bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk of pneumococcal diseases in adults with underlying medical conditions: a retrospective, cohort study using two Japanese healthcare databases
Authors: Imai Kentaro , Petigara Tanaz , Kohn Melvin A , Nakashima Kei , Aoshima Masahiro , Shito Akihito , Kanazu Shinichi
Published: December 2018

Objectives

To quantify the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults aged ≥19 years with underlying medical conditions compared with healthy adults of the same age in Japan.

Design

An observational, retrospective, cohort study using two healthcare claims databases in Japan: Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) and Medical Data Vision (MDV) databases.

Participants

A total of 10.4 million individuals, representing 9.3 million person-years of follow-up, were included in the analysis. Eleven medical conditions as well as PP and IPD were identified by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems version 10 diagnostic codes and/or local disease codes used in Japan.

Primary outcome measures

Adjusted rate ratios (RRs) for PP and IPD in adults with a medical condition versus adults without any medical condition were calculated using multivariate Poisson regression models with age and/or sex as covariates.

Results

In the JMDC and MDV databases, respectively, adults ≥19 years with a medical condition (RRs for PP: 3.3 to 13.4, 1.7 to 5.2; RRs for IPD: 12.6 to 43.3, 4.4 to 7.1), adults with two or more medical conditions (PP: 11.6, 2.8; IPD: 18.7, 5.8) and high-risk adults (PP: 12.9, 1.8; IPD: 29.7, 4.0) were at greater risk of PP and IPD compared with their healthy counterparts. Adults aged 50–64 years with an underlying medical condition (PP rate: 38.6 to 212.1 per 100 000 person-years) had a higher rate of PP than those aged ≥65 years without any condition (PP rate: 13.2 to 93.0 per 100 000 person-years).

Conclusions

Adults of all ages with an underlying medical condition are at greater risk of PP and IPD compared with adults without any medical condition. This risk increases with the number of underlying medical conditions. Our results support extending pneumococcal vaccination to younger adults with an underlying medical condition, especially those aged 50–64 years.
Feasibility of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial of laparoscopic versus open colorectal surgery in the acute setting: the LaCeS feasibility trial protocol
Authors: Harji Deena , Marshall Helen , Gordon Katie , Crow Hannah , Hiley Victoria , Burke Dermot , Griffiths Ben , Moriarty Catherine , Twiddy Maureen , O’Dwyer John L , Verjee Azmina , Brown Julia , Sagar Peter
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Acute colorectal surgery forms a significant proportion of emergency admissions within the National Health Service. There is limited evidence to suggest minimally invasive surgery may be associated with improved clinical outcomes in this cohort of patients. Consequently, there is a need to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in the acute colorectal setting. However,emergency colorectal surgical trials have previously been difficult to conduct due to issues surrounding recruitment and equipoise. The LaCeS (randomised controlled trial of Laparoscopic versus open Colorectal Surgery in the acute setting) feasibility trial will determine the feasibility of conducting a definitive, phase III trial of laparoscopic versus open acute colorectal resection.

Methods and analysis

The LaCeS feasibility trial is a prospective, multicentre, single-blinded, parallel group, pragmatic randomised controlled feasibility trial. Patients will be randomised on a 1:1 basis to receive either

laparoscopic or open surgery. The trial aims to recruit at least 66 patients from five acute general surgical units across the UK. Patients over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of acute colorectal pathology requiring resection on clinical and radiological/endoscopic investigations, with a National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death classification of urgent will be considered eligible for participation. The primary outcome is recruitment. Secondary outcomes include assessing the safety profile of laparoscopic surgery using intraoperative and postoperative complication rates, conversion rates and patient-safety indicators as surrogate markers. Clinical and patient-reported outcomes will also be reported. The trial will contain an embedded qualitative study to assess clinician and patient acceptability of trial processes.

Ethics and dissemination

The LaCeS feasibility trial is approved by the Yorkshire and The Humber, Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 15/ YH/0542). The results from the trial will be presented at national and international colorectal conferences and will be submitted for publication to peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN15681041; Pre-results.
Faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) versus colonoscopy for surveillance after screening and polypectomy: a diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Cross Amanda J , Wooldrage Kate , Robbins Emma C , Kralj-Hans Ines , MacRae Eilidh , Piggott Carolyn , Stenson Iain , Prendergast Aaron , Patel Bhavita , Pack Kevin , Howe Rosemary , Swart Nicholas , Snowball Julia , Duffy Stephen W , Morris Stephen , von Wagner Christian , Halloran Stephen P , Atkin Wendy S
Published: December 2018

Objective

The English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) recommends 3 yearly colonoscopy surveillance for patients at intermediate risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) postpolypectomy (those with three to four small adenomas or one ≥10 mm). We investigated whether faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) could reduce surveillance burden on patients and endoscopy services.

Design

Intermediate-risk patients (60–72 years) recommended 3 yearly surveillance were recruited within the BCSP (January 2012–December 2013). FITs were offered at 1, 2 and 3 years postpolypectomy. Invitees consenting and returning a year 1 FIT were included. Participants testing positive (haemoglobin ≥40 µg/g) at years one or two were offered colonoscopy early; all others were offered colonoscopy at 3 years. Diagnostic accuracy for CRC and advanced adenomas (AAs) was estimated considering multiple tests and thresholds. We calculated incremental costs per additional AA and CRC detected by colonoscopy versus FIT surveillance.

Results

74% (5938/8009) of invitees were included in our study having participated at year 1. Of these, 97% returned FITs at years 2 and 3. Three-year cumulative positivity was 13% at the 40 µg/g haemoglobin threshold and 29% at 10 µg/g. 29 participants were diagnosed with CRC and 446 with AAs. Three-year programme sensitivities for CRC and AAs were, respectively, 59% and 33% at 40 µg/g, and 72% and 57% at 10 µg/g. Incremental costs per additional AA and CRC detected by colonoscopy versus FIT (40 µg/g) surveillance were £7354 and £180 778, respectively.

Conclusions

Replacing 3 yearly colonoscopy surveillance in intermediate-risk patients with annual FIT could reduce colonoscopies by 71%, significantly cut costs but could miss 30%–40% of CRCs and 40%–70% of AAs.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN18040196; Results.
Engaging African ancestry participants in SLE clinical trials
Authors: Anjorin Aderike , Lipsky Peter
Published: December 2018

SLE is a complex autoimmune disease with genetic and clinical differences between patients that appear to reside along ancestral lines. Over the last 20 years, a preponderance of evidence has shown that SLE is more common and severe in minority populations, particularly in African ancestry (AA) women. However, in clinical trials for new therapies of SLE, AA is often under-represented. Without enrolling sufficient AA participants, it is difficult to ascertain the safety and efficacy of new potential therapies among individuals with SLE of different ancestries. Although enrolling minority populations in clinical trials has been a significant challenge for many reasons, the various stakeholders involved in clinical research could act within their own realms to develop new paradigms and policies to bolster the inclusion of AA in the development of new therapies.
Positive airway pressure for sleep-disordered breathing in acute quadriplegia: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Berlowitz David J , Schembri Rachel , Graco Marnie , Ross Jacqueline M , Ayas Najib , Gordon Ian , Lee Bonne , Graham Allison , Cross Susan V , McClelland Martin , Kennedy Paul , Thumbikat Pradeep , Bennett Cynthia , Townson Andrea , Geraghty Timothy J , Pieri-Davies Sue , Singhal Raj , Marshall Karen , Short Deborah , Nunn Andrew , Mortimer Duncan , Brown Doug , Pierce Robert J , Cistulli Peter A
Published: December 2018

Rationale

Highly prevalent and severe sleep-disordered breathing caused by acute cervical spinal cord injury (quadriplegia) is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction and sleepiness and is likely to impair rehabilitation.

Objective

To determine whether 3 months of autotitrating CPAP would improve neurocognitive function, sleepiness, quality of life, anxiety and depression more than usual care in acute quadriplegia.

Methods and measurements

Multinational, randomised controlled trial (11 centres) from July 2009 to October 2015. The primary outcome was neurocognitive (attention and information processing as measure with the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). Daytime sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) was a priori identified as the most important secondary outcome.

Main results

1810 incident cases were screened. 332 underwent full, portable polysomnography, 273 of whom had an apnoea hypopnoea index greater than 10. 160 tolerated at least 4 hours of CPAP during a 3-day run-in and were randomised. 149 participants (134 men, age 46±34 years, 81±57 days postinjury) completed the trial. CPAP use averaged 2.9±2.3 hours per night with 21% fully ‘adherent’ (at least 4 hours use on 5 days per week). Intention-to-treat analyses revealed no significant differences between groups in the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (mean improvement of 2.28, 95% CI −7.09 to 11.6; p=0.63). Controlling for premorbid intelligence, age and obstructive sleep apnoea severity (group effect −1.15, 95% CI −10 to 7.7) did not alter this finding. Sleepiness was significantly improved by CPAP on intention-to-treat analysis (mean difference −1.26, 95% CI −2.2 to –0.32; p=0.01).

Conclusion

CPAP did not improve Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task scores but significantly reduced sleepiness after acute quadriplegia.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12605000799651.
Steroid receptor coactivator-1 regulates glioma angiogenesis through polyomavirus enhancer activator 3 signaling
Authors: Zhang Yi , Shi Wei
Published: December 2018

Steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1) is a transcriptional coactivator for steroid receptors and other transcription factors. SRC-1 has been shown to play an important role in the progression of breast cancer and prostate cancer. However, its role in glioma progression remains unknown. Here, in this study, we report that SRC-1 is upregulated in the vessels of human glioma and exerts important regulatory functions. Specifically, SRC-1 expression significantly enhanced basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-mediated angiogenesis in vivo. Downregulating of SRC-1 expression suppressed endothelial cell migration and tube formation in vitro and upregulated the expression of pro-angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 in glioma cells. These SRC-1-mediated effects were dependent on the activation of polyomavirus enhancer activator 3 (PEA3) transcriptional activity. VEGF and VEGF inducer GS4012 induced the direct binding of SRC-1 and PEA3 in glioma cells, and PEA3 could directly bind with VEGF and MMP-9 promoter under GS4012 treatment in glioma cell. The expression of pro-angiogenic factors induced by SRC-1 was abrogated by sh-PEA3 knockdown. Taken together, these novel outcomes indicated that SRC-1 modulated endothelial cell (EC) function and facilitated a pro-angiogenic microenvironment through PEA3 signaling. Moreover, a combination of targeting SRC-1 and PEA3 signaling in glioma could be a promising strategy for suppressing tumor angiogenesis.
Effects of dynamic fragmentation on the impact force exerted on rigid barrier: centrifuge modelling
Authors: Ng C.W.W. , Choi C.E. , Cheung D.K.H. , Cui Y.
Published: December 2018

Bi-dispersity is a prerequisite for grain-size segregation, which transports the largest particles to the flow front. These large and inertial particles can fragment upon impacting a barrier. The amount of fragmentation during impact strongly influences the force exerted on a rigid barrier. Centrifuge modelling was adopted to replicate the stresses for studying the effects of bi-dispersity in a granular assembly and dynamic fragmentation on the impact force exerted on a model rigid barrier. To study the effects of bi-dispersity, the ratio between the diameters of small and large particles (δs/δl), characterizing the particle-size distribution (PSD), was varied as 0.08, 0.26, and 0.56. The volume fraction of the large particles was kept constant. A δs/δl tending towards unity characterizes inertial flow that exerts sharp impulses, and a diminishing δs/δl characterizes the progressive attenuation of these sharp impulses by the small particles. Flows dominated by grain-contact stresses (δs/δl < 0.26), as characterized by the Savage number, are effective at attenuating dispersive stresses of the large particles, which are responsible for reducing dynamic fragmentation. By contrast, flows dominated by grain-inertial stresses (δs/δl > 0.26) exhibit up to 66% more impulses and 4.3 times more fragmentation. Dynamic fragmentation of bi-disperse flows impacting a rigid barrier can dissipate about 30% of the total flow energy.
Ginsenoside Rg3 Decreases NHE1 Expression via Inhibiting EGF-EGFR-ERK1/2-HIF-1α Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Novel Antitumor Mechanism
Authors: Li Xiao , Tsauo Jiaywei , Geng Chong , Zhao He , Lei Xuelian , Li Xiao
Published: December 2018

Na[Formula: see text]/H[Formula: see text] exchanger 1 (NHE1) plays a vital role in the oncogenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been regarded as a promising target for the treatment of HCC. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a bioactive ginseng compound, is suggested to possess pleiotropic antitumor effects on HCC. However, the underlying mechanisms of Rg3 suppressing HCC remain unclear. In the present study, we uncovered a novel antitumor mechanism of Rg3 on HCC by decreasing NHE1 expression through in vivo and in vitro studies. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that epidermal growth factor (EGF) could dramatically upregulate NHE1 expression, while increasing the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) level and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1[Formula: see text] expression. In the presence of ERK1/2-specific inhibitor PD98059, EGF stimulated HIF-1[Formula: see text] and NHE1 expression was obviously blocked in addition, the presence of HIF-1[Formula: see text]-specific inhibitor 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeOE2) blocked EGF stimulated NHE1 expression. Moreover, results from in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that Rg3 treatment markedly decreased the expression of EGF, EGF receptor (EGFR), phosphorylated ERK1/2 and HIF-1[Formula: see text]. Conclusively, these findings suggested that NHE1 was stimulated by EGF, and Rg3 could decrease NHE1 expression by integrally inhibiting EGF-EGFR-ERK1/2-HIF-[Formula: see text] signal axis in HCC. Together, our evidence indicated that Rg3 was an effective multi-targets antitumor agent for the treatment of HCC.
Interaction of the variable-coefficient long-wave–short-wave resonance interaction equations
Authors: Jia Hui-Xian , Zuo Da-Wei
Published: December 2018

Long-wave–short-wave resonance interaction (LSRI) equations have been studied in the plasmas, gravity waves, nonlinear electron-plasma and ion-acoustic waves. By virtue of the bilinear method, two soliton solutions of the variable-coefficient LSRI equations are attained. Interaction of the solitons are studied when the coefficients are taken as the generalized Gauss functions. New types of the soliton interaction are exhibited. Position and width of the disturbances can be controlled.
Reaction mechanism of proton-induced pre-equilibrium α-particle emission from medium-mass nuclei at incident energies between 65 and 160MeV
Authors: Dimitrova S. S. , Cowley A. A. , Zemlyanaya E. V. , Lukyanov K. V.
Published: December 2018

The intrinsic reaction mechanism of proton-induced composite particle pre-equilibrium emission is well known to be a statistical multistep process. However, until recently it was still not clear how important the competition between pickup and knockout is to produce a composite ejectile in the multistep sequence. An evaluation of recent ([Formula: see text]) results at incident energies from 65 to 160[Formula: see text]MeV and on representative target nuclei is presented. The virtue of analyzing power angular distributions to unravel the details of the reaction mechanism is discussed and future possible avenues of investigation are explored.
A systematic study of alpha and cluster decay in Platinum isotopes
Authors: Ashok Nithu , Joseph Antony
Published: December 2018

The feasibility of alpha and cluster decay from Pt isotopes has been investigated within the framework of Skyrme Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov (HFB) theory. Calculations have been carried out for various Skyrme forces. Harmonic oscillator and transformed harmonic oscillator basis are used to solve HFB equations. The role played by shell closure is analyzed. Half-lives are estimated with the help of Universal Decay Law (UDL). Geiger–Nuttal plots are also drawn and their linear nature is successfully reproduced.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL REVELATION OF THE NATURE OF PENNATION IN THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES OF CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC TYPE CEREBRAL PALSY (STCP): IMPLICATIONS FOR FORCE GENERATION
Authors: Adjenti Saviour , Louw Graham , Jelsma Jennifer , Unger Marianne
Published: December 2018

Purpose: To investigate whether the pennation angle (PA) in the abdominal muscles of individuals with spastic type cerebral palsy (STCP) has undergone any change when compared with those of typically developing (TD) individuals. To determine whether PA of abdominal muscles in individuals with STCP impacts differently on the force generating capacity, from those of TD peers. Materials & methods: Ultrasound images of the four abdominal muscles namely; rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO) and transversus abdominis (TrA), were obtained during the resting and active stages. ImageJ software package (version 2012) was used to measure the PA of the sonographic images. Sixty-three individuals with STCP and eighty-two typically developing (TD) individuals took part in the study. The participants were between the ages of 7 and 16 years. Results: The PA for three out of the four abdominal muscles was less than 3[Formula: see text] while the RA muscle in both groups showed a pennation angle of zero degrees during the resting and active stages. Conclusion: Excluding the rectus abdominis muscle, PA appeared to be altered in individuals with STCP when compared to their TD counterparts. The characterization of PA in abdominal muscles in both groups is, however, unclear. The PA as a muscle parameter may not be an important variable for differentiating the force generating capacity between individuals with STCP and their TD peers. Further investigation is required on MAP and the overall implication of each component on abdominal muscle function, especially in the maintenance of balance and posture.
INTRA-RATER AND INTER-RATER RELIABILITY STUDY OF A MEASUREMENT METHOD FOR THE PATHWAY OF THE SUPRASPINATUS INTRAMUSCULAR TENDON BY 3.0 TESLA MRI IMAGES: THE SHEAR FORCE ANGLE ANTERIOR POSTERIOR
Authors: Kanno Yohei , Toda Hajime , Horiuchi Tsutomu , Katayose Masaki
Published: December 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a measurement method for the pathway of the supraspinatus intramuscular tendon by 3.0 tesla MRI images. Methods: The scapula and intramuscular tendon extraction DICOM data was made to extract only a scapula domain and intramuscular tendon domain. The shear force angle anterior posterior (SFA-AP) was measured as the pathway of supraspinatus intramuscular tendon with respect to the glenoid plane on three-dimensional (3D) models of the bone and intramuscular tendon. SFA-AP of supraspinatus was measured on 3D models of the bone and intramuscular tendon. The mean and standard deviation of SFA-AP of supraspinatus was calculated. Intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the mean (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC). Inter-rater reliability was evaluated by three raters. Results: As for intra-rater reliability, SFA-AP of supraspinatus measured averaged [Formula: see text], with ICC (1,1) of 0.978, with ICC (1,3) of 0.993, with SEM of 0.53, with MDC of 1.46[Formula: see text]. As for inter-rater reliability, SFA-AP of supraspinatus measured averaged [Formula: see text] (rater1), SFA-AP measured averaged [Formula: see text] (rater2), SFA-AP measured averaged [Formula: see text] (rater3), with ICC (2,1) of 0.896, with ICC (2,3) of 0.963, with SEM of 1.11, with MDC of 3.09[Formula: see text]. Conclusions: 3D models of the bone and intramuscular tendon were evaluated as intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities. SFA-AP of supraspinatus is guaranteed by one measurement.
Prior Rough Estimation and Trigonometric Decomposition Method for Frequency Estimation of Sine Wave Distorted by Noise
Authors: Zhang Junwei , Zhang Qiuyan , Zhang Bo , Ding Chao
Published: December 2018

Frequency estimation of sine wave distorted by noise plays an important role in modern power systems. The widely used windowed interpolation fast Fourier transform (WIFFT) can only reduce, but not completely remove, the estimation errors at the cost of an increment in the computation burden of frequency estimation. This paper proposes a frequency estimator by using the prior rough frequency estimation and trigonometric decomposition under white Gaussian noises. Firstly, a prior rough frequency is estimated by the three spectral lines WIFFT based on the Hanning window. Then, a parallel iteration of trigonometric decomposition is applied for the accurate frequency estimation. The gradient-descent method is used in the parallel iteration procedure, which can effectively restrain the interferences from harmonics and noise. Simulation and experiments results show that the proposed method can achieve accurate frequency estimation within one cycle.
Spectral Quasi-Linearization Method for Entropy Generation Using the Cattaneo–Christov Heat Flux Model
Authors: Mondal Hiranmoy , Sibanda Precious
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we studying the entropy generation in Sakiadis nanofluid flowing along a moving plate subject to magnetic field and a Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model that may predict the effects of thermal relaxation time on the boundary layer flow. The nonlinear transport equations are solved using a spectral quasi-linearization method. An analysis of the convergence of the method is presented, and the importance of various fluid and physical parameters concerning the behavior of the solutions is explored. Numerical analysis of the residual error and convergence properties of the method are also discussed. One of the benefits of the proposed method is that it is computationally fast and gives very accurate results after only a few iterations using very few grid points in the numerical discretization process. It is shown that the method converges fast and gives accurate results. The results show that entropy generation increases with an increase in the Reynolds number. The Bejan number is strongly affected by variations in the magnetic parameter, Brinkman number and temperature difference parameter.
Axisymmetric Generalized Interpolation Material Point Method for Fully Coupled Thermomechanical Evaluation of Transient Responses
Authors: Tao Jun , Zheng Yonggang , Zhang Hongwu , Chen Zhen
Published: December 2018

In this paper, an axisymmetric generalized interpolation material point method for fully coupled thermomechanical analysis (AxiCTGIMP) is developed for evaluating the transient responses, where both the thermoelastic and thermoplastic effects are taken into account. The generalized interpolation material point method (GIMP) discretization in space for the coupled governing equations is described in detail. A staggered solution scheme is designed to split the coupled system into the parts related to the temperature and displacement fields, respectively, which are then solved individually with explicit time integration. The AxiCTGIMP is then verified and validated with two benchmark examples: the thick-walled cylinder and the Taylor-bar impact test. The simulation results show good agreements with available analytical solutions, experimental data and other numerical results. In addition, the results indicate that the proposed solution procedure is more accurate than the original MPM while it is much more efficient than the fully three-dimensional simulation for the axisymmetric thermomechanical problems.
One-Pot Electrodeposition of NiS Nanoparticles as an Efficient Electrode for Nonenzymatic H2O2 and Glucose Sensors
Authors: Huang Zhiheng , Gu Chunchuan , Wen Jiajun , Zhu Langlang , Zhang Mingzhen , Liu Hongying
Published: December 2018

In this paper, a new and one-pot electrodeposition method was expanded for the preparation of NiS nanoparticles-based electrochemical biosensor using metal-ion complexes as a precursor. Thioacetamide was used to control the production rate of NiS nanoparticles for the first time. The proposed electrochemical sensor was characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), cyclic voltammograms (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). Experiment parameters were optimized. Under the optimized condition, the prepared NiS-based biosensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O2 and glucose due to their small size. It provided fast and sensitive strategy for detecting H2O2 and glucose in the range of 1–5000 and 1–1000[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M. The detection limit of 0.257 and 0.3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M was obtained for H2O2 and glucose. The mechanisms were also analyzed. The proposed biosensor exhibited excellent anti-interference and repeatability. Furthermore, it was applied in the actual sample analysis, such as human blood serum.
Transactional Sapphire
Authors: Ugawa Tomoharu , Ritson Carl G. , Jones Richard E.
Published: December 2018

Constructing a high-performance garbage collector is hard. Constructing a fully concurrent ‘on-the-fly’ compacting collector is much more so. We describe our experience of implementing the Sapphire algorithm as the first on-the-fly, parallel, replication copying, garbage collector for the Jikes RVM Java virtual machine (JVM). In part, we explain our innovations such as copying with hardware and software transactions, on-the-fly management of Java’s reference types, and simple, yet correct, lock-free management of volatile fields in a replicating collector. We fully evaluate, for the first time, and using realistic benchmarks, Sapphire’s performance and suitability as a low latency collector. An important contribution of this work is a detailed description of our experience of building an on-the-fly copying collector for a complete JVM with some assurance that it is correct. A key aspect of this is model checking of critical components of this complicated and highly concurrent system.
GROUP 2018 Special Issue Guest Editorial
Authors: Robert Lionel P. , Forte Andrea , Müller Claudia , Prilla Michael , Vivacqua Adriana S.
Published: December 2018

For over 25 years, the ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work (GROUP) has been and will continue to be the premier venue for research on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, Human--Computer Interaction, Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, and Socio-Technical Studies. The three papers in this special issue demonstrate GROUP's continued commitment to diverse research approaches, emerging technologies, and collaborative work. We hope you enjoy these papers and, like us, look forward to another 25 years of GROUP.
Square Lattice Iridates
Authors: Bertinshaw Joel , Kim Y.K. , Khaliullin Giniyat , Kim B.J.
Published: December 2018

Over the past few years, Sr2IrO4, a single-layer member of the Ruddlesden–Popper series iridates, has received much attention as a close analog of cuprate high-temperature superconductors. Although there is not yet firm evidence for superconductivity, a remarkable range of cuprate phenomenology has been reproduced in electron- and hole-doped iridates including pseudogaps, Fermi arcs, and d-wave gaps. Furthermore, many symmetry-breaking orders reminiscent of those decorating the cuprate phase diagram have been reported using various experimental probes. We discuss how the electronic structures of Sr2IrO4 through strong spin-orbit coupling leads to the low-energy physics that had long been unique to cuprates, what the similarities and differences between cuprates and iridates are, and how these advance the field of high-temperature superconductivity by isolating essential ingredients of superconductivity from a rich array of phenomena that surround it. Finally, we comment on the prospect of finding a new high-temperature superconductor based on the iridate series.
Brittle Fracture Theory Describes the Onset of Frictional Motion
Authors: Svetlizky Ilya , Bayart Elsa , Fineberg Jay
Published: December 2018

Contacting bodies subjected to sufficiently large applied shear will undergo frictional sliding. The onset of this motion is mediated by dynamically propagating fronts, akin to earthquakes, that rupture the discrete contacts that form the interface separating the bodies. Macroscopic motion commences only after these ruptures have traversed the entire interface. Comparison of measured rupture dynamics with the detailed predictions of fracture mechanics reveals that the propagation dynamics, dissipative properties, radiation, and arrest of these “laboratory earthquakes” are in excellent quantitative agreement with the predictions of the theory of brittle fracture. Thus, interface fracture replaces the idea of a characteristic static friction coefficient as a description of the onset of friction. This fracture-based description of friction additionally provides a fundamental description of earthquake dynamics and arrest.
Disorder in Quantum Many-Body Systems
Authors: Vojta Thomas
Published: December 2018

Impurities, defects, and other types of imperfections are ubiquitous in realistic quantum many-body systems and essentially unavoidable in solid state materials. Often, such random disorder is viewed purely negatively as it is believed to prevent interesting new quantum states of matter from forming and to smear out sharp features associated with the phase transitions between them. However, disorder is also responsible for a variety of interesting novel phenomena that do not have clean counterparts. These include Anderson localization of single-particle wave functions, many-body localization in isolated many-body systems, exotic quantum critical points, and glassy ground-state phases. This brief review focuses on two separate but related subtopics in this field. First, we review under what conditions different types of randomness affect the stability of symmetry-broken low-temperature phases in quantum many-body systems and the stability of the corresponding phase transitions. Second, we discuss the fate of quantum phase transitions that are destabilized by disorder as well as the unconventional quantum Griffiths phases that emerge in their vicinity.
Fractons
Authors: Nandkishore Rahul M. , Hermele Michael
Published: December 2018

Fracton phases constitute a new class of quantum state of matter. They are characterized by excitations that exhibit restricted mobility, being either immobile under local Hamiltonian dynamics or mobile only in certain directions. These phases do not wholly fit into any of the existing paradigms but connect to areas including glassy quantum dynamics, topological order, spin liquids, elasticity theory, quantum information theory, and gravity. We begin by discussing gapped fracton phases, which may be described using exactly solvable lattice spin models. We then introduce the framework of tensor gauge theory, which provides a powerful complementary perspective and allows us to access gapless fracton phases. We discuss the basic properties of gapless fracton phases and their connections to elasticity theory and gravity. We also discuss what is known about the dynamics and thermodynamics of fractons at nonzero density before concluding with a brief survey of some open problems.
A Perspective on Incentive Design: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Ratliff Lillian J. , Dong Roy , Sekar Shreyas , Fiez Tanner
Published: December 2018

The increasingly tight coupling between humans and system operations in domains ranging from intelligent infrastructure to e-commerce has led to a challenging new class of problems founded on a well-established area of research: incentive design. There is a clear need for a new tool kit for designing mechanisms that help coordinate self-interested parties while avoiding unexpected outcomes in the face of information asymmetries, exogenous uncertainties from dynamic environments, and resource constraints. This article provides a perspective on the current state of the art in incentive design from three core communities—economics, control theory, and machine learning—and highlights interesting avenues for future research at the interface of these domains.
The Physiology of Optimizing Health with a Focus on Exercise as Medicine
Authors: Pedersen Bente Klarlund
Published: December 2018

Physical inactivity is one of the leading health problems in the world. Strong epidemiological and clinical evidence demonstrates that exercise decreases the risk of more than 35 different disorders and that exercise should be prescribed as medicine for many chronic diseases. The physiology and molecular biology of exercise suggests that exercise activates multiple signaling pathways of major health importance. An anti-inflammatory environment is produced with each bout of exercise, and long-term anti-inflammatory effects are mediated via an effect on abdominal adiposity. There is, however, a need to close the gap between knowledge and practice and assure that basic research is translated, implemented, and anchored in society, leading to change of praxis and political statements. In order to make more people move, we need a true translational perspective on exercise as medicine, from molecular and physiological events to infrastructure and architecture, with direct implications for clinical practice and public health.
The Origins and Consequences of Affective Polarization in the United States
Authors: Iyengar Shanto , Lelkes Yphtach , Levendusky Matthew , Malhotra Neil , Westwood Sean J.
Published: December 2018

While previously polarization was primarily seen only in issue-based terms, a new type of division has emerged in the mass public in recent years: Ordinary Americans increasingly dislike and distrust those from the other party. Democrats and Republicans both say that the other party's members are hypocritical, selfish, and closed-minded, and they are unwilling to socialize across party lines. This phenomenon of animosity between the parties is known as affective polarization. We trace its origins to the power of partisanship as a social identity, and explain the factors that intensify partisan animus. We also explore the consequences of affective polarization, highlighting how partisan affect influences attitudes and behaviors well outside the political sphere. Finally, we discuss strategies that might mitigate partisan discord and conclude with suggestions for future work.
Historical Perspectives and Current Directions in Hockey Analytics
Authors: Nandakumar Namita , Jensen Shane T.
Published: December 2018

We review recent advances in hockey analytics research, most of which have occurred from the early 2000s to the present day. We discuss these advances in the context of earlier attempts to evaluate player performance in hockey. We survey the unique challenges of quantitatively summarizing the game of hockey, and how deficiencies in existing methods of evaluation shaped major avenues of research and the creation of new metrics. We present an extended analysis of the National Hockey League entry draft in terms of both retrospective evaluation and prospective strategy. We conclude with recommendations for future research in hockey analytics.
Inhibition of PAI-1 attenuates perirenal fat inflammation and the associated nephropathy in high-fat diet-induced obese mice
Authors: Liu Yong , Wang Lin , Luo Mao , Chen Ni , Deng Xin , He Jing , Zhang Liping , Luo Pei , Wu Jianbo
Published: December 2018

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is increasingly recognized as a mediator in extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in diabetic nephropathy. Previous studies have implicated PAI-1 in adipose tissue (AT) expansion, while also contributing to insulin resistance. As inflammation is also known to occur in perirenal AT during obesity, we hypothesized that in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model, PAI-1 contributes to macrophage-mediated inflammation and diabetic nephropathy. The HFD mice showed increased expression of PAI-1 in perirenal fat and also displayed increased fat weight and macrophage numbers. We found that the macrophage polarization, proinflammatory macrophage-M1-phenotype, including CD11c, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, were increased by an HFD and decreased by either the genetic depletion of PAI-1 or treatment with the PAI-1 inhibitor, PAI-039. Similarly, an enhanced anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype, including CD206 and IL-10, was accompanied by either the genetic deletion of PAI-1 or PAI-039 treatment. Furthermore, the inhibition of PAI-1 reduced HFD-induced renal histological lesions and abated profibrotic/extracellular-matrix protein. Collectively, our findings provide support that PAI-1 contributes to the development of inflammation in perirenal fat and correlates with the development of diabetic nephropathy in HFD-induced obesity.
Distributed Constraint Optimization with Flocking Behavior
Authors: Yang Zhengquan , Zhang Qing , Chen Zengqiang
Published: December 2018

This paper studies distributed optimization having flocking behavior and local constraint set. Multiagent systems with continuous‐time and second‐order dynamics are studied. Each agent has a local constraint set and a local objective function, which are known to only one agent. The objective is for multiple agents to optimize a sum of the local functions with local interaction and information. First, a bounded potential function to construct the controller is given and a distributed optimization algorithm that makes a group of agents avoid collisions during the evolution is presented. Then, it is proved that all agents track the optimal velocity while avoiding collisions. The proof of the main result is divided into three steps: global set convergence, consensus analysis, and optimal set convergence. Finally, a simulation is included to illustrate the results.
Formation Mechanism and Mechanical Properties of Soil‐Rock Mixture Containing Macropore
Authors: Zhu Feng , Qian Wei , Le Huilin , Fan Haotian , Wang Wuchao
Published: December 2018

In southwestern China, soil‐rock mixture containing macropore (SRMCM) is very common in large‐scale accumulation slopes. The formation mechanism and mechanical parameters of SRMCM play an important role in slope stability. In this paper, we designed a new physical model test to study the formation mechanism of SRMCM. We analyzed different factors that influence the formation of SRMCM. The mechanical properties of SRMCM are obtained by direct shear test. New physical model test demonstrates the best slurry consistency (30%) and slope angle (35°∼45°) to form SRMCM. The results of direct shear test show that the strength parameters of SRMCM are high and it is influenced by the angle of macropore structure. When the angle of macropore structure increases, so does the cohesion of SRMCM. In this process, the internal friction angle does not change much.
Damage Identification by the Data Expansion and Substructuring Methods
Authors: Lee Eun-Taik , Eun Hee-Chang
Published: December 2018

Structural damage can be detected by comparing the responses before and after the damage. The responses are transformed into curvature, strain, and stress, among others, which characterize the mechanical behavior of the structural members, and can be utilized as damage indices for damage detection. The damage of a truss structure can rarely be detected by the displacements only at nodes. This work investigates damage detection methods using the stress or stiffness variation rate of the truss element before and after the damage. This paper considers three different cases according to the number of measurement locations. If the complete responses at a full set of degrees of freedom are measured, the stiffness variation rates of the elements are calculated accurately, and the damage can be explicitly detected despite external noise. If the number of measured data points is fewer than the system order, the displacements are estimated by the data expansion method, and the damage‐expected regions are predicted by the stiffness variation rates. Apart from the explicitly damaged elements, the substructuring approach is adopted for closer damage detection with several measurement sensors despite external noise. It is illustrated by the examples that three cases are compared numerically. The numerical examples compare and analyze the numerical results of the three cases.
The Analysis of Spatial Pattern and Hotspots of Aviation Accident and Ranking the Potential Risk Airports Based on GIS Platform
Authors: Li Yafei , Liang Chen
Published: December 2018

Aviation accident analysis is an important task to ensure aviation safety. The existing researches mainly focus on the analysis of aviation accident time characteristics and accident causes and less analysis of the spatial characteristics of aviation accidents. The spatial characteristics analysis of aviation accidents can identify hot spots of aviation accidents, improve the accuracy of aviation accident emergency management, and provide decision support for airport route planning. This study established the severity index of aviation accident based on aviation accident data, using GIS spatial analysis methods to study the spatial distribution characteristics of aviation accidents. The hot spots were identified in the aviation accidents. Finally, airports around the accident hot spots were ranked to obtain the airports with high potential aviation risks based on RI, taking Florida as an example. It was found that in the Florida aviation accident, general aviation accidents accounted for the majority, but the aviation accident severity index for air route flight was far greater than general aviation accidents. From the spatial distribution point of view, accidents with high severity index were distributed around large international airports. The Density Center for Aviation Accidents was located in Tampa, Miami, and some airports link areas in Florida. In terms of the Moran’s I index, the distribution of aviation accidents tended to aggregate in the region as a whole. However, aviation accident severity index was randomly distributed for each year separately. At the level of significance of 0.01, there were a total of 75 accident hotspots in the Florida region, mainly in the north and southwest. Airports with high RI in the Florida area were mainly concentrated in the Miami area and the Tampa Bay area, and Orlando Airport was ranked outside the top 10.
Statistically Coherent Calibration of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for Major Elements in Rocks and Minerals
Authors: Verma Surendra P. , Verma Sanjeet K. , Rivera-Gómez M. Abdelaly , Torres-Sánchez Darío , Díaz-González Lorena , Amezcua-Valdez Alejandra , Rivera-Escoto Beatriz Adriana , Rosales-Rivera Mauricio , Armstrong-Altrin John S. , López-Loera Héctor , Velasco-Tapia Fernando , Pandarinath Kailasa
Published: December 2018

We applied both the ordinary linear regression (OLR) and the new uncertainty weighted linear regression (UWLR) models for the calibration and comparison of a XRF machine through 59 geochemical reference materials (GRMs) and a procedure blank sample. The mean concentration and uncertainty data for the GRMs used for the calibrations (Supplementary Materials) (available here) filewere achieved from an up-to-date compilation of chemical data and their processing from well-known discordancy and significance tests. The drift-corrected XRF intensity and its uncertainty were determined from mostly duplicate pressed powder pellets. The comparison of the OLR (linear correlation coefficient r∼0.9523–0.9964 and 0.9771–0.9999, respectively, for before and after matrix correction) and UWLR models (r∼0.9772–0.9976 and 0.9970–0.9999, respectively) clearly showed that the latter with generally higher values of r is preferable for routine calibrations of analytical procedures. Both calibrations were successfully applied to rock matrices, and the results were generally consistent with those obtained in other laboratories although the UWLR model showed mostly narrower confidence limits of the mean (slope and intercept) or lower uncertainties than the OLR. Similar sensitivity (∼2.69–46.17 kc·s−1·%−1 for the OLR and ∼2.78–59.69 kc·s−1·%−1 for the UWLR) also indicated that the UWLR could advantageously replace the OLR model. Another novel aspect is that the total uncertainty can be reported for individual chemical data. If the analytical instruments were routinely calibrated from the UWLR model, this action would make the science of geochemistry more quantitative than at present.
Existence of Nontrivial Solutions for Some Second-Order Multipoint Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Li Hongyu , Zhang Junting
Published: December 2018

By using fixed point theorems with lattice structure, the existence of negative solution and sign-changing solution for some second-order multipoint boundary value problems is obtained.