bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual casting and rolling lines development
Authors: Yakiv’yuk P N , Piskazhova T V , Belolipetskii V M , Nesterov G A
Published: June 2019

The article describes an example of a casting and rolling complex. A program has been developed for calculating the temperature of the metal in the casting and rolling complex sites which is based on a mathematical model for controlling the water cooling of a rotary mold in TIA Portal software using an S7-1200 microprocessor controller. Presents the structure and user interface of the program. The program blocks of the rotary mold, as well as the section of water and air cooling are developed, which include design and thermophysical parameters necessary for calculating according to the mathematical model. In this way, the replacement of any of them with a similar one with modified parameters is possible without making changes to the program structure. The program can be used to debug control algorithms.
How to use neural network and web technologies in modeling complex technical systems
Authors: Semenenko M G , Kniazeva I V , Beckel L S , Rutskiy V N , Tsarev R Yu , Yamskikh T N , Kartsan I N
Published: June 2019

This paper discusses the problem of integrating modern methods of forecasting and modeling complex technical objects into the learning process. As an example, the problem of solving a system of ordinary differential equations is considered, which has significant practical application. In particular, solving a system of differential equations can be an essential part of patents. The neural network method to solve this problem by using Matlab simulation software and visual modeling tool Simulink is considered. Efficient cloud-based solution to ordinary differential equations is presented.
Optimization of groupoil refineries on the example of production of alkyl gasoline regarding technological process of sulphuric acid alkylation
Authors: Khakimov R A , Shcherbo N S
Published: June 2019

The article describes the task of optimizing the process of sulfuric acid alkylation as part of a group of plants for the production of alkyl benzine. The main methods and approaches to solving this problem from the point of view of real-time optimization (RTO) are presented. A modified method is proposed in the form of a multi-model approach and decomposition of the original optimization problem into local ones with a sequential solution. To test the method, an analytical model of the sulfuric acid alkylation process was used, its evaluation was carried out and the problem of maximizing alkyl benzine was solved using the Hook – Jeeves algorithm in Matlab. The results of the solution were compared with the real historical data of the process and confirmed the operability of the solution.
Model of continuous production of fine silicon carbide
Authors: Kuzevanov V S , Garyaev A B , Zakozhurnikov S S , Zakozhurnikova G S
Published: June 2019

A detailed analysis of heat and mass transfer processes and chemical transformations in a high-temperature gas flow with solid particles is a very difficult task. Using the phenomenological approach, the authors succeeded in obtaining a closed system of equations, the solution of which allows us to determine the main parameters of the stationary process for the production of silicon carbide. It is assumed that the implementation of two technological conditions: maintaining the required temperature level of the system “fluidizing gas - solid particles” in the production process and the continuous removal of both the final product - silicon carbide, and small unreacted particles. Variant calculations were carried out with the determination of the parameters of the continuous process for the production of fine silicon carbide, in particular, the optimal ratio of the initial sizes of carbon-containing particles and SiO2
particles and the maximum possible yield of the final product. The qualitative agreement of the calculation results with the data obtained in experiments with periodic loading of reacting components is shown.
Analysis of the cutting tool for the destruction of snow–ice formations on road pavement
Authors: Lysyannikov A V , Zelykevich R B , Bezborodov Yu N , Lysyannikova N N , Egorov A V , Kaizer Y F
Published: June 2019

The paper presents an analysis of the cutting tool structures for the destruction of frozen soils and snow-ice formations. The basic parameters (geometry and material) taken into account when creating cutting tools are revealed which are as follows: the influence of cutting speed on the durability of the cutting tool and cutting force, the optimal cutting angles and the layout of the cutters. The main advantages of using disc cutters in the design of ice-breaking equipment are presented. They allow you to replace the sliding friction of the cutting edge with the traditional rolling friction tooth (the disc rolls along the face). As a result, the tool life is increased, dynamic loads on the working body are reduced when meeting with the inclusions, since the contact of the cutting edge with the inclusions at the initial moment will be point, and the speed will decrease as it is immersed in the array, therefore, the load on the cutting tool will increase slowly.
The development strategy of the environmental safety of the electric power complex
Authors: Gibadullin A A , Gilts N E , Romanova Ju A , Romanova Ir N , Bahretdinova Kh A
Published: June 2019

Consideration of the environmental policy of the electric power complex is becoming relevant at the present time, since most of the power plants were commissioned more than 40-50 years ago, while technological modernization and updating of production capacity did not occur. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that the growth in the production of electric energy is practically not observed, while the volumes of consumption of coal and gas in the production of electric energy do not change, the use of fixed production assets is increased, as a result of which the standard period of use of the equipment is exceeded. Emissions of pollutants are slightly reduced only by categories of solid waste and sulfur dioxide, emissions of nitrogen oxides do not change, and emissions of carbon oxides increase. The work proposed a mechanism for the development of environmental safety of the electric power complex, containing directions for monitoring the technical condition of power equipment, introducing technical and technological re-equipment of generation facilities, assessing the level of reproduction of fixed production assets, determining the resource dependence of generation facilities and measures for organizing and managing the production process.
Prospects for development of small innovative mechanical engineering enterprises on the territories of advanced development
Authors: Ogloblin V A , Malanina Yu N , Vikhorev V G , Vikhoreva M V
Published: June 2019

Small innovative mechanical engineering enterprises are extremely important for the development of the Russian economy. This article discusses the different points of view on the issues of small enterprises, machine-building organizations and innovative enterprises. The analysis of the obtained problems is carried out and essential ones are selected from the point of view of the maximally hindering the successful development of small innovative mechanical engineering enterprises. Consideration of the conditions of the territories of advanced social and economic development showed that only one of the selected problems is being solved. It is a high level of taxation. The authors propose to expand the functionality of the territories of advanced development through the use of personnel marketing, the establishment of a business school and a consulting center, which will create truly favorable (but not excessive) conditions for the development of small innovative mechanical enterprises on the territories of advanced social and economic development.
Robust heart rate estimation using combined ECG and PPG signal processing
Authors: Zaretskiy A P , Mityagin K S , Tarasov V S , Moroz D N , Kuraleva A S
Published: June 2019

Heart rate variability (HRV) from recorded electrocardiograms (ECG) is a well-known diagnostic method for the assessment of autonomic nervous function of the heart, which is widely used to predict clinically relevant outcomes in the critical care setting, to risk stratify patients, and predict outcomes such as mortality. The morphological variations in the ECG waveform and the high degree of heterogeneity in the QRS complex often make it difficult to identify R waves, which may preclude the accurate analysis for HRV. Photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal can provide information about both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and have extremely high degree of correlation with ECG during cardiac cycle. In this paper, we developed robust algorithm for high-resolution inter-beat waveform extraction using combined ECG and PPG analysis, which is highly needed for accurate HRV estimation. The simulation results showed high performance for inter-beat waveform detection in different cases that identifies missing/extra peaks in the QRS detection algorithm.
Research of methods for design of regression models of oil and gas refinery technological units
Authors: Bukhtoyarov V V , Tynchenko V S , Petrovsky E A , Dokshanin S G , Kukartsev V V
Published: June 2019

The problem of efficient computational models design for control and scheduling problems in terms of oil and gas refinery column distillation units is discussed in the paper. Such efficient computational models can be constructed in the form of fast static regression models supplemented with dynamic models of measurement and input channels. The effectiveness of methods for constructing fast static regression models is examined in the paper. The input parameters for such regression models are determined. It is proposed to use parametric optimization methods for such models. A preliminary study showed the possibility of using an evolutionary genetic algorithm. Numerical studies were performed using data from column distillation units. The efficiency of using the methods of additional parametric optimization is shown.
Developing the method of analyzing the toxicity of the polymer teeth implant structures for the orthopedic dentistry
Authors: Pen V R , Chijov Y V , Levchenko S I , Pen O V , Mascadynov L E
Published: June 2019

A conductometric analysis method is in order to analyze the toxicity of PMMA products. A study is conducted on the dependency of the electric conductivity of the monomer water solution on concertation. A series of equations is derived to link the concentration of monomers with the respective water solution’s conductivity.
Risk-based forecasting methods of knowledge-intensive product life-cycle resource provision
Authors: Grosheva P Yu , Yudin A V , Myakishev Yu D
Published: June 2019

The paper is dedicated to the development of methods for predicting risk-based lifecycle resource provision in science-intensive projects. This method of whole-cycle prediction of changes in resource provision for science-intensive projects, which embraces risk factors, estimates appropriate real volumes of resource provision needed for engineering and producing science-intensive goods. It uses adaptive methods to estimate resource provision based on statistical data that is obtained at each phase of the project’s life cycle. The method enables prognosis of appropriate resource provision levels at different phases of the science-intensive project with consideration of risk factors. This method implies PC calculation. Minimal use of expert estimates is its crucial characteristic, as it enables automated computation.
Regular supercuspidal representations
Authors: Kaletha Tasho
Published: June 2019

We show that, in good residual characteristic, most supercuspidal representations of a tamely ramified reductive

p
p

-adic group

G
G

arise from pairs

(
S
,
θ
)

(S,\theta )

, where

S
S

is a tame elliptic maximal torus of

G
G

, and

θ
\theta

is a character of

S
S

satisfying a simple root-theoretic property. We then give a new expression for the roots of unity that appear in the Adler-DeBacker-Spice character formula for these supercuspidal representations and use it to show that this formula bears a striking resemblance to the character formula for discrete series representations of real reductive groups. Led by this, we explicitly construct the local Langlands correspondence for these supercuspidal representations and prove stability and endoscopic transfer in the case of toral representations. In large residual characteristic this gives a construction of the local Langlands correspondence for almost all supercuspidal representations of reductive

p
p

-adic groups.
The geometry of flip graphs and mapping class groups
Authors: Disarlo Valentina , Parlier Hugo
Published: June 2019

The space of topological decompositions into triangulations of a surface has a natural graph structure where two triangulations share an edge if they are related by a so-called flip. This space is a sort of combinatorial Teichmüller space and is quasi-isometric to the underlying mapping class group. We study this space in two main directions. We first show that strata corresponding to triangulations containing a same multiarc are strongly convex within the whole space and use this result to deduce properties about the mapping class group. We then focus on the quotient of this space by the mapping class group to obtain a type of combinatorial moduli space. In particular, we are able to identity how the diameters of the resulting spaces grow in terms of the complexity of the underlying surfaces.
Towards reliable named entity recognition in the biomedical domain
Authors: Giorgi John M , Bader Gary D
Published: June 2019

Motivation

Automatic biomedical named entity recognition (BioNER) is a key task in biomedical information extraction. For some time, state-of-the-art BioNER has been dominated by machine learning methods, particularly conditional random fields (CRFs), with a recent focus on deep learning. However, recent work has suggested that the high performance of CRFs for BioNER may not generalize to corpora other than the one it was trained on. In our analysis, we find that a popular deep learning-based approach to BioNER, known as bidirectional long short-term memory network-conditional random field (BiLSTM-CRF), is correspondingly poor at generalizing. To address this, we evaluate three modifications of BiLSTM-CRF for BioNER to improve generalization: improved regularization via variational dropout, transfer learning and multi-task learning.

Results

We measure the effect that each strategy has when training/testing on the same corpus (‘in-corpus’ performance) and when training on one corpus and evaluating on another (‘out-of-corpus’ performance), our measure of the model’s ability to generalize. We found that variational dropout improves out-of-corpus performance by an average of 4.62%, transfer learning by 6.48% and multi-task learning by 8.42%. The maximal increase we identified combines multi-task learning and variational dropout, which boosts out-of-corpus performance by 10.75%. Furthermore, we make available a new open-source tool, called Saber that implements our best BioNER models.

Availability and implementation

Source code for our biomedical IE tool is available at https://github.com/BaderLab/saber. Corpora and other resources used in this study are available at https://github.com/BaderLab/Towards-reliable-BioNER.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The many faces of myocardial ischaemia and angina
Authors: Levy Bernard I , Heusch Gerd , Camici Paolo G
Published: June 2019

Obstructive disease of the epicardial coronary arteries is the main cause of angina. However, a number of patients with anginal symptoms have normal coronaries or non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) despite electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia during stress testing. In addition to limited microvascular vasodilator capacity, the coronary microcirculation of these patients is particularly sensitive to vasoconstrictor stimuli, in a condition known as microvascular angina. This review briefly summarizes the determinants and control of coronary blood flow (CBF) and myocardial perfusion. It subsequently analyses the mechanisms responsible for transient myocardial ischaemia: obstructive CAD, coronary spasm and coronary microvascular dysfunction in the absence of epicardial coronary lesions, and variable combinations of structural anomalies, impaired endothelium-dependent and/or -independent vasodilation, and enhanced perception of pain. Lastly, we exemplify mechanism of angina during tachycardia. Distal to a coronary stenosis, coronary dilator reserve is already recruited and can be nearly exhausted at rest distal to a severe stenosis. Increased heart rate reduces the duration of diastole and thus CBF when metabolic vasodilation is no longer able to increase CBF. The increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and resulting metabolic vasodilation in adjacent myocardium without stenotic coronary arteries further acts to divert blood flow away from the post-stenotic coronary vascular bed through collaterals.
Who eats what? Unravelling microbial conversion of coal to methane
Authors: Vick Silas H W , Gong Se , Sestak Stephen , Vergara Tania J , Pinetown Kaydy L , Li Zhongsheng , Greenfield Paul , Tetu Sasha G , Midgley David J , Paulsen Ian T
Published: June 2019

Microbial communities in subsurface coal seams are responsible for the conversion of coal organic matter to methane. This process has important implications for both energy production and our understanding of global carbon cycling. Despite the environmental and economic importance of this process, little is known about which components of the heterogeneous coal organic matter are biodegradable under methanogenic conditions. Similarly, little is known about which taxa in coal seams carry out the initial stages of coal organics degradation. To identify the biodegradable components of coal and the microorganisms responsible for their breakdown, a subbituminous coal was fractionated into a number of chemical compound classes which were used as the sole carbon source for growth by a coal seam microbial community. This study identifies 65 microbial taxa able to proliferate on specific coal fractions and demonstrates a surprising level of substrate specificity among members of this coal-degrading microbial consortia. Additionally, coal kerogen, the solvent-insoluble organic component of coal often considered recalcitrant to microbial degradation, appeared to be readily converted to methane by microbial degradation. These findings challenge our understanding of coal organic matter catabolism and provide insights into the catabolic roles of individual coal seam bacteria.
Cross-disorder analysis of schizophrenia and 19 immune-mediated diseases identifies shared genetic risk
Authors: Pouget Jennie G ,   Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Han Buhm , Wu Yang , Mignot Emmanuel , Ollila Hanna M , Barker Jonathan , Spain Sarah , Dand Nick , Trembath Richard , Martin Javier , Mayes Maureen D , Bossini-Castillo Lara , López-Isac Elena , Jin Ying , Santorico Stephanie A , Spritz Richard A , Hakonarson Hakon , Polychronakos Constantin , Raychaudhuri Soumya , Knight Jo
Published: June 2019

Many immune diseases occur at different rates among people with schizophrenia compared to the general population. Here, we evaluated whether this phenomenon might be explained by shared genetic risk factors. We used data from large genome-wide association studies to compare the genetic architecture of schizophrenia to 19 immune diseases. First, we evaluated the association with schizophrenia of 581 variants previously reported to be associated with immune diseases at genome-wide significance. We identified five variants with potentially pleiotropic effects. While colocalization analyses were inconclusive, functional characterization of these variants provided the strongest evidence for a model in which genetic variation at rs1734907 modulates risk of schizophrenia and Crohn’s disease via altered methylation and expression of EPHB4—a gene whose protein product guides the migration of neuronal axons in the brain and the migration of lymphocytes towards infected cells in the immune system. Next, we investigated genome-wide sharing of common variants between schizophrenia and immune diseases using cross-trait LD score regression. Of the 11 immune diseases with available genome-wide summary statistics, we observed genetic correlation between six immune diseases and schizophrenia: inflammatory bowel disease (rg = 0.12 ± 0.03, P = 2.49 × 10−4), Crohn’s disease (rg = 0.097 ± 0.06, P = 3.27 × 10−3), ulcerative colitis (rg = 0.11 ± 0.04, P = 4.05 × 10–3), primary biliary cirrhosis (rg = 0.13 ± 0.05, P = 3.98 × 10−3), psoriasis (rg = 0.18 ± 0.07, P = 7.78 × 10–3) and systemic lupus erythematosus (rg = 0.13 ± 0.05, P = 3.76 × 10–3). With the exception of ulcerative colitis, the degree and direction of these genetic correlations were consistent with the expected phenotypic correlation based on epidemiological data. Our findings suggest shared genetic risk factors contribute to the epidemiological association of certain immune diseases and schizophrenia.
Factors associated with sharing e-mail information and mental health survey participation in large population cohorts
Authors: Adams Mark J , Hill W David , Howard David M , Dashti Hassan S , Davis Katrina A S , Campbell Archie , Clarke Toni-Kim , Deary Ian J , Hayward Caroline , Porteous David , Hotopf Matthew , McIntosh Andrew M
Published: June 2019

Background

People who opt to participate in scientific studies tend to be healthier, wealthier and more educated than the broader population. Although selection bias does not always pose a problem for analysing the relationships between exposures and diseases or other outcomes, it can lead to biased effect size estimates. Biased estimates may weaken the utility of genetic findings because the goal is often to make inferences in a new sample (such as in polygenic risk score analysis).

Methods

We used data from UK Biobank, Generation Scotland and Partners Biobank and conducted phenotypic and genome-wide association analyses on two phenotypes that reflected mental health data availability: (i) whether participants were contactable by e-mail for follow-up; and (ii) whether participants responded to follow-up surveys of mental health.

Results

In UK Biobank, we identified nine genetic loci associated (P <5 × 10–8) with e-mail contact and 25 loci associated with mental health survey completion. Both phenotypes were positively genetically correlated with higher educational attainment and better health and negatively genetically correlated with psychological distress and schizophrenia. One single nucleotide polymorphism association replicated along with the overall direction of effect of all association results.

Conclusions

Re-contact availability and follow-up participation can act as further genetic filters for data on mental health phenotypes.
Business Actors, Paramilitaries and Transitional Criminal Justice in Colombia
Authors: Wesche Philipp
Published: June 2019

Abstract∞

In internal armed conflicts, business actors often play an important role. Yet, their criminal responsibility is rarely addressed in transitional justice (TJ). This article presents a case study of the Colombian transition process with respect to the paramilitaries, which has resulted in hundreds of criminal investigations against business actors in the ordinary justice system. Nonetheless, the large majority continues in impunity. Based on qualitative interviews with public prosecutors, the article analyzes the main obstacles to holding them accountable, arguing that TJ processes should give more emphasis to the private-sector supporters of armed groups so as to prevent the recurrence of violence.
Improved determination of Neisseria gonorrhoeae gyrase A genotype results in clinical specimens
Authors: Allan-Blitz Lao-Tzu , Ellis Olivia L , Wee Rachel , Truong Annie , Ebeyan Samantha M , Tan Lit Yeen , Mokany Elisa , Flynn Risa , Klausner Jeffrey D
Published: June 2019

Background

The emergence of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has prompted the development of rapid molecular assays designed to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. One common assay uses high-resolution melt analysis to target codon 91 of the gyrase A gene (gyrA) to predict N. gonorrhoeae susceptibility to ciprofloxacin.

Methods

We extracted DNA from remnant clinical specimens that had previously tested positive for N. gonorrhoeae using the Aptima Combo 2 for CT/NG assay (Hologic, San Diego, CA, USA). We selected DNA extracts from specimens with indeterminate, WT and mutant gyrA genotype results from a previous study using high-resolution melt analysis to detect the gyrA codon 91 mutation. We re-tested those specimens using the recently CE-marked ResistancePlus GC (beta) assay (SpeeDx, Sydney, Australia).

Results

Of 86 specimens with indeterminate gyrA genotypes on high-resolution melt analysis, the ResistancePlus GC (beta) assay (SpeeDx) identified 30 (35%) WT, 22 (26%) mutant and 34 (40%) indeterminate gyrA genotypes.

Conclusions

The ResistancePlus GC (beta) assay showed improved N. gonorrhoeae gyrA genotype determination compared with a prior gyrA genotypic high-resolution melt assay.
UV background fluctuations and three-point correlations in the large-scale clustering of the Lyman α forest
Authors: Tie Suk Sien , Weinberg David H , Martini Paul , Zhu Wei , Peirani Sébastien , Suarez Teresita , Colombi Stéphane
Published: June 2019

Using the Lyman α (Lyα) Mass Association Scheme, we make theoretical predictions for the three-dimensional three-point correlation function (3PCF) of the Lyα forest at redshift z = 2.3. We bootstrap results from the (100 h−1 Mpc)3 Horizon hydrodynamic simulation to a (1 h−1 Gpc)3N-body simulation, considering both a uniform ultraviolet background (UVB) and a fluctuating UVB sourced by quasars with a comoving nq ≈ 10−5h3 Mpc−3 placed either in massive haloes or randomly. On scales of 10–30 h−1 Mpc, the flux 3PCF displays hierarchical scaling with the square of the two-point correlation function (2PCF), but with an unusual value of Q ≡ ζ123/(ξ12ξ13 + ξ12ξ23 + ξ13ξ23) ≈ −4.5 that reflects the low bias of the Lyα forest and the anticorrelation between mass density and transmitted flux. For halo-based quasars and an ionizing photon mean free path of λ = 300 h−1 Mpc comoving, UVB fluctuations moderately depress the 2PCF and 3PCF, with cancelling effects on Q. For λ = 100 or 50 h−1 Mpc, UVB fluctuations substantially boost the 2PCF and 3PCF on large scales, shifting the hierarchical ratio to Q ≈ −3. We scale our simulation results to derive rough estimate of the detectability of the 3PCF in current and future observational data sets for the redshift range z = 2.1–2.6. At r = 10 and 20 h−1 Mpc, we predict a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ∼9 and ∼7, respectively, for both Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) and extended BOSS (eBOSS), and ∼37 and ∼25 for Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). At r = 40 h−1 Mpc the predicted SNR is lower by a factor of ∼3–5. Measuring the flux 3PCF would provide a novel test of the conventional paradigm of the Lyα forest and help separate the contributions of UVB fluctuations and density fluctuations to Lyα forest clustering, thereby solidifying its foundation as a tool of precision cosmology.
The specific angular momenta of superthin galaxies: Cue to their origin?
Authors: Jadhav Y Vikas , Banerjee Arunima
Published: June 2019

Superthin galaxies are low surface brightness (LSB) bulgeless disc galaxies having stellar discs with unusually high planar-to-vertical axes ratio b/a > 10–20, the formation and evolution of which is not well understood. We calculate the specific angular momenta of a sample of six superthins and nine other bulgeless LSBs using stellar photometry, atomic hydrogen (HI) surface density, and high-resolution HI rotation curves available in the literature. We find that the stellar specific angular mometum js, and hence the stellar disc size given by the exponential stellar disc scale length RD, of three superthins and seven LSBs lie above the 95.4 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence band of the js − Vrot regression line for ordinary bulgeless disc galaxies, Vrot being the asymptotic rotational velocity. Further, we find that superthins and LSBs have higher js and RD values for a given value of stellar mass Ms at high values of statistical significance, compared to ordinary disc galaxies. Therefore, we conclude, a superthin is may be distinguished by a characteristically larger disc size which could possibly explain the origin of its large planar-to-vertical axes ratio. Interestingly, we find that the median spin parameter $\lambda = \frac{ j_{\rm {stars}} }{ {\sqrt{(}2) V_{\rm {vir}} R_{\rm {vir}} } }$, Vvir and Rvir being the virial velocity and virial radius of the galaxy respectively, is 0.13 ± 0.01 for superthin galaxies which is an order of magnitude higher than those of LSBs and ordinary disc galaxies, which may have important implications for the existence of superthin stellar discs in these LSB galaxies.
Dust spreading in debris discs: do small grains cling on to their birth environment?
Authors: Pawellek Nicole , Moór Attila , Pascucci Ilaria , Krivov Alexander V
Published: June 2019

Debris discs are dusty belts of planetesimals around main-sequence stars, similar to the asteroid and Kuiper belts in our Solar system. The planetesimals cannot be observed directly, yet they produce detectable dust in mutual collisions. Observing the dust, we can try to infer properties of invisible planetesimals. Here, we address the question of what is the best way to measure the location of outer planetesimal belts that encompass extrasolar planetary systems. A standard method is using resolved images at millimetre wavelengths, which reveal dust grains with sizes comparable to the observational wavelength. Smaller grains seen in the infrared (IR) are subject to several non-gravitational forces that drag them away from their birth rings, and so may not closely trace the parent bodies. In this study, we examine whether imaging of debris discs at shorter wavelengths might enable determining the spatial location of the exo-Kuiper belts with sufficient accuracy. We find that around M-type stars the dust best visible in the mid-IR is efficiently displaced inwards from their birth location by stellar winds, causing the discs to look more compact in mid-IR images than they actually are. However, around earlier-type stars where the majority of debris discs is found, discs are still the brightest at the birth ring location in the mid-IR regime. Thus, sensitive IR facilities with good angular resolution, such as MIRI on James Webb Space Telescope, will enable tracing exo-Kuiper belts in nearby debris disc systems.
Annual parallax and galactic orbit of Y Librae (IRAS 15090−0549) Mira variable star—GALORB release
Authors: Chibueze James O , Omodaka Toshihiro , Urago Riku , Nagayama Takumi , Alhassan Jibrin A , Nishida Yoshiro , Aralu Ogochukwu U , van Rooyen Ruby , Nakagawa Akiharu , Honma Mareki , Ueno Yuji
Published: June 2019

Using the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA), we measured the trigonometric parallax of an H2O maser source in a variable star of Mira Cet type, Y Lib, to be 0.855 ± 0.050 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.17 ± 0.07 kpc. From multi-epoch infrared observations with the Kagoshima University 1 m telescope, we derived the mean J, H, and K′-band magnitudes of Y Lib to be 4.34 ± 0.22 mag, 3.62 ± 0.18 mag, and 3.25 ± 0.16 mag, respectively. The pulsation period of Y Lib was obtained to be 277.2 ± 13.9 d. We derived the effective temperature and radius of Y Lib to be 3100 ± 125 K and $211 \pm 11 \, R_{\odot }$, respectively. The peculiar motion of Y Lib Us (motion towards the Galactic center), Vs (motion in the direction of Galactic rotation), and Ws (motion towards the Galactic North Pole) were obtained to be −16 ± 3 km s−1, 25 ± 2 km s−1, and 13 ± 3 km s−1, respectively. After validation, we used the new release of the GALactic ORbit simulation package to trace the past 1 Gyr orbit of Y Lib in the Milky Way. Fitting the orbit of Y Lib with the MWPotential2014 Galactic Potential model produced high eccentricity in the direction perpendicular to the Galactic center, but decreasing the Miyamoto–Nagai disk potential contribution in the Milky Way model produced a reasonable result of the Y Lib orbit.
Children who say hand dryers ‘hurt my ears’ are correct: A real-world study examining the loudness of automated hand dryers in public places
Authors: Keegan Nora Louise
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Previous research has suggested that hand dryers may operate at dangerously loud levels for adults. No research has explored whether they operate at a safe level for children’s hearing. Children’s ears are more sensitive to damage from loud sounds than adult ears. Health Canada prohibits the sale of toys with peak loudness greater than 100 dB. This study tested installed dryers in public washrooms to see if they were safe for children’s hearing.

Methods

Forty-four hand dryers in public washrooms were each measured for peak sound levels in a standardized fashion, including at children’s ear canal heights. Each dryer was measured at 10 different combinations of heights and distances from the wall, and with and without hands in the air stream coming from the hand dryer, for a total of 20 measurements per dryer.

Results

Xlerator units performed the loudest, with all being louder than 100 dBA at all measurements whenever hands were in the airstream. Several Dyson Airblade models were also very loud, including the single loudest measurement of 121 dBA. While some other units operated at low sound levels, many units were louder at children’s ear heights than at adult ear heights.

Discussion

Many dryers operated much louder than their manufacturers claimed, usually greater than 100 dBA (the maximum allowable noise level for products/toys meant for children).

Conclusion

This study suggests that many hand dryers operate at levels far louder than their manufacturers claim and at levels that are clearly dangerous to children’s hearing.
Ab initio no-core shell model study of neutron-rich nitrogen isotopes
Authors: Saxena Archana , Srivastava Praveen C
Published: June 2019

We have calculated the energy spectra for neutron-rich $^{18-22}$N isotopes using the no-core shell model. To calculate the energy spectrum we have used three different $NN$ potentials: inside non-local outside Yukawa (INOY), next-to-next-to-next-leading order (N3LO) from chiral effective field theory, and charge-dependent Bonn 2000 (CDB2K). The INOY potential is a two-body interaction but also has the effect of three-body forces at short range and a non-local character present in it. The calculations have been done at $\hbar\Omega=20$ MeV, 14 MeV, and 12 MeV using INOY, N3LO, and CDB2K potentials, respectively. We have also performed shell model calculations with the YSOX interaction. The results with the INOY interaction show good agreement with the experimental data in comparison to the other three interactions. We have also shown the occupancy of different orbitals involved corresponding to the largest model space ($N_{\rm max} = 4$) in the calculations.
PF179 DIFFERENT IMPACT OF BCR BREAKPOINT ON THE OUTCOME OF ALLOGENEIC HEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION FROM DIFFERENT GRAFT SOURCE FOR PH+ALL IN THE ERA OF TKI
Authors: Nishiwaki S. , Mizuta S. , Ohashi K. , Fukuda T. , Uchida N. , Kanamori H. , Onizuka M. , Ozawa Y. , Tanaka J. , Ichinohe T. , Atsuta Y. , Kako S.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Prognostic significance of different BCR breakpoints in Philadelphia chromosome‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) has not been established. BCR‐ABL1–positive cells outside the B‐lineage compartment was reported in 40% of adult patients with Ph+ALL and the frequency was different between patients with minor BCR (mi‐bcr) and those with Major BCR (Ma‐bcr). This could suggest the possibility of biological differences in Ph+ALL according to BCR breakpoint. In the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT) is still considered to be a choice to cure Ph+ALL. Different effect of unrelated graft source was reported on the outcome of allo‐HCT with positive minimal residual disease (MRD) in a recent study.

Aims:

We aimed to clarify the impact of BCR breakpoint as well as MRD status and graft source on the outcome of allo‐HCT for Ph+ALL in the era of TKI.

Methods:

We analyzed data from a registry database for 803 adult Ph+ALL patients who underwent unrelated allo‐HCT in the first complete remission. BCR breakpoint was mi‐bcr in 627 patients (78%), and Ma‐bcr in 154 (19%).

Results:

Overall survival (OS) rates at 4 years were 64% in mi‐bcr and 61% in Ma‐bcr among patients who underwent unrelated bone marrow or peripheral blood transplantation (UBMT) (P = 0.43), and 65% in mi‐bcr and 67% in Ma‐bcr among patients who underwent unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) (P = 0.53). Similarly, the cumulative incidence of relapse or non‐relapse mortality (NRM) was not significantly different between patients with mi‐bcr and those with Ma‐bcr in either UBMT or UCBT (Relapse: UBMT, 20% in mi‐bcr and 18% in Ma‐bcr at 4 years, P = 0.73; UCBT, 20% in mi‐bcr and 15% in Ma‐bcr at 4 years, P = 0.35; NRM: UBMT, 25% in mi‐bcr and 30% in Ma‐bcr at 4 years, P = 0.31; UCBT, 23% in mi‐bcr and 26% in Ma‐bcr at 4 years, P = 0.98). BCR breakpoint was not a significant prognostic factor in multivariate analyses, regardless of graft source. However, in subanalyses, Ma‐bcr was a significant risk factor for survival and NRM in multivariate analyses among patients with MRD(+) at UBMT [Ma‐bcr (vs. mi‐bcr): OS: Hazard ratio (HR) 2.29, 95%CI 1.38 to 3.80, P = 0.001; NRM: HR 3.29, 95%CI 1.72 to 6.27, P < 0.001]. NRM was higher in patients with Ma‐bcr than in those with mi‐bcr among patients with MRD(+) at UBMT (44 % in Ma‐bcr vs. 14% in mi‐bcr at 4 years, P < 0.001), which led to lower survival rate in patients with Ma‐bcr.

Summary/Conclusion:

BCR breakpoint was a significant prognostic factor in Ph+ALL patients with MRD(+) at UBMT. This is the first study reporting the possibility of significant impact of BCR breakpoint on MRD‐based transplant outcome in Ph+ALL in the era of TKI.
PF182 CLINICOBIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOME OF ELDERLY FRAIL PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA INCLUDED IN A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL (ALL‐07FRAIL)
Authors: Ribera J.M. , García‐Calduch O. , Gil C. , González‐Campos J. , Moreno M.J. , Barba P. , Amigo M.L. , Martínez‐Carballeira D. , Alonso N. , Bergua J.M. , Mercadal S. , Cladera A. , Vall‐Llovera F. , García‐Guiñón A. , López A. , Lavilla E. , Sierra M. , Hernández‐Rivas J.M.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Elderly patients with ALL are frequently excluded from clinical studies, especially if they have criteria of frailty. Treatment of these patients is considered palliative, but here are scarce studies analysing the tolerability and outcome of elderly frail patients included in specific trials.

Aims:

Here we present the clinicobiologic characteristics and outcome of elderly frail patients with Philadelphia chromosome‐negative (Ph‐neg) ALL included in the ALL‐07FRAIL (NCT01358201) study from the Spanish PETHEMA Group.

Methods:

Older (55–65 yrs.) and elderly (>65 yrs.) patients with Ph‐neg ALL with Charlson comorbidity index >3 were included in this study. Treatment schedule: pre‐phase (dexamethasone [DXM] for 1 week + triple intrathecal therapy [TIT]). Induction: vincristine (VCR) 1 mg/week x 4 wks and DXM (10 mg/m2/d x 28d) and TIT (d1 and d35). No consolidation. Maintenance: mercaptopurine (MP) (50 mg/m2/d) and methotrexate (MTX) (20 mg/m2/wk) for 2 years from CR, with monthly reinductions with VCR (1 mg), DXM (40 mg/m2, d1,2) and TIT during the 1st year.

Results:

From 2008 to 2018, 58 patients (pts) were included in the ALL FRAIL07 study. Mean (SD) age 73 (7) yrs., 42 pts (72%) over 70 yrs., 38 males (66%), median WBC count 8.2 x109/L (0.3–475), CNS involvement 5 pts (9%), B‐cell precursor ALL 48/56 (86%)(pro‐B [n = 12], common [n = 23], pre‐B [n = 12], non‐specified [n = 1]), T‐ALL 8/56 (14%)(pro‐T [n = 1], pre‐T [n = 4], mature T [n = 1], non‐specified [n = 2]). Results of induction treatment (n = 57, 1 on treatment): early death 9 (16%), failure 17 (30%), complete remission 31 (54%). The most frequent Grade 3–4 toxicities in induction were: neutropenia 39/51 pts (77%), thrombocytopenia 30/51 (59%), infection 11/51 (22%), neurologic 4/49 (8%) and gastrointestinal 2/49 (4%). Outcome of CR patients: treatment‐related mortality 6 (19%), withdrawn from study 2 (6%), relapse 20 (65%), persistent CR1 3 (10%). The cumulative incidence of relapse at 3‐yrs was 80% (median: 11.1 months [95%CI: 5.2–25.9]). With a median follow‐up of 23.7 months (0.1–53.7), 4 patients are alive, with a median OS of 7.7 months (95% CI, 5.6–9.9)(Figure 1).

Summary/Conclusion:

Older and elderly frail patients with Ph‐neg ALL can benefit from a structured study using non‐genotoxic drugs, with good tolerability and acceptable CR rate and survival. These results could serve as control for strategies including new drugs in this difficult‐to‐treat population.

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PF185 WT1 OVEREXPRESSION PREDICTED GOOD OUTCOMES IN ADULT B‐CELL ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA PATIENTS RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY
Authors: Wang S. , Wang C. , Li T. , Wang W. , Hao Q. , Xie X. , Wan D. , Jiang Z. , Liu Y.
Published: June 2019

Background:

B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease that is characterized by the clonal expansion of developmentally arrested B‐cell precursors. Despite significant improvements in the management of this disease in children, the prognosis of adult patients remains poor. Identifying new prognostic markers is necessary to help select the best therapeutic schedules. Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) is a transcription factor that is overexpressed in diverse neoplasms, including acute leukemia. The prognostic role of WT1 in ALL is still controversial. No study has focused on the prognostic role of WT1 expression in adult B‐ALL patients receiving chemotherapy only.

Aims:

To investigate the prognostic value of WT1 expression in adult patients with B‐ALL.

Methods:

The WT1 transcript levels of 162 de‐novo adult B‐ALL patients were determined by TaqMan‐based real time quantitative PCR (RQ‐PCR) at the time of diagnosis. Eighty‐eight patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Survival functions were estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method and compared by the log‐rank test. Cumulative incidences were estimated for relapse to accommodate competing risks. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine the associations between WT1 transcript levels and CIR, RFS and OS.

Results:

WT1 overexpression was defined as a transcript level higher than 0.50%, which is the upper limit in normal bone marrow. WT1 overexpression was identified in 66.0% of the patients. WT1 overexpression was an independent positive prognostic factor for the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), relapse‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients who received chemotherapy only (CIR: HR = 0.236 [95% confidence interval 0.094–0.592]; P = 0.002; RFS: HR = 0.223 [0.092–0.543]; P = 0.001; OS: HR = 0.409 [0.214–0.783]; P = 0.007) and in patients who did not have BCR‐ABL fusion or KMT2A rearrangements (CIR: HR = 0.431 [0.201–0.921]; P = 0.030; RFS: HR = 0.449 [0.224–0.899]; P = 0.024; OS: HR = 0.521 [0.278–0.977]; P = 0.042). However, WT1 overexpression had no prognostic value in patients who received allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Furthermore, allo‐HSCT could improve the prognosis of patients with low WT1 expression.

Summary/Conclusion:

Therefore, testing for WT1 expression at the time of diagnosis may predict outcomes in adult B‐ALL patients who receive only chemotherapy and who do not have the BCR‐ABL fusion gene or KMT2A rearrangements. Allo‐HSCT may improve the prognosis of patients with low WT1 transcript levels.
PF186 INTENSIVE CARE OF THE LIFE –THREATING COMPLICATION DE NOVO ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL) PATIENTS (PTS)
Authors: Bazhenov A. , Galstyan G. , Parovichnikova E. , Troitskaya V.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Treatment of ALL pts can be associated with the life‐threating complications requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The long‐term outcomes of ALL pts after discharge from ICU is unknown.

Aims:

To compare the overall survival (OS) of de novo ALL pts who required and not required ICU admission during induction remission chemotherapy.

Methods:

All de novo ALL pts (median age 28 yo, 17–60 yo), treated from 2013 to 2017, were enrolled into the study. Pts were divided into 2 groups: pts required ICU admission (ICU group), and pts not required ICU admission (non‐ICU group). Landmark OS was assessed by the Kaplan – Meier method, log rank value p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Landmark was the date of discharge from ICU, and median time of discharge from ICU. Univariate analysis was performed with χ 2 tests or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables to find an independent ICU mortality predictor.

Results:

In total, 87 ALL pts were enrolled into the study, 18 (20.6%) of them pts required ICU admission and 69 pts were treated without ICU. Reasons for ICU admissions were: acute respiratory failure (44%), acute neurological events (28%), tumor lysis syndrome (17%), septic shock (SS) (11%). Mechanical ventilation (MV) was required in 28% of pts, vasopressor support ‐ in 28% of pts, and renal replacement therapy ‐ in 22% of pts. ICU survival rate was 89% (2 pts died in ICU due to the SS). Needs for MV and for vasopressors were independent predictors of ICU mortality (p < 0.05). No one pts died in non‐ICU group during induction chemotherapy. Five year OS was 44% and 76% in ICU and non‐ICU group, respectively, (p < 0.05) (figure 1).

Summary/Conclusion:

Despite high ICU survival rate (89%), 5– years OS was only 44%. I non‐ICU group OS was 76% (p < 0.05). The long‐term prognosis of ALL pts discharged from ICU worse in comparison AML pts discharged from ICU [1,2]. This phenomenon it could be explained by negative selection of ALL pts in ICU.

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Reference

1. The influence of ICU admission of the patients with de novo AML on the long‐term survival. Bazhenov A., Galstyan G., Parovichnikova E. et al. Intensive care medicine experimental. 2018 (6) supplement 2. P.4422. Prognostic factors for intensive care unit admission, intensive care outcome, and post‐intensive care survival in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: a single center experience. Schellongowski P. Haematologica. 2011. № 2 (96).