bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex Iron Uptake by the Putrebactin-Mediated and Feo Systems in Shewanella oneidensis
Authors: Liu Lulu , Li Shisheng , Wang Sijing , Dong Ziyang , Gao Haichun
Published: August 2018

S. oneidensis
is among the first- and the best-studied metal-reducing bacteria, with great potential in bioremediation and biotechnology. However, many questions regarding mechanisms closely associated with those applications, such as iron homeostasis, including iron uptake, export, and regulation, remain to be addressed. Here we show that Feo is a primary player in iron uptake in addition to the siderophore-dependent route. The investigation also resolved a few puzzles regarding the unexpected phenotypes of the
putA
mutant and lactate-dependent iron uptake. By elucidating the physiological roles of these two important iron uptake systems, this work revealed the breadth of the impacts of iron uptake systems on the biological processes.
Cost-effectiveness of habit-based advice for weight control versus usual care in general practice in the Ten Top Tips (10TT) trial: economic evaluation based on a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Patel Nishma , Beeken Rebecca J , Leurent Baptiste , Omar Rumana Z , Nazareth Irwin , Morris Stephen
Published: August 2018

Objective

Ten Top Tips (10TT) is a primary care-led behavioural intervention which aims to help adults reduce and manage their weight by following 10 weight loss tips. The intervention promotes habit formation to encourage long-term behavioural changes. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of 10TT in general practice from the perspective of the UK National Health Service.

Design

An economic evaluation was conducted alongside an individually randomised controlled trial.

Setting

14 general practitioner practices in England.

Participants

All patients were aged ≥18 years, with body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. A total of 537 patients were recruited; 270 received the usual care offered by their practices and 267 received the 10TT intervention.

Outcomes measures

Health service use and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were measured over 2 years. Analysis was conducted in terms of incremental net monetary benefits (NMBs), using non-parametric bootstrapping and multiple imputation.

Results

Over a 2-year time horizon, the mean costs and QALYs per patient in the 10TT group were £1889 (95% CI £1522 to £2566) and 1.51 (95% CI 1.44 to 1.58). The mean costs and QALYs for usual care were £1925 (95% CI £1599 to £2251) and 1.51 (95% CI 1.45 to 1.57), respectively. This generated a mean cost difference of −£36 (95% CI −£512 to £441) and a mean QALY difference of 0.001 (95% CI −0.080 to 0.082). The incremental NMB for 10TT versus usual care was £49 (95% CI −£1709 to £1800) at a maximum willingness to pay for a QALY of £20 000. 10TT had a 52% probability of being cost-effective at this threshold.

Conclusions

Costs and QALYs for 10TT were not significantly different from usual care and therefore 10TT is as cost-effective as usual care. There was no evidence to recommend nor advice against offering 10TT to obese patients in general practices based on cost-effectiveness considerations.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN16347068; Post-results.
Displacement Analysis of Solar Magnetic Field Images in EUV Wavelengths of Space Solar Telescope
Authors: Liu Yang , Song Kefei , Wang Xiaodong , Chen Bo , Ma Junlin , Han Zhenwei
Published: August 2018

In this paper, the combination of nonlinear gradient iteration and crossing method is presented in order to analyze high precision remote sensing images of solar magnetic field in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths which are usually affected by solar magnetic evolution, satellite attitude changes and random satellite jitter, and to reduce structural complexity the complicated correlation tracker is normally adopted. Using crossing method which better approached the inefficiency by computing full-scale solar magnetic field images, nine point areas are uniformly selected in full-scale solar magnetic field images which solves the problem of low-computing efficiency. Meanwhile, nonlinear gradient iteration algorithm through numerical simulation experiments is adopted to analyze displacement of solar magnetic field images in EUV wavelengths, which reduces the errors due to the solar intensity changing and tiny deformation of solar magnetic field compared to traditional algorithms. The results clearly indicate that the precision of mean error field and square deviation field for deformed displacement are both less than 5% of pixel by solar magnetic field images of Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).
Adaptive Computation of the Swap-Insert Correction Distance
Authors: Barbay Jérémy , Pérez-Lantero Pablo
Published: August 2018

The Swap-Insert Correction distance from a string
S
of length
n
to another string
L
of length
m
≥
n
on the alphabet [1‥σ] is the minimum number of insertions, and swaps of pairs of adjacent symbols, converting
S
into
L
. Contrarily to other correction distances, computing it is NP-Hard in the size σ of the alphabet. We describe an algorithm computing this distance in time within
O
(σ
2
nmg
σ−1
), where for each α ∈ [1‥σ] there are
n
α
occurrences of α in
S
,
m
α
occurrences of α in
L
, and where
g
= max
α∈[1‥σ]
min{
n
α
,
m
α
−
n
α
} is a new parameter of the analysis, measuring one aspect of the difficulty of the instance. The difficulty
g
is bounded by above by various terms, such as the length
n
of the shortest string
S
, and by the maximum number of occurrences of a single character in
S
(max
α ∈[1‥σ]
n
α
). This result illustrates how, in many cases, the correction distance between two strings can be easier to compute than in the worst case scenario.
Identifying Surrounds and Engulfs Relations in Mobile and Coordinate-Free Geosensor Networks
Authors: Both Alan , Duckham Matt , Worboys Michael F.
Published: August 2018

This article concerns the definition and identification of qualitative spatial relationships for the full and partial enclosure of spatial regions. The article precisely defines three relationships between regions—“surrounds,” “engulfs,” and “envelops”—highlighting the correspondence to similar definitions in the literature. An efficient algorithm capable of identifying these qualitative spatial relations in a network of dynamic (mobile) geosensor nodes is developed and tested. The algorithms are wholly decentralized, and operate in-network with no centralized control. The algorithms are also “coordinate-free,” able to operate in distributed spatial computing environments where coordinate locations are expensive to capture or otherwise unavailable. Experimental evaluation of the algorithms designed demonstrates the efficiency of the approach. Although the algorithm communication complexity is dominated by an overall worst-case
O
(
n
2
) leader election algorithm, the experiments show in practice an average-case complexity approaching linear,
O
(
n
1.1
).
Poorer Prognosis of Idiopathic Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis Compared with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Advanced Stage
Authors: Shioya Makoto , Otsuka Mitsuo , Yamada Gen , Umeda Yasuaki , Ikeda Kimiyuki , Nishikiori Hirotaka , Kuronuma Koji , Chiba Hirofumi , Takahashi Hiroki
Published: August 2018

Objective. Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE) is a rare disease characterized by predominant upper lobe pulmonary fibrosis of unknown etiology. However, the prognosis of IPPFE has not been discussed. We investigated the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of IPPFE and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort study on 375 consecutive idiopathic interstitial pneumonia patients between April 2004 and December 2014. Among them, we diagnosed IPPFE and IPF patients using high-resolution computed tomography radiological criteria. Results. Twenty-nine IPPFE patients (9 males, 20 females) and 67 IPF patients (54 males, 13 females) were enrolled. IPPFE patients were significantly more likely to be females and nonsmokers and had lower body mass index, lower values of predicted percentage of forced vital capacity (%FVC), and a higher residual volume-to-total lung capacity ratio than IPF patients. Survival analysis revealed that they had significantly poorer prognosis than IPF patients in GAP (gender, age, and physiology) stages II + III. %FVC and GAP index independently predict mortality in patients with IPPFE. Conclusions. Patients with IPPFE showed poorer prognosis in the advanced stage than patients with IPF. %FVC and GAP index are independent predictors of survival in patients with IPPFE.
Delay-Constrained Routing Based on Stochastic Model for Flying Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Wen Shaojie , Huang Chuanhe
Published: August 2018

This paper aims at solving the end-to-end delay-constrained routing problem in a local way for flying ad hoc networks (FANETs). Due to the high mobility, it is difficult for each node in FANETs to obtain the global information. To solve this issue, we propose an adaptive delay-constrained routing with the aid of a stochastic model, which allows the senders to deliver the packets with only local information. We represent the problem in a mathematical form, where the effective transmission rate is viewed as the optimization objective and the link quality and end-to-end delay as the constraints. And, some mathematical tools are used to obtain the approximate solutions for the optimization problem. Before designing the routing scheme, the senders calculate the transition probability for its relay node by jointly considering local delay estimation and expected one-hop delay. Then, the sender transmits the packets to their relay node with transition probability. Finally, we prove the convergence of the proposed routing algorithm and analyse its performances. The simulation results show that the proposed routing policy can improve the network performance effectively in terms of throughput, loss rate, and end-to-end delay.
Design and Performance Analysis of MISO-SRMR-DCSK System over Rayleigh Fading Channels
Authors: Zhang Gang , Hao Yi man , Zhang Tian qi
Published: August 2018

The major drawback of the differential chaos shift keying (DCSK) system is that equal time and energy are spent on the reference and data signal. This paper presents the design and performance analysis of a short reference multifold rate DCSK (SRMR-DCSK) system to overcome the major drawback. The SRMR-DCSK system is proposed to enhance the data rate of the short reference differential chaos shift keying (SR-DCSK) system. By recycling each reference signal in SR-DCSK, the data slot carries N bits of data and by P times. As a result, compared with SR-DCSK, the proposed system has a higher data transmission rate and evaluates the energy efficiency with respect to the conventional DCSK system. To further improve the bit-error-rate (BER) performance over Rayleigh fading channels, the multiple-input single-output SRMR-DCSK (MISO-SRMR-DCSK) is also studied. The BER expression of the proposed system is derived based on Gaussian approximation (GA), and simulations in Rayleigh fading channels are performed. Simulation results show a perfect match with the analytical expression.
NOD2 Expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis and Its Influence on the Blood-Brain Barrier
Authors: Wang Ying , Liu Xinjie , Liu Qi
Published: August 2018

Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis is one of the most common disorders seen in clinical practice. It is believed that the brain tissue immune injury is caused by the expression of pattern-recognition receptors (PRR) which can further induce the release of other cytokines and inflammatory cascades. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) and inflammatory factors in rat brain tissues infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae and its influence on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Rats were given an intracranial injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae to construct the Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis rat models. The expression change curves of NOD2 and inflammatory factors at different time points (0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 d) after Streptococcus pneumoniae were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were engaged to examine the expression of NOD2. Furthermore, the changing processes of pathological characteristics, nervous system score, cerebral oedema, and BBB permeability were observed. Our results showed that NOD2 expression began to increase in the 12 h after Streptococcus pneumoniae infection group, while the remaining inflammatory factors were not obviously increased. Meanwhile, the levels of NOD2, as well as inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were markedly elevated in 24 h and 48 h infection groups, which were consistent with the increases in BBB permeability and BWC, and the positive expression of NOD2 in the infected rat brain tissues was observed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). This study suggests that NOD2 might be related to the activation of inflammation pathways and the damage to the blood-brain barrier. NOD2 and inflammatory factors have played vital roles in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.
Lean Body Weight-Tailored Iodinated Contrast Injection in Obese Patient: Boer versus James Formula
Authors: Caruso Damiano , De Santis Domenico , Rivosecchi Flaminia , Zerunian Marta , Panvini Nicola , Montesano Marta , Biondi Tommaso , Bellini Davide , Rengo Marco , Laghi Andrea
Published: August 2018

Purpose. To prospectively compare the performance of James and Boer formula in contrast media (CM) administration, in terms of image quality and parenchymal enhancement in obese patients undergoing CT of the abdomen. Materials and Methods. Fifty-five patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2 were prospectively included in the study. All patients underwent 64-row CT examination and were randomly divided in two groups: 26 patients in Group A and 29 patients in Group B. The amount of injected CM was computed according to the patient’s lean body weight (LBW), estimated using either Boer formula (Group A) or James formula (Group B). Patient’s characteristics, CM volume, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of liver, aorta and portal vein, and liver contrast enhancement index (CEI) were compared between the two groups. For subjective image analysis readers were asked to rate the enhancement of liver, kidneys, and pancreas based on a 5-point Likert scale. Results. Liver CNR, aortic CNR, and portal vein CNR showed no significant difference between Group A and Group B (all P≥0.177). Group A provided significantly higher CEI compared to Group B (P=0.007). Group A and Group B returned comparable overall subjective enhancement values (3.54 and vs 3.20, all P≥0.199). Conclusions. Boer formula should be the method of choice for LBW estimation in obese patients, leading to an accurate CM amount calculation and an optimal liver contrast enhancement in CT.
Bicornuate Bicollis Uterus with Obstruction of the Lower Uterine Segment and Cervical Prolapse Complicating Pregnancy
Authors: Stearns Kristen , Al Khabbaz Antoun
Published: August 2018

Congenital Mullerian duct anomalies are conditions involving the female genital tract. Cases of complex Mullerian duct anomalies with involvement of the renal system are rare. Occasionally, these cases can be associated with obstetrical complications. Cervical prolapse infrequently complicates pregnancy, and an association between uterine malformations and cervical prolapse has not been cited in the literature. We describe the case of a primigravid patient at 38 weeks of gestation noted to have cervical prolapse during evaluation for preeclampsia and labor induction. Obstetrical ultrasound at presentation to the labor and delivery suite revealed a high suspicion for a bicornuate uterus. The patient was delivered by cesarean section due to obstruction of the lower uterine segment of the gravid uterus. Further evaluation post-partum revealed a bicornuate bicolis uterus and renal agenesis. Pregnancies in patients with bicornuate bicollis uterus can be complicated by obstruction of the gravid uterus, resulting in cervical prolapse and necessitating cesarean section.
Synthesis of Two Novel Homologous Polyphosphoesters Containing Aminophosphonate Units and Cytotoxicity of Some Low‐Molecular and Polymeric Aminophosphonate Derivatives
Authors: Kraicheva Ivanka , Momekov Georgi , Mihaylova Rositsa , Topashka-Ancheva Margarita , Tsacheva Ivelina , Stoineva Ivanka , Vodenicharova Elitsa , Nedialkov Paraskev
Published: August 2018

Two novel polyphosphoesters containing anthracene‐ and furan‐derived aminophosphonate moieties, namely, poly[oxyethylene(aminophosphonate‐co‐H‐phosphonate)]s P-12 and P-13, were synthesized through an addition of poly(oxyethylene H‐phosphonate) to 9‐anthrylidene‐furfurylamine and characterized. The novel polyphosphoester P-12 and a series of previously described anthracene‐derived compounds including Schiff bases S‐1 and S‐2, α‐aminophosphonates A-3–A-6, bis‐aminophosphonate B-6, two enantiomers A-5a and A-5b, and polyphosphoesters P-8–P-11 containing aminophosphonate units were screened for antitumor activity against a panel of human leukemic cell lines, using cisplatin as a reference cytotoxic agent. As concluded from the cytotoxicity assays, both precursors S-1 and S-2 presented similar cytotoxicity profiles that are cisplatin‐like only in the REH cell line. Leader compound of the α‐aminophosphonates is A-4 with cell death‐inducing properties fully equaling those of the referent drug in all of the screened leukemic cell lines with the only exception being the AML histological subtype HL‐60. Some of the polymeric analogues elicited moderate (P-10 and P-12) to low (P-11) cytotoxic activity, whereas the polyphosphoesters P-8 and P-9 produced in vitro antitumor effects largely surpassing cisplatin’s. The compounds P-8, P-9, and A-4 could be potential new materials for anticancer therapeutic purposed.
Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling Drives Breast Cancer Cell Escape from Natural Killer–Mediated Cytotoxicity
Authors: Al Absi Antoun , Wurzer Hannah , Guerin Coralie , Hoffmann Celine , Moreau Flora , Mao Xianqing , Brown-Clay Joshua , Petrolli Rémi , Casellas Carla Pou , Dieterle Monika , Thiery Jean-Paul , Chouaib Salem , Berchem Guy , Janji Bassam , Thomas Clément
Published: August 2018

Elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanisms of immune evasion in cancer is critical for the development of immunotherapies aimed to restore and stimulate effective antitumor immunity. Here, we evaluate the role of the actin cytoskeleton in breast cancer cell resistance to cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells. A significant fraction of breast cancer cells responded to NK-cell attack via a surprisingly rapid and massive accumulation of F-actin near the immunologic synapse, a process we termed “actin response.” Live-cell imaging provided direct evidence that the actin response is associated with tumor cell resistance to NK-cell–mediated cell death. High-throughput imaging flow cytometry analyses showed that breast cancer cell lines highly resistant to NK cells were significantly enriched in actin response-competent cells as compared with susceptible cell lines. The actin response was not associated with a defect in NK-cell activation but correlated with reduced intracellular levels of the cytotoxic protease granzyme B and a lower rate of apoptosis in target cells. Inhibition of the actin response by knocking down CDC42 or N-WASP led to a significant increase in granzyme B levels in target cells and was sufficient to convert resistant breast cancer cell lines into a highly susceptible phenotype. The actin response and its protective effects were fully recapitulated using donor-derived primary NK cells as effector cells. Together, these findings establish the pivotal role of actin remodeling in breast cancer cell resistance to NK-cell–mediated killing.

Significance: These findings establish the pivotal role of the actin cytoskeleton in driving breast cancer cell resistance to natural killer cells, a subset of cytotoxic lymphocytes with important roles in innate antitumor immunity. Cancer Res; 78(19); 5631–43. ©2018 AACR.
Rethinking Gamma-secretase Inhibitors for Treatment of Non–small-Cell Lung Cancer: Is Notch the Target?
Authors: Pine Sharon R.
Published: August 2018

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women. γ-Secretase inhibitors, a class of small-molecule compounds that target the Notch pathway, have been tested to treat non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in preclinical and clinical trials. Although γ-secretase inhibitors elicit a response in some tumors as single agents and sensitize NSCLC to cytotoxic and targeted therapies, they have not yet been approved for NSCLC therapy. We discuss our recently published preclinical study using the γ-secretase inhibitor AL101, formerly BMS906024, on cell lines and PDX models of NSCLC, primarily lung adenocarcinoma. We propose that Notch pathway mutations may not be the most suitable biomarker for predicting NSCLC response to γ-secretase inhibitors. γ-Secretases have over 100 known γ-secretase cleavage substrates. Many of the γ-secretase substrates are directly involved in carcinogenesis or tumor progression, and are ideal candidates to be the “on-target” biomarkers for γ-secretase inhibitors. We propose the need to systematically test the γ-secretase and other targets as potential biomarkers for sensitivity before continuing clinical trials. Now that we have entered the postgenome/transcriptome era, this goal is easily attainable. Discovery of the biomarker(s) that predict sensitivity to γ-secretase inhibitors would guide selection of the responder population that is most likely to benefit and move the compounds closer to approval for therapeutic use in NSCLC.
Lactarius verrucosporus sp. nov. and L. nigricans sp. nov., two new species of Lactarius (Russulaceae) from southern China
Authors: WANG GENG-SHEN , SONG YU , LI JING-WEI , XIA SHI-YAO , QIU LI-HONG
Published: August 2018

Two new species of Lactarius from Dinghu Mountain, Guangdong Province in southern China were described based on both morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Lactarius verrucosporus sp. nov. is characterized by reddish brown pileus with white and decurved margin, pale cream lamellae, globose to subglobose basidiospores with isolated warts, thin pileipellis composed of globose subterminal cells and inflated terminal elements. Lactarius nigricans sp. nov. is recognized by greyish brown pileus, beige lamellae, amyloid basidiospores with high ridges, subcylindrical to subfusiform caulocystidia, thick pileipellis with long terminal cells. Both molecular and morphological analysis consistently confirm that L. verrucosporus and L. nigricans belong to Lactarius subgenera Russularia and Plinthogalus, respectively, and both species are distinct from all described species of these two subgenera. The morphological differences of these two novel species with their closely related taxa are discussed.
Narcissus × munozii-alvarezii (Amaryllidaceae): a new hybrid from southern Spain
Authors: LÓPEZ-TIRADO JAVIER
Published: August 2018

Daffodils are an attractive group by their striking flowers and scents, therefore very appreciated as ornamental plants. Cultivars are very numerous, leading to more than 27,000 names considering them (Kington 2008). In the wild, the Iberian Peninsula can be recognized as the centre of speciation of Narcissus Linnaeus (1753: 289) (Barra et al. 2011). Consequently, the richest global diversity is found there (Hanks 2002). It is a complex genus that according to diverse authors varies from 25 to 87 species (cf. Webb 1980, Blanchard 1990, Mathew 2002, Zonneveld 2008, Aedo 2013, RHS 2016). Moreover, new species are still described (Escobar García 2018). Some daffodils have been described considering only herbarium vouchers. Nonetheless, it is encouraged to study populations from living specimens by two main reasons: (i) some features such as corona or perigone size—and ratios that include them—cannot be retrieved from exsiccata; and (ii) to study daffodils in the wild allow better understanding of their ecology and phenology (Barra Lázaro et al. 2016). The latter is important to clarify species spatial distribution and their hybrids.
Valeriana iganciana (Valerianaceae), a new species from the highland grasslands of Serra do Tabuleiro, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Authors: DA SILVA CASSIO RABUSKE , KÜLKAMP JOSIMAR
Published: August 2018

Valeriana iganciana, an endemic species from the Serra do Tabuleiro highlands of Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species shares morphological affinities with V. ulei, from which it is distinguished mainly by leaves with entire margin, by the cymose architecture of the inflorescence and by the triquetrous and elliptical fruits with annular to dentate calyx.
Moving the needle towards health equity: A policy-driven transdisciplinary approach to address health disparities for vulnerable communities
Authors: Reddy Swapna , Paode Pooja , Speer Matthew , Semenchuk Nicholas , Goble Kyle , White Adrienne
Published: August 2018

Objectives:

Policymakers, health services researchers, community leaders and health care delivery organisations are key stakeholders in addressing economic, environmental, social and systemic barriers to health equity in vulnerable communities. However, they often operate in silos, leaving gaps in efforts to effectively address health disparities. It is important to develop a new approach to influencing responsive health equity–focused policies.

Design:

An innovative, collaborative model is outlined that leverages strengths across these four stakeholders to reduce inequity in target populations. The model brings together undergraduate and graduate student researchers in a front-end policy partnership with elected officials based on mutually agreed-upon commitment to address local health disparities impacting the policymaker’s constituency.

Setting:

Students and faculty at Arizona State University partnered with the office of a Phoenix City Council member representing a constituency largely comprised of low-income and Hispanic community members.

Method:

Relationships were developed with the policymaker specifically targeting food insecurity and paediatric asthma. Graduate student researchers conducted academic placements within the elected official’s office, attended relevant municipal meetings, engaged with local community-based organisations and partnered with a major academic medical centre to collect data and understand current efforts related to the two focus areas.

Results:

Elected officials were provided with a policymaker-tailored toolkit including a current state analysis, stakeholder assessment and recommendations for action. Collective discussion took place concerning the strengths and limitations of stakeholders’ ability to improve population health and present findings from the model’s first application to local government.

Conclusion:

By ensuring ‘buy-in’ from policymakers at the onset of collaboration, stakeholders worked as a transdisciplinary team to translate academic research into actionable policy to benefit high-need communities. This model adopted can potentially accelerate and improve the development and implementation of actionable policies, thereby increasing social capital and building relationships with policymakers to address the root causes of health inequities.
The Information Commissions in India: A Jurisprudential Explication of Their Powers and Functions
Authors: Dhaka Rajvir S.
Published: August 2018

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, provides for the Constitution of the State Information Commissions (SICs) and the Central Information Commission (CICs) for acting as the final appellate authorities. These Information Commissions have been entrusted with statutory powers while hearing complaints and appeals. These Commissions also enjoy the power to impose penalty and to recommend disciplinary action against the public information officers. Besides, there prevails large-scale confusion in them regarding the contents of Sections 18–20. This has culminated in adverse comments on their decisions by the Supreme Court (SC) and the High Courts (HC). An attempt is being made in this article to evaluate the functioning of these commissions and also about the interpretations given by various High Courts (HCs) and the Supreme Court (SC) about the Constitution, transaction of business and powers of the Information Commissions.
Reading in Newport News High School
Authors: Alexander Fred M.
Published: August 2018

Careful attention to the testing and development of reading abilities in this high school, produced remarkable results. For example, the most backward group made the equivalent of two years' progress in a single semester.
Intellectual Climate
Authors: Chrisman Lewis H.
Published: August 2018

… makes all the difference, sometimes, between educational success and failure.
The risk of pioneering: Private interests, the State, and the launching of civil aviation in Sweden. The case of SLA 1918–23
Authors: Lilja Kristina , Ottosson Jan
Published: August 2018

The making and running of one of the early Swedish civil aviation companies – Svenska Lufttrafikaktiebolaget 1919–23 – show that military representatives and private entrepreneurs were highly important during this phase. We state that the making of this early civil aviation company in Sweden had not been possible without close personal ties between bankers and entrepreneurs, as well as their beliefs in the future of civil aviation as a natural and an evident part of Swedish infrastructure. However, the enterprise was indeed pioneering the field and faced the 1920–23 Swedish crisis. Svenska Lufttrafikaktiebolaget did not survive, despite minor subsidies. The article shows that the initial position of State involvement regarding civil aviation was not a clear-cut matter in the late 1910s and early 1920s. We claim that only later in the 1920s the Swedish State properly supported civil aviation.
Drug Use During Pregnancy Policies in the United States From 1970 to 2016
Authors: Thomas Sue , Treffers Ryan , Berglas Nancy F. , Drabble Laurie , Roberts Sarah C. M.
Published: August 2018

As U.S. states legalize marijuana and as governmental attention is paid to the “opioid crisis,” state policies pertaining to drug use during pregnancy are increasingly important. Little is known about the scope of state policies targeting drug use during pregnancy, how they have evolved, and how they compare to alcohol use during pregnancy policies.

Method:

Our 46-year original data set of statutes and regulations in U.S. states covers the entirety of state-level legislation in this policy domain. Data were obtained through original legal research and from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Alcohol Policy Information System. Policies were analyzed individually as well as by classification as punitive toward or supportive of women.

Results:

The number of states with drug use during pregnancy policies has increased from 1 in 1974 to 43 in 2016. Policies started as punitive. By the mid- to late 1980s, supportive policies emerged, and mixed policy environments dominated in the 2000s. Overall, drug/pregnancy policy environments have become less supportive over time. Comparisons of drug laws to alcohol laws show that the policy trajectories started in opposite directions, but by 2016, the results were the same: Punitive policies were more prevalent than supportive policies across states. Moreover, there is a great deal of overlap between drug use during pregnancy policies and alcohol/pregnancy policies.

Conclusion:

This study breaks new ground. More studies are needed that explore the effects of these policies on alcohol and other drug use by pregnant women and on birth outcomes.
Understanding Outsourcing and Subcontracting: An Approach from the Theory of Surplus Value
Authors: Rodríguez Miglio Martín
Published: August 2018

A critical analysis of outsourcing studies dating from the mid-1980s to the present lays the groundwork for a new understanding of its rationale. Relying on the idea of production in contemporary capitalism as involving both labor and valorization processes, this approach explains outsourcing as arising from the requirements of capitalist accumulation.

Un análisis crítico de los estudios de tercerización que datan de mediados de la década de 1980 hasta el presente sienta las bases para una nueva comprensión de su lógica. Basado en la idea de que la producción en el capitalismo contemporáneo involucra procesos tanto de trabajo como de valorización, este enfoque explica que la subcontratación surge de los requerimientos de la acumulación capitalista.
Improved analysis and H∞ control for networked control systems with time-varying delays and packet dropout
Authors: Huang Ling , Sun Min
Published: August 2018

This paper studies the improved analysis and H∞ control for a class of networked control systems with time-varying delays and packet dropout via a quadratic convex combination approach. The newly proposed augmented Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is constructed by using the quadratic terms multiplied by a third-degree scalar function. A sufficient condition for asymptotic stability of networked control system is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The H∞ state feedback controller is obtained with an iteration algorithm. Differently from previous results, our derivation applies the idea of a second-order convex combination and the estimation of cross items. This method gives a reduced conservatism without using Jensen’s inequality. Numerical examples show the validity and feasibility of the proposed theoretical results.
Route planning algorithm for autonomous underwater vehicles based on the hybrid of particle swarm optimization algorithm and radial basis function
Authors: Zhou Weidong , Xing Zejing , Wenbin Bai , Chengchen Deng , Xie Yaen , Wu Xiande
Published: August 2018

The mission route plays an essential role for the mission security and reliability of an unmanned system. This paper gives a route planning method for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) based on the hybrid of particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and radial basis function (RBF). In the improved PSO algorithm, metropolis criterion is used to prevent the improved PSO algorithm from falling into local optimum and RBF is used to smooth the path planned by PSO algorithm. Compared with classic PSO algorithm, the hybrid algorithm of PSO and RBF can avoid falling into the local optimum effectively and plan an anti-collision route. Moreover, based on the simulation results, it can be seen that the approach presented here is more efficient in convergence performance, and the planned route requires lower performance of AUVs.
The Romanian Adaptation of the Survey Work–Home Interaction, NijmeGen
Authors: Ispas Simona A. , Iliescu Dragos
Published: August 2018

To date, there are no scales measuring work–home interaction which are adapted for the Eastern European population. Owing to the significantly different sociocultural contexts and geopolitical history between Western and Eastern populations, despite the massive contemporary East–West migration, a more culturally appropriate scale is needed to ensure valid and reliable measurement of the construct. This article presents the adaptation of the Survey Work–Home Interaction—NijmeGen (SWING) for the Romanian population. The results show that SWING can successfully measure work–home interaction for this population. Gender equivalence is also discussed.
A randomised controlled trial exploring the effects of different beverages consumed alongside a nitrate-rich meal on systemic blood pressure
Authors: McDonagh Sinead TJ , Wylie Lee J , Morgan Paul T , Vanhatalo Anni , Jones Andrew M
Published: August 2018

Background:

Ingestion of nitrate (NO3-)-containing vegetables, alcohol and polyphenols, separately, can reduce blood pressure (BP). However, the pharmacokinetic response to the combined ingestion of NO3- and polyphenol-rich or low polyphenol alcoholic beverages is unknown.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to investigate how the consumption of low and high polyphenolic alcoholic beverages combined with a NO3--rich meal can influence NO3- metabolism and systemic BP.

Methods:

In a randomised, crossover trial, 12 normotensive males (age 25 ± 5 years) ingested an acute dose of NO3- (∼6.05 mmol) in the form of a green leafy salad, in combination with either a polyphenol-rich red wine (NIT-RW), a low polyphenol alcoholic beverage (vodka; NIT-A) or water (NIT-CON). Participants also consumed a low NO3- salad and water as a control (CON; ∼0.69 mmol NO3-). BP and plasma, salivary and urinary [NO3-] and nitrite ([NO2-]) were determined before and up to 5 h post ingestion.

Results:

Each NO3--rich condition elevated nitric oxide (NO) biomarkers when compared with CON ( P < 0.05). The peak rise in plasma [NO2-] occurred 1 h after NIT-RW (292 ± 210 nM) and 2 h after NIT-A (318 ± 186 nM) and NIT-CON (367 ± 179 nM). Systolic BP was reduced 2 h post consumption of NIT-RW (-4 mmHg), NIT-A (-3 mmHg) and NIT-CON (-2 mmHg) compared with CON ( P < 0.05). Diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure were also lower in NIT-RW and NIT-A compared with NIT-CON ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

A NO3--rich meal, consumed with or without an alcoholic beverage, increases plasma [NO2-] and lowers systemic BP for 2–3 h post ingestion.
Prevalence of low-calorie sweetener intake in South Asian adults
Authors: Jin Yichen , Sylvetsky Allison C , Kandula Namratha R , Kanaya Alka M , Talegawkar Sameera A
Published: August 2018

Background:

Consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) has increased in the US and is associated with cardiometabolic risk. No data exist on LCS consumption in South Asians.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of LCS use across socio-demographic characteristics, chronic disease status, and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods:

Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America study ( N = 892; 47% women; mean age = 55 (standard deviation = 9.4) y). Chi-squared and ANOVA tests were used to compare LCS consumption across socio-demographic characteristics and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results:

Twenty-two percent of participants reported LCS use, with higher consumption among men and those with longer residency in the US. LCS use was associated with adiposity and higher odds of hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Conclusions:

LCS use is prevalent among South Asians, emphasizing the need for long-term, prospective studies to investigate its role in incident cardiometabolic risk in an already metabolically vulnerable population.
Correlates of recent HIV infection among men who have sex with men recruited through the internet in Huzhou City, Eastern China
Authors: Yang Zhongrong , Li Jing , Dong Zhengquan , Wu Nanping , Jin Meihua
Published: August 2018

Objective

To identify factors associated with recent HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Huzhou City, Eastern China, who seek sexual partners via the internet.

Methods

Adult members of Tencent QQ instant messaging software, who completed a face-to-face interview questionnaire and serological HIV testing at baseline, were enrolled into this prospective cohort study. Questionnaires and serological testing were also completed at 6 and 12 months. Cox proportional hazards was used for initial bivariate analyses of differences between participants with or without recent HIV infection, and for subsequent forward stepwise multiple regression of statistically significant variables.

Results

Out of 415 baseline participants, 283 completed the 12-month follow-up (25 with recent HIV infection and 258 without; recent HIV infection rate, 8.20 per 100 person-years). Recent HIV infection was shown to be significantly associated with ≤ high school education (versus college/university), registered residence outside Huzhou City (versus within Huzhou City), having ≥ two male sexual partners, and syphilis infection.

Conclusions

Improving education levels, treating syphilis promptly, and reducing the number of male sexual partners may reduce HIV transmission among MSM in Eastern China.
A case report of isolated orbital vasculitis mimicking retinal migraine: A potential cause of recurrent transient monocular blindness and ipsilateral headache
Authors: Park Ji-Hyung , Park Kyung-Ah , Cha Jihoon , Kim Sung Tae , Chung Chin-Sang , Lee Mi Ji
Published: August 2018

Background

Retinal migraine is an important differential diagnosis of recurrent transient monocular blindness accompanied by headache when other etiologies are excluded. Here, we report a case of orbital vasculitis which initially mimicked retinal migraine.

Case report

A 47-year-old woman had recurrent episodes of fully reversible transient monocular blindness accompanied by ipsilateral headache for 15 months. The patient’s neuroimaging and cardiac and ophthalmologic evaluations were normal. With a diagnosis of retinal migraine, her symptoms remitted in response to prophylactic treatment with topiramate and propranolol for 8 months. Three months after discontinuation of medications, transient monocular blindness recurred. High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging revealed enhancement of the ipsilateral orbital vessels. Isolated orbital vasculitis was diagnosed. Complete remission of transient monocular blindness was achieved after steroid pulse therapy.

Discussion

Isolated orbital vasculitis should be considered in differential diagnosis of recurrent transient monocular blindness and ipsilateral headache. High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful for the diagnosis.
Predicting Imminent Crash Risk with Simulated Traffic from Distant Sensors
Authors: Chen Zhi , Qin Xiao , Zhong Renxin , Liu Pan , Cheng Yang
Published: August 2018

The aim of this research was to investigate the performance of simulated traffic data for real-time crash prediction when loop detector stations are distant from the actual crash location. Nearly all contemporary real-time crash prediction models use traffic data from physical detector stations; however, the distance between a crash location and its nearest detector station can vary considerably from site to site, creating inconsistency in detector data retrieval and subsequent crash prediction. Moreover, large distances between crash locations and detector stations imply that traffic data from these stations may not truly reflect crash-prone conditions. Crash and noncrash events were identified for a freeway section on I-94 EB in Wisconsin. The cell transmission model (CTM), a macroscopic simulation model, was applied in this study to instrument segments with virtual detector stations when physical stations were not available near the crash location. Traffic data produced from the virtual stations were used to develop crash prediction models. A comparison revealed that the predictive accuracy of models developed with virtual station data was comparable to those developed with physical station data. The finding demonstrates that simulated traffic data are a viable option for real-time crash prediction given distant detector stations. The proposed approach can be used in the real-time crash detection system or in a connected vehicle environment with different settings.
Modeling Airline Cost Pass-Through within Regional Aviation Markets
Authors: Wang Bojun , O’Sullivan Aidan , Dray Lynnette , Schäfer Andreas W.
Published: August 2018

Studies assessing the impact of market-based environmental policies in aviation rely on various scenarios of airline cost pass-through, because there is little empirical evidence with respect to the impacts of airline costs on airfares. Instead, the costs effect has been indirectly measured by proxy variables such as distance, fuel price, and aircraft sizes. This paper provides empirical evidence of airline cost pass-through by developing an airfare model that explicitly captures airline operating costs. Using a feasible generalized two-stage least squares (FG2SLS) approach, we obtained coefficients of airline fuel costs per passenger, non-fuel costs per passenger, and non-fuel costs per flight modeling for seven world regions (20 region-pair markets). A comparison of the estimated cost pass-through elasticities conducted across regional markets suggests that airlines may respond to the cost increases differently, depending on the cost types and the markets they operate in. Based on the estimated coefficients, we systematically evaluate the potential impacts of introducing a carbon tax policy within two major regional markets with distinct cost pass-through elasticities.
Ten-Year Risk Factors for Inferior Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Study of 874 Patients From the Swedish National Knee Ligament Register
Authors: Hamrin Senorski Eric , Svantesson Eleonor , Spindler Kurt P. , Alentorn-Geli Eduard , Sundemo David , Westin Olaf , Karlsson Jon , Samuelsson Kristian
Published: August 2018

Background:

Factors relating to the patient and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may help to identify prognostic factors of long-term outcome after reconstruction.

Purpose:

To determine 10-year risk factors for inferior knee function after ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Prospectively collected data from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Register were extracted for patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between January 2005 and December 2006. Patients who had no data at the 10-year follow-up for the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were excluded. Multivariable proportional odds regression modeling was used to assess 10-year patient- and surgery-related risk factors across all the KOOS subscales and the KOOS4 (mean score of 4 subscales: pain, knee-related symptoms, function in sport and recreation, and knee-related quality of life).

Results:

A total of 874 (41%) patients were included (male, 51.5%; median age at the time of ACL reconstruction, 27.5 years [range, 11.2-61.5 years]). An increase in the severity of concomitant articular cartilage injuries resulted in a reduced KOOS on 4 subscales (odds ratio, 0.64-0.80; P < .05). A higher preoperative KOOS pain score increased the odds of a higher score on the pain, symptoms, and sport subscales and the KOOS4. In addition, a higher preoperative body mass index was a significant risk factor for lower scores on 3 KOOS subscales and the KOOS4. No patient- or surgery-related predictor was significant across all KOOS subscales.

Conclusion:

This 10-year risk factor analysis identified several factors that can affect long-term knee function after ACL reconstruction. Most risk factors were related to preoperative patient-reported outcome and potentially modifiable. On the other hand, most of the surgery-related risk factors were nonmodifiable. Nevertheless, this information may be helpful to physicians and physical therapists counseling patients on their expectations of outcome after ACL reconstruction.