bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis Quality Control of Carded and Combed Yarns Using Six Sigma Method
Authors: Henny H , Agnia N , Hardianto H
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study is to conduct a quality control analysis of carded and combed yarn produced using the six sigma method. The approach used in working with the Six Sigma method is DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control). The results is obtained from the carded and combed yarn products are there are 4 types of defects, such as the strength of the thread does not match the standard, contami, bad rolls and tangled thread. The average DPMO value is both threads of 7,786 with an average sigma level of 4. The root causes of product defects are operators’ fatigue, age of machines, no machine checks, cotton fibers from the eastern countries and lack of ventilation. The conclusion obtained by using the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) to analyze 4 types of strength defects is that the strength defects do not match the standard is the most dominant type of defect. In addition, the results of the DPMO value and sigma level indicate that the product quality is good, exceeding the average sigma level of the company in Indonesia.
Tackling Imbalanced Class on Cross-Project Defect Prediction Using Ensemble SMOTE
Authors: Saifudin A , Hendric S W H L , Soewito B , Gaol F L , Abdurachman E , Heryadi Y
Published: November 2019

The dataset with imbalanced class can reduce the performance of the classifiers. In this study proposed a cross-project software defect prediction model that applies the SMOTE (Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique) to balance classes in datasets and ensembles technique to reduce misclassification. The ensemble technique using AdaBoost and Bagging algorithms. The results of the study show that the model that integrates SMOTE and Bagging provides better performance. The proposed model can find more software defects and more precise.
Digital Branch: Banking Innovation in Indonesia to Face 4.0 Industry Challenges
Authors: Riyanto A , Primiana I , Yunizar  , Azis Y
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this research is to see the change in operational services of credit submission from conventional to digital through the digital branch. This research used qualitative methods with the development through the IDEF0 framework model. Conventionally, the customers when served by a customer service bank to make a credit submission transaction must take around 2-3 weeks. Banking in Indonesia is currently making a new breakthrough by innovating in its operational service sector. The innovation is through the digital branch. Banking in Indonesia through the digital branch has been able to shorten the operational service time for digital credit submission to be only 5-7 days. Innovation in operational service of credit submission makes it become the superiority for the banks in Indonesia to be able compete with the other existing banks and improve services to customers who currently prefer the fast services. The operational service system through digital branch is an innovation that is become an advantage for banks in Indonesia to be able to compete in 4.0 era.
Experience Quality and Value: An Assessment in The Creative Tourism Industry
Authors: Suhartanto D , Wibisono N , Nabilah S L , Agustina R , Loveldy Z A C
Published: November 2019

This empirical study tries to evaluate the dimension of tourists experience gained from a creative attraction and its impact on perceived value in a creative tourism attraction context. This study used quantitative method. The data is gathered from 260 respondents using questionnaire distributed to tourists who visited creative tourism attractions in Bandung, Indonesia. To assess the dimension of experience quality, exploratory factor analysis was applied. In addition, multiple regression was employed to examine the effect of experience quality on perceived value. The results demonstrate that experience quality consists of two dimensions, i.e. pleasure and learning and employee services. Further, the regression analyses reveal that both experience quality dimensions significantly impact the perceived value components of functional, social, emotional, and perceive sacrifice. The findings of this research contribute conceptually to extend our understanding on the quality and value relationships in creative tourism context. Further, from managerial practices, it can be concluded, this study provides a guidance for creative attraction management to improve their customers experience quality as a strategy to develop their business competitive advantage.
Geochemical and chemometric analysis of soils from a data scarce river catchment in West Africa
Authors: Bam Edward K P , Akumah Asiwome M , Bansah Samuel
Published: November 2019

Metal levels beyond stipulated thresholds are a considerable concern for environmental pollution regulators and public health administrators around the globe. Data is, however, lacking in most regions especially developing countries for practical policy decision making and management. In this study, we obtain 49 high-resolution soil cores from three vertical profiles in the Densu River Basin of Ghana and measured the concentrations of major and trace metals (Ca, K, Fe, Ti, Cr, Cu, V, Ni, and Zn). The aim was to examine and provide data on metal levels to serve as baseline information on mobilization studies for waste management. Geochemical methods for estimation of metal enrichment and accumulation were employed to determine enrichment and pollution, sources, and mobilization of the metals. Hierichical cluster and principal components analyses were used to examine metal associations and the effects soil physicochemical properties on the metals. The results show spatial variations in metal concentrations within and between individual soil profiles and are attributed to variability in soil formation processes and the locations where samples were collected, respectively. Moderate to high enrichment factors (EF) and geo-accumulation (Igeo) indices were observed for Vanadium (V) and Chromium (Cr) in all soil profiles indicating some level of anthropogenic interference leading to pollution possibly from vehicular and agricultural inputs. The Pourbaix diagrams, however, show that the Cr and V abundances may be natural. Our analysis also show that most of the metals investigated are of natural (i.e., geologic) origin but further investigations are recommended. The combination of field observations and established methods such as geochemical and statistical analyses have aided in extracting beneficial information from the small sample size.
Bottleneck stability for generalized persistence diagrams
Authors: McCleary Alex , Patel Amit
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we extend bottleneck stability to the setting of one dimensional constructible persistence modules valued in any skeletally small abelian category.
The global geometry of surfaces with prescribed mean curvature in ℝ³
Authors: Bueno Antonio , Gálvez José , Mira Pablo
Published: November 2019

We develop a global theory for complete hypersurfaces inRn+1\mathbb {R}^{n+1}whose mean curvature is given as a prescribed function of its Gauss map. This theory extends the usual one of constant mean curvature hypersurfaces inRn+1\mathbb {R}^{n+1}, and also that of self-translating solitons of the mean curvature flow. For the particular casen=2n=2, we will obtain results regarding a priori height and curvature estimates, non-existence of complete stable surfaces, and classification of properly embedded surfaces with at most one end.
Dysregulation of very-long-chain fatty acid metabolism causes membrane saturation and induction of the unfolded protein response
Authors: Micoogullari Yagmur , Basu Sankha S. , Ang Jessie , Weisshaar Nina , Schmitt Nicholas D. , Abdelmoula Walid M. , Lopez Begona , Agar Jeffrey N. , Agar Nathalie , Hanna John
Published: November 2019

Increasing evidence suggests that lipid homeostasis is critical for protein quality control. Very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are rare and poorly understood species. Here, it is shown that dysregulation of VLCFA metabolism causes increased membrane saturation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and unfolded protein response induction.
Distinct anterograde trafficking pathways of BACE1 and amyloid precursor protein from the TGN and the regulation of amyloid-β production
Authors: Tan Jing Zhi A. , Fourriere Lou , Wang Jingqi , Perez Franck , Boncompain Gaelle , Gleeson Paul A.
Published: November 2019

The anterograde trafficking of BACE1 and the potential processing of amyloid precursor protein along the secretory pathway remain poorly defined. Our findings reveal that Golgi exit of BACE1 and APP in primary neurons is tightly regulated, resulting in their segregation along different transport routes, which limits APP processing.
Museumizing Slavery: Living History in Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad
Authors: Dubey Madhu
Published: November 2019

This essay examines Colson Whitehead’s novel in relation to the museumizing of slavery that has gained momentum since the 1990s, focusing in particular on the Living History exhibition practice in which the Underground Railroad has played a vital part. Taking as my point of departure Whitehead’s signature move of building narrative worlds based on the logic of literalizing metaphor, I argue that his literal rendering of the Underground Railroad casts the novel as a grotesque tour of the US racial history. Structured as a train ride that transports readers to different historical sites, the novel at once stages and travesties the Living History practice of materializing the past in all its concrete particularity. I argue that Whitehead’s literalizing move also deviates from earlier literary efforts to stage a visceral, affective confrontation with the history of slavery. Responding to the heightened visibility rather than the absence of slavery from public memory, the novel casts into bold relief the historical frameworks (of American freedom stories and up-from-slavery narratives of racial advancement), pedagogical aims (of racial reconciliation and pluralist inclusion), and aesthetic strategies (of affective identification and cathartic confrontation) at play in current commemorations and exhibitions of slavery.
Supero-Septum Pedicle Mammaplasty: A New Modification for Reduction Mammaplasty
Authors: Hesamirostami Mohammadhossein , Sarparast Leila , Bateni Hamed , Kazemi Ashtiani Abbas
Published: November 2019

Background

Many techniques have been introduced for reduction mammaplasty and are utilized in diverse frequencies by different surgeons according to patient needs. Each technique is evaluated based on the aesthetic result, longevity, complication rate, and preservation of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) sensation.

Objectives

The authors sought to introduce the new modified technique of supero-septum pedicle mammaplasty (SSPM) that utilizes both the septum and superior pedicle and is suitable for macromastia and gigantomastia cases.

Methods

Between 2015 and 2018, 60 women who underwent SSPM were evaluated in a prospective study after undergoing superior pedicle deepithelialization and resection of the inferior, lateral, and medial segments. In the lateral pillar, a tongue of tissue was preserved for fixation to the medial pectoral fascia through a window created in the superior pedicle at the third intercostal space. Finally, septum pedicle was sutured to the fascia and muscle at the upper border of the sixth rib somewhat medially. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 13 months.

Results

The mean nipple-to-sternal notch (N-SN) distance was 33.05 cm, and the mean NAC elevation was 10.92 cm. Breast reductions varied from 270 to 2800 g per breast. Complications included wound dehiscence (5%), wound infection (2.5%), and partial NAC necrosis (2.5%). At 6 months postoperation, the NAC sensation was significantly better compared with preoperative values (P < 0.005).

Conclusions

SSPM is a relatively safe method of reduction mammaplasty, even for very large breasts, that leads to good aesthetic form along with preserving circulation and sensation of the NAC.

Level of Evidence: 4
The specialization–generalization continuum in oil-bee pollination systems: a case study of six Brazilian species of Tigridieae (Iridaceae)
Authors: Oleques Suiane Santos , Radaeski Jefferson Nunes , Bauerman Soraia , Chauveau Olivier , de Souza-Chies Tatiana Teixeira
Published: November 2019

Several South American species of Iridaceae, especially those of Tigridieae, produce floral oils as rewards to oil-bee pollinators. The present study aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of the reproductive biology, pollination ecology and level of specialization of the interactions of species encompassed in Tigridieae. Data on breeding and pollination systems were acquired from six species native to Southern Brazil. The visitation frequency and pollen load of pollen- and oil-collecting bees were also investigated. The results strongly suggest that the studied species are distributed along a specialization–generalization continuum. Three oil-producing taxa, Cypella herbertii, Cypella pusilla and Cypella amplimaculata, were pollinated effectively by oil-bees, whereas in the other two studied species, Kelissa brasiliensis and Herbertia pulchella, the oil-bees appeared to function as oil thieves, owing to failure to contact the plant reproductive parts during oil-foraging behaviour. New insights into aspects of the specialization–generalization continuum of pollination systems, differences in pollinator behaviour during oil and pollen foraging, and reproductive outputs of the studied species are provided. Taken together, our results provide a significant contribution towards a better understanding of reproductive biology and plant–pollinator interactions between Iridaceae and oil-collecting bees.
Altered Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolite Profiles in Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Wang Zheng , Usyk Mykhaylo , Sollecito Christopher C , Qiu Yunping , Williams-Nguyen Jessica , Hua Simin , Gradissimo Ana , Wang Tao , Xue Xiaonan , Kurland Irwin J , Ley Klaus , Landay Alan L , Anastos Kathryn , Knight Rob , Kaplan Robert C , Burk Robert D , Qi Qibin
Published: November 2019

Background

Alterations in gut microbiota (GMB) and host metabolites have been noted in individuals with HIV. However, it remains unclear whether alterations in GMB and related functional groups contribute to disrupted host metabolite profiles in these individuals.

Methods

This study included 185 women (128 with longstanding HIV infection, 88% under antiretroviral therapy; and 57 women without HIV from the same geographic location with comparable characteristics). Stool samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA V4 region sequencing, and GMB function was inferred by PICRUSt. Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, and 133 metabolites (amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, and lipids) were analyzed.

Results

Four predominant bacterial genera were identified as associated with HIV infection, with higher abundances of Ruminococcus and Oscillospira and lower abundances of Bifidobacterium and Collinsella in women with HIV than in those without. Women with HIV showed a distinct plasma metabolite profile, which featured elevated glycerophospholipid levels compared with those without HIV. Functional analyses also indicated that GMB lipid metabolism was enriched in women with HIV. Ruminococcus and Oscillospira were among the top bacterial genera contributing to the GMB glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and showed positive correlations with host plasma glycerophospholipid levels. One bacterial functional capacity in the acetate and propionate biosynthesis pathway was identified to be mainly contributed by Bifidobacterium; this functional capacity was lower in women with HIV than in women without HIV.

Conclusions

Our integrative analyses identified altered GMB with related functional capacities that might be associated with disrupted plasma metabolite profiles in women with HIV.
Direct-acting antiviral therapy improves kidney survival in hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinaemia: the RENALCRYOGLOBULINEMIC study
Authors: Pérez de José Ana , Carbayo Javier , Pocurull Anna , Bada-Bosch Teresa , Cases Corona Clara Maria , Shabaka Amir , Ramos Terrada Natàlia , Martinez Valenzuela Laura , Huerta Ana , Fernandez Lorente Loreto , Malek-Marín Tamara Gelen , Goicoechea Marian
Published: November 2019

Background

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have shown high rates of sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the influence of DAAs on the course of kidney involvement in HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinaemia (HCV-MC) has been little studied. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of antiviral treatment on kidney prognosis and evolution in patients diagnosed with HCV-MC.

Methods

The RENALCRYOGLOBULINEMIC study is an observational multicentre cohort study of 139 patients with HCV-MC from 14 Spanish centres. Clinical and laboratory parameters were measured before and after antiviral treatment. Primary endpoints were kidney survival and mortality after HCV-MC diagnosis. Secondary endpoints were clinical, immunological and virological responses after antiviral treatment.

Results

Patients were divided into three groups based on the treatment received: treatment with DAAs (n = 100) treatment with interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) (n = 24) and no treatment (n = 15). Patients were followed up for a median duration of 138 months (interquartile range 70–251. DAA treatment reduced overall mortality {hazard ratio [HR] 0.12 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04–0.40]; P < 0.001} and improved kidney survival [HR 0.10 ( 95% CI 0.04–0.33); P < 0.001].

Conclusions

Results from the RENALCRYOGLOBULINEMIC study indicated that DAA treatment in patients with HCV-MC improves kidney survival and reduces mortality.
An Adaptively Secure Functional Encryption for Randomized Functions
Authors: Liu Muhua , Zhang Ping
Published: November 2019

Functional encryption (FE) can provide a fine-grained access control on the encrypted message. Therefore, it has been applied widely in security business. The previous works about functional encryptions most focused on the deterministic functions. The randomized algorithm has wide application, such as securely encryption algorithms against chosen ciphertext attack, privacy-aware auditing. Based on this, FE for randomized functions was proposed. The existing constructions are provided in a weaker selective security model, where the adversary is forced to output the challenge message before the start of experiment. This security is not enough in some scenes. In this work, we present a novel construction for FE, which supports the randomized functionalities. We use the technology of key encapsulated mechanism to achieve adaptive security under the simulated environment, where the adversary is allowed to adaptively choose the challenge message at any point in time. Our construction is built based on indistinguishability obfuscation, non-interactive witness indistinguishable proofs and perfectly binding commitment scheme.
SIFT-Based Visual Tracking using Optical Flow and Belief Propagation Algorithm
Authors: Biswas Biswajit , Kr Ghosh Swarup , Hore Moumita , Ghosh Anupam
Published: November 2019

Perceptible visual tracking acts as an important module for distinct perception tasks of autonomous robots. Better features help in easier decision-making process. The evaluation of tracking objects, dynamic positions and their visual information in results are quite difficult tasks. Until now, most real-time visual tracking algorithms suffer from poor robustness and low occurrence as they deal with complex real-world data. In this paper, we have proposed more robust and faster visual tracking framework using scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) and the optical flow in belief propagation (BF) algorithm for efficient processing in real scenarios. Here, a new feature-based optical flow along with BF algorithm is utilized to compute the affine matrix of a regional center on SIFT key points in frames. Experimental results depict that the proposed approach is more efficient and more robust in comparison with the state-of-the-art tracking algorithms with more complex scenarios.
Case report: recurrent biventricular Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a middle-aged man with fatal outcome after full recovery
Authors: Luo Elton Lian Chen , Kardos Attila
Published: November 2019

Background

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) usually manifests as transient apical ballooning of the left ventricle and may mimic acute coronary syndrome. Concomitant right ventricle involvement may occur in about a third of the cases. Recurrence had been observed in up to 10% of TC with variable ventricular involvement. Despite this knowledge, there had been no report of a patient with multiple biventricular TC in the literature to date. In this study, we describe a rare case of a patient who presented twice with biventricular TC.

Case summary

A 52-year-old man with a previous episode of biventricular TC 5 months ago presented to our hospital with a 1 day history of shortness of breath and wheeze. He was treated initially for infective exacerbation of chronic obstructive airway disease. He was eventually intubated following a trial of non-invasive ventilation. He became hypotensive post-intubation and required intensive care support. An inpatient echocardiogram revealed biventricular apical ballooning. Invasive coronary angiogram showed no coronary artery disease. A repeat echocardiogram 14 days post-admission demonstrated full recovery of both ventricles. These findings were consistent with a second biventricular TC. Two months later, he was found deceased in the community seemingly from an unrelated cause.

Discussion

This case describes a middle-aged gentleman who suffered recurrent biventricular TC with no consistent triggers and an unrelated fatal sequel. None of these features were typical, and to our best knowledge had not been reported before. We hypothesize that his recurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and various substance misuse might have predisposed him to this unusual presentation.
Health literacy of commercial industry managers: an exploratory qualitative study in Germany
Authors: Pfaff H , Fiedler S
Published: November 2019

Background

Managers have been neglected in health literacy research. There still is little known about the health literacy status and needs of commercial industry managers. This study reduces the existing knowledge gap by presenting findings of an exploratory qualitative study.

Methods

We conducted 23 separate semi-structured interviews of managers from all management levels (low, middle and top) and experts in the field of health management and/or personnel management. The qualitative interviews were analysed according to Mayring’s content analytic approach using MAXQDA.

Results

The findings indicate that managers do have considerable information levels about existing health topics and relevant problems but have difficulties of discernment as to which sources of information can be activated or accessed in a timely fashion due to work and information overload. Even those who devise strategies often fail in implementing health-literate behavior. Experts and managers had fairly consistent views on the importance of health literacy among managers. Most agreed that mental health was neglected and that company conditions were important in influencing the ability to act in a way that promoted health literacy. The findings also show that strengthening of managerial self-perception, self-regulation and self-control, raising awareness and ability to take personal responsibility for one’s own health, developing skills in handling large amounts of information and fostering open and trusting communication are all essential.

Conclusions

The findings provide specific points which are important for promoting health literacy among managers. The study underscores the need to incorporate and integrate different perspectives in the implementation of health literacy interventions. To develop health-promoting companies, further research has to provide guides to action for managers and investigate ways in which health literacy can be promoted among managers on all hierarchical levels.

Key messages

Industry managers in this study agreed that their mental health has been neglected and company conditions were important in influencing the ability to act in a way that promoted health literacy. This study reduces the knowledge gap about the health literacy of managers. Further research should focus on promoting mental health and providing guides to action for managers and companies.
Evidence of metamaterial physics at the geophysics scale: the METAFORET experiment
Authors: Lott Martin , Roux Philippe , Garambois Stéphane , Guéguen Philippe , Colombi Andrea
Published: November 2019

The METAFORET experiment was designed to demonstrate that complex wave physics phenomena classically observed at the meso- and micro-scales in acoustics and in optics also apply at the geophysics scale. In particular, the experiment shows that a dense forest of trees can behave as a locally resonant metamaterial for seismic surface waves. The dense arrangement of trees anchored into the ground creates anomalous dispersion curves for surface waves, which highlight a large frequency band-gap around one resonant frequency of the trees, at ∼45 Hz. This demonstration is carried out through the deployment of a dense seismic array of ∼1000 autonomous geophones providing seismic recordings under vibrating source excitation at the transition between an open field and a forest. Additional geophysical equipment was deployed (e.g. ground-penetrating radar, velocimeters on trees) to provide essential complementary measurements. Insights and interpretations on the observed seismic wavefield, including the attenuation length, the intensity ratio between the field and the forest and the surface wave polarization, are validated with 2D numerical simulations of trees over a layered halfspace.
The crowded space of local accountability for maternal, newborn and child health: a case study of the South African health system
Authors: Mukinda Fidele Kanyimbu , Van Belle Sara , George Asha , Schneider Helen
Published: November 2019

Global and national accountability for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) is increasingly invoked as central to addressing preventable mortality and morbidity. Strategies of accountability for MNCH include policy and budget tracking, maternal and perinatal death surveillance, performance targets and various forms of social accountability. However, little is known about how the growing number of accountability strategies for MNCH is received by frontline actors, and how they are integrated into the overall functioning of local health systems. We conducted a case study of mechanisms of local accountability for MNCH in South Africa, involving a document review of national policies, programme reports, and other literature directly or indirectly related to MNCH, and in-depth research in one district. The latter included observations of accountability practices (e.g. through routine meetings) and in-depth interviews with 37 purposely selected health managers and frontline health workers involved in MNCH. Data collection and analysis were guided by a framework that defined accountability as answerability and action (both individual and collective), addressing performance, financial and public accountability, and involving both formal and informal processes. Nineteen individual accountability mechanisms were identified, 10 directly and 9 indirectly related to MNCH, most of which addressed performance accountability. Frontline managers and providers at local level are targeted by a web of multiple, formal accountability mechanisms, which are sometimes synergistic but often duplicative, together giving rise to local contexts of ‘accountability overloads’. These result in a tendency towards bureaucratic compliance, demotivation, reduced efficiency and effectiveness, and limited space for innovation. The functioning of formal accountability mechanisms is shaped by local cultures and relationships, creating an accountability ecosystem involving multiple actors and roles. There is a need to streamline formal accountability mechanisms and consider the kinds of actions that build positive cultures of local accountability.
Leveraging scientific uncertainty in fisheries management for estimating among-assessment variation in overfishing limits
Authors: Privitera-Johnson Kristin M , Punt André E
Published: November 2019

Fisheries management systems can utilize probability-based harvest control rules to incorporate scientific uncertainty and manager risk tolerance when setting catch limits. A precautionary buffer that scales with scientific uncertainty is used to calculate the acceptable biological catch from the overfishing limit (OFL) for US West Coast groundfish and coastal pelagic species. A previous analysis formed the basis for estimating scientific uncertainty as the among-assessment variation in estimates of historical spawning biomass time-series. This “historical biomass” approach may underestimate scientific uncertainty, because the OFL is a function of estimated exploitable biomass and fishing mortality. We developed a new approach that bases the calculation of scientific uncertainty on projected spawning biomass (SSB) and OFLs, accounting for uncertainty in recruitment and among-assessment variation. OFL projections yielded a higher estimate of uncertainty than SSB (0.502 vs. 0.413 for 25-year projections and 0.562 vs. 0.384 for a 1-year projection, assuming a deterministic stock-recruitment relationship). Assuming a stochastic stock-recruitment relationship produced smaller estimates of uncertainty (0.436, 25-year OFL projections; 0.452, 1-year OFL projections; 0.360, 25-year SSB projections; 0.318, 1-year SSB projections). The projection-based approach presented herein is applicable across stocks and regions that conduct assessments with sufficient and consistent outputs for calculating an OFL.
Infectious Etiologies of Intussusception Among Children <2 Years Old in 4 Asian Countries
Authors: Burnett Eleanor , Kabir Furqan , Van Trang Nguyen , Rayamajhi Ajit , Satter Syed M , Liu Jie , Yousafzai Mohammad Tahir , Anh Dang Duc , Basnet Anupama Thapa , Flora Meerjady S , Houpt Eric , Qazi Saqib Hamid , Canh Tran Minh , Rayamajhi Anjana Karki , Saha Bablu K , Saddal Nasir Saleem , Muneer Sehrish , Hung Pham Hoang , Islam Towhidul , Ali Syed Asad , Tate Jacqueline E , Yen Catherine , Parashar Umesh D
Published: November 2019

Background

The etiology of intussusception, the leading cause of bowel obstruction in infants, is unknown in most cases. Adenovirus has been associated with intussusception and slightly increased risk of intussusception with rotavirus vaccination has been found. We conducted a case-control study among children <2 years old in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam to evaluate infectious etiologies of intussusception before rotavirus vaccine introduction.

Methods

From 2015 to 2017, we enrolled 1-to-1 matched intussusception cases and hospital controls; 249 pairs were included. Stool specimens were tested for 37 infectious agents using TaqMan Array technology. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each pathogen associated with intussusception in a pooled analysis and quantitative subanalyses.

Results

Adenovirus (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.75–4.36) and human herpes virus 6 (OR, 3.50; 95% CI, 1.15–10.63) were detected more frequently in cases than controls. Adenovirus C detection <20 quantification cycles was associated with intussusception (OR, 18.59; 95% CI, 2.45–140.89). Wild-type rotavirus was not associated with intussusception (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.52–2.22).

Conclusions

In this comprehensive evaluation, adenovirus and HHV-6 were associated with intussusception. Future research is needed to better understand mechanisms leading to intussusception, particularly after rotavirus vaccination.
Ubiquitous Intelligent Services for Vehicular Users: A Systematic Mapping
Authors: Zanella Gomes Joneval , Victória Barbosa Jorge Luis , Resin Geyer Claudio Fernando , Santos dos Anjos Julio Cesar , Vicente Canto José , Pessin Gustavo
Published: November 2019

The space inside a vehicle, which people can enjoy while travelling, is becoming more intelligent due to the technological developments within the automotive industry. This has influenced the increase in new services that are intended to fulfil the needs of vehicle users. This article presents a survey on the provisioning of ubiquitous intelligent services for vehicular users. It also identifies clusters of research interest on this subject. To this end, an evaluation of results from six scientific research databases supports these goals. This process initially identified 37 328 publications; after filtering and clustering, the scope of analysis became 39 articles. The main contributions points to (i) the existence of five active research clusters, as a result of the inclusion of a visual clustering step in the systematic mapping protocol; (ii) an indication of a string of studies starting in the late ’90s from traffic issues, intelligent transport systems and profiling, to smart cities, the Internet of Things, big data, fog computing and internet of vehicles in recent years; and (iii) that the main challenges associated with the implementation of ubiquitous intelligent services for vehicular users are related to data security, infrastructure, connectivity and high mobility.
Revision of Simulium rufibasis (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Japan and Korea: Chromosomes, DNA, and Morphology
Authors: Adler Peter H , Fukuda Masako , Takaoka Hiroyuki , Reeves Will K , Kim Sam-Kyu , Otsuka Yasushi
Published: November 2019

The widespread nominal black fly Simulium (Simulium) rufibasis Brunetti was reexamined morphologically, chromosomally, and molecularly to determine the status of populations in Japan and Korea with respect to S. rufibasis from the type locality in India and to all other known species in the S. (S.) tuberosum species-group. Morphological comparisons established that the species previously known as S. rufibasis in Japan and Korea is distinct from all other species. Consequently, it was described and illustrated as a new species, Simulium (S.) yamatoense. Simulium yokotense Shiraki, formerly a synonym of S. rufibasis, was morphologically reevaluated and considered a species unplaced to species-group in the subgenus Simulium. Chromosomal analyses of S. yamatoense sp. nov. demonstrated that it is unique among all cytologically known species of the S. tuberosum group and is the sister species of the Taiwanese species tentatively known as S. (S.) arisanum Shiraki. Populations of S. yamatoense sp. nov. included two cytoforms, based on the sex chromosomes. Cytoform A, including topotypical representatives, was found in Kyushu, Japan, whereas cytoform B was found in Korea and Honshu, Japan. Molecular analysis based on the COI mitochondrial gene generally corroborated morphological and chromosomal data that S. yamatoense sp. nov. is a distinct species and, like the chromosomal data, indicate that it is most closely related to S. arisanum, with interspecific genetic distance of 2.92–4.63%.
Cefdinir Use in the Kentucky Medicaid Population: A Priority for Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship
Authors: Wattles Bethany , Vidwan Navjyot , Ghosal Soutik , Feygin Yana , Creel Liza , Myers John , Woods Charles , Smith Michael
Published: November 2019

Cefdinir is frequently prescribed for pediatric infections despite lack of first-line indications. We reviewed Kentucky Medicaid claims from 2012 through 2016. Cefdinir prescriptions and spending significantly increased over the study period. Upper respiratory infections accounted for the majority of use. Inappropriate cefdinir use should be a priority for stewardship efforts.
Travel-associated STI amongst HIV and non-HIV infected travellers
Authors: Nouchi Agathe , Caby Fabienne , Palich Romain , Monsel Gentiane , Caumes and Eric
Published: November 2019

Background

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) is increasing in Western countries whilst travel plays a major role in STI dissemination worldwide. However, there is no study distinguishing HIV-positive and HIV-negative travellers.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the epidemiological, clinical and biological characteristics of the patients diagnosed with a travel-related STI between 2008 and 2016. We describe and compare the spectrum of STI diagnosed amongst HIV-positive and negative travellers.

Methods

Overall, 163 travel-related STI were identified in 140 patients (89% male, 54% men having sex with men, 40% HIV-positive). Symptoms occurred during travel in 39% of them, otherwise the median time between return and symptoms’ onset was 13 days. Amongst the 84 HIV-negative travellers, the main STI were primary HIV infections (n = 36, 38%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections (17%) and primary herpes infection (14, vs 1.5% amongst HIV-positive travellers, P = 0.01). The regions of exposure to HIV were concordant with the known geographical distribution of HIV subtypes. Amongst the 56 HIV-positive travellers, the main STI were syphilis (43, vs 6% amongst HIV-negative travellers, P = 0.01), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections (22, vs 13% amongst HIV-negative travellers, P = 0.08), NG infections (13%) and acute hepatitis C (12, vs 1% amongst HIV-negative travellers, P = 0.01), with a predominance of anal forms for both CT and NG infections.

Conclusions

The spectrum of STI diagnosed in returning travellers is broad with important differences according to HIV status. In our setting, primary HIV infection was the leading STI in non-HIV infected patients, which suggests that pre-exposure prophylaxis may have a role in HIV prevention in at-risk travellers.
Responses of water accumulation and solute metabolism in tomato fruit to water scarcity and implications for main fruit quality variables
Authors: Hou Xuemin , Zhang Wendong , Du Taisheng , Kang Shaozhong , Davies William J
Published: November 2019

Fruit is important for human health, and applying deficit irrigation in fruit production is a strategy to regulate fruit quality and support environmental sustainability. Responses of different fruit quality variables to deficit irrigation have been widely documented, and much progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of these responses. We review the effects of water shortage on fruit water accumulation considering water transport from the parent plant into the fruit determined by hydraulic properties of the pathway (including xylem water transport and transmembrane water transport regulated by aquaporins) and the driving force for water movement. We discuss water relations and solute metabolism that affect the main fruit quality variables (e.g. size, flavour, nutrition, and firmness) at the cellular level under water shortage. We also summarize the most recent advances in the understanding of responses of the main fruit quality variables to water shortage, considering the effects of variety, the severity of water deficit imposed, and the developmental stage of the fruit. We finally identify knowledge gaps and suggest avenues for future research. This review provides new insights into the stress physiology of fleshy fruit, which will be beneficial for the sustainable production of high-quality fruit under deficit irrigation.
The minimum of the time-delay wavefront error in Adaptive Optics
Authors: Doelman Niek
Published: November 2019

An analytical expression is given for the minimum of the time-delay induced wavefront error (also known as the servo-lag error) in Adaptive Optics systems under temporal prediction filtering. The analysis is based on the von Kármán model for the spectral density of refractive index fluctuations and the hypothesis of frozen flow. An optimal, temporal predictor can achieve up to a factor 1.77 more reduction of the wavefront phase variance compared to the zero-order prediction strategy, which is commonly used in Adaptive Optics systems. Alternatively, an optimal predictor can allow for a 1.41 times longer time-delay to arrive at the same residual phase variance. Generally, the performance of the optimal, temporal predictor depends on the very product of time-delay, wind speed and the reciprocal of turbulence outer scale.
AT 2018cow VLBI: no long-lived relativistic outflow
Authors: Bietenholz Michael F , Margutti Raffaella , Coppejans Deanne , Alexander Kate D , Argo Megan , Bartel Norbert , Eftekhari Tarraneh , Milisavljevic Dan , Terreran Giacomo , Berger Edo
Published: November 2019

We report on Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of the fast and blue optical transient (FBOT), AT 2018cow. At ∼62 Mpc, AT 2018cow is the first relatively nearby FBOT. The nature of AT 2018cow is not clear, although various hypotheses from a tidal disruption event to different kinds of supernovae have been suggested. It had a very fast rise time (3.5 d) and an almost featureless blue spectrum, although high photospheric velocities (40 000 km s−1) were suggested early on. The X-ray luminosity was very high, ∼1.4 × 1043 erg s−1, larger than those of ordinary supernovae (SNe), and more consistent with those of SNe associated with gamma-ray bursts. Variable hard X-ray emission hints at a long-lived ‘central engine.’ It was also fairly radio luminous, with a peak 8.4-GHz spectral luminosity of ∼4 × 1028 erg s−1 Hz−1, allowing us to make VLBI observations at ages between 22 and 287 d. We do not resolve AT 2018cow. Assuming a circularly symmetric source, our observations constrain the average apparent expansion velocity to be ${\lt}0.49\, c$ by t = 98 d (3σ limit). We also constrain the proper motion of AT 2018cow to be ${\lt}0.51\, c$. Since the radio emission generally traces the fastest ejecta, our observations make the presence of a long-lived relativistic jet with a lifetime of more than 1 month very unlikely.
Emission spectra of light-pollution sources determined from the light-scattering spectrometry of the night sky
Authors: Kocifaj Miroslav , Kundracik František , Bilý Ondrej
Published: November 2019

The emission spectrum of a light-pollution source is a determining factor for modelling artificial light at night. The spectral composition of skyglow is normally derived from the initial spectra of all artificial light sources contributing to the diffuse illumination of an observation point. However, light scattering in the ambient atmosphere imposes a wavelength-specific distortion on the optical signals captured by the measuring device. The nature of the emission, the spectra and the light-scattering phenomena not only control the spectral properties of the ground-reaching radiation, but also provide a unique tool for remote diagnosis and even identification of the emission spectra of the light-polluting sources. This is because the information contained in the night-sky brightness is preferably measured in directions towards a glowing dome of light over the artificial source of light. We have developed a new method for obtaining the emission spectra using remote terrestrial sensing of the bright patches of sky associated with a source. Field experiments conducted in Vienna and Bratislava have been used to validate the theoretical model and the retrieval method. These experiments demonstrate that the numerical inversion is successful even if the signal-to-noise ratio is small. The method for decoding the emission spectra by the light-scattering spectrometry of a night sky is a unique approach that enables for (i) a systematic characterization of the light-pollution sources over a specific territory, and (ii) a significant improvement in the numerical prediction of skyglow changes that we can expect at observatories.
Are galactic star formation and quenching governed by local, global, or environmental phenomena?
Authors: Bluck Asa F L , Maiolino Roberto , Sánchez Sebastian F , Ellison Sara L , Thorp Mallory D , Piotrowska Joanna M , Teimoorinia Hossen , Bundy Kevin A
Published: November 2019

We present an analysis of star formation and quenching in the SDSS-IV MaNGA-DR15, utilizing over 5 million spaxels from ∼3500 local galaxies. We estimate star formation rate surface densities (ΣSFR) via dust corrected H α flux where possible, and via an empirical relationship between specific star formation rate (sSFR) and the strength of the 4000 Å break (D4000) in all other cases. We train a multilayered artificial neural network (ANN) and a random forest (RF) to classify spaxels into ‘star-forming’ and ‘quenched’ categories given various individual (and groups of) parameters. We find that global parameters (pertaining to the galaxy as a whole) perform collectively the best at predicting when spaxels will be quenched, and are substantially superior to local/spatially resolved and environmental parameters. Central velocity dispersion is the best single parameter for predicting quenching in central galaxies. We interpret this observational fact as a probable consequence of the total integrated energy from active galactic neucleus (AGN) feedback being traced by the mass of the black hole, which is well known to correlate strongly with central velocity dispersion. Additionally, we train both an ANN and RF to estimate ΣSFR values directly via regression in star-forming regions. Local/spatially resolved parameters are collectively the most predictive at estimating ΣSFR in these analyses, with stellar mass surface density at the spaxel location (Σ*) being by far the best single parameter. Thus, quenching is fundamentally a global process but star formation is governed locally by processes within each spaxel.
Machine Learning Methods for Predicting Human-Adaptive Influenza A Viruses Based on Viral Nucleotide Compositions
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Sen , Li Bo , Hu Yi , Kang Xiao-Ping , Wu Xiao-Yan , Huang Meng-Ting , Li Yu-Chang , Zhao Zhong-Peng , Qin Cheng-Feng , Jiang Tao
Published: November 2019

Each influenza pandemic was caused at least partly by avian- and/or swine-origin influenza A viruses (IAVs). The timing of and the potential IAVs involved in the next pandemic are currently unpredictable. We aim to build machine learning (ML) models to predict human-adaptive IAV nucleotide composition. A total of 217,549 IAV full-length coding sequences of the PB2 (polymerase basic protein-2), PB1, PA (polymerase acidic protein), HA (hemagglutinin), NP (nucleoprotein), and NA (neuraminidase) segments were decomposed for their codon position-based mononucleotides (12 nts) and dinucleotides (48 dnts). A total of 68,742 human sequences and 68,739 avian sequences (1:1) were resampled to characterize the human adaptation-associated (d)nts with principal component analysis (PCA) and other ML models. Then, the human adaptation of IAV sequences was predicted based on the characterized (d)nts. Respectively, 9, 12, 11, 13, 10 and 9 human-adaptive (d)nts were optimized for the six segments. PCA and hierarchical clustering analysis revealed the linear separability of the optimized (d)nts between the human-adaptive and avian-adaptive sets. The results of the confusion matrix and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated a high performance of the ML models to predict human adaptation of IAVs. Our model performed well in predicting the human adaptation of the swine/avian IAVs before and after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. In conclusion, we identified the human adaptation-associated genomic composition of IAV segments. ML models for IAV human adaptation prediction using large IAV genomic data sets can facilitate the identification of key viral factors that affect virus transmission/pathogenicity. Most importantly, it allows the prediction of pandemic influenza.