bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional differences in chlamydia and gonorrhoeae positivity rate among heterosexual STI clinic visitors in the Netherlands: contribution of client and regional characteristics as assessed by cross-sectional surveillance data
Authors: Götz Hannelore M , van Oeffelen Louise AAM , Hoebe Christian J P A , van Benthem Birgit HB
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To assess to what extent triage criteria, client and regional characteristics explain regional differences inChlamydia trachomatis(Ct) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(Ng) positivity in sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study on the Dutch STI surveillance database of all 24 STI clinics.

Participants

STI clinic visits of heterosexual persons in 2015 with a Ct (n=101 495) and/or Ng test (n=101 081).

Primary outcome measure

Ct and Ng positivity and 95% CI was assessed for each STI clinic. Two-level logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the percentage change in regional variance (PCV) after adding triage criteria (model 1), other client characteristics (model 2) and regional characteristics (model 3) to the empty model. The contribution of single characteristics was determined after removing them from model 3.

Results

Ct positivity was 14.9% and ranged from 12.6% to 20.0% regionally. Ng positivity was 1.7% and ranged from 0.8% to 3.8% regionally. For Ct, the PCV was 11.7% in model 1, 32.2% in model 2% and 59.3% in model 3. Age, notified for Ct (triage), level of education (other characteristics) and regional degree of urbanisation (region) explained variance most. For Ng, the PCV was 38.7% in model 1, 61.2% in model 2% and 69.1% in model 3. Ethnicity (triage), partner in risk group, level of education and neighbourhood (other characteristics) and regional socioeconomic status (SES) explained variance most. A significant part of regional variance remained unexplained.

Conclusions

Regional variance was explained by differences in client characteristics, indicating that triage and self-selection influence positivity rates in the surveillance data.

Clustering of Ng in low SES regions additionally explained regional variance in Ng; targeted interventions in low SES regions may assist Ng control. Including educational level as triage criterion is recommended. Studies incorporating prevalence data are needed to assess whether regional clustering underlies unexplained regional variance.
Population-based cohort of 500 patients with Gaucher disease in Israel
Authors: Jaffe Dena H , Flaks-Manov Natalie , Benis Arriel , Gabay Hagit , DiBonaventura Marco , Rosenbaum Hanna , Joseph Alain , Bachrach Asaf , Leventer-Roberts Maya
Published: January 2019

Objective

To characterise a population-based cohort of patients with Gaucher disease (GD) in Israel relative to the general population and describe sociodemographic and clinical differences by disease severity (ie, enzyme replacement therapy [ERT] use).

Design

A cross-sectional study was conducted.

Setting

Data from the Clalit Health Services electronic health record (EHR) database were used.

Participants

The study population included all patients in the Clalit EHR database identified as having GD as of 30 June 2014.

Results

A total of 500 patients with GD were identified and assessed. The majority were ≥18 years of age (90.6%), female (54.0%), Jewish (93.6%) and 34.8% had high socioeconomic status, compared with 19.0% in the general Clalit population. Over half of patients with GD with available data (51.0%) were overweight/obese and 63.5% had a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥1, compared with 46.6% and 30.4%, respectively, in the general Clalit population. The majority of patients with GD had a history of anaemia (69.6%) or thrombocytopaenia (62.0%), 40.4% had a history of bone events and 22.2% had a history of cancer. Overall, 41.2% had received ERT.

Conclusions

Establishing a population-based cohort of patients with GD is essential to understanding disease progression and management. In this study, we highlight the need for physicians to monitor patients with GD regardless of their ERT status.
Cross-sectional research conducted in the Netherlands to identify relationships among the actual level of patient-centred care, the care gap (ideal vs actual care delivery) and satisfaction with care
Authors: Mirzad Ferogh , Cramm Jane Murray , Nieboer Anna Petra
Published: January 2019

Objective

This study aimed to identify relationships among the actual level of patient-centred care (PCC), the care gap (ideal level of PCC vs actual care delivery) and satisfaction with care.

Design

This study was a cross-sectional survey.

Setting

This study was conducted at two locations of a Dutch hospital (Nieuwegein and Leidsche Rijn Utrecht).

Participants

Patients visiting the outpatient clinics for heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer in March–May 2017 were asked to fill in a questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis with COPD, heart failure or cancer and clinic visitation for a regular appointment. A total of 186 patients filled in the questionnaire.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Outcomes evaluated were the actual level of PCC, the care gap and satisfaction with care.

Results

About half (45%) of the respondents were female, 38% had low educational levels and 31% were single. Respondents’ mean age was 67.83 ± 10.02 (range, 16–94) years. Patients’ experiences with actual care delivery and their conceptualisation of the ideal type of care differed significantly, representing care gaps, in all PCC dimensions. After controlling for background characteristics, patients’ experiences with actual delivery and the care gap were related significantly to patients’ satisfaction with care (β = 0.17 and β = – 0.41, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients’ experiences with the actual level of PCC and the care gap are important for patients’ satisfaction with care.
Role of the microbiome in human development
Authors: Dominguez-Bello Maria Gloria , Godoy-Vitorino Filipa , Knight Rob , Blaser Martin J
Published: January 2019

The host-microbiome supraorganism appears to have coevolved and the unperturbed microbial component of the dyad renders host health sustainable. This coevolution has likely shaped evolving phenotypes in all life forms on this predominantly microbial planet. The microbiota seems to exert effects on the next generation from gestation, via maternal microbiota and immune responses. The microbiota ecosystems develop, restricted to their epithelial niches by the host immune system, concomitantly with the host chronological development, providing early modulation of physiological host development and functions for nutrition, immunity and resistance to pathogens at all ages. Here, we review the role of the microbiome in human development, including evolutionary considerations, and the maternal/fetal relationships, contributions to nutrition and growth. We also discuss what constitutes a healthy microbiota, how antimicrobial modern practices are impacting the human microbiota, the associations between microbiota perturbations, host responses and diseases rocketing in urban societies and potential for future restoration.
Dysregulated activation of fetal liver programme in acute liver failure
Authors: Hyun Jeongeun , Oh Seh-Hoon , Premont Richard T , Guy Cynthia D , Berg Carl L , Diehl Anna Mae
Published: January 2019

Objective

Uncertainty about acute liver failure (ALF) pathogenesis limits therapy. We postulate that ALF results from excessive reactivation of a fetal liver programme that is induced in hepatocytes when acutely injured livers regenerate. To evaluate this hypothesis, we focused on two molecules with known oncofetal properties in the liver, Yes-associated protein-1 (YAP1) and Insulin-like growth factor-2 RNA-binding protein-3 (IGF2BP3).

Design

We compared normal liver with explanted livers of patients with ALF to determine if YAP1 and IGF2BP3 were induced; assessed whether these factors are upregulated when murine livers regenerate; determined if YAP1 and IGF2BP3 cooperate to activate the fetal programme in adult hepatocytes; and identified upstream signals that control these factors and thereby hepatocyte maturity during recovery from liver injury.

Results

Livers of patients with ALF were massively enriched with hepatocytes expressing IGF2BP3, YAP1 and other fetal markers. Less extensive, transient accumulation of similar fetal-like cells that were proliferative and capable of anchorage-independent growth occurred in mouse livers that were regenerating after acute injury. Fetal reprogramming of hepatocytes was YAP1-dependent and involved YAP1-driven reciprocal modulation of let7 microRNAs and IGF2BP3, factors that negatively regulate each other to control fate decisions in fetal cells. Directly manipulating IGF2BP3 expression controlled the fetal-like phenotype regardless of YAP1 activity, proving that IGF2BP3 is the proximal mediator of this YAP1-directed fate.

Conclusion

After acute liver injury, hepatocytes are reprogrammed to fetal-like cells by a YAP1-dependent mechanism that differentially regulates let7 and IGF2BP3, identifying novel therapeutic targets for ALF.
Violence prevalence and prevention status in China
Authors: Gao Xin , Ye Pengpeng , Er Yuliang , Jin Ye , Wang Linhong , Duan Leilei
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To describe the prevalence status of violence and its prevention in China, and to provide reference for the development of strategies regarding violence prevention.

Methods

Violence mortality data between 2006 and 2015 were obtained from the national disease/death surveillance data set in 2006–2015. Data on violence-related medical cases were collected from the 2015 National Injury Surveillance System. The laws and policies about violence prevention and violence prevention programmes in China were described.

Results

Violence mortality declined by 57.02% during 2006–2015 from 1.21/100 000 to 0.52/100 000. Violent death rate in males peaked in the age group 25–29 years (1.05/100 000) and it was low in the age group <15 years. Female violence mortality rate peaked during infancy (0.54/100 000), aged 25–29 (0.53/100 000) and age above 85 (0.98/100 000). The laws and policies about violence prevention were more perfect, while most prevention programmes were limited in scale and duration.

Conclusions

The mortality of violence declined in China during 2006–2015. It is necessary to conduct gender-specific prevention strategies and improve the data collection and prevention service.
A molecular survey of Ralfsia sensu stricto (Ralfsiales, Phaeophyceae) in Canada uncovers three new species: R. robertii sp. nov., R. tenebris sp. nov., and R. unimaculata sp. nov.
Authors: Parente Manuela I. , Saunders Gary W.
Published: January 2019

Currently there are three species (i.e., traditional morphospecies) in Canada assigned to the genus Ralfsia sensu lato, which we establish is not monophyletic even after excluding “species” now known to apply to alternate stages in the life histories of non-ralfsialean species. These species include R. fungiformis (Gunnerus) Setchell & N.L.Gardner and R. pacifica Hollenberg in the Pacific, and R. fungiformis and R. verrucosa (J.E.Areschoug) J.E.Areschoug in the Atlantic. However, a DNA barcode survey of Ralfsiales in Canada using the markers COI-5P and rbcL-3P revealed five genetic groups assignable to Ralfsia sensu stricto (i.e., includes only species assigned to this genus based on phylogenetic analyses). Further complicating matters, of the three species listed previously as occurring in Canada only the type species R. fungiformis is assignable to Ralfsia sensu stricto. Ralfsia pacifica and R. verrucosa did not group with the generitype and thus are not assignable to Ralfsia sensu stricto; further, they did not group with the family Ralfsiaceae. They will be presented in a subsequent manuscript. The four other genetic groups in Canada assignable to Ralfsia sensu stricto are new species of which three are described here: Ralfsia robertii sp. nov., Ralfsia tenebris sp. nov., and Ralfsia unimaculata sp. nov. The fourth consisted of a single sterile specimen from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and was not characterized.
Amalgamation of types in pseudo-algebraically closed fields and applications
Authors: Chatzidakis Zoé
Published: January 2019

This paper studies unbounded pseudo-algebraically closed (PAC) fields and shows an amalgamation result for types over algebraically closed sets. It discusses various applications, for instance that omega-free PAC fields have the property NSOP3. It also contains a description of imaginaries in PAC fields.
Global well-posedness for the defocusing Hartree equation with radial data in ℝ4
Authors: Miao Changxing , Xu Guixiang , Yang Jianwei-Urbain
Published: January 2019

By [Formula: see text]-method, the interaction Morawetz estimate, long-time Strichartz estimate and local smoothing effect of Schrödinger operator, we show global well-posedness and scattering for the defocusing Hartree equation [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], with radial data in [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. It is a sharp global result except the critical case [Formula: see text], which is a very difficult open problem.
Optimal C1,α estimates for a class of elliptic quasilinear equations
Authors: Araújo Damião J. , Zhang Lei
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we establish sharp [Formula: see text] estimates for weak solutions of singular and degenerate quasilinear elliptic equation [Formula: see text] which includes the standard [Formula: see text]-Laplacian equation with varying coefficients as a special case. The sharp exponent [Formula: see text] is asymptotically optimal and is determined by the Hölder regularity of the coefficients, the exponent [Formula: see text] and the [Formula: see text]-integrability of the source term [Formula: see text].
On gs-Drazin inverses in a ring
Authors: Chen Huanyin , Calci Mete Burak
Published: January 2019

An element [Formula: see text] in a ring [Formula: see text] has a gs-Drazin inverse if there exists [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we extend Cline’s formula and Jacobson’s Lemma for gs-Drazin inverses. Various additive properties of gs-Drazin inverses are thereby obtained.
A Big Data Recommendation Engine Framework Based on Local Pattern Analytics Strategy for Mining Multi-Sourced Big Data
Authors: Venkatesan T. , Saravanan K. , Ramkumar T.
Published: January 2019

Organisations that perform business operations in a multi-sourced big data environment are in imperative need to discover meaningful patterns of interest from their diversified data sources. With the advent of big data technologies such as Hadoop and Spark, commodity hardwares play vital role in the task of data analytics and process the multi-sourced and multi-formatted big data in a reasonable cost and time. Though various data analytic techniques exist in the context of big data, recommendation system is more popular in web-based business applications to suggest suitable products, services, and items to potential customers. In this paper, we put forth a big data recommendation engine framework based on local pattern analytics strategy to explore user preferences and taste for both branch level and central level decisions. The framework encourages the practice of moving computing environment towards the data source location and avoids forceful integration of data. Further it assists decision makers to reap hidden preferences and taste of users from branch data sources for an effective customer campaign. The novelty of the framework has been evaluated in the benchmark dataset, MovieLens100k and results clearly confirm the advantages of the proposal.
Exact wormholes solutions without exotic matter in f(R,T) gravity
Authors: Zubair M. , Saleem Rabia , Ahmad Yasir , Abbas G.
Published: January 2019

This paper is aimed to evaluate the existence of wormholes in viable [Formula: see text] gravity models (where [Formula: see text] is the scalar curvature and [Formula: see text] is the trace of stress–energy tensor of matter). The exact solutions for energy–momentum tensor components depending on different shapes and redshift functions are calculated without some additional constraints. To investigate this, we consider static spherically symmetric geometry with matter contents as anisotropic fluid and formulate the Einstein field equations for three different [Formula: see text] models. For each model, we derive expression for weak and null energy conditions and graphically analyzed its violation near the throat. It is really interesting that wormhole solutions do not require the presence of exotic matter — like that in general relativity. Finally, the stability of the solutions for each model is presented using equilibrium condition.
THE ROLE AND SOURCES OF AGENCY AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT OVER THE LIFE COURSE: MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS IN KAMPALA, UGANDA
Authors: SCHOLTES FABIAN , NEFF DANIEL , LAMPE FLORIAN
Published: January 2019

In most developing economies, micro and small enterprises (MSE) and self-employment provide the majority of employment and the main source of income. However, MSE’s potentials often remain exploited and there are high rates of churning. To better understand the limited success of entrepreneurship in developing economies, this paper looks at how entrepreneurs have and use agency and how this relates to their entrepreneurial success. Empirically, we use life history interviews with micro-entrepreneurs in Kampala, Uganda. Conceptually, we draw on Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, which in regard to agency, emphasizes people’s ambitions, reflected choices, and the various factors that influence how people derive options and agency from available resources. Our results suggest a stronger differentiation of entrepreneurs beyond the ‘necessity vs. opportunity’ dichotomy. This concerns entrepreneurs’ motivations and ambitions, their collective transformative potential and the question of which choices under which restrictions should be conceived of as entrepreneurial agency. Most of the entrepreneurs have and make choices beyond economic survival; self-employment is not just a last resort. It depends on business opportunities not as drivers but as occasions; it may rest on innovative means to access common businesses (rather than on innovative businesses); and it may be directed at sufficiency rather than growth.
The n-dimensional Stern–Brocot tree
Authors: Lennerstad Håkan
Published: January 2019

This paper generalizes the Stern–Brocot tree to a tree that consists of all sequences of [Formula: see text] coprime positive integers. As for [Formula: see text] each sequence [Formula: see text] is the sum of a specific set of other coprime sequences, its Stern–Brocot set [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the degree of [Formula: see text] With an orthonormal base as the root, the tree defines a fast iterative structure on the set of distinct directions in [Formula: see text] and a multiresolution partition of [Formula: see text]. Basic proofs rely on a matrix representation of each coprime sequence, where the Stern–Brocot set forms the matrix columns. This induces a finitely generated submonoid [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], and a unimodular multidimensional continued fraction algorithm, also generalizing [Formula: see text]. It turns out that the [Formula: see text]-dimensional subtree starting with a sequence [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to the entire [Formula: see text]-dimensional tree. This allows basic combinatorial properties to be established. It turns out that also in this multidimensional version, Fibonacci-type sequences have maximal sequence sum in each generation.
Congruence properties of pk(n)
Authors: Du Julia Q. D. , Liu Edward Y. S. , Zhao Jack C. D.
Published: January 2019

We present a unified approach to establish infinite families of congruences for [Formula: see text] for arbitrary positive integer [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is given by the [Formula: see text]th power of the Euler product [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text], define [Formula: see text] to be the least positive integer such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] the least non-negative integer satisfying [Formula: see text]. Using the Atkin [Formula: see text]-operator, we find that the generating function of [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]) can be expressed as the product of an integral linear combination of modular functions on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]) for any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. By investigating the properties of the modular equations of the [Formula: see text]th order under the Atkin [Formula: see text]-operator, we obtain that these generating functions are determined by some linear recurring sequences. Utilizing the periodicity of these linear recurring sequences modulo [Formula: see text], we are led to infinite families of congruences for [Formula: see text] modulo any [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and periodic relations between the values of [Formula: see text] modulo powers of [Formula: see text]. As applications, infinite families of congruences for many partition functions such as [Formula: see text]-core partition functions, the partition function and Andrews’ spt-function are easily obtained.
On asymptotic properties of the generalized Dirichlet L-functions
Authors: Ma Rong , Niu Yana , Zhang Yulong
Published: January 2019

Let [Formula: see text] be an integer, [Formula: see text] denote a Dirichlet character modulo [Formula: see text], for any real number [Formula: see text], we define the generalized Dirichlet [Formula: see text]-functions [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] both real. It can be extended to all [Formula: see text] by analytic continuation. In this paper, we study the mean value properties of the generalized Dirichlet [Formula: see text]-functions, and obtain several sharp asymptotic formulae by using analytic method.
A note on harmonic number identities, Stirling series and multiple zeta values
Authors: Kuba Markus , Panholzer Alois
Published: January 2019

We study a general type of series and relate special cases of it to Stirling series, infinite series discussed by Choi and Hoffman, and also to special values of the Arakawa–Kaneko zeta function, studied before amongst others by Candelpergher and Coppo, and also by Young. We complement and generalize earlier results. Moreover, we survey properties of certain truncated multiple zeta and zeta star values, pointing out their relation to finite sums of harmonic numbers. We also discuss the duality result of Hoffman, relating binomial sums and truncated multiple zeta star values.
Amidoxime Functionalized Mesoporous SBA-15 with Various Mesostructures for Highly Efficient Concentration of U(VI)
Authors: Yang Ziyan , Yang Xiaoli , Hu Rui , Wu Junfeng
Published: January 2019

Many current sorbents are limited for U(VI) concentration from aqueous solutions due to their inappropriate structures and surface chemistry. Herein, we report the rapid sorption of U(VI) with high capacities and selectivity by amidoxime modified ordered mesoporous SBA-15 with two typical morphologies (i.e., rods and plates) via a post-grafting method. Variables of the geochemical conditions (contact time, pH value, initial concentration, temperature and coexisting metal ions) are investigated. The results show that the mesostructures including morphologies and pore length of SBA-15 perform the dominant function for the fast sorption kinetics (10[Formula: see text]min for plates, 20[Formula: see text]min for rods), while the modified amidoxime groups make the excellent U(VI) sorption capacities (646.2[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] for plates, 499.8[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] for rods at pH 5.0 and [Formula: see text] 298.15[Formula: see text]K) and high selectivity possible. U(VI) adsorbed amidoxime-functionalized SBA can also be effectively regenerated by HCl solutions and reused well after six cycles.
Parametric Optimization of Process Parameters on the Response of Microhardness of Electroless Ni-P Coating
Authors: Sarkar Subhasish , Baranwal Rishav Kumar , Banerjee Shubhankar , Prakash Aditya , Mandal Rupam , Majumdar Gautam
Published: January 2019

The present work deals with the synthesis of chemically deposited nickel–phosphorous (Ni–P) coating on copper substrate. The process parameters are optimized for maximum hardness based on L[Formula: see text] Taguchi orthogonal design with three process parameters, viz., bath temperature, concentration of nickel Sulphate (a nickel source) and concentration of sodium hypophosphite (a reducing agent), respectively. This is considered and fitted into an L[Formula: see text] orthogonal array (OA) to find out the optimized condition for improved hardness of the coating. The optimized results were obtained from 35[Formula: see text]g/L of Nickel Sulphate, 20[Formula: see text]g/L of Sodium Hypophosphite and 90∘C of temperature. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the significance of the individual process parameters. ANOVA showed that the factor Nickel Sulphate, the interaction between Sodium Hypophosphite and Temperature were significant in determining the hardness of the coating deposited in the optimized condition. The surface morphology, compositional and phase structure analysis of optimized sample are conducted with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzer, respectively.
Comparing simulations of hydrogen storage in a sandstone formation using heterogeneous and homogenous flow property models
Authors: Pfeiffer Wolf Tilmann , Bauer Sebastian
Published: January 2019

Hydrogen storage in porous geological formations is a potential option to mitigate offsets between power demand and generation in an energy system largely based on renewables. Incorporating hydrogen storage into the energy network requires the consideration of multiple scenarios for storage settings and potential loading cycles, causing a high computational effort. Therefore, homogenous replacement models are constructed by applying different spatial averaging methods for permeability and linearized relative permeability to an ensemble of heterogeneous reservoir representations of a potential hydrogen storage site. The applicability of these replacement models for approximating storage characteristics, such as well flow rates, pressure changes and power rates, is investigated by comparing their results to the results of the full heterogeneous ensemble. It is found that using the arithmetic mean to estimate the lateral and the harmonic mean for the vertical permeability in the homogeneous replacement models provides an approximation to the median of the heterogeneous ensemble for pressure changes, storage flow rate, gas in place and power output. Basic time-dependent effects of reducing well flow, and thus the power rates, during an extraction cycle can also be represented by these homogeneous replacement models. Using geometric means is found not to yield a valid representation of the storage behaviour.
Modelling oblique inversion of pre-existing grabens
Authors: Deng Hongling , Koyi Hemin A. , Zhang Jinjiang
Published: January 2019

A series of analogue models were run to investigate oblique inversion of pre-existing grabens when overprinted by later shortening and the effect of these grabens on development of contractional structures. Obliquity angle (
α
) defining the initial trend of pre-existing grabens relative to the shortening direction, was systematically changed from 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 65° and 90°. Different structural styles are shown in different models and also in sections cutting across different parts of the models. Model results show that existence of multi-grabens enhances lateral discontinuity of overprinted thrusts in map view. With increasing the obliquity angle, more and longer lateral ramps developed sub-parallel to the graben trends. The pre-existing grabens were apparently rotated from their initial trends during shortening. Some of the normal faults bounding the grabens were partially inverted and resulted in bulging of the syn- and post-rift graben fill sediments. Most normal faults were displaced and rotated by thrusting, and provided relatively weak zones for propagation of thrusts. By comparing with observations from Qingxi graben in western China and from the SW Taiwan fold-and-thrust belt, where oblique inversion occurred, model results can be used to interpret unclear relationships between thrusts and pre-existing extensional structures during superimposed deformation.
Orchestrating Caching, Transcoding and Request Routing for Adaptive Video Streaming Over ICN
Authors: Hu Han , Jin Yichao , Wen Yonggang , Westphal Cedric
Published: January 2019

Information-centric networking (ICN) has been touted as a revolutionary solution for the future of the Internet, which will be dominated by video traffic. This work investigates the challenge of distributing video content of adaptive bitrate (ABR) over ICN. In particular, we use the in-network caching capability of ICN routers to serve users; in addition, with the help of named function, we enable ICN routers to transcode videos to lower-bitrate versions to improve the cache hit ratio. Mathematically, we formulate this design challenge into a constrained optimization problem, which aims to maximize the cache hit ratio for service providers and minimize the service delay for endusers. We design a two-step iterative algorithm to find the optimum. First, given a content management scheme, we minimize the service delay via optimally configuring the routing scheme. Second, we maximize the cache hits for a given routing policy. Finally, we rigorously prove its convergence. Through extensive simulations, we verify the convergence and the performance gains over other algorithms. We also find that more resources should be allocated to ICN routers with a heavier request rate, and the routing scheme favors the shortest path to schedule more traffic.
Alpha-Beta Privacy
Authors: Mödersheim Sebastian , Viganò Luca
Published: January 2019

The formal specification of privacy goals in symbolic protocol models has proved to be not quite trivial so far. The most widely used approach in formal methods is based on the static equivalence of frames in the applied pi-calculus, basically asking whether or not the intruder is able to distinguish two given worlds. But then a subtle question emerges: How can we be sure that we have specified all pairs of worlds to properly reflect our intuitive privacy goal? To address this problem, we introduce in this article a novel and declarative way to specify privacy goals, called (α, β)-privacy. This new approach is based on specifying two formulae α and β in first-order logic with Herbrand universes, where α reflects the intentionally released information and β includes the actual cryptographic (“technical”) messages the intruder can see. Then (α, β)-privacy means that the intruder cannot derive any “nontechnical” statement from β that he cannot derive from α already. We describe by a variety of examples how this notion can be used in practice. Even though (α, β)-privacy does not directly contain a notion of distinguishing between worlds, there is a close relationship to static equivalence of frames that we investigate formally. This allows us to justify (and criticize) the specifications that are currently used in verification tools and obtain a decision procedure for a large fragment of (α, β)-privacy.
A Close Look at a Daily Dataset of Malware Samples
Authors: Ugarte-Pedrero Xabier , Graziano Mariano , Balzarotti Davide
Published: January 2019

The number of unique malware samples is growing out of control. Over the years, security companies have designed and deployed complex infrastructures to collect and analyze this overwhelming number of samples. As a result, a security company can collect more than 1M unique files per day only from its different feeds. These are automatically stored and processed to extract actionable information derived from static and dynamic analysis. However, only a tiny amount of this data is interesting for security researchers and attracts the interest of a human expert.

To the best of our knowledge, nobody has systematically dissected these datasets to precisely understand what they really contain. The security community generally discards the problem because of the alleged prevalence of uninteresting samples.

In this article, we guide the reader through a step-by-step analysis of the hundreds of thousands Windows executables collected in one day from these feeds. Our goal is to show how a company can employ existing state-of-the-art techniques to automatically process these samples and then perform manual experiments to understand and document what is the real content of this gigantic dataset. We present the filtering steps, and we discuss in detail how samples can be grouped together according to their behavior to support manual verification. Finally, we use the results of this measurement experiment to provide a rough estimate of both the human and computer resources that are required to get to the bottom of the
catch of the day
.
Information architects
Authors: Swope Amber
Published: January 2019

Every organization relies on information to communicate with prospects and customers - blog posts, articles, whitepapers, user manuals, web portals, videos, tweets, social media posts, moderated forums, and more. This means that many people are creating content and are delivering it in multiple ways. To meet our users' needs, we need information architecture (IA) to provide the framework for developing and delivering this information.

Although most content creators do not think of themselves as information architects, many of them perform tasks that are information architecture responsibilities. If you decide what information gets created and delivered, identify keywords to support findability, or organize the hierarchy for a table of contents, you are performing IA tasks. To learn who was performing these tasks and how they ended up with this role, I conducted a survey. This article presents my analysis of the results based upon my experience and relevant industry sources.
Theorizing lip reading as interface design
Authors: Garrison Kevin
Published: January 2019

This article explores what lip reading can teach us about interface design. First, I define lip reading. Second, I challenge the idea that people can "read" lips---an idea that is deeply imbedded in the literate tradition described by Walter Ong (1982) in
Orality and Literacy.
Third, I frame lip reading as a complex rhetorical activity of filling in the "gaps" of communication. Fourth, I present a lip reading heuristic that can challenge those of us in communication related fields to remember how the invisible "gaps" of communication are sometimes more important than the visible "interfaces." And finally, I conclude with some reflections about how lip reading might "reimagine" disability studies for technical and professional communicators.
Source, Extraction, Characterization, and Applications of Novel Antioxidants from Seaweed
Authors: Jacobsen Charlotte , Sørensen Ann-Dorit M. , Holdt Susan L. , Akoh Casimir C. , Hermund Ditte B.
Published: January 2019

Driven by a general demand for clean labels on food and cosmetic products, these industries are currently searching for efficient natural antioxidants to replace synthetic antioxidants. Seaweed contains several compounds with antioxidative properties (phlorotannins, pigments, tocopherols, and polysaccharides). It is possible to extract these compounds via different extraction techniques, which are discussed in this review. Among the abovementioned compounds, phlorotannins are probably the most important in terms of the antioxidative potential of seaweed extracts. We review how the different antioxidative compounds can be characterized. We discuss the current knowledge of the relationship between phlorotannin's structure and antioxidant properties in in vitro studies as well as in food systems. Concerning food systems, most studies on the antioxidative effect of seaweed extracts have been performed with extracts prepared from Fucus vesiculosus, despite the fact that this species is less available than other species, such as Ascophyllum nodosum, which also has high phlorotannin content.
Double-Stranded RNA Sensors and Modulators in Innate Immunity
Authors: Hur Sun
Published: January 2019

Detection of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) is a central mechanism of innate immune defense in many organisms. We here discuss several families of dsRNA-binding proteins involved in mammalian antiviral innate immunity. These include RIG-I-like receptors, protein kinase R, oligoadenylate synthases, adenosine deaminases acting on RNA, RNA interference systems, and other proteins containing dsRNA-binding domains and helicase domains. Studies suggest that their functions are highly interdependent and that their interdependence could offer keys to understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms for cellular dsRNA homeostasis and antiviral immunity. This review aims to highlight their interconnectivity, as well as their commonalities and differences in their dsRNA recognition mechanisms.
Feature Extraction Based on Adaptive Multiwavelets and LTSA for Rotating Machinery Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Lu Na , Zhang Guangtao , Xiao Zhihuai , Malik Om Parkash
Published: January 2019

Feature extraction is a key procedure in the fault diagnosis of rotating machinery. To obtain fault features with lower dimensionality and higher sensitivity, a feature extraction method based on adaptive multiwavelets transform (AMWT) and local tangent space alignment (LTSA) is proposed in this paper. AMWT is first used to obtain multiple features from the vibration signals of the machine under test to form a high‐dimensional feature set. Then, in order to avoid the adverse effect of the irrelevant features in this high‐dimensional feature set on the fault diagnosis result, a detection index (DI) is investigated to evaluate the sensitivity of the features and those with lower sensitivity are removed. After that, LTSA is applied for feature fusion to reduce the redundant features in the high‐dimensional feature set. To validate the proposed method, performance of four feature extraction schemes based on (i) wavelet and LTSA, (ii) Geronimo, Hardin, and Massopust (GHM) multiwavelets and LTSA, (iii) AMWT and principal component analysis (PCA), and (iv) AMWT and multidimensional scaling (MDS) is compared with the proposed method. The feature extraction results by these methods are then fed into K‐medoids classifier to discriminate the faults. The results show that the proposed method can improve the sensitivity of the extracted features and obtain higher fault recognition rate.
Artificial Seismic Source Field Research on the Impact of the Number and Layout of Stations on the Microseismic Location Error of Mines
Authors: Jia Bao-xin , Zhou Lin-li , Pan Yi-shan , Chen Hao
Published: January 2019

A site experiment is performed herein within a 100 m range using a high‐frequency structure activity monitor to explore the impact of different factors on the microseismic source location and analyze the range of influence of the velocity model, number of stations, and array surface on the seismic source location. Moreover, the impact of wave velocity, velocity‐free location algorithm, and position of the seismic source on the microseismic location error of mines is discussed by establishing the ideal theoretical model of the wave velocity location and with particle swarm optimization. The impact of the number of stations and tables on the location precision is also explored by using the microseismic signals produced by the artificial seismic source. The results show that, for the location model containing the velocity, the velocity error would greatly affect the location precision, and the velocity‐free algorithm receives good location results. The location result is more satisfactory when the seismic source point falls in between array envelope lines. The seismic source location precision is in direct proportion to the number of stations. According to the experiment, within a 100 m range, when the number of stations is over 12, the effect does not significantly grow with the increase of stations; the number of tables affects the location precision; and the multitable location effect is significantly superior to the single‐table effect. The research shows that the optimal station density is 0.0192%, and the appropriate sensor layout to form a multitable monitoring network may effectively enhance the microseismic source precision of mines through the selection of a velocity‐free location model. On the contrary, the number of stations can be reduced on the premise of the allowable error of the seismic source location, which may effectively reduce the monitoring cost.
Selective Extraction and Determination of Chromium Concentration Using Luffa cylindrica Fibers as Sorbent and Detection by FAAS
Authors: Neto José A. de Sousa , Oliveira Jordana de A. N. , Siqueira Lizandra M. C. , Alves Vanessa N.
Published: January 2019

In this approach, a nonchromatographic method was developed for selective extraction and determination of Cr(III) concentration in isotonic and energy drinks by FAAS. This new method uses Luffa cylindrica fibers as the solid phase extraction and an off-line flow injection system. Cr(III) and Cr(VI) adsorption behavior onto Luffa fibers allowed the selective separation of Cr(III) in the pH range of 4 to 5. The system variables were optimized through full factorial and Doehlert designs. Under optimal conditions, the detection and quantification limit for Cr(III) was 19.2 µg·L−1 and 63.9 µg·L−1, respectively, with precision below 0.19%. A high tolerance toward interfering ions was observed for the proposed method. Recovery test results obtained for different isotonic and energy drinks samples were higher than 87.6%. The method’s accuracy was confirmed through analysis of certified reference materials, water and sediment river samples (APS-1071 and APS-1066).
Static and Seismic Stability Charts for Three‐Dimensional Cut Slopes and Natural Slopes under Short‐Term Undrained Conditions
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Zhang Fei , Li Bing
Published: January 2019

In the strict framework of limit analysis, an analytical approach is derived to obtain the upper bound solutions for three‐dimensional inhomogeneous slopes in clays under undrained conditions. Undrained strength profiles increasing linearly with depth below the crest of the slope and below the outline surface of the slope are assumed representative of cut slopes and natural slopes, respectively. Stability charts are produced for the cut slopes and the natural slopes under both static and pseudostatic seismic loading conditions. The presented charts are convenient to assess the preliminary and short‐term stability for 3D slopes in practical applications, such as rapid excavation or buildup of embankments and slopes subjected to earthquakes. Compared with the available results from the finite element limit analysis method, a better estimate of the slope safety is obtained from the analytical approach.
Electronic-Sports Experience Related to Functional Enhancement in Central Executive and Default Mode Areas
Authors: Gong Diankun , Ma Weiyi , Liu Tiejun , Yan Yuening , Yao Dezhong
Published: January 2019

Electronic-sports (e-sports) is a form of organized, online, multiplayer video game competition, which requires both action skills and the ability and process of forming and adapting a strategy (referred to as strategization hereafter) to achieve goals. Over the past few decades, research has shown that video gaming experience has an important impact on the plasticity of the sensorimotor, attentional, and executive brain areas. However, little research has examined the relationship between e-sports experience and the plasticity of brain networks that are related to strategization. Using resting-state fMRI data and the local functional connectivity density (lFCD) analysis, this study investigated the relationship between e-sports experience (League of Legends [LOL] in this study) and brain plasticity by comparing between top-ranking LOL players and lower-ranking (yet experienced) LOL players. Results showed that the top-ranking LOL players had superior local functional integration in the executive areas compared to lower-ranking players. Furthermore, the top-ranking players had higher lFCD in the default mode areas, which have been found related to various subprocesses (e.g., memory and planning) essential for strategization. Finally, the top-ranking players’ lFCD was related to their LOL expertise rank level, as indicated by a comprehensive score assigned by the gaming software based on players’ gaming experience and expertise. Thus, the result showed that the local functional connectivity in central executive and default mode brain areas was enhanced in the top-ranking e-sports players, suggesting that e-sports experience is related to the plasticity of the central executive and default mode areas.
Feasibility and Health Effects of a 15-Week Combined Exercise Programme for Sedentary Elderly: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Nielsen Tina-Thea , Møller Trine K. , Andersen Lars L. , Zebis Mette K. , Hansen Peter R. , Krustrup Peter
Published: January 2019

There is strong evidence that considerable health benefits can be achieved even with small amounts of physical activity. However, getting people to exercise regularly is a major challenge not least in the elderly population. This study investigated the feasibility and physiological health effects of a pragmatic 15-week exercise programme for sedentary elderly. In a single-blind randomised controlled trial, 45 sedentary 60-83-year-olds (25 women, 20 men) were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to a training group (TG, n=30) or a control group (CG, n=15). The training in TG consisted of a combination of exercise modalities (i.e., strength, aerobic fitness, stability, and flexibility training) performed once a week as supervised group-based training and a weekly home-based training for 15 weeks. Feasibility outcomes were exercise intensity, adherence, and adverse events. The primary outcome was change in aerobic fitness (VO2max/kg). Adherence was high (81%) for the supervised exercise and low (0%) for the home-based exercise. No acute injuries occurred in TG, but 4 subjects (13%) reported considerable joint pain related to training. Average heart rate (HR) during the supervised training was 104±12 beats/min (69.3±8.0%HRmax), with 3.9±7.3% of training time >90%HRmax. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed no between-group differences for aerobic fitness (P=0.790) or any secondary cardiovascular outcomes at 15-week follow-up (resting HR or blood pressure; P>0.05). Compared to CG, bodyweight (-2.3 kg, 95% CI -4.0 to -7.0; P=0.006), total fat mass (-2.0 kg, 95% CI -3.5 to -0.5; P=0.01), and total fat percentage (-1.6%, 95% CI -2.8 to -0.3; P=0.01) decreased in TG. The group-based supervised training had high adherence and moderate exercise intensity, whereas the home-based training was not feasible in this study population. This exercise programme performed once a week did not improve aerobic fitness. Thus, supervised training with more vigorous intensity control appears advisable. Clinical Study registration number is H-15016951.