bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closed-Form Solution of Road Roughness-Induced Vehicle Energy Dissipation
Authors: Louhghalam A. , Tootkaboni M. , Igusa T. , Ulm F. J.
Published: October 2018

A major contributor to rolling resistance is road roughness-induced energy dissipation in vehicle suspension systems. We identify the parameters driving this dissipation via a combination of dimensional analysis and asymptotic analysis. We begin with a mechanistic model and basic random vibration theory to relate the statistics of road roughness profile and the dynamic properties of the vehicle to dissipated energy. Asymptotic analysis is then used to unravel the dependence of the dissipation on key vehicle and road characteristics. Finally, closed form expressions and scaling relations are developed that permit a straightforward application of the proposed road-vehicle interaction model for evaluating network-level environmental footprint associated with roughness-induced energy dissipation.
Epitaxial growth and electrical properties of VO2 on [LaAlO3]0.3[Sr2AlTaO6]0.7 (111) substrate
Authors: Liu Yang , Niu Shanyuan , Orvis Thomas , Zhang Haimeng , Zhao Huan , Wang Han , Ravichandran Jayakanth
Published: October 2018

The authors report the epitaxial growth and the electrical properties, especially the metal-to-insulator transition, of vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films synthesized on [LaAlO3]0.3[Sr2AlTaO6]0.7 (LSAT) (111) (LSAT) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction studies show that the epitaxial relationship between the VO2 thin films and LSAT substrate is given as VO2(020)||LSAT(111) and VO2[001]||LSAT[112¯]. The authors observed a sharp 4 orders of magnitude change in the longitudinal resistance for the VO2 thin films around the transition temperature. The authors also measured distinct Raman spectra below and above the transition point indicating a concomitant structural transition between the insulator and metallic phases, in agreement with past investigations.
Trichlorination of a Teicoplanin-Type Glycopeptide Antibiotic by the Halogenase StaI Evades Resistance
Authors: Yim Grace , Wang Wenliang , Pawlowski Andrew C. , Wright Gerard D.
Published: October 2018

Glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs) include clinically important drugs used for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens. These antibiotics are specialized metabolites produced by several genera of actinomycete bacteria.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Isavuconazole in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Wu Xuemei , Clancy Cornelius J. , Rivosecchi Ryan M. , Zhao Wenchen , Shields Ryan K. , Marini Rachel V. , Venkataramanan Raman , Nguyen M. Hong
Published: October 2018

Isavuconazole may be useful in treating and preventing fungal infections in solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients due to its safety profile and activity against
Aspergillus
and some
Mucorales
. Isavuconazole has favorable pharmacokinetics based on clinical trials in various patient populations, but data are limited in SOT recipients.
Tracking Anti-
Staphylococcus aureus
Antibodies Produced
In Vivo
and
Ex Vivo
during Foot Salvage Therapy for Diabetic Foot Infections Reveals Prognostic Insights and Evidence of Diversified Humoral Immunity
Authors: Oh Irvin , Muthukrishnan Gowrishankar , Ninomiya Mark J. , Brodell James D. , Smith Benjamin L. , Lee Charles C. , Gill Steven R. , Beck Christopher A. , Schwarz Edward M. , Daiss John L.
Published: October 2018

Management of foot salvage therapy (FST) for diabetic foot infections (DFI) is challenging due to the absence of reliable diagnostics to identify the etiologic agent and prognostics to justify aggressive treatments. As
Staphylococcus aureus
is the most common pathogen associated with DFI, we aimed to develop a multiplex immunoassay of IgG in serum and medium enriched for newly synthesized anti-
S. aureus
antibodies (MENSA) generated from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells of DFI patients undergoing FST.
Cyclosporine Biosynthesis in
Tolypocladium inflatum
Benefits Fungal Adaptation to the Environment
Authors: Yang Xiuqing , Feng Peng , Yin Ying , Bushley Kathryn , Spatafora Joseph W. , Wang Chengshu
Published: October 2018

The cyclopeptide cyclosporin A was first isolated from the filamentous fungus
Tolypocladium inflatum
showing antifungal activity and was later developed as an immunosuppressant drug. We report the biosynthetic mechanism of cyclosporines that are mediated by a cluster of genes encoding NRPS and PKS controlled by a bZIP-type transcriptional regulator. The two unusual amino acids Bmt and
d
-Ala are produced by the PKS pathway and alanine racemase, respectively. The cyclophilin and transporter genes jointly contribute to fungal self-protection against cyclosporines. Cyclosporine confers on
T. inflatum
the abilities to outcompete other fungi in competitive interactions and to facilitate fungal infection of insect hosts, which therefore benefits fungal adaptations to different environments.
Dual Role of a Viral Polymerase in Viral Genome Replication and Particle Self-Assembly
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Ilca Serban L. , Huiskonen Juha T. , Poranen Minna M.
Published: October 2018

Double-stranded RNA viruses infect a wide spectrum of hosts, including animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Yet genome replication mechanisms of these viruses are conserved. During the infection cycle, a proteinaceous capsid, the polymerase complex, is formed. An essential component of this capsid is the viral RNA polymerase that replicates and transcribes the enclosed viral genome. The polymerase complex structure is well characterized for many double-stranded RNA viruses. However, much less is known about the hierarchical molecular interactions that take place in building up such complexes. Using the bacteriophage Φ6 self-assembly system, we obtained novel insights into the processes that mediate polymerase subunit incorporation into the polymerase complex for generation of functional structures. The results presented pave the way for the exploitation and engineering of viral self-assembly processes for biomedical and synthetic biology applications. An understanding of viral assembly processes at the molecular level may also facilitate the development of antivirals that target viral capsid assembly.
Proteome Analysis Reveals the Conidial Surface Protein CcpA Essential for Virulence of the Pathogenic FungusAspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Voltersen Vera , Blango Matthew G. , Herrmann Sahra , Schmidt Franziska , Heinekamp Thorsten , Strassburger Maria , Krüger Thomas , Bacher Petra , Lother Jasmin , Weiss Esther , Hünniger Kerstin , Liu Hong , Hortschansky Peter , Scheffold Alexander , Löffler Jürgen , Krappmann Sven , Nietzsche Sandor , Kurzai Oliver , Einsele Hermann , Kniemeyer Olaf , Filler Scott G. , Reichard Utz , Brakhage Axel A.
Published: October 2018

The mammalian immune system relies on recognition of pathogen surface antigens for targeting and clearance. In the absence of immune evasion strategies, pathogen clearance is rapid. In the case ofAspergillus fumigatus, the successful fungus must avoid phagocytosis in the lung to establish invasive infection. In healthy individuals, fungal spores are cleared by immune cells; however, in immunocompromised patients, clearance mechanisms are impaired. Here, using proteome analyses, we identified CcpA as an important fungal spore protein involved in pathogenesis.A. fumigatuslacking CcpA was more susceptible to immune recognition and prompt eradication and, consequently, exhibited drastically attenuated virulence. In infection studies, CcpA was required for virulence in infected immunocompromised mice, suggesting that it could be used as a possible immunotherapeutic or diagnostic target in the future. In summary, our report adds a protein to the list of those known to be critical to the complex fungal spore surface environment and, more importantly, identifies a protein important for conidial immunogenicity during infection.
Bacteriophages Synergize with the Gut Microbial Community To Combat
Salmonella
Authors: Hu Yue O. O. , Hugerth Luisa W. , Bengtsson Carina , Alisjahbana Arlisa , Seifert Maike , Kamal Anaga , Sjöling Åsa , Midtvedt Tore , Norin Elisabeth , Du Juan , Engstrand Lars
Published: October 2018

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a global threat. Therefore, alternative approaches for combatting bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant bacteria, are urgently needed. Using a human gut microbiota model, we demonstrate that bacteriophages (phages) are able to substantially decrease pathogenic
Salmonella
without perturbing the microbiota. Conversely, antibiotic treatment leads to the eradication of close to all commensal bacteria, leaving only antibiotic-resistant bacteria. An unbalanced microbiota has been linked to many diseases both in the gastrointestinal tract or “nonintestinal” diseases. In our study, we show that the microbiota provides a protective effect against
Salmonella
. Since phage treatment preserves the healthy gut microbiota, it is a feasible superior alternative to antibiotic treatment. Furthermore, when combating infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, gut microbiota should be considered.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Exposed to Sublethal Levels of Hydrogen Peroxide Mounts a Complex Transcriptional Response
Authors: Quillin Sarah J. , Hockenberry Adam J. , Jewett Michael C. , Seifert H Steven
Published: October 2018

The strict human pathogen
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
is the only causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. This bacterium encounters hydrogen peroxide produced from host cells during infection, but the organism survives in the presence of this antimicrobial agent. This work shows that the bacterium responds to hydrogen peroxide by regulating the expression of many genes involved in multiple processes.
DRESS syndrome due to vemurafenib treatment: switching BRAF inhibitor to solve a big problem
Authors: Ros Javier , Muñoz-Couselo Eva
Published: October 2018

We present a case report of an early-onset drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) induced by vemurafenib (BRAF inhibitor) in a middle-age man affected by a metastatic, BRAF mutant melanoma who was started on first-line metastatic treatment with vemurafenib and cobimetinib.

After initiating the treatment, the patient presented an extensive cutaneous rash with eosinophilia and renal impairment. Due the constellation of signs and symptoms, a diagnosis of DRESS syndrome was made which strongly contraindicated the reintroduction of vemurafenib due to its hypersensibility reaction. Thus, vemurafenib was stopped immediately, and we started corticoid treatment with clinical improvement.

Due to the contraindication to start vemurafenib again, after multidisciplinary view of the case and having balanced the risks and benefits, we successfully performed a switch to another BRAF inhibitor in a progressively ascending pattern, without any skin toxicity and with a good response of the metastatic melanoma.
Is palliative care cost-effective in low-income and middle-income countries? A mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Reid Eleanor Anderson , Kovalerchik Olga , Jubanyik Karen , Brown Stuart , Hersey Denise , Grant Liz
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Of the 40 million people globally in need of palliative care (PC), just 14% receive it, predominantly in high-income countries. Within fragile health systems that lack PC, incurable illness is often marked by pain and suffering, as well as burdensome costs. In high-income settings, PC decreases healthcare utilisation, thus enhancing value. Similar cost-effectiveness models are lacking in low-income and middle-income countries and with them, the impetus and funding to expand PC delivery.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of seven databases to gather evidence of the cost-effectiveness of PC in low-income and middle-income countries. We extracted and synthesised palliative outcomes and economic data from original research studies occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. This review adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and includes a quality appraisal.

Results

Our search identified 10 eligible papers that included palliative and economic outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries. Four provided true cost-effectiveness analyses in comparing the costs of PC versus alternative care, with PC offering cost savings, favourable palliative outcomes and positive patient-reported and family-reported outcomes.

Conclusions

Despite the small number of included studies, wide variety of study types and lack of high-quality studies, several patterns emerged: (1) low-cost PC delivery in low-income and middle-income countries is possible, (2) patient-reported outcomes are favourable and (3) PC is less costly than the alternative. This review highlights the extraordinary need for robust cost-effectiveness analysis of PC in low-income and middle-income countries in order to develop health economic models for the delivery of PC, direct resource allocation and guide healthcare policy for PC delivery in low-income and middle-income countries.
A real-world, comparative study of FDA-approved diagnostic assays PD-L1 IHC 28-8 and 22C3 in lung cancer and other malignancies
Authors: Batenchuk Cory , Albitar Maher , Zerba Kim , Sudarsanam Sucha , Chizhevsky Vladislav , Jin Chelsea , Burns Virginia
Published: October 2018

Aims

At the time of analysis, two widely used, drug-specific, tumour-cell programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) assays were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for anti-PD-1 therapies: the Dako PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 28-8 pharmDx assay and the Dako PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx assay. Given that the majority of current PD-L1 testing in US clinical practice is performed at commercial reference laboratories, we aimed to evaluate the concordance of the 28-8 and 22C3 assays in a real-world setting.

Methods

Matched PD-L1 IHC 28-8 and 22C3 results from routine assessment were obtained from 1930 patients, including 412 confirmed to have lung cancer, submitted from hospitals in over 38 US states/territories. Biopsies were stained, reviewed and scored by trained/certified pathologists at a single cancer reference laboratory between 2015 and 2017. Rate of concordance between assay findings was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis; overall per cent agreement (OPA), positive per cent agreement and negative per cent agreement; and Cohen’s kappa.

Results

PD-L1 IHC 28-8 and 22C3 displayed strong correlation across all samples and in samples with a confirmed lung cancer diagnosis irrespective of biopsy site. The OPA was 97%–98% for all samples, depending on the expression level defining PD-L1 positivity. In the Bland-Altman analysis, the mean difference in percentage of tumour cells positively stained for PD-L1 between the paired assay findings was –0.80% for all samples and –0.93% in samples with a confirmed lung cancer diagnosis.

Conclusions

These data, in conjunction with recent findings, support the analytical concordance of the PD-L1 IHC 28-8 and 22C3 assays for assessing per cent tumour-cell membrane PD-L1 expression.
Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Overactive Bladder Syndrome: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Tzeng Nian-Sheng , Chang Hsin-An , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Kao Yu-Chen , Yeh Hui-Wen , Yeh Chin-Bin , Chiang Wei-Shan , Huang San-Yuan , Lu Ru-Band , Chien Wu-Chien
Published: October 2018

Population-based cohort study investigating the risk of depression and other psychiatric disorders for patients with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is unavailable. This study investigated the subsequent risk of psychiatric disorders among patients with OAB in an Asian population. Using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we established a cohort with 811 patients in an exposed group with OAB between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2000, and a non-exposed group, without OAB, of 2433 patients without OAB matched by age and year of diagnosis. The occurrence of psychiatric disorders and Cox regression model measured adjusted HRs (aHR) were monitored until the end of 2013. The overall incidence of psychiatric disorders was 41.7% higher in the exposed group with OAB than in the non-exposed group without OAB (14.2% vs 10.1%, p<0.001), with an aHR of 1.34 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.80, p<0.001) for the OAB cohort. OAB was associated with the increased risk of dementia, anxiety, depressive, sleep, and psychotic disorders, with aHRs as 1.53 (p=0.040), 1.61 (p<0.001), 2.10 (p<0.001), 1.43 (p<0.001), and 2.49 (p=0.002), respectively. The risk of psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, is significantly higher in patients with OAB than in those without OAB. Evaluation of psychiatric status in patients with OAB is strongly recommended.
Aspergillus and progression of lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Harun Sabariah Noor , Wainwright Claire E , Grimwood Keith , Hennig Stefanie
Published: October 2018

Background

The impact of Aspergillus on lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis is uncertain.

Aims

To determine if positive respiratory cultures of Aspergillus species are associated with: (1) increased structural lung injury at age 5 years; (2) accelerated lung function decline between ages 5 years and 14 years and (3) to identify explanatory variables.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of association between Aspergillus positive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures and chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan findings at age 5 years in subjects from the Australasian Cystic Fibrosis Bronchoalveolar Lavage (ACFBAL) study was performed. A non-linear mixed-effects disease progression model was developed using FEV1% predicted measurements at age 5 years from the ACFBAL study and at ages 6–14 years for these subjects from the Australian Cystic Fibrosis Data Registry.

Results

Positive Aspergillus BAL cultures at age 5 years were significantly associated with increased HRCT scores for air trapping (OR 5.53, 95% CI 2.35 to 10.82). However, positive Aspergillus cultures were not associated with either FEV1% predicted at age 5 years or FEV1% predicted by age following adjustment for body mass index z-score and hospitalisation secondary to pulmonary exacerbations. Lung function demonstrated a non-linear decline in this population.

Conclusion

In children with cystic fibrosis, positive Aspergillus BAL cultures at age 5 years were associated contemporaneously with air trapping but not bronchiectasis. However, no association was observed between positive Aspergillus BAL cultures on FEV1% predicted at age 5 years or with lung function decline between ages 5 years and 14 years.
Association between tobacco prices and smoking onset: evidence from the TCP India Survey
Authors: Shang Ce , Chaloupka Frank J , Gupta Prakash C , Pednekar Mangesh S , Fong Geoffrey T
Published: October 2018

Background

Tobacco use is prevalent among youth and adults in India. However, direct evidence on how increasing taxes or prices affect tobacco use onset is scarce.

Objective

To analyse the associations between cigarette and bidi prices and smoking onset in India, and how these associations differ by socioeconomic status.

Methodology

The Wave 1 of the Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Survey by the International Tobacco Control Project contains information on the age at smoking onset for cigarettes and bidis. Using this information, data were expanded to a yearly pseudo-panel dataset that tracked respondents at risk of smoking onset from 1998 to 2011. The associations between bidi prices and bidi smoking onset, between cigarette prices and cigarette smoking onset, and between bidi and cigarette prices and any smoking onset were examined using a discrete-time hazard model with a logit link function. Stratified analyses were conducted to examine the difference in these associations by rural versus urban division.

Results

We found that higher bidi prices were significantly associated with a lowered hazard of bidi smoking onset (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.51). Higher cigarette prices were significantly (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.92) associated with a lowered hazard of cigarette smoking onset among urban residents, but this association was non-significant when SEs were clustered at the state level. In addition, the association between increasing bidis prices and lowered hazards of bidi smoking onset was greater for urban residents than for rural ones (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Under the new regime of a central goods and service system, policymakers may need to raise the prices of tobacco products sufficiently to curb smoking onset.
Modelling the impact of a new tobacco product: review of Philip Morris International’s Population Health Impact Model as applied to the IQOS heated tobacco product
Authors: Max Wendy B , Sung Hai-Yen , Lightwood James , Wang Yingning , Yao Tingting
Published: October 2018

Objectives

We review the Population Health Impact Model (PHIM) developed by Philip Morris International and used in its application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its heated tobacco product (HTP), IQOS, as a modified-risk tobacco product (MRTP). We assess the model against FDA guidelines for MRTP applications and consider more general criteria for evaluating reduced-risk tobacco products.

Methods

In assessing the PHIM against FDA guidelines, we consider two key components of the model: the assumptions implicit in the model (outcomes included, relative harm of the new product vs cigarettes, tobacco-related diseases considered, whether dual or polyuse of the new product is modelled, and what other tobacco products are included) and data used to estimate and validate model parameters (transition rates between non-smoking, cigarette-only smoking, dual use of cigarettes and MRTP, and MRTP-only use; and starting tobacco use prevalence).

Results

The PHIM is a dynamic state transition model which models the impact of cigarette and MRTP use on mortality from four tobacco-attributable diseases. The PHIM excludes morbidity, underestimates mortality, excludes tobacco products other than cigarettes, does not include FDA-recommended impacts on non-users and underestimates the impact on other population groups.

Conclusion

The PHIM underestimates the health impact of HTP products and cannot be used to justify an MRTP claim. An assessment of the impact of a potential MRTP on population health should include a comprehensive measure of health impacts, consideration of all groups impacted, and documented and justifiable assumptions regarding model parameters.
Coenzyme Q10 does not improve peripheral insulin sensitivity in statin-treated men and women: the LIFESTAT study
Authors: Kuhlman Anja Birk , Morville Thomas , Dohlmann Tine Lovsø , Hansen Maria , Kelly Bo , Helge Jørn Wulff , Dela Flemming
Published: October 2018

Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug that is prescribed to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease following high levels of blood cholesterol. There is a possible risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus with statin treatment but the mechanisms behind are unknown. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation has been found to improve glucose homeostasis in various patient populations and may increase muscle glucose transporter type 4 content. Our aim was to investigate if 8 weeks of CoQ10 supplementation can improve glucose homeostasis in simvastatin-treated subjects. Thirty-five men and women in treatment with a minimum of 40 mg of simvastatin daily were randomized to receive either 2 × 200 mg/day of CoQ10 supplementation or placebo for 8 weeks. Glucose homeostasis was investigated with fasting blood samples, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and intravenous glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with the hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp. Different indices were calculated from fasting samples and OGTT as secondary measures of insulin sensitivity. A muscle biopsy was obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle for muscle protein analyzes. There were no changes in body composition, fasting plasma insulin, fasting plasma glucose, or 3-h glucose with intervention, but glycated hemoglobin decreased with time. Glucose homeostasis measured as the area under the curve for glucose, insulin, and C-peptide during OGTT was unchanged after intervention. Insulin secretory capacity was also unaltered after CoQ10 supplementation. Insulin sensitivity was unchanged but hepatic insulin sensitivity increased. No changes in muscle GLUT4 content was observed after intervention. CoQ10 supplementation does not change muscle GLUT4 content, insulin sensitivity, or secretory capacity, but hepatic insulin sensitivity may improve.
The effectiveness of voluntary policies and commitments in restricting unhealthy food marketing to Canadian children on food company websites
Authors: Vergeer Laura , Vanderlee Lana , Potvin Kent Monique , Mulligan Christine , L’Abbé Mary R.
Published: October 2018

Marketing unhealthy foods and beverages to children (M2K) fosters poor dietary patterns, increasing obesity and noncommunicable disease risk. Federal restrictions on M2K have been under development in Canada since 2016; however, at present, M2K is mostly self-regulated by food companies. This study aimed to compare M2K on Canadian websites of food companies with and without voluntary policies or commitments in this area. A systematic content analysis of company websites was conducted in spring/summer 2017 for major packaged food (n = 16), beverage (n = 12), and restaurant chain (n = 13) companies in Canada. M2K policies were sourced from company websites and published corporate documents. Sixteen companies (43%) reported national and/or global M2K policies, while 21 companies (57%) had no published policies. The websites of Canadian companies (n = 154) were scanned for child-directed products and marketing; type and frequency of marketing techniques were recorded. Child-directed marketing appeared on 19 websites of 12 companies (32%), including 9 companies with M2K policies. Websites featured products with unconventional flavours, colours, shapes, or child-oriented packaging, and used promotional characters, contests, games, activities, or lettering and graphics appealing to children. The nutritional quality of products marketed to children was evaluated using a nutrient profile model developed by Health Canada for proposed M2K regulations. Of the 217 products marketed to children, 97% exceeded Health Canada’s proposed ∼5% Daily Value threshold for saturated fat, sodium, and/or sugars, 73% of which were products from 9 companies with policies. These findings highlight the limitations of self-regulation in restricting M2K on food company websites, reinforcing the need for government regulations.
Ecosystem changes across a gradient of permafrost degradation in subarctic Québec (Tasiapik Valley, Nunavik, Canada)
Authors: Pelletier Maude , Allard Michel , Levesque Esther
Published: October 2018

Permafrost thaw, tundra shrubification, and changes in snow cover properties are documented impacts of climate warming, particularly in subarctic regions where discontinuous permafrost is disappearing. To obtain some insight into those changes, permafrost, active layer thickness, vegetation, snow cover, ground temperature, soil profiles, and carbon content were surveyed in an integrated approach in six field plots along a chronosequence of permafrost thaw on an ice-rich silty soil. Historical air photographs and dendrochronology provided the chronological context. Comparison of the plots reveals a positive feedback effect between thaw settlement, increased snow cover thickness, shrub growth, increase in soil temperature, and the process of permafrost decay. By the end of the sequence permafrost was no longer sustainable. Along the estimated 90 year duration of the chronosequence, the originally centimeter-thin pedogenic horizons under mosses and lichens increased to a thickness of nearly 65 cm under shrubs and trees. Snow cover increased from negligible to over 2 m. The thickness of soil organic layers and soil organic matter content increased manyfold, likely a result of the increased productivity in the shrub-dominated landscape. The results of this study strongly suggest that permafrost ecosystems in the subarctic are being replaced under climate warming by shrub and forest ecosystems enriched in carbon on more evolved soils.
Fungal colonizers and seed loss in lodgepole pine orchards of British Columbia
Authors: de la Bastide Paul Y. , LeBlanc Jonathon , Kong Lisheng , Finston Terrie , May Emily M. , Reich Richard , Hintz William E. , von Aderkas Patrick
Published: October 2018

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) is an important lumber species in Canada, and seed orchards are expected to meet the increased demand for seed. However, seed production has been consistently low in the Okanagan region orchards of British Columbia, Canada. To determine whether the fungal microbiome contributes to seed loss, histological and molecular approaches were used. Seed production was studied at seven Okanagan orchards, all outside the natural range of lodgepole pine, and at one near Prince George, within its natural range. Seed losses were highest in the Okanagan, compared with Prince George. The role of fungal colonizers in consuming seed during the last stages of maturation is described. Fungal hyphae were frequently observed at all locations in developing seed, particularly once storage substances accumulated. Fungi identified from host tissues using molecular and morphological techniques included Alternaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Sydowia. The opportunistic foliar pathogen Sydowia polyspora, which is known to have a variable biotrophic status, was detected at most orchards within different host tissues (seeds, needles, and conelets), in association with pollen, and in the air column. Reduced seed viability observed in Okanagan orchards is most likely due to a combination of factors, including composition of the fungal microbiome.
Growth of cod (Gadus morhua) in the western Baltic Sea: estimating improved growth parameters from tag–recapture data
Authors: McQueen Kate , Eveson J. Paige , Dolk Bodo , Lorenz Thomas , Mohr Thomas , Schade Franziska M. , Krumme Uwe
Published: October 2018

Tag–recapture data contain valuable information about individual fish growth, which can enhance the estimation of growth parameters. Tag–recapture data are especially useful when age-determination uncertainties throw age-based growth estimates and stock assessments into question, as is the present situation with several important gadoid stocks. Length-based (GROTAG method) and age-based (LEP method) growth functions were fit to a large data set of tagged and recaptured cod (Gadus morhua) from an artificial reef in the western Baltic Sea to calculate improved growth parameter estimates. The LEP method allowed integration of different data formats, including tag–recapture, length frequency, and length-at-age, to estimate a more robust and comprehensive growth function (von Bertalanffy growth parameters: L∞ = 154.56 cm, k = 0.11, t0 = –0.13). Two heavily exploited cod stocks inhabit the Baltic Sea, subsisting at the upper thermal and lower salinity limits of the species. Otolith shape analyses indicated that, unexpectedly, individuals from both populations were resident at the reef. Compared with cod populations elsewhere, cod in the western Baltic Sea grow relatively slowly and with weak seasonal fluctuations in growth rates, potentially due to adverse conditions for growth.
Sustained quality improvement in outcomes of preterm neonates with a gestational age less than 29 weeks: results from the Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality Phase 3
Authors: Shah Prakesh S. , Dunn Michael , Aziz Khalid , Shah Vibhuti , Deshpandey Akhil , Mukerji Amit , Ng Eugene , Mohammad Khorshid , Ulrich Cindy , Amaral Nely , Lemyre Brigitte , Synnes Anne , Piedboeuf Bruno , Yee Wendy H. , Ye Xiang Y. , Lee Shoo K.
Published: October 2018

Quality improvement initiatives in neonatology have yielded positive results; however, few programs have demonstrated sustainability. We evaluated an ongoing, national quality improvement initiative (Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality Phase 3 (EPIQ-3)) on outcomes of preterm neonates with a gestational age (GA) of 220–286weeks (i.e., from 22 weeks and 0 days of gestation to 28 weeks and 6 days of gestation). Data from 7459 neonates admitted to 25 Canadian centers between 2013 and 2017 were studied. Trends in mortality and major morbidities were evaluated. The number of neonates with a GA of 220–236weeks increased from 90 in 2013 to 139 in 2017 without a significant change in any other GA categories. In the entire cohort, the odds of composite outcome of mortality or any major morbidity (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–0.84) and of necrotizing enterocolitis (AOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49–0.89) were lower in 2017 than in 2013. When calculated per year, the odds of composite outcome (AOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.97) and odds of necrotizing enterocolitis (AOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.96) decreased significantly. Among the subgroup of neonates with a GA of 260–286weeks, the odds of composite outcome (AOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.51–0.79), necrotizing enterocolitis (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26–0.73), and nosocomial infection (AOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49–0.84) were reduced. The collaborative, multidisciplinary, nationwide EPIQ-3 program improved outcomes of preterm neonates, and the improvement was sustainable over 5 years.
A Literature Review on Next Generation Graphene Interconnects
Authors: Patel Nikita , Agrawal Yash
Published: October 2018

The state-of-the-art development and subsequent miniaturization of technologies in e-systems such as computers and digital communication systems have led to densely and compactly placement of devices and interconnects in ICs. The incessant advancements of technologies have necessitated a rapid increase in operating frequencies. At nanometer dimensions and advanced technology nodes, the performance of the overall VLSI system is critically dominated by on-chip interconnects. Interconnects perpetuate several nonideal effects such as signal delay, power dissipation and cross-talk that limit the overall system performance. Owing to graving effect of interconnects on the performance parameters in ICs, research into interconnects has become meticulously very active in recent years, and concurrently much progress has been made. In this review paper, a literature review and contemporary advancements on conventional aluminum, copper and subsequent next generation graphene interconnects have been systematically presented.
SPACETIME DISCOUNTED VALUE OF NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Authors: DRAGICEVIC ARNAUD Z.
Published: October 2018

In order to unveil the value of network connectivity, discounted both in space and time, we formalize the construction of networks as an optimal control dynamic graph-theoretic problem. The network is based on a set of leaders and followers linked through edges. The node dynamics, built upon the consensus protocol, form a time evolutive Mahalanobis distance weighted by the opportunity costs. The results show that the network equilibrium depends on the influence of leader nodes, while the network connectivity depends on the cohesiveness among followers. Through numerical simulations, we find that — past a threshold level of opportunity costs — the values of shadow prices become stationary. Likewise, the model outputs show that, at a fixed level of foregone gains, agents value the safeguard of connections less in time than in space.
Application of IoT-based medical diagnosis and treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome in primary hospitals: A preliminary study
Authors: Wu Yuhua , Zhou Jian , Li Jing , Liu Jie , Li Shanqun , Bai Chunxue
Published: October 2018

Objective: To conduct a preliminary study of the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) using the Internet of Things (IoT) medical technology and to explore the feasibility of the hierarchical diagnosis, treatment, and management of OSAHS patients using IoT medicine in primary hospitals.

Methods: The IoT technology and a remote medical monitoring system were used to observe and compare the respiratory and sleep parameters before and after a three-month intervention in 47 patients with OSAHS who met the diagnostic criteria and were selected in the Kashgar region. All parameters were compared based on the severity (mild, moderate, and severe) of OSAHS.

Results: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), and nighttime minimum oxygen saturation (lowest SaO2min) improved in patients with OSAHS from before to after treatment ([Formula: see text]). The improvements were more profound in OSAHS patients with cardiovascular disease such as hypertension.

Conclusion: The IoT medical technology can help to hierarchically diagnose, treat, and manage patients with OSAHS. It is feasible for primary hospitals in rural regions to use the IoT technology for the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS patients.
Protective effect of rhubarb against intestinal mucosal barrier injury in rats with obstructive jaundice
Authors: Sun Xian-Jun , Li Qiu-Ying , Liu Yan , Jiang Ting-Hui
Published: October 2018

Objective: To investigate the effects of raw rhubarb (RR) on the intestinal barrier dysfunction and endotoxemia in rat models with obstructive jaundice (OJ).

Methods: Twenty-seven Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly allocated to four groups: control ([Formula: see text]), sham operation ([Formula: see text]), model ([Formula: see text]), and treatment ([Formula: see text]). Rat models with OJ were used in the model and treatment groups. In the treatment group, rats were intragastrically administered with RR granular solution. After treatment, serum endotoxin (ET), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TB) levels were determined. The liver tissue, bile duct tissue above the obstruction bile duct site, and parts of the ileum and colon tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and observed by light microscopy, and the histopathological changes in the ileum were observed by electron microscopy.

Results: Fourteen days after the rats in the treatment group were intragastrically administered with RR granular solution, the ALT, AST, and TB levels showed no significant difference between the control and sham operation groups ([Formula: see text]). Serum ET level was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the model group ([Formula: see text]). Histopathology of the liver and bile duct revealed that RR might alleviate OJ-associated hepatocyte degeneration/necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and hepatic fibrosis, and reduce the damage to parietal cells and bile duct mucosa. In OJ rats, RR might also have a protective effect against colonic wall edema and necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells.

Conclusions: RR may improve the structural changes in the intestinal mucosa caused by OJ and decrease serum ET level in OJ rats.
Schedule Adaptation for Ensuring Reliability in RT-WiFi-Based Networked Embedded Systems
Authors: Wei Yi-Hung , Leng Quan , Chen Wei-Ju , Mok Aloysius K. , Han Song
Published: October 2018

With the ever-growing interests in applying wireless technologies for networked embedded systems to serve as the communication fabric, many real-time wireless technologies have been recently developed to support time-critical sensing and control applications. We proposed in previous work the RT-WiFi protocol that provides real-time high-speed predictable data delivery and enables designs to meet time-critical industrial needs. However, without explicit reliability enforcement mechanisms, our previous RT-WiFi design is either subject to uncontrolled packet loss due to noise and other interferences or may suffer from inefficient communication channel usage. In this article, we explicitly consider interference from both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi based interference sources and propose two sets of effective solutions for reliable data transmissions in RT-WiFi-based networked embedded systems. To improve reliability against general non-Wi-Fi based interference, based on rate adaptation and retransmission techniques, we present an optimal real-time rate adaption algorithm together with a communication link scheduler that has low network management overhead. A novel technique called overbooking is introduced to further improve the schedulability of the communication link scheduler while maintaining the required communication reliability. For Wi-Fi-based interference, we present mechanisms that utilize virtual carrier sensing to provide reliable data transmission while co-existing with regular Wi-Fi networks. We have implemented the proposed algorithms in the RT-WiFi network management framework and demonstrated the system performance with a series of experiments.
OpenSearch
Authors: Jagerman Rolf , Balog Krisztian , Rijke Maarten De
Published: October 2018

We report on our experience with TREC OpenSearch, an online evaluation campaign that enabled researchers to evaluate their experimental retrieval methods using real users of a live website. Specifically, we focus on the task of
ad hoc
document retrieval within the academic search domain, and work with two search engines, CiteSeerX and SSOAR, that provide us with traffic. We describe our experimental platform, which is based on the living labs methodology, and report on the experimental results obtained. We also share our experiences, challenges, and the lessons learned from running this track in 2016 and 2017.
Probability Model-Based Early Merge Mode Decision for Dependent Views Coding in 3D-HEVC
Authors: Li Yue , Yang Gaobo , Zhu Yapei , Ding Xiangling , Gong Rongrong
Published: October 2018

As a 3D extension to the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, 3D-HEVC was developed to improve the coding efficiency of multiview videos. It inherits the prediction modes from HEVC, yet both Motion Estimation (ME) and Disparity Estimation (DE) are required for dependent views coding. This improves coding efficiency at the cost of huge computational costs. In this article, an early Merge mode decision approach is proposed for dependent texture views and dependent depth maps coding in 3D-HEVC based on priori and posterior probability models. First, the priori probability model is established by exploiting the hierarchical and interview correlations from those previously encoded blocks. Second, the posterior probability model is built by using the Coded Block Flag (CBF) of the current coding block. Finally, the joint priori and posterior probability model is adopted to early terminate the Merge mode decision for both dependent texture views and dependent depth maps coding. Experimental results show that the proposed approach saves 45.2% and 30.6% encoding time on average for dependent texture views and dependent depth maps coding while maintaining negligible loss of coding efficiency, respectively.
Practical Minimum Cut Algorithms
Authors: Henzinger Monika , Noe Alexander , Schulz Christian , Strash Darren
Published: October 2018

The minimum cut problem for an undirected edge-weighted graph asks us to divide its set of nodes into two blocks while minimizing the weight sum of the cut edges. Here, we introduce a linear-time algorithm to compute near-minimum cuts. Our algorithm is based on cluster contraction using label propagation and Padberg and Rinaldi’s contraction heuristics [SIAM Review, 1991]. We give both sequential and shared-memory parallel implementations of our algorithm. Extensive experiments on both real-world and generated instances show that our algorithm finds the optimal cut on nearly all instances significantly faster than other state-of-the-art exact algorithms, and our error rate is lower than that of other heuristic algorithms. In addition, our parallel algorithm runs a factor 7.5× faster on average when using 32 threads. To further speed up computations, we also give a version of our algorithm that performs random edge contractions as preprocessing. This version achieves a lower running time and better parallel scalability at the expense of a higher error rate.
Entropy and Optimal Compression of Some General Plane Trees
Authors: Gołębiewski Zbigniew , Magner Abram , Szpankowski Wojciech
Published: October 2018

We continue developing the information theory of structured data. In this article, we study models generating
d
-ary trees (
d
≥ 2) and trees with unrestricted degree. We first compute the entropy which gives us the fundamental lower bound on compression of such trees. Then we present efficient compression algorithms based on arithmetic encoding that achieve the entropy within a constant number of bits. A naïve implementation of these algorithms has a prohibitive time complexity of
O
(
n

d

) elementary arithmetic operations (each corresponding to a number
f
(
n
,
d
) of bit operations), but our efficient algorithms run in
O
(
n

2

) of these operations, where
n
is the number of nodes. It turns out that extending source coding (i.e., compression) from sequences to advanced data structures such as degree-unconstrained trees is mathematically quite challenging and leads to recurrences that find ample applications in the information theory of general structures (e.g., to analyze the information content of degree-unconstrained non-plane trees).
A Note on Caputo’s Derivative Operator Interpretation in Economy
Authors: Rehman Hameed Ur , Darus Maslina , Salah Jamal
Published: October 2018

We propound the economic idea in terms of fractional derivatives, which involves the modified Caputo’s fractional derivative operator. The suggested economic interpretation is based on a generalization of average count and marginal value of economic indicators. We use the concepts ofT-indicatorswhich analyses the economic performance with the presence of memory. The reaction of economic agents due to recurrence identical alteration is minimized by using the modified Caputo’s derivative operator of orderλinstead of integer order derivativen. The two sides of Caputo’s derivative are expressed by a brief time-line. The degree of attenuation is further depressed by involving the modified Caputo’s operator.
Classification of Asphalt Pavement Cracks Using Laplacian Pyramid-Based Image Processing and a Hybrid Computational Approach
Authors: Hoang Nhat-Duc
Published: October 2018

To improve the efficiency of the periodic surveys of the asphalt pavement condition, this study puts forward an intelligent method for automating the classification of pavement crack patterns. The new approach relies on image processing techniques and computational intelligence algorithms. The image processing techniques of Laplacian pyramid and projection integral are employed to extract numerical features from digital images. Least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) and Differential Flower Pollination (DFP) are the two computational intelligence algorithms that are employed to construct the crack classification model based on the extracted features. LSSVM is employed for data classification. In addition, the model construction phase of LSSVM requires a proper setting of the regularization and kernel function parameters. This study relies on DFP to fine-tune these two parameters of LSSVM. A dataset consisting of 500 image samples and five class labels of alligator crack, diagonal crack, longitudinal crack, no crack, and transverse crack has been collected to train and verify the established approach. The experimental results show that the Laplacian pyramid is really helpful to enhance the pavement images and reveal the crack patterns. Moreover, the hybridization of LSSVM and DFP, named as DFP-LSSVM, used with the Laplacian pyramid at the level 4 can help us to achieve the highest classification accuracy rate of 93.04%. Thus, the new hybrid approach of DFP-LSSVM is a promising tool to assist transportation agencies in the task of pavement condition surveying.