Scaling regimes for wormlike chains confined to cylindrical surfaces under tension.

We compute the free energy of confinement [Formula: see text] for a wormlike chain (WLC), with persistence length [Formula: see text], that is confined to the surface of a cylinder of radius R under an external tension f using a mean field variational approach. For long chains, we analytically determine the behavior of the chain in a variety of regimes, which are demarcated by the interplay of [Formula: see text], the Odijk deflection length ([Formula: see text]), and the Pincus length ([Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] being the thermal energy). The theory accurately reproduces the Odijk scaling for strongly confined chains at [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text].

Correlation functions for confined wormlike chains.

Polymer models describing the statistics of biomolecules under confinement have applications to a wide range of single-molecule experimental techniques and give insight into biologically relevant processes in vivo. In this paper, we determine the transverse position and bending correlation functions for a wormlike chain confined within slits and cylinders (with one and two confined dimensions, respectively) using a mean-field approach that enforces rigid constraints on average. We show the theoretical predictions accurately capture the statistics of a wormlike chain from Monte Carlo simulations in both confining geometries for both weak and strong confinement.

Crystal Structures and Property Measurements of Rare Earth Magnesium Thiosilicates Synthesized via Flux Crystal Growth Utilizing the Boron Chalcogen Mixture (BCM) Method.

Nine new rare earth magnesium-containing thiosilicates of the formula REMgSiS (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) were synthesized in an alkali halide flux using the boron chalcogen mixture (BCM) method. Crystals of high quality were produced, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds crystallize in the hexagonal crystal system in the 6 space group.

Compression-induced buckling of a semiflexible filament in two and three dimensions.

The ability of biomolecules to exert forces on their surroundings or resist compression from the environment is essential in a variety of biologically relevant contexts. For filaments in the low-temperature limit and under a constant compressive force, Euler buckling theory predicts a sudden transition from a compressed state to a bent state in these slender rods. In this paper, we use a mean-field theory to show that if a semiflexible chain is compressed at a finite temperature with a fixed end-to-end distance (permitting fluctuations in the compressive forces), it exhibits a continuous phase transition to a buckled state at a critical level of compression.

Short-term renewable energy consumption and generation forecasting: A case study of Western Australia.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading has gained much attention recently due to the advanced development of distributed energy resources. P2P enables prosumers to trade their surplus electricity and allows consumers to purchase affordable and locally produced renewable energy. Therefore, it is significant to develop solutions that are able to forecast energy consumption and generation toward better power management, thereby making renewable energy more accessible and empowering prosumers to make an informed decision on their energy management.

Effects of Protein Crowders and Charge on the Folding of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Variants: A Computational Study.

The neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with the misfolding and aggregation of the metalloenzyme protein superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) via mutations that destabilize the monomer-dimer interface. In a cellular environment, crowding and electrostatic screening play essential roles in the folding and aggregation of the SOD1 monomers. Despite numerous studies on the effects of mutations on SOD1 folding, a clear understanding of the interplay between crowding, folding, and aggregation in vivo remains lacking.

Insights from graph theory on the morphologies of actomyosin networks with multilinkers.

Quantifying the influence of microscopic details on the dynamics of development of the overall structure of a filamentous network is important in a number of biologically relevant contexts, but it is not obvious what order parameters can be used to adequately describe this complex process. In this paper we investigated the role of multivalent actin-binding proteins (ABPs) in reorganizing actin filaments into higher-order complex networks via a computer model of semiflexible filaments. We characterize the importance of local connectivity among actin filaments, as well as the global features of actomyosin networks.

Generalized Erdős numbers for network analysis.

The identification of relationships in complex networks is critical in a variety of scientific contexts. This includes the identification of globally central nodes and analysing the importance of pairwise relationships between nodes. In this paper, we consider the concept of topological proximity (or 'closeness') between nodes in a weighted network using the generalized Erdős numbers (GENs).

On Economic Complexity and the Fitness of Nations.

Complex economic systems can often be described by a network, with nodes representing economic entities and edges their interdependencies, while network centrality is often a good indicator of importance. Recent publications have implemented a nonlinear iterative Fitness-Complexity (FC) algorithm to measure centrality in a bipartite trade network, which aims to represent the 'Fitness' of national economies as well as the 'Complexity' of the products being traded. In this paper, we discuss this methodological approach and conclude that further work is needed to identify stable and reliable measures of fitness and complexity.

Disambiguation of patent inventors and assignees using high-resolution geolocation data.

Patent data represent a significant source of information on innovation, knowledge production, and the evolution of technology through networks of citations, co-invention and co-assignment. A major obstacle to extracting useful information from this data is the problem of name disambiguation: linking alternate spellings of individuals or institutions to a single identifier to uniquely determine the parties involved in knowledge production and diffusion. In this paper, we describe a new algorithm that uses high-resolution geolocation to disambiguate both inventors and assignees on about 8.

Aging in complex interdependency networks.

Although species longevity is subject to a diverse range of evolutionary forces, the mortality curves of a wide variety of organisms are rather similar. Here we argue that qualitative and quantitative features of aging can be reproduced by a simple model based on the interdependence of fault-prone agents on one other. In addition to fitting our theory to the empiric mortality curves of six very different organisms, we establish the dependence of lifetime and aging rate on initial conditions, damage and repair rate, and system size.

The Image Gently pediatric digital radiography safety checklist: tools for improving pediatric radiography.

Transition from film-screen to digital radiography requires changes in radiographic technique and workflow processes to ensure that the minimum radiation exposure is used while maintaining diagnostic image quality. Checklists have been demonstrated to be useful tools for decreasing errors and improving safety in several areas, including commercial aviation and surgical procedures. The Image Gently campaign, through a competitive grant from the FDA, developed a checklist for technologists to use during the performance of digital radiography in pediatric patients.

Image gently campaign back to basics initiative: ten steps to help manage radiation dose in pediatric digital radiography.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to summarize 10 steps a practice can take to manage radiation exposure in pediatric digital radiography.

Conclusion: The Image Gently campaign raises awareness of opportunities for lowering radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic quality of images of children. The newest initiative in the campaign, Back to Basics, addresses methods for standardizing the approach to pediatric digital radiography, highlighting challenges related to the technology in imaging of patients of widely varying body sizes.

Discovering communities through friendship.

We introduce a new method for detecting communities of arbitrary size in an undirected weighted network. Our approach is based on tracing the path of closest-friendship between nodes in the network using the recently proposed Generalized Erds Numbers. This method does not require the choice of any arbitrary parameters or null models, and does not suffer from a system-size resolution limit.

Compaction and tensile forces determine the accuracy of folding landscape parameters from single molecule pulling experiments.

We establish a framework for assessing whether the transition state location of a biopolymer, which can be inferred from single molecule pulling experiments, corresponds to the ensemble of structures that have equal probability of reaching either the folded or unfolded states (P(fold)=0.5). Using results for the forced unfolding of a RNA hairpin, an exactly soluble model, and an analytic theory, we show that P(fold) is solely determined by s, an experimentally measurable molecular tensegrity parameter, which is a ratio of the tensile force and a compaction force that stabilizes the folded state.

Changes in falls risk factors for geriatric diagnostic groups across inpatient, outpatient and domiciliary rehabilitation settings.

Purpose: To compare falls event rates and risk factors for falls across three rehabilitation settings.

Methods: A multi-centre prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted of 1682 participants referred for rehabilitation from 18 sites (across two Australian states) and receiving physiotherapy treatment. Falls risk factors across multiple domains (rehabilitation settings, medical diagnoses, age, gender, standing balance, functional capacity, cognition, prior living arrangements, pre-admission use of gait aid and past history of falls) were collected by treating physiotherapists on admission to rehabilitation.

Further validation of the Balance Outcome Measure for Elder Rehabilitation.

Objective: To determine the concurrent validity of the Balance Outcome Measure for Elder Rehabilitation (BOOMER) with both the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and gait speed.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Two geriatric rehabilitation units.

Dose-response relationship between physiotherapy resource provision with function and balance improvements in patients following stroke: a multi-centre observational study.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Inpatient rehabilitation of patients following stroke can be resource intensive, with optimal models of service delivery unclear. This study investigates the dose-response curves between physiotherapy service delivery variables and balance and function clinical outcomes.

Method: This was a multi-centre (15 sites), prospective, cohort study involving patients (n = 288) admitted for rehabilitation following stroke conducted across two states in Australia.

Colloid-facilitated metal transport in peat filters.

The effect of colloids on metal retention in peat columns was studied, with the focus on colloids from two sources-organic matter leached from peat, and introduced organic and hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) colloids. A significant fraction of metals was found to be associated with peat-produced organic colloids; however the concentrations of organic colloids leached are low (trace concentrations) and temporal and have a limited effect on the efficiency of peat filters. In contrast, the presence of organic and HFO colloids in the input water causes a significant decrease in the performance of peat filters.

Theoretical perspectives on protein folding.

Understanding how monomeric proteins fold under in vitro conditions is crucial to describing their functions in the cellular context. Significant advances in theory and experiments have resulted in a conceptual framework for describing the folding mechanisms of globular proteins. The sizes of proteins in the denatured and folded states, cooperativity of the folding transition, dispersions in the melting temperatures at the residue level, and timescales of folding are, to a large extent, determined by N, the number of residues.

Measures of activity limitation on admission to rehabilitation after stroke predict walking speed at discharge: an observational study.

Question: Which measures of activity limitation on admission to rehabilitation after stroke best predict walking speed at discharge?

Design: Prospective observational study.

Participants: 120 people with stroke undergoing inpatient rehabilitation.

Outcome Measures: Predictors were admission walking speed, Timed Up and Go, Motor Assessment Scale, Modified Elderly Mobility Scale, and Functional Independence Measure scores measured on admission to rehabilitation.

Refolding dynamics of stretched biopolymers upon force quench.

Single-molecule force spectroscopy methods can be used to generate folding trajectories of biopolymers from arbitrary regions of the folding landscape. We illustrate the complexity of the folding kinetics and generic aspects of the collapse of RNA and proteins upon force quench by using simulations of an RNA hairpin and theory based on the de Gennes model for homopolymer collapse. The folding time, tau(F), depends asymmetrically on deltaf(S) = f (S) - f (m) and deltaf (Q) = f (m) - f (Q) where f (S) (f (Q)) is the stretch (quench) force and f (m) is the transition midforce of the RNA hairpin.