bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning and Processing Abstract Words and Concepts: Insights From Typical and Atypical Development
Authors: Vigliocco Gabriella , Ponari Marta , Norbury Courtenay
Published: May 2018

The paper describes two plausible hypotheses concerning the learning of abstract words and concepts. According to a first hypothesis, children would learn abstract words by extracting co‐occurrences among words in linguistic input, using, for example, mechanisms as described by models of Distributional Semantics. According to a second hypothesis, children would exploit the fact that abstract words tend to have more emotional associations than concrete words to infer that they refer to internal/mental states. Each hypothesis makes specific predictions with regards to when and which abstract words are more likely to be learned; also they make different predictions concerning the impact of developmental disorders. We start by providing a review of work characterizing how abstract words and concepts are learned in development, especially between the ages of 6 and 12. Second, we review some work from our group that tests the two hypotheses above. This work investigates typically developing (TD) children and children with atypical development (developmental language disorders [DLD] and autism spectrum disorder [ASD] with and without language deficits). We conclude that the use of strategies based on emotional information, or on co‐occurrences in language, may play a role at different developmental stages.
Two new species of Typhlodromus Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Hainan Islands, China
Authors: Fang Xiao-duan , Hao Hui-hua , Wu Wei-nan
Published: May 2018

Typhlodromus contains the most species in the subfamily Typhlodrominae and 85 species have been recorded in China. Two new species T. (Anthoseius) bawanglingensis sp. nov. and T. (Anthoseius) informibus sp. nov. were found by examining the specimens collected from Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve and Hainan Jianfengling National Nature Reserve in Hainan Islands. Herein, they are described and illustrated based on female specimens.
Metabolism of Piperaquine to Its Antiplasmodial Metabolites and Their Pharmacokinetic Profiles in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Liu Huixiang , Zhou Hongchang , Cai Tianyu , Yang Aijuan , Zang Meitong , Xing Jie
Published: May 2018

As a partner antimalarial for artemisinin drug-based combination therapy (ACT), piperaquine (PQ) can be metabolized into two major metabolites, including piperaquine
N
-oxide (M1) and piperaquine
N
,
N
-dioxide (M2). To better understand the antimalarial potency of PQ, the antimalarial activity of the PQ metabolites (M1 and M2) was studied
in vitro
(in
Plasmodium falciparum
strains
Pf
3D7 and
Pf
Dd2) and
in vivo
(in the murine species
Plasmodium yoelii
) in this study.
Short-Term Transcriptional Response of Microbial Communities to Nitrogen Fertilization in a Pine Forest Soil
Authors: Albright Michaeline B. N. , Johansen Renee , Lopez Deanna , Gallegos-Graves La Verne , Steven Blaire , Kuske Cheryl R. , Dunbar John
Published: May 2018

Ecosystems are receiving increased nitrogen (N) from anthropogenic sources, including fertilizers and emissions from factories and automobiles. High levels of N change ecosystem functioning. For example, high inorganic N decreases the microbial decomposition of plant litter, potentially reducing nutrient recycling for plant growth. Understanding how N regulates microbial decomposition can improve the prediction of ecosystem functioning over extended time scales. We found little support for the conventional view that high N supply represses the expression of genes involved in decomposition or alters the expression of bacterial genes for inorganic N cycling. Instead, our study of pine forest soil 3 days after N addition showed changes in microbial gene expression related to cell maintenance and stress response. This highlights the challenge of establishing predictive links between microbial gene expression levels and measures of ecosystem function.
Group IIA-Secreted Phospholipase A2in Human Serum Kills Commensal but Not Clinical Enterococcus faecium Isolates
Authors: Paganelli Fernanda L. , Leavis Helen L. , He Samantha , van Sorge Nina M. , Payré Christine , Lambeau Gérard , Willems Rob J. L. , Rooijakkers Suzan H. M.
Published: May 2018

Human innate immunity employs cellular and humoral mechanisms to facilitate rapid killing of invading bacteria. The direct killing of bacteria by human serum is attributed mainly to the activity of the complement system, which forms pores in Gram-negative bacteria.
Function of the Nonconserved N-Terminal Domain of Pseudorabies Virus pUL31 in Nuclear Egress
Authors: Klupp Barbara G. , Hellberg Teresa , Rönfeldt Sebastian , Franzke Kati , Fuchs Walter , Mettenleiter Thomas C.
Published: May 2018

Nuclear egress of herpesvirus capsids is mediated by the conserved nuclear egress complex (NEC), composed of the membrane-anchored pUL34 and its nucleoplasmic interaction partner, pUL31. The recently solved crystal structures of the NECs from different herpesviruses show a high structural similarity, with the pUL34 homologs building a platform recruiting pUL31 to the inner nuclear membrane. Both proteins possess a central globular fold, while the conserved N-terminal portion of pUL31 forms an extension reaching around the core of pUL34. However, the extreme N terminus of the pUL31 homologs, which is highly variable in length and amino acid composition, had to be removed for crystallization. Several pUL31 homologs contain a classical nuclear localization signal (NLS) within this part mediating efficient nuclear import. In addition, membrane-binding activity, blocking premature interaction with pUL34, nucleocapsid trafficking, and regulation of NEC assembly and disassembly via phosphorylation were assigned to the extreme pUL31 N terminus. To test the functional importance in the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PrV) pUL31, N-terminal truncations and site-specific mutations were generated, and the resulting proteins were tested for intracellular localization, interaction with pUL34, and functional complementation of PrV-ΔUL31. Our data show that neither the bipartite NLS nor the predicted phosphorylation sites are essential for pUL31 function during nuclear egress. Moreover, nearly the complete variable N-terminal part was dispensable for function as long as a stretch of basic amino acids was retained. Phosphorylation of this domain controls efficient nucleocapsid release from the perinuclear space.

IMPORTANCE
Nuclear egress of herpesvirus capsids is a unique vesicle-mediated nucleocytoplasmic transport. Crystal structures of the heterodimeric NECs from different herpesviruses provided important details of this viral nuclear membrane deformation and scission machinery but excluded the highly variable N terminus of the pUL31 component. We present here a detailed mutagenesis study of this important portion of pUL31 and show that basic amino acid residues within this domain play an essential role for proper targeting, complex formation, and function during nuclear egress, while phosphorylation modulates efficient release from the perinuclear space. Thus, our data complement previous structure-function assignments of the nucleocapsid-interacting component of the NEC.
Genes Activated by
Vibrio cholerae
upon Exposure to
Caenorhabditis elegans
Reveal the Mannose-Sensitive Hemagglutinin To Be Essential for Colonization
Authors: List Cornelia , Grutsch Andreas , Radler Claudia , Cakar Fatih , Zingl Franz G. , Schild-Prüfert Kristina , Schild Stefan
Published: May 2018

The waterborne diarrheal disease cholera is caused by the bacterium
Vibrio cholerae
. The facultative human pathogen persists as a natural inhabitant in the aquatic ecosystem between outbreaks. In contrast to the human host,
V. cholerae
requires a different set of genes to survive in this hostile environment. For example, predatory micrograzers are commonly found in the aquatic environment and use bacteria as a nutrient source, but knowledge of the interaction between bacterivorous grazers and
V. cholerae
is limited. In this study, we successfully adapted a genetic reporter technology and identified more than 100 genes activated by
V. cholerae
upon exposure to the bacterium-grazing nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans
. This screen provides a first glimpse into responses and adaptational strategies of the bacterial pathogen against such natural predators. Subsequent phenotypic characterization revealed the mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin to be crucial for colonization of the worm, which causes developmental delay and growth retardation.
Development and validation of two clinical prediction models to inform clinical decision-making for lumbar spinal fusion surgery for degenerative disorders and rehabilitation following surgery: protocol for a prospective observational study
Authors: Rushton Alison B , Verra Martin L , Emms Andrew , Heneghan Nicola R , Falla Deborah , Reddington Michael , Cole Ashley A , Willems Paul , Benneker Lorin , Selvey David , Hutton Michael , Heymans Martijn W , Staal J Bart
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Potential predictors of poor outcome will be measured at baseline: (1) preoperatively to develop a clinical prediction model to predict which patients are likely to have favourable outcome following lumbar spinal fusion surgery (LSFS) and (2) postoperatively to predict which patients are likely to have favourable long-term outcomes (to inform rehabilitation).

Methods and analysis

Prospective observational study with a defined episode inception of the point of surgery. Electronic data will be collected through the British Spine Registry and will include patient-reported outcome measures (eg, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire) and data items (eg, smoking status). Consecutive patients (≥18 years) undergoing LSFS for back and/or leg pain of degenerative cause will be recruited. Exclusion criteria: LSFS for spinal fracture, inflammatory disease, malignancy, infection, deformity and revision surgery. 1000 participants will be recruited (n=600 prediction model development, n=400 internal validation derived model; planning 10 events per candidate prognostic factor). The outcome being predicted is an individual’s absolute risk of poor outcome (disability and pain) at 6 weeks (objective 1) and 12 months postsurgery (objective 2). Disability and pain will be measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and severity of pain in the previous week with a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS 0–10), respectively. Good outcome is defined as a change of 1.7 on the NRS for pain, and a change of 14.3 on the ODI. Both linear and logistic (to dichotomise outcome into low and high risk) multivariable regression models will be fitted and mean differences or ORs for each candidate predictive factor reported. Internal validation of the derived model will use a further set of British Spine Registry data. External validation will be geographical using two spinal registries in The Netherlands and Switzerland.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval (University of Birmingham ERN_17-0446A). Dissemination through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
Ranking hospitals: do we gain reliability by using composite rather than individual indicators?
Authors: Hofstede Stefanie N , Ceyisakar Iris E , Lingsma Hester F , Kringos Dionne S , Marang-van de Mheen Perla J
Published: May 2018

Background

Despite widespread use of quality indicators, it remains unclear to what extent they can reliably distinguish hospitals on true differences in performance. Rankability measures what part of variation in performance reflects ‘true’ hospital differences in outcomes versus random noise.

Objective

This study sought to assess whether combining data into composites or including data from multiple years improves the reliability of ranking quality indicators for hospital care.

Methods

Using the Dutch National Medical Registration (2007–2012) for stroke, colorectal carcinoma, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction and total hiparthroplasty (THA)/ total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in osteoarthritis (OA), we calculated the rankability for in-hospital mortality, 30-day acute readmission and prolonged length of stay (LOS) for single years and 3-year periods and for a dichotomous and ordinal composite measure in which mortality, readmission and prolonged LOS were combined. Rankability, defined as (between-hospital variation/between-hospital+within hospital variation)×100% is classified as low (<50%), moderate (50%–75%) and high (>75%).

Results

Admissions from 555 053 patients treated in 95 hospitals were included. The rankability for mortality was generally low or moderate, varying from less than 1% for patients with OA undergoing THA/TKA in 2011 to 71% for stroke in 2010. Rankability for acute readmission was low, except for acute myocardial infarction in 2009 (51%) and 2012 (62%). Rankability for prolonged LOS was at least moderate. Combining multiple years improved rankability but still remained low in eight cases for both mortality and acute readmission. Combining the individual indicators into the dichotomous composite, all diagnoses had at least moderate rankability (range: 51%–96%). For the ordinal composite, only heart failure had low rankability (46% in 2008) (range: 46%–95%).

Conclusion

Combining multiple years or into multiple indicators results in more reliable ranking of hospitals, particularly compared with mortality and acute readmission in single years, thereby improving the ability to detect true hospital differences. The composite measures provide more information and more reliable rankings than combining multiple years of individual indicators.
Higher spin Chern–Simons theory and the super Boussinesq hierarchy
Authors: Gutperle Michael , Li Yi
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we construct a map between a solution of supersymmetric Chern–Simons higher spin gravity based on the superalgebra [Formula: see text] with Lifshitz scaling and the [Formula: see text] super Boussinesq hierarchy. We show that under this map the time evolution equations of both theories coincide. In addition, we identify the Poisson structure of the Chern–Simons theory induced by gauge transformation with the second Hamiltonian structure of the super Boussinesq hierarchy.
A bottom-up approach to the strong CP problem
Authors: Diaz-Cruz J. L. , Hollik W. G. , Saldana-Salazar U. J.
Published: May 2018

The strong CP problem is one of many puzzles in the theoretical description of elementary particle physics that still lacks an explanation. While top-down solutions to that problem usually comprise new symmetries or fields or both, we want to present a rather bottom-up perspective. The main problem seems to be how to achieve small CP violation in the strong interactions despite the large CP violation in weak interactions. In this paper, we show that with minimal assumptions on the structure of mass (Yukawa) matrices, they do not contribute to the strong CP problem and thus we can provide a pathway to a solution of the strong CP problem within the structures of the Standard Model and no extension at the electroweak scale is needed. However, to address the flavor puzzle, models based on minimal SU(3) flavor groups leading to the proposed flavor matrices are favored. Though we refrain from an explicit UV completion of the Standard Model, we provide a simple requirement for such models not to show a strong CP problem by construction.
Fabrication and characteristics of the high-sensitivity humidity sensor of anodic aluminum oxide based on silicon substrates
Authors: Lan Degao , Zhao Xiaofeng , Wang Fei , Ai Chunpeng , Wen Dianzhong , Zhang Hongquan
Published: May 2018

The humidity sensor based on silicon substrate is presented in this paper, which consists of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film and interdigitated electrodes. By using electro-chemical oxidizing technique, AAO film with high porosity is fabricated on the silicon substrate. Under optimal oxidization condition, pore diameter of 37–79 nm and depth about [Formula: see text]m is achieved. Interdigitated electrodes are fabricated on the top of AAO film by vacuum evaporation deposition method. The results show that the sensor has different nonlinear response in whole range of relative humidity (RH). Moreover, it has almost linear relationship between the capacitance and RH at high RH from 75% to 95%. The highest sensitivity is obtained 613 pF/%RH at 1 kHz, which is much higher than other frequencies.
Quantum uncertainty based on metric adjusted skew information
Authors: Cai Liang
Published: May 2018

Prompted by the open questions in Gibilisco [P. Gibilisco, Fisher information and means: Some questions in the classical and quantum settings, Int. J. Software Informatics 8 (2014) 265–276], he introduced a family of measurement-induced quantum uncertainty measures via metric adjusted skew informations, we investigate these measures’ fundamental properties (including basis independence and spectral representation), and illustrate their applications to detect quantum nonlocality and entanglement.
Object tracking via dual fuzzy low-rank approximation
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhu Hong
Published: May 2018

For the object loss problem in the tracking process caused by illumination, occlusion, pose variation, and motion blur, the tracking method based on dual fuzzy low-rank approximation in a particle filter framework is proposed in this paper. Firstly, multiple constraint regions are built to filter insignificant samples, and more distinguished candidate samples are selected. Secondly, dual fuzzy observation function of each candidate sample is created based on the designed low-rank approximation representations of object and background. Then the generalized tracking results are obtained by computing membership degrees of dual fuzzy observation functions. Finally, based on the spatial coherency principle, the final tracking result is determined from the generalized results by measuring similarities of consecutive objects. The proposed method shows good performance as compared with several state-of-the-art trackers on challenging benchmark sequences.
Radon–Fourier descriptor for invariant pattern recognition
Authors: Yang Jianwei , Zhang Liang , Li Peiyao
Published: May 2018

Radon transform is not only robust to noise, but also independent on the calculation of pattern centroid. In this paper, Radon–Mellin transform (RMT), which is a combination of Radon transform and Mellin transform, is proposed to extract invariant features. RMT converts any object into a closed curve. Radon–Fourier descriptor (RFD) is derived by applying Fourier descriptor to the obtained closed curve. The obtained RFD is invariant to scaling and rotation. (Generic) R-transform and some other Radon-based methods can be viewed as special cases of the proposed method. Experiments are conducted on some binary images and gray images.
Measure of non-Gaussianity for photon-added nonlinear coherent states
Authors: Berrada K. , Eleuch H.
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we study the non-Gaussian character in generalized coherent states in the framework of a noncommutative space by adding photons to deformed coherent states, which is called the photon-added nonlinear coherent states (PANCSs). We find that the non-Gaussianity of PANCSs is enhanced with the increase of the photon-added number and it increases monotonically with the amplitude of the coherent states. Interestingly, we obtain that the maximal value of non-Gaussianity measure occurs at a certain critical value of the coherent state amplitude, where this critical value is determined by the kind of the deformation. Using the Mandel’s parameter, we examine the statistical properties for the PANCSs and show that the Mandel’s parameter may take positive and negative values depending on the choice of the amplitude and deformation parameter, exhibiting sub-Poissonian distribution and super-Poissonian distribution.
Ding w-Flat Modules and Dimensions
Authors: Almahdi Fuad Ali Ahmed , Tamekkante Mohammed
Published: May 2018

The introduction of w-operation in the class of flat modules has been successful. Let R be a ring. An R-module M is called a w-flat module if [Formula: see text] is GV-torsion for all R-modules N. In this paper, we introduce the w-operation in Gorenstein homological algebra. An R-module M is called Ding w-flat if there exists an exact sequence of projective R-modules … → P1 → P0 → P0 → P1 → … such that M ≅ Im(P0 → P0) and such that the functor HomR(−, F) leaves the sequence exact whenever F is w-flat. Several wellknown classes of rings are characterized in terms of Ding w-flat modules. Some examples are given to show that Ding w-flat modules lie strictly between projective modules and Gorenstein projective modules. The Ding w-flat dimension (of modules and rings) and the existence of Ding w-flat precovers are also studied.
On Padé approximations and global relations of some Euler-type series
Authors: Väänänen Keijo
Published: May 2018

For some special generalizations of Euler’s factorial series, we construct Padé approximations of the second kind. Then we apply these approximations to study global relations of certain [Formula: see text]-adic values of the series.
Whipple-type 3F2-series and summation formulae involving generalized harmonic numbers
Authors: Wei Chuanan , Wang Xiaoxia
Published: May 2018

By applying the derivative operator to Whipple-type [Formula: see text]-series identities and utilizing L’Hôspital rule, two families of summation formulae involving generalized harmonic numbers are established.
Generalizing the Minkowski question mark function to a family of multidimensional continued fractions
Authors: Garrity Thomas , Mcdonald Peter
Published: May 2018

The Minkowski question mark function [Formula: see text] is a continuous, strictly increasing, one-to-one and onto function that has derivative zero almost everywhere. Key to these facts are the basic properties of continued fractions. Thus [Formula: see text] is a naturally occurring number theoretic singular function. This paper generalizes the question mark function to the 216 triangle partition (TRIP) maps. These are multidimensional continued fractions which generate a family of almost all known multidimensional continued fractions. We show for each TRIP map that there is a natural candidate for its analog of the Minkowski question mark function. We then show that the analog is singular for 96 of the TRIP maps and show that 60 more are singular under an assumption of ergodicity.
Sum formulas of multiple zeta values with selected arguments
Authors: Eie Minking , Lee Tung-Yang
Published: May 2018

For positive integers [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be the sum of multiple zeta values of depth [Formula: see text] and weight [Formula: see text] with arguments [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], i.e. [Formula: see text] In this paper, we are going to evaluate [Formula: see text]. As an application, we produce the stuffle relations from [Formula: see text] identical Riemann zeta values [Formula: see text] as well as [Formula: see text] identical Riemann zeta values [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Rational Poncelet
Authors: Los Johan , Mepschen Tiemar , Top Jaap
Published: May 2018

We construct rational Poncelet configurations, which means finite sets of pairwise distinct [Formula: see text]-rational points [Formula: see text] in the plane such that all [Formula: see text] are on a fixed conic section defined over [Formula: see text], and moreover the lines [Formula: see text] are all tangent to some other fixed conic section defined over [Formula: see text]. This is done for [Formula: see text] in which case only [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are possible, and for certain real quadratic number fields [Formula: see text]; here moreover [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] occur, but no further new values of [Formula: see text]. In fact, for every pair [Formula: see text] presented here, we show that infinitely many such tuples [Formula: see text] exist.

The construction uses elliptic curves [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] such that the group [Formula: see text] is infinite and moreover contains a point of exact order [Formula: see text]. As an aside, a formulation of Mazur’s theorem/Ogg’s conjecture in terms of arbitrary genus one curves over the rational numbers (so not necessarily containing any rational point) is presented, since this occurs naturally in the context of Poncelet configurations.
Surge Waves Under Earthquake and Clastic Flow Landslide
Authors: Zhao Haixin , Yao Lingkan , Wang Baoliang , Ali Sarfraz
Published: May 2018

This paper primarily investigates the surge wave of the barrier lake during an earthquake and clastic flow landslide simultaneously. Earthquakes can trigger clastic flow landslides with strong mobility enabling them to move a significant distance underwater. However, there have been few studies on the simultaneous superposition of seismic surge and clastic flow landslide until this study. First, we designed an experiment to analyze the influence of landslide motion under surging water; then, we investigated the effects of the clastic flow landslide and earthquake on the variation of surge wave height, with large-scale shaking table water tank model experiments. The experimental variables included the initial water depth, peak ground acceleration, landslide impact velocity, and landslide volume. According to the experimental results, we analyzed the maximum wave height under the combined action of an earthquake and clastic flow landslide. Furthermore, we defined a reduction factor of the seismic surge and put forward an equation to predict the reduction factor by means of dimensionless multiple linear fitting analysis. Finally, we present a method for calculating the maximum wave height of the combined surge during both an earthquake and clastic flow landslide using the reduction factor and provide a case to verify the reliability of the formula. Our study could provide the basis for the analysis of the burst of the barrier lake.
Towards Pedestrian Microclimatic Comfort: A Rapid Predication Model for Street Winds and Pedestrian Thermal Sensation
Authors: Li Jing , Qi Mengnan , Duan Qiuhua , Huo Lei , Wang Julian
Published: May 2018

Significant changes in the urban built environment have occurred due to rapid urbanization and increases in the urban population. Such alterations may produce environmental health-related issues such as urban heat stress, air pollution and traffic noise. This research undertook a field study to collect data including urban design parameters, micro-environmental factors and city climatic information. This work was conducted over a two-year period on three pedestrian streets located in high-density urban areas in Beijing. These areas were selected in order to study the influences of urban street canyon texture within a particular geometric layout, wind flow corridors and variations in air temperature on pedestrian microclimatic comfort. The results will facilitate the work of urban planners by providing them with information for use in improving outdoor thermal comfort through their designs. A total of 60[Formula: see text]485 samples were organized into training, validation and test sets. We confirmed our hypothesis that internal wind speed ([Formula: see text] is attributable mainly to the urban texture coefficient ([Formula: see text], air temperature ([Formula: see text] and leading-in wind speed ([Formula: see text]. The model was tested using the test data collected onsite, which demonstrated a very accurate goodness-of-fit; the model achieved an R-squared value of 0.82, which meant that [Formula: see text] as a dependent variable was 82% correlated to the three predictors as independent variables. With this computer simulation, urban planners can now predict and visualize the impact of changes on the built environment in terms of either the direction of solar radiation received or increases in wind speed, in return for the desired thermal comfort level for residents of the neighborhood.
Long-term effects of deep-seated landslides on transportation infrastructure: a case study from the Swiss Jura Mountains
Authors: Preisig Giona
Published: May 2018

Deep-seated landslides (DSLs) involve large-scale deformation and likely affect transportation infrastructure. Movement rates are in general very slow (less than a metre per year) with acceleration periods controlled by external factors such as the seasonal fluctuation of groundwater pressure. Acceleration response may change from season to season depending on hydrogeological conditions, changes in slope geometry and degradation of geological materials. More localized landslide types are associated with and develop within DSLs, such as rock falls, topples and debris slides. Management of hazards related to DSLs requires first the assessment of geological, hydrogeological and geomechanical processes. This is the starting point for developing a management strategy. This paper presents the characterization of a deep-seated landslide located in the Swiss Jura Mountains, Les Buges landslide, where a railway line, a power line and an aqueduct of regional importance cross the slide, as well as a highly frequented hiking trail beneath the landslide toe. Slide kinematics is governed by the geology and hydrogeology of the slope, which can be subdivided into two dominant bodies. A management strategy is subsequently discussed for this DSL. Les Buges is a good example illustrating that hazards related to deep-seated landslides must be tackled first of all by means of the observational method.
MonoPerfCap
Authors: Xu Weipeng , Chatterjee Avishek , Zollhöfer Michael , Rhodin Helge , Mehta Dushyant , Seidel Hans-Peter , Theobalt Christian
Published: May 2018

We present the first marker-less approach for temporally coherent 3D performance capture of a human with general clothing from monocular video. Our approach reconstructs articulated human skeleton motion as well as medium-scale non-rigid surface deformations in general scenes. Human performance capture is a challenging problem due to the large range of articulation, potentially fast motion, and considerable non-rigid deformations, even from multi-view data. Reconstruction from monocular video alone is drastically more challenging, since strong occlusions and the inherent depth ambiguity lead to a highly ill-posed reconstruction problem. We tackle these challenges by a novel approach that employs sparse 2D and 3D human pose detections from a convolutional neural network using a batch-based pose estimation strategy. Joint recovery of per-batch motion allows us to resolve the ambiguities of the monocular reconstruction problem based on a low-dimensional trajectory subspace. In addition, we propose refinement of the surface geometry based on fully automatically extracted silhouettes to enable medium-scale non-rigid alignment. We demonstrate state-of-the-art performance capture results that enable exciting applications such as video editing and free viewpoint video, previously infeasible from monocular video. Our qualitative and quantitative evaluation demonstrates that our approach significantly outperforms previous monocular methods in terms of accuracy, robustness, and scene complexity that can be handled.
Imaging and Histopathologic Nuances of Epithelioid Glioblastoma
Authors: Le Brian H. , Close Richard A.
Published: May 2018

A 27-year-old male without significant past medical history presented following collapse resulting from a syncopal episode at work. There was an episode of vomiting, and one of tonic-clonic seizure activity, which was spontaneously resolved after approximately one minute. His neurologic exam was nonfocal, with full strength in the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and no sensory deficits were elicited. MRI studies demonstrated a 4.7 cm rim-enhancing cystic mass in the right temporal-parietal region, with resultant mass effect and edema. At surgery, intraoperative pathologic consultation favoured a primary glial neoplasm. Subsequent complete histologic examination on permanent sections confirmed the presence of glioblastoma, with a morphologic pattern and immunohistochemical profile most consistent with epithelioid glioblastoma (WHO grade IV). Epithelioid glioblastoma is a rare, especially aggressive variant of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, recognized in the 2016 World Health Organization classification. Approximately 50% of such tumors harbour the BRAF V600E mutation, which has also been observed in some melanomas where selective inhibitors have demonstrated a therapeutic role. The especially aggressive behaviour and poor clinical outcome typically observed for this variant of glioblastoma demonstrate the importance of emerging areas relevant to neurooncology, specifically those of proteomic characterization and therapeutic nanomedicine.
Sensitivity Study on the Influence of Parameterization Schemes in WRF_ARW Model on Short- and Medium-Range Precipitation Forecasts in the Central Andes of Peru
Authors: Moya-Álvarez Aldo S. , Martínez-Castro Daniel , Flores José L. , Silva Yamina
Published: May 2018

A sensitivity study of the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting regional model (WRF, version 3.7) to the use of different microphysics, cumulus, and boundary layer parameterizations for short- and medium-term precipitation forecast is conducted in the Central Andes of Peru. Lin-Purdué, Thompson, and Morrison microphysics schemes were tested, as well as the Grell–Freitas, Grell 3d, and Betts–Miller–Janjic cumulus parameterizations. The tested boundary layer schemes were the Yonsei University and Mellor–Yamada–Janjic. A control configuration was defined, using the Thompson, Grell–Freitas, and Yonsei University schemes, and a set of numerical experiments is made, using different combinations of parameterizations. Data from 19 local meteorological stations and regional and global gridded were used for verification. It was concluded that all the configurations overestimate precipitation, but the one using the Morrison microphysical scheme had the best performance, based on the indicators of bias (B) and root mean square error (RMSE). It is recommended not to use the Betts–Miller–Janjic scheme in this region for low resolution domains. Categorical forecast verification of the occurrence of rainfall as a binary variable showed detection rates higher than 85%. According to this criterion, the best performing configuration was the combination of Betts–Miller–Janjic and Morrison. Spatial verification showed that, even if all the configurations overestimated precipitation in some degree, spatial patterns of rainfall match the TRMM and PISCO rainfall data. Morrison’s microphysics scheme shows the best results, and consequently, this configuration is recommended for short- and medium-term rainfall forecasting tasks in the Central Andes of Peru and particularly in the Mantaro basin. The results of a special sensitivity experiment showed that the activation or not of cumulus parametrization for the domain of 3 km resolution is not relevant for the precipitation forecast in the study region.
Chronic Apical and Nonapical Right Ventricular Pacing in Patients with High-Grade Atrioventricular Block: Results of the Right Pace Study
Authors: Muto Carmine , Calvi Valeria , Botto Giovanni Luca , Pecora Domenico , Porcelli Daniele , Costa Alessandro , Ciaramitaro Gianfranco , Airò Farulla Riccardo , Rago Anna , Calvanese Raimondo , Baratto Marco Tullio , Reggiani Albino , Giammaria Massimo , Patané Santina , Campari Monica , Valsecchi Sergio , Maglia Giampiero
Published: May 2018

Objective. The aim of the study was to compare the two approaches to chronic right ventricular pacing currently adopted in clinical practice: right ventricular apical (RVA) and non-RVA pacing. Background. Chronic RVA pacing is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, morbidity, and even mortality. Non-RVA pacing may yield more physiologic ventricular activation and provide potential long-term benefits and has recently been adopted as standard procedure at many implanting centers. Methods. The Right Pace study was a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, nonrandomized trial involving 437 patients indicated for dual-chamber pacemaker implantation with a high percentage of RV pacing. Results. RV lead-tip target location was the apex or the interventricular septum. RVA (274) and non-RVA patients (163) did not differ in baseline characteristics. During a median follow-up of 19 months (25th–75th percentiles, 13–25), 17 patients died. The rates of the primary outcome of death due to any cause or hospitalization for heart failure were comparable between the groups (log-rank test, p=0.609), as were the rates of the composite of death due to any cause, hospitalization for heart failure, or an increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume ≥ 15% as compared with the baseline evaluation (secondary outcome, p=0.703). After central adjudication of X-rays, comparison between adjudicated RVA (239 patients) and non-RVA (170 patients) confirmed the absence of difference in the rates of primary (p=0.402) and secondary (p=0.941) outcome. Conclusions. In patients with indications for dual-chamber pacemaker who require a high percentage of ventricular stimulation, RVA or non-RVA pacing resulted in comparable outcomes. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01647490).
SWATHHM-Based Metabolomics of Follicular Fluid in Patients Shows That Progesterone Adversely Affects Oocyte Quality
Authors: Sun Zhengao , Song Jingyan , Zhang Xingxing , Wang Aijuan , Guo Ying , Yang Yi , Wang Xiaoming , Xu Kaiyue , Deng Jifeng
Published: May 2018

Objective. We reveal the relationship between progesterone level in follicular fluid and oocyte quality based on sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra (SWATH™), a powerful high-resolution mass spectrometric data independent acquisition technique. Method. Follicular fluid samples were collected from 22 subjects (the level of progesterone > 1.5 ng/mL) of progesterone group, as well as from 22 subjects (the level of progesterone < 1.5 ng/mL) of control group, and analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF. All methods were performed in accordance with ISO 9001:2008. Novel SWATH acquisition mode on an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid triple quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (with resolving power 20,000–40,000) was investigated for the analysis of human follicular fluid. The principal component variable grouping detects intersample variable correlation and groups variables with similar profiles which simplifies interpretation and highlights related ions and fragments. It can also extract product ion spectra from the data collected by fragmenting a wide precursor ion window. Results. Follicular fluid from the two groups differed with respect to five metabolites. Follicular fluid from the progesterone group contained elevated levels of 8-hydroxyguanosine and 4-hydroxynonenal and reduced levels of ATP, estradiol, and L-carnitine. The increased progesterone level on the day of HCG injection could negatively impact oocyte quality, thus reducing the pregnancy rate of IVF patients.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A 7-Year Retrospective Review
Authors: Ahmad Kamil Moonyza Akmal , Mohd Affandi Azura
Published: May 2018

Introduction. Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by inflamed nodules, abscesses, sinus tracts, and scarring, which can occur in any skin containing folliculopilosebaceous units. We aim to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment modalities in patients with HS. Methods. A retrospective analysis involving records of patients diagnosed with HS in Hospital Kuala Lumpur from July 2009 to June 2016. Results. Sixty-two patients were identified, with equal cases involving males and females. Majority of patients were Malays (41.9%), followed by Indians (35.5%), Chinese (17.7%), and other ethnicities (4.8%). Median age at diagnosis was 25 (IQR: 14) years. There is a delay in diagnosis with a median of 24 (IQR: 52) months. Most of the patients had lesions on the axilla (85.5%), followed by groin (33.9%) and gluteal region (29%). Gluteal lesions were more common in males. Nodules (67.7%), sinuses (56.5%), and abscesses (33.9%) were the main clinical features, with 43.5% classified under Hurley stage 2. There was no difference in terms of symptoms and types of lesions among different ethnicities and genders. Majority received systemic antibiotics, more than half had retinoid, and third of the patients had surgical intervention. Conclusions. A prompt recognition of HS is imperative, to screen for comorbidities and to initiate early treatment to reduce physical and psychological complications.
Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Bucket Handle and Cartilage Tympanoplasty Techniques for the Reconstruction of Subtotal or Anterior Tympanic Membrane Perforation
Authors: Asghari Alimohamad , Mohseni Mohammad , Daneshi Ahmad , Nasoori Yasser , Rostami Sara , Balali Maryam
Published: May 2018

Objective. The purpose of the study is to compare the clinical outcome of the two techniques of Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty and Cartilage Tympanoplasty in achieving success in graft survival as well as acceptable auditory results. 60 patients who suffered chronic otitis media with anterior perforation of the tympanic membrane were chosen. The patients were randomly assigned using Block Randomization Method of two groups including patients who underwent Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty (n=30) or those that underwent Cartilage Tympanoplasty (n=30). The patients were followed up for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results. The mean PTA was lower in Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty group as case group compared to Cartilage Tympanoplasty group as the control (P=0.023). No significant statistical differences had identified passing through the time, in terms of PTA outcome (P Value = 0.547) and SRT outcome (P Value = 0.352), between Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty group and the Cartilage Tympanoplasty group. In total, postoperative tympanic membrane perforation was found in 10.0% of patients in Cartilage Tympanoplasty group and 13.3% in Bucket Handle Tympanoplasty group with no difference (P=0.500). Conclusions. Hearing improvements in both methods were similar. Registration Number. The trial is registered with IRCT2016022626773N1.
Increase of Accuracy of the Fault Location Methods for Overhead Electrical Power Lines
Authors: Lebedev Vladimir , Filatova Galina , Timofeev Alexander
Published: May 2018

The high‐voltage power lines are quite often damaged parts of the energy system. Line outage is always accompanied by undersupply of energy and decrease of reliability, cost, and quality of electric supply. That is why one of the important tasks of line maintenance is quick looking for location of the damage and organization of the rehabilitation. The main part of this work includes development and research of the methods and algorithms for fault location based on one‐sided measurement and the ways to increase their accuracy. This type of measurement uses signals from digital current and voltage transformers as input. The influence of the basic distorting factors on the accuracy of the fault location determination methods is also considered.
GLP-1 Analogue Liraglutide Enhances SP-A Expression in LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the TTF-1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhu Tao , Li Changyi , Zhang Xue , Ye Chunyan , Tang Shuo , Zhang Wei , Sun Jiayang , Huang Niwen , Wen Fuqiang , Wang Daoxin , Deng Huojin , He Jing , Qi Di , Deng Wang , Yang Tao
Published: May 2018

The reduction of pulmonary surfactant (PS) is essential for decreased pulmonary compliance and edema in acute lung injury (ALI). Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) plays a major role in the regulation of surfactant protein-A (SP-A), the most abundant protein component of PS. Simultaneously, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue can enhance SP-A expression in the lung. However, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore whether liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue, upregulates SP-A expression through the TTF-1 signaling pathway in ALI. In vivo, a murine model of ALI was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pulmonary inflammation, edema, insulin level, ultrastructural changes in type II alveolar epithelial (ATII) cells, and SP-A and TTF-1 expression were analyzed. In vitro, rat ATII cells were obtained. SP-A and TTF-1 expression in cells was measured. ShRNA-TTF-1 transfection was performed to knock down TTF-1 expression. Our data showed that LPS-induced lung injury and increase in insulin level, and LPS-induced reduction of SP-A and TTF-1 expression in both the lung and cells, were significantly compromised by liraglutide. Furthermore, we also found that these effects of liraglutide were markedly blunted by shRNA-TTF-1. Taken together, our findings suggest that liraglutide enhances SP-A expression in ATII cells and attenuates pulmonary inflammation in LPS-induced ALI, most likely through the TTF-1 signaling pathway.
Emphasized Mechanistic Antimicrobial Study of Biofunctionalized Silver Nanoparticles on Model Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Parveen Asra , Yalagatti Manjunath S. , Abbaraju Venkataraman , Deshpande Raghunandan
Published: May 2018

Antimicrobial study of biofunctionalized silver nanoparticles has been done with the emphasis on its mechanism on both gram positive and negative bacteria. The biofunctionalized silver nanoparticles are employed considering their importance in green chemistry with respect to easy synthesis, usefulness, and economic synthetic procedure involved. The stability of these nanoparticles was determined by zeta potential analyzer. The probable mechanism of antibacterial activity was performed on Proteus mirabilis by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX) study which does not show the presence of silver. The free radicals generated by silver nanoparticles were responsible for lethal antibacterial activity by rupturing the cell surface which causes improper nutrient and signal supply. Free radical scavenging efficacy of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. AgNP enhanced the membrane leakage of reducing sugars by destroying the proteins existing on the cell wall. These nanoparticles are found to be toxic against human pathogens and are highly effective on Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of silver nanoparticles is concentration dependent and independent of the type of strains used.
Hot Corrosion of SrTiO3 Perovskite in Na2SO4 + 50 wt.% V2O5 and Na2SO4 + 10 wt.% NaCl Environments at 900°C
Authors: Krishna Prasad M. , Rao K. Srinivasa , Reddy Madhusudhan , Sreedhar Gosipathala
Published: May 2018

This study examines the phase stability of perovskite SrTiO3 in Na2SO4 + 50 wt.% V2O5 and Na2SO4 + 10 wt.% NaCl environments at 900°C. Hot corrosion results show the formation of Sr2VO4, SrV2O6, and SrTiV5O11 phases in Na2SO4 + 50 wt.% V2O5 environment and Sr3Ti2O7, Na4TiO4, and TiO2 phases in Na2SO4 + 10 wt.% NaCl environment. Morphological observations revealed the austerity of hot corrosion attack on SrTiO3. The Sr2+ ions leached out from SrTiO3 and reacted with corrosive environments. These observations clearly indicate the destabilization of SrTiO3 in both environments.