bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoscale evidence for temperature-induced transient rheology and postseismic fault healing
Authors: Ault A.K. , Jensen J.L. , McDermott R.G. , Shen F.-A. , Van Devener B.R.
Published: October 2019

Friction-generated heat and the subsequent thermal evolution control fault material properties and thus strength during the earthquake cycle. We document evidence for transient, nanoscale fault rheology on a high-gloss, light-reflective hematite fault mirror (FM). The FM cuts specularite with minor quartz from the Pleistocene El Laco Fe-ore deposit, northern Chile. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy data reveal that the FM volume comprises a <50-μm-thick zone of polygonal hematite nanocrystals with spherical silica inclusions, rhombohedral twins, no shape or crystallographic preferred orientation, decreasing grain size away from the FM surface, and FM surface magnetite nanoparticles and Fe2+ suboxides. Sub–5-nm-thick silica films encase hematite grains and connect to amorphous interstitial silica. Observations imply that coseismic shear heating (temperature >1000 °C) generated transiently amorphous, intermixed but immiscible, and rheologically weak Fe-oxide and silica. Hematite regrowth in a fault-perpendicular thermal gradient, sintering, twinning, and a topographic network of nanometer-scale ridges from crystals interlocking across the FM surface collectively restrengthened fault material. Results reveal how temperature-induced weakening preconditions fault healing. Nanoscale transformations may promote subsequent strain delocalization and development of off-fault damage.
Discovery of a 400 km2 honeycomb structure mimicking a regional unconformity on three-dimensional seismic data
Authors: Riera Rosine , Bourget Julien , Paumard Victorien , Wilson Moyra E.J. , Shragge Jeffrey , George Annette D. , Borgomano Jean , Wilson Thomas
Published: October 2019

Recognition of seismic unconformities is crucial for interpreting basin history from seismic reflection data sets in both siliciclastic and carbonate settings. While it is well established that non-erosional changes in sedimentary facies can create seismic reflections that mimic seismic unconformities (i.e., pseudo-unconformities), these features are generally considered to be localized and uncommon, and, therefore, are largely overlooked during interpretation. Diagenetic alteration of strata can also affect the morphology of seismic reflectors and mislead seismic interpreters. This study is based on a three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data set and documents a 400 km2 honeycomb structure (HS) masquerading as a regional erosional unconformity in the Oligocene–Miocene carbonate strata of Australia’s North West Shelf. This HS is located at the transition between the topsets and the foresets of clinoforms of carbonate to marly composition. The HS expression in 3-D seismic data cross sections is irregular, giving the HS the appearance of a truncated surface that could erroneously be interpreted as a regional seismic unconformity. Closer examination reveals that the HS crosscuts chronostratigraphic clinoform reflectors, and frequency extraction processing shows that the HS dominantly falls within a lower-frequency band than the clinoform reflectors. The morphology of the HS (i.e., continuous with densely packed cells) and its time-transgressive nature suggest that it has a burial diagenetic origin. This suggests that creation of pseudo-unconformities at basin scale by burial diagenesis may lead to surface misidentification, with negative consequences for paleoenvironmental studies and petroleum exploration activities.
The Bayan Obo (China) giant REE accumulation conundrum elucidated by intense magmatic differentiation of carbonatite
Authors: Yang Kuifeng , Fan Hongrui , Pirajno Franco , Li Xiaochun
Published: October 2019

The Bayan Obo deposit in China is endowed with the largest rare earth element (REE) resource in the world. The mechanism resulting in this REE enrichment has been the focus of many studies. Carbonatite is known globally as the most favorable carrier of REE ores. In the Bayan Obo deposit, REE ores are hosted in dolomites (including coarse-grained and fine-grained varieties), and many carbonatite dikes (ferroan, magnesian, and calcic) have been identified. All of the dolomites and carbonatite dikes appear to be broadly coeval and possess similar geochemical characteristics. The Sm-Nd isochron age of apatite (1317 ± 140 Ma) from coarse-grained dolomite is consistent with the Th-Pb age of monazite (1321 ± 14 Ma) from a calciocarbonatite dike. The εNd(t) values and initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios at 1.3 Ga of apatite from coarse-grained dolomite show a tight cluster between −2.5 and +1.0 and between 0.70266 and 0.70293, respectively. The δ18OVSMOW values (relative to Vienna standard mean ocean water) of apatite also vary narrowly from 5.0‰ to 6.2‰. These results are consistent with primary mantle-derived carbonatite and prove a magmatic origin for the ore-hosting dolomite. Furthermore, the rim and core texture of dolomite and calcite in the magnesian and calcic carbonatite dikes shows that carbonatite at Bayan Obo has an evolutionary sequence from ferroan through magnesian to calcic in nature. There is a clear negative correlation between the iron content and REE concentration in different stages of carbonatite. Intense magmatic differentiation of carbonatite is likely the critical factor for the giant REE accumulation.
Self-harm presentation across healthcare settings by sex in young people: an e-cohort study using routinely collected linked healthcare data in Wales, UK
Authors: Marchant Amanda , Turner Samantha , Balbuena Lloyd , Peters Evyn , Williams Dave , Lloyd Keith , Lyons Ronan , John Ann
Published: October 2019

Background

This study used individual-level linked data across general practice, emergency departments (EDs), outpatients and hospital admissions to examine contacts across settings and time by sex for self-harm in individuals aged 10–24 years old in Wales, UK.

Methods

A whole population-based e-cohort study of routinely collected healthcare data was conducted. Rates of self-harm across settings over time by sex were examined. Individuals were categorised based on the service(s) to which they presented.

Results

A total of 937 697 individuals aged 10–24 years contributed 5 369 794 person years of data from 1 January 2003 to 30 September 2015. Self-harm incidence was highest in primary care but remained stable over time (incident rate ratio (IRR)=1.0; 95% CI 0.9 to 1.1). Incidence of ED attendance increased over time (IRR=1.3; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.5) as did hospital admissions (IRR=1.4; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.6). Incidence in the 15–19 years age group was the highest across all settings. The largest increases were seen in the youngest age group. There were increases in ED attendances for both sexes; however, females are more likely than males to be admitted following this. This was most evident in individuals 10–15 years old, where 76% of females were admitted compared with just 49% of males. The majority of associated outpatient appointments were under a mental health specialty.

Conclusions

This is the first study to compare self-harm in people aged 10–24 years across primary care, EDs and hospital settings in the UK. The high rates of self-harm in primary care and for young men in EDs highlight these as important settings for intervention.
Postnatally acquired cytomegalovirus infection in extremely premature infants: how best to manage?
Authors: Kadambari Seilesh , Whittaker Elizabeth , Lyall Hermione
Published: October 2019

Postnatal cytomegalovirus (pCMV) infection is a common viral infection typically occurring within the first months of life. pCMV refers to postnatal acquisition of CMV rather than postnatal manifestations of antenatal or perinatal acquired CMV. pCMV is usually asymptomatic in term infants, but can cause symptomatic disease in preterm (gestational age <32 weeks) and very low birth weight (<1500 g) infants resulting in sepsis, pneumonia, thrombocytopaenia, neutropaenia, hepatitis, colitis and occasionally death. There are significant uncertainties regarding the management of premature infants with pCMV disease which is in part due to our limited understanding of the natural history of this disease. This review describes the current epidemiology and clinical manifestations of pCMV disease which should alert clinicians to test for CMV and also outlines a strategy to manage the condition.
Perspectives of adolescent and young adults on poverty-related stressors: a qualitative study in Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania
Authors: Hall Brian J , Garabiles Melissa R , de Hoop Jacobus , Pereira Audrey , Prencipe Leah , Palermo Tia M
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To define key stressors experienced and coping behaviours within poor agrarian communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design

Descriptive qualitative study incorporating inductive thematic analysis.

Participants

81 participants purposely sampled, stratified by age (adolescents and young adults) and sex

Setting

The study was conducted in villages in Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Results

Stressors were thematically grouped into those directly related to poverty and the lack of basic necessities (eg, food insecurity), and additional stressors (eg, drought) that worsen poverty-related stress. Impacts on functioning, health and well-being and key coping behaviours, both positive and negative, were identified. The findings together inform a more nuanced view of stress within these contexts.

Conclusion

Although participants were asked to provide general reflections about stress in their community, the salience of poverty-related stressors was ubiquitously reflected in respondents’ responses. Poverty-related stressors affect development, well-being and gender-based violence. Future research should focus on interventions to alleviate poverty-related stress to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Impact of a modified progressive Copenhagen adduction exercise programme on hip adduction strength and postexercise muscle soreness in professional footballers
Authors: Polglass George , Burrows Adam , Willett Matthew
Published: October 2019

Background

Reduced hip adduction strength has been identified as a key predisposing factor in developing hip and groin injuries. The Copenhagen adduction programme has been shown to increase hip adduction strength in semiprofessional footballers but can cause muscle soreness. Therefore, a modified progressive Copenhagen adduction (MPCA) programme has been designed to increase hip adduction strength while limiting muscle soreness.

Objective

To investigate the effect of an 8-week MPCA exercise on eccentric hip adduction and abduction strength in senior professional footballers.

Methods

25 senior professional footballers completed an 8-week MPCA strengthening programme. Eccentric hip adduction (EHAD) and eccentric hip abduction (EHAB) strengths were measured. Changes in preintervention and postintervention strengths and EHAD:EHAB ratios were calculated. The statistical significance between strength changes was assessed with dependent t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests due to the distribution of the data (p<0.05). Delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and rate of perceived exertion were measured throughout the programme.

Results

There were statistically significant increases in EHAD strength (24% and 25%, left and right), EHAB strength (10% and 13%, left and right) and the EHAD:EHAB ratio (12% and 10%, left and right) (p<0.01).

Professional footballers were able to complete the MPCA exercise with low levels of DOMS.

Conclusion

An 8-week MPCA exercise elicited significant EHAD and EHAB strength increases with reduced levels of muscle soreness in senior professional footballers.
Geographic disparities in cancer screening and fatalism among a nationally representative sample of US adults
Authors: Moss Jennifer L , Ehrenkranz Rebecca , Perez Lilian G , Hair Brionna Y , Julian Anne K
Published: October 2019

Background

Cancer screening in the USA is suboptimal, particularly for individuals living in vulnerable communities. This study aimed to understand how rurality and racial segregation are independently and interactively associated with cancer screening and cancer fatalism.

Methods

We used data from a nationally representative sample of adults (n=17 736) from National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey, 2011–2017, including cancer screening (colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate) among eligible participants and cancer fatalism. These data were linked to county-level metropolitan status/rurality (US Department of Agriculture) and racial segregation (US Census). We conducted multivariable analyses of associations of geographic variables with screening and fatalism.

Results

Breast cancer screening was lower in rural (92%, SE=1.5%) than urban counties (96%, SE=0.5%) (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.52, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.87). Colorectal cancer screening was higher in highly segregated (70%, SE=1.0%) than less segregated counties (65%, SE=1.7%) (aOR=1.28, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.58). Remaining outcomes did not vary by rurality or segregation, and these variables did not interact in their associations with screening or fatalism.

Conclusion

Similar to previous studies, breast cancer screening was less common in rural areas. Contrary to expectations, colorectal cancer screening was higher in highly segregated counties. More research is needed on the influence of geography on cancer screening and beliefs, and how access to facilities or information may mediate these relationships.
Worth living or worth dying? The views of the general public about allowing disabled children to die
Authors: Brick Claudia , Kahane Guy , Wilkinson Dominic , Caviola Lucius , Savulescu Julian
Published: October 2019

Background

Decisions about withdrawal of life support for infants have given rise to legal battles between physicians and parents creating intense media attention. It is unclear how we should evaluate when life is no longer worth living for an infant. Public attitudes towards treatment withdrawal and the role of parents in situations of disagreement have not previously been assessed.

Methods

An online survey was conducted with a sample of the UK public to assess public views about the benefit of life in hypothetical cases similar to real cases heard by the UK courts (eg, Charlie Gard, Alfie Evans). We then evaluated these public views in comparison with existing ethical frameworks for decision-making.

Results

One hundred and thirty participants completed the survey. The majority (94%) agreed that an infant’s life may have no benefit when well-being falls below a critical level. Decisions to withdraw treatment were positively associated with the importance of use of medical resources, the infant’s ability to have emotional relationships, and mental abilities. Up to 50% of participants in each case believed it was permissible to either continueorwithdraw treatment.

Conclusion

Despite the controversy, our findings indicate that in the most severe cases, most people agree that life is not worth living for a profoundly disabled infant. Our survey found wide acceptance of at least the permissibility of withdrawal of treatment across a range of cases, though also a reluctance to overrule parents’ decisions. These findings may be useful when constructing guidelines for clinical practice.
Accelerated lung function decline in an aluminium manufacturing industry cohort exposed to PM2.5: an application of the parametric g-formula
Authors: Neophytou Andreas M , Costello Sadie , Picciotto Sally , Noth Elizabeth M , Liu Sa , Lutzker Liza , Balmes John R , Hammond Katharine , Cullen Mark R , Eisen Ellen A
Published: October 2019

Objective

Occupational dust exposure has been associated with accelerated lung function decline, which in turn is associated with overall morbidity and mortality. In the current study, we assess potential benefits on lung function of hypothetical interventions that would reduce occupational exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) while adjusting for the healthy worker survivor effect.

Methods

Analyses were performed in a cohort of 6485 hourly male workers in an aluminium manufacturing company in the USA, followed between 1996 and 2013. We used the parametric g-formula to assess lung function decline over time under hypothetical interventions while also addressing time-varying confounding by underlying health status, using a composite risk score based on health insurance claims.

Results

A counterfactual scenario envisioning a limit on exposure equivalent to the 10th percentile of the observed exposure distribution of 0.05 mg/m3was associated with an improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) equivalent to 37.6 mL (95% CI 13.6 to 61.6) after 10 years of follow-up when compared with the observed. Assuming a linear decrease and (from NHANES reference values), a 20 mL decrease per year for a 1.8 m-tall man as they age, this 37.6 mL FEV1loss over 10 years associated with observed exposure would translate to approximately a 19% increase to the already expected loss per year from age alone.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that occupational PM2.5exposure in the aluminium industry accelerates lung function decline over age. Reduction in exposure may mitigate accelerated loss of lung function over time in the industry.
Differential effect of Hurricane Sandy exposure on PTSD symptom severity: comparison of community members and responders
Authors: Gonzalez Adam , Rasul Rehana , Molina Lucero , Schneider Samantha , Bevilacqua Kristin , Bromet Evelyn J , Luft Benjamin J , Taioli Emanuela , Schwartz Rebecca
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To evaluate whether the association between Hurricane Sandy exposures and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity was greater for exposed community members compared with responders.

Methods

Data were analysed from three existing studies with similar methodologies (N=1648): two community studies, Leaders in Gathering Hope Together (n=531) and Project Restoration (n=763); and the Sandy/World Trade Center Responders Study (n=354). Sandy-related PTSD symptoms were measured using the PTSD checklist-specific traumatic event and dichotomised as elevated (>30) versus low/no (<30) PTSD symptoms. Sandy exposures were measured with a summed checklist. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the differential effect of exposures on PTSD by responder status, adjusting for demographics and time elapsed since Sandy.

Results

Responders were somewhat older (50.5 years (SD=8.3) vs 45.8 years (SD=20.0)), more likely to identify as white (92.4% vs 48.1%) and were male (90.7% vs 38.4%). Responders were less likely to have elevated PTSD symptoms than community members (8.6% vs 31.1%; adjusted OR=0.28, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.46). While exposure was significantly related to elevated PTSD status, the effects were similar for responders and community members.

Conclusions

Responders appear to be more resilient to PTSD symptoms post-Sandy than community members. Understanding the mechanisms that foster such resilience can inform interventions aimed at populations that are more vulnerable to experiencing PTSD after natural disasters.
Wild salmon and the shifting baseline syndrome: application of archival and contemporary redd counts to estimate historical Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) production potential in the central Idaho wilderness
Authors: Thurow Russell F. , Copeland Timothy , Oldemeyer Bryce N.
Published: October 2019

The “shifting baseline syndrome” (SBS) is the paradigm whereby recent species abundances and environmental conditions are accepted as reflecting historical conditions. This leads to false impressions of the past, inaccurate baselines, and unrealistic recovery goals. Idaho biologists have counted Chinook salmon redds for >60 consecutive years, generating an invaluable database; however, inaccurate historical baselines compromise the utility of even such high-quality, long-term databases. To develop an accurate baseline, we integrated archival (1951–1964), maximum redd counts with contemporary (1995–2017), continuous counts and spawn timing datasets to estimate historical (1950s–1960s) wild Chinook salmon production potential. Current salmon populations average 3% of 1950s–1960s abundances, which may have been 30% of precommercial fishery (1880s) populations. Notably, the SBS has influenced contemporary managers as reflected in minimum viable abundance, sustainable escapement, and adequate seeding objectives equaling 10.4%, 17.9%, and 20.4%, respectively, of 1950s–1960s potential. Our approach provides a framework for utilizing archival and contemporary data to reconstruct historical baselines and repress SBS. Contrasting contemporary goals with maximum production potential provides new reference points and perspectives for managers to consider.
Tree species diversity and composition relationship to biomass, understory community, and crown architecture in intensively managed plantations of the coastal Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: Himes Austin , Puettmann Klaus
Published: October 2019

Trends in land cover and the demand for ecosystem services suggest that plantation forests will be expected to provide a larger quantity and diversity of ecosystem services. We identified three measures indicative of diverse ecosystem services (aboveground biomass, understory biodiversity, and crown length) and compared their relationships to tree species composition in intensively managed forest plantations of the Coast Range mountains of the Pacific Northwest, United States. This study was conducted in stands of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), and red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.), as well as in mixtures of the three species that were 35–39 years old. In this operational setting, we did not observe the positive relationship between species diversity and productivity observed in other studies, which we attributed to management practices that minimize interspecific interaction during most of the rotation. Crown length and understory species diversity were greater in mixtures of tree species than in (monospecific) monocultures. When multiple ecosystem components were considered simultaneously, mixtures of tree species outperformed monocultures. The observed relationships of the three responses to tree species composition and diversity are likely explained by differences in tree phenology, shade tolerance, disease susceptibility, and management interventions. Based on the results, management that is solely fixated on wood production homogeneously throughout the plantation may miss opportunities to provide other ecosystem services.
A LOOK AT SHORT- AND LONG-TERM NONLINEAR DYNAMICS IN FAMILY BUSINESS STOCK RETURNS LISTED ON CASABLANCA STOCK EXCHANGE
Authors: LAHMIRI SALIM
Published: October 2019

Moroccan family business companies are becoming an attractive investment in Casablanca stock exchange. In this study, presence of fractal and chaos in Moroccan family business stock returns is examined. In particular, return series are analyzed by stationary wavelet transform to decompose original series into long- and short-term variations. Then, detrended fluctuation analysis and artificial neural networks are used to estimate, respectively Hurst exponent and largest Lyapunov exponent. Results from fractal analysis show that short variations in returns are anti-persistent, whilst long variations are persistent. Besides, results from chaos tests reveal that both short and long variations in returns are chaotic. Such conclusions should be taken into account in active portfolio optimization and management.
Dichotomies for Evaluating Simple Regular Path Queries
Authors: Martens Wim , Trautner Tina
Published: October 2019

Regular path queries (RPQs) are a central component of graph databases. We investigate decision and enumeration problems concerning the evaluation of RPQs under several semantics that have recently been considered: arbitrary paths, shortest paths, paths without node repetitions (simple paths), and paths without edge repetitions (trails).

Whereas arbitrary and shortest paths can be dealt with efficiently, simple paths and trails become computationally difficult already for very small RPQs. We study RPQ evaluation for simple paths and trails from a parameterized complexity perspective and define a class of
simple transitive expressions
that is prominent in practice and for which we can prove dichotomies for the evaluation problem. We observe that, even though simple path and trail semantics are intractable for RPQs in general, they are feasible for the vast majority of RPQs that are used in practice. At the heart of this study is a result of independent interest: the two disjoint paths problem in directed graphs is W[1]-hard if parameterized by the length of one of the two paths.
Higher Dimension Quantum Entanglement Generators
Authors: Smith Kaitlin N. , Thornton Mitchell A.
Published: October 2019

Quantum information processing and communication techniques rely heavily upon entangled quantum states, and this dependence motivates the development of methods and systems to generate entanglement. Much research has been dedicated to state preparation for radix-2 qubits, and due to the pursuit of entangled states, the Bell state generator and its generalized forms where the number of entangled qubits is greater than two have been defined. In this work, we move beyond radix-2 and propose techniques for quantum state entanglement in high-dimensional systems through the generalization of the binary bipartite entanglement states. These higher-radix quantum informatic systems are composed of
n
quantum digits, or qudits, that are each mathematically characterized as elements of an
r
-dimensioned Hilbert vector space where
r
> 2. Consequently, the wave function is a time-dependent state vector of dimension
r

n

. The generalization of the binary controlled-NOT to the controlled-modulo-addition gate, the concept of partial versus maximal entanglement, and architectures for generating higher-radix entangled states for the partial and maximal case are all presented.
Comparing Two Clusterings Using Matchings between Clusters of Clusters
Authors: Cazals F. , Mazauric D. , Tetley R. , Watrigant R.
Published: October 2019

Clustering is a fundamental problem in data science, yet the variety of clustering methods and their sensitivity to parameters make clustering hard. To analyze the stability of a given clustering algorithm while varying its parameters, and to compare clusters yielded by different algorithms, several comparison schemes based on matchings, information theory, and various indices (Rand, Jaccard) have been developed. We go beyond these by providing a novel class of methods computing meta-clusters within each clustering—a
meta-cluster
is a group of clusters, together with a matching between these.

Let the intersection graph of two clusterings be the edge-weighted bipartite graph in which the nodes represent the clusters, the edges represent the nonempty intersection between two clusters, and the weight of an edge is the number of common items. We introduce the so-called
D
-family-matching problem on intersection graphs, with
D
the upper bound on the diameter of the graph induced by the clusters of any meta-cluster. First we prove
NP
-completeness and
APX
-hardness results, and unbounded approximation ratio of simple strategies. Second, we design exact polynomial time dynamic programming algorithms for some classes of graphs (in particular trees). Then we prove spanning tree–based efficient heuristic algorithms for general graphs.

Our experiments illustrate the role of
D
as a scale parameter providing information on the relationship between clusters within a clustering and in-between two clusterings. They also show the advantages of our built-in mapping over classical cluster comparison measures such as the variation of information.
Aspect Aware Learning for Aspect Category Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Zhu Peisong , Chen Zhuang , Zheng Haojie , Qian Tieyun
Published: October 2019

Aspect category sentiment analysis (ACSA) is an underexploited subtask in aspect level sentiment analysis. It aims to identify the sentiment of predefined aspect categories. The main challenge in ACSA comes from the fact that the aspect category may not occur in the sentence in most of the cases. For example, the review “
they have delicious sandwiches
” positively talks about the aspect category “
food
” in an implicit manner.

In this article, we propose a novel aspect aware learning (AAL) framework for ACSA tasks. Our key idea is to exploit the interaction between the aspect category and the contents under the guidance of both sentiment polarity and predefined categories. To this end, we design a two-way memory network for integrating AAL into the framework of sentiment classification. We further present two algorithms to incorporate the potential impacts of aspect categories. One is to capture the correlations between aspect terms and the aspect category like
“sandwiches”
and
“food.”
The other is to recognize the aspect category for sentiment representations like
“food”
for
“delicious.”
We conduct extensive experiments on four SemEval datasets. The results reveal the essential role of AAL in ACSA by achieving the state-of-the-art performance.
Environmental Bisimulations for Probabilistic Higher-order Languages
Authors: Sangiorgi Davide , Vignudelli Valeria
Published: October 2019

Environmental bisimulations for probabilistic higher-order languages are studied. In contrast with applicative bisimulations, environmental bisimulations are known to be more robust and do not require sophisticated techniques such as Howe’s in the proofs of congruence.

As representative calculi, call-by-name and call-by-value λ-calculus, and a (call-by-value) λ-calculus extended with references (i.e., a store) are considered. In each case, full abstraction results are derived for probabilistic environmental similarity and bisimilarity with respect to contextual preorder and contextual equivalence, respectively. Some possible enhancements of the (bi)simulations, as “up-to techniques,” are also presented.

Probabilities force a number of modifications to the definition of environmental bisimulations in non-probabilistic languages. Some of these modifications are specific to probabilities, others may be seen as general refinements of environmental bisimulations, applicable also to non-probabilistic languages. Several examples are presented, to illustrate the modifications and the differences.
A Unified Framework with Multi-source Data for Predicting Passenger Demands of Ride Services
Authors: Wang Yuandong , Lin Xuelian , Wei Hua , Wo Tianyu , Huang Zhou , Zhang Yong , Xu Jie
Published: October 2019

Ride-hailing applications have been offering convenient ride services for people in need. However, such applications still suffer from the issue of supply-demand disequilibrium, which is a typical problem for traditional taxi services. With effective predictions on passenger demands, we can alleviate the disequilibrium by pre-dispatching, dynamic pricing or avoiding dispatching cars to zero-demand areas. Existing studies of demand predictions mainly utilize limited data sources, trajectory data, or orders of ride services or both of them, which also lacks a multi-perspective consideration. In this article, we present a unified framework with a new combined model and a road-network-based spatial partition to leverage multi-source data and model the passenger demands from temporal, spatial, and zero-demand-area perspectives. In addition, our framework realizes offline training and online predicting, which can satisfy the real-time requirement more easily. We analyze and evaluate the performance of our combined model using the actual operational data from UCAR. The experimental results indicate that our model outperforms baselines on both Mean Absolute Error and Root Mean Square Error on average.
Smart-Hop Arbitration Request Propagation
Authors: Asgarieh Yashar , Lin Bill
Published: October 2019

SMART-based NoC designs achieve ultra-low latencies by enabling flits to traverse multiple hops within a single clock cycle. Notwithstanding the clear performance benefits, SMART-based NoCs suffer from several shortcomings: each router must arbitrate among a quadratic number of requests, which leads to high costs; each router independently makes its own arbitration decisions, which leads to a problem called false negatives that causes throughput loss. In this article, we propose a new SMART-based NoC design called SHARP that overcomes these shortcomings. Our evaluation demonstrates that SHARP increases throughput by up to 19% and average link utilization by up to 24% by avoiding false negatives. By avoiding quadratic arbitration, our evaluation further demonstrates that SHARP reduces the wiring and area overhead significantly.
Predict, Share, and Recycle Your Way to Low-power Nanophotonic Networks
Authors: Bashir Janibul , Sarangi Smruti Ranjan
Published: October 2019

High static power consumption is widely regarded as one of the largest bottlenecks in creating scalable optical NoCs. The standard techniques to reduce static power are based on sharing optical channels and modulating the laser. We show in this article that state-of-the-art techniques in these areas are suboptimal, and there is a significant room for further improvement. We propose two novel techniques—a neural network--based method for laser modulation by predicting optical traffic and a distributed and altruistic algorithm for channel sharing—that are significantly closer to a theoretically ideal scheme. In spite of this, a lot of laser power still gets wasted. We propose to reuse this energy to heat micro-ring resonators (achieve thermal tuning) by efficiently recirculating it. These three methods help us significantly reduce the energy requirements. Our design consumes 4.7× lower laser power as compared to other state-of-the-art proposals. In addition, it results in a 31% improvement in performance and 39% reduction in
ED
2
for a suite of Splash2 and Parsec benchmarks.
Interactive Recommendation with User-Specific Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Lei Yu , Li Wenjie
Published: October 2019

In this article, we study a multi-step interactive recommendation problem for explicit-feedback recommender systems. Different from the existing works, we propose a novel user-specific deep reinforcement learning approach to the problem. Specifically, we first formulate the problem of interactive recommendation for each target user as a Markov decision process (MDP). We then derive a multi-MDP reinforcement learning task for all involved users. To model the possible relationships (including similarities and differences) between different users’ MDPs, we construct user-specific latent states by using matrix factorization. After that, we propose a user-specific deep Q-learning (UDQN) method to estimate optimal policies based on the constructed user-specific latent states. Furthermore, we propose Biased UDQN (BUDQN) to explicitly model user-specific information by employing an additional bias parameter when estimating the Q-values for different users. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our approach by comprehensive experimental results and analysis.
Evaluating the Potential Applications of Quaternary Logic for Approximate Computing
Authors: Sakalis Christos , Jimborean Alexandra , Kaxiras Stefanos , Själander Magnus
Published: October 2019

There exist extensive ongoing research efforts on emerging atomic-scale technologies that have the potential to become an alternative to today’s complementary metal--oxide--semiconductor technologies. A common feature among the investigated technologies is that of multi-level devices, particularly the possibility of implementing quaternary logic gates and memory cells. However, for such multi-level devices to be used reliably, an increase in energy dissipation and operation time is required. Building on the principle of approximate computing, we present a set of combinational logic circuits and memory based on multi-level logic gates in which we can trade reliability against energy efficiency. Keeping the energy and timing constraints constant, important data are encoded in a more robust binary format while error-tolerant data are encoded in a quaternary format. We analyze the behavior of the logic circuits when exposed to transient errors caused as a side effect of this encoding. We also evaluate the potential benefit of the logic circuits and memory by embedding them in a conventional computer system on which we execute jpeg, sobel, and blackscholes approximately. We demonstrate that blackscholes is not suitable for such a system and explain why. However, we also achieve dynamic energy reductions of 10% and 13% for jpeg and sobel, respectively, and improve execution time by 38% for sobel, while maintaining adequate output quality.
Energy-efficient Design of MTJ-based Neural Networks with Stochastic Computing
Authors: Mondal Ankit , Srivastava Ankur
Published: October 2019

Hardware implementations of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) using conventional binary arithmetic units are computationally expensive, energy-intensive, and have large area overheads. Stochastic Computing (SC) is an emerging paradigm that replaces these conventional units with simple logic circuits and is particularly suitable for fault-tolerant applications. We propose an energy-efficient use of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs), a spintronic device that exhibits probabilistic switching behavior, as Stochastic Number Generators (SNGs), which forms the basis of our NN implementation in the SC domain. Further, the error resilience of target applications of NNs allows approximating the synaptic weights in our MTJ-based NN implementation, in ways brought about by properties of the MTJ-SNG, to achieve energy-efficiency. An algorithm is designed that, given an error tolerance, can perform such approximations in a single-layer NN in an optimal way owing to the convexity of the problem formulation. We then use this algorithm and develop a heuristic approach for approximating multi-layer NNs. Classification problems were evaluated on the optimized NNs and results showed substantial savings in energy for little loss in accuracy.
Topical Microbicides in HIV Prevention: State of the Promise
Authors: Baeten Jared M. , Hendrix Craig W. , Hillier Sharon L.
Published: October 2019

HIV topical microbicides are products with anti-HIV activity, generally incorporating a direct-acting antiretroviral agent, that when applied to the vagina or rectum have the potential to prevent the sexual acquisition of HIV in women and men. Topical microbicides may meet the prevention needs of individuals and groups for whom oral daily forms of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have not been acceptable. Microbicides can provide personal control over HIV prevention and offer the possibility of discreet use, qualities that may be particularly important for receptive partners in sexual relationships such as women and transgender women and men, who together account for the clear majority of new HIV infections worldwide. Although the promise of such a product emerged nearly three decades ago, proof of concept has been demonstrated only within the last decade. A robust pipeline of microbicidal gels, films, inserts, and rings has been evaluated in multiple studies among at-risk women and men, and refinement of products for ease of use, reversibility, and high safety is the priority for the field.
Influence of obesity, weight loss, and free fatty acids on skeletal muscle clock gene expression
Authors: Sardon Puig Laura , Pillon Nicolas J. , Näslund Erik , Krook Anna , Zierath Juleen R.
Published: October 2019

The molecular circadian clock plays a role in metabolic homeostasis. We tested the hypothesis obesity and systemic factors associated with insulin resistance affect skeletal muscle clock gene expression. We determined clock gene expression in skeletal muscle of obese women ( n = 5) and men ( n = 18) before and 6 mo after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery and normal-weight controls (women n = 6, men n = 8). Skeletal muscle clock gene expression was affected by obesity and weight loss. CRY1 mRNA ( P = 0.05) was increased and DBP mRNA ( P < 0.05) was decreased in obese vs. normal weight women and restored to control levels after RYGB-induced weight loss. CLOCK, CRY1, CRY2, and DBP mRNA ( P < 0.05) was decreased in obese men compared with normal weight men. Expression of all other clock genes was unaltered by obesity or weight loss in both cohorts. We correlated clock gene expression with clinical characteristics of the participants. Among the genes studied, DBP and PER3 expression was inversely correlated with plasma lipids in both cohorts. Circadian time-course studies revealed that core clock genes oscillate over time ( P < 0.05), with BMAL1, CIART, CRY2, DBP, PER1, and PER3 expression profiles altered by palmitate treatment. In conclusion, skeletal muscle clock gene expression and function is altered by obesity, coincident with changes in plasma lipid levels. Palmitate exposure disrupts clock gene expression in myotubes, indicating that dyslipidemia directly alters the circadian program. Strategies to reduce lipid overload and prevent elevations in nonesterified fatty acid and cholesterol levels may sustain circadian clock signals in skeletal muscle.
Case Report on a Rare Intraoperative Finding of Ectopic Liver Tissue Attached to Gallbladder Wall during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Isa Mohamed , Al-Mulla Hussain , Al-Rayes Amal , Al-Marzooq Raed , Arora Roopa
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Ectopic liver is a rare finding (Corsy, 1922; Kubota et al., 2007) that is usually discovered intraoperatively or during an autopsy (Bassis and Izenstark, 1956). Preoperative diagnosis of ectopic liver is also uncommon. The most common site of ectopic liver is on the gall bladder, although there are reports of other sites such as the adrenal glands and esophagus. The management of ectopic liver is en-bloc resection due to the high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Case Presentation. We describe the case of a 42-year-old female who presented with recurrent abdominal pain. She was found to have a smooth fragment of a reddish brown tissue attached to the anterior surface of the gallbladder during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The tissue was removed with the gallbladder, and histopathology showed normal ectopic liver tissue. Conclusion. Due to the possibility of malignant transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma, en-bloc resection is the choice of management.
In Vitro Biocompatibility of Electrospun Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Cellulose Nanocrystals-Nanofibers for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Dutta Sayan Deb , Patel Dinesh K. , Seo Yu-Ri , Park Chan-Woo , Lee Seung-Hwan , Kim Jin-Woo , Kim Jangho , Seonwoo Hoon , Lim Ki-Taek
Published: October 2019

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have emerged as promising materials for the fabrication of micro/nanoplatforms that can replace tissues more effectively. CNCs offer interesting properties that facilitate the enhancement of polymer properties. Cytotoxicity of rice husk-derived CNCs was evaluated through WST-1 assay in the presence of human mesenchymal stem cells. Electrospinning technique was used to fabricate nanofibers of poly-ε-caprolactone and its composites. Significant improvement in the mechanical property was observed in the composites relative to the pure polymer. This improvement was attributed to the better interfacial interactions between the polymer matrix and CNCs. Notably, better cell viability and differentiation were observed with the composite nanofibers than with the pure polymers. The osteogenic potential of the fabricated nanofibers was assessed by alizarin red S staining and real-time PCR. Enhanced mineralization occurred in the presence of the composite rather than pure polymer nanofibers. Furthermore, the higher levels of osteogenic markers observed with the media containing the composites clearly indicated their osteogenic potential. These results suggested that fabricated composites have the potential to be used as a biomaterial for tissue engineering applications.
Transfer of Low-Density Lipoproteins in Coronary Artery Bifurcation Lesions with Stenosed Side Branch: Numerical Study
Authors: Fan Zhenmin , Liu Xiao , Zhang Peng , Gu Jiang , Ye Xia , Deng Xiaoyan
Published: October 2019

Evidence from clinical data suggests that the stenotic side branch (SB) is one of the key predictors for SB occlusion-based adverse events. In this study, we hypothesized that coronary bifurcations with stenotic SB might lead to severe concentration polarization of atherogenic lipids, such as the low-density lipoproteins (LDL), motivating the adverse events in the clinic. To confirm this hypothesis, this work numerically investigated the transport of LDL in different bifurcation lesions based on the Medina classification with various location and stenosis severities. The results showed that the coronary bifurcations with stenotic SB might be suffering more serious concentration polarization of LDL on the luminal surface of the SB due to higher level of LDL concentrations. Moreover, compared to the other bifurcation lesion types, the type (1,0,1) had the highest luminal surface LDL concentration along the SB and the highest degree of risk to enhance the process of atherosclerosis. In addition, this study also showed that the luminal surface LDL concentration increased with elevated stenosis severity. The type (1,0,1) with the severe stenosis (75% diameter reduction) had the highest concentration at the SB. In conclusion, these results suggested that both location of lesions and stenosis severities had great influence on the distribution of LDL on the luminal surface of the SB. Therefore, the estimation of disease severity and the interventional therapy should be carried out not only according to the stenosis severities in clinic. Moreover, compared to the other bifurcation lesion types, the type (1,0,1), rather than the type (1,1,1) as usually considered, had the highest luminal surface LDL concentration along the SB and the highest degree of risk to enhance the process of atherosclerosis.
Three-Dimensional Shapes and Cell Deformability of Rat Red Blood Cells during and after Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Lee Hui Jai , Lee SangYun , Park HyunJoo , Park YongKeun , Shin Jonghwan
Published: October 2019

Changes in microcirculation are believed to perform an important role after cardiac arrest. In particular, rheological changes in red blood cells (RBCs) have been observed during and after ischemic-reperfusion injury. Employing three-dimensional laser interferometric microscopy, we investigated three-dimensional shapes and deformability of RBCs during and after asphyxial cardiac arrest in rats at the individual cell level. Rat cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxia. Five rats were maintained for 7 min of no-flow time, and then, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started. Blood samples were obtained before cardiac arrest, during CPR, and 60 min after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) techniques based on laser interferometry were used to measure the three-dimensional refractive index (RI) tomograms of the RBC, from which structural and biochemical properties were retrieved. Dynamic membrane fluctuations in the cell membrane were also quantitatively and sensitively measured in order to investigate cell deformability. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell distribution width remained unchanged during CPR and after ROSC compared with those before cardiac arrest. QPI results revealed that RBC membrane fluctuations, sphericity, and surface area did not change significantly during CPR or after ROSC compared with initial values. In conclusion, no three-dimensional shapes and cell deformability changes in RBCs were detected.