bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in survival of patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care (ZODIAC-50)
Authors: Hendriks Steven H , van Hateren Kornelis J J , Groenier Klaas H , Landman Gijs W D , Maas Angela H E M , Bilo Henk J G , Kleefstra Nanne
Published: October 2017

Objective

To investigate sex differences in survival of primary care treated patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Netherlands.

Setting

Primary care.

Participants

A total of 1815 patients who participated in a prospective observational cohort study (Zwolle Outpatient Diabetes Project Integrating Available Care (ZODIAC)) were included of which 56% was female. Inclusion took place in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Vital status was assessed in 2013.

Main outcome measure

Relative survival of men and women with T2D. The relative survival rate was expressed as the ratio of observed survival of patients divided by the survival of the general population in the Netherlands with comparable age.

Results

After 14 years, 888 (49%) patients had died. The relative survival rate was 0.88 (0.81–0.94) for men and 0.82 (0.76–0.87) for women with T2D after 14 years (p value for difference between sexes=0.169). In patients without a history of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the relative survival was 0.99 (0.94–1.05) in men and 0.92 (0.87–0.97) in women (p value for difference between sexes=0.046).

Conclusions

The survival of men and women with T2D was 12% and 18% lower, respectively, after 14 years of follow-up compared with men and women in the general population. This corresponds to a decrease in median survival of 2.2 and 3.5 years in men and women, respectively. Only for patients with T2D without a history of CVD, a significantly lower relative survival in women compared with men with T2D was found.
Bridging knowledge, policies and practices across the ageing and disability fields: a protocol for a scoping review to inform the development of a taxonomy
Authors: Nalder Emily Joan , Putnam Michelle , Salvador-Carulla Luis , Spindel Andria , Batliwalla Zinnia , Lenton Erica
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Bridging is a term used to describe activities, or tasks, used to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange across fields. This paper reports the protocol for a scoping review which aims to identify and characterise peer reviewed evidence describing bridging activities, between the ageing and disability fields. The purpose is to clarify the concepts underpinning bridging to inform the development of a taxonomy, and identify research strengths and gaps.

Methods

A scoping review will be conducted. We will search Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts and the Cochrane Library, to identify peer reviewed publications (reviews, experimental, observational, qualitative designs and expert commentaries) describing bridging activities. Grey literature, and articles not published in English will be excluded. Two investigators will independently complete article selection and data abstraction to minimise bias. A data extraction form will be iteratively developed and information from each publication will be extracted: (1) bibliographic, (2) methodological, (3) demographic, and (4) bridging information. Qualitative content analysis will be used to describe key concepts related to bridging.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this will be the first scoping review to describe bridging of ageing and disability knowledge, services and policies. The findings will inform the development of a taxonomy to define models of bridging that can be implemented and further evaluated to enable integrated care and improve systems and services for those ageing with disability.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics is not required because this is a scoping review of published literature. Findings will be disseminated through stakeholder meetings, conference presentations and peer reviewed publication.
Study protocol for the ‘HelpMeDoIt!’ randomised controlled feasibility trial: an app, web and social support-based weight loss intervention for adults with obesity
Authors: Matthews Lynsay , Pugmire Juliana , Moore Laurence , Kelson Mark , McConnachie Alex , McIntosh Emma , Morgan-Trimmer Sarah , Murphy Simon , Hughes Kathryn , Coulman Elinor , Utkina-Macaskill Olga , Simpson Sharon Anne
Published: October 2017

Introduction

HelpMeDoIt! will test the feasibility of an innovative weight loss intervention using a smartphone app and website. Goal setting, self-monitoring and social support are three key facilitators of behaviour change. HelpMeDoIt! incorporates these features and encourages participants to invite ‘helpers’ from their social circle to help them achieve their goal(s).

Aim

To test the feasibility of the intervention in supporting adults with obesity to achieve weight loss goals.

Methods and analysis

12-month feasibility randomised controlled trial and accompanying process evaluation. Participants (n=120) will be adults interested in losing weight, body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m2and smartphone users. The intervention group will use the app/website for 12 months. Participants will nominate one or more helpers to support them. Helpers have access to the app/website. The control group will receive a leaflet on healthy lifestyle and will have access to HelpMeDoIt! after follow-up. The key outcome of the study is whether prespecified progression criteria have been met in order to progress to a larger randomised controlled effectiveness trial. Data will be collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Outcomes focus on exploring the feasibility of delivering the intervention and include: (i) assessing three primary outcomes (BMI, physical activity and diet); (ii) secondary outcomes of waist/hip circumference, health-related quality of life, social support, self-efficacy, motivation and mental health; (iii) recruitment and retention; (iv) National Health Service (NHS) resource use and participant borne costs; (v) usability and acceptability of the app/website; and (vi) qualitative interviews with up to 50 participants and 20 helpers on their experiences of the intervention. Statistical analyses will focus on feasibility outcomes and provide initial estimates of intervention effects. Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews will assess implementation, acceptability, mechanisms of effect and contextual factors influencing the intervention.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the West of Scotland NHS Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 15/WS/0288) and the University of Glasgow MVLS College Ethics Committee (Ref: 200140108). Findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN85615983.
Projecting diabetes prevalence among Mexicans aged 50 years and older: the Future Elderly Model-Mexico (FEM-Mexico)
Authors: Gonzalez-Gonzalez Cesar , Tysinger Bryan , Goldman Dana P , Wong Rebeca
Published: October 2017

Objective

Diabetes has been growing as a major health problem and a significant burden on the population and on health systems of developing countries like Mexico that are also ageing fast. The goal of the study was to estimate the future prevalence of diabetes among Mexico’s older adults to assess the current and future health and economic burden of diabetes.

Design

A simulation study using longitudinal data from three waves (2001, 2003 and 2012) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study and adapting the Future Elderly Model to simulate four scenarios of hypothetical interventions that would reduce diabetes incidence and to project the future diabetes prevalence rates among populations 50 years and older.

Participants

Data from 14 662 participants with information on self-reported diabetes, demographic characteristics, health and mortality.

Outcome measures

We obtained, for each scenario of diabetes incidence reduction, the following summary measures for the population aged 50 and older from 2012 to 2050: prevalence of diabetes, total population with diabetes, number of medical visits.

Results

In 2012, there were approximately 20.7 million persons aged 50 and older in Mexico; 19.3% had been diagnosed with diabetes and the 2001–2003 diabetes incidence was 4.3%. The no-intervention scenario shows that the prevalence of diabetes is projected to increase from 19.3% in 2012 to 34.0% in 2050. Under the 30% incidence reduction scenario, the prevalence of diabetes will be 28.6% in 2050. Comparing the no-intervention scenario with the 30% and 60% diabetes incidence reduction scenarios, we estimate a total of 816 320 and 1.6 million annual averted cases of diabetes, respectively, for the year 2020.

Discussion

Our study underscores the importance of diabetes as a disease by itself and also the potential healthcare demands and social burden of this disease and the need for policy interventions to reduce diabetes prevalence.
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide not meeting due care criteria in the Netherlands: a qualitative review of review committee judgements
Authors: Miller David Gibbes , Kim Scott Y H
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To assess how Dutch regional euthanasia review committees (RTE) apply the euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) due care criteria in cases where the criteria are judged not to have been met (‘due care not met’ (DCNM)) and to evaluate how the criteria function to set limits in Dutch EAS practice.

Design

A qualitative review using directed content analysis of DCNM cases in the Netherlands from 2012 to 2016 published on the RTE website (https://www.euthanasiecommissie.nl/) as of 31 January 2017.

Results

Of 33 DCNM cases identified (occurring 2012–2016), 32 cases (97%) were published online and included in the analysis. 22 cases (69%) violated only procedural criteria, relating to improper medication administration or inadequate physician consultation. 10 cases (31%) failed to meet substantive criteria, with the most common violation involving the no reasonable alternative (to EAS) criterion (seven cases). Most substantive cases involved controversial elements, such as EAS for psychiatric disorders or ‘tired of life’, in incapacitated patients or by physicians from advocacy organisations. Even in substantive criteria cases, the RTE’s focus was procedural. The cases were more about unorthodox, unprofessional or overconfident physician behaviours and not whether patients should have received EAS. However, in some cases, physicians knowingly pushed the limits of EAS law. Physicians from euthanasia advocacy organisations were over-represented in substantive criteria cases. Trained EAS consultants tended to agree with or facilitate EAS in DCNM cases. Physicians and families had difficulty applying ambiguous advance directives of incapacitated patients.

Conclusion

As a retrospective review of physician self-reported data, the Dutch RTEs do not focus on whether patients should have received EAS, but instead primarily gauge whether doctors conducted EAS in a thorough, professional manner. To what extent this constitutes enforcement of strict safeguards, especially when cases contain controversial features, is not clear.
How do workplaces, working practices and colleagues affect UK doctors’ career decisions? A qualitative study of junior doctors’ career decision making in the UK
Authors: Spooner Sharon , Pearson Emma , Gibson Jonathan , Checkland Kath
Published: October 2017

Objectives

This study draws on an in-depth investigation of factors that influenced the career decisions of junior doctors.

Setting

Junior doctors in the UK can choose to enter specialty training (ST) programmes within 2 years of becoming doctors. Their specialty choices contribute to shaping the balance of the future medical workforce, with views on general practice (GP) careers of particular interest because of current recruitment difficulties. This paper examines how experiences of medical work and perceptions about specialty training shape junior doctors’ career decisions.

Participants

Twenty doctors in the second year of a Foundation Training Programme in England were recruited. Purposive sampling was used to achieve a diverse sample from respondents to an online survey.

Results

Narrative interviewing techniques encouraged doctors to reflect on how experiences during medical school and in medical workplaces had influenced their preferences and perceptions of different specialties. They also spoke about personal aspirations, work priorities and their wider future.

Junior doctors’ decisions were informed by knowledge about the requirements of ST programmes and direct observation of the pressures under which ST doctors worked. When they encountered negative attitudes towards a specialty they had intended to choose, some became defensive while others kept silent. Achievement of an acceptable work-life balance was a central objective that could override other preferences.

Events linked with specific specialties influenced doctors’ attitudes towards them. For example, findings confirmed that while early, positive experiences of GP work could increase its attractiveness, negative experiences in GP settings had the opposite effect.

Conclusions

Junior doctors’ preferences and perceptions about medical work are influenced by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors and experiences. This paper highlights the importance of understanding how perceptions are formed and preferences are developed, as a basis for generating learning and working environments that nurture students and motivate their professional careers.
Development and pilot testing of a decision aid for the initiation of antipsychotic medications in persons with dementia in long-term care using a systematic approach: a study protocol
Authors: Malloy-Weir Leslie J , Kirk Andrew
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Antipsychotic medications are commonly used in long-term care to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia despite concerns that their risks (eg, infection, falls, death) may outweigh their benefits. This study protocol outlines the development and pilot testing of a decision aid for antipsychotic medications that is tailored to the information needs of residents with dementia in long-term care and family caregivers (or decision makers). The goals of the decision aid are to help residents and caregivers (1) better understand the risks and benefits of antipsychotic medications in long-term care, and (2) make informed decisions about their use (or non-use).

Methods and analysis

This multiphased study is being conducted between October 2016 and September 2018. In phase I, the decision aid will be developed after consultation with a steering group, review of scientific evidence on outcomes associated with pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in long-term care, review of guidelines for the use of antipsychotic medications in long-term care, and review of guidelines for writing health information for patients and families. The decision aid will also be alpha-tested and redrafted, as necessary, in phase I. In phase II, implementation and reporting guidelines for the decision aid will be developed in collaboration with Directors of Care in long-term care. In phase III, the decision aid will be (1) beta-tested with residents with dementia in long-term care and caregivers not involved in the design phase, and (2) assessed by an external panel of experts.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this study has been granted by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Saskatchewan, approval number Beh 16-465. Findings from this study will be disseminated via conference presentations, publications, presentations to policy makers and plain language summaries to residents with dementia in long-term care and their caregivers.
Gene of the month: SDH
Authors: Aldera Alessandro Pietro , Govender Dhirendra
Published: October 2017

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a heterotetrameric nuclear encoded mitochondrial protein complex which plays a role in the citric acid cycle and the electron transfer chain. Germline mutations inSDHAare associated with Leigh syndrome. Mutations inSDHB,SDHCandSDHDare found in an increasing number of neoplasms, most notably paragangliomas and wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumours. SDH deficiency in these tumours has important prognostic implications, and also provides a novel target for molecular therapy. In this article, we outline the structure and function of SDH and provide a summary of its role in various diseases.
Parental occupational exposures and the risk of childhood sporadic retinoblastoma: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group
Authors: Omidakhsh Negar , Bunin Greta R , Ganguly Arupa , Ritz Beate , Kennedy Nola , von Ehrenstein Ondine S , Krause Niklas , Heck Julia E
Published: October 2017

Objectives

We examined associations between parental occupational chemical exposures up to 10 years before conception and the risk of sporadic retinoblastoma among offspring.

Methods

In our multicentre study on non-familial retinoblastoma, parents of 187 unilateral and 95 bilateral cases and 155 friend controls were interviewed by telephone. Exposure information was collected retroactively through a detailed occupational questionnaire that asked fathers to report every job held in the 10 years before conception, and mothers 1 month before and during the index pregnancy. An industrial hygienist reviewed all occupational data and assigned an overall exposure score to each job indicating the presence of nine hazardous agents.

Results

We estimated elevated ORs for unilateral and bilateral retinoblastoma among offspring of fathers who were exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or paints in the 10 years before conception. However, only for exposure to paints did confidence limits exclude the null for bilateral disease (OR: 8.76, 95% CI: 1.32 to 58.09). Maternal prenatal exposure to at least one of the nine agents was related to increased risk of unilateral disease in their children (OR: 5.25, 95% CI: 1.14 to 24.16). Fathers exposed to at least one of the nine agents and who were ≥30 years of age were at increased risk of having a child diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma (OR: 6.59, 95% CI: 1.34 to 32.42).

Conclusions

Our results suggest a role for several hazardous occupational exposures in the development of childhood retinoblastoma.
Meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated dolphin mortality and the subsequent facility decolonisation protocol
Authors: Gili Claudia , Biancani Barbara , Gulland Frances , Mazzariol Sandro
Published: October 2017

This case reports the presence of meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a colony of cetaceans maintained under human care. MRSA isolates of the same strain were cultured from multiple organs of two dolphins that died with septicaemia. Following these mortalities and in consideration of the zoonotic potential of this pathogen, a decolonisation protocol was developed and applied to reduce the risk of exposure to humans and animals. After monitoring for MRSA presence in the animals, environment and staff, a strict sanitation protocol was applied for 15 months, with the aim of controlling MRSA. This protocol reduced the incidence of this pathogen and its involvement in acute clinical cases. The transmission between cetaceans and the implication of human reservoirs are discussed as important issues for veterinarians, facility managers and public health officials.
Future of keeping pet reptiles and amphibians: animal welfare and public health perspective
Authors: Warwick C. , Jessop M. , Arena P. , Pliny A. , Nicholas E. , Lambiris A.
Published: October 2017

In a review summary on page 450, Pasmans and others discuss the future of keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets. Here, Clifford Warwick and others discuss the animal welfare and public health implications of exotic pet business.
Fragility curves for rainfall-induced shallow landslides on transport networks
Authors: Martinović Karlo , Reale Cormac , Gavin Kenneth
Published: October 2017

Many of the earthworks assets on rail transport networks were constructed in the 1800s and have thus operated for periods far in excess of their expected service life. Incidences of failure — particularly shallow planar landslides — are increasing, in part due to the effect of more intense and longer duration rainfall events. Network owners have difficulty in targeting scarce resources to reduce risk across networks. This paper proposes a methodology for developing fragility curves for rainfall-induced landslides on transport networks. Fragility curves provide the probability of exceedance of different limit states for a given hazard considering a range of magnitudes. In this paper, the vulnerability of slopes as expressed by a loss of performance is quantified for rainfall events of various intensities and duration. The approach expands upon probabilistic slope stability analysis and provides a rational logical framework for considering how vulnerable a slope is to rainfall-induced failure.
Interacting effects of identity, size, and winter severity determine temporal consistency of offspring phenotype
Authors: Feiner Zachary S. , Malinich Timothy D. , Höök Tomas O.
Published: October 2017

Offspring size can strongly influence offspring fitness; however, the importance of female identity to offspring size determination is poorly understood, despite the potential for identity effects to drive offspring size adaptation and population dynamics. We tracked reproductive investment (skein mass) and mean egg diameter, mass, and density produced by individual female yellow perch (Perca flavescens) over four spawning years to determine the influences of maternal identity, size, and winter severity to reproductive trait variation. Individual identity significantly influenced egg diameter and mass, but did not affect egg density or skein mass. All egg traits were negatively influenced by winter severity prior to spawning, and egg mass and diameter were also negatively related to maternal size. Our results suggest that individual effects can comprise a large amount of the intrapopulation variation in reproductive traits in populations, which may be unaccounted for in studies examining only environmental or phenotypic effects. Accounting for potential identity effects would likely improve our understanding of constraints on offspring size plasticity and potential responses of offspring size in populations experiencing environmental change.
HOW FUNDING STRUCTURE AFFECTS EFFICIENCY OF R&D INVESTMENT BY LARGE- AND MEDIUM-SIZED INDUSTRIAL FIRMS IN CHINA? EVIDENCE FROM PROVINCE-LEVEL PANEL DATA
Authors: ZHOU YIXIAO , ZHANG RUNYANG , SONG LIGANG
Published: October 2017

This study explores the efficiencies of firm’s R&D investment depending on the degree of reliance on government funding relative to firms’ private funding. Stochastic frontier analysis is applied on a sample of 30 provinces with data on R&D inputs and innovation outputs by all large- and medium-sized industrial firms in these provinces from 2000 to 2013. It is found that R&D investment financed by firms’ private funding is more efficient than that by government funding in generating new products, whereas R&D investment financed by government funding is more efficient than that by firms’ private funding in producing new patents.
Revealing how different spinors can be: The Lounesto spinor classification
Authors: Hoff da Silva J. M. , Cavalcanti R. T.
Published: October 2017

This paper aims to give a coordinate-based introduction to the so-called Lounesto spinorial classification scheme. Among other results, it has evinced classes of spinors which fail to satisfy Dirac equation. The underlying idea and the central aspects of such spinorial categorization are introduced in an argumentative basis, after which we delve into a commented account on recent results obtained from (and within) this branch of research.
A Vaidya-type generalization of Kerr spacetime
Authors: Böhmer C. G. , Hogan P. A.
Published: October 2017

A new Vaidya-type generalization of Kerr spacetime is constructed by requiring the Kerr mass and angular momentum per unit mass to depend upon a variable which has a simple geometrical origin. The matter distribution introduced in this way radiates mass and angular momentum at future null infinity. The Vaidya generalization of the Schwarzschild spacetime is a special case of the newly found solution.
First principles and Debye model study of the thermodynamic, electronic and optical properties of MgO under high-temperature and pressure
Authors: Miao Yurun , Li Huayang , Wang Hongjuan , He Kaihua , Wang Qingbo
Published: October 2017

First principles and quasi-harmonic Debye model have been used to study the thermodynamic properties, enthalpies, electronic and optical properties of MgO up to the core–mantle boundary (CMB) condition (137 GPa and 3700 K). Thermodynamic properties calculation includes thermal expansion coefficient and capacity, which have been studied up to the CMB pressure (137 GPa) and temperature (3700 K) by the Debye model with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local-density approximation (LDA). First principles with hybrid functional method (PBE0) has been used to calculate the electronic and optical properties under pressure up to 137 GPa and 0 K. Our results show the Debye model with LDA and first principles with PBE0 can provide accurate thermodynamic properties, enthalpies, electronic and optical properties. Calculated enthalpies show that MgO keep NaCl (B1) structure up to 137 GPa. And MgO is a direct bandgap insulator with a 7.23 eV calculated bandgap. The bandgap increased with increasing pressure, which will induce a blue shift of optical properties. We also calculated the density of states (DOS) and discussed the relation between DOS and band, optical properties. Equations were used to fit the relations between pressure and bandgaps, absorption coefficient ([Formula: see text]([Formula: see text])) of MgO. The equations can be used to evaluate pressure after careful calibration. Our calculations can not only be used to identify some geological processes, but also offer a reference to the applications of MgO in the future.
Improved Decomposition-Based Global EDF Scheduling of DAGs
Authors: Jiang Xu , Long Xiang
Published: October 2017

Recently, an increasing number of real-time systems are implemented on multicore systems. To fully utilize the computation power of multicore systems, the scheduling problem of the real-time parallel task model is receiving more attention. Different types of scheduling algorithms and analysis techniques have been proposed for parallel real-time tasks modeled as directed acyclic graphs (DAG). In this paper, we study the scheduling problem for DAGs under the decomposition paradigm. We propose a new schedulability test and corresponding decomposition strategy. We show that this new decomposition approach strictly dominates the latest decomposition-based approach. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the real-time performance of our proposed scheduling algorithm, against the state-of-the-art scheduling and analysis methods of different types. Experimental results show that our method consistently outperforms other global methods under different parameter settings.
A 42ppm/∘C 0.7V 47nW Low-Complexity All-MOSFET Sub-Threshold Voltage Reference
Authors: Liang Yuhua , Zhu Zhangming
Published: October 2017

A low-power, low-supply, low-complexity all-MOSFET voltage reference is implemented in 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS process. With the proposed architecture, the number of the transistors can be reduced to the greatest extent. As a result, the supply voltage can not only be decreased to as low as 0.7[Formula: see text]V, but the power consumption can also be optimized significantly. Simulation results show that the power consumption is 47[Formula: see text]nW, at a supply of 0.7[Formula: see text]V. A temperature coefficient (TC) of 42[Formula: see text]ppm/[Formula: see text]C is achieved when the temperature ranges from [Formula: see text]20[Formula: see text]C to 80[Formula: see text]C. At room temperature, the voltage reference features a line regulation (LR) of 2.66%/V.
Wavelet analysis on some smooth surface with nonzero constant Gaussian curvature
Authors: Zhou Xiaohui , Wang Baoqin
Published: October 2017

According to the theory of wavelet analysis on [Formula: see text], the wavelet analysis on a smooth surface [Formula: see text] with nonzero constant Gaussian curvature will be discussed systematically in this paper. First, a general area-preserving projection from a smooth surface to the plane will be presented by the Gaussian projection and the area-preserving projection on the sphere. Then the continuous wavelet transform and its inverse transform on a smooth surface [Formula: see text] with nonzero constant Gaussian curvature will be discussed by a general area-preserving projection, relative dilation operator and translation operator. Further, according to the multi-resolution analysis on a smooth surface, the discrete wavelet transform and relative properties will be investigated systematically, including the two-scale equations of the wavelet function, orthogonality and so on. Finally, two numerical examples will be given.
A survey on the Klein–Gordon equation in the Gödel-type space-times
Authors: Sobhani Hadi , Hassanabadi Hassan , Chung Won Sang
Published: October 2017

In this paper, the Gödel-type space-times have been considered. We are interested in the investigation of relativistic free bosons in the Gödel-type space-times. Therefore, the Klein–Gordon equation considering the Gödel-type space-times has been constructed in a general manner. Then to accomplish our goal, two well-known special cases have been considered for the unknown function in the tensor metric of the Gödel-type space-times. The explicit forms of the wave functions for each case as well as the energy eigenvalue equations have been derived in detail.
Quasi-periodic solutions to a negative-order integrable system of 2-component KdV equation
Authors: Chen Jinbing
Published: October 2017

In this paper, the backward and forward Neumann type systems are generalized to deduce the quasi-periodic solutions for a negative-order integrable system of 2-component KdV equation. The 2-component negative-order KdV (2-nKdV) equation is depicted as the zero-curvature representation of two spectral problems. It follows from a symmetric constraint that the 2-nKdV equation is reduced to a pair of backward and forward Neumann type systems, where the involutive solutions of Neumann type systems yield the finite parametric solutions of 2-nKdV equation. The negative-order Novikov equation is given to specify a finite-dimensional invariant subspace for the 2-nKdV flow. With a spectral curve given by the Lax matrix, the 2-nKdV flow is linearized on the Jacobi variety of a Riemann surface, which leads to the quasi-periodic solutions of 2-nKdV equation by using the Riemann-Jacobi inversion.
The photodynamic therapy activity of 3-(1-hydroxylethyl)-3-devinyl-131-(dicyanomethylene) pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester (HDCPPa) against HeLa cell in vitro
Authors: Li Wenting , Wang Qi , Tan Guanghui , Zhang Hongyue , Cheng Jianjun , Wang Zhiqiang , Jin Yingxue
Published: October 2017

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of various cancers, with photosensitizer being the key component in photodynamic therapy. In this paper, we prepared a photosensitizer 3-(1-hydroxylethyl)-3-devinyl-131-(dicyanomethylene) pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester (HDCPPa), based on chlorophyll pyropheophorbide-a according to the previous report, and systematically investigated the fluorescence emission spectrum and ultraviolet absorption spectrum HDCPPa has long absorption in the near-infrared spectral region (around 695 nm). The excitation wavelength and the emission wavelength were 415 nm and 699 nm respectively in dichloromethane, 1O2 quantum yield was 63.5%. HDCPPa also had high stability in PBS solution, DMEM cell culture medium and normal saline (NS) in vitro. After irradiation by the light of 675 nm (10 J.cm[Formula: see text]) for 70 min the degradation rate of HDCPPa was 12.5%, which indicated that the target compound showed high stability under light. The in vitrophotodynamic therapy activities against HeLa cells were also studied, which showed that HDCPPa had extremely low dark toxicity but great phototoxicity, and the cell viability is lower than 10% under the light irradiation of 675 nm (10 J.cm[Formula: see text]). Moreover, HDCPPa can quickly enter the cell after being incubated with HeLa cells in less than 30 min. We also evaluated the mechanism of the photochemical reaction, which had proved that Type II is primarily responsible for the cell death. Therefore HDCPPa could serve as a very promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.
A mathematical model for the evolution of solute concentrations in a hemodialysis filter
Authors: Fasano A. , Guarnieri G. , Farina A.
Published: October 2017

We consider the process of hemodialysis performed by means of a hollow fiber dialyzer with a special focus on the dynamics of the light solutes (including metabolic waste products) through the porous fibers membrane. The model we illustrate here completes the one formulated in a previous paper in which solutes concentrations in the dialyzate were neglected. Exploiting the large difference between the characteristic time of the processes in the machine and the relaxation time to equilibrium in the body, we confine our study to the case of constant input data in order to emphasize the role of the solute transport mechanisms. Numerical solutions show that diffusion is dominant at the early stage of filtration.
pH value monitoring during human albumin purification with near infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Sun Qiaofeng , Sun Zhongyu , Wang Fei , Li Lian , Liu Ronghua , Nie Lei , Wang Jiayue , Wang Mingyu , Zang Hengchang
Published: October 2017

Human albumin (HA) is a very important blood product which requires strict quality control strategy. Acid precipitation is a key step which has a great effect on the quality of final product. Therefore, a new method based on quality by design (QbD) was proposed to investigate the feasibility of realizing online quality control with the help of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and chemometrics. The pH value is the critical process parameter (CPP) in acid precipitation process, which is used as the end-point indicator. Six batches, a total of 74 samples of acid precipitation process, were simulated in our lab. Four batches were selected randomly as calibration set and remaining two batches as validation set. Then, the analysis based on material information and three different variable selection methods, including interval partial least squares regression (iPLS), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and correlation coefficient (CC) were compared for eliminating irrelevant variables. Finally, iPLS was used for variables selection. The quantitative model was built up by partial least squares regression (PLSR). The values of determination coefficients ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]), root mean squares error of prediction (RMSEP), root mean squares error of calibration (RMSEC) and root mean squared error of cross validation (RMSECV) were 0.969, 0.953, 0.0496, 0.0695 and 0.0826, respectively. The paired [Formula: see text] test and repeatability test showed that the model had good prediction ability and stability. The results indicated that PLSR model could give accurate measurement of the pH value.
Cluster feature selection in high-dimensional linear models
Authors: Lin Bingqing , Pang Zhen , Wang Qihua
Published: October 2017

This paper concerns with variable screening when highly correlated variables exist in high-dimensional linear models. We propose a novel cluster feature selection (CFS) procedure based on the elastic net and linear correlation variable screening to enjoy the benefits of the two methods. When calculating the correlation between the predictor and the response, we consider highly correlated groups of predictors instead of the individual ones. This is in contrast to the usual linear correlation variable screening. Within each correlated group, we apply the elastic net to select variables and estimate their parameters. This avoids the drawback of mistakenly eliminating true relevant variables when they are highly correlated like LASSO [R. Tibshirani, Regression shrinkage and selection via the lasso, J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B 58 (1996) 268–288] does. After applying the CFS procedure, the maximum absolute correlation coefficient between clusters becomes smaller and any common model selection methods like sure independence screening (SIS) [J. Fan and J. Lv, Sure independence screening for ultrahigh dimensional feature space, J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B 70 (2008) 849–911] or LASSO can be applied to improve the results. Extensive numerical examples including pure simulation examples and semi-real examples are conducted to show the good performances of our procedure.
A Model of Spacetime Dynamics with Embedded Quantum Objects
Authors: Diel Hans H.
Published: October 2017

General relativity theory (GRT) tells us that (a) space and time should be viewed as an entity (called spacetime), (b) the spacetime of a world that contains gravitational objects should be viewed as curved, and (c) spacetime is a dynamical object with a dynamically changing extent and curvature. Attempts to achieve compatibility of GRT with quantum theory (QT) have typically resulted in proposing elementary units of spacetime as building blocks for the emergence of larger spacetime objects. In the present paper, a model of curved discrete spacetime is presented in which the basic space elements are derived from Causal Dynamical Triangulation. Spacetime can be viewed as the container for physical objects, and in GRT, the energy distribution of the contained physical objects determines the dynamics of spacetime. In the proposed model of curved discrete spacetime, the primary objects contained in spacetime are “quantum objects”. Other larger objects are collections of quantum objects. This approach results in an accordance of GRT and quantum (field) theory, while coincidently the areas in which their laws are in force are separated. In the second part of the paper, a rough mapping of quantum field theory to the proposed model of spacetime dynamics is described.
Is there a single method for the internet of things?
Authors: Jacobson Ivar , Spence Ian , Ng Pan-Wei
Published: October 2017

Essence can keep software development for the IoT from becoming unwieldy.
Breadth and depth
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: October 2017

We all wear many hats, but make sure you have one that fits well.
Coding as a social and tangible activity
Authors: Tabel Olivia L. , Jensen Jonathan , Dybdal Martin , Bjørn Pernille
Published: October 2017

HCI education reflects the continual evolution of HCI, embracing the changing landscapes of technology, infrastructure, and technology use. This forum aims to provide a platform for HCI educators, practitioners, researchers, and students to share their perspectives, reflections, and experiences related to HCI education.
--- Sukeshini Grandhi, Editor
Cambits
Authors: Odamaki Makoto , Nayar Shree K.
Published: October 2017

Multiple computational cameras can be assembled from a common set of imaging components.
Glimmers and half-built projects
Authors: Shorey Samantha , Fox Sarah , Dew Kristin
Published: October 2017

This forum highlights conversations at the intersection of design methods and social studies of technology. By highlighting a diversity of perspectives on design interventions and programs, we aim to forge new connections between HCI design and communication, science and technology studies, and media studies scholarship. ---
Daniela Rosner, Editor
Keeping the machinery in computing education
Authors: Connor Richard , Cutts Quintin , Robertson Judy
Published: October 2017

Incorporating intellectual and developmental frameworks into a Scottish school curriculum.
The October 2017 Issue
Authors: Bonaventure Olivier
Published: October 2017

The October 2017 issue of ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review.
Dissecting Last-mile Latency Characteristics
Authors: Bajpai Vaibhav , Eravuchira Steffie Jacob , Schönwälder Jürgen
Published: October 2017

Recent research has shown that last-mile latency is a key network performance indicator that contributes heavily to DNS lookup and page load times. Using a month-long dataset collected from 696 residential RIPE Atlas probes and 1245 SamKnows probes, we measure last-mile latencies from 19 ISPs (RIPE Atlas) in the US and the EU, and 9 ISPs (SamKnows) in the UK. We show that DSL deployments not only tend to enable interleaving on the last-mile, but also employ multiple depth levels that change over time. We also witness that last-mile latency is considerably stable over time and not affected by diurnal load patterns. Unlike observations from prior studies, we show that cable providers in the US do not generally exhibit lower last-mile latencies when compared to that of DSL. We instead identify that last-mile latencies vary by subscriber location and show that last-mile latencies of cable providers in the US are considerably different across the US east and west coast. We further show that last-mile latencies vary depending on the access technology used by the DSL modem wherein VDSL deployments show last-mile latencies lower than ADSL1/ADSL2+ broadband speeds. The entire dataset and software used in this study is made available to the measurement community.
Report on Networking and Programming Languages 2017
Authors: Bjorner Nikolaj , Canini Marco , Sultana Nik
Published: October 2017

The third workshop on Networking and Programming Languages, NetPL 2017, was held in conjunction with SIGCOMM 2017. The workshop series attracts invited speakers from academia and industry and a selection of contributed abstracts for short presentations. NetPL brings together researchers from the networking community and researchers from the programming languages and verification communities. The workshop series is a timely forum for exciting trends, technological and scientific advances in the intersection of these communities. We describe some of the highlights from the invited talks through the lens of three trends: Advances in network machine architectures, network programming abstractions, and network verification. NetPL included five invited speakers, four from academia, and one from industry. The program contained six contributed papers out of eight submitted for presentation. The workshop organizers reviewed the abstracts for quality and scope. A total of 42 registrations were received and the attendance occupied the lecture room to the brink. Slides and abstracts from all talks are available from the workshop home page: http://conferences.sigcomm.org/sigcomm/2017/workshop-netpl.html. Videos of the presentations are available in the NetPL YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqU8E2n4MHthZUVb1xK2nRQ.
Perceived Performance of Top Retail Webpages In the Wild
Authors: Qingzhu  , Dey Prasenjit , Ahammad Parvez
Published: October 2017

Clearly, no one likes webpages with poor quality of experience (QoE). Being perceived as slow or fast is a key element in the overall perceived QoE of web applications. While extensive effort has been put into optimizing web applications (both in industry and academia), not a lot of work exists in characterizing what aspects of webpage loading process truly influence human end-user's perception of the \emph{Speed} of a page. In this paper we present \emph{SpeedPerception}, a large-scale web performance crowdsourcing framework focused on understanding the perceived loading performance of above-the-fold (ATF) webpage content. Our end goal is to create free open-source benchmarking datasets to advance the systematic analysis of how humans perceive webpage loading process.

In Phase-1 of our \emph{SpeedPerception} study using Internet Retailer Top 500 (IR 500) websites, we found that commonly used navigation metrics such as \emph{onLoad} and \emph{Time To First Byte (TTFB)} fail (less than 60\% match) to represent majority human perception when comparing the speed of two webpages. We present a simple 3-variable-based machine learning model that explains the majority end-user choices better (with $87 \pm 2\%$ accuracy). In addition, our results suggest that the time needed by end-users to evaluate relative perceived speed of webpage is far less than the time of its \emph{visualComplete} event.
DICE
Authors: Panwar Gaurav , Tourani Reza , Mick Travis , Mtibaa Abderrahmen , Misra Satyajayant
Published: October 2017

Coupled with the rapid increase in mobile device users and the bandwidth and latency demands are the continuous increase of devices’ processing capabilities, storage, and wireless connectivity options. The multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) is proposed to satisfy mobile users’ increasing needs. The Information-Centric Networking (ICN) paradigm is better tuned (than the current Internet Protocol approach) to support multi-RAT communications. ICN eschews the connection-based content retrieval model used today and has desirable features such as data naming, in-network caching, and device mobility–a paradigm ripe for exploration.

We propose DICE, an ICN forwarding strategy that helps a device dynamically select a subset of its multi-RAT interfaces for communication. DICE assesses the state of edge links and network congestion to determine the minimum number of interfaces required to perform data delivery. We perform simulations to compare DICE’s performance with bestroute2 and multicast strategies (part of the named data networking simulator, ndnSIM). We show that DICE is the best of both worlds: providing a higher delivery ratio (0.2–2 times) and much lower overhead (by 2–8 times) for different packet rates.
Autophagy and the unfolded protein response promote profibrotic effects of TGF-β1 in human lung fibroblasts
Authors: Ghavami Saeid , Yeganeh Behzad , Zeki Amir A. , Shojaei Shahla , Kenyon Nicholas J. , Ott Sean , Samali Afshin , Patterson John , Alizadeh Javad , Moghadam Adel Rezaei , Dixon Ian M. C. , Unruh Helmut , Knight Darryl A. , Post Martin , Klonisch Thomas , Halayko Andrew J.
Published: October 2017

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal fibrotic lung disease in adults with limited treatment options. Autophagy and the unfolded protein response (UPR), fundamental processes induced by cell stress, are dysregulated in lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells from humans with IPF. Human primary cultured lung parenchymal and airway fibroblasts from non-IPF and IPF donors were stimulated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) with or without inhibitors of autophagy or UPR (IRE1 inhibitor). Using immunoblotting, we monitored temporal changes in abundance of protein markers of autophagy (LC3βII and Atg5-12), UPR (BIP, IRE1α, and cleaved XBP1), and fibrosis (collagen 1α2 and fibronectin). Using fluorescent immunohistochemistry, we profiled autophagy (LC3βII) and UPR (BIP and XBP1) markers in human non-IPF and IPF lung tissue. TGF-β1-induced collagen 1α2 and fibronectin protein production was significantly higher in IPF lung fibroblasts compared with lung and airway fibroblasts from non-IPF donors. TGF-β1 induced the accumulation of LC3βII in parallel with collagen 1α2 and fibronectin, but autophagy marker content was significantly lower in lung fibroblasts from IPF subjects. TGF-β1-induced collagen and fibronectin biosynthesis was significantly reduced by inhibiting autophagy flux in fibroblasts from the lungs of non-IPF and IPF donors. Conversely, only in lung fibroblasts from IPF donors did TGF-β1 induce UPR markers. Treatment with an IRE1 inhibitor decreased TGF-β1-induced collagen 1α2 and fibronectin biosynthesis in IPF lung fibroblasts but not those from non-IPF donors. The IRE1 arm of the UPR response is uniquely induced by TGF-β1 in lung fibroblasts from human IPF donors and is required for excessive biosynthesis of collagen and fibronectin in these cells.