bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Offshore Platform Mooring Line Tensions Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Sidarta Djoni E. , Kyoung Johyun , O’Sullivan Jim , Lambrakos Kostas F.
Published: October 2017

Station-keeping is one of the important factors in the design of offshore platforms. Some offshore platforms, such as Spar, Semi-submersible and FPSO, use mooring lines as a mean for station-keeping. Tensions in the mooring lines are one of the key factors in station-keeping. The design of an offshore platform and its mooring lines is based on computed motions of the platform and associated mooring line tensions from numerical simulations using a software code on the basis of metocean criteria.

This paper presents an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for the prediction of mooring line tensions based on the motions of the platform. This ANN model is trained with time histories of vessel motions and corresponding mooring line tensions for a range of sea states from the results of numerical simulations. After the model is trained, it can reproduce with great fidelity and very fast the mooring line tensions. In addition, it can generate accurate mooring line tensions for sea states that were not included in the training, and this demonstrates that the model has captured the knowledge for the underlying physics between vessel motions and mooring line tensions. The paper presents an example of the training and the validation of the model for a semi-submersible offshore platform for a range of sea states.

The training of the ANN model employed a back-propagation learning algorithm. In this algorithm the computed output error is back-propagated through the neural network to modify the connection weights between neurons. The training started with a small number of hidden neurons, and the model grew adaptively by adding hidden neurons until either the target output convergence is achieved or a maximum number of additional hidden neurons is reached. The ANN model discovers nonlinear relationships between the input and output variables during training.

The paper presents comparison of time series of mooring line tensions for sea states that were and were not included in the training between those from the numerical simulations and those computed by the trained ANN model. Fatigue assessment is also used to quantitatively measure the accuracy of the ANN model prediction of the time series of mooring line tensions. The paper presents the results of fatigue assessment using various stages of the ANN models with different number of hidden neurons. This shows that the additional hidden neurons improve the prediction of the ANN model of the mooring line tensions for sea states that were and were not included in the training.

This approach of prediction of mooring line tensions based on vessel motions using ANN model paves the way to the development of an ANN-based monitoring system. Also, this ANN study demonstrates a great potential for the use of a more general and comprehensive ANN model to help monitor the dynamic behavior of floating systems and forecast problems before they occur by detecting deviations in historic patterns.
Floating Stability During Installation of Gravity Base Structures
Authors: Jung Minuk , Kang Keum-Seok
Published: October 2017

In order to obtain more wind energy, offshore wind farms tend to be constructed in deeper water with larger wind turbines. Various kinds of support structures, including gravity base structures, are considered to reduce the CAPEX of wind farms. In this paper, feasibility of floated gravity base structures is investigated through floating stability analysis on lowering operations during the installation. In regard to the baseline model for 30 m water depth with the spherical base and the top diameter of 6 m, the floating stabilities are derived by varying the base diameter and the draft. As it is assumed that the structures are ballasted with sea water during the installation step, free surface effects are taken into account. The relevant structures satisfying the floating stability requirement are derived. It is shown that the structure should be equipped with the bulkheads to satisfy this requirement. Furthermore, the geometry of gravity base structure which minimize the weight of the structure is investigated.
Causes of a Vessel Navigation Disruption Event in Pack Ice on the Umiak I During March 29-31, 2016
Authors: Turnbull Ian D. , Taylor Rocky S. , Bourbonnais Pascale , Giguère Marie-Andrée
Published: October 2017

Pack ice pressure events and heavily deformed shear zone and land-fast ice conditions can cause serious disruption to vessel navigation through ice-infested waters, resulting in operational delays and increased costs due to downtime. Understanding the causes behind ice-related vessel navigation disruption events is critical to efforts to build predictive models for such events. These models will help offshore operators prepare for and avoid such events, thus decreasing downtime, lowering operational costs, and improving safety. This paper examines a three-day period during which operations of the Umiak I, an ice-strengthened vessel owned and operated by Fednav Limited, were repeatedly disrupted by extreme ice conditions in the shear zone offshore Voisey’s Bay, Labrador. During March 29–31, 2016, the Umiak I was unable to make significant progress through the 9–10/10ths concentration ice in the shear zone and land-fast ice east of Voisey’s Bay, and engaged in prolonged backing and ramming maneuvers in order to break through the pack. This study examines the regional metocean factors during the two months prior which led to the extreme conditions in the shear zone and caused the vessel navigation disruption event.
Research on Calculation of DSIF Based on Maximum Crack Opening Displacement
Authors: Chen Jingjie , Huang Yi , Li Yugang
Published: October 2017

A simple method is proposed to calculate the dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) based on the maximum crack opening displacement (MCOD) away from crack tip under plane strain conditions. In this work, aimed at a central through cracked infinite plate under impact loads, the relationship between the DSIF and the corresponding MCOD is identified by theoretical analysis. The finite element method is employed to study the application of the relationship under different model geometries, material properties and loading modes. The investigation indicates that the presented method is applicable to the finite plate models of different materials under arbitrary loading modes.
Hydrodynamic Coefficients of a Flexible Pipe With Staggered Buoyancy Elements and Strakes Under VIV Conditions
Authors: Fu Shixiao , Lie Halvor , Wu Jie , Baarholm Rolf
Published: October 2017

A 38m long flexible pipe with staggered buoyancy modules and strakes has been tested in the ocean basin of SINTEF Ocean (former Marintek) for VIV investigation of a lazy wave riser. In this paper the inverse analysis method was presented and applied into the investigation of the hydrodynamic force coefficients along this tested flexible pipe with the measured responses as inputs. The feasibility of the inverse analysis method is firstly validated by numerical simulations. The distributions of the added mass and excitation coefficients along the flexible pipe with staggered buoyancy modules and strakes are then investigated. The identified coefficients are validated by check of the natural frequencies and responses of the model, and are finally compared against those from the forced oscillation tests.
Microplasma jet cleaning of Langmuir probes for methane-air premixed flame diagnostics
Authors: Doyle Steven J. , Salvador Paulo R. , Xu Kunning G.
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the use of an atmospheric microplasma jet to preserve the measurement integrity of Langmuir probes for ion density measurements of an atmospheric methane-air premixed flame. Soot produced from incomplete combustion is able to deposit on the probe filaments and alter measurement characteristics over time. The effect of argon microplasma probe cleaning on current measurements was investigated, with probe flame exposure of 2–30 s and 20 s of microplasma cleaning. In the noncleaned probes, a decrease in the current measurements (up to 64% reduction) was observed in subsequent tests of probes at all exposure times. The probe cleaning experiments yielded a near constant current reading, even after subsequent flame exposures. The resulting plasma densities showed similar trends.
Targeting the renin-angiotensin system to improve cancer treatment: Implications for immunotherapy
Authors: Pinter Matthias , Jain Rakesh K.
Published: October 2017

By reprogramming the tumor microenvironment, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have the potential to increase effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Going with your gut in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Lehtinen Maria K.
Published: October 2017

The gut microbiome plays a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.
Molecular and Physiological Logics of the Pyruvate-Induced Response of a Novel Transporter in
Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Charbonnier Teddy , Le Coq Dominique , McGovern Stephen , Calabre Magali , Delumeau Olivier , Aymerich Stéphane , Jules Matthieu
Published: October 2017

At the heart of central carbon metabolism, pyruvate is a pivotal metabolite in all living cells.
Bacillus subtilis
is able to excrete pyruvate as well as to use it as the sole carbon source. We herein reveal that
ysbAB
(renamed
pftAB
), the only operon specifically induced in pyruvate-grown
B. subtilis
cells, encodes a hetero-oligomeric membrane complex which operates as a facilitated transport system specific for pyruvate, thereby defining a novel class of transporter. We demonstrate that the LytST two-component system is responsible for the induction of
pftAB
in the presence of pyruvate by binding of the LytT response regulator to a palindromic region upstream of
pftAB
. We show that both glucose and malate, the preferred carbon sources for
B. subtilis
, trigger the binding of CcpA upstream of
pftAB
, which results in its catabolite repression. However, an additional CcpA-independent mechanism represses
pftAB
in the presence of malate. Screening a genome-wide transposon mutant library, we find that an active malic enzyme replenishing the pyruvate pool is required for this repression. We next reveal that the higher the influx of pyruvate, the stronger the CcpA-independent repression of
pftAB
, which suggests that intracellular pyruvate retroinhibits
pftAB
induction via LytST. Such a retroinhibition challenges the rational design of novel nature-inspired sensors and synthetic switches but undoubtedly offers new possibilities for the development of integrated sensor/controller circuitry. Overall, we provide evidence for a complete system of sensors, feed-forward and feedback controllers that play a major role in environmental growth of
B. subtilis
.

IMPORTANCE
Pyruvate is a small-molecule metabolite ubiquitous in living cells. Several species also use it as a carbon source as well as excrete it into the environment. The bacterial systems for pyruvate import/export have yet to be discovered. Here, we identified in the model bacterium
Bacillus subtilis
the first import/export system specific for pyruvate, PftAB, which defines a novel class of transporter. In this bacterium, extracellular pyruvate acts as the signal molecule for the LytST two-component system (TCS), which in turn induces expression of PftAB. However, when the pyruvate influx is high, LytST activity is drastically retroinhibited. Such a retroinhibition challenges the rational design of novel nature-inspired sensors and synthetic switches but undoubtedly offers new possibilities for the development of integrated sensor/controller circuitry.
Murine Cytomegalovirus Spreads by Dendritic Cell Recirculation
Authors: Farrell Helen E. , Bruce Kimberley , Lawler Clara , Oliveira Martha , Cardin Rhonda , Davis-Poynter Nicholas , Stevenson Philip G.
Published: October 2017

Herpesviruses have coevolved with their hosts over hundreds of millions of years and exploit fundamental features of their biology. Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) colonize blood-borne myeloid cells, and it has been hypothesized that systemic dissemination arises from infected stem cells in bone marrow. However, poor CMV transfer by stem cell transplantation argues against this being the main reservoir. To identify alternative pathways for CMV spread, we tracked murine CMV (MCMV) colonization after mucosal entry. We show that following intranasal MCMV infection, lung CD11c
+
dendritic cells (DC) migrated sequentially to lymph nodes (LN), blood, and then salivary glands. Replication-deficient virus followed the same route, and thus, DC infected peripherally traversed LN to enter the blood. Given that DC are thought to die locally following their arrival and integration into LN, recirculation into blood represents a new pathway. We examined host and viral factors that facilitated this LN traverse. We show that MCMV-infected DC exited LN by a distinct route to lymphocytes, entering high endothelial venules and bypassing the efferent lymph. LN exit required CD44 and the viral M33 chemokine receptor, without which infected DC accumulated in LN and systemic spread was greatly reduced. Taken together, our studies provide the first demonstration of virus-driven DC recirculation. As viruses follow host-defined pathways, high endothelial venules may normally allow DC to pass from LN back into blood.

IMPORTANCE
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes devastating disease in the unborn fetus and in the immunocompromised. There is no licensed vaccine, and preventive measures are impeded by our poor understanding of early events in host colonization. HCMV and murine CMV (MCMV) both infect blood-borne myeloid cells. HCMV-infected blood cells are thought to derive from infected bone marrow stem cells. However, infected stem cells have not been visualized
in vivo
nor shown to produce virus
ex vivo
, and hematopoietic transplants poorly transfer infection. We show that MCMV-infected dendritic cells in the lungs reach the blood via lymph nodes, surprisingly migrating into high endothelial venules. Dissemination did not require viral replication. It depended on the constitutively active viral chemokine receptor M33 and on the host hyaluronan receptor CD44. Thus, viral chemokine receptors are a possible target to limit systemic CMV infections.
Primary dural diffuse large B cell lymphoma mimicking parafalcine meningioma
Authors: Prasad Surya Nandan , Lal Hira , Jaiswal Sushila , Das Kuntal Kanti
Published: October 2017

A 58-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with complaints of recent onset recurrent generalised tonic-clonic seizures and left hemiparesis. On MRI a dural-based heterogeneously enhancing mass was seen along the falx cerebri mimicking parafalcine meningioma, causing brain parenchymal compression and vasogenic oedema in the right frontal and parietal lobes. The tumour was completely excised and on subsequent investigation it was diagnosed as diffuse large B cell type primary dural lymphoma. Chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxyl doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) regimen was started; however, the patient later died from episodes of acute pulmonary thromboembolism, aspiration pneumonia and septic shock.
In the setting of paediatric osteomyelitis do not be afraid to CAST an eye
Authors: Russell Rebecca Anne , Moylett Edina
Published: October 2017

The case commences with an innocuous right ankle injury (lateral malleolus), for which the patient, a 9-year-old boy, was placed in a temporary cast at his local hospital. Three days following this incident, the patient was diagnosed with new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus. He was admitted to his local hospital with severe diabetic ketoacidosis appropriately treated and subsequently discharged c.1 week later clinically well. Approximately 1 week later, again he presented for a third time with a significant serosanguinous discharge from the site of the initial injury permeating through the temporary cast in place for c.2 weeks by that time. On removal of the cast, a severely invasive infection of bone and soft tissue was noted, and the patient was urgently transferred to our unit at the tertiary general hospital for further management. He underwent a series of orthopaedic and plastic surgery procedures with an eventual satisfactory outcome.
Imaging of foreign bodies: a radiological conundrum
Authors: Thomas Michael , Mumith Aadil , Ghani Yaser
Published: October 2017

A 24-year-old woman escaped a fire by jumping from the first floor of her house onto a temporary greenhouse. She was brought into the emergency department and later treated surgically. Three years after the initial episode a tender lump in her right thigh was found during regular follow-up for her acute myeloid leukaemia, for which she was in remission. This was treated as a suspicious mass due to her haematological history and further imaging was organised. This was later identified as a piece of the greenhouse that she had landed on 7 years previously. It is a common occurrence for foreign bodies to be missed on initial examination. Fortunately the patient recovered well from her physical wounds and, more importantly, remains humorous when reflecting on her almost 7-year long battle with a piece of plastic.
Why in the age of CT scans and MRIs is a brain tumour mistaken for a psychiatric illness?
Authors: Caruso Riccardo , Piro Antonio
Published: October 2017

The first author of this paper operated on two patients with brain tumour, who had been undergoing long-term treatment for depression. In the age of CT scans and MRIs, why are there still cases in which a brain neoplasia is mistaken for a psychiatric condition with consequent serious delays in diagnosis? In this article, we have highlighted what in our experience are three noticeable obstacles in achieving the right diagnosis.
Nocturnal reactive hypoglycaemia well treated subjectively and objectively with voglibose
Authors: Koyama Hiroyuki , Ohguchi Hideomi , Yagi Takashi , Imaeda Kenro
Published: October 2017

Clinicians sometimes encounter difficulty in diagnosing hypoglycaemia. Here, we present a case report of a 53-year-old woman with recurrent nocturnal hypoglycaemia. A continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) revealed postprandial hyperglycaemia and subsequent hypoglycaemia, and an oral glucose tolerance test showed an impaired glycaemic and delayed hyperinsulinaemic pattern. On the basis of these clinical findings, we diagnosed her unexplained hypoglycaemia as reactive hypoglycaemia. CGMS showed a sharp contrast of diurnal variation in blood glucose levels including hypoglycaemia between before and after treatment with an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, voglibose. Her hypoglycaemic attacks disappeared.
Anti-PD-L1 therapy and the onset of diabetes mellitus with positive pancreatic autoantibodies
Authors: Way Jennifer , Drakaki Alexandra , Drexler Andrew , Freeby Matthew
Published: October 2017

An 84-year-old woman with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx and no history of diabetes was started on the antiprogrammed cell death ligand-1 (anti-PD-L1) antibody durvalumab. Four months later, she presented in diabetic ketoacidosis with glucose 488 mg/dL, anion gap 16, positive serum ketones and A1C9.1%. Antiglutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD) antibody was 13 U/mL (normal, <0.5 U/mL), c-peptide 0.4 ng/dL (normal, 1.1–4.3 ng/mL) and glucose 142 mg/dL. A man with metastatic papillary urothelial carcinoma was treated with the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab. He had no history of diabetes. Nine weeks after initiation, he developed fatigue and polyuria with blood glucose 336 mg/dL, c-peptide 0.6 ng/mL, A1C8.2% and GAD antibodies 28.4 U/mL (normal, <1 U/mL). Due to the diagnosis of autoimmune diabetes, both patients were treated with insulin. Autoimmune diabetes is a rare immune-related adverse effect of PD-L1 inhibitors. We present the first two cases with documented positive pancreatic autoantibodies.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a postpartum woman with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after intrathecal methotrexate
Authors: Mescher Craig , Slungaard Arne
Published: October 2017

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is the most common neurological complication occurring in children undergoing induction chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) but is increasingly recognised to occur in adults as well. Here, we report a woman who presented with B-cell ALL (B-ALL) at the time of delivery and developed PRES 1 day after receiving intrathecal (IT) methotrexate (MTX) that rapidly resolved. She subsequently received IT MTX without recurrence of neurological symptoms. This case represents the first case of PRES in a postpartum B-ALL patient receiving IT MTX, demonstrates that re-treatment with MTX in this case could be done safely and highlights the risk of PRES in adults treated for B-ALL.
Management and patients perspective regarding a common peroneal nerve schwannoma: a rare cause of lower leg pain in a young individual
Authors: van Zantvoort Aniek PM , Cuppen Paul , Scheltinga Marc R
Published: October 2017

The differential diagnosis of exercise-induced lower leg pain in young individuals is extensive and includes entities such as chronic exertional compartment syndrome, popliteal arterial entrapment syndrome, cystic adventitial disease, medial tibial stress syndrome and tibial stress fractures. Peripheral nerve-related lower leg pain syndromes are unusual. We present a 41-year-old woman who was diagnosed with an ancient schwannoma of the right common peroneal nerve (CPN) as a rare cause of lower leg pain. This case report provides simple diagnostic bedside tools that may be used to diagnose CPN abnormalities. Altered lateral lower leg skin sensation was found using a simple cotton swab, whereas a nodule was palpated at the fibular head. A positive Tinel sign indicated CPN dysfunction. MRI confirmed the diagnosis. Surgical resection is simple and curative.
Persistent oromandibular dystonia and angioedema secondary to haloperidol
Authors: Masiran Ruziana
Published: October 2017

We report a case in a young man who developed acute, persistent and painful tongue protrusion followed by swelling for more than 24 hours. He had relapse symptoms of schizophrenia and had recently received a single dose of parenteral haloperidol to manage his agitation. His record showed history of similar event and he has been taking atypical antipsychotic for maintenance. Mental state examination on admission revealed an agitated man with disorganised speech, restricted affect, auditory hallucination and persecutory delusion. His dystonia and oedema improved after 3 days. His mental status also recovered with the maintenance of low-potency antipsychotic and anticholinergic antiparkinsonian medications.
Liver transplantation for non-exertional heat stroke-related acute liver failure
Authors: Coenen Sandra , Tran Khe , de Haan Jubi , de Man Rob
Published: October 2017

Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition characterised by hyperthermia leading to multiple organ dysfunction. Acute liver failure is a rare and potentially fatal consequence of heat stroke. Management of heat stroke is mainly supportive but liver transplantation can be considered as the treatment of acute liver failure in heat stroke. However, literature on liver transplantation as a treatment for acute liver failure in heat stroke is scarce. Until now, no cases of liver transplantation for acute liver failure in non-exertional heat stroke have been reported. Here, we present the first case report of a successful liver transplantation in a patient with acute liver failure caused by non-exertional heat stroke after a sauna visit.
Digital lesion leading to diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Karam Dhauna , Agrawal Bharat , Mouli Chandra
Published: October 2017

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) are uncommon malignancies that present late and have a poor prognosis. The patients may remain undiagnosed for many years because of non-specific presentation. CCA metastasises commonly to liver and adjacent lymph nodes. It can rarely metastasise to bone, lung, colon, pancreas, adrenal glands and spleen. Multiple treatment options are available including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. The tumours have high rate of recurrence and most patients require palliative care. Our patient is a middle-aged man who presented with pain in right ring finger, workup of which revealed digital metastasis from underlying cholangiocarcinoma.
Filiarial chyluria with nephrotic-range proteinuria and associated hypoalbuminaemia and hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to bilateral lymphorenal fistulae
Authors: Faraj Joseph , Mander Julian , Burnett John R , Prentice David
Published: October 2017

A 55-year-old man of Indian descent, presented to the emergency department with a 2-year history of passing ‘milky’ white urine, associated with dysuria, urinary retention, bilateral flank pain and 15 kg weight loss. He had migrated to Australia from India at the age of 16, with no overseas travel since, and denied having any fevers, rigours or chills. He was found to have chyluria and nephrotic-range proteinuria with marked hypoalbuminaemia and hypogammaglobulinaemia. Due to his ethnic origin and by diagnostic exclusion, a presumptive diagnosis of filariasis was made. With bilateral lymphorenal disconnection, as definitive management, the patient’s chyluria and proteinuria resolved with restoration of normal plasma protein and immunoglobulin levels.
Utility of Dxa Screening for Diagnosis of Osteoporosis in Us Veterans Aged 70 Years and Older
Authors: Khatib Joanna , Stote Kim , Gosmanov Aidar R
Published: October 2017

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is recommended for osteoporosis screening in men aged 70 years and older but supportive data is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of DXA for the diagnosis of increased fragility in this group of subjects. We retrospectively identified men aged 70 years and older without prior history of fracture and/or conditions predisposing to low bone mineral density (BMD) who attended the VA endocrinology clinic and performed DXA for osteoporosis screening. We analyzed the relationship between BMD and demographic, anthropometric data and biochemical parameters using linear regression models. Out of 55 subjects identified, 13 (24%) men had normal BMD, 30 (54%) had osteopenia and 12 (22%) had a diagnosis of osteoporosis based on the femoral neck (FN) T-score. Lumbar spine T-scores were normal in all three groups. Weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in the normal BMD group compared with the osteopenia and osteoporosis groups (p<0.001). After adjustments for age, weight, BMI, vitamin D concentrations, and diabetes status, differences in the FN BMD among the groups remained significant (p<0.001). Based on the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score calculations in 43 non-osteoporotic patients, 15 patients with osteopenia had a 10-year hip fracture probability ≥3%. Screening with DXA in male US veterans aged 70 years and older without known osteoporosis risk factors revealed that up to 50% of men may qualify for diagnostic workup to determine the etiology of low BMD and/or to meet criteria to initiate pharmacological therapy to reduce future fracture risk.
Sexual health clinic attendance and non-attendance in Britain: findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)
Authors: Tanton Clare , Geary Rebecca S , Clifton Soazig , Field Nigel , Heap Katie L , Mapp Fiona , Hughes Gwenda , Johnson Anne M , Cassell Jackie A , Sonnenberg Pam , Mercer Catherine H
Published: October 2017

Objectives

In Britain, sexual health clinics (SHCs) are the most common location for STI diagnosis but many people with STI risk behaviours do not attend. We estimate prevalence of SHC attendance and how this varies by sociodemographic and behavioural factors (including unsafe sex) and describe hypothetical service preferences for those reporting unsafe sex.

Methods

Complex survey analyses of data from Britain’s third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, a probability survey of 15 162 people aged 16–74 years, undertaken 2010–2012.

Results

Overall, recent attendance (past year) was highest among those aged 16–24 years (16.6% men, 22.4% women), decreasing with age (<1.5% among those 45–74 years). Approximately 15% of sexually-active 16–74 year olds (n=1002 men; n=1253 women) reported ‘unsafe sex’ (condomless first sex with a new partner and/or ≥2 partners and no condom use, past year); >75% of these had not attended a SHC (past year). However, of non-attenders aged 16–44 years, 18.7% of men and 39.0% of women reported chlamydia testing (past year) with testing highest in women aged <25 years. Of those aged 16–44 years reporting unsafe sex, the majority who reported previous SHC attendance would seek STI care there, whereas the majority who had not would use general practice.

Conclusion

While most reporting unsafe sex had not attended a SHC, many, particularly younger women, had tested for chlamydia suggesting engagement with sexual health services more broadly. Effective, diverse service provision is needed to engage those at-risk and ensure that they can attend services appropriate to their needs.
The Manitoba Youth Justice Program: empowering and supporting youth with FASD in conflict with the law
Authors: Longstaffe S. , Chudley A.E. , Harvie M.K. , Markesteyn T. , Neault D. , Brown T.
Published: October 2017

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes a constellation of physical, cognitive, neurologic, and behavioral impairments resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol. FASD is recognized as being one of the most common causes of preventable brain injury in children. There had long been concerns that some youth in conflict with the law may be affected with FASD given repetitive patterns of offending and apparent lack of understanding of the consequences of their actions. In 2004, funding was received from Justice Canada for a pilot project with a cross-departmental steering committee working together to determine a best way of working across systems to provide FASD assessments to these youth. It was recognized that provision of timely FASD assessments would allow the court to provide more meaningful sentences taking into account the youth’s strengths and challenges and enhance the changes of decreased recidivism and increased changes of rehabilitation. This paper describes the basic science around FASD and its diagnosis, provides a history of the FASD Youth Justice Program, and reports on legal issues, structure, statistics, accomplishments, and ongoing future challenges.
Unparticle effects on Bhabha scattering
Authors: Anh Sa Thi Lan , Trang Trieu Quynh , Huong Nguyen Thu , Bang Ha Huy
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we investigate the possible unparticle signatures through Bhabha scattering. The numerical results show that the angular distribution with unparticle effects can be up to 42% of the one that is confirmed by Born QED and Born + 1-loop QED calculation and the total cross section with unparticle effects are about 0.04–4.24 pb. This could have important implications for unparticle searches and for the measurement of the cross section of the Bhabha scattering.
Superconducting gap anisotropy and d-wave pairing in YBa2Cu3O7−δ
Authors: Verma Sanjeev K. , Gupta Anushri , Kumari Anita , Indu B. D.
Published: October 2017

Considering Born–Mayer–Huggins potential as a most suitable potential to study the dynamical properties of high-temperature superconductors (HTS), the many-body quantum dynamics to obtain phonon Green’s functions has been developed via a Hamiltonian that incorporates the contributions of harmonic electron and phonon fields, phonon field anharmonicities, defects and electron–phonon interactions without considering BCS structure. This enables one to develop the quasiparticle renormalized frequency dispersion in the representative high-temperature cuprate superconductor YBa2Cu3O[Formula: see text]. The superconducting gap shows substantial changes with increased doping. The in-plane gap study revealed a [Formula: see text]-shape gap with a nodal point along [Formula: see text] direction for optimum doping ([Formula: see text] = 0.16) and the nodal point vanished in underdoped and overdoped regimes. The d[Formula: see text] pairing symmetry is observed at optimum doping with the presence of s or d[Formula: see text] components ([Formula: see text] 3%) in underdoped and overdoped regimes.
A new effective correlation mean-field theory for the ferromagnetic spin-1 Blume–Capel model in a transverse crystal field
Authors: Roberto Viana J. , Rodriguez Salmon Octavio D. , Neto Minos A. , Carvalho Diego C.
Published: October 2017

A new approximation technique is developed so as to study the quantum ferromagnetic spin-1 Blume–Capel model in the presence of a transverse crystal field in the square lattice. Our proposal consists of approaching the spin system by considering islands of finite clusters whose frontiers are surrounded by noninteracting spins that are treated by the effective-field theory. The resulting phase diagram is qualitatively correct, in contrast to most effective-field treatments, in which the first-order line exhibits spurious behavior by not being perpendicular to the anisotropy axis at low-temperatures. The effect of the transverse anisotropy is also verified by the presence of quantum phase transitions. The possibility of using larger sizes constitutes an advantage to other approaches where the implementation of larger sizes is computationally costly.
Mass-balance modelling of Gangotri glacier
Authors: Agrawal A. , Thayyen R. J. , Dimri A. P.
Published: October 2017

The sensitivity of glacier mass balance (MB) in response to climatic perturbations has made it an important parameter of study from hydrological, climatological and glaciological point of view. To monitor the health of any glacier system, long-term MB observations are required. These observations among Himalayan glaciers are not available consistently and large glaciers are not often monitored for mass balance due to logistical challenges. One such glacier is the Gangotri, situated in the western Himalaya. In the present study an attempt is made to model the MB over the Gangotri glacier, the biggest glacier in the Ganga basin and also the point of origin of the River Ganges. The mass balance of the Gangotri glacier is estimated during the time period 1985–2014 using two different methods: ice-flow velocity; and energy balance modelling using regional model (REMO) outputs and
in situ
automatic weather station (AWS) data. The geodetic method is used for the nearby Dokriani glacier, where field-based MB measurements are available. MB of Gangotri glacier estimated for 2001–14 using the ice-flow velocity method is −0.92 ± 0.36 m w.e. a
−1
; for 2006–07, MB using AWS and Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission (TRMM) data with the energy balance modelling approach is −0.82 m w.e. a
−1
; and for 1985–2005, MB using REMO data with the energy balance modelling approach is −0.98 ± 0.23 m w.e. a
−1
. Using the surface velocity method, it is estimated that the glacier lost 9% of its volume during the period 2001–14. The glacier vacated an area of 0.152 km
2
from the snout region, and retreated by 200 m in the last 14 years. MB values estimated for the Gangotri glacier from different methodologies are remarkably close, suggesting them to be suitable methods of MB estimation. TRMM, High Asia Refined (HAR-10) and Asian Precipitation Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of water resources (APHRODITE) data are used to estimate the precipitation over the glacier. The study suggests that the glacier-wide estimation of weather parameters needs to be improved for more accurate estimation of glacier mass balance.
Geomorphic evolution of glacier-fed Baspa Valley, NW Himalaya: record of Late Quaternary climate change, monsoon dynamics and glacial fluctuations
Authors: Dutta S. , Mujtaba S. A. I. , Saini H. S. , Chunchekar R. , Kumar P.
Published: October 2017

In glacier-fed Baspa River valley, Late Quaternary climatic changes are archived in the terraces, fan and landslide deposits. An initial optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) based stratigraphy of these deposits is developed to deduce geomorphic evolution and palaeoclimatic changes. The data show large alluvial fan progradation around Sangla till
c.
45 ka (middle of marine isotope stage 3 or MIS-3) due to glacial retreat and readjustment of glacigenic sediment under warm and humid conditions followed by incision. During the end phase of MIS-3 (>23 ka), intensified precipitation blocked the river course near Sangla and Kharogla by rock avalanches and imposed lacustrine conditions which recorded sedimentation until the beginning of Holocene (
c.
11.4 ka). Reduced sedimentation in these lakes during the last glacial maximum (LGM)
c.
23–18 ka suggests a cold and arid climate, whereas increased sedimentation during
c.
18–11.5 ka indicates a warm and humid climate post-LGM. A palaeolake breach occurred during early Holocene and incision continued throughout the Holocene, with a pulse of fluvial aggradation during
c.
9.1–6.5 ka over lacustrine remnant. In the upper reach of the valley (Chitkul area), coeval aggradation continued from >28 ka until
c.
19 ka (MIS-3 to LGM) under cold and relatively arid conditions. This study emphasizes that Late Quaternary geomorphic evolution of Baspa valley is well synchronous with glacial fluctuations and the rapid response of the glacifluvial system to Indian summer monsoon (ISM) dynamics.
Global-scale abrupt climate events and black swans: an ice-core-derived palaeoclimate perspective from Earth's highest mountains
Authors: Thompson Lonnie G. , Mosley-Thompson Ellen , Davis Mary E. , Porter Stacy E. , Kenny Donald V. , Lin Ping-Nan
Published: October 2017

High-elevation tropical glaciers provide records of past climate from which current changes can be assessed. Comparisons among three ice-core records from tropical mountains on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean reveal how climatic events are linked through large-scale processes such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Two distinctive trans-Pacific events in the mid-fourteenth and late-eighteenth centuries are distinguished by elevated aerosol concentrations in cores from the Peruvian Andes and the Tibetan Himalaya. Today aerosol sources for these areas are enhanced by droughts accompanying El Niños. In both locations, large-scale atmospheric circulation supports aerosol transport from likely source regions. Oxygen isotopic ratios from the ice cores are significantly linked with tropical Pacific sea-surface temperatures, especially in the NIÑO3.4 region. The arid periods in the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries reflect droughts that were possibly connected to strong and/or persistent El Niño conditions and Intertropical Convergence Zone migration. These ‘black swans’ are contemporaneous with climate-related population disruptions. Recent warming, particularly at high elevations, is posing a threat to tropical glaciers, many of which have been retreating at unprecedented rates over the last several thousand years. The diminishing ice in these alpine regions endangers water resources for populations in South Asia and South America.
Development of an operational algorithm for estimating snow-cover fraction
Authors: Mitkari K. V. , Arora M. K. , Mishra V. D. , Gusain H. S. , Gupta N. K.
Published: October 2017

This article describes an attempt to map snow cover accurately from other land covers using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) data of 500 m spatial resolution. The workflow includes reflectance modelling, computing snow-cover fraction (SCF) and establishing an empirical relationship between the SCF and normalized difference snow index (NDSI) to map snow cover at operational level. Regression relationships have been developed between the SCF derived from the linear mixture model (LMM) and snow obtained from the NDSI based on two criteria, namely: SCF greater than 0.0 and SCF greater than 0.1. The best regression equation has been selected by examining respective graph plots using statistical measures of mean absolute error, correlation coefficient, root mean square error (RMSE) and uncertainty analysis. The results have been validated against the actual SCF obtained from a high-resolution 15 m Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) visible and near infrared (VNIR) scene and covering a substantial range of snow cover of the same area. The selected regression model SCF = 0.25 + 0.35 × NDSI has been tested on other areas and validation efforts show that the pixel-level SCF relationship provides useful results as measured in independent tests against actual SCF obtained from ASTER scene.
Estimating the Unseen
Authors: Valiant Gregory , Valiant Paul
Published: October 2017

We show that a class of statistical properties of distributions, which includes such practically relevant properties as entropy, the number of distinct elements, and distance metrics between pairs of distributions, can be estimated given a
sublinear
sized sample. Specifically, given a sample consisting of independent draws from any distribution over at most
k
distinct elements, these properties can be estimated accurately using a sample of size
O
(
k
log
k
). For these estimation tasks, this performance is
optimal
, to constant factors. Complementing these theoretical results, we also demonstrate that our estimators perform exceptionally well, in practice, for a variety of estimation tasks, on a variety of natural distributions, for a wide range of parameters. The key step in our approach is to first use the sample to characterize the “unseen” portion of the distribution—effectively reconstructing this portion of the distribution as accurately as if one had a logarithmic factor larger sample. This goes beyond such tools as the Good-Turing frequency estimation scheme, which estimates the total probability mass of the unobserved portion of the distribution: We seek to estimate the
shape
of the unobserved portion of the distribution. This work can be seen as introducing a robust, general, and theoretically principled framework that, for many practical applications, essentially amplifies the sample size by a logarithmic factor; we expect that it may be fruitfully used as a component within larger machine learning and statistical analysis systems.
Polynomial Time Corresponds to Solutions of Polynomial Ordinary Differential Equations of Polynomial Length
Authors: Bournez Olivier , Graça Daniel S. , Pouly Amaury
Published: October 2017

The outcomes of this article are twofold.

Implicit complexity.
We provide an implicit characterization of polynomial time computation in terms of ordinary differential equations: we characterize the class P of languages computable in polynomial time in terms of differential equations with polynomial right-hand side. This result gives a purely continuous elegant and simple characterization of P. We believe it is the first time complexity classes are characterized using only ordinary differential equations. Our characterization extends to functions computable in polynomial time over the reals in the sense of Computable Analysis.

Our results may provide a new perspective on classical complexity, by giving a way to define complexity classes, like P, in a very simple way, without any reference to a notion of (discrete) machine. This may also provide ways to state classical questions about computational complexity via ordinary differential equations.

Continuous-Time Models of Computation.
Our results can also be interpreted in terms of analog computers or analog models of computation: As a side effect, we get that the 1941 General Purpose Analog Computer (GPAC) of Claude Shannon is provably equivalent to Turing machines both in terms of computability and complexity, a fact that has never been established before. This result provides arguments in favour of a generalised form of the Church-Turing Hypothesis, which states that any physically realistic (macroscopic) computer is equivalent to Turing machines both in terms of computability and complexity.
Semantic Reasoning in Zero Example Video Event Retrieval
Authors: Boer Maaike H. T. De , Lu Yi-Jie , Zhang Hao , Schutte Klamer , Ngo Chong-Wah , Kraaij Wessel
Published: October 2017

Searching in digital video data for high-level events, such as a parade or a car accident, is challenging when the query is textual and lacks visual example images or videos. Current research in deep neural networks is highly beneficial for the retrieval of high-level events using visual examples, but without examples it is still hard to (1) determine which concepts are useful to pre-train (
Vocabulary challenge
) and (2) which pre-trained concept detectors are relevant for a certain unseen high-level event (
Concept Selection challenge
). In our article, we present our Semantic Event Retrieval System which (1) shows the importance of high-level concepts in a vocabulary for the retrieval of complex and generic high-level events and (2) uses a novel concept selection method (
i-w2v
) based on semantic embeddings. Our experiments on the international TRECVID Multimedia Event Detection benchmark show that a diverse vocabulary including high-level concepts improves performance on the retrieval of high-level events in videos and that our novel method outperforms a knowledge-based concept selection method.
Ecology, Worldwide Spread, and Management of the Invasive South American Tomato Pinworm, Tuta absoluta: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Biondi Antonio , Guedes Raul Narciso C. , Wan Fang-Hao , Desneux Nicolas
Published: October 2017

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), is native to the western Neotropics. After invading Spain in 2006, it spread rapidly throughout Afro-Eurasia and has become a major threat to world tomato production. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies have been developed, but widespread insecticide use has caused selection for insecticide resistance as well as undesirable effects on key beneficial arthropods. Augmentation and conservation biological control relying on omnivorous mirid predators has proved successful for management of T. absoluta, where implementation is dependent on abiotic, biotic (e.g., alternative prey), and anthropogenic factors (e.g., pesticides). Research has been carried out on larval parasitoids, showing potential for further development of sustainable control. The development of resistant tomato varieties is ongoing, but they are not commercially available yet. Knowledge gaps remain to be filled to optimize IPM packages on tomato crops and to help prevent further spread worldwide.