bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Focusing of x-rays emitted by a pyroelectric x-ray generator for micro x-ray fluorescence
Authors: Wilke Markus , Harnisch Karsten , Knapp Wolfram , Ecke Martin , Halle Thorsten
Published: January 2019

Micro x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μXRF) is a technique for local chemical analyses of materials. There are several advantages in comparison to other similar methods like energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The main advantage is the possible abdication of an evacuated sample chamber, which offers the possibility to analyze wet and oil contaminated specimens as well as specimens with intrinsic pores in addition to conventional samples used in SEM analyses. The subject of this report is the investigation of the pyroelectric effect with regard to its application for the generation of focused x-rays and first steps to a successive usage of the generated radiation for μXRF applications. In order to answer questions concerning the energy and intensity of primary radiation and geometric parameters for a successful focusing, this paper describes several experiments and results against the background of the described aims. Different setups and measurements have been used, optimizing the experimental setups to find the basic parameters to potentially generate focal spots of the primary x-rays. Emission behavior of electrons has been visualized and characterized by using a phosphor screen positioned in front of a pyroelectric crystal. Radiation has been measured and characterized by using an energy dispersive silicon drift x-ray detector. All x-ray experiments were executed in a vacuum test rig. This allowed the optimization of the working pressure of the residual gas surrounding the crystal in an evacuated atmosphere (rarefied air). It has been shown that emitted x-ray energies are strongly influenced by the vacuum pressure. Lithiumniobate and lithiumtantalate of different geometries were used as the pyroelectric material. Different target materials and target angles have been compared to optimize the combination of the constructed x-rays source with an aperture as well as with an x-ray optic to focus the primary x-rays. A glass fiber capillary lens was used as the focusing optic. A first step to a μXRF application is shown.
Combination therapy is a game of strategy
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: January 2019

For combination therapy, knowing the “how” and “when” is just as important as knowing the “what.”
Results from the China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET) in 2017 of the
In Vitro
Activities of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Ceftolozane-Tazobactam against Clinical Isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Yin Dandan , Wu Shi , Yang Yang , Shi Qingyu , Dong Dong , Zhu Demei , Hu Fupin
Published: January 2019

The
in vitro
activities of ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), ceftolozane-tazobactam (C-T), and comparators were determined for 1,774 isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
and 524 isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
collected by 30 medical centers from the China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET) in 2017. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the CLSI broth microdilution method, and
bla
KPC
and
bla
NDM
were detected by PCR for all carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(CRE).
Importance of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Metabolism to the Ability of Herbaspirillum seropedicae To Promote Plant Growth
Authors: Silveira Alves Luis Paulo , Plucani do Amaral Fernanda , Kim Daewon , Todo Bom Maritza , Piñero Gavídia Manuel , Silvano Teixeira Cícero , Holthman Fernanda , de Oliveira Pedrosa Fabio , Maltempi de Souza Emanuel , Chubatsu Leda Satie , Müller-Santos Marcelo , Stacey Gary
Published: January 2019

The application of bacteria as plant growth promoters is a sustainable alternative to mitigate the use of chemical fertilization in agriculture, reducing negative economic and environmental impacts. Several plant growth-promoting bacteria synthesize and accumulate the intracellular polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). However, the role of PHB in plant-bacterium interactions is poorly understood. In this study, applying the C4 model grass
Setaria viridis
and several mutants in the PHB metabolism of the endophyte
Herbaspirillum seropedicae
yielded new findings on the importance of PHB for bacterial colonization of
S. viridis
roots. Taken together, the results show that deletion of genes involved in the synthesis and degradation of PHB reduced the ability of the bacteria to enhance plant growth but with little effect on overall root colonization. The data suggest that PHB metabolism likely plays an important role in supporting specific metabolic routes utilized by the bacteria to stimulate plant growth.
Broadly Cross-Reactive, Nonneutralizing Antibodies against Influenza B Virus Hemagglutinin Demonstrate Effector Function-Dependent Protection against Lethal Viral Challenge in Mice
Authors: Asthagiri Arunkumar Guha , Ioannou Andriani , Wohlbold Teddy John , Meade Philip , Aslam Sadaf , Amanat Fatima , Ayllon Juan , García-Sastre Adolfo , Krammer Florian
Published: January 2019

While broadly protective antibodies against the influenza A virus hemagglutinin have been well studied, very limited information is available for antibodies that broadly recognize influenza B viruses. Similarly, the development of a universal or broadly protective influenza B virus vaccine lags behind the development of such a vaccine for influenza A virus. More information about epitope location and mechanism of action of broadly protective influenza B virus antibodies is required to inform vaccine development. In addition, protective antibodies could be a useful tool to treat or prevent influenza B virus infection in pediatric cohorts or in a therapeutic setting in immunocompromised individuals in conjugation with existing treatment avenues.
USP15 Participates in Hepatitis C Virus Propagation through Regulation of Viral RNA Translation and Lipid Droplet Formation
Authors: Kusakabe Shinji , Suzuki Tatsuya , Sugiyama Yukari , Haga Saori , Horike Kanako , Tokunaga Makoto , Hirano Junki , Zhang He , Chen David Virya , Ishiga Hanako , Komoda Yasumasa , Ono Chikako , Fukuhara Takasuke , Yamamoto Masahiro , Ikawa Masahito , Satoh Takashi , Akira Shizuo , Tanaka Tomohisa , Moriishi Kohji , Fukai Moto , Taketomi Akinobu , Yoshio Sachiyo , Kanto Tatsuya , Suzuki Tetsuro , Okamoto Toru , Matsuura Yoshiharu
Published: January 2019

Although ubiquitination has been shown to play important roles in the HCV life cycle, the roles of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which cleave ubiquitin chains from their substrates, in HCV propagation have not been investigated. Here, we identified USP15 as a DUB regulating HCV propagation. USP15 showed no interaction with viral proteins and no participation in innate immune responses. Deficiency of USP15 in Huh7 cells resulted in suppression of the translation of HCV RNA and reduction in the amounts of lipid droplets, and the addition of fatty acids partially restored the production of infectious HCV particles. These data suggest that USP15 participates in HCV propagation in hepatic cells through the regulation of viral RNA translation and lipid metabolism.
RNA-Binding Motif Protein 24 (RBM24) Is Involved in Pregenomic RNA Packaging by Mediating Interaction between Hepatitis B Virus Polymerase and the Epsilon Element
Authors: Yao Yongxuan , Yang Bo , Chen Yingshan , Wang Hui , Hu Xue , Zhou Yuan , Gao Xiuzhu , Lu Mengji , Niu Junqi , Wen Zhe , Wu Chunchen , Chen Xinwen
Published: January 2019

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a ubiquitous human pathogen, and HBV infection is a major global health burden. Chronic HBV infection is associated with the development of liver diseases, including fulminant hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. A currently approved vaccine can prevent HBV infection, and medications are able to reduce viral loads and prevent liver disease progression. However, current treatments rarely achieve a cure for chronic infection. Thus, it is important to gain insight into the mechanisms of HBV replication. In this study, we found that the host factor RBM24 is involved in pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) packaging and regulates HBV replication. These findings highlight a potential target for antiviral therapeutics of HBV infection.
Two Point Mutations in Old World Hantavirus Glycoproteins Afford the Generation of Highly Infectious Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectors
Authors: Slough Megan M. , Chandran Kartik , Jangra Rohit K.
Published: January 2019

Human hantavirus infections cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Americas and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia. No FDA-approved vaccines and therapeutics exist for these deadly viruses, and their development is limited by the requirement for high biocontainment. In this study, we identified and characterized key amino acid changes in the surface glycoproteins of HFRS-causing Hantaan virus that enhance their incorporation into recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) particles. The replication-competent rVSVs encoding Hantaan virus and Dobrava-Belgrade virus glycoproteins described in this work provide a powerful and facile system to study hantavirus entry under lower biocontainment and may have utility as hantavirus vaccines.
Closed Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli K-12 Group Strain C600
Authors: Allué-Guardia Anna , Nyong Emmanuel C. , Koenig Sara S. K. , Vargas Sean M. , Bono James L. , Eppinger Mark
Published: January 2019

Escherichia coli
strain C600 is a prototypical K-12 derived laboratory strain which has been broadly used for molecular microbiology and bacterial physiology studies since its isolation in 1954. Here, we present the closed genome sequence of
E. coli
strain C600, retrieved from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 23724).
Genome Sequences of Penicillin-Resistant Bacillus anthracis Strains
Authors: Gargis Amy S. , Lascols Christine , McLaughlin Heather P. , Conley Andrew B. , Hoffmaster Alex R. , Sue David
Published: January 2019

Bacillus anthracis
, the etiologic agent of anthrax, is characteristically susceptible to penicillin despite containing two chromosomal β-lactamase genes. Few naturally occurring penicillin-resistant
B. anthracis
isolates have been reported.
Complete Genome Sequences of Four Salmonella enterica Strains (Including Those of Serotypes Montevideo, Mbandaka, and Lubbock) Isolated from Peripheral Lymph Nodes of Healthy Cattle
Authors: Bugarel Marie , Cook Peter W. , den Bakker Henk C. , Harhay Dayna , Nightingale Kendra K. , Loneragan Guy H.
Published: January 2019

Salmonella enterica
serotype Lubbock emerged most likely from a
Salmonella enterica
serotype Mbandaka ancestor that acquired by recombination the
fliC
operon from
Salmonella enterica
serotype Montevideo. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of two
S.
Lubbock, one
S.
Montevideo, and one
S.
Mbandaka strain isolated from bovine lymph nodes.
First Draft Genome Sequence of a
Polymyxa
Genus Member,
Polymyxa betae,
the Protist Vector of Rhizomania
Authors: Decroës Alain , Calusinska Magnalena , Delfosse Philippe , Bragard Claude , Legrève Anne
Published: January 2019

Polymyxa betae
belongs to the
Plasmodiophorida
(Phytomyxea, Rhizaria). Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of a member of the
Polymyxa
genus, which includes two obligate root endoparasite species, vectors of important soilborne plant viruses.
Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals a Complete Genome Sequence of
Cowpea Aphid-Borne Mosaic Virus
from Passion Fruit in Kenya
Authors: Munguti F. , Maina S. , Nyaboga E. N. , Kilalo D. , Kimani E. , Macharia M. , Holton T.
Published: January 2019

Analysis of transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) data revealed a complete
Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus
(CABMV) genome from virus-infected passion fruit in Kenya. We compared it with six complete CABMV genomes, one each from Zimbabwe and Uganda and two each from Brazil and India.
Randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of offering postvisit decision support and assistance in obtaining physician-recommended colorectal cancer screening: the e-assist: Colon Health study—a protocol study
Authors: Lafata Jennifer Elston , Shin Yongyun , Flocke Susan A , Hawley Sarah T , Jones Resa M , Resnicow Ken , Schreiber Michelle , Shires Deirdre A , Tu Shin-Ping
Published: January 2019

Introduction

How to provide practice-integrated decision support to patients remains a challenge. We are testing the effectiveness of a practice-integrated programme targeting patients with a physician recommendation for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.

Methods and analysis

In partnership with healthcare teams, we developed ‘e-assist: Colon Health’, a patient-targeted, postvisit CRC screening decision support programme. The programme is housed within an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded patient portal. It leverages a physician screening recommendation as the cue to action and uses the portal to enrol and intervene with patients. Programme content complements patient–physician discussions by encouraging screening, addressing common questions and assisting with barrier removal. For evaluation, we are using a randomised trial in which patients are randomised to receive e-assist: Colon Health or one of two controls (usual care plus or usual care). Trial participants are average-risk, aged 50–75 years, due for CRC screening and received a physician order for stool testing or colonoscopy. Effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing screening use, as documented in the EHR, between trial enrollees in the e-assist: Colon Health and usual care plus (CRC screening information receipt) groups. Secondary outcomes include patient-perceived benefits of, barriers to and support for CRC screening and patient-reported CRC screening intent. The usual care group will be used to estimate screening use without intervention and programme impact at the population level. Differences in outcomes by study arm will be estimated with hierarchical logit models where patients are nested within physicians.

Ethics and dissemination

All trial aspects have been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the health system in which the trial is being conducted. We will disseminate findings in diverse scientific venues and will target clinical and quality improvement audiences via other venues. The intervention could serve as a model for filling the gap between physician recommendations and patient action.

Trial registration number

NCT02798224; Pre-results.
Deep sedation and anaesthesia in complex gastrointestinal endoscopy: a joint position statement endorsed by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), Joint Advisory Group (JAG) and Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA)
Authors: Sidhu Reena , Turnbull David , Newton Mary , Thomas-Gibson Siwan , Sanders David S , Hebbar Srisha , Haidry Rehan J , Smith Geoff , Webster George
Published: January 2019

In the UK, more than 2.5 million endoscopic procedures are carried out each year. Most are performed under conscious sedation with benzodiazepines and opioids administered by the endoscopist. However, in prolonged and complex procedures, this form of sedation may provide inadequate patient comfort or result in oversedation. As a result, this may have a negative impact on procedural success and patient outcome. In addition, there have been safety concerns on the high doses of benzodiazepines and opioids used particularly in prolonged and complex procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy has evolved rapidly over the past 5 years with advances in technical skills and equipment allowing interventions and procedural capabilities that are moving closer to minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. It is vital that safe and appropriate sedation practices follow the inevitable expansion of this portfolio to accommodate safe and high-quality clinical outcomes. This position statement outlines the current use of sedation in the UK and highlights the role for anaesthetist-led deep sedation practice with a focus on propofol sedation although the choice of sedative or anaesthetic agent is ultimately the choice of the anaesthetist. It outlines the indication for deep sedation and anaesthesia, patient selection and assessment and procedural details. It considers the setup for a deep sedation and anaesthesia list, including the equipment required, the environment, staffing and monitoring requirements. Considerations for different endoscopic procedures in both emergency and elective setting are also detailed. The role for training, audit, compliance and future developments are discussed.
Thermal and mechanical properties of PCM-incorporated normal and lightweight concretes containing silica fume
Authors: Moshtaghi Jafarabad Amin , Madhkhan Morteza , Sharifi Naser P.
Published: January 2019

Improving the thermal performance of concrete, as an important construction and pavement material, by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) has been the topic of much research. Also, various carrier agents such as lightweight aggregate (LWA) have been introduced to incorporate PCMs into concrete. However, incorporation of PCM-impregnated LWA reduces the compressive strength of concrete. In this study, the application of silica fume to improve the compressive strength of PCM-incorporated concrete is investigated. Two types of PCMs, salt hydrate PCM and polyethylene glycol PCM, were incorporated into concrete via scoria LWA, and different physical and mechanical characteristics of the concrete were studied when silica fume was incorporated into the mix. The results show that incorporation of silica fume increases the compressive strength of PCM-incorporated concrete, and at the same time does not diminish the thermal performance of the incorporated PCM. Therefore, incorporation of silica fume was found to be a promising strategy to improve the compressive strength of PCM-incorporated concrete.
A new approach to the opening of the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the origin of the Hellenic Subduction Zone. Part 1: The eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Le Pichon Xavier , Şengör A.M. Celâl , İmren Caner
Published: January 2019

We identify long transform faults that frame the eastern Mediterranean Sea and that were active during Jurassic and probably the Early Cretaceous, during the opening of the central Atlantic Ocean. We show that the African margin of the eastern Mediterranean Sea is an 1800 km long transform fault that absorbed the Africa/Eurasia Jurassic left-lateral motion during the opening of the central Atlantic. We call this transform fault the Eastern Mediterranean South Transform fault (EMST). We identify two other transform faults that were active simultaneously and framed the eastern Mediterranean Sea during its formation. These are the Apulia Transform fault (AT) and the Eastern Mediterranean North Transform fault (EMNT). The AT, three hundred km north of the EMST, followed the southern boundary of the Apulia block. Still 300 km farther north, the EMNT formed the northern boundary of this eastern Mediterranean shear zone. This last fault has been destroyed over a large portion by the Hellenic subduction. We relate these transform faults to the kinematics of the Jurassic Africa/Eurasia motion. We conclude that the eastern Mediterranean Sea is a long pull-apart created by left-lateral shearing of the Adria block as it was structurally linked to Africa.
Comparative effects of nitric oxide dependent and independent vasodilation on impaired hindlimb revascularization in eNOS−/− mice
Authors: Martínez-Ruiz Manuel , Vargas-Robles Hilda , Rios Amelia , Sánchez Daniel , Escalante Bruno
Published: January 2019

Ischemia due to vascular occlusion induces vasodilation as an initial response, followed by arteriogenesis or angiogenesis. Vasodilation through nitric oxide (NO) independent and dependent mechanisms may be sufficient to restore the altered neovascularization in pathological situations where the NO is altered. Using a posterior limb claudication model to evaluate ischemia-induced revascularization in eNOS−/− mice, we compared the effects of sodium nitrite, a NO-dependent vasodilator, and prazocin, an alpha-adrenergic blocker and NO-independent vasodilator, on hindlimb revascularization. We evaluated the blood flow of the hindlimbs, NO and nitrites metabolites, the expression of tissue endothelial cell markers and proangiogenic factors, as well as the gait locomotion. Our results suggest that the use of a peripheral vasodilator can substitute the initial absence of NO as an endogenous vasodilator. However, final resolution of the ischemic process requires a NO-mediated pathway, which through changes in vascular hemodynamics, promotes the generation of angiogenic messengers facilitating the functional recovery of the damaged limb.
Bufalin Induces Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells through Mitochondrial ROS and TRAIL Pathways
Authors: Su En-Yun , Chu Yung-Lin , Chueh Fu-Shin , Ma Yi-Shih , Peng Shu-Fen , Huang Wen-Wen , Liao Ching-Lung , Huang An-Cheng , Chung Jing-Gung
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bufalin on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma NPC-TW 076 cells in vitro. Bufalin is a cardiotonic steroid and a key active ingredient of the Chinese medicine ChanSu. The extracts of Chansu are used for various cancer treatments in China. In the present study, bufalin induced cell morphological changes, decreased total cell viability and induced G2/M phase arrest of cell cycle in NPC-TW 076 cells. Results also indicated that bufalin induced chromatin condensation (cell apoptosis) and DNA damage by DAPI staining and comet assay, respectively. The induced apoptotic cell death was further confirmed by annexin-V/PI staining assay. In addition, bufalin also increased ROS and Ca[Formula: see text] production and decreased the levels of [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the alterations of ROS, ER stress and apoptosis associated protein expressions were investigated by Western blotting. Results demonstrated that bufalin increased the expressions of ROS associated proteins, including SOD (Cu/Zn), SOD2 (Mn) and GST but decreased that of catalase. Bufalin increased ER stress associated proteins (GRP78, IRE-1[Formula: see text], IRE-1[Formula: see text], caspase-4, ATF-6[Formula: see text], Calpain 1, and GADD153). Bufalin increased the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, and apoptotic associated proteins (cytochrome c, caspase-3, -8 and -9, AIF and Endo G) but reduced anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in NPC-TW 076 cells. Furthermore, bufalin elevated the expressions of TRAIL-pathway associated proteins (TRAIL, DR4, DR5, and FADD). Based on these findings, we suggest bufalin induced apoptotic cell death via caspase-dependent, mitochondria-dependent and TRAIL pathways in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma NPC-TW 076 cells.
Analyzing Devaney Chaos of a Sine–Cosine Compound Function System
Authors: Zhu Hegui , Qi Wentao , Ge Jiangxia , Liu Yuelin
Published: January 2019

The one-dimensional Sine map and Chebyshev map are classical chaotic maps, which have clear chaotic characteristics. In this paper, we establish a chaotic framework based on a Sine–Cosine compound function system by analyzing the existing one-dimensional Sine map and Chebyshev map. The sensitive dependence on initial conditions, topological transitivity and periodic-point density of this chaotic framework is proved, showing that the chaotic framework satisfies Devaney’s chaos definition. In order to illustrate the chaotic behavior of the chaotic framework, we propose three examples, called Cosine–Polynomial (C–P) map, Sine–Tangent (S–T) map and Sine–Exponent (S–E) map, respectively. Then, we evaluate the chaotic behavior with Sine map and Chebyshev map by analyzing bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents, correlation dimensions, Kolmogorov entropy and [Formula: see text] complexity. Experimental results show that the chaotic framework has better unpredictability and more complex chaotic behaviors than the classical Sine map and Chebyshev map. The results also verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis of the proposed chaotic framework.
Hopf Bifurcation of a Delayed Predator–Prey Model with Nonconstant Death Rate and Constant-Rate Prey Harvesting
Authors: Zhang Fengrong , Zhang Xinhong , Li Yan , Li Changpin
Published: January 2019

This paper is concerned with a delayed predator–prey model with nonconstant death rate and constant-rate prey harvesting. We mainly study the impact of the time delay on the stability of positive constant solution of delayed differential equations and positive constant equilibrium of delayed diffusive differential equations, respectively. By choosing time delay [Formula: see text] as a bifurcation parameter, we show that Hopf bifurcation can occur as the time delay passes some critical values. In addition, the direction of Hopf bifurcation and the stability of bifurcating periodic solutions are determined by using the normal form theory and center manifold theorem. Finally, some numerical simulations are carried out to depict our theoretical results.
Alternative Methods to Estimate Implied Variance: Review and Comparison
Authors: Chen Yibing , Lee Cheng-Few , Lee John , Chang Jow-Ran
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we first review several alternative methods to estimate implied variance. Then we show how the MATLAB computer program can be used to estimate implied variance based upon the Black–Scholes model. In addition, we also discuss how the approximation method derived by Ang et al. (2013) can be used to estimate implied variance. Real-world data from US individual stock options are used to compare the estimation results using three typical alternative methods: regression method proposed by Lai et al., MATLAB computer program approach and approximation method derived by Ang et al. Also, this paper presents the empirical results of China ETF 50 options which were new in the financial markets.
A note on graph and its complement with specified properties: Radius, diameter, center, and periphery
Authors: Chellaram Malaravan A. , Wilson Baskar A.
Published: January 2019

The aim is to provide a necessary and sufficient condition under which both a graph and its complement have (a) identical radius, (b) identical diameter, (c) identical center, and (d) identical periphery.
Inversion of the north Iberian hyperextended margin: the role of exhumed mantle indentation during continental collision
Authors: García-Senz Jesús , Pedrera Antonio , Ayala Conxi , Ruiz-Constán Ana , Robador Alejandro , Rodríguez-Fernández Luis Roberto
Published: January 2019

Critical gravity and magnetic data suggest the presence of a continuous zigzag exhumed mantle body inside the attenuated crust of the north Iberia continental margin. We propose that this body greatly conditioned the structural domains of the Cantabrian–Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt during their evolution from hyperextension in Early Cretaceous times to shortening and inversion during the Cenozoic. This may be seen as a new line for cross-section construction and balancing, because previous cross-sections do not incorporate comparable volumes of exhumed mantle. Five structural cross-sections, constrained by the results of 3D gravity inversion, feed our discussion of the complexities of the doubly vergent Pyrenean orogen in view of the inversion of a precursor hyperextended rifted margin. In all sections, crustal rocks underthrust the lithospheric mantle in the hyperextended region, supporting that the near-surface exhumed mantle lithosphere acts as a more rigid buttress, allowing weaker continental material to be expelled outwards and upwards by thrusting during the Alpine collision; thus giving rise to two uplifted crustal triangular zones at the boundaries with the exhumed mantle. Contractional slip is localized in lithospheric-scale thrusts, which in turn reactivate parts of the extensional system. The NE–SW transfer zones that offset the rift therefore behave as compartmental faults during the orogenic phase. The amount of shortening increases from 34 km in the Cantabrian Cordillera, where the Basque–Cantabrian Basin partially preserves its original extensional geometry, to 135 km in the nappe stack of the central Pyrenees.
CloudNavi
Authors: Teng Xiaoqiang , Guo Deke , Guo Yulan , Zhou Xiaolei , Liu Zhong
Published: January 2019

The rapid development of mobile computing has prompted indoor navigation to be one of the most attractive and promising applications. Conventional designs of indoor navigation systems depend on either infrastructures or indoor floor maps. This article presents CloudNavi, a ubiquitous indoor navigation solution, which relies on the point clouds acquired by the 3D camera embedded in a mobile device. Particularly, CloudNavi first efficiently infers the walking trace of each user from captured point clouds and inertial data. Many shared walking traces and associated point clouds are combined to generate the point cloud traces, which are then used to generate a 3D path-map. Accordingly, CloudNavi can accurately estimate the location of a user by fusing point clouds and inertial data using a particle filter algorithm and then guiding the user to its destination from its current location. Extensive experiments are conducted on office building and shopping mall datasets. Experimental results indicate that CloudNavi exhibits outstanding navigation performance in both office buildings and shopping malls and obtains around 34% improvement compared with the state-of-the-art method.
FPGA-based Acceleration of FT Convolution for Pulsar Search Using OpenCL
Authors: Wang Haomiao , Thiagaraj Prabu , Sinnen Oliver
Published: January 2019

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project will be the world’s largest radio telescope array. With its large number of antennas, the number of signals that need to be processed is dramatic. One important element of the SKA’s Central Signal Processor package is pulsar search. This article focuses on the FPGA-based acceleration of the Frequency-Domain Acceleration Search module, which is a part of SKA pulsar search engine. In this module, the frequency-domain input signals have to be processed by 85 Finite Impulse response (FIR) filters within a short period of limitation and for thousands of input arrays. Because of the large scale of the input length and FIR filter size, even high-end FPGA devices cannot parallelise the task completely. We start by investigating both time-domain FIR filter (TDFIR) and frequency-domain FIR filter (FDFIR) to tackle this task. We applied the overlap-add algorithm to split the coefficient array of TDFIR and the overlap-save algorithm to split the input signals of FDFIR. To achieve fast prototyping design, we employed OpenCL, which is a high-level FPGA development technique. The performance and power consumption are evaluated using multiple FPGA devices simultaneously and compared with GPU results, which is achieved by porting FPGA-based OpenCL kernels. The experimental evaluation shows that the FDFIR solution is very competitive in terms of performance, with a clear energy consumption advantage over the GPU solution.
Assessing the Impact of the Distributed Software Development Course on the Careers of Young Software Engineers
Authors: Bosnić Ivana , Čavrak Igor , Žagar Mario
Published: January 2019

Various software engineering (SE) curricula in higher education have started including courses on global software engineering (GSE), carried out as internationally distributed project-based courses. These courses, known for their closeness to “real-world” work experience, emphasize the importance of involving industry partners as customers and focus on soft skills essential for employment, an aspect often neglected in engineering education.

However, not many such courses are long-lived or consistent in form throughout the years, making their impact and relevance hard to assess. The Distributed Software Development course (DSD), currently run among three universities in Croatia, Italy, and Sweden, has now been carried out for 15 years consecutively, providing a rich source of in-course and post-graduation data. To evaluate the students’ experiences of the course after they graduate and start working, a study has been carried out among former DSD students from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Its goal is to understand how useful this course was in students’ early careers, both in first and current employment, as well as related factors at the workplace (magnitude of distributed collaboration, company size).

The study results show the relevance of such distributed course experiences for future employment, as well as the importance of building upon soft skills as part of the software engineering curricula. Higher education institutions are invited to consider including such courses in the software engineering curriculum, for the benefit of their students and, indirectly, students’ future employers.
GARDENIA
Authors: Xu Zhen , Chen Xuhao , Shen Jie , Zhang Yang , Chen Cheng , Yang Canqun
Published: January 2019

This article presents the Graph Algorithm Repository for Designing Next-generation Accelerators (GARDENIA), a benchmark suite for studying irregular graph algorithms on massively parallel accelerators. Applications with limited control and data irregularity are the main focus of existing generic benchmarks for accelerators, while available graph processing benchmarks do not apply state-of-the-art algorithms and/or optimization techniques. GARDENIA includes emerging graph processing workloads from graph analytics, sparse linear algebra, and machine-learning domains, which mimic massively multithreaded commercial programs running on modern large-scale datacenters. Our characterization shows that GARDENIA exhibits irregular microarchitectural behavior, which is quite different from structured workloads and straightforward-implemented graph benchmarks.
Neural Network Classifiers Using a Hardware-Based Approximate Activation Function with a Hybrid Stochastic Multiplier
Authors: Li Bingzhe , Qin Yaobin , Yuan Bo , Lilja David J.
Published: January 2019

Neural networks are becoming prevalent in many areas, such as pattern recognition and medical diagnosis. Stochastic computing is one potential solution for neural networks implemented in low-power back-end devices such as solar-powered devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In this article, we investigate a new architecture of stochastic neural networks with a hardware-oriented approximate activation function. The newly proposed approximate activation function can be hidden in the proposed architecture and thus reduce the whole hardware cost. Additionally, to further reduce the hardware cost of the stochastic implementation, a new hybrid stochastic multiplier is proposed. It contains OR gates and a binary parallel counter, which aims to reduce the number of inputs of the binary parallel counter. The experimental results indicate the newly proposed approximate architecture without hybrid stochastic multipliers achieves more than 25%, 60%, and 3x reduction compared to previous stochastic neural networks, and more than 30x, 30x, and 52% reduction compared to conventional binary neural networks, in terms of area, power, and energy, respectively, while maintaining the similar error rates compared to the conventional neural networks. Furthermore, the stochastic implementation with hybrid stochastic multipliers further reduces area about 18% to 80%, power from 15% to 113.1%, and energy about 15% to 131%, respectively.
Can Android Run on Time? Extending and Measuring the Android Platform's Timeliness
Authors: Yan Yin , Gokul Girish , Dantu Karthik , Ko Steven Y. , Ziarek Lukasz , Vitek Jan
Published: January 2019

Time predictability is difficult to achieve in the complex, layered execution environments that are common in modern embedded devices such as smartphones. We explore adopting the Android programming model for a range of embedded applications that extends beyond mobile devices, under the constraint that changes to widely used libraries should be minimized. The challenges we explore include the interplay between real-time activities and the rest of the system, how to express the timeliness requirements of components, and how well those requirements can be met on stock embedded platforms. We detail the design and implementation of our modifications to the Android framework along with a real-time VM and OS, and we provide experimental data validating feasibility over five applications.
Long Short-Term Memory Network Design for Analog Computing
Authors: Zhao Zhou , Srivastava Ashok , Peng Lu , Chen Qing
Published: January 2019

We present an analog-integrated circuit implementation of long short-term memory network, which is compatible with digital CMOS technology. We have used multiple-input floating gate MOSFETs as both the front-end to obtain converted analog signals and the differential pairs in proposed analog multipliers. Analog crossbar is built by the analog multiplier processing matrix and bitwise multiplications. We have shown that using current signals as internal transmission signals can largely reduce computation delay, compared to the digital implementation. We also have introduced analog blocks to work as activation functions for the algorithm. In the back-end of our design, we have used current comparators to achieve the output to be readable to external digital systems. We have designed the LSTM network with the matrix size of 16 × 16 in TSMC 180nm CMOS technology. The post-layout simulations show that the latency of one computing cycle is 1.19ns without memory, and power dissipation of the single analog LSTM computing core with 2 kilobytes SRAM at 200MHz is 460.3mW. The overhead of power dissipation due to SRAM access is 8.3%, in which the computing of each LSTM layer requires one computing cycle. The energy efficiency is 0.95TOP/s/W.
Interleukin-4 supplementation improves the pathophysiology of hypertension in response to placental ischemia in RUPP rats
Authors: Cottrell Jesse N. , Amaral Lorena M. , Harmon Ashlyn , Cornelius Denise C. , Cunningham Mark W. , Vaka Venkata Ramana , Ibrahim Tarek , Herse Florian , Wallukat Gerd , Dechend Ralf , LaMarca Babbette
Published: January 2019

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by chronic inflammation and elevated agonistic autoantibodies to the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1-AA), endothelin-1, and uterine artery resistance index (UARI) during pregnancy. Previous studies report an imbalance among immune cells, with T-helper type 2 (Th2) cells being decreased during PE. We hypothesized that interleukin-4 (IL-4) would increase Th2 cells and improve the pathophysiology in response to placental ischemia during pregnancy. IL-4 (600 ng/day) was administered via osmotic minipump on gestational day 14 to normal pregnant (NP) and reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rats. Carotid catheters were inserted, and Doppler ultrasound was performed on gestational day 18. Blood pressure (mean arterial pressure), TNF-α, IL-6, AT1-AA, natural killer cells, Th2 cells, and B cells were measured on gestational day 19. Mean arterial pressure was 97 ± 2 mmHg in NP ( n = 9), 101 ± 3 mmHg in IL-4-treated NP ( n = 14), and 137 ± 4 mmHg in RUPP ( n = 8) rats and improved to 108 ± 3 mmHg in IL-4-treated RUPP rats ( n = 17) ( P < 0.05). UARI was 0.5 ± 0.03 in NP and 0.8 in RUPP rats and normalized to 0.5 in IL-4-treated RUPP rats ( P < 0.05). Plasma nitrate-nitrite levels increased in IL-4-treated RUPP rats, while placental preproendothelin-1 expression, plasma TNF-α and IL-6, and AT1-AA decreased in IL-4-treated RUPP rats compared with untreated RUPP rats ( P < 0.05). Circulating B cells and placental cytolytic natural killer cells decreased after IL-4 administration, while Th2 cells increased in IL-4-treated RUPP compared with untreated RUPP rats. This study illustrates that IL-4 decreased inflammation and improved Th2 numbers in RUPP rats and, ultimately, improved hypertension in response to placental ischemia during pregnancy.
AT1 receptors in the subfornical organ modulate arterial pressure and the baroreflex in two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats
Authors: Rossi Noreen F. , Zenner Zachary , Rishi Arun K. , Levi Edi , Maliszewska-Scislo Maria
Published: January 2019

The subfornical organ (SFO), a forebrain circumventricular organ that lies outside the blood-brain barrier, has been implicated in arterial pressure and baroreflex responses to angiotensin II (ANG II). We tested whether pharmacological inhibition or selective silencing of SFO ANG II type 1 receptors (AT1R) of two-kidney, one-clip rats with elevated plasma ANG II decreases resting arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and/or modulates arterial baroreflex responses of heart rate (HR) and RSNA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent renal artery clipping [2-kidney, 1-clip (2K,1C)] or sham clipping (sham). After 6 wk, conscious rats instrumented with vascular catheters, renal nerve electrodes, and a cannula directed to the SFO were studied. In another set of experiments, rats were instrumented with hemodynamic and nerve radio transmitters and injected with scrambled RNA or silencing RNA targeted against AT1R. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly higher in 2K,1C rats. Acute SFO injection with the AT1R inhibitor losartan did not change MAP in sham or 2K,1C rats. Baroreflex curves of HR and RSNA were shifted rightward in 2K,1C rats. Losartan exerted no effect. SFO AT1R knockdown did not influence MAP in sham rats but decreased MAP in 2K,1C rats, despite no change in plasma ANG II or resting RSNA. AT1R knockdown prevented the reduction in maximum gain and slope of baroreflex responses of HR and RSNA; the reduced RSNA response to baroreceptor unloading was partially restored in 2K,1C rats. These findings show that AT1R activation within the SFO contributes to hypertension and baroreflex dysfunction in 2K,1C rats and highlight the temporal requirement for reversal of these effects.
Mechanisms of in utero cortisol effects on the newborn heart revealed by transcriptomic modeling
Authors: Antolic Andrew , Li Mengchen , Richards Elaine M. , Curtis Celia W. , Wood Charles E. , Keller-Wood Maureen
Published: January 2019

We have identified effects of elevated maternal cortisol (induced by maternal infusion 1 mg·kg−1·day−1) on fetal cardiac maturation and function using an ovine model. Whereas short-term exposure (115–130-day gestation) increased myocyte proliferation and Purkinje fiber apoptosis, infusions until birth caused bradycardia with increased incidence of arrhythmias at birth and increased perinatal death, despite normal fetal cortisol concentrations from 130 days to birth. Statistical modeling of the transcriptomic changes in hearts at 130 and 140 days suggested that maternal cortisol excess disrupts cardiac metabolism. In the current study, we modeled pathways in the left ventricle (LV) and interventricular septum (IVS) of newborn lambs after maternal cortisol infusion from 115 days to birth. In both LV and IVS the transcriptomic model indicated over-representation of cell cycle genes and suggested disruption of cell cycle progression. Pathways in the LV involved in cardiac architecture, including SMAD and bone morphogenetic protein ( BMP) were altered, and collagen deposition was increased. Pathways in IVS related to metabolism, calcium signaling, and the actin cytoskeleton were altered. Comparison of the effects of maternal cortisol excess to the effects of normal maturation from day 140 to birth revealed that only 20% of the genes changed in the LV were consistent with normal maturation, indicating that chronic elevation of maternal cortisol alters normal maturation of the fetal myocardium. These effects of maternal cortisol on the cardiac transcriptome, which may be secondary to metabolic effects, are consistent with cardiac remodeling and likely contribute to the adverse impact of maternal stress on perinatal cardiac function.
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli-induced fibrosis, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms, is associated with type 2 cytokine signaling
Authors: Bell-Cohn Ashlee , Mazur Daniel J. , Hall Christel , Schaeffer Anthony J. , Thumbikat Praveen
Published: January 2019

Chronic inflammation and prostate fibrosis have been identified as contributors to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) pathophysiology in humans. It has been shown that transurethral infection of an Escherichia coli strain named CP1, which was isolated from a patient with chronic prostatitis, can lead to the develop of differential chronic inflammation and pain in certain mouse strains. Therefore, we hypothesized that differential inflammation would influence fibrotic response in the prostate. This study showed that while prostatic infection by CP1 causes the development of chronic tactile allodynia in NOD/ShiltJ (NOD) but not C57BL/6 (B6) mice, both mice developed evidence of prostate inflammation, prostate fibrosis, and urinary dysfunction. Fibrosis was confirmed by the upregulation of fibrosis-associated messenger RNAs (mRNAs), α-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry, and collagen staining with picrosirius red. These findings were mainly focused on the dorsolateral lobes of the prostate. Both mouse strains also developed smaller, more frequent voiding patterns postinfection, examined via cystometry. B6 mice responded to CP1 infection with type 2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13), while NOD mice did not, which may explain the differing tactile allodynia responses and level of collagen deposition. When mice lacking signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), a transcription factor known to be important for the production and signaling of IL-4 and IL-13, were infected with CP1, fibrosis was attenuated. This study provides a potential model for studying the development of infection-induced prostatic fibrosis and LUTS. This study also demonstrates that CP1-induced prostate fibrosis has a STAT6-dependent mechanism in B6 mice.
Identification of NFAT5 as a transcriptional regulator of the EDN1 gene in collecting duct
Authors: Lakshmipathi Jayalakshmi , Wheatley Will , Kumar Anil , Mercenne Gaelle , Rodan Aylin R. , Kohan Donald E.
Published: January 2019

The inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) produces very high levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) that acts as an autocrine inhibitor of IMCD Na+ and water reabsorption. Recent studies suggest that IMCD ET-1 production is enhanced by extracellular hypertonicity as can occur during high salt intake. Although NFAT5 has been implicated in the IMCD ET-1 hypertonicity response, no studies in any cell type have identified NFAT5 as a transcriptional regulator of the EDN1 gene; the current study examined this using a mouse IMCD cell line (IMCD3). Media hypertonicity increased IMCD3 ET-1 mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner associated with increased NFAT5 nuclear localization. Knockdown of NFAT5 using small-interfering RNA or by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting of exon 4 of the NFAT5 gene reduced the ET-1 hypertonicity response. Chromatin immunoprecipitation using an NFAT5 antibody pulled down ET-1 promoter regions containing NFAT5 consensus binding sequences. Transfected ET-1 promoter reporter constructs revealed maximal hypertonicity-induced reporter activity in the proximal 1-kb region; mutation of the two NFAT5 consensus-binding sites in this region abolished hypertonicity-induced reporter activity. The 1-kb ET-1 promoter-reporter construct lost hypertonicity responsiveness when transfected in CRISPR/Cas9-induced NFAT5-deficient cells. In summary, these findings represent the first description that NFAT5 is a direct transcriptional regulator of the EDN1 gene in IMCD cells and point to a potentially important mechanism by which body Na+ homeostasis is maintained.