bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vernacular Landscapes Building and Protection of Meme in the Dong Ethnic Minority Regions
Authors: Zhu Wen Shuang , Liu Xun
Published: January 2020

Objective

Deep obedience to ancestral traditions is a fundamental canon of ethnic self‐identification. Information transmitted by archetypes (language, rituals, art, social structure, and more) guaranteed the stability of collective memory. Ethnic identity for Dong people is an indisputable value that is above other moral and social values. In this study, the author analyzes the main ethnic markers of the Dong people's culture, raising questions about preserving the authenticity of ethnic cultural heritage.

Methods

The article presents an analysis of tangible and intangible artifacts, and their relationship with modern living conditions.

Results

The article studies the transformation of the cultural heritage of southwestern ethnic groups in modern conditions and possible ways to preserve historical forms (memes) as a prerogative ethnocultural heritage of the Dong people.

Conclusion

The problems associated with the development of the tourist infrastructure of the region are analyzed. The article presents how ethnic tourism commercializes traditions, weakening the true sacredness.
Environmental pollutants in blood donors: The multicentre Norwegian donor study
Authors: Averina Maria , Hervig Tor , Huber Sandra , Kjær Mette , Kristoffersen Einar K. , Bolann Bjørn
Published: January 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to measure blood concentrations of environmental pollutants in Norwegian donors and evaluate the risk of pollutant exposure through blood transfusions.

Background

Transfused blood may be a potential source of exposure to heavy metals and organic pollutants and presents a risk to vulnerable patient groups such as premature infants.

Methods/Materials

Donors were randomly recruited from three Norwegian blood banks: in Bergen, Tromsø and Kirkenes. Selected heavy metals were measured in whole blood using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were measured in serum by ultrahigh‐pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC‐MS/MS).

Results

Almost 18% of blood donors had lead concentrations over the limit suggested for transfusions in premature infants (0.09 μmol/L). About 11% of all donors had mercury concentrations over the suggested limit of 23.7 nmol/L. Cadmium was higher than the limit, 16 nmol/L, in 4% of donors. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations were over the suggested limit of 0.91 ng/mL in 68% and 100% of the donors, respectively. PFAS concentrations and heavy metal concentrations increased with donor's age.

Conclusion

A considerable percentage of donors had lead, PFOS and PFOA concentrations over the suggested limits. In addition, at each study site, there were donors with high mercury and cadmium concentrations. Selecting young donors for transfusions or measurements of pollutants in donor blood may be a feasible approach to avoid exposure through blood transfusions to vulnerable groups of patients such as premature infants.
OsFKBP20‐1b interacts with the splicing factor OsSR45 and participates in the environmental stress response at the post‐transcriptional level in rice
Authors: Park Hyun J. , You Young N. , Lee Areum , Jung Haemyeong , Jo Seung H. , Oh Nuri , Kim Hyun‐Soon , Lee Hyo‐Jun , Kim Ju‐Kon , Kim Youn S. , Jung Choonkyun , Cho Hye S.
Published: January 2020

Sessile plants have evolved distinct mechanisms to respond and adapt to adverse environmental conditions through diverse mechanisms including RNA processing. While the role of RNA processing in the stress response is well understood for Arabidopsis thaliana, limited information is available for rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we show that OsFKBP20‐1b, belonging to the immunophilin family, interacts with the splicing factor OsSR45 in both nuclear speckles and cytoplasmic foci, and plays an essential role in post‐transcriptional regulation of abiotic stress response. The expression of OsFKBP20‐1b was highly upregulated under various abiotic stresses. Moreover genetic analysis revealed that OsFKBP20‐1b positively affected transcription and pre‐mRNA splicing of stress‐responsive genes under abiotic stress conditions. In osfkbp20‐1b loss‐of‐function mutants, the expression of stress‐responsive genes was downregulated, while that of their splicing variants was increased. Conversely, in plants overexpressing OsFKBP20‐1b, the expression of the same stress‐responsive genes was strikingly upregulated under abiotic stress. In vivo experiments demonstrated that OsFKBP20‐1b directly maintains protein stability of OsSR45 splicing factor. Furthermore, we found that the plant‐specific OsFKBP20‐1b gene has uniquely evolved as a paralogue only in some Poaceae species. Together, our findings suggest that OsFKBP20‐1b‐mediated RNA processing contributes to stress adaptation in rice.
Plastid‐targeted forms of restriction endonucleases enhance the plastid genome rearrangement rate and trigger the reorganization of its genomic architecture
Authors: Sugimoto Hiroki , Hirano Minoru , Tanaka Hidenori , Tanaka Tomoko , Kitagawa‐Yogo Ritsuko , Muramoto Nobuhiko , Mitsukawa Norihiro
Published: January 2020

Plant cells have acquired chloroplasts (plastids) with a unique genome (ptDNA), which developed during the evolution of endosymbiosis. The gene content and genome structure of ptDNAs in land plants are considerably stable, although those of algal ptDNAs are highly varied. Plant cells seem, therefore, to be intolerant of any structural or organizational changes in the ptDNA. Genome rearrangement functions as a driver of genomic evolutionary divergence. Here, we aimed to create various types of rearrangements in the ptDNA of Arabidopsis genomes using plastid‐targeted forms of restriction endonucleases (pREs). Arabidopsis plants expressing each of the three specific pREs, i.e., pTaqI, pHinP1I, and pMseI, were generated; they showed the leaf variegation phenotypes associated with impaired chloroplast development. We confirmed that these pREs caused double‐stranded breaks (DSB) at their recognition sites in ptDNAs. Genome‐wide analysis of ptDNAs revealed that the transgenic lines exhibited a large number of rearrangements such as inversions and deletions/duplications, which were dominantly repaired by microhomology‐mediated recombination and microhomology‐mediated end‐joining, and less by non‐homologous end‐joining. Notably, pHinP1I, which recognized a small number of sites in ptDNA, induced drastic structural changes, including regional copy number variations throughout ptDNAs. In contrast, the transient expression of either pTaqI or pMseI, whose recognition site numbers were relatively larger, resulted in small‐scale changes at the whole genome level. These results indicated that DSB frequencies and their distribution are major determinants in shaping ptDNAs.
Plant species‐specific recognition of long and short β‐1,3‐linked glucans is mediated by different receptor systems
Authors: Wanke Alan , Rovenich Hanna , Schwanke Florian , Velte Stefanie , Becker Stefan , Hehemann Jan‐Hendrik , Wawra Stephan , Zuccaro Alga
Published: January 2020

Plants survey their environment for the presence of potentially harmful or beneficial microbes. During colonization, cell surface receptors perceive microbe‐derived or modified‐self ligands and initiate appropriate responses. The recognition of fungal chitin oligomers and the subsequent activation of plant immunity are well described. In contrast, the mechanisms underlying β‐glucan recognition and signaling activation remain largely unexplored. Here, we systematically tested immune responses towards different β‐glucan structures and show that responses vary between plant species. While leaves of the monocots Hordeum vulgare and Brachypodium distachyon can recognize longer (laminarin) and shorter (laminarihexaose) β‐1,3‐glucans with responses of varying intensity, duration and timing, leaves of the dicot Nicotiana benthamiana activate immunity in response to long β‐1,3‐glucans, whereas Arabidopsis thaliana and Capsella rubella perceive short β‐1,3‐glucans. Hydrolysis of the β‐1,6 side‐branches of laminarin demonstrated that not the glycosidic decoration but rather the degree of polymerization plays a pivotal role in the recognition of long‐chain β‐glucans. Moreover, in contrast to the recognition of short β‐1,3‐glucans in A. thaliana, perception of long β‐1,3‐glucans in N. benthamiana and rice is independent of CERK1, indicating that β‐glucan recognition may be mediated by multiple β‐glucan receptor systems.
Immune-Boosting Functional Foods: A Potential Remedy for Chinese Consumers Living Under Polluted Air
Authors: Cong Lei , Mirosa Miranda , Kaye-Blake William , Bremer Phil
Published: January 2020

The deterioration of air quality in China has resulted in many people looking for remedies to counteract the impact that air pollution is perceived to be having on their health. As the importance of diet on immune health is becoming increasingly well recognised, a narrative literature review was undertaken to elucidate Chinese consumers’ acceptance of functional food products designed to help the immune system recover from pollution-driven impact and to assess their market potential. Consumers’ attitude towards immune-boosting functional foods were mainly positive, with scientific validation being important in determining the credibility of a product. This was despite the fact that the effectiveness of the functional food products currently in the market that purported to be remedies for pollution-driven impacts on the lung did not appear to be supported by scientific evidence. Numerous studies have reported functional foods could provide a wide range of benefits to immune health, including helping pollution-driven immune issues. This review highlights the market demand for effective and scientifically-proven functional food products that help Chinese consumers’ immune system recover from the impact of air pollution.
Stabilized Water-Cut in Carbonate Naturally Fractured Reservoirs With Bottom Water With an Implication in Well Spacing Design for Recovery Optimization
Authors: Prasun Samir , Wojtanowicz Andrew K.
Published: January 2020

Maximum stabilized water-cut (WC), also known as ultimate water-cut in a reservoir with bottom-water coning, provides important information to decide if reservoir development is economical. To date, theory and determination of stabilized water-cut consider only single-permeability systems so there is a need to extend this concept to naturally fractured reservoirs (NFRs) in carbonate rocks—known for severe bottom-water invasion. This work provides insight of the water coning mechanism in NFR and proposes an analytical method for computing stabilized water-cut and relating to well-spacing design. Simulated experiments on a variety of bottom-water hydrophobic NFRs have been designed, conducted, and analyzed using the dual-porosity/dual-permeability (DPDP) commercial software. They show a pattern of water-cut development in NFR comprising the early water breakthrough and very rapid increase followed by water-cut stabilization stage, and the final stage with progressive water-cut. The initial steply increase of water-cut corresponds to water invading the fractures. The stabilized WC production stage occurs when oil is displaced at a constant rate from matrix to the water-producing fractures. During this stage, water invades matrix at small values of capillary forces so they do not oppose water invasion. In contrast, during the final stage (with progressing water cut), the capillary forces grow significantly so they effectively oppose water invasion resulting in progressive water cut. A simple analytical model explains the constant rate of oil displacement by considering the driving effect of gravity and viscous forces at a very small value of capillary pressure. The constant oil displacement effect is confirmed with a designed series of simulation experiments for a variety of bottom-water NFRs. Statistical analysis of the results correlates the duration of the stabilized WC stage with production rate and well-spacing and provides the basis for optimizing the recovery. Results show that stabilized water-cut stage does not significantly contribute to recovery, so the stage needs to be avoided. Proposed is a new method for finding the optimum well spacing that eliminates the stabilized WC stage while maximizing recovery. The method is demonstrated for the base-case NFR.
Internet-of-Things-Enabled Dual-Channel Iontophoretic Drug Delivery System for Elderly Patient Medication Management
Authors: Reddy Mynampati Akshitha , Pradhan Bikash Kumar , Qureshi Dilshad , Pal Sumit Kumar , Pal Kunal
Published: January 2020

Wireless controllers have found its application in the supervision of the patients in the hospitals. It is not only a valid issue for the developing countries but also for the developed countries. For this reason, scientists are working on the advancement of medical devices that are capable of decreasing the workload of health caregivers. In this study, the development of an iontophoretic drug delivery device that could be controlled using a mobile is described. For the purpose, hardware and a software module were developed. The hardware module consisted of a two-channel voltage-controlled constant current sources that were used for driving the iontophoretic device. A mobile app was developed to control the two-channel iontophoretic device and to monitor the loose lead of the active and the passive patches. In the case of detection of the loose lead, the specific iontophoretic channel was stopped. Further, the audio-visual indicator was developed for the detection of the detachment of the patches (loose lead). The device was tested in vitro by performing the drug release study using drug-loaded emulsion gels that were formulated.
Design of Regular One-Dimensional, Two-Dimensional, and Three-Dimensional Linkage-Based Tessellations
Authors: Yellowhorse Alden D. , Brown Nathan , Howell Larry L.
Published: January 2020

Linkage origami is one effective approach for addressing stiffness and accommodating panels of finite size in origami models and tessellations. However, successfully implementing linkage origami in tessellations can be challenging. In this work, multiple theorems are presented that provide criteria for designing origami units or cells that can be assembled into arbitrarily large tessellations. The application of these theorems is demonstrated through examples of tessellations in two and three dimensions.
A Cable-Driven Parallel Robot With An Embedded Tilt-Roll Wrist
Authors: Lessanibahri Saman , Cardou Philippe , Caro Stéphane
Published: January 2020

This paper addresses the optimum design, configuration, and workspace analysis of a cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR) with an embedded tilt-roll wrist. The manipulator consists in a tilt-roll wrist mounted on the moving platform of a suspended CDPR. The embedded wrist provides large amplitudes of tilt and roll rotations and a large translational workspace obtained by the CDPR. This manipulator is suitable for tasks requiring large rotation and translation workspaces such as tomography scanning, camera-orienting devices, and visual surveillance. The moving-platform is an eight-degree-of-freedom articulated mechanism with large translational and rotational workspaces, and it is suspended from a fixed frame by six cables. The manipulator employs two bi-actuated cables, i.e., cable-loops to transmit the power from motors fixed on the ground to the tilt-roll wrist. Therefore, the manipulator achieves better dynamic performances due to a lower inertia of its moving-platform.
Synthesizing Mechanical Chains for Morphing Between Spatial Curves
Authors: Li Yucheng , Murray Andrew P. , Myszka David H.
Published: January 2020

This paper extends the kinematic synthesis methodology for designing a chain of bodies to match a set of arbitrary curves to the spatial case. The methodology initiates with an arbitrary set of spatial curves, and concludes with a set of bodies defined by their spatial features. The bodies synthesized can be one of three types: a rigid segment, a helical segment with constant curvature and torsion but varying length, and a growth segment that maintains its geometry but may be scaled to become larger or smaller. To realize mechanical chains for mechanisms that achieve spatial shape change, only rigid and helical segments are used. After designing the segments, they may be aligned with the original spatial curves with their ends connected via an optimization. For two curves, these connections may be made with revolute joints to obtain high accuracy. For three or more curves, spherical joint connections allow for best accuracy. To compare curves as is useful in morphometry, all three segment types may be employed. In this case, an accurate description of the changes between curves is important, and optimizing to connect the segments is not needed. The procedure for redefining the curves in a way that the techniques in this paper may be applied, as well as the methodologies for synthesizing the three segment types are presented. Examples include a continuum robot problem and the morphometric analyses of cochlear curves and the lambdoidal suture located on a human skull. This work extends the established planar techniques for synthesizing mechanisms and addressing morphometric issues that are motivated with curves in two-dimensions.
Evaluation and Modeling of the Friction in Robotic Joints Considering Thermal Effects
Authors: Pagani Roberto , Legnani Giovanni , Incerti Giovanni , Gheza Matteo
Published: January 2020

The paper presents a second-order friction model for the joints of industrial robot manipulators that takes into account temperature effects. A solution based on a polynomial description of the friction is proposed. The theoretical analysis and the experimental measurements have shown that friction decreases with increasing temperature, which in turn depends on the working cycle of the manipulator. The mathematical model here proposed allows to foresee the friction variation during extensive working cycles and it does not require the use of a transducer for the measurement of the joint internal temperature; therefore it is well suitable for low-cost industrial applications, to improve the control performance or to predict the energy consumption. Experimental tests performed on a commercial six degrees-of-freedom (6 DOF) manipulator show that the model is effective in estimating the joint temperature and the friction torque during the robot operations.
Rigidly Foldable Thick Origami Using Designed-Offset Linkages
Authors: Lang Robert J. , Brown Nathan , Ignaut Brian , Magleby Spencer , Howell Larry
Published: January 2020

We present new families of thick origami mechanisms that achieve rigid foldability and parallel stacking of panels in the flat-folded state using linkages for some or all of the hinges between panels. A degree-four vertex results in a multiloop eight-bar spatial mechanism that can be analyzed as separate linkages. The individual linkages are designed so that they introduce offsets perpendicular to the panels that are mutually compatible around each vertex. This family of mechanisms offers the unique combination of planar unfolded state, parallel-stacked panels in the flat-folded state and kinematic single-degree-of-freedom motion from the flat-unfolded to the flat-folded state. The paper develops the mathematics defining the necessary offsets, beginning with a symmetric bird’s-foot vertex, and then shows that the joints can be developed for asymmetric flat-foldable systems. Although in the general case there is no guarantee of achieving perfect kinematic motion, we show that for many cases of interest, the deviation is a tiny fraction of the plate thickness. Mechanical realizations of several examples are presented.
An Analytical and Modular Software Workbench for Solving Kinematics and Dynamics of Series-Parallel Hybrid Robots
Authors: Kumar Shivesh , Szadkowski Kai Alexander von , Mueller Andreas , Kirchner Frank
Published: January 2020

Parallel mechanisms are increasingly being used as modular subsystem units in various robots and man-machine interfaces for their superior stiffness, payload-to-weight ratio, and dynamic properties. This leads to series-parallel hybrid robotic systems that are challenging to model and control due to the presence of various closed loops. Most model-based kinematic and dynamic modeling tools resolve loop closure constraints numerically and hence suffer from inefficiency and accuracy issues. Additionally, they do not exploit the modularity in robot design. In this paper, we present a modular and analytical approach toward kinematic and dynamic modeling of series-parallel hybrid robots. This approach has been implemented in a software framework called hybrid robot dynamics (hyrodyn) and its application is demonstrated with the help of a series-parallel hybrid humanoid robot recently developed at DFKI-RIC.
Kinematics and Constraints of the Exechon Robot Accounting Offsets Due to Errors in the Base Joint Axes
Authors: López-Custodio P. C. , Dai J. S. , Fu R. , Jin Y.
Published: January 2020

An Exechon robot with offsets between the axes of the joints that connect the legs to the fixed platform is analyzed for the first time. Ideally these axes intersect constituting two universal and one spherical joints. The introduction of imperfections in these universal and spherical joints leads to more complex forward and inverse kinematics, which are solved in this paper. It is proved that the equations used for the kinematics of the ideal Exechon robot are no longer applicable when these offsets are added. The constraint system is also obtained, and it is found to be different to the one of the ideal case. Finally, the combination of offsets that lead to the largest deviation in the position of the parallel platform is determined.
A Time Variational Method for the Approximate Solution of Nonlinear Systems Undergoing Multiple-Frequency Excitations
Authors: Prabith K. , Praveen Krishna I. R.
Published: January 2020

The main objective of this paper is to use the time variational method (TVM) for the nonlinear response analysis of mechanical systems subjected to multiple-frequency excitations. The system response, which is composed of fractional multiples of frequencies, is expressed in terms of a fundamental frequency that is the greatest common divisor of the approximated frequency components. Unlike the multiharmonic balance method (MHBM), the formulation of the proposed method is very simple in analyzing the systems with more than two excitation frequencies. In addition, the proposed method avoids the alternate transformation between frequency and time domains during the calculation of the nonlinear force and the Jacobian matrix. In this work, the performance of the proposed method is compared with that of numerical integration and the MHBM using three nonlinear mechanical models undergoing multiple-frequency excitations. It is observed that the proposed method produces approximate results during the quasi-periodic response analysis since the formulation includes an approximation of the incommensurate frequencies to commensurate ones. However, the approximation error is very small and the method reduces a significant amount of computational efforts compared to the other methods. In addition, the TVM is a recommended option when the number of state variables involved in the nonlinear function is high as it calculates the nonlinear force vector and the Jacobian matrix directly from the displacement vector. Moreover, the proposed method is far much faster than numerical integration in capturing the steady-state, quasi-periodic responses of the nonlinear mechanical systems.
Light Control of the Diffusion Coefficient of Active Fluids
Authors: Vourc'h Thomas , Léopoldès Julien , Peerhossaini Hassan
Published: January 2020

Active fluids refer to the fluids that contain self-propelled particles such as bacteria or microalgae, whose properties differ fundamentally from the passive fluids. Such particles often exhibit an intermittent motion, with high-motility “run” periods broken by low-motility “tumble” periods. The average motion can be modified with external stresses, such as nutrient or light gradients, leading to a directed movement called chemotaxis and phototaxis, respectively. Using cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a model microorganism to study photosynthesis, we track the bacterial response to light stimuli, under isotropic and nonisotropic (directional) conditions. In particular, we investigate how the intermittent motility is influenced by illumination. We find that just after a rise in light intensity, the probability to be in the run state increases. This feature vanishes after a typical characteristic time of about 1 h, when initial probability is recovered. Our results are well described by a mathematical model based on the linear response theory. When the perturbation is anisotropic, we observe a collective motion toward the light source (phototaxis). We show that the bias emerges due to more frequent runs in the direction of the light, whereas the run durations are longer whatever the direction.
A Bar and Hinge Model for Simulating Bistability in Origami Structures With Compliant Creases
Authors: Zhu Yi , Filipov Evgueni T.
Published: January 2020

Active origami structures usually have creases made with soft and compliant plates because it is difficult to fabricate real hinges and actuate them. However, most conventional origami modeling techniques fail to capture these compliant creases and simplify them as concentrated rotational springs, which neglects torsional and extensional deformations of the creases. In this paper, an improved formulation of a bar and hinge model is proposed to explicitly capture the geometry and the flexibility of compliant creases with nonnegligible width in an origami, and the model is verified against finite element simulations. The verification shows that the model performs relatively well despite being simple and computationally inexpensive. Moreover, simulation examples demonstrate that the proposed model can capture the bistable behavior of the compliant crease origami with nonnegligible crease width because it explicitly includes the extensional stretching energy into the simulation framework and allows torsional crease deformations.
Machine Learning-Based Reverse Modeling Approach for Rapid Tool Shape Optimization in Die-Sinking Micro Electro Discharge Machining
Authors: Surleraux Anthony , Lepert Romain , Pernot Jean-Philippe , Kerfriden Pierre , Bigot Samuel
Published: January 2020

This paper focuses on efficient computational optimization algorithms for the generation of micro electro discharge machining (µEDM) tool shapes. In a previous paper, the authors presented a reliable reverse modeling approach to perform such tasks based on a crater-by-crater simulation model and an outer optimization loop. Two-dimensional results were obtained but 3D tool shapes proved difficult to generate due to the high numerical cost of the simulation strategy. In this paper, a new reduced modeling optimization framework is proposed, whereby the computational optimizer is replaced by an inexpensive surrogate that is trained by examples. More precisely, an artificial neural network (ANN) is trained using a small number of full reverse simulations and subsequently used to directly generate optimal tool shapes, given the geometry of the desired workpiece cavity. In order to train the ANN efficiently, a method of data augmentation is developed, whereby multiple features from fully simulated EDM cavities are used as separate instances. The performances of two ANN are evaluated, one trained without modification of process parameters (gap size and crater shape) and the second trained with a range of process parameter instances. It is shown that in both cases, the ANN can produce unseen tool shape geometries with less than 6% deviation compared to the full computational optimization process and at virtually no cost. Our results demonstrate that optimized tool shapes can be generated almost instantaneously, opening the door to the rapid virtual design and manufacturability assessment of µEDM die-sinking operations.
Widespread activation of developmental gene expression characterized by PRC1-dependent chromatin looping
Authors: Loubiere V. , Papadopoulos G. L. , Szabo Q. , Martinez A-M. , Cavalli G.
Published: January 2020

Polycomb repressive complex 1 shapes 3D loops associated with transcription of key developmental genes.
Realization of 2D crystalline metal nitrides via selective atomic substitution
Authors: Cao Jun , Li Tianshu , Gao Hongze , Lin Yuxuan , Wang Xingzhi , Wang Haozhe , Palacios Tomás , Ling Xi
Published: January 2020

Chemical conversion provides easy access to the 2D form of transition metal nitride crystals.
The gathering firestorm in southern Amazonia
Authors: Brando P. M. , Soares-Filho B. , Rodrigues L. , Assunção A. , Morton D. , Tuchschneider D. , Fernandes E. C. M. , Macedo M. N. , Oliveira U. , Coe M. T.
Published: January 2020

Amazon wildfires could emit 17.0 Pg of CO
2
by 2050, and avoiding new deforestation could cut associated net emissions by half.
Evidence for the charge disproportionation of iron in extraterrestrial bridgmanite
Authors: Bindi Luca , Shim Sang-Heon , Sharp Thomas G. , Xie Xiande
Published: January 2020

We find that the charge disproportionation reaction of ferrous iron occurs in a natural high-pressure environment.
Cross-sectional study using primary care and cancer registration data to investigate patients with cancer presenting with non-specific symptoms
Authors: Pearson Clare , Poirier Veronique , Fitzgerald Karen , Rubin Greg , Hamilton Willie
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Patients presenting to primary care with site-specific alarm symptoms can be referred onto urgent suspected cancer pathways, whereas those with non-specific symptoms currently have no dedicated referral routes leading to delays in cancer diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Pilot Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centres (MDCs) provide a referral route for such patients in England.

Objectives

This work aimed to use linked primary care and cancer registration data to describe diagnostic pathways for patients similar to those being referred into MDCs and compare them to patients presenting with more specific symptoms.

Methods

This cross-sectional study linked primary care data from the National Cancer Diagnosis Audit (NCDA) to national cancer registration and Route to Diagnosis records. Patient symptoms recorded in the NCDA were used to allocate patients to one of two groups - those presenting with symptoms mirroring referral criteria of MDCs (non-specific but concerning symptoms (NSCS)) and those with at least one site-specific alarm symptom (non-NSCS). Descriptive analyses compared the two groups and regression analysis by group investigated associations with long primary care intervals (PCIs).

Results

Patients with NSCS were more likely to be diagnosed at later stage (32% stage 4, compared with 21% in non-NSCS) and via an emergency presentation (34% vs 16%). These patients also had more multiple pre-referral general practitioner consultations (59% vs 43%) and primary care-led diagnostics (blood tests: 57% vs 35%). Patients with NSCS had higher odds of having longer PCIs (adjusted OR: 1.24 (1.11 to 1.36)). Patients with lung and urological cancers also had higher odds of longer PCIs overall and in both groups.

Conclusions

Differences in the diagnostic pathway show that patients with symptoms mirroring the MDC referral criteria could benefit from a new referral pathway.
Synthesis of a novel bruceantin analog via intramolecular etherification
Authors: Crocker Katherine E. , Pei Yonggang , Robertson Erle S. , Winkler Jeffrey D.
Published: January 2020

Reaction of the known bruceantin-derived carbinol 6 with triflic anhydride and pyridine leads to the formation of a novel hexacyclic structure 8 that results from an intramolecular etherification.
Modified cosmology models from thermodynamical approach
Authors: Geng Chao-Qiang , Hsu Yan-Ting , Lu Jhih-Rong , Yin Lu
Published: January 2020

We apply the first law of thermodynamics to the apparent horizon of the universe with the power-law corrected and non-extensive Tsallis entropies rather than the Bekenstein–Hawking one. We examine the cosmological properties in the two entropy models by using the CosmoMC package. In particular, the first numerical study for the cosmological observables with the power-law corrected entropy is performed. We also show that the neutrino mass sum has a non-zero central value with a relaxed upper bound in the Tsallis entropy model comparing with that in the $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM one.
A class of solitons in Maxwell-scalar and Einstein–Maxwell-scalar models
Authors: Herdeiro Carlos A. R. , Oliveira João M. S. , Radu Eugen
Published: January 2020

Recently, no-go theorems for the existence of solitonic solutions in Einstein–Maxwell-scalar (EMS) models have been established (Herdeiro and Oliveira in Class Quantum Gravity 36(10):105015, 2019). Here we discuss how these theorems can be circumvented by a specific class of non-minimal coupling functions between a real, canonical scalar field and the electromagnetic field. When the non-minimal coupling function diverges in a specific way near the location of a point charge, it regularises all physical quantities yielding an everywhere regular, localised lump of energy. Such solutions are possible even in flat spacetime Maxwell-scalar models, wherein the model is fully integrable in the spherical sector, and exact solutions can be obtained, yielding an explicit mechanism to de-singularise the Coulomb field. Considering their gravitational backreaction, the corresponding (numerical) EMS solitons provide a simple example of self-gravitating, localised energy lumps.
New explanation for accelerated expansion and flat galactic rotation curves
Authors: Sheykhi Ahmad
Published: January 2020

Employing the non-additive Tsallis entropy, $$S\sim A^{\beta }$$S∼Aβ, for the large-scale gravitational systems, we disclose that in the cosmological scales both the Friedmann equation and the equation of motion for Newtonian cosmology get modified, respectively. We then derive the modified Newton’s law of gravitation which is valid on large scales. We show that, in the relativistic regime, the modified Friedmann equation admits an accelerated expansion, for a universe filled with ordinary matter, without invoking any kind of dark energy, provided the non-extensive parameter is chosen $$\beta <1/2$$β<1/2. In the non-relativistic regime, however, the modified Newton’s law of gravitation can explain the flat galactic rotation curves without invoking particle dark matter provided $$\beta \lesssim 1/2$$β≲1/2. Our study may be regarded as an alternative explanation for the “dark side of the universe”, through modification of the gravitational field equations.
Search-space Decomposition for System-level Design Space Exploration of Embedded Systems
Authors: Richthammer Valentina , Fassnacht Fabian , Glaß Michael
Published: January 2020

The development of large-scale multi- and many-core platforms and the rising complexity of embedded applications have led to a significant increase in the number of implementation possibilities for a single application. Furthermore, rising demands on safe, energy-efficient, or real-time capable application execution make the problem of determining feasible implementations that are optimal with respect to such design objectives even more of a challenge. State-of-the-art Design Space Exploration (DSE) techniques for this problem demonstrably suffer from the vast and sparse search spaces posed by modern embedded systems, emphasizing the need for novel design methodologies in this field. Based on the idea of reducing problem complexity by a suitable decomposition of the system specification—in particular, by a reduction of target architecture or task mapping options—the work at hand proposes a portfolio of
dynamic
decomposition mechanisms that automatically decompose any system specification based on a short pre-exploration of the complete system. We present a two-phase approach consisting of (a) a set of novel
data extraction and representation
techniques combined with (b) a selection of
filtering operations
that automatically extract a decomposed system specification based on information gathered during pre-exploration. In particular, we employ
heat map
data structures and threshold as well as graph-partitioning filters to reduce problem complexity. The proposed decomposition procedure can seamlessly be integrated in any DSE flow, constituting a flexible extension for existing DSE approaches. Furthermore, it improves existing
static
decomposition techniques and other heuristics relying on information about the problem instance, since systems with irregular architectural topology or distribution of resource types can now be decomposed based on an automatic, problem-independent pre-exploration phase. We illustrate the efficiency of the proposed decomposition portfolio applied to state-of-the-art DSEs for many-core systems as well as networked embedded systems from the automotive domain. Experimental results show significant increases in optimization quality of up to 87% within constant DSE time compared to existing approaches.
2019 ACM SIGMOBILE Rockstar Award
Authors: Zhou Xia
Published: January 2020

The recipient of the 2019 SIGMOBILE RockStar Award is Xia Zhou, an associate professor of computer science at Dartmouth College. With this award, the awards committee recognizes the depth, impact and novelty of Zhou's outstanding early-career contributions and impact to the field of mobile computing and wireless networks.
Standards for Passive UHF RFID
Authors: Zhang Jian , Periaswamy Senthilkumar CG , Mao Shiwen , Patton Justin
Published: January 2020

Passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been widely adopted by retail and other industries for serialized item-level identification and data sharing. This article introduces the standards that support and define all procedures in various passive UHF RFID applications. Electronic Product Code (EPC) Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Generation-2 UHF RFID Standard, or C1G2, is a foundational standard that defines the format, encoding, and procedures within the air interfaces of RFID systems. Low Level Reader Protocol provides a standard and portable interface between different applications and RFID readers from different vendors. The format and encoding of the EPC information are defined by the EPC Tag Data Standard, which enables each tag to be uniquely identified (e.g., item-level identity of many goods in a warehouse). Additional protocols, such as Discovery, Configuration and Initialization and Reader Management, specify and clarify more processes (e.g., the management of many readers) that can be deployed in various business applications. We provide a general introduction of passive UHF RFID technology standards and review each protocol's features and procedures.
CASE Program
Authors: Richards Ray
Published: January 2020

PDF of Powerpoint Slides
SAFECode Overview
Authors: Baize Eric
Published: January 2020

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Formal Specification and Analysis of Requirements using SpeAR
Authors: Wagner Lucas
Published: January 2020

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Architecture-Level Security Concerns in a Safety Critical System
Authors: Procter Sam
Published: January 2020

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The AADL Error Library
Authors: Procter Sam , Feiler Peter
Published: January 2020

The problem of how to best classify system errors has been a topic of research for years. In this paper, we present an established taxonomy that draws on a broad range of previous work in this area: the Architecture Analysis and Design Language's (AADL) EMV2 Error Library. The error library is now part of an international standard and has been used in a range of systems and domains. In this work, we describe its features, including that: a) it is deeply integrated in a rich, semi-formal system modeling language (AADL); b) the errors it includes have formalized semantics; and c) it is designed to be easily extensible by system developers to become domainor system-specific. We describe the original inspirations and prior work that informed the library's design, document the error families that comprise the taxonomy, and discuss the library's usage in an architecturally-integrated system assurance process.
Who decides what is allowed?
Authors: Foster Jeff
Published: January 2020

No paper or presentation is included, but the material is available via the following two published papers: " User Interactions and Permission Use on Android: https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3025706 " User Comfort with Android Background Resource Accesses in Different Contexts: https://www.usenix.org/conference/soups2018/presentation/votipka
Effects of Industrial and Agricultural Wastes on Mud Blocks Using Geopolymer
Authors: Vignesh N. P. , Mahendran K. , Arunachelam N.
Published: January 2020

For this research, the red soil sample was drawn, and a steady percentage of the geopolymer was used along with distinct proportions of stabilizers such as fly ash, groundnut shell ash, bagasse ash, and GGBFS. Geopolymer was used in the manufacture of stabilized mud blocks as a binding agent. The geopolymer solution’s effects on mud block strength have been researched. The effects of industrial by‐products and waste such as fly ash, groundnut shell ash, bagasse ash, and GGBFS were also explored with the geopolymer to stabilize the mud blocks.
Potential Applications of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in the Evaluation of Salivary Gland Uptake Function: Preliminary Observations and Comparison with 99mTcO4− Salivary Gland Scintigraphy
Authors: Zhao Yanhong , Xia Yuxiao , Liu Huipan , Wang Zi , Chen Yue , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2020

Purpose. To preliminarily evaluate the feasibility and potential of using 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in evaluating the function of salivary glands and lacrimal glands in comparison with 99mTc-pertechnetate (T99mcO4−) salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS). Methods. A retrospective study was performed in 15 patients with different degrees of xerostomia and suspected salivary gland dysfunction. Each patient underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT first and SGS the next day, and the findings of both scans were compared. Results. The results of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and SGS were consistent in 12/15 patients (80%) and were inconsistent in the remaining patients (20%). For 5 (33.3%) of 15 patients, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT provided more information than did SGS. Additionally, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT corrected the misdiagnosis by SGS for 1 patient. Conclusions. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT is a potentially useful imaging tool for evaluating the function of salivary glands and lacrimal glands. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can be a promising supplement to SGS, and its clinical value deserves further study.
Vitamin C versus Cancer: Ascorbic Acid Radical and Impairment of Mitochondrial Respiration?
Authors: Bakalova Rumiana , Zhelev Zhivko , Miller Thomas , Aoki Ichio , Higashi Tatsuya
Published: January 2020

Vitamin C as a cancer therapy has a controversial history. Much of the controversy arises from the lack of predictive biomarkers for stratification of patients, as well as a clear understanding of the mechanism of action and its multiple targets underlying the anticancer effect. Our review expands the analysis of cancer vulnerabilities for high-dose vitamin C, based on several facts, illustrating the cytotoxic potential of the ascorbyl free radical (AFR) via impairment of mitochondrial respiration and the mechanisms of its elimination in mammals by the membrane-bound NADH:cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase 3 (Cyb5R3). This enzyme catalyzes rapid conversion of AFR to ascorbate, as well as reduction of other redox-active compounds, using NADH as an electron donor. We propose that vitamin C can function in “protective mode” or “destructive mode” affecting cellular homeostasis, depending on the intracellular “steady-state” concentration of AFR and differential expression/activity of Cyb5R3 in cancerous and normal cells. Thus, a specific anticancer effect can be achieved at high doses of vitamin C therapy. The review is intended for a wide audience of readers—from students to specialists in the field.
Vitamin Analysis, Trace Elements Content, and Their Extractabilities in Tetrapleura tetraptera
Authors: Oteng Prince , Otchere John K. , Adusei Stephen , Mensah Richard Q. , Tei-Mensah Emmanuel
Published: January 2020

Tetrapleura tetraptera is widely cherished in African traditional homes because of its alleged therapeutic and nutritional properties. This present study aimed at determining the levels of vitamin A, C, E, and beta-carotene and trace element (Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Se, and Zn) concentrations and their extractabilities in the pulp, seeds, and whole fruit (mixture of pulp and seeds) of T. tetraptera. The total trace element concentration of Fe, Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn and their extractabilities (%) were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS), whereas UV-VIS spectrophotometer was used to determine selenium concentration. The trace element content (mg/kg) based on dry weight in the pulp, seeds, and whole fruit was Fe (162.00 ± 7.14, 115.00 ± 12.00, and 154.00 ± 25.20, respectively), Zn (31.60 ± 4.77, 43.40 ± 5.29, and 41.50 ± 8.97, respectively), Cu (16.10 ± 4.98, 11.90 ± 8.40, and 17.20 ± 14.50, respectively), Mn (55.30 ± 2.41, 156.00 ± 10.20, and 122.00 ± 5.29, respectively), Co (38.10 ± 6.40, 21.10 ± 7.15, and 44.00 ± 14.90, respectively), and Se (1.49 ± 0.17, 2.43 ± 0.28, and 2.97 ± 0.27 μg/g, respectively). The mineral extractabilities (%) in the pulp, seeds, and whole fruit of T. tetraptera were established to be in the order Co > Zn > Fe > Cu > Se > Mn. Also, the chromatographic method (HPLC) was used to evaluate vitamin E concentration, and vitamin C and concentration of beta-carotene were calculated from the obtained concentration of vitamin A using a conversion factor by the titrimetric method. From the results of vitamin analysis, a significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among the pulp, seeds, and whole fruit for vitamin C and E. However, no significant difference (p>0.05) was perceived among these plant parts for vitamin A and beta-carotene. This study has therefore revealed that the pulp, seeds, and whole fruit of T. tetraptera contain varying concentrations of vitamins and trace elements and has given many vital insights on which part of T. tetraptera to consume, as concentrations of these nutrients differ in the discrete parts of the fruit.
Neuroepithelial Cell Transforming Gene 1 Acts as an Oncogene and Is Mediated by miR‐22 in Human Non‐Small‐Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ding Shengguang , Huang Haitao , Xu Yiming , Shen Liang , Zhong Chongjun , Zheng Shiying
Published: January 2020

Abnormal expression of neuroepithelial cell transforming gene 1 (NET1) has been authenticated in many human cancers, including lung cancer. We have previously reported that NET1 functioned as an oncogene and promoted human non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) growth and migration. However, the correlation between NET1 and its upstream miRNAs needed further illustration. Our present work demonstrated that miR‐22 had a relatively low expression, and NET1 had a relatively high expression in both NSCLC samples and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines compared with corresponding normal controls. Moreover, miR‐22 directly regulated NET1 and was verified to weaken cancer cell proliferation and migration, as well as enhance cell apoptosis by suppressing NET1. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of miR‐22 can be reversed via overexpressing NET1 using an ectopic expression vector in NSCLC cells. Our findings showed that miR‐22/NET‐1 axis may contribute to the inhibition of NSCLC growth and migration and represents a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.