Heads or Tails: Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus Concerning the 2k/1b Circulating Recombinant Form

As different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes respond differently to initiated therapy, correct HCV genotyping is essential. A potential risk for misclassification of the intergenotypic HCV circulating recombinant form (CRF) 2k/1b strains exists, depending on the genotyping method used. The aim was to investigate the differences in HCV genotyping methods with regard to CRF 2k/1b and to gain insight in the prevalence of the CRF 2k/1b. Genotyping results by Versant HCV Genotype Assay were compared with nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) sequencing. In total, from November 2001 until March 2015, 3296 serum samples were analyzed by Versant HCV Genotype Assay. As misclassified CRF is harbored among HCV genotype 2, we further focused our search on 142 (4.3%) samples positive for HCV genotype 2. On 116 (81.7%) retrieved samples, the NS5B sequencing was performed. Twelve out of the 116 retrieved samples (10.3%) were classified as CRF 2k/1b by sequencing of the NS5B region. Ten of these 12 samples were originally misclassified as genotype 2a or 2c, while 2 of them were misclassified as genotype 2. Our results show that the current prevalence of CRF 2k/1b is underestimated. The importance of correct HCV genotyping is emphasized, considering the tailored choice of treatment regimen and overall prognosis.     

Accessibility at the household level using the Structural Accessibility Layer: A forecast of potential future travel behaviour based on self-selection of residential location

The current paper analysis the differences in accessibility categories at the household level and by lifecycle changes by using the Structural Accessibility Layer. Results are evaluated from spatial, numerical and qualitative perspectives. Main findings show differences in residential preference by a single-person household, couple without children and households with children for different potential accessibility categories. This paper provides evidence that external factors influence the population to move from public transport into car-based mobility. Finally, we observe areas categorized as suitable for both walking and public transport mobility presenting low population density and residential development of those areas is suggested.     

Tubular dentin sealer penetration after different final irrigation protocols: A confocal laser scanning microscopy study

The aim of this study was to evaluate tubular dentin sealer penetration, comparing different final irrigation protocols using a conventional needle (CONV), EndoActivator system (EAS), EndoVac system (EVS), and ultrasound (PUI). Initially, fifty‐two first maxillary molars with a single canal in the palatal root, without abrupt curvatures, resorptive processes, or previous endodontic treatment were selected for this study. Then, the crowns were sectioned to obtain palatal roots 15 mm in length. The root canals were prepared with the ProTaper Universal System and irrigated with 5% NaOCl. Afterwards, the specimens were divided into four groups (n. 13), according to the final irrigation protocol: CONV, EAS, EVS, and PUI. After filling, slices at 3 mm and 5 mm from the apex were obtained for analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Two‐way comparisons between the groups and the levels were performed with Games Howell's test (p < .05). Tubular dentin sealer penetration was higher at 5 mm compared with 3 mm from the apex (p < .05). The EAS group showed a higher percentage of tubular dentin sealer penetration, compared with the CONV group, at both levels. At 3 mm, there was no statistically significant difference among EAS, EVS, and PUI; however, these groups showed better performance, compared with the CONV group. At 5 mm, there was no statistically significant difference between the EAS and EVS groups, but both showed higher sealer penetration than the PUI group (p < .05). The EAS and EVS groups achieved better degrees of tubular dentin sealer penetration, compared with the other groups.     

Photocuring of cycloaliphatic epoxy formulations using polyesters with multiarm star topology as additives

Multiam star polyesters were synthesized by growing poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) arms from hyperbranched polyesters cores of different molecular weight and used as polymeric modifiers in UV‐curable cationic formulations based on a biscycloaliphatic epoxy resin. The effect of the multiarm stars on the curing kinetics has been investigated by real‐time FTIR. The thermal‐mechanical properties of the photocured thermosets have been studied with calorimetry and dynamomechanical and thermogravimetric analysis. Impact strength tests have been performed to assess their effect on the toughness of the cured materials. An accelerative effect of these modifiers has been observed as a consequence of the participation of the hydroxyl groups of the modifiers in the cationic curing of the epoxy resin. A modest increase in toughness accompanied by a decrease in the glass transition are observed, as a consequence of the incorporation of the modifiers into the network structure, leading to homogeneous, in situ reinforced materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40005.     

The Performance of Independent Active SMEs in French Competitiveness Clusters

This article analyses the evolution of independent members of French independent competitiveness clusters. It compares small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that participated in collaborative research projects, funded by French competitiveness clusters, against similar control companies that were not part of such projects and not funded by the policy, over the period 2005–2013. French competitiveness clusters seek to enhance SMEs’ size, performance, innovation and employment; the current study therefore assesses their outcomes in terms of capital invested and equity returns. The findings from a difference-in-differences analysis reveal that sales, employment, R&D investments, and value added all increase in relative terms, but financial returns exhibit significant relative decreases for the smallest companies, whereas larger firms record strong increases. The inability of the smallest SMEs to reap gains from their cluster membership should be a matter of great concern to both companies and policy-makers.     

5-Axis tool path smoothing based on drive constraints

In high speed machining, the real feedrate is often lower than the programmed one. This reduction of the feedrate is mainly due to the physical limits of the drives, and affects machining time as well as the quality of the machined surface. Indeed, if the tool path presents sharp geometrical variations the feedrate has to be decreased to respect the drive constraints in terms of velocity, acceleration and jerk. Thus, the aim of this paper is to smooth 5-axis tool paths in order to maximize the real feedrate and to reduce the machining time.Velocity, acceleration and jerk limits of each drive allow to compute an evaluation of the maximum reachable feedrate which is then used to localize the areas where the tool path has to be smoothed. So starting from a given tool path, the proposed algorithm iteratively smoothes the joint motions in order to raise the real feedrate. This algorithm has been tested in 5-axis end milling of an airfoil and in flank milling of an impeller for which a N-buffer algorithm is used to control the geometrical deviations. An important reduction of the measured machining time is demonstrated in both examples.     

Effects of nematic coupling on the phase behaviour of nematogen mixtures

The phase behaviour of binary nematogen mixtures of side‐chain liquid crystal crosslinked polymers and low molecular weight liquid crystals is investigated with particular emphasis on the effects of nematic coupling. The cross nematic quadrupole parameter ν₁₂ is assumed to be proportional to the geometric average of ν₁₁ and ν₂₂ characteristic of single nematogens. In the weak coupling limit, the proportionality constant is lower than 1, and the phase diagram exhibits a reduced miscibility of the nematogens. In the case of strong coupling, the proportionality constant exceeds 1 resulting in higher miscibility. This is characterized by a nematic order that extends to temperatures above the upper nematic–isotropic transition temperature. A wide region of miscibility emerges showing a single nematic phase. Nematogens having similar nematic–isotropic transition temperatures exhibit different phase properties from systems with widely separated transition temperatures. Effects of the polymer volume fraction at crosslinking, rubber elasticity parameters of the network, and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter on the equilibrium phase diagram of these systems are discussed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Study of the effects of structural uncertainties on a fractional system of the first kind – application in vibration isolation with the CRONE suspension

In this paper, we deal with the effects of the uncertainties on a fractional system of the first kind, mainly on the frequency-domain and the time-domain responses. For the structural uncertainties, two main aspects are studied: the nonlinearities of the physical components used to realize the fractional system and the consideration of the previously neglected dynamics of the system. Both uncertainties are introduced for the hydropneumatic CRONE suspension, previously synthesized and realized without taking into consideration these uncertainties. So, the novel approach treated in this work is to find whether the uncertainties, which were previously neglected in the synthesis and the realization phases, alter the behaviour of the system or not. The results show that the fractional order system behaviour is not affected.