In this paper, we use approximate solutions of Nemat-Nasser et al. to estimate the effective conductivity of two-phase periodic composites with non-overlapping spherical inclusions. Systems with ...different inclusion distributions are considered: cubic lattice distributions (simple cubic, body-centred cubic and face-centred cubic) and random distributions. The effective conductivities of the former are obtained in closed form and compared with exact solutions from the fast Fourier transform-based methods. For systems containing randomly distributed spherical inclusions, the solutions are shown to be directly related to the static structure factor, and we obtain its analytical expression in the infinite-volume limit.
Familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD) occur as part of known syndromes such as Marfan syndrome but can also be inherited in families in an autosomal dominant manner as an isolated ...condition. Previous studies have mapped genes causing nonsyndromic familial TAAD to 5q13-15 (TAAD1) and 11q23.2-q24 (FAA1). Further genetic heterogeneity for the condition was evident by the presence of TAAD in some families not linked to these known loci.
A 4-generation family with dominant mode of inheritance of TAAD was studied. Affected status was determined by dilation of the ascending aorta, surgical repair of an aneurysm or dissection, or death as the result of aortic dissection. None of the family members evaluated met the diagnostic criteria for Marfan syndrome. After exclusion of known loci for familial TAAD, a genome-wide scan was carried out to map the defective gene causing the disease in the family. A locus was mapped to a 25-cM region on 3p24-25 with a maximum multipoint logarithm of the odds score of 4.28.
A third locus for nonsyndromic TAAD was mapped to 3p24-25 and termed the TAAD2 locus. This locus overlaps a previously mapped second locus for Marfan syndrome, termed the MFS2 locus. Future characterization of the TAAD2 gene will determine if TAAD2 is allelic to MFS2. In addition, identification of the TAAD2 gene will improve the presymptomatic diagnosis of individuals with this life-threatening genetic syndrome and provide information concerning the pathogenesis of the disease.
The
family of viruses encompasses a group of pathogens with a zoonotic potential as observed from previous outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Middle East respiratory ...syndrome coronavirus. Accordingly, it seems important to identify and document the coronaviruses in animal reservoirs, many of which are uncharacterized and potentially missed by more standard diagnostic assays. A combination of sensitive deep sequencing technology and computational algorithms is essential for virus surveillance, especially for characterizing novel- or distantly related virus strains. Here, we explore the use of profile Hidden Markov Model-defined Pfam protein domains (Pfam domains) encoded by new sequences as a
sequence classification tool. The encoded domains are used first in a triage to identify potential
sequences and then processed using a Random Forest method to classify the sequences to the
genus level. The application of this algorithm on
genomes assembled from agnostic deep sequencing data from surveillance of bats and rats in Dong Thap province (Vietnam) identified thirty-four
and eleven
genomes. This collection of bat and rat coronaviruses genomes provided essential information on the local diversity of coronaviruses and substantially expanded the number of coronavirus full genomes available from bat and rats and may facilitate further molecular studies on this group of viruses.
This paper proposes a novel detection scheme simultaneously to measure strain and temperature, based on a simple to construct device using a section of a specially designed few-mode fiber (FMF). The ...parameters and index profile of the FMF used as the key sensor element are such that the fiber supports only the LP01 and LP02 modes. The propagation constant difference between LP01 and LP02 modes Δβ has a maximum corresponding to the critical wavelength (CWL) in the fiber transmission spectrum. Because the two peaks located closest to the CWL from both sides, left peak 1 and right peak 1, shift in opposite directions, with different sensitivities under axial strain and temperature variations, the FMF device is capable of measuring the strain and temperature simultaneously. A theoretical analysis has been carried out as part of the design process and the experimental results obtained are found to agree well with the theoretical predictions. The characteristics of this sensor scheme are discussed in light of other competing approaches to simultaneous temperature and strain monitoring and are found to show advantages that suit several practical applications including compactness, ease of fabrication and implementation, relatively high sensitivities, and low cost.
We present a new measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vcb| from B0→D*−ℓ+νℓ decays, reconstructed with the full Belle data set of 711 fb−1 integrated luminosity. Two form ...factor parametrizations, originally conceived by the Caprini-Lellouch-Neubert (CLN) and the Boyd, Grinstein and Lebed (BGL) groups, are used to extract the product F(1)ηEW|Vcb| and the decay form factors, where F(1) is the normalization factor and ηEW is a small electroweak correction. In the CLN parametrization we find F(1)ηEW|Vcb|=(35.06±0.15±0.56)×10−3, ρ2=1.106±0.031±0.007, R1(1)=1.229±0.028±0.009, R2(1)=0.852±0.021±0.006. For the BGL parametrization we obtain F(1)ηEW|Vcb|=(34.93±0.23±0.59)×10−3, which is consistent with the world average when correcting for F(1)ηEW. The branching fraction of B0→D*−ℓ+νℓ is measured to be B(B0→D*−ℓ+νℓ)=(4.90±0.02±0.16)%. We also present a new test of lepton flavor universality violation in semileptonic B decays, B(B0→D*−e+ν)B(B0→D*−μ+ν)=1.01±0.01±0.03. The errors quoted correspond to the statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively. This is the most precise measurement of F(1)ηEW|Vcb| and form factors to date and the first experimental study of the BGL form factor parametrization in an experimental measurement.
•Speed of ultrasonic non-contact transportation controlled by temporal phase shift.•Standing wave ratio represent the component of travelling waves along the device.•Relationship across standing wave ...ratio, temporal and spatial phase shift discovered.•Spatial phase shift can be measured using a scanning laser doppler vibrometer.•Standing wave ratio adjusted by temporal phase with knowledge of spatial phase shift.
Having good control over the speed and direction of non-contact transportation is critical in industry today, especially in areas such as the manufacturing of flat panel displays, silicon wafers of semi-silicon and a number of other electronic devices. In a dual transducer-type ultrasonic levitation-based transportation system, it is well known that the vibrating plate length and the wavelength of the flexural vibration should satisfy a strict relationship, i.e. one given by the spatial phase difference, ϕ, so that the transportation process could be as fast as possible and therefore most effective for industry. However, it is difficult to obtain the value of ϕ through calculation, or through making adjustments during the operation of the transportation process. In this paper, the relationship across the temporal phase shift, θ, the spatial phase difference, ϕ, and the Standing Wave Ratio (SWR), which directly controls the speed and direction of the transportation system, was derived by the authors for the first time. Subsequently, experimental solutions for the measurement of ϕ were obtained in this work, using a Laser Doppler Vibrometer-based approach (LDV) and as a result, the research has been successful in giving results for ϕ, through the series of experiments carried out and reported.
To investigate the direct contribution to carbon emissions of fluorinated gases used in all vitreoretinal (VR) procedures utilizing gas tamponade and assess the respective carbon footprint of the ...three different gas delivery systems.
A multicenter, retrospective, environmental impact study.
All VR procedures using fluorinated gases between 2017 to 2020 at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (MREH) and Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) (the second and third largest VR centers in the UK), and between 2019 to 2020 at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) were included. CO2 equivalent mass (CO2EM) was calculated from the mass of each gas used, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
A total of 4877 (1883 SF6 38.6%, 2096 C2F6 43.0%, and 897 C3F8 18.4%) procedures were analyzed. UHCW and BMEC utilized single-use 30 mL and 75 mL cannisters, respectively. MREH used four cylinders of each gas over 4 years (2 kg SF6, 1 kg C2F6, 1 kg C3F8). Mean CO2EM per patient was: MREH 111.8 kg, BMEC 7.5 kg, and UHCW 2.7 kg. For MREH and BMEC, the CO2EM was 73.4 metric tons annually (if all cases were performed with i) 30 mL: 3.7 tons and ii) cylinders: 148.0 tons, x 40-fold difference), equating to 599,400 (30,500-1.2 million) km travelled by a passenger car. The current use of SF6 in VR surgery accounts for 0.11% of total SF6 use; if 30 mL cylinders were exclusively used in the UK, this could be lowered to 0.01%.
This study highlights the significant waste associated with large gas cylinders and demonstrated that 30 mL cannisters can lead to a marked reduction in carbon emissions, even after accounting for the increased carbon footprint involved in their manufacture and disposal.
PDF
