bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyber-Physical Specification Mismatches
Authors: Nguyen Luan V. , Hoque Khaza Anuarul , Bak Stanley , Drager Steven , Johnson Taylor T.
Published: July 2018

Embedded systems use increasingly complex software and are evolving into cyber-physical systems (CPS) with sophisticated interaction and coupling between physical and computational processes. Many CPS operate in safety-critical environments and have stringent certification, reliability, and correctness requirements. These systems undergo changes throughout their lifetimes, where either the software or physical hardware is updated in subsequent design iterations. One source of failure in safety-critical CPS is when there are unstated assumptions in either the physical or cyber parts of the system, and new components do not match those assumptions. In this work, we present an automated method toward identifying unstated assumptions in CPS. Dynamic specifications in the form of candidate invariants of both the software and physical components are identified using dynamic analysis (executing and/or simulating the system implementation or model thereof). A prototype tool called Hynger (for HYbrid iNvariant GEneratoR) was developed that instruments Simulink/Stateflow (SLSF) model diagrams to generate traces in the input format compatible with the Daikon invariant inference tool, which has been extensively applied to software systems. Hynger, in conjunction with Daikon, is able to detect candidate invariants of several CPS case studies. We use the running example of a DC-to-DC power converter and demonstrate that Hynger can detect a specification mismatch where a tolerance assumed by the software is violated due to a plant change. Another case study of an automotive control system is also introduced to illustrate the power of Hynger and Daikon in automatically identifying cyber-physical specification mismatches.
Modular Termination Verification of Single-Threaded and Multithreaded Programs
Authors: Jacobs Bart , Bosnacki Dragan , Kuiper Ruurd
Published: July 2018

We propose an approach for the modular specification and verification of total correctness properties of object-oriented programs. The core of our approach is a
specification style
that prescribes a way to assign a
level expression
to each method such that each callee’s level is below the caller’s, even in the presence of dynamic binding. The specification style yields specifications that properly hide implementation details. The main idea is to use
multisets of method names
as levels, and to associate with each object levels that abstractly reflect the way the object is built from other objects. A method’s level is then defined in terms of the method’s own name and the levels associated with the objects passed as arguments.

We first present the specification style in the context of programs that do not modify object fields. We then combine it with separation logic and abstract predicate families to obtain an approach for programs with heap mutation. In a third step, we address concurrency, by incorporating an existing approach for verifying deadlock freedom of channels and locks. Our main contribution here is to achieve information hiding by using the proposed termination levels for lock ordering as well. Also, we introduce
call permissions
to enable elegant verification of termination of programs where threads cause work in other threads, such as in thread pools or fine-grained concurrent algorithms involving compare-and-swap loops.

We explain how our approach can be used also to verify the liveness of nonterminating programs.
A Survey of Attention Management Systems in Ubiquitous Computing Environments
Authors: Anderson Christoph , Hübener Isabel , Seipp Ann-Kathrin , Ohly Sandra , David Klaus , Pejovic Veljko
Published: July 2018

Today's information and communication devices provide always-on connectivity, instant access to an endless repository of information, and represent the most direct point of contact to almost any person in the world. Despite these advantages, devices such as smartphones or personal computers lead to the phenomenon of attention fragmentation, continuously interrupting individuals' activities and tasks with notifications. Attention management systems aim to provide active support in such scenarios, managing interruptions, for example, by postponing notifications to opportune moments for information delivery. In this article, we review attention management system research with a particular focus on ubiquitous computing environments. We first examine cognitive theories of attention and extract guidelines for practical attention management systems. Mathematical models of human attention are at the core of these systems, and in this article, we review sensing and machine learning techniques that make such models possible. We then discuss design challenges towards the implementation of such systems, and finally, we investigate future directions in this area, paving the way for new approaches and systems supporting users in their attention management.
Discovering Smart Home Internet of Things Privacy Norms Using Contextual Integrity
Authors: Apthorpe Noah , Shvartzshnaider Yan , Mathur Arunesh , Reisman Dillon , Feamster Nick
Published: July 2018

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for consumer "smart" homes raises concerns about user privacy. We present a survey method based on the Contextual Integrity (CI) privacy framework that can quickly and efficiently discover privacy norms at scale. We apply the method to discover privacy norms in the smart home context, surveying 1,731 American adults on Amazon Mechanical Turk. For $2,800 and in less than six hours, we measured the acceptability of 3,840 information flows representing a combinatorial space of smart home devices sending consumer information to first and third-party recipients under various conditions. Our results provide actionable recommendations for IoT device manufacturers, including design best practices and instructions for adopting our method for further research.
SATURN
Authors: Arora Nivedita , Zhang Steven L. , Shahmiri Fereshteh , Osorio Diego , Wang Yi-Cheng , Gupta Mohit , Wang Zhengjun , Starner Thad , Wang Zhong Lin , Abowd Gregory D.
Published: July 2018

We demonstrate the design, fabrication, evaluation, and use of a self-powered microphone that is thin, flexible, and easily manufactured. Our technology is referred to as a Self-powered Audio Triboelectric Ultra-thin Rollable Nanogenerator (SATURN) microphone. This acoustic sensor takes advantage of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to transform vibrations into an electric signal without applying an external power source. The sound quality of the SATURN mic, in terms of acoustic sensitivity, frequency response, and directivity, is affected by a set of design parameters that we explore based on both theoretical simulation and empirical evaluation. The major advantage of this audio material sensor is that it can be manufactured simply and deployed easily to convert every-day objects and physical surfaces into microphones which can sense audio. We explore the space of potential applications for such a material as part of a self-sustainable interactive system.
The Design Space of 3D Printable Interactivity
Authors: Ballagas Rafael , Ghosh Sarthak , Landay James
Published: July 2018

The capabilities of 3D printers are rapidly progressing towards fabrication of fully interactive products. For designers to reason about the best way to achieve their interaction design goals, it is helpful to not only know what exists in the literature, but to also understand the design space of options. Such an understanding can help in comparison, analysis, selection of suitable technology, and also in the generation of new ideas. In this article, we survey the state of the art in 3D printing fully functional sensors and actuators to support explicit interaction techniques. We classify and organize the surveyed works around the following parameters: mechanism, designed affordances, interaction primitives, and output modality. The design space is presented in the form of a multidimensional matrix known as a Zwicky box. Using the tables, we can make observations about the existing literature and also identify gaps in this design space. Many such gaps can potentially lead to exciting new research or engineering opportunities.
Uniqueness in the City
Authors: Cao Hancheng , Feng Jie , Li Yong , Kostakos Vassilis
Published: July 2018

We investigate the potential for privacy leaks when users reveal their nearby Points-of-Interest (POIs). Specifically, we investigate whether and how a person's location can be reverse-engineered when that person simply reveals their nearby POI types (e.g. 2 schools and 3 restaurants). We approach our analysis by introducing a "Location Re-identification" algorithm that is computationally efficient. Using data from Open Street Map, we conduct our analysis on datasets of multiple representative cities: New York City, Melbourne, Vancouver, Zurich and Shanghai. Our analysis indicates that urban morphology has a clear link to location privacy, and highlights a number of urban factors that contribute to location privacy. Our findings can be used in any systems or platforms where users reveal their proximal POIs, such as recommendation systems, advertising platforms, and appstores.
Rethinking the Future of Wireless Emergency Alerts
Authors: Kumar Sumeet , Erdogmus Hakan , Iannucci Bob , Griss Martin , Falcão João Diogo
Published: July 2018

The Wireless Emergency Alerting (WEA) service is a standards-based transport and presentation channel used nationwide in the United States. The service can deliver short text warnings to wireless subscribers through a cell broadcast mechanism. For emergency situations in which a broadcast modality and a single, short text message are sufficient to convey information, the WEA service can be efficient and effective. However, the content to be delivered may necessitate more than a single, unchanging short message. In this research, we first examine the WEA service from the perspective of alert originators. We then use the insights gained to explore the efficacy of a range of potential extensions to the service. The extensions mainly address the importance of user context and the ability to create awareness through careful attention to the integrity of the vital information. We evaluated these extensions using a WEA emulation testbed in two public usability trials. We present an analysis of the broad range of improvements as a basis for further research into improving the service. We conclude that (1) precise geo-targeting augmented with location information and maps is an important aspect of capturing users' context, and (2) presenting information in a digested form can markedly improve the actionability and the accuracy of interpretation.
A Weakly Supervised Learning Framework for Detecting Social Anxiety and Depression
Authors: Salekin Asif , Eberle Jeremy W. , Glenn Jeffrey J. , Teachman Bethany A. , Stankovic John A.
Published: July 2018

Although social anxiety and depression are common, they are often underdiagnosed and undertreated, in part due to difficulties identifying and accessing individuals in need of services. Current assessments rely on client self-report and clinician judgment, which are vulnerable to social desirability and other subjective biases. Identifying objective, nonburdensome markers of these mental health problems, such as features of speech, could help advance assessment, prevention, and treatment approaches. Prior research examining speech detection methods has focused on fully supervised learning approaches employing strongly labeled data. However, strong labeling of individuals high in symptoms or state affect in speech audio data is impractical, in part because it is not possible to identify with high confidence which regions of a long speech indicate the person's symptoms or affective state. We propose a weakly supervised learning framework for detecting social anxiety and depression from long audio clips. Specifically, we present a novel feature modeling technique named NN2Vec that identifies and exploits the inherent relationship between speakers' vocal states and symptoms/affective states. Detecting speakers high in social anxiety or depression symptoms using NN2Vec features achieves F-1 scores 17% and 13% higher than those of the best available baselines. In addition, we present a new multiple instance learning adaptation of a BLSTM classifier, named BLSTM-MIL. Our novel framework of using NN2Vec features with the BLSTM-MIL classifier achieves F-1 scores of 90.1% and 85.44% in detecting speakers high in social anxiety and depression symptoms.
Watching the TV Watchers
Authors: Zhang Yun C. , Rehg James M.
Published: July 2018

Studies have linked excessive TV watching to obesity in adults and children. In addition, TV content represents an important source of visual exposure to cues which can effect a broad set of health-related behaviors. This paper presents a ubiquitous sensing system which can detect moments of screen-watching during daily life activities. We utilize machine learning techniques to analyze video captured by a head-mounted wearable camera. Although wearable cameras do not directly provide a measure of visual attention, we show that attention to screens can be reliably inferred by detecting and tracking the location of screens within the camera's field-of-view. We utilize a computational model of the head movements associated with TV watching to identify TV watching events. We have evaluated our method on 13 hours of TV watching videos recorded from 16 participants in a home environment. Our model achieves a precision of 0.917 and a recall of 0.945 in identifying attention to screens. We validated the third-person annotations used to determine accuracy and further evaluated our system in a multi-device environment using gold standard attention measurements obtained from a wearable eye-tracker. Finally, we tested our system in a natural environment. Our system achieves a precision of 0.87 and a recall of 0.82 on challenging videos capturing the daily life activities of participants.
Evolutionary Conflict
Authors: Queller David C. , Strassmann Joan E.
Published: July 2018

Evolutionary conflict occurs when two parties can each affect a joint phenotype, but they gain from pushing it in opposite directions. Conflicts occur across many biological levels and domains but share many features. They are a major source of biological maladaptation. They affect biological diversity, often increasing it, at almost every level. Because opponents create selection that can be strong, persistent, and malevolent, conflict often leads to accelerated evolution and arms races. Conflicts might even drive the majority of adaptation, with pathogens leading the way as selective forces. The evolution of conflicts is complex, with outcomes determined partly by the relative evolvability of each party and partly by the kinds of power that each evolves. Power is a central issue in biology. In addition to physical strength and weapons, it includes strength from numbers and complexity; abilities to bind and block; advantageous timing; and abilities to acquire, use, and distort information.
Wheat Blast: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Ceresini Paulo Cezar , Castroagudín Vanina Lilián , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila , Rios Jonas Alberto , Eduardo Aucique-Pérez Carlos , Moreira Silvino Intra , Alves Eduardo , Croll Daniel , Maciel João Leodato Nunes
Published: July 2018

The devastating wheat blast disease first emerged in Brazil in 1985. The disease was restricted to South America until 2016, when a series of grain imports from Brazil led to a wheat blast outbreak in Bangladesh. Wheat blast is caused by Pyricularia graminis-tritici ( Pygt), a species genetically distinct from the Pyricularia oryzae species that causes rice blast. Pygt has high genetic and phenotypic diversity and a broad host range that enables it to move back and forth between wheat and other grass hosts. Recombination is thought to occur mainly on the other grass hosts, giving rise to the highly diverse Pygt population observed in wheat fields. This review brings together past and current knowledge about the history, etiology, epidemiology, physiology, and genetics of wheat blast and discusses the future need for integrated management strategies. The most urgent current need is to strengthen quarantine and biosafety regulations to avoid additional spread of the pathogen to disease-free countries. International breeding efforts will be needed to develop wheat varieties with more durable resistance.
Blindness and Human Brain Plasticity
Authors: Fine Ione , Park Ji-Min
Published: July 2018

Early blindness causes fundamental alterations of neural function across more than 25% of cortex—changes that span the gamut from metabolism to behavior and collectively represent one of the most dramatic examples of plasticity in the human brain. The goal of this review is to describe how the remarkable behavioral and neuroanatomical compensations demonstrated by blind individuals provide insights into the extent, mechanisms, and limits of human brain plasticity.
Dynamic communication of attention signals between the LGN and V1
Authors: Mock Vanessa L. , Luke Kimberly L. , Hembrook-Short Jacqueline R. , Briggs Farran
Published: July 2018

Correlations and inferred causal interactions among local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously recorded in distinct visual brain areas can provide insight into how visual and cognitive signals are communicated between neuronal populations. Based on the known anatomical connectivity of hierarchically organized visual cortical areas and electrophysiological measurements of LFP interactions, a framework for interareal frequency-specific communication has emerged. Our goals were to test the predictions of this framework in the context of the early visual pathways and to understand how attention modulates communication between the visual thalamus and primary visual cortex. We recorded LFPs simultaneously in retinotopically aligned regions of the visual thalamus and primary visual cortex in alert and behaving macaque monkeys trained on a contrast-change detection task requiring covert shifts in visual spatial attention. Coherence and Granger-causal interactions among early visual circuits varied dynamically over different trial periods. Attention significantly enhanced alpha-, beta-, and gamma-frequency interactions, often in a manner consistent with the known anatomy of early visual circuits. However, attentional modulation of communication among early visual circuits was not consistent with a simple static framework in which distinct frequency bands convey directed inputs. Instead, neuronal network interactions in early visual circuits were flexible and dynamic, perhaps reflecting task-related shifts in attention.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Attention alters the way we perceive the visual world. For example, attention can modulate how visual information is communicated between the thalamus and cortex. We recorded local field potentials simultaneously in the visual thalamus and cortex to quantify the impact of attention on visual information communication. We found that attentional modulation of visual information communication was not static, but dynamic over the time course of trials.
Electrophysiological properties of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens core of prepubertal male and female Drd1a-tdTomato line 6 BAC transgenic mice
Authors: Cao Jinyan , Dorris David M. , Meitzen John
Published: July 2018

The nucleus accumbens core (AcbC) is a striatal brain region essential for integrating motivated behavior and reward processing with premotor function. In humans and rodents, research has identified sex differences and sex steroid hormone sensitivity in AcbC-mediated behaviors, in disorders, and in rats in the electrophysiological properties of the AcbC output neuron type, the medium spiny neuron (MSN). It is unknown whether the sex differences detected in MSN electrophysiological properties extend to mice. Furthermore, MSNs come in distinct subtypes with subtle differences in electrophysiological properties, and it is unknown whether MSN subtype-specific electrophysiology varies by sex. To address these questions, we used male and female Drd1a-tdTomato line 6 bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice. We made acute brain slices of the AcbC, and performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings across MSN subtypes to comprehensively assess AcbC MSN subtype electrophysiological properties. We found that ( 1 mice MSNs did not exhibit the sex differences detected in rat MSNs, and 2) electrophysiological properties differed between MSN subtypes in both sexes, including rheobase, resting membrane potential, action potential properties, intrinsic excitability, input resistance in both the linear and rectified ranges, and miniature excitatory postsynaptic current properties. These findings significantly extend previous studies of MSN subtypes performed in males or animals of undetermined sex and indicate that the influence of sex upon AcbC MSN properties varies between rodent species.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This research provides the most comprehensive assessment of medium spiny neuron subtype electrophysiological properties to date in a critical brain region, the nucleus accumbens core. It additionally represents the first evaluation of whether mouse medium spiny neuron subtype electrophysiological properties differ by sex.
Depth and Lineament Maps Derived from North Cameroon Gravity Data Computed by Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Mouzong Pemi Marcelin , Kamguia Joseph , Nguiya Severin , Manguelle-Dicoum Eliezer
Published: July 2018

Accurate interpretation of geological structures inverted from gravity data is highly dependent on the coverage of the recorded gravity data. In this work, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are implemented using Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (LMA) to construct a background density model for predicting gravity data across Northern Cameroon and its surroundings. This approach yields statistical predictions of gravity values (low values of errors) with 97.48%, 0.10, and 0.89, respectively, for correlation, Mean Bias Error, and Root Mean Square Error for two inputs (latitude, longitude) and 97.08%, 0.13, and 1.14 for three inputs (latitude, longitude, and elevation) for a set of anomalies as output. The model validation is obtained by comparing the results to other classical approaches and to the computed Bouguer, lineaments, and Euler maps obtained from measured gravity data. The depth of most of the deep faults and their orientation are in agreement with those obtained from other studies. The results achieved in this study establish the possibility of enhancing the quality of the analysis, interpretation, and modeling of gravity data collected on sparse grid of recording stations.
Response Surface Method for Material Uncertainty Quantification of Infrastructures
Authors: Hariri-Ardebili Mohammad Amin , Seyed-Kolbadi S. Mahdi , Noori Mohammad
Published: July 2018

Recently, probabilistic simulations became an inseparable part of risk analysis. Managers and stakeholders prefer to make their decision knowing the existing uncertainties in the system. Nonlinear dynamic analysis and design of infrastructures are affected by two main uncertainty sources, i.e., epistemic and aleatory. In the present paper, the epistemic uncertainty is addressed in the context of material randomness. An old ultra‐high arch dam is selected as a vehicle for numerical analyses. Four material properties are selected as random variables in the coupled dam‐reservoir‐foundation system, i.e., concrete elasticity, mass density, compressive (and tensile) strength, and the rock modulus of elasticity. The efficient Box‐Behnken experimental design is adopted to minimize the required simulations. A response surface metamodel is developed for the system based on different outputs, i.e., displacement and damage index. The polynomial‐based response surface model is subsequently validated with a large number of simulations based on Latin Hypercube sampling. Results confirm the high accuracy of proposed technique in material uncertainty quantification.
Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Ran Li , Zhao Wenli , Wang Jingxia , Wang Hongwu , Zhao Ye , Tseng Yiider , Bu Huaien
Published: July 2018

Aim. To investigate whether vitamin C is effective in the treatment of the common cold.Method. After systematically searching the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Elsevier, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP databases, and WANFANG databases, 9 randomized placebo-controlled trials were included in our meta-analysis in RevMan 5.3 software, all of which were in English.Results. In the evaluation of vitamin C, administration of extra therapeutic doses at the onset of cold despite routine supplementation was found to help reduce its duration (mean difference (MD) = -0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-1.03, -0.10], and P = 0.02), shorten the time of confinement indoors (MD = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.62, -0.19], and P = 0.0002), and relieve the symptoms associated with it, including chest pain (MD = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.77, -0.03], and P = 0.03), fever (MD = -0.45, 95% CI [-0.78, -0.11], and P = 0.009), and chills (MD = -0.36, 95% CI [-0.65, -0.07], and P = 0.01).Conclusions. Extra doses of vitamin C could benefit some patients who contract the common cold despite taking daily vitamin C supplements.
FTS and FTB of Conformable Fractional Order Linear Systems
Authors: Ben Makhlouf Abdellatif , Naifar Omar , Hammami Mohamed Ali , Wu Bao-wei
Published: July 2018

In this paper, an extension of some existing results related to finite-time stability (FTS) and finite-time boundedness (FTB) into the conformable fractional derivative is presented. Illustrative example is presented at the end of the paper to show the effectiveness of the proposed result.
Improvement of N-Acetylcysteine Loaded in PLGA Nanoparticles by Nanoprecipitation Method
Authors: Lancheros Ruth , Guerrero Carlos A. , Godoy-Silva Rubén D.
Published: July 2018

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a hydrophilic compound with a low bioavailability. It has been used as an effective antioxidant agent. This research seeks to enhance the entrapment of NAC in PLGA nanoparticles for drug delivery systems. The nanoparticles were made using the nanoprecipitation method and changing the following parameters: the solvent/nonsolvent nature, its viscosity, pH, NAC addition to the nonsolvent, the polymer concentration and molecular weight, and NAC concentration in the solvent. The results showed that an increase in the nonsolvent viscosity produces NAC concentration in the solvent, and the nonsolvent rises its entrapment in the nanoparticles. Nanoparticles with 235.5 ± 11.4 nm size with an entrapment efficiency of 0.4 ± 0.04% and a specific load of 3.14 ± 0.33% were obtained. The results suggest that besides efficiently entrapping hydrophobic compounds, the nanoprecipitation method also has a high potential as an alternative entrapment method for hydrophilic compounds as well. However, its use in the pharmaceutical industry, as a proper specific load vehicle, still depends on the improvement of the load capacity.
A Case of Relapsing Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis byDokdonella koreensis
Authors: Tan Jamie Bee Xian , Tng Alvin Ren Kwang , Htay Htay
Published: July 2018

Peritonitis is a common and serious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) with significant morbidity. We report the first case of relapsingDokdonella koreensisperitonitis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis. A 63-year-old Chinese man, with history of renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, presented with cloudy peritoneal effluent and abdominal pain. There was no sign or symptom suggestive of exit-site/tunnel tract infection. Peritoneal effluent cultures yieldedDokdonella koreensiswhich was initially misidentified asWeeksella virosaandBrevundimonasspecies by the API® 20 NE and VITEK® 2 GN ID card, respectively. He was treated with intraperitoneal amikacin, but the infection relapsed within a few days upon completing each antibiotic course. He eventually required removal of catheter and was transferred to hemodialysis. Infections due to unusual organisms may pose a diagnostic issue as currently available commercial tests will not be able to identify them. There is a role for using 16S rRNA sequencing to help identify these organisms and guide patient management.
Molecular Basis of Macrolide Resistance inCampylobacterStrains Isolated from Poultry in South Korea
Authors: Wei Bai , Kang Min
Published: July 2018

We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying macrolide resistance in 38 strains ofCampylobacterisolated from poultry. Twenty-seven strains were resistant to azithromycin and erythromycin, five showed intermediate azithromycin resistance and erythromycin susceptibility, and six showed azithromycin resistance and erythromycin susceptibility. FourCampylobacter jejuniand sixCampylobacter colistrains had azithromycin MICs which were 8–16 and 2–8-fold greater than those of erythromycin, respectively. The A2075G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene was detected in 11 resistant strains with MICs ranging from 64 to ≥ 512μg/mL. Mutations including V137A, V137S, and a six-amino acid insertion (114-VAKKAP-115) in ribosomal protein L22 were detected in theC. jejunistrains. Erythromycin ribosome methylase B-erm(B) was not detected in any strain. All strains except three showed increased susceptibility to erythromycin with twofold to 256-fold MIC change in the presence of phenylalanine arginine ß-naphthylamide (PAßN); the effects of PAßN on azithromycin MICs were limited in comparison to those on erythromycin MICs, and 13 strains showed no azithromycin MIC change in the presence of PAßN. Differences between azithromycin and erythromycin resistance and macrolide resistance phenotypes and genotypes were observed even in highly resistant strains. Further studies are required to better understand macrolide resistance inCampylobacter.
PYR-41 and Thalidomide Impair Dendritic Cell Cross-Presentation by Inhibiting Myddosome Formation and Attenuating the Endosomal Recruitments of p97 and Sec61 via NF-κB Inactivation
Authors: You Xiang , Xu Dan Dan , Zhang Di , Chen Jie , Gao Feng Guang
Published: July 2018

PYR-41 and thalidomide have therapeutic effects on inflammation-associated diseases with side effects such as tumorigenesis. Cross-presentation allows dendritic cells (DC) to present endogenous antigen and induce protective immunity against microbe infection and tumors. But, up to now, the effects of PYR-41 and thalidomide on cross-presentation are still uncertain. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of PYR-41 and thalidomide on DC cross-presentation by observing Myddosome formation, endosomal recruitment of p97 and Sec61, NF-κB activation, and cross-priming ability. We demonstrated that the inhibition of endosomal recruitment of p97 and Sec61, together with attenuated NF-κB activation and Myddosome formation, contributes to PYR-41- and thalidomide-impaired cross-presentation and thereby reverses cross-activation of T cells. These observations suggest that NF-κB signaling and p97 and Sec61 molecules are candidates for dealing with the side effects of PYR-41 and thalidomide.
Clinical Applications of Adiponectin Measurements in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Screening, Diagnosis, and Marker of Diabetes Control
Authors: Abdella Nabila A. , Mojiminiyi Olusegun A.
Published: July 2018

Background. Adipose tissue-derived adiponectin has pleiotropic protective effects with suppression of inflammatory and metabolic derangements that may result in insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate adiponectin as a diagnostic marker of T2DM and diabetes control.Methods. Fasting adiponectin, insulin, glucose, and HbA1c were determined in 376 patients with known T2DM and 575 subjects with undiagnosed diabetes but with family history of T2DM. Clinical and anthropometric data were recorded. Subjects were classified on the basis of degree of adiposity, insulin resistance (IR), and achievement of target HbA1c levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the diagnostic performance for undiagnosed DM.Results. In undiagnosed subjects, adiponectin was significantly lower in subjects with IR and diabetic subjects compared with those without. The area under the adiponectin ROC curve for diagnosis of DM was 0.740. In known T2DM subjects, those with good control had significantly higher adiponectin (8.6 versus 7.4 μg/mL) compared to subjects with poor control.Conclusions. Adiponectin levels are associated with better glycemic control and could be a useful adjunct for screening for IR and T2DM. Therapeutic measures that increase adiponectin levels might be valuable targets for improving diabetes control and decreasing complications.
Theory of Mind after Severe Acquired Brain Injury: Clues for Interpretation
Authors: Bivona U. , Formisano R. , Mastrilli L. , Zabberoni S. , Caltagirone C. , Costa A.
Published: July 2018

Background.Recently, increased interest has been shown in Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities of individuals with severe acquired brain injury (sABI). ToM impairment following sABI can be associated with altered executive functioning and/or with difficulty in decoding and elaborating emotions. Two main theoretical models have been proposed to explain the mechanisms underlying ToM in the general population:Theory TheoryandSimulation Theory. This review presents and discusses the literature on ToM abilities in individuals with sABI by examining whether they sustain the applicability of theTheory Theoryand/orSimulation Theoryto account for ToM deficits in this clinical population. We found 32 papers that are directly aimed at investigating ToM in sABI. Results did not show the univocal predominance of one model with respect to the other in explaining ToM deficits in sABI. We hypothesised that ToM processes could be explained by coinvolvement of the two models, i.e., according to personal experience, cognitive features, or the emotional resources of the persons with sABI.
WMSS: A Web-Based Multitiered Surveillance System for Predicting CLABSI
Authors: Noaman Amin Y. , Ragab Abdul Hamid M. , Al-Abdullah Nabeela , Jamjoom Arwa , Nadeem Farrukh , Ali Anser G.
Published: July 2018

Central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates are a key quality metric for comparing hospital quality and safety. Manual surveillance systems for CLABSIs are time-consuming and often limited to intensive care units (ICUs). A computer-automated method of CLABSI detection can improve the validity of surveillance. A new web-based, multitiered surveillance system for predicting and reducing CLABSI is proposed. The system has the capability to collect patient-related data from hospital databases and hence predict the patient infection automatically based on knowledge discovery rules and CLABSI decision standard algorithms. In addition, the system has a built-in simulator for generating patients’ data records, when needed, offering the capability to train nurses and medical staff for enhancing their qualifications. Applying the proposed system, both CLABSI rates and patient treatment costs can be reduced significantly. The system has many benefits, among which there is the following: it is a web-based system that can collect real patients’ data from many IT resources using iPhone, iPad, laptops, Internet, scanners, and hospital databases. These facilities help to collect patients’ actual data quickly and safely in electronic format and hence predict CLABSI efficiently. Automation of the patients’ data diagnosis process helps in reducing CLABSI detection times. The system is multimedia-based; it uses text, colors, and graphics to enhance patient healthcare report generation and charts. It helps healthcare decision makers to review and approve policies and surveillance plans to reduce and prevent CLABSI.
Knockdown of Sestrin2 Increases Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Fibrotic Reactions in H9c2 Cells and Heart Tissues of Mice via an AMPK-Dependent Mechanism
Authors: Hwang Hwan-Jin , Kim Joo Won , Chung Hye Soo , Seo Ji A. , Kim Sin Gon , Kim Nan Hee , Choi Kyung Mook , Baik Sei Hyun , Yoo Hye Jin
Published: July 2018

Sestrin2 (sesn2) is an endogenous antioxidant protein that has recently gained attention for its potential to treat various inflammatory diseases. However, the relationship of sesn2 with cardiomyopathy is still unclear. In H9c2 cells, sesn2 knockdown reduced the level of 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, downregulated antioxidant genes including catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD2), and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. LPS-mediated cell death and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 were significantly increased by sesn2 knockdown. However, these increases were prevented by treatment with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an AMPK activator. Consistent with the in vitro results, AMPK phosphorylation was decreased in heart tissue from sesn2 knockdown mice compared to heart tissue from control C57BL/6 mice, which was associated with decreased expression of antioxidant genes and increased LPS-mediated cell death signaling. Furthermore, the decrease in AMPK phosphorylation caused by sesn2 knockdown increased LPS-mediated expression of cardiac fibrotic factors, including collagen type I and type III, in addition to MMP2 and MMP9, in heart tissue from C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that sesn2 is a novel potential therapeutic target for cardiomyopathy under inflammatory conditions.
A Cloud-Based Mobile System to Improve Project Management Skills in Software Engineering Capstone Courses
Authors: Neyem Andres , Diaz-Mosquera Juan , Benedetto Jose I.
Published: July 2018

Capstone project-based courses offer a favorable environment for the development of student skills through an approach incorporating theoretical and practical components. However, it is often difficult to successfully coordinate between students, stakeholders, and the academic team. The absence of suitable tools for addressing this issue, along with time constraints, often prevents students from attaining the expected course outcomes. This raises the question “How can we improve project management skills in computing majors through the use of technology-enhanced learning environments?” This paper presents a Cloud-based mobile system for supporting project management under a framework of best practices in software engineering capstone courses. The Kanban approach was used as a core of the proposed system. Kanban boards are very popular in the software industry today. It has been empirically shown that they provide increased motivation and project activity control due to their inherent simplicity. This helps the students and academic team be aware of the project context as it aids in preventing ambiguities, flaws, or uncertainties in the development of software artifacts.
Differential Gene Expression Profile of Human Neutrophils Cultured withPlasmodium falciparum-Parasitized Erythrocytes
Authors: Terkawi Mohamad Alaa , Takano Ryo , Kato Kentaro
Published: July 2018

Neutrophils (PMNs) are the most abundant cellular component of our innate immune system, where they play central roles in the pathogenesis of and resistance to a broad range of diseases. However, their roles in malarial infection remain poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the transcriptional gene profile of human PMNs in response toPlasmodium falciparum-parasitized erythrocytes (iRBCs) by using oligonucleotide microarrays. Results revealed that PMNs induced a broad and vigorous set of changes in gene expression in response to malarial parasites, represented by 118 upregulated and 216 downregulated genes. The transcriptional response was characterized by the upregulation of numerous genes encoding multiple surface receptors, proteins involved in signal transduction pathways, and defense response proteins. This response included a number of genes which are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of malaria and other inflammatory diseases. Gene enrichment analysis suggested that the biological pathways involved in the PMN responses to the iRBCs included insulin receptor, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and interleukin and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signaling pathways. The current study provides fundamental knowledge on the molecular responses of neutrophils to malarial parasites, which may aid in the discovery of novel therapeutic interventions.
Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Promoted Bone Mineralization and Inhibited Bone Resorption Which Reversed Glucocorticoids-Induced Osteoporosis
Authors: Liu Li , Tao Weiwei , Pan Wenjia , Li Li , Yu Qiong , Zhang Dawei , Jiang Jun
Published: July 2018

Glucocorticoids intake is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis. Clinical studies have shown that 50% patients develop glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis (GCIOP) after taking glucocorticoids for more than 6 months. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HYA) is one main active ingredient in Carthamus tinctorius L. Previous studies have shown that HYA promoted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts which promoted bone formation. Therefore, we speculated that HYA has a therapeutic effect on GCIOP. However, there is no in vivo evidence about the anti-GCIOP effect of HYA. In this paper, the effect of HYA (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μM) on bone formation in normal zebrafish was investigated firstly. Secondly, the reversal effect of HYA on GCIOP was also evaluated by zebrafish model. It is demonstrated that HYA not only promoted bone formation in normal zebrafish (compared to Control group), but also reversed glucocorticoid induced bone loss (compared to Prednisolone group) according to the intervention of HYA in upregulating the area of mineralized bones (p < 0.01), increasing cumulative optical density (p < 0.01), promoting bone formation related gene expression (AKP, Type I, Runx2, OPG, and OCN, p < 0.01), inhibiting bone resorption related gene expression (TRACP, p < 0.01), and elevating whole-body trace mineral elements (Ca, P, K, Mg, Zn, and Fe) levels (p < 0.01). In conclusion, HYA had the potential to prevent and heal GCIOP by promoting bone mineralization, osteoblasts viability, and bone collagen expression and inhibiting bone resorption.
Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Promote Bone Regeneration in a Xenogeneic Rabbit Model: A Preclinical Study
Authors: Blanco Juan Francisco , García-Briñon Jesús , Benito-Garzón Lorena , Pescador David , Muntión Sandra , Sánchez-Guijo Fermín
Published: July 2018

Significant research efforts have been undertaken during the last decades to treat musculoskeletal disorders and improve patient’s mobility and quality of life. The goal is the return of function as quickly and completely as possible. Cellular therapy has been increasingly employed in this setting. The design of this study was focused on cell-based alternatives. The present study aimed at investigating the bone regeneration capacity of xenogeneic human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) implantation with tricalcium phosphate (TCP) granules in an immunocompetent rabbit model of critical-size bone defects at the femoral condyles. Two experimental groups, TCP and hMSC + TCP, were compared. Combination of TCP and hMSC did not affect cell viability or osteogenic differentiation. We also observed significantly higher bone regeneration in vivo in the hMSC + TCP group, which also displayed better TCP osteointegration. Also, evidence of hMSC contribution to a better TCP osteointegration was noticed. Finally, no inflammatory reaction was detected, besides the xenotransplantation of human cells into an immunocompetent recipient. In summary, hMSC combined with TCP granules is a potential combination for bone regeneration purposes that provides better preclinical results compared to TCP alone.
Association of HLA-B∗38:02 with Antithyroid Drug-Induced Agranulocytosis in Kinh Vietnamese Patients
Authors: Thao Mai Phuong , Tuan Pham Vo Anh , Linh Le Gia Hoang , Van Hoang Lam , Hen Phan Huu , Hoa Le Tuyet , Vu Hoang Anh , Minh Do Duc
Published: July 2018

Background. HLA-B∗38:02 has been shown to be associated with antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis in Asian patients. Methods. HLA-B∗38:02 was analyzed by sequence-based typing in 21 patients who developed antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis and in 81 controls. Results. Frequency of HLA-B∗38:02 was 52.4% in agranulocytosis patients compared to 3.7% in controls (OR = 28.6, 95% CI = 6.8–120.2). Conclusions. HLA-B∗38:02 is a significant risk factor for agranulocytosis in Kinh Vietnamese patients treated with antithyroid drug.
Blast Parameter Optimization Study Based on a Blast Crater Experiment
Authors: Zhang Xi-liang , Yi Hai-bao , Ma Hong-hao , Shen Zhao-wu
Published: July 2018

The blasting quality and the rock volume blasted directly affect the cost of mines. A small charge‐forward blast crater experiment was conducted to study the relationships between the rock volume blasted, the explosive unit consumption, the bulk yield, and the depth ratio. The results showed that the rational resistant line or explosive charge depth should be 0.86 times the optimal resistant line. Based on theoretical analysis of the large spacing of the holes and the small resistance line, the uniform design method was used to conduct the lateral blasting crater tests. The relationship equations among the blasting parameters, the blasting volume, and the bulk yield were obtained by regression analysis. The results illustrated that the rock volume blasted was negatively correlated with the bulk yield. The contribution rates of the resistance lines and the spacing of the holes to the blasting volume regression were 32.4% and 13.9%, respectively, and to the bulk yield regression were 65.0% and 0.256%. The impact of the resistance line on the blasting volume and the bulk yield was more significant than that of the spacing of the holes. The blasting effect of the rectangular blast hole arrangement was better than that of the square pattern. The blasting technology of large hole spacing and a small resistance line could achieve a better blasting effect while ensuring a higher rock volume blasted. The economical and reasonable blasting parameters were determined as the hole spacing of a=8.5 m and the resistance line width of W=5.5 m, with the rock volume blasted of 413.1 m3 and the bulk rate of 0.218%. This method provides an effective method for optimization of the blasting parameters and has important guiding significance for efficient and economical mining.