bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal bone contrast-enhanced high-resolution CT evaluation of pulsatile tinnitus after sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction
Authors: Ding Heyu , Zhao Pengfei , Lv Han , Liu Xuehuan , Zeng Rong , Wang Guopeng , Gong Shusheng , Wang Zhenchang
Published: May 2018

Background

Sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction (SSWR) is a proven effective treatment for pulsatile tinnitus (PT) caused by sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence (SSWD) with or without sigmoid sinus diverticulum (SSD); however, comprehensive analysis of the postoperative imaging manifestations has not yet been reported.

Purpose

To analyze temporal bone computed tomography (CT) imaging features following SSWR in patients with PT.

Material and Methods

Following SSWR, temporal bone contrast-enhanced high-resolution CT (HRCT) images from 33 PT cases were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on follow-up interval: a short-interval group (≤18 months, 12 cases) and a long-interval group (>18 months, 21 cases). The mending material density and morphology was analyzed. Postoperative changes of the venous sinus were evaluated. Imaging manifestations of the normal temporal bone and mastoid air cells adjacent to the operative field were observed.

Results

The order of CT values of mending materials was significantly lower in the short-interval group than in the long-interval group (Z = −4.716, P < 0.001); the incidence of complete newly remodeled cortical bone on the rim of the mending materials was significantly higher in the long-interval group than in the short-interval group ( P < 0.001). Eleven patients (33.3%) showed varying degrees of remnant SSWD. The mending materials and normal mastoid bone structure showed complete fusion (n = 12, 36.4%), partial fusion (n = 16, 48.5%), or complete separation (n = 5, 15.2%).

Conclusion

Temporal bone contrast-enhanced HRCT can be used to observe imaging features of the mending materials, venous sinus, adjacent normal temporal bone and mastoid air cells following SSWR.
Planning of Fast-Charging Stations for a Battery Electric Bus System under Energy Consumption Uncertainty
Authors: Liu Zhaocai , Song Ziqi , He Yi
Published: May 2018

Battery-powered electric buses are gaining popularity as an energy-efficient and emission-free alternative for bus fleets. However, battery electric buses continue to struggle with concerns related to their limited driving range and time-consuming recharging processes. Fast-charging technology, which utilizes dwelling time at bus stops or terminals to recharge buses in operation employing high power, can raise battery electric buses to the same level of capability as their diesel counterparts in terms of driving range and operating time. To develop an economical and effective battery electric bus system using fast-charging technology, fast-charging stations must be strategically deployed. Moreover, due to the instability of traffic conditions and travel demands, the energy consumption uncertainty of buses should also be considered. This study addresses the planning problem of fast-charging stations that is inherent in a battery electric bus system in light of the energy consumption uncertainty of buses. A robust optimization model that represents a mixed integer linear program is developed with the objective of minimizing the total implementation cost. The model is then demonstrated using a real-world bus system. The performances of deterministic solutions and robust solutions are compared under a worst-case scenario. The results demonstrate that the proposed robust model can provide an optimal plan for a fast-charging battery electric bus system that is robust against the energy consumption uncertainty of buses. The trade-off between system cost and system robustness is also addressed.
Experimental study on the picosecond pulsed laser cutting of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics
Authors: Hu Jun , Zhu Dezhi
Published: May 2018

An experimental investigation of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics cutting with an Nd:YVO4 picosecond pulsed system was presented. One-factor experimental design was used in order to explain the influence of cutting parameters including laser power, hatch distance and cutting speed on the pulsed laser–material interaction. The process parameters were optimized by using central composite design of response surface methodology. The results in kerf width, taper angle, material removal rate, and heat-affected zones were discussed through the micrographs observed with optical microscope. Specimens were cut with three different tools: picosecond pulsed laser, nanosecond pulsed laser, and conventional cutting, and the tensile strength and bending strength tests were conducted. Furthermore, the effect of the heat-affected zones on the static strength was also analyzed.
Use of Home- and Community-Based Services in Taiwan’s National 10-Year Long-Term Care Plan
Authors: Yu Hsiao-Wei , Tu Yu-Kang , Kuo Po-Hsiu , Chen Ya-Mei
Published: May 2018

We aimed to understand the relationships between care recipients’ profiles and home- and community-based services (HCBS use patterns. Data were from the 2010 to 2013 Long-Term Care Service Management System in Taiwan ( N = 78,205). We used latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Three HCBS use patterns were found. Care recipients who lived alone, lived in less urbanized areas, and had instrumental activities of daily living disabilities were more likely to be in the home-based personal care group. Those in the home-based personal and medical care group were more likely than others to have a primary caregiver. Care recipients who had poorer abilities at basic activities of daily living and cognitive function, better household income, and lived in a more urbanized area were more likely to be in the non-personal care multiple services group. The findings suggest that policymakers alleviate barriers to accessing various patterns of HCBS should be encouraged.
2,5-Hexanedione increases the percentage of proliferative Sox2+ cells in rat hippocampus
Authors: Wang Longjuan , Liu Shuang , Su Dan , Chen Feng , Lei Tengteng , Chen Haibo , Dong Wei , Jiang Yue , Sun Xiance , Sun Wenchang
Published: May 2018

n-Hexane is an organic solvent widely used in industry. 2,5-Hexanedione (2,5-HD), the major neurotoxic metabolite of n-hexane, decreases the levels of neurofilaments (NFs) in neurons. Neurogenesis occurs throughout life, and the hippocampal dentate gyrus is one of two major brain areas showing neurogenesis in adulthood. In the current study, rats were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline solution or 2,5-HD five times per week for five continuous weeks. 2,5-HD was administered to the low-dose and high-dose groups at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, respectively. Then, immunoreactive cells were counted in the hippocampal granule cell layer (GCL) and subgranular zone (SGZ). Ki67+ cells significantly decreased in the high-dose group, while the percentage of proliferative Sox2+ cells significantly increased, consistent with high hippocampal Sox2 expression. Additionally, western blotting showed that exposure to high doses of 2,5-HD led to decreased NF-L in both the cortex and hippocampus, whereas low doses led to a significant reduction in the cortex only. In conclusion, 2,5-HD increases the percentage of proliferating neural stem and progenitor (Sox2+) cells in the SGZ/GCL.
Synthesis and properties of cycloaliphatic epoxy resins containing imide and diphenyl sulfone
Authors: Xu Renxin , Meng Detian , Sun Huajun , Zhou Jing , Cheng Shixin , Li Zheng
Published: May 2018

A novel variety of cycloaliphatic epoxy resins containing imide and diphenyl sulfone (named as 4,4′-bis[4-(4,5-epoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-phthalimido) phenoxy] diphenyl sulfone, BIES) is designed and synthesized through the three-step procedure. The mixtures of BIES and diglycidyl 4,5-epoxycyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (TDE-85) are cured with methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride. Fourier transform infrared spectrum and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum confirm that the BIES contains the chemical structure of imide and diphenyl sulfone. The measurements of glass transition temperature ( Tg), heat distortion temperature (HDT), and the 5% weight loss temperature ( T5%) show that the co-cured BIES/TDE-85 exhibits excellent heat resistance. For the BIES/TDE-85 with mass ratio of 0.2, Tg, HDT, and T5% of the co-cured epoxy are 175°C, 162°C, and 290°C, respectively. The impact strength increases from 117 J m−1 to 139 J m−1 with the increasing of the mass ratios of the BIES/TDE-85 from 0 to 0.2.
Simvastatin Suppresses Interleukin Iβ Release in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Stimulated With Cholesterol Crystals
Authors: Boland Anna J. , Gangadharan Nisha , Kavanagh Pierce , Hemeryck Linda , Kieran Jennifer , Barry Michael , Walsh Patrick T. , Lucitt Margaret
Published: May 2018

Statins are mainstream therapy in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease through inhibitory effects on cholesterol synthesis. However, statins’ beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease may also be attributable to their role as anti-inflammatory mediators. Here, we investigated the effects of simvastatin treatment on expression levels of interleukin (IL) 1β in both patient with hyperlipidemia and healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using cholesterol crystals (CC), a cardiovascular pathogenic stimulus for activation of the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain–containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Cholesterol crystal-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation was used to trigger maturation and release of IL-1β in PBMCs. Specifically, isolated PBMCs from patients with hyperlipidemia at baseline and following 8 weeks of in vivo treatment with simvastatin (10-20 mg) daily were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng/mL) for 3 hours to induce proIL-Iβ expression followed by CC (2 mg/mL) stimulation for further 18 hours to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome complex to induce maturation/activation of IL-1β. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also isolated from healthy donors and stimulated in vitro with simvastatin (50, 25, 5, and 2 µmol/L) prior to stimulation with LPS and CC as described above. The effects of simvastatin treatment on levels of IL-1β expression were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot. Both in vitro and in vivo treatments with simvastatin led to a significant reduction in the levels of expression of IL-1β in response to stimulation with CC. Simvastatin inhibits the expression and activation of IL-1β induced by CC in PBMCs, which may contribute to its protective role in patients with cardiovascular disease.
The quality of experience–oriented personal message acquisition optimization for intelligent apparatus in space information networks
Authors: Yao Changhua , Zhu Lei
Published: May 2018

In this article, we investigate the problem of personal message acquisition optimization for intelligent apparatus in the space information network. The quality of experience for persons during achieving the synthetical message rapidly and exactly through the apparatus is significant to the apparatus layout. In this article, we presented a quality of experience–oriented synthetical statistical analysis optimization approach for the personal message acquisition for intelligent apparatus. The main contribution is that the mathematical analysis is combined with the statistical data for the assessment of the personal message acquisition to overcome some drawbacks in the existing works. Experiments verified that the presented approach could make the personal message acquisition with much higher quality of experience.
Eating well, living well and weight management: A co-produced semi-qualitative study of barriers and facilitators experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Doherty AJ , Jones SP , Chauhan U , Gibson JME
Published: May 2018

Adults with intellectual disabilities in England experience health inequalities. They are more likely than their non-disabled peers to be obese and at risk of serious medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. This semi-qualitative study engaged adults with intellectual disabilities in a co-production process to explore their perceived barriers and facilitators to eating well, living well and weight management. Nineteen participants with intellectual disabilities took part in four focus groups and one wider group discussion. They were supported by eight of their carers or support workers. Several barriers were identified including personal income restrictions, carers’ and support workers’ unmet training needs, a lack of accessible information, inaccessible services and societal barriers such as the widespread advertising of less healthy foodstuffs. A key theme of frustration with barriers emerged from analysis of participants’ responses. Practical solutions suggested by participants included provision of clear and accessible healthy lifestyle information, reasonable adjustments to services, training, ‘buddying’ support systems or schemes and collaborative working to improve policy and practice.
Right ventricular stroke work correlates with outcomes in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Yang Weiguang , Marsden Alison L. , Ogawa Michelle T. , Sakarovitch Charlotte , Hall Keeley K. , Rabinovitch Marlene , Feinstein Jeffrey A.
Published: May 2018

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Optimizing treatment strategies and timing for transplant remains challenging. Thus, a quantitative measure to predict disease progression would be greatly beneficial in treatment planning. We devised a novel method to assess right ventricular (RV) stroke work (RVSW) as a potential biomarker of the failing heart that correlates with clinical worsening. Pediatric patients with idiopathic PAH or PAH secondary to congenital heart disease who had serial, temporally matched cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were included. RV and PA hemodynamics were numerically determined by using a lumped parameter (circuit analogy) model to create pressure‐volume (P‐V) loops. The model was tuned using optimization techniques to match MRI and catheterization derived RV volumes and pressures for each time point. RVSW was calculated from the corresponding P‐V loop and indexed by ejection fraction and body surface area (RVSWEF) to compare across patients. Seventeen patients (8 boys; median age = 9.4 years; age range = 4.4–16.3 years) were enrolled. Nine were clinically stable; the others had clinical worsening between the time of their initial matched studies and their most recent follow‐up (mean time = 3.9 years; range = 1.1–8.0 years). RVSWEF and the ratio of pulmonary to systemic resistance (Rp:Rs) values were found to have more significant associations with clinical worsening within one, two, and five years following the measurements, when compared with PVR index (PVRI). A receiver operating characteristic analysis showed RVSWEF outperforms PVRI, Rp:Rs and ejection fraction for predicting clinical worsening. RVSWEF correlates with clinical worsening in pediatric PAH, shows promising results towards predicting adverse outcomes, and may serve as an indicator of future clinical worsening.
Interleukin‐6 trans‐signaling contributes to chronic hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Maston Levi D. , Jones David T. , Giermakowska Wieslawa , Resta Thomas C. , Ramiro‐Diaz Juan , Howard Tamara A. , Jernigan Nikki L. , Herbert Lindsay , Maurice Anna A. , Gonzalez Bosc Laura V.
Published: May 2018

Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a pleotropic cytokine that signals through the membrane‐bound IL‐6 receptor (mIL‐6R) to induce anti‐inflammatory (“classic‐signaling”) responses. This cytokine also binds to the soluble IL‐6R (sIL‐6R) to promote inflammation (“trans‐signaling”). mIL‐6R expression is restricted to hepatocytes and immune cells. Activated T cells release sIL‐6R into adjacent tissues to induce trans‐signaling. These cellular actions require the ubiquitously expressed membrane receptor gp130. Reports show that IL‐6 is produced by pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) exposed to hypoxia in culture as well as the medial layer of the pulmonary arteries in mice exposed to chronic hypoxia (CH), and IL‐6 knockout mice are protected from CH‐induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). IL‐6 has the potential to contribute to a broad array of downstream effects, such as cell growth and migration. CH‐induced PH is associated with increased proliferation and migration of PASMCs to previously non‐muscularized vessels of the lung. We tested the hypothesis that IL‐6 trans‐signaling contributes to CH‐induced PH and arterial remodeling. Plasma levels of sgp130 were significantly decreased in mice exposed to CH (380 mmHg) for five days compared to normoxic control mice (630 mmHg), while sIL‐6R levels were unchanged. Consistent with our hypothesis, mice that received the IL‐6 trans‐signaling‐specific inhibitor sgp130Fc, a fusion protein of the soluble extracellular portion of gp130 with the constant portion of the mouse IgG1 antibody, showed attenuation of CH‐induced increases in right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular and pulmonary arterial remodeling as compared to vehicle (saline)‐treated control mice. In addition, PASMCs cultured in the presence of IL‐6 and sIL‐6R showed enhanced migration but not proliferation compared to those treated with IL‐6 or sIL‐6R alone or in the presence of sgp130Fc. These results indicate that IL‐6 trans‐signaling contributes to pulmonary arterial cell migration and CH‐induced PH.
The Effect of Comorbidities and Age on Functional Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Octogenarian: A Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Cher Eric Wei Liang , Tay Kae Sian , Zhang Karen , Tan Seang Beng , Howe Tet Sen , Koh Joyce Suang Bee
Published: May 2018

Introduction:

According to the World Health Organization data repository, the average life expectancy at birth for Singapore in 2015 has risen to 83.4 years, and many octogenarians (OG) remain active socioeconomically. The aim of this study is to compare the improvement and the impact of comorbidities on functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between OG and their younger counterparts.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from a single institution arthroplasty register. Between January 2006 and December 2011, 209 OG with primary knee osteoarthritis underwent TKA. Each OG (mean age 82 ± 2.1) was then carefully matched to a younger control group (YG, mean age 66 ± 4.5). Their postoperative outcomes measured include Oxford Knee Score (OKS), SF36-Physical Function (SF-PF), and knee society rating score comprising of Knee Score (KS) and Function Score (FS). Their respective degrees of improvement were compared and adjusted for their baseline comorbidities, measured using the Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index (D-CCI).

Results:

There were more comorbidities among the OG ( P < .05). Both groups saw the largest improvement ( P < .05) during the first 6 months. There was no statistical significance between their improvement for OKS, KS, and FS between baseline and 6 months and OKS, FS, and SF-PF between 6 and 24 months. Adjusted for D-CCI using linear regression, the above results remained largely unchanged.

Discussion:

In our study, both groups showed significant improvement across all functional outcomes, especially during the first 6 months. The improvement observed in OG at 6 and 24 months was comparable to that of YG, despite an overall higher baseline D-CCI.

Conclusions:

Total knee arthroplasty is a viable treatment option for the OG, offering good functional outcomes and results at 6 and 24 months when compared to their younger counterparts.
Magnesio-hornblende from Lüderitz, Namibia: mineral description and crystal chemistry
Authors: Oberti Roberta , Boiocchi Massimo , Hawthorne Frank C. , Ciriotti Marco E.
Published: May 2018

Magnesio-hornblende (IMA2017-059) has been characterized in a specimen collected in the sand dunes of Lüderitz, Karas Region, Namibia. The empirical formula derived from electron microprobe analysis and single-crystal structure refinement is A(□0.73Na0.22K0.05)Σ1.00B(Ca1.79Fe2+0.10Mg0.04Mn2+0.03Na0.04)Σ2.00C(Mg3.48Fe2+0.97Al0.28Fe3+0.23Cr3+0.01Ti0.03)Σ5.00T(Si7.18Al0.82)Σ8.00O22W[(OH)1.93F0.05Cl0.02]Σ2.00. Magnesio-hornblende is biaxial (–), with α = 1.640(2), β = 1.654(2), γ = 1.666(2) (measured with gel-filtered Na light, λ = 589.9 nm), 2V (meas.) = 82(1)° and 2V (calc.) = 84.9°. The unit-cell parameters are a = 9.8308(7), b = 18.0659(11), c = 5.2968(4) Å, β = 104.771(6)° and V = 909.64 (11) Å3 with Z = 2 and space group C2/m. The strongest eight reflections in the X-ray powder pattern [d values (in Å), I, (hkl)] are: 2.709, 100, (151); 8.412, 74, (110); 3.121, 73, (310); 2.541, 58, ($\bar{2}$02); 3.386, 49, (131); 2.596, 45, (061); 2.338, 41, ($\bar{3}$51); and 2.164, 39, (261).
How I treat Burkitt lymphoma in children, adolescents, and young adults in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Gopal Satish , Gross Thomas G.
Published: May 2018

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is the most common pediatric cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and also occurs frequently among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), often associated with HIV. Treating BL in SSA poses particular challenges. Although highly effective, high-intensity cytotoxic treatments used in resource-rich settings are usually not feasible, and lower-intensity continuous infusion approaches are impractical. In this article, based on evidence from the region, we review management strategies for SSA focused on diagnosis and use of prephase and definitive treatment. Additionally, potentially better approaches for risk stratification and individualized therapy are elaborated. Compared with historical very low-intensity approaches, the relative safety, feasibility, and outcomes of regimens incorporating anthracyclines and/or high-dose systemic methotrexate for this population are discussed, along with requirements to administer such regimens safely. Finally, research priorities for BL in SSA are outlined including novel therapies, to reduce the unacceptable gap in outcomes for patients in SSA vs high-income countries (HICs). Sustained commitment to incremental advances and innovation, as in cooperative pediatric oncology groups in HICs, is required to transform care and outcomes for BL in SSA through international collaboration.
Enrichment of FGFR3-TACC3 Fusions in Patients With Bladder Cancer Who Are Young, Asian, or Have Never Smoked
Authors: Nassar Amin H. , Lundgren Kevin , Pomerantz Mark , Van Allen Eliezer , Harshman Lauren , Choudhury Atish D. , Preston Mark A. , Steele Graeme S. , Mouw Kent W. , Wei Xiao X. , McGregor Bradley A. , Choueiri Toni K. , Bellmunt Joaquim , Kwiatkowski David J. , Sonpavde Guru P.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

FGFR3-TACC3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3–transforming acidic coiled coil-containing protein 3) fusions have recently been identified as driver mutations that lead to the activation of FGFR3 in bladder cancer and other tumor types and are associated with sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We examined the clinical and molecular characteristics of patients with FGFR3-TACC3 fusions and hypothesized that they are enriched in a subset of patients with bladder cancer.

Materials and Methods

We correlated somatic FGFR3-TACC3 fusions with clinical and molecular features in two cohorts of patients with bladder cancer. The first cohort consisted of the muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) data set (n = 412) from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The second cohort consisted of patients with MIBC or high-grade non-MIBC at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that had targeted capture sequencing of a selected panel of cancer genes (n = 356). All statistical tests were two sided. The clinical response of one patient with FGFR3-TACC3 bladder cancer to an FGFR3 inhibitor was investigated.

Results

Overall, 751 patients with high-grade bladder cancer without FGFR3-TACC3 fusions and 17 with FGFR3-TACC3 fusions were identified in the pooled analysis of the data sets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. FGFR3-TACC3 fusions were enriched in patients age ≤ 50 years versus age 51 to 65 years versus those older than 65 years (pooled, P = .002), and were observed in four (12%) of 33 patients age ≤ 50 years in the pooled analysis. Similarly, FGFR3-TACC3 fusions were significantly more common in Asians (13%) compared with African Americans (4%) and whites (2%; pooled, P < .001), as well as in never smokers (5.6%) compared with ever smokers (1.1%; pooled, P < .001). One patient with the fusion who was treated with an FGFR3 inhibitor achieved complete remission for 10 months.

Conclusion

Clinical testing to identify FGFR3 fusions should be prioritized for patients with bladder cancer who are younger, never smokers, and/or Asian.
Yif1 associates with Yip1 on Golgi and regulates dendrite pruning in sensory neurons during Drosophila metamorphosis
Authors: Wang Qiwei , Wang Yan , Yu Fengwei
Published: May 2018

Pruning that selectively removes unnecessary neurites without causing neuronal death is essential for sculpting the mature nervous system during development. In Drosophila, ddaC sensory neurons specifically prune their larval dendrites with intact axons during metamorphosis. However, it remains unknown about an important role of ER-to-Golgi transport in dendrite pruning. Here, in a clonal screen we identified Yif1, an uncharacterized Drosophila homologue of Yif1p that is known as a regulator of ER-to-Golgi transport in yeast. We show that Yif1 is required for dendrite pruning of ddaC neurons but not for apoptosis of ddaF neurons. We further identified the Yif1-binding partner Yip1 which is also crucial for dendrite pruning. Yif1 forms a protein complex with Yip1 in S2 cells and ddaC neurons. Yip1 and Yif1 colocalize on ER/Golgi and are required for the integrity of Golgi apparatus and outposts. Moreover, we show that two GTPases Rab1 and Sar1, known to regulate ER-to-Golgi transport, are essential for dendrite pruning of ddaC neurons. Finally, our data reveal that ER-to-Golgi transport promotes endocytosis and downregulation of cell adhesion molecule Neuroglian and thereby dendrite pruning.
How alternative splicing affects membrane-trafficking dynamics
Authors: Blue R. Eric , Curry Ennessa G. , Engels Nichlas M. , Lee Eunice Y. , Giudice Jimena
Published: May 2018

The cell biology field has outstanding working knowledge of the fundamentals of membrane-trafficking pathways, which are of critical importance in health and disease. Current challenges include understanding how trafficking pathways are fine-tuned for specialized tissue functions in vivo and during development. In parallel, the ENCODE project and numerous genetic studies have revealed that alternative splicing regulates gene expression in tissues and throughout development at a post-transcriptional level. This Review summarizes recent discoveries demonstrating that alternative splicing affects tissue specialization and membrane-trafficking proteins during development, and examines how this regulation is altered in human disease. We first discuss how alternative splicing of clathrin, SNAREs and BAR-domain proteins influences endocytosis, secretion and membrane dynamics, respectively. We then focus on the role of RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of splicing of membrane-trafficking proteins in health and disease. Overall, our aim is to comprehensively summarize how trafficking is molecularly influenced by alternative splicing and identify future directions centered on its physiological relevance.
freesurfer: Connecting the Freesurfer software with R
Authors: Muschelli John , Sweeney Elizabeth , Crainiceanu Ciprian M.
Published: May 2018

We present the packagefreesurfer, a set of R functions that interface with Freesurfer, a commonly-used open-source software package for processing and analyzing structural neuroimaging data, specifically T1-weighted images. Thefreesurferpackage performs operations on nifti image objects in R using command-line functions from Freesurfer, and returns R objects back to the user. freesurferallows users to process neuroanatomical images and provides functionality to convert and read the output of the Freesurfer pipelines more easily, including brain images, brain surfaces, and Freesurfer output tables.
Surveillance and Epidemiology of Drug Resistant Infections Consortium (SEDRIC): Supporting the transition from strategy to action
Authors: Fukuda Keiji , Limmathurotsakul Direk , Okeke Iruka N. , Shetty Nandini , van Doorn Rogier , Feasey Nicholas A. , Chiara Francesca , Zoubiane Ghada , Jinks Tim , Parkhill Julian , Patel Jean , Reid Stuart W.J. , Holmes Alison H. , Peacock Sharon J. ,   Surveillance and Epidemiology of Drug Resistant Infections Consortium (SEDRIC)
Published: May 2018

In recognition of the central importance of surveillance and epidemiology in the control of antimicrobial resistance and the need to strengthen surveillance at all levels, Wellcome has brought together a new international expert group SEDRIC (Surveillance and Epidemiology of Drug Resistant Infections Consortium). SEDRIC aims to advance and transform the ways of tracking, sharing and analysing rates of infection and drug resistance, burden of disease, information on antibiotic use, opportunities for preventative measures such as vaccines, and contamination of the environment. SEDRIC will strengthen the availability of information needed to monitor and track risks, including an evaluation of access to, and utility of data generated by pharma and research activities, and will support the translation of surveillance data into interventions, changes in policy and more effective practices. Ways of working will include the provision of independent scientific analysis, advocacy and expert advice to groups, such as the Wellcome Drug Resistant Infection Priority Programme. A priority for SEDRIC’s first Working Group is to review mechanisms to strengthen the generation, collection, collation and dissemination of high quality data, together with the need for creativity in the use of existing data and proxy measures, and linking to existing in-country networking infrastructure. SEDRIC will also promote the translation of technological innovations into public health solutions.
BULYAK - PERSPECTIVE VARIETY OF YARN SOFT WHEAT
Authors: Василова Нурания , Vasilova Nuraniya , Багавиева Эльмира , Bagavieva El'mira , Тазутдинова Мухаббат , Tazutdinova Muhabbat
Published: May 2018

A new semi-intensive variety of spring soft wheat Bulyak, bred in Tatar Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, by intraspecific hybridization, the method based on the principle of expected transgressions was based on the selection of parental forms for the creation of the cultivar. The variety has a realized yield potential at the level of 5.5 tons per hectare, the advantage over the three-year test (2014-2016) over the standard Simbirtsit variety in the differing pressure of abiotic and biotic environmental factors is 0.93 tons per hectare, standard in all years of the test. The variety forms a valuable grain in quality. The technological parameters of grain meet the requirements for valuable and strong wheat: nature - 809-815 gramms per litre, vitreousity - 55-87%, protein content in grain – 11.7-13.9%, gluten in grain – 28.2-31.1% of the first and second quality groups. Rheological properties of the dough: strength of flour - 308 units, valorimetric evaluation - 71.3 units, which meets the requirements for strong varieties. The bakery quality is excellent. The variety is medium-ripening, it belongs to the erythospermum (estivum) variety. Middle-growing, height – 82.2 cm, resistance to lodging in the cultivar was not marked below 8 points. The variety has a high-grain ears - 25.6 grains and a high mass of 1000 grains, an average of 42.5 g, in 2014, it reached 47 g. The variety has a low productive bushiness - 1.08 pieces per plant, which is also characteristic of other varieties of selection of the Tatar SRIA. The variety was transferred to the State Variety Test in the Middle Volga and Central regions of the Russian Federation in 2016.
THE INFLUENCE OF POTATO PLANTING DENSITY ON productivity, QUALITY OF PRODUCTION AND THE COMMERCIALITY OF TUBERS
Authors: Шашкаров Леонид , Shashkarov Leonid , Григорьев Яков , Grigor'ev Yakov , Самаркин Алексей , Samarkin Aleksey , Медведев Владимир , Medvedev Vladimir
Published: May 2018

The article deals with the influence of planting depth of potato tubers on productivity, structure, quality of products and the marketability of potato crop in the conditions of the Chuvash Republic. The depth of seeding of tubers has a direct impact on all processes of growth and development. The more favorable the complex of conditions in the zone of placement of planted tubers, the faster they germinate and give early and amicable shoots, the more successful the further development of the potato plant and the formation of the crop. Determining the dependence of the potato tuber planting depth on the productivity, structure, quality of the products and the marketability of potato plants hinders many causes that are directly related to the growth and development of potato plants, as the productivity of potato plants is significantly increased by optimizing the priority conditions that are necessary in potato cultivation, when there is an increase in all indicators of photosynthetic activity of potato plants. The density of plants should be such that plants could form a powerful leaf surface, a root system and make the best use of solar energy and soil nutrients [11 12]. In numerous studies by our and foreign authors on the definition of optimal areas of potato nutrition, the following general provisions are present: late varieties, that develop a powerful top, are placed less often, early - thicker; the less moisture in the soil, the less should be the density of planting [6]. In this study, in order to determine potato productivity, we first of all determined crop yields, structure, product quality and marketability of tubers. Norms of planting can be determined depending on the density of the stalk. The high density of plant standings promotes acceleration of passage of development phases by plants, early tuber formation and ripening of a potato [3,4,5,7,8,9]. Thus, in the experiments, carried out by V.T. Spiridonov (1972) in the Chuvash Agricultural Institute in the variant where the planting was carried out according to the scheme of 70x30 cm, the entry of plants into the mass flowering phase was noted 2-3 days earlier than when planting according to the scheme of 70x35 cm. Reduction of the distance between tubers to 25 cm accelerated the development of plants 5 days.
EFFICIENCY OF APPLICATION OF CALCULATING DOSES OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS ON ALFALFA-RYEGRASS MEADOWS OF THE MIDDLE VOLGA REGION
Authors: Хисматуллин Марсель , Khismatullin Marsel , Сочнева Светлана , Sochneva Svetlana , Трофимов Николай , Trofimov Nikolay , Сафиоллин Фаик , Safiollin Faik
Published: May 2018

The simplest ecologically safe, energetically and economically advantageous direction for solving the problem of feed production is the expansion of the acreage of leguminous perennial grasses, since they are distinguished by high nutritional and digestibility. At the same time, it is impossible to solve the problem of balancing the ration of feeding animals only at the expense of alfalfa seedlings, clover meadow or goatskin, since in them the content of the sum of sugars does not exceed 4-6 percent. Meanwhile, in the dry matter of ryegrass of multi-hulled, the content of the sum of sugars reaches 20 percent or more. In this connection, this article deals with the cultivation of alfalfa-ryegrass stands on the calculated background of mineral nutrition in order to increase the production of energy-saturated feeds balanced by the sugar-protein ratio.
Peer-to-Peer Product Sharing: Implications for Ownership, Usage, and Social Welfare in the Sharing Economy
Authors: Benjaafar Saif , Kong Guangwen , Li Xiang , Courcoubetis Costas
Published: May 2018

We describe an equilibrium model of peer-to-peer product sharing, or collaborative consumption, where individuals with varying usage levels make decisions about whether or not to own a homogeneous product. Owners are able to generate income from renting their products to nonowners while nonowners are able to access these products through renting on an as-needed basis. We characterize equilibrium outcomes, including ownership and usage levels, consumer surplus, and social welfare. We compare each outcome in systems with and without collaborative consumption and examine the impact of various problem parameters. Our findings indicate that collaborative consumption can result in either lower or higher ownership and usage levels, with higher ownership and usage levels more likely when the cost of ownership is high. Our findings also indicate that consumers always benefit from collaborative consumption, with individuals who, in the absence of collaborative consumption, are indifferent between owning and not owning benefitting the most. We study both profit-maximizing and social-welfare–maximizing platforms and compare equilibrium outcomes under both in terms of ownership, usage, and social welfare. We find that the difference in social welfare between the profit-maximizing and social-welfare–maximizing platforms is relatively modest.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2970 .

This paper was accepted by Gad Allon, operations management.
Relationships between public health faculty and decision makers at four governmental levels: a social network analysis
Authors: Jessani Nasreen S , Babcock Carly , Siddiqi Sameer , Davey-Rothwel Melissa , Ho Shirley , Holtgrave David R
Published: May 2018

Background

Relationships between academic faculty and decision makers have been documented as an important factor in the evidence-to-policy process. However, knowledge about the breadth, depth and dynamic quality of these relationships often remains unknown therefore rendering the potential for influence untapped, uncoordinated, redundant or inefficient.

Methods

We mapped the relationships between faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and decision makers at the city, state, federal and global levels. In 2016, 211 of 627 eligible full-time faculty participated in a sociometric survey. Common metrics for social network analysis were modified to provide reliable indicators of network characteristics. UCINet was used for network visualisation. ‘Highly connected’ individuals included: faculty with ≥5 contacts at any one government level; those appearing in the top 10% in total across all four levels; decision makers appearing in the top 2% of frequently mentioned people.

Results

Results revealed faculty relationships spanning >100 government departments, ~700 decision makers, and 45 country governments. The majority of respondents (72%) mentioned at least one decision maker; 49 faculty and 24 decision makers appeared as ‘highly connected’. While the School of Public Health (SPH) demonstrates a diversity of relationships within and across government agencies, there were also identifiable gaps.

Conclusion

This study provides further support for using Network Analysis to explore size, reach, diversity and density of relationships between academic faculty and decision makers, with network maps serving as a proxy for potential influence. Academic institutions and government agencies should nurture a variety of relationships in order to enhance engaged scholarship and further informed decision making.
Manufacturing processes in the textile industry. Expert Systems for fabrics production
Authors: Bullon Juan , González Arrieta Angélica , Hernández Encinas Ascensión , Queiruga Dios Araceli
Published: May 2018

The textile industry is characterized by the economic activity whose objective is the production of fibres, yarns, fabrics, clothing and textile goods for home and decoration, as well as technical and industrial purposes. Within manufacturing, the Textile is one of the oldest and most complex sectors which includes a large number of sub-sectors covering the entire production cycle, from raw materials and intermediate products, to the production of final products. Textile industry activities present different subdivisions,each with its own traits. The length of the textile process and the variety of its technicalprocesses lead to the coexistence of different sub-sectors in regards to their business structure and integration. The textile industry is developing expert systems applicationsto increase production, improve quality and reduce costs. The analysis of textile designs or structures includes the use of mathematical models to simulate the behavior of the textile structures (yarns, fabrics and knitting). The Finite Element Method (FEM) has largely facilitated the prediction of the behavior of that textile structure under mechanical loads. For classification problems Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have proved to be a very effective tool as a quick and accurate solution. The Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) method proposed in this study complements the results of the finite element simulation, mathematical modeling and neural networks methods.
A Comparison of the YCBCR Color Space with Gray Scale for Face Recognition for Surveillance Applications
Authors: Moung Ervin Gubin
Published: May 2018

Face recognition is an important biometric method because of its potential applications in many fields, such as access control and surveillance. In this paper, the performance of the individual channels from the YCBCR color space on face recognition for surveillance applications is investigated and compared with the performance of the gray scale. In addition, the performance of fusing two or more color channels is also compared with that of the gray scale. Three cases with different number of training images per persons were used as a test bed. It was found out that, the gray scale always outperforms the individual channel. However, the fusion of CBxCR with any other channel outperforms the gray scale when three images of the same class from the same database are used for training. Regardless of the cases used, the CBxCR channel always gave the best performance for the individual color channels. It was found that, in general, increasing the number of fused channels increases the performance of the system. It was also found that the gray scale channel is the better choice for face recognition since it contain better quality edges and visual features which are essential for face recognition.
Predicting Plan Failure by Monitoring Action Sequences and Duration
Authors: Farias Giovani Parente , Pereira Ramon Fraga , Hilgert Lucas , Meneguzzi Felipe , Vieira Renata , Bordini Rafael Heitor
Published: May 2018

Anticipating failures in agent plan execution is important to enable an agent to develop strategies to avoid or circumvent such failures, allowing the agent to achieve its goal.  Plan recognition can be used to infer which plans are being executed from observations of sequences of activities being performed by an agent. In this work, we use this symbolic plan recognition algorithm to find out which plan the agent is performing and develop a failure prediction system, based on plan library information and in a simplified calendar that manages the goals the agent has to achieve. This failure predictor is able to monitor the sequence of agent actions and detects if an action is taking too long or does not match the plan that the agent was expected to perform. We showcase this approach successfully in a health-care prototype system.
Constructive Model of the Natural Language
Authors: Shynkarenko Viktor , Kuropiatnyk Olena
Published: May 2018

The paper deals with the natural language model. Elements of the model (the language constructions) are images with such attributes as sounds, letters, morphemes, words and other lexical and syntactic components of the language. Based on the analysis of processes of the world perception, visual and associative thinking, the operations of formation and transformation of images are pointed out. The model can be applied in the semantic NLP.
Hegel, la «edad heroica» y el Islam
Authors: Duque Félix
Published: May 2018

Confrontado el actual modo global de vida y de pensamiento con el fenómeno ubicuo del llamado «terrorismo internacional», centrado en el yihadismo islamista, parece conveniente explorar la genealogía de la tormentosa relación de Occidente con el mundo islámico, a través de la poderosa lente —no exenta de ideología eurocristocéntrica— de la filosofía hegeliana, lo cual quizá permita ir poniendo al descubierto los juicios y prejuicios que, profundamente soterrados, moran entre una y otra cosmovisión, basados en buena medida en diferencias «religiosas» o, más bien, ideológicas, las cuales, disfrazadas de religión, encubren dispositivos eficaces de poder.
M. Merleau-Ponty y H. Arendt: pensando en la historia
Authors: López Sáenz Mª Carmen
Published: May 2018

En este trabajo pretendemos comparar y contrastar las concepciones explícitas e implícitas de la historicidad de Merleau-Ponty y Arendt. Comenzaremos trazando su filiación fenomenológica, que tiene como hilo conductor su común búsqueda del sentido de la experiencia incluso en el sinsentido, abriéndose a él desde sus situaciones y compromisos, adentrándose con el pensamiento en la fragilidad y en la contingencia que jamás excluyeron del filosofar. Mostraremos que el desarrollo merleau-pontiano de la fenomenología genética, particularmente su interpretación del concepto husserliano de la Stiftung, posibilita una concepción de la historia que podría ser aceptada por Arendt, de la misma manera que lo fue su ontología indirecta y su interrogación filosófica. Aunque su resistencia a la reversibilidad de la chair (carne) limitará la concepción arendtiana de la acción y del pensar, la interrelación de ambos pensamientos revelará la necesidad de una nueva filosofía de la historia.
El peso de la ética en la política
Authors: Alvargonzález David
Published: May 2018

Las relaciones entre los principios de la ética y los requerimientos de la política no siempre son armónicas. En este artículo, en primer lugar, se propone una definición de los ámbitos propios de la ética y de la política. A continuación, se analizan dos ámbitos en los que se aprecia un conflicto inevitable, estructural, entre ética y política de modo que el bien político requiere el mal ético: los conflictos armados y las políticas de inmigración. A continuación, se hace referencia a conflictos que pretenden estar justificados en la idiosincrasia histórica o cultural de ciertas naciones. Por último, se citan contextos donde la ética y la política persiguen fines comunes o, simplemente, se ignoran mutuamente.
Designs of Textile Antenna Arrays for Smart Clothing Applications
Authors: Chin Kuo-Sheng , Wu Chi-Sheng , Shen Chien-Lung , Tsai Kun-Chuan
Published: May 2018

In this work, three designs of textile antennas, namely, a rectangular microstrip patch antenna, annular slot antenna, and planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA), operating in the 2.45 GHz WLAN band were developed for smart clothing applications. Conductive textile, a copper-plated polyester fabric, was used for fabricating antenna radiators and grounds. An insulating neoprene fabric with a thickness of 4 mm and a permittivity of 1.5 was used for preparing the substrates. The textile patch antenna achieved a maximum gain of 5.96 dBi and a bandwidth of 4.6%. The annual slot antenna showed a moderate gain and bandwidth of 2.9 dBi and 13.1%, respectively. The PIFA achieved the widest bandwidth of 31% but the smallest gain of 1.2 dBi. Furthermore, the performance deterioration of the proposed antennas under various bending conditions was analyzed to evaluate their suitability for wearable applications. Moreover, two 2 × 2 patch and slot antenna arrays were assembled to increase gain and bandwidth. The measured results proved that the developed antenna designs provide superior performance.