bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electron Beam Welding of Cold Rolled High‐Alloy TRIP/TWIP Steel Sheets
Authors: Halbauer Lars , Zenker Rolf , Weidner Anja , Buchwalder Anja , Biermann Horst
Published: June 2015

High‐alloy cold rolled TRIP/TWIP steels have a remarkable potential for crash‐relevant structures. Electron beam welding (EBW) can be regarded as being predestined for this purpose due to, among other factors, its locally limited heat input. The aim of this work is the characterization of the influence of the welding conditions on the chemical composition, the microstructure, and the mechanical properties of high‐alloy cold rolled TRIP/TWIP steels. Three CrMnNi steels are cold rolled and welded with different beam intensities. The microstructure of the weld seams (WS) and the heat‐affected zones (HAZs) is characterized by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties of the welded joints are evaluated by hardness measurements and tensile testing. The weld seams are defect‐free and surrounded by narrow HAZs. The microstructures inside the HAZs exhibited recrystallization and reverse annealing effects and constituted the failure‐relevant area of the weld.
Acceptable risks to persons associated with building structures
Authors: Tanner Peter , Hingorani Ramon
Published: June 2015

In routine engineering practice, the risks associated with safety considerations addressed when designing new or assessing existing structures are not quantified and the corresponding acceptance criteria may diverge widely. Although the use of explicit risk analysis methods to quantify structural safety would therefore deliver significant benefits, the implementation of such methods is hindered by a series of technical and administrative obstacles.

The present study explores methods and tools for the practical application of explicit risk analysis methods. Structure‐related risks to persons are established on the grounds of the probability of structural failure and its consequences in terms of loss of human life. The procedure adopted is applied to a representative set of building structures. Acceptance criteria for risks to persons associated with such structures are deduced from the findings. These criteria provide a rational basis for decision‐making in structural engineering. They may be used in explicit risk analysis or as a basis for the consistent calibration of simplified models for determining partial factors in the design of new or assessment of existing structures.
Assessing and updating the reliability of concrete bridges subjected to spatial deterioration – principles and software implementation
Authors: Schneider Ronald , Fischer Johannes , Bügler Maximilian , Nowak Marcel , Thöns Sebastian , Borrmann André , Straub Daniel
Published: June 2015

Inspection and maintenance of concrete bridges is a major cost factor in transportation infrastructure, and there is significant potential for using information gained during inspection to update predictive models of the performance and reliability of such structures. In this context, this paper presents an approach for assessing and updating the reliability of prestressed concrete bridges subjected to chloride‐induced reinforcement corrosion. The system deterioration state is determined based on a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) model that considers the spatial variability of the corrosion process. The overall system reliability is computed by means of a probabilistic structural model coupled with the deterioration model. Inspection data are included in the system reliability calculation through Bayesian updating on the basis of the DBN model. As proof of concept, a software prototype is developed to implement the method presented here. The software prototype is applied to a typical highway bridge and the influence of inspection information on the system deterioration state and the structural reliability is quantified taking into account the spatial correlation of the corrosion process. This work is a step towards developing a software tool that can be used by engineering practitioners to perform reliability assessments of ageing concrete bridges and update their reliability with inspection and monitoring data.
Safety assessment of punching shear failure according to the level of approximation approach
Authors: Belletti Beatrice , Pimentel Mário , Scolari Matteo , Walraven Joost C.
Published: June 2015

The fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 introduced the concept of levels of approximation (LoA) as a strategy for simplifying the procedures involved in preliminary design stages or the design of non‐critical structural elements while still providing the tools for engineers to use state‐of‐the‐art techniques in the assessment of existing structures or in the advanced stages of design for critical structural elements. In this paper, this concept is applied to the determination of the punching shear resistance of reinforced concrete slabs. A procedure is validated for the highest LoA involving non‐linear finite element analysis (NLFEA) with multi‐layered shell elements and the critical shear crack theory (CSCT). The safety format proposed for use in the safety verification assisted by NLFEA is based on the definition of a global resistance safety factor. A semi‐probabilistic approach is followed, based on the assumption of a lognormal distribution for the resistance and on an estimate of its coefficient of variation. This approach is validated by means of a comparison with the results from a probabilistic analysis.

The LoA approach is initially applied to the study of statically determinate slabs supported on one column to verify the effectiveness of the procedure presented here compared with other validated methods available in the literature. The paper concludes with a case study illustrating the application of the proposed procedure to a bridge deck slab and highlighting the benefits of using a higher LoA.
Monitoring‐based performance assessment of rail‐bridge interaction based on structural reliability
Authors: Strauss Alfred , Karimi Saeed , Kopf Fritz , Capraru Catalin , Bergmeister Konrad
Published: June 2015

For today's railways, the continuous welded rail, which enhances driving dynamics and comfort for passengers, is often the construction method of choice. However, bridges and viaducts, which can be seen as singularities in the railway substructure, still pose a few unsolved problems; the bridge structure deforms under the impacts of thermal variation, creep, shrinkage, train passage and braking. The track‐bridge interaction is an important parameter in railway bridge design. Measurement campaigns and research projects have been performed to investigate the interaction process and learn how to predict longitudinal forces in the rail and the concrete slab track. For the construction of long bridges on high‐speed railway lines, new computational tools, monitoring systems and enhanced verification methods for tolerable rail stresses on bridges had to be developed. In order to take the modified stiffness conditions and recent findings on rail resistance into account, the verification schemes and safety concepts based on monitoring data have to be revised and performance‐based methods need to be developed. The target of this article is to present monitoring‐ and reliability‐based assessment methods for the concrete structure‐rail interaction using monitoring and non‐linear analysis techniques.
Economic and human safety reliability levels for existing structures
Authors: Steenbergen Raphaël D. J. M. , Sýkora Miroslav , Diamantidis Dimitris , Holický Milan , Vrouwenvelder Ton
Published: June 2015

Specifying the target reliability levels is one of the key issues in the assessment of existing structures. For a majority of existing buildings and infrastructures, the design life has been reached or will be reached in the near future. These structures need to be reassessed in order to verify their safety. Eurocodes provide a general basis primarily intended for the design of new structures, but the basic principles can be used for assessing existing buildings, too. Reliability levels are generally based on both economic optimization and criteria for human safety. In this study, both methods are elaborated for existing structures. It appears that the requirement for the same target reliability for existing and new structures is uneconomical. Further, cost optimization seems to yield rather low reliability levels and human safety criteria often become the critical factor. The study concludes with practical guidelines for establishing reliability indices for existing structures linked to Eurocode principles.
A Personal History of Quadruplex–Small Molecule Targeting
Authors: Neidle Stephen
Published: June 2015

The story behind some of the early studies in the laboratory of Stephen Neidle on quadruplex‐binding small molecules and the structural studies on quadruplexes and their complexes is presented and discussed in the context of his earlier work on drug–DNA interactions. More recent studies and future directions in the rational design of small molecules targeting telomeric and gene promoter quadruplexes are also described.
Chronic exposure to manganese sulfate leads to adverse dose‐dependent effects on the neurobehavioral ability of rats
Authors: Su Cheng , Chen Kangcheng , Zou Yunfeng , Shen Yuefei , Xia Bing , Liang Guiqiang , Lv Yingnan , Wang Fenfen , Huang Damin , Yang Xiaobo
Published: June 2015

Manganese sulfate is the main combustion product of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). Currently, little is known about the neurobehavioral consequences of chronic manganese sulfate exposure. In this study, rats were treated with 0, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mg/kg MnSO4·H2O for 24 consecutive weeks via intraperitoneal injection. During the treatment period, spatial learning‐memory ability was measured using the Morris water maze (MWM). At the end of the exposure period, spontaneous motor behavior and emotional status, hippocampal histologic changes, and Hsp70 mRNA levels were measured using the open‐field test (OFT), hematoxylin‐eosin staining and real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐PCR), respectively. A dose‐dependent decrease was noted in the spatial learning‐memory ability and the spontaneous activities of rats (P < 0.05), and negative emotions differed significantly between the exposed groups and the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, overt morphological changes in the hippocampuses of the exposed rats were detected. Cellular degeneration and death were also found. The Hsp70 mRNA levels of the hippocampal areas in the 20.0 mg/kg group (1.567 ± 0.236) were significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that chronic exposure to manganese sulfate can have adverse dose‐dependent effects on rats' neurobehavioral ability, and the mechanism of abnormal hippocampal Hsp70 expression needs to be further explored. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1571–1579, 2016.
Quality assurance and its impact on ovarian visualization rates in the multicenter United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS)
Authors: Sharma A. , Burnell M. , Gentry‐Maharaj A. , Campbell S. , Amso N. N. , Seif M. W. , Fletcher G. , Brunell C. , Turner G. , Rangar R. , Ryan A. , Jacobs I. , Menon U.
Published: June 2015

Objective

To describe the quality assurance (QA) processes and their impact on visualization of postmenopausal ovaries in the ultrasound arm of a multicenter screening trial for ovarian cancer.

Methods

In the United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening, 50 639 women aged 50–74 years were randomized to the ultrasound arm and underwent annual transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) examinations. QA processes were developed during the course of the trial and included regular monitoring of the visualization rate (VR) of the right ovary. Non‐subjective factors identified previously as impacting on VR of the right ovary were included in a generalized estimating equation model for binary outcomes to enable comparison of observed vs adjusted VR between individual sonographers who had undertaken > 1000 scans during the trial and comparison between centers. Observed and adjusted VRs of sonographers and centers were ranked according to the highest VR. Analysis of annual VRs of sonographers and those of the included centers was undertaken.

Results

Between June 2001 and December 2010, 48 230 of 50 639 women attended one of 13 centers for a total of 270 035 annual TVS scans. One or both ovaries were seen in 228 145 (84.5%) TVS scans. The right ovary was seen on 196 426 (72.7%) of the scans. For the 78 sonographers included in the model, the median difference between observed and adjusted VR was −0.7% (range, −7.9 to 5.9%) and the median change in VR rank after adjustment was 3 (range, 0–18). For the 13 centers, the median difference between observed and adjusted VR was −0.5% (range, −2.2 to 1%), with no change in ranking after adjustment. The median adjusted VR was 73% (interquartile range (IQR), 65–82%) for sonographers and 74.7% (IQR, 67.1–79.0%) for centers. Despite the increasing age of the women being scanned, there was a steady decrease in the number of sonographers with VR < 60% (21.4% in 2002 vs 2.0% in 2010) and an increase in sonographers with VR > 80% (14.3% in 2002 vs 40.8% in 2010). The median VR of the centers increased from 65.5% (range, 55.7–81.0%) in 2001 to 80.3% (range, 74.5–90.9%) in 2010.

Conclusions

A robust QA program can improve visualization of postmenopausal ovaries and is an essential component of ultrasound‐based ovarian cancer screening trials. While VR should be adjusted for non‐subjective factors that impact on ovarian visualization, subjective factors are likely to be the largest contributors to differences in VR. © 2015 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Synthesis of a secondary plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride) by recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottle waste through aminolytic depolymerization
Authors: Shukla Sanjeev R. , Kapadi Parag U. , Mhaske Shashank T. , Mali Manoj N. , More Aarti
Published: June 2015

This study focuses on the synthesis and application of didecanoate of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalamide (DD‐BHPTA) as a secondary plasticizer in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compounding. DD‐BHPTA was synthesized from poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottle waste through aminolysis followed by condensation reaction with decanoic acid. Synthesized DD‐BHPTA was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Plasticized PVC was prepared by compounding PVC in different ratios with DD‐BHPTA and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) using a two‐roll mill. This newly synthesized plasticizer completely fused with PVC. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties like glass transition temperature, tensile strength, % elongation, dynamic mechanical analysis, solvent resistance, accelerated ultraviolet weathering test for color stability, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis of plasticized PVC were investigated. DD‐BHPTA along with DOP plasticizer demonstrated plasticization efficiency similar to that of DOP alone, with the same plasticizer loading. DD‐BHPTA was found to be the more efficient plasticizer when used in combination with DOP. Thus, DD‐BHPTA can be used as a secondary plasticizer for DOP and can substitute DOP up to 50% of plasticizer loading. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:152–160, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Evaluating the reliability of field identification and morphometric classifications for carnivore scats confirmed with genetic analysis
Authors: Lonsinger Robert C. , Gese Eric M. , Waits Lisette P.
Published: June 2015

Scat surveys are commonly used to monitor carnivore populations. Scats of sympatric carnivores can be difficult to differentiate and field‐based identification can be misleading. We evaluated the success of field‐based species identification for scats of 2 sympatric carnivores—coyotes (Canis latrans) and kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis). We conducted scat surveys in the Great Basin desert of Utah, USA, during the winter and summer of 2013, and we detected 1,680 carnivore scats. We classified scats based on field identification, recorded morphometric measurements, and collected fecal DNA samples for molecular species identification. We subsequently evaluated the classification success of field identification and the predictive power of 2 nonparametric classification techniques—k‐nearest neighbors and classification trees—based on scat measurements. Overall, 12.2% of scats were misclassified by field identification, but misclassifications were not equitable between species. Only 7.1% of the scats identified as coyote with field identification were misclassified, compared with 22.9% of scats identified as kit fox. Results from both k‐nearest neighbor and classification‐tree analyses suggest that morphometric measurements provided an objective alternative to field identification that improved classification of rarer species. Overall misclassification rates for k‐nearest neighbor and classification‐tree analyses were 11.7% and 7.5%, respectively. Using classification trees, misclassification was reduced for kit foxes (8.5%) and remained similar for coyotes (7.2%), relative to field identification. Although molecular techniques provide unambiguous species identification, classification approaches may offer a cost‐effective alternative. We recommend that monitoring programs employing scat surveys utilize molecular species identification to develop training data sets and evaluate the accuracy of field‐based and statistical classification approaches. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Removal of old nest material decreases reuse of artificial burrows by burrowing owls
Authors: Riding Corey S. , Belthoff James R.
Published: June 2015

Artificial burrows are considered an important management and conservation tool for burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). This species regularly adorns natural and artificial burrows with mammal dung and other materials, which remain between years so that previous use of a nest site is often obvious. Moreover, ectoparasites (fleas) potentially overwinter in accumulated material and infest subsequent occupants. How evidence of prior use affects burrowing owl nest‐site decisions is not completely understood. We examined potential effects of the presence of old nest material on reuse of nests by burrowing owls in southwestern Idaho, USA, during 2004 and 2005. We manipulated artificial burrows that owls used for nesting in the prior year by; 1) removing material from the entrance, tunnel, and nesting chamber and replacing it with fresh soil; 2) microwaving old nest material to kill ectoparasites before returning it; or 3) removing and returning material without treatment to serve as a control. Relative to removal burrows, odds of burrowing owl reuse of ‘control’ and “microwave” burrows were 3.5 and 3.8 times greater, respectively. Removing ectoparasites by microwaving did not increase odds of reuse relative to control burrows, and fleas were present on nestlings in all 3 treatment groups. Presence of old material may help owls locate specific burrows when returning from migration or may provide physiological and feeding benefits. Thus, cleaning by removal of nest material from previously used artificial burrows may be counterproductive if maximizing reuse of nest sites by burrowing owls is a management objective. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Testing nest deterrents for Chihuahuan ravens on H‐frame transmission structures
Authors: Dwyer James F. , Leiker Diana L. , King Shauna N. D.
Published: June 2015

Chihuahuan ravens (Corvus cryptoleucus) regularly perch and nest on electric utility structures. Because ravens perch on overhead shield wires, for which no perch discourager exists, management focuses on nests. When nests occur above energized wires (phase wires), risk of line faults, pole fires, and power outages develop. In southeastern Colorado, USA, Chihuahuan ravens nesting on H‐frame transmission structures historically nested exclusively above the center phase. Nest deterrents prevent ravens from nesting over the center phase on short line segments (1.5 km), but effectiveness over longer line segments is unknown. We installed nest deterrents over the center phase on all structures within a 25.7‐km line segment (n = 93 structures), and compared nesting there with nesting on two 0.75‐km untreated segments adjacent to each end of the treated segment (n = 10 adjacent structures) and on a 25.6‐km untreated segment (n = 93 distant structures). Data were collected over 7 surveys in Bent, Kiowa, and Crowley counties in southeastern Colorado, spring 2012. Ravens placed nest material on 25.8% of treated structures, 90.0% of adjacent untreated structures, and 78.5% of distant untreated structures. Used nests (containing eggs or nestlings) occurred on 2.1% of treated structures, 40.0% of adjacent untreated structures, and 17.2% of distant untreated structures. No used nest occurred above the center phase on any treated tangent structure, whereas all used nests occurred above the center phase on untreated structures. Future research should evaluate whether placing deterrents above all phases further reduces nesting. If so, this application could also be used in areas where ravens are potential predators of species of special concern. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Multiple X‐ray approaches to discriminate the origin of liquefied sand erupted during the 2012 Emilia Romagna earthquake
Authors: Di Giuseppe Dario , Tessari Umberto , Faccini Barbara , Coltorti Massimo , Vaccaro Carmela , Marin Emanuela
Published: June 2015

Geochemical, mineralogical and sedimentological analyses were carried out on sands erupted from sand volcanoes and soil cracks during the 2012 Emilia earthquakes with the aim of determining their origin and depth of provenance in a complex stratigraphic plain generated by different fluvial contributions. Geochemical, mineralogical and sedimentological analyses were performed by wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray powder diffraction and Sedigraph and Settling tube, respectively.

Distinct textural features, as well as Ni/MgO and Cr/Al2O3ratios, allow discriminating two populations: an A‐area located close to San Carlo village and a B‐area nearby Scortichino village. Sediments from A‐area show chemical and mineralogical characteristics well comparable with those of the sediments derived from the Apennine rivers, whereas sands from B‐area have strong similarities with the sediments from the Po river.

In the earthquake crater area most of the liquefaction phenomena were related to superficial sandy deposits (fluvial ridges, paleochannels and crevasse splays) generated by Apennine rivers. The Po river sediments in the B‐area derive from a layer at a depth at which liquefaction phenomena were excluded, because of the greater lithostatic load. These sediments thus shed a new light on the mechanisms that may induce liquefaction during an earthquake or even without a seismic triggering.

It is suggested that a gas phase (mainly methane), which is commonly found below the Po plain, could have been dissolved in the water, near to the saturation threshold or already exsolved, increasing the interstitial overpressure and facilitating the liquefaction and the eruption of the sandy sediments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On mathematical problems for viscoelastic multi‐mechanism models in the isothermal case
Authors: Kröger Nils Hendrik , Wolff Michael , Böhm Michael
Published: June 2015

We deal with special kinds of viscoelastic multi‐mechanism models (MM models) in series connection. The MM models under consideration consist of a finite number of rheological Kelvin‐Voigt elements and, possibly, a thermoelastic element. An important new item is the possible coupling between the KV elements leading to a new quality. After dealing in short with the modeling, we investigate two resulting three‐dimensional mathematical problems in the isothermal case. In particular, we show existence and uniqueness of weak solutions for the corresponding initial‐boundary value problems for displacements, stresses and partial strains.
“Is It Worth Knowing?” Focus Group Participants’ Perceived Utility of Genomic Preconception Carrier Screening
Authors: Schneider Jennifer L. , Goddard Katrina A. B. , Davis James , Wilfond Benjamin , Kauffman Tia L. , Reiss Jacob A. , Gilmore Marian , Himes Patricia , Lynch Frances L. , Leo Michael C. , McMullen Carmit
Published: June 2015

As genome sequencing technology advances, research is needed to guide decision‐making about what results can or should be offered to patients in different clinical settings. We conducted three focus groups with individuals who had prior preconception genetic testing experience to explore perceived advantages and disadvantages of genome sequencing for preconception carrier screening, compared to usual care. Using a discussion guide, a trained qualitative moderator facilitated the audio‐recorded focus groups. Sixteen individuals participated. Thematic analysis of transcripts started with a grounded approach and subsequently focused on participants’ perceptions of the value of genetic information. Analysis uncovered two orientations toward genomic preconception carrier screening: “certain” individuals desiring all possible screening information; and “hesitant” individuals who were more cautious about its value. Participants revealed valuable information about barriers to screening: fear/anxiety about results; concerns about the method of returning results; concerns about screening necessity; and concerns about partner participation. All participants recommended offering choice to patients to enhance the value of screening and reduce barriers. Overall, two groups of likely users of genome sequencing for preconception carrier screening demonstrated different perceptions of the advantages or disadvantages of screening, suggesting tailored approaches to education, consent, and counseling may be warranted with each group.
Determination of Nutritional and Cyclopropenoid Fatty Acids in Cottonseed by a Single GC Analysis
Authors: Mitchell Barb , Rozema Brent , Vennard Thomas , Sabbatini Jane
Published: June 2015

Historically, a complete analysis of cottonseed fatty acids required two separate analyses: gas chromatography (GC) for nutritional fatty acids and a separate analysis for cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA). Using base esterification and optimized GC conditions, the method presented combines both analyses into a single GC procedure that improves analytical processes and streamlines workflow. While there were challenges, the resolution of critical pairs malvalic/stearic and dihydrosterculic/alpha linolenic methyl esters were adequately separated, allowing for accurate quantitation. Single lab reproducibility measurements (RSD) for major nutritional fatty acids ranged from 0.7 to 2.0 %. For CPFA the RSD ranged from 1.1 to 5.4 %, with the higher variability seen in the extracted cottonseed. In oils, the precision was similar between nutritional fatty acids and CPFA at equivalent concentrations, indicating the variation comes from the extraction process. Average spiked recovery results ranged from 93.3 to 106.5 % for selected fatty acids. In addition, complete fatty acid profile results compare favorably with other methodologies and historical data, demonstrating that it is possible to combine two legacy methods into one.
A complete S-shape feed rate scheduling approach for NURBS interpolator
Authors: Du Xu , Huang Jie , Zhu Li-Min
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a complete S-shape feed rate scheduling approach (CSFA) with confined jerk, acceleration and command feed rate for parametric tool path. For a Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) tool path, the critical points of the tool path where the radius of curvature reaches extreme values are found firstly. Then, the NURBS curve is split into several NURBS sub-curves or blocks by the critical points. A bidirectional scanning strategy with the limitations of chord error, normal/tangential acceleration/jerk and command feed rate is employed to make the feed rate at the junctions between different NURBS blocks continuous. To improve the efficiency of the feed rate scheduling, the NURBS block is classified into three types: short block, medium block and long block. The feed rate profile corresponding to each NURBS block is generated according to the start/end feed rates and the arc length of the block and the limitations of tangential acceleration/jerk. In addition, two compensation strategies are proposed to make the feed rate more continuous and the arc increment more precise. Once the feed rate profile is determined, a second-order Taylor׳s expansion interpolation method is applied to generate the position commands. Finally, experiments with two free-form NURBS curves are conducted to verify the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method.
The efficacy of ultrasound‐guided extracorporeal shockwave therapy in patients with cervical spondylosis and nuchal ligament calcification
Authors: Lin Tz‐Yan , Chen Jing‐Ting , Chen Yu‐Yu , Chen Tien‐Wen , Lee Chia‐Ling , Chen Chia‐Hsin , Huang Mao‐Hsiung
Published: June 2015

We investigated the effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on the rehabilitation of cervical spondylosis with nuchal ligament (NL) calcification under X‐ray and ultrasound guidance. Sixty patients with cervical spondylosis and calcification of NL were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: A, B, and C. Patients in Group A received rehabilitation with 20 minutes of hot packs and underwent 15 minutes of intermittent cervical traction three times/week for 6 weeks. Patients in Group B received the same rehabilitation as those in Group A and ESWT (2000 impulses, 0.27 mJ/mm2) over the calcified NL guided by X‐ray image. Patients in Group C received the same treatment as those in Group B, but the ESWT was guided by musculoskeletal sonography. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by: changes in range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine including flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation; visual analog pain scale; and Neck Disability Index before and after treatment and at follow up 3 months later. We found a significant reduction in pain in each treated group after treatment and at follow up. However, patients in Groups B and C showed more improvements in ROM and neck pain relief after treatment and a decrease in Neck Disability Index. Furthermore, patients in Group C showed better cervical ROM at follow up than Group B. ESWT is an adjuvant treatment in the management of cervical spondylosis with calcification of NL and ultrasound‐guided ESWT results in more functional improvements.
Incidence and prognostic factor of ethambutol‐related optic neuropathy: 10‐year experience in southern Taiwan
Authors: Chen Shih‐Chou , Lin Muh‐Chiou , Sheu Shwu‐Jiuan
Published: June 2015

To investigate the incidence and prognostic factors of ethambutol‐related optic neuropathy (EON) in one medical center of southern Taiwan, a retrospective chart review study with 4803 newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases from January 2002 to July 2011 at one medical center hospital in southern Taiwan were reviewed. Of these patients, 1004 had ophthalmic records. Sixty‐two cases (1.29%) experienced visual impairment and were diagnosed as EON with mean visual acuity of 0.86 ± 0.69 by logMAR. Sixteen of the 62 patients had a follow‐up time > 6 months. Of these, eight patients (50%) showed visual improvement (an increase in visual acuity of ≥ 2 Snellen lines) after ethambutol was discontinued. Another eight patients (50%) showed no visual improvement. We analyzed multiple factors between the patients with and without visual improvement by logistic regression, including body weight, daily dose of ethambutol, duration of ethambutol use, cumulative dose of ethambutol, renal function, underlying disease of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and initial visual acuity showed no statistically significant difference. In conclusion, the incidence of EON was 1.29%. Half of the patients showed visual improvement after discontinuation of ethambutol, and no obvious prognostic factors were found to facilitate the vision recovery. Ethambutol should be discontinued as soon as EON is suspected.
5‐Fluorouracil preferentially sensitizes mutant KRAS non‐small cell lung carcinoma cells to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis
Authors: Wang Haizhen , Yang Tao , Wu Xiangwei
Published: June 2015

Mutations in the KRAS gene are very common in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but effective therapies targeting KRAS have yet to be developed. Interest in tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL), a potent inducer of cell death, has increased following the observation that TRAIL can selectively kill a wide variety of human cancer cells without killing normal cells both in vitro and in xenograft models. However, results from clinical trials of TRAIL‐based therapy are disappointingly modest at best and many have demonstrated a lack of therapeutic benefit. Current research has focused on selecting a subpopulation of cancer patients who may benefit from TRAIL‐based therapy and identifying best drugs to work with TRAIL. In the current study, we found that NSCLC cells with a KRAS mutation were highly sensitive to treatment with TRAIL and 5‐fluorouracil (5FU). Compared with other chemotherapeutic agents, 5FU displayed the highest synergy with TRAIL in inducing apoptosis in mutant KRAS NSCLC cells. We also found that, on a mechanistic level, 5FU preferentially repressed survivin expression and induced expression of TRAIL death receptor 5 to sensitize NSCLC cells to TRAIL. The combination of low‐dose 5FU and TRAIL strongly inhibited xenograft tumor growth in mice. Our results suggest that the combination of TRAIL and 5FU may be beneficial for patients with mutant KRAS NSCLC.
A 15,400-year record of climate variation from a subalpine lacustrine sedimentary sequence in the western Nanling Mountains in South China
Authors: Zhong Wei , Cao Jiayuan , Xue Jibin , Ouyang Jun
Published: June 2015

Multi-proxy records of a subalpine lacustrine sequence in Daping Swamp in the western Nanling Mountains provide evidence for exploring climate variability in the past 15,400 yr. Two dry and cool (15,400–14,500 and 13,000–11,000 cal yr BP) and one humid and warm interval (14,500–13,200 cal yr BP), which we correlate to Heinrich Event 1, the Younger Dryas and the Bølling-Allerød event respectively, are revealed. The early Holocene climate (11,000–8000 cal yr BP) was characterized by less humid and warm conditions, suggesting a weaker Asian summer monsoon (ASM) intensity. Our findings indicate that the Holocene optimum occurred between 8000 and 4500 cal yr BP, and the most intensified ASM appears from 8000 to 7000 cal yr BP. After 4500 cal yr BP, climate shifted to relatively cool and dry conditions. We speculate that five short dry and cool events centered at ~ 11,000, 9000, 8400, 6000, and 3500 cal yr BP were linked to the Holocene ice-rafting events detected in the North Atlantic. Migration of the ITCZ, and the oceanic–atmospheric circulations, particularly SST changes in the tropical Pacific may play a pivotal role in climate variation of the study region.
An ancient bison from the mouth of the Rauchua River (Chukotka, Russia)
Authors: Kirillova Irina V. , Zanina Oksana G. , Chernova Olga F. , Lapteva Elena G. , Trofimova Svetlana S. , Lebedev Vladimir S. , Tiunov Alexei V. , Soares Andre E.R. , Shidlovskiy Fedor K. , Shapiro Beth
Published: June 2015

An incomplete carcass of an extinct bison, Bison ex gr. priscus, was discovered in 2012 in the mouth of the Rauchua River (69°30′N, 166°49′E), Chukotka. The carcass included the rump with two hind limbs, ribs, and large flap of hide from the abdomen and sides, several vertebrae, bones of the forelimbs and anterior autopodia, stomach with its contents, and wool. The limb bones are relatively gracile, which is unusual in bison, and a SEM study of the hair microstructure suggests higher insulating capacity than in extant members of the genus. Additionally, mitochondrial DNA analyses indicate that the Rauchua bison belonged to a distinct and previously unidentified lineage of steppe bison. Two radiocarbon dates suggest a Holocene age for the bison: a traditional 14C date provided an estimate of 8030 ± 70 14C yr ВР (SPb-743) and an AMS radiocarbon date provided an age of 9497 ± 92 14C yr BP (AA101271). These dates make this the youngest known bison from Chukotka. Analysis of stomach contents revealed a diet of herbaceous plants (meadow grasses and sedges) and shrubs, suggesting that the early Holocene vegetation near the mouth of the Rauchua River was similar to that of the present day: tundra-associated vegetation with undersized plants.
Improving Predictions of Arctic Sea Ice Extent
Authors: Stroeve Julienne , Blanchard-Wrigglesworth Ed , Guemas Virginie , Howell Stephen , Massonnet François , Tietsche Steffen
Published: June 2015

Scientists in the Sea Ice Prediction Network share and discuss their user-oriented forecasts of seasonal sea ice in a changing Arctic.
Pope Calls for Action on Climate Change, Environmental Degradation
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: June 2015

Papal encyclical urges strong efforts to protect the environment and the world's poor.
Development of second-mode instability in a Mach 6 flat plate boundary layer with two-dimensional roughness
Authors: Tang Qing , Zhu Yiding , Chen Xi , Lee Cunbiao
Published: June 2015

Particle image velocimetry, PCB pressure sensors, and planar Rayleigh scattering are combined to study the development of second-mode instability in a Mach 6 flow over a flat plate with two-dimensional roughness. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the instantaneous velocity fields and flow structures of the second-mode instability waves passing through the roughness are shown experimentally. A two-dimensional transverse wall blowing is used to generate second-mode instability in the boundary layer and seeding tracer particles. The two-dimensional roughness is located upstream of the synchronization point between mode S and mode F. The experimental results showed that the amplitude of the second-mode instability will be greatly increased upstream of the roughness. Then it damps and recovers quickly in the vicinity downstream of the roughness. Further downstream, it acts as no-roughness case, which confirms Fong’s numerical results [K. D. Fong, X. W. Wang, and X. L. Zhong, “Numerical simulation of roughness effect on the stability of a hypersonic boundary layer,” Comput. Fluids 96, 350 (2014)]. It also has been observed that the strength of the amplification and damping effect depends on the height of the roughness.
Genome-wide binding and mechanistic analyses of Smchd1-mediated epigenetic regulation
Authors: Chen Kelan , Hu Jiang , Moore Darcy L. , Liu Ruijie , Kessans Sarah A. , Breslin Kelsey , Lucet Isabelle S. , Keniry Andrew , Leong Huei San , Parish Clare L. , Hilton Douglas J. , Lemmers Richard J. L. F. , van der Maarel Silvère M. , Czabotar Peter E. , Dobson Renwick C. J. , Ritchie Matthew E. , Kay Graham F. , Murphy James M. , Blewitt Marnie E.
Published: June 2015

Significance

Structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1 (Smchd1) is a protein that plays an important role in maintaining gene silencing in many biological circumstances, including facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy; however, how it brings about gene silencing is unknown. Understanding the molecular mechanism by which Smchd1 contributes to stable transcriptional silencing is critical to appreciate how it functions in normal biology and when it is mutated in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. This study reveals, for the first time to our knowledge, where Smchd1 binds genome-wide, its hitherto unappreciated functional interaction with chromatin organizer CCCTC-binding factor in gene regulation, and which part of the protein is required for chromatin binding. These data lead to a new model of Smchd1 function, where it directly binds DNA to mediate 3D chromatin architecture.
atSNP: transcription factor binding affinity testing for regulatory SNP detection
Authors: Zuo Chandler , Shin Sunyoung , Keleş Sündüz
Published: June 2015

Motivation: Genome-wide association studies revealed that most disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are located in regulatory regions within introns or in regions between genes. Regulatory SNPs (rSNPs) are such SNPs that affect gene regulation by changing transcription factor (TF) binding affinities to genomic sequences. Identifying potential rSNPs is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms. In silico methods that evaluate the impact of SNPs on TF binding affinities are not scalable for large-scale analysis.

Results: We describe affinity testing for regulatory SNPs (atSNP), a computationally efficient R package for identifying rSNPs in silico. atSNP implements an importance sampling algorithm coupled with a first-order Markov model for the background nucleotide sequences to test the significance of affinity scores and SNP-driven changes in these scores. Application of atSNP with >20 K SNPs indicates that atSNP is the only available tool for such a large-scale task. atSNP provides user-friendly output in the form of both tables and composite logo plots for visualizing SNP-motif interactions. Evaluations of atSNP with known rSNP-TF interactions indicate that SNP is able to prioritize motifs for a given set of SNPs with high accuracy.

Availability and implementation:  https://github.com/keleslab/atSNP.

Contact:  keles@stat.wisc.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
NCC-AUC: an AUC optimization method to identify multi-biomarker panel for cancer prognosis from genomic and clinical data
Authors: Zou Meng , Liu Zhaoqi , Zhang Xiang-Sun , Wang Yong
Published: June 2015

Motivation: In prognosis and survival studies, an important goal is to identify multi-biomarker panels with predictive power using molecular characteristics or clinical observations. Such analysis is often challenged by censored, small-sample-size, but high-dimensional genomic profiles or clinical data. Therefore, sophisticated models and algorithms are in pressing need.

Results: In this study, we propose a novel Area Under Curve (AUC) optimization method for multi-biomarker panel identification named Nearest Centroid Classifier for AUC optimization (NCC-AUC). Our method is motived by the connection between AUC score for classification accuracy evaluation and Harrell’s concordance index in survival analysis. This connection allows us to convert the survival time regression problem to a binary classification problem. Then an optimization model is formulated to directly maximize AUC and meanwhile minimize the number of selected features to construct a predictor in the nearest centroid classifier framework. NCC-AUC shows its great performance by validating both in genomic data of breast cancer and clinical data of stage IB Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). For the genomic data, NCC-AUC outperforms Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Support Vector Machine-based Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) in classification accuracy. It tends to select a multi-biomarker panel with low average redundancy and enriched biological meanings. Also NCC-AUC is more significant in separation of low and high risk cohorts than widely used Cox model (Cox proportional-hazards regression model) and L1-Cox model (L1 penalized in Cox model). These performance gains of NCC-AUC are quite robust across 5 subtypes of breast cancer. Further in an independent clinical data, NCC-AUC outperforms SVM and SVM-RFE in predictive accuracy and is consistently better than Cox model and L1-Cox model in grouping patients into high and low risk categories.

Conclusion: In summary, NCC-AUC provides a rigorous optimization framework to systematically reveal multi-biomarker panel from genomic and clinical data. It can serve as a useful tool to identify prognostic biomarkers for survival analysis.

Availability and implementation: NCC-AUC is available at http://doc.aporc.org/wiki/NCC-AUC.

Contact:  ywang@amss.ac.cn

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Prophylactic anticonvulsants for gliomas: a seven-year retrospective analysis
Authors: Lapointe Sarah , Florescu Marie , Nguyen Dang K. , Djeffal Chanez , Bélanger Karl
Published: June 2015

Background

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) does not recommend routine use of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (pAEDs) in patients with newly diagnosed brain tumors. If used in the perioperative setting, discontinuation is suggested after the first postoperative week. It is unclear whether such recommendations are followed. Our objective was to compare our perioperative and long-term pAED use in glioma patients with AAN practice parameters.

Methods

Retrospective chart review was performed on 578 glioma patients from 2006 to 2013. Seizures and AED use were assessed at surgery, 3 months postoperatively and death, last visit or 16 months postoperatively. Patients were divided into three groups at surgery: seizure-free with pAED, seizure-free without pAED, and seizure patients. Long-term pAED use was defined as continued use at 3 months postsurgery without seizures. pAEDs efficacy, factors influencing its use, and survival were examined.

Results

Out of 578 patients identified, 330 (57.1%) were seizure-naïve preoperatively. There were no significant differences in age, histology, tumor location or resection status between seizure-free populations with and without prophylaxis. Of 330 seizure-naïve patients, 205 (62.1%) received pAEDs at surgery. Ninety-six (46.9%) of those patients were still on pAEDs 3 months postsurgery (median use = 58 days). Rate of long-term prophylaxis use decreased by 13.5% over 6 years (70.3% in 2006; 56.8% in 2012). Phenytoin was preferred in 2006 (98.2%) with increasing use of levetiracetam over 6 years (44.6% in 2012). The only predictive factor for pAED use was complete resection (P = .0069). First seizure prevalence was similar in both seizure-free populations (P = .91). The seizure population had more men (P = .007), younger patients (P < .0001), lower-grade gliomas (P = .0003) and survived longer (P = .001) compared with seizure-free populations.

Conclusions

In our center, long-term prophylactic AED use is high, deviating from current AAN Guidelines. Corrective measures are warranted.
What Is the Essence of Spiritual Care? A Danish Hospice Perspective
Authors: Steenfeldt Vibeke Ostergaard
Published: June 2015

This study explored patients', relatives', and healthcare professionals' experience of life and caring practice in two Danish hospice settings. Using a phenomenological approach, four caring themes emerged from data analysis: recognized as an individual human being; caring as doing and being; caring for the whole body; and spaces of caring. Spiritual care was understood as providing whole-body experiences, respecting the patient, and involving the other person.