bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hardy and Chinese New Poetry
Authors: Nie Zhenzhao , Guo Wen
Published: April 2016

Thomas Hardy is one of the Western writers who influenced early 20th‐century Chinese literary pioneers, especially following the birth of China's New Culture Movement in 1919. His poetic technique played a great role in changing and enriching Chinese poetry, largely between the Chinese New Poetry Movement and the 1950s. From the debut of the New Poetry Movement, Chinese poets were drawn to Hardy's poetic style, imagery and pattern beauty, taking him as a model and believing that his poetry would inject new blood into traditional Chinese literature. Chinese New Poetry representatives, such as Xu Zhimo, Wen Yiduo, Guo Moruo and Aiqing, to mention but a few, are greatly indebted to Hardy in their style, art and thought. They tried their best to follow Hardy and put forward as norms of the New Poetry “three beauties” of his poetic principles, namely musical beauty, painting beauty and architectural beauty, that conform to the unity of form and content.
Construction Strategy and Progress of Whole Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering
Authors: Yang Qiang , Xu Hai‐wei , Hurday Sookesh , Xu Bao‐shan
Published: April 2016

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the major cause of low back pain, which usually leads to work absenteeism, medical visits and hospitalization. Because the current conservative procedures and surgical approaches to treatment ofDDDonly aim to relieve the symptoms of disease but not to regenerate the diseased disc, their long‐term efficiency is limited. With the rapid developments in medical science, tissue engineering techniques have progressed markedly in recent years, providing a novel regenerative strategy for managing intervertebral disc disease. However, there are as yet no ideal methods for constructing tissue‐engineered intervertebral discs. This paper reviews published reports pertaining to intervertebral disc tissue engineering and summarizes data concerning the seed cells and scaffold materials for tissue‐engineered intervertebral discs, construction of tissue‐engineered whole intervertebral discs, relevant animal experiments and effects of mechanics on the construction of tissue‐engineered intervertebral disc and outlines the existing problems and future directions. Although the perfect regenerative strategy for treatingDDDhas not yet been developed, great progress has been achieved in the construction of tissue‐engineered intervertebral discs. It is believed that ongoing research on intervertebral disc tissue engineering will result in revolutionary progress in the treatment ofDDD.
Effect of Interbody Fusion on the Remaining Discs of the Lumbar Spine in Subjects with Disc Degeneration
Authors: Ryu Robert , Techy Fernando , Varadarajan Ravikumar , Amirouche Farid
Published: April 2016

Objective

To study effects (stress loads) of lumbar fusion on the remaining segments (adjacent or not) of the lumbar spine in the setting of degenerated adjacent discs.

Methods

A lumbar spine finite element model was built and validated. The full model of the lumbar spine was a parametric finite element model of segments L
1–5. Numerous hypothetical combinations of one‐level lumbar spine fusion and one‐level disc degeneration were created. These models were subjected to 10 Nm flexion and extension moments and the stresses on the endplates and consequently on the intervertebral lumbar discs measured. These values were compared to the stresses on healthy lumbar spine discs under the same load and fusion scenarios.

Results

Increased stress at endplates was observed only in the settings of L4–5 fusion and L3–4 disc degeneration (8% stress elevation at L2,3 in flexion or extension, and 25% elevation at L3,4 in flexion only). All other combinations showed less endplate stress than did the control model. For fusion at L3–4 and degeneration at L4–5, the stresses in the endplates at the adjacent level inferior to the fused disc decreased for both loading disc height reductions. Stresses in flexion decreased after fusion by 29.5% and 25.8% for degeneration I and II, respectively. Results for extension were similar. For fusion at L2–3 and degeneration at L4–5, stresses in the endplates decreased more markedly at the degenerated (30%), than at the fused level (14%) in the presence of 25% disc height reduction and 10 Nm flexion, whereas in extension stresses decreased more at the fused (24.3%) than the degenerated level (5.86%). For fusion at L3–4 and degeneration at L2–3, there were no increases in endplate stress in any scenario. For fusion at L4–5 and degeneration at L3–4, progression of degeneration from I to II had a significant effect only in flexion. A dramatic increase in stress was noted in the endplates of the degenerated disc (L3–4) in flexion for degeneration II.

Conclusions

Stresses are greater in flexion at the endplates of L3–4 and in flexion and extension at L2–3 in the presence of L3–4 disc disease and L4–5 fusion than in the control group. In all other combinations of fusion and disc disease, endplate stress was less for all levels tested than in the control model.
Irreducible decomposition of binomial ideals
Authors: Kahle Thomas , Miller Ezra , O’Neill Christopher
Published: April 2016

Building on coprincipal mesoprimary decomposition [Kahle and Miller, Decompositions of commutative monoid congruences and binomial ideals, Algebra and Number Theory 8 (2014), 1297–1364], we combinatorially construct an irreducible decomposition of any given binomial ideal. In a parallel manner, for congruences in commutative monoids we construct decompositions that are direct combinatorial analogues of binomial irreducible decompositions, and for binomial ideals we construct decompositions into ideals that are as irreducible as possible while remaining binomial. We provide an example of a binomial ideal that is not an intersection of irreducible binomial ideals, thus answering a question of Eisenbud and Sturmfels [Binomial ideals, Duke Math. J. 84 (1996), 1–45].
Direct Torque Feedback for Accurate Engine Torque Delivery and Improved Powertrain Performance
Authors: Alkeilani Anwar , Wang Le Yi , Ying Hao
Published: April 2016

At the present time, both control and estimation accuracies of engine torque are causes for underachieving optimal drivability and performance in today's production vehicles. The major focus in this area has been to enhance torque estimation and control accuracies using existing open loop torque control and estimation structures. Such an approach does not guarantee optimum torque tracking accuracy and optimum estimation accuracy due to air flow and efficiency estimation errors. Furthermore, current approach overlooks the fast torque path tracking which does not have any related feedback. Recently, explicit torque feedback control has been proposed in the literature using either estimated or measured torques as feedback to control the torque using the slow torque path only. We propose the usage of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) torque sensor to measure the engine brake torque and feedback the signal to control the torque using both the fast and slow torque paths utilizing an inner–outer loop control structure. The fast torque path feedback is coordinated with the slow torque path by a novel method using the potential torque that is adapted to the sensor reading. The torque sensor signal enables a fast and explicit torque feedback control that can correct torque estimation errors and improve drivability, emission control, and fuel economy. Control oriented engine models for the 3.6L engine are developed. Computer simulations are performed to investigate the advantages and limitations of the proposed control strategy versus the existing strategies. The findings include an improvement of 14% in gain margin and 60% in phase margin when the torque feedback is applied to the cruise control torque request at the simulated operating point. This study demonstrates that the direct torque feedback is a powerful technology with promising results for improved powertrain performance and fuel economy.
Anomalous Manipulation of Acoustic Wavefront With an Ultrathin Planar Metasurface
Authors: Zhai Shilong , Ding Changlin , Chen Huaijun , Shen Fangliang , Luo Chunrong , Zhao Xiaopeng
Published: April 2016

The investigations of metasurfaces have introduced a new direction in researching metamaterials. We propose an ultrathin acoustic metasurface consisting of a series of structurally simple microunits. The microunit is constructed with a cavity filled with air and a membrane to seal the air. The designed metasurfaces can arbitrarily manipulate the reflected sound waves at 3.7 kHz. We also realize the planar focusing effects by elaborately arranging the microunits on the metasurfaces, including an axicon and a lens. The designed metamaterials may promote the development of many acoustic devices, such as cloaking, absorber, and spectrum splitter.
Scaling Three-Dimensional Low-Pressure Turbine Blades for Low-Speed Testing
Authors: Giovannini Matteo , Marconcini Michele , Rubechini Filippo , Arnone Andrea , Bertini Francesco
Published: April 2016

The present activity was carried out in the framework of the Clean Sky European Research Project ITURB (optimal high-lift turbine blade aeromechanical design), aimed at designing and validating a turbine blade for a geared open-rotor engine. A cold-flow, large-scale, low-speed (LS) rig was built in order to investigate and validate new design criteria, providing reliable and detailed results while containing costs. This paper presents the design of an LS stage and describes a general procedure that allows to scale three-dimensional (3D) blades for LS testing. The design of the stator row was aimed at matching the test-rig inlet conditions and at providing the proper inlet flow field to the blade row. The rotor row was redesigned in order to match the performance of the high-speed (HS) configuration, compensating for both the compressibility effects and different turbine flow paths. The proposed scaling procedure is based on the matching of the 3D blade loading distribution between the real engine environment and the LS facility one, which leads to a comparable behavior of the boundary layer and hence to comparable profile losses. To this end, the datum blade is parameterized, and a neural-network-based methodology is exploited to guide an optimization process based on 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) computations. The LS stage performance was investigated over a range of Reynolds numbers characteristic of modern low-pressure turbines (LPTs) by using a multi-equation, transition-sensitive, turbulence model. Some comparisons with experimental data available within the project finally proved the effectiveness of the proposed scaling procedure.
Improvement of Turbine Vane Film Cooling Performance by Double Flow-Control Devices
Authors: Kawabata Hirokazu , Funazaki Ken-ichi , Suzuki Yuya , Tagawa Hisato , Horiuchi Yasuhiro
Published: April 2016

This study deals with the studies of the effect of double flow-control devices (DFCDs) on turbine vane film cooling. Aiming for improving film effectiveness, two semispheroid DFCDs per pitch were attached to the vane surface upstream of the cooling hole. Although the DFCDs were successfully applied to the flat-plate film cooling in the previous study, the applicability to the turbine vane was to be investigated. In order to observe the flow field in detail, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation was conducted first. The DFCDs were installed upstream of each cooling hole of the pressure and suction sides of the vane to investigate the effect of the device position. In this paper, the effects of blowing ratio and cooling hole pitch were also investigated. The results obtained by CFD showed that the vortex generated from DFCD suppressed lift-off of the secondary air. As a result, the film effectiveness became significantly higher than that without DFCD condition. Moreover, the improvement in the film effectiveness by DFCD was observed by both of the pressure and suction sides of the turbine vane. Based on the findings through RANS simulation, adiabatic effectiveness and total pressure loss coefficient measurement were performed in a linear cascade test facility. The experiment confirmed that the film effectiveness was improved when DFCDs existed.
Sound Transmission Through Double Leaf Partitions: A Criterion for Quick Convergence Using Space Harmonic Analysis
Authors: Kumar Sathish , Feng Leping , Orrenius Ulf
Published: April 2016

Space harmonic expansion has been used successfully to model sound transmission through infinite, periodically rib-stiffened double leaf partitions. Since the solution to this method is obtained in a series form, computational accuracy needs to be balanced with computational cost as calculation time increases with the number of space harmonic terms. The aim of this article is to provide a criterion to decrease the computational time when using space harmonic analysis. The new criterion helps to select the appropriate space harmonics to be included in the solution based on frequency and the angle of incidence of sound waves. The results are verified by comparing with experimental data available in the literature. For the partition investigated, the computational time is reduced by a factor of ten without compromising the accuracy of the result.
Chattering-Free Error Integral Driven MIMO Sliding Mode Regulator for Linear Time-Invariant Systems
Authors: Yunt Kerim
Published: April 2016

In this work, an error-integral-driven sliding mode controller (EID-SMC) is discussed for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) linear time-invariant (LTI) systems. The boundary layer approach is utilized in order to eliminate the chattering problem. Though the sliding variable remains in the vicinity of the sliding surface without reaching it, it is shown that the steady-state error vanishes exponentially asymptotically within a boundary layer, for systems of relative order one, even if parameter uncertainty and unmatched input disturbances exist. The pole placement is accomplished indirectly with an iterative optimization procedure by considering limits on controls and state. Finally, the output-feedback controller is augmented with a Luenberger full-state and disturbance observer.
Nondiffusive rubidium vapor transport in confined glass channels
Authors: Giraud-Carrier Matthieu , Hill Cameron , Decker Trevor , Hawkins Aaron R. , Black Jennifer A. , Almquist Soren , Schmidt Holger
Published: April 2016

Rubidium vapor transport through micron-scale capillaries is analyzed. A testing platform is assembled out of copper tubing, glass chromatography vials, and glass microbore capillary tubing. The system is loaded with rubidium vapor and hermetically sealed under a vacuum of <1 mTorr. The cells are then stored at 100 °C and monitored daily for absorption and fluorescence over a period of several weeks. Rubidium vapor transport is observed and shown to follow a nondiffusive behavior. A model of the form ttransport=η(L/d2)+tseason, where L is the length of the capillary and d is the diameter, describes the movement of the Rb, with η = 24 μm-days and tseason=9 days. The authors conclude that rubidium transport in uncoated standalone glass systems is quite slow and offers additional considerations for practical integration setups.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Hydrangea Ringspot Virus Isolates from Japan
Authors: Yusa Akira , Iwabuchi Nozomu , Koinuma Hiroaki , Keima Takuya , Neriya Yutaro , Hashimoto Masayoshi , Maejima Kensaku , Yamaji Yasuyuki , Namba Shigetou
Published: April 2016

Hydrangea ringspot virus (HdRSV) is a plant RNA virus, naturally infecting
Hydrangea macrophylla
. Here, we report the first genomic sequences of two HdRSV isolates from hydrangea plants in Japan. The overall nucleotide sequences of these Japanese isolates were 96.0 to 96.3% identical to those of known European isolates.
Genome Sequence of
Kocuria palustris
Strain W4
Authors: Herschend Jakob , Raghupathi Prem K. , Røder Henriette L. , Sørensen Søren J. , Burmølle Mette
Published: April 2016

We report the 3.09 Mb draft genome sequence of
Kocuria palustris
W4, isolated from a slaughterhouse in Denmark.
Draft Genome Assembly of Two
Pseudoclavibacter helvolus
Strains, G8 and W3, Isolated from Slaughterhouse Environments
Authors: Raghupathi Prem K. , Herschend Jakob , Røder Henriette L. , Sørensen Søren J. , Burmølle Mette
Published: April 2016

We report the draft genome sequences of two
Pseudoclavibacter helvolus
strains. Strain G8 was isolated from a meat chopper and strain W3 isolated from the wall of a small slaughterhouse in Denmark. The two annotated genomes are 3.91 Mb and 4.00 Mb in size, respectively.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Genotype G23P[37] Pheasant Rotavirus Strain Identified in Hungary
Authors: Gál János , Marton Szilvia , Ihász Katalin , Papp Hajnalka , Jakab Ferenc , Malik Yashpal S. , Bányai Krisztián , Farkas Szilvia L.
Published: April 2016

We investigated the genomic properties of a rotavirus A strain isolated from diarrheic pheasant poults in Hungary in 2015. Sequence analyses revealed a shared genomic constellation (G23-P[37]-I4-R4-C4-M4-A16-N10-T4-E4-H4) and close relationship (range of nucleotide sequence similarity: VP2, 88%; VP1 and NSP4, 98%) with another pheasant rotavirus strain isolated previously in Germany.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Corynebacterium ulcerans
Strain 04-3911, Isolated from Humans
Authors: Guimarães Luis C. , Viana Marcus V. C. , Benevides Leandro J. , Mariano Diego C. B. , Veras Adooney A. O. , Sá Pablo H. C. , Rocha Flávia S. , Vilas Boas Priscilla C. B. , Soares Siomar C. , Barbosa Maria S. , Guiso Nicole , Badell Edgar , Carneiro Adriana R. , Azevedo Vasco , Ramos Rommel T. J. , Silva Artur
Published: April 2016

Corynebacterium ulcerans
is a pathogenic bacterium infecting wild and domesticated animals; some infection cases in humans have increased throughout the world. The current study describes the draft genome of strain 04-3911, isolated from humans. The draft genome has 2,492,680 bp, 2,143 coding sequences, 12 rRNA genes, and 50 tRNA genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Leuconostoc mesenteroides
213M0, Isolated from Traditional Fermented Mare Milk Airag in Bulgan Aimag, Mongolia
Authors: Morita Hidetoshi , Toh Hidehiro , Oshima Kenshiro , Nakano Akiyo , Hano Chihiro , Yoshida Saki , Bolormaa Tsognemekh , Burenjargal Sedkhuu , Nguyen Co Thi Kim , Tashiro Kosuke , Arakawa Kensuke , Miyamoto Taku
Published: April 2016

Leuconostoc mesenteroides
213M0 was isolated from traditional fermented mare milk airag in Bulgan Aimag, Mongolia. This strain produces a listericidal bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this organism.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Flavobacterium
sp. 316, a Baltic Sea Isolate Exhibiting a High Level of Resistance to Marine Stress Conditions
Authors: Karczewska-Golec Joanna , Kochanowska-Łyżen Maja , Olszewski Paweł , Bałut Magdalena , Moskot Marta , Piotrowski Arkadiusz , Golec Piotr , Szalewska-Pałasz Agnieszka
Published: April 2016

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of
Flavobacterium
sp. 316, isolated from brackish water of the Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea. The assembly contains 3,971,755 bp in 17 scaffolds. The sequence will facilitate postgenomic studies on bacterial stress responses in the challenging habitat of the Baltic Sea.
Draft Genome Sequences ofMethanoculleus horonobensisStrain JCM 15517,Methanoculleus thermophilusStrain DSM 2373, andMethanofollis ethanolicusStrain JCM 15103, Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens Belonging to the FamilyMethanomicrobiaceae
Authors: Narihiro Takashi , Kusada Hiroyuki , Yoneda Yasuko , Tamaki Hideyuki
Published: April 2016

The familyMethanomicrobiaceaecomprises hydrogen- and formate-utilizing methanogens. Genome sequencing of nine species ofMethanomicrobiaceaehas been conducted so far. Here, we report three additional draft genome sequences ofMethanomicrobiaceae, those ofMethanoculleus horonobensisJCM 15517 (=T10T),Methanoculleus thermophilusDSM 2373 (=CR-1T), andMethanofollis ethanolicusJCM 15103 (=HASUT).
Draft Genome Sequence of
Vibrio toranzoniae
Strain CECT 7225
T
Authors: Lasa Aide , Gibas Cynthia J. , Romalde Jesus L.
Published: April 2016

Vibrio toranzoniae
(CECT 7225
T
) was isolated from healthy reared carpet shell clams in Galicia (Northwest Spain). In addition, this species has been recently identified as a potential pathogen of red conger eel in Chile. The draft genome sequence has 4.5 Mbp, a G+C content of 43.9%, and >3,800 protein-coding genes.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Engineered
Escherichia coli
SHuffle Strains and Their Wild-Type Parents
Authors: Anton Brian P. , Fomenkov Alexey , Raleigh Elisabeth A. , Berkmen Mehmet
Published: April 2016

SHuffle strains are genetically engineered
Escherichia coli
strains that are capable of oxidizing cysteines within proteins to form disulfide bonds. Here we present the complete genome of both the K-12 and B versions of SHuffle strains along with their parental ancestors. These strains have been of significant use to both the general scientific community and the biotech industry, interested in producing novel disulfide-bonded proteins that were hitherto unable to be expressed in standard
E. coli
expression strains.
Microbes Drive Evolution of Animals and Plants: the Hologenome Concept
Authors: Rosenberg Eugene , Zilber-Rosenberg Ilana
Published: April 2016

The hologenome concept of evolution postulates that the holobiont (host plus symbionts) with its hologenome (host genome plus microbiome) is a level of selection in evolution. Multicellular organisms can no longer be considered individuals by the classical definitions of the term. Every natural animal and plant is a holobiont consisting of the host and diverse symbiotic microbes and viruses. Microbial symbionts can be transmitted from parent to offspring by a variety of methods, including via cytoplasmic inheritance, coprophagy, direct contact during and after birth, and the environment. A large number of studies have demonstrated that these symbionts contribute to the anatomy, physiology, development, innate and adaptive immunity, and behavior and finally also to genetic variation and to the origin and evolution of species. Acquisition of microbes and microbial genes is a powerful mechanism for driving the evolution of complexity. Evolution proceeds both via cooperation and competition, working in parallel.
Economic impact study: neuromuscular training reduces the burden of injuries and costs compared to standard warm-up in youth soccer
Authors: Marshall Deborah A , Lopatina Elena , Lacny Sarah , Emery Carolyn A
Published: April 2016

Background

There is randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence that neuromuscular training (NMT) programmes can reduce the risk of injury in youth soccer. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of such an NMT prevention strategy compared to a standard of practice warm-up.

Methods

A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted alongside a cluster RCT. Injury incidence rates were adjusted for cluster using Poisson regression analyses. Direct healthcare costs and injury incidence proportions were adjusted for cluster using bootstrapping. The joint uncertainty surrounding the cost and injury rate and proportion differences was estimated using bootstrapping with 10 000 replicates.

Results

Along with a 38% reduction in injury risk (rate difference=−1.27/1000 player hours (95% CI −0.33 to −2.2)), healthcare costs were reduced by 43% in the NMT group (−$689/1000 player hours (95% CI −$1741 to $234)) compared with the control group. 90% of the bootstrapped ratios were in the south-west quadrant of the cost-effectiveness plane, showing that the NMT programme was dominant (more effective and less costly) over standard warm-up. Projecting results onto 58 100 Alberta youth soccer players, an estimated 4965 injuries and over $2.7 million in healthcare costs would be conservatively avoided in one season with implementation of a neuromuscular training prevention programme.

Conclusions

Implementation of an NMT prevention programme in youth soccer is effective in reducing the burden of injury and leads to considerable reduction in costs. These findings inform practice and policy supporting the implementation of NMT prevention strategies in youth soccer nationally and internationally.
Effectiveness of implementation strategies in improving physician adherence to guideline recommendations in heart failure: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Van Spall Harriette G C , Shanbhag Deepti , Gabizon Itzhak , Ibrahim Quazi , Graham Ian D , Harlos Karen , Haynes R Brian , Connolly Stuart J
Published: April 2016

Introduction

The uptake of Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) recommendations that improve outcomes in heart failure (HF) remains suboptimal. We will conduct a systematic review to identify implementation strategies that improve physician adherence to class I recommendations, those with clear evidence that benefits outweigh the risks. We will use American, Canadian and European HF guidelines as our reference.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a literature search in the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, HEALTHSTAR, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Campbell Collaboration, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Based Practice, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination and Evidence Based Practice Centres. We will include prospective studies evaluating implementation interventions aimed at improving uptake of class I CPG recommendations in HF. We will extract data in duplicate. We will classify interventions according to their level of application (ie, provider, organisation, systems level) and common underlying characteristics (eg, education, decision-support, financial incentives) using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Taxonomy. We will assess the impact of the intervention on adherence to the CPGs. Outcomes will include proportion of eligible patients who were: prescribed a CPG-recommended pharmacological treatment; referred for device consideration; provided self-care education at discharge; and provided left ventricular function assessment. We will include clinical outcomes such as hospitalisations, readmissions and mortality, if data is available. We will identify the common elements of successful and failing interventions, and examine the context in which they were applied, using the Process Redesign contextual framework. We will synthesise the results narratively and, if appropriate, will pool results for meta-analysis.

Discussion and dissemination

In this review, we will assess the impact of implementation strategies and contextual factors on physician adherence to HF CPGs. We will explore why some interventions may succeed in one setting and fail in another. We will disseminate our findings through briefing reports, publications and presentations.

Trial registration number

CRD42015017155.
Temperature measurements with a temporal scanner: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Geijer Håkan , Udumyan Ruzan , Lohse Georg , Nilsagård Ylva
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the diagnostic accuracy of temporal artery thermometers (TAT).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis. The index test consisted of temperature measurement with TAT. The reference test consisted of an estimation of core temperature.

Participants

Clinical patients as well as healthy participants, with or without fever.

Interventions

Literature search in PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and Web of Science. Three reviewers selected articles for full-text reading after which a further selection was made. Risk of bias was assessed with QUADAS-2. Pooled difference and limits of agreement (LoA) were estimated with an inverse variance weighted approach. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated using hierarchical models. Quality of evidence was assessed according to the GRADE system.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was measurement accuracy expressed as mean difference ±95% LoA. A secondary outcome was sensitivity and specificity to detect fever. If tympanic thermometers were assessed in the same population as TAT, these results were recorded as well.

Results

37 articles comprising 5026 participants were selected. Pooled difference was -0.19°C (95% LoA −1.16 to 0.77°C), with moderate quality of evidence. Pooled sensitivity was 0.72 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.81) with a specificity of 0.94 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.97). The subgroup analysis revealed a trend towards underestimation of the temperature for febrile patients. There was a large heterogeneity among included studies with wide LoA which reduced the quality of evidence.

Conclusions

TAT is not sufficiently accurate to replace one of the reference methods such as rectal, bladder or more invasive temperature measurement methods. The results are, however, similar to those with tympanic thermometers, both in our meta-analysis and when compared with others. Thus, it seems that TAT could replace tympanic thermometers with the caveat that both methods are inaccurate.

Trial registration number

CRD42014008832.
Prevalence of multimorbidity and its association with outcomes in older emergency general surgical patients: an observational study
Authors: Hewitt Jonathan , McCormack Caroline , Tay Hui Sian , Greig Matthew , Law Jennifer , Tay Adam , Asnan Nurwasimah Hj , Carter Ben , Myint Phyo Kyaw , Pearce Lyndsay , Moug Susan J , McCarthy Kathryn , Stechman Michael J
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Multimorbidity is the presence of 2 or more medical conditions. This increasingly used assessment has not been assessed in a surgical population. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity and its association with common outcome measures.

Design

A cross-sectional observational study.

Setting

A UK-based multicentre study, included participants between July and October 2014.

Participants

Consecutive emergency (non-elective) general surgical patients admitted to hospital, aged over 65 years.

Outcome measures

The outcome measures were (1) the prevalence of multimorbidity and (2) the association between multimorbidity and frailty; the rate and severity of surgery; length of hospital stay; readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge; and death at 30 and 90 days.

Results

Data were collected on 413 participants aged 65–98 years (median 77 years, (IQR (70–84)). 51.6% (212/413) participants were women. Multimorbidity was present in 74% (95% CI 69.7% to 78.2%) of the population and increased with age (p<0.0001). Multimorbidity was associated with increasing frailty (p for trend <0.0001). People with multimorbidity underwent surgery as often as those without multimorbidity, including major surgery (p=0.03). When comparing multimorbid people with those without multimorbidity, we found no association between length of hospital stay (median 5 days, IQR (1–54), vs 6 days (1–47), (p=0.66)), readmission to hospital (64 (21.1%) vs 18 (16.8%) (p=0.35)), death at 30 days (14 (4.6%) vs 6 (5.6%) (p=0.68)) or 90-day mortality (28 (9.2%) vs 8 (7.6%) (p=0.60)).

Conclusions and implications

Multimorbidity is common. Nearly three-quarters of this older emergency general surgical population had 2 or more chronic medical conditions. It was strongly associated with age and frailty, and was not a barrier to surgical intervention. Multimorbidity showed no associations across a range of outcome measures, as it is currently defined. Multimorbidity should not be relied on as a useful clinical tool in guidelines or policies for older emergency surgical patients.
Resident reflections on end-of-life education: a mixed-methods study of the 3 Wishes Project
Authors: Centofanti J , Swinton M , Dionne J , Barefah A , Boyle A , Woods A , Shears M , Heels-Ansdell D , Cook D
Published: April 2016

Objective

The objectives of this study were to describe residents' experiences with end-of-life (EOL) education during a rotation in the intensive care unit (ICU), and to understand the possible influence of the 3 Wishes Project.

Design

We enrolled dying patients, their families and 1–3 of their clinicians in the 3 Wishes Project, eliciting and honouring a set of 3 wishes to bring peace to the final days of a critically ill patient's life, and ease the grieving process for families. We conducted semistructured interviews with 33 residents who had cared for 50 dying patients to understand their experiences with the project. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, then analysed using a qualitative descriptive approach.

Setting

21-bed medical surgical ICU in a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital.

Results

33 residents participated from internal medicine (24, 72.7%), anaesthesia (8, 24.2%) and laboratory medicine (1, 3.0%) programmes in postgraduate years 1–3. 3 categories and associated themes emerged. (1) EOL care is a challenging component of training in that (a) death in the ICU can invoke helplessness, (b) EOL education is inadequate, (c) personal connections with dying patients is difficult in the ICU and (d) EOL skills are valued by residents. (2) The project reframes the dying process for residents by (a) humanising this aspect of practice, (b) identifying that family engagement is central to the dying process, (c) increasing emotional responsiveness and (d) showing that care shifts, not stops. (3) The project offers experiential education by (a) intentional role modelling, (b) facilitating EOL dialogue, (c) empowering residents to care in a tangible way and (d) encouraging reflection.

Conclusions

For residents, the 3 Wishes Project integrated many forms of active learning for residents. Practice-based rather than classroom-based programmes may engage trainees to develop EOL skills transferable to other settings.
Inbreeding avoidance in aphidophagous ladybird beetles: a case study inMenochilussexmaculatus
Authors: Saxena Swati , Mishra Geetanjali
Published: April 2016

Relatedness among mates affects reproductive performance in insects. Previous studies indicate that laboratory rearing of a closed population leads to a decline in fitness owing to inbreeding depression. Although females possess the ability to discriminate against unsuitable males, it is not clear whether they have the ability to bias paternity against related males. We investigated whether the zig-zag ladybird beetle (Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius, 1781)) (Coleoptera Coccinellidae) has evolved mechanisms to avoid inbreeding. We performed mating disruption experiments among two lines of inbred and outbred individuals and assessed whether mating behaviour (including mating duration and mate guarding) and reproductive performance were affected. Results indicate that females delay the onset of copula when paired with inbred individuals. Decreased fecundity and percent egg viability following mating with inbred mate is indicative of cost of inbreeding. As trends of spermatophore transfer are similar in inbred and outbred pairs, we assume that females modify their reproductive performance when mated with inbred males. Thus, our study reveals that mating with relatives is likely avoided by females, thus preventing inbreeding depression.
Interplay between IR-improved DGLAP-CS theory and the precision of an NLO ME matched parton shower MC in relation to LHCb data
Authors: Mukhopadhyay A. , Ward B. F. L.
Published: April 2016

We use comparison with recent LHCb data on single [Formula: see text] production and decay to lepton pairs as a vehicle to study the current status of the application of our approach of exact amplitude-based resummation in quantum field theory to precision quantum chromodynamics (QCD) calculations, by realistic MC event generator methods, as needed for precision large hadron collider (LHC) physics. This represents an extension of the phase space of our previous studies based on comparison with CMS and ATLAS data, as the pseudo-rapidity range measured by the LHCb for leptons in the data we study is 2.0 [Formula: see text] 4.5 to be compared with [Formula: see text] 4.6(2.4) in our previous CMS(ATLAS) data comparison for the same processes. To be precise, for [Formula: see text] decays, the CMS data had [Formula: see text] 2.1 while, for [Formula: see text] decays, the CMS data had [Formula: see text] 2.1 for both leptons for the [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] spectrum and had one lepton with [Formula: see text] 2.5 and one with [Formula: see text] 4.6 for the [Formula: see text] rapidity spectrum. The analyses we present here with the LHCb data thus represent an important addition to our previous results, as it is essential that theoretical predictions be able to control all of the measured phase space at LHC. The level of agreement between the new theory and the data continues to be a reason for optimism.
Removing Ostrogradski’s ghost from cosmological perturbations in f(R,Rμν2,Cμνρσ2) gravity
Authors: Akita Yuji , Kobayashi Tsutomu
Published: April 2016

Recently, it was argued that gravity with the square of the Ricci tensor can be stabilized by adding constraints to the theory in a Lorentz violating way. This was so far demonstrated for fluctuations on the Minkowski/de Sitter background. We show that the same scheme works equally well for removing Ostrogradski’s ghost from fluctuations on a cosmological background in generic [Formula: see text]-type theories of gravity. As an application, we derive the general formula for the spectrum of primordial tensor perturbations from the stabilized theory. The evolution of matter density perturbations is also discussed.
Yang–Yang equilibrium statistical mechanics: A brilliant method
Authors: Guan Xi-Wen , Chen Yang-Yang
Published: April 2016

Yang and Yang in 1969 [J. Math. Phys. 10, 1115 (1969)] for the first time proposed a rigorous approach to the thermodynamics of the one-dimensional system of bosons with a delta-function interaction. This paper was a breakthrough in exact statistical mechanics, after Yang [Phys. Rev. Lett. 19, 1312 (1967)] published his seminal work on the discovery of the Yang–Baxter equation in 1967. Yang and Yang’s brilliant method yields significant applications in a wide range of fields of physics. In this paper, we briefly introduce the method of the Yang–Yang equilibrium statistical mechanics and demonstrate a fundamental application of the Yang–Yang method for the study of thermodynamics of the Lieb–Liniger model with strong and weak interactions in a whole temperature regime. We also consider the equivalence between the Yang–Yang’s thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equation and the thermodynamics of the ideal gas with the Haldane’s generalized exclusion statistics.
Nature of charge order in cuprate superconductors
Authors: Feng Shiping , Gao Deheng , Zhao Huaisong
Published: April 2016

The recently discovered charge order is an intrinsic and universal property of cuprate superconductors, however, its microscopic origin remains debated. Here we review briefly the theoretical work about the nature of charge order in cuprate superconductors. In particular, we show that the electron self-energy obliterates the electron Fermi surface around the antinodal region, leaving behind disconnected Fermi arcs located around the nodal region. The charge-order state on the other hand is driven by the Fermi-arc instability, with a characteristic wavevector corresponding to the hot spots of the Fermi arcs rather than the antinodal nesting vector. Since the pseudogap emanates from the electron self-energy, the Fermi arc, charge order, and pseudogap in cuprate superconductors are intimately related each other.
Surface enhanced Raman scattering of single 1,4-Benzenedithiol molecular junction
Authors: Kaneko S. , Murai D. , Fujii Sh. , Kiguchi M.
Published: April 2016

Here, we present simultaneous electronic and optical measurements of a single 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT) molecular junctions to investigate the electronic and structural details in the molecular junction and to understand the charge transport property at the single molecular scale. The electronic property was investigated by DC conductance measurement while structural property was characterized using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurement. The single BDT junctions sandwiched between Au nanogap-electrodes were prepared by the mechanically controllable break junction method at ambient conditions. The simultaneous conductance and SERS measurements demonstrate that ring deformation mode coupled to C–S stretching mode, ring breathing mode, and C=C stretching mode are detectable for the single BDT molecular junctions with electronic conductance of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. The single molecule origin is supported by the characteristic variability of SERS within samples. Time evolution of the conductance and SERS signals indicated that the molecular conductance and the vibrational energy of the ring breathing mode exhibits anti-correlated relationship. This relationship can be mediated by time evolution of structural change in the single molecular junction and corresponding change in strength of metal–molecular coupling. The larger metal–molecular coupling causes higher electronic conductance of the molecular junction while charge transfer effect leads to weakening of molecular bonds and thus a resulting decrease in the vibration energy of the ring breathing mode.
Single electron tunneling in double and triple quantum wells
Authors: Filikhin I. , Karoui A. , Vlahovic B.
Published: April 2016

Electron localization and tunneling in laterally distributed double quantum well (DQW) and triple quantum well (TQW) are studied. Triangular configuration for the TQWs as well as various quantum well (QW) shapes and asymmetry are considered. The effect of adding a third well to a DQW is investigated as a weakly coupled system. InAs/GaAs DQWs and TQWs were modeled using single subband effective mass approach with effective potential simulating the strain effect. Electron localization dynamics in DQW and TQW over the whole spectrum is studied by varying the inter-dot distances. The electron tunneling appeared highly sensitive to small violations of the DQW mirror symmetry. We show that the presence of a third dot increases the tunneling in the DQW. The dependence of the tunneling in quantum dot (QD) arrays on inter-dot distances is also discussed.
APPROXIMATIONS OF BOND AND SWAPTION PRICES IN A BLACK–KARASIŃSKI MODEL
Authors: DANILUK ANDRZEJ , MUCHORSKI RAFAŁ
Published: April 2016

We derive semi-analytic approximation formulae for bond and swaption prices in a Black–Karasiński (BK) interest rate model. Approximations are obtained using a novel technique based on the Karhunen–Loève expansion. Formulas are easily computable and prove to be very accurate in numerical tests. This makes them useful for numerically efficient calibration of the model.
Heel-Contact Toe-Off Walking Pattern Generator Based on the Linear Inverted Pendulum
Authors: Shiguematsu Yukitoshi Minami , Kryczka Przemyslaw , Hashimoto Kenji , Lim Hun-Ok , Takanishi Atsuo
Published: April 2016

We propose a novel heel-contact toe-off walking pattern generator for a biped humanoid robot. It is divided in two stages: a simple model stage where a Linear Inverted Pendulum (LIP) based heel-contact toe-off walking model based on the so-called functional rockers of the foot (heel, ankle and forefoot rockers) is used to calculate step positions and timings, and the Center of Mass (CoM) trajectory taking step lengths as inputs, and a multibody dynamics model stage, where the final pattern to implement on the humanoid robot is obtained from the output of the first simple model stage. The final pattern comprises the Zero Moment Point (ZMP) reference, the joint angle references and the end effector references. The generated patterns were implemented on our robotic platform, WABIAN-2R to evaluate the generated walking patterns.
Whole-Body Balancing Walk Controller for Position Controlled Humanoid Robots
Authors: Yi Seung-Joon , Zhang Byoung-Tak , Hong Dennis , Lee Daniel D.
Published: April 2016

Bipedal humanoid robots are intrinsically unstable against unforeseen perturbations. Conventional zero moment point (ZMP)-based locomotion algorithms can reject perturbations by incorporating sensory feedback, but they are less effective than the dynamic full body behaviors humans exhibit when pushed. Recently, a number of biomechanically motivated push recovery behaviors have been proposed that can handle larger perturbations. However, these methods are based upon simplified and transparent dynamics of the robot, which makes it suboptimal to implement on common humanoid robots with local position-based controllers. To address this issue, we propose a hierarchical control architecture. Three low-level push recovery controllers are implemented for position controlled humanoid robots that replicate human recovery behaviors. These low-level controllers are integrated with a ZMP-based walk controller that is capable of generating reactive step motions. The high-level controller constructs empirical decision boundaries to choose the appropriate behavior based upon trajectory information gathered during experimental trials. Our approach is evaluated in physically realistic simulations and on a commercially available small humanoid robot.
Characterization of the mixed axial ligand complex (4-cyanopyridine)(imidazole)(tetramesitylporphinato)iron(iii) perchlorate. Stabilization by synergic bonding
Authors: Serth-Guzzo Judith A. , Turowska-Tyrk Ilona , Safo Martin K. , Walker F. Ann , Debrunner Peter G. , Scheidt W. Robert
Published: April 2016

The reaction of [Fe(TMP)(OClO[Formula: see text]], where TMP is the dianion of tetramesitylporphyrin, with a combination of a strong [Formula: see text]-acceptor ligand and a [Formula: see text]-donating imidazole can lead to the preparation of mixed-ligand complexes [Fe(Porph)(4-CNPy)(L)][Formula: see text] where L is imidazole itself or 1-acetylimidazole and 4-cyanopyridine is the strong [Formula: see text] acceptor ligand. The stability of the new mixed-ligand pair is the presumed result of synergic bonding between the two axial ligands. The molecular structure and other characterization of the new mixed axial ligand complex, [Fe(TMP)(4-CNPy)(HIm)]ClO4 is described. The axial ligands have a relative perpendicular arrangement with Fe–N(imidazole) = 1.945 Å and Fe–N(pyridine) = 2.021 Å. The average equatorial Fe–N[Formula: see text] distance is 1.963 Å, which is consistent with the S4-ruffled TMP core. Despite the relative perpendicular arrangement of axial ligands, the EPR spectrum of the complex is a rhombic signal and not a large gmax signal. The EPR g-values are [Formula: see text] 3.05, [Formula: see text] 2.07, and [Formula: see text] 1.22. A quadrupole doublet was seen in the Mössbauer spectrum with an isomer shift of 0.197 mm/s and quadrupole splitting of 1.935 mm/s. Two crystalline forms of [Fe(TMP)(4-CNPy)(HIm)]ClO4 have been characterized; the two forms differ only in the solvent content of the lattice. Crystal data for form A: [Formula: see text] 15.432 (12) Å, [Formula: see text] 20.696 (2) Å, [Formula: see text] 19.970 (5) Å, and [Formula: see text] 99.256 (14)[Formula: see text], monoclinic, space group P21/n, V [Formula: see text] 6295 (2) Å3, Z [Formula: see text] 4, formula FeCl3O4N8C[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text], 8397 observed data, [Formula: see text] 0.086, [Formula: see text] 0.210, refinement on [Formula: see text]. Crystal data for form B: [Formula: see text]15.267 (3) Å, [Formula: see text]20.377 (6) Å, [Formula: see text] 19.670 (4) Å, and [Formula: see text] 98.14 (1)[Formula: see text], monoclinic, space group P[Formula: see text]/n, V = 6058 (4) Å3, Z = 4, formula C[Formula: see text]H[Formula: see text]Cl[Formula: see text]FeN8O4, 5464 observed data, [Formula: see text] 0.096, [Formula: see text] 0.112, refinement on F.
China's Foreign Policy: Balancing its International Responsibility and National Interest
Authors: ZHENG Yongnian , LYE Liang Fook
Published: April 2016

While China is committed to upholding a United Nations (UN)-centred world order and support the implementation of the UN development agenda for the next 15 years, it has ramped up its island building and facilities construction in the South China Sea to assert its national interest. Greater uncertainty can be expected with China operationalising the facilities it has built and the United States bent on conducting freedom of navigation operations to challenge China's claims.