bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Stability of Woven Fiber Laminated Composite Shallow Shells in Hygrothermal Environment
Authors: Biswal M. , Sahu S. K. , Asha A. V.
Published: November 2016

The dynamic stability of bidirectional woven fiber laminated glass/epoxy composite shallow shells subjected to harmonic in-plane loading in hygrothermal environment is considered. An eight-noded isoparametric shell element with five degrees of freedom is used in the analysis. In the present finite element formulation, a composite doubly curved shell model based on first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is used for the dynamic stability analysis of shell panels subjected to hygrothermal loading. A program is developed using MATLAB for the parametric study on the dynamic stability of shell panels under the hygrothermal field. The effects of various parameters like static load factor, curvature, shallowness, temperature, moisture, stacking sequence and boundary conditions on the dynamic instability regions of woven fiber glass/epoxy shell panels are investigated. The location of dynamic instability regions is shown to affect significantly due to presence of the hygrothermal field.
Stochastic Stability Criteria for Second-Order Oscillator Parametrically Excited by Colored Noise
Authors: Floris Claudio
Published: November 2016

A second-order oscillator is considered having a random perturbation in its stiffness. This is given by a colored Gaussian or non-Gaussian process. In this way, the oscillator may be stochastically stable or unstable according to the intensity of the excitation. The almost sure (sample) stochastic stability and the stability in the first three response statistical moments are compared for different excitation processes: process with exponential autocorrelation, second-order Gaussian process, bounded noise process. Notable differences in the stability boundaries are found either according to the stability criteria or to the type of excitation. These comparisons are lacking in literature.
Technological Frontiers and Embeddings: A Visualization Approach
Authors: Cunningham Scott W. , Kwakkel Jan H. , Oruç Sertaç
Published: November 2016

The paper concerns the measurement and forecasting of technological change, a topic relevant to many high-tech organizations and their customers. We revisit recent and classic datasets from technology forecasting data envelopment analysis (TFDEA) research and technometrics in light of a new visualization technique known as t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). The technique is a nonlinear visualization technique for preserving local structure in high-dimensional spaces of data. The technique may be classified as a form of topological data analysis. Specifically, each point in the space represents a potential technological design or implementation, and each line segment in the space represents a local measure of technological improvement or degradation. We hypothesize five distinct kinds of performance development in technology within this space including the frontier, the fold, the salient, the soliton, and the lock-in. Then we examine the spaces to determine which kinds of development are the best explanations for the observed development. The technique is not extrapolative, and therefore cannot fully supplant existing technometric methods. Nonetheless, the approach offers a useful diagnostic to existing technometric methods, and may help advance theories of technological development.
Cenozoic erosion of the Scottish Highlands–Orkney–Shetland area: implications for uplift and previous sediment cover
Authors: Wilkinson Mark
Published: November 2016

The Scottish Highlands are both an ancient mountain belt and, more recently, part of a passive continental margin, both features where the long-term controls on topography are uncertain. During the Mesozoic the area may have been either a net sediment source or, at least in parts, a net sediment sink. Balancing preserved sediment volumes in surrounding basins with the palaeo-surface area of the Highlands exposed to erosion suggests that a
c
. 2000 – 2400 m average thickness of (zero-porosity) rock has been eroded from the Highlands in the Cenozoic. Assuming that a change from sand-dominated sediments in the Paleocene and Eocene to later mud-dominated sediment corresponds to the change from the erosion of sediment to erosion of metamorphic basement, then 1900 – 2400 m average thickness of clastic sediment was present at the start of the Cenozoic, plus any overlying Chalk. This has been subsequently eroded away except along the east and west coasts, where preserved Mesozoic sequences suggest a more extensive original cover. Prior to uplift associated with rifting of the North Atlantic, the Highlands may have been an area of sediment-filled half-graben, much like the Inner Hebrides at the present day.
Skycube Materialization Using the Topmost Skyline or Functional Dependencies
Authors: Maabout Sofian , Ordonez Carlos , Wanko Patrick Kamnang , Hanusse Nicolas
Published: November 2016

Given a table
T
(
Id
,
D
1
, …,

D
d

), the skycube of
T
is the set of skylines with respect to to all nonempty subsets (subspaces) of the set of all dimensions {
D
1
, …,

D
d

}. To optimize the evaluation of any skyline query, the solutions proposed so far in the literature either (i) precompute all of the skylines or (ii) use compression techniques so that the derivation of any skyline can be done with little effort. Even though solutions (i) are appealing because skyline queries have optimal execution time, they suffer from time and space scalability because the number of skylines to be materialized is exponential with respect to
d
. On the other hand, solutions (ii) are attractive in terms of memory consumption, but as we show, they also have a high time complexity. In this article, we make contributions to both kinds of solutions. We first observe that skyline patterns are monotonic. This property leads to a simple yet efficient solution for full and partial skycube materialization when the skyline with respect to all dimensions, the topmost skyline, is small. On the other hand, when the topmost skyline is large relative to the size of the input table, it turns out that functional dependencies, a fundamental concept in databases, uncover a monotonic property between skylines. Equipped with this information, we show that closed attributes sets are fundamental for partial and full skycube materialization. Extensive experiments with real and synthetic datasets show that our solutions generally outperform state-of-the-art algorithms.
Personalized computer-based mechanism to increase family connection with older adults by Francisco J. Gutierrez with Prateek Jain as coordinator
Authors: Gutierrez Francisco J.
Published: November 2016

Francisco J. Gutierrez is a PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of Chile. Currently, his research focuses on studying interpersonal communication in face-to-face and computermediated scenarios, as well as analyzing human traces and interaction on the Social Web using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Through applying this knowledge, he has been dedicated to design new ways to connect people and to understand the potential of computer-based technology for providing wellbeing. For more information please see http://dcc.uchile.cl/-frgutier/.
Using segmentation to improve schedulability of real-time traffic over RRA-based NoCs
Authors: Liu Meng , Becker Matthias , Behnam Moris , Nolte Thomas
Published: November 2016

Network-on-Chip (NoC) is the interconnect of choice for many-core processors and system-on-chips in general. Most of the existing NoC designs focus on the performance with respect to average throughput, which makes them less applicable for real-time applications especially when applications have hard timing requirements on the worst-case scenarios. In this paper, we focus on a Round-Robin Arbitration (RRA) based wormhole-switched NoC which is a common architecture used in most of the existing implementations. We propose a novel segmentation algorithm targeting RRA-based NoCs in order to improve the schedulability of real-time traffic without modifying the hardware architecture. According to the evaluation results, the proposed segmentation solution can significantly improve the schedulability of the whole network.
WCTT bounds for MPI primitives in the PaterNoster NoC
Authors: Stegmeier Alexander , Mische Jörg , Frieb Martin , Ungerer Theo
Published: November 2016

This paper applies several variants of application independent time-division multiplexing to MPI primitives and investigates their applicability for different scopes of communication. Thereby, the scopes are characterized by the size of the network-on-chip, the number of participating nodes and the message size sent to each receiver or received from each sender, respectively. The evaluation shows that none of the observed variants feature the lowest worst-case traversal time in all situations. Instead there are multiple schedule variants which each perform best in a different scope of communication parameters.
A mixed criticality approach for the security of critical flows in a network-on-chip
Authors: Papastefanakis Ermis , Li Xiaoting , George Laurent
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we explore a new approach for the security of flow transmission in a Network-on-Chip. This approach is based on a dual mixed criticality approach where the criticality of a flow (HI or LO) is associated to timeliness and security constraints on flow transmission. Flow of HI criticality should be protected from Denial of Service (DoS) and side channel attacks while LO flows are assumed to be non secured. We propose a solution to detect abnormal flow profiles in a Network-on-Chip, that can result from a security attack and we provide a mixed criticality approach to mitigate the impact of an attack. This is done by switching the nodes of a Network-on-Chip subject to a security attack from LO to HI criticality and taking protection measures in HI mode to contain the security attack. Our solution relies on a mechanism, configured and managed by a hypervisor applied in all IPs connected to the Network-on-Chip.
SIGCSE board chair welcome
Authors: Settle Amber
Published: November 2016

As of July 1, 2016 the SIGCSE membership elected a new Board, and as the new Chair I'm excited to begin work. I'm happy to welcome back Judy Sheard, Sue Fitzgerald, and Susan Rodger and pleased to have Adrienne Decker, Michelle Craig, Briana Morrison, and Mark Weiss join us. Although not voting members of the Board, we're also looking forward to all that Maureen Doyle and Leo Porter will bring as co-editors of the SIGCSE Bulletin.
ICER 2016 review
Authors: Sheard Judy
Published: November 2016

The 12th International Computing Education Research conference was held in early September in Melbourne, Australia. The conference venue was downtown in the Monash University Law Building. At ICER this year we had a record number of submissions (102), highest attendance ever in Australasia and second highest overall. ICER is in a healthy state and is growing!
Highlights of broadening participation research at RESPECT'16
Authors: Barnes Tiffany , Patent Jamie
Published: November 2016

RESPECT'16, the second international conference of the IEEE Computer Society Special Technical Community on Broadening Participation, was held this August in conjunction with the STARS Celebration in Atlanta, GA.
Discriminating graph pattern mining from gene expression data
Authors: Fassetti Fabio , Rombo Simona E. , Serrao Cristina
Published: November 2016

We consider the problem of mining gene expression data in order to single out interesting features that characterize healthy/unhealthy samples of an input dataset. We present and approach based on a network model of the input gene expression data, where there is a labelled graph for each sample. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to build a different graph for each sample and, then, to have a database of graphs for representing a sample set. Out main goal is that of singling out interesting differences between healthy and unhealthy samples, through the extraction of "discriminating patterns" among graphs belonging to the two different sample sets. Differently from the other approaches presented in the literature, our techniques is able to take into account important local similarities, and also collaborative effects involving interactions between multiple genes. In particular, we use edge-labelled graphs and we measure the discriminating power of a pattern based on such edge weights, which are representative of how much
relevant
is the co-expression between two genes.
Decomposing and solving quasilinear second-order differential equations
Authors: Schwarz Fritz
Published: November 2016

Decompositions of
linear
ordinary differential equations (ode's) into components of lower order have successfully been employed for determining its solutions. Here this method is generalized to certain classes of
quasilinear
equations of second order, i.e. equations that are linear w.r.t. the second derivative, and rational otherwise. Often it leads to simple expressions for the general solution that hardly can be obtained otherwise, i.e. it is a genuine extension of Lie's symmetry analysis. Due to its efficiency it is suggested that it is applied always as a first step in an ode solver.
Computing limits with the regularchains and powerseries libraries
Authors: Alvandi Parisa , Kazemi Mahsa , Maza Marc Moreno
Published: November 2016

Many fundamental concepts in mathematics are defined in terms of limits and it is desirable for computer algebra systems to be able to compute them. However, limits of functions, limits of secants or topological closures are, by essence, hard to compute in an algorithmic fashion, say by doing finitely many rational operations on polynomials or matrices over the usual coefficient fields of symbolic computation. This is why a computer algebra system like Maple is not capable of computing limits of rational functions in more than two variables while it can perform highly sophisticated algebraic computations like solving (formally) a system of partial differential equations.
The basic polynomial algebra subprograms
Authors: Chen Changbo , Covanov Svyatoslav , Mansouri Farnam , Moir Robert H. C. , Maza Marc Moreno , Xie Ning , Xie Yuzhen
Published: November 2016

The Basic Polynomial Algebra Subprograms (BPAS) provides arithmetic operations (multiplication, division, root isolation, etc.) for univariate and multivariate polynomials over common types of coefficients (prime fields, complex rational numbers, rational functions, etc.). The code is mainly written in CilkPlus [10] targeting multicore processors. The current distribution focuses on dense polynomials and the sparse case is work in progress. A strong emphasis is put on adaptive algorithms as the library aims at supporting a wide variety of situations in terms of problem sizes and available computing resources. The BPAS library is publicly available in source at www.bpaslib.org.
CGSQE/SyNRAC
Authors: Fukasaku Ryoya , Iwane Hidenao , Sato Yosuke
Published: November 2016

CGSQE is a Maple package for real quantifier elimination (QE) we are developing. It works cooperating with SyNRAC which is also a Maple package for real QE one of the authors is developing. For a given first order formula, CGSQE eliminates all possible quantifiers using the underlying equational constraints by the computation of comprehensive Gröbner systems (CGSs). In case all quantifiers are not removable, it transforms the given formula into a formula which contains only strict inequalities of quantified variables, then uses a cylindrical algebraic decomposition based real QE program of SyNRAC to remove the remaining quantifiers. The core algorithm of CGSQE is a CGS real QE algorithm which was first introduced by Weispfenning in 1998 and further improved by us in 2015 so that we can make a satisfactorily practical implementation. CGSQE is superior to other real QE implementations for many examples which contain many equational constraints. In the software presentation, we would like to show high-performance computation of CGSQE.
Motion polynomials and planar linkages
Authors: Koutschan Christoph
Published: November 2016

We present the Mathematica package PlanarLinkages, which provides commands for constructing and visualizing planar linkages that draw a prescribed algebraic curve of genus 0, or more generally, that follow a prescribed rational motion. Since the implemented algorithms are heavily based on the concept of motion polynomials, the functionality of the package also includes basic arithmetic of motion polynomials and a factorization procedure.
Polynomial homotopy continuation in Macaulay2
Authors: Leykin Anton
Published: November 2016

While primarily symbolic, the computer algebra system Macaulay2 has acquired a range of numerical tools in the recent years. We describe the design changes in its NumericalAlgebraicGeometry package and the corresponding changes in the core of the system. We also discuss support packages and other packages that depend on methods provided by homotopy continuation.
Taming the Past: Ancient DNA and the Study of Animal Domestication
Authors: MacHugh David E. , Larson Greger , Orlando Ludovic
Published: November 2016

During the last decade, ancient DNA research has been revolutionized by the availability of increasingly powerful DNA sequencing and ancillary genomics technologies, giving rise to the new field of paleogenomics. In this review, we show how our understanding of the genetic basis of animal domestication and the origins and dispersal of livestock and companion animals during the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic periods is being rapidly transformed through new scientific knowledge generated with paleogenomic methods. These techniques have been particularly informative in revealing high-resolution patterns of artificial and natural selection and evidence for significant admixture between early domestic animal populations and their wild congeners.
Coccolithophore Cell Biology: Chalking Up Progress
Authors: Taylor Alison R. , Brownlee Colin , Wheeler Glen
Published: November 2016

Coccolithophores occupy a special position within the marine phytoplankton because of their production of intricate calcite scales, or coccoliths. Coccolithophores are major contributors to global ocean calcification and long-term carbon fluxes. The intracellular production of coccoliths requires modifications to cellular ultrastructure and metabolism that are surveyed here. In addition to calcification, which appears to have evolved with a diverse range of functions, several other remarkable features that likely underpin the ecological and evolutionary success of coccolithophores have recently been uncovered. These include complex and varied life cycle strategies related to abiotic and biotic interactions as well as a range of novel metabolic pathways and nutritional strategies. Together with knowledge of coccolithophore genetic and physiological variability, these findings are beginning to shed new light on species diversity, distribution, and ecological adaptation. Further advances in genetics and functional characterization at the cellular level will likely to lead to a rapid increase in this understanding.
Epidermal CFTR Suppresses MAPK/NF-κB to Promote Cutaneous Wound Healing
Authors: Chen Jing , Chen Yu , Chen Yajie , Yang Zicheng , You Bo , Ruan Ye Chun , Peng Yizhi
Published: November 2016

Background: CFTR is implicated in cutaneous wound healing although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In other cell types, CFTR is reported to regulate MAPK/ NF-κB signaling. We undertook the present study to explore a possible role of CFTR in regulating MAPK/NF-κB during cutaneous wound healing. Methods& Results: The splint-excisional and incisional wound healing models were used in CFTR mutant (DF508) mice. The cell-scratch model was used in a human keratinocyte line, HaCaT, in conjunction with CFTR knockdown or overexpression. The epidermal inflammation, keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, as well as MAPK/NF-κB signaling were examined. Inhibitors of MAPK/NF-κB were also used. Results: Both DF508 mice and HaCaT cells with CFTR knockdown exhibited delayed cutaneous wound healing with exuberant inflammation, increased proliferation and aberrant differentiation. Knockdown of CFTR in HaCaT cells resulted in phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and IκBα. The disturbance of inflammation, proliferation and differentiation in HaCaT cells were reversed by CFTR overexpression or inhibition of MAPK or NF-κB. Conclusion: CFTR plays a role in suppressing MAPK/NF-κB to relieve inflammation, reduce proliferation and promote differentiation of keratinocytes, and thus promotes cutaneous wound healing.
De novo KAT6B Mutation Identified with Whole-Exome Sequencing in a Girl with Say-Barber/Biesecker/Young-Simpson Syndrome
Authors: Lundsgaard Malene , Le Vang Q. , Ernst Anja , Laugaard-Jacobsen Hans C. , Rasmussen Kirsten , Pedersen Inge S. , Petersen Michael B.
Published: November 2016

Say-Barber/Biesecker/Young-Simpson syndrome (SBBYSS; OMIM 603736) is a rare syndrome with multiple congenital anomalies/malformations. The clinical diagnosis is usually based on a phenotype with a mask-like face and severe blepharophimosis and ptosis as well as other distinctive facial traits. We present a girl with dysmorphic features, an atrial septal defect, and developmental delay. Previous genetic testing (array-CGH, 22q11 deletion, PTPN11 and MLL2 mutation analysis) gave normal results. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and identified a heterozygous nonsense mutation in the KAT6B gene, NM_001256468.1: c.4943C>G (p.S1648*). The mutation led to a premature stop codon and occurred de novo. KAT6B sequence variants have previously been identified in patients with SBBYSS, and the phenotype of the girl is similar to other patients diagnosed with SBBYSS. This case report provides additional evidence for the correlation between the KAT6B mutation and SBBYSS. If a patient is suspected of having a blepharophimosis syndrome or SBBYSS, we recommend sequencing the KAT6B gene. This is a further example showing that WES can assist diagnosis.
Prognostic Value of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Troponin-T, and Growth-Differentiation Factor 15 in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Baggen Vivan J.M. , van den Bosch Annemien E. , Eindhoven Jannet A. , Schut Anne-Rose W. , Cuypers Judith A.A.E. , Witsenburg Maarten , de Waart Monique , van Schaik Ron H.N. , Zijlstra Felix , Boersma Eric , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W.
Published: November 2016

Background:

The number of patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is rapidly increasing. To optimize patient management, there is a great need to accurately identify high-risk patients. Still, no biomarker has been firmly established as a clinically useful prognostic tool in this group. We studied the association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitive troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15 with cardiovascular events in ACHD.

Methods:

Clinically stable patients with ACHD who routinely visited the outpatient clinic between April 2011 and April 2013 underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and biomarker measurement (NT-proBNP, high-sensitive troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15) at the time of study inclusion. Patients were prospectively followed for the occurrence of cardiovascular events (death, heart failure, hospitalization, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events, and reintervention). Survival curves were derived by the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression was performed to investigate the relation between biomarkers and events with adjustment for multiple clinical and echocardiographic variables.

Results:

In total, 595 patients were included (median age, 33 years; interquartile range, 25–41 years; 58% male; 90% New York Heart Association class I). Patients were followed during a median of 42 (interquartile range, 37–46) months. Of the 3 evaluated biomarkers, NT-proBNP in the upper quartile (>33.3 pmol/L) was most strongly associated with cardiovascular events (n=165, adjusted hazard ratio, 9.05 [3.24–25.3],
P
<0.001) and with death or heart failure (n=50, adjusted hazard ratio, 16.0 [2.04–126],
P
<0.001). When NT-proBNP was analyzed as a continuous variable, similar findings were retrieved. The cumulative proportion of patients with death and heart failure was only 1% in the lowest 2 NT-proBNP quartiles. Elevated NT-proBNP (>14 pmol/L), elevated high-sensitive troponin-T (>14 ng/L), and elevated growth-differentiation factor 15 (>1109 ng/L) identified those patients at highest risk of cardiovascular events (log-rank
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions:

NT-proBNP provides prognostic information beyond a conventional risk marker model in patients with ACHD and can reliably exclude the risk of death and heart failure. Elevated levels of NT-proBNP, high-sensitive troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15 identify patients at highest risk of cardiovascular events. These biomarkers therefore may play an important role in the monitoring and management of patients with ACHD.
Telemedicine Quality and Outcomes in Stroke: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
Authors: Wechsler Lawrence R. , Demaerschalk Bart M. , Schwamm Lee H. , Adeoye Opeolu M. , Audebert Heinrich J. , Fanale Christopher V. , Hess David C. , Majersik Jennifer J. , Nystrom Karin V. , Reeves Mathew J. , Rosamond Wayne D. , Switzer Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2016

Purpose—

Telestroke is one of the most frequently used and rapidly expanding applications of telemedicine, delivering much-needed stroke expertise to hospitals and patients. This document reviews the current status of telestroke and suggests measures for ongoing quality and outcome monitoring to improve performance and to enhance delivery of care.

Methods—

A literature search was undertaken to examine the current status of telestroke and relevant quality indicators. The members of the writing committee contributed to the review of specific quality and outcome measures with specific suggestions for metrics in telestroke networks. The drafts were circulated and revised by all committee members, and suggestions were discussed for consensus.

Results—

Models of telestroke and the role of telestroke in stroke systems of care are reviewed. A brief description of the science of quality monitoring and prior experience in quality measures for stroke is provided. Process measures, outcomes, tissue-type plasminogen activator use, patient and provider satisfaction, and telestroke technology are reviewed, and suggestions are provided for quality metrics. Additional topics include licensing, credentialing, training, and documentation.
Demographic history of Trinorchestia longiramus (Amphipoda, Talitridae) in South Korea inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence variation
Authors: Woo Jiyoung , An Hyesuck , Lim Byung-Jin , Song Ha Yeun , Kim Min-Seop , Jung Tae Won , Jeong Seungjin , Cho In-Young , Oh Sumin , Han Donguk , Yoon Moongeun
Published: November 2016

We investigated the demographic history ofTrinorchestia longiramusJo, 1988 using the nucleotide sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 277 individuals collected from eight Korean populations. From the low haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity in all populations, a neutrality test, and mismatch distribution analysis, the species appears to have recently experienced a prolonged or severe demographic bottleneck. Pairwise populationFSTestimates and AMOVA [= Analysis of Molecular Variance] results showed that substantial differentiation is present between the southern and eastern populations. The population structure ofT. longiramusmay have been influenced by glacial population extinctions and interglacial colonization during the Pleistocene ice-ages.
The Three Models of China’s Agricultural Development: Strengths and Weaknesses of the Administrative, Laissez Faire, and Co-op Approaches (中国农业发展三大模式：行政、放任、与合作的利与弊)
Authors: Huang (黄宗智) Philip C. C.
Published: November 2016

This article demonstrates how the “old agriculture” of grain production operates today mainly by an administrative model, while the “new agriculture” of high-value-added products (high-end vegetables, fruits, meat-poultry-fish, and eggs-milk) operates mainly by a laissez faire market model. The former serves to protect low-value agricultural products from violent market price swings and international competition to ensure China’s “grain security,” but is prone to a commandist approach that can disregard peasant interests and wishes. The latter has stimulated peasant initiatives through market incentives, but suffers from violent price fluctuations and merchant extractions. A third model, “specialty co-ops,” has thus far been guided by a mistaken model of trying to imitateU.S.co-ops, which are purely economic entities, to the disregard of Chinese village communities. This article urges the adoption of an “East Asian” model of semi-governmental, integrated co-ops based on peasant communities (villages), extending from there up through the governmental hierarchy of townships, counties, provinces, and the central levels. Such co-ops provide “vertical integration” (processing and marketing) services for small-peasant agricultural products, offer technical assistance, organize the purchase and supply of agricultural inputs, extend credit services, engage in community activities, and see to peasant social-political interests, as was done so successfully in Japan-Korea-Taiwan, most especially during the period when their per capitaGDPand relative proportions of industry and agriculture stood at levels roughly comparable to China’s today.

本文论证,中国的“旧农业”——谷物生产——今天主要运作于一个行政模式之下,而“新农业”——高值蔬菜、水果、肉-禽-鱼和蛋奶——则主要运作于一个放任的市场模式之下。在国际市场竞争和粮食价格相对低廉的压力下,前者起到保护中国谷物生产和“粮食安全”的作用,但也显示倾向过度依赖指令性手段和无视农民意愿的弱点。后者则成功地凭借市场收益激发了小农的创新性,但经常受到市场价格波动的冲击以及商业资本的榨取。作为第三种模式的“专业合作社”,则主要试图模仿美国的纯经济性合作社模式,无视中国村庄，不符合中国实际。本文提倡,中国应该模仿“东亚”模式的半政府性综合农协,扎根于村庄社区、由此往上延伸到乡-镇、县、省、中央各级政府。它们主要为小农提供“纵向一体化”的产品加工和销售服务、技术咨询与服务、信贷服务、组织农资供销、组织社区活动、并参与国家政治来维护小农利益,一如日-韩-台历史经验中,在其人均gdp以及工农业所占相对比例大致相当于如今中国的那段时期。 (This article is in English.)
Multiscale Spatial and Temporal Statistical Properties of Rainfall in Central Arizona
Authors: Mascaro Giuseppe
Published: November 2016

The statistical properties of the rainfall regime in central Arizona are investigated using observations from the early 1980s of the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC) network, currently consisting of 310 gauges ranging in elevation from 220 to 2325 m MSL. A set of techniques is applied to analyze the properties across a wide range of temporal scales (from 1 min to years) and the associated spatial variability. Rainfall accumulation is characterized by (i) high interannual variability, which is partially explained by teleconnections with El Niño–Southern Oscillation; (ii) marked seasonality, with two distinct maxima in summer (July–September) and winter (November–March); (iii) significant orographic control; and (iv) strong diurnal cycle in summer, peaking in early afternoon at higher elevations and at nighttime in lower desert areas. The annual maximum rainfall intensities occur in the summer months and increase with elevation, suggesting that higher terrain enhances the strength of thermal convective activity. The intergauge correlation of wintertime rainfall is high even at short aggregation times (<1 h) because of the widespread nature of the weather systems, while summer monsoonal thunderstorms are more localized in space and time. Spectral and scale invariance analyses show the presence of different scaling regimes in summer and winter, which are related to the typical meteorological phenomena of the corresponding time scales (frontal systems and isolated convective cells). Results of this work expand previous studies on the dominant meteorological features in the region and support the development of rainfall downscaling models from coarse products of climate, meteorological, or other statistical models.
Silk fabrics modification by sol–gel method
Authors: de Ferri Lavinia , Lorenzi Andrea , Carcano Elisa , Draghi Lorenza
Published: November 2016

Sol–gel is a very effective method to obtain high purity ceramic and hybrid coatings on a variety of substrates. Thanks to their unique structure and extremely reduced thicknesses, sol–gel coatings can remain adherent and transparent even on flexible substrates such as textiles. Hence, their versatile chemistry can be exploited to impart a variety of properties to fabrics. Here, we evaluated the potential of sol–gel coatings for the functionalization of silk fabrics, and in particular for the preparation of coatings able to simultaneously improve abrasion resistance and attain water-repellency. To this end, tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate based (TEOS) hybrid coatings were prepared using different Si-alkoxides functionalized with either alkyl chains or fluorinated groups. Abrasion resistance, oil and water contact angle, mechanical properties and water vapor permeability were assessed on treated fabrics to identify the more promising formulations.
Determining diabetic retinopathy screening interval based on time from no retinopathy to laser therapy
Authors: Hughes Daniel , Nair Sunil , Harvey John N
Published: November 2016

Objectives

To determine the necessary screening interval for retinopathy in diabetic patients with no retinopathy based on time to laser therapy and to assess long-term visual outcome following screening.

Methods

In a population-based community screening programme in North Wales, 2917 patients were followed until death or for approximately 12 years. At screening, 2493 had no retinopathy; 424 had mostly minor degrees of non-proliferative retinopathy. Data on timing of first laser therapy and visual outcome following screening were obtained from local hospitals and ophthalmology units.

Results

Survival analysis showed that very few of the no retinopathy at screening group required laser therapy in the early years compared with the non-proliferative retinopathy group ( p < 0.001). After two years, <0.1% of the no retinopathy at screening group required laser therapy, and at three years 0.2% (cumulative), lower rates of treatment than have been suggested by analyses of sight-threatening retinopathy determined photographically. At follow-up (mean 7.8 ± 4.6 years), mild to moderate visual impairment in one or both eyes due to diabetic retinopathy was more common in those with retinopathy at screening (26% vs. 5%, p < 0.001), but blindness due to diabetes occurred in only 1 in 1000.

Conclusions

Optimum screening intervals should be determined from time to active treatment. Based on requirement for laser therapy, the screening interval for diabetic patients with no retinopathy can be extended to two to three years. Patients who attend for retinal screening and treatment who have no or non-proliferative retinopathy now have a very low risk of eventual blindness from diabetes.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 reverses suppression of adiponectin expression via inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress in adipose tissue of obese mice
Authors: Guo Qinyue , Xu Lin , Liu Jiali , Li Huixia , Sun Hongzhi , Wu Shufang , Zhou Bo
Published: November 2016

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has recently emerged as a novel endocrine hormone involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the exact mechanisms whereby FGF21 mediates insulin sensitivity remain not fully understood. In the present study, FGF21was administrated in high-fat diet-induced obese mice and tunicamycin-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and metabolic parameters, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress indicators, and insulin signaling molecular were assessed by Western blotting. The administration of FGF21 in obese mice reduced body weight, blood glucose and serum insulin, and increased insulin sensitivity, resulting in alleviation of insulin resistance. Meanwhile, FGF21 treatment reversed suppression of adiponectin expression and restored insulin signaling via inhibiting ER stress in adipose tissue of obese mice. Additionally, suppression of ER stress via the ER stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid increased adiponectin expression and improved insulin resistance in obese mice and in tunicamycin-induced adipocytes. In conclusion, our results showed that the administration of FGF21 reversed suppression of adiponectin expression and restored insulin signaling via inhibiting ER stress under the condition of insulin resistance, demonstrating the causative role of ER stress in downregulating adiponectin levels.
Impact of CTLA4 genotype and other immune response gene polymorphisms on outcomes after single umbilical cord blood transplantation
Authors: Cunha Renato , Zago Marco A. , Querol Sergio , Volt Fernanda , Ruggeri Annalisa , Sanz Guillermo , Pouthier Fabienne , Kogler Gesine , Vicario José L. , Bergamaschi Paola , Saccardi Riccardo , Lamas Carmen H. , Díaz-de-Heredia Cristina , Michel Gerard , Bittencourt Henrique , Tavella Marli , Panepucci Rodrigo A. , Fernandes Francisco , Pavan Julia , Gluckman Eliane , Rocha Vanderson
Published: November 2016

Key Points

Gene polymorphism of the immune response as CTLA4 was shown to impact CBT outcomes according to CBU genotype. CTLA4-CBU genotype might be considered for CBU selection when >1 CBU meeting the current suggested selection criteria is available.
Alternative Realities: Faculty and Student Perceptions of Instructional Practices in Laboratory Courses
Authors: Beck Christopher W. , Blumer Lawrence S.
Published: November 2016

Curricular reform efforts depend on our ability to determine how courses are taught and how instructional practices affect student outcomes. In this study, we developed a 30-question survey on inquiry-based learning and assessment in undergraduate laboratory courses that was administered to 878 students in 54 courses (41 introductory level and 13 upper level) from 20 institutions (four community colleges, 11 liberal arts colleges, and five universities, of which four were minority-serving institutions). On the basis of an exploratory factor analysis, we defined five constructs: metacognition, feedback and assessment, scientific synthesis, science process skills, and instructor-directed teaching. Using our refined survey of 24 items, we compared student and faculty perceptions of instructional practices both across courses and across instructors. In general, faculty and student perceptions were not significantly related. Although mean perceptions were often similar, faculty perceptions were more variable than those of students, suggesting that faculty may have more nuanced views than students. In addition, student perceptions of some instructional practices were influenced by their previous experience in laboratory courses and their self-efficacy. As student outcomes, such as learning gains, are ultimately most important, future research should examine the degree to which faculty and student perceptions of instructional practices predict student outcomes in different contexts.
Pregnancy promotes tolerance to future offspring by programming selective dysfunction in long-lived maternal T cells
Authors: Barton Brendan M , Xu Rong , Wherry E John , Porrett Paige M
Published: November 2016

Fetal antigen available during pregnancy induces the proliferation of maternal T cells. It is unknown, however, whether these antigen-activated T cells differentiate into long-lived memory T cells that are capable of mediating rapid-recall responses to tissue antigens. To test the hypothesis that pregnancy induces an alternative fate in fetal-specific maternal T cells, we used a murine model to track longitudinally fetal-specific T cells in pregnant and postpartum animals and test the response of these cells when challenged with the same antigen during sequential pregnancy or skin transplantation. Fetal-specific CD8+ T cells were robustly primed during pregnancy but failed to acquire robust effector functions. These primed cells persisted long term in postpartum animals, frequently maintained a programmed death 1 (PD-1)+ phenotype, and failed to expand or produce cytokines robustly in response to second pregnancy or skin transplantation. However, whereas there was no impact on second pregnancy as a result of the persistence of fetal-primed memory CD8+ T cells in the mother, skin grafts bearing the same antigen were rejected more rapidly. Altogether, our data suggest that fetal antigen exposure during pregnancy induces the differentiation of long-lived maternal CD8+ T cells with context-dependent, selective effector dysfunction. This programmed effector dysfunction provides temporal and systemic restraint of maternal anti-fetal alloreactivity to promote reproductive fitness efficiently, while preserving potentially protective effector T cell responses.
Solving a weighty problem: Systematic review and meta-analysis of nutrition interventions in severe mental illness
Authors: Teasdale Scott B. , Ward Philip B. , Rosenbaum Simon , Samaras Katherine , Stubbs Brendon
Published: November 2016

Background

Nutrition interventions would appear fundamental for weight management and cardiometabolic risk reduction in people experiencing severe mental illness (SMI). Comprehensive evaluation of nutrition interventions is lacking.

Aims

To subject randomised controlled trials of nutrition interventions in people with SMI to systematic review and meta-analysis, and to measure anthropometric and biochemical parameters and nutritional intake.

Method

An electronic database search identified trials with nutrition intervention components. Trials were pooled for meta-analysis. Meta-regression analyses were performed on anthropometric moderators.

Results

Interventions led to significant weight loss (19 studies), reduced body mass index (17 studies), decreased waist circumference (10 studies) and lower blood glucose levels (5 studies). Dietitian-led interventions (6 studies) and studies delivered at antipsychotic initiation (4 studies) had larger effect sizes.

Conclusions

Evidence supports nutrition interventions as standard care in preventing and treating weight gain among people experiencing SMI.
Operating Room Anesthesia Subspecialization Is Not Associated With Significantly Greater Quality of Supervision of Anesthesia Residents and Nurse Anesthetists
Authors: Dexter Franklin , Ledolter Johannes , Epstein Richard H. , Hindman Bradley J.
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUND:

Supervision of anesthesia residents and nurse anesthetists is a major responsibility of faculty anesthesiologists. The quality of their supervision can be assessed quantitatively by the anesthesia residents and nurse anesthetists. Supervision scores are an independent measure of the contribution of the anesthesiologist to patient care. We evaluated the association between quality of supervision and level of specialization of anesthesiologists.

METHODS:

We used two 6-month periods, one with no feedback to anesthesiologists of the residents’ and nurse anesthetists’ evaluations, and the other with feedback. Supervision scores provided by residents and nurse anesthetists were considered separately. Sample sizes among the 4 combinations ranged from n = 51 to n = 62 University of Iowa faculty. For each supervising anesthesiologist and 6-month period, we calculated the proportion of anesthetic cases attributable to each anesthesia Current Procedural Terminology code. The sum of the square of the proportions, a measurement of diversity, is known as the Herfindahl index. The inverse of this index represents the effective number of common procedures. The diversity (degree of specialization) of each faculty anesthesiologist was measured attributing each case to: (1) the anesthesiologist who supervised for the longest total period of time, (2) the anesthesiologist who started the case, or (3) the anesthesiologist who started the case, limited to cases started during “regular hours” (defined as nonholiday Monday to Friday, 07:00 am to 02:59 pm). Inferential analysis was performed using bivariate-weighted least-squares regression.

RESULTS:

The point estimates of all 12 slopes were in the direction of greater specialization of practice of the evaluated faculty anesthesiologist being associated with significantly lower supervision scores. Among supervision scores provided by nurse anesthetists, the association was statistically significant for the third of the 6-month periods under the first and second ways of attributing the cases (uncorrected P < .0001). However, the slopes of the relationships were all small (eg, 0.109 ± 0.025 [SE] units on the 4-point supervision scale for a change of 10 common procedures). Among supervision scores provided by anesthesia residents, the association was statistically significant during the first period for all 3 ways of attributing the case (uncorrected P < .0001). However, again, the slopes were small (eg, 0.127 ± 0.027 units for a change of 10 common procedures).

CONCLUSIONS:

Greater clinical specialization of faculty anesthesiologists was not associated with meaningful improvements in quality of clinical supervision.
What’s New in Obstetric Anesthesia: The 2016 Gerard W. Ostheimer Lecture
Authors: Hess Philip E.
Published: November 2016

This special article presents potentially important trends and issues affecting the field of obstetric anesthesia drawn from publications in 2015. Both maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States have increased in recent years because, in part, of the changing demographics of the childbearing population. Pregnant women are older and have more pre-existing conditions and complex medical histories. Cardiovascular and noncardiovascular medical diseases now account for half of maternal deaths in the United States. Several national and international organizations have developed initiatives promoting optimal obstetric and anesthetic care, including guidelines on the obstetric airway, obstetric cardiac arrest protocols, and obstetric hemorrhage bundles. To deal with the increasing burden of high-risk parturients, the national obstetric organizations have proposed a risk-based classification of delivery centers, termed as Levels of Maternal Care. The goal of this initiative is to funnel more complex obstetric patients toward high-acuity centers where they can receive more effective care. Despite the increasing obstetric complexity, anesthesia-related adverse events and morbidity are decreasing, possibly reflecting an ongoing focus on safe systems of anesthetic care. It is critical that the practice of obstetric anesthesia expand beyond the mere provision of safe analgesia and anesthesia to lead in developing and promoting comprehensive safety systems for obstetrics and team-based coordinated care.
The Evolution of the Study of Executive-Legislative Relations in Latin America: Or How Theory Slowly Catches Up with Reality
Authors: Carreras Miguel
Published: November 2016

The last twenty years have witnessed an explosion in the number of books and articles that focus on executive-legislative relations in Latin America. Since the publication of the seminal Linz article on the “perils of presidentialism” (1990), we have learnt a lot about the interaction between the executive and the legislative branch of government. This review article attempts to make sense of the evolution of the study of executive-legislative relations, by focusing on the inconsistencies between the mainstream theoretical approaches and the reality of executive-legislative relations in the region. Three major changes in the study of executive-legislative relations (unpacking of the “black box” of presidentialism, study of presidential coalitions, and analysis of impeachment processes) are discussed.