bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy efficiency evaluation of a natural gas pipeline based on an analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Xie Ying , Ma Xiufen , Ning Haifeng , Yuan Zongming , Xie Ting
Published: July 2017

A long-distance natural gas pipeline system consists of considerable equipment and many pipe segments, but the conventional energy efficiency index of a natural gas pipeline is considered as a whole. Because the specific energy consumption of each unit cannot be determined, the index system is not perfect, and evaluating the energy efficiency of a natural gas pipeline system is difficult. The energy efficiency evaluation model for a natural gas pipeline was established using the analytic hierarchy process. A judgment matrix was constructed based on the energy efficiency index system of a long-distance natural gas pipeline, and the weight coefficient was calculated using the characteristic root method. Then, the consistency of the established judgment matrix was verified. The energy efficiency evaluation model successfully quantified the qualitative factors that affect natural gas pipelines. The comprehensive energy efficiency coefficient G of the natural gas pipeline was obtained from the operational data of the natural gas pipeline; then, the equipment or pipe segments with high energy consumption can be identified. The energy efficiency evaluation program of the natural gas pipeline was developed using Visual Basic for Applications, which significantly reduced the evaluation workload. The natural gas pipeline energy efficiency evaluation model is used to evaluate the energy efficiency of a natural gas pipeline, to identify the high energy consumption equipment or pipe segments, and to propose measures to improve the energy efficiency. The results show that the gas pipeline energy efficiency evaluation model and evaluation procedures can identify high energy consumption equipment or pipe sections in complex natural gas pipelines.
Multi-objective optimization of crashworthiness for mini-bus body structures
Authors: Gao Dawei , Zhang Nan , Feng Jinzhi
Published: July 2017

In order to improve crash safety, the body structure of a mini-bus is optimized in this study. One type of multi-objective optimization method is proposed in this article. The peak acceleration amax at the B pillar lower end and total mass m of the body in white were set as two objective functions. First, the sample points were generated by Latin hypercube sampling design. Second, based on the evaluation index of 40% frontal offset crash, an approximation model was established by the Kriging method. Then, particle swarm optimization was performed on the approximate models. Finally, the simulation calculation by LS-DYNA proved that the peak acceleration amax at the B pillar lower end was reduced by 18.6%, and the total mass m of body in white was reduced by 0.87%. Therefore, the crashworthiness of the mini-bus was improved greatly without increasing the total mass of the body in white, which means that the optimization results were meaningful.
Contribution to the study of combined adsorption–ejection system using solar energy
Authors: Bel Haj Jrad Amal , Ben Hamida Mohamed Bechir , Ghnay Rabie , Mhimid Abdallah
Published: July 2017

Solar energy is a renewable and free energy. We can take advantage of such characteristics to produce solar cooling through adsorption especially in an area such as the city of Monastir, Tunisia, where the Sun is abundant. A mathematical model and simulation are carried out to optimize heat and mass transfers performance in a flat solar collector using zeolite/water and activated carbon/methanol pairs during desorption phenomena. A commercial simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics has been developed to provide us with the time–space evolution of temperature and average fluid content. Numerical results have shown that the activated carbon desorbs faster than the zeolite. Besides, in order to get an important solar coefficient of performance, it is necessary to have an important incident solar energy. It has also been found that to improve the solar coefficient of performance, an adsorption–ejection system is statically studied.
Optimization design and evaluation of parking route based on automatic assignment mechanism of parking lot
Authors: Han Yan , Shan Jiawen , Wang Meng , Yang Guang
Published: July 2017

The congestion causes of parking lot were analyzed with causal chain method and a questionnaire about individual demand of parking users was carried out. The results show that more than 90% of the users hope parking spaces can be automatically assigned to them when it’s difficult to find a parking space. The layout principles of WiFi in parking lot were provided. The automatic assignment mechanism of parking lot was given considering the individual demand of parking users and the avoidance of traffic conflicts. Some attribute decision factors such as lane occupancy conditions, travel distance, walking distance, and the occupancy situation of parking space on both sides were selected and optimal parking lot assignment model was established. Optimal paths were calculated through Dijkstra algorithm, and the information about the assignment location and path was sent to the drivers’ cell phones. The driver’s compliance was evaluated by comparing the driver’s parking trajectory with system recommended path. Finally, a large parking lot in Beijing was taken as an example. The results can offer constructive suggestions on parking route design and parking assignment mechanism, which can make the use of the limited parking resources more effectively.
Dynamic modeling study on the slope steering performance of articulated tracked vehicles
Authors: Dong Chao , Cheng Kai , Hu Kangle , Hu WenQiang
Published: July 2017

Articulated tracked vehicles are used as special off-road transportation vehicles, and their mobility is gaining more attention now than before. As an important evaluation indicator of the mobility of articulated tracked vehicles, steering performance receives wide attention in particular. Most of the present studies focus on the planar steering performance; few studies employing current models concentrate on the slope steering performance of articulated tracked vehicles. To address this research gap, this study proposes a dynamic modeling method for analyzing the slope steering performance of articulated tracked vehicles. A kinematic model of a vehicle is initially constructed to analyze its kinematic characteristics during slope steering; these characteristics include velocity and acceleration. A dynamic model of a vehicle is then developed to analyze its mechanical characteristics during slope steering; these characteristics include vertical loads, driving forces, and driving moments of tracks. The created dynamic model is then applied to analyze the slope steering performance of a specific articulated tracked vehicle. A mechanical-control united simulation model and an actual test of an articulated tracked vehicle are suggested to verify the established steering model. Comparison results show the effectiveness of the proposed dynamic steering model.
A simple method for high-precision evaluation of valve flow coefficient by computational fluid dynamics simulation
Authors: Zhou Xiao-Ming , Wang Zhi-Kun , Zhang Yi-Fang
Published: July 2017

Flow coefficient is an important performance index associated with the energy efficiency of a valve, and an effective method to evaluate valve flow coefficient is necessary for valve industry. However, theoretical estimation often results in poor accuracy, while experimental measurements involve significant costs in time and equipment. In this article, a computational fluid dynamics method is proposed to achieve simple and accurate evaluation of valve flow coefficient. For each valve, a computational fluid dynamics model is established containing a valve section, an upstream section, and a downstream section. A grid-adaptation strategy is then applied to improve the accuracy of simulation. To calculate flow coefficient, the most important issue is to determine the net pressure loss induced by valve (Δ Pv). Herein, the overall pressure drop (Δ Po) is obtained first, and the pipe-induced pressure drop (Δ Pp) is estimated by linear fitting. Then, Δ Pv is calculated as the difference between Δ Po and Δ Pp. To ensure accurate estimation of the pressure losses, a length of 26 times of pipe diameter is preferred for the upstream section. The experiments demonstrated that the presented method can accurately predict flow coefficient for various types of valves and thus has great potential to be widely used in the valve industry.
A dispatching method for the lots of different priorities in 450-mm semiconductor manufacturing
Authors: Wang CN , Wang Jing-Wein , Chou Min-Tsong , Liao Ruei-Yuan , Huang Chung-Jen
Published: July 2017

Semiconductor industry grows rapidly in recent years. It has an impact on the economies all over the world. For the mass production requirement, the wafer size starts to be increased from 300 to 450 mm. The technician cannot handle a large number of wafers since the size and weight of the wafers are increased. The automated material handling system has become the basic requirements of the wafer factory, and it is important to provide on-time delivery service and shorten cycle time to meet customer demand for different priority products. Hence, this study proposed an effective conveyor dispatching rule, which can reduce the handling delay of hot lots and detect the dispatching of lots with different priorities. The simulation experiments were conducted by building a 450-mm manufacturing environment and compared the nearest job first with conveyor dispatching rule. The results are sound. The conveyor dispatching rule can reduce 97.57% of the total average delivery variable time of hot lots and 0.28% of normal lots. This study proves that conveyor dispatching rule can efficiently improve productivity and reduce the cycle time of hot lots in every load configuration.
Improvement on sound transmission loss through a double-plate structure by connected with a mass–spring–damper system
Authors: Mao Qibo , Shen Hui
Published: July 2017

It is well-known that the acoustic performance of double-plate structures deteriorates rapidly around the mass–air–mass resonance frequency. In this study, a mass–spring–damper system connected between incident and radiating plates is used to improve the sound transmission loss at low-frequency ranges. First, a full structural-acoustic modal coupling model is developed to analyze the vibration and acoustical behaviour of the double-plate structures with mass–spring–damper system. Because there are in-phase or out-of-phase vibrations between double plates, tuning the natural frequency of the mass–spring–damper system exactly to the mass–air–mass resonance frequency cannot guarantee the maximum improvement on transmission loss. Optimal natural frequency and mass of the mass–spring–damper system were found as a solution of optimization problem with a global cost function defined as frequency-averaged sound transmission loss in the desired frequency range (around mass–air–mass resonance frequency). Finally, some numerical calculation results are presented. The calculated results show that the sound transmission loss of a double-plate structure can be improved significantly using optimally tuned mass–spring–damper system. The results indicate that an overall improvement of 12 dB below 1000 Hz can be achieved when the mass of the mass–spring–damper system equals to 10% weight of the double-plate structure.
Feasibility of two-dimensional speckle tracking in evaluation of arterial stiffness: Comparison with pulse wave velocity and conventional sonographic markers of atherosclerosis
Authors: Podgórski Michał , Grzelak Piotr , Kaczmarska Magdalena , Polguj Michał , Łukaszewski Maciej , Stefańczyk Ludomir
Published: July 2017

Objective

Arterial stiffening is an early marker of atherosclerosis that has a prognostic value for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although many markers of arterial hardening have been proposed, the search is on for newer, more user-friendly and reliable surrogates. One such potential candidate has emerged from cardiology, the speckle-tracking technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the two-dimensional speckle tracking for the evaluation of arterial wall stiffness in comparison with standard stiffness parameters.

Methods

Carotid ultrasound and applanation tonometry were performed in 188 patients with no cardiovascular risk factors. The following parameters were then evaluated: the intima-media complex thickness, distensibility coefficient, β-stiffness index, circumferential strain/strain rate, and pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. These variables were compared with each other and with patient age, and their reliability was assessed with Bland-Altman plots.

Results

Strain parameters derived from two-dimensional speckle tracking and intima-media complex thickness correlated better with age and pulse wave velocity than standard makers of arterial stiffness. Moreover, the reliability of these measurements was significantly higher than conventional surrogates.

Conclusions

Two-dimensional speckle tracing is a reliable method for the evaluation of arterial stiffness. Therefore, together with intima-media complex thickness measurement, it offers great potential in clinical practice as an early marker of atherosclerosis.
A novel human-carrying quadruped walking robot
Authors: Sang Lingfeng , Wang Hongbo , Yu Hongnian , Vladareanu Luige
Published: July 2017

This article adopts a 2-UPS+UP (U, P, and S are universal joint, the prismatic joint, and sphere joint, respectively) parallel mechanism as the leg mechanism of the quadruped walking robot based on the bionic concept and the motion capacity of the leg mechanism. The article investigates the kinematics (including the leg mechanism and the whole mechanism), gait planning, control, and experiment in detail. The following tasks are conducted: (1) designing the whole mechanism and developing the kinematics equations for both the leg mechanism and the whole mechanism; (2) planning the trotting gait and designing the foot trajectory based on the robot characteristics and conducting the kinematics analysis; (3) building the control system of the robot using self-developed controllers and drivers and studying the compound position control strategy; and (4) conducting the experiments for validating the controller, the compound position control strategy, the trotting pace, carrying capacity, and human-carrying walking. The results confirm that the proposed human-carrying walking robot has good performance and it is also verified that the controller and the compound position control strategy are suitable.
Surface roughness estimation by optimal tactile features for fruits and vegetables
Authors: Zhou Jun , Meng Yimeng , Wang Mingjun , Memon Muhammad Sohail , Yang Xiaorong
Published: July 2017

A study was conducted to evaluate the surface roughness levels of fruits and vegetables by a novel tactile sensor. Firstly, the effective areas of the sensor were determined through the mechanical analysis with the ANSYS software, and the sensitive elements of polyvinylidene fluoride piezoelectric films and strain gauges were randomly arranged in these areas. When the sensor contacted with the surfaces of the fruits and vegetables, the signals produced by the sensitive elements were output and tactile features were obtained. Secondly, the D-score criterion was applied to evaluate the contribution of every tactile feature component in expressing the surface roughness levels. According to the value of D-score, the strategies of the sequential forward selection and equential forward floating selection were used to guide the optimization of feature components selection. Back propagation neural network model was applied to evaluate the performance of the optimal features. Finally, the experimental results revealed that the identification accuracy of the algorithm was up to 93.737%, which demonstrated that the optimal feature subsets possessed fewer dimensions while maintaining a high performance in expressing the surface roughness characteristics of the fruits and vegetables. The results also provided a basis for the optimized design of the tactile sensor.
Analysis of a bicyclist’s head injury in lateral and frontal impact using the human full-body model
Authors: Teng Tso-Liang , Liang Cho-Chung , Nguyen Van-Hai
Published: July 2017

Helmets reduce the frequency and severity of head and brain injuries resulting from bicycle crashes. To ensure that all bicycle helmets provide a certain level of effectiveness, helmets are required to satisfy certain standards of construction and material design before they can be sold in the market. Impact protection is the primary consideration of nearly every helmet standard. The general terms for a test for assessing impact protection involve shock absorption. A helmeted headform is dropped onto an anvil and the headform acceleration is measured. However, the test procedures of the existing standards do not properly assess the protection level of helmets against oblique impacts. To investigate bicycle helmets in a real accident scenario, this study simulated the full body of a bicyclist when free falling onto a road. This study considered the normal velocity (VN) of 5.66 m/s and tangential velocity (VT) values of 0, 5, and 10 m/s. Finite element analyses of helmet impact tests were conducted using LS-DYNA software. Moreover, the impact responses obtained using full-body and detached-headform models were compared under identical impact conditions. The analysis results obtained herein can be useful for evaluating helmet quality and guiding future developments in helmet innovation.
Chronic pelvic pain in women
Authors: Gardner Alice
Published: July 2017

Chronic pelvic pain in women is commonly seen in general practice. Chronic pain is usually defined as the continuation of pain for more than 3 to 6 months, and it may have more than one cause. Pelvic pain is defined as pain in the lower abdomen or within the pelvis. Chronic pelvic pain may include dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, dysuria and pain on passing a stool (dyschesia), but can occur without any of these symptoms. Managing chronic pelvic pain can seem daunting, but it is appropriate to assess, investigate and manage this problem in primary care. This article provides a framework for history, examination and initial investigation of chronic pelvic pain in primary care. However, more complex cases may require a multidisciplinary approach, with referral to secondary care services such as a pain clinic, urology or gynaecology.
Economic Model Predictive Control of Bihormonal Artificial Pancreas System Based on Switching Control and Dynamic R-parameter
Authors: Tang Fengna , Wang Youqing
Published: July 2017

Background:

Blood glucose (BG) regulation is a long-term task for people with diabetes. In recent years, more and more researchers have attempted to achieve automated regulation of BG using automatic control algorithms, called the artificial pancreas (AP) system. In clinical practice, it is equally important to guarantee the treatment effect and reduce the treatment costs. The main motivation of this study is to reduce the cure burden.

Methods:

The dynamic R-parameter economic model predictive control (R-EMPC) is chosen to regulate the delivery rates of exogenous hormones (insulin and glucagon). It uses particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the economic cost function and the switching logic between insulin delivery and glucagon delivery is designed based on switching control theory.

Results:

The proposed method is first tested on the standard subject; the result is compared with the switching PID and the switching MPC. The effect of the dynamic R-parameter on improving the control performance is illustrated by comparing the results of the EMPC and the R-EMPC. Finally, the robustness tests on meal change (size and timing), hormone sensitivity (insulin and glucagon), and subject variability are performed. All results show that the proposed method can improve the control performance and reduce the economic costs.

Conclusions:

The simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm on improving the tracking performance, enhancing robustness, and reducing economic costs. The method proposed in this study owns great worth in practical application.
Death Before Dishonor
Authors: Vonasch Andrew J. , Reynolds Tania , Winegard Bo M. , Baumeister Roy F.
Published: July 2017

Predicated on the notion that people’s survival depends greatly on participation in cooperative society, and that reputation damage may preclude such participation, four studies with diverse methods tested the hypothesis that people would make substantial sacrifices to protect their reputations. A “big data” study found that maintaining a moral reputation is one of people’s most important values. In making hypothetical choices, high percentages of “normal” people reported preferring jail time, amputation of limbs, and death to various forms of reputation damage (i.e., becoming known as a criminal, Nazi, or child molester). Two lab studies found that 30% of people fully submerged their hands in a pile of disgusting live worms, and 63% endured physical pain to prevent dissemination of information suggesting that they were racist. We discuss the implications of reputation protection for theories about altruism and motivation.
Comparing a Variable-Centered and a Person-Centered Approach to the Structure of Prejudice
Authors: Meeusen Cecil , Meuleman Bart , Abts Koen , Bergh Robin
Published: July 2017

Whereas research on generalized prejudice is dominated by variable-centered approaches, which focus on communalities between different types of prejudice, we propose a complementary person-centered approach, looking for subgroups of people characterized by similar patterns of prejudice. To this end, we compare the results of a variable-centered (using confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]) and a person-centered (using latent class analysis [LCA]) approach to generalized prejudice. While CFA points to a multidimensional solution with a strong overlap between prejudice dimensions, LCA distinguishes five prejudice patterns that cannot be organized along a linear continuum of more versus less prejudiced dispositions. Explanatory models for the two solutions are estimated. Results show that the two methods are largely complementary in conceptualizing generalized prejudice.
Intercontinental validation of brain volume measurements using MSmetrix
Authors: Finkelsztejn Alessandro , Fragoso Yara Dadalti , Bastos Eder Amaral , Duarte Juliana Avila , Varela Juliana Santos , Houbrechts Ruben , Sima Diana , Van Hecke Wim
Published: July 2017

Background

Brain volume assessment has become an important outcome within research and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). MSmetrix (Icometrix) has been developed specifically for patients with MS. The original healthy, ‘normal’ population used for determination of the acceptable brain volume data consisted mainly of Europeans.

Methods

In the present study, results from 295 completely normal magnetic resonance imaging scans from Brazilian subjects were plotted against the original results in MSmetrix.

Results

With regard to whole brain volume, only 2% of the healthy adult subjects from Brazil were below the 5th percentile of the graph, and for grey matter volume, only 3% of the subjects were below the 5th percentile of MSmetrix standards.

Conclusion

MSmetrix may be used across different populations.
The attitudes and beliefs of doctors towards deprescribing medications
Authors: Nadarajan Krithikaa , Balakrishnan Tharmmambal , Yee Mei Ling , Soong Jie Lin
Published: July 2017

Background:

The effects of polypharmacy and its related adverse outcomes are well documented among elderly patients. Deprescribing is now recognised as an important part of medication review in addressing polypharmacy. However, little is currently known about local practices in discontinuing medications as a means to improve quality of life. There are two aims in this study: first, to explore the attitudes and beliefs of deprescribing medications among doctors in the Department of Internal Medicine (DIM) in Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and second, to see if differences exist among junior and senior doctors in their attitudes towards deprescribing.

Methods:

A descriptive survey was designed to look at the attitudes and beliefs of doctors towards deprescribing. All doctors in the department were invited to complete the survey.

Results:

The majority of doctors (66%) believed that deprescribing is beneficial for patients. Commonly cited barriers towards deprescribing were unwillingness to stop medications prescribed by another doctor, lack of time and insufficient knowledge. Lack of a specific approach to deprescribing was noted among 73% of the participants. A third of the juniors (32%) stated that they were reluctant to deprescribe medications, which was in contrast to the responses by the seniors, most of whom (94%) indicated no reluctance in deprescribing medications.

Conclusion:

Most doctors believe that deprescribing is beneficial to patients. Specific measures to target the barriers faced by doctors in deprescribing medications are necessary to improve deprescribing rates and minimising polypharmacy.
Bioactive calcium phosphate–based glasses and ceramics and their biomedical applications: A review
Authors: Islam Md Towhidul , Felfel Reda M , Abou Neel Ensanya A , Grant David M , Ahmed Ifty , Hossain Kazi M Zakir
Published: July 2017

An overview of the formation of calcium phosphate under in vitro environment on the surface of a range of bioactive materials (e.g. from silicate, borate, and phosphate glasses, glass-ceramics, bioceramics to metals) based on recent literature is presented in this review. The mechanism of bone-like calcium phosphate (i.e. hydroxyapatite) formation and the test protocols that are either already in use or currently being investigated for the evaluation of the bioactivity of biomaterials are discussed. This review also highlights the effect of chemical composition and surface charge of materials, types of medium (e.g. simulated body fluid, phosphate-buffered saline and cell culture medium) and test parameters on their bioactivity performance. Finally, a brief summary of the biomedical applications of these newly formed calcium phosphate (either in the form of amorphous or apatite) is presented.
Chronotype, Sleep Characteristics, and Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Hospital Nurses
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Duffy Jeanne F. , de Castillero Elizabeth Ronan , Wang Kefang
Published: July 2017

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) persist as the leading occupational injury, accounting for nearly half of nurses’ total occupational injuries. Musculoskeletal pain is a known cause of sleep disruption, and individuals with WMSDs that interfere with sleep often report more pain. Evening chronotype has been associated with poor sleep among nurses. However, the associations among chronotype, sleep, and WMSDs are still unclear, and were explored in the present study. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 397 nurses, with 47.4% reporting WMSDs. Robust Poisson regression modeling suggested that evening type (PR = 1.32, p < .05), prolonged sleep onset latency (PR = 1.37, p < .05), and using sleep-promoting substances (PR = 1.35, p < .01) were associated with increased risk of WMSDs among nurses, after adjusting for shift work, regular exercise, body mass index, and other covariates. This study suggests that well-designed evidence-based nonpharmacological interventions to improve sleep may reduce the risk of WMSDs among nurses.
The Effect of Menstrual Cycle and Contraceptives on ACL Injuries and Laxity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Herzberg Simone D. , Motu’apuaka Makalapua L. , Lambert William , Fu Rongwei , Brady Jacqueline , Guise Jeanne-Marie
Published: July 2017

Background:

Women are at substantially greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than are men.

Purpose:

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to clarify the effect of the menstrual cycle and contraceptives on the laxity of and noncontact injuries to the ACL.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Searches were conducted using MEDLINE (1946–August 2016), the Cochrane Library Database, clinical trial registries, and related reference lists. Search terms included athletic injuries, knee injuries, ligaments, joint instability, menstrual cycle, ovulation, hormones, and contraceptives. Investigators independently dually abstracted and reviewed study details and quality using predefined criteria and evaluated overall strength of evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria.

Results:

Twenty-one studies totaling 68,758 participants were included: 5 on the menstrual cycle and ACL injury, 7 on hormonal contraceptives and ACL injury, as well as 13 on menstrual cycle and ligament laxity. Four of 5 studies of women not using hormonal contraception indicated that the luteal phase was the least associated with ACL injuries. The 2 largest and highest quality studies on hormonal contraceptives suggested that hormonal contraceptives may be protective against ACL injury. Six of 12 studies on ACL laxity provided quantitative data for meta-analysis, finding significantly increased laxity during the ovulatory phase compared with the follicular phase.

Conclusion:

The literature suggests an association between hormonal fluctuations and ACL injury. Recent studies have suggested that oral contraceptives may offer up to a 20% reduction in risk of injury. The literature on ACL injuries and the menstrual cycle has more than doubled over the past decade, permitting quantitative analysis for the first time. However, the overall strength of this evidence is low. Promising potential directions for future research include long-term observational studies with ongoing hormonal assays and large interventional trials of follicular suppression, including newer hormonal methods.
Trilateral overlap of tuberculosis, diabetes and HIV-1 in a high-burden African setting: implications for TB control
Authors: Oni Tolu , Berkowitz Natacha , Kubjane Mmamapudi , Goliath Rene , Levitt Naomi S. , Wilkinson Robert J.
Published: July 2017

The diabetes mellitus burden is growing in countries where tuberculosis (TB) and HIV-1 remain major challenges, threatening TB control efforts. This study determined the association between TB and diabetes/impaired glucose regulation in the context of HIV-1.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a TB clinic in Cape Town (South Africa). Participants were screened for diabetes and impaired glucose regulation using fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

414 TB and 438 non-TB participants were enrolled. In multivariable analysis, diabetes was associated with TB (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.3; p=0.005), with 14% population-attributable risk fraction; however, this association varied by diagnostic test (driven by HbA1c). The association remained significant in HIV-1-infected individuals (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.2; p=0.030). A high prevalence of impaired glucose regulation (65.2% among TB cases) and a significant association with TB (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6–3.3; p<0.001) was also found.

Diabetes and impaired glucose regulation prevalence was high and associated with TB, particularly in HIV-1-infected individuals, highlighting the importance of diabetes screening. The variation in findings by diagnostic test highlights the need for better glycaemia markers to inform screening in the context of TB and HIV-1.
Automaticversusmanual oxygen administration in the emergency department
Authors: L'Her Erwan , Dias Patricia , Gouillou Maelenn , Riou Anne , Souquiere Luc , Paleiron Nicolas , Archambault Patrick , Bouchard Pierre-Alexandre , Lellouche François
Published: July 2017

Oxygen is commonly administered in hospitals, with poor adherence to treatment recommendations.

We conducted a multicentre randomised controlled study in patients admitted to the emergency department requiring O2≥3 L·min−1. Patients were randomised to automated closed-loop or manual O2titration during 3 h. Patients were stratified according to arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) (hypoxaemicPaCO2≤45 mmHg; or hypercapnicPaCO2>45–≤55 mmHg) and study centre. Arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) goals were 92–96% for hypoxaemic, or 88–92% for hypercapnic patients. Primary outcome was % time withinSpO2target. Secondary endpoints were hypoxaemia and hyperoxia prevalence, O2weaning, O2duration and hospital length of stay.

187 patients were randomised (93 automated, 94 manual) and baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Time within theSpO2target was higher under automated titration (81±21%versus51±30%, p<0.001). Time with hypoxaemia (3±9%versus5±12%, p=0.04) and hyperoxia under O2(4±9%versus22±30%, p<0.001) were lower with automated titration. O2could be weaned at the end of the study in 14.1%versus4.3% patients in the automated and manual titration group, respectively (p<0.001). O2duration during the hospital stay was significantly reduced (5.6±5.4versus7.1±6.3 days, p=0.002).

Automated O2titration in the emergency department improved oxygenation parameters and adherence to guidelines, with potential clinical benefits.
Non-invasive sub-surface analysis of the male portrait underlying the Titian’s Studio Ecce Homo
Authors: Gasanova Svetlana , Bakirtzis Nikolas , Hermon Sorin
Published: July 2017

The present study discusses new research on the analysis of a portrait of a male figure discovered under the painting of Ecce Homo, attributed to the studio of Titian (ca. 1488–1576), with an estimated date in the 1550s. The portrait was examined with non-invasive methods: X-ray radiography (XRR), digital microscopy and micro-XRF. The examination of XRR images exposed the details of the painting’s underlying depiction, which according to the details preserved appears to be a completed or nearly finished portrait of a standing man. The application of digital microscopy on the Ecce Homo painting’s cracks enabled the identification of the work’s stratigraphy. Micro-XRF performed on selected spots allowed to identify lead white, vermilion, red iron oxide, umber, carbon black and copper green in the underlying portrait. The described investigation methodology was guided by the close visual analysis of the Ecce Homo work and proved to be effective in the identification of the pigments of the hidden painting and the reconstruction of its colour palette.
The θ-defensin retrocyclin 101 inhibits TLR4- and TLR2-dependent signaling and protects mice against influenza infection
Authors: Prantner Daniel , Shirey Kari Ann , Lai Wendy , Lu Wuyuan , Cole Alexander M , Vogel Stefanie N , Garzino-Demo Alfredo
Published: July 2017

Despite widespread use of annual influenza vaccines, seasonal influenza-associated deaths number in the thousands each year, in part because of exacerbating bacterial superinfections. Therefore, discovering additional therapeutic options would be a valuable aid to public health. Recently, TLR4 inhibition has emerged as a possible mechanism for protection against influenza-associated lethality and acute lung injury. Based on recent data showing that rhesus macaque θ-defensins could inhibit TLR4-dependent gene expression, we tested the hypothesis that a novel θ-defensin, retrocyclin (RC)-101, could disrupt TLR4-dependent signaling and protect against viral infection. In this study, RC-101, a variant of the humanized θ-defensin RC-1, blocked TLR4-mediated gene expression in mouse and human macrophages in response to LPS, targeting both MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways. In a cell-free assay, RC-101 neutralized the biologic activity of LPS at doses ranging from 0.5 to 50 EU/ml, consistent with data showing that RC-101 binds biotinylated LPS. The action of RC-101 was not limited to the TLR4 pathway because RC-101 treatment of macrophages also inhibited gene expression in response to a TLR2 agonist, Pam3CSK4, but failed to bind that biotinylated agonist. Mouse macrophages infected in vitro with mouse-adapted A/PR/8/34 influenza A virus (PR8) also produced lower levels of proinflammatory cytokine gene products in a TLR4-independent fashion when treated with RC-101. Finally, RC-101 decreased both the lethality and clinical severity associated with PR8 infection in mice. Cumulatively, our data demonstrate that RC-101 exhibits therapeutic potential for the mitigation of influenza-related morbidity and mortality, potentially acting through TLR-dependent and TLR-independent mechanisms.
Targeting C-type lectin receptors: a high-carbohydrate diet for dendritic cells to improve cancer vaccines
Authors: van Dinther Dieke , Stolk Dorian A , van de Ven Rieneke , van Kooyk Yvette , de Gruijl Tanja D , den Haan Joke M M
Published: July 2017

There is a growing understanding of why certain patients do or do not respond to checkpoint inhibition therapy. This opens new opportunities to reconsider and redevelop vaccine strategies to prime an anticancer immune response. Combination of such vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors will both provide the fuel and release the brake for an efficient anticancer response. Here, we discuss vaccine strategies that use C-type lectin receptor (CLR) targeting of APCs, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. APCs are a necessity for the priming of antigen-specific cytotoxic and helper T cells. Because CLRs are natural carbohydrate-recognition receptors highly expressed by multiple subsets of APCs and involved in uptake and processing of Ags for presentation, these receptors seem particularly interesting for targeting purposes.
SWIP: An integrated workflow for surface-wave dispersion inversion and profiling
Authors: Pasquet Sylvain , Bodet Ludovic
Published: July 2017

The simultaneous estimation of 2D pressure (P-) and S-wave velocities ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively) is a promising approach for imaging subsurface mechanical properties. It can be performed with a single acquisition setup by combining P-wave refraction and surface-wave (SW) analysis. Although SW methods are commonly applied for the 1D estimation of [Formula: see text], 2D profiling requires the implementation of specific processing and inversion tools not yet widely available in the community. We have developed an open-source MATLAB-based package that performs SW inversion and profiling (SWIP) so as to retrieve 1D to 2D variations of [Formula: see text] from any kind of linear active-source near-surface seismic data. Each step of the workflow involves up-to-date processing and inversion techniques and provides ready-to-use outputs with quality control tools. First, windowing and stacking techniques are implemented to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and extract local dispersion images along the line. Then, dispersion curves are picked for each window with an uncertainty range in the phase velocity including higher uncertainties at low frequency. These curves are next inverted using a Monte Carlo approach with various parameterizations (e.g., user defined, refraction based). The best models are finally selected according to their fit to the data to build an average final model with a suggested investigation depth. As an example, we used SWIP to process data collected at a Yellowstone hydrothermal system. Our results show the benefits of estimating [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] from a single seismic setup to highlight subsurface gas pathways.
Influence of childhood trauma on diagnosis and substance use in first-episode psychosis
Authors: Tomassi S. , Tosato S. , Mondelli V. , Faravelli C. , Lasalvia A. , Fioravanti G. , Bonetto C. , Fioritti A. , Cremonese C. , Parrino R. Lo , De Santi K. , Meneghelli A. , Torresani S. , De Girolamo G. , Semrov E. , Pratelli M. , Cristofalo D. ,   the GET UP Group
Published: July 2017

Background

Childhood trauma has been significantly associated with first-episode psychosis, affective dysfunction and substance use.

Aims

To test whether people with first-episode psychosis who had experienced childhood trauma, when compared with those who had not, showed a higher rate of affective psychosis and an increased lifetime rate of substance use.

Method

The sample comprised 345 participants with first-episode psychosis (58% male, mean age 29.8 years, s.d.=9.7).

Results

Severe sexual abuse was significantly associated with a diagnosis of affective psychosis (χ2=4.9,P=0.04) and with higher rates of lifetime use of cannabis (68%v.41%;P= 0.02) and heroin (20%v.5%;P=0.02). Severe physical abuse was associated with increased lifetime use of heroin (15%v.5%;P= 0.03) and cocaine (32%v.17%;P= 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients with first-episode psychosis exposed to childhood trauma appear to constitute a distinctive subgroup in terms of diagnosis and lifetime substance use.
Frailty and emergency surgery in the elderly: Protocol of a prospective, multicenter study in Italy for evaluating perioperative outcome (The FRAILESEL Study)
Authors: Costa Gianluca , Massa Giulia , Balducci Genoveffa , Frezza Barbara , Fransvea Pietro , Nigri Giuseppe , Franco Stagnitti , Miniello Stefano , Zago Mauro , Marzaioli Rinaldo , Piazza Diego , Marini Pierluigi , Agresta Ferdinando , Luridiana Gianluigi , Crucitti Antonio , Palumbo Piergaspare , Gabrielli Francesco , Sandrucci Sergio , Ansaloni Luca , Catena Fausto , Chiara Osvaldo , Coccolini Federico , Spagnoli Alessandra ,   ERASO (Elderly Risk Assessment And Surgical Outcome) Collaborative Study Group
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Improvements in living conditions and progress in medical management have resulted in better ​quality of life and longer life expectancy. Therefore, the number of older people undergoing surgery is increasing. Frailty is often described as a syndrome in aged patients where there is augmented vulnerability due to progressive loss of functional reserves. Studies suggest that frailty predisposes elderly to worsening outcome after surgery. Since emergency surgery is associated with higher mortality rates, it is paramount to have an accurate stratification of surgical risk in such patients. The aim of our study is to characterize the clinico-pathological findings, management, and short-term outcome of elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the presence and influence of frailty and analyze the prognostic role of existing risk-scores. The final FRAILESEL protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy.

Methods and analysis: The FRAILESEL study is a nationwide, Italian, multicenter, observational study conducted through a resident-led model. Patients over 65 years of age who require emergency surgical procedures will be included in this study. The primary outcome measures are 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. The Clavien-Dindo classification system will be used to categorize complications. Secondary outcome measures include length of hospital stay, length of stay in intensive care unit, and the predictive value for morbidity and mortality of several frailty and surgical risk scores. The results of the FRAILESEL study will be disseminated through national and international conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals. The study is also registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02825082).
Further investigations of the W-test for pairwise epistasis testing
Authors: Howey Richard , Cordell Heather J.
Published: July 2017

Background:In a recent paper, a novel W-test for pairwise epistasis testing was proposed that appeared, in computer simulations, to have higher power than competing alternatives. Application to genome-wide bipolar data detected significant epistasis between SNPs in genes of relevant biological function. Network analysis indicated that the implicated genes formed two separate interaction networks, each containing genes highly related to autism and neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods:Here we investigate further the properties and performance of the W-test via theoretical evaluation, computer simulations and application to real data.

Results:We demonstrate that, for common variants, the W-test is closely related to several existing tests of association allowing for interaction, including logistic regression on 8 degrees of freedom, although logistic regression can show inflated type I error for low minor allele frequencies,  whereas the W-test shows good/conservative type I error control. Although in some situations the W-test can show higher power, logistic regression is not limited to tests on 8 degrees of freedom but can instead be tailored to impose greater structure on the assumed alternative hypothesis, offering a power advantage when the imposed structure matches the true structure.

Conclusions:The W-test is a potentially useful method for testing for association - without necessarily implying interaction - between genetic variants disease, particularly when one or more of the genetic variants are rare. For common variants, the advantages of the W-test are less clear, and, indeed, there are situations where existing methods perform better. In our investigations, we further uncover a number of problems with the practical implementation and application of the W-test (to bipolar disorder) previously described, apparently due to inadequate use of standard data quality-control procedures. This observation leads us to urge caution in interpretation of the previously-presented results, most of which we consider are highly likely to be artefacts.
Primordial Krebs-cycle-like non-enzymatic reactions detected by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Keller Markus A. , Driscoll Paul C. , Messner Christoph B. , Ralser Markus
Published: July 2017

Background: Metabolism is the process of nutrient uptake and conversion, and executed by the metabolic network. Its evolutionary precursors most likely originated in non-enzymatic chemistry. To be exploitable in a Darwinian process that forms a metabolic pathway, non-enzymatic reactions need to form a chemical network that produces advantage-providing metabolites in a single, life compatible condition. In a hypothesis-generating, large-scale experiment, we recently screened iron and sulfur-rich solutions, and report that upon the formation of sulfate radicals, Krebs cycle intermediates establish metabolism-like non-enzymatic reactivity. A challenge to our results claims that the results obtained by liquid chromatography-selective reaction monitoring (LC-SRM) would not be reproducible by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). Methods: This study compared the application of the two techniques to the relevant samples. Results: We detect hundred- to thousand-fold differences in the specific limits of detection between LC-SRM and 1H-NMR to detect Krebs cycle intermediates. Further, the use of 1H-NMR was found generally problematic to characterize early metabolic reactions, as Archean-sediment typical iron concentrations cause paramagnetic signal suppression. Consequently, we selected non-enzymatic Krebs cycle reactions that fall within the determined technical limits. We confirm that these proceed unequivocally as evidenced by both LC-SRM and 1H-NMR. Conclusions: These results strengthen our previous conclusions about the existence of unifying reaction conditions that enables a series of co-occurring metabolism-like non-enzymatic Krebs cycle reactions. We further discuss why constraints applying to metabolism disentangle concentration from importance of any reaction intermediates, and why evolutionary precursors to metabolic pathways must have had much lower metabolite concentrations compared to modern metabolic networks. Research into the chemical origins of life will hence miss out on the chemistry relevant for metabolism if its focus is restricted solely to highly abundant and unreactive metabolites, including when it ignores life-compatibility of the reaction conditions as an essential constraint in enzyme evolution.