bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liquid metal sponges for mechanically durable, all-soft, electrical conductors
Authors: Liang Suqing , Li Yaoyao , Chen Yuzhen , Yang Jinbin , Zhu Taipeng , Zhu Deyong , He Chuanxin , Liu Yizhen , Handschuh-Wang Stephan , Zhou Xuechang
Published: December 2016

Liquid metal sponges were developed by loading nontoxic liquid metals (GaInSn) into 3D-interconnected porous poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) sponges for flexible electronics.
Single dataset method for spread‐Doppler clutter suppression in HF hybrid sky‐surface wave radar
Authors: Tong Peng , Wei Yinsheng , Xu Rongqing
Published: December 2016

In high‐frequency hybrid sky‐surface wave radars, the spread‐Doppler clutter (SDC) compromise low‐velocity target detection performance. Generally, adaptive filter methods achieve clutter suppression by estimating a clutter‐plus‐noise covariance matrix from target‐free training data, which are typically obtained from neighbouring range bins. Under certain circumstances, the clutter statistics change significantly across adjacent bins. To deal with this problem, a single dataset algorithm is proposed to suppress the SDC without secondary data. Firstly, a spatial orthogonal projection matrix is introduced to block the target component in the cell under test. Afterwards, a localised processing method is derived, using previously constructed clutter samples, to suppress the SDC. According to the experimental results, the proposed method can achieve better clutter suppression performance based on real data.
DCM operation analysis of 3‐level boost converters
Authors: Tan Yi‐Wei , Lam Chi‐Seng , Sin Sai‐Weng , Wong Man‐Chung , U. Seng‐Pan , Martins Rui Paulo
Published: December 2016

The 3‐level boost (3LB) converters have the characteristics of higher‐voltage conversion ratio and efficiency, lower inductor current ripples, output voltage ripples and voltage stresses on switches when compared with the conventional boost converters in continuous conduction mode (CCM). When implemented into an integrated circuit, the 3LB converter discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) operation cannot be avoided due to a smaller inductance. Its DCM operation analysis is deduced including CCM/DCM boundary, DCM voltage gain and DCM small signal transfer function. The deduced DCM operation theory is verified using MATLAB and Cadence, to obtain a feasible DCM closed‐loop controller design in future.
Illumination variation interference suppression in remote PPG using PLS and MEMD
Authors: Xu L. , Cheng J. , Chen X.
Published: December 2016

A novel framework based on partial least squares (PLS) and multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD) is proposed to effectively evaluate heart rate from webcam videos captured during illumination changing conditions. The framework takes the assumption that both facial region of interest (ROI) and background ROI have the similar illumination variations and the background ROI can be treated as the denoising reference by using PLS to extract the underlying common illumination variation sources existing in both ROIs. Then, a number of intrinsic mode functions are decomposed by applying MEMD to the illumination‐variation‐suppressed facial ROI and the HR is evaluated. Compared to the experimental results obtained by the recently proposed independent component analysis and the ensemble empirical mode decomposition methods, the proposed method led to a better agreement with HR ground truth (the mean bias was 3.4 bpm with 95% limits of agreement ranging from −13.2 to 19.9 bpm), indicating a promising solution for the realistic HR estimation remotely.
SIW resonator humidity sensor based on layered black phosphorus
Authors: Chen Chang‐Ming , Xu Jun , Yao Yao
Published: December 2016

A passive microwave substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW) resonator humidity sensor using black phosphorus (BP) as sensitive layers has been presented. The proposed structure consists of an SIW cavity resonator operating at S‐band and a folded sensing slot opened on the top plane. The humidity sensing performances of the proposed sensor were tested in the relative humidity range of 11–97%. Compared with an SIW resonator without BP sensitive layers, the sensitivity of the proposed SIW sensor with BP nanosheets significantly increased about 40 times.
Blind modulation classification algorithm based on machine learning for spatially correlated MIMO system
Authors: Liu Xiaokai , Zhao Chenglin , Wang Pengbiao , Zhang Yang , Yang Tianpu
Published: December 2016

Spatial correlation is a decisive factor for pragmatic multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) system, simultaneously bringing about some problems in the received signal modulation identification respect. In this study, the authors focus on blind digital modulation identification in the spatially correlated MIMO system and deliver a robust signal recognition algorithm based on extreme learning machine (ELM) and higher order statistical features for MIMO signal identification without a priori knowledge of the channel and signal parameters. The superiority of ELM lies in random selections of hidden nodes and ascertains output weights analytically, which result in lower computational complexity. Theoretically, this algorithm has a tendency to supply excellent generalisation performance at staggering learning rate. Further, the simulation results indicate that the ELM could reap a perfectly acceptable recognition performance and thus provides a solid ground structure for tackling MIMO modulation challenges in low signal‐to‐noise ratio.
Efficient and reliable slice allocation for multi‐services in DVB‐T2 networks
Authors: Wang Fang , Wang Zhaocheng , Chen Sheng
Published: December 2016

Digital television terrestrial broadcasting (DTTB) networks can help to alleviate the congestion problem in cellular networks by delivering rich contents to a large number of clients simultaneously. In particular, recently, there is a strong interest of extending current DTTB systems to support multimedia broadcasting services. The lack of return channel and long transmission time interval however impose great challenge to the resource allocation for this application in DTTB networks. The reliable resource allocation is studied for multi‐services with data delivery delay constraints in the second generation digital video broadcasting terrestrial (DVB‐T2) system. To solve this challenging problem, the data cells of a T2‐frame are divided into data slices which are indexed by binary numbers. These data slices are organised in a binary tree, and each node in the tree is associated with a certain number of non‐adjacent data slices. Then a node can be allocated to a service by using the predefined policies. Based on this scheme, this study proposes a heuristic algorithm to allocate resources to multi‐services. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and demonstrate its advantage over the current resource allocation scheme in DVB‐T2 networks.
Non‐orthogonal multiple access schemes with partial relay selection
Authors: Lee Sunyoung , da Costa Daniel Benevides , Vien Quoc‐Tuan , Duong Trung Q. , de Sousa Rafael Timóteo
Published: December 2016

Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) in amplify‐and‐forward relay systems with partial relay selection (PRS) is investigated. More specifically, new exact closed‐form expressions for the outage probabilities at two users are derived, based on which an asymptotic analysis at high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) is carried out. Additionally, to investigate the performance gap between the NOMA and orthogonal multiple access (OMA) schemes, a closed‐form approximate expression at high SNR for the sum rate is derived. Furthermore, relying on the results, the impact of the PRS on the sum rate and outage probability of the proposed NOMA scheme is examined. In particular, the derived asymptotic expressions show that the proposed scheme can improve over the traditional OMA not only the sum rate but also the user fairness. Finally, simulation results are presented to corroborate the analytical results.
Application of echo state network for harmonic detection in distribution networks
Authors: Deihimi Ali , Rahmani Abolfazl
Published: December 2016

Harmonic pollution is not a new concept but that is an important phenomenon on power systems and one of the major power quality meaning in electrical power. The high usage of non‐linear loads and power electronic devices caused power system harmonic problems raises. Harmonic detection becomes important issue for prevention of the power quality problems. Also, exact detection of harmonics amplitude in power system voltage or current is necessary to design filters for eliminating harmonics. In this study, a method based on an echo state network (ESN) is presented to estimate the harmonic components amplitude. The proposed ESN works with only a quarter cycle data point inputs, but other estimation techniques use one‐complete cycle or at least half‐cycle data. So, the proposed method is suitable for real‐time applications. Moreover, penguins search optimisation algorithm is used in the proposed method for optimising the best values of ESNs parameters causing the output of the ESN enhanced. The method is tested with a number of simulated signals and the test results indicate that the proposed method detects accurately the harmonic components amplitude compared to latest similar methods.
Fractional transmission line model of oil‐immersed transformer windings considering the frequency‐dependent parameters
Authors: Liang Guishu , Gao Shiqiang , Wang Yanchao , Zang Ying , Liu Xin
Published: December 2016

The frequency‐dependent characteristics of the impedance parameter and the admittance parameter in the transmission line model of the transformer windings (TWs) are mainly result of the skin effect of the conductor and the complex permittivity's variation with the frequency of oil‐paper, respectively. In this study, an accurate fractional transmission line model of TWs considering the frequency‐dependent parameters is proposed. The measured permittivity of oil‐paper samples is fitted based on the Cole–Cole model with single dielectric relaxation process, and then simplify the fitting model. The structure coefficient per unit length (PUL) corresponding to the complex capacitance of the TWs can be obtained based on the finite element software FEMM. Combining the simplified model with the structure coefficient, the fractional admittance PUL of TWs is derived. Then the fractional transmission line model of the TWs is determined. Finally, the calculated results of fractional transmission line model considering the frequency‐dependent parameters are compared with the experimental measurements, and the results demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed model.
Total supply capability considering distribution network reconfiguration under N − k transformer contingency and the decomposition method
Authors: Ding Tao , Li Cheng , Zhao Chaoyue , Wang Min
Published: December 2016

To guarantee reliability and resilience of distribution systems, total supply capability (TSC) under N  − 1 security has become an important consideration in distribution system planning. In this study, TSC is expanded to cover N  − k contingency, and a robust N  − k TSC evaluation is proposed, while considering the effect of topology reconfiguration. In addition, the single commodity flow constraint is put forward to guarantee the topology radiality. To address this mix integer non‐convex optimisation problem, the second‐order cones are employed to relax the non‐convex constraints so that the model can be efficiently solved, then a decomposition method is applied to solve the two‐stage robust TSC model. In the case study, the proposed method is tested by a 94‐bus test system and its effectiveness is validated. Numerical results show that the proposed method outperforms the traditional methods.
Comprehensive review of gate‐controlled series capacitor and applications in electrical systems
Authors: Ahmadi Abdollah , Gandoman Foad H. , Khaki Behnam , Sharaf Adel M. , Pou Josep
Published: December 2016

Flexible AC transmission system series compensation, such as series switched capacitors including gate‐controlled series capacitor (GCSC) plays an important role to enhance grid system transfer power, stability, power quality and loss reduction. GCSC devices are implemented using fixed or switched capacitor in parallel with a pair of anti‐parallel gate‐commuted switches. They are connected in series of transmission and distribution lines and are commonly used to control the power flow on congested transmission lines. This study presents a review of GCSC devices and future perspectives.
EMTR‐based fault location for DC line in VSC‐MTDC system using high‐frequency currents
Authors: Zhang Xipeng , Tai Nengling , Wang Yanhong , Liu Jian
Published: December 2016

An improved electromagnetic time‐reversal (EMTR)‐based method is proposed for fault‐location of voltage‐source converter multi‐terminal high‐voltage direct current systems (VSC‐MTDC) transmission lines in this study. After a brief description of the EMTR, its application to lossless transmission line is mathematically demonstrated. Assuming that the DC faults are isolated by AC breakers, a window of adequate transients is used. If the protection has identified the faulted line correctly, only the recorded measurements at both ends of the faulted line should be time‐reversed and further calculated. To eliminate the influence from AC side, the 0/1‐mode observed currents and high‐pass elliptic filter are adopted. After the processed signals are set as current sources, the current effective value at each pre‐set fault position is calculated, with the peak value at the real fault‐location. The simulation test cases are based on a five‐terminal VSCHVDC modified from the China Nanau demonstration project. The results show that the improved method has good performance to deal DC line faults with high resistance and different types. Besides,, the results are not affected by measurement errors. Compared with the travelling wave‐based method, the proposed method does not need to employ high sampling rates and precise fault‐occurred time; meanwhile, it can achieve more precise results.
Investigation on shed icicle characteristics and induced surface discharges along a suspension insulator string during ice accretion
Authors: Liu Yong , Farzaneh Masoud , Du Boxue
Published: December 2016

This investigation focuses on the dynamic process of ice accretion and induced surface discharges along a suspension insulator string in relation with the icicle characteristics in icing conditions. Using a high‐speed camera to record the insulator performance, the growth parameters of icicles at different shed edges were calculated and the characteristics of surface discharges were analysed with regards to the lapse time of ice accretion. It was found that the electric field strength can be quickly enhanced to the threshold value of air breakdown strength at the initial stage of ice accumulation, resulting in weak and unstable discharges at the air gaps between the icicles and the insulator shed surface. As the icicle kept elongating toward ice bridging, the discharges became stronger and more stable. The obtained results will be helpful to improve the operating safety of suspension insulators of power networks subjected to icing.
Paracoccidioidomycosis in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Mesquita Filho Paulo Moacir , Hofmann Agatha , De Carli Fernanda , Araújo Moisés Augusto , Giacomelli Richard , Manfroi Gregori , Leal Elizabeth , Isbert Bruna Bley Mattar , Schwingel Daniela
Published: December 2016

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis fungus, which is endemic in Latin America. Brazil is the country with the highest number of cases. The affection of the central nervous system (CNS), a potentially fatal condition, occurs in ∼ 12% of the cases. The following forms of presentation are identified: meningeal, which is unusual; meningoencephalitic; and pseudotumoral, the latter two being more frequent. Imaging tests are essential for the diagnosis, but the histological identification of the fungus is required for confirmation of the pathology. The clinical picture depends on the neuraxial location. We present a case of a male rural worker, with expansive lesions in the CNS compatible with paracoccidioidomycosis.
Pyometra and Pregnancy with Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome
Authors: Reis Maria , Vicente Ana , Cominho Joana , Gomes Andrea , Martins Luísa , Nunes Filomena
Published: December 2016

We describe a Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) patient with previous history of infertility who got pregnant without treatment and presented a pyometra in the contralateral uterus throughout the gestational period, despite multiple antibiotic treatments. Due to the uterus' congenital anomaly and the possibility of ascending infection with subsequent abortion, this pregnancy was classified as high-risk. We believe that the partial horizontal septum in the vagina may have contributed to the closure of the gravid uterus cervix, thus ensuring that the pregnancy came to term, with an uneventful vaginal delivery.
Multidisciplinary Approach to Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Reinert Tomás , Ramalho Susana , Gonçalves Rodrigo , Barrios Carlos , Graudenz Marcia , Bines José
Published: December 2016

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) tumors represent the most common form of this disease, with more than 70% of breast cancers expressing these receptors. Response and benefit to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) varies according to HR expression, with lower responses in luminal tumors as compared with hormone receptor-negative (HR-) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) tumors. Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) is an option for selected patients with HR+ locally advanced breast cancer. Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy has a favorable toxicity profile, and is associated with benefits such as having low cost and being more easily available even for cancer care professionals outside major urban areas or tertiary centers. These factors are particularly relevant, as 70% of breast cancer deaths occur in women from low-income and middle-income countries. Additionally, NET is being increasingly explored, not simply to allow for less extensive surgery, but also as a scientific tool, with the use of biomarkers to predict outcomes in adjuvant trials and for the individual patient. This review details the current and most relevant evidence about NET for breast cancer as well as the future directions of this field.
Defining irreducible water saturation using global characteristics envelopes and novel correlations
Authors: Behrenbruch Peter , Yuan Chengzhi , Truong Nhan B. , Do Huu Phil , Hoang Tuan G.
Published: December 2016

Irreducible water saturation plays a significant role in estimating hydrocarbon initially-in-place and petroleum recovery. Yet, laboratory measurements for determining irreducible water saturation take considerable time and money. For this reason available data may not cover all requirements, giving rise to the practise of using correlations to fill in gaps.
Described in this paper are the reasons for irreducible water saturation being an elusive parameter that not only depends on pore structure characteristics but also the type of experiment and laboratory procedures, as well as changing plug conditions during experimentation. This paper reviews traditional methods, as well as recent and novel approaches to quality assure laboratory data and for correlating irreducible water saturation for prediction.
To gain insight into the dependence of irreducible water saturation on detailed pore structure characteristics, most notably grain size and sorting, the usefulness of global characteristics envelopes is explored (Behrenbruch and Biniwale, 2005). In this multidimensional plot, irreducible water saturation is plotted against porosity, permeability, hydraulic radius, porosity group, flow zone indicator (grain size) and sorting, giving an insightful overview of the interdependence of parameters.
The second part of this paper compares novel correlations with commonly used correlations. Traditional and more recent correlations are covered, from simple correlations versus the logarithm of permeability to more sophisticated approaches using more variables, including porosity and others. Most notably, it is shown that an approach of correlating irreducible water saturation with grain size (or flow zone indicator [FZI]) and sorting shows great promise. Data from two Australian fields are used to demonstrate the methodology, showing a significant increase in fitting accuracy. This approach may eventually lead to a universal correlation.
Nurse provision of support to help inpatients quit smoking
Authors: Malone V. , Ezard N. , Hodge S. , Ferguson L. , Schembri A. , Bonevski B.
Published: December 2016

Issue addressed

Identification of the factors that facilitate nurses to provide smoking cessation advice to hospitalised patients.

Method

Six semistructured focus groups with 26 nurses were conducted in June 2015. Participants completed a structured survey to collect patient demographic data and assess attitudes towards their role in addressing smoking cessation among inpatients.

Results

Important themes that emerged from the qualitative data were: nurses’ negative perceptions of smokers, nurses’ confidence in their knowledge of smoking cessation care and nurses’ uncertainty around whose role it is to provide smoking cessation care.

Conclusion

Nurses require training in order to confidently and competently address smoking among inpatients as part of routine care. Formal ways to document the smoking status of inpatients and the offer of smoking cessation support from a nurse to an inpatient would enhance the communication between nurses around which inpatients had been asked about their smoking status and which had not. For patients who are resistant to conventional cessation strategies, innovative ways are needed to reduce the harm caused to them by tobacco use.

So what?

Nurses need to be provided with education and training around smoking cessation to increase their confidence and skills to provide smoking cessation care to inpatients.
Restriction to gene flow is associated with changes in the molecular basis of pyrethroid resistance in the malaria vector
Anopheles funestus
Authors: Barnes Kayla G. , Irving Helen , Chiumia Martin , Mzilahowa Themba , Coleman Michael , Hemingway Janet , Wondji Charles S.
Published: December 2016

Significance

Vector control is the cornerstone of malaria prevention. Wide-scale distribution of treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying throughout Africa has led to a major decrease in mortality, but insecticide resistance threatens this ongoing success. Here we show that across a highly endemic country, one of the main malaria vectors,
Anopheles funestus
, is resistant to several insecticide classes, including the insecticides used for bed nets. This study shows that multiple
CYP450
s
,
genes linked to xenobiotic metabolism, are responsible for insecticide resistance, but their impact varies significantly depending on geography. Genetic diversity analysis revealed that this genomic variation is associated with barriers to gene flow between southern African populations of
An. funestus
. This work should help improve resistance management and vector control strategies throughout southern Africa.
Congenital myopathy results from misregulation of a muscle Ca2+channel by mutant Stac3
Authors: Linsley Jeremy W. , Hsu I-Uen , Groom Linda , Yarotskyy Viktor , Lavorato Manuela , Horstick Eric J. , Linsley Drew , Wang Wenjia , Franzini-Armstrong Clara , Dirksen Robert T. , Kuwada John Y.
Published: December 2016

Significance

Skeletal muscle contractions are regulated by a process called excitation–contraction (EC) coupling, and defects in it are associated with numerous human myopathies. Recently,stac3(SH3 and cysteine-rich domain 3) was identified as a key regulator of EC coupling and aSTAC3mutation as causal for the debilitating Native American myopathy (NAM). We now show that Stac3 controls EC coupling by regulating Ca2+channels in muscles. Both the NAM mutation and a mutation that leads to the loss of Stac3 decrease the amount, organization, stability, and voltage sensitivity of Ca2+channels. Furthermore, we find evidence that the NAM allele ofSTAC3is linked to malignant hyperthermia, a common pharmacogenic disorder. These findings define critical roles for Stac3 in muscle contraction and human disease.
Arithmetic formulas for the Fourier coefficients of Hauptmoduln of level 2, 3, and 5
Authors: Matsusaka Toshiki , Osanai Ryotaro
Published: December 2016

We give arithmetic formulas for the coefficients of Hauptmoduln of higher level as analogues of Kaneko’s formula for the

j
j

-invariant. We also obtain their asymptotic formulas by employing Murty-Sampath’s method.
An operadic proof of Baez-Dolan stabilization hypothesis
Authors: Batanin M.
Published: December 2016

We prove a stabilization theorem for algebras of

n
n

-operads in a monoidal model category

E

.

\mathcal {E}.

It implies a version of the Baez-Dolan stabilization hypothesis for Rezk’s weak

n
n

-categories and some other stabilization results.
Mean proximality and mean Li-Yorke chaos
Authors: Garcia-Ramos Felipe , Jin Lei
Published: December 2016

We prove that if a topological dynamical system is mean sensitive and contains a mean proximal pair consisting of a transitive point and a periodic point, then it is mean Li-Yorke chaotic (DC2 chaotic). On the other hand we show that a system is mean proximal if and only if it is uniquely ergodic and the unique measure is supported on one point.
Arc and curve graphs for infinite-type surfaces
Authors: Aramayona Javier , Fossas Ariadna , Parlier Hugo
Published: December 2016

We study arc graphs and curve graphs for surfaces of infinite topological type. First, we define an arc graph relative to a finite number of (isolated) punctures and prove that it is a connected, uniformly hyperbolic graph of infinite diameter; this extends a recent result of J. Bavard to a large class of punctured surfaces.

We also study the subgraph of the curve graph spanned by those elements which intersect a fixed separating curve on the surface. We show that this graph has infinite diameter and geometric rank 3, and thus is not hyperbolic.
Gleason’s problem associated to the fractional Cauchy-Riemann operator, Fueter series, Drury-Arveson space and related topics
Authors: Alpay D. , Cerejeiras P. , Kähler U.
Published: December 2016

In this paper we present the building blocks for a function theory based on fractional Cauchy-Riemann operators. We are going to construct basic monogenic powers and Fueter series. With these tools we are going to study Gleason’s problem and reproducing kernel spaces, like the Drury-Arveson space and de Branges-Rovnyak spaces. We end with a statement on Schur multipliers in this setting.
A note on the Erdős-Hajnal property for stable graphs
Authors: Chernikov Artem , Starchenko Sergei
Published: December 2016

In this note we give a proof of the Erdős–Hajnal conjecture for families of finite (hyper-)graphs without the

m
m

-order property. This theorem is in fact implicitly proved by M. Malliaris and S. Shelah (2014), however we use a new technique of independent interest combining local stability and pseudo-finite model theory.
Planning bioinformatics workflows using an expert system
Authors: Chen Xiaoling , Chang Jeffrey T
Published: December 2016

Motivation

Bioinformatic analyses are becoming formidably more complex due to the increasing number of steps required to process the data, as well as the proliferation of methods that can be used in each step. To alleviate this difficulty, pipelines are commonly employed. However, pipelines are typically implemented to automate a specific analysis, and thus are difficult to use for exploratory analyses requiring systematic changes to the software or parameters used.

Results

To automate the development of pipelines, we have investigated expert systems. We created the Bioinformatics ExperT SYstem (BETSY) that includes a knowledge base where the capabilities of bioinformatics software is explicitly and formally encoded. BETSY is a backwards-chaining rule-based expert system comprised of a data model that can capture the richness of biological data, and an inference engine that reasons on the knowledge base to produce workflows. Currently, the knowledge base is populated with rules to analyze microarray and next generation sequencing data. We evaluated BETSY and found that it could generate workflows that reproduce and go beyond previously published bioinformatics results. Finally, a meta-investigation of the workflows generated from the knowledge base produced a quantitative measure of the technical burden imposed by each step of bioinformatics analyses, revealing the large number of steps devoted to the pre-processing of data. In sum, an expert system approach can facilitate exploratory bioinformatic analysis by automating the development of workflows, a task that requires significant domain expertise.

Availability and Implementation

https://github.com/jefftc/changlab
Introducing COCOS: codon consequence scanner for annotating reading frame changes induced by stop-lost and frame shift variants
Authors: Butkiewicz Mariusz , Haines Jonathan L , Bush William S
Published: December 2016

Reading frame altering genomic variants can impact gene expression levels and the structure of protein products, thus potentially inducing disease phenotypes. Current annotation approaches report the impact of such variants in the context of altered DNA sequence only; attributes of the resulting transcript, reading frame and translated protein product are not reported. To remedy this shortcoming, we present a new genetic annotation approach termed Codon Consequence Scanner (COCOS). Implemented as an Ensembl variant effect predictor (VEP) plugin, COCOS captures amino acid sequence alterations stemming from variants that produce an altered reading frame, such as stop-lost variants and small insertions and deletions (InDels). To highlight its significance, COCOS was applied to data from the 1000 Genomes Project. Transcripts affected by stop-lost variants introduce a median of 15 amino acids, while InDels have a more extensive impact with a median of 66 amino acids being incorporated. Captured sequence alterations are written out in FASTA format and can be further analyzed for impact on the underlying protein structure.

Availability and Implementation

COCOS is available to all users on github: https://github.com/butkiem/COCOS
An Evidence-Based Algorithm for Early Prognosis of Severe Dengue in the Outpatient Setting
Authors: Nguyen Minh Tuan , Ho Thi Nhan , Nguyen Van Vinh Chau , Nguyen Thanh Hung , Ha Manh Tuan , Ta Van Tram , Nguyen Le Da Ha , Phan Loi , Han Khoi Quang , Duong Thi Hue Kien , Tran Nguyen Bich Chau , Wills Bridget , Wolbers Marcel , Simmons Cameron P.
Published: December 2016

Background.

Early prediction of severe dengue could significantly assist patient triage and case management.

Methods.

We prospectively investigated 7563 children with ≤3 days of fever recruited in the outpatient departments of 6 hospitals in southern Vietnam between 2010 and 2013. The primary endpoint of interest was severe dengue (2009 World Health Organization Guidelines), and predefined risk variables were collected at the time of enrollment to enable prognostic model development.

Results.

The analysis population comprised 7544 patients, of whom 2060 (27.3%) had laboratory-confirmed dengue; nested among these were 117 (1.5%) severe cases. In the multivariate logistic model, a history of vomiting, lower platelet count, elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level, positivity in the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) rapid test, and viremia magnitude were all independently associated with severe dengue. The final prognostic model (Early Severe Dengue Identifier [ESDI]) included history of vomiting, platelet count, AST level. and NS1 rapid test status.

Conclusions.

The ESDI had acceptable performance features (area under the curve = 0.95, sensitivity 87% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80%–92%), specificity 88% (95% CI, 87%–89%), positive predictive value 10% (95% CI, 9%–12%), and negative predictive value of 99% (95% CI, 98%–100%) in the population of all 7563 enrolled children. A score chart, for routine clinical use, was derived from the prognostic model and could improve triage and management of children presenting with fever in dengue-endemic areas.
Deep learning for pharmacovigilance: recurrent neural network architectures for labeling adverse drug reactions in Twitter posts
Authors: Cocos Anne , Fiks Alexander G , Masino Aaron J
Published: December 2016

Objective

Social media is an important pharmacovigilance data source for adverse drug reaction (ADR) identification. Human review of social media data is infeasible due to data quantity, thus natural language processing techniques are necessary. Social media includes informal vocabulary and irregular grammar, which challenge natural language processing methods. Our objective is to develop a scalable, deep-learning approach that exceeds state-of-the-art ADR detection performance in social media.

Materials and Methods

We developed a recurrent neural network (RNN) model that labels words in an input sequence with ADR membership tags. The only input features are word-embedding vectors, which can be formed through task-independent pretraining or during ADR detection training.

Results

Our best-performing RNN model used pretrained word embeddings created from a large, non–domain-specific Twitter dataset. It achieved an approximate match F-measure of 0.755 for ADR identification on the dataset, compared to 0.631 for a baseline lexicon system and 0.65 for the state-of-the-art conditional random field model. Feature analysis indicated that semantic information in pretrained word embeddings boosted sensitivity and, combined with contextual awareness captured in the RNN, precision.

Discussion

Our model required no task-specific feature engineering, suggesting generalizability to additional sequence-labeling tasks. Learning curve analysis showed that our model reached optimal performance with fewer training examples than the other models.

Conclusions

ADR detection performance in social media is significantly improved by using a contextually aware model and word embeddings formed from large, unlabeled datasets. The approach reduces manual data-labeling requirements and is scalable to large social media datasets.
Unraveling the conjunction paradox
Authors: Spottswood Emily
Published: December 2016

The conjunction paradox arises when a claim requires proof of multiple elements and the likelihood of some elements are at least partially independent of the likelihood of others. In that situation, probability theory may dictate that the conjunction of the elements is less likely than their disjunction, implying that a defendant should not be found liable, even though each element is probably true when considered in isolation. Nonetheless, American jury instructions reject this implication, and many scholars of proof have sought to construct normative theories to justify that rejection.

This article collects and critiques two families of arguments about the conjunction paradox. First, I explain why an explanatory conception of proof cannot eliminate the paradox. Second, I show why various mathematical alternatives to standard probability theory are normatively deficient when applied to legal fact-finding. Instead, I suggest that the best way to resolve the paradox is through instructions that encourage juries to make appropriate adjustments for conjunctive and disjunctive likelihoods without having to frame their analyses in mathematical terms.
Can Solar Lanterns Improve Youth Academic Performance? Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Kudo Yuya , Shonchoy Abu S , Takahashi Kazushi
Published: December 2016

We conducted an experimental intervention in unelectrified areas of northern Bangladesh to investigate the effectiveness of solar products in improving children’s educational achievement. We found that treated households substituted solar lanterns for kerosene-based lighting products, helping to decrease total household expenditure. Solar lanterns increased the children’s home-study hours, particularly at night and before exams. The solar lanterns initially led to an increase in school attendance, but this effect diminished over time. However, the increased study hours and initial improvement in school attendance did not translate into improved academic performance. Varying the number of solar products within the treated households did not alter these results. Analyses that exploited the school grade treatment intensity also provided no evidence suggesting that spillover effects explained the “no academic performance effects.” These findings suggest that improving the home-study environment solely through the provision of solar products may have a limited impact on children’s educational achievement.
MACULAR MICROCYSTS IN SCHWARTZ–MATSUO SYNDROME
Authors: Chen Xuejing , Richter Grace M. , Caprioli Joseph , McCannel Tara A.
Published: December 2016

Purpose:

To describe a case of macular microcysts associated with advanced secondary glaucoma from Schwartz–Matsuo syndrome.

Methods:

Clinical presentation, color fundus photography, optic disk photography, visual fields, and optical coherence tomography are presented.

Results:

A 32-year-old woman presented with advanced, unilateral secondary glaucoma associated with a macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. She was diagnosed with Schwartz–Matsuo syndrome. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed macular microcystic changes in the paracentral retina at the level of the inner nuclear layer.

Conclusion:

Macular microcystic changes in the paracentral inner nuclear layer on spectral domain optical coherence tomography have been described in eyes with optic atrophy associated with a variety of diseases. This is the first described case of macular microcysts associated with advanced secondary glaucoma from Schwartz–Matsuo syndrome and may offer insights into the pathogenesis of these microcysts.
Validating Facial Aesthetic Surgery Results with the FACE-Q
Authors: Kappos Elisabeth A. , Temp Mathias , Schaefer Dirk J. , Haug Martin , Kalbermatten Daniel F. , Toth Bryant A.
Published: December 2016

Background:

In aesthetic clinical practice, surgical outcome is best measured by patient satisfaction and quality of life. For many years, there has been a lack of validated questionnaires. Recently, the FACE-Q was introduced, and the authors present the largest series of face-lift patients evaluated by the FACE-Q with the longest follow-up to date.

Methods:

Two hundred consecutive patients were identified who underwent high–superficial musculoaponeurotic system face lifts, with or without additional facial rejuvenation procedures, between January of 2005 and January of 2015. Patients were sent eight FACE-Q scales and were asked to answer questions with regard to their satisfaction. Rank analysis of covariance was used to compare different subgroups.

Results:

The response rate was 38 percent. Combination of face lift with other procedures resulted in higher satisfaction than face lift alone (p < 0.05). Patients who underwent lipofilling as part of their face lift showed higher satisfaction than patients without lipofilling in three subscales (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Facial rejuvenation surgery, combining a high–superficial musculoaponeurotic system face lift with lipofilling and/or other facial rejuvenation procedures, resulted in a high level of patient satisfaction. The authors recommend the implementation of the FACE-Q by physicians involved in aesthetic facial surgery, to validate their clinical outcomes from a patient’s perspective.
A Temporoparietal Fascia Pocket Method in Elevation of Reconstructed Auricle for Microtia
Authors: Kurabayashi Takashi , Asato Hirotaka , Suzuki Yasutoshi , Kaji Nobuyuki , Mitoma Yoko
Published: December 2016

Background:

In two-stage procedures for reconstruction of microtia, an axial flap of temporoparietal fascia is widely used to cover the costal cartilage blocks placed behind the framework. Although a temporoparietal fascia flap is undoubtedly reliable, use of the flap is associated with some morbidity and comes at the expense of the option for salvage surgery.

Methods:

The authors devised a simplified procedure for covering the cartilage blocks by creating a pocket in the postauricular temporoparietal fascia. In this procedure, the constructed auricle is elevated from the head superficially to the temporoparietal fascia, and a pocket is created under the temporoparietal fascia and the capsule of the auricle framework. Then, cartilage blocks are inserted into the pocket and fixed. A total of 38 reconstructed ears in 38 patients with microtia ranging in age from 9 to 19 years were elevated using the authors’ method from 2002 to 2014 and followed for at least 5 months. To evaluate the long-term stability of the method, two-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05) was carried out to analyze the effect on the projection angles of the method (an axial temporoparietal fascia flap method versus a temporoparietal fascia pocket method) over long-term follow-up.

Results:

Good projection of the auricles and creation of well-defined temporoauricular sulci were achieved. Furthermore, the sulci had a tendency to hold their steep profile over a long period.

Conclusions:

The temporoparietal fascia pocket method is simple but produces superior results. Moreover, pocket creation is less invasive and has the benefit of sparing temporoparietal fascia flap elevation.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Differential cell-matrix responses in hypoxia-stimulated aortic versus mitral valves
Authors: Sapp Matthew C. , Krishnamurthy Varun K. , Puperi Daniel S. , Bhatnagar Saheba , Fatora Gabrielle , Mutyala Neelesh , Grande-Allen K. Jane
Published: December 2016

Tissue oxygenation often plays a significant role in disease and is an essential design consideration for tissue engineering. Here, oxygen diffusion profiles of porcine aortic and mitral valve leaflets were determined using an oxygen diffusion chamber in conjunction with computational models. Results from these studies revealed the differences between aortic and mitral valve leaflet diffusion profiles and suggested that diffusion alone was insufficient for normal oxygen delivery in mitral valves. During fibrotic valve disease, leaflet thickening due to abnormal extracellular matrix is likely to reduce regional oxygen availability. To assess the impact of low oxygen levels on valve behaviour, whole leaflet organ cultures were created to induce leaflet hypoxia. These studies revealed a loss of layer stratification and elevated levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha in both aortic and mitral valve hypoxic groups. Mitral valves also exhibited altered expression of angiogenic factors in response to low oxygen environments when compared with normoxic groups. Hypoxia affected aortic and mitral valves differently, and mitral valves appeared to show a stenotic, rheumatic phenotype accompanied by significant cell death. These results indicate that hypoxia could be a factor in mid to late valve disease progression, especially with the reduction in chondromodulin-1 expression shown by hypoxic mitral valves.
Niépce–Bell or Turing: how to test odour reproduction
Authors: Harel David
Published: December 2016

Decades before the existence of anything resembling an artificial intelligence system, Alan Turing raised the question of how to test whether machines can think, or, in modern terminology, whether a computer claimed to exhibit intelligence indeed does so. This paper raises the analogous issue for olfaction: how to test the validity of a system claimed to reproduce arbitrary odours artificially, in a way recognizable to humans. Although odour reproduction systems are still far from being viable, the question of how to test candidates thereof is claimed to be interesting and non-trivial, and a novel method is proposed. Despite the similarity between the two questions and their surfacing long before the tested systems exist, the present question cannot be answered adequately by a Turing-like method. Instead, our test is very different: it is conditional, requiring from the artificial no more than is required from the original, and it employs a novel method of immersion that takes advantage of the availability of easily recognizable reproduction methods for sight and sound,a laNicéphore Niépce and Alexander Graham Bell.
Managing aquatic parasites for reduced drug resistance: lessons from the land
Authors: McEwan Gregor F. , Groner Maya L. , Burnett Danielle L. , Fast Mark D. , Revie Crawford W.
Published: December 2016

Atlantic salmon farming is one of the largest aquaculture industries in the world. A major problem in salmon farms is the sea louse ectoparasite
Lepeophtheirus salmonis
, which can cause stress, secondary infection and sometimes mortality in the salmon host. Sea lice have substantial impacts on farm economics and potentially nearby wild salmonid populations. The most common method of controlling sea louse infestations is application of chemicals. However, most farming regions worldwide have observed resistance to the small set of treatment chemicals that are available. Despite this, there has been little investigation of treatment strategies for managing resistance in aquaculture. In this article, we compare four archetypical treatment strategies inspired by agriculture, where the topic has a rich history of study, and add a fifth strategy common in aquaculture. We use an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate these strategies and their varying applications of chemicals over time and space. We analyse the ABM output to compare how the strategies perform in controlling louse abundance, number of treatments required and levels of resistance in the sea louse population. Our results indicated that among the approaches considered applying chemicals in combination was the most effective over the long term.
Home ranges, habitat and body mass: simple correlates of home range size in ungulates
Authors: Ofstad Endre Grüner , Herfindal Ivar , Solberg Erling Johan , Sæther Bernt-Erik
Published: December 2016

The spatial scale of animal space use, e.g. measured as individual home range size, is a key trait with important implications for ecological and evolutionary processes as well as management and conservation of populations and ecosystems. Explaining variation in home range size has therefore received great attention in ecological research. However, few studies have examined multiple hypotheses simultaneously, which is important provided the complex interactions between life history, social system and behaviour. Here, we review previous studies on home range size in ungulates, supplementing with a meta-analysis, to assess how differences in habitat use and species characteristics affect the relationship between body mass and home range size. Habitat type was the main factor explaining interspecific differences in home range size after accounting for species body mass and group size. Species using open habitats had larger home ranges for a given body mass than species using closed habitats, whereas species in open habitats showed a much weaker allometric relationship compared with species living in closed habitats. We found no support for relationships between home range size and species diet or mating system, or any sexual differences. These patterns suggest that the spatial scale of animal movement mainly is a combined effect of body mass, group size and the landscape structure. Accordingly, landscape management must acknowledge the influence of spatial distribution of habitat types on animal behaviour to ensure natural processes affecting demography and viability of ungulate populations.