bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of soft tissue artefacts on computed segmental and stifle kinematics in canine motion analysis
Authors: Lu Ming , Lin Cheng‐Chung , Lu Tung‐Wu , Wang Shi‐Nuan , Wu Ching‐Ho
Published: August 2019

Skin marker‐based motion analysis has been widely used to evaluate the functional performance of canine gait and posture. However, the interference of soft tissues between markers and the underlying bones (soft tissue artefacts, STAs) may lead to errors in kinematics measurements. Currently, no optimal marker attachment sites and cluster compositions are recommended for canine gait analysis. The current study aims to evaluate cluster‐level STAs and the effects of cluster compositions on the computed stifle kinematics. Ten mixed‐breed healthy dogs affixed with 19 retroreflective markers on the thigh and shank were enrolled. During isolated stifle passive extension, the marker trajectories were acquired with a motion capture system, and the skeletal poses were determined by integrating fluoroscopic and CT images of the bones. The cluster‐level STAs were assessed, and clusters were paired to calculate the stifle kinematics. A selection of cluster compositions was useful for deriving accurate sagittal and frontal plane stifle kinematics with flexion angles below 50 per cent of the range of motion. The findings contribute to improved knowledge of canine STAs and their influence on motion measurements. The marker composition with the smallest error in describing joint kinematics is recommended for future applications and study in dogs during dynamic gait assessment.
Application of a laparoscopic technique for vasectomy in standing horses
Authors: Vitoria Arantza , Romero Antonio , Fuente Sara , Barrachina Laura , Vazquez Francisco José
Published: August 2019

This report describes a technique for standing laparoscopic vasectomy in stallions through a prospective descriptive study. A preliminary study was carried out with two experimental intact male horses and subsequently the procedure was performed in two clinical cases. These horse owners want to keep their animals in the most possible natural way, preserving its stallion behaviour in a herd without generating offspring. The horses were sedated and restrained in stocks and laparoscopic vasectomy was performed using three portal sites in both paralumbar fossae recording surgical times. A 4‐cm segment of each ductus deferens (DD) was occluded with laparoscopic vessel sealing devices and subsequently excised. Semen collection was performed using an artificial vagina before the laparoscopic procedure and at 15 and 60 days postoperatively. Sexual behaviour and spermiogram were analysed. Two months after vasectomy, control laparoscopy was performed in experimental horses to assess the surgical site. Bilateral vasectomy could be performed without intraoperative complications in a mean surgical time of 20 min per DD. Success of the procedure was confirmed in all cases by azoospermic ejaculates 60 days after vasectomy. This is the first time that the technique for laparoscopic vasectomy is described in horses.
Impacts of the process and decision‐making around companion animal euthanasia on veterinary wellbeing
Authors: Matte Alisha R , Khosa Deep K , Coe Jason B , Meehan Michael P
Published: August 2019

A qualitative study using group and individual interviews involving 10 veterinary hospitals in Wellington County, Ontario, explored how the practices involved in euthanasia‐related care impacts the wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Thematic analysis indicated two major outcomes: the goal and desire of veterinary professionals was to facilitate a ‘good death’ for the companion animal and navigating the euthanasia decision process was more challenging than the actual event of performing euthanasia. When successful in achieving a ‘good death’ and navigating euthanasia decisions, participants reported feeling that their own sense of wellbeing and the veterinary client's sense of wellbeing were improved. When unsuccessful, participants reported experiencing a reduced sense of wellbeing, reduced job satisfaction, increased emotional strain and feeling that the client was also detrimentally impacted. For many participants, navigating euthanasia decision‐making consultations was seen as a greater challenge and a greater contributor to a reduced sense of wellbeing than the act of euthanasia itself. These findings suggest that there is a need for greater attention and support for veterinary professionals, particularly when navigating euthanasia decision‐making consultations. Additional training and resources on navigating euthanasia consultations may assist in improving the wellbeing for veterinary professionals and the companion animals and owners under their care.
An application framework for development of a maintenance management system based on building information modeling and radio-frequency identification: case study of a stadium building
Authors: Kameli Mohsen , Majrouhi Sardroud Javad , Hosseinalipour Mojtaba , Behruyan Manuchehr , Ahmed Syed M.
Published: August 2019

Identifying, tracking, controlling, and managing facilities and the associated problems are critical tasks in facility management. In addition, the facility maintenance information needs to be constantly updated, which leads to an extra workload for staff using paper and two-dimensional drawings. To overcome these challenges, a system based on building information modeling (BIM) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) is developed for managing and maintaining facilities. The proposed system simultaneously connects the BIM model using industry foundation class (IFC) data structures, the facility maintenance database, and the RFID reader and shows the accessible data through the internet on a handheld screen. This approach provides a general framework for maintenance information management of building facilities. The framework invokes the proposed system to be for preventive maintenance and the reports based on it. The system is implemented in the case study of the building maintenance of a soccer stadium to validate the proposed system and demonstrate the system’s effectiveness for maintenance management.
Decrease and increase of spikes in auditory neuron with time-varying synaptic inputs
Authors: Wu Fuqiang , Ma Kuihua
Published: August 2019

Precise timing and brief inhibitory synapse associated with excitation, in auditory brainstem circuit, can affect the generation of spikes. Using a lot of principles of synaptic model verified in the experiments, we develop a time varying synaptic model into the auditory neuronal model to explore its dynamic behavior. The controllable relative time between excitation and inhibition can achieve the increase or decrease of spikes in auditory neuronal model, which is consistent with the findings. This phenomenon can take place after a lasting hyperpolarization rebound by observing the phase profiles. Our results provide insights into the further investigation in neuronal networks with time-varying and plastic synapses.
Study of crystallization pathway and dynamical heterogeneity in iron nanoparticle
Authors: Kien P. H. , Hung P. K.
Published: August 2019

In this paper, crystallization pathway and dynamical heterogeneity (DH) in iron nanoparticle (NP) have been investigated in detail for spherical samples containing 5000 atoms, which were obtained by the molecular dynamics simulation based on Pak–Doyama potential. The crystallization was analyzed through pair radial distribution function, angle distribution, parameter [Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text] and transition to different x-types, where x is the bcc, fcc-hcp, ico, 14 or 12. We found that transitions to bcc-type do not happen arbitrarily at any location in NP, but instead they are concentrated in a nonequilibrium region. The crystallization pathway comprises of intermediate states between amorphous and crystalline ones. At the early stage, a large cluster of Cryst-atom formed is located in a middle layer of NP. Then, this cluster grows up and the parameter [Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text] for it increases rapidly. At the final stage, the cluster of Cryst-atom is located in a well-equilibrium region covering a major part of NP. It is found that the structure of amorphous and crystalline NPs is strongly heterogeneous and consists of separate regions with different local microstructure. This indicates the DH in NP. We also found that there is a connection between local structures and DH in NP.
Vision-Based Intelligent Vehicle Road Recognition and Obstacle Detection Method
Authors: Yang Fan , Rao Yutai
Published: August 2019

With the development of the world economy and the accelerating process of urbanization, cars have brought great convenience to people’s lives and activities, and have become an indispensable means of transportation. Intelligent vehicles have the important significance of reducing traffic accidents, improving transportation capacity and broad market prospects, and can lead the future development of the automotive industry, so they have received extensive attention. In the existing intelligent vehicle system, the laser radar is a well-deserved protagonist because of its excellent speed and precision. It is an indispensable part of achieving high-precision positioning, but to some extent, the price hindering its marketization is a major factor. Compared with lidar sensors, vision sensors have the advantages of fast sampling rate, light weight, low energy consumption and low price. Therefore, many domestic and foreign research institutions have listed them as the focus of research. However, the current vision-based intelligent vehicle environment sensing technology is also susceptible to factors such as illumination, climate and road type, resulting in insufficient accuracy and real-time performance of the algorithm. This paper takes the environment perception of intelligent vehicles as the research object, and conducts in-depth research on the existing problems in road recognition and obstacle detection algorithms, including road image vanishing point detection, road image segmentation problem, road scene based on binocular vision. Three-dimensional reconstruction and obstacle detection technology.
A 20-MHz BW MASH Sigma–Delta Modulator with Mismatch Noise Randomization for Multi-Bit DACs
Authors: Li Di , Fei Chunlong , Zhang Qidong , Li Yani , Yang Yintang
Published: August 2019

A high-linearity Multi-stAge noise SHaping (MASH) 2–2–2 sigma–delta modulator (SDM) for 20-MHz signal bandwidth (BW) was presented. Multi-bit quantizers were employed in each stage to provide a sufficiently low quantization noise level and thus improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance of the modulator. Mismatch noise in the internal multi-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs) was analyzed in detail, and an alternative randomization scheme based on multi-layer butterfly-type network was proposed to suppress spurious tones in the output spectrum. Fabricated in a 0.18-[Formula: see text]m single–poly 4-metal Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) process, the modulator occupied a chip area of 0.45[Formula: see text]mm2, and dissipated a power of 28.8[Formula: see text]mW from a 1.8-V power supply at a sampling rate of 320[Formula: see text]MHz. The measured spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) was 94[Formula: see text]dB where 17-dB improvement was achieved by applying the randomizers for multi-bit DACs in the first two stages. The peak signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) was 76.9[Formula: see text]dB at [Formula: see text]1 dBFS @ 2.5-MHz input, and the figure-of-merit (FOM) was 126[Formula: see text]pJ/conv.
A Novel CML Latch-Based Wave-Pipelined Asynchronous SerDes Transceiver for Low-Power Application
Authors: Kumawat Mahesh , Choudhary Mohit Singh , Kumar Ravi , Singh Gaurav , Vishvakarma Santosh Kumar
Published: August 2019

In the present technology development billions of transistors are fabricated on a single chip, which improves the performance of circuits in terms of high data transmission speed and power consumption. This requirement of data transmission speed is achieved with the help of high-speed transceivers. In this paper, we present a high-speed asynchronous wave-pipelined serializer and deserializer (SerDes) transceiver implemented using current-mode logic (CML). This asynchronous transceiver circuit does not require a clock and therefore it saves large amount of power which is consumed in the phase locked loop (PLL) and frequency synthesizer circuits. Further, the proposed design is built using CML which saves more power. CML circuit operates at relatively higher speed as compared to CMOS circuits which helps the circuit to operate at higher data rate. Compared to conventional CML latch, a novel CML latch is proposed in our design to increase the speed. The circuit is implemented in standard CMOS 65-nm technology. The total power consumed by the serializer and deserializer is 9.32[Formula: see text]mW, which is very less as compared to published related works. The proposed asynchronous SerDes transceiver operates at 18.1-Gbps data transmission rate with low power dissipation.
Commutative non-power-associative algebras
Authors: Arenas Manuel , Hentzel Irvin Roy , Labra Alicia
Published: August 2019

We study commutative algebras satisfying the identity [Formula: see text] It is known that for [Formula: see text] and for characteristic not [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], the algebra is a commutative power-associative algebra. These algebras have been widely studied by Albert, Gerstenhaber and Schafer. For [Formula: see text] Guzzo and Behn in 2014 proved that commutative algebras of dimension [Formula: see text] satisfying [Formula: see text] are solvable. We consider the remaining values of [Formula: see text] We prove that commutative algebras satisfying [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and generated by one element are nilpotent of nilindex [Formula: see text] (we assume characteristic of the field [Formula: see text]).
An important step for the computation of the HOMFLYPT skein module of the lens spaces L(p,1) via braids
Authors: Diamantis Ioannis , Lambropoulou Sofia
Published: August 2019

We prove that, in order to derive the HOMFLYPT skein module of the lens spaces [Formula: see text] from the HOMFLYPT skein module of the solid torus, [Formula: see text], it suffices to solve an infinite system of equations obtained by imposing on the Lambropoulou invariant [Formula: see text] for knots and links in the solid torus, braid band moves that are performed only on the first moving strand of elements in a set [Formula: see text], augmenting the basis [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text].
Infinitesimal bending of knots and energy change
Authors: Kauffman Louis H. , Velimirović Ljubica S. , Najdanović Marija S. , Rančić Svetozar R.
Published: August 2019

We discuss the infinitesimal bending of curves and knots in [Formula: see text]. A brief overview of the results on the infinitesimal bending of curves is outlined. Change of the Willmore energy, as well as of the Möbius energy under infinitesimal bending of knots is considered. Our visualization tool devoted to visual representation of infinitesimal bending of knots is presented.
Replacement Policy for Cold Standby Repairable System with Priority in Use by Using Arithmetico-Geometric Process
Authors: Latpate Raosaheb V. , Thorve Babasaheb K.
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we consider the arithmetico-geometric process (AGP) repair model. Here, the system has two nonidentical component cold standby repairable system with one repairman. Under this study, component 1 has given priority in use. It is assumed that component 2 after repair is as good as new, whereas the component 1 follows AGP. Under these assumptions, by using AGP repair model, we present a replacement policy based on number of failures, [Formula: see text], of component 1 such that long-run expected reward per unit time is maximized. For this policy, system can be replaced when number of failure of the component 1 reaches to [Formula: see text]. Working time of the component 1 is AGP and it is stochastically decreasing whereas repair time of the component 1 is AGP which is stochastically increasing. The expression for long-run expected reward per unit time for a renewal cycle is derived and illustrated proposed policy with numerical examples by assuming Weibull distributed working time and repair time of the component 1. Also, proposed AGP repair model is compared with the geometric process repair model.
THE DIFFERENCE OF THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURES BETWEEN DEFORMED SOFT AND HARD COAL AND THEIR INFLUENCES ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ADSORPTION METHANE
Authors: LIU YANWEI , LI PEIBO , LU ZHIMING , ZUO WEIQIN , MITRI HANI
Published: August 2019

This paper aims to study the influence of molecular structural difference between deformed soft and hard coal on methane adsorption and obtains the quantitative indexes that reflect the above influence degree. In this paper, XRD and FTIR experiments were adopted to determine the molecular structure of typical deformed soft and hard coals with different ranks. The molecules structural parameters of deformed soft and hard coal were compared and analyzed. Based on the above structural difference characteristic, four corresponding physical models of macromolecular structure are established. A simulation for deformed soft and hard coals was established to test out the behavior difference of adsorption and its mechanism; by using Materials Studio (MS) software, same scenario is also applied on the other four physical models listed above. Then, the isothermal adsorption methane experiments of four kinds coal samples were carried out to verify the above simulation results. The results show that the molecular structure of deformed soft and hard coals has significant differences, i.e. comparing with hard coal, deformed soft coal has smaller interlayer spacing [Formula: see text]; greater lateral sizes [Formula: see text]a, stacking heights [Formula: see text]c and the crystal nuclei sizes [Formula: see text]a/[Formula: see text]c. Deformed soft coal had a more orderly structure crystal nuclei, bigger crystal volume, the larger basic structure unit (BSU) and more flattened. Deformed soft coal has less oxygen-containing functional groups, lower fatty hydrocarbon content and more [Formula: see text]. These findings verified that dynamic metamorphism promotes aromatization and large molecular polycondensation of the coal, thus improving the aromatic degrees of the crystal nucleus. Due to the increasing of the lateral sizes being beneficial and the stacking heights being not conducive to the adsorption of the coal, the [Formula: see text]a/[Formula: see text]c was proposed as an indicator of the coal adsorption methane ability. The isothermal adsorption experiments show that the adsorption capacity of deformed soft coal with the same rank is greater than that of hard coal, which is in good consistency with the above research results. Also, the above experimental results provide a theoretical basis for the determination of coalbed methane content and the estimation of CBM.
Homological Behavior of Relative Cotorsionfree and Cosyzygy Modules
Authors: Zhao Guoqiang , Zhang Bo
Published: August 2019

As the dual of the Auslander transpose and the resulting k-torsionfree module, the cotranspose and k-cotorsionfree module with respect to a semidualizing bimodule have been introduced recently. In this paper we first investigate the relation between relative k-cotorsionfree modules and relative k-cosyzygy modules. Then we study the extension closure of these two classes of modules.
Unitary Modules for the Twisted Heisenberg–Virasoro Algebra
Authors: Zhang Xiufu , Tan Shaobin , Lian Haifeng
Published: August 2019

The conjugate-linear anti-involutions and unitary irreducible modules of the intermediate series over the twisted Heisenberg–Virasoro algebra are classified, respectively. We prove that any unitary irreducible module of the intermediate series over the twisted Heisenberg–Virasoro algebra is of the form [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Approximation of endpoints for multivalued nonexpansive mappings in geodesic spaces
Authors: Ullah Kifayat , Khan Muhammad Safi Ullah , Muhammad Naseer , Ahmad Junaid
Published: August 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be a complete CAT(0) space, [Formula: see text] be a closed and convex subset of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be a multivalued nonexpansive mapping. We prove that the sequence of Ishikawa iteration converges to an endpoint of [Formula: see text]. This improves, extends and unifies some recently announced results of the current literature.
On the matrix versions of q-zeta function, q-digamma function and q-polygamma function
Authors: Dwivedi Ravi , Sahai Vivek
Published: August 2019

This paper deals with the [Formula: see text]-analogues of generalized zeta matrix function, digamma matrix function and polygamma matrix function. We also discuss their regions of convergence, integral representations and matrix relations obeyed by them. We also give a few identities involving digamma matrix function and [Formula: see text]-hypergeometric matrix series.
Synthesis, microstructure and dielectric properties of Sb-doped multiferroic Bi0.8Ba0.2Fe1−xSbxO3 ceramics
Authors: Benzebeiri Doreir , Benhamideche Chahrazed , Belhocine Youghourta , May Abdelghani , Bouaoud Salah-Eddine , Benachour Cherif
Published: August 2019

The multiferroic ceramics Bi[Formula: see text]Ba[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]SbxO3 with [Formula: see text], 0.01, and 0.02 were synthesized using the solid-phase reaction technique. The samples were sintered at two different temperatures, 850∘C and 900∘C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the effect of antimony concentration on grain size and formation. The effect of Sb-doping on the crystal structure and ferroelectric properties of these ceramics was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and dielectric measurements. The dielectric constant was enhanced upon Fe[Formula: see text] substitution by Sb[Formula: see text] without affecting the dielectric loss of the ceramics. The tetragonal distortion of the rhombohedral symmetry of BiFeO3 caused by Ba-doping at Bi[Formula: see text] site was lifted by Sb-doping at Fe[Formula: see text] site.
On the Parameterized Complexity of Approximating Dominating Set
Authors: S. Karthik C. , Laekhanukit Bundit , Manurangsi Pasin
Published: August 2019

We study the parameterized complexity of approximating the
k
-Dominating Set (DomSet) problem where an integer
k
and a graph
G
on
n
vertices are given as input, and the goal is to find a dominating set of size at most
F
(
k
) ⋅
k
whenever the graph
G
has a dominating set of size
k
. When such an algorithm runs in time
T
(
k
) ⋅ poly (
n
) (i.e., FPT-time) for some computable function
T
, it is said to be an
F
(
k
)-
FPT-approximation algorithm
for
k
-DomSet. Whether such an algorithm exists is listed in the seminal book of Downey and Fellows (2013) as one of the “most infamous” open problems in parameterized complexity. This work gives an almost complete answer to this question by showing the non-existence of such an algorithm under W[1] ≠ FPT and further providing tighter running time lower bounds under stronger hypotheses. Specifically, we prove the following for every computable functions
T
,
F
and every constant ε > 0:

• Assuming W[1] ≠ FPT, there is no
F
(
k
)-
FPT-approximation algorithm
for
k
-DomSet.

• Assuming the Exponential Time Hypothesis (ETH), there is no
F
(
k
)-approximation algorithm for
k
-DomSet that runs in
T
(
k
) ⋅
n

o
(
k
)

time.

• Assuming the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (SETH), for every integer
k
≥ 2, there is no
F
(
k
)-approximation algorithm for
k
-DomSet that runs in
T
(
k
) ⋅
n

k
− ε

time.

• Assuming the
k
-SUM Hypothesis, for every integer
k
≥ 3, there is no
F
(
k
)-approximation algorithm for
k
-DomSet that runs in
T
(
k
) ⋅
n

⌈
k
/2 ⌉ − ε

time.

Previously, only constant ratio FPT-approximation algorithms were ruled out under sf W[1] ≠ FPT and (log
1/4
&minus ε
k
)-FPT-approximation algorithms were ruled out under ETH [Chen and Lin, FOCS 2016]. Recently, the non-existence of an
F
(
k
)-FPT-approximation algorithm for any function
F
was shown under Gap-ETH [Chalermsook et al., FOCS 2017]. Note that, to the best of our knowledge, no running time lower bound of the form
n

&delta
k

for any absolute constant δ > 0 was known before even for any constant factor inapproximation ratio.

Our results are obtained by establishing a connection between communication complexity and hardness of approximation, generalizing the ideas from a recent breakthrough work of Abboud et al. [FOCS 2017]. Specifically, we show that to prove hardness of approximation of a certain parameterized variant of the label cover problem, it suffices to devise a specific protocol for a communication problem that depends on which hypothesis we rely on. Each of these communication problems turns out to be either a well-studied problem or a variant of one; this allows us to easily apply known techniques to solve them.
An Attention-augmented Deep Architecture for Hard Drive Status Monitoring in Large-scale Storage Systems
Authors: Wang Ji , Bao Weidong , Zheng Lei , Zhu Xiaomin , Yu Philip S.
Published: August 2019

Data centers equipped with large-scale storage systems are critical infrastructures in the era of big data. The enormous amount of hard drives in storage systems magnify the failure probability, which may cause tremendous loss for both data service users and providers. Despite a set of reactive fault-tolerant measures such as RAID, it is still a tough issue to enhance the reliability of large-scale storage systems. Proactive prediction is an effective method to avoid possible hard-drive failures in advance. A series of models based on the SMART statistics have been proposed to predict impending hard-drive failures. Nonetheless, there remain some serious yet unsolved challenges like the lack of explainability of prediction results. To address these issues, we carefully analyze a dataset collected from a real-world large-scale storage system and then design an attention-augmented deep architecture for hard-drive health status assessment and failure prediction. The deep architecture, composed of a feature integration layer, a temporal dependency extraction layer, an attention layer, and a classification layer, cannot only monitor the status of hard drives but also assist in failure cause diagnoses. The experiments based on real-world datasets show that the proposed deep architecture is able to assess the hard-drive status and predict the impending failures accurately. In addition, the experimental results demonstrate that the attention-augmented deep architecture can reveal the degradation progression of hard drives automatically and assist administrators in tracing the cause of hard drive failures.
Side-channel Timing Attack of RSA on a GPU
Authors: Luo Chao , Fei Yunsi , Kaeli David
Published: August 2019

To increase computation throughput, general purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been leveraged to accelerate computationally intensive workloads. GPUs have been used as cryptographic engines, improving encryption/decryption throughput and leveraging the GPU’s Single Instruction Multiple Thread (SIMT) model. RSA is a widely used public-key cipher and has been ported onto GPUs for signing and decrypting large files. Although performance has been significantly improved, the security of RSA on GPUs is vulnerable to side-channel timing attacks and is an exposure overlooked in previous studies.

GPUs tend to be naturally resilient to side-channel attacks, given that they execute a large number of concurrent threads, performing many RSA operations on different data in parallel. Given the degree of parallel execution on a GPU, there will be a significant amount of noise introduced into the timing channel given the thousands of concurrent threads executing concurrently.

In this work, we build a timing model to capture the parallel characteristics of an RSA public-key cipher implemented on a GPU. We consider optimizations that include using Montgomery multiplication and sliding-window exponentiation to implement cryptographic operations. Our timing model considers the challenges of parallel execution, complications that do not occur in single-threaded computing platforms. Based on our timing model, we launch successful timing attacks on RSA running on a GPU, extracting the private key of RSA. We also present an effective error detection and correction mechanism. Our results demonstrate that GPU acceleration of RSA is vulnerable to side-channel timing attacks. We propose several countermeasures to defend against this class of attacks.
Examining the effects of different teaching strategies on metacognition and academic performance
Authors: Langdon Jody , Botnaru Diana T. , Wittenberg Megan , Riggs Amy Jo , Mutchler Jessica , Syno Matthew , Caciula Manuela C.
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different metacognitive interventions on knowledge and regulation of cognition, as well as academic performance (i.e., exam and final grades) in three sections of an undergraduate human anatomy and physiology course. All targeted classes were randomly assigned to one of three groups (reflection practice, passive acquisition of knowledge, and collaborative learning), and the interventions were implemented after exam 1. A pre- and posttest survey was administered during the semester (during week 2 and after exam 2), and exam and final course grades were collected at the end of the semester. The final sample included 129 students. A significant interaction of group and time was observed for knowledge of cognition: it increased in the reflection practice group, did not change in the collaborative learning group, and it decreased in the passive acquisition of knowledge. The interventions did not produce any significant interactions or main effects on regulation of cognition, exam scores, or final grades. Along with more research on metacognition in physiology education contexts, it is recommended to further examine the ways in which such data can be collected, as self-report measures only tell part of the story.
Design of a student-led organizational partnership to host an annual statewide Science Olympiad K–12 outreach tournament
Authors: Tavakol Daniel Naveed , Emmons Karen
Published: August 2019

Since fall 2015, the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Engineering Student Council (ESC) has partnered with the nonprofit Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO) organization to host a Science Olympiad (SciOly) state tournament in Charlottesville, Virginia, each spring. This annual tournament brings over 2,000 middle and high school students, teachers, and parents to the UVA campus, and teams of 15–17 people from roughly 90 schools across Virginia participate in 46 different events (23 middle school, Division B; 23 high school, Division C) relating to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields throughout the day-long competition. The national SciOly organization sets the events and rules to comply with national education standards, and the VASO board coordinates the teams and tournaments within the state. By collaborating with VASO, UVA ESC was able to plan a large-scale SciOly tournament at UVA in approximately 10 mo with the support of the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science. Since this event was planned and executed solely by undergraduates in cooperation with the nonprofit organization, there were institutional hurdles that were overcome through the months of planning. The Virginia SciOly state tournament has continued to be held at UVA with the support and cooperation of the UVA ESC and VASO, and bringing this tournament to UVA has allowed for increased excitement for participating K–12 students and a mitigated burden to the VASO organizers in planning the state competition. This paper aims to provide a resource for other universities to support STEM activities in K–12 outreach organizations, like SciOly, in the future.
2nd Pan American Congress of Physiological Sciences, Havana, Cuba, May 27–31, 2019
Authors: Carroll Robert G. , Halpin Patricia A. , Silverthorn Dee U.
Published: August 2019

Physiology education was well represented at the 2nd Pan American Congress of Physiological Sciences in Havana, Cuba, with two symposia, a workshop, and a poster session.
Understanding basic vein physiology and venous blood pressure through simple physical assessments
Authors: Tansey Etain A. , Montgomery Laura E. A. , Quinn Joe G. , Roe Sean M. , Johnson Christopher D.
Published: August 2019

An understanding of the complexity of the cardiovascular system is incomplete without a knowledge of the venous system. It is important for students to understand that, in a closed system, like the circulatory system, changes to the venous side of the circulation have a knock-on effect on heart function and the arterial system and vice versa. Veins are capacitance vessels feeding blood to the right side of the heart. Changes in venous compliance have large effects on the volume of blood entering the heart and hence cardiac output by the Frank-Starling Law. In healthy steady-state conditions, venous return has to equal cardiac output, i.e., the heart cannot pump more blood than is delivered to it. A sound understanding of the venous system is essential in understanding how changes in cardiac output occur with changes in right atrial pressure or central venous pressure, and the effect these changes have on arterial blood pressure regulation. The aim of this paper is to detail simple hands-on physiological assessments that can be easily undertaken in the practical laboratory setting and that illustrate some key functions of veins. Specifically, we illustrate that venous valves prevent the backflow of blood, that venous blood pressure increases from the heart to the feet, that the skeletal muscle pump facilitates venous return, and we investigate the physiological and clinical significance of central venous pressure and how it may be assessed.
LOXL2 Upregulates Phosphorylation of Ezrin to Promote Cytoskeletal Reorganization and Tumor Cell Invasion
Authors: Zhan Xiu-Hui , Jiao Ji-Wei , Zhang Hai-Feng , Xu Xiu-E , He Jian-Zhong , Li Run-Liu , Zou Hai-Ying , Wu Zhi-Yong , Wang Shao-Hong , Wu Jian-Yi , Liao Lian-Di , Wang Juan-Juan , Cheng Yin-Wei , Zhang Kai , Neufeld Gera , Xu Li-Yan , Li En-Min
Published: August 2019

Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), a copper-dependent enzyme of the lysyl oxidase family and its nonsecreted, catalytically dead spliced isoform L2Δ13, enhance cell migration and invasion, stimulate filopodia formation, modulate the expression of cytoskeletal genes, and promote tumor development and metastasis in vivo. We previously showed that LOXL2 reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms were not identified. Here, using interactome analysis, we identified ezrin (EZR), fascin (FSCN1), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1), and tropomodulin-3 (TMOD3) as actin-binding proteins that associate with cytoplasmic LOXL2, as well as with its L2Δ13 variant. High levels of LOXL2 and L2Δ13 and their cytoskeletal partners correlated with poor clinical outcome in patients with ESCC. To better understand the significance of these interactions, we focused on the interaction of LOXL2 with ezrin. Phosphorylation of ezrin at T567 was greatly reduced following depletion of LOXL2 and was enhanced following LOXL2/L2Δ13 reexpression. Furthermore, LOXL2 depletion inhibited the ability of ezrin to promote tumor progression. These results suggest that LOXL2-induced ezrin phosphorylation, which also requires PKCα, is critical for LOXL2-induced cytoskeletal reorganization that subsequently promotes tumor cell invasion and metastasis in ESCC. In summary, we have characterized a novel molecular mechanism that mediates, in part, the protumorigenic activity of LOXL2. These findings may enable the future development of therapeutic agents targeting cytoplasmic LOXL2.

Significance:

LOXL2 and its spliced isoform L2Δ13 promote cytoskeletal reorganization and invasion of esophageal cancer cells by interacting with cytoplasmic actin-binding proteins such as ezrin.
Cognitive Correlates of Hippocampal Atrophy and Ventricular Enlargement in Adults with or without Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Goukasian Naira , Porat Shai , Blanken Anna , Avila David , Zlatev Dimitar , Hurtz Sona , Hwang Kristy S. , Pierce Jonathan , Joshi Shantanu H. , Woo Ellen , Apostolova Liana G.
Published: August 2019

We analyzed structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 58 cognitively normal and 101 mild cognitive impairment subjects. We used a general linear regression model to study the association between cognitive performance with hippocampal atrophy and ventricular enlargement using the radial distance method.Bilateral hippocampal atrophy was associated with baseline and longitudinal memory performance. Left hippocampal atrophy predicted longitudinal decline in visuospatial function. The multidomain ventricular analysis did not reveal any significant predictors.
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Small T Antigen Induces DNA Damage Response
Authors: Wu Julie H. , Narayanan Deepika , Limmer Allison L. , Simonette Rebecca A. , Rady Peter L. , Tyring Stephen K.
Published: August 2019

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine cancer of the skin with high rates of metastasis and mortality. Besides well-established factors including genetic mutations and UV-induced DNA damage in Merkel cell carcinogenesis, the recent discovery of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) has shed light on the viral etiology of MCC. In the current study, we provide novel evidence that MCPyV small T (sT) antigen induces the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Our data show that in human MCC cells, the presence of MCPyV is associated with hyperphosphorylation of histone H2AX, a marker for DNA damage. We observed that overexpression of MCPyV sT antigen induced the phosphorylation of histone H2AX as well as the activation of ataxia telangiectasia mutant (ATM), an upstream kinase important for H2AX phosphorylation. Moreover, we observed that MCPyV sT expression also induced the hyperphosphorylation of other ATM downstream molecules (including 53BP1 and CHK2) as well as the hypermethylation of histone 3 and histone 4. These findings disclose a novel link between MCPyV sT and the DDR pathway in MCC. Given that measurement of DDR is clinically useful for evaluating treatment response to radio- and chemotherapy, our findings warrant further investigation to evaluate the potential implications of this pathway for MCC management.
Effectiveness of Combined External Ventricular Drainage with Intraventricular Fibrinolysis for the Treatment of Intraventricular Haemorrhage with Acute Obstructive Hydrocephalus
Authors: Luong Chinh Quoc , Nguyen Anh Dat , Nguyen Chi Van , Mai Ton Duy , Nguyen Tuan Anh , Do Son Ngoc , Dao Phuong Viet , Pham Hanh Thi My , Pham Dung Thi , Ngo Hung Manh , Nguyen Quan Huu , Nguyen Dat Tuan , Tran Thong Huu , Le Ky Van , Do Nam Trong , Ngo Ngoc Duc , Nguyen Vinh Duc , Ngo Hung Duc , Hoang Hai Bui , Vu Ha Viet , Vu Lan Tuong , Ngo Binh Thanh , Nguyen Bai Xuan , Khuong Dai Quoc , Nguyen Dung Tien , Vuong Trung Xuan , Be Thu Hong , Gaberel Thomas , Nguyen Lieu Van
Published: August 2019

Background: Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) patients with acute obstructive hydrocephalus (AOH) who require external ventricular drainage (EVD) are at high risk for poor outcomes. Intraventricular fibrinolysis (IVF) with low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) can be used to improve patient outcomes. Here, we evaluated the impact of IVF on the risk of death and the functional outcomes in IVH patients with AOH. Methods: This prospective cohort study included IVH patients with hypertensive intracranial haemorrhage complicated by AOH who required EVD. We evaluated the risk of death and the functional outcomes at 1 and 3 months, with a specific focus on the impact of combined EVD with IVF by low-dose rtPA. Results: Between November 30, 2011 and December 30, 2014, 80 patients were included. Forty-five patients were treated with EVD alone (EVD group) and 35 received IVF (EVD+IVF group). The 30- and 90-day mortality rates were lower in the EVD+IVF group than in the EVD group (42.2 vs. 11.4%, p = 0.003, and 62.2 vs. 20%, p < 0.001, respectively). The Graeb scores were significantly lower in the EVD+IVF group than in the EVD group (p ≤ 0.001) during the first 3 days and on day 7 after assignment. The 30-day good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–3) was also higher in the EVD+IVF group than in the EVD group (6.7 vs. 28.6%, p = 0.008). However, the 90-day good functional outcome (mRS score 0–3) did not significantly increase in the EVD+IVF group (30.8% in the EVD group vs. 51.6% in the EVD+IVF group, p = 0.112). Conclusions: In our prospective observational study, EVD+IVF was associated with a lower risk of death in IVH patients. EVD+IVF improved the chance of having a good functional outcome at 1 month; however, this result was no longer observed at 3 months.
Soft power como estratégia de marketing: a manifestação da cultura pop japonesa no Brasil
Authors: Isshiki Jaqueline Naomy , Miyazaki Silvio Yoshiro Mizuguchi
Published: August 2019

This paper verifies the use of soft power as a marketing strategy, and the manifestation of the Japanese pop culture in Brazil. Therefore, this paper conceptualizes Soft Power and its relation with the country marketing strategy, known as Nation Branding. Subsequently, the paper analyzes the cultural dimension of Japan’s Nation Branding, and the development of the project called Cool Japan.
A manutenção do espanhol e a consciência linguística das crianças peruanas no Japão: um experimento de aulas de língua espanhola (amigos espaneses) no empoderamento da identidade
Authors: Miyazaki Sachie
Published: August 2019

Japan has experienced a growth in its foreign population during the last two decades. In many ways, the growth has brought diversity to Japanese culture, education, and communities. During the first decade especially, educators did not have specialized training and struggled teaching culturally and linguistically diverse children. Although the situation has been improving for both teachers and children, it is still difficult for children to maintain their first languages and cultural identity in Japan. One reason for this difficulty is that governmental support tends to emphasize language education at early stages, and there is a lack of understanding of the importance of nurturing bilingual children in the public educational system. This paper examines how heritage language program can empower minority children in Japan.
Sex Differences in Hypertension and Stroke Risk in the REGARDS Study
Authors: Madsen Tracy E. , Howard George , Kleindorfer Dawn O. , Furie Karen L. , Oparil Suzanne , Manson JoAnn E. , Liu Simin , Howard Virginia J.
Published: August 2019

Little is known about whether the relationship between hypertension and ischemic stroke differs by sex. We examined sex differences in the association between hypertension severity and treatment and ischemic stroke risk. We used a longitudinal cohort study in the continental United States, with oversampling of black individuals and those living in the stroke belt. We included 26 461 participants recruited from 2003 to 2007 without prevalent stroke at baseline. The main outcome was incident ischemic stroke ascertained by telephone surveillance (with physician adjudication for suspected events). Proportional hazards regression was used to assess the sex-specific association between systolic blood pressure and stroke and between classes of antihypertensive medications and stroke after adjustment for age, race, sex, and age-by-race and sex-by-treatment interaction terms. A priori,
P
<0.10 was considered significant for interactions. Among participants (55.4% women, 40.2% black), there were 1084 confirmed ischemic stroke events. In the adjusted model, the risk of stroke per each level of hypertension (referent/systolic blood pressure <120 mm Hg/120–129 mm Hg/130–139 mm Hg/>140 mm Hg) was higher in women (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.16–1.34) than men (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05–1.23; sex–systolic blood pressure interaction term,
P
=0.09). Compared with no medications, with each additional class of medications, stroke risk increased by 23% (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14–1.33) for women and 21% (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12–1.31) for men (
P
=0.79). Further work on the biological mechanisms for sex differences in stroke risk associated with hypertension severity and a need for sex-specific clinical guidelines may be warranted.
Third Trimester Fetal Cardiac Blood Flow and Cardiac Outcomes in School‐Age Children Assessed By Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Toemen Liza , Jelic Gavro , Kooijman Marjolein N. , Gaillard Romy , Helbing Willem A. , van der Lugt Aad , Roest Arno A. W. , Reiss Irwin K. M. , Steegers Eric A. P. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V.
Published: August 2019

Background

An adverse fetal environment leads to fetal hemodynamic adaptations with cardiac flow alterations that may subsequently affect cardiac development. We examined the associations of third trimester placental and fetal cardiac hemodynamics with cardiac outcomes in school‐age children.

Methods and Results

We performed a population‐based prospective cohort study among 547 mothers and their children. At a gestational age of 30.4 (95% range 28.4–32.7) weeks, we measured umbilical and cerebral artery resistance, cardiac output, and tricuspid and mitral E/A waves with Doppler. At the median age of 10.0 years (95% range 9.4–11.7) we measured cardiac outcomes with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Cardiac outcomes included right ventricular end‐diastolic volume) and right ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end diastolic volume and left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular mass, and left ventricular mass‐to‐volume ratio as left ventricular mass/left ventricular end diastolic volume. Higher third‐trimester umbilical artery resistance was associated with higher childhood right ventricular ejection fraction (
P
value <0.05), but not with other cardiac outcomes. The third‐trimester umbilical artery‐cerebral artery pulsatility index ratio was not associated with childhood cardiac outcomes. Higher third‐trimester fetal left cardiac output was associated with lower childhood left ventricular ejection fraction and higher left ventricular mass‐to‐volume ratio (
P
value <0.05). Third‐trimester fetal right cardiac output was not associated with childhood cardiac outcomes. A higher third‐trimester fetal tricuspid valve E/A ratio was associated with higher childhood right ventricular ejection fraction (
P
value <0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that fetal cardiac fetal blood flow redistribution may have long‐term effects on cardiac structure and function. These results should be considered as hypothesis generating and need further replication.
Biculturals’ Flexible Identity Affects the Retrieval of Autobiographical Memories: an Online Replication of Wang (2008) Using a Pretest-Posttest Group Design
Authors: Marsh Benjamin Uel , Lee Hyun Seo , Schirmer Janna
Published: August 2019

The current study is a conceptual replication of Wang (2008) using a pretest-posttest design and an online sample through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Seventy-one Asian-Americans recalled a recent memory before and after being primed as either Asian or American. On pre-prime memories, conditions did not significantly differ. However, on post-prime memories, participants primed as American recalled more self-focused memories than relationally focused memories and those primed as Asian recalled more relationally focused memories than self-focused memories. In addition, memories of Asian-Americans primed as American consisted of a smaller proportion of social interaction instances than those primed as Asian. In total, 6 of the 8 effects found in Wang (2008) were replicated. We discuss the implications that the current results and past studies have on our understanding of how culture influences memory encoding and retrieval.