of infected cells to inhibit parasite growth. Our results demonstrate that β-catenin regulate phosphorylated STING-TICAM2-IRF3-IDO1 signalosome for a cell-intrinsic pro-parasitic role. We propose that the downstream IRF3-IDO1-reliant tryptophan catabolites and their analogues can act as effective immunotherapeutic molecules to controlT. gondiireplication by impairing the AKT and β-catenin axis.
First detection of frequency-dependent, time-variable dispersion measures
Authors: Donner J. Y. , Verbiest J. P. W. , Tiburzi C. , Osłowski S. , Michilli D. , Serylak M. , Anderson J. M. , Horneffer A. , Kramer M. , Grießmeier J.-M. , Künsemöller J. , Hessels J. W. T. , Hoeft M. , Miskolczi A. 
Published: February 2019

Context. High-precision pulsar-timing experiments are affected by temporal variations of the dispersion measure (DM), which are related to spatial variations in the interstellar electron content and the varying line of sight to the source. Correcting for DM variations relies on the cold-plasma dispersion law which states that the dispersive delay varies with the squared inverse of the observing frequency. This may, however, give incorrect measurements if the probed electron content (and therefore the DM) varies with observing frequency, as is predicted theoretically due to the different refraction angles at different frequencies.
Aims. We study small-scale density variations in the ionised interstellar medium. These structures may lead to frequency-dependent DMs in pulsar signals. Such an effect could inhibit the use of lower-frequency pulsar observations as tools to correct time-variable interstellar dispersion in higher-frequency pulsar-timing data.
Methods. We used high-cadence, low-frequency observations with three stations from the German LOng-Wavelength (GLOW) consortium, which are part of the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR). Specifically, 3.5 yr of weekly observations of PSR J2219+4754 are presented.
Results. We present the first detection of frequency-dependent DMs towards any interstellar object and a precise multi-year time-series of the time- and frequency-dependence of the measured DMs. The observed DM variability is significant and may be caused by extreme scattering events. Potential causes for frequency-dependent DMs are quantified and evaluated.
Conclusions. We conclude that frequency dependence of DMs has been reliably detected and is indeed caused by small-scale (up to tens of AUs) but steep density variations in the interstellar electron content. We find that long-term trends in DM variability equally affect DMs measured at both ends of our frequency band and hence the negative impact on long-term high-precision timing projects is expected to be limited.
Corn silage rumen undegradable protein content and response of growing calves to rumen undegradable protein supplement1
Authors: Oney Colton R , Gramkow Jana K , Hilscher F Henry , Erickson Galen E , MacDonald Jim C , Klopfenstein Terry J , Watson Andrea K 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The amount of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) in corn silage and the extent to which it is digested in the small intestine are uncertain. Three studies were conducted to determine RUP content of corn silage, and the effects of supplementing increasing concentrations of RUP on the growing performance of calves fed a corn silage diet. Experiments 1 and 2 used in situ methods to evaluate the RUP content of corn silage. In experiment 1, corn silages harvested at 37% or 42% dry matter (DM) were compared. In experiment 2, dry-rolled corn (89.4% DM) was reconstituted to 75%, 70%, 65%, and 50% DM and ensiled in mini-silos (2,265 cm3) for 30, 90, 180, or 270 d to simulate the corn grain within corn silage, dry-rolled corn is more mature than corn grain harvested in corn silage. Experiment 3 used 60 steers (275 kg initial body weight, SD = 18) in an 83-d growing study to evaluate the effects of supplementing 0.4%, 1.7%, 3.0%, 4.2%, or 5.5% RUP (% of diet DM) on performance. In experiment 1, RUP as a % of DM was not different between the two corn silages (P ≥ 0.12), averaging 0.59% for samples refluxed in a neutral detergent solution (NDS) and 1.8% for samples not refluxed in NDS. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) also did not differ (P ≥ 0.19), averaging 67.4%. In experiment 2, as moisture content of the corn grain increased, DMD increased linearly (P &lt; 0.01) and RUP content decreased linearly (P &lt; 0.01). The DMD increased quadratically (P = 0.02), whereas RUP content decreased linearly (P &lt; 0.01) as days of ensiling increased. In experiment 3, there were no differences in DM intake (DMI; P ≥ 0.33) among treatments for period 1 (d 1 to 37). However, average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) both linearly increased (P &lt; 0.01) as RUP supplement inclusion increased. There were no differences in DMI (P ≥ 0.16), ADG (P ≥ 0.11), or G:F (P ≥ 0.64) in period 2 (d 38 to 83). For the overall growing period (d 1 to 83), a linear increase was observed for ending body weight (P = 0.01), ADG (P &lt; 0.01), and G:F (P &lt; 0.01) as RUP supplement inclusion increased from 0.4% to 5.5% of diet DM. The RUP content of corn silage is lower than previously reported. Data collected suggest the crude protein within corn silage is 13% RUP, and approximately 1/2 is digestible. The moisture content of corn silage at the time of harvest and the amount of time corn silage is stored continually impact protein availability. Supplementing growing calves fed corn silage with RUP will improve performance.