bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilates pratimų poveikis sėdimą darbą dirbančių žmonių apatinės nugaros dalies funkcinei būklei ir skausmui
Authors: Margevičiūtė Rima , Norkienė Sigutė
Published: February 2016

Šiuolaikinis gyvenimo tempas, sumažėjęs fizinis aktyvumas, sėdimas darbas, netaisyklinga laikysena ir pan. turi įtakos nugaros skausmams atsirasti. Didelį poveikį skausmo mažinimui, jo profilaktikai ir prevencijai turi taisyklingos padėtys ir judesiai bei fiziniai pratimai. Priklausomai nuo apatinės nugaros dalies skausmo intensyvumo, jo kilmės, pacientui gali būti skiriami įvairūs fiziniai pratimai. Pilateso treniruočių metodas - viena iš fizinių pratimų sistemų, populiarėjanti tiek sveikatingumo, tiek reabilitacijos srityse, gydant apatinės nugaros dalies skausmus. Tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti pilateso pratimų poveikį sėdimą darbą dirbančių žmonių apatinės nugaros dalies funkcinei būklei ir skausmui. Tyrime dalyvavo 37 sėdimą darbą dirbantys žmonės, jaučiantys lėtinius apatinės nugaros dalies skausmus, atėję į pirmąją pilateso treniruotę. Taikyti anketinės apklausos, testavimo ir statistinės duomenų analizės metodai. Naudoti instrumentai: klausimynas, vizualinė analoginė skausmo skalė (VAS) ir liemens raumenų statinės ištvermės testai pagal McGill (2007). Atlikus tyrimą, rezultatai parodė, kad po pilateso programos taikymo tiriamųjų statinės liemens raumenų ištvermės rodikliai statistiškai reikšmingai pagerėjo. Apatinės nugaros dalies skausmo intensyvumas statistiškai reikšmingai sumažėjo nuo vidutinio iki silpnai jaučiamo. Skausmą mažino didėjanti statinės liemens raumenų ištvermės pusiausvyra.
Multidrug resistance gene 1 polymorphisms in pediatric patients with leukemia at a national referral hospital in Indonesia
Authors: Mutiara Rina , Agustinus Bernadius , Sitompul Christian Badia , Malik Amarila , Gatot Djajadiman , Suyatna Frans D.
Published: February 2016

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent cancer in the pediatric population. From 25% to 30% of patients with ALL will have a relapse that leads to death when they are teenagers. At Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, 40% of 126 pediatric patients with ALL relapsed from 2005 to 2011. A multiple variant of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) is C3435T, which can be used to understand the genetic basis of susceptibility to relapse.

Objectives

To identify the profile of MDR1 polymorphism in pediatric Indonesian patients with ALL.

Methods

We collected data from 44 patients with ALL who attended Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital between January and June 2014. We investigated a silent C3435T polymorphism in MDR1 exon 26 with polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism using MboI.

Results

There were 32 male and 12 female patient participants in this study. Eighteen patients were 1–3 years old and 26 were over 3 years. The mean age at 1–3 years was 2.4 ± 0.86, and over 3 years it was 6.3 ± 2.67 years. There were 27 patients with ALL in the standard risk group and 17 in the high risk group. We determined that the 25 samples from patients with ALL in the standard risk group were not digestible (allele T) and the 6 samples from patients with ALL in the high risk group were digestible (allele C).

Conclusions

The prevalence of the T allele was higher than that of the C allele in pediatric Indonesian patients with ALL.
Socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of blood glucose screening in Malaysia
Authors: Cheah Yong Kang , Lim Hock Kuang
Published: February 2016

Background

The increase in prevalence of diabetes is a serious public health issue. It is well-documented that use of blood glucose screening can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Objectives

To examine the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with use of blood glucose screening among Malaysian adults.

Methods

Nationally representative data from 2,415 survey respondents was used. The survey was a cross-sectional population-based study previously conducted by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. A logistic regression model was developed to estimate the likelihood of using blood glucose screening.

Results

Age, marital status, ethnicity, income, smoking, and body mass index were significantly associated with use of blood glucose screening. In particular, older individuals, married individuals, Malays, higher income earners, non-smokers, and being obese, overweight or of normal weight were correlated with a higher likelihood of using blood glucose screening.

Conclusions

It is important to acquire a better knowledge of the factors that can influence the decision of people to adopt preventive measures. Having better information regarding which groups of individuals use or do not use blood glucose screening can assist governments in developing appropriate intervention programs.
Competitividad entre joyerías y tiendas de bisutería fina legalmente constituidas, 2013
Authors: Rugama Díaz Arlen Sofía , Hernández Aguilar Dania , Laguna Blandón Jessica Del socorro , Castillo Herrera Beverly
Published: February 2016

Esta investigación analiza las acciones de competitividad implementadas por las joyerías y tiendas de bisutería fina durante el 2013, para proponer estrategias que mejoren la capacidad competitiva de ambos negocios. La hipótesis tiene como variable independiente, proceso administrativo y como variable dependiente, competitividad.Esta investigación es aplicada y cuantitativa; su universo de estudio son 17 joyerías y 19 tiendas de bisutería fina, para la obtención de la muestra se utilizó el muestreo probabilístico aleatorio simple, obteniendo 15 joyerías y 17 tiendas de bisutería fina. Se aplicaron encuestas y entrevistas semi estructuradas a propietarios de los negocios a fin de obtener información para soportar los resultados obtenidos en el desarrollo de esta investigación, se reforzó con investigación documental para tener un soporte teórico-conceptual, en el cual se identificaron tres ejes teóricos: Mercado, MIPYME y Competitividad.Se evaluaron características administrativas (administración, personal y rentabilidad), mercadológicas (ubicación, clientes, venta y publicidad), ventajas y desventajas de los negocios, obteniendo como resultado que las joyerías aplican en mayor porcentaje el proceso administrativo que las tiendas de bisutería fina y por lo tanto son más competitivas.A ambos negocios se brindan recomendaciones para mejorar su capacidad competitiva en el mercado.
Influencia económica de las fábricas de tabaco en el surgimiento de negocio
Authors: Gutiérrez Cruz Bertilda , Mejía Dávila Ludys Amparo , Lanuza Pastora Martha Irela , Castillo Herrera Beverly
Published: February 2016

Este estudio presenta la realidad del comercio formal e informal de la zona media del distrito III de la ciudad de Estelí y la manera que influyen las fábricas de tabaco en el surgimiento de estos. La investigación es de tipo aplicada y cuantitativa. El tipo de muestreo que se aplicó fue probabilístico, y se trabajó con la base de datos del registro de negocios formales de la Alcaldía Municipal de Estelí. Se aplicó una encuesta dirigida a los propietarios de negocios formales e informales, y se entrevistaron a algunos propietarios de negocios formales e informales y a trabajadores de las fábricas.Los negocios informales surgen y se consolidan como resultado de la carencia de oportunidades laborales, los comerciantes no miran su negocio como una empresa rentable, al contrario lo consideran como una forma de sobrevivencia. En la mayoría de los negocios formales e informales no llevan un registro de las transacciones comerciales, carecen de financiamiento y toman decisiones basándose en la intuición y experiencia de sus propietarios. A partir de estos resultados, se identificaron las principales fortalezas, oportunidades, debilidades y amenazas de éstos negocios, lo que permitió sugerir una estrategia que conduzca a una mayor rentabilidad.
Evaluación de la gestión de cobro de la empresa ECONORTE, en el departamento de Estelí
Authors: Benavides Velásquez María José
Published: February 2016

En esta investigación se determinan las malas prácticas utilizadas por los gestores de cobro de la empresa de cobros ECONORTE (Empresa de Cobros del Norte) que realizan su gestión de recuperación de cobreo en Estelí y sus municipios. El tipo de investigación que se realizó es descriptiva y analítica, con propuesta, se sustentó teóricamente en Beaugond, R. (1997), Carh, Pos. (2007), ttinger, R, P. (2000), Figueros, S (21 de Marzo- 2003), entre otros. Se aplicó un cuestionario de preguntas, dirigida tanto para el personal de la empresa como para los clientes que requieren del servicio que brinda la empresa. Los resultados evidencian que, según los gestores de cobro de Econorte las acciones y estrategias que siguen para la recuperación de la cuentas por cobrar de la empresa Disnorte son las correctas y se le esta dando el debido seguimiento a los clientes, además de estar en comunicación con los Distribuidores de Facturas para coordinar el cobro de las mismas.Según la encuesta realizada a los clientes lo anterior no es del todo efectivo ya que no se le está realizando la visita mensualmente por lo que al parecer la gestión no es la correcta.
Computation of the Coefficients of the Power law model for Whole Blood and Their Correlation with Blood Parameters
Authors: Elblbesy Mohamed A. , Hereba Abdelrahman T.
Published: February 2016

This study introduces a quantitative analysis of the coefficients of the power law model, which is used to describe the non-Newtonian behavior of blood. Twenty blood samples from healthy donors were used to measure the whole blood viscosity under different values of the shear rates, which are between 2.25 and 450.0 s-1. The shear rate viscosity curves were used to calculate n (flow index) and m (the consistency of the fluid) according to the power law model. Strong correlations (R2 > 0.5) between m and the hematocrit (HCT %), hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocytes count (RBC), mean corpuscle volume (MCV), and mean corpuscle hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were obtained. Strong correlations (R2 > 0.5) between n and the RBC, MCV, and MCHC were achieved. The relation obtained between the power law coefficients and the blood parameters in the present investigation provides new parameters that can be used to evaluate the flow state of blood besides blood viscosity. In addition, these parameters may be used to examine blood under pathological conditions, representing a new tool for the diagnosis of blood abnormal conditions.
Comparing the Effects of Four Instructional Treatments on EFL Students’ Achievement in Writing Classified Ads
Authors: Khodabandeh Farzaneh
Published: February 2016

The current study set out to compare the effect of traditional and non-traditional instructional treatments; i.e. explicit, implicit, task-based and no-instruction approaches on students’ abilities to learn how to write classified ads. 72 junior students who have all taken a course in Reading Journalistic Texts at the Payame-Noor University streamed by performing a TOEFL proficiency test. The selected participants were randomly divided into the following four groups; an explicit group which received direct instruction; an implicit group which were instructed indirectly, and the self-study group with no-instruction treatment in comparison to the task-based group which were asked to prepare a classified ad. A pre-test and a post-test were administered before and after the treatment. The moves in classified ads pre- and post- tests were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The quantitative analysis of the post-tests revealed that the explicit and task-based groups outperformed the implicit and self-study instruction groups. The findings of this research offer English teachers the chance to reconsider their practices and performances through the advantages and disadvantages of the traditional and new techniques which were employed in the current research and combine them to help learners improve their reading and writing skills.
La biblioteca de Martín Sarmiento. Distinguir para unir
Authors: Varela Orol Concha , Ameneiros Rodríguez Rocío
Published: February 2016

Se estudia el catálogo de los libros de la biblioteca de Martín Sarmiento redactado por el propio autor, especialmente la ordenación temática del mismo y la disposición de los libros dentro de cada materia, relacionándolas también con otros sistemas de clasificación propuestos por él. Finalmente se ofrece una visión global de la composición de la biblioteca de acuerdo a las cinco grandes clases en que se dividía la ciencia en el siglo XVIII. Se concluye que ordenación de los libros y composición de la biblioteca son significativas del propio autor, de sus preocupaciones por el método y las novedades científicas, y de la fragmentación de la ciencia que caracteriza al siglo XVIII.
Aurkb/PP1-mediated resetting of Oct4 during the cell cycle determines the identity of embryonic stem cells
Authors: Shin Jihoon , Kim Tae Wan , Kim Hyunsoo , Kim Hye Ji , Suh Min Young , Lee Sangho , Lee Han-Teo , Kwak Sojung , Lee Sang-Eun , Lee Jong-Hyuk , Jang Hyonchol , Cho Eun-Jung , Youn Hong-Duk
Published: February 2016

Pluripotency transcription programs by core transcription factors (CTFs) might be reset during M/G1 transition to maintain the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, little is known about how CTFs are governed during cell cycle progression. Here, we demonstrate that the regulation of Oct4 by Aurora kinase b (Aurkb)/protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) during the cell cycle is important for resetting Oct4 to pluripotency and cell cycle genes in determining the identity of ESCs. Aurkb phosphorylates Oct4(S229) during G2/M phase, leading to the dissociation of Oct4 from chromatin, whereas PP1 binds Oct4 and dephosphorylates Oct4(S229) during M/G1 transition, which resets Oct4-driven transcription for pluripotency and the cell cycle. Aurkb phosphor-mimetic and PP1 binding-deficient mutations in Oct4 alter the cell cycle, effect the loss of pluripotency in ESCs, and decrease the efficiency of somatic cell reprogramming. Our findings provide evidence that the cell cycle is linked directly to pluripotency programs in ESCs.
Characterizing a psychiatric symptom dimension related to deficits in goal-directed control
Authors: Gillan Claire M , Kosinski Michal , Whelan Robert , Phelps Elizabeth A , Daw Nathaniel D
Published: February 2016

Prominent theories suggest that compulsive behaviors, characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction, are driven by shared deficits in goal-directed control, which confers vulnerability for developing rigid habits. However, recent studies have shown that deficient goal-directed control accompanies several disorders, including those without an obvious compulsive element. Reasoning that this lack of clinical specificity might reflect broader issues with psychiatric diagnostic categories, we investigated whether a dimensional approach would better delineate the clinical manifestations of goal-directed deficits. Using large-scale online assessment of psychiatric symptoms and neurocognitive performance in two independent general-population samples, we found that deficits in goal-directed control were most strongly associated with a symptom dimension comprising compulsive behavior and intrusive thought. This association was highly specific when compared to other non-compulsive aspects of psychopathology. These data showcase a powerful new methodology and highlight the potential of a dimensional, biologically-grounded approach to psychiatry research.
Nucleocapsid assembly in pneumoviruses is regulated by conformational switching of the N protein
Authors: Renner Max , Bertinelli Mattia , Leyrat Cédric , Paesen Guido C , Saraiva de Oliveira Laura Freitas , Huiskonen Juha T , Grimes Jonathan M
Published: February 2016

Non-segmented, (-)RNA viruses cause serious human diseases. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), an emerging pathogen of this order of viruses (Mononegavirales) is one of the main causes of respiratory tract illness in children. To help elucidate the assembly mechanism of the nucleocapsid (the viral RNA genome packaged by the nucleoprotein N) we present crystallographic structures of HMPV N in its assembled RNA-bound state and in a monomeric state, bound to the polymerase cofactor P. Our structures reveal molecular details of how P inhibits the self-assembly of N and how N transitions between the RNA-free and RNA-bound conformational state. Notably, we observe a role for the C-terminal extension of N in directly preventing premature uptake of RNA by folding into the RNA-binding cleft. Our structures suggest a common mechanism of how the growth of the nucleocapsid is orchestrated, and highlight an interaction site representing an important target for antivirals.
A synergy-based hand control is encoded in human motor cortical areas
Authors: Leo Andrea , Handjaras Giacomo , Bianchi Matteo , Marino Hamal , Gabiccini Marco , Guidi Andrea , Scilingo Enzo Pasquale , Pietrini Pietro , Bicchi Antonio , Santello Marco , Ricciardi Emiliano
Published: February 2016

How the human brain controls hand movements to carry out different tasks is still debated. The concept of synergy has been proposed to indicate functional modules that may simplify the control of hand postures by simultaneously recruiting sets of muscles and joints. However, whether and to what extent synergic hand postures are encoded as such at a cortical level remains unknown. Here, we combined kinematic, electromyography, and brain activity measures obtained by functional magnetic resonance imaging while subjects performed a variety of movements towards virtual objects. Hand postural information, encoded through kinematic synergies, were represented in cortical areas devoted to hand motor control and successfully discriminated individual grasping movements, significantly outperforming alternative somatotopic or muscle-based models. Importantly, hand postural synergies were predicted by neural activation patterns within primary motor cortex. These findings support a novel cortical organization for hand movement control and open potential applications for brain-computer interfaces and neuroprostheses.
Influence of electric field on electronic states of graphene nanoribbons under a FET structure
Authors: Yamanaka Ayaka , Okada Susumu
Published: February 2016

We study the electronic properties of graphene nanoribbons with zigzag and armchair edges under a parallel electric field generated by two planar electrodes with a potential barrier simulating an insulating layer of electrodes in a FET structure using density functional theory combined with an effective screening medium method. Our calculations show that the nearly free electron (NFE) states strongly depend on the mutual arrangements of graphene nanoribbons with respect to the electric field. In contrast, the electronic energy bands associated with the π electrons are insensitive to the relative direction of the ribbon with respect to the external electric field. We also observe that the electric field concentration around the edges leads to the orientation dependence of the NFE states on the field.
Carrier transport property of truxene discotic liquid crystals with three different ring substituents
Authors: Monobe Hirosato , Ni Hai-Liang , Hu Ping , Wang Bi-Qin , Zhao Ke-Qing , Shimizu Yo
Published: February 2016

In this study, the charge carrier transport property of 3,8,13-trioctyloxytruxene [Trx(OC8)3] and its analogues, to which two different ring substituents of hydroxyl [Trx(OH)3(OC8)3] and methoxy [Trx(OMe)3(OC8)3] groups are introduced, has been studied relative to mesomorphism. Three analogues exhibit a hexagonal columnar (Colh) mesophase and their thermal stability increases with the introduction of hydroxyl and methoxy groups. The drift mobility measurements of Trx(OC8)3 and Trx(OH)3(OC8)3 reveal that the drift mobility is on the order of 5 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 in the Colh phase and it increases to 10−1 cm2 V−1 s−1 at the Colh-metastable phase transition, although Trx(OMe)3(OC8)3 shows a drift mobility of 1 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 in the Colh phase with temperature dependence. These results indicate that truxene with three alkoxy chains is an interesting molecular core for mesophase semiconductors.
Micro cell isolation column for allergic diagnosis
Authors: Kobayashi Koichiro , Sakamoto Kenji , Yanase Yuhki , Hide Michihiro , Miyake Ryo
Published: February 2016

We suggest a new micro cell isolation column of basophils for an allergic diagnostic system for detecting human basophils activations. Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) biosensors using human basophils allow allergic diagnosis of less than 1 ml of peripheral blood. However, an isolation of basophils from a small amount of blood is not easy. In this study, we constructed a new micro cell isolation column for basophils with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microflow pass including magnetic particles. Furthermore, we determined whether leukocytes were captured by the micro cell isolation column from a small amount of blood. We can isolate basophils from other leukocytes by using the micro cell isolation column.
Theoretical study on application of peptide nanoring to chiral recognition of amino acid
Authors: Takeuchi Jo , Takeda Kyozaburo
Published: February 2016

Chiral recognition of a guest amino acid by a host peptide nanoring (PNR) is studied by ab initio calculations. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds (HBs) between the present host and the guest force the guest amino acid to land into the host PNR, and also the side chain of the host PNR to hold the guest amino acid. Thus, the host PNR captures the guest amino acid and gives a distinct energy difference in accordance with the chirality of the captured guest d/l-SerH+. The calculated energy difference of 18 kJ/mol in Gibbs free energy is comparable to that by the host crown ether, by which Moreno et al. have succeeded in experimentally recognizing the chirality of the guest d/l-SerH+ [J. R. A. Moreno, M. M. Q. Moreno, J. J. L. González, and B. M. Haya, J. Phys. Chem. B 117, 9362 (2013)]. The PNRs could be unique biomolecular materials from the perspective that the chirality of an “amino acid” is recognized by the PNR consisting of “amino acid” residues.
THE PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS ON AESTHETIC AND USES OF THE ACTIVE URBAN PARKS IN SURABAYA
Authors: Timoticin KWANDA , Lukito KARTONO , Christine WONOSEPUTRO
Published: February 2016

Urban open space namely urban parks in Surabaya are a recent phenomenon that advocated by the recent mayor to provide outdoor recreation for physical welfare of the people. So far, however, no information was found regarding perception of the people on condition of the urban parks, which is a first step to improve the urban parks. The objective of this paper is to examine the perception of the people toward the urban parks in Surabaya, in specific to what extend the provision of the parks meet the needs of the visitors. Five urban parks were surveyed, and data were collected through observation, documentation, and distribution of questionnaires that conducted in April 2014. As a result, based upon the surveys, most of the visitors (78%) perceived the 5 parks are good places to be visited that perceived as clean (74%), save (76%), gorgeous (78%), and adequate availability of amenities (66%). In this sense, this good perception of the parks is a result of emphatic actions in designing the parks that emphasis on the needs of visitors. Nevertheless, in the future, many of the visitors (54%) hope that the amenities in the parks have to be improved.
Oceanic Remote Sensing
Authors: Emery William J.
Published: February 2016

Satellite remote sensing of the ocean has grown from sensing sea surface temperature (SST) with weather satellite imagery to using satellite altimeters to specifically observe ocean geostrophic currents, wind speed, and significant wave height. In addition, sensors such as the radar scatterometer are uniquely able to map ocean surface winds in speed and direction. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) also provides detailed wind fields and surface wave fields. At the same time, the observation of SST has matured to the point where now infrared and passive microwave data are being merged to provide a better global view of SST. In addition, new infrared sensors on geostationary satellites are providing much improved temporal coverage of SST.
Subwavelength Plasmonic Two‐Conductor Waveguides
Authors: Mahigir Amirreza , Dastmalchi Pouya , Veronis Georgios , Shin Wonseok , Catrysse Peter B. , Brongersma Mark L. , Fan Shanhui , Cai Wenshan
Published: February 2016

This article reviews advances in the development of subwavelength plasmonic two‐conductor waveguides. First, the properties of two‐dimensional (2D) plasmonic two‐conductor waveguides, which are commonly referred to as metal–dielectric–metal (MDM) waveguides, are discussed. This is followed by a review of the properties of three‐dimensional (3D) plasmonic two‐conductor waveguides, such as plasmonic slot waveguides and plasmonic coaxial waveguides. Following the discussion of plasmonic two‐conductor waveguiding geometries, the properties of components based on these waveguides are reviewed. More specifically, we focus on bends and splitters that are essential components of optical integrated circuits. The properties of such bends and splitters in 2D and 3D plasmonic two‐conductor waveguides are discussed. Finally, the fabrication and optical characterization methods for 2D and 3D plasmonic two‐conductor waveguides are presented.
Magnonic Crystals
Authors: Gruszecki Pawel , Krawczyk Maciej
Published: February 2016

Magnonic crystals can be regarded as the magnetic counterpart of photonic crystals, with spin waves acting as information carriers. Thus, magnonic crystals are magnetic materials with periodic distribution of the constituents or periodic modulation of some magnetic parameters (e.g., saturation magnetization or magnetocrystalline anisotropy), or other parameters relevant to the propagation of spin waves (e.g., external magnetic field, film thickness, stress, or a surrounding of the homogeneous ferromagnetic film). The spin waves propagating in magnonic crystal have a form of Bloch waves, and the dispersion relation includes frequency bands allowing spin wave propagation and frequency band gaps, forbidden for spin wave propagation. By adjusting relevant parameters of the magnonic crystal or external fields, the spectrum of spin waves can be tuned and the flow of spin waves can be tailored in the way unavailable with homogeneous media. The new physical effects occurring in magnetic nanostructures with periodic pattern and prospective applications of magnonic crystals, especially in integrated microwave devices and for processing information at microwave frequencies, drive the new fields of magnonics and magnon spintronics.
Electromyographic (EMG) Decomposition
Authors: Marateb Hamid Reza , McGill Kevin C.
Published: February 2016

An electromyographic (EMG) signal is a biomedical signal derived from measuring electrical potentials generated in contracting muscles. EMG signals can be recorded using either intramuscular (iEMG) or surface electrodes (sEMG). EMG signals are composed of motor unit action potential (MUAP) trains, the MUAP being the signal detected in response to the discharge of a group of muscle fibers innervated by a single motoneuron. The process of extracting the MUAP trains from an EMG signal is referred to as EMG decomposition. EMG decomposition makes it possible to study the behavior of individual motoneurons and thus to decode the neural drive to a muscle at a very precise level. This article reviews the different electrodes used to record iEMG and sEMG signals, the main steps in pattern‐matching decomposition algorithms (filtering, segmentation, clustering, classification, and resolving superpositions), the blind‐source separation techniques used for decomposing high‐density sEMG signals, the principal decomposition programs that have been described in the literature, including those that are publicly available, and approaches for assessing the accuracy of decomposition algorithms and particular decomposition results. Finally, an interactive tutorial on iEMG decomposition is provided.
Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques
Authors: Balato Marco , Costanzo Luigi , Vitelli Massimo
Published: February 2016

An essential objective for many photovoltaic (PV) applications is represented by the so‐called maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Under uniform irradiance and ambient temperature conditions, the power versus voltage characteristic of a PV array is characterized by the presence of a unique point, termed maximum power point (MPP), where the power provided by the array itself attains its maximum value. Any other operating point leads to the extraction of a smaller PV energy. Therefore, in order to avoid the waste of PV energy, the working of the array in its MPP is mandatory. Since the position of the MPP continuously changes in time as a function of irradiance and temperature, it is necessary to continuously track it. Such an objective can be obtained by using proper MPPT control techniques.

A large number of papers have appeared in the scientific literature during the last 15 years on the issue of MPPT, and as a result it may be difficult to decide the best technique for a given application. Therefore, this survey may hopefully be beneficial to students, researchers, and practitioners in PV systems. The article overviews the representative PV MPPT algorithms, organized into four main groups. The first group contains the so‐called “hill climbing” techniques, the second group contains the “curve fitting” techniques, the third group contains the “dynamical” techniques, and the fourth group includes all the techniques that do not belong to the first three groups.
High‐Speed Optical Communications Using Advanced Modulation Formats
Authors: Kawanishi Tetsuya
Published: February 2016

Conventional optical transmission systems use simple modulation techniques, while radio‐wave wireless systems rely on advanced modulation formats to increase spectral efficiency. However, state‐of‐the‐art optical modulation techniques can provide precise and high‐speed control of lightwave for advanced modulation formats, so the difference in modulation formats becomes small enough to use optical modulation techniques for radio‐wave communications. This article reviews high‐speed optical communication systems and focusing on optical modulation and demodulation technologies. Recently developed vector modulation techniques, which can control amplitude, phase, and frequency comprehensively, are discussed. In addition, high‐performance digital signal processing and narrow‐linewidth lasers, enabling recovery of optical phase under fluctuation of lasers or fibers, are also presented.
Thermodynamic Properties of Polymers
Authors: Pyda Marek , Czerniecka‐Kubicka Anna
Published: February 2016

The thermodynamic properties of polymers are presented as an important part of physical chemistry characterization of material science. Polymers were characterized by macroscopic descriptions of energetics and some thermodynamic quantities that were interpreted at the microscopic (molecular) level through statistical thermodynamics. The thermodynamic characteristics of macromolecules, such as apparent, experimental heat capacity

C
p

, integral thermodynamic functions (enthalpy
H
, entropy
S
, Gibbs function
G
), and parameters phase transitions of amorphous and semicrystalline polymers, were presented and analyzed in reference to equilibrium thermodynamic data. The equilibrium, solid and liquid heat capacity of linear macromolecules, were linked with their molecular motions in the entire temperature range and used for advanced thermal analysis of experimental data. Glass transitions of mobile and rigid amorphous phases and melting process of crystalline phase of one‐ and multicomponent system of polymers were discussed.

The pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) diagrams of linear macromolecules were provided to present other important thermodynamic function, as well as to describe different states of polymers and the thermodynamic properties.

The instrumentation for thermal properties was covered mainly by calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and dilatometry. Calorimetry in low temperature is categorized into adiabatic calorimetry, or quantum design Physical Property Measurement System, which covers a similar range of temperature between 1.9 and 400 K in higher temperatures by differential scanning calorimetry, standard temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry, quasi‐isothermal temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry, and fast scanning calorimetry.
Phase Transformation
Authors: Binder Kurt , Müller Marcus
Published: February 2016

This article briefly summarizes some key theoretical concepts about phase transformations, discusses the extent, to which they differ from related phenomena in other materials, and mentions a few typical experiments to introduce the main techniques used to study such phase transitions. Phase transformations of polymeric materials, such as unmixing of polymer solutions or polymer blends, or the self‐assembly of copolymer materials into spatially modulated structures are very common phenomena and have important applications.

This article focuses on the bulk thermodynamics, phase behavior and critical phenomena, interface and surface properties, and basic principles of structure formation (spinodal demixing and nucleation) in fluid polymer systems. Polymers in the solid state, that is, glassy or semicrystalline systems, rarely reach full thermal equilibrium and properties are history dependent. Such out‐of‐equilibrium aspects are beyond the scope of the present article, which rather emphasizes general aspects of the statistical thermodynamics of phase transitions and their applications to polymers in fluid phases.
Direct observation of a 91 bp LacI‐mediated, negatively supercoiled DNA loop by atomic force microscope
Authors: Fulcrand Geraldine , Chapagain Prem , Dunlap David , Leng Fenfei
Published: February 2016

Escherichia coli lactose repressor (LacI), a tetrameric protein, is a paradigmatic transcriptional factor that controls the expression of lacZYA in the lac operon. It specifically binds to the O1, O2, and O3 operators of the lac promoter, forms DNA loops, and regulates transcription of the lac operon. In this article, utilizing combined techniques of DNA‐nicking assay and AFM imaging, we directly observed a 91 bp LacI‐mediated, negatively supercoiled DNA loop mimicking the DNA loop between the O1 and O3 operators in the lac promoter.
Diet change and food loss reduction: What is their combined impact on global water use and scarcity?
Authors: Jalava Mika , Guillaume Joseph H. A. , Kummu Matti , Porkka Miina , Siebert Stefan , Varis Olli
Published: February 2016

There is a pressing need to improve food security and reduce environmental impacts of agricultural production globally. Two of the proposed measures are diet change from animal‐based to plant‐based foodstuffs and reduction of food losses and waste. These two measures are linked, as diet change affects production and consumption of foodstuffs and consequently loss processes through their different water footprints and loss percentages. This paper takes this link into account for the first time and provides an assessment of the combined potential contribution of diet change and food loss reduction for reducing water footprints and water scarcity. We apply scenarios in which we change diets to follow basic dietary recommendations, limit animal‐based protein intake to 25% of total protein intake, and halve food losses to study single and combined effects of diet change and loss reduction. Dietary recommendations alone would achieve 6% and 7% reductions of blue and green water consumption, respectively, while changing diets to contain less animal products would result in savings of 11% and 18%, respectively. Halving food loss would alone achieve 12% reductions for both blue and green water. Combining the measures would reduce water consumption by 23% and 28%, respectively, lowering water scarcity in areas with a population of over 600 million. At a global scale, effects of diet change and loss reduction were synergistic with loss reductions being more effective under changed diet. This demonstrates the importance of considering the link between diet change and loss reduction in assessments of food security and resource use.
The flow at the Earth's core‐mantle boundary under weak prior constraints
Authors: Baerenzung Julien , Holschneider Matthias , Lesur Vincent
Published: February 2016

Prior information in ill‐posed inverse problem is of critical importance because it is conditioning the posterior solution and its associated variability. The problem of determining the flow evolving at the Earth's core‐mantle boundary through magnetic field models derived from satellite or observatory data is no exception to the rule. This study aims to estimate what information can be extracted on the velocity field at the core‐mantle boundary, when the frozen flux equation is inverted under very weakly informative, but realistic, prior constraints. Instead of imposing a converging spectrum to the flow, we simply assume that its poloidal and toroidal energy spectra are characterized by power laws. The parameters of the spectra, namely, their magnitudes, and slopes are unknown. The connection between the velocity field, its spectra parameters, and the magnetic field model is established through the Bayesian formulation of the problem. Working in two steps, we determined the time‐averaged spectra of the flow within the 2001–2009.5 period, as well as the flow itself and its associated uncertainties in 2005.0. According to the spectra we obtained, we can conclude that the large‐scale approximation of the velocity field is not an appropriate assumption within the time window we considered. For the flow itself, we show that although it is dominated by its equatorial symmetric component, it is very unlikely to be perfectly symmetric. We also demonstrate that its geostrophic state is questioned in different locations of the outer core.
Electron distribution functions in the diffusion region of asymmetric magnetic reconnection
Authors: Bessho N. , Chen L.‐J. , Hesse M.
Published: February 2016

We study electron distribution functions in a diffusion region of antiparallel asymmetric reconnection by means of particle‐in‐cell simulations and analytical theory. At the electron stagnation point, the electron distribution comprises a crescent‐shaped population and a core component. The crescent‐shaped distribution is due to electrons coming from the magnetosheath toward the stagnation point and accelerated mainly by electric field normal to the current sheet. Only a part of magnetosheath electrons can reach the stagnation point and form the crescent‐shaped distribution that has a boundary of a parabolic curve. The penetration length of magnetosheath electrons into the magnetosphere is derived. We expect that satellite observations can detect crescent‐shaped electron distributions during magnetopause reconnection.
B
ayesian Inference
Authors: Lee Peter M.
Published: February 2016

An account of the main ideas of Bayesian statistics in which a set of prior beliefs is modified in accordance with the likelihood provided by observed data to arrive at posterior beliefs is discussed.
Metadata
Authors: Grossmann Wilfried
Published: February 2016

Metadata inform about the meaning of data, the statistical methods used in the production of data, and about the details for accessing the data. In official statistics, metadata modeling has a long tradition in connection with data management. Other areas of computational statistics use metadata more implicitly. Three aspects of metadata are discussed: the role of metadata in managing statistical data, the usage of metadata in statistical analysis, and how metadata support the management of processes inside an organization. Statistical data resemble the data structures of a data warehouse, but a number of peculiarities require an extension of the metadata models used in data warehouses. The extension starts from statistical analysis objects defined by the underlying population, the variables and value domains used for measuring the properties of the population units, and the datasets formed by the variables. For the analysis objects, corresponding metadata objects are defined. A statistical analysis is understood as a sequence of transformations of the analysis objects at the data level as well as the metadata level. For management of statistical processes inside an organization, one has to consider the entire data processing chain of various interrelated statistical projects. This is supported by the application of ideas from business process modeling for statistics and the design of a corporate statistical data warehouse with a common metadata repository.
Clustering
Authors: Cuzick Jack
Published: February 2016

Clustering problems arise in a number of epidemiological applications, and the temporal and spatial patterns of disease incidence have been a major stimulus for the development of this subject. Evaluating apparent “clusters” of disease in small communities has led to the development of a number of tests for spatial clustering. The study of unexpected outbreaks of disease has led to tests of temporal clustering and also of space–time clustering where closeness both temporally and geographically is required.
Sensitivity Analysis: Introduction
Authors: Goldsmith Charles H.
Published: February 2016

Sensitivity analysis is a reassessment of the model components used for data summary that attempts to detect whether changing any of their assumptions leads to different interpretations of the outcome. Sensitivity analysis can be carried out simply by varying input values to assess whether a different interpretation of the response emerges, or more elaborate ideas from Monte Carlo analysis and factorial experiments can also be used. Sensitivity analyses have been used recently for meta‐analysis. Other techniques such as graphical displays and comparison of alternative model formulations are also briefly mentioned.
BSEandvCJD
Authors: Bird Sheila M.
Published: February 2016

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) constitute a group of uniformly fatal neurological degenerative diseases with the abnormal isoform of the cellular prion protein present. They include Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (CJD) and kuru, among others, and now also a new variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD, formerly nvCJD) in humans, scrapie in sheep, and “mad cow disease” or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. An initial 10‐year history introduces salient biostatistical issues in BSE and vCJD. Thereafter, an account is given of surveillance in the twenty‐first century for subclinical TSEs and of UK's at‐vCJD‐risk networks.
Genetic Epidemiology
Authors: Spence M. Anne , Vieland Veronica J.
Published: February 2016

Genetic epidemiology is the branch of human genetics concerned with the etiology of inherited diseases, with their distributions in populations, and with the discovery of medically relevant genotype–phenotype relationships. In its modern form, the field dates back to the 1960s, when advances in both recombinant DNA technologies and high performance computing gave rise to a renaissance in genetic epidemiologic methods development and application. More recently, the completion of the sequencing of the human genome in 2003 heralded the beginning of a new chapter in human genetics, which has led to an energetic embrace of utilizing sequence data for gene discovery and precision medicine. However, the sheer quantity of sequence variation that each individual carries makes it challenging to distinguish which among a plethora of variants are involved in causing any particular phenotype. For this reason, there is a resurgence of interest in some of the classical methods of genetic epidemiology, especially methods involving the use of family data. In order to fully understand these methods, their limitations, and assumptions, it is helpful to review their development in historical context. We briefly review this history here.
Software Packages for Data Mining
Authors: Haughton Dominique
Published: February 2016

The term
data mining
, AKA
Analytics
,
Data Science
or “
Big Data
” refers to the identification – within a typically large database – of new, valid, and interesting patterns. While data mining is very popular in the context of, for example, database and web marketing, most of the methods under the data mining umbrella have been widely applied in biostatistics. We describe which main applications of data mining have arisen in biostatistics, and introduce the reader to some of the available data mining software packages with a reference to biostatistical needs.
Occupational Mortality, Background on
Authors: Lynge Elsebeth
Published: February 2016

The study of occupational mortality involves the systematic tabulation of mortality by occupational or socioeconomic groups. Three main methods are used to conduct these studies: cross‐sectional studies, death certificate studies, and follow‐up studies. Cross‐sectional studies were undertaken in England and Wales from 1851 to 1979–1983, and these studies have provided key data on social inequalities in health. Death certificate studies have been used for identification of occupational groups with high excess risks from specific diseases. Follow‐up studies require linkage of individual records, typically from censuses and death certificates. They have been undertaken in, for example, all the Nordic countries. The follow‐up studies have shown a high mortality for all marginal groups of the labor market, a social gradient in overall mortality, low mortality among farmers, and a widening gap between the mortality rates of blue‐ and white‐collar workers.
Change/Percent Change From Baseline
Authors: Vickers Andrew J.
Published: February 2016

Many clinical trials involve baseline and follow‐up assessment of a continuous outcome, such as pain, depression, or blood pressure. Different methods are available to analyze the results of such trials, which include between‐group two‐sample comparisons of the follow‐up measure, change score or percentage change, and linear regression of treatment on the follow‐up measure with the baseline measure as a covariate [analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. Each method provides a statistic that may have greater or less clinical applicability, depending on the particular trial involved. ANCOVA has greatest statistical power irrespective of the correlation between baseline and follow‐up measure, the nature of the treatment effect (shift or ratio), whether the control group also experiences change, and the distribution of the follow‐up measure. ANCOVA has additional advantages including control for chance baseline differences and incorporation of randomization strata as covariates. If trials results are best expressed in terms other than ANCOVA, such as a percentage change, then the preferred approach is to analyze the trial using ANCOVA and then convert the results into statistics that can be readily understood by clinicians.
Genomic Clinical Trials
Authors: Simon Richard
Published: February 2016

Genomics is important for the study of many human diseases. Inherited polymorphisms can be directly causative of disease, increase the risk of disease, and alter the prognosis of patients with the disease. Genomics can also play a major role in identifying molecular targets for therapeutic development. Cancer is a disease of
DNA
alterations, both inherited and somatic. The identification of alterations, which are causative of oncogenesis or contribute to tumor invasion and progression, plays a fundamental role in the development of new treatments for cancer. The finding of genomic heterogeneity in traditionally defined diagnostic categories is driving therapeutic development and deployment of new clinical trial designs in oncology. We describe here some of these new designs and some of the important changes taking place in clinical trial paradigms in order to keep clinical trials in tune with modern disease biology.