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Background: Despite the improvements in the completeness of reporting of randomized trial protocols after the publication of the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trial (SPIRIT) guidelines, many items remain poorly reported. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of using SPIRIT-tailored templates for trial protocols to improve the completeness of reporting of the protocols that master's students write as part of their master's theses. Methods: Before and after experimental study performed at the University Master's Degree in Orthopaedic Manual Physiotherapy of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain). While students in the post-intervention period were instructed to use a trial protocol template that was tailored to SPIRIT, students in the pre-intervention period did not use the template. Primary outcome: Difference between the pre- and post-intervention periods in the mean number of adequately reported items (0–10 scale). The outcomes were evaluated independently and in duplicate by two blinded assessors. Students and their supervisors were not aware that they were part of a research project. For the statistical analysis, we used a generalized linear regression model (dependent variable: number of adequately reported items in the protocol; independent variables: intervention period, call, language). Results: Thirty-four trial protocols were included (17, pre-intervention; 17, post-intervention). Protocols produced during the post-intervention period (mean: 8.24; SD: 1.52) were more completely reported than those produced during the pre-intervention period (mean: 6.35; SD: 1.80); adjusted difference: 1.79 (95% CI: 0.58 to 3.00). Conclusions: SPIRIT-based templates could be used to improve the completeness of reporting of randomized trial protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal maturity assessments of hydrocarbon-generation potential and thermal history rarely consider how upper-plate structures developing during subduction influence the trajectories of accreted sediments. Our thermomechanical models of subduction support that thrusts evolving under variable sedimentation rates and décollement strengths fundamentally influence the trajectory, temperature, and thermal maturity of accreting sediments. This is notably true for the frontal thrust, which pervasively partitions sediments along a low- and a high-maturity path. Our findings imply that interpretations of the distribution of thermal maturity cannot be detached from accounts of the length and frequency of thrusts and their controlling factors. Our approach takes these factors into consideration and provides a robust uncertainty estimate of maximum exposure temperatures as a function of vitrinite reflectance and burial depth. As a result, our models reduce former inconsistencies between predicted and factual thermal maturity distributions in accretionary wedges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomere length and telomere shortening are thought to be critical cellular attributes and processes that are related to an individual's life span and fitness. The general pattern across most taxa is that after birth telomere length gradually decreases with age. Telomere protection and restoration mechanisms are usually assumed to reduce the rate of shortening or at most keep telomere length constant. However, here we have compiled a list of 26 articles showing that there is an increasing number of studies reporting apparent elongation of telomeres (i.e., a net increase in TL from timet to timet+1) often in a considerable proportion of the individuals studied. Moreover, the few studies which have studied telomere elongation in detail show that increases in telomere length are unlikely to be due to measurement error alone. In this article, we argue that episodes of telomere elongation deserve more attention as they could reflect individual strategies to optimise life histories and maximise fitness, which may not be reflected in the overall telomere dynamics patterns. We propose that patterns of telomere (net) elongation may be partly determined by other factors than those causing telomere shortening, and therefore deserve analyses specifically targeted to investigate the occurrence of telomere elongation. We elaborate on two ecological hypotheses that have been proposed to explain patterns of telomere elongation (the 'excess resources elongation' and the 'last resort elongation' hypothesis) and we discuss the current evidence for (or against) these hypotheses and propose ways to test them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fingerprint comes to be the most popular and utilized biometric for identifying persons owing to its bio-invariant characteristic, precision, as well as easy acquisition. A sub-system of an identification system is the classification stage in order to diminish the penetration rate and computational complexity. Actually, there are many formal investigations regarding techniques by exploiting convolutional neural networks (CNN) together with fingerprints images, which have superior performance metrics at the cost of large training times even employing high performance computing, which is not feasible in the standard word. In our manuscript, researches about identify and classify fingerprint databases by recurring to extreme learning machines (ELM) will be extensively reported and discussed for the first time. The diverse methodologies (ELM plus feature extractors) given by the authors will be studied and contrasted considering performance analysis. Consequently, academic papers with diverse version of ELMs are developed to observe the pros and cons that they exhibit with each other and to probe how they may help for minimizing the penetration rate of fingerprint databases. In fact, this issue is very relevant because by enhancing the penetration rate means shorting search times and computational complexity in fingerprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze a massive spinor field satisfying the Dirac equation in the universal covering space of two-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. In order to obtain well-defined dynamics for the classical field despite the lack of global-hyperbolicity of the spacetime, we impose a suitable set of boundary conditions that render the spatial component of the Dirac operator self-adjoint. Then, we find which of the solution spaces obtained by imposing the self-adjoint boundary conditions are invariant under the action of the isometry group of the spacetime manifold, namely, the universal covering group of S L (2 , R). The invariant solution spaces are then identified with unitary irreducible representations of this group using the classification given by Pukánszky [Math. Ann. 156, 96–143 (1964)]. We determine which of these correspond to invariant positive- or negative-frequency subspaces and, thus, result in a vacuum state invariant under the isometry group after canonical quantization. Additionally, we examine the invariant theories obtained from the self-adjoint boundary conditions, which result in a non-invariant vacuum state, identifying the unitary representation this state belongs to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal maturity assessments of hydrocarbon-generation potential and thermal history rarely consider how upper-plate structures developing during subduction influence the trajectories of accreted sediments. Our thermomechanical models of subduction support that thrusts evolving under variable sedimentation rates and décollement strengths fundamentally influence the trajectory, temperature, and thermal maturity of accreting sediments. This is notably true for the frontal thrust, which pervasively partitions sediments along a low and a high maturity path. Our findings imply that interpretations of the distribution of thermal maturity cannot be detached from accounts of the length and frequency of thrusts and their controlling factors. Taking these factors into consideration, our approach provides a robust uncertainty estimate in maximum exposure temperatures as a function of vitrinite reflectance and burial depth thereby reducing former inconsistencies between predicted and factual thermal maturity distributions in accretionary wedges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on telomeres in the fields of ecology and evolution has been rapidly expanding over the last two decades. This has resulted in the formulation of a multitude of, often name‐given, hypotheses related to the associations between telomeres and life‐history traits or fitness‐facilitating processes (and the mechanisms underlying them). However, the differences (or similarities) between the various hypotheses, which can originate from different research fields, are often not obvious. Our aim here is therefore to give an overview of the hypotheses that are of interest in ecology and evolution and to provide two frameworks that help discriminate among them. We group the hypotheses (i) based on their association with different research questions, and (ii) using a hierarchical approach that builds on the assumptions they make, such as about causality of telomere length/shortening and/or the proposed functional consequences of telomere shortening on organism performance. Both our frameworks show that there exist parallel lines of thoughts in different research fields. Moreover, they also clearly illustrate that there are in many cases competing hypotheses within clusters, and that some of these even have contradictory assumptions and/or predictions. We also touch upon two topics in telomere research that would benefit from further conceptualization. This review should help researchers, both those familiar with and those new to the subject, to identify future avenues of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Location indices are key in explaining variation in house prices. However, the definition of comprehensive indices capturing all locational features, along with their efficient and timely calculation, is usually one of the most complex dimensions of house price modeling. Existing difficulties result in partial location specifications, mostly due to three hurdles: (1) there is not a consensus on the best method to construct these indices, (2) what features (variables) to include: labor, demographic, commuting, etc., and (3) its creation requires granular and updated datasets. We introduce a methodology based on computer algorithms to create car and walk accessibility indices that address the previous concerns and capture location interactions among a wide range of variables. The selection of variables is based on an automated search of the best performing utility bearing gravitational accessibility indices for price prediction. Once these optimal indices are obtained, the method applies principal components analysis to secure their orthogonality. Using a unique dataset from a leading real estate portal in Europe, we illustrate and test for the city of Madrid their applicability in several house asking price models that are estimated using regression analysis and random forests (as a representative family of machine learning techniques). The experimental analysis reveals that using the optimal indices results in significant improvements in accuracy, for both regression-based models (13%) and random forests (21.6%), while achieving a substantial reduction in spatial autocorrelation (around 35%). The generated indices are clearly interpretable, which makes them a valuable tool for urban analyses (planning, transportation, sustainability, etc.). Finally, the methodology can be extended to other types of real state (commercial, industrial, etc.) and location (country, region, etc.). • Common accessibility variables in hedonic price models are too simply defined. • We introduce algorithms to calculate optimal gravity-based accessibility indices. • The new indices are used in hedonic regression and random forest predicting prices. • The new indices increase the accuracy and predicting power of the models. • The new indices reduce spatial correlation and dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crustal rheology and surface processes strongly influence strain distribution and shape of orogenic wedges at their front but how they influence the wedge rear is still unclear. Here, we analyse the coupled control of viscosity and sedimentation on forearc high growth during advanced stages of subduction accretion. We use 2D thermo-mechanical finite element models constrained with data of the south Anatolian margin. Our simulations show that forearc highs grow as a thermallyactivated viscosity drop in the lower crust induces ductile deformation and viscous flow. Initial viscosity and the amount of sediments in the forearc basin control nonlinearly the occurrence and timing of the thermally-activated viscosity drop, and thus of the growth of the forearc high. High sedimentation rates result in thicker forearc basins that stabilise the subduction wedge and delay the onset of uplift in the forearc high. Low viscosities promote earlier onset of forearc high uplift and lead to larger morphological variability along the subduction margin. Increasing either the sedimentation rate or viscosity may prevent forearc high formation entirely. The thermo-viscous forearc highs grow at an age set by wedge thermal state as a function of accretionary flux, wedge viscosity, and synorogenic sedimentation. Our models explain vertical motions in south Anatolia and potentially in other accretionary margins, like the Lesser Antilles or Cascadia, during the formation of their broad forearc highs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material Extrusion (MEX) currently stands as the most widespread Additive Manufacturing (AM) process, but part quality deficiencies remain a barrier to its generalized industrial adoption. Quality control in MEX is a complex task as extrusion performance impacts the consistency of mechanical properties and the surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and geometric precision of manufactured parts. Recognizing the need for early-stage process monitoring, this study explores the potential of integrating Laser Triangulation Sensors (LTS) into MEX/P manufacturing equipment for layer-wise 3D inspections. Using a double-bridge architecture, an LTS-based sub-micrometric inspection system operates independently from the manufacturing process, enabling comprehensive digitization and autonomous reconstruction of the target layer's topography. Surface texture is then computed using standardized indicators and a new approach that provides insight into layer quality uniformity. A case study evaluating two alternative extruder head designs demonstrates the efficacy of this integrated approach for layer quality characterization. Implementing a generalized layer-wise procedure based on this integration can significantly mitigate quality issues in MEX manufacturing and optimize process parameter configurations for enhanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing in detail those factors that are most relevant to the probability of selling homes can be of utmost importance, among other things, as it is a long-term investment. After identifying a series of blocks that mark the evolution of their sale, such as the internal characteristics of the property in question, its location, its degree of overpricing and, above all, a real interest on the part of the buyer, a novel study is presented that models the probability of selling properties over time using machine learning techniques applied to survival problems, achieving C-index values of 76% and 72% in chalets and apartments, respectively. The methodological process has been tested in the capital of Spain, Madrid, based on data collected from the country’s main market platform during the 2018-2019 period, weighted according to official information, but the methodology is scalable to any municipality. Not only sellers, buyers or intermediaries can benefit from this contribution, but also public agents, in order to make decisions focused on design or prevention in the area of housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates non-invasive techniques for annular two-phase flow analysis, focusing on liquid film characterization to understand the interfacial phenomena that are crucial for heat and mass transfer. Limited methods allow the study of the temporal and spatial evolution of liquid film, such as Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF). However, this method possesses optical challenges, leading to the need for improved techniques to mitigate refraction and reflection, such as Refractive Index Matching (RIM). This study utilizes an experimental annular flow facility to analyze both RIM and non-RIM PLIF over a range of liquid Reynolds numbers from 4200 to 10,400. Three configurations—PLIF RIM90, PLIF RIM40, and PLIF nRIM40—are compared from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In the quantitative analysis, key variables of the liquid film are measured, namely mean film thickness, disturbance wave height, and frequency. Variations in the analyzed variables indicate minor deviations, which are not likely to be caused by the technique used. However, all three methodologies exhibited errors that are estimated to be within a maximum of 10%, with a mean value of approximately 8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the performance of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is limited by phase noise, which depends on the laser linewidths for coherent-detection radio over fiber (RoF) systems. In this manuscript, we present numerical and theoretical results to analyze the combined effects of phase and additive white Gaussian noises in the performance of RoF-OFDM schemes with the feasible pilot-based channel corrector. This phase-noise compensator is adopted due to its effectiveness as well as simplicity. It is shown that as the subcarrier modulation format increases, the required radio frequency linewidth for overcoming the FEC limit decreases by a factor of 10 times. Also, there is a signal–noise ratio penalty of 7 dB. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the bit error rate enhances as the product of the laser linewidths and OFDM symbol period decreases because the pilot-assisted equalization method acts as a high-pass filter for phase noise. We finally discovered that the intermediate-frequency (IF) carrier suppression is not mandatory; the system performance is not affected by selecting properly the carrier–signal ratio and IF. To confirm the previous observation, a novel way to measure phase noise in RoF-OFDM signals accompanied by the IF carrier is proposed. The mean integral phase noise comes from the adaptation of the root mean square phase deviation of the single-carrier systems. This work serves as a guideline for the study and design of OFDM-based RoF schemes susceptible to direct and coherent detections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rindler positivity is a property that holds in any relativistic Quantum Field Theory and implies an infinite set of inequalities involving the exponential of the Rényi mutual information In (Ai, A ¯ j) between Ai and A ¯ j, where Ai is a spacelike region in the right Rindler wedge and A ¯ j is the wedge reflection of Aj. We explore these inequalities in order to get local inequalities for In (A, A ¯ ) as a function of the distance between A and its mirror region A ¯ . We show that the assumption, based on the cluster property of the vacuum, that In goes to zero when the distance goes to infinity, implies the more stringent and simple condition that Fn≡ e(n−1)In should be a completely monotonic function of the distance, meaning that all the even (odd) derivatives are non-negative (non-positive). In the case of a CFT, we show that conformal invariance implies stronger conditions, including a sort of monotonicity of the Rényi mutual information for pairs of balls. An application of these inequalities to obtain constraints for the OPE coefficients of the 4-point function of certain twist operators is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geologic evidence across orogenic plateau margins enables the discrimination of the relative contributions of orogenic, epeirogenic and/or climatic processes that lead to growth and maintenance of those plateaus and their margins. Here, we discuss the mode of formation of the southern margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau (SCAP) and evaluate its time of formation using fieldwork in the onshore and seismic reflection data in the offshore. In the onshore, uplifted Miocene rocks in a dip‐slope topography show monocline flexure over >100 km, km‐scale asymmetric folds verging south, and outcrop‐scale syn‐sedimentary reverse faults. On the Turkish shelf, vertical faults transect the basal latest Messinian of a 10 km fold where on‐structure syntectonic wedges and synsedimentary unconformities indicate pre‐Pliocene uplift and erosion, followed by Pliocene and younger deformation. Collectively, Miocene rocks delineate a flexural monocline at plateau margin scale that is expressed along our on‐offshore sections as a kink‐band fold with a steep flank 20–25 km long. In these reconstructed sections, we estimate a relative vertical displacement of 3.8 km at rates of ca. 0.5 mm/y, and horizontal shortening values <1 %. We use this evidence together with our observations of shortening at outcrop, basin, plateau‐margin and forearc‐system scales to infer that the SCAP forms as a monoclinal flexure to accommodate deep‐seated thickening and shortening since >5 Ma, and to contextualize the plateau margin as the forearc high of the Cyprus subduction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore how sports injury epidemiological outcomes (i.e., prevalence, average prevalence, incidence, burden, and time to first injury) vary depending on the response rates to a weekly online self‐reported questionnaire for athletes. Methods: Weekly information on athletics injuries and exposure from 391 athletics (track and field) athletes was prospectively collected over 39 weeks (control group of the PREVATHLE randomized controlled trial) using an online self‐reported questionnaire. The data were used to calculate sports injury epidemiological outcomes (i.e., prevalence, average prevalence, incidence, burden, and time to first injury) for sub‐groups with different minimum individual athletes' response rates (i.e., from at least 100%, at least 97%, at least 95%, ... to at least 0% response rate). We then calculated the relative variation between each sub‐group and the sub‐group with a 100% response rate as a reference. A substantial variation was considered when the relative variation was greater than one SD or 95% CI of the respective epidemiological outcome calculated in the sub‐group with a 100% response rate. Results: Of 15 249 expected weekly questionnaires, 7209 were completed and returned, resulting in an overall response rate of 47.3%. The individual athletes' response rates ranged from 0% (n = 51) to 100% (n = 100). The prevalence, average weekly prevalence, and time to first injury only varied substantially for the sub‐groups below a 5%, 10% and 18% minimum individual response rate, respectively. The incidence and injury burden showed substantial variations for all sub‐groups with a response rate below 100%. Conclusions: Epidemiological outcomes varied depending on the minimum individual athletes' response rate, with injury prevalence, average weekly prevalence, and time to first injury varying less than injury incidence and injury burden. This highlights the need to take into account the individual response rate when calculating epidemiological outcomes, and determining the optimal study‐specific cut‐offs of the minimum individual response rate needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and Framingham risk scores (FRS) are used to calculate 10-year risk of coronary death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or fatal/nonfatal stroke. Our goal is to evaluate the association between preoperative cardiovascular risk and weight loss.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed bariatric surgeries from 2010 to 2016. Patients who met criteria for calculating 10-year ASCVD score and FRS were included. Data collected included baseline demographics, perioperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes at 12 months. Simple linear regression and multiple linear regression models were applied to test influence of individual or multiple factors of interest on 12-month weight loss outcomes.Results: Of 1330 bariatric patients studied, 360 patients met criteria for ASCVD and FRS calculation. Sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was the most prevalent surgery 63.05%, followed by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) 20.55%, revision procedures 11.9%, and adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) 4.4%. Initial BMI was 42.71 ± 7.85 kg/m2 for females and 42.72k ± 7.42 kg/m2 for males, with a 12-month percentage of estimated BMI loss (%EBMIL) of 66.51% in females and 60.29% in males. Preoperative 10-year ASCVD score was higher in males than females with a 34.73% relative risk reduction (RRR) in males and 35.3% RRR in females at 12-month follow-up. Regarding FRS, preoperative risk was 33.13 ± 21.1% in males and 15.71 ± 14.52% in females, with an RRR of 25.8% in males and 32.2% in females. Univariate analysis of preoperative FRS and %EBMIL showed that for every percentage unit increase in the patient's preoperative FRS, %EBMIL decreases 0.31 percentile unit (P < 0.001). Furthermore, preoperative ASCVD score is also significantly associated with %EMBIL-for every percentage unit increase in preoperative ASCVD score, %EBMIL decreases 0.42 percentile credits.Conclusion: Study results suggest ASCVD and FRS are equally reduced after bariatric surgery, especially after LSG and LRYGB. Moreover, preoperative FRS and ASCVD risk score showed an inversely proportional relationship with %EBMIL loss at 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In-situ temperature XRD and mechanical spectroscopy were applied to study phase transitions in AuCu alloy from the disordered FCC state (A1). The phase transition temperature intervals were investigated upon heating and cooling using a rate of 1 K/min in order to be thoroughly determined. The following sequences of phase transitions were recorded upon continuous heating: A1->AuCuI ->AuCuII->A1 and on subsequent cooling: A1 ->A1+AuCuI+AuCuII ->AuCuI+AuCuII ->AuCuI. This transition sequences determine also temperature dependency of elastic and anelastic properties. Mechanical spectroscopy using a forced torsion pendulum shows a peak due to antiphase boundaries motion characterizing the orthorhombic phase AuCuII and a transient peak with the that appears in the tetragonal phase AuCuI together with the classical Zener peak in the A1 phase. Highlights • Study of the phase transition temperature intervals and kinetics of transformation in Au-25 wt%Cu. • In-situ XRD has been used for the structural study. • Study of the mechanical dependence to the existent phase transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring magnesium stearate (MgSt) surface coverage remains a challenge in powders. Microdynamic flowability is proposed to better understand the nature of these films and how formulation and process variability affect the final product. The method examined small-scale particulate solids in motion and related behaviour at the particle–particle interfaces under varying shear conditions. The study correlated the lubricant-free area of powder particles with the effective bonding area during compaction. On the particle surface, shear microdynamics characterized the dynamic friction between particles. This described for the first time the extent of the lubricant coverage in powders, which was also related to the magnitude of the shear forces during blending and amount of MgSt. In addition, compression studies described the stress applied to tablets and processing equipment. The combination of knowledge gained on a laboratory scale determined the critical process parameter ranges and control points between under- and overlubrication. [Display omitted] • Shear microdynamics enhances the understanding of powder mechanics. • Monitoring of magnesium stearate (MgSt) blending is achieved for powders. • Dynamic friction between particles describes the distribution of MgSt. • Lubricant aggregates are susceptible to delamination in bulk powder processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is vast evidence that supports the importance of obesity in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease. Rapid weight loss induced by laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has proven beneficial. The aim of this study is to evaluate laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as an alternative treatment modality and its impact on the Framingham-BMI 10-year risk score.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients that underwent bariatric surgery at our institution between 2010 and 2014. Patients who met the criteria for calculating the Framingham BMI 10-year risk score were included. Data collected included baseline demographics, perioperative parameters such as tobacco use, diagnosis of diabetes, treatment for hypertension, BMI and postoperative outcomes at 3 and 12 months.Results: From our 1129 bariatric patients, 358 (31.7%) met criteria for the Framingham BMI 10-year risk score calculation. LSG was the most prevalent surgery 61.45% (N = 220) followed by LRYGB 22.06% (N = 79). Females composed 69% (N = 248) of our population. The average age for females was 52.3 ± 10.8 years and for males 54.07 ± 11.2 years. The initial Framingham 10-year score risk was significantly higher in males compared with females (36.16% ± 22.3 vs. 16.97% ± 15.6 (p < 0.001)). After 12-month follow-up, the absolute risk reduction in males was 11.58% (p < 0.001) and 6.17% in females (p < 0.001). The preoperative heart age was high in females and males (69.23 ± 15.72 years and 73.55 ± 13.55 years, respectively (p = 0.012)), and after 12 months it was reduced 7.19 years in females (p < 0.001) and 7.04 years in males (p < 0.001). The percentage of estimated BMI loss at 1 year was 64.43% in females and 60.69% in males.Conclusion: Sleeve gastrectomy has demonstrated to be an effective method of treatment for obesity. Our results suggest that rapid weight loss after LSG has a positive impact in the reduction of the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk. Further prospective studies may be needed to better assess these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compulsory submission of a checklist from the relevant reporting guideline is one of the most widespread journal requirements aiming to improve completeness of reporting. However, the current suboptimal levels of adherence to reporting guidelines observed in the literature may indicate that this journal policy is not having a significant effect.Findings: We explored whether authors provided the appropriate CONSORT checklist extension for their study and whether there were inconsistencies between what authors claimed on the submitted checklist and what was actually reported in the published paper. We randomly selected 12 randomized trials from three journals that provide the originally submitted checklist and analyzed six core CONSORT items. Only one paper used the appropriate checklist extension and had no inconsistencies between what was claimed in the submitted checklist and what was reported in the published paper.Conclusion: Journals should take further actions to take full advantage of the requirement for the submission of fulfilled CONSORT checklists, thus ensuring that these checklists reflect what is reported in the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtain new constraints for the modular energy of general states by using the monotonicity property of relative entropy. In some cases, modular energy can be related to the energy density of states and these constraints lead to interesting relations between energy and entropy. In particular, we derive new quantum energy inequalities that improve some previous bounds for the energy density of states in a conformal field theory. Additionally, the inequalities derived in this manner also lead us to conclude that the entropy of the state further restricts the possible amount of negative energy allowed by the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithospheric-scale faults related to oblique subduction are responsible for some of the most hazardous earthquakes reported worldwide. The mega-thrust in the Sunda sector of the Sumatran oblique subduction has been intensively studied, especially after the infamous 2004 Mw 9.1 earthquake, but its onshore kinematic complement within the Sumatran subduction, the transform Sumatran Fault System, has received considerably less attention. In this paper, we apply a combination of analysis of Digital Elevation Models (ASTER GDEM) and field evidence to resolve the kinematics of the leading edge of deformation of the northern sector of the Sumatran Fault System. To this end, we mapped the northernmost tip of Sumatra, including the islands to the northwest, between 4.5°N and 6°N. Here, major topographic highs are related to different faults. Using field evidence and our GDEM structural mapping, we can show that in the area where the fault bifurcates into two fault strands, two independent kinematic regimes evolve, both consistent with the large-scale framework of the Sumatran Fault System. Whereas the eastern branch is a classic Riedel system, the western branch features a fold-and-thrust belt. The latter contractional feature accommodated significant amounts (c. 20%) of shortening of the system in the study area. Our field observations of the tip of the NSFS match a strain pattern with a western contractional domain (Pulau Weh thrust splay) and an eastern extensional domain (Pulau Aceh Riedel system), which are together characteristic of the tip of a propagating strike-slip fault, from a mechanical viewpoint. For the first time, we describe the strain partitioning resulting from the propagation of the NSFS in Sumatra mainland. Our study helps understanding complex kinematics of an evolving strike-slip system, and stresses the importance of field studies in addition to remote sensing and geophysical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, we present a new contribution to radar-target identification via the extinction-pulse (E-pulse) method. New E-pulses are built using exponential \beta -splines, which include in their construction free parameters that are adjusted to obtain more robust identification systems. The adjusting process is done by searching for the free parameters that maximize the discrimination capability of the system in the absence of noise. Simulation results justify the approach and show that the E-pulses obtained by maximization of the discrimination capability improve the results obtained with the classical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Muscle wasting negatively impacts the progress of chronic diseases such as lung cancer (LC) and emphysema, which are in turn interrelated.Objectives: We hypothesized that muscle atrophy and body weight loss may develop in an experimental mouse model of lung carcinogenesis, that the profile of alterations in muscle fiber phenotype (fiber type composition and morphometry, muscle structural alterations, and nuclear apoptosis), and in muscle metabolism are similar in both respiratory and limb muscles of the tumor-bearing mice, and that the presence of underlying emphysema may influence those events.Methods: Diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscles of mice with urethane-induced lung cancer (LC-U) with and without elastase-induced emphysema (E-U) and non-exposed controls (N = 8/group) were studied: fiber type composition, morphometry, muscle abnormalities, apoptotic nuclei (immunohistochemistry), and proteolytic and autophagy markers (immunoblotting) at 20- and 35-week exposure times. In the latter cohort, structural contractile proteins, creatine kinase (CK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) expression, oxidative stress, and inflammation were also measured. Body and muscle weights were quantified (baseline, during follow-up, and sacrifice).Results: Compared to controls, in U and E-U mice, whole body, diaphragm and gastrocnemius weights were reduced. Additionally, both in diaphragm and gastrocnemius, muscle fiber cross-sectional areas were smaller, structural abnormalities, autophagy and apoptotic nuclei were increased, while levels of actin, myosin, CK, PPARs, and antioxidants were decreased, and muscle proteolytic markers did not vary among groups.Conclusions: In this model of lung carcinogenesis with and without emphysema, reduced body weight gain and muscle atrophy were observed in respiratory and limb muscles of mice after 20- and 35-week exposure times most likely through increased nuclear apoptosis and autophagy. Underlying emphysema induced a larger reduction in the size of slow- and fast-twitch fibers in the diaphragm of U and E-U mice probably as a result of the greater inspiratory burden imposed onto this muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The (CuAsTe) is a paramagnetic compound. • The conduction mechanism was described by (CBH) model. • A non-Debye relaxation phenomenon was observed. The copper hydrogeno-arsenite tellurate material (CuAsTe) was synthesized and its magnetic properties were investigated. Thermal analyses revealed that no mass loss was recorded before 480 K. Additionally, in this current work, electrical properties based on the impedance measurements were determined. The complex impedance diagram at different temperatures demonstrated a single semicircle, implying that the response originated from a single capacitive element corresponding to the grains. The thermal evolution of the conductivity σ dc displayed an Arrhenius type behavior and suggested that this material is an ionic protonic conductor at high temperature whereas the σ ac conductivity was indicative that the conduction mechanism is ensured by the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model. The variation of M″ versus frequency proved to be a thermally activated dielectric relaxation process. Notably, we specified determined the direct optical band gap Eg = 2.3 eV in order to characterize the optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents as a novelty a comparative study of the efficiency of different sustainable cooling systems in the re-drilling repair process of magnesium-based multi-material components for aeronautical and automotive sectors. The cooling systems compared are: dry machining , minimum quantity of lubricant with eco-fluid (MQL-Eco), cold compressed air (CCA) and cryogenic machining. Multi-materials used are magnesium-aluminium and magnesium-titanium combinations. The study uses descriptive statistics and ANOVA to conclude the significant factors and interactions. Conclusions highlight differences depending on the type of response variable chosen. The best results for the Mg-Al-Mg are obtained using MQL-Eco , and for Mg-Ti-Mg with cryogenic machining. [Display omitted] • Efficiency comparison of different sustainable cooling in the redrilling repair process of magnesium-based multi-material. • Cooling systems: dry machining, minimum quantity of lubricant with eco-fluid, cold compressed air and cryogenic machining. • The study uses descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to conclude significant factors and interactions. • Results depends on response variable chosen; based on a profile (Ra, Rz), or based on an area (Sa, Sz). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is being established as a standard technology to recover some of the energy contained in the sludge in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as biogas, allowing an economy in electricity and heating and a decrease in climate gas emission. The purpose of this study was to quantify the contributions to the total environmental impact of the plant using life cycle assessment methodology. In this work, data from real operation during 2012 of a municipal WWTP were utilized as the basis to determine the impact of including AD in the process. The climate change human health was the most important impact category when AD was included in the treatment (Scenario 1), especially due to fossil carbon dioxide emissions. Without AD (Scenario 2), increased emissions of greenhouse gases, mostly derived from the use of electricity, provoked a rise in the climate change categories. Biogas utilization was able to provide 47% of the energy required in the WWTP in Scenario 1. Results obtained make Scenario 1 the better environmental choice by far, mainly due to the use of the digested sludge as fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conoscopic holography is an interferometric measurement technique commonly used for non-contact surfaces digitising in quality assessment, in-process inspection and reverse engineering. Among other factors, accuracy of measurements provided by this technology is influenced by the surface optical properties. Parameters such as laser power ( P ) or frequency of acquisition ( F ) are commonly used to adjust the sensor until a quality indicator of the signal acquired ( Signal-to-Noise-Ratio ) is maximised. Nevertheless, measurements taken under this adjusting criterion does not necessarily ensure the most accurate results from a metrological point of view. Taking this into account, the present work proposes two additional indicators to analyse the influence of sensor setting parameters on the quality of digitised point-clouds for different metals and polymers. Digitising tests have been performed on flat specimens of each material by means of a conoscopic holography sensor integrated on a Coordinate Measuring Machine. In order to meet an optimal scanning of each material, the study provides a series of recommendations about adjustment of the sensor as well as the most suitable indicator to be used in each case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a systematic approach for solving complex prediction problems with a focus on energy efficiency. The approach involves using neural networks, specifically recurrent and sequential networks, as the main tool for prediction. In order to test the methodology, a case study was conducted in the telecommunications industry to address the problem of energy efficiency in data centers. The case study involved comparing four recurrent and sequential neural networks, including recurrent neural networks (RNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent units (GRUs), and online sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM), to determine the best network in terms of prediction accuracy and computational time. The results show that OS-ELM outperformed the other networks in both accuracy and computational efficiency. The simulation was applied to real traffic data and showed potential energy savings of up to 12.2% in a single day. This highlights the importance of energy efficiency and the potential for the methodology to be applied to other industries. The methodology can be further developed as technology and data continue to advance, making it a promising solution for a wide range of prediction problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speech processing algorithms, especially sound source localization (SSL), speech enhancement, and speaker tracking are considered to be the main fields in this application. Most speech processing algorithms require knowing the number of speakers for real implementation. In this article, a novel method for estimating the number of speakers is proposed based on the hive shaped nested microphone array (HNMA) by wavelet packet transform (WPT) and 2D sub-band adaptive steered response power (SB-2DASRP) with phase transform (PHAT) and maximum likelihood (ML) filters, and, finally, the agglomerative classification and elbow criteria for obtaining the number of speakers in near-field scenarios. The proposed HNMA is presented for aliasing and imaging elimination and preparing the proper signals for the speaker counting method. In the following, the Blackman–Tukey spectral estimation method is selected for detecting the proper frequency components of the recorded signal. The WPT is considered for smart sub-band processing by focusing on the frequency bins of the speech signal. In addition, the SRP method is implemented in 2D format and adaptively by ML and PHAT filters on the sub-band signals. The SB-2DASRP peak positions are extracted on various time frames based on the standard deviation (SD) criteria, and the final number of speakers is estimated by unsupervised agglomerative clustering and elbow criteria. The proposed HNMA-SB-2DASRP method is compared with the frequency-domain magnitude squared coherence (FD-MSC), i-vector probabilistic linear discriminant analysis (i-vector PLDA), ambisonics features of the correlational recurrent neural network (AF-CRNN), and speaker counting by density-based classification and clustering decision (SC-DCCD) algorithms on noisy and reverberant environments, which represents the superiority of the proposed method for real implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conoscopic holography (CH) is a non-contact interferometric technique used for surface digitization which presents several advantages over other optical techniques such as laser triangulation. Among others, the ability for the reconstruction of high-sloped surfaces stands out, and so does its lower dependence on surface optical properties. Nevertheless, similarly to other optical systems, adjustment of CH sensors requires an adequate selection of configuration parameters for ensuring a high quality surface digitizing. This should be done on a surface located as close as possible to the stand-off distance by tuning frequency (F) and power (P) until the quality indicators Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and signal envelope (Total) meet proper values. However, not all the points of an actual surface are located at the stand-off distance, but they could be located throughout the whole working range (WR). Thus, the quality of a digitized surface may not be uniform. The present work analyses how the quality of a reconstructed surface is affected by its relative position within the WR under different combinations of the parameters F and P. Experiments have been conducted on AISI 316 wire EDM machined flat surfaces. The number of high-quality points digitized as well as distance measurements between different surfaces throughout the WR allowed for comparing the metrological behaviour of the CH sensor with respect to a touch probe (TP) on a CMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple argument shows that negative energy cannot be isolated far away from positive energy in a conformal field theory and strongly constrains its possible dispersal. This is also required by consistency with the Bekenstein bound written in terms of the positivity of relative entropy. We prove a new form of the Bekenstein bound based on the monotonicity of the relative entropy, involving a "free" entropy enclosed in a region which is highly insensitive to space-time entanglement, and show that it further improves the negative energy localization bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new 3D geologic model for the architecture and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Tuz Gölü Basin, a major sedimentary basin in the Central Anatolian orogenic plateau. This model is grounded on 7 depth-converted seismic reflection profiles in combination with the analysis of backstripped subsidence curves, isochore maps, and a palinspastically restored cross-section. Two stages of basin formation are detected during Cenozoic times. During the Palaeogene, around 2 km of basement subsidence led to the development of a sag basin broader than the present basin in the absence of bounding faults. After a period of uplift and erosion, sedimentation restarted by Tortonian times. Up to 3.5 km of post-Palaeogene sediments were deposited in relation to this second regional subsidence phase, which continued possibly well into the Pliocene. During this time, the 2 main fault systems found in the area, the Tuz Gölü and the Sultanhanı faults, developed as south-west dipping, NW-SE striking, normal faults. At some time in the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene, during regional subsidence, a previously unreported phase of contraction occurred, which led to the development of a north-east-vergent thrust sheet, the culmination of which forms the morphologic ridge to the east of the Tuz Gölü Lake. This structure presently divides the previously continuous Tuz Gölü Basin. Finally, minor extensional reactivation occurred. At the regional scale, the pre-Late Miocene subsidence is coeval with the initiation of volcanism in the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province and marine carbonate deposition in southern Turkey, and the latest Miocene shortening is (partly) contemporaneous with the onset of uplift in the same region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An application of a novel steady-state simulation of a monovalent inverter-driven water-to-water heat pump with a desuperheater is presented. The simulation is capable of modeling and managing the different operation modes of the system such as combined space heating and domestic hot water, in order to provide realistic results, from which four control schemes based on two electricity tariff plans were developed. The schemes were tested on a subject low energy house for Tokyo and Sapporo, in Japan, for the coldest day of the year and for the heating season. Emphasis was given to the short-term domestic hot water storage. The results show that the application of the schemes with a flexible electricity tariff had lower cost over the scheme that used the flat rate pricing plan. Moreover, it was shown that no unique scheme was able to minimize the cost and electrical consumption for both locations. Additionally, a tradeoff between lowest cost and lowest energy consumption was identified for Sapporo. The results of this research could be applied to develop a more robust control on monovalent heat pump systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aeronautical and automotive industries have, as an essential objective, the energy efficiency optimization of aircraft and cars, while maintaining stringent functional requirements. One working line focuses on the use of lightweight structural materials to replace conventional materials. For this reason, it is considered enlightening to carry out an analysis of the literature published over the last 20 years through Open Access literature. For this purpose, a systematic methodology is applied to minimize the possible risks of bias in literature selection and analysis. Web of Science is used as a search engine. The final selection comprises the 30 articles with the highest average numbers of citations per year published from 2015 to 2020 and the 7 articles published from the period of 2000–2014. Overall, the selection is composed of 37 Open Access articles with 2482 total citations and an average of 67.1 citations per article/year published, and includes Q1 (62%) and Q2 (8%) articles and proceeding papers (30%). The study seeks to inform about the current trends in materials and processes in lightweight structural materials for aeronautical and automotive applications with a sustainable perspective. All the information collected is summarized in tables to facilitate searches and interpretation by interested researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Low-grade inflammation and emphysema have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. However, the systemic inflammatory response in patients with emphysema is still unknown. Objective: To compare the plasma cytokine profiles in two groups of current or former smokers without airway obstruction: a control group of individuals without computed tomography (CT) detected emphysema vs. a study group of individuals with CT detected emphysema. Methods: Subjects underwent a chest CT, spirometry, and determination of EGF, IL-15, IL-1ra, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1β, TGFα, TNFα, and VEGF levels in plasma. Cytokine levels in each group were compared adjusting for confounding factors. Results: 160 current smokers and former smokers without airway obstruction participated in the study: 80 without emphysema and 80 subjects with emphysema. Adjusted group comparisons revealed significant reductions in EGF (−0.317, p = 0.01), IL-15 (−0.21, p = 0.01), IL-8 (−0.180, p = 0.02) and IL-1ra (−0.220, p = 0.03) in subjects with emphysema and normal spirometry. Conclusions: Current or former smokers expressing a well-defined disease characteristic such as emphysema, has a specific plasma cytokine profile. This includes a decrease of cytokines mainly implicated in activation of apoptosis or decrease of immunosurveillance. This information should be taken into account when evaluated patients with tobacco respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A steady-state simulation is presented for a monovalent inverter-driven water-to-water heat pump with a desuperheater. For design-oriented simulations, superheating or subcooling degrees are used as input. However, the proposed simulation only uses the system''s refrigerant charge, environmental, and control parameters, which make it particularly useful for off-design evaluations, including the annual performance factor calculation. Block models were used for the compressor and electronic expansion valve, while novel adaptive zone models were used for the heat exchangers. A multivariable error minimization algorithm was used over a sequential component scheme to provide global convergence. The numerical calculations were compared with 118 experimental results. The resulting COP agrees within 10% for 95.77% of the data. The mapping results reveal a maximum COP deviation of 8.78%. Computational results for the studied system reveal that a constant degree of superheating might not always maximize the COP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We study the solutions to the Klein–Gordon equation for the massive scalar field in the universal covering space of a two-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. For certain values of the mass parameter, we impose a suitable set of boundary conditions, which make the spatial component of the Klein–Gordon operator self-adjoint. This makes the time-evolution of the classical field well defined. Then, we use the transformation properties of the scalar field under the isometry group of the theory, namely, the universal covering group of S L (2 , R) , in order to determine which self-adjoint boundary conditions are invariant under this group and which lead to the positive-frequency solutions forming a unitary representation of this group and, hence, to a vacuum state invariant under this group. Then, we examine the cases where the boundary condition leads to an invariant theory with a non-invariant vacuum state and determine the unitary representation to which the vacuum state belongs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nanostructured Fe64Ni36 alloy has been obtained using high-energy ball milling for 35h of milling time, Fe64Ni36 MA-35h. The initial as-milled Fe64Ni36 MA-35h powders are inhomogeneous, showing a majority phase with a face-centred cubic (fcc) crystal structure [88(2)%] and a minority phase with body-centred cubic (bcc) crystal structure [7(2)%]. The evolution of the microstructure with temperature between 300K and 1100K has been followed by means of in situ neutron powder thermo-diffraction experiments. The room temperature values for the mean crystalline size and the mechanical-induced microstrain of the fcc phase in the as-milled sample are ∼10nm and ∼0.7%, respectively. Moreover, after heating the Fe64Ni36 MA-35h powders up to 1100K, an increase of around 65K in the Curie temperature respect to that of the commercial coarse-grained alloy of the same composition is observed. The latter together with the observed temperature dependence of the lattice parameter suggests that the Fe64Ni36 MA-35h sample subjected to the heating process exhibits invar behaviour. On heating up to 1100K thermal relaxation of the microstructure occurs giving rise to grain growth above 100nm, nearly vanishing values for the maximum strain, and the transformation of the bcc phase into the fcc one above 800K, being the latter stable in subsequent heating–cooling processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Microarrays strategies, which allow for the characterization of thousands of alternative splice forms in a single test, can be applied to identify differential alternative splicing events. In this study, a novel splice array approach was developed, including the design of a high-density oligonucleotide array, a labeling procedure, and an algorithm to identify splice events. Results: The array consisted of exon probes and thermodynamically balanced junction probes. Suboptimal probes were tagged and considered in the final analysis. An unbiased labeling protocol was developed using random primers. The algorithm used to distinguish changes in expression from changes in splicing was calibrated using internal nonspliced control sequences. The performance of this splice array was validated with artificial constructs for CDC6, VEGF, and PCBP4 isoforms. The platform was then applied to the analysis of differential splice forms in lung cancer samples compared to matched normal lung tissue. Overexpression of splice isoforms was identified for genes encoding CEACAM1, FHL-1, MLPH, and SUSD2. None of these splicing isoforms had been previously associated with lung cancer. Conclusions: This methodology enables the detection of alternative splicing events in complex biological samples, providing a powerful tool to identify novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cancer and other pathologies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material extrusion based additive manufacturing is used to make three dimensional parts by means of layer-upon-layer deposition. There is a growing variety of polymers that can be processed with material extrusion. Thermoplastic polyurethanes allow manufacturing flexible parts that can be used in soft robotics, wearables and flexible electronics applications. Moreover, these flexible materials also present a certain degree of viscoelasticity. One of the main drawbacks of material extrusion is that decisions related to specific manufacturing configurations, such as the inner-structure design, shall affect the final mechanical behaviour of the flexible part. In this study, the influence of inner-structure design factors upon the viscoelastic relaxation modulus, E(t), of polyurethane parts is firstly analysed. The obtained results indicate that wall thickness has a higher influence upon E(t) than other inner-design factors. Moreover, an inadequate combination of those factors could reduce E(t) to a small fraction of that expected for an equivalent moulded part. Next, a viscoelastic material model is proposed and implemented using finite element modelling. This model is based on a generalized Maxwell model and contemplates the inner-structure design. The results show the viability of this approach to model the mechanical behaviour of parts manufactured with material extrusion additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides and exploits one possible formal framework in which to compare and contrast the two most important families of adaptive algorithms: the least-mean square (LMS) family and the recursive least squares (RLS) family. Existing and well-known algorithms, belonging to any of these two families, like the LMS algorithm and the RLS algorithm, have a natural position within the proposed formal framework. The proposed formal framework also includes-among others-the LMS/overdetermined recursive instrumental variable (ORIV) algorithm and the generalized LMS (GLMS) algorithm, which is an instrumental variable (IV) enable LMS algorithm. Furthermore, this formal framework allows a straightforward derivation of new algorithms, with enhanced properties respect to the existing ones: specifically, the ORIV algorithm is exported to the LMS family, resulting in the derivation of the averaged, overdetermined, and generalized LMS (AOGLMS) algorithm, an overdetermined LMS algorithm able to work with an IV. The proposed AOGLMS algorithm overcomes-as we analytically show here-the limitations of GLMS and possesses a much lower computational burden than LMS/ORIV, being in this way a better alternative to both algorithms. Simulations verify the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular hallmarks of inflammation-mediated lung carcinogenesis have not been fully clarified, mainly due to the scarcity of appropriate animal models. We have used a silica-induced multistep lung carcinogenesis model driven by chronic inflammation to study the evolution of molecular markers and genetic alterations. We analyzed markers of DNA damage response (DDR), proliferative stress, and telomeric stress: γH2AX, p16, p53, and TERT. Lung cancer-related epigenetic and genetic alterations, including promoter hypermethylation status of p16(CDKN2A), APC, CDH13, Rassf1, and Nore1A, as well as mutations of Tp53, epidermal growth factor receptor, K-ras, N-ras, and c-H-ras, have been also studied. Our results showed DDR pathway activation in preneoplastic lesions, in association with inducible nitric oxide synthase and p53 induction. p16 was also induced in early tumorigenic progression and was inactivated in bronchiolar dysplasias and tumors. Remarkably, lack of mutations of Ras and epidermal growth factor receptor, and a very low frequency of Tp53 mutations suggest that they are not required for tumorigenesis in this model. In contrast, epigenetic alterations in p16(CDKN2A), CDH13, and APC, but not in Rassf1 and Nore1A, were clearly observed. These data suggest the existence of a specific molecular signature of inflammation-driven lung carcinogenesis that shares some, but not all, of the molecular landmarks of chemically induced lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New contributions to noncooperative radar-target discrimination using only the scattered response of conductive objects are presented in this paper. The technique studied is the extinction-pulse (E-pulse), which makes use of natural resonances as discrimination features. The E-pulse expansion using complex exponential functions as basis functions is proposed, obtaining new E-pulses with characteristics completely different from those in the literature. Specifically, a weighting factor is added to modulate the exponential frequency, providing E-pulses with better discrimination capability. Numerical results achieved in the discrimination between thin straight wires of different lengths show that the proposed exponential E-pulses improve the discrimination results with respect to other types of E-pulses in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extinction pulse method has been proven to be a suitable method for radar target discrimination using the natural resonance annihilation concept. The standard procedure for extinction pulse (E-pulse) construction is based on an expansion on subsectional polynomials. In this paper it is proposed a new formalism for E-pulse construction using β-splines. This formalism allows the E-pulse polynomial basis expansion to be treated in a unified theoretical framework and leads to a simplification of the original problem due to the linear nature of all the involved parameters. This new formulation has been also used to impose new conditions over the spectral contents of the E-pulses. These E-pulses constructed using the new conditions annihilate better the natural modes in the late-time radar target response, and provide a better discrimination rates than the classical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent component analysis (ICA) has been shown in the last few years to be a very useful tool in blind separation of sources and feature extraction. However, at least in its simpler form, its utility is reduced to the case that the outputs are linear mixtures of independent sources. This excludes signals with multiplicative noise. In this paper, ICA is extended to this situation. In order to do this, the special structure that appears in this new model is first studied, and then, the multiplicative ICA method is designed such that it uses this structure to find the mixture of the sources in the noisy environment. The local and global convergence properties of the method are also studied and its performance compared with standard ICA methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have recently shown that a monoclonal antibody, designated M131, that binds a surface phosphorylcholine epitope on Treponema pallidum possesses complement-dependent killing activity and confers partial protection in rabbits following passive immunization (Blanco et al., 2005, Infect. Immun. 73:3083–3095). In this study, the protective potential of M131 was further tested using the rabbit skin protection assay of Titus and Weiser. Both M131 and infection-derived immune rabbit serum resulted in significant lesion delays corresponding to at least a 90% reduction of the treponemal challenge inoculum. The skin protection assay provides a way to assess the protective potential of specific immunogens while using far less antibody than in passive immunization protocols. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper considers the problem of estimating the fourth-order cumulant sequence of a harmonic process. Both stationarity and ergodicity conditions for this kind of signal are derived through the imposition of restrictions to the frequencies and amplitudes that define the signals. Statistical properties for the mean value and the variance of the sample mean estimator are deduced as well. These conditions are applied to cubic-phase coupling detection, stressing the study of nonergodic signals and possible strategies to study them. Numerical examples to illustrate these conditions for cubic phase coupling detection and separation of mixed signals using independent component analysis (ICA) methods are also showed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estimation of parameter distribution functions of nuclear thermal hydraulic correlations by inverse Bayesian methods. • Montecarlo Markov Chain Methods and the Gibbs sampler applied to inverse calibration methods. • Obtaining a correlation for steam jet penetration in subcooled pool by Bayesian methods. • Study of the influence of the number of parameters of a thermal hydraulic correlation in the convergence of the Markov Chains. • Influence of the noise level on the parameter estimation of nuclear thermal hydraulic correlations. This paper applies Bayesian methods to obtain the joint probability distribution function (PDF) of the unknown parameters of some of the correlation types used in thermal hydraulics, which are conditioned to a set of results of separate effect experiments. The problem is solved by Markov chain Monte Carlo methods using the Gibbs sampler. In this paper it is shown how to obtain the conditional PDFs for each one of the parameters, which define two typical correlations that appear in thermal–hydraulic problems, i) the heat transfer in the walls of a pipe and ii) the penetration length of steam discharged in a subcooled pool. The equations for the conditional probabilities of each one of the parameters are deduced and then used to build the Gibbs sampler which is then programmed in R. The PDFs are obtained for each one of the parameters and from these the maximum a posteriori of each one of the parameters is obtained. The new correlations obtained in this way are compared with the experimental data and show satisfactory performance for the case of the penetration of steam in a subcooled pool. Also, we study two cases one with a small number of experimental data and another one with a large number, it is observed that if the number of parameters is small the Markov chain converges fast to the region of high probability of the parameters for both cases with a small number of data and with large number of data, but if the number of parameters increases then the convergence for the case with small number of data becomes poor, however the convergence continuous being very fast for the case with large number of experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]