bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Detection of Game Engine Artifacts Using Full Reference Image Quality Metrics
Authors: Piórkowski Rafał , Mantiuk Radosław , Siekawa Adam
Published: March 2017

Contemporary game engines offer an outstanding graphics quality but they are not free from visual artifacts. A typical example is aliasing, which, despite advanced antialiasing techniques, is still visible to the game players. Essential deteriorations are the shadow acne and peter panning responsible for deficiency of the shadow mapping technique. Also Z-fighting, caused by the incorrect order of drawing polygons, significantly affects the quality of the graphics and makes the gameplay more difficult. In this work, we propose a technique, in which visibility of deteriorations is uncovered by the objective image quality metrics (IQMs). We test the efficiency of a simple mathematically based metric and advanced IQMs: a Spatial extension of CIELAB (S-CIELAB), the Structural SIMilarity Index (SSIM), the Multiscale Structural SIMilarity Index (MS-SSIM), and the High Dynamic Range Visual Difference Predictor-2 (HDR-VDP-2). Additionally, we evaluate the Color Image Difference (CID) metric, which is recommended to detect the differences in colors. To find out which metric is the most effective for the detection of the game engine artifacts, we build a database of manually marked images with representative set of artifacts. We conduct subjective experiments in which people manually mark the visible local artifacts in the screenshots from the games. Then the detection maps averaged over a number of observers are compared with results generated by IQMs. The obtained results show that SSIM and MS-SSIM metrics outperform other techniques. However, the results are not indisputable, because, for small and scattered aliasing artifacts, HDR-VDP-2 metrics report the results most consistent with the average human observer. As a proof of concept, we propose an application in which resolution of the shadow maps is controlled by the SSIM metric to avoid perceptually visible aliasing artifacts on the shadow edges.
Women@GECCO workshop 2016
Authors: Ochoa Gabriela
Published: March 2017

Over the years, the Women@GECCO workshop has held an invited talk, where a female role model shares with us the passion for her field, in the context of her life and career story. This year, we had the privilege to host Prof. Stephanie Forrest, who also presented the SIGEVO plenary lecture in Memory of John Holland at the main conference.
Fun and games at IEEE WCCI 2016, Vancouver, Canada
Authors: Langdon W. B.
Published: March 2017

Following UCL spin-out DeepMind's success at beating the world Go champion, there was very much a flavour of artificial intelligence (AI) in the air. For example Deep Learning was the topic of Juergen Schmidhuber's invited plenary talk and some of the competitions, for example, Diego Perez and Simon Lucas' General Video Game AI Competition (winner Tom Vodopivec shown in Figure 9). David Fogel president of Natural Selection Inc., gave an impressive lecture open to the general public (see Figure 1). He covered the story of how he and Kumar Chellapilla evolved a competition level checkers (draughts) player. He talked about taking it out into the real world to play people in online competitions. He related the difference in his opponents online behaviour when playing as David 1101 or when playing as Blondie242.
Solutions of First-Order Volterra Type Linear Integrodifferential Equations by Collocation Method
Authors: Agbolade Olumuyiwa A. , Anake Timothy A.
Published: March 2017

The numerical solutions of linear integrodifferential equations of Volterra type have been considered. Power series is used as the basis polynomial to approximate the solution of the problem. Furthermore, standard and Chebyshev-Gauss-Lobatto collocation points were, respectively, chosen to collocate the approximate solution. Numerical experiments are performed on some sample problems already solved by homotopy analysis method and finite difference methods. Comparison of the absolute error is obtained from the present method and those from aforementioned methods. It is also observed that the absolute errors obtained are very low establishing convergence and computational efficiency.
Patient Perspectives on Engagement in Recovery after Hip Fracture: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sims-Gould Joanie , Stott-Eveneshen Sarah , Fleig Lena , McAllister Megan , Ashe Maureen C.
Published: March 2017

Purpose. To understand older adults’ engagement in their recovery experience and rehabilitation after a fall-related hip fracture. Method. 50 community-dwelling older adults recovering from a recent (3–12 months) hip fracture (32 women, 18 men) participated in telephone interviews using a semistructured format at 6 and 12 months after recruitment into the study. Interviews were conducted as part of a mixed-methods study designed to test the effect of a postoperative hip fracture management program (B4 Clinic). Results. Three substantive themes were identified in the qualitative data: (1) managing expectations; (2) engaging in physical activity; and (3) there is life after fracture. Participants shared valuable insight into how their expectations for their recovery period compared to their lived experience and the role of physical activity in their ability to return to their prefracture activities. Conclusions. Our findings reflect older adults’ expectations for recovery from hip fracture. Encouraging engagement in rehabilitative exercises and addressing expectations prior to hospital discharge may improve patients’ adherence to rehabilitation programs, functional outcomes, and postoperative quality of life. Implications for rehabilitation include the necessity for early and ongoing engagement of rehabilitation professionals.
Influence of Heat Treatment on the Morphologies of Copper Nanoparticles Based Films by a Spin Coating Method
Authors: Liu Wei , Guo Jiayu , Fan Zhonghua , Wang Xiaorong , Yu Dingkun , Chen Rong , Huang Shisheng , He Peng
Published: March 2017

We have investigated the influence of heat treatment on the morphologies of copper nanoparticles based films on glass slides by a spin coating method. The experiments show that heat treatment can modify the sizes and morphologies of copper nanoparticles based films on glass slides. We suggest that through changing the parameters of heat treatment process may be helpful to vary the scattering and absorbing intensity of copper nanoparticles when used in energy harvesting/conversion and optical devices.
The Safety and Efficacy of Adjustable Postoperative Position after Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Authors: Lin Zhong , Sun Jin Tao , Wu Rong Han , Moonasar Nived , Zhou Ye Hui
Published: March 2017

Purpose.To report the safety and efficacy of adjustable postoperative position for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Methods.Retrospective review of 536 consecutive RRD eyes that underwent vitrectomy surgery for retina repair from year 2008 to 2014. The retinal breaks were divided into superior, lateral (nasal, temporal, and macular), and inferior locations, according to the clock of breaks. Patients with superior and lateral break location were allowed to have facedown position or lateral decubitus position postoperatively, while patients with inferior break location were allowed to have facedown position.Results.403 eyes of 400 patients were included. The mean follow-up interval was 22.7 ± 21.3 months. The overall primary retinal reattachment rate was 93.3%. There were 24 (6.0%), 273 (67.7%), and 106 (26.3%) patients with superior, lateral, and inferior break location, respectively. The primary reattachment rate was 95.8%, 92.3%, and 95.3% accordingly. After further divided the break location into subgroups as a function of duration of symptom, postoperative lens situation, number of retinal breaks, and different vitreous tamponade, the primary reattachment rates were all higher than 82%.Conclusion.Adjustable postoperative positioning is effective and safe for RRD repair with different break locations. Choosing postoperative position appropriately according to retinal break locations could be recommended.
The Immune Effects of an African Traditional Energy Tonic in In Vitro and In Vivo Models
Authors: Ngcobo Mlungisi , Gqaleni Nceba , Naidoo Vinny , Cele Protus
Published: March 2017

Most of the African traditional medicines (ATM) are formulated as energy tonics to boost and maintain immune defences. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the immune effects of a traditional energy tonic using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), THP‐1 monocytes, and bacteria infected rats. When tested in mitogen and peptidoglycan stimulated PBMCs, this energy tonic showed minimal cytotoxicity, while in acute toxicity studies in rats it did not exhibit any significant toxicity at doses up to 2000 mg/mL/kg. The energy tonic doses between 100 and 10 μg/mL were shown to stimulate secretion of cytokines and increase sIL‐2R levels in PHA‐treated PBMCs. Similar doses in PG‐S. aureus‐stimulated PBMCs significantly (p < 0.05) increased IL‐1α, IL‐2, and GM‐CSF while causing a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in sIL‐2R levels. NF‐κβ transcriptional activity was increased in LPS stimulated THP‐1 cells. In Sprague Dawley rats pretreated with the energy tonic and then infected with S. aureus, there were insignificant increases in cytokines and sIL‐2R when compared to bacteria infected only and 5% Enrofloxacin treated rats. Posttreatment with energy tonic doses after infection with S. aureus did not enhance inflammatory cytokines significantly but changed the immune response profile and decreased corticosterone levels. This ATM showed promising immunomodulatory effects on isolated immune cells and modulated the immune response of rat models infected with S. aureus.
Traveling Wave Solutions of Space-Time Fractional Generalized Fifth-Order KdV Equation
Authors: Lu Dianchen , Yue Chen , Arshad Muhammad
Published: March 2017

The Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, especially the fractional higher order one, provides a relatively accurate description of motions of long waves in shallow water under gravity and wave propagation in one-dimensional nonlinear lattice. In this article, the generalizedexp⁡(-Φ(ξ))-expansion method is proposed to construct exact solutions of space-time fractional generalized fifth-order KdV equation with Jumarie’s modified Riemann-Liouville derivatives. At the end, three types of exact traveling wave solutions are obtained which indicate that the method is very practical and suitable for solving nonlinear fractional partial differential equations.
Disordered Stabilization of Stochastic Delay Systems: The Disorder‐Dependent Approach
Authors: Wang Guoliang , Cai Hongyang
Published: March 2017

In this paper, a general stabilization problem of stochastic delay systems is realized by a disordered controller and studied by exploiting the disorder‐dependent approach. Different from the traditional results, the stabilizing controller here experiences a disorder between control gains and system states. Firstly, the above disorder is described by the robust method, whose probability distribution is embodied by a Markov process with two modes. Based on this description, a kind of disordered controller having special uncertainties and depending on a Markov process is proposed. Then, by exploiting a disorder‐dependent Lyapunov functional, two respective conditions for the existence of such a disordered controller are provided with LMIs. Moreover, the presented results are further extended to a general case that the corresponding transition rate matrix of the disordered controller has uncertainties. Finally, a numerical example is exploited to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed methods.
Tests and Analyses of Slotted-In Steel-Plate Connections in Composite Timber Shear Wall Panels
Authors: Girhammar Ulf Arne , Källsner Bo
Published: March 2017

The authors present an experimental and analytical study of slotted-in connections for joining walls in the Masonite flexible building (MFB) system. These connections are used for splicing wall elements and for tying down uplifting forces and resisting horizontal shear forces in stabilizing walls. The connection plates are inserted in a perimeter slot in the PlyBoard™ panel (a composite laminated wood panel) and fixed mechanically with screw fasteners. The load-bearing capacity of the slotted-in connection is determined experimentally and derived analytically for different failure modes. The test results show ductile postpeak load-slip characteristics, indicating that a plastic design method can be applied to calculate the horizontal load-bearing capacity of this type of shear walls.
Long‐Term Effects of Maternal Deprivation on Redox Regulation in Rat Brain: Involvement of NADPH Oxidase
Authors: Marković Branka , Radonjić Nevena V. , Jevtić Gordana , Stojković Tihomir , Velimirović Milica , Aksić Milan , Poleksić Joko , Nikolić Tatjana , Aleksić Dubravka , Radonjić Vidosava , Filipović Branislav , Petronijević Nataša D.
Published: March 2017

Maternal deprivation (MD) causes perinatal stress, with subsequent behavioral changes which resemble the symptoms of schizophrenia. The NADPH oxidase is one of the major generators of reactive oxygen species, known to play a role in stress response in different tissues. The aim of this study was to elucidate the long‐term effects of MD on the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits (gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox, p47phox, and p40phox). Activities of cytochrome C oxidase and respiratory chain Complex I, as well as the oxidative stress parameters using appropriate spectrophotometric techniques were analyzed. Nine‐day‐old Wistar rats were exposed to a 24 h maternal deprivation and sacrificed at young adult age. The structures affected by perinatal stress, cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and caudate nuclei were investigated. The most prominent findings were increased expressions of gp91phox in the cortex and hippocampus, increased expression of p22phox and p40phox, and decreased expression of gp91phox, p22phox, and p47phox in the caudate nuclei. Complex I activity was increased in all structures except cortex. Content of reduced glutathione was decreased in all sections while region‐specific changes of other oxidative stress parameters were found. Our results indicate the presence of long‐term redox alterations in MD rats.
Clinical Evaluation of Acupuncture as Treatment for Complications of Cerebrovascular Accidents: A Randomized, Sham‐Controlled, Subject‐ and Assessor‐Blind Trial
Authors: Liao Hsien-Yin , Ho Wen-Chao , Chen Chun-Chung , Lin Jaung-Geng , Chang Chia-chi , Chen Liang-Yu , Lee De-Chih , Lee Yu-Chen
Published: March 2017

Background and Purpose. The effect of acupuncture as treatment for poststroke complications is questionable. We performed a randomized, sham‐controlled double‐blind study to investigate it. Methods. Patients with first‐time acute stroke were randomized to receive 24 sessions of either real or sham acupuncture during an eight‐week period. The primary outcome measure was change in National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Secondary outcome measures included changes in Barthel Index (BI), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain scores. Results. Of the 52 patients who were randomized to receive acupuncture (n = 28) or placebo (n = 24), 10 patients in the acupuncture group and 9 patients in the placebo group failed to complete the treatment. In total, 18 patients in the acupuncture group and 15 patients in the control group completed the treatment course. Reduction in pain was significantly greater in the acupuncture group than in the control group (p value = 0.04). There were no significant differences in the other measures between the two groups. Conclusions. Acupuncture provided more effective poststroke pain relief than sham acupuncture treatment. However, acupuncture had no better effect on neurological, functional, and psychological improvement.
Effectiveness of Citrus Fruits on Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Mandalari Giuseppina , Bisignano Carlo , Cirmi Santa , Navarra Michele
Published: March 2017

It is known that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric carcinoma. Due to the increased side effects of the treatment regimens and the development of antimicrobial resistance, a number of natural compounds have been tested as potential alternatives. In this review, we will examine the current knowledge on the effect of Citrus fruits and their derivatives against H. pylori, highlighting the remaining outstanding questions on the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Recuperating Lung Decoction Attenuates the Oxidative Stress State of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Inhibiting the MAPK/AP‐1 Signal Pathway and Regulating γ‐GCS
Authors: Li Chunlei , Shi Qi , Yan Yue , Kong Yanhua , Meng YanYan , Wang Tiezhu , Zhang Xing , Bao Haipeng , Li Youlin
Published: March 2017

Purpose/Objective. To evaluate the effects of Recuperating Lung Decoction (RLD) on the indices of oxidative stress in a rat model of COPD and detect the indices of the MAPK/AP‐1/γ‐GCS signal pathway for a further survey of the possible targeting site of RLD. Methods/Materials. The rats of COPD were treated with RLD. The protein levels of glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG), and 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE) were measured. In addition, the levels of key signaling molecules (extracellular signal‐regulated kinases [ERK], the c‐jun N‐terminal kinase [JNKs signal pathway], and p38 MAP kinase [p38MAPK], AP‐1 proteins [C‐fos, C‐jun], and γ‐glutamyl‐cysteine synthetase [γ‐GCS‐h]) of the MAPK/AP‐1/γ‐GCS‐h signal pathway were assessed. Results. After treatment, the protein level of GSH and the ratio of GSH/GSSG were increased and the amounts of 8‐OHdG and 4‐HNE were decreased significantly in lung tissues when compared with the nontreated COPD group. Further results showed that the RLD could effectively inhibit the MAPK pathway by inactivation of p38MAPK and ERK and could also downregulate the AP‐1 and the γ‐GCS‐h genes expressions in both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusion. RLD might improve the state of oxidative stress by downregulation of the expression of γ‐GCS‐h gene by inhibition of the MAPK/AP‐1 pathway, thereafter enhancing the ability of antioxidation in COPD.
Short-Term Outcomes after Simultaneous Colorectal and Major Hepatic Resection for Synchronous Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: Ono Yoshihiro , Saiura Akio , Arita Junichi , Takahashi Yu , Takahashi Michiro , Inoue Yosuke
Published: March 2017

Background/Aims: Resection of the liver is the standard therapeutic approach for patients with hepatic metastasis and is the only therapy with curative potential. The optimal timing of surgical resection for synchronous metastases has remained controversial. Methods: From January 1993 to December 2008, our strategy has been to use simultaneous resection for resectable synchronous colorectal and liver metastases. During this period, 115 patients underwent simultaneous colorectal and hepatic resection. We evaluated the short-term outcomes of these patients by reviewing operative and perioperative clinical data. Results: In patients with simultaneous resection, there was no evidence of colorectal complications associated with major hepatectomy or no evidence of hepatic complications related to rectal resection. But increased hepatic complications were apparent with major hepatectomy compared with minor hepatectomy (44 vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001) and patients with rectal resection had increased colorectal complications (23% in the rectal resection vs. 5.3% in the colectomy group, p = 0.034). Conclusions: Simultaneous major hepatectomy and rectal resection can increase the hepatic or colorectal morbidity, respectively. These patients may be considered for staged resections.
Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment Show Lower Visual Short-Term Memory Performance in Feature Binding Tasks
Authors: Sapkota Raju P. , van der Linde Ian , Lamichhane Nirmal , Upadhyaya Tirthalal , Pardhan Shahina
Published: March 2017

Background: Early cognitive changes in people at risk of developing dementia may be detected using behavioral tests that examine the performance of typically affected brain areas, such as the hippocampi. An important cognitive function supported by the hippocampi is memory binding, in which object features are associated to create a unified percept. Aim: To compare visual short-term memory (VSTM) binding performance for object names, locations, and identities between a participant group known to be at higher risk of developing dementia (mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) and healthily aging controls. Methods: Ten MCI and 10 control participants completed five VSTM tests that differed in their requirement of remembering bound or unbound object names, locations, and identities, along with a standard neuropsychological test (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination [ACE]-III). Results: The performance of the MCI participants was selectively and significantly lower than that of the healthily aging controls for memory tasks that required object-location or name-location binding. Conclusion: Tasks that measure unimodal (object-location) and crossmodal (name-location) binding performance appear to be particularly effective for the detection of early cognitive changes in those at higher risk of developing dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
The Impact of Kidney Development on the Life Course: A Consensus Document for Action
Authors:   The Low Birth Weight and Nephron Number Working Group
Published: March 2017

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a significant impact on global morbidity and mortality. The Low Birth Weight and Nephron Number Working Group has prepared a consensus document aimed to address the relatively neglected issue for the developmental programming of hypertension and CKD. It emerged from a workshop held on April 2, 2016, including eminent internationally recognized experts in the field of obstetrics, neonatology, and nephrology. Through multidisciplinary engagement, the goal of the workshop was to highlight the association between fetal and childhood development and an increased risk of adult diseases, focusing on hypertension and CKD, and to suggest possible practical solutions for the future. The recommendations for action of the consensus workshop are the results of combined clinical experience, shared research expertise, and a review of the literature. They highlight the need to act early to prevent CKD and other related noncommunicable diseases later in life by reducing low birth weight, small for gestational age, prematurity, and low nephron numbers at birth through coordinated interventions. Meeting the current unmet needs would help to define the most cost-effective strategies and to optimize interventions to limit or interrupt the developmental programming cycle of CKD later in life, especially in the poorest part of the world.
Comparison of Initial Vasopressors Used for Delayed Cerebral Ischemia after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Roy Bhaskar , McCullough Louise D. , Dhar Rajat , Grady James , Wang Yu-Bo , Brown Robert J.
Published: March 2017

Background: The main reason for morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The mainstay of medical therapy for treating DCI is induced hypertension with vasopressors to restore cerebral perfusion. Both phenylephrine (PE) and norepinephrine (NE) are commonly used for induced hypertension, but the impact of the initial choice of vasopressor on the efficacy, adverse effects, or outcome after hemodynamic therapy for DCI is unknown. Methods: Sixty-three patients with aSAH between January 2012 and October 2014, who developed DCI (defined as new focal deficit or decline in Glasgow Coma Score) and in which PE (n = 45) or NE (n = 18) treatment was initiated were evaluated in this retrospective study. Baseline characteristics, adverse effects, the need to change or add vasopressors, the response to therapy, the need for endovascular therapy, new infarct development, discharge disposition, and 3 months modified Rankin score were all compared between pressor groups. Results: Baseline characteristics (e.g., Hunt Hess and Fisher grades) were similar. There were no differences in the overall rate of complications including arrhythmia, pulmonary edema, or kidney injury. However, those initiated on PE were more likely to be changed to an alternate vasopressor (64 vs. 33%, p = 0.016), mostly for bradycardia or failure to reach therapeutic targets. Patients initially treated with PE were less likely to respond neurologically (71 vs. 94%, p = 0.01) or to be discharged to home or acute rehabilitation facilities (73 vs. 94%, p = 0.02) and were more likely to have a delayed infarct on imaging (62 vs. 33%, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Our study suggests that patients with DCI after aSAH initiated on PE are more likely to require treatment change to another vasopressor and are at greater risk for poor clinical outcomes compared to patients started on NE. Larger comparative studies are warranted.
Femoral Neck X-Ray Absorptiometry Parameters and Peripheral Quantitative Computer Tomography Tibial Cortical Density Predict Survival in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Yap Natalie , Wong Phillip , McGinn Stella , Nery Maria-Liza , Doyle Jean , Wells Lynda , Clifton-Bligh Phillip , Clifton-Bligh Roderick J.
Published: March 2017

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a known independent predictor of mortality in the general elderly population. However, studies in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are limited. The present study evaluated mortality during long-term follow-up in a population of patients having dialysis for ESRD, in whom BMD was also measured. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with ESRD were recruited consecutively from a dialysis clinic and followed prospectively for 6 years. Baseline BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck (FN) were measured by X-ray absorptiometry and by peripheral quantitative CT at the radius and tibia. Serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and albumin were measured at baseline. Results: During follow-up, 25 patients died. Univariate analysis showed that mortality was significantly associated with FN-BMD: hazards ratio (HR) per 0.1 g/cm2 decrease 1.50 (95% CI 1.07-2.10), p = 0.019; FN-T score: HR per 1-SD decrease 1.84 (95% CI 1.16-2.92), p = 0.009; and tibial cortical density: HR per 10 mg/cm3 decrease 1.08 (95% CI 1.02-1.14), p = 0.010. In multivariate analysis with stepwise adjustment for age, sex, transplant status, albumin, PTH, phosphate, dialysis duration, diabetes, and smoking, FN-T score remained significantly associated with mortality: HR per 1-SD decrease 1.82 (95% CI 1.02-3.24), p = 0.044, whereas the HR for FN-BMD and tibial cortical density were no longer significant. When 4 patients who had peritoneal dialysis were excluded, the HR relating FN-BMD, FN-T score, and tibial cortical density to mortality remained significant but became insignificant when albumin was included in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Reduced FN-BMD, FN-T score, and tibial cortical density were significantly associated with an increased risk of death in patients with ESRD.
Dexamethasone Modifies Cystatin C-Based Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury During Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Pianta Timothy J. , Pickering John W. , Succar Lena , Chin Melvin , Davidson Trent , Buckley Nicholas A. , Mohamed Fahim , Endre Zoltan H.
Published: March 2017

Background/Aims: Plasma cystatin C (pCysC) may be superior to serum creatinine (sCr) as a surrogate of GFR. However, the performance of pCysC for diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) after cisplatin-based chemotherapy is potentially affected by accompanying corticosteroid anti-emetic therapy and hydration. Methods: In a prospective observational study pCysC, sCr, urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and urinary clusterin were measured over 2 weeks in 27 patients given first-cycle chemotherapy. The same variables were measured over 2 weeks in Sprague–Dawley rats given a single intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone, cisplatin, or both, and in controls. Results: In patients, pCysC increases were greater than sCr 41% vs. 16%, mean paired difference 25% (95% CI: 16–34%)], relative increases were ≥ 50% in 9 patients (35%) for pCysC compared with 2 (8%) for sCr (p = 0.04) and increases in sCr were accompanied by increased KIM-1 and clusterin excretion, but increases in pCysC alone were not. In rats, dexamethasone administration produced dose-dependent increases in pCysC (and augmented cisplatin-induced increases in pCysC), but did not augment histological injury, increases in sCr, or KIM-1 and clusterin excretion. Conclusions: In the presence of dexamethasone, elevation of pCysC does not reliably diagnose AKI after cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Decoupling of Broadband Optical MIMO Systems Using the Multiple Shift SBR2 Algorithm
Authors: Wang Zeliang , Sandmann André , McWhirter John G. , Ahrens Andreas
Published: March 2017

Polynomial singular value decomposition (PSVD) plays a very important role in broadband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. One of its applications lies in the decoupling of MIMO convolutive mixing channel matrixin order to recover the transmitted signals corrupted by the channel interference (CI) at the receiver. In this paper, a novel algorithm, known as multiple shift second order sequential best rotation (MS-SBR2), is proposed to compute the approximate PSVD of the broadband MIMO channel matrix. Experimental examples, including a measured (2 × 2) optical MIMO channel impulse response using the multi-mode fiber (MMF) testbed, are presented to examine the proposed algorithm. Bit error rate (BER) performances are evaluated among different transmission schemes. In addition, power allocation (PA) schemes are investigated to further optimize the BER performance.
ICMP-based Third-Party Estimation of Cloud Availability
Authors: Naldi Maurizio
Published: March 2017

Cloud availability is an important parameter present in a typical Service Level Agreement (SLA). In order to check compliance with SLA commitments, a third party availability measurement is strongly needed. An availability estimation methods is evaluated here, based on the periodic repetition of sequence of probing packets in ICMP. Majority Voting, which declares a cloud to be available only if a majority of probing packets gets an echo from the cloud, appears to provide an accurate estimation even when the packet loss probability is rather high.
Religion, Identity and Radicalisation
Authors: Awan Imran
Published: March 2017

The current rise in the numbers of young British Muslims travelling from the UK to Syria has raised a number of questions about the UK Government’s counter-terrorism strategy and policy. Within the current discourse on radicalisation and Syria, listening to the voices of young British Muslims is crucial, if the UK Government, the police and other key stakeholders are serious about preventing the escalation of young people going out to fight in Syria. This article makes an important contribution to helping us better understand young British Muslims’ perceptions of the crisis in Syria and offers policy makers some thoughts on how best to engage young people in the debate on Syria without demonising them or stereotyping them as ‘suspects’.
The Hungarian Border Barrier and Islam
Authors: Pap Norbert , Glied Viktor
Published: March 2017

The co-existence between Hungarians and Islam has been considered balanced, until the spring of 2015 when a wave of migrants appeared in Europe. “Opening to the East”, the foreign policy announced by the government in 2011 heralded a new chapter of cooperation with Arabic/Muslim countries, predominantly due to economic considerations. The migrant crisis turned government communication, as well as the stance of Jobbik, the largest opposition party, upside down. This paper discusses the unique phenomenon of what role the political debate about Islam and the construction of the temporary border barrier protecting the Hungarian national borders played in the competitive communication of the national-radical, pro-Muslim opposition Jobbik party (achieving a lead in the polls) and the centre-right governing parties Fidesz-kdnpwhich typically emphasise their Christian character.
Russian Journalists in Ukraine: Caught in Limbo?
Authors: Malyutina Darya
Published: March 2017

Since the 2004 Orange Revolution, Ukrainian media have provided a number of Russian journalists an alternative place to continue their career, whether they were looking for a comparatively free and pluralistic media space, a new job, or safety. The number of Russian media professionals in Ukraine increased in the subsequent years. Euromaidan and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, followed by Russia’s military intervention in Donbas, have contributed to decisions to move or extend their stay in Ukraine. However, these events have also complicated the position of Russian journalists in Ukraine.

This paper seeks to explore the challenges connected with being a Russian journalist and working in Ukraine-based media during Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine. This population of migrant media workers has arrived from an aggressor country, where mainstream media have been producing manipulative anti-Ukrainian discourse. They are diverse in terms of social backgrounds and migration histories, but mostly are qualified and experienced professionals. They do not form a tightly knit migrant community, and do not work for media outlets targeting such a community. This article addresses the experiences of a number of these media personalities, drawing upon a series of interviews conducted in late 2015, and open source materials. I argue that the Maidan, the annexation of Crimea, and the ongoing conflict have had a significant impact on Russian migrant journalists in Ukraine, by providing a migration context, influencing their work ethics and making them particularly sensitive to the ideas of responsibility and journalistic subjectivity.
The identity of Ligularia emeiensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a name overlooked since its publication
Authors: WANG LONG , REN CHEN , YANG QIN-ER
Published: March 2017

Ligularia emeiensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), which was described in 1991 from Emei Shan, Sichuan, China, has been overlooked and not treated even in the account of the genus Ligularia in the Flora of China published in 2011. It is found to be identical with L. dentata subsp. sutchuenensis and is thus synonymized herein.
A new species of Campylocia Needham & Murphy, 1924 (Ephemeroptera, Euthyplociidae) from Northern Brazil
Authors: NETO JAIME DE LIEGE GAMA , PASSOS MAHEDY ARAUJO BASTOS
Published: March 2017

A new species of Campylocia is described from Northern Brazil based on male and female imagoes. The main characteristics that distinguish the male imago of the new species from its congeners are: forewings with fork of Rs basal to fork of MA and one or two intercalary veins attached to CuA; general color of abdomen whitish; terga I–VIII with purplish brown dorsolateral area and light colored medial line; terga II–VII with two pairs of light colored drop-shaped spots (one medioapical and one medial); tergum VIII with a medioapical pair of light colored drop-shaped spots; terga IX–X orange; base of penis rectangular; penis lobes adjacent to medial line, laterally directed, without median lobes, fused on basal 1/2 and slender on distal 2/3; subgenital plate rectangular with medial emargination and dark brown margins.
“Near Ground” Vertical Vorticity in Supercell Thunderstorm Models
Authors: Rotunno Richard , Markowski Paul M. , Bryan George H.
Published: March 2017

Numerical models of supercell thunderstorms produce near-ground rotation about a vertical axis (i.e., vertical vorticity) after the development of rain-cooled outflows and downdrafts. The physical processes involved in the production of near-ground vertical vorticity in simulated supercells have been a subject of discussion in the literature for over 30 years. One cause for this lengthy discussion is the difficulty in applying the principles of inviscid vorticity dynamics in a continuous fluid to the viscous evolution of discrete Eulerian simulations. The present paper reports on a Lagrangian analysis of near-ground vorticity from an idealized-supercell simulation with enhanced vertical resolution near the lower surface. The parcel that enters the low-level maximum of vertical vorticity has a history of descent during which its horizontal vorticity is considerably enhanced. In its final approach to this region, the parcel’s enhanced horizontal vorticity is tilted to produce vertical vorticity, which is then amplified through vertical stretching as the parcel rises. A simplified theoretical model is developed that exhibits these same features. The principal conclusion is that vertical vorticity at the parcel’s nadir (its lowest point), although helpful, does not need to be positive for rapid near-surface amplification of vertical vorticity.
Stochastic Subgrid-Scale Ocean Mixing: Impacts on Low-Frequency Variability
Authors: Juricke Stephan , Palmer Tim N. , Zanna Laure
Published: March 2017

In global ocean models, the representation of small-scale, high-frequency processes considerably influences the large-scale oceanic circulation and its low-frequency variability. This study investigates the impact of stochastic perturbation schemes based on three different subgrid-scale parameterizations in multidecadal ocean-only simulations with the ocean model NEMO at 1° resolution. The three parameterizations are an enhanced vertical diffusion scheme for unstable stratification, the Gent–McWilliams (GM) scheme, and a turbulent kinetic energy mixing scheme, all commonly used in state-of-the-art ocean models. The focus here is on changes in interannual variability caused by the comparatively high-frequency stochastic perturbations with subseasonal decorrelation time scales. These perturbations lead to significant improvements in the representation of low-frequency variability in the ocean, with the stochastic GM scheme showing the strongest impact. Interannual variability of the Southern Ocean eddy and Eulerian streamfunctions is increased by an order of magnitude and by 20%, respectively. Interannual sea surface height variability is increased by about 20%–25% as well, especially in the Southern Ocean and in the Kuroshio region, consistent with a strong underestimation of interannual variability in the model when compared to reanalysis and altimetry observations. These results suggest that enhancing subgrid-scale variability in ocean models can improve model variability and potentially its response to forcing on much longer time scales, while also providing an estimate of model uncertainty.
Simulation of multi-echelon supply chain inventory transshipment models at different levels
Authors: Yan Bo , Liu Lifeng
Published: March 2017

An inventory transshipment model comprising manufacturers, distributors, and retailers based on multi-echelon supply chains is established using the system dynamics method. Thereafter, the single-, double-, three-, and four-chain inventory transshipment models at different levels are comparatively analyzed through simulation. Studies indicated that from the single- to four-chain inventory transshipment models, the average stock level minimally changed and declined. Meanwhile, the stability of the supply chain inventory improved continuously. The average customer requirement satisfaction rate of the inventory transshipment system consistently increases as the number of chains added to the transshipment system increases. However, the growth range of the average customer satisfaction rate continuously decreases with the increasing transshipment costs.
Modeling of heterogeneous heat transfer in fabrics
Authors: Shen Hua , Yokoyama Atsushi , Sukigara Sachiko
Published: March 2017

Thermal comfort, an important factor when designing fabric, is strongly related to heat transfer in the fabric. Fabric is not homogeneous because the constituent yarns are interlaced at a certain weave angle, and the contact area between yarns varies. Therefore, heat transfer along the yarn in the fabric is not yet well understood. In this study, we developed a heterogeneous fabric model in which heat transfer along the longitudinal and transverse directions of the yarn is treated independently, and proposed a method for estimating the contact heat transfer coefficients for yarns. The geometrical fabric structure was constructed based on the cross section of three fabrics observed with a three-dimensional microscope. The parameters used were the mass density, specific heat, and thermal conductivity of the fibers and air. The heat flow calculated using the model was compared with that measured experimentally. Fairly good agreement was observed, verifying the validity of this heterogeneous model. The simulation results indicated that when the anisotropy of the fiber thermal conductivity is high, heat is transferred significantly faster along the longitudinal direction than along the transverse direction of the yarn, and the equilibrium temperature distribution is strongly influenced by heat transfer in the longitudinal direction.
The role of physical space in labour–management cooperation: A microsociological study in Danish retail
Authors: Ilsøe Anna , Felbo-Kolding Jonas
Published: March 2017

Many studies on labour–management relations have focused on formal cooperation in manufacturing. This calls for further research and theory development on labour–management interactions in private service companies, where cooperation practices appear to be less formal. In this article, a typology of cooperation between managers and employees is developed, based on a microsociological study conducted in the Danish retail trade in 2013. Drawing on six in-depth case studies, the article identifies four different physical spaces of labour–management cooperation: open collective, closed collective, open individual and closed individual. The article discusses the potential and limitations of the four spaces of cooperation for employee influence.
When Silence Is Not Golden: Why Acknowledgment Matters Even When Being Excluded
Authors: Rudert Selma C. , Hales Andrew H. , Greifeneder Rainer , Williams Kipling D.
Published: March 2017

Following ostracism, individuals are highly sensitive to social cues. Here we investigate whether and when minimal acknowledgment can improve need satisfaction following an ostracism experience. In four studies, participants were either ostracized during Cyberball (Studies 1 and 2) or through a novel apartment-application paradigm (Studies 3 and 4). To signal acknowledgment following ostracism, participants were either thrown a ball a few times at the end of the Cyberball game, or received a message that was either friendly, neutral, or hostile in the apartment-application paradigm. Both forms of acknowledgment increased need satisfaction, even when the acknowledgment was hostile (Study 4), emphasizing the beneficial effect of any kind of acknowledgment following ostracism. Reinclusion buffered threat immediately, whereas acknowledgment without reinclusion primarily aided recovery. Our results suggest that minimal acknowledgment such as a few ball throws or even an unfriendly message can reduce the sting of ostracism.
Biases in Individualized Cost-effectiveness Analysis: Influence of Choices in Modeling Short-Term, Trial-Based, Mortality Risk Reduction and Post-Trial Life Expectancy
Authors: van Klaveren David , Wong John B. , Kent David M. , Steyerberg Ewout W.
Published: March 2017

Background. The benefits and costs of a treatment are typically heterogeneous across individual patients. Randomized clinical trials permit the examination of individualized treatment benefits over the trial horizon but extrapolation to lifetime horizon usually involves combining trial-based individualized estimates of short-term risk reduction with less detailed (less granular) population life tables. However, the underlying assumption of equal post-trial life expectancy for low- and high-risk patients of the same sex and age is unrealistic. We aimed to study the influence of unequal granularity between models of short-term risk reduction and life expectancy on individualized estimates of cost-effectiveness of aggressive thrombolysis for patients with an acute myocardial infarction. Methods. To estimate life years gained, we multiplied individualized estimates of short-term risk reduction either with less granular and with equally granular post-trial life expectancy estimates. Estimates of short-term risk reduction were obtained from GUSTO trial data (30,510 patients) using logistic regression analysis with treatment, sex, and age as predictor variables. Life expectancy estimates were derived from sex- and age-specific US life tables. Results. Based on sex- and age-specific, short-term risk reductions but average population life expectancy (less granularity), we found that aggressive thrombolysis was cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio below $50,000) for women above age 49 y and men above age 53 y (92% and 69% of the population, respectively). Considering sex- and age-specific short-term mortality risk reduction and correspondingly sex- and age-specific life expectancy (equal granularity), aggressive thrombolysis was cost-effective for men above age 45 y and women above age 50 y (95% and 76% of the population, respectively). Conclusions. Failure to model short-term risk reduction and life expectancy at an equal level of granularity may bias our estimates of individualized cost-effectiveness and misallocate resources.
Examining the Academic Achievement–Delinquency Relationship Among Southeast Asian Americans
Authors: Bui Laura
Published: March 2017

The extent to which poor academic achievement is strongly related to delinquency among Southeast Asian Americans (SEAA) remains unclear; reasons are methodological limitations and aggregated findings for Asian Americans, which mask evidence that SEAA have a higher prevalence of criminality and poor academic performance than other Asian American groups. The present study examines the academic achievement—delinquency relationship in a diverse group of 1,214 SEAA using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to make causal inferences and assess whether poor academic achieving SEAA, after being matched with higher academic achieving SEAA, displayed a higher prevalence of delinquency. Findings showed that, even after matching, poor academic achieving SEAA were still more likely to exhibit delinquent behavior than those who performed academically better. Interventions targeting SEAA communities will need to focus more on improving academic achievement to directly prevent and decrease delinquent behavior.