bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Target of rapamycin‐signaling modulates starch accumulation via glycogenin phosphorylation status in the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae
Authors: Pancha Imran , Shima Hiroki , Higashitani Nahoko , Igarashi Kazuhiko , Higashitani Atsushi , Tanaka Kan , Imamura Sousuke
Published: October 2018

SUMMARY

The target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway is involved in starch accumulation in various eukaryotic organisms; however, the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon in eukaryotes has not been elucidated. We report a regulatory mechanism of starch accumulation by TOR in the unicellular red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae. The starch content in C. merolae after TOR‐inactivation by rapamycin, a TOR‐specific inhibitor, was increased by approximately 10‐fold in comparison with its drug vehicle, dimethyl sulfoxide. However, our previous transcriptome analysis showed that the expression level of genes related to carbohydrate metabolism was unaffected by rapamycin, indicating that starch accumulation is regulated at post‐transcriptional levels. In this study, we performed a phosphoproteome analysis using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry to investigate potential post‐transcriptional modifications, and identified 52 proteins as candidate TOR substrates. Among the possible substrates, we focused on the function of CmGLG1, because its phosphorylation at the Ser613 residue was decreased after rapamycin treatment, and overexpression of CmGLG1 resulted in a 4.7‐fold higher starch content. CmGLG1 is similar to the priming protein, glycogenin, which is required for the initiation of starch/glycogen synthesis, and a budding yeast complementation assay demonstrated that CmGLG1 can functionally substitute for glycogenin. We found an approximately 60% reduction in the starch content in a phospho‐mimicking CmGLG1 overexpression strain, in which Ser613 was substituted with aspartic acid, in comparison with the wild‐type CmGLG1 overexpression cells. Our results indicate that TOR modulates starch accumulation by changing the phosphorylation status of the CmGLG1 Ser613 residue in C. merolae.
Dominant Hand Usage in Racket Sports and Detection of the Injured Regions
Authors: Çetinkaya Erkan
Published: October 2018

The aim of this study is to examine dominant hand usage and detect the injury regions in racket sports. A total of 98 athletes, of which 37 (37.8%) are female, 61 (62.2%) are male, studying at 11 different universities and attending competitions with schools teams with an average age of 21.11±1.66, height of 1.71±0.08 cm, weight of 64.92±10.85 kg, and BMI of 22.00±2.41(kg/m2) have participated in the study. When it comes to the distribution of the athletes by branches, the sample consists of 22 table tennis players, 24 badminton players, 25 tennis players and 27 squash players. The "Edinburgh Inventory Hand Preference Survey" was used as a data collection tool to determine the hand preferences of the athletes. In the determination of sports injuries suffered by athletes, the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire was administered. There are significant differences between the lefty and righty athletes in terms of injuries in the left shoulder, left wrist and right lower leg regions when the injury regions in racket sports are compared by hand preferences (p<0.05). It is seen that the injuries that occur in right forearm, left wrist and the right upper leg regions of the athletes of racket sports differ according to branches (p<0.05). When the injury regions are examined according to hand preferences, it is seen that the injuries in the left shoulder, left wrist and lower right leg regions occur more in lefty athletes in comparison to righty athletes. When the relationship between the injury region regions and sports branches is examined, it can be argued that table tennis players suffer more frequent injuries in the left wrist compared to the players of other branches.
Normal incidence sound transmission loss evaluation with a general upstream tube wave decomposition formula
Authors: Wei Zhengyu , Hou Hong , Gao Nansha , Huang Yunke , Yang Jianhua
Published: October 2018

This study presents a method for measuring the normal incidence sound transmission loss of acoustical materials used in classical piping systems from upstream surface complex reflection coefficient measurements only. Based on the standard transfer function method, the wave field of the upstream tube is further decomposed, and the relationship between the complex reflection coefficient and the twice-transmitted wave is deduced. Similar to the so-called upstream surface impedance (USI) method, two microphone locations and air cavities with several depths are required. As a validation of the proposed method, both symmetrical and non-symmetrical materials are investigated. The influence of the air cavity on the experiment result is also discussed. A comparison of the results between the proposed method and existing methods reveals a perfect agreement with the verified USI method.
The Src family kinase Fgr is a transforming oncoprotein that functions independently of SH3-SH2 domain regulation
Authors: Shen Kexin , Moroco Jamie A. , Patel Ravi K. , Shi Haibin , Engen John R. , Dorman Heather R. , Smithgall Thomas E.
Published: October 2018

Sequence differences in the Src family kinase Fgr decrease its autoinhibitory regulation and increase its sensitivity to a myeloproliferative cytokine.
Flipping in a kinase fold for AMPylation
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: October 2018

The pseudokinase SelO mediates AMPylation instead of phosphorylation due to the flipped orientation of ATP in the active site.
SLC6A14
Is a Genetic Modifier of Cystic Fibrosis That Regulates
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Attachment to Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Di Paola Michelle , Park Amber J. , Ahmadi Saumel , Roach Elyse J. , Wu Yu-Sheng , Struder-Kypke Michaela , Lam Joseph S. , Bear Christine E. , Khursigara Cezar M.
Published: October 2018

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the
CFTR
gene and is associated with progressive and ultimately fatal infectious lung disease. There can be considerable variability in disease severity among individuals with the same
CFTR
mutations, and recent genome-wide association studies have identified secondary genetic factors that contribute to this. One of these modifier genes is
SLC6A14
, which encodes an amino acid transporter. Importantly, variants of this gene have been associated with age at first acquisition of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. In this study, we aimed to determine the function of SLC6A14 in airway epithelia and how it might affect colonization by
P. aeruginosa
. We show that
SLC6A14
is expressed in respiratory epithelial cells and transports
l
-arginine out of the airway surface liquid (ASL). Exposure of airway epithelia to flagellin from
P. aeruginosa
led to upregulation of
SLC6A14
expression and increased SLC6A14-dependent uptake of
l
-arginine from the ASL. In support of the hypothesis that
l
-arginine affects
P. aeruginosa
attachment, we showed that
l
-arginine supplementation promoted
P. aeruginosa
attachment to an abiotic surface in a dose-dependent manner. In a coculture model, we found that inhibition of SLC6A14-dependent
l
-arginine transport enhanced
P. aeruginosa
attachment. In
Slc6a14
−/y
(knockout) mice,
P. aeruginosa
attachment to lung tissue was also significantly enhanced. Together, these findings suggest that SLC6A14 activity plays a role in the modification of the initial stages of airway infection by altering the level of
l
-arginine in the ASL, which in turn affects the attachment of
P. aeruginosa
.

IMPORTANCE
CF patients with shared
CFTR
gene mutations show significant variability in their clinical presentation of infectious lung disease. Genome-wide association studies have been used to identify secondary genetic factors that may explain the variable susceptibility to infection by opportunistic pathogens, including
P. aeruginosa
, the leading cause of pathogen-induced lung damage in nonpediatric CF patients. Once identified and characterized, these secondary genetic modifiers may allow for the development of personalized medicine for patients and ultimately the extension of life. In this study, we interrogated the biological role of one of these modifiers,
SLC6A14
, and showed that it contributes to host defense by depleting extracellular arginine (an attachment-promoting metabolite for
P. aeruginosa
) from the airway surface liquid.
Modifying Saccharomyces cerevisiae Adhesion Properties Regulates Yeast Ecosystem Dynamics
Authors: Rossouw Debra , Meiring Skye P. , Bauer Florian F.
Published: October 2018

The impact of direct (physical) versus indirect (metabolic) interactions between different yeast species has attracted significant research interest in recent years. This is due to the growing interest in the use of multispecies consortia in bioprocesses of industrial relevance and the relevance of interspecies interactions in establishing stable synthetic ecosystems. Compartment bioreactors have traditionally been used in this regard but suffer from numerous limitations. Here, we provide independent evidence for the importance of physical contact by using a genetic system, based on theFLOgene family, to modify the degree of physical contact and, therefore, the degree of asexual intraspecies and interspecies adhesion in yeast. Our results show that interspecies contact significantly impacts population dynamics and the survival of individual species. Remarkably, different members of theFLOgene family often lead to very different population outcomes, further suggesting thatFLOgene expression may be a major factor in such interactions.
High Osmolarity Modulates Bacterial Cell Size through Reducing Initiation Volume in Escherichia coli
Authors: Dai Xiongfeng , Zhu Manlu
Published: October 2018

Bacterial cell size depends on growth rate, cell cycle progression, and the cell volume per origin upon initiating chromosome replication (initiation volume). Here, we perform the first systematic and quantitative study of the effect of hyperosmotic stress on the
E. coli
cell size and cell cycle. We find that hyperosmotic stress significantly reduces the initiation volume. The reduced initiation volume is attributed to the increased DnaA concentration caused by water loss at high osmolarity, indicating a fundamental role of water content in cell size and cell cycle regulation.
The Capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans Modulates Phagosomal pH through Its Acid-Base Properties
Authors: De Leon-Rodriguez Carlos M. , Fu Man Shun , Çorbali M. Osman , Cordero Radames J. B. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: October 2018

Cryptococcus neoformansis the causative agent of cryptococcosis, a devastating fungal disease that affects thousands of individuals worldwide. This fungus has the capacity to survive inside phagocytic cells, which contributes to persistence of infection and dissemination. One of the major antimicrobial mechanisms of host phagocytes is to acidify the phagosomal compartment after ingestion of microbes. This study shows that the capsule ofC. neoformanscan interfere with full phagosomal acidification by serving as a buffer.
Clostridial Butyrate Biosynthesis Enzymes Are Significantly Depleted in the Gut Microbiota of Nonobese Diabetic Mice
Authors: Tanca Alessandro , Palomba Antonio , Fraumene Cristina , Manghina Valeria , Silverman Michael , Uzzau Sergio
Published: October 2018

Alterations of the gut microbiota early in age have been hypothesized to impact T1D autoimmune pathogenesis. In the NOD mouse model, protection from T1D has been found to operate via modulation of the composition of the intestinal microbiota during a critical early window of ontogeny, although little is known about microbiota functions related to T1D development. Here, we show which gut microbial functions are specifically associated with protection from T1D in the time window between insulitis development and T1D onset. In particular, we describe that production of butyrate biosynthesis enzymes is significantly reduced in NOD mice, supporting the hypothesis that modulating the gut microbiota butyrate production may influence T1D development.
Strengthening the quality of paediatric primary care: protocol for the process evaluation of a health systems intervention in South Africa
Authors: Murdoch Jamie , Curran Robyn , Bachmann Max , Bateman Eric , Cornick Ruth Vania , Doherty Tanya , Picken Sandra Claire , Simelane Makhosazana Lungile , Fairall Lara
Published: October 2018

Background

Despite significant reductions in mortality, preventable and treatable conditions remain the leading causes of death in children under five within South Africa. The WHO’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) programme has been widely implemented to address the most common causes of mortality in children under five. Although effective, limitations in IMCI scope and adherence have emerged. The Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) Child guide has been developed to expand on IMCI and address these limitations. It is intended as a clinical decision support tool for health workers with additional systems strengthening components, including active implementation and training strategy to address contextual and organisational factors hindering quality of care for children. Implementation is complex, requiring comprehensive pilot and process evaluation. The PACK Child pilot and feasibility study will sample 10 primary care facilities in the Western Cape Province. Staff will be trained to integrate the PACK Child guide into routine practice. The process evaluation will investigate implementation and health systems components to establish how to optimise delivery, strengthen IMCI principles and factors required to support effective and sustained uptake into everyday practice.

Methods

Mixed method process evaluation. Qualitative data include interviews with managers, staff, caregivers and policymakers; observations of training, consultations and clinic flow. Quantitative data include training logs and staff questionnaires. Quantitative and qualitative analysis will be integrated to describe study sites and develop explanations for implementation variation.

Discussion

The process evaluation will provide the opportunity to document implementation and refine the programme prior to a larger pragmatic trial or scale-up.
PACK Child: the development of a practical guide to extend the scope of integrated primary care for children and young adolescents
Authors: Picken Sandy , Hannington Juliet , Fairall Lara , Doherty Tanya , Bateman Eric , Richards Mark , Wattrus Camilla , Cornick Ruth
Published: October 2018

Pioneering strategies like WHO’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) have resulted in substantial progress in addressing infant and child mortality. However, large inequalities exist in access to and the quality of care provided in different regions of the world. In many low-income and middle-income countries, childhood mortality remains a major concern, and the needs of children present a large burden upon primary care services. The capacity of services and quality of care offered require greater support to address these needs and extend integrated curative and preventive care, specifically, for the well child, the child with a long-term health need and the child older than 5 years, not currently included in IMCI. In response to these needs, we have developed an innovative method, based on experience with a similar approach in adults, that expands the scope and reach of integrated management and training programmes for paediatric primary care. This paper describes the development and key features of the PACK Child clinical decision support tool for the care of children up to 13 years, and lessons learnt during its development.
Pilot mixed-methods evaluation of interpersonal counselling for young people with depressive symptoms in non-specialist services
Authors: Wilkinson Paul Oliver , Cestaro Viktoria , Pinchen Ian
Published: October 2018

Background

The majority of young people receive treatment for depressive symptoms in the UK from staff with minimal specialist mental health/therapeutic training. There is no evidence to guide them as to what treatments are likely to be effective. Interpersonal counselling (IPC) is a reduced form of interpersonal psychotherapy and may be an appropriate treatment to use in this population.

Objectives

To test the effectiveness and acceptability of IPC delivered by youth workers to young people with primarily depressive symptoms.

Methods

Youth workers received a 2-day training course in IPC, followed by regular supervision. They delivered IPC to 23 young people who they would normally see in their service, with depressive symptoms as their main problem. Symptoms were assessed by the Revised Child Depression and Anxiety Scale (RCADS). Qualitative interviews of youth workers and young people assessed acceptability.

Findings

Mean (SD) RCADS depression-T scores fell from 78.2 (11.1) to 52.9 (16.8). All young people and youth workers interviewed were positive about it. Participants detailed specific advantages of IPC above standard counselling, including practical help, the use of goals, psychoeducation and integrating a self-rated questionnaire into treatment.

Conclusions and clinical implications

IPC is likely to be an effective and acceptable treatment for young people with primarily depressive symptoms seen in local authority non-specialist mental health services. Further research is needed to determine if it is more effective than current treatment as usual.
Early intervention in youth mental health: progress and future directions
Authors: McGorry Patrick D , Mei Cristina
Published: October 2018

Early intervention is a fundamental principle in health care and the past two decades have seen it belatedly introduced into the field of mental health. This began in psychotic disorders, arguably the least promising place to start. The steady accumulation of scientific evidence for early intervention has eventually overwhelmed the sceptics, transformed thinking in psychotic disorders and created an international wave of service reform. This paradigm shift has paved the way to a more substantial one: early intervention across the full diagnostic spectrum. 75% of mental illnesses emerge before the age of 25 years, and young people bear the major burden for those disorders that threaten the many decades of productive adult life. The paradox is that young people aged between 12 and 25 years have had by far the worst levels of access to mental health care across the whole lifespan. Health services are poorly designed, grossly under-resourced and typically unfriendly to, and untrusted by, young people. Furthermore, until recently there has been a quite striking lack of interest in this transitional age group from clinicians and researchers alike, who had unthinkingly accepted the paediatric–adult split of mainstream medicine without questioning its utility and validity for our field and our young patients. Over the past decade, however, a major shift in momentum has occurred to take early intervention in youth mental health more seriously. Here we discuss the recent advances and evidence supporting an innovative integrated model of youth mental health care and look to the future.
Association between apparent temperature and acute coronary syndrome admission in Rasht, Iran
Authors: Moghadamnia Mohammad Taghi , Ardalan Ali , Mesdaghinia Alireza , Naddafi Kazem , Yekaninejad Mir Saeed
Published: October 2018

Objective

Our objective was to assess the relations between apparent temperature and incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Rasht, Iran.

Methods

We used a time-series analysis to investigate the relationship between apparent temperature and hospital admission from 2005 to 2014. Distributed lag non-linear models were used to estimate the association between ACS hospitalisation and apparent temperature. To examine the high-temperature effect on ACS hospital admission, the relative risk of ACS hospital admission associated with high temperature, the 99th percentile of temperature (34.7°C) compared with the 75th percentile of temperature (26.9°C), was calculated. To assess the cold effect on ACS hospital admission, the relative risk of ACS hospital admission associated with cold temperature, the first percentile of temperature (−0.2°C) compared with the 25th percentile of temperature (8.2°C), was evaluated.

Results

The cumulative effect of hot exposure on ACS admissions was statistically significant, with a relative risk of 2.04 (95% CI 1.06 to 4.16). The cumulative effect of cold temperature on ACS admissions was found to be non-significant. The highest risk of ACS admission in women was in 38°C (RR, 2.03, 95%  CI 1.04 to 4.18). The effect of hot temperature on ACS admission occurred immediately (lag 0) (RR, 1.09, 95%  CI 1.001 to 1.19).

Conclusions

The high apparent temperature is correlated with a higher ACS admission especially on the same day. These findings may have implications for developing intervention strategies to reduce and prevent temperature-related morbidity especially in the elderly.
Daily physical activity patterns among aging workers: the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA)
Authors: Pulakka Anna , Leskinen Tuija , Koster Annemarie , Pentti Jaana , Vahtera Jussi , Stenholm Sari
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Physical activity is associated with the aging workers' ability to work and predicts working beyond retirement age. To better understand physical activity behaviour in this growing population group, we aimed at characterising 24-hour physical activity patterns among aging workers, and to describe the association between occupational category and total, occupational and leisure-time physical activities.

Methods

We included 878 workers (mean age 62.4 years, SD 1.1, 85% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study, who wore an accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist for 1 week. We plotted mean hourly activity counts per minute (CPM) for working days and days off. We also compared mean daily CPM between genders and occupations between working days and days off, and work and leisure time by using repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

Activity patterns were different between genders, occupations and types of the day. Women (2580, 95% CI 2540 to 2620) had higher daily mean CPM than men (2110, 95% CI 2020 to 2000). Women in manual occupations were more active than women in non-manual occupations during working days. The differences among men were in the same direction but less pronounced than among women. We found no differences in activity levels between occupations during days off and leisure time on working days.

Conclusions

In aging workers, physical activity differs by gender and occupation during working time, but not during leisure time. As low physical activity is associated with increased risk of early exit from employment, physical activity should be promoted at workplaces, especially among men and people in non-manual occupations.
Down-regulation of lncRNA-ATB inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells by increasing miR-141-3p expression
Authors: Zhang Yang , Li Jianyi , Jia Shi , Wang Yitong , Kang Ye , Zhang Wenhai
Published: October 2018

Long noncoding RNA activated by transforming growth factor-beta (lnc-ATB) is abnormally expressed in a number of tumor types. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of lnc-ATB and miR-141-3p, and to determine whether lnc-ATB can regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by miR-141-3p in breast cancer. Here, we found that lnc-ATB was highly expressed, whereas there was low expression of miR-141-3p in breast cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of lnc-ATB in two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and BT549) significantly increased miR-141-3p expression. Down-regulation of lnc-ATB resulted in a morphological change of breast cancer cells from spindle-like to a round shape, and in a remarkable inhibition of cell migration and invasion, which were reversed by miR-141-3p inhibitor. Furthermore, we demonstrated that lnc-ATB knockdown decreased ZEB1, ZEB2, N-cadherin, and vimentin expression, and promoted E-cadherin expression, while miR-141-3p inhibitor could reverse those effects. Moreover, we proved that miR-141-3p directly bound to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of ZEB1 and ZEB2 and negatively regulated ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. Taken together, our results show that knockdown of lnc-ATB significantly inhibits the EMT process of breast cancer cells by increasing the expression of miR-141-3p, indicating that lnc-ATB might serve as a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer.
A Bayesian unsupervised learning approach for identifying soil stratification using cone penetration data
Authors: Wang Hui , Wang Xiangrong , Wellmann J. Florian , Liang Robert Y.
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a novel perspective to understanding the spatial and statistical patterns of a cone penetration dataset and identifying soil stratification using these patterns. Both local consistency in physical space (i.e., along depth) and statistical similarity in feature space (i.e., logQt–logFrspace, where Qtis the normalized tip resistance and Fris the normalized friction ratio, or the Robertson chart) between data points are considered simultaneously. The proposed approach, in essence, consists of two parts: (i) a pattern detection approach using the Bayesian inferential framework and (ii) a pattern interpretation protocol using the Robertson chart. The first part is the mathematical core of the proposed approach, which infers both spatial pattern in physical space and statistical pattern in feature space from the input dataset; the second part converts the abstract patterns into intuitive spatial configurations of multiple soil layers having different soil behavior types. The advantages of the proposed approach include probabilistic soil classification and identification of soil stratification in an automatic and fully unsupervised manner. The proposed approach has been implemented in MATLAB R2015b and Python 3.6, and tested using various datasets including both synthetic and real-world cone penetration test soundings. The results show that the proposed approach can accurately and automatically detect soil layers with quantified uncertainty and reasonable computational cost.
Polyamine homeostasis in apple fruit stored under multiple abiotic stresses
Authors: Shelp Barry J. , Deyman Kristen L. , DeEll Jennifer R. , Bozzo Gale G.
Published: October 2018

‘Empire’ apples were stored at 0 °C or 3 °C with 0.03 or 5 kPa CO2 and 2.5 kPa O2 for 16 wk. Pools of free, soluble conjugated and bound putrescine, spermidine, and spermine fluctuated in a dynamic manner in response to both temperature and CO2. These results suggest that putrescine homeostasis is under different regulatory control than spermidine/spermine homeostasis.
Variation of phenotypic responses to lighting using a combination of red and blue light-emitting diodes versus darkness in seedlings of 18 vegetable genotypes
Authors: Kong Yun , Zheng Youbin
Published: October 2018

The objectives of this study were to identify traits and screen genotypes sensitive to narrow-waveband light-emitting diode light in 18 vegetable genotypes. Their phenotypic plasticity responses were examined under a combination of red (85%) and blue (15%) light-emitting diodes relative to darkness from seed germination to cotyledon unfolding. The photosynthetic photon flux density was around 316 μmol m−2s−1and the photoperiod was 17 h. Generally, light vs. dark delayed germination by reducing germination rate and increasing spread time of germination; inhibited shoot growth by reducing shoot length and fresh mass; promoted root growth by increasing root length, diameter, branching, and fresh mass; and promoted genotype-inherent colouring in leaves and stems. Shoot colour, shoot length, and (or) root branching showed higher plasticity indices than other plant traits in response to light, suggesting that some or all of these plant traits are more sensitive to lighting across the tested genotypes. Using cluster analysis based on the plasticity index, the 18 genotypes were separated into six groups that expressed response sensitivity to part or all of the above-mentioned traits. Based on the average plasticity index of all the tested plant traits, the 18 genotypes were graded into four groups using the Fisher optimal partition. Small- vs. large-seed species and the red- vs. green-leaf/root cultivars within the same species showed higher phenotypic plasticity indices in most cases, suggesting that they are more sensitive to lighting.
Industrial innovation and infrastructure as drivers of change in the Canadian boreal zone1
Authors: Musetta-Lambert Jordan L. , Enanga Eric M. , Teichert Sonja , Creed Irena F. , Kidd Karen A. , Kreutzweiser David P. , Sibley Paul K.
Published: October 2018

Much of Canada’s industrial sector is driven by natural resources and relies heavily on provisioning services supplied by the boreal zone. However, the sometimes intensive processes used by resource-based industries and their associated infrastructure have significantly altered the region, creating concerns over the future socio-ecological health of the boreal zone. Addressing these concerns will require industries reliant on natural resources from the boreal zone to innovate their processes, management, and infrastructure to improve extraction efficiency while contributing to society’s increasing expectations related to sustainability. Here, we explore past, current, and future trends in industrial innovation and infrastructure in the boreal zone for forestry, mining, pulp and paper, oil and gas, and renewable sources of power generation. We assess the role of innovation on the future socio-ecological state of the boreal zone by considering interactions between innovation in industry and infrastructure and other key drivers of change in the boreal, such as atmospheric changes, changing demands for nonprovisioning and provisioning ecosystem services, governance, and demographics and social values. We present future scenarios highlighting three divergent trajectories of change in boreal ecosystems based on past and current states of innovation in industry and infrastructure. We suggest that minimizing impacts of natural resource extraction activities in the boreal zone will only be possible through innovation directly focused on reducing the human footprint on the landscape. Innovation in the information technology sector related to process, management, and end products within these industries and placing greater emphasis on cross-sectoral collaboration will be key to achieving this goal.
Face Recognition Based on SVM Optimized by the Improved Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Zeng Zhigao , Guan Lianghua , Zhu Wenqiu , Dong Jing , Li Jun
Published: October 2018

Support vector machine (SVM) is always used for face recognition. However, kernel function selection (kernel selection and its parameters selection) is a key problem for SVMs, and it is difficult. This paper tries to make some contributions to this problem with focus on optimizing the parameters in the selected kernel function. Bacterial foraging optimization algorithm, inspired by the social foraging behavior of Escherichia coli, has been widely accepted as a global optimization algorithm of current interest for distributed optimization and control. Therefore, we proposed to optimize the parameters in SVM by an improved bacterial foraging optimization algorithm (IBFOA). In the improved version of bacterial foraging optimization algorithm, a dynamical elimination-dispersal probability in the elimination-dispersal step and a dynamical step size in the chemotactic step are used to improve the performance of bacterial foraging optimization algorithm. Then the optimized SVM is used for face recognition. Simultaneously, an improved local binary pattern is proposed to extract features of face images in this paper to improve the accuracy rate of face recognition. Numerical results show the advantage of our algorithm over a range of existing algorithms.
Improved Adaptive Wavelet Thresholding for Effective Speckle Noise Reduction in Low Contrast Medical Images
Authors: Sreelatha P. , Ezhilarasi M.
Published: October 2018

Informative images endure from poor contrast and noise during image acquisition. Significant information retrieval necessitates image contrast enhancement and removal of noise as a prerequisite before any further processing can be done. Dominant applications with low contrast images affected by speckle noise are medical ultrasound images. The objective of this work is to improve the effectiveness of the preprocessing stage in medical ultrasound images by enhancing the image while retaining its structural characteristics. For image enhancement, this work proposes to develop an automatic contrast enhancement technique using cumulative histogram equalization and gamma correction based on the image. For noise removal, this work proposes an algorithm Gamma Correction with Exponentially Adaptive Threshold (GCEAT) which suggests the use of GC for contrast enhancement along with a new wavelet-based adaptive soft thresholding technique for noise removal. The proposed GCEAT-based image de-noising is validated with other enhancement and noise removal techniques. Experimental results with low contrast synthetic and actual ultrasound images show that the suggested proposed system performs better than existing contrast enhancement techniques. Encouraging results were obtained with medical ultrasound images in terms of Peak-Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Mean Square Error (MSE), Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) and Average Intensity (AI).
Formal Modeling and Verifying the TTCAN Protocol from a Probabilistic Perspective
Authors: Li Xin , Guo Jian , Zhao Yongxin , Zhu Xiaoran
Published: October 2018

The time-triggered CAN (TTCAN) protocol has been widely used in the automotive industry to fulfil the safety and real-time requirements of the application. As an extension of the standard CAN protocol, the TTCAN protocol aims to guarantee a safe and deterministic communication by introducing time-triggered messages with respect to a global synchronized time, which are scheduled in independent transmission windows within the system matrix. However, the new features bring more difficulties in designing and verifying the reliable applications in the TTCAN network. In this paper, we first present a formal probabilistic model of the TTCAN protocol with a consideration of its novel features. A TTCAN system consisting of three parts, i.e., a system matrix, an arbitration and some nodes, is modeled as discrete Markov chains model. Furthermore, five probabilistic properties are described and verified in the probabilistic model checker tool PRISM. Our work gives a quantitative analysis method for the given requirements, which facilitates the designers to a formal understanding of TTCAN protocol.
Searching for chirality–flipping interactions in nuclear β decays
Authors: Garcia Alejandro
Published: October 2018

We describe a promising way for searching for new physics via the breaking of the chirality rules that govern the basic structure of the Standard Model.
Symmetries in subatomic multi-quark systems
Authors: Vergados J. D. , Strottman D.
Published: October 2018

We discus the role of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) in low energy phenomena involving the color-spin symmetry of the quark model. We then combine it with orbital and isospin symmetry to obtain wave functions with the proper permutation symmetry, focusing on multi-quark systems.
From QCD symmetries to nuclei and neutron stars
Authors: Weise Wolfram
Published: October 2018

Global symmetries and symmetry breaking patterns of QCD with light quarks, in particular chiral symmetry, provide basic guidance not only for low-energy hadron physics but also for nuclear forces and the nuclear many-body problem. Recent developments of Chiral Effective Field Theory (ChEFT) applications to nuclear and neutron matter are summarized, with special emphasis on a (nonperturbative) extension using functional renormalization group methods. Topics include: nuclear thermodynamics, extrapolations to dense baryonic matter and constraints from neutron star observables.
The classification of self-orthogonal codes of length 42
Authors: Ghosh Debashis , Pal Joydeb , Dey Lakshmi Kanta
Published: October 2018

Self-orthogonal codes play an important role in constructing quantum-error-correcting codes. In this paper, we prove that if quasi-symmetric 2-(41, 9, 9) design exists, then it arises from self-orthogonal and self-complementary [Formula: see text] codes with dual distance of at least 5. Moreover, we emphasize the enumeration of inequivalent doubly-even codes with the needed dual distance and an automorphism of order 7. This is found to be precisely 8.
Recent progress of ecofriendly perovskite-type dielectric ceramics for energy storage applications
Authors: Li Feng , Zhai Jiwei , Shen Bo , Zeng Huarong
Published: October 2018

Increasing concern has been focused on the search for ecofriendly dielectric ceramics to meet the extensive demands of pulsed capacitors. Due to the advantages of high-energy storage density, efficiency, and excellent temperature stability, optimization of energy storage performance in dielectric ceramics has been a goal in the past decades. This review summarizes the recently reported progress in energy storage properties of typical perovskite-type lead-free ceramics. The advantages and shortcomings in the various kinds of ceramics are discussed. Finally, future prospects are presented to provide some guidelines for the exploration of new materials.
High energy storage performance for dielectric film capacitors by designing 1D SrTiO3@SiO2 nanofillers
Authors: Xie Bing , Zhang Ling , Marwat Mohsin Ali , Zhu Yiwei , Ma Weigang , Fan Pengyuan , Zhang Haibo
Published: October 2018

The development of advanced dielectric film materials with high energy storage performance is of critical significance for pulsed power capacitor applications. Nevertheless, the low discharged energy density ([Formula: see text]) of current dielectric film material restricts their further application. In this work, core-shell structured SrTiO3@SiO2 nanowires (ST@SiO2 NWs) fillers are fabricated based on interface engineering for high [Formula: see text]. The optimized SiO2 insulating layer could effectively confine the mobility of space charge carriers in the interfacial zone between ST NWs and thick SiO2 insulating layer, thus reducing the interfacial polarization between the interface of nanofillers/polymer, which could be used to optimize the electric field strength and electric displacement of the corresponding nanocomposite. As a result, this nanocomposite film simultaneously exhibits enhanced maximum applied electric field ([Formula: see text]) and ([Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]) values, thus releasing an ultrahigh discharged energy density of 14.7[Formula: see text]J/cm3 at 390[Formula: see text]MV/m, which is 99% higher than that of the conventional ST/P(VDF-CTFE) (without SiO2 coating) nanocomposite, and it is almost 2.5 times that of pure P(VDF-CTFE). This work demonstrates the superiority of the core-shell structured paraelectric nanowire in enhancing the energy storage performance of dielectric film capacitors, which is expected to guide the design of advanced energy-storage nanocomposites.
Origin of the Ordovician Mansehra granite in the NW Himalaya, Pakistan: constraints from Sr–Nd isotopic data, zircon U–Pb age and Hf isotopes
Authors: Ogasawara Masatsugu , Fukuyama Mayuko , Siddiqui Rehanul Haq , Zhao Ye
Published: October 2018

The Mansehra granite in the NW Himalaya is a typical Lesser Himalayan granite. We present here new whole-rock geochemistry, Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotope data, together with zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data, for the Mansehra granite. Geochemical data for the granite show typical S-type characteristics. Zircon U–Pb dating yields
206
Pb/
238
U crystallization ages of 483–476 Ma. The zircon grains contain abundant inherited cores and some of these show a clear detrital origin. The
206
Pb/
238
U ages of the inherited cores in the granite cluster in the ranges 889–664, 1862–1595 and 2029 Ma. An age of 664 Ma is considered to be the maximum age of the sedimentary protoliths. Thus the Late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian sedimentary rocks must be the protolith of the Mansehra granitic magma. The initial Sr isotope ratios are high, ranging from 0.7324 to 0.7444, whereas the
ε
Nd(t) values range from −9.2 to −8.6, which strongly suggests a large contribution of old crustal material to the protoliths. The two-stage Nd model ages and zircon Hf model ages are Paleoproterozoic, indicating that the protolith sediments were derived from Paleoproterozoic crustal components.
Thinking Like a Director
Authors: Wu Hui-Yin , Palù Francesca , Ranon Roberto , Christie Marc
Published: October 2018

This article introduces
Film Editing Patterns (FEP)
, a language to formalize film editing practices and stylistic choices found in movies. FEP constructs are constraints, expressed over one or more shots from a movie sequence, that characterize changes in cinematographic visual properties, such as shot sizes, camera angles, or layout of actors on the screen. We present the vocabulary of the FEP language, introduce its usage in analyzing styles from annotated film data, and describe how it can support users in the creative design of film sequences in 3D. More specifically, (i) we define the FEP language, (ii) we present an application to craft filmic sequences from 3D animated scenes that uses FEPs as a high level mean to select cameras and perform cuts between cameras that follow best practices in cinema, and (iii) we evaluate the benefits of FEPs by performing user experiments in which professional filmmakers and amateurs had to create cinematographic sequences. The evaluation suggests that users generally appreciate the idea of FEPs, and that it can effectively help novice and medium experienced users in crafting film sequences with little training.
Robust Electric Network Frequency Estimation with Rank Reduction and Linear Prediction
Authors: Lin Xiaodan , Kang Xiangui
Published: October 2018

This article deals with the problem of Electric Network Frequency (ENF) estimation where Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is an essential challenge. By exploiting the low-rank structure of the ENF signal from the audio spectrogram, we propose an approach based on robust principle component analysis to get rid of the interference from speech contents and some of the background noise, which in our case can be regarded as sparse in nature. Weighted linear prediction is enforced on the low-rank signal subspace to gain accurate ENF estimation. The performance of the proposed scheme is analyzed and evaluated as a function of SNR, and the Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) is approached at an SNR level above -10 dB. Experiments on real datasets have demonstrated the advantages of the proposed method over state-of-the-art work in terms of estimation accuracy. Specifically, the proposed scheme can effectively capture the ENF fluctuations along the time axis using small numbers of signal observations while preserving sufficient frequency precision.
A Genetic Isometric Shape Correspondence Algorithm with Adaptive Sampling
Authors: Sahillioğlu Yusuf
Published: October 2018

We exploit the permutation creation ability of genetic optimization to find the permutation of one point set that puts it into correspondence with another one. To this end, we provide a genetic algorithm for the 3D shape correspondence problem, which is the main contribution of this article. As another significant contribution, we present an adaptive sampling approach that relocates the matched points based on the currently available correspondence via an alternating optimization. The point sets to be matched are sampled from two isometric (or nearly isometric) shapes. The sparse one-to-one correspondence, i.e., bijection, that we produce is validated both in terms of running time and accuracy in a comprehensive test suite that includes four standard shape benchmarks and state-of-the-art techniques.
OmniArt
Authors: Strezoski Gjorgji , Worring Marcel
Published: October 2018

Baselines are the starting point of any quantitative multimedia research, and benchmarks are essential for pushing those baselines further. In this article, we present baselines for the artistic domain with a new benchmark dataset featuring over 2 million images with rich structured metadata dubbed OmniArt. OmniArt contains annotations for dozens of attribute types and features semantic context information through concepts, IconClass labels, color information, and (limited) object-level bounding boxes. For our dataset we establish and present baseline scores on multiple tasks such as artist attribution, creation period estimation, type, style, and school prediction. In addition to our metadata related experiments, we explore the color spaces of art through different types and evaluate a transfer learning object recognition pipeline.
Peripartum dietary supplementation of a small-molecule inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 compromises infant, but not maternal, bone
Authors: Weaver Samantha R. , Fricke Hannah P. , Xie Cynthia , Aiello Robert J. , Charles Julia F. , Hernandez Laura L.
Published: October 2018

Long-term effects of breastfeeding on maternal bone are not fully understood. Excessive maternal bone loss stimulated by serotonin signaling during lactation may increase bone fragility later in life. We hypothesized that inhibiting nonneuronal serotonin activity by feeding a small-molecule inhibitor of the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis [tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1)] would preserve maternal bone postweaning without affecting neonatal bone. Chow supplemented with the small-molecule TPH1 inhibitor LP778902 (~100 mg/kg) or control chow was fed to C57BL/6 dams throughout pregnancy and lactation, and blood was collected on days 1 and 21 of lactation. Dams returned to a common diet postweaning and were aged to 3 or 9 mo postweaning. Pups were euthanized at weaning. The effect of TPH1 inhibition on dam and pup femoral bone was determined by micro-computed tomography. Peripartum dietary supplementation with LP778902 decreased maternal serum serotonin concentrations ( P = 0.0007) and reduced bone turnover, indicated by serum NH2-terminal propeptide of type I collagen ( P = 0.01) and COOH-terminal collagen cross-links ( P = 0.02) concentrations, on day 21 of lactation. Repressed bone turnover from TPH1 inhibition was not associated with structural changes in maternal femur at 3 or 9 mo postweaning. By contrast, neonates exposed to peripartum LP778902 demonstrated differences in trabecular and cortical femoral bone compared with pups from control dams, with fewer ( P = 0.02) and thinner ( P = 0.001) trabeculae as well as increased trabecular spacing ( P = 0.04). Additionally, cortical porosity was increased ( P = 0.007) and cortical tissue mineral density was decreased ( P = 0.005) in pups of LP778902-treated dams. Small-molecule TPH1 inhibitors should be carefully considered in pregnant and lactating women, given potential risks to neonatal bone development.