bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
End-to-End Timing Analysis of Sporadic Cause-Effect Chains in Distributed Systems
Authors: Dürr Marco , Brüggen Georg Von Der , Chen Kuan-Hsun , Chen Jian-Jia
Published: October 2019

A cause-effect chain is used to define the logical order of data dependent tasks, which is independent from the execution order of the jobs of the (periodic/sporadic) tasks. Analyzing the worst-case End-to-End timing behavior, associated to a cause-effect chain, is an important problem in embedded control systems. For example, the detailed timing properties of modern automotive systems are specified in the AUTOSAR Timing Extensions.

In this paper, we present a formal End-to-End timing analysis for distributed systems. We consider the two most important End-to-End timing semantics, i.e., the button-to-action delay (termed as the
maximum reaction time
) and the worst-case data freshness (termed as the
maximum data age
). Our contribution is significant due to the consideration of the sporadic behavior of job activations, whilst the results in the literature have been mostly limited to periodic activations. The proof strategy shows the (previously unexplored) connection between the reaction time (data age, respectively) and immediate forward (backward, respectively) job chains. Our analytical results dominate the state of the art for sporadic task activations in distributed systems and the evaluations show a clear improvement for synthesized task systems as well as for a real world automotive benchmark setting.
Accumulative Display Updating for Intermittent Systems
Authors: Mendis Hashan Roshantha , Hsiu Pi-Cheng
Published: October 2019

Electrophoretic displays are ideal for self-powered systems, but currently require an uninterrupted power supply to carry out the full display update cycle. Although sensible for battery-powered devices, when directly applied to intermittently-powered systems, guaranteeing display update atomicity usually results in repeated execution until completion or can incur high hardware/software overheads, heavy programmer intervention and large energy buffering requirements to provide sufficient display update energy. This paper introduces the concept, design and implementation of accumulative display updating, which relaxes the atomicity constraints of display updating, such that the display update process can be accumulatively completed across power cycles, without the need for sufficient energy for the entire display update. To allow for process logical continuity, we track the update progress during execution and facilitate a safe display shutdown procedure to overcome physical and operability issues related to abrupt power failure. Additionally, a context-aware updating policy is proposed to handle data freshness issues, where the delay in addressing new update requests can cause the display contents to be in conflict with new data available. Experimental results on a Texas Instruments device with an integrated electrophoretic display show that, compared to atomic display updating, our design can significantly increase accurate forward progress, decrease the average response time of display updating and reduce time and energy wastage when displaying fresh data.
Efficient Tracing Methodology Using Automata Processor
Authors: Seo Minjun , Kurdahi Fadi
Published: October 2019

Tracing or trace interface has been used in various ways to find system defects or bugs. As embedded systems are increasingly used in safety-critical applications, tracing can provide useful information during system execution at runtime. Non-intrusive tracing that does not affect system performance has become especially important, but unfortunately, the biggest obstacle to this approach was the vast amount of real-time trace data, making it challenging to address complex requirements with relatively limited hardware implementations. Automata processors can be programmed with a memory-like structure of automata and have a structure specific to streaming data, large capacity, and parallel processing functions. This paper promotes the idea of high-level system-on-chip monitoring using automata processors. We used a safety-critical pacemaker application in the experiments, described timed automata (TA)-based requirements, and tested intentionally injected 4,000 random failures. The TA model converted for Automata Processor to monitor system, correctness, and safety properties achieved 100% failure detection rate in the experiment, and the detected failure is reported as fast enough to allow enough extent for failure recovery.
RMW-F
Authors: Ma Chenlin , Shen Zhaoyan , Han Lei , Shao Zili
Published: October 2019

Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) disks have been proposed as a high-density, non-volatile media and precede traditional hard disk drives in both storing capacity and cost. However, the intrinsic characteristics of SMR disks raise a major performance challenge named read-modify-write operations (RMWs) that are time-consuming and can significantly degrade the overall system performance. Current designs of SMR disks usually adopt a persistent cache to alleviate the negative effect brought by RMWs and the cache is used as a first-level cache to buffer all the incoming writes of the whole SMR storage system. In this paper, we propose to change the functionality of the cache, that is, the cache will no longer serve as a first-level cache like previous. Incoming data are distinguished according to their different write-back behavior and those data which will incur RMWs will be left in our built-in NAND flash cache called RMW-free Cache (RMW-F) to eliminate the need of RMWs. Besides, RMW-F improves the cleaning efficiency by a model that takes both write-back cost and data popularity into considerations. Our experimental results show that RMW-F can achieve both system performance and cleaning efficiency improvements.
Safety Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems with Reinforcement Learning Control
Authors: Tran Hoang-Dung , Cai Feiyang , Diego Manzanas Lopez , Musau Patrick , Johnson Taylor T. , Koutsoukos Xenofon
Published: October 2019

This paper proposes a new forward reachability analysis approach to verify safety of cyber-physical systems (CPS) with reinforcement learning controllers. The foundation of our approach lies on two efficient, exact and over-approximate reachability algorithms for neural network control systems using star sets, which is an efficient representation of polyhedra. Using these algorithms, we determine the initial conditions for which a safety-critical system with a neural network controller is safe by incrementally searching a critical initial condition where the safety of the system cannot be established. Our approach produces tight over-approximation error and it is computationally efficient, which allows the application to practical CPS with learning enable components (LECs). We implement our approach in NNV, a recent verification tool for neural networks and neural network control systems, and evaluate its advantages and applicability by verifying safety of a practical Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) with a reinforcement learning (RL) controller trained using the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) method. The experimental results show that our new reachability algorithms are much less conservative than existing polyhedra-based approaches. We successfully determine the entire region of the initial conditions of the AEBS with the RL controller such that the safety of the system is guaranteed, while a polyhedra-based approach cannot prove the safety properties of the system.
Techniques and Analysis for Mixed-criticality Scheduling with Mode-dependent Server Execution Budgets
Authors: Awan Muhammad Ali , Bletsas Konstantinos , Souto Pedro F. , Akesson Benny , Tovar Eduardo
Published: October 2019

In mixed-criticality systems, tasks of different criticality share system resources, mainly to reduce cost. Cost is further reduced by using adaptive mode-based scheduling arrangements, such as Vestal’s model, to improve resource efficiency, while guaranteeing schedulability of critical functionality. To simplify safety certification, servers are often used to provide temporal isolation between tasks. In its simplest form, a server is a periodically recurring time window, in which some tasks are scheduled. A server’s computational requirements may greatly vary in different modes, although state-of-the-art techniques and schedulability tests do not allow different budgets to be used by a server in different modes. This results in a single conservative execution budget for all modes, increasing system cost.

The goal of this paper is to reduce the cost of mixed-criticality systems through three main contributions: (i) a scheduling arrangement for uniprocessor systems employing fixed-priority scheduling within periodic servers, whose budgets are dynamically adjusted at run-time in the event of a mode change, (ii) a new schedulability analysis for such systems, and (iii) heuristic algorithms for assigning budgets to servers in different modes and ordering the execution of the servers. Experiments with synthetic task sets demonstrate considerable improvements (up to 52.8%) in scheduling success ratio when using dynamic server budgets vs. static “one-size-fits-all-modes” budgets.
Distill-Net
Authors: Motamedi Mohammad , Portillo Felix A. , Fong Daniel , Ghiasi Soheil
Published: October 2019

Many Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications demand fast and accurate understanding of a few key events in their surrounding environment. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have emerged as an effective approach to understand speech, images, and similar high-dimensional data types. Algorithmic performance of modern CNNs, however, fundamentally relies on learning class-agnostic hierarchical features that only exist in comprehensive training datasets with many classes. As a result, fast inference using CNNs trained on such datasets is prohibitive for most resource-constrained IoT platforms. To bridge this gap, we present a principled and practical methodology for distilling a complex modern CNN that is trained to effectively recognize many different classes of input data into an application-dependent essential core that not only recognizes the few classes of interest to the application accurately but also runs efficiently on platforms with limited resources. Experimental results confirm that our approach strikes a favorable balance between classification accuracy (application constraint), inference efficiency (platform constraint), and productive development of new applications (business constraint).
Racial Innocence: Law, Social Science, and the Unknowing of Racism in the US Carceral State
Authors: Murakawa Naomi
Published: October 2019

Racial innocence is the practice of securing blamelessness for the death-dealing realities of racial capitalism. This article reviews the legal, social scientific, and reformist mechanisms that maintain the racial innocence of one particular site: the US carceral state. With its routine dehumanization, violence, and stunning levels of racial disparity, the carceral state should be a hard test case for the willful unknowing of obvious devastation. Nonetheless, the law presumes “no racism,” condones racial profiling, and interprets racial disparity in policing and imprisonment as evidence of true racial difference in criminality, not discrimination. Prominent social science research too often mimics these practices, producing research that aids in the collective erasure of racism.
Intersectionality: From Theory to Practice
Authors: Al-Faham Hajer , Davis Angelique M. , Ernst Rose
Published: October 2019

Intersectionality as a framework and praxis has gathered significance in law and the social sciences over the past 20 years. This article begins by reviewing how intersectionality has been conceptualized, as well as the implications of varying definitions attributed to intersectionality. We then explore applications of intersectionality, first in research that focuses on uncovering processes of differentiation and systems of inequality across a range of topics, including reproductive rights, colonization, religion, immigration, and political behavior. After examining these processes and systems, we turn to a second research approach that focuses on categories of difference and between-category relationships. We find that despite different views on conceptualization, application, and implications, intersectionality may nevertheless open new avenues of inquiry for scholars as well as opportunities for transformative coalition building in social movements and grassroots organizations.
Field-Based Methods of Research on Human Rights Violations
Authors: Rothenberg Daniel
Published: October 2019

Field-based research lies at the heart of human rights discourse and practice. Yet, there is a lack of consistency and coherence in the methodologies used and inadequate transparency regarding research methods in most human rights reporting. This situation opens work up to multiple challenges as to quality, veracity, and legitimacy. Although there have been repeated calls for greater methodological rigor through universal standards, general principles, and guidelines, human rights research remains diverse, uncoordinated, and disparate. This article explores these issues in relation to fact-finding, measuring violations, truth commissions, and emerging tools and technologies. It reviews how methodological debates reflect significant divisions among disciplines, differences in goals and objectives, distinct interests among various actors and organizations working on these issues, and the overall complexity of human rights research. The article argues against implementing universal research practices and for creatively and openly engaging debates regarding field-based methods. Such efforts can provide an essential corrective to unquestioned assumptions, enable greater transparency, and improve the overall quality and comparative value of human rights research.
An Improved Method for Quantifying Liquid Saturation Using Transparent Soil
Authors: Wang Juan , Liu Wei , Chen Wenwu , Ran Xuebin , Zhang Yanfang , Lin Gaochao
Published: October 2019

Transparent porous media combined with digital image processing technology can be used to quantify the saturation of local fluids. In this regard, the calibration relationship between the pixel intensity of the image and the saturation of the wetting liquid is the crucial premise for whether this technique can be promoted and applied, and it is also a bottleneck that limits whether this technique can be rapidly and extensively developed. However, owing to gravity‐driven effects, wetting liquid in a residual state usually exhibits an irregular boundary caused by the phenomenon of saturation overshoot, which makes it very difficult to use the previous overflow method to obtain the data pair of saturation‐pixel intensity accurately. To this end, we have made some improvements to the specific testing method for wetting liquid saturation in the residual state and proposed a local centrifugal sampling method, which considerably improved the accuracy of this method. The results show that the relationship between the pixel intensity and saturation of the transparent soil obtained through this method is generally consistent with the regularity of the previous calibration method but shows better correlation. The results of this study will drive further potential application of transparent soil in the flow of partially saturated porous media.
Ethanol Extract ofSesamum indicumLinn. Inhibits FcεRI-Mediated Allergic Reaction via Regulation of Lyn/Syk and Fyn Signaling Pathways in Rat Basophilic Leukemic RBL-2H3 Mast Cells
Authors: Do Hyun Ju , Oh Tae Woo , Park Kwang-Il
Published: October 2019

This study is aimed at determining whether Sesamum indicum Linn. beneficially influences FcεRI-mediated allergic reactions in RBL-2H3 mast cells; it is also aimed at further investigating Lyn/Fyn and Syk signaling pathways. To examine the antiallergic effect ofSesamum indicumLinn. extract (SIE), we treated antigen/immunoglobulin E- (IgE-) sensitized mast cells with extracts of various concentrations. We examined the degranulation release and concentrations of inflammatory mediators. Additionally, the expressions of genes involved in the FcεRI and arachidonate signaling pathways were examined. SIE inhibited the degranulation and secretion of inflammatory mediators in antigen/IgE-sensitized mast cells. SIE reduced the expressions of FcεRI signaling-related genes, such as Syk, Lyn, and Fyn, and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in antigen/IgE-sensitized mast cells. Additionally, in late allergic responses, SIE reduced PGD2release and COX-2 and cPLA2 phosphorylation expression in FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation. Lastly, 250–500 mg/kg SIE significantly attenuated the Ag/IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice. The potent effect of SIE on RBL-2H3 mast cell activation indicates that the extract could potentially be used as a novel inhibitor against allergic reactions.
Memoryless Systems Generate the Class of all Discrete Systems
Authors: Beurier Erwan , Pastor Dominique , Spivak David I.
Published: October 2019

Automata are machines, which receive inputs, accordingly update their internal state, and produce output, and are a common abstraction for the basic building blocks used in engineering and science to describe and design complex systems. These arbitrarily simple machines can be wired together—so that the output of one is passed to another as its input—to form more complex machines. Indeed, both modern computers and biological systems can be described in this way, as assemblies of transistors or assemblies of simple cells. The complexity is in the network, i.e., the connection patterns between simple machines. The main result of this paper is to show that the range of simplicity for parts as compared to the complexity for wholes is in some sense complete: the most complex automaton can be obtained by wiring together direct-output memoryless components. The model we use—discrete-time automata sending each other messages from a fixed set of possibilities—is certainly more appropriate for computer systems than for biological systems. However, the result leads one to wonder what might be the simplest sort of machines, broadly construed, that can be assembled to produce the behaviour found in biological systems, including the brain.
Outsourcing Hierarchical Threshold Secret Sharing Scheme Based on Reputation
Authors: Zhang En , Zhu Jun-Zhe , Li Gong-Li , Chang Jian , Li Yu
Published: October 2019

Secret sharing is a basic tool in modern communication, which protects privacy and provides information security. Among the secret sharing schemes, fairness is a vital and desirable property. To achieve fairness, the existing secret sharing schemes either require a trusted third party or the execution of a multiround protocol, which are impractical. Moreover, the classic scheme requires expensive computing in the secret verification phase. In this work, we provide an outsourcing hierarchical threshold secret sharing (HTSS) protocol based on reputation. In the scheme, participants from different levels can fairly reconstruct the secret, and the protocol only needs to run for one round. A cloud service provider (CSP) uses powerful computing resources to help participants complete homomorphic encryption and complex verification operations, and the CSP cannot be aware of any valuable information. The participants can obtain the secret with a small number of operations. To avoid collusion, we suppose that participants have their own reputation value, and they are punished or rewarded according to their behavior. The reputation value of a participant who deviates from the protocol will decrease; therefore, the participant will choose a cooperative strategy to obtain better payoffs. Lastly, our scheme is proved to be secure, and experiments indicate that our scheme is feasible and efficient.
Event‐Triggered Adaptive Backstepping Control for Strict‐Feedback Nonlinear Systems with Zero Dynamics
Authors: Xu Bo , Liu Xiaoping , Wang Huanqing , Zhou Yucheng
Published: October 2019

This paper focuses on the problem of event‐triggered control for a class of uncertain nonlinear strict‐feedback systems with zero dynamics via backstepping technique. In the design procedure, the adaptive controller and the triggering event are designed at the same time to remove the assumption of the input‐to‐state stability with respect to the measurement errors. Besides, we propose an assumption to deal with the problem of zero dynamics. Three different event‐triggered control strategies are designed, which guarantees that all the closed‐loop signals are globally bounded. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is illustrated and compared using simulation examples.
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) due to Coronary Artery Embolism in a Patient with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Daoud Hussein , Abugroun Ashraf , Erramilli Shruti , Kumar Surender
Published: October 2019

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) secondary to a coronary embolism is an unusual occurrence, yet an important consideration given the difficult diagnosis. We report a case of a 69-year-old male with a medical history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who presented with chest pain and shortness of breath. A coronary angiogram was significant for three focal transluminal and translucent areas in the ostial, mid, and distal circumflex artery consistent with embolic disease. The patient was subsequently managed medically with anticoagulation. Despite being a relatively rare entity, thromboembolism into the coronary arteries can provoke an acute myocardial infarction, with atrial fibrillation being the most common risk factor. Treatment modalities for ACS secondary to thromboembolism include stent placement, intracoronary thrombolysis, and thrombus aspiration.
Novel Genetic Locus Influencing Retinal Venular Tortuosity Is Also Associated With Risk of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Veluchamy Abirami , Ballerini Lucia , Vitart Veronique , Schraut Katharina E. , Kirin Mirna , Campbell Harry , Joshi Peter K. , Relan Devanjali , Harris Sarah , Brown Ellie , Vaidya Suraj S. , Dhillon Baljean , Zhou Kaixin , Pearson Ewan R. , Hayward Caroline , Polasek Ozren , Deary Ian J. , MacGillivray Thomas , Wilson James F. , Trucco Emanuele , Palmer Colin N.A. , Doney Alexander S.F.
Published: October 2019

Objective:

The retina may provide readily accessible imaging biomarkers of global cardiovascular health. Increasing evidence suggests variation in retinal vascular traits is highly heritable. This study aimed to identify the genetic determinants of retinal vascular traits.

Approach and Results:

We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for quantitative retinal vascular traits derived using semi-automatic image analysis of digital retinal photographs from the GoDARTS (Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside; N=1736) and ORCADES (Orkney Complex Disease Study; N=1358) cohorts. We identified a novel genome-wide significant locus at 19q13 (
ACTN4/CAPN12
) for retinal venular tortuosity (
TortV
), and one at 13q34 (
COL4A2
) for retinal arteriolar tortuosity (
TortA
); these 2 loci were subsequently confirmed in 3 independent cohorts (N
total
=1413). In the combined analysis of discovery and replication cohorts, the lead single-nucleotide polymorphism in
ACTN4
/
CAPN12
was rs1808382 (β
s.d.
=-0.109; SE=0.015;
P
=2.39×10-
13
) and in
COL4A2
was rs7991229 (β
s.d.
=0.103; SE=0.015;
P
=4.66×10-
12
). Notably, the
ACTN4
/
CAPN12
locus associated with
TortV
is also associated with coronary artery disease, heart rate, and atrial fibrillation.

Conclusions:

Genetic determinants of retinal vascular tortuosity are also linked to cardiovascular health. These findings provide a molecular pathophysiological foundation for the use of retinal vascular traits as biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases.
Extracellular MicroRNA-92a Mediates Endothelial Cell–Macrophage Communication
Authors: Chang Ya-Ju , Li Yi-Shuan , Wu Chia-Ching , Wang Kuei-Chun , Huang Tzu-Chieh , Chen Zhen , Chien Shu
Published: October 2019

Objective:

Understanding message delivery among vascular cells is essential for deciphering the intercellular communications in cardiovascular diseases. MicroRNA (miR)-92a is enriched in endothelial cells (ECs) and circulation under atheroprone conditions. Macrophages are the primary immune cells in atherosclerotic lesions that modulate lesion development. Therefore, we hypothesize that, in response to atheroprone stimuli, ECs export miR-92a to macrophages to regulate their functions and enhance atherosclerotic progression.

Approach and Results:

We investigated the macrophage functions that are regulated by EC miR-92a under atheroprone microenvironments. We first determined the distributions of functional extracellular miR-92a by fractionating the intravesicular and extravesicular compartments from endothelial conditioned media and mice serum. The results indicate that extracellular vesicles are the primary vehicles for EC miR-92a transportation. Overexpression of miR-92a in ECs enhanced the proinflammatory responses and low-density lipoprotein uptake, while impaired the migration, of cocultured macrophage. Opposite effects were found in macrophages cocultured with ECs with miR-92a knockdown. Further analyses demonstrated that intravesicular miR-92a suppressed the expression of target gene
KLF4
(Krüppel-like factor 4) in macrophages, suggesting a mechanism by which intravesicular miR-92a regulates recipient cell functions. Indeed, the overexpression of KLF4 rescued the EC miR-92a–induced macrophage atheroprone phenotypes. Furthermore, an inverse correlation of intravesicular miR-92a in blood serum and KLF4 expression in lesions was observed in atherosclerotic animals, indicating the potential function of extracellular miR-92a in regulating vascular diseases.

Conclusions:

EC miR-92a can be transported to macrophages through extracellular vesicles to regulate KLF4 levels, thus leading to the atheroprone phenotypes of macrophage and, hence, atherosclerotic lesion formation.
Misdiagnosis Worsens Prognosis in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage With Good Hunt and Hess Score
Authors: Ois Angel , Vivas Elio , Figueras-Aguirre Georgina , Guimaraens Leopoldo , Cuadrado-Godia Elisa , Avellaneda Carla , Bertran-Recasens Bernat , Rodríguez-Campello Ana , Gracia Maria-Pilar , Villalba Gloria , Saldaña Jesus , Capellades Jaume , Fernández-Candil Juan-Luis , Roquer Jaume
Published: October 2019

Background and Purpose—

Our aim was to describe variables associated with initial misdiagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We also analyzed the relationship of misdiagnosis with poor outcome and complications in good Hunt and Hess (HH) cases.

Methods—

In a prospective cohort of 401 patients with SAH, misdiagnosis was defined as failure to correctly identify, at first physician contact, a subsequently documented SAH; this meant no urgent radiological study and lumbar puncture was performed. Poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score 3 to 6 at 3-month follow-up. We recorded age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, previous antithrombotic treatment, initial HH and radiological severity, presence of aneurysm, first therapeutic procedure, hydrocephalus, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), rebleeding, and procedure-related complications.

Results—

Misdiagnosis was confirmed in 104/401 (25.9%) patients, who also had a longer time-to-admission to hospital. Misdiagnosis was associated with less clinical and radiological severity, compared with a correct diagnosis; the 2 groups did not differ in age or cardiovascular risk factor profile. Poor outcome was registered in 167/401 patients (41.6%). Age, misdiagnosis, and greater clinical and radiological initial severity were independent predictors of poor outcome. In the 236 patients (58.8% of cohort) with HH 1–2, misdiagnosis was associated with poor outcome in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively (odds ratio=3.89; 95% CI, 1.89–8.01). Delayed cerebral ischemia (odds ratio=2.47; 95% CI, 1.2–5.09) and procedure-related complications (odds ratio=2.27; 95% CI, 1.07–4.82) were independently associated with misdiagnosis.

Conclusions—

Misdiagnosis is an unresolved problem in SAH, and it is a missed opportunity for good outcome in patients with HH 1–2. The poor outcome is partially explained by a higher risk of delayed cerebral ischemia and procedure-related complications in misdiagnosed patients. There is a need to improve the diagnostic strategy in patients reporting only a headache (HH 1–2) after SAH.
Genetic Programming for Evolving Similarity Functions for Clustering: Representations and Analysis
Authors: Lensen Andrew , Xue Bing , Zhang Mengjie
Published: October 2019

Clustering is a difficult and widely studied data mining task, with many varieties of clustering algorithms proposed in the literature. Nearly all algorithms use a similarity measure such as a distance metric (e.g., Euclidean distance) to decide which instances to assign to the same cluster. These similarity measures are generally predefined and cannot be easily tailored to the properties of a particular dataset, which leads to limitations in the quality and the interpretability of the clusters produced. In this article, we propose a new approach to automatically evolving similarity functions for a given clustering algorithm by using genetic programming. We introduce a new genetic programming-based method which automatically selects a small subset of features (feature selection) and then combines them using a variety of functions (feature construction) to produce dynamic and flexible similarity functions that are specifically designed for a given dataset. We demonstrate how the evolved similarity functions can be used to perform clustering using a graph-based representation. The results of a variety of experiments across a range of large, high-dimensional datasets show that the proposed approach can achieve higher and more consistent performance than the benchmark methods. We further extend the proposed approach to automatically produce multiple complementary similarity functions by using a multi-tree approach, which gives further performance improvements. We also analyse the interpretability and structure of the automatically evolved similarity functions to provide insight into how and why they are superior to standard distance metrics.
Labor Activation, Social Protection and Poverty Reduction: The Case of Russia
Authors: Dugarova Esuna
Published: October 2019

Social protection is an important strategy to protect people from livelihood risks, develop human capital and promote economic growth. Decent work is a core element of social protection and a critical condition for eradicating poverty. Despite high labor force participation and low unemployment, Russia’s labor market shows several negative trends, including working poverty and growing informality. Both are exacerbated by gender disparities and unfavorable demographic shifts. Over the past decade the Russian government has implemented active labor market interventions, and enhanced targeted social protection aimed at promoting employment and reducing poverty. Based on the analysis of key data and programs, the article finds that the country achieved stability in the labor market, but at the cost of deteriorating living standards caused by low levels of productivity and wages.
Replacement names for Cyrtandra humilis Elmer and Cyrtandra umbellata Kraenzl., two endemic Philippine species (Gesneriaceae)

Authors: OLIVAR JAY EDNEIL C. , MUELLNER-RIEHL ALEXANDRA
Published: October 2019

Cyrtandra Forster & Forster (1776: 5) is the largest genus in the family Gesneriaceae, with over 800 species distributed throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific (Atkins et al. 2013). Members of the genus are important understory elements in primary forests, with varying habits (Burtt 2001). The Philippines is considered a center of diversity for the genus, with approximately 105–150 spp. (Atkins et al. 2013, Johnson et al. 2017).
Saxifraga shennongii, a new species of Saxifragaceae from Hunan Province, China

Authors: ZHANG JIJUN , ZHAO WANYI , MENG KAIKAI , LIAO WENBO , WANG LEI , CHEN SUFANG
Published: October 2019

Saxifraga shennongii L. Wang, W.B. Liao et J. J. Zhang, a new species of Saxifragaceae from Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to genus Saxifraga sect. Irregulares and can be distinguished from other species by stolons absent, basal leaf blade subrounded and abaxially spotted, absence of foliar embryos in the sinus, petiole sparsely short glandular pilose or glabrous and inflorescence branches up to 10 cm long. Phylogenetic analysis based on four chloroplast DNA regions (rbcL, psbA-trnH, matK and psaJ-rpl33) confirmed that the new species differed from those similar species of Saxifraga sect. Irregulares. The new species is similar to S. daqiaoensis and S. mengtzeana, but differs in indumentum and the shape of leaf.
A morphology-based phylogenetic analysis of Fasciolariidae (Gastropoda: Buccinoidea)
Authors: COUTO DIOGO R. , SIMONE LUIZ R. L. R.
Published: October 2019

Fasciolariids are buccinoid neogastropods and key predators in the tropics and subtropics, comprising more than 500 species in the subfamilies Fasciolariinae, Fusininae and Peristerniinae. Tulip shells, horse-conchs, spindles, etc., have been grouped into heterogeneous combinations of unrelated species, while several generic names have been used to group conchologically similar species. The latest molecular phylogenetic study conflicts with the current circumscription of many genera, and even more so, with the three currently recognized subfamilies. This work is the first morphological approach to the phylogeny of fasciolariids, using a parsimony analysis in TnT of 53 taxa based on 100 characters. This analysis reveals a monophyletic Fasciolariidae, with the genera Dolicholatirus and Teralatirus representing the most basal clade in the family, followed by three nodes that correspond to a fusinine grade, which includes the genus Pseudolatirus (Peristerniinae). A terminal clade groups the peristerniine genera Peristernia and Fusolatirus, fasciolariines and the remaining peristerniines. Although none of these clades correspond to currently accepted taxonomic groups, the latter two clades are corroborated in the most recent multilocus molecular phylogeny. This study supports the utility of morphological data in the recovery of groups, even in the molecular era.
What Drives Upper-Ocean Temperature Variability in Coupled Climate Models and Observations?
Authors: Small R. Justin , Bryan Frank O. , Bishop Stuart P. , Larson Sarah , Tomas Robert A.
Published: October 2019

A key question in climate modeling is to what extent sea surface temperature and upper-ocean heat content are driven passively by air–sea heat fluxes, as opposed to forcing by ocean dynamics. This paper investigates the question using a climate model at different resolutions, and observations, for monthly variability. At the grid scale in a high-resolution climate model with resolved mesoscale ocean eddies, ocean dynamics (i.e., ocean heat flux convergence) dominates upper 50 m heat content variability over most of the globe. For deeper depths of integration to 400 m, the heat content variability at the grid scale is almost totally controlled by ocean heat flux convergence. However, a strong dependence on spatial scale is found—for the upper 50 m of ocean, after smoothing the data to around 7°, air–sea heat fluxes, augmented by Ekman heat transports, dominate. For deeper depths of integration to 400 m, the transition scale becomes larger and is above 10° in western boundary currents. Comparison of climate model results with observations show that the small-scale influence of ocean intrinsic variability is well captured by the high-resolution model but is missing from a comparable model with parameterized ocean-eddy effects. In the deep tropics, ocean dynamics dominates in all cases and all scales. In the subtropical gyres at large scales, air–sea heat fluxes play the biggest role. In the midlatitudes, at large scales >10°, atmosphere-driven air–sea heat fluxes and Ekman heat transport variability are the dominant processes except in the western boundary currents for the 400 m heat content.
Impact of Shrubs on Winter Surface Albedo and Snow Specific Surface Area at a Low Arctic Site: In Situ Measurements and Simulations
Authors: Belke-Brea M. , Domine F. , Barrere M. , Picard G. , Arnaud L.
Published: October 2019

Erect shrubs in the Arctic reduce surface albedo when branches protrude above the snow and modify snow properties, in particular specific surface area (SSA). Important consequences are changes in the land surface–atmosphere energy exchange and the increase of snow melting in autumn, possibly inducing reduced soil thermal insulation and in turn permafrost cooling. Near Umiujaq (56.5°N, 76.5°W) in the Canadian low Arctic where dwarf birches (Betula glandulosa) are expanding, spectral albedo (400–1080 nm) under diffuse light and vertical profiles of SSA were measured in November and December 2015 at four sites: three with protruding branches and one with only snow. At the beginning of the snow season (8 November), shrub-induced albedo reductions were found to be wavelength dependent and as high as 55% at 500 nm and 18% at 1000 nm, which, integrated over the measurement range (400–1080 nm), corresponds to 70 W m−2 of additional absorbed energy. The impact of shrubs is not just snow darkening. They also affect snow SSA in multiple ways, by accumulating snow with high SSA during cold windy precipitation and favoring SSA decrease by inducing melting during warm spells. However, the impact on the radiation budget of direct darkening from shrubs likely dominates over the indirect change in SSA. Spectral albedo was simulated with a linear mixing equation (LME), which fitted well with observed spectra. The average root-mean-square error was 0.009. We conclude that LMEs are a suitable tool to parameterize mixed surface albedo in snow and climate models.
Evaluating an engaged scholarship approach to improve health promotion within the education system
Authors: McIsaac Jessie-Lee D , Riley Barbara L , Kirk Sara FL
Published: October 2019

Engaged scholarship offers a collaborative approach to bridge the gap between theory and practice by integrating research and practical knowledge. This study used a case–study approach to evaluate the facilitative and obstructive factors influencing engaged scholarship to support health promotion practice within the education system. Individuals who worked closely with the engaged scholar for at least 3 months agreed to participate in an individual interview ( n = 6). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Themes emerged related to conditions (relationships and trust; organizational capacity) and actions (shared ownership and engagement; communication and role clarity) that influenced the implementation of engaged scholarship. The results of this study build on existing literature, especially by providing in-depth examples of conditions and actions that can strengthen partnerships between researchers and public policy stakeholders.
Imaging of Bone Perfusion and Metabolism in Subjects Undergoing Total Ankle Arthroplasty Using 18F-Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Dyke Jonathan P. , Garfinkel Jonathan H. , Volpert Lauren , Sanders Austin , Newcomer Meghan , Dutruel Silvina P. , Sofka Carolyn M. , Ellis Scott J. , Demetracopoulos Constantine A.
Published: October 2019

Background:

Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) continues to exhibit a relatively high incidence of complications and need for revision surgery compared to knee and hip arthroplasty. One common mode of failure in TAA is talar component subsidence. This may be caused by disruption in the talar blood supply related to the operative technique. The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in talar bone perfusion and turnover before and after TAA with the INBONE II system using 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods:

Nine subjects (5 M/4 F) aged 68.9 ± 8.2 years were enrolled for 18F-fluoride PET/CT imaging before and 3 months after TAA. Regions of interest (ROI) were placed on the postoperative CT images in the body of the talus beneath the talar component and overlaid on the fused static PET images. Standard uptake values (SUVs) along with dynamic K1 (bone blood flow) and ki (bone metabolism or osteoblastic turnover) were calculated.

Results:

The SUV underneath the talar component compared to that measured at baseline before surgery was 1.93 ± 0.29 preoperatively vs 2.47 ± 0.37 postoperatively ( P > .05). K1 was 0.84 ± 0.16 mL/min/mL preoperatively vs 1.51 ± 0.23 mL/min/mL postoperatively ( P = .026). ki was constant at 0.09 ± 0.03 mL/min/mL preoperatively vs 0.12 ± 0.03 mL/min/mL postoperatively ( P > .05).

Conclusion:

Our study was the first to link 18F-fluoride PET/CT with pre-post evaluation of total ankle replacements. The study quantified perfusion within the talus beneath the TAA implant supporting the hypothesis that perfusion of the talus remained intact after surgery.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective cohort study with development of diagnostic criteria.
Influence of Maternal Prepregnancy Obesity and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain on Maternal and Child Gastrointestinal Microbiome Composition: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dreisbach Caitlin , Prescott Stephanie , Alhusen Jeanne
Published: October 2019

Background:

Maternal obesity is a well-known risk factor for significant obstetric and neonatal complications. The influence of the gastrointestinal microbiome in the setting of maternal obesity during pregnancy is less understood. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the literature on the relationships between maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) and the composition of maternal and child gastrointestinal microbiomes.

Method:

We searched CINHAL, OVID Medline, Web of Science, and PubMed for relevant literature using medical subject heading terms related to obesity, pregnancy, and the gastrointestinal microbiome. We assessed 249 articles for potential inclusion using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses framework and deemed 11 articles as relevant for this review.

Results:

Maternal obesity was associated with significant microbial changes in both maternal and infant fecal microbiome biospecimens including increases in Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and the Actinobacteria phyla and decreases in Bifidobacteria. However, inconsistencies in uniform taxonomic results across all studies mean that evidence of specific microbial associations with obesity and EGWG is inconclusive.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that both maternal and child gastrointestinal microbiome composition is altered in the setting of maternal obesity and EGWG during pregnancy. Future microbiome studies should concentrate on the investigation of metagenomic sequencing to elucidate microbial function rather than solely taxonomic composition. More diverse populations of mothers should be sampled to address health disparities and adverse outcomes of underrepresented populations. Finally, analytic pipelines should be standardized across studies to aid in reproducibility.
Achievements in Understanding and Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: Hellström-Lindberg Eva , Willman Cheryl , Barrett A. John , Saunthararajah Yogen
Published: October 2019

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) constitute a challenge for the biologist as well as for the treating physician. In Section I, Dr. Willman reviews the current classifications and disease mechanisms involved in this heterogeneous clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder. A stepwise genetic progression model is proposed in which inherited or acquired genetic lesions promote the acquisition of “secondary” genetic events mainly characterized by gains and losses of specific chromosome regions. The genetic risk to develop MDS is likely multifactorial and dependent on various constellations of risk-producing and -protecting alleles. In Section II Dr. Barrett with Dr. Saunthararajah addresses the immunologic factors that may act as important secondary events in the development of severe pancytopenia. T cells from patients with MDS may suppress autologous erythroid and granulocytic growth in vitro, and T cell suppression by antithymocyte globulin or cyclosporine may significantly improve cytopenia, especially in refractory anemia. Recent studies have also demonstrated an increased vessel density in MDS bone marrow, and a phase II trial of thalidomide showed responses in a subgroup of MDS patients especially in those with low blast counts. In Section III Dr. Hellström-Lindberg presents results of allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT), intensive and low-dose chemotherapy. The results of allogeneic SCT in MDS are slowly improving but are still poor for patients with unfavorable cytogenetics and/or a high score according to the International Prognostic Scoring System. A recently published study of patients between 55-65 years old showed a disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years of 39%. Consolidation treatment with autologous SCT after intensive chemotherapy may result in long-term DFS in a proportion of patients with high-risk MDS. Low-dose treatment with 5-azacytidine has been shown to significantly prolong the time to leukemic transformation or death in patients with high-risk MSA. Erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor may synergistically improve hemoglobin levels, particularly in sideroblastic anemia. Recent therapeutic advances have made it clear that new biological information may lead to new treatment modalities and, in combination with statistically developed predictive models, help select patients for different therapeutic options.