bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Excellence in Practice — Key Qualities of Successful Telehealth Programs
Authors: Valenta Shawn , Ford Dee
Published: July 2018

When I was asked to create a new column within Telehealth and Medicine Today that focused on “Excellence in Practice,” I began to reflect on one of my favorite books, Jim Collins’ Good to Great. If you have not read it yet, I highly recommend it. It provided a guiding philosophy for my personal approach to leadership and building successful teams. For those not familiar with the book, Good to Great provides a review of key shared characteristics of companies that went from “good to great” organizations based on financial performance. Accordingly, I thought a similar review would be a good approach to assessing excellence in the practice of telehealth care delivery. Key qualities that can facilitate a good-to-great transition in telehealth delivery include patient-centeredness, high quality care, collaborative approaches, sustainable financial models, and accountability.
Estimating Diffusion-Based Item Response Theory Models: Exploring the Robustness of Three Old and Two New Estimators
Authors: Ranger Jochen , Kuhn Jörg-Tobias
Published: July 2018

Diffusion-based item response theory models for responses and response times in tests have attracted increased attention recently in psychometrics. Analyzing response time data, however, is delicate as response times are often contaminated by unusual observations. This can have serious effects on the validity of statistical inference. In this article, we compare three established and two new estimation approaches for diffusion-based item response theory models with respect to their robustness. The three established approaches are the marginal maximum likelihood (ML) estimator for continuous time, the marginal ML estimator for discrete time, and the weighted least squares (WLS) estimator. The new approaches are two modifications of the WLS estimator with better robustness properties. The performance of the estimators is compared in a simulation study. The simulation study illustrates that the new approaches are robust against some forms of random independent contamination. The marginal ML estimator for discrete time also performs well. The marginal ML estimator for continuous time is heavily affected by contamination.
Эхо-картирование аккреционных дисков в активных ядрах галактик
Authors: Сергеев С.Г.
Published: July 2018

Представлен обзор работ по эхо-картированию аккреционных дисков в активных ядрах галактик (АЯГ). Метод эхо-картирования позволяет оценить ряд параметров этих дисков (в первую очередь размер диска) путем анализа многоволновой переменности АЯГ. Сделан вывод, что эхо-картирование аккреционных дисков работает, но есть проблемы, которые необходимо решать. Намечен план работ на будущее в этом направлении.
О происхождении главного пояса астероидов
Authors: Горькавый Н.Н.
Published: July 2018

Обсуждается происхождение главного пояса астероидов, тесно связанное с проблемой уменьшения суммарной массы астероидов на три порядка по сравнению с первоначальной массой протопланетного диска в данной зоне. Рассматривается ранее неизученный механизм уменьшения массы астероидного пояса, связанный с выметанием мелких пылинок из пояса астероидов. Основными динамическими факторами являются давление солнечного излучения и ветра, эффект Пойнтинга – Робертсона и гравитационное рассеяние пылинок на планетах-гигантах, в первую очередь на Юпитере. Показано, что данный механизм столкновительной эрозии мог сыграть значимую роль в формировании главного пояса астероидов.
Shy teens and their peers: Shyness in respect to basic personality traits and social relations
Authors: Kwiatkowska Maria Magdalena , Rogoza Radosław
Published: July 2018

The main purpose of this paper was to examine shyness in teenagers from two perspectives: in terms of its relations with basic personality traits and in terms of its influence on the processes that occur in the social networks of high school students. First, we found that shyness was negatively predicted by extraversion and positively by neuroticism. Second, using exponential random graph models we demonstrated that shyness across network effects was similar to reversed extraversion (introversion): Both negatively predicted the number of outgoing relations, whereas they did not affect the number of incoming relations. We discuss the issue of locating shyness in the space of personality traits, supporting the relevance of ascribing it to introversion.
Against stored abstractions: A radical exemplar model of language acquisition
Authors: Ambridge Ben
Published: July 2018

The goal of this paper is to make the case for a radical exemplar account of child language acquisition, under which unwitnessed forms are produced and comprehended by on-the-fly analogy across multiple stored exemplars, weighted by their degree of similarity to the target with regard to the task at hand. Across the domains of (1) word meanings, (2) morphologically inflected words, (3) n-grams, (4) sentence-level constructions and (5) phonetics and phonology, accounts based on independently-represented abstractions (whether formal rules or prototype categories) fail for two reasons. First, it is not possible to posit abstractions that delineate possible and impossible form; e.g., that (1) rule in pool tables and data tables, but rule out chairs, (2) rule in the past-tense forms netted and bet but rule out *setted and *jet, (3) rule in the bigram f+t but rule out (probabilistically) v+t, (4) rule in both John feared Bill and John frightened Bill but rule out *John laughed Bill, (5) rule in Speaker A but rule out Speaker B as the person who produced a particular word (e.g., Sa’urday). Second, for each domain, empirical data provide evidence of exemplar storage that cannot be captured by putative abstractions: e.g. speakers prefer and/or show an advantage for (1) exemplar variation even within word-meaning “category boundaries”, (2) novel inflected forms that are similar to existing exemplars, (3) n-grams that have occurred frequently in the input, (4) SVO sentences with he as SUBJECT and it as OBJECT and (5) repeated productions of “the same” word that are phonologically similar or, better still, identical. An exemplar account avoids an intractable lumping-or-splitting dilemma facing abstraction-based accounts and provides a unitary explanation of language acquisition across all domains; one that is consistent with models and empirical findings from the computational modelling and neuroimaging literature.
Ocular Morbidity Among Leprosy Patients at a Leprosy Centre
Authors: Shrestha Sabina , Shrestha Chunu , Shrestha Sushan Man , Manoranjan Aparajita , Dhungana Arun Prasad
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Leprosy is one of the dreaded communicable disease due to its profound morbidity. In earlier days in Nepal, a different settlement was designated for leprosy patient and their families. Khokana of Lalitpur district of Nepal is one of them. The study was conducted to determine ocular morbidity among leprosy patients who had completed multi drug therapy.  Methods: It was descriptive, quantitative and cross sectional study conducted at Khokana Leprosy Centre in Lalitpur district of Nepal. Leprosy patients who had completed multi drug therapy and consenting for the study were enrolled. Convenience sampling was done and the sample size was 70. After detail ophthalmic evaluation, socio-demographic profile of the participants and their ocular morbidities were documented and analysed.Results: Major findings were superciliary madarosis (78.57%), ciliary madarosis (61.4%), different grades of cataract (67.10% right eye and 60% left eye), pseudophakia (30% right eye and 37.10% left eye), tylosis (44.3%), corneal hypoesthesia (10% unilaterally and 15.7% bilaterally) and dry eye (10%). Entropion was present in 2.9% both unilaterally and bilaterally. Ectropion was present in 5.7% unilaterally and 10% bilaterally. Trichiasis was present in 1.4% unilaterally and 2.9% bilaterally. Similarly, eyelid nodule was present in 7.1% unilaterally and 1.4% bilaterally. Incomplete closure of the lids was present in 8.6% unilaterally and 2.9% bilaterally. Exposure keratitis was present in 7.1% unilaterally and 1.4% bilaterally, corneal opacity in 2.9% unilaterally and 1.4% bilaterally and corneal perforation in 2.9% unilaterally. Chronic iridocyclitis was present in 2.9% cases. Retinal pearls were seen in 2.86% of cases. According to WHO criteria of blindness, 2.9% patients were blind in the present study. 14 persons were unilaterally blind and among them, two had severe visual impairment in the other eye, eight had other eye moderate visual impairment and four had other eye mild visual impairment.Conclusions: Lid abnormalities, corneal abnormalities and cataract were the commonly encountered ocular morbidities among treated leprosy patients.
Risk Stratification of Coronary Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Women Using Framingham Scale in Eastern Nepal
Authors: Bajracharya Sujeeta , Rai Bijendra Kumar , Giri Rajani , Joshi Rinku
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in both developed and developing countries. CVD risk rises to double fold in women after menopause. We aim to stratify menopausal women of our region for having coronary heart disease in next 10 years.   Methods: One year cross sectional study was conducted in General Out Patient Department (GOPD) of a tertiary care centre of Eastern Nepal. The Standard ATP calculator was used and the relevant necessary data was introduced into the calculator and the automated result was collected. Results: Among 272 participants, above 50% had Framingham score 1 to 5%. And the risk was greater within first five years after menopause in 50 to 59 years of age group. Similarly, with advancing age and longer duration of menopause the risk became significantly higher.Conclusions: Besides the established risk factors for CVD, postmenopausal state is additional risk for women and this study emphasises this factor as risk of CVD even in our set up.
L’impact de “mai–juin 1968” sur la régulation sociale
Authors: Juilliet Clair , Llopart Michael
Published: July 2018

The social crisis of “May-June 1968” was part of a longer era of disruption and transformation in France. If much of the 1968 story is well known, we know less about how the events and their aftermath were experienced in various industrial sectors directly subject to the state’s authority. To explore this territory, this article examines the aeronautical firms and chemical companies in the département of the Haute-Garonne. These two sectors exemplify contrasting industrial trajectories through the 1960s and 1970s.
Эволюционная роль «переходных эпох» в развитии православного богослужебного пения : от авторитета традиции к феномену авторства
Authors: Osadcha Svitlana
Published: July 2018

Статья посвящена рассмотрению эволюционной роли «переходных» эпох в развитии православного богослужебного пения – рубежи XIX-XX и XX-XXI вв. Обращается внимание на то, что именно певческая, музыкальная сторона оказалась способна наиболее ясно выявить и отобразить психологические процессы, происходящие в социуме. В данном контексте особенно важным становится рассмотрение феномена авторства и его соотношение с традицией.Ключевые слова: православное богослужебное пение, богослужебно-певческая система, духовная музыка, церковная традиция, автор.
Интернациональные тенденции в творчестве одесских композиторов
Authors: Rozenberg Rimma
Published: July 2018

В статье показана значительная роль интернациональных тенденций в творчестве одесских композиторов всех поколений и расширение географии национальных связей в последние десятилетия. Приведенные примеры произведений на сюжеты и тексты авторов стран Востока и Запада свидетельствуют о творческом подходе одесских композиторов к использованию музыкальных средств и приемов к их воплощению во всех жанрах музыкального искусства. Участие в исполнении этих произведений иностранных артистов способствует пропаганде сочинений одесских композиторов в различных странах мира.Ключевые слова: интернациональные тенденции, Запад, Восток.
The Socio-Economic Development of Cross-Border Territories: Statistical Monitoring
Authors: Motuzka О. М. , Parkhomenko V. V.
Published: July 2018

Because the methodology for studying the socio-economic development of cross-border territories is still poorly developed in the Ukrainian science, this study aims to highlight its theoretical essence and justify the need for statistical monitoring and identification of practical problems related with its applications at personal, institutional and regional level.  

Given the global market competition, the socio-economic development of cross-border territories is impossible without creating favorable financial, institutional and infrastructure environment. The socio-economic development of cross-border territories is determined by a set of indicators reflecting the capabilities of territories located on both sides of the border to produce a certain output of goods and services using the available human and material resources.   

The importance of cross-border statistics grows with the expansion of cross-border cooperation. Cross-border statistics refers to the generalized information on the socio-economic development of cross-border territories; it has to support the CBC-related operation of central and local administration bodies and private entities in border regions, aimed at expanding business partnerships and meeting public needs on border territories.

The source of data for cross-border statistics is the statistics of border regions. The analysis shows that trial decisions used now in the Ukrainian statistics system for testing border region statistics, such as statistics of tourism, including travels abroad, are not capable to meet information needs of the regional development policy, foreign trade statistics and statistics of internal and external migration.

The statistics of cross-border regions has to face the following challenges:  improve the comparability of statistical indicators by harmonizing statistical surveys’ methodology, terminology, definitions and classifications; expand and improve printing and publishing activities; develop analytical work; introduce and develop cross-border surveys; construct on-line cross-border database.
Distributed Rule Monitoring in Active Databases
Authors: Hsu Ing-Miin , Singhal Mukesh , Liu Ming T.
Published: July 2018

Production rules provide a unifying mechanism for several traditional features in database management systems and for new functionalities sought after by potential database applications. With integrated production rules, a database is transformed from traditionally passive to active such that the database will take predefined actions without user intervention when the database transits into certain states. Processing every rule upon every update in the system places a tremendous performance requirement on the success of active databases. The availability of multiple sites in a distributed database offers an opportunity to process rules in parallel. In addition, the features offered by production rules are desirable to distributed databases as well. The problem of monitoring rules in a distributed active database is investigated in this article to successfully integrate rules into distributed databases.
A Hyper-Semantic Approach to Intelligent Information Systems
Authors: Potter Walter D. , Miller John A. , Kochut Krzysztof J.
Published: July 2018

Our view of an intelligent information system (IIS) is composed of a unified knowledge base, database, and model base. The model base includes decision support models such as simulation models and forecasting models, for example. However, we feel that the model base should include domain specific problem solving modules as well as decision support models. This, then, allows an IIS to provide responses to user queries regardless of whether the query process involves a data retrieval, an inference, a computational method, a problem solving module (employing, for example, a nonproduction rule based heuristic search technique), or some combination of these. The unified integration of these components is the major focus of this article. The inclusion of problem solving modules within our unified approach is of primary importance, and a major contribution of this work. The foundation for our unified knowledge/data/model/module management approach is Active KDL (active knowledge/data language) which follows the functional and object-oriented paradigms. Active KDL is based on the hyper-semantic data model, KDM (knowledge/data model) developed in the mid-1980s. By hyper-semantic, we mean a data (information) model capable of capturing even more of the meaning of an application area than captured via traditional, semantic, and object-oriented models.
A Software Control Structure for Managing Partitions of a Data Parallel Program
Authors: Cremonesi Paolo , Scarabottolo Nello , Sorrenti Domenico
Published: July 2018

This paper concerns the definition and the evaluation of an approach to the handling of objects spanning over several partitions of a parallel data structure, whenever such partitions are assigned to different nodes of a distributed-memory MIMD parallel machine. The proposed control strategy is based on the introduction of different types of hierarchy of manager processes, which handle information exchanges between working processes operating upon the parallel data structure in a distributed way, thus avoiding the need of a single centralized controller. The structure is not tailored to a particular data parallel algorithm: it will be here applied, as an example, to a parallel edge detection algorithm.
Self-Timed Data Transmission in Massively Parallel Computing Systems
Authors: Varshavsky V. I. , Marakhovsky V. B. , Lashevsky R. A.
Published: July 2018

Local processes in massively parallel computing systems can be coordinated by asynchronous system of global synchronization via handshake using current sensors for detection of the transient processes completion. The known current sensors are considered, the best one is analyzed, and its shortcomings are revealed. Current sensor with wide range of the measured current is suggested. The principles of control in circuits with current sensors are developed. Self-timed data exchange between local processes of the system is discussed. Transmission/reception circuits with single-wire bit handshake are demonstrated. Their transmission rate is no worse than that of double-wire circuits. They allow one to transmit combinations of n-bit code by n+2 communication lines.
Computational Study of Propeller–Wing Aerodynamic Interaction
Authors: Aref Pooneh , Ghoreyshi Mehdi , Jirasek Adam , Satchell Matthew J. , Bergeron Keith
Published: July 2018

Kestrel simulation tools are used to investigate the mutual interference between the propeller and wing of C130J aircraft. Only the wing, nacelles, and propeller geometries are considered. The propulsion system modelled is a Dowty six-bladed R391 propeller mounted at inboard or outboard wing sections in single and dual propeller configurations. The results show that installed propeller configurations have asymmetric blade loadings such that downward-moving blades produce more thrust force than those moving upward. In addition, the influence of installed propeller flow-fields on the wing aerodynamic (pressure coefficient and local lift distribution) are investigated. The installed propeller configuration data are compared with the non-installed case, and the results show that propeller effects will improve the wing’s lift distribution. The increase in lift behind the propeller is different at the left and right sides of the propeller. In addition, the propeller helps to delay the wing flow separation behind it for tested conditions of this work. Finally, the results show the capability of Kestrel simulation tools for modeling and design of propellers and investigates their effects over aircraft during conceptual design in which no experimental or flight test data are available yet. This will lead to reducing the number of tests required later.
Degradation Classification of 3D Printing Thermoplastics Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Zhang Sung-Uk
Published: July 2018

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most popular technology among 3D printing technologies because of inexpensive and flexible extrusion systems with thermoplastic materials. However, thermal degradation phenomena of the 3D-printed thermoplastics is an inevitable problem for long-term reliability. In the current study, thermal degradation of 3D-printed thermoplastics of ABS and PLA was studied. A classification methodology using deep learning strategy was developed so that thermal degradation of the thermoplastics could be classified using FTIR and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Under given data and predefined rules for ANNs, ANN models with nine hidden layers showed the best results in terms of accuracy. To extend this methodology, other thermoplastics, several new datasets for ANNs, and control parameters of ANNs could be further investigated.
Characteristics of (002) Oriented Hydroxyapatite Coatings Deposited by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying
Authors: Liu Xiaomei , He Dingyong , Zhou Zheng , Wang Guohong , Wang Zengjie , Wu Xu , Tan Zhen
Published: July 2018

Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings with strong (002) preferred orientation were successfully prepared on Ti-6Al-4V substrates with conventional atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The intensity changes of (002) preferred orientation along the coating depth were investigated and the mechanical properties of these coatings were analyzed. Results indicated that the intensity of (002) preferred orientation at a distance of longer than ~90 mm from the interface showed a high value, where uniformly distributed columnar grains in a direction perpendicular to the coating surface were observed. The results obtained from experiments on the mechanical properties revealed that the (002) oriented coatings prepared by conventional APS technique exhibited excellent mechanical properties. Meanwhile, this study provided a simple and rapid method for the preparation of HA coatings with (002) preferred orientation.
Electroplating for Decorative Applications: Recent Trends in Research and Development
Authors: Giurlani Walter , Zangari Giovanni , Gambinossi Filippo , Passaponti Maurizio , Salvietti Emanuele , Di Benedetto Francesco , Caporali Stefano , Innocenti Massimo
Published: July 2018

Electroplating processes are widely employed in industrial environments for a large variety of metallic coatings, ranging from technological to decorative applications. Even if the galvanic electrodeposition is certainly a mature technology, new concepts, novel applications, environmental legislation and the new material requirements for next-generation devices make the scientific research in this field still very active. This review focuses mostly at the decorative and wearable applications, and aims to create a bridge between the past knowledge and the future direction that this process, i.e., electrodeposition, is taking. Both the theoretical fundamentals as well as some of the most widespread practical applications—limited to metallic and alloy coatings—are explored. As an integral part of the industrial process, we take a look at the main techniques thought which the quality control of deposits and surfaces is carried out. Finally, global industrial performance and research directions towards sustainable solutions are highlighted.
Investigating Random Linear Coding from a Pricing Perspective
Authors: Zhu Hailing , Ouahada Khmaies
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we study the implications of using a form of network coding known as Random Linear Coding (RLC) for unicast communications from an economic perspective by investigating a simple scenario, in which several network nodes, the users, download files from the Internet via another network node, the sender, and the receivers as users pay a certain price to the sender for this service. The mean packet delay for a transmission scheme with RLC is analyzed and applied into an optimal pricing model to characterize the optimal admission rate, price and revenue. The simulation results show that RLC achieves better performance in terms of both mean packet delay and revenue compared to the basic retransmission scheme.
Entropy-Based Feature Extraction for Electromagnetic Discharges Classification in High-Voltage Power Generation
Authors: Mitiche Imene , Morison Gordon , Nesbitt Alan , Stewart Brian G. , Boreham Philip
Published: July 2018

This work exploits four entropy measures known as Sample, Permutation, Weighted Permutation, and Dispersion Entropy to extract relevant information from Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) discharge signals that are useful in fault diagnosis of High-Voltage (HV) equipment. Multi-class classification algorithms are used to classify or distinguish between various discharge sources such as Partial Discharges (PD), Exciter, Arcing, micro Sparking and Random Noise. The signals were measured and recorded on different sites followed by EMI expert’s data analysis in order to identify and label the discharge source type contained within the signal. The classification was performed both within each site and across all sites. The system performs well for both cases with extremely high classification accuracy within site. This work demonstrates the ability to extract relevant entropy-based features from EMI discharge sources from time-resolved signals requiring minimal computation making the system ideal for a potential application to online condition monitoring based on EMI.
The Gibbs Paradox
Authors: Saunders Simon
Published: July 2018

The Gibbs Paradox is essentially a set of open questions as to how sameness of gases or fluids (or masses, more generally) are to be treated in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. They have a variety of answers, some restricted to quantum theory (there is no classical solution), some to classical theory (the quantum case is different). The solution offered here applies to both in equal measure, and is based on the concept of particle indistinguishability (in the classical case, Gibbs’ notion of ‘generic phase’). Correctly understood, it is the elimination of sequence position as a labelling device, where sequences enter at the level of the tensor (or Cartesian) product of one-particle state spaces. In both cases it amounts to passing to the quotient space under permutations. ‘Distinguishability’, in the sense in which it is usually used in classical statistical mechanics, is a mathematically convenient, but physically muddled, fiction.
A Bandwidth-Enhanced Differential LC-Voltage Controlled Oscillator (LC-VCO) and Superharmonic Coupled Quadrature VCO for K-Band Applications
Authors: Ullah Farman , Liu Yu , Li Zhiqiang , Wang Xiaosong , Sarfraz Muhammad Masood , Zhang Haiying
Published: July 2018

A novel varactor circuit exhibiting a wider tuning range and a new technique for quadrature coupling of LC-Voltage Controlled Oscillator (LC-VCO) is presented and validated on a 25 GHz oscillator. The proposed varactor circuit employs distribute-biased parallel varactors with a series inductor connected at both ends of the varactor bank to extend the tuning range of the oscillator. Similarly, the quadrature coupling is accomplished by employing the 2nd harmonic, explicitly generated in the stand-alone free-running differential oscillator using frequency doubler. As an example, the Differential VCO (DVCO) is tunable between 20 GHz and 31 GHz and exhibits the best Phase Noise (PN) of −100 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency. Similarly, the Quadrature VCO (QVCO) covers 42% tuning bandwidth around 25 GHz oscillation frequency, which is significantly wider than other state-of-the-art VCOs at comparable frequencies. In addition, all the oscillators are designed in class-C to further improve their performances both in term of low power and low phase noise. The presented oscillators are designed using high-performance SiGe HBTs of the GlobalFoundries (GFs) 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS 8HP process. The presented DVCO and QVCO draw currents of approximately 10 mA and 21 mA, respectively from a 1.2 V supply.
Coping with and Adapting to Climate Change: A Gender Perspective from Smallholder Farming in Ghana
Authors: Assan Elsie , Suvedi Murari , Schmitt Olabisi Laura , Allen Andrea
Published: July 2018

The negative impacts of climate change on agriculture could erode gains made toward gender equality in Ghana. Much of the literature on gender dimensions of climate change adaptation has focused on assessing differences in coping and adaptation practices of smallholder farmers. Mostly overlooked is whether gender influences influenced perception of effectiveness of adaptation practices and preferences for institutional support for future adaptation. Using key informant interviews, household surveys, and focus group discussions, we address these gaps by exploring coping and adaptation measures adopted by heads of farm households to counter climate change impacts on their livelihood activities and household well-being in the Guinea Savanna agroecological zone in Ghana. Additionally, we assessed the preferred institutional adaptation support of heads of farm households in adapting to future projected impacts. We find that female heads of farm households relied mainly on borrowed money from village savings and loans group as a coping measure; male heads of farm households depended primarily on sales of livestock. Varying planting and harvesting dates, crop diversification, and use of improved crop varieties were the major adaptation strategies adopted by farmers. We argue that provision of dams and/or dugouts, postharvest processing facilities, adaptation capacity-building resources, and improved access to markets and credit could enhance the adaptive capacity of male and female heads of farm households to mitigate projected climate change impacts on their livelihood activities and household well-being.
Dual Graph Partitioning Highlights a Small Group of Pseudoknot-Containing RNA Submotifs
Authors: Jain Swati , Bayrak Cigdem S. , Petingi Louis , Schlick Tamar
Published: July 2018

RNA molecules are composed of modular architectural units that define their unique structural and functional properties. Characterization of these building blocks can help interpret RNA structure/function relationships. We present an RNA secondary structure motif and submotif library using dual graph representation and partitioning. Dual graphs represent RNA helices as vertices and loops as edges. Unlike tree graphs, dual graphs can represent RNA pseudoknots (intertwined base pairs). For a representative set of RNA structures, we construct dual graphs from their secondary structures, and apply our partitioning algorithm to identify non-separable subgraphs (or blocks) without breaking pseudoknots. We report 56 subgraph blocks up to nine vertices; among them, 22 are frequently occurring, 15 of which contain pseudoknots. We then catalog atomic fragments corresponding to the subgraph blocks to define a library of building blocks that can be used for RNA design, which we call RAG-3Dual, as we have done for tree graphs. As an application, we analyze the distribution of these subgraph blocks within ribosomal RNAs of various prokaryotic and eukaryotic species to identify common subgraphs and possible ancestry relationships. Other applications of dual graph partitioning and motif library can be envisioned for RNA structure analysis and design.
Increasing Screening Follow-Up for Vulnerable Children: A Partnership with School Nurses
Authors: Rodriguez Eunice , Srivastava Ashini , Landau Melinda
Published: July 2018

Approximately 20% of school-age children have a vision problem. Screening is an effective way to detect visual impairments, although only if adequate follow-up is available. Here, we evaluate the impact of hiring full-time nurses in four underserved schools on the likelihood of increasing follow-up for treatment after vision screening. First, we compared descriptive screening follow-up data from the intervention schools with that of five matched schools with part-time nurses in San Jose, California, from 2008 to 2012. The intervention schools had around 2800 low-income, minority children each year, and the five comparison schools had around 3445. Secondly, we conducted a qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses from 129 teachers in the nine participating schools. In the final year, 96% of the students screened and referred for possible vision problems in schools with full-time nurses were followed up and examined by a health care provider. Yet, only 67% of students screened in comparison schools were examined. Teachers in schools with full-time nurses reported that follow-up of vision problems and getting glasses for students was the most beneficial activity performed by the nurses. School nurses can effectively increase medical care coordination and follow-up of vision screening in low-income communities.
Oral Bioaccessibility and Exposure Risk of Metal(loid)s in Local Residents Near a Mining-Impacted Area, Hunan, China
Authors: Zhuang Ping , Sun Shuo , Li Yingwen , Li Feng , Zou Bi , Li Yongxing , Mo Hui , Li Zhian
Published: July 2018

Metal(loid) contamination of food crops and soils resulting from mining activities has been a major concern due to the potential risk to humans. In this study, a total of 36 rice (home-grown and market rice), 38 vegetable, 10 drinking water, 4 river water, 18 soils and 30 urine samples were collected from an abandoned mining area or the local residents in China. Results showed that metal(loid) levels in some of the soil and drinking water samples exceeded the Chinese standard. Rice Cd concentration, rice Pb levels, and vegetable Pb levels exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in 49%, 68%, and 42% of the samples, respectively. In gastric phases, the average Cd, Pb and As bioaccessibilities in rice were 72%, 70%, and 82%. In gastrointestinal phases, the average Cd, Pb and As bioaccessibilities in rice were 49%, 39%, and 94%. Vegetables (pak choi was selected) showed lower metal(loid) bioaccessibility than rice. The median concentrations of Cd, Pb and As in urine were 3.99, 4.82 and 64.8 µg L−1, respectivley. Rice had the highest contribution rates of Cd and Pb for daily intake, accounting for 114% and 210%, respectively. Vegetables contributed less, and very little contribution came from drinking water. Based on the bioaccessibility data, metal(loid) contamination around the mining area poses a great exposure risk to the local residents through consumption of food crops.
The Association of Urban Greenness and Walking Behavior: Using Google Street View and Deep Learning Techniques to Estimate Residents’ Exposure to Urban Greenness
Authors: Lu Yi
Published: July 2018

Many studies have established that urban greenness is associated with better health outcomes. Yet most studies assess urban greenness with overhead-view measures, such as park area or tree count, which often differs from the amount of greenness perceived by a person at eye-level on the ground. Furthermore, those studies are often criticized for the limitation of residential self-selection bias. In this study, urban greenness was extracted and assessed from profile view of streetscape images by Google Street View (GSV), in conjunction with deep learning techniques. We also explored a unique research opportunity arising in a citywide residential reallocation scheme of Hong Kong to reduce residential self-selection bias. Two multilevel regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between urban greenness and (1) the odds of walking for 24,773 public housing residents in Hong Kong, (2) total walking time of 1994 residents, while controlling for potential confounders. The results suggested that eye-level greenness was significantly related to higher odds of walking and longer walking time in both 400 m and 800 m buffers. Distance to the closest Mass Transit Rail (MTR) station was also associated with higher odds of walking. Number of shops was related to higher odds of walking in the 800 m buffer, but not in 400 m. Eye-level greenness, assessed by GSV images and deep learning techniques, can effectively estimate residents’ daily exposure to urban greenness, which is in turn associated with their walking behavior. Our findings apply to the entire public housing residents in Hong Kong, because of the large sample size.
Placing Health Warnings on E-Cigarettes: A Standardized Protocol
Authors: Mendel Jennifer R. , Hall Marissa G. , Baig Sabeeh A. , Jeong Michelle , Brewer Noel T.
Published: July 2018

Health warnings for e-cigarettes are a promising and novel tobacco control intervention for reducing e-cigarette use. We developed a new protocol for evaluating e-cigarette warnings by placing them on users’ own devices to reflect real-world exposure. Study 1 participants were a national convenience sample of 606 U.S. adult e-cigarette users surveyed online in March 2017. Most Study 1 participants were willing to have their e-cigarette devices (87%) and refills (83%) labeled. Study 2 participants were a convenience sample of 22 adult e-cigarette users recruited in California, United States in April 2017. We applied the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed e-cigarette warning to users’ own devices and refills. Most Study 2 participants (81%) reported using e-cigarette devices with our warning labels at least 90% of the time during the study. Nearly all (95%) said they would participate in the study again, and 100% would recommend the study to a friend. Conversations about e-cigarette harms, conversations about quitting e-cigarettes, and intentions to quit using e-cigarettes increased during the study (all p < 0.05). These studies show that our naturalistic labeling protocol was feasible, acceptable to participants, and had high retention over three weeks. Using the protocol can yield important evidence on the impact of e-cigarette warnings to inform tobacco warning policies.
The Negative Effects of Alcohol Establishment Size and Proximity on the Frequency of Violent and Disorder Crime across Block Groups of Victoria, British Columbia
Authors: Fitterer Jessica L. , Nelson Trisalyn A. , Stockwell Timothy
Published: July 2018

Multiple studies have associated the density of alcohol establishments with crime. What is not well understood is the influence of establishment patron capacity on the magnitude of crime in an area, or how the spacing of liquor primary establishments impacts crime levels. Using a Poisson spatial lag model, we estimated how patron capacity of on-premises licenses and the total number of off-premises licenses were associated with the frequency of violent and disorder crime occurring on Friday and Saturday nights in Victoria, British Columbia. To identify how the distance between bars and pubs was associated with the frequency of crime within 200 m of each establishment, we applied bivariate curve fitting and change detection techniques. Our model explained 76% percent of the variance in crime frequencies. Bars and pubs within block groups, and in neighboring block groups, had a significant positive association (p < 0.05) with the frequency of crime compared to other on-premises licenses (e.g., restaurants, theatres, clubs, hotels), and off-premises liquor stores. For every additional 1111 bar or pub patron seats the crime frequency per block group is expected to double over a 17 month period (factor of 1.0009 per patron seat). Crime frequency significantly dropped (p < 0.05) around (200 m) bars and pubs that are spaced greater than 300 m apart. Our results provide the first evidenced-based information for evaluating the size and spacing of on-premises licenses in Canada.
Level-Specific Differences in Systemic Expression of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Hong James , Chang Alex , Zavvarian Mohammad-Masoud , Wang Jian , Liu Yang , Fehlings Michael G.
Published: July 2018

While over half of all spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur in the cervical region, the majority of preclinical studies have focused on models of thoracic injury. However, these two levels are anatomically distinct—with the cervical region possessing a greater vascular supply, grey-white matter ratio and sympathetic outflow relative to the thoracic region. As such, there exists a significant knowledge gap in the secondary pathology at these levels following SCI. In this study, we characterized the systemic plasma markers of inflammation over time (1, 3, 7, 14, 56 days post-SCI) after moderate-severe, clip-compression cervical and thoracic SCI in a rat model. Using high-throughput ELISA panels, we observed a clear level-specific difference in plasma levels of VEGF, leptin, IP10, IL18, GCSF, and fractalkine. Overall, cervical SCI had reduced expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins relative to thoracic SCI, likely due to sympathetic dysregulation associated with higher level SCIs. However, contrary to the literature, we did not observe level-dependent splenic atrophy with our incomplete SCI model. This is the first study to compare the systemic plasma-level changes following cervical and thoracic SCI using level-matched and time-matched controls. The results of this study provide the first evidence in support of level-targeted intervention and also challenge the phenomenon of high SCI-induced splenic atrophy in incomplete SCI models.
Unique Ca2+-Cycling Protein Abundance and Regulation Sustains Local Ca2+ Releases and Spontaneous Firing of Rabbit Sinoatrial Node Cells
Authors: Vinogradova Tatiana M. , Tagirova (Sirenko) Syevda , Lakatta Edward G.
Published: July 2018

Spontaneous beating of the heart pacemaker, the sinoatrial node, is generated by sinoatrial node cells (SANC) and caused by gradual change of the membrane potential called diastolic depolarization (DD). Submembrane local Ca2+ releases (LCR) from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) occur during late DD and activate an inward Na+/Ca2+ exchange current, which accelerates the DD rate leading to earlier occurrence of an action potential. A comparison of intrinsic SR Ca2+ cycling revealed that, at similar physiological Ca2+ concentrations, LCRs are large and rhythmic in permeabilized SANC, but small and random in permeabilized ventricular myocytes (VM). Permeabilized SANC spontaneously released more Ca2+ from SR than VM, despite comparable SR Ca2+ content in both cell types. In this review we discuss specific patterns of expression and distribution of SR Ca2+ cycling proteins (SR Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2), phospholamban (PLB) and ryanodine receptors (RyR)) in SANC and ventricular myocytes. We link ability of SANC to generate larger and rhythmic LCRs with increased abundance of SERCA2, reduced abundance of the SERCA inhibitor PLB. In addition, an increase in intracellular [Ca2+] increases phosphorylation of both PLB and RyR exclusively in SANC. The differences in SR Ca2+ cycling protein expression between SANC and VM provide insights into diverse regulation of intrinsic SR Ca2+ cycling that drives automaticity of SANC.
Translocator Protein (TSPO) as a Potential Biomarker in Human Cancers
Authors: Bhoola Nimisha H. , Mbita Zukile , Hull Rodney , Dlamini Zodwa
Published: July 2018

TSPO is a receptor involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation, apoptosis and mitochondrial functions. Previous studies showed that the expression of TSPO protein correlated positively with tumour malignancy and negatively with patient survival. The aim of this study was to determine the transcription of Tspo mRNA in various types of normal and cancer tissues. In situ hybridization was performed to localise the Tspo mRNA in various human normal and cancer tissues. The relative level of Tspo mRNA was quantified using fluorescent intensity and visual estimation of colorimetric staining. RT-PCR was used to confirm these mRNA levels in normal lung, lung cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer cell lines. There was a significant increase in the level of transcription in liver, prostate, kidney, and brain cancers while a significant decrease was observed in cancers of the colon and lung. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that the mRNA levels of Tspo are higher in a normal lung cell line than in a lung cancer cell line. An increase in the expression levels of Tspo mRNA is not necessarily a good diagnostic biomarker in most cancers with changes not being large enough to be significantly different when detected by in situ hybridisation.
Development of a Novel in Silico Model to Investigate the Influence of Radial Clearance on the Acetabular Cup Contact Pressure in Hip Implants
Authors: Affatato Saverio , Merola Massimiliano , Ruggiero Alessandro
Published: July 2018

A hip joint replacement is considered one of the most successful orthopedic surgical procedures although it involves challenges that must be overcome. The patient group undergoing total hip arthroplasty now includes younger and more active patients who require a broad range of motion and a longer service lifetime of the implant. The current replacement joint results are not fully satisfactory for these patients’ demands. As particle release is one of the main issues, pre-clinical experimental wear testing of total hip replacement components is an invaluable tool for evaluating new implant designs and materials. The aim of the study was to investigate the cup tensional state by varying the clearance between head and cup. For doing this we use a novel hard-on-soft finite element model with kinematic and dynamic conditions calculated from a musculoskeletal multibody model during the gait. Four different usual radial clearances were considered, ranging from 0 to 0.5 mm. The results showed that radial clearance plays a key role in acetabular cup stress-strain during the gait, showing from the 0 value to the highest, 0.5, a difference of 44% and 35% in terms of maximum pressure and deformation, respectively. Moreover, the presented model could be usefully exploited for complete elastohydrodynamic synovial lubrication modelling of the joint, with the aim of moving towards an increasingly realistic total hip arthroplasty in silico wear assessment accounting for differences in radial clearances.
Carbon Redistribution in Martensite in High-C Steel: Atomic-Scale Characterization and Modelling
Authors: Song Wenwen , Drouven Carsten , Galindo-Nava Enrique
Published: July 2018

The microstructure of the as-quenched plate martensite in a high-C steel 100Cr6 was characterized by means of electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. The carbon redistribution behavior was investigated at the atomic scale, which revealed the nature of the transformation dynamics influenced by carbon and other substitutional alloying elements. A model was proposed to predict the carbon redistribution at twins and dislocations in martensite, which was based on their spatial arrangements.