bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Submission quality in open innovation contests ‐ an analysis of individual‐level determinants of idea innovativeness
Authors: Mack Thomas , Landau Christian
Published: November 2018

The digital age allows for integration of dispersed groups into the innovation process. These heterogeneous groups of individuals varying in size and knowledge distribution, also referred to as crowds, build the basis for open innovation contests (OIC), one of the most common forms of crowdsourcing innovation. Different from more focused forms of open innovation, at OIC innovation managers often do not identify or evaluate participants ex‐ante. Instead, innovation managers often make use of open calls for participation and assume efficient self‐selection of participants i.e., that only motivated and qualified participants will volunteer and engage in the innovation contest. This behavior reflects one of the key assumption of crowdsourcing in participatory innovation settings. However, not every self‐selected member is in the position to solve the contest task appropriately. Hence, innovation contests often result in large numbers of submissions, covering a wide range of quality levels, causing decision biases and significant workloads for innovation managers to select ideas. This problem is referred to as “crowding”. In order to reduce “crowding”, open innovation researchers are interested in understanding which types of individuals make the “best” contributions and therefore should be preferably encouraged to participate in in OIC. In this paper, we are assessing what characterizes those participants who submit innovative ideas to OIC, in particular those who submit incremental ideas vs. those who have more radical ideas. Drawing on the componential model of creativity and data generated in innovation contest held by chocolate producer Ritter Sport, we analyze the effect of participants‘ creativity, domain knowledge, and several motivational factors on the innovativeness of their contributions. We find all of these factors to affect the innovativeness of an idea. However, regarding generating incremental or radical innovations, some factors have opposing roles. Our findings imply for practice that innovation managers must decide which type of innovations they intend to generate and then design contests to attract participants with the required characteristics, if they want to increase the number of appropriate ideas and reduce the problems of “crowding”.
Paediatric and adult bronchiectasis: Vaccination in prevention and management
Authors: O'Grady Kerry‐Ann F. , Cripps Allan W. , Grimwood Keith
Published: November 2018

Bronchiectasis has received increased attention recently, including an emphasis on preventing infective exacerbations that are associated with disease progression and lung function decline. While there are several bacteria and viruses associated with bronchiectasis, licensed vaccines are only currently available for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae protein D as a conjugate in a pneumococcal vaccine), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bordetella pertussis and influenza virus. The evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of these vaccines in both preventing and managing bronchiectasis in children and adults is limited with the focus of most research being on other chronic lung disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, asthma and cystic fibrosis. We review the existing evidence for these vaccines in bronchiectasis and highlight the existing gaps in knowledge. High‐quality experimental and non‐experimental studies using current state‐of‐the‐art microbiological methods and validated, standardised case definitions are needed across the depth and breadth of the vaccine development pathway.
GMM nonparametric correction methods for logistic regression with error‐contaminated covariates and partially observed instrumental variables
Authors: Song Xiao , Wang Ching‐Yun
Published: November 2018

We consider logistic regression with covariate measurement error. Most existing approaches require certain replicates of the error‐contaminated covariates, which may not be available in the data. We propose generalized method of moments (GMM) nonparametric correction approaches that use instrumental variables observed in a calibration subsample. The instrumental variable is related to the underlying true covariates through a general nonparametric model, and the probability of being in the calibration subsample may depend on the observed variables. We first take a simple approach adopting the inverse selection probability weighting technique using the calibration subsample. We then improve the approach based on the GMM using the whole sample. The asymptotic properties are derived, and the finite sample performance is evaluated through simulation studies and an application to a real data set.
Rate efficient estimation of realized Laplace transform of volatility with microstructure noise
Authors: Wang Li , Liu Zhi , Xia Xiaochao
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the Laplace transform of volatility within a fixed time interval [0,T] using high‐frequency sampling, where we assume that the discretized observations of the latent process are contaminated by microstructure noise. We use the pre‐averaging approach to deal with the effect of microstructure noise. Under the high‐frequency scenario, we obtain a consistent estimator whose convergence rate is
, which is known as the optimal convergence rate of the estimation of integrated volatility functionals under the presence of microstructure noise. The related central limit theorem is established. The simulation studies justify the finite‐sample performance of the proposed estimator.
Identification of the novel HLA‐B*35:01:01:16 allele in a Saudi individual
Authors: Alanazi Hanan , Alqasem Afnan , Aloufi Faisal , Algattan Manal , Hajeer Ali H.
Published: November 2018

HLA‐B*35:01:01:16 differs from HLA‐B*35:01:01:01 by a single nucleotide substitution (C → A) at position 3941.
Resistance against Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato depends on the methionine cycle and the γ‐aminobutyric acid metabolic pathway
Authors: Wang Guoping , Kong Jie , Cui Dandan , Zhao Hongbo , Niu Yu , Xu Mengyun , Jiang Gaofei , Zhao Yahua , Wang Wenyi
Published: November 2018

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a complex and destructive disease that affects over 200 plant species. To investigate the interaction of R. solanacearum and its tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant host, a comparative proteomic analysis was conducted in tomato stems inoculated with highly and mildly aggressive R. solanacearum isolates (RsH and RsM, respectively). The results indicated a significant alteration of the methionine cycle (MTC) and downregulation of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling of two key tissues (stem and root) at three stages (0, 3 and 5 days post‐inoculation) with RsH in resistant and susceptible tomato plants is presented. Transcript profiles of MTC and GABA pathways were analyzed. Subsequently, the MTC‐associated genes SAMS2, SAHH1 and MS1 and the GABA biosynthesis‐related genes GAD2 and SSADH1 were knocked‐down by virus‐induced gene silencing and the plants’ defense responses upon infection with R. solanacearum RsM and RsH were analyzed. These results showed that silencing of SAHH1, MS1 and GAD2 in tomato leads to decreased resistance against R. solanacearum. In summary, the infection assays, proteomic and transcriptomic data described in this study indicate that both MTC and GABA biosynthesis play an important role in pathogenic interaction between R. solanacearum and tomato plants.
Adjunctive virtual reality for procedural pain management of burn patients during dressing change or physical therapy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Luo Huaxiu , Cao Chang , Zhong Jian , Chen Junjie , Cen Ying
Published: November 2018

Dressing change and physical therapy are extremely painful procedures for burn patients. Adjunctive virtual reality therapy reportedly reduces pain when added to analgesics, but a summary analysis of the data has yet to be performed. We conducted this systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials to verify the pain‐reducing efficacy of virtual reality among burn patients undergoing dressing change or physical therapy. We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via OVID), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (via OVID) for relevant trials based on predetermined eligibility criteria from database establishment to February 2018. Two reviewers screened citations and extracted data independently. The quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook, whereas statistical heterogeneity was assessed using chi‐square tests and I2 statistics. Review Manager 5.3 was used for statistical analysis. Thirteen randomized controlled trials with 362 patients who underwent 627 burn dressing change or physical therapy sessions were included. The additional use of virtual reality significantly reduced pain intensity, time spent thinking about pain, and unpleasantness, and was more fun compared with that of using analgesics alone. Virtual reality is an effective pain reduction measurement added to analgesics for burn patients undergoing dressing change or physical therapy. However, multicenter, parallel group design randomized controlled trials are still required.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Howard Nina
Published: November 2018

International Journal of English and Cultural Studies (IJECS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJECS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 1, Number 2 Torbjörn Lodén, Stockholm University, SwedenVesselina Anastasova Laskova, University of Udine, ItalyRaven Maragh, Gonzaga University, USAMariam Nemsadze, Akaki Tsereteli State University, GeorgiaScott Edward Freer, University of Leicester, UKMałgorzata Podolak, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, PolandMohammed Nasser, Wasit University, IraqLeo H. Aberion, University of San Jose-Recoletos, PhilippinesStevanus Ngenget, Catholic University of De La Salle Manado, IndonesiaChia-Cheng Lee, Portland State University , USAFarzaneh Shakki, Islamic Azad University, Iran   Nina HowardEditorial AssistantInternational Journal of English and Cultural StudiesRedfame Publishing--------------------------------------------9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97006-6018, USATel: 1-503-828-0536 ext. 510Fax: 1-503-828-0537Email: ijecs@redfame.comWebsite: http://ijecs.redfame.com
Contributions of Social Neuroscience in the Study of Schadenfreude, Social Cognition and Emotion Intergroup: Integrative Review
Authors: Ramos-Oliveira Diana , Santos de Oliveira Felipe
Published: November 2018

The present article is a bibliographic research on the integrative literature review mode, on social neuroscience, social cognition and Schadenfreude in intergroup relations. The objective was to identify an understanding of how social neuroscience could contribute and offer new insights into the Social Cognition (eg: stereotypes, prejudice, social comparison), the Schadenfreude and neural process in social interactions. From the criteria of location and selection, 28 articles published in the databases PubMed, Web of Science and SCIELO between 2006 and 2015 were retrieved, using keywords: Schadenfreude and Social Cognition, Schadenfreude and Brain, Schadenfreude and Neural, Schadenfreude and Neuro, Schadenfreude and Intergroup relation. Generally, such articles are descriptive and qualitative, and they developed mostly with the samples that showed no pathology or disease in samples. A link it showed between the Schadenfreude and the neural interface, as well as social cognition and neuronal relationship with the aim of understanding how interact in a social context. It is perceived from the approach on the subject a better understanding of social behavior in real life through neurocognitive mechanisms offering evidence in the relationship between Schadenfreude, social neuroscience and social cognition.
Effect of Hypoxia on Information Integration Capacities
Authors: Fruchart Eric , Raberin Antoine , Durand Fabienne
Published: November 2018

The effect of hypoxia on cognitive processes is an undisputed finding but its extent remains difficult to predict in each particular circumstance. The present study examined the impact of hypoxia on information integration capacities in daily life settings. A sample of 14 students was presented with a series of cards depicting an object a) having a given volume and made of a given substance, and asked to infer its mass;or b) having a given mass and density, and asked to infer its volume; or c) having a given volume and mass, and asked to infer its density. There were three levels of hypoxia situations. In a baseline situation, participants were instructed to put a mask connected with an AltiTrainer (equipment that regulates the oxygen partial pressure provided through the mask) and to perform the three judgment tasks in close succession. The two other situations were similar to the baseline situation except that the AltiTrainer was configured to simulate altitude levels either 1100 m or 3100 m higher than the one in the baseline situation. Contrary to our expectations, no difference in performance was found between the three experimental situations. People’s information integration capacities are not affected by hypoxia, even if acclimatization to it has not taken place, and as far as it is not too severe.
La fragilidad de la memoria: creencias falsas y memoria autobiográfica, una revisión preliminar
Authors: Nájera Fernández Joselyne , Salazar Villanea Mónica , Fornaguera Trías Jaime
Published: November 2018

La memoria es un proceso reconstructivo, donde distintos recuerdos buscan conformar una narrativa autobiográfica coherente. No obstante, dichos recuerdos no son completamente precisos, ya que en diversas investigaciones se ha encontrado que las personas tienden a reportar episodios de su pasado que sucedieron ya sea de manera distinta o que en realidad nunca ocurrieron. Tras considerar a la memoria autobiográfica como el mayor logro ontogenético humano, surge la interrogante respecto a cómo puede suceder un fenómeno tan impreciso como el de las memorias falsas. En el presente estudio teórico se revisa la principal evidencia científica respecto a la existencia de memorias falsas, se analiza su etiología y se profundiza en su posible rol adaptativo.
Sobre la evaluación de la investigación y los investigadores: Criticas a las métricas y recomendaciones
Authors: López López Wilson
Published: November 2018

Editorial
Transformar la educación superior y obligatoria a través de aprendizaje-servicio y mentoría
Authors: Fernández Martín Francisco Domingo , Arco-Tirado José Luís , Hervás-Torres Mirian , Delgado-Pastor Luís Carlos
Published: November 2018

El propósito de este trabajo fue determinar el impacto de un programa fundamentado en aprendizaje-servicio y mentoría sobre las competencias profesionales del alumnado universitario, el rendimiento escolar de los estudiantes y la satisfacción de los docentes-tutores de educación obligatoria. Para ello, 40 estudiantes universitarios, previamente entrenados y siempre supervisados por los responsables del programa, efectuaron 352 sesiones de mentoría con 20 escolares, 67 sesiones de coordinación con sus 13 docentes-tutores y 84 sesiones de asesoramiento familiar a sus respectivas familias. Los resultados muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en competencias del alumnado universitario, además de mejoras en rendimiento escolar y elevados niveles de satisfacción de los docentes-tutores. Esta intervención ha contribuido a mejorar la eficacia y eficiencia de la educación universitaria y obligatoria.
Using the Semantic Differential Technique to Assess Stereotypes toward Individuals with Disabilities: The Relevance of Warmth and Competence
Authors: Jenaro Río Cristina , Flores Robaina Noelia , López Lucas Jesús
Published: November 2018

This study analyzes social perceptions towards groups with different types of disability, as well as the relationship between the judgments towards these groups, oneself and other significant individuals. The assessment was carried out using a Semantic Differential scale completed by181 participants. Results supported the Stereotype Content Model, as the different groups with disabilities were perceived in a more uniform way than those who did not share this label, and people with intellectual disability elicited paternalistic feelings. The results also support a two-factor model to explore the content of the stereotypes. Understanding the factors that contribute to the formation of social judgments is key to the implementation of actions that modify stereotypes and prejudices and promote equity.
Is Ownership Bias Bad? The Influence of Idea Goodness and Creativity on Design Professionals Concept Selection Practices
Authors: Zheng Xuan , Miller Scarlett R.
Published: November 2018

Ownership bias is a decision-making bias that leads to an individual's tendency to prefer their own ideas over others' during the design process. While prior work has identified the existence of this ownership bias in design professionals, limited work has investigated how the characteristics of the idea set affects this bias. In other words, is a preference for one's own ideas a bad thing if the ideas are truly better? This paper seeks to fill this research void through two design thinking workshops conducted with 45 design professionals recruited from two engineering companies. During the study, the participants individually generated and selected ideas as part of a 2-h team design challenge. The ideas generated were then rated for: (1) their perceived future value by the design team and (2) their creativity by expert raters. The results suggest that design professionals only exhibited ownership bias for ideas that were assessed to have little to no future value in the design process (low in idea goodness). In addition, professionals showed preferences for self-generated ideas that were of high usefulness and elegance but low in creativity, indicating an impact of creativity on ownership bias. These findings provide new evidence on the negative effects of ownership bias on the design process.
Knowledge-Based Design of Artificial Neural Network Topology for Additive Manufacturing Process Modeling: A New Approach and Case Study for Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Nagarajan Hari P. N. , Mokhtarian Hossein , Jafarian Hesam , Dimassi Saoussen , Bakrani-Balani Shahriar , Hamedi Azarakhsh , Coatanéa Eric , Gary Wang G. , Haapala Karl R.
Published: November 2018

Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to rise in popularity due to its various advantages over traditional manufacturing processes. AM interests industry, but achieving repeatable production quality remains problematic for many AM technologies. Thus, modeling different process variables in AM using machine learning can be highly beneficial in creating useful knowledge of the process. Such developed artificial neural network (ANN) models would aid designers and manufacturers to make informed decisions about their products and processes. However, it is challenging to define an appropriate ANN topology that captures the AM system behavior. Toward that goal, an approach combining dimensional analysis conceptual modeling (DACM) and classical ANNs is proposed to create a new type of knowledge-based ANN (KB-ANN). This approach integrates existing literature and expert knowledge of the AM process to define a topology for the KB-ANN model. The proposed KB-ANN is a hybrid learning network that encompasses topological zones derived from knowledge of the process and other zones where missing knowledge is modeled using classical ANNs. The usefulness of the method is demonstrated using a case study to model wall thickness, part height, and total part mass in a fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. The KB-ANN-based model for FDM has the same performance with better generalization capabilities using fewer weights trained, when compared to a classical ANN.
Performance Optimization of Mechanical Vapor Compression Desalination System Using a Water-Injected Twin-Screw Compressor
Authors: Alkhulaifi Yousif , Mokheimer Esmail M. A. , H. AlSadah Jihad
Published: November 2018

In this study, the thermal and operational characteristics of a 400 m3/day mechanical vapor compression desalination (MVCD) system that uses a water-injected twin-screw compressor have been studied and presented. A mathematical model of the MVCD system has been developed including mass and energy conservation equations, heat transfer equations, as well as thermophysical correlations. The effects of the MVCD system design and operation parameters on the system performance are analyzed and discussed. The effect of different boiling-point elevation correlations on the specific area is investigated. The brine and distillate preheaters' areas are studied as a function of inlet seawater temperature. The effect of the injection pressure on system performance is studied. Results show that the optimal injection point is close to the beginning of the compression process. Using this optimum injection pressure, the reduction in power consumption was found to be about 7.3% for high compression ratios. The effects of the brine and feed salinity on system performance are also analyzed. It is found that the specific heat transfer area strongly depends on the brine salinity, especially at temperature differences less than 6 °C. It increases by 44% and 32% at a temperature difference of 4 and 6 °C, respectively. The compressor inlet volume flowrate increases by 9% when the brine salinity increases from 50,000 to 150,000 ppm at all brine boiling temperatures considered. The feed-to-distillate ratio increases rapidly with rising feed salinity, while it decreases with rising brine salinity.
Optimality of Norm-Optimal Iterative Learning Control Among Linear Time Invariant Iterative Learning Control Laws in Terms of Balancing Robustness and Performance
Authors: Ge Xinyi , Stein Jeffrey L. , Ersal Tulga
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a frequency domain analysis toward the robustness, convergence speed, and steady-state error for general linear time invariant (LTI) iterative learning control (ILC) for single-input-single-output (SISO) LTI systems and demonstrates the optimality of norm-optimal iterative learning control (NO-ILC) in terms of balancing the tradeoff between robustness, convergence speed, and steady-state error. The key part of designing LTI ILC updating laws is to choose the Q-filter and learning gain to achieve the desired robustness and performance, i.e., convergence speed and steady-state error. An analytical equation that characterizes these three terms for NO-ILC has been previously presented in the literature. For general LTI ILC updating laws, however, this relationship is still unknown. Adopting a frequency domain analysis approach, this paper characterizes this relationship for LTI ILC updating laws and, subsequently, demonstrates the optimality of NO-ILC in terms of balancing the tradeoff between robustness, convergence speed, and steady-state error.
The Effect of Al Addition on the Tribological Behavior of Ti−Si−Zr Alloys
Authors: Tkachenko Serhii , Datskevich Oleg , Kulak Leonid , Persson Cecilia , Engqvist Håkan
Published: November 2018

While commercial biomedical titanium alloys present excellent biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, their poor wear resistance remains a major limitation. In this study, alloying with aluminum was used to improve the tribological performance of an experimental Ti−Si−Zr alloy. The effect of Al content on the alloy's microstructure and mechanical properties was evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Vickers hardness measurements. Sliding wear testing was performed in a ball-on-disk setup, using stainless steel and silicon nitride counterparts and serum solution lubrication. Microstructural examinations showed that an increase in Al content induced a change from eutectic cell microstructure to regular near-equiaxed particles and produced a solid solution strengthening, increasing alloy's hardness. The adhesive tendencies of the α-Ti matrix to the counterpart dominated the frictional response, and a lower friction coefficient was found against silicon nitride compared to stainless steel. In wear tests against stainless steel counterparts, the alloys showed significantly higher wear rates than the CoCr and Ti−6Al−4V references due to severe abrasive wear, induced by the adhesion of titanium matrix to the counterpart. The Al addition had a positive effect on the wear resistance against silicon nitride due to the solid solution strengthening and the change in microstructure, which reduced the risk of brittle delamination. However, while this gave a trend for a lower wear rate against silicon nitride than the Ti−6Al−4V alloy, the wear rate was still approximately three times higher than that of CoCr.
Two new species of the feather mite genus Analges Nitzsch, 1818 (Analgoidea: Analgidae) from accentors (Passeriformes: Prunellidae) — morphological descriptions with DNA barcode data
Authors: Dabert Jacek , Mironov Serge V. , Janiga Marián
Published: November 2018

Two new species of the genus Analges (Astigmata: Analgoidea) are described from two species of accentors (Passeriformes: Prunellidae): Analges himalayanus sp. nov. from the Altai Accentor P. himalayana (Blyth), and A. slovakiensis sp. nov. from the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris (Scopoli). Both species are closely related to A. bidentatus Giebel, 1871 described from the Dunnock Prunella modularis (Linnaeus). We extended the standard morphological descriptions of feather mites by species delimitation analyses carried out on DNA barcode sequences.
Surface-grafted antimicrobial drugs: Possible misinterpretation of mechanism of action
Authors: Naderi Javad , Giles Carla , Saboohi Solmaz , Griesser Hans J. , Coad Bryan R.
Published: November 2018

Antimicrobial surface coatings that act through a contact-killing mechanism (not diffusive release) could offer many advantages to the design of medical device coatings that prevent microbial colonization and infections. However, as the authors show here, to prevent arriving at an incorrect conclusion about their mechanism of action, it is essential to employ thorough washing protocols validated by surface analytical data. Antimicrobial surface coatings were fabricated by covalently attaching polyene antifungal drugs to surface coatings. Thorough washing (often considered to be sufficient to remove noncovalently attached molecules) was used after immobilization and produced samples that showed a strong antifungal effect, with a log 6 reduction in Candida albicans colony forming units. However, when an additional washing step using surfactants and warmed solutions was used, more firmly adsorbed compounds were eluted from the surface as evidenced by XPS and ToF-SIMS, resulting in reduction and complete elimination of in vitro antifungal activity. Thus, polyene molecules covalently attached to surfaces appear not to have a contact-killing effect, probably because they fail to reach their membrane target. Without additional stringent washing and surface analysis, the initial favorable antimicrobial testing results could have been misinterpreted as evidencing activity of covalently grafted polyenes, while in reality activity arose from desorbing physisorbed molecules. To avoid unintentional confirmation bias, they suggest that binding and washing protocols be analytically verified by qualitative/quantitative instrumental methods, rather than relying on false assumptions of the rigors of washing/soaking protocols.
Frequency interferences of two-unit quartz resonator arrays excited by lateral electric fields
Authors: Ma Tingfeng , Zhang Qiong , Yan Liang , Xie Chao , Wang Ji , Du Jianke , Huang Jiahan , Huang Bin , Zhang Chao
Published: November 2018

The coupled thickness-twist and face-shear vibrations of the lateral-field-excitation (LFE) two-unit resonator array are analyzed, and the frequency interference and shift of LFE resonator arrays are both studied. Different from most of the quartz resonator arrays based on thickness-field-excitation, the resonator array in this study operates with LFE generated by a pair of electrodes on the top surface of the resonator. By using Mindlin's first-order theory of piezoelectric plates, the electrically forced vibrations are analyzed. The effects of various structural parameters on the frequency interference and shift are examined; furthermore, the corresponding mechanisms are discussed. Varying trends of the frequency interference and shift with various structural parameters are verified by the finite element method. The results are crucial for avoiding frequency interferences between two adjacent units in parameter design of the resonator array operating on LFE.
Leishmanicidal Activity of Isoselenocyanate Derivatives
Authors: Fernández-Rubio Celia , Larrea Esther , Peña Guerrero José , Sesma Herrero Eduardo , Gamboa Iñigo , Berrio Carlos , Plano Daniel , Amin Shantu , Sharma Arun K. , Nguewa Paul A.
Published: November 2018

Conventional chemotherapy against leishmaniasis includes agents exhibiting considerable toxicity. In addition, reports of drug resistance are not uncommon.
Patients at Risk for Aortic Rupture Often Exposed to Fluoroquinolones during Hospitalization
Authors: Frankel William C. , Trautner Barbara W. , Spiegelman Andrew , Grigoryan Larissa , LeMaire Scott A.
Published: November 2018

Several studies have indicated that fluoroquinolone use may be associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection (AAD). Because patients with AAD or Marfan syndrome are at increased risk for aortic rupture, we performed a retrospective cohort study to determine the prevalence of systemic fluoroquinolone exposure and predictors of fluoroquinolone use in these patients.
In Vivo
Applicability of Neosartorya fischeri Antifungal Protein 2 (NFAP2) in Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Authors: Kovács Renátó , Holzknecht Jeanett , Hargitai Zoltán , Papp Csaba , Farkas Attila , Borics Attila , Tóth Lilána , Váradi Györgyi , Tóth Gábor K. , Kovács Ilona , Dubrac Sandrine , Majoros László , Marx Florentine , Galgóczy László
Published: November 2018

As a consequence of emerging numbers of vulvovaginitis cases caused by azole-resistant and biofilm-forming
Candida
species, fast and efficient treatment of this infection has become challenging. The problem is further exacerbated by the severe side effects of azoles as long-term-use medications in the recurrent form.
Molecular Analysis of Linezolid-Resistant Clinical Isolates of
Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Ye Meiping , Xu Liyun , Zou Yuzhen , Li Bing , Guo Qi , Zhang Yongjie , Zhan Mengling , Xu Benyong , Yu Fangyou , Zhang Zhemin , Chu Haiqing
Published: November 2018

A total of 194
Mycobacterium abscessus
isolates were collected from patients, and the whole genomes were sequenced. Eighty-five (43.8%) isolates showed linezolid (LZD) resistance.
Comparative Biochemical and Structural Analysis of Novel Cellulose Binding Proteins (Tāpirins) from Extremely Thermophilic
Caldicellulosiruptor
Species
Authors: Lee Laura L. , Hart William S. , Lunin Vladimir V. , Alahuhta Markus , Bomble Yannick J. , Himmel Michael E. , Blumer-Schuette Sara E. , Adams Michael W. W. , Kelly Robert M.
Published: November 2018

The mechanisms by which microorganisms attach to and degrade lignocellulose are important to understand if effective approaches for conversion of plant biomass into fuels and chemicals are to be developed.
Caldicellulosiruptor
species grow on carbohydrates from lignocellulose at elevated temperatures and have biotechnological significance for that reason. Novel cellulose binding proteins, called tāpirins, are involved in the way that
Caldicellulosiruptor
species interact with microcrystalline cellulose, and additional information about the diversity of these proteins across the genus, including binding affinity and three-dimensional structural comparisons, is provided here.
Variability of outcome measures in trials of intravenous therapy in acute severe paediatric asthma: a systematic review
Authors: Gray Charmaine S , Powell Colin V E , Babl Franz E , Dalziel Stuart R , Craig Simon
Published: November 2018

Objective

To determine the variability of primary and secondary outcomes used in trials of intravenous bronchodilators in children with acute severe paediatric asthma.

Methods

Systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for randomised trials in children (less than18 years) with acute severe paediatric asthma comparing intravenous bronchodilator therapy to another treatment. Initial search was performed on 7 January 2016 with an updated search performed on 6 September 2018. Primary and secondary outcomes were collated.

Results

We identified 35 published papers and four registered study protocols. 56 primary outcomes were found, the most common being a clinical asthma score (23/56; 41%). Other identified primary outcomes included bedside tests of respiratory function (11/56; 20%) and measures of length of stay (9/56; 16%). There were a total of 60 different secondary outcomes, the most common were various length of stay measures (24/60; 40%) and adverse events (11/60; 18%).

Conclusion

Studies comparing intravenous treatment modalities for children with acute severe paediatric asthma exhibit great variation in the type, number and timing of outcome measures used. There are no patient or family-specific outcomes reported. There is a need to develop international consensus.

Trial registration number

CRD42017055331.
Reflections on a field across time and space: the emergent medical and health humanities in South Africa
Authors: Hume Victoria Jane , Wainwright Megan
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we draw on our own cross-cultural experience of engaging with different incarnations of the medical and health humanities (MHH) in the UK and South Africa to reflect on what is distinct and the same about MHH in these locations. MHH spaces, whether departments, programmes or networks, have espoused a common critique of biomedical dualism and reductionism, a celebration of qualitative evidence and the value of visual and performative arts for their research, therapeutic and transformative social potential. However, there have also been differences, and importantly a different ‘identity’ among some leading South African scholars and practitioners, who have felt that if MHH were to speak from the South as opposed to the North, they would say something quite different. We seek to contextualise our personal reflections on the development of the field in South Africa over recent years within wider debates about MHH in the context of South African academia and practice, drawing in part on interviews conducted by one of the authors with South African researchers and practitioners and our own reflections as ‘Northerners’ in the ‘South’.
Biomedicine and the humanities: growing pains
Authors: Hume Victoria Jane , Mulemi Benson A , Sadock Musa
Published: November 2018

In this article, we discuss the challenges facing humanities researchers approaching studies in clinical and community health settings. This crossing of disciplines has arguably been less often explored in the countries we discuss—Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa—but our experiences also speak to broader trouble with disciplinary ‘ethnocentrism’ that hampers the development of knowledge. After a brief contextualising overview of the structures within our universities that separate or link the humanities, medicine and social science, we use case studies of our experiences as an arts researcher, an anthropologist and a historian to draw attention to the methodological clashes that can hobble research between one disciplinary area and another, whether this manifests in the process of applying for ethical clearance or a professional wariness between healthcare practitioners and humanities scholars in health spaces. We argue overall for the great potential of humanities in the health ‘space’—as well as the need for improved dialogue between the disciplines to bring a diverse community of knowledge to bear on our understandings of experiences of health. And we suggest the need for a robust awareness of our own positions in relation to medicine, as humanities scholars, as well as a patient persistence on both sides of the humanities–health science equation to create a broader and ultimately more effective research system.
Walking up hills, through history and in-between disciplines: MHH and Health Sciences Education at the tip of Africa
Authors: Tsampiras Carla
Published: November 2018

Celebration, frustration, contestation and imagination all manifest themselves when examining the evolution of the field of Medical and Health Humanities (MHH) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). That this field has been growing at the same time as access to, inclusion in, and social justice issues linked to higher education have come under the spotlight has the potential to shape how we think and plan for the future of the field. Doing this will require treks up hills, journeys through difficult histories and dynamic dances in-between disciplines.

This article examines MHH at UCT broadly, referring to projects and programmes that are underway primarily in the humanities and health sciences faculties. From this overview, the article specifically examines the curricula changes introduced in the Faculty of Health Sciences inspired by MHH and the author’s interest in historical consciousness. It describes current points of intervention in physiotherapy and MBChB undergraduate curricula; and through short-term special study modules that have allowed those interested in MHH to explore relationships between health and healing and art, music, writing, yoga, PhotoVoice, drama, drawing and complex histories.

It discusses some of the challenges of introducing humanities teaching into health sciences curricula; and some of the tensions that result from the meeting of divergent epistemologies and pedagogies. The article considers if, and how, MHH might engage with social (in)justice, and inclusions and exclusions and potentially offer a balm to soothe the bruising effects of oppressive histories and a hegemonically hierarchical present.
Equivalent number of uniform cycles versus earthquake magnitude relationships for fine-grained soils
Authors: Verma Priyesh , Seidalinova Ainur , Wijewickreme Dharma
Published: November 2018

In current geotechnical seismic design practice, the empirical correlation between equivalent number of uniform cycles (Neq) of shaking and earthquake magnitude (Mw) forms an integral part of liquefaction potential evaluation. This relationship, in turn, is used to derive the magnitude scaling factors that are commonly used in field-based liquefaction evaluation procedures. The Neqversus Mwrelationship for liquefaction assessment was examined for fine-grained soils using time-histories in the range 5 < Mw≤ 9, especially including strong ground motion time-histories from the latest subduction zone earthquakes with Mw> 8.0. The experimental database available from cyclic direct simple shear tests conducted on natural fine-grained soils retrieved from undisturbed soil sampling was used to obtain the cyclic shear resistance weighting curves for the study. The work presented herein has contributed to further improving the current models used to represent magnitude scaling factor (MSF) values for large earthquake magnitudes and the functional dependency of this parameter on soil type. The MSF–Mwcurve derived for low-plastic Fraser River Delta silt lies in-between the MSF curves derived for clean sand and clay, resonating with the inferences that have been made that the silt behavior can neither be considered sand-like nor clay-like.
A New High-Order Approach for Forecasting Fuzzy Time Series Data
Authors: Gautam Surendra Singh , Abhishekh  , Singh S. R.
Published: November 2018

In forecasting the fuzzy time series data, several authors took grades of membership 1, 0.5 and 0 for linguistic interval corresponding to fuzzy set. In this paper, we have proposed high-order approach for forecasting the fuzzy time series data by using the grade of membership value defined for each datum corresponding to triangular fuzzy sets and fuzzify the historical data by triangular fuzzy sets which have their maximum membership values. Also, we establish high-order fuzzy logical relationship groups and give a new technique for defuzzification process, by which we can compute the forecasted value in a more efficient way with lower value of MSE. For verifying the suitability of proposed method, we illustrate time series data of student enrollments at the University of Alabama, USA, and crop (Lahi) production of Pantnagar farm, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. The forecasting accuracy rate of proposed high-order forecasting method is better than those of existing methods and the forecasted production is much closer to the actual production.
Dataset and Metrics for Predicting Local Visible Differences
Authors: Wolski Krzysztof , Giunchi Daniele , Ye Nanyang , Didyk Piotr , Myszkowski Karol , Mantiuk Radosław , Seidel Hans-Peter , Steed Anthony , Mantiuk Rafał K.
Published: November 2018

A large number of imaging and computer graphics applications require localized information on the visibility of image distortions. Existing image quality metrics are not suitable for this task as they provide a single quality value per image. Existing visibility metrics produce visual difference maps, and are specifically designed for detecting just noticeable distortions but their predictions are often inaccurate. In this work, we argue that the key reason for this problem is the lack of large image collections with a good coverage of possible distortions that occur in different applications. To address the problem, we collect an extensive dataset of reference and distorted image pairs together with user markings indicating whether distortions are visible or not. We propose a statistical model that is designed for the meaningful interpretation of such data, which is affected by visual search and imprecision of manual marking. We use our dataset for training existing metrics and we demonstrate that their performance significantly improves. We show that our dataset with the proposed statistical model can be used to train a new CNN-based metric, which outperforms the existing solutions. We demonstrate the utility of such a metric in visually lossless JPEG compression, super-resolution and watermarking.
Design and Analysis of a Query Processor for Brick
Authors: Fierro Gabe , Culler David E.
Published: November 2018

Brick is a recently proposed metadata schema and ontology for describing building components and the relationships between them. It represents buildings as directed labeled graphs using the RDF data model. Using the SPARQL query language, building-agnostic applications query a Brick graph to discover the set of resources and relationships they require to operate. Latency-sensitive applications, such as user interfaces, demand response, and model-predictive control, require fast queries—conventionally less than 100ms.

We benchmark a set of popular open source and commercial SPARQL databases against three real Brick models using seven application queries and find that none of them meet this performance target. This lack of performance can be attributed to design decisions that optimize for queries over large graphs consisting of billions of triples but give poor spatial locality and join performance on the small dense graphs typical of Brick. We present the design and evaluation of HodDB, a RDF/SPARQL database for Brick built over a node-based index structure. HodDB performs Brick queries 3--700× faster than leading SPARQL databases and consistently meets the 100ms threshold, enabling the portability of important latency-sensitive building applications.

This article is an extension of a previously published work [16].
AutoCalib
Authors: Bhardwaj Romil , Tummala Gopi Krishna , Ramalingam Ganesan , Ramjee Ramachandran , Sinha Prasun
Published: November 2018

Emerging smart cities are typically equipped with thousands of outdoor cameras. However, these cameras are usually not calibrated, i.e., information such as their precise mounting height and orientation is not available. Calibrating these cameras allows measurement of real-world distances from the video, thereby enabling a wide range of novel applications such as
identifying speeding vehicles
and
city road planning
. Unfortunately, robust camera calibration is a manual process today and is not scalable. In this article, we propose AutoCalib, a system for scalable, automatic calibration of traffic cameras. AutoCalib exploits deep learning to extract selected key-point features from car images in the video and uses a novel filtering and aggregation algorithm to automatically produce a robust estimate of the camera calibration parameters from just hundreds of samples. We have implemented AutoCalib as a service on Azure that takes in a video segment and computes the camera calibration parameters. Using video from real-world traffic cameras, we show that AutoCalib is able to estimate real-world distances with an error of less than 12%.
Write Energy Reduction for PCM via Pumping Efficiency Improvement
Authors: Luo Huizhang , Liu Qing , Hu Jingtong , Li Qiao , Shi Liang , Zhuge Qingfeng , Sha Edwin H.-M.
Published: November 2018

The emerging Phase Change Memory (PCM) is considered to be a promising candidate to replace DRAM as the next generation main memory due to its higher scalability and lower leakage power. However, the high write power consumption has become a major challenge in adopting PCM as main memory. In addition to the fact that writing to PCM cells requires high write current and voltage, current loss in the charge pumps also contributes a large percentage of high power consumption. The pumping efficiency of a PCM chip is a concave function of the write current. Leveraging the characteristics of the concave function, the overall pumping efficiency can be improved if the write current is uniform. In this article, we propose a peak-to-average (PTA) write scheme, which smooths the write current fluctuation by regrouping write units. In particular, we calculate the current requirements for each write unit by their values when they are evicted from the last level cache (LLC). When the write units are waiting in the memory controller, we regroup the write units by LLC-assisted PTA to reach the current-uniform goal. Experimental results show that LLC-assisted PTA achieved 13.4% of overall energy saving compared to the baseline.