The amount of gene and genome data obtained by next-generation sequencing technologies generates a need for comparative visualization tools. Complementing existing software for comparison and ...exploration of genomics data, genoPlotR automatically creates publication-grade linear maps of gene and genomes, in a highly automatic, flexible and reproducible way. Availability: genoPlotR is a platform-independent R package, available with full source code under a GPL2 license at R-Forge: http://genoplotr.r-forge.r-project.org/ Contact: lionel.guy@ebc.uu.se
Interstellar Dust Grain Alignment Andersson, B-G; Lazarian, A; Vaillancourt, John E
Annual review of astronomy and astrophysics,
08/2015, Letnik:
53, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Interstellar polarization at optical-to-infrared wavelengths is known to arise from asymmetric dust grains aligned with the magnetic field. This effect provides a potentially powerful probe of ...magnetic field structure and strength if the details of the grain alignment can be reliably understood. Theory and observations have recently converged on a quantitative, predictive description of interstellar grain alignment based on radiative processes. The development of a general, analytical model for this radiative alignment torque (RAT) theory has allowed specific, testable predictions for realistic interstellar conditions. We outline the theoretical and observational arguments in favor of RAT alignment, as well as reasons the "classical" paramagnetic alignment mechanism is unlikely to work, except possibly for the very smallest grains. With further detailed characterization of the RAT mechanism, grain alignment and polarimetry promise to not only better constrain the interstellar magnetic field but also provide new information on the dust characteristics.
This paper presents an approach for combined optimization of coupled power flows of different energy infrastructures such as electricity, gas, and district heating systems. A steady state power flow ...model is presented that includes conversion and transmission of an arbitrary number of energy carriers. The couplings between the different infrastructures are explicitly taken into account based on the new concept of energy hubs. With this model, combined economic dispatch and optimal power flow problems are stated covering transmission and conversion of energy. A general optimality condition for optimal dispatch of multiple energy carriers is derived, and the approach is compared with the standard method used for electrical power systems. Finally, the developed tools are demonstrated in examples
Host-adapted bacteria include mutualists and pathogens of animals, plants and insects. Their study is therefore important for biotechnology, biodiversity and human health. The recent rapid expansion ...in bacterial genome data has provided insights into the adaptive, diversifying and reductive evolutionary processes that occur during host adaptation. The results have challenged many pre-existing concepts built from studies of laboratory bacterial strains. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed genetic changes associated with transitions from parasitism to mutualism and opened new research avenues to understand the functional reshaping of bacteria as they adapt to growth in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic host.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although guided self-help for depression and anxiety disorders has been examined in many studies, it is not clear whether it is equally effective as face-to-face treatments.MethodWe conducted a ...meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in which the effects of guided self-help on depression and anxiety were compared directly with face-to-face psychotherapies for depression and anxiety disorders. A systematic search in bibliographical databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane) resulted in 21 studies with 810 participants.
The overall effect size indicating the difference between guided self-help and face-to-face psychotherapy at post-test was d=-0.02, in favour of guided self-help. At follow-up (up to 1 year) no significant difference was found either. No significant difference was found between the drop-out rates in the two treatments formats.
It seems safe to conclude that guided self-help and face-to-face treatments can have comparable effects. It is time to start thinking about implementation in routine care.
Abstract Introduction The aging population is a challenge for the healthcare system that must identify strategies that meet their needs. Practicing patient-centered care has been shown beneficial for ...this patient-group. The effect of patient-centered care is called patient-centered outcomes and can be appraised using outcomes measurements. Objectives The main aim was to review and map existing knowledge related to patient-centered outcomes and patient-centered outcomes measurements for older people, as well as identify key-concepts and knowledge-gaps. The research questions were: How can patient-centered outcomes for older people be measured, and which patient-centered outcomes matters the most for the older people? Study design Scoping review. Methods Search for relevant publications in electronical databases, grey literature databases and websites from year 2000 to 2021. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, followed by full text review and extraction of data using a data extraction framework. Results Eighteen studies were included, of which six with involvement of patients and/or experts in the process on determine the outcomes. Outcomes that matter the most to older people was interpreted as: access to- and experience of care, autonomy and control, cognition, daily living, emotional health, falls, general health, medications, overall survival, pain, participation in decision making, physical function, physical health, place of death, social role function, symptom burden, and time spent in hospital. The most frequently mentioned/used outcomes measurements tools were the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT), EQ-5D, Gait Speed, Katz- ADL index, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), SF/RAND-36 and 4-Item Screening Zarit Burden Interview. Conclusions Few studies have investigated the older people’s opinion of what matters the most to them, which forms a knowledge-gap in the field. Future research should focus on providing older people a stronger voice in what they think matters the most to them.
Abstract
Background
Incidence of hip fracture is estimated to rise, increasing demands on healthcare. Our objective was to compare patients with hip fracture, a decade apart, regarding surgical ...characteristics and functional outcome in relation to morbidity. A secondary aim was to analyse postoperative hand-grip strength (HGS) in relation to walking ability 4 months postoperatively.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional comparative study of patients with hip fracture, included in 2008 (n = 78) and 2018 (n = 76) at Örebro University Hospital. Patient-data (age, gender, morbidity, fall-circumstances, fracture, surgical characteristics, and length of stay) were collected from medical records. HGS was measured postoperatively. Data on functional outcome in terms of housing, walking ability and need of walking aids at 4 months postoperatively was collected from the Swedish Hip Fracture Register RIKSHÖFT. Statistical analyses adapted were hypothesis tests and regression analysis.
Results
Patients in 2018 presented a significantly higher morbidity than patients in 2008 and there were significant differences in adapted surgical methods. Functional outcome at 4-months postoperatively was analysed by logistic regression where Cohort 2018 was associated with higher odds of independent walking ability (OR 5.7; 95%CI 1.9–17.2) and not needing any walking aids (OR 5.1; 95%CI 1.9–17.2). Postoperative HGS was higher among patients in 2018 and a multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association between HGS and walking ability at 4 months postoperatively.
Conclusions
This study supports the since previously reported development in hip fracture surgery in Sweden while also presenting that functional outcome seems to have improved despite a concomitant increase in morbidity. Results suggest an improvement in postoperative HGS, predicting walking ability at 4 months postoperatively.
Abstract We present SCUBA-2/POL-2 850 μ m polarimetric observations of the circumstellar envelope (CSE) of the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star IRC+10216. Both far-IR (FIR) and optical ...polarization data indicate grains aligned with their long axis in the radial direction relative to the central star. The 850 μ m polarization does not show this simple structure. The 850 μ m data are indicative, albeit not conclusive, of a magnetic dipole geometry. Assuming such a simple dipole geometry, the resulting 850 μ m polarization geometry is consistent with both Zeeman observations and small-scale structure in the CSE. While there is significant spectral-line polarization contained within the SCUBA-2 850 μ m passband for the source, it is unlikely that our broadband polarization results are dominated by line polarization. To explain the required grain alignment, grain mineralogy effects, due to either fossil silicate grains from the earlier oxygen-rich AGB phase of the star or due to the incorporation of ferromagnetic inclusions in the largest grains, may play a role. We argue that the most likely explanation is due to a new alignment mechanism wherein a charged grain, moving relative to the magnetic field, precesses around the induced electric field and therefore aligns with the magnetic field. This mechanism is particularly attractive as the optical, FIR, and submillimeter-wave polarization of the carbon dust can then be explained in a consistent way, differing simply due to the charge state of the grains.
The species is a fundamental unit of biological organization, but its relevance for Bacteria and Archaea is still hotly debated. Even more controversial is whether the deeper branches of the ...ribosomal RNA-derived phylogenetic tree, such as the phyla, have ecological importance. Here, we discuss the ecological coherence of high bacterial taxa in the light of genome analyses and present examples of niche differentiation between deeply diverging groups in terrestrial and aquatic systems. The ecological relevance of high bacterial taxa has implications for bacterial taxonomy, evolution and ecology.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Specific ion effects (SIE), encompassing the Hofmeister Series, have been known for more than 130 years since Hofmeister and Lewith's foundational work. SIEs are ubiquitous and are observed across ...the medical, biological, chemical and industrial sciences. Nevertheless, no general predictive theory has yet been able to explain ion specificity across these fields; it remains impossible to predict when, how, and to what magnitude, a SIE will be observed. In part, this is due to the complexity of real systems in which ions, counterions, solvents and cosolutes all play varying roles, which give rise to anomalies and reversals in anticipated SIEs. Herein we review the historical explanations for SIE in water and the key ion properties that have been attributed to them. Systems where the Hofmeister series is perturbed or reversed are explored, as is the behaviour of ions at the liquid-vapour interface. We discuss SIEs in mixed electrolytes, nonaqueous solvents, and in highly concentrated electrolyte solutions - exciting frontiers in this field with particular relevance to biological and electrochemical applications. We conclude the perspective by summarising the challenges and opportunities facing this SIE research that highlight potential pathways towards a general predictive theory of SIE.
This perspective reviews the historical explanations for specific ion effects, and explores the frontiers of the field before summarising its challenges and opportunities.
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