Moderate Length Research Articles

Greater Reproductive Performance in Holstein Dairy Cows with Moderate Length of Anogenital Distance at First Service Postpartum

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated negative association of anogenital distance (AGD) with fertility in dairy cows; however, the mechanism of inverse relationship is not completely understood. In this regard, postpartum uterine infections and their corresponding risk factors could diminish fertility of cows, yet there has been no research exploring the relationship between AGD and postpartum disorders. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AGD and postpartum reproductive performance in dairy cows. METHODS: AGD of Holstein dairy cows of a commercial dairy herd (n = 290) was measured at the first postpartum examination (days 28 to 32 postpartum) in millimeter. Cows were classified into three categories based on AGD length, including short anogenital distance (20% of cows with lowest values), intermediate anogenital distance (60% of cows with moderate values) and long AGD (20% of cows with highest values). Additionally, data of postpartum reproductive variables were retrieved form herd database. Dara were analysed using SAS software version 9.4.RESULTS: Rate of dystocia, twinning, retention of fetal membranes, puerperal metritis and clinical endometritis, calf birth weight and days to first service did not differ among the various AGD categories (P > 0.05). However, proportion of male offspring was lower in short AGD cows than intermediate and long AGD cows (P < 0.05). Furthermore, first service conception rate was greater in intermediate anogenital distance group than short and long anogenital distance groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study showed suboptimal first postpartum conception rate in cows with minimal and maximal length of anogenital distance and indicated that this inferior fertility was not mediated through alteration in rate of postpartum reproductive disorders.

Crystal Engineering of Angular-Shaped Heteroarenes Based on Cyclopenta[b]thiopyran for Controlling the Charge Carrier Mobility.

Cyclopenta[b]thiopyran, isomeric to benzo[b]thiophene while isoelectronic to azulene, is involved as a building block to construct soluble organic semiconductors for field-effect transistors. Two series of angular-shaped heteroarenes based on cyclopenta[b]thiopyran, that is, Cn-SS (n = 4, 6, 8, 10) with different linear alkyl groups and C8-SS-Clm (m = 2, 3, 4) with chlorides substituted at different positions, have been straightforward synthesized. The obtained seven S-heteroarenes exhibit intriguing and similar photophysical and electrochemical properties, such as near-infrared absorption and high-energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbitals. Nevertheless, the S-heteroarenes with identical π-conjugated skeletons demonstrate completely different molecular packing structures, which is proofed to be the key determinate factor for the charge carrier mobilities. Upon the engineering of the pendant alkyl lengths, the highest hole mobility in the Cn-SS series is achieved for C8-SS (1.1 cm2 V-1 s-1) with moderate alkyl length. The further incorporation of chlorides on C8-SS results in the shortened intermolecular H···S contacts and the interplane distances. Most interestingly, when chlorine-containing chloroform and chlorobenzene are used as crystallization solvents, single crystals of C8-SS-Clm with different packing structures are produced owing to the intermolecular interactions among the solute and solvent molecules. Upon further engineering of the chlorination position and the crystallization solvent, the maximum hole mobility in the ambient air improves to 2.7 cm2 V-1 s-1 for C8-SS-Cl2 crystallized from chlorobenzene, suggesting that the introduction of the accessible chlorides is a feasible pathway to engineering the crystal structures and controlling the charge transport characteristics.

Longitudinal changes in personal recovery in individuals with psychotic disorders through hospitalisation in a psychiatric ward: preliminary findings

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate whether personal recovery indices in individuals with psychotic disorders would change through hospitalisation in a psychiatric ward and to identify factors associated with these changes.MethodsParticipants underwent assessments for personal recovery using the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery, Recovery Assessment Scale, and Self-Identified Stage of Recovery Part A and B; clinical symptoms using the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale; self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale; and self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale at baseline and before hospital discharge. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were administered for longitudinal comparisons between baseline and follow-up. Spearman’s rank correlation tests were conducted to assess correlations of longitudinal changes in personal recovery with baseline values of personal recovery as well as baseline values or changes in the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.ResultsThirty-four individuals with psychotic disorders completed the assessments. The average duration of the current hospitalisation was 81.9 days (SD, 15.3; median, 85.0; range, 51–128 days). No significant changes were observed in personal recovery, self-efficacy, and self-esteem, although clinical symptoms significantly improved. Significant correlations were found between positive changes in the Recovery Assessment Scale and improvements in negative symptoms; between positive changes in the General Self-Efficacy Scale and those in personal recovery assessed with the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery, Recovery Assessment Scale, and Self-Identified Stage of Recovery part A; and between positive changes in the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and those in the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery part B.ConclusionThis study revealed longitudinal relationships between changes in personal recovery and amelioration of negative symptoms or enhancement of self-efficacy and self-esteem through moderate length of hospitalisation in individuals with psychotic disorders. Considering the small sample size in this study, further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm the present finding.Trial registrationThe protocol of this study is registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; ID: UMIN000035131).

Bright betatron radiation from direct-laser-accelerated electrons at moderate relativistic laser intensity

Direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a plasma of near-critical electron density (NCD) and the associated synchrotron-like radiation are discussed for moderate relativistic laser intensity (normalized laser amplitude a0 ≤ 4.3) and ps length pulse. This regime is typical of kJ PW-class laser facilities designed for high-energy-density (HED) research. In experiments at the PHELIX facility, it has been demonstrated that interaction of a 1019 W/cm2 sub-ps laser pulse with a sub-mm length NCD plasma results in the generation of high-current well-directed super-ponderomotive electrons with an effective temperature ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential [Rosmej et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 62, 115024 (2020)]. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations provide good agreement with the measured electron energy distribution and are used in the current work to study synchrotron radiation from the DLA-accelerated electrons. The resulting x-ray spectrum with a critical energy of 5 keV reveals an ultrahigh photon number of 7 × 1011 in the 1–30 keV photon energy range at the focused laser energy of 20 J. Numerical simulations of betatron x-ray phase contrast imaging based on the DLA process for the parameters of a PHELIX laser are presented. The results are of interest for applications in HED experiments, which require a ps x-ray pulse and a high photon flux.

Impact of Turning Lane Storage Length and Turning Proportions on Throughput at Oversaturated Signalized Intersections

During oversaturated conditions, common objectives of signal timing are to maximize vehicle throughput and manage queues. A common response to increases in vehicle volumes is to increase the cycle length. Because the clearance intervals are displayed less frequently with longer cycle lengths and fewer cycles, more of the total time is used for green indications, which implies that the signal timing is more efficient. However, previous studies have shown that throughput reaches a peak at a moderate cycle length and extending the cycle length beyond this actually decreases the total throughput. Part of the reason for this is that spillback caused by the turning traffic may cause starvation of the through lanes resulting in a reduction of the saturation flow rate within each lane. Gaps created by the turning traffic after a lane change may also reduce the saturation flow rate. There is a relationship between the proportions of turning traffic, the storage length of turning lanes, and the total throughput that can be achieved on an approach for a given cycle length and green time. This study seeks to explore this relationship to yield better signal timing strategies for oversaturated operations. A microsimulation model of an oversaturated left-turn movement with varying storage lengths and turning proportions is used to determine these relationships and establish a mathematical model of throughput as a function of the duration of green, storage length, and turning proportion. The model outcomes are compared against real-world data.

Development of the front end amplifier circuit for the ATLAS ITk silicon strip detector

We present the development of the front end amplifiercircuit for the ABCStar readout ASIC designed for the upgraded ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) detector. The amplifier is intended to work with siliconstrip sensors of moderate length between 1.9 cm and 5.5 cm dependent on position in the detector. The final circuit is implemented in a commercial 130 nm CMOS process tolerant up to the total ionizing doses (TID) predicted for the lifetime of the detector, that is maximum of 66 Mrad (660 kGy) (Si) for the endcap region. The final architecture and the performance of the circuit is presented in the context of a long development program which started soon after the construction of the present ATLAS Semi-Conductor Tracker (SCT) detector.

Ambiently and Mechanically Stable Ionogels for Soft Ionotronics

AbstractStretchable ionic conductors such as hydrogels and ionic‐liquid‐based gels (aka ionogels) have garnered great attention as they enable the development of soft ionotronics. Notably, soft ionotronic devices inevitably operate in humid environments or under mechanical loads. However, many previously reported hydrogels and ionogels, however, are unstable in environments with varying humidity levels owing to hydrophilicity, and their liquid components (i.e., ionic liquid, water) may leak easily from polymer matrices under mechanical loads, causing deterioration of device performance. This work presents novel hydrophobic ionogels with strong ionic liquid retention capability. The ionogels are ambiently and mechanically stable, capable of not absorbing moisture in environments with high relative humidity and almost not losing liquid components during long periods of mechanical loading. Moreover, the ionogels exhibit desirable conductivity (10−4–10−5 S cm−1), large rupturing strain (&gt;2000%), moderate fractocohesive length (0.51–1.03 mm), and wide working temperature range (−60 to 200 °C). An ionic skin is further designed by integrating the concept of sensory artificial skins and triboelectric nanogenerators, which can convert multiple stimuli into various types of signals, including resistance, capacitance, short‐circuit current, and open‐circuit voltage. This work may open new avenues for the development of soft ionotronics with stable performance.

The relationship of the main root-shoot morphological characteristics and biomass allocation of Saussurea salsa under different habitat conditions in Sugan lake wetland on the northern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The response analysis of plant morphological characteristics and biomass allocation in salt marsh wetland to heterogeneous habitats is helpful to explore the internal correlation between plant morphological plasticity mechanism and biomass allocation, which is of great significance for the in-depth understanding of habitat stress tolerance strategies of salt marsh plants. However, the relationship between the main root-shoot morphological indexes and biomass allocation of inland alpine arid area salt marsh plant is still unclear. According to the difference of the habitat conditions of Saussurea salsa, 3 test sample were set up, plot I (the Inland salt marsh area, 200–500 m from the lakeshore), plot II (the Oasis Wetland area, 500–1000 m from the lakeshore), plot III (the Seasonal river wetland area, 1000–1500 m from the lakeshore). The relationship between the main root-shoot morphological characteristics and biomass allocation of Saussurea salsa in the Sugan Lake salt marsh was studied in response to heterogeneous habitats. The results showed that Saussurea salsa tended to form the large and thick leaf pattern, the root morphological construction pattern with moderate root diameter (RD) and specific root length (SRL), and the root-shoot ratio (RSR) with minimum biomass allocation strategy in plot I. In plot II, the thin-leaf pattern with the largest specific leaf area (SLA) and the smallest thickness (LT) was formed. Meanwhile, the slender root morphology pattern with the smallest RD, the largest SRL and the moderate RSR was preferred. In plot III, a lobular pattern with minimum leaf area (LA) and SLA, and moderate thickness was formed. At the same time, a thick root pattern with maximum RD and minimum root length, and a maximum RSR were formed. Moreover, there was a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between SLA and RD at three plots. Besides, there appeared a less significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between LA and LT, shoot biomass at three plots. Through the synergistic changes of morphological characteristics of aboveground and underground organs and biomass allocation strategies, the inland salt marsh plant population can maintain normal survival, growth and reproduction under harsh environment, which reflects its morphological plasticity and stress resistance mechanism under heterogeneous environment.

Investigation of the Acoustic Vaporization Threshold of Lipid-Coated Perfluorobutane Nanodroplets Using Both High-Speed Optical Imaging and Acoustic Methods

A combination of ultrahigh-speed optical imaging (5 × 106 frames/s), B-mode ultrasound and passive cavitation detection was used to study the vaporization process and determine both the acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) and inertial cavitation (IC) thresholds of phospholipid-coated perfluorobutane nanodroplets (PFB NDs, diameter = 237 ± 16 nm). PFB NDs have not previously been studied with ultrahigh-speed imaging and were observed to form individual microbubbles (1–10 μm) within two to three cycles and subsequently larger bubble clusters (10–50 μm). The ADV and IC thresholds did not statistically significantly differ and decreased with increasing pulse length (20–20,000 cycles), pulse repetition frequency (1–100 Hz), concentration (108–1010 NDs/mL), temperature (20°C–45°C) and decreasing frequency (1.5–0.5 MHz). Overall, the results indicate that at frequencies of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 MHz, PFB NDs can be vaporized at moderate peak negative pressures (<2.0 MPa), pulse lengths and pulse repetition frequencies. This finding is encouraging for the use of PFB NDs as cavitation agents, as these conditions are comparable to those required to achieve therapeutic effects with microbubbles, unlike those reported for higher-boiling-point NDs. The differences between the optically and acoustically determined ADV thresholds, however, suggest that application-specific thresholds should be defined according to the biological/therapeutic effect of interest.

Health and environmental co-benefits of city urban form in Latin America: an ecological study

BackgroundUrban design features are often studied in relation to health and behavioural outcomes. They can also have major implications for environmental outcomes. However, the impact of these features on both health and environmental outcomes (co-benefits) is rarely examined. We investigated how urban landscape and street design profiles are related to jointly occurring health and environmental outcomes in Latin America cities. MethodsWe used data from the Salud Urbana en América Latina (SALURBAL) project, which has compiled and harmonised data on built environment, environmental exposures, and health outcomes for 370 cities in 11 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. Eight city profiles were identified using finite mixture models. Four urban-landscape profiles were defined measuring patch (contiguous area of urban development) fragmentation, shape, and isolation, and four street-design profiles were defined using street connectivity, length, and directness. Multilevel regression models were used to assess associations between the city profiles and several health and environmental outcomes. FindingsOur preliminary results show that compared with the urban-landscape profile labelled scattered pixels (comprising low fragmentation, compact shape, and high isolation), the proximate-stones profile (moderate fragmentation, irregular shape, and moderate isolation) had significantly higher levels of PM2·5 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and the proximate-inkblots profile (moderate-to-high fragmentation, complex shape, and moderate isolation) had significantly higher levels of violence-related deaths. Compared with the labyrinthine street design profile (low connectivity, moderate length, and moderate directness), the semi-hyperbolic grid (moderate connectivity, moderate length, and moderate directness) and spiderweb (high connectivity, low length, and moderate directness) profiles had significantly higher levels of PM2·5 and NO2, whereas the hyperbolic grid profile (moderate connectivity, high length, and low directness) had significantly higher levels of NO2 and lower levels of obesity. InterpretationIdentifying how city profiles are related to environment and health outcomes can shed light on the urban policies that could have the greatest environment and health co-benefits. FundingThe SALURBAL/Urban Health in Latin America project is funded by the Wellcome Trust (205177/Z/16/Z).

Revision of the Tubenose Poacher Genus Pallasina Cramer (Perciformes: Cottoidei: Agonidae)

Species of the tubenose poacher genus Pallasina are assessed following examination of over 450 specimens from throughout the Pacific Rim, from the coast of California to the Chukchi Sea and Sea of Japan. The results presented here, including both morphological and mitochondrial DNA datasets, indicate that three species of Pallasina occur in the North Pacific and surrounding seas. Pallasina aix is found in the eastern North Pacific from California to southeast Alaska and in the Salish Sea. It has the shortest barbel of the three species and a unique haplotype in the mitochondrial COI region. Pallasina barbata is the most widespread species, ranging from the Gulf of Alaska to the Chukchi Sea and west to northern Japan. It is distinguished by having a moderate barbel length and can be separated from the other two species using a variety of meristic characters. Pallasina eryngia is found only in the central and northern Japanese Archipelago, and it is a relatively deep-water species. It is distinguished by having a long barbel, as well as relatively high counts of vertebrae and dermal plates. This study presents redescriptions of all three species and a key to their identification.

Double-Scale Adaptive Transmission in Time-Varying Channel for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

The communication channel in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) is time-varying due to the dynamic environmental factors, such as ocean current, wind speed, and temperature profile. Generally, these phenomena occur with a certain regularity, resulting in a similar variation pattern inherited in the communication channels. Based on these observations, the energy efficiency of data transmission can be improved by controlling the modulation method, coding rate, and transmission power according to the channel dynamics. Given the limited computational capacity and energy in underwater nodes, we propose a double-scale adaptive transmission mechanism for the UASNs, where the transmission configuration will be determined by the predicted channel states adaptively. In particular, the historical channel state series will first be decomposed into large-scale and small-scale series and then be predicted by a novel k-nearest neighbor search algorithm with sliding window. Next, an energy-efficient transmission algorithm is designed to solve the problem of long-term modulation and coding optimization. In particular, a quantitative model is constructed to describe the relationship between data transmission and the buffer threshold used in this mechanism, which can then analyze the influence of buffer threshold under different channel states or data arrival rates theoretically. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to verify the proposed schemes, and results show that they can achieve good performance in terms of channel prediction and energy consumption with moderate buffer length.

Altered DNA repair creates novel Alu/Alu repeat-mediated deletions.

Alu elements are the most abundant source of nonallelic homology that influences genetic instability in the human genome. When there is a DNA double‐stranded break, the Alu element's high copy number, moderate length and distance and mismatch between elements uniquely influence recombination processes. We utilize a reporter‐gene assay to show the complex influence of Alu mismatches on Alu‐related repeat‐mediated deletions (RMDs). The Alu/Alu heteroduplex intermediate can result in a nonallelic homologous recombination (HR). Alternatively, the heteroduplex can result in various DNA breaks around the Alu elements caused by competing nucleases. These breaks can undergo Alt‐nonhomologous end joining to cause deletions focused around the Alu elements. Formation of these heteroduplex intermediates is largely RAD52 dependent. Cells with low ERCC1 levels utilize more of these alternatives resolutions, while cells with MSH2 defects tend to have more RMDs with a specific increase in the HR events. Therefore, Alu elements are expected to create different forms of deletions in various cancers depending on a number of these DNA repair defects.

ЧОЛОВІЧА ВИБІРКА ПОХОВАНЬ ХVI–XIX СТ. З ВОЛИНІ (ЗА ДАНИМИ КРАНІОЛОГІЇ)

У статті вводяться в науковий обіг нові краніологічні дані, дається загальна характеристика волинянам XVI–XIX ст. на тлі суміжних етнічних груп України та Східної Європи, визначається відстань між окремими чоловічими серіями ХІV–ХІХ ст. за допомогою багатовимірного канонічного та кластерного аналізу й з’ясовується місце волинян у системі краніологічних типів Східної Європи та фено-географічних антропологічних зон України. Матеріал та методи. Антропологічні матеріали XVI–XIX ст., які зібрав автор, представлені переважно добре збереженими людськими черепами. Загалом колекція складається зі 144 одиниць, серед них 92 чоловічих та 52 жіночих черепів (м. Луцьк, м. Рівне, м. Острог, с. Підборці, с. Буяни, с. Клевань). У роботі розглядаються тільки чоловіки, поза- як жінки потребують окремого докладного дослідження. Черепи вимірювалися за повною краніометричною програ- мою з використанням стандартної методики Р. Мартіна, згідно з якою вказувалася нумерація ознак. Комп’ютерні програми для реалізації багатовимірного аналізу створили Б.О. та О.Г. Козінцеви (1991 р.). Результати. Відповідно до середніх значень краніометричних ознак, чоловічу частину серії з Волині можна віднести до широколицього європеоїдного варіанту, специфічною можна вважати брахікранну черепну короб- ку. Чоловіча збірна серія в середньому характеризується помірною довжиною, великою шириною та середньою висотою черепної коробки. У групі домінує брахікранний широколиций морфологічний варіант. Висновки. У цілому чоловіча група відноситься до великої європеоїдної раси з ознаками певної мінімальної метисації, яка проявилася в брахікранному покажчику черепної коробки. За середніми квадратичними відхиленнями краніологічних ознак та їхніх індексів серія неоднорідна. За багатовимірним канонічним аналізом виявлено морфологічну та статистичну подібність досліджуваної чоловічої збірної групи XVI–XIX ст. з Волині до міської серії з м. Вінниця, а також до вибірки з київського Подолу, що вказує на ймовірну широку міграцію волинян до Поділля та Києва.

Exhumation history and preservation of the Changjiang uranium ore field, South China, revealed by (U-Th)/He and fission track thermochronology

The Changjiang uranium ore field (CUOF) is one of the most important and representative granite-type uranium ore fields in South China. Previous work on the CUOF has primarily concerned uranium ore genesis, focusing on aspects such as timing of metallogenesis and uranium mineralization mechanisms. However, the exhumation history and preservation of the ore deposits in the CUOF are poorly constrained. This study reports multi-system low-temperature thermochronology data that constrain the thermal history of the CUOF in the south-central Zhuguangshan complex, providing important insights into its tectonic evolution and the degree of ore preservation. Zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) ages of the mineralized and non-mineralized samples from fault-bounded Triassic-Jurassic granitic basement blocks range from 123 to 24 Ma and negatively correlate to effective uranium (eU) content (335–6611 ppm). Apatite fission track (AFT) ages of granite samples vary from 63 to 58 Ma with relatively short to moderate track lengths, and apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) ages range from 39 to 24 Ma. Inverse thermal history models from individual and grouped samples produce similar time–temperature reconstructions exhibiting a Cretaceous-Cenozoic three-stage thermal history involving an initial Late Cretaceous-Early Paleocene exhumation phase (~80–60 Ma) and subsequent Middle Paleocene to Middle-Late Eocene burial phase (~60–40 Ma), interpreted to be primarily controlled by temporal, spatial and velocity variabilities in Pacific Plate subduction dynamics. A final Late Eocene-Quaternary stage (~40–0 Ma) of exhumation was likely caused by the uplift associated with India-Asia collision and the eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau. The ~ 1.5–3.6 km of post-mineralization regional exhumation estimated from thermal history reconstructions, combined with existing uranium mineralization data (timing, temperature and pressure conditions) consistent with an ore-forming depth of ~ 3.2–5.6 km, suggest that the bulk of CUOF uranium ore bodies may still be preserved at depth.

Simulation and optimization of the removal of toluene in air by ozonation with a catalytic open-cell foam

A heterogeneous catalyst, composed of an open-cell glass foam support impregnated with zerovalent ruthenium nanoparticles (loading around 0.1 wt.%), was used to remove toluene in air by catalytic ozonation. Experiments with lab-designed 2−6 cm length and 1.6 cm diameter catalysts were performed. A model based on the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism, coupled with mass transfer limitations and including competitive effects between toluene and ozone, was designed. It accurately fits experimental data gathered at various temperatures (30−90 °C), gas velocities (0.0025−0.017 m s−1) and inlet ozone concentrations (6.4–11.2 g m−3). The removal of ozone and toluene was mainly ruled by the ozone concentration at low concentrations while the adsorption competition becomes significant at high ozone concentrations.Predictive simulations, at 1.0 g m−3 inlet toluene concentration, were compared in terms of investment cost, operating cost and process performances. The results highlighted the complexity of the process, which involves antagonist aims between toluene removal and the design of a compact and energy-efficient reactor. With the best operating conditions (90 °C and 46 g m−3 ozone inlet concentration), the removal of toluene reached 88% (removal rate of 0.25 g m−3 s−1) with a high ozone degradation (97%) in a moderate reactor length of 0.11 m. These good performances associated to the low cost of the catalyst’s synthesis make it an efficient alternative for the removal of pollutants from air.

The role of standing wave in the generation of hot electrons by femtosecond laser beams incident on dense ionized target

We demonstrate the differences in hot electron absorption mechanisms dominant in the interaction of a femtosecond laser pulse with intensities of 1018 W/cm2 and 1021 W/cm2 on a fully ionized target with a steep density profile and preplasma with moderate scale length (3 μm). We show that acceleration of each electron starts at the moment when the magnetic component of a standing electromagnetic wave changes its polarity in a regime without preplasma. In the presence of preplasma, the stochastic heating is the dominant absorption mechanism along with the longitudinal electric field. It is observed that wave's energy is absorbed only if the standing wave is already created at the position of electron during the interaction with the pulse with an intensity of 1018 W/cm2. In the case with 1021 W/cm2 intensity, the part of the electrons is pre-accelerated in front of the target before the reflection and following stochastic heating. The presence of preplasma results in electron temperatures close to or even exceeding ponderomotive scaling. At higher intensity, the re-injection of electrons previously repelled by incident wave's ponderomotive force into high-field regions is allowed if the standing wave is created.

Implication of therapeutic outcomes associated with molecular characterization of paediatric aplastic anaemia

ObjectivesSevere aplastic anemia is characterized by a hypocellular bone marrow and peripheral cytopenia. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) development and the development of microenvironment suitable for hematopoiesis. Molecular characterization of telomere maintenance pathway and gene expression profiling of MSCs can be important for the therapeutic interventions among paediatric aplastic anaemia patients. MethodsThe study involved paediatric aplastic anaemia patients (n = 10) and age matched paediatric healthy donors (n = 8). Peripheral blood samples were collected from the individuals. Average leucocyte telomere length and gene expression of the telomere maintenance genes were determined by quantitative real time PCR. Microarray based gene expression profiles (GSE33812) of MSCs for five paediatric aplastic anaemia patients were analyzed compared to five healthy controls and the data was downloaded from the GEO database. ResultsThe telomere length was significantly shorter among paediatric AA patients compared to age matched healthy donors. Interestingly, one subgroup (n = 2) of paediatric AA patients has moderate telomere length comparable to age matched healthy donors. Based on the gene expression analysis of telomere maintenance pathway, TERF2 was significantly downregulated among paediatric patients with shorter telomere length but not among paediatric patients with moderate telomere length. Gene expression profiling of MSCs revealed three differentially expressed genes (GAS2L3, MK167 and TMSB15A) among the patients and was associated with therapeutic outcome. ConclusionTelomere length estimation and gene expression patterns of the MSCs and telomere length maintenance pathway may serve as a potential biomarker and could be associated with therapeutic choice of paediatric aplastic anaemia patients.

Long tracks of homozygosity predict the severity of alcohol use disorders in an American Indian population.

Runs of homozygosity (ROH) arise when an individual inherits two copies of the same haplotype segment. While ROH are ubiquitous across human populations, Native populations—with shared parental ancestry arising from isolation and endogamy—can carry a substantial enrichment for ROH. We have been investigating genetic and environmental risk factors for alcohol use disorders (AUD) in a group of American Indians (AI) who have higher rates of AUD than the general U. S. population. Here we explore whether ROH might be associated with incidence and severity of AUD in this admixed AI population (n=742) that live on geographically contiguous reservations, using low-coverage whole genome sequences. We have found that the genomic regions in the ROH that were identified in this population had significantly elevated American Indian heritage compared with the rest of the genome. Increased ROH abundance and ROH burden are likely risk factors for AUD severity in this AI population, especially in those diagnosed with severe and moderate AUD. The association between ROH and AUD was mostly driven by ROH of moderate lengths between 1–2Mb. An ROH island on chromosome 1p32.3 and a rare ROH pool on chromosome 3p12.3 were found to be significantly associated with AUD severity. They contain genes involved in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses; and OSBPL9 was found to reside on the consensus part of the ROH island. These data demonstrate that ROH are associated with risk for AUD severity in this AI population.

Bifurcation preserving discretisations of optimal control problems

The first order optimality conditions of optimal control problems (OCPs) can be regarded as boundary value problems for Hamiltonian systems. Variational or symplectic discretisation methods are classically known for their excellent long term behaviour. As boundary value problems are posed on intervals of fixed, moderate length, it is not immediately clear whether methods can profit from structure preservation in this context. When parameters are present, solutions can undergo bifurcations, for instance, two solutions can merge and annihilate one another as parameters are varied. We will show that generic bifurcations of an OCP are preserved under discretisation when the OCP is either directly discretised to a discrete OCP (direct method) or translated into a Hamiltonian boundary value problem using first order necessary conditions of optimality which is then solved using a symplectic integrator (indirect method). Moreover, certain bifurcations break when a non-symplectic scheme is used. The general phenomenon is illustrated on the example of a cut locus of an ellipsoid.