bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water Body Semantic Information Description and Recognition Based on Multimodal Models
Authors: Lv Yalong , Tian Shengwei , Yu Long , Zhang Ruonan
Published: July 2019

To solve the problems from using single-layer features in traditional water body identification models, such as the lack of local descriptors, large quantization errors, and the lack of semantic information descriptions, a multimodal model is proposed based on the different levels of feature knowledge. First, based on the multidescriptor hierarchical feature, the middle-level local feature extraction of the water body is achieved, and, combined with the convolutional neural network, the high-order global features of the water body are extracted. Then, the image features are hierarchically normalized, and multimodal RBM self-encoding is used for fusion to reduce the quantization error of each layer feature in the encoding process. Finally, the generative model of the Multimodal Model is used to expand the data and filter the multilayered features after fusion. In addition, the semantic information of a water body is further discovered by using the encoder and decoder of the discriminant model and is classified by employing SoftMax. The results show that compared with the traditional water body identification methods, the proposed method improves the recognition accuracy and image description ability.
Establishing and quantifying the causal linkage between drainage and earthworks performance for Highways England
Authors: Lane Matt , Halstead Keith , Power Christopher , Spink Tim , Bailey Andy , Patterson David
Published: July 2019

Transportation infrastructure owners manage an array of different asset types such as bridges, road pavements, earthworks and drainage. Currently, most organization management procedures are siloed by asset type; however, there are important interactions between these asset groups that need to be managed in a cross-asset way. Although these interactions are known, there is little or no quantification of these interactions. For the first time, this paper quantifies that 74% of Highways England's earthwork failures are a result of drainage-related problems, either the lack of drainage infrastructure or the poor performance of it. The analysis undertaken is an important first step not only in moving towards more connected asset management planning for earthworks and drainage, but to also provide guidance for other owners of earthwork infrastructure assets to improve their strategic asset management procedures.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Ground-related risk to transportation infrastructure collection available at
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/Ground-related-risk-to-transportation-infrastructure
Tensor maps for synchronizing heterogeneous shape collections
Authors: Huang Qixing , Liang Zhenxiao , Wang Haoyun , Zuo Simiao , Bajaj Chandrajit
Published: July 2019

Establishing high-quality correspondence maps between geometric shapes has been shown to be the fundamental problem in managing geometric shape collections. Prior work has focused on computing efficient maps between pairs of shapes, and has shown a quantifiable benefit of joint map synchronization, where a collection of shapes are used to improve (denoise) the pairwise maps for consistency and correctness. However, these existing map synchronization techniques place very strong assumptions on the input shapes collection such as all the input shapes fall into the same category and/or the majority of the input pairwise maps are correct. In this paper, we present a multiple map synchronization approach that takes a heterogeneous shape collection as input and simultaneously outputs consistent dense pairwise shape maps. We achieve our goal by using a novel tensor-based representation for map synchronization, which is efficient and robust than all prior matrix-based representations. We demonstrate the usefulness of this approach across a wide range of geometric shape datasets and the applications in shape clustering and shape co-segmentation.
Efficient and conservative fluids using bidirectional mapping
Authors: Qu Ziyin , Zhang Xinxin , Gao Ming , Jiang Chenfanfu , Chen Baoquan
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we introduce BiMocq
2
, an unconditionally stable, pure Eulerianbased advection scheme to efficiently preserve the advection accuracy of all physical quantities for long-term fluid simulations. Our approach is built upon the method of characteristic mapping (MCM). Instead of the costly evaluation of the temporal characteristic integral, we evolve the mapping function itself by solving an advection equation for the mappings. Dual mesh characteristics (DMC) method is adopted to more accurately update the mapping. Furthermore, to avoid visual artifacts like instant blur and temporal inconsistency introduced by re-initialization, we introduce multi-level mapping and back and forth error compensation. We conduct comprehensive 2D and 3D benchmark experiments to compare against alternative advection schemes. In particular, for the vortical flow and level set experiments, our method outperforms almost all state-of-art hybrid schemes, including FLIP, PolyPic and Particle-Level-Set, at the cost of only two Semi-Lagrangian advections. Additionally, our method does not rely on the particle-grid transfer operations, leading to a highly parallelizable pipeline. As a result, more than 45× performance acceleration can be achieved via even a straightforward porting of the code from CPU to GPU.
Warp-and-project tomography for rapidly deforming objects
Authors: Zang Guangming , Idoughi Ramzi , Tao Ran , Lubineau Gilles , Wonka Peter , Heidrich Wolfgang
Published: July 2019

Computed tomography has emerged as the method of choice for scanning complex shapes as well as interior structures of stationary objects. Recent progress has also allowed the use of CT for analyzing deforming objects and dynamic phenomena, although the deformations have been constrained to be either slow or periodic motions.

In this work we improve the tomographic reconstruction of time-varying geometries undergoing faster, non-periodic deformations. Our method uses a warp-and-project approach that allows us to introduce an essentially continuous time axis where consistency of the reconstructed shape with the projection images is enforced for the specific time and deformation state at which the image was captured. The method uses an efficient, time-adaptive solver that yields both the moving geometry as well as the deformation field.

We validate our method with extensive experiments using both synthetic and real data from a range of different application scenarios.
Scalable muscle-actuated human simulation and control
Authors: Lee Seunghwan , Park Moonseok , Lee Kyoungmin , Lee Jehee
Published: July 2019

Many anatomical factors, such as bone geometry and muscle condition, interact to affect human movements. This work aims to build a comprehensive musculoskeletal model and its control system that reproduces realistic human movements driven by muscle contraction dynamics. The variations in the anatomic model generate a spectrum of human movements ranging from typical to highly stylistic movements. To do so, we discuss scalable and reliable simulation of anatomical features, robust control of under-actuated dynamical systems based on deep reinforcement learning, and modeling of pose-dependent joint limits. The key technical contribution is a scalable, two-level imitation learning algorithm that can deal with a comprehensive full-body musculoskeletal model with 346 muscles. We demonstrate the predictive simulation of dynamic motor skills under anatomical conditions including bone deformity, muscle weakness, contracture, and the use of a prosthesis. We also simulate various pathological gaits and predictively visualize how orthopedic surgeries improve post-operative gaits.
The face of art
Authors: Yaniv Jordan , Newman Yael , Shamir Ariel
Published: July 2019

Facial Landmark detection in natural images is a very active research domain. Impressive progress has been made in recent years, with the rise of neural-network based methods and large-scale datasets. However, it is still a challenging and largely unexplored problem in the artistic portraits domain. Compared to natural face images, artistic portraits are much more diverse. They contain a much wider style variation in both geometry and texture and are more complex to analyze. Moreover, datasets that are necessary to train neural networks are unavailable.

We propose a method for artistic augmentation of natural face images that enables training deep neural networks for landmark detection in artistic portraits. We utilize conventional facial landmarks datasets, and transform their content from natural images into "artistic face" images. In addition, we use a feature-based landmark correction step, to reduce the dependency between the different facial features, which is necessary due to position and shape variations of facial landmarks in artworks. To evaluate our landmark detection framework, we created an "Artistic-Faces" dataset, containing 160 artworks of various art genres, artists and styles, with a large variation in both geometry and texture. Using our method, we can detect facial features in artistic portraits and analyze their geometric style. This allows the definition of signatures for artistic styles of artworks and artists, that encode both the geometry and the texture style. It also allows us to present a geometric-aware style transfer method for portraits.
Variational implicit point set surfaces
Authors: Huang Zhiyang , Carr Nathan , Ju Tao
Published: July 2019

We propose a new method for reconstructing an implicit surface from an un-oriented point set. While existing methods often involve non-trivial heuristics and require additional constraints, such as normals or labelled points, we introduce a direct definition of the function from the points as the solution to a constrained quadratic optimization problem. The definition has a number of appealing features: it uses a single parameter (parameter-free for exact interpolation), applies to any dimensions, commutes with similarity transformations, and can be easily implemented without discretizing the space. More importantly, the use of a global smoothness energy allows our definition to be much more resilient to sampling imperfections than existing methods, making it particularly suited for sparse and non-uniform inputs.
Implicit untangling
Authors: Buffet Thomas , Rohmer Damien , Barthe Loïc , Boissieux Laurence , Cani Marie-Paule
Published: July 2019

We propose a robust method for untangling an arbitrary number of cloth layers, possibly exhibiting deep interpenetrations, to a collision-free state, ready for animation. Our method relies on an intermediate, implicit representation to solve the problem: the user selects a few garments stored in a library together with their implicit approximations, and places them over a mannequin while specifying the desired order between layers. The intersecting implicit surfaces are then combined using a new family of N-ary composition operators, specially designed for untangling layers. Garment meshes are finally projected to the deformed implicit surfaces in linear time, while best preserving triangles and avoiding loss of details.

Each of the untangling operators computes the target surface for a given garment in a single step, while accounting for the order between cloth layers and their individual thicknesses. As a group, they guarantee an intersection-free output configuration. Moreover, a weight can be associated with each layer to tune their relative influence during untangling, such as leather being less deformed than cloth. Results for each layer then reflect the combined effect of the other layers, enabling us to output a plausible configuration in contact regions. As our results show, our method can be used to generate plausible, new static shapes of garments when underwear has been added, as well as collision-free configurations enabling a user to safely launch animations of arbitrarily complex layered clothing.
Progressive embedding
Authors: Shen Hanxiao , Jiang Zhongshi , Zorin Denis , Panozzo Daniele
Published: July 2019

Tutte embedding is one of the most common building blocks in geometry processing algorithms due to its simplicity and provable guarantees. Although provably correct in infinite precision arithmetic, it fails in challenging cases when implemented using floating point arithmetic, largely due to the induced exponential area changes.

We propose
Progressive Embedding
, with similar theoretical guarantees to Tutte embedding, but more resilient to the rounding error of floating point arithmetic. Inspired by progressive meshes, we collapse edges on an invalid embedding to a valid, simplified mesh, then insert points back while maintaining validity. We demonstrate the robustness of our method by computing embeddings for a large collection of disk topology meshes.

By combining our robust embedding with a variant of the matchmaker algorithm, we propose a general algorithm for the problem of mapping multiply connected domains with arbitrary hard constraints to the plane, with applications in texture mapping and remeshing.
Semantic photo manipulation with a generative image prior
Authors: Bau David , Strobelt Hendrik , Peebles William , Wulff Jonas , Zhou Bolei , Zhu Jun-Yan , Torralba Antonio
Published: July 2019

Despite the recent success of GANs in synthesizing images conditioned on inputs such as a user sketch, text, or semantic labels, manipulating the high-level attributes of an existing natural photograph with GANs is challenging for two reasons. First, it is hard for GANs to precisely reproduce an input image. Second, after manipulation, the newly synthesized pixels often do not fit the original image. In this paper, we address these issues by adapting the image prior learned by GANs to image statistics of an individual image. Our method can accurately reconstruct the input image and synthesize new content, consistent with the appearance of the input image. We demonstrate our interactive system on several semantic image editing tasks, including synthesizing new objects consistent with background, removing unwanted objects, and changing the appearance of an object. Quantitative and qualitative comparisons against several existing methods demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
A null-scattering path integral formulation of light transport
Authors: Miller Bailey , Georgiev Iliyan , Jarosz Wojciech
Published: July 2019

Unbiased rendering of general, heterogeneous participating media currently requires using null-collision approaches for estimating transmittance and generating free-flight distances. A long-standing limitation of these approaches, however, is that the corresponding path pdfs cannot be computed due to the black-box nature of the null-collision rejection sampling process. These techniques therefore cannot be combined with other sampling techniques via multiple importance sampling (MIS), which significantly limits their robustness and generality. Recently, Galtier et al. [2013] showed how to derive these algorithms directly from the radiative transfer equation (RTE). We build off this generalized RTE to derive a
path integral
formulation of null scattering, which reveals the sampling pdfs and allows us to devise new, express existing, and combine complementary unbiased techniques via MIS. We demonstrate the practicality of our theory by combining, for the first time, several path sampling techniques in spatially and spectrally varying media, generalizing and outperforming the prior state of the art.
Perceptual rasterization for head-mounted display image synthesis
Authors: Friston Sebastian , Ritschel Tobias , Steed Anthony
Published: July 2019

We suggest a rasterization pipeline tailored towards the needs of HMDs, where latency and field-of-view requirements pose new challenges beyond those of traditional desktop displays. Instead of image warping for low latency, or using multiple passes for foveation, we show how both can be produced directly in a single perceptual rasterization pass. We do this with per-fragment ray-casting. This is enabled by derivations of tight space-time-fovea pixel bounds, introducing just enough flexibility for the requisite geometric tests, but retaining most of the simplicity and efficiency of the traditional rasterizaton pipeline. To produce foveated images, we rasterize to an image with spatially varying pixel density. To compensate for latency, we extend the image formation model to directly produce "rolling" images where the time at each pixel depends on its display location. Our approach overcomes limitations of warping with respect to disocclusions, object motion and view-dependent shading, as well as geometric aliasing artifacts in other foveated rendering techniques. A set of perceptual user studies demonstrates the efficacy of our approach.
Vibration-minimizing motion retargeting for robotic characters
Authors: Hoshyari Shayan , Xu Hongyi , Knoop Espen , Coros Stelian , Bächer Moritz
Published: July 2019

Creating animations for robotic characters is very challenging due to the constraints imposed by their physical nature. In particular, the combination of fast motions and unavoidable structural deformations leads to mechanical oscillations that negatively affect their performances. Our goal is to automatically transfer motions created using traditional animation software to robotic characters while avoiding such artifacts. To this end, we develop an optimization-based, dynamics-aware motion retargeting system that adjusts an input motion such that visually salient low-frequency, large amplitude vibrations are suppressed. The technical core of our animation system consists of a differentiable dynamics simulator that provides constraint-based two-way coupling between rigid and flexible components. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method through experiments performed on a total of five robotic characters including a child-sized animatronic figure that features highly dynamic drumming and boxing motions.
X-Shells
Authors: Panetta J. , Konaković-Luković M. , Isvoranu F. , Bouleau E. , Pauly M.
Published: July 2019

We present
X-shells
, a new class of deployable structures formed by an ensemble of elastically deforming beams coupled through rotational joints. An X-shell can be assembled conveniently in a flat configuration from standard elastic beam elements and then deployed through force actuation into the desired 3D target state. During deployment, the coupling imposed by the joints will force the beams to twist and buckle out of plane to maintain a state of static equilibrium. This complex interaction of discrete joints and continuously deforming beams allows interesting 3D forms to emerge. Simulating X-shells is challenging, however, due to unstable equilibria at the onset of beam buckling. We propose an optimization-based simulation framework building on a discrete rod model that robustly handles such difficult scenarios by analyzing and appropriately modifying the elastic energy Hessian. This real-time simulation method forms the basis of a computational design tool for X-shells that enables interactive design space exploration by varying and optimizing design parameters to achieve a specific design intent. We jointly optimize the assembly state and the deployed configuration to ensure the geometric and structural integrity of the deployable X-shell. Once a design is finalized, we also optimize for a sparse distribution of actuation forces to efficiently deploy it from its flat assembly state to its 3D target state. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our design approach with a number of design studies that highlight the richness of the X-shell design space, enabling new forms not possible with existing approaches. We validate our computational model with several physical prototypes that show excellent agreement with the optimized digital models.
Deep inverse rendering for high-resolution SVBRDF estimation from an arbitrary number of images
Authors: GAO DUAN , Li Xiao , Dong Yue , Peers Pieter , Xu Kun , Tong Xin
Published: July 2019

In this paper we present a unified deep inverse rendering framework for estimating the spatially-varying appearance properties of a planar exemplar from an arbitrary number of input photographs, ranging from just a single photograph to many photographs. The precision of the estimated appearance scales from plausible when the input photographs fails to capture all the reflectance information, to accurate for large input sets. A key distinguishing feature of our framework is that it directly optimizes for the appearance parameters in a latent embedded space of spatially-varying appearance, such that no handcrafted heuristics are needed to regularize the optimization. This latent embedding is learned through a fully convolutional auto-encoder that has been designed to regularize the optimization. Our framework not only supports an arbitrary number of input photographs, but also at high resolution. We demonstrate and evaluate our deep inverse rendering solution on a wide variety of publicly available datasets.
Compiler Support for the Fortran 2003, 2008, TS29113, and 2018 Standards Revision 26
Authors: Chivers Ian D. , Sleightholme Jane
Published: July 2019

This is a repeating article in Fortran Forum. The first version appeared in Fortran Forum in April 2007. It has been revised on a regular basis since.
Environmental Politics of Reproduction
Authors: Lappé Martine , Jeffries Hein Robbin , Landecker Hannah
Published: July 2019

What constitutes “human reproduction” is under negotiation as its biology, social nature, and cultural valences are increasingly perceived as bound up in environmental issues. This review maps the growing overlap between formerly rather separate domains of reproductive politics and environmental politics, examining three interrelated areas. The first is the emergence of an intersectional environmental reproductive justice framework in activism and environmental health science. The second is the biomedical delineation of the environment of reproduction and development as an object of growing research and intervention, as well as the marking off of early-life environments as an “exposed biology” consequential to the entire life span. Third is researchers’ critical engagement with the reproductive subject of environmental politics and the lived experience of reproduction in environmentally dystopic times. Efforts to rethink the intersections of reproductive and environmental politics are found throughout these three areas.
Development and Cell Biology of the Blood-Brain Barrier
Authors: Langen Urs H. , Ayloo Swathi , Gu Chenghua
Published: July 2019

The vertebrate vasculature displays high organotypic specialization, with the structure and function of blood vessels catering to the specific needs of each tissue. A unique feature of the central nervous system (CNS) vasculature is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB regulates substance influx and efflux to maintain a homeostatic environment for proper brain function. Here, we review the development and cell biology of the BBB, focusing on the cellular and molecular regulation of barrier formation and the maintenance of the BBB through adulthood. We summarize unique features of CNS endothelial cells and highlight recent progress in and general principles of barrier regulation. Finally, we illustrate why a mechanistic understanding of the development and maintenance of the BBB could provide novel therapeutic opportunities for CNS drug delivery.
Interneuron Types as Attractors and Controllers
Authors: Fishell Gord , Kepecs Adam
Published: July 2019

Cortical interneurons display striking differences in shape, physiology, and other attributes, challenging us to appropriately classify them. We previously suggested that interneuron types should be defined by their role in cortical processing. Here, we revisit the question of how to codify their diversity based upon their division of labor and function as controllers of cortical information flow. We suggest that developmental trajectories provide a guide for appreciating interneuron diversity and argue that subtype identity is generated using a configurational (rather than combinatorial) code of transcription factors that produce attractor states in the underlying gene regulatory network. We present our updated three-stage model for interneuron specification: an initial cardinal step, allocating interneurons into a few major classes, followed by definitive refinement, creating subclasses upon settling within the cortex, and lastly, state determination, reflecting the incorporation of interneurons into functional circuit ensembles. We close by discussing findings indicating that major interneuron classes are both evolutionarily ancient and conserved. We propose that the complexity of cortical circuits is generated by phylogenetically old interneuron types, complemented by an evolutionary increase in principal neuron diversity. This suggests that a natural neurobiological definition of interneuron types might be derived from a match between their developmental origin and computational function.
AP-1 Signaling by Fra-1 Directly Regulates HMGA1 Oncogene Transcription in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers
Authors: Tolza Claire , Bejjani Fabienne , Evanno Emilie , Mahfoud Samantha , Moquet-Torcy Gabriel , Gostan Thierry , Maqbool Muhammad Ahmad , Kirsh Olivier , Piechaczyk Marc , Jariel-Encontre Isabelle
Published: July 2019

The architectural chromatin protein HMGA1 and the transcription factor Fra-1 are both overexpressed in aggressive triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), where they both favor epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis. We therefore explored the possibility that Fra-1 might be involved in enhanced transcription of the HMGA1 gene in TNBCs by exploiting cancer transcriptome datasets and resorting to functional studies combining RNA interference, mRNA and transcriptional run-on assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and chromosome conformation capture approaches in TNBC model cell lines. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Fra-1 and HMGA1 expressions positively correlate in primary samples of patients with TNBC. Our functional studies showed that Fra-1 regulates HMGA1 mRNA expression at the transcriptional level via binding to enhancer elements located in the last two introns of the gene. Although Fra-1 binding is required for p300/CBP recruitment at the enhancer domain, this recruitment did not appear essential for Fra-1–stimulated HMGA1 gene expression. Strikingly, Fra-1 binding is required for efficient recruitment of RNA Polymerase II at the HMGA1 promoter. This is permitted owing to chromatin interactions bringing about the intragenic Fra-1–binding enhancers and the gene promoter region. Fra-1 is, however, not instrumental for chromatin loop formation at the HMGA1 locus but rather exerts its transcriptional activity by exploiting chromatin interactions preexisting to its binding.

Implications:

We demonstrate that Fra-1 bound to an intragenic enhancer region is required for RNA Pol II recruitement at the HMGA1 promoter. Thereby, we provide novel insights into the mechanisms whereby Fra-1 exerts its prooncogenic transcriptional actions in the TNBC pathologic context.
Plasma Ceramides and Sphingomyelins in Relation to Heart Failure Risk
Authors: Lemaitre Rozenn N. , Jensen Paul N. , Hoofnagle Andrew , McKnight Barbara , Fretts Amanda M. , King Irena B. , Siscovick David S. , Psaty Bruce M. , Heckbert Susan R. , Mozaffarian Dariush , Sotoodehnia Nona
Published: July 2019

Background:

Ceramides exhibit multiple biological activities that may influence the pathophysiology of heart failure. These activities may be influenced by the saturated fatty acid carried by the ceramide (Cer). However, the associations of different circulating Cer species, and their sphingomyelin (SM) precursors, with heart failure have received limited attention.

Methods and Results:

We studied the associations of plasma Cer and SM species with incident heart failure in the Cardiovascular Health Study. We examined 8 species: Cer and SM with palmitic acid (Cer-16 and SM-16), species with arachidic acid (Cer-20 and SM-20), species with behenic acid (Cer-22 and SM-22), and species with lignoceric acid (Cer-24 and SM-24). During a median follow-up of 9.4 years, we identified 1179 cases of incident heart failure among 4249 study participants. In Cox regression analyses adjusted for risk factors, higher levels of Cer-16 and SM-16 were associated with higher risk of incident heart failure (hazard ratio for one SD increase:1.25 [95% CI, 1.16–1.36] and 1.28 [1.18–1.40], respectively). In contrast, higher levels of Cer-22 were associated with lower risk of heart failure in multivariable analyses further adjusted for Cer-16 (hazard ratio, 0.85 [0.78–0.92]); and higher levels of SM-20, SM-22 and SM-24 were associated with lower risk of heart failure in analyses further adjusted for SM-16 (hazard ratios, 0.83 [0.77–0.90], 0.81 [0.75–0.88], and 0.83 [0.77–0.90], respectively). No statistically significant interactions with age, sex, black race, body mass index, or baseline coronary heart disease were detected. Similar associations were observed for heart failure with preserved (n=529) or reduced (n=348) ejection fraction.

Conclusions:

This study shows associations of higher plasma levels of Cer-16 and SM-16 with increased risk of heart failure and higher levels of Cer-22, SM-20, SM-22, and SM-24 with decreased risk of heart failure.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00005133.
Guideline-Based Referral for Septal Reduction Therapy in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Is Associated With Excellent Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kimmelstiel Carey , Zisa David C. , Kuttab Johny S. , Wells Sophie , Udelson James E. , Wessler Benjamin S. , Rastegar Hassan , Kapur Navin K. , Weintraub Andrew R. , Maron Barry J. , Maron Martin S. , Rowin Ethan J.
Published: July 2019

Background:

The outcome of medically refractory patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treated according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association consensus guideline recommendations is not known. The objectives of this study were to define the short- and long-term outcomes of medically refractory obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients undergoing alcohol septal ablation (ASA) and surgical septal myectomy (SM) with patient management in accordance with these consensus guidelines, as well as to quantify procedural risk and burden of comorbid conditions at the time of treatment.

Methods and Results:

Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy referred for either ASA or SM from 2004 to 2015 were followed for the primary end point of short- and long-term mortality and compared with respective age- and sex-matched US populations. Of 477 consecutive severely symptomatic patients, 99 underwent ASA and 378 SM. Compared with SM, ASA patients were older (
P
<0.001), had a higher burden of comorbid conditions (
P
<0.01), and significantly higher predicted surgical mortality (
P
<0.005). Procedure-related mortality was 0.3% and similarly low in both groups (0% in ASA and 0.8% in SM). Over 4.0±2.9 years of follow-up, 95% of patients had substantial improvement in heart failure symptoms to New York Heart Association class I/II (96% in SM and 90% in ASA). Long-term mortality was similar between the 2 groups with no difference compared with age- and sex-matched US populations.

Conclusions:

Guideline-based referral for ASA and SM leads to excellent outcomes with low procedural mortality, excellent long-term survival, and improvement in symptoms. These outcomes occur in ASA patients despite being an older cohort with significantly more comorbidities.
Michigan Stroke Transitions Trial
Authors: Reeves Mathew J. , Fritz Michele C. , Woodward Amanda T. , Hughes Anne K. , Coursaris Constantinos K. , Swierenga Sarah J. , Nasiri Mojdeh , Freddolino Paul P.
Published: July 2019

Background:

To test whether access to home-based social worker–led case management (SWCM) program or SWCM program combined with a website providing stroke-related information improves patient-reported outcomes in patients with stroke, relative to usual care.

Methods and Results:

The MISTT (Michigan Stroke Transitions Trial), an open (unblinded) 3-group parallel-design clinical trial, randomized 265 acute patients with stroke to 3 treatment groups: Usual Care (group-1), SWCM (group-2), and SWCM+MISTT website (group-3). Patients were discharged directly home or returned home within 4 weeks of discharge to a rehabilitation facility. The SWCM program provided in-home and phone-based case management services. The website provided patient-orientated information covering stroke education, prevention, recovery, and community resources. Both interventions were provided for up to 90 days. Outcomes data were collected by telephone at 7 and 90 days. Primary patient-reported outcomes included Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global-10 Quality-of-Life (Physical and Mental Health subscales) and the Patient Activation Measure. Treatment efficacy was determined by comparing the change in mean response (90 days minus 7 days) between the 3 treatment groups using a group-by-time interaction. Subjects were aged 66 years on average, 49% were female, 21% nonwhite, and 86% had ischemic stroke. There were statistically significant changes in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health (
P
=0.003) and Patient Activation Measure (
P
=0.042), but not Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Mental Health (
P
=0.56). The mean change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health scores for group-3 (SWCM+MISTT Website) was significantly higher than both group-2 (SWCM; difference, +2.4; 95% CI, 0.46–4.34;
P
=0.02) and group-1 (usual care; difference, +3.4; 95% CI, 1.41–5.33;
P
<0.001). The mean change in Patient Activation Measure scores for group-3 was significantly higher than group-2 (+6.7; 95% CI, 1.26–12.08;
P
=0.02) and marginally higher than group-1 (+5.0; 95% CI, −0.47 to 10.52;
P
=0.07).

Conclusions:

An intervention that combined SWCM with access to online stroke-related information produced greater gains in patient-reported physical health and activation compared with usual care or case management alone. There was no intervention effect on mental health.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02653170.
External Validation of the ELAN‐HF Score, Predicting 6‐Month All‐Cause Mortality in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Salah Khibar , Stienen Susan , Moons Andreas H. M. , Bakx Adrianus L. M. , van Pol Petra E. , Kortz R. A. Mikael , Ferreira João Pedro , Marques Irene , Schroeder‐Tanka Jutta M. , Keijer Jan T. , Bayes‐Genis Antoni , Pinto Yigal M. , Tijssen Jan G. , Kok Wouter E.
Published: July 2019

Background

Our aim was to calibrate and externally revalidate the ELAN‐HF (European Collaboration on Acute Decompensated Heart Failure) score, to confirm and improve on a previous external validation of the risk score.

Methods and Results

The ELAN‐HF score predicts 6‐month all‐cause mortality in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure using absolute and percentage change of NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide) levels in addition to clinical variables. For the external validation, we used the PRIMA II (Can NT‐proBNP–Guided Therapy During Hospital Admission for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Reduce Mortality and Readmissions?) trial. For both data sets, observed versus predicted mortality was compared for the 4 risk categories; and the mean predicted mortality was plotted against the observed mortality with calculation of a correlation coefficient and SEE. The model discriminant ability was determined by comparing the C‐statistics for both data sets. The predicted versus actual 6‐month mortality values in the derivation cohort were 3.7% versus 3.6% for the low‐risk category, 9.4% versus 9.2% for the intermediate‐risk category, 24.2% versus 23.5% for the high‐risk category, and 54.2% versus 51.1% for the very‐high‐risk category. The correlation between predicted and observed mortality by deciles was 0.92, with an SEE of ±4%. In the validation cohort, predicted versus actual 6‐month mortality values were 3.0% versus 2.2% for the low‐risk category, 9.4% versus 8.2% for the intermediate‐risk category, 25.0% versus 22.9% for the high‐risk category, and 56.8% versus 53.6% for the very‐high‐risk category. The correlation between predicted and actual mortality by quintiles was 0.99, with an SEE of ±2%. There was no significant difference in C‐statistic between the derivation cohort (0.78; 95% CI, 0.74–0.82) and the validation cohort (0.77; 95% CI, 0.69–0.84;
P
=0.693).

Conclusions

Our study confirms that the ELAN‐HF score predicts accurately 6‐month mortality in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure with the use of easily obtained characteristics.
Vertical Grammar of Biblical Hebrew Parallelism: The AXX’B Pattern in Tetracolons
Authors: Tsumura David Toshio
Published: July 2019

In Hebrew poetry, a vertical grammatical relation between two parallel lines can be noted in bicolons such as Ps 18:42. One can also recognize the vertical grammar between the first and the last lines of a tetracolon, in such passages as Amos 1:5, Job 12:24-25, 2 Sam 3:33b-34c, Ps 89:36-37, and 2 Sam 7:22. In this pattern, the AXX’B pattern, the middle two lines are a bicolon (XX’) inserted into another bicolon (AB). In this article I focus on the vertical grammatical relationship between line A and line B, which constitute either a simple sentence or a complex sentence in the Hebrew text.
Reading and Running: Notes on the History of Translating the Final Clause of Hab 2:2
Authors: Renz Thomas
Published: July 2019

The final clause of Hab 2:2 which originally may have referred to the confident proclamation of the message by those who read it was rendered in the LXX and Vulgate in ways which to interpreters in antiquity suggested quick understanding. But the Vulgate could also be read as a reference to being able to scan the text quickly or easily and this has become a prominent understanding of the clause. It is found in many modern translations across a variety of languages. Luther imagined a scenario in which the text was written in such large letters that even someone running past could read it. This novel understanding has persisted in some corners and is reflected in a number of translations. It is an indefensible variant of the view that the text refers to fluent reading, a view which is itself questionable but possible.
‘Take Up Your Cross’: Public Theology between Populism and Pluralism in the Post-Migrant Context
Authors: Schmiedel Ulrich
Published: July 2019

As of 1 June 2018, the symbol of the cross has to be shown in all state offices of Bavaria in Germany. In order to chart the churches’ reaction, I return to a conversation that Robert N. Bellah and Martin E. Marty had during the 1960s and the 1970s. Drawing on the core concepts of this conversation, I analyze and assess today’s cross controversy as a case of what I call the ‘populist predicament’. I argue that Marty’s programme of public theology provides a path out of the populist predicament because it combines the celebration and the critique of identity. Ultimately, I advocate for a pluralist position of public theology in the post-migrant context.
Religious Innovation under Fatimid Rule: Jewish and Muslim Rites in Eleventh-Century Jerusalem
Authors: Talmon-Heller Daniella , Frenkel Miriam
Published: July 2019

This paper describes religious innovations introduced by Muslims in the (arguably) holy month of Rajab, and by Jews on the High Holidays of the month of Tishrei, in eleventh-century Jerusalem. Using a comparative perspective, and grounding analysis in the particular historical context of Fatimid rule, it demonstrates how the convergence of sacred space and sacred time was conducive to “religious creativity.” The Muslim rites (conducted on al-Ḥaram al-Sharīf / the Temple Mount) and the Jewish rites (on the Mount of Olives) shared a particular concern with the remission of sins and supplication on behalf of others, and a cosmological world view that envisioned Jerusalem as axis mundi. The Jewish rite was initiated “from above” by the political-spiritual leadership of the community, was dependent on Fatimid backing, and was inextricably tied to specific sites. The Muslim rite sprang “from below” and spread far, to be practiced in later periods all over the Middle East.
The Mass Conversion of 1495 in South Italy and its Precedents: a Comparative Approach
Authors: Zeldes Nadia
Published: July 2019

Forced mass conversions were relatively rare in the Middle Ages but they have a central place in both medieval narratives and modern historiography. A distinction should be made between conversions ordered by Christian rulers, and pressure to convert coming from popular elements. Some well-known examples of the first category are the baptism ordered by the Visigothic rulers in Spain and the forced conversion of the Jews in Portugal. The mass conversion of the Jews of the kingdom of Naples in 1495 belongs to the second category.

The article proposes to analyze the causes leading to the outbursts of violence against Jews in 1495 and the resulting mass conversions by making use of primary sources such as contemporary Italian and Hebrew chronicles, rabbinic responsa, and Sicilian material. Finally it proposes a comparison with other events of mass conversion, and principally that of 1391 in Castile and Aragon.
Comparative morphology of the seminal receptacles of Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) (Brachyura, Ocypodoidea)
Authors: LÓPEZ-GRECO LAURA S. , FRANSOZO VÍVIAN , NEGREIROS-FRANSOZO MARIA LUCIA , SANTOS DANIELA CARVALHO DOS
Published: July 2019

The seminal receptacles of the Eubrachyura are an ecto-mesodermic differentiation of the genital ducts where the spermatophores are stored and fertilization takes place. The position in which the oviduct is connected to the seminal receptacles varies among species and two types, dorsal and ventral, can be distinguished. The dorsal type is frequently observed in the “soft mating system” species, while the ventral one is usually related to the “hard mating system” species. The seminal receptacles (SR) of Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) are paired, spherical and opalescent structures with a ventral connection to the oviduct and without any differences between the two members of the pair. The SR present macroscopic features that resemble other semi-terrestrial species of Ocypodoidea and Grapsoidea, but some histological characters resemble more aquatic species such as the Majoidea. The mesodermic portion of the SR is delimited by a cubic-flat secretor epithelium with three layers of muscular cells and surrounded externally by a simple capsule of conjunctive tissue. The transition between the mesodermic and the ectodermic areas is abrupt and characterized by a folded epithelium resembling that described for some Majoidea and the presence of a high cuticular layer. Only free spermatozoa were found, but no differentiated spermatophore packages or spermatophores.
Revision of the Botanophila helviana species group (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in Europe
Authors: MICHELSEN VERNER
Published: July 2019

Species of the Botanophila helviana species group are small, blackish anthomyiids known from temperate to subarctic (northern/elevated) parts of the Holarctic Region. Adult flies are anthophilous, obtaining pollen and nectar from various flowering plants. Preliminary evidence suggests that the larvae may attack developing seed heads of Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). The male and female terminalia are very characteristic and support the monophyly of the species group. Further evidence for this is provided by the peculiar structure of their prestomal teeth. A taxonomic revision of the European species with illustrated descriptions and an identification key to males and females is given. The following six species are treated: Botanophila helviana Michelsen, 1983, B. kitadakeana Suwa, 1998 and the new species B. minuta (Norway, Sweden), B. nigra (Norway, Finland and Sweden), B. peristeriensis (Greece) and B. saliciphila (Spain).
New records of crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura) from the New Zealand region, including a new species of Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875 (Majidae), and a revision of the genus Dromia Weber, 1795 (Dromiidae)
Authors: McLAY COLIN L.
Published: July 2019

Seven species and two families previously unknown from New Zealand are recorded: Dynomene pilumnoides Alcock, 1900, Metadynomene tanensis (Yokoya, 1933) (Dynomenidae new to New Zealand); Pseudopalicus undulatus Castro, 2000 (Palicidae); Mursia microspina Davie & Short, 1989 (Calappidae new to New Zealand); Ovalipes elongatus Stephenson & Rees, 1968, Thalamita danae Stimpson, 1858, (Portunidae); Percnon planissimum (Herbst, 1804) (Plagusiidae); Ontogenetic morphological changes in Nectocarcinus antarcticus (Portunidae) are described. The southern limit for Pseudopalicus undulatus is extended from Fiji to New Zealand and the depth limit from 410 m to more than 560 m. A checklist of Brachyura recorded from the Kermadec Is is also updated. The genus Dromia Weber, 1795 (Dromiidae) is revised and restricted to the Atlantic Ocean (6 species) and Metadromia gen. nov. and Tumidodromia gen. nov., are erected for Indo-West Pacific species previously included in Dromia sensu lato. A new species of Rochinia (Epialtidae) is described from the Rumble V seamount. The stridulatory ridges on the chelipeds of Ocypode (Ocypodidae), important for identification, are shown to be sexually dimorphic: males have more striae than females. A single specimen of O. pallidula is reported from the Leigh Marine Reserve where it may have been accidentally released.
Taxonomy and biology of European Heptamelini (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae, Selandriinae)
Authors: VIKBERG VELI , LISTON ANDREW D.
Published: July 2019

Three European species are treated in this paper: two species of Heptamelus Haliday, 1855 and one Pseudoheptamelus Conde, 1932. Keys are provided for adults, and larvae as far as known. Heptamelus dahlbomi (Thomson, 1870) sp. rev. is re-described and compared with H. ochroleucus (Stephens, 1835). A neotype for H. ochroleucus is designated. Distribution in Western and Central Europe is similar, but H. dahlbomi is more frequent than H. ochroleucus on cultivated ferns. The species introduced to North America previously identified as H. ochroleucus is H. dahlbomi. Heptamelus larvae are endophytic in petioles of ferns. The larva of Pseudoheptamelus runari Conde, 1932, feeds exophytically on Athyrium filix-femina, favouring rachis and dead tissue of pinnae. Features of its morphology and behaviour are described.
A new species of Leuctridae discovered by means of molecular and biochemical approaches: Tyrrhenoleuctra antoninoi n. sp. (Insecta: Plecoptera)
Authors: FOCHETTI ROMOLO , DE FIGUEROA JOSÉ MANUEL TIERNO
Published: July 2019

A new species of Tyrrhenoleuctra from the Balearic Islands, T. antoninoi sp. n., is described on the basis of molecular and biochemical characters. Recent biochemical and molecular analysis clearly demonstrates the distinctness of this species. We describe its relatedness to other species in the genus. We also refer all specimens from the Balearic Islands previously assigned to T. minuta to T. antoninoi. As with all Tyrrhenoleuctra species, T. antoninoi shows marked phenotypic plasticity, presumably due to the variability inherent in temporary streams in which it inhabits.