bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fragility Analysis of a Self‐Anchored Suspension Bridge Based on Structural Health Monitoring Data
Authors: Cheng Yuyao , Zhang Jian , Wu Jiajia
Published: September 2019

This paper presents an improved fragility analysis methodology to estimate structural vulnerability for probabilistic seismic risk assessment. Three main features distinguish this study from previous efforts. Firstly, the updated fragility curves generated are based on experimental measurements and possess higher accuracy than those produced using design information only. The updated fragility curves take into consideration both the geometry and material properties, as well as long‐term health monitoring data, to reflect the current state of the structure appropriately. Secondly, to avoid arbitrariness when selecting ground motions, probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) is adopted to provide suggestions for ground motion selection. By considering the uncertainty of the location and intensity of future earthquakes, the PSHA deaggregation result can help to determine the most probable earthquake scenarios for the specific site. Thus, the suggested ground motions are more realistic, and the seismic demand model is much closer to the actual results. Thirdly, this study focuses on the seismic performance evaluation of a typical self‐anchored suspension bridge using the form of fragility curves, which has seldom been studied in the literature. The results show that bearing is the most vulnerable part of a self‐anchored suspension bridge, while failure probabilities of concrete towers are relatively lower.
Influences of Three-Way Concept Lattice Caused by Variations of Attribute Values
Authors: Zhi Huilai , Hu Shulin
Published: September 2019

Three-way concept lattices have been widely used in various types of applications. As the construction of three-way concept lattices is rather time consuming, especially for large formal contexts, it is not applicable to construct the lattices from the beginning when changes are made to the contexts. Motivated by this problem, the influences of three-way concept lattices caused by variations of attribute values are explored in this study. Specifically, we discuss two types of changes. One is changing the value of a specific incidence relation from 0 to 1, and the other is from 1 to 0. Furthermore, two types of three-way concept lattices are investigated. One is the object-induced three-way concept lattice, and the other is the attribute-induced three-way concept lattice. Both the mathematical proofs and the examples show the effectiveness of our proposed methods.
Fast Model Predictive Control Based on Adaptive Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers
Authors: Li Yu , Zou Qiming , Ji Xiaoru , Zhang Chanyuan , Lu Ke
Published: September 2019

Model Predictive Control (MPC) can effectively handle control problem with disturbances, multicontrol variables, and complex constraints and is widely used in various control systems. In MPC, the control input at each time step is obtained by solving an online optimization problem, which will cause a time delay in real time on embedded computers with limited computational resources. In this paper, we utilize adaptive Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (a-ADMM) to accelerate the solution of MPC. This method adaptively adjusts penalty parameter to balance the value of primal residual and dual residual. The performance of this approach is profiled via the control of a quadcopter with 12 states and 4 controls and prediction horizon ranging from 10 to 40. The simulation results demonstrate that the MPC based on a-ADMM has a significant improvement in real-time and convergence performance and thus is more suitable for solving large-scale optimal control problems.
Observational Study on the Characteristics of the Boundary Layer during Changes in the Intensity of Tropical Cyclones Landing in Guangdong, China
Authors: Liao Fei , Su Ran , Chan Pak-Wai , Qi Yanbin , Hon Kai-Kwong
Published: September 2019

Eleven tropical cyclones that landed in Guangdong Province since 2012 and experienced strengthening or weakening over the offshore area were studied. Since the structure of the tropical cyclone boundary layer significantly influences the variation of the intensity of the cyclone, continuous observations of the wind profile radar at a coastal radar station in Guangdong Province were combined with aircraft observation data of the No. 1604 “Nida” cyclone to analyse the variations in the distributions of the radial wind, tangential wind, and angular momentum in the typhoon boundary layer and the similarities and differences between the boundary layers of the 11 tropical cyclones during the strengthening or weakening of their intensities. The analysis results show that the presence of the supergradient wind and the enhancement effect of the radial inflow play important roles in enhancing the intensity of a tropical cyclone. The observations indicate that when the tangential wind velocity in the maximum wind velocity radius reaches the velocity of the supergradient wind and when the radial inflow either gradually increases towards the centre of the tropical cyclone or gradually covers the entire boundary layer, the angular momentum tends to be shifted towards the centre. At this time, the maximum radial inflow, maximum tangential wind, and maximum angular momentum are in the same height range in the vertical direction. When a strong radial outflow occurs in the boundary layer of a tropical cyclone or the area with maximum wind velocity is located in the air outflow, the angular momentum cannot easily be transported towards the centre of the typhoon. Therefore, the spatial configuration of the three physical quantities will determine future changes in the intensity of tropical cyclones. The scope of the results presented here is limited to the 11 selected cases and suggests extending the analysis to more data.
Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Retinal and Choroidal Thickness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yang Tian-Ke , Huang Xiao-Gang , Yao Jing-Yan
Published: September 2019

Background. Cigarette smoking has been regarded as a risk factor for the incidence of a wide variety of chronic illness; however, its effect on thickness of the retina or choroid is still unknown. Methods. A consummate literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase up to January, 2018. The quantitative synthesis was conducted by Stata 12.0. Results. A total of 13 observational studies were included in this meta-analysis. In this meta-analysis of all available observational studies, no significant effect of tobacco smoking on retinal or choroidal thickness change was detected. However, advanced analyses showed that smoking would influence the thickness of RNFL (average: SMD, −0.332; 95% CI, −0.637 to −0.027; inferior: SMD, −0.632; 95% CI, −1.092 to −0.172; and superior: SMD, −0.720; 95% CI, −0.977 to −0.463) and GCL (superior: SMD, −0.549; 95% CI, −0.884 to −0.215; inferior: SMD, −0.602; 95% CI, −0.938 to −0.265). Meanwhile, subgroup analyses demonstrated that the results based on studies in some regions (America and Africa) and cross-sectional studies showed a reduced choroidal thickness in smokers. No publication bias was detected in this study. Conclusion. In conclusion, no significant effect of tobacco smoking on retinal or choroidal thickness change was detected. However, smoking would influence the thickness of RNFL and GCL. Future research on this field would help in the prevention and treatment of smoking-associated disorders.
A Finite Point Method for Solving the Time Fractional Richards’ Equation
Authors: Qin Xinqiang , Yang Xin
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we propose a numerical method for solving the time fractional Richards’ equation. We first approximate the time fractional derivative of the mentioned equations by a scheme of order O(τ2−α), 0 < a<1; then, we use the finite point method to approximate the spatial derivatives. Before the discrete spatial derivatives, we introduced the basic principles of the finite point method. We solve the one‐ and two‐dimensional versions of these equations using the proposed method. Moreover, the stability properties of the discretized scheme related to time are theoretically analyzed. Numerical results showed the efficiency of the method presented in this paper.
On the Novel Finite‐Time Stability Results for Uncertain Fractional Delay Differential Equations Involving Noninstantaneous Impulses
Authors: Li Qien , Luo Danfeng , Luo Zhiguo , Zhu Quanxin
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we mainly study the finite‐time stability for a kind of uncertain fractional‐order delay differential equations with noninstantaneous impulses. By using the Lyapunov functions along with the generalized Grönwall inequality, we present the new stability results for the considered equations. Finally, two examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Smoked Corbicula fluminea Collected on Roadside Vendors at Kelantan, Malaysia
Authors: Dee Koh Han , Abdullah Faizuan , Md Nasir Siti Nor Aini , Appalasamy Suganthi , Mohd Ghazi Rozidaini , Eh Rak Aweng
Published: September 2019

Corbicula fluminea serves as traditional food to the local people in Kelantan, Malaysia. Concerns regarding river contamination, smoking method, and associated adverse effects on public health had been increasing. Hence, this study aims to measure the level of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn) and assess human health risk in C. fluminea consumption at Kelantan. Heavy-metal analysis was done using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while human health risk was assessed using provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI). The estimated weekly intake (EWI) for all metals was found within PTWI, while THQ for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn was 0.12, 0.06, 0.04, 0.41, and 0.03, respectively. The HI was calculated at 0.61 which is less than 1, considered as the safe consumption level. Therefore, C. fluminea consumption in this study was found safe from the health risk of noncarcinogenic effect over a lifetime.
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of a Proximal Esophageal Pyogenic Granuloma
Authors: Estifan Elias , Patel Varun , Grossman Matthew
Published: September 2019

Pyogenic Granuloma (PG), also known as lobular capillary hemangioma, is usually seen as a polypoid red lesion found on the skin or the mucosal surface of the oral cavity. PG of the gastrointestinal tract is rare, in particular involving the esophagus, only 14 cases have been reported in the English literature. We present an 80-year-old male who underwent endoscopy for evaluation of dysphagia and was found to have a single, red, bilobed 10 mm polyp with adherent white exudate approximately 19 cm from the incisors. Endoscopic ultrasound was performed with a 20 mHz miniprobe which showed the lesion contained to the mucosal layer with no muscularis propria invasion. A decision was made to perform endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). A mixture of saline and methylene blue was injected into the submucosal plane to raise the lesion with subsequent successful mucosal hot snare resection. The resection defect was then approximated and closed with a hemostatic clip to prevent bleeding. Pathology of the specimen revealed small capillary vessels growing in a lobular architecture with an edematous stroma and a florid inflammatory infiltrate representing a pyogenic granuloma. EMR allows for an en bloc resection of mucosal lesions with tumor-free margins, thereby providing both diagnostic and prognostic information. Comparing EMR with the novel technique of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), the incidence of bleeding and perforation is much lower; making EMR the best and safest resection option for this rare hemangioma. In this case, we demonstrate that EMR is a safe technique in removing a pyogenic granuloma in the esophagus.
Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulators in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Window-of-Opportunity Trial Using Telapristone Acetate
Authors: Lee Oukseub , Sullivan Megan E. , Xu Yanfei , Rogers Chiara , Muzzio Miguel , Helenowski Irene , Shidfar Ali , Zeng Zexian , Singhal Hari , Jovanovic Borko , Hansen Nora , Bethke Kevin P. , Gann Peter H. , Gradishar William , Kim J. Julie , Clare Susan E. , Khan Seema A.
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

Selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) show preclinical activity against hormone-sensitive breast cancer, but have not been tested in patients with early, treatment-naïve tumors.

Patients and Methods:

In a double-blind presurgical window trial of oral telapristone acetate (TPA) 12 mg daily versus placebo, 70 patients with early-stage breast cancer were randomized 1:1 (stratified by menopause) and treated for 2 to 10 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in Ki67 between diagnostic biopsy and surgical specimens. Gene expression pre- and posttherapy was assessed using RNA-sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis was performed to determine pathways enriched in response to TPA and placebo treatments.

Results:

Among 61 evaluable women (29 placebo and 32 telapristone acetate), 91% of tumors were ER/PR positive. The mean Ki67 declined by 5.5% in all women treated with telapristone acetate (P = 0.003), and by 4.2% in all women treated with placebo (P = 0.04). After menopausal stratification, the Ki67 decline remained significant in 22 telapristone acetate–treated premenopausal women (P = 0.03). Differential gene expression analysis showed no significant modulation overall. However, in a subset of tumors that demonstrated ≥30% relative reduction in Ki67 in the telapristone acetate group, genes related to cell-cycle progression, and those in the HER2 amplicon were significantly downregulated. In contrast, no significantly enriched pathways were identified in the placebo group.

Conclusions:

Patients treated with telapristone acetate whose Ki67 decreased by ≥30% demonstrated a selective antiproliferative signal, with a potentially important effect on HER2 amplicon genes. Evaluation of SPRMs in a neoadjuvant trial is merited, with attention to predictors of response to SPRM therapy, and inclusion of pre- and postmenopausal women.
Comparative Genomics Reveals Shared Mutational Landscape in Canine Hemangiosarcoma and Human Angiosarcoma
Authors: Megquier Kate , Turner-Maier Jason , Swofford Ross , Kim Jong-Hyuk , Sarver Aaron L. , Wang Chao , Sakthikumar Sharadha , Johnson Jeremy , Koltookian Michele , Lewellen Mitzi , Scott Milcah C. , Schulte Ashley J. , Borst Luke , Tonomura Noriko , Alfoldi Jessica , Painter Corrie , Thomas Rachael , Karlsson Elinor K. , Breen Matthew , Modiano Jaime F. , Elvers Ingegerd , Lindblad-Toh Kerstin
Published: September 2019

Angiosarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer of blood vessel–forming cells with few effective treatment options and high patient mortality. It is both rare and heterogenous, making large, well-powered genomic studies nearly impossible. Dogs commonly suffer from a similar cancer, called hemangiosarcoma, with breeds like the golden retriever carrying heritable genetic factors that put them at high risk. If the clinical similarity of canine hemangiosarcoma and human angiosarcoma reflects shared genomic etiology, dogs could be a critically needed model for advancing angiosarcoma research. We assessed the genomic landscape of canine hemangiosarcoma via whole-exome sequencing (47 golden retriever hemangiosarcomas) and RNA sequencing (74 hemangiosarcomas from multiple breeds). Somatic coding mutations occurred most frequently in the tumor suppressor TP53 (59.6% of cases) as well as two genes in the PI3K pathway: the oncogene PIK3CA (29.8%) and its regulatory subunit PIK3R1 (8.5%). The predominant mutational signature was the age-associated deamination of cytosine to thymine. As reported in human angiosarcoma, CDKN2A/B was recurrently deleted and VEGFA, KDR, and KIT recurrently gained. We compared the canine data to human data recently released by The Angiosarcoma Project, and found many of the same genes and pathways significantly enriched for somatic mutations, particularly in breast and visceral angiosarcomas. Canine hemangiosarcoma closely models the genomic landscape of human angiosarcoma of the breast and viscera, and is a powerful tool for investigating the pathogenesis of this devastating disease.

Implications:

We characterize the genomic landscape of canine hemangiosarcoma and demonstrate its similarity to human angiosarcoma.
EUS-B-FNA for Diagnosing Liver and Celiac Metastases in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Christiansen Ida Skovgaard , Bodtger Uffe , Naur Therese Maria Henriette , Ahmad Khaliq , Singh Sidhu Jatinder , Nessar Rafi , Salih Goran Nadir , Høegholm Asbjørn , Annema Jouke Tabe , Clementsen Paul Frost
Published: September 2019

Background: In patients with suspected or proven lung cancer, assessment of regional nodal and distant metastases is key before treatment planning. By introducing the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided scope into the esophagus and stomach (EUS-B), liver lesions and celiac nodes can be visualized. To date, the utility of EUS-B in diagnosing liver lesions and retroperitoneal lymph nodes is unknown. Objectives: To assess the feasibility, safety, and diagnostic yield of sampling of liver lesions and retroperitoneal nodes by EUS-B fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in a lung cancer staging setting. Method: Consecutive patients suspected of lung cancer in 2 Danish centers between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2017 were included retrospectively when a lesion in the liver or a retroperitoneal lymph node was visualized and biopsied with EUS-B-FNA. Results: 23 left liver lobe lesions and 19 retroperitoneal lymph nodes were sampled by EUS-B-FNA. Sensitivity and diagnostic yield of sampled liver lesions were 86 and 83%, respectively. In 19/23 patients, there was a cytopathological diagnosis of malignancy. Sensitivity and diagnostic yield from retroperitoneal lymph node samples were 83 and 63%, respectively. In 10/19 patients, the diagnosis was malignancy. No complications were observed. Conclusion: EUS-B-FNA enables safe sampling of left liver lobe lesions and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. EUS-B should be considered as a minimally invasive technique to provide tissue proof of distant metastases lung cancer patients.
Uremic Toxins and their Relation to Dialysis Efficacy
Authors: Clark William R. , Dehghani Nader Laal , Narsimhan Vivek , Ronco Claudio
Published: September 2019

Toxin retention is felt to be a major contributor to the development of uremia in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Uremic retention compounds are classically divided into 3 categories: small solutes, middle molecules, and protein-bound toxins. Compounds comprising the first category, for which the upper molecular weight limit is generally considered to be 500 Da, possess a high degree of water solubility and minimal or absent protein binding. The second category of middle molecules has largely evolved now to be synonymous with peptides and proteins that accumulate in uremia. Although not precisely defined, low-molecular weight proteins as a class have a molecular weight spectrum ranging from approximately 500 to 60,000 daltons. The final category of uremic retention compounds is protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs). As opposed to the above small, highly water-soluble toxins, which are largely by-products of protein metabolism, PBUTs have diverse origins and possess chemical characteristics that preclude the possibility of circulation in an unbound form despite being of low molecular weight. This review is the first in a series of papers designed to provide the current state of the art for extracorporeal treatment of ESRD. Subsequent papers in this series will address membranes, mass transfer mechanisms, and future directions. For small solutes and middle molecules, particular emphasis is placed on the important clinical trials that comprise the evidence base regarding the influence of dialytic solute removal on outcome. Because such trials do not exist for PBUTs, the discussion here is instead focused on solute characteristics and renal elimination mechanisms.
Quality of Life Concerns in Patients with Uveal Melanoma after Initial Diagnosis
Authors: Barker Christopher A. , Kozlova Anna , Shoushtari Alexander N. , Hay Jennifer L. , Francis Jasmine H. , Abramson David H.
Published: September 2019

Background: Patients with uveal melanoma (UM) are known to have quality of life (QOL) issues after treatment, but QOL concerns after initial diagnosis are ill-defined. Objectives: We studied the QOL concerns of patients with UM after initial diagnosis to identify factors associated with QOL. Method: Between September 2011 and May 2016, UM planning to undergo radiotherapy completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core quality of life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30, as well as the Ophthalmic Oncology module, QLQ-OPT30. Demographic, ophthalmic, and tumor related characteristics were recorded. The primary outcome was the QOL score and fraction of patients reporting any or severe symptoms. A multiple stepwise regression model investigated the association of demographic, ophthalmic, and tumor characteristics with QOL. Results: QOL concerns were assessed in 201 subjects. The majority (51/60) of QOL items had a high response rate (≥90%), and internal consistency on scales (median Cronbach α = 0.85) with the most common severe QOL concern being worry about disease recurrence (41%). The most common ophthalmic symptoms reported were vision impairment (81%) and ocular irritation (66%). Multivariable regression modeling demonstrated several significant associations. Conclusions: Severe worry about UM recurrence, ocular irritation, and vision impairment was reported by many patients. Clinicians should be aware of these concerns and implement management strategies.
Successful Management of Acquired Factor V Inhibitor by Monitoring Factor V Activity, Antigen, and Inhibitor Values during Immunosuppressive Therapy
Authors: Mihara Masahiro , Ogawa Yoshiyuki , Nagasaka Motoo , Kobayashi Nobuhiko , Shimizu Hiroaki , Shinozawa Keiko , Fukutake Katsuyuki , Inoue Madoka , Murakami Masami , Handa Hiroshi
Published: September 2019

Acquired factor V inhibitor (AFVI) results from the formation of autoantibodies to coagulation factor V (FV), and the clinical phenotype can range from asymptomatic laboratory abnormalities to life-threatening bleeds. We describe a 74-year-old man who developed AFVI along with a massive subcutaneous hematoma. He was initially treated with prednisolone (PSL), but AFVI recurred when the dose was reduced after a short period. We subsequently increased the PSL dose and added cyclophosphamide (CY), which resulted in a complete response. We then gradually tapered PSL and stopped CY, and the patient has since remained free of recurrent AFVI symptoms. We monitored FV activity, antigen concentrations, and inhibitor titers of this patient throughout the clinical course. The ratio of FV activity to antigen concentration was low at diagnosis and gradually increased along with the patient’s improvement. This ratio might be a useful parameter for evaluating the effects of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with AFVI.
Self-Completion Method of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Using Endosaber without Any Other Device or Assistance: An ex vivo Porcine Model Study
Authors: Esaki Mitsuru , Minoda Yosuke , Wada Masafumi , Sakisaka Seiichiro , Tsuruta Shinichi , Hosokawa Taizo , Matsuguchi Takahiro , Ichijima Ryoji , Suzuki Sho , Tamura Yu , Iwao Aya , Yamakawa Shun , Irie Akira , Ihara Eikichi , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: September 2019

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a standard treatment for tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. We developed a self-completion method of ESD using Endosaber to eliminate the need for an additional device or human assistance during the procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and outcomes of this method in an ex vivo porcine training model. Methods: This was a pilot study, and the procedures were performed by 4 experts. Mock lesions measuring 15 mm in diameter were prepared at the posterior wall in the middle or lower esophagus obtained from domestic pigs. Each operator performed ESD on the mock lesions in 3 models. The primary outcome was ESD completion rate using the self-completion method. The secondary outcomes were procedure time, en bloc resection rate, perforation rate, and number of injections during the procedure. Results: All 12 ESDs were completed using the self-completion method. The median procedure time (interquartile range) was 483.5 (399–619.3) s (median incision time: 240.4 [168.3–332.5] s; median dissection time: 222 [182.8–257] s). En bloc resection rate was 100%. No perforation was noted during any of the procedures. The median number of injections was 10.5 (9–14.3). The procedure time decreased significantly with increase in experience (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The self-completion ESD method using one Endosaber without any assistance achieved a 100% en bloc resection rate without any perforation. The need for an additional device or assistance was successfully eliminated. This method may prove to be a simple and cost-effective ESD procedure for lesions in humans.
Further Delineation of Liver Involvement in Girls and Women with Turner Syndrome: Case Report of a 2-Year-Old with Liver Dysfunction and Review of Patients Followed in the MassGeneral Hospital Turner Syndrome Clinic
Authors: Jafri Rabab Z. , McNamara Erin A. , Snyder Emma A. , Shah Uzma , Singh Isani , Hayes Frances J. , Lin Angela E. , Levitsky Lynne L.
Published: September 2019

Background: Liver function test (LFT) abnormalities, which may reflect underlying pathophysiology, are a well-known feature of Turner syndrome. Less frequently, liver findings may include vascular changes and, rarely, severe liver disease. Although previous studies on children and adolescents suggest a frequency of LFT abnormalities of up to 60%, less is known about the age at onset and natural history. Methods: We report a now 19-year-old young woman with Turner syndrome mosaicism with elevated transaminase levels first detected at the age of 2 years. We also present a retrospective analysis of 179 girls and women followed in the MassGeneral Hospital Turner Syndrome Clinic. Results: In the index case, the severity of liver function test abnormalities fluctuated without complete resolution from 2 to 18 years of age. In the full cohort of 179 patients, when lab results were available, elevated ALT levels occurred in 16 (11%) subjects of all ages, and in 5 (10%) patients ≤18 years of age. Significant and persistent ALT elevations occurred in 2 patients <10 years of age. Conclusion: The updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for the care of girls and women with Turner syndrome recommend annual liver function tests throughout the lifespan, starting at the age of 10 years. Based on our data showing persistent elevation of at least one liver enzyme, we recommend a prospective and more comprehensive study of liver function in younger patients with Turner syndrome. An improved estimate of prevalence could better inform age-adjusted guidelines.
The Health and Retirement Study Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol Project: Study Design and Methods
Authors: Langa Kenneth M. , Ryan Lindsay H. , McCammon Ryan J. , Jones Richard N. , Manly Jennifer J. , Levine Deborah A. , Sonnega Amanda , Farron Madeline , Weir David R.
Published: September 2019

Introduction: The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) Project is a substudy within the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), an ongoing nationally representative panel study of about 20,000 adults aged 51 or older in the United States. The HCAP is part of an international research collaboration funded by the National Institute on Aging to better measure and identify cognitive impairment and dementia in representative population-based samples of older adults, in the context of ongoing longitudinal studies of aging in high-, middle-, and low-income countries around the world. Methods: The HCAP cognitive test battery was designed to measure a range of key cognitive domains affected by cognitive aging (including attention, memory, executive function, language, and visuospatial function) and to allow harmonization and comparisons to other studies in the United States and around the world. The HCAP included a pair of in-person interviews, one with the target HRS respondent (a randomly selected HRS sample member, aged 65+) that lasted approximately 1 h and one with an informant nominated by the respondent that lasted approximately 20 min. The final HRS HCAP sample included 3,496 study subjects, representing a 79% response rate among those invited to participate. Conclusion: Linking detailed HCAP cognitive assessments to the wealth of available longitudinal HRS data on cognition, health, biomarkers, genetics, health care utilization, informal care, and economic resources and behavior will provide unique and expanded opportunities to study cognitive impairment and dementia in a nationally representative US population-based sample. The fielding of similar HCAP projects in multiple countries around the world will provide additional opportunities to study international differences in the prevalence, incidence, and outcomes of dementia globally with comparable data. Like all HRS data, HCAP data are publicly available at no cost to researchers.
The Use of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption as an Indicator of Hazardous Alcohol Use among University Students
Authors: Verhoog Sanne , Dopmeijer Jolien M. , de Jonge Jannet M. , van der Heijde Claudia M. , Vonk Peter , Bovens Rob H.L.M. , de Boer Michiel R. , Hoekstra Trynke , Kunst Anton E. , Wiers Reinout W. , Kuipers Mirte A.G.
Published: September 2019

Background: Hazardous drinking among students in higher education is a growing concern. The alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) is the gold standard screening instrument for hazardous drinking in the adult population, for which an abbreviated version has been developed: the ­AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C). Currently, there’s no gold standard for identifying hazardous drinking among students in higher education and little evidence regarding the concurrent validity of the AUDIT-C as a screening instrument for this group. This study investigated the concurrent validity of the AUDIT-C in a sample of university students and suggests the most appropriate cutoff points. Methods: Cross-sectional data of health surveys from 5,401 university and university of applied sciences in the Netherlands were used. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for different cutoff scores of AUDIT-C were calculated for the total sample and for subgroups stratified by age, gender, and educational level. AUDIT-score ≥11 was used as the criterion of hazardous and harmful drinking. Results: Twenty percent of students were hazardous and harmful drinkers. The area under the ROC curve was 0.922 (95% CI 0.914–0.930). At an AUDIT-C cutoff score of ≥7, sensitivity and specificity were both >80%, while other cutoffs showed less balanced results. A cutoff of ≥8 performed better among males, but for other subgroups ≥7 was most suitable. Conclusion: AUDIT-C seems valid in identifying hazardous and harmful drinking students, with suggested optimal cutoffs 7 (females) or 8 (males). However, considerations regarding avoiding false-positives versus false-negatives, in relation to the type of intervention following screening, could lead to selecting different cutoffs.
Predictors of Acne Vulgaris among Adolescents in Kuwait
Authors: AlKhabbaz Mona , Al-Taiar Abdullah , Saeed Marwa , Al-Sabah Reem , Albatineh Ahmed N.
Published: September 2019

Objectives: The prevalence of acne vulgaris (AV) among adolescents in Kuwait has remained mostly unknown. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of AV and its predictors among adolescents in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 participants who were randomly selected from public schools using multistage cluster random sampling. The presence or absence of AV, as well as severity of AV, were assessed using the Global Acne Grading Scale. Data on risk factors and potential confounders were collected from the parents through a self-administered questionnaire, and from the adolescents by face-to-face interview. Weight and height were measured in a standardized manner. Results: Of 714 participants, 320 (44.8%; 95% CI 41.1–48.6%) self-reported AV. By clinical examination, AV was found among 479 (67.1%; 95% CI 63.5–70.5%) participants. Factors that were found to be significantly associated with AV in multivariable analysis were age, gender, nationality, and BMI categories. Females compared to males (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] 1.16 [95% CI 1.05–1.25]; p = 0.006) and overweight or obese adolescents compared to normal weight (APR 1.15 [95% CI 1.02–1.26] and 1.14 [95% CI 1.02–1.23], respectively; p = 0.026) were more likely to have AV. None of the food items studied showed an association with AV in multivariable analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported AV seems to be lower than that reported in other settings, while the prevalence of AV by clinical examination resembles that reported in many other countries. BMI was the only modifiable risk factor associated with AV in multivariable analysis, and none of the food items studied was related to the presence or absence of AV in multivariable analysis.
Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Small Bowel and Pancreas
Authors: Clift Ashley Kieran , Kidd Mark , Bodei Lisa , Toumpanakis Christos , Baum Richard P. , Oberg Kjell , Modlin Irvin M. , Frilling Andrea
Published: September 2019

The traditionally promulgated perspectives of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) as rare, indolent tumours are blunt and have been outdated for the last 2 decades. Clear increments in their incidence over the past decades render them increasingly clinically relevant, and at initial diagnosis many present with nodal and/or distant metastases (notably hepatic). The molecular pathogenesis of these tumours is increasingly yet incompletely understood. Those arising from the small bowel (SB) or pancreas typically occur sporadically; the latter may occur within the context of hereditary tumour predisposition syndromes. NENs can also be associated with endocrinopathy of hormonal hypersecretion. Tangible advances in the development of novel biomarkers, functional imaging modalities and therapy are especially applicable to this sub-set of tumours. The management of SB and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NET) may be challenging, and often comprises a multidisciplinary approach wherein surgical, medical, interventional radiological and radiotherapeutic modalities are implemented. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of SB and pancreatic NETs. Moreover, we provide an outlook of the future in these tumour types which will include the development of precision oncology frameworks for individualised therapy, multi-analyte predictive biomarkers, artificial intelligence-derived clinical decision support tools and elucidation of the role of the microbiome in NEN development and clinical behaviour.
Efficient Contextual Representation Learning With Continuous Outputs
Authors: Li Liunian Harold , Chen Patrick H. , Hsieh Cho-Jui , Chang Kai-Wei
Published: September 2019

Contextual representation models have achieved great success in improving various downstream natural language processing tasks. However, these language-model-based encoders are difficult to train due to their large parameter size and high computational complexity. By carefully examining the training procedure, we observe that the softmax layer, which predicts a distribution of the target word, often induces significant overhead, especially when the vocabulary size is large. Therefore, we revisit the design of the output layer and consider directly predicting the pre-trained embedding of the target word for a given context. When applied to ELMo, the proposed approach achieves a 4-fold speedup and eliminates 80% trainable parameters while achieving competitive performance on downstream tasks. Further analysis shows that the approach maintains the speed advantage under various settings, even when the sentence encoder is scaled up.
Perturbation Based Learning for Structured NLP Tasks with Application to Dependency Parsing
Authors: Doitch Amichay , Yazdi Ram , Hazan Tamir , Reichart Roi
Published: September 2019

The best solution of structured prediction models in NLP is often inaccurate because of limited expressive power of the model or to non-exact parameter estimation. One way to mitigate this problem is sampling candidate solutions from the model’s solution space, reasoning that effective exploration of this space should yield high-quality solutions. Unfortunately, sampling is often computationally hard and many works hence back-off to sub-optimal strategies, such as extraction of the best scoring solutions of the model, which are not as diverse as sampled solutions. In this paper we propose a perturbation-based approach where sampling from a probabilistic model is computationally efficient. We present a learning algorithm for the variance of the perturbations, and empirically demonstrate its importance. Moreover, while finding the argmax in our model is intractable, we propose an efficient and effective approximation. We apply our framework to cross-lingual dependency parsing across 72 corpora from 42 languages and to lightly supervised dependency parsing across 13 corpora from 12 languages, and demonstrate strong results in terms of both the quality of the entire solution list and of the final solution.1
A revision of the Hymenasplenium unilaterale subclade (Aspleniaceae; Pteridophyta) with the description of nine new species

Authors: XU KE-WANG , LORENCE DAVID , WOOD KENNETH R , LIAO WEN-BO , ZHANG LI-BING
Published: September 2019

A taxonomic study of the Hymenasplenium unilaterale subclade (Aspleniaceae) is presented based on morphological and molecular evidence. Twelve species are recognized, nine of which are described as new. The nine new species include H. kinabaluense, H. solomonense, H. madagascariense, H. nigricostatum, H. neocaledonicum, H. oligosorum, H. queenslandicum, H. samoaense, and H. vanuatuense. Of the 12 species recognized, one occurs in Malaysia, East Africa, and Reunion, one in southern Vietnam, and the rest restricted to 1–2 islands of the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. These new species have been erroneously treated as H. unilaterale by earlier pteridologists. All species were included in a recent phylogenetic analysis and supported as distinct lineages based on molecular data. A key to the species and information on their distributions, habitats, and major distinguishing characters are provided.
Description of Myxacorys almedinensis sp. nov. (Synechococcales, Cyanobacteria) isolated from the limestone walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, Portugal (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Authors: SOARES FABIANA , TIAGO IGOR , TROVÃO JOÃO , COELHO CATARINA , MESQUITA NUNO , GIL FRANCISCO , CATARINO LÍDIA , CARDOSO SUSANA M. , PORTUGAL ANTÓNIO
Published: September 2019

Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic microorganisms able to colonize historic stone monuments, causing severe aesthetic, physical and chemical alterations to the substrate. In a study that aimed to fingerprint the phototrophic community of the biodeteriorated walls of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (UNESCO World Heritage Site), an unknown Myxacorys-like cyanobacterium was isolated. In this paper, we employed a polyphasic approach based on morphological, ecological and phylogenetic analyses of the partial 16S and the whole 16S-23S ITS rRNA regions. The resulting analyses allowed us to propose the description of a new species, Myxacorys almedinensis sp. nov. within the genus Myxacorys.
The genus Crocinoboletus (Boletaceae, Boletales): a new species and updated information for previously described species

Authors: WU LU-LING , LIANG ZHI-QUN , XUE ROU , FAN YU-GUANG , JIANG SHUAI , FU YONG-QING , ZENG NIAN-KAI , SU MING-SHENG
Published: September 2019

The morphology, ecology, and phylogenetic relationships of species of Crocinoboletus (Boletaceae, Boletales) were investigated. One species, C. pinetorum, new to science, is characterized by a pileus yellowish orange to pale orange in color, surface of pileus and stipe usually unchanging in color when bruised, shorter basidiospores measuring 9.5–11.5 × 4–5 (–5.5) μm, and its association with pine trees. Information on C. laetissimus and C. rufoaureus is updated. A key to all known taxa of Crocinoboletus is also provided.
Betrayal of Trust in Medical Manslaughter
Authors: Wheeler Rupert , Wheeler Robert
Published: September 2019

Despite efforts spanning 200 years, judges are yet to find a form of words that can explain adequately the meaning of ‘gross’ to a jury trying gross negligence medical manslaughter. Accordingly, those assessing whether to prosecute the crime are equally bewildered unable to calculate the likelihood of conviction. Jurors tasked with determining a defendant’s guilt are faced with a lack of clarity that often fails to render just results. We are led to conclude that an entirely different formula is required for assessing whether a defendant is guilty of manslaughter in the medical context. We propose that, rather than requiring the prosecution to prove that the defendant’s actions were truly, exceptionally bad (as currently required for gross negligence manslaughter), a more appropriate test would be whether there has been a betrayal of trust by the doctor towards his patient, resulting in death. This is akin to breaching a fiduciary duty. Through applying the test to the facts of well-known cases, we argue that the ‘betrayal of trust’ test would be easier for juries, defendants and practitioners to understand. Furthermore, the proposed test avoids the long-standing difficulty of circularity that exists in the current law and is able to separate more effectively the distinction between a doctor’s personal failings and the failings of the system. We conclude that though the ‘betrayal of trust’ test may result in fewer prosecutions, the corresponding impact on the medical profession would ultimately be beneficial to society.
Performance optimization of aircraft deicing equipment based on genetic algorithm
Authors: Chen Bin , Yang Yalei , Liu Jianhua
Published: September 2019

Using deicing fluids is the main way of aircraft ground deicing, which plays an important role in ensuring flights’ safety. However, most of the airports use deicing fluids excessively to ensure the quality and efficiency of aircraft ground deicing, which will not only cause a large amount of deicing fluids wasted but also pollute water resources and the environment. Finding the optimal solution between deicing efficiency and deicing fluids consumption through effective methods is necessary. This article analyzes the energy conversion process of aircraft ground deicing, establishes multi-parameter optimization model for deicing, and optimizes the consumption of deicing fluids. The physical quantity, including the flow rate and the temperature of deicing fluids, is found as the main influence of the deicing time, which is the most concerned problem in the actual operation. Under the precondition of ensuring the deicing efficiency, the optimized parameters such as different ambient temperature, wing area, and icing thickness are obtained by genetic algorithm. The trend between the parameters with the change of environment has also been analyzed. Finally, the actual using condition in the capital airport and the optimized results are compared, and the results show that the usage of deicing fluids reduced 13% to 24%.
Design and validation of a novel hydraulic hybrid vehicle with wheel motors
Authors: Zhou Haicheng , Xu Zhaoping , Liu Liang , Liu Dong , Zhang Lingling
Published: September 2019

With strong demands of energy-saving and environment-friendly vehicles, hydraulic hybrid powertrain is a suitable solution for urban transportation. This article proposes a novel hydraulic hybrid vehicle with wheel motors to improve vehicle power performance and fuel economy. A forward-looking simulation model of the vehicle is built. System parameters are determined according to the power performance demands. A smaller engine is chosen, the peak power of which is reduced by 11.96%. The simulation model is calibrated and verified by experimental tests on the designed test bench. Parameterized simulation results indicate that the acceleration time 0–100 km/h of the designed vehicle is decreased by 36.3% from 19.63 to 12.5 s compared with the conventional vehicle. The maximum vehicle speed is 140 km/h, and the maximum gradeability is 29%. When the engine works in economy mode, fuel consumption is decreased by 35.59% from 15 to 9.66 L per 100 km on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule cycle compared with the conventional vehicle.
Charity, Finance, and Legitimacy: Exploring Stateless-Capital Status in Early Nineteenth-Century Dublin and Edinburgh
Authors: Curran Joe
Published: September 2019

Nineteenth-century Dublin and Edinburgh were “stateless capitals”; they were no longer home to parliaments but still had many of the characteristics of a capital city. This article begins to explore the idea that the stateless capital constitutes a particular type of city. It analyses philanthropic activity to assess how middle-class life in each city was affected by their positions as stateless capitals. In particular, it examines the significance of the close interactions between central state and philanthropy that helped to shape stateless-capital status in early nineteenth-century Dublin but not Edinburgh. It argues that central state intervention in Dublin did not dampen the vibrancy of associational culture, but it did politicize philanthropy, reducing voluntary organizations’ ability to mediate social conflict. More seriously, the provision of parliamentary grants to Dublin’s charities damaged the city’s image, making it appear unable to perform basic urban functions. This was in sharp contrast to Edinburgh’s image as Scottish metropolis.