bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell-free DNA fragment-size distribution analysis for non-invasive prenatal CNV prediction
Authors: Arbabi Aryan , Rampášek Ladislav , Brudno Michael
Published: April 2016

Background: Non-invasive detection of aneuploidies in a fetal genome through analysis of cell-free DNA circulating in the maternal plasma is becoming a routine clinical test. Such tests, which rely on analyzing the read coverage or the allelic ratios at single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci, are not sensitive enough for smaller sub-chromosomal abnormalities due to sequencing biases and paucity of SNPs in a genome.

Results: We have developed an alternative framework for identifying sub-chromosomal copy number variations in a fetal genome. This framework relies on the size distribution of fragments in a sample, as fetal-origin fragments tend to be smaller than those of maternal origin. By analyzing the local distribution of the cell-free DNA fragment sizes in each region, our method allows for the identification of sub-megabase CNVs, even in the absence of SNP positions. To evaluate the accuracy of our method, we used a plasma sample with the fetal fraction of 13%, down-sampled it to samples with coverage of 10X–40X and simulated samples with CNVs based on it. Our method had a perfect accuracy (both specificity and sensitivity) for detecting 5 Mb CNVs, and after reducing the fetal fraction (to 11%, 9% and 7%), it could correctly identify 98.82–100% of the 5 Mb CNVs and had a true-negative rate of 95.29–99.76%.

Availability and implementation: Our source code is available on GitHub at https://github.com/compbio-UofT/FSDA.

Contact: brudno@cs.toronto.edu
Mass segregation in star clusters is not energy equipartition
Authors: Parker Richard J. , Goodwin Simon P. , Wright Nicholas J. , Meyer Michael R. , Quanz Sascha P.
Published: April 2016

Mass segregation in star clusters is often thought to indicate the onset of energy equipartition, where the most massive stars impart kinetic energy to the lower-mass stars and brown dwarfs/free-floating planets. The predicted net result of this is that the centrally concentrated massive stars should have significantly lower velocities than fast-moving low-mass objects on the periphery of the cluster. We search for energy equipartition in initially spatially and kinematically substructured N-body simulations of star clusters with N = 1500 stars, evolved for 100 Myr. In clusters that show significant mass segregation we find no differences in the proper motions or radial velocities as a function of mass. The kinetic energies of all stars decrease as the clusters relax, but the kinetic energies of the most massive stars do not decrease faster than those of lower-mass stars. These results suggest that dynamical mass segregation – which is observed in many star clusters – is not a signature of energy equipartition from two-body relaxation.
Acceptability of Rapid Point-of-Care Hepatitis C Tests Among People Who Inject Drugs and Utilize Syringe-Exchange Programs
Authors: Barocas Joshua A. , Linas Benjamin P. , Kim Arthur Y. , Fangman John , Westergaard Ryan P.
Published: April 2016

People who inject drugs may benefit from point-of-care hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing offered at syringe exchanges. We sought to understand whether this population would be willing to undergo rapid HCV testing. We found that there was broad support for rapid HCV testing, especially among younger people who inject drugs with high perceived risk.
Earth rotation derived from occultation records
Authors: Sôma Mitsuru , Tanikawa Kiyotaka
Published: April 2016

We determined the values of the Earth's rotation parameter, ΔT = T T − UT, around AD 500 after confirming that the value of the tidal acceleration, $\dot{n}$, of the lunar motion remained unchanged during the period between ancient times and the present. For determining of ΔT, we used contemporaneous occultations of planets by the Moon. In general, occultation records are not useful. However, there are some records that give us a stringent condition for the range of ΔT. Records of the lunar occultations in AD 503 and AD 513 are such examples. In order to assure the usefulness of this occultation data, we used contemporaneous annular and total solar eclipses, which have not been used in the preceding work. This is the first work in which the lunar occultation data have been used as primary data to determine the value of ΔT together with auxiliary contemporaneous annular and total solar eclipses. Our ΔT value is less than a smoothed value (Stephenson 1997) by at least 450 s. The result is consistent with our earlier results obtained from solar eclipses.
Cultural, Chemical, and Alternative Control Strategies for Rhizopus Soft Rot of Sweetpotato
Authors: Scruggs A. C. , Quesada-Ocampo L. M.
Published: April 2016

Rhizopus soft rot, caused primarily by Rhizopus stolonifer, is one of the most common postharvest diseases of sweetpotato and is often considered the most devastating. Traditionally, Rhizopus soft rot has been effectively controlled using postharvest dips in dicloran fungicides; however, due to changes in market preferences, use of these fungicides is now limited. This, along with the lack of labeled and effective fungicides for control of Rhizopus soft rot in sweetpotato, creates the need for integrated strategies to control the disease. The effects of storage temperature (13, 23, and 29°C), relative humidity (80, 90, and 100%), and initial inoculum levels (3-, 5-, and 7-mm-diameter mycelial plugs) on progression of Rhizopus soft rot in ‘Covington’ sweetpotato were examined. Percent decay due to Rhizopus soft rot infection was significantly reduced (P < 0.0001) at a low temperature (13°C) but was not significantly affected by changes in relative humidity or initial inoculum level (P >0.05). Sporulation of R. stolonifer was also significantly reduced at the lowest temperature of 13°C. High relative humidity (>95%) significantly increased sporulation of R. stolonifer and sporulation also increased as initial inoculum level increased. Efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) fumigation, UV-C irradiation, and postharvest dips in alternative control products were also investigated for control of Rhizopus soft rot. Static ClO2treatments were effective in reducing sporulation on treated roots but had no significant impact on incidence of Rhizopus soft rot. UV irradiation at 3.24 KJ/m21 h after inoculation as well as dips in aqueous ClO2and StorOx 2.0 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced disease incidence. Understanding the epidemiological factors favoring Rhizopus soft rot and identifying alternative control strategies allow for improved recommendations to limit postharvest losses in sweetpotato.
Prevalence, Development, and Significance of Ascochyta Blight Caused by Peyronellaea pinodes in Pisum elatius Populations Growing in Natural Ecosystems
Authors: Golani M. , Frenkel O. , Bornstein M. , Shulhani R. , Abbo S. , Shtienberg D.
Published: April 2016

Wild Pisum populations prevail in Israel in regions with diverse climatic conditions. A comprehensive survey was conducted in the winters of 2007–08 and 2008–09 at two sites in northern Israel, aiming to (i) document the density of Pisum elatius plants in natural ecosystems and elucidate factors related to their initial infection by Ascochyta blight and (ii) determine the factors governing disease development over time on individual plants. The surveyors identified P. elatius plants growing in designated quadrats, inspected each plant visually, and recorded the incidence and severity of its Ascochyta blight symptoms. Ascochyta blight, caused by Peyronellaea pinodes, was ubiquitous in Pisum elatius populations at both survey sites in both seasons. However, the total leaf area exhibiting disease symptoms of individual plants was very low, and stem and pod infections were rarely observed. Based on analyses of the survey data, it was suggested that, in natural ecosystems, the teleomorph stage of Peyronellaea pinodes serves as the main source of the primary and the secondary inoculum of the disease. In addition, it was found that infected leaves dropped off soon after infection, thereby precluding development of stem lesions. The plants continued growing and did not die; thus, they overcame the disease and could be considered “cured”. This phenomenon was examined and confirmed in artificially inoculated, potted-plant experiments. It would be worthwhile to exploit the potential of this unique resistance mechanism as a tool for Ascochyta blight management in pea breeding.
The Age of Effectors: Genome-Based Discovery and Applications
Authors: Gibriel Hesham A. Y. , Thomma Bart P. H. J. , Seidl Michael F.
Published: April 2016

Microbial pathogens cause devastating diseases on economically and ecologically important plant species, threatening global food security, and causing billions of dollars of losses annually. During the infection process, pathogens secrete so-called effectors that support host colonization, often by deregulating host immune responses. Over the last decades, much of the research on molecular plant-microbe interactions has focused on the identification and functional characterization of such effectors. The increasing availability of sequenced plant pathogen genomes has enabled genomics-based discovery of effector candidates. Nevertheless, identification of full plant pathogen effector repertoires is often hampered by erroneous gene annotation and the localization effector genes in genomic regions that are notoriously difficult to assemble. Here, we argue that recent advances in genome sequencing technologies, genome assembly, gene annotation, as well as effector identification methods hold promise to disclose complete and correct effector repertoires. This allows to exploit complete effector repertoires, and knowledge of their diversity within pathogen populations, to develop durable and sustainable resistance breeding strategies, disease control, and management of plant pathogens.
The Temperature Response and Aggressiveness of Peyronellaea pinodes Isolates Originating from Wild and Domesticated Pisum sp. in Israel
Authors: Golani M. , Abbo S. , Sherman A. , Frenkel O. , Shtienberg D.
Published: April 2016

Domesticated pea fields are grown in relatively close proximity to wild pea species in Israel. Despite the major role attributed to ascochyta blight in causing yield losses in domesticated pea, very limited information is available on the pathogens prevailing in natural ecosystems. The objectives of this study were (i) to identify the species causing ascochyta blight symptoms on leaves, stems, and petioles of domesticated pea and wild Pisum plants in Israel, and (ii) to quantify the temperature response(s) and aggressiveness of such pathogens originating from Pisum plants growing in sympatric and allopatric contexts. Eighteen fungal isolates were examined and identified; three of them were sampled from Pisum sativum, 11 from Pisum fulvum, and four from Pisum elatius. All isolates were identified as Peyronellaea pinodes. Spore germination and mycelial growth took place over a wide range of temperatures, the lower and upper cardinal temperatures being 2 to 9 and 33 to 38°C, respectively; the optimal temperatures ranged from 22 to 26°C. At an optimal temperature, disease severity was significantly higher for plants maintained under moist conditions for 24 h postinoculation than for those exposed to humidity for 5 or 10 h. Analyses of the data revealed that temperature responses, spore germination rates, and aggressiveness of isolates sampled from domesticated pea plants did not differ from those of isolates sampled from adjacent or distant wild populations. Host specificity was not observed. These observations suggest that Israel may be inhabited by a single metapopulation of P. pinodes.
Selecting Reads for Haplotype Assembly
Authors: Fischer Sarah O. , Marschall Tobias
Published: April 2016

Haplotype assembly or read-based phasingis the problem of reconstructing both haplotypes of a diploid genome from next-generation sequencing data. This problem is formalized as the Minimum Error Correction (MEC) problem and can be solved using algorithms such as WhatsHap. The runtime of WhatsHap is exponential in the maximum coverage, which is hence controlled in a pre-processing step that selects reads to be used for phasing. Here, we report on a heuristic algorithm designed to choose beneficial reads for phasing, in particular to increase the connectivity of the phased blocks and the number of correctly phased variants compared to the random selection previously employed in by WhatsHap. The algorithm we describe has been integrated into the WhatsHap software, which is available under MIT licence fromhttps://bitbucket.org/whatshap/whatshap.
Human CODIS STR Loci Profiling from HTS Data
Authors: Ricke Darrell O. , Petrovick Martha , Bobrow Johanna , Boettcher Tara , Zook Christina , Harper James , Wack Edward , Schwoebel Eric
Published: April 2016

Human DNA identification is currently performed by amplifying a small, defined set of short tandem repeat (STR) loci (e.g. CODIS) and analyzing the size of the alleles present at those loci by capillary electrophoresis. High-throughput DNA sequencing (HTS) could enable the simultaneous analysis of many additional STR and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci, improving accuracy and discrimination. However, it is necessary to demonstrate that HTS can generate accurate data on the CODIS loci to enable backwards compatibility with the FBI NDIS database. Sequencing can also detect novel polymorphisms within alleles that migrate with identical sizes by capillary electrophoresis, improving allele discrimination, and enhancing human identification analysis. All CODIS alleles from an individual can be amplified in a single, multiplex PCR reaction, and combined with additional barcoded samples prior to sequencing. A computational tool for allele identification from multiplexed sequence data has been developed. With longer-read-length platforms, 99.6% allele calling accuracy can be achieved. In the course of STR sequencing protocol development, 12 novel allele sequences have been identified for multiple loci. Sequencing STR loci combined with SNPs will enable new forensic applications.
Stakeholder informed non-traditional student induction: a balanced approach
Authors: Soontiens Werner , Kerr Rosemary , Ang Grace , Scully Glennda
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The paper considers the evolution of a tailored university induction program over time to establish the change in the nature and content of the program.

Design/methodology/approach

The induction program is pitched against the conceptual backdrop of academic norms and conventions, language, integration and the role of mentoring. As an exploratory study of a unique and complex induction program it reports on the basis of discourse analysis over time (from 2009 to 2012).

Findings

The paper establishes that consideration of feedback by students, university staff (academic and professional) and external stakeholders has allowed the program to morph to a balanced content of academic; social; and socio-academic integration activities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper confirms the framework proposed by Zepke and Leach (2005) and renders a further level of validity to the model when applied in a cross-cultural higher education context.

Practical implications

Practical implications include the value of involving stakeholders as source of knowledge for considering continuous improvements and the notion that a remedial approach to integration of international students proves to be ineffective.

Originality/value

Articulation pathways for Chinese university students into Australian universities create a unique set of expectations and challenges to both the students and the Australian universities. A tailor made induction program is a crucial step in addressing these and requires continuous improvement to retain relevance and optimise impact and resources.
Orthopaedic spinal triage
Authors: Kerridge-Weeks Martin , Langridge Neil John
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Clinical specialist physiotherapy (CSP)-led musculoskeletal triage clinics have been established in the UK as a means of managing patients referred for outpatient orthopaedic consultation. The purpose of this paper is to determine if a CSP could allocate patients into distinct diagnostic triage categories in line with national and international guidelines. A second aim was to describe the CSPs clinical decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of 100 spinal patients, consecutively referred between February and April 2013 to a CSP spinal triage clinic was undertaken. Patient demographics (age, gender, employment status), clinical diagnosis and diagnostic triage categories selected for each patient were recorded. Subsequently, if clinical triage led to further investigation or a consultant opinion then the onward management pathway was followed to calculate conversion to consultant surgical intervention.

Findings

– In total, 69 per cent of patients were independently managed by the CSP and discharged back to the General Practitioner or on to therapy. In total, 30 per cent of patients (n=30) were referred for consultant opinion, of these 12 underwent intervention. This represents a conversion rate to consultant intervention of 40 per cent.

Originality/value

– Findings suggest that a significant number of spinal patients referred for an orthopaedic consultation may be managed independently by a CSP. Referral for consultant review was deemed appropriate in terms of conversion to intervention, advice on further imaging, referral to other medical disciplines and patient counselling. This study suggests that CSPs can manage a significant number of patients with spinal conditions whilst providing high-quality referrals to surgical colleagues. This audit provides a novel insight into practitioner behaviour that supports the development of advanced practice for non-medical clinicians.
Buyer beware: health choices information broadcast to the public
Authors: Birnbaum David
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– This paper is based on the author’s 2015 Northwest Patient Safety Conference presentation, consistent with a conference theme of improving doctor-patient communication. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ongoing systematic accumulation and critical review of research literature regarding design of effective public information websites, conducted from 2008-2015 while the author was supervising the prototyping, refinement and evaluation of healthcare-associated infections public information websites.

Findings

– In 2005, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched its Hospital Compare website, announced as an enormous step forward by providing objective information to inform consumer choices. Subsequently, many other websites and programs emerged to report quality-of-care ratings of hospitals and doctors, and provide other advice intended to help the public inform their choices. When objectively evaluated to a scientific publication-level standard, websites like Hospital Compare show relatively low usage and disappointing impact; individual providers rank so differently across ratings websites that it is difficult to see how trustworthy conclusions could be drawn; and much of the advice offered through popular media is not supported by believable evidence. Further, research shows healthcare professionals and members of the lay public view concepts of evidence and evidence-based decisions quite differently. Badly informed misguided decisions can have negative consequences for providers, patients and public trust.

Originality/value

– Populism and celebrity seem to have trumped science during recent growth of public information resources for health choices. This paper summarizes serious flaws underlying resulting information products, indicating necessary changes to better serve a legitimate need.
The role of patient narratives in healthcare innovation: supporting translation and meaning making
Authors: Pedersen Anne Reff
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the process and impact of patient involvement in locally defined improvement projects in two hospital clinics. The paper particularly aims to examine how patient narratives, in the form of diaries and radio montage, help to create new insights into patient experience for healthcare professionals, and support professionals’ enrolment and mobilisation in innovation projects.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two case studies were undertaken. These drew upon qualitative interviews with staff and participant observation during innovation workshops. Patient diaries and a recorded montage of patient voices were also collected.

Findings

– The findings illuminate translation processes in healthcare innovation and the emergence of meaning making process for staff through the active use of patient narratives. The paper highlights the critical role of meaning making as an enabler of patient-centred change processes in healthcare via: local clinic mangers defining problems and ideas; collecting and sharing patient narratives in innovation workshops; and healthcare professionals’ interpretation of patient narratives supporting new insights into patient experience.

Practical implications

– This study demonstrates how healthcare professionals’ meaning making can be supported by articulating, constructing, listening and interpreting patient narratives. The two cases demonstrate how patient narratives serve as reflective devices for healthcare professionals.

Originality/value

– This study presents a novel demonstration of the importance of patient narratives for translating healthcare innovation in a clinical practice setting.
Enzymatic Treatment and Its Influence on Finishing and Dyeing Properties of Jute Fabrics
Authors: El-Zawahry M.M. , Helmy H. M. , Abou-Okeil A.
Published: April 2016

Enzymatic treatment of jute fabrics with neutral cellulase enzymes is investigated systematically. The factors affecting enzymatic treatment including, time, liquor ratio, temperature and enzyme concentration are also examined. The hydrolyzed pretreated surfaces of jute fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), weight loss (WL) and wettability (Wet) tests. WL% and Wet were found to increase as the time, temperature and cellulase concentration increased. SEM images showed that the surface of the treated fabrics was smoother and more polished than that of the untreated fabrics after being subject to optimal treatment conditions.

In contrast, rough surface, fibrillation, surface pilling and multicellular were observed in the images of the untreated fabrics. The dyeing behavior of both untreated and enzymatically treated jute fabrics with reactive dyes was also evaluated under different dyebath conditions. The measured exhaustion and fixation percent showed a significant enhancement of the dyeability of biopolished pretreated fabrics compared to untreated fabrics. The results of fastness properties also indicate good washing, perspiration and rubbing fastness.
Symbolism and Evolution of Ku-form in Chinese Costume
Authors: Xu Rui , Sparks Diane
Published: April 2016

Shang, (from which Qun evolved), came into being before Ku, and was used to cover the lower body. Combined with the upper garment Yi, Ku and Shang constituted a complete outfit in the traditional Chinese clothing system. This article briefly describes the development and evolution of Chinese Ku. It postulates that the opening and closing rise of Ku, was a metaphor for the spirit and the cultivation of Chinese literati. Qun, as a kind of lower cover, was actually unable to cover the body completely. Ku, the Chinese trousers for protection of legs, covered the lower limbs, but was not adopted by the Chinese literati in ancient times. Therefore, half-openness of the skirt and half-closeness of the rise of Ku, metaphorically representing half fantasy and half reality, were combined to complete the covering. This system for covering the body with a clothing combination that was partly open (thus exposing parts of the body) reveals an interesting aspect of Chinese traditional culture. Contemporary designers may find unique inspiration through the study of Chinese traditional clothing systems, for current fashion designs that have rich historical significance.
Integration of Textile and Fashion Design with Overstitching
Authors: Chen Jocelyn H-C
Published: April 2016

Commercial fashion designers are usually focused on developing designs using color, fabric and style lines, whereas artistic fashion designers whose primary goal is innovation are keen on developing designs by means of a peculiar manner of presentation or a new conception of fabric. The aims of this research are to analyze the potential for developing novel methods of generating material and create new fabrics that are useful for both fashion and decorative art, as well as explore the potential uses with the newly generated fabrics. Acknowledging that fabric is a crucial element for fashion, this researcher set about investigating the potential use of sewing thread for creating fabric. This study documents a personal experimentation with a new dimension whereby fabric can be generated from overstitched threads using a variety of techniques; non-woven, patterned non-woven, interweaving, knitting, and embroidering. This study demonstrates not only the possibility of approaching artistic fashion by manipulating overstitching, but also the feasibility of conducting a fashion design process in which product aesthetics is generated from yarn texture, fabric structure, and garment construction. Thus, this study contributes to developing an approach in which overstitching and fashion are merged to integrate a new dimension of creation.
Self-concept and Decision-making Styles: A Comparison between Young Korean and American Consumers
Authors: Hahn, Ph.D. Kim Hongyoun , Ma, Ph.D. Yoon Jin
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in self-concepts and their influence on decision-making styles in apparel shopping across two cultures; namely, Korea and the United States. Data is obtained from university students in both countries (3 universities in Korea and 2 universities in the United States), generating a sample size of 1,166. The questionnaire consists of three parts: decision-making styles for apparel shopping, selfconcepts, and demographic information. The results indicate that Korean respondents have higher interdependent self-concepts than the American respondents. Moreover, the selfconcepts of young consumers have significant effects on their decision-making styles. This study also finds that the self-concepts of young consumers from both countries has a significantly different impact on decision-making styles for apparel shopping. The similarities and/or differences of the relationships between self-concepts and decisionmaking styles of young Korean and American consumers are also found when such relationships are examined within each country. This study makes a unique contribution to enhancing the understanding of contemporary global consumer behavior by exploring relationships in culture, self-concepts, and decision-making styles of young consumers.
Finite-Time Regulation of Two-Spool Turbofan Engines With One Shaft Speed Control
Authors: Wang Jiqiang , Dimirovski Georgi , Yue Hong
Published: April 2016

Nonlinear control of aircraft engines has attracted much attention in consideration of the inherent nonlinearity of the engine dynamics. Most of the nonlinear design techniques, however, require the information from the rotational speeds of both high-pressure compressor and fan. This is not desirable from engine health management perspective, and this paper proposes a single sensor measurement and single actuator control approach. The proposed method can provide fast regulation of engine speed in a finite-time in comparison with conventional infinite time stability. Important results are obtained on both controller design and disturbance tolerance. Numerical examples are provided for validation of the proposed finite-time controller, demonstrating fast regulation property and remarkable disturbance tolerance capability.
Robust Optimal Consensus State Estimator for a Piezoactive Distributed Parameter System
Authors: Omidi Ehsan , Nima Mahmoodi S.
Published: April 2016

This paper proposes a consensus state estimator for sensor networks of distributed parameter structures. A thin beam with clamped–clamped boundary conditions enhanced by piezoelectric sensors is considered, and individual observers are assigned for each of these sensors. The so-called estimation agents are then connected to one another in a network with certain directed topology, and consensus is enforced between the agents estimated output in observers dynamics. Observer gains are optimized using algebraic Riccati equations (AREs), and robustness to measurement disturbances is applied via H∞ design. The consensus state estimator is then numerically investigated for a sensor network of five agents. According to the results of the optimal and robust designs, the proposed consensus observer successfully estimates the modal system states in finite time, whereas the estimation output is resilient to measurement disturbances. Implementation of the consensus sensor network increases the robustness of the estimation, due to its inherent redundancy.
Physical Explanation of the Hysteresis in Wells Turbines: A Critical Reconsideration
Authors: Ghisu Tiziano , Puddu Pierpaolo , Cambuli Francesco
Published: April 2016

The hysteretic behavior of Wells turbines is a well-recognized phenomenon. As it appears at nondimensional frequencies orders of magnitude lower than the ones studied in rapidly pitching airfoils and wings, the cause is likely to be different. Some authors found its origin in the interaction between secondary flow structures and trailing edge vortices. In this work, a detailed numerical analysis of the performance of a Wells turbine submitted to a sinusoidal bidirectional flow is presented. Computational results are compared with experimental data available from literature and suggest a new explanation of the phenomenon.
Different Flame Patterns Linked With Swirling Injector Interactions in an Annular Combustor
Authors: Durox Daniel , Prieur Kevin , Schuller Thierry , Candel Sébastien
Published: April 2016

Experiments in cold and reactive conditions carried out in linear arrays of injectors indicate that the flows established by neighboring injectors exhibit alternating patterns if the distance between two injectors is too small (see, for example, ASME-GT2013-94280, GT2014-25094, and GT2015-42509). This issue is investigated in this article by making use of a recently developed annular combustion chamber (ACC). This device designated as MICCA is equipped with multiple swirling injectors and its side walls are made of quartz providing full optical access to the flame region, thus allowing detailed studies of the combustion region structure and dynamics. Experiments reported in this article rely on direct observations of the flame region through light emission imaging using two standard cameras and an intensified high-speed CMOS camera. The data gathered indicate that interactions between successive injectors give rise to patterns of flames which exhibit an alternate geometry where one flame has a relatively low expansion angle while the next spreads sideways. This pattern is then repeated with a period which corresponds to twice the injector spacing. Such arrangements arise when the angle of the cup used as the end-piece of each injector exceeds a critical value. The effects of mass flow rate, equivalence ratio, and injector offset are also investigated. It is shown that the angle which defines the cup opening is the main control parameter. It is also found that when this angle exceeds a certain value and when the laminar burning velocity is fast enough, the flame pattern switches in an unsteady manner between two possible configurations. It is shown that these alternating flame patterns lead to alternating heat release rate distributions and inhomogeneous heat transfer to the chamber walls featuring a helicoidal pattern. Conditions leading to alternating flame patterns are finally discussed by making use of a recent flow regime diagram.
Fatigue Alters the Pattern of Physical Activity Behavior in Older Adults: Observational Analysis of Data from the Generation 100 Study
Authors: Egerton Thorlene , Helbostad Jorunn L. , Stensvold Dorthe , Chastin Sebastien F.M.
Published: April 2016

Fatigue has been associated with reductions in daily activity of older people. Summary measures of daily physical activity provide limited understanding of how fatigue affects physical activity behavior. This study examined the hour-by-hour energy expenditure estimated from accelerometry data to provide insight into physical activity behaviors of older people experiencing fatigue. Fatigued participants were matched to ‘not fatigued’ participants by age, sex, and BMI. Each group consisted of 86 people with a mean age 73.8 years (SD 2.0), BMI 26.5 kg⋅m–2 (SD 3.9) and 61% female. The phase-space plot, constructed to express rate of change of average vertical axis counts per hour as a time series, showed fatigued participants deviated from the not fatigued participants during the morning period, when hour-by-hour activity was increasing. Older people who feel fatigued have a different morning activity pattern, which appears to lead to the lower overall levels of physical activity.
Poised for liftoff
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: April 2016

After 2 decades adrift, Russia's space scientists plan an ambitious set of missions.
Out in the cold
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: April 2016

Russia's takeover of Crimea has isolated scientists in the strategic peninsula.
Webinar | Characterizing cancers from liquid biopsies and FFPE samples:The rise of targeted sequencing panelsAUDIO
Authors: Williams P. Mickey , Segal Jeremy P.
Published: April 2016

The detection of cancer in the body, particularly early in its progression, can provide life-saving information for subsequent treatment. Researchers are now demonstrating that increases in the speed, accuracy, and resolution of next-generation sequencing (NGS) have made it possible to sequence minute amounts of DNA from scarce and rare samples, such as circulating cancer cells from liquid biopsies or archival tissue in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples. Taking this to the next level, NGS panels enable targeted sequencing of a small number of cancer-specific genes that can aid in quickly identifying and categorizing a particular cancer. This seminar will focus on the development and use of cancer detection panels for FFPE/liquid biopsy samples. Relying on their experience in both research and clinical settings, our panelists will discuss the challenges of designing, developing, analytically validating, and employing targeted NGS panels in translational research laboratories. The dramatic potential for future applications of NGS panels in a clinical setting will also be discussed.

View the Webinar
Predicting peak oil
The Oracle of Oil A Maverick Geologist's Quest for a Sustainable Future
Mason Inman
Norton, 2016. 429 pp.
Authors: Hall Charles
Published: April 2016

A new biography probes M. King Hubbert's controversial mid-century energy pronouncement
(Meta-)genome mining for new ribo-regulators
Authors: Sommer Morten O. A. , Suess Beatrix
Published: April 2016

RNA regulatory elements are potential antibiotic targets and synthetic biology building blocks

[Also see Research Article by

Dar
et al.

]
Moments of excitement
Authors: Wolynes Peter
Published: April 2016

Direct measurements of protein folding paths agree with theoretical predictions

[Also see Report by

Neupane
et al.

]
The transformation of oncology
Authors: Varmus Harold
Published: April 2016

When I was trained at a prominent New York medical center in the 1960s, cancer was relegated to a minor place in the curriculum. Cancer patients were housed in a separate hospital, rarely visited by students or the medical house staff. If not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy, most cancers were regarded as hopeless. Research on cancer was not accorded the attention received by infectious, endocrine, autoimmune, cardiovascular, or neuropsychiatric disorders.
Interleukin-2 Therapy Induces CD4 Downregulation, Which Decreases Circulating CD4 T Cell Counts, in African Green Monkeys
Authors: Mudd Joseph C. , Perkins Molly R. , DiNapoli Sarah R. , Hirsch Vanessa M. , Brenchley Jason M.
Published: April 2016

African green monkeys (AGMs) are natural hosts of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV
AGM
). Because these animals do not develop simian AIDS despite maintaining high viral loads, there is considerable interest in determining how these animals have evolved to avoid SIV disease progression. Unlike nonnatural hosts of SIV, adult AGMs maintain low levels of CD4
+
T cells at steady states and also have a large population of virus-resistant CD8αα T cells that lack CD4 expression despite maintaining T helper cell functionalities. In recent work, we have shown that homeostatic cytokines can induce CD4 downregulation in AGM T cells
in vitro
. Through administering therapeutic doses of recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) to AGMs, we show here that this mechanism is operative
in vivo
. IL-2 therapy induced transient yet robust proliferation in all major T cell subsets. Within the CD4
+
T cell population, those that were induced into cycle by IL-2 exhibited characteristics of CD4-to-CD8αα conversion. In all animals receiving IL-2, circulating CD4
+
T cell counts and proportions tended to be lower and CD4
−
CD8αα
+
T cell counts tended to be higher. Despite reductions in circulating target cells, the viral load was unaffected over the course of study.

IMPORTANCE
The data in this study identify that homeostatic cytokines can downregulate CD4
in vivo
and, when given therapeutically, can induce AGMs to sustain very low levels of circulating CD4
+
T cells without showing signs of immunodeficiency.
Impact of continuous Medical Aid utilisation on healthcare utilisation: unique insight using the 2008–2012 Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS)
Authors: Kim Jae-Hyun , Kim Na Rae , Park Eun-Cheol , Han Kyu-Tae , Choi Young , Lee Sang Gyu
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Although there has been considerable discussion about the social safety net, few studies related to effect of duration of continuous receipt of Medical Aid on healthcare utilisation have been conducted. Therefore, we investigate whether the duration of receiving Medical Aid affected medical care utilisation.

Setting

Data were collected from the Korean Welfare Panel Study conducted from 2008 to 2012.

Participants

We included 11 783 samples.

Interventions

Estimating changes in their healthcare utilisation during specific time intervals (1, 2 and ≥3 years) after they switched from National Health Insurance to Medical Aid.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Number of outpatient visits.

Results

The number of outpatient visits per year was 0.0.051-fold higher (p value: 0.434) among those who were Medical Aid beneficiaries for a continuous period of 1 year, 0.0.267-fold higher (p value: 0.000) among those who were beneficiaries for a continuous period of 2 years, and 0.0.562-fold higher (p value:<0.0001) among those who were beneficiaries for a continuous period of 3 years than it was among those who were beneficiaries of National Health Insurance.

Conclusions

Our results reflect an association between the number of consecutive years of receiving Medical Aid and number of outpatient visits. Since duration of dependence is correlated with reduced exit rates, limits on length of benefits should be considered to strengthen the incentive to return to work.
Large-scale investment in green space as an intervention for physical activity, mental and cardiometabolic health: study protocol for a quasi-experimental evaluation of a natural experiment
Authors: Astell-Burt Thomas , Feng Xiaoqi , Kolt Gregory S
Published: April 2016

Introduction

‘Green spaces’ such as public parks are regarded as determinants of health, but evidence from tends to be based on cross-sectional designs. This protocol describes a study that will evaluate a large-scale investment in approximately 5280 hectares of green space stretching 27 km north to south in Western Sydney, Australia.

Methods and analysis

A Geographic Information System was used to identify 7272 participants in the 45 and Up Study baseline data (2006–2008) living within 5 km of the Western Sydney Parklands and some of the features that have been constructed since 2009, such as public access points, advertising billboards, walking and cycle tracks, BBQ stations, and children's playgrounds. These data were linked to information on a range of health and behavioural outcomes, with the second wave of data collection initiated by the Sax Institute in 2012 and expected to be completed by 2015. Multilevel models will be used to analyse potential change in physical activity, weight status, social contacts, mental and cardiometabolic health within a closed sample of residentially stable participants. Comparisons between persons with contrasting proximities to different areas of the Parklands will provide ‘treatment’ and ‘control’ groups within a ‘quasi-experimental’ study design. In line with expectations, baseline results prior to the enhancement of the Western Sydney Parklands indicated virtually no significant differences in the distribution of any of the outcomes with respect to proximity to green space preintervention.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained for the 45 and Up Study from the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee. Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the University of Western Sydney Ethics Committee. Findings will be disseminated through partner organisations (the Western Sydney Parklands and the National Heart Foundation of Australia), as well as to policymakers in parallel with scientific papers and conference presentations.
Conjugate (nil) clean rings and Köthe’s problem
Authors: Matczuk Jerzy
Published: April 2016

Question 3 of [3] asks whether the matrix ring [Formula: see text] is nil clean, for any nil clean ring [Formula: see text]. It is shown that, positive answer to this question is equivalent to positive solution for Köthe’s problem in the class of algebras over the field [Formula: see text]. Other equivalent problems are also discussed. The classes of conjugate clean and conjugate nil clean rings, which lie strictly between uniquely (nil) clean and (nil) clean rings are introduced and investigated.
A NEW SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF THE PULSE TRANSIT TIME, THE PULSE WAVE VELOCITY AND ITS ANALYSIS
Authors: BEREKSI-REGUIG MED. ANES. , BEREKSI-REGUIG F. , ALI A. NAIT
Published: April 2016

Arterial stiffness is a strong determinant of cardiovascular risk. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an index of arterial stiffness, and its prognostic value has been repeatedly emphasized. The work presented in this paper is concerned with the design of a new system for measurement of the PWV and analysis. It is in fact related to the description of the hardware setup and the software development in order to measure and analyze the PWV. In the proposed system, the determination of the PWV is carried out through the measurement of the pulse wave transit time (PWTT) using the electrocardiogram (ECG) and the photoplethysmogram (PPG) and the distance separating the site of ejection of the systolic pulse and the site of measuring the PPG signal. The hardware setup therefore consists of an optical device to detect the PPG and electrodes to detect ECG, and different boards to process and digitalize these signals to be acquired in the PC and analyzed. The developed software is concerned with first, the acquisition and processing of both ECG and PPG signals then the determination of the PWV and finally its analysis for different subjects and conditions. The analysis of the PWV is carried out for subjects of different ages in different physiological conditions according to heart activity. The obtained results show that there is a high correlation ([Formula: see text]), between heart rate variability (HRV) and PWV. They also show that PWV increases with age. The analysis of the PWV variations with age is also carried out through different regression models. The obtained result shows that the cubic regression model best fits these variations.
THE EFFECT OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY CURRENT REDUCTION ON PROXIMAL FEMUR SUBJECT-SPECIFIC FINITE ELEMENT MODELS
Authors: FALCINELLI CRISTINA , SCHILEO ENRICO , BARUFFALDI FABIO , CRISTOFOLINI LUCA , TADDEI FULVIA
Published: April 2016

Many studies have addressed the modulation of computed tomography (CT) parameters, and particularly of tube current, to obtain a good compromise between the X-ray dose to the patient and the image quality for diagnostic applications. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of dose reduction by means of tube current reduction on the CT-based subject-specific finite element (FE) modeling. To this aim, CT scans at stepwise reduced values of tube current from 180[Formula: see text]mAs to 80[Formula: see text]mAs were performed on: (i) a densitometric phantom, to quantify the changes in the calibration equation; (ii) a fresh-frozen, water submersed, human cadaver femur, to quantify changes in geometry reconstruction and material mapping from CT, as well as strain prediction accuracy, based on the in vitro strain measurements available; (iii) a fresh-frozen human cadaver thigh with soft tissues attached, to quantify FE results changes in conditions similar to those found in vivo. The results showed that the tube current reduction does not affect the 3D modeling and the femur FE analysis. Our pilot study highlights the possibility of performing CT scans with reduced dose to generate biomechanical models, although a confirmation by performing larger studies with clinical CT data is needed.
On (r,s)-Fuzzy Domination in Fuzzy Graphs
Authors: Arumugam S. , Bhutani Kiran , Sathikala L.
Published: April 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be a fuzzy graph on a finite set [Formula: see text] Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] A fuzzy subset [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called an [Formula: see text]-fuzzy dominating set ([Formula: see text]-FD set) of G if [Formula: see text] Then [Formula: see text] is called the [Formula: see text]-fuzzy domination number of [Formula: see text] where the minimum is taken over all [Formula: see text]-FD sets [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] In this paper we initiate a study of this parameter and other related concepts such as [Formula: see text]-fuzzy irredundance and [Formula: see text]-fuzzy independence. We obtain the [Formula: see text]-fuzzy domination chain which is analogous to the domination chain in crisp graphs.
Logical Inference by DNA Strand Algebra
Authors: Ray Kumar S. , Mondal Mandrita
Published: April 2016

Based on the concept of DNA strand displacement and DNA strand algebra we have developed a method for logical inference which is not based on silicon-based computing. Essentially, it is a paradigm shift from silicon to carbon. In this paper, we have considered the inference mechanism, viz. modus ponens, to draw conclusion from any observed fact. Thus, the present approach to logical inference based on DNA strand algebra is basically an attempt to develop expert system design in the domain of DNA computing. We have illustrated our methodology with respect to the worked out example. Our methodology is very flexible for implementation of different expert system applications.