bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quarkonium masses in a hot QCD medium using conformable fractional of the Nikiforov–Uvarov method
Authors: Abu-Shady M.
Published: November 2019

By using the conformable fractional of the Nikiforov–Uvarov (CF–NU) method, the radial Schrödinger equation is analytically solved. The energy eigenvalues and corresponding functions are obtained, in which the dependent temperature potential is employed. The effect of fraction-order parameter is studied on the heavy-quarkonium masses such as charmonium and bottomonium in a hot QCD medium in the 3D and the higher-dimensional space. This paper discusses the flavor dependence of their binding energies and explores the nature of dissociation by employing the perturbative, nonperturbative, and the lattice-parametrized form of the Debye masses in the medium-modified potential. A comparison is studied with recent works. We conclude that the fractional-order plays an important role in a hot QCD medium in the 3D with consideration of a form of the Debye mass.
Asymptotically Weyl-invariant gravity
Authors: Coumbe Daniel
Published: November 2019

We propose a novel theory of gravity that by construction is renormalizable, evades Ostrogradsky’s no-go theorem, is locally scale-invariant in the high-energy limit, and equivalent to general relativity in the low-energy limit. The theory is defined by a pure [Formula: see text] action in the Palatini formalism, where the dimensionless exponent [Formula: see text] runs from a value of two in the high-energy limit to one in the low-energy limit. We show that the proposed model contains no obvious cosmological curvature singularities. The viability of the proposed model is qualitatively assessed using several key criteria.
Bifurcation analysis of the propagation of femtosecond pulses for the Triki-Biswas equation in monomode optical fibers
Authors: Saha Asit
Published: November 2019

Bifurcation analysis of the propagation of femtosecond pulses for the Triki–Biswas (TB) equation in monomode optical fibers is reported for the first time. Bifurcation of phase plots of the dynamical system is dispensed using phase plane analysis through symbolic computation. It is observed that the TB equation supports femtosecond solitary pulse, periodic pulse, superperiodic pulse, kink and anti-kink pulses, which are presented through time series plot numerically. Analytical forms of the femtosecond solitary pulses are obtained. This contribution may be applicable to interpret the dynamical behavior of various femtosecond pulses in monomode optical fibers beyond the Kerr limit.
Synthesis of azabenziporphyrinoids by SN Ar reactions
Authors: Umetani Masataka , Tanaka Takayuki , Osuka Atsuhiro
Published: November 2019

While most of porphyrins and related macrocycles have been synthesized by classical acid-catalyzed condensation and oxidation reactions, nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions have recently emerged as a new protocol to construct novel porphyrinoids. [Formula: see text]-Dibromotripyrrin 3 was developed as a useful building block composed of three pyrrolic segments and two meso-carbons, which was allowed to react with various nucleophiles. Herein, we applied this strategy to synthesize carbaporphyrinoids containing two nitrogen atoms at the meso-positions. Reaction of [Formula: see text]-dibromotripyrrin 3 with meta- and para-phenylenediamine gave diazabenziporphyrins 8 and 9in good yields. Their oxidized species 12 and 13 were generated by facile oxidation with lead dioxide. While diaza-meta-benziporphyrin 12 exhibited nonaromatic characteristics, diaza-para-benziporphyrin 13 was revealed to be aromatic in view of [Formula: see text]H NMR, bond-alternation, and nucleus-independent-chemical-shift calculations. Curiously, aza-meta-benzicorrole 11 was obtained in a low yield by intramolecular cyclization reaction of [Formula: see text]-anilino-[Formula: see text]-bromotripyrrin with potassium carbonate.
Banana Xanthomonas wilt dynamics with mixed cultivars in a periodic environment
Authors: Nakakawa Juliet N. , Mugisha Joseph Y. T. , Shaw Michael W. , Karamura Eldad
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we study a deterministic model with non-autonomous system for mixed cultivars to assess the effect of cultivar susceptibility and seasonal variation on banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease dynamics. A special case of two cultivars classified as highly susceptible for inflorescence infection (ABB) and less susceptible (AAA) cultivar is considered. The basic reproduction number corresponding to the non-autonomous system is derived and numerically computed to determine disease dynamics. Results showed that the disease dies out whenever the periodic basic reproduction number is less than unity and a periodic solution is obtained when it is greater than one. Results further showed that for both cultivars, the basic reproduction number increases with increasing values of the transmission rates and declines exponentially with increasing values of roguing rates. The critical roguing rate of ABB-genome cultivar was higher than that of AAA-genome cultivars. The peaks in disease prevalence indicate the importance of effective implementation of controls during the rainy season. We conclude that highly susceptible cultivars play an important role in the spread of BXW and control measures should be effectively implemented during the rainy season if BXW is to be eradicated.
Seabed mapping in Norwegian waters: programmes, technologies and future advances
Authors: Thorsnes Terje , Misund Ole Arve , Smelror Morten
Published: November 2019

A holistic understanding of the oceans as part of the Earth system is imperative for the future management and sustainable utilization of the ocean's natural resources. Increasing pressures on global resources have been accompanied by important advances in acoustic remote sensing technologies, allowing us to map the seabed in unprecedented detail. The MAREANO (Marine areal database for Norwegian waters) programme in Norway, one of the world's largest seabed mapping programmes, is designed to close the knowledge gaps with the use of the new technologies.

To date, since the start in 2005, c. 1170 million NOK (Norwegian kroner), equivalent to c. US$115m have been allocated to this programme (2005–20). This paper outlines the development of MAREANO and other large marine mapping and science programme proposals in Norway, and considers which factors influenced whether they were realized or not. In conclusion, funding of MAREANO came as a result of the convergence of political needs, technical capacity and multi-institutional co-operation.

We further give an overview of the new and improved seabed mapping technologies, and finally we discuss the Norwegian programmes in connection with similar major international ongoing programmes and new initiatives and take a look at possible advances in future seabed mapping.
Geological Survey of Canada 8.0: mapping the journey towards predictive geoscience
Authors: Lebel Daniel
Published: November 2019

The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has been furthering the geoscientific understanding of Canada since its inception in 1842, the equivalent of seven generations ago. The evolution of the activities of the GSC over this period has been driven by evolving geographic, economic and political contexts and needs. Likewise, new technologies and evolving scientific methods and models shaped broadly the successive generations of GSC geoscience activities. The most recent GSC generation presented a mixed portfolio of large framework mapping geoscience programmes, and more targeted, hypothesis-driven geoscience research, and the development of decision support products for a range of government, industry and other stakeholders needs. Entering its eighth generation, the GSC and related organizations are embracing digital technologies for applications such as the evaluation of mineral resource potential, the evaluation of risks and the early warning of earthquakes. In order to do so, the GSC will need to develop new methods and systems in co-operation with other geological survey organizations, and target its data acquisition and research to further advance its ability to respond to the evolving needs of society to navigate geology through space and time, from the past to the present, and from the present to the future.
Hidden in Plaintext
Authors: Hoque Tamzidul , Yang Kai , Karam Robert , Tajik Shahin , Forte Domenic , Tehranipoor Mark , Bhunia Swarup
Published: November 2019

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have become an attractive choice for diverse applications due to their reconfigurability and unique security features. However, designs mapped to FPGAs are prone to malicious modifications or tampering of critical functions. Besides, targeted modifications have demonstrably compromised FPGA implementations of various cryptographic primitives. Existing security measures based on encryption and authentication can be bypassed using their side-channel vulnerabilities to execute bitstream tampering attacks. Furthermore, numerous resource-constrained applications are now equipped with low-end FPGAs, which may not support power-hungry cryptographic solutions. In this article, we propose a novel obfuscation-based approach to achieve strong resistance against both random and targeted pre-configuration tampering of critical functions in an FPGA design. Our solution first identifies the unique structural and functional features that separate the critical function from the rest of the design using a machine learning guided framework. The selected features are eliminated by applying appropriate obfuscation techniques, many of which take advantage of “FPGA dark silicon”—unused lookup table resources—to mask the critical functions. Furthermore, following the same obfuscation principle, a redundancy-based technique is proposed to thwart targeted, rule-based, and random tampering. We have developed a complete methodology and custom software toolflow that integrates with commercial tools. By applying the masking technique on a design containing AES, we show the effectiveness of the proposed framework in hiding the critical S-Box function. We implement the redundancy integrated solution in various cryptographic designs to analyze the overhead. To protect 16.2% critical component of a design, the proposed approach incurs an average area overhead of only 2.4% over similar redundancy-based approaches, while achieving strong security.
Bio-chemical Assay Locking to Thwart Bio-IP Theft
Authors: Bhattacharjee Sukanta , Tang Jack , Poddar Sudip , Ibrahim Mohamed , Karri Ramesh , Chakrabarty Krishnendu
Published: November 2019

It is expected that as digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs) mature, the hardware design flow will begin to resemble the current practice in the semiconductor industry: design teams send chip layouts to third-party foundries for fabrication. These foundries are untrusted and threaten to steal valuable intellectual property (IP). In a DMFB, the IP consists of not only hardware layouts but also of the biochemical assays (bioassays) that are intended to be executed on-chip. DMFB designers therefore must defend these protocols against theft. We propose to “lock” biochemical assays by inserting
dummy mix-split
operations. We experimentally evaluate the proposed locking mechanism, and show how a high level of protection can be achieved even on bioassays with low complexity. We also demonstrate a new class of attacks that exploit the side-channel information to launch sophisticated attacks on the locked bioassay.
Early onset neurocirculatory response to static handgrip is associated with greater blood pressure variability in women with posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Yoo Jeung-Ki , Badrov Mark B. , Parker Rosemary S. , Anderson Elizabeth H. , Wiblin Jessica L. , North Carol S. , Suris Alina , Fu Qi
Published: November 2019

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness that is more prevalent in women, and accumulating evidence suggests a link between PTSD and future development of cardiovascular disease. The underlying mechanisms are unclear, but augmented sympathetic reactivity to daily stressors may be involved. We measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate responses in 14 women with PTSD and 14 healthy women (controls) during static handgrip (SHG) exercise to fatigue at 40% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Two minutes of postexercise circulatory arrest (PECA) was followed immediately after SHG to fatigue. MVC and the time to fatigue during SHG did not differ between groups (both P > 0.05). At the first 30 s of SHG, women with PTSD showed augmented sympathetic neural [mean ± SD, ∆MSNA burst frequency (BF): 5 ± 4 vs. 2 ± 3 bursts/30 s, P = 0.02 and ∆MSNA total activity (TA): 82 ± 58 vs. 25 ± 38 arbitrary units/30 s, P = 0.004] and pressor (∆systolic BP: 10 ± 5 vs. 4 ± 3 mmHg, P = 0.003) responses compared with controls. However, MSNA and BP responses at fatigue and during PECA were not different between groups. More interestingly, the augmented initial neural and pressor responses to SHG were associated with greater awake systolic BP variability during ambulation in women with PTSD (MSNA BF: r = 0.55, MSNA TA: r = 0.62, and SBP: r = 0.69, all P < 0.05). These results suggest that early onset exercise pressor response in women with PTSD may be attributed to enhanced mechano- rather than metaboreflexes, which might contribute to the mechanisms underlying the link between PTSD and cardiovascular risk.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The novel findings of the current study are that women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibited augmented sympathetic neural and pressor responses at the first 30 s of submaximal isometric muscle contraction. More interestingly, exaggerated neurocirculatory responses at the onset of muscle contraction were associated with greater ambulatory awake systolic blood pressure fluctuations in women with PTSD. Our findings expand the knowledge on the physiological mechanisms that perhaps contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease in such a population.
Design of Intrusion Detection and Prevention in SCADA System for the Detection of Bias Injection Attacks
Authors: Benisha R. B. , Raja Ratna S.
Published: November 2019

Intrusion detection and prevention system detects malicious activities that occur in the real-time SCADA systems. This system has a problem without a profound solution. The challenge of the existing intrusion detection is accuracy in the process of detecting the anomalies. In SCADA, wind turbine data are modified by the intruders and forged details are given to the server. To overcome this, the biased intrusion detection system is used for detecting the intrusion with encrypted date, time, and file location with less false-positive and false-negative rates and thereby preventing the SCADA system from further intrusion. It is done in three phases. First, Modified Grey Wolf Optimization (MGWO) is used to extract the features needed for classification and to find the best weight. Second, Entropy-based Extreme Learning Machine (EELM) is used to extort the features and detect the intruded data with its intruded time, file location, and date. Finally, the data are encrypted using the Hybrid Elliptical Curve Cryptography (HECC) to prevent further attack. Experimental results show better accuracy in both detection as well as prevention.
Contribution to the Study of Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance of Insect Fauna in Salt Wetlands of Setif Region, Algeria
Authors: Mouhoubi Djamila , Djenidi Rédha , Bounechada Mustapha
Published: November 2019

The present study aims to assess entomofauna biodiversity at three saline wetlands, located in Setif region, Northeastern Algeria. To determine the predominant environmental factors in the distribution of entomofauna, six different stations and three transects in each station were chosen according to the distribution of plant and soil salinity in each transect. Results were analysed, and different ecological indexes and analytical methods were applied, from 2016 to 2017. The total of individual insects belonging to 9 orders, 71 families, and 131 species were collected from the three sites. The highest abundance was in Coleoptera (38.17%) while the lowest abundance was found in Ephemeroptera (1.53%). The highest number of individuals (11438) was found in Bazer site in 2016, while the lowest number of individuals (4921) was in site Chott Frain in 2017. The highest abundance of insects (109) was recorded in transect BS1T16, and the lowest abundance of species was recorded in transect HS1T36. Diversity and equitability indices showed highest values in HS1T16 (H = 4,356) and HS1T37 (E = 0.7282). Some ecological parameters showed a significant relationship between the insects occurrence, distribution of plants, and type of soil.
Correlation between Maximum Clot Firmness in FIBTEM and Fibrinogen Level in Critical Trauma Patients
Authors: Khunakanan Supphamongkhon , Akaraborworn Osaree , Sangthong Burapat , Thongkhao Komet
Published: November 2019

Background. Both fibrinogen level and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) are accurate tests to demonstrate a bleeding tendency. FIBTEM® is one type of ROTEM test to determine the function of fibrinogen. An advantage of FIBTEM is helping physicians make proper decisions for blood component transfusions. However, the correlation between fibrinogen level and FIBTEM is still unclear. Objective. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a correlation between maximum clot firmness (MCF) in FIBTEM and fibrinogen level in critical trauma patients. Methods. Data were retrospectively collected from 87 patients who visited the emergency department between May 2017 and January 2019 in Songklanagarind Hospital. Blood specimens were sent for both ROTEM evaluation and fibrinogen level. The data were analysed with STATA program version 12.1. Results. Eighty-seven patients were enrolled in the study over the 21-month period. The patients consisted of 73 males (83.9%) with a median age of 40 years. Seventy-three patients (83.9%) were still alive. The following equation from FIBTEM MCF was used to predict fibrinogen level: fibrinogen level = 138 + (15.2 × FIBTEM MCF) (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient of 0.52, P<0.001). The results showed a good correlation of FIBTEM MCF to predict patients with hypofibrinogenemia (area under ROC curve = 0.81). Patients with normal fibrinogen levels received significantly fewer units of all types of blood components. Conclusion. FIBTEM MCF had poor prediction of fibrinogen level; however, it can help to identify patients who have hypofibrinogenemia.
Safe Transition to Pembrolizumab following Ipilimumab-Induced Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Gravbrot Nicholas , Scherer Katalin , Sundararajan Srinath
Published: November 2019

Background. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are novel therapies with indications for treating several solid cancers. They are associated with immune-related adverse events, which are generally well tolerated. Though rare, severe side effects may be life-threatening. One such adverse event is Guillain-Barré syndrome, which requires cessation of the immunotherapy and intravenous immunoglobulin and/or high-dose steroids to treat. No recommendations have been published regarding restarting cancer treatment after development of immunotherapy-induced Guillain-Barré syndrome. Case Presentation. A 71-year-old gentleman with recurrent, stage IIIB melanoma was started on ipilimumab (cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitor) for adjuvant treatment following radical neck dissection and radiation therapy. After completing his third cycle of ipilimumab, he developed rapidly progressive ascending paralysis. He was diagnosed with ipilimumab-induced atypical Guillain-Barré syndrome and was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids. Ipilimumab was discontinued, and the patient was monitored via surveillance imaging, as there was no evidence of active disease at that time. Several months later, he was found to have recurrent disease involving the lung, requiring right lower lobectomy. Restaging revealed thoracic lymph node involvement, and he was then started on pembrolizumab (programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitor). He experienced a complete tumoral response to pembrolizumab, and he tolerated treatment well without recurrent weakness. Conclusions. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare but severe complication associated with immunotherapy. Our findings suggest that in patients with a history of ipilimumab-induced Guillain-Barré syndrome, pembrolizumab may possibly be a safe and effective alternative for cancer therapy.
DNA Markers to Discriminate Cannabis sativa L. ‘Cheungsam’ with Low Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Content from Other South Korea Cultivars Based on the Nucleotide Sequences of Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid Synthase and Putative 3-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase Genes
Authors: Doh Eui Jeong , Lee Guemsan , Yun Yeong-Jin , Kang Lin-Woo , Kim Eun Soo , Lee Mi Young , Oh Seung-Eun
Published: November 2019

Cannabis sativa L. has been utilized for a long time as a traditional herbal medicine in Korea. Dry fruits, achenes, each containing a single seed of Cannabis, are currently prescribed as Ma In (Cannabis Semen), a laxative. As each achene is enclosed by a bract, in which tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychological active compound in Cannabis is synthesized; achene is easily contaminated by THC from bract remnants. Therefore, it is safer to harvest achenes from Cannabis with a low THC content. Seeds of hemp, a low THC Cannabis, were recently classified as possible sources of new pharmacologically active compounds. Thus, a proper method to select appropriate Cannabis plants with low THC among cultivars in South Korea for medicinal purpose is necessary. As a result of cross-selection, Cannabis L. cultivar “Cheungsam” (CH) with the lowest THC content among cultivars cultivated in South Korea has been developed. In this study, we developed two DNA markers to reliably discriminate CH from other local cultivars with higher THC contents. We developed primer sets CHF3/CHR2 to amplify the 642 bp DNA marker of CH based on differences in the nucleotide sequences of the THCA synthase gene, which encodes a key enzyme in THC synthesis. We then developed a CHF1/CHR3 primer set to amplify the 401 bp DNA marker of CH based on the differences in both the content of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFs) and the sequence of the putative 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) gene encoding enzymes synthesizing VLCFs among local cultivars.
EPVNE: An Efficient Parallelizable Virtual Network Embedding Algorithm
Authors: Li Yuanzhen , Zhang Yingyu
Published: November 2019

Virtual network embedding (VNE) problem is a key issue in network virtualization technology, and much attention has been paid to the virtual network embedding. However, very little research work focuses on parallelized virtual network embedding problems which assumes that the substrate infrastructure supports parallel computing and allows one virtual node to be mapped to multiple substrate nodes. Based on the work of Liang and Zhang, we extend the well-known VNE to parallelizable virtual network embedding (PVNE) in this paper. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, we give the first formulation of the PVNE problem. A new heuristic algorithm named efficient parallelizable virtual network embedding (EPVNE) is proposed to reduce the cost of embedding the VN request and increase the VN request acceptance ratio. EPVNE is a two-stage mapping algorithm, which first performs node mapping and then performs link mapping. In the node mapping phase, we present a simple and efficient virtual node and physical node sorting formula and perform the virtual node mapping in order. When mapping virtual nodes, we map virtual nodes to physical nodes that just meet the CPU requirements. Substrate nodes with more CPU resources will be retained for subsequent virtual network mapping requests. In the link mapping phase, Dijkstra’s algorithm is used to find a substrate path for each virtual link. Finally, simulations are carried out and simulation results show that our algorithm performs better than the existing heuristic algorithms.
Nanoparticle-Based Contrast Agents for129Xe HyperCEST NMR and MRI Applications
Authors: Jayapaul Jabadurai , Schröder Leif
Published: November 2019

Spin hyperpolarization techniques have enabled important advancements in preclinical and clinical MRI applications to overcome the intrinsic low sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance. Functionalized xenon biosensors represent one of these approaches. They combine two amplification strategies, namely, spin exchange optical pumping (SEOP) and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). The latter one requires host structures that reversibly bind the hyperpolarized noble gas. Different nanoparticle approaches have been implemented and have enabled molecular MRI with129Xe at unprecedented sensitivity. This review gives an overview of the Xe biosensor concept, particularly how different nanoparticles address various critical aspects of gas binding and exchange, spectral dispersion for multiplexing, and targeted reporter delivery. As this concept is emerging into preclinical applications, comprehensive sensor design will be indispensable in translating the outstanding sensitivity potential into biomedical molecular imaging applications.
Plasma miR-208b and miR-499: Potential Biomarkers for Severity of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Wang Wei , Li Tai , Gao Lei , Li Yang , Sun Ying , Yao Heng-Chen
Published: November 2019

Aims. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of this study is to explore plasma levels of miR-208b and miR-499 in CAD and analyze its association with the severity of CAD. Materials and Methods. 195 consecutive CAD patients who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in this study. Severity of coronary lesions was evaluated by the synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery score (SYNTAX) score (SS). Plasma levels of miR-208b and miR-499 were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between miR-208b and miR-499 and SS was analyzed. Results. The qRT-PCR results showed that plasma levels of miR-208b and miR-499 in SS>32 (high SS) group was higher than those in low (SS≤22) and intermediate (22<SS≤32) groups. Meanwhile, plasma miR-208b and miR-499 levels were significantly positive correlated with the SS (Spearman’s r=0.535 and r=0.407, respectively; both p<0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis results showed that miR-208b (odds ratio [OR]: 2.069; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.351-3.167; p=0.001) and miR-499 (OR: 1.652; 95% CI: 1.222-2.233; p=0.001) were independent predictors of high SS. In receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve of miR-208b and miR-499 in prediction of high SS was 0.775 and 0.713, respectively. Conclusions. Higher plasma levels of miR-208b and miR-499 were positively associated with the severity of CAD, and plasma miR-208b and miR-499 can act as potential biomarkers for estimating the severity of CAD.
Challenging Airway Reconstruction: Case Report and Lessons to Be Learned
Authors: Darraj Eyad , Kassouma Jamal , Abdulghafoor Yusur
Published: November 2019

Despite the current drop the in incidence rate of acquired subglottic stenosis in comparison to the 1960s and 1970s, this pathology is still encountered and presents a surgical challenge. The wide variety in management options reflects its sophisticated nature and failure tendency. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl who developed severe subglottic stenosis secondary to a 3-month intubation in a leading pediatric hospital and was discharged without any hope of decannulation. The patient was fully investigated in our department, and her successful surgical management ended in the removal of the tracheostomy tube. The complicated surgery and learned lessons urged us to present this case.
Net Clinical Benefit of Left Atrial Appendage Closure Versus Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Pooled Analysis of the Randomized PROTECT‐AF and PREVAIL Studies
Authors: Brouwer Tom F. , Whang William , Kuroki Kenji , Halperin Jonathan L. , Reddy Vivek Y.
Published: November 2019

Background

The
PROTECT
‐
AF
(Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology for Embolic Protection in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) and
PREVAIL
(Evaluation of the Watchman LAA Closure Device in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Versus Long Term Warfarin Therapy) trials demonstrated noninferiority of left atrial appendage closure (
LAAC
) to warfarin for the composite end point of stroke, systemic embolism, or cardiovascular death. This study aims to quantify the net clinical benefit (
NCB
) of
LAAC
versus warfarin, accounting for differences in clinical impact of different event types.

Methods and Results

We performed a post hoc analysis of the
PROTECT
‐
AF
and
PREVAIL
trials, which randomized atrial fibrillation patients to
LAAC
or warfarin in a 2:1 fashion. The trials enrolled patients in the United States and Europe between 2005 and 2012 with paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent atrial fibrillation and
CHADS
2
risk scores ≥1. Relative to an index weight for death (1.0), events were assigned weights based on their disabling effect: (1) stroke event weights were based on modified Rankin scores in the base case analyses, and (2) major bleed (0.05) and pericardial effusion (0.05).
NCB
was calculated as the sum of weight‐adjusted events per 100 patient‐years. Among 1114 randomized subjects, the
NCB
of
LAAC
was 1.42% per year (95%
CI
0.01–2.82,
P
=0.04) and a relative risk of 0.74 (95%
CI
0.56–1.00).
NCB
point estimates favored warfarin early in follow‐up, but trended in favor of
LAAC
after 1 to 2 years. The benefit of
LAAC
was preserved across subgroups, with particular benefit observed in the subgroup of prior stroke and without diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions

This analysis demonstrates long‐term
NCB
of
LAAC
with Watchman over warfarin therapy, as the upfront risk of periprocedural events is counterbalanced over time by reduced bleeding events and mortality.

Clinical Trial Registration

UR
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifiers:
NCT
01182441 and
NCT
00129545.
The Origins of the British Welfare State
Authors: Thane Pat
Published: November 2019

George Boyer’s The Winding Road to the Welfare State, which traces the shift in Britain from the early nineteenth-century Poor Law to the post-1945 welfare state, is strongest and most useful in its analysis of the labor market in relation to poverty and insecurity and in its precise quantification of wages, poverty, insecurity, and public relief. It is much weaker when discussing how politics and public opinion shaped social policies; overlooking important areas of British state welfare, the book focuses upon unemployment and old-age policies. Nor is the book really about “Britain.” Most of the statistics and analyses refer to England and occasionally Wales. Scotland, with its different economic, administrative, and legal structures, though constitutionally in Britain, is barely mentioned. Notwithstanding Boyer’s contributions to the picture of how the British welfare state emerged, his version of Britain’s “winding road” falls short of the descriptions and analyses that many British publications have already provided within the past thirty years.
Reconsidering the Substance of Digital Video from a Sadrian Perspective
Authors: Emadi Azadeh
Published: November 2019

The author discusses digitization as video’s deficiency; pixels are conceived as isolated fragments without an existential link to the source image. This article explores the ontology of digital video through Mulla Sadrā’s (1571–1641) theory of Substantial Motion. Sadrā, a Persian-Islamic existentialist, proposed that substance (material/visible and immaterial/invisible) undergoes an internal change, creating intimate connections between the smallest parts and the One, visible and invisible. We can think of these dynamic connections in terms of pixels and frames. From the view of Sadrā’s substance, pixels are explored as open to change. The apparent weaknesses of digital materiality become potentials toward understanding its existence in time.
“Lines Written by a Lady”: Judith Sargent Murray and a Mystery of Feminist Authorship
Authors: Lewis Paul
Published: November 2019

A regular and prolific contributor to the Massachusetts Magazine, Judith Sargent Murray probably wrote an anonymously published and joyfully feminist poem that ran in the September 1794 issue: “Lines Written by a Lady, who was questioned respecting her inclination to marry.”
Terrapolitics in the Dawnland: Relationality, Resistance, and Indigenous Futures in the Native and Colonial Northeast
Authors: Delucia Christine
Published: November 2019

This essay re-examines Wampanoag and Anglo-American relationships by focusing on a post-King Philip's War land negotiation document. Using the concept of “terrapolitics,” it argues for the significance of expansive place-based relationships for Wampanoag communities and the challenges posed by English settler colonialism in the seventeenth century.
To An Unknown Apostle: Moments of Pauline Undoing in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Saint Paul
Authors: Twomey Jay
Published: November 2019

After situating Pasolini’s sketch for a screenplay about the apostle within a broad context of Pauline retellings, this essay goes on to explore the uneasy tension Pasolini develops between Paul as representative of an oppressive religious authority, and Paul as frail, entrancing, humbled mystic. The tension is uneasy because it represents something of a false dichotomy. The real choice offered in the screenplay, the paper argues, is between Paul the New Testament personality, and Paul the ordinary, and mostly unknown, individual. While Pasolini may barely hint at the possibilities of so understated a treatment, his example sets the stage (so to speak) for an intriguingly contemporary response to more typical examples of Pauline reception (especially among critics inspired by the Paul of Badiou, Agamben, et al.).
Reanimating Saint Paul: From the Literary to the Cinematographic Stage
Authors: Copier Laura
Published: November 2019

In several of his writings on the relation between film and language, Pasolini discusses the possibility of a moment in which a screenplay can be considered an autonomous object, “a work complete and finished in itself.” In the first part of this essay, I will reflect on the concept of the screenplay in a larger context and more specifically, Pasolini’s writings on the ontological status of the screenplay as a “structure that wants to be another structure.” The case of Saint Paul is thought-provoking, precisely because this original screenplay was never turned into an actual film. Despite this, Pasolini argues that the screenplay invites – or perhaps even forces – its reader to imagine, to visualize, the film it describes. Pasolini’s ideas on the function of language as a means to conjure up images are central to this act of visualization. In the second part of this essay, I will attempt an act of visualization. This endeavor to visualize Saint Paul as a possible film is hinged upon a careful reading of the screenplay. I analyze the opening and closing sequences outlined in the screenplay to visualize the possible filmic expression of its protagonist Paul.
Inheriting Marx Daniel Bensaïd, Ernst Bloch and the Discordance of Time
Authors: Menozzi Filippo
Published: November 2019

This essay traces a Marxist notion of cultural heritage drawing on the work of twentieth-century thinkers Daniel Bensaïd and Ernst Bloch. Both authors, indeed, address the act of inheriting as a way of rethinking Marxism beyond determinist and teleological concepts of history. In particular, Bensaïd’s 1995 Marx for Our Times and a 1972 essay on cultural heritage by Ernst Bloch reimagine the handing-on of cultural inheritance as the political reactivation of untimely and non-synchronous survivals of past social formations. For this reason, the heritage of Marx conveyed by these authors does not result in a nostalgic preservation of the past but in reviving unrealised possibilities of social transformation. In a comparative reading of Bensaïd and Bloch, the act of ‘inheriting Marx’ analysed in this essay hence formulates a de-commodifying conception of cultural heritage set against the violence of capital.
A new species from Central Anatolia in Turkey, Atriplex turcica (Chenopodiaceae)

Authors: BAŞKÖSE İSA , YAPRAK AHMET EMRE
Published: November 2019

Atriplex turcica is here described and illustrated as a new species of tribe Chenopodieae (sect. Teutliopsis), from the Central Anatolia, Turkey. Morphologically, Atriplex turcica is characterized by the combination of stem, leaf characters, fruit shape, and seed morphology. Additional details on its diagnosis, description, chromosome numbers (diploid 2n=2x=18 and tetraploid 2n=4x=36), distribution and habitat, diagnostic key, and comparisons to related species (A. laevis and A. prostrata) are also provided.
A Nonlinear Theory of Atmospheric Blocking: An Application to Greenland Blocking Changes Linked to Winter Arctic Sea Ice Loss
Authors: Zhang Wenqi , Luo Dehai
Published: November 2019

In this paper, the impact of winter Arctic sea ice concentration (SIC) decline over Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, and Labrador Sea (BDL) on Greenland blocking (GB) is first examined. It is found that the GB has a longer duration, a more notable westward movement, and a larger zonal scale in the low SIC winter than in the high SIC winter. In particular, the decay of GB may become slower than its growth in the low SIC winter, but the reverse is seen in the high SIC winter. The GB in the low SIC winter can have a more important impact on cold anomalies over North American midlatitudes than in the high SIC winter because of its slower decay and stronger retrogression. The influence of large BDL SIC loss on the GB mainly through reduced meridional potential vorticity gradient (PVy) related to reduced zonal winds over the North Atlantic mid- to high latitudes (NAMH) due to BDL warming is further examined by using the nonlinear phase speed and energy dispersion speed formula of blocking based on a nonlinear wave packet theory of atmospheric blocking. In this theory, the preexisting synoptic-scale eddies rather than the eddy straining or deformation is important for the blocking intensification and maintenance, which contradicts the eddy straining theory of Shutts. It is revealed from this theoretical model that under weaker NAMH zonal wind conditions the energy dispersion speed of GB may become smaller due to weaker PVy during its decaying phase than during the blocking growing phase, in addition to the GB having larger negative phase speed and stronger nonlinearity. The opposite is true when the PVy is larger. Thus, under a large SIC loss condition the GB shows notable retrogression, large zonal scales, and a long lifetime, which has a slower decay than its growth.
Interannual and Interdecadal Variabilities of Spring Rainfall over Northeast China and Their Associated Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly Forcings
Authors: Lu Rui , Zhu Zhiwei , Li Tim , Zhang Haiyang
Published: November 2019

An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was conducted for spring precipitation gauge data over northeast China (NEC). The first EOF mode is characterized by a homogenous rainfall pattern throughout NEC. The corresponding principal component has both significant interannual and interdecadal variations. This leading mode explains a large portion of the total NEC spring rainfall (NECSR) variances and is statistically independent from other higher modes. The physical processes responsible for the interannual and interdecadal variabilities were investigated via observational diagnoses and numerical experiments. On the interannual time scale, NECSR is mainly affected by the SST anomalies (SSTAs) in the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean. When the SSTAs are positive, the subsequently induced positive precipitation and convection can stimulate two quasi-barotropic Rossby wave trains over the mid- to high latitudes. A cyclonic anomaly center of the Rossby wave train appears over northeastern Asia, leading to a positive rainfall anomaly in the region. On the interdecadal time scale, NECSR is mainly influenced by the SSTAs over the warm-pool region. Positive SSTAs in the warm-pool region result in enhanced convection (ascending motion) around the Maritime Continent and suppressed convection (descending motion) over the central equatorial Pacific Ocean. This zonal dipole convection pattern stimulates a quasi-barotropic circulation pattern with an anticyclonic anomaly over the Tibetan Plateau and a cyclonic anomaly over northeastern Asia. The cyclonic anomaly over northeastern Asia enhances the NECSR. Numerical experiments further suggested that the convective heating anomaly over the Maritime Continent, rather than cooling over the central equatorial Pacific, plays a more essential role in driving the interdecadal rainfall variability of NECSR.
On the Construction Principle of Conceptual Models for Severe Convective Weather Forecasting Operations in China
Authors: Liu Xinhua , Zhou Kanghui , Lan Yu , Mao Xu , Trapp Robert J.
Published: November 2019

It is argued here that even with the development of objective algorithms, convection-allowing numerical models, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, conceptual models will still be useful for forecasters until all these methods can fully satisfy the forecast requirements in the future. Conceptual models can help forecasters form forecast ideas quickly. They also can make up for the deficiencies of the numerical model and other objective methods. Furthermore, they can help forecasters understand the weather, and then help the forecasters lock in on the key features affecting the forecast as soon as possible. Ultimately, conceptual models can help the forecaster serve the end users faster, and better understand the forecast results during the service process. Based on the above considerations, construction of new conceptual models should have the following characteristics: 1) be guided by purpose, 2) focus on improving the ability of forecasters, 3) have multiangle consideration, 4) have multiscale fusion, and 5) need to be tested and corrected continuously. The traditional conceptual models used for forecasts of severe convective weather should be replaced gradually by new models that incorporate these principles.
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: How do we advance the field?
Authors: Meikle Sally E , Liknaitzky Paul , Rossell Susan L , Ross Margaret , Strauss Nigel , Thomas Neil , Murray Greg , Williams Martin , Castle David J
Published: November 2019

In the quest for new treatment options for depression, attention is being paid to the potential role of psychedelic drugs. Psilocybin is of particular interest given its mechanism of action, its benefits in early trials and its relatively low side effects burden. This viewpoint outlines a number of key issues that remain to be elucidated about its potential use in the clinical environment, including clarification of the profile of people most likely to benefit and those who might experience adverse effects, longer-term outcomes and the role of psychotherapeutic input alongside the drug itself. There are also opportunities to understand better, the neurobiology underpinning its effects.
Industrial Policy in China: Some Intended or Unintended Consequences?
Authors: Cai Jing , Harrison Ann
Published: November 2019

The authors explore the impact of a 2004 tax reform in China that reduced the value-added tax (VAT) on investment goods. Although the goal of the reform was to encourage upgrading of technology, results suggest there was no significant increase in fixed investment, new product introductions, or productivity. Rather, the authors find that firms shifted the composition of investment toward machinery and increased the capital intensity of production, which is consistent with a fall in the price of capital relative to labor. As a result, employment fell significantly in the treated provinces and sectors. Results are robust to a variety of approaches and suggest that the primary impact of the policy has been to induce labor-saving growth. In 2009, the VAT reform was extended to the rest of China.
Analysis of the critical stresses in high-voltage composite winding insulations under thermal loads
Authors: Pothukuchi Harish Kalyan Ram , Fuchs Peter , Schuecker Clara
Published: November 2019

Stator bars are the critical components in generators with respect to their lifespan. The winding insulation may be susceptible to damage under excessive alternating temperature loads incurred by a high number of start–stop cycles and heavy overloads. The differences in thermal expansion between the different components in the multi-layered winding insulation lead to thermal stresses. This work deals with the thermo-mechanical characterisation of the individual constituents of the winding insulation and the finite element model of a stator bar, based on the material data obtained from the tests that enable the identification of the thermal stresses leading to delamination over thermal cycles. The out-of-plane and the interfacial shear stress are found to be in the critical range with respect to the relatively low cohesive strength of the included individual mica layers.
Progressive damage behaviors of the stepped-lap composite joints under bending load
Authors: Liu Bin , Gao Nongyue , Tang Bosen , Gao Yidi , Jin Peng , Lu Zhixian , Fu Zaiguo
Published: November 2019

Due to the high connecting strength and excellent load-transferring efficiency, the adhesively stepped-lap composite bonding has been widely used as joints and repairs in advanced aircraft structures. In the service life of composite structures, they frequently subject to bending loads which are rarely reported by the available reference. Hence, in this paper, three-point and four-point bending experiments are performed on composite stepped-lap structures. Typical damage mode of adhesive on the stepped surface has been found in experiments. And the failure of composite fiber, matrix, interlamination and adhesive materials appeared as competitive behavior. Furthermore, numerical models of stepped-lap composite joints, which used cohesive zone model and 3D Hashin criteria to simulate the inter- and intralaminar damages, were utilized to predict the bending strength and progressive damage. The FEM model, based on progressive damage method, captured the detailed failure as the loading displacement was increasing. The simulation results of load displacement and damage have good agreement with the experiments.
Battle Diffusion Matters: Examining the Impact of Microdynamics of Fighting on Conflict Termination
Authors: Ito Gaku , Hinkkainen Elliott Kaisa
Published: November 2019

How does diffusion of civil war battles influence conflict termination? Recent advances in civil war literature have found that battle dynamics shape conflict termination by affecting the intra-conflict bargaining between disputants. This article extends the theoretical perspective and argues that how battles diffuse matters in determining conflict termination. While battlefield dynamics should in principle reveal previously unavailable private information, the relevance of information-revealing effect depends on the diffusion patterns of battles. The persistent, and possibly battle-exacerbated, commitment problem can also alter the prospects of conflict termination. We test the argument by distinguishing two distinct diffusion patterns of battles: distant and proximate. The empirical results reveal that distant diffusion, but not proximate diffusion, of battles makes civil conflicts less likely to terminate. The analysis also demonstrates that incorporating diffusion dynamics significantly improves our ability to predict conflict termination.