bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI): protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Yong , Liang Xingcheng , Xin Shaojun , Liu Jin , Sun Guoli , Chen Shiqun , Cen Xiaolin , Dai Xiaohua , He Yibo , Song Feier , Liang Yan , Hu Yuying , Zhou Yingling , Chen Zhujun , Tan Ning , Chen Jiyan
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Identifying the patients who are at risk for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), which is defined as an increase in serum creatinine after exposure to contrast media, is a critical step in targeted prevention strategies. The absolute and relative importance of individual risk factors have not been systematically evaluated, let alone the new, controversial and modifiable risk factors of CI-AKI.

Methods and analysis

On 1 July 2019, a search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We will perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the important risk factors for developing CI-AKI, including those new, modifiable factors, which are considered controversial. The secondary endpoint will be all-cause mortality. Two authors will then independently screen studies that meet the criteria for inclusion, consulting with a third author to resolve any dispute. The quality of the included studies will be assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval in this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is not needed. We will disseminate the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis via publications in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019121534
Cost-effectiveness of a high-intensity versus a low-intensity smoking cessation intervention in a dental setting: long-term follow-up
Authors: Feldman Inna , Helgason Asgeir Runar , Johansson Pia , Tegelberg Åke , Nohlert Eva
Published: August 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of a high-intensity and a low-intensity smoking cessation treatment programme (HIT and LIT) using long-term follow-up effectiveness data and to validate the cost-effectiveness results based on short-term follow-up.

Design and outcome measures

Intervention effectiveness was estimated in a randomised controlled trial as numbers of abstinent participants after 1 and 5–8 years of follow-up. The economic evaluation was performed from a societal perspective using a Markov model by estimating future disease-related costs (in Euro (€) 2018) and health effects (in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs)). Programmes were explicitly compared in an incremental analysis, and the results were presented as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Setting

The study was conducted in dental clinics in Sweden.

Participants

294 smokers aged 19–71 years were included in the study.

Interventions

Behaviour therapy, coaching and pharmacological advice (HIT) was compared with one counselling session introducing a conventional self-help programme (LIT).

Results

The more costly HIT led to higher number of 6-month continuous abstinent participants after 1 year and higher number of sustained abstinent participants after 5–8 years, which translates into larger societal costs avoided and health gains than LIT. The incremental cost/QALY of HIT compared with LIT amounted to €918 and €3786 using short-term and long-term effectiveness, respectively, which is considered very cost-effective in Sweden.

Conclusion

CEA favours the more costly HIT if decision makers are willing to spend at least €4000/QALY for tobacco cessation treatment.
Reliability of a wearable wireless patch for continuous remote monitoring of vital signs in patients recovering from major surgery: a clinical validation study from the TRaCINg trial
Authors: Downey Candice , Ng Shu , Jayne David , Wong David
Published: August 2019

Objective

To validate whether a wearable remote vital signs monitor could accurately measure heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and temperature in a postsurgical patient population at high risk of complications.

Design

Manually recorded vital signs data were paired with vital signs data derived from the remote monitor set in patients participating in the Trial of Remote versus Continuous INtermittent monitoring (TRaCINg) study: a trial of continuous remote vital signs monitoring.

Setting

St James’s University Hospital, UK.

Participants

51 patients who had undergone major elective general surgery.

Interventions

The intervention was the SensiumVitals monitoring system. This is a wireless patch worn on the patient’s chest that measures HR, RR and temperature continuously. The reference standard was nurse-measured manually recorded vital signs.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcomes were the 95% limits of agreement between manually recorded and wearable patch vital sign recordings of HR, RR and temperature. The secondary outcomes were the percentage completeness of vital sign patch data for each vital sign.

Results

1135 nurse observations were available for analysis. There was no clinically meaningful bias in HR (1.85 bpm), but precision was poor (95% limits of agreement −23.92 to 20.22 bpm). Agreement was poor for RR (bias 2.93 breaths per minute, 95% limits of agreement −8.19 to 14.05 breaths per minute) and temperature (bias 0.82°C, 95% limits of agreement −1.13°C to 2.78°C). Vital sign patch data completeness was 72.8% for temperature, 59.2% for HR and 34.1% for RR. Distributions of RR in manually recorded measurements were clinically implausible.

Conclusions

The continuous monitoring system did not reliably provide HR consistent with nurse measurements. The accuracy of RR and temperature was outside of acceptable limits. Limitations of the system could potentially be overcome through better signal processing. While acknowledging the time pressures placed on nursing staff, inaccuracies in the manually recorded data present an opportunity to increase awareness about the importance of manual observations, particularly with regard to methods of manual HR and RR measurements.
Auditing service delivery in glaucoma clinics using visual field records: a feasibility study
Authors: Kelly Stephen R , Bryan Susan R , Sparrow John M , Crabb David P
Published: August 2019

Objective

This study aimed to demonstrate that large-scale visual field (VF) data can be extracted from electronic medical records (EMRs) and to assess the feasibility of calculating metrics from these data that could be used to audit aspects of service delivery of glaucoma care.

Method and analysis

Humphrey visual field analyser (HFA) data were extracted from Medisoft EMRs from five regionally different clinics in England in November 2015, resulting in 602 439 records from 73 994 people. Target patients were defined as people in glaucoma clinics with measurable and sustained VF loss in at least one eye (HFA mean deviation (MD) outside normal limits ≥2 VFs). Metrics for VF reliability, stage of VF loss at presentation, speed of MD loss, predicted loss of sight years (bilateral VF impairment) and frequency of VFs were calculated.

Results

One-third of people (34.8%) in the EMRs had measurable and repeatable VF loss and were subject to analyses (n=25 760 patients). Median (IQR) age and presenting MD in these patients were 71 (61, 78) years and −6 (–10, –4) dB, respectively. In 19 264 patients with >4 years follow-up, median (IQR) MD loss was −0.2 (−0.8, 0.3) dB/year and median (IQR) intervals between VF examinations was 11 (8, 16) months. Metrics predicting loss of sight years and reliability of examinations varied between centres (p<0.001).

Conclusion

This study illustrates the feasibility of assessing aspects of health service delivery in glaucoma clinics through analysis of VF databases. Proposed metrics could be useful for blindness prevention from glaucoma in secondary care centres.
Brain imaging in epilepsy
Authors: Duncan John S
Published: August 2019

Brain imaging with MRI identifies structural cerebral pathology that may give rise to seizures. The greatest yield is from MRI at 3T using epilepsy protocols, and reported by expert neuroradiologists who possess the full clinical data. X-ray CT scanning has a role in assessing patients with seizures in the context of an acute neurological illness. Identifying a relevant structural lesion with MRI is fundamental in the consideration of epilepsy surgery; it is crucial to establish if a lesion is relevant to the epilepsy or not. If no lesion is identified, developmental MRI and image processing may identify a subtle abnormality. Positron-emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may identify focal functional abnormalities that infer the location of an epileptic focus. Functional MRI is useful for localising eloquent cortex, and tractography delineates crucial white matter tracts, so that these may be avoided in epilepsy surgery. Reviewing data in three dimensions aids visualisation of structural relationships and helps surgical planning.
Modelling capability-based risk allocation in PPPs using fuzzy integral approach
Authors: Mazher Khwaja Mateen , Chan Albert P.C. , Zahoor Hafiz , Ameyaw Ernest Effah , Edwards David J. , Osei-Kyei Robert
Published: August 2019

Appropriate risk allocation and sharing are significant critical success factors for public-private partnership projects, but evidence suggests that poor risk allocation practices prevail. This signifies the need to develop a robust model for assisting stakeholders in risk allocation decision-making. A non-additive fuzzy integral based multiple attribute risk allocation decision approach is proposed to effectively aggregate each stakeholder’s risk management capability assessment on accepted risk allocation principles that are derived from qualitative judgements and experience based knowledge of experts. Data collected from privately financed and developed power and transport infrastructure projects in Pakistan are used to demonstrate and validate the model for key risk factors that exhibit variable risk allocation preferences. Comparison of results with an additive aggregation approach confirms suitability of the adopted methodology as it performs better when modelling risk allocation preferences of experts due to its ability to handle interdependencies in the risk allocation criteria. Apparently, the allocation and sharing of key risks is significantly influenced by market, sector and project contexts.
Investigating effective maintenance policies for urban networks of residential cities by using optimum and sensitivity analyses
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed Salah , Abdel-Wahed Talaat Ali , Othman Ayman Mahmoud
Published: August 2019

Rural and urban networks have been rapidly expanding over time, so there is a rising demand for more optimum maintenance policies (MPs). The low traffic weights on the urban network of a residential city makes the appearance and density of load-associated distresses rare. This encourages the city’s transportation agency to depend on limited treatment choices and the subjective judgement of the agency’s engineers in managing maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities. The engineers’ judgement reflects their extensive field experience and is usually used in this type of city rather than generating optimal computerized solutions. The present study proposes two alternative MPs that are more objective than the policy that depends on engineers’ judgement. One of the proposed alternative policies allows one M&R action along the planning horizon and the other allows multiple M&R actions. The optimum analysis showed that the preventive treatment is the optimal action for more than 50% of the network segments, which means that it plays a vital and nonnegligible role in improving the effectiveness of the M&R activities. Moreover, the sensitivity of the generated M&R plans to the initial performance of the pavement, traffic volume, and the objectives weights is investigated to determine the optimal time, suitable action, maintenance need, and optimal objective weights. The sensitivity analysis showed that varying objective weights leads to different optimal and rational solutions and the most cost-effective solution is not achieved at equal weights for objectives.
The relevance of larval biology on spatiotemporal patterns of pathogen connectivity among open-marine salmon farms
Authors: Cantrell Danielle , Filgueira Ramón , Revie Crawford W. , Rees Erin E. , Vanderstichel Raphael , Guo Ming , Foreman Michael G.G. , Wan Di , Grant Jon
Published: August 2019

Warming waters are changing marine pathogen dispersal patterns and infectivity worldwide. Coupled biological–physical modelling has been used in many systems to determine the connectivity of metapopulations via infectious disease particles. Here we model the connectivity of sea lice larvae (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) among salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada, using a coupled biological–physical model. The physical model simulated pathogen dispersal, while the biological component influenced the survival and developmental rates of the sea lice. Model results predicted high temporal variability in connectivity strength among farms, an emergent effect from the interacting parts of the simulation (dispersion versus survival and development). Drivers of temporal variability were disentangled using generalized additive modeling, which revealed the variability was most strongly impacted by the spring freshet, which can act as a natural aid for sea lice control in the Broughton Archipelago. Our results suggest that farm management strategies can benefit by accounting for short-term spikes in regional pathogen connectivity among farms. Additionally, future scenarios of a warming climate with reduced snowpack can make sea lice control more challenging.
Influence of the variation in the Hubbard parameter (U) on activation energies of CeO2-catalysed reactions
Authors: Miran Hussein A. , Altarawneh Mohammednoor , Jaf Zainab N. , Rahman M. Mahbubur , Almatarneh Mansour H. , Jiang Zhong-Tao
Published: August 2019

Accurate description of thermodynamic, structural, and electronic properties for bulk and surfaces of ceria (CeO2) necessitates the inclusion of the Hubbard parameter (U) in the density functional theory (DFT) calculations to precisely account for the strongly correlated 4f electrons. Such treatment is a daunting task when attempting to draw a potential energy surface for CeO2-catalyzed reaction. This is due to the inconsistent change in thermo-kinetics parameters of the reaction in reference to the variation in the U values. As an illustrative example, we investigate herein the discrepancy in activation and reaction energies for steps underlying the partial and full hydrogenation of acetylene over the CeO2(111) surface. Overall, we find that both activation and reaction energies positively correlate with the increase in the U value. In addition to benchmarking against more accurate theoretical methodologies, we suggest that U values are better optimized against kinetics modelling of experimentally observed profiles of products from the catalytic-assisted system of reactions.
Template Calibration Parameter Optimization of Fuzzy Vault Method
Authors: Liao Yifan
Published: August 2019

In the concrete implementation of the fuzzy vault algorithm, the geometric hash method is a common technique for automatic calibration of biometric templates. For the fuzzy problem of parameter acquisition, the matching accuracy of fuzzy vault template is affected in the three parameters: the pixel size, hash table and hash table quantization parameters ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]). The single factor experiment method obtains the optimal range of these three parameters, and the extraction range of the fuzzy point and the selection rule of the base point distance are improved for the fuzzy vault algorithm. Finally, based on the FVC fingerprint database, their matching precision is compared for the algorithm before and after optimization. The experimental results show that the false rejection rate (FRR) of the optimized algorithm is reduced by at least 9.84%, and the false acceptance rate (FAR) is reduced by at least 7.12%, indicating that the optimization scheme improves the matching accuracy of the algorithm. The algorithm has certain robustness and practicability.
Neural Network Based on Work Piece Recognition and Robot Intelligent Capture in Complex Environments
Authors: Tang Bo
Published: August 2019

In today’s rapid development of science and technology, the manual work in the factory has been gradually replaced by machines, and the process of industrial intelligence has been further deepened. Workpiece recognition is the use of machine learning, computer vision and other technologies to identify the target workpiece, and the robot intelligent capture is a higher level of operation of the workpiece recognition, which is the key to realize the intelligentization of industrial robots. Due to the complex environmental factors and the diversity of the shape and size of the objects to be grasped, the accuracy and efficiency of the workpiece recognition are not ideal at this stage, and intelligent crawling is even more difficult to talk about. Aiming at the above problems, this paper builds a crawling planning model based on the convolutional neural network and the grasping pose mapping rules. Based on the established crawling planning model, the sampling candidate grabbing algorithm is designed and the migration learning method is adopted. The pretrained convolutional neural network for image recognition on the ImageNet dataset was migrated to the capture detection task of the Carnegie Mellon dataset. Experiments show that the network model proposed in this paper performs well, and its correct crawl rate is as high as 81.27%. This is to achieve a more stable and reliable identification and intelligent crawling work.
The Evolution of Integrated CMOS Power Amplifiers for Next Generation Mobile Wireless Transceivers
Authors: Mariappan Selvakumar , Rajendran Jagadheswaran , Ramiah Harikrishnan , Noh Norlaili Mohd , Manaf Asrulnizam Abd
Published: August 2019

Wireless communication standard continues to evolve in order to fulfill the demand for high data rate operation. This leads to the exertion on the design of radio frequency power amplifier (RFPA) which consumes high DC power in order to support linear transmission of high data rate signal. Hence, operating the PA with low DC power consumption without trading-off the linearity is vital in order to achieve the goal of achieving fully integrated system-on-chip (SoC) solution for 4G and 5G transceivers. In this paper, the evolution of CMOS PA toward achieving a fully integrated transceiver solution is discussed through the review of multifarious CMOS PA design. This is categorized into the review of efficiency enhancement designs followed by linearity enhancement designs of the CMOS PA.
A Hybrid Multi-Agent-Based BFPSO Algorithm for Optimization of Benchmark Functions
Authors: Kamdar Renuka , Paliwal Priyanka , Kumar Yogendra
Published: August 2019

The goal to provide faster and optimal solution to complex and high-dimensional problem is pushing the technical envelope related to new algorithms. While many approaches use centralized strategies, the concept of multi-agent systems (MASS) is creating a new option related to distributed analyses for the optimization problems. A novel learning algorithm for solving the global numerical optimization problems is proposed. The proposed learning algorithm integrates the multi-agent system and the hybrid butterfly–particle swarm optimization (BFPSO) algorithm. Thus it is named as multi-agent-based BFPSO (MABFPSO). In order to obtain the optimal solution quickly, each agent competes and cooperates with its neighbors and it can also learn by using its knowledge. Making use of these agent–agent interactions and sensitivity and probability mechanism of BFPSO, MABFPSO realizes the purpose of optimizing the value of objective function. The designed MABFPSO algorithm is tested on specific benchmark functions. Simulations of the proposed algorithm have been performed for the optimization of functions of 2, 20 and 30 dimensions. The comparative simulation results with conventional PSO approaches demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is a potential candidate for optimization of both low-and high-dimensional functions. The optimization strategy is general and can be used to solve other power system optimization problems as well.
Stochastic Analysis of Vehicle-Bridge Coupled Interaction and Uncertainty Bounds of Random Responses in Heavy Haul Railways
Authors: Mao Jianfeng , Yu Zhiwu , Jiang Lizhong
Published: August 2019

The systematic running safety assessment of railway bridges presents lots of challenges, one of which is estimating the uncertainty bounds of the structural responses of bridges under vehicle loads with multisource randomness. In this study, a probability safety assessment method is proposed for evaluating the uncertainty bounds of random time-history responses for the stochastic train-bridge coupled system. First, a refined probabilistic model for the train-bridge coupled system (TBS) in heavy haul railway is established with the multi-excitations of random track irregularities, random vehicle loads and stochastic structural parameters. The probability density evolution method (PDEM) is employed to obtain the solution of the time-varying probability transferred between the stochastic excitations and the output of the dynamic responses. Then, to establish a rapid and straightforward approach for the systematic running safety assessment of the TBS, the quantiles of the probability distribution are used to estimate the time-history uncertainty bounds of random responses of interest distributed in real probability functions. Case studies by the field test and numerical simulation are presented to verify and investigate the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. The results show that the quantiles of the probability distribution proposed are suitable for the systematic running safety assessment of the TBS.
A stable flat entropy-corrected FRW universe
Authors: Ahmed Nasr , Alamri Sultan Z.
Published: August 2019

In this paper, a general entropy-corrected FRW cosmological model has been presented in which a deceleration-to-acceleration transition occurs according to recent observations. We found that the case for the flat universe ([Formula: see text]), supported by observations, is the most stable one where it successfully passes all stability tests. The stability of the model has been studied through testing the sound speed, the classical and the new nonlinear energy conditions. The model predicts a positive pressure during the early-time decelerating epoch, and a negative pressure during the late-time accelerating epoch in a good agreement with cosmic history and dark energy assumption. We have investigated all possible values of the prefactors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in the corrected entropy-area relation to find the best values required for a stable flat universe. We have also made use of the evolution of the equation of state parameters [Formula: see text] in predicting the correct values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The jerk and density parameters have been calculated where a good agreement with observations and [Formula: see text]CDM model has been obtained. Two dark energy proposals have been investigated in this model, the entropy-corrected holographic dark energy and the modified holographic Ricci dark energy.
WILL GREENHOUSE GASES MITIGATION POLICIES ABROAD AFFECT THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY? THE CASE OF TAIWAN
Authors: CHAI HUI-CHIH , HONG WEI-HONG , REILLY JOHN M. , PALTSEV SERGEY , CHEN Y.-H. HENRY
Published: August 2019

In this study, we examine: when Taiwan carries out its national determined contribution (NDC) for the Paris agreement, will mitigation policies abroad affect Taiwan’s economy, which participates actively in international trade activities and depends heavily on fossil fuel imports? To answer this question, we apply a global computable general equilibrium (CGE) model where Taiwan is explicitly represented and international trade is considered. We find whether Taiwan will gain from foreign mitigation efforts depends on policy stringency. Under the current NDCs, when Taiwan accomplishes its NDC as part of a global policy, Taiwan’s negative GDP impact is lowered compared with unilateral implementation because, under a global policy, producer prices for fossil fuels are suppressed, benefitting Taiwan. Nevertheless, with further emissions cut globally beyond the current NDCs, foreign mitigation efforts could hurt Taiwan, as capitalizing on lower fossil fuel prices becomes harder for Taiwan when cutting Taiwan’s fossil fuel usage turns out indispensable, and as exports of Taiwan drop due to weaker foreign demand. We also evaluate the effect of U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and find it has minimal impacts on Taiwan’s economy compared with the global policy scenario, as changes in fossil fuel prices are small.
Phase equilibria constraints on crystallization differentiation: insights into the petrogenesis of the normally zoned Buddusò Pluton in north-central Sardinia
Authors: Farina Federico , Mayne Matthew J. , Stevens Gary , Soorajlal Roxanne , Frei Dirk , Gerdes Axel
Published: August 2019

The Buddusò Pluton in NE Sardinia (Italy) is a normally zoned intrusion composed of three units with chemical composition ranging from hornblende-bearing tonalites (SiO
2
∼
65 wt%) to leucocratic monzogranites (SiO
2
∼
76 wt%). Zircon crystals in the pluton are dated at 292.2 ± 0.7 Ma and have
ε
Hf
values ranging from −4 to −8, with no systematic differences observed between the units. The pluton, which is isotopically homogeneous at the whole-rock scale in terms of Sr and Nd isotopes, shows textural evidence indicating local crystal–melt segregation. In this paper, we have implemented a novel approach based on path-dependent phase-equilibria modelling to test the hypothesis that the internal chemical variability of the pluton was generated by crystallization differentiation of a homogeneous parental magma. Our modelling indicates that this hypothesis is valid if the mechanism by which this occurs is compaction in a rheologically locked crystal-rich magma and if the separation occurs at 0.3 GPa from a tonalitic magma with water content >2 wt%. Finally, a subset of the magmatic enclaves in the pluton are considered to be autoliths, formed by the disruption of the compacted crystal mush and interaction between these cumulates and the felsic melt.
Energy-Efficient and Quality-Assured Approximate Computing Framework Using a Co-Training Method
Authors: Jiang Li , Song Zhuoran , Song Haiyue , Xu Chengwen , Xu Qiang , Jing Naifeng , Zhang Weifeng , Liang Xiaoyao
Published: August 2019

Approximate computing is a promising design paradigm that introduces a new dimension—error—into the original design space. By allowing the inexact computation in error-tolerance applications, approximate computing can gain both performance and energy efficiency. A neural network (NN) is a universal approximator in theory and possesses a high level of parallelism. The emerging deep neural network accelerators deployed with NN-based approximator is thereby a promising candidate for approximate computing. Nevertheless, the approximation result must satisfy the users’ requirement, and the approximation result varies across different applications. We normally deploy an NN-based classifier to ensure the approximation quality. Only the inputs predicted to meet the quality requirement can be executed by the approximator. The potential of these two NNs, however, is fully explored; the involving of two NNs in approximate computing imposes critical optimization questions, such as two NNs’ distinct views of the input data space, how to train the two correlated NNs, and what are their topologies.

In this article, we propose a novel NN-based approximate computing framework with quality insurance. We advocate a co-training approach that trains the classifier and the approximator alternately to maximize the agreement of the two NNs on the input space. In each iteration, we coordinate the training of the two NNs with a judicious selection of training data. Next, we explore different selection policies and propose to select training data from multiple iterations, which can enhance the invocation of the approximate accelerator. In addition, we optimize the classifier by integrating a dynamic threshold tuning algorithm to improve the invocation of the approximate accelerator further. The increased invocation of accelerator leads to higher energy efficiency under the same quality requirement. We propose two efficient algorithms to explore the smallest topology of the NN-based approximator and the classifier to achieve the quality requirement. The first algorithm straightforward searches the minimum topology using a greedy strategy. However, the first algorithm incurs too much training overhead. To solve this issue, the second one gradually grows the topology of NNs to match the quality requirement by transferring the learned parameters. Experimental results show significant improvement on the quality and the energy efficiency compared to the existing NN-based approximate computing frameworks.
Mitigating network-layer security attacks on authentication-enhanced openICE
Authors: Li Zhangtan , Cheng Liang , Zhang Yang
Published: August 2019

Integrated Clinical Environment (ICE) is a standardized framework for achieving medical device interoperability. It utilizes high-level supervisory and medical apps and low-level communication middle-ware to coordinate medical devices to accomplish a shared clinical mission. With the potential to significantly improve healthcare productivity and reduce medical errors, the interoperability of medical devices also subjects ICE systems to unprecedented security threats. In this paper, we present a set of security attacks, namely interception, tampering, and replay attack, to the network level of ICE systems, which we identify through a threat modeling analysis on OpenICE, the best-known instantiation of ICE system. For these security attacks, we devise corresponding defense mechanisms on top of OpenICE. Our experiments demonstrate that these defense mechanisms can effectively protect OpenICE from the identified attacks with acceptable computational overhead.
ACM-IEEE awards 2019
Authors: Langdon Bill
Published: August 2019

Mark Harman wins both IEEE and ACM Awards in 2019
Interacting Effects of Global Change on Forest Pest and Pathogen Dynamics
Authors: Simler-Williamson Allison B. , Rizzo David M. , Cobb Richard C.
Published: August 2019

Pathogens and insect pests are important drivers of tree mortality and forest dynamics, but global change has rapidly altered or intensified their impacts. Predictive understanding of changing disease and outbreak occurrence has been limited by two factors: ( a) tree mortality and morbidity are emergent phenomena determined by interactions between plant hosts, biotic agents (insects or pathogens), and the environment; and ( b) disparate global change drivers co-occur, obscuring net impacts on each of these components. To expand our understanding of changing forest diseases, declines, and outbreaks, we adopt a framework that identifies and organizes observed impacts of diverse global change drivers on the primary mechanisms underlying agent virulence and host susceptibility. We then discuss insights from ecological theory that may advance prediction of forest epidemics and outbreaks. This approach highlights key drivers of changing pest and pathogen dynamics, which may inform forest management aimed at mitigating accelerating rates of tree mortality globally.
Racial/Ethnic Patterns of Young-Onset Noncardia Gastric Cancer
Authors: Holowatyj Andreana N. , Ulrich Cornelia M. , Lewis Mark A.
Published: August 2019

Increasing noncardia gastric cancer incidence rates among individuals age younger than 50 years have gained much attention, particularly as causes remain unknown. Using population-based NIH/NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program data from 2007 to 2015, multivariable logistic regression was used to quantify associations between race/ethnicity and clinicodemographic features among young-onset noncardia gastric cancer patients. A total of 2,872 individuals ages 20 to 49 years were diagnosed with primary noncardia gastric cancer. Age at diagnosis, insurance status, anatomic subsite, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical stage, histologic type, tumor grade, surgery, and county-level smoking prevalence differed by race/ethnicity (all P ≤ 0.003). Compared with non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics were more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages [odds ratio (OR) = 0.97; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.95–0.99], on Medicaid/uninsured (OR = 3.83; 95% CI, 2.89–5.08), diagnosed with higher grade tumors (OR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.32–2.84), and less likely to undergo surgery (OR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44–0.88) or to reside in counties with higher smoking prevalence (OR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.11–0.21) after adjustment for sex, subsite, and histologic type. Asian/Pacific Islanders were more likely to be female (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.04–1.88), and less likely to be diagnosed with metastatic disease (OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37–0.95) or to reside in counties with higher smoking prevalence (OR = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.08–0.19). Approximately two in every five patients with young-onset noncardia gastric cancer are Hispanic. Further investigation into the molecular heterogeneity of young-onset noncardia gastric cancers by race/ethnicity to understand etiologies underlying this rising disease epidemic is warranted. This population-based cohort study sheds light that biological and environmental factors may partly underlie race/ethnicity-related differences in young-onset noncardia gastric cancer susceptibility and outcomes.
Transient Global Amnesia in a Patient with Pituitary Adenoma: Causal or Chance Association?
Authors: Na Seunghee , Lee Eek-Sung , Lee Seung-Jae
Published: August 2019

A 65-year-old man with no underlying medical history visited the neurology department due to transient amnesia lasting for about 8 h. During the amnesia episode, he was alert but showed repetitive questioning. The episode fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for transient global amnesia (TGA). On workups for excluding alternative diagnoses, the brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3 × 6 cm-sized hemorrhagic pituitary tumor extending to the left medial temporal lobe and anterior hippocampus. The electroencephalogram revealed intermittent slowing in the left temporal region with normal backgrounds. The tumor was surgically removed and pathologically proven to be a nonfunctioning adenoma. At 6 months postoperatively, no complication or new amnestic episode occurred. Thus, our case had a typical TGA as the first manifestation of a pituitary tumor. There were no features of epileptic amnesia. Transiently altered flow status from a mass effect in the memory-eloquent area might be the possible pathogenic mechanism underlying the TGA though there still remains a probability of chance concurrence of TGA and tumor.
Small Intestinal Lesions in Patients with Anemia on Hemodialysis: A Two-Center, Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ozaki Haruhiko , Ota Kazuhiro , Kojima Yuichi , Harada Satoshi , Takeuchi Toshihisa , Tanaka Masaya , Hayashi Katsuyoshi , Higuchi Kazuhide
Published: August 2019

Aim: The number of patients on chronic dialysis in Japan is increasing every year, and the average age of these patients is also increasing annually. Iron deficiency is an important cause of anemia in patients on hemodialysis (HD). However, it has not been clarified whether these patients might have small intestinal mucosal lesions causing iron deficiency anemia. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in ­asymptomatic patients on HD between April 2014 and ­December 2015. We performed small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and analyzed the relationship between small intestinal endoscopic findings and anemia. Results: SBCE was successfully completed in 39 eligible patients. Univariate analysis revealed that there was a significant difference in blood hemoglobin levels between the morbid SBCE-finding group (median 7.7 g/dL; range 6.7–9.2 g/dL) and the non-morbid SBCE-finding group (median 10.65 g/dL; range 6.4–13.1 g/dL; p = 0.0006, Mann-Whitney U test). On multivariate analysis, the blood hemoglobin level was an independent predictor of morbid SBCE findings (p = 0.0033). The cutoff value of blood hemoglobin level for the morbid SBCE finding was determined as 9.2 g/dL using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Conclusions: Patients on HD with anemia are at a high risk of small intestinal lesions. Since the control of small intestinal lesion may improve the anemia, these outcomes are significant factors for managing patients on HD.
Cerebral Perfusion and the Occurrence of Nonfocal Transient Neurological Attacks
Authors: Oudeman Eline A. , Bron Esther E. , Van den Berg-Vos Renske M. , Greving Jacoba P. , Biessels Geert Jan , Klijn Catharina J.M. , Kappelle L. Jaap ,   on behalf of the Heart-Brain Connection Consortium
Published: August 2019

Introduction: Nonfocal transient neurological attacks (TNAs) are associated with an increased risk of cardiac events, stroke and dementia. Their etiology is still unknown. Global cerebral hypoperfusion has been suggested to play a role in their etiology, but this has not been investigated. We assessed whether lower total brain perfusion is associated with a higher occurrence of TNAs. Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, patients with heart failure were included in the Heart Brain Connection study. Patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, including quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (QMRA) to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF). We calculated total brain perfusion of each participant by dividing total CBF by brain volume. Patients were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire on the occurrence of TNAs by physicians who were blinded to QMRA flow status. We assessed the relation between total brain perfusion and the occurrence of TNAs with Poisson regression analysis. Results: Of 136 patients (mean age 70 years, 68% men), 29 (21%) experienced ≥1 TNAs. Nonrotatory dizziness was the most common subtype of TNA. Patients with TNAs were more often female and more often had angina pectoris than patients without TNAs, but total CBF and total brain perfusion were not different between both groups. Total brain perfusion was not associated with the occurrence of TNAs (adjusted risk ratio 1.12, 95% CI 0.88–1.42). Conclusion: We found no association between total brain perfusion and the occurrence of TNAs in patients with heart failure.
Cosmetic Injection of Botulinum Toxin Unmasking Subclinical Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Timmermans Grégory , Depierreux Frédérique , Wang François , Hansen Isabelle , Maquet Pierre
Published: August 2019

Cosmetic or therapeutic use of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is usually safe but can rarely cause iatrogenic botulism. Iatrogenic botulism and myasthenia gravis (MG) share similar clinical features, because both BoNT-A and anti-acetylcholine receptorantibodies impair neuromuscular transmission. We report a patient who underwent cosmetic BoNT-A injection and later developed serious local and systemic adverse reactions. The peculiarity of this case is that a latent seropositive MG was eventually discovered, suggesting that both iatrogenic botulism and MG contributed to the clinical picture. This patient is one of the less than 10 reported cases worldwide in whom MG was unmasked by BoNT-A injection. He is the first to be assessed in detail by single-fiber electromyography. This case emphasizes the risk associated with BoNT-A injection in patients with subclinical impairment of neuromuscular transmission and prompts the search for MG in case of exaggerated response.
Rapid Progression of Intracranial Dural Metastases in a Patient with Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site
Authors: Takeda Hiroyuki , Ohe Rintaro , Fukui Tadahisa , Suzuki Shuhei , Nakamura Sho , Watanabe Kaname , Yoshioka Takashi
Published: August 2019

Dural metastases are uncommon in cancer patients, but can have as much of an effect on the lives of patients as brain metastases. Dural metastases are most commonly associated with primary cancers of the breast, prostate, and lung, and it is rare that the primary site of the tumor is unknown. In this study, we encountered a 51-year-old woman who had developed multiple bone tumors, with no known primary cancer lesion. A tumor biopsy of the sacral bone revealed non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma; the patient was therefore diagnosed as having multiple bone metastases of an unknown primary cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cranial metastases and partial thickening of the dura with suspected dura metastases. Platinum-based chemotherapy reduced the bone metastases and the thickened dura. However, as resistance to chemotherapy developed, invasions progressed rapidly and diffusely throughout the dura. This was accompanied by the development of dysarthria, visual impairments, and delirium. The patient died 10 months after being diagnosed with dural metastases. This report provides information on the clinical course and prognosis of patients with dural metastases of unknown primary cancer. Furthermore, it may help to construct a treatment strategy for dural metastases.
A comunidade nacional e o papel do patrimônio monumental na escrita das suas narrativas: o exemplo português de Alexandre Herculano
Authors: Magalhães Fernando
Published: August 2019

Autores e historiadores portugueses referem-se a finais do século XIV, mais concretamente 1383-1385, como início do processo de construção da comunidade nacional portuguesa. Na perspetiva de Alexandre Herculano, em 1385, pela primeira vez, o povo apoia e suporta o rei de Portugal, D. João I, mestre de Avis, contra o rei homónimo, D. João I de Castela, comungando a vitória na Batalha de Aljubarrota com o rei luso. Começaria a estar implícito nesta atitude o conceito de cidadão nacional, na medida em que há uma identificação do povo, mais do que da nobreza, com os propósitos reais. Contudo, apenas a partir do século XIX, e devido à ação do próprio Alexandre Herculano, é que se pode falar com propriedade na imaginação de uma comunidade nacional portuguesa. Herculano foi escritor e historiador, político e intelectual, tendo redigido a primeira história (científica) de Portugal, guiada na sua perspetiva pela preocupação com a veracidade dos factos. Introduziu o romance histórico e a prosa de ficção moderna em Portugal. Analisando algumas das obras de Alexandre Herculano pretendemos investigar a forma como Herculano nacionalizou alguns monumentos, constituindo-se num dos principais fundadores da nação portuguesa. Os atores dos seus romances são personagens da história portuguesa e o seu palco os principais monumentos nacionais, nomeadamente o Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória e o de Alcobaça, que foram sacralizados nas diversas obras herculanas. A partir da sua ação, monumentalizaram-se, nacionalizaram-se e transformaram-se esses antigos espaços religiosos em lugares de memória e berços da nação moderna portuguesa.
Extraterritorial Criminalisation and Non-intervention: Sweden’s Criminal Measures against the Purchase of Sex Abroad
Authors: Ratcovich Martin
Published: August 2019

This article considers the limits of extraterritorial criminalisation under international law in the context of a recent legislative proposal by the government of Sweden to impose criminal measures against the purchase of sexual services abroad. The article first presents the proposal and then a specific legal objection raised against it, namely that allowing Swedish courts to try purchases committed abroad irrespective of local law is inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention under international law. The substance of this objection is discussed against the background of general descriptions of the concepts of jurisdiction and non-intervention under international law. It is concluded that the meaning of the principle of non-intervention may have been overstated.
Human Rights and the Commons: Exploring Approaches to the Governance of Land and Natural Resources beyond Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. The Case of Peasants
Authors: Errico Stefania , Claeys Priscilla
Published: August 2019

Worldwide, 2.5 billion people today depend on lands managed through customary, community-based tenure systems. Although land and natural resources are recognised as essential elements for the realisation of many human rights, international human rights law does not recognise a human right to land, except for indigenous peoples. With the recent adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas (undrop), the right to land is now recognised for new categories of rural workers. This article explores the governance of land and natural resources beyond the case of indigenous peoples’ rights. It argues that undrop contains key and mutually reinforcing elements of the human rights and collective action approaches to the governance of land and natural resources, and therefore has the potential to ensure the social and environmental ‘viability’ of the commons.
The Myth behind the Discrimination of Minorities in Syria and Egypt: The Economic Inclusion of Christians
Authors: Anouti Hani
Published: August 2019

This article investigates the economic status of Christians in Syria and Egypt during the era of Presidents Hosni Mubarak (1981–2011) and Hafez al-Assad (1971–2000). As they were discriminated against politically, socially, religiously and culturally, this article answers the puzzle of why the Christians in Syria and Egypt did not face any discrimination at the economic level in the era of the aforementioned authoritarian regimes.
Non-Codified Sharīʿah as a State Law Governing Islamic Banking and Finance in Jordan
Authors: Bashayreh Mohammad H.
Published: August 2019

This article examines how non-codified Sharīʿah governing Islamic banking and finance agreements should be applied to ensure certainty and predictability of the applicable rulings. The significance of this topic stems from the fact that the multiplicity of schools of Islamic law or fiqh has given rise to concerns about the certainty of the applicable rules. Here we set out these concerns through the lens of English courts and argue that non-codified Sharīʿah has the status of a law in Jordan regulating Islamic banking and finance agreements. It overrides legislation and excludes Statute Law that could invalidate agreements acceptable in Sharīʿah. Further, the concepts of maṣlahah and istiḥsān are explained as bases for the selection of applicable Sharīʿah rulings. This approach ensures certainty and is better than codifying rigid rules from Sharīʿah that could impede the development of Islamic banking and finance.
Slavery, Resistance(s) and Abolition in Early Nineteenth-Century Chile
Authors: Mareite Thomas
Published: August 2019

Chile’s abolition of slavery (1823) has commonly been framed within a self-congratulatory narrative that emphasizes the philanthropic role of republican elites and the peaceful nature of slave emancipation. The traditional narrative not only views abolition as an ideologically inspired gift from the elites, but also underscores Chile’s exceptionalism vis-à-vis other South American emancipation processes—in Chile, unlike in the rest of the continent, the eradication of slavery was supposedly both politically and socially insignificant. This article challenges two of this narrative’s assumptions: first, that consensus characterized the abolition of slavery in Chile, and second, that abolition was simply a philanthropic concession from the new nation’s republican elites. Instead, this study highlights how officials, slaveholders and enslaved people transformed slavery and its dismantlement into a contested issue. It also explores the proactive role that enslaved people played in undermining the institution of slavery throughout Chile, ultimately leading to its abolition.