bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstructing 3D Face Models by Incremental Aggregation and Refinement of Depth Frames
Authors: Pala Pietro , Berretti Stefano
Published: January 2019

Face recognition from two-dimensional (2D) still images and videos is quite successful even with “in the wild” conditions. Instead, less consolidated results are available for the cases in which face data come from non-conventional cameras, such as infrared or depth. In this article, we investigate this latter scenario assuming that a low-resolution depth camera is used to perform face recognition in an uncooperative context. To this end, we propose, first, to automatically select a set of frames from the depth sequence of the camera because they provide a good view of the face in terms of pose and distance. Then, we design a progressive refinement approach to reconstruct a higher-resolution model from the selected low-resolution frames. This process accounts for the anisotropic error of the existing points in the current 3D model and the points in a newly acquired frame so that the refinement step can progressively adjust the point positions in the model using a Kalman-like estimation. The quality of the reconstructed model is evaluated by considering the error between the reconstructed models and their corresponding high-resolution scans used as ground truth. In addition, we performed face recognition using the reconstructed models as probes against a gallery of reconstructed models and a gallery with high-resolution scans. The obtained results confirm the possibility to effectively use the reconstructed models for the face recognition task.
Discovering Latent Topics by Gaussian Latent Dirichlet Allocation and Spectral Clustering
Authors: Yuan Bo , Gao Xinbo , Niu Zhenxing , Tian Qi
Published: January 2019

Today, diversifying the retrieval results of a certain query will improve customers’ search efficiency. Showing the multiple aspects of information provides users an overview of the object, which helps them fast target their demands. To discover aspects, research focuses on generating image clusters from initially retrieved results. As an effective approach, latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) has been proved to have good performance on discovering high-level topics. However, traditional LDA is designed to process textual words, and it needs the input as discrete data. When we apply this algorithm to process continuous visual images, a common solution is to quantize the continuous features into discrete form by a bag-of-visual-words algorithm. During this process, quantization error will lead to information that inevitably is lost. To construct a topic model with complete visual information, this work applies Gaussian latent Dirichlet allocation (GLDA) on the diversity issue of image retrieval. In this model, traditional multinomial distribution is substituted with Gaussian distribution to model continuous visual features. In addition, we propose a two-phase spectral clustering strategy, called
dual spectral clustering
, to generate clusters from region level to image level. The experiments on the challenging landmarks of the DIV400 database show that our proposal improves relevance and diversity by about 10% compared to traditional topic models.
Image Captioning With Visual-Semantic Double Attention
Authors: He Chen , Hu Haifeng
Published: January 2019

In this article, we propose a novel Visual-Semantic Double Attention (VSDA) model for image captioning. In our approach, VSDA consists of two parts: a modified visual attention model is used to extract sub-region image features, then a new SEmantic Attention (SEA) model is proposed to distill semantic features. Traditional attribute-based models always neglect the distinctive importance of each attribute word and fuse all of them into recurrent neural networks, resulting in abundant irrelevant semantic features. In contrast, at each timestep, our model selects the most relevant word that aligns with current context. In other words, the real power of VSDA lies in the ability of not only leveraging semantic features but also eliminating the influence of irrelevant attribute words to make the semantic guidance more precise. Furthermore, our approach solves the problem that visual attention models cannot boost generating non-visual words. Considering that visual and semantic features are complementary to each other, our model can leverage both of them to strengthen the generations of visual and non-visual words. Extensive experiments are conducted on famous datasets: MS COCO and Flickr30k. The results show that VSDA outperforms other methods and achieves promising performance.
PowerLyra
Authors: Chen Rong , Shi Jiaxin , Chen Yanzhe , Zang Binyu , Guan Haibing , Chen Haibo
Published: January 2019

Natural graphs with skewed distributions raise unique challenges to distributed graph computation and partitioning. Existing graph-parallel systems usually use a “one-size-fits-all” design that uniformly processes all vertices, which either suffer from notable load imbalance and high contention for high-degree vertices (e.g., Pregel and GraphLab) or incur high communication cost and memory consumption even for low-degree vertices (e.g., PowerGraph and GraphX). In this article, we argue that skewed distributions in natural graphs also necessitate differentiated processing on high-degree and low-degree vertices. We then introduce PowerLyra, a new distributed graph processing system that embraces the best of both worlds of existing graph-parallel systems. Specifically, PowerLyra uses centralized computation for low-degree vertices to avoid frequent communications and distributes the computation for high-degree vertices to balance workloads. PowerLyra further provides an efficient hybrid graph partitioning algorithm (i.e., hybrid-cut) that combines edge-cut (for low-degree vertices) and vertex-cut (for high-degree vertices) with heuristics. To improve cache locality of inter-node graph accesses, PowerLyra further provides a locality-conscious data layout optimization. PowerLyra is implemented based on the latest GraphLab and can seamlessly support various graph algorithms running in both synchronous and asynchronous execution modes. A detailed evaluation on three clusters using various graph-analytics and MLDM (Machine Learning and Data Mining) applications shows that PowerLyra outperforms PowerGraph by up to 5.53X (from 1.24X) and 3.26X (from 1.49X) for real-world and synthetic graphs, respectively, and is much faster than other systems like GraphX and Giraph, yet with much less memory consumption. A porting of hybrid-cut to GraphX further confirms the efficiency and generality of PowerLyra.
Large Scale Online Multiple Kernel Regression with Application to Time-Series Prediction
Authors: Sahoo Doyen , Hoi Steven C. H. , Li Bin
Published: January 2019

Kernel-based regression represents an important family of learning techniques for solving challenging regression tasks with non-linear patterns. Despite being studied extensively, most of the existing work suffers from two major drawbacks as follows: (i) they are often designed for solving regression tasks in a batch learning setting, making them not only computationally inefficient and but also poorly scalable in real-world applications where data arrives sequentially; and (ii) they usually assume that a fixed kernel function is given prior to the learning task, which could result in poor performance if the chosen kernel is inappropriate. To overcome these drawbacks, this work presents a novel scheme of Online Multiple Kernel Regression (OMKR), which sequentially learns the kernel-based regressor in an online and scalable fashion, and dynamically explore a pool of multiple diverse kernels to avoid suffering from a single fixed poor kernel so as to remedy the drawback of manual/heuristic kernel selection. The OMKR problem is more challenging than regular kernel-based regression tasks since we have to on-the-fly determine both the optimal kernel-based regressor for each individual kernel and the best combination of the multiple kernel regressors. We propose a family of OMKR algorithms for regression and discuss their application to time series prediction tasks including application to AR, ARMA, and ARIMA time series. We develop novel approaches to make OMKR scalable for large datasets, to counter the problems arising from an unbounded number of support vectors. We also explore the effect of kernel combination at prediction level and at the representation level. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments to evaluate the empirical performance on both real-world regression and times series prediction tasks.
Detecting and Assessing Anomalous Evolutionary Behaviors of Nodes in Evolving Social Networks
Authors: Wang Huan , Wu Jia , Hu Wenbin , Wu Xindong
Published: January 2019

Based on the performance of entire social networks, anomaly analysis for evolving social networks generally ignores the otherness of the evolutionary behaviors of different nodes, such that it is difficult to precisely identify the anomalous evolutionary behaviors of nodes (
AEBN
). Assuming that a node's evolutionary behavior that generates and removes edges normally follows stable evolutionary mechanisms, this study focuses on detecting and assessing
AEBN,
whose evolutionary mechanisms deviate from their past mechanisms, and proposes a link prediction detection (
LPD
) method and a matrix perturbation assessment (
MPA
) method.
LPD
describes a node's evolutionary behavior by fitting its evolutionary mechanism, and designs indexes for edge generation and removal to evaluate the extent to which the evolutionary mechanism of a node's evolutionary behavior can be fitted by a link prediction algorithm. Furthermore, it detects
AEBN
by quantifying the differences among behavior vectors that characterize the node's evolutionary behaviors in different periods. In addition,
MPA
considers
AEBN
as a perturbation of the social network structure, and quantifies the effect of
AEBN
on the social network structure based on matrix perturbation analysis. Extensive experiments on eight disparate real-world networks demonstrate that analyzing
AEBN
from the perspective of evolutionary mechanisms is important and beneficial.
Evolving skill sets and job pathways of technical communicators
Authors: Shalamova Nadya , Rice-Bailey Tammy , Wikoff Katherine
Published: January 2019

Recent research in technical communication (TC) indicates that the field has become more varied than ever in terms of job titles, job skills, and levels of involvement in the design and production process. Here, we examine this diversity by detailing the results of a small-scale anonymous survey of individuals who are currently working as technical communicators (TCs). The purpose of our survey was to discover what job titles people who identify as TCs have held and the skills required of those positions. The study was conducted using the online survey platform Qualtrics. Survey results found that TCs occupy jobs and use skills that are often quite different from "traditional" TC careers. Results further support previous research that these roles and responsibilities continue to evolve. However, results also suggest that this evolution is more sweeping than previously realized---moving TCs away from not only the traditional technical writing role but also the "technical communicator" role as it has been understood for the past 20--25 years.
Responsive curriculum change
Authors: Carnegie Teena A. M. , Crane Kate
Published: January 2019

This experience report highlights one program's approach to curriculum revision as the program moved from being an emphasis within a literature degree to a B.A. degree in technical communication. The major curriculum was designed by researching state and regional needs for technical communication education in addition to using research already conducted and published in the field. Through an examination of the skills technical communicators needed to be successful in the workplace and how those skills transfer to other related occupations, we were able to build a successful major. The revised curriculum used an interdisciplinary approach to include courses in technical communication, visual design, and public relations. Further, this report discusses the iterative programmatic changes necessary to keep the major current. From alumni interviews and secondary research on changes in technical communication, we continue to reassess the skills students need. As a result our program continues to evolve to equip students with technical communication skills that apply to various, related occupations.
Cultivating virtuous course designers
Authors: Huntsman Sherena , Colton Jared S. , Phillips Christopher
Published: January 2019

Technical communicators are often charged with creating access to meaning through technology. However, these practices can have marginalizing effects. This article argues for reimagining accessibility through virtue ethics. Rather than identifying accessibility as an addition to document design or a set of guidelines, virtue ethics situates accessibility as a habitual practice, part of one's character. This article describes the application of virtue ethics in a university partnership, which sought to create a culture of accessibility through three goals: to consider accessibility as an on-going process, to consider accessibility as a "vital" part of all document design, and to recognize accessibility as a shared responsibility among stakeholders. Focusing on the virtues of courage and justice, we interpret data from a survey of instructors and then provide suggestions on how others can join the accessibility conversation.
Disease Tolerance as an Inherent Component of Immunity
Authors: Martins Rui , Carlos Ana Rita , Braza Faouzi , Thompson Jessica A. , Bastos-Amador Patricia , Ramos Susana , Soares Miguel P.
Published: January 2019

Pathogenic organisms exert a negative impact on host health, revealed by the clinical signs of infectious diseases. Immunity limits the severity of infectious diseases through resistance mechanisms that sense and target pathogens for containment, killing, or expulsion. These resistance mechanisms are viewed as the prevailing function of immunity. Under pathophysiologic conditions, however, immunity arises in response to infections that carry health and fitness costs to the host. Therefore, additional defense mechanisms are required to limit these costs, before immunity becomes operational as well as thereafter to avoid immunopathology. These are tissue damage control mechanisms that adjust the metabolic output of host tissues to different forms of stress and damage associated with infection. Disease tolerance is the term used to define this defense strategy, which does not exert a direct impact on pathogens but is essential to limit the health and fitness costs of infection. Under this argument, we propose that disease tolerance is an inherent component of immunity.
Political Responses to Economic Shocks
Authors: Margalit Yotam
Published: January 2019

How does the experience of economic shocks affect individuals' political views and voting behavior? Inspired partly by the fallout of the financial crisis of 2008, research on this question has proliferated. Findings from studies covering a broadening range of countries and economic contexts highlight several notable patterns. Economic shocks—e.g., job loss or sharp drop in income—exert a significant and theoretically predictable, if often transient, effect on political attitudes. In contrast, the effect on voting behavior is more limited in magnitude and its manifestations less understood. Negative economic shocks tend to increase support for more expansive social policy and for redistribution, strengthening the appeal of the left. But such shocks also tend to decrease trust in political institutions, thus potentially driving the voters to support radical or populist parties, or demobilizing them altogether. Further research is needed to detect the conditions that lead to these distinct voting outcomes.
Polarization and the Judiciary
Authors: Hasen Richard L.
Published: January 2019

The increased polarization in the United States among the political branches and citizenry affects the selection, work, perception, and relative power of state and federal judges, including justices of the US Supreme Court. Polarization in the United States over the last few decades matters to the American judicial system in at least four ways. First, polarization affects judicial selection, whether the selection method is (sometimes partisan-based) elections or appointment by political actors. In times of greater polarization, governors and presidents who nominate judges, legislators who confirm judges, and voters who vote on judicial candidates are more apt to support or oppose judges on the basis of partisan affiliation or cues. Second, driven in part by selection mechanisms, polarization may be reflected in the decisions that judges make, especially on issues that divide people politically, such as abortion, guns, or affirmative action. The Supreme Court, for example, often divides along party and ideological lines in the most prominent and highly contested cases. Those ideological lines now overlap with party as we enter a period in which all the Court liberals have been appointed by Democratic presidents and all the Court conservatives have been appointed by Republican presidents. Third, increasingly polarized judicial decisions appear to be causing the public to view judges and judicial decision making (at least on the US Supreme Court) through a more partisan lens. Fourth, polarization may affect the separation of powers, by empowering courts against polarized legislative bodies sometimes paralyzed by gridlock. The review concludes by considering how increased polarization may interact with the judiciary and judicial branch going forward and by suggesting areas for future research.
ANXA4 promotes trophoblast invasion via the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway in preeclampsia
Authors: Xu Yalan , Sui Lili , Qiu Bintao , Yin Xiuju , Liu Juntao , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: January 2019

The inadequate trophoblast invasion is associated with the development of preeclampsia (PE). Considering that annexin A4 (ANXA4) enhances tumor invasion, we aimed to explore the functional role of ANXA4 in trophoblast cells and to examine the underlying mechanism. ANXA4 expression in PE placentas was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were determined using a MTT assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) were detected by Western blotting. Placentas were prepared for pathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining and apoptosis determination using the TUNEL method. Expression of ANXA4, PI3K, p-Akt and p-eNOS was downregulated in human PE placentas and PE placenta-derived extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVCTs). Furthermore, ANXA4 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and invasion, inhibited cell apoptosis, and upregulated protein expression of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-eNOS in human trophoblast cells HTR-8/SVneo and JEG-3. By contrast, ANXA4 knockdown exerted the opposite effects. Furthermore, inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway by LY294002 abrogated the ANXA4 overexpression-mediated effects on trophoblast behavior. Furthermore, eNOS knockdown abrogated the ANXA4 overexpression-induced promotion of cell invasion and MMP2/9 expression. Additionally, in N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-induced PE rats, ANXA4 overexpression alleviated PE progression, accompanied by an increase in expression of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-eNOS in rat placentas. Our findings demonstrate that ANXA4 expression is downregulated in PE. ANXA4 may promote trophoblast invasion via the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.
Role of SOCS3 in POMC neurons in metabolic and cardiovascular regulation
Authors: Wang Zhen , do Carmo Jussara M. , da Silva Alexandre A. , Bailey Kandice C. , Aberdein Nicola , Moak Sydney P. , Hall John E.
Published: January 2019

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is a negative regulator of leptin signaling. We previously showed that the chronic effects of leptin on blood pressure (BP) and glucose regulation are mediated by stimulation of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. In this study we examined the importance of endogenous SOCS3 in POMC neurons in control of metabolic and cardiovascular function and potential sex differences. Male and female SOCS3flox/flox/POMC-Cre mice in which SOCS3 was selectively deleted in POMC neurons and control SOCS3flox/flox mice were studied during a control diet (CD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) and during chronic leptin infusion. Body weight was lower in male and female SOCS3flox/flox/POMC-Cre than control mice fed the CD, despite similar food intake. Male SOCS3flox/flox/POMC-Cre mice exhibited increased energy expenditure. BP and heart rate were similar in male and female SOCS3flox/flox/POMC-Cre and control mice fed the CD. HFD-fed male and female SOCS3flox/flox/POMC-Cre mice showed attenuated weight gain. HFD-induced elevations in baseline BP and BP responses to an air-jet stress test were greater in female SOCS3flox/flox/POMC-Cre than control mice. Chronic leptin infusion produced similar responses for food intake, body weight, oxygen consumption, blood glucose, BP, and heart rate in all groups. Thus SOCS3 deficiency in POMC neurons influences body weight regulation in the setting of CD and HFD and differentially affects BP and energy balance in a sex-specific manner but does not amplify the dietary, glycemic, or cardiovascular effects of leptin.
Protease-activated receptor 2 exacerbates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity
Authors: Watanabe Mari , Oe Yuji , Sato Emiko , Sekimoto Akiyo , Sato Hiroshi , Ito Sadayoshi , Takahashi Nobuyuki
Published: January 2019

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with hypercoagulability. Tissue factor/factor VIIa complex and factor Xa in the coagulation cascade activate protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). Previously, we have shown that PAR2-mediated inflammation aggravates kidney injury in models of diabetic kidney disease and adenine-induced renal fibrosis. However, the role of PAR2 in AKI remains unclear. To clarify the role of PAR2, we administered cisplatin, one of the most common causal factors of AKI, to wild-type and PAR2-deficient mice. The expression levels of tissue factor and PAR2 were significantly increased in the kidneys of mice that were administered cisplatin. A lack of PAR2 corrected the levels of plasma blood urea nitrogen and creatinine as well as ameliorated the acute tubular injury score in the kidney. A lack of PAR2 corrected the infiltration of neutrophils and the gene expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines in these mouse kidneys. Similarly, apoptotic markers, such as cleaved caspase-3-positive area and Bax/Bcl2 ratio, were attenuated via PAR2 deletion. Thus, elevated PAR2 exacerbates cisplatin nephrotoxicity, and targeting PAR2 is a novel therapeutic option that aids in the treatment of patients with cisplatin-induced AKI.
LPS removal reduces CD80-mediated albuminuria in critically ill patients with Gram-negative sepsis
Authors: Netti Giuseppe Stefano , Sangregorio Fabio , Spadaccino Federica , Staffieri Francesco , Crovace Antonio , Infante Barbara , Maiorano Annamaria , Godeas Giulia , Castellano Giuseppe , Di Palma Anna Maria , Prattichizzo Clelia , Cotoia Antonella , Mirabella Lucia , Gesualdo Loreto , Cinnella Gilda , Stallone Giovanni , Ranieri Elena , Grandaliano Giuseppe
Published: January 2019

LPS-induced sepsis is a leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. LPS may induce CD80 expression in podocytes with subsequent onset of proteinuria, a risk factor for progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently observed after AKI. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of LPS removal in decreasing albuminuria through the reduction of podocyte CD80 expression. Between January 2015 and December 2017, 70 consecutive patients with Gram-negative sepsis-induced AKI were randomized to either have coupled plasma filtration and adsorption (CPFA) added to the standard care ( n = 35) or not ( n = 35). To elucidate the possible relationship between LPS-induced renal damage, proteinuria, and CD80 expression in Gram sepsis, a swine model of LPS-induced AKI was set up. Three hours after LPS infusion, animals were treated or not with CPFA for 6 h. Treatment with CPFA significantly reduced serum cytokines, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and endotoxin levels in patients with Gram-negative sepsis-induced AKI. CPFA significantly lowered also proteinuria and CD80 urinary excretion. In the swine model of LPS-induced AKI, CD80 glomerular expression, which was undetectable in control pigs, was markedly increased at the podocyte level in LPS-exposed animals. CPFA significantly reduced LPS-induced proteinuria and podocyte CD80 expression in septic pigs. Our data indicate that LPS induces albuminuria via podocyte expression of CD80 and suggest a possible role of timely LPS removal in preventing the maladaptive repair of the podocytes and the consequent increased risk of CKD in sepsis-induced AKI.
Sympathetic afferents in the hypogastric nerve facilitate nociceptive bladder activity in cats
Authors: Zhang Yan , Li Shun , Yecies Todd , Morgan Tara , Cai Haotian , Pace Natalie , Shen Bing , Wang Jicheng , Roppolo James R. , de Groat William C. , Tai Changfeng
Published: January 2019

This study in α-chloralose-anesthetized cats revealed a role of hypogastric nerve afferent axons in nociceptive bladder activity induced by bladder irritation using 0.25% acetic acid (AA). In cats with intact hypogastric and pelvic nerves, AA irritation significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced bladder capacity to 45.0 ± 5.7% of the control capacity measured during a saline cystometrogram (CMG). In cats with the hypogastric nerves transected bilaterally, AA irritation also significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced bladder capacity, but the change was significantly smaller (capacity reduced to 71.5 ± 10.6% of saline control, P < 0.05) than that in cats with an intact hypogastric nerve. However, application of hypogastric nerve stimulation (HGNS: 20 Hz, 0.2 ms pulse width) to the central end of the transected nerves at an intensity (16 V) strong enough to activate C-fiber afferent axons facilitated the effect of AA irritation and further ( P < 0.05) reduced bladder capacity to 48.4 ± 7.4% of the saline control. This facilitation by HGNS was effective only at selected frequencies (1, 20, and 30 Hz) when the stimulation intensity was above the threshold for activating C-fibers. Tramadol (an analgesic agent) at 3 mg/kg iv completely blocked the nociceptive bladder activity and eliminated the facilitation by HGNS. HGNS did not alter non-nociceptive bladder activity induced by saline distention of the bladder. These results indicate that sympathetic afferents in the hypogastric nerve play an important role in the facilitation of the nociceptive bladder activity induced by bladder irritation that activates the silent C-fibers in the pelvic nerve.
Visual delay affects force scaling and weight perception during object lifting in virtual reality
Authors: van Polanen Vonne , Tibold Robert , Nuruki Atsuo , Davare Marco
Published: January 2019

Lifting an object requires precise scaling of fingertip forces based on a prediction of object weight. At object contact, a series of tactile and visual events arise that need to be rapidly processed online to fine-tune the planned motor commands for lifting the object. The brain mechanisms underlying multisensory integration serially at transient sensorimotor events, a general feature of actions requiring hand-object interactions, are not yet understood. In this study we tested the relative weighting between haptic and visual signals when they are integrated online into the motor command. We used a new virtual reality setup to desynchronize visual feedback from haptics, which allowed us to probe the relative contribution of haptics and vision in driving participants’ movements when they grasped virtual objects simulated by two force-feedback robots. We found that visual delay changed the profile of fingertip force generation and led participants to perceive objects as heavier than when lifts were performed without visual delay. We further modeled the effect of vision on motor output by manipulating the extent to which delayed visual events could bias the force profile, which allowed us to determine the specific weighting the brain assigns to haptics and vision. Our results show for the first time how visuo-haptic integration is processed at discrete sensorimotor events for controlling object-lifting dynamics and further highlight the organization of multisensory signals online for controlling action and perception.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Dexterous hand movements require rapid integration of information from different senses, in particular touch and vision, at different key time points as movement unfolds. The relative weighting between vision and haptics for object manipulation is unknown. We used object lifting in virtual reality to desynchronize visual and haptic feedback and find out their relative weightings. Our findings shed light on how rapid multisensory integration is processed over a series of discrete sensorimotor control points.
Changes in motor-evoked potential latency during grasping after tetraplegia
Authors: Jo Hang Jin , Perez Monica A.
Published: January 2019

The corticospinal pathway contributes to the control of grasping in intact humans. After spinal cord injury (SCI), there is an extensive reorganization in the corticospinal pathway; however, its contribution to the control of grasping after the injury remains poorly understood. We addressed this question by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the hand representation of the motor cortex to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in an intrinsic finger muscle during precision grip and power grip with the TMS coil oriented to induce currents in the brain in the latero-medial (LM) direction to activate corticospinal axons directly and in the posterior-anterior (PA) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions to activate the axon indirectly through synaptic inputs in humans with and without cervical incomplete SCI. We found prolonged MEP latencies in all coil orientations in both tasks in SCI compared with control subjects. The latencies of MEPs elicited by AP relative to LM stimuli were consistently longer during power compared with precision grip in controls and SCI subjects. In contrast, PA relative to LM MEP latencies were similar between tasks across groups. Central conduction time of AP MEPs was prolonged during power compared with precision grip in controls and SCI participants. Our results support evidence indicating that inputs activated by AP and PA currents are engaged to a different extent during fine and gross grasping in humans with and without SCI.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The mechanisms contributing to the control of hand function in humans with spinal cord injury (SCI) remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the latency of corticospinal responses elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation anterior-posterior induced currents, relative to latero-medial currents, was prolonged during power compared with precision grip in humans with and without SCI. Gross grasping might represent a stragegy to engage networks activated by anterior-posterior currents after SCI.
D-type potassium channels normalize action potential firing between dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons of the mouse hippocampus
Authors: Ordemann Gregory J. , Apgar Christopher J. , Brager Darrin H.
Published: January 2019

Specific memory processes and neurological disorders can be ascribed to different dorsoventral regions of the hippocampus. Recently, differences in the anatomical and physiological properties between dorsal and ventral hippocampal CA1 neurons were described for both the rat and mouse hippocampus and have greatly contributed to our understanding of these processes. While differences in the subthreshold properties were similar between rat and mouse neurons, differences in action potential output between dorsal and ventral neurons were strikingly less divergent in mouse compared with rat CA1 neurons. Here, we investigate the mechanism underlying the lack of difference in action potential firing between dorsal and ventral CA1 pyramidal neurons in mouse hippocampus. Consistent with rat, we found that ventral CA1 neurons had a more depolarized resting membrane potential and higher input resistance than dorsal CA1 neurons in the mouse hippocampus. Despite these differences, action potential output in response to current injection was not significantly different. We found that ventral neurons have a more depolarized action potential threshold compared with dorsal neurons and that threshold in ventral neurons was more sensitive to block of KV1 channels compared with dorsal neurons. Outside-out voltage-clamp recordings found that slowly inactivating K+ currents were larger in ventral CA1 neurons. These results suggest that, despite differences in subthreshold properties between dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons, action potential output is normalized by the differential functional expression of D-type K+ channels.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Understanding differences in neurons within a brain region is integral in the reliable interpretation of comparative studies. Our findings identify a novel mechanism by which D-type potassium channels normalize action potential firing between dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons of mouse hippocampus despite differences in subthreshold intrinsic properties. Action potential threshold in ventral neurons is influenced by a greater functional expression of D-type potassium channels resulting in a depolarized action potential threshold compared with dorsal hippocampus.
Neuroinflammation and the cGAS-STING pathway
Authors: Chin Alfred C.
Published: January 2019

The recent discovery of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) as the mammalian cytosolic DNA sensor has profound therapeutic implications for infection, immunology, and cancer. Because neurovirology, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, and neurodegeneration implicate cytosolic DNA sensing, cGAS activation and induction of the downstream signaling protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has become increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of neuropathophysiology. This Neuro Forum article reviews recent advances on the role of cGAS-STING signaling in neuroinflammation and neurological disease.
Repeated Synchronous Aspiration and Ingestion of a Sharp Metallic Foreign Body in a Mentally Disabled Adolescent
Authors: Subotic Dragan , Atanasijadis Nikola , Moskovljevic Dejan , Asujic Dragana
Published: January 2019

In a mentally disabled adolescent, bronchoscopic extraction failure of a metallic foreign body from the left main bronchus was followed by mediastinal emphysema. At thoracotomy, a part of the metallic hook was found to protrude through the main bronchus, just by the descending aorta. The foreign body was removed and the bronchus sutured. After the thoracotomy closure, laparotomy was performed with removal of metallic pieces from the stomach. After three years, a repeated metallic foreign body aspiration as confirmed by the chest radiography ensued, with metallic pieces in the bowels as well. With the surgical team on site, rigid bronchoscopy was done and the foreign body extracted from the intermediate bronchus. Metallic pieces left the digestive tract spontaneously after a few days. In conclusion, the appropriate preoperative workup and timing for surgery are essential for the treatment outcome of this life-threatening condition; because of the high likelihood of the major airway injury, such procedures should be done with a surgical team available whenever possible.
Dynamic Compression Properties and Deterioration of Red‐Sandstone Subject to Cyclic Wet‐Dry Treatment
Authors: Du Bin , Bai Haibo , Wu Guangming
Published: January 2019

Rock engineering is usually associated with impact loads induced by blasting, drilling, vibration, or earthquake. In the engineering fields of tunnelling, slopes, dams, and mining, rocks are always subjected to cyclic wet‐dry caused by periodical variation in moisture. To study cyclic wet‐dry effects on dynamic compression properties and deterioration of red‐sandstone, physical tests and dynamic and static tests were conducted after 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wet‐dry cycles. Changes in physical and mechanical parameters, including P‐wave velocity, density, and static and dynamic compression strength, were determined. Deterioration of red‐sandstone caused by wet‐dry cycles was verified through physicomechanical parameters, and the microscopic features were scanned by SEM techniques. Experimental results showed that the dynamic compression strength increased with the loading rate, but decreased with the increase of wet‐dry cycles. In terms of the loading rate, the decay function model was proposed to evaluate the long‐term dynamic compression strength of red‐sandstone against cyclic wet‐dry action. Besides, the function of the loading rate was obtained. Parameters of two models, decay constant and half‐life values, were measured accurately.
A Theoretical Model for the Rake Blockage Mitigation in Deep Cone Thickener: A Case Study of Lead‐Zinc Mine in China
Authors: Ruan Zhuen , Wang Yong , Wu Aixiang , Yin Shenghua , Jin Fei
Published: January 2019

Deep cone thickener (DCT) is key equipment in cemented paste backfill (CPB) technology. However, rake blockage occurs frequently in DCT during the dewatering process of the unclassified tailings being thickened from dilute slurry to thickened tailings or paste. Rake blockage has disastrous effects on the CPB operation. In order to investigate the influencing factors of rake blockage in DCT, a mathematical model of rake power in DCT was developed. In addition, stacking mud bed (made of thickened tailings) from the DCT in Huize lead‐zinc mine (HLZM) in different rake blockage accidents was sampled and tested to investigate the effect of tailings characters on rake blockage. Results indicated that the concentration of the mud bed and the friction between the mud bed and the cone wall contributed to the rake blockage. The concentration and friction were influenced by the high content of coarse particles in the mud bed. Moreover, activating devices for bed mud, as the corrective and preventive action, were developed to prevent the rake blockage, which was valid in HLZM.
A Capacitated Location-Inventory Model with Demand Selection
Authors: Li Zhengyi , Hai Jiangtao
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we consider an integrated supply chain network design problem, which incorporates inventory and pricing decisions into the capacitated facility location model. We assume that each warehouse has a capacity limitation that limits the average demand flowing through the warehouse and that the supplier can choose whether to satisfy each potential retailer’s demand. We formulate the problem as a nonlinear integer programming model and solve the model via a Lagrangian relaxation based approach. We develop an efficient algorithm to solve the subproblem that arises from the Lagrangian relaxation procedure. Finally, we conduct extensive computational experiments to test the performance of the algorithms proposed in this paper and provide the managerial insights based on the computational results.
Does Body Mass Index and Height Influence the Incident Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Subjects?
Authors: Duan Donghui , Li Hui , Xu Jiaying , Wong Liping , Xu Guodong , Kong Fanqian , Li Sixuan , Gong Qinghai , Zhang Xiaohong , Zhao Jinshun , Zhang Lina , Xu Guozhang , Xing Wenhua , Han Liyuan
Published: January 2019

Objective. To estimate the incident risk of ischemic stroke (IS) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) subjects according to different body mass index (BMI) and height categories.Methods. A total of 25,130 newly diagnosed T2D subjects were included in this study. All T2D subjects were enrolled consecutively from the Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CDSS) of Ningbo. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) stratified by BMI categories and height quartiles were used to estimate the incident risk of IS in T2D subjects.Results. In total, 22,795 subjects completed the follow-up. Among them, 1268 newly diagnosed IS cases were identified, with 149,675 person-years. The SIRs of normal BMI (18.5–24.0 kg/m2), overweight (24.0–28.0 kg/m2), and obese (≥28.0 kg/m2) in overall subjects were 2.56 (95% CI 1.90–3.13), 2.13 (95% CI 1.90–3.13), and 1.87 (95% CI 1.29–2.43), respectively (Ptrend<0.01), comparing to the general population of Ningbo. For each 1 kg/m2increment in BMI, the SIR was 0.948 (95% CI 0.903–0.999). For height quartiles, the SIRs of male subjects in quartile 1 (<160 cm), quartile 2 (161–165 cm), quartile 3 (165–170 cm), and quartile 4 (≥171 cm) were 2.27 (95% CI 1.99–2.56), 2.01 (95% CI 1.67–2.45), 1.37 (95% CI 1.05–1.68), and 0.91 (95% CI 0.40–1.32), respectively (Ptrend<0.01). While for female subjects, the SIRs in quartile 1 (<155 cm), quartile 2 (156–160 cm), quartile 3 (161–165 cm), and quartile 4 (≥166 cm) were 3.57 (95% CI 3.11–3.49), 2.96 (95% CI 2.61–3.31), 1.94 (95% CI 1.51–2.36), and 1.71 (95% CI 0.95–2.47), respectively (Ptrend<0.01).Conclusion. Compared to the general population of Ningbo, T2D subjects had a higher incident risk of IS. Furthermore, the IS incident risk was not only higher in newly diagnosed T2D subjects with normal BMI but also lower in taller newly diagnosed T2D subjects.
Development and Preliminary Investigation of a Semiautonomous Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) Designed to Elicit Communication, Motor Skills, Emotion, and Visual Regard (Engagement) from Young Children with Complex Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Comparative Trial
Authors: Clark Cecilia , Sliker Levin , Sandstrum Jim , Burne Brian , Haggett Victoria , Bodine Cathy
Published: January 2019

Through play, typically developing children manipulate objects and interact with peers to establish and develop physical, cognitive, language, and social skills. However, children with complex disabilities and/or developmental delays have limited play experiences, thus compromising the quality of play and acquisition of skills. Assistive technologies have been developed to increase opportunities and level of interaction for children with disabilities to facilitate learning and development. One type of technology, Socially Assistive Robotics, is designed to assist the human user through social interaction while creating measurable growth in learning and rehabilitation. The investigators in this study designed, developed, and validated a semiautonomous Socially Assistive Robot to compare with a switch-adapted toy to determine robot effectiveness in quantity of, changes in, and differences in engagement. After interacting with both systems for three sessions each, five of the eight subjects showed a greater level of positive engagement with the robot than the switch-adapted toy, while the remaining three subjects showed slightly higher positive engagement with the toy. The preliminary results of the study suggest that Socially Assistive Robots specifically designed for children with complex cerebral palsy should be further researched and utilized to enrich play interactions and skill development for this population.
Can Fiber Application Affect the Fracture Strength of Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored with a Low Viscosity Bulk-Fill Composite?
Authors: Eliguzeloglu Dalkılıç Evrim , Kazak Magrur , Hisarbeyli Duygu , Fildisi Mehmet Ali , Donmez Nazmiye , Deniz Arısu Hacer
Published: January 2019

Objective.The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different fiber insertion techniques and thermomechanical aging on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated mandibular premolar teeth restored using bulk-fill composites.Materials and Methods. Eighty human mandibular premolar teeth were randomly divided into eight groups: Group IN, Group BF, Group PRF1, Group PRF2, Group IN-TMA, Group BF-TMA, Group PRF1-TMA ,and Group PRF2-TMA. Group IN (intact) and Group IN-TMA (intact but subjected to thermomechanical aging) served as control groups. In the other six groups, endodontic treatment was performed and standardized mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavities were prepared. In BF, PRF1, and PRF2, the cavities were restored with bulk-fill composite only, bulk-fill/Ribbond, and bulk-fill/additional Ribbond, respectively. In BF-TMA, PRF1-TMA, and PRF2-TMA, the teeth were subjected to thermomechanical aging after the restorations. All of the teeth were fractured on the universal testing machine. Fracture surfaces were analyzed with a stereomicroscope.Results.Control groups showed significantly higher fracture strengths than tested groups (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed among the tested groups (P>0.05). Most of the favorable fractures were seen in PRF1, PRF2, and PRF2-TMA. Most of the unfavorable fractures were seen in BF-TMA.Conclusions. Although fiber insertion with different techniques did not increase the fracture strength of teeth restored with bulk-fill composites, it increased the favorable fracture modes. Thermomechanical aging did not change the fracture strength of the groups.
Trends of Sampling Error in Surface Air Temperature on the Tibetan Plateau during Recent Decades
Authors: Hua Wei , Huang Tianci , Lin Zouxin , Zhu Lihua , Wang Xin , Fan Guangzhou
Published: January 2019

Understanding errors in surface air temperature (SAT) data and related uncertainties is crucial for climate studies because of their impact on the accuracy of statistical inferences in scientific conclusions. In recent decades, considerable research has focused on the trends and evolution of SAT on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, assessment of the uncertainties in SAT change on the TP has not been done adequately, which is of considerable importance for climate research. Using station-observed SAT data from the TP, this study estimates long-term variations and trends of sampling error variances in gridded monthly SAT data over recent decades. Results revealed large sampling error variances in northern and western parts of the TP but small variances in eastern, southern, and central areas. The sampling error variances also exhibited strong monthly variations with maximum errors in winter and minimum values in summer. Furthermore, spatial distributions of the trends of seasonal and annual mean sampling error variances were found distributed unevenly with decreasing trends found mainly in central and southern parts of the TP and increasing trends in northeastern, southeastern, and northwestern areas. Additionally, differences were also found in the trends of seasonal and annual mean sampling error variances on various timescales.
Effect of Surface Morphology on Dynamic Characteristics of Cam‐Follower Oblique Impact System
Authors: Deng Wangqun , Feng Haibo , Wang Jianjun , Yang Yongfeng
Published: January 2019

The effects of the fractal characteristics on the dynamic characteristics of the oblique impact system are studied via considering the normal contact stiffness with fractal dimension parameter of the microstructure of the interface in this paper. The normal distribution is used to describe the trend of contact line length. The effects of the position parameters and the scale parameters are analyzed. The simulation results show that the increasing of the interface roughness can make the system response more stable. The system response eventually evolves into chaos as the fractal dimension increases. The system response changes between quasiperiod and chaos affected by the contact line length with a normal random distribution.