bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pervasive gene conversion in chromosomal inversion heterozygotes
Authors: Korunes Katharine L. , Noor Mohamed A. F. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractChromosomal inversions shape recombination landscapes, and species differing by inversions may exhibit reduced gene flow in these regions of the genome. Though single crossovers within inversions are not usually recovered from inversion heterozygotes, the recombination barrier imposed by inversions is nuanced by noncrossover gene conversion. Here, we provide a genomewide empirical analysis of gene conversion rates both within species and in species hybrids. We estimate that gene conversion occurs at a rate of 1 × 10–5to 2.5 × 10–5converted sites per bp per generation in experimental crosses withinDrosophila pseudoobscuraand betweenD. pseudoobscuraand its naturally hybridizing sister speciesD. persimilis. This analysis is the first direct empirical assessment of gene conversion rates within inversions of a species hybrid. Our data show that gene conversion rates in interspecies hybrids are at least as high as within‐species estimates of gene conversion rates, and gene conversion occurs regularly within and around inverted regions of species hybrids, even near inversion breakpoints. We also found that several gene conversion events appeared to be mitotic rather than meiotic in origin. Finally, we observed that gene conversion rates are higher in regions of lower local sequence divergence, yet our observed gene conversion rates in more divergent inverted regions were at least as high as in less divergent collinear regions. Given our observed high rates of gene conversion despite the sequence differentiation between species, especially in inverted regions, gene conversion has the potential to reduce the efficacy of inversions as barriers to recombination over evolutionary time.
Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) reactions to pingers
Authors: Kindt‐Larsen Lotte , Berg Casper Willestofte , Northridge Simon , Larsen Finn 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe use of acoustic alarms (pingers) has been mandated in several gill net fisheries around the world. Even though pingers have shown to reduce the incidental catch there are still questions to be answered in relation to effective range, habituation and displacement. In the present studies, the vocalization behavior of porpoises was recorded in response to two different pingers, AQUAmark100 (20–160 kHz) and AQUAmark300 (10 kHz). The Scottish experiment included an AQUAmark100 pinger running in on/off cycles. The pinger was placed in an array of acoustic click detectors (C‐PODs) spaced at different distances from the pinger. In Denmark, three experiments were conducted. One had the same AQUAmark100 pinger placed in a C‐POD array. The second and third experiment used an AQUAmark300 pinger running in on/off cycles. Both trial results of the AQUAmark100 revealed significant pinger reduction effects at 0, 200, and 400 m distance; however, the vocalization behavior reveal no signs of habituation. The studies of the AQUAmark300 revealed a significant pinger effect at 0 m distance and either none or 17% reduction at 300 m distance. At one station, however, habituation effects were found indicated by an increase in clicks over time. These results are important in relation to pinger use and thus fisheries management.
False positive bronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan: Effect of host and cut‐off value
Authors: Farmakiotis Dimitrios , Le Audrey , Weiss Zoe , Ismail Nour , Kubiak David W. , Koo Sophia 
Published: November 2018

SummaryObjectivesBronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan (BAL‐GM) is a mycological criterion for diagnosis of probable invasive aspergillosis (IA) per European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORT‐MSG) consensus criteria, but its real‐world positive predictive value (PPV) has not been well‐studied. Our aim was to estimate the PPV of BAL‐GM in a contemporary cohort of patients with positive BAL‐GM.MethodsWe identified consecutive patients with ≥1 positive BAL‐GM value (index ≥ 0.5) at Brigham and Women's Hospital from 11/2009 to 3/2016. We classified patients as having no, possible, probable, or proven IA, excluding BAL‐GM as mycological criterion.ResultsWe studied 134 patients: 54% had hematologic malignancy (HM), and 10% were solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. A total of 42% of positive (≥0.5) BAL‐GM results were falsely positive (PPV 58%). The number of probable IA cases was increased by 23% using positive BAL‐GM as mycologic criterion alone. PPV was higher in patients with HM or SOT (P < 0.001) and with use of higher thresholds for positivity (BAL‐GM ≥ 1 vs 1‐0.8 vs 0.8‐0.5: P = 0.002).Conclusions42% of positive BAL‐GM values were falsely positive. We propose a critical reassessment of BAL‐GM cutoff values in different patient populations. Accurate noninvasive tests for diagnosis of IA are urgently needed.
The migration response to local labour market shocks: Evidence from EU regions during the global economic crisis
Authors: Mitze Timo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe global economic crisis has strongly affected Europe's economic geography. This study investigates the role of local labour market disparities in determining regional net in‐migration rates. While only a weak link is detected in the precrisis period, the local labour market context of migration grows significantly stronger during the crisis. Decompositions of the estimation results show that changes in migration rates are firstly a result of widened disparities across European regions throughout the crisis. However, also behavioural adjustment processes occur, e.g. an orientation of migrants towards urban areas and away from regions with persistently high long‐run unemployment rates.
Induction of resistance against pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using selected pine endophytic bacteria
Authors: Kim N. , Jeon H. W. , Mannaa M. , Jeong S.‐I. , Kim J. , Kim J. , Lee C. , Park A. R. , Kim J.‐C. , Seo Y.‐S. 
Published: November 2018

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is the most destructive disease threatening pine worldwide. The disease is mainly caused by the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is vectored by pine sawyer longhorn‐beetles, Monochamus spp. This study aimed to select resistance‐inducing pine endophytic bacteria for management of PWD. To set up a defence‐related genes expression pattern for screening, four chemical inducers (salicylic acid, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), β‐aminobutyric acid and α‐aminobutyric acid) were tested in vitro on pine calli and in vivo on pine seedlings. Treatment with GABA had the greatest reduction in PWD severity on pine seedlings. The pattern of defence‐related gene expression in calli treated with GABA was used to select potential resistance‐inducing bacterial strains. In addition, 92 bacterial strains were isolated from pine tree needles and stems and were tested for expression of defence‐related genes in pine calli in vitro. Among the tested strains, 13 showed a similar pattern to GABA treatment in at least four tested defence‐related genes and were selected for the seedling assay. From the seedling assay, three bacterial strains (16YSM‐E48, 16YSM‐P180 and 16YSM‐P39) showed significant reduction in PWD severity compared to the untreated control. Moreover, among the selected strains, cell‐free culture supernatant of strain 16YSM‐P180 significantly reduced PWD severity in inoculated pine seedlings. The selected strains were identified based on the 16S rRNA sequence as Pseudomonas putida 16YSM‐E48, Curtobacterium pusillum 16YSM‐P180 and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila 16YSM‐P39. These selected strains are suggested as potential alternatives for management of PWD by induction of systemic resistance.
Histochemical study of the distribution of epidermal melanoblasts and melanocytes in Asian human skin
Authors: Hirobe Tomohisa , Enami Hisao 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe classical study revealed the melanocyte density in the epidermis of many skin sites of humans. However, these data were obtained by counting melanocytes using dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa)‐treated epidermal sheets. Since rete ridges are developed well in human epidermis, there is a concern about the accuracy of these data. The accurate counting of the melanocyte density in the epidermis including the rete ridges should be performed using histological sections after the dopa treatment. Moreover, it is not known well how many melanoblasts are present in Asian epidermis. The aim of this study was to count the accurate number of melanocytes and melanoblasts.MethodsNormal skin sites of 9‐ to 77‐year‐old patients were fixed with buffered formalin and processed to the dopa and combined dopa‐premelanin reactions. The numbers of cells positive to the dopa reaction (melanocytes) and to the combined dopa‐premelanin reaction (melanoblasts and melanocytes) were scored.ResultsIn the skin of arms, legs, back, and belly, similar density (approximately 110‐120 cells/0.1 mm2) of melanocytes was observed, whereas in the skin of scalp, melanocyte density was much lower (approximately 70 cells/0.1 mm2). By contrast, the melanoblast density did not differ between skin sites (approximately 100 cells/0.1 mm2).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the melanocyte density does not differ between skin sites except the scalp skin, and a certain number of melanoblasts are present in each skin site of Asian. Melanoblasts seem to be required for producing new melanocytes required to maintain epidermal homeostasis.
Optimization of surgical approach for thoracoscopic‐assisted pulmonary surgery in dogs
Authors: Singh Ameet , Scott Jacqueline , Case J. Brad , Mayhew Philipp D. , Runge Jeffrey J. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the optimal intercostal space (ICS) to perform thoracoscopic‐assisted lung lobectomy.Study designCadaveric study.AnimalsSix mature, medium‐sized canine cadavers.MethodsCadavers were placed in right or left lateral recumbency. A 15‐mm thoracoscopic cannula was inserted in the middle third of the 9th or 10th ICS. A wound retraction device was placed into a 7‐cm minithoracotomy incision created in the middle third of the 4th‐7th ICS on the left side and the 4th‐8th ICS on the right side. The pulmonary ligaments were sectioned by using a combined intracorporeal and extracorporeal technique. Each lung lobe was sequentially withdrawn from the wound retraction device at the respective ICS and side. A thoracoabdominal stapler was positioned to simulate lung lobectomy, and the distance from the stapler anvil to the hilus was measured.ResultsSimulated thoracoscopic‐assisted lung lobectomy performed at left or right ICS 4 and 5, compared with other ICS evaluated, resulted in a significantly shorter median distance from the stapler anvil to the pulmonary hilus of the left cranial and caudal lung lobes and right cranial and middle lung lobes, respectively (all P < .05). Lobectomy at right ICS 5 or 6 resulted in a significantly shorter median distance from the stapler anvil to the pulmonary hilus of the right caudal and accessory lung lobes, respectively (both P < .05).ConclusionThese data may inform minithoracotomy positioning to optimize tumor margin excision during thoracoscopic‐assisted lung lobectomy for treatment of pulmonary neoplasia in dogs.Clinical significanceComplete lung lobectomy is possible by using the described thoracoscopic‐assisted technique in normal, cadaveric lungs.
An upgraded comprehensive multilocus phylogeny of the Tardigrada tree of life
Authors: Guil Noemi , Jørgensen Aslak , Kristensen Reinhardt 
Published: November 2018

AbstractProviding accurate animals’ phylogenies rely on increasing knowledge of neglected phyla. Tardigrada diversity evaluated in broad phylogenies (among phyla) is biased towards eutardigrades. A comprehensive phylogeny is demanded to establish the representative diversity and propose a more natural classification of the phylum. So, we have performed multilocus (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) phylogenies with Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood. We propose the creation of a new class within Tardigrada, erecting the order Apochela (Eutardigrada) as a new Tardigrada class, named Apotardigrada comb. n. Two groups of evidence support its creation: (a) morphological, presence of cephalic appendages, unique morphology for claws (separated branches) and wide‐elongated buccopharyngeal apparatus without placoids, and (b) phylogenetic support based on molecular data. Consequently, order Parachela is suppressed and its superfamilies erected as orders within Eutardigrada, maintaining their current names. We propose a new classification within the family Echiniscidae (Echiniscoidea, Heterotardigrada) with morphological and phylogenetic support: (a) subfamily Echiniscinae subfam. n., with two tribes Echiniscini tribe n. and Bryodelphaxini tribe n.; (b) subfamily Pseudechiniscinae subfam. n., with three tribes Cornechiniscini tribe n., Pseudechiniscini tribe n. and Anthechiniscini tribe n.; and (c) subfamily Parechiniscinae subfam. n., with two tribes Parechiniscini tribe n. and Novechiniscini tribe n. Reliable biodiversity selection for tardigrades in broad phylogenies is proposed due to biased analyses performed up to now. We use our comprehensive molecular phylogeny to evaluate the evolution of claws in the clawless genusApodibiusand claw reduction across the Tardigrada tree of life. Evolutionary consequences are discussed.
Simulation Based Trajectory Analysis for the Tilt Controlled High Speed Narrow Track Three Wheeler Vehicle
Authors: Sindha Jigneshsinh , Chakraborty Basab , Chakravarty Debashish 
Published: November 2018

Small sized three wheeler electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity in many developing countries because of its low cost operation and excellent manoeuvrability. However, usage of such a 3Ws usage is limited to low speed application such as last mile public transport. Vehicles with such configuration are not well accepted for personal mobility. If the safe speed of such a vehicles are improved, such a vehicles can also become viable to personal transport. Active tilt control (ATC) systems are seen as one of the possible solution to improve safe speed of narrow track 3Ws.Literature indicates that many attempts have been made for establishing active tilt control system on 3W vehicles for enhancing stability of ATC vehicles and promising results were obtained. This paper presents simulation based analysis of the ATC 3W electric vehicle. This work is part of full scale experimental prototype development for the narrow track ATC 3W vehicle with one wheel in front configuration. The primarily focus of this work is to address vehicle dynamics and trajectory related issue of the tilting 3Ws.
A multi-body model of ATC 3W vehicle using single track lateral dynamic model with nonlinear tire characteristics was prepared in SimMechanics. The lateral dynamic outputs in terms of the trajectory followed by vehicle were compared for the constant steering inputs given to non-tilting vehicle, tilting vehicle with direct tilt control (DTC) system and tilting vehicle with Steering direct tilt control (SDTC) system. Two critical driving scenarios of U-turn and Lane change manoeuvre are analyzed. It is observed from the results that there is certain trade-off in selecting a tilt actuator and controller so as to minimize the jerks in the perceived acceleration due to high gain and minimize the tilt angle error to ensure proper stability improvement. It is also identified that the controller must be tuned to the predictable trajectory control, in addition to the main task of reducing the load transfer across the rear wheel axle. The model presented in the paper is used to understand the performance of DTC and SDTC control strategies during potentially dangerous manoeuvres. The desired path following ability of the vehicle is the main measures considered for the analysis.
Increasing Energy Efficiency of High-Speed Parallel Robots by Using Variable Stiffness Springs and Optimal Motion Generation
Authors: Balderas Hill Rafael , Briot Sébastien , Chriette Abdelhamid , Martinet Philippe 
Published: November 2018

The classical approach to decrease the energy consumption of high-speed robots is by lowering the moving elements mass in order to have a lightweight structure. Even if this allows reducing the energy consumed, the lightweight architecture affects the robot stiffness, worsening the accuracy of the mechanism. Recently, variable stiffness actuators (VSAs) have been used in order to reduce the energy consumption of high-speed pick-and-place robots. The idea is to smartly tune online the stiffness of VSA springs so that the robot is put in near a resonance mode, thus considerably decreasing the energy consumption during fast pseudo-periodic pick-and-place motions. However, the serial configuration of springs and motors in the VSA leads to uncontrolled robot deflections at high-speeds and, thus, to a poor positioning accuracy of its end-effector.
In order to avoid these drawbacks and to increase the energy efficiency while ensuring the accuracy, this paper proposes the use of parallel arrangement of variable stiffness springs (VSS) and motors, combined with an energy-based optimal trajectory planner. The VSS are used as energy storage for carrying out the reduction of the energy consumption and their parallel configuration with the motors ensure the load balancing at high-speed without losing the accuracy of the robot. Simulations of the suggested approach on a five-bar mechanism are performed and show the increase on energy efficiency.
Inclusive Toy Design From a Lead User With Extraordinary Needs
Authors: Grover Micki C. , Clarke-Sather Abigail R. 
Published: November 2018

Products designed for the mass market, especially toys, can leave children with extraordinary needs unable to use them; products created using inclusive design principles can limit the intention of the design by altering original design parameters to become as wide as possible so that users with a range of abilities can use them. In contrast, designing for lead users with disabilities by focusing on a select group of people with extraordinary needs can drive design forward for a less specific population. Undergraduate engineering students from the University of Minnesota Duluth designed toys to meet the unique developmental needs of such a lead user, a child with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). By focusing on the extreme needs of one specific child, the students designed toys that were engaging for the lead user as well as the preschoolers.
Three toys were prototyped using 3D printing and woodworking techniques and given to the lead user, age 4, as well as a group of children from a local daycare center, ages 16 to 33 months. The duration of each child’s interactions with the toys as well as the number of children able to accomplish the intended functions of the toys were tracked. The lead user accomplished 6 of the 9 total functions designed for the toys, 4 of which while using two hands. Additionally, the lead user accomplished 4 functions that under 50% of the daycare children accomplished. In general, the daycare center children played with the toys longer than the lead user. The toys engaged all the children in play that encouraged two-handed fine motor development, a challenge for children with hemiplegic CP.
A New Design of Main Cylinder Electric Booster for Brake-by-Wire System
Authors: Shah Danish Ali , Yu Liangyao , Liu Xiaohui , Zheng Sheng 
Published: November 2018

BBW (Brake by Wire) system improved day by day, as safety control of transport is one of the most pressing issues. A new EHB (electric hydraulic brake) booster has been proposed in this paper to develop cars in a way that it can reduce a possibility of accidents and minimizing their consequences. EHB with main cylinder electric booster is a typical BBW system. As no vacuum used to drive the EHB system, it is the best choice for the modern transportation technology. The effect of the brake is comfortable because of the motor, which is used to assist in braking and it makes braking softer. Also in case of any fault, emergency braking is always available which is fully manual and without the assistance of any motor. After the Analysis of many EHB booster designs, in this paper, a locking and unlocking hook system is introduced to control the braking system. It is a first approach that is simple and cost-effective.
This brake system is an excellent choice because it is very safe, calculated, and serviceable in complete electrical vehicles. We used gear transmission system to achieve the required braking force with a little amount of torque. We also used SOLIDWORKS to design the model of the EHB booster and test dynamics. Introduced a mathematical model to change motor torque to linear force by using a ball screw mechanism. We verified it with MATLAB/SIMULINK simulation and Amesim model simulation. Reaction force, due to the fluid present in the main cylinder, was taken into account and a closed loop MATLAB/SIMULINK model was utilized to check kinematics of the designed booster.
Research on Performances of a Displacement Controllable Active Suspension
Authors: Zhao Zhen , Xu Lin , Liu Beibei , Abdelkareem Mohamed A. A. , Zou Junyi , Yu Jiaxing 
Published: November 2018

The suspension is one of the most important systems in a vehicle, which can decrease the vehicle body vibration and maintain good ride performance and driving stability. As for strikingly rugged roads like off-road conditions, the traditional active suspension can hardly balance the contradiction between the wheel adhesion and the vertical accelerated speed of the body. To accelerate to a higher speed while ensuring the ride performance at the same time, high-quality suspension system must be created and applied.
As we all know, the active suspension can improve the driving stability and ride performance dramatically. In order to achieve the controllable adjustment of shock absorber damping and vehicle height, and realize the optimization of vehicle suspension performance, a new kind of active suspension which includes magnetorheological damper and servo electric cylinder is proposed. Then, the mathematical model of the proposed active suspension based on “Servo Electric Cylinder-Spring-Magnetorheological damper” is established after being simplified. Finally, the dynamic performances of the passive and active suspension in different modes are simulated by MATLAB based on its mathematical model and dynamic characteristic functions. The results indicate that the proposed active suspension, compared with the passive, can achieve the controlled adjustment of shock absorber damping and vehicle height, and ensure the ride performance.