bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurement of autoproduct fields in a Lloyd's mirror environment
Authors: Lipa Jessica E. , Worthmann Brian M. , Dowling David R.
Published: April 2018

Conventional frequency-domain acoustic-field analysis techniques are typically limited to the bandwidth of the field under study. However, this limitation may be too restrictive, as prior work suggests that field analyses may be shifted to lower or higher frequencies that are outside the field's original bandwidth [Worthmann and Dowling (2017). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 141(6), 4579–4590]. This possibility exists because below- and above-band acoustic fields can be mimicked by the frequency-difference and frequency-sum autoproducts, which are quadratic products of frequency-domain complex field amplitudes at a pair of in-band frequencies. For a point source in a homogeneous acoustic half-space with a flat, pressure-release surface (a Lloyd's mirror environment), the prior work predicted high correlations between the autoproducts and genuine out-of-band fields at locations away from the source and the surface. Here, measurements collected in a laboratory water tank validate predictions from the prior theory using 40- to 110-kHz acoustic pulses measured at ranges between 175 and 475 mm, and depths to 400 mm. Autoproduct fields are computed, and cross-correlations between measured autoproduct fields and genuine out-of-band acoustic fields are above 90% for difference frequencies between 0 and 60 kHz, and for sum frequencies between 110 and 190 kHz.
Soft erythrocyte-based bacterial microswimmers for cargo delivery
Authors: Alapan Yunus , Yasa Oncay , Schauer Oliver , Giltinan Joshua , Tabak Ahmet F. , Sourjik Victor , Sitti Metin
Published: April 2018

Erythrocyte-based microswimmers offer superior efficiency, stability, and deformability for active and guided cargo delivery.
Targeting protein biotinylation enhances tuberculosis chemotherapy
Authors: Tiwari Divya , Park Sae Woong , Essawy Maram M. , Dawadi Surendra , Mason Alan , Nandakumar Madhumitha , Zimmerman Matthew , Mina Marizel , Ho Hsin Pin , Engelhart Curtis A. , Ioerger Thomas , Sacchettini James C. , Rhee Kyu , Ehrt Sabine , Aldrich Courtney C. , Dartois Véronique , Schnappinger Dirk
Published: April 2018

Inhibitors of biotin protein ligase and protein biotinylation in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
act synergistically with the drug rifampicin, potentially shortening tuberculosis treatment.
A Population Pharmacokinetic Model for a Solid Oral Tablet Formulation of Posaconazole
Authors: van Iersel Marlou L. P. S. , Rossenu Stefaan , de Greef Rik , Waskin Hetty
Published: April 2018

A delayed-release solid tablet formulation that releases posaconazole in the small intestine was developed to maximize systemic absorption. This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics of the posaconazole solid tablet formulation in adult subjects and to investigate the potential impact of demographic and clinical factors on posaconazole exposure through a population pharmacokinetic approach. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was performed using data from several studies conducted in healthy volunteers and patients. The influence of demographic and clinical factors on pharmacokinetic parameters was evaluated using a stepwise forward inclusion/backward exclusion procedure. The final pharmacokinetic model was used to simulate posaconazole exposure in patients at high risk for invasive fungal diseases treated with the proposed posaconazole dose of 300 mg twice daily on day 1, followed by 300 mg daily for 27 days. A one-compartment pharmacokinetic model with sequential zero-order and first-order absorption and a first-order disposition from the central compartment adequately described the pharmacokinetic profile of the posaconazole solid tablet formulation. Significant covariates included disease state (acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplasia versus allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation), body weight, and formulation on bioavailability; food status on first-order absorption rate; and dosing regimen (a single dose versus multiple doses) on clearance. Except for body weight, the impact of these covariates on posaconazole exposure was considered clinically irrelevant. This population pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed that the proposed dose of the posaconazole solid tablet formulation provides adequate target therapeutic exposure (>0.5 mg/liter) to a broad range of patients at high risk for invasive fungal disease.
Draft Genome Sequence of Paucibacter aquatile CR182
T
, a Strain with Antimicrobial Activity Isolated from Freshwater of Nakdong River in South Korea
Authors: Chung Eu Jin , Choi Gang-Guk , Nam Young-Ho , Choi Ahyoung
Published: April 2018

This report details a draft genome sequence of
Paucibacter aquatile
CR182
T
, isolated from river water, which contains 5,523,543 bp, has a G+C content of 66.3%, and harbors 4,544 protein-coding genes in 4 contigs. These genome data provide insights into the genetic basis of this strain’s antibacterial activity and adaptive mechanisms.
Draft Genome Sequence of Plant Growth-Promoting Burkholderia sp. Strain BE12, Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Maize
Authors: Esmaeel Qassim , Sanchez Lisa , Robineau Mathilde , Dorey Stephan , Clément Christophe , Jacquard Cédric , Barka Essaid Ait
Published: April 2018

Burkholderia
sp. strain BE12, isolated from a French agricultural soil, possesses antifungal activity against a set of phytopathogenic fungi and has friendly interactions with grapevine. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of BE12, along with genes related to plant growth-promoting traits and siderophores that this strain contains, supporting its plant growth and antifungal activities.
Complete Genome Sequence of a VIM-1-Producing Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Infantis Isolate Derived from Minced Pork Meat
Authors: Borowiak Maria , Fischer Jennie , Baumann Beatrice , Hammerl Jens A. , Szabo Istvan , Malorny Burkhard
Published: April 2018

Carbapenems are considered last-resort antibiotics used to treat human infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. In 2011, VIM-1 carbapenemase-producing
Salmonella enterica
subsp.
enterica
serovar Infantis strains were isolated from livestock for the first time in Germany. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of the first German
bla
VIM-1
-harboring
Salmonella
Infantis isolate (15-SA01028) originating from food.
First Insights into the Genome Sequence of Clostridium thermopalmarium DSM 5974, a Butyrate-Producing Bacterium Isolated from Palm Wine
Authors: Poehlein Anja , Hettwer Eva , Mohnike Lennart , Daniel Rolf
Published: April 2018

Clostridium thermopalmarium
is a moderate thermophilic, rod-shaped, and endospore-forming bacterium, which was isolated from palm wine in Senegal. Butyrate is produced from a broad variety of sugar substrates. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of
C. thermopalmarium
DSM 5974 (2.822 Mb) containing 2,665 predicted protein-encoding genes.
The Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Promotes the Growth of the Pulmonary Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Sheehan Gerard , Bergsson Gudmundur , McElvaney Noel G. , Reeves Emer P. , Kavanagh Kevin
Published: April 2018

The pulmonary mucus of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients displays elevated levels of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and the aim of this work was to assess the effect of LL-37 on the growth of
Aspergillus fumigatus
, a common pathogen of CF patients. Exposure of
A. fumigatus
to LL-37 and its derived fragment RK-31 (1.95 μg/ml) for 24 h had a positive effect on growth (199.94% ± 6.172% [
P
< 0.05] and 218.20% ± 4.63% [
P
< 0.05], respectively), whereas scrambled LL-37 peptide did not (85.12% ± 2.92%). Exposure of mycelium (preformed for 24 h) to 5 μg/ml intact LL-37 for 48 h increased hyphal wet weight (4.37 ± 0.23 g,
P
< 0.001) compared to the control (2.67 ± 0.05 g) and scrambled LL-37 (2.23 ± 0.09 g) treatments. Gliotoxin secretion from LL-37 exposed hyphae (169.1 ± 6.36 ng/mg hyphae,
P
< 0.05) was increased at 24 h compared to the results seen with the control treatment (102 ± 18.81 ng/mg hyphae) and the scrambled LL-37 treatment (96.09 ± 15.15 ng/mg hyphae). Shotgun proteomic analysis of 24-h LL-37-treated hyphae revealed an increase in the abundance of proteins associated with growth (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A [eIF-5A] [16.3-fold increased]), tissue degradation (aspartic endopeptidase [4.7-fold increased]), and allergic reactions (Asp F13 [10-fold increased]). By 48 h, there was an increase in protein levels indicative of cellular stress (glutathione peroxidase [9-fold increased]), growth (eIF-5A [6-fold increased]), and virulence (RNase mitogillin [3.7-fold increased]). These results indicate that LL-37 stimulates
A. fumigatus
growth and that this stimulation can result in increased fungal growth and secretion of toxins in the lungs of CF patients.
A Prospective Metagenomic and Metabolomic Analysis of the Impact of Exercise and/or Whey Protein Supplementation on the Gut Microbiome of Sedentary Adults
Authors: Cronin Owen , Barton Wiley , Skuse Peter , Penney Nicholas C. , Garcia-Perez Isabel , Murphy Eileen F. , Woods Trevor , Nugent Helena , Fanning Aine , Melgar Silvia , Falvey Eanna C. , Holmes Elaine , Cotter Paul D. , O’Sullivan Orla , Molloy Michael G. , Shanahan Fergus
Published: April 2018

The gut microbiota of humans is a critical component of functional development and subsequent health. It is important to understand the lifestyle and dietary factors that affect the gut microbiome and what impact these factors may have. Animal studies suggest that exercise can directly affect the gut microbiota, and elite athletes demonstrate unique beneficial and diverse gut microbiome characteristics. These characteristics are associated with levels of protein consumption and levels of physical activity. The results of this study show that increasing the fitness levels of physically inactive humans leads to modest but detectable changes in gut microbiota characteristics. For the first time, we show that regular whey protein intake leads to significant alterations to the composition of the gut virome.
Previously misdiagnosed linear IgA dermatosis resolved with dapsone
Authors: Tieppo Francio Vinicius , Towery Chris , Davani Saeid , Allen Travis , Brown Tony L
Published: April 2018

This is the case of a 25-year-old African American woman with a 3-week history of itching with burning, blistering lesions on her torso and extremities. Medical history was unremarkable. Medical treatments included three visits to urgent care, where she was treated with antivirals, oral and topical steroids, antibiotics and antifungals unsuccessfully. We performed a skin biopsy, and immunoflorescent studies revealed a linear deposition of IgA antigen at the basement membrane. The clinical diagnosis of linear IgA dermatosis (LAD) was established, with no eliciting cause, other than potential occupational exposure toChlamydophila psittacivia her employment in a pet store. This is the first case to our knowledge to report such an association. However, confirmation of the exposure would only establish correlation, not causality. Resolution of symptoms and blisters was achieved with dapsone treatment. Accordingly, we highlight the crucial importance of reviewing exposures, along with the potential aetiology of LAD.
How does light-intensity physical activity associate with adult cardiometabolic health and mortality? Systematic review with meta-analysis of experimental and observational studies
Authors: Chastin Sebastien F M , De Craemer Marieke , De Cocker Katrien , Powell Lauren , Van Cauwenberg Jelle , Dall Philippa , Hamer Mark , Stamatakis Emmanuel
Published: April 2018

Aim

To assess the relationship between time spent in light physical activity and cardiometabolic health and mortality in adults.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Searches in Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL and three rounds of hand searches.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Experimental (including acute mechanistic studies and physical activity intervention programme) and observational studies (excluding case and case–control studies) conducted in adults (aged ≥18 years) published in English before February 2018 and reporting on the relationship between light physical activity (<3 metabolic equivalents) and cardiometabolic health outcomes or all-cause mortality.

Study appraisal and synthesis

Study quality appraisal with QUALSYST tool and random effects inverse variance meta-analysis.

Results

Seventy-two studies were eligible including 27 experimental studies (and 45 observational studies). Mechanistic experimental studies showed that short but frequent bouts of light-intensity activity throughout the day reduced postprandial glucose (−17.5%; 95% CI −26.2 to −8.7) and insulin (−25.1%; 95% CI −31.8 to –18.3) levels compared with continuous sitting, but there was very limited evidence for it affecting other cardiometabolic markers. Three light physical activity programme intervention studies (n ranging from 12 to 58) reduced adiposity, improved blood pressure and lipidaemia; the programmes consisted of activity of >150 min/week for at least 12 weeks. Six out of eight prospective observational studies that were entered in the meta-analysis reported that more time spent in daily light activity reduced risk of all-cause mortality (pooled HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.83).

Conclusions

Light-intensity physical activity could play a role in improving adult cardiometabolic health and reducing mortality risk. Frequent short bouts of light activity improve glycaemic control. Nevertheless, the modest volume of the prospective epidemiological evidence base and the moderate consistency between observational and laboratory evidence inhibits definitive conclusions.
Assessment of ergot (Claviceps purpurea) exposure in pregnant and postpartum beef cows
Authors: Grusie T. , Cowan V. , Singh J. , McKinnon J. , Blakley B.
Published: April 2018

Cows were fed ration for 9 wk containing 5, 48, 201, and 822 μg kg−1 ergot alkaloids. The objective was to evaluate the impact of ergot consumption in beef cow–calf operations. Ergot alkaloids up to 822 μg kg−1 did not alter the weight of peripartum and postpartum beef cows (P = 0.93) or nursing calves (P = 0.08), rectal temperature (P = 0.16), or plasma prolactin concentrations (P = 0.30) at moderate ambient temperatures. Ergot did not influence the time (>1 ng mL−1; P = 0.79) or the progesterone concentration (P = 0.38) at the time of first postpartum rise or the size of the first (14 ± 0.6 mm; P = 0.40) and second (13 ± 0.5 mm; P = 0.41) follicles to ovulate. The maximum size of the first postpartum corpus luteum (CL) was 4 mm larger in the 822 μg kg−1 ergot group compared with the control (P = 0.03) for the first ovulation post partum, but not for the second (P = 0.11). There was no effect of ergot exposure on the number of days until the appearance of the first (43 ± 4 d; P = 0.95) or second (52 ± 4 d; P = 0.98) CL post partum. Ergot alkaloid concentrations up to 822 μg kg−1 did not affect pregnancy rates (X2 = 0.36). In conclusion, ergot alkaloid exposure for 9 wk to concentrations as high as 822 μg kg−1 did not alter performance in pregnant and postpartum beef cattle at moderate ambient temperatures.
Some properties of quantum fidelity in infinite-dimensional quantum systems
Authors: Duan Zhoubo , Niu Lifang
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we review the infinite-dimensional version of Uhlmann’s theorem of quantum fidelity. Based on this important theorem, we derive some useful properties of quantum fidelity for infinite-dimensional quantum systems. Next, we study the fidelity in the infinite-dimensional discrete-time quantum filters associated Markov chain, and prove that it is a sub-martingale.
The mafic alkaline volcanism of SW Madagascar (Ankililoaka, Tulear region):
40
Ar/
39
Ar ages, geochemistry and tectonic setting
Authors: Cucciniello C. , le Roex A. P. , Jourdan F. , Morra V. , Grifa C. , Franciosi L. , Melluso L.
Published: April 2018

High-precision
40
Ar/
39
Ar ages, major and trace element, and radiogenic isotope data are presented for the basanites and alkali basalts forming the southwesternmost monogenetic volcanic field in Madagascar. The volcanic rocks were erupted along fissure zones and aligned cones in a nearly flat area covered by the Cenozoic sediments of the Morondava basin. The high-precision
40
Ar/
39
Ar ages constrain the beginning of the magmatism in the Ankililoaka area to about 12 Ma, significantly earlier than suggested by previously published K/Ar ages. The Ankililoaka basanites include primitive compositions (MgO >10 wt%, Ni >200 ppm and Cr >400 ppm), whereas other basanites and alkali basalts experienced limited removal of olivine, chromiferous spinel and clinopyroxene. Initial Sr and Nd isotope ratios of the basanites are 0.70343–0.70445 and 0.51279–0.51282, respectively. The Pb isotope compositions are in the ranges
206
Pb/
204
Pb = 19.08–19.38,
207
Pb/
204
Pb = 15.61–15.64 and
208
Pb/
204
Pb = 39.1–39.4. The alkali basalts have similar
87
Sr/
86
Sr,
143
Nd/
144
Nd and
207
Pb/
204
Pb, but slightly lower
206
Pb/
204
Pb and
208
Pb/
204
Pb than the basanites. The isotopic composition of the Ankililoaka rocks partially overlaps with that of the Cenozoic volcanic mafic rocks of northern Madagascar, and differs significantly from that of the mafic volcanic rocks of central Madagascar, which have lower
206
Pb/
204
Pb and
207
Pb/
204
Pb, and higher
87
Sr/
86
Sr. Major and trace element systematics and geochemical modelling suggest that the Ankililoaka mafic alkaline rocks are low-degree melts of an incompatible element enriched peridotite source starting from depths where garnet is stable. Crustal contamination during ascent was insignificant. We argue that the genesis of the Ankililoaka alkaline magmas was triggered by melting an enriched, volatile-rich lithospheric mantle uplifted in the Cenozoic.

Supplementary material:
Analytical techniques, X-ray fluorescence whole-rock data, mineral compositions,
40
Ar/
39
Ar dataset, mantle source modelling and figures showing volcanological features and thin sections are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4065743
Accountable Protocols in Abductive Logic Programming
Authors: Gavanelli Marco , Alberti Marco , Lamma Evelina
Published: April 2018

Finding the entity responsible for an unpleasant situation is often difficult, especially in artificial agent societies.

S
CIFF is a formalization of agent societies, including a language to describe rules and protocols, and an abductive proof procedure for compliance checking. However, how to identify the entity responsible for a violation is not always clear.

In this work, a definition of accountability for artificial societies is formalized in
S
CIFF. Two tools are provided for the designer of interaction protocols: a guideline, in terms of syntactic features that ensure accountability of the protocol, and an algorithm (implemented in a software tool) to investigate if, for a given protocol, nonaccountability issues could arise.
easIE
Authors: Gkatziaki Vasiliki , Papadopoulos Symeon , Mills Richard , Diplaris Sotiris , Tsampoulatidis Ioannis , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: April 2018

Public awareness of and concerns about companies’ social and environmental impacts have seen a marked increase over recent decades. In parallel, the quantity of relevant information has increased, as states pass laws requiring certain forms of reporting, researchers investigate companies’ performance, and companies themselves seek to gain a competitive advantage by being seen to operate fairly and transparently. However, this information is typically dispersed and non-standardized, making it complicated to collect and analyze. To address this challenge, the WikiRate platform aims to collect this information and store it in a standardized format within a centralized public repository, making it much more amenable to analysis. In the context of WikiRate, this article introduces easIE, an easy-to-use information extraction (IE) framework that leverages general Web IE principles for building datasets with environmental, social, and governance information from the Web. To demonstrate the flexibility and value of easIE, we built a large-scale corporate social responsibility database comprising 654,491 metrics related to 49,009 companies spending less than 16 hours for data engineering, collection, and indexing. Finally, a data collection exercise involving 12 subjects was performed to showcase the ease of use of the developed framework.
Paying More Attention to Saliency
Authors: Cornia Marcella , Baraldi Lorenzo , Serra Giuseppe , Cucchiara Rita
Published: April 2018

Image captioning has been recently gaining a lot of attention thanks to the impressive achievements shown by deep captioning architectures, which combine Convolutional Neural Networks to extract image representations and Recurrent Neural Networks to generate the corresponding captions. At the same time, a significant research effort has been dedicated to the development of saliency prediction models, which can predict human eye fixations. Even though saliency information could be useful to condition an image captioning architecture, by providing an indication of what is salient and what is not, research is still struggling to incorporate these two techniques. In this work, we propose an image captioning approach in which a generative recurrent neural network can focus on different parts of the input image during the generation of the caption, by exploiting the conditioning given by a saliency prediction model on which parts of the image are salient and which are contextual. We show, through extensive quantitative and qualitative experiments on large-scale datasets, that our model achieves superior performance with respect to captioning baselines with and without saliency and to different state-of-the-art approaches combining saliency and captioning.
Deep Learning for Environmentally Robust Speech Recognition
Authors: Zhang Zixing , Geiger Jürgen , Pohjalainen Jouni , Mousa Amr El-Desoky , Jin Wenyu , Schuller Björn
Published: April 2018

Eliminating the negative effect of non-stationary environmental noise is a long-standing research topic for automatic speech recognition but still remains an important challenge. Data-driven supervised approaches, especially the ones based on deep neural networks, have recently emerged as potential alternatives to traditional unsupervised approaches and with sufficient training, can alleviate the shortcomings of the unsupervised methods in various real-life acoustic environments. In this light, we review recently developed, representative deep learning approaches for tackling non-stationary additive and convolutional degradation of speech with the aim of providing guidelines for those involved in the development of environmentally robust speech recognition systems. We separately discuss single- and multi-channel techniques developed for the front-end and back-end of speech recognition systems, as well as joint front-end and back-end training frameworks. In the meanwhile, we discuss the pros and cons of these approaches and provide their experimental results on benchmark databases. We expect that this overview can facilitate the development of the robustness of speech recognition systems in acoustic noisy environments.
Measuring Moral Acceptability in E-deliberation
Authors: Verdiesen Ilse , Dignum Virginia , Hoven Jeroen Van Den
Published: April 2018

Current developments in governance and policy setting are challenging traditional top-down models of decision-making. Whereas, on the one hand, citizens are increasingly demanding and expected to participate directly on governance questions, social networking platforms are, on the other hand, increasingly providing podia for the spread of unfounded, extremist and/or harmful ideas. Participatory deliberation is a form of democratic policy making in which deliberation is central to decision-making using both consensus decision-making and majority rule. However, by definition, it will lead to socially accepted results rather than ensuring the moral acceptability of the result. In fact, participation
per se
offers no guidance regarding the ethics of the decisions taken, nor does it provide means to evaluate alternatives in terms of their moral “quality.”

This article proposes an open participatory model, Massive Open Online Deliberation (MOOD), that can be used to solve some of the current policy authority deficits. MOOD taps on individual understanding and opinions by harnessing open, participatory, crowd-sourced, and wiki-like methodologies, effectively producing collective judgements regarding complex political and social issues in real time. MOOD offers the opportunity for people to develop and draft collective judgements on complex issues and crises in real time. MOOD is based on the concept of
Ethics by Participation
, a formalized and guided process of moral deliberation that extends deliberative democracy platforms to identify morally acceptable outcomes and enhance critical thinking and reflection among participants.
ecoxight
Authors: Basole Rahul C. , Srinivasan Arjun , Park Hyunwoo , Patel Shiv
Published: April 2018

The term
ecosystem
is used pervasively in industry, government, and academia to describe the complex, dynamic, hyperconnected nature of many social, economic, and technical systems that exist today. Ecosystems are characterized by a large, dynamic, and heterogeneous set of geospatially distributed entities that are interconnected through various types of relationships. This study describes the design and development of
ecoxight
, a Web-based visualization platform that provides multiple coordinated views of multipartite, multiattribute, dynamic, and geospatial ecosystem data with novel and rich interaction capabilities to augment decision makers ecosystem intelligence. The design of ecoxight was informed by an extensive multiphase field study of executives. The ecoxight platform not only provides capabilities to interactively explore and make sense of ecosystems but also provides rich visual construction capabilities to help decision makers align their mental model. We demonstrate the usability, utility, and value of our system using multiple evaluation studies with practitioners using socially curated data on the emerging application programming interface ecosystem. We report on our findings and conclude with research implications. Collectively, our study contributes to design science research at the intersection of information systems and strategy and the rapidly emerging field of visual enterprise analytics.
Threesomes, Degenerates, and Love Triangles
Authors: Grønlund Allan , Pettie Seth
Published: April 2018

The 3SUM problem is to decide, given a set of
n
real numbers, whether any three sum to zero. It is widely conjectured that a trivial
O
(
n
2
)-time algorithm is optimal on the Real RAM, and optimal even in the nonuniform linear decision tree model. Over the years the consequences of this conjecture have been revealed. This 3SUM conjecture implies Ω (
n
2
) lower bounds on numerous problems in computational geometry, and a variant of the conjecture for integer inputs implies strong lower bounds on triangle enumeration, dynamic graph algorithms, and string matching data structures.

In this article, we refute the conjecture that 3SUM requires Ω (
n
2
) in the Real RAM and refute more forcefully the conjecture that its complexity is Ω (
n
2
) in the linear decision tree model. In particular, we prove that the decision tree complexity of 3SUM is
O
(
n
3/2
√ log
n
) and give two subquadratic 3SUM algorithms, a deterministic one running in
O
(
n
2
/ (log
n
/ log log
n
)
2/3
) time and a randomized one running in
O
(
n
2
(log log
n
)
2
/ log
n
) time with high probability. Our results lead directly to improved bounds on the decision tree complexity of
k
-variate linear degeneracy testing for all odd
k
≥ 3.

Finally, we give a subcubic algorithm for a generalization of the (min ,+)-product over real-valued matrices and apply it to the problem of finding zero-weight triangles in edge-weighted graphs. We give a depth-
O
(
n
5/2
√ log
n
) decision tree for this problem, as well as a deterministic algorithm running in time
O
(
n
3
(log log
n
)
2
/log
n
).
Putting trust in security engineering
Authors: Schneider Fred B.
Published: April 2018

Proposing a stronger foundation for an engineering discipline to support the design of secure systems.
Ergogenic effects of beetroot juice supplementation during severe-intensity exercise in obese adolescents
Authors: Rasica Letizia , Porcelli Simone , Marzorati Mauro , Salvadego Desy , Vezzoli Alessandra , Agosti Fiorenza , De Col Alessandra , Tringali Gabriella , Jones Andrew M. , Sartorio Alessandro , Grassi Bruno
Published: April 2018

Previous studies showed a higher O2 cost of exercise, and therefore, a reduced exercise tolerance in patients with obesity during constant work rate (CWR) exercise compared with healthy subjects. Among the ergogenic effects of dietary nitrate ([Formula: see text]) supplementation in sedentary healthy subjects, a reduced O2 cost and enhanced exercise tolerance have often been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of beetroot juice (BR) supplementation, rich in [Formula: see text], on physiological variables associated with exercise tolerance in adolescents with obesity. In a double-blind, randomized crossover study, 10 adolescents with obesity (8 girls, 2 boys; age = 16 ± 1 yr; body mass index = 35.2 ± 5.0 kg/m2) were tested after 6 days of supplementation with BR (5 mmol [Formula: see text] per day) or placebo (PLA). Following each supplementation period, patients carried out two repetitions of 6-min moderate-intensity CWR exercise and one severe-intensity CWR exercise until exhaustion. Plasma [Formula: see text] concentration was significantly higher in BR versus PLA (108 ± 37 vs. 15 ± 5 μM, P < 0.0001). The O2 cost of moderate-intensity exercise was not different in BR versus PLA (13.3 ± 1.7 vs. 12.9 ± 1.1 ml·min−1·W−1, P = 0.517). During severe-intensity exercise, signs of a reduced amplitude of the O2 uptake slow component were observed in BR, in association with a significantly longer time to exhaustion (561 ± 198 s in BR vs. 457 ± 101 s in PLA, P = 0.0143). In obese adolescents, short-term dietary [Formula: see text] supplementation is effective in improving exercise tolerance during severe-intensity exercise. This may prove to be useful in counteracting early fatigue and reduced physical activity in this at-risk population.
A translational model of chronic kidney disease in swine
Authors: Chade Alejandro R. , Williams Maxx L. , Engel Jason , Guise Erika , Harvey Taylor W.
Published: April 2018

Animal models of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are critical for understanding its pathophysiology and for therapeutic development. The cardiovascular and renal anatomy and physiology of the pig are virtually identical to humans. This study aimed to develop a novel translational model of CKD that mimics the pathological features of CKD in humans. CKD was induced in seven domestic pigs by bilateral renal artery stenosis and diet-induced dyslipidemia. Animals were observed for a total of 14 wk. Renal hemodynamics and function were quantified in vivo using multi-detector CT after 6, 10, and 14 wk of CKD. Urine and blood were collected at each time-point, and blood pressure was continuously measured (telemetry). After completion of in vivo studies, pigs were euthanized, kidneys were removed, and microvascular (MV) architecture (μCT), markers of renal injury, inflammation, and fibrosis were evaluated ex vivo. Additional pigs were used as controls ( n = 7). Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration were reduced by 50% in CKD, accompanied by hypertension and elevated plasma creatinine, albumin-to-creatinine ratio and increased urinary KIM-1 and NGAL, suggesting renal injury. Furthermore, 14 wk of CKD resulted in cortical and medullary MV remodeling and loss, inflammation, glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, and tubule-interstitial fibrosis compared with controls. The current study characterizes a novel model of CKD that mimics several of the pathological features observed in human CKD, irrespective of the etiology. Current approaches only slow rather than halt CKD progression, and this novel model may offer a suitable platform for the development of new treatments in a translational fashion.
Distinct frequency bands in the local field potential are differently tuned to stimulus drift rate
Authors: Salelkar Siddhesh , Somasekhar Gowri Manohari , Ray Supratim
Published: April 2018

Local field potential (LFP) recorded with a microelectrode reflects the activity of several neural processes, including afferent synaptic inputs, microcircuit-level computations, and spiking activity. Objectively probing their contribution requires a design that allows dissociation between these potential contributors. Earlier reports have shown that the primate lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) has a higher temporal frequency (drift rate) cutoff than the primary visual cortex (V1), such that at higher drift rates inputs into V1 from the LGN continue to persist, whereas output ceases, permitting partial dissociation. Using chronic microelectrode arrays, we recorded spikes and LFP from V1 of passively fixating macaques while presenting sinusoidal gratings drifting over a wide range. We further optimized the gratings to produce strong gamma oscillations, since recent studies in rodent V1 have reported LGN-dependent narrow-band gamma oscillations. Consistent with earlier reports, power in higher LFP frequencies (above ~140 Hz) tracked the population firing rate and were tuned to preferred drift rates similar to those for spikes. Significantly, power in the lower (up to ~40 Hz) frequencies increased transiently in the early epoch after stimulus onset, even at high drift rates, and had preferred drift rates higher than for spikes/high gamma. Narrow-band gamma (50–80 Hz) power was not strongly correlated with power in high or low frequencies and had much lower preferred temporal frequencies. Our results demonstrate that distinct frequency bands of the V1 LFP show diverse tuning profiles, which may potentially convey different attributes of the underlying neural activity.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY In recent years the local field potential (LFP) has been increasingly studied, but interpreting its rich frequency content has been difficult. We use a stimulus manipulation that generates different tuning profiles for low, gamma, and high frequencies of the LFP, suggesting contributions from potentially different sources. Our results have possible implications for design of better neural prosthesis systems and brain-machine interfacing applications.
Reliability of Vessel Density Measurements in the Peripapillary Retina and Correlation with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Healthy Subjects Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: She Xiangjun , Guo Jiaxian , Liu Xiaoying , Zhu Hong , Li Tong , Zhou Minwen , Wang Fenghua , Sun Xiaodong
Published: April 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of vessel density measurements in the peripapillary retina using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and to analyze the correlation with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy subjects. Method: Thirty-five healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. The optic disc region was scanned three times with spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) and split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography by two skilled examiners. Vessel density of the peripapillary retina was automatically calculated by the software RTVue-XR (version 2015.1.1.98). The RNFL thickness on the optic nerve head was measured by SD-OCT. The coefficient of variation (CV), coefficient of repeatability, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for intraobserver repeatability. The Bland-Altman analysis was used to determine interobserver reproducibility. Correlations between peripapillary retinal vessel density and RNFL thickness were analyzed using a multivariable linear regression. Results: The mean age of the volunteers was 47.0 ± 29.7 years. The intraobserver repeatability in different sectors of the peripapillary retina was good with a high coefficient of repeatability, low CV (< 0.2%), and high ICC (0.847–0.952). The interobserver reproducibility was also good in different sectors, but should be interpreted with caution due to the difference bias caused by different observers in some quadrants. There was a significant positive correlation between vessel density and RNFL thickness; optic disc rim area and disc area were negatively related to vessel density (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Vessel density measurements showed good repeatability and reproducibility by OCT-A in the peripapillary retina, the vessel density was positively related to RNFL thickness and negatively related to optic disc area and rim area.
Treatment of Macular Degeneration with Sildenafil: Results of a Two-Year Trial
Authors: Coleman D. Jackson , Lee Winston , Chang Stanley , Silverman Ronald H. , Lloyd Harriet O. , Daly Suzanne , Tsang Stephen H.
Published: April 2018

Objective: To evaluate PDE5/6 inhibition with sildenafil to reduce choroidal ischemia and treat age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Sildenafil was prescribed to treat participants with macular degenerations or macular dystrophies measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, color fundus photography, enhanced depth imaging, and best-corrected visual acuity. Results: No change in calcified drusen was noted. Vitelliform-type soft drusen were not substantially changed. A participant with Best vitelliform macular dystrophy had a significant improvement in vision as well as in photoreceptor and ellipsoid layers. Conclusions: Our research supports sildenafil as a safe treatment for age-related and vitelliform macular degenerations. Thickened Bruch’s membrane reduces the beneficial effect of perfusion increase, but all eyes appear to benefit from PDE6. Notably, maintenance or improvement in the photoreceptor layer may be the most significant result of sildenafil and is consistent with PDE6 inhibition. Thus, sil­denafil treatment of macular degeneration offers significant potential for vision retention and recovery.
Scores Obtained from a Simple Cognitive Test of Visuospatial Episodic Memory Performed Decades before Death Are Associated with the Ultimate Presence of Alzheimer Disease Pathology
Authors: Robinson Andrew C. , McNamee Roseanne , Davidson Yvonne S. , Horan Michael A. , Snowden Julie S. , McInnes Lynn , Pendleton Neil , Mann David M.A.
Published: April 2018

Background: Community- or population-based longitudinal studies of cognitive ability with a brain donation end point offer an opportunity to examine relationships between pathology and cognitive state prior to death. Discriminating the earliest signs of dementing disorders, such as Alzheimer disease (AD), is necessary to undertake early interventions and treatments. Methods: The neuropathological profile of brains donated from The University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age, including CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease) and Braak stage, was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Cognitive test scores collected 20 years prior to death were correlated with the extent of AD pathology present at death. Results: Baseline scores from the Memory Circle test had the ability to distinguish between individuals who developed substantial AD pathology and those with no, or low, AD pathology. Predicted test scores at the age of 65 years also discriminated between these pathology groups. The addition of APOE genotype further improved the discriminatory ability of the model. Conclusions: The results raise the possibility of identifying individuals at future risk of the neuropathological changes associated with AD over 20 years before death using a simple cognitive test. This work may facilitate early interventions, therapeutics and treatments for AD by identifying at-risk and minimally affected (in pathological terms) individuals.
Associations of Pulse and Blood Pressure with Hippocampal Volume by APOE and Cognitive Phenotype: The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Authors: Ngwa Julius S. , Fungwe Thomas V. , Ntekim Oyonumo , Allard Joanne S. , Johnson Sheree M. , Castor Chimene , Graham Lennox , Nadarajah Sheeba , Gillum Richard F. , Obisesan Thomas O. ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: April 2018

Background: It is increasingly evident that high blood pressure can promote reduction in global and regional brain volumes. While these effects may preferentially affect the hippocampus, reports are inconsistent. Methods: Using data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we examined the relationships of hippocampal volume to pulse pressure (PPR) and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure according to apolipoprotein (APOE) ɛ4 positivity and cognitive status. The ADNI data included 1,308 participants: Alzheimer disease (AD = 237), late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI = 454), early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI = 254), and cognitively normal (CN = 365), with up to 24 months of follow-up. Results: Higher quartiles of PPR were significantly associated with lower hippocampal volumes (Q1 vs. Q4, p = 0.034) in the CN and AD groups, but with increasing hippocampal volume (Q1, p = 0.008; Q2, p = 0.020; Q3, p = 0.017; Q4 = reference) in the MCI groups. In adjusted stratified analyses among non-APOE ɛ4 carriers, the effects in the CN (Q1 vs. Q4, p = 0.006) and EMCI groups (Q1, p = 0.002; Q2, p = 0.013; Q3, p = 0.002; Q4 = reference) remained statistically significant. Also, higher DBP was significantly associated with higher hippocampal volume (p = 0.002) while higher SBP was significantly associated with decreasing hippocampal volume in the EMCI group (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Changes in PPR, SBP, and DBP differentially influenced hippocampal volumes depending on the cognitive and APOE genotypic categories.
Quality of Life in People with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Hvidsten Lara , Engedal Knut , Selbæk Geir , Wyller Torgeir Bruun , Bruvik Frøydis , Kersten Hege
Published: April 2018

Aims: The aims of this study were to compare quality of life (QOL) in people with young-onset Alzheimer’s (AD) and frontotemporal (FTD) dementia, explore variables associated with QOL, and compare QOL in young-onset dementia (YOD) and late-onset dementia (LOD). Methods: Cross-sectional data from a Nordic multicenter study of 50 community-dwelling participants with AD and 38 with FTD were included. A comparison group consisted of 100 people with LOD. QOL was measured using self-reported Euro-QOL 5-Dimension and the proxy version of Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) questionnaire. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and needs were assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Camberwell Assessment of Needs in the Elderly. Multiple linear regression and multilevel modeling was used to determine variables associated with QOL. Results: We found no differences between the two YOD groups in QOL. The variables associated with QOL were scores on the CSDD, NPI, and unmet needs. The proxy QOL-AD score in YOD was significantly higher compared to LOD (median 36.0 [IQR 10.0] vs. 33.0 [IQR 9.0]). Conclusion: The QOL in Nordic people with YOD was better compared to people with LOD. Our results show depressive symptoms to be associated with QOL irrespective of age and diagnosis.
Autophagy: A Role in the Apoptosis, Survival, Inflammation, and Development of the Retina
Authors: Lin Wen , Xu Guoxing
Published: April 2018

Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation process that maintains cellular homeostasis by removing dysfunctional organelles and unfolded proteins. Increasing evidence has shown that autophagy proteins are involved in retinal physiology and pathology and that defective autophagy contributes to retinal degeneration. In retinal diseases, autophagy plays a dual role: promoting retinal cell survival and death. Autophagy at a normal level helps retinal cells defend themselves against harmful stress; however, excessive autophagy results in retinal deterioration. Both synergistic and antagonistic roles of autophagy and apoptosis in the retina have been reported in the literature. In this review, we summarize the roles of autophagy in the development of the retina and retinal diseases. This review highlights the importance of autophagy in retinal diseases, and targeting autophagy may provide a new therapeutic approach for retinal diseases.
Studying Effects and Process in Psychotherapy for Personality Disorders
Authors: Caspar Franz
Published: April 2018

This presentation gives an overview of the methods used for research on the process and outcome of psychotherapy. Possibilities as well as difficulties will be discussed, such as the conflict between internal and external validity and standardized versus individualized procedures as some of the issues deserving particular attention for research on psychotherapy for personality disorder patients. It is argued that good psychotherapy research is also good psychotherapy research for personality disorders, with heterogeneity, ego-syntony, and ambivalent motivation needing special attention. Adaptations of and alternatives for randomized clinical trials will be discussed.
Vanishing 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Concentrations in 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency
Authors: Reinehr Thomas , Rothermel Juliane , Wegener-Panzer Andreas , Hartmann Michaela F. , Wudy Stefan A. , Holterhus Paul-Martin
Published: April 2018

We present a boy with a genetically proven congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. While massively elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentrations after birth led to the diagnosis, 17-OHP concentrations became immeasurable starting with the second year of life even though the dose of hydrocortisone was continuously decreased to ∼7 mg/m2/day. Furthermore, 17-OHP levels were immeasurable during the ACTH test and after withdrawing hydrocortisone medication. In contrast, ACTH levels increased after cessation of hydrocortisone treatment suggesting complete primary adrenal cortex failure. We discuss this case based on the differential diagnosis of complete adrenal cortex failure including other genetic causes in addition to CAH, prednisolone treatment, autoimmune adrenalitis, adrenoleukodystrophy, CMV infection, and adrenal hemorrhage infarction. The most likely disease in our boy is autoimmune adrenalitis, which is difficult to prove years after the onset of the disease. Treatment of CAH had masked the classical symptoms of complete adrenal cortex insufficiency leading to delayed diagnosis in this case.
Premature Mortality Due to Malignancies of the Central Nervous System in Canada, 1980–2010
Authors: Pham Truong-Minh , Sikdar Khokan C. , Cheung Winson Y. , Roa Wilson , Eckstrand Angela , Kaposhi Bethany , Shack Lorraine
Published: April 2018

Background: In this study, we investigated whether there has been an improvement in premature mortality due to central nervous system (CNS) cancers among the Canadian population from 1980 through 2010. Methods: Mortality data for CNS cancers were obtained from World Health Organization mortality database. Years of life lost (YLL) was estimated using Canadian life tables. Average lifespan shortened (ALSS) was calculated and defined as the ratio of YLL relative to the expected lifespan. Results: Over this study period, we observed decreases in age standardized rates to the World Standard Population for mortality due to CNS cancers from 5.3 to 4.1 per 100,000 men, and from 3.6 to 2.9 per 100,000 women. Average YLL decreased from 23.6 to 21.5 years of life among men, and from 27.0 to 23.1 years among women in 1980 and 2010, respectively. The ALSS showed that men with CNS cancers lost 30.1% of their life span and women lost 32.5% in 1980, whereas they lost 25.8 and 26.6% in 2010, respectively. Conclusion: Our study shows that ­Canadian people with CNS cancers have had their lives prolonged at the end of the study period.