bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Increased Concavity of Maxillary Labial Alveolar Bone and Decreased Labial Cortical Bone Thickness: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Aided Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Calvani Lino , Calvani Ludovica , Hirayama Hiroshi , Pissiotis Argiris , Michalakis Konstantinos
Published: September 2017

Purpose

To assess whether an increased concavity of maxillary labial alveolar bone is related to labial thickness of cortical bone in that area and to the presence of extraoral manifestations in the philtrum.

Materials and Methods

Cone beam computed tomography images along with intra‐ and extraoral photographic images of 50 Caucasian female patients, age range 18 to 65 years (mean: 37 years), previously evaluated for implant treatment were assessed by three experienced prosthodontists. Patients were divided into two groups (A and B), according to the presence or absence of a horizontal groove at the philtrum area. Mann‐Whitney U test (α = 0.05) was performed to reveal any statistical differences regarding the angle of the maxillary labial concavity and the labial thickness of the alveolar cortical bone between the two groups.

Results

The mean angle of the maxillary concavity in group A was 127.76° while in group B it was 137.12°. The mean thickness of the labial cortical wall of the dental, interdental, and edentulous areas of the 8 anterior teeth for group A were: 0.41 mm, 0.61 mm, and 0.46 mm, respectively; and for group B were: 0.52 mm, 0.72 mm, and 0.56 mm, respectively. The Mann‐Whitney U test (α = 0.05) revealed a statistically significant difference for both the angle (p = 0.008) but not for the thickness of the bone (p = 0.062).

Conclusions

According to the results of this study an increased maxillary labial concavity was associated with reduced thickness of the labial cortical wall and the presence of a horizontal groove at the philtrum area.
Uniqueness of Entamoeba sulfur metabolism: sulfolipid metabolism that plays pleiotropic roles in the parasitic life cycle
Authors: Mi‐ichi Fumika , Miyamoto Tomofumi , Yoshida Hiroki
Published: September 2017

Sulfur metabolism is ubiquitous and terminally synthesizes various biomolecules that are crucial for organisms, such as sulfur‐containing amino acids and co‐factors, sulfolipids and sulfated saccharides. Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite responsible for amoebiasis, possesses the unique sulfur metabolism features of atypical localization and its terminal product being limited to sulfolipids. Here, we present an overall scheme of E. histolytica sulfur metabolism by relating all sulfotransferases and sulfatases to their substrates and products. Furthermore, a novel sulfur metabolite, fatty alcohol disulfates, was identified and shown to play an important role in trophozoite proliferation. Cholesteryl sulfate, another synthesized sulfolipid, was previously demonstrated to play an important role in encystation, a differentiation process from proliferative trophozoite to dormant cyst. Entamoeba survives by alternating between these two distinct forms; therefore, Entamoeba sulfur metabolism contributes to the parasitic life cycle via its terminal products. Interestingly, this unique feature of sulfur metabolism is not conserved in the nonparasitic close relative of Entamoeba, Mastigamoeba, because lateral gene transfer‐mediated acquisition of sulfatases and sulfotransferases, critical enzymes conferring this feature, has only occurred in the Entamoeba lineage. Hence, our findings suggest that sulfolipid metabolism has a causal relationship with parasitism.
Xenotransplantation of human intestine into mouse abdomen or subcutaneous tissue: Novel platforms for the study of the human enteric nervous system
Authors: Nagy N. , Marsiano N. , Bruckner R. S. , Scharl M. , Gutnick M. J. , Yagel S. , Arciero E. , Goldstein A. M. , Shpigel N. Y.
Published: September 2017

Background

Current efforts to develop stem cell therapy as a novel treatment for neurointestinal diseases are limited by the unavailability of a model system to study cell transplantation in the human intestine. We propose that xenograft models support enteric nervous system (ENS) development in the fetal human intestine when transplanted into mice subcutaneously or intra‐abdominally.

Methods

Fetal human small and large intestine were grafted onto the small intestinal mesentery and into the subcutaneous tissue of immunodeficient mice for up to 4 months. Intestinal cytoarchitecture and ENS development were studied using immunohistochemistry.

Key Results

In both abdominal and subcutaneous grafts, the intestine developed normally with formation of mature epithelial and mesenchymal layers. The ENS was patterned in two ganglionated plexuses containing enteric neurons and glia, including cholinergic and nitrergic neuronal subtypes. c‐Kit‐immunoreactive interstitial cells of Cajal were present in the gut wall.

Conclusions & Inferences

Abdominal xenografts represent a novel model that supports the growth and development of fetal human intestine. This in vivo approach will be a useful method to study maturation of the ENS, the pathophysiology of neurointestinal diseases, and the long‐term survival and functional differentiation of neuronal stem cells for the treatment of enteric neuropathies.
Successful Use of Cyclosporin A for Stevens–Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Three Children
Authors: St. John Jessica , Ratushny Vladimir , Liu Kristina J. , Bach Daniel Q. , Badri Omar , Gracey Lia E. , Ho Allen W. , Raff Adam B. , Sugai Daniel Y. , Schalock Peter , Kroshinsky Daniela
Published: September 2017

Background/Objectives

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are medical emergencies. Mainstays of treatment include removal of the offending agent, supportive care, and wound care. The use of immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is controversial. Some case reports and small studies report the successful use of cyclosporin A (CsA) for SJS/TEN in halting disease progression, fostering reepithelialization, and reducing mortality.

Objective

To report on the efficacy of cyclosporine A in the treatment of SJS/TEN in three pediatric patients.

Methods

We describe three pediatric patients seen at a tertiary care hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, diagnosed with SJS/TEN confirmed by skin biopsy who were successfully treated with CsA with improvements seen in time to cessation of disease progression or new lesion formation, reepithelialization, and duration of hospital stay.

Results

The average time cessation of disease progression or new lesion formation after CsA administration was 2.2 days (range 1.5–3 days) and average time to remission or reepithelialization was 13 days (range 10–15 days). The average length of hospital stay was 11.7 days (range 4–19 days).

Conclusions

We describe three pediatric patients treated successfully with CsA and provide evidence for the use of cyclosporine in children with SJS/TEN. These results further support previous observations that CsA use for SJS/TEN produces consistently favorable outcomes. The results in this case series are limited by their observational nature. Additional trials are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CsA use in children.
An open‐label clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of Bend Skincare Anti‐Aging Formula on minimal erythema dose in skin
Authors: Morse Nancy L. , Reid Anna‐Jean , St‐Onge Marc
Published: September 2017

Background/purpose

Sunburn and other health risks associated with excess sun exposure place huge economic burdens on societies, and create discomfort and disease within susceptible individuals. Oral supplements that reduce sunburn may be advantageous. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Bend Skincare Anti‐Aging Formula to ameliorate sunburn induced with a solar simulator.

Methods

Subjects (n = 28) with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I, II, or III took 4 capsules daily of the supplement providing 1400 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 120 mg of gamma‐linolenic acid (GLA), 5 mg of lutein, 2.5 mg of zeaxanthin, and 1000 IU of vitamin D3 for 8 weeks. Skin on each subject's back was exposed to a progressive sequence of timed ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure doses at baseline, and after 4‐ and 8‐week treatment to determine their minimal erythema dose (MED). Results were compared before and after treatment using 3 paired t tests and subsequently 3 linear mixed models.

Results

Treatment significantly improved tolerance to UV exposure as evidenced by increased MED at 4 and 8 weeks compared with baseline (P < .001). This protection increased with prolonged use of Bend Skincare Anti‐Aging Formula as demonstrated by progressively increased MED between baseline and 4 weeks, and again between 4 and 8 weeks (P < .001). Nearly 86% of patients responded to treatment within 4 weeks and 100% of patients responded by the end of the study, resulting in a 39% mean increase in MED at 4 weeks, and an 84% mean increase in MED at 8 weeks compared with baseline. Treatment was well tolerated with no product associated adverse events (AE) and only a few mild and expected side effects.

Conclusion

Bend Skincare Anti‐Aging Formula safely and effectively provides significant skin photoprotection that increases with continued use.
Cinema de Guerrilha da Baixada: un estudio de caso en la periferia urbana del estado de Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Leroux Liliane
Published: September 2017

En el presente texto, vuelvo a algunos aspectos del estudio de caso realizado con el Cinema de Guerrilha da Baixada como parte del mapeo de la producción audiovisual en la Baixada Fluminense - periferia urbana de la provincia de Río de Janeiro - que estoy desarrollando. Asumiendo como principio que el 'cine de guerrilla' no significa sólo hacer cine con pocos recursos ("lo que se tiene"), sino también, y sobre todo, implica en la fabricación de un repertorio de tácticas capaces de potenciar recursos, mi intención es resaltar algunas dinámicas que conforman la "guerrilla" inmanente al grupo estudiado.
Accurate Estimation of Profile Losses and Analysis of Loss Generation Mechanisms in a Turbine Cascade
Authors: Lengani D. , Simoni D. , Ubaldi M. , Zunino P. , Bertini F. , Michelassi V.
Published: September 2017

The paper analyzes losses and the loss generation mechanisms in a low-pressure turbine (LPT) cascade by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) applied to measurements. Total pressure probes and time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) are used to determine the flow field and performance of the blade with steady and unsteady inflow conditions varying the flow incidence. The total pressure loss coefficient is computed by traversing two Kiel probes upstream and downstream of the cascade simultaneously. This procedure allows a very accurate estimation of the total pressure loss coefficient also in the potential flow region affected by incoming wake migration. The TR-PIV investigation concentrates on the aft portion of the suction side boundary layer downstream of peak suction. In this adverse pressure gradient region, the interaction between the wake and the boundary layer is the strongest, and it leads to the largest deviation from a steady loss mechanism. POD applied to this portion of the domain provides a statistical representation of the flow oscillations by splitting the effects induced by the different dynamics. The paper also describes how POD can dissect the loss generation mechanisms by separating the contributions to the Reynolds stress tensor from the different modes. The steady condition loss generation, driven by boundary layer streaks and separation, is augmented in the presence of incoming wakes by the wake–boundary layer interaction and by the wake dilation mechanism. Wake migration losses have been found to be almost insensitive to incidence variation between nominal and negative (up to −9 deg) while at positive incidence, the losses have a steep increase due to the alteration of the wake path induced by the different loading distribution.
Proximity effect correction in electron-beam lithography based on computation of critical-development time with swarm intelligence
Authors: Nien Chun , Chang Li-Cheng , Ye Jia-Hao , Su Vin-Cent , Wu Chao-Hsin , Kuan Chieh-Hsiung
Published: September 2017

Electron-beam lithography (EBL) is an important technique in manufacturing high-resolution nanopatterns for broad applications. However, the proximity effect in EBL can degrade the pattern quality and, thus, impact the performance of the applications greatly. The conventional proximity effect correction (PEC) methods, which employ computationally intensive cell or path removal method for development simulation, are very computational lengthy, especially for complex and large-area patterns. Here, the authors propose a novel short-range PEC method by transforming the evaluation of pattern feasibility into the shortest path problem based on the concept of critical-development time. The authors combine this evaluation algorithm with the swarm intelligence which mimics the natural collective behavior of animals to optimize the design of electron dose distribution in EBL. The PEC algorithm is applied for pattern fabrication for U-shaped split-ring resonator and produces optimized exposure pattern that shows excellent agreement with the targeted objectives. Our work on the PEC strategy reduces the computational cost significantly and is particularly suitable for the design of complex pattern with various constraints.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus brevis Strain 3M004, a Probiotic with Potential Quorum-Sensing Regulation
Authors: Li Qichuang , Pan Yonglong , Ding Linxian , Hong Huachang , Yan Shuxia , Wu Binbin , Liang Yan
Published: September 2017

We present here the draft genome sequence of
Lactobacillus brevis
strain 3M004, a probiotic that has potential for regulating quorum sensing. The strain was obtained from a type of aquafeed. The assembly consists of 2,459,326 bp and contains 33 contigs, with a G+C content of 45.10%.
Complete Genome Sequences of Four Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains, Isolated from Adults with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Mexico City
Authors: Espinosa-Camacho Luis F. , Delgado Gabriela , Soberón-Chávez Gloria , Alcaraz Luis D. , Castañon Jorge , Morales-Espinosa Rosario
Published: September 2017

Four extensively drug-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strains, isolated from patients with pneumonia, were sequenced using PacBio RS-II single-molecule real-time (SMRT) technology. Genome sequence analysis identified great variability among mobile genetic elements, as well as some previously undescribed genomic islands and new variants of class 1 integrons (In1402, In1403, In1404, and In1408).
Draft Genome Sequence of Zobellella denitrificans ZD1 (JCM 13380), a Salt-Tolerant Denitrifying Bacterium Capable of Producing Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Wu Yu-Wei , Shao Yiru , Khanipov Kamil , Golovko Georgiy , Pimenova Maria , Fofanov Yuriy , Chu Kung-Hui
Published: September 2017

Zobellella denitrificans
ZD1, isolated from sediments of an estuarine mangrove ecosystem in Taiwan, exhibits growth-associated production of biopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). This work reports the 4.05-Mbp draft genome sequence of
Z. denitrificans
ZD1, consisting of 217 contigs with a G+C content of 63.8% and 3,672 protein-coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Endophytic Bacterium Variovorax paradoxus KB5, Which Has Antagonistic Activity against a Phytopathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000
Authors: Hong Chi Eun , Jo Sung Hee , Jo Ick-Hyun , Jeong Haeyoung , Park Jeong Mee
Published: September 2017

Variovorax paradoxus
KB5, isolated from the inside of
Arabidopsis thaliana
leaves, showed antibacterial activity against the phytopathogen
Pseudomonas syringae
pv. tomato DC3000. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of
V. paradoxus
KB5, which contains a delftibactin-like nonribosomal peptide biosynthetic gene cluster.
Draft Genome Sequences of 64 Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis Isolates Obtained from Wild Mice
Authors: Guard Jean , Cao Guojie , Kastanis George J. , Davison Sherrill , McClelland Michael , Sanchez Leon Maria , Zheng Jie , Brown Eric , Allard Marc W.
Published: September 2017

Salmonella enterica
serotype Enteritidis is a foodborne pathogen of global concern, because it is frequently isolated from foods and patients. Draft genome sequences are reported here for 64
S
. Enteritidis strains isolated from the intestines and spleens of mice caught live on chicken farms in the U.S. Northeast. The availability of these genomes provides baseline information on the genomic diversity of
S
. Enteritidis during the 1990s, when foodborne outbreaks traced to internal contamination of eggs were prevalent.
Fitness Costs of Plasmids: a Limit to Plasmid Transmission
Authors: San Millan Alvaro , MacLean R. Craig
Published: September 2017

Plasmids mediate the horizontal transmission of genetic information between bacteria, facilitating their adaptation to multiple environmental conditions. An especially important example of the ability of plasmids to catalyze bacterial adaptation and evolution is their instrumental role in the global spread of antibiotic resistance, which constitutes a major threat to public health. Plasmids provide bacteria with new adaptive tools, but they also entail a metabolic burden that, in the absence of selection for plasmid-encoded traits, reduces the competitiveness of the plasmid-carrying clone. Although this fitness reduction can be alleviated over time through compensatory evolution, the initial cost associated with plasmid carriage is the main constraint on the vertical and horizontal replication of these genetic elements. The fitness effects of plasmids therefore have a crucial influence on their ability to associate with new bacterial hosts and consequently on the evolution of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plasmid fitness cost remain poorly understood. Here, we analyze the literature in the field and examine the potential fitness effects produced by plasmids throughout their life cycle in the host bacterium. We also explore the various mechanisms evolved by plasmids and bacteria to minimize the cost entailed by these mobile genetic elements. Finally, we discuss potential future research directions in the field.
The 117 call alert system in Sierra Leone: from rapid Ebola notification to routine death reporting
Authors: Alpren Charles , Jalloh Mohamed F , Kaiser Reinhard , Diop Mariam , Kargbo SAS , Castle Evelyn , Dafae Foday , Hersey Sara , Redd John T , Jambai Amara
Published: September 2017

A toll-free, nationwide phone alert system was established for rapid notification and response during the 2014–2015 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. The system remained in place after the end of the epidemic under a policy of mandatory reporting and Ebola testing for all deaths, and, from June 2016, testing only in case of suspected Ebola. We describe the design, implementation and changes in the system; analyse calling trends during and after the Ebola epidemic; and discuss strengths and limitations of the system and its potential role in efforts to improve death reporting in Sierra Leone. Numbers of calls to report deaths of any cause (death alerts) and persons suspected of having Ebola (live alerts) were analysed by province and district and compared with numbers of Ebola cases reported by the WHO. Nearly 350 000 complete, non-prank calls were made to 117 between September 2014 and December 2016. The maximum number of daily death and live alerts was 9344 (October 2014) and 3031 (December 2014), respectively. Call volumes decreased as Ebola incidence declined and continued to decrease in the post-Ebola period. A national social mobilisation strategy was especially targeted to influential religious leaders, traditional healers and women’s groups. The existing infrastructure and experience with the system offer an opportunity to consider long-term use as a death reporting tool for civil registration and mortality surveillance, including rapid detection and control of public health threats. A routine social mobilisation component should be considered to increase usage.
Cost comparison of orthopaedic fracture pathways using discrete event simulation in a Glasgow hospital
Authors: Anderson Gillian H , Jenkins Paul J , McDonald David A , Van Der Meer Robert , Morton Alec , Nugent Margaret , Rymaszewski Lech A
Published: September 2017

Objective

Healthcare faces the continual challenge of improving outcome while aiming to reduce cost. The aim of this study was to determine the micro cost differences of the Glasgow non-operative trauma virtual pathway in comparison to a traditional pathway.

Design

Discrete event simulation was used to model and analyse cost and resource utilisation with an activity-based costing approach. Data for a full comparison before the process change was unavailable so we used a modelling approach, comparing a virtual fracture clinic (VFC) with a simulated traditional fracture clinic (TFC).

Setting

The orthopaedic unit VFC pathway pioneered at Glasgow Royal Infirmary has attracted significant attention and interest and is the focus of this cost study.

Outcome measures

Our study focused exclusively on patients with non-operative trauma attending emergency department or the minor injuries unit and the subsequent step in the patient pathway. Retrospective studies of patient outcomes as a result of the protocol introductions for specific injuries are presented in association with activity costs from the models.

Results

Patients are satisfied with the new pathway, the information provided and the outcome of their injuries (Evidence Level IV). There was a 65% reduction in the number of first outpatient face-to-face (f2f) attendances in orthopaedics. In the VFC pathway, the resources required per day were significantly lower for all staff groups (p≤0.001). The overall cost per patient of the VFC pathway was £22.84 (95% CI 21.74 to 23.92) per patient compared with £36.81 (95% CI 35.65 to 37.97) for the TFC pathway.

Conclusions

Our results give a clearer picture of the cost comparison of the virtual pathway over a wholly traditional f2f clinic system. The use of simulation-based stochastic costings in healthcare economic analysis has been limited to date, but this study provides evidence for adoption of this method as a basis for its application in other healthcare settings.
SNAP-2 EPICCS: the second Sprint National Anaesthesia Project—EPIdemiology of Critical Care after Surgery: protocol for an international observational cohort study
Authors: Moonesinghe S Ramani , Wong Danny J N , Farmer Laura , Shawyer Richard , Myles Paul S , Harris Steve K
Published: September 2017

Introduction

The admission of high-risk patients to critical care after surgery is a recommended standard of care. Nevertheless, poor compliance against this recommendation has been repeatedly demonstrated in large epidemiological studies. It is unclear whether this is due to reasons of capacity, equipoise, poor quality clinical care or because hospitals are working creatively to create capacity for augmented care on normal surgical wards. The EPIdemiology of Critical Care after Surgery study aims to address these uncertainties.

Methods and analysis

One-week observational cohort study in the UK and Australasia. All patients undergoing inpatient (overnight stay) surgery will be included. All will have prospective data collection on risk factors, surgical procedure and postoperative outcomes including the primary outcome of morbidity (measured using the Postoperative Morbidity Survey on day 7 after surgery) and secondary outcomes including length of stay and mortality. Data will also be collected on critical care referral and admission, surgical cancellations and critical care occupancy. The epidemiology of patient characteristics, processes and outcomes will be described. Inferential techniques (multilevel multivariable regression, propensity score matching and instrumental variable analysis) will be used to evaluate the relationship between critical care admission and postoperative outcome.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received ethical approval from the National Research Ethics Service in the UK and equivalent in Australasia. The collection of patient identifiable data without prior consent has been approved by the Confidentiality Advisory Group (England and Wales) and the Public Privacy and Patient Benefit Panel (Scotland). In these countries, patient identifiable data will be used to link prospectively collected data with national registers of death and inpatient administrative data. The study findings will be disseminated using a multimedia approach with the support of our lay collaborators, to patients, public, policy-makers, clinical and academic audiences.
The Centre for Defence Healthcare Engagement: a focus for Defence Engagement by the Defence Medical Services
Authors: Bricknell Martin , Sullivan R
Published: September 2017

The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review committed the government to an ambitious programme of Defence Engagement. This paper provides a short summary of the medical contribution to UK Defence Engagement. It then describes the intentions behind the creation of the Centre for Defence Health Engagement.
Bladder catheter dislodgement as a complication following placement of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass device
Authors: Pilot Mariette , Broome Cameron , Hammond Gawain , Ward Patricia M , McLauchlan Gerard
Published: September 2017

A seven‐year‐old female, neutered, domestic short‐haired cat was presented with right‐sided hydroureter and hydronephrosis secondary to ureterolithiasis. A subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device was placed via mid‐line coeliotomy using fluoroscopic assistance. On routine examination 25 months after placement (three months after previous evaluation), urine could not be aspirated from the SUB port, and patency of the cystostomy catheter could not be confirmed under ultrasonographic flushing. Radiographs were performed and showed dislodgement and migration of the bladder catheter from the polyethylene terephthalate (‘Dacron’, Norfolk Vet Products, Skokie, Illinois, USA) cuff. No free abdominal fluid was present, and renal parameters and electrolytes were within normal limits. Fluoroscopic evaluation of the SUB device showed the native ureter was patent. Revision surgery was performed without complication. This complication has not been previously reported with the SUB device.
A novel technique to monitor subsurface movements of landslides
Authors: Askarinejad Amin , Springman Sarah M.
Published: September 2017

Slope deformation sensors (SDSs) were developed to monitor profiles of soil deformation at a high frequency during slope-monitoring and landslide-triggering experiments. It was hypothesized that the surface and subsurface movements could be combined to integrate the temporal development of the movements and help monitor the initiation and propagation of the shear bands indirectly, as well as predict the volume of the eventual landslide. Four SDSs were installed in a 38° slope in Northern Switzerland and slope movements due to two artificial rainfall sprinkling experiments in October 2008 and March 2009 were monitored. This paper describes the design, numerical validation, installation details, and performance of the SDSs during the first rainfall event. The data acquired from SDSs in terms of bending strain, deformation profiles, and an indication of the mechanical energy transmitted from the surrounding soil are analysed and compared with the patterns of surface movements of the slope and changes in the horizontal earth pressure. The findings are interpreted based on the applied rainfall, hydrological properties of the slope, bedrock shape, and specifications of the observed failure surface in the subsequent landslide triggering experiment. Details of the data acquired from SDSs during the second experiment in March 2009 are reported and analysed in a forthcoming paper.
Directly Connected Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Wu Qingxiu , Gui Zhanji , Li Shuqing , Ou Jun
Published: September 2017

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have better performance in feature extraction and classification. Most of the applications are based on a traditional structure of CNNs. However, due to the fixed structure, it may not be effective for large dataset which will spend much time for training. So, we use a new algorithm to optimize CNNs, called directly connected convolutional neural networks (DCCNNs). In DCCNNs, the down-sampling layer can directly connect the output layer with three-dimensional matrix operation, without full connection (i.e., matrix vectorization). Thus, DCCNNs have less weights and neurons than CNNs. We conduct the comparison experiments on five image databases: MNIST, COIL-20, AR, Extended Yale B, and ORL. The experiments show that the model has better recognition accuracy and faster convergence than CNNs. Furthermore, two applications (i.e., water quality evaluation and image classification) following the proposed concepts further confirm the generality and capability of DCCNNs.
Environmental Policy and CSR in Petroleum Refining Companies in Greece: Content and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Analysis
Authors: Metaxas Theodore , Tsavdaridou Maria
Published: September 2017

The environmental policy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are two notions of high importance for enterprises and nations. Numerous pages have been written about the environmental policy of companies in their CSR reports. Whether it concerns to raise environmental awareness among their employees or local communities or to give in detail their environmental footprint at the end of the story, it is about giving proofs of their environmental policy. Climate change is among the topics of CSR reports and is under examination in this paper. A case study analysis will be applied in order to present how climate change is interpreted in the CSR reports of Greek companies from the petroleum refining industry.
Intercalation of Europium Inclusion Complex of β-Cyclodextrin into Layered Double Hydroxides Through Layer-By-Layer Assembly and Its Luminescent Properties
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Chen Yi , Li Yanlin , Guan Sumin , Chen Yan , Yang Qian-Qian , Liu Lu , Xue Qing-Chen , Guang Yu-Cui
Published: September 2017

In this work, organic–inorganic hybrid ultrathin transparent films (UTFs), produced by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of the europium inclusion complex of [Formula: see text]-cyclodextrin ([Formula: see text]-CD) and Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide (MgAl–NO3–LDHs) nanosheets, are reported. UV-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy show orderly growth of the europium inclusion complex of [Formula: see text]-CD/layered double hydroxide (EICC/LDH) films with an increasing number of deposition cycles. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy measurements indicate that the films feature periodic layered structures with uniform surface morphology. Moreover, when EICC is assembled with inorganic rigid LDH nanosheets, the lifetimes are prolonged due to the isolation effect, and the UTFs are transparent with high brightness, which indicate that these films could serve as new optical materials.
Technical Report Column
Authors: Kelley Dean
Published: September 2017

Welcome to the Technical Reports Column. If your institution publishes technical reports that you'd like to have included here, please contact me at the email address above.
HALG
Authors: Czumaj Artur , Leonardi Stefano
Published: September 2017

Most of the conferences in theoretical computer science (such as FOCS, ICALP, SODA and STOC) have the following format: several days of talks selected by a program committee, with all these talks, except for a few invited presentations, presenting results that are new and unpublished before. Most of us would agree that if one attended all these conferences, then one would get a very good overview of most of the important results in theoretical computer science. However, once a result has been presented in one of these conferences, then it is hard to see it elsewhere, making it quite challenging for the researchers to follow the developments in the field, unless they go to all the relevant conferences.

The newly established series of Highlights of Algorithms (HALG) conferences is trying to address this challenge by taking a di?erent approach, drawing some inspiration from other communities. HALG is designed to be a forum for presenting the highlights of recent developments in algorithms and for discussing potential further advances in this area. The conference aims to provide a broad picture of the latest research in algorithms through a series of survey and invited talks. It also includes a possibility for all researchers and students to present their recent results via short talks and poster presentations. HALG aims to be a venue one can go to to catch up on the hottest results and topics at the moment, as well as what one missed by not being able to attend all the relevant algorithmic conferences, such as STOC/FOCS/SODA/ICALP/ESA/ITCS, that year. Attending HALG should also constitute an opportunity for networking and meeting leading researchers in algorithms.
A New Terrain Classification Framework Using Proprioceptive Sensors for Mobile Robots
Authors: Zhao Kai , Dong Mingming , Gu Liang
Published: September 2017

Mobile robots that operate in real‐world environments interact with the surroundings to generate complex acoustics and vibration signals, which carry rich information about the terrain. This paper presents a new terrain classification framework that utilizes both acoustics and vibration signals resulting from the robot‐terrain interaction. As an alternative to handcrafted domain‐specific feature extraction, a two‐stage feature selection method combining ReliefF and mRMR algorithms was developed to select optimal feature subsets that carry more discriminative information. As different data sources can provide complementary information, a multiclassifier combination method was proposed by considering a priori knowledge and fusing predictions from five data sources: one acoustic data source and four vibration data sources. In this study, four conceptually different classifiers were employed to perform the classification, each with a different number of optimal features. Signals were collected using a tracked robot moving at three different speeds on six different terrains. The new framework successfully improved classification performance of different classifiers using the newly developed optimal feature subsets. The greater improvement was observed for robot traversing at lower speeds.
Brimonidine Protects Auditory Hair Cells from in vitro-Induced Toxicity of Gentamicin
Authors: Cortada Maurizio , Levano Soledad , Bodmer Daniel
Published: September 2017

Brimonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) agonist, has neuroprotective effects in the visual system and in spiral ganglion neurons. Auditory hair cells (HCs) express all 3 α2-AR subtypes, but their roles in HCs remain unknown. This study investigated the effects of brimonidine on auditory HCs that were also exposed to gentamicin, which is toxic to HCs. Organ of Corti explants were exposed to gentamicin in the presence or absence of brimonidine, and the α2-AR protein expression levels and Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation levels were determined. Brimonidine had a protective effect on auditory HCs against gentamicin-induced toxicity that was blocked by yohimbine. This suggested that the protective effect of brimonidine on HCs was mediated by the α2-AR. None of the treatments altered α2-AR protein expression levels, and brimonidine did not significantly change the activation levels of the Erk1/2 and Akt proteins. These observations indicated that brimonidine, acting directly via α2-AR, protects HCs from gentamicin-induced toxicity. Therefore, brimonidine shows potential for preventing or treating sensorineural hearing loss.
CELF1 Mediates Connexin 43 mRNA Degradation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Chang Kuei-Ting , Cheng Ching-Feng , King Pei-Chih , Liu Shin-Yi , Wang Guey-Shin
Published: September 2017

Rationale:

Downregulation of Cx43 (connexin 43), the major cardiac gap junction protein, is often associated with arrhythmia, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and heart failure. However, the cause of the reduced expression remains elusive. Reinduction of a nuclear RNA-binding protein CELF1 (CUGBP Elav-like family member 1) in the adult heart has been implicated in the cardiac pathogenesis of myotonic dystrophy type 1. However, how elevated CELF1 level leads to cardiac dysfunction, such as conduction defect, DCM, and heart failure, remains unclear.

Objective:

We investigated the mechanism of CELF1-mediated Cx43 mRNA degradation and determined whether elevated CELF1 expression is also a shared feature of the DCM heart.

Methods and Results:

RNA immunoprecipitation revealed the involvement of CELF1-regulated genes, including Cx43, in controlling contractility and conduction. CELF1 mediated Cx43 mRNA degradation by binding the UG-rich element in the 3′ untranslated region of Cx43. Mutation of the nuclear localization signal in CELF1 abolished the ability to downregulate Cx43 mRNA, so nuclear localization was required for its function. We further identified a 3′ to 5′ exoribonuclease, RRP6 (ribosomal RNA processing protein 6), as a CELF1-interacting protein. The interaction of CELF1 and RRP6 was RNA-independent and nucleus specific. With knockdown of endogenous RRP6, CELF1 failed to downregulate Cx43 mRNA, which suggests that RRP6 was required for CELF1-mediated Cx43 mRNA degradation. In addition, increased CELF1 level accompanied upregulated RRP6, and reduced Cx43 level was detected in mouse models with DCM, including myotonic dystrophy type 1 and CELF1 overexpression models and a myocardial infarction model. Importantly, depletion of CELF1 in the infarcted heart preserved Cx43 mRNA level and ameliorated the cardiac phenotypes of the infarcted heart.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest a mechanism for increased CELF1 expression downregulating Cx43 mRNA level and a pathogenic role for elevated CELF1 level in the DCM heart.
Switching between internal and external modes: A multiscale learning principle
Authors: Honey Christopher J. , Newman Ehren L. , Schapiro Anna C.
Published: September 2017

Brains construct internal models that support perception, prediction, and action in the external world. Individual circuits within a brain also learn internal models of the local world of input they receive, in order to facilitate efficient and robust representation. How are these internal models learned? We propose that learning is facilitated by continual switching between internally biased and externally biased modes of processing. We review computational evidence that this mode-switching can produce an error signal to drive learning. We then consider empirical evidence for the instantiation of mode-switching in diverse neural systems, ranging from subsecond fluctuations in the hippocampus to wake-sleep alternations across the whole brain. We hypothesize that these internal/external switching processes, which occur at multiple scales, can drive learning at each scale. This framework predicts that (a) slower mode-switching should be associated with learning of more temporally extended input features and (b) disruption of switching should impair the integration of new information with prior information.
A new record of Xiphinema dentatum Sturhan, 1978 and description of X. paradentatum sp. n. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from Serbia
Authors: Barsi László , Fanelli Elena , De Luca Francesca
Published: September 2017

A population of Xiphinema dentatum, found in a new locality in Serbia, is briefly described and illustrated. Xiphinema paradentatum sp. n. is described and illustrated. It is a parthenogenetic species characterised by its medium to moderately long body (3.71-5.02 mm), open C-shaped when heat-relaxed, lip region frontally almost flattened, laterally rounded and separated from the rest of the body by a weak depression; a moderately long odontostyle (147-166 μm), guide ring located at 137-153 μm from anterior end; two equally developed genital tracts having a pseudo-Z-organ in uterus in the form of several irregular angular sclerotised bodies – apophyses located in the vicinity of the pars dilatata uteri and devoid of spines; tail broadly and symmetrically rounded, and four juvenile developmental stages. Molecular characterisation using the ribosomal ITS and the D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA gene was done and maximum likelihood analysis was used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of X. dentatum and X. paradentatum sp. n. from Serbia with other longidorids.
Description of the first flightless platynine ground beetle preserved in Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: SCHMIDT JOACHIM , GÖPEL TORBEN , WILL KIPLING
Published: September 2017

Species of the megadiverse ground beetle tribe Platynini occur on all continents except Antarctica. It has been long recognized that platynine beetles were preserved in the Eocene Baltic amber. However, thus far only a single Eocene fossil has been described to the species level. In the present paper, a new species of Platynini known only as an amber inclusion fossil is described and imaged using light microscopy and micro X-ray computed tomography. Since this species cannot be assigned to any of the recently described genera, the monotypic genus Praeanchodemus gen. n., with the type species P. punctaticeps sp. n., is erected. There is some evidence from external morphology that Praeanchodemus gen. n. is part of a lineage comprising the recent genera Paranchodemus, Rhadine, and Tanystoma. However, since some synapomorphies were not found, the true relationships of the fossil taxon remain moot.
The type material of Gryllotalpidae Leach, 1815 (Insecta: Orthoptera: Ensifera) deposited in the Orthoptera collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia (ANSP): an updated checklist
Authors: SILVA DANIELA SANTOS MARTINS , PEREIRA MARCELO RIBEIRO , SPERBER CARLOS FRANKL
Published: September 2017

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (ANSP) is one of the most important collections of Orthoptera in the world, housing specimens from several continents. The family Gryllotalpidae comprises about 125 valid species of which types of 10 species belonging to 5 genera are housed in this collection.
Gender segregation, underemployment and subjective well-being in the UK labour market
Authors: Kamerāde Daiga , Richardson Helen
Published: September 2017

This article argues that gender segregation influences patterns of underemployment and the relationships that underemployment has with the subjective well-being of men and women. Previous studies have paid little attention to how gender segregation shapes underemployment, an increasingly prominent feature of the UK and European labour markets since the economic crisis of 2008. Using data from the UK Annual Population Surveys, this article examines time-related underemployment: people working part time because they cannot find a full-time job. The article asks whether there are gender differences in underemployment trends and in the links between underemployment and subjective well-being. The results suggest that the probability of underemployment is growing at a faster rate among women rather than men and that underemployment is most common in the jobs that women are more likely to perform, namely in female-dominated occupations, the public sector and small organizations. Underemployment is least common in male-dominated occupations and industries and in the private sector. Moreover, for employees with longer tenures, underemployment has more negative relationships with the subjective well-being of women than with that of men. These findings imply that gender segregation in labour markets is a crucial factor to consider when researching underemployment and its consequences.
Intergroup Anxiety and Willingness to Accommodate: Exploring the Effects of Accent Stereotyping and Social Attraction
Authors: Montgomery Gretchen , Zhang Yan Bing
Published: September 2017

Guided by communication accommodation theory, the current study examined the effects of accent stereotyping on native English speakers’ ( N = 243) perceptions of and willingness to communicate with the nonnative speaker and willingness to accommodate to Hispanic/Latino Americans in general. Accent stereotyping was manipulated through two experimental conditions: presence or absence of an explicit and negative stereotype in a written paragraph. After reading the paragraph, participants listened to a recording of an English speaker with a moderate, native-Spanish accent. Using PROCESS, results revealed participants in the stereotype condition rated the speaker as less socially attractive than the control condition, indicating accent stereotyping negatively affected perceptions of social attractiveness of the moderately accented speaker. Additionally, results indicated significant indirect effects of negative accent stereotyping on willingness to communicate with the speaker and willingness to accommodate to Hispanic/Latino out-group members sequentially through perceived social attractiveness and communication anxiety.
Feasibility of a home-based exercise intervention with remote guidance for patients with stable grade II and III gliomas: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gehring Karin , Kloek Corelien JJ , Aaronson Neil K , Janssen Kasper W , Jones Lee W , Sitskoorn Margriet M , Stuiver Martijn M
Published: September 2017

Objective:

In this pilot study, we investigated the feasibility of a home-based, remotely guided exercise intervention for patients with gliomas.

Design:

Pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with randomization (2:1) to exercise or control group.

Subjects:

Patients with stable grade II and III gliomas.

Intervention:

The six-month intervention included three home-based exercise sessions per week at 60%–85% of maximum heart rate. Participants wore heart rate monitors connected to an online platform to record activities that were monitored weekly by the physiotherapist.

Main measures:

Accrual, attrition, adherence, safety, satisfaction, patient-reported physical activity, VO2 peak (by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing) and body mass index (BMI) at baseline and at six-month follow-up.

Results:

In all, 34 of 136 eligible patients (25%) were randomized to exercise training ( N = 23) or the control group ( N = 11), of whom 19 and 9, respectively, underwent follow-up. Mean adherence to prescribed sessions was 79%. Patients’ experiences were positive. There were no adverse events. Compared to the control group, the exercise group showed larger improvements in absolute VO2 peak (+158.9 mL/min; 95% CI: −44.8 to 362.5) and BMI (−0.3 kg/m²; 95% CI: −0.9 to 0.2). The median increase in physical activity was 1489 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes higher in the exercise group. The most reported reasons for non-participation were lack of motivation or time.

Conclusion:

This innovative and intensive home-based exercise intervention was feasible in a small subset of patients with stable gliomas who were interested in exercising. The observed effects suggest that the programme may improve cardiorespiratory fitness. These results support the need for large-scale trials of exercise interventions in brain tumour patients.