i-RheoFT: Fourier transforming sampled functions without artefacts

In this article we present a new open-access code named “i-RheoFT” that implements the analytical method first introduced in [PRE, 80, 012501 (2009)] and then enhanced in [New J Phys 14, 115032 (2012)], which allows to evaluate the Fourier transform of any generic time-dependent function that vanishes for negative times, sampled at a finite set of data points that extend over a finite range, and need not be equally spaced. I-RheoFT has been employed here to investigate three important experimental factors: (i) the ‘density of initial experimental points’ describing the sampled function, (ii) the interpolation function used to perform the “virtual oversampling” procedure introduced in [New J Phys 14, 115032 (2012)], and (iii) the detrimental effect of noises on the expected outcomes. We demonstrate that, at relatively high signal-to-noise ratios and density of initial experimental points, all three built-in MATLAB interpolation functions employed in this work (i.e., Spline, Makima and PCHIP) perform well in recovering the information embedded within the original sampled function; with the Spline function performing best. Whereas, by reducing either the number of initial data points or the signal-to-noise ratio, there exists a threshold below which all three functions perform poorly; with the worst performance given by the Spline function in both the cases and the least worst by the PCHIP function at low density of initial data points and by the Makima function at relatively low signal-to-noise ratios. We envisage that i-RheoFT will be of particular interest and use to all those studies where sampled or time-averaged functions, often defined by a discrete set of data points within a finite time-window, are exploited to gain new insights on the systems’ dynamics.

Remote Programming of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: A Novel Approach to Program Cardiac Devices for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) in patients (pts) with MRI-conditional cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) remain a logistical issue for device programming during the scan. In current practice, a trained person needs to be present on-site to program CIED for MRI scan. This can cause delay in patient care, rescheduling of tests and increase healthcare costs. A novel remote programming (RP) strategy can be utilized to reprogram the CIED remotely. We sought to explore the feasibility and safety of RP of CIED’s in pts undergoing MRI scan. Methods We implemented the Medtronic CIED RP software at our institution after ensuring HIPAA compliance. The MRI technician started the session by contacting an off-site remote operator and placing a programmer wand from 2090 Medtronic programmer over CIED. The remote operator logged into a remote access software and provided a unique access code to the MRI technician. After entering the access code into the programmer, the remote operator was able to program the device as needed. We conducted a periodic audit of the first 209 pts who underwent RP of CIED’s for MRI. Outcomes analyzed were safety parameters during RP. Results Of the 209 MRI scans, 51 scans were performed urgently. There were no connectivity and programming problems or need for MRI rescheduling. In-person reprogramming was not required for any pt. All scans were completed safely in a timely manner, and there were no reports of CIED malfunction. Conclusions Remote programming of CIED’s for MRI scans is a safe and effective strategy.

Anchoring effects in the assessment of papers: The proposal for an empirical survey of citing authors

In our planned study, we shall empirically study the assessment of cited papers within the framework of the anchoring-and-adjustment heuristic. We are interested in the question whether citation decisions are (mainly) driven by the quality of cited references. The design of our study is oriented towards the study by Teplitskiy, Duede [10]. We shall undertake a survey of corresponding authors with an available email address in the Web of Science database. The authors are asked to assess the quality of papers that they cited in previous papers. Some authors will be assigned to three treatment groups that receive further information alongside the cited paper: citation information, information on the publishing journal (journal impact factor), or a numerical access code to enter the survey. The control group will not receive any further numerical information. In the statistical analyses, we estimate how (strongly) the quality assessments of the cited papers are adjusted by the respondents to the anchor value (citation, journal, or access code). Thus, we are interested in whether possible adjustments in the assessments can not only be produced by quality-related information (citation or journal), but also by numbers that are not related to quality, i.e. the access code. The results of the study may have important implications for quality assessments of papers by researchers and the role of numbers, citations, and journal metrics in assessment processes.

Cyphellostereum Ushima Sp. Nov. (Hygrophoraceae, Agaricales) Described from Amami-Oshima Island (Kagoshima Prefecture, Ryukyu Islands), Japan, with Ultrastructural Observations of its Rhizonema Photobiont Filaments Penetrated Longitudinally by a Central Haustorium

We collected a resupinate fungus lichenized with filamentous Rhizonema cyanobacteria in Amami-Oshima Island, Japan. Microscopic observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses of both the basidioma and the lichenized thallus indicated affinities within Cyphellostereum, the first record of this basidiomycete genus from Japan. Its unique combination of structural characters and ITS rDNA sequences suggest a new species, described here as C. ushima. Light and transmission electron microscopic observations revealed tubular intracellular haustoria penetrating longitudinally within the cyanobacterial cells, a feature typically seen in the related genus Dictyonema, but unusual in Cyphellostereum. The generic circumscription of Cyphellostereum was therefore emended to include features of C. ushima and other recently described species that deviate from the conventional definition of the genus. Ultrastructural details of symbiont interactions are provided for the first time in this genus. We also succeeded in cultivating the fungus from hyphae regenerated from thallus fragments, and include a brief description of those results.TreeBASE reviewer access URL:http://purl.org/phylo/treebase/phylows/study/TB2:S28437?x-access-code=84d2007afb05bd743f34101ac2d97dac&format=html

3D structure of NT-3 Protein (Neurotropin 3) of Pigeon (Columba livia) using Server-Swiss Model

The NT-3 protein plays an important role in the development and differentiation of neurons, and is unique in the neurotropin family, that it can bind to 3 Trk receptors, namely TrkC, TrkA and TrkB. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics and three-dimensional structure of NT-3 protein in Columba livia. The target protein was obtained from Uniprot server with the access code of PKK30025.1 using template 3buk.1A (PDB-ID) analyzed in-silico through homology method using SWISS-MODEL server. The results showed that the three-dimensional structure of the target NT-3 protein with a template formed a β-sheet and loop structure, which was composed of 304 amino acids, with the highest amino acid composition was serine at 8.88 mol polar, and the lowest amino acid was tryptophan at 1.32. moles which was relatively nonpolar. The analysis results of the structural quality revealed an identity value of 98.20%, QMEAN of 0.8, QMQE of 0.25, and the analysis on the Ramachandran plot presented an outlier value of 0.92%; the most favored region value was 94.5%, with good structural quality. The results of the 3-dimensional structure of the NT-3 Columba livia protein are expected to be useful for further research to determine the active side and interactions of proteins in carrying out their functions.

Points of intersection of space-time planes of the “foreign world” in epistolary prose of the English romanticists

The subject of this research is the points of intersection of space-time relations of the “foreign world” in such form of authorial self-expression as correspondence of the English romanticists. The goal is to examine the key elements of the chronotope of “foreign world”, and determine the peculiarities of their functionality in the romantic epistolary prose. The object of this research is the 50 letters of W. Wordsworth, 224 letters of G. G. Byron, 67 letters of P. B. Shelley, 51 letters of J. Keats, and 200 letters of R. Southey. The article employs a set of general scientific and special literary criticism methods, such as descriptive, biographical, historical-genetic, historical-functional, structural-semantic, and comparative-typological. It is established that the “foreign world” in the correspondence of English romanticists is represented by the following points of intersection of space-time planes: chronotope of the road / road meetup / traffic accident; contact / meetup / date; cities / countries / villages, with the dominant motifs of the road and contact. Leaning on the analysis of space-time plane of the “foreign world” in the correspondence of English romanticists, the conclusion is made that the chronotope of “foreign world” is a certain access code to the world pattern of English romanticists, the key category that resembles the worldview of a particular epoch, namely romanticism. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that this work is first to analyze space-time relations of “foreign world” in the correspondence of English romanticists. The future research should focus on the types and peculiarities of functionality of the chronotope of “native world” in the correspondence of English romanticists, as well as the interaction of space and time in the correspondence of English realist writers, determining and comparing the integral and variable traits characteristic to epistolary prose as a whole.

GUIDELINES TO SIMULATE LINEAR VISCOELASTIC MATERIALS WITH AN ARBITRARY NUMBER OF CHARACTERISTIC TIMES IN THE CONTEXT OF ATOMIC FORCE MISCROSCOPY

We provide guidelines for modeling linear viscoelastic materials containing an arbitrary number of characteristic times, under atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization. Instructions are provided to set up the governing equations that rule the deformation of the material by the AFM tip. Procedures are described in detail in the spirit of providing a simple handbook, which is accompanied by open-access code and workbook (Excel) sheets. These guidelines seek to complement the existing literature and reach out to a larger audience in the awareness of the interdisciplinary nature of science. Examples are given in the context of force-distance curves characterization within AFM, but they can be easily extrapolated to other types of contact characterization techniques at different length scales. Despite the simplified approach of this document, the algorithms described herein are built upon rigorous classical linear viscoelastic theory.