bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predator guards on nest boxes improve nesting success of birds
Authors: Bailey Robyn L. , Bonter David N.
Published: September 2017

Humans have long provided nest boxes in a widespread and popular effort to augment nesting sites for cavity‐nesting birds. Nest boxes, however, may provide easy access for predators and thereby create ecological traps for nesting birds. Predator exclusion techniques are often deployed at nest boxes to reduce nest predation, but few studies have tested their performance. For the first time, we test the effectiveness of predator guards in promoting the nesting success of multiple species of birds at a large spatial scale (United States and Canada). We used nest fate data from 24,114 nest records submitted from 2014 to 2016 to NestWatch, a citizen‐science program focused on quantifying nesting success, to determine whether installing predator guards on nest boxes is an effective management technique. Across all species, top models predicting daily nest survival rates suggest a positive influence of predator guards, with a nearly 7% increase in nest success for attempts in boxes with guards versus attempts in boxes without guards. At the species level, nest survival was greater for individuals nesting in boxes with guards in 7 of 9 species, with no effect in the remaining 2 species. Although all types of guards were correlated with improved nesting success, birds nesting in boxes with cone‐type baffles, stovepipe baffles, or entrance hole extenders were most likely to result in successful nesting. Further, birds nesting in boxes with multiple predator guards were more successful, on average, than birds nesting in boxes with only a single guard. Our results can help managers of cavity‐nesting birds incorporate science‐based evidence into decision‐making and allocate resources more effectively. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Wetland bird abundance and safety implications for military aircraft operations
Authors: Andersson Kent , Davis Craig A. , Blackwell Bradley F. , Heinen Jason R.
Published: September 2017

Wetlands with associated avifauna can pose a substantial hazard to aviation safety, potentially increasing bird–aircraft collision (strike) risk when located near air operations areas. We modeled year‐round use by wetland avifauna of Drummond Flats Wildlife Management Area (Drummond Flats), a wetland complex located within 10 km of Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Enid, Oklahoma, USA. Our objectives were to 1) quantify seasonal avifauna abundances at Drummond Flats; 2) test a priori models reflecting use by bird species recognized as hazardous to aviation safety relative to environmental factors including flooded wetland habitat and vegetation cover; 3) use these models to predict maximal expected abundances of wetland avifauna during flood conditions; and 4) compare our findings with reported bird strikes at Vance AFB. Drought conditions influenced avian use during our study. Of the species expected to respond predictably to flooded wetland habitat, only ducks (Anatinae) occurred in numbers conducive to modeling. Using zero‐inflated Poisson models, we found that duck abundance was positively associated with permanent wetland habitat type and, excluding winter, available habitat area (i.e., standing water); whereas, >50% vegetation cover was negatively correlated with abundance. No model predicted >97.2 ducks/ha for any habitat type, except during winter. Our models also identified potential peaks in abundance not evident from raw count data, emphasizing the benefits of this approach. Identifying factors driving abundances also enables targeted management of hazardous species. Further, we found double‐sampling to be a practical method for assessing detection bias during avian surveys at wetlands. Restricting to obligate wetland species associated with Drummond Flats, we found 1 strike/184,212 flight‐hours, which was an order of magnitude lower than the average for U.S. civil aircraft (1990–2014). Thus, under drought conditions, bird use of Drummond Flats likely did not elevate strike risk for Vance AFB aircraft operations. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Colonic intussusception by a giant colon lipoma: A case report
Authors: González-Urquijo Mauricio , Kettenhofen Samuel Eugene , Rodarte-Shade Mario
Published: September 2017

Abstract

Introduction

Colonic lipomas are extremely rare, and they can mimic clinical manifestations of a colonic carcinoma, presenting with bowel obstruction or intussusception. We present a case of a 57-year-old female with a colonic lipoma causing a colonic intussusception. A review of the literature is also included.

Presentation of case

A 57-year-old female patient arrived to the emergency department with bowel obstruction. Imaging studies revealed intussusception triggered by a colonic pediculate lipoma. A left colectomy was performed and the patient had an uneventful recovery.

Discussion

Two-thirds of colonic intussusceptions are associated with malingnant tumors. There are several therapeutic interventions for the treatment of this disease, which include a segmental colectomy, local excision and even endoscopic removal. Colonic lipomas are extremely rare, and they can mimic a malignant tumor, so it is imperative for the surgeon to rule out a malignancy in order to opt for a more conservative or minimal approach.

Conclusion

If the diagnosis of a benign disease is uncertain in patients presenting with colonic intussusception, then it should be managed as a malignant lesion due to the higher incidence of large bowel adenocarcinomas presenting with this disease.

Highlights
The Challenges of Low-Frequency Radio Polarimetry: Lessons from the Murchison Widefield Array
Authors: Lenc E. , Anderson C. S. , Barry N. , Bowman J. D. , Cairns I. H. , Farnes J. S. , Gaensler B. M. , Heald G. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Kaplan D. L. , Lynch C. R. , McCauley P. I. , Mitchell D. A. , Morgan J. , Morales M.F. , Murphy Tara , Offringa A. R. , Ord S. M. , Pindor B. , Riseley C. , Sadler E. M. , Sobey C. , Sokolowski M. , Sullivan I. S. , O’Sullivan S. P. , Sun X. H. , Tremblay S. E. , Trott C. M. , Wayth R. B.
Published: September 2017

We present techniques developed to calibrate and correct Murchison Widefield Array low-frequency (72–300 MHz) radio observations for polarimetry. The extremely wide field-of-view, excellent instantaneous (u, v)-coverage and sensitivity to degree-scale structure that the Murchison Widefield Array provides enable instrumental calibration, removal of instrumental artefacts, and correction for ionospheric Faraday rotation through imaging techniques. With the demonstrated polarimetric capabilities of the Murchison Widefield Array, we discuss future directions for polarimetric science at low frequencies to answer outstanding questions relating to polarised source counts, source depolarisation, pulsar science, low-mass stars, exoplanets, the nature of the interstellar and intergalactic media, and the solar environment.
Recombinant factor VIIa as a rescue therapy in severe haemoptysis in a patient with a Fontan circulation
Authors: Mason Thomas W. , Retter Andrew , Morgan Gareth J.
Published: September 2017

We describe the successful use of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in the control of massive haemoptysis in a 17-year-old patient with a Fontan circulation. The patient was intubated and ventilated in the ICU with deteriorating gas exchange. Conventional methods to control the haemoptysis were ineffective, and rFVIIa was successfully administered as a rescue therapy. rFVIIa is a powerful pro-thrombotic agent, which is only licensed in haemophiliacs with acquired inhibitors to anticoagulation. It has been used off-license in the treatment of massive haemorrhage, although a Cochrane review did not show any significant benefit; however, it may have a role as a rescue therapy where alternatives options have been exhausted after careful risk–benefit analysis.
Thoracoscopic treatment of left-to-right shunt in a child with scimitar syndrome
Authors: Dokumcu Zafer , Divarci Emre , Erdener Ata
Published: September 2017

Scimitar syndrome represents a rare variant of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with right lung hypoplasia, dextrocardia, and concomitant airway-vessel abnormalities. Surgical correction is preferred in symptomatic patients or in patients with increased left-to-right shunt. In this report, the first case of scimitar syndrome with dual arterial supply and venous drainage to be treated with thoracoscopic approach is presented.
Efficacy and safety of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for venous thrombosis after paediatric heart surgery
Authors: Justice Lindsey B. , Nelson David P. , Palumbo Joseph , Sawyer Jaclyn , Patel Manish N. , Byrnes Jonathan W.
Published: September 2017

Objective

Reports in the literature of treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator following cardiac surgery are limited. We reviewed our experience to provide a case series of the therapeutic use of tissue plasminogen activator for the treatment of venous thrombosis in children after cardiac surgery. The data describe the morbidity, mortality, and clinical outcomes of tissue plasminogen activator administration for treatment of venous thrombosis in children following cardiac surgery.

Design

The study was designed as a retrospective case series.

Setting

The study was carried out in a 25-bed cardiac intensive care unit in an academic, free-standing paediatric hospital.

Patients

All children who received tissue plasminogen activator for venous thrombosis within 60 days of cardiac surgery, a total of 13 patients, were included.

Interventions

Data was collected, collated, and analysed as a part of the interventions of this study.

Measurements and main results

Patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator were principally young infants (median 0.2, IQR 0.07–0.58 years) who had recently (22, IQR 12.5–27.3 days) undergone cardiac surgery. Hospital mortality was high in this patient group (38%), but there was no mortality attributable to tissue plasminogen activator administration, occurring within <72 hours. There was one major haemorrhagic complication that may be attributable to tissue plasminogen activator. Complete or partial resolution of venous thrombosis was confirmed using imaging in 10 of 13 patients (77%), and tissue plasminogen activator administration was associated with resolution of chylous drainage, with no drainage through chest tubes, at 10 days after tissue plasminogen activator treatment in seven of nine patients who had upper-compartment venous thrombosis-associated chylothorax.

Conclusions

On the basis of our experience with administration of tissue plasminogen activator in children after cardiac surgery, tissue plasminogen activator is both safe and effective for resolution of venous thrombosis in this high-risk population.
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin reflects inflammation and is not a reliable renal biomarker in neonates and infants after cardiopulmonary bypass: a prospective case–control study
Authors: Reiter Karl , Balling Gunter , Bonelli Vittorio , Pabst von Ohain Jelena , Braun Siegmund Lorenz , Ewert Peter , Ruf Bettina
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in infants. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin has been suggested to be a promising early biomarker of impending acute kidney injury. On the other hand, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin has been shown to be elevated in systemic inflammatory diseases without renal impairment. In this secondary analysis of data from our previous study on acute kidney injury after infant cardiac surgery, our hypothesis was that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin may be associated with surgery-related inflammation.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 59 neonates and infants undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for CHD and measured neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in plasma and urine and interleukin-6 in the plasma. Values were correlated with postoperative acute kidney injury according to the paediatric Renal-Injury-Failure-Loss-Endstage classification.

Results

Overall, 48% (28/59) of patients developed acute kidney injury. Of these, 50% (14/28) were classified as injury and 11% (3/28) received renal replacement therapy. Both plasma and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values were not correlated with acute kidney injury occurrence. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin showed a strong correlation with interleukin-6. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values correlated with cardiopulmonary bypass time.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that plasma and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values are not reliable indicators of impending acute kidney injury in neonates and infants after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Inflammation may have a major impact on plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values in infant cardiac surgery. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin may add little prognostic value over cardiopulmonary bypass time.
Atrial septal defect morphology and stenting in hypoplastic left heart syndrome after hybrid palliation
Authors: Oreto Lilia , Mandraffino Giuseppe , Manuri Lucia , Saitta Michele B. , Agati Salvatore , Zito Concetta , Iorio Fiore S. , Carerj Scipione , Guccione Paolo
Published: September 2017

Aims

The aim of this study was to describe atrial septal defect morphology in hypoplastic left heart syndrome, to report the incidence of restrictiveness and its relationship with defect morphology, to correlate restriction with midterm outcome, and to describe our interventional approach to restrictive defect.

Methods and results

From 2011 to 2015, 31 neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent hybrid procedure with pulmonary artery banding and ductal stenting at our Institution. Restrictive physiology of the atrial septal defect was based on Doppler gradient >6 mmHg through the defect and on clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension. The mean gradient was then measured invasively. Restrictive defect occurred in 11/27 patients (40%). The restrictive group showed three ostium secundum defects (27%) and eight complex morphologies (73%). Conversely, in the non-restrictive group, we observed 11 ostium secundum defects (69%) and five complex morphologies (31%). Early balloon atrioseptostomy was required in three cases. Late restriction occurred in eight patients and was dealt with balloon dilation, stenting, or atrioseptectomy. There was no significant difference between restrictive and non-restrictive groups in terms of early or 12-month survival.

Conclusions

Complex morphologies were more frequently related to restrictiveness. Stenting technique has a crucial role, as the procedure carries a significant risk for stent migration. Effective treatment of restrictive atrial septal defect is related to a better outcome, as it leads to equalisation of survival between patients with and those without restrictive atrial septal defect.
Acute kidney injury following first-stage palliation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome: hybrid versus Norwood palliation
Authors: Garcia Richard U. , Natarajan Girija , Walters Henry L. , Delius Ralph E. , Aggarwal Sanjeev
Published: September 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of acute kidney injury after first-stage surgical palliation in patients with a single ventricle and to explore associated risk factors and outcomes.

Design and patients

This single-centre retrospective study included neonates who underwent either Norwood or Hybrid procedure from 2008 to 2015 for a single ventricle. Postoperative acute kidney injury was defined using the paediatric risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage renal disease (pRIFLE), criteria within 72 hours of the procedure.

Main results

Our cohort (n=48) underwent surgical palliation at a mean (SD) age of 12 (11) days. Postoperative acute kidney injury was diagnosed in 14 (29%) patients. The prevalence of acute kidney injury in the Hybrid group was 16% and 53% in the Norwood group. Infants who developed acute kidney injury underwent surgery at younger ages [6 (5–10) versus 10 (8–16) days, p=0.016], and had a higher peak lactate level in the initial 24 hours [5.9 (4.2–9.1) versus 3.4 (2.4–6.7), p=0.007]. Norwood procedure was significantly associated with acute kidney injury [odds ratio 11.7 (95% confidence interval 1.3–101.9), p=0.03]. ICU stay [38 (21–84) versus 16 (6–45) days, p=0.038] and time to extubation [204 (120–606) versus 72 (26–234) hours, p=0.014] were longer in those with acute kidney injury. The two patients who developed early postoperative renal failure as per pRIFLE died before discharge from associated comorbidities.

Conclusions

Acute kidney injury occurs in a third of the patients with single ventricle after surgical palliation but is mostly transient. Norwood, compared with Hybrid procedure, is a risk factor for postoperative acute kidney injury, which, in turn, is associated with longer ICU stay and time to extubation.
Methodological and practical viewpoints of qualitative-driven mixed method design: the case of decentralisation of primary healthcare services in Nepal
Authors: Regmi Krishna
Published: September 2017

Background

Although considerable attention has been paid to the use of quantitative methods in health research, there has been limited focus on decentralisation research using a qualitative-driven mixed method design. Decentralisation presents both a problematic concept and methodological challenges, and is morecontext-specificand is oftenmulti-dimensional. Researchers often consider using more than one method design when researching phenomena is complex in nature.

Aim

To explore the effects of decentralisation on the provision of primary healthcare services.

Methods

Qualitative-driven mixed method design, employing three methods of data collections: focus group discussions (FGDs), semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and participant observations under two components, that is, core component and supplementary components were used. Four FGDs with health service practitioners, three FGDs with district stakeholders, 20 SSIs with health service users and 20 SSIs with national stakeholders were carried out. These were conducted sequentially. NVivo10, a data management program, was utilised to code the field data, employing a content analysis method for searching the underlying themes or concepts in the text material.

Findings

Both positive and negative experiences related to access, quality, planning, supplies, coordination and supervision were identified.

Conclusion

This study suggests some evidence of the effects of decentralisation on health outcomes in general, as well as filling a gap of understanding and examining healthcare through a qualitative-driven mixed methods approach, in particular. Future research in the area of qualitative in-depth understanding of the problems (why decentralisation, why now and what for) would provoke an important data set that benefits the researchers and policy-makers for planning and implementing effective health services.
Epigenetics and DOHaD: from basics to birth and beyond
Authors: Bianco-Miotto T. , Craig J. M. , Gasser Y. P. , van Dijk S. J. , Ozanne S. E.
Published: September 2017

Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is the study of how the early life environment can impact the risk of chronic diseases from childhood to adulthood and the mechanisms involved. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs are involved in mediating how early life environment impacts later health. This review is a summary of the Epigenetics and DOHaD workshop held at the 2016 DOHaD Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference. Our extensive knowledge of how the early life environment impacts later risk for chronic disease would not have been possible without animal models. In this review we highlight some animal model examples that demonstrate how an adverse early life exposure results in epigenetic and gene expression changes that may contribute to increased risk of chronic disease later in life. Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are chronic diseases with an increasing incidence due to the increased number of children and adults that are obese. Epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation have been shown to be associated with metabolic health measures and potentially predict future metabolic health status. Although more difficult to elucidate in humans, recent studies suggest that DNA methylation may be one of the epigenetic mechanisms that mediates the effects of early life exposures on later life risk of obesity and obesity related diseases. Finally, we discuss the role of the microbiome and how it is a new player in developmental programming and mediating early life exposures on later risk of chronic disease.
Identification of the physical origin behind disorder, heterogeneity, and reconstruction and their correlation with the photoluminescence lifetime in hybrid perovskite thin films
Authors: Berhe Taame Abraha , Cheng Ju-Hsiang , Su Wei-Nien , Pan Chun-Jern , Tsai Meng-Che , Chen Hung-Ming , Yang Zhenyu , Tan Hairen , Chen Ching-Hsiang , Yeh Min-Hsin , Tamirat Andebet Gedamu , Huang Shin-Fu , Chen Liang-Yih , Lee Jyh-Fu , Liao Yen-Fa , Sargent Edward H. , Dai Hongjie , Hwang Bing-Joe
Published: September 2017

Organolead halide perovskites are interesting light-absorbing materials for solar cells and light-emitting devices.
Polarization-manipulated all-optical cross-wavelength data inversion in a C-rich SiCx micro-ring
Authors: Hsieh Cheng-Hsuan , Cheng Chih-Hsien , Chen Po-Han , Wang Huai-Yung , Tsai Cheng-Ting , Chi Yu-Chieh , Lin Gong-Ru
Published: September 2017

Polarization-manipulated all-optical format inversion of a 12.5 Gbit s−1 pulsed return-to-zero on-off-keying (PRZ-OOK) data stream is demonstrated through the nonlinear Kerr switching-induced wavelength conversion process.
High permittivity and low loss microwave dielectrics suitable for 5G resonators and low temperature co-fired ceramic architecture
Authors: Zhou Di , Pang Li-Xia , Wang Da-Wei , Li Chun , Jin Biao-Bing , Reaney Ian M.
Published: September 2017

Bi2(Li0.5Ta1.5)O7 ceramics possess a εr of 65.1, a Qf of 15 500 GHz and a TCF of −17.5 ppm °C−1. The sintering temperature was lowered to 920 °C by the addition of 2 mol% Bi2O3, which makes them potential candidates for dielectric resonators and LTCC applications.
Triphenylamine derivatives: different molecular packing and the corresponding mechanoluminescent or mechanochromism property
Authors: Fang Manman , Yang Jie , Liao Qiuyan , Gong Yanbin , Xie Zongliang , Chi Zhenguo , Peng Qian , Li Qianqian , Li Zhen
Published: September 2017

A new non-AIE unit of triphenylamine, for the first time, is utilized to construct a bright ML luminogen of TPA-1BA.
Constitutive activation of p46JNK2 is indispensable for C/EBPδ induction in the initial stage of adipogenic differentiation
Authors: Kusuyama Joji , Ohnishi Tomokazu , Bandow Kenjiro , Amir Muhammad Subhan , Shima Kaori , Semba Ichiro , Matsuguchi Tetsuya
Published: September 2017

Adipogenic differentiation plays a vital role in energy homeostasis and endocrine system. Several transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 and CCAAT–enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) α, β, and δ, are important for the process, whereas the stage-specific intracellular signal transduction regulating the onset of adipogenesis remains enigmatic. Here, we explored the functional role of c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) in adipogenic differentiation using in vitro differentiation models of 3T3-L1 cells and primary adipo-progenitor cells. JNK inactivation with either a pharmacological inhibitor or JNK2-specific siRNA suppressed adipogenic differentiation, characterized by decreased lipid droplet appearance and the down-regulation of Adiponectin, fatty acid protein 4 (Fabp4), Pparg2, and C/ebpa expressions. Conversely, increased adipogenesis was observed by the inducible overexpression of p46JNK2 (JNK2-1), whereas it was not observed by that of p54JNK2 (JNK2-2), indicating a distinct role of p46JNK2. The essential role of JNK appears restricted to the early stage of adipogenic differentiation, as JNK inhibition in the later stages did not influence adipogenesis. Indeed, JNK phosphorylation was significantly induced at the onset of adipogenic differentiation. As for the transcription factors involved in early adipogenesis, JNK inactivation significantly inhibited the induction of C/ebpd, but not C/ebpb, during the initial stage of adipogenic differentiation. JNK activation increased C/ebpd mRNA and protein expression through the induction and phosphorylation of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) that binds to a responsive element within the C/ebpd gene promoter region. Taken together, these data indicate that constitutive JNK activity is specifically required for the initial stage differentiation events of adipocytes.
AtSPX1 affects the AtPHR1–DNA-binding equilibrium by binding monomeric AtPHR1 in solution
Authors: Qi Wanjun , Manfield Iain W. , Muench Stephen P. , Baker Alison
Published: September 2017

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and is deficient in ∼50% of agricultural soils. The transcription factor phosphate starvation response 1 (PHR1) plays a central role in regulating the expression of a subset of phosphate starvation-induced (PSI) genes through binding to a cis-acting DNA element termed P1BS (PHR1-binding sequences). In Arabidopsis and rice, activity of AtPHR1/OsPHR2 is regulated in part by their downstream target SPX (Syg1, Pho81, Xpr1) proteins through protein–protein interaction. Here, we provide kinetic and affinity data for interaction between AtPHR1 and P1BS sites. Using surface plasmon resonance, a tandem P1BS sequence showed ∼50-fold higher affinity for MBPAtdPHR1 (a fusion protein comprising the DNA-binding domain and coiled-coil domain of AtPHR1 fused to maltose-binding protein) than a single site. The affinity difference was largely reflected in a much slower dissociation rate from the 2× P1BS-binding site, suggesting an important role for protein co-operativity. Injection of AtSPX1 in the presence of phosphate or inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) failed to alter the MBPAtdPHR1-P1BS dissociation rate, while pre-mixing of these two proteins in the presence of either 5 mM Pi or 500 µM InsP6 resulted in a much lower DNA-binding signal from MBPAtdPHR1. These data suggest that, in the Pi-restored condition, AtSPX1 can bind to monomeric AtPHR1 in solution and therefore regulate PSI gene expression by tuning the AtPHR1–DNA-binding equilibrium. This Pi-dependent regulation of AtPHR1–DNA-binding equilibrium also generates a negative feedback loop on the expression of AtSPX1 itself, providing a tight control of PSI gene expression.
Two‐person activity recognition using skeleton data
Authors: Manzi Alessandro , Fiorini Laura , Limosani Raffaele , Dario Paolo , Cavallo Filippo
Published: September 2017

Human activity recognition is an important and active field of research having a wide range of applications in numerous fields including ambient‐assisted living (AL). Although most of the researches are focused on the single user, the ability to recognise two‐person interactions is perhaps more important for its social implications. This study presents a two‐person activity recognition system that uses skeleton data extracted from a depth camera. The human actions are encoded using a set of a few basic postures obtained with an unsupervised clustering approach. Multiclass support vector machines are used to build models on the training set, whereas the X‐means algorithm is employed to dynamically find the optimal number of clusters for each sample during the classification phase. The system is evaluated on the Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR) ‐ University of Lincoln (UoL) and Stony Brook University (SBU) datasets, reaching overall accuracies of 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. Although the results show that the performances of the system are comparable with the state of the art, recognition improvements are obtained with the activities related to health‐care environments, showing promise for applications in the AL realm.
Three‐dimensional printed ABS plastic peanut‐lens with integrated ball grid array module for high‐data‐rate communications in F‐band
Authors: Bisognin Aimeric , Arboleya Ana , Luxey Cyril , Gianesello Frederic , Gloria Daniel , Matos Sérgio A. , Costa Jorge R. , Fernandes Carlos A.
Published: September 2017

A ball grid array (BGA) module integrated within a three‐dimensional printed peanut‐shaped lens is proposed for high‐data‐rate wireless communications in the F‐band (116–140 GHz) between a video camera and a TV or a laptop. The module implements a 1 × 2 array antenna which radiates a wide beam in the horizontal plane (H‐plane) and a narrower beam in the vertical plane (E‐plane). The dielectric lens, fabricated in ABS‐M30 plastic, is a shaped lens designed to achieve a fan‐beam radiation pattern further narrowing the vertical plane and widening the horizontal plane of the BGA module. The realised gain of the full antenna system is required to exceed 5 dBi within a 120° angular interval in the horizontal plane and a 20° angular interval in the vertical plane. Measurements show a reflection coefficient below −9 dB from 116 to 140 GHz and a maximum realised gain of 8.5 dBi at 130 GHz demonstrating feasibility of the cost‐effective proposed design for a high‐data‐rate communications.
Wireless resonant energy link for pulse generators implanted in the chest
Authors: Monti Giuseppina , De Paolis Maria V. , Corchia Laura , Tarricone Luciano
Published: September 2017

This study investigates the feasibility of using the MedRadio band for wirelessly transmitting power to a rechargeable medical device implanted in the chest. In particular, a wireless energy link operating at 403 MHz and based on an inductive coupling between two planar resonators is considered, and its performance is assessed through simulations and experimental tests. Results show that a maximum value of the measured power transfer efficiency of ∼23% is achieved. Furthermore, the possibility of using the link for recharging a lithium‐ion battery of a pulse generator implanted in the chest at a depth of 5 mm is discussed, and the compliance with safety regulations is verified. Reported results demonstrate that the proposed link can be used to charge a lithium‐ion battery with a capacity up to 7.2 mAh, while inducing a peak of the specific absorption rate averaged over 1 g of tissue <1.6 W/kg.
Influence of hypersonic turbulence in plasma sheath on synthetic aperture radar imaging
Authors: Jiangting Li , Teng Gong , Shaofei Yang , Lixin Guo , Mingjian Cheng
Published: September 2017

On the basis of the fractal theory and measurements of hypersonic turbulence, the spectral index, and two‐dimensional (2D) power spectrum of the refractive index fluctuation are derived, and the 2D band‐limited Weierstrass fractal function is applied to simulate the refractive index fluctuation in hypersonic turbulence. Thus, the impact of hypersonic turbulence on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system is simulated using the fractal phase screen method. Results show that the resolution of SAR imaging is severely deteriorated under the influence of hypersonic turbulence. The phase error caused by the turbulence microstructures in the plasma sheath becomes more apparent with the increase in the fractal dimension of the hypersonic turbulence. The larger Reynolds number associated with the hypersonic turbulence results in a more evident microstructure fluctuation and inferior imaging quality. Furthermore, when an aircraft flies at high speed, the azimuth focus is considerably sensitive to the turbulence microstructure along the direction of flow field. Consequently, hypersonic turbulence in the plasma sheath has a significantly larger effect on the azimuth than on the range in point‐target imaging.
Uniform asymptotic theory for the edge diffraction of cylindrical waves
Authors: Umul Yusuf Ziya
Published: September 2017

The uniform asymptotic theory of diffraction is reintroduced in terms of the Fresnel cylinder function for the diffraction problems of cylindrical waves. The transition function of the above theory, which compensates the discontinuities of the diffracted wave, is constructed according to the new function. The scattering problem of waves by a resistive half‐plane is studied by the aid of the improved method. The uniform wave expressions are compared with the ones, obtained by the Fresnel integral at the near and far fields of the edge.
Three‐dimensional millimetre‐wave beam tracking based on smart phone sensor measurements and direction of arrival/time of arrival estimation for 5G networks
Authors: Qi Zichen , Liu Wei
Published: September 2017

The narrow millimetre‐wave beam in future 5G networks is easily interrupted by the movement of mobile handsets including both location change and self‐rotation. In this study, a three‐dimensional beam tracking method is proposed to achieve beam alignment between the access node and the user node (UN). A gradient descent algorithm is employed for self‐rotation tracking based on measurements obtained by the three smart phone sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer) embedded in the micro‐electro‐mechanical system. An extended Kalman filtering ‐based location tracking algorithm is also incorporated into the design by combining the data from the direction of arrival and time of arrival estimation results of the UN since accurate UN location information is also crucial in the beam tracking process. Moreover, an operation protocol is developed to coordinate the tracking process and tested in different scenarios.
High‐performance bandpass filter using HTCC stepped‐impedance resonators
Authors: Zhu Yan‐Yuan , Yang Yong‐Jie , Chen Jian‐Xin
Published: September 2017

Here, a novel rectangular bar stripline stepped‐impedance resonator (SIR) using the multilayer high‐temperature co‐fired ceramic (HTCC) technology is constructed for designing a high‐performance bandpass filter (BPF) with enhanced design flexibility. The properties of the HTCC SIR are investigated, so that its quality factor (Qu) can be improved. In the design process of comb‐stripline filter, two transmission zeros (TZs) on both sides of the passband can be synthesised using the equivalent model for enhancing the passband selectivity. Thus, the resultant filter produced by the high dielectric constant material has several advantages, such as low passband loss, high selectivity, and compact size, which are verified by the simulation and measurement. In the demonstration of the fourth‐order BPF centred at 2.25 GHz, two TZs are located at 2.05 and 2.54 GHz, showcasing a sharp roll‐off. The insertion loss is <1.8 dB in the passband. The BPF has a smaller size, when compared with the counterparts using other technologies. The occupied area of the BPF is 4.84 × 6.96 mm2.
The wind and the magnetospheric accretion onto the T Tauri star S Coronae Australis at sub-au resolution
Authors:   GRAVITY Collaboration, Garcia Lopez R. , Perraut K. , Caratti o Garatti A. , Lazareff B. , Sanchez-Bermudez J. , Benisty M. , Dougados C. , Labadie L. , Brandner W. , Garcia P. J. V. , Henning Th. , Ray T. P. , Abuter R. , Amorim A. , Anugu N. , Berger J. P. , Bonnet H. , Buron A. , Caselli P. , Clénet Y. , Coudé du Foresto V. , de Wit W. , Deen C. , Delplancke-Ströbele F. , Dexter J. , Eckart A. , Eisenhauer F. , Garcia Dabo C. E. , Gendron E. , Genzel R. , Gillessen S. , Haubois X. , Haug M. , Haussmann F. , Hippler S. , Hubert Z. , Hummel C. A. , Horrobin M. , Jocou L. , Kellner S. , Kervella P. , Kulas M. , Kolb J. , Lacour S. , Le Bouquin J.-B. , Léna P. , Lippa M. , Mérand A. , Müller E. , Ott T. , Panduro J. , Paumard T. , Perrin G. , Pfuhl O. , Ramirez A. , Rau C. , Rohloff R.-R. , Rousset G. , Scheithauer S. , Schöller M. , Straubmeier C. , Sturm E. , Thi W. F. , van Dishoeck E. , Vincent F. , Waisberg I. , Wank I. , Wieprecht E. , Wiest M. , Wiezorrek E. , Woillez J. , Yazici S. , Zins G.
Published: September 2017

Aims. To investigate the inner regions of protoplanetary discs, we performed near-infrared interferometric observations of the classical T Tauri binary system S CrA.

Methods. We present the first VLTI-GRAVITY high spectral resolution (R ~ 4000) observations of a classical T Tauri binary, S CrA (composed of S CrA N and S CrA S and separated by ~1.̋4), combining the four 8m telescopes in dual-field mode.

Results. Our observations in the near-infrared K-band continuum reveal a disc around each binary component, with similar half-flux radii of about 0.1 au at d ~ 130 pc, inclinations (i = 28 ± 3° and i = 22 ± 6°), and position angles (PA = 0°± 6° and PA = –2°± 12°), suggesting that they formed from the fragmentation of a common disc. The S CrA N spectrum shows bright He i and Brγ line emission exhibiting inverse P Cygni profiles, typically associated with infalling gas. The continuum-compensated Brγ line visibilities of S CrA N show the presence of a compact Brγ emitting region whose radius is about ~0.06 au, which is twice as big as the truncation radius. This component is mostly tracing a wind. Moreover, a slight radius change between the blue- and red-shifted Brγ line components is marginally detected.

Conclusions. The presence of an inverse P Cygni profile in the He i and Brγ lines, along with the tentative detection of a slightly larger size of the blue-shifted Brγ line component, hint at the simultaneous presence of a wind and magnetospheric accretion in S CrA N.
An Upper Bound for the Volumes of Complements of Periodic Geodesics
Authors: Bergeron Maxime , Pinsky Tali , Silberman Lior
Published: September 2017

A periodic geodesic on a surface has a natural lift to the unit tangent bundle; when the complement of this lift is hyperbolic, its volume typically grows as the geodesic gets longer. We give an upper bound for this volume which is linear in the geometric length of the geodesic.
Bézout-Type Inequality in Convex Geometry
Authors: Xiao Jian
Published: September 2017

Inspired by a result of Soprunov and Zvavitch, we present a Bézout type inequality for mixed volumes, which holds true for any convex bodies and improves the previous result. The key ingredient is the reverse Khovanskii–Teissier inequality for convex bodies, which was obtained in our previous work and inspired by its correspondence in complex geometry.
Implantation of Depth Electrodes in Children Using VarioGuide® Frameless Navigation System: Technical Note
Authors: Budke Marcelo , Avecillas-Chasin Josue M , Villarejo Francisco
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Electrode placement in epilepsy surgery seeks to locate the sites of ictal onset and early propagation. An invasive diagnostic procedure, stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is usually implemented with frame-based methods that can be especially problematic in young children.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a new technique for frameless SEEG in children using the VarioGuide® system (Brainlab AG, München, Germany).

METHODS

A frameless stereotactic navigation system was used to implant depth electrodes with percutaneous drilling and bolt insertion in pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Data on general demographic information of electrode implantation, duration, number, and complications were retrospectively collected. To determine the placement accuracy of the VarioGuide® frameless system, the mean Euclidean distances were calculated by comparing the preoperatively planned trajectories with the final electrode position observed on postoperative computed tomography scans.

RESULTS

From May 2011 to December 2015, 15 patients (8 males, 7 females; mean age: 8 yr, range: 3-16 yr) underwent SEEG depth electrode implantation of a total of 111 electrodes. The mean error measured by the Euclidean distance from the center of the entry point to the intended entry point was 3.64 ± 1.78 mm (range: 0.58-7.59 mm) and the tip of the electrode to the intended target was 2.96 ± 1.49 mm (range: 0.58-7.82 mm). There were no significant complications.

CONCLUSION

Depth electrodes can be placed safely and accurately in children using the VarioGuide® frameless stereotactic navigation system.
Polygenic selection underlies evolution of human brain structure and behavioral traits
Authors: Beiter Evan R. , Khramtsova Ekaterina A. , Van Der Merwe Celia , Chimusa Emile R. , Simonti Corinne , Stein Jason , Thompson Paul , Fisher Simon E. , Stein Dan J. , Capra John A. , Knowles James A. , Stranger Barbara E. , Davis Lea K.
Published: September 2017

Seemingly paradoxical characteristics of psychiatric disorders, including moderate to high prevalence, reduced fecundity, and high heritability have motivated explanations for the persistence of common risk alleles for severe psychiatric phenotypes throughout human evolution. Proposed mechanisms include balancing selection, drift, and weak polygenic adaptation acting either directly, or indirectly through selection on correlated traits. While many mechanisms have been proposed, few have been empirically tested. Leveraging publicly available data of unprecedented sample size, we studied twenty-five traits (i.e., ten neuropsychiatric disorders, three personality traits, total intracranial volume, seven subcortical brain structure volume traits, and four complex traits without neuropsychiatric associations) for evidence of several different signatures of selection over a range of evolutionary time scales. Consistent with the largely polygenic architecture of neuropsychiatric traits, we found no enrichment of trait-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in regions of the genome that underwent classical selective sweeps (i.e., events which would have driven selected alleles to near fixation). However, we discovered that SNPs associated with some, but not all, behaviors and brain structure volumes are enriched in genomic regions under selection since divergence from Neanderthals ~600,000 years ago, and show further evidence for signatures of ancient and recent polygenic adaptation. Individual subcortical brain structure volumes demonstrate genome-wide evidence in support of a mosaic theory of brain evolution while total intracranial volume and height appear to share evolutionary constraints consistent with concerted evolution. We further characterized the biological processes potentially targeted by selection, through expression Quantitative Trait Locus (eQTL) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and found evidence for the role of regulatory functions among selected SNPs in immune and brain tissues. Taken together, our results suggest that alleles associated with neuropsychiatric, behavioral, and brain volume phenotypes have experienced both ancient and recent polygenic adaptation in human evolution, acting through neurodevelopmental and immune-mediated pathways.
Comment on “A genetic signature of the evolution of loss of flight in the Galapagos cormorant”
Authors: Berger Mark J. , Bejerano Gill
Published: September 2017

Burga et al. could not identify gene regulatory regions which might contribute to flightlessness in the Galapagos cormorant. Using a bird-specific alignment we discover 48 limb enhancers showing strong accelerated evolution inP. harrisi, including enhancers of key cilia development, hedgehog signaling, and planar cell polarity genes, such asPrickle1,Twist2andNdk1, extending Burga's proposed mechanism into the non-coding genome.
Analysis of the immunological biomarker profile during acute Zika virus infection reveals the overexpression of CXCL10, a chemokine already linked to neuronal damage
Authors: Naveca Felipe Gomes , Pontes Gemilson Soares , Chang Aileen Yu-hen , da Silva George Allan Villarouco , do Nascimento Valdinete Alves , da Silva Monteiro Dana Cristina , da Silva Marineide Souza , Abdalla Lígia Fernandes , Santos João Hugo Abdalla , de Almeida Tatiana Amaral Pires , del Carmen Contreras Mejía Matilde , de Mesquita Tirza Gabrielle Ramos , de Souza Encarnação Helia Valeria , de Souza Gomes Matheus , Amaral Laurence Rodrigues , Campi-Azevedo Ana Carolina , Coelho-dos-Reis Jordana Graziela , do Vale Antonelli Lis Ribeiro , Teixeira-Carvalho Andréa , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis , Ramasawmy Rajendranath
Published: September 2017

Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) manifests in a broad spectrum of disease ranging from mild illness to severe neurological complications. To define immunologic correlates of ZIKV infection, we characterized the levels of circulating cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in 54 infected patients of both genders, at five different time-points after symptoms onset using microbeads multiplex immunoassay; statistical analysis and data mining compared to 100 age-matched controls. ZIKV-infected patients present a striking systemic inflammatory response with high levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. Despite the strong inflammatory pattern, IL-1Ra and IL-4 are also induced during acute infection. Interestingly, the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ; chemokines, CXCL8, CCL2, CCL5; and the growth factor G-CSF display a bimodal distribution accompanying viremia. While this is the first manuscript to document bimodal distributions of viremia in ZIKV infection, bimodal viremia has been documented in other viral infections with primary viremia peaks during mild systemic disease and a secondary viremia with distribution of the virus to organs and tissues. Moreover, biomarker network analysis demonstrated distinct dynamics in consonance with the bimodal viremia profiles at different time-points during ZIKV infection. Such robust cytokine and chemokine response has been associated with blood-brain barrier permeability and neuroinvasiveness in other flaviviral infections. High-dimensional data analysis further established CXCL10, a chemokine involved in fetal neuron apoptosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, as the most promising biomarker of acute ZIKV infection for a potential clinical application.

Author Summary

Infection with Zika virus manifests in a broad spectrum of disease ranging from mild illness to severe neurological complications. This study characterized the levels of circulating cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in Zika-infected patients showing an inflammatory immune response. Specifically, this study identified a chemokine, CXCL10, known to be involved in fetal neuron apoptosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, as the most promising biomarker to characterize acute Zika virus infection.
A novel data-driven model for real-time influenza forecasting
Authors: Venna Siva R. , Tavanaei Amirhossein , Gottumukkala Raju N. , Raghavan Vijay V. , Maida Anthony , Nichols Stephen
Published: September 2017

We provide data-driven machine learning methods that are capable of making real-time influenza forecasts that integrate the impacts of climatic factors and geographical proximity to achieve better forecasting performance. The key contributions of our approach are both applying deep learning methods and incorporation of environmental and spatio-temporal factors to improve the performance of the influenza forecasting models. We evaluate the method on Influenza Like Illness (ILI) counts and climatic data, both publicly available data sets. Our proposed method outperforms existing known influenza forecasting methods in terms of their Mean Absolute Percentage Error and Root Mean Square Error. The key advantages of the proposed data-driven methods are as following: (1) The deep-learning model was able to effectively capture the temporal dynamics of flu spread in different geographical regions, (2) The extensions to the deep-learning model capture the influence of external variables that include the geographical proximity and climatic variables such as humidity, temperature, precipitation and sun exposure in future stages, (3) The model consistently performs well for both the city scale and the regional scale on the Google Flu Trends (GFT) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) flu counts. The results offer a promising direction in terms of both data-driven forecasting methods and capturing the influence of spatio-temporal and environmental factors for influenza forecasting methods.