bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser impact welding application in joining aluminum to titanium
Authors: Wang Huimin , Vivek Anupam , Wang Yuliang , Taber Geoff , Daehn Glenn S.
Published: April 2016

Thin metal foil joining has wide applications in medical device and microelectronics. In this paper, laser impact welding was implemented to join aluminum foil to titanium sheet. The velocity of Al flyer was measured with photonic Doppler velocimetry. The maximum velocity reached up to 1000 m/s within 0.2 μs. Varied thickness (25–250 μm) Al flyer was successfully welded with Ti target. Weld strength was measured with peel test. Weld area was estimated with resistance measurement method. The effect of laser spot size, flyer thickness, standoff distance on weld strength, weld area, and microstructure was analyzed. The microstructure was studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By comparing the amplitude and wavelength of the waves at the bonding interface, it is suggested that the wave formation was related to the impact velocity. SEM back scattered electron image did not show apparent diffusion across the weld interface. Both twinning and severe plastic deformation were observed at Ti side along the weld interface, which resulted in hardness increase in this region.
Assessment of interobserver agreement and use of selected magnetic resonance imaging variables for differentiation of acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion and ischemic myelopathy in dogs
Authors: Specchi Swan , Johnson Philippa , Beauchamp Guy , Masseau Isabelle , Pey Pascaline
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE To evaluate interobserver agreement for features used in presumptive diagnosis of acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE) or ischemic myelopathy by MRI, compare findings on postcontrast T1-weighted (T1W) MRI sequences with fat saturation (FS) for the 2 conditions, and determine whether length and directional patterns of hyperintensity of the intramedullary spinal cord on T2-weighted (T2W) fast spin echo (FSE) MRI sequences differ between dogs with these diseases.

DESIGN Retrospective, observational study.

ANIMALS 20 dogs with clinical signs compatible with ANNPE (n = 14) or ischemic myelopathy (6).

PROCEDURES 3 observers evaluated MRI data (including T2W FSE, T2W single-shot FSE, and T1W FS sequences) for dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of ischemic myelopathy or ANNPE. Interobserver agreement for variables of interest including presumptive diagnosis was assessed by κ statistic calculations. Associations between diagnosis and variables of interest were assessed with Fisher exact or Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests.

RESULTS Perfect interobserver agreement (κ = 1 for all comparisons) was found for the presumptive diagnosis of ischemic myelopathy versus ANNPE. Meningeal enhancement on postcontrast T1W FS MRI images and nonlongitudinal directional pattern of intramedullary hyperintensity on T2W FSE images were significantly associated with a diagnosis of ANNPE. Greater length of intramedullary hyperintensity was significantly associated with a diagnosis of ischemic myelopathy.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Directional pattern and length of intramedullary hyperintensity on T2W FSE MRI images and enhancement patterns in postcontrast T1W FS sequences may provide important contributions to the criteria currently used in the presumptive diagnosis of ischemic myelopathy versus ANNPE.
Salmonella infection and carriage in reptiles in a zoological collection
Authors: Clancy Meredith M. , Davis Meghan , Valitutto Marc T. , Nelson Kenrad , Sykes John M.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE To identify important subspecies and serovars of Salmonella enterica in a captive reptile population and clinically relevant risk factors for and signs of illness in Salmonella-positive reptiles.

DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study.

ANIMALS 11 crocodilians (4 samples), 78 snakes (91 samples), 59 lizards (57 samples), and 34 chelonians (23 samples) at the Bronx Zoo from 2000 through 2012.

PROCEDURES Data pertaining to various types of biological samples obtained from reptiles with positive Salmonella culture results and the reptiles themselves were analyzed to determine period prevalence of and risk factors for various Salmonella-related outcomes.

RESULTS Serovar distribution differences were identified for sample type, reptile phylogenetic family, and reptile origin and health. Salmonella enterica subsp enterica was the most common subspecies in Salmonella cultures (78/175 [45%]), identified across all reptilian taxa. Salmonella enterica subsp diarizonae was also common (42/175 [24%]) and was recovered almost exclusively from snakes (n = 33), many of which had been clinically ill (17). Clinically ill reptiles provided 37% (64) of Salmonella cultures. Factors associated with an increased risk of illness in reptiles with a positive culture result were carnivorous diet and prior confiscation. Snakes had a higher risk of illness than other reptile groups, whereas lizards had a lower risk. Bony changes, dermatitis, and anorexia were the most common clinical signs.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study provided new information on Salmonella infection or carriage and associated clinical disease in reptiles. Associations identified between serovars or subspecies and reptile groups or clinical disease can guide management of Salmonella-positive captive reptiles.
Leading change in Canadian military medicine: determinants of success, 1685–2016
Authors: Engen Robert , English Allan
Published: April 2016

Success in military force health protection has more to do with the creation of systems of knowledge, efficient organizations, and command responsibility for the implementation of best practices than it does with the development of novel medical technologies or treatments. To achieve success, military leaders, both commanders and senior medical personnel, must be able to lead change effectively to create these systems in their organizations. Even in recent times, military forces have suffered crippling preventable losses when public health best practices were not implemented properly. Yet at various times in Canadian history, certain military leaders achieved noteworthy success in force health protection by systemic implementation of best practices. This article uses concepts articulated in Canadian Armed Forces leadership publications, especially those related to institutional and strategic leadership, as the analytical framework to assess which determinants of military medical leadership might still be applicable today.
Applicability of the Calgary–Cambridge Guide to Dog and Cat Owners for Teaching Veterinary Clinical Communications
Authors: Englar Ryane E. , Williams Melanie , Weingand Kurt
Published: April 2016

Effective communication in health care benefits patients. Medical and veterinary schools not only have a responsibility to teach communication skills, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) requires that communication be taught in all accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. However, the best strategy for designing a communications curriculum is unclear. The Calgary–Cambridge Guide (CCG) is one of many models developed in human medicine as an evidence-based approach to structuring the clinical consultation through 71 communication skills. The model has been revised by Radford et al. (2006) for use in veterinary curricula; however, the best approach for veterinary educators to teach communication remains to be determined. This qualitative study investigated if one adaptation of the CCG currently taught at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine (MWU CVM) fulfills client expectations of what constitutes clinically effective communication. Two focus groups (cat owners and dog owners) were conducted with a total of 13 participants to identify common themes in veterinary communication. Participants compared communication skills they valued to those taught by MWU CVM. The results indicated that while the CCG skills that MWU CVM adopted are applicable to cat and dog owners, they are not comprehensive. Participants expressed the need to expand the skillset to include compassionate transparency and unconditional positive regard. Participants also expressed different communication needs that were attributed to the species of companion animal owned.
Training Veterinary Students to Perform Ovariectomy Using theMOOSE Spay Model with Traditional Method versus the Dowling Spay Retractor
Authors: Fahie Maria , Cloke Amanda , Lagman Minette , Levi Ohad , Schmidt Peggy
Published: April 2016

Educators understand the importance of developing safe and effective methods to teach veterinary students basic surgical skills. Ovariectomy (OVE) is a procedure that employs many of the skills agreed to be vital for a newly graduated veterinarian. This study endeavored to compare two methods of teaching OVE on a model based on assessment of procedure time and skill performance scores. Students' opinions regarding their experience are also reported. Students performed the Dowling Spay Retractor (DSR) method more quickly (p<.001) but with performance scores similar to the traditional (T) method depicted in textbooks. Students responded positively when surveyed regarding their experience with the training and the DSR method.
WIPP: Wi-Fi Compass for Indoor Passive Positioning with Decimeter Accuracy
Authors: Zhang Zhenyuan , Tian Zengshan , Zhou Mu , Li Ze , Wu Zipeng , Jin Yue
Published: April 2016

In recent decades, the proliferation of smart phones, tablets, and wireless networks has fostered a growing interest in indoor passive positioning. The Wi-Fi-based passive positioning systems can provide Location-Based Services (LBSs) to the third party such as market and security departments. Most of the existing systems are based on the Receive Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) information, which are generally time-consuming and susceptible to environmental change. To overcome this problem, we propose the Wi-Fi compass for indoor passive positioning system (WIPP), an Angle of Arrival (AOA) based passive positioning system using the existing commodity Wi-Fi network. In this paper, we first propose a new algorithm for the joint estimation of AOA and Time of Arrival (TOA) measurements based on the fine-grained Channel State Information (CSI), which is collected by an off-the-shelf Wi-Fi device equipped with only three antennas. Second, we use the affinity propagation clustering algorithm to identify the direct signal path from the target to each Wi-Fi Access Point (AP). Finally, we deploy the WIPP in an actual indoor environment to conduct the performance comparison with the well-known radio-frequency (RF) based system for locating and tracking users inside buildings (RADAR), as well as the conventional passive positioning system using the AOA solely. The experimental results show that the WIPP is able to achieve the median positioning error 0.7 m, which is much lower than the ones by the RADAR system and the conventional system using the AOA solely.
Assessment of Air Quality Status in Wuhan, China
Authors: Song Jiabei , Guang Wu , Li Linjun , Xiang Rongbiao
Published: April 2016

In this study, air quality characteristics in Wuhan were assessed through descriptive statistics and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). Results show that air quality has slightly improved over the recent years. While the NO2 concentration is still increasing, the PM10 concentration shows a clearly downward trend with some small fluctuations. In addition, the SO2 concentration has steadily decreased since 2008. Nevertheless, the current level of air pollutants is still quite high, with the PM10 and NO2 levels exceeding the air quality standard. Seasonal variation exists consistently for all the pollutants, with the highest concentration in winter and the lowest in summer. Cluster analysis evidenced that nine urban monitoring sites could be classified into three clusters. Cluster I consists of only the LY site, which is located in the famous East Lake scenic area with the best air quality. Cluster II corresponds to three monitoring sites with heavily trafficked roads nearby, where relatively severe NO2 pollution occurred. Cluster III is comprised of the remaining five sites, characterized by PM10 and SO2 pollution.
Envelope Thermal Design Optimization for Urban Residential Buildings in Malawi
Authors: Kalua Amos
Published: April 2016

This study sought to optimize the envelope thermal design of free-running urban residential buildings in Malawi. It specifically set out to improve the urban residential buildings’ thermal comfort and suggest optimal envelope thermal design features for these buildings. The research study was primarily dependent on computer simulations in EnergyPlus to replicate the typical Malawian urban residential building’s thermal behaviour and then study the impacts of various envelope configurations on the thermal comfort conditions registered in the building. The simulation model was experimentally validated to check its appropriateness to the climatic design conditions prevalent in Malawi and out of the three major cities that were considered, the model was found to be appropriate for use in the two cities of Mzuzu and Lilongwe leaving out the city of Blantyre. The optimization methodology that was employed involved the use of orthogonal arrays, statistical analyses and the listing method. It was found that the optimal envelope thermal design, which registered up to 18% lower discomfort hours than that of the typical urban residential building, consists of a 50 mm concrete floor slab, 230 mm burnt brick walls with an external layer of 19 mm EPS, tiled roof with an internal layer of sarking and 50 mm EPS, double Low-E Glazing with a transparency ratio of 45% and 0.2408 m2 of adaptable operational surface area for the air bricks. Out of all the envelope features that were studied, air infiltration registered the most significant contribution towards the ultimate residential building thermal performance. It was demonstrated that controlled air infiltration through the use of operable air bricks whose operational surface area is adaptable can be very effective in enhancing the building’s comfort levels. It was further observed that excessive insulation of the building envelope generally has a detrimental effect on the indoor space thermal comfort levels.
‘Autoreconstruction’ of the Mandible—Report of a Case
Authors: Pichardo Sarina , De Roos Pieter , Van Merkesteyn J.P.
Published: April 2016

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) was first mentioned in the literature in 2003. Since then, several reports have been published referring to this disease. The etiology of BRONJ still remains unclear. The treatment of BRONJ also remains a topic of discussion between those who are in favor of a conservative treatment and those who are convinced that surgical treatment gives the best results. In this case report, a patient is presented with BRONJ in the mandible which has been treated surgically in combination with antibiotic treatment. During surgery it appeared that a large part of the jaw was sequestrated full-thickness with, at the same time, formation of a substantial amount of subperiosteal bone that was formed around the BRONJ, supporting the sequestrated part of the mandible and, after sequestrectomy, serving as a neo-mandible. This case shows the capacity of the jawbone despite bisphosphonate use to regenerate itself.
Crushed and River-Origin Sands Used as Aggregates in Repair Mortars
Authors: Stefanidou Maria
Published: April 2016

The systematic analysis of mortars from monuments or historic buildings and the simultaneous study of the construction environment show that it was common practice to use naturally occurring sand from local rivers or streams for the production of the mortars. There are cases though, mainly on islands, where sands of natural origin were limited, and marine or crushed sands were used possibly after elaboration. In all cases the particle size analysis of old mortar confirms the presence of even distribution of the granules. As regards the design of the repair mortars, there are criteria that should be taken into consideration in order to produce materials with compatible properties. The main properties concerning sands are the grain distribution and maximum size, the color, the content of fines, and soluble salts. The objective of this research is the study of the physical characteristics of the sands such as the sand equivalent, the gradation, the apparent density, the morphology of the grains, their mineralogical composition and the influence of these properties on the behavior of lime mortars, notably the mechanical and physical properties acquired.
Is There Room for Second-Generation Antipsychotics in the Pharmacotherapy of Panic Disorder? A Systematic Review Based on PRISMA Guidelines
Authors: Perna Giampaolo , Alessandra Alciati , Raffaele Balletta , Elisa Mingotto , Giuseppina Diaferia , Paolo Cavedini , Maria Nobile , Daniela Caldirola
Published: April 2016

A role for second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in the treatment of panic disorders (PD) has been proposed, but the actual usefulness of SGAs in this disorder is unclear. According to the PRISMA guidelines, we undertook an updated systematic review of all of the studies that have examined, in randomized controlled trials, the efficacy and tolerability of SGAs (as either monotherapy or augmentation) in the treatment of PD, with or without other comorbid psychiatric disorders. Studies until 31 December 2015 were identified through PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Library and Clinical trials.gov. Among 210 studies, five were included (two involving patients with a principal diagnosis of PD and three involving patients with bipolar disorder with comorbid PD or generalized anxiety disorder). All were eight-week trials and involved treatments with quetiapine extended release, risperidone and ziprasidone. Overall, a general lack of efficacy of SGAs on panic symptoms was observed. Some preliminary indications of the antipanic effectiveness of risperidone are insufficient to support its use in PD, primarily due to major limitations of the study. However, several methodological limitations may have negatively affected all of these studies, decreasing the validity of the results and making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions. Except for ziprasidone, SGAs were well tolerated in these short-term trials.
Beyond the Niche: Myelodysplastic Syndrome Topobiology in the Laboratory and in the Clinic
Authors: Flores-Figueroa Eugenia , Gratzinger Dita
Published: April 2016

We review the murine and human microenvironment and hematopoietic stem cell niche in the context of intact bone marrow architecture in man and mouse, both in normal and in myelodysplastic syndrome marrow. We propose that the complexity of the hematopoietic stem cell niche can usefully be approached in the context of its topobiology, and we provide a model that incorporates in vitro and in vivo models as well as in situ findings from intact human marrow to explain the changes seen in myelodysplastic syndrome patients. We highlight the clinical application of the study of the bone marrow microenvironment and its topobiology in myelodysplastic syndromes.
Molecular Asymmetry in Prebiotic Chemistry: An Account from Meteorites
Authors: Pizzarello Sandra
Published: April 2016

Carbonaceous Chondrite (CC) meteorites are fragments of asteroids, solar planetesimals that never became large enough to separate matter by their density, like terrestrial planets. CC contains various amounts of organic carbon and carry a record of chemical evolution as it came to be in the Solar System, at the time the Earth was formed and before the origins of life. We review this record as it pertains to the chiral asymmetry determined for several organic compounds in CC, which reaches a broad molecular distribution and enantiomeric excesses of up to 50%–60%. Because homochirality is an indispensable attribute of extant polymers and these meteoritic enantiomeric excesses are still, to date, the only case of chiral asymmetry in organic molecules measured outside the biosphere, the possibility of an exogenous delivery of primed prebiotic compounds to early Earth from meteorites is often proposed. Whether this exogenous delivery held a chiral advantage in molecular evolution remains an open question, as many others regarding the origins of life are.
New Look on 3-Hydroxyiminoflavanone and Its Palladium(II) Complex: Crystallographic and Spectroscopic Studies, Theoretical Calculations and Cytotoxic Activity
Authors: Kasprzak Maria , Fabijańska Małgorzata , Chęcińska Lilianna , Szmigiero Leszek , Ochocki Justyn
Published: April 2016

This work presents the synthesis, spectroscopic properties and single-crystal X-ray examination of the structure of 3-hydroxyiminoflavanone and its palladium complex. It presents the results of NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy, electron-density studies based on X-ray wavefunction refinement and theoretical calculations combined with QTAIM (Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules) and ELI-D (Electron Localizability Indicator) analyses. These offer an interesting new insight into the structures and behavior of flavanone and its complex, in solid state and in solution. The study also examines the cytotoxicity of the ligand and its complex against three human ovarian and lung cancer cell lines.
Adapting Document Similarity Measures for Ligand-Based Virtual Screening
Authors: Himmat Mubarak , Salim Naomie , Al-Dabbagh Mohammed , Saeed Faisal , Ahmed Ali
Published: April 2016

Quantifying the similarity of molecules is considered one of the major tasks in virtual screening. There are many similarity measures that have been proposed for this purpose, some of which have been derived from document and text retrieving areas as most often these similarity methods give good results in document retrieval and can achieve good results in virtual screening. In this work, we propose a similarity measure for ligand-based virtual screening, which has been derived from a text processing similarity measure. It has been adopted to be suitable for virtual screening; we called this proposed measure the Adapted Similarity Measure of Text Processing (ASMTP). For evaluating and testing the proposed ASMTP we conducted several experiments on two different benchmark datasets: the Maximum Unbiased Validation (MUV) and the MDL Drug Data Report (MDDR). The experiments have been conducted by choosing 10 reference structures from each class randomly as queries and evaluate them in the recall of cut-offs at 1% and 5%. The overall obtained results are compared with some similarity methods including the Tanimoto coefficient, which are considered to be the conventional and standard similarity coefficients for fingerprint-based similarity calculations. The achieved results show that the performance of ligand-based virtual screening is better and outperforms the Tanimoto coefficients and other methods.
Sesquiterpenoids and Diterpenoids from the Wood of Cunninghamia konishii and Their Inhibitory Activities against NO Production
Authors: Chang Chi-I , Chen Chien-Chih , Chao Che-Yi , Wang Sheng-Yang , Chang Hsun-Shuo , Sung Ping-Jyun , Huang Guan-Jhong , Li Yen-Cheng , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung
Published: April 2016

Three new sesquiterpenoids, 2α-hydroxy-3,3,6α,9β-tetramethyltricyclo[4,3,21,4]undecane (1), 11-acetoxyeudesman-4β-ol (4), and 2α,3β-dihydroxy-4β-methyl-6,8,10-cadinatriene (6), four known sesquiterpenoids (2, 3, 5, and 7), together with eight known diterpenoids (8–15), were isolated from the wood of Cunninghamia konishii. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of known analogues. Four sesquiterpenoids (1, 4, 5, and 6) and all the diterpenoids (8–15) were evaluated for inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages and the results showed that compounds 10 and 15 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against nitric oxide production.
Body Position Modulates Gastric Emptying and Affects the Post-Prandial Rise in Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations Following Protein Ingestion in Humans
Authors: Holwerda Andrew , Lenaerts Kaatje , Bierau Jörgen , Van Loon Luc
Published: April 2016

Dietary protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics determine the post-prandial muscle protein synthetic response. Body position may affect gastrointestinal function and modulate the post-prandial rise in plasma amino acid availability. We aimed to assess the impact of body position on gastric emptying rate and the post-prandial rise in plasma amino acid concentrations following ingestion of a single, meal-like amount of protein. In a randomized, cross-over design, eight healthy males (25 ± 2 years, 23.9 ± 0.8 kg·m−2) ingested 22 g protein and 1.5 g paracetamol (acetaminophen) in an upright seated position (control) and in a −20° head-down tilted position (inversion). Blood samples were collected during a 240-min post-prandial period and analyzed for paracetamol and plasma amino acid concentrations to assess gastric emptying rate and post-prandial amino acid availability, respectively. Peak plasma leucine concentrations were lower in the inversion compared with the control treatment (177 ± 15 vs. 236 ± 15 mmol·L−1, p < 0.05), which was accompanied by a lower plasma essential amino acid (EAA) response over 240 min (31,956 ± 6441 vs. 50,351 ± 4015 AU; p < 0.05). Peak plasma paracetamol concentrations were lower in the inversion vs. control treatment (5.8 ± 1.1 vs. 10.0 ± 0.6 mg·L−1, p < 0.05). Gastric emptying rate and post-prandial plasma amino acid availability are significantly decreased after protein ingestion in a head-down tilted position. Therefore, upright body positioning should be considered when aiming to augment post-prandial muscle protein accretion in both health and disease.
Search for Potent and Selective Aurora A Inhibitors Based on General Ser/Thr Kinase Pharmacophore Model
Authors: Vasilevich Natalya , Tatarskiy Victor , Aksenova Elena , Kazyulkin Denis , Afanasyev Ilya
Published: April 2016

Based on the data for compounds known from the literature to be active against various types of Ser/Thr kinases, a general pharmachophore model for these types of kinases was developed. The search for the molecules fitting to this pharmacophore among the ASINEX proprietary library revealed a number of compounds, which were tested and appeared to possess some activity against Ser/Thr kinases such as Aurora A, Aurora B and Haspin. Our work on the optimization of these molecules against Aurora A kinase allowed us to achieve several hits in a 3–5 nM range of activity with rather good selectivity and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) properties, and cytotoxicity against 16 cancer cell lines. Thus, we showed the possibility to fine-tune the general Ser/Thr pharmacophore to design active and selective compounds against desired types of kinases.
Development of a Low-Cost Arduino-Based Sonde for Coastal Applications
Authors: Lockridge Grant , Dzwonkowski Brian , Nelson Reid , Powers Sean
Published: April 2016

This project addresses the need for an expansion in the monitoring of marine environments by providing a detailed description of a low cost, robust, user friendly sonde, built on Arduino Mega 2560 (Mega) and Arduino Uno (Uno) platforms. The sonde can be made without specialized tools or training and can be easily modified to meet individual application requirements. The platform allows for internal logging of multiple parameters of which conductivity, temperature, and GPS position are demonstrated. Two design configurations for different coastal hydrographic applications are highlighted to show the robust and versatile nature of this sensor platform. The initial sonde design was intended for use on a Lagrangian style surface drifter that recorded measurements of temperature; salinity; and position for a deployment duration of less than 24 h. Functional testing of the sensor consisted of a 55 h comparison with a regularly maintained water quality sensor (i.e., YSI 6600 sonde) in Mobile Bay, AL. The temperature and salinity data were highly correlated and had acceptable RMS errors of 0.154 °C and 1.35 psu for the environmental conditions. A second application using the sonde platform was designed for longer duration (~3–4 weeks); subsurface (1.5–4.0 m depths) deployment, moored to permanent structures. Design alterations reflected an emphasis on minimizing power consumption, which included the elimination of the GPS capabilities, increased battery capacity, and power-saving software modifications. The sonde designs presented serve as templates that will expand the hydrographic measurement capabilities of ocean scientists, students, and teachers.
Low-Loss Coupling of Quantum Cascade Lasers into Hollow-Core Waveguides with Single-Mode Output in the 3.7–7.6 μm Spectral Range
Authors: Patimisco Pietro , Sampaolo Angelo , Mihai Laura , Giglio Marilena , Kriesel Jason , Sporea Dan , Scamarcio Gaetano , Tittel Frank , Spagnolo Vincenzo
Published: April 2016

We demonstrated low-loss and single-mode laser beam delivery through hollow-core waveguides (HCWs) operating in the 3.7–7.6 μm spectral range. The employed HCWs have a circular cross section with a bore diameter of 200 μm and metallic/dielectric internal coatings deposited inside a glass capillary tube. The internal coatings have been produced to enhance the spectral response of the HCWs in the range 3.5–12 µm. We demonstrated Gaussian-like outputs throughout the 4.5–7.6 µm spectral range. A quasi single-mode output beam with only small beam distortions was achieved when the wavelength was reduced to 3.7 μm. With a 15-cm-long HCW and optimized coupling conditions, we measured coupling efficiencies of >88% and transmission losses of <1 dB in the investigated infrared spectral range.
A Simulation Study of a Radiofrequency Localization System for Tracking Patient Motion in Radiotherapy
Authors: Ostyn Mark , Kim Siyong , Yeo Woon-Hong
Published: April 2016

One of the most widely used tools in cancer treatment is external beam radiotherapy. However, the major risk involved in radiotherapy is excess radiation dose to healthy tissue, exacerbated by patient motion. Here, we present a simulation study of a potential radiofrequency (RF) localization system designed to track intrafraction motion (target motion during the radiation treatment). This system includes skin-wearable RF beacons and an external tracking system. We develop an analytical model for direction of arrival measurement with radio frequencies (GHz range) for use in a localization estimate. We use a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the relationship between a localization estimate and angular resolution of sensors (signal receivers) in a simulated room. The results indicate that the external sensor needs an angular resolution of about 0.03 degrees to achieve millimeter-level localization accuracy in a treatment room. This fundamental study of a novel RF localization system offers the groundwork to design a radiotherapy-compatible patient positioning system for active motion compensation.
Analysis of Thermal Environment over a Small-Scale Landscape in a Densely Built-Up Asian Megacity
Authors: Kim Younha , An Seung , Eum Jeong-Hee , Woo Jung-Hun
Published: April 2016

Many studies have found that larger parks might be needed to counteract the Urban Heat Island effects typical in densely populated Asian megacities. However, it is not easy to establish large parks to serve as urban cool islands in Asian megacities, where little space exists for large urban neighborhood parks. Officials in these cities would rather use small areas by replacing heat-absorbing artificial land cover with natural cover. The main objective of this study was to understand the cooling effect of changes in land cover on surface and air temperatures in urban micro-scale environments for supporting sustainable green-space planning and policy in densely built-up areas. This was achieved using measurements at different heights (ground surface, 0.1 m, and 1.5 m) for five land cover types (LCTs) and modeling with the micro-scale climate model ENVI-met. At all vertical measuring points, the average temperature over the entire measurement period had the same hot-to-cold order: asphalt > soil > grass > water > forest. However, the value dramatically decreased as the measuring points became higher. The intensity of hot and cool spots showed the highest value at surface by 18.2 °C, and declined with the height, showing 4.1 °C at 0.1 m and 3.1 °C at 1.5 m. The modeling results indicated that the well-known diurnal variation in surface insolation also occurred in our small domain, among the various LCTs. Based on these findings, providing small-scale green infrastructure in densely built-up areas could be an effective way to improve urban micro-scale thermal conditions.
Solar Energy Block-Based Residential Construction for Rural Areas in the West of China
Authors: Shao Jizhong , Chen Huixian , Zhu Ting
Published: April 2016

Based on the Great Western Development Strategy and the requirement for sustainable development in the west of China, rural affordable housing, energy conservation, and environmental protection are becoming development standards in the construction field. This paper mainly explores an innovative, sustainable, residential construction method for rural areas in western China, particularly the integration of solar energy technology with modern prefabricated building techniques, formally named solar energy block-based construction. The conscious approach of using volumetric blocks provides superior adaptability and expansibility in integration with a steel structure, thereby reducing the construction time and cost. Allowing a wide variety of configurations and styles in the building layout, this approach can be customized to the end-user’s precise location and climate, making rural residential buildings much more flexible and modern. To take advantage of adequate solar energy resource in western China, the blocks are associated with active and passive solar energy technologies, thereby reducing pollution, mitigating global warming, and enhancing sustainability. Therefore, we concluded that solar energy block-based construction could bring significant benefits to the environment, economy, and society. It could also promote sustainable development in the rural regions of western China.
Designing Policy Mixes for Resource Efficiency: The Role of Public Acceptability
Authors: Bicket Martha , Vanner Robin
Published: April 2016

Where the public acceptability of a policy can influence its chance of success, it is important to anticipate and mitigate potential concerns. This paper applies search frequency analysis and a form of claims-making analysis to identify public acceptability concerns among fourteen policies proposed by the EU-funded DYNAMIX project to achieve EU resource efficiency. Key points of contention in the corresponding public discourses focus primarily on trust, fairness, effectiveness and cost. We use our findings to provide specific recommendations for the design and implementation of the proposed policy mix which are intended to improve the public acceptability of contentious aspects, and highlight some broader insights for policymakers.
Review Over a 3-Year Period of European Union Proficiency Tests for Detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in Food Matrices
Authors: Nia Yacine , Mutel Isabelle , Assere Adrien , Lombard Bertrand , Auvray Frederic , Hennekinne Jacques-Antoine
Published: April 2016

Staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks are a major cause of foodborne illnesses in Europe and their notifications have been mandatory since 2005. Even though the European regulation on microbiological criteria for food defines a criterion on staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) only in cheese and dairy products, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) data reported that various types of food matrices are involved in staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks. The European Screening Method (ESM) of European Union Reference Laboratory for Coagulase Positive Staphylococci (EURL CPS) was validated in 2011 for SE detection in food matrices and is currently the official method used for screening purposes in Europe. In this context, EURLCPS is annually organizing Inter-Laboratory Proficiency Testing Trials (ILPT) to evaluate the competency of the European countries’ National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) to analyse SE content in food matrices. A total of 31 NRLs representing 93% of European countries participated in these ILPTs. Eight food matrices were used for ILPT over the period 2013–2015, including cheese, freeze-dried cheese, tuna, mackerel, roasted chicken, ready-to-eat food, milk, and pastry. Food samples were spiked with four SE types (i.e., SEA, SEC, SED, and SEE) at various concentrations. Homogeneity and stability studies showed that ILPT samples were both homogeneous and stable. The analysis of results obtained by participants for a total of 155 blank and 620 contaminated samples allowed for evaluation of trueness (>98%) and specificity (100%) of ESM. Further to the validation study of ESM carried out in 2011, these three ILPTs allowed for the assessment of the proficiency of the NRL network and the performance of ESM on a large variety of food matrices and samples. The ILPT design presented here will be helpful for the organization of ILPT on SE detection by NRLs or other expert laboratories.
Human Cytomegalovirus Strategies to Maintain and Promote mRNA Translation
Authors: Vincent Heather , Ziehr Benjamin , Moorman Nathaniel
Published: April 2016

mRNA translation requires the ordered assembly of translation initiation factors and ribosomal subunits on a transcript. Host signaling pathways regulate each step in this process to match levels of protein synthesis to environmental cues. In response to infection, cells activate multiple defenses that limit viral protein synthesis, which viruses must counteract to successfully replicate. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) inhibits host defenses that limit viral protein expression and manipulates host signaling pathways to promote the expression of both host and viral proteins necessary for virus replication. Here we review key regulatory steps in mRNA translation, and the strategies used by HCMV to maintain protein synthesis in infected cells.
Comparing Macular Thickness Measurements in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema with the Optos Spectral OCT/SLO and Heidelberg Spectralis HRA + OCT
Authors: Sachdev Amun , Edington Magdalena , Morjaria Rupal , Chong Ngaihang
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study was to compare measurements of macular thickness, obtained from patients with diabetic macular edema, using two spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) devices. These were the Spectralis Heidelberg Retina Angiograph + Optical Coherence Tomography (HRA + OCT) (Heidelberg Engineering), which is often considered the gold-standard for OCT measurement, and the Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography/Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (OCT/SLO) (Optos plc), which can additionally perform microperimetry, a useful measure of visual function. In this prospective observational study, each eye had SD-OCT performed with both devices on the same day by the same investigator. Mean retinal thickness was calculated, and compared between the devices, for central and parafoveal zones within 3 mm of the fovea. 62 eyes were included. In the central, superior, temporal, inferior and nasal zones respectively, mean retinal thickness with Spectralis HRA+OCT was (in microns) 310, 343, 344, 332 and 340; measurements with Spectral OCT/SLO were 237, 298, 297, 289 and 290. Pearson correlations between the devices were 0.752, 0.85, 0.928, 0.839, and 0.823 (p < 0.0001). Although absolute measurements between the devices were significantly different and therefore not interchangeable, the correlation between the devices was over 75% and statistically significant in all zones. Thus, the Spectral OCT/SLO could reliably be used for SD-OCT in patients who may also require microperimetry assessment.
THE TIME EVOLUTION OF HH 1 FROM FOUR EPOCHS OF HST IMAGES
Authors: Raga A. C. , Reipurth B. , Esquivel A. , Bally J.
Published: April 2016

We present an analysis of four epochs of Hα and [S ii] λλ 6716/6731 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of HH 1. For determining proper motions, we explore a new method based on the analysis of spatially degraded images obtained convolving the images with wavelet functions of chosen widths. With this procedure, we are able to generate maps of proper motion velocities along and across the outflow axis, as well as (angularly integrated) proper motion velocity distributions. From the four available epochs, we find the time evolution of the velocities, intensities, and spatial distribution of the line emission. We find that over the last two decades HH 1 shows a clear acceleration. Also, the Hα and [S ii] intensities first dropped and then recovered in the more recent (2014) images. Finally, we show a comparison between the two available HST epochs of [O iii] λ 5007 (1994 and 2014), in which we see a clear drop in the value of the [O iii]/Hα ratio.
LIVING WITH A RED DWARF: ROTATION AND X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET PROPERTIES OF THE HALO POPULATION KAPTEYN’S STAR*
Authors: Guinan Edward F. , Engle Scott G. , Durbin Allyn
Published: April 2016

As part of Villanova’s Living with a Red Dwarf program, we have obtained UV, X-ray, and optical data of the Population II red dwarf—Kapteyn’s Star. Kapteyn’s Star is noteworthy for its large proper motions and high radial velocity of ∼+245 km s−1. As the nearest Pop II red dwarf, it serves as an old age anchor for calibrating activity/irradiance–rotation–age relations, and an important test bed for stellar dynamos and the resulting X-ray–UV emissions of slowly rotating, near-fully convective red dwarf stars. Adding to the notoriety, Kapteyn’s Star has recently been reported to host two super-Earth candidates, one of which (Kapteyn b) is orbiting within the habitable zone. However, Robertson et al. questioned the planet’s existence since its orbital period may be an artifact of activity, related to the star’s rotation period. Because of its large Doppler-shift, measures of the important, chromospheric H i Lyα 1215.67 Å emission line can be reliably made, because it is mostly displaced from ISM and geo-coronal sources. Lyα emission dominates the FUV region of cool stars. Our measures can help determine the X-ray–UV effects on planets hosted by Kapteyn’s Star, and planets hosted by other old red dwarfs. Stellar X-ray and Lyα emissions have strong influences on the heating and ionization of upper planetary atmospheres and can (with stellar winds and flares) erode or even eliminate planetary atmospheres. Using our program stars, we have reconstructed the past exposures of Kapteyn’s Star's planets to coronal—chromospheric XUV emissions over time.
INTERRUPTED ERUPTION OF LARGE QUIESCENT FILAMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A HALO CME
Authors: Gosain S. , Filippov Boris , Maurya Ram Ajor , Chandra Ramesh
Published: April 2016

We analyze the observations of an eruptive quiescent filament associated with a halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). We use observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO), and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO A/B) satellites. The filament exhibits a slow-rise phase followed by a gradual acceleration and then completely disappears. The filament could be traced in STEREO observations up to an altitude of about 1.44

R

⊙

, where its rise speed reached ∼14 km s−1 and disappeared completely at about 10:32 UT on 2011 October 21. The CME associated with the filament eruption and two bright ribbons in the chromosphere both appeared at about 01:30 UT on October 22, i.e., 15 hr after the filament eruption was seen in He ii 304 Å filtergrams. We show that this delay is abnormally large even if the slow rise speed and slow acceleration of the filament are taken into account. To understand the cause of this delay, we compute the decay index (n) of the overlying coronal magnetic field. The height distribution of the decay index, n, suggests that the zone of instability (

n

>

1) at a lower altitude, 144–480 Mm, is followed by a zone of stability (

n

<

1) between 540 and 660 Mm. We interpret the observed delay to be due to the presence of the latter zone, i.e., the zone of stability, which could provide a second quasi-equilibrium state to the filament until it finally erupts.
THE RADIO–GAMMA CORRELATION IN STARBURST GALAXIES
Authors: Eichmann B. , Tjus J. Becker
Published: April 2016

We present a systematic study of non-thermal electron–proton plasma and its emission processes in starburst galaxies in order to explain the correlation between the luminosity in the radio band and the recently observed gamma luminosity. In doing so, a steady state description of the cosmic-ray (CR) electrons and protons within the spatially homogeneous starburst is considered where continuous momentum losses are included as well as catastrophic losses due to diffusion and advection. The primary source of the relativistic CRs, e.g., supernova remnants, provides a quasi-neutral plasma with a power-law spectrum in momentum where we account for rigidity-dependent differences between the electron and proton spectrum. We examine the resulting leptonic and hadronic radiation processes by synchrotron radiation, inverse Compton scattering, Bremsstrahlung, and hadronic pion production. Finally, the observations of NGC 253, M82, NGC 4945, and NGC 1068 in the radio and gamma-ray bands as well as the observed supernova rate are used to constrain a best-fit model. In the case of NGC 253, M82, and NGC 4945 our model is able to accurately describe the data, showing that: (i) supernovae are the dominant particle accelerators for NGC 253, M82, and NGC 4945, but not for NGC 1068; (ii) all considered starburst galaxies are poor proton calorimeters in which for NGC 253 the escape is predominantly driven by the galactic wind, whereas the diffusive escape dominates in NGC 4945 and M82 (at energies >1 TeV); and (iii) secondary electrons from hadronic pion production are important to model the radio flux, but the associated neutrino flux is below the current observation limit.
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES AND THEIR HOST SPHEROIDS. III. THE MBH–nsph CORRELATION
Authors: Savorgnan Giulia A. D.
Published: April 2016

The Sérsic

R

1

/

n

model is the best approximation known to date for describing the light distribution of stellar spheroidal and disk components, with the Sérsic index n providing a direct measure of the central radial concentration of stars. The Sérsic index of a galaxy’s spheroidal component, n
sph, has been shown to tightly correlate with the mass of the central supermassive black hole, M
BH. The

M

BH

–

n

sph

correlation is also expected from other two well known scaling relations involving the spheroid luminosity, L
sph: the

L

sph

–

n

sph

and the

M

BH

–

L

sph

. Obtaining an accurate estimate of the spheroid Sérsic index requires a careful modeling of a galaxy’s light distribution and some studies have failed to recover a statistically significant

M

BH

–

n

sph

correlation. With the aim of re-investigating the

M

BH

–

n

sph

and other black hole mass scaling relations, we performed a detailed (i.e., bulge, disks, bars, spiral arms, rings, halo, nucleus, etc.) decomposition of 66 galaxies, with directly measured black hole masses, that had been imaged at 3.6 μm with Spitzer. In this paper, the third of this series, we present an analysis of the

L

sph

–

n

sph

and

M

BH

–

n

sph

diagrams. While early-type (elliptical+lenticular) and late-type (spiral) galaxies split into two separate relations in the

L

sph

–

n

sph

and

M

BH

–

L

sph

diagrams, they reunite into a single

M

BH

∝

n

sph

3.39
±
0.15

sequence with relatively small intrinsic scatter (

ϵ
≃
0.25

dex

). The black hole mass appears to be closely related to the spheroid central concentration of stars, which mirrors the inner gradient of the spheroid gravitational potential.