bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How can positive and negative trainer feedback in the operating theatre impact a surgical trainee’s confidence and well-being: a qualitative study in the north of England
Authors: Kamali Dariush , Illing Jan
Published: February 2018

Objective

To identify the perception of positive feedback (PF) and negative feedback (NF) provided by trainers in the operating theatre on surgical trainees' confidence and well-being.

Design

Narrative interview study.

Setting

Twelve hospitals that form part of one deanery within the UK.

Participants

Maximum variation sampling of 15 higher general surgical trainees provided insight into how PF and NF from trainers in the operating theatre affect confidence and well-being.

Methods

Narrative telephone interviews were conducted with general surgical trainees between April and June 2016. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and anonymised. Transcriptions were analysed using the five-step framework analysis by two independent researchers.

Results

Fifteen trainees (age 28–38 years) were interviewed (median interview time: 29 min). Thematic framework analysis identified nine themes within the data. PF, which included corrective feedback, helped the trainees to relax and seemed to enhance their operative performance. All trainees reported significant and unjustified NF, some of which would be defined as undermining and bullying. Many believed this to have a negative impact on their training with minimal educational benefit. Many trainees felt NF adversely affected their performance in the operating theatre with some expressing a wish to leave the profession as a consequence.

Conclusion

Both PF and NF exist in the operating theatre. Both have an important influence on the trainee, their performance and career. PF, if specific, helped aid progression of learning, increased motivation and performance of surgical trainees. In contrast, NF was perceived to have detrimental effects on trainees’ performance and their well-being and, in some, introduced a desire to pursue an alternative career.
Ten-year inhospital mortality trends for patients with trauma in Japan: a multicentre observational study
Authors: Nagata Isao , Abe Toshikazu , Uchida Masatoshi , Saitoh Daizoh , Tamiya Nanako
Published: February 2018

Objectives

Trauma is one of the main causes of death in Japan, and treatments and prognoses of these injuries are constantly changing. We therefore aimed to investigate a 10-year trend (2004–2013) in inhospital mortality among patients with trauma in Japan.

Design

Multicentre observational study.

Setting

Japanese nationwide trauma registry (the Japan Trauma Data Bank) data.

Participants

All patients with trauma whose Injury Severity Score (ISS) were 3 and above, who were aged 15 years or older, and whose mechanisms of injury (MOI) were blunt and penetrating between 2004 and 2013 (n=90 833).

Outcome measures

A 10-year trend in inhospital mortality.

Results

Inhospital mortality for all patients with trauma significantly decreased over the study decade in our Cochran-Armitage test (P<0.001). Similarly, inhospital mortality for patients with ISS 16 or more and patients who scored 50% or better on the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) probability of survival scale significantly decreased (P<0.001). In addition, the OR for inhospital mortality of these three patient groups decreased yearly after adjusting for age, gender, MOI, ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate on hospital arrival in multivariable logistic regression analyses. Furthermore, inhospital mortality for patient with blunt trauma significantly decreased in injury mechanism-stratified Mantel-extension testing (P<0.001). Finally, multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that the OR for inhospital mortality of patients with ISS 16 and over decreased each year after adding and adjusting for means of transportation and usage of whole-body CT.

Conclusion

Inhospitalmortality for patients with trauma in Japan significantly decreased during the study decade after adjusting for patient characteristics, injury severity and the response environment after injury.
Primary outcome switching among drug trials with and without principal investigator financial ties to industry: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jones Christopher W , Misemer Benjamin S , Platts-Mills Timothy F , Ahn Rosa , Woodbridge Alexandra , Abraham Ann , Saba Susan , Korenstein Deborah , Madden Erin , Keyhani Salomeh
Published: February 2018

Objectives

To determine the relationship between manufacturer-related financial ties among investigators of published drug trials and rates of discrepant registered and published primary trial outcomes.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Human subjects drug trials published in ‘core clinical’ MEDLINE journals in 2013.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary study endpoint was the presence of a prospectively registered, clearly defined primary outcome that matched the published primary outcome for each included trial. Secondary outcomes included assessments of registration timing and quality, and the impact of outcome discrepancies between registration and publication on the statistical significance of the included trials.

Results

Of 192 included trials, 134 (70%) were positive and 58 (30%) were negative. Financial ties were present between first or last authors and drug manufacturers for 130 trials (68%), of which 78% were positive, versus 53% of trials with no financial ties that were positive. Clearly defined, prospectively registered outcomes that matched the published outcomes were present in just 76 of the 192 trials (40%). After adjusting for study start date and sample size, the observed relationship between investigator financial ties and the presence of a match between prospectively registered and published primary outcomes was of borderline statistical significance (OR 2.12, 95% CI 0.998 to 4.50). Studies with financial ties present were more likely than studies without ties to have been prospectively registered (78%vs48%, P<0.001) and were more likely to have prospectively registered a clearly defined primary outcome(62%vs35%, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Less than half of the trials in this cohort were prospectively registered with a clear primary outcome that was consistent with the primary outcome reported in the published manuscript. The presence of investigator financial ties was associated with higher quality registration practices, though this association diminished after adjusting for factors that impact registration quality.
Outcome measures in coeliac disease trials: the Tampere recommendations
Authors: Ludvigsson Jonas F , Ciacci Carolina , Green Peter HR , Kaukinen Katri , Korponay-Szabo Ilma R , Kurppa Kalle , Murray Joseph A , Lundin Knut Erik Aslaksen , Maki Markku J , Popp Alina , Reilly Norelle R , Rodriguez-Herrera Alfonso , Sanders David S , Schuppan Detlef , Sleet Sarah , Taavela Juha , Voorhees Kristin , Walker Marjorie M , Leffler Daniel A
Published: February 2018

Objective

A gluten-free diet is the only treatment option of coeliac disease, but recently an increasing number of trials have begun to explore alternative treatment strategies. We aimed to review the literature on coeliac disease therapeutic trials and issue recommendations for outcome measures.

Design

Based on a literature review of 10 062 references, we (17 researchers and 2 patient representatives from 10 countries) reviewed the use and suitability of both clinical and non-clinical outcome measures. We then made expert-based recommendations for use of these outcomes in coeliac disease trials and identified areas where research is needed.

Results

We comment on the use of histology, serology, clinical outcome assessment (including patient-reported outcomes), quality of life and immunological tools including gluten immunogenic peptides for trials in coeliac disease.

Conclusion

Careful evaluation and reporting of outcome measures will increase transparency and comparability of coeliac disease therapeutic trials, and will benefit patients, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry.
Integrative analysis of exogenous, endogenous, tumour and immune factors for precision medicine
Authors: Ogino Shuji , Nowak Jonathan A , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Phipps Amanda I , Peters Ulrike , Milner Jr Danny A , Giovannucci Edward L , Nishihara Reiko , Giannakis Marios , Garrett Wendy S , Song Mingyang
Published: February 2018

Immunotherapy strategies targeting immune checkpoints such as the CTLA4 and CD274 (programmed cell death 1 ligand 1, PD-L1)/PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1, PD-1) T-cell coreceptor pathways are revolutionising oncology. The approval of pembrolizumab use for solid tumours with high-level microsatellite instability or mismatch repair deficiency by the US Food and Drug Administration highlights promise of precision immuno-oncology. However, despite evidence indicating influences of exogenous and endogenous factors such as diet, nutrients, alcohol, smoking, obesity, lifestyle, environmental exposures and microbiome on tumour-immune interactions, integrative analyses of those factors and immunity lag behind. Immune cell analyses in the tumour microenvironment have not adequately been integrated into large-scale studies. Addressing this gap, the transdisciplinary field of molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) offers research frameworks to integrate tumour immunology into population health sciences, and link the exposures and germline genetics (eg, HLA genotypes) to tumour and immune characteristics. Multilevel research using bioinformatics, in vivo pathology and omics (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) technologies is possible with use of tissue, peripheral blood circulating cells, cell-free plasma, stool, sputum, urine and other body fluids. This immunology-MPE model can synergise with experimental immunology, microbiology and systems biology. GI neoplasms represent exemplary diseases for the immunology-MPE model, given rich microbiota and immune tissues of intestines, and the well-established carcinogenic role of intestinal inflammation. Proof-of-principle studies on colorectal cancer provided insights into immunomodulating effects of aspirin, vitamin D, inflammatory diets and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The integrated immunology-MPE model can contribute to better understanding of environment-tumour-immune interactions, and effective immunoprevention and immunotherapy strategies for precision medicine.
Trends and determinants of the Flynn effect in cognitive functioning among older individuals in 10 European countries
Authors: Hessel Philipp , Kinge Jonas M , Skirbekk Vegard , Staudinger Ursula M
Published: February 2018

Background

Although cognitive performance levels in old age have increased in most countries, recent evidence documents a slowing down or even decline in cohort gains in highly developed countries. The aim of this study was to assess trends and determinants in secular cohort gains in cognitive functioning among older individuals and whether cohort gains are levelling off in most advanced countries.

Methods

Data for individuals aged between 50 and 84 years from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe in 10 European countries between 2004 and 2013 (n=92 739) were used to assess country and age-specific changes in immediate word recall. Multivariate random intercept models were used to assess associations between secular cohort changes in immediate word recall, initial performance levels and changes in country-level socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

Performance in immediate word recall improved in all countries between 2004 and 2013 (from 4.40 to 5.08 words, P<0.05). However, secular cohort gains were significantly smaller in countries with initially higher performance levels (coeff.=−0.554, 95% CI −0.682 to –0.426). Changes in socio-demographic and health conditions, including decreases in cardiovascular disease, physical activity and educational achievement, were associated with larger secular cohort gains.

Conclusions

Results may either reflect that some countries are approaching the limits of cognitive plasticity, are slowing in their progress or that societal structures have not yet been optimised to improve cognitive abilities in midlife and beyond, or a combination of these interpretations.
Reference percentiles of FEV1 for the Canadian cystic fibrosis population: comparisons across time and countries
Authors: Kim Sang-Ook , Corey Mary , Stephenson Anne L , Strug Lisa J
Published: February 2018

Background

Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) indicates lung health in cystic fibrosis (CF). FEV1 is commonly communicated as a per cent predicted of a healthy individual sharing the same age, sex, race and height. CF-specific reference equations are complementary and calibrate a patient’s FEV1 to that of their CF peers.

Objectives

(1) To derive Canadian CF-specific FEV1 reference percentiles (FEV1%iles), (2) characterize how they have changed over time and (3) compare the Canadian FEV1%iles to those for USA and European CF populations.

Method

CF FEV1%iles are calculated using the Canadian CF Registry and quantile regression.

Results

The Canadian FEV1%iles demonstrated better lung function in more recent time periods within Canada, especially below the 50% percentile and in males. When compared to USA and European FEV1%iles for the same time period, Canadian FEV1%iles were higher.

Conclusion

CF-specific FEV1%iles can provide useful information about changes in lung health. An online calculator (available at cfpercentile.research.sickkids.ca) makes these FEV1%iles accessible.
Association between acute respiratory disease events and the MUC5B promoter polymorphism in smokers
Authors: Ash Samuel Y , Harmouche Rola , Putman Rachel K , Ross James C , Martinez Fernando J , Choi Augustine M , Bowler Russell P , Regan Elizabeth A , Curtis Jeffrey L , Han MeiLan K , Boucher Richard C , O’Neal Wanda K , Hatabu Hiroto , Lynch David A , Rosas Ivan O , Hunninghake Gary M , San Jose Estepar Raul , Washko George R
Published: February 2018

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs35705950) in the mucin 5B (MUC5B) gene promoter is associated with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial features on chest CT but may also have beneficial effects. In non-Hispanic whites in the COPDGene cohort with interstitial features (n=454), the MUC5B promoter polymorphism was associated with a 61% lower odds of a prospectively reported acute respiratory disease event (P=0.001), a longer time-to-first event (HR=0.57; P=0.006) and 40% fewer events (P=0.016). The MUC5B promoter polymorphism may have a beneficial effect on the risk of acute respiratory disease events in smokers with interstitial CT features.
Implementing lung cancer screening: baseline results from a community-based ‘Lung Health Check’ pilot in deprived areas of Manchester
Authors: Crosbie Phil A , Balata Haval , Evison Matthew , Atack Melanie , Bayliss-Brideaux Val , Colligan Denis , Duerden Rebecca , Eaglesfield Josephine , Edwards Timothy , Elton Peter , Foster Julie , Greaves Melanie , Hayler Graham , Higgins Coral , Howells John , Irion Klaus , Karunaratne Devinda , Kelly Jodie , King Zoe , Manson Sarah , Mellor Stuart , Miller Donna , Myerscough Amanda , Newton Tom , O’Leary Michelle , Pearson Rachel , Pickford Julie , Sawyer Richard , Screaton Nick J , Sharman Anna , Simmons Maggi , Smith Elaine , Taylor Ben , Taylor Sarah , Walsham Anna , Watts Angela , Whittaker James , Yarnell Laura , Threlfall Anthony , Barber Phil V , Tonge Janet , Booton Richard
Published: February 2018

We report baseline results of a community-based, targeted, low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening pilot in deprived areas of Manchester. Ever smokers, aged 55–74 years, were invited to ‘lung health checks’ (LHCs) next to local shopping centres, with immediate access to LDCT for those at high risk (6-year risk ≥1.51%, PLCOM2012calculator). 75% of attendees (n=1893/2541) were ranked in the lowest deprivation quintile; 56% were high risk and of 1384 individuals screened, 3% (95% CI 2.3% to 4.1%) had lung cancer (80% early stage) of whom 65% had surgical resection. Taking lung cancer screening into communities, with an LHC approach, is effective and engages populations in deprived areas.
Occurrence of dysentery‐like diarrhoea associated with Brachyspira suanatina infection on a German fattening pig farm
Authors: Rohde Judith , Majzoub‐Altweck Monir , Falkenau Almuth , Hermanns Walter , Burrough Eric R , Ritzmann Mathias , Stadler Julia
Published: February 2018

The anaerobic intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira (B.) suanatina was first described in 2007 but since then no further isolates have been reported from pigs. Accordingly, when the species was validly published in 2016, the overall occurrence and clinical relevance in pigs were unknown. In a fattening farm in southern Germany, mucohaemorrhagic diarrhoea was observed in 60 per cent (750 animals) of the finisher pigs. A diagnostic workup including Brachyspira culture, Salmonella culture, Lawsonia intracellularis‐specific, B. hyodysenteriae‐specific and B. pilosicoli‐specific multiplex PCR and postmortem examination of severely affected pigs was performed. Tests for Salmonella species, Lawsonia intracellularis and B. hyodysenteriae were all negative. Gross and microscopic lesions were in agreement with dysentery and spirochaetes could be demonstrated by silver staining in tissue samples of the caecum at the ileal papilla. B. suanatina was cultured from faeces or colon of all (five) animals sampled and identified using nox‐RFLP, partial nox‐gene‐sequencing and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). According to the initial report from Scandinavia, B. suanatina can be isolated from birds and cross‐species infection could be demonstrated infecting pigs with an avian isolate. Thus outdoor production as in the case presented here and international trade may pose a risk for infection of naive herds.
Reactive cold plasma particles generate oxidative stress in yeast but do not trigger apoptosis
Authors: Polčic Peter , Pakosová Lucia , Chovančíková Petra , Machala Zdenko
Published: February 2018

Interactions of living cells with cold plasma of electrical discharges affect cell physiology, often resulting in the loss of viability. However, the mechanisms involved in cell killing are poorly understood, and dissection of cellular pathways or structures affected by plasma using simple eukaryotic models is needed. Using selected genetic mutants of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), we investigated the role of oxidative stress and yeast apoptosis in plasma-induced cell killing. Increased sensitivity of yeast strains deficient in superoxide dismutases indicated that reactive oxygen species generated in the plasma are among the most prominent factors involved in killing of yeast cells. In mutant strains with a deletion of the key components of yeast apoptotic pathway, the sensitivity of cells towards the plasma treatment remained unaffected. Yeast apoptosis, thus, does not appear to play a significant role in plasma-induced cell killing of yeast.
A comparative study of media polarity effects on the linear and third-order nonlinear optical responses of thiazine dyes
Authors: Khadem Sadigh M. , Zakerhamidi M.S.
Published: February 2018

In this paper, solvent effects on the linear and nonlinear optical responses of thiazine dyes were investigated. Spectroscopic and open aperture Z-scan techniques were used for studying linear and nonlinear responses of azure A and methylene blue dyes. The experimental results show that linear and nonlinear optical properties of used dyes depend highly on the molecular structure and their surrounding media characteristics. The calculated contribution of various media-induced interactions indicate that solvent hydrogen bond acceptor and solvent dipolarity and polarizability abilities have significant effects on the linear and nonlinear absorption characteristics of thiazine dyes. Moreover, by transition of the linear optics domain to nonlinear optics, similar resonance structures were obtained for thiazine dyes. So, the spectroscopic technique can be considered as a simple method for prediction of dominant resonance structures and effective solvent polarity parameters on the third-order nonlinear properties of azure A and methylene blue dyes.
Triple root systems, rational quivers and examples of linear free divisors
Authors: Nakamoto Kazunori , Sharland Ayşe , Tosun Meral
Published: February 2018

The dual resolution graphs of rational triple point (RTP) singularities can be seen as a generalization of Dynkin diagrams. In this work, we study the triple root systems corresponding to those diagrams. We determine the number of roots for each RTP singularity, and show that for each root we obtain a linear free divisor. Furthermore, we deduce that linear free divisors defined by rational triple quivers with roots in the corresponding triple root systems satisfy the global logarithmic comparison theorem. We also discuss a generalization of these results to the class of rational singularities with almost reduced Artin cycle.
p-Coumaric Acid, a Major Active Compound of Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam, Suppresses Cigarette Smoke-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation
Authors: Kim Woogyeong , Lim Dahae , Kim Jinju
Published: February 2018

[Formula: see text]-coumaric acid ([Formula: see text]-CA) is a common compound found in medicinal herbs, including Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam (BC). It has been used to treat various diseases in China and Korea. Our previous study demonstrated that BC inhibits pulmonary and intestinal inflammation. In the present study, we used cigarette smoke (CS) to induce lung inflammation in vivo, and investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of [Formula: see text]-CA on CS-induced inflammatory mice model. Mice were treated with BC and [Formula: see text]-CA via oral injection 2[Formula: see text]h before CS exposure. The body weight and the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured. The levels of relative inflammatory factors were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The lung histological changes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Also, the protein level of nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B (NF-[Formula: see text]B) was evaluated by Western blotting. Our results indicated that BC and [Formula: see text]-CA inhibited CS-induced lung inflammation by regulating pro-inflammatory productions such as cytokines, chemokine, protease and NF-[Formula: see text]B. Consequently, these data demonstrated that [Formula: see text]-CA inhibited pulmonary inflammation by suppressing NF-[Formula: see text]B activity, through which pro-inflammatory mediators were regulated. Therefore, [Formula: see text]-CA, which was shown to be a major component of BC, can be considered as a strong therapeutic candidate for treating pulmonary inflammatory diseases.
The Schubert normal form of a 3-bridge link and the 3-bridge link group
Authors: Toro Margarita , Rivera Mauricio
Published: February 2018

We introduce the Schubert form for a [Formula: see text]-bridge link diagram, as a generalization of the Schubert normal form of a [Formula: see text]-bridge link. It consists of a set of six positive integers, written as [Formula: see text], with some conditions and it is based on the concept of [Formula: see text]-butterfly. Using the Schubert normal form of a [Formula: see text]-bridge link diagram, we give two presentations of the 3-bridge link group. These presentations are given by concrete formulas that depend on the integers [Formula: see text]. The construction is a generalization of the form the link group presentation of the [Formula: see text]-bridge link [Formula: see text] depends on the integers [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
APPLICATION OF BACK-PROPAGATION NEURAL NETWORKS FOR CORROSION BEHAVIOR ESTIMATION OF Ni-TiN COATINGS FABRICATED THROUGH PULSE ELECTRODEPOSITION
Authors: GUO DONGJIE , HAN YUBING , MA CHUNYANG , YU WANYING , XIA FAFENG , JIANG MINZHENG , XU XIUYING
Published: February 2018

In this paper, back-propagation (BP) neural network model with 8 hidden layers and 10 neurons was utilized to estimate corrosion behaviors of Ni-TiN coatings, deposited through pulse electrodeposition. Effects of plating parameters, namely, pulse frequency, TiN concentration and current density, on Ni-TiN coatings weight losses were discussed. Results indicated that pulse frequency, TiN concentration and current density had significant effects on weight losses of Ni-TiN coatings. Maximum mean square error of BP model was 9.10%, and this verified that the BP neural network model could accurately estimate corrosion behavior of Ni-TiN coatings. The coating fabricated at pulse frequency of 500[Formula: see text]Hz, TiN particle concentration of 8[Formula: see text]g/L and current density of 4[Formula: see text]A/dm2 consisted of fine grains and compact oxides, demonstrating that the coating displayed best corrosion resistance in this corrosion test. Concentrations of Ti and Ni in Ni-TiN coating prepared at pulse frequency of 500[Formula: see text]Hz, TiN particle concentration of 8[Formula: see text]g/L and current density of 4[Formula: see text]A/dm2 were 18.6[Formula: see text]at.% and 55.4[Formula: see text]at.%, respectively.
INFLUENCE OF GROWTH TIME ON STRUCTURAL, OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF TiO2 NANOROD ARRAYS DEPOSITED BY HYDROTHERMAL METHOD
Authors: AL-JAWAD SELMA M. H. , SALMAN ODAI N. , YOUSIF NWAR A.
Published: February 2018

Well-oriented TiO2 nanorod (NR) arrays were fabricated directly on conductive side of F/SnO2 substrates via hydrothermal technique. The effect of growth time on the TiO2 NR thin film was examined. Field emission scanning electron microscope revealed that NRs exhibited a tetragonal structure with square top facets. Thickness measurements indicated that the thicknesses of the samples increased from 0.234[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m to 1.544[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m as the growth time was extended. The investigation of XRD indicates that the TiO2 films are single-crystalline type of rutile. The effect of growth time on optical and electrical properties has been studied. With optimum growth time, dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) efficiency of 1.48% could be reached using 1.544[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m long TiO2 NR arrays as electrode.
ABRASIVE WEAR ANALYSIS ON GRAPHENE OXIDE-BASED HYBRID NANOPOLYMER COMPOSITES
Authors: RAJAMANI GEETHA , PAULRAJ JAWAHAR
Published: February 2018

Nylon ([Formula: see text]), Glass-filled nylon (GFN) composites and hybrid graphene oxide blended GFN (GO-GFN) nanocomposites plates were prepared by blending and subsequent injection molding process. Mechanical tests were conducted to study the tensile property, flexural property and hardness of nylon, GFN and GO-GFN system. The fabricated plates were subjected to abrasive wear testing in Pin-on-disc tribometer. The pin used is aluminium oxide (Al2O3) ceramic tool. The coefficient of friction, frictional force and loading variations were observed and studied to analyze the susceptibility of nylon, GFN and GO-GFN nanopolymer composites for abrasive wear conditions. This experimental study confirmed the enhancement in the abrasive wear resistance behavior of GO-GFN hybrid nanocomposites.
SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF AlCrTiSiN COATINGS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES
Authors: SHEN HUI , KONG WEICHENG , ZHOU WEITONG , KONG DEJUN
Published: February 2018

AlCrTiSiN coatings were deposited on YT14 cemented carbide using cathodic arc ion plating (CAIP) method. The surface and cross-section morphologies, chemical composition, phases, surface roughness, and binding energies of chemical elements of obtained coatings were analyzed using a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively, and its mechanical properties were characterized using a scratch tester and nanoindentation tester. The friction-wear behaviors of AlCrTiSiN coatings at 700∘C, 800∘C and 900∘C were investigated using a high temperature wear test, the distributions of chemical elements on the worn tracks were analyzed using a plane scan analysis of EDS, and the high temperature wear mechanisms were also discussed. The results show that the chemical elements are uniformly distributed on the AlCrTiSiN coating with the surface roughness of 105[Formula: see text]nm, which is composed of faced centered cubic (FCC)–(Cr, Al)N, body-centered cubic (HCP)–AlN and Si3N4 amorphous phases. The interfacial bonding strength, microhardness and elastic modulus of AlCrTiSiN coating is 26.15[Formula: see text]N, 25.789[Formula: see text]GPa, and 251.364[Formula: see text]GPa, respectively. The average coefficient of friction (COF) of AlCrTiSiN coatings at 600∘C, 700∘C and 800∘C is 1.06, 0.73, and 0.97, respectively, of which friction performance is the best at 700∘C. The wear mechanism of AlCrTiSiN coating at 600∘C, 700∘C and 800∘C is adhesive wear [Formula: see text] fatigue wear, abrasive wear [Formula: see text] oxidation reaction, and adhesive wear [Formula: see text] fatigue wear, respectively.
Self-dual and logarithmic representations of the twisted Heisenberg–Virasoro algebra at level zero
Authors: Adamović Dražen , Radobolja Gordan
Published: February 2018

This paper is a continuation of [D. Adamović and G. Radobolja, Free field realization of the twisted Heisenberg–Virasoro algebra at level zero and its applications, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 219(10) (2015) 4322–4342]. We present certain new applications and generalizations of the free field realization of the twisted Heisenberg–Virasoro algebra [Formula: see text] at level zero. We find explicit formulas for singular vectors in certain Verma modules. A free field realization of self-dual modules for [Formula: see text] is presented by combining a bosonic construction of Whittaker modules from [D. Adamović, R. Lu and K. Zhao, Whittaker modules for the affine Lie algebra [Formula: see text], Adv. Math. 289 (2016) 438–479; arXiv:1409.5354] with a construction of logarithmic modules for vertex algebras. As an application, we prove that there exists a non-split self-extension of irreducible self-dual module which is a logarithmic module of rank two. We construct a large family of logarithmic modules containing different types of highest weight modules as subquotients. We believe that these logarithmic modules are related with projective covers of irreducible modules in a suitable category of [Formula: see text]-modules.
Jet modules for the centerless Virasoro-like algebra
Authors: Guo Xiangqian , Liu Genqiang
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we studied the jet modules for the centerless Virasoro-like algebra which is the Lie algebra of the Lie group of the area-preserving diffeomorphisms of a [Formula: see text]-torus. The jet modules are certain natural modules over the Lie algebra of semi-direct product of the centerless Virasoro-like algebra and the Laurent polynomial algebra in two variables. We reduce the irreducible jet modules to the finite-dimensional irreducible modules over some infinite-dimensional Lie algebra and then characterize the irreducible jet modules with irreducible finite dimensional modules over [Formula: see text]. To determine the indecomposable jet modules, we use the technique of polynomial modules in the sense of [Irreducible representations for toroidal Lie algebras, J. Algebras 221 (1999) 188–231; Weight modules over exp-polynomial Lie algebras, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 191 (2004) 23–42]. Consequently, indecomposable jet modules are described using modules over the algebra [Formula: see text], which is the “positive part” of a Block type algebra studied first by [Some infinite-dimensional simple Lie algebras in characteristic [Formula: see text] related to those of Block, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 127(2) (1998) 153–165] and recently by [A [Formula: see text]-graded generalization of the Witt-algebra, preprint; Classification of simple Lie algebras on a lattice, Proc. London Math. Soc. 106(3) (2013) 508–564]).
IMAGE-BASED SKELETAL MUSCLE COORDINATION: CASE STUDY ON A SUBJECT SPECIFIC FACIAL MIMIC SIMULATION
Authors: DAO TIEN TUAN , FAN ANG-XIAO , DAKPÉ STÉPHANIE , POULETAUT PHILIPPE , RACHIK MOHAMED , HO BA THO MARIE CHRISTINE
Published: February 2018

Facial muscle coordination is a fundamental mechanism for facial mimics and expressions. The understanding of this complex mechanism leads to better diagnosis and treatment of facial disorders like facial palsy or disfigurement. The objective of this work was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to characterize the activation behavior of facial muscles and then simulate their coordination mechanism using a subject specific finite element model. MRI data of lower head of a healthy subject were acquired in neutral and in the pronunciation of the sound [o] positions. Then, a finite element model was derived directly from acquired MRI images in neutral position. Transversely-isotropic, hyperelastic, quasi-incompressible behavior law was implemented for modeling facial muscles. The simulation to produce the pronunciation of the sound [o] was performed by the cumulative coordination between three pairs of facial mimic muscles (Zygomaticus Major (ZM), Levator Labii Superioris (LLS), Levator Anguli Oris (LAO)). Mean displacement amplitude showed a good agreement with a relative deviation of 15% between numerical outcome and MRI-based measurement when all three muscles are involved. This study elucidates, for the first time, the facial muscle coordination using in vivo data leading to improve the model understanding and simulation outcomes.
Influence of high temperature annealing on the dielectric properties of alumina films prepared by the aerosol deposition method
Authors: Leupold Nico , Schubert Michael , Kita Jaroslaw , Moos Ralf
Published: February 2018

The aerosol deposition method (ADM) is a novel coating technique that allows to fabricate dense and nanocrystalline ceramic films at room temperature. To investigate the dielectric properties of aerosol deposited alumina films at high temperatures and the influence of annealing on them, the temperature was increased in steps of 100[Formula: see text]C from 200[Formula: see text]C to 900[Formula: see text]C and subsequently cooled down stepwise again. At each step, the dielectric properties were measured by impedance spectroscopy between 50[Formula: see text]mHz and 200[Formula: see text]kHz. During the heating steps, the relative permittivity and also the loss tangent showed a disordered behavior with various maxima in the loss tangent. After reaching 900[Formula: see text]C, during cooling, the behavior was more ordered, and the loss tangent exhibited only one maximum that appeared at lower frequencies. Overall, the annealing reduces the loss tangent at low frequencies and low temperatures. The origin of this behavior could lie in the annealing of defects, which are incorporated into the layer when the particles hit the surface of the substrate and crack while being deposited via ADM following the room temperature impact consolidation mechanism (RTIC).
A persistently increasing resistance ratio and repeatable non-volatile memory in AZO/CZTSe/FTO resistive switching devices
Authors: Zheng Pingping , Zhang Xuejiao , Sun Bai , Mao Shuangsuo , Zhu Shouhui , Xia Yudong , Zhao Yong , Yu Zhou
Published: February 2018

In this paper, the Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) film was deposited on the fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO), and Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and FTO act as top and bottom electrodes for constructing a sandwich structure, in which the AZO/CZTSe/FTO device not only represents outstanding non-volatile resistive switching memory behavior, but also shows a persistently increasing resistance ratio phenomenon for the first time. This work reveals that the device based on CZTSe film holds an excellent memory effect for non-volatile memory applications in the electronic equipment.
Magnetic and Electronic Properties of LiVOPO4 and VOPO4 Cathodes
Authors: Masrour R. , Jabar A. , Moujri H. , Hlil E. K. , Obbade S. , Boughaleb Y.
Published: February 2018

Magnetic and electronic properties of LiVOPO4 and VOPO4 cathodes have been studied using ab initio calculations, high temperature series expansions (HTSEs) calculations and Monte Carlo simulations (MCSs). Self-consistent ab initio calculations, based on Density Functional Theory approach (DFT) and using Full Potential Linear Augmented Plane Wave (FLAPW) method, were performed to investigate both electronic and magnetic properties of the LiVOPO4. Polarized spin and spin–orbit coupling are included in calculations within the framework of the antiferromagnetic state between two adjacent V plans. Magnetic moments considered to lie along (010) axes are computed. Average equilibrium voltage over a full cycle ([Formula: see text]) of the LiVOPO4, battery have been estimated. Computed magnetic moments are used as input for HTSEs to compute other magnetic parameters using the mean field theory, MCSs and HTSEs. The obtained results by HTSEs and MCSs are comparable with experiments results.
Toward Higher Precision
Authors: Ratzel Rick , Greenstreet Rodney
Published: February 2018

It is difficult to overstate the importance of synchronized time to modern computer systems. Our lives today depend on the financial transactions, telecommunications, power generation and delivery, high-speed manufacturing, and discoveries in "big physics," among many other things, that are driven by fast, powerful computing devices coordinated in time with each other.
Bargaining Game-Based Scheduling for Performance Guarantees in Cloud Computing
Authors: Liu Chubo , Li Kenli , Tang Zhuo , Li Keqin
Published: February 2018

In this article, we focus on request scheduling with performance guarantees of all users in cloud computing. Each cloud user submits requests with average response time requirement, and the cloud provider tries to find a scheduling scheme, i.e., allocating user requests to limited servers, such that the average response times of all cloud users can be guaranteed. We formulate the considered scenario into a cooperative game among multiple users and try to find a Nash bargaining solution (NBS), which can simultaneously satisfy all users’ performance demands. We first prove the existence of NBS and then analyze its computation. Specifically, for the situation when all allocating substreams are strictly positive, we propose a computational algorithm (
CA
), which can find the NBS very efficiently. For the more general case, we propose an iterative algorithm (
IA
), which is based on duality theory. The convergence of our proposed
IA
algorithm is also analyzed. Finally, we conduct some numerical calculations. The experimental results show that our
IA
algorithm can find an appropriate scheduling strategy and converges to a stable state very quickly.
Phrase Table Induction Using Monolingual Data for Low-Resource Statistical Machine Translation
Authors: Marie Benjamin , Fujita Atsushi
Published: February 2018

We propose a new method for inducing a phrase-based translation model from a pair of unrelated monolingual corpora. Our method is able to deal with phrases of arbitrary length and to find phrase pairs that are useful for statistical machine translation, without requiring large parallel or comparable corpora. First, our method generates phrase pairs through coupling source and target phrases separately collected from respective monolingual data. Then, for each phrase pair, we compute features using the monolingual data and a small quantity of parallel sentences. Finally, incorrect phrase pairs are pruned, and a phrase table is made using the remaining phrase pairs. In our experiments on French--Japanese and Spanish--Japanese translation tasks under low-resource conditions, we observe that incorporating a phrase table induced by our method to the machine translation system leads to large improvements in translation quality. Furthermore, we show that a phrase table induced by our method can also be useful in a wide range of configurations, including configurations where we have already access to large parallel corpora and configurations where only small monolingual corpora are available.
An Online Emergency Demand Response Mechanism for Cloud Computing
Authors: Zhou Ruiting , Li Zongpeng , Wu Chuan
Published: February 2018

This article studies emergency demand response (EDR) mechanisms from a data center perspective, where a cloud participates in a mandatory EDR program while receiving computing job bids from cloud users in an online fashion. We target a realistic EDR mechanism where (i) the cloud provider dynamically packs different types of resources on servers into requested VMs and computes job schedules to meet users’ requirements, (ii) the power consumption of servers in the cloud is limited by the grid through the EDR program, and (iii) the operation cost of the cloud is considered in the calculation of social welfare, measured by an electricity cost that consists of both volume charge and peak charge. We propose an online auction for dynamic cloud resource provisioning that is under the control of the EDR program, runs in polynomial time, achieves truthfulness, and close-to-optimal social welfare for the cloud ecosystem. In the design of the online auction, we first propose a new framework,
compact exponential
LPs, to handle job scheduling constraints in the time domain. We then develop a posted pricing auction framework toward the truthful online auction design, which leverages the classic primal-dual technique for approximation algorithm design. We evaluate our online auctions through both theoretical analysis and empirical studies driven by real-world traces.
Application of Structural and Topological Features to Recognize Online Handwritten Bangla Characters
Authors: Sen Shibaprasad , Bhattacharyya Ankan , Singh Pawan Kumar , Sarkar Ram , Roy Kaushik , Doermann David
Published: February 2018

This article presents a set of novel features for robust online Bangla handwritten character recognition. Two feature extraction methods are presented here. The first describes the transition from background to foreground pixels and vice versa. The second uses a combination of topological features and centre-of-gravity- (CG) based circular features where global information, local information, and Circular Quadrant Mass Distribution information have been extracted. The impact of each along with their combination have also been analyzed. A total of 15,000 isolated online Bangla character samples have been collected and used for the evaluation. A Support Vector Machine classifier records the best recognition rate when the transition count feature, CG-based circular features, and topological features are combined.
Neonatal nutritional programming impairs adiponectin effects on energy homeostasis in adult life of male rats
Authors: Halah Mariana Peduti , Marangon Paula Beatriz , Antunes-Rodrigues Jose , Elias Lucila L. K.
Published: February 2018

Neonatal nutritional changes induce long-lasting effects on energy homeostasis. Adiponectin influences food intake and body weight. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of neonatal nutritional programming on the central stimulation of adiponectin. Male Wistar rats were divided on postnatal (PN) day 3 in litters of 3 (small litter, SL), 10 (normal litter, NL), or 16 pups/dam (large litter, LL). We assessed body weight gain for 60 days, adiponectin concentration, and white adipose tissue weight. We examined the response of SL, NL, and LL rats on body weight gain, food intake, oxygen consumption (V̇o2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), calorimetry, locomotor activity, phosphorylated-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression in the hypothalamus, and uncoupling protein (UCP)-1 in the brown adipose tissue after central stimulus with adiponectin. After weaning, SL rats maintained higher body weight gain despite similar food intake compared with NL rats. LL rats showed lower body weight at weaning, with a catch up afterward and higher food intake. Both LL and SL groups had decreased plasma concentrations of adiponectin at PN60. SL rats had increased white adipose tissue. Central injection of adiponectin decreased body weight and food intake and increased V̇o2, RER, calorimetry, p-AMPK and UCP- 1 expression in NL rats, but it had no effect on SL and LL rats, compared with the respective vehicle groups. In conclusion, neonatal under- and overfeeding induced an increase in body weight gain in juvenile and early adult life. Unresponsiveness to central effects of adiponectin contributes to the imbalance of the energy homeostasis in adult life induced by neonatal nutritional programming.
Modulating Brain Connectivity by Simultaneous Dual-Mode Stimulation over Bilateral Primary Motor Cortices in Subacute Stroke Patients
Authors: Lee Jungsoo , Park Eunhee , Lee Ahee , Chang Won Hyuk , Kim Dae-Shik , Shin Yong-Il , Kim Yun-Hee
Published: February 2018

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used for the modulation of stroke patients’ motor function. Recently, more challenging approaches have been studied. In this study, simultaneous stimulation using both rTMS and tDCS (dual-mode stimulation) over bilateral primary motor cortices (M1s) was investigated to compare its modulatory effects with single rTMS stimulation over the ipsilesional M1 in subacute stroke patients. Twenty-four patients participated; 12 participants were assigned to the dual-mode stimulation group while the other 12 participants were assigned to the rTMS-only group. We assessed each patient’s motor function using the Fugl-Meyer assessment score and acquired their resting-state fMRI data at two times: prior to stimulation and 2 months after stimulation. Twelve healthy subjects were also recruited as the control group. The interhemispheric connectivity of the contralesional M1, interhemispheric connectivity between bilateral hemispheres, and global efficiency of the motor network noticeably increased in the dual-mode stimulation group compared to the rTMS-only group. Contrary to the dual-mode stimulation group, there was no significant change in the rTMS-only group. These data suggested that simultaneous dual-mode stimulation contributed to the recovery of interhemispheric interaction than rTMS only in subacute stroke patients. This trial is registered withNCT03279640.
Cost of Capital Estimation for Highway Concessionaires in Chile
Authors: Vergara-Novoa Cristian , Sepúlveda-Rojas Juan Pedro , Alfaro Miguel D. , Riveros Nicolás
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we present the cost of capital estimation for highway concessionaires in Chile. We estimated the cost of equity and the cost of debt and determined the capital structure for each one of twenty-four concessionaires that operate highways. We based our estimations on the developments of Sharpe (1964), Modigliani and Miller (1958), and Maquieira (2009), which were also compared with the Brusov et al. (2015) developments. We collected stock prices for different highway concessionaires around the world from Google Finance and Reuters’ websites in order to determine the Beta of equity using a representative company. After that, we estimated the cost of equity considering Hamada (1969) and a Capital Asset Pricing Model. Then, we estimated the cost of capital using the cost of debt and the capital structure of Chile’s highway concessionaires. With all above, we were able to determine the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) for highway concessions which ranges from 5.49 to 6.62%.