bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selecting Sensitive Parameter Subsets in Dynamical Models With Application to Biomechanical System Identification
Authors: Ramadan Ahmed , Boss Connor , Choi Jongeun , Peter Reeves N. , Cholewicki Jacek , Popovich, John M. , Radcliffe Clark J.
Published: March 2018

Estimating many parameters of biomechanical systems with limited data may achieve good fit but may also increase 95% confidence intervals in parameter estimates. This results in poor identifiability in the estimation problem. Therefore, we propose a novel method to select sensitive biomechanical model parameters that should be estimated, while fixing the remaining parameters to values obtained from preliminary estimation. Our method relies on identifying the parameters to which the measurement output is most sensitive. The proposed method is based on the Fisher information matrix (FIM). It was compared against the nonlinear least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method to guide modelers on the pros and cons of our FIM method. We present an application identifying a biomechanical parametric model of a head position-tracking task for ten human subjects. Using measured data, our method (1) reduced model complexity by only requiring five out of twelve parameters to be estimated, (2) significantly reduced parameter 95% confidence intervals by up to 89% of the original confidence interval, (3) maintained goodness of fit measured by variance accounted for (VAF) at 82%, (4) reduced computation time, where our FIM method was 164 times faster than the LASSO method, and (5) selected similar sensitive parameters to the LASSO method, where three out of five selected sensitive parameters were shared by FIM and LASSO methods.
A New Interval Area Metric for Model Validation With Limited Experimental Data
Authors: Wang Ning , Yao Wen , Zhao Yong , Chen Xiaoqian , Zhang Xiang , Li Lanmin
Published: March 2018

Various stochastic validation metrics have been developed for validating models, among which area metric is frequently used in many practical problems. However, the existing area metric does not consider experimental epistemic uncertainty caused by lack of sufficient physical observations. Therefore, it cannot provide a confidence level associated with the amount of experimental data, which is a desired characteristic of validation metric. In this paper, the concept of area metric is extended to a new metric, namely interval area metric, for single-site model validation with limited experimental data. The kernel of the proposed metric is defining two boundary distribution functions based on Dvoretzky–Kiefer–Wolfowitz inequality, so as to provide an interval at a given confidence level, which covers the true cumulative distribution function (CDF) of physical observations. Based on this interval area metric, the validity of a model can be quantitatively measured with the specific confidence level in association with consideration of the lack of experiment information. The new metric is examined and compared with the existing metrics through numerical case studies to demonstrate its validity and discover its properties. Furthermore, an engineering example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed metric in practical satellite structure engineering application.
Imperfection Sensitivity: A Review of Buckling Behavior of Cones, Cylinders, and Domes
Authors: Ifayefunmi O. , Błachut J.
Published: March 2018

It is generally accepted that the presence of imperfections in pressure vessel components can significantly reduce their buckling strength. In fact, the discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental results have been attributed to various kinds of existing and unavoidable imperfections. This is not a new problem but despite of substantial research effort in this area over the recent decades, it is far from being satisfactorily resolved. This review provides insight into the past findings and current activities related to the role of different types of imperfections on the buckling strength. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of the influence of imperfections on the structural stability of cones, cylinders, and domes when these are subjected to external loading conditions. The review concentrates not only on the prominent role of initial geometric imperfections of the shell's generator but also on less known defects. This includes uneven axial length of cylinders, eccentricities, and nonuniformities of applied load, inaccurately modeled boundary conditions, corrosion of the wall, influence of material discontinuity or crack, and effect of prebuckling deformation. The study examines: (i) how the data were obtained (analytically, experimentally, and/or numerically), (ii) the type of material from which the shell structures were made, and (iii) the importance of findings of the previous works. Metallic and composite components are considered.
Effects of Damping on Flow-Mediated Interaction Between Two Cylinders
Authors: Lin Zhonglu , Liang Dongfang , Zhao Ming
Published: March 2018

This study investigates the flow-mediated interaction between two vibrating cylinders of the same size immersed in an otherwise still fluid. The master cylinder carries out forced vibration, while the slave cylinder is elastically mounted with one degree-of-freedom along the centerline between the two cylinders. We examined the stabilized vibration of the slave cylinder. In total, 6269 two-dimensional (2D) cases were simulated to cover the parameter space, with a fixed Reynolds number of 100, the structural damping factor of the slave cylinder ranging from 0 to 1.4, the mass ratio of the slave cylinder ranging from 1.5 to 2.5, the initial gap ratio ranging from 0.2 to 1.0, the vibration amplitude ratio of the master cylinder ranging from 0.025 to 0.1, and the vibration frequency ratio ranging from 0.05 to 2.4. We found that the vibration amplitude of the slave cylinder is highly sensitive to damping when the damping coefficient is small. The two cylinders' vibration is in antiphase at low frequencies but in phase at high frequencies. The phase of the slave cylinder changes abruptly at resonance when it has little damping, but the phase change with the frequency becomes increasingly gradual with increasing damping. With a nonzero damping factor, the maximum vibration amplitude of the slave cylinder is inversely correlated with its mass ratio. The response of the slave cylinder is explained by examining the pressure distribution and velocity field adjacent to it.
Liquid Sloshing Suppression for Three-Phase Separators Installed on Floating Production Unit
Authors: Cen Kang , Song Bin , Li Changjun , Jia Min
Published: March 2018

In this study, a computational fluid dynamics model based on the volume of fluid (VOF) method is developed to simulate the dynamic sloshing response to external excitations. The modal analysis model based on the linear potential theory is established to predict natural sloshing frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes in three-phase separators. In addition, the effects of separator location, length-to-diameter ratio, oil/water level, porosity, and spacing of perforated baffles on the sloshing response are evaluated quantitatively. Furthermore, comprehensive approaches are proposed to mitigate the sloshing, like enhancing viscous damping effect, reducing the intensity of external excitation sources, and keeping away from the resonant frequencies. Finally, a practical application is carried out to display the optimal design of a three-phase separator. The results show that three-phase separators should be located as close as possible to the center of rotation (COR) of the floating production units (FPU). The length-to-diameter ratio is recommended to be no greater than three. Once the fluids can be separated to reach their respective interfaces, the liquid level should be increased as high as possible, whereas the water level should be lowered as far as possible. There is an almost inversely linear relationship between the antisloshing performance of a perforated baffle and its porosity. The antisloshing performance is attenuated rapidly when the spacing distance of a pair of baffles exceeds a specific range. This research extends the existing scope of sloshing suppression approaches and provides useful guidance in the design of FPU-based three-phase separators.
Effects of Microstructure of Compacted Graphite Iron in Tribological Strategy
Authors: Duchosal Arnaud , Joly Damien , Leroy René , Serra Roger
Published: March 2018

In this paper, the effect of compacted graphite iron (CGI) microstructure has been investigated in tribological strategy. From industrial context, two coatings have been chosen: a single layer coating (physical vapor deposition (PVD)) and a multilayer coating (chemical vapor deposition (CVD)). Pin-on-disk tests have been done to analyze wear mechanisms and to directly obtain the coefficient of friction. Rotation speed of the disk has been adjusted to get the same linear velocity on different disk radii to get up to 150 m min−1 similar to machining condition. Three-dimensional (3D) profilometer, scanning electron microscopy, and nano-indentation were used to observe the track profiles, the pin, and the disk wears and to measure the hardness of microstructure components, respectively. Results showed that PVD coating was more abrasive and had more volume of sticking materials. Chemical vapor deposition coating, which could be the most appropriate for machining CGI, has a real antisticking property and has less friction coefficient than PVD coating. But the presence of small TiCN precipitates in CGI material has a proven negative effect in CVD coating lifetime.
Compositional, structural, and optical properties of atomic layer deposited tantalum oxide for optical fiber sensor overlays
Authors: Kosiel Kamil , Pągowska Karolina , Kozubal Maciej , Guziewicz Marek , Lawniczak-Jablonska Krystyna , Jakieła Rafał , Syryanyy Yevgen , Gabler Tomasz , Śmietana Mateusz
Published: March 2018

Although Ta2O5 is thermodynamically the most stable form of TaxOy, the chemical composition/stoichiometry of TaxOy films may generally be complex. On the other hand, to be robust in harsh chemical environments, the film material is required to be amorphous rather than crystalline. The amorphousness of atomic layer deposited (ALD) films is promoted by low process temperature generally. This paper presents the study on TaxOy films deposited by ALD at low temperature (100 °C) using TaCl5 and H2O as chemical precursors, bringing the compositional, structural, and optical properties of the films together. The films with the thickness in the range of 32–202.5 nm were deposited mostly on Si (100) wafers. For their characterization, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry, and spectroscopic ellipsometry were performed. The films were overstoichiometric in relation to Ta2O5, with the O/Ta ratio in the range of 2.7–2.8. Additionally, some amount of surface O was bound within adsorbed -OH and -CO groups. The main contaminant of the films was Cl (5–5.5 at. %). The main contaminant of their surfaces and at the film/substrate interfaces was carbon (>50 at. %). All the films proved to be fully amorphous. Their real part of refractive index was very similar (n approximately 2) in the whole range of thicknesses, with differences of a few percent only. Optical attenuation was negligibly low.
Influence of Occupational Socialization on the Perspectives and Practices of Adapted Physical Education Teachers
Authors: Park Chan Woong , Curtner-Smith Matthew D.
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to describe and examine the occupational socialization of nine adapted physical educators (APEs). The questions we attempted to answer were (a) What were the perspectives and practices of the APEs? and (b) What factors influenced these perspectives and practices? Data were collected through six qualitative techniques and analyzed by using analytic induction and constant comparison. At the time the study was conducted, the APEs possessed traditional or progressive teaching orientations. They had been attracted to a career as an APE through their participation in sport and physical activity and interactions with persons with disabilities. The quality of adapted physical education teacher education the APEs received varied, but high-quality adapted physical education teacher education appeared to exert a powerful influence on their values and pedagogies. The school cultures and conditions in which the APEs worked on entry into the workforce either served to support or negate their programs. We conclude the paper by providing several hypotheses regarding the influences of occupational socialization on in-service APEs’ teaching.
Changes in Social Integration Predict Changes in Physical Activity: A 25-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Lightner Joey , Irwin Brandon C. , Chrisman Matthew
Published: March 2018

Background: Social relationships are among the strongest predictors of health. The extent to which one is embedded in social networks, also referred to as social integration, has been associated with physical activity in short-term longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. How changes in social integration impact physical activity over longer periods of time is not well understood.Methods: Longitudinal data from 5 waves of the Americans’ Changing Lives study were used (wave 1: n = 3617; wave 5: n = 1427). Data were modeled using latent growth curves to understand the trajectories of social integration and physical activity, separately. Latent interlocking growth curve methods were used to understand if and how changes in social integration predicted changes in physical activity.Results: Physical activity did not change over the 25-year period (P = .68). Social integration significantly decreased (P = .025). Changes in social integration predicted changes in physical activity (β = 0.12,P < .05).Conclusions: Changes in how often adults speak to family and friends predict changes in physical activity across a 25-year period. Group- and social network–focused physical activity research, advocacy, and interventions are warranted.
Coherent order parameter oscillations in the ground state of the excitonic insulator Ta
2
NiSe
5
Authors: Werdehausen Daniel , Takayama Tomohiro , Höppner Marc , Albrecht Gelon , Rost Andreas W. , Lu Yangfan , Manske Dirk , Takagi Hidenori , Kaiser Stefan
Published: March 2018

Ultrafast spectroscopy reveals coherent oscillations of a phonon-coupled BEC of excitons in an excitonic insulator.
Critical advancements in achieving high power and stable nonprecious metal catalyst–based MEAs for real-world proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications
Authors: Banham Dustin , Kishimoto Takeaki , Zhou Yingjie , Sato Tetsutaro , Bai Kyoung , Ozaki Jun-ichi , Imashiro Yasuo , Ye Siyu
Published: March 2018

The first commercially viable hydrogen/air performance for a nonprecious metal catalyst–based PEMFC is demonstrated.
Hawking's bid to save quantum theory from black holes
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: March 2018

He struggled to explain why black holes don't destroy information, a puzzle that may be his greatest legacy.
Structure of a prehandover mammalian ribosomal SRP·SRP receptor targeting complex
Authors: Kobayashi Kan , Jomaa Ahmad , Lee Jae Ho , Chandrasekar Sowmya , Boehringer Daniel , Shan Shu-ou , Ban Nenad
Published: March 2018

First steps of translocation elucidated

Ribosomes synthesizing membrane or secretory proteins are targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in eukaryotic cells by the signal recognition particle (SRP). Upon reaching the ER, the SRP interacts with its receptor to promote transfer of the signal sequence to the protein-conducting channel or translocon. Kobayashi
et al.
studied the ribosomal complex that forms on the ER, in which the SRP and its receptor interact to transfer the newly synthesized protein to the translocon. The observed organization of the assembly reveals the roles of multiple eukaryotic-specific protein components present in the SRP and its receptor in stabilizing the conformation that facilitates signal sequence handover.

Science
, this issue p.
323
Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Candida guilliermondii and Candida fermentati
Authors: Hirayama Tatsuro , Miyazaki Taiga , Yamagishi Yuka , Mikamo Hiroshige , Ueda Takashi , Nakajima Kazuhiko , Takesue Yoshio , Higashi Yoshitsugu , Yamamoto Yoshihiro , Kimura Muneyoshi , Araoka Hideki , Taniguchi Shuichi , Fukuda Yuichi , Matsuo Yumi , Furutani Akiko , Yamashita Kohei , Takazono Takahiro , Saijo Tomomi , Shimamura Shintaro , Yamamoto Kazuko , Imamura Yoshifumi , Izumikawa Koichi , Yanagihara Katsunori , Kohno Shigeru , Mukae Hiroshi
Published: March 2018

A total of 46 clinical isolates of
Candida guilliermondii
and
Candida famata
were reidentified genetically, resulting in 27
C. guilliermondii
and 12
Candida fermentati
strains. The majority of
C. guilliermondii
strains, but not
C. fermentati
strains, were isolated from blood cultures.
C. fermentati
was more sensitive to antifungals, hydrogen peroxide, and killing by murine macrophages than was
C. guilliermondii
. The
C. guilliermondii
isolates were echinocandin susceptible
in vitro
but resistant to micafungin in a murine model of invasive candidiasis.
The Autophagy Gene
BcATG8
Regulates the Vegetative Differentiation and Pathogenicity of Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Ren Weichao , Liu Na , Sang Chengwei , Shi Dongya , Zhou Mingguo , Chen Changjun , Qin Qingming , Chen Wenchan
Published: March 2018

Autophagy is a conserved degradation process that maintains intracellular homeostasis to ensure normal cell differentiation and development in eukaryotes.
ATG8
is one of the key molecular components of the autophagy pathway. In this study, we identified and characterized
BcATG8
, a homologue of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(yeast)
ATG8
in the necrotrophic plant pathogen
Botrytis cinerea
. Yeast complementation experiments demonstrated that
BcATG8
can functionally complement the defects of the yeast
ATG8
null mutant. Direct physical interaction between BcAtg8 and BcAtg4 was detected in the yeast two-hybrid system. Subcellular localization assays showed that green fluorescent protein-tagged BcAtg8 (GFP-BcAtg8) localized in the cytoplasm as preautophagosomal structures (PAS) under general conditions but mainly accumulated in the lumen of vacuoles in the case of autophagy induction. Deletion of
BcATG8
(Δ
BcAtg8
mutant) blocked autophagy and significantly impaired mycelial growth, conidiation, sclerotial formation, and virulence. In addition, the conidia of the Δ
BcAtg8
mutant contained fewer lipid droplets (LDs), and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays revealed that the basal expression levels of the LD metabolism-related genes in the mutant were significantly different from those in the wild-type (WT) strain. All of these phenotypic defects were restored by gene complementation. These results indicate that
BcATG8
is essential for autophagy to regulate fungal development, pathogenesis, and lipid metabolism in
B. cinerea
.

IMPORTANCE
The gray mold fungus
Botrytis cinerea
is an economically important plant pathogen with a broad host range. Although there are fungicides for its control, many classes of fungicides have failed due to its genetic plasticity. Exploring the fundamental biology of
B. cinerea
can provide the theoretical basis for sustainable and long-term disease management. Autophagy is an intracellular process for degradation and recycling of cytosolic materials in eukaryotes and is now known to be vital for fungal life. Here, we report studies of the biological role of the autophagy gene
BcATG8
in
B. cinerea
. The results suggest that autophagy plays a crucial role in vegetative differentiation and virulence of
B. cinerea
.
Homologous Recombination in Core Genomes Facilitates Marine Bacterial Adaptation
Authors: Sun Ying , Luo Haiwei
Published: March 2018

Acquisition of ecologically relevant genes is common among ocean bacteria, but whether it has a major impact on genome evolution in marine environments remains unknown. Here, we analyzed the core genomes of 16 phylogenetically diverse and ecologically relevant bacterioplankton lineages, each consisting of up to five genomes varying at the strain level. Statistical approaches identified from each lineage up to ∼50 loci showing anomalously high divergence at synonymous sites, which is best explained by recombination with distantly related organisms. The enriched gene categories in these outlier loci match well with the characteristics previously identified as the key phenotypes of these lineages. Examples are antibiotic synthesis and detoxification in
Phaeobacter inhibens
, exopolysaccharide production in
Alteromonas macleodii
, hydrocarbon degradation in
Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus
, and cold adaptation in
Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis
. Intriguingly, the outlier loci feature polysaccharide catabolism in
Cellulophaga baltica
but not in
Cellulophaga lytica
, consistent with their primary habitat preferences in macroalgae and beach sands, respectively. Likewise, analysis of
Prochlorococcus
showed that photosynthesis-related genes listed in the outlier loci are found only in the high-light-adapted ecotype and not in the low-light adapted ecotype. These observations strongly suggest that recombination with distant relatives is a key mechanism driving the ecological diversification among marine bacterial lineages.

IMPORTANCE
Acquisition of new metabolic genes has been known as an important mechanism driving bacterial evolution and adaptation in the ocean, but acquisition of novel alleles of existing genes and its potential ecological role have not been examined. Guided by population genetic theories, our genomic analysis showed that divergent allele acquisition is prevalent in phylogenetically diverse marine bacterial lineages and that the affected loci often encode metabolic functions that underlie the known ecological roles of the lineages under study.
Neurocognitive outcomes in children following immersion: a long-term study
Authors: Manglick Maria Patricia , Ross Frank I , Waugh Mary-Clare , Holland Andrew J A , Cass Daniel T , Soundappan Soundappan S V
Published: March 2018

Objective

To investigate long-term neurocognitive outcomes after a near-drowning incident in children who were deemed neurologically intact on discharge from hospital.

Design

A prospective cohort study of near-drowning children.

Setting

95 drowning and near-drowning admissions, 0–16 years of age, from January 2009 to December 2013, to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Participants

23 children both met the criteria and had parental consent for the study.

Main outcome measures

Identification of the long-term deficits in behaviour, executive function, motor skills, communicative skills and well-being over a 5-year period. Assessment was undertaken at 3–6 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years after near-drowning at clinic visits. Physical developmental screening and executive function screening were done using Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool version (BRIEF-P) and BRIEF.

Result

95 drowning and near-drowning episodes occurred during the study period. 10 (11%) children died, 28 were admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit and 64 directly to a ward. 3 children died in emergency department, 7 children had severe neurological deficit on discharge from the hospital. 23 were subsequently recruited into the study; 5 (22%) of these children had abnormalities in behaviour and/or executive function at some during their follow-up.

Conclusion

Children admitted to hospital following a near-drowning event warrant long-term follow-up to identify any subtle sequelae which might be amenable to intervention to ensure optimal patient outcome.
Corneal transplant follow-up study II (CTFS II): a prospective clinical trial to determine the influence of HLA class II matching on corneal transplant rejection: baseline donor and recipient characteristics
Authors: Armitage W John , Winton Helen L , Jones Mark N A , Crewe Julie M , Rogers Chris A , Tole Derek M , Dick Andrew D
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To describe a study to determine the influence of HLA class II matching on allograft rejection of high-risk, full-thickness corneal transplants.

Methods

A prospective, longitudinal, clinical trial (ISRCTN25094892) with a primary outcome measure of time to first clinically determined rejection episode. Tissue typing used DNA-based techniques. Corneas were allocated to patients with ≤2 human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen mismatches by cohort minimisation to achieve 0, 1 or 2 HLA class II (HLA-DR) antigen mismatches. Transplants were to be followed up at 6 months and then annually on the anniversary of surgery for 5 years. Power calculations estimated a sample size of 856 transplants to detect a 0.1 difference in probability of rejection at 1 year between HLA class II matched and mismatched transplants at the 5% level of significance with 80% power.

Results

To allow for loss to follow-up, 1133 transplants in 980 patients were accrued to the study between 3 September 1998 and 2 June 2011. 17% of transplants had 0 HLA-DR mismatches. The most frequent indication was bullous keratopathy, accounting for 27% of transplants and 54% of the transplants were regrafts. Median waiting time for a matched graft was 3 months. Donor and recipient characteristics were distributed evenly across the study groups.

Conclusion

Recruitment to the CFS II has closed with 1077/1133 transplants meeting all the study criteria. Follow-up has been completed and final analysis of the data has started.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN25094892 andUKCRNID9871, Pre-results.
Diagnostic accuracy of self-administered urine glucose test strips as a diabetes screening tool in a low-resource setting in Cambodia
Authors: Storey Helen, L , van Pelt Maurits H , Bun Socheath , Daily Frances , Neogi Tina , Thompson Matthew , McGuire Helen , Weigl Bernhard H
Published: March 2018

Objective

Screening for diabetes in low-resource countries is a growing challenge, necessitating tests that are resource and context appropriate. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a self-administered urine glucose test strip compared with alternative diabetes screening tools in a low-resource setting of Cambodia.

Design

Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting

Members of the Borey Santepheap Community in Cambodia (Phnom Penh Municipality, District Dangkao, Commune Chom Chao).

Participants

All households on randomly selected streets were invited to participate, and adults at least 18 years of age living in the study area were eligible for inclusion.

Outcomes

The accuracy of self-administered urine glucose test strip positivity, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)>6.5% and capillary fasting blood glucose (cFBG) measurement ≥126 mg/dL were assessed against a composite reference standard of cFBGmeasurement ≥200 mg/dL or venous blood glucose 2 hours after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL.

Results

Of the 1289 participants, 234 (18%) had diabetes based on either cFBG measurement (74, 32%) or the OGTT (160, 68%). The urine glucose test strip was 14% sensitive and 99% specific and failed to identify 201 individuals with diabetes while falsely identifying 7 without diabetes. Those missed by the urine glucose test strip had lower venous fasting blood glucose, lower venous blood glucose 2 hours after OGTT and lower HbA1c compared with those correctly diagnosed.

Conclusions

Low cost, easy to use diabetes tools are essential for low-resource communities with minimal infrastructure. While the urine glucose test strip may identify persons with diabetes that might otherwise go undiagnosed in these settings, its poor sensitivity cannot be ignored. The massive burden of diabetes in low-resource settings demands improvements in test technologies.
Marauding terrorist attack (MTA): prehospital considerations
Authors: Chauhan Ravi , Conti Bianca M , Keene Damian
Published: March 2018

Terrorist attacks are increasing each year as are the number of deaths associated with them. Recent incidents have seen a shift in tactics with the use of multiple terrorists across multiple locations with firearms or knives, referred to as the marauding terrorist attack. These methods are becoming more prevalent alongside the use of vehicles deliberately aimed at pedestrians. Management of these incidents can be challenging. Not only it involves a large number of casualties but also the management of a dynamic scene in terms of both location and threat from attack. In order to improve response, and potentially outcomes, a system or response needs to have preplanned and practised procedures in place. This article reviews major incident management for those unfamiliar with current prehospital practice and details some of the findings from recent marauding terrorist firearm attacks, in particular the evolution of newer scene management tools such as 3 Echo and THREAT. It highlights the importance of haemorrhage control and the public initiatives focusing on actions during a terrorist incident.
Montgomery, informed consent and causation of harm: lessons from Australia or a uniquely English approach to patient autonomy?
Authors: Smith Malcolm K , Carver Tracey
Published: March 2018

The UK Supreme Court in Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board adopts an approach to information disclosure in connection with clinical treatment that moves away from medical paternalism towards a more patient-centred approach. In doing so, it reinforces the protection afforded to informed consent and autonomous patient decision making under the law of negligence. However, some commentators have expressed a concern that the widening of the healthcare providers’ duty of disclosure may provide impetus, in future cases, for courts to adopt a more rigorous approach to the application of causation principles. The aim would be to limit liability but, in turn, it would also limit autonomy protection. Such a restrictive approach has recently been adopted in Australia as a result of the High Court decision in Wallace v Kam. This paper considers whether such an approach is likely under English negligence law and discusses case law from both jurisdictions in order to provide a point of comparison from which to scope the post-Montgomery future.
Institute of Medical Ethics Guidelines for confirmation of appointment, promotion and recognition of UK bioethics and medical ethics researchers
Authors: Frith Lucy , Hooper Carwyn , Camporesi Silvia , Douglas Thomas , Smajdor Anna , Nottingham Emma , Fritz Zoe , Ekberg Merryn , Huxtable Richard
Published: March 2018

This document is designed to give guidance on assessing researchers in bioethics/medical ethics. It is intended to assist members of selection, confirmation and promotion committees, who are required to assess those conducting bioethics research when they are not from a similar disciplinary background. It does not attempt to give guidance on the quality of bioethics research, as this is a matter for peer assessment. Rather it aims to give an indication of the type, scope and amount of research that is the expected in this field. It does not cover the assessment of other activities such as teaching, policy work, clinical ethics consultation and so on, but these will be mentioned for additional context. Although it mentions the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF), it is not intended to be a detailed analysis of the place of bioethics in the REF.
Remember the retina: retinal disorders presenting to neurologists
Authors: Khaleeli Zhaleh , Tucker William R , del Porto Lana , Virgo Jonathan D , Plant Gordon T
Published: March 2018

General neurologists and stroke specialists are regularly referred cases of visual disturbance by general practitioners, emergency doctors and even ophthalmologists. Particularly when the referral comes from ophthalmologists, our assessment tends to focus on the optic nerve; however, retinal conditions may mimic optic neuropathy and are easily missed. Their diagnosis requires specific investigations that are rarely available in a neurology clinic. This article focuses on how a general neurologist can identify retinal problems from the clinical assessment and how to proceed with initial investigations. The following cases were all referred to a consultant neurologist (GTP) from ophthalmology services as optic neuropathies or other neurological disorders. Part A of the summary describes the presentation and findings in the neurology clinic; part B describes the subsequent specialist assessment in the neuro-ophthalmology/eye clinic.
Using ramp-incremental V̇O2 responses for constant-intensity exercise selection
Authors: Keir Daniel A. , Paterson Donald H. , Kowalchuk John M. , Murias Juan M.
Published: March 2018

Despite compelling evidence to the contrary, the view that oxygen uptake (V̇O2) increases linearly with exercise intensity (e.g., power output, speed) until reaching its maximum persists within the exercise physiology literature. This viewpoint implies that the V̇O2 response at any constant intensity is predictable from a ramp-incremental exercise test. However, the V̇O2 versus task-specific exercise intensity relationship constructed from ramp-incremental versus constant-intensity exercise are not equivalent preventing the use of V̇O2 responses from 1 domain to predict those of the other. Still, this “linear” translational framework continues to be adopted as the guiding principle for aerobic exercise prescription and there remains in the sport science literature a lack of understanding of how to interpret V̇O2 responses to ramp-incremental exercise and how to use those data to assign task-specific constant-intensity exercise. The objectives of this paper are to (i) review the factors that disassociate the V̇O2 versus exercise intensity relationship between ramp-incremental and constant-intensity exercise paradigms; (ii) identify when it is appropriate (or not) to use ramp V̇O2 responses to accurately assign constant-intensity exercise; and (iii) illustrate the technical and theoretical challenges with prescribing constant-intensity exercise solely on information acquired from ramp-incremental tests. Actual V̇O2 data collected during cycling exercise and V̇O2 kinetics modelling are presented to exemplify these concepts. Possible solutions to overcome these challenges are also presented to inform on appropriate intensity selection for individual-specific aerobic exercise prescription in both research and practical settings.
N-fold Darboux transformation and exact solutions of the Suris system
Authors: Li Qian , Liu Minghui , Wang Deng-Shan , Wen Xiao-Yong
Published: March 2018

In this paper, the N-fold Darboux transformation of the Suris system is established by gauge transformation of the Lax pair. As a result, the N-fold exact solutions of the Suris system are derived in terms of the determinant. It is shown that this system can support certain abundant and peculiar nonlinear structures, which may explain some interesting physical phenomena. Moreover, the infinitely many conservation laws of the Suris system are given.
Computational identification of antibody epitopes of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) L1 proteins
Authors: Tan Xin , Liu Na , Legge Fiona S. , Yang Minghui , Zeng Jun
Published: March 2018

Previously, we developed a method to predict epitopes on a protein recognized by specific antibodies. In this study, we have applied this method to identify the epitopes of the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) L1 capsomer that is bound by monoclonal antibodies U4, AE3 and AG7. Initially, the method was validated by the identification of epitopes of HPV16 L1 capsomer that bind to antibody U4. Our predicted epitopes were in agreement with the cryto-electron microscopy (cryto-EM) structure of the complex. The method was then used to predict the epitopes of HPV16 L1 binding of antibodies AE3 and AG7. Our calculations indicated that antibody AE3 binds to the HPV16 L1 capsomer at two different regions. Firstly, the region recognized by antibody U4 and secondly, the region recognized by antibody V5, which have been shown in the cryto-EM structure of the V5 and HPV16 L1 complex. In comparison, the antibody AG7 binds to the capsomer only at the epitopes bound by antibody U4. Therefore, antibody AE3 is predicted to have higher affinity than antibody AG7 and could be used for developing highly efficient anti-HPV monoclonal antibodies in the clinical treatment of HPV infections.
Structural Optimization and Reliability Analysis of Automotive Composite Bumper Against Low-Velocity Longitudinal and Corner Pendulum Impacts
Authors: Duan S. Y. , Han X. , Liu G. R.
Published: March 2018

To improve the safety performance and maintain light weight of composite automotive bumper beams subjected to low-velocity impacts, a structural optimization and a novel reliability analysis procedure for multi-objectives are established in this paper. Both longitudinal and corner pendulum impacts are considered, and the optimized bumper beam has significant improvements. Compared with the original composite bumper beam, the section force of the crash box in the corner pendulum impact and the mass of the optimal bumper beam are decreased by 9.6% and 20.3%, respectively. The novel reliability analysis results show that the knee point may be less reliable whereas the design with inferior knee point is of higher reliability. Therefore, a design on an inferior knee point may be more attractive in engineering design practices. Our numerical results have demonstrated that the optimization procedure established in this paper to improve the performance of composite bumper beams and our proposed reliability analysis method considering multi-objectives are effective and useful in the engineering design of bumper beams. These techniques are also useful for the design of other types of structural components where weight and safety are of importance.
Effect of joint angle in coal on failure mechanical behaviour of roof rock–coal combined body
Authors: Yin Dawei , Chen Shaojie , Liu Xingquan , Ma Hongfa
Published: March 2018

Geological dynamic hazards during coal mining can be caused by the structural instability of a composite system of roof rock and coal layers, and joints in coal play a vital role in this structural instability. In this paper, uniaxial compression simulation tests on roof rock–coal combined bodies with a single joint at different angles in coal were conducted using PFC2D software. In particular, the effects of joint angle on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), acoustic emission (AE) and failure characteristics in a combined body were analysed. The results show the following. (1) The joint in coal causes a decrease in the UCS and crack initiation stress, and has promoting effects on the AE occurrence of the combined body. With an increase in the included angle
α
between the loading direction and joint plane direction, the UCS, AE occurrence time and crack initiation stress first decrease and then increase, presenting ‘V-shaped’ curves. The UCS and crack initiation stress at
α
of 45° are the lowest, and the AE occurrence time at
α
of 30° is the earliest. (2) The AE characteristics at
α
of 0°, 75° and 90° are basically consistent with those of the intact combined body, whereas at
α
between 15° and 60°, the intensity and frequency of AE events in the macro-failure stage are reduced by the joint in coal. (3) The failure of the combined body mainly occurs within the coal, whereas no apparent failure is observed for the roof rock. Only when
α
is between 15° and 45°, the roof rock near the bedding plane is destroyed by crack propagation in the coal. (4) Three typical failure modes (i.e. V-shaped shear failure cutting across the coal, shear failure partly along the joint plane direction and shear failure along the joint plane direction) are found for combined bodies with a single joint in coal.
Atmosphere–vegetation–soil interactions in a climate change context; impact of changing conditions on engineered transport infrastructure slopes in Europe
Authors: Tang A. M. , Hughes P. N. , Dijkstra T. A. , Askarinejad A. , Brenčič M. , Cui Y. J. , Diez J. J. , Firgi T. , Gajewska B. , Gentile F. , Grossi G. , Jommi C. , Kehagia F. , Koda E. , ter Maat H. W. , Lenart S. , Lourenco S. , Oliveira M. , Osinski P. , Springman S. M. , Stirling R. , Toll D. G. , Van Beek V.
Published: March 2018

In assessing the impact of climate change on infrastructure, it is essential to consider the interactions between the atmosphere, vegetation and the near-surface soil. This paper presents an overview of these processes, focusing on recent advances from the literature and those made by members of COST Action TU1202 – Impacts of climate change on engineered slopes for infrastructure. Climate- and vegetation-driven processes (suction generation, erosion, desiccation cracking, freeze–thaw effects) are expected to change in incidence and severity, which will affect the stability of new and existing infrastructure slopes. This paper identifies the climate- and vegetation-driven processes that are of greatest concern, the suite of known unknowns that require further research, and lists key aspect that should be considered for the design of engineered transport infrastructure slopes in the context of climate change.
Stability assessment of the Anderson Road Quarry face Hong Kong
Authors: Woods Norman , Fowler Paul , Siu Sammy
Published: March 2018

Anderson Road Quarry (ARQ) originally comprised two small quarries operated by independent companies. However, in 1997, the Hong Kong Government signed a contract with a joint venture between the two companies, KWP Quarry Co. Ltd, to form a platform for future land use and to create a stable and unobtrusive quarry face. On completion, the face was 1.5 km long and 210 m high. Such a massive slope needed to be divided into manageable portions both for registration and the assessment of stability necessary to demonstrate that it meets current safety standards. The assessments of the ARQ face demonstrate the value of an initial walkover prior to detailed mapping for selection of those discontinuities that are directly relevant to stability for subsequent measurement. An on-site review of the results of the kinematic analysis is also essential to confirm that they reflect reality. The identification of loose surface rock and overhangs, the likely results of blasting and inadequate initial scaling, and the identification of seepage, possibly forewarning of potential high cleft water pressures, are all essential observations. The ability of benches, particularly those established with vegetation, to contain falling blocks from above is also a major consideration.
Role of Avalonia in the development of tectonic paradigms
Authors: Murphy J. Brendan , Nance R. Damian , Keppie J. Duncan , Dostal Jaroslav
Published: March 2018

The geological evolution of Avalonia was fundamental to the first application of plate tectonic principles to the pre-Mesozoic world. Four tectonic phases have now been identified. The oldest phase (760–660 Ma) produced a series of oceanic arcs, some possibly underlain by thin slivers of Baltica crust, which accreted to the northern margin of Gondwana between 670 and 650 Ma. Their accretion to Gondwana may be geodynamically related to the break-up of Rodinia. After accretion, subduction zones stepped outboard, producing the main phase (640–570 Ma) of arc-related magmatism and basin formation that was coeval with the amalgamation of Gondwana. Arc magmatism terminated diachronously between 600 and 540 Ma by the propagation of a San Andreas style transform fault, followed by the Early Paleozoic platformal succession used by Wilson to define the eastern flank of the proto-Atlantic (Iapetus) Ocean. This implies the ocean outboard from the northern Gondwanan margin survived into the Cambrian. Avalonia is one of several terranes distributed obliquely with respect to the adjacent cratonic provinces of Gondwana and Baltica, implying that these terranes evolved on different cratonic basements. As a result, their ages and differing isotopic signatures can be used to reconstruct their respective locations along the ancient continental margin.
An overlooked play? Structure, stratigraphy and hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Carboniferous in the East Irish Sea–North Channel basin complex
Authors: Pharaoh T. C. , Gent C. M. A. , Hannis S. D. , Kirk K. L. , Monaghan A. A. , Quinn M. F. , Smith N. J. P. , Vane C. H. , Wakefield O. , Waters C. N.
Published: March 2018

Seismic mapping of key Paleozoic surfaces in the East Irish Sea–North Channel region has been incorporated into a review of hydrocarbon prospectivity. The major Carboniferous basinal and inversion elements are identified, allowing an assessment of the principal kitchens for hydrocarbon generation and possible migration paths. A Carboniferous tilt-block is identified beneath the central part of the (Permian–Mesozoic) East Irish Sea Basin (EISB), bounded by carbonate platforms to the south and north. The importance of the Bowland Shale Formation as the key source rock is reaffirmed, the Pennine Coal Measures having been extensively excised following Variscan inversion and pre-Permian erosion. Peak generation from the Bowland source coincided with maximum burial of the system in late Jurassic–early Cretaceous time. Multiphase Variscan inversion generated numerous structural traps whose potential remains underexplored. Leakage of hydrocarbons from these into the overlying Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone reservoirs is likely to have occurred on a number of occasions, but currently unknown is how much resource remains in place below the Base Permian Unconformity. Poor permeability in the Pennsylvanian strata beneath the Triassic fields is a significant risk; the same may not be true in the less deeply buried marginal areas of the EISB, where additional potential plays are present in Mississippian carbonate platforms and latest Pennsylvanian clastic sedimentary rocks. Outside the EISB, the North Channel, Solway and Peel basins also contain Devonian and/or Carboniferous rocks. There have, however, been no discoveries, largely a consequence of the absence of a high-quality source rock and a regional seal comparable to the Mercia Mudstone Group and Permian evaporites of the Cumbrian Coast Group in the EISB.
Processes influencing differences in Arctic and Antarctic trough mouth fan sedimentology
Authors: Gales Jenny , Hillenbrand Claus-Dieter , Larter Rob , Laberg Jan Sverre , Melles Martin , Benetti Sara , Passchier Sandra
Published: March 2018

Trough mouth fans (TMFs) are sediment depocentres that form along high-latitude continental margins at the mouths of some cross-shelf troughs. They reflect the dynamics of past ice sheets over multiple glacial cycles and processes operating on (formerly) glaciated continental shelves and slopes, such as erosion, reworking, transport and deposition. The similarities and differences in TMF morphology and formation processes in the Arctic and Antarctic regions remain poorly constrained. We analyse the dimensions and geometries of 15 TMFs from Arctic and Antarctic margins and the grain size distribution of 82 sediment cores centred on them. We compare the grain size composition of sub- and proglacial diamictons deposited on the shelves and glacigenic debris flows deposited on the adjacent TMFs and find a significant difference between Arctic and Antarctic margins. Antarctic margins show a coarser grain size composition for both glacigenic debris flows and shelf diamictons. This significant difference provides insight into high-latitude sediment input, transportation and glacial–interglacial regimes. We suggest that surface runoff and river discharge are responsible for enhanced fine-grained sediment input in the Arctic compared with the Antarctic.