bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Water Treatment Plant Ancillary Facilities: Unsung Heroes of Hurricane Harvey
Authors: Wang Yong , Pham Hanh 
Published: August 2019

Key TakeawaysAncillary facilities on the site of water treatment facilities should not be overlooked, especially during emergency events.Prepared plant managers and engineers in the Houston area identified and corrected vulnerabilities in both primary and ancillary infrastructure well ahead of a “perfect storm.”The East Water Purification Plant's improved stormwater system played a critical role in the region's resilience and recovery, and the utility's stormwater pumps successfully prevented the plant from flooding during the event.
Dose‐dependent exposure profile and metabolic characterization of notoginsenoside R1 in rat plasma by ultra‐fast liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Sainan , Ju Zhengcai , Guan Huida , Yu Lu , Wang Zhengtao , Zhao Yuqing 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNotoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), a diagnostic protopanaxatriol‐type (ppt‐type) saponin in Panax notoginseng, possesses potent biological activities including antithrombotic, anti‐inflammatory, neuron protection and improvement of microcirculation, yet its pharmacokinetics and metabolic characterization as an individual compound remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure profile of NGR1 in rats after oral and intravenous administration and to explore the metabolic characterization of NGR1. A simple and sensitive ultra‐fast liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of NGR1 and its major metabolites, and for characterization of its metabolic profile in rat plasma. The blood samples were precipitated with methanol, quantified in a negative multiple reaction monitoring mode and analyzed within 6.0 min. Validation parameters (linearity, precision and accuracy, recovery and matrix effect, stability) were within acceptable ranges. After oral administration, NGR1 exhibited dose‐independent exposure behaviors with t1/2 over 8.0 h and oral bioavailability of 0.25–0.29%. A total of seven metabolites were characterized, including two pairs of epimers, 20(R)‐notoginsenoside R2/20(S)‐notoginsenoside R2 and 20(R)‐ginsenoside Rh1/20(S)‐ginsenoside Rh1, with the 20(R) form of saponins identified for the first time in rat plasma. Five deglycometabolites were quantitatively determined, among which 20(S)‐notoginsenoside R2, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside F1 and protopanaxatriol displayed relatively high exploration, which may partly explain the pharmacodynamic diversity of ginsenosides after oral dose.
A novel homozygous KCNQ3 loss‐of‐function variant causes non‐syndromic intellectual disability and neonatal‐onset pharmacodependent epilepsy
Authors: Lauritano Anna , Moutton Sebastien , Longobardi Elena , Tran Mau‐Them Frédéric , Laudati Giusy , Nappi Piera , Soldovieri Maria Virginia , Ambrosino Paolo , Cataldi Mauro , Jouan Thibaud , Lehalle Daphné , Maurey Hélène , Philippe Christophe , Miceli Francesco , Vitobello Antonio , Taglialatela Maurizio 
Published: August 2019

AbstractObjectiveHeterozygous variants in KCNQ2 or, more rarely, KCNQ3 genes are responsible for early‐onset developmental/epileptic disorders characterized by heterogeneous clinical presentation and course, genetic transmission, and prognosis. While familial forms mostly include benign epilepsies with seizures starting in the neonatal or early‐infantile period, de novo variants in KCNQ2 or KCNQ3 have been described in sporadic cases of early‐onset encephalopathy (EOEE) with pharmacoresistant seizures, various age‐related pathological EEG patterns, and moderate/severe developmental impairment. All pathogenic variants in KCNQ2 or KCNQ3 occur in heterozygosity. The aim of this work was to report the clinical, molecular, and functional properties of a new KCNQ3 variant found in homozygous configuration in a 9‐year‐old girl with pharmacodependent neonatal‐onset epilepsy and non‐syndromic intellectual disability.MethodsExome sequencing was used for genetic investigation. KCNQ3 transcript and subunit expression in fibroblasts was analyzed with quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blotting or immunofluorescence, respectively. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp electrophysiology was used for functional characterization of mutant subunits.ResultsA novel single‐base duplication in exon 12 of KCNQ3 (NM_004519.3:c.1599dup) was found in homozygous configuration in the proband born to consanguineous healthy parents; this frameshift variant introduced a premature termination codon (PTC), thus deleting a large part of the C‐terminal region. Mutant KCNQ3 transcript and protein abundance was markedly reduced in primary fibroblasts from the proband, consistent with nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay. The variant fully abolished the ability of KCNQ3 subunits to assemble into functional homomeric or heteromeric channels with KCNQ2 subunits.SignificanceThe present results indicate that a homozygous KCNQ3 loss‐of‐function variant is responsible for a severe phenotype characterized by neonatal‐onset pharmacodependent seizures, with developmental delay and intellectual disability. They also reveal difference in genetic and pathogenetic mechanisms between KCNQ2‐ and KCNQ3‐related epilepsies, a crucial observation for patients affected with EOEE and/or developmental disabilities.
Hyporheic Interactions Increase Zinc Exposure and Effects on Hyalella azteca in Sediments under Flow-Through Conditions
Authors: Harrison Anna M. , Hudson Michelle L. , Burton G. Allen 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Groundwater–surface water interactions in the hyporheic transition zone can influence contaminant exposure to benthic macroinvertebrates. In streams, hyporheic flows are subject to varying redox conditions, which influence biogeochemical cycling and metal speciation. Despite these relationships, little is known about how these interactions influence the ecological risk of contaminants. The present study investigated the effects of hyporheic flows and zinc (Zn)-contaminated sediments on the amphipod Hyalella azteca. Hyporheic flows were manipulated in laboratory streams during 10-d experiments. Zinc toxicity was evaluated in freshly spiked and aged sediments. Hyporheic flows altered sediment and porewater geochemistry, oxidizing the sediments and causing changes to redox-sensitive endpoints. Amphipod survival was lowest in the Zn sediment exposures with hyporheic flows. In freshly spiked sediments, porewater Zn drove mortality, whereas in aged sediments simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in excess of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) normalized by the fraction of organic carbon (fOC) [(SEM-AVS)/fOC] influenced amphipod responses. The results highlight the important role of hyporheic flows in determining Zn bioavailability to benthic organisms, information that can be important in ecological risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2447–2458. © 2019 SETAC
Rain attenuation and worst month statistics verification and modeling for 5G radio link system at 26 GHz in Malaysia
Authors: Shayea Ibraheem , Nissirat Liyth A. , Nisirat Mahdi A. , Alsamawi Aida , Abd. Rahman Tharek , Hadri Azmi Marwan , Abo‐Zeed Mohammad , Trrad Issam 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe explosive daily dependence on wireless communication services necessitates the research to establish ultrawideband communication systems with ultrahigh bit rate transmission capabilities. The advent of the fifth‐generation (5G) microwave link transmitting at millimeter‐wave (mm‐wave) frequency band is a promising technology to accommodate the escalating demand for wireless services. In this frequency band, however, the behavior of the transmission channel and its climatic properties are a major concern. This is of particular importance in tropical regions where the climate is mainly rainy with large raindrop size and high rainfall rate that may interact destructively with the propagating signal and cause total attenuation for the signal. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) introduced a global rain attenuation model to characterize the effect of rain on the propagating signal at a wideband of frequencies. The validity of this model in tropical regions is still an open question for research. In this paper, real measurements are conducted at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to investigate the impact of rain on the propagation of mm‐waves at 26 GHz over the microwave 5G radio link system. Rainfall rate and rain attenuation data sets are collected for one year at one sample per min sampling rate. Both data sets are used to estimate signal propagation conditions in comparison to the ITU model prediction. From the presented results, it is found that at 0.01% percentage of time and rainfall rate of about 120 mm/hr, the propagated signal would experience 26.2 dB losses per kilometer traveled. In addition, there is a significant deviation between the empirical estimation of the worst month parameters and the ITU worst month parameter prediction. Similarly, rainfall rate and rain attenuation estimated through the ITU model imposes a large deviation as compared with the measurements. Furthermore, more accurate empirical worst month parameters are proposed that yielded more accurate estimation of the worst month rainfall and rain attenuation predictions in comparison to the ITU model predictions.
n‐Grams exclusion and inclusion filter for intrusion detection in Internet of Energy big data systems
Authors: Aldwairi Monther , Alansari Duaa 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe advent of Internet of Energy (IoE) and the seamless integration of grid operators, power generators, distributors, sensors, and end users promise more efficient use of energy. However, the IoE will inherit the vulnerabilities from all of the integrated systems, and this raises concerns for trust and privacy. The evolving complexity and increased speed of network‐based attacks emphasizes the need for an efficient intrusion detection system. Consequently, with the emergence of new attacks and the increasing number of signatures, traditional signature‐based intrusion detection systems cannot both sift through big data and meet high network speeds. Detection performance severely deteriorates when matching hundreds of gigabits per second to the growing number of attack signatures. Given that pattern matching takes up to 60% of the overall intrusion detection time, this paper presents a new and fast software‐based pattern matching system, Exscind. It proposes an exclusion‐inclusion filter to preclude clean traffic before having to do expensive pattern matching. Additionally, if the traffic is malicious, the system only matches against a subset of signatures that have a high probability of being a match. We extensively evaluate the system's performance and conclude that using 6‐grams signature prefix provides the best speedup and memory consumption with negligible false positives and linear scaling. We report a best‐case speedup of 6.5 times for normal traffic and 1.53 times for the worst possible scenario. For best‐case normal traffic, Exscind skips pattern matching for 98.36% of the packets.
On the machine learning–based smart beamforming for wireless virtualization with large‐scale MIMO system
Authors: Sapavath Naveen Naik , Safavat Sunitha , Rawat Danda B. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we study a machine learning enabled smart beam scheduling approach for wireless virtualization in large‐scale multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) system. Large‐scale MIMO is regarded as an emerging technology to enhance data rate of future wireless networks and the wireless virtualization is regarded as an efficient paradigm to enhance the radio frequency (RF) spectrum utilization by subleasing RF slices of wireless infrastructure providers to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). We leverage machine learning approach for scheduling the beams in large‐scale MIMO where RF slices with the help of subsets of antennas are subleased for MVNOs. Performance of the proposed approach is evaluated using simulation results. The results show that the proposed approach outperforms the state of the art approach.
Assessing the clogging potential of clay/additivemixtures by cone pull‐out tests
Authors: Spagnoli Giovanni , Feinendegen Martin , Ziegler Martin 
Published: August 2019

AbstractClogging can be a massive problem during the mechanized excavation of tunnels. Soil conditioning with foams and/or polymers is normally used in these cases to decrease the adverse effect of clogging. In a research project the cone pull‐out test was used to assess the variation of adherence for four sticky clays with four commercial additives. Results show that the additives have also an impact on the basic mechanical properties of the clays such as liquid limit, plasticity index and shrinkage limit. The tests were performed on the one hand by spraying the additives on the metal surface of the cone and on the other hand by directly mixing them to the clays to reach the critical consistency index (i.e. where the maximum adherence with water was observed). Sprayed cone tests show for two clays a decrease in adherence. However, by directly mixing the additives to the clay, adherence considerably decreases, except for one kaolinitic clay. The results can be useful to select suitable additives or to develop new ones considering the geotechnical and mineralogical properties of the excavated clays.
Mikrostruktur des Salzburger Seetons – Charakterisierung basierend auf Drucksondierungen
Authors: Oberhollenzer Simon , Marte Roman , Gasser Daniel , Premstaller Michael , Leitich Alexander 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPiezocone penetration tests (CPTu tests) allow continuous measurements of the tip resistance, the sleeve friction and the pore water pressure over depth. Furthermore, they minimize the required time as well as costs for a soil characterization. Due to the difficulty related to undisturbed sample recovery of soils (i.e. of weak silty fine‐grained sediments) for laboratory testing, in situ investigations are becoming increasingly popular in geotechnical engineering. The article illustrates results of cone penetration tests, executed at three test sites in the city of Salzburg. It is shown that CPT‐based soil behaviour type charts according to Robertson lead to a realistic characterization of the underground conditions. The grain size distribution of the Salzburger Seeton varies between fine sand‐silt mixtures, which are found in the upper parts, to clayey silts in greater depths. According to CPT‐based soil behaviour type charts of Robertson clayey silts behave clay‐like contractive and are characterized by homogeneous properties with increasing depth. Qtn‐IG diagrams underline that the Salzburger Seeton with a high clay content presents a weak microstructure. On the other hand, the upper Seeton layers, which can be classified as silt‐sand mixtures and silty sands respectively, show a stronger bounding between the particles.
Can a results‐based bottom‐up reform improve health system performance? Evidence from the rural health project in China
Authors: Zhang Hao , van Doorslaer Eddy , Xu Ling , Zhang Yaoguang , van de Klundert Joris 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn 2008, the Rural Health Project (Health XI) was initiated in 40 Chinese counties to pilot interventions aimed at improving local health systems. Performance targets were pre‐specified (results‐based), and project counties were allowed to tailor their interventions (bottom‐up) in recognition of the substantial regional variations. Using household data from the China National Health Services Survey in a difference‐in‐differences strategy combined with matching, we find that project counties have improved outcomes (both incentivized and not‐directly‐incentivized) in all three domains examined—medical care, public health services, and self‐rated health—by 2013. In particular, the decrease in outpatient intravenous drip use and financial strain and the increase in all four components of public health services provision are robust to a variety of tests and alternative matching strategies. Results for not‐directly‐incentivized indicators suggest that results‐based payment did not lead to multitasking problems but rather to positive spillovers. On the other hand, little improvement in inpatient‐related indicators suggests that the Health XI interventions did not successfully redress the perverse incentives driving the bulk of providers' income. In general, however, our results indicate that interventions adopted in the results‐based bottom‐up approach generated substantial benefits given the investment.
Functional and thermal properties of yellow pea and red lentil extrudates produced by nitrogen gas injection assisted extrusion cooking
Authors: Masatcioglu Mustafa Tugrul , Koksel Filiz 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThere are excellent opportunities for greater incorporation into our diets of pulses, which are rich in proteins and dietary fibers, if their functional properties are modified to fit a wide range of applications in the food industry. The objective of this research was to produce high protein and fiber extrudates from yellow pea and red lentil flours using conventional and N2 gas injection assisted extrusion cooking methods. The effects of process variables on extrudate functional and thermal properties were also investigated.RESULTSThe cold viscosity of extrudates produced by N2 gas injection were higher than those produced by conventional extrusion, indicating that gas‐assisted extrusion does affect the end‐product pasting properties. At higher barrel temperatures (150–175 °C) extrudates did not exhibit any thermal transition in their thermograms, and thus their starches were completely gelatinized and proteins completely denatured during extrusion. In general, water solubility of extrudates produced by N2 gas injection was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those produced by conventional extrusion. Emulsion capacity and stability of yellow pea extrudates were in the range of 44–50% and 42–47%, respectively, and the counterpart values of red lentil extrudates were very similar (in the range of 43–47% and 43–46%, respectively).CONCLUSIONNitrogen gas injection assisted extrusion cooking can be used practically in development of pulse extrudates which contain high protein and dietary fiber. This novel and innovative technique is a reliable alternative method to the conventional CO2 gas injection assisted extrusion cooking methods in the snack food and food ingredient industries. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Electrochromic devices using Fe(II)‐based metallo‐supramolecular polymer: Introduction of ionic liquid as electrolyte to enhance the thermal stability
Authors: Mondal Sanjoy , Yoshida Takefumi , Higuchi Masayoshi 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe fabricated electrochromic (EC) devices with Fe(II)‐based metallo‐supramolecular polymer (polyFe), 1‐butyl‐1‐methyl‐pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (BMPyr(NTf)2) ionic liquid (IL), and Prussian blue (PB) as electrochromic layer, electrolyte layer, and counter layer, respectively. Thermal stability and ionic conductivity of BMPyr(NTf)2 IL was measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and impedance analysis to be 380°C and approximately 7.8 × 10−4 S/cm, respectively. The fabricated device showed reversible electrochromism between bluish‐violet and colorless by applying +3.0/−1.5 V alternately. The 65% of the original EC contrast remained in the device after the repeated changes for 100 cycles at 100°C.
A novel magnetic resonance imaging postprocessing technique for the assessment of intervertebral disc degeneration—Correlation with histological grading in a rabbit disc degeneration model
Authors: Sheldrick Kyle , Chamoli Uphar , Masuda Koichi , Miyazaki Shingo , Kato Kenji , Diwan Ashish D. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIntroductionEstimation of intervertebral disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is challenging. Qualitative schemes used in clinical practice correlate poorly with pain and quantitative techniques have not entered widespread clinical use.MethodsAs part of a prior study, 25 New Zealand white rabbits underwent annular puncture to induce disc degeneration in 50 noncontiguous lumbar discs. At 16 weeks, the animals underwent multi‐echo T2 MRI scanning and were euthanized. The discs were stained and examined histologically. Quantitative T2 relaxation maps were prepared using the nonlinear least squares method. Decay Variance maps were created using a novel technique of aggregating the deviation in the intensity of each echo signal from the expected intensity based on the previous rate of decay.ResultsDecay Variance maps showed a clear and well demarcated nucleus pulposus with a consistent rate of decay (low Decay Variance) in healthy discs that showed progressively more variable decay (higher Decay Variance) with increasing degeneration. Decay Variance maps required significantly less time to generate (1.0 ± 0.0 second) compared with traditional T2 relaxometry maps (5 (±0.9) to 1788.9 (±116) seconds). Histology scores correlated strongly with Decay Variance scores (r = 0.82, P < .01) and weakly with T2 signal intensity (r = 0.32, P < .01) and quantitative T2 relaxometry (r = 0.39, P < .01). Decay Variance had superior sensitivity and specificity for the detection of degenerate discs when compared to T2 signal intensity or Quantitative T2 mapping.ConclusionOur results show that using a multi‐echo T2 MRI sequence, Decay Variance can quantitatively assess disc degeneration more accurately and with less image‐processing time than quantitative T2 relaxometry in a rabbit disc puncture model. The technique is a viable candidate for quantitative assessment of disc degeneration on MRI scans. Further validation on human subjects is needed.
Nitrous oxide anesthetic versus total intravenous anesthesia for functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Heller Benjamin J. , DeMaria Samuel , Mendoza Erick , Hyman Jaime , Iloreta Alfred M.C. , Lin Hung‐Mo , Govindaraj Satish , Levine Adam I. 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundFunctional endoscopic sinus surgery is a common procedure for sinonasal disease, frequently performed in the outpatient setting. General anesthesia maintained with total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol has been shown to give superior surgical conditions compared to inhaled anesthetics. This study evaluated the effects of TIVA versus a predominantly nitrous oxide (N2O)–based anesthetic with a low‐dose propofol and remifentanil infusion on sinus surgery.MethodsPatients were randomized to either a N2O‐based (nitrous oxide with propofol and remifentanil) or TIVA (propofol and remifentanil without nitrous oxide) group. The surgeon was blinded to the anesthetic technique. Surgical field grading was performed in real time by the otolaryngologist every 15 minutes with the Boezaart grading system.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between the Boezaart scores, duration of surgery, or estimated blood loss between the two anesthetic techniques. However, the use of N2O provided a statistically significant, 38% reduction in time from surgery end to extubation. The TIVA group had significantly decreased mean and median pain scores in the post‐anesthesia care unit (PACU). There was no difference in the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting between the two groups.ConclusionA N2O‐based anesthetic for functional endoscopic sinus surgery provides similar intraoperative and postoperative conditions when compared to TIVA, while being superior in terms of time to extubation. Although the TIVA group had significantly decreased pain scores, this did not lead to a decrease in pain medicine received in the PACU, and there was no difference between groups in time to discharge.Level of Evidence1bLaryngoscope, 130:E299–E304, 2020