bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Testing of a Prosthetic Foot Prototype With Interchangeable Custom Rotational Springs to Adjust Ankle Stiffness for Evaluating Lower Leg Trajectory Error, an Optimization Metric for Prosthetic Feet
Authors: Prost Victor , Olesnavage Kathryn M. , Winter Amos G.
Published: November 2017

A prosthetic foot prototype intended for evaluating a novel design objective for passive prosthetic feet, the Lower Leg Trajectory Error (LLTE), is presented. This metric enables the optimization of prosthetic feet by modeling the trajectory of the lower leg segment throughout a step for a given prosthetic foot and selecting design variables to minimize the error between this trajectory and target physiological lower leg kinematics. Thus far, previous work on the LLTE has mainly focused on optimizing conceptual foot architectures. To further study this metric, extensive clinical testing on prototypes optimized using this method has to be performed. Initial prototypes replicating the LLTE-optimal designs in previous work were optimized and built, but at 1.3 to 2.1 kg they proved too heavy and bulky to be considered for testing. A new, fully-characterized foot design reducing the weight of the final prototype while enabling ankle stiffness to be varied is presented and optimized for LLTE.

The novel merits of this foot are that it can replicate a similar quasi-stiffness and range of motion of a physiological ankle, and be tested with variable ankle stiffnesses to test their effect on LLTE. The foot consists of a rotational ankle joint with interchangeable U-shaped constant stiffness springs ranging from 1.5 Nm/deg to 16 Nm/deg, a rigid structure extending 0.093 m from the ankle-knee axis, and a cantilever beam forefoot with a bending stiffness of 16 Nm2. The prototype was built using machined acetal resin for the rigid structure, custom nylon springs for the ankle, and a nylon beam forefoot. In preliminary testing, this design performed as predicted and its modularity allowed us to rapidly change the springs to vary the ankle stiffness of the foot. Qualitative feedback from preliminary testing showed that this design is ready to be used in larger-scale studies. In future work, extensive clinical studies with testing different ankle stiffnesses will be conducted to validate the optimization method using the LLTE as a design objective.
A Simple Computational Tool for Studying Acoustic Waves in Nonlinear Medium
Authors: Nair Nirmal J. , Shah Utsav
Published: November 2017

The behaviour of acoustic waves in nonlinear medium is well established in literature. But there is a need of a simple computational tool through which practical problems pertaining to nonlinear acoustics can be treated with minimum effort and expense. Additionally, visualization of nonlinear acoustic waves can be useful towards the applications of acoustic diodes and ultrasonic waves. To address this issue, we have developed a numerical scheme which effectively captures the self-distortion mechanism of acoustic wave in nonlinear medium and the consequential generation of higher harmonics. Additionally, the effects of increasing non-linearity constant of the medium and amplitude of sound waves on distortion of the waveform is studied.
Determination of Resistance Factor for Tortuous Paths in Drip Emitters
Authors: Narain Jaya , Winter Amos
Published: November 2017

Drip irrigation has the potential to decrease water consumption and increase crop yields and profit. Globally, drip irrigation has had low adoption rates. There are several major barriers to adoption, including the cost of the system and its energy consumption. Mathematical models describing the behavior of drip emitters can provide insights on the performance of drip systems. The models and procedures developed in this paper can be used as a tool for the design of improved drip irrigation systems.

This paper presents a method of combining a CFD model that characterizes flow through the tortuous paths of emitters with an analytical model describing pressure-compensating behavior. The CFD model detailed in this paper was verified for three commercially available emitter designs. The model fell within acceptable variation bounds when compared to experimental data. The results of CFD analysis are represented in a resistance factor that can be used in a hybrid analytical-computational model. This method requires significantly less processing than using computational models alone.

Future work on this topic will detail an analytical model that accurately predicts the behavior of inline PC drip emitters of varying geometries and an optimization of the geometry to lower activation pressure and material costs. Analytical models to predict the flow behavior of a range of tortuous path designs given a prescribed geometry will also be developed.
Emergent Behavior Characterization of an Ant-Inspired, Multiple-Pheromone-Driven Robot Swarm
Authors: Schroeder Adam M. , Mohamed Marwan H. , Trease Brian P.
Published: November 2017

Inspired by chemotactic phenomena observed in ants where individual ants can distinguish their own pheromone from others in their colony, a novel control paradigm for a robot swarm is introduced where each agent deposits an agent-specific, diffusive and evaporative pheromone. Agent’s are repulsed by the pheromone and execute a biased random walk from high-concentration to low-concentration areas. The biased random walk is Lévy flight which causes ‘anomalous diffusion’ by the agents. The ratio of an agent’s sensitivity to its own pheromone compared to other ant’s pheromones, called ‘vanity’, is varied and swarm behavior is characterized using general metrics, e.g. mean squared displacement, and application-specific metrics.

It was found that varying the agent vanity resulted in smooth trends in the general behavior metrics, but bifurcations appeared in the application-specific, area coverage metrics. This control scheme is also compared to a scheme that uses a global, common pheromone.
Contact Mechanics and Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication Analysis of Internal-External Straight Bevel Gear Mesh in a Pericyclic Drive
Authors: Mathur Tanmay D. , Smith Edward C. , Chang Liming , Bill Robert C.
Published: November 2017

The focus of this work is development of a comprehensive tooth contact analysis model and characterization of lubricant performance in a Pericyclic mechanical transmission utilizing modified straight bevel gears. The Pericyclic drive is kinematically similar to an epicyclic bevel gear train, and is characterized by load sharing over large number of teeth, large shaft angles (175°-178°), nutational gear motion, and high reduction ratio. The load sharing calculation model described in this paper takes into account contact outside involute region and is easily generalized to all bevel epicyclic gear drives. The resulting contact stress field, calculated using Hertz contact stress theory, was validated against FEA solution. A 3-D kinematic analysis of the pericyclic drive was carried out to determine rolling and sliding velocities at contact points. Thereafter, Elastohydrodyamic lubrication (EHL) characteristics viz. film thickness, friction coefficient, and flash temperature were calculated for a sample lubricant. Power losses due to film friction are calculated to determine mesh efficiency. Finally, the effect of input power and profile crowning parameter was studied for all of the above mesh characteristics. The friction coefficient values were found to be in the lower range of EHL contact leading to high efficiency values and a small flash temperature for surfaces in contact.
Split-Vertex Technique for Thickness-Accommodation in Origami-Based Mechanisms
Authors: Tolman Kyler A. , Lang Robert J. , Magleby Spencer P. , Howell Larry L.
Published: November 2017

A novel thickness-accommodation technique for origami based mechanisms is introduced. This technique modifies a zero-thickness pattern by splitting each vertex along the minor folds into a system of two vertices. The modified fold pattern then has thickness applied to it and the resulting mechanism is kinematically equivalent to the modified fold pattern. Origami patterns that are rigid-foldable and only have two panels that stack between folds are utilized in the technique. The technique produces thick origami mechanisms where all panels lie in a plane in the unfolded state without any holes or protrusions and maintain a single degree of freedom. Steps for synthesizing split-vertex mechanisms are presented and examples of split-vertex mechanisms are shown. Advantages and potential applications of the technique are discussed.
A Parametric Optimization Approach of an Induction Heating System for Energy Consumption Reduction
Authors: Cicconi Paolo , Russo Anna Costanza , Prist Mariorosario , Ferracuti Francesco , Germani Michele , Monteriù Andrea
Published: November 2017

Nowadays, electromagnetic high-frequency induction is very used for different non-contact heating applications such as the molding process. Every molding process requires the preheating and the thermal maintenance of the molds, to enhance the filling phase and the quality of the final products. In this context, an induction heating system, mostly, is a customized equipment. The design and definition of an induction equipment depends on the target application. This technology is highly efficient and performant, however it provides a high-energy consumption. Therefore, optimization strategies are very suitable to reduce energy cost and consumption. The proposed paper aims to define a method to optimize the induction heating of a mold in terms of time, consumption, and achieved temperature. The proposed optimization method involves genetic algorithms to define the design parameters related to geometry and controller. A test case describes the design of an induction heating system for a polyurethane molding process, which is the soles foaming. This case study deals with the multi-objective optimization of parameters such as the geometrical dimensions, the inductor sizing, and the controller setting. The multi-objective optimization aims to reduce the energy consumption and to increase the wall temperature of the mold.
Point-Based Shape Monitoring of Plate Bending for Large-Scale Storage Tanks
Authors: Fukano Kenta , Masuda Hiroshi , Kobayashi Ataru , Ikeda Kazuki
Published: November 2017

Storage tanks are constructed using thousands of large curved steel plates, which are manufactured from flat plates. In conventional manufacturing of curved plates, operators fit wooden templates to specific positions on steel plates and measure differences between the current shape and the template. However, it is costly to create many wooden templates for a variety of plates. In addition, it is time-consuming and requires skills to precisely place wooden templates on specific positions to measure differences. In this paper, we discuss methods to automatically calculate differences of shapes during bending processes without wooden templates. We capture dense points on steel plates using a terrestrial laser scanner, and analyze shapes of curved plates using point-clouds. In our method, the system extracts only the points on curved plates, and tracks the amount of deformation on reference lines defined on the plates. Corresponding positions between intermediate curved plates and the original flat shape are calculated using mesh flattening techniques. In our experiments, our method could calculate the amount of differences of steel plates in reasonable performance and precision.
Contrasting Function With Affordance in Design for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Ko Hyunwoong , Moon Seung Ki
Published: November 2017

Additive Manufacturing (AM)’s advance from rapid prototyping to the end-of-use products inevitably challenges conventional design theories and methodologies. Especially while adopting systematic engineering design methodologies to design for AM (DfAM), it is essential to develop new design methods that explore the new design space enabled by AM’s design freedom from the early design stage. To address the challenge, this study provides a new design framework and a design method for modeling AM-enabled product behaviors in the conceptual design phase of DfAM. Firstly, this study contrasts function-based methods with affordance-based methods. The device-centric, form independent and input/output-based transformative properties of the function-based methods such as function decompositions have strengths in modeling product’s internal behaviors. However, the function-based methods show limitations in the new area of AM-enabled mass personalization which requires design approaches for representing user-centric structural design requirements acquired only by AM’s design freedom. On the other hand, the affordance-based methods can address the function-based methods in DfAM due to their user-centric (artifact-user interactive), form dependent and non-transformative properties. After the contradiction, we propose an affordance-based DfAM framework and an affordance structure as a formal modeling technique for AM-enabled personalized product behaviors. A case study of a trans-tibial prosthesis socket provides an illustration in this study. The contribution of the study is in developing a design method for the conceptual design phase of DfAM that fulfills the objectives of achieving AM-enabled mass personalization with systematic engineering design approaches.
Chaotic Flexural Oscillations of Embedded Non-Local Nanotubes Subjected to Axial Harmonic Force
Authors: Saadatnia Zia , Esmailzadeh Ebrahim
Published: November 2017

Chaotic behavior of an embedded carbon nanotube subjected to an external excitation and the combinational static-dynamic axial loads is investigated. Mathematical formulation has been developed based on the non-local theory in order to reflect the small-scale effects. The tube is supported by the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic foundation and the Galerkin method is utilized to solve the governing nonlinear differential equations. The vibration behavior of the system for the parameters of a real model is studied and different vibration responses of the nanotube such as the periodic, quasi-periodic and the chaotic behaviors are detected. The bifurcation diagrams for several critical parameters, including the amplitude of external excitation and the axial applied load are presented. The time history diagram, phase-plane trajectories, and the Poincaré map are presented as the three appropriate techniques for diagnosing the system behavior under various conditions.
Spherical Linkages Analysis and Synthesis by Special Unitary Matrices for Solution via Numerical Algebraic Geometry
Authors: Almestiri Saleh M. , Murray Andrew P. , Myszka David H.
Published: November 2017

Numerical algebraic geometry is the field that studies the computation and manipulation of the solution sets of systems of polynomial equations. The goal of this paper is to formulate spherical linkages analysis and design problems via a method suited to employ the tools of numerical algebraic geometry. Specifically, equations are developed using special unitary matrices that naturally use complex numbers to express physical and joint parameters in a mechanical system. Unknown parameters expressed as complex numbers readily admit solution by the methods of numerical algebraic geometry. This work illustrates their use by analyzing the spherical four-bar and Watt I linkages. In addition, special unitary matrices are utilized to solve the five orientation synthesis of a spherical four-bar linkage. Moreover, synthesis equations were formulated for the Watt I linkage and implemented for an eight orientation task. Results obtained from this method are validated by comparison to other published work.
Influence Coefficients and Singularity Analysis of a Novel 3-UPU Parallel Mechanism
Authors: Chen Ziming , Cheng Dongliang , Zhang Yang , Yang Zhiwei , Zhou Jin
Published: November 2017

A novel 3-UPU parallel mechanism with two rotational and one translational (2R1T) degrees of freedom (DOFs) is analyzed in this paper. The base and moving platform of this mechanism are always symmetric about a middle symmetry plane. The moving platform can rotate continuously about any axis on the middle symmetry plane, so there exists no parasitic motion during the rotation. Using the kinematic influence coefficient theory and the imaginary mechanism method, the first and second order influence coefficient matrix (namely Jacobian matrix and Hessian matrix) of this mechanism are derived. The relations between the velocity and acceleration of the moving platform and the actuated links are obtained. In order to verify the correctness of the theory, two numerical examples are enumerated and varified by the 3D model simulation. The singularities of this mechanism is discussed and the singular configurations of the mechanism, including one kind of limb singularity and two kinds of platform singularities, are obtained.
Exploration of Various Methods for Cost Considerations in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Piazza Andrea , Bielanos Kyle , Morkos Beshoy
Published: November 2017

Technology advancements in additive manufacturing allow for useful design optimization, especially in the field of integration (single components with multiple functions). The design process of a component includes considerations of design aspects, such as part geometry with respect to anticipated load conditions, chemical affinity due to possible adverse interaction of non-similar metals, weather conditions not predicted by applied coatings or protection systems and manufacturing design constraints. Due to reduced manufacturing constraints, additive manufacturing brings advantages such as reduced assembly time, higher part performance, and much greater geometric freedom. The following study explores the advantages and quantifies the cost optimization factors, such as manufacturing and assembly costs and material considerations, when assemblies and/or single components are replaced with an additively manufactured part, in mass produced and small volume applications. A relative part replacement cost function will be produced to show the feasibility of changeover to an additive manufactured part, furthermore two case studies will be analyzed and a new case study will be conducted and compared. Additive manufacturing costs, due to the popularization of different techniques, are constantly dropping and, therefore, are becoming valuable options in small to medium scale manufacturing operations as a way to reduce assembly costs and increase design performance.
Backlash after shutdown of Swiss astronomy institute
Authors: Vogel Gretchen
Published: November 2017

Professor disciplined and institute closed after complaints.
U.S. blocks Iran from fusion megaproject
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: November 2017

Other scientific ties envisioned under nuclear deal are slow to develop.
A second chance
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: November 2017

A neuron-targeting gene therapy delivered into the blood saves infants with a deadly spinal disease—and boosts an entire field.
Technology Feature | The singles seen: Sequencing gets specific
Authors: Dove Alan
Published: November 2017

As sequencing and nucleic acid amplification technologies get faster, cheaper, and more sensitive, researchers are beginning to sequence the RNA and DNA of individual cells. This approach holds enormous promise, but still has some significant limitations.

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High-speed plasmonic modulator in a single metal layer
Authors: Ayata Masafumi , Fedoryshyn Yuriy , Heni Wolfgang , Baeuerle Benedikt , Josten Arne , Zahner Marco , Koch Ueli , Salamin Yannick , Hoessbacher Claudia , Haffner Christian , Elder Delwin L. , Dalton Larry R. , Leuthold Juerg
Published: November 2017

Ultrafast plasmonic modulation

Plasmonics converts light into propagating electrical signals. This approach could allow us to shrink optical components to the nanometer scale, far below the hundreds of wavelengths typically set by conventional optics. Ayata
et al.
fabricated a plasmonic modulator from a single layer of gold using a substrate-independent process. They created a device with a footprint less than the cross-sectional area of a human hair and with modulation rates exceeding 100 GHz, which could provide a flexible platform for future ultrafast plasmonic technology.

Science
, this issue p.
630
Photoionization in the time and frequency domain
Authors: Isinger M. , Squibb R. J. , Busto D. , Zhong S. , Harth A. , Kroon D. , Nandi S. , Arnold C. L. , Miranda M. , Dahlström J. M. , Lindroth E. , Feifel R. , Gisselbrecht M. , L’Huillier A.
Published: November 2017

Resetting the clock on photoemission

The ability to produce attosecond pulses of light provides access to some of the fastest electronic processes occurring within atoms. Tracking the temporal dynamics of the photoemission process in which an atom absorbs a high-energy photon and the electron escapes has exposed a discrepancy between the initial experimental findings and subsequent theoretical modeling. Isinger
et al.
present an ultrafast process that can account for and distinguish the different contributions to the photoemission processes in neon atoms. The findings reveal an “electron shake-up” process that may explain the discrepancy, bringing closure to a 7-year discussion.

Science
, this issue p.
893
Year-Round Shotgun Metagenomes Reveal Stable Microbial Communities in Agricultural Soils and Novel Ammonia Oxidizers Responding to Fertilization
Authors: Orellana Luis H. , Chee-Sanford Joanne C. , Sanford Robert A. , Löffler Frank E. , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T.
Published: November 2017

The dynamics of individual microbial populations and their gene functions in agricultural soils, especially after major activities such as nitrogen (N) fertilization, remain elusive but are important for a better understanding of nutrient cycling. Here, we analyzed 20 short-read metagenomes collected at four time points during 1 year from two depths (0 to 5 and 20 to 30 cm) in two Midwestern agricultural sites representing contrasting soil textures (sandy versus silty loam) with similar cropping histories. Although the microbial community taxonomic and functional compositions differed between the two locations and depths, they were more stable within a depth/site throughout the year than communities in natural aquatic ecosystems. For example, among the 69 population genomes assembled from the metagenomes, 75% showed a less than 2-fold change in abundance between any two sampling points. Interestingly, six deep-branching
Thaumarchaeota
and three complete ammonia oxidizer (comammox)
Nitrospira
populations increased up to 5-fold in abundance upon the addition of N fertilizer. These results indicated that indigenous archaeal ammonia oxidizers may respond faster (are more copiotrophic) to N fertilization than previously thought. None of 29 recovered putative denitrifier genomes encoded the complete denitrification pathway, suggesting that denitrification is carried out by a collection of different populations. Altogether, our study identified novel microbial populations and genes responding to seasonal and human-induced perturbations in agricultural soils that should facilitate future monitoring efforts and N-related studies.

IMPORTANCE
Even though the impact of agricultural management on the microbial community structure has been recognized, an understanding of the dynamics of individual microbial populations and what functions each population carries are limited. Yet, this information is important for a better understanding of nutrient cycling, with potentially important implications for preserving nitrogen in soils and sustainability. Here, we show that reconstructed metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) are relatively stable in their abundance and functional gene content year round, and seasonal nitrogen fertilization has selected for novel
Thaumarchaeota
and comammox
Nitrospira
nitrifiers that are potentially less oligotrophic than their marine counterparts previously studied.
Enhancing the Thermostability of Rhizomucor miehei Lipase with a Limited Screening Library by Rational-Design Point Mutations and Disulfide Bonds
Authors: Li Guanlin , Fang Xingrong , Su Feng , Chen Yuan , Xu Li , Yan Yunjun
Published: November 2017

Rhizomucor miehei
lipase (RML), as a kind of eukaryotic protein catalyst, plays an important role in the food, organic chemical, and biofuel industries. However, RML retains its catalytic activity below 50°C, which limits its industrial applications at higher temperatures. Soluble expression of this eukaryotic protein in
Escherichia coli
not only helps to screen for thermostable mutants quickly but also provides the opportunity to develop rapid and effective ways to enhance the thermal stability of eukaryotic proteins. Therefore, in this study, RML was engineered using multiple computational design methods, followed by filtration via conservation analysis and functional region assessment. We successfully obtained a limited screening library (only 36 candidates) to validate thermostable single point mutants, among which 24 of the candidates showed higher thermostability and 13 point mutations resulted in an apparent melting temperature (

T

m

app

) of at least 1°C higher. Furthermore, both of the two disulfide bonds predicted from four rational-design algorithms were further introduced and found to stabilize RML. The most stable mutant, with T18K/T22I/E230I/S56C-N63C/V189C-D238C mutations, exhibited a 14.3°C-higher

T

m

app

and a 12.5-fold increase in half-life at 70°C. The catalytic efficiency of the engineered lipase was 39% higher than that of the wild type. The results demonstrate that rationally designed point mutations and disulfide bonds can effectively reduce the number of screened clones to enhance the thermostability of RML.

IMPORTANCE
R. miehei
lipase, whose structure is well established, can be widely applied in diverse chemical processes. Soluble expression of
R. miehei
lipase in
E. coli
provides an opportunity to explore efficient methods for enhancing eukaryotic protein thermostability. This study highlights a strategy that combines computational algorithms to predict single point mutations and disulfide bonds in RML without losing catalytic activity. Through this strategy, an RML variant with greatly enhanced thermostability was obtained. This study provides a competitive alternative for wild-type RML in practical applications and further a rapid and effective strategy for thermostability engineering.
Genome Sequences of Acholeplasma laidlawii Strains Differing in Sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Medvedeva Elena S. , Siniagina Maria N. , Malanin Sergey Y. , Boulygina Eugenia A. , Malygina Tatyana Y. , Baranova Natalia B. , Mouzykantov Alexey A. , Davydova Marina N. , Chernova Olga A. , Chernov Vladislav M.
Published: November 2017

Acholeplasma laidlawii
is a well-suited model for study of the molecular basis of the adaptation of mollicutes to environmental conditions. Here we present the whole-genome sequences of four strains of
A. laidlawii
with differential sensitivity to ciprofloxacin.
Draft Genome Sequences of the Black Rock Fungus
Knufia petricola
and Its Spontaneous Nonmelanized Mutant
Authors: Tesei Donatella , Tafer Hakim , Poyntner Caroline , Piñar Guadalupe , Lopandic Ksenija , Sterflinger Katja
Published: November 2017

The fungal genus
Knufia
mostly comprises extremotolerant species from environmental sources, especially rock surfaces. The draft genome sequence of the rock fungus
Knufia petricola
presented here is the first whole-genome sequence of the only species among black fungi known to have a nonmelanized spontaneous mutant.
A history of multiple concussions does not confer long-term impairments to dynamic cerebral autoregulation
Authors: Wright Alexander D , Smirl Jonathan D , Fraser Sarah K , Bryk Kelsey , Donkelaar Paul van
Published: November 2017

Objective

To examine the effects of concussion history on an index of cerebral autoregulation in a healthy athlete population.

Design

Retrospective Cohort.

Setting

Laboratory.

Participants

136 male contact sport athletes (19.1±1.4 years, 66 football, 70 hockey) were recruited; 39 presented with 0 previous concussions, 16 with 3+ previous concussions; exclusion criteria included history of concussion within 6 months.

Intervention

Participants completed baseline testing prior to the athletic season. Squat-stand manoeuvres at 0.05 and 0.10 Hz were used to enhance blood pressure (BP) variation. BP and cerebral blood velocity (CBV) in the middle cerebral artery were indexed non-invasively via finger photoplethysmography and transcranial Doppler ultrasound, respectively. Independent variables included sport (2) and concussion history (2).

Outcomes

Transfer function analysis point estimates at 0.05 and 0.10 Hz characterised the coherence (correlation), phase (synchronisation), and gain (amplitude buffer) between BP and CBV waveforms during the squat-stand manoeuvres.

Results

These findings suggest that, despite reductions in 0.10 Hz phase lead being reported acutely after concussion, multiple concussions do not appear to induce long-term impairments in dynamic cerebral autoregulation metrics. This is an important revelation as it indicates that the cerebrovasculature is able to adequately recover following the acutely diminished buffering capacity associated with a concussive injury

Conclusions

These findings suggest that, despite reductions in 0.10 Hz phase lead being reported acutely after concussion, multiple concussions do not appear to induce long-term impairments in dynamic cerebral autoregulation metrics. This is an important revelation as it indicates that the cerebrovasculature is able to adequately recover following the acutely diminished buffering capacity associated with a concussive injury

Competing interests

None.
Nurse-managed transitional beds as a method of increasing geographic placement of an academic inpatient service
Authors: Goodman Christopher W
Published: November 2017

Geographic placement of patients in hospitals has long been valued to bring together all healthcare members as a team focused on high-quality patient-centred care. This goal can be particularly challenging for physicians whose patients are often scattered across various hospital units. The inpatient medicine service for the Palmetto Health-University of South Carolina Internal Medicine Residency Program began attempting geographic placement when a model for team-based care was adopted in 2015, but despite various process improvements we found it very difficult to maintain a high census of our patients on the unit. We eventually came up with an innovative solution to the problem that incorporated the use of transition beds—beds dedicated for patients moving onto or out of the unit in order to make it easier for the unit to control patient flow. We saw an immediate increase in our average census from ~8 to ~15 patients as well as a major shift of the median admission time to 3.5 hours earlier in the day. Unfortunately, it was an added burden to our already stressed charge nurses, and when the pilot ended we were forced to end the use of the transition beds. Despite our challenges, we applied valuable lessons learnt that have helped us in other improvement projects, and overall we did successfully demonstrate that transition beds are a viable option for an inpatient medical unit to improve geographic placement of patients while optimising patient flow.
Improving the patient booking service to reduce the number of missed appointments at East London NHS Foundation Trust Community Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service
Authors: Tan Elizabeth , Shah Amar , De Souza Warren , Harrison Mark , Chettur Chris , Onathukattil Maimoona , Smart Michelle , Mata Marlon , Chitewe Auzewell , Binley Emma
Published: November 2017

The East London National Health Service Foundation Trust (ELFT) Community Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy Service had reported a high rate of non-attendance at scheduled appointments. This was leading to delayed access to treatment for patients and a reduced capacity for service users, as well as a waste of clinical resources. The aim of this quality improvement project was therefore to reduce the percentage of missed appointments within this department. This study was undertaken by the ELFT community MSK service, with support from the ELFT Quality Improvement team. To begin with, patient complaints were explored; these indicated that the main reason for missing appointments was due to issues with the patient booking service. Baseline data were initially collected for both new referrals and follow-up patients. The proposed changes were then introduced, which included text message reminders, first via a manual platform and then via an automated system. Ongoing data were recorded to note the effectiveness of these changes.Following the intervention, non-attendance of newly referred patients reduced by 43.35% (23.76%–13.46%) after both cycles. Non-attendance of follow-up patients reduced by 44.14% (23.74%–13.26%) after the second cycle alone. By listening to the opinions of service users, it was possible to improve the patient booking system and the flexibility of appointments. This resulted in a reduction in the percentage of appointments missed. These changes will continue to be monitored within this department to ensure sustainability but there is also now potential for similar interventions to be trialled in other health service departments.
Brains with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and copathology showed a prolonged end-stage of disease
Authors: Miguelez-Rodriguez Aitzol , Santos-Juanes Jorge , Vicente-Etxenausia Ikerne , Perez de Heredia-Goñi Katty , Garcia Beatriz , Quiros Luis M , Lorente-Gea Laura , Guerra-Merino Isabel , Aguirre Jose J , Fernandez-Vega Ivan
Published: November 2017

Aims

To investigate the expression of major proteins related to primary neurodegenerative diseases and their prognostic significance in brains with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

Materials and methods

Thirty consecutive cases of confirmed CJD during the period 2010–2015 at Basque Brain bank were retrospectively reviewed. Moreover, major neurodegenerative-associated proteins (phosphorylated Tau, 4R tau, 3R tau, alpha-synuclein, TDP43, amyloid beta) were tested. Clinical data were reviewed. Cases were divided according to the presence or absence of copathology. Survival curves were also determined.

Results

Copathology was significantly associated with survival in brains with CJD (4.2±1.2 vs 9.2±1.9; P=0.019) and in brains with MM1/MV1 CJD (2.1±1.0 vs 6.7±2.8; P=0.012). Besides, the presence of more than one major neurodegenerative-associated protein was significantly associated with survival (4.2±1.2 vs 10.7±2.6; P=0.017). Thus, univariate analyses further pointed out variables significantly associated with better survival: copathology in CJD (HR=0.430; P=0.033); more than one neurodegenerative-associated protein in CJD (HR=0.369; P=0.036) and copathology in MM1/MV1 CJD (HR=0.525; P=0.032).

Conclusion

The existence of copathology significantly prolongs survival in patients with rapidly progressive dementia due to CJD. The study of major neurodegenerative-associated proteins in brains with CJD could allow us to further understand the molecular mechanisms behind prion diseases.
United Nations Global Compact: an ‘Inroad’ into the UN and reputation boost for the tobacco industry
Authors: van der Eijk Yvette , McDaniel Patricia A , Glantz Stanton A , Bialous Stella A
Published: November 2017

Background

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a UN initiative to engage corporations in supporting the UN’s mission, sets out principles that companies should follow for more ethical business practices. Since its inception in 2000, at least 13 tobacco companies, subsidiaries and tobacco industry affiliates joined the UNGC. In a September 2017 integrity review, the UNGC Board excluded from UNGC participation companies who derive revenue from tobacco production or manufacturing.

Objective

To determine, from the tobacco industry’s perspective, tobacco companies’ motives for joining the UNGC.

Method

Tobacco industry documents search using the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library, and search of published reports and documents on the tobacco industry and the UNGC.

Results

Tobacco companies sought to join the UNGC for two reasons: (1) to improve their reputation, in keeping with other corporate social responsibility efforts; (2) to gain proximity to UN agencies and weaken the WHO’s influence, part of an overall strategy to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Conclusions

Excluding tobacco manufacturers from UNGC participation is an important step to limit the tobacco industry’s ability to influence the UN and promote its image and, by extension, its deadly products. It is important to monitor enforcement of this policy and resist the engagement of tobacco industry front groups, such as industry-funded foundations, with the UNGC.
Be a Voice of the Veterinary Profession
Authors: Rossi Nina
Published: November 2017

Nina Rossi, BVA Media Manager, announces the launch of the latest Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey.
BVA at the London Vet Show — a packed agenda awaits
Authors: Davies Zoe
Published: November 2017

With the London Vet Show taking place at ExCeL London on November 16 and 17, Zoe Davies, BVA Marketing Manager, selects some of this year's highlights
Striking the work‐life balance
Authors: Mansell Nicky
Published: November 2017

Nicky Mansell, Young Vet Network representative on BVA Council, shares her tips for maintaining a healthy work‐life balance.
Threshold speed for two-dimensional confinement of charged particles in certain axisymmetric magnetic fields
Authors: Kabin K. , Kalugin G. , Spanswick E. , Donovan E.
Published: November 2017

In this paper we discuss conditions under which charged particles are confined by an axisymmetric longitudinal magnetic field with power law dependence on the radius. We derive a transcendental equation for the critical speed corresponding to the threshold between bounded and unbounded trajectories of the particles. This threshold speed shows strong dependence on the direction, and this dependence becomes more prominent as the exponent of the power law increases. The equation for threshold speed can be solved exactly for several specific values of the power exponent, but in general it requires a numerical treatment. Remarkably, if the magnetic field magnitude decreases more slowly than the inverse of the radius, charged particles remain confined no matter how large their energies may be.
Quantum gravity as a multitrace matrix model
Authors: Ydri Badis , Soudani Cherine , Rouag Ahlam
Published: November 2017

We present a new model of quantum gravity as a theory of random geometries given explicitly in terms of a multitrace matrix model. This is a generalization of the usual discretized random surfaces of two-dimensional quantum gravity which works away from two dimensions and captures a large class of spaces admitting a finite spectral triple. These multitrace matrix models sustain emergent geometry as well as growing dimensions and topology change.
An Intermittent Generation–Recombination Process as a Possible Origin of 1/f Fluctuations in Semiconductor Materials
Authors: Grüneis Ferdinand
Published: November 2017

Inspired by the phenomenon of fluorescence intermittency in quantum dots and other materials, we introduce small off-states (intermissions) which interrupt the generation and recombination (= [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]) process in a semiconductor material. If the remaining on-states are power-law distributed, we find an almost pure 1/[Formula: see text] spectrum. Besides well-known [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] noise, we obtain two 1/[Formula: see text] noise components which can be attributed to the intermittent generation and recombination process. These components can be given the form of Hooge's relation with a Hooge coefficient [Formula: see text] describing the contribution of the generation and recombination process, respectively. Herein, the coefficients [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] describe impact of intermissions which in general are different for the generation and recombination process. The impact of [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] noise on 1/[Formula: see text] noise is comprised in the coefficient [Formula: see text] for the generation and [Formula: see text] for the recombination process. These coefficients are specified for an intrinsic and a slightly extrinsic semiconductor as well as for a semiconductor with traps; for the latter, the temperature dependence of 1/[Formula: see text] noise is also investigated. 1/[Formula: see text] noise is shown to be inversely related to the number of neutral and ionized [Formula: see text]-atoms rather than to the number of conduction electrons as defined in Hooge's relation. As a possible origin of 1/[Formula: see text] noise in semiconductors, electron–phonon scattering is suggested.
Chapter 6 Material properties and geohazards
Authors: Culshaw M. G. , Entwisle D. C. , Giles D. P. , Berry T. , Collings A. , Banks V. J. , Donnelly L. J.
Published: November 2017

In engineering terms, all materials deposited as a result of glacial and periglacial processes are transported soils. Many of these deposits have engineering characteristics that differ from those of water-lain sediments. In the UK, the most extensive glacial and periglacial deposits are tills. Previously, engineering geologists have classified them geotechnically as lodgement, melt-out, flow and deformation tills, or as variants of these. However, in this book tills have been reclassified as: subglacial traction till, glaciotectonite and supraglacial mass-flow diamicton/glaciogenic debris-flow deposits (see Chapter 4, Sections 4.1–4.3). Because this classification is new, it is not possible to relate geotechnical properties and characteristics to the subdivisions of the new classification. Consequently, the domain/stratigraphic classification, recently developed by the British Geological Survey and others, has been used and their geotechnical properties and characteristics are discussed on this basis. The geotechnical properties and characteristics of the other main glacial and periglacial deposits are also discussed. For some of these (e.g. glaciolacustrine deposits, quick clays and loess), geohazards relating to the lithology and/or fabric of the deposit are discussed along with their properties. Other geohazards that do not relate to lithology and/or fabric are discussed separately as either local or regional geohazards. In some cases (e.g. glaciofluvial sands and gravels), the geotechnical properties and behaviour are similar to sediments deposited under different climatic conditions; these deposits are therefore not discussed at length. Similarly, some of the local geohazards that are found associated with glacial and periglacial deposits relate to current climatic conditions and are not discussed here. Examples include landsliding and highly compressible organic soils (peats).
Chapter 8 Design and construction considerations
Authors: Winter M. G. , Troughton V. , Bayliss R. , Golightly C. , Spasic-Gril L. , Hobbs P. R. N. , Privett K. D.
Published: November 2017

Relict glacial and periglacial environments are widespread, and the deposits that they are associated with mean it is inevitable that the design and construction of many projects will be influenced by their presence and nature. Tills and other glaciogenic deposits prove to be particularly challenging in this context for reasons that include: the spatial variability of the nature of the deposits; the wide range of particle sizes often included within a given soil, including large-sized particles; spatial variation in soil type and properties; variation in depth to rockhead and variable degrees of weathering and alteration; the presence of groundwater, that is misinterpreted as perched water, as well as sub-artesian and artesian conditions; the presence of solution features and fissures, partly or completely infilled with soft or loose material; and the presence of (often shallow) shear surfaces at residual strength. In this chapter, some of the more common problems and associated solutions associated with earthworks and man-made slopes, tunnels and underground structures, dams and reservoirs, foundations, and offshore engineering and installations are reviewed. It is important that great care is taken in addressing the influences of variability, complexity and uncertainty inherent in glacial/periglacial soil formations at all stages of the construction process, from feasibility to end-of-project activities, such as preparation of the as-built drawings.
PCSK9 Inhibitors: Mechanisms of Action, Metabolic Effects, and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Hess Connie N. , Low Wang Cecilia C. , Hiatt William R.
Published: November 2017

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increased serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are an independent risk factor for ASCVD, and clinical trial data have shown that lowering LDL-C generally reduces cardiovascular risk. Until recently, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) have been the main therapy for lowering LDL-C. However, some statin-treated patients have persistently elevated residual cardiovascular risk due to inadequate lowering of LDL-C levels or non-LDL-related dyslipidemia. In addition, adverse effects of statins may limit their tolerability and therefore the ability to attain effective doses in some patients. A new class of drugs that inhibit proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been developed to treat hyperlipidemia. This review discusses the history and mechanism of action of PCSK9 inhibitors, their metabolic effects, and clinical outcomes associated with these medications, highlighting recent large cardiovascular outcome trials investigating these therapies.