bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE IMPACT OF BEING PART OF A THET LINKS PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP A PALLIATIVE CARE DEGREE PROGRAM IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA
Authors: Jack Barbara , Kirton Jennifer , Frame Karen
Published: February 2014

Background

In Sub-Saharan Africa the need for palliative care provision is escalating with rising cancer rates and non-communicable disease burden. The shortage of trained health care professionals has highlighted the need for increasing the palliative care workforce. A THET Links Health Partnership was established between a UK Faculty comprising clinical and academic palliative care staff from across the UK and Hospice Africa Uganda, to support the development of a palliative care degree in Uganda. UK Faculty supported the Ugandan Faculty in the development and delivery of the degree programme.

Aim

To identify the impact on the UK Faculty of participating in the partnership.

Methods

A pragmatic evaluation methodology was adopted for the study and data were collected in November 2012, using a confidential descriptive electronic survey, comprising open ended and closed questions. A total population sample approach was used and all 17 UK Faculty invited to participate. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics for the closed questions. The project was reviewed by West London Research Ethics Committee and considered service evaluation.

Result

82% (n=14) UK Faculty participated, and no negative points were raised by any respondent. Several themes emerged from the data including the impact on their UK clinical practice. This included examples of improving their team working and leadership and enhanced diagnostic skills with reduced reliance on technology. The improvement in their teaching skills was widely reported. The personal impact of the experience was also noted including providing personal growth, influencing lifestyle choices and changing their perspectives on life.

Conclusion

the impact of being part of this volunteer programme has shown multiple benefits for the participants, not only relating to their clinical work in the UK, but also the personal impacts on their lives. As well as the overarching goal of improved access to palliative care.
EDUCATION LEADS' VIEWS ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE PALLIATIVE CARE (PC) TEACHING IN THEIR MEDICAL SCHOOL: A UK WIDE SURVEY
Authors: Walker Steven , Gibbins Jane , Barclay Stephen , Barnett Mandy , Adams Astrid , Paes Paul , Lodge Philip , Chandratilake Madawa , Wee Bee
Published: February 2014

Background

The views of newly-qualified doctors regarding their readiness to care for PC patients have been investigated.1By comparison, less is known about the opinions of undergraduate PC leads concerning their course provision, role and institutional support.

Strongly agree/agreeNo strong view/neutralDisagree/strongly disagreeFulfils GMC requirements19 (63%)9 (30%)2 (7%)Prepares students well for PC in Foundation Year 118 (60%)3 (10%)9 (30%)Overall delivers quality PC training22* (76%)2* (7%)5* (17%)Varies depending on where students are sent15 (50%)8 (27%)7 (23%)Is delivered by enthusiastic colleagues27 (90%)3 (10%)Is limited by availability of local services20 (67%)4 (13%)6 (20%)Enables each student to visit a hospice and see doctors care for the dying17 (57%)3 (10%)10 (33%)Is highly-rated by students26 (87%)4 (13%)My role in PC training is satisfying27 (90%)3 (10%)

*29 responses

Aims

To investigate the views of undergraduate PC leads across all UK medical schools regarding teaching at their university.

Methods

A 40 point web-based questionnaire was developed and sent to identified PC leads in all UK medical Schools. This study received ethical approval.

Results

Results were obtained from all 30 UK medical schools. Nineteen respondents (63%) consider that PC training should be a separate course partially integrated within the curriculum, 10 (33%) fully integrated and 1(3%) would prefer a completely separate course.

A minority expressed concerns about PC training being recognised as important (5, 17%), support from university colleagues (5, 17%) dedicated teaching time (10, 33%) and funding (10. 33%).

Conclusion

The views of PC leads are generally positive across UK medical school. It is suggested that negative opinions may be influenced by local organisational difficulties.
ENHANCING CONFIDENCE AND COMPETENCE IN END OF LIFE CARE: AN EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY FOR COMMUNITY NURSING STAFF
Authors: Steven Alison , White Gail , Marples Gwen
Published: February 2014

The importance of developing workforce knowledge, skills and attitudes in the health and social care workforce in order to improve the quality of end of life care is central to the provision of high quality patient care at the end of life. Community nurses deliver end of life care frequently and are required to be confident and competent in the delivery of this care, although how this is achieved is less clear.

The aim of this project was to offer a pathway of learning to community nurses to explore what enhances confidence and competence. The pathway took a learner centred approach underpinned by principles of adult education and built on the 4 competency areas for end of life care.

The philosophy underpinning the pathway development was based upon the belief that education and learning are complex social processes which take place in complex settings. A purposeful sample of eight community nurses followed a pathway which involved the participants being linked with a mentor; undertaking a learning needs assessment; then planning a course of action by choosing from a menu of educational activities, both formal and in formal.

Participants were interviewed at three points during the process and mentors interviewed once. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, anonymised and analysed using an iterative approach drawing on grounded theory principles of constant comparative analysis

A multi facet realistic evaluation methodology was employed allowing exploration of the context, mechanisms and outcomes for the pathway. This approach offers the opportunity of getting inside the ‘black box’ of what actually happens when an initiative is translated into practice, and to unpick what works for whom and in what circumstances.

After participating in the educational activities the Training Needs Analysis results indicated significant changes in perceptions of confidence and competence by the end of the project.
The Mortality Peer Review Panel: a report on the deaths on operations of UK Service personnel 2002–2013
Authors: Russell Robert , Hunt N , Delaney R
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Review of adverse outcomes is an essential element of healthcare governance. For each operational death, the post-mortem is attended by a member of Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine and the case is assessed by a Mortality Peer Review Panel comprised of Defence Professors and other clinical and technical experts.

Methods

A search was conducted of the Joint Theatre Trauma Registry (JTTR) for all UK military death reviews held from January 2002 to November 2013 and the judgement made by the Mortality Peer Review panel. Cases are awarded a ‘salvageability’ rating between S1 (salvageable) and S4 (not salvageable). Cases graded S1–3 are then assessed further for tactical, clinical or equipment factors that affected the outcome.

Results

There were 621 deaths recorded on the JTTR and 517 (83.3%) were due to hostile action. The Killed in Action to Died of Wounds ratio is 6.28 : 1. Explosive mechanisms of injury were responsible for 55.65% of combat deaths and penetrating mechanisms 28.71%. An average of 10.56 injuries was recorded per casualty and the mean number of body regions affected was 3.34. The Peer Review Panel decided that 91.1% cases were not salvageable (S4); this figure is 93.5% if the deaths due to hostile action are considered separately.

Conclusions

The severity of modern military trauma is overwhelming in nature and, along with trauma scoring systems, clinical peer review is an essential part of healthcare governance. The process also helps inform and direct research within clinical and force protection fields.
Effectiveness of different farrowing induction protocols in sows using alphaprostol on day 114 of gestation
Authors: Decaluwé R. , Janssens G. P. J. , Englebienne M. , Maes D.
Published: February 2014

Farrowing induction in sows is frequently applied and different protocols were described. Most studies induce farrowing between day 111 and 113 of gestation, but hardly any later during gestation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different induction protocols when applied on d114 of gestation. We randomly assigned 118 sows to four treatment groups: single injection of prostaglandin (1×PG), prostaglandin combined with oxytocin 24 hours later (PG+OT), half the dosage of prostaglandin twice with six hours interval (2×1/2PG), and a control group of which farrowing wasn't induced. All injections were administered intramuscularly in the neck on day 114 of gestation. A significantly higher percentage of sows started farrowing between 22 and 32 hours after induction in the PG+OT‐group (68 per cent) and the 2×1/2PG‐group (52 per cent) compared to the control group (23 per cent). The 1×PG‐group (46 per cent) tended to differ from the control group (P=0.087). More sows from the PG+OT‐group were constipated at farrowing (P=0.042). Farrowing duration, birth interval, per cent stillborn piglets, dystocia and other variables were similar between the groups. In the present herd and with continuous farrowing supervision, applying PG+OT or 2×1/2PG on d114 of gestation was efficient to induce onset of farrowing in most of the sows 22–32 hours after induction without considerable negative effects.
Rhizosphere interactions: root exudates, microbes, and microbial communities
Authors: Huang Xing-Feng , Chaparro Jacqueline M. , Reardon Kenneth F. , Zhang Ruifu , Shen Qirong , Vivanco Jorge M.
Published: February 2014

The study of the interactions between plants and their microbial communities in the rhizosphere is important for developing sustainable management practices and agricultural products such as biofertilizers and biopesticides. Plant roots release a broad variety of chemical compounds to attract and select microorganisms in the rhizosphere. In turn, these plant-associated microorganisms, via different mechanisms, influence plant health and growth. In this review, we summarize recent progress made in unraveling the interactions between plants and rhizosphere microbes through plant root exudates, focusing on how root exudate compounds mediate rhizospheric interactions both at the plant–microbe and plant–microbiome levels. We also discuss the potential of root exudates for harnessing rhizospheric interactions with microbes that could lead to sustainable agricultural practices.
Exploring the environmental context of recentDidymosphenia geminataproliferation in Gaspésie, Quebec, using paleolimnology
Authors: Lavery J.M. , Kurek J. , Rühland K.M. , Gillis C.A. , Pisaric M.F.J. , Smol J.P.
Published: February 2014

Management authorities often perceive Didymosphenia geminata (didymo) as an invasive, nuisance diatom species that has been introduced to eastern Canada; however, observations from early 20th century diatom surveys challenge this characterization. We apply paleolimnological techniques to place recent didymo blooms from Gaspésie, Quebec, into historical and environmental context. Sedimentary diatom assemblages were examined from Lac Humqui (a headwater lake) and Lac au Saumon (a lake with an inflowing river currently supporting blooms). The Lac Humqui assemblage experienced a broad-scale shift in their dominant life strategy with declines in fragilarioid taxa and increases in planktonic diatoms (i.e., Cyclotella–Discostella species) that began ∼1970 and increased to modern abundances ∼1990. Strong relationships between this diatom shift and increases in regional air temperatures and earlier river ice-out dates are consistent with longer growing seasons and enhanced thermal stability in Lac Humqui. Didymo was observed throughout the Lac au Saumon core, demonstrating that it has been present in the region since at least ∼1970. Our paleolimnological evidence indicates that blooms likely form in response to regional consequences of climate warming, rather than human introduction.
Understory plant assemblages present distinct short-term responses to the clear-cutting of an old-growth spruce forest near an alpine timberline
Authors: Liu Xin , Bao W.K.
Published: February 2014

Forest clear-cutting is a prominent disturbance influencing understory plant communities. We implemented a before–after, control–impact (BACI) designed experiment in a high-elevation, old-growth spruce forest in the eastern Tibetan Plateau to understand the response in cover and species richness of the understory plant community and its assemblages, as well as the driving roles of environmental alteration (e.g., radiation, temperature, humidity, and nutrients), physical disturbance (e.g., direct damage by trampling and tree-felling), and interplay effects (e.g., shading or burial from logging residue) during a 2-year period. The decrease in cover for the understory vegetation was predominantly due to a decrease in bryophytes; the grass cover, however, increased. While bryophyte species richness decreased, the total number of understory and vascular plants changed minimally. Furthermore, the environmental alteration drove the increase in grass cover, as well as the cover and species richness decline for bryophytes and its two species groups. It was also found that physical disturbances and interplay effects caused the decrease in cover for bryophytes. The total effects influenced the understory community and bryophytes in terms of cover, but not in terms of species richness. We conclude that the short-term responses of understory vegetation to clear-cutting are distinct across different assemblages due to various mechanisms. Bryophytes are more sensitive than vascular plants, and cover percentage responded more swiftly than species richness to clear-cutting.
Development and discrimination of 12 double ditelosomics in tetraploid wheat cultivar DR147
Authors: Li Hao , Wang Changyou , Fu Shulan , Guo Xiang , Yang Baoju , Chen Chunhuan , Zhang Hong , Wang Yajuan , Liu Xinlun , Han Fangpu , Ji Wanquan
Published: February 2014

As an important group in Triticum, tetraploid wheat plays a significant role in the research of wheat evolution. Several complete aneuploid sets of common wheat have provided valuable tools for genetic and breeding studies, while similar aneuploids of tetraploid wheat are still not well developed. Here, 12 double ditelosomics developed in Triticum turgidum L. var. durum cultivar DR147 (excluding dDT2B and dDT3A) were reported. Hybrids between DR147 and the original double-ditelosomic dDT2B of Langdon lost vigor and died prematurely after the three-leaf stage; therefore, the dDT2B line was not obtained. The cytogenetic behaviors and phenotypic characteristics of each line were detailedly described. To distinguish the entire chromosome complement of tetraploid wheat, the DR147 karyotype was established by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using the Aegilops tauschii clone pAsl and the barley clone pHvG38 as probes. FISH using a cereal-specific centromere repeat (6C6) probe suggested that all the lines possessed four telosomes, except for 4AS of double-ditelosomic dDT4A, which carried a small segment of the long arm. On the basis of the idiogram of DR147, these lines were successfully discriminated by FISH using the probes pAsl and pHvG38 and were then accurately designated.
BATCHING MACHINE SCHEDULING WITH BICRITERIA: MAXIMUM COST AND MAKESPAN
Authors: HE CHENG , LIN HAO , YUAN JINJIANG , MU YUNDONG
Published: February 2014

In this paper, the problem of minimizing maximum cost and makespan simultaneously on an unbounded parallel-batching machine is considered. An unbounded parallel-batching machine is a machine that can handle any number of jobs in a batch and the processing time of a batch is the largest processing time of jobs in the batch. The main goal of a multicriteria problem is to find Pareto optimal solutions. We present a polynomial-time algorithm to produce all Pareto optimal solutions of this bicriteria scheduling problem.
THE USE OF MOTION ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND ORTHOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH NEURO-MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
Authors: KARIMI MOHAMMAD TAGHI , MOSTAMAND JAVID , FATOYE FRANCIS
Published: February 2014

Background: Neuro-musculoskeletal disorders are a major source of physical disability involving more than one joint. Monitoring all joints during walking is achieved by using motion analysis system. There is limited evidence to show the suitability of motion analysis system to monitor neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. This research investigated the feasibility of this system to represent in patients with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders during walking. Method: Five groups of normal subjects with: knee osteoarthritis; avascular necrosis of hip joint; spinal cord injury and flat foot were recruited into this study. Kinetic and kinematic parameters were obtained by the use of motion analysis (Qualysis with seven cameras) and a Kistler force platform. The differences between gait parameters of normal and subjects with these disorders were examined using the independent t-tests. Paired t-test analysis was also used to determine the difference between walking with and without orthosis. Significant value was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: There was a significant difference between the moment applied on the knee joint, the integral area between center of pressure (COP) and center of knee joint (COJ) graphs of normal and osteoarthritis (OA) subjects (p < 0.05). The area between COP and COJ of the ankle joint significantly differed between normal and flat foot subjects (p < 0.05). However, the force transmitted through the hip joint in subjects with Perthes did not differ significantly while walking with and without orthosis. In paraplegic subjects, the force applied on the limb and the mean values of gait parameters varied while walking with different orthoses which showed the feasibility of the system to monitor the performance of subjects with SCI disorder. Conclusion: The findings of the present study imply that the use of motion analysis is feasibility for assessing and monitoring neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. However, different parameters should be selected for various neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.
NEW COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES FOR BIOPHYSICAL HEAT TRANSFER IN TISSUE UNDER ULTRASONIC WAVES: THE VARIATIONAL ITERATION AND CHEBYSCHEV SPECTRAL SIMULATIONS
Authors: ELSAYED ASSMA F. , BÉG O. ANWAR
Published: February 2014

A mathematical and numerical study is presented for simulating temperature distribution in a two-dimensional tissue medium using Pennes bioheat transfer equation, when the tissue is subjected to ultrasonic waves. Following nondimensionalization of the governing partial differential equation, a novel variational iteration method (VIM) solution is developed. This excellent technique introduced by He [Variational iteration method — a kind of non-linear analytical technique: Some examples, Int J Non-Linear Mech.34:699–708, 1999] employs Lagrange multipliers which can be identified optimally via variational theory. The space and time distributions of temperature are studied and solutions visualized via Mathematica. The influence of thermal conductivity and relaxation time are also examined. Excellent stability and convergence characteristics of VIM are demonstrated. Validation is achieved with a Chebyschev spectral collocation method (CSCM). The present work demonstrates the excellent potential of this powerful semi-numerical method in nonlinear biological heat transfer and furthermore provides an alternative strategy to conventional finite element and finite difference computational simulations. The model finds applications in minimally-invasive spinal laser treatments, glaucoma therapy in ophthalmology and thermoradiotherapy for malignant tumors.
HEART SOUND CLASSIFICATION AND RECOGNITION BASED ON EEMD AND CORRELATION DIMENSION
Authors: ZHANG WENYING , GUO XINGMING , YUAN ZHIHUI , ZHU XINGHUA
Published: February 2014

Analysis of heart sound is of great importance to the diagnosis of heart diseases. Most of the feature extraction methods about heart sound have focused on linear time-variant or time-invariant models. While heart sound is a kind of highly nonstationary and nonlinear vibration signal, traditional methods cannot fully reveal its essential properties. In this paper, a novel feature extraction approach is proposed for heart sound classification and recognition. The ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method is used to decompose the heart sound into a finite number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and the correlation dimensions of the main IMF components (IMF1~IMF4) are calculated as feature set. Then the classical Binary Tree Support Vector Machine (BT-SVM) classifier is employed to classify the heart sounds which include the normal heart sounds (NHSs) and three kinds of abnormal signals namely mitral stenosis (MT), ventricular septal defect (VSD) and aortic stenosis (AS). Finally, the performance of the new feature set is compared with the correlation dimensions of original signals and the main IMF components obtained by the EMD method. The results showed that, for NHSs, the feature set proposed in this paper performed the best with recognition rate of 98.67%. For the abnormal signals, the best recognition rate of 91.67% was obtained. Therefore, the proposed feature set is more superior to two comparative feature sets, which has potential application in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.
SINGULARITY ANALYSIS OF CYLINDRICAL INTERFACE END IN TRANSVERSELY ISOTROPIC BI-MATERIAL
Authors: LI MING-HAO , DAI YING , HE PENG-FEI
Published: February 2014

Micro-indentation, pullout, micro-debond and fragmentation test are widely used methods to measure the fiber-matrix interface shear strength (IFSS). In the stress singularity analysis of tests specimens, specimen materials are usually considered as isotropic, but in some cases, the properties of some kinds of fibers exhibit as transversely isotropic. Therefore, it is more reasonable and universal to adopt a transversely isotropic axisymmetric model in the singularity analysis for specimens of four kinds of tests. Based on this model, we first obtain the characteristic determinant, which is used to calculate the singularity index of interface end in specimens, following the procedure of coordinate transformation, asymptotic expansion and so on. Then, we calculate singularity indexes of the four test methods, and compare them with previous literatures where the fiber and the matrix are considered as isotropic. At last, we investigate the singularity in the Z-pinned laminate.
CRACK DEFLECTION AND FLAW TOLERANCE IN "BRICK-AND-MORTAR" STRUCTURED COMPOSITES
Authors: XIE ZHAOQIAN , YAO HAIMIN
Published: February 2014

Natural nacreous composites such as nacre, teeth and bone have long been extolled for their higher strength and toughness. Understanding the toughening and strengthening mechanisms as well as the condition triggering their occurrence would be of great value to the biomimetic synthesis. In this paper, our attention is mainly focused on crack deflection and flaw tolerance, which were reported as crucial toughening and strengthening mechanisms in nacreous biological materials, respectively. By applying the "brick-and-mortar" (B-and-M) structure model, our finite element-based simulation showed that the propagating direction of a crack ending at the brick/mortar interface could be controlled by tuning the fracture strength of brick. Subsequent examination on the tensile strength (TS) of the cracked B-and-M structure indicated that in nacreous composite flaw tolerance can be achieved below a length scale determined by the ductility of mortar phase. These findings would serve as guidelines in the design and synthesis of novel biomimetic materials aiming at higher strength and toughness.
TORSIONAL ANALYSIS OF PIEZOELECTRIC HOLLOW BARS
Authors: TALEBANPOUR A. , HEMATIYAN M. R.
Published: February 2014

Analytical formulations are presented for Saint-Venant's torsion of orthotropic piezoelectric hollow members. It is assumed that the cross-section consists of straight and curved segments with the same thickness. Governing equations are based on Prandtl's stress and electric displacement potential functions. Some examples are solved using the presented formulations and verified by the finite element method solutions. The results show the accuracy of the present method for torsional analysis of thin- to moderately thick-walled hollow bars.
AN Lp - Lq-VERSION OF MORGAN'S THEOREM FOR BESSEL–STRUVE TRANSFORM
Authors: Kamoun Lotfi , Negzaoui Selma
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we consider the Bessel–Struve transform [Formula: see text] associated with the Bessel–Struve operator lα and we establish an analogous of Lp - Lq-version of Morgan's theorem under the assumption 1 ≤ p, q ≤ + ∞. Furthermore, by an example, we show that the conditions are optimal.
Spallation Neutron Sources and Accelerator-Driven Systems
Authors: Henderson Stuart D.
Published: February 2014

Spallation neutron sources are the primary accelerator-driven source of intense neutrons. They require high power proton accelerators in the GeV energy range coupled to heavy metal targets for efficient neutron production. They form the basis of large scale neutron scattering facilities, and are essential elements in accelerator-driven subcritical reactors. Demanding technology has been developed which is enabling the next generation of spallation neutron sources to reach even higher neutron fluxes. This technology sets the stage for future deployment in accelerator-driven systems and neutron sources for nuclear material irradiation.
Rapid Cycling Synchrotrons and Accumulator Rings for High-Intensity Hadron Beams
Authors: Tang Jingyu
Published: February 2014

Boosted by the needs in high-energy physics and nuclear physics and also multidisciplinary applications, high-intensity proton synchrotrons and accumulator rings have been developed quickly around the world over the last 30 years. New projects and plans are proposed with even higher beam power. The proton beam power has increased from less than 10 kW in the 1970s to about 1 MW level today, and the required beam power in the coming decade is a few MW. This article reviews the achievements in designing and constructing rapid cycling synchrotrons (RCSs) and accumulator rings (ARs) and the future development trends, principally on proton beams but also including heavy ion beams. It presents the evolution of RCS and AR machines, today's design philosophy, relevant accelerator physics, and also state-of-the-art accelerator technology.
Dynamic modelling of a UK North Sea saline formation for CO
2
sequestration
Authors: Watson Francesca E. , Mathias Simon A. , Daniels Susie E. , Jones Richard R. , Davies Richard J. , Hedley Ben J. , van Hunen Jeroen
Published: February 2014

Preliminary dynamic modelling, using TOUGH2/ECO2N, has been carried out to assess the suitability of a site in the UK North Sea for sequestering CO
2
. The potential storage site is a previously unused saline formation within the Permian Rotliegend sandstone. Data regarding the site are limited. Therefore, additional input parameters for the model have been taken from the literature and nearby analogues. The sensitivity of the model to a range of parameters has been tested. Results indicate that the site can sustain an injection rate of around 2.5 Mt a
–1
of CO
2
for 20 years. The main control on pressure build-up in the model is the permeability of the unit directly beneath the Rotliegend in the location of the proposed storage site. The plume diameter is primarily controlled by the porosity and permeability of the site. A comparison between static, analytical and dynamic modelling highlights the advantages of dynamic modelling for a study such as this. Further data collection and modelling are required to improve predictions of pressure build-up and CO
2
migration. Despite uncertainties in the input data, the use of a full three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation has been extremely useful for identifying and prioritizing factors that need further investigation.
Pressure constraints on the CO
2
storage capacity of the saline water-bearing parts of the Bunter Sandstone Formation in the UK Southern North Sea
Authors: Williams J. D. O. , Holloway S. , Williams G. A.
Published: February 2014

The Bunter Sandstone Formation (BSF) in the UK sector of the Southern North Sea is thought to have a significant potential for the injection and storage of anthropogenic CO
2
within periclines that lie above salt domes and pillows formed by halokinesis in underlying Zechstein strata. During the formation of the periclines, the BSF and its overlying top seals were subjected to extensional stresses and, in consequence, are commonly cut by seismically resolvable faults that present a risk to the containment of gas and buoyant fluids such as supercritical CO
2
. Although most of the closed structures in the BSF are saline water-bearing, eight gas fields (total gas initially-in-place >72 bcm (billion cubic metres)) have been discovered to date. The seismically resolved structure of these gas fields demonstrates that two different top seals, the Haisborough Group and the Speeton Clay, can seal gas columns of up to 128 and 104 m respectively, despite the presence of faults with small displacements above the field gas–water contacts. The observed gas columns are equivalent to CO
2
columns of up to around 100 m in height. Simple geomechanical modelling suggests that existing optimally orientated faults may dilate or be reactivated if the pore-fluid pressure increase as a result of CO
2
injection exceeds a gradient of about 13.4 MPa km
–1
, potentially resulting in loss of storage integrity.
Data capture for multiscale modelling of the Lourinhã Formation, Lusitanian Basin, Portugal: an outcrop analogue for the Statfjord Group, Norwegian North Sea
Authors: Keogh Kevin J. , Leary Simon , Martinius Allard W. , Scott Anthony S. J. , Riordan Sarah , Viste Ingunn , Gowland Stuart , Taylor Andrew M. , Howell John
Published: February 2014

Current recovery from the Statfjord Group in the majority of the fields on the Tampen Spur is less than 50%. A contributing factor to this is an incomplete understanding of multiscale heterogeneities, their distributions within a range of fluvial geobodies and their lateral extent and morphology in inter-well areas. Sedimentary heterogeneities have been modelled, together with petrophysical parameters, at a variety of scales. The modelled properties at a given scale were upscaled to the next level of heterogeneity, thus better honouring effective property values. The use of outcrop analogues is still a key tool for understanding facies relationships and the stratigraphic development of subsurface hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. The Lourinhã Formation, Portugal, was used as an analogue to collect both qualitative and quantitative data consistently following a three-phase workflow to capture data at various scales of heterogeneity. Traditional field data collection techniques have been supplemented with the collection of LiDAR data. A digital workflow utilizing interlinked datasets facilitates rapid data analysis and better data visualization with results that are more easily utilized in multiscale modelling studies. These scaled models were used to increase our understanding of the effect on flow of lithofacies and facies association distributions together with internal architectural elements and heterogeneities.
Using formation micro-imaging, wireline logs and onshore analogues to distinguish volcanic lithofacies in boreholes: examples from Palaeogene successions in the Faroe–Shetland Basin, NE Atlantic
Authors: Watton Tim J. , Cannon Steve , Brown Richard J. , Jerram Dougal A. , Waichel Breno L.
Published: February 2014

Formation micro-imaging (FMI) is a tool that produces micro-resistivity images of the sidewall of the well bore. FMI logging used in conjunction with conventional well logging techniques (e.g. GR, Gamma Ray/RES, Resistivity/NPHI, Neutron Porosity/SONIC, Velocity tools) allows detailed analysis of volcanic lithofacies variation and informs a robust interpretation of volcanic sequences. This methodology is of particular use where rock core data are limited or not present. Examples are presented from the Rosebank Field in the Faroe–Shetland Basin (West of Shetland, UK continental shelf) where the re-establishment of fluvial activity between phases of effusive volcanism resulted in a complex sequence of siliciclastic sedimentary rocks and basaltic lavas. We demonstrate how high-resolution FMI images through this sequence can differentiate internal basalt lava flow features, such as vesicular zones, brecciated intervals, sediment–lava contact relationships and joint/fracture networks. If FMI data exist through volcanic packages and if assessed and calibrated properly via core, sidewall core and field analogue comparisons, it can provide additional constraints on the interpretation and classification of reservoir (siliciclastic) and non-reservoir (volcanic) rocks.
Structural and stratigraphical significance of U–Pb ages from the Mora and Saldanha volcanic complexes (NE Portugal, Iberian Variscides)
Authors: Dias Da Silva Ícaro , Valverde-Vaquero Pablo , González-Clavijo Emilio , Díez-Montes Alejandro , Martínez Catalán José R.
Published: February 2014

Geological mapping and structural investigations were carried out in the eastern rim of the Morais Allochthonous Complex in NE Portugal (NW Iberian Massif) along the first-order tectonic boundary between the lower part of the Galicia–Trás-os-Montes Zone (the parautochthonous Schistose Domain) and the autochthonous Central Iberian Zone. The aim was to correlate the Palaeozoic stratigraphic pile of both domains, and to establish their pre- and synorogenic Variscan evolution.

An Early Palaeozoic volcanic complex forms part of the pre-orogenic record of the parautochthonous Schistose Domain. It includes two volcanic units, the oldest of which is described for the first time in this work and is named the Mora Volcanics. It is a bimodal volcanic suite with basic to acid rocks which has yielded a late Cambrian age (
c.
493 Ma).

Above the Mora Volcanics, the Saldanha Volcanics show petrographic, geochemical and age (
c.
483 Ma) similarities to the Ollo de Sapo Formation, a volcano-detritic ensemble found in the autochthonous domain of NW and Central Iberia. The stratigraphic record and the geochemical signatures of both volcanic units indicate that they were originated by fast partial melting induced by extension along the northern Gondwana margin at the Cambro-Ordovician boundary, coeval with the opening of the Rheic Ocean.
Framing the tectonic regime of the NE Iberian Variscan segment
Authors: Carreras Jordi , Druguet Elena
Published: February 2014

Variscan massifs of NE Iberia occur along the Pyrenees, Catalan Coastal Ranges, Iberian Range and Minorca. Despite the effects of the Alpine cycle, which involve localized reworking, tilting, translation of basement units and blocks drifting, the Variscan evolution can be reconstructed. Geological features evidence significant differences across the zones in the north, with high-grade metamorphic rocks, structural domes and syntectonic plutons more internal than the zones in the south, where unmetamorphosed and low-grade rocks are present along with undeformed late- to post-tectonic plutons. This setting contradicts existing schemas where this part of the Variscan belt is located in an external foreland. Variscan structures evidence bulk transpression gradually evolving from a NNW–SSE-directed crustal shortening to NW–SE wrench-dominated tectonics. The low-pressure–high-temperature (LP/HT) metamorphic peak and magmatism coincide with the latest stages of the NNW–SSE event. There is no field evidence based on penetrative structures for a widespread late orogenic extensional collapse.
'Surfing toward the future'
Authors: Denning Peter J.
Published: February 2014

A new report from Chile about improving economic competitiveness advances a novel interpretation of innovation. Timing is everything.
The impact of the United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
Authors: Ladner Richard
Published: February 2014

Codifying human rights and inclusiveness in a technical context for people with disabilities.
How to build a bad research center
Authors: Patterson David
Published: February 2014

Sharing lessons learned from experiences creating successful multidisciplinary research centers.
World without wires
Authors: Kirkpatrick Keith
Published: February 2014

Capturing electricity from ambient RF transmissions can keep low-power applications off the grid.
Fast and Accurate Stereo Vision System on FPGA
Authors: Jin Minxi , Maruyama Tsutomu
Published: February 2014

In this article, we present a fast and high quality stereo matching algorithm on FPGA using cost aggregation (CA) and fast locally consistent (FLC) dense stereo. In many software programs, global matching algorithms are used in order to obtain accurate disparity maps. Although their error rates are considerably low, their processing speeds are far from that required for real-time processing because of their complex processing sequences. In order to realize real-time processing, many hardware systems have been proposed to date. They have achieved considerably high processing speeds; however, their error rates are not as good as those of software programs, because simple local matching algorithms have been widely used in those systems. In our system, sophisticated local matching algorithms (CA and FLC) that are suitable for FPGA implementation are used to achieve low error rate while maintaining the high processing speed. We evaluate the performance of our circuit on Xilinx Vertex-6 FPGAs. Its error rate is comparable to that of top-level software algorithms, and its processing speed is nearly 2 clock cycles per pixel, which reaches 507.9 fps for 640 480 pixel images.
Capturing and structuring data mined from the web
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: February 2014

The
Communications
Web site, http://cacm.acm.org, features more than a dozen bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of
Communications
, we'll publish selected posts or excerpts

.

twitter

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/blogCACM

http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm

Kate Matsudaira considers not only how to mine data from the Web, but what to do with it once you have it.
Puzzled: Solutions and sources
Authors: Winkler Peter
Published: February 2014

Last month (February 2014) we posted three games in which you were asked to pick a positive integer. The question in each was: What is the highest number you should think about picking? Here, we offer solutions to all three. How did you do?

1. Found dollar
.

Alice and Bob are vying for a found dollar, with lowest number the winner and a tie winning it for neither. Sadly, the only "Nash equilibrium" solution is for both players to choose "1" and the dollar to go unclaimed---a mini "prisoner's dilemma." Collaboration could have won each of them 50 cents.

2. Zero sum
.

Here, the writer of the lower number wins $1 from the other player, unless it is lower by only 1, in which case the player with the higher number would win $2 from the other player. A tie would result in no money changing hands. This problem was published by Martin Gardner, appearing as Problem 11.13 in his
The Collossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems
(W.W. Norton & Co., New York, 2006). The Nash equilibrium solution would be to write "1," "2," "3," "4," or "5" with probabilities 1/16, 5/16, 1/4, 5/16, and 1/16, respectively. (Gardner did not provide a proof, but it is not difficult to show this is a Nash equilibrium strategy and, with a little more work, the only one.) The highest number either player should consider writing is thus "5."

3. Swedish lottery
.

This game, which I included in my book
Mathematical Puzzles: A Conoisseur's Collection
(A K Peters Ltd., Natick, MA, 2001) as "Swedish Lottery," has the surprising property that the equilibrium strategy calls for playing every positive integer with positive probability. There is no largest integer you should consider playing. To see this, imagine for the sake of reaching a contradiction that there is a highest number you (and the other players) should ever play; call it number
k
. When would you win playing
k
? Only when the other players choose the same lower number. But if you played
k
+1, you would win all those times
plus
the times the other two players both play
k. k
+1 is thus a better choice than
k
, contradicting the assumption that the strategy is a Nash equilibrium. There is, in fact, a common Nash equilibrium strategy for Alice, Bob, and Charlie---calling for the number
j
to be selected with probability (1--
r
)
r

j

−1
where r is the root of a certain cubic equation and approximately 0.543689. The probabilities for choosing 1, 2, 3, and 4 are about 0.456311, 0.248091, 0.134884, and 0.073335, respectively; the probability of choosing a number greater than 100 is teeny. As an experiment in 2010, I ran a Swedish Lottery among 40 graduate students in Dartmouth's Computer Science Department. The winning number was 6. A much larger version---actually a game a day for 47 straight days---was run in Sweden in 2007 under the name "Limbo." The number of players each day averaged 53,785; the lowest winning number was 162, the highest 4,465. For more, see http://swopec.hhs.se/hastef/papers/hastef0671.pdf.
Viral expression of insulin-like growth factor I E-peptides increases skeletal muscle mass but at the expense of strength
Authors: Brisson Becky K. , Spinazzola Janelle , Park SooHyun , Barton Elisabeth R.
Published: February 2014

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a protein that regulates and promotes growth in skeletal muscle. The IGF-I precursor polypeptide contains a COOH-terminal extension called the E-peptide. Alternative splicing in the rodent produces two isoforms, IA and IB, where the mature IGF-I in both isoforms is identical yet the E-peptides, EA and EB, share less than 50% homology. Recent in vitro studies show that the E-peptides can enhance IGF-I signaling, leading to increased myoblast cell proliferation and migration. To determine the significance of these actions in vivo and to evaluate if they are physiologically beneficial, EA and EB were expressed in murine skeletal muscle via viral vectors. The viral constructs ensured production of E-peptides without the influence of additional IGF-I through an inactivating mutation in mature IGF-I. E-peptide expression altered ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation and increased satellite cell proliferation. EB expression resulted in significant muscle hypertrophy that was IGF-I receptor dependent. However, the increased mass was associated with a loss of muscle strength. EA and EB have similar effects in skeletal muscle signaling and on satellite cells, but EB is more potent at increasing muscle mass. Although sustained EB expression may drive hypertrophy, there are significant physiological consequences for muscle.
Reduced nocturnal ACTH-driven cortisol secretion during critical illness
Authors: Boonen Eva , Meersseman Philippe , Vervenne Hilke , Meyfroidt Geert , Guïza Fabian , Wouters Pieter J. , Veldhuis Johannes D. , Van den Berghe Greet
Published: February 2014

Recently, during critical illness, cortisol metabolism was found to be reduced. We hypothesize that such reduced cortisol breakdown may suppress pulsatile ACTH and cortisol secretion via feedback inhibition. To test this hypothesis, nocturnal ACTH and cortisol secretory profiles were constructed by deconvolution analysis from plasma concentration time series in 40 matched critically ill patients and eight healthy controls, excluding diseases or drugs that affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Blood was sampled every 10 min between 2100 and 0600 to quantify plasma concentrations of ACTH and (free) cortisol. Approximate entropy, an estimation of process irregularity, cross-approximate entropy, a measure of ACTH-cortisol asynchrony, and ACTH-cortisol dose-response relationships were calculated. Total and free plasma cortisol concentrations were higher at all times in patients than in controls (all P < 0.04). Pulsatile cortisol secretion was 54% lower in patients than in controls ( P = 0.005), explained by reduced cortisol burst mass ( P = 0.03), whereas cortisol pulse frequency ( P = 0.35) and nonpulsatile cortisol secretion ( P = 0.80) were unaltered. Pulsatile ACTH secretion was 31% lower in patients than in controls ( P = 0.03), again explained by a lower ACTH burst mass ( P = 0.02), whereas ACTH pulse frequency ( P = 0.50) and nonpulsatile ACTH secretion ( P = 0.80) were unchanged. ACTH-cortisol dose response estimates were similar in patients and controls. ACTH and cortisol approximate entropy were higher in patients ( P ≤ 0.03), as was ACTH-cortisol cross-approximate entropy ( P ≤ 0.001). We conclude that hypercortisolism during critical illness coincided with suppressed pulsatile ACTH and cortisol secretion and a normal ACTH-cortisol dose response. Increased irregularity and asynchrony of the ACTH and cortisol time series supported non-ACTH-dependent mechanisms driving hypercortisolism during critical illness.
Arts Therapies for Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Boehm Katja , Cramer Holger , Staroszynski Thomas , Ostermann Thomas
Published: February 2014

Background. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. However, only a few trials assess the effects of arts therapies. Material and Methods. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Google Scholar from their start date to January 2012. We handsearched reference lists and contacted experts. All randomized controlled trials, quasi‐randomized trials, and controlled clinical trials of art interventions in breast cancer patients were included. Data were extracted and risk of bias was assessed. Meta‐analyses were performed using standardized mean differences. Results. Thirteen trials with a total of 606 patients were included. Arts therapies comprised music therapy interventions, various types of art therapy, and dance/movement therapies. The methodological quality ranged from poor to high quality with the majority scoring 3 of 4 points on the Jadad scale. Results suggest that arts therapies seem to positively affect patients’ anxiety (standardized mean difference: −1.10; 95%, confidence interval: −1.40 to −0.80) but not depression or quality of life. No conclusion could be drawn regarding the effects of arts therapy on pain, functional assessment, coping, and mood states. Discussion. Our review indicates that arts interventions may have beneficial effects on anxiety in patients with breast cancer.