bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experience, attitudes, and demographic factors influence the probability of reporting human–black bear interactions
Authors: Wilbur Ryan C. , Lischka Stacy A. , Young Jessica R. , Johnson Heather E.
Published: February 2018

Interactions between people and American black bears (Ursus americanus) have been increasing throughout the United States, with negative interactions becoming a major management challenge for wildlife agencies. To monitor the number, location, and severity of these conflicts, wildlife agencies typically rely on voluntary public reports. Although trends in voluntary reports are commonly assumed to reflect actual trends in human–bear interactions, recent research suggests an individual's likelihood of reporting interactions may be biased, influenced by attitudes toward the species and its management, previous experiences with wildlife, or demographic factors. During 2012, we used a mail survey of residents in the vicinity of Durango, Colorado, USA, (n = 1,667) to explore the relative importance of tolerance for black bears, satisfaction with bear management, personal experience with bears, and demographic traits as predictors of a resident's decision to report interactions to the authorities. We found that residents’ experiences with bears were most important in predicting reporting behavior, followed closely by attitudes related to tolerance for bears, and satisfaction with management; demographic factors had relatively little influence. Respondents were more likely to report when they had seen black bears near their homes, had been threatened by bears, were intolerant of bears, dissatisfied with management, and were female. Although several variables in our analyses were influential in explaining reporting behavior, the overall predictive power of our models was low (R2 = 0.17), suggesting future investigations of reporting behavior should include a broader set of covariates. Our results indicate that public reports represent a biased measure of human–bear interactions, and management agencies should either account for bias, or collect different types of interaction data, when assessing patterns of bear activity. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Comment on: Structural Stability of Boron Carbide under Pressure Proven by Spectroscopic Studies up to 73 GPa (Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 643, 1357 (2017))
Authors: Werheit Helmut
Published: February 2018

The paper of Chuvachova et al. contains several deficiencies as well as irritating assumptions and conclusions. Their crucial conclusion on the structural stability of boron carbide under pressure is shown to be disproved by their own experimental results.
An iPhone Application Intervention to Promote Surveillance Among Women with a BRCA Mutation: Pre‐intervention Data
Authors: Cohen Stephanie A. , Scherr Courtney Lynam , Nixon Dawn M.
Published: February 2018

Women with BRCA mutations, at significantly increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer, do not consistently adhere to management guidelines due to lack of awareness and challenges tracking appointments. We developed an iPhone application (app) to help BRCA carriers manage their surveillance. We explored baseline awareness and adherence to surveillance guidelines and analytic data from 21 months of app use. Descriptive statistics were calculated on responses (N = 86) to a survey about surveillance awareness and practices. The majority were aware of breast surveillance guidelines, but only one third were aware of ovarian surveillance guidelines. In practice, the majority reported a clinical breast exam within 6 months, just over half reported a mammogram and breast MRI in the last year, and under half reported ovarian surveillance in the last year. Nearly 50% reported difficulty remembering appointments. Although only 69 received access codes, 284 unique users attempted to enter the app, which was visible in the iTunes store but only available to those with a study code. Evaluation of analytic data demonstrated user engagement with study participants accessing the app 427 times over the 21‐month time period (range 2–57; mean = 6.28). Results indicate participants were more likely to know screening guidelines than practice them. There was interest in the app and users were engaged, suggesting app value. We will send a follow‐up survey after 18 months of app use for additional evaluation and feedback.
Health Survey of Adults with Neurofibromatosis 1 Compared to Population Study Controls
Authors: Fjermestad Krister W. , Nyhus Livø , Kanavin Øivind J. , Heiberg Arvid , Hoxmark Lise B.
Published: February 2018

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic, autosomal dominant multi‐organ disease characterized by susceptibility to tumor formation, changes in skin pigmentation, skeletal abnormalities, and neuropsychological deficits. Clinical studies have shown impaired health‐related quality of life (HQoL) in adults with NF1. However, little is known about HQoL in non‐clinical NF1 samples. We conducted a cross‐sectional self‐report survey of 142 persons with NF1 (M age = 50.3 years, SD = 12.0, range 32 to 80; 62.0% females) recruited from non‐clinical settings. Several HQoL domains, including life satisfaction, mental health, sleep, pain, gastrointestinal problems, oral health, and social support, were compared between the NF1 sample and 46,293 controls from the HUNT3 population study. We also examined gender differences within the NF1 sample and predictors of HQoL. Compared to controls, the NF1 sample reported significantly poorer life satisfaction, mental health, sleep, and oral health, and more pain, gastrointestinal problems, comorbid diseases, and memory problems. Several HQoL domains were significantly correlated. Mental health was the only unique significant predictor of overall life satisfaction. Women with NF1 reported significantly more mental health, sleep, and pain problems than men with NF1. Mental health assessment and management should be integrated into clinical care of persons with NF1 to potentially improve their HQoL.
Predictive processing and foundationalism about perception
Authors: Ghijsen Harmen
Published: February 2018

Predictive processing accounts of perception (PP) assume that perception does not work in a purely bottom-up fashion but also uses acquired knowledge to make top-down predictions about the incoming sensory signals. This provides a challenge for foundationalist accounts of perception according to which perceptual beliefs are epistemically basic, that is, epistemically independent from other beliefs. If prior beliefs rationally influence which perceptual beliefs we come to accept, then foundationalism about perception appears untenable. I review several ways in which foundationalism might be reconciled with PP from both an internalist and externalist perspective, and argue that an externalist foundationalism provides the best match with PP.
Nickel hyperaccumulation by Streptanthus polygaloides is associated with herbivory tolerance
Authors: Mincey Katherine A. , Cobine Paul A. , Boyd Robert S.
Published: February 2018

Metal hyperaccumulation can increase plant resistance to herbivory, but tolerance as an herbivore defense has been little investigated. This study explored the interaction between Ni hyperaccumulation and herbivory tolerance using Streptanthus polygaloides. Plants were grown in one of two potting soil Ni treatments: Ni‐amended (800 µg g−1 added Ni) or unamended (0 µg g−1 added Ni). One‐month‐old plants were arbitrarily assigned one of four levels of artificial herbivory damage applied to the leaves. Response variables included aboveground dry biomass and Ni concentration, total leaf number, final plant height, and total number of flowers, and were analyzed by two‐way ANOVA. We found no consistent soil Ni effect, artificial herbivory effect, or interaction between soil Ni and artificial herbivory treatments for total leaf number or final plant height. However, there was a soil Ni effect for biomass, flower production, and Ni concentrations: all were greater for plants grown in Ni‐amended soil when compared to plants grown in unamended soil. There was also a significant interaction between treatments for number of flowers produced (reflecting plant fitness) as well as for aboveground biomass. Plants of S. polygaloides receiving greater damage produced significantly more flowers, and had greater biomass, when grown in Ni‐amended soil than plants in unamended soil. We conclude that Ni hyperaccumulation is associated with herbivory tolerance of S. polygaloides, increasing plant fitness when herbivory damage is severe. Herbivory tolerance provides an additional dimension to elemental defenses that can supplement the defense trait of herbivory resistance.
Determinants and consequences of executive compensation-related shareholder activism and say-on-pay votes: A literature review and research agenda
Authors: Obermann Jörn , Velte Patrick
Published: February 2018

This systematic literature review analyses the determinants and consequences of executive compensation-related shareholder activism and say-on-pay (SOP) votes. The review covers 71 empirical articles published between January 1995 and September 2017. The studies are reviewed within an empirical research framework that separates the reasons for shareholder activism and SOP voting dissent as input factor on the one hand and the consequences of shareholder pressure as output factor on the other. This procedure identifies the five most important groups of factors in the literature: the level and structure of executive compensation, firm characteristics, corporate governance mechanisms, shareholder structure and stakeholders. Of these, executive compensation and firm characteristics are the most frequently examined. Further examination reveals that the key assumptions of neoclassical principal agent theory for both managers and shareholders are not always consistent with recent empirical evidence. First, behavioral aspects (such as the perception of fairness) influence compensation activism and SOP votes. Second, non-financial interests significantly moderate shareholder activism. Insofar, we recommend integrating behavioral and non-financial aspects into the existing research. The implications are analyzed, and new directions for further research are discussed by proposing 19 different research questions.
Gender differences in pathways from child physical and sexual abuse to adolescent risky sexual behavior among high‐risk youth
Authors: Yoon Susan , Voith Laura A. , Kobulsky Julia M.
Published: February 2018

This study investigated gender differences in the roles of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and substance use as pathways linking child physical and sexual abuse to risky sexual behavior among youth at risk of maltreatment. Path analysis was performed with 862 adolescents drawn from Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. Four waves of data collected in the United States were used: childhood physical and sexual abuse experiences (from ages 0–12) were assessed by Child Protective Services reports, internalizing and externalizing symptoms were measured at age 14, substance use was measured at age 16, and risky sexual behavior was measured at age 18. Physical abuse was directly associated with risky sexual behavior in boys but not girls. For girls, physical abuse had a significant indirect effect on risky sexual behavior via externalizing symptoms. Gender‐focused preventive intervention strategies may be effective in reducing risky sexual behavior among at‐risk adolescents.
Molecular imaging: What is right and what is an illusion?
Authors: Klunk William E.
Published: February 2018

Over the past 40 years, brain molecular imaging has evolved from measuring cerebral metabolism with fluorodeoxyglucose, to neuroreceptor imaging, to imaging pathological protein deposits. In the early going, the characteristics of successful molecular imaging radiotracers were defined, and a detailed “Process” was developed for the collection of basic pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data. These data are essential for the interpretation of in vivo imaging data and for defining the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of new tracers. This perspective discusses the use of this “Process” in the development of the amyloid β positron emission tomography radiotracer, Pittsburgh Compound‐B, and discusses some of the current controversies and difficulties in the field of tau positron emission tomography in the context of human data that preceded completion of this radiotracer characterization process—which still remains to be completed. As a field, we must decide which data are valid and which are artifacts and determine that when the artifacts are so overwhelming, the data are merely an illusion.
Induction of immune tolerance and altered cytokine expression in skin transplantation recipients
Authors: Wang Ming‐Min , Yang Yu‐Lin , Sun Jian‐Jun , Li Xiang‐Dong
Published: February 2018

Apoptotic lymphocytes can induce specific immune tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the preoperative transfusion of apoptotic lymphocytes on allograft survival after skin transplantation. In addition, we aimed to determine changes in IL‐4, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ mRNA expression in the grafted skin. A total of 20 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: lymphocyte preconditioned group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Rabbits in the lymphocyte preconditioned group were intravenously injected with 60Co γ‐treated donor lymphocytes at seven days before the surgery. Rabbits in the control group were intravenously injected with normal lymphocytes at seven days before skin transplantation. The mRNA expression of IL‐4, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ in the grafted skin was determined using real‐time PCR. Skin allograft rejection time was 72.63 ± 2.65 days in the lymphocyte preconditioned group and 6.52 ± 0.64 days in the control group. IL‐4, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ mRNA expression in the skin graft was 4.32 ± 0.48, 7.86 ± 0.56 and 2.63 ± 0.25 respectively in the lymphocyte preconditioned group, and 0.58 ± 0.07, 0.91 ± 0.14 and 8.68 ± 1.23 respectively in the control group. The preoperative transfusion of apoptotic lymphocytes induced immune tolerance in the grafted skin, as demonstrated by longer survival time of the grafts before rejection. This coincided with the increased mRNA expression of IL‐4 and IL‐10, and the decreased expression of IFN‐γ.
Additive manufacturing powder feedstock characterization using X-ray tomography
Authors: Bernier Fabrice , Tahara Rui , Gendron Mathieu
Published: February 2018

To answer the need for efficient quality control protocols for additive manufacturing processes and materials, specific testing methods for powder feedstocks should be developed. A powder feedstock may contain some defects, such as porosities, that will remain in the final parts after the building process. X-ray tomography combined with 3D image analysis offers unique advantages over other characterization methods, such as pycnometry and metallography, in respect to quantifying internal porosity in the individual particles of the feedstock. This paper presents the effect of X-ray tomography parameters on the quality of the obtained images and its impact on the image analysis. An automated image analysis routine was also developed to allow the visualization of the pores inside the particles but also, more importantly, to quantify this internal porosity contents, as well as to provide information on the morphological features of these pores, such a size distribution, number of particles containing pores and the volume fraction of a pore inside a particle.
Chasing Down the Slow Solar Wind
Authors: Kepko Larry
Published: February 2018

The Sun's plasma blasts Earth's magnetosphere at more than a million miles per hour. The fastest pours from holes in the corona, but until recently the source of the "slow" solar wind was a mystery.
They Got to "Ask-Me-Anything." So, What Did They Want to Know?
Authors: Karnauskas Kristopher
Published: February 2018

On behalf of JGR: Oceans, I consented to a Reddit Science AMA. What did an anonymous public want to learn about oceanography and climate science? More importantly, what can we learn from them?
Controversy: A Crucial Ingredient for Scientific Progress
Authors: Williams Paul
Published: February 2018

Heated debates are inevitable whenever different theories compete to explain the natural world, but scientific publishing facilitates a fast resolution.
Saturn's Magnetosphere: A Dozen Years of Discovery
Authors: Liemohn Mike
Published: February 2018

Twelve years of studying Saturn's magnetosphere has produced many compelling breakthroughs. Even more exciting, however, is what's left to learn.
Perspectives on Climate Tipping Points
Authors: Ellis Michael
Published: February 2018

If policy makers are to make real progress, we must start meaning the same thing when we use the same words to describe climate change.
Elevating Planetary Science in Africa
Authors: Baratoux David , Hanson Brooks
Published: February 2018

Although planetary sciences may be perceived as long-term fundamental research with little direct and immediate benefit for populations, expanding planetary science programs can have many benefits
Resourcing the Future
Authors: Hanson Brooks
Published: February 2018

How do we ensure a supply of needed mineral and other resources while minimizing energy and water use and environmental impacts, as well as recognizing social justice, international equity, and more?
Data Rules for Water Management, Continental Roots, and More
Authors: Hanson Brooks
Published: February 2018

The importance of relevant and consistent data (as well as more samples) spans discussions of water resources and crustal roots at the IGC.
Stuff My Reviewers Say
Authors: Diffenbaugh Noah
Published: February 2018

After going through a little more than a decade's worth of reviews, Noah Diffenbaugh shares insights about the peer review process and how reviewer feedback ultimately improved his publications.
Promoting the Universal Language of Science: Translating Congo Research
Authors: Alsdorf Douglas
Published: February 2018

Overcoming barriers to broaden scientific discovery in the Congo
Plate Boundaries and Natural Hazards
Authors: Duarte João , Schellart Wouter
Published: February 2018

The editors of a new book on tectonics discuss the origins of the science and its importance in a new millennium.
Complex Earthquake Raises Complex Questions
Authors: Fagereng Ake
Published: February 2018

A devastating earthquake has hit New Zealand, but this unusual event, with long duration slip on several faults, will also provide an astounding data set for understanding a complex tectonic region.
Navigating the 2016 Fall Meeting: Part 2
Authors: Hanson Brooks
Published: February 2018

AGU editors and staff provide recommendations for the second part of the Fall Meeting, if you are looking for exciting science or learning opportunities outside your normal discipline.
Good Night Sunshine: Geoengineering Solutions to Climate Change?
Authors: van der Pluijm Ben , Brasseur Guy
Published: February 2018

In order to limit global warming to Paris Agreement goal levels, climate engineering should be considered as a viable solution.
Global Positioning System Sparks New Data Revolution
Authors: Knipp Delores
Published: February 2018

Energetic particle data from the Global Positioning System constellation opens avenues for new research.
Imagining a Different Earth
Authors: Dombard Andrew
Published: February 2018

Data will be critical to start to answer whether the newly found TRAPPIST-1 worlds are truly Earth-like.
Filling Earth's Space Environment from the Sun or the Earth?
Authors: Chappell Rick
Published: February 2018

The editor of a new book describes how a unique combination of the monograph and video show that a four-decade old paradigm in solar-terrestrial physics is changing.
Could Subsea Methane Hydrates Be a Warming “Tipping Point”?
Authors: Robock Alan
Published: February 2018

The authors of a recent paper in Reviews of Geophysics answer questions about the potential for subsea methane hydrates to contribute to global warming.
Medieval Temperature Trends in Africa and Arabia
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: February 2018

A synthesis of paleotemperature reconstructions from published case studies suggests warm onshore temperatures persisted across most of Afro-Arabia between 1000 and 1200 CE.
A gel-like/freeze-drying strategy to construct hierarchically porous polyoxometalate-based metal–organic framework catalysts
Authors: Li Xiao-Hui , Liu Yi-Wei , Liu Shu-Mei , Wang Shuang , Xu Li , Zhang Zhong , Luo Fang , Lu Ying , Liu Shu-Xia
Published: February 2018

The synthetic route to hierarchically porous NENU-9 and the enhancement of TOFs in comparison to NENU-9 without hierarchical pores is presented.
Mitochondria and lysosome-targetable fluorescent probes for HOCl: recent advances and perspectives
Authors: Ren Mingguang , Zhou Kai , He Longwei , Lin Weiying
Published: February 2018

We highlight the representative cases of fluorescent HOCl probes with mitochondria and lysosome-targetable ability. The discussion includes their design strategies, sensing mechanisms, and applications in bio-imaging of HOCl in organelles.
Rational synthesis of Li4Ti5O12/N-C nanotube arrays as advanced high-rate electrodes for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Jun , Wei Ai Xiang , Chen Minghua , Xia Xinhui
Published: February 2018

High-quality Li4Ti5O12/N-doped carbon (LTO/N-C) nanotube arrays on a conductive substrate are fabricated via a new ALD-assisted method for lithium ion battery applications. The designed LTO/N-C nanotube arrays show very impressive high-rate capacity (153 mA h g−1 at 5C) and stable capacity: 98% retention after 6000 cycles at 40C.
Using brain connectivity metrics from synchrostates to perform motor imagery classification in EEG‐based BCI systems
Authors: Santamaria Lorena , James Christopher
Published: February 2018

Phase synchronisation between different neural groups is considered an important source of information to understand the underlying mechanisms of brain cognition. This Letter investigated phase‐synchronisation patterns from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals recorded from ten healthy participants performing motor imagery (MI) tasks using schematic emotional faces as stimuli. These phase‐synchronised states, named synchrostates, are specific for each cognitive task performed by the user. The maximum and minimum number of occurrence states were selected for each subject and task to extract the connectivity network measures based on graph theory to feed a set of classification algorithms. Two MI tasks were successfully classified with the highest accuracy of 85% with corresponding sensitivity and specificity of 85%. In this work, not only the performance of different supervised learning techniques was studied, as well as the optimal subset of features to obtain the best discrimination rates. The robustness of this classification method for MI tasks indicates the possibility of expanding its use for online classification of the brain–computer interface (BCI) systems.
Robust artificial noise‐aided transmit optimisation for MISO wiretap channel with device‐to‐device underlay communication
Authors: Huang Shuai , Mei Weidong , Fang Shu
Published: February 2018

This study considers a cellular multiple‐input single‐output system overheard by multiple eavesdroppers, in the presence of multiple pairs of single‐antenna device‐to‐device (D2D) nodes working as an underlay. All D2D nodes are permitted to access the cellular channel for their own communications. A novel eavesdropping scenario, termed as simultaneous eavesdropping, is studied, where the eavesdroppers intend to simultaneously overhear the cellular communication as well as D2D communications. Assuming imperfect channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter, the authors goal is to design the robust transmit covariance of confidential message and artificial noise, such that the worst‐case sum secrecy rate is maximised. This worst‐case sum secrecy rate maximisation problem is challenging to solve due to its non‐convexity and semi‐infiniteness incurred by the imperfect CSI. As a compromise, the authors develop a tractable approximation to its objective secrecy rate function for deriving a computationally efficient lower bound. Then a successive convex approximation (SCA) algorithm is proposed to solve the approximated problem in an iterative manner with provable convergence guarantee. Then it is proved that the SCA algorithm always yields a beam‐forming solution to the confidential message transmission. Numerical results illustrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the traditional one.
Three analytical approaches to combine ACB scheme and timing advance information for stationary MTC devices
Authors: Rostami Somayye , Vakili Vahid Tabataba
Published: February 2018

Recently, long‐term evolution (LTE) technology has been considered as a promising solution for realisation of ubiquitous machine‐to‐machine communications. However, this solution faces massive access of machine‐type communication (MTC) devices as one of the most important challenges. In this study, access class barring (ACB) scheme and timing advance information (TAI) are combined to manage massive access of stationary MTC devices to LTE networks. Although, using TAI can help contention alleviation, it can destroy fairness among devices. So, the aim of this study is maximisation of number of successfully served devices, while fairness is achieved too. Three analytical approaches are proposed. In the first scheme, the probability of success for the most serious contending devices is maximised. In the second and third schemes, one ACB factor is allocated to each annulus. In the second scheme, the expected number of successful devices in one random access (RA) slot has been maximised and in the third scheme fairness has been established among devices. Furthermore, two methods are introduced that estimate the number of backlogged devices in every RA slot. The performances of three schemes and results of a recent attempt in this field are compared with each other. Through simulations, it has been shown that the third scheme represents the best performance in terms of fairness and number of slots required to serve total MTC devices.
Multi‐directional colour edge detector using LQS convolution
Authors: Yasmin Shagufta , Sangwine Stephen J.
Published: February 2018

A new linear colour image filter based on linear quaternion systems (LQSs) is introduced. It detects horizontal, vertical, left‐ and right‐diagonal edges with a single LQS convolution mask. The proposed filter is a canonic minimal filter of four LQS filters, each with different angles of rotation combined parallel wise. Different angles of rotation are a key features of the new filter such that horizontal, vertical, left, and right‐diagonal LQS filter masks rotate pixels through angles , , , and , respectively. Although, the four LQS masks are combined parallel to make a single LQS mask but derived using four quaternion convolutions, one for each direction of edges, the LQS filter produces a result without the combination of results from four separate edge detectors. This methodology could be generalised to design more elaborate LQS filters to perform other geometric operations on colour image pixels. The proposed filter translates smoothly changing colours to different shades of grey and produces coloured edges in multiple directions, where there is a sudden change of colour in the original image. Another key idea of the proposed filter is that it is linear because it operates in homogeneous coordinates.
traffic flow prediction model based on deep belief network and genetic algorithm
Authors: Zhang Yaying , Huang Guan
Published: February 2018

Traffic flow prediction plays an indispensable role in the intelligent transportation system. The effectiveness of traffic control and management relies heavily on the prediction accuracy. The authors propose a model based on deep belief networks (DBNs) to predict the traffic flow. Moreover, they use Fletcher–Reeves conjugate gradient algorithm to optimise the fine‐tuning of model's parameters. Since the traffic flow has various features at different times such as weekday, weekend, daytime and night‐time, the hyper‐parameters of the model should adapt to the time. Therefore, they employ the genetic algorithm to find the optimal hyper‐parameters of DBN models for different times. The dataset from Caltrans Performance Measurement System was used to evaluate the performance of their models. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model achieved better performance in different times.
How many times do young drivers actually touch their smartphone screens while driving?
Authors: Albert Gila , Lotan Tsippy
Published: February 2018

Smartphone usage while driving, and particularly texting, poses a major concern for road safety. The goal of this study is to suggest a novel and objective means to measure the smartphone usage among young drivers. A naturalistic study was conducted with 254 Israeli young drivers who installed a research‐oriented smartphone app which continuously monitors smartphones usage while driving. The app captures the actual number of times drivers are ‘touching’ their smartphone screens, the speed at which these screen‐touches occur, foreground apps and time stamps. The results, which are based on 3304 h of driving performed in 11,528 trips, indicate that young drivers touch their smartphone screen on average 1.6 times per minute of driving. Alarmingly, more than half of the screen‐touches are performed while the vehicle is in motion, and some touches occur even at speeds higher than 100 km/h. The screen‐touches occur throughout the trip regardless of its duration. Approximately half of them are performed while using WhatsApp, a popular free messaging app. These findings provide objective evidence to the actual and intensive usage of smartphones. While comparing these results to participants' self‐reports, it was found that young drivers clearly underestimate their smartphone usage while driving.
Improved license plate localisation algorithm based on morphological operations
Authors: Yepez Juan , Ko Seok‐Bum
Published: February 2018

Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems have become an important tool to track stolen cars, access control, and monitor traffic. ALPR system consists of locating the license plate in an image, followed by character detection and recognition. Since the license plate can exist anywhere within an image, localisation is the most important part of ALPR and requires greater processing time. Most ALPR systems are computationally intensive and require a high‐performance computer. The present algorithm differs significantly from those utilised in previous ALPR technologies by offering a fast algorithm, composed of structural elements which more precisely conducts morphological operations within an image, and can be implemented in portable devices with low computation capabilities. The present algorithm is able to accurately detect and differentiate license plates in complex images. This method was first tested through MATLAB with an on‐line public database of Greek number plates and was 100% accurate in all clear images, and achieved 98.45% accuracy when using the entire database which included complex backgrounds and license plates obscured by shadow and dirt. Second, the efficiency of the algorithm was tested in devices with low computational processing power, by translating the code to Python, and was 300% faster than previous work.
Simple current control method for three‐phase VSC under unbalanced grid condition
Authors: Du Xiong , Gu Shida , Wang Guoning , Tai Heng‐Ming , Ji Yongliang
Published: February 2018

Injection of both positive and negative sequence currents is desired for three‐phase voltage source converters (VSC) under unbalanced grid fault condition. However, the second‐order oscillation exists in the positive and negative sequence synchronous reference frame. Several approaches have been reported to cope with this second‐order oscillation. Here, a simple direct proportional plus integral current control method in double synchronous reference frame is proposed. The proposed method does not require the additional filter or decoupling circuit, and does not require signal reconstruction for the current reference. Theoretical analysis and experimental study show that the proposed current control not only achieves zero steady‐state error, but also exhibits good transient response.
Inferring telescope polarization properties through spectral lines without linear polarization
Authors: Derks A. , Beck C. , Martínez Pillet V.
Published: February 2018

Context. Polarimetric observations taken with ground- or space-based telescopes usually need to be corrected for changes of the polarization state in the optical path.

Aims. We present a technique to determine the polarization properties of a telescope through observations of spectral lines that have no or negligible intrinsic linear polarization signals. For such spectral lines, any observed linear polarization must be induced by the telescope optics. We apply the technique to observations taken with the Spectropolarimeter for Infrared and Optical Regions (SPINOR) at the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) and demonstrate that we can retrieve the characteristic polarization properties of the DST at three wavelengths of 459, 526, and 615 nm.

Methods. We determine the amount of crosstalk between the intensity Stokes I and the linear and circular polarization states Stokes Q, U, and V, and between Stokes V and Stokes Q and U in spectropolarimetric observations of active regions. We fit a set of parameters that describe the polarization properties of the DST to the observed crosstalk values. We compare our results to parameters that were derived using a conventional telescope calibration unit (TCU).

Results. The values for the ratio of reflectivities X = rs∕rp and the retardance τ of the DST turret mirrors from the analysis of the crosstalk match those derived with the TCU within the error bars. We find a negligible contribution of retardance from the entrance and exit windows of the evacuated part of the DST. Residual crosstalk after applying a correction for the telescope polarization stays at a level of 3–10% regardless of which parameter set is used, but with an rms fluctuation in the input data of already a few percent. The accuracy in the determination of the telescope properties is thus more limited by the quality of the input data than the method itself.

Conclusions. It is possible to derive the parameters that describe the polarization properties of a telescope from observations of spectral lines without intrinsic linear polarization signal. Such spectral lines have a dense coverage (about 50 nm separation) in the visible part of the spectrum (400–615 nm), but none were found at longer wavelengths. Using spectral lines without intrinsic linear polarization is a promising tool for the polarimetric calibration of current or future solar telescopes such as the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST).
Collisions in primordial star clusters
Authors: Reinoso B. , Schleicher D. R. G. , Fellhauer M. , Klessen R. S. , Boekholt T. C. N.
Published: February 2018

Collisions were suggested to potentially play a role in the formation of massive stars in present day clusters, and have likely been relevant during the formation of massive stars and intermediate mass black holes within the first star clusters. In the early Universe, the first stellar clusters were particularly dense, as fragmentation typically only occurred at densities above 109cm−3, and the radii of the protostars were enhanced as a result of larger accretion rates, suggesting a potentially more relevant role of stellar collisions. We present here a detailed parameter study to assess how the number of collisions and the mass growth of the most massive object depend on the properties of the cluster. We also characterize the time evolution with three effective parameters: the time when most collisions occur, the duration of the collisions period, and the normalization required to obtain the total number of collisions. We apply our results to typical Population III (Pop. III) clusters of about 1000M⊙, finding that a moderate enhancement of the mass of the most massive star by a factor of a few can be expected. For more massive Pop. III clusters as expected in the first atomic cooling halos, we expect a more significant enhancement by a factor of 15–32. We therefore conclude that collisions in massive Pop. III clusters were likely relevant to form the first intermediate mass black holes.
Exercise and Asthma
Authors: Côté Andréanne , Turmel Julie , Boulet Louis-Philippe
Published: February 2018

Transient airway narrowing can occur during or following exercise, a phenomenon called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). The main mechanism of EIB is considered to be airway dehydration, resulting from increased ventilation during exercise. In asthma, such water loss causes an increase in airway fluid osmolarity, inducing airway smooth muscle contraction following the release of mediators from airway inflammatory cells. Asthmatics frequently experience EIB, but it may also be observed in others not reporting asthma symptoms, particularly elite endurance athletes. Individuals with asthma often refrain from performing physical exercise because they fear troublesome respiratory symptoms. However, in addition to its well-known cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, physical training has been shown to be beneficial for asthmatic adults and children in improving asthma control and asthma-related quality of life. Exercise training also reduces the risk of asthma exacerbations, improves exercise capacity, and decreases frequency and severity of EIB. To minimize the risk of EIB, asthma must be well controlled, and specific pharmacological and nonpharmacological preventative measures can be taken. Counterintuitively, in high-level athletes, the development of asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, and EIB can be promoted by intense training over many years following exposure to environmental conditions, such as cold air, pollutants, and allergens. As for nonathletes, athletes must have optimal asthma control and apply preventative measures against EIB, taking into account antidoping regulations for asthma medications. A better understanding of the impact of exercise on asthma should improve the overall care of asthmatic patients.
Management of Asthma during Pregnancy: Optimizing Outcomes and Minimizing Risk
Authors: Schatz Michael , Namazy Jennifer
Published: February 2018

Pregnancy may be complicated by new onset or preexisting asthma. This article reviews diagnosis and management of asthma in the pregnant patient. Special attention is paid to the challenges in diagnosis and management of this condition during pregnancy. Asthma is one of the most common potentially serious medical problems to complicate pregnancy, and asthma may adversely affect both maternal quality of life and perinatal outcomes. Asthma may adversely affect both maternal quality of life and, perinatal outcomes. Pregnant asthmatics have been shown to be at an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Optimal management of asthma during pregnancy is thus important for both mother and baby. This article provides an update on the available literature regarding the safety of commonly used asthma medications during pregnancy.
Biologic Therapy and Asthma
Authors: Viswanathan Ravi , Busse William
Published: February 2018

Although airway inflammation is an intrinsic and key feature of asthma, this response varies in its intensity and translation to clinical characteristics and responsiveness to treatment. The observations that clinical heterogeneity is an important aspect of asthma and a feature that likely dictates and determines responses to treatment in severe asthma, patient responsiveness to medication is incomplete, and risks for exacerbation are increased. The development of biologics, which target selected and specific components of inflammation, has been a promising advance to achieve asthma control in patients with severe disease. This article reviews the current biologics available and under development and how their use has affected asthma and which subpopulations appear to benefit the greatest.
Environmental Causes of Asthma
Authors: Cockcroft Donald
Published: February 2018

Environmental factors which cause asthma are those that induce airway inflammation with eosinophils (more common) or neutrophils along with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The most common of these (indeed the most common cause of asthma) are IgE-mediated inhalant allergen exposures. Allergen-induced AHR and inflammation are both associated with the allergen-induced late asthmatic response (LAR). Although allergens were previously recognized only as causes of symptoms and bronchoconstriction in asthmatics, we now appreciate them as causes of the fundamental pathophysiologic features of asthma. Low-molecular-weight chemical sensitizers, causes of occupational asthma, also cause asthma in a manner analogous to allergen. Acute irritant-induced asthma (reactive airways dysfunction syndrome) following a very heavy irritant exposure and chronic irritant-induced asthma following repeated high exposures can also induce persistent or permanent changes (inflammation and AHR) consistent with asthma. Textile dust exposure produces a different form of airway disease (byssinosis) which is less frequently observed currently. Environmental exposure to tobacco smoke facilitates the development of asthma in children. Personal smoking and environmental air pollution have an inconsistent and likely generally small effect in causing asthma.
Advances and Evolving Concepts in Allergic Asthma
Authors: Tung Hui-Ying , Li Evan , Landers Cameron , Nguyen An , Kheradmand Farrah , Knight J. , Corry David
Published: February 2018

Allergic asthma is a heterogeneous disorder that defies a unanimously acceptable definition, but is generally recognized through its highly characteristic clinical expression of dyspnea and cough accompanied by clinical data that document reversible or exaggerated airway constriction and obstruction. The generally rising prevalence of asthma in highly industrialized societies despite significant therapeutic advances suggests that the fundamental cause(s) of asthma remain poorly understood. Detailed analyses of both the indoor (built) and outdoor environments continue to support the concept that not only inhaled particulates, especially carbon-based particulate pollution, pollens, and fungal elements, but also many noxious gases and chemicals, especially biologically derived byproducts such as proteinases, are essential to asthma pathogenesis. Phthalates, another common class of chemical pollutant found in the built environment, are emerging as potentially important mediators or attenuators of asthma. Other biological products such as endotoxin have also been confirmed to be protective in both the indoor and outdoor contexts. Proasthmatic factors are believed to activate, and in some instances initiate, pathologic inflammatory cascades through complex interactions with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed on many cell types, but especially airway epithelial cells. PRRs initiate the release of proallergic cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-33, IL-25, and others that coordinate activation of innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2), T helper type 2 cells, and immunoglobulin E–secreting B cells that together promote additional inflammation and the major airway remodeling events (airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion) that promote airway obstruction. Proteinases, with airway fungi and viruses being potentially important sources, are emerging as critically important initiators of these inflammatory cascades in part through their effects on clotting factors such as fibrinogen. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that targeting inflammatory pathways orchestrated through IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and the prostaglandin receptor CRTH2 is potentially highly effective in adult asthma.
Respiratory Viruses and Asthma
Authors: Ramsahai James , Pathinayake Prabuddha , Malik Bilal , Bartlett Nathan , Wark Peter
Published: February 2018

Asthma remains the most prevalent chronic respiratory disorder, affecting people of all ages. The relationship between respiratory virus infection and asthma has long been recognized, though remains incompletely understood. In this article, we will address key issues around this relationship. These will include the crucial role virus infection plays in early life, as a potential risk factor for the development of asthma and lung disease. We will assess the impact that virus infection has on those with established asthma as a trigger for acute disease and how this may influence asthma throughout life. Finally, we will explore the complex interaction that occurs between the airway and the immune responses that make those with asthma so susceptible to the effects of virus infection.
Epidemiology of Asthma and Influence of Ethnicity
Authors: Moraes Theo , Sears Malcolm , Subbarao Padmaja
Published: February 2018

Asthma is a heterogeneous disorder with a complex etiology. Prevalence rates for asthma have been increasing in many countries over the past few decades. While it is unclear why this increase is occurring, the variation reported in asthma prevalence and severity associated with ethnicity offers some insight into the determinants of asthma. In this chapter, we discuss the data linking asthma to ethnicity and some of the factors that may explain this association. These include socioeconomic status, environmental exposures, the host microbiome, and genetics. A better understanding of these processes may inform future mechanistic studies and identify modifiable risk factors for targeted health care interventions.
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy in Childhood: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Okuma Yoshiaki , Urabe Tomomi , Mori Tomoko , Takeshita Mika , Morishita Natsumi , Ishida Yu , Oana Shingo , Yamanaka Gaku , Kawashima Hisashi , Morıchı Shinichiro
Published: February 2018

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) occurs in 1 in 4,500 children, and this incidence is more than 20 times that of sudden death in the general population. We report two cases of SUDEP and a review of the literature. There are various hypotheses regarding the cause of this event, but investigation and research are difficult due to the small number of autopsy cases. The risk of SUDEP may be reduced by the accumulation of cases in the future.
Teachers and Urban‐Rural Gaps in Educational Outcomes
Authors: Zhang Jian , Jin Songqing , Torero Maximo , Li Tao
Published: February 2018

We examine the role of teachers in explaining the urban‐rural gap in educational outcomes. Using a large panel data set of students and teachers collected from China and explicitly controlling for the endogeneity of prior student academic achievement, we find that the urban‐rural difference in teacher effects contributes in large part to the observed urban‐rural gap in student academic achievement. In other words, if rural teachers were of the same quality as urban teachers, the urban‐rural gap in student academic achievement would be reduced substantially.