bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome Sequence of PM2-Like Phage Cr39582, Induced from a Pseudoalteromonas sp. Isolated from the Gut of Ciona robusta
Authors: Leigh Brittany A. , Breitbart Mya , Oksanen Hanna M. , Bamford Dennis H. , Dishaw Larry J.
Published: May 2018

Phage Cr39582 was induced by mitomycin C from
Pseudoalteromonas
sp. strain Cr6751, isolated from a marine invertebrate gut.
Pseudoalteromonas
phage Cr39582 has 85% pairwise nucleotide identity with phage PM2 but lacks sequence homology in the spike protein. This report supports previous bioinformatic identification of corticoviral sequences within aquatic bacterial genomes.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Salmonella Viruses, VSe11 and VSe102 (Family
Myoviridae
, Subfamily
Ounavirinae
), with a Very High Degree of Similarity
Authors: Volozhantsev Nikolay V. , Denisenko Egor A. , Kislichkina Angelina A. , Myakinina Vera P. , Krasilnikova Valentina M. , Verevkin Vladimir V. , Kadnikova Lidiya A. , Maiskaya Nadezhda V. , Bogun Alexandr G. , Dyatlov Ivan A.
Published: May 2018

Two lytic double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, VSe11 and VSe102, infecting broad-spectrum
Salmonella enterica
were isolated from the sewage of two different poultry farms. The phage genomes comprise 86,360 bp and 86,365 bp, respectively, with a G+C content of 39.0%, and both contain 129 putative coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Plant Growth-Promoting Sphingobium sp. Strain AEW4, Isolated from the Rhizosphere of the Beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata
Authors: Wanees Abanoub E. , Zaslow Shari J. , Potter Savannah J. , Hsieh Brandon P. , Boss Brianna L. , Izquierdo Javier A.
Published: May 2018

Sphingobium
sp. strain AEW4 is a novel isolate from rhizosphere soil attached to the root of the American beachgrass
Ammophila breviligulata
. The genomic sequence consisted of 4,678,518 bp and 4,428 protein-coding sequences. Here we report the draft genome sequence of this strain and some initial insights on its plant growth-promoting capabilities.
Single Passage of Human Metapneumovirus in LLC-MK2 Cells Does Not Affect Viral Protein-Coding Capacity
Authors: Loevenich Simon , Ianevski Aleksandr , Oitmaa Eneli , Kainov Denis E. , Anthonsen Marit W.
Published: May 2018

Here, we report the complete genome sequences of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) prior to and after passaging in LLC-MK2 cells. Paired comparisons of the 13,335-nucleotide genomes revealed that the virus acquired the T10736C transition in its genome, which did not affect the amino acid sequences of HMPV proteins.
Draft Genome Sequence of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae XPY20 Collected from a Bloodstream Infection Patient
Authors: Chen Qiong , Zhou Jia-wei , Wu Sheng-hai , Meng Xiao-hua , Yu Dao-jun , Wang Xian-jun
Published: May 2018

Bloodstream infections caused by carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CRKP) strains have been a severe problem with high clinical costs and high mortality rates. The
bla
KPC-2
-producing CRKP strain XPY20 was collected from the blood of a patient. The genome characteristics and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms were determined using next-generation sequencing.
Complete Genome Sequence of Buffalopox Virus
Authors: Afrough Babak , Zafar Afia , Hasan Rumina , Hewson Roger
Published: May 2018

The first complete genome assembly of buffalopox virus isolate Karachi 2005, with a length of 195,630 bp, is presented here. Phylogenetic analysis shows the virus to cluster within
Vaccinia
species, and the genome contains 177 protein-coding sequences.
Defining the Role of Stress Granules in Innate Immune Suppression by the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Endoribonuclease VHS
Authors: Burgess Hannah M. , Mohr Ian
Published: May 2018

In response to virus-induced shutoff host protein synthesis, dynamic aggregates containing mRNA, RNA-binding proteins and translation factors termed stress granules (SGs) often accumulate within the cytoplasm. SGs typically form following phosphorylation and inactivation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), a substrate of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated kinase protein kinase R (PKR). The detection of innate immune sensors and effectors like PKR at SGs suggests a role in pathogen nucleic acid sensing. However, the functional importance of SGs in host innate responses is unclear and has primarily been examined in response to infection with select RNA viruses. During infection with the DNA virus herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), the virus-encoded virion host shutoff (VHS) endoribonuclease is required to restrict interferon production, PKR activation, and SG formation, although the relationship between these activities remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that in cells infected with a VHS-deficient HSV-1 (ΔVHS) dsRNA accumulated and localized to SGs. Surprisingly, formation of dsRNA and its concentration at SGs was not required for beta interferon mRNA induction, indicating that suppression of type I interferon induction by VHS does not stem from its control of dsRNA accumulation. Instead, STING signaling downstream of cGMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-dependent DNA sensing is required for beta interferon induction. In contrast, significantly less PKR activation is observed when SG assembly is disrupted by ISRIB, an inhibitor of phosphorylated eIF2α-mediated translation repression, or depleting SG scaffolding proteins G3BP1 or TIA1. This demonstrates that PKR activation is intimately linked to SG formation and that SGs form important hubs to potentiate PKR activation during infection.

IMPORTANCE
Formation of cytoplasmic stress granules that are enriched for innate immune sensors and effectors is suppressed during many viral infections. It is unclear, however, to what extent this is a side effect of viral efforts to maintain protein synthesis or intentional disruption of a hub for innate immune sensing. In this study, we utilize a herpes simplex virus 1 mutant lacking the RNA nuclease VHS which upon infection induces SGs, PKR activation, and beta interferon to address this question. We show that dsRNA is localized to SGs and that SGs can function to promote PKR activation in the context of a DNA virus infection, but we find no evidence to support their importance for interferon induction during HSV-1 infection.
Financial disincentives? A three-armed randomised controlled trial of the effect of financial Incentives in Diabetic Eye Assessment by Screening (IDEAS) trial
Authors: Judah Gaby , Darzi Ara , Vlaev Ivo , Gunn Laura , King Derek , King Dominic , Valabhji Jonathan , Bicknell Colin
Published: May 2018

Objective

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the impact of financial incentives on encouraging attendance at medical screening appointments. The primary aim was to determine whether financial incentives increase attendance at diabetic eye screening in persistent non-attenders.

Methods and analysis

A three-armed randomised controlled trial was conducted in London in 2015. 1051 participants aged over 16 years, who had not attended eye screening appointments for 2 years or more, were randomised (1.4:1:1 randomisation ratio) to receive the usual invitation letter (control), an offer of £10 cash for attending screening (fixed incentive) or a 1 in 100 chance of winning £1000 (lottery incentive) if they attend. The primary outcome was the proportion of invitees attending screening, and a comparative analysis was performed to assess group differences. Pairwise comparisons of attendance rates were performed, using a conservative Bonferroni correction for independent comparisons.

Results

34/435 (7.8%) of control, 17/312 (5.5%) of fixed incentive and 10/304 (3.3%) of lottery incentive groups attended. Participants who received any incentive were significantly less likely to attend their appointment compared with controls (risk ratio (RR)=0.56; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.92). Those in the probabilistic incentive group (RR=0.42; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.98), but not the fixed incentive group (RR=1.66; 95% CI 0.65 to 4.21), were significantly less likely to attend than those in the control group.

Conclusion

Financial incentives, particularly lottery-based incentives, attract fewer patients to diabetic eye screening than standard invites in this population. Financial incentives should not be used to promote screening unless tested in context, as they may negatively affect attendance rates.
Choriocapillaris and retinal vascular plexus density of diabetic eyes using split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Conti Felipe F , Qin Vivian L , Rodrigues Eduardo B , Sharma Sumit , Rachitskaya Aleksandra V , Ehlers Justis P , Singh Rishi P
Published: May 2018

Background/aims

Split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography has enabled detailed, non-invasive assessment of vascular flow. This study evaluates choriocapillaris and retinal capillary perfusion density (CPD) in diabetic eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

Records of 136 eyes that underwent OCTA imaging at a single institution were reviewed. Eyes were grouped as non-diabetic controls (37 eyes), patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) without diabetic retinopathy (DM without DR, 31 eyes), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR, 41 eyes) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR, 27 eyes). Quantitative CPD analyses were performed on OCTA images for assessing perfusion density of the choriocapillaris and retinal plexus for all patients and compared between groups.

Results

Eyes with NPDR and PDR showed significantly decreased choriocapillaris CPD compared with controls, while DM eyes without DR did not show significant change. Choriocapillaris whole-image CPD was decreased by 8.3% in eyes with NPDR (p<0.01) and decreased by 7.1% in eyes with PDR (p<0.01). Choriocapillaris parafoveal CPD was decreased by 8.9% in eyes with NPDR (p<0.01) and decreased by 8.2% in eyes with PDR (p<0.01). Compared with controls, only eyes with PDR showed significantly decreased retinal CPD, as well as significantly increased foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area. In those patients, retinal whole-image CPD was decreased by 9.7% (p<0.01), retinal foveal CPD was decreased by 20.5% (p<0.01) and retinal parafoveal CPD was decreased by 11.4% (p<0.01). FAZ area was increased by 50.9% (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Choriocapillaris and retinal CPD are reduced in diabetic retinopathy, while FAZ area is increased in eyes with PDR. Vascular changes captured by new imaging modalities can further characterise diabetic choroidopathy.
Effects of mindfulness training programmes delivered by a self-directed mobile app and by telephone compared with an education programme for survivors of critical illness: a pilot randomised clinical trial
Authors: Cox Christopher E , Hough Catherine L , Jones Derek M , Ungar Anna , Reagan Wen , Key Mary D , Gremore Tina , Olsen Maren K , Sanders Linda , Greeson Jeffrey M , Porter Laura S
Published: May 2018

Background

Patients who are sick enough to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) commonly experience symptoms of psychological distress after discharge, yet few effective therapies have been applied to meet their needs.

Methods

Pilot randomised clinical trial with 3-month follow-up conducted at two academic medical centres. Adult (≥18 years) ICU patients treated for cardiorespiratory failure were randomised after discharge home to 1 of 3 month-long interventions: a self-directed mobile app-based mindfulness programme; a therapist-led telephone-based mindfulness programme; or a web-based critical illness education programme.

Results

Among 80 patients allocated to mobile mindfulness (n=31), telephone mindfulness (n=31) or education (n=18), 66 (83%) completed the study. For the primary outcomes, target benchmarks were exceeded by observed rates for all participants for feasibility (consent 74%, randomisation 91%, retention 83%), acceptability (mean Client Satisfaction Questionnaire 27.6 (SD 3.8)) and usability (mean Systems Usability Score 89.1 (SD 11.5)). For secondary outcomes, mean values (and 95% CIs) reflected clinically significant group-based changes on the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (mobile (−4.8 (−6.6, −2.9)), telephone (−3.9 (−5.6, −2.2)), education (−3.0 (−5.3, 0.8)); the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (mobile −2.1 (−3.7, −0.5), telephone −1.6 (−3.0, −0.1), education −0.6 (−2.5, 1.3)); the Post-Traumatic Stress Scale (mobile −2.6 (−6.3, 1.2), telephone −2.2 (−5.6, 1.2), education −3.5 (−8.0, 1.0)); and the Patient Health Questionnaire physical symptom scale (mobile −5.3 (−7.0, −3.7), telephone −3.7 (−5.2, 2.2), education −4.8 (−6.8, 2.7)).

Conclusions

Among ICU patients, a mobile mindfulness app initiated after hospital discharge demonstrated evidence of feasibility, acceptability and usability and had a similar impact on psychological distress and physical symptoms as a therapist-led programme. A larger trial is warranted to formally test the efficacy of this approach.

Trial registration number

Results,NCT02701361.
Sensory analysis of characterising flavours: evaluating tobacco product odours using an expert panel
Authors: Krüsemann Erna J Z , Lasschuijt Marlou P , de Graaf C , de Wijk René A , Punter Pieter H , van Tiel Loes , Cremers Johannes W J M , van de Nobelen Suzanne , Boesveldt Sanne , Talhout Reinskje
Published: May 2018

Objectives

Tobacco flavours are an important regulatory concept in several jurisdictions, for example in the USA, Canada and Europe. The European Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU prohibits cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco having a characterising flavour. This directive defines characterising flavour as ‘a clearly noticeable smell or taste other than one of tobacco […]’. To distinguish between products with and without a characterising flavour, we trained an expert panel to identify characterising flavours by smelling.

Methods

An expert panel (n=18) evaluated the smell of 20 tobacco products using self-defined odour attributes, following Quantitative Descriptive Analysis. The panel was trained during 14 attribute training, consensus training and performance monitoring sessions. Products were assessed during six test sessions. Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering (four and six clusters) and Hotelling’s T-tests (95% and 99% CIs) were used to determine differences and similarities between tobacco products based on odour attributes.

Results

The final attribute list contained 13 odour descriptors. Panel performance was sufficient after 14 training sessions. Products marketed as unflavoured that formed a cluster were considered reference products. A four-cluster method distinguished cherry-flavoured, vanilla-flavoured and menthol-flavoured products from reference products. Six clusters subdivided reference products into tobacco leaves, roll-your-own and commercial products.

Conclusions

An expert panel was successfully trained to assess characterising odours in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. This method could be applied to other product types such as e-cigarettes. Regulatory decisions on the choice of reference products and significance level are needed which directly influences the products being assessed as having a characterising odour.
Regeneration responses differ among three boreal mosses after exposure to extreme temperatures
Authors: Pasiche-Lisboa Carlos J. , Belland René J. , Piercey-Normore Michele D.
Published: May 2018

Many factors may affect the survival and establishment of a moss’s vegetative propagules after dispersal, but little is known about the species-specific nature of the response. This study examined the survival and regeneration of gametophore fragments after exposure to temperature changes for three boreal forest mosses from different habitats: Dicranum polysetum, Orthotrichum obtusifolium, and Pleurozium schreberi. Fragments were cultured on water agar and the survival and regeneration responses were recorded. Logistic regression analyses and AIC modeling evaluated the association between the response with the size of the gametophore fragments exposed to five abrupt or gradual temperatures for up to six exposure durations. The increased survival and regeneration was best explained when species were exposed to gradual, rather than abrupt temperatures; lower, rather than higher temperatures; and when the fragments had larger, rather than smaller sizes. The mosses had different survival and regeneration responses that may be species-specific, including clonal growth via the production of gametophore branches and protonemata, or mostly protonemata, even when exposed to elevated temperatures.
Monazite U–Th–Pb geochronology of the Central Metasedimentary Belt Boundary Zone (CMBbz), Grenville Province, Ontario Canada
Authors: Markley Michelle J. , Dunn Steven R. , Jercinovic Michael J. , Peck William H. , Williams Michael L.
Published: May 2018

The Central Metasedimentary Belt boundary zone (CMBbz) is a crustal-scale shear zone that juxtaposes the Central Gneiss Belt and the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Province. Geochronological work on the timing of deformation and metamorphism in the CMBbz is ambiguous, and the questions that motivate our study are: how many episodes of shear zone activity did the CMBbz experience, and what is the tectonic significance of each episode? We present electron microprobe data from monazite (the U–Th–Pb chemical method) to directly date deformation and metamorphism recorded in five garnet–biotite gneiss samples collected from three localities of the CMBbz of Ontario (West Guilford, Fishtail Lake, and Killaloe). All three localities yield youngest monazite dates ca. 1045 Ma; most of the monazite domains that yield these dates are high-Y rims. In comparison with this common late Ottawan history, the earlier history of the three CMBbz localities is less clearly shared. The West Guilford samples have monazite grain cores that show older high-Y domains and younger low-Y domains; these cores yield a prograde early Ottawan (1100–1075 Ma) history. The Killaloe samples yield a well-defined prograde, pre- to early Shawinigan history (i.e., 1220–1160 Ma) in addition to some evidence for a second early Ottawan event. In other words, the answers to our research questions are: three events; a Shawinigan event possibly associated with crustal thickening, an Ottawan event possibly associated with another round of crustal thickening, and a late Ottawan event that resists simple interpretation in terms of metamorphic history but that coincides chronologically with crustal thinning at the base of an orogenic lid.
The conic-paraboloid formulae for coarse woody material volume and taper and their approximation
Authors: Ducey Mark J. , Fraver Shawn
Published: May 2018

The conic-paraboloid volume equation is receiving increased use with downed coarse woody material (CWM), but the consequences for taper have not been identified mathematically. Requiring that subdivision of a conic-paraboloid yields two smaller conic-paraboloids leads to an exact taper equation intermediate between those of cones and second-order paraboloids. This exact taper equation does not have an explicit inverse, however. An alternative, naive approach does have an explicit inverse, but subdivision does not yield two conic-paraboloids. The exact conic-paraboloid is closely approximated by Fermat’s paraboloid with exponent 7/5. The exact and naive conic-paraboloids match in volume; differences in taper are ≤2.2% of large-end cross-sectional area and ≤5.9% of large-end diameter, while differences in inverse taper are ≤3.7% of total length. Fermat’s paraboloid is always within 1.2% of total volume; differences in taper are ≤0.8% of large-end cross-sectional area and ≤2.0% of large-end diameter, while differences in inverse taper are ≤1.1% of total length. Such differences are negligible given the variety of CWM shapes and practical measurement challenges. Either the exact conic-paraboloid or the corresponding Fermat’s paraboloid provides appropriate equations for estimating the volume and taper of CWM that is intermediate between conical and ordinary paraboloid frusta.
Pseudomonads contribute to regulation ofPratylenchus penetrans(Nematoda) populations on apple
Authors: Watson Tristan T. , Forge Tom A. , Nelson Louise M.
Published: May 2018

Inoculation with antagonistic soil microorganisms has shown potential to suppress replant disease of apple in orchard soils. Pseudomonas spp. may have the potential to reduce Pratylenchus penetrans populations on apple. Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of sweet cherry and screened for antagonistic characteristics. Two highly antagonistic Pseudomonas isolates, P10-32 and P10-42, were evaluated for growth promotion of apple seedlings, suppression of P. penetrans populations, and root colonization in soil from three orchards. During the isolate screening, Pseudomonas fluorescens P10-32 reduced in vitro growth of fungal pathogens, had protease activity, had capacity to produce pyrrolnitrin, suppressed P. penetrans populations, and increased plant biomass. Pseudomonas fluorescens P10-42 reduced in vitro growth of fungal pathogens, had protease activity, suppressed P. penetrans populations, and increased plant biomass. In potted orchard soil, inoculating apple with P. fluorescens P10-32 suppressed P. penetrans populations in one of the three soils examined. Inoculation with P. fluorescens P10-42 improved plant growth in two of the soils and suppressed P. penetrans abundance in one soil. In one of the soils, P. fluorescens P10-42 was detected on the roots 56 days postinoculation. Overall, we conclude that Pseudomonas spp. play a role in suppressing P. penetrans on apple in orchard soil.
The putative transient receptor potential channel protein encoded by the orf19.4805 gene is involved in cation sensitivity, antifungal tolerance, and filamentation inCandida albicans
Authors: Jiang Linghuo , Yang Yi
Published: May 2018

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, an ancient family of cation channels, are highly conserved in eukaryotes and play various physiological functions, ranging from sensation of ion homeostasis to reception of pain and vision. Calcium-permeable TRP channels have been identified from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCsc1) and the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScCsc1). In this study, we characterized the functions of the Csc1 homolog, orf19.4805, in Candida albicans. Orf19.4805 is a protein of 866 amino acids and 11 transmembrane domains, which shares 49% identity (69% similarity) in amino acid sequence with ScRsn1. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the orf19.4805 gene causes C. albicans cells to be sensitive to SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and antifungal drugs, and tolerance to zinc, manganese, and cadmium ions. Candida albicans cells lacking orf19.4805 show a defect in filamentation in vitro. Therefore, orf19.4805 is involved in the regulation of cation homeostasis and filamentation in C. albicans.
Seasonal dynamics of the bacterioplankton community in a large, shallow, highly dynamic freshwater lake
Authors: Kong Zhaoyu , Kou Wenbo , Ma Yantian , Yu Haotian , Ge Gang , Wu Lan
Published: May 2018

The spatiotemporal shifts of the bacterioplankton community can mirror their transition of functional traits in an aquatic ecosystem. However, the spatiotemporal variation of the bacterioplankton community composition structure (BCCS) within a large, shallow, highly dynamic freshwater lake is still poorly understood. Here, we examined the seasonal and spatial variability of the BCCs within Poyang Lake by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene amplicon to explore how hydrological changes affect the BCCs. Principal coordinate analysis showed that the BCCs varied significantly among four sampling seasons, but not spatially. The seasonal changes of the BCCs were mainly attributed to the differences between autumn and spring–winter. Higher α diversity indices were observed in autumn. Redundancy analysis indicated that the BCCs co-variated with water level, pH, temperature, total phosphorus, ammoniacal nitrogen, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and turbidity. Among them, water level was the key determinant separating autumn BCCs from the BCCs in other seasons. A significantly lower relative abundance of Burkholderiales (betI and betVII) and a higher relative abundance of Actinomycetales (acI, acTH1, and acTH2) were found in autumn than in other seasons. Overall, our results suggest that water level changes associated with pH, temperature, and nutrient status shaped the seasonal patterns of the BCCs within Poyang Lake.
New structural phase obtained by exerting high pressure on (Br2)n@AFI composite material
Authors: Yao Zhen , Lv Jia-Yin , Liu Bo , Liu Bing-Bing , Yang Bai
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we present a theoretical study on the high-pressure behaviors of a (Br2)[Formula: see text]@AlPO4-5 (AFI) peapod structure. The influence of the encapsulated Br2 molecule on the structural deformation of AFI crystal is analyzed using the volume–pressure function. The bonding process of the linearly arrayed Br2 molecule transferring to the bromine atomic chain is analyzed by the electron density distribution. A new high-pressure phase with [Formula: see text] point group symmetry is obtained as the pressure increases to 34 GPa. In addition, electron density difference calculations are used to study the systematic charge transformation. Further analysis indicates that the encapsulated Br2 molecules can significantly modify the electronic structure of the AFI crystal. The band gap of the (Br2)[Formula: see text]@AFI decreases with pressure and closes at 9 GPa. Moreover, the calculated bulk modulus and electronic properties indicate that the new structural phase is metallic with a high hardness, providing a new strategy for exploring novel nanomaterials.
The band gap properties of the three-component semi-infinite plate-like LRPC by using PWE/FE method
Authors: Qian Denghui , Wang Jianchun
Published: May 2018

This paper applies coupled plane wave expansion and finite element (PWE/FE) method to calculate the band structure of the proposed three-component semi-infinite plate-like locally resonant phononic crystal (LRPC). In order to verify the accuracy of the result, the band structure calculated by PWE/FE method is compared to that calculated by the traditional finite element (FE) method, and the frequency range of the band gap in the band structure is compared to that of the attenuation in the transmission power spectrum. Numerical results and further analysis demonstrate that a band gap is opened by the coupling between the dominant vibrations of the rubber layer and the matrix modes. In addition, the influences of the geometry parameters on the band gap are studied and understood with the help of the simple “base-spring-mass” model, the influence of the viscidity of rubber layer on the band gap is also investigated.
In situ SEM analysis for deformation mechanism of micro/nanostructured 304 stainless steel with high strength and good plasticity
Authors: Sheng Jie , La Peiqing , Su Jiaqiang , Ren Junqiang , Ma Jiqiang , Shi Yu , Li Zhengning , Wang Jiao
Published: May 2018

Bulk micro/nanostructured 304 austenitic stainless-steel plates with bimodal grain size distributions were prepared by Alumina Thermite Reaction at various temperatures and extents of rolling deformation. Rolling cogging of the sheet was performed with a rolling reduction of 40% at 1000[Formula: see text]C followed by rolling reduction of 80% at 700[Formula: see text]C. The strength and plasticity of the resulting micro/nanostructured 304 stainless steels with bimodal grain size distribution achieved the best matching, with tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of 1410 MPa, 723 MPa and 15.3%, respectively. To better understand the deformation mechanism of this micro/nanostructured stainless steel sample, an in situ scanning electron microscopy technique was adopted. The crack initiation, propagation, and fracture were dynamically observed and recorded during the tensile deformation. Our results revealed that a stress concentration near the preset notch served as the initiation source and that microcracks were formed in the grain boundaries between micro- and nano-grains and then spread to the microcrystalline region until passing through the microcrystalline region or until passivation occurred in the microcrystalline region. The microcracks not only caused serious damage to the specimen but also generated back stress, which could lead to hardening of material, thereby enhancing the global ductility. Finally, the mechanism responsible for the enhanced plasticity and strength of the micro/nanostructured 304 stainless steel with a bimodal grain size distribution was analyzed and combined with the fracture morphology.
Selective hydroxylation of naphthalene using the H2O2-dependent engineered P450BM3 driven by dual-functional small molecules
Authors: Chen Zhifeng , Chen Jie , Ma Nana , Zhou Haifeng , Cong Zhiqi
Published: May 2018

We herein report the H2O2-dependent selective hydroxylation of naphthalene catalyzed by engineered P450BM3 with the assistance of dual-functional small molecules (DFSMs). The mutation at position 268 significantly improved the hydroxylation activity of P450BM3, which is quite different from those engineered P450BM3 peroxygenases and NADPH-dependent P450BM3 mutants previously reported, implicating the unique role of the residue at position 268. This study provides a potential approach to develop the practical hydroxylation biocatalyst of P450s for aromatic hydrocarbons using the DFSM-facilitated P450BM3-H2O2system.
Germanium triazatetrabenzcorrole and germanium phthalocyanine: Synthesis, fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation
Authors: Zhang Xian-Fu , Sun Xiaojie
Published: May 2018

The synthesis, fluorescence properties and singlet oxygen generation capability of germanium tetrabenzotriazacorrole (LGeTBC), germanium phthalocyanine (Cl[Formula: see text]GePc) and their derivatives are described. Measurements include UV-vis absorption spectra, fluorescence emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields fluorescence lifetimes, and singlet delta oxygen quantum yields. LGeTBC and its derivatives exhibit quite different spectral and fluorescence properties from their phthalocyanine precursor. Both LGeTBC and Cl[Formula: see text]GePc show high singlet delta oxygen quantum yields and suitable fluorescence quantum yields, indicating that they can act as good singlet oxygen photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.
EMPOWERMENT, KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOURS: EXPLORING GENDER DIFFERENCES
Authors: ABUKHAIT RAWAN MAZEN , BANI-MELHEM SHAKER , ZEFFANE RACHID
Published: May 2018

We examine the effects of empowerment and knowledge sharing on employee innovative behaviours and explore gender differences. The study draws on a sample of 305 employees from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) service sector. Based on an extensive literature review, we develop a conceptual model and formulate four main hypotheses. Statistical analysis was conducted using structural equation modelling with Smart-Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results clearly show and confirm that feelings of empowerment and knowledge sharing have strong and significant impacts on employee innovative behaviours. Surprising and quite interestingly, females report greater feelings of empowerment but were less inclined to engage in knowledge sharing. The findings also show significant gender differences in relation to the impacts of empowerment and knowledge sharing on innovative behaviours. The above gender disparities seem to be specific to the UAE contexts which are discussed. The implications of the above findings for management practice and future research are also discussed.
DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATION IN COMPANIES IN INCUBATION: THE CASE OF PORTUGAL
Authors: CRAVO JOSĒ PEDRO CARRIÇO , MARQUES JOÃO PAULO COELHO
Published: May 2018

This paper highlights the relevance of innovation in small firms based on university business incubators in Portugal. Ever since Schumpeter indicated innovation to be the main economic driver of economic development and a critical factor in the development and performance of companies, a number of authors have discussed this phenomenon but there is still no consensus on how it operates. Through statistical analysis, the study focuses on a sample of 243 Portuguese companies based on incubators linked to or promoted by universities. It was concluded that product innovation is most significant in an incubation environment, and also that the origin of businesses and the development of R&D activities determine the type of innovation generated. However, most of the companies surveyed are not engaged in R&D activities. We propose some policy measures and lessons for management.
Synthesis of Rod-Like Porous MgFe2O4 Architectures as a Catalyst for Ammonium Perchlorate Thermal Decomposition
Authors: Chen Run , Li Gang , Bai Weiyang , Bao Shuang , Cheng Zhiliang
Published: May 2018

The development of highly active catalysts for the pyrolysis of ammonium perchlorate (AP) is of considerable importance for AP-based composite solid propellant. In the present study, we produced porous MgFe2O4 architectures by using a facile two-step strategy. A rod-like precursor of MgFe2(C2O[Formula: see text]O (diameter: 0.5–2.5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m; length: 2–15[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m) was fabricated under solvothermal conditions using metal sulfates as raw materials and oxalic acid as the precipitant. Subsequently, porous MgFe2O4 architectures were obtained by the thermal treatment of the as-prepared oxalate precursor, during which the mesopores were formed in situ via the liberation of volatile gases, while the rod-like morphology was well preserved. The catalytic performances of the as-synthesized porous rod-like MgFe2O4 architectures with respect to the AP pyrolysis were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The results indicated that the high thermal decomposition temperature and the apparent activation energy of AP with 2[Formula: see text]wt.% MgFe2O4 addition decreased from 445.4[Formula: see text]C to 386.7[Formula: see text]C and from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kJ mol[Formula: see text], respectively. Meanwhile, the decomposition heat of AP with MgFe2O4 as the additive reached up to 1230.6[Formula: see text]J g[Formula: see text], which was considerably higher than that of its neat counterpart (695.8[Formula: see text]J g[Formula: see text]. Thus, porous rod-like MgFe2O4 architectures could be served as the catalyst for the AP pyrolysis.
Confined Growth of Carbon Nanotubes in Nanocutting Channel on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite
Authors: Sang Yuan , Jin Chuanhong , Habib Muhammed , Song Li
Published: May 2018

Graphite surface can be etched by metal particles because of the catalytic hydrogenation, resulting in unique etching channels along crystallographic high-symmetry directions that provide new possibilities for confinement applications. Herein, we demonstrate a confined growth carbon nanotubes (CNT) inside nanocutting channels on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). In particular, nickel (Ni) nanoparticles were used as catalytic knife to cut HPOG for creating channels with both zig-zag and armchair graphene edge types. Subsequently, multiwall CNTs were grown along the edge inside channels by reacting Ni nanoparticles catalyzing. It was found that the CNTs inside channels could be grown together along same orientation instead of aggregation, which may bring out a new idea on the controllable synthesis of carbon nanotubes.
Structure-Aware Multimodal Feature Fusion for RGB-D Scene Classification and Beyond
Authors: Wang Anran , Cai Jianfei , Lu Jiwen , Cham Tat-Jen
Published: May 2018

While
convolutional neural networks
(CNNs) have been excellent for object recognition, the greater spatial variability in scene images typically means that the standard full-image CNN features are suboptimal for scene classification. In this article, we investigate a framework allowing greater spatial flexibility, in which the
Fisher vector
(FV)-encoded distribution of local CNN features, obtained from a multitude of region proposals per image, is considered instead. The CNN features are computed from an augmented pixel-wise representation consisting of multiple modalities of RGB, HHA, and surface normals, as extracted from RGB-D data. More significantly, we make two postulates: (1) component sparsity—that only a small variety of region proposals and their corresponding FV GMM components contribute to scene discriminability, and (2) modal nonsparsity—that features from all modalities are encouraged to coexist. In our proposed feature fusion framework, these are implemented through regularization terms that apply group lasso to GMM components and exclusive group lasso across modalities. By learning and combining regressors for both proposal-based FV features and global CNN features, we are able to achieve state-of-the-art scene classification performance on the SUNRGBD Dataset and NYU Depth Dataset V2. Moreover, we further apply our feature fusion framework on an action recognition task to demonstrate that our framework can be generalized for other multimodal well-structured features. In particular, for action recognition, we enforce interpart sparsity to choose more discriminative body parts, and intermodal nonsparsity to make informative features from both appearance and motion modalities coexist. Experimental results on the JHMDB and MPII Cooking Datasets show that our feature fusion is also very effective for action recognition, achieving very competitive performance compared with the state of the art.
Ability-based design
Authors: Wobbrock Jacob O. , Gajos Krzysztof Z. , Kane Shaun K. , Vanderheiden Gregg C.
Published: May 2018

By focusing on users' abilities rather than disabilities, designers can create interactive systems better matched to those abilities.
GeoStreams
Authors: Brandt Tobias , Grawunder Marco
Published: May 2018

Positional data from small and mobile Global Positioning Systems has become ubiquitous and allows for many new applications such as road traffic or vessel monitoring as well as location-based services. To make these applications possible, for which information on location is more important than ever, streaming spatial data needs to be managed, mined, and used intelligently. This article provides an overview of previous work in this evolving research field and discusses different applications as well as common problems and solutions. The conclusion indicates promising directions for future research.
A Survey of Random Forest Based Methods for Intrusion Detection Systems
Authors: Resende Paulo Angelo Alves , Drummond André Costa
Published: May 2018

Over the past decades, researchers have been proposing different Intrusion Detection approaches to deal with the increasing number and complexity of threats for computer systems. In this context, Random Forest models have been providing a notable performance on their applications in the realm of the behaviour-based Intrusion Detection Systems. Specificities of the Random Forest model are used to provide classification, feature selection, and proximity metrics. This work provides a comprehensive review of the general basic concepts related to Intrusion Detection Systems, including taxonomies, attacks, data collection, modelling, evaluation metrics, and commonly used methods. It also provides a survey of Random Forest based methods applied in this context, considering the particularities involved in these models. Finally, some open questions and challenges are posed combined with possible directions to deal with them, which may guide future works on the area.
PTAT
Authors: Zhang Jiutian , Liu Yuhang , Li Haifeng , Zhu Xiaojing , Chen Mingyu
Published: May 2018

As the memory access footprints of applications in areas like data analytics increase, the latency overhead of translation lookaside buffer (TLB) misses increases. Thus, the efficiency of TLB becomes increasingly critical for overall system performance. Analyzing TLB miss traces is useful for hardware architecture design and software application optimization. Utilizing cycle-accurate simulators or instrumentation tools is very time-consuming and/or inaccurate for tracing and profiling TLB misses. In this article, we propose an efficient and precise tool to collect and profile last-level TLB misses. This tool utilizes a novel software method called Page Table Access Tracing (PTAT), storing last-level page table entries of certain workload processes into a reserved uncached memory region. Therefore, each last-level TLB miss incurred by user process corresponds to one uncached page table access to main memory, which can be captured and recorded by a hardware memory bus monitor. The detected information is then dumped into offline storage. In this manner, full TLB miss traces are collected and can be analyzed flexibly. Compared to previous software-based methods, this method achieves higher performance. Experiments show that, compared with a state-of-the-art kernel instrumentation method (BadgerTrap), which lacks complete dumping trace function, the speedup is still up to 3.88-fold for memory-intensive benchmarks. Due to the improved efficiency and completeness of tracing, case studies validate that more flexible profiling can be conducted, which is of great significance for TLB performance optimization. The accuracy of PTAT is verified by both dedicated sequence and performance counters.
Distributed Online and Stochastic Queueing on a Multiple Access Channel
Authors: Bienkowski Marcin , Jurdzinski Tomasz , Korzeniowski Miroslaw , Kowalski Dariusz R.
Published: May 2018

We consider the problems of online and stochastic packet queueing in a distributed system of
n
nodes with queues, where the communication between the nodes is done via a multiple access channel. In the online setting, in each round, an arbitrary number of packets can be injected to nodes’ queues. Two measures of performance are considered: the total number of packets in all queues, called the
total load
, and the maximum queue size, called the
maximum load
. We develop a deterministic distributed algorithm that is asymptotically optimal with respect to both complexity measures, in a competitive way. More precisely, the total load of our algorithm is bigger than the total load of any other algorithm, including centralized online solutions, by only an additive term of
O
(
n
2
), whereas the maximum queue size of our algorithm is at most
n
times bigger than the maximum queue size of any other algorithm, with an extra additive
O
(
n
). The optimality for both measures is justified by proving the corresponding lower bounds, which also separates nearly exponentially distributed solutions from the centralized ones. Next, we show that our algorithm is also stochastically stable for
any
expected injection rate smaller or equal to 1. This is the first solution to the stochastic queueing problem on a multiple access channel that achieves such stability for the (highest possible) rate equal to 1.
Real-Time and Low-Power Streaming Source Separation Using Markov Random Field
Authors: Ko Glenn G. , Rutenbar Rob A.
Published: May 2018

Machine learning (ML) has revolutionized a wide range of recognition tasks, ranging from text analysis to speech to vision, most notably in cloud deployments. However, mobile deployment of these ideas involves a very different category of design problems. In this article, we develop a hardware architecture for a sound source separation task, intended for deployment on a mobile phone. We focus on a novel Markov random field (MRF) sound source separation algorithm that uses expectation-maximization and Gibbs sampling to learn MRF parameters on the fly and infer the best separation of sources. The intrinsically iterative algorithm suggests challenges for both speed and power. A real-time streaming FPGA implementation runs at 150MHz with 207KB RAM, achieves a speed-up of 22× over a software reference, performs with an SDR of up to 7.021dB with 1.601ms latency, and exhibits excellent perceived audio quality. A 45nm CMOS ASIC virtual prototype simulated at 20MHz shows that this architecture is small (<10 million gates) and consumes only 70mW, which is less than 2% of the power of an ARM Cortex-A9 software version. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Gibbs sampling inference accelerator designed in conventional FPGA/ASIC technology that targets a realistic mobile perceptual application.
Provenance Analytics for Workflow-Based Computational Experiments
Authors: Oliveira Wellington , Oliveira Daniel De , Braganholo Vanessa
Published: May 2018

Until not long ago, manually capturing and storing provenance from scientific experiments were constant concerns for scientists. With the advent of computational experiments (modeled as scientific workflows) and Scientific Workflow Management Systems, produced and consumed data, as well as the provenance of a given experiment, are automatically managed, so provenance capturing and storing in such a context is no longer a major concern. Similarly to several existing big data problems, the bottom line is now on how to analyze the large amounts of provenance data generated by workflow executions and how to be able to extract useful knowledge of this data. In this context, this article surveys the current state of the art on provenance analytics by presenting the key initiatives that have been taken to support provenance data analysis. We also contribute by proposing a taxonomy to classify elements related to provenance analytics.
BuildingRules
Authors: Nacci Alessandro A. , Rana Vincenzo , Balaji Bharathan , Spoletini Paola , Gupta Rajesh , Sciuto Donatella , Agarwal Yuvraj
Published: May 2018

Modern Building Management Systems (BMSs) have been designed to automate the behavior of complex buildings, but unfortunately they do not allow occupants to customize it according to their preferences, and only the facility manager is in charge of setting the building policies. To overcome this limitation, we present BuildingRules, a trigger-action programming-based system that aims to provide occupants of commercial buildings with the possibility of specifying the characteristics of their office environment through an intuitive interface. Trigger-action programming is intuitive to use and has been shown to be effective in meeting user requirements in home environments. To extend this intuitive interface to commercial buildings, an essential step is to manage the system scalability as large number of users will express their policies. BuildingRules has been designed to scale well for large commercial buildings as it automatically detects conflicts that occur among user specified policies and it supports intelligent grouping of rules to simplify the policies across large numbers of rooms. We ensure the conflict resolution is fast for a fluid user experience by using the Z3 SMT solver. BuildingRules backend is based on RESTful web services so it can connect to various BMSs and scale well with large number of buildings. We have tested our system with 23 users across 17 days in a virtual office building, and the results we have collected prove the effectiveness and the scalability of BuildingRules.
Thou shalt not depend on me
Authors: Lauinger Tobias , Chaabane Abdelberi , Wilson Christo B.
Published: May 2018

A look at JavaScript libraries in the wild.