bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Datalog Queries Distributing over Components
Authors: Ameloot Tom J. , Ketsman Bas , Neven Frank , Zinn Daniel
Published: February 2017

We investigate the class

D

of queries that distribute over components. These are the queries that can be evaluated by taking the union of the query results over the connected components of the database instance. We show that it is undecidable whether a (positive) Datalog program distributes over components. Additionally, we show that connected Datalog¬ (the fragment of Datalog¬ where all rules are connected) provides an effective syntax for Datalog¬ programs that distribute over components under the stratified as well as under the well-founded semantics. As a corollary, we obtain a simple proof for one of the main results in previous work [Zinn et al. 2012], namely that the classic win-move query is in

F

2
(a particular class of coordination-free queries).
Thinking deeply to make better speech
Authors: Savage Neil
Published: February 2017

More work is needed to make synthesized speech more natural, easier to understand, and more pleasant to hear.
Out of bounds
Authors: Hoffmann Leah
Published: February 2017

Mathematics led Subhash Khot, developer of the unique games conjecture, to computer science without his ever having seen a computer.
Crafting tools
Authors: Posch Irene
Published: February 2017

This forum highlights conversations at the intersection of design methods and social studies of technology. By highlighting a diversity of perspectives on design interventions and programs, we aim to forge new connections between HCI design and communication, science and technology studies, and media studies scholarship.
--- Daniela Rosner, Editor
Algorithms for Graph-Constrained Coalition Formation in the Real World
Authors: Bistaffa Filippo , Farinelli Alessandro , Cerquides Jesús , Rodríguez-Aguilar Juan , Ramchurn Sarvapali D.
Published: February 2017

Coalition formation typically involves the coming together of multiple, heterogeneous, agents to achieve both their individual and collective goals. In this article, we focus on a special case of coalition formation known as Graph-Constrained Coalition Formation (GCCF) whereby a network connecting the agents constrains the formation of coalitions. We focus on this type of problem given that in many real-world applications, agents may be connected by a communication network or only trust certain peers in their social network. We propose a novel representation of this problem based on the concept of edge contraction, which allows us to model the search space induced by the GCCF problem as a rooted tree. Then, we propose an anytime solution algorithm (Coalition Formation for Sparse Synergies (CFSS)), which is particularly efficient when applied to a general class of characteristic functions called
m
+
a
functions. Moreover, we show how CFSS can be efficiently parallelised to solve GCCF using a nonredundant partition of the search space. We benchmark CFSS on both synthetic and realistic scenarios, using a real-world dataset consisting of the energy consumption of a large number of households in the UK. Our results show that, in the best case, the serial version of CFSS is four orders of magnitude faster than the state of the art, while the parallel version is 9.44 times faster than the serial version on a 12-core machine. Moreover, CFSS is the first approach to provide anytime approximate solutions with quality guarantees for very large systems of agents (i.e., with more than 2,700 agents).
Misconceptions about computer science
Authors: Denning Peter J. , Tedre Matti , Yongpradit Pat
Published: February 2017

Common misconceptions about computer science hinder professional growth and harm the identity of computing.
Reasoning on data partitioning for single-round multi-join evaluation in massively parallel systems
Authors: Ameloot Tom J. , Geck Gaetano , Ketsman Bas , Neven Frank , Schwentick Thomas
Published: February 2017

Evaluating queries over massive amounts of data is a major challenge in the big data era. Modern massively parallel systems, such as, Spark, organize query answering as a sequence of rounds each consisting of a distinct communication phase followed by a computation phase. The communication phase redistributes data over the available servers, while in the subsequent computation phase each server performs the actual computation on its local data. There is a growing interest in single-round algorithms for evaluating multiway joins where data is first reshuffled over the servers and then evaluated in a parallel but communication-free way. As the amount of communication induced by a reshuffling of the data is a dominating cost in such systems, we introduce a framework for reasoning about data partitioning to detect when we can avoid the data reshuffling step. Specifically, we formalize the decision problems parallel-correctness and transfer of parallel-correctness, provide semantical characterizations, and obtain tight complexity bounds.
News from the SIGs
Authors: Walker Ellen , Settle Amber , Alford Ginger
Published: February 2017

In this issue of News from the SIGs, we introduce a new reporter, Ginger Alford, chair of the ACM SIGGRAPH Education Committee. Ginger's article introduces the ACM SIGGRAPH Education Committee, and challenges us to join in the quest for interdisciplinary learning. But first, we have a report from SIGCSE Chair, Amber Settle, with an overview of the SIGCSE conferences scheduled for the year.
Probabilistic analysis of block wiedemann for leading invariant factors
Authors: Harrison Gavin , Johnson Jeremy , Saunders B. David
Published: February 2017

The exact probability, dependent on the matrix structure, is given that the block Wiedemann algorithm correctly computes the leading invariant factors of a matrix. A tight lower bound, structure independent, is derived.
Standard monomials for temperley-lieb algebras
Authors: Kim SungSoon , Lee Dong-il
Published: February 2017

We deal with Temperley-Lieb algebras of type
B,
extending the result in [3, §6]. By completing the relations coming from a presentation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra, we find its Gröbner-Shirshov basis to obtain the corresponding set of standard monomials. The explicit multiplication table between the monomials follows naturally.
Computing characteristic polynomials of matrices of structured polynomials
Authors: Law Marshall , Monagan Michael
Published: February 2017

We are interested in specific structured matrices obtained from [5] which arise from combinatorial problems.
Fermat benchmarks for rational expressionals in maple
Authors: Monagan Michael , Pearce Roman
Published: February 2017

We employ two techniques to dramatically improve Maple's performance on the Fermat benchmarks for simplifying rational expressions. First, we factor expanded polynomials to ensure that gcds are identified and cancelled automatically. Second, we replace all expanded polynomials by new variables and normalize the result. To undo the substitutions, we use a C routine for sparse multivariate division by a set of polynomials. The resulting times for the first Fermat benchmark are a factor of 17x faster than Fermat and 39x faster than Magma.
Combined Genetic Biomarkers Confer Susceptibility to Risk of Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma in a Saudi Population
Authors: Elhawary Nasser Attia , Nassir Anmar , Saada Hesham , Dannoun Anas , Qoqandi Omar , Alsharif Ammar , Tayeb Mohammed Taher
Published: February 2017

We evaluated the associations between seven single nucleotide polymorphisms and susceptibility to urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC) in a Saudi population. Genomic DNA was taken from buccal cells of 52 patients with UBC and 104 controls for genotyping of GSTT1, GSTM1, rs4646903, rs1048943, TP53 rs1042522, rs1801133, and rs1801394 using PCR and TaqMan® assays. The rs1801133 and rs1801394 variants showed strong associations with UBC (OR = 2.3,P=0.0002; OR = 2.6,P=0.0001, resp.). Homozygosity of Pro72 conferred a significant double risk in cases compared with controls (30.8% versus 15.4%), but the homozygote Arg/Arg had no effect on risk. Genotypic combinations of GSTM1/GSTT1, rs4646903/rs1048943, and rs1801133/rs1801394 exhibited significant linkage with the disease (χ2=10.3,P=0.006;χ2=13.9,P=0.003; andχ2=20.4,P=0.0004, resp.). The GSTM1 and rs1042522Arg and rs1801394G variant alleles were more frequent in current smokers with UBC (52.4%, 52.5%, and 64.3%, resp.) than were the corresponding wild-types. Despite some variants having only a slight effect on UBC risk, the interaction effect of combined genetic biomarkers—or even the presence of one copy of a variant allele—is potentially much greater. Perhaps more studies regarding next-generation genetic sequencing and its utility can add to the risk of UBC.
Seamless Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting Using Adaptive Error Recovery
Authors: Lentisco Carlos M. , Bellido Luis , Pastor Encarna
Published: February 2017

Multimedia services over mobile networks present several challenges, such as ensuring a reliable delivery of multimedia content, avoiding undesired service disruptions, or reducing service latency. HTTP adaptive streaming addresses these problems for multimedia unicast services, but it is not efficient from the point of view of radio resource consumption. In Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks, multimedia broadcast services are provided over a common radio channel using a combination of forward error correction and unicast error recovery techniques at the application level. This paper discusses how to avoid service disruptions and reduce service latency for LTE multimedia broadcast services by adding dynamic adaptation capabilities to the unicast error recovery process. The proposed solution provides a seamless mobile multimedia broadcasting without compromising the quality of the service perceived by the users.
Cell Imaging by Spontaneous and Amplified Raman Spectroscopies
Authors: Rusciano Giulia , Zito Gianluigi , Pesce Giuseppe , Sasso Antonio
Published: February 2017

Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a powerful, noninvasive optical technique able to detect vibrational modes of chemical bonds. The high chemical specificity due to its fingerprinting character and the minimal requests for sample preparation have rendered it nowadays very popular in the analysis of biosystems for diagnostic purposes. In this paper, we first discuss the main advantages of spontaneous RS by describing the study of a single protozoan (Acanthamoeba), which plays an important role in a severe ophthalmological disease (Acanthamoeba keratitis). Later on, we point out that the weak signals that originated from Raman scattering do not allow probing optically thin samples, such as cellular membrane. Experimental approaches able to overcome this drawback are based on the use of metallic nanostructures, which lead to a huge amplification of the Raman yields thanks to the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) are examples of such innovative techniques, in which metallic nanostructures are assembled on a flat surface or on the tip of a scanning probe microscope, respectively. Herein, we provide a couple of examples (red blood cells and bacterial spores) aimed at studying cell membranes with these techniques.
Lack of Clinical Relevance of ANA and ASMA Positivity in Patients with Liver Transplantation without a History of Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Pellegrini Lucienne , Parrilli Gianpaolo , Santonicola Antonella , Cinquanta Luigi , Caputo Cesare , Ciacci Carolina , Zingone Fabiana
Published: February 2017

The relevance of isolated autoimmunity elevation in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients is unknown. Our aim was to analyse how serum autoantibodies change in time and to evaluate their clinical relevance in OLT patients. Patients were invited to provide samples to evaluate ANA, AMA, ASMA, and LKM at the time of enrolment (T0), after 6 months (T6), and after 12 months (T12). We included 114 patients in the study (76% males, median age 62.5 years), finding isolated elevation of at least one serum antibody in up to 80% of them. We described fluctuating positive autoantibodies in the one year of observation, with only 45.6% of patients positive for ANA and less than 2% positive for ASMA, at all three times. Isolated elevation of tissue antibodies was not related to gender, age, HCC at transplant, early rejection, cause of transplantation, immunotherapy taken, and age at the time of the study. We did not detect a higher prevalence of positive autoimmunity in patients with signs of liver injury. ANA and ASMA evaluation in patients with liver transplantation and no history of autoimmune disease has no clinical relevance, since it varies in time and is not related to any risk factors or liver injury. Routine autoimmunity evaluation should be avoided.
Proposal of a PCM Underfloor Heating System Using a Web Construction Method
Authors: Baek Sanghoon , Park Jin Chul
Published: February 2017

Apartment buildings in Korea have adopted underfloor heating systems using web construction methods based on concrete and hot water systems. However, since such systems consume significant amounts of energy for heating owing to their low thermal storage performance, it is necessary to develop a new system that can minimize energy consumption by improving concrete thermal storage performance. This study proposes a phase-change material (PCM) underfloor heating system to reduce energy consumption in apartment buildings. An optimal design for a PCM underfloor heating system is proposed, and thermal storage performance of the proposed system is evaluated experimentally. The temperature range of the PCM for underfloor heating is also calculated considering the proposed design and comfortable heating conditions for domestic apartment buildings. Results indicate that a PCM underfloor heating system can be constructed in the following order: (1) a 210 mm concrete slab, (2) a 20 mm cushioning material, (3) 40 mm of mortar including a 10 mm PCM thermal storage container, and (4) 40 mm of finishing mortar including wire mesh and hot water pipes. The temperature range of the PCM used for underfloor heating in domestic apartment buildings is 32–45°C. Experimental tests reveal that thermal storage performance of underfloor heating systems that apply 35, 37, 41, and 44°C as representative PCM temperatures is superior to existing systems.
Paracrine Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 4 Inhibits Melanocytes Differentiation in Hair Follicle
Authors: Guo Haiying , Lei Mingxing , Li Yuhong , Liu Yingxin , Tang Yinhong , Xing Yizhan , Deng Fang , Yang Ke
Published: February 2017

Wnt signaling plays crucial role in regulating melanocyte stem cells/melanocyte differentiation in the hair follicle. However, how the Wnt signaling is balanced to be overactivated to control follicular melanocytes behavior remains unknown. Here, by using immunofluorescence staining, we showed that secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) is preferentially expressed in the skin epidermal cells rather than in melanocytes. By overexpression of sFRP4 in skin cells in vivo and in vitro, we found that sFRP4 attenuates activation of Wnt signaling, resulting in decrease of melanocytes differentiation in the regenerating hair follicle. Our findings unveiled a new regulator that involves modulating melanocytes differentiation through a paracrine mechanism in hair follicle, supplying a hope for potential therapeutic application to treat skin pigmentation disorders.
Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Clinical and Radiological Results of Mean 46-Month Follow-Up
Authors: Lee Sang-Ho , Erken H. Yener , Bae Junseok
Published: February 2017

Background. Spinal fusion has been shown to be the preferred surgical option to reduce pain, recover function, and increase quality of life in the treatment of a variety of lumbar spinal disorders. The main goal of the present study is to report our clinical experience and results of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (PELIF) applications using the expandable spacer in a single institution.Methods. We performed a retrospective review of 18 patients with >12-month follow-up who had been operated on PELIF using expandable spacer from 2001 to 2007. Their clinical and radiological data were collected and analyzed.Results. The mean follow-up period was 46 months. The mean DH before the surgery was 8.3 mm which improved to 11.4 mm at the early postoperative period and regressed to 9.3 mm at the last follow-up visit. The VAS-B, VAS-L, and ODI scores at the last follow-up showed a 54%, 72%, and 69% improvement from the preoperative period, respectively.Conclusions. The presented PELIF technique with the expandable spacer seems to be a promising surgical technique for the treatment of a variety of lumbar spinal disorders. Conversely, radiological results including disc space subsidence make the stand-alone application of the expandable spacer debatable.
Teratogenic Effect of Usnic Acid from Cladonia substellata Vainio during Organogenesis
Authors: Silva C. R. , Marinho K. S. N. , Silva T. D. S. , Ferreira D. K. S. , Aguiar G. M. , Martins M. C. B. , Santos K. R. P. , Aguiar Júnior F. C. A. , Santos N. P. S. , Pereira E. C. , Silva N. H.
Published: February 2017

Studies about toxicological potential of usnic acid are limited. This way, the vast majority of data available in the literature are related only to biological activities. This is the first study that aimed to evaluate the oral toxicity of usnic acid during the period of organogenesis. Females rats were distributed in the control groups, treated I and II, at doses of 15 and 25 mg/kg, administered by gavage during the 6° to 15° days of pregnancy. After 20 days the fetuses were removed and analyzed. A reduction in weight gain during pregnancy, increased resorption, reduction in the number of viable fetuses, and their body weight were observed. Morphological changes in the litter were visualized as exposure of the eye and atrophy of the limbs at the dose of 25 mg/kg. Histological analysis of the liver of the fetus showed reduction in the number of megakaryocytes between experimental groups and increase in the number of hepatocytes in a dose of 25 mg/kg. The experimental model used in this study reveals teratogenic effect of usnic acid in the period of organogenesis. Since this achievement, the importance of evaluating the toxic effects of natural substances is imperative, in order to elucidate the care in their indication as drug.
Efficiency of Polymeric Membrane Graphene Oxide-TiO2for Removal of Azo Dye
Authors: Dadvar Elahe , Kalantary Roshanak Rezaei , Ahmad Panahi Homayon , Peyravi Majid
Published: February 2017

Achieving the desired standard of drinking water quality has been one of the concerns across water treatment plants in the developing countries. Processes such as grid chamber, coagulation, sedimentation, clarification, filtration, and disinfection are typically used in water purification plants. Among these methods, unit filtration which employs polymers is one of the new technologies. There have been many studies about the use of semiconductive TiO2with graphene oxide (GO) on the base of different polymeric membranes for the removal of azo dyes, especially methylene blue (MB). Polymeric GO-TiO2membranes have high photocatalytic, antifouling property and permeate the flux removal of organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of different polymeric membranes such as anionic perfluorinated polymer (Nafion), cellulose acetate, polycarbonate (PC), polysulfone fluoride (PSF), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The result of this study showed that the GO-TiO2membrane can be used in the field of water treatment and will be used for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from wastewater.
Design of LQG Controller for Active Suspension without Considering Road Input Signals
Authors: Pang Hui , Chen Ying , Chen JiaNan , Liu Xue
Published: February 2017

As the road conditions are completely unknown in the design of a suspension controller, an improved linear quadratic and Gaussian distributed (LQG) controller is proposed for active suspension system without considering road input signals. The main purpose is to optimize the vehicle body acceleration, pitching angular acceleration, displacement of suspension system, and tire dynamic deflection comprehensively. Meanwhile, it will extend the applicability of the LQG controller. Firstly, the half-vehicle and road input mathematical models of an active suspension system are established, with the weight coefficients of each evaluating indicator optimized by using genetic algorithm (GA). Then, a simulation model is built in Matlab/Simulink environment. Finally, a comparison of simulation is conducted to illustrate that the proposed LQG controller can obtain the better comprehensive performance of vehicle suspension system and improve riding comfort and handling safety compared to the conventional one.
AM966, an Antagonist of Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 1, Increases Lung Microvascular Endothelial Permeability through Activation of Rho Signaling Pathway and Phosphorylation of VE-Cadherin
Authors: Cai Junting , Wei Jianxin , Li Shuang , Suber Tomeka , Zhao Jing
Published: February 2017

Maintenance of pulmonary endothelial barrier integrity is important for reducing severity of lung injury. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) regulates cell motility, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and cell growth. Knockdown of LPA receptor 1 (LPA1) has been shown to mitigate lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis. AM966, an LPA1 antagonist exhibiting an antifibrotic property, has been considered to be a future antifibrotic medicine. Here, we report an unexpected effect of AM966, which increases lung endothelial barrier permeability. An electric cell-substrate sensing (ECIS) system was used to measure permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs). AM966 decreased the transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) value immediately in a dose-dependent manner. VE-cadherin and f-actin double immunostaining reveals that AM966 increases stress fibers and gap formation between endothelial cells. AM966 induced phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) through activation of RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. Unlike LPA treatment, AM966 had no effect on phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk). Further, in LPA1 silencing cells, we observed that AM966-increased lung endothelial permeability as well as phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were attenuated. This study reveals that AM966 induces lung endothelial barrier dysfunction, which is regulated by LPA1-mediated activation of RhoA/MLC and phosphorylation of VE-cadherin.
Unusual Sites of Cutaneous Tuberculosis: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Chopra Dimple , Chopra Vishal , Sharma Aastha , Chopra Siddharth , Aggarwal Shivali , Goyal Deepak
Published: February 2017

Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) is an uncommon small subset of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, comprising 1–1.5% of all extrapulmonary tuberculosis manifestations, which manifests only in 8.4–13.7% of all tuberculosis cases. Lupus vulgaris (LV) and tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TBVC) are forms of reinfection tuberculosis and often occur in presensitized patients, by exogenous inoculation. We report two cases of cutaneous tuberculosis at unusual sites. A 35-year-old female having a forehead lesion for 2 years was diagnosed as having tuberculosis verrucosa cutis and another 16-year-old girl with lesion in left axilla for 10 years was proven to have lupus vulgaris. The delayed diagnosis was possibly due to lower clinical suspicion due to the presentation of CTB at unusual sites. This highlights the importance of keeping TB as an important differential as misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of this entity can lead to prolonged morbidity.
Cloacael Carriage and Multidrug Resistance Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Poultry Farms, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Shecho Mude , Thomas Naod , Kemal Jelalu , Muktar Yimer
Published: February 2017

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine antimicrobial drug resistance patterns of E. coli O157:H7 isolates and estimate the level of the pathogen. A total of 194 cloacae swab samples were collected randomly in two poultry farms. Standard cultural, biochemical, and serological (latex agglutination) methods were used to isolate E. coli O157:H7. The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disc diffusion method. Out of 194 cloacae samples examined, 13.4% (n=26) were found to be positive for E. coli O157:H7. The finding indicated differences in E. coli O157:H7 infection among the different risk factors. Chicken from Adele Poultry Farm showed higher E. coli O157:H7 infection (OR = 3.89) than Haramaya University poultry farm and young birds had more infection (OR = 4.62) than adult birds. Of the total 14 antimicrobials included in the panel of study, the susceptibility results were varied with 96.15% and 0% E. coli O157:H7 isolates expressing resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, spectinomycin, and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Multidrug resistance to more than two antimicrobial agents was detected in 24 (92.30%) of the isolates. The study showed high presence of antimicrobial resistant isolates of E. coli O157:H7. Further study is required to better understand the ecology and evolution of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.
Thyroid Cancer in Saudi Arabia: A Histopathological and Outcome Study
Authors: Alzahrani Ali S. , Alomar Haneen , Alzahrani Nada
Published: February 2017

Most data on differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) came from the Western world. We describe its salient characteristics and outcome from a Middle Eastern country.Patients and Methods. We studied all cases of TC seen during a 2-year period (2004-2005) seen at our institution.Results. A total of 600 consecutive cases of DTC with a median age at diagnosis of 39 years (5–85) and the female : male ratio of 459 : 141 (76.5% : 23.5%). The cases included classical papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in 77%, follicular variant PTC in 13.3%, follicular thyroid cancer in 3.2%, and other rare subtypes 6.5%. Total or near-total thyroidectomy was performed in 93%, central and/or lateral neck dissection in 64.5% of cases, and radioactive iodine ablation in 82% of cases. Additional therapies were administered to 154 patients (25.7%). At a median follow-up period of 7.63 years (0.22–13.1), 318 patients (53.3%) were in excellent response, 147 (24.5%) having an indeterminate response, 55 (9.2%) biochemically incomplete, 33 (5.5%) structurally incomplete, and 27 (4.5%) unclassifiable. Twenty cases died secondary to DTC (disease-specific mortality 3.3%).Conclusions. In Saudi Arabia, DTC is common and occurs at young age and predominantly in females. Although remission is common, persistent disease is also common but disease-specific mortality is low.
Successful Treatment of Clostridium difficile Bacteremia with Aortic Mycotic Aneurysm in a Patient with Prior Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Authors: Shah Kairav , Brauch Rebecca , Cherabuddi Kartikeya
Published: February 2017

The clinical spectrum of Clostridium difficile infection can range from benign gastrointestinal colonization to mild diarrhea and life threatening conditions such as pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. Extraintestinal manifestations of C. difficile are rare. Here, we report a patient with a history of an endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) presenting with an endovascular leak complicated by C. difficile bacteremia and a mycotic aneurysm. He was successfully treated with an explant of the EVAR, an aorto-left renal bypass, and aorto-bi-iliac bypass graft placement along with a six-week duration of intravenous vancomycin and oral metronidazole.
α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Phenolic Extracts from Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla Bark
Authors: Jiang Ping , Xiong Jia , Wang Fei , Grace Mary H. , Lila Mary Ann , Xu Rui
Published: February 2017

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of different extracts and fractions from Eucalyptus. grandis × urophylla bark (EB) against α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzyme activities. The ethyl acetate extract (EB-E) showed the highest activity among others. Seven fractions were derived from EB-E; among them EB-E-7 showed the highest significant inhibition of both enzymes, with IC50 of 1.40±0.18 and 1.72±0.12 μg/mL, respectively. EB-E and its active fraction EB-E-7 showed highest contents of total phenolics: 178.79±4.68 and 920.4±5.46 mg GAEag−1, respectively. HPLC-MS analysis of EB-E-7 revealed the presence of ellagic acid, quercetin-glucuronide, quercetin-3-α-rhamnopyranoside, and ellagic acid rhamnoside as major compounds, together with smaller concentrations of myricetin-rhamnoside, isorhamnetin-hexoside, myricetin-3-α-arabinofuranoside, and isorhamnetin. Therefore, the phenolic compounds from Eucalyptus grandis × E. urograndis bark potently inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, having potential in prevention of hyperglycemia.
An Identity in Commutative Rings with Unity with Applications to Various Sums of Powers
Authors: Andjić Miomir , Meštrović Romeo
Published: February 2017

Let R=(R,+,·) be a commutative ring of characteristic m>0 (m may be equal to +∞) with unity e and zero 0. Given a positive integer n<m and the so-called n-symmetric set A=a1,a2,…,a2l-1,a2l such that al+i=ne-ai for each i=1,…,l, define the rth power sum Sr(A) as Sr(A)=∑i=12lair, for r=0,1,2,…. We prove that for each positive integer k there holds ∑i=02k-1(-1)i2k-1i22k-1-iniS2k-1-i(A)=0. As an application, we obtain two new Pascal-like identities for the sums of powers of the first n-1 positive integers.
Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Dan’e‐Fukang Soft Extract in the Treatment of Endometriosis: A Meta‐Analysis of 39 Randomized Controlled Trials Enrolling 5442 Patients
Authors: Li Yantao , Li Te , Song Shilin
Published: February 2017

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dan’e‐fukang soft extract in endometriosis treatment. Method. PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, SinoMed, and Cochrane Library were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of Dan’e‐fukang soft extract and conventional western medicines for endometriosis treatment were included. The data were extracted independently by two people and analyzed using RevMan 5.2.0 software. The relative risk (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals were considered as effective outcome indicators. Results. Thirty‐nine papers including 5442 patients with endometriosis were included in this study. A meta‐analysis revealed that Dan’e‐fukang soft extract was more efficient than gestrinone in the treatment of endometriosis (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.15, I2 = 71%, REM, 18 trials) and its efficacy was comparable to that of danazol and mifepristone. Dan’e‐fukang soft extract was also as effective as gestrinone and mifepristone in terms of relapse rate and relieving dysmenorrhea. The incidence of adverse reactions was lower than that of conventional western medicines. Conclusions. The results of this study showed that Dan’e‐fukang soft extract offers certain advantages in endometriosis treatment, but rigorously designed, strictly implemented RCTs are needed to further validate its efficacy.
Three-Dimensional Modeling and Structured Vibration Modes of Two-Stage Helical Planetary Gears Used in Cranes
Authors: Zhang Lina , Wang Yong , Wu Kai , Sheng Ruoyu
Published: February 2017

The dynamic investigation of helical planetary gears plays an important role in structure design as the vibration and noise are perceived negatively to the transmission quality. With consideration of the axial deformations of members, the gyroscopic effects, the time-variant meshing stiffness, and the coupling amongst stages, a three-dimensional dynamic model of the two-stage helical planetary gears is established by using of the lumped-parameter method in this paper. The model is applicable to variant number of planets in two stages, different planet phasing, and spacing configurations. Numerical simulation is conducted to detect the structured vibration modes of the equally spaced systems. Furthermore, the unique properties of these vibration modes are mathematically proved. Results show that the vibration modes of the two-stage helical planetary gears can be categorized as five classes: the rigid body mode, the axial translational-rotational mode, the radical translational mode, and the 1st-stage and the 2nd-stage planet mode.
The Effect of Intra-Dialytic Exercise on Inflammation and Blood Endotoxin Levels
Authors: Wong Jonathan , Davis Philip , Patidar Ashish , Zhang Yonglong , Vilar Enric , Finkelman Malcolm , Farrington Ken
Published: February 2017

Background: In healthy individuals, an acute inflammatory response occurs after intense exercise due to gut ischaemia and intestinal bacterial endotoxin translocation into the bloodstream. This process maybe exacerbated in patients who exercise during dialysis due to large volume shifts experienced by many during haemodialysis (HD). The acute effect of intra-dialytic exercise on blood endotoxins and inflammation is not known. Method: The effect of intra-dialytic exercise on blood endotoxin and inflammation was investigated in 10 patients and compared with resting haemodialysis. Blood was measured for endotoxin and inflammatory biomarkers before and after dialysis. Result: With the exception of one sample, all samples tested negative for endotoxin. Intra-dialytic exercise attenuated the rise of interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein after the HD procedure. Conclusion: Intra-dialytic exercise was not associated with an observable rise in blood endotoxin, although it may ameliorate the inflammatory effects of the HD procedure. Larger studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Morbidity after Hemorrhage in Children with Untreated Brain Arteriovenous Malformation
Authors: Ma Li , Kim Helen , Chen Xiao-Lin , Wu Chun-Xue , Ma Jun , Su Hua , Zhao Yuanli
Published: February 2017

Background: Children with untreated brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVM) are at risk of encountering life-threatening hemorrhage very early in their lives. The primary aim of invasive treatment is to reduce unfavorable outcome associated with a bAVM rupture. A better understanding of the morbidity of bAVM hemorrhage might be helpful for weighing the risks of untreated bAVM and invasive treatment. Our aim was to assess the clinical outcome after bAVM rupture and identify features to predict severe hemorrhage in children. Methods: We identified all consecutive children admitted to our institution for bAVMs between July 2009 and December 2014. Clinical outcome after hemorrhagic presentation and subsequent hemorrhage was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for children. The association of demographic characteristics and bAVM morphology with severe hemorrhage (mRS >3 or requiring emergency hematoma evacuation) was studied using univariate and multivariable regression analyses. A nomogram based on multivariable analysis was formulated to predict severe hemorrhage risk for individual patients. Results: A total of 134 patients were identified with a mean treatment-free follow-up period of 2.1 years. bAVM ruptured in 83 (62%) children: 82 had a hemorrhage at presentation and 6 of them experienced a recurrent hemorrhage during follow-up; 1 patient had other diagnostic symptoms but bled during follow-up. Among them, 49% (41/83) had a severe hemorrhage; emergency hematoma evacuation was required in 28% of them (23/83), and 24% (20/83) remained as disabled (mRS ≥3) at last follow-up. Forty-six percent (38/82) of children with hemorrhagic presentation were severely disabled (mRS >3). Forty-three percent (3/7) were severely disabled after subsequent hemorrhage. The annual rate of severe subsequent hemorrhage was 1% in the overall cohort and 3.3% in children with ruptured presentation. All the subsequent severe hemorrhage events occurred in children with severe hemorrhage history (7%, 3/41). Periventricular location, non-temporal lobe location, and long draining vein were predictors for severe hemorrhage in pediatric untreated bAVMs. A nomogram based on bAVM morphology was contracted to predict severe hemorrhage risk for individual patients, which was well calibrated and had a good discriminative ability (adjusted C-statistic, 0.72). Conclusions: Evaluating bAVM morbidity and morphology might be helpful for weighing the risks of untreated bAVM in pediatric patients.
How Should We Lower Blood Pressure after Cerebral Hemorrhage? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lattanzi Simona , Cagnetti Claudia , Provinciali Leandro , Silvestrini Mauro
Published: February 2017

Background: The optimal treatment of high blood pressure (BP) after acute intra-cerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is controversial. Summary: The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of early intensive vs. conservative BP lowering treatment in patients with ICH. Randomized controlled trials with active and control groups receiving intensive and conservative BP lowering treatments were identified. The following outcomes were assessed: 3-month mortality and combined death or major disability, 24-h hematoma growth, early neurological deterioration, occurrence of hypotension, severe hypotension, and serious treatment-emergent adverse events. Five trials were included involving 4,350 participants, 2,162 and 2,188 for intensive and conservative treatment groups, respectively. The pooled risk ratio of 3-month death or major disability was 0.96 (0.91-1.01) and the weighted mean difference in absolute hematoma growth was -1.53 (95% CI -2.94 to -0.12) mL in the intensive compared to conservative BP-lowering. There were no differences across the treatments in the incidence rates of 3-month mortality, early neurological deterioration, hypotension, and treatment-related adverse effects other than renal events. Key Messages: The early intensive anti-hypertensive treatment was overall safe and reduced the hematoma expansion in patients presenting with acute-onset spontaneous ICH and high BP levels.
Shame the Devil
Authors: Tabor-Smith Amara
Published: February 2017

What does it mean to go from being a grown woman to a baby crone? Who will guide you without white Western pessimism or cynicism?
Seizing the Stage: Social Performances from Mao Zedong to Martin Luther King Jr., and Black Lives Matter Today
Authors: Alexander Jeffrey C.
Published: February 2017

It is possible to look at radical social movements from the perspective of social performance theory; though, being wedded to nonsymbolic and realist methods, few contemporary social scientists would agree. Despite their immensely practical goals, the success of both Chinese Communists and American civil rights protesters depended on achieving performative power, all in the service of dramatically connecting with their audiences. The same can be said for the Black Lives Matter movement.
After the Riot: Teatr.doc and the Performance of Witness
Authors: Hanukai Maksim
Published: February 2017

Between 2011 and 2013, during the height of the protest movement then sweeping across Russia, the Moscow documentary theatre Teatr.doc experimented with a new form of “witness theatre,” staging a series of participatory performances in which audience members listened to and offered testimony about recent events. The trial of Pussy Riot became an occasion for one such performance.
Prefigurative Performance in the Age of Political Deception
Authors: Johansson Ola
Published: February 2017

Prefigurative interventions and occupations comprise a form of activism comparable to theatrical performance—embodying, situating, and performing hypothetical scenarios. These open-ended, horizontal performance practices employ site-sensitive interventions, tactical media, applied theatre, and cognate modes of interactivity.
Technologies of Dismemberment: Orpheus, Fascination, and Bulgarian Etnodzhaz
Authors: McCormack Ryan
Published: February 2017

“Fascination” has long been used to describe the blinding attraction to a desired object/person that inspires acts detrimental to the self. As demonstrated by the story of Orpheus, there is a subtler way of looking at fascination where performance allows the subject to become both dismembered and dismemberer, a dynamic at play in Bulgarian etnodzhaz, whose musicians dismember and suture an imagined folk wellspring that fascinates them and their listeners.
Evaluating the Effects of Artistic Impregnation of Scientific Objects on Qualifiers of Perceptual Assessment Through Self-Report Questionnaires: Implications for an Emerging Experimental Neuroepistemology
Authors: Inácio-Barbosa Leonardo Toledo Miranda , Teixeira Fernanda , Reis Vivian Maia , Ribeiro Luis Otávio de Marins , Boente Alfredo Nazareno Pereira , Fróes Maira Monteiro
Published: February 2017

This report summarizes our preliminary efforts to delineate, at controlled experimentation, the impact of art, and artistic aesthetics, on the way we assess science. Our results suggest that the analytic-synthetic axis of perceptual cognitive handling of the scientific object is unaffected by its artistic non-conventional contextualization, while cognitive abstraction, positive emotions and aesthetic impressions are favoured. Implications to philosophical foundations of the Cartesian scientific method are considered.
Nomenclatural notes on some autumn flowering daffodils (Narcissus, Amaryllidaceae)
Authors: KOOPOWITZ HAROLD , HOWE MARILYNN , CHRISTENHUSZ MAARTEN J. M.
Published: February 2017

Autumn flowering daffodils have been recorded in taxonomic history for at least 500 years. First descriptions were often merely based on hearsay, as they were often not studied alive. Consequently, many errors in interpretation of these names have occurred and taxonomic confusion, errors in identification and misapplication of names have led to an accumulation of taxonomic entanglement in Narcissus Linnaeus (1753: 289) nomenclature. In this paper we address some of these past confusions and provide a key to identify autumn flowering species.
Cinchona anderssonii (Rubiaceae), a new overlooked species from Bolivia
Authors: MALDONADO CARLA , PERSSON CLAES , ALBAN JOAQUINA , ANTONELLI ALEXANDRE , RØNSTED NINA
Published: February 2017

Cinchona anderssonii, a new species from the Yungas forests of the Andes in Bolivia, is described and illustrated. It is unique in Cinchona by having the combination of elliptic leaf blades glossy above, distinct circular pit domatia at secondary vein axils, basipetally dehiscent capsules, and relatively large seeds (8–11 mm long). A taxonomic key for the identification of the Cinchona species occurring in Bolivia is presented.
Description of the newly-hatched juvenile of Aegla castro Schmitt, 1942 (Crustacea, Anomura, Aeglidae)
Authors: SILVA LUANE SAMARA ALVES E , GUERRERO-OCAMPO CECILIA MARGARITA , NEGREIROS-FRANSOZO MARIA LUCIA , TEIXEIRA GUSTAVO MONTEIRO
Published: February 2017

This study describes and illustrates the morphology of the first juvenile stage of Aegla castro Schmitt, 1942. Ovigerous females were collected from May to July 2013, in Couro River (Mauá da Serra, Paraná, Brazil). These females were kept individually under controlled feeding, aeration, water temperature and quality and checked daily for hatching of juveniles. The newly-hatched juveniles were fixed in alcohol series and kept in 70% alcohol with glycerin in a 2:1 ratio prior to study under light microscopy. The newly-hatched juvenile of A. castro is the largest among aeglid species whose juveniles have been described. Aegla castro has asynchronous hatching. Some specimens were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, revealing details of the setal morphology, some cephalothoracic appendages and lineae aeglicae. The number of setae in newly-hatched A. castro is lower than that described for other species, but does not appear to be diagnostic. However, A. castro is the only species described that combines the presence of four plumose setae on the third maxilliped exopod and 63–65 plumose setae on the maxilla exopod.
The Ice Water Paths of Small and Large Ice Species in Hurricanes Arthur (2014) and Irene (2011)
Authors: Kalina Evan A. , Matrosov Sergey Y. , Cione Joseph J. , Marks Frank D. , Vivekanandan Jothiram , Black Robert A. , Hubbert John C. , Bell Michael M. , Kingsmill David E. , White Allen B.
Published: February 2017

Dual-polarization scanning radar measurements, air temperature soundings, and a polarimetric radar-based particle identification scheme are used to generate maps and probability density functions (PDFs) of the ice water path (IWP) in Hurricanes Arthur (2014) and Irene (2011) at landfall. The IWP is separated into the contribution from small ice (i.e., ice crystals), termed small-particle IWP, and large ice (i.e., graupel and snow), termed large-particle IWP. Vertically profiling radar data from Hurricane Arthur suggest that the small ice particles detected by the scanning radar have fall velocities mostly greater than 0.25 m s−1 and that the particle identification scheme is capable of distinguishing between small and large ice particles in a mean sense. The IWP maps and PDFs reveal that the total and large-particle IWPs range up to 10 kg m−2, with the largest values confined to intense convective precipitation within the rainbands and eyewall. Small-particle IWP remains mostly <4 kg m−2, with the largest small-particle IWP values collocated with maxima in the total IWP. PDFs of the small-to-total IWP ratio have shapes that depend on the precipitation type (i.e., intense convective, stratiform, or weak-echo precipitation). The IWP ratio distribution is narrowest (broadest) in intense convective (weak echo) precipitation and peaks at a ratio of about 0.1 (0.3).
Why Was the Indian Ocean Dipole Weak in the Context of the Extreme El Niño in 2015?
Authors: Liu Lin , Yang Guang , Zhao Xia , Feng Lin , Han Guoqing , Wu Yue , Yu Weidong
Published: February 2017

The Indian Ocean witnessed a weak positive Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) event from the boreal summer to autumn in 2015, while an extreme El Niño occurred over the tropical Pacific. This was different from the case in 1997/98, when an extreme El Niño and the strongest IOD took place simultaneously. The analysis here suggests that the unique sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) pattern of El Niño in 2015 might have contributed to the weak IOD that year. El Niño in 2015 had a complex SSTA pattern, with positive warming over the central and eastern tropical Pacific. Such a combination of the classic El Niño (also known as cold-tongue El Niño) and the recently identified central Pacific El Niño (also known as El Niño Modoki II) had opposite remote influences on the tropical Indian Ocean. The classic El Niño reduced the strength of the Walker circulation over the tropical Indian Ocean, but this was offset by El Niño Modoki II. This study points out that the IOD can be strongly modulated by combined El Niño types in some circumstances, as in 2015.