bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amphotericin B Penetrates into the Central Nervous System through Focal Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier in Experimental Hematogenous
Candida
Meningoencephalitis
Authors: Petraitis Vidmantas , Petraitiene Ruta , Valdez Jessica M. , Pyrgos Vasilios , Lizak Martin J. , Klaunberg Brenda A. , Kalasauskas Darius , Basevicius Algidas , Bacher John D. , Benjamin Daniel K. , Hope William W. , Walsh Thomas J.
Published: October 2019

Hematogenous
Candida
meningoencephalitis (HCME) is a life-threatening complication of neonates and immunocompromised children. Amphotericin B (AmB) shows poor permeation and low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations but is effective in the treatment of HCME. In order to better understand the mechanism of CNS penetration of AmB, we hypothesized that AmB may achieve focally higher concentrations in infected CNS lesions.
Detection of Candida auris Antifungal Drug Resistance Markers Directly from Clinical Skin Swabs
Authors: Kordalewska Milena , Lee Annie , Zhao Yanan , Perlin David S.
Published: October 2019

Accurate and rapid assessment of
Candida auris
antifungal drug resistance is crucial for effective infection prevention and control actions, as well as for patient management. Here, performance of a molecular diagnostic platform, enabling rapid identification of
FKS1
and
ERG11
mutations conferring echinocandin and azole resistance, respectively, was evaluated on a panel of clinical skin swabs. Gene sequencing and antifungal susceptibility testing were used as the gold standard.
The Cation Diffusion Facilitator Family Protein EmfA Confers Resistance to Manganese Toxicity in Brucella abortus 2308 and Is an Essential Virulence Determinant in Mice
Authors: Johnsrude Matthew J. , Pitzer Joshua E. , Martin Daniel W. , Roop R. Martin
Published: October 2019

Mn nutrition is essential for the basic physiology and virulence ofBrucellastrains. The results of the study presented here demonstrate that the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF)-type metal exporter EmfA plays critical roles in maintaining Mn homeostasis and preventing Mn toxicity inBrucellaand is an essential virulence determinant for these bacteria. EmfA and other cellular components involved in Mn homeostasis represent attractive targets for the development of improved vaccines and chemotherapeutic strategies for preventing and treating brucellosis in humans and animals.
Evolution of the Stator Elements of Rotary Prokaryote Motors
Authors: Lai Yu-Wen , Ridone Pietro , Peralta Gonzalo , Tanaka Mark M. , Baker Matthew A. B.
Published: October 2019

The bacterial flagellar motor is driven by an ion flux that is converted to torque by motor-attendant complexes known as stators. The dynamics of stator assembly around the motor in response to external stimuli have been the subject of much recent research, but less is known about the evolutionary origins of stator complexes and how they select for specific ions.
Evaluation of the Direct MacConkey Method for Identification of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Organisms from Rectal Swabs: Reevaluating Zone Diameter Cutoffs
Authors: Workneh Meklit , Wang Ruibin , Kazmi Abida Q. , Chambers Krizia K. , Opene Belita N. A. , Lewis Shawna , Goodman Katherine , Tamma Pranita D. , Carroll Karen C. , Milstone Aaron M. , Simner Patricia J.
Published: October 2019

The optimal method to screen for gastrointestinal colonization with carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) has yet to be established. The direct MacConkey (direct MAC) plate method demonstrates high sensitivity for CRO detection, but established zone diameter (ZD) criteria for ertapenem (≤27 mm) and meropenem (≤32 mm) result in high rates of false positives upon confirmatory testing.
Noninvasive Detection of Antibodies to Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Types 1 and 2 by Use of Oral Fluid
Authors: Woo Timothy , Rosadas Carolina , Ijaz Samreen , Dicks Steve , Tosswill Jennifer H. C. , Tedder Richard S. , Taylor Graham P.
Published: October 2019

Human T-lymphotropic viruses type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) are prevalent in endemic clusters globally, and HTLV-1 infects at least 5 to 10 million individuals. Infection can lead to inflammation in the spinal cord, resulting in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), or adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL).
Identification of Key Amino Acids in the PB2 and M1 Proteins of H7N9 Influenza Virus That Affect Its Transmission in Guinea Pigs
Authors: Kong Huihui , Ma Shujie , Wang Jingfei , Gu Chunyang , Wang Zeng , Shi Jianzhong , Deng Guohua , Guan Yuntao , Chen Hualan
Published: October 2019

Efficient transmission is a prerequisite for a novel influenza virus to cause an influenza pandemic; however, the genetic determinants of influenza virus transmission remain poorly understood. H7N9 influenza viruses, which emerged in 2013 in China, have caused over 1,560 human infection cases, showing clear pandemic potential. Previous studies have shown that the H7N9 viruses differ in their transmissibility in animal models. In this study, we found two amino acids in PB2 (292V and 627K) and one in M1 (156D) that are extremely important for H7N9 virus transmission. Of note, PB2 292V and M1 156D appear in most H7N9 viruses, and the PB2 627K mutation could easily occur when the H7N9 virus replicates in humans. Our study thus identifies new amino acids that are important for influenza virus transmission and suggests that just a few key amino acid changes can render the H7N9 virus transmissible in mammals.
NS5 from Dengue Virus Serotype 2 Can Adopt a Conformation Analogous to That of Its Zika Virus and Japanese Encephalitis Virus Homologues
Authors: El Sahili Abbas , Soh Tingjin Sherryl , Schiltz Jonas , Gharbi-Ayachi Aïcha , Seh Cheah Chen , Shi Pei-Yong , Lim Siew Pheng , Lescar Julien
Published: October 2019

Flaviviruses include important human pathogens, such as dengue virus and Zika virus. NS5 is a nonstructural protein essential for flavivirus RNA replication with dual MTase and RdRp enzyme activities and thus constitutes a major drug target. Insights into NS5 structure, dynamics, and evolution should inform the development of antiviral inhibitors and vaccine design. We found that NS5 from DENV2 can adopt a conformation resembling that of NS5 from JEV and ZIKV. Replacement of the DENV2 NS5 linker with the JEV and ZIKV NS5 linkers abolished DENV2 replication in cells, without significantly impacting
in vitro
DENV2 NS5 enzymatic activities. We propose that heterotypic flavivirus NS5 linkers impede DENV2 NS5 protein-protein interactions that are essential for virus replication.
Evaluating the Intactness of Persistent Viral Genomes in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Macaques after Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy within One Year of Infection
Authors: Long Samuel , Fennessey Christine M. , Newman Laura , Reid Carolyn , O’Brien Sean P. , Li Yuan , Del Prete Gregory Q. , Lifson Jeffrey D. , Gorelick Robert J. , Keele Brandon F.
Published: October 2019

Molecularly defining the viral reservoir that persists despite antiretroviral therapy and that can lead to rebound viremia if antiviral therapy is removed is critical for testing interventions aimed at reducing this reservoir. In HIV infection in humans with delayed treatment initiation and extended treatment duration, persistent viral DNA has been shown to be dominated by nonfunctional genomes. Using multiple real-time PCR assays across the genome combined with near-full-genome sequencing, we defined SIV genetic integrity after 9 to 18 months of combination antiretroviral therapy in rhesus macaques starting therapy within 1 year of infection. In the animals starting therapy within a month of infection, the vast majority of persistent DNA was intact and presumptively functional. Starting therapy within 1 year increased the nonintact fraction of persistent viral DNA. The approach described here allows rapid screening of viral intactness and is a valuable tool for assessing the efficacy of novel reservoir-reducing interventions.
Lotus japonicus
Symbiosis Genes Impact Microbial Interactions between Symbionts and Multikingdom Commensal Communities
Authors: Thiergart Thorsten , Zgadzaj Rafal , Bozsóki Zoltán , Garrido-Oter Ruben , Radutoiu Simona , Schulze-Lefert Paul
Published: October 2019

Studies on symbiosis genes in plants typically focus on binary interactions between roots and soilborne nitrogen-fixing rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi in laboratory environments. We utilized wild type and symbiosis mutants of a model legume, grown in natural soil, in which bacterial, fungal, or both symbioses are impaired to examine potential interactions between the symbionts and commensal microorganisms of the root microbiota when grown in natural soil. This revealed microbial interkingdom interactions between the root symbionts and fungal as well as bacterial commensal communities. Nevertheless, the bacterial root microbiota remains largely robust when fungal symbiosis is impaired. Our work implies a broad role for host symbiosis genes in structuring the root microbiota of legumes.
Genome Sequence of
Enorma
sp. Strain Marseille-P9525
T
, a Member of a Human Gut Microbiome
Authors: Gouba Nina , Saad Jamal , Drancourt Michel , Fellag Mustapha
Published: October 2019

Strain Marseille-P9525
T
was isolated from the gut microbiota of a 28-year-old woman and exhibits a 2.23-Mb (G+C content, 66.8%) draft genome sequence containing 1,902 protein-coding genes, 49 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. The 16S rRNA sequencing and
in silico
DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that strain Marseille-P9525
T
represents a new species to be described.
Draft Genome Sequence of a New Pseudomonas sp. Strain, ef1, Associated with the Psychrophilic Antarctic Ciliate Euplotes focardii
Authors: Ramasamy Kesava Priyan , Telatin Andrea , Mozzicafreddo Matteo , Miceli Cristina , Pucciarelli Sandra
Published: October 2019

We announce here the draft genome sequence of a new
Pseudomonas
strain, named
Pseudomonas
sp. strain ef1, associated with the cold-adapted Antarctic ciliate
Euplotes focardii
. The genome sequence is 6,228,167 bp long with a G+C content of 59.7%.
Optimization of a Method To Quantify Soil Bacterial Abundance by Flow Cytometry
Authors: Khalili Banafshe , Weihe Claudia , Kimball Sarah , Schmidt Katharina T. , Martiny Jennifer B. H.
Published: October 2019

The ability to quantify bacterial abundance is important for understanding the contributions of microbial communities in soils, but such assays remain difficult and time-consuming. Flow cytometry offers a fast and direct way to count bacterial cells, but several concerns remain in applying the technique to soils. This study aimed to improve the efficiency of the method for soil while quantifying its limitations. We demonstrated that an optimized procedure was sensitive enough to capture differences in bacterial abundances among treatments and ecosystems in two field studies.
Psychosocial curating: a theory and practice of exhibition-making at the intersection between health and aesthetics
Authors: Bartlett Vanessa
Published: October 2019

A recent Manifesto for a Visual Medical Humanities suggested that more in-depth analysis of the contribution of visual art to medical humanities is urgently required. This need perhaps arises because artists and curators experience conflict between the experimental approaches and tacit knowledge that drive their practice and existing audience research methods used in visitor studies or arts marketing. In this paper, I adopt an innovative psychosocial method—uniquely suited to evidencing aesthetic experiences—to examine how an exhibition of my own curation facilitated audiences to undertake psychological processing of complex ideas about mental distress. I consider the curator working in a health context as a creator of care-driven environments where complex affects prompted by aesthetic approaches to illness can be digested and processed. My definition of care is informed by psychosocial studies and object relations psychoanalysis, which allows me to approach my exhibitions as supportive structures that enable a spectrum of affects and emotions to be encountered. The key argument of the paper is that concepts from object relations psychoanalysis can help to rethink the point of entanglement between curating and health as a process of preparing the ground for audiences to do generative psychological work with images and affects. The case study isGroup Therapy: Mental Distress in a Digital Age, an exhibition that was iterated at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), UK and University of New South Wales Galleries Sydney, with an emphasis on audience response to key artworks such asMadlove—A Designer Asylum(2015) by the vacuum cleaner and Hannah Hull. It is hoped that this paper will help to reaffirm the significance of curating as a cultural platform that supports communities to live with the anxieties prompted by society’s most complex medical and social issues.
A systematic review of non-trunk basilar perforator aneurysms: is it worth chasing the small fish?
Authors: Granja Manuel F , Monteiro Andre , Agnoletto Guilherme Jose , Jamal Sara , Sauvageau Eric , Aghaebrahim Amin , Hanel Ricardo
Published: October 2019

Background and purpose

Non-trunk basilar artery perforator aneurysms (BAPAs) are rare intracranial vascular pathologies that have long been underdiagnosed, under-reported, and under-analyzed. We performed a systematic review of the efficacy and safety endpoints between conservative and active treatment approaches for non-trunk BAPAs.

Methods

Major databases were analyzed for relevant publications between 1995 and 2019. Studies comparing the outcomes between conservative and active treatment approaches such as coiling, stenting, clipping, liquid embolization, and flow diversion were included. Mortality rate, rate of permanent neurological deficit as determined by the modified Rankin Score (mRS), rate of second treatment occurrence, and perioperative complication rate were also assessed.

Results

A total of 24 studies, including 54 patients with 56 non-trunk BAPAs, were included. The mean maximum aneurysm diameter was 2.70 mm (range 1–10). A diagnosis was achieved with the initial DSA in 50.0% (27/54) of the patients. A conservative approach was used in 16 patients while active treatment was used in the other 38. Thirteen of 15 (86.7%) patients in the conservative group and 27/34 (79.4%) in the active treatment group had an mRS score 0–2. A non-significant higher odds of a positive outcome was observed in the conservative group (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.50 to 4.54). The event-related mortality rate was 3.55% (3/54) with one procedure-related death in the active treatment group.

Conclusions

In patients with non-trunk BAPAs unamenable to active treatment, conservative approaches may result in acceptable functional outcomes and low morbidity. Small sample sizes and under-reporting of outcomes warrant further study.
Movements, habitat use, and entrainment of stocked juvenile lake sturgeon in a hydroelectric reservoir system
Authors: Hegna Jonathan , Scribner Kim , Baker Edward
Published: October 2019

Identifying movement and habitat use patterns is essential for fish passage efforts and the conservation of threatened species. We used acoustic telemetry to track the movements of 44 juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) throughout Kleber Reservoir in northern Michigan. On average, lake sturgeon moved 502 m between telemetry positions, with age-2 lake sturgeon moving longer distances than age-1 lake sturgeon. Areas with high numbers of lake sturgeon detections were clustered near the forebay, while zones with low numbers of detections were clustered toward the head of the reservoir. Analyses showed that 66.4% of the variance in habitat use could be explained by physical habitat features. Reservoir areas with ample deepwater habitat, fine soft substrates, and limited macrophyte vegetation were the most frequently occupied and, thus, may provide suitable habitat conditions to support juvenile lake sturgeon. We observed that 54.4% of the age-1 and 52.8% of the age-2 lake sturgeon stocked into Kleber Reservoir were entrained. Reservoir size, morphology, and the location of suitable habitat in relation to hydroelectric infrastructure may be key factors that affect entrainment rates.
Seventy years of scientific impact using neutron beams at the Chalk River Laboratories
Authors: Banks Daniel , Harroun Thad A.
Published: October 2019

The 31 March 2018 closure of the National Research Universal reactor marked the end of over 70 years of materials research using neutron beams from major neutron sources at the Chalk River Laboratories in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. This closure will have a major impact on the Canadian materials research community, including researchers in the physics, chemistry, and engineering of materials. After a brief review of the history of neutron beams at the Chalk River Laboratories, we present the results of a bibliometric study of the scientific output of the research with neutron beams. In this study, we compiled a complete bibliographic record of the research papers beginning with the first neutron scattering experiments at the National Research Experimental reactor in 1947, analyzed the citations from 1980 onward, and benchmarked the results against major neutron beam facilities in other countries and against other major research facilities in Canada. We also conducted a broader bibliometric analysis of the use of neutron scattering data among all Canadians, regardless of where the data were taken. The results provide a useful metric of the size of the Canadian neutron scattering community and places into context the importance of access to this research tool.
Rolling bearing fault diagnosis of PSO–LSSVM based on CEEMD entropy fusion
Authors: Gao Shuzhi , Li Tianchi , Zhang Yimin
Published: October 2019

Taking aim at the nonstationary nonlinearity of the rolling bearing vibration signal, a rolling bearing fault diagnosis method based on the entropy fusion feature of complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD) is proposed in combination with information fusion theory. First, CEEMD of the vibration signal of the rolling bearing is performed. Then the signal is decomposed into the sum of several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), and the singular entropy, energy entropy, and permutation entropy are obtained for the IMFs with fault features. Second, the feature extraction method of entropy fusion is proposed, and the three entropy data obtained are input into kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) for feature fusion and dimensionality reduction to obtain complementary features. Finally, the extracted features are imported into the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to optimize the least-squares support vector machine (LSSVM) for fault classification. Through experimental verification, the proposed method can be used for roller bearing fault diagnosis.
General Schwarz Lemmata and their applications
Authors: Ni Lei
Published: October 2019

We prove estimates interpolating the Schwarz Lemmata of Royden–Yau and the ones recently established by the author. These more flexible estimates provide additional information on (algebraic) geometric aspects of compact Kähler manifolds with nonnegative holomorphic sectional curvature, nonnegative [Formula: see text] or positive [Formula: see text].
The wormhole thermodynamics in f (R ) gravity
Authors: Sefiedgar A. S. , Mirzazadeh M.
Published: October 2019

Thermodynamics of the evolving Lorentzian wormhole at the apparent horizon is investigated in [Formula: see text] gravity. Redefining the energy density and the pressure, the continuity equation is satisfied and the field equations in [Formula: see text] gravity reduce to the ones in general relativity. However, the energy–momentum tensor includes all the corrections from [Formula: see text] gravity. Therefore, one can apply the standard entropy-area relation within [Formula: see text] gravity. It is shown that there may be an equivalency between the field equations and the first law of thermodynamics. It seems that an equilibrium thermodynamics may be held on the apparent horizon. The validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics (GSL) is also investigated in the wormholes.
Interval Methods in Knowledge Representation
Authors: Kreinovich Vladik
Published: October 2019

Please send your abstracts (or copies of papers that you want to see reviewed here) to vladik@utep.edu, or by regular mail to Vladik Kreinovich, Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
Locally definable subgroups of semialgebraic groups
Authors: Baro Elías , Eleftheriou Pantelis E. , Peterzil Ya’acov
Published: October 2019

We prove the following instance of a conjecture stated in [P. E. Eleftheriou and Y. Peterzil, Definable quotients of locally definable groups, Selecta Math. (N.S.) 18(4) (2012) 885–903]. Let [Formula: see text] be an abelian semialgebraic group over a real closed field [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text] be a semialgebraic subset of [Formula: see text]. Then the group generated by [Formula: see text] contains a generic set and, if connected, it is divisible. More generally, the same result holds when [Formula: see text] is definable in any o-minimal expansion of [Formula: see text] which is elementarily equivalent to [Formula: see text]. We observe that the above statement is equivalent to saying: there exists an [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is an approximate subgroup of [Formula: see text].
Multimodal intravascular imaging technology for characterization of atherosclerosis
Authors: Li Yan , Chen Jason , Chen Zhongping
Published: October 2019

Early detection of vulnerable plaques is the critical step in the prevention of acute coronary events. Morphology, composition, and mechanical property of a coronary artery have been demonstrated to be the key characteristics for the identification of vulnerable plaques. Several intravascular multimodal imaging technologies providing co-registered simultaneous images have been developed and applied in clinical studies to improve the characterization of atherosclerosis. In this paper, the authors review the present system and probe designs of representative intravascular multimodal techniques. In addition, the scientific innovations, potential limitations, and future directions of these technologies are also discussed.
A Low-Cost Highly Reliable Spintronic True Random Number Generator Circuit for Secure Cryptography
Authors: Alibeigi Iman , Amirany Abdolah , Rajaei Ramin , Tabandeh Mahmoud , Shouraki Saeed Bagheri
Published: October 2019

Generation of random numbers is one of the most important steps in cryptographic algorithms. High endurance, high performance and low energy consumption are the attractive features offered by the Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) devices. Therefore, they have been considered as one of the promising candidates for next-generation digital integrated circuits. In this paper, a new circuit design for true random number generation using MTJs is proposed. Our proposed circuit offers a high speed, low power and a truly random number generation. In our design, we employed two MTJs that are configured in special states. Generated random bit at the output of the proposed circuit is returned to the write circuit to be written in the relevant cell for the next random generation. In a random bitstream, all bits must have the same chance of being “0”or “1”. We have proposed a new XOR-based method in this paper to resolve this issue in multiple random generators that produce truly random numbers with a different number of ones and zeros in the output stream. The simulation results using a 45[Formula: see text]nm CMOS technology with a special model of MTJ validated the advantages offered by the proposed circuit.
Toward a Transformed and Unequal World
Authors: Feng Shuai
Published: October 2019

With the increasing use of machine learning algorithms in strategic decision-making and military affairs, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is bringing about significant changes to the current international system. AI applications will further tilt the global balance of power in favor of actors who can make the best use of the emerging technology. AI-assisted automation is also changing prevailing socioeconomic production models on the global scale; and in the not too distant future, it is expected to exert systemic impacts on the current global order. Having recognized the full potential of AI technology in propelling the next industrial revolution, China has adopted an AI development strategy for guiding a nation-wide campaign to harness AI power at an early stage, so as to seize the strategic initiative in an emerging global AI competition. China’s initial efforts have produced remarkable achievements with theoretical and practical implications.
Exponential Separations in the Energy Complexity of Leader Election
Authors: Chang Yi-Jun , Kopelowitz Tsvi , Pettie Seth , Wang Ruosong , Zhan Wei
Published: October 2019

Energy
is often the most constrained resource for battery-powered wireless devices, and most of the energy is often spent on
transceiver usage
(i.e., transmitting and receiving packets) rather than computation. In this article, we study the
energy complexity
of fundamental problems in several models of wireless radio networks. It turns out that energy complexity is very sensitive to whether the devices can generate random bits and their ability to
detect collisions
. We consider four collision detection models: Strong-CD (in which transmitters and listeners detect collisions), Sender-CD (in which only transmitters detect collisions), Receiver-CD (in which only listeners detect collisions), and No-CD (in which no one detects collisions).

The take-away message of our results is quite surprising. For randomized algorithms, there is an exponential gap between the energy complexity of Sender-CD and Receiver-CD:

Randomized: No-CD = Sender-CD > Receiver-CD = Strong-CD

and for deterministic algorithms, there is another exponential gap in energy complexity,
but in the reverse direction
:

Deterministic: No-CD = Receiver-CD > Sender-CD = Strong-CD

Precisely, the randomized energy complexity of Leader Election is Θ(log
*
n
) in Sender-CD but Θ(log(log
*
n
)) in Receiver-CD, where
n
is the number of devices, which is unknown to the devices at the beginning; the deterministic complexity of Leader Election is Θ(log
N
) in Receiver-CD but Θ(log log
N
) in Sender-CD, where
N
is the size of the ID space.

There is a tradeoff between time and energy. We provide a new upper bound on the time-energy tradeoff curve for randomized algorithms. A critical component of this algorithm is a new deterministic Leader Election algorithm for
dense
instances, when
n
= Θ(
N
), with inverse Ackermann energy complexity.
Heavy Hitters and the Structure of Local Privacy
Authors: Bun Mark , Nelson Jelani , Stemmer Uri
Published: October 2019

We present a new locally differentially private algorithm for the heavy hitters problem that achieves optimal worst-case error as a function of all standardly considered parameters. Prior work obtained error rates that depend optimally on the number of users, the size of the domain, and the privacy parameter but depend sub-optimally on the failure probability.

We strengthen existing lower bounds on the error to incorporate the failure probability and show that our new upper bound is tight with respect to this parameter as well. Our lower bound is based on a new understanding of the structure of locally private protocols. We further develop these ideas to obtain the following general results beyond heavy hitters.

•
Advanced Grouposition
: In the local model, group privacy for
k
users degrades proportionally to ≈√
k
instead of linearly in
k
as in the central model. Stronger group privacy yields improved max-information guarantees, as well as stronger lower bounds (via “packing arguments”), over the central model.

• Building on a transformation of Bassily and Smith (STOC 2015), we give a generic transformation from any non-interactive approximate-private local protocol into a pure-private local protocol. Again in contrast with the central model, this shows that we cannot obtain more accurate algorithms by moving from pure to approximate local privacy.
Runtime Verification over Out-of-order Streams
Authors: Basin David , Klaedtke Felix , Zălinescu Eugen
Published: October 2019

We present an approach for verifying systems at runtime. Our approach targets distributed systems whose components communicate with monitors over unreliable channels, where messages can be delayed, reordered, or even lost. Furthermore, our approach handles an expressive specification language that extends the real-time logic MTL with freeze quantifiers for reasoning about data values. The logic’s main novelty is a new three-valued semantics that is well suited for runtime verification as it accounts for partial knowledge about a system’s behavior. Based on this semantics, we present online algorithms that reason soundly and completely about streams where events can occur out of order. We also evaluate our algorithms experimentally. Depending on the specification, our prototype implementation scales to out-of-order streams with hundreds to thousands of events per second.
The Good, the Bad, and the Unflinchingly Selfish
Authors: Epstein Ziv , Peysakhovich Alexander , Rand David
Published: October 2019

The human willingness to pay costs to benefit anonymous others is often explained by social preferences: rather than only valuing their own material payoff, people also include the payoffs of others in their utility function. But how successful is this concept of outcome-based social preferences for actually predicting out-of-sample behavior? We investigate this question by having 1,067 participants each make 20 Dictator Game decisions with randomized parameters (e.g., outcomes for the self, for the other, benefit/cost ratio of pro-sociality). We then use machine learning to try to predict behavior by each participant in each decision. A representative agent model (a small, shared, set of parameters) predicts better than random but still quite poorly (AUC = 0.69). Allowing for full heterogeneity across individuals in the mapping from decision-parameters to outcome yields good predictive performance (AUC = 0.89). However, this heterogeneous model is complicated and unwieldy, thus we also investigate whether a simpler model can yield similar performance. We find that the vast majority of the predictive power (AUC = 0.88) is achieved by a model that allows for three behavioral types. Finally, we show that cannot be well proxied for by other measures in psychology. This final analysis adds further evidence to the literature that human “cooperative phenotypes” are indeed meaningful, relatively orthogonal person-level traits.
Addressing the Challenge of Polypharmacy
Authors: Mair Alpana , Wilson Martin , Dreischulte Tobias
Published: October 2019

Polypharmacy describes the concomitant use of multiple medicines and represents a growing global challenge attributable to aging populations with an increasing prevalence of multimorbidity. Polypharmacy can be appropriate but is problematic when the increased risk of harm from interactions between drugs or between drugs and diseases or the burden of administering and monitoring medicines outweighs plausible benefits. Polypharmacy has a substantial economic impact in service demand and hospitalization as well as a detrimental impact on patients’ quality of life. Apart from causing avoidable harm, polypharmacy can also lead to therapeutic failure, with up to 50% of patients who take four or more medications not taking them as prescribed. Guidance is needed to support patients and clinicians in defining and achieving realistic goals of drug treatment, and system change is necessary to aid implementation. This article outlines lessons from two programs that aim to address these challenges: the Scottish polypharmacy guidance on realistic prescribing and the European Union SIMPATHY project.
Incidence of Central Venous Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections: Evaluation of Bundle Prevention in Two Intensive Care Units in Central Brazil
Authors: Yoshida Thais , Silva Ana Elisa Bauer de Camargo , Simões Luciana Leite Pineli , Guimarães Rafael Alves
Published: October 2019

Background. Central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CVC-BSIs) have been associated with increased length of hospital stay, mortality, and healthcare costs, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence density of CVC-BSIs before and after implementation of the bundle in a hospital of infectious and dermatological diseases in Central Brazil. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in two ICUs (adult and pediatric) between 2012 and 2015. Two periods were compared to assess the effect of the intervention in incidence density of CVC-BSIs: before and after intervention, related to the stages before and after the implementation of the bundle, respectively. Results. No significant reduction was observed in the incidence density of CVC-BSIs in adult ICU (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.754; 95.0% CI: 0.349 to 1.621; p-value = 0.469), despite the high bundle application rate in the postintervention period. Similarly, significant reduction in the incidence density in pediatric ICU has not been verified after implementation of the bundle (IRR: 1.148; 95.0% CI: 0.314 to 4.193; p-value = 0.834). Conclusion. Not significant reduction in the incidence density of CVC-BSIs was observed after bundle implementation in ICUs, suggesting the need to review the use of process, as well as continuing education for staffs in compliance and correct application of the bundle. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of bundle in the reduction of incidence density of CVC-BSIs in Brazil.
Matching, Stability, and Vibration Analysis of Nonlinear Suspension System for Truck Cabs
Authors: Yang Fuxing , Zhao Leilei , Yu Yuewei , Zhou Changcheng
Published: October 2019

To improve comfort, a nonlinear suspension system is proposed on the basis of the nonlinear vibration isolation theory and the installation space of the cab suspension system for trucks. This system is suitable for all‐floating cabs. For easy matching and design, the static and stability characteristics of the suspension system were analyzed, respectively, and the boundary condition for the stability of the system was given. Moreover, the cab simulation model was established, and the dynamic simulation was conducted. The stability analysis shows that the smaller the vibration excitation of the cab system, the higher its stability is. The dynamic simulation results show that the acceleration of the cab with the nonlinear suspension system is effectively suppressed; the dynamic deflection of the suspension is kept within a certain range, and the design space of the suspension stroke can be effectively utilized. Compared with the traditional linear suspension system, the nonlinear suspension system has better vibration isolation characteristics and can effectively improve ride comfort.
Spatial Variability of the Physicochemical Properties of Soils from Seasonally Flooded Forest Fragments on a Tropical Plain
Authors: Barbosa Marcus Vinicius Moreira , Fernandes Taynara Augusta , Siqueira Guilherme Benko , de Siqueira Flávia Lucila Tonani , de Morais Paula Benevides
Published: October 2019

Flooded ecosystems are conditioned to seasonal floods that promote specific soil conditions, such as low oxygen, hydromorphism, and peculiar chemical reactions. These environments are dependent on flood pulses that determine specific ecological conditions. Ipucas are seasonally flooded discontinuous forest patches that occur exclusively in the Araguaia Plain in Central Brazil. They are located 0.40 to 1.20 m lower than the surrounding plain, which promotes an accumulation of rainwater for five to six months of the year, being entirely or partially dry during the dry season. The aim of this study was to evaluate the horizontal (centre and edge) and vertical (depths: 0–0.20 m and 0.20–0.40 m) variability of physicochemical parameters in Ipucas soils, attempting to establish the importance of flood pulses and the leaching of surrounding areas in soil formation and composition. Samples were collected during the dry season in three Ipucas of similar size and circularity using a Dutch auger. The results reveal that flood pulses promote the deposition of sediments eroded from the surrounding plain, homogenizing the characteristics of the surface soil, from the edge to the centre of the Ipucas. However, biogeochemical processes, also linked to temporary flooding, account for the differences between the surface and deeper soil horizons because anoxic conditions during flooding promote chemical reactions characteristic of anaerobic environments, modifying the pH and organic matter content, in addition to the gleying of soils subjected to flooding, which are then covered by sediments after the dry season. Finally, Ipucas soils are susceptible to anthropic changes and are dependent on seasonal flood pulses.
Total Knee Arthroplasty in Ochronosis Arthropathy: A Case Report and Systematic Review
Authors: Lee Wu Chean , Tan Tong Leng , Chan Ying Ho
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Ochronosis arthropathy (OcA) is a rare condition which may be treated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at the end stage. The condition is often discovered only intraoperatively and the ideal choice of TKA is unknown. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old male with worsening chronic bilateral mechanical knee pain had failed conservative therapy. Posterior stabilised (PS), cemented TKA and patella resurfacing was performed. Intraoperatively, collagenous structures such as the menisci and cartilage were noted to be black. Histological examination showed deposition of large amorphous brown material suggestive of ochronosis. He recovered well and underwent TKA of the contralateral knee the following year. At 2 years postindex TKA, his outcome scores improved and he was satisfied. Discussion and Conclusion. With increasing TKA performed worldwide, a surgeon may eventually be surprised by the above findings once in their lifetime. However, OcA may be considered a likely diagnosis and it is safe to proceed with TKA. There is no particular TKA design that proved to be superior in our systematic review of 19 publications regarding TKA as all reported good outcomes. However, as the pathogenesis of OcA appears to be inflammatory in nature, we suggest using cemented PS TKA with resurfacing of the patella.
Influence of Piezoelectric Performance on Nonlinear Dynamic Characteristics of MFC Shells
Authors: Guo Xiangying , Jiang Pan , Cao Dongxing
Published: October 2019

Based on the structures of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wings, nonlinear dynamic analysis of macrofiber composite (MFC) laminated shells is presented in this paper. The effects of piezoelectric properties and aerodynamic forces on the dynamic stability of the MFC laminated shell are studied. Firstly, under the flow condition of ideal incompressible fluid, the thin airfoil theory is employed to calculate the effects of the mean camber line to obtain the circulation distribution of the wings in subsonic air flow. The steady aerodynamic lift on UAV wings is derived by using the Kutta–Joukowski lift theory. Then, considering the geometric nonlinearity and piezoelectric properties of the MFC material, the nonlinear dynamic model of the MFC laminated shell is established with Hamilton’s principles and the Galerkin method. Next, the effects of electric field, external excitation force, and nonlinear parameters on the stability of the system are studied under 1 : 1 internal resonance and the effects of material parameters on the natural frequency of the structure are also analyzed. Furthermore, the influence of the aerodynamic forces and electric field on the nonlinear dynamic responses of MFC laminated shells is discussed by numerical simulation. The results indicate that the electric field and external excitation have great influence on the structural dynamic responses.
Diabetes and Chronic Pancreatitis: Considerations in the Holistic Management of an Often Neglected Disease
Authors: Johnston Philip C. , Thompson Judith , Mckee Allison , Hamill Connor , Wallace Ian
Published: October 2019

Diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis (CP) or type 3cDM refers to a brittle form of diabetes and is often characterised by hypoglycaemic episodes, erratic glycaemic control, and impaired quality of life. It differs from other forms of diabetes and is typically characterised by concurrent pancreatic endocrine and exocrine insufficiency which can present as malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and the practicalities of diagnosis, screening, and management of this condition.
Successful Subsequent Pregnancy in a Woman Receiving Eculizumab for Pregnancy-Associated Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome
Authors: Bateman Samantha , Ladhani Maleeka , Jesudason Shilpanjali
Published: October 2019

Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is a form of thrombotic microangiopathy precipitated by unopposed complement activation, the treatment of which has been revolutionised by the availability of the monoclonal anti-complement (C5) antibody, eculizumab. Historically, women with aHUS would be unable to achieve a successful pregnancy due to the severity of their renal disease and for the few who could conceive, recurrence of aHUS was a significant risk. In spite of this, parenthood remains a priority for many. Experience with eculizumab use in the management of aHUS during pregnancy is growing and with it comes a significant change in the course of the disease. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman diagnosed with severe aHUS in the first trimester of her first pregnancy. She received rescue therapy with eculizumab and had a return to normal renal function. While this pregnancy was lost, she strongly desired a family. We managed her through a subsequent pregnancy while receiving eculizumab. This pregnancy was uncomplicated and carried to term and she birthed a healthy 2500 g baby girl. The complexities of managing a pregnancy in a woman with a history of aHUS are vast but not insurmountable, as demonstrated by this case.
Synthesis of Cationic Waterborne Polyurethanes from Waste Frying Oil as Antibacterial Film Coatings
Authors: Phunphoem Sivaphol , Saravari Onusa , Supaphol Pitt
Published: October 2019

Cationic waterborne polyurethane (CWPU) was synthesized from waste frying oil and utilized as antibacterial film coatings. Waste oil-based monoglyceride was synthesized by the alcoholysis reaction of waste oil with glycerol, while CWPUs were prepared by esterification with methylenediphenyl 4,4′-diisocyanate (MDI) and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride (BHMAC) as an internal emulsifier. The effect of internal emulsifier contents on the chemical structures and properties of the obtained polyurethanes was studied. Bactericidal activity of the obtained polyurethanes toward Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated using the time kill assay. CWPUs were successfully synthesized as confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Effects of the internal emulsifier on particle size of CWPUs and mechanical properties of the resulting polyurethane films were investigated and measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Particle size diameter of CWPUs ranged from 13.38 to 28.75 nm. The resulting polyurethane films were very pliable, with moderate adhesion and hardness. All films showed good resistance to water and diluted acid but poor resistance to dilute alkali. Obtained CWPUs provided excellent antibacterial activity, with efficiency increasing with increasing amount of BHMAC. Interestingly, antibacterial ability against S. aureus was more rapid than that against E. coli under similar conditions. Results offered an alternative utilization of waste frying oil as a sustainable raw material for the preparation of value-added polymers in the chemical industry.
A Rare Case of Duodenal Adenocarcinoma Presenting as a Subepithelial Lesion in a Patient Undergoing Investigation for Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Authors: Hu Xinxin , Aivazian Karina , McKenzie Catriona , Wong May , Kaffes Arthur , Saxena Payal
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Adenocarcinomas account for approximately 40% of small bowel cancers. They are typically mucosal lesions with distinctive features on endoscopy. We describe a rare case of duodenal adenocarcinoma presenting as a subepithelial lesion which posed a diagnostic challenge. Case. An 85-year-old male patient presented for investigation of iron deficiency anaemia. Initial upper endoscopy found a subepithelial duodenal lesion with central depression but otherwise normal appearing mucosa. Superficial biopsies of the duodenal lesion were unremarkable. Subsequent antegrade single balloon enteroscopy revealed active bleeding from the lesion which was refractory to endoscopic treatment. A complete local excision of the lesion via laparotomy was necessary to achieve haemostasis. Histopathology from the lesion showed a moderately differentiated duodenal adenocarcinoma with invasion into the submucosa but no evidence of lymphovascular spread. Conclusion. Duodenal adenocarcinomas are rare gastrointestinal tumours associated with a poor prognosis. This case report outlines a rare presentation of duodenal adenocarcinoma and highlights the importance of judicious assessment of lesions found on endoscopy. Advances in endoscopic diagnostic modalities could facilitate early diagnosis and improve therapeutic outcomes.
Model Test Study on the Antibreaking Technology of Reducing Dislocation Layer for Subway Interval Tunnel of the Stick‐Slip Fracture
Authors: Cui Guang-yao , Wang Xue-lai
Published: October 2019

Based on the background of the Line F2-3 interval tunnel section of Jiujiawan in Urumqi Subway Line 1, this paper carries out the model test research on the antibreaking technology of the reducing dislocation layer in the tunnel section of the stick‐slip fracture. The antibreaking effect of different locations and number of reducing dislocation layers in tunnel engineering is analyzed in this paper. The results show that when the double reducing dislocation layer, respectively, set between the surrounding rock and the primary support, and the primary support and the secondary lining, the antibreaking effect is the best. It is recommended to use this scheme for antibreaking design. The research results can provide reference for antibreaking design of traffic tunnels in active fault zones.
DOA Estimation of Two-Dimensional Coherently Distributed Sources Based on Spatial Smoothing of Uniform Rectangular Arrays
Authors: Wu Tao , Li Yiwen , Zhang Xiaofeng , Huang Yijie , Gu Qingyue , Fu Chaoqi
Published: October 2019

Aiming at the direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of two-dimensional (2D) coherently distributed (CD) sources which are coherent with each other, we explore the propagator method based on spatial smoothing of a uniform rectangular array (URA). The rotational invariance relationships with respect to the nominal azimuth and nominal elevation are obtained under the small angular spreads assumption. A propagator operator is constructed through spatial smoothing of sample covariance matrices firstly. Then, combination of propagator and identical matrix is divided according to rotational operators, and the nominal angles can be obtained through eigendecomposition lastly. Realizing angle matching automatically, the proposed method can estimate multiple DOAs of 2D coherent CD sources without spectral peak searching and prior knowledge of deterministic angular signal distribution function. Simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.