bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Good to share? The pecuniary implications of moving to shared service production for local government services
Authors: Drew Joseph , McQuestin Dana , Dollery Brian E.
Published: November 2018

Shared services are often lauded as an efficacious means of reducing municipal expenditure and thereby improving waning financial sustainability. However, most of the extant theoretical and empirical work only considers costs and benefits at the level of the specific service in question and, hence, fails to capture many of the wider benefits and costs that might accrue to local governments. In this article we first build a schema to illustrate the benefits and costs of moving from separate to collaborative production at the level of individual local authorities. We then test two hypotheses drawn from the schema against a five‐year panel of expenditure data. We find evidence of increased expenditure in the order of 8 per cent that prima facie runs counter to the objectives of many municipal managers engaged with shared services. We conclude by considering the implications of our findings for cooperative ventures between local authorities.
The parliamentary scrutiny of euro area national central banks
Authors: Högenauer Anna‐Lena , Howarth David
Published: November 2018

European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) involves several core principles for the organization of participating national central banks (NCBs/CBs), including their independence from political institutions. Early studies show that the level of national parliamentary scrutiny over euro area NCBs varied (Lepper and Sterne 2002). In this context, our article examines the extent to which parliaments make use of four distinct control mechanisms to hold CBs accountable. We explain the very different levels of parliamentary scrutiny over NCBs in Germany, France and Belgium during the 2013–16 period. We find that the level of scrutiny depends principally on the presence of a longstanding tradition of CB independence—and specifically the manner in which independence has been politicized and interpreted by the political class. We argue that the strength of the parliament can also explain some variation.
Linear lipoatrophy following intra‐articular triamcinolone acetonide injection mimicking linear scleroderma
Authors: Call John Elliott , Mann Julianne A. , Linos Konstantinos D. , Perry Ann , Yost John
Published: November 2018

A 12‐year‐old female with oligoarticular juvenile inflammatory arthritis developed an atrophic linear plaque involving the left medial forearm and proximal arm 7 months after intra‐articular triamcinolone injection for arthritis. The plaque spontaneously resolved without treatment over approximately one year. It is important to recognize this rare complication of intra‐articular steroid injection in order to avoid potential misdiagnosis as linear scleroderma and subsequent immunosuppressive treatment.
Antimelanogenic and Antimigration Properties of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Calendula officinalis Flowers on Melanoma Cells
Authors: Xuan Song Hua , Park Young Min , Park Soo Nam
Published: November 2018

Calendula officinalis L., commonly known as marigold, is not only cultivated for ornamental purposes but is also used as a traditional medicinal herb. Its flowers have been used to treat various skin diseases, including rashes, burns, cuts and bruises, since ancient times. However, to our knowledge, the impact of C. officinalis L. on melanoma and its mechanism have not been clarified. The aim of this work was to investigate the chemical characterization and antimelanogenic and antimigration activities of the ethyl acetate fraction of C. officinalis flowers (EFC), as well as elucidate the potential mechanism. The obtained results showed that EFC markedly decreased α‐MSH‐induced melanin production and the cell migration ability of melanoma cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Additionally, EFC significantly inhibited the activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP‐2) via suppressing the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that C. officinalis flowers can be used as a natural source of antimelanogenisis and antimigration regent to treatment or prevent skin diseases.
Are selection criteria for healthy pregnancies responsible for the gap between fetal growth in the French national Elfe birth cohort and the Intergrowth‐21st fetal growth standards?
Authors: Heude Barbara , Le Guern Morgane , Forhan Anne , Scherdel Pauline , Kadawathagedara Manik , Dufourg Marie‐Noëlle , Bois Corinne , Cheminat Marie , Goffinet François , Botton Jérémie , Charles Marie‐Aline , Zeitlin Jennifer
Published: November 2018

Background

The Intergrowth‐21st (IG) project proposed prescriptive fetal growth standards for global use based on ultrasound measurements from a multicounty study of low‐risk pregnancies selected using strict criteria. We examined whether the IG standards are appropriate for fetal growth monitoring in France and whether potential differences could be due to IG criteria for “healthy” pregnancies.

Method

We analysed data on femur length and abdominal circumference at the second and/or the third recommended ultrasound examination from 14 607 singleton pregnancies from the Elfe national birth cohort. We compared concordance of centile thresholds using the IG standards and current French references and used restricted cubic splines to plot z‐scores by gestational age. A “healthy pregnancy” sub‐sample was created based on maternal and pregnancy selection criteria, as specified by IG.

Results

Mean gestational age‐specific z‐scores for femur length and abdominal circumference using French references fluctuated around 0 (−0.2 to 0.1), while those based on IG standards were higher (0.3‐0.8). Using IG standards, 2.5% and 5.2% of fetuses at the third ultrasound were <10th centile for femur length and abdominal circumference, respectively, and 31.5% and 16.7% were >90th. Only 34% of pregnancies fulfilled IG low‐risk criteria, but sub‐analyses yielded very similar results.

Conclusion

Intergrowth standards differed from fetal biometric measures in France, including among low‐risk pregnancies selected to replicate IG's healthy pregnancy sample. These results challenge the project's assumption that careful constitution of a low‐risk population makes it possible to describe normative fetal growth across populations.
Advancing the Narrative Policy Framework? The Musings of a Potentially Unreliable Narrator
Authors: Jones Michael D.
Published: November 2018

Inspired by postmodernism and the seemingly contradictory charter of science, the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) was named in a 2010 issue of the Policy Studies Journal for the purposes of understanding the role of narrative in the policy process. Since its inception we have seen a proliferation of research applications. In this issue of the PSJ you will find some of the best representatives of those applications. Studies within show a productive merging of NPF with other theories, refinement of concepts, sophisticated methodologies, and an expanding list of policy areas to which the NPF is being applied. You will also see examples of the NPF being clear enough to be wrong and—at times—being wrong. Among other observations, I argue that findings herein illuminate gaps in our understanding of narrative's role in the policy process, including a need for more refined strategy theory, a better understanding of the intersection between framing theory and the NPF, and a need to directly address the NPF's ongoing struggle to deal with varied contexts. I argue that to develop more generalizable narrative concepts that the division between interpretive and scientific approaches to the study of policy must continue to be overcome.
The Historical Presidency: The Road Not Taken: Warren G. Harding and the Dilemmas of Regime Restoration
Authors: Crockett David A.
Published: November 2018

In Stephen Skowronek's political time schema, Warren G. Harding is a regime manager tasked with restoring the Republican regime established by William McKinley after Woodrow Wilson's interregnum. Harding faced a particularly interesting decision, for although McKinley was the founder of the modern post–Gilded Age Republican regime, his successor, Theodore Roosevelt, was clearly a more dynamic and disruptive force in the party. The overlooked figure in this sequence, however, is William Howard Taft—in some ways a throwback to a pre‐Roosevelt president, but one who prosecuted a reform policy agenda. Presented with three different models of presidential leadership, Harding ignored the progressive conservatism of Taft and returned to a mistakenly Whiggish view of McKinley's leadership. The result was a lost opportunity for Republicans in the 1920s, setting up their repudiation in 1932.
Layerwise Anomaly Detection in Laser Powder-Bed Fusion Metal Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Mahmoudi Mohamad , Ezzat Ahmed Aziz , Elwany Alaa
Published: November 2018

A growing research trend in additive manufacturing (AM) calls for layerwise anomaly detection as a step toward enabling real-time process control, in contrast to ex situ or postprocess testing and characterization. We propose a method for layerwise anomaly detection during laser powder-bed fusion (L-PBF) metal AM. The method uses high-speed thermal imaging to capture melt pool temperature and is composed of the following four-step anomaly detection procedure: (1) using the captured thermal images, a process signature of a just-fabricated layer is generated. Next, a signature difference is obtained by subtracting the process signature of that particular layer from a prespecified reference signature, (2) a screening step selects potential regions of interests (ROIs) within the layer that are likely to contain process anomalies, hence reducing the computational burden associated with analyzing the full layer data, (3) the spatial dependence of these ROIs is modeled using a Gaussian process model, and then pixels with statistically significant deviations are flagged, and (4) using the quantity and the spatial pattern of the flagged pixels as predictors, a classifier is trained and implemented to determine whether the process is in- or out-of-control. We validate the proposed method using a case study on a commercial L-PBF system custom-instrumented with a dual-wavelength imaging pyrometer for capturing the thermal images during fabrication.
Optimization of Micropencil Grinding Tools Via Electrical Discharge Machining
Authors: Arrabiyeh Peter A. , Dethloff Maximilian , Müller Christopher , Kirsch Benjamin , Aurich Jan C.
Published: November 2018

Micropencil grinding tools (MPGTs) are micromachining tools that use superabrasives like diamond and cubic boron nitride (cBN) grits to manufacture complex microstructures in a broad range of hard and brittle materials. MPGTs suffer from a rather low tool life, when compared to other more established microprocessing methods. It was documented that when used on hardened steel workpieces, MPGTs suffer from a large amount of adhesions, mostly located at the pivot point of the tool. These adhesions lead to the clogging of the abrasive layer and ultimately in tool failure. Another problem this machining process suffers from is the formation of substructures (smaller channels inside the microchannels). The pivot is usually less prone to abrasive wear, has higher protrusion, and is therefore responsible for the deepest substructures. These substructures can easily take up half the depth of cut, obstructing the function of machined microchannels—it is one of the major flaws of this micromachining process. A micro-electrical discharge machining method (μEDM) can solve these issues by manufacturing a cavity at the pivot of these tools. A novel method that uses measurement probes to position the substrate above the μEDM electrode is implemented and a parameter study to determine the cavity manufacturing parameters is conducted for substrates with diameters < 40 μm. The goal is to demonstrate the first ever complete and reliable manufacturing process for MPGTs with a cavity and to demonstrate the advantages they provide in a machining process when compared to regular MPGTs.
Concurrent Structure and Process Optimization for Minimum Cost Metal Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Ulu Erva , Huang Runze , Kara Levent Burak , Whitefoot Kate S.
Published: November 2018

Metals-additive manufacturing (MAM) is enabling unprecedented design freedom and the ability to produce significantly lighter weight parts with the same performance, offering the possibility of significant environmental and economic benefits in many different industries. However, the total production costs of MAM will need to be reduced substantially before it will be widely adopted across the manufacturing sector. Current topology optimization approaches focus on reducing total material volume as a means of reducing material costs, but they do not account for other production costs that are influenced by a part's structure such as machine time and scrap. Moreover, concurrently optimizing MAM process variables with a part's structure has the potential to further reduce production costs. This paper demonstrates an approach to use process-based cost modeling (PBCM) in MAM topology optimization to minimize total production costs, including material, labor, energy, and machine costs, using cost estimates from industrial MAM operations. The approach is demonstrated on various 3D geometries for the electron beam melting (EBM) process with Ti64 material. Concurrent optimization of the part structures and EBM process variables is compared to sequential optimization, and to optimization of the structure alone. The results indicate that, once process variables are considered concurrently, more cost effective results can be obtained with similar amount of material through a combination of (1) building high stress regions with lower power values to obtain larger yield strength and (2) increasing the power elsewhere to reduce the number of passes required, thereby reducing build time. In our case studies, concurrent optimization of the part's structure and MAM process parameters lead to up to 15% lower estimated total production costs and 21% faster build time than optimizing the part's structure alone.
Expensive Black-Box Model Optimization Via a Gold Rush Policy
Authors: Isaac Benson , Allaire Douglas
Published: November 2018

The optimization of black-box models is a challenging task owing to the lack of analytic gradient information and structural information about the underlying function, and also due often to significant run times. A common approach to tackling such problems is the implementation of Bayesian global optimization techniques. However, these techniques often rely on surrogate modeling strategies that endow the approximation of the underlying expensive function with nonexistent features. Further, these techniques tend to push new queries away from previously queried design points, making it difficult to locate an optimum point that rests near a previous model evaluation. To overcome these issues, we propose a gold rush (GR) policy that relies on purely local information to identify the next best design alternative to query. The method employs a surrogate constructed pointwise, that adds no additional features to the approximation. The result is a policy that performs well in comparison to state of the art Bayesian global optimization methods on several benchmark problems. The policy is also demonstrated on a constrained optimization problem using a penalty method.
Topology Optimization of Three-Dimensional Woven Materials Using a Ground Structure Design Variable Representation
Authors: Ha Seung-Hyun , Lee Hak Yong , Hemker Kevin J. , Guest James K.
Published: November 2018

Three-dimensional (3D) weaving has recently arisen as viable means for manufacturing metallic, architected microlattices. Herein, we describe a topology optimization approach for designing the architecture of such 3D woven lattices. A ground structure design variable representation is combined with linear manufacturing constraints and a projection mapping to realize lattices that satisfy the rather restrictive topological constraints associated with 3D weaving. The approach is demonstrated in the context of inverse homogenization to design lattices with maximized fluid permeability. Stokes flow equations with no-slip conditions governing unit cell flow fields are interpolated using the Darcy–Stokes finite element model, leveraging existing work in the topology optimization of fluids. The combined algorithm is demonstrated to design manufacturable lattices with maximized permeability whose properties have been experimentally measured in other published work.
Aspirin ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through interleukin-11–mediated protection of regulatory T cells
Authors: Mondal Susanta , Jana Malabendu , Dasarathi Sridevi , Roy Avik , Pahan Kalipada
Published: November 2018

Aspirin stimulates production of the cytokine IL-11, which promotes regulatory T cell stability to suppress autoimmunity.
β-Barrel outer membrane proteins suppress mTORC2 activation and induce autophagic responses
Authors: Chaudhary Anu , Kamischke Cassandra , Leite Mara , Altura Melissa A. , Kinman Loren , Kulasekara Hemantha , Blanc Marie-Pierre , Wang Guoxing , Terhorst Cox , Miller Samuel I.
Published: November 2018

Bacterial outer membrane proteins with a β-barrel structure induce autophagy in macrophage and epithelial cells by deactivating mTORC2.
O-Antigen-Dependent Colicin Insensitivity of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Sharp Connor , Boinett Christine , Cain Amy , Housden Nicholas G. , Kumar Sandip , Turner Keith , Parkhill Julian , Kleanthous Colin
Published: November 2018

Escherichia coli
infections can be a major health burden, especially with the organism becoming increasingly resistant to “last-resort” antibiotics such as carbapenems. Although colicins are potent narrow-spectrum antimicrobials with potential as future antibiotics, high levels of naturally occurring colicin insensitivity have been documented which could limit their efficacy. We identify O-antigen-dependent colicin insensitivity in a clinically relevant uropathogenic
E. coli
strain and show that this insensitivity can be circumvented by minor changes to growth conditions. The results of our study suggest that colicin insensitivity among
E. coli
organisms has been greatly overestimated, and as a consequence, colicins could in fact be effective species-specific antimicrobials targeting pathogenic
E. coli
such as uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC).
Hepatitis C Virus Escape Studies of Human Antibody AR3A Reveal a High Barrier to Resistance and Novel Insights on Viral Antibody Evasion Mechanisms
Authors: Velázquez-Moctezuma Rodrigo , Galli Andrea , Law Mansun , Bukh Jens , Prentoe Jannick
Published: November 2018

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver-related mortality, and limited treatment accessibility makes vaccine development a high priority. The vaccine-relevant cross-genotype-reactive antibody AR3A has shown high potency, but the ability of the virus to rapidly escape by mutating the AR3A epitope (barrier to resistance) remains unexplored. Here, we succeeded in inducing only low-level AR3A resistance, indicating a higher barrier to resistance than what we have previously reported for AR5A. Furthermore, we identify AR3A resistance substitutions that have hypervariable region 1 (HVR1)-dependent effects on HCV viability and on broad neutralization sensitivity. One of these substitutions increased envelope breathing and decreased scavenger receptor class B type I HCV coreceptor dependency, both in an HVR1-dependent fashion. Thus, we identify novel AR3A-specific resistance substitutions and the role of HVR1 in protecting HCV from AR3-targeting antibodies. These viral escape mechanisms should be taken into consideration in future HCV vaccine development.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Fungus
Penicillium brasilianum
(Strain LaBioMMi 136), a Plant Endophyte from
Melia azedarach
Authors: Fill Taícia Pacheco , Baretta Jéssica Fernanda , de Almeida Luiz Gonzaga Paula , Malavazi Iran , Cerdeira Louise Teixeira , Samborskyy Markiyan , de Vasconcelos Ana Tereza Ribeiro , Leadlay Peter , Rodrigues-Filho Edson
Published: November 2018

Penicillium brasilianum
(strain LaBioMMi 136) has been reported to be a great producer of secondary metabolites and a source of enzymes of biotechnological interest. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
P. brasilianum
(strain LaBioMMi 136), isolated as an endophyte from the plant
Melia azedarach
(family Meliaceae).
Complete Genome Sequence of Mycoplasma gallopavonis Type Strain WR1
Authors: Hotzel Helmut , Tomaso Herbert , Busch Anne
Published: November 2018

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Mycoplasma gallopavonis
type strain WR1 (= ATCC 33551 = NCTC 10186), which is a common microorganism in eastern wild turkeys and is considered a nonpathogenic commensal in turkeys.
Single-Phase PacBio
De Novo
Assembly of the Genome of the Chytrid Fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis,
a Pathogen of Amphibia
Authors: Sumpter Nicholas , Butler Margi , Poulter Russell
Published: November 2018

Here, we present an updated genome assembly of the diploid chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
strain RTP6. This strain is part of the global panzootic lineage (
Bd
GPL) and was isolated in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Draft Genome Sequences of 72 Isolates from All Four Species of
Shigella
Authors: Gangiredla Jayanthi , Mammel Mark K. , Lacher David W. , Tartera Carmen , Jackson Scott A. , Patel Isha R. , Elkins Christopher A. , Mukherjee Amit
Published: November 2018

Shigella
is a genus of Gram-negative enteric pathogenic bacteria which has four species,
Shigella dysenteriae
,
S. flexneri
,
S. boydii
, and
S. sonnei
.
Shigella
species are clinically important bacteria because they cause shigellosis or dysentery.
Importance of safety climate, teamwork climate and demographics: understanding nurses, allied health professionals and clerical staff perceptions of patient safety
Authors: Zaheer Shahram , Ginsburg Liane R , Wong Hannah J , Thomson Kelly , Bain Lorna
Published: November 2018

Background

There is growing evidence regarding the importance of contextual factors for patient/staff outcomes and the likelihood of successfully implementing safety improvement interventions such as checklists; however, certain literature gaps still remain—for example, lack of research examining the interactive effects of safety constructs on outcomes. This study has addressed some of these gaps, together with adding to our understanding of how context influences safety.

Purpose

The impact of staff perceptions of safety climate (ie, senior and supervisory leadership support for safety) and teamwork climate on a self-reported safety outcome (ie, overall perceptions of patient safety (PS)) were examined at a hospital in Southern Ontario.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey data were collected from nurses, allied health professionals and unit clerks working on intensive care, general medicine, mental health or emergency department.

Results

Hierarchical regression analyses showed that perceptions of senior leadership (p<0.001) and teamwork (p<0.001) were significantly associated with overall perceptions of PS. A non-significant association was found between perceptions of supervisory leadership and the outcome variable. However, when staff perceived poorer senior leadership support for safety, the positive effect of supervisory leadership on overall perceptions of PS became significantly stronger (p<0.05).

Practice implications

Our results suggest that leadership support at one level (ie, supervisory) can substitute for the absence of leadership support for safety at another level (ie, senior level). While healthcare organisations should recruit into leadership roles and retain individuals who prioritise safety and possess adequate relational competencies, the field would now benefit from evidence regarding how to build leadership support for PS. Also, it is important to provide on-site workshops on topics (eg, conflict management) that can strengthen working relationships across professional and unit boundaries.
MAB21L1 loss of function causes a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder with distinctivecerebellar,ocular, craniofacial andgenital features (COFG syndrome)
Authors: Rad Abolfazl , Altunoglu Umut , Miller Rebecca , Maroofian Reza , James Kiely N , Çağlayan Ahmet Okay , Najafi Maryam , Stanley Valentina , Boustany Rose-Mary , Yeşil Gözde , Sahebzamani Afsaneh , Ercan-Sencicek Gülhan , Saeidi Kolsoum , Wu Kaman , Bauer Peter , Bakey Zeineb , Gleeson Joseph G , Hauser Natalie , Gunel Murat , Kayserili Hulya , Schmidts Miriam
Published: November 2018

Background

Putative nucleotidyltransferase MAB21L1 is a member of an evolutionarily well-conserved family of the male abnormal 21 (MAB21)-like proteins. Little is known about the biochemical function of the protein; however, prior studies have shown essential roles for several aspects of embryonic development including the eye, midbrain, neural tube and reproductive organs.

Objective

A homozygous truncating variant inMAB21L1has recently been described in a male affected by intellectual disability, scrotal agenesis, ophthalmological anomalies, cerebellar hypoplasia and facial dysmorphism. We employed a combination of exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping to identify the underlying genetic cause in subjects with similar phenotypic features descending from five unrelated consanguineous families.

Results

We identified four homozygousMAB21L1loss of function variants (p.Glu281fs*20, p.Arg287Glufs*14 p.Tyr280* and p.Ser93Serfs*48) and one missense variant (p.Gln233Pro) in 10 affected individuals from 5 consanguineous families with a distinctive autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome. Cardinal features of this syndrome include a characteristic facial gestalt, corneal dystrophy, hairy nipples, underdeveloped labioscrotal folds and scrotum/scrotal agenesis as well as cerebellar hypoplasia with ataxia and variable microcephaly.

Conclusion

This report defines an ultrarare but clinically recognisable Cerebello-Oculo-Facio-Genital syndrome associated with recessiveMAB21L1variants. Additionally, our findings further support the critical role of MAB21L1 in cerebellum, lens, genitalia and as craniofacial morphogenesis.
De novo mutation inELOVL1causes ichthyosis,acanthosis nigricans, hypomyelination, spastic paraplegia, high frequency deafness and optic atrophy
Authors: Mueller Noomi , Sassa Takayuki , Morales-Gonzalez Susanne , Schneider Joanna , Salchow Daniel J , Seelow Dominik , Knierim Ellen , Stenzel Werner , Kihara Akio , Schuelke Markus
Published: November 2018

Background

Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are essential for functioning of biological membranes. ELOVL fatty acid elongase 1 catalyses elongation of saturated and monounsaturated C22-C26-VLCFAs. We studied two patients with a dominantELOVL1mutation. Independently, Kutkowska-Kaźmierczaket al.had investigated the same patients and found the same mutation. We extended our study towards additional biochemical, functional, and therapeutic aspects.

Methods

We did mutation screening by whole exome sequencing. RNA-sequencing was performed in patient and control fibroblasts. Ceramide and sphingomyelin levels were measured by LC-MS/MS. ELOVL1 activity was determined by a stable isotope-labelled [13C]malonyl-CoA elongation assay. ELOVL1 expression patterns were investigated by immunofluorescence,in situhybridisation and RT-qPCR. As treatment option, we investigated VLCFA loading of fibroblasts.

Results

Both patients carried an identical heterozygousde novo ELOVL1mutation (c.494C>T, NM_001256399; p.S165F) not deriving from a founder allele. Patients suffered from epidermal hyperproliferation and increased keratinisation (ichthyosis). Hypomyelination of the central white matter explained spastic paraplegia and central nystagmus, while optic atrophy was causative for reduction of peripheral vision and visual acuity. The mutation abrogated ELOVL1 enzymatic activity and reduced ≥C24 ceramides and sphingomyelins in patient cells. Fibroblast loading with C22:0-VLCFAs increased C24:0-ceramides and sphingomyelins. We found competitive inhibition for ceramide and sphingomyelin synthesis between saturated and monounsaturated VLCFAs. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of modules involved in epidermal development and keratinisation, and downregulation of genes for neurodevelopment, myelination, and synaptogenesis. Many regulated genes carried consensus proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α and PPARγ binding motifs in their 5’-regions.

Conclusion

A dominantELOVL1mutation causes a neuro-ichthyotic disorder possibly amenable to treatment with PPAR-modulating drugs.
Observed retail price of Australia’s market-leading cigarette brand before and up to 3 years after the implementation of plain packaging
Authors: Egger Sam , Burton Suzan , Ireland Rebecca , Walsberger Scott C
Published: November 2018

Objective

Despite claims by tobacco companies that plain packaging would lead to lower cigarette prices, recommended and observed real cigarette prices in Australia rose in the 9–11 months after plain packaging was introduced. However, little is known about trends in prices longer term. In this report, we assess whether inflation (Consumer Price Index; CPI) and tax adjusted (‘CPI-tax-adjusted’) prices of the market-leading Australian cigarette brand changed in the 3-year period after plain packaging, and whether price changes were associated with retailer characteristics.

Method

Cigarette prices were ascertained from a panel of tobacco retailers at three time points: (1) in November 2012 (n=857) (before full implementation of plain packaging, compulsory in retail outlets from December 2012), (2) between October 2014 and February 2015 (n=789) and (3) between November 2015 and March 2016 (n=579). Generalised estimating equations were used to estimate percentage change in mean CPI/tax-adjusted cigarette prices over time.

Results

CPI/tax-adjusted adjusted mean stick prices rose by 13.7% (95% CI 13.0 to 16.0) and 15.2% (95% CI 14.3 to 16.0) at 2.1 and 3.1 years after plain packaging was introduced, respectively. Increases in mean CPI/tax-adjusted stick prices varied by outlet type (p<0.001), socioeconomic status (p=0.013) and remoteness of retailer’s area (p=0.028) and whether twin packs were sold (p=0.009).

Conclusions

Contrary to tobacco company predictions of a fall in prices, the price of the market-leading Australian cigarette brand increased significantly in the 3 years after plain packaging was introduced, and these increases were above the combined effects of inflation and increases in excise/customs duty.
Effects of bisphenol-A and folic acid on growth, reproductive development, and DNA methylation in snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
Authors: Heo Kayoung , Gibson Glenys , Evans Rodger
Published: November 2018

Bisphenol-A (BPA), used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, exerts complex effects on the development of organisms and on their epigenomes as a methylation disruptor. BPA is of concern due to its ubiquity in the environment. In contrast, folic acid can promote plant growth and has been shown to correct the methyl-disrupting effects of BPA in mice. We investigated the effects of prolonged exposure to BPA and folic acid on plant height, dry mass, and DNA methylation of floral tissues of Antirrhinum majus L. (snapdragons) from seedling to floral senescence. At low and medium concentrations (5 and 25 mg/L), BPA had a growth-promoting effect early in development and appeared to accelerate floral development compared with the controls. At senescence, plants treated with the low and medium concentrations of BPA had decreased dry mass compared with the controls. Folic acid promoted growth early through mid-vegetative development and also promoted early flowering. In general, the acceleration of floral development associated with the low concentration of BPA and folic acid correlated with higher DNA methylation percentages. These data suggest that prolonged exposure to BPA influences plant growth and floral development, and causes epigenetic modifications that may potentially be alleviated through the application of folic acid, thus suggesting the significance of folic acid for environmental protection.
Effects of adaptive and cooperative adaptive cruise control on the fuel consumption and emissions at the signalized intersection
Authors: Cui Hongjun , Xing Jiangke , Li Xia , Zhu Minqing
Published: November 2018

In this paper, the HDM car-following model, the IIDM car-following model and the IDM car-following model with a constant-acceleration heuristic is utilized to explore the effects of ACC/CACC on the fuel consumption and emissionsat the signalized intersection. Two simulation experiments are studied: (i) one with free road ahead and (ii) the second with a red light 300 m downstream at the second intersection. The numerical results show that CACC vehicle is the best vehicle type among the three vehicle types from the perspective of vehicle’s cumulative fuel consumptions and cumulative exhaust emissions. The results of this paper also suggest a very high environmental benefit of ACC/CACC at little or no cost in infrastructure.
Spin mixing dynamics in a spin-orbit coupled spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensate
Authors: Wan Nian-Sheng , Yu Zi-Fa , Gao Gi-Ming , Zhang Ai-Xia , Xu Hong-Ping , Xue Ju-Kui
Published: November 2018

We study the spin mixing dynamics of a spin-orbit coupled spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensate. Using mean-field theory and adopting plane wave solutions, the spin mixing dynamics can be well described by an internal Josephson equation. In order to establish the role of the different terms in spin mixing dynamics clearly, we consider the equilibrium state firstly, which shows that the spin-orbit coupling can significantly modify the dispersion relation and change the property of ground state of the condensate. For the non-equilibrium state, the spin-orbit coupling plays an important role in the spin mixing dynamics. Moreover, the oscillation period of spin mixing dynamics is determined by the coupled effects of momentum, magnetization, spin-dependent atomic interaction and spin-orbit coupling. When spin-orbit coupling is less than a critical value, it can prolong the oscillation period of spin mixing dynamics. Conversely, when the spin-orbit coupling is larger than the critical value, it can shorten the oscillation period of spin mixing dynamics. Particularly, when spin-orbit coupling is equal to the critical value, the period tends to infinity. Our study provides a complete spin mixing dynamics of spin-orbit coupled spin-1 BEC, which can be used to explore the spin mixing dynamics experimentally.
On the zeroes of half-integral weight Eisenstein series on Γ0(4)
Authors: Moore Samantha C.
Published: November 2018

We locate all but [Formula: see text] zeroes of the half integral weight Eisenstein series [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] sufficiently large. To do this, we relate [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]’s other Eisenstein series, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], which are easier to study in the regions of which zeroes occur. We will use trigonometric approximations of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in order to locate the zeroes.
Rankin–Cohen brackets on Jacobi forms of several variables and special values of certain Dirichlet series
Authors: Jha Abhash Kumar , Sahu Brundaban
Published: November 2018

We construct certain Jacobi cusp forms of several variables by computing the adjoint of linear map constructed using Rankin–Cohen-type differential operators with respect to the Petersson scalar product. We express the Fourier coefficients of the Jacobi cusp forms constructed, in terms of special values of the shifted convolution of Dirichlet series of Rankin–Selberg type. This is a generalization of an earlier work of the authors on Jacobi forms to the case of Jacobi forms of several variables.
Ramanujan’s theta functions and sums of triangular numbers
Authors: Sun Zhi-Hong
Published: November 2018

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be the set of integers and the set of positive integers, respectively. For [Formula: see text] let [Formula: see text] be the number of representations of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text], and let [Formula: see text] be the number of representations of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. In this paper, by using Ramanujan’s theta functions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] we reveal some general relations between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
p-Adic measures associated with zeta values and p-adic log multiple gamma functions
Authors: Kashio Tomokazu
Published: November 2018

We study a relation between two refinements of the rank one abelian Gross–Stark conjecture. For a suitable abelian extension [Formula: see text] of number fields, a Gross–Stark unit is defined as a [Formula: see text]-unit of [Formula: see text] satisfying certain properties. Let [Formula: see text]. Yoshida and the author constructed the symbol [Formula: see text] by using [Formula: see text]-adic [Formula: see text] multiple gamma functions, and conjectured that the [Formula: see text] of a Gross–Stark unit can be expressed by [Formula: see text]. Dasgupta constructed the symbol [Formula: see text] by using the [Formula: see text]-adic multiplicative integration, and conjectured that a Gross–Stark unit can be expressed by [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give an explicit relation between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and prove that two refinements are consistent.
Convergence of neutral type proportional-delayed HCNNs with D operators
Authors: Xu Yanli , Zhong Jiaming
Published: November 2018

This paper is concerned with neutral type high-order cellular neural networks (HCNNs) involving proportional delays and [Formula: see text] operators. Some criteria are established for the global exponential convergence of the addressed models by using differential inequality techniques. Moreover, an example and its numerical simulations are employed to illustrate the main results.
Finite groups with given sets of 𝔉-subnormal subgroups
Authors: Murashka Viachaslau I.
Published: November 2018

In this paper, the classes of groups with given systems of [Formula: see text]-subnormal subgroups are studied. In particular, it is showed that if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are a saturated homomorph and a hereditary saturated formation, respectively, then the class of groups whose [Formula: see text]-subgroups are all [Formula: see text]-subnormal is a hereditary saturated formation. As corollaries, some known results about supersoluble groups, classes of groups with [Formula: see text]-subnormal cyclic primary and Sylow subgroups are obtained. Also the new characterization of the class of groups whose extreme subgroups all belong [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a hereditary saturated formation, is obtained.
P3
Authors: Hussain Siam Umar , Koushanfar Farinaz
Published: November 2018

This article presents the first privacy-preserving localization method based on provably secure primitives for smart automotive systems. Using this method, a car that is lost due to unavailability of GPS can compute its location with assistance from three nearby cars, while the locations of all the participating cars including the lost car remain private. Technological enhancement of modern vehicles, especially in navigation and communication, necessitates parallel enhancement in security and privacy. Previous approaches to maintaining user location privacy suffered from one or more of the following drawbacks: trade-off between accuracy and privacy, one-sided privacy, and the need of a trusted third party that presents a single point to attack. The localization method presented here is one of the very first location-based services that eliminates all these drawbacks. Two protocols for computing the location is presented here based on two Secure Function Evaluation (SFE) techniques that allow multiple parties to jointly evaluate a function on inputs that are encrypted to maintain privacy. The first one is based on the two-party protocol named Yao’s Garbled Circuit (GC). The second one is based on the Beaver-Micali-Rogaway (BMR) protocol that allows inputs from more than two parties. The two secure localization protocols exhibit trade-offs between performance and resilience against collusion. Along with devising the protocols, we design and optimize netlists for the functions required for location computation by leveraging conventional logic synthesis tools with custom libraries optimized for SFE. Proof-of-concept implementation of the protocol shows that the complete operation can be performed within only 355ms. The fast computing time enables localization of even moving cars.
Canonical Möbius subdivision
Authors: Vaxman Amir , Müller Christian , Weber Ofir
Published: November 2018

We present a novel framework for creating Möbius-invariant subdivision operators with a simple conversion of existing linear subdivision operators. By doing so, we create a wide variety of subdivision surfaces that have properties derived from Möbius geometry; namely, reproducing spheres, circular arcs, and Möbius regularity. Our method is based on establishing a canonical form for each 1-ring in the mesh, representing the class of all 1-rings that are Möbius equivalent to that 1-ring. We perform a chosen linear subdivision operation on these canonical forms, and blend the positions contributed from adjacent 1-rings, using two novel Möbius-invariant operators, into new face and edge points. The generality of the method allows for easy coarse-to-fine mesh editing with diverse polygonal patterns, and with exact reproduction of circular and spherical features. Our operators are in closed-form and their computation is as local as the computation of the linear operators they correspond to, allowing for efficient subdivision mesh editing and optimization.
Accurate dissipative forces in optimization integrators
Authors: Brown George E. , Overby Matthew , Forootaninia Zahra , Narain Rahul
Published: November 2018

We propose a method for accurately simulating dissipative forces in deformable bodies when using optimization-based integrators. We represent such forces using
dissipation functions
which may be nonlinear in both positions and velocities, enabling us to model a range of dissipative effects including Coulomb friction, Rayleigh damping, and power-law dissipation. We propose a general method for incorporating dissipative forces into optimization-based time integration schemes, which hitherto have been applied almost exclusively to systems with only conservative forces. To improve accuracy and minimize artificial damping, we provide an optimization-based version of the second-order accurate TR-BDF2 integrator. Finally, we present a method for modifying arbitrary dissipation functions to conserve linear and angular momentum, allowing us to eliminate the artificial angular momentum loss caused by Rayleigh damping.
Narrow-band topology optimization on a sparsely populated grid
Authors: Liu Haixiang , Hu Yuanming , Zhu Bo , Matusik Wojciech , Sifakis Eftychios
Published: November 2018

A variety of structures in nature exhibit sparse, thin, and intricate features. It is challenging to investigate these structural characteristics using conventional numerical approaches since such features require highly refined spatial resolution to capture and therefore they incur a prohibitively high computational cost. We present a novel computational framework for high-resolution topology optimization that delivers leaps in simulation capabilities, by two orders of magnitude, from the state-of-the-art approaches. Our technique accommodates computational domains with over one billion grid voxels on a single shared-memory multiprocessor platform, allowing automated emergence of structures with both rich geometric features and exceptional mechanical performance. To achieve this, we track the evolution of thin structures and simulate its elastic deformation in a dynamic narrow-band region around high-density sites to avoid wasted computational effort on large void regions. We have also designed a mixed-precision multigrid-preconditioned iterative solver that keeps the memory footprint of the simulation to a compact size while maintaining double-precision accuracy. We have demonstrated the efficacy of the algorithm through optimizing a variety of complex structures from both natural and engineering systems.
DeepLens
Authors: Wang Lijun , Shen Xiaohui , Zhang Jianming , Wang Oliver , Lin Zhe , Hsieh Chih-Yao , Kong Sarah , Lu Huchuan
Published: November 2018

We aim to generate high resolution shallow depth-of-field (DoF) images from a single all-in-focus image with controllable focal distance and aperture size. To achieve this, we propose a novel neural network model comprised of a depth prediction module, a lens blur module, and a guided upsampling module. All modules are differentiable and are learned from data. To train our depth prediction module, we collect a dataset of 2462 RGB-D images captured by mobile phones with a dual-lens camera, and use existing segmentation datasets to improve border prediction. We further leverage a synthetic dataset with known depth to supervise the lens blur and guided upsampling modules. The effectiveness of our system and training strategies are verified in the experiments. Our method can generate high-quality shallow DoF images at high resolution, and produces significantly fewer artifacts than the baselines and existing solutions for single image shallow DoF synthesis. Compared with the iPhone portrait mode, which is a state-of-the-art shallow DoF solution based on a dual-lens depth camera, our method generates comparable results, while allowing for greater flexibility to choose focal points and aperture size, and is not limited to one capture setup.
SFV
Authors: Peng Xue Bin , Kanazawa Angjoo , Malik Jitendra , Abbeel Pieter , Levine Sergey
Published: November 2018

Data-driven character animation based on motion capture can produce highly naturalistic behaviors and, when combined with physics simulation, can provide for natural procedural responses to physical perturbations, environmental changes, and morphological discrepancies. Motion capture remains the most popular source of motion data, but collecting mocap data typically requires heavily instrumented environments and actors. In this paper, we propose a method that enables physically simulated characters to learn skills from videos (SFV). Our approach, based on deep pose estimation and deep reinforcement learning, allows data-driven animation to leverage the abundance of publicly available video clips from the web, such as those from YouTube. This has the potential to enable fast and easy design of character controllers simply by querying for video recordings of the desired behavior. The resulting controllers are robust to perturbations, can be adapted to new settings, can perform basic object interactions, and can be retargeted to new morphologies via reinforcement learning. We further demonstrate that our method can predict potential human motions from still images, by forward simulation of learned controllers initialized from the observed pose. Our framework is able to learn a broad range of dynamic skills, including locomotion, acrobatics, and martial arts. (Video
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Towards multifocal displays with dense focal stacks
Authors: Chang Jen-Hao Rick , Kumar B. V. K. Vijaya , Sankaranarayanan Aswin C.
Published: November 2018

We present a virtual reality display that is capable of generating a dense collection of depth/focal planes. This is achieved by driving a focus-tunable lens to sweep a range of focal lengths at a high frequency and, subsequently, tracking the focal length precisely at microsecond time resolutions using an optical module. Precise tracking of the focal length, coupled with a high-speed display, enables our lab prototype to generate 1600 focal planes per second. This enables a novel first-of-its-kind virtual reality multifocal display that is capable of resolving the vergence-accommodation conflict endemic to today's displays.