An Euler aerodynamic method for leading-edge vortex flow simulation

The current capabilities and the future plans for a three dimensional Euler Aerodynamic Method are described. The basic solution algorithm is based on the finite volume, Runge-Kutta pseudo-time-stepping scheme of FLO-57. Several modifications to improve accuracy and computational efficiency were incorporated and others are being investigated. The computer code is used to analyze a cropped delta wing at 0.6 Mach number and an arrow wing at 0.85 Mach number. Computed aerodynamic parameters are compared with experimental data. In all cases, the configuration is impulsively started and no Kutta condition is applied at sharp edges. The results indicate that with additional development and validation, the present method will be a useful tool for engineering analysis of high speed aircraft

The cognitive footprint of medication: a review of cognitive assessments in clinical trials

What is known and objective: Polypharmacy is common, and many medications have cognitive side effects. Such effects can be transient and subside when the drug in question is discontinued or can be long-lasting with effects present for years afterwards. Although formal assessment of cognition is feasible and often undertaken in neuropsychiatric trials, these effects are usually neglected in the evaluation of any non-neuropsychiatric health intervention. Medication effects can be assessed within a cognitive footprint framework, to account for the magnitude and the duration of cognitive side effects, with some likely to have a greater and more lasting effect than others. Comment: Adverse event reporting suggests that many medications may be indirectly associated with cognitive effects, for example due to headaches, somnolence and ‘dizziness’; however, inferring causation from adverse event reporting can be problematic. In order to better understand the impact of investigational drug and concomitant medications effect on cognition, it would be essential to ensure cognition is prioritized in drug development evaluation. It is suggested that simple instruments that can be easily incorporated into existing trial designs are used to assess the cognitive footprint of medication. What is new and conclusion: We present an overview of existing measures of cognition that can be integrated into drug trials in order to provide a cognitive footprint. Like quality of life testing, such tests should be administered as a standard throughout the key assessment stages of the design of the trial to ensure that any effects on this equally important outcome are also documented. Furthermore, employing routine cognition testing may also enable researchers to identify unanticipated beneficial and non-beneficial effects on cognition. Provision of such a cognitive footprint profile of drugs may provide the necessary evidence to enable decision-makers to make informed decisions on risk-benefit analysis that can subsequently make trade-offs between different drug regimens

Eimeria species occurrence varies between geographic regions and poultry production systems and may influence parasite genetic diversity

Coccidiosis is one of the biggest challenges faced by the global poultry industry. Recent studies have highlighted the ubiquitous distribution of all Eimeria species which can cause this disease in chickens, but intriguingly revealed a regional divide in genetic diversity and population structure for at least one species, Eimeria tenella. The drivers associated with such distinct geographic variation are unclear, but may impact on the occurrence and extent of resistance to anticoccidial drugs and future subunit vaccines. India is one of the largest poultry producers in the world and includes a transition between E. tenella populations defined by high and low genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the prevalence of Eimeria species defined by high and low pathogenicity in northern and southern states of India, and seek to understand factors which vary between the regions as possible drivers for differential genetic variation. Faecal samples and data relating to farm characteristics and management were collected from 107 farms from northern India and 133 farms from southern India. Faecal samples were analysed using microscopy and PCR to identify Eimeria occurrence. Multiple correspondence analysis was applied to transform correlated putative risk factors into a smaller number of synthetic uncorrelated factors. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify poultry farm typologies, revealing three distinct clusters in the studied regions. The association between clusters and presence of Eimeria species was assessed by logistic regression. The study found that large-scale broiler farms in the north were at greatest risk of harbouring any Eimeria species and a larger proportion of such farms were positive for E. necatrix, the most pathogenic species. Comparison revealed a more even distribution for E. tenella across production systems in south India, but with a lower overall occurrence. Such a polarised region- and system-specific distribution may contribute to the different levels of genetic diversity observed previously in India and may influence parasite population structure across much of Asia and Africa. The findings of the study can be used to prioritise target farms to launch and optimise appropriate anticoccidial strategies for long-term control

Epigenetic regulation of adaptive responses of forest tree species to the environment

Epigenetic variation is likely to contribute to the phenotypic plasticity and adaptative capacity of plant species, and may be especially important for long-lived organisms with complex life cycles, including forest trees. Diverse environmental stresses and hybridization/polyploidization events can create reversible heritable epigenetic marks that can be transmitted to subsequent generations as a form of molecular “memory”. Epigenetic changes might also contribute to the ability of plants to colonize or persist in variable environments. In this review, we provide an overview of recent data on epigenetic mechanisms involved in developmental processes and responses to environmental cues in plant, with a focus on forest tree species. We consider the possible role of forest tree epigenetics as a new source of adaptive traits in plant breeding, biotechnology, and ecosystem conservation under rapid climate chang

Cryptic Eimeria genotypes are common across the southern but not northern hemisphere

The phylum Apicomplexa includes parasites of medical, zoonotic and veterinary significance. Understanding the global distribution and genetic diversity of these protozoa is of fundamental importance for efficient, robust and long-lasting methods of control. Eimeria spp. cause intestinal coccidiosis in all major livestock animals and are the most important parasites of domestic chickens in terms of both economic impact and animal welfare. Despite having significant negative impacts on the efficiency of food production, many fundamental questions relating to the global distribution and genetic variation of Eimeria spp. remain largely unanswered. Here, we provide the broadest map yet of Eimeria occurrence for domestic chickens, confirming that all the known species (Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria tenella) are present in all six continents where chickens are found (including 21 countries). Analysis of 248 internal transcribed spacer sequences derived from 17 countries provided evidence of possible allopatric diversity for species such as E. tenella (FST values ⩽0.34) but not E. acervulina and E. mitis, and highlighted a trend towards widespread genetic variance. We found that three genetic variants described previously only in Australia and southern Africa (operational taxonomic units x, y and z) have a wide distribution across the southern, but not the northern hemisphere. While the drivers for such a polarised distribution of these operational taxonomic unit genotypes remains unclear, the occurrence of genetically variant Eimeria may pose a risk to food security and animal welfare in Europe and North America should these parasites spread to the northern hemisphere

Dense transcript profiling in single cells by image correlation decoding

Sequential barcoded fluorescent in situ hybridization (seqFISH) allows large numbers of molecular species to be accurately detected in single cells, but multiplexing is limited by the density of barcoded objects. We present correlation FISH (corrFISH), a method to resolve dense temporal barcodes in sequential hybridization experiments. Using corrFISH, we quantified highly expressed ribosomal protein genes in single cultured cells and mouse thymus sections, revealing cell-type-specific gene expression

Flow characteristics and intrinsic workability of IN718 superalloy

This study focuses on deformation characteristics of superalloy IN718 by formulation of a new flowstress model and detailed evaluation of intrinsic workability through the generation of three-dimensional (3D) processing maps with the support of optical microstructural observations. Based on thermomechanical simulation tests using a Gleeble-1500 machine, the flow stress model for superalloy IN718 was built and the flow stress throughout the entire deformation process was described by a peak stress only depending on Zener–Hollomon parameter and strain. The developed model exhibited the strain softening due to dynamic recrystallization (DRX). The intrinsic workability was further investigated by constructing 3D processing maps. The 3D processing maps described the variations of the efficiency of power dissipation and flow instability domains as a function of strain rate, temperature and strain, from which the favourite deformation conditions for thermomechanical processing of IN718 can be established

Origins of cattle on Chirikof Island, Alaska, elucidated from genome-wide SNP genotypes

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Assessing Sustainability in the Shipbuilding Supply Chain 4.0: A Systematic Review

The supply chain is currently taking on a very important role in organizations seeking to improve the competitiveness and profitability of the company. Its transversal character mainly places it in an unbeatable position to achieve this role. This article, through a study of each of the key enabling technologies of Industry 4.0, aims to obtain a general overview of the current state of the art in shipbuilding adapted to these technologies. To do so, a systematic review of what the scientific community says is carried out, dividing each of the technologies into different categories. In addition, the global vision of countries interested in each of the enabling technologies is also studied. Both studies present a general vision to the companies of the concerns of the scientific community, thus encouraging research on the subject that is focused on the sustainability of the shipbuilding supply chain