bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis with hepatic artery and portal vein thrombosis caused by Pleurostomophora richardsiae in a liver transplant recipient: A case report
Authors: Sribenjalux Wantin , Chongtrakool Piriyaporn , Chayakulkeeree Methee
Published: March 2019

Pleurostomophora richardsiae is a dematiaceous mold that causes subcutaneous cystic phaeohyphomycosis. Few cases of invasive P richardsiae infection have been reported. Hepatic artery thrombosis following organ transplantation caused by a fungal organism is also very rare. We present here a 57‐year‐old man with refractory ascites and liver failure following liver transplantation for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated total occlusion of hepatic artery and blood clot in the portal vein and inferior vena cava. P richardsiae was isolated from blood culture and the blood clot in his liver. The patient was treated successfully with a 4‐week course of amphotericin B deoxycholate and liver retransplantation.
Economic impacts of chronic conditions in a country with high levels of population health coverage: lessons from Mongolia
Authors: Dugee Otgontuya , Sugar Bolormaa , Dorjsuren Bayarsaikhan , Mahal Ajay
Published: March 2019

Objective

To analyse the impact of non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) on household out‐of‐pocket (OOP) expenses, catastrophic health payments and medical impoverishment in Mongolia, a middle‐income country with a high population health insurance coverage rate.

Methods

Secondary data analysis of the Mongolian Household Socioeconomic Survey with 12 840 households, including information on standard of living, OOP spending, and health conditions of household members. Measures of catastrophic spending and medical impoverishment were constructed for Mongolia. The association of medical impoverishment and catastrophic spending with a range of socioeconomic and demographic covariates and health conditions was assessed using multiple regression models.

Results

OOP health spending contributed to an 8% increase in the incidence of poverty in Mongolia. The impoverishment associated with medical expenses is concentrated in the poorer quintiles, indicating some deepening of poverty among the already poor. Households with a member affected by NCDs and with multiple morbidities were more likely to experience catastrophic spending and medical impoverishment than those with infectious diseases. The main drivers of the financial distress were expenditures incurred for outpatient services, including for diagnostics and drugs.

Conclusion

Despite high rates of population health insurance coverage, health expenditures have substantial impoverishing effects in Mongolia, with the impacts being greater among households containing individuals with chronic conditions. Addressing the goal of universal health coverage (UHC) in Mongolia needs attention to the depth of coverage, especially for expenditures on outpatient care and medicines, and targeting the poor effectively.
Evaluation of tissue oxygen saturation in naturally occurring canine shock patients
Authors: Berg Alexia N. , Conzemius Michael G. , Evans Richard B. , Tart Kelly M.
Published: March 2019

Objective

To measure tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in a population of dogs with naturally occurring shock and to evaluate the relationship of StO2 with an established veterinary severity scoring system (Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation) and patient survival.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Twenty‐five adult dogs presenting in shock, as determined by the presence of hypotension, the calculated shock index, and hyperlactatemia.

Interventions

StO2 was measured prior to any therapeutic interventions. Blood samples were also collected for measurement of plasma lactate, complete blood count, and a serum biochemical profile. Abdominal and thoracic focused assessment with sonography was also performed.

Measurements and Main Results

Dogs enrolled in this study had lower mean (±SD) StO2 values (65.12 ± 17.7%) than previously reported in experimental models of canine hemorrhagic shock. There was a moderate correlation between lower StO2 and increasing Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation scores. A single StO2 value, assessed prior to therapeutic intervention, was not a sensitive predictor of mortality in this population.

Conclusions

Dogs with naturally occurring shock have lower mean StO2 values than those previously reported in dogs with experimentally induced shock. A lower initial StO2 was associated with worse disease severity but was not a significant predictor of survival in this population.
A Study on Teachers’ Views on the Use of Technology to Improve Physics Education in High Schools
Authors: Erdem Aytekin
Published: March 2019

This study was carried out to determine teacher views on the use of technology to improve physics education in high schools. The sample of the study is 238 volunteer physics teachers. The study was carried out with the survey model and a five point Likert Scale was used in the study. The scale has a reliability coefficient of 0.92. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze the data obtained from the scale. According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that teachers strongly agreed with all six of the articles except one of the views within the dimension "suggestions on teacher competence and technology-based subject discourse" and with only one out of the five articles within the dimension "recommendations for performing technology-assisted laboratory activities." In addition, it has been determined that significant change in teachers’ views did not occur regarding the use of technology to improve physics education according to different individual characteristics. However, it has been determined that there is a significant positive difference with those in high need of professional development.
Delirium screening in patients in a palliative care ward: a best practice implementation project
Authors: Lai Xiao Bin , Huang Zhe , Chen Chun Yan , Stephenson Matthew
Published: March 2019

Objectives:

The objective was to promote evidence-based practice in screening for delirium in patients in the palliative care ward of a cancer hospital in Shanghai.

Introduction:

Delirium is common but under recognized among patients in palliative care settings. Early detection is essential for timely management. Practice guidelines recommend an initial screening at first contact, followed by continuous screening.

Methods:

The Joanna Briggs Institute's three-phase Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and the Getting Research into Practice audit and feedback tool were used to enhance evidence-based practice. In phase 1, four audit criteria were developed and a baseline audit was conducted. In phase 2, barriers to compliance were identified, and strategies were adopted to promote best practice. In phase 3, a follow-up audit was conducted.

Results:

In the baseline audit, no delirium screening was performed, either on admission or regularly during hospitalization, hence compliance with these two audit criteria was 0%. Two out of 18 nurses had received training in delirium management, however neither had been trained to use the delirium screening tool. Compliance with the two criteria for nurse training was 11% and 0%, respectively. Four barriers were identified, including lack of a standardized screening tool, lack of a standardized screening procedure, inadequate knowledge on the part of the nurses, and potential inconsistencies between nurses in the rating of screening criteria. After applying strategies to address these barriers, compliance with the four audit criteria was 100%, 100%, 72%, and 72%, respectively, in the follow-up audit.

Conclusions:

Best practice in delirium screening was successfully established in the ward.
How farming reshaped our smiles and our speech
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: March 2019

Soft diet led to overbite in adults, favoring sounds like "f" and "v" in the languages of farming societies.
WHO is ‘changing its DNA’ in bid to meet new goals
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: March 2019

Critics say an ambitious reform program doesn't address chronic cash shortage and other long-standing problems.
Beyond survival
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: March 2019

Cancer treatment takes a toll on small bodies. As more children survive the disease, there's a push to better their health in the years ahead.
Two distinct interstitial macrophage populations coexist across tissues in specific subtissular niches
Authors: Chakarov Svetoslav , Lim Hwee Ying , Tan Leonard , Lim Sheau Yng , See Peter , Lum Josephine , Zhang Xiao-Meng , Foo Shihui , Nakamizo Satoshi , Duan Kaibo , Kong Wan Ting , Gentek Rebecca , Balachander Akhila , Carbajo Daniel , Bleriot Camille , Malleret Benoit , Tam John Kit Chung , Baig Sonia , Shabeer Muhammad , Toh Sue-Anne Ee Shiow , Schlitzer Andreas , Larbi Anis , Marichal Thomas , Malissen Bernard , Chen Jinmiao , Poidinger Michael , Kabashima Kenji , Bajenoff Marc , Ng Lai Guan , Angeli Veronique , Ginhoux Florent
Published: March 2019

Tissue macrophages have a split personality

Resident tissue macrophages (RTMs) reside in various tissue-specific niches during development. They evince microenvironment-directed phenotypes that support host defense and tissue homeostasis. Chakarov
et al.
used single-cell RNA sequencing and fate-mapping of murine lung RTMs to interrogate RTM-subset heterogeneity, interrelationships, and ontogeny (see the Perspective by Mildner and Yona). In addition to alveolar macrophages, they identified two different interstitial macrophage populations. One population mostly abutted nerve fibers; the other population preferentially localized near blood vessels and appeared to support vessel integrity and inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration into tissues.

Science
, this issue p.
eaau0964
; see also p.
1154
N-terminal degradation activates the NLRP1B inflammasome
Authors: Chui Ashley J. , Okondo Marian C. , Rao Sahana D. , Gai Kuo , Griswold Andrew R. , Johnson Darren C. , Ball Daniel P. , Taabazuing Cornelius Y. , Orth Elizabeth L. , Vittimberga Brooke A. , Bachovchin Daniel A.
Published: March 2019

Degradation triggers the alarm

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that orchestrate proinflammatory cytokine secretion and cell death. Proteases such as anthrax lethal factor can activate an inflammasome known as NLRP1B, but the mechanism for this activation has been unclear. Chui
et al.
used genome-wide knockout screens to show that proteolysis of NLRP1B by lethal factor induces proteasomal degradation of the amino-terminal domains of NLRP1B and eventual cell death. Sandstrom
et al.
found that degradation of the amino-terminal domains of NLRP1B resulted in the release of a carboxyl-terminal fragment that activates caspase-1. This process, called “functional degradation,” allows the immune system to detect pathogen-associated activities, much as it recognizes pathogen-associated antigens.

Science
, this issue p.
82
, p.
eaau1330
Functional degradation: A mechanism of NLRP1 inflammasome activation by diverse pathogen enzymes
Authors: Sandstrom Andrew , Mitchell Patrick S. , Goers Lisa , Mu Edward W. , Lesser Cammie F. , Vance Russell E.
Published: March 2019

Degradation triggers the alarm

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that orchestrate proinflammatory cytokine secretion and cell death. Proteases such as anthrax lethal factor can activate an inflammasome known as NLRP1B, but the mechanism for this activation has been unclear. Chui
et al.
used genome-wide knockout screens to show that proteolysis of NLRP1B by lethal factor induces proteasomal degradation of the amino-terminal domains of NLRP1B and eventual cell death. Sandstrom
et al.
found that degradation of the amino-terminal domains of NLRP1B resulted in the release of a carboxyl-terminal fragment that activates caspase-1. This process, called “functional degradation,” allows the immune system to detect pathogen-associated activities, much as it recognizes pathogen-associated antigens.

Science
, this issue p.
82
, p.
eaau1330
RIT1 oncoproteins escape LZTR1-mediated proteolysis
Authors: Castel Pau , Cheng Alice , Cuevas-Navarro Antonio , Everman David B. , Papageorge Alex G. , Simanshu Dhirendra K. , Tankka Alexandra , Galeas Jacqueline , Urisman Anatoly , McCormick Frank
Published: March 2019

Defective degradation as disease mechanism

Ubiquitination often targets proteins for destruction. Castel
et al.
describe a mechanism by which mutations in the small guanine triphosphatase RIT1 may act to cause certain developmental disorders and cancers. They detected a protein, LZTR1, that interacted with wild-type RIT1 but not with oncogenic mutant forms of RIT1. LZTR1 acts as a substrate-specific adaptor for a ubiquitin ligase. Altered forms of RIT1 that are not subject to ubiquitin-mediated degradation thus accumulate. Because RIT1 functions in growth factor signaling and excessive signaling, these findings may explain the malignancies associated with RIT1 mutations.

Science
, this issue p.
1226
A molecular perovskite solid solution with piezoelectricity stronger than lead zirconate titanate
Authors: Liao Wei-Qiang , Zhao Dewei , Tang Yuan-Yuan , Zhang Yi , Li Peng-Fei , Shi Ping-Ping , Chen Xiao-Gang , You Yu-Meng , Xiong Ren-Gen
Published: March 2019

A flexible strategy for piezoelectrics

Piezoelectric materials produce charge when they are deformed, making them ideal for various types of sensors. However, virtually all piezoelectric materials are ceramics, which are far from ideal for applications requiring flexible sensors. Liao
et al.
now describe a molecular material with piezoelectric properties comparable to the industry-standard ceramic lead zirconate titanate. The exceptional properties come from finding a molecular solid-solution series that allows for compositional optimization of the piezoelectric properties.

Science
, this issue p.
1206
The crisis of democracy and the science of deliberation
Authors: Dryzek John S. , Bächtiger André , Chambers Simone , Cohen Joshua , Druckman James N. , Felicetti Andrea , Fishkin James S. , Farrell David M. , Fung Archon , Gutmann Amy , Landemore Hélène , Mansbridge Jane , Marien Sofie , Neblo Michael A. , Niemeyer Simon , Setälä Maija , Slothuus Rune , Suiter Jane , Thompson Dennis , Warren Mark E.
Published: March 2019

Citizens can avoid polarization and make sound decisions
The genomic landscape of pediatric cancers: Implications for diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Sweet-Cordero E. Alejandro , Biegel Jaclyn A.
Published: March 2019

The past decade has witnessed a major increase in our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of childhood cancer. Genomic sequencing studies have highlighted key differences between pediatric and adult cancers. Whereas many adult cancers are characterized by a high number of somatic mutations, pediatric cancers typically have few somatic mutations but a higher prevalence of germline alterations in cancer predisposition genes. Also noteworthy is the remarkable heterogeneity in the types of genetic alterations that likely drive the growth of pediatric cancers, including copy number alterations, gene fusions, enhancer hijacking events, and chromoplexy. Because most studies have genetically profiled pediatric cancers only at diagnosis, the mechanisms underlying tumor progression, therapy resistance, and metastasis remain poorly understood. We discuss evidence that points to a need for more integrative approaches aimed at identifying driver events in pediatric cancers at both diagnosis and relapse. We also provide an overview of key aspects of germline predisposition for cancer in this age group.
Toward a clearer view into human prehistory
Authors: Vander Linden Marc
Published: March 2019

An ancient DNA study highlights ancient population patterns on the Iberian Peninsula
Chronic spontaneous coronary artery dissection in association with antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as stable angina
Authors: Chongprasertpon Napohn , Ibrahim Abdalla , Goggins Michael , Kiernan Thomas
Published: March 2019

A 52-year-old man presented to our cardiology service for an elective diagnostic coronary angiogram for risk stratification in the context of stable angina. He was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome 2 years prior and had three known thrombotic episodes in the form of a stroke, retinal artery occlusion and deep vein thrombosis. Our initial differential was atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, however, coronary angiography demonstrated a dominant right coronary artery with a long segment of chronic spontaneous dissection distally but with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction III flow. He was treated medically with antianginals which rendered him asymptomatic and is currently on regular follow-up in the cardiology outpatient department.
Not your usual hip pain: necrotising fasciitis secondary to sigmoid perforation
Authors: Soin Sarthak , Rangan Sumathi Vijaya , Ali Faisal Shaukat , Okafor Chukwudumebi
Published: March 2019

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) resulting from sigmoid perforation is rare, but none the less remains life threatening. Early surgical intervention and empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic remains the standard of care. A 65-year-old man with history of stage 4 rectal cancer presented with bilateral hip pain. An X-ray of the hip and pelvis to rule out fracture revealed abnormal gas pattern overlying the right hip. CT imaging revealed distal sigmoid perforation with air extending from the pelvis to posterior aspect of the right hip and thigh. Aggressive surgical intervention and antibiotic initiation was associated with successful outcomes in our patient. Although less common, sigmoid perforation leading to NF in posterior thigh is a reminder of a potentially lethal complication.
Analysis of quantitative correlations between microaneurysm, ischaemic index and new vessels in ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography images using automated software
Authors: Son Gisung , Kim Yoon Jeon , Sung Yu Sub , Park Bumwoo , Kim June-Gone
Published: March 2019

Background/Aim

To analyse ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography (UWF-FA) images of diabetic retinopathy using a novel software that automatically calculates microaneurysm (MA) and non-perfusion area.

Methods

Two hundred UWF-FA images of treatment-naïve diabetic retinopathy (38 proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 162 non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy) from 120 patients (mean age 54.22; 80 male) were analysed using novel software to determine the number of MAs, area of capillary non-perfusion (ischaemic index) and number of neovascularisations. Each result was compared according to its retinal regions.

Results

For the total retina, the mean number of MAs was 292.02 (±175.57) and the ischaemic index was 59.42% (±14.78%). Most MAs were located in the mid-peripheral retina (80.54%); however, the density of MAs was highest in the posterior pole (p<0.001). The ischaemic index was highest in the peripheral retina (89.19%), followed by mid-periphery (50.65%) and posterior pole (1.85%). Patients with diabetic macular oedema (DME) presented more MA and a greater ischaemic index (p<0.001, each) than those without DME.

Conclusion

The automated software allowed prompt and quantitative analysis of UWF-FA images of DMR. MAs were most frequent in the nasal and mid-peripheral retina, with their density being highest in the posterior pole and nasal retina. Ischaemic index increased with distance from the posterior pole, showing strong correlation with central foveal thickness in all retinal areas except the posterior pole.
Comparison of methodologies for the detection ofBRAFmutations in bone marrow trephine specimens
Authors: Cardus Beatrix , Colling Richard , Hamblin Angela , Soilleux Elizabeth
Published: March 2019

Aims

BRAFV600E detection assists in the diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemia (HCL); however, testing practices vary. We evaluated the clinical utility of 5BRAFmutation testing strategies for use on bone marrow trephines (BMT).

Methods

11 HCL, 5 HCL ‘mimic’, 2 treated HCL and 10 normal BMT specimens were tested for mutantBRAF,comparing Sanger sequencing, pyrosequencing, amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS), automated (Idylla) PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

PCR and IHC were cheaper and identified V600E in 100 % of HCL cases. Pyrosequencing detected the mutation in 91%, NGS in 55% of cases and Sanger sequencing in 27%. All assays gave wild-typeBRAFresults in HCL mimics and normal BMT samples.

Conclusions

PCR and IHC were most sensitive and cost-effective, but these have limited scope for multiplexing and are likely to be replaced by NGS gene panels or whole genome sequencing in the medium to long term.
‘Vet nurses must not be seen as cheap labour’
Authors: Nevins Wendy
Published: March 2019

Following recent remarks by CVS boss Simon Innes on vet nursing, Wendy Nevins argues that nurses should be regarded as not just a cost within a practice, but potential revenue generators for practices.
Strong Strategic Support of Cooperation in Multistage Games
Authors: Petrosyan Leon
Published: March 2019

The problem of cooperation in repeated and multistage games is considered. The strong equilibrium (equilibrium stable against deviations of coalitions) with payoffs which can be attained under cooperation is constructed for a wide class of such games. The new solution concept based on solutions of stage games is introduced and in some cases this solution is a subset of the core defined for repeated and multistage games in a classical way. It is also proved that this newly introduced solution concept is strongly time consistent. The strong time consistency of the solution is a very important property since in case it does not take place players in reality in some time instant in subgame on cooperative trajectory may switch from the previously selected optimal solution to any other optimal solution in the subgame and as result realize the solution which will not be optimal in the whole game.
A formula of subgroup normality degrees with applications to the finite p-groups with cyclic subgroups of index p2
Authors: Farrokhi D. G. Mohammad , Takegahara Yugen
Published: March 2019

We give a formula for the subgroup normality degree [Formula: see text] of a subgroup [Formula: see text] in a finite group [Formula: see text], and determine subgroup normality degrees in the case where [Formula: see text] is a finite [Formula: see text]-group of order [Formula: see text] or a finite [Formula: see text]-group with a cyclic subgroup of index [Formula: see text].
Mathematics and Speed for Interval Arithmetic
Authors: Kulisch Ulrich
Published: March 2019

After a short introduction, the article begins with an axiomatic definition of rounded arithmetic. The concepts of rounding and of rounded arithmetic operations are defined in an axiomatic manner fully independent of special data formats and encodings. Basic properties of floating-point and interval arithmetic can directly be derived from this abstract mathematical model. Interval operations are defined as set operations for elements of the set ¯IR of closed and connected sets of real numbers. As such, they form an algebraically closed subset of the powerset of the real numbers. This property leads to explicit formulas for the arithmetic operations of floating-point intervals of ¯IF, which are executable on the computer. Arithmetic for intervals of ¯IF forms an exception free calculus, i.e., arithmetic operations for intervals of ¯IF always lead to intervals of ¯IF again.

Later sections are concerned with programming support and hardware for interval arithmetic. Both are a must and absolutely necessary to move interval arithmetic more into the center of scientific computing. With some minor hardware additions, interval operations can be made as fast as simple floating-point operations.

In vector and matrix spaces for real, complex, and interval data, the dot product is a fundamental arithmetic operation. Computing the dot product of two vectors with floating-point components
exactly
substantially speeds up floating-point and interval arithmetic as well as the accuracy of the computed result. Hardware needed for the exact dot product is very modest. The exact dot product is essential for long real and long interval arithmetic.

Section 9 illustrates that interval arithmetic as developed in this article already has a long tradition. Products based on these ideas have been available since 1980. Implementing what the article advocates would have a profound effect on mathematical software. Modern processor architecture from Intel, for example, comes quite close to what is requested in this article.
A Unified 2D/3D Large-Scale Software Environment for Nonlinear Inverse Problems
Authors: Silva Curt Da , Herrmann Felix
Published: March 2019

Large-scale parameter estimation problems are among some of the most computationally demanding problems in numerical analysis. An academic researcher’s domain-specific knowledge often precludes that of software design, which results in inversion frameworks that are technically correct but not scalable to realistically sized problems. On the other hand, the computational demands for realistic problems result in industrial codebases that are geared solely for high performance, rather than comprehensibility or flexibility. We propose a new software design for inverse problems constrained by partial differential equations that bridges the gap between these two seemingly disparate worlds. A hierarchical and modular design reduces the cognitive burden on the user while exploiting high-performance primitives at the lower levels. Our code has the added benefit of actually reflecting the underlying mathematics of the problem, which lowers the cognitive load on the user using it and reduces the initial startup period before a researcher can be fully productive. We also introduce a new preconditioner for the 3D Helmholtz equation that is suitable for fault-tolerant distributed systems. Numerical experiments on a variety of 2D and 3D test problems demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach on scaling algorithms from small- to large-scale problems with minimal code changes.
Runtime Fault Detection in Programmed Molecular Systems
Authors: Ellis Samuel J. , Klinge Titus H. , Lathrop James I. , Lutz Jack H. , Lutz Robyn R. , Miner Andrew S. , Potter Hugh D.
Published: March 2019

Watchdog timers are devices that are commonly used to monitor the health of safety-critical hardware and software systems. Their primary function is to raise an alarm if the monitored systems fail to emit periodic “heartbeats” that signal their well-being. In this article, we design and verify a
molecular watchdog timer
for monitoring the health of programmed molecular nanosystems. This raises new challenges, because our molecular watchdog timer and the system that it monitors both operate in the probabilistic environment of chemical kinetics, where many failures are certain to occur and it is especially hard to detect the absence of a signal.

Our molecular watchdog timer is the result of an incremental design process that uses goal-oriented requirements engineering, simulation, stochastic analysis, and software verification tools. We demonstrate the molecular watchdog’s functionality by having it monitor a molecular oscillator. Both the molecular watchdog timer and the oscillator are implemented as chemical reaction networks, which are the current programming language of choice for many molecular programming applications.
Performance Bounds of Decentralized Search in Expert Networks for Query Answering
Authors: Ma Liang , Srivatsa Mudhakar , Cansever Derya , Yan Xifeng , Kase Sue , Vanni Michelle
Published: March 2019

Expert networks are formed by a group of expert-professionals with different specialties to collaboratively resolve specific queries posted to the network. In such networks, when a query reaches an expert who does not have sufficient expertise, this query needs to be routed to other experts for further processing until it is completely solved; therefore, query answering efficiency is sensitive to the underlying query routing mechanism being used. Among all possible query routing mechanisms, decentralized search, operating purely on each expert’s local information without any knowledge of network global structure, represents the most basic and scalable routing mechanism, which is applicable to any network scenarios even in dynamic networks. However, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding of the efficiency of decentralized search in expert networks. In this regard, we investigate decentralized search by quantifying its performance under a variety of network settings. Our key findings reveal the existence of network conditions, under which decentralized search can achieve significantly short query routing paths (i.e., between
O
(log
n
) and
O
(log
2
n
) hops,
n
: total number of experts in the network). Based on such theoretical foundation, we further study how the unique properties of decentralized search in expert networks are related to the anecdotal small-world phenomenon. In addition, we demonstrate that decentralized search is robust against estimation errors introduced by misinterpreting the required expertise levels. The developed performance bounds, confirmed by real datasets, are able to assist in predicting network performance and designing complex expert networks.
Using Go in teaching the theory of computation
Authors: Farr Graham
Published: March 2019

With increased public interest in the ancient game of Go since 2016, it is an espe- cially good time to use it in teaching. The game is an excellent source of exercises in the theory of computation. We give some exercises developed during our research on Go which were then used when teaching this subject at Monash University. These are based on One-Dimensional Go (1D-Go) which uses a path graph as its board. They are about determining whether or not a position is legal and counting the number of legal positions. Curriculum elements that may be illustrated and practised using 1D-Go include: regular expressions, linear recurrences, proof by induction, nite automata, regular grammars, context-free grammars and languages, pushdown automata, and Turing machines.
Gastric Mucosal Lesions in Tibetans with High-Altitude Polycythemia Show Increased HIF-1A Expression and ROS Production
Authors: Li Kang , He Chaohui
Published: March 2019

Background. Living at a high plateau in a very hostile environment and low oxygen levels often leads to the development of high-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) and gastric mucosal lesions caused by high-level reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hypoxia-inducible factor-1A (HIF-1A) helps maintain oxygen homeostasis by promoting the transcription of various genes and can be affected by ROS levels. To evaluate the molecular mechanism by which HAPC causes the gastric mucosal lesions, the expression of HIF-1A was measured in Tibetans with HAPC and in healthy subjects. Ultrastructural, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed in the gastric tissues of both groups, and the expression of HIF-1A in the gastric mucosa was detected using qPCR and Western Blot.Results. The microvessel density and average diameter of gastric mucosal vessels were significantly greater in the HAPC patients than in the healthy subjects (p< 0.05). The number of red blood cells in the gastric mucosa was also significantly higher in the HAPC group than in the healthy subjects (p< 0.05). In addition, the density of the mitochondrial vacuoles and endoplasmic reticulum and pathological apoptosis were significantly increased in the gastric cells from HAPC patients compared to those from the healthy subjects. The levels of ROS and HIF-1A in the gastric mucosa were increased in HAPC patients compared to those in controls (p< 0.05).Conclusions. An increased level of HIF-1A was associated with HAPC development in the stomach of Tibetans living at a high altitude. ROS upregulated the levels of HIF-1A. Thus, ROS-mediated HIF-1A signaling transduction may be the mechanism associated with HAPC-induced gastric lesions.
Unit Disk Graph‐Based Node Similarity Index for Complex Network Analysis
Authors: Meghanathan Natarajan
Published: March 2019

We seek to quantify the extent of similarity among nodes in a complex network with respect to two or more node‐level metrics (like centrality metrics). In this pursuit, we propose the following unit disk graph‐based approach: we first normalize the values for the node‐level metrics (using the sum of the squares approach) and construct a unit disk graph of the network in a coordinate system based on the normalized values of the node‐level metrics. There exists an edge between two vertices in the unit disk graph if the Euclidean distance between the two vertices in the normalized coordinate system is within a threshold value (ranging from 0 to, where k is the number of node‐level metrics considered). We run a binary search algorithm to determine the minimum value for the threshold distance that would yield a connected unit disk graph of the vertices. We refer to “1 − (minimum threshold distance)” as the node similarity index (NSI; ranging from 0 to 1) for the complex network with respect to the k node‐level metrics considered. We evaluate the NSI values for a suite of 60 real‐world networks with respect to both neighborhood‐based centrality metrics (degree centrality and eigenvector centrality) and shortest path‐based centrality metrics (betweenness centrality and closeness centrality).
Weakly Supervised Deep Semantic Segmentation Using CNN and ELM with Semantic Candidate Regions
Authors: Xu Xinying , Li Guiqing , Xie Gang , Ren Jinchang , Xie Xinlin
Published: March 2019

The task of semantic segmentation is to obtain strong pixel‐level annotations for each pixel in the image. For fully supervised semantic segmentation, the task is achieved by a segmentation model trained using pixel‐level annotations. However, the pixel‐level annotation process is very expensive and time‐consuming. To reduce the cost, the paper proposes a semantic candidate regions trained extreme learning machine (ELM) method with image‐level labels to achieve pixel‐level labels mapping. In this work, the paper casts the pixel mapping problem into a candidate region semantic inference problem. Specifically, after segmenting each image into a set of superpixels, superpixels are automatically combined to achieve segmentation of candidate region according to the number of image‐level labels. Semantic inference of candidate regions is realized based on the relationship and neighborhood rough set associated with semantic labels. Finally, the paper trains the ELM using the candidate regions of the inferred labels to classify the test candidate regions. The experiment is verified on the MSRC dataset and PASCAL VOC 2012, which are popularly used in semantic segmentation. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms several state‐of‐the‐art approaches for deep semantic segmentation.
Produzindo modos de pesquisar em clínicas do trabalho
Authors: Moro Cibele Vargas Machado , Amador Fernanda Spanier
Published: March 2019

Este artigo aborda aspectos relativos à especificidade da pesquisa em clínicas do trabalho, notadamente, a pesquisa que discute o trabalho enquanto atividade no escopo da abordagem da clínica da atividade. Para tanto, trata-se, inicialmente, de clínica, de clínicas do trabalho e de pesquisa em clínica do trabalho. A seguir, são tecidas considerações a respeito da dialogia e da cartografia em clínica da atividade e, ao final, apresentam-se aspectos referentes ao percurso experimentado pelas pesquisadoras no âmbito de uma pesquisa realizada com gestores operacionais de uma empresa pública brasileira.
Equality of Participation: An Alternative to Outcome and Opportunity Measures
Authors: Thacker Justin
Published: March 2019

This paper outlines the problem of inequality in economic, social, biblical and theological terms. It discusses three concepts of equality before making a relatively novel proposal of its own. The first, equality of outcome, is dismissed for failing to pay sufficient attention to the inequities it engenders and its failure to take seriously the issue of personal responsibility. The second, equality of opportunity, is shown to be more promising but this is critiqued for its propagation of a hierarchy of socially desirable goods. Sen is correct to argue that variegated definitions of the good life imply that any simple concept of equality of opportunity is insufficient. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the idea of justice as participation and in the process reframes this to define and argue for an equality of participation concept in which the equalisandum is located in relationships rather than outcomes, opportunities or capabilities.
When Alexander Eig met Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov – an influential meeting for Israeli botany
Authors: Frumin Suembikya , Frumin Mitia , Weiss Ehud
Published: March 2019

Dr. Alexander Eig is a figure of major importance in the history of botany in Israel. This paper attempts to evaluate, for the first time, personal contacts that influenced his academic development. Archival research reveals that his meeting with one of the greatest plant researchers of the 20th century, N.I. Vavilov, in 1926 had a great impact upon him. It was Vavilov who stimulated the young Alexander Eig to undertake his first taxonomic work and write his first monograph. This article reproduces and discusses a newly discovered letter, written by Vavilov to Yitzhak Volcani, the head of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural History in Israel, under whose leadership Eig began his academic work. This document points to the existence of a mutual understanding and cooperation between Vavilov and Volcani. Furthermore, Vavilov’s letter explains why Eig’s academic work, and that of generations of Israeli botanists who followed in his footsteps, chartered the path it took.
†Japanolaccophilus beatificus sp. n. from Baltic amber and a key to the Laccophilinae genera of the World (Coleoptera: Laccophilinae)
Authors: BALKE MICHAEL , HENDRICH LARS
Published: March 2019

We provide the first report of the subfamily Laccophilinae Gistel, 1848 from Baltic amber, based on a female specimen collected in Russia, Kaliningrad Region, Yantarnii (Jantarny) mine. This specimen represents a new species and could be assigned to the extant genus Japanolaccophilus Satô, 1972. To date this genus was monotypic with one species in Japan. The new species is here described as †J. beatificus sp. n. and compared with the extant Japanolaccophilus niponensis (Kamiya, 1939). We also provide a modified key to the Laccophilinae genera of the World, as we found minor errors or ambiguities in recent keys.
The identity of the Chilean Amphibians collected by the United States exploring expedition
Authors: LAVILLA ESTEBAN O. , RABANAL FELIPE E. , LANGONE JOSÉ A. , VÁSQUEZ DAYANA , CASTRO-CARRASCO CAMILA
Published: March 2019

Between mid-May and early June of 1839, members of the United States Exploring Expedition collected diverse anurans in the environs of Valparaíso, Chile, later described by Girard in 1853. Of this set of species, Metaeus timidus, described there as a new genus and species, attracts attention because is a name that practically disappeared from the herpetological literature. Its identification, along with that of the other Chilean taxa collected by the USEE (Cystignathus nebulosus Girard, 1853, Pleurodema bibroni Tschudi, 1838, Pleurodema elegans Bell, 1843, Bufo lugubrosus Girard, 1853, Bufo thaul Lesson, 1826 and Metaeus timidus Girard, 1853) are the main objectives of this contribution.
Notes on the first instar larvae of the genus Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae)
Authors: PODENIENE VIRGINIJA , NASEVIČIENE NIJOLE , PODENAS SIGITAS
Published: March 2019

The egg-larvae of 890 individuals in 8 species belonging to long palped crane flies of the genus Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae) were obtained from 17 gravid females captured in Lithuania in 2011–2012. Depending on the species, it took from four days to more than eleven weeks for the eggs to hatch. Of the four instars of larvae for crane flies, the second, third and the last instar larvae are very similar in morphology, while the first instar or egg-larva differs radically. Descriptions and illustrations of the external morphology, chaetotaxy of abdominal segments, characters of head capsules and last abdominal segments are given for the previously unknown first instar larvae of T. (Lunatipula) fascipennis, T. (Pterelachisus) irrorata, T. (P.) pabulina, T. (P.) pseudovariipennis, T. (Yamatotipula) pruinosa and poorly known T. (Beringotipula) unca, T. (L.) vernalis T. (Tipula) paludosa. The differences of the head capsule and last abdominal segment among the first instar larvae of these species are more obvious than in the last instar. Characters of the head capsule such as the shape of the teeth of the mandible, shape of the basal segment of the antenna and number of sensillae on it, shape of hypostomium, arrangement of sensory structures on the labrum and frons, all differ among egg-larvae of Tipula. Sclerotisation and the arrangement of setae on the spiracular field are unique for each studied Tipula species. This is the first study to use head capsule characters to distinguish the larvae of Tipula.
Numerical Simulation of Rapid Weakening of Hurricane Joaquin with Assimilation of High-Definition Sounding System Dropsondes during the Tropical Cyclone Intensity Experiment: Comparison of Three- and Four-Dimensional Ensemble–Variational Data Assimilation
Authors: Zhang Shixuan , Pu Zhaoxia
Published: March 2019

Observations from High-Definition Sounding System (HDSS) dropsondes, collected for Hurricane Joaquin during the Office of Naval Research Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI) field experiment in 2015, are assimilated into the NCEP Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) Model. The Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI)-based hybrid three-dimensional and four-dimensional ensemble–variational (3DEnVar and 4DEnVar) data assimilation configurations are compared. The assimilation of HDSS dropsonde observations can help HWRF initialization by generating consistent analysis between wind and pressure fields and can also compensate for the initial maximum surface wind errors in the absence of initial vortex intensity correction. Compared with GSI–3DEnVar, the assimilation of HDSS dropsonde observations using GSI–4DEnVar generates a more realistic initial vortex intensity and reproduces the rapid weakening (RW) of Hurricane Joaquin, suggesting that the assimilation of high-resolution inner-core observations (e.g., HDSS dropsonde data) based on an advanced data assimilation method (e.g., 4DEnVar) can potentially outperform the vortex initialization scheme currently used in HWRF. Additionally, the assimilation of HDSS dropsonde observations can improve the simulation of vortex structure changes and the accuracy of the vertical motion within the TC inner-core region, which is essential to the successful simulation of the RW of Hurricane Joaquin with HWRF. Additional experiments with GSI–4DEnVar in different configurations also indicate that the performance of GSI–4DEnVar can be further improved with a high-resolution background error covariance and a denser observational bin.
A simple solar simulator with highly stable controlled irradiance for solar panel characterization
Authors: Salam Rahmat Awaludin , Munir Muhammad Miftahul , Warsahemas Thariq , Saputra Casmika , Latief Hamzah , Khairurrijal Khairurrijal
Published: March 2019

A solar simulator suitable for universities’ lab was designed and developed using a quartz tungsten halogen lamp as its light source, an alternating current phase-cut dimmer, a light intensity meter, and an ATMega328p microcontroller with a computer and a liquid crystal display. Noting that the quartz tungsten halogen lamp suffers bulb overheating and long-term degradation that leads to the decrease in its light intensity, a control mechanism was applied. The control mechanism employed a proportional–integral–differential action with Some-Overshoot Ziegler–Nichols tuning rule. It was shown that the control mechanism works well in stabilizing the quartz tungsten halogen lamp irradiance between 273 and 1182 W/m2. The developed solar simulator was then tested to obtain I-V (current–voltage) characteristics of 3 W peak and 5 W peak commercial solar panels (GH Solar, GH5P-9). Based on the gained I-V characteristics, it was shown that the obtained characteristics of the commercial solar panels are in the range of the characteristics provided by the manufacturer’s data sheets. The developed quartz tungsten halogen lamp-based solar cell simulator can therefore be used to characterize solar cells.
Growing Older Out of the Closet: A Descriptive Study of Older LGB Persons Living in Lisbon, Portugal
Authors: Pereira Henrique , de Vries Brian , Serzedelo António , Serrano Juan Pedro , Afonso Rosa Marina , Esgalhado Graça , Monteiro Samuel
Published: March 2019

There is a paucity of information regarding the needs of older Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) adults in Portugal; to help address this imbalance, this article describes a sample of Portuguese LGB older adults living in the large, urban center of Lisbon. Specifically, the article describes (a) the broad sociodemographic characteristics of LGB 60 years of age or older; (b) the type and level of social support and the nature of interpersonal relationships of these older LGB persons; (c) their physical and sexual health; and (d) the experiences and concerns when accessing social and health-care services, including disclosing their identity to social and health professionals. Across these areas, we further seek to evaluate any differences attributable to gender and compare our results to those in the literature, largely derived from North American studies.
How does the discourse surrounding the Murray Darling Basin manage the concept of entitlement to water?
Authors: Downey Heather , Clune Tim
Published: March 2019

Globally, the challenges of climate change have resulted in significant water policy reform. Australia’s Murray Darling Basin (MDB) Plan is a complex transboundary water management system that aims to balance the need for environmental protection with the needs of social and economic users of water. In July 2017, media reports argued that some MDB irrigators were misappropriating water destined for the environment and downstream users. This article uses Foucauldian discourse analysis to explore this flashpoint in the long-standing tensions between all stakeholders including the Basin jurisdictions. Diverse understandings of who is entitled to water that are shaped by the historical, political and social context are central to this conflict. Findings suggest that both neoliberal governmentality and the agrarian discourse are threatened by an emerging governmentality that embraces non-farming interests. The broader experience of water scarcity in a rapidly changing climate suggests comparable issues will become evident across the world.
Speed Estimation using Smartphone Accelerometer Data
Authors: Ustun Ilyas , Cetin Mecit
Published: March 2019

This paper is focused on developing an algorithm to estimate vehicle speed from accelerometer data generated by an onboard smartphone. The kinetic theory tells that the integration of acceleration gives the speed of a vehicle. Thus, the integration of the acceleration values collected with the smartphone in the direction of motion would theoretically yield the speed. However, speed estimation by the integration of accelerometer data will not yield accurate results, as the accelerometer data in the direction of motion is not pure acceleration, but involves white noise, phone sensor bias, vibration, gravity component, and other effects. To account for these sources of noise and error, a calibration method that can adjust the speed at certain times or points is needed. The exact times when the vehicle stops and starts are identified and used to calibrate the estimated speed. Based on the collected sample data, the proposed method yields that the estimated speed is on average within 10 mph of the actual speed, with a lower margin at the street-level driving. This suggests that with more information to calibrate the speed, the model accuracy can be improved further.