bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of Intelligence Quotient for Primary School Students in Mahasarakham Province
Authors: Phusee-orn Songsak , Reunnakan Prasret , Srihamongkol Yannapat , Piyakul Araya , Yurayat Phamornpun , Suk-erb Wipanee , Tuklang Supachai , Sirisittanapak Sudares , Khoungsimma Pornweenus , Sakulthong Lucksana
Published: January 2019

This research focuses on intelligence quotient (IQ) of the primary school students in Mahasarakham Province. There are 5,053 subjects from 64 schools under the Mahasarakham Primary Education Office. Stratified Random Sampling is applied in selecting the subjects. The subjects are divided according to their districts and school sizes (Small, Medium-Sized, and Large) with three units: schools, classrooms, and students. The results are shown in both “Descriptive Statistics” to describe demographic factors and “Inferential Statistics” to compare the cognitive levels among the elementary school students from different demographic factors. The results of the study indicate that the IQ of the primary school students in Mahasarakham Province is at the normal level. Most of them, 3,358 students or 66.46%, have the average level of IQ. 148 students or 2.93% have the higher-than-average level while 68 students or 1.35% had the lower-than-average level. After considering the IQ of the students on an individual basis in the designated educational area, there are different factors contributing to the results including the sizes of the school, the parents’ education level, and the parents’ average monthly incomes (F = 2.521, P-value = 0.040). The level of intelligence is not only the result of genetics and environment, but also the result of many internal and external factors. The study shows that the level of intelligence among the elementary school students in Mahasarakham is at the average level with different basic information and factors such as individuals, families, and schools. Therefore, all related sectors to educational development should realize the importance of promoting the students’ intelligence in order to reach the students’ full potential.
The Effects of Dynamic Warm Up with and without Ball on Passing Performance and Drippling in Soccer
Authors: Dinç Nurten
Published: January 2019

Introduction and Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mass warm-up specific to sports branch and dynamic warm-up on pass performance and dribbling in soccer.Method: The study was conducted on soccer team competing in amateur league. A total of 10 volunteers without any health problems and disabilities participated in the study. The participants performed two different warm-up protocols; namely dynamic warming and branch specific warming. Participants performed two warm-up protocols in 15 minutes. Following the warm-up protocols, the participants applied pass test and drippling. Intergroup analysis Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied in order to observe the effects of dynamic warm-up and branch specific warm-up of the participants on pass test and ball dribbling.Findings and Conclusion: Comparing the effects of branch-specific warm-up and dynamic warm-up on pass test, it has been observed that there is a positively and statistically significant difference in branch-specific warm-up compared to dynamic warm-up (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference has been observed on ball dribbling performance when comparing the warm-up protocols (p>0.05).
Ethnography Beyond Method: The Importance of an Ethnographic Sensibility
Authors: McGranahan Carole
Published: January 2019

There is no ethnography without a corresponding ethnographic sensibility. That is, the understanding and practice of ethnography as method, theory, and writing practice rests on the cultivation of a sense of the ethnographic as the lived expectations, complexities, contradictions, possibilities, and grounds of any given cultural group. Within anthropology, the articulation of an ethnographic sensibility has long been at the heart of our disciplinary project of documenting
how people collectively organize, understand, and live in the world. As such, we consider ethnography both something to know and a unique way of knowing.
Visual Routes and Digital Lives: Using Visual Ethnography to Explore the Importance of Social Media Amongst Young Bhutanese Refugee Women
Authors: Halley Jessica
Published: January 2019

The interconnectedness of the internet and camera technology presents visual and digital researchers with a series of routes with which to navigate digital life. This research explores a series of still photos taken by four young Bhutanese refugee women, growing up in Palmerston North. What has been most striking are the photos they have taken of themselves, such photos are referred to as ‘selfies’. These selfie photos are taken for purposes of sharing across digital
social media networks. Following these routes transformed this research project from a visual ethnography into a visual and digital ethnography. This research highlights the ways in which social media photos provide textual examples of what is meaningful to particular youth cultures.
Revealing Cosmopolitanism Through an Examination of Informal Elder Care in Seventeenth-Eighteenth Century England and Nineteenth Century Colonial North America
Authors: Hale Beatrice , Jaye Chrystal
Published: January 2019

Informal caregiving encompasses the motivations and practices of relatives in looking after family members of all ages with long-term illnesses and disabilities. Only recently has it been differentiated as a distinct role within the nurturance obligations of familial roles. As such, informal caregiving has been recognised through contemporary social movements in many countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. At the same time, there is an increasing interest in caregiving in history which elucidates the care needed and offered at different historical moments. Our aim here is to examine the minutiae and intimacies of care practices between caregiver and the recipient of care in two different periods of time, seventeenth century England and colonial America. We suggest that these data support the notion that care is a fundamental social human dynamic, connecting caregivers from early to contemporary times. Caregivers can be viewed as a shared global community, transcending community and time; at the same time acts of caregiving represent the humanitarian ideals of cosmopolitanism.
Embodied Spaces, Cosmopolitanism and Corporeal Diversity
Authors: Jackson Aaron J.
Published: January 2019

Drawing on my experiences caring for my disabled son and views from the parenting/disability blogosphere, this article illustrates a second-person phenomenology of disability. Parents’ lived experiences of disability and the embodied knowledge they acquire through intimate acts of caregiving provide important insights into the diversity of human embodiment and the Othering practices that foreclose our capacity to connect with and understand others. This article shows that the act and experience of caregiving opens new possibilities for engaging with the world and others. Through their participation in online communities, parents come together around their shared moral orientation to making the world more inclusive of human difference, generating cosmopolitan spaces of care.
Ethnographic Frontiers: Of Things, Places, and Animals
Authors: Appleton Nayantara Sheoran
Published: January 2019

The frontier, in western imaginary, is the paradoxical space of romantic conquest and simultaneously unbridled dangers. It serves both to showcase the potentialities of futures that can be created and also the inherent dangers present in those spaces that are yet to be conquered. The frontier is uncharted territory for some, but also relinquished territory for others. The frontier marks movement – forward and backward – for differently positioned peoples. The frontier is never static but rather a constantly moving space both figurative and literal that asks us to participate in its making and unmaking. Drawing on the concept of ethnographic frontiers, the three books reviewed are: Elizabeth Chin’s My Life with Things: The Consumer Diaries (Chin 2016); Lindsay Hamilton and Nik Taylor’s Ethnography After Humanism: Power, Politics, and Methods in Multi-Species Research (Hamilton and Taylor 2017); and Lisa Messeri’s Placing Outer Space: An Earthly Ethnography of Other Worlds (Messeri 2016).
DNA segments of African Swine Fever Virus detected for the first time in hard ticks from sheep and bovines
Authors: Chen Ze , Xu Xiaofeng , Wang Yufeng , Bei Jinlong , Jin Xiufeng , Dou Weihao , Ji Haishuo , Duan Yujie , Yang Xiaojun , Gao Shan
Published: January 2019

In this study, we detected African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) in Dermacentor (Ixodidae) from sheep and bovines using small RNA sequencing. To validate this result, a 235-bp DNA segment was detected in a number of DNA samples from D. silvarum and sheep blood. This 235-bp segment had an identity of 99% to a 235-bp DNA segment of ASFV and contained three single nucleotide mutations (C38T, C76T and A108C). C38T, resulting in a single amino acid mutation G66D, suggests the existence of a new ASFV strain, which is different from all reported ASFV strains in the NCBI GenBank database and the ASFV strain (GenBank: MH713612.1) reported in China in 2018. To further confirm the existence of ASFV in Dermacentor ticks, three DNA segments of ASFV were detected in D. niveus females from bovines and their first generation ticks reared in our lab. These results also proved that transovarian transmission of ASFV occurs in hard ticks. This study revealed for the first time that ASFV has a wider range of hosts (e.g. sheep and bovines) and vectors (e.g. hard ticks), beyond the well-known Suidae family and Argasidae (soft ticks). Our findings pave the way toward further studies on ASFV transmission and the development of prevention and control measures.
JC Polyomavirus Entry by Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis Is Driven by β-Arrestin
Authors: Mayberry Colleen L. , Soucy Ashley N. , Lajoie Conner R. , DuShane Jeanne K. , Maginnis Melissa S.
Published: January 2019

Viruses usurp cellular factors to invade host cells. Activation and utilization of these proteins upon initiation of viral infection are therefore required for productive infection and resultant viral disease. The majority of healthy individuals are asymptomatically infected by JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), but if the host immune system is compromised, JCPyV can cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, fatal, demyelinating disease. Individuals infected with HIV or taking prolonged immunomodulatory therapies have a heightened risk for developing PML. The cellular proteins and pathways utilized by JCPyV to mediate viral entry are poorly understood. Our findings further characterize how JCPyV utilizes the clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway to invade host cells. We have identified specific components of this pathway that are necessary for the viral entry process and infection. Collectively, the conclusions increase our understanding of JCPyV infection and pathogenesis and may contribute to the future development of novel therapeutic strategies for PML.
Aortitis and pachymeningitis: an unusual combination in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (myeloperoxidase-associated vasculitis)
Authors: Parperis Konstantinos , Abdulqader Yasir
Published: January 2019

Aortitis and pachymeningitis are uncommon manifestations of the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides, a group of systemic autoimmune diseases mainly affecting small vessels. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman with a remote history of idiopathic chronic granulomatous pachymeningitis complicated with aortic thickening due to autoimmune aortitis.
Very rare case of synchronous volvulus of the sigmoid colon and caecum causing large-bowel obstruction
Authors: Roy Susmit Prosun , Tay Yeng Kwang , Kozman Daniel
Published: January 2019

Large-bowel obstruction caused by volvulus is potentially life threatening if not managed promptly. Sigmoid colon is the most common site of volvulus followed by caecum. Synchronous double colonic volvulus is an exceedingly rare entity, with only five cases published previously. We present the case of a 77-year-old man with a synchronous sigmoid and caecal volvulus. He underwent total colectomy with ileostomy formation with a view to reverse the ileostomy at a later date.
Behavioural changes as the first manifestation of a silent frontal lobe stroke
Authors: García Carretero Rafael , Beamonte-Vela Blanca-Nieves , Silvano-Cocinero Jose-David , Alvarez-Mendez Ana
Published: January 2019

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital after his relatives found him to have severe personality and behavioural changes. His behaviour was inappropriate and uninhibited. The patient reported no symptoms and he showed poor insight into his own behaviour. Neuroimaging showed an orbitofrontal lesion, due to an infarction of the anterior cerebral artery. The patient was diagnosed with frontal lobe syndrome.
Hypocalcaemia and hyponatraemia masquerading the diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome
Authors: Gopinath Bhargav , Chauhan Nupur , Achappa Basavaprabhu
Published: January 2019

Gitelman syndrome is the most common renal tubulopathy, recently exhibiting a dramatic rise of incidence in Asia.

A 50-year-old woman presented with vomiting, fatigue and quadriparesis. Physical examination revealed a positive Trousseau sign , hypotonia and areflexia.

Suspecting hypocalcaemia, she was given intravenous 10% calcium gluconate (10 mL administered slowly over 10 min) but her manifestations persisted. An exhaustive laboratory work up revealed the diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome.

The peculiarity of this case however, is entailed in its coexistence with hypocalcaemia and hyponatraemia. In addition, the age of primary presentation being 50 years further culminates its atypicality.

Multiple electrolyte imbalances were corrected by oral and intravenous supplementation and a high sodium-potassium diet was advocated. Administration of spironolactone imposed a pitfall in the management of our patient due to exacerbation of pre-existing hyponatraemia.

On follow-up, her electrolyte profile was stable and corresponding symptoms were alleviated.
Risk factors associated with paediatric unplanned hospital readmissions: a systematic review
Authors: Zhou Huaqiong , Roberts Pam A , Dhaliwal Satvinder S , Della Phillip R
Published: January 2019

Objective

To synthesise evidence on risk factors associated with paediatric unplanned hospital readmissions (UHRs).

Design

Systematic review.

Data source

CINAHL, EMBASE (Ovid) and MEDLINE from 2000 to 2017.

Eligibility criteria

Studies published in English with full-text access and focused on paediatric All-cause, Surgical procedure and General medical condition related UHRs were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Characteristics of the included studies, examined variables and the statistically significant risk factors were extracted. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality based on six domains of potential bias. Pooling of extracted risk factors was not permitted due to heterogeneity of the included studies. Data were synthesised using content analysis and presented in narrative form.

Results

Thirty-six significant risk factors were extracted from the 44 included studies and presented under three health condition groupings. For All-cause UHRs, ethnicity, comorbidity and type of health insurance were the most frequently cited factors. For Surgical procedure related UHRs, specific surgical procedures, comorbidity, length of stay (LOS), age, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists class, postoperative complications, duration of procedure, type of health insurance and illness severity were cited more frequently. The four most cited risk factors associated with General medical condition related UHRs were comorbidity, age, health service usage prior to the index admission and LOS.

Conclusions

This systematic review acknowledges the complexity of readmission risk prediction in paediatric populations. This review identified four risk factors across all three health condition groupings, namely comorbidity; public health insurance; longer LOS and patients<12 months or between 13–18 years. The identification of risk factors, however, depended on the variables examined by each of the included studies. Consideration should be taken into account when generalising reported risk factors to other institutions. This review highlights the need to develop a standardised set of measures to capture key hospital discharge variables that predict unplanned readmission among paediatric patients.
Financial performance of English NHS trusts and variation in clinical outcomes: a longitudinal observational study
Authors: Nagendran Myura , Kiew Grace , Raine Rosalind , Atun Rifat , Maruthappu Mahiben
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To examine the association between financial performance as measured by operating margin (surplus/deficit as a proportion of turnover) and clinical outcomes in English National Health Service (NHS) trusts.

Setting

Longitudinal, observational study in 149 acute NHS trusts in England between the financial years 2011 and 2016.

Participants

Our analysis focused on outcomes at individual NHS Trust-level (composed of one or more acute hospitals).

Primary and secondary outcomes

Outcome measures included readmissions, inpatient satisfaction score and the following process measures: emergency department (Accident and Emergency (A&E)) waiting time targets, cancer referral and treatment targets and delayed transfers of care (DTOCs).

Results

There was a progressive increase in the proportion of trusts in financial deficit: 22% in 2011, 27% in 2012, 28% in 2013, 51% in 2014, 68% in 2015 and 91% in 2016. In linear regression analyses, there was no significant association between operating margin and clinical outcomes (readmission rate or inpatient satisfaction score). There was, however, a significant association between operating margin and process measures (DTOCs, A&E breaches and cancer waiting time targets). Between the best and worst financially performing Trusts, there was an approximately 2-fold increase in A&E breaches and DTOCs overall although this variation decreased over the 6 years. Between the best and worst performing trusts on cancer targets, the magnitude of difference was smaller (1.16 and 1.15-fold), although the variation slowly rose during the 6 years.

Conclusions

Operating margins in English NHS trusts progressively worsened during 2011–2016, and this change was associated with poorer performance on several process measures but not with hospital readmissions or inpatient satisfaction. Significant variation exists between the best and worst financially performing Trusts. Further research is needed to examine the causal nature of relationships between financial performance, process measures and outcomes.
Prostate care and prostate cancer from the perspectives of undiagnosed men: a systematic review of qualitative research
Authors: Kannan Ashwini , Kirkman Maggie , Ruseckaite Rasa , Evans Sue M
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To summarise and evaluate evidence from men who had not been diagnosed with prostate cancer about their perspectives on prostate care and prostate cancer.

Design

A systematic review of qualitative research, on the perspectives of non-cancerous men regarding prostate cancer prevention and care.

Setting

A wide range of settings including primary and secondary care.

Participants

Men from varied demographic backgrounds ranging between 40 to 80 years of age.

Data sources

Three databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Informit, PsychInfo) and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed papers in English reporting research using qualitative methods (in-depth or semistructured interviews and focus groups).

Review methods

Thematic analysis using inductive and deductive codes. Thematic synthesis was achieved through iterative open, axial and thematic coding.

Results

Eight papers (reporting seven studies conducted in Australia, UK and Germany) met inclusion criteria. Four major themes were identified: understanding prostate cancer, masculinity and prostate cancer, barriers to prostate healthcare and managing prostate health. It was reported that men often did not understand screening, prostate anatomy or their prostate cancer risk, and that concerns about masculinity could deter men from seeking health checks. There was evidence of a need to improve doctor–patient communication about case finding.

Conclusion

Further investigation is required to identify and understand any differences in the perspectives and experiences of men who have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer in metropolitan and regional areas, especially where there may be variations in access to healthcare
Is microfinance associated with changes in women’s well-being and children’s nutrition? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gichuru Wanjiku , Ojha Shalini , Smith Sherie , Smyth Alan Robert , Szatkowski Lisa
Published: January 2019

Background

Microfinance is the provision of savings and small loans services, with no physical collateral. Most recipients are disadvantaged women. The social and health impacts of microfinance have not been comprehensively evaluated.

Objective

To explore the impact of microfinance on contraceptive use, female empowerment and children’s nutrition in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Design

We conducted a systematic search of published and grey literature (1990–2018), with no language restrictions. We conducted meta-analysis, where possible, to calculate pooled ORs. Where studies could not be combined, we described these qualitatively.

Data sources

EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS, CENTRAL and ECONLIT were searched (1990–June 2018).

Eligibility criteria

We included controlled trials, observational studies and panel data analyses investigating microfinance involving women and children.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies and a modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale for cross-sectional surveys and analyses of panel data. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA V.15 (StataCorp).

Results

We included 27 studies. Microfinance was associated with a 64% increase in the number of women using contraceptives (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.86). We found mixed results for the association between microfinance and intimate partner violence. Some positive changes were noted in female empowerment. Improvements in children’s nutrition were noted in three studies.

Conclusion

Microfinance has the potential to generate changes in contraceptive use, female empowerment and children’s nutrition. It was not possible to compare microfinance models due to the small numbers of studies. More rigorous evidence is needed to evaluate the association between microfinance and social and health outcomes.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42015026018.
Design characteristics and statistical methods used in interrupted time series studies evaluating public health interventions: protocol for a review
Authors: Turner Simon L , Karahalios Amalia , Forbes Andrew B , Taljaard Monica , Grimshaw Jeremy M , Cheng Allen C , Bero Lisa , McKenzie Joanne E
Published: January 2019

Introduction

An interrupted time series (ITS) design is an important observational design used to examine the effects of an intervention or exposure. This design has particular utility in public health where it may be impracticable or infeasible to use a randomised trial to evaluate health system-wide policies, or examine the impact of exposures (such as earthquakes). There have been relatively few studies examining the design characteristics and statistical methods used to analyse ITS designs. Further, there is a lack of guidance to inform the design and analysis of ITS studies.

This is the first study in a larger project that aims to provide tools and guidance for researchers in the design and analysis of ITS studies. The objectives of this study are to (1) examine and report the design characteristics and statistical methods used in a random sample of contemporary ITS studies examining public health interventions or exposures that impact on health-related outcomes, and (2) create a repository of time series data extracted from ITS studies. Results from this study will inform the remainder of the project which will investigate the performance of a range of commonly used statistical methods, and create a repository of input parameters required for sample size calculation.

Methods and analysis

We will collate 200 ITS studies evaluating public health interventions or the impact of exposures. ITS studies will be identified from a search of the bibliometric database PubMed between the years 2013 and 2017, combined with stratified random sampling. From eligible studies, we will extract study characteristics, details of the statistical models and estimation methods, effect metrics and parameter estimates. Further, we will extract the time series data when available. We will use systematic review methods in the screening, application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, and extraction of data. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarise the data.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required since information will only be extracted from published studies. Dissemination of the results will be through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. A repository of data extracted from the published ITS studies will be made publicly available.
AAC Expedition pinto dry bean
Authors: Balasubramanian Parthiba M. , Chatterton Syama , Conner Robert L.
Published: January 2019

AAC Expedition is a high-yielding pinto dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar with a semi-upright, indeterminate bush (type IIb) growth habit, large seed size, low percentage of hard seed, and bright seed coat colour. Its improved seed quality traits, particularly its bright seed coat colour, low percentage of hard seeds after soaking, and high yield potential, will make AAC Expedition a preferred pinto bean cultivar for commercial production. AAC Expedition, developed by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, is well suited for commercial production under irrigation in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Stochastic KEMIRA-M Approach with Consistent Weightings
Authors: Toktaş Pelin , Can Gülin Feryal
Published: January 2019

This study proposes an advanced Modified KEmeny Median Indicator Rank Accordance (KEMIRA-M) approach based on stochastic evaluation process considering consistent weights to improve effective usage of KEMIRA-M. In the proposed approach, tasks related to the decision issue are performed by decision makers to ensure the understanding sufficiency of alternatives in terms of criteria more clearly. The weighting procedure of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is implemented in a stochastic manner benefited from discrete uniform distribution to provide obtaining consistent criteria weights considering median priority components. Therefore, different trials including different number of replications that shows the number of decision makers are performed and the most consistent weightings are determined for each trial in the stochastic process. In this way, the dependency to the limited numbers of decision makers and to determine criteria weights in a heuristic manner in KEMIRA-M is prevented. Additionally, the effect of the number of decision makers on criteria weightings and alternatives’ ranking process is shown. To obtain the most consistent weighting results, this stochastic process is utilized until acquiring approximate consistency ratios. The proposed stochastic KEMIRA-M approach is utilized to rank nine shopping malls (SMs) in Ankara in terms of technical criteria (TC) and universal design criteria (UDC). It was seen from the ranking results that the first SM (SM1) is the best one.
Image super-resolution based on multi-grained cascade forests
Authors: Wang Yaming , Luo Zhikang , Huang Weqing , Han Yonghua
Published: January 2019

Although neural networks are most commonly used in the field of image super-resolution (SR), methods based on decision trees are still discussed. These kinds of algorithm need less time to compute than others because of their simple structure but still yield high quality image SR. In this paper, we propose an SR algorithm using the multi-grained cascade forest (SRGCF) method. Our algorithm first uses multi-grained scanning to process the spatial relationships of image features, thus the representational learning ability is improved. During the reconstruction process, the image obtained by cascade forest training is used as the input of the next training, therefore, the image features are continuously emphasized. The training of the cascade forest ends when the evaluation value is optimal. Because the decision tree uses a divide-and-conquer strategy, the SR of an image is improved in an iterative manner simply and quickly. Compared with existing methods, our method not only avoids the tradeoff between reconstruction quality and run time, but also has a good generalization capability. It can be quickly applied to the many cases of image SR.
Historic Moments Discovery in Sequence Data
Authors: Bai Ran , Hon Wing Kai , Lo Eric , He Zhian , Zhu Kenny
Published: January 2019

Many emerging applications are based on finding interesting subsequences from sequence data. Finding “prominent streaks,” a set of the longest contiguous subsequences with values all above (or below) a certain threshold, from sequence data is one of that kind that receives much attention. Motivated from real applications, we observe that prominent streaks alone are not insightful enough but require the discovery of something we coined as “historic moments” as companions. In this article, we present an algorithm to efficiently compute historic moments from sequence data. The algorithm is
incremental
and
space optimal
, meaning that when facing new data arrival, it is able to efficiently refresh the results by keeping minimal information. Case studies show that historic moments can significantly improve the insights offered by prominent streaks alone. Furthermore, experiments show that our algorithm can outperform the baseline in both time and space.
The importance of a great finish
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: January 2019

You have to finish strong, every time.
Tony's law
Authors: Feitelson Dror G.
Published: January 2019

Seeking to promote regulations for reliable software for the long-term prosperity of the software industry.
2018
Authors: Landwehr Carl
Published: January 2019

Retracing the pivotal privacy and security-related events and ensuing issues from the past year.
How computer science at CMU is attracting and retaining women
Authors: Frieze Carol , Quesenberry Jeria L.
Published: January 2019

Carnegie Mellon University's successful efforts enrolling, sustaining, and graduating women in computer science challenge the belief in a gender divide in CS education.
Bootstrapping privacy services in today's internet
Authors: Lee Taeho , Pappas Christos , Perrig Adrian
Published: January 2019

Internet users today have few solutions to cover a large space of diverse privacy requirements. We introduce the concept of privacy domains, which provide flexibility in expressing users' privacy requirements. Then, we propose three privacy services that construct meaningful privacy domains and can be offered by ISPs. Furthermore, we illustrate that these services introduce little overhead for communication sessions and that they come with a low deployment barrier for ISPs.
Measuring the impact of a successful DDoS attack on the customer behaviour of managed DNS service providers
Authors: Abhishta Abhishta , van Rijswijk-Deij Roland , Nieuwenhuis Lambert J. M.
Published: January 2019

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks continue to pose a serious threat to the availability of Internet services. The Domain Name System (DNS) is part of the core of the Internet and a crucial factor in the successful delivery of Internet services. Because of the importance of DNS, specialist service providers have sprung up in the market, that provide managed DNS services. One of their key selling points is that they protect DNS for a domain against DDoS attacks. But what if such a service becomes the target of a DDoS attack, and that attack succeeds?

In this paper we analyse two such events, an attack on NS1 in May 2016, and an attack on Dyn in October 2016. We do this by analysing the change in the behaviour of the service's customers. For our analysis we leverage data from the OpenINTEL active DNS measurement system, which covers large parts of the global DNS over time. Our results show an almost immediate and statistically significant change in the behaviour of domains that use NS1 or Dyn as a DNS service provider. We observe a decline in the number of domains that exclusively use NS1 or Dyn as a managed DNS service provider, and see a shift toward risk spreading by using multiple providers. While a large managed DNS provider may be better equipped to protect against attacks, these two case studies show they are not impervious to them. This calls into question the wisdom of using a single provider for managed DNS. Our results show that spreading risk by using multiple providers is an effective countermeasure, albeit probably at a higher cost.
A formally verified NAT stack
Authors: Pirelli Solal , Zaostrovnykh Arseniy , Candea George
Published: January 2019

Prior work proved a stateful NAT network function to be, crash-free, memory safe and semantically correct [29]. Their toolchain verifies the network function code while assuming the underlying kernel-bypass framework, drivers, operating system, and hardware to be correct. We extend the toolchain to verify the kernel-bypass framework and a NIC driver in the context of the NAT. We uncover bugs in both the framework and the driver. Our code is publicly available [28].
Gender diversity in SIGMM
Authors: Smeaton Alan
Published: January 2019

At a SIGMM Executive Committee meeting in Mountain View, California in October 2017, SIGMM agreed to replicate the SIGARCH study to examine and measure, the (lack of) gender diversity at SIGMM-sponsored Conferences. We issued a call offering funding support to do this, but there were no takers, so I did this myself, from within my own research lab.
ICER 2019 call for participation
Authors: McCartney Robert , Petersen Andrew
Published: January 2019

The fifteenth annual ACM International Computing Education Research (ICER) Conference aims to gather high-quality contributions to the computing education research discipline. ICER will take place in Toronto, Canada, August 11-14, 2019. We invite submissions across a variety of categories for research investigating how people of all ages come to understand computational processes and devices, and empirical evaluation of approaches to improve that understanding in formal and informal learning environments.
Member spotlight
Authors: Porter Leo , Guzdial Mark
Published: January 2019

In this feature of the Bulletin, we highlight members of the SIGCSE community. In this issue, Bulletin co-editor Leo Porter interviewed Mark Guzdial. Mark Guzdial is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan and an ACM Fellow. He was awarded the 2019 SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education. He will receive the award and offer a keynote address at the upcoming SIGCSE symposium.
SIGCSE board 2019-2022 election slate
Authors: Rodger Susan
Published: January 2019

The term of the current SIGCSE Board will be ending at the end of June. An election for a new SIGCSE Board will be held in April 2019. The election is run by ACM.
Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Lesion Detection and Local Staging
Authors: Turkbey Baris , Choyke Peter L.
Published: January 2019

Dramatic changes in the use of prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have occurred in the last decade. The recognition that MRI detects and localizes cancers with reasonable accuracy led to the development of directed biopsies. These image-guided biopsies have a higher sensitivity for clinically significant cancers and a lower sensitivity for indolent disease. Prospective trials provide level 1 evidence supporting the use of prostate MRI. For local staging, while the specificity of prostate MRI is high, its sensitivity is lacking for microscopic extraprostatic extension. Computer-aided diagnosis of prostate MRI promises to bring the diagnostic power of MRI to nonexpert readers and thus further integrate MRI into the diagnostic workup.
Upregulated Na+/H+-Exchange Protects Human Colon Cancer Tissue against Intracellular Acidification
Authors: Voss Ninna C. S. , Kold-Petersen Henrik , Henningsen Mikkel B. , Homilius Casper , Boedtkjer Ebbe
Published: January 2019

Increased metabolism accelerates local acid production in cancer tissue. The mechanisms eliminating acidic waste products from human colon cancer tissue represent promising therapeutic targets for pharmacological manipulation in order to improve prognosis for the increasing number of patients with colon cancer. We sampled biopsies of human colonic adenocarcinomas and matched normal colon tissue from patients undergoing colon cancer surgery. We measured steady-state intracellular pH and rates of net acid extrusion in freshly isolated human colonic crypts based on fluorescence microscopy. Net acid extrusion was almost entirely (>95%) Na+-dependent. The capacity for net acid extrusion was increased and steady-state intracellular pH elevated around 0.5 in crypts from colon cancer tissue compared with normal colon tissue irrespective of whether they were investigated in the presence or absence of CO2/HCO3–. The accelerated net acid extrusion from the human colon cancer tissue was sensitive to the Na+/H+-exchange inhibitor cariporide. We conclude that enhanced net acid extrusion via Na+/H+-exchange elevates intracellular pH in human colon cancer tissue.
Statins for the Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Li Min , Wang Xiaoli , Li Xinyi , Chen Heqing , Hu Yeyin , Zhang Xiatian , Tang Xiaoyi , Miao Yaodong , Tian Guihua , Shang Hongcai
Published: January 2019

Object. The purpose of this study was to fully assess the role of statins in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods. We searched six databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database) to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to 31 October 2017. Two review authors independently assessed the methodological quality and analysed the data using Rev Man 5.3 software. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were pooled using fixed/random-effects models. Funnel plots and Begg’s test were conducted to assess publication bias. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results. Sixteen RCTs with 69159 participants were included in this review. Statins can effectively decrease the occurrence of angina (RR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.58~0.85, I2 =0%), nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) (RR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.51~0.69, I2 =14%), fatal MI (RR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.24~0.98, I2 =0%), any MI (RR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.42~0.67, I2 =0%), any coronary heart events (RR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.68~0.78, I2=0%), coronary revascularization (RR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.55~0.78, I2 = 0%), and any cardiovascular events (RR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.72~82, I2 = 0%). However, based on the current evidence, there were no significant differences in CHD deaths (RR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.66~1.02, I2=0%) and all-cause mortality (RR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.76 ~1.01, I2 =58%) between the two groups. Additionally, statins were more likely to result in diabetes (RR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.05~1.39, I2 =0%). There was no evidence of publication biases, and the quality of the evidence was considered moderate. Conclusion. Statins seemed to be beneficial for the primary prevention of CHDs but have no effect on CHD death and all-cause mortality.
Short‐Crested Wave‐Current Forces on Composite Bucket Foundation for an Offshore Wind Turbine
Authors: Wang Piguang , Zhao Mi , Du Xiuli
Published: January 2019

An analytical solution for the diffraction of short‐crested incident wave with uniform current on a composite bucket foundation is derived. The influences of the uniform current on wave frequency, wave run‐up, wave force, and inertia and drag coefficients on the composite bucket foundation are investigated. The numerical results indicate that the current incident angle and current velocity have significant effects on the short‐crested wave run‐up, wave force, and inertia and drag coefficients on the composite bucket foundation. For a fixed wave number, the wave frequency, wave run‐up, wave forces, and inertia and drag coefficients obviously increase with the increase of current velocity when the relative angle between the current velocity and wave propagation direction is smaller than 90°, whereas they obviously decrease when the relative angle is larger than 90°. It also can be found that the effect of wave‐current interaction on the short‐crested wave increases with the increase of the total wave number and the decrease of the water depth. The short‐crested wave forces will be significantly increased when the current incident angle parallels to the direction of the wave propagating. Therefore, the short‐crested wave‐current load should be carefully considered in the design of the composite bucket foundation for an offshore wind turbine.
Stem Cells from the Apical Papilla: A Promising Source for Stem Cell-Based Therapy
Authors: Kang Jun , Fan Wenguo , Deng Qianyi , He Hongwen , Huang Fang
Published: January 2019

Stem cells are biological cells that can self-renew and can differentiate into multiple cell lineages. Stem cell-based therapy is emerging as a promising alternative therapeutic option for various disorders. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells that are isolated from various tissues and can be used as an alternative to embryonic stem cells. Stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) are a novel population of MSCs residing in the apical papilla of immature permanent teeth. SCAPs present the characteristics of expression of MSCs markers, self-renewal, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and immunosuppression, which support the application of SCAPs in stem cell-based therapy, including the immunotherapy and the regeneration of dental tissues, bone, neural, and vascular tissues. In view of these properties and therapeutic potential, SCAPs can be considered as promising candidates for stem cell-based therapy. Thus the aim of our review was to summarize the current knowledge of SCAPs considering isolation, characterization, and multilineage differentiation. The prospects for their use in stem cell-based therapy were also discussed.
Pet Food Factory Isolates ofSalmonellaSerotypes Do Not Demonstrate Enhanced Biofilm Formation Compared to Serotype-Matched Clinical and Veterinary Isolates
Authors: Bashir Amreen , Azeem Ansar , Stedman Yvonne , Hilton Anthony C.
Published: January 2019

Environmentally persistentSalmonellain the pet food factory environment has been described, with biofilm formation suggested as a candidate mechanism contributing to their persistence. In this study the ability of a panel ofSalmonellaisolates from factory, clinical, and veterinary sources was investigated for their ability to form biofilms at 24 and 48 hours. The effect of nutrient availability and incubation time on biofilm formation was investigated using full strength and diluted 1/20 TSB media at 37°C, 25°C, 15°C, and 10°C. Results highlighted that all theSalmonellaisolates were able to form biofilms in both nutrient conditions and this was highly correlated with temperature. At 25°C, biofilm formation was enhanced in diluted 1/20 TSB and increased incubation time (48h) (p= <0.001). However, this was not observed at 10°C, 15°C, or 37°C. None of the factory isolates demonstrated enhanced biofilm formation in comparison to serotype-matched isolates from veterinary and clinical sources.Salmonella entericaSenftenberg 775W was the strongest biofilm former at 15°C, 25°C, and 37°C in all the conditions tested (p=<0.05). Biofilm formation is an important mechanism of environmental persistence in the food manufacturing environment; however, there is no evidence of an enhanced biofilm-producing phenotype in factory persistent strains.
Two‐Stage Bagging Pruning for Reducing the Ensemble Size and Improving the Classification Performance
Authors: Zhang Hua , Song Yujie , Jiang Bo , Chen Bi , Shan Guogen
Published: January 2019

Ensemble methods, such as the traditional bagging algorithm, can usually improve the performance of a single classifier. However, they usually require large storage space as well as relatively time‐consuming predictions. Many approaches were developed to reduce the ensemble size and improve the classification performance by pruning the traditional bagging algorithms. In this article, we proposed a two‐stage strategy to prune the traditional bagging algorithm by combining two simple approaches: accuracy‐based pruning (AP) and distance‐based pruning (DP). These two methods, as well as their two combinations, “AP+DP” and “DP+AP” as the two‐stage pruning strategy, were all examined. Comparing with the single pruning methods, we found that the two‐stage pruning methods can furthermore reduce the ensemble size and improve the classification. “AP+DP” method generally performs better than the “DP+AP” method when using four base classifiers: decision tree, Gaussian naive Bayes, K‐nearest neighbor, and logistic regression. Moreover, as compared to the traditional bagging, the two‐stage method “AP+DP” improved the classification accuracy by 0.88%, 4.06%, 1.26%, and 0.96%, respectively, averaged over 28 datasets under the four base classifiers. It was also observed that “AP+DP” outperformed other three existing algorithms Brag, Nice, and TB assessed on 8 common datasets. In summary, the proposed two‐stage pruning methods are simple and promising approaches, which can both reduce the ensemble size and improve the classification accuracy.