This study investigated sex differences in iron status, and associations between iron status and endurance and musculoskeletal outcomes, in military training. 2,277 British Army trainees (581 women) participated. Iron markers and endurance performance (2.4 km run) were measured at the start (week 1) and end (week 13) of training. Whole-body areal body mineral density (aBMD) and markers of bone metabolism were measured at week 1. Injuries during training were recorded. Training decreased haemoglobin in men and women (mean change [95% CI], −0.1 [−0.2, −0.0] and −0.7 [−0.9, −0.6] g∙dL-1, both p < 0.001), but more so in women (p < 0.001). Ferritin decreased in men and women (−27 [−28, −23] and −5 [−8, −1] ug∙L, both p ≤ 0.001), but more so in men (p < 0.001). sTfR increased in men and women (2.9 [2.3, 3.6] and 3.8 [2.7, 4.9] nmol∙L, both p < 0.001), with no difference between sexes (p = 0.872). RDW increased in men (0.3 [0.2, 0.4]%, p < 0.001), but not women (0.1 [−0.1, 0.2]%, p = 0.956). MCV decreased in men (−1.5 [−1.8, −1.1] fL, p < 0.001), but not women (0.4 [−0.4, 1.3] fL, p = 0.087). Lower ferritin was associated with slower 2.4 km run time (p = 0.018), sustaining a lower limb overuse injury (p = 0.048), lower aBMD (p = 0.021), and higher βCTX and P1NP (both p < 0.001) controlling for sex. Improving iron stores before training may protect haemoglobin in women and improve endurance and protect against injury.

We present a comparison between the performance of a selection of source finders (SFs) using a new software tool called Hydra. The companion paper, Paper I, introduced the Hydra tool and demonstrated its performance using simulated data. Here we apply Hydra to assess the performance of different source finders by analysing real observational data taken from the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) Pilot Survey. EMU is a wide-field radio continuum survey whose primary goal is to make a deep ($20\mu$Jy/beam RMS noise), intermediate angular resolution ($15^{\prime\prime}$), 1 GHz survey of the entire sky south of $+30^{\circ}$ declination, and expecting to detect and catalogue up to 40 million sources. With the main EMU survey it is highly desirable to understand the performance of radio image SF software and to identify an approach that optimises source detection capabilities. Hydra has been developed to refine this process, as well as to deliver a range of metrics and source finding data products from multiple SFs. We present the performance of the five SFs tested here in terms of their completeness and reliability statistics, their flux density and source size measurements, and an exploration of case studies to highlight finder-specific limitations.

The latest generation of radio surveys are now producing sky survey images containing many millions of radio sources. In this context it is highly desirable to understand the performance of radio image source finder (SF) software and to identify an approach that optimises source detection capabilities. We have created Hydra to be an extensible multi-SF and cataloguing tool that can be used to compare and evaluate different SFs. Hydra, which currently includes the SFs Aegean, Caesar, ProFound, PyBDSF, and Selavy, provides for the addition of new SFs through containerisation and configuration files. The SF input RMS noise and island parameters are optimised to a 90% ‘percentage real detections’ threshold (calculated from the difference between detections in the real and inverted images), to enable comparison between SFs. Hydra provides completeness and reliability diagnostics through observed-deep ($\mathcal{D}$) and generated-shallow ($\mathcal{S}$) images, as well as other statistics. In addition, it has a visual inspection tool for comparing residual images through various selection filters, such as S/N bins in completeness or reliability. The tool allows the user to easily compare and evaluate different SFs in order to choose their desired SF, or a combination thereof. This paper is part one of a two part series. In this paper we introduce the Hydra software suite and validate its $\mathcal{D/S}$ metrics using simulated data. The companion paper demonstrates the utility of Hydra by comparing the performance of SFs using both simulated and real images.

Increased numbers of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Baltic Sea may have local impacts on fisheries and salmonid hatcheries. We studied spatial and temporal variability in cormorant diet, and potential consumption of hatchery salmonids, by analysing knee subcutaneous adipose tissue fatty acids (FA) of specimens (N = 77) collected along Swedish and Finnish coasts in different seasons during 2013–2017. The FA profiles of the subspecies sinensis and carbo were similar, with large individual variation. The proportion of C18 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) was the largest in the north, whereas the proportion of C20–22 monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) increased towards the south, reflecting diminishing freshwater and increasing marine food web characteristics towards the south. As an exception, the C20–22 MUFA percentage was high in sinensis collected in June 2017 from the northern Baltic Sea. The source of C20–22 MUFAs was probably hatchery salmonids, raised on ocean fish hatchery feed and released 10 days before, near the cormorant capture site. The FA profiles of northern and southern cormorants differed from each other both in early and late summer samples, suggesting spatially different diets. The largest individual variation was found in 22:1n-11, characteristic of ocean zooplanktivorous fish, and likely originating from Atlantic wild or Baltic Sea hatchery-reared fish. This study shows that adipose tissue FA profiles can be used as proxies for seabird diet monitoring and indicators of predation on hatchery-reared fish. Obtaining quantitative estimates on the proportions of dietary fish species requires future feeding experiments, allowing calibration between the FA compositions and diet.

Objective: Concussion in children and adolescents is a prevalent problem with implications for subsequent physical, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological functioning, as well as quality of life. While these consequences warrant attention, most concussed children recover well. This study aimed to determine what pre-injury, demographic, and injury-related factors are associated with optimal outcome (“wellness”) after pediatric concussion. Method: A total of 311 children 6–18 years of age with concussion participated in a longitudinal, prospective cohort study. Pre-morbid conditions and acute injury variables, including post-concussive symptoms (PCS) and cognitive screening (Standardized Assessment of Concussion, SAC), were collected in the emergency department, and a neuropsychological assessment was performed at 4 and 12 weeks post-injury. Wellness, defined by the absence of PCS and cognitive inefficiency and the presence of good quality of life, was the main outcome. Stepwise logistic regression was performed using 19 predictor variables. Results: 41.5% and 52.2% of participants were classified as being well at 4 and 12 weeks post-injury, respectively. The final model indicated that children who were younger, who sustained sports/recreational injuries (vs. other types), who did not have a history of developmental problems, and who had better acute working memory (SAC concentration score) were significantly more likely to be well. Conclusions: Determining the variables associated with wellness after pediatric concussion has the potential to clarify which children are likely to show optimal recovery. Future work focusing on wellness and concussion should include appropriate control groups and document more extensively pre-injury and injury-related factors that could additionally contribute to wellness. (JINS, 2019, 25, 375–389)

Underground Nuclear Astrophysics in China (JUNA) will take the advantage of the ultra-low background in Jinping underground lab. High current accelerator with an ECR source and detectors were commissioned. JUNA plans to study directly a number of nuclear reactions important to hydrostatic stellar evolution at their relevant stellar energies. At the first period, JUNA aims at the direct measurements of 25Mg(p,γ)26 Al, 19F(p,α) 16 O, 13C(α, n) 16O and 12C(α,γ) 16O near the Gamow window. The current progress of JUNA will be given.

Nano-structured thin films have a variety of applications from waveguides, gaseous sensors to piezoelectric devices. Grazing Incidence Small Angle x-ray Scattering images enable classification of such materials. One challenge is to determine structure information from scattering patterns alone. This paper highlights the design of multiple Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to classify nanoparticle orientation in a thin film by learning scattering patterns. The network was trained on several thin films with a success rate of 94%. We demonstrate CNN robustness under different noises as well as demonstrate the potential of our proposed approach as a strategy to decrease scattering pattern analysis time.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises several heritable diseases that involve photoreceptor, and ultimately retinal, degeneration. Currently, mutations in over 50 genes have known links to RP. Despite advances in clinical characterization, molecular characterization of RP remains challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of causal genes, mutations, and clinical phenotypes. In this study, we compiled large datasets of two important visual genes associated with RP: rhodopsin, which initiates the phototransduction cascade, and the retinoid isomerase RPE65, which regenerates the visual cycle. We used a comparative evolutionary approach to investigate the relationship between interspecific sequence variation and pathogenic mutations that lead to degenerative retinal disease. Using codon-based likelihood methods, we estimated evolutionary rates (dN/dS) across both genes in a phylogenetic context to investigate differences between pathogenic and nonpathogenic amino acid sites. In both genes, disease-associated sites showed significantly lower evolutionary rates compared to nondisease sites, and were more likely to occur in functionally critical areas of the proteins. The nature of the dataset (e.g., vertebrate or mammalian sequences), as well as selection of pathogenic sites, affected the differences observed between pathogenic and nonpathogenic sites. Our results illustrate that these methods can serve as an intermediate step in understanding protein structure and function in a clinical context, particularly in predicting the relative pathogenicity (i.e., functional impact) of point mutations and their downstream phenotypic effects. Extensions of this approach may also contribute to current methods for predicting the deleterious effects of candidate mutations and to the identification of protein regions under strong constraint where we expect pathogenic mutations to occur.

Carbon nanotubes with their attractive properties, one-dimensional character, and their large aspect ratio are ideal candidates for a variety of applications including energy storage, sensing, nanoelectronics, among others. We have studied the growth of carbon nanotubes on copper substrates using a nickel thin film as a catalyst. The catalyst was sputtered in a chamber having a base pressure in the ultra-high-vacuum regime. By adjusting the sputtering parameters, the effects of the morphology and the thickness of the nickel catalyst on the growth of carbon nanotubes have also been investigated. Multiple hydrocarbon sources as carbon feedstock (methane, acetylene and xylene) and corresponding catalyst precursors and varying temperature conditions were used during the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process to understand and best determine the ideal conditions for carbon nanotube growth on copper. Correlation between the thickness of the thin film nickel catalyst and the carbon nanotube diameter is also presented in the study. Characterization techniques used to study the morphology of the CNTs grown on copper include SEM, TEM and HRTEM, Raman Spectroscopy

At the IAU XXVI General Assembly in 2006, the Division I decided to create the Working Group on Astrometry by Small Ground-Based Telescopes (WG-ASGBT). Its scientic goals are to foster the follow-up of small bodies detected by the large surveys including the NEOs; to set-up a dedicated observation network for the follow-up of objects which will be detected by Gaia; to contribute to the observation campaigns of the mutual events of natural satellites, stellar occultations, and binary asteroids; and to encourage teaching astrometry for the next generation. The present report gives the main activities carried out in these areas with small telescopes (diameter less than 2m).

The U1 snRNP is essential for recognition of the pre-mRNA 5′-splice site and the subsequent assembly of the spliceosome. Yeast U1 snRNP is considerably more complex than its metazoan counterpart, which suggests possible differences between yeast and metazoa in early splicing events. We have comprehensively analyzed the composition of yeast U1 snRNPs using a combination of biochemical, mass spectrometric, and genetic methods. We demonstrate the specific association of four novel U1 snRNP proteins, Snu71p, Snu65p, Nam8p, and Snu56p, that have no known metazoan homologues. A fifth protein, Npl3p, is an abundant cellular component that reproducibly co-purifies with the U1 snRNP, but its association is salt-sensitive. Therefore, we are unable to establish conclusively whether it binds specifically to the U1 snRNP. Interestingly, Nam8p and Npl3p were previously assigned functions in (pre-m)RNA-metabolism; however, so far, no association with U1 snRNP has been demonstrated or proposed. We also show that the yeast SmB protein is a U1 snRNP component. Yeast U1 snRNP therefore contains 16 different proteins, including seven snRNP core proteins, three homologues of the metazoan U1 snRNP-specific proteins, and six yeast-specific U1 snRNP proteins. We have simultaneously continued the characterization of additional mutants isolated in a synthetic lethal (MUD) screen for genes that functionally cooperate with U1 snRNA. Consistent with the biochemical results, mud10, mud15, and mud16 are alleles of SNU56, NAM8, and SNU65, respectively. mud10 and mud15 affect the in vivo splicing efficiency of noncanonical introns. Moreover, mud10p strongly affects the in vitro formation of splicing complexes, and extracts from the mud15 strain contain a U1 snRNP that migrates aberrantly on native gels. Finally, we show that Nam8p/Mud15p contributes to the stability of U1 snRNP.

This work compares the electrostatic bundling of two Inovirus particles: fd and M13, that are structurally identical except that the effective axial charge density of M 13 is approximately 30% lower than that of fd. The electrostatic force (or osmotic pressure) between these ordered biopolyelectrolytes, as a function of inter-rod separation, has been calculated with Monte Carlo simulations. Comparison is made with experiments on the bundling of fd and M 13 caused by divalent ions, as detected by light scattering. In the theoretical calculations, the bundling results from electrostatic attraction between the neighbouring polyelectrolytes, caused by the correlated interactions between the ion clouds. The importance of this effect (i. e. capacity to induce bundling) is governed by surface charge density of the polyelectrolyte, amount of multivalent ion present, charge and size of the hydrated multivalent ion. These predictions are in very good agreement with the presented experimental results on bundling of fd and M 13 caused by Ca2+ and Mg2+

The frictional behaviors of 304 stainless steel disks coated with C60 microparticles, both containing benzene and free of benzene, have been studied under different loads and sliding speeds with a pin-on-disk configuration in ambient air atmosphere at room temperature. The results indicated that the coating containing benzene, benzene-solvated C60 microparticles (C60·4C6H6), reduced friction as well as wear. The coated samples showed a 50–70% reduction in friction coefficient in comparison to uncoated samples. Neither the coated nor the uncoated sample showed significant change in friction coefficient for different sliding speeds. Under different loads, the uncoated sample had almost the same friction coefficient. However, with the increase of load, the friction coefficient of C60·4C6H6-coated disk showed a minimum value of 0.25 at 25 g load and then reached the uncoated values beyond 50 g load. The coefficient of friction of the disk coated with benzene-free C60 showed a slight increase with load, reaching the value of uncoated 304 stainless steel disk at about 40 g. The reduced friction of the solvated-C60 coated 304 stainless steel is probably due to the lowered shear strength of the hcp structure of C60·4C6H6 molecular crystal in which the benzene molecules are intercalated. The results of this study suggest the importance of the presence of second component, in addition to C60, in the coating materials in order for them to form a preferred crystal structure with low shear strength as far as using C60 as a solid lubricant is concerned.

A middle ear effusion is a common complication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma both before and after radiotherapy. An effusion was found in 38 per cent of patients before radiotherapy and 9 per cent developed an effusion after the start of radiotherapy. Surgical treatment by myringotomy with or without grommet insertion was associated with a high incidence of otorrhoea (26 per cent) which was often refractory to treatment. In view of the frequency of this complication and the fact that a middle ear effusion may not be of concern to an adult patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a ‘wait and see’ policy may be appropriate in the management of a middle ear effusion in these patients.