Publication patterns in HEP computing

An overview of the evolution of computing-oriented publications in high energy physics following the start of operation of LHC. Quantitative analyses are illustrated, which document the production of scholarly papers on computing-related topics by high energy physics experiments and core tools projects, and the citations they receive. Several scientometric indicators are analyzed to characterize the role of computing in high energy physics literature. Distinctive features of software-oriented and hardware-oriented scholarly publications are highlighted. Current patterns and trends are compared to the situation in previous generations' experiments.Comment: To be published in the Proc. of CHEP (Computing in High Energy Physics) 201

Genome sequence of Rhizobium sullae HCNT1 isolated from Hedysarum coronarium nodules and featuring peculiar denitrification phenotypes

The genome sequence of Rhizobium sullae strain HCNT1, isolated from root nodules of the legume Hedysarum coronarium growing in wild stands in Tuscany, Italy, is described here. Unlike other R. sullae strains, this isolate features a truncated denitrification pathway lacking NO/N2O reductase activity and displaying high sensitivity to nitrite under anaerobic conditions

Writing software or writing scientific articles?

An analysis of publications related to high energy physics computing in refereed journals is presented. The distribution of papers associated to various fields of computing relevant to high energy physics is critically analyzed. The relative publication rate of software papers is evaluated in comparison to other closely related physics disciplines, such as nuclear physics, radiation protection and medical physics, and to hardware publications. The results hint to the fact that, in spite of the significant effort invested in high energy physics computing and its fundamental role in the experiments, this research area is underrepresented in scientific literature; nevertheless the analysis of citations highlights the significant impact of software publications in experimental research

Rendimento do óleo essencial de Ocimum selloi benth. submetido a diferentes adubos orgânicos em associação ou não à adubação verde.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar o efeito de diferentes adubos orgânicos em associação ou não com adubo verde no rendimento de óleo essencial de folhas de Ocimum selloi Benth., planta nativa do Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental da Embrapa Meio Ambiente (CNPMA), localizado no município de Jaguariúna, em duas áreas distintas, sendo uma delas submetidas anteriormente ao plantio e incorporação de adubo verde (Crotalaria juncea). Os tratamentos utilizados foram: T1 - testemunha (solo sem adubação), T2 - cama de aviário (5 kg/m2), T3 - hidrolisado de peixe (produto comercial Fishfértil - 5 mL/m2) e T4 - composto orgânico (4 kg/m2). A colheita foi realizada 180 dias após o plantio, em Janeiro de 2011, sendo colhidas as plantas úteis (quatro plantas por parcela). Os óleos essenciais das folhas foram extraídos por hidrodestilação em aparelho tipo Clevenger modificado. Avaliou-se o rendimento de óleo essencial sobre o rendimento de fitomassa seca. O elineamento experimental adotado foi o esquema fatorial 2x4, com quatro repetições (DBC). As médias obtidas foram submetidas à análise de variância seguida de teste de médias (Tukey). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas no rendimento do óleo essencial de folhas de O. selloi submetidas ou não à adubação verde, em associação aos diferentes tipos de adubo orgânico quando os mesmos foram comparados à testemunha. Com base nos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que, nas condições ensaiadas, as adubações verde e orgânica não influenciaram no rendimento do óleo essencial de Ocimum selloi

The cognitive level does not interfere with recovery after robot-assisted gait training in traumatic brain injury: A 10-year cohort study

BACKGROUND: There is still no clear evidence available on the role of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and on the relationship between this intervention and cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the impact of the cognitive level at admission on functional recovery in a cohort of patients with severe TBI who received RAGT training within a multidisciplinary rehabilitation setting. METHODS: We included patients with gait disturbance due to a severe TBI. Patients were grouped into three classes according to their level of cognitive functioning (LCF) at admission (LCF 2-3; LCF 4-5-6; LCF 7-8). We collected demographics (sex, age), clinical data, and a set of outcome measures at admission and discharge. RESULTS: We registered 80 patients, 19 females and 61 males, 35.3 ± 14.85 years. Patients with a low cognitive level at admission were mostly subacute (p= 0.001). Cognitive impairment despite longer length stay in the hospital (LOS) (p= 0.001) did not preclude recovery after RAGT in terms of cognition (R2= 0.68; p< 0.0001), functional independence (R2= 0.30; p< 0.0001) and overall disability (R2= 0.32; p< 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Irrespective of their level of cognition, patients with severe TBI might benefit from RAGT during a multidisciplinary program

A Dynamic Objective Evaluation of Peripheral Arterial Disease by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

AbstractObjectivesNear-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), suitable for dynamic measurements, is not routinely used for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We propose a dynamic NIRS-based measurement to quantify variations in muscle metabolism in PAD.MethodSixty-seven consecutive PAD patients (males=56, age 71.6±8.7 years) and 28 healthy subjects (males=12, age 30.4±11.9 years) were studied. An echo-colour Doppler (ECD) was performed and the ankle–brachial index (ABI) was calculated. Participants performed an incremental treadmill test with NIRS probes on the gastrocnemius. Variations in oxygenated (HbO2), deoxygenated (HHb), total (tHb=HbO2+HHb), and differential (dHb=HbO2−HHb) haemoglobin were recorded and quantified as area-under-curve (AUC) within the range 1.7–3.0kmh−1. Heart rate was recorded, and the number of beats in the same interval was calculated (dHr).ResultsO2HbAUC, HHbAUC and dHbAUC differed between diseased and non-diseased legs (P<0.0001) and exhibited different patterns related to PAD severity according to the ABI value. A compensatory heart rate increase was observed in PAD patients. Compared with the ECD positivity for occlusions/stenoses or multiple plaques, only the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of dHbAUC (area=0.932, P<0.0001) showed a sensitivity/specificity of 87.6/93.4 for values ≤−197 (LR+LR−: 13.36/0.13).ConclusionThe dynamic NIRS-based test, quantifying muscle metabolic response according to presence and degree of PAD, allows the evaluation of patients with walking disabilities

Metabolomic Alterations Do Not Induce Metabolic Burden in the Industrial Yeast M2n[pBKD2-Pccbgl1]-C1 Engineered by Multiple \u3b4-Integration of a Fungal \u3b2-Glucosidase Gene

In the lignocellulosic yeast development, metabolic burden relates to redirection of resources from regular cellular activities toward the needs created by recombinant protein production. As a result, growth parameters may be greatly affected. Noteworthy, Saccharomyces cerevisiae M2n[pBKD2-Pccbgl1]-C1, previously developed by multiple d-integration of the b-glucosidase BGL3, did not show any detectable metabolic burden. This work aims to test the hypothesis that the metabolic burden and the metabolomic perturbation induced by the d-integration of a yeast strain, could differ significantly. The engineered strain was evaluated in terms of metabolic performances and metabolomic alterations in different conditions typical of the bioethanol industry. Results indicate that the multiple d-integration did not affect the ability of the engineered strain to grow on different carbon sources and to tolerate increasing concentrations of ethanol and inhibitory compounds. Conversely, metabolomic profiles were significantly altered both under growing and stressing conditions, indicating a large extent of metabolic reshuffling involved in the maintenance of the metabolic homeostasis. Considering that four copies of BGL3 gene have been integrated without affecting any parental genes or promoter sequences, deeper studies are needed to unveil the mechanisms implied in these metabolomic changes, thus supporting the optimization of protein production in engineered strains