bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel framework for the reliability modelling of repairable multistate complex mechanical systems considering propagation relationships
Authors: Gao Xu , Wang Rongxi , Gao Jianmin , Gao Zhiyong , Deng Wei 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDue to the propagation, amplification, and concatenation in a failure process, the reliabilities of repairable multistate complex mechanical systems (RMCMSs) may be affected by a significant fluctuation due to a small exception associated with a reliability indicator. Focused on the problems arising from the lack of propagation relationships among fault modes, functional components, and failure causes in conventional reliability models, a novel framework for reliability modelling is proposed to comprehensively analyse the reliabilities of RMCMSs. First, the reliability models are abstracted as weighted and directed networks with five layers. Second, an improved failure mode and effects analysis (IFMEA) method combined with the D‐number method and VIKOR approach is presented to determine the importance of reliability nodes. Third, a cut set of the reliability model is generated by any exception of a reliability indicator by considering the propagation relationships, and the reliability sensibility index is defined to characterize the fluctuations in system reliability. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated in an actual reliability modelling application. As an intuitive method, the proposed framework inherits the advantages of conventional models but overcomes the drawbacks of these existing methods. Therefore, this method can be flexibly and efficiently used in the reliability modelling of RMCMSs. Moreover, the approach provides a foundation for comprehensive and dynamic reliability analysis and the failure mechanism mining of RMCMSs, and it can be used in other engineering applications.
A General Fluorescence Turn‐On Sulfotransferase Assay through the Detection of Free Phosphate Ions by Using A Calcein/Ce3+ System
Authors: Li Ya , Shen Haixia , Liu Chenghui 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBiomolecule sulfation catalyzed by sulfotransferases (STases) plays a profound role in numerous biological processes. However, the exact biofunctions of the sulfation modifications still remain largely unknown partially because STases are difficult to assay. Most of the existing STase assays are targeted to discriminate the property changes of the sulfated substrate against the un‐sulfated ones, which typically suffer from several drawbacks due to the labile sulfated products, inhibitory effect of the 3'‐phosphoadenosine‐5'‐phosphate (PAP) by‐product as well as the lack of generality. To address such issues, herein, we have developed a versatile and general fluorescence turn‐on strategy for assaying STase activities. Unlike traditional STase assays, this work is targeted to measuring the phosphate ion (Pi) released from the enzymatic degradation of PAP by‐product during the sulfation reaction, which can lead to fluorescence enhancement of a calcein/Ce3+ system. Since PAP is the common by‐product of all kinds of STase reactions, this assay is universally applicable to the varying kinds of STases. In this regard, the intrinsic instability of the sulfated substrates will no longer influence the assay accuracy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of PAP on the STase reaction, which is common in traditional STase assays, are effectively removed in this study, thereby allowing more accurate determination of the enzyme activity.
New Aryl‐Substituted 2,2′‐Bithiophenes: Synthesis, Optoelectronic Properties and DFT Studies
Authors: Swaroop Toreshettahally R. , Tabasi Zahra A. , Zhao Yuming , Georghiou Paris E. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPhenyl‐ and thien‐2‐yl‐[2, 2′‐bithiophen]‐5‐yl)(thiophen‐2‐yl)methanones were synthesized by the condensation of 2‐thienyldithioester with the corresponding methyl ketones followed by cyclization with 2‐bromoacetylthiophene. Also, condensation of 2‐thienyldithioester with methyl ketones followed by treatment with methyl iodide gave β‐thien‐2‐yl‐β‐methylthio‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones, which reacted with the Simmons‐Smith reagent to give corresponding 4‐phenyl‐ and thien‐2‐yl‐2,2′‐bithiophenes. The optoelectronic properties of these bithiophene derivatives were studied by UV‐Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The lowest‐energy conformations of these new compounds in the ground and first excited states, the electronic origins of their UV‐Vis absorption and fluorescence emission bands, and related frontier molecular orbital (FMO) properties were elucidated by density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations. Furthermore, these aryl‐substituted bithiophenes were treated with anhydrous ferric chloride to undergo oxidative polymerization, and the fluorescence properties of the resulting polymeric products are also reported herein.
Synthesis of 2‐(2H‐Chromenyl)‐Oxazoles from 2H‐Chromene Hemiacetals by Using a Modified Passerini‐Type Reaction
Authors: Huang Deng‐Ming , Li Hui‐Jing , Wang Quanfu , Yan Peisheng , Wu Yan‐Chao 
Published: September 2018

AbstractA modified Passerini‐type reaction has been developed for the facile synthesis of 2‐(2H‐chromenyl)‐oxazoles, in which 2H‐chromene hemiacetals instead of the usually used aldehydes were adopted as the key substrates. Derivation of a 2‐(2H‐chromenyl)‐oxazole to the respective 2H‐chromene peptide and 1‐(2H‐chromenyl)‐furan was further accomplished.
Formulation of process improvement knowledge: 7 components of a good PI story
Authors: Norimatsu So , Endo Kiyoshi , Usugi Makoto , Niwa Aiichiro , Tange Koichi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe authors have been working on establishment of a knowledge structure for process improvement (PI) at “Japan SPI Consortium”. Our objective is to store useful knowledge, to provide mechanisms for their usage, and to encourage creation of new knowledge. During our efforts to extract, categorize and consolidate knowledge from the presentation materials at our conferences, we saw problems with respect to the coverage of knowledge expressed in the experiences. To solve this issue, we devised a knowledge model that consists of seven information elements as a representation, and then introduced a standard template to be used when submitting a proposal to the conference. As a result, statistically significant change in the knowledge coverage was observed, and the amount of information has increased for items such as causal analysis, verification and validation of process improvement over the successive conferences. Positive feedback was obtained from proposal reviewers and conference participants for improved understandability. Percentage of successful stories has also increased among the presentations.
The inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability of a recently developed equation to determine liver volume using three simple two‐dimensional ultrasound measurements
Authors: Childs Jessie , Lamb Kathryn 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIntroductionA reliable way to measure the size of the adult liver is valuable for numerous reasons, including the diagnosis of disease and the tracking of disease or response to treatment or intervention over time. This study sought to determine the intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability of a recently developed equation to calculate liver volume using three simple two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound measurements: A dome to tip measurement in the midclavicular line (A), an anterior to posterior measurement in the midclavicular line (B) and an anterior to posterior measurement in the midline (C), placed into the equation 343.71 + [0.84 × A × B × C]. While the three measures have been shown to be reliable, it is also important to determine the reliability of the equation as there is potential for error to be magnified by the multiplication process.MethodsTwo examiners acquired two ultrasound images of the liver of each participant, performed the three measurements and calculated the liver volume using the equation. One examiner repeated the images and measurements.ResultsAll measurements demonstrated high intra‐rater reliability [intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICCs) 0.851–0.972] with the volume equation having an ICC of 0.954 and limits of agreement of 178.7 cm3. All measurements also demonstrated high inter‐rater reliability (ICCs 0.761–0.954) with the volume equation having an ICC value of 0.918 and limits of agreement of 246.4 cm3.ConclusionThe liver volume equation can be reliably performed by both the same rater and different raters.
HeteroMeth: A Database of Cell-to-Cell Heterogeneity in DNA Methylation
Authors: Huan Qing , Zhang Yuliang , Wu Shaohuan , Qian Wenfeng 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark that plays a vital role in gene expression and cell differentiation. The average DNA methylation level among a group of cells has been extensively documented. However, the cell-to-cell heterogeneity in DNA methylation, which reflects the differentiation of epigenetic status among cells, remains less investigated. Here we established a gold standard of the cell-to-cell heterogeneity in DNA methylation based on single-cell bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) data. With that, we optimized a computational pipeline for estimating the heterogeneity in DNA methylation from bulk BS-seq data. We further built HeteroMeth, a database for searching, browsing, visualizing, and downloading the data for heterogeneity in DNA methylation for a total of 141 samples in humans, mice, Arabidopsis, and rice. Three genes are used as examples to illustrate the power of HeteroMeth in the identification of unique features in DNA methylation. The optimization of the computational strategy and the construction of the database in this study complement the recent experimental attempts on single-cell DNA methylomes and will facilitate the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms underlying cell differentiation and embryonic development. HeteroMeth is publicly available at http://qianlab.genetics.ac.cn/HeteroMeth.
Does the Machine Need a Ghost? Corporate Agents as Nonconscious Kantian Moral Agents
Authors: HESS KENDY M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDoes Kantian moral agency require phenomenal consciousness? More to the point, can firms (and other highly organized collectives) be Kantian moral agents—bound by Kantian obligations—in the absence of consciousness? After sketching the mechanics of my account of corporate agents, I consider three increasingly demanding accounts of Kantian moral agency, concluding that corporate agents can meet each successively higher threshold. They can (1) act on universalizable principles and treat humanity as an end in itself; (2) give such principlesto themselves,treattheir own‘humanity’ as an end itself, and act out of respect for the law; and (3) to the extent necessary, draw on empathically generated information and insights to inflect their performance, all in the absence of phenomenal consciousness. I close by rejecting two further arguments that phenomenal consciousness is nonetheless conceptually or practically necessary for Kantian moral agency.
A space–time integral minimisation method for the reconstruction of velocity fields from measured scalar fields
Authors: Gillissen Jurriaan J. J. , Vilquin Alexandre , Kellay Hamid , Bouffanais Roland , Yue Dick K. P. 
Published: September 2018

Scalar image velocimetry (SIV) is the technique to extract velocity vectors from scalar field measurements. The usual technique involves minimising a cost functional, that penalises the deviation from the scalar conservation equation. This approach requires the measured scalar field to be sufficiently resolved and relatively noise free, such that space and time derivatives of the measured scalar field can be accurately evaluated. We quantify these requirements for a synthetic two-dimensional (2-D) turbulent flow field by evaluating the velocity reconstruction accuracy as a function of the temporal and spatial resolution and the noise level. We propose an improved SIV scheme, that reconstructs not only the velocity field but also the scalar field, which does not require approximating the space and time derivatives of the measured scalar field. Improved velocity reconstruction is demonstrated for the 2-D synthetic field. We furthermore apply the scheme to interferograms of the thickness field of a falling soap film, where 2-D turbulence is generated by an array of cylindrical obstacles. The statistics of the reconstructed velocity field are within 10 % of laser Doppler velocimetry measurements.
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a large Italian catchment area: a school-based population study within the ASDEU project
Authors: Narzisi A. , Posada M. , Barbieri F. , Chericoni N. , Ciuffolini D. , Pinzino M. , Romano R. , Scattoni M.L. , Tancredi R. , Calderoni S. , Muratori F. 
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Aims
This study aims to estimate Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) prevalence in school-aged children in the province of Pisa (Italy) using the strategy of the ASD in the European Union (ASDEU) project.

Methods
A multistage approach was used to identify cases in a community sample (N = 10 138) of 7–9-year-old children attending elementary schools in Pisa – Italy. First, the number of children with a disability certificate was collected from the Local Health Authority and an ASD diagnosis was verified by the ASDEU team. Second, a Teacher Nomination form (TN) to identify children at risk for ASD was filled in by teachers who joined the study and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) was filled in by the parents of children identified as positive by the TN; a comprehensive assessment, which included the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition, was performed for children with positive TN and SCQ⩾9.

Results
A total of 81 children who had a disability certificate also had ASD (prevalence: 0.79%, i.e. 1/126). Specifically, 66 children (57 males and nine females; 62% with intellectual disability –ID-) were certified with ASD, whereas another 15 (11 males and four females; 80% with ID) were recognised as having ASD among those certified with another neurodevelopmental disorder. Considering the population of 4417 (children belonging to schools which agreed to participate in the TN/SCQ procedure) and using only the number of children certified with ASD, the prevalence (38 in 4417) was 0.86%, i.e. one in 116. As far as this population is concerned, the prevalence rises to 1% if we consider the eight new cases (six males and two females; no subject had ID) identified among children with no pre-existing diagnoses and to 1.15%, i.e., one in 87, if probabilistic estimation is used.

Conclusions
This is the first population-based ASD prevalence study conducted in Italy so far and its results indicate a prevalence of ASD in children aged 7–9 years of about one in 87. This finding may help regional, national and international health planners to improve ASD policies for ASD children and their families in the public healthcare system.
Intake of Vitamins and Minerals from Voluntarily Fortified Foods in School Children in Central-Eastern Poland
Authors: Sicińska Ewa , Kałuża Joanna , Januszko Olga , Kurek Katarzyna , Rolf Katarzyna , Pietruszka Barbara 
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Objective: To estimate vitamin and mineral intakes from voluntarily fortified foods (VFFs) in relation to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in children aged 6 – 12. Methods: The study was conducted among 677 school children from Central-Eastern Poland. Data on VFFs consumption were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire containing 58 food items available on the Polish market; the content of nutrients in VFFs was estimated using the producers labelling declaration. The amounts of nutrients consumed from VFFs were compared to DRI and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs). The distribution of nutrient intakes according to the percentage of DRI categories (<20%, 20 – 39.9%, 40 – 59.9%, 60 – 79.9%, 80 – 99.9%, 100 – 119%, and >120%) was investigated. Results: In our study, 78.3% (n = 530) of children were classified as VFF-consumers. The most often consumed groups of VFFs were cereal products and juices/non-alcoholic beverages (92.5% and 76.6% of children, respectively). The amounts of vitamin D intake were negligible (92.5% of children did not exceed 20% of DRI from VFFs); vitamins A, E, B12 and calcium were small (>60% did not exceed 40% of DRI); vitamins B1, B2, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and iron were moderate (>25% consumed 80% of DRI or above); while vitamins C, B6 and biotin were high (>40% consumed 100% of DRI or above). Intake above ULs was observed for niacin and folic acid (2.6% and 1.1% of children, respectively). Conclusions: Substantial differences between the VFFs contribution of various micronutrients to the DRIs were observed. Consumption of VFFs may prevent inadequate intakes for the majority of nutrients. Keywords: children, DRI, inadequate intake, minerals, fortified foods, vitamins
Longitudinal Development of Poleward Boundary Intensifications (PBIs) of Auroral Emission
Authors: Ohtani S. , Motoba T. , Gjerloev J. W. , Ruohoniemi J. M. , Donovan E. F. , Yoshikawa A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWe have investigated the longitudinal propagation and extension of the poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs) of auroral emission by examining four events, Events 1–4, which show different spatiotemporal structures. In Event 1 an auroral form extended both eastward and westward immediately following the arrival of a fast polar cap flow and became dynamic as the polar cap flow enhancement continued. The PBI extended 3 hr in local time in a few minutes, which questions the conventional idea that the PBIs are an ionospheric manifestation of distant reconnection. In Events 2 and 3, an auroral form was already dynamic and was collocated with an upward field‐aligned current (FAC), which, along with an adjacent downward FAC, formed a longitudinal flow channel confined near the poleward boundary of the auroral oval. Auroral structures propagated in the direction of this longitudinal convection flow. In Event 4, as a transient westward convection flow arrived, a new auroral form developed and extended also westward but noticeably faster than the convection flow, and it faded as it extended. These results suggest that the longitudinal ionospheric convection plays a critical role in the formation and development of the PBIs. They are consistent with a recently proposed idea that the PBIs are an effect of the ionospheric electrostatic polarization, which deflects the enhanced polar cap flow from equatorward to along the auroral oval at its poleward boundary. The contrast between Events 1 and 4 suggests that morphological differences of the PBIs reflect different durations and intensities of the polar cap flow enhancement.
Opposite Subduction Polarity in Adjacent Plate Segments
Authors: Peral Mireia , Király Ágnes , Zlotnik Sergio , Funiciello Francesca , Fernàndez Manel , Faccenna Claudio , Vergés Jaume 
Published: September 2018

AbstractActive and fossil subduction systems consisting of two adjacent plates with opposite retreating directions occur in several areas on Earth, as the Mediterranean or Western Pacific. The goal of this work is to better understand the first‐order plate dynamics of these systems using the results of experimental models. The laboratory model is composed of two separate plates made of silicon putty representing the lithosphere, on top of a tank filled with glucose syrup representing the mantle. The set of experiments is designed to test the influence of the width of plates and the initial separation between them on the resulting trench velocities, deformation of plates, and mantle flow. Results show that the mantle flow induced by both plates is asymmetric relative to the axis of each plate causing a progressive merging of the toroidal cells that prevents a steady state phase of the subduction process and generates a net outward drag perpendicular to the plates. Trench velocities increase when trenches approach each other and decrease when they separate after their intersection. The trench curvature of both plates increases linearly with time during the entire evolution of the process regardless their width and initial separation. The interaction between the return flows associated with each retreating plate, particularly in the interplate region, is stronger for near plate configurations and correlates with variations of rollback velocities. We propose that the inferred first‐order dynamics of the presented analog models can provide relevant clues to understand natural complex subduction systems.
Reframing Future Risks of Extreme Heat in the United States
Authors: Wobus C. , Zarakas C. , Malek P. , Sanderson B. , Crimmins A. , Kolian M. , Sarofim M. , Weaver C. P. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe goal of this study is to reframe the analysis and discussion of extreme heat projections to improve communication of future extreme heat risks in the United States. We combine existing data from 31 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models to examine future exposure to extreme heat for global average temperatures of 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 °C above a preindustrial baseline. We find that throughout the United States, historically rare extreme heat events become increasingly common in the future as global temperatures rise and that the depiction of exposure depends in large part on whether extreme heat is defined by absolute or relative metrics. For example, for a 4 °C global temperature rise, parts of the country may never see summertime temperatures in excess of 100 °F, but virtually all of the country is projected to experience more than 4 weeks per summer with temperatures exceeding their historical summertime maximum. All of the extreme temperature metrics we explored become more severe with increasing global average temperatures. However, a moderate climate scenario delays the impacts projected for a 3 °C world by almost a generation relative to the higher scenario and prevents the most extreme impacts projected for a 4 °C world.
Investigation of Unusual Solar Flare Effect on the Global Ionospheric Current System
Authors: Annadurai N. M. N. , Hamid N. S. A. , Yamazaki Y. , Yoshikawa A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we present our investigation of geomagnetic crochets observed following the X‐class solar flare events on 9 August 2011 (X6.9) and 24 September 2011 (X1.4). Both events occurred during geomagnetically quiet times (Kp ≤ 3). The analysis of the geomagnetic crochets near the magnetic equator revealed very different responses in the ionospheric currents between these two events. During the 9 August 2011 event, a reduction of the eastward equatorial electrojet was observed in all daytime stations studied, while the daytime eastward equatorial electrojet was observed to enhance during the 24 September 2011 event. A spherical harmonic analysis was applied to the observations from nearly 160 ground stations at middle and low latitudes to derive the equivalent ionospheric current system for the geomagnetic crochets as well as background solar‐quiet (Sq) variations for both events. The equivalent current system of the geomagnetic crochets for the 24 September 2011 event showed a similar pattern with the background Sq current system and thus can be attributed to the enhancement of Sq currents. However, the crochet current system for the 9 August 2011 event revealed a different pattern from the background Sq current system in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is suggested that unusual geomagnetic crochets during the 9 August 2011 event may be dominated by the ionospheric currents at D‐region altitudes.