bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postgraduate palliative care education for all healthcare providers in Europe: Results from an EAPC survey
Authors: Paal Piret , Brandstötter Cornelia , Lorenzl Stefan , Larkin Philip , Elsner Frank
Published: January 2019

Objective

Palliative care training at basic, intermediate, and specialist levels, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is challenging to access in resource-poor countries and regions. Providing support in this regard would seem a moral imperative for all countries with established palliative care education systems and a strong resource base. In collaboration with WHO European Office and European Association for Palliative Care, this paper looks into the educational requirements in palliative care at postgraduate level within Europe.

Method

A survey was specifically designed to gather opinions and comments on elements of palliative care education from European experts. Participants were invited to assess the European Association for Palliative Care core competencies on a five-item scale and to define essential learning goals. Survey data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Software. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed.

Result

A total of 195 data sets were recorded; 82 were completed fully. The statistical analysis revealed a high agreement regarding the key elements of palliative care education. The thematic analysis indicated that at postgraduate level all healthcare providers need to (1) comprehend the palliative care philosophy, (2) be able to demonstrate the complex symptom assessment and management competencies, (3) be able to design care plans based on patients and families wishes integrating multiprofessional and interdisciplinary approaches, and (4) be able to listen and self-reflect.

Significance of results

According to the WHO, inadequate skills and capacities of healthcare workers are one of the four barriers hindering the access to palliative care. This paper contains a new and comprehensive list of learning goals essential for multidisciplinary postgraduate palliative care education. Besides highlighting the relevant competencies, the article provides best-practice toolboxes with teaching and assessment methods. The article comments on the WHO's palliative care definition and underpins the importance of the role of the education in knowledge development and skills acquisition.
Diversity and conservation priorities of crop wild relatives in Mexico
Authors: Contreras-Toledo Aremi R. , Cortés-Cruz Moisés , Costich Denise E. , Rico-Arce Ma. de Lourdes , Magos Brehm Joana , Maxted Nigel
Published: January 2019

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are valuable resources for crop breeding due to their close genetic relationship to the cultivated plants and their wide genetic variation, allowing the introgression of desirable traits into the crops, such as resistance to plant pests and diseases or adaptability to climate change. Mexico is a centre of agrobiodiversity, including CWR, but climate change, and other factors, are contributing to the loss of important Mexican CWR genetic diversity. Thein situandex situconservation status of Mexican priority CWR were assessed through a gap analysis as part of a national CWR conservation strategy for Mexico, to ensure the long-term preservation and improve the availability of these genetic resources. A set of 310 priority CWR taxa, previously identified as part of the national CWR inventory for Mexico, were analysed. Species distribution modelling and ecogeographic diversity analyses were used to detect gaps inin situandex situconservation at taxon and ecogeographic levels. Priority target sites were identified throughout the country for complementaryin situandex situconservation of these taxa. The results obtained allow us to make recommendations for immediate conservation actions, thus helping to mitigate the threats to Mexican agrobiodiversity and enhance both national and global food security.
Crop wild relative diversity and conservation planning in two isolated oceanic islands of a biodiversity hotspot (Mauritius and Rodrigues)
Authors: Bissessur P. , Baider C. , Boodia N. , Badaloo M.G.H. , Bégué J.A. , Jhumka Z. , Meunier A. , Mungroo Y. , Gopal V. , Kell S.P. , Magos Brehm J. , Thormann I. , Jaufeerally-Fakim Y.
Published: January 2019

The rising need for crop diversification to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food security urges the exploration of crop wild relatives (CWR) as potential genetic resources for crop improvement. This study aimed at assessing the diversity of CWR of the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues and proposing cost-effective conservation measures for their sustainable use. A comprehensive list of the native species was collated from The Mauritius Herbarium and published literature. Each species was assessed for the economic value of its related crop, utilization potential for crop improvement, relative distribution, occurrence status and Red List conservation status, using a standard scoring method for prioritization. The occurrence data of the priority species were collected, verified, geo-referenced and mapped. A total of 43 crop-related species were identified for both islands and 21 species were prioritized for active conservation. The CWR diversity hotspots in Mauritius included Mondrain, followed by Florin and Le Pouce Mountain. Although a wide diversity of CWR has been recorded on both islands, most do not relate to major economic crops in use, therefore only a few species may be gene donors to economic crops at the regional and global level. For example, coffee, a major global beverage crop, has three wild relatives on Mauritius, which could potentially be of interest for future predictive characterization.
Quantifying Tropical Cyclone's Effect on the Biogeochemical Processes Using Profiling Float Observations in the Bay of Bengal
Authors: Girishkumar M. S. , Thangaprakash V. P. , Udaya Bhaskar T. V. S. , Suprit K. , Sureshkumar N. , Baliarsingh S. K. , Jofia J. , Pant Vimlesh , Vishnu S. , George G. , Abhilash K. R. , Shivaprasad S.
Published: January 2019

Physical and biogeochemical observations from an autonomous profiling Argo float in the Bay of Bengal show significant changes in upper ocean structure during the passage of tropical cyclone (TC) Hudhud (7–14 October 2014). TC Hudhud mixed water from a depth of about 50 m into the surface layers through a combination of upwelling and turbulent mixing. Mixing was extended into the depth of nutricline, the oxycline, and the subsurface‐chlorophyll‐maximum and thus had a strong impact on the biogeochemistry of the upper ocean. Before the storm, the near‐surface layer was nutrient depleted and was thus oligotrophic with the chlorophyll‐a concentration of less than 0.15 mg/m3. Storm mixing initially increased the chlorophyll by 1.4 mg/m3, increased the surface nitrate concentration to about 6.6 μM/kg, and decreased the subsurface dissolved oxygen (30–35 m) to 31% of saturation (140 μM). These conditions were favorable for phytoplankton growth resulting in an estimated increase in primary productivity averaging 1.5 g C·m−2·day−1 over 15 days. During this bloom, chlorophyll‐a increased by 3.6 mg/m3, and dissolved oxygen increased from 111% to 123% of saturation. Similar observations during TC Vardah (6–12 December 2016) showed much less mixing. Our analysis suggests that relatively small (high) translation speed and the presence of cold (warm) core eddy leads to strong (weak) oceanic response during TC Hudhud (TC Vardah). Thus, although cyclones can cause strong biogeochemical responses in the Bay of Bengal, the strength of response depends on the properties of the storm and the prevailing upper ocean structure such as the presence of mesoscale eddies.
Detection of Fossil and Biogenic Methane at Regional Scales Using Atmospheric Radiocarbon
Authors: Graven H. , Hocking T. , Zazzeri G.
Published: January 2019

Regional emissions of methane and their attribution to a variety of sources presently have large uncertainties. Measurements of radiocarbon (14C) in methane (CH4) may provide a method for identifying regional CH4 emissions from fossil versus biogenic sources because adding 14C‐free fossil carbon reduces the 14C/C ratio (Δ14CH4) in atmospheric CH4 much more than biogenic carbon does. We describe an approach for estimating fossil and biogenic CH4 at regional scales using atmospheric Δ14CH4 observations. As a case study to demonstrate expected Δ14CH4 and Δ14CH4‐CH4 relationships, we simulate and compare Δ14CH4 at a network of sites in California using two gridded CH4 emissions estimates (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research, EDGAR, and Gridded Environmental Protection Agency, GEPA) and the CarbonTracker‐Lagrange model for 2014, and for 2030 under business‐as‐usual and mitigation scenarios. The fossil fraction of CH4 (F) is closely linked with the simulated Δ14CH4‐CH4 slope and differences of 2–21% in median F are found for EDGAR versus GEPA in 2014, and 7–10% for business‐as‐usual and mitigation scenarios in 2030. Differences of 10% in F for >200 ppb of added CH4 produce differences of >10‰ in Δ14CH4, which are likely detectable from regular observations. Nuclear power plant 14CH4 emissions generally have small simulated median influences on Δ14CH4 (0–7‰), but under certain atmospheric conditions they can be much stronger (>30‰) suggesting they must be considered in applications of Δ14CH4 in California. This study suggests that atmospheric Δ14CH4 measurements could provide powerful constraints on regional CH4 emissions, complementary to other monitoring techniques.
Analytical Chorus Wave Model Derived from Van Allen Probe Observations
Authors: Wang Dedong , Shprits Yuri Y. , Zhelavskaya Irina S. , Agapitov Oleksiy V. , Drozdov Alexander Y. , Aseev Nikita A.
Published: January 2019

Chorus waves play an important role in the dynamic evolution of energetic electrons in the Earth's radiation belts and ring current. Using more than 5 years of Van Allen Probe data, we developed a new analytical model for upper‐band chorus (UBC; 0.5fce < f < fce) and lower‐band chorus (LBC; 0.05fce < f < 0.5fce) waves, where fce is the equatorial electron gyrofrequency. By applying polynomial fits to chorus wave root mean square amplitudes, we developed regression models for LBC and UBC as a function of geomagnetic activity (Kp), L, magnetic latitude (λ), and magnetic local time (MLT). Dependence on Kp is separated from the dependence on λ, L, and MLT as Kp‐scaling law to simplify the calculation of diffusion coefficients and inclusion into particle tracing codes. Frequency models for UBC and LBC are also developed, which depends on MLT and magnetic latitude. This empirical model is valid in all MLTs, magnetic latitude up to 20°, Kp ≤ 6, L‐shell range from 3.5 to 6 for LBC and from 4 to 6 for UBC. The dependence of root mean square amplitudes on L are different for different bands, which implies different energy sources for different wave bands. This analytical chorus wave model is convenient for inclusion in quasi‐linear diffusion calculations of electron scattering rates and particle simulations in the inner magnetosphere, especially for the newly developed four‐dimensional codes, which require significantly improved wave parameterizations.
Impact of 3‐D Radiation‐Topography Interactions on Surface Temperature and Energy Budget Over the Tibetan Plateau in Winter
Authors: Lee Wei‐Liang , Liou Kuo‐Nan , Wang Chia‐chi , Gu Yu , Hsu Huang‐Hsiung , Li Jui‐Lin F.
Published: January 2019

We incorporate a parameterization to quantify the effect of three‐dimensional (3‐D) radiation‐topography interactions on the solar flux absorbed by the surfaces, including multiple reflections between surfaces and differences in sunward/shaded slopes, in the Community Climate System Model version 4 (CCSM4). A sensitivity experiment is carried out using CCSM4 with the prescribed sea surface temperature for year 2000 to investigate its impact on energy budget and surface temperature over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). The results show that the topographic effect reduces the upward surface shortwave flux and, at the same time, enhance snowmelt rate over the central and southern parts of TP. Comparing to observations and the ensemble of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), we found that CMIP5 models have a strong cold bias of 3.9 K over TP, partially induced by the strong reflection of shortwave fluxes. We show that the inclusion of topographic effect reduces the substantial biases of upward shortwave fluxes and surface air temperatures over TP by 13% in the CCSM4 model.
Quantifying the Storm Time Thermospheric Neutral Density Variations Using Model and Observations
Authors: Kalafatoglu Eyiguler E. Ceren , Shim J. S. , Kuznetsova M. M. , Kaymaz Z. , Bowman B. R. , Codrescu M. V. , Solomon S. C. , Fuller‐Rowell T. J. , Ridley A. J. , Mehta P. M. , Sutton E. K.
Published: January 2019

Accurate determination of thermospheric neutral density holds crucial importance for satellite drag calculations. The problem is twofold and involves the correct estimation of the quiet time climatology and storm time variations. In this work, neutral density estimations from two empirical and three physics‐based models of the ionosphere‐thermosphere are compared with the neutral densities along the Challenging Micro‐Satellite Payload satellite track for six geomagnetic storms. Storm time variations are extracted from neutral density by (1) subtracting the mean difference between model and observation (bias), (2) setting climatological variations to zero, and (3) multiplying model data with the quiet time ratio between the model and observation. Several metrics are employed to evaluate the model performances. We find that the removal of bias or climatology reveals actual performance of the model in simulating the storm time variations. When bias is removed, depending on event and model, storm time errors in neutral density can decrease by an amount of 113% or can increase by an amount of 12% with respect to error in models with quiet time bias. It is shown that using only average and maximum values of neutral density to determine the model performances can be misleading since a model can estimate the averages fairly well but may not capture the maximum value or vice versa. Since each of the metrics used for determining model performances provides different aspects of the error, among these, we suggest employing mean absolute error, prediction efficiency, and normalized root mean square error together as a standard set of metrics for the neutral density.
Researchers Bring Early Martian Water Chemistry to Life
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: January 2019

Lab experiments constrain conditions necessary for a key mineral to have formed in ancient lagoons and a crater lake.
Advancing Climate Science and Response for Caribbean Islands
Authors: Stephenson Kimberly , Stephenson Tannecia , Centella-Artola Abel
Published: January 2019

Meeting of the Caribbean Climate Modelling Consortium; Kingston, Jamaica, 25 July 2018
Earth’s Devastating Power, Seen by Satellite
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: January 2019

Hurricanes, volcanoes, droughts, floods, fires, tsunamis: Satellites capture some of Earth’s most destructive forces.
Shutdown Hammers Early-Career Scientists
Authors: Popkin Gabriel
Published: January 2019

Work and pay stoppages imperil the career progress and livelihoods of researchers trying to get a start in their fields.
Efficient ligand discovery from natural herbs by integrating virtual screening, affinity mass spectrometry and targeted metabolomics
Authors: Wang Zhihua , Liang Hao , Cao Haijie , Zhang Bingjie , Li Jun , Wang Wenqiong , Qin Shanshan , Wang Yuefei , Xuan Lijiang , Lai Luhua , Shui Wenqing
Published: January 2019

An integrated approach was developed for discovery of natural herb-derived ligands targeting the hydrophobic pocket of nucleoprotein of Ebola viruses.
A Dy2 dimer derived from a two-dimensional network with a high Ueff value
Authors: Zhang Ju-Wen , Man Yi , Liu Wen-Hua , Liu Bin-Qiu , Dong Yan-Ping
Published: January 2019

A new two-dimensional dysprosium–organic coordination polymer 1-Dy has been synthesized by a hydrothermal method. 1-Dy displays a ferromagnetic interaction between two DyIII ions within the Dy2 dimer and a slow magnetic relaxation with a high effective energy barrier of approximately 160 K under a zero dc field.
Critical insight: challenges and requirements of fibre electrodes for wearable electrochemical energy storage
Authors: Tebyetekerwa Mike , Marriam Ifra , Xu Zhen , Yang Shengyuan , Zhang Hui , Zabihi Fatemeh , Jose Rajan , Peng Shengjie , Zhu Meifang , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: January 2019

A perspective into the issues to be addressed for better and competitive fibre electrodes for wearable electrochemical energy storage applications.
Measuring local conformations and conformational disorder of (Cy3)2dimer labeled DNA fork junctions using absorbance, circular dichroism and two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Heussman Dylan , Kittell Justin , Kringle Loni , Tamimi Amr , von Hippel Peter H. , Marcus Andrew H.
Published: January 2019

In this work, we use absorbance, circular dichroism (CD), and two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (2DFS) to study the local conformations and conformational disorder within chromophore-labeled DNA constructs.
A non-noble bimetallic alloy in the highly selective electrochemical synthesis of the biofuel 2,5-dimethylfuran from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Zhang Yan-Ru , Wang Bing-Xin , Qin Lei , Li Qiang , Fan Yong-Ming
Published: January 2019

2,5-Dimethyl-furan (DMF) was electrochemically synthesized from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with high efficiency and selectivity using a CuNi bimetallic electrode.
Simultaneous electrokinetic stacking and separation of anionic and cationic species on a paper fluidic channel
Authors: Liu Lei , Xie Mao-Rong , Chen Yu-Zhu , Wu Zhi-Yong
Published: January 2019

Both anionic and cationic species can be simultaneously stacked and separated on a paper fluidic channel based on field amplification effect.
A novel hydroxyl-containing polyimide as a colorimetric and ratiometric chemosensor for the reversible detection of fluoride ions
Authors: Wu Yancheng , Shi Chuqi , Chen Zhigeng , Zhou Yubin , Liu Shumei , Zhao Jianqing
Published: January 2019

A novel hydroxyl-containing polyimide film has been designed and fabricated as a chemosensor for the real-time visualization of F− with high selectivity and sensitivity.
Discarded cigarette filter-derived hierarchically porous carbon@graphene composites for lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Xu Hongbin , Liu Yang , Bai Qianyun , Wu Renbing
Published: January 2019

Trash to treasure: discarded cigarette filters have been utilized to fabricate hierarchical macro–micro–mesoporous carbon@graphene composites, which enable high sulfur loading and confine the dissolution of lithium polysulfides, and thus exhibit an excellent electrochemical performance in Li–S batteries.
New roles of fused-ring electron acceptors in organic solar cells
Authors: Cao Huan , Qin Dashan , Wang Jing , Li Tengfei , Zhu Jingshuai , Jiang Haotian , Zhang Mingyu , Liu Kuan , Tang Zheng , Zhan Xiaowei
Published: January 2019

We explore new roles of fused-ring electron acceptors (FREAs) in addition to being an acceptor in a photoactive layer, and use them as an interfacial layer, which significantly improves the performance of organic solar cells.
Revealing the effects of centuries of ageing on the chemical structural features of lignin in archaeological fir woods
Authors: Huang Caoxing , Su Yan , Shi Jinhua , Yuan Cheng , Zhai Shengcheng , Yong Qiang
Published: January 2019

The cellular components of historical or archaeological wooden objects can be degraded by fungi or bacteria during ageing.
Photo-sensitized oxy-thiocyanation of terminal alkynes/1,3-aryldienes and their one-pot conversion to 2-hydroxy 4-substituted aryl thiazoles
Authors: Gullapalli Kumaraswamy , Vijaykumar Swargam
Published: January 2019

A photo-catalytic regio- and stereoselective difunctionalization of aryl terminal alkynes and aryl conjugated dienes is accomplished.
Study on switch‐leakage‐induced dark offset of ambient light sensor
Authors: Chae Jeongseok
Published: January 2019

The dark offset which is the reference value of an ambient light sensor is analysed. It varies across the wafer when the temperature is increased because of the leakage current of switch transistors. The difference between before and after wafer revisions shows the clue of leakage current. Modern fabrication processes which change the threshold voltage of switch transistors are surveyed. To explain the discrepancy between test and survey data, some other process issues are discussed.
Driving method for liquid crystal lens to increase focus range
Authors: Chen Xiaoxi , Li Guangyong , Li Pengwei , Ye Mao
Published: January 2019

A new method of voltage application is proposed to increase the focus range of a liquid crystal lens driven by two voltages. It is possible for the optical power of the liquid crystal lens to change in a wider range, while the root mean square aberration of low level is maintained. The liquid crystal lens is driven by a frequency of the voltages different in positive and negative lens states to obtain its largest optical power in each state. An obvious increase in focus range is realised.
2.4 GHz dual polarised monostatic antenna with simple two‐tap RF self‐interference cancellation (RF‐SIC) circuitry
Authors: Nawaz H. , Gürbüz Ö. , Tekin I.
Published: January 2019

This Letter presents a dual polarised monostatic patch antenna with a simple two‐tap RF/analogue domain‐based self‐interference cancellation (SIC) (RF‐SIC) circuitry to achieve high interport isolation in a comparatively wider bandwidth for a 2.4 GHz in‐band full duplex wireless transceiver. A brief mathematical description for the deployed two‐tap RF‐SIC is also presented to provide insight into self‐interference (SI) suppression in a comparatively wider bandwidth. The implemented antenna with a two‐tap RF‐SIC circuitry achieves around 80 dB Tx–Rx isolation for a 20 MHz bandwidth in addition to more than 90 dB peak isolation for measurements performed in a lab environment where SI may result from the nearby placed objects. The deployed two‐tap RF‐SIC circuit can be tuned to effectively cancel out SI caused by reflections of the radio signal from the surroundings. Moreover, an 80 dB isolation bandwidth can be tuned within a 10 dB return loss bandwidth of the implemented dual polarised antenna.
Cascaded Rotman lens fed circular array
Authors: Chepala A. , Fusco V.
Published: January 2019

A single Rotman lens fed circular array requires phase shifters to beam steer, whereas a two‐cascaded Rotman lens fed circular array can beam form and beam steer by simply exciting a single Rotman lens beam port. In this Letter, the authors show how cascaded Rotman lenses feeding a circular array can use this property in order to beam steer/shape and perform retrodirective action. Experimental validation at 9.3 GHz is given.
Uncertainty estimation of LiDAR matching aided by dynamic vehicle detection and high definition map
Authors: Wen W. , Bai X. , Zhan W. , Tomizuka M. , Hsu L.‐T.
Published: January 2019

LiDAR matching between real‐time point clouds and pre‐built points map is a popular approach to provide accurate localisation service for autonomous vehicles. However, the performance is severely deteriorated in dense traffic scenes. Unavoidably, dynamic vehicles introduce additional uncertainty to the matching result. The main cause is that the pre‐built map can be blocked by the surrounding dynamic vehicles from the view of LiDAR of ego vehicle. A novel uncertainty of LiDAR matching (ULM) estimation method aided by the dynamic vehicle (DV) detection and high definition map is proposed in this Letter. Compared to the conventional Hessian matrix‐based ULM estimation approach, the proposed method innovatively estimates the ULM by modelling surrounding DV. Then the authors propose to correlate the ULM with the detected DV and convergence feature of matching algorithm. From the evaluated real‐data in an intersection area with dense traffic, the proposed method has exhibited the feasibility of estimating the ULM accurately.
Long‐range order and short‐range disorder in Saccharomyces cerevisiae biofilm
Authors: Piras Vincent , Chiow Adam , Selvarajoo Kumar
Published: January 2019

Biofilm, a colony forming cooperative response of microorganisms under environmental stress, is a major concern for food safety, water safety and drug resistance. Most current works focus on controlling biofilm growth by targeting single genes. Here, the authors investigated transcriptome‐wide expressions of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae biofilm in wildtype, and six previously identified biofilm regulating overexpression strains. Using statistical distributions for low expression filter (TPM > 5), Pearson auto‐ and cross‐correlations reveal a strong transcriptome‐wide invariance among all genotypes. The 50 highly expressed genes, however, differ significantly between the genotypes. Principal components analysis shows the global similarity between most overexpression strains. Thus, though single overexpression strains may show significant favourable local and acute expression changes (short‐range disorder), the almost unperturbed global and collective structure between the genotypes indicate gradual adaptive response converging to original stable biofilm states (long‐range order). Hierarchical clustering and gene ontology show 11 groups of local (e.g. mitochondria processes, amine and nucleotide metabolic processes) and 6 groups of global (e.g. transcription, translation and cell cycle) processes for all genotypes. The overall data indicate that there is a strong global regulatory structure that keeps the overall biofilm stable in all investigated strains.
Dynamic formation mechanism of water droplet and induced surface discharges on silicone rubber composites
Authors: Liu Yong , Wu Yafeng , Du Boxue
Published: January 2019

Wettability has become one of the most important factors influencing power equipment insulation system in coastal power grid, which can seriously threaten the safety of power grid. This paper aimed at numerical simulation and experimental investigation on dynamic formation mechanism of water droplet and induced surface discharges on silicone rubber composites under different AC voltages, considering the factors of surface tension and droplet volume. Obtained results reveal that the spreading coefficient increases with increasing the electric field intensity from 1 to 5 kV/cm and with increasing the droplet volume from 10 to 50 µL. The spreading coefficient shows a decreasing tendency when the surface tension increases from 29.3 to 61.0 mN/m. Moreover, the maximum of surface electric field shows an increasing tendency under the condition of increasing both the droplet volume and the surface tension. On the basis of the physical model of droplet deformation, the electric field force and the surface tension play a significant role in the process of droplet deformation. Meanwhile, the experimental results are consistent with the simulation analysis, reflecting that the droplet deformation and the induced surface discharges mainly depend on two parameters: the droplet volume and the magnitude of applied voltage.
Comparison of intelligent modelling techniques for forecasting solar energy and its application in solar PV based energy system
Authors: Perveen Gulnar , Rizwan Mohammad , Goel Nidhi
Published: January 2019

The measurement of solar energy data is a difficult task and rarely available even for those stations where measurement has already been done. Further, the PV power forecasting is an important element for smart energy management system. In the present scenario, utilities are developing the smart‐grid application and PV power forecasting is an important key tool for a new paradigm. The forecasting of solar energy during clear sky‐condition can be easily estimated using mathematical models; however, forecasting under the influence of hazy, cloudy, and foggy sky‐conditions do not provide accuracy with these models. Therefore, an intelligent modelling techniques i.e. fuzzy logic, artificial neural network (ANN), and adaptive‐neural‐fuzzy‐inference system (ANFIS) models are proposed based on sky‐conditions namely clear/sunny sky, hazy sky, partially cloudy/foggy sky, and fully cloudy/foggy sky‐conditions for forecasting global solar energy. To design the model, 15 years averaged datasets of meteorological parameters were used for distinct climate zones across India. Further, comparison of intelligent models has been carried out with regression models using statistical indicators. The proposed model has been implemented for short‐term PV power forecasting under composite climatic conditions. Simulation results confirm that the ANFIS model provides supremacy for PV power forecast as compared to other models.
Coordinated operation strategies for natural gas and power systems in presence of gas‐related flexibilities
Authors: Ameli Hossein , Qadrdan Meysam , Strbac Goran
Published: January 2019

A detailed investigation of the interaction between natural gas and power systems is necessary, due to the increasing interdependency of these vectors, especially in the context of renewable generations integration growth into the grid. In this study, an outer approximation with an equality relaxation decomposition method is proposed to solve a mixed‐integer non‐linear problem representing the operation of coupled natural gas and power systems. The proposed coupled modelling of natural gas and power systems is compared to decoupled operational modelling. It is demonstrated that operating gas and electricity as a coupled system resulted in about 7% of operational cost savings. In addition, the value of gas‐related flexibility options, including flexible gas compressors, flexible gas generation plants, and gas interconnections, to the operation of natural gas and power systems is quantified for a 2030 GB energy system. It is shown that if the natural gas and power systems are flexible enough, the operation of the systems in the decoupled approach is almost the same as the coupled model and therefore there is no need to reform the current energy market framework to make the systems fully coupled.
Millimetre‐wave massive MIMO for cellular vehicle‐to‐infrastructure communication
Authors: Busari Sherif Adeshina , Khan Muhammad Awais , Huq Kazi Mohammed Saidul , Mumtaz Shahid , Rodriguez Jonathan
Published: January 2019

Autonomous driving is delightedly an innovative and revolutionary paradigm for future intelligent transport systems. To be fully functional and efficient, vehicles will use hundreds of sensors and generate terabytes of data that will be used and shared for safety, infotainment and allied services. Communication among vehicles or between vehicle and infrastructure thus requires data rate, latency and reliability far beyond what the legacy dedicated short‐range communication (DSRC) and long‐term evolution‐advanced (LTE‐A) systems can support. In this work, the authors motivate the use of millimetre‐wave (mmWave) massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) technology to facilitate gigabits‐per‐second (Gbps) communication for cellular vehicle‐to‐infrastructure scenarios. As a fundamental component, the authors characterise the mmWave massive MIMO vehicular channel using metrics such as path loss, root‐mean‐square delay spread, Rician K ‐factor, cluster and ray distribution, power delay profile, channel rank and condition number as well as data rate. They compare the mmWave performance with the DSRC and LTE‐A capabilities, and offer useful insights on vehicular channels. The results show that mmWave massive MIMO can deliver Gbps data rates for next‐generation vehicular networks.
Load aware energy‐balanced data gathering approach in CRSNs
Authors: Rashid Asad , Tripathi Yogesh , Prakash Arun , Tripathi Rajeev
Published: January 2019

Cognitive radio sensor network (CRSN) is a combination of two different prominent technologies named as wireless sensor network (WSN) and CR network (CRN). There are different related issues of two different technologies such as energy and hardware for WSN and dynamic spectrum for CRN. CRSN constitutes the research challenges in designing efficient communication protocol in resource constraints network. So, energy‐balanced transmission is necessary to prolong the lifetime of WSNs. It ensures uniform average energy consumption among all the nodes. Data gathering approach in traditional sensor network suffers uncontrolled interference in the unlicenced spectrums as these spectrums are gradually getting crowded. CRSN network can provide a solution to spectrum scarcity in unlicenced channels. This study proposes a load aware energy balancing approach to maximise the network lifetime. It also proposes a dynamic channel sensing and accessing algorithm to optimise the energy consumption when the quality of unlicenced spectrum deteriorates. Once the event gets detected, the proposed routing protocol's objective is to transmit the data through energy‐efficient path from source to destination. Its performance is evaluated through extensive simulations. Simulation results demonstrate a significant improvement over closely related works.
Viewing sector optimisation for indoor localisation using multi‐lateration with unilateral nodes deployment
Authors: Gonzalez‐Zepeda Enrique , Xu Yuan , Shmaliy Yuriy S. , Andrade‐Lucio Jose A.
Published: January 2019

Viewing sector optimisation allows reaching a maximum available localisation accuracy in indoor environments using optimal estimators. In this study, the authors provide such an optimisation for multi‐lateration by employing the unbiased finite impulse response (UFIR) filtering technique, which ignores noise and initial values. The authors consider the unilateral deployment of anchor nodes and show, both theoretically and experimentally, that the optimal angle of arrival is zero, optimal viewing angle is , acceptable viewing angle ranges as and nodes density k increases the localisation accuracy as a reciprocal of the root square of k. Experimental verification is provided using the ultra‐wide band indoor precise localisation technology, in which the distance is measured via the time of arrival.
Multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 509
Authors: Kriss G. A. , Arav N. , Edmonds D. , Ely J. , Kaastra J. S. , Bianchi S. , Cappi M. , Costantini E. , Ebrero J. , Mehdipour M. , Paltani S. , Petrucci P. , Ponti G.
Published: January 2019

Aims. To elucidate the location, physical conditions, mass outflow rate, and kinetic luminosity of the outflow from the active nucleus of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509, we used coordinated UV and X-ray spectral observations in 2012 to follow up our lengthier campaign conducted in 2009.

Methods. We observed Mrk 509 with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 2012-09-03 and 2012-10-11 coordinated with X-ray observations using the High Energy Transmission Grating on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Our far-ultraviolet spectra used grating G140L on COS to cover wavelengths from 920–2000 Å at a resolving power of ∼2000, and gratings G130M and G160M to cover 1160–1750 Å at a resolving power of ∼15, 000.

Results. We detect variability in the blueshifted UV absorption lines on timescales spanning 3–12 years. The inferred densities in the absorbing gas are greater than log n cm−3 ∼ 3. For ionization parameters ranging over log U = −1.5 to −0.2, we constrain the distances of the absorbers to be closer than 220 pc to the active nucleus.

Conclusions. The impact on the host galaxy appears to be confined to the nuclear region.
HADES RV program with HARPS-N at the TNG
Authors: Affer L. , Damasso M. , Micela G. , Poretti E. , Scandariato G. , Maldonado J. , Lanza A. F. , Covino E. , Garrido Rubio A. , González Hernández J. I. , Gratton R. , Leto G. , Maggio A. , Perger M. , Sozzetti A. , Suárez Mascareño A. , Bonomo A. S. , Borsa F. , Claudi R. , Cosentino R. , Desidera S. , Giacobbe P. , Molinari E. , Pedani M. , Pinamonti M. , Rebolo R. , Ribas I. , Toledo-Padrón B.
Published: January 2019

Aims.The HArps-n red Dwarf Exoplanet Survey (HADES) is providing a major contribution to the widening of the current statistics of low-mass planets, through the in-depth analysis of precise radial-velocity (RV) measurements in a narrow range of spectral sub-types. Using the HARPS-N spectrograph we reach the precision needed to detect small planets with a few earth masses. Our survey is mainly focused on the M-dwarf population of the northern hemisphere.

Methods.As part of that program, we obtained RV measurements of Gl 686, an M1 dwarf atd= 8.2 pc. These measurements show a dispersion much in excess of their internal errors. The analysis of data obtained within an intensive observing campaign demonstrates that the excess dispersion is due to a coherent signal with a period of 15.53 d. Almost simultaneous photometric observations were carried out within the APACHE and EXORAP programs to characterize the stellar activity and to distinguish periodic variations related to activity from signals due to the presence of planetary companions, complemented also with ASAS photometric data. We used a Bayesian framework to estimate the orbital parameters and the planet minimum mass, and to properly treat the activity noise. We took advantage of the available RV measurements for this target from other observing campaigns. The analysis of the RV composite time series from the HIRES, HARPS, and HARPS-N spectrographs, consisting of 198 measurements taken over 20 yr, enabled us to address the nature of periodic signals and also to characterize stellar physical parameters (mass, temperature, and rotation).

Results.We report the discovery of a super-Earth orbiting at a distance of 0.092 AU from the host star Gl 686. The planet has a minimum mass of 7.1 ± 0.9M⊕and an orbital period of 15.532 ± 0.002 d. The analysis of the activity indexes, of the correlated noise through a Gaussian process framework, and of the photometry provides an estimate of the stellar rotation period at 37 d, and highlights the variability of the spot configuration during the long timespan covering 20 yr. The observed periodicities around 2000 d likely point to the existence of an activity cycle.
Convective blueshifts in the solar atmosphere
Authors: Löhner-Böttcher J. , Schmidt W. , Schlichenmaier R. , Steinmetz T. , Holzwarth R.
Published: January 2019

Context. Convective motions in the solar atmosphere cause spectral lines to become asymmetric and shifted in wavelength. For photospheric lines, this differential Doppler shift varies from the solar disk center to the limb.

Aims. Precise and comprehensive observations of the convective blueshift and its center-to-limb variation improve our understanding of the atmospheric hydrodynamics and ensuing line formation, and provide the basis to refine 3D models of the solar atmosphere.

Methods. We performed systematical spectroscopic measurements of the convective blueshift of the quiet Sun with the Laser Absolute Reference Spectrograph (LARS) at the German Vacuum Tower Telescope. The spatial scanning of the solar disk covered 11 heliocentric positions each along four radial (meridional and equatorial) axes. The high-resolution spectra of 26 photospheric to chromospheric lines in the visible range were calibrated with a laser frequency comb to absolute wavelengths at the 1 m s−1 accuracy. Applying ephemeris and reference corrections, the bisector analysis provided line asymmetries and Doppler shifts with an uncertainty of only few m s−1. To allow for a comparison with other observations, we convolved the results to lower spectral resolutions.

Results. All spectral line bisectors exhibit a systematic center-to-limb variation. Typically, a blueshifted “C”-shaped curve at disk center transforms into a less blueshifted “\”-shape toward the solar limb. The comparison of all lines reveals the systematic dependence of the convective blueshift on the line depth. The blueshift of the line minima describe a linear decrease with increasing line depths. The slope of the center-to-limb variation develops a reversal point at heliocentric positions between μ = 0.7 and 0.85, seen as the effect of horizontal granular flows in the mid photosphere. Line minima formed in the upper photosphere to chromosphere exhibit hardly any blueshift or even a slight redshift. Synthetic models yield considerable deviations from the observed center-to-limb variation.

Conclusions. The obtained Doppler shifts of the quiet Sun can serve as an absolute reference for other observations, the relative calibration of Dopplergrams, and the necessary refinement of atmospheric models. Based on this, the development of high-precision models of stellar surface convection will advance the detection of (potentially habitable) exoplanets by radial velocity measurements.
Interplay between miRNAs and host genes and their role in cancer
Authors: Liu Baohong , Shyr Yu , Cai Jianping , Liu Qi
Published: January 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding functional RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. They play essential roles in nearly all biological processes including cell development and differentiation, DNA damage repair, cell death as well as intercellular communication. They are highly involved in cancer, acting as tumor suppressors and/or promoters to modulate cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor invasion and metastasis. Recent studies have shown that more than half of miRNAs are located within protein-coding or non-coding genes. Intragenic miRNAs and their host genes either share the promoter or have independent transcription. Meanwhile, miRNAs work as partners or antagonists of their host genes by fine-tuning their target genes functionally associated with host genes. This review outlined the complicated relationship between intragenic miRNAs and host genes. Focusing on miRNAs known as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in specific cancer types, it studied co-expression relationships between these miRNAs and host genes in the cancer types using TCGA data sets, which validated previous findings and revealed common, tumor-specific and even subtype-specific patterns. These observations will help understand the function of intragenic miRNAs and further develop miRNA therapeutics in cancer.
Dlx1/2 are Central and Essential Components in the Transcriptional Code for Generating Olfactory Bulb Interneurons
Authors: Guo Teng , Liu Guoping , Du Heng , Wen Yan , Wei Song , Li Zhenmeiyu , Tao Guangxu , Shang Zicong , Song Xiaolei , Zhang Zhuangzhi , Xu Zhejun , You Yan , Chen Bin , Rubenstein John L , Yang Zhengang
Published: January 2019

Generation of olfactory bulb (OB) interneurons requires neural stem/progenitor cell specification, proliferation, differentiation, and young interneuron migration and maturation. Here, we show that the homeobox transcription factors Dlx1/2 are central and essential components in the transcriptional code for generating OB interneurons. In Dlx1/2 constitutive null mutants, the differentiation of GSX2+ and ASCL1+ neural stem/progenitor cells in the dorsal lateral ganglionic eminence is blocked, resulting in a failure of OB interneuron generation. In Dlx1/2 conditional mutants (hGFAP-Cre; Dlx1/2F/− mice), GSX2+ and ASCL1+ neural stem/progenitor cells in the postnatal subventricular zone also fail to differentiate into OB interneurons. In contrast, overexpression of Dlx1&2 in embryonic mouse cortex led to ectopic production of OB-like interneurons that expressed Gad1, Sp8, Sp9, Arx, Pbx3, Etv1, Tshz1, and Prokr2. Pax6 mutants generate cortical ectopia with OB-like interneurons, but do not do so in compound Pax6; Dlx1/2 mutants. We propose that DLX1/2 promote OB interneuron development mainly through activating the expression of Sp8/9, which further promote Tshz1 and Prokr2 expression. Based on this study, in combination with earlier ones, we propose a transcriptional network for the process of OB interneuron development.
Elaboration of Consensus Clinical Endpoints to Evaluate Antimicrobial Treatment Efficacy in Future Hospital-acquired/Ventilator-associated Bacterial Pneumonia Clinical Trials
Authors: Weiss Emmanuel , Zahar Jean-Ralph , Alder Jeff , Asehnoune Karim , Bassetti Matteo , Bonten Marc J M , Chastre Jean , De Waele Jan , Dimopoulos George , Eggimann Philippe , Engelhardt Marc , Ewig Santiago , Kollef Marin , Lipman Jeffrey , Luna Carlos , Martin-Loeches Ignacio , Pagani Leonardo , Palmer Lucy B , Papazian Laurent , Poulakou Garyphallia , Prokocimer Philippe , Rello Jordi , Rex John H , Shorr Andrew F , Talbot George H , Thamlikitkul Visanu , Torres Antoni , Wunderink Richard G , Timsit Jean-François
Published: January 2019

Background

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP and VABP, respectively) are important for the evaluation of new antimicrobials. However, the heterogeneity in endpoints used in RCTs evaluating treatment of HABP/VABP may puzzle clinicians. The aim of this work was to reach a consensus on clinical endpoints to consider in future clinical trials evaluating antimicrobial treatment efficacy for HABP/VABP.

Methods

Twenty-six international experts from intensive care, infectious diseases, and the pharmaceutical industry were polled using the Delphi method.

Results

The panel recommended a hierarchical composite endpoint including, by priority order, (1) survival at day 28, (2) mechanical ventilation–free days through day 28, and (3) clinical cure between study days 7 and 10 for VABP; and (1) survival (day 28) and (2) clinical cure (days 7–10) for HABP. Clinical cure was defined as the combination of resolution of signs and symptoms present at enrollment and improvement or lack of progression of radiological signs. More than 70% of the experts agreed to assess survival and mechanical ventilation–free days though day 28, and clinical cure between day 7 and day 10 after treatment initiation. Finally, the hierarchical order of endpoint components was reached after 3 Delphi rounds (72% agreement).

Conclusions

We provide a multinational expert consensus on separate hierarchical composite endpoints for VABP and HABP, and on a definition of clinical cure that could be considered for use in future HABP/VABP clinical trials.