bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provenance record of late Maastrichtian–late Palaeocene Andean Mountain building in the Amazonian retroarc foreland basin (Madre de Dios basin, Peru)
Authors: Louterbach Mélanie , Roddaz Martin , Antoine Pierre‐Olivier , Marivaux Laurent , Adnet Sylvain , Bailleul Julien , Dantas Elton , Santos Roberto Ventura , Chemale Farid , Baby Patrice , Sanchez Caroline , Calderon Ysabel
Published: October 2017

Biostratigraphic, sedimentological and provenance analyses suggest that a proto‐Andean Cordillera already existed in southern Peru by late Maastrichtian–late Palaeocene times. A 270‐m‐thick stratigraphic section shows changes in depositional environments from shallow marine (early Maastrichtian) to non‐marine (late Maastrichtian) then back to estuarine (late Palaeocene) conditions. An erosional surface separates lower Maastrichtian from upper Maastrichtian deposits. Above this surface, the late Maastrichtian unit exhibits moderately developed palaeosols and syn‐sedimentary normal faults. The sedimentary evolution is accompanied by a decrease in sedimentation rate and by changes in provenance. Shallow marine lower Maastrichtian deposits have a cratonic provenance as shown by their low εNd(0) values (−15 to −16) and the presence of Precambrian inherited zircon grains. The upper Maastrichtian deposits have a mixed Andean and cratonic origin with εNd(0) values of ~12.6 and yield the first Cretaceous and Permo‐Triassic zircon grains. Estuarine to shallow marine upper Palaeocene deposits have an Andean dominant source as attested by higher εNd(0) values (−6 to −10) and by the presence of Palaeozoic and Late Cretaceous zircon grains. The changes in depositional environments and sedimentation rates, as well as the shift in detrital provenance, are consistent with a late Maastrichtian–late Palaeocene period of Andean mountain building. In agreement with recently published studies, our data suggest that an Andean retroarc foreland basin was active by late Maastrichtian–late Palaeocene times.
A descriptive analysis of rabies post‐exposure prophylaxis data: 2013, Ontario, Canada
Authors: Middleton D. , Edwin J. J. , Johnson K. O. , Warshawsky B. F.
Published: October 2017

By 2013, the number of confirmed rabid animals in Ontario had decreased to unprecedented low numbers, yet the expected decrease in the number of courses of rabies post‐exposure prophylaxis (RPEP) administered did not occur consistent with the decrease in animal rabies cases (Figure ). This prompted a review of the reasons that RPEP was administered in Ontario. This study provides a descriptive analysis of the exposure incidents resulting in RPEP administration in Ontario during 2013 using data obtained from the integrated Public Health Information System, a Web‐based disease surveillance system. Findings from the study revealed that the number of RPEP courses administered could be reduced, without increased risk of rabies, through the following strategies: (i) Education and resources for public health staff and healthcare providers who assess animal exposures to improve interpretation of guidelines for RPEP administration. (ii) Refinement of guidelines for public health staff and healthcare providers to ensure that they support detailed consideration of the circumstances of the exposure in order to assist with the risk assessment. Guidelines should also support completion of a risk assessment when exposures to skunks, foxes, raccoons and other wild carnivores are provoked by the victim, as opposed to automatically providing RPEP as recommended by current guidelines. (iii) Public education strategies to prevent exposures to animals (e.g., do not touch unattended animals, bat proofing your house, proper removal of bats from the house). (iv) Defining the criteria to declare a jurisdiction rabies‐free. (v) Exploring strategies to improve surveillance for rabid animals.
Democracy without Politics: Why Democracy Can Seriously Harm Democracy
Authors: Innerarity Daniel
Published: October 2017

The main argument of this paper is directed against the thesis that we are in a post-democratic era. I consider that we are rather in a post-political era, that is to say, one in which the demands expressed in moments of democratic explosion do not often find a political channel that translates them into effective transformations. To this is added the fact that some of the current forms of activism have given rise to what could be called an "intermittent citizenship" that has seduced some with the possibility of establishing that negative sovereignty at the core of the construction of the general will, which has depolitizing effects. This is the context in which the great rift between technocratic reasons and populist reasons has been constituted. I end up defending a concept of "indirect democracy" or "complex democracy" that attempts to politically integrate both moments.
Rehabilitation for tibial plateau fractures in adults: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Phan Tri M. , Arnold John , Solomon Lucian B.
Published: October 2017

Review objective:

Based on the observation that rehabilitation practices for tibial plateau fractures are inconsistent and lack uniformity in the published literature, this scoping review will seek to identify all relevant studies that have reported on rehabilitation for tibial plateau fractures in order to comprehensively map the characteristics of the practices. This scoping review will then be used to identify commonalities across the included studies in order to identify potential focus questions for subsequent systematic reviews.
Anthropometric prediction equations for estimating body mass composition: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Umapathysivam Kandiah , Tufanaru Catalin , Visvanathan Renuka , Yu Solomon
Published: October 2017

Review questions/objectives:

The overall aim of this scoping review is to determine the optimal anthropometric variable parameters used to develop predictive equation(s) to estimate the components of body mass composition.

The objectives of the scoping review are:

To map the disparate international literature on the diverse anthropometric variable parameters included in predictive equations for estimating the components of body mass composition.

To map how research has been undertaken on the development of the anthropometric prediction equations for estimating the components of body mass composition.

The questions for the scoping review are:

What types of anthropometric variable parameters have been reported in the literature about the predictive equations used for estimating the components of body mass composition?

What explanations or justifications have been reported in the literature for the inclusion of diverse anthropometric variable parameters included in predictive equations used for estimating the components of body mass composition?

What types of approaches have been reported in the literature for the development of predictive equations used for estimating the components of body mass composition?
Pediatric clinical handover: a best practice implementation project
Authors: Yu Zhuowen , Zhang Yuxia , Gu Ying , Xu Xiaofeng , McArthur Alexa
Published: October 2017

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Background:

Communication of information between and among healthcare providers is an essential element of patient care. Poor clinical handover has been associated with inaccurate clinical assessment and diagnosis, delays in diagnosis, medication errors and decreased patient satisfaction. Effective and efficient transition of patient care information requires an evidence-based handover approach.

Objectives:

The aim of this evidence implementation project was to make a contribution to promote evidence-based practice in clinical handover in a pediatric setting and thereby enhance patient safety and service delivery.

Methods:

Seven criteria identified by the Joanna Briggs Institute were used to conduct an audit in the Gastroenterology Department, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Twelve nurses and 260 handover sessions were involved. The JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice audit tools for promoting change in health practice were used to ascertain compliance with the criteria before and after the implementation of best practice. The program included three phases and was conducted over six months.

Results:

There were improvements with compliance for each criterion. Face-to-face communication, standardized documentation, identification of patients, care plan handover and transfer of responsibility reached 100% compliance. Detailed observations of the patient improved from 93% to 98%, and there was an 18% improvement for relevant history handover.

Conclusions:

This project has demonstrated that handover sessions can be more effective by translating evidence into practice through ongoing evidence-based audit. Nursing inter-shift handover requires the use of a highly valuable and important standardized tool. Further audits will need to be carried out in order to maintain the practice change, and ensure the sustainability of the project.
Behavioral and/or pharmacological interventions for managing sleep disturbances in children with autism spectrum disorder: an umbrella review protocol
Authors: Kirkendall Neeli , Palokas Michelle
Published: October 2017

Review question:

What are effective behavioral interventions and/or pharmacological methods for managing sleep disturbances in children with autism spectrum disorder?
INTERVENCIONES GENÉRICAS EN TERRITORIOS CON PARTICULARIDADES ÚNICAS. ASUMIR Y DIFERENCIAR LA CONDICIÓN DE RURALIDAD
Authors: Urrutia Sánchez Verónica , Muñoz Parra Carlos Humberto
Published: October 2017

Las áreas rurales presentan una gran diversidad de actividades y configuraciones, además de una compleja red de articulaciones entre los sectores económicos y con los centros urbanos. El límite entre lo rural y lo urbano se presenta cada vez más difuso. La ruralidad es un sistema complejo, con una variada gama de áreas rurales (Berdegué, Jara, Modrego, Sanclemente y Schejtman, 2010). Las diferencias de ambos contextos referentes al hábitat, su economía y el acceso a servicios básicos son variables que inciden en su especificidad como territorios únicos. Las intervenciones proyectadas para áreas rurales, en cualquier ámbito, debieran poseer una intención determinada para actores con necesidades únicas. Se toma el concepto de habitabilidad en el marco de intervención de una política pública actual chilena, en la que las intervenciones para superar la condición de habitabilidad de familias vulnerables son aplicadas con los mismos lineamientos de intervención en escenarios rurales y urbanos.
MÉTODO PARA LA IDENTIFICACIÓN DE INTANGIBLES Y SU VALORACIÓN HACIA LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DEL AVALÚO SOCIAL
Authors: Torres-Tovar Carlos Alberto , Vaca Óscar Antonio , Salamanca Arias Cristian Alfonso
Published: October 2017

El objetivo del presente artículo es presentar los resultados y alcances la experiencia investigativa “Avalúo social”, la cual es un reconocimiento socioterritorial a poblaciones afectadas por proyectos de renovación urbana. Se propone una nueva metodología valuadora como herramienta de intervención y reclamación de derechos colectivos para la población misma. En el marco de proyectos urbanos de alto impacto en zonas residenciales, en donde la población habitante se enfrenta a la posibilidad de su desplazamiento masivo y, con ella, una condición de vulnerabilidad, se propone el avalúo social como un instrumento para la tasación integral de la propiedad y del tejido social colectivo, que se convierte en una técnica valuadora alternativa a la propiedad del suelo con la que se visibilizan los valores intangibles construidos socialmente en el territorio. Este documento expone la metodología y los hallazgos relevantes de la aplicación del avalúo social en el barrio Veracruz de la localidad de Fontibón en Bogotá, afectada por la concesión del Aeropuerto Eldorado.
Cristología del Evangelio de Marcos
Authors: Carbullanca-Núñez César , De Souza Nogueira Paulo
Published: October 2017

El artículo estudia la cristología del Evangelio de Marcos y su relación con el sentido de la muerte de Cristo. Sostendremos que el sentido de la muerte de Cristo se basa en una inversión escatológica, según la cual los impíos no comprenden los misterios del Reino, y que paradójicamente dicho conocimiento es dado a los elegidos. Esta inversión es tomada de tradiciones apocalípticas que son radicalizadas en la cristología del evangelista, en diversas partes del Evangelio de manera especial en la epistemología que subyace a la tradición de la pasión del Justo, el Hijo del Hombre, pues sus sufrimientos y muerte representan un cambio en el estatuto epistemológico del sufrimiento del Justo y del lugar donde Dios se revela al hombre.
Diálogo y pedagogía en el De Ordine de San Agustín
Authors: Sánchez Barbosa Diana Marcela , Unger Parra Biviana
Published: October 2017

La formación del ser humano es un tema fundamental en el pensamiento de San Agustín. En sus primeras obras se destacan las referencias a las artes liberales y en particular al diálogo como vehículo privilegiado en el proceso educativo. El De Ordine representa un claro ejemplo de este interés y de la apropiación agustiniana del diálogo como ejercicio filosófico, el cual tiene el doble propósito de llevar a sus interlocutores a la verdad y de introducir al lector en esta misma dinámica.
Enseñanza de la filosofía. Entre experiencia filosófica y ensayo
Authors: Espinel Óscar , Pulido Cortés Oscar
Published: October 2017

El giro metodológico que orienta los trabajos e investigaciones de los últimos años de vida de Michel Foucault puede plantearse en términos de lo que el autor denominó como ontología del presente, en una conjugación entre la crítica kantiana y la genealogía nietzscheana. Esta será nuestra tesis y el escenario que se propone como horizonte para pensar el ejercicio filosófico y las posibilidades de su enseñanza al interior de las aulas y fuera de ellas. Una práctica filosófica que ha de caracterizarse por el cuidado de sí, de los otros y de lo otro, pero, fundamentalmente, ha de pensarse desde este espectro, en tanto experiencia y ensayo. La ontología del presente en la lectura nietzscheano-kantiana de Foucault, sitúa la labor filosófica en un nuevo escenario, a saber, en la pregunta por el presente, por la actualidad, por un “nosotros”. Allí reside su potencia ética y filosófica en cuanto modo de vida.
Effect of lift-off conditions on micropatterning of nanocrystalline quantum dot films
Authors: Sabeeh Ala H. , Price Jared S. , Ruzyllo Jerzy
Published: October 2017

A micropatterning of nanocrystalline quantum dots (NQD) films using lift-off process has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated earlier. In this paper, the conditions of patterning process are investigated in order to define process parameters window for the lift-off procedure. The patterning of NQD CdSe/ZnS films using lift-off is studied in terms of photoresist thickness, solvent composition, and substrate material. The outcome of the process is monitored by means of fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscope, and optical microscopy. The results show that patterns less than 1 μm can be resolved in NQD films with minimal alteration of the film characteristics, provided the photoresist layer is thicker than about 100 nm and acetone used as a solvent is spiked with toluene up to 10% of the solvent volume. The performance of the process in terms of resolution and film quality was found to be independent of the substrate used.
Estimating the delay-Doppler of target echo in a high clutter underwater environment using wideband linear chirp signals: Evaluation of performance with experimental data
Authors: Yu Ge , Yang T. C. , Piao Shengchun
Published: October 2017

A chirp signal is a signal with linearly varying instantaneous frequency over the signal bandwidth, also known as a linear frequency modulated (LFM) signal. It is widely used in communication, radar, active sonar, and other applications due to its Doppler tolerance property in signal detection using the matched filter (MF) processing. Modern sonar uses high-gain, wideband signals to improve the signal to reverberation ratio. High gain implies a high product of the signal bandwidth and duration. However, wideband and/or long duration LFM signals are no longer Doppler tolerant. The shortcoming of the standard MF processing is loss of performance, and bias in range estimation. This paper uses the wideband ambiguity function and the fractional Fourier transform method to estimate the target velocity and restore the performance. Target velocity or Doppler provides a clue for differentiating the target from the background reverberation and clutter. The methods are applied to simulated and experimental data.
Metabolic recycling of ammonia via glutamate dehydrogenase supports breast cancer biomass
Authors: Spinelli Jessica B. , Yoon Haejin , Ringel Alison E. , Jeanfavre Sarah , Clish Clary B. , Haigis Marcia C.
Published: October 2017

Cancer cells put ammonia back to work

Ammonia, often considered a metabolic waste product, can be recycled to build new amino acids. Rapidly proliferating cells produce extracellular nitrogen. Spinelli
et al.
used metabolic tracing of
15
N to follow the fate of extracellular ammonia and its incorporation into more than 200 components of the nitrogen metabolome (see the Perspective by Dang). Accumulation of ammonia enabled glutamate dehydrogenase to function in reductive amination, which allowed incorporation of nitrogen from ammonia back into amino acids. Experiments in mice also showed incorporation of ammonia into glutamate, aspartate, and proline.

Science
, this issue p.
941
; see also p.
862
Loci associated with skin pigmentation identified in African populations
Authors: Crawford Nicholas G. , Kelly Derek E. , Hansen Matthew E. B. , Beltrame Marcia H. , Fan Shaohua , Bowman Shanna L. , Jewett Ethan , Ranciaro Alessia , Thompson Simon , Lo Yancy , Pfeifer Susanne P. , Jensen Jeffrey D. , Campbell Michael C. , Beggs William , Hormozdiari Farhad , Mpoloka Sununguko Wata , Mokone Gaonyadiwe George , Nyambo Thomas , Meskel Dawit Wolde , Belay Gurja , Haut Jake ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Rothschild Harriet , Zon Leonard , Zhou Yi , Kovacs Michael A. , Xu Mai , Zhang Tongwu , Bishop Kevin , Sinclair Jason , Rivas Cecilia , Elliot Eugene , Choi Jiyeon , Li Shengchao A. , Hicks Belynda , Burgess Shawn , Abnet Christian , Watkins-Chow Dawn E. , Oceana Elena , Song Yun S. , Eskin Eleazar , Brown Kevin M. , Marks Michael S. , Loftus Stacie K. , Pavan William J. , Yeager Meredith , Chanock Stephen , Tishkoff Sarah A.
Published: October 2017

African genomics and skin color

Skin color varies among human populations and is thought to be under selection, with light skin maximizing vitamin D production at higher latitudes and dark skin providing UV protection in equatorial zones. To identify the genes that give rise to the palette of human skin tones, Crawford
et al.
applied genome-wide analyses across diverse African populations (see the Perspective by Tang and Barsh). Genetic variants were identified with likely function in skin phenotypes. Comparison to model organisms verified a conserved function of
MFSD12
in pigmentation. A global genetic panel was used to trace how alleles associated with skin color likely moved across the globe as humans migrated, both within and out of Africa.

Science
, this issue p.
eaan8433
; see also p.
867
Complete Genome Sequence of a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Isolated in Belgorod, Russia, in 2008
Authors: Strizhakova Olga , Hanke Dennis , Titov Ilya , Blome Sandra , Malogolovkin Alexander
Published: October 2017

We identified porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in stool samples from sick piglets in the Belgorod region of Russia. The complete coding genome sequence of 28,295 nucleotides (nt) of PEDV was generated. Compared to a prototype PEDV strain (DR13), an extreme number of mismatches in the S gene were revealed.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Rare Pigmented Mycobacterium avium subsp.
paratuberculosis
Type C Strain
Authors: Barbosa Pedro , Leão Célia , Usié Anabel , Amaro Ana , Botelho Ana , Pinto Carlos , Inácio João , Stevenson Karen , Ramos António Marcos
Published: October 2017

Mycobacterium avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
is the causative agent of paratuberculosis. We report here the draft genome sequence of a rare pigmented
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
type C strain, comprising 58 contigs and having a genome size of 4,851,414 bp. The genome will assist in the execution of pigmentation and virulence studies on this mycobacterium.
Draft Genome Sequence of Brevibacillus laterosporus OSY-I
1
, a Strain That Produces Brevibacillin, Which Combats Drug-Resistant Gram-Positive Bacteria
Authors: Yang Xu , Huang En , Yesil Mustafa , Xiaoli Lingzi , Dudley Edward G. , Yousef Ahmed E.
Published: October 2017

Brevibacillus laterosporus
OSY-I
1
is a Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium isolated from soil. The bacterium produces brevibacillin, an antimicrobial lipopeptide effective against several drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of the strain OSY-I
1
and the gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of brevibacillin.
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Burkholderia contaminans CH-1, a Gram-Negative Bacterium That Metabolizes 2-Azahypoxanthine, a Plant Growth-Regulating Compound
Authors: Choi Jae-Hoon , Sugiura Hikaru , Moriuchi Ryota , Kawagishi Hirokazu , Dohra Hideo
Published: October 2017

Burkholderia contaminans
strain CH-1 converts 2-azahypoxnathine to 2-aza-8-oxohypoxanthine, plant growth-regulating compounds, by oxidation. We report here the high-quality draft genome sequence of
B. contaminans
CH-1. The genome contains 8,065 protein-coding sequences, including several genes possibly involved in metabolizing 2-azahypoxanthine.
So near, yet so far: access to safe abortion services remains elusive for poor women in India
Authors: Bhattacharya Sudip , Bashar Mohammad Abu , Singh Amarjeet
Published: October 2017

In this case study, we describe our experiences with a woman employed as a housemaid who sought unsafe abortion services from a private doctor. This was her sixth pregnancy, after previously giving birth to one son and two daughters and undergoing two induced abortions. Her husband remained opposed to the use of contraception. Initially, she had sought medical termination of pregnancy through a government hospital but was denied because of procedural delays, specifically the non-availability of an ultrasonography report consequent to a lack of proof of identity (ie, the AADHAAR card, a unique identification card for recording biometric and demographic data in India). She finally sought the services of an unqualified private physician and received oral abortifacient agents. Consequently, she was required to seek treatment for bleeding per vaginum from the dispensary staff at a government hospital. We note that many such incidents occur in our daily practice but remain unnoticed and undocumented. Although this patient was eligible for sterilisation (ie, tubectomy), her husband was uncooperative. This case illustrates the lack of decision-making power experienced by Indian women who have a low societal status.
Are within-person Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) ratings of breathlessness ‘on average’ valid in advanced disease for patients and for patients’ informal carers?
Authors: Wade Joshua , Mendonca Silvia , Booth Sara , Ewing Gail , Gardener A Carole , Farquhar Morag
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) is frequently used to assess patient-reported breathlessness in both a research and clinical context. A subgroup of patients report average breathlessness as worse than their worst breathlessness in the last 24 hours (paradoxical average). The Peak/End rule describes how the most extreme and current breathlessness influence reported average. This study seeks to highlight the existence of a subpopulation who give ‘paradoxical averages using the NRS, to characterise this group and to investigate the explanatory relevance of the ‘Peak/End’ rule.

Methods

Data were collected within mixed method face-to-face interviews for three studies: the Living with Breathlessness Study and the two subprotocols of the Breathlessness Intervention Service phase III randomised controlled trial. Key variables from the three datasets were pooled (n=561), and cases where participants reported a paradoxical average (n=45) were identified. These were compared with non-cases and interview transcripts interrogated. NRS ratings of average breathlessness were assessed for fit to Peak/End rule.

Results

Patients in the paradoxical average group had higher Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire physical domain scores on average p=0.042). Peak/End rule analysis showed high positive correlation (Spearman’s rho=0.756, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The NRS requires further standardisation with reporting of question order and construction of scale used to enable informed interpretation. The application of the Peak/End rule demonstrates fallibility of NRS-Average as a construct as it is affected by current breathlessness. Measurement of breathlessness is important for both clinical management and research, but standardisation and transparency are required for meaningful results.
Therapeutic hypothermia in acute traumatic spinal cord injury
Authors: Collis James
Published: October 2017

Therapeutic hypothermia is already widely acknowledged as an effective neuroprotective intervention, especially within the acute care setting in relation to conditions such as cardiac arrest and neonatal encephalopathy. Its multifactorial mechanisms of action, including lowering metabolic rate and reducing acute inflammatory cellular processes, ultimately provide protection for central nervous tissue from continuing injury following ischaemic or traumatic insult. Its clinical application within acute traumatic spinal cord injury would therefore seem very plausible, it having the potential to combat the pathophysiological secondary injury processes that can develop in the proceeding hours to days following the initial injury. As such it could offer invaluable assistance to lessen subsequent sensory, motor and autonomic dysfunction for an individual affected by this devastating condition. Yet research surrounding this intervention’s applicability in this field is somewhat lacking, the majority being experimental. Despite a recent resurgence of interest, which in turn has produced encouraging results, there is a real possibility that this potentially transformational intervention for treating traumatic spinal cord injury could remain an experimental therapy and never reach clinical implementation.
Marijuana as a ‘concept’ flavour for cigar products: availability and price near California schools
Authors: Henriksen Lisa , Schleicher Nina C , Ababseh Kimberly , Johnson Trent O , Fortmann Stephen P
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To assess the retail availability of cigar products that refer to marijuana and the largest package size of cigarillos available for ≤$1.

Methods

Trained data collectors conducted marketing surveillance in a random sample of licensed tobacco retailers that sold little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs) (n=530) near a statewide sample of middle and high schools (n=132) in California. Multilevel models examined the presence of marijuana co-marketing and cigarillo pack size as a function of school/neighbourhood characteristics and adjusted for store type.

Results

Of stores that sold LCCs, approximately 62% contained at least one form of marijuana co-marketing: 53.2% sold cigar wraps marketed as blunt wraps, 27.2% sold cigarillos marketed as blunts and 26.0% sold at least one LCC with a marijuana-related ‘concept’ flavour. Controlling for store type, marijuana co-marketing was more prevalent in school neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of young residents (ages 5–17 years) and with lower median household income. Nearly all stores that sold LCCs (87.9%) offered the products for ≤$1. However, significantly larger packs at similarly low prices were available near schools in lower-income neighbourhoods and with a lower percentage of Hispanic students.

Conclusions

Understanding how the tobacco industry manipulates cigar products and marketing to capitalise on the appeal of marijuana to youth and other priority populations is important to inform regulation, particularly for flavoured tobacco products. In addition, the retail availability of five and six packs of LCCs for ≤$1 near California schools underscores policy recommendations to establish minimum prices for multipacks.
Intracerebroventricular infusion of angiotensin AT2 receptor agonist novokinin aggravates some diabetes-mellitus-induced alterations in Wistar rats
Authors: Pechlivanova D. , Petrov K. , Grozdanov P. , Nenchovska Z. , Tchekalarova J. , Stoynev A.
Published: October 2017

Cumulative data suggest the significant role of the renin–angiotensin system in the development of the pathological consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM). Newly synthesized AT2 receptor agonists gained importance as a target for creating new antihypertensives. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of peptide AT2 agonist novokinin, infused intracerebroventricularly, on the consequences of the streptozotocin-induced type 1 DM (T1DM) in Wistar rats. Food and water consumption, body mass, urine excretion (metabolic cages), motor activity (open-field test), anxiety (elevated plus maze), nociception (paw pressure analgesimeter test), spatial memory (T-maze alternation test), and plasma levels of glucose and corticosterone (ELISA) were assessed 2 weeks after the T1DM induction. Novokinin increased water and food consumption, as well as urine output, and reduced mass gain in the control rats. Diabetic rats demonstrated hyperalgesia, increased level of plasma corticosterone, decreased motor and exploratory activity, and impaired spatial memory. Novokinin infusion increased water intake, diuresis, and mortality rate, decreased food intake, exacerbated diabetes-induced hyperalgesia, and provoked anxiety-like behavior but improved spatial memory in diabetic rats. These initial data suggest that angiotensin AT2 receptors participate in the pathogenesis of T1DM-induced complications in the function of the nervous system.
Genetic diversity and relationship of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) germplasm as revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism markers
Authors: Bhattarai Surendra , Coulman Bruce , Fu Yong-Bi , Beattie Aaron D. , Biligetu Bill
Published: October 2017

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial forage legume widely distributed in the northern temperate regions of the world. Its genetic improvement has been relatively slow due, in part, to the lack of genetic information including molecular characterization of sainfoin germplasm. An attempt was made to evaluate genetic diversity and relationships among 38 sainfoin accessions collected from different regions of the world using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Five AFLP primer pairs were used to assess 367 individual plants, which produced 1042 polymorphic AFLP bands. The frequencies of the scored bands in all assayed individuals ranged from 0.003 to 0.973, with a mean value of 0.165. The analysis of molecular variance revealed higher within-accession (84.3%) genetic variation than among accessions (15.7%). The genetic distance based on inter-accession distance matrices was significant for most accessions but was not significant for accessions sharing similar parents. A dendrogram of the collected accessions showed two clusters at an inter-accession genetic distance coefficient of 0.36. The revealed information on genetic distance and genetic diversity of the sainfoin accessions is useful for selecting genetically diverse germplasms for sainfoin genetic improvement efforts.
Berberine Induces Apoptotic Cell Death via Activation of Caspase-3 and -8 in HL-60 Human Leukemia Cells: Nuclear Localization and Structure–Activity Relationships
Authors: Okubo Shinya , Uto Takuhiro , Goto Aya , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Nishioku Tsuyoshi , Yamada Katsushi , Shoyama Yukihiro
Published: October 2017

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, is a well-known bioactive compound contained in medicinal plants used in traditional and folk medicines. In this study, we investigated the subcellular localization and the apoptotic mechanisms of BBR were elucidated. First, we confirmed the incorporation of BBR into the cell visually. BBR showed antiproliferative activity and promptly localized to the nucleus from 5[Formula: see text]min to 15[Formula: see text]min after BBR treatment in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Next, we examined the antiproliferative activity of BBR (1) and its biosynthetically related compounds (2-7) in HL-60 cells. BBR exerted strongest antiproliferative activity among 1-7 and the results of structures and activity relation suggested that a methylenedioxyl group in ring A, an [Formula: see text]-alkyl group at C-9 position, and the frame of isoquinoline may be necessary for antiproliferative activity. Moreover, BBR showed the most potent antiproliferative activity in HL-60 cells among human cancer and normal cell lines tested. Next, we examined the effect of BBR on molecular events known as apoptosis induction. In HL-60 cells, BBR induced chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, and triggered the activation of PARP, caspase-3 and caspase-8 without the activation of caspase-9. BBR-induced DNA fragmentation was abolished by pretreatment with inhibitors against caspase-3 and caspase-8, but not against caspase-9. ERK and p38 were promptly phosphorylated after 15 min of BBR treatment, and this was correlated with time of localization to the nucleus of BBR. These results demonstrated that BBR translocated into nucleus immediately after treatments and induced apoptotic cell death by activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8.
A quick method based on SIMPLISMA-KPLS for simultaneously selecting outlier samples and informative samples for model standardization in near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Li Li-Na , Ma Chang-Ming , Chang Ming , Zhang Ren-Cheng
Published: October 2017

A novel method based on SIMPLe-to-use Interactive Self-modeling Mixture Analysis (SIMPLISMA) and Kernel Partial Least Square (KPLS), named as SIMPLISMA-KPLS, is proposed in this paper for selection of outlier samples and informative samples simultaneously. It is a quick algorithm used to model standardization (or named as model transfer) in near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The NIR experiment data of the corn for analysis of the protein content is introduced to evaluate the proposed method. Piecewise direct standardization (PDS) is employed in model transfer. And the comparison of SIMPLISMA-PDS-KPLS and KS-PDS-KPLS is given in this research by discussion of the prediction accuracy of protein content and calculation speed of each algorithm. The conclusions include that SIMPLISMA-KPLS can be utilized as an alternative sample selection method for model transfer. Although it has similar accuracy to Kennard–Stone (KS), it is different from KS as it employs concentration information in selection program. This means that it ensures analyte information is involved in analysis, and the spectra (X) of the selected samples is interrelated with concentration (y). And it can be used for outlier sample elimination simultaneously by validation of calibration. According to the statistical data results of running time, it is clear that the sample selection process is more rapid when using KPLS. The quick algorithm of SIMPLISMA-KPLS is beneficial to improve the speed of online measurement using NIR spectroscopy.
How to Bridge Attractors and Repellors
Authors: Li Chunbiao , Sprott Julien Clinton
Published: October 2017

Strange attractors have been extensively studied, but the same is not true for strange repellors. Some time-reversible systems have repellors that mirror their corresponding attractors and that exchange roles when time is reversed. In this paper, a conversion operator is introduced by which an easy transformation can be constructed between such a time-reversible system with an attractor/repellor pair and an irreversible one with a pair of attractors, or vice versa, thus expanding the list of such examples.
A Delayed Virus Infection Model with Cell-to-Cell Transmission and CTL Immune Response
Authors: Yang Yu , Zhang Tonghua , Xu Yancong , Zhou Jinling
Published: October 2017

In this paper, a delayed virus infection model with cell-to-cell transmission and CTL immune response is investigated. In the model, time delay is incorporated into the CTL response. By constructing Lyapunov functionals, global dynamical properties of the two boundary equilibria are established. Our results show that time delay in the CTL response process may lead to sustained oscillation. To further investigate the nature of the oscillation, we apply the method of multiple time scales to calculate the normal form on the center manifold of the model. At the end of the paper, numerical simulations are carried out, which support our theoretical results.
Dynamic Analysis of the Melanoma Model: From Cancer Persistence to Its Eradication
Authors: Starkov Konstantin E. , Jimenez Beristain Laura
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we study the global dynamics of the five-dimensional melanoma model developed by Kronik et al. This model describes interactions of tumor cells with cytotoxic T cells and respective cytokines under cellular immunotherapy. We get the ultimate upper and lower bounds for variables of this model, provide formulas for equilibrium points and present local asymptotic stability/hyperbolic instability conditions. Next, we prove the existence of the attracting set. Based on these results we come to global asymptotic melanoma eradication conditions via global stability analysis. Finally, we provide bounds for a locus of the melanoma persistence equilibrium point, study the case of melanoma persistence and describe conditions under which we observe global attractivity to the unique melanoma persistence equilibrium point.
Hausdorff–Lebesgue Dimension of Attractors
Authors: Leonov G.
Published: October 2017

Definitions of Hausdorff–Lebesgue measure and dimension are introduced. Combination of Hausdorff and Lebesgue ideas are used. Methods for upper and lower estimations of attractor dimensions are developed.
A NOVEL BIOMECHANICS-BASED APPROACH FOR PERSON RE-IDENTIFICATION BY GENERATING DENSE COLOR SIFT SALIENCE FEATURES
Authors: SHAH JAMAL HUSSAIN , CHEN ZONGHAI , SHARIF MUHAMMAD , YASMIN MUSSARAT , FERNANDES STEVEN LAWRENCE
Published: October 2017

Currently, identifying humans using biomechanics-based approaches has gained a lot of significance for person re-identification. Biomechanics-based approaches use knee-hip angle–angle relationships and body movements for person re-identification. Generally, biomechanics of human walking and running is used for person re-identification. In fact, person re-identification is a complex and important task in academia as well as industry and remains an unsolved issue in the computer vision field. The subjects most commonly addressed regarding person re-identification include significant feature extraction that can function accurately with invariant appearance and robust classification. In this study, a significant color feature descriptor is proposed by combining dense color-SIFT and global convex hull salience region features. First convex hull boundary points are detected using the SIFT technique. Furthermore, it is extended with Grubb’s outlier test to eliminate the outlier points detected by SIFT and mark the saliency region via convex hull. Then dense-SIFT and dense-CHF methods are used to extract local and global features within the convex hull region, respectively. Finally, the pre-ranked common nearest neighbor selection technique is applied to minimize overhead of dataset and generate more robust rank classification. The proposed technique is tested using three-camera database video sequences and three publicly available datasets, namely i-LIDS, VIPeR and GRID. Performance of re-identification system is evaluated using a statistical method with CMC curves. The results show better re-identification accuracy in solving the aforementioned problems.
APPLICATION OF ENTROPIES FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSIS OF ABNORMALITIES IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES: A REVIEW
Authors: HAGIWARA YUKI , SUDARSHAN VIDYA K , LEONG SOOK SAM , VIJAYNANTHAN ANUSHYA , NG KWAN HOONG
Published: October 2017

Automation of diagnosis process in medical imaging using various computer-aided techniques is a leading topic of research. Among many computer-aided methods, nonlinear entropies are widely applied in the development of automated algorithms to diagnose abnormalities present in medical images. The use of entropy features in development of Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) may enhance the accuracy of the system. Entropy features depict the nonlinearity of images and thereby the presence of complexity in the images. Various types of entropies have been employed in medical image analysis for automated diagnosis of abnormalities present in the images. This paper focuses on the diverse types of entropies employed in the development of CAD systems for the diagnosis of abnormalities in the medical images. In addition to the diagnosis, these entropies can be used to differentiate the images based on the severity of the abnormalities and for other biomedical applications.
A FAST COMPUTATION METHOD FOR SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATIONS SIMULATION BASED ON SELF-SELECTION ALGORITHM FOR EMBEDDED OPERATING AREA
Authors: WANG MONAN , MAO ZHIYONG , AN XIANJUN
Published: October 2017

This study used biomechanical models of soft tissues based on combined exponential and polynomial models. Finite element methods were used to solve material nonlinear and geometrically nonlinear problems of soft tissue models. This involved assigning a screening coefficient in the model-accelerated computing process to filter the units involved in the calculation. The screening coefficient controlled both the accuracy of the results of simulation and the computing speed through setting up a subset of finite elements. The fast computer method based on the screening coefficient was applied to the rectus femoris simulation.
AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCE IN DYNAMIC POSTURAL BALANCE AGAINST TILTING PERTURBATION IN MEN AND WOMEN
Authors: KIM JI-WON , KWON YU-RI , EOM GWANG-MOON
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate how age and gender affect the dynamic postural balance during tilting perturbation. Fifty healthy subjects (15 young men, 13 young women, 11 elderly men and 11 elderly women) performed balance test on a movable force plate that tilted toe-up and toe-down. As outcome measures, maximum excursion and fluctuation were calculated from center of pressure (COP) data in the sagittal plane (anteroposterior). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc comparisons were performed for the outcome measures with the independent factors of age and gender. The elderly had a greater COP maximum excursion as compared to the young during both perturbations ([Formula: see text]). COP fluctuation showed significant interaction of age and gender only in toe-up perturbation ([Formula: see text]). Especially, age-related difference existed only in women ([Formula: see text]). These results suggest that elderly women have dynamic balance strategy with great and fluctuated sway in response to toe-up perturbation. The age-related changes in dynamic balance among women may be related to the greater fall rate of elderly women.
SAVI objects: sharing and virtuality incorporated
Authors: El Hajj Izzat , Jablin Thomas B. , Milojicic Dejan , Hwu Wen-mei
Published: October 2017

Direct sharing and storing of memory objects allows high-performance and low-overhead collaboration between parallel processes or application workflows with loosely coupled programs. However, sharing of objects is hindered by the inability to use subtype polymorphism which is common in object-oriented programming languages. That is because implementations of subtype polymorphism in modern compilers rely on using virtual tables stored at process-specific locations, which makes objects unusable in processes other than the creating process.

In this paper, we present SAVI Objects, objects with Sharing and Virtuality Incorporated. SAVI Objects support subtype polymorphism but can still be shared across processes and stored in persistent data structures. We propose two different techniques to implement SAVI Objects and evaluate the tradeoffs between them. The first technique is virtual table duplication which adheres to the virtual-table-based implementation of subtype polymorphism, but duplicates virtual tables for shared objects to fixed memory addresses associated with each shared memory region. The second technique is hashing-based dynamic dispatch which re-implements subtype polymorphism using hashing-based look-ups to a global virtual table.

Our results show that SAVI Objects enable direct sharing and storing of memory objects that use subtype polymorphism by adding modest overhead costs to object construction and dynamic dispatch time. SAVI Objects thus enable faster inter-process communication, improving the overall performance of production applications that share polymorphic objects.
Fast and precise type checking for JavaScript
Authors: Chaudhuri Avik , Vekris Panagiotis , Goldman Sam , Roch Marshall , Levi Gabriel
Published: October 2017

In this paper we present the design and implementation of Flow, a fast and precise type checker for JavaScript that is used by thousands of developers on millions of lines of code at Facebook every day. Flow uses sophisticated type inference to understand common JavaScript idioms precisely. This helps it find non-trivial bugs in code and provide code intelligence to editors without requiring significant rewriting or annotations from the developer. We formalize an important fragment of Flow's analysis and prove its soundness. Furthermore, Flow uses aggressive parallelization and incrementalization to deliver near-instantaneous response times. This helps it avoid introducing any latency in the usual edit-refresh cycle of rapid JavaScript development. We describe the algorithms and systems infrastructure that we built to scale Flow's analysis.