Longer Segments Research Articles

Configuration of active site segments in lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases steers oxidative xyloglucan degradation

BackgroundLytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are powerful enzymes that oxidatively cleave plant cell wall polysaccharides. LPMOs classified as fungal Auxiliary Activities family 9 (AA9) have been mainly studied for their activity towards cellulose; however, various members of this AA9 family have been also shown to oxidatively cleave hemicelluloses, in particularly xyloglucan (XG). So far, it has not been studied in detail how various AA9 LPMOs act in XG degradation, and in particular, how the mode-of-action relates to the structural configuration of these LPMOs.ResultsTwo Neurospora crassa (Nc) LPMOs were found to represent different mode-of-action towards XG. Interestingly, the configuration of active site segments of these LPMOs differed as well, with a shorter Segment 1 (−Seg1) and a longer Segment 2 (+Seg2) present in NcLPMO9C and the opposite for NcLPMO9M (+Seg1−Seg2). We confirmed that NcLPMO9C cleaved the non-reducing end of unbranched glucosyl residues within XG via the oxidation of the C4-carbon. In contrast, we found that the oxidative cleavage of the XG backbone by NcLPMO9M occurred next to both unbranched and substituted glucosyl residues. The latter are decorated with xylosyl, xylosyl–galactosyl and xylosyl–galactosyl–fucosyl units. The relationship between active site segments and the mode-of-action of these NcLPMOs was rationalized by a structure-based phylogenetic analysis of fungal AA9 LPMOs. LPMOs with a −Seg1+Seg2 configuration clustered together and appear to have a similar XG substitution-intolerant cleavage pattern. LPMOs with the +Seg1−Seg2 configuration also clustered together and are reported to display a XG substitution-tolerant cleavage pattern. A third cluster contained LPMOs with a −Seg1−Seg2 configuration and no oxidative XG activity.ConclusionsThe detailed characterization of XG degradation products released by LPMOs reveal a correlation between the configuration of active site segments and mode-of-action of LPMOs. In particular, oxidative XG-active LPMOs, which are tolerant and intolerant to XG substitutions are structurally and phylogenetically distinguished from XG-inactive LPMOs. This study contributes to a better understanding of the structure–function relationship of AA9 LPMOs.

P5539Genetic heterogeneity of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)

Abstract Introduction SCAD is a rare coronary event that may cause acute coronary syndromes (ACS). SCAD predominantly occurs in apparently healthy, young to middle aged women (up to 95% of cases). The known causes include: heritable connective tissue diseases, fibromuscular dysplasia, arteritis, contraceptives, cocaine abuse and chest trauma. A variable proportion of patients manifests progression to longer segments of the same vessel or recurrence of dissection in other coronary arteries. SCAD can be the first manifestation of a previously unrecognised systemic disease. Methods In 2010 we started collecting consecutive SCAD, as first clinical manifestation, in patients addressed to our attention for investigation of genetic or non genetic causes, after successful management of the acute phase and exclusion of systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. All patients underwent genetic visit and counselling, collection of clinical reports and imaging records, clinical cardiologic evaluation with pan-angio CT scan, biochemical testing including coagulation-related tests, and and genetic testing of genes causing connective tissue diseases. Parallel clinical family screening and genetic testing were systematically performed. Results The series is constituted of 35 patients (28F and 7M) (age at onset, mean ± SD, 44±7.6 years) with ACS-SCAD (20 STEMI and 15 NSTEMI) and 9 second dissections in a different coronary artery. Two sisters had ACS-SCAD caused by dissection of the same coronary artery. We identified pathologic mutations (n=19/35, 54%) in COL3A1 (n=3), FBN1 (n=1), FBN1+TGFBR1 (n=1), TGFBR1 (n=2), TGFBR2 (n=1), MYLK (n=1), SMAD3 (n=1), COL5A1 (n=1 homozygous), COL5A2 (n=1), MYH11 (n=1), TGFB2 (n=1), ABCC6 (1 homozygous), ELN (2 homozygous sisters and 1 heterozygous unrelated patient), NOTCH1 (n=1). In 8 (23%) patients we identified VUS classified as C3 because previously unreported and predicted as uncertain on the basis of in silico analyses. In the remaining 8 patients we only identified C2 variants. A second SCAD (14 days to 78 months after the first event) occurred in 9 patients (9/35, 25%) (COL3A1 (n=2), FBN1 (n=1), FBN1+TGFBR1 (n=1), MYLK (n=1), COL5A2 (n=1), NOTCH1 (n=1) COL5A2 (n=1) and 1 with a C2 variant in COL3A1. Two patients with thrombocytosis were carriers of the somatic JAK2 V617F mutation. Extra-coronary arterial dilations/aneurysms occurred in 13 families; in the follow-up 2 patients demonstrate dissection in non-coronary arteries. Conclusions Our series, with the potential bias of a referral centre for inherited cardiovascular disease, demonstrated that SCAD is the possible first manifestation of a genetic disorder and that neither disease gene or mutation predicts the risk of a second coronary event. SCAD is a potentially fatal coronary event associated with ACS, warning for familial disease and unpredictable risk of recurrence.

Impact resistance performance and optimal design of a sandwich beam with a negative stiffness core

Numerical analyses were carried out to investigate the response of a sandwich beam with a negative stiffness (NS) core under quasistatic compression and low-velocity impact at the center. By varying the thicknesses of face sheets and interlayers and the lengths of segments, a parametric study on the impact resistance of the sandwich beam is conducted. The maximal deflection of the top face sheet and the strain energy stored in the NS beam were recorded at the moment when the impactor’s velocity decreased to zero. Based on the impact simulation, a multi-objective optimization problem on the beam configuration was set up to find out the most efficient anti-deformation design at the impact velocity of 2500 mm/s. To solve the problem with the surrogate model method, an optimal Latin hypercube sampling (OLHS) technique and a two-phase differential evolution (ToPDE) algorithm were utilized to generate calculation points in the design space, respectively. Then different surrogate models including the RSM model, the Kriging model and the RBF model, were compared to give the best approximation of the original problem. In the end, the genetic algorithm (GA) dealing with discrete optimization problems was employed to obtain the optimum solutions. Results indicate that different parts of the NS beam dominate the resistance to deformation under different levels of impact intensity. The largest portion of the strain energy is stored in the four curved plates. In the obtained optimization solution, the longest segment is near the two ends and the flat plates near the top are thicker, which is instructive to the beam design on improving impact resistance.

Short Segment Statewide Screening of Midblock Crashes in South Carolina

The AASHTO Highway Safety Manual (HSM) presents a variety of methods for quantitatively estimating crash frequency or severity at a variety of locations. The HSM predictive methods require the roadway network to be divided into homogeneous segments and intersections, or sites populated with a series of attributes. It recommends a minimum segment length of 0.1 mi. This research focuses on segment lengths of less than 0.1 mi for statewide screening of midblock crash locations to identify site specific locations with high crash incidence. The paper makes an argument that many midblock crashes can be concentrated along a very short segment because of an undesirable characteristic of a specific site. The use of longer segments may “hide” the severity of a single location if the rest of the segment has few or no additional crashes. In actuality, this research does not divide sections of roads into short segments. Instead, a short-window approach is used. The underlying road network is used to create a layer of segment polygons using GIS buffering. Crash data are then overlaid and aggregated to the segment polygons for further analysis. The paper makes a case for the use of short fixed segments to do statewide screening and how accurately geocoded crash data is key to its use. A comparison is made with a sliding-window approach (Network Kernel Density). The benefit of using fixed segments is that they are much less complex than using the sliding-window approach. Because the segmentation can be the same from year to year, direct comparisons can be made over time while spatial integrity is maintained.

Factors influencing HIV-1 phylogenetic clustering.

A major goal of public health in relation to HIV/AIDS is to prevent new transmissions in communities. Phylogenetic techniques have improved our understanding of the structure and dynamics of HIV transmissions. However, there is still no consensus about phylogenetic methodology, sampling coverage, gene target and/or minimum fragment size. Several studies use a combined methodology, which includes both a genetic or patristic distance cut-off and a branching support threshold to identify phylogenetic clusters. However, the choice about these thresholds remains an inherently subjective process, which affects the results of these studies. There is still a lack of consensus about the genomic region and the size of fragments that should be used, although there seems to be emerging a consensus that using longer segments, allied with the use of a realistic model of evolution and a codon alignment, increases the likelihood of inferring true transmission clusters. The pol gene is still the most used genomic region, but recent studies have suggested that whole genomes and/or sequences from nef and gp41 are also good targets for cluster reconstruction. The development and application of standard methodologies for phylogenetic clustering analysis will advance our understanding of factors associated with HIV transmission. This will lead to the design of more precise public health interventions.

Aircraft noise immission modeling

This contribution to the CEAS special edition Aircraft Noise Generation and Assessment focuses on the simulation of the aircraft noise immission, i.e., the aircraft noise received on the ground. This process includes two steps, the description of the sound emission by the aircraft and the modeling of the sound propagation through the atmosphere. An overview is provided on how aircraft noise immission can be described and assessed by noise descriptors. These quantities can be derived from measurable and computable quantities like maximum sound levels, time-integrated sound levels and the number of aircraft movements. Moreover, a generation of novel noise indices which relate human reactions to noise is presented. Fundamentals of aircraft noise modeling are explained. First, this includes a classification of aircraft noise models into best practice and scientific models and their applicability to the noise mitigation measures described by ICAO’s Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management. Furthermore, the overall workflow of a noise modeling task is explained as well the special role of noise model databases and the simulation of aircraft flight paths. The most common methods used to describe the sound propagation process through the atmosphere are introduced. This covers the modeling of the fundamental propagation effects which are used by all noise model types as well as a description of propagation effects which are of importance only for special modeling tasks and which normally require sophisticated physical approaches. The fundamental difference between best practice and scientific aircraft noise models—i.e., the source modeling—is described in detail thereafter. Best practice models are based on a simple source description. Moreover, a common approach is to combine emission and propagation using pre-calculated noise–power–distance tables. In contrast, scientific models are of multi-source type, i.e., they differentiate between particular noise-generating mechanisms—at least between engine noise and aerodynamic noise. This model type always requires a time step-based flightpath description, whereas the best practice models usually are based on a flightpath description by longer segments. Finally, the selected application examples are presented for both model categories. This covers the range from noise zoning over what-if studies for noise mitigation measures or definition of noise abatement flight procedures up to the modeling of noise reduction measures at the source. Finally, the application of scientific models in the aircraft design phase is explained.

GPS tracking data reveals daily spatio-temporal movement patterns of waterfowl

BackgroundSpatio-temporal patterns of movement can characterize relationships between organisms and their surroundings, and address gaps in our understanding of species ecology, activity budgets, bioenergetics, and habitat resource management. Highly mobile waterfowl, which can exploit resources over large spatial extents, are excellent models to understand relationships between movements and resource usage, landscape interactions and specific habitat needs.MethodsWe tracked 3 species of dabbling ducks with GPS-GSM transmitters in 2015–17 to examine fine-scale movement patterns over 24 h periods (30 min interval), dividing movement pathways into temporally continuous segments and spatially contiguous patches. We quantified distances moved, area used and time allocated across the day, using linear and generalized linear mixed models. We investigated behavior through relationships between these variables.ResultsMovements and space-use were small, and varied by species, sex and season. Gadwall (Mareca strepera) generally moved least (FFDs: 0.5–0.7 km), but their larger foraging patches resulted from longer within-area movements. Pintails (Anas acuta) moved most, were more likely to conduct flights > 300 m, had FFDs of 0.8–1.1 km, used more segments and patches per day that they revisited more frequently, resulting in the longest daily total movements. Females and males differed only during the post-hunt season when females moved more. 23.6% of track segments were short duration (1–2 locations), approximately 1/3 more than would be expected if they occurred randomly, and were more dispersed in the landscape than longer segments. Distance moved in 30 min shortened as segment duration increased, likely reflecting phases of non-movement captured within segments.ConclusionsPacific Flyway ducks spend the majority of time using smaller foraging and resting areas than expected or previously reported, implying that foraging areas may be highly localized, and nutrients obtainable from smaller areas. Additionally, movement reductions over time demonstrates behavioral adjustments that represent divergent energetic demands, the detection of which is a key advantage of higher frequency data. Ducks likely use less energy for movement than currently predicted and management, including distribution and configuration of essential habitat, may require reconsideration. Our study illustrates how fine-scale movement data from tracking help understand and inform various other fields of research.

His Masquerade

His Masquerade Alison Russell (bio) Passing Away Tom LeClair Waxing Press www.waxingpress.com 157 Pages; Print, $15.00 Herman Melville’s ninth and final novel, published on April Fool’s Day in 1857, landed with a thud. The interlocking tales of a group of passengers on a Mississippi steamboat confounded readers and caused critics to complain that the book should not even count as a novel. Considered a failure in its day, The Confidence Man: His Masquerade is now generally regarded as one of the author’s best books, if not quite measuring up to the masterpiece of Moby Dick (1851). The nineteenth-century novelist’s work provides a useful context for Tom LeClair’s Passing Away, a work that invites similar questions about genre classification and that also features a confidence man or two. Consisting of a novella and two short stories supposedly authored by Michael Keever, LeClair’s alter-identity and meta-narrator, the book is the fourth and last entry in a series featuring this trickster character, although readers do not need to read Passing Off (1996), Passing On (2004), and Passing Through (2006) to enjoy the final outing from the former basketball point guard turned truth-bending memoirist. As the man behind the curtain, so to speak, LeClair is something of a confidence man himself, and it remains to be seen if Passing Away is truly the last in the series. In his recent collection of essays, Harpooning Donald Trump (2017, Melville allusion noted), the author reflects upon the jokey title of his 1972 PhD dissertation, “Final Words,” because the thesis began his career as an academic. Now the author of numerous critical books and novels, this Professor Emeritus still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Passing Away offers three tales about men who are close to death or thinking about it, but the parts initially do not seem to have much in common beyond that. The first and longest segment is presented as another Keever memoir, this time focused mostly on his dying brother, Patrick. The next and briefest section is the secret journal of former-president Calvin Coolidge, and the concluding part is a heavily-edited letter by Frederic Tudor, a nineteenth-century entrepreneur and self-proclaimed “Ice King.” All three are written by Keever, who tells readers that he teaches creative nonfiction at a university in Cincinnati and whose book, subtitled “Ways of Dying,” is published by Thanatos Press. As readers progress through the pages, the book moves back in time, from the present day to the 1930s and then to the 1860s. One finally reaches Keever’s epilogue, who suggests that his motive for writing the book had to do with exploring “how men in earlier times accepted or evaded their dying,” but the truth about motive is not gleaned so easily in LeClair’s novel. Keever has a track record as an elaborate hoaxer and deceiver; history matters, personally and publically, the novel suggests. While it’s all we have left to examine, the history we reach for is only and always a reconstruction. People still want to be remembered, however, to leave a trace of themselves behind. In Passing Away, men (in particular) strive to leave their mark through sports, business, politics, progeny, literature, and monuments, but there’s a good reason that Keever’s dying brother quotes Shelley: “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” “What remains?” the novel asks. Keever himself reflects on the question by recalling the artifact representing a primitive male figure pictured on his (and LeClair’s) book cover: “What did that sculptor hope to achieve? Perhaps some identification with or propitiation of the deity. And what did the sculptor, against the longest odds, gain? If not immortality, then something like permanence.” Even crumbling sculptures leave something tangible to hold onto, but the writer’s medium is less trustworthy, as history has proved again and again. So why write at all? The three narratives in Passing Away will make readers wonder about humans’ motives for writing, particularly about the past: to understand? to locate the truth? to share wisdom? to account or judge? to document? All of these reasons echo...

Inbreeding depression in line 1 Hereford cattle population using pedigree and genomic information.

This study aimed at assessing inbreeding and its effect on growth and fertility traits using the longtime closed line 1 Hereford cattle population. Inbreeding was estimated based on pedigree (FPED) and genomic information. For the latter, three estimates were derived based on the diagonal elements of the genomic relationship matrix using estimated (FGRM) or fixed (FGRM0.5) minor allele frequencies or runs of homozygosity (ROH) (FROH). A pedigree containing 10,186 animals was used to calculate FPED. Genomic inbreeding was evaluated using 785 animals genotyped for 30,810 SNP. Traits analyzed were birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), yearling weight (YWT), ADG, and age at first calving (AFC). The number of ROH per animal ranged between 6 and 119 segments with an average of 83. The shortest and longest segments were 1.36 and 64.86 Mb long, respectively, reflecting both ancient and recent inbreeding occurring in the last 30 to 40 generations. The average inbreeding was 29.2%, 16.1%, 30.2%, and 22.9% for FPED, FGRM, FGRM0.5, and FROH, respectively. FROH provided the highest correlations with FPED (r = 0.66). Across paternal half-sib families, with minimal variation in FPED, there were substantial variations in their genomic inbreeding. Inbreeding depression analyses showed that a 1% increase in an animal's FPED resulted in a decrease of 1.20 kg, 2.03 kg, and 0.004 kg/d in WWT, YWT, and ADG, respectively. Maternal inbreeding showed significantly negative effects on progeny growth performance. AFC increased by 1.4 and 0.8 d for each 1% increase in FPED of the cow and her dam, respectively. Using genomic inbreeding, similar impact on growth traits was observed although the magnitude of the effect varied between methods. Across all genomic measures, WWT, YWT, and ADG decreased by 0.21 to 0.53 kg, 0.46 to 1.13 kg, and 0.002 to 0.006 kg/d for each 1% increase in genomic inbreeding, respectively. Four chromosomes (9, 12, 17, and 27) were identified to have a significant association between their homozygosity (FROH-CHR) and growth traits. Variability in genomic inbreeding could be useful when deciding between full and half-sib selection candidates. Despite the high level of inbreeding in this study, its negative impact on growth performance was not as severe as expected, which may be attributed to the purging of the deleterious alleles due to natural or artificial selection over time.

Using National Performance Management Research Data Set for Corridor Performance Measures: A US-281N Corridor Case Study

The National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS), made available by Federal Highway Administration in 2013, provides fine-resolution travel-time data, which have been used in numerous network performance management and operations applications. This article discusses corridor-level performance measures computed using the NPMRDS. Three measures are analyzed on a 20.2-mile long corridor in San Antonio, Texas, including corridor travel time, corridor travel-time reliability, and day-to-day variation in travel time. The primary contributions of this article are the analysis of the impact of using two different approaches for travel-time aggregation across segments—instantaneous and time-dependent approaches—and defining a mean absolute error-based method to identify days when travel times significantly deviate from typical traffic conditions. The findings suggest that the temporal patterns of corridor travel times obtained using instantaneous and time-dependent aggregation approaches are similar; however, instantaneous travel-time estimates lead to inaccuracies that become more apparent during peak hours and for longer segments. In addition, it is found that a [Formula: see text]-means clustering analysis performed on daily travel-time profiles provides a useful statistic for corridor performance analysis. Using this methodology, 9.23% of weekdays in the 20-month study period are classified as atypical for the corridor. The numerical results reinforce the value of the NPMRDS in estimating corridor performance measures and highlight potential limitations of traditional techniques for evaluating corridor performance measures when applied in practice to support enhanced traffic planning and operations.

Effect of Segment Length and Number of Osteotomy Sites on Cancellous Bone Perfusion in Free Fibula Flaps.

Indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography is routinely used to evaluate skin and organ perfusion and to assess patency rates of microvascular anastomoses. This study uses ICG angiography as a novel approach to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate bone perfusion of microvascular fibula grafts intraoperatively and to assess the effect of fibula segment length and number of osteotomies on bone perfusion. All patients planned for mandible reconstruction using a microvascular fibula graft between January 2013 and May 2017 were considered for this study. ICG videoangiography of cancellous bone perfusion was performed using a handheld ICG camera. Videos were analyzed, and a perfusion curve was generated. Peak enhancement, time to peak, slope, and wash-in area under the curve were extracted; rise time, wash-in rate (WiR), and wash-in perfusion index were calculated. Results were statistically analyzed with regard to distal fibula segment length and number of osteotomy sites. Thirty-nine patients (age 59 ± 8 years) were included in the study. Mandible reconstruction was achieved with 1 (n = 15), 2 (n = 13), or 3 (n = 11) fibula segments. The WiR was 6.4 ± 2.3 and 4.4 ± 0.2 before and after proximal osteotomy, respectively. The wash-in perfusion index was 114.2 ± 48.4 before and 84.4 ± 20.0 after proximal osteotomy. Bone perfusion was significantly reduced after additional proximal osteotomies. Both the segment length and number of proximal osteotomies correlated with bone perfusion, with longer segments and fewer osteotomies showing higher perfusion. This study demonstrates the feasibility of cancellous bone perfusion analysis using ICG and can serve as a basis for future bone perfusion studies. Additional osteotomies and short segment length negatively affects cancellous bone perfusion of the distal fibula segment in free fibula flaps. The extent to which the observed decrease in arterial inflow to the distal fibula segment affects the further course of healing needs to be addressed in future studies.

Identical by Descent (IBD): Investigation of the Genetic Ties between Africans, Denisovans, and Neandertals

Interbreeding between human ancestors and other hominins has been extensively studied outside of Africa, but their shared history within Africa has received less study. However, comprehending subsequent events outside of Africa requires shining light on human evolution during this period, about which little is known. We investigate the genetic relationships of humans. By finding relatively short DNA sequences that these hominins share in the 1000 Genomes Phase 3 data, researchers were able to distinguish between African, Neandertals, and Denisovans descent by identical (IBD). It was confidently detected very short IBD segments by focusing on low frequency and uncommon variations. These segments reflect occurrences from the distant past because small IBD segments are likely older than larger ones. There have been two types of very old IBD segments found that are shared by humans, Neandertals, and/or Denisovans. Longer segments are more common in Asians and Europeans, with more segments in the South. Asians exceed East Asians in both Neandertal and Denisovan cultures. These longer portions indicate complex admixture occurring outside of the admixture events. Africa, the second category comprises shorter pieces that are largely shared among Africans and hence may depict African-related events.

The length of the large intestine in children determined by computed tomography scan.

Little information is available on the length of the normal large intestine and its component parts in children. This information would be useful for procedures such as colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the length of the large intestine and its component parts in New Zealand children. Archival deidentified pediatric supine abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scans were retrospectively analyzed. After exclusion criteria, a total of 112 scans (57 males and 55 females) were included in the study and divided into three age groups: 0-2 years (n = 33), 4-6 years (n = 40), and 9-11 years of age (n = 39). The length of the large bowel increased from a mean of 52 cm in children aged <2 years to 73 cm at 4-6 years and 95 cm at 9-11 years. In all age groups, the transverse colon was the longest segment, contributing ∼30% of the total length of the large bowel. In comparison to total large bowel length, the mean proportional length of the rectum (9-12%), sigmoid colon (23-27%), descending colon (19-22%), transverse colon (27-32%), and ascending colon (14-17%) varied little between the three age groups. There were no significant differences between males and females in all age groups. The cecum was located in the right upper quadrant in 27% of children aged 0-2 years but in the right lower quadrant in all 9-11 year olds. These data provide useful information on the length of the large intestine and its component parts in living children, which are particularly relevant to pediatric colonoscopy and surgery. Clin. Anat. 30:887-893, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Responding to Other People\u2019s Direct Gaze: Alterations in Gaze Behavior in Infants at Risk for Autism Occur on Very Short Timescales

Atypical gaze processing has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Here we explored how infants at risk for ASD respond behaviorally to others’ direct gaze. We assessed 10-month-olds with a sibling with ASD (high risk group; n = 61) and a control group (n = 18) during interaction with an adult. Eye-tracking revealed less looking at the adult in the high risk group during 300–1000 ms after the adult initiated direct gaze: a short alteration that is likely to go unnoticed by the naked eye. Data aggregated over longer segments (the traditional eye-tracking approach) showed no group differences. Although findings are limited by lack of outcome data, they are in line with theories linking atypical eye processing to the emergence of ASD.

Comment on Cary Moskovitz\u2019 \u201cText Recycling in Health Sciences Literature: A Rhetorical Perspective\u201d

The question of covert text recycling from previous publications is discussed. It is argued that, consistent with current guidance, authors may be allowed to covertly recycle a limited amount of their previously published material but mainly at the phrase level and only when it is composed of very complex descriptions laden with technical terms for which there are no suitable substitutes. Authors may recycle longer segments of text using standard scholarly conventions of quotation and attribution or via some other informal means that alerts readers as to the scope of the recycling, thereby ensuring transparency. The use of percent similarity scores as thresholds for acceptable amounts of reuse should be discouraged. Instead, editors should be given the flexibility to evaluate each instance of recycling by taking into account factors such as the technical nature of the recycled text and the language proficiency of the authors.This article is a response to the following commentary: http://researchintegrityjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41073-017-0025-z.

Vibration Analysis on the Dog Leg Subsea Pipeline due to Internal Fluid Flow

Internal fluid flow can affect a vibration on the dog leg subsea pipeline due to bend in the pipe structure. This study was done by varying fluid speeds which flows inside of piping system to obtain a pipe safety limitation due to internal flow. The results showed that the vibration occurred in the piping is still within safety tolerance, and distribution of maximum stress occurred at 900 bend. Therefore, it was recommended to add the buffer support installed in the middle of span to reduce amplitude at the longest segment.

IBD Sharing between Africans, Neandertals, and Denisovans.

Interbreeding between ancestors of humans and other hominins outside of Africa has been studied intensively, while their common history within Africa still lacks proper attention. However, shedding light on human evolution in this time period about which little is known, is essential for understanding subsequent events outside of Africa. We investigate the genetic relationships of humans, Neandertals, and Denisovans by identifying very short DNA segments in the 1000 Genomes Phase 3 data that these hominins share identical by descent (IBD). By focusing on low frequency and rare variants, we identify very short IBD segments with high confidence. These segments reveal events from a very distant past because shorter IBD segments are presumably older than longer ones. We extracted two types of very old IBD segments that are not only shared among humans, but also with Neandertals and/or Denisovans. The first type contains longer segments that are found primarily in Asians and Europeans where more segments are found in South Asians than in East Asians for both Neandertal and Denisovan. These longer segments indicate complex admixture events outside of Africa. The second type consists of shorter segments that are shared mainly by Africans and therefore may indicate events involving ancestors of humans and other ancient hominins within Africa. Our results from the autosomes are further supported by an analysis of chromosome X, on which segments that are shared by Africans and match the Neandertal and/or Denisovan genome were even more prominent. Our results indicate that interbreeding with other hominins was a common feature of human evolution starting already long before ancestors of modern humans left Africa.

Familial high ASD risk differs from a low risk cohort by longer segment lengths and potential reduced branching in early but not later branch generations.

Familial high ASD risk differs from a low risk cohort by longer segment lengths and potential reduced branching in early but not later branch generations.

Small Bowel Dysmotilities and Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth

The main role of the small bowel is nutrient absorption; its mucosa lined with villi increases the contact surface between chyme and intestinal cells. Although the small bowel is the longest segment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, its transit takes between 2 and 5 hours and is the shortest of the whole gut. It is the most resilient segment of the GI tract and is thus rarely affected by motility disorders. Small bowel dysmotilities comprise a group of rare disorders affecting the function of any structure of the contractile apparatus from the muscular cells, the intrinsic neurons, or the extrinsic neurons. This review covers the epidemiology, etiology, differential diagnosis, clinical manifestations, physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of small bowel dysmotilities and bacterial overgrowth. The figure shows GI tract innervations and related pharmacologic treatments. Tables list etiologies of small bowel dysmotilities categorized as primary or secondary causes, treatment strategies related to physiologic abnormalities, and pharmacologic treatments for GI dysmotilities. Key words: chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, gastrointestinal dysmotility, motility disorder, small bowel dysmotility, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth This review contains 1 highly rendered figure, 3 tables, and 51 references.

Osteotomising the fibular free flap: an anatomical perspective

Multiple osteotomies with the help of 3-dimensional planning have improved the accuracy of reconstructions, and the reliability and versatility of the fibular free flap is well recognised. To investigate the periosteal blood supply of the fibula and to define safe limits for the size of bony segments, we performed a cadaveric study on 10 fresh frozen lower limbs using a combined barium latex mixture. We modelled cuts at intervals of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0cm, and assessed the number of periosteal vessels. After virtual dissections using DICOM data obtained from high-resolution computed tomograms (CT), on average we found 12.8 periosteal branches, with a mean (SD) distance between them of 1.36 (0.18)cm. In 34.9% of the 1cm segments there were no visible periosteal vessels. Vascularity seemed to be more reliable in longer segments, with 83.4% of those 1.5cm long, and 94% of those of over 2cm containing at least one branch.