bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel method to realize optical single sideband modulation with tunable optical carrier to sideband ratio
Authors: Peng Zhengxue , Wen Aijun , Gao Yongsheng , Tu Zhaoyang , Chen Wei , Zhang Wu
Published: May 2017

An optical single sideband (OSSB) modulation method with tunable optical carrier to sideband ratio (OCSR) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on a dual‐polarization Mach–Zehnder modulator (DPol‐MZM). An orthogonally polarized double sideband (DSB) signal output from the DPol‐MZM is filtered out the carrier and one sideband utilizing an optical bandpass filter (OBPF). Then the orthogonally polarized OSSB signal is transformed into a linear polarized OSSB signal by a polarizer (Pol). By changing the polarization direction of the Pol utilizing a polarization controller (PC), the tunable OCSR can be achieved. In the demonstrated experiments, an OSSB modulation is implemented over the wide microwave frequency range of 5–30 GHz. The OCSR is tuned from −30 dB to infinity. The proposed OSSB modulation method is advantageous in many respects as large tunable OCSR range, wide operation bandwidth, and simple structure.
Spectral efficiency enhancement in SNR‐limited PON system based on SSB 3D modulation
Authors: Kwon Dong‐Woo , Kang Soo‐Min , Park Hyung‐Joon , Han Sang‐Kook
Published: May 2017

We propose a single sideband three‐dimensional modulation technique for a passive optical network which has an insufficient signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). We demonstrated a SE improvement of 1.65 times with 3dB lower SNR compared to a conventional quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal.
Hybridization numerical Greenes function of anisotropic inhomogeneous media with surface integral equation
Authors: Gan Hui H. , Dai Qi I. , Xia Tian , Sun Lin , Chew Weng Cho
Published: May 2017

Surface integral equation (SIE) leveraging the analytic homogeneous‐medium Greenes function is only suitable for investigating piecewise homogeneous objects. In this paper, we demonstrate that by taking advantage of numerical Green's function (NGF), SIE methods can be extended to model arbitrarily inhomogeneous and anisotropic media. In our scheme, NGFs of complicated media are computed with differential equation methods where the domain can be truncated by arbitrary boundary conditions. Electromagnetic scatterings of several inhomogeneous and anisotropic geometries are simulated to validate the proposed scheme, where NGFs are obtained by the finite element method.
Transcriptomic profiling reveals disordered regulation of surfactant homeostasis in neonatal cloned bovines with collapsed lungs and respiratory distress
Authors: Liu Yan , Rao Yifan , Jiang Xiaojing , Zhang Fanyi , Huang Linhua , Du Weihua , Hao Haisheng , Zhao Xueming , Wang Dong , Jiang Qiuling , Zhu Huabin , Sun Xiuzhu
Published: May 2017

Respiratory distress is a major cause of mortality in cloned neonatal animals, but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we used necropsy and histology procedures to evaluate the lungs of cloned neonatal bovines dying of respiratory distress, finding incomplete lung dilation, alveolar collapse, and thickened alveolar walls. Comparison of the transcriptomes between collapsed lungs of cloned bovines and their normal counterparts revealed 1373 differentially expressed genes in collapsed lungs (p < 0.05, fold change >1.5 or <1.5−1), many of which were associated with surfactant biosynthesis, secretion, transport, recycling, and degradation. ERK/MAPK and Notch signaling pathways were among the canonical pathways relevant to surfactant homeostasis. Expression of the genes encoding Surfactant protein B (SPB) and Surfactant protein C (SPC)—which control surfactant lipid packing, spreading, and stability—were significantly lower in collapsed lungs of cloned neonates at the transcript (p < 0.01) and protein levels (p < 0.05) relative to that in normal lungs. Thus, our results provide an initial view into the changes in gene expression in cloned newborns with lung collapse and respiratory distress, and present a valuable resource for developing novel preventive or therapeutic strategies to reduce the mortality rate of cloned animals and to improve the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology.
A practical polynomial chaos Kalman filter implementation using nonlinear error projection on a reduced polynomial chaos expansion
Authors: Slika Wael , Saad George
Published: May 2017

The polynomial chaos Kalman filter (PCKF) has been gaining popularity as a computationally efficient and robust alternative to sampling methods in sequential data assimilation settings. The PCKF's sampling free scheme and attractive structure to represent non‐Gaussian uncertainties makes it a promising approach for data filtering techniques in nonlinear and non‐Gaussian frameworks. However, the accuracy of PCKF is dependent on the dimension and order of the polynomial chaos expansion used to represent all sources of uncertainty in the system. Thus, when independent sources of errors, like process noise and time independent sensors' errors are incorporated in the system, the curse of dimensionality hinders the efficiency and the applicability of PCKF. This study sheds light on this issue and presents a practical framework to maintain an acceptable accuracy of PCKF without scarifying the computational efficiency of the filter. The robustness and efficiency of the presented implementation is demonstrated on 3 typical numerical examples to illustrate its ability to achieve considerable accuracy at a low computational tax.
Where are you heading? Flexible integration of retinal and extra‐retinal cues during self‐motion perception
Authors: Kuang Shenbing , Shi Jinfu , Wang Yang , Zhang Tao
Published: May 2017

As we move forward in the environment, we experience a radial expansion of the retinal image, wherein the center corresponds to the instantaneous direction of self‐motion. Humans can precisely perceive their heading direction even when the retinal motion is distorted by gaze shifts due to eye/body rotations. Previous studies have suggested that both retinal and extra‐retinal strategies can compensate for the retinal image distortion. However, the relative contributions of each strategy remain unclear. To address this issue, we devised a two‐alternative‐headings discrimination task, in which participants had either real or simulated pursuit eye movements. The two conditions had the same retinal input but either with or without extra‐retinal eye movement signals. Thus, the behavioral difference between conditions served as a metric of extra‐retinal contribution. We systematically and independently manipulated pursuit speed, heading speed, and the reliability of retinal signals. We found that the levels of extra‐retinal contributions increased with increasing pursuit speed (stronger extra‐retinal signal), and with decreasing heading speed (weaker retinal signal). In addition, extra‐retinal contributions also increased as we corrupted retinal signals with noise. Our results revealed that the relative magnitude of retinal and extra‐retinal contributions was not fixed but rather flexibly adjusted to each specific task condition. This task‐dependent, flexible integration appears to take the form of a reliability‐based weighting scheme that maximizes heading performance.
Separation and identification of mouse brain tissue microproteins using top‐down method with high resolution nanocapillary liquid chromatography mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Wenxue , Petruzziello Filomena , Zhao Nan , Zhao Huiyuan , Ye Xueting , Zhang Xiaozhe , Rainer Gregor
Published: May 2017

Microproteins and endogenous peptides in the brain contain important substances that have critical roles in diverse biological processes, contributing to signal transduction and intercellular signaling. However, variability in their physical or chemical characteristics, such as molecule size, hydrophobicity, and charge states, complicate the simultaneous analysis of these compounds, although this would be highly beneficial for the field of neuroscience research. Here, we present a top‐down analytical method for simultaneous analysis of microproteins and endogenous peptides using high‐resolution nanocapillary LC‐MS/MS. This method is detergent‐free and digestion‐free, which allows for extracting and preserving intact microproteins and peptides for direct LC‐MS analysis. Both higher energy collision dissociation and electron‐transfer dissociation fragmentations were used in the LC‐MS analysis to increase the identification rate, and bioinformatics tools ProteinGoggle and PEAKS Studio software were utilized for database search. In total, we identified 471 microproteins containing 736 proteoforms, including brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and a number of fibroblast growth factors. In addition, we identified 599 peptides containing 151 known or potential neuropeptides such as somatostatin‐28 and neuropeptide Y. Our approach bridges the gap for the characterization of brain microproteins and peptides, which permits quantification of a diversity of signaling molecules for biomarker discovery or therapy diagnosis in the future.
The structural basis for inhibition of the classical and lectin complement pathways by S. aureus extracellular adherence protein
Authors: Woehl Jordan L. , Ramyar Kasra X. , Katz Benjamin B. , Walker John K. , Geisbrecht Brian V.
Published: May 2017

The extracellular adherence protein (Eap) plays a crucial role in pathogenesis and survival of Staphylococcus aureus by inhibiting the classical and lectin pathways of complement. We have previously shown that Eap binds with nanomolar affinity to complement C4b and disrupts the initial interaction between C4b and C2, thereby inhibiting formation of the classical and lectin pathway C3 pro‐convertase. Although an underlying mechanism has been identified, the structural basis for Eap binding to C4b is poorly understood. Here, we show that Eap domains 3 and 4 each contain a low‐affinity, but saturable binding site for C4b. Taking advantage of the high lysine content of Eap, we used a zero‐length crosslinking approach to map the Eap binding site to both the α′‐ and γ‐chains of C4b. We also probed the C4b/Eap interface through a chemical footprinting approach involving lysine modification, proteolytic digestion, and mass spectrometry. This identified seven lysines in Eap that undergo changes in solvent exposure upon C4b binding. We found that simultaneous mutation of these lysines to either alanine or glutamate diminished C4b binding and complement inhibition by Eap. Together, our results provide insight into Eap recognition of C4b, and suggest that the repeating domains that comprise Eap are capable of multiple ligand‐binding modes.
Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. removal by bank filtration at Beberibe River, Brazil
Authors: Freitas D. A. , Cabral J. J. S. P. , Rocha F. J. S. , Paiva A. L. R. , Sens M. L. , Veras T. B.
Published: May 2017

Abstract

In bank filtration (BF) technology, a production well is pumped near surface water and induces water flow from the river through a porous medium to the well by percolation into the soil. Several physical, chemical, and biological processes occur, providing a natural water treatment along the river banks. An experimental area was installed on the Beberibe River with 2 production wells and 7 monitoring wells. The BF potential in removing pathogenic intestinal parasites and analysis of physical–chemical and bacteriological parameters was evaluated, according to Standard Methods. River–aquifer interaction was characterized by piezometric levels of production wells. Monitoring of the wells was correlated with the water depth of the river and precipitation. Parasite analysis was performed using Hoffman, Pons, and Janer's methods of spontaneous sedimentation, followed by centrifugation and preparation of slides stained with acetic Lugol. Protozoa oocysts were isolated by a modified Ziehl‐Neelsen method, preceded by sedimentation and centrifugation. The pathogenic protozoa found in samples from Beberibe River were Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Entamoeba histolytica/dispar complex, and Isospora belli. Pathogenic helminths were also detected: Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, and hookworm eggs and larvae, Hymenolepis nana. In water samples from the production wells, no waterborne pathogens were found. The BF pilot project was effective in reducing levels of turbidity and color. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli were absent in the production wells. Piezometric levels of production wells and monitoring wells correlated with water depth of Beberibe River show hydraulic connection between the production wells and river, thus featuring a river–aquifer interaction. The BF pilot system showed potential for reduction or elimination of pathogenic intestinal parasites.
APT malware static trace analysis through bigrams and graph edit distance
Authors: Bolton Alexander D. , Anderson‐Cook Christine M.
Published: May 2017

Research and business organizations are vulnerable to attack by malware, particularly advanced persistent threat malware tailored for a specific target. Malware identification is made more difficult because samples can be subtly altered to avoid detection by methods that check for an identical match to known code. Different versions of an original piece of malware form a malware family. When new malicious software is identified, reverse engineers seek to identify its origin and purpose. Knowing whether new malware is from a known family or a previously unobserved family aids the efficiency of reverse engineers. This article presents a three‐stage method to classify new malware into a family by comparing its similarity to existing static traces, and assigning it to the most similar family. First, a fast filtering method creates a shortlist of samples with some similarity to the new malware, using a simple bigram comparison of the instructions. The second stage takes the call graph view of the shortlisted static traces and uses simulated annealing to estimate the graph edit distance, a measure of dissimilarity between graphs. Finally, a random forest classifier combines the previous two results to predict the family to which a new sample belongs. The paper also considers how to detect when malware is from a new family.
Mechanical properties of surface treated UHMWPE fiber and SiO2 filled PMMA composites
Authors: Tang Gang , Hu Xiong , Tang Tianhao , Claramunt Christophe
Published: May 2017

The hybrid reinforcement effect of surface‐treated UHMWPE fiber and SiO2 on the mechanical properties of PMMA matrix composites was investigated. When UHMWPE fiber is introduced, the tensile strength of UHMWPE fiber‐reinforced composites sharply increases. The flexural modulus was enhanced with an increase in filler loading. Flexural modulus of the treated UHMWPE/SiO2/PMMA composites was higher than that of the UHMWPE/PMMA and UHMWPE/SiO2/PMMA composites. The outcome of the better interfacial bonding between the filler and the matrix is reflected in the improvement of the mechanical properties of the treated UHMWPE/SiO2/PMMA composites. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasmon Enhanced Fluorescence Based on Porphyrin–Peptoid Hybridized Gold Nanoparticle Platform
Authors: Kim Younghye , Kang Boyeong , Ahn Hyo‐Yong , Seo Jiwon , Nam Ki Tae
Published: May 2017

A porphyrin–peptoid‐hybridized silica‐coated gold nanoparticle is developed, which is inspired by the protein–chlorophyll ensemble found in photosynthetic antenna. In the natural antenna, chlorophylls are integrated into dense assemblies that are supported by frameworks of proteins, which ensure optimal pigment arrangement for effective light harvesting. In the subject platform, porphyrins are conjugated to the peptoid helix scaffold in a structurally well‐defined alignments and subsequently immobilized on the surface of nanoparticles. This prevents intermolecular aggregation among porphyrins and allows high resolution analysis of the effect of porphyrin configuration on the optical properties of the system. Interestingly, under the influence of plasmon from the gold nanoparticle core, the fluorescence of porphyrin is enhanced up to 24‐fold at the wavelength where the plasmon resonance matches the porphyrin excitation wavelength. In addition, differences in porphyrin configuration result in spectral modification of their fluorescence emissions. Particularly, the peptoid bearing two porphyrins at a distance of 6 Å shows the most significant alteration in fluorescence. The platform can facilitate extensive studies on the relationship between porphyrin arrangement design and their photophysical interaction in antenna complexes.
Solid‐State Carbon Dots with Red Fluorescence and Efficient Construction of Dual‐Fluorescence Morphologies
Authors: He Jiangling , He Youling , Chen Yonghao , Lei Bingfu , Zhuang Jianle , Xiao Yong , Liang Yeru , Zheng Mingtao , Zhang Haoran , Liu Yingliang
Published: May 2017

Stable solid‐state red fluorescence from organosilane‐functionalized carbon dots (CDs) with sizes around 3 nm is reported for the first time. Meanwhile, a novel method is also first reported for the efficient construction of dual‐fluorescence morphologies. The quantum yield of these solid‐state CDs and their aqueous solution is 9.60 and 50.7%, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime is 4.82 ns for solid‐state CDs, and 15.57 ns for their aqueous solution. These CDs are detailedly studied how they can exhibit obvious photoluminescence overcoming the self‐quenching in solid state. Luminescent materials are constructed with dual fluorescence based on as‐prepared single emissive CDs (red emission) and nonfluorescence media (starch, Al2O3, and RnOCH3COONa), with the characteristic peaks located at nearly 440 and 600 nm. Tunable photoluminescence can be successfully achieved by tuning the mass ratio of CDs to solid matrix (such as starch). These constructed dual‐fluorescence CDs/starch composites can also be applied in white light‐emitting diodes with UV chips (395 nm), and oxygen sensing.
Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted CXCL1 and CXCL8 Facilitate Breast Tumor Growth By Promoting Angiogenesis
Authors: Wang Yuan , Liu Junli , Jiang Qingyuan , Deng Jie , Xu Fen , Chen Xiaolei , Cheng Fuyi , Zhang Yujing , Yao Yunqi , Xia Zhemin , Xu Xia , Su Xiaolan , Huang Meijuan , Dai Lei , Yang Yang , Zhang Shuang , Yu Dechao , Zhao Robert Chunhua , Wei Yuquan , Deng Hongxin
Published: May 2017

Autologous adipose tissue or adipose tissue with additive adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) is used in the breast reconstruction of breast cancer patients who undergo mastectomy. ADSCs play an important role in the angiogenesis and adipogenesis, which make it much better than other materials. However, ADSCs may promote residual tumor cells to proliferate or metastasize, and the mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that human ADSCs (hADSCs) could facilitate tumor cells growth after co-injection with MCF7 and ZR-75-30 breast cancer cells (BCCs) by promoting angiogenesis, but hADSCs showed limited effect on the growth of MDA-MB-231 BCCs. Intriguingly, compared with ZR-75-30 tumor cells, MCF7 tumor cells were more potentially promoted by hADSCs in the aspects of angiogenesis and proliferation. Consistent with this, cytokine and angiogenesis array analyses showed that after co-injection with hADSCs, the CXCL1 and CXCL8 concentration were significantly increased in MCF7 tumor, but only moderately increased in ZR-75-30 tumor and did not increase in MDA-MB-231 tumor. Furthermore, we found that CXCL1/8 were mainly derived from hADSCs and could increase the migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by signaling via their receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. A CXCR1/2-specific antagonist (SCH527123) attenuated the angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo. Our findings suggest that CXCL1/8 secreted by hADSCs could promote breast cancer angiogenesis and therefore provide better understanding of safety concerns regarding the clinical application of hADSCs and suggestion in further novel therapeutic options.
Developmental window of sensorineural deafness in biotinidase‐deficient mice
Authors: Maheras Kathleen June , Pindolia Kirit , Wolf Barry , Gow Alexander
Published: May 2017

Biotinidase deficiency is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder that results in the inability to recycle the vitamin, biotin. If untreated, the disorder can result in a range of neurological and cutaneous symptoms, including sensorineural deficits and deafness. To understand early mechanistic abnormalities that may precede more generalized and nonspecific effects of metabolic deficits such as weight loss and acidosis, we have analyzed auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) in biotinidase‐deficient knockout (Btd−/−) mice in the periweaning period with or without dietary biotin supplementation. We find significant increases in the latency of wave V of the ABR elicited by pure tone stimuli at one octave intervals, which precede substantial increases in ABR thresholds. Finer interpeak latency analyses of these changes indicate they are confined to the latter ABR waves associated with the CNS and likely reflect slowed brainstem transmission time. In contrast, peripheral nervous system conduction velocity appears normal. Further, we find that biotin‐supplementation after the onset of symptoms reverses the latency shifts, which has significant relevance for early treatment in patients. Finally, ABR latencies inBtd−/−mice fed a biotin‐supplemented diet for the first month of life appear refractory to transmission time slowing during a subsequent bout of biotin deficiency. These data suggest a transient vulnerability window for biotin deficiency in the auditory brainstem. Finally, we also observe a developmental vulnerability window involving follicular melanosome production or melanocyte survival. Sensorineural deafness precedes peripheral hearing loss in developmental biotinidase deficiency and is transient if rescued by dietary biotin within a short developmental window.
Gilteritinib, a FLT3/AXL inhibitor, shows antileukemic activity in mouse models of FLT3 mutated acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Mori Masamichi , Kaneko Naoki , Ueno Yoko , Yamada Masaki , Tanaka Ruriko , Saito Rika , Shimada Itsuro , Mori Kenichi , Kuromitsu Sadao
Published: May 2017

Advances in the understanding of the molecular basis for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have generated new potential targets for treatment. Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in AML and mutations in this gene are associated with poor overall survival. AXL plays a role in the activation of FLT3 and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AML. The studies reported here evaluated the ability of a novel FLT3/AXL inhibitor, gilteritinib, to block mutated FLT3 in cellular and animal models of AML. Initial kinase studies showed that gilteritinib, a type I tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was highly selective for both FLT3 and AXL while having weak activity against c-KIT. Gilteritinib demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against the internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) and FLT3-D835Y point mutations in cellular assays using MV4–11 and MOLM-13 cells as well as Ba/F3 cells expressing mutated FLT3. Gilteritinib also inhibited FLT3-F691 mutations, although to a lesser degree, in these assays. Furthermore, gilteritinib decreased the phosphorylation levels of FLT3 and its downstream targets in both cellular and animal models. In vivo, gilteritinib was distributed at high levels in xenografted tumors after oral administration. The decreased FLT3 activity and high intratumor distribution of gilteritinib translated to tumor regression and improved survival in xenograft and intra-bone marrow transplantation models of FLT3-driven AML. No overt toxicity was seen in mouse models treated with gilteritinib. These results indicate that gilteritinib may be an important next-generation FLT3 inhibitor for use in the treatment of FLT3 mutation-positive AML.
Understanding Pro-Environmental Intentions through Growth, Competitiveness, and Concern
Authors: Thyroff Anastasia E. , Kilbourne William E.
Published: May 2017

The effects of market liberalization and the social institutions contained within are increasingly necessary to understand. The purpose of this paper is to expand this understanding by examining neoliberal institutional variables (i.e., belief in economic growth and individual competitiveness) on pro-environmental behavior. To study this, we use two countries: one that has recently experienced high economic growth (China) and one that has recently experienced low economic growth (Japan), as a moderator variable. Further, environmental concern is proposed to mediate the moderation. The proposed conditional mediation is supported. Findings suggest that citizens with a desire for additional economic growth, in countries with large historical growth, have high environmental concern. Further, citizens with high individual competitiveness, in low historical growth countries, have low environmental concern. However, citizens with high environmental concern have high environmental intentions, regardless of current country growth. Implications for management and sustainability are then given.
Measurement properties of screening and diagnostic tools for autism spectrum adults of mean normal intelligence: A systematic review
Authors: Baghdadli A. , Russet F. , Mottron L.
Published: May 2017

Background:

The autism spectrum (AS) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental variant associated with lifelong challenges. Despite the relevant importance of identifying AS in adults for epidemiological, public health, and quality of life issues, the measurement properties of the tools currently used to screen and diagnose adults without intellectual disabilities (ID) have not been assessed.

Objectives:

This systematic review addresses the accuracy, reliability, and validity of the reported AS screening and diagnostic tools used in adults without ID.

Methods:

Electronic databases and bibliographies were searched, and identified papers evaluated against inclusion criteria. The PRISMA statement was used for reporting the review. We evaluated the quality of the papers using the COSMIN Checklist for psychometric data, and QUADAS-2 for diagnostic data. For the COSMIN assessment, evidence was considered to be strong when several methodologically good articles, or one excellent article, reported consistent evidence for or against a measurement property. For the QUADAS ratings, evidence was considered to be “satisfactory” if at least one study was rated with a low risk of bias and low concern about applicability.

Results:

We included 38 articles comprising 32 studies, five reviews, and one book chapter and assessed nine tools (three diagnostic and six screening, including eight of their short versions). Among screening tools, only AQ-50, AQ-S, and RAADS-R and RAADS-14 were found to provide satisfactory or intermediate values for their psychometric properties, supported by strong or moderate evidence. Nevertheless, risks of bias and concerns on the applicability of these tools limit the evidence on their diagnostic properties. We found that none of the gold standard diagnostic tools used for children had satisfactory measurement properties.

Conclusion:

There is limited evidence for the measurement properties of the screening and diagnostic tools used for AS adults with a mean normal range of measured intelligence. This may lessen the validity of conclusions and public health decisions on an important fraction of the adult autistic population. This not only justifies further validation studies of screening and diagnostic tools for autistic adults, but also supports the parallel use of self-reported information and clinical expertise with these instruments during the diagnostic process.
Driving restrictions for patients with reflex syncope
Authors: Sumiyoshi Masataka
Published: May 2017

Reflex syncope is the most common form of syncope that occurs while driving. The 2014 revision of Japanese Road Traffic Laws placed stricter driving restrictions, along with some associated legal penalties, on individuals with recurrent syncope. “Recurrent syncope” is defined as the occurrence of more than two episodes of syncope over a period of 5 years. No restrictions are recommended for private drivers unless they experience syncope without a reliable prodrome while driving or sitting. For commercial drivers, a driving restriction is recommended unless the efficacy of treatment can be confirmed. The “risk of harm” (RH) to other road users appears to be particularly high when commercial driving is involved. The RH formula is calculated using the time of driving, the type of vehicle driven, the risk of sudden cardiac incapacitation, and the probability of a fatal or injury‐producing accident. Reducing the driving time or driving a lighter vehicle can reduce the RH. Physicians should talk to their patients about driving and advise their high‐risk patients to refrain from driving.
The Enigma of Presidential Power
Authors: Chiou Fang-Yi , Rothenberg Lawrence S.
Published: May 2017

With gridlock, presidents increasingly rely on unilateral actions - means not requiring legislative statutes - which many view as tantamount to power. Using a variety of approaches, Chiou and Rothenberg show that this need not be the case as, under many conditions, the chief executive's employment of such tools is constrained. Rather, presidents contemplating issuing executive orders are often constrained by worries about challenging the legislature and the courts. Most notably, the ability of Congress to employ extra-statutory means, involving efforts by legislators and their parties that don't require passing a law, limit how presidents utilize their discretion. Additionally, political parties can influence presidential choices and actions both by restricting the ideological direction in which presidents can push policy via discretionary authority and by agenda-setting and disciplining members in the legislative process. Nor are all presidential actions equal, as the policy area involved and the importance of an action condition presidential power.
Plants, People and Practices
Authors: Sanderson Jay
Published: May 2017

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the UPOV Convention are increasingly relevant and important. They have technical, social and normative legitimacy and have standardised numerous concepts and practices related to plant varieties and plant breeding. In this book, Jay Sanderson provides the first sustained and detailed account of the Convention. Building upon the idea that it has an open-ended and contingent relationship with scientific, legal, technical, political, social and institutional actors, the author explores the Convention's history, concepts and practices. Part I examines the emergence of the UPOV Convention during the 1950s and its expanding legitimacy in relation to plant variety protection. Part II explores the Convention's key concepts and practices, including plant breeder, plant variety, plant names (denomination), characteristics, protected material, essentially derived varieties (EDV) and farm saved seed (FSS). This book is an invaluable resource for academics, policy makers, agricultural managers and researchers in this field.
Theology and Poetry in Early Byzantium
Authors: Gador-Whyte Sarah
Published: May 2017

Theology and Poetry in Early Byzantium examines the kontakia and thought-world of Romanos the Melodist, the sixth-century hymnographer whose vibrant and engaging compositions had a far-reaching influence in the history of Byzantine liturgy. His compositions bring biblical narratives to life through dialogue, encourage a level of participation unparalleled in homiletics and push the boundaries of liturgical expression of theology. This book provides an original analysis of Romanos' poetry, drawing attention to the coherence of his theology and the performative nature of his rhetoric. The main theological themes which emerge encourage the congregation to enact the life of Christ and anticipate the new creation: restoration of humanity to God, re-creation in the incarnation and life of Christ, and liturgical participation and transformation in that life. By analysing the rhetorical performance of theology in the kontakia, the book provides new insights into religious practice in late antiquity.
Tamta's World
Authors: Eastmond Antony
Published: May 2017

This book tells the compelling story of a Christian noblewoman named Tamta in the thirteenth century. Born to an Armenian family at the court of queen Tamar of Georgia, she was ransomed in marriage to nephews of Saladin after her father was captured during a siege. She was later raped and then married by the Khwarazmshah and held hostage by the Mongols, before being made an independent ruler under them in eastern Anatolia. Her tale stretches from the Mediterranean to Mongolia and reveals the extraordinary connections across continents and cultures that one woman could experience. Without a voice of her own, surviving monuments - monasteries and mosques, caravanserais and palaces - build up a picture of Tamta's world and the roles women played in it. The book explores how women's identities changed between different courts, with shifting languages, religions and cultures, and between their roles as daughters, wives, mothers and widows.
International Law and New Wars
Authors: Chinkin Christine , Kaldor Mary
Published: May 2017

International Law and New Wars examines how international law fails to address the contemporary experience of what are known as 'new wars' - instances of armed conflict and violence in places such as Syria, Ukraine, Libya, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. International law, largely constructed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, rests to a great extent on the outmoded concept of war drawn from European experience - inter-state clashes involving battles between regular and identifiable armed forces. The book shows how different approaches are associated with different interpretations of international law, and, in some cases, this has dangerously weakened the legal restraints on war established after 1945. It puts forward a practical case for what it defines as second generation human security and the implications this carries for international law.
Exclusion by Elections
Authors: Huber John D.
Published: May 2017

Exclusion by Elections develops a theory about the circumstances under which 'class identities' as opposed to 'ethnic identities' become salient in democratic politics, and links this theory to issues of inequality and the propensity of governments to address it. The book argues that in societies with even modest levels of ethnic diversity, inequality invites ethnic politics, and ethnic politics results in less redistribution than class politics. Thus, contrary to existing workhorse models in social science, where democracies are expected to respond to inequality by increasing redistribution, the argument here is that inequality interacts with ethnic diversity to discourage redistribution. As a result, inequality often becomes reinforced by inequality itself. The author explores the argument empirically by examining cross-national patterns of voting behaviour, redistribution and democratic transitions, and he discusses the argument's implications for identifying strategies that can be used to address rising inequality in the world today.
Opting Out of Congress
Authors: Thomsen Danielle M.
Published: May 2017

This book provides a candidate entry explanation for partisan polarization in Congress. Danielle M. Thomsen draws on quantitative data to show that ideological moderates are less likely to run for and remain in Congress than those at the extremes. The book introduces a party fit argument for why moderates have opted out of congressional politics. It suggests that the personal and professional benefits of congressional service have diminished for liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats as the parties have drifted apart. Although the political center has long been deemed a coveted position in the legislature, it is now a lonely and lowly place to be. Opting Out of Congress argues that partisan polarization is unlikely to diminish if ideological moderates do not run for office, and reformers who seek to restore bipartisanship in Congress must consider how to encourage moderates to launch congressional candidacies.
Measurement and modelling of the turbulent boundary layer near the attachment line of a swept wing
Authors: Gowree E. R. , Atkin C. J.
Published: May 2017

This work is motivated by the need for low-order aerodynamic models to predict accurately the effect on profile drag of controlling attachment line transition. Head's entrainment method(1), a rapid integral boundary layer technique used for design studies on swept wings, suffers from the governing swept-tapered turbulent integral boundary layer equations being ill-posed in the vicinity of the attachment line. This singularity has been treated using crude extrapolations of the attachment-line similarity solution for over half a century, but this approach is unlikely to deliver accurate predictions of the effect of changes in the attachment line flow on profile drag. An experimental study has been carried out to explore the nature of the turbulent flow in the vicinity of a highly swept swept attachment line and has revealed a quite complex, non-monotonic development of the momentum thickness in this region. It has also revealed lower levels of twist in the boundary layer velocity profiles than anticipated from the highly curved character of the inviscid flow streamlines. These observations have prompted an alternative approach to the modelling of the flow in this region which not only successfully eliminates the lack of robustness in the swept-tapered equations but which also matches the experimental results to within ±5%.
“Ma Is in the Park”: Memory, Identity, and the Bethune Memorial
Authors: WOODLEY JENNY
Published: May 2017

The Bethune Memorial, in Washington, DC's Lincoln Park, was erected to celebrate the life and achievements of civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune. When it was dedicated in 1974 it became the first monument to an African American, and the first to a woman, on federal land in the capital. This article interprets the monument and its accompanying discourses. It examines how race and gender are constructed in the memorial, and what this suggests about the creation of a collective memory and identity. Bethune was remembered as an American, a black American, and a black American woman. The article explores the racial and gendered tensions in the commemoration, and how the statue both reinforced and challenged a national American memory.
Future research directions for the insurance hypothesis regarding food insecurity and obesity
Authors: Cardel Michelle I. , Pavela Greg , Dhurandhar Emily , Allison David B.
Published: May 2017

The focus of this commentary is Nettle et al.'s insurance hypothesis linking food insecurity to a high body mass index (BMI). We discuss how the relationship between race/ethnicity and obesity in the United States is consistent with this hypothesis, then present potential ways forward to elucidate the validity of this hypothesis in humans through rigorous controlled trials.
The Logic of Climate and Culture: Evolutionary and Psychological Aspects of CLASH
Authors: Van Lange Paul A. M. , Rinderu Maria I. , Bushman Brad J.
Published: May 2017

A total of 80 authors working in a variety of scientific disciplines commented on the theoretical model of CLimate, Aggression, and Self-control in Humans (CLASH). The commentaries cover a wide range of issues, including the logic and assumptions of CLASH, the evidence in support of CLASH, and other possible causes of aggression and violence (e.g., wealth, income inequality, political circumstances, historic circumstances, pathogen stress). Some commentaries also provide data relevant to CLASH. Here we clarify the logic and assumptions of CLASH and discusses its extensions and boundary conditions. We also offer suggestions for future research. Regardless of whether none, some, or all of CLASH is found to be true, we hope it will stimulate future research on the link between climate and human behavior. Climate is one of the most presing issues of our time.
ECHO STATE QUEUEING NETWORKS: A COMBINATION OF RESERVOIR COMPUTING AND RANDOM NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Basterrech Sebastián , Rubino Gerardo
Published: May 2017

This paper deals with two ideas appeared during the last developing phase in Artificial Intelligence: Reservoir Computing (RC) and Random Neural Networks. Both have been very successful in many applications. We propose a new model belonging to the first class, taking the structure of the second for its dynamics. The new model is called Echo State Queuing Network. The paper positions the model in the global Machine Learning area, and provides examples of its use and performances. We show on largely used benchmarks that it is a very accurate tool, and we illustrate how it compares with standard RC models.
Influenza detection and prediction algorithms: comparative accuracy trial in Östergötland county, Sweden, 2008–2012
Authors: SPRECO A. , ERIKSSON O. , DAHLSTRÖM Ö. , TIMPKA T.
Published: May 2017

Methods for the detection of influenza epidemics and prediction of their progress have seldom been comparatively evaluated using prospective designs. This study aimed to perform a prospective comparative trial of algorithms for the detection and prediction of increased local influenza activity. Data on clinical influenza diagnoses recorded by physicians and syndromic data from a telenursing service were used. Five detection and three prediction algorithms previously evaluated in public health settings were calibrated and then evaluated over 3 years. When applied on diagnostic data, only detection using the Serfling regression method and prediction using the non-adaptive log-linear regression method showed acceptable performances during winter influenza seasons. For the syndromic data, none of the detection algorithms displayed a satisfactory performance, while non-adaptive log-linear regression was the best performing prediction method. We conclude that evidence was found for that available algorithms for influenza detection and prediction display satisfactory performance when applied on local diagnostic data during winter influenza seasons. When applied on local syndromic data, the evaluated algorithms did not display consistent performance. Further evaluations and research on combination of methods of these types in public health information infrastructures for ‘nowcasting’ (integrated detection and prediction) of influenza activity are warranted.
Similarities and interactions between the ageing process and high chronic intake of added sugars
Authors: Gatineau Eva , Polakof Sergio , Dardevet Dominique , Mosoni Laurent
Published: May 2017

In our societies, the proportions of elderly people and of obese individuals are increasing. Both factors are associated with high health-related costs. During obesity, many authors suggest that it is a high chronic intake of added sugars (HCIAS) that triggers the shift towards pathology. However, the majority of studies were performed in young subjects and only a few were interested in the interaction with the ageing process. Our purpose was to discuss the metabolic effects of HCIAS, compare with the effects of ageing, and evaluate how deleterious the combined action of HCIAS and ageing could be. This effect of HCIAS seems mediated by fructose, targeting the liver first, which may lead to all subsequent metabolic alterations. The first basic alterations induced by fructose are increased oxidative stress, protein glycation, inflammation, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance. These alterations are also present during the ageing process, and are closely related to each other, one leading to the other. These basic alterations are also involved in more complex syndromes, which are also favoured by HCIAS, and present during ageing. These include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Cumulative effects of ageing and HCIAS have been seldom tested and may not always be strictly additive. Data also suggest that some of the metabolic alterations that are more prevalent during ageing could be related more with nutritional habits than to intrinsic ageing. In conclusion, it is clear that HCIAS interacts with the ageing process, accelerates the accumulation of metabolic alterations, and that it should be avoided.
Dietary nitrate and blood pressure: evolution of a new nutrient?
Authors: Ashworth Ann , Bescos Raul
Published: May 2017

Dietary nitrate is mainly obtained from vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables and beetroot. As a result of early research, dietary nitrate is currently viewed as a contaminant linked to increased risks of stomach cancer and methaemoglobinaemia. Consequently, nitrate levels are restricted in certain vegetables and in water supplies to ensure exposure levels remain below an acceptable daily intake of 3·7 mg/kg per d. The average nitrate intake in the UK is approximately 70 mg/d, although some population groups, such as vegetarians, may consume three times that amount. However, recent studies in the last decade suggest that dietary nitrate can significantly reduce systolic blood pressure via the nitrate–nitrite–NO pathway. A small, downward shift in systolic blood pressure across the population could significantly reduce the incidence of hypertension and mortality from CVD such as stroke. Interestingly, vegetarians tend to have lower levels of blood pressure than omnivores and epidemiological studies suggest that vegetarians have lower risks of CVD. Recent evidence is mainly focused on the acute effects of dietary nitrate supplementation and there is a lack of data looking at the chronic effects of high nitrate consumption in humans. Nevertheless, due to potential health benefits, some authors are recommending that nitrate should be considered as a nutrient necessary for health, rather than as a contaminant which needs to be restricted. This review will discuss the emerging role of dietary nitrate in the control of blood pressure and whether there is sufficient evidence to state that nitrate is a ‘new’ nutrient.
Photoinhibition of seed germination: occurrence, ecology and phylogeny
Authors: Carta Angelino , Skourti Evangelia , Mattana Efisio , Vandelook Filip , Thanos Costas A.
Published: May 2017

Light conditions provide important information about the best time and place for seedling establishment. Photoinhibition of seed germination (PISG), defined as the partial or complete suppression of germination under white light, has been interpreted as a physiological adaptation to avoid germination at or near the soil surface. This review is the first report of an all-inclusive, fully quantitative analysis of PISG in seed plants. Pertinent data available from the published literature for 301 taxa from 59 families and 27 orders were assessed. The association of PISG with several plant and seed traits allowed us to consider the adaptive significance of PISG in relation to plant life histories and the natural environments. As no gymnosperm has been found to be truly photoinhibited, it seems that PISG is apomorphic to flowering plants (especially monocots). Seeds of most taxa with PISG have a dark colour and intermediate mass, mostly in the range 1 to 27 mg. PISG is absent from humid tropical regions and from cold climates, but it is strongly associated with open, disturbed and dry habitats. An intriguing implication of PISG is the formation of a soil-surface seed bank. Taken together, these results clearly indicate that PISG is a physiological adaptation to avoid germination on the soil surface, where conditions are not suitable for seedling establishment. PISG is probably much more frequent in seed plants than previously thought. Thus, laboratory experiments should be conducted under well-characterized light and dark conditions.