bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triggers and decision‐making patterns for receiving total knee arthroplasty among older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Hsu Kuo‐Yao , Tsai Yun‐Fang , Yeh Wen‐Ling , Chen Dave W. , Chen Ching‐Yen , Wang Yi‐Wen
Published: June 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore triggers of and decision‐making patterns for older adults with knee osteoarthritis to receive total knee arthroplasty.

Background

Older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain are often reluctant to undergo total knee arthroplasty until their physical health and psychological health have deteriorated. This delay may lead to poor long‐term outcomes after the surgery. Thus, it is important to help these older adults decide to undergo total knee arthroplasty in an appropriate time frame.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study.

Methods

Older adult outpatients scheduled to receive total knee arthroplasty within 1 month (N = 79) were recruited by convenience from two medical centres and one regional hospital in northern Taiwan. Data were collected in individual interviews using a semistructured guide and analysed by thematic analysis.

Results

The main triggers for older adults to receive total knee arthroplasty were severe pain and inability to walk. We identified four decision‐making patterns for undergoing total knee arthroplasty: tried everything to relieve pain and surgery was the last choice; previously received total knee arthroplasty; perceived oneself as still young and wanted to enjoy life; and adjusted work characteristics, but in vain.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers of older patients with knee osteoarthritis must carefully assess their characteristics, especially age, occupation and previous total knee arthroplasty, to guide them in deciding to undergo total knee arthroplasty. Clinicians also need to provide appropriate information about osteoarthritis care, pain medications, total knee arthroplasty, the relationship between knee osteoarthritis pain and quality of life, as well as the relationship between preoperative status and postoperative long‐term outcomes for older adults to maintain their quality of life.

Relevance to clinical practice

Our findings provide evidence for healthcare providers to offer information and support to their older adult patients with knee‐osteoarthritis pain who are deciding whether to undergo total knee arthroplasty.
“I don't think we've quite got there yet”: The experience of allyship for mental health consumer researchers
Authors: Happell Brenda , Scholz Brett , Gordon Sarah , Bocking Julia , Ellis Pete , Roper Cath , Liggins Jackie , Platania‐Phung Chris
Published: June 2018

Accessible summary

What is known of the subject

Consumer participation in mental health services is an expectation articulated through mental health policy.

Consumers as researchers could contribute significantly to mental health services. Barriers to participation are significant and limit consumer involvement.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge

Enhanced understandings of collaborative relationships between consumer and nonconsumer researchers.

Researchers from the health disciplines find value in consumer involvement in mental health research.

These researchers can support and facilitate consumer research by being allies to consumer researchers.

What are the implications for practice

Understanding the role of allies is necessary to strengthen their capacity to support consumer researchers.

Involving consumers in mental health research is likely to lead to improved practice.

Introduction

Australia and New Zealand mental health policy requires consumer participation in all aspects of mental health services. Systemic participation informs and improves the quality of mental health services. Collaboration with consumer researchers should be similarly required. Enhanced understandings of collaborations are needed.

Aim

To enhance understanding of the perspectives and experiences of nonconsumer researchers in working collaboratively with consumers as researchers.

Method

This qualitative exploratory study involved interviews with nonconsumer mental health researchers who have worked collaboratively with consumers in research. Interviews were conducted with participants from Australia and New Zealand.

Results

“Allyship” emerged as a major theme. This describes nonconsumer researchers playing an actively supportive role to facilitate opportunities for the development and growth of consumer research roles and activities. Seven subthemes were identified: establishing and supporting roles, corralling resources, guiding navigation of university systems, advocacy at multiple levels, aspiring to coproduction and consumer‐led research, extending connections and partnerships, and desire to do better.

Discussion

Allyship may have an important role to play in the broader consumer research agenda and requires further consideration.

Implications for practice

Embedding meaningful consumer participation within mental health services requires active consumer involvement in research. Allies can play an important facilitative role.
The Role of Individual Factors in Friendship Formation: Considering Shyness, Self‐Esteem, Social Skills, and Defensive Pessimism
Authors: Shimizu Haruka , Nakashima Ken'ichiro , Morinaga Yasuko
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of four individual factors (shyness, self‐esteem, social skills, and defensive pessimism) on the formation of friendships among undergraduate students. Freshmen (N = 93) completed a questionnaire assessing their shyness, self‐esteem, social skills, and level of defensive pessimism. Then, they answered questions about interpersonal indices (number of friends, satisfaction with friendships, their willingness to continue relationships, and their feelings of interpersonal friction). After 3 months, they completed a questionnaire about their anxiety state and behavior when talking with the people they had met since university admission. Moreover, they discussed the interpersonal indices they used in a pre‐questionnaire. Path analysis indicated that shyness directly leads to having fewer friends, whereas social skills lead to having more friends through extroversive behavior. Moreover, self‐esteem was positively related to an increase in the willingness to continue relationships, and reflection and pessimistic thinking (which is one component of defensive pessimism) led to a feeling of being fatigued from the effort of considering and respecting the reactions of others.
Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and its metabolite florfenicol amine in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) at three temperatures after one single intramuscular injection
Authors: Yang Fan , Yang Fang , Kong Tao , Wang Guoyong , Bai Dongying , Liu Baobao
Published: June 2018

The pharmacokinetic profiles of florfenicol (FF) or florfenicol amine (FFA) in crucian carp were compared at different water temperatures after single intramuscular administration of FF at 10 mg/kg bodyweight. The concentrations of FF and FFA were determined by a high‐performance liquid chromatography method, and then, the concentration versus time data were subjected to compartmental analysis using a one‐compartment open model. At the water temperatures of 10, 20, and 25°C, the peak concentrations (Cmaxs) of FF were 2.28, 2.29, and 2.34 μg/ml, respectively, while those of FFA were 0.42, 0.71, and 0.82 μg/ml, respectively. And the absorption half‐life (t1/2ka) of FF was 0.21, 0.19, and 0.21 hr, while the elimination half‐life (t1/2kel) was 31.66, 24.77, and 21.48 hr, respectively. For FFA, the formation half‐life (t1/2kf) was 3.85, 8.97, and 12.43 hr, while the t1/2kel was 58.34, 30.27, and 21.22 hr, respectively. The results presented here demonstrated that the water temperature had effects on the elimination of both FF and FFA and the formation of FFA. Based on the T > MIC values calculated here, to treat the infections of bacterial with MIC value ≤ 0.5 μg/ml, FF intramuscularly given at 10 mg/kg bodyweight with a 72‐hr interval is sufficient at the water temperature of 10°C, while the intervals of 60 and 48 hr were needed at 20 and 25°C, respectively. But to treat bacterial with higher MIC values, more FF or FF at 10 mg/kg BW but with shorter intervals should be intramuscularly given to the infected fish.
Recruitment drives successional changes in the community‐level leaf mass per area in a winter‐deciduous broad‐leaf forest
Authors: Suzuki Satoshi N. , Hirao Toshihide
Published: June 2018

Aims

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is an important functional trait that can be measured in order to position a species along the resource acquisition–conservation continuum. However, the function of LMA in terms of shade tolerance in deciduous species remains controversial; therefore, how the community‐level LMA composition changes during forest succession is not clear in forests dominated by deciduous trees. Herein, we examined how the community‐level LMA changes during succession in winter‐deciduous broad‐leaf forests using long‐term data of stem dynamics along a secondary successional chronosequence.

Location

Cool temperate forests, central Japan.

Methods

We used tree census data from 15 permanent plots with a stand age range of 17–81 years at the initial census, in which measurements were taken for 25 or 30 years at 5‐ or 10‐year intervals. Species‐specific LMAs were measured in the same geographic region.

Results

Species‐specific LMAs were negatively correlated with the estimated year in which the species was most abundant during the secondary succession, suggesting that species with low LMAs have high shade tolerance. Consistent with this, the CWM of LMA gradually decreased during secondary succession. We found that the recruitment of late successional species with low LMA, especially at mid‐successional stages, drove changes in the CWM of LMA, while mortality occurred irrespective of LMA.

Conclusion

Our results illustrate the detailed dynamic processes of the community‐level composition of LMA across succession and demonstrate that tree recruitment contributes to increase in the CWM of LMA during the secondary succession of winter‐deciduous broad‐leaf forests.
Labour Unions and Firm Productivity: Evidence from China
Authors: Yang Chih‐Hai , Tsou Meng‐Wen
Published: June 2018

This study investigates the effect of labour unions on productivity across various types of firm ownership in China. Using a panel dataset of Chinese manufacturing firms covering 2004–2007 and employing propensity score matching techniques, we find that unions have a negative impact on labour productivity and total factor productivity. From a dynamic viewpoint, unionisation has an initially positive or nonsignificant association with productivity, but then has a significant negative effect in subsequent years for both foreign‐owned enterprises and private firms. A strong and negative productivity effect is consistently observed for state‐owned enterprises.
Effectiveness of interventions to control screen use and children's sleep, cognitive and behavioral outcomes: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Martin Katie , Porritt Kylie , Aromataris Edoardo
Published: June 2018

Review questions
Time-Based Modeling of Ship Ballasting for Increased Performance
Authors: Fry Dominik
Published: June 2018

Ship ballasting and de-ballasting are critical to a ship’s stability, and a major part of ship and port operations. Here, we examine the current procedures and potential issues that can arise when a quick turnaround in port is required. Through time-based modeling of the ship’s systems, new methods were used to analyze the feasibility of each scenario as well as ensure the systems were operating optimally. After rigorous testing, a new approach was developed to decrease time in port, increase system reliability/safety, and improve overall efficiency.

Paper published with permission.
Re-Classing Existing SAT Diving Systems
Authors: Totten Jess G.
Published: June 2018

In the current low oil cost environment, dive contractors are exploring the possibility of reactivating existing systems rather than building new. In addition to classing ships and platforms, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) also classes saturation diving systems. In this paper, the Author describes the basic division of ABS into Engineering and Survey sides, and provides background on the ABS Underwater Rules and the ASME PVHO Standard. The author discusses obtaining a class certificate for a SAT system and then outlines the process for returning a previously classed system to class, and the process for classing an existing unclassed system.

Paper published with permission.
Surgically-Managed Supraventricular Tachycardia in a Division II Men’s Basketball Player
Authors: Holzberger Kelly L. , Keeley Kim , Donahue Martin
Published: June 2018

During practice, a 25-year-old Division II men’s basketball player reported lightheadedness, blurry vision, and that his heart was “racing”. After his heart rate was recorded above 240 bpm on two occasions, the athlete was referred for further evaluation. An electrophysiologist diagnosed the patient with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The condition was corrected using a catheter radiofrequency ablation and the athlete returned to play 5 weeks after his first presentation of signs and symptoms. The referral, diagnostic, treatment, and return-to-play processes demonstrated in this case represent the successful use of interprofessional practice to manage an athlete with SVT.
Rural Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Recognition and Management of Acute Lateral Ankle Sprains: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Vallandingham Robert , Winkelmann Zachary , Eberman Lindsey , Games Kenneth
Published: June 2018

The management of an acute lateral ankle sprain (LAS) affects long-term outcomes, which highlights the need for assessment of practice at the point of care. The purpose of this retrospective chart review was to examine the management strategies for acute LAS as documented in a secondary school’s electronic medical records (EMR) over 2 years. Patient charts noting a LAS diagnosis (n = 107) were identified from the EMR. Most charts indicated palpation and anterior drawer test performance. Cryotherapy (82%) and compression (55%) varied in use. Therapeutic rehabilitation and return-to-activity testing were underreported. Overall, clinical management of acute LAS may not align with best available evidence.
Nonelastic and Kinesio Tex Tapes Improve Perceived Stability But Not Postural Control in Participants With Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Cline Jason , Thomas Fenwick Abbey , Turner Tricia , Arthur Susan , Wikstrom Erik A.
Published: June 2018

The development of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is common following a lateral ankle sprain. Taping using nonelastic and Kinesio Tex (KT) tapes remain popular treatment strategies. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if KT tape improves static and dynamic postural control relative to nonelastic tape and a control condition. Twenty-four participants completed all three conditions. No immediate improvements in postural control were noted in either taping condition. Both nonelastic and KT tape improved perceived stability relative to the control condition. In conclusion, nonelastic and KT tape should not be used to immediately improve postural control in CAI participants.
Effect of Vitamin D on Muscle Function and Injury in Elite Adolescent Dancers: A Randomized Double-Blind Study
Authors: Wyon Matthew A. , Wolman Roger , Kolokythas Nicolas , Sheriff Karen , Galloway Shaun , Mattiussi Adam
Published: June 2018

Purpose:A number of studies have noted low levels of vitamin D in dancers, and this has been associated with increased risk of injuries and decreased muscle-strength indices. The aim of the present study was to examine whether vitamin D supplementation over a 4-mo period can improve muscle function and injury incidence.Methods:A total of 84 participants volunteered; exclusion criteria and dropout (19%) reduced the cohort to 67 participants (females = 29 and males = 38; 17–19 y). Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention or placebo group (2∶1 ratio). All provided a venous blood sample before and after the 4-mo study period. The intervention group received 120,000 IU vitamin D to be taken over a 1-wk period, and the placebo group received the same number of inert pills. Participants completed a series of muscle function tests before and after the monitoring period. Injury incidence was recorded by the independent health team at the school.Results:Preintervention, 6% of the cohort were vitamin D deficient, 81% were insufficient, and 13% had sufficient levels; postintervention, 53% were insufficient and 47% were sufficient. The intervention group reported a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D3(57%;P < .00) and isometric strength (7.8%;P = .022) but not muscle power. There was a significant association between traumatic injury occurrence for the intervention and control groups (10.9% vs 31.8%;P < .02).Conclusion:Vitamin D supplementation decreased the numbers of deficient and insufficient participants in this cohort. The intervention group reported a small significant increase in muscle strength that was negatively associated with traumatic injury occurrence.
Effects of a Short Daytime Nap on Shooting and Sprint Performance in High-Level Adolescent Athletes
Authors: Suppiah Haresh T. , Low Chee Yong , Choong Gabriel , Chia Michael
Published: June 2018

Purpose: To investigate the sport-specific performance effect of a brief afternoon nap on high-level Asian adolescent student-athletes who were habitually short sleepers. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to a nap or nonnap (reading) condition. In the first study, 12 male shooters (13.8 [1.0] y) performed a shooting assessment (20 competition shots) with heart-rate variability monitored during the assessment. In the second study, 19 male track-and-field athletes (14.8 [1.1] y) performed a 20-m sprint-performance assessment. Subjective measures of sleepiness and alertness were obtained in both studies. Results: The brief nap had no effect on any measure of shooting performance (P > .05) or autonomic function (P > .05) in shooters. However, the fastest 20-m sprint times increased significantly (P < .05) from 3.385 (0.128) s to 3.411 (0.143) s, with mean 2-m times trending toward significance (P < .1) among the track-and-field athletes. No significant differences were observed in any other measures. Conclusions: The results of the research indicate varying effects of naps between sport-specific performance measures. Napping had no effect on shooting performance, whereas a negative effect existed in 20-m sprint performance, potentially due to sleep inertia. Considering these findings, some caution is warranted when advocating naps for adolescent athletes.
Gain-of-Function Analysis Reveals Important Virulence Roles for the Yersinia pestis Type III Secretion System Effectors YopJ, YopT, and YpkA
Authors: Palace Samantha G. , Proulx Megan K. , Szabady Rose L. , Goguen Jon D.
Published: June 2018

Virulence of
Yersinia pestis
in mammals requires the type III secretion system, which delivers seven effector proteins into the cytoplasm of host cells to undermine immune responses. All seven of these effectors are conserved across
Y. pestis
strains, but three, YopJ, YopT, and YpkA, are apparently dispensable for virulence.
Novel Immunoprotective Proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae Identified by Opsonophagocytosis Killing Screen
Authors: Wang Yang , Wen Zhensong , Pan Xiaolei , Briles David E. , He Yongqun , Zhang Jing-Ren
Published: June 2018

The success of polysaccharide conjugate vaccines represents a major advance in the prevention of pneumococcal disease, but the power of these vaccines is limited by partial spectrum of coverage and high cost. Vaccines using immunoprotective proteins are a promising alternative type of pneumococcal vaccines.
Deinococcus radiodurans HD-Pnk, a Nucleic Acid End-Healing Enzyme, Abets Resistance to Killing by Ionizing Radiation and Mitomycin C
Authors: Schmier Brad J. , Shuman Stewart
Published: June 2018

End healing is a process whereby nucleic acid breaks with “dirty” 3′-PO
4
or 2′,3′-cyclic-PO
4
and 5′-OH ends are converted to 3′-OH and 5′-PO
4
termini that are amenable to downstream repair reactions.
Deinococcus radiodurans
is resistant to massive doses of ionizing radiation (IR) that generate hundreds of dirty DNA double-strand breaks and thousands of single-strand breaks. This study highlights
Deinococcus
HD-Pnk as a bifunctional 3′- and 5′-end-healing enzyme that helps protect against killing by IR. HD-Pnk appears to act late in the process of post-IR recovery, subsequent to genome reassembly from shattered fragments. HD-Pnk also contributes to resistance to killing by mitomycin C. These findings are significant in that they establish a role for end-healing enzymes in bacterial DNA damage repair.
Clinical Evaluation of the iCubate iC-GPC Assay for Detection of Gram-Positive Bacteria and Resistance Markers from Positive Blood Cultures
Authors: Granato Paul A. , Unz Melissa M. , Widen Raymond H. , Silbert Suzane , Young Stephen , Heflin Kathryn L. , Conover Matt S. , Buchan Blake W. , Ledeboer Nathan A.
Published: June 2018

The iC-GPC Assay (iCubate, Huntsville, AL) is a qualitative multiplex test for the detection of five of the most common Gram-positive bacteria (
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Staphylococcus epidermidis
,
Streptococcus pneumoniae
,
Enterococcus faecalis
, and
Enterococcus faecium
) responsible for bacterial bloodstream infections, performed directly from positive blood cultures. The assay also detects the presence of the
mecA
,
vanA
, and
vanB
resistance determinants.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Infection Induces both eIF2α Phosphorylation-Dependent and -Independent Host Translation Shutoff
Authors: Li Yang , Fang Liurong , Zhou Yanrong , Tao Ran , Wang Dang , Xiao Shaobo
Published: June 2018

Viruses are obligate parasites, and the production of progeny viruses relies strictly on the host translation machinery. Therefore, the efficient modulation of host mRNA translation benefits viral replication, spread, and evolution. In this study, we provide evidence that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection induces host translation shutoff and that the viral nonstructural protein nsp2 is associated with this process. Many viruses induce host translation shutoff by phosphorylating eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α). However, PRRSV nsp2 does not induce eIF2α phosphorylation but attenuates the mTOR signaling pathway, another pathway regulating the host cell translational machinery. We also found that PRRSV-induced host translation shutoff was partly reversed by eliminating the effects of eIF2α phosphorylation or reactivating the mTOR pathway, indicating that PRRSV infection induces both eIF2α phosphorylation-dependent and -independent host translation shutoff.
The Unique Phylogenetic Position of a Novel Tick-Borne Phlebovirus Ensures an Ixodid Origin of the Genus
Phlebovirus
Authors: Matsuno Keita , Kajihara Masahiro , Nakao Ryo , Nao Naganori , Mori-Kajihara Akina , Muramatsu Mieko , Qiu Yongjin , Torii Shiho , Igarashi Manabu , Kasajima Nodoka , Mizuma Keita , Yoshii Kentaro , Sawa Hirofumi , Sugimoto Chihiro , Takada Ayato , Ebihara Hideki
Published: June 2018

The emergence of novel tick-borne RNA viruses causing severe illness in humans has complicated the epidemiological landscape of tick-borne diseases, requiring further investigation to safeguard public health. In the present study, we discovered a novel tick-borne phlebovirus from
Ixodes persulcatus
ticks in Japan. While its viral RNA genome sequences were similar to those of mosquito/sandfly-borne viruses, molecular and biological footprints confirmed that this is a tick-borne virus. The unique evolutionary position of the virus allowed us to estimate the ancestral phlebovirus vector, which was likely a hard tick. Our findings may provide a better understanding of the evolution and emergence of phleboviruses associated with emerging infectious diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and Heartland virus disease.
Automated monitoring and assessment of productivity in earthmoving projects
Authors: Salem Ashraf , Moselhi Osama
Published: June 2018

Continuous monitoring of productivity and assessment of its variations are crucial processes that significantly contribute to success of earthmoving projects. Numerous factors may lead to productivity variations. However, these factors are subjectively identified using manual knowledge-based expert judgment. Such manual recognition process is not only subject to errors but also time-consuming. There is a lack of research work that focuses on near real-time assessment of productivity variation and its effect on cost, schedule and effective utilization of resources in earthmoving projects. This paper presents a customized multi-source automated data acquisition model that acquires data from a variety of wireless sensing technologies. The acquired multi-sensor data are transmitted to a central MySQL database. Then a newly developed data fusion algorithm is applied for truck state recognition, and hence the duration of each earthmoving state. Multi-sensor data fusion facilitates measurement of actual productivity, and consequently the assessment of productivity ratios that support continuous monitoring of productivity variation in earthmoving operations. The developed tracking and monitoring model generates an early warning that supports proactive decisions to avoid schedule delays, cost overruns, and inefficient depletion of resources. A case study is used to reveal the applicability of the proposed model in monitoring and assessing actual productivity and its deviations from planned productivity. Finally, results are discussed and conclusions are drawn highlighting the features of the proposed model.
Methylene blue alleviates endothelial dysfunction and reduces oxidative stress in aortas from diabetic rats
Authors: Privistirescu Andreea I. , Sima Alexandra , Duicu Oana M. , Timar Romulus , Roșca Mariana G. , Sturza Adrian , Muntean Danina M.
Published: June 2018

Endothelial dysfunction and the related increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are important events in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus (DM). Methylene blue (MB) has been systematically investigated for its protective effects against refractory hypotension and mitochondrial dysfunction. We have previously demonstrated that MB improved mitochondrial respiration and partially decreased oxidative stress in diabetic rat hearts. The present study was aimed to investigate whether MB modulates vascular function and ROS production in thoracic aortic rings isolated from rats with streptozotocin-induced DM (after 4 weeks of hyperglycemia). The effects of MB (0.1 μM, 30 min ex vivo incubation) on vascular reactivity in organ chamber (phenylephrine-induced contraction, acetylcholine-induced relaxation) and H2O2production (assessed by ferrous iron xylenol orange oxidation assay) were investigated in vascular preparations with intact endothelium and after denudation. DM elicited a significant alteration of vascular function: increased contractility to phenylephrine, attenuation of acetylcholine-dependent relaxation, and augmented H2O2generation. Ex vivo incubation with MB partially reversed all these changes (by approximately 70%) in vascular segments with intact endothelial layer (but not in denuded vessels). In conclusion, MB might be useful in alleviating endothelial dysfunction and mitigating endothelial oxidative stress, observations that clearly require further investigation in the setting of cardiometabolic disease.
Holographic entanglement entropy, complexity, fidelity susceptibility and hierarchical UV/IR mixing problem in AdS2/open strings
Authors: Bamba Kazuharu , Momeni Davood , Al Ajmi Mudhahir
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we will compute the holographic complexity (dual to a volume in AdS), holographic fidelity susceptibility and the holographic entanglement entropy (dual to an area in AdS) in a two-dimensional version of AdS which is dual to open strings. We will explicitly demonstrate that these quantities are well defined, and then argue that a relation for fidelity susceptibility and time should hold in general due to the AdS2 version of the classical Kepler’s principle. We will demonstrate that it holds for AdS2 solution as well as conformal copies metrics in bulk theory of a prescribed dual conformal invariant quantum mechanics which have been obtained in open string theory. We will also show that hierarchical UV/IR mixing exists in boundary string theory through the holographic bulk picture.
Integrating planning and reactive behavior by using semantically annotated robot tasks
Authors: Schierl Andreas , Hoffmann Alwin , Nägele Ludwig , Reif Wolfgang
Published: June 2018

Tasks that change the physical state of a robot and its environment take a considerable amount of time to execute. However, many robot applications spend the execution time waiting, although the following tasks might require time to prepare. This paper proposes to amend robot tasks with a semantic description of their expected outcomes, which allows planning and preparing successive tasks based on this information. The suggested approach allows sequential and parallel compositions of tasks, as well as reactive behavior modeled as state machines. The paper describes the means of modeling and executing these tasks, details different possibilities of planning in state-machine tasks and evaluates the benefits achievable using the approach on two example scenarios.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative: An Overview of Developments
Authors: Goh Sui Noi
Published: June 2018

China’s ambitious initiative to build infrastructure in dozens of countries along land and sea trade routes stretching from China to Africa and Europe is set to grow bigger than first envisaged in 2013. Added to the original overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is the Polar Silk Road, now written into China’s Arctic Policy that was published in January 2018. The China-centric initiative also got itself written into the Chinese Communist Party’s constitution in October 2017, leading many outside China to view it as more than an economic plan to build infrastructure to facilitate trade and boost development in developing countries. Foreign observers see it also as a scheme to expand China’s influence overseas by binding other nations more closely to it economically. That there is demand for the infrastructure that the Chinese want to build is unquestionable — in Asia alone, to keep the economies humming, there is a need to invest US$1.7 trillion annually in infrastructure up till 2030. However, the security and financial risks of this venture are daunting to investors as the routes run through some of the riskiest countries in the world. The situation is not helped by suspicion over China’s intentions and concerns about the lack of transparency and whether tender processes meet international standards. China needs to listen to and allay the concerns of governments, corporations and international organizations to gain their support and participation in this project that is so massive it cannot pull off alone.
Compositional balance analysis for geochemical pattern recognition and anomaly mapping in the western Junggar region, China
Authors: Liu Yue , Zhou Kefa , Carranza Emmanuel John M.
Published: June 2018

The western Junggar region of China is endowed with considerable resources of gold, copper and chromite. Complex geological conditions and diversity deposit types could lead to various geochemical patterns and geochemical anomalies. In this study, compositional balance analysis (CoBA) is demonstrated for recognition of geochemical patterns and mapping geochemical anomalies that are closely associated with gold/copper/chromite mineralization and particular geological units in the western Junggar region. Here, CoBA was based on hierarchical cluster analysis and sequential binary partition technique, which provides a new path for intuitively distinguishing particular relationships between groups of parts that are of interest. To recognize anomalous patterns in stream sediment geochemical data that are closely associated with mineralization, 18 geochemical elements were used to construct 17 balances by means of the CoBA method, of which four key balances were selected for further investigation. Relevant geological information (e.g. mineral deposit occurrences) provides important references for interpreting and validating the results. By comparison of geochemical patterns of the square roots of Au and Cu concentrations with that of factor scores, the results indicate that the CoBA method provides straightforward and robust interpretation of stream sediment geochemical data by suppressing background patterns and enhancing anomalous patterns in the western Junggar, China.
Alluvial fan shifts and stream captures driven by extensional tectonics in central Italy
Authors: Mirabella Francesco , Bucci Francesco , Santangelo Michele , Cardinali Mauro , Caielli Grazia , De Franco Roberto , Guzzetti Fausto , Barchi Massimiliano R.
Published: June 2018

Subsidence over the last 0.78 myr of a basin in central Italy bounded by a normal fault caused the deactivation and uplift of an Early–Middle Pleistocene alluvial fan at the fault footwall. Uplift of the fan occurred with a basin-bounding fault slip-rate of the order of 0.2 mm a
−1
. Subsidence resulted in the reorganization of the river network due to a fall in base level, which triggered headward erosion, stream piracy effects and drainage inversion. The mapped river inversions and catchment piracy were related to the distribution of a quantile regression of 134 alluvial fans v. basin areas. Despite the fact that the two parameters were well fitted by a power law relationship, all the fans corresponding to the captured rivers lay above the regression line (in the fan area field), whereas those corresponding to the capturing rivers were below the regression line (in the basin area field). We propose a general model of alluvial fan growth in active extensional settings that helps to interpret this scatter of fan v. basin area distribution and to identify the most active fault segments. Such an approach can better constrain fault activity in a time window that bridges long-term deformation and the present day deformation inferred from geodesy and/or seismology, increasing our understanding of the steadiness/unsteadiness behaviour of faults.
A comparison of small strain stiffness in till as measured by seismic refraction and barometric loading response
Authors: Kelly R. M. G. , Bergamo P. , Hughes D. A. B. , Donohue S. , Barbour S. L. , Lynch K.
Published: June 2018

Soil stiffness can vary over several orders of magnitude depending on the actual range of strain imposed by testing, or as a result of operational strains in geotechnical structures. Soil stiffness changes rapidly with strain level at low strain levels (0.01–0.1%) and the variation with strain is not linear. Characterization of the
in situ
small strain stiffness of stiff soils is important in geotechnical design; however, analyses of the mechanical behaviour of these soils is confounded by stiffness values that vary with strain level.

Stiff till cuttings are susceptible to progressive failure as a result of strain softening. As a consequence, the evolution of stiffness during progressive failure is both a key parameter in characterizing pre-failure slope deformations and a key diagnostic of softening. Changes in strength (due to softening) should be reflected in commensurate temporal and spatial changes in stiffness; consequently, real-time,
in situ
measurements of stiffness would better define the progression of softening.

Seismic surveys, which create small compression and shear strains, have been used to estimate
in situ
small strain elastic moduli. These spatially extensive measurements can be correlated to temporal variations in stiffness from the monitoring of barometric loading efficiency. In this latter method, the pore pressure response of a grouted (sealed) piezometer to barometric pressure fluctuations is used to measure the compressibility (stiffness) of the formation. This article summarizes the results of field trials within a cutting in stiff till in Northern Ireland in which these two techniques were used to characterize small strain stiffness.
Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the SE Mediterranean passive margin, offshore Egypt and Libya
Authors: Jagger Lydia J. , Bevan Tim G. , McClay Ken R.
Published: June 2018

The regional tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the offshore SE Mediterranean passive margin is evaluated using detailed 2D seismic interpretations. New models for the development of the margin are proposed in the context of the break-up of northern Gondwana and the subsequent evolution of the southern Neotethys Ocean. The SE Mediterranean margin is segmented into distinct rift and transform-dominated tectonic domains as a consequence of multiple phases of rifting and continental break-up during the Middle Triassic–Middle Jurassic (
c.
240–170 Ma) and the Late Jurassic–Mid-Cretaceous (
c.
145–93 Ma), controlled by reactivation of pre-existing Pan-African basement fabrics and shear zones in varying regional stress fields. The pre-existing basement-involved extensional fault systems were repeatedly reactivated during major phases of inversion in the late Santonian–Maastrichtian (
c.
84–65 Ma) and Middle–Late Eocene (
c.
49–37 Ma) and episodes of mild inversion during the Oligocene–Early Pleistocene, as a consequence of the convergence of the African–Arabian and Eurasian plates and closure of the Neotethys oceans. The inversion history was fundamentally controlled by the structure and along-strike segmentation of the margin inherited from Neotethyan rifting.
High-pressure granulite from Jixian, Eastern Hebei, the North China Craton: implications for Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic collision tectonics
Authors: Wang Chao , Song Shuguang , Allen Mark B. , Su Li , Wei Chunjing
Published: June 2018

Precambrian high-pressure (HP) granulites provide important information for reconstructing ancient continental nuclei. Here we report granulites in Eastern Hebei, North China Craton (NCC). They experienced three metamorphic events related to Neoarchean–early Paleoproterozoic orogenesis. The garnet–clinopyroxene granulite defines the M
1
event at
P–T
conditions of 11–13 kbar and 780–830°C, while the two-pyroxene granulite was produced during the M
2
event at 7–9 kbar and 850–950°C. Both the garnet–clinopyroxene and two-pyroxene granulites experienced amphibolite retrogression during the M
3
event at 5–7 kbar and 710–730°C. Geochemical compositions of these granulites exhibit affinity to island-arc andesites. Zircon U–Pb dating shows that their magmatic precursors were erupted at
c.
2538 Ma, and have experienced two-stage growth of zircon rims at
c.
2458 and
c.
2285 Ma, respectively. The
c.
2458 Ma age may represent orogenic events during the amalgamation of micro-continental blocks of the eastern NCC, and the
c.
2285 Ma age may be interpreted as the effect of late Paleoproterozoic magmatism. We suggest that the Neoarchean andesitic protoliths of the granulites were metamorphosed at HP granulite-facies conditions during collision of micro-continental blocks, and then exhumed to shallow levels. These early Paleoproterozoic HP granulites recorded the amalgamation of micro-continental blocks to reach the cratonization of the eastern NCC.
Technical Privacy Metrics
Authors: Wagner Isabel , Eckhoff David
Published: June 2018

The goal of privacy metrics is to measure the degree of privacy enjoyed by users in a system and the amount of protection offered by privacy-enhancing technologies. In this way, privacy metrics contribute to improving user privacy in the digital world. The diversity and complexity of privacy metrics in the literature make an informed choice of metrics challenging. As a result, instead of using existing metrics, new metrics are proposed frequently, and privacy studies are often incomparable. In this survey, we alleviate these problems by structuring the landscape of privacy metrics. To this end, we explain and discuss a selection of over 80 privacy metrics and introduce categorizations based on the aspect of privacy they measure, their required inputs, and the type of data that needs protection. In addition, we present a method on how to choose privacy metrics based on nine questions that help identify the right privacy metrics for a given scenario, and highlight topics where additional work on privacy metrics is needed. Our survey spans multiple privacy domains and can be understood as a general framework for privacy measurement.
Toolflows for Mapping Convolutional Neural Networks on FPGAs
Authors: Venieris Stylianos I. , Kouris Alexandros , Bouganis Christos-Savvas
Published: June 2018

In the past decade, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in various Artificial Intelligence tasks. To accelerate the experimentation and development of CNNs, several software frameworks have been released, primarily targeting power-hungry CPUs and GPUs. In this context, reconfigurable hardware in the form of FPGAs constitutes a potential alternative platform that can be integrated in the existing deep-learning ecosystem to provide a tunable balance between performance, power consumption, and programmability. In this article, a survey of the existing CNN-to-FPGA toolflows is presented, comprising a comparative study of their key characteristics, which include the supported applications, architectural choices, design space exploration methods, and achieved performance. Moreover, major challenges and objectives introduced by the latest trends in CNN algorithmic research are identified and presented. Finally, a uniform evaluation methodology is proposed, aiming at the comprehensive, complete, and in-depth evaluation of CNN-to-FPGA toolflows.
Measuring Software Process
Authors: Meidan Ayman , García-García Julián A. , Ramos Isabel , Escalona María José
Published: June 2018

Context: Measurement is essential to reach predictable performance and high capability processes. It provides support for better understanding, evaluation, management, and control of the development process and project, as well as the resulting product. It also enables organizations to improve and predict its process's performance, which places organizations in better positions to make appropriate decisions. Objective: This study aims to understand the measurement of the software development process, to identify studies, create a classification scheme based on the identified studies, and then to map such studies into the scheme to answer the research questions. Method: Systematic mapping is the selected research methodology for this study. Results: A total of 462 studies are included and classified into four topics with respect to their focus and into three groups based on the publishing date. Five abstractions and 64 attributes were identified, 25 methods/models and 17 contexts were distinguished. Conclusion: capability and performance were the most measured process attributes, while effort and performance were the most measured project attributes. Goal Question Metric and Capability Maturity Model Integration were the main methods and models used in the studies, whereas agile/lean development and small/medium-size enterprise were the most frequently identified research contexts.
Extreme-Scale High-Order WENO Simulations of 3-D Detonation Wave with 10 Million Cores
Authors: Cai Ying , Ao Yulong , Yang Chao , Ma Wenjing , Zhao Haitao
Published: June 2018

High-order stencil computations, frequently found in many applications, pose severe challenges to emerging many-core platforms due to the complexities of hardware architectures as well as the sophisticated computing and data movement patterns. In this article, we tackle the challenges of high-order WENO computations in extreme-scale simulations of 3D gaseous waves on Sunway TaihuLight. We design efficient parallelization algorithms and present effective optimization techniques to fully exploit various parallelisms with reduced memory footprints, enhanced data reuse, and balanced computation load. Test results show the optimized code can scale to 9.98 million cores, solving 12.74 trillion unknowns with 23.12 Pflops double-precision performance.
DNA Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Sensors for Nucleic Acids
Authors: Ferapontova Elena E.
Published: June 2018

Sensitive, specific, and fast analysis of nucleic acids (NAs) is strongly needed in medicine, environmental science, biodefence, and agriculture for the study of bacterial contamination of food and beverages and genetically modified organisms. Electrochemistry offers accurate, simple, inexpensive, and robust tools for the development of such analytical platforms that can successfully compete with other approaches for NA detection. Here, electrode reactions of DNA, basic principles of electrochemical NA analysis, and their relevance for practical applications are reviewed and critically discussed.
In situ type I oligomeric collagen macroencapsulation promotes islet longevity and function in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Stephens Clarissa Hernandez , Orr Kara S. , Acton Anthony J. , Tersey Sarah A. , Mirmira Raghavendra G. , Considine Robert V. , Voytik-Harbin Sherry L.
Published: June 2018

Widespread use of pancreatic islet transplantation for treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is currently limited by requirements for long-term immunosuppression, limited donor supply, and poor long-term engraftment and function. Upon isolation from their native microenvironment, islets undergo rapid apoptosis, which is further exacerbated by poor oxygen and nutrient supply following infusion into the portal vein. Identifying alternative strategies to restore critical microenvironmental cues, while maximizing islet health and function, is needed to advance this cellular therapy. We hypothesized that biophysical properties provided through type I oligomeric collagen macroencapsulation are important considerations when designing strategies to improve islet survival, phenotype, and function. Mouse islets were encapsulated at various Oligomer concentrations (0.5 –3.0 mg/ml) or suspended in media and cultured for 14 days, after which viability, protein expression, and function were assessed. Oligomer-encapsulated islets showed a density-dependent improvement in in vitro viability, cytoarchitecture, and insulin secretion, with 3 mg/ml yielding values comparable to freshly isolated islets. For transplantation into streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, 500 islets were mixed in Oligomer and injected subcutaneously, where rapid in situ macroencapsulation occurred, or injected with saline. Mice treated with Oligomer-encapsulated islets exhibited rapid (within 24 h) diabetes reversal and maintenance of normoglycemia for 14 (immunocompromised), 90 (syngeneic), and 40 days (allogeneic). Histological analysis showed Oligomer-islet engraftment with maintenance of islet cytoarchitecture, revascularization, and no foreign body response. Oligomer-islet macroencapsulation may provide a useful strategy for prolonging the health and function of cultured islets and has potential as a subcutaneous injectable islet transplantation strategy for treatment of T1D.