bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effect of rare earth metal Sm oxides and Co1−xS on sheet structure MoS2 for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Yu Hai , Xu Jing , Guo Hao , Li Yanru , Liu Zeying , Jin Zhiliang
Published: December 2017

The novel composite Sm2O3@Co1−xS/MoS2 has high photocatalytic activity and stability, the electron transfer and the charge separation were obviously improved with the synergistic effects of Sm2O3 and Co1−xS on the surface of MoS2.
Fabricating rutile nanopins on an anatase hollow sphere structure with enhanced photoactivity performance
Authors: Zhu Sheng-Cai , Fu Ling
Published: December 2017

TiO2 is a promising material for the renewable energy and pollution control field.
Characterization of protein adsorption on stretched polyurethane nanofibers prepared by electrospinning
Authors: Morita Yuko , Sakamoto Hiroaki , Suye Shin-ichiro
Published: December 2017

Proteins adsorbed on thick nanofibers (diameter = 950 nm) showed decreased activity due to large conformational changes, whereas those adsorbed on thin nanofibers (diameter = 480 nm) retained a close-to-natural shape and thus showed relatively high activity.
Green-synthesised cerium oxide nanostructures (CeO2-NS) show excellent biocompatibility for phyto-cultures as compared to silver nanostructures (Ag-NS)
Authors: Maqbool Qaisar
Published: December 2017

The use of nanostructures (NS) in plant tissue culture can be beneficial only if we have their complete bio-safety and biocompatibility profile.
Light- and heat-triggered reversible luminescent materials based on polysiloxanes with anthracene groups
Authors: Han Dongdong , Lu Hang , Li Wensi , Li Yonghao , Feng Shengyu
Published: December 2017

Reversible silicone elastomers were successfully developed by light-triggered dimerization and heat depolymerization which happened to the anthryl groups.
Impact of macromolecular crowding on RNA/spermine complex coacervation and oligonucleotide compartmentalization
Authors: Marianelli A. M. , Miller B. M. , Keating C. D.
Published: December 2017

The impact of macromolecular crowding on both the phase behavior and functional properties of complex coacervate droplets is explored.
Design of an advanced PLL for accurate phase angle extraction under grid voltage HIHs and DC offset
Authors: Ali Zunaib , Christofides Nicholas , Hadjidemetriou Lenos , Kyriakides Elias
Published: December 2017

The presence of direct current (DC) offset and harmonics–interharmonics (HIHs) in grid voltage input signal of phase‐locked loop (PLL) results in inaccurate controller response. The inaccuracies are due to the low‐ and high‐frequency oscillations that appear in the PLL estimated phase, amplitude and frequency. The suppression of fundamental frequency oscillations caused by DC offset (DO) in the input voltage signal must be carried out without compromising the dynamic response of the system. The use of low‐pass filters, for example, results in undesirable, slow response. This study proposes an accurate and fast decoupling of fundamental frequency oscillations using a mathematic‐cancellation decoupling cell. Higher‐frequency oscillations generated by HIHs are eliminated by a different harmonic compensation network (HCN) that is also proposed in this study. The performance of conventional techniques is limited because they eliminate only specifically selected harmonics. The proposed PLL, however, eliminates any number of HIHs present in the grid with the least computational complexity and without any prior knowledge. Furthermore, its advanced features provide accurate synchronisation under any abnormal grid condition at the lowest computational complexity when compared with the existing state‐of‐the‐art PLLs. The advanced performance of the proposed HIHDO‐PLL is verified through simulation and experimental results.
Research and simulation of control strategy for multi‐terminal flexible high‐voltage DC transmission system with renewable energy access
Authors: Jian Siliang
Published: December 2017

With flexible high‐voltage DC (HVDC) technology gradually matured, voltage source converter‐based multi‐terminal DC (VSC‐MTDC) transmission system has the features of multiple power supplies and multi‐drop powered. This makes it get great development as a way of more flexible and efficient transmission. Here, a new type of flexible DC grid topology, used for the large‐scale integration of renewable energy such as wind energy and solar energy, has been designed with the support of multi‐terminal VSC‐MTDC flexible HVDC transmission technology. Firstly, an active power control strategy of flexible HVDC transmission (VSC‐HVDC) is proposed, which makes the flexible HVDC transmission system adjust to the transmission power in real time and keep the HVDC network stable. After that, under the MATLAB/Simulink software, two kinds of transient operation conditions of DC line fault and large‐scale fan removal are simulated. The results show that the flexible HVDC can be operated stably with this control method, and has little disturbance when the system breaks down.
Heuristic algorithm for the problem of vessel routing optimisation for offshore wind farms
Authors: Dawid Rafael , McMillan David , Revie Matthew
Published: December 2017

A new heuristic method is proposed for the problem of vessel routing optimisation for offshore wind farms. Turbines requiring a maintenance action are arranged into clusters, each associated with a vessel and a value for repairing the turbines. The clusters with the highest value are used to produce offspring, which is selected from the remaining high‐value clusters, provided the constraints are met. The process is repeated until vessels available or turbines requiring maintenance are exhausted. To test the performance of the proposed approach, the same problem was formulated as integer linear programming problem and benchmarked against the IBM CPLEX commercial solver. The proposed method was shown to consistently produce close‐to‐optimal policies within seconds, even in problems with 15–20 turbines requiring a maintenance action. Although the proposed method only outperformed the commercial solver in one instance, its benefits include short and consistent computational times and the fact that the users can easily understand, implement and adapt the algorithm to suit their needs.
Coordinated operation strategy of hybrid storage system in wind power peak shaving scenarios
Authors: Wu Jun , Qiao Ying , Lu Zongxiang , Li Wenqi , Sun Liang
Published: December 2017

With more wind power being integrated into the power grid, its random and intermittent output has brought great impact on wind power utilisation. The new type of liquid compressed air energy storage has the advantages of high energy density, large capacity and free from geographical constraints. It can be used as a peak shaving device for wind farms to improve the accommodation of wind power, but its flexibility is relatively limited. Although electrochemical storage is flexible, large capacity requirements can lead to large costs when used for peak shaving. Considering the power and electricity capacity characteristics of different storage system as well as the output characteristics of wind farm, a hybrid storage system consisting of a new type of liquid compressed air energy storage and electrochemical storage is proposed for peak shaving of wind farm. Considering the power efficiency characteristics of storage system, a linear model for different storage is established. Then a mixed integer programming model is established to maximise the return of a wind farm under the cooperation mode of hybrid storage system in a wind farm. A case study shows that the proposed hybrid storage coordinated operation strategy can effectively improve the wind farm income and the accommodation of wind power.
Research on DC voltage class series with AHP
Authors: Li Rui , Sun Li Jing , Zhang Hai , Yao Changyuan , Luo Guomin
Published: December 2017

DC distribution network has become a popular research topic as it has many advantages. This study analyses the necessity of the formulation of voltage class series, the principles and influencing factors, summarises the DC distribution voltage level that has been applied, and proposes the alternative value of the distribution voltage at all levels. Then, the voltage evaluation index system of all levels is established. Finally, a whole DC distribution voltage class series is proposed through evaluation by the analytic hierarchy process.
Molecular abundances and C/O ratios in chemically evolving planet-forming disk midplanes
Authors: Eistrup Christian , Walsh Catherine , van Dishoeck Ewine F.
Published: December 2017

Context. Exoplanet atmospheres are thought be built up from accretion of gas as well as pebbles and planetesimals in the midplanes of planet-forming disks. The chemical composition of this material is usually assumed to be unchanged during the disk lifetime. However, chemistry can alter the relative abundances of molecules in this planet-building material.

Aims. We aim to assess the impact of disk chemistry during the era of planet formation. This is done by investigating the chemical changes to volatile gases and ices in a protoplanetary disk midplane out to 30 AU for up to 7 Myr, considering a variety of different conditions, including a physical midplane structure that is evolving in time, and also considering two disks with different masses.

Methods. An extensive kinetic chemistry gas-grain reaction network was utilised to evolve the abundances of chemical species over time. Two disk midplane ionisation levels (low and high) were explored, as well as two different makeups of the initial abundances (“inheritance” or “reset”).

Results. Given a high level of ionisation, chemical evolution in protoplanetary disk midplanes becomes significant after a few times 105 yr, and is still ongoing by 7 Myr between the H2O and the O2 icelines. Inside the H2O iceline, and in the outer, colder regions of the disk midplane outside the O2 iceline, the relative abundances of the species reach (close to) steady state by 7 Myr. Importantly, the changes in the abundances of the major elemental carbon and oxygen-bearing molecules imply that the traditional “stepfunction” for the C/O ratios in gas and ice in the disk midplane (as defined by sharp changes at icelines of H2O, CO2 and CO) evolves over time, and cannot be assumed fixed, with the C/O ratio in the gas even becoming smaller than the C/O ratio in the ice. In addition, at lower temperatures (<29 K), gaseous CO colliding with the grains gets converted into CO2 and other more complex ices, lowering the CO gas abundance between the O2 and CO thermal icelines. This effect can mimic a CO iceline at a higher temperature than suggested by its binding energy.

Conclusions. Chemistry in the disk midplane is ionisation-driven, and evolves over time. This affects which molecules go into forming planets and their atmospheres. In order to reliably predict the atmospheric compositions of forming planets, as well as to relate observed atmospheric C/O ratios of exoplanets to where and how the atmospheres have formed in a disk midplane, chemical evolution needs to be considered and implemented into planet formation models.
Einkommensteuerliche Vergünstigungen bei Veräußerung oder Aufgabe der Praxis
eines Tierarztes 2017
Authors: Dornbusch Hans-Ludwig
Published: December 2017

Der bei Veräußerung oder Aufgabe der Praxis eines Tierarztes entstehende Buchgewinn
unterliegt der Einkommensbesteuerung (§ 16 EStG). Das ist für den Praxisinhaber,
insbesondere wenn er seine Praxis aus Altersgründen nicht mehr weiterführen kann oder
will, ein Kostenfaktor, den er häufig nicht in Rechnung stellt und der ihn insofern
unvorbereitet trifft. Mangelnde Vorsorge für diesen Fall bringt nicht selten erhebliche
Probleme für die Betroffenen mit sich.
Management der felinen atopischen Dermatitis
Authors: Kreil-Ouschan Claudia
Published: December 2017

Die feline Atopie ist eine Überempfindlichkeitsreaktion gegenüber Umweltallergenen
(Hausstaubmilben, Vorratsmilben, Gräser-, Kräuter- und Baumpollen). Hausstaubmilben,
insbesondere Dermatophagoides farinae, gehören zu den häufigsten Auslösern bei der Katze.
Erfolgreich scheitern – Die Folgen eines Projekts zur Einführung stationsersetzender Behandlung und ihrer Steuerung
Authors: Peters Uwe
Published: December 2017

Der Beitrag berichtet über ein Psychiatrie-Projekt zur Einführung stationsersetzender Leistungen und eines neuen Steuerungssystems. Die Umsetzung ist gescheitert. Dennoch hat das Projekt zur Weiterentwicklung der Gemeindepsychiatrie beigetragen. Projektdesign, -organisation und -verlauf werden aus Sicht der kommunalen Akteure beschrieben und analysiert. Berücksichtigt werden Effekte über die Projektlaufzeit hinaus. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass die jeweilige Gewichtung der Projektbestandteile durch Auftraggeber, Projektentwickler und lokale Akteure mit einem unterschiedlichen Verständnis von Projektzweck und -mittel verbunden ist.
Evaluation of a Marker Clip System in Sonographically Guided Core Needle Biopsy for Breast Cancer Localization Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Schulz-Wendtland Rüdiger , Dankerl P. , Bani M. , Fasching P. , Heusinger K. , Lux M. , Jud S. , Rauh C. , Bayer C. , Schrauder M. , Beckmann M. , Uder M. , Brehm B. , Loehberg C.
Published: December 2017

Introduction The placement of intramammary marker clips has proven to be helpful for tumor localization in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and breast-conserving surgery. The purpose of our study was to investigate the feasibility of using a clip marker system for breast cancer localization and its influence on the imaging assessment of treatment responses after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods Between March and June 2015, a total of 25 patients (n = 25), with a suspicion of invasive breast cancer with diameters of at least 2 cm (cT2), underwent preoperative sonographically guided core needle biopsy using a single-use breast biopsy system (HistoCore™) and intramammary clip marking using a directly adapted clip system based on the established O-Twist Marker™, before their scheduled preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Localization of the intramammary marker clip was controlled by sonography and digital breast tomosynthesis.

Results Sonography detected no dislocation of intrammammary marker clips in 20 of 25 patients (80 %), while digital breast tomosynthesis showed accurate placement without dislocation in 24 patients (96 %) (p < 0.05). There was no evidence of significant clip migration during preoperative follow-up imaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. No complication related to the clip marking was noted and there was no difficulty in evaluating the treatment response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Among the breast-conserving surgeries performed, no cases were identified in which intraoperative loss of the marker clip had occurred.

Conclusion Our study underscores the importance of intramammary marking clip systems before neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Placement of marker clips is advised to facilitate accurate tumor bed localization. With regard to digital breast tomosynthesis, its development continues to improve the quality of diagnostics and the therapy of breast cancer particularly for small breast cancer tumors or in neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting.
Simulating the effectiveness of prescribed burning at altering wildfire behaviour in Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Furlaud James M. , Williamson Grant J. , Bowman David M. J. S.
Published: December 2017

Prescribed burning is a widely accepted wildfire hazard reduction technique; however, knowledge of its effectiveness remains limited. To address this, we employ simulations of a widely used fire behaviour model across the ecologically diverse Australian island state of Tasmania. We simulate three broad scenarios: (1) no fuel treatment, (2) a maximal treatment, with the most possible prescribed burning within ecological constraints, and (3) 12 hypothetically more implementable state-wide prescribed-burning plans. In all simulations, we standardised fire-weather inputs to represent regionally typical dangerous fire-weather conditions. Statistical modelling showed that an unrealistically large maximal treatment scenario could reduce fire intensity in three flammable vegetation types, and reduce fire probability in almost every vegetation type. However, leverage analysis of the 12 more-realistic implementable plans indicated that such prescribed burning would have only a minimal effect, if any, on fire extent and that none of these prescribed-burning plans substantially reduced fire intensity. The study highlights that prescribed burning can theoretically mitigate wildfire, but that an unrealistically large area would need to be treated to affect fire behaviour across the island. Rather, optimisation of prescribed burning requires careful landscape design at the local scale. Such designs should be based on improved fire behaviour modelling, empirical measurement of fuels and analysis of actual wildfires.
Sequential feature selection and inference using multi-variate random forests
Authors: Mayer Joshua , Rahman Raziur , Ghosh Souparno , Pal Ranadip
Published: December 2017

Motivation

Random forest (RF) has become a widely popular prediction generating mechanism. Its strength lies in its flexibility, interpretability and ability to handle large number of features, typically larger than the sample size. However, this methodology is of limited use if one wishes to identify statistically significant features. Several ranking schemes are available that provide information on the relative importance of the features, but there is a paucity of general inferential mechanism, particularly in a multi-variate set up. We use the conditional inference tree framework to generate a RF where features are deleted sequentially based on explicit hypothesis testing. The resulting sequential algorithm offers an inferentially justifiable, but model-free, variable selection procedure. Significant features are then used to generate predictive RF. An added advantage of our methodology is that both variable selection and prediction are based on conditional inference framework and hence are coherent.

Results

We illustrate the performance of our Sequential Multi-Response Feature Selection approach through simulation studies and finally apply this methodology on Genomics of Drug Sensitivity for Cancer dataset to identify genetic characteristics that significantly impact drug sensitivities. Significant set of predictors obtained from our method are further validated from biological perspective.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/jomayer/SMuRF

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Computational identification of micro-structural variations and their proteogenomic consequences in cancer
Authors: Lin Yen-Yi , Gawronski Alexander , Hach Faraz , Li Sujun , Numanagić Ibrahim , Sarrafi Iman , Mishra Swati , McPherson Andrew , Collins Colin C , Radovich Milan , Tang Haixu , Sahinalp S Cenk
Published: December 2017

Motivation

Rapid advancement in high throughput genome and transcriptome sequencing (HTS) and mass spectrometry (MS) technologies has enabled the acquisition of the genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data from the same tissue sample. We introduce a computational framework, ProTIE, to integratively analyze all three types of omics data for a complete molecular profile of a tissue sample. Our framework features MiStrVar, a novel algorithmic method to identify micro structural variants (microSVs) on genomic HTS data. Coupled with deFuse, a popular gene fusion detection method we developed earlier, MiStrVar can accurately profile structurally aberrant transcripts in tumors. Given the breakpoints obtained by MiStrVar and deFuse, our framework can then identify all relevant peptides that span the breakpoint junctions and match them with unique proteomic signatures. Observing structural aberrations in all three types of omics data validates their presence in the tumor samples.

Results

We have applied our framework to all The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and/or RNA-Seq datasets, spanning all four major subtypes, for which proteomics data from Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) have been released. A recent study on this dataset focusing on SNVs has reported many that lead to novel peptides. Complementing and significantly broadening this study, we detected 244 novel peptides from 432 candidate genomic or transcriptomic sequence aberrations. Many of the fusions and microSVs we discovered have not been reported in the literature. Interestingly, the vast majority of these translated aberrations, fusions in particular, were private, demonstrating the extensive inter-genomic heterogeneity present in breast cancer. Many of these aberrations also have matching out-of-frame downstream peptides, potentially indicating novel protein sequence and structure.

Availability and implementation

MiStrVar is available for download at https://bitbucket.org/compbio/mistrvar, and ProTIE is available at https://bitbucket.org/compbio/protie.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effect of the BASIC Examination on Knowledge Acquisition during Anesthesiology Residency
Authors: Zhou Yan , Sun Huaping , Lien Cynthia A. , Keegan Mark T. , Wang Ting , Harman Ann E. , Warner David O.
Published: December 2017

Background

The American Board of Anesthesiology recently introduced the BASIC Examination, a component of its new staged examinations for primary certification, typically offered to residents at the end of their first year of clinical anesthesiology training. This analysis tested the hypothesis that the introduction of the BASIC Examination was associated with an acceleration of knowledge acquisition during the residency training period, as measured by increments in annual In-Training Examination scores.

Methods

In-Training Examination performance was compared longitudinally among four resident cohorts (n = 6,488) before and after the introduction of the staged system using mixed-effects models that accounted for possible covariates.

Results

Compared with previous cohorts in the traditional examination system, the first resident cohort in the staged system had a greater improvement in In-Training Examination scores between the first and second years of clinical anesthesiology training (by an estimated 2.0 points in scaled score on a scale of 1 to 50 [95% CI, 1.7 to 2.3]). By their second year, they had achieved a score similar to that of third-year clinical anesthesiology residents in previous cohorts. The second cohort to enter the staged system had a greater improvement of the scores between the clinical base year and the first clinical anesthesiology year, compared with the previous cohorts.

Conclusions

These results support the hypothesis that the introduction of the BASIC Examination is associated with accelerated knowledge acquisition in residency training and provides evidence for the value of the new staged system in promoting desired educational outcomes of anesthesiology training.
Rhythmic Auditory Music Stimulation Enhances Walking Distance in Patients With Claudication
Authors: Bronas Ulf G. , Everett Steve , Steffen Alana , Briller Joan , Hannan Mary , Hernandez Alison , Collins Eileen
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

Patients with claudication have altered gait, characterized by slower pace and shorter stride length, compared with matched controls. Rhythmic auditory music stimulation has been used successfully to reduce symptoms of pain and improve walking ability in patients with neurological gait alterations. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that rhythmic auditory music stimulation via increased tempo and bass would immediately increase total walking distance in patients with claudication compared with music-without rhythm-enhancement condition or a no-music condition (standard).

Methods:

Fourteen patients with claudication (mean age = 66.1 ± 7.7 y; ankle-brachial index = 0.63 ± 17) underwent three 6-min walk tests on the same day in random order. One with music-without rhythm enhancement with the tempo set at the usual walking cadence of the patient, one without music, and one with rhythmically enhanced music with the tempo increased 10 to 15 beats/min above the usual walking cadence of the patient. This increase in tempo is considered imperceptible to the untrained ear.

Results:

The paired t test indicated an increase in total walking distance by 22.1 ± 25.4 m (P = .006) during the rhythmic auditory stimulation condition compared with the no-music condition and by 20.7 ± 24.4 m compared with the music-without enhancement condition (P = .007). Functional claudication distance increased by 40.0 ± 49.0 m during the rhythmically enhanced music condition (P = .009) compared with the no-music condition.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that rhythmic auditory stimulation immediately increases total walking distance in patients with claudication due to peripheral artery disease. This technology may provide a tool for clinicians to use when prescribing exercise, improve motivation, and increase adherence to exercise rehabilitation programs.
SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING OF THE MACULA AND VITREOMACULAR INTERFACE IN PERSISTENT FETAL VASCULATURE SYNDROME WITH POSTERIOR INVOLVEMENT
Authors: De la Huerta Irina , Mesi Oltion , Murphy Breanne , Drenser Kimberly A. , Capone Antonio , Trese Michael T.
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

To describe the microstructural features of the macula and vitreomacular interface in persistent fetal vasculature syndrome (PFVS) with posterior involvement managed with early vitrectomy or with observation, with functional correlation.

Methods:

We retrospectively identified 45 consecutive pediatric patients with PFVS with posterior involvement treated from 2005 to 2016. The eyes that could be imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography were included, and images were correlated with best-corrected visual acuity.

Results:

Thirty-eight imaging sessions were performed on 10 eyes from 9 patients, including 7 that had been managed with vitrectomy for PFVS-related tractional retinal detachment, and 3 that had been observed. Mean age of the patients who were imaged was 9.1 years and their average length of follow-up was 5.9 years. Best-corrected visual acuities of the eyes imaged ranged from 20/30 to count fingers, with mean best-corrected visual acuity 20/163. All eyes imaged had microstructural anomalies identified. The main anomalous features included posterior hyaloidal organization, vitreoretinal traction, vitreopapillary traction, diminished foveal contour, foveal displacement, and disruption of the ellipsoid zone. Posterior hyaloidal organization (P = 0.043), diminished foveal contour (P = 0.019), and disruption of the ellipsoid zone (P = 0.014) were associated with worse best-corrected visual acuity.

Conclusion:

Macular and vitreomacular interface anomalies were identified in all pediatric patients with posterior PFVS imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography. These microstructural findings, together with functional measures, may inform the diagnosis and management of PFVS with posterior involvement.
A Standardized Clinical Pathway to Decrease Hospital Admissions Among Febrile Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Ellison Angela M. , Smith Whitley Kim , Kittick Marlena , Schast Aileen , Norris Cynthia , Hartung Helge , McKnight Therese , Coyne Erin , Lavelle Jane
Published: December 2017

Background and Objective:

Recurrent hospital admissions for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are costly and contribute to a low quality of life for patients. We implemented a clinical pathway to safely discharge SCD patients with fever who are evaluated in the emergency department (ED) of a large tertiary care center.

Methods:

An interdisciplinary team of ED and hematology physicians, nurses, and an improvement advisor developed a clinical pathway that identified febrile SCD patients at low risk of serious bacterial infection based on historical, clinical, and laboratory criteria who could be discharged from the ED. Phone follow-up was planned through the use of an automated electronic notification that was sent to an established hematology follow-up pool at the time of ED discharge. We conducted two “fake front end” trials in the ED to receive feedback on our process before full implementation. A postpathway implementation quality improvement team monitored discharge rates, phone follow-up rates and adverse events.

Results:

In the first 9 weeks postpathway implementation, 100 SCD patients were evaluated for fever; 84 (24%) met low-risk criteria and were discharged home. This reduction in admission rate has been maintained throughout the 3 years postimplementation. Successful phone follow-up was achieved in all discharged patients within 24 hours and no adverse events were identified.

Conclusions:

Low-risk febrile patients with SCD can be safely discharged from the ED. An automated notification system within the electronic medical record system can facilitate patient follow-up after ED discharge. Future quality improvement efforts aimed to further reduce admissions in this population should target patients with modifiable risk factors for serious bacterial infection.
Patient-specific simulations for planning treatment in congenital heart disease
Authors: Capelli Claudio , Sauvage Emilie , Giusti Giuliano , Bosi Giorgia M. , Ntsinjana Hopewell , Carminati Mario , Derrick Graham , Marek Jan , Khambadkone Sachin , Taylor Andrew M. , Schievano Silvia
Published: December 2017

Patient-specific computational models have been extensively developed over the last decades and applied to investigate a wide range of cardiovascular problems. However, translation of these technologies into clinical applications, such as planning of medical procedures, has been limited to a few single case reports. Hence, the use of patient-specific models is still far from becoming a standard of care in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with a modelling framework that allows patient-specific simulations to be used for prediction of clinical outcomes. A cohort of 12 patients with congenital heart disease who were referred for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation, stenting of aortic coarctation and surgical repair of double-outlet right ventricle was included in this study. Image data routinely acquired for clinical assessment were post-processed to set up patient-specific models and test device implantation and surgery. Finite-element and computational fluid dynamics analyses were run to assess feasibility of each intervention and provide some guidance. Results showed good agreement between simulations and clinical decision including feasibility, device choice and fluid-dynamic parameters. The promising results of this pilot study support translation of computer simulations as tools for personalization of cardiovascular treatments.
Meeting the multiscale challenge: representing physiology processes over ApiNATOMY circuits using bond graphs
Authors: de Bono B. , Safaei S. , Grenon P. , Hunter P.
Published: December 2017

We introduce, and provide examples of, the application of the bond graph formalism to explicitly represent biophysical processes between and within modular biological compartments in ApiNATOMY. In particular, we focus on modelling scenarios from acid–base physiology to link distinct process modalities as bond graphs over an ApiNATOMY circuit of multiscale compartments. The embedding of bond graphs onto ApiNATOMY compartments provides a semantically and mathematically explicit basis for the coherent representation, integration and visualisation of multiscale physiology processes together with the compartmental topology of those biological structures that convey these processes.
Assembly of ZnIIand CdIIcoordination polymers with different dimensionalities based on the semi-flexible 3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid ligand
Authors: Li Xiao-Yan , Peng Yong-Qiong , Li Juan , Fu Wei-Wei , Liu Yang , Li Yu-Ming
Published: December 2017

Two new coordination polymers, namely, poly[[μ3-3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propionato]zinc(II)], [Zn(C10H8N2O2)]n, (1), and poly[bis[μ2-3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propionato]cadmium(II)], [Cd(C10H8N2O2)2]n, (2) have been synthesized from 3-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid ligands through a mixed-ligand synthetic strategy under a solvothermal environment, and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex1crystallizes in the orthorhombic space groupPbcaand features a two-dimensional structure formed by a binuclear Zn2O4core. Complex2, however, crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP21/cand forms a one-dimensional chain structure. The ZnIIand CdIIions have different coordination numbers and the 3-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)propanoate ligands display different coordination modes. The structures reported here show the importance of the selection of metal ions and suitable ligands.
Contextualizing library assessment within a broader ecosystem
Authors: Madsen Christine , Hurst Megan
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw a picture of the current landscape of library assessment based on the data gathered in interviews. The authors will focus specifically on the continuum between micro and strategic assessment and share the lessons learned from diverse institutions and geographies about how to build a culture of assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

Between 2015 and 2017, the researchers have interviewed more than 75 library directors and leaders, library assessment practitioners, and academic experts on four continents about library assessment and its current state in their institutions.

Findings

The results reveal a varied landscape, with libraries in widely varying stages of assessment performance and readiness.

Originality/value

This paper presents the results of a large-scale study over more than two years. More than 75 people have been interviewed in five countries. The scale and scope of the work is both significant and unique.
Rehabilitating prisoners: the place of basic life skills programmes
Authors: Jolley Michelle
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Tackling high reoffending rates in England and Wales is of significant political interest, with education and training being viewed as an important mechanism to achieve change. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a small empirical study examining a life skills programme delivered in a Category C prison in the West Midlands.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a multi-method approach incorporating observations of two modules, four focus groups with prisoners enrolled on the programme, questionnaires with programme completers, and semi-structured interviews with staff.

Findings

The findings indicate that life skills are an important component in rehabilitation. More specifically, developing the necessary tools to assist prisoners in everyday life, such as recognition, interpretation, reflection, response, and planning is fundamental to rehabilitation.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study was that only prisoners currently at this Category C prison were included. This could be complemented by the inclusion of more participants who had completed the programme; however, access and data protection considerations limited the study to one location.

Practical implications

The key message of this study is that without addressing basic life skills, education and vocational rehabilitation is severely limited.

Social implications

To reduce reoffending rates, it is important to conceive rehabilitation in broader terms, not simply in relation to education and vocational training.

Originality/value

This paper offers insight into an unreported area of good practice in prison rehabilitation provision.
La enseñanza del conflicto y la convivencia en la educación secundaria
Authors: Pineda-Alfonso José Antonio , García-Pérez Francisco F.
Published: December 2017

En el desarrollo de un proyecto de enseñanza de las Ciencias Sociales en un aula de 4º de Educación Secundaria Obligato­ria en un centro escolar de Sevilla, se investiga la evolución de las concepciones de los alumnos y se constata una progresión en los aprendizajes desde formulaciones más simples del co­nocimiento hacia concepciones más complejas. Se concluye que la metodología didáctica utilizada, el trabajo en torno a problemas sociales, en distintas escalas, tiene una influencia decisiva en esta evolución.
Competencia mediática en la etapa infantil en España
Authors: Caldeiro-Pedreira Mari Carmen , Maraver-López Pablo , Marín-Gutiérrez Isidro
Published: December 2017

Este artículo de investigación muestra los resultados de una investigación sobre competencia mediática de niños españo­les de 4, 5 y 6 años. El objetivo principal es analizar el nivel de competencia mediática que alcanzan los niños de infantil en cada una de las dimensiones que la componen. En con­creto, estas dimensiones son: lenguaje, tecnología, procesos de interacción, procesos de producción y difusión, estética e ideología y valores. La población de estudio corresponde a 274 niños y niñas de 4, 5 y 6 años de edad. Los resultados obtenidos indican los distintos niveles de competencia que los niños alcanzan en cada una de las dimensiones analizadas.
On-Site Identification of Dynamic Annular Seal Forces in Turbo Machinery Using Active Magnetic Bearings: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Lauridsen Jonas S. , Santos Ilmar F.
Published: December 2017

Significant dynamic forces can be generated by annular seals in rotordynamics and can under certain conditions destabilize the system leading to a machine failure. Mathematical modeling of dynamic seal forces are still challenging, especially for multiphase fluids and for seals with complex geometries. This results in much uncertainty in the estimation of the dynamic seal forces, which often leads to unexpected system behavior. This paper presents the results of a method suitable for on-site identification of uncertain dynamic annular seal forces in rotordynamic systems supported by active magnetic bearings (AMB). An excitation current is applied through the AMBs to obtain perturbation forces and a system response, from which the seal coefficients are extracted by utilizing optimization and a priori information about the mathematical model structure and its known system dynamics. As a study case, the method is applied to a full-scale test facility supported by two radial AMBs interacting with one annular center-mounted test seal. Specifically, the dynamic behavior of a smooth annular seal with high preswirl and large clearance (worn seal) is investigated in this study for different excitation frequencies and differential pressures across the seal. The seal coefficients are extracted and a global model on reduced state-space modal form is obtained using the identification process. The global model can be used to update the model-based controller to improve the performance of the overall system. This could potentially be implemented in all rotordynamic systems supported by AMBs and subjected to seal forces or other fluid film forces.
Applying sputtering theory to directional atomic layer etching
Authors: Berry Ivan L. , Kanarik Keren J. , Lill Thorsten , Tan Samantha , Vahedi Vahid , Gottscho Richard A.
Published: December 2017

Plasma assisted atomic layer etching (ALE) has recently been introduced into manufacturing of 10 nm logic devices. This implementation of ALE is called directional ALE because ions transfer momentum to the etching surface during the removal step. Plasma assisted directional ALE can be described as sputtering of a thin modified layer on the surface of the unmodified material. In this paper, the authors introduce a collision cascade based Monte Carlo model based on sputtering theory which has evolved for over 50 years [P. Sigmund, Thin Solid Films 520, 6031 (2012)]. To test the validity of this approach, calculated near threshold argon ion sputtering yields of silicon and chlorinated silicon are compared to published experimental data. The calculated ALE curve for Cl2/Ar ALE of tantalum is in good agreement with the experiment. The model was used to predict the presence of salient sputtering effects such as ion mass and impact angle dependence, as well as redeposition in directional ALE. Finally, the authors investigate time dependence of the synergy parameter for ion energies above the sputtering threshold of tantalum for Cl2/Ar ALE. The calculations show that close to 100% synergy can be obtained for short periods of time which opens a path to accelerate directional ALE. Very precise control of all process parameters as a function of time is prerequisite to realize this process space.
Genome Sequencing Links Persistent Outbreak of Legionellosis in Sydney (New South Wales, Australia) to an Emerging Clone of Legionella pneumophila Sequence Type 211
Authors: Timms Verlaine J. , Rockett Rebecca , Bachmann Nathan L. , Martinez Elena , Wang Qinning , Chen Sharon C.-A. , Jeoffreys Neisha , Howard Peter J. , Smith Anna , Adamson Sheena , Gilmour Robin , Sheppeard Vicky , Sintchenko Vitali
Published: December 2017

The city of Sydney, Australia, experienced a persistent outbreak of
Legionella pneumophila
serogroup 1 (Lp1) pneumonia in 2016. To elucidate the source and guide public health actions, the genomes of clinical and environmental Lp1 isolates recovered over 7 weeks were examined. A total of 48 isolates from human cases and cooling towers were sequenced and compared using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based core-genome multilocus sequencing typing (MLST) and pangenome approaches. All three methods confirmed phylogenetic relatedness between isolates associated with outbreaks in the Central Business District (CBD) in March and May and those in suburb 1. These isolates were designated the “main cluster” and consisted of isolates from two patients from the CBD March outbreak, one patient and one tower isolate from suburb 1, and isolates from two cooling towers and three patients from the CBD May outbreak. All main cluster isolates were sequence type 211 (ST211), which previously has only been reported in Canada. Significantly, pangenome analysis identified mobile genetic elements containing a unique type IV A F-type secretion system (T4ASS), which was specific to the main cluster, and cocirculating clinical strains, suggesting a potential mechanism for increased fitness and persistence of the outbreak clone. Genome sequencing enabled linking of the geographically dispersed environmental sources of infection among the spatially and temporally coinciding cases of legionellosis in a highly populated urban setting. The discovery of a unique T4ASS emphasizes the role of genome recombination in the emergence of successful Lp1 clones.

IMPORTANCE
A new emerging clone has been responsible for a prolonged legionellosis outbreak in Sydney, Australia. The use of whole-genome sequencing linked two outbreaks thought to be unrelated and confirmed the outliers. These findings led to the resampling and subsequent identification of the source, guiding public health actions and bringing the outbreak to a close. Significantly, the outbreak clone was identified as sequence type 211 (ST211). Our study reports this ST in the Southern Hemisphere and presents a description of ST211 genomes from both clinical and environmental isolates. A unique mobile genetic element containing a type IV secretion system was identified in Lp1 ST211 isolates linked to the main cluster and Lp1 ST42 isolates that were cocirculating at the time of the outbreak.
Cohort profile: the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Authors: Snijder Marieke B , Galenkamp Henrike , Prins Maria , Derks Eske M , Peters Ron J G , Zwinderman Aeilko H , Stronks Karien
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Ethnic minority groups usually have a more unfavourable disease risk profile than the host population. In Europe, ethnic inequalities in health have been observed in relatively small studies, with limited possibilities to explore underlying causes. The aim of the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study is to investigate the causes of (the unequal burden of) diseases across ethnic groups, focusing on three disease categories: cardiovascular diseases, mental health and infectious diseases.

Participants

The HELIUS study is a prospective cohort study among six large ethnic groups living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Between 2011 and 2015, a total 24 789 participants (aged 18–70 years) were included at baseline. Similar-sized samples of individuals of Dutch, African Surinamese, South-Asian Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish and Moroccan origin were included. Participants filled in an extensive questionnaire and underwent a physical examination that included the collection of biological samples (biobank).

Findings to date

Data on physical, behavioural, psychosocial and biological risk factors, and also ethnicity-specific characteristics (eg, culture, migration history, ethnic identity, socioeconomic factors and discrimination) were collected, as were measures of health outcomes (cardiovascular, mental health and infections). The first results have confirmed large inequalities in health between ethnic groups, such as diabetes and depressive symptoms, and also early markers of disease such as arterial wave reflection and chronic kidney disease, which can only just partially be explained by inequalities in traditional risk factors, such as obesity and socioeconomic status. In addition, the first results provided important clues for targeting prevention and healthcare.

Future plans

HELIUS will be used for further research on the underlying causes of ethnic differences in health. Follow-up data will be obtained by repeated measurements and by linkages with existing registries (eg, hospital data, pharmacy data and insurance data).
Feasibility of a hyper-acute stroke unit model of care across England: a modelling analysis
Authors: Allen Michael , Pearn Kerry , Villeneuve Emma , Monks Thomas , Stein Ken , James Martin
Published: December 2017

Objectives

The policy of centralising hyperacute stroke units (HASUs) in England aims to provide stroke care in units that are both large enough to sustain expertise (>600 admissions/year) and dispersed enough to rapidly deliver time-critical treatments (<30 min maximum travel time). Currently, just over half (56%) of patients with stroke access care in such a unit. We sought to model national configurations of HASUs that would optimise both institutional size and geographical access to stroke care, to maximise the population benefit from the centralisation of stroke care.

Design

Modelling of the effect of the national reconfiguration of stroke services. Optimal solutions were identified using a heuristic genetic algorithm.

Setting

127 acute stroke services in England, serving a population of 54 million people.

Participants

238 887 emergency admissions with acute stroke over a 3-year period (2013–2015).

Intervention

Modelled reconfigurations of HASUs optimised for institutional size and geographical access.

Main outcome measure

Travel distances and times to HASUs, proportion of patients attending a HASU with at least 600 admissions per year, and minimum and maximum HASU admissions.

Results

Solutions were identified with 75–85 HASUs with annual stroke admissions in the range of 600–2000, which achieve up to 82% of patients attending a stroke unit within 30 min estimated travel time (with at least 95% and 98% of the patients being within 45 and 60 min travel time, respectively).

Conclusions

The reconfiguration of hyperacute stroke services in England could lead to all patients being treated in a HASU with between 600 and 2000 admissions per year. However, the proportion of patients within 30 min of a HASU would fall from over 90% to 80%–82%.