bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of collagen peptides intake on skin ageing and platelet release in chronologically aged mice revealed by cytokine array analysis
Authors: Song Hongdong , Zhang Ling , Luo Yongkang , Zhang Siqi , Li Bo
Published: September 2017

Action mechanisms underlying various biological activities of collagen peptides (CPs) remained to be elucidated. Cytokines may play an important role in mediating these health benefits of CPs. This study aimed to systemically examine the cytokines in skin and blood regulated by CPs intake. Thirteen‐month‐old female Kunming mice were administered with CPs for 2 months (0 or 400 mg/kg bodyweight/day). The cytokines in skin and plasma were analysed using a 53‐cytokine array and corresponding ELISA kits. In skin, CPs intake significantly down‐regulated placenta growth factor (PIGF‐2), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐binding protein (IGFBP) ‐2 and IGFBP‐3, and up‐regulated platelet factor 4 (PF4), serpin E1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1. CPs treatment also increased the type I collagen mRNA and protein levels and improved the aged skin collagen fibres. In plasma, nine cytokines were significantly down‐regulated by CPs intake compared to the model group: fibroblast growth factor (FGF)‐2, heparin‐binding (HB) epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐like growth factor (HB‐EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐AB/BB, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 1 (KC), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9, interleukin (IL)‐1α and IL‐10; 2 cytokines were significantly up‐regulated, including TGF‐β1 and serpin F1. Furthermore, CPs intake significantly decreased the level of platelet release indicators in the plasma and washed platelets, including PF4, granule membrane protein (GMP)‐140, β‐thromboglobulin and serotonin. These results provide a mechanism underlying anti‐skin ageing by CPs intake and highlight potential application of CPs as a healthcare supplement to combat cancer and cardiovascular disease by inhibiting platelet release.
The European Investment Bank: Development, Integration, Investment?
Authors: Clifton Judith , Díaz‐Fuentes Daniel , Gómez Ana Lara
Published: September 2017

The European Investment Bank (EIB) constitutes one of the main institutional pillars upon which the European Union (EU) was built. Despite this, the institution has attracted surprisingly little research. The EIB Statutes can be boiled down to three overarching objectives that its lending would prioritize – development, integration and investment – but little is known about the extent to which EIB loans fulfil each objective in practice. This article breaks new ground by providing the first comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of EIB loans from its origins to the end of the Cold War. To do so, lending patterns were reconstructed drawing on extensive archival work. Results show that the EIB was the first International Financial Institution to place integration and development above the alleviation of capital constraints.
Commentary: So was it worth it? A commentary on Fricke et al. and Hagen et al. (2017)
Authors: McCartney Elspeth
Published: September 2017

Fricke et al. and Hagen et al. (2017) each report on large‐scale pragmatic randomised controlled trials delivered in schools or nurseries, investigating language interventions for vulnerable children and showing moderate positive effect sizes. Such research is part of a recent development of ‘what works’ research in England, and the number of ‘what works’ trials continues to increase, largely through funding from the Sutton Trust, who are concerned with disadvantaged children, to the Educational Endowment Foundation (EEF). ‘What works’ research is not firmly accepted by all educationalists, however, results of trials are now available quickly and presented in a manner intended to be accessible to practitioners. This development may facilitate principled decisions on the adoption of interventions by schools, as trials and their outcomes may be interrogated to support decisions on whether the anticipated impact is worth the cost of implementation.
Parsing heterogeneity in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder using EEG‐based subgroups
Authors: Loo Sandra K. , McGough James J. , McCracken James T. , Smalley Susan L.
Published: September 2017

Background

Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous condition for which multiple efforts to characterize brain state differences are underway. The objective of this study was to identify distinct subgroups of resting electroencephalography (EEG) profiles among children with and without ADHD and subsequently provide extensive clinical characterization of the subgroups.

Methods

Latent class analysis was used with resting state EEG recorded from a large sample of 781 children with and without ADHD (N = 620 ADHD, N = 161 Control), aged 6–18 years old. Behavioral and cognitive characteristics of the latent classes were derived from semistructured diagnostic interviews, parent completed behavior rating scales, and cognitive test performance.

Results

A five‐class solution was the best fit for the data, of which four classes had a defining spectral power elevation. The distribution of ADHD and control subjects was similar across classes suggesting there is no one resting state EEG profile for children with or without ADHD. Specific latent classes demonstrated distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles. Those with elevated slow‐wave activity (i.e. delta and theta band) had higher levels of externalizing behaviors and cognitive deficits. Latent subgroups with elevated alpha and beta power had higher levels of internalizing behaviors, emotion dysregulation, and intact cognitive functioning.

Conclusions

There is population‐level heterogeneity in resting state EEG subgroups, which are associated with distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles. EEG measures may be more useful biomarkers of ADHD outcome or treatment response rather than diagnosis.
Morphological determinants of signal carrier frequency in katydids (Orthoptera): a comparative analysis using biophysical evidence of wing vibration
Authors: Montealegre‐Z F. , Ogden J. , Jonsson T. , Soulsbury C. D.
Published: September 2017

Male katydids produce mating calls by stridulation using specialized structures on the forewings. The right wing (RW) bears a scraper connected to a drum‐like cell known as the mirror and a left wing (LW) that overlaps the RW and bears a serrated vein on the ventral side, the stridulatory file. Sound is generated with the scraper sweeping across the file, producing vibrations that are amplified by the mirror. Using this sound generator, katydids exploit a range of song carrier frequencies (CF) unsurpassed by any other insect group, with species singing as low as 600 Hz and others as high as 150 kHz. Sound generator size has been shown to scale negatively with CF, but such observations derive from studies based on few species, without phylogenetic control, and/or using only the RW mirror length. We carried out a phylogenetic comparative analysis involving 94 species of katydids to study the relationship between LW and RW components of the sound generator and the CF of the male's mating call, while taking into account body size and phylogenetic relationships. The results showed that CF negatively scaled with all morphological measures, but was most strongly related to components of the sound generation system (file, LW and RW mirrors). Interestingly, the LW mirror (reduced and nonfunctional) predicted CF more accurately than the RW mirror, and body size is not a reliable CF predictor. Mathematical models were verified on known species for predicting CF in species for which sound is unknown (e.g. fossils or museum specimens).
Improvement of polytrauma management‐quality inspection of a newly introduced course concept
Authors: Gräff Ingo , Ghamari Shahab , Schacher Sylvia , Glien Procula , Fimmers Rolf , Baehner Torsten , Kim Se‐Chan
Published: September 2017

Rationale, aims, and objectives

A systematic literature search for training course concepts for care of severely injured and severely ill patients respecting improvement of process and outcome yielded little data. For several years, the University Hospital of Bonn has hosted a shock‐room management course which, on the one hand, communicates human factor aspects and, on the other hand, pursues interdisciplinary and interprofessional team training. The Bonn shock‐room management course (BSM‐course®) differs from other courses in both format and principles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the structure of the course based on course evaluations of participants and its impact on the quality of the process and results for polytrauma care.

Methods

Single‐center retrospective evaluation study (2011 to 2014). It was based on data from simulator training and records from the German Trauma Registry (DGU)®.

Results

Subjective evaluation of participants (n = 188) of the structure quality of Bonn's shock‐room management course was overall positive. Objective measures of course participant performance also improved during simulation training (P = 0.012). An increasing number of trained employees also had a positive influence in reducing process time for shock‐room care. Further, the course likewise had a positive impact on documentation quality (degree of completion), with regard to 4 relevant predictive parameters. Early mortality during the first 24 hours remained constant at 6.0‐6.5% between 2011 and 2013, yet it decreased to 3.1% in 2014.

Conclusion

The BSM‐course® represents a symbiosis of horizontal team approach of trauma care and human factor training. The course format is able to ensure interdisciplinary and interprofessional team training with a high degree of efficiency. Furthermore, the presented work shows that a modern course concept can improve the quality of trauma care.
Phylogenetic placement of Yunnanopilia (Opiliaceae) inferred from molecular and morphological data
Authors: Yang Liu , Yang Guan‐Song , Ma Hai‐Ying , Wang Yue‐Hua , Shen Shi‐Kang
Published: September 2017

Yunnanopilia longistaminea (W.Z. Li) C.Y. Wu & D.Z. Li, which is a controversial species in Opiliaceae, is treated as a variety of Champereia manillana (Blume) Merrill in the Flora of China and morphological analysis has produced conflicting results regarding its affinity to Melientha and Champereia. To determine the systematic position of Yunnanopilia in Opiliaceae, we selected two nuclear regions (internal transcribed spacer [ITS4‐ITS5] and 18S rDNA) and four chloroplast regions (rbcL, matK, psbA‐trnH, and trnS‐trnG) to test the phylogenetics of the family Opiliaceae using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis. Morphological characteristics were also examined to clarify the similarities and differences among Y. longistaminea and two closely related species. Agonandra was located at the basal position in the family Opiliaceae; in the large clade including other remaining genera, two main clades were clearly identified and correlated with inflorescence morphological characteristics. All samples of Y. longistaminea formed a clade. Yunnanopilia, Melientha, and Champereia were more closely related than other genera of Opiliaceae. Yunnanopilia longistaminea was sister to M. suavis Pierre and was more closely related to M. suavis than to C. manillana. Morphological analysis also showed that differences in the inflorescences and flowers between Y. longistaminea and M. suavis were substantial enough to warrant the retention of Y. longistaminea in its current genus. Thus, we suggest that the monotypic Yunnanopilia be treated as a distinct genus and that the name Y. longistaminea should be adopted.
Impact of pork collagen superfine powder on rheological and texture properties of Harbin red sausage
Authors: Wang Wenhang , Wang Xiao , Zhao Wenping , Gao Guixian , Zhang Xiaowei , Wang Yabin , Wang Yanan
Published: September 2017

It is a challenge for producers to looking for excellent filler to satisfy the required qualities of high grade meat products such as Harbin red sausage in China. Four collagen superfine powders (CSPs) from pig skin with different heating pretreatments, named as T0 (non‐heating), T1 (at 60C for 20 min), T2 (at 80C for 20 min), T3 (at 120C for 10 min), respectively, at various concentrations (1, 3, 5 wt %) were added to the sausage and their impact on sausage properties was investigated. Rheological results showed that addition of CSPs especially T2 increased the elastic modulus (G′) of sausage, indicating the enhanced stabilization of meat batter due to formation of a coherent protein network. Furthermore, as the content of CSPs increased, the values of hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness of the CSP‐added sausages increased from texture profile analysis. Meantime, it was observed that appropriate preheating (i.e., lower than 80C for 20 min) benefited the texture profile of the sausages. With adding these CSPs, the cooking loss decreased, the values of L* and a* decreased while b* value of the sausages increased. SEM images illustrated that the CSP‐added sausage was more compact and homogenous compared to the control. Also, the organoleptic evaluation results showed that the sensory properties of Harbin red sausage added CSP were the same as the control group. In conclusion, CSPs provide the potential to be used as a filler and textural modifier available for Harbin red sausage.

Practical applications

Pig skin has cheap price, and easy to get. Pig skin‐derived CSPs provide the potential to be used as a good filler and textured modifier available for high quality meat products, including Harbin red sausage.
The pathophysiology of arterial vasodilatation and hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhosis
Authors: Møller Søren , Bendtsen Flemming
Published: September 2017

Patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension often develop complications from a variety of organ systems leading to a multiple organ failure. The combination of liver failure and portal hypertension results in a hyperdynamic circulatory state partly owing to simultaneous splanchnic and peripheral arterial vasodilatation. Increases in circulatory vasodilators are believed to be due to portosystemic shunting and bacterial translocation leading to redistribution of the blood volume with central hypovolemia. Portal hypertension per se and increased splanchnic blood flow are mainly responsible for the development and perpetuation of the hyperdynamic circulation and the associated changes in cardiovascular function with development of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, autonomic dysfunction and renal dysfunction as part of a cardiorenal syndrome. Several of the cardiovascular changes are reversible after liver transplantation and point to the pathophysiological significance of portal hypertension. In this paper, we aimed to review current knowledge on the pathophysiology of arterial vasodilatation and the hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhosis.
Complications, symptoms, quality of life and pregnancy in cholestatic liver disease
Authors: Zakharia Kais , Tabibian Anilga , Lindor Keith D. , Tabibian James H.
Published: September 2017

Cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) encompass a variety of disorders of bile formation and/or flow which generally result in progressive hepatobiliary injury and ultimately end‐stage liver disease. Many patients with CLD are diagnosed between the ages of 20‐50 years, a particularly productive period of life professionally, biologically and in other respects; it is not surprising, thus, that CLD is often associated with impaired health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and uncertainty regarding implications for and outcomes of pregnancy. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are the most prominent CLDs, both having considerable morbidity and mortality and representing major indications for liver transplantation. These disorders, as a consequence of their complications (eg ascites, hepatic osteodystrophy), associated conditions (eg inflammatory bowel disease) and symptoms (eg pruritus and fatigue), can significantly impair an array of domains of HRQOL. Here we review these impactful clinical aspects of PSC and PBC as well as the topics of fertility and pregnancy.
Effects of Surgical Anatomical Correction of Pelvic Anterior Compartment Defect on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Authors: BASER Emre , OZDEMIRCI Safak , UYSAL Dilek , KARAHANOGLU Ertugrul , SIVASLIOGLU Akın
Published: September 2017

Objective

To evaluate the effects of surgical anatomical correction on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with a pelvic anterior compartment defect (PACD).

Methods

This prospective study was carried out on 30 women who had stage II‐IV PACD. The women were questioned regarding LUTS symptoms such as urgency, urge incontinence, frequency, hesitancy, abnormal emptying, nocturia and dysuria pre and postoperatively. After a 7‐month follow up, the comparison of LUTS symptoms with respect to their healing, existence or de novo appearance was performed using the McNemar and Bowner and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests.

Results

For the repair of ACD, 15, 8 and 7 women were operated on using site‐specific surgery, transvaginal mesh placement and anterior colporrhaphy, respectively. Surgery has significantly improved the LUTS: urgency (100 vs 26.7%, urge incontinence (70 vs 16.7%), frequency (76.7 vs 13.3%), abnormal emptying (56.7 vs 10%), hesitancy (30 vs 6.7%), nocturia (83.3 vs 60%) and dysuria (30 vs 6.7%). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The correctional surgery on anterior compartment defects not only maintains the anatomy but also significantly heals the LUTS.
Interplay of classic Exp and specific Vfm quorum sensing systems on the phenotypic features of Dickeya solani strains exhibiting different virulence levels
Authors: Potrykus Marta , Hugouvieux‐Cotte‐Pattat Nicole , Lojkowska Ewa
Published: September 2017

Bacteria from the genus Dickeya cause severe symptoms on numerous economically important plants. Dickeya solani is the Dickeya species most frequently found on infected potato plants in Europe. D. solani strains from different countries show high genetic homogeneity, but significant differences in their virulence level. Dickeya species possess two quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms: the Exp system based on classic N‐acyl‐homoserine lactone (AHL) signals and a specific system depending on the production and perception of a molecule of unknown structure, Virulence Factor Modulating (VFM). To study the interplay between these two QS systems, five D. solani strains exhibiting different virulence levels were selected. Mutants were constructed by inactivating genes coding for each QS system. Double mutants were obtained by simultaneous inactivation of genes coding for both QS systems. Most of the D. solani mutants showed an attenuation of chicory maceration and a decreased production of plant cell wall‐degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) and motility, but to different degrees depending on the strain. The VFM‐QS system seems to regulate virulence in both D. solani and Dickeya dadantii, but the AHL‐QS system has greater effects in D. solani than in D. dadantii. The inactivation of both QS systems in D. solani did not reveal any additive effect on the tested features. The inactivation of vfm genes generally has a more dominant effect relative to that of exp genes. Thus, VFM‐ and AHL‐QS systems do not work in synergy to modulate the production of diverse virulence factors and the ability to macerate plant tissue.
On plant growth and form
Authors: Thomas Howard , Ougham Helen
Published: September 2017

This article is a Commentary on Runions et al., 216: 401–418.
Estimation of the demand for construction aggregate
Authors: Smith Gary
Published: September 2017

Quarry operators and government officials often forecast the long‐run demand for construction aggregate by multiplying the projected population each year by a per capita consumption number, and adding up these annual demand forecasts. This approach is theoretically unjustified and empirically inaccurate. An alternative approach is to estimate the demand for aggregate from the bottom up, based on forecasts of the construction and maintenance of homes, schools, highways, and other projects that use aggregate.

Summary for Managers

The long‐run demand for construction aggregate is often forecast using a constant per capita consumption model.

However, this model is fatally flawed, both theoretically and empirically, and should not be used for permitting, planning, or land‐use zoning.
Adoption of alternative migratory tactics: a view from the ultimate mechanism and threshold trait changes in a salmonid fish
Authors: Sahashi Genki , Morita Kentaro
Published: September 2017

Partial migration, in which a portion of the population migrates while the rest of the population remains as residents, is a common form of migration. Alternative migratory tactics (AMTs) of partial migration are often determined by polygenic threshold traits. However, the ultimate mechanisms that drive inter‐population variations in threshold traits are not well understood. We present a simple schematic model to explain how the threshold trait changes with fitness consequences under opposing natural and artificial selection forces. We conducted a field test to evaluate the effects of migration difficulty (as a natural selective force) and selective captive breeding (as an artificial selective force) on threshold traits of a partially migratory fish. Male masu salmonOncorhynchus masouin the Shari River system have AMTs divided into three population categories of hatchery, wild/above the waterfall, and wild/below the waterfall (control). The wild/above the waterfall salmon live in a high‐migration‐cost situation, and the threshold trait changed in a direction that promoted residency. In hatchery salmon, which are produced by migrant‐selective captive breeding, the threshold trait changed in a direction that promoted migration. In contrast, Dolly Varden charrSalvelinus malmadisplayed only resident tactics, and the threshold trait did not differ between the populations above and below the waterfall, indicating that environment did not explain the variation in the threshold trait. Our results support the model and suggest that opposing natural and artificial selection forces drive variations in the threshold traits and migratory patterns in the studied species. Our conceptual framework for the ultimate mechanism may help to better understand adoption of AMTs and production of diverse intraspecific traits in migratory animals.
Dual MEK/AKT inhibition with trametinib and GSK2141795 does not yield clinical benefit in metastatic NRAS‐mutant and wild‐type melanoma
Authors: Algazi Alain P. , Esteve‐Puig Rosaura , Nosrati Adi , Hinds Brian , Hobbs‐Muthukumar Adele , Nandoskar Prachi , Ortiz‐Urda Susana , Chapman Paul B. , Daud Adil
Published: September 2017

Aberrant MAPK and PI3K pathway signaling may drive the malignant phenotype in NRAS‐mutant and BRAFWT NRASWT metastatic melanoma. To target these pathways, NRAS‐mutant and BRAFWT NRASWT patients received oral trametinib at 1.5 mg daily and GSK2141795 at 50 mg daily in a two‐cohort Simon two‐stage design. Participants had adequate end‐organ function and no more than two prior treatment regimens. Imaging assessments were performed at 8‐week intervals. A total of 10 NRAS‐mutant and 10 BRAFWT NRASWT patients were enrolled. No objective responses were noted in either cohort. The median PFS and OS were 2.3 and 4.0 months in the NRAS‐mutant cohort and 2.8 and 3.5 months in the wild‐type cohort. Grade 3 and grade 4 adverse events, primarily rash, were observed in 25% of patients. We conclude that the combination of trametinib and GSK2141795 does not have significant clinical activity in NRAS‐mutant or BRAFWT NRASWT melanoma.
Same Question But Different Answer: Experimental Evidence on Questionnaire Design's Impact on Poverty Measured by Proxies
Authors: Kilic Talip , Sohnesen Thomas Pave
Published: September 2017

Based on a randomized survey experiment that was implemented in Malawi, the study finds that observationally‐equivalent, as well as same, households answer the same questions differently depending on whether they are interviewed with a short questionnaire or its longer counterpart. Statistically significant differences in reporting emerge across all topics and question types. In proxy‐based poverty measurement, these reporting differences lead to significantly different predicted poverty rates and Gini coefficients. The difference in poverty predictions ranges from 3 to 7 percentage points, depending on the model specification. A prediction model based only on the proxies that are elicited prior to the variation in questionnaire design yields identical poverty predictions irrespective of the short‐versus‐long questionnaire treatment. The results are relevant for estimating trends with questionnaires exhibiting inter‐temporal variation in design, impact evaluations administering questionnaires of different length and complexity to treatment and control samples, and development programs utilizing proxy‐means tests for targeting.
On Structure Testing for Component Covariance Matrices of a High Dimensional Mixture
Authors: Li Weiming , Yao Jianfeng
Published: September 2017

By studying the family of p-dimensional scale mixtures, the paper shows for the first time a non-trivial example where the eigenvalue distribution of the corresponding sample covariance matrix does not converge to the celebrated Marčenko–Pastur law. A different and new limit is found and characterized. The reasons for failure of the Marčenko–Pastur limit in this situation are found to be a strong dependence between the p-co-ordinates of the mixture. Next, we address the problem of testing whether the mixture has a spherical covariance matrix. To analyse the traditional John's-type test we establish a novel and general central limit theorem for linear statistics of eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix. It is shown that John's test and its recent high dimensional extensions both fail for high dimensional mixtures, precisely because of the different spectral limit above. As a remedy, a new test procedure is constructed afterwards for the sphericity hypothesis. This test is then applied to identify the covariance structure in model-based clustering. It is shown that the test has much higher power than the widely used integrated classification likelihood and Bayesian information criteria in detecting non-spherical component covariance matrices of a high dimensional mixture.
The Informational Role of Prices*
Authors: Mirman Leonard J. , Santugini Marc
Published: September 2017

We consider a dominant firm with a competitive fringe in order to investigate the informational role of prices. The fringe is necessary for the existence of a unique, fully revealing equilibrium, in which the price reveals the quality of the good to uninformed buyers. A higher price triggers more sales on the part of the competitive fringe, reducing both residual demand and profits. We find that a larger share of uninformed buyers increases the price and reduces the quantity sold by the dominant firm, but increases the quantity sold by the competitive fringe. This, in turn, reduces consumer surplus and welfare.
Sraffa, Myrdal, and the 1961 Söderström Gold Medal
Authors: Arthmar Rogério , McLure Michael
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we give an account of the awarding of the 1961 Söderström Gold Medal to Piero Sraffa by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien). We highlight the central role that Gunnar Myrdal played in the allocation of this prize to Sraffa and the amicable relationship between these two economists, as well as their views on Ricardian economics. In addition, we provide details of Sraffa's activities in Stockholm, including his attendance at the award ceremony. In our final remarks, we reflect on the significance of the 1961 Söderström Gold Medal for the history of economics as a field of study.
Descartes on Hatred
Authors: Tate Melanie
Published: September 2017

This paper examines Descartes’ account of hatred. Descartes holds that individuals should not hate, because hatred separates us from goods, causes sadness, and produces vicious character traits. Although some scholars argue that hatred is necessary to protect the body, I argue that Descartes holds that hatred is not necessary to protect the body, because there are other means of protecting the body that do not involve hatred. I conclude this paper by showing the place of hatred in Descartes’ broader moral theory, especially his emphasis on the wellbeing of the soul and the virtue of generosity.
Re(searching) the Truth About Our Criminal Justice System: Some Challenges
Authors: Ruane Janet M.
Published: September 2017

This article considers the current face‐off between “facts vs. alternative facts” as it relates to research on lethal encounters between police and minority citizens. I begin by reviewing major measurement challenges for those studying lethal police shootings and potential improvements for how we document police shootings. I also consider the increasing reliance on use of body cams and surveillance videos for what they may (or may not) bring to improving documentation of police/citizen encounters. Next I address a larger issue that provides the context for the “facts vs. alternative facts” dilemma: science's loss of standing as the recognized superior way of knowing about the world. Growing distrust in science, special interest research, paradigm shifts, and science illiteracy are all considered as reasons for the slippage of science as a credible knowledge source. Additionally, key traits of science (i.e., its inherent skepticism and tentative stance) may actually support the all‐too‐popular view that science no longer has an edge in producing valid and reliable information. I make a case for the need to reform what some see as a broken culture of science and for social researchers to commit to a serious agenda of replication of studies and findings.
Attribution of human infections with Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) to livestock sources and identification of source‐specific risk factors, The Netherlands (2010–2014)
Authors: Mughini‐Gras L. , van Pelt W. , van der Voort M. , Heck M. , Friesema I. , Franz E.
Published: September 2017

Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic pathogen of public health concern whose sources and transmission routes are difficult to trace. Using a combined source attribution and case–control analysis, we determined the relative contributions of four putative livestock sources (cattle, small ruminants, pigs, poultry) to human STEC infections and their associated dietary, animal contact, temporal and socio‐econo‐demographic risk factors in the Netherlands in 2010/2011–2014. Dutch source data were supplemented with those from other European countries with similar STEC epidemiology. Human STEC infections were attributed to sources using both the modified Dutch model (mDM) and the modified Hald model (mHM) supplied with the same O‐serotyping data. Cattle accounted for 48.6% (mDM) and 53.1% (mHM) of the 1,183 human cases attributed, followed by small ruminants (mDM: 23.5%; mHM: 25.4%), pigs (mDM: 12.5%; mHM: 5.7%) and poultry (mDM: 2.7%; mHM: 3.1%), whereas the sources of the remaining 12.8% of cases could not be attributed. Of the top five O‐serotypes infecting humans, O157, O26, O91 and O103 were mainly attributed to cattle (61%–75%) and O146 to small ruminants (71%–77%). Significant risk factors for human STEC infection as a whole were the consumption of beef, raw/undercooked meat or cured meat/cold cuts. For cattle‐attributed STEC infections, specific risk factors were consuming raw meat spreads and beef. Consuming raw/undercooked or minced meat were risk factors for STEC infections attributed to small ruminants. For STEC infections attributed to pigs, only consuming raw/undercooked meat was significant. Consuming minced meat, raw/undercooked meat or cured meat/cold cuts were associated with poultry‐attributed STEC infections. Consuming raw vegetables was protective for all STEC infections. We concluded that domestic ruminants account for approximately three‐quarters of reported human STEC infections, whereas pigs and poultry play a minor role and that risk factors for human STEC infection vary according to the attributed source.
Generalization of parallel axis theorem for rotational inertia
Authors: Abdulghany A. R.
Published: September 2017

This paper discusses two levels of generalization of the parallel axis theorem for rotational inertia. The first relates the moments of inertia about any two parallel axes, whether or not they are passing through the center of mass. The second relates the inertia tensors about any two points.
The physics of a popsicle stick bomb
Authors: Sautel Jérémy , Bourges Andréane , Caussarieu Aude , Plihon Nicolas , Taberlet Nicolas
Published: September 2017

Popsicle sticks can be interlocked in the so-called “cobra weave” to form a chain under tension. When one end of the chain is released, the sticks rapidly disentangle, forming a traveling wave that propagates down the chain. In this paper, the properties of the traveling front are studied experimentally, and classical results from the theory of elasticity allow for a dimensional analysis of the height and speed of the traveling wave. The study presented here can help undergraduate students familiarize themselves with experimental techniques of image processing, and it also demonstrates the power of dimensional analysis and scaling laws.
A Lagrangian approach to model movement of migratory species
Authors: Wor Catarina , McAllister Murdoch K. , Martell Steven J.D. , Taylor Nathan G. , Walters Carl J.
Published: September 2017

We introduce a Lagrangian movement model that can be used to characterize cyclic migrations of iteroparous fish populations. We demonstrate how movement parameters can be estimated using conventionally available catch-at-age data and provide a description of the potential bias that may arise from model misspecification, data aggregation, and nonstandardized sampling effort. The model can be extended to incorporate covariates representing biological and environmental forces that alter the distribution and migration range of exploited populations. We expect that this movement model will be a useful tool to model fish migration, to illustrate how fisheries dynamics are affected by fish migration, and to be used as an operating model in closed loop simulations to test the robustness of management frameworks to spatial structure and connectivity.
Symbiosis of selected Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains with diverse pea genotypes: effects on biological nitrogen fixation
Authors: Yang Chao , Bueckert Rosalind , Schoenau Jeff , Diederichsen Axel , Zakeri Hossein , Warkentin Tom
Published: September 2017

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) can be improved by optimizing the interaction between the rhizobial inoculant and pea (Pisum sativum L.), leading to increased productivity and reduced nitrogen (N) fertilizer use. Eight Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains were used to inoculate the super-nodulating pea mutant Rondo-nod3 (fix+), the hyper-nodulating pea mutant Frisson P88 Sym29, CDC Meadow commercial control, and the non-nodulating mutant Frisson P56 (nod–) to evaluate BNF in a greenhouse assay. Significant differences in strain × cultivar interactions were detected for shoot and root dry masses, which ranged from 1.8 to 4.7 g and from 0.27 to 0.73 g per plant, respectively; for nodule number on lateral roots, which ranged from 25 to 430 per plant; for amount of fixed N2, which ranged from 15 to 67 mg and from 4 to 15 mg per plant for shoot and root tissues, respectively; and for percentage of N derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa), which ranged from 37% to 61% and from 35% to 65% for shoot and root tissue, respectively. Strain × cultivar interactions in this study could contribute to identification of superior strains and pea breeding lines with genetic superiority in BNF. Nodule production in pea plants was not necessarily correlated with the amount of fixed N2, suggesting nodule activity is more important to BNF than is nodule number.
INTERREGIONAL IMPACT OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ON CHINA’S INLAND URBANIZATION
Authors: CHEN CHUNLAI , WU YAN
Published: September 2017

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China is heavily concentrated in coastal region, which has attracted large amount of rural migrant workers from inland region. This type of population migration associated with FDI may have an impact on China’s inland urbanization. There is however little research on this topic. This paper aims to investigate the interregional impact of FDI on China’s inland urbanization. The study finds that on average FDI has negative interregional impact on inland urbanization. However, FDI in coastal and inland regions engaged in different trade modes (processing versus ordinary trade) has different interregional impact on China’s inland urbanization.
Fault Detection for Message Passing Systems
Authors: Karaata Mehmet Hakan , Hamdan Ali , Faisal Maha H. , AlShawan Feda A.
Published: September 2017

Many crucial dependable and secure services including atomic commitment, consensus and group membership, and middleware services (such as replica, communication and transaction services) use fault detectors. Through the use of fault detectors, the overlying service can be exempted from failure treatment and synchronization requirements. Fault detection is essential for proving that the services carried out are correct.

In this paper, we first identify the necessary conditions to detect faults in a message passing system where multiple disjoint paths exist between each pair of endpoints. We then present the first fault detection protocol capable of detecting message meta-data modification in the presence of various message interferences in addition to other faults including omission faults, message replay and spurious messages using disjoint paths, where paths with faults are not known a priori. In addition, it authenticates message origins allowing Sybil attacks to be detected, identifies faulty paths, and classifies faults in the presence of multiple messages sent by various system processes. We establish the completeness and soundness properties of the proposed algorithm, i.e., it detects each considered fault and each detected fault is an actual fault, respectively. We also show that our algorithm does not yield a significant packet size and delay overheads. The algorithm shows the viability of the use of disjoint paths in fault detection.
F-Bar Aided Edge-Based Smoothed Finite Element Method with 4-Node Tetrahedral Elements for Static Large Deformation Elastoplastic Problems
Authors: Onishi Yuki
Published: September 2017

A new type of smoothed finite element method (S-FEM), F-barES-FEM-T4, is demonstrated in static large deformation elastoplastic cases. F-barES-FEM-T4 combines the edge-based S-FEM (ES-FEM) and the node-based S-FEM (NS-FEM) for 4-node tetrahedral (T4) elements with the aid of the F-bar method in order to resolve the major issues of Selective ES/NS-FEM-T4. As well as most of the other S-FEMs, F-barES-FEM-T4 inherits pure displacement-based formulation and thus has no increase in DOF. Moreover, the cyclic smoothing procedure introduced in F-barES-FEM-T4 is effective to adjust the smoothing level so that pressure checkerboarding (oscillation) is suppressed reasonably. Some examples of static large deformation analyses for elastoplastic materials proof the excellent performance of F-barES-FEM-T4 in contrast to the conventional hybrid T4 element formulation.
Bianchi type II cosmological model of the Universe’s evolution
Authors: Panov V. F. , Kuvshinova E. V. , Yanishevsky D. M. , Sandakova O. V.
Published: September 2017

A Bianchi type II cosmological model with expansion and rotation has been constructed. The model describes the Friedmannian stage of the Universe’s evolution including a subsequent transition to the accelerated exponential expansion observed nowadays. The gravitational field sources of the model are an ultra-relativistic matter, dust and co-moving anisotropic rotating dark energy. The possibility of detecting the cosmological rotation by astrophysical observations is discussed.
Environmental Regulatory Efficacy in India: An Inter-State Comparison
Authors: Jamalpuria Aditi
Published: September 2017

In India industrial pollution is regulated at two levels: the centre and the state. This two tier regulatory structure results in a difference in the efficacy of environmental regulation among the Indian states. Literature exploring the policy debate around the inter-state efficacy of the environmental regulation in India, however, is sparse. This paper utilises principal component analysis to construct an environmental regulatory efficacy index to show an inter-state disparity in the efficacy of environmental regulation in India. It develops an environmental regulatory policy model to categorise the existing Indian regulatory strategies to control industrial pollution. Findings of the environmental regulatory efficacy index are matched with the environmental regulatory policy model to show that a proactive regulatory strategy improves the efficacy of environmental regulation. Policy discussion recommends the need to integrate the environmental policy with the economic policy and suggests diligent utilisation of funds to improve the efficacy of environmental regulation.
An Intelligent Computer Assistance System for Artifact Restoration Based on Genetic Algorithms with Plane Image Features
Authors: Kashihara Koji
Published: September 2017

Restoration work of archaeological artifacts broken into pieces is similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. The purpose of this study is to construct an intelligent computer assistance system to conveniently restore archaeological discoveries from some fragments. AReal-Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA) was applicable for solving the positioning problem of a three-dimensional (3D) restoration. The fitness function value for RCGA was calculated from image similarity between the target and correct patterns in plane images at multiple camera angles. Image features of a 3D object were obtained by the ORB (Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF), BRISK (Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints), and Accelerated KAZE (AKAZE) techniques; they were considered as a part of the fitness function value. Simulation study revealed that the RCGA approach was capable of automatically and efficiently adjusting the positions of 3D fragments, especially in the AKAZE technique. A user interface with the functions of design drawing was also created to assist in repair work. The interactive assistance interface for 3D restoration based on RCGA and followed by the hill-climbing algorithm would be applied to practical applications for digital archives of artifacts.
A Review of Recent Research on Automotive HVAC Systems for EVs
Authors: Kang Byung Ha , Lee Hyun Jin
Published: September 2017

Automotive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are of particular interest from the viewpoint of improving fuel economy, especially in electric vehicles (EVs) such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This paper describes recent research on automotive air-conditioning and heating technologies after classifying them into heat pump applications, control and operation, heat exchangers, refrigerants, thermal comfort, localized HVAC systems, and additional energy-saving systems. Even though many researchers have applied the existing concepts and technologies for EVs, significant revamping efforts are necessary owing to the dynamic, transient, and local characteristics of vehicles.
i
2
tag
Authors: Fan Xiaoyi , Gong Wei , Liu Jiangchuan
Published: September 2017

Many radio frequency identification (RFID) applications, such as virtual shopping cart and tag-assisted gaming, involve sensing and recognizing tag mobility. However, existing RFID localization methods are mostly designed for static or slowly moving targets (less than 0.3m/sec). More importantly, we observe that prior methods suffer from serious performance degradation for detecting real-world moving tags in typical indoor environments with multipath interference. In this article, we present i
2
tag, an intelligent mobility-aware activity identification system for RFID tags in multipath-rich environments (e.g., indoors). i
2
tag employs a supervised learning framework based on our novel fine-grain mobility provile, which can quantify different levels of mobility. Unlike previous methods that mostly rely on phase measurement, i
2
tag takes into account various measurements, including RSSI variance, packet loss rate, and our novel relative phase--based fingerprint. Additionally, we design a multidimensional dynamic time warping--based algorithm to robustly detect mobility and the associated activities. We show that i
2
tag is readily deployable using off-the-shelf RFID devices. A prototype has been implemented using a ThingMagic reader and standard-compatible tags. Experimental results demonstrate its superiority in mobility detection and activity identification in various indoor environments.
DomLock
Authors: Kalikar Saurabh , Nasre Rupesh
Published: September 2017

We present efficient locking mechanisms for hierarchical data structures. Several applications work on an abstract hierarchy of objects, and a parallel execution on this hierarchy necessitates synchronization across workers operating on different parts of the hierarchy. Existing synchronization mechanisms are too coarse, too inefficient, or too
ad hoc
, resulting in reduced or unpredictable amount of concurrency. We propose a new locking approach based on the structural properties of the underlying hierarchy. We show that the developed techniques are efficient even when the hierarchy is an arbitrary graph. Theoretically, we present our approach as a locking-cost-minimizing instance of a generic algebraic model of synchronization for hierarchies. Using STMBench7, we illustrate considerable reduction in the locking cost, resulting in an average throughput improvement of 42%.
Correlation between Tissue Characterization and Dynamic Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Its Tissue Inhibitor in Conjunctival Filtering Bleb of Rats
Authors: Wang Ling , Wang Da-Bo , Liu Meng-Ying , Yao Ru-Yong
Published: September 2017

Purpose.Using rat conjunctival bleb model, we correlated changes morphology and histology in the bleb with changes in MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels.Methods.Filtering surgeries were performed on rats. Dynamic changes in morphology and histopathology were observed using HE staining. Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy and western blotting.Results. Well-elevated filtering blebs formed and persisted for an average of 12 days. Histological examination showed that inflammatory was dominant in postoperative days 1–3, and proliferating manifestation became the main sign 5 days later. Western blot showed that MMP-2 was downregulated 1 day after surgery, upregulated at 3 days, and observed with a peak at 7 days; then it persisted until 28 days. The difference was statistically significant (F= 280.18,p<0.01).TIMP-2 was upregulated 1 day after surgery and observed with a peak at 5 days; then it persisted until 28 days. The difference was statistically significant (F= 145.34,p<0.01).Conclusions.During the processes of conjunctival filtering bleb and scar formation in rats, the changes in MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels in the filtering area, together with a corresponding proliferation of fibroblasts and the accumulation of collagen fibres, resulted in scarring of filtering blebs.