bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apuntes sobre el debate académico en Colombia en el proceso de reconocimiento gubernamental de la creación como práctica de generación de nuevo conocimiento, desarrollo tecnológico e innovación
Authors: Bonilla Héctor , Cabanzo Francisco , Delgado Tania , Hernández Salgar Oscar , Salamanca Juan , Niño Soto Alexander
Published: December 2017

El objetivo de este artículo es presentar las bases del proceso de reconocimiento de las actividades relacionadas con la creación artística, arquitectónica y del diseño como formas de producción de conocimiento en Colombia. En él se exponen los antecedentes, las definiciones y los criterios que alimentaron la discusión en los debates sobre la definición de políticas que establecen los mecanismos de evaluación de la producción de conocimiento, realizados entre el Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia y Tecnología (Colciencias), la Asociación Colombiana de Facultades y Programas de Artes (Acofartes), la Asociación Colombiana de Facultades de Arquitectura (ACFA) y la Asociación Colombiana Red Académica de Diseño (RAD) entre 2013 y 2016. La discusión condujo a la construcción de un modelo propio para medir la producción de investigadores creadores vinculados a grupos de investigación en artes, arquitectura y diseño (AAD). Tras introducir brevemente el contexto del Sistema de Ciencia y Tecnología de Colombia (SNCTI), la primera parte argumenta y presenta ejemplos de investigación creación, con aportes del debate internacional como procesos de generación de conocimiento de las disciplinas creativas. La segunda parte aborda la investigación creación como resultado de la “polinización cruzada” entre disciplinas, asumiendo la diversidad de prácticas y lenguajes, estéticos y culturales, que también se nutre y dialoga con la investigación tradicional. La tercera parte presenta el marco jurídico-institucional y de política del SNCTI de Colombia, sus nexos con el sistema educativo formal y profesionalizante, para apalancar el desarrollo con criterios de productividad y competitividad en la “economía naranja”, en el marco de las industrias creativas y culturales. Se concluye con los resultados de la adopción y aplicación del modelo de medición.
“Tu vida también es mi país”: sexualidades disonantes y fugas de género en Liliana Felipe y Jesusa Rodríguez
Authors: Esguerra Muelle Camila , Quintana Martínez Alejandra
Published: December 2017

Este artículo propone una reflexión sobre las prácticas vitales, artísticas y políticas de Liliana Felipe y Jesusa Rodríguez y sus experiencias de desobediencia frente a los regímenes de sexualidad y género articulados a regímenes de terror en México y Argentina. La metodología usada para llegar a la reflexión fue un análisis crítico multimodal del discurso hecho desde una perspectiva interseccional y descolonial que supone el análisis tanto de contextos como de los textos, subtextos y texturas que componen la obra y vida de estas artistas. Desde esta postura epistemológica, la obra performática y musical de Liliana y Jesusa es vista como un acervo de discursos multimodales. Nuestra reflexión muestra cómo la creación, la experiencia —entendida como lugar político— y las propuestas colectivas de Liliana y Jesusa se ponen en juego en un campo de lucha performativa donde sus discursos desobedientes proponen maneras de resistencia y fuga a los regímenes coloniales-modernos- capitalistas de género y sexualidad. Jesusa y Liliana proponen una obra multimodal y multimedial que fisura los límites de los géneros discursivos, los géneros musicales, el género gramatical y el sistema sexo género, lo cual amerita una mirada indisciplinada. Este artículo resulta ser un abordaje novedoso en la medida en que se acerca a la experiencia y a la obra de estas dos mujeres, no desde una visión disciplinar, sino a partir de una mirada transdisciplinaria, interseccional y descolonial que asume la producción artística como una apuesta política donde los límites entre lo personal y lo público se borran.
Synergistic interactions of H2 and N2 with molten gallium in the presence of plasma
Authors: Carreon Maria L. , Jaramillo-Cabanzo Daniel F. , Chaudhuri Indira , Menon Madhu , Sunkara Mahendra K.
Published: December 2017

The present study examines the interaction of hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas with gallium in an effort to gain insights into the mechanisms behind the synergetic effect of plasma and a catalytic metal. Absorption/desorption experiments were performed, accompanied by theoretical-computational calculations. Experiments were carried out in a plasma-enhanced, Ga-packed, batch reactor and entailed monitoring the change in pressure at different temperatures. The results indicated a rapid adsorption/dissolution of the gas into the molten metal when gallium was exposed to plasma, even at a low temperature of 100 °C. The experimental observations, when hydrogen was used, indicate that gallium acts as a hydrogen sink in the presence of plasma. Similar results were obtained with Ga in the presence of nitrogen plasma. In addition, density functional theory calculations suggest a strong interaction between atomic hydrogen and molten gallium. This interaction is described as a high formation of Ga-H species on the surface, fast diffusion inside the metal, and a steady state concentration of the gas in the bulk.
Development of the Self-Efficacy of Balance Scale (SEBS) for Young, Active Individuals
Authors: Baker Carrie S. , McKeon Jennifer M. Medina , Usher Ellen L.
Published: December 2017

Self-efficacy of balance, a psychological characteristic, may provide information regarding psychological risk factors for lower-extremity injury. Validated instruments to assess self-efficacy of balance do not currently exist. The objective of this study was to determine the face and content validity of the Self-Efficacy of Balance Scale (SEBS) for an adolescent population, as well as content validity, construct and convergent validity of the overall instrument. A series of panelists (n = 11) assessed proposed items for face and content validity for self-efficacy of balance. Construct and convergent validity were assessed with active college individuals (n = 74) and female high school basketball athletes (n = 57). Original items were revised to 21 items. Panelists validated both face and content validity of the SEBS. All items were assessed to have the construct of self-efficacy. Evidence of convergent validity supported the proposed construct of self-efficacy, and was found to be relevant to the physical functioning of a young, active population.
In situ measurements of Saturn’s ionosphere show that it is dynamic and interacts with the rings
Authors: Wahlund J.-E. , Morooka M. W. , Hadid L. Z. , Persoon A. M. , Farrell W. M. , Gurnett D. A. , Hospodarsky G. , Kurth W. S. , Ye S.-Y. , Andrews D. J. , Edberg N. J. T. , Eriksson A. I. , Vigren E.
Published: December 2017

Cassini enters Saturn's ionosphere

The upper reaches of most planetary atmospheres contain a layer that is ionized by incoming solar radiation—the ionosphere. As it went through its final orbits around Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft dipped close enough to the planet to pass directly through the ionosphere. Wahlund
et al.
examined the plasma data collected in situ and found that Saturn's ionosphere is highly variable and interacts with the planet's inner ring. They also observed decreases in ionization within regions shaded from the Sun by the rings.

Science
, this issue p.
66
Genomic Insights into Colistin-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from a Tunisian Teaching Hospital
Authors: Jaidane Nadia , Bonnin Rémy A. , Mansour Wejdene , Girlich Delphine , Creton Elodie , Cotellon Garance , Chaouch Cherifa , Boujaafar Noureddine , Bouallegue Olfa , Naas Thierry
Published: December 2017

The emergence of colistin-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CoR
Kp
) is a public health concern, since this antibiotic has become the last line of treatment for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram negatives. In this study, we have investigated the molecular basis of colistin resistance in 13 MDR
K. pneumoniae
strains isolated from 12 patients in a teaching hospital in Sousse, Tunisia. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to decipher the molecular mechanism of colistin resistance and to identify the resistome of these CoR
Kp
isolates. It revealed a genome of ca. 5.5 Mbp in size with a G+C content of 57%, corresponding to that commonly observed for
K. pneumoniae
. These isolates belonged to the 5 different sequence types (ST11, ST15, ST101, ST147, and ST392), and their resistome was composed of acquired β-lactamases, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase genes (
bla
CTX-M-15
,
bla
OXA-204
,
bla
OXA-48
, and
bla
NDM-1
genes), aminoglycoside resistance genes [
aac
(
6
′)
Ib-cr
,
aph
(
3
″)-
Ib
,
aph
(
6
)-
Id
, and
aac
(
3
)-
IIa
], and fosfomycin (
fosA
), fluoroquinolone (
qnr
-like), chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, and tetracycline resistance genes. All of the isolates were identified as having a mutated
mgrB
gene. Mapping reads with reference sequences of the most common genes involved in colistin resistance revealed several modifications in
mgrB
,
pmr
, and
pho
operons (deletions, insertions, and substitutions) likely affecting the function of these proteins. It is worth noting that among the 12 patients, 10 were treated with colistin before the isolation of CoR
Kp
. No plasmid encoding
mcr-1
to
mcr-5
genes was found in these isolates. This study corresponds to the first molecular characterization of a collection of CoR
Kp
strains in Tunisia and highlights that the small-transmembrane protein MgrB is a main mechanism for colistin resistance in
K. pneumoniae
.
Suppression of Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation Accounts for Paradoxical Bacterial Survival at High Quinolone Concentration
Authors: Luan Gan , Hong Yuzhi , Drlica Karl , Zhao Xilin
Published: December 2017

When bacterial cells are exposed to increasing concentrations of quinolone-class antibacterials, survival drops, reaches a minimum, and then recovers, sometimes to 100%. Despite decades of study, events underlying this paradoxical high-concentration survival remain obscure. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in antimicrobial lethality, conditions generating paradoxical survival were examined for diminished ROS accumulation.
Escherichia coli
cultures were treated with various concentrations of nalidixic acid, followed by measurements of survival, rate of protein synthesis, and ROS accumulation. The last measurement used a dye (carboxy-H2DCFDA) that fluoresces in the presence of ROS; fluorescence was assessed by microscopy (individual cells) and flow cytometry (batch cultures). High, nonlethal concentrations of nalidixic acid induced lower levels of ROS than moderate, lethal concentrations. Sublethal doses of exogenous hydrogen peroxide became lethal and eliminated the nalidixic acid-associated paradoxical survival. Thus, quinolone-mediated lesions needed for ROS-executed killing persist at high, nonlethal quinolone concentrations, thereby implicating ROS as a key factor in cell death. Chloramphenicol suppressed nalidixic acid-induced ROS accumulation and blocked lethality, further supporting a role for ROS in killing. Nalidixic acid also inhibited protein synthesis, with extensive inhibition at high concentrations correlating with lower ROS accumulation and paradoxical survival. A catalase deficiency, which elevated ROS levels, overcame the inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol on nalidixic acid-mediated killing, emphasizing the importance of ROS. The data collectively indicate that ROS play a dominant role in the lethal action of narrow-spectrum quinolone-class compounds; a drop in ROS levels accounted for the quinolone tolerance observed at very high concentrations.
Topical Antibiotic Use Coselects for the Carriage of Mobile Genetic Elements Conferring Resistance to Unrelated Antimicrobials in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Carter Glen P. , Schultz Mark B. , Baines Sarah L. , Gonçalves da Silva Anders , Heffernan Helen , Tiong Audrey , Pham Peter H. , Monk Ian R. , Stinear Timothy P. , Howden Benjamin P. , Williamson Deborah A.
Published: December 2017

Topical antibiotics, such as mupirocin and fusidic acid, are commonly used in the prevention and treatment of skin infections, particularly those caused by staphylococci. However, the widespread use of these agents is associated with increased resistance to these agents, potentially limiting their efficacy. Of particular concern is the observation that resistance to topical antibiotics is often associated with multidrug resistance, suggesting that topical antibiotics may play a role in the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. New Zealand (NZ) has some of the highest globally recorded rates of topical antibiotic usage and resistance. Using a combination of Pacific Biosciences single-molecule real-time (SMRT) whole-genome sequencing, Illumina short-read sequencing, and Bayesian phylogenomic modeling on 118 new multilocus sequence type 1 (ST1) community
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates from New Zealand and 61 publically available international ST1 genome sequences, we demonstrate a strong correlation between the clinical introduction of topical antibiotics and the emergence of MDR ST1
S. aureus
. We also provide
in vitro
experimental evidence showing that exposure to topical antibiotics can lead to the rapid selection of MDR
S. aureus
isolates carrying plasmids that confer resistance to multiple unrelated antibiotics, from within a mixed population of competitor strains. These findings have important implications regarding the impact of the indiscriminate use of topical antibiotics.
High-Salt Conditions Alter Transcription of Helicobacter pylori Genes Encoding Outer Membrane Proteins
Authors: Loh John T. , Beckett Amber C. , Scholz Matthew B. , Cover Timothy L.
Published: December 2017

Helicobacter pylori
infection and high dietary salt intake are risk factors for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. One possible mechanism by which a high-salt diet could influence gastric cancer risk is by modulating
H. pylori
gene expression. In this study, we utilized transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) methodology to compare the transcriptional profiles of
H. pylori
grown in media containing different concentrations of sodium chloride. We identified 118 differentially expressed genes (65 upregulated and 53 downregulated in response to high-salt conditions), including multiple members of 14 operons. Twenty-nine of the differentially expressed genes encode proteins previously shown to undergo salt-responsive changes in abundance, based on proteomic analyses. Real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analyses validated differential expression of multiple genes encoding outer membrane proteins, including adhesins (SabA and HopQ) and proteins involved in iron acquisition (FecA2 and FecA3). Transcript levels of
sabA
,
hopA
, and
hopQ
are increased under high-salt conditions, whereas transcript levels of
fecA2
and
fecA3
are decreased under high-salt conditions. Transcription of
sabA
,
hopA
,
hopQ
, and
fecA3
is derepressed in an
arsS
mutant strain, but salt-responsive transcription of these genes is not mediated by the ArsRS two-component system, and the CrdRS and FlgRS two-component systems do not have any detectable effects on transcription of these genes. In summary, these data provide a comprehensive view of
H. pylori
transcriptional alterations that occur in response to high-salt environmental conditions.
Scapular dyskinesis increases the risk of future shoulder pain by 43% in asymptomatic athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hickey Darren , Solvig Veronica , Cavalheri Vinicius , Harrold Meg , Mckenna Leanda
Published: December 2017

Background

It is unclear whether the presence of scapular dyskinesis increases the risk of developing shoulder pain in asymptomatic athletes.

Objectives

To determine whether the presence of scapular dyskinesis in asymptomatic athletes increases the risk of developing shoulder pain by systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database and SPORTDiscus. Prospective studies that assessed athletes for scapular dyskinesis and recorded incidents of shoulder pain were included. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Meta-analysis was conducted to derive a pooled risk ratio (RR) for the development of shoulder pain in athletes with scapular dyskinesis compared with those without scapular dyskinesis.

Results

Five studies were included with a total of 419 athletes. Of the athletes with scapular dyskinesis, 35% (56/160) experienced shoulder pain during the follow-up, whereas 25% (65/259) of athletes without scapular dyskinesis experienced symptoms. The presence of scapular dyskinesis at baseline indicated a 43% increased risk of a shoulder pain event over a 9 to 24 months follow-up (RR=1.43, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.93).

Conclusions

Athletes with scapular dyskinesis have 43% greater risk of developing shoulder pain than those without scapular dyskinesis.
New Zealand policy experts’ appraisal of interventions to reduce smoking in young adults: a qualitative investigation
Authors: Ball Jude , Hoek Janet , Tautolo El Shadan , Gifford Heather
Published: December 2017

Objectives

Reducing smoking in young adults, particularly young Māori and Pacific, is vital for reducing tobacco harm and health inequalities in New Zealand (NZ). We investigated how NZ policy experts appraised the feasibility and likely effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce smoking prevalence among 18–24 year olds.

Design

We used a qualitative design, conducting semistructured interviews and applying thematic analysis.

Participants

We interviewed 15 key informants, including politicians, senior policy analysts and leading tobacco control advocates. Participant selection was based on seniority and expertise and ensuring diverse perspectives were represented.

Interventions

We examined nine interventions that could either promote greater mindfulness or introduce barriers impeding smoking uptake: smoke-free outdoor dining and bars; no tobacco sales where alcohol is sold; social marketing campaigns; real life stories (testimonials); life skills training; raise purchase age to 21; tobacco-free generation; smokers’ licence; make tobacco retail premises R18.

Results

The policies perceived as more effective denormalised tobacco; made it less convenient to access and use; highlighted immediate disadvantages (eg, impact on fitness); aligned with young people’s values; and addressed the underlying causes of smoking (eg, stress). Participants highlighted some political barriers and noted concerns that some interventions might widen ethnic disparities. Exceptions were social marketing campaigns and extending smoke-free regulations to include outdoor areas of cafes and bars, which participants saw as politically feasible and likely to be effective.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the merit of an approach that combines social marketing with regulation that makes accessing and using tobacco less convenient for young adults; however, political barriers may limit the regulatory options available in the short term. Strategies to support self-determination and address the underlying causes of smoking in young people warrant further investigation. Determining policy acceptability to Māori and Pacific, and likely effectiveness for these populations, should be key priorities.
Duration of continuous cropping with straw return affects the composition and structure of soil bacterial communities in cotton fields
Authors: Yang Lei , Tan Lanlan , Zhang Fenghua , Gale William Jeffrey , Cheng Zhibo , Sang Wen
Published: December 2017

Salinized land in the China’s Xinjiang Region is being reclaimed for continuous cotton production. The specific objectives of this field study were (i) to compare bacterial composition and diversity in unfarmed (i.e., unreclaimed) and continuously (5, 10, 15, and 20 years) cropped soils and (ii) to explore correlations between soil properties and the bacterial communities identified by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The results showed that bacterial species richness and diversity increased for 10–15 years and then declined when salinized land was reclaimed for cotton production. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in unfarmed soil. Continuous cropping reduced the abundance of Firmicutes but increased that of Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Cluster analyses showed that the greatest similarities in bacterial communities were between the 5- and 10-year treatments and between the 15- and 20-year treatments. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, alkali-hydrolyzable N, and available P were significantly correlated with bacterial community distribution. Overall, cotton production improved soil physicochemical properties and altered the structure and composition of soil bacterial communities compared with unfarmed soil. These positive effects began to decrease after 10–15 years of continuous cotton production.
Biogeochemical sulfur cycling coupling with dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes in freshwater sediments
Authors: Zhu Jin , He Yan , Zhu Yishuang , Huang Minsheng , Zhang Yaping
Published: December 2017

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes including denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) are crucial nitrogen (N) cycling pathways in freshwater ecosystems. Denitrification has long been considered as the primary pathway of N loss from aquatic environments. Recently, ANAMMOX and DNRA have been gaining more attention in N dynamics at the sediment–water interface. The ubiquitous presence of various sulfur (S) species in sediments makes them an important role on N transport. Interactions between dissimilatory nitrate reduction and the S cycle are mainly embodied by the inhibitory or promoting effects of sulfide on nitrate-reducing pathways, as well as the competition of sulfate with nitrate reduction for substrates. This review summarizes the current progress in the coupling of S cycling with nitrate-reducing pathways in freshwater sediments, the distribution and diversity of related microorganisms, as well as the functional genes encoding related enzymes. Future perspectives of related research are discussed in terms of coupled N cycling with other element cycles and molecular detection of functional bacteria to better understand and manipulate N cycling in freshwater environments.
Social institutions mediating seed access in West African seed systems
Authors: Jones Kristal
Published: December 2017

Contemporary approaches to market-oriented agricultural development focus on increasing production and economic efficiency to improve livelihoods and well-being. For seed system development, this has meant a focus on seed value chains predicated on standardized economic transactions and improved variety seeds. Building formal seed systems requires establishing and strengthening social institutions that reflect the market-oriented values of efficiency and standardization, institutions that often do not currently exist in many local and informal seed systems. This paper describes and analyzes efforts to develop formal seed systems in Sahelian West Africa over the past 10 years, and identifies the impacts for farmers of the social institutions that constitute formal seed systems. Using qualitative and spatial data and analysis, the paper characterizes farmers’ and communities’ experiences with seed access through the newly established formal seed system. The results demonstrate that the social and spatial extents of the formal and informal seed systems are extended and integrated through social institutions that reflect values inherent in both systems. The impacts of current market-oriented agricultural development projects are, therefore, more than in the past, in part because the social institutions associated with them are less singular in their vision for productive and economic efficiency.
Where is particle physics going?
Authors: Ellis John
Published: December 2017

The answer to the question in the title is: in search of new physics beyond the Standard Model, for which there are many motivations, including the likely instability of the electroweak vacuum, dark matter, the origin of matter, the masses of neutrinos, the naturalness of the hierarchy of mass scales, cosmological inflation and the search for quantum gravity. So far, however, there are no clear indications about the theoretical solutions to these problems, nor the experimental strategies to resolve them. It makes sense now to prepare various projects for possible future accelerators, so as to be ready for decisions when the physics outlook becomes clearer. Paraphrasing George Harrison, “If you don’t yet know where you’re going, any road may take you there.”
Optics design for CEPC double ring scheme
Authors: Wang Yiwei , Su Feng , Bai Sha , Yu Chenghui , Gao Jie
Published: December 2017

The authors and the guest editors of the Special Issue have retracted this article due to the fact that the article's content was originally prepared as part of the proceedings of the IPAC2017. A new article on the CEPC Double Ring Scheme has been published in Int. J. Mod. Phys. A Vol. 33, No. 1 (2018) 1840001, DOI:10.1142/S0217751X18400018
An asynchronous data-driven readout prototype for CEPC vertex detector
Authors: Yang Ping , Sun Xiangming , Huang Guangming , Xiao Le , Gao Chaosong , Huang Xing , Zhou Wei , Ren Weiping , Li Yashu , Liu Jianchao , You Bihui , Zhang Li
Published: December 2017

The Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is proposed as a Higgs boson and/or Z boson factory for high-precision measurements on the Higgs boson. The precision of secondary vertex impact parameter plays an important role in such measurements which typically rely on flavor-tagging. Thus silicon CMOS Pixel Sensors (CPS) are the most promising technology candidate for a CEPC vertex detector, which can most likely feature a high position resolution, a low power consumption and a fast readout simultaneously. For the R&D of the CEPC vertex detector, we have developed a prototype MIC4 in the Towerjazz 180 nm CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) process. We have proposed and implemented a new architecture of asynchronous zero-suppression data-driven readout inside the matrix combined with a binary front-end inside the pixel. The matrix contains 128 rows and 64 columns with a small pixel pitch of 25 [Formula: see text]m. The readout architecture has implemented the traditional OR-gate chain inside a super pixel combined with a priority arbiter tree between the super pixels, only reading out relevant pixels. The MIC4 architecture will be introduced in more detail in this paper. It will be taped out in May and will be characterized when the chip comes back.
A review and guidance for pattern selection in spatiotemporal system
Authors: Wang Chunni , Ma Jun
Published: December 2017

Pattern estimation and selection in media can give important clues to understand the collective response to external stimulus by detecting the observable variables. Both reaction–diffusion systems (RDs) and neuronal networks can be treated as multi-agent systems from molecular level, intrinsic cooperation, competition. An external stimulus or attack can cause collapse of spatial order and distribution, while appropriate noise can enhance the consensus in the spatiotemporal systems. Pattern formation and synchronization stability can bridge isolated oscillators and the network by coupling these nodes with appropriate connection types. As a result, the dynamical behaviors can be detected and discussed by developing different spatial patterns and realizing network synchronization. Indeed, the collective response of network and multi-agent system depends on the local kinetics of nodes and cells. It is better to know the standard bifurcation analysis and stability control schemes before dealing with network problems. In this review, dynamics discussion and synchronization control on low-dimensional systems, pattern formation and synchronization stability on network, wave stability in RDs and neuronal network are summarized. Finally, possible guidance is presented when some physical effects such as polarization field and electromagnetic induction are considered.
SCEst
Authors: Smyth Steven , Motika Christian , Rathlev Karsten , Hanxleden Reinhard Von , Mendler Michael
Published: December 2017

The synchronous language Esterel provides determinate concurrency for reactive systems. Determinacy is ensured by the
signal coherence rule
, which demands that signals have a stable value throughout one reaction cycle. This is natural for the original application domains of Esterel, such as controller design and hardware development; however, it is unnecessarily restrictive for software development. Sequentially Constructive Esterel (SCEst) overcomes this restriction by allowing values to change instantaneously, as long as determinacy is still guaranteed, adopting the recently proposed Sequentially Constructive model of computation. SCEst is grounded in the minimal Sequentially Constructive Language (
scl
), which also provides a novel semantic definition and compilation approach for Esterel.
A Framework to Design, Develop, and Evaluate Immersive and Collaborative Serious Games in Cultural Heritage
Authors: Andreoli Roberto , Corolla Angela , Faggiano Armando , Malandrino Delfina , Pirozzi Donato , Ranaldi Mirta , Santangelo Gianluca , Scarano Vittorio
Published: December 2017

Video games and their design are complex in nature, given the variety of aspects and challenges to face and the different areas of expertise involved. Furthermore, serious games have an even tougher challenge, since the knowledge acquisition has the same importance and relevance as entertainment and pleasure for the players. Serious games in cultural heritage require additional effort to introduce immersivity and collaboration among players.

This article introduces a framework, named FRACH, to conceive, design, and evaluate immersive and collaborative serious games in cultural heritage. In particular, FRACH provides a design framework with steps to follow during the whole process that is from the early design phase to the evaluation phase of a serious game.

We assessed the efficacy of our framework, with a specific case study in cultural heritage, by implementing a section of a serious game namedHippocraticaCivitasGame, where players were allowed to visit the thermae of the historical site of San Pietro a Corte and Palazzo Fruscione in the city of Salerno, Italy, and to solve a given puzzle. Results of the game evaluation showed that the game was effective in terms of knowledge acquisition, the participants enjoyed the game, were highly involved in the immersive experience, and, finally, positively rated the idea of using the game for educational learning in the field of cultural heritage.
Bit-Precise Procedure-Modular Termination Analysis
Authors: Chen Hong-Yi , David Cristina , Kroening Daniel , Schrammel Peter , Wachter Björn
Published: December 2017

Non-termination is the root cause of a variety of program bugs, such as hanging programs and denial-of-service vulnerabilities. This makes an automated analysis that can prove the absence of such bugs highly desirable. To scale termination checks to large systems, an interprocedural termination analysis seems essential. This is a largely unexplored area of research in termination analysis, where most effort has focussed on small but difficult single-procedure problems.

We present a modular termination analysis for C programs using template-based interprocedural summarisation. Our analysis combines a context-sensitive, over-approximating forward analysis with the inference of under-approximating preconditions for termination. Bit-precise termination arguments are synthesised over lexicographic linear ranking function templates. Our experimental results show the advantage of interprocedural reasoning over monolithic analysis in terms of efficiency, while retaining comparable precision.
Time and Sequence Integrated Runtime Anomaly Detection for Embedded Systems
Authors: Lu Sixing , Lysecky Roman
Published: December 2017

Network-connected embedded systems grow on a large scale as a critical part of Internet of Things, and these systems are under the risk of increasing malware. Anomaly-based detection methods can detect malware in embedded systems effectively and provide the advantage of detecting zero-day exploits relative to signature-based detection methods, but existing approaches incur significant performance overheads and are susceptible to mimicry attacks. In this article, we present a formal runtime security model that defines the normal system behavior including execution sequence and execution timing. The anomaly detection method in this article utilizes on-chip hardware to non-intrusively monitor system execution through trace port of the processor and detect malicious activity at runtime. We further analyze the properties of the timing distribution for control flow events, and select subset of monitoring targets by three selection metrics to meet hardware constraint. The designed detection method is evaluated by a network-connected pacemaker benchmark prototyped in FPGA and simulated in SystemC, with several mimicry attacks implemented at different levels. The resulting detection rate and false positive rate considering constraints on the number of monitored events supported in the on-chip hardware demonstrate good performance of our approach.
Coverage Preservation with Rapid Forwarding in Energy-Harvesting Wireless Sensor Networks for Critical Rare Events
Authors: Harrison David C. , Seah Winston K. G. , Rayudu Ramesh
Published: December 2017

Wireless sensor networks for rarely occurring critical events must maintain sensing coverage and low-latency network connectivity to ensure event detection and subsequent rapid propagation of notification messages. Few algorithms have been proposed that address both coverage and forwarding and those that do are either unconcerned with rapid propagation or are not optimised to handle the constant changes in topology observed in duty-cycled networks. This article proposes an algorithm for
Coverage Preservation with Rapid Forwarding
(CPRF). The algorithm is shown to deliver perfect coverage maintenance and low-latency guaranteed message propagation whilst allowing stored-charge conservation via collaborative duty cycling in energy-harvesting networks. Favourable comparisons are made against established and recently proposed algorithms in both sparse planned and dense random distributions. Further, an implementation for commercially available wireless sensing devices is evaluated for detection and notification of damage to highway light poles caused by vortex shedding.
Model and Program Repair via SAT Solving
Authors: Attie Paul C. , Bab Kinan Dak Al , Sakr Mouhammad
Published: December 2017

We consider the
subtractive model repair problem
: given a finite Kripke structure
M
and a CTL formula η, determine if
M
contains a substructure
M
′
that satisfies η. Thus,
M
can be “repaired” to satisfy
eta
by deleting some transitions and states. We map an instance 〈
M
,η 〉 of model repair to a Boolean formula
repair
(
M
,η) such that 〈
M
,η 〉 has a solution iff
repair
(
M
,η) is satisfiable. Furthermore, a satisfying assignment determines which states and transitions must be removed from
M
to yield a model
M
′
of η Thus, we can use any SAT solver to repair Kripke structures. Using a complete SAT solver yields a complete algorithm: it always finds a repair if one exists. We also show that CTL model repair is NP-complete. We extend the basic repair method in three directions: (1) the use of abstraction mappings, that is, repair a structure abstracted from
M
and then concretize the resulting repair to obtain a repair of
M
, (2) repair concurrent Kripke structures and concurrent programs: we use the pairwise method of Attie and Emerson to represent and repair the behavior of a concurrent program, as a set of “concurrent Kripke structures”, with only a quadratic increase in the size of the repair formula, and (3) repair hierarchical Kripke structures: we use a CTL formula to summarize the behavior of each “box,” and CTL deduction to relate the box formula with the overall specification.
Succinctness of Order-Invariant Logics on Depth-Bounded Structures
Authors: Eickmeyer Kord , Elberfeld Michael , Harwath Frederik
Published: December 2017

We study the expressive power and succinctness of order-invariant sentences of first-order (FO) and monadic second-order (MSO) logic on structures of bounded tree-depth. Order-invariance is undecidable in general and, thus, one strives for logics with a decidable syntax that have the same expressive power as order-invariant sentences. We show that on structures of bounded tree-depth, order-invariant FO has the same expressive power as FO. Our proof technique allows for a fine-grained analysis of the succinctness of this translation. We show that for every order-invariant FO sentence there exists an FO sentence whose size is elementary in the size of the original sentence, and whose number of quantifier alternations is linear in the tree-depth. We obtain similar results for MSO. It is known that the expressive power of MSO and FO coincide on structures of bounded tree-depth. We provide a translation from MSO to FO and we show that this translation is essentially optimal regarding the formula size. As a further result, we show that order-invariant MSO has the same expressive power as FO with modulo-counting quantifiers on bounded tree-depth structures.
Big Data, Digitization, and Social Change
Authors: Johnson Jeffrey , Denning Peter , Sousa-Rodrigues David , Delic Kemal A.
Published: December 2017

We use the term "big data" with the understanding that the real game changer is the connection and digitization of everything. Every portfolio is affected: finance, transport, housing, food, environment, industry, health, welfare, defense, education, science, and more. The authors in this symposium will focus on a few of these areas to exemplify the main ideas and issues.
JPEG Column
Authors: Pinheiro Antonio
Published: December 2017

The 76th JPEG meeting was held at Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy, from 15 to 21 of July. The current standardisation activities have been complemented by the 25th anniversary of the first JPEG standard. Simultaneously, JPEG pursues the development of different standardised solutions to meet the current challenges on imaging technology, namely on emerging new applications and on low complexity image coding.
Multidisciplinary column
Authors: Nanayakkara Suranga , Liem Cynthia C. S. , Huber Jochen
Published: December 2017

Suranga Nanayakkara is an Assistant Professor from the Engineering Product Development Pillar at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Before joining SUTD, Suranga was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Fluid Interfaces group, MIT Media Lab. He received his PhD in 2010 and BEng in 2005 from the National University of Singapore. In 2011, he founded the "Augmented Human Lab" (www.ahlab.org) to explore ways of creating 'enabling' human-computer interfaces to enhance the sensory and cognitive abilities of humans. With publications in prestigious conferences, demonstrations, patents, media coverage and real-world deployments, Suranga has demonstrated the potential of advancing the state-of-the art in Assistive Human Computer Interfaces. For the totality and breadth of achievements, Suranga has been recognized with many awards, including young inventor under 35 (TR35 award) in the Asia Pacific region by MIT TechReview, Ten Outstanding Yong Professionals (TOYP) by JCI Sri Lanka and INK Fellow 2016.
Opinion column
Authors: Alameda-Pineda Xavier , Redi Miriam
Published: December 2017

As promised in our introductory edition, this column will report highlights and lowlights of online discussion threads among the members of the Multimedia community (see our Facebook MM Community Discussion group).
Major Gross Lesions of Lung in Cattle Slaughtered at Hawassa Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Zeryehun Tesfaheywet , Alemu Biruk
Published: December 2017

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017, to estimate the prevalence of major gross lung lesions in cattle slaughtered at Hawassa Municipal Abattoir, southern Ethiopia. A total of 563 male cattle were examined by antemortem examination, while postmortem lung lesions were done using standard inspection procedures. Association between prevalence and the explanatory variables was estimated by way of chi-square/Fischer’s exact tests using statistical packages for social science (SPSS) software. Upon postmortem examination, 96.6% (544/563) of cattle examined had various gross lung lesions. The most important lesions identified were hydatidosis, emphysema, congestion, and atelectasis with prevalence of 45.3%, 19.2%, 18.1%, and 6.4%, respectively. Based on origins of slaughtered animals, hydatid cyst, emphysema, and congestion were common in cattle that came from Tula area with prevalence of 46.3%, 20.4%, and 20%, respectively. The animals from Arsi-negelle and Hawassa were mostly affected by hydatid cyst with prevalence of 44.4% and 42.5%, respectively. Statistically significant association (p=.038) was observed between prevalence of atelectasis and body condition of slaughtered cattle. In conclusion, the prevalence of hydatidosis was the major lesion in the lung of slaughtered cattle at Hawassa Municipal Abattoir. Therefore, appropriate disease control strategies should be put in place.
Efficient KDM-CCA Secure Public-Key Encryption via Auxiliary-Input Authenticated Encryption
Authors: Han Shuai , Liu Shengli , Lyu Lin
Published: December 2017

KDM[F]-CCA security of public-key encryption (PKE) ensures the privacy of key-dependent messages f(sk) which are closely related to the secret key sk, where f∈F, even if the adversary is allowed to make decryption queries. In this paper, we study the design of KDM-CCA secure PKE. To this end, we develop a new primitive named Auxiliary-Input Authenticated Encryption (AIAE). For AIAE, we introduce two related-key attack (RKA) security notions, including IND-RKA and weak-INT-RKA. We present a generic construction of AIAE from tag-based hash proof system (HPS) and one-time secure authenticated encryption (AE) and give an instantiation of AIAE under the Decisional Diffie-Hellman (DDH) assumption. Using AIAE as an essential building block, we give two constructions of efficient KDM-CCA secure PKE based on the DDH and the Decisional Composite Residuosity (DCR) assumptions. Specifically, (i) our first PKE construction is the first one achieving KDM[Faff]-CCA security for the set of affine functions and compactness of ciphertexts simultaneously. (ii) Our second PKE construction is the first one achieving KDM[Fpolyd]-CCA security for the set of polynomial functions and almost compactness of ciphertexts simultaneously. Our PKE constructions are very efficient; in particular, they are pairing-free and NIZK-free.
Effects of the Aqueous Extract from Tabebuia roseoalba and Phenolic Acids on Hyperuricemia and Inflammation
Authors: Ferraz-Filha Zilma Schimith , Ferrari Fernanda Cristina , Araújo Marcela Carolina de Paula Michel , Bernardes Ana Catharina Fernandes P. F. , Saúde-Guimarães Dênia Antunes
Published: December 2017

Tabebuia species (Bignoniaceae) have long been used in folk medicine as anti‐inflammatory, antirheumatic, antimicrobial, and antitumor. The aim of this study was to investigate if aqueous extract from the leaves (AEL) of Tabebuia roseoalba (Ridl.) Sandwith, Bignoniaceae, and its constituents could be useful to decrease serum uric acid levels and restrain the gout inflammatory process. HPLC analysis identified caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid in AEL. Antihyperuricemic effects and inhibition of liver XOD (xanthine oxidoreductase) by AEL and identified compounds were evaluated in hyperuricemic mice. Anti‐inflammatory activity was evaluated on MSU (monosodium urate) crystal‐induced paw edema. In addition, AEL antioxidant activity in vitro was evaluated. AEL, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids were able to reduce serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemic mice probably through inhibition of liver xanthine oxidase activity and significantly decreased the paw edema induced by MSU crystals. AEL showed significant antioxidant activity in all evaluated assays. The results show that the AEL of Tabebuia roseoalba can be a promising agent for treatment for gout and inflammatory diseases. We suggest that caffeic and chlorogenic acids may be responsible for the activities demonstrated by the species.
The Effects of Aromatherapy on Intensive Care Unit Patients’ Stress and Sleep Quality: A Nonrandomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Cho Eun Hee , Lee Mi-Young , Hur Myung-Haeng
Published: December 2017

Background. Stress has both physiological and psychological effects and can negatively impact patients’ treatment and recovery. We examined whether the aromatherapy alleviated patients’ stress and improved their sleep quality and provided data that can be utilized in clinical settings. Methods. This was a nonrandomised controlled experimental study. Participants included lucid adult patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit and had spent more than two nights there. The experimental treatment required participants to engage in deep breathing with essential oils as part of the aromatherapy. The control group was instructed to go to sleep without receiving the lavender aroma oil. Results. The experimental group and control group showed a significant difference in perceived stress (F = 60.11, p < .001), objective stress index (F = 25.65, p < .001), systolic blood pressure (F = 9.09, p < .001), diastolic blood pressure (F = 2.47, p = .046), heart rate (F = 5.71, p < .001), and sleep quality (F = 109.46, p < .001). Conclusions. The results revealed that aromatherapy alleviated stress and improved sleep quality in intensive care unit patients after 2 days of the experimental treatment. These results demonstrate that aromatherapy affects stress and sleep quality, thus indicating its value in nursing interventions. This trial is registered with KCT0002344.
Late Emergence of an Imatinib-Resistant ABL1 Kinase Domain Mutation in a Patient with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Crampe Mireille , Andrews Claire , Fortune Anne , Langabeer Stephen E.
Published: December 2017

The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib has revolutionised the outlook of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); however, a significant proportion of patients develop resistance through several mechanisms, of which acquisition of ABL1 kinase domain mutations is prevalent. In chronic-phase patients, these mutations become evident early in the disease course. A case is described of a chronic-phase CML patient who achieved a sustained, deep molecular response but who developed an Y253H ABL1 kinase domain mutation nearly nine years after commencing imatinib. Switching therapy to bosutinib resulted in a rapid reachievement of a major molecular response. Long-term TKI treatment impacts on quality of life and late losses of responses are usually due to lack of adherence. This case highlights the requirement for ABL1 kinase domain mutation analysis in those CML patients on long-term imatinib who lost their molecular response, regardless of whether nonadherence is suspected.