bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NEW DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYSIS TOOL FOR OPTIMIZING GENERATION COST WITH GAS EMISSION VIA AN ELECTROMAGNETISM LIKE ALGORITHM
Authors: Albert F.Y.C. , Koh S.P. , Chen C. P. , Tiong S. K.
Published: June 2016

This paper addresses the preliminary new development results of the evolutionary algorithm technique to optimize the formulated problems incorporating the generation cost with emission gas as objective function or constraints. The power generation cost with emission gas are a complex problem which also the major concerns in electric power generation systems in the Environmental or Economic Dispatch Problems (EDP). Thus, due to environmental concern the electrical utilities required to minimize the emission level while optimizing the thermal generating units at a minimum generating cost and hence, satisfying the load demand and the emissions. In this work the electromagnetism-Like algorithm (EML) has been employed for optimizing generation cost and emission constraints economic dispatch problem. The proposed decision analysis tool software in this work will optimize the generation cost with emission gas objective function. The best generation cost with emission gas solution are obtained from different fuel technology via the developed software.
BANDWIDTH ENHANCEMENT OF VIVALDI ANTENNA USING TRIANGULAR SHAPED SLOTS
Authors: Wan Ahmad Khairuddin Wan Nur Aqilah , Othman Mohd Azlishah , Noor Azizi Muhammad Syafiq , Yaakob Mazri , Ramli Mohamad Hafize
Published: June 2016

This paper discusses about a bandwidth enhancement of Vivaldi antenna loaded using triangular shaped. Firstly, a normal Vivaldi antenna using FR-4 substrate had been designed. Then, the triangular shaped slots had been added at the upper layer of the antenna. It shows the better improvement in return loss, gain, directivity and bandwidth operated at frequency of 10 GHz after the addition of the triangular shaped slot. The advantages of a Vivaldi antenna such as simplicity, wide bandwidth, and high gain at microwave.The return loss of this Vivladiantenna with triangular slot is – 18.495 dB at resonant frequency of 10 GHz while for Vivaldi antenna is - 17.818 dB at 10 GHz for measurement result. This proposed antenna had been designed and simulated using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) simulation software.
Classification of Muscle Fatigue in Dynamic Contraction Using Surface Electromyography Signals and Multifractal Singularity Spectral Analysis
Authors: Marri Kiran , Swaminathan Ramakrishnan
Published: June 2016

Muscle fatigue is a neuromuscular condition experienced during daily activities. This phenomenon is generally characterized using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals and has gained a lot of interest in the fields of clinical rehabilitation, prosthetics control, and sports medicine. sEMG signals are complex, nonstationary and also exhibit self-similarity fractal characteristics. In this work, an attempt has been made to differentiate sEMG signals in nonfatigue and fatigue conditions during dynamic contraction using multifractal analysis. sEMG signals are recorded from biceps brachii muscles of 42 healthy adult volunteers while performing curl exercise. The signals are preprocessed and segmented into nonfatigue and fatigue conditions using the first and last curls, respectively. The multifractal detrended moving average algorithm (MFDMA) is applied to both segments, and multifractal singularity spectrum (SSM) function is derived. Five conventional features are extracted from the singularity spectrum. Twenty-five new features are proposed for analyzing muscle fatigue from the multifractal spectrum. These proposed features are adopted from analysis of sEMG signals and muscle fatigue studies performed in time and frequency domain. These proposed 25 feature sets are compared with conventional five features using feature selection methods such as Wilcoxon rank sum, information gain (IG) and genetic algorithm (GA) techniques. Two classification algorithms, namely, k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) and logistic regression (LR), are explored for differentiating muscle fatigue. The results show that about 60% of the proposed features are statistically highly significant and suitable for muscle fatigue analysis. The results also show that eight proposed features ranked among the top 10 features. The classification accuracy with conventional features in dynamic contraction is 75%. This accuracy improved to 88% with k-NN-GA combination with proposed new feature set. Based on the results, it appears that the multifractal spectrum analysis with new singularity features can be used for clinical evaluation in varied neuromuscular conditions, and the proposed features can also be useful in analyzing other physiological time series.
A Low-Dimensional Dissimilarity Analysis of Unilateral and Bilateral Stroke-Impacted Hand Trajectories
Authors: Roldan Jay Ryan U. , Milutinović Dejan , Li Zhi , Rosen Jacob
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we propose a quantitative approach based on identifying hand trajectory dissimilarities through the use of a multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis. A high-rate motion capture system is used to gather three-dimensional (3D) trajectory data of healthy and stroke-impacted hemiparetic subjects. The mutual dissimilarity between any two trajectories is measured by the area between them. This area is used as a dissimilarity variable to create an MDS map. The map reveals a structure for measuring the difference and variability of individual trajectories and their groups. The results suggest that the recovery of hemiparetic subjects can be quantified by comparing the difference and variability of their individual MDS map points to the points from the cluster of healthy subject trajectories. Within the MDS map, we can identify fully recovered patients, those who are only functionally recovered, and those who are either in an early phase of, or are nonresponsive to the therapy.
A Novel Method to Quickly Acquire the Energy Efficiency for Piston Pumps
Authors: Gao Mengdi , Huang Haihong , Li Xinyu , Liu Zhifeng
Published: June 2016

The energy efficiency of the piston pumps is one of the considerable important factors in design and analysis of hydraulic system, especially in the process of real-time tracking of energy dissipation in a variety of loading conditions. The existing methods for obtaining the energy efficiency curve of piston pumps are either time-consuming or inaccurate. In order to quantify the energy efficiency of the piston pumps quickly and accurately, the leakage and friction energy loss caused by the clearances in the sliding pairs are analyzed, and an overall efficiency model was established, which contains two constants to be determined by two test points. The accuracy of the model was verified based on a test rig for a hydraulic pump, and it can be improved by selecting appropriate test points via the method of deviation analysis. The results show that the proposed efficiency models are in good agreement with the experimental results, and the best test points are in the range of 0–25% and 51–75% of the peak pressure of the investigated piston pump.
An efficient computational approach to model statistical correlations in photon counting x‐ray detectors
Authors: Faby Sebastian , Maier Joscha , Sawall Stefan , Simons David , Schlemmer Heinz‐Peter , Lell Michael , Kachelrieß Marc
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

To introduce and evaluate an increment matrix approach (IMA) describing the signal statistics of energy‐selective photon counting detectors including spatial–spectral correlations between energy bins of neighboring detector pixels. The importance of the occurring correlations for image‐based material decomposition is studied.

Methods:

An IMA describing the counter increase patterns in a photon counting detector is proposed. This IMA has the potential to decrease the number of required random numbers compared to Monte Carlo simulations by pursuing an approach based on convolutions. To validate and demonstrate the IMA, an approximate semirealistic detector model is provided, simulating a photon counting detector in a simplified manner, e.g., by neglecting count rate‐dependent effects. In this way, the spatial–spectral correlations on the detector level are obtained and fed into the IMA. The importance of these correlations in reconstructed energy bin images and the corresponding detector performance in image‐based material decomposition is evaluated using a statistically optimal decomposition algorithm.

Results:

The results of IMA together with the semirealistic detector model were compared to other models and measurements using the spectral response and the energy bin sensitivity, finding a good agreement. Correlations between the different reconstructed energy bin images could be observed, and turned out to be of weak nature. These correlations were found to be not relevant in image‐based material decomposition. An even simpler simulation procedure based on the energy bin sensitivity was tested instead and yielded similar results for the image‐based material decomposition task, as long as the fact that one incident photon can increase multiple counters across neighboring detector pixels is taken into account.

Conclusions:

The IMA is computationally efficient as it required about 102 random numbers per ray incident on a detector pixel instead of an estimated 108 random numbers per ray as Monte Carlo approaches would need. The spatial–spectral correlations as described by IMA are not important for the studied image‐based material decomposition task. Respecting the absolute photon counts and thus the multiple counter increases by a single x‐ray photon, the same material decomposition performance could be obtained with a simpler detector description using the energy bin sensitivity.
Likely hobbit ancestors lived 600,000 years earlier
Authors: Culotta Elizabeth
Published: June 2016

Fragmentary “hobbitlike” fossils show evolution of dwarf human on Indonesian island.
New solution to carbon pollution?
Authors: Kintisch Eli
Published: June 2016

Instead of sending CO
2
up a smokestack, researchers in Iceland turn it into rock.
Mechanical Turk upends social sciences
Authors: Bohannon John
Published: June 2016

Growing pains arise for researchers using online platform.
Cell-specific restoration of stimulus preference after monocular deprivation in the visual cortex
Authors: Rose Tobias , Jaepel Juliane , Hübener Mark , Bonhoeffer Tobias
Published: June 2016

Ocular dominance plasticity reconsidered

How neuronal circuits are established and reformed during development and learning is unclear. One idea is that cortical circuits have virtually unlimited plasticity and are rebuilt routinely from random components. An alternative view is that some of these connections are more or less preformed and rigid. Working in mice, Rose
et al.
looked at how visual cortical neurons change their response after monocular deprivation. After recovery, the response properties of the neurons returned to their pre-deprivation pattern. Thus, it is not the strong connectivity backbone but perhaps inhibitory and weaker connections that are changed temporarily during sensory deprivation, whereas a core circuitry returns to default mode even after several days of altered activity.

Science
, this issue p.
1319
Rapid carbon mineralization for permanent disposal of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions
Authors: Matter Juerg M. , Stute Martin , Snæbjörnsdottir Sandra Ó. , Oelkers Eric H. , Gislason Sigurdur R. , Aradottir Edda S. , Sigfusson Bergur , Gunnarsson Ingvi , Sigurdardottir Holmfridur , Gunnlaugsson Einar , Axelsson Gudni , Alfredsson Helgi A. , Wolff-Boenisch Domenik , Mesfin Kiflom , Taya Diana Fernandez de la Reguera , Hall Jennifer , Dideriksen Knud , Broecker Wallace S.
Published: June 2016

Inject, baby, inject!

Atmospheric CO
2
can be sequestered by injecting it into basaltic rocks, providing a potentially valuable way to undo some of the damage done by fossil fuel burning. Matter
et al.
injected CO
2
into wells in Iceland that pass through basaltic lavas and hyaloclastites at depths between 400 and 800 m. Most of the injected CO
2
was mineralized in less than 2 years. Carbonate minerals are stable, so this approach should avoid the risk of carbon leakage.

Science
, this issue p.
1312
Transcriptional termination in mammals: Stopping the RNA polymerase II juggernaut
Authors: Proudfoot Nick J.
Published: June 2016

An end to gene transcription

Much attention has been focused on regulating the start of gene transcription. But transcription must also be terminated, and the mechanisms are only now being defined in detail in eukaryotes. Proudfoot reviews how termination happens for RNA polymerase II genes, mainly in mammals, covering the various steps that can lead to messenger RNA (mRNA) 3′ end formation and how they can be regulated. Termination can occur at various positions throughout the gene, forming the wild-type mRNA, preventing the synthesis of aberrant mRNAs, or generating alternative mRNAs with different regulatory or coding properties.

Science
, this issue p.
10.1126/science.aad9926
Global adaptation after Paris
Authors: Magnan Alexandre K. , Ribera Teresa
Published: June 2016

Climate mitigation and adaptation cannot be uncoupled
Meditations on conservation
The Hour of Land A Personal Topography of America's National Parks
Terry Tempest Williams
Sarah Crichton Books, 2016. 416 pp.
Authors: Farmer Jared
Published: June 2016

An environmental activist urges a renewal of the American national park idea
Immune Responses in U.S. Military Personnel Who Received Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY) Concomitantly with Other Vaccines Were Higher than in Personnel Who Received MenACWY Alone
Authors: Broderick Michael P. , Romero-Steiner Sandra , Rajam Gowrisankar , Johnson Scott E. , Milton Andrea , Kim Ellie , Choi Lisa J. , Radin Jennifer M. , Schmidt Daniel S. , Carlone George M. , Messonnier Nancy , Faix Dennis J.
Published: June 2016

Immunological responses to vaccination can differ depending on whether the vaccine is given alone or with other vaccines. This study was a retrospective evaluation of the immunogenicity of a tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine for serogroups A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) administered alone (
n
= 41) or concomitantly with other vaccines (
n
= 279) to U.S. military personnel (mean age, 21.6 years) entering the military between 2006 and 2008. Concomitant vaccines included tetanus/diphtheria (Td), inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), hepatitis vaccines, and various influenza vaccines, among others; two vaccine groups excluded Tdap and IPV. Immune responses were evaluated in baseline and postvaccination sera for
Neisseria meningitidis
serogroups C and Y 1 to 12 months (mean, 4.96 months) following vaccination. Functional antibodies were measured by using a serum bactericidal antibody assay with rabbit complement (rSBA) and by measurement of serogroup-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. The percentage of vaccinees reaching threshold levels (IgG concentration in serum, ≥2 μg/ml; rSBA titer, ≥8) corresponding to an immunologic response was higher postvaccination than at baseline (
P
< 0.001). Administration of MenACWY along with other vaccines was associated with higher geometric means of IgG concentrations and rSBA titers than those measured 4.60 months after a single dose of MenACWY. In addition, higher percentages of vaccinees reached the immunological threshold (range of odds ratios [ORs], 1.5 to 21.7) and more of them seroconverted (OR range, 1.8 to 4.8) when MenACWY was administered with any other vaccine than when administered alone. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm the observed differences among groups in the immune response to MenACWY when given concomitantly with other vaccines to U.S. military personnel.
A Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Candidate Attenuated by a Low-Fusion F Protein Is Immunogenic and Protective against Challenge in Cotton Rats
Authors: Rostad Christina A. , Stobart Christopher C. , Gilbert Brian E. , Pickles Ray J. , Hotard Anne L. , Meng Jia , Blanco Jorge C. G. , Moin Syed M. , Graham Barney S. , Piedra Pedro A. , Moore Martin L.
Published: June 2016

Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants, a safe and effective vaccine is not yet available. Live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) are the most advanced vaccine candidates in RSV-naive infants. However, designing an LAV with appropriate attenuation yet sufficient immunogenicity has proven challenging. In this study, we implemented reverse genetics to address these obstacles with a multifaceted LAV design that combined the codon deoptimization of genes for nonstructural proteins NS1 and NS2 (dNS), deletion of the small hydrophobic protein (ΔSH) gene, and replacement of the wild-type fusion (F) protein gene with a low-fusion RSV subgroup B F consensus sequence of the Buenos Aires clade (BAF). This vaccine candidate, RSV-A2-dNS-ΔSH-BAF (DB1), was attenuated in two models of primary human airway epithelial cells and in the upper and lower airways of cotton rats. DB1 was also highly immunogenic in cotton rats and elicited broadly neutralizing antibodies against a diverse panel of recombinant RSV strains. When vaccinated cotton rats were challenged with wild-type RSV A, DB1 reduced viral titers in the upper and lower airways by 3.8 log
10
total PFU and 2.7 log
10
PFU/g of tissue, respectively, compared to those in unvaccinated animals (
P
< 0.0001). DB1 was thus attenuated, highly immunogenic, and protective against RSV challenge in cotton rats. DB1 is the first RSV LAV to incorporate a low-fusion F protein as a strategy to attenuate viral replication and preserve immunogenicity.

IMPORTANCE
RSV is a leading cause of infant hospitalizations and deaths. The development of an effective vaccine for this high-risk population is therefore a public health priority. Although live-attenuated vaccines have been safely administered to RSV-naive infants, strategies to balance vaccine attenuation with immunogenicity have been elusive. In this study, we introduced a novel strategy to attenuate a recombinant RSV vaccine by incorporating a low-fusion, subgroup B F protein in the genetic background of codon-deoptimized nonstructural protein genes and a deleted small hydrophobic protein gene. The resultant vaccine candidate, DB1, was attenuated, highly immunogenic, and protective against RSV challenge in cotton rats.
Pandemic Seasonal H1N1 Reassortants Recovered from Patient Material Display a Phenotype Similar to That of the Seasonal Parent
Authors: Sonnberg Stephanie , Ducatez Mariette F. , DeBeauchamp Jennifer , Crumpton Jeri-Carol , Rubrum Adam , Sharp Bridgett , Hall Richard J. , Peacey Matthew , Huang Sue , Webby Richard J.
Published: June 2016

We have previously shown that 11 patients became naturally coinfected with seasonal H1N1 (A/H1N1) and pandemic H1N1 (pdm/H1N1) during the Southern hemisphere winter of 2009 in New Zealand. Reassortment of influenza A viruses is readily observed during coinfection of host animals andin vitro; however, reports of reassortment occurring naturally in humans are rare. Using clinical specimen material, we show reassortment between the two coinfecting viruses occurred with high likelihood directly in one of the previously identified patients. Despite the lack of spread of these reassortants in the community, we did not find them to be attenuated in several model systems for viral replication and virus transmission: multistep growth curves in differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells revealed no growth deficiency in six recovered reassortants compared to A/H1N1 and pdm/H1N1 isolates. Two reassortant viruses were assessed in ferrets and showed transmission to aerosol contacts. This study demonstrates that influenza virus reassortants can arise in naturally coinfected patients.

IMPORTANCEReassortment of influenza A viruses is an important driver of virus evolution, but little has been done to address humans as hosts for the generation of novel influenza viruses. We show here that multiple reassortant viruses were generated during natural coinfection of a patient with pandemic H1N1 (2009) and seasonal H1N1 influenza A viruses. Though apparently fit in model systems, these reassortants did not become established in the wider population, presumably due to herd immunity against their seasonal H1 antigen.
Spatial-Temporal Patterns of Viral Amplification and Interference Initiated by a Single Infected Cell
Authors: Akpinar Fulya , Inankur Bahar , Yin John
Published: June 2016

When viruses infect their host cells, they can make defective virus-like particles along with intact virus. Cells coinfected with virus and defective particles often exhibit interference with virus growth caused by the competition for resources by defective genomes. Recent reports of the coexistence and cotransmission of such defective interfering particles (DIPs)
in vivo
, across epidemiological length and time scales, suggest a role in viral pathogenesis, but it is not known how DIPs impact infection spread, even under controlled culture conditions. Using fluorescence microscopy, we quantified coinfections of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing a fluorescent reporter protein and its DIPs on BHK-21 host cell monolayers. We found that viral gene expression was more delayed, infections spread more slowly, and patterns of spread became more “patchy” with higher DIP inputs to the initial cell. To examine how infection spread might depend on the behavior of the initial coinfected cell, we built a computational model, adapting a cellular automaton (CA) approach to incorporate kinetic data on virus growth for the first time. Specifically, changes in observed patterns of infection spread could be directly linked to previous high-throughput single-cell measures of virus-DIP coinfection. The CA model also provided testable hypotheses on the spatial-temporal distribution of the DIPs, which remain governed by their predator-prey interaction. More generally, this work offers a data-driven computational modeling approach for better understanding of how single infected cells impact the multiround spread of virus infections across cell populations.

IMPORTANCE
Defective interfering particles (DIPs) compete with intact virus, depleting host cell resources that are essential for virus growth and infection spread. However, it is not known how such competition, strong or weak, ultimately affects the way in which infections spread and cause disease. In this study, we address this unmet need by developing an integrated experimental-computational approach, which sheds new light on how infections spread. We anticipate that our approach will also be useful in the development of DIPs as therapeutic agents to manage the spread of viral infections.
Trends of CT utilisation in an emergency department in Taiwan: a 5-year retrospective study
Authors: Hu Sung-Yuan , Hsieh Ming-Shun , Lin Meng-Yu , Hsu Chiann-Yi , Lin Tzu-Chieh , How Chorng-Kuang , Wang Chen-Yu , Tsai Jeffrey Che-Hung , Wu Yu-Hui , Chang Yan-Zin
Published: June 2016

Objectives

To investigate the association between the trends of CT utilisation in an emergency department (ED) and changes in clinical imaging practice and patients' disposition.

Setting

A hospital-based retrospective observational study of a public 1520-bed referral medical centre in Taiwan.

Participants

Adult ED visits (aged ≥18 years) during 2009–2013, with or without receiving CT, were enrolled as the study participants.

Main outcome measures

For all enrolled ED visits, we retrospectively analysed: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) triage categories, (3) whether CT was performed and the type of CT scan, (4) further ED disposition, (5) ED cost and (6) ED length of stay.

Results

In all, 269 239 adult ED visits (148 613 male patients and 120 626 female patients) were collected during the 5-year study period, comprising 38 609 CT scans. CT utilisation increased from 11.10% in 2009 to 17.70% in 2013 (trend test, p<0.001). Four in 5 types of CT scan (head, chest, abdomen and miscellaneous) were increasingly utilised during the study period. Also, CT was increasingly ordered annually in all age groups. Although ED CT utilisation rates increased markedly, the annual ED visits did not actually increase. Moreover, the subsequent admission rate, after receiving ED CT, declined (59.9% in 2009 to 48.2% in 2013).

Conclusions

ED CT utilisation rates increased significantly during 2009–2013. Emergency physicians may be using CT for non-emergent studies in the ED. Further investigation is needed to determine whether increasing CT utilisation is efficient and cost-effective.
Radiologist-initiated double reading of abdominal CT: retrospective analysis of the clinical importance of changes to radiology reports
Authors: Lauritzen Peter Mæhre , Andersen Jack Gunnar , Stokke Mali Victoria , Tennstrand Anne Lise , Aamodt Rolf , Heggelund Thomas , Dahl Fredrik A , Sandbæk Gunnar , Hurlen Petter , Gulbrandsen Pål
Published: June 2016

Background

Misinterpretation of radiological examinations is an important contributing factor to diagnostic errors. Consultant radiologists in Norwegian hospitals frequently request second reads by colleagues in real time. Our objective was to estimate the frequency of clinically important changes to radiology reports produced by these prospectively obtained double readings.

Methods

We retrospectively compared the preliminary and final reports from 1071 consecutive double-read abdominal CT examinations of surgical patients at five public hospitals in Norway. Experienced gastrointestinal surgeons rated the clinical importance of changes from the preliminary to final report. The severity of the radiological findings in clinically important changes was classified as increased, unchanged or decreased.

Results

Changes were classified as clinically important in 146 of 1071 reports (14%). Changes to 3 reports (0.3%) were critical (demanding immediate action), 35 (3%) were major (implying a change in treatment) and 108 (10%) were intermediate (requiring further investigations). The severity of the radiological findings was increased in 118 (81%) of the clinically important changes. Important changes were made less frequently when abdominal radiologists were first readers, more frequently when they were second readers, and more frequently to urgent examinations.

Conclusion

A 14% rate of clinically important changes made during double reading may justify quality assurance of radiological interpretation. Using expert second readers and a targeted selection of urgent cases and radiologists reading outside their specialty may increase the yield of discrepant cases.
FODMAPs alter symptoms and the metabolome of patients with IBS: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: McIntosh Keith , Reed David E , Schneider Theresa , Dang Frances , Keshteli Ammar H , De Palma Giada , Madsen Karen , Bercik Premysl , Vanner Stephen
Published: June 2016

Objective

To gain mechanistic insights, we compared effects of low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) and high FODMAP diets on symptoms, the metabolome and the microbiome of patients with IBS.

Design

We performed a controlled, single blind study of patients with IBS (Rome III criteria) randomised to a low (n=20) or high (n=20) FODMAP diet for 3 weeks. Symptoms were assessed using the IBS symptom severity scoring (IBS-SSS). The metabolome was evaluated using the lactulose breath test (LBT) and metabolic profiling in urine using mass spectrometry. Stool microbiota composition was analysed by 16S rRNA gene profiling.

Results

Thirty-seven patients (19 low FODMAP; 18 high FODMAP) completed the 3-week diet. The IBS-SSS was reduced in the low FODMAP diet group (p<0.001) but not the high FODMAP group. LBTs showed a minor decrease in H2production in the low FODMAP compared with the high FODMAP group. Metabolic profiling of urine showed groups of patients with IBS differed significantly after the diet (p<0.01), with three metabolites (histamine, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, azelaic acid) being primarily responsible for discrimination between the two groups. Histamine, a measure of immune activation, was reduced eightfold in the low FODMAP group (p<0.05). Low FODMAP diet increased Actinobacteria richness and diversity, and high FODMAP diet decreased the relative abundance of bacteria involved in gas consumption.

Conclusions

IBS symptoms are linked to FODMAP content and associated with alterations in the metabolome. In subsets of patients, FODMAPs modulate histamine levels and the microbiota, both of which could alter symptoms.

Trial registration number

NCT01829932.
Management of equine proliferative enteropathy
Authors: Slovis Nathan
Published: June 2016

Equine proliferative enteropathy is caused byLawsonia intracellularisand mainly affects foals that are between two and 13 months of age. The epidemiology is not fully understood, but it is believed that transmission occurs by ingestion of faecal material from wild or domestic animals. This article describes the clinical signs and diagnosis of equine proliferative enteropathy and how to monitor a herd, together with possible treatment and prevention protocols.
The emerging world of animal hospice: (2) Management strategies
Authors: Cooney Kathleen A.
Published: June 2016

Animal hospice is an emerging field that aims to maintain an animal's wellbeing and dignity at the end of its life. In an article published in last month's issue of In Practice, Kathleen Cooney described ways to support owners when they are making decisions before, around and after their pet's death. In this second article, she looks at possible management strategies.
Using the evidence
Authors: Mills David
Published: June 2016

THIS series gives readers the opportunity to consider and contribute to discussion of some of the ethical dilemmas that can arise in veterinary practice. Each month, a case scenario is presented, followed by discussion of some of the issues involved.

In addition, a possible way forward is suggested; however, there is rarely a cut‐and‐dried answer in such cases, and readers may wish to suggest an alternative approach. This month's dilemma, ‘Using the evidence’, was submitted and is discussed by David Mills. Readers with comments to contribute are invited to send them as soon as possible, so that they can be considered for publication in the next issue. Discussion of the dilemma ‘Refusing to take part in euthanasia’, which was published in the May issue of In Practice, appears on page 311.

The series is being coordinated by Steven McCulloch, a practising vet with a PhD in the ethics of veterinary policy. It is hoped it will provide a framework that will help practitioners find solutions when facing similar dilemmas.
Comments on the dilemma in the May issue: Refusing to take part in euthanasia
Authors: Unsworth Rose A.
Published: June 2016

In the dilemma discussed in the May issue of In Practice, a nurse from your veterinary team had asked to speak with you in private. She told you that, as an animal rights activist, she was reluctant to take part in animal euthanasia in the future. Can a veterinary nurse refuse to take part in euthanasia due to their personal beliefs? (IP, May 2016, vol 38, pp 253‐254). Manuel Magalhães‐Sant'Ana suggested that a response to the question required more information: in what circumstances did the nurse refuse to assist in euthanasia, was the refusal unconditional or contextual, and how would others be affected? Reasonable measures should be taken to protect the nurse from future work in which contextual euthanasia was a possible outcome. Doing this would mean that the nurse could meet the demands of the job, be prevented from emotional stress, and avoid conflicts with colleagues. It should also prevent animal welfare being compromised in the future. The nurse also had a duty to suggest alternatives to euthanasia, seeking support from the veterinary team and the regulatory body.
Implementing a business strategy in equine practice
Authors: Horner Diane
Published: June 2016

The principles of good business are applicable across all sectors of industry. Diane Horner explains how she applied some principles learned in the insurance industry to help grow and develop an equine practice.
Protective clothing ensembles and physical employment standards
Authors: McLellan Tom M. , Havenith George
Published: June 2016

Physical employment standards (PESs) exist for certain occupational groups that also require the use of protective clothing ensembles (PCEs) during their normal work. This review addresses whether these current PESs appropriately incorporate the physiological burden associated with wearing PCEs during respective tasks. Metabolic heat production increases because of wearing PCE; this increase is greater than that because of simply the weight of the clothing and can vary 2-fold among individuals. This variation negates a simple adjustment to the PES for the effect of the clothing on metabolic rate. As a result, PES testing that only simulates the weight of the clothing and protective equipment does not adequately accommodate this effect. The physiological heat strain associated with the use of PCEs is also not addressed with current PESs. Typically the selection tests of a PES lasts less than 20 min, whereas the requirement for use of PCE in the workplace may approach 1 h before cooling strategies can be employed. One option that might be considered is to construct a heat stress test that requires new recruits and incumbents to work for a predetermined duration while exposed to a warm environmental temperature while wearing the PCE.
Current considerations related to physiological differences between the sexes and physical employment standards
Authors: Roberts Delia , Gebhardt Deborah L. , Gaskill Steven E. , Roy Tanja C. , Sharp Marilyn A.
Published: June 2016

The use of physical employment standards (PES) has helped ensure that workers have the physical attributes necessary to complete their jobs in a safe and efficient manner. However, PES used in the selection processes have not always reflected the critical physical requirements of the job tasks. Women generally have smaller anthropometric stature than men, less muscle mass, and therefore less strength, power, and endurance, particularly in the upper body. Nonetheless, these attributes in themselves are not valid grounds for exclusion from employment in physically demanding occupations. Selection standards based upon size or strength, irrespective of the job requirements, have resulted in the barring of capable women from physically demanding jobs, claims of gender bias, and costly litigations. To ensure all individuals are provided with equal access to employment, accurate characterization of the critical physical requirements of the job is paramount. This paper summarizes the existing research related to disparities between the sexes that contribute to sex differences in job performance in physically demanding occupations including physical and legal factors. Strategies for mitigating these differences in the setting of PES and the meeting of minimum employment standards are discussed. Where available, injury rates for women and men in physically demanding occupations are presented and the etiology considered. Finally, areas for further research are identified.
Human rights at work: Physical standards for employment and human rights law
Authors: Adams Eric M.
Published: June 2016

This review focuses on the human rights dimensions of creating and implementing physical standards for employment for prospective and incumbent employees. The review argues that physical standards for employment engage two fundamental legal concepts of employment law: freedom of contract and workplace human rights. While the former promotes an employer’s right to set workplace standards and make decisions of whom to hire and terminate, the latter prevents employers from discriminating against individuals contrary to human rights legislation. With reference to applicable human rights legislative regimes and their judicial interpretation in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, this review demonstrates the judicial preference for criterion validation in testing mechanisms in the finding of bona fide occupational requirements. With particular attention to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Meiorin, this review argues that an effective balance between workplace safety and human rights concerns can be found, not in applying different standards to different groups of individuals, but in an approach that holds employers to demonstrating a sufficient connection between a uniform physical standard of employment and the actual minimum requirements to perform the job safety and efficiently. Combined with an employer’s duty to accommodate, such an approach to lawful physical standards for employment conceives of worker and public safety and workplace diversity as emanating from a shared concern for human rights.
Preliminary evaluation of PARACEST MRI agents for the detection of nitric oxide synthase
Authors: Suchý Mojmír , Li Alex X. , Liu Yin , Feng Qingping , Bartha Robert , Hudson Robert H.E.
Published: June 2016

Several paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (PARACEST MRI) agents for the potential detection of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) have been synthesized and evaluated. These agents are based on an amino acid- or dipeptide-decorated DOTAM (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid amide) chelator possessing either Tm3+ or Dy3+. The amino acid and dipeptide decorated DOTAMs were designed such that the terminal amino acid pendant group was l-arginine, which may be converted to l-citrulline by NOS. Preliminary evaluation has revealed that some of the l-arginine-decorated complexes are recognized and metabolized by the NOS. Differences in the CEST properties between Dy3+-metallated l-arginine- and l-citrulline-modified complexes suggest that these might be suitable for imaging of the NOS enzymatic activity.
Three-point functions in the 𝒩 = 4 orthogonal coset theory
Authors: Ahn Changhyun , Kim Hyunsu , Paeng Jinsub
Published: June 2016

We construct the lowest higher spin-2 current in terms of the spin-1 and the spin-[Formula: see text] currents living in the orthogonal [Formula: see text] Wolf space coset theory for general [Formula: see text]. The remaining 15 higher spin currents are determined. We obtain the three-point functions of bosonic (higher) spin currents with two scalars for finite [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (the level of the spin-1 current). By multiplying [Formula: see text] into the above Wolf space coset theory, the other 15 higher spin currents together with the above lowest higher spin-2 current are realized in the extension of the large [Formula: see text] linear superconformal algebra. Similarly, the three-point functions of bosonic (higher) spin currents with two scalars for finite [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are obtained. Under the large [Formula: see text] ’t Hooft limit, the two types of three-point functions in the nonlinear and linear versions coincide as in the unitary coset theory found previously.
Multi-Exposure and Multi-Focus Image Fusion in Gradient Domain
Authors: Paul Sujoy , Sevcenco Ioana S. , Agathoklis Panajotis
Published: June 2016

A multi-exposure and multi-focus image fusion algorithm is proposed. The algorithm is developed for color images and is based on blending the gradients of the luminance components of the input images using the maximum gradient magnitude at each pixel location and then obtaining the fused luminance using a Haar wavelet-based image reconstruction technique. This image reconstruction algorithm is of [Formula: see text] complexity and includes a Poisson solver at each resolution to eliminate artifacts that may appear due to the nonconservative nature of the resulting gradient. The fused chrominance, on the other hand, is obtained as a weighted mean of the chrominance channels. The particular case of grayscale images is treated as luminance fusion. Experimental results and comparison with other fusion techniques indicate that the proposed algorithm is fast and produces similar or better results than existing techniques for both multi-exposure as well as multi-focus images.
Quantization Noise Analysis of Time-to-Digital-Converter-Based All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop and Frequency Discriminators
Authors: Park Sungkyung , Park Chester Sungchung
Published: June 2016

All-digital phase-locked loops (ADPLLs) based on the time-to-digital converter (TDC) and the frequency discriminator (FD) are modeled and analyzed in terms of quantization effects. Using linear models with quantization noise sources, theoretical analysis and simulation are carried out to obtain the output phase noise of each building block of the TDC-based ADPLL. It is newly derived that the TDC noise component caused by the delta-sigma modulator (DSM) and the finite resolution of the digitally controlled oscillator is not white. Namely, the in-band phase noise caused by the DSM-induced TDC is not white, which is due to the integrate-and-dump and subsampling operations of the TDC. This can give some insight into the design of low-noise ADPLLs. Some structures of delta-sigma FDs, which can serve as an alternative to the TDC, are also newly analyzed in terms of quantization noise, using the derived linear noise model.
An Improved Predictive Current Control Scheme for Three-phase Voltage Source Converters
Authors: Wang Meng , Shi Yanyan
Published: June 2016

For a fully digital control of PWM converters, considerable research has been done based on the predictive current control (PCC) scheme. However, it requires a large amount of calculation in the step of experimental implementation. Besides, when compared with the classical linear control scheme, the sampling interval of the PCC scheme must be shorter to obtain the same control performance for current. Due to this, a digital signal processor with excellent performance is required. This paper proposes an improved simplified model PCC scheme for three-phase PWM converters. The main objective is to simplify the PCC scheme. Also, the proposed control scheme is able to reduce the calculation time without affecting the performance. Simulations and experiments are carried out to investigate the presented novel predictive current control scheme. The results indicate that the three-phase PWM converter has excellent static and dynamic performance with the proposed scheme. Besides, the calculation time can be obviously shortened.
Dynamic Response and Reliability of Six-Leg Jack-Up Type Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
Authors: Heo Sanghwan , Koo Weoncheol , Park Min-Su
Published: June 2016

A fast, reliable and optimized numerical procedure of the hydrodynamic response analysis of a slender-body structure is presented. With this method, the dynamic response and reliability of a six-leg jack-up-type wind turbine installation vessel under various environmental conditions is analyzed. The modified Morison equation is used to calculate the wave and wind-driven current excitation forces on the slender-body members. The Det Norske Veritas (DNV) rule-based formula is used to calculate the wind loads acting on the superstructure of the jack-up leg. From the modal analysis, the natural period and standardized displacement of the structure are determined. The Newmark-beta time-integration method is used to solve the equation of motion generating the time-varying dynamic responses of the structure. A parametric study is carried out for various current velocities and wind speeds. In addition, a reliability analysis is conducted to predict the effects of uncertainty of the wave period and wave height on the safety of structural design, using the reliability index to indicate the reliability of the dynamic response on the critical structural members.
Maternal obesity is associated with ovarian inflammation and upregulation of early growth response factor 1
Authors: Ruebel Meghan , Shankar Kartik , Gaddy Dana , Lindsey Forrest , Badger Thomas , Andres Aline
Published: June 2016

Obesity impairs reproductive functions through multiple mechanisms, possibly through disruption of ovarian function. We hypothesized that increased adiposity will lead to a proinflammatory gene signature and upregulation of Egr-1 protein in ovaries from obese (OB; n = 7) compared with lean (LN; n = 10) female Sprague-Dawley rats during the peri-implantation period at 4.5 days postcoitus (dpc). Obesity was induced by overfeeding (40% excess calories for 28 days) via total enteral nutrition prior to mating. OB dams had higher body weight ( P < 0.001), greater fat mass ( P < 0.001), and reduced lean mass ( P < 0.05) and developed metabolic dysfunction with elevated serum lipids, insulin, leptin, and CCL2 ( P < 0.05) compared with LN dams. Microarray analyses identified 284 differentially expressed genes between ovaries from LN vs. OB dams (±1.3 fold, P < 0.05). RT-qPCR confirmed a decrease in expression of glucose transporters GLUT4 and GLUT9 and elevation of proinflammatory genes, including CCL2, CXCL10, CXCL11, CCR2, CXCR1, and TNFα in ovaries from OB compared with LN ( P < 0.05). Protein levels of PI3K and phosphorylated Akt were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05), whereas nuclear levels of Egr-1 ( P < 0.05) were increased in OB compared with LN ovaries. Moreover, Egr-1 was localized to granulosa cells, with the highest expression in cumulus cells of preovulatory follicles. mRNA expression of VCAN, AURKB, and PLAT ( P < 0.05) correlated with %visceral fat weight ( r = 0.51, −0.77, and −0.57, respectively, P ≤ 0.05), suggesting alterations in ovarian function with obesity. In summary, maternal obesity led to an upregulation of inflammatory genes and Egr-1 expression in peri-implantation ovarian tissue and a concurrent downregulation of GLUTs and Akt and PI3K protein levels.
Independent effects of early-life experience and trait aggression on cardiovascular function
Authors: Rana Samir , Pugh Phyllis C. , Katz Erin , Stringfellow Sara A. , Lin Chee Paul , Wyss J. Michael , Stauss Harald M. , White C. Roger , Clinton Sarah M. , Kerman Ilan A.
Published: June 2016

Early-life experience (ELE) can significantly affect life-long health and disease, including cardiovascular function. Specific dimensions of emotionality also modify risk of disease, and aggressive traits along with social inhibition have been established as independent vulnerability factors for the progression of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the biological mechanisms mediating these associations remain poorly understood. The present study utilized the inherently stress-susceptible and socially inhibited Wistar-Kyoto rats to determine the potential influences of ELE and trait aggression (TA) on cardiovascular parameters throughout the lifespan. Pups were exposed to maternal separation (MS), consisting of daily 3-h separations of the entire litter from postnatal day (P)1 to P14. The rats were weaned at P21, and as adults were instrumented for chronic radiotelemetry recordings of blood pressure and heart rate (HR). Adult aggressive behavior was assessed using the resident-intruder test, which demonstrated that TA was independent of MS exposure. MS-exposed animals (irrespective of TA) had significantly lower resting HR accompanied by increases in HR variability. No effects of MS on resting blood pressure were detected. In contrast, TA correlated with increased resting mean, systolic, and diastolic arterial pressures but had no effect on HR. TA rats (relative to nonaggressive animals) also manifested increased wall-to-lumen ratio in the thoracic aorta, increased sensitivity to phenylephrine-induced vascular contractility, and increased norepinephrine content in the heart. Together these data suggest that ELE and TA are independent factors that impact baseline cardiovascular function.