bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevation patterns of plant diversity and recent altitudinal range shifts in Sinai's high‐mountain flora
Authors: Coals Peter , Shmida Avi , Vasl Amiel , Duguny Nasr Mansour , Gilbert Francis
Published: February 2018

Questions

Is there evidence of recent altitudinal range shifts in a hyper‐arid Middle Eastern desert mountain flora? How do the directions of shift for upper and lower altitudinal range limits of plants vary?

Location

Hyper‐arid mountain desert, St Katherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt.

Method

We tested for shifts in both upper and lower altitudinal range limits by comparing a 1970s data set of recorded species’ limits with recent surveys using altitudinal transects across 36 sites. Altitudinal limits between 63 paired upper‐limit and 22 paired lower‐limit values from the 1970s and 2014 were compared using pairedt‐tests; binomial tests were used to indicate the dominant direction of change. The upper and lower limits of 22 species were considered together to allow assessment of overall altitudinal range size changes. In order to avoid the potential effect of yearly environmental fluctuations on the distributions of annual species, subsets of upper and lower limit shifts were taken for perennials, and for trees and shrubs.

Results

Our results show significant overall up‐slope shifts in mean upper altitudinal limits and significant overall down‐slope shifts in mean lower altitudinal limits. A majority of assessed species expanded their altitudinal ranges, but the responses of individual species varied.

Conclusions

Since perennial herbs/graminoids, as well as trees and shrubs, show strong patterns of change, we suggest there has been a long‐term shift in altitudinal range in South Sinai's mountain flora. More research effort needs to be focussed on the drivers of range shift responses in arid regions.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Electrode Dislodging into the Ligamentum Flavum: A Case Report
Authors: Martin Aaron J. , Padalia Devang , Shah Neal , Singh Jaspreet , Jassal Navdeep
Published: February 2018

To date, no case studies specifically reporting an electrode dislodging from its lead wire have been reported. Here we describe a case involving an electrode shearing from the spinal cord stimulator lead, and lodging into the ligamentum flavum during implantation. In this case, an experienced board certified interventional pain management specialist was performing the implantation procedure of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible spinal cord stimulator with MR conditional leads. After successful placement of the first lead, the epidural space was accessed via a T11/12 interlaminar approach using loss of resistance technique. When the lead would not advance past the tip of the needle, it was removed in order to reposition the needle slightly. Upon removal of the lead, it was discovered that the first electrode was no longer attached to the wire. Subsequent fluoroscopic imaging revealed that the electrode had lodged within the ligamentum flavum. Upon discussion with the medical director of the device company, it was agreed upon that the electrode should be left in place. The decision was made to proceed with only one lead in place and the remainder of the procedure was completed uneventfully. The patient followed up two weeks later in clinic, and no adverse effect related to the dislodged electrode was reported. The indications and common complications associated with spinal cord stimulation are discussed, followed by factors to consider to help guide decision making in the event of a retained foreign body during a procedure.
Treatment outcomes of vitiligo in Asian children
Authors: Tay Evelyn Yuxin , Chong Cui Lian Vanessa , Chong Wen Jie Jonathan Paul , Gan Yiping Emily , Chuah Sai Yee , Tan Wei Ding Virlynn , Thng Tien Guan Steven
Published: February 2018

This retrospective study aimed to identify factors that predict treatment response in a cohort of Asian children with vitiligo. Shorter duration of vitiligo was associated with better repigmentation. Patients with focal vitiligo of short duration have a good chance of achieving repigmentation with topical agents alone.
Kinetic Control in the Regioselective Alkylation of Pterin Sensitizers: A Synthetic, Photochemical, and Theoretical Study
Authors: Walalawela Niluksha , Vignoni Mariana , Urrutia María Noel , Belh Sarah J. , Greer Edyta M. , Thomas Andrés H. , Greer Alexander
Published: February 2018

Alkylation patterns and excited‐state properties of pterins were examined both experimentally and theoretically. 2D NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize the pterin derivatives, revealing undoubtedly that the decyl chains were coupled to either the O4 or N3 sites on the pterin. At a temperature of 70°C, the pterin alkylation regioselectively favored the O4 over the N3. The O4 was also favored when using solvents, in which the reactants had increased solubility, namely N,N‐dimethylformamide and N,N‐dimethylacetamide, rather than solvents in which the reactants had very low solubility (tetrahydrofuran and dichloromethane). Density functional theory (DFT) computed enthalpies correlate to regioselectivity being kinetically driven because the less stable O‐isomer forms in higher yield than the more stable N‐isomer. Once formed these compounds did not interconvert thermally or undergo a unimolecular “walk” rearrangement. Mechanistic rationale for the factors underlying the regioselective alkylation of pterins is suggested, where kinetic rather than thermodynamic factors are key in the higher yield of the O‐isomer. Computations also predicted greater solubility and reduced triplet state energetics thereby improving the properties of the alkylated pterins as 1O2 sensitizers. Insight on thermal and photostability of the alkylated pterins is also provided.
Expressive Versus Instrumental Partisanship in Multiparty European Systems
Authors: Huddy Leonie , Bankert Alexa , Davies Caitlin
Published: February 2018

Partisanship has a powerful influence on political behavior in the United States, but its influence is less certain in European democracies. Part of the debate concerning the influence of partisanship in Europe centers on its nature. From one perspective, partisanship is seen as grounded in factors such as ratings of government performance and agreement with the party's issue stances. We refer to this as the instrumental model. In the United States, however, a competing model has gained empirical support in which partisanship is defined as an identity that is largely defensive in nature and not especially reactive to ongoing events. We refer to this as an expressive model. In this review, we focus on several European democracies (the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy) and evaluate evidence for and against an expressive model of partisanship in which democratic citizens act to defend their party in order to maintain its positive standing. We find evidence that strong partisans in Europe exhibit five characteristics of expressive partisans: stable partisan identity, motivated reasoning in defense of the party, the greater influence of identity than issues and ideology in shaping vote choice and political behavior, affective polarization bias in favor of one's own party, and the existence of strong defensive emotions aroused by partisan threats and reassurances. It appears that partisans in the four European democracies act in similar ways to partisans in the United States. Nonetheless, levels of partisan identification differ across the European nations and between European nations and the United States helping to explain national differences in the intensity of partisan behavior.
The Strengthening of Partisan Affect
Authors: Iyengar Shanto , Krupenkin Masha
Published: February 2018

Partisanship continues to divide Americans. Using data from the American National Election Studies (ANES), we find that partisans not only feel more negatively about the opposing party, but also that this negativity has become more consistent and has a greater impact on their political participation. We find that while partisan animus began to rise in the 1980s, it has grown dramatically over the past two decades. As partisan affect has intensified, it is also more structured; ingroup favoritism is increasingly associated with outgroup animus. Finally, hostility toward the opposing party has eclipsed positive affect for ones' own party as a motive for political participation.
Cerebral ischemia during hemodialysis—finding the signal in the noise
Authors: MacEwen Clare , Watkinson Peter , Tarassenko Lionel , Pugh Christopher
Published: February 2018

Hemodialysis patients have multiple risk factors for small vessel cerebrovascular disease and cognitive dysfunction. Hemodialysis itself may cause clinically significant neurological injury through repetitive cerebral ischemia. However, supporting evidence to date consists of epidemiological associations, expert opinion, and small, single‐centre studies of variable methodological quality. Isolating the impact of intra‐dialytic hemodynamic instability from underlying renal and vascular disease on clinically relevant functional outcomes would require very large, controlled studies, given the heterogeneity and confounding comorbidities of the population, and the complex relationship between blood pressure and cerebral oxygen delivery. There has been an increase in complementary physiological studies looking directly at intra‐dialytic cerebral oxygen balance, which have provided supporting evidence for the occurrence of cerebral ischemia, often independently of hemodynamics. Data suggesting a relationship between these measures of oxygen balance and functional outcomes is only hypothesis‐generating at this stage. We advocate the testing of interventions that aim to reduce intra‐dialytic cerebral hypoxia (rather than hypotension) in sufficiently powered studies, followed by correlation with validated, longitudinal assessment of clinically relevant neurological damage.
Different effects of phospholipase Dζ2 and non‐specific phospholipase C4 on lipid remodeling and root hair growth in Arabidopsis response to phosphate deficiency
Authors: Su Yuan , Li Maoyin , Guo Liang , Wang Xuemin
Published: February 2018

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency in soils is a major limiting factor for plant growth. In response to Pi deprivation, one prominent metabolic adaptation in plants is the decrease in membrane phospholipids that consume approximately one‐third cellular Pi. The level of two phospholipid‐hydrolyzing enzymes, phospholipase Dζ2 (PLDζ2) and non‐specific phospholipase C4 (NPC4), is highly induced in Pi‐deprived Arabidopsis. To determine the role of PLDζ2 and NPC4 in plant growth under Pi limitation, Arabidopsis plants deficient in both PLDζ2 and NPC4 (npc4pldζ2) were generated and characterized. Lipid remodeling in leaves and roots was analyzed at three different durations of Pi deficiency. NPC4 affected lipid changes mainly in roots at an early stage of Pi deprivation, whereas PLDζ2 exhibited a more overt effect on lipid remodeling in leaves at a later stage of Pi deprivation. Pi deficiency‐induced galactolipid increase and phospholipid decrease were impeded in pldζ2 and npc4pldζ2 plants. In addition, seedlings of npc4pldζ2 had the same root hair density as pldζ2 but shorter root hair length than pldζ2 in response to Pi deficiency. The loss of NPC4 decreased root hair length but had no effect on root hair density. These data suggest that PLDζ2 and NPC4 mediate the Pi deprivation‐induced lipid remodeling in a tissue‐ and time‐specific manner. PLDζ2 and NPC4 have distinctively different roles in root hair growth and development in response to Pi deprivation; PLDζ2 negatively modulates root hair density and length, whereas NPC4 promotes root hair elongation.
Phagocytosis of antibody‐opsonized tumor cells leads to the formation of a discrete vacuolar compartment in macrophages
Authors: Velmurugan Ramraj , Ramakrishnan Sreevidhya , Kim Mingin , Ober Raimund J. , Ward E. Sally
Published: February 2018

Despite the rapidly expanding use of antibody‐based therapeutics to treat cancer, knowledge of the cellular processes following phagocytosis of antibody‐opsonized tumor cells is limited. Here we report the formation of a phagosome‐associated vacuole that is observed in macrophages as these degradative compartments mature following phagocytosis of HER2‐positive cancer cells in the presence of the HER2‐specific antibody, trastuzumab. We demonstrate that this vacuole is a distinct organelle that is closely apposed to the phagosome. Furthermore, the size of the phagosome‐associated vacuole is increased by inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Collectively, the identification of this vacuolar compartment has implications for understanding the subcellular trafficking processes leading to the destruction of phagocytosed, antibody‐opsonized cancer cells by macrophages.
Intersection of endocytic and exocytic systems in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: McGovern Olivia L. , Rivera‐Cuevas Yolanda , Kannan Geetha , Narwold Andrew J. , Carruthers Vern B.
Published: February 2018

Host cytosolic proteins are endocytosed by Toxoplasma gondii and degraded in its lysosome‐like compartment, the vacuolar compartment (VAC), but the dynamics and route of endocytic trafficking remain undefined. Conserved endocytic components and plant‐like features suggest T. gondii endocytic trafficking involves transit through early and late endosome‐like compartments (ELCs) and potentially the trans‐Golgi network (TGN) as in plants. However, exocytic trafficking to regulated secretory organelles, micronemes and rhoptries, also proceeds through ELCs and requires classical endocytic components, including a dynamin‐related protein, DrpB. Here, we show that host cytosolic proteins are endocytosed within 7 minutes post‐invasion, trafficked through ELCs en route to the VAC, and degraded within 30 minutes. We could not definitively interpret if ingested protein is trafficked through the TGN. We also found that parasites ingest material from the host cytosol throughout the parasite cell cycle. Ingested host proteins colocalize with immature microneme proteins, proM2AP and proMIC5, in transit to the micronemes, but not with the immature rhoptry protein proRON4, indicating that endocytic trafficking of ingested protein intersects with exocytic trafficking of microneme proteins. Finally, we show that conditional expression of a DrpB dominant negative mutant increases T. gondii ingestion of host‐derived proteins, suggesting that DrpB is not required for parasite endocytosis.
Accuracy of four ultrasonography techniques in predicting histopathological classification of canine mammary carcinomas
Authors: Feliciano Marcus Antonio Rossi , Ramirez Ricardo Andrés Uscategui , Maronezi Marjury Cristina , Maciel Giovanna Serpa , Avante Michelle Lopes , Senhorello Igor Luiz Salardani , Mucédola Talita , Gasser Beatriz , Carvalho Cibele Figueira , Vicente Wilter Ricardo Russiano
Published: February 2018

Due to the importance of presurgical, noninvasive, and accurate diagnostic tools in mammary carcinoma characterization, this prospective secondary observational cohort study was designed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of B‐mode, Doppler, contrast enhancement ultrasonography, or acoustic radiation force impulse–elastography in identifying mammary carcinomas types with high degree of malignancy. A total of 246 mammary carcinomas from 141 female dogs were analyzed using B‐mode, Doppler, contrast enhancement ultrasonography, and acoustic radiation force impulse ultrasonography prior to their histopathological classification according to types (simple, complex, or special) and grade (I, II, or III). Qualitative and quantitative variables were compared between carcinoma types and grades by Fisher's or analysis of variance. Diagnostic performance was estimated by receiver‐operating characteristic analysis, using histopathological classification as a reference. Deformability (acoustic radiation force impulse) had a diagnostic specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 12% in identifying special carcinomas. A width:length ratio greater than 0.53 can be suggestive of special carcinoma, with 80% sensitivity and 76% specificity. Contrast wash‐in and peak enhancement times lower than 7.5 and 13.5 s, respectively, were indicative of complex carcinoma at 62% sensitivity and 60% specificity. Contrast wash‐in, peak enhancement, and wash‐out times greater than 6.5, 12.5, and 64.5 s, respectively; were indicative of grade II and III carcinoma at 68% sensitivity and 62% specificity. In conclusion, B‐mode ultrasonography, contrast enhancement ultrasonography, and acoustic radiation force impulse–elastography enabled the identification of some of the characteristics of high‐grade mammary carcinoma types and grades in female dogs with limited accuracy. The findings from this study may contribute to oncology research and clinical management canine patients.
Computed tomographic findings in a Bluetick Coonhound with a longitudinal thoracic tracheal tear
Authors: Dancer Sumari C. , Van Der Zee Johannes , Kirberger Robert M.
Published: February 2018

A 9‐year‐old intact male Bluetick Coonhound presented for progressive subcutaneous emphysema of 5 days’ duration due to a suspected tracheal tear. Cervical computed tomography (CT) and thoracic CT were performed after failure to identify the tracheal tear with tracheoscopy. A longitudinal tracheal tear was identified starting 4.3 cm cranial to the tracheal bifurcation and extending caudally over a distance of 3.6 cm. Severe pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, and retroperitoneal gas were also present. A follow‐up CT 7 days postoperatively confirmed the successful repair of the tear with partial resolution of the presurgical secondary pathology and the patient recovered uneventfully.
Tenotomy of the semitendinosus muscle under standing sedation versus general anesthesia: Outcomes in 20 horses with fibrotic myopathy
Authors: Suarez‐Fuentes David G. , Tatarniuk Dane M. , Caston Stephanie S. , Kersh Kevin D. , Gillen Alex M. , Hays Ashley M.
Published: February 2018

Objective

To compare outcomes after semitendinosus tenotomy performed under standing sedation versus general anesthesia.

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Sample Population

20 horses with fibrotic myopathy of the semitendinosus muscle.

Methods

Medical records (2002‐2015) of horses undergoing tenotomy of the semitendinosus muscle for the treatment of fibrotic myopathy were reviewed. Signalment, history, affected muscles, restrain method, surgical procedures, and short‐term outcome as well as complications were retrieved from records. Long‐term outcome (gait and athletic function) was assessed at least 6 months postoperatively by conversation with the owners. Pearson's χ2 statistical analysis was used to compare restrain method and affected muscles with overall outcome. Significance was set at P < .05.

Results

Tenotomy of the semitendinosus muscle was performed under standing sedation in 8 horses and under general anesthesia in 12 horses. Follow‐up period ranged from 9 months to 10 years. Gait was improved to variable degrees in 8 of 14 horses when the semitendinosus muscle alone was affected and in 4 of 6 horses when both the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles were involved (P = .11). Six of 8 horses treated under standing sedation and 6 of 12 horses treated under general anesthesia exhibited some improvement in the characteristic fibrotic gait (P = .4473). Five of 6 athletic horses treated under standing sedation and 6 of 9 athletic horses treated under general anesthesia returned to their preinjury level of athleticism. Horses treated under standing sedation had no incisional complications; 2 of 12 horses treated under general anesthesia exhibited incisional drainage.

Conclusion

Tenotomy of the semitendinosus muscle in horses with fibrotic myopathy leads to similar improvement in gait, whether performed under standing sedation or general anesthesia.
The effect of F0 contour on the intelligibility of speech in the presence of interfering sounds for Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Chen Jing , Yang Hongying , Wu Xihong , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: February 2018

In Mandarin Chinese, the fundamental frequency (F0) contour defines lexical “Tones” that differ in meaning despite being phonetically identical. Flattening the F0 contour impairs the intelligibility of Mandarin Chinese in background sounds. This might occur because the flattening introduces misleading lexical information. To avoid this effect, two types of speech were used: single-Tone speech contained Tones 1 and 0 only, which have a flat F0 contour; multi-Tone speech contained all Tones and had a varying F0 contour. The intelligibility of speech in steady noise was slightly better for single-Tone speech than for multi-Tone speech. The intelligibility of speech in a two-talker masker, with the difference in mean F0 between the target and masker matched across conditions, was worse for the multi-Tone target in the multi-Tone masker than for any other combination of target and masker, probably because informational masking was maximal for this combination. The introduction of a perceived spatial separation between the target and masker, via the precedence effect, led to better performance for all target-masker combinations, especially the multi-Tone target in the multi-Tone masker. In summary, a flat F0 contour does not reduce the intelligibility of Mandarin Chinese when the introduction of misleading lexical cues is avoided.
Endophyte-Mediated Modulation of Defense-Related Genes and Systemic Resistance in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal under Alternaria alternata Stress
Authors: Mishra Aradhana , Singh Satyendra Pratap , Mahfooz Sahil , Singh Surendra Pratap , Bhattacharya Arpita , Mishra Nishtha , Nautiyal C. S.
Published: February 2018

Endophytes have been explored and found to perform an important role in plant health. However, their effects on the host physiological function and disease management remain elusive. The present study aimed to assess the potential effects of endophytes, singly as well as in combination, inWithania somnifera(L.) Dunal, on various physiological parameters and systemic defense mechanisms againstAlternaria alternata. Seeds primed with the endophytic bacteriaBacillus amyloliquefaciensandPseudomonas fluorescensindividually and in combination demonstrated an enhanced vigor index and germination rate. Interestingly, plants treated with the two-microbe combination showed the lowest plant mortality rate (28%) underA. alternatastress. Physiological profiling of treated plants showed improved photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and stomatal conductance under pathogenic stress. Additionally, these endophytes not only augmented defense enzymes and antioxidant activity in treated plants but also enhanced the expression of salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-responsive genes in the stressed plants. Reductions in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) along with enhanced callose deposition in host plant leaves corroborated well with the above findings. Altogether, the study provides novel insights into the underlying mechanisms behind the tripartite interaction of endophyte-A. alternata-W. somniferaand underscores their ability to boost plant health under pathogen stress.

IMPORTANCEW. somniferais well known for producing several medicinally important secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites are required by various pharmaceutical sectors to produce life-saving drugs. However, the cultivation ofW. somniferafaces severe challenge from leaf spot disease caused byA. alternata. To keep pace with the rising demand for this plant and considering its capacity for cultivation under field conditions, the present study was undertaken to develop approaches to enhance production ofW. somniferathrough intervention using endophytes. Application of bacterial endophytes not only suppresses the pathogenicity ofA. alternatabut also mitigates excessive ROS/RNS generation via enhanced physiological processes and antioxidant machinery. Expression profiling of plant defense-related genes further validates the efficacy of bacterial endophytes against leaf spot disease.
Treatment of Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-, AmpC-, and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Rodríguez-Baño Jesús , Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Belén , Machuca Isabel , Pascual Alvaro
Published: February 2018

Therapy of invasive infections due to multidrug-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(MDR-E) is challenging, and some of the few active drugs are not available in many countries. For extended-spectrum β-lactamase and AmpC producers, carbapenems are the drugs of choice, but alternatives are needed because the rate of carbapenem resistance is rising. Potential active drugs include classic and newer β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, cephamycins, temocillin, aminoglycosides, tigecycline, fosfomycin, and, rarely, fluoroquinolones or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These drugs might be considered in some specific situations. AmpC producers are resistant to cephamycins, but cefepime is an option. In the case of carbapenemase-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
(CPE), only some “second-line” drugs, such as polymyxins, tigecycline, aminoglycosides, and fosfomycin, may be active; double carbapenems can also be considered in specific situations. Combination therapy is associated with better outcomes for high-risk patients, such as those in septic shock or with pneumonia. Ceftazidime-avibactam was recently approved and is active against KPC and OXA-48 producers; the available experience is scarce but promising, although development of resistance is a concern. New drugs active against some CPE isolates are in different stages of development, including meropenem-vaborbactam, imipenem-relebactam, plazomicin, cefiderocol, eravacycline, and aztreonam-avibactam. Overall, therapy of MDR-E infection must be individualized according to the susceptibility profile, type, and severity of infection and the features of the patient.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression after basal ganglia ischaemic stroke: protocol for a multicentre randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Tang Ying , Chen Aimin , Zhu Shuzhen , Yang Li , Zhou Jiyuan , Pan Suyue , Shao Min , Zhao Lianxu
Published: February 2018

Introduction

Studies suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective for the treatment of depression and promotes the repair of white matter. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of rTMS in treating depression after basal ganglia ischaemic stroke and to examine whether such effects are related to restoration of white matter integrity.

Methods and analysis

Sixty-six participants will be recruited from Zhujiang Hospital, Nanfang Hospital and Sichuan Bayi Rehabilitation Hospital and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive active rTMS treatment or sham rTMS treatment in addition to routine supportive treatments. The data will be collected at 0, 2 and 4 weeks after the commencement of treatment. The primary outcome is the measurement of 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, and the secondary outcomes include diffusion tensor imaging results and the results of neuropsychological tests including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Activities of Daily Living Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Clinical Global Impressions scales, Aphasia Battery in Chinese, Social Support Revalued Scale and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University. The findings will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal and by presentation at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT03159351.
Rigidity theory for C∗-dynamical systems and the “Pedersen rigidity problem”
Authors: Kaliszewski S. , Omland Tron , Quigg John
Published: February 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a locally compact abelian group. By modifying a theorem of Pedersen, it follows that actions of [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text]-algebras [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are outer conjugate if and only if there is an isomorphism of the crossed products that is equivariant for the dual actions and preserves the images of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in the multiplier algebras of the crossed products. The rigidity problem discussed in this paper deals with the necessity of the last condition concerning the images of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].

There is an alternative formulation of the problem: an action of the dual group [Formula: see text] together with a suitably equivariant unitary homomorphism of [Formula: see text] give rise to a generalized fixed-point algebra via Landstad’s theorem, and a problem related to the above is to produce an action of [Formula: see text] and two such equivariant unitary homomorphisms of [Formula: see text] that give distinct generalized fixed-point algebras.

We present several situations where the condition on the images of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is redundant, and where having distinct generalized fixed-point algebras is impossible. For example, if [Formula: see text] is discrete, this will be the case for all actions of [Formula: see text].
Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology ofSmilaxglabra: An Important Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Hua Shiyao , Zhang Yiwei , Liu Jiayue , Dong Lin , Huang Jun , Lin Dingbo , Fu Xueyan
Published: February 2018

Smilax glabra (SG) Roxb., a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been extensively used worldwide for its marked pharmacological activities for treating syphilitic poisoned sores, limb hypertonicity, morbid leucorrhea, eczema pruritus, strangury due to heat, carbuncle toxin, and many other human ailments. Approximately 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from SG Roxb., and the major components have been determined to be flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides, phenolic acids, and steroids. Among these active compounds, the effects of astilbin, which is used as a quality control marker to determine the quality of SG Roxb., have been widely investigated. Based on in vivo and in vitro studies, the primary active components of SG Roxb. possess various pharmacological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, and cardiovascular system protective activities. However, an extensive study to determine the relationship between the chemical compositions and pharmacological effects of SG Roxb. has not been conducted and is worth of our study. Improving the means of utilizing the effects of SG is crucial. The present paper reviews the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of SG Roxb. and assesses its ethnopharmacological use in order to explore its therapeutic potential for future research.
INVESTIGATION ON THE DEPOSITION RATES OF ELECTROLESS Ni–P/NANO-SiC PLATING WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
Authors: ZHOU HENG-ZHI , WANG WEN-HAO , GU YU-QIANG , BAI YUN-QIANG , XUE YA-JUN
Published: February 2018

The nano-SiC/Ni–P composite coatings (nSNCCs) were fabricated on the surface of Glass substrates with the assistance of different electromagnetic fields. Then, the deposition rates of the nSNCCs were calculated by the weighing method. Morphology, chemical composition and crystal structure were characterized by SEM, EDS and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Experimental results show that the nSNCCs are all built by the accretion of spherical co-deposition product of Ni solid solution and nano-SiC particulates. Moreover, at the same plating time, the deposition rates of the nSNCCs increase with the increasing magnetic strength, and reach the peak by 17.5[Formula: see text]g/h[Formula: see text]m[Formula: see text]. Meanwhile, the spherical particle size and the spaces between spherical co-deposition decrease, which result in the formation of the dense layers. The addition of magnetic fields in preparation process not only promotes the deposition of the nSNCCs, but also has a great influence on the orientation of the deposited products, which is favorable for the formation of a compact and uniform composite coating.
Isochronous solutions of Einstein’s equations and their Newtonian limit
Authors: Briscese Fabio , Calogero Francesco
Published: February 2018

It has been recently demonstrated that it is possible to construct isochronous cosmologies, extending to general relativity a result valid for non-relativistic Hamiltonian systems. In this paper, we review these findings and we discuss the Newtonian limit of these isochronous spacetimes, showing that it reproduces the analogous findings in the context of non-relativistic dynamics.
Change in event horizon surface area as the source of nonmetricity field
Authors: Portnov Yuriy A.
Published: February 2018

This paper concerns the relationship between the nonmetricity 1-form and the change in entropy. Motion equations have been obtained for test bodies in a gravitational field created by a massive body with entropy varying over time. It has been shown that increasing entropy of the gravitational source will bring about an increase in the acceleration of the test body. Applied to the theory of gravitation with nonmetricity, black hole dynamics equations based on foundations laid by S. Hawking and J. Beckenstein, enabled identification of changes in black holes event horizon surface area as a putative source of nonmetricity field. The implication is that changes in event horizon area will affect test body motion. The latter property makes it possible to contemplate a completely new method for discovering short-lived microscopic black holes.
Cluster Scheduling for Data Centers
Authors: Schwarzkopf Malte
Published: February 2018

This installment of Research for Practice features a curated selection from Malte Schwarzkopf, who takes us on a tour of distributed cluster scheduling, from research to practice, and back again. With the rise of elastic compute resources, cluster management has become an increasingly hot topic in systems R&D, and a number of competing cluster managers including Kubernetes, Mesos, and Docker are currently jockeying for the crown in this space.
Application Deployment Strategies for Spatial Isolation on Many-Core Accelerators
Authors: Real Maria Méndez , Wehner Philipp , Lapotre Vianney , Göhringer Diana , Gogniat Guy
Published: February 2018

Current cache Side-Channel Attacks (SCAs) countermeasures have not been designed for many-core architectures and need to be revisited in order to be practical for these new technologies. Spatial isolation of resources for sensitive applications has been proposed taking advantage of the large number of resources offered by these architectures. This solution avoids cache sharing with sensitive processes. Consequently, their cache activity cannot be monitored and cache SCAs cannot be performed. This work focuses on the implementation of this technique in order to minimize the induced performance overhead. Different strategies for the management of isolated secure zones are implemented and compared.
Unraveling the Mechanobiology of Extracellular Matrix
Authors: Vogel Viola
Published: February 2018

Cells need to be anchored to extracellular matrix (ECM) to survive, yet the role of ECM in guiding developmental processes, tissue homeostasis, and aging has long been underestimated. How ECM orchestrates the deterioration of healthy to pathological tissues, including fibrosis and cancer, also remains poorly understood. Inquiring how alterations in ECM fiber tension might drive these processes is timely, as mechanobiology is a rapidly growing field, and many novel mechanisms behind the mechanical forces that can regulate protein, cell, and tissue functions have recently been deciphered. The goal of this article is to review how forces can switch protein functions, and thus cell signaling, and thereby inspire new approaches to exploit the mechanobiology of ECM in regenerative medicine as well as for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Some of the mechanochemical switching concepts described here for ECM proteins are more general and apply to intracellular proteins as well.
Multistability in Horizontal Platform System with and without Time Delays
Authors: Rajagopal Karthikeyan , Duraisamy Prakash , Weldegiorgis Riessom , Karthikeyan Anitha
Published: February 2018

Chaotic behavior and bifurcation analysis of horizontal platform systems (HPS) have been investigated widely by many researchers. However, the multistable features of such systems have not been investigated, and hence we identified the multistable parameter and investigated the coexisting attractors of the HPS. To understand the effects of time delays on the nonautonomous and autonomous HPS, we introduced a constant time delay in the state feedback variable. Investigation of the bifurcation of the time delayed HPS with time delay and parameters reveals that the system behavior differs between the autonomous and nonautonomous HPS. To investigate the multistability existence in time delayed HPS, we plot the bifurcation of the autonomous HPS and show the multistability and coexisting attractors.
Oxygen Content and Thermodynamic Stability of YBaCo2O6−δ Double Perovskite
Authors: Sednev Anton L. , Zuev Andrey Yu , Tsvetkov Dmitry S.
Published: February 2018

The thermodynamic stability of the double perovskite YBaCo2O6−δ was studied using the coulometric titration technique and verified by measurements of the overall conductivity depending on oxygen partial pressure at a given temperature. As a result, the stability diagram of YBaCo2O6−δ was plotted. YBaCo2O6−δ was found to be thermodynamically stable in air at 850°C and higher temperatures, whereas its thermodynamic stability at 900°C is limited by the range of oxygen partial pressures −3.56 ≤ log(pO2/atm) ≤ −0.14. Oxygen content in YBaCo2O6−δ slightly decreases at 900°C from 5.035 at log(pO2/atm) = −0.14 to 4.989 in the atmosphere with log(pO2/atm) = −3.565 indicating a crucial role which variation of Co+3/Co+2 ratio plays in its stability. YBaCo2O6−δ decomposes into the mixture of YCoO3 and BaCoO3−z at the high pO2 stability limit, whereas YBaCo4O7, BaCo1−xYxO3−γ, and Y2O3 were identified as the products of its decomposition at the low pO2 one.
Attack Detection/Isolation via a Secure Multisensor Fusion Framework for Cyberphysical Systems
Authors: Mohammadi Arash , Yang Chun , Chen Qing-wei
Published: February 2018

Motivated by rapid growth of cyberphysical systems (CPSs) and the necessity to provide secure state estimates against potential data injection attacks in their application domains, the paper proposes a secure and innovative attack detection and isolation fusion framework. The proposed multisensor fusion framework provides secure state estimates by using ideas from interactive multiple models (IMM) combined with a novel fuzzy‐based attack detection/isolation mechanism. The IMM filter is used to adjust the system’s uncertainty adaptively via model probabilities by using a hybrid state model consisting of two behaviour modes, one corresponding to the ideal scenario and one associated with the attack behaviour mode. The state chi‐square test is then incorporated through the proposed fuzzy‐based fusion framework to detect and isolate potential data injection attacks. In other words, the validation probability of each sensor is calculated based on the value of the chi‐square test. Finally, by incorporation of the validation probability of each sensor, the weights of its associated subsystem are computed. To be concrete, an integrated navigation system is simulated with three types of attacks ranging from a constant bias attack to a non‐Gaussian stochastic attack to evaluate the proposed attack detection and isolation fusion framework.
Prenatal Identification and Molecular Characterization of Two Simultaneous De Novo Interstitial Duplications of Chromosomal Regions 7p22.1p21.1 and 15q24.1
Authors: Burn Sabrina C. , Swift Kali , Palmquist Maria
Published: February 2018

The occurrence of simultaneous de novo chromosomal aberrations is extremely rare. Here, we describe two, previously unreported, simultaneous de novo interstitial duplications of chromosomes 7p and 15q. Amniocentesis was completed for a healthy gravida 4 para 3 woman due to her advanced maternal age and concurrent ultrasound findings of partial vermian agenesis, choroid-plexus cysts, and hypoplastic nasal bone. Cytogenetic analysis of cultured amniocytes by conventional chromosome analysis, comparative genomic hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed two interstitial duplications of the chromosomal regions 7p22.1p21.1 and 15q24.1, leading to partial trisomy of 7p and 15q and karyotype 46,XY,dup(7)(p22.1-p21.1),dup (15)(q24.1). Parental chromosomal analysis did not identify any heritable changes, suggesting both mutations were de novo in nature. Postnatal examination of the neonate was significant for low set ears, thick helices, flat nasal bridge, ankyloglossia, and aberrant head shape and size concerning for craniosynostosis. Postnatal MRI was consistent with Dandy-Walker variant showing hypogenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis. To our knowledge, there are no prenatal or postnatal reports of comparable duplications involving these two regions simultaneously. Continued observation of the neonate may reveal further phenotypic consequences of these two simultaneous de novo interstitial duplications.
Segmentation of Melanoma Skin Lesion Using Perceptual Color Difference Saliency with Morphological Analysis
Authors: Olugbara Oludayo O. , Taiwo Tunmike B. , Heukelman Delene
Published: February 2018

The prevalence of melanoma skin cancer disease is rapidly increasing as recorded death cases of its patients continue to annually escalate. Reliable segmentation of skin lesion is one essential requirement of an efficient noninvasive computer aided diagnosis tool for accelerating the identification process of melanoma. This paper presents a new algorithm based on perceptual color difference saliency along with binary morphological analysis for segmentation of melanoma skin lesion in dermoscopic images. The new algorithm is compared with existing image segmentation algorithms on benchmark dermoscopic images acquired from public corpora. Results of both qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the new algorithm are encouraging as the algorithm performs excellently in comparison with the existing image segmentation algorithms.
Minimizing the Impact of Large Freight Vehicles in the City: A Multicriteria Vision for Route Planning and Type of Vehicles
Authors: Ezquerro Sara , Romero Juan P. , Moura Jose L. , Benavente Juan , Ibeas Ángel
Published: February 2018

The impact of freight transport in cities is significant, and as such correct planning and management thereof help reduce their enormous negative impact. Above all, the special large vehicles have a greater impact than the remainder of freight vehicles, so a special attention should be paid to them. The vehicles which supply or pick up large amounts of goods at specific points throughout the city are an example of this type of vehicles. The aim of this paper is to minimize the cost of this freight transport type from a social, economic, and environmental viewpoint. To this effect, an optimization model has been proposed based on bilevel mathematical programming which minimizes the total system costs. City network model data are obtained on the lower level such as vehicle flow and travelling times, which are then used on the upper level to calculate total system costs. The model has been applied to a real case in Santander (Spain), whose final result shows the size and typology of the fleet of vehicles necessary to have the least impact on the city. The greater the vehicles size is (i.e., using fewer trucks), the less the cost of the freight transport is.
A Rare Case Report: A Malignant Histiocytic Tumor in the Form of Ovarian Mass
Authors: Yilmaz Emsal Pinar Topdagi , Kumtepe Yakup , Topdagi Yunus Emre , Topdagi Seray Kaya
Published: February 2018

Histiocytic cell malignancies are very rare. Hence, the information about this disease in hematology is limited. In this case report, we present a case of malignant histiocytic tumor affecting the ovary of a 40-year-old virgin female. Primary ovarian malignancy was not considered for the patient who was approached as if she had ovarian malignancy, since there was an indication of a mass in the ovary. Therefore, an aggressive surgery was not performed. Since our patient was in the reproductive age, fertility-preserving surgery was performed. Our patient was then treated systemically by medical oncology. In conclusion, the rare malignancy group was investigated in the present study along with an evaluation of the current literature.
Reliability of Ocular Aberration Measurements in Children with Moderate and Low Myopia under Scotopic Conditions
Authors: Li Zhouyue , Cui Dongmei , Ao Sichun , Lan Weizhong , Yang Xiao
Published: February 2018

Purpose. To investigate the reliability of ocular aberration measurement in myopic children under scotopic conditions and to validate the mathematical Zernike pupil scaling-down technique.Methods. Ocular aberrations of 45 myopic children were examined under scotopic conditions via iTrace aberrometer. The intra- and intersession repeatability was evaluated for both the measured values with the true pupil sizes and the estimated ones that were determined by scaling down the pupil sizes to the largest integer value across all measurements.Results. The intra- and intersession difference of clinically measured aberration was generally insignificant, and the ICCs for each aberration component exhibited good to excellent reliability (ICCs > 0.4). Similar results were found for the estimated aberration using the scaling-down technique. Although the majority of the estimated Zernike components were comparable with the corresponding measured one, the estimated values of defocus, coma, and the corresponding total aberrations were found significantly smaller than the measured values (allP<0.01).Conclusions. The ocular aberration measurements in myopic children under the circumstances described are reliable. The scaling-down technique is a useful option for comparing the results obtained from different pupil sizes, but the estimated Zernike coefficients were not always comparable with the corresponding measured values.
Choroidal and Retinal Thickness of Highly Myopic Eyes with Early Stage of Myopic Chorioretinopathy: Tessellation
Authors: Zhou Yanping , Song Minlu , Zhou Minwen , Liu Yiming , Wang Fenghua , Sun Xiaodong
Published: February 2018

Purpose. To investigate the choroidal thickness (CT) and retinal thickness (RT) in highly myopic tessellated eyes. Methods. In this study, 115 highly myopic eyes were recruited and divided as tessellated fundus (n=93) and normal fundus (n=22). RT and CT were quantified using optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT). Correlation between subfoveal CT (SFCT) and tessellation was analyzed using logistic regression models. Results. Tessellated fundus eyes had thinner CT than did normal fundus eyes, while RT was not statistically different across groups. The tessellated eyes had a thinner choroid than did the control eyes at all measured macular locations (all P<0.05). After adjustment for AL, age, and gender, the SFCT was significantly associated with tessellation. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.975 (0.960–0.990, P=0.001, binary logistics regression) and 0.991 (0.984–0.999, P=0.022, Cox regression). The area under the curve (AUC) of SFCT was the greatest for detecting tessellation (AUC = 0.824, P<0.001). For sensitivity and specificity analyses, SFCT had the highest diagnostic value (sensitivity = 81.8%, specificity = 74.2%). Conclusions. Highly myopic eyes with tessellation have thinner CT than do normal highly myopic eyes. CT may serve as an early pathologic predictor of high myopia.