bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality assurance for a six degrees‐of‐freedom table using a 3D printed phantom
Authors: Woods Kyle , Ayan Ahmet S. , Woollard Jeffrey , Gupta Nilendu
Published: November 2017

Purpose

To establish a streamlined end‐to‐end test of a 6 degrees‐of‐freedom (6DoF) robotic table using a 3D printed phantom for periodic quality assurance.

Methods

A 3D printed phantom was fabricated with translational and rotational offsets and an imbedded central ball‐bearing (BB). The phantom underwent each step of the radiation therapy process: CT simulation in a straight orientation, plan generation using the treatment planning software, setup to offset marks at the linac, registration and corrected 6DoF table adjustments via hidden target test, delivery of a Winston‐Lutz test to the BB, and verification of table positioning via field and laser lights. The registration values, maximum total displacement of the combined Winston‐Lutz fields, and a pass or fail criterion of the laser and field lights were recorded. The quality assurance process for each of the three linacs were performed for the first 30 days.

Results

Within a 95% confidence interval, the overall uncertainty values for both translation and rotation were below 1.0 mm and 0.5° for each linac respectively. When combining the registration values and other uncertainties for all three linacs, the average deviations were within 2.0 mm and 1.0° of the designed translation and rotation offsets of the 3D print respectively. For all three linacs, the maximum total deviation for the Winston‐Lutz test did not exceed 1.0 mm. Laser and light field verification was within tolerance every day for all three linacs given the latest guidance documentation for table repositioning.

Conclusion

The 3D printer is capable of accurately fabricating a quality assurance phantom for 6DoF positioning verification. The end‐to‐end workflow allows for a more efficient test of the 6DoF mechanics while including other important tests needed for routine quality assurance.
Precarious schedules linked with workplace aggression in a high‐risk occupation
Authors: Hurtado David A. , Dumet Lisset M. , Greenspan Samuel A. , Marino Miguel , Bernard Kimberly
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Night work and prolonged work hours increase the risk for workplace aggression, however, the risk related to precarious schedules remains unknown.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study among Parole Probation Officers (PPOs) (n = 35). A precarious schedules index was created including the following indicators (a) experiencing one or more unexpected shifts during the last 4 weeks; (b) having minimal control over work hours; and (c) shifts notifications of less than a week. Generalized Poisson Regressions estimated the association between precarious schedules and self‐reported client‐based aggressive incidents (verbal, threating, property, or physical) during the last 12 months.

Results

Workplace aggression was highly prevalent (94.3%). PPOs who experienced precarious schedules (74.3% prevalence) had an adjusted rate of workplace aggression 1.55 times greater than PPOs without precarious schedules (IRR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.25, 1.97, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Precarious schedules were associated with workplace aggression. Further research ought to examine whether improving schedule predictability may reduce client‐based aggression.
Conservation genetics of the Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) in natural and captive populations
Authors: Schmidt Daniel J. , Espinoza Thomas , Connell Marilyn , Hughes Jane M.
Published: November 2017

Many thousands of Mary River turtle eggs were harvested for the pet trade in the 1960s and 1970s before it was recognized as a new species in a unique genus. Pet turtles and their descendants still survive in captive collections. Elusor macrurus is now an endangered species after suffering dramatic population declines along the single Australian river that constitutes its entire range.

A conservation genetic assessment was conducted to evaluate population subdivision within the remaining wild population of the Mary River turtle; to compare diversity of the wild population with a captive sample derived from the pet trade; and to establish a baseline estimate of effective population size (Ne) to assist with future monitoring and recovery.

Microsatellite analysis indicated panmixia throughout most of the Mary River catchment with the exception of one downstream tributary –Tinana Creek (pop. Specific FST = 0.154). Subdivision between Tinana Creek and Mary River is a feature common to multiple co‐distributed freshwater taxa including the threatened Australian lungfish and Mary River cod. Microsatellite diversity of the wild adult population was low (average HS = 0.554) and not significantly different from that of a sample of captive turtles from the pet trade – indicating genetic diversity may be well represented in captive stocks. Mitochondrial DNA diversity was extremely limited, with only two haplotypes found in the wild and a single shared haplotype in captive turtles.

Estimates of Ne applicable to the entire species in the wild were ~136 and ~158 using two independent methods. A reasonable management objective should be retention of Ne levels >100 during recovery of the species. Additional recommendations include that Mary River turtles be listed as Critically Endangered, and that a recovery plan be developed that considers ‘headstarting’ – using captive bred stocks to supplement the wild population.
The use of micro‐CT imaging to examine and illustrate fetal skeletal abnormalities in Dutch Belted rabbits and to prove concordance with Alizarin Red stained skeletal examination
Authors: Solomon Howard M. , Murzyn Stacia , Rendemonti Joyce , Chapman Sharon , Skedzielewski Tinamarie , Jucker Beat M. , Stanislaus Dinesh , Alsaid Hasan
Published: November 2017

Objectives

In our laboratory we evaluated the use of micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) using a high resolution acquisition protocol and fetuses obtained on Gestation Day (GD) 29 (mating = GD 0).

Methods

To show concordance between traditional Alizarin Red S stain and micro‐CT skeletal examination methods, 103 fetuses from 19 untreated Dutch belted rabbits were obtained by cesarean section and stored frozen. The fetuses were thawed, imaged and examined digitally by micro‐CT, then stained and re‐examined using traditional methods.

Results

A total of 12 individual malformations and 35 unique variations were detected by both methods. Differences in the extent of ossification were found in only 51 of 26,196 bones while 99.8% of the observations were identical. Of the 51 differences, 31 were an unossified fifth medial phalanx of the forepaw indicating that very low‐density skeletal bones may be visible by Alizarin Red stain but not by micro‐CT scan. To establish this methodology under pharmaceutical testing conditions, we obtained and imaged by micro‐CT Alizarin Red S stained abnormal fetal rabbit skeletons previously exposed to a drug candidate associated with craniofacial malformations in humans. All of the types of skeletal abnormalities first identified by staining were also detected by micro‐CT examination. Representative images of these 66 different fetal skeletal abnormalities were characterized, and compiled to illustrate visual concordance between micro‐CT scanned and traditional Alizarin Red S stained skeletons.

Conclusion

Micro‐CT imaging is an accurate, reliable and robust method that can be used as an alternative to stain when examining fetal rabbit skeletons in developmental toxicity studies.
Mitochondrial ribosome bL34 mutants present diminished translation of cytochrome c oxidase subunits
Authors: Guedes‐Monteiro Raquel Fonseca , Ferreira‐Junior José Ribamar , Bleicher Lucas , Nóbrega Francisco G. , Barrientos Antoni , Barros Mario H.
Published: November 2017

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitoribosomes are specialized in the translation of a few number of highly hydrophobic membrane proteins, components of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Mitochondrial characteristics, such as the membrane system and its redox state driven mitoribosomes evolution through great diversion from their bacterial and cytosolic counterparts. Therefore, mitoribosome presents a considerable number of mitochondrial‐specific proteins, as well as new protein extensions. In this work we characterize temperature sensitive mutants of the subunit bL34 present in the 54S large subunit. Although bL34 has bacterial homologs, in yeast it has a long 65 aminoacids mitochondrial N‐terminal addressing sequence, here we demonstrate that it can be replaced by the mitochondrial addressing sequence of Neurospora crassa ATP9 gene. The bL34 temperature sensitive mutants present lowered translation of mitochondrial COX1 and COX3, which resulted in reduced cytochrome c oxidase activity and respiratory growth deficiency. The sedimentation properties of bL34 in sucrose gradients suggest that similarly to its bacterial homolog, bL34 is also a later participant in the process of mitoribosome biogenesis.
100‐Fold Enhancement of Charge Transport in Uniaxially Oriented Mesoporous Anatase TiO2 Films
Authors: Li Ke , Liu Jie , Sheng Xia , Chen Liping , Xu Tao , Zhu Kai , Feng Xinjian
Published: November 2017

Mesoporous semiconductor films are of considerable interest for applications in photoelectrochemical devices, however, despite intensive research till now, their charge transport properties remain significantly lower than their single‐crystal counterparts. Herein, we report a novel low‐temperature template‐free technique for growing high surface area mesoporous anatase TiO2 films with a preferred [001] crystalline‐orientation on FTO‐coated glass substrate. Compared to mesoporous films that comprised of randomly oriented crystallites, the uniaxial orientation enables a 100‐fold increase in the rate of electron transport. The uniaxially oriented mesoporous anatase TiO2 films exhibit should greatly facilitate the development and application of photoelectrochemical and electrochemical devices.
Metalated Chromene and Chromone Complexes: pH Switchable Metal–Carbon Bonding Interaction, Photo‐triggerable Chromone Delivery Application, and Antioxidative Activity
Authors: Ng Sze‐Wing , Chung Lai‐Hon , Yeung Chi‐Fung , Lo Hoi‐Shing , Shek Hau‐Lam , Kang Tian‐Shu , Leung Chung‐Hang , Ma Dik‐Lung , Wong Chun‐Yuen
Published: November 2017

The two families of RuII‐chromene and ‐chromone complexes isolated in this work represent the first examples of metalated chromene and chromone complexes synthesized through transition‐metal‐mediated cyclization of phenol‐tethered ynone. These unprecedented metalated heterocyclic compounds exhibit remarkable features, such as pH‐switchable metal–carbon bonding interactions, photo‐triggerable release of organic chromone upon visible‐light irradiation, and superior antioxidative property to their organic analogue (1,4‐benzopyrone). These findings not only offer mechanistic insights into metal‐induced activation of functionalized alkynes, but also add a new dimension to rational design of antioxidants and photo‐responsive drug delivery systems.
Hybrid channel estimation for MIMO relay systems with Doppler offset influences
Authors: Kaur Harmandar , Khosla Mamta , Sarin R. K.
Published: November 2017

The design of the channel estimation method in a multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) relay system plays a highly crucial role in deciding the overall system performance. For the realistic scenarios specifically, with fast time‐varying channel conditions due to highly mobile communicating nodes, the degree of accuracy to which the channel estimates are obtained for MIMO relay systems influences the communication system reliability significantly. However, most of the channel estimation approaches proposed in literature for MIMO relay systems assume that the Doppler offset contributed by highly mobile nodes is already known to the receiver, ignoring the resulting nonlinear system dynamics. Hence, a novel hybrid algorithm is proposed to address the issue of time‐varying channel estimation under fast‐fading channel condition with Doppler offset influences contributed by high‐mobility communicating nodes for a 1‐way 2‐hop MIMO amplify‐and‐forward relaying system. The problem is first formulated as a nonlinear state‐space model, and then an algorithm is developed to estimate the individual source‐to‐relay and relay‐to‐destination channels in the presence of the associated dynamic Doppler offset. In the proposed method, a set of superimposed orthogonal pilots is used for aiding in the updation of the channel gains, since Kalman filter–based updation may lead to accumulation of estimation and prediction error. A detailed computational complexity analysis of the proposed hybrid algorithm is presented, which shows that the algorithm has moderate computational complexity with a good performance in fast time‐varying channel conditions with high node mobility in a dual‐hop MIMO relay system.
Identifiability inN‐mixture models: a large‐scale screening test with bird data
Authors: Kéry Marc
Published: November 2017

BinomialN‐mixture models have proven very useful in ecology, conservation, and monitoring: they allow estimation and modeling of abundance separately from detection probability using simple counts. Recently, doubts about parameter identifiability have been voiced. I conducted a large‐scale screening test with 137 bird data sets from 2,037 sites. I found virtually no identifiability problems for Poisson and zero‐inflated Poisson (ZIP) binomialN‐mixture models, but negative‐binomial (NB) models had problems in 25% of all data sets. The corresponding multinomialN‐mixture models had no problems. Parameter estimates under Poisson and ZIP binomial and multinomialN‐mixture models were extremely similar. Identifiability problems became a little more frequent with smaller sample sizes (267 and 50 sites), but were unaffected by whether the models did or did not include covariates. Hence, binomialN‐mixture model parameters with Poisson and ZIP mixtures typically appeared identifiable. In contrast, NB mixtures were often unidentifiable, which is worrying since these were often selected by Akaike's information criterion. Identifiability of binomialN‐mixture models should always be checked. If problems are found, simpler models, integrated models that combine different observation models or the use of external information via informative priors or penalized likelihoods, may help.
Critical uncertainty parameters influencing seismic performance of bridges using Lasso regression
Authors: Mangalathu Sujith , Jeon Jong‐Su , DesRoches Reginald
Published: November 2017

Recent efforts of regional risk assessment of structures often pose a challenge in dealing with the potentially variable uncertain input parameters. The source of uncertainties can be either epistemic or aleatoric. This article identifies uncertain variables exhibiting strongest influences on the seismic demand of bridge components through various regression techniques such as linear, stepwise, Ridge, Lasso, and elastic net regressions. The statistical results indicate that Lasso regression is the most effective one in predicting the demand model as it has the lowest mean square error and absolute error. As the sensitivity study identifies more than 1 significant variable, a multiparameter fragility model using Lasso regression is suggested in this paper. The proposed fragility methodology is able to identify the relative impact of each uncertain input variable and level of treatment needed for these variables in the estimation of seismic demand models and fragility curves. Thus, the proposed approach helps bridge owners to spend their resources judiciously (e.g., data collection, field investigations, and censoring) in the generation of a more reliable database for regional risk assessment. This proposed approach can be applicable to other structures.
Online numerical simulation: A hybrid simulation method for incomplete boundary conditions
Authors: Wu Bin , Ning Xizhan , Xu Guoshan , Wang Zhen , Mei Zhu , Yang Ge
Published: November 2017

Hybrid simulation is a powerful and cost‐effective simulation technique to evaluate structural dynamic performance. However, it is sometimes rather difficult to guarantee all the boundaries on the physical substructures, especially when the boundary conditions are very complex, due to limited laboratory resources. Lacking of boundary conditions is bound to change the stress state of the structure and eventually result in an inaccurate evaluation of structural performance. A model updating‐based online numerical simulation method is proposed in this paper to tackle the problem of incomplete boundary conditions. In the proposed method, 2 sets of finite element models with the same constitutive model are set up for the overall analysis of the whole structure and the constitutive model parameter estimation of the physical substructure, respectively. The boundary conditions are naturally satisfied because the response is calculated from the overall structural model, and the accuracy is improved as the material constitutive parameters are updated. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated via numerical simulations and actual hybrid tests on a RC frame structure, and the results show that the negative effect of incomplete boundary conditions is almost eliminated and the accuracy of hybrid simulation is very much improved.
Single-gene speciation: Mating and gene flow between mirror-image snails
Authors: Richards Paul M. , Morii Yuta , Kimura Kazuki , Hirano Takahiro , Chiba Satoshi , Davison Angus
Published: November 2017

Variation in the shell coiling, or chirality, of land snails provides an opportunity to investigate the potential for “single-gene” speciation, because mating between individuals of opposite chirality is believed not possible if the snails mate in a face-to-face position. However, the evidence in support of single-gene speciation is sparse, mostly based upon single-gene mitochondrial studies and patterns of chiral variation between species. Previously, we used a theoretical model to show that as the chiral phenotype of offspring is determined by the maternal genotype, occasional chiral reversals may take place and enable gene flow between mirror image morphs, preventing speciation. Here, we show empirically that there is recent or ongoing gene flow between the different chiral types of Japanese Euhadra species. We also report evidence of mating between mirror-image morphs, directly showing the potential for gene flow. Thus, theoretical models are suggestive of gene flow between oppositely coiled snails, and our empirical study shows that they can mate and that there is gene flow in Euhadra. More than a single gene is required before chiral variation in shell coiling can be considered to have created a new species.
Influence of out‐of‐plane fiber orientation on reaction‐to‐fire properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites
Authors: Eibl S. , Swanson D.
Published: November 2017

This work investigates the influence of the out‐of‐plane orientation of carbon fibers on the reaction‐to‐fire characteristics of polymer matrix composites. A deep insight into combustion processes is gained, which is necessary to fully understand and assess advantages of composites with out‐of‐plane fiber angles. Epoxy‐based Hexply 8552/IM7 specimens with primarily low fiber angles between 0° and 15° are characterized by cone calorimetry. Heat release during fire is greatly affected by the out‐of‐plane fiber angle because of the thermal boundaries created by the fibers. The advancement of the pyrolysis front during fire was determined from peak heat release rates and validated by temperature measurements along the back surface of the panels, representing a novel method of determining position‐dependent pyrolysis migration velocity. These measurements show a transverse shift in pyrolysis front velocity for increasing out‐of‐plane fiber angles. Pyrolysis pathways between the fiber boundaries facilitate faster combustion through the composite thickness, especially for increasing angles from 0° to 15°. It was determined that under the chosen conditions, the pyrolysis front advances approximately 4 times faster when propagating parallel to the fibers than perpendicular.
Effects of opening edge treatment and EPS thickness on EPS external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) façade reaction‐to‐fire performance based on JIS A1310 standard façade fire test method
Authors: Zhou Biao , Yoshioka Hideki , Noguchi Takafumi , Ando Tatsuo
Published: November 2017

External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) are quite common in constructions. However, the combustible insulation core induces serious fire disasters, especially considering thermoplastic expanded polystyrene (EPS) has been widely used as insulation core. Most of EPS ETICS building fire is caused by window spreading fire. The window opening edge treatment plays an important role in EPS ETICS fire prevention. Presently, in order to investigate optimal opening edge treatment and EPS thickness effects on EPS ETICS reaction‐to‐fire performance, façade fire tests based on JIS A 1310 standard façade fire test method were carried out by testing a series of EPS ETICS specimens varying EPS thickness, opening edge treatment methods and heating intensity. It is found that back‐wrapping is a good opening edge treatment method. When the EPS ETICS specimen is treated by back‐wrapping opening edge treatment method, the peak temperature, EPS burn area, time (20 minutes) averaged temperature, and heat flux density become low. The time (20 minutes) averaged temperature of each position from T1 to T5 versus EPS thickness is linear at heating intensity 300 or 600 kW. The averaged ratio of EPS burn area above opening (Sa) and below opening (Sb) is approaching 3.058.
Investigating motivation and engagement in an urban afterschool arts and leadership program
Authors: Chung He Len , Jusu Bentrice , Christensen Kirsten , Venescar Pierre , Tran Dan‐anh
Published: November 2017

Despite the potential benefits of afterschool arts‐based programs on development, urban youth in low‐income areas are unlikely to participate in these activities. The aim of the current study was to investigate motivation and engagement in an arts and leadership afterschool program among 10 urban, predominantly African American youth. We took a mixed‐methods approach, as limited research has examined motivational processes in arts‐based programs. Youth identified program content, staff, and peers as important sources of motivation. Specifically, the program leader played multiple roles in youths’ lives, and it is critical to pay careful attention to how youth experience and learn to navigate these complex relationships. Youth especially valued opportunities to develop a sense of competence (e.g., learn teamwork skills) and engage in identity work (e.g., gain a better sense of themselves), and they envisioned their program participation having a positive influence on motivation in their everyday lives outside of program activities.
B1 artifact reduction in abdominal DCE‐MRI using kT‐points: First clinical assessment of dynamic RF shimming at 3T
Authors: Tomi‐Tricot Raphaël , Gras Vincent , Mauconduit Franck , Legou François , Boulant Nicolas , Gebhardt Matthias , Ritter Dieter , Kiefer Berthold , Zerbib Pierre , Rahmouni Alain , Vignaud Alexandre , Luciani Alain , Amadon Alexis
Published: November 2017

Background

The excitation inhomogeneity artifact occurring at 3T in the abdomen can lead to dramatic loss of signal and contrast, thereby hampering diagnosis.

Purpose

To assess excitation homogeneity and image quality achieved by nonselective prototypical kT‐points pulses, compared to tailored static RF shimming, in clinical routine on a commercial dual‐transmit scanner.

Study Type

Retrospective study with Institutional Review Board approval; informed consent was waived.

Population

Fifty consecutive patients referred for liver MRI at a single hospital.

Field Strength/Sequence

3D breath‐hold dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI at 3T.

Assessment

Flip angle homogeneity was estimated via numerical simulation based on measured static and RF field maps. In all, 20 of the 50 patients underwent DCE‐MRI while a pulse designer was present. The effect of RF shimming and kT‐point pulses could be compared by repeating the acquisition with each transmit scheme before injection and in the late phase. Signal homogeneity, T1 contrast, enhancement quality, structure details, and global image quality were assessed on a 4‐level scale (0 to 3) by two radiologists.

Statistical tests

Means were compared using Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests.

Results

Normalized root mean square flip angle error was significantly reduced with kT‐points compared to static RF shimming (8.5% ± 1.5% [mean ± standard deviation, SD] vs. 20.4% ± 9.8%; P < 0.0001). The worst case (heavy ascites) led to 13.0% (kT‐points) vs. 54.9% (RF shimming). Global image quality was significantly higher for kT‐points (2.3 ± 0.5 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6; P = 0.008). One subject's examination was judged unusable with RF shimming by one reader, none with kT‐points. 85% of kT‐points acquisitions were graded at least 2/3, and only 55% for static RF shimming.

Data Conclusion

KT‐points reduce excitation inhomogeneity quantitatively and qualitatively, especially in patients with ascites and prone to B1 shading.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy: Stage 1

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1562–1571.
Microfinance development in Armenia: Sectoral characteristics and problems
Authors: Khachatryan Knar , Avetisyan Emma
Published: November 2017

The heavy‐handed regulation enforced a commercialization process and as a result pushed microfinance institutions in Armenia towards a commercial logic, which diminished the importance of the social component. Sector development problems include unfair fees, limit on annual interest rate, late cooperation between credit organizations, and regulated microfinance operations. Because of the high interest rates and difficult economic situation, micro‐loans do not necessarily help poor people in Armenia to escape poverty, but instead push them further down into greater poverty.
Comparisons of glyphosate adsorption properties of different functional Cr‐based metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Feng Dan , Xia Yan
Published: November 2017

A Cr‐based metal–organic framework, namely, MIL‐101(Cr), was modified with amino (NH2–) and urea (UR2–) groups, and the materials were evaluated as adsorbents for glyphosate, and a comparison with commercial activated carbon was also discussed. The effects of the adsorption factors, such as adsorbent concentration, adsorption time, pH and ionic strength were mainly investigated. The results showed that a pseudo‐second‐order rate equation described the adsorption kinetics mechanisms well, while the Langmuir model and the Freundlich model fitted different adsorption isotherms, respectively. Among the adsorbents we studied, NH2‐MIL‐101(Cr) showed the maximum adsorbing capacity, which is 64.25 mg/g when pH = 3.0, while UR2‐MIL‐101(Cr) did not reach the best adsorption performance due to the steric hindrance. The work opens up a new way for the modification of metal–organic frameworks for adsorption process.
Nevi and lasers: Practical considerations
Authors: Rogers Tova , Krakowski Andrew C. , Marino Maria L. , Rossi Anthony , Anderson Richard R. , Marghoob Ashfaq A.
Published: November 2017

Lasers are increasingly used for elective ablation of melanocytic nevi (MN). However, the associated risks of treating MN with lasers are debated and not well studied. Theoretical risks include inadvertently treating a melanoma mistaken for a nevus, the inability to remove all nevus cells and the possibility for residual cells to undergo malignant transformation, and the difficulty in clinically monitoring the remnant nevus for melanoma progression. Additional concerns include the morphological suitability of a lesion for laser removal and managing patients’ expectations about the variable cosmetic outcomes. These potential issues have prompted us to outline some practical suggestions for clinicians and patients to consider when determining the suitability of a nevus for laser ablation. The choice to perform laser removal of a nevus is personal, both from the perspective of the treating physician and that of the person being treated. While acknowledging some uncertainty, we believe that these suggestions can help mitigate risk and improve patient outcomes. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:7–9, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Defining the Field of Sequence‐Controlled Polymers
Authors: Lutz Jean‐François
Published: November 2017

Over the last ten years, the development of synthetic polymers containing controlled monomer sequences has become a prominent topic in fundamental and applied polymer science. This emerging area is particularly broad and combines classical polymer chemistry tools with techniques imported from other domains such as biology, biochemistry, organic synthesis, engineering, and bioanalytics. Consequently, it also generates new structures, terminologies, and applications that are not within the traditional scope of polymer science. The term “sequence‐controlled polymers” (SCPs) was recently proposed as a generic name to describe all these recent trends. However, since the field of SCPs has been growing very rapidly in recent literature, it is urgent to accurately define its scientific frontiers. In this important context, this review is an attempt to define, rationalize, and classify the field of SCPs. In particular, all synthetic approaches that have been reported for the synthesis of SCPs are discussed and categorized. In addition, the characterization tools, properties, and potential applications of these new polymers are described herein. Overall, this review serves as a reference guide for understanding the burgeoning field of SCPs.
Performance of a hybrid Monte Carlo‐Pencil Beam dose algorithm for proton therapy inverse planning
Authors: Barragán Montero Ana María , Souris Kevin , Sanchez‐Parcerisa Daniel , Sterpin Edmond , Lee John Aldo
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Analytical algorithms have a limited accuracy when modeling very heterogeneous tumor sites. This work addresses the performance of a hybrid dose optimizer that combines both Monte Carlo (MC) and pencil beam (PB) dose engines to get the best trade‐off between speed and accuracy for proton therapy plans.

Methods

The hybrid algorithm calculates the optimal spot weights (w) by means of an iterative optimization process where the dose at each iteration is computed by using a precomputed dose influence matrix based on the conventional PB plus a correction term c obtained from a MC simulation. Updates of c can be triggered as often as necessary by calling the MC dose engine with the last corrected values of w as input. In order to analyze the performance of the hybrid algorithm against dose calculation errors, it was applied to a simplistic water phantom for which several test cases with different errors were simulated, including proton range uncertainties. Afterwards, the algorithm was used in three clinical cases (prostate, lung, and brain) and benchmarked against full MC‐based optimization. The influence of different stopping criteria in the final results was also investigated.

Results

The hybrid algorithm achieved excellent results provided that the estimated range in a homogeneous material is the same for the two dose engines involved, i.e., PB and MC. For the three patient cases, the hybrid plans were clinically equivalent to those obtained with full MC‐based optimization. Only a single update of c was needed in the hybrid algorithm to fulfill the clinical dose constraints, which represents an extra computation time to obtain c that ranged from 1 (brain) to 4 min (lung) with respect to the conventional PB‐based optimization, and an estimated average gain factor of 14 with respect to full MC‐based optimization.

Conclusion

The hybrid algorithm provides an improved trade‐off between accuracy and speed. This algorithm can be immediately considered as an option for improving dose calculation accuracy of commercial analytical treatment planning systems, without a significant increase in the computation time (≪5 min) with respect to current PB‐based optimization.
Synthesized tissue‐equivalent dielectric phantoms using salt and polyvinylpyrrolidone solutions
Authors: Ianniello Carlotta , de Zwart Jacco A. , Duan Qi , Deniz Cem M. , Alon Leeor , Lee Jae‐Seung , Lattanzi Riccardo , Brown Ryan
Published: November 2017

Purpose

To explore the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for simulated materials with tissue‐equivalent dielectric properties.

Methods

PVP and salt were used to control, respectively, relative permittivity and electrical conductivity in a collection of 63 samples with a range of solute concentrations. Their dielectric properties were measured with a commercial probe and fitted to a 3D polynomial in order to establish an empirical recipe. The material's thermal properties and MR spectra were measured.

Results

The empirical polynomial recipe (available at https://www.amri.ninds.nih.gov/cgi-bin/phantomrecipe) provides the PVP and salt concentrations required for dielectric materials with permittivity and electrical conductivity values between approximately 45 and 78, and 0.1 to 2 siemens per meter, respectively, from 50 MHz to 4.5 GHz. The second‐ (solute concentrations) and seventh‐ (frequency) order polynomial recipe provided less than 2.5% relative error between the measured and target properties. PVP side peaks in the spectra were minor and unaffected by temperature changes.

Conclusion

PVP‐based phantoms are easy to prepare and nontoxic, and their semitransparency makes air bubbles easy to identify. The polymer can be used to create simulated material with a range of dielectric properties, negligible spectral side peaks, and long T2 relaxation time, which are favorable in many MR applications. Magn Reson Med 80:413–419, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Open shortest path first routing under random early detection
Authors: Liu Jiaxin , Dimitrov Stanko
Published: November 2017

In this article, we consider a variant of Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing that accounts for Random Early Detection (RED), an Active Queue Management method for backbone networks. In the version of OSPF we consider in this article we only require a single network path be available between each origin and destination, a simplification of the OSPF protocol. We formulate a mixed integer non‐linear program to determine the data paths, referred to as a routing policy. We prove that determining an optimal OSPF routing policy that accounts for RED is NP‐Hard. Furthermore, in order for the generated routing policies to be real‐world implementable, referred to as realizable, we must determine weights for all arcs in the network such that solving the all‐pairs shortest path problem using these weights reproduces the routing policies. We show that determining if a set of all‐pairs routes is realizable is also NP‐Hard. Fortunately, using traffic data from three real‐world backbone networks, we are able to find realizable routing policies for these networks that account for RED, using an off‐the‐shelf solver, and policies found perform better than those used in each network at the time the data was collected.
Understanding the metabolic burden of recombinant antibody production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a quantitative metabolomics approach
Authors: de Ruijter Jorg C. , Koskela Essi V. , Nandania Jatin , Frey Alexander D. , Velagapudi Vidya
Published: November 2017

The cellular changes induced by heterologous protein expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been analysed on many levels and found to be significant. However, even though high‐level protein production poses a metabolic burden, evaluation of the expression host at the level of the metabolome has often been neglected. We present a comparison of metabolite profiles of a wild‐type strain with those of three strains producing recombinant antibody variants of increasing size and complexity: an scFv fragment, an scFv–Fc fusion protein and a full‐length IgG molecule. Under producing conditions, all three recombinant strains showed a clear decrease in growth rate compared with the wild‐type strain and the severity of the growth phenotype increased with size of the protein. The levels of 76 intracellular metabolites were determined using a targeted (semi) quantitative mass spectrometry based approach. Based on unsupervised and supervised multivariate analysis of metabolite profiles, together with pathway activity profiling, the recombinant strains were found to be significantly different from each other and from the wild‐type strain. We observed the most prominent changes in metabolite levels for metabolites involved in amino acid and redox metabolism. Induction of the unfolded protein response was detected in all producing strains and is considered to be a contributing factor to the overall metabolic burden on the cells.
E8 orbits of IR dualities
Authors: Razamat Shlomo S. , Zafrir Gabi
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We discuss USp(2n) supersymmetric models with eight fundamental fields and a field in the antisymmetric representation. Turning on the most generic superpotentials, coupling pairs of fundamental fields to powers of the antisymmetric field while preserving an R symmetry, we give evidence for the statement that the models are connected by a large network of dualities which can be organized into orbits of the Weyl group of E
8. We make also several curious observations about such models. In particular, we argue that a USp(2m) model with the addition of singlet fields and even rank m flows in the IR to a CFT with E
7 × U(1) symmetry. We also discuss an infinite number of duals for the USp(2) theory with eight fundamentals and no superpotential.
Microwear–mesowear congruence and mortality bias in rhinoceros mass-death assemblages
Authors: Mihlbachler Matthew C. , Campbell Daniel , Chen Charlotte , Ayoub Michael , Kaur Pawandeep
Published: November 2017

Although we do not know the cause of death of most fossil animals, mortality is often associated with ecological stress due to seasonality and other stochastic events (droughts, storms, volcanism) that may have caused shifts in feeding ecology preceding death. In these instances, dental microwear, which reflects feeding ecology in a narrow window of time, may provide a biased view of diet. Mesowear, another dental-wear proxy based on the morphology of worn cusps, requires macroscopic amounts of dental wear and reflects diet for a longer interval and may be less prone to bias from near-death ecological stress. We compared congruence between microwear and mesowear of North American, fossil rhinocerotid mass-death assemblages and collections of hunted modern rhinocerotids to test the hypothesis that fossil assemblages yield more incongruous microwear and mesowear data as a result of near-death ecological disturbances. In extant rhinos, both mesowear and microwear are associated with diet and height of the feeding environment. Mesowear and microwear in the modern rhinocerotid collections are statistically correlated, with strong relationships between average mesowear scores and labially distributed dental microwear. In contrast, a relationship between mesowear and microwear was not observed among the fossil rhinocerotid assemblages. Mesowear suggests that the fossil rhinos had low-abrasion diets, suggesting that they fed from clean, possibly tall vegetation. Some, but not all, mass-death assemblages produce microwear data with excessive scratches and/or pits compared with expectations based on mesowear results, suggesting that dental microwear was altered shortly before death in some but not all of the fossil assemblages. The dental-wear proxies available to paleoecologists provide a mosaic of dietary evidence reflecting diet over long (mesowear) and more abbreviated (microwear) periods of time that, together, provide a richer understanding of feeding ecology and its relationship to environment, seasonal change, and other ecological disturbances.
POLITICAL BOUNDARY VERSUS SOCIAL CONTEXT: DYNAMICS OF SOCIOECONOMIC DIFFERENTIALS IN FERTILITY IN INDIAN STATES
Authors: Arunachalam Dharma , Navaneetham Kannan , Forrest Walter
Published: November 2017

Using data from India’s first (1992–93) and third (2005–06) National Family Health Surveys (NFHS-I and NFHS-III) this study examined the fertility differentials between major social groups and the extent to which these varied between states and over time. The analysis was based on a sample of 54,030 and 55,369 currently married women aged 15–34 in the NFHS-I and NFHS-III respectively. Reported parity and desired family size were used to assess variations in fertility behaviour. The results show that interstate variation in childbearing patterns within social groups was at least as high as, if not higher than, variation between states (net of other influences) in both periods, 1992–93 and 2005–06. The variations among Hindus, the poor and Muslims were more noticeable than for other groups. These variations did not decline between 1992–93 and 2005–06 and may have even increased slightly for some groups. Further, there was no consistent north–south divide in either fertility behaviour or desired family size. Together, these results may point to the gradual disappearance of the influences that were once unique to southern or northern India, and the simultaneous emergence of social, political, economic and cultural forces that are pan-Indian in their reach.
Effects of a parent training programme for the treatment of young children with separation anxiety disorder
Authors: Mayer-Brien Sandra , Turgeon Lyse , Lanovaz Marc J.
Published: November 2017

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders in children. However, the majority of studies conducted to date have included heterogeneous samples of children combining social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder (SAD) together. Few studies have examined the efficacy of CBT to specifically treat SAD. Moreover, research on the impact of CBT for SAD in children younger than 7 years old has been very limited. To address these issues, we examined the effects of a CBT parent training programme with six children with SAD aged between 4 and 7 years using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design. Parents completed semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and daily diaries to assess their child's anxiety symptoms, parental practices and parental stress. Results indicated that five of six children no longer met the criteria for SAD diagnosis after treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Moreover, the daily diaries showed that four of six children presented a systematic favourable change of the total weekly frequency of SAD symptoms. Finally, four mothers reported a decrease in overprotection, but we observed no changes in parental stress.
PETER LOMBARD, STEPHEN LANGTON, AND THE SCHOOL OF PARIS THE MAKING OF THE TWELFTH-CENTURY SCHOLASTIC BIBLICAL TRADITION
Authors: CLARK MARK J.
Published: November 2017

This study documents the discovery of Peter Lombard's long-thought-to-be-lost lectures on the Old Testament, which were hidden in plain view in the Old Testament lectures of Stephen Langton, who lectured on the Lombard's lectures. The presence in the Lombard's lectures on Genesis of the logical theory of supposition, the single greatest advance in logical theory during the High Middle Ages, means that those lectures not only postdate the Sentences but also represent the beginning of a radical advance in speculative theology that would continue to develop through the end of the High Middle Ages. This means in turn that lectures on the Bible from the 1150s to 1200, and in particular those of the School of Paris, headed by Peter Lombard, play a central role in one of the greatest speculative developments — logical, philosophical, and theological — of the Middle Ages.
SCRIBAL CRUSADING THREE NEW MANUSCRIPT WITNESSES TO THE REGIONAL RECEPTION AND TRANSMISSION OF FIRST CRUSADE LETTERS
Authors: SMITH THOMAS W.
Published: November 2017

The First Crusade is one of the most intensively researched events of the Middle Ages, yet, paradoxically, the manuscript source base for the letters from the expedition is almost entirely unexplored and represents an exciting new avenue of investigation for crusade studies. This article publishes the texts of three new manuscript witnesses of First Crusade letters and explores their regional reception and transmission as a form of “scribal crusading” — that is, monastic participation in the crusades from behind cloister walls. The findings of this article reveal an extremely significant, but previously underappreciated, collective impulse among German monastic communities in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries to participate in the crusading movement through the copying of First Crusade letters.
Eosinophile Erkrankungen der Haut
Authors: Simon Dagmar
Published: November 2017

Zusammenfassung. Eine Ansammlung eosinophiler Granulozyten kann bei dermatologischen Erkrankungen wie allergisch / immunologischen, autoimmunen, infektiösen und neoplastischen beobachtet werden. Auch wenn die klinischen Präsentationen mit ekzematösen, papulösen, urtikariellen, blasenbildenden, knotigen oder fibrotischen Hautveränderungen sehr unterschiedlich sind, ist ein Symptom allen gemeinsam, der Juckreiz. Wir werden eine Auswahl eosinophiler Hauterkrankungen anhand ihrer klinischen Merkmale, histologische Befunde und diagnostische Massnahmen darstellen. Ausserdem werden wir eine potenzielle Rolle der Eosinophilen in der Pathogenese von Hauterkrankungen diskutieren. Basierend darauf werden aktuelle diagnostische und therapeutische Ansätze präsentiert.
Eosinophile Lungenerkrankungen
Authors: Weber Christoph Ninck , Garnier Christophe von
Published: November 2017

Zusammenfassung. Unter die eosinophilen Lungenerkrankungen fällt eine heterogene Gruppe von Erkrankungen, die alle anatomischen Strukturen der Lunge betreffen können. Das Spektrum reicht von seltenen Erkrankungen, wie eosinophile interstitielle Pneumonien, bis hin zum häufigeren eosinophilen Asthma bronchiale. Das Asthma bronchiale wird als heterogene Erkrankung mit vielen unterschiedlichen Phänotypen verstanden. Ein Asthma bronchiale mit eosinophiler Inflammation kann beim allergischen Asthma auftreten, aber auch beim, sich typischerweise erst im Erwachsenenalter manifestierenden, oft nur schwer zu kontrollierenden, steroidpflichtigen, nichtallergischen Asthma. Zur Behandlung des schweren eosinophilen Asthma bronchiale stehen uns seit kurzem neue, phänotypspezifische Therapieoptionen zur Verfügung. Bei Asthmapatienten können zusätzlich die seltene allergische bronchopulmonale Aspergillose und die eosinophile Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis auftreten.
Preparing for the Future: Climate Products and Models for India
Authors: Bhardwaj Saurabh , Mesquita Michel , Barreto Naurinete
Published: November 2017

Kick-off Workshop of Indo-Norwegian Project PREPARE; Bergen, Norway, 27–31 March 2017
Polar Satellite Launch Eases Concerns of Weather Data Gap
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: November 2017

Joint Polar Satellite System-1 is the first in a series of planned polar-orbiting satellites to provide critical weather forecasting data. Two follow-on satellites, however, face uncertain funding.