bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exhibiting life history at the Paris Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (nineteenth–twenty-first centuries)
Authors: Cohen Claudine
Published: June 2019

The notion of a history of life has been the subject of extensive debates in France, from the turn of the nineteenth century to the dawn of the twentieth century and beyond. In this paper, I analyze how the organization of buildings and collections within the Paris National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), and their successive transformations up to the present, have reflected concepts and controversies over this history. After a brief overview of the constitution of the Museum, this chapter studies the organization of the Museum’s paleontological, zoological, and comparative anatomy collections, and the devices through which scientific ideas and debates about evolution have been displayed and presented to the public.

This paper will focus more particularly on the settings of three major collections of zoological specimens: (1) Georges Cuvier’s “Museum of Comparative Anatomy,” which was opened to the public in 1806; (2) the Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy Gallery, which was founded by Albert Gaudry in 1898; and (3) the Great Gallery of Evolution, which was inaugurated in 1994. I will argue that organizing these exhibits involved theoretical choices, taxonomic methods, scientific practices and rhetoric of displays, as well as ideological choices that connected natural history to its intellectual and sociopolitical background.

Through the examination of these different settings over a period of more than two centuries and their present use, I will question today’s choices of the Paris Museum regarding the meaning and roles of these galleries, involving patrimonial conservation, public entertainment, and diffusion of scientific knowledge in the public.
The museums of Philadelphia
Authors: Newcomb Sally
Published: June 2019

The museums of Philadelphia are noted for both their variety and their longevity. Some of these institutions have been present since before the American Revolution and reflect the continuity within a population for which education was always a predominant goal. Others have arisen over subsequent centuries in response to various needs. Some, such as the American Philosophical Society and the Fairmont Water Works, are eighteenth-century institutions that relatively lately acquired a more formal museum format. Colonial interest in natural history, mineralogy, and natural resources with collateral maps and papers makes them a prime resource for historians of geology. All of these institutions reflect the nature of the museum movement itself from often private or privileged collections to those both welcoming the public and serving as sturdy arms of education. Historians of geology will find maps, instruments, collections, books, and personal and government papers that are of much interest.
Carl Akeley’s revolution in exhibit design at the Milwaukee Public Museum
Authors: Rosenberg Gary David
Published: June 2019

Carl Akeley (1864–1926) started a revolution in museum exhibit design when he created his muskrat diorama for the Milwaukee Public Museum in 1890. It was the first museum exhibit to show an animal in its natural habitat and the first to have a realistic background painted to create the illusion of depth and continuity of the animal’s environment. After the Scientific Revolution began and especially during the “Age of the Marvelous” in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, collections of natural and human-made objects were displayed in “wünderkammern,” rooms of wonder or curiosity cabinets, often arranged in a way that we might now consider strange, without a modern understanding of systematics, environmental, or cultural context. From the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century until Akeley’s muskrat diorama, taxonomic groupings dominated museum displays.

Akeley’s genius as a taxidermist gave the dioramas an unsurpassed realism. Instead of stuffing animal skins with straw and cotton as taxidermists had done for centuries, Akeley mounted the skins over armatures that he steadily improved as he moved from Milwaukee to the Field Museum in Chicago, and finally to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He modeled ancillary items such as plants in the diorama with obsessive detail. The results were unprecedented evocations of living animals actively engaged in their ecological niches (herein defined as their place in nature, including their activities).

Akeley’s focus was the same as that of the great minds of the Scientific Revolution, and it’s the same as scientists’ today: the geometry of nature, its structural detail, and spatial relationships. Akeley showed not only the form and structure of animals in his dioramas, but he also defined the environmental space that encompassed them as well. Akeley’s focus was more mundane than Descartes’s res extensa or Stephen Hawking’s dark matter between cosmic bodies, but Akeley for the first time showed the general public that they could see the form and structure of animals and the space between in an altogether new way. Today that vision has a name, ecology. And we call its conception in deep time, paleoecology.
Twenty-first-century natural history: Planetary geology in natural history museums
Authors: Aubele J.C. , Crumpler L.S.
Published: June 2019

The traditional model of the natural history museum developed during an age of exploration. In the twenty-first century, natural history museums can demonstrate the excitement of science and enhance geoscience education by using the space-age exploration of our solar system and incorporating the geoscience subdiscipline of planetary geology. Natural history museums reach a self-selected, self-directed, and multigenerational audience. This audience can choose to pursue a range of exhibits and programs in various sciences offered by a museum. The public may be interested in geoscience but often has limited knowledge or understanding of the science. Planetary geology offers an effective way to add content and technology to the traditional natural history museum and a new way to interest museum visitors in basic geoscience. Over the past decade, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) has successfully used planetary geology to enhance geoscience education by incorporating the following techniques: (1) geoscience related to a specific planet or planetary mission; (2) geoscience related to a planetary problem; and (3) planetary geology related to art. Use of these techniques has allowed the NMMNHS to reach multiple and underrepresented audiences, to encourage interest in basic geoscience, and to better serve the science education needs of the state of New Mexico. The addition of planetary geology to the traditional range of science topics enables natural history museums to continue their evolution as relevant sources of geoscience and provides them with an additional and effective way to teach geoscience in the twenty-first century.
From public lands to museums: The foundation of U.S. paleontology, the early history of federal public lands and museums, and the developing role of the U.S. Department of the Interior
Authors: Liggett Gregory A. , Childs S. Terry , Famoso Nicholas A. , McDonald H. Gregory , Titus Alan L. , Varner Elizabeth , Liggett Cameron L.
Published: June 2019

Today, the United States Department of the Interior manages 500 million acres of surface land, about one-fifth of the land in the United States. Since enactment of the Antiquities Act in 1906, historic and scientific resources collected on public land have remained government property, held in trust for the people of the United States. As a result, the Department of the Interior manages nearly 204 million museum objects. Some of these objects are in federally managed repositories; others are in the repositories of partner institutions.

The establishment of the United States as a nation corresponded with the development of paleontology as a science. For example, mastodon fossils discovered at or near present-day Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Kentucky, found their way to notable scientists both in the United States and in Europe by the mid-eighteenth century and were instrumental in establishing the reality of extinction.

Public land policies were often contentious, but generally they encouraged settlement and use, which resulted in the modern pattern of federal public lands. Continued investigation for fossils from public land filled the nation’s early museums, and those fossils became the centerpieces of many museum exhibitions.

Case studies of the management of fossils found in Fossil Cycad National Monument, the John Day fossil beds, the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas of public land, the American Falls Reservoir, and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument are outlined. These examples provide a sense of the scope of fossils on federal public land, highlight how their management can be a challenge, and show that public land is vital for continued scientific collection and research.
Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis
Authors: Gandhi Vidhyachandra , Gautam Pratik , Chharchhodawala Taher , Pai Nitin
Published: June 2019

Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a hereditary disorder with an incidence of approximately 1:3000 at birth. Gastrointestinal (GI) lesions occur in approximately one-third of the patients, with most being asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. Symptomatic lesions leading to GI bleeding are uncommon. We share our experience of an elderly man with NF1, who presented with massive recurrent GI bleeding secondary to jejunal neurofibromas. The lesions were identified on CT scan of abdomen, and the patient was managed with resection of the involved bowel segment.
Hybrid use of REBOA in a South African tertiary trauma unit for penetrating torso trauma
Authors: Khan Muhammad Zafar , Bruce John , Baer David , Hoencamp Rigo
Published: June 2019

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been implemented in numerous countries. However, its use has not been widespread in (South) Africa, and when used, not well reported on. Further, REBOA has been performed with devices designed for other purposes. In this case report, we describe the use of a purpose designed device for image-free use in emergent haemorrhage control and resuscitation in a patient with multicavity penetrating trauma. Implications for the use of REBOA in these challenging cases is discussed, and a novel method of insertion of a REBOA catheter is presented.
Assessing the efficacy, safety and utility of 6-month day-and-night automated closed-loop insulin delivery under free-living conditions compared with insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: an open-label, multicentre, multinational, single-period, randomised, parallel group study protocol
Authors: Musolino Gianluca , Allen Janet M , Hartnell Sara , Wilinska Malgorzata E , Tauschmann Martin , Boughton Charlotte , Campbell Fiona , Denvir Louise , Trevelyan Nicola , Wadwa Paul , DiMeglio Linda , Buckingham Bruce A , Weinzimer Stuart , Acerini Carlo L , Hood Korey , Fox Steven , Kollman Craig , Sibayan Judy , Borgman Sarah , Cheng Peiyao , Hovorka Roman
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Closed-loop systems titrate insulin based on sensor glucose levels, providing novel means to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia while improving glycaemic control. We will assess effectiveness of 6-month day-and-night closed-loop insulin delivery compared with usual care (conventional or sensor-augmented pump therapy) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods and analysis

The trial adopts an open-label, multicentre, multinational (UK and USA), randomised, single-period, parallel design. Participants (n=130) are children and adolescents (aged ≥6 and <19 years) with type 1 diabetes for at least 1 year, and insulin pump use for at least 3 months with suboptimal glycaemic control (glycated haemoglobin ≥58 mmol/mol (7.5%) and ≤86 mmol/mol (10%)). After a 2–3 week run-in period, participants will be randomised to 6-month use of hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery, or to usual care. Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. The primary outcome is glycated haemoglobin at 6 months. Other key endpoints include time in the target glucose range (3.9–10 mmol/L, 70–180 mg/dL), mean sensor glucose and time spent above and below target. Secondary outcomes include SD and coefficient of variation of sensor glucose levels, time with sensor glucose levels <3.5 mmol/L (63 mg/dL) and <3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dL), area under the curve of glucose <3.5 mmol/L (63 mg/dL), time with glucose levels >16.7 mmol/L (300 mg/dL), area under the curve of glucose >10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL), total, basal and bolus insulin dose, body mass index z-score and blood pressure. Cognitive, emotional and behavioural characteristics of participants and caregivers and their responses to the closed-loop and clinical trial will be assessed. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for closed-loop will be estimated.

Ethics and dissemination

Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee and Jaeb Center for Health Research Institutional Review Office approved the study. The findings will be disseminated by peer-review publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

NCT02925299; Pre-results.
Process evaluation of fidelity and costs of implementing the Integrated Chronic Disease Management model in South Africa: mixed methods study protocol
Authors: Lebina Limakatso , Alaba Olufunke , Kawonga Mary , Oni Tolu
Published: June 2019

Introduction

The South African Department of Health has developed and implemented the Integrated Chronic Disease Management (ICDM) model to respond to the increased utilisation of primary healthcare services due to a surge of non-communicable diseases coexisting with a high prevalence of communicable diseases. However, some of the expected outcomes on implementing the ICDM model have not been achieved. The aims of this study are to assess if the observed suboptimal outcomes of the ICDM model implementation are due to lack of fidelity to the ICDM model, to examine the contextual factors associated with the implementation fidelity and to calculate implementation costs.

Methods and analysis

A process evaluation, mixed methods study in 16 pilot clinics from two health districts to assess the degree of fidelity to four major components of the ICDM model. Activity scores will be summed per component and overall fidelity score will be calculated by summing the various component scores and compared between components, facilities and districts. The association between contextual factors and the degree of fidelity will be asseseed by multivariate analysis, individual and team characteristics, facility features and organisational culture indicators will be included in the regression. Health system financial and economic costs of implementing the four components of the ICDM model will be calculated using an ingredient approach. The unit of implementation costs will be by activity of each of the major components of the ICDM model. Sensitivity analysis will be carried out using clinic size, degree of fidelity and different inflation situations.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the University of Cape Town and University of the Witwatersrand Human Research ethics committees. The results of the study will be shared with the Department of Health, participating health facilities and through scientific publications and conference presentations.
Autotransfusion using a novel ultrafiltration device (Hemosep, Advancis Surgical) for the management of acute intraoperative haemorrhage in a dog
Authors: Diaz Maria del Mar , Kaartinen Johanna
Published: June 2019

A one‐year‐old entire male Caucasian Mountain Dog underwent tibial plateau levelling osteotomy. During surgery the tibialis cranialis artery and vein were inadvertently severed and blood loss reached 20 per cent in 30 minutes. Blood from the surgical field was collected and an autotransfusion was performed using a novel ultrafiltration device (Hemosep, Advancis Surgical) without major complications. This case report describes the use the Hemosepand discusses the different techniques available for autotransfusion. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report of autotransfusion using an ultrafiltration device to control acute haemorrhage in veterinary medicine.
Physical activity and its association with psychosocial health following bariatric surgery
Authors: Maggisano Melinda , Maeda Azusa , Okrainec Allan , Wnuk Susan , Sockalingam Sanjeev , Jackson Timothy
Published: June 2019

Physical activity (PA) helps sustain weight loss and may also provide psychological benefits in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Using a set of questionnaires, we demonstrated that bariatric patients with increased level of PA at 1-year follow-up had better psychosocial outcomes including depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life compared with those who had reduced or unchanged level of PA. Our findings indicate the benefit of incorporating PA in the postoperative care for bariatric patients.

Novelty Postoperative behavioural change in terms of physical activity improves psychosocial health in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
THE ROLE OF MARKETIZATION ON THE LINKAGE BETWEEN MISALLOCATION AND PRODUCTIVITY DISPERSION: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: AN YUAN , DENG KEBIN , DING ZHONG , GAO FOX
Published: June 2019

This paper enriches the misallocation literature by identifying the role of marketization based on China’s manufacturing database. We find that when the effect of misallocation on TFP dispersion is larger than that of market competition, the TFP dispersion of private enterprises tends to increase, misallocation decreases and market competition increases. However, as the dispersion of state-owned enterprises in China decreases, misallocation and market competition both increase.
CHANGES OF ECONOMIC STRUCTURE, INTEREST GROUPS AND AGRICULTURAL-TRADE PROTECTION: THE CASE OF CHINA
Authors: YAN WENSHOU , HUANG KAIXING
Published: June 2019

This paper seeks to explore the motivations behind agricultural trade-related support policies through extending the two-sector specific factor production model to three sectors to make the model more relevant for a one-party state such as China. This model suggests that the switch from taxing to subsidizing the agricultural sector depends not only on changes in the economy’s structure but, more critically, on the underlying political support from heterogeneous interest groups in the course of economic development. The equilibrium agricultural protection level is determined by equating the marginal political returns from supporting farmers with the marginal political costs from opposing groups (including manufacturers).
Possible formation of wormholes from dark matter in an isothermal galactic halo and void
Authors: Sarkar Nayan , Sarkar Susmita , Rahaman Farook , Kuhfittig P. K. F. , Khadekar G. S.
Published: June 2019

It is well-known that traversable wormholes are valid solutions of the Einstein field equations, but these structures can only be maintained by violating the null energy condition. In this paper, we have obtained such wormhole solutions in an isothermal galactic halo, as well as in a void. We have shown that the null energy condition is violated, with the help of a suitable redshift function obtained from flat galactic rotation curves.
A note on proper homothetic vector fields in plane symmetric perfect fluid static spacetimes in f(R, T) theory of gravity
Authors: Khan M. Jamil , Shabbir Ghulam , Ramzan M.
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this paper is to find proper homothetic vector fields in plane symmetric perfect fluid static spacetimes in the [Formula: see text] theory of gravity by using direct integration technique. In this study, there exist six cases. Studying each case in detail, we found that in four cases proper homothetic vector fields exist while in the other two cases homothetic vector fields become Killing vector fields.
Probing the scale of non-commutativity of space
Authors: Ghoderao Pulkit S. , Gavai Rajiv V. , Ramadevi P.
Published: June 2019

Examining composite operators in non-commutative (NC) spaces, we show that these operators do not have a simple gauge transformation which can be attributed to the effective total charge of the composite particle. Using this result, along with the known constraint on charges permitted in NC quantum electrodynamics, we place a limit on the scale of non-commutativity to be at most smaller than current LHC limits for compositeness. Furthermore, this also suggests that a substructure at still smaller scales is necessary if such spaces are to be a physical reality.
Is the electromagnetic field responsible for the cosmic acceleration in late times?
Authors: Novello M. , Hartmann A. E. S.
Published: June 2019

We show that in the realm of general relativity, a nonminimal coupling between the electromagnetic and the gravitational fields may produce an era of accelerated expansion.
Minimum Component All Pass Filters Using a New Versatile Active Element
Authors: Faseehuddin Mohammad , Sampe Jahariah , Shireen Sadia , Md Ali Sawal Hamid
Published: June 2019

In this paper, a new active element namely Dual-X current conveyor differential input transconductance amplifier (DXCCDITA) is proposed. The DXCCDITA is utilized in designing four minimum component fully cascadable all pass filter (APF) structures. The designed all pass filters require only single active element and one/two passive elements for realization thus making them a minimum component implementation. Two among the four presented all pass structures require only a single capacitor for implementation. A scheme for realizing nth order all pass filter is also suggested and a fourth order voltage mode (VM) filter is developed from the proposed scheme. The effect of non-idealities on the proposed all pass filters is also studied. A simple oscillator is also developed using one of the all pass filter structure. The oscillator required only one DXCCDITA, two capacitors and one resistor for implementation. The DXCCDITA is implemented in 0.35[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m TSMC CMOS technology parameters and tested in Tanner EDA. Sufficient numbers of simulations are provided to establish the functionality of all pass structures. The experimental results using commercially available integrated circuits (ICs) are also provided.
Efficient Chaotic Encryption Scheme with OFB Mode
Authors: Noura Hassan , Guyeux Christophe , Chehab Ali , Mansour Mohammad , Couturier Raphaël
Published: June 2019

Data confidentiality is mandatory during transmission or when storing sensitive information, especially in financial, medical and military applications. In this context, several cipher solutions and techniques have been presented in the literature. However, existing solutions are mainly based on static structures, where the confusion and diffusion primitives are fixed and independent of the secret key. In this article, we propose a new block cipher scheme that is based on the Substitution Permutation Networks (SPN). The proposed cipher consists of three operations: round-key addition, substitution, and bits’ permutation. Moreover, the substitution operation is applied at the byte level and it is based on a dynamically generated S-box, while the diffusion primitives are applied at the bit level using a dynamically generated P-box. Such key-dependent design ensures better cryptographic strength and system performance when compared, for instance, to DES, 3DES, RC5, and PRESENT schemes, among others, due to its key expansion algorithm. Thorough analysis show that the proposed scheme exhibits a high degree of randomness, key and plain-text sensitivity, and it satisfies the avalanche effect. From a theoretical perspective, we have formulated the Output Feedback mode of operation as a discrete dynamical system on a topological space. We prove that the dynamics of this system (in terms of sensitivity to the initial vector, etc.) are directly related to the strong connectivity of a graph. By doing so, we are able to characterize the conditions under which this mode evolves chaotically, as defined in Devaney’s theory. In particular, such theoretical investigations allow us to link the avalanche effect and key sensitivity of the cipher with the sensitivity of the whole process, that is, with the mode of operation.
Hyperchaos and Coexisting Attractors in a Modified van der Pol–Duffing Oscillator
Authors: Rajagopal Karthikeyan , Khalaf Abdul Jalil M. , Wei Zhouchao , Pham Viet-Thanh , Alsaedi Ahmed , Hayat Tasawar
Published: June 2019

This paper deals with a new modified hyperchaotic van der Pol–Duffing (MVPD) snap oscillator. Various dynamical properties of the proposed system are investigated with the help of Lyapunov exponents, stability analysis of the equilibrium points and bifurcation plots. The existence of the Hopf bifurcation is established by analyzing the corresponding characteristic equation. It is also proved that the MVPD oscillator shows multistability with coexisting attractors. Various numerical simulations are conducted and presented to show the dynamical behavior of the MVPD system. To show that the system is hardware realizable, we derive the discrete model of the MVPD system using the Euler’s method and using the hardware–software cosimulation, the proposed MVPD system is implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays. It is shown that the output of the digital implementations of the MVPD systems matches the numerical analysis.
Volterra Equations with Periodic Nonlinearities: Multistability, Oscillations and Cycle Slipping
Authors: Smirnova Vera B. , Proskurnikov Anton V.
Published: June 2019

In this paper, systems of nonlinear integro-differential Volterra equations are examined that can be represented as feedback interconnections of linear time-invariant block and periodic nonlinearities. The interest in such systems is motivated by their numerous applications in mechanical, electrical and communication engineering; examples include, but are not limited to, models of phase-locked loops, pendulum-like mechanical systems, coupled vibrational units and electric machines. Systems with periodic nonlinearities are usually featured by multistability and have infinite sequences of (locally) stable and unstable equilibria; their trajectories may exhibit nontrivial (e.g. chaotic) behavior. We offer frequency-domain criteria, ensuring convergence of any solution to one of the equilibria points, and this property is referred to as the gradient-like behavior and corresponds to phase locking in synchronization systems. Although it is hard to find explicitly the equilibrium, attracting a given trajectory, we give a constructive estimate for the distance between this limit equilibrium and the initial condition. The relevant estimates are closely related to the analysis of cycle slipping in synchronization systems. In the case where the criterion of gradient-type behavior fails, a natural question arises — which nonconverging solutions may exist in the system and, in particular, how many periodic solutions it has. We show that a relaxation of the frequency-domain convergence criterion ensures the absence of high-frequency periodic orbits. The results obtained in the paper are based on the method of integral quadratic constraints that has arisen in absolute stability theory and stems from Popov’s techniques of “a priori integral indices”. We illustrate the analytic results by numerical simulations.
The Liouvillian Integrability of Several Oscillators
Authors: Giné Jaume , Valls Claudia
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we characterize all the Liouvillian first integrals of a cubic polynomial differential system that contains the van der Pol and the Duffing oscillators. It is also shown that the centers correspond to the Liouville integrable cases.
Super-biderivations and linear super-commuting maps on the twisted N = 2 superconformal algebra
Authors: Cheng Xiao , Sun Jiancai
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we will first determine all the super-skewsymmetric super-biderivations of the twisted [Formula: see text] superconformal algebra [Formula: see text], and prove that every super-skewsymmetric super-biderivation of the twisted [Formula: see text] superconformal algebra [Formula: see text] is inner. Then, we will show that all the linear super-commuting maps on the twisted [Formula: see text] superconformal algebra [Formula: see text] are standard.
An enhanced bracket polynomial for knotoids
Authors: Miyazawa Yasuyuki
Published: June 2019

A multi-variable polynomial invariant for knotoids and linkoids, which is an enhancement of the bracket polynomial for knotoids introduced by Turaev, is given by using the concept of a pole diagram which originates in constructing a virtual link invariant. Several features of the polynomial are revealed.
Viscosity calculations from hadron resonance gas model: Finite size effect
Authors: Ghosh Snigdha , Samanta Subhasis , Ghosh Sabyasachi , Mishra Hiranmaya
Published: June 2019

We have attempted to review on microscopic calculation of transport coefficients like shear and bulk viscosities in the framework of hadron resonance gas (HRG) model, where a special attention is explored on the effect of finite system size. The standard expressions of transport coefficients, obtained from relaxation time approximation of kinetic theory or diagrammatic Kubo-type formalism, carry mainly two temperature-dependent components — thermodynamical phase space and relaxation time of medium constituent. Owing to the quantum effect of finite system size, thermodynamical phase space can be reduced as its momentum distribution will be started from some finite lower momentum cut-off instead of zero momentum. On the other hand, relaxation time of hadrons can also face finite size effect by considering only those relaxation scales, which are lower than the system size. Owing to these phenomenological issues, we have proposed a system size-dependent upper bound of transport coefficients for ideal HRG model, whose qualitative technique may also be applicable in other models. This finite size-prescription may guide to shorten the broad numerical band, within which earlier estimated values of transport coefficients for hadronic matter are located. It is also suspected that the hadronic matter may not be far from the (nearly) perfect fluid nature like the quark gluon plasma.
Combined wavelet and Gabor convolution neural networks
Authors: Dagher Issam , Abujamra Samir
Published: June 2019

Handwriting recognition is a very active research in the machine learning community. In this paper, we tackled two important applications: handwritten digit recognition and Signature verification using convolution neural network (CNN). Signature is one of the most popular personal attributes for authentication. It is basic, shabby and adequate to individuals, official associations and courts. This paper focuses on offline signature verification (SV). It is a kind of a classification problem, which classifies the signature as genuine, or forgery. We use CNN in two types of datasets: the MNIST database, and UTSIG database. In order to obtain better accuracy, we propose to preprocess the data in the wavelet domain and in the Gabor filter combining the outputs of both CNN. This combination resulted in higher recognition accuracy compared to other techniques.
CHROMOSOMAL LOCATIONS OFmcr-1INKlebsiella pneumoniaeANDEnterobacter cloacaeFROM DOGS
Authors: CHANG MING-HUANG , CHEN GUAN-JUN , LO DAN-YUAN
Published: June 2019

In November 2015, the emergence of a novel plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanism was described. So far, there are only two relevant published reports focused solely on Escherichia coli and Salmonella in Taiwan. This paper describes the emergence of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae clinical isolates harboring mcr-1 on chromosomes in Taiwan. All four mcr-1-positive isolates were from 63 Klebsiella spp., and the isolated Enterobacter spp. were from diseased dogs and cats at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, National Chiayi University. These four isolates were resistant to colistin, amoxicillin, doxycycline and oxytetracycline, and all mcr-1 genes were located on the chromosome, without any flanking ISApl1 or other insertion sequences. The findings suggest that, in addition to food animals and humans, companion animals can serve as reservoirs of mcr-1, adding another layer of complexity to the rapidly evolving epidemiology of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in the community. Hence we consider it essential to continue to survey resistance to colistin in these bacteria. Continuous microbiological and molecular surveillance is necessary to assist in early detection and minimize the dissemination of mcr-1.
One-Step Hydrothermal Preparation of 1D α-MoO3 Nanobelt Electrode Material for Supercapacitor
Authors: Wen Puhong , Guo Jingjing , Ren Lijun , Wang Chuanchuan , Lan Yuzhu , Jiang Xiaowen
Published: June 2019

1D [Formula: see text]-MoO3 nanobelts were prepared using ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate [(NH[Formula: see text]Mo7O[Formula: see text]H2O] as raw material by one-step hydrothermal method without template or guide agent at 180∘C. The layered [Formula: see text]-MoO3 nanobelt electrode has favorable electrochemical performance, and displays a fairly high specific capacitance, which can be up to 445[Formula: see text]F/g at a current density of 0.5[Formula: see text]A/g.
Three-Dimensional Hierarchically Ternary Iron Tungsten Nitride Nanosheets with Slight Ratio of Nickel Modulation for Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhang Xuyang , Shen Hangjia , Moghadam Babak Rezaei , Liu Siqi , Zhu Yuejin , Wang Jiacheng , Yang Minghui
Published: June 2019

Practical application of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in energy conversion devices, such as water splitting and metal-air batteries, relies on the development of highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts and is still challengeable. Here, Nickel modulated ternary Iron tungsten nitride (Ni-FeWN[Formula: see text] nanosheets are synthesized through a facile hydrothermal growth method and subsequently nitriding process for boosting OER. A potential of 1.57[Formula: see text]V at the current density of 10[Formula: see text]mA/cm2 and Tafel slope (40[Formula: see text]mV/dec) are achieved on Ni-FeWN2, much lower than that on Ni-free FeWN2 and commercial IrO2. More importantly, Ni-FeWN2 nanosheets display high stability and electrocatalytic activity toward driving oxygen evolution efficiently in alkaline media.
Highly Yellow-Emitting Photoluminescent Carbon Dots Derived from Dendrimer Toward Fluorescent Nanocomposites and White LEDs
Authors: Zhang Yan , Yuan Guohui , Huang Youyuan
Published: June 2019

Photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) are synthesized and derived from carboxyl-modified PAMAM dendrimer precursor by a one-pot solvothermal method. The obtained CDs exhibit highly bright Yellow-emitting fluorescence with quantum yield of 62.6%. In practice, using their excellent photoluminescence and good compatibility, the CDs are processed with polymers for various fluorescent nanocomposites (such as film, microfiber and bulk hydrogel) and applied as light conversion materials for white LEDs.
Green emitted CdSe@ZnS quantum dots for FLIM and STED imaging applications
Authors: Zhao Mengjie , Ye Shuai , Peng Xiao , Song Jun , Qu Junle
Published: June 2019

Inorganic quantum dots (QDs) have excellent optical properties, such as high fluorescence intensity, excellent photostability and tunable emission wavelength, etc., facilitating them to be used as labels and probes for bioimaging. In this study, CdSe@ZnS QDs are used as probes for Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope (FLIM) and stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy imaging. The emission peak of CdSe@ZnS QDs centered at 526[Formula: see text]nm with a narrow width of 19[Formula: see text]nm and the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) was 64%. The QDs presented excellent anti-photobleaching property which can be irradiated for 400[Formula: see text]min by STED laser with 39.8[Formula: see text]mW. The lateral resolution of 42.0[Formula: see text]nm is demonstrated for single QDs under STED laser (27.5[Formula: see text]mW) irradiation. Furthermore, the CdSe@ZnS QDs were for the first time used to successfully label the lysosomes of living HeLa cells and 81.5[Formula: see text]nm lateral resolution is obtained indicating the available super-resolution applications in living cells for inorganic QD probes. Meanwhile, Eca-109 cells labeled with the CdSe@ZnS QDs was observed with FLIM, and their fluorescence lifetime was around 3.1[Formula: see text]ns, consistent with the in vitro value, suggesting that the QDs could act as a satisfactory probe in further FLIM-STED experiments.
Detection and localization of the hemoglobin and collagen distribution of the uterine cervix
Authors: Tien Tran Van , Quynh Nguyen Ngoc , Duc Le Huynh , Cat Phan Ngoc Khuong , Linh Huynh Quang
Published: June 2019

Changes of the blood vessels and collagen are associated with the development of abnormal cervical cells. Recently, optical coherence tomography and Mueller polarization images were used to provide information regarding the presence of collagen fibers in the cervical tissue. However, most of these methods need a lot of time for image recording and are expensive. In addition, the general survey on the absorption and distribution characteristics of collagen and blood in the cervical is still lacking. In this study, we developed a colposcopy combining cross-polarized image and image processing algorithm with an efficient analytical model to map the distribution of blood and collagen in the uterine. For this system’s proof of concept, we captured and processed the case of cervical ectopy and Nabothian cyst. The results show that the distribution of blood and collagen maps matched with anatomical and physiological when compared with Lugol’s iodine images. This technology has some advantages, such as low cost, real time, and can replace the use of acetic acid or Lugol’s iodine in the future.
Determination of creatinine level in patient blood samples by Fourier NIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis in comparison with biochemical assay
Authors: Barnea Zvi Hai , Abookasis David
Published: June 2019

In this paper, in vivo spectra from 23 patients’ blood samples with various Creatinine (Cr) concentration levels ranging from 0.96 to 12.5 mg/dL were measured using Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer (FT-NIRS) and spectrum quantitative analysis method. Since Cr undergoes passive filtration, it serves as a key biomarker of kidneys function via the estimation of glomerular filtration rate. Thus, increased blood Cr concentration reflects impaired renal function. After spectra pre-processing and outlier exclusion, a spectral model was developed based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) method, wherein Cr concentrations correlated with filtered NIR spectra across several peaks, where Cr is known to absorb NIR light. Several statistical metrics were applied to estimate the model efficiency during data analysis. Comparison of spectra-derived concentrations to reference Cr measurements by the current gold-standard Jaffe’s method held in hospital lab revealed a Cr prediction accuracy of 1.64[Formula: see text]mg/dL with good correlation of [Formula: see text]. Bland-Altman plots were used to compare between our calculations and reference lab values and reveal minimal bias between the two. The finding presented the potential of FT-NIRS coupled with PLSR technique for Cr determination.
Insight into Al–Si interface of PERC by Kelvin probe force microscopy
Authors: Wang Xingbo , Qian Guoyu , Gao Zhou , Jiang Xing , Chen Yongji , Liu Jian , Lin Yuan , Pan Feng
Published: June 2019

Passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) has the advantage of higher short circuit current and open circuit voltage, which are generally claimed to be related to the reduction of rear side recombination and the increase of rear surface reflection. However, few works have focused on exploring the internal conducting mechanism about it. Herein, the influence of PERC technique on improving the short circuit current is investigated by comparing a PERC with a single crystalline silicon (sc-Si) solar cell. The surface potential results measured by Kelvin probe force microscopy show a higher surface potential step at the Al–Si interface of PERC than that of sc-Si cell, indicating a severe energy band variation and a better carrier collecting ability of PERC. Moreover, by using advanced microstructure characterization techniques, the relationship among the surface potential step, morphology and element distribution is fully studied, which proposes a new viewpoint to explain the enhanced performance of PERC.
Age Difference in Perceived Ease of Use, Curiosity, and Implicit Negative Attitude toward Robots
Authors: Chien Sung-En , Chu Li , Lee Hsing-Hao , Yang Chien-Chun , Lin Fo-Hui , Yang Pei-Ling , Wang Te-Mei , Yeh Su-Ling
Published: June 2019

Understanding older adults’ attitudes toward robots has become increasingly important as robots have been introduced in various settings, such as retirement homes. We investigated whether there are age differences in both implicit and explicit attitudes toward robots after interacting with an assistive robot. Twenty-four younger and 24 older adults were recruited. Explicit attitudes were measured by self-reported questionnaires both before and after interacting with the robot. State curiosity toward robots was also measured as a momentary form of explicit attitude. Implicit attitude was measured via an implicit association test. Our results showed that (1) both older and younger adults had more positive explicit attitudes toward robots after interaction; (2) older adults had lower state curiosity than younger adults, however, their state curiosity would be up to the same level as younger adults when they perceived the robot with higher levels of personal association; and (3) the implicit association between robots and negative words was stronger for older adults than younger adults, suggesting that older adults had more implicit negative attitude toward robots. The results suggest that, despite older adults’ relatively more negative implicit attitude toward robots, personally relevant positive experiences could help improve their explicit attitudes toward robots.
Sampling Projected Spherical Caps in Real Time
Authors: Peters Christoph , Dachsbacher Carsten
Published: June 2019

Stochastic shading with area lights requires methods to sample the light sources. For diffuse materials, the best strategy is to sample proportionally to projected solid angle. Recent work in offline rendering has addressed this problem for spherical light sources, but the solution is unsuitable for a GPU implementation. We present a far more efficient solution. It offers results without noteworthy noise for diffuse surfaces lit by an unoccluded spherical light source while being only two to three times more costly than simple sampling of the solid angle. The core insight of the technique is that a projected spherical cap can be decomposed into, or at least approximated by, cut disks. We present an efficient method to sample cut disks and show how to use it to sample projected spherical caps. In some cases, our method does not sample exactly proportionally to projected solid angle but the deviation is provably bounded.
Deep Precomputed Radiance Transfer for Deformable Objects
Authors: Li Yue , Wiedemann Pablo , Mitchell Kenny
Published: June 2019

We propose, DeepPRT, a deep convolutional neural network to compactly encapsulate the radiance transfer of a freely deformable object for rasterization in real-time.

With pre-computation of radiance transfer (PRT) we can store complex light interactions appropriate to the shape of a given object at each surface point for subsequent real-time rendering via fast linear algebra evaluation against the viewing direction and distant light environment. However, performing light transport projection into an efficient basis representation, such as Spherical Harmonics (SH), requires a numerical Monte Carlo integration computation, limiting usage to rigid only objects or highly constrained deformation sequences. The bottleneck, when considering freely deformable objects, is the heavy memory requirement to wield all pre-computations in rendering with global illumination results. We present a compact representation of PRT for deformable objects with fixed memory consumption, which solves diverse non-linear deformations and is shown to be effective beyond the input training set. Specifically, a U-Net is trained to predict the coefficients of the transfer function (SH coefficients in this case), for a given animation's shape query each frame in real-time.

We contribute deep learning of PRT within a parametric surface space representation via geometry images using harmonic mapping with a texture space filling energy minimization variant. This surface representation facilitates the learning procedure, removing irrelevant, deformation invariant information; and supports standard convolution operations. Finally, comparisons with ground truth and a recent linear morphable-model method is provided.
Novel Deleterious nsSNPs withinMEFVGene that Could Be Used as Diagnostic Markers to Predict Hereditary Familial Mediterranean Fever: Using Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Mustafa Mujahed I. , Abdelhameed Tebyan A. , Abdelrhman Fatima A. , Osman Soada A. , Hassan Mohamed A.
Published: June 2019

Background. Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease (AID) affecting mainly the ethnic groups originating from Mediterranean basin. We aimed to identify the pathogenic SNPs in MEFV by computational analysis software.Methods. We carried out in silico prediction of structural effect of each SNP using different bioinformatics tools to predict substitution influence on protein structure and function.Result. 23 novel mutations out of 857 nsSNPs are found to have deleterious effect on the MEFV structure and function.Conclusion. This is the first in silico analysis of MEFV gene to prioritize SNPs for further genetic mapping studies. After using multiple bioinformatics tools to compare and rely on the results predicted, we found 23 novel mutations that may cause FMF disease and it could be used as diagnostic markers for Mediterranean basin populations.