bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DRB3*03:01:07 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Ralazamahaleo Mamy , Andreani Marco , Galluccio Tiziana , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Visentin Jonathan
Published: February 2019

HLA‐DRB3*03:01:07 differs from HLA‐DRB3*03:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at codon 203 in exon 4.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DQA1*05:14 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Cargou Marine , Andreani Marco , Troiano Maria , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Visentin Jonathan
Published: February 2019

HLA‐DQA1*05:14 differs from HLA‐DQA1*05:05:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at codon 90 in exon 3.
Improving student outcomes in high‐enrollment statistics classes with the structured writing approach
Authors: Batova Tatiana , Ruediger Stefan
Published: February 2019

The article describes an assignment that makes writing‐to‐learn feasible in high‐enrollment statistics classes. It combines the principles of structured writing with Bloom's taxonomy. The assignment helped improve related exam scores and was easy to implement and grade for instructors.
The Plausible Impact of Phenomenology on Gödel's Thoughts
Authors: Livadas Stathis
Published: February 2019

It is well known that in his later years Gödel turned to a systematic reading of phenomenology, whose founder, Edmund Husserl, was highly esteem as a philosopher who sought to elevate philosophy to the standards of a rigorous science. For reasons purportedly related to his earlier attraction to Leibnizian monadology, Gödel was particularly interested in Husserl's transcendental phenomenology and the way it may shape the discussion on the nature of mathematical‐logical objects and the meaning and internal coherence of primitive terms in mathematics. This article, which is less interested in historical facts that are amply presented in other scholars’ accounts, rather tries to point to the mostly indirect influence that the ideas of transcendental phenomenology, including Gödel's reported reference to the notion of (inner) time, had on his philosophy of mathematics, especially with a view to key independent questions of mathematical foundations. A main source for Gödel's philosophical‐epistemological views (of course in addition to his own published material) will be his recorded discussions with H. Wang and S. Toledo, as well as various articles and drafts found in hisNachlass.
Hetero‐oligomeric CPN60 resembles highly symmetric group‐I chaperonin structure revealed by Cryo‐EM
Authors: Zhao Qian , Zhang Xiang , Sommer Frederik , Ta Na , Wang Ning , Schroda Michael , Cong Yao , Liu Cuimin
Published: February 2019

The chloroplast chaperonin system is indispensable for the biogenesis of Rubisco, the key enzyme in photosynthesis. Using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model system, we found that in vivo the chloroplast chaperonin consists of CPN60α, CPN60β1 and CPN60β2 and the co‐chaperonin of the three subunits CPN20, CPN11 and CPN23. In Escherichia coli, CPN20 homo‐oligomers and all possible other chloroplast co‐chaperonin hetero‐oligomers are functional, but only that consisting of CPN11/20/23‐CPN60αβ1β2 can fully replace GroES/GroEL under stringent stress conditions. Endogenous CPN60 was purified and its stoichiometry was determined to be 6:2:6 for CPN60α:CPN60β1:CPN60β2. The cryo‐EM structures of endogenous CPN60αβ1β2/ADP and CPN60αβ1β2/co‐chaperonin/ADP were solved at resolutions of 4.06 and 3.82 Å, respectively. In both hetero‐oligomeric complexes the chaperonin subunits within each ring are highly symmetric. Through hetero‐oligomerization, the chloroplast co‐chaperonin CPN11/20/23 forms seven GroES‐like domains, which symmetrically interact with CPN60αβ1β2. Our structure also reveals an uneven distribution of roof‐forming domains in the dome‐shaped CPN11/20/23 co‐chaperonin and potentially diversified surface properties in the folding cavity of the CPN60αβ1β2 chaperonin that might enable the chloroplast chaperonin system to assist in the folding of specific substrates.
Genetic buffering of cyclic AMP in Arabidopsis thaliana compromises the plant immune response triggered by an avirulent strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato
Authors: Sabetta Wilma , Vandelle Elodie , Locato Vittoria , Costa Alex , Cimini Sara , Bittencourt Moura Andrea , Luoni Laura , Graf Alexander , Viggiano Luigi , De Gara Laura , Bellin Diana , Blanco Emanuela , de Pinto Maria C.
Published: February 2019

Cyclic AMP plays important roles in different physiological processes, including plant defence responses. However, as little information is known on plant enzymes responsible for cAMP production/degradation, studies of cAMP functions have relied, to date, on non‐specific pharmacological approaches. We therefore developed a more reliable approach, producing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines overexpressing the ‘cAMP‐sponge’ (cAS), a genetic tool that specifically buffers cAMP levels. In response to an avirulent strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (PstAvrB), cAS plants showed a higher bacterial growth and a reduced hypersensitive cell death in comparison with wild‐type (WT) plants. The low cAMP availability after pathogen infection delayed cytosolic calcium elevation, as well as hydrogen peroxide increase and induction of redox systems. The proteomic analysis, performed 24 h post‐infection, indicated that a core of 49 proteins was modulated in both genotypes, while 16 and 42 proteins were uniquely modulated in WT and cAS lines, respectively. The involvement of these proteins in the impairment of defence response in cAS plants is discussed in this paper. Moreover, in silico analysis revealed that the promoter regions of the genes coding for proteins uniquely accumulating in WT plants shared the CGCG motif, a target of the calcium‐calmodulin‐binding transcription factor AtSR1 (Arabidopsis thaliana signal responsive1). Therefore, following pathogen perception, the low free cAMP content, altering timing and levels of defence signals, and likely acting in part through the mis‐regulation of AtSR1 activity, affected the speed and strength of the immune response.
A comparison of 12‐ and 19‐week CHOP protocols using non‐randomized, contemporaneous controls
Authors: Vos Nathaniel , Pellin MacKenzie , Vail David M.
Published: February 2019

This study is a concurrent comparison of two versions of CHOP protocols, a 19‐week CHOP and a comparatively overall dose‐intense 12‐week CHOP. The 12‐week protocol was designed to be 58% more dose intense than the 19‐week protocol for both doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; however, it was 21% less dose intense for vincristine (VCR). Forty‐seven dogs were included for evaluation, and the characteristics of each population were similar. For dogs receiving the 19‐week CHOP protocol, 89.5% experienced a complete response, with a median progression‐free survival (PFS) of 245 days and median overall survival (OS) of 347 days. For dogs receiving the 12‐week CHOP protocol, 89.3% experienced a complete response, with a median PFS of 141 days and median OS of 229 days. When evaluated by Log‐rank analysis, the difference of PFS (P =0.047) and OS (P =0.013) between the groups were statistically significant. In summary, these data suggest that despite overall increased dose‐intensity, dogs receiving treatment with a 12‐week CHOP protocol experience less durable remission than our standard 19‐week protocol in this population. Additional prospective investigation will be required to explore the implication that VCR dose intensity and/or shorter overall temporal drug exposure in this protocol may result in diminished efficacy.
Cryopreservation (−20°C) of equine corneoscleral tissue: Microbiological, histological, and ultrastructural study
Authors: Costa Daniel , Leiva Marta , Naranjo Carolina , Ríos José , Peña Maria Teresa
Published: February 2019

Objective

To evaluate microbiological, histological, and ultrastructural characteristics of short‐term cryopreserved (STC) equine corneoscleral tissue (<1 year), and to compare it with long‐term cryopreserved (LTC) tissue (>7 years).

Animals studied

Thirty‐four healthy equine globes.

Procedure

After a decontamination protocol, globes were enucleated and stored at −20°C in broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Corneoscleral tissue was evaluated at different storage periods: 1 month‐1 year (20 eyes) and 7‐9 years (12 eyes). Two eyes were used as controls. Microbiologic study included direct (blood, McConkey, and Sabouraud agars) and enrichment (brain‐heart infusion broth) cultures. Cryopreservation artifacts were evaluated by hematoxylin‐eosin. Corneoscleral collagen organization and number of normal and dead keratocytes were established by transmission electron microscopy.

Results

All microbiologic direct cultures were negative. Enrichment cultures were positive in 12.5% of corneal and 59.4% of scleral tissues (pcornea = 0.136; psclera = 1.000). Cryopreservation artifacts were most commonly observed in LTC tissues (P = 0.002). Normal keratocytes were predominant in STC corneas (STC 60% and LTC 0%) and apoptotic ones in LTC (STC 40% and LTC 90%), whereas necrotic keratocytes were only seen in LTC (LTC 10%) (P = 0.001). No structural differences were detected in collagen organization between STC and LTC (pcornea = 1.000; psclera = 0.703).

Conclusions

Cryopreservation of equine corneoscleral tissue did not yield direct bacterial contamination. Apoptosis is the main cause of death of cryopreserved equine keratocytes. Based on the lack of significant structural differences between STC and LTC samples, these cryopreserved tissues could potentially be used for tectonic support for at least 9 years without structural or microbiological impediment.
Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload in ambulatory patients
Authors: Simpson Jock D. , Hopkins Adam , Amil Adilah , Ross Bryony , Enjeti Anoop K.
Published: February 2019

Background and Objectives

Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload is a leading cause of transfusion‐related adverse events. The frequency and risks for transfusion‐associated circulatory overload in ambulatory haematology patients are not known.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis of ambulatory patients transfused in a tertiary haematology centre, using medical records and an electronic transfusion database, was undertaken between January and December 2014. Variables studied included age, gender, diagnosis, heart failure, kidney disease and details of transfusions. Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload was defined according to proposed International Society of Blood Transfusion criteria. Patients with clinical evidence of hypervolaemia, not meeting the TACO definition and/or who were prescribed otherwise unscheduled diuretic agent, were collectively deemed to be at ‘risk of clinically significant hypervolaemia’ (ROCSH).

Results

In the study period, 93 ambulatory patients (male = 49, female = 44, mean age = 75·89 ± 11·37 years) attended 715 transfusion encounters, totalling 1536 packed red cell units. No cases of TACO occurred whilst ‘ROCSH’ events occurred in 57/715 (8%) of transfusion encounters. In a univariate model, age was significantly associated with ‘ROCSH’, odds ratio = 1·05 (P = 0·017 95%, CI 1·01–1·09) and no factors were significant on multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload occurs infrequently haematology patients receiving ambulatory blood transfusions. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on occurrence and risk factors for circulatory overload in ambulatory transfusions. This study provides vital baseline data for future prospective studies on this important aspect of haemovigilance.
Ionic signalling in astroglia beyond calcium
Authors: Verkhratsky Alexei , Untiet Verena , Rose Christine R.
Published: February 2019

Astrocytes are homeostatic and protective cells of the central nervous system. Astroglial homeostatic responses are tightly coordinated with neuronal activity. Astrocytes maintain neuronal excitability through regulation of extracellular ion concentrations, as well as assisting and modulating synaptic transmission by uptake and catabolism of major neurotransmitters. Moreover, they support neuronal metabolism and detoxify ammonium and reactive oxygen species. Astroglial homeostatic actions are initiated and controlled by intercellular signalling of ions, including Ca2+, Na+, Cl−, H+ and possibly K+. This review summarises current knowledge on ionic signals mediated by the major monovalent ions, which occur in microdomains, as global events, or as propagating intercellular waves and thereby represent the substrate for astroglial excitability.

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Molecular Mechanisms for the Mechanical Modulation of Airway Responsiveness
Authors: Zhang Wenwu , Gunst Susan J.
Published: February 2019

The smooth muscle of the airways is exposed to continuously changing mechanical forces during normal breathing. The mechanical oscillations that occur during breathing have profound effects on airway tone and airway responsiveness both in experimental animals and humans in vivo and in isolated airway tissues in vitro. Experimental evidence suggests that alterations in the contractile and mechanical properties of airway smooth muscle tissues caused by mechanical perturbations result from adaptive changes in the organization of the cytoskeletal architecture of the smooth muscle cell. The cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure that undergoes rapid reorganization in response to external mechanical and pharmacologic stimuli. Contractile stimulation initiates the assembly of cytoskeletal/extracellular matrix adhesion complex proteins into large macromolecular signaling complexes (adhesomes) that undergo activation to mediate the polymerization and reorganization of a submembranous network of actin filaments at the cortex of the cell. Cortical actin polymerization is catalyzed by Neuronal-Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) and the Arp2/3 complex, which are activated by pathways regulated by paxillin and the small GTPase, cdc42. These processes create a strong and rigid cytoskeletal framework that may serve to strengthen the membrane for the transmission of force generated by the contractile apparatus to the extracellular matrix, and to enable the adaptation of smooth muscle cells to mechanical stresses. This model for the regulation of airway smooth muscle function can provide novel perspectives to explain the normal physiologic behavior of the airways and pathophysiologic properties of the airways in asthma.
Film Cooling Effectiveness From Two Rows of Compound Angled Cylindrical Holes Using Pressure-Sensitive Paint Technique
Authors: Wang Nian , Zhang Mingjie , Shiau Chao-Cheng , Han Je-Chin
Published: February 2019

This study investigates the effects of blowing ratio, density ratio, and spanwise pitch on the flat plate film cooling from two rows of compound angled cylindrical holes. Two arrangements of two-row compound angled cylindrical holes are tested: (a) the first row and the second row are oriented in staggered and same compound angled direction (β = +45 deg for the first row and +45 deg for the second row); (b) the first row and the second row are oriented in inline and opposite direction (β = +45 deg for the first row and −45 deg for the second row). The cooling hole is 4 mm in diameter with an inclined angle of 30 deg. The streamwise row-to-row spacing is fixed at 3d, and the spanwise hole-to-hole (p) is varying from 4d, 6d to 8d for both designs. The film cooling effectiveness measurements were performed in a low-speed wind tunnel in which the turbulence intensity is kept at 6%. There are 36 cases for each design including four blowing ratios (M = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0), three density ratios (DR = 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0), and three hole-to-hole spacing (p/d = 4, 6, and 8). The detailed film cooling effectiveness distributions were obtained by using the steady-state pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique. The spanwise-averaged cooling effectiveness are compared over the range of flow parameters. Some interesting observations are discovered including blowing ratio effect strongly depending on geometric design; staggered arrangement of the hole with same orientation does not yield better effectiveness at higher blowing ratio. Currently, film cooling effectiveness correlation of two-row compound angled cylindrical holes is not available, so this study developed the correlations for the inline arrangement of holes with opposing angles and the staggered arrangement of holes with same angles. The results and correlations are expected to provide useful information for the two-row flat plate film cooling analysis.
Direct Contact Condensation Jet in Cross-Flow Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Duarte Bernardo Alan de Freitas , Serfaty Ricardo , Neto Aristeu da Silveira
Published: February 2019

The computational fluid dynamics is an important methodology to study the characteristics of flows in nature and in a number of engineering applications. Modeling nonisothermal flows may be useful to predict the main flow behavior allowing the improvement of equipment and industrial processes. In addition, investigations using computational models may provide key information about the fundamental characteristics of flow, developing theoretical groundwork of physical processes. In the last years, the topic of phase change has been intensively studied using computational fluid dynamics due to the computational and numerical advances reported in the literature. Among several issues related to the phase change topic, direct contact condensation (DCC) is widely studied in the literature since it is part of a number of industrial applications. In the present work, DCC was studied using a mathematical and computational model with an Eulerian approach. The homemade code MFSim was used to run all the computational simulations in the cluster of the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory from the Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU). The computational model was validated and showed results with high accuracy and low differences compared to previous works in the literature. A complex case study of DCC with cross-flow was then studied and the computational model provided accurate results compared to experimental data from the literature. The jet centerline was well represented and the interface dynamic was accurately captured during all the simulation time. The investigation of the velocity field provided information about the deeply transient characteristic of this flow. The v-velocity component presented the more large variations in time since the standard deviation was subjected to a variation of about 45% compared to the temporal average. In addition, the time history of the maximum resultant velocities observed presented magnitude from 29 m/s to 73 m/s. The importance of modeling three-dimensional (3D) effects was confirmed with the relevance of the velocity magnitudes in the third axis component. Therefore, the Eulerian phase change model used in the present study indicated the possibility to model even complex phenomena using an Eulerian approach.
A Systematic Review of Noninvasive Electrocardiogram Monitoring Devices for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiovascular Syncope
Authors: Solbiati Monica , Trombetta Lucia , Sacco Roberto M. , Erba Luca , Bozzano Viviana , Costantino Giorgio , Raj Satish R. , Barbic Franca , Casazza Giovanni , Dipaola Franca , Furlan Raffaello , Kenny Rose A. , Quinn James V. , Sheldon Robert S. , Shen Win-Kuang , Sun Benjamin C. , Thiruganasambandamoorthy Venkatesh , Reed Matthew J.
Published: February 2019

The aims of this study were (1) to identify research publications studying noninvasive electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring devices, (2) to define and categorize current technology in noninvasive ECG recording, and (3) to discuss desirable noninvasive recording features for personalized syncope evaluation to guide technological advancement and future studies. We performed a systematic review of the literature that assessed noninvasive ECG-monitoring devices, regardless of the reason for monitoring. We performed an Internet search and corresponded with syncope experts and companies to help identify further eligible products. We extracted information about included studies and device features. We found 173 relevant papers. The main reasons for ECG monitoring were atrial fibrillation (n = 45), coronary artery disease (n = 10), syncope (n = 8), palpitations (n = 8), other cardiac diseases (n = 67), and technological aspects of monitoring (n = 35). We identified 198 devices: 5 hospital telemetry devices, 12 patches, 46 event recorders, 70 Holter monitors, 23 external loop recorders, 20 mobile cardiac outpatient telemetries, and 22 multifunctional devices. The features of each device were very heterogeneous. There are a large number of ECG-monitoring devices with different features available in the market. Our findings may help clinicians select the appropriate device for their patients. Since there are only a few published articles analyzing their usefulness in syncope patients, further research might improve their use in this clinical setting.
A Study on Onset of Liquid Entrainment in Low Pressure Depressurization System of Advanced Passive Pressurized Water Reactors
Authors: Liao Jun , Ohkawa Katsuhiro , Brown William L. , Wright Richard F.
Published: February 2019

The low-pressure depressurization system (LPDS) of advanced passive pressurized water reactors (PWRs) is designed to provide depressurization of the reactor coolant system during a small break loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The liquid entrainment to the LPDS is important for the safety case of the advanced passive PWRs due to the significant increase of the pressure loss and the depressurization rate versus mass loss characteristics. The existing experimental researches on the liquid entrainment at LPDS have been reviewed, and the intermittent entrainment mechanism and the continuous entrainment mechanism are identified. The intermittent entrainment is closely related to the flow regime transition from the horizontal stratified flow to the intermittent flow in the hot leg where the LPDS port is located. The horizontal stratification model previously developed for the FULL SPECTRUM LOCA evaluation model has been assessed against the entrainment onset data in the available LPDS entrainment experiments, i.e., the ATLATS air–water experiment, the ADETEL air–water and steam–water experiments, and the full-scale FATE air–water experiment. The prediction matches the measure data well especially in the full-scale FATE experiments. The comparison results also confirmed the scalability of the horizontal stratification model with the applicability of the horizontal stratification criterion to the full-scale PWR condition. The uncertainty factors that impact the depressurization system entrainment onset are discussed for the future improvements. This work provides the direction to accurately model the entrainment onset for LPDS and improve the simulation of LOCA in advanced passive PWRs.
Impulsive Motion in a Cylindrical Fluid-Filled Tube Terminated by a Converging Section
Authors: Veilleux Jean-Christophe , Shepherd Joseph E.
Published: February 2019

The syringe in a subcutaneous auto-injector may be subjected to internal pressure transients due to the normal operation of the injection mechanism. These transients are similar to transients in fluid-filled pipelines observed during water hammer events. In this paper, the effect of an air gap in the syringe and a converging section is studied experimentally and numerically in a model system which consists of a fluid-filled metal tube that is impulsively loaded with a projectile to simulate the action of the auto-injector mechanism operation. The air between the buffer and the water results in a complex interaction between the projectile and the buffer. Also, there are tension waves inside the tube due to the presence of a free surface and the motion of the buffer, and this causes distributed cavitation which, in turn, gives rise to steepening of the pressure waves. The converging section can amplify the pressure waves if the wave front is sharp, and it can enhance the collapse of bubbles. Pressures as high as 50 MPa have been measured at the apex of the cone with impact velocities of 5.5 m/s.
Study on the Die-Attach Voids Distribution With X-Ray and Image Processing Techniques
Authors: Sesek Aleksander , Chambers Olga , Trontelj Janez
Published: February 2019

Power electronic components' reliability depends, to a great extent, on the quality of die-attach technology. The voids appearance in the die-attach regions is almost unavoidable during the manufacturing process. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that image processing tools enable fast and accurate void segmentation, while reducing manual interaction for X-ray monitoring of imperfect power transistor die soldering. The most common void parameters such as void area, void distribution, and shape roundness were extracted and used for statistical analysis.
Blackbox Optimization for Aircraft Engine Blades With Contact Interfaces
Authors: Lainé Julien , Piollet Elsa , Nyssen Florence , Batailly Alain
Published: February 2019

In modern aircraft engines, reduced operating clearances between rotating blade tips and the surrounding casing increase the risk of blade/casing structural contacts, which may lead to high blade vibration levels. Therefore, structural contacts must now be accounted for as early as in the engine design stage. As the vibrations resulting from contact are intrinsically nonlinear, direct optimization of blade shapes based on vibration simulation is not realistic in an industrial context. A recent study on a blade featuring significantly lower vibration levels following contact event identified a potential criterion to estimate a blade sensitivity to contact interactions. This criterion is based on the notion of dynamic clearance, a quantity describing the evolution of the blade/casing clearance as the blade vibrates along one of its free-vibration modes. This paper presents an optimization procedure, which minimizes the dynamic clearance as a first step toward the integration of structural criteria in blade design. A dedicated blade geometry parameterization is introduced to allow for an efficient optimization of the blade shape. The optimization procedure is applied to the three-dimensional (3D) properties of two different blades. In both cases, initial and optimized blades are compared by means of an in-house numerical tool dedicated to the simulation of structural contact events with a surrounding casing. The simulations focus on rubbing phenomena, involving the vibration of a single blade. Simulation results show a significant reduction of vibration levels following contact interactions for the optimized blades. Critical speeds related to the mode on which the dynamic clearance is computed are successfully eliminated by the blade shape optimization. For the investigated blade geometries, backward sweep and backward lean angles are associated with reduced contact interactions compared to forward sweep and forward lean angles.
Numerical Analysis of Plume Structures of Fluids on a Horizontal Heated Plate
Authors: Praphul T. , Joshy P. J. , Tide P. S.
Published: February 2019

Numerical investigations have been carried out to predict the near-wall dynamics in indirect natural convection for air (Pr = 0.7) and water (Pr = 5.2). Near-wall flow structures appear to be line plumes. Three-dimensional laminar, steady-state model was used to model the problem. Density was formulated using the Boussinesq approximation. Flux scaling, plume spacing and plume lengths obtained numerically are found to have the same trend with the results available in the literature. Plume length and Nusselt number, Nu exhibits an increasing trend with an increase in Rayleigh number, RaH for both Pr fluids. The plume spacing is found to have an inverse relationship with RaH. The cube root of Rayleigh number based on plume spacing, Raλ1/3 is found to have a slight dependence on the dimensionless plume spacing, λ/H. Nu scales as Nu∼CRaHn, n = 0.26 for air and n = 0.3 for water. Heat transfer is thus found to be dominated by near-wall phenomenon. Nu shows a nonlinear relationship with LpH/A and is found to be an accurate representation of heat transfer.
Separability of Mesh Bias and Parametric Uncertainty for a Full System Thermal Analysis
Authors: Schroeder Benjamin B. , Silva Humberto , Smith Kyle D.
Published: February 2019

When making computational simulation predictions of multiphysics engineering systems, sources of uncertainty in the prediction need to be acknowledged and included in the analysis within the current paradigm of striving for simulation credibility. A thermal analysis of an aerospace geometry was performed at Sandia National Laboratories. For this analysis, a verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) workflow provided structure for the analysis, resulting in the quantification of significant uncertainty sources including spatial numerical error and material property parametric uncertainty. It was hypothesized that the parametric uncertainty and numerical errors were independent and separable for this application. This hypothesis was supported by performing uncertainty quantification (UQ) simulations at multiple mesh resolutions, while being limited by resources to minimize the number of medium and high resolution simulations. Based on this supported hypothesis, a prediction including parametric uncertainty and a systematic mesh bias is used to make a margin assessment that avoids unnecessary uncertainty obscuring the results and optimizes use of computing resources.
Virtual copy of ransacked museum comes to Mosul
Authors: Curry Andrew
Published: February 2019

Crowdsourced images allow partial reconstruction of treasures destroyed by the Islamic State group.
The end of evolution?
Darwin Devolves
Michael J. Behe
HarperOne, 2019. 352 pp.
Authors: Lents Nathan H. , Swamidass S. Joshua , Lenski Richard E.
Published: February 2019

A biochemist's crusade to overturn evolution misrepresents theory and ignores evidence
More than meets the eye
Authors: White-Gibson Ailbhe , Lennon Paul , O’Regan Esther , Timon Conrad
Published: February 2019

We report an extremely rare case of a hybrid tumour of the maxillary sinus. A 51-year-old man presented with a 6-week history of nasal congestion and epiphora. Radiological imaging demonstrated a maxillary sinus tumour, with extensive local invasion. Surgical excision included maxillectomy, left eye exenteration and free flap closure. Histology of the excised specimen showed a rare hybrid tumour containing adenoid cystic carcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma, epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma and basal cell adenoma. Hybrid tumours are very rare tumour entities which are composed of at least two distinct tumour types. Each tumour entity conforms with a defined tumour type. The tumour entities of a hybrid tumour are not separated but have an identical origin within a definite topographical area. Diagnosis and appropriate management requires high index of suspicion, pathological endeavour to look for a more aggressive accompanying tumour and adequate oncological treatment according to the highest grade of tumour.
Lipoma arborescens: a rare cause of clicking in the knee
Authors: Nambiar Mithun , Onggo James Randolph , Jacobson Anthony
Published: February 2019

Lipoma arborescens (LA) is a rare condition with synovial membrane lipomatous proliferation. It most commonly affects the knee joint, in the suprapatellar pouch. It can present as a painful knee with an effusion. Diagnosis is via MRI demonstrating a synovial mass with frond-like appearance, and histology showing mature adipose cells, with an overlying synovial membrane. Treatment options include non-operative measures with analgesia, or operative intervention to resect the lesion. We describe a unique case of LA present in the anterolateral knee joint, presenting with persistent painful clicking in the knee. The patient underwent an open total resection of the lesion, with resolution of symptoms.
Endocarditis following IUD insertion in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Meyerowitz Eric Allan , Prager Sarah , Stout Karen , Roxby Alison
Published: February 2019

The role of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of infective endocarditis is unknown. Endocarditis prophylaxis is recommended for certain high-risk individuals prior to dental procedures. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of a patient with complex congenital heart disease developing endocarditis in the period immediately following otherwise uncomplicated intrauterine device insertion.
Occasional and persistent frequent attenders and sickness absences in occupational health primary care: a longitudinal study in Finland
Authors: Reho Tiia T M , Atkins Salla A , Talola Nina , Sumanen Markku P T , Viljamaa Mervi , Uitti Jukka
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Frequent attenders (FAs) create a substantial portion of primary care workload but little is known about FAs’ sickness absences. The aim of the study is to investigate how occasional and persistent frequent attendance is associated with sickness absences among the working population in occupational health (OH) primary care.

Setting and participants

This is a longitudinal study using medical record data (2014–2016) from an OH care provider in Finland. In total, 59 676 patients were included and categorised into occasional and persistent FAs or non-FAs. Sick-leave episodes and their lengths were collected along with associated diagnostic codes. Logistic regression was used to analyse associations between FA status and sick leaves of different lengths (1–3, 4–14 and ≥15 days).

Results

Both occasional and persistent FA had more and longer duration of sick leave than non-FA through the study years. Persistent FAs had consistently high absence rates. Occasional FAs had elevated absence rates even 2 years after their frequent attendance period. Persistent FAs (OR=11 95% CI 7.54 to 16.06 in 2016) and occasional FAs (OR=2.95 95% CI 2.50 to 3.49 in 2016) were associated with long (≥15 days) sickness absence when compared with non-FAs. Both groups of FAs had an increased risk of long-term sick leaves indicating a risk of disability pension.

Conclusion

Both occasional and persistent FAs should be identified in primary care units caring for working-age patients. As frequent attendance is associated with long sickness absences and possibly disability pensions, rehabilitation should be directed at this group to prevent work disability.
Healthcare professionals’ perceptions of learning communication in the healthcare workplace: an Australian interview study
Authors: Denniston Charlotte , Molloy Elizabeth K , Ting Chee Yan , Lin Qi Fei , Rees Charlotte E
Published: February 2019

Objectives

The literature focuses on teaching communication skills in the ‘classroom’, with less focus on how such skills are informally learnt in the healthcare workplace. We grouped healthcare work based on the cure:care continuum to explore communication approaches based on work activities. This study asks: 1) How do healthcare professionals believe they learn communication in the workplace? 2) What are the differences (if any) across the ‘type of work’ as represented by the cure:care continuum?

Design

This qualitative study used semi-structured individual interviews.

Setting

Community care and acute hospitals in Australia (Victoria and New South Wales).

Participants

Twenty qualified healthcare professionals (medicine n=4, nursing n=3, allied health n=13) from various clinical specialties (eg, acute, rehabilitation, surgery, palliative care) participated.

Methods

Data were analysed using framework analysis, which involved the development of a thematic coding framework. Findings were mapped to participants’ descriptions of work using the cure:care continuum.

Results

Three themes were identified that varied across the cure:care continuum: professional discourse—tying communication approaches to work activities; personal identities—the influence of personal identities on healthcare communication and role modelling—the influence of others in the socially bound context of healthcare work.

Conclusions

This study highlights the influence of professional, personal and social factors on the learning of healthcare communication in the workplace. Our study illuminates differences in communication practice related to work activities, as conceptualised by the cure:care continuum. The results call for further examination of the ‘nature’ of work activities and the concomitant influence on developing healthcare communication.
Selective citation in the literature on the hygiene hypothesis: a citation analysis on the association between infections and rhinitis
Authors: Duyx Bram , Urlings Miriam J E , Swaen Gerard M H , Bouter Lex M , Zeegers Maurice P
Published: February 2019

Objective

Our objective was to assess the occurrence and determinants of selective citation in scientific publications on Strachan’s original hygiene hypothesis. His hypothesis states that lack of exposure to infections in early childhood increases the risk of rhinitis.

Setting

Web of Science Core Collection.

Participants

We identified 110 publications in this network, consisting of 5551 potential citations.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Whether a citation occurs or not, measured and analysed according to the preregistered protocol.

Results

We found evidence for citation bias in this field: publications supportive of the hypothesis were cited more often than non-supportive publications (OR adjusted for study design [adjOR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.1), and the same was the case for publications with mixed findings (adjOR 3.1, 95% CI 2.2 to 4.5). Other relevant determinants for citation were type of exposure, specificity, journal impact factor, authority and self-citation. Surprisingly, prospective cohort studies were cited less often than other empirical studies.

Conclusions

There is clear evidence for selective citation in this research field, and particularly for citation bias.
Standardisation is necessary in urogenital and extragenitalChlamydia trachomatisbacterial load determination by quantitative PCR: a review of literature and retrospective study
Authors: Dirks Jeanne A M C , Hoebe Christian J P A , van Liere Geneviève A F S , Dukers-Muijrers Nicole H T M , Wolffs Petra F G
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Pathogen load has been linked to disease severity in patients infected with HIV, resulting in international standards to adequately and reproducibly quantify load.Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) load has been inconsistently linked to disease severity since extensive differences exist in quantification methods (14 methods in 28 articles). Differences include normalisation for human cell load due to CT’s intracellular nature, despite the inability to distinguish inflammatory cells from epithelial cells with molecular techniques. We compared the human cell load in CT-positive men and women at the genital and anal site to a CT-negative control group to estimate the impact of inflammatory cells in these samples.

Methods

188 women (tested at genital and anal site) and 519 men (207 tested at the anal site and 312 tested at the urogenital site) were included from our STI-clinic in the Netherlands. Specimens were self-collected vaginal swabs, anal swabs and urine samples. Quantitative-PCR targeting the HLA-gene quantified human cell load. Mann-Whitney-U-test was used for statistical analyses.

Results

The genital cell load had a similar range and median (6.5 log10) between CT-negative and CT-positive women . The urogenital cell load was significantly higher than the anal cell load (median 3.6 log10). The anal cell load was significantly higher in men with- than without anal CT infection (median 4.5 versus 3.9 respectively). The anal cell load is significantly higher in CT-positive men than in women. Both Neisseria gonorrhoeae-co-infections and reported anal intercourse significantly increased the human cell load in anal samples.

Conclusion

Standardisation in CT load studies is necessary as current studies show 14 different quantification methods in 28 studies . In this study we demonstrate the inappropriateness of normalising the CT load for the human cell load using molecular techniques, as the presence of inflammatory cells cannot be excluded.
Integrated multi-timescale modeling untangles anthropogenic, environmental, and biological effects on catchability
Authors: Nishijima Shota , Suzuki Shigenori , Ichinokawa Momoko , Okamura Hiroshi
Published: February 2019

Catchability plays a central role in fisheries stock assessment. Since catchability often varies with time depending on population density, environmental factors, and anthropogenic effects, assuming constant catchability in population models can lead to biased abundance estimates. Here we present a novel way to simultaneously estimate time-varying catchability and abundance by integrating a short-term (month-based) removal method and a long-term (year-based) age-structured population dynamics model. We applied this approach to commercial fishery data for a Japanese pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) population and found that the models with time-varying catchability greatly outperformed the models with constant catchability in terms of predictive ability and model consistency. The temporal variation in catchability was parsimoniously predicted by fishing effort and population size, indicating the existence of effort- and density-dependent catchability. Our approach, integrating population dynamics at different timescales, will help avoid inadvertent overexploitation and contribute to sustainable harvesting by enhancing the estimation accuracy of time-varying catchability and abundance.
Impact of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) on energy transmission through ferrofluid saturating porous medium contained in a lid-driven trapezoidal container with triangular notched heater configuration
Authors: Mehmood Ziafat , Javed Tariq
Published: February 2019

This article conveys numerical simulations for energy flow by mixed convection under the impact of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) through ferrofluid saturating porous media contained in a trapezoidal enclosure having triangular notched heater at the bottom wall when the container’s top boundary is in motion with constant speed. The side and top walls of the container are assumed to be cold, the bottom wall is insulated, and the triangular notched heater supplies uniform heat to the fluid. Equations governing the flow are initially exposed to penalty scheme to eradicate pressure from momentum equations, and subsequently, the Galerkin weighted residual method is employed to compute the numerical solutions for velocity and temperature profiles. Computed solutions are expressed in form of graphs for streamline circulations, isotherms, and local and mean heat flow rates for suitable ranges of important physical parameters governing the flow, including the Darcy number (10−5 ≤ Da ≤ 10−3), Reynolds number (1 ≤ Re ≤ 10), Hartmann number (30 ≤ Ha ≤ 100), Prandtl number (0.062 ≤ Pr ≤ 10), concentration of solid ferroparticles (0.03 ≤ [Formula: see text] ≤ 0.15), and Grashof number (105 ≤ Gr ≤107). This investigation deduces that flow strength rises with escalation in the concentration of ferroparticles, as well as Darcy and Grashof numbers. The convection energy flow regime appears dominating for small Hartmann number and large Prandtl number. The mean energy flow rate is found to increase with increase in Darcy and Grashof numbers and it attenuates with escalation in the Hartmann number.
Quantum waveguides with magnetic fields
Authors: Haag Stefan , Lampart Jonas , Teufel Stefan
Published: February 2019

We study generalized quantum waveguides in the presence of moderate and strong external magnetic fields. Applying recent results on the adiabatic limit of the connection Laplacian we show how to construct and compute effective Hamiltonians that allow, in particular, for a detailed spectral analysis of magnetic waveguide Hamiltonians. We apply our general construction to a number of explicit examples, most of which are not covered by previous results.
Compact Hardware Synthesis of Stochastic Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Galán-Prado Fabio , Morán Alejandro , Font Joan , Roca Miquel , Rosselló Josep L.
Published: February 2019

Spiking neural networks (SNN) are able to emulate real neural behavior with high confidence due to their bio-inspired nature. Many designs have been proposed for the implementation of SNN in hardware, although the realization of high-density and biologically-inspired SNN is currently a complex challenge of high scientific and technical interest. In this work, we propose a compact digital design for the implementation of high-volume SNN that considers the intrinsic stochastic processes present in biological neurons and enables high-density hardware implementation. The proposed stochastic SNN model (SSNN) is compared with previous SSNN models, achieving a higher processing speed. We also show how the proposed model can be scaled to high-volume neural networks trained by using back propagation and applied to a pattern classification task. The proposed model achieves better results compared with other recently-published SNN models configured with unsupervised STDP learning.
Electroconvulsive Therapy Induces Cortical Morphological Alterations in Major Depressive Disorder Revealed with Surface-Based Morphometry Analysis
Authors: Xu Jinping , Wang Jiaojian , Bai Tongjian , Zhang Xiaodong , Li Tian , Hu Qingmao , Li Hongming , Zhang Li , Wei Qiang , Tian Yanghua , Wang Kai
Published: February 2019

Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), the mechanism underlying the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of ECT remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated alterations in the cortical morphological measurements including cortical thickness (CT), surface area (SA), and local gyrification index (LGI) in 23 MDD patients before and after ECT. Furthermore, multivariate pattern analysis using linear support vector machine (SVM) was applied to investigate whether the changed morphological measurements can be effective indicators for therapeutic efficacy of ECT. Surface-based morphometry (SBM) analysis found significantly increased vertex-wise and regional cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) in widespread regions, mainly located in the left insula (INS) and left fusiform gyrus, as well as hypergyrification in the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) in MDD patients after ECT. Partial correlational analyses identified associations between the morphological properties and depressive symptom scores and impaired memory scores. Moreover, SVM result showed that the changed morphological measurements were effective to classify the MDD patients before and after ECT. Our findings suggested that ECT may enhance cortical neuroplasticity to facilitate neurogenesis to remit depressive symptoms and to impair delayed memory. These findings indicated that the cortical morphometry is a good index for therapeutic efficacy of ECT.