bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient assessment of chronic kidney disease self‐care using the chronic kidney disease self‐care scale in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Shu‐Li , Chiu Yi‐Wen , Kung Lan‐Fang , Chen Tzu‐Hui , Hsiao Shih‐Ming , Hsiao Pei‐Ni , Hwang Shang‐Jyh , Hsieh Hui‐Min
Published: August 2018

Aim

Self‐care represents the ‘action’ element of self‐management. This study aimed to use the chronic kidney disease self‐care (CKDSC) scale to examine factors associated with self‐care and aspects of self‐care deficits among CKD patients in Taiwan.

Methods

A cross‐sectional investigation was conducted using the CKDSC scale with 449 CKD patients in Taiwan. The CKDSC is a 16‐item questionnaire with five subscales, including medication adherence, diet control, exercise, smoking behaviours and blood pressure monitoring. Patient demographic and clinical factors taht may affect CKD self‐care were analyzed in the multivariable regression models.

Results

Overall CKDSC scores were significantly higher for women (P = 0.020), older patients (P < 0.001), higher education (P = 0.033), BMI <24 kg/m2 (P = 0.005), later CKD stage or participants in the CKD care programme. Early‐stage CKD patients had significantly lower for medication adherence, diet control, and blood pressure monitoring. Patients who participated in the CKD care programme had higher for medication adherence, diet control and regular exercise habits.

Conclusion

The CKDSC scale is a tool to assess patient self‐care. However, given the CKDSC tool is in Chinese, future studies should validate it in CKD patients in other languages or countries before it can be considered for general use.
Ambulatory assessment of colonic motility using the electromagnetic capsule tracking system
Authors: Mark Esben Bolvig , Poulsen Jakob Lykke , Haase Anne‐Mette , Espersen Marie , Gregersen Tine , Schlageter Vincent , Scott S. Mark , Krogh Klaus , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr
Published: August 2018

Background

The Motilis 3D‐Transit system tracks electromagnetic capsules as they traverse the gastrointestinal tract. The method is minimally invasive and ambulatory. Analysis has previously been limited to regional gut transit times, but new methods may allow detailed analysis of colonic motility.

Methods

Parameters of colonic motility were analyzed from 34 3D‐Transit recordings performed in healthy volunteers (median age 28 years; 8 F). Characteristic propulsive velocities and lengths of movement were determined to quantify common movement patterns. Data from seven patients with severe chronic diarrhea were included for comparison.

Key Results

Lack of capsule motion accounted for 82% (75%‐87%) of total colonic transit time. Propulsive velocities were distributed with peaks at 0.5 cm/min (antegrade or retrograde) and 50 cm/min (antegrade). Based on velocity and length of propagation, five motor patterns were identified; (a) long fast antegrade, (b) fast antegrade, (c) slow antegrade, (d) slow retrograde, and (e) fast retrograde movements. Long fast antegrade movements were median 21 cm (10‐96 cm). Capsule progression was faster during daytime than at night (5.9 cm/h vs 0.8 cm/h; P < 0.01). Colonic transit was faster in patients with chronic diarrhea than in healthy volunteers (5.4 h vs 18.2 h; P = 0.04), with higher capsule velocity (20.4 cm/h vs 4.4 cm/h; P < 0.01).

Conclusions and Inferences

The 3D‐Transit system now allows detailed description of colonic motility and our results are supported by those previously suggested by manometry. It holds promise for future assessment of movement patterns to characterize different diseases and effects of treatment.
Antecedent soil water content and vapor pressure deficit interactively control water potential in Larrea tridentata
Authors: Guo Jessica S. , Ogle Kiona
Published: August 2018

Plant water potential Ψ is regulated by stomatal responses to atmospheric moisture demand D and soil water availability W, but the timescales of influence and interactions between these drivers of plant Ψ are poorly understood.

Here, we quantify the effects of antecedent D and W on plant Ψ in the desert shrub Larrea tridentata. Repeated measurements of plant baseline water potential ΨB and diurnal water potential ΨD were analyzed in a Bayesian framework to evaluate the influence of antecedent D and W at daily and subdaily timescales.

Both ΨB and ΨD exhibited negative, 2‐ to 4‐d lagged responses to daily‐scale D; conversely, plant ΨD responded almost instantaneously to subdaily D, though the direction of this response depended on antecedent moisture conditions. Plant ΨB and ΨD responded positively and immediately (no lag) to shallow W, which contrasts the negative, lagged (6–7 d) response to deep W.

The changing sensitivity of ΨD to subdaily D highlights shifting modes of plant Ψ regulation: D effects on ΨD range from negative to neutral to positive depending on past conditions and time of day. Explicit consideration of antecedent conditions across multiple timescales can reveal important complexities in plant responses.
Rehabilitation of lost teeth related to maintenance of cognitive function
Authors: Shin Myung‐Seop , Shin Yoo Jin , Karna Sandeep , Kim Hyun‐Duck
Published: August 2018

Objective

As the era of aging comes, cognitive impairment (CI) is increasing. The impact of rehabilitation of lost tooth on CI remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether non‐rehabilitated lost teeth (NRLT) is associated with CI among Korean elders.

Methods

A total of 280 elders comprising of 140 cases and 140 age‐sex‐matched controls were included in this cross‐sectional study. CI was assessed using the Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE). NRLT was evaluated using panoramic radiograph and oral examination. NRLT was categorized into low (≤4) and high (≥5). Age, sex, education, drinking, smoking, exercise, obesity, hypertension, subclinical atherosclerosis, glucose, cholesterol, depression, and denture‐wearing were considered as confounders. Conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the adjusted association.

Results

NRLT was associated with increased CI after controlling for confounders (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [95% CFI]: 1.00–1.13). However, lost teeth were not associated with CI. Those with high NRLT (≥5) compared to those with low NRLT (≤4) was more likely to have CI by 2.7 times (OR = 2.74, 95% CFI = 1.28–5.86).

Conclusion

Our data showed that NRLT was independently associated with CI. Hence, rehabilitation of the lost teeth could be important for the maintenance of cognitive function.
State‐of‐the‐art multimodality approach to assist ablations in complex anatomies—From 3D printing to virtual reality
Authors: Knecht Sven , Brantner Philipp , Cattin Philippe , Tobler Daniel , Kühne Michael , Sticherling Christian
Published: August 2018

Imaging of the heart anatomy plays an important role, especially in catheter ablation for the treatment of arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). We present a comprehensive overview of the current state‐of‐the‐art modalities available to plan and guide catheter ablation in an ACHD patient. In addition to the clinical assessment of the computed tomography and the integration of 3D reconstructions into the electroanatomical mapping system, 3D printing and virtual reality assessment showed its value in preprocedural planning of the intervention.
Removal of subcutaneous defibrillator shocking coils: Lessons to learn for future extraction of subcutaneous defibrillator systems
Authors: Nakhla Shady , Hussein Ayman A. , Brunner Michael P. , Wazni Oussama , Wilkoff Bruce L. , Tarakji Khaldoun G.
Published: August 2018

Background

Subcutaneous shocking coils (SQC) have been used to lower defibrillation thresholds in certain patient populations. There are limited data regarding the extraction complexity of these leads. The goal of this study is to describe our SQC extraction experience and identify challenges that may be of importance with the increase in utilization and extraction of fully subcutaneous defibrillator systems.

Methods

We studied consecutive patients who underwent lead removal at our institution during which a Medtronic 6996SQ (Medtronic plc, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was removed

Results

Twenty‐one patients (54.5 ± 14 years, 85.7% male) underwent procedures where at least one lead removed was a SQC. Mean ejection fraction was 27.7% and 11 patients had prior ventricular arrhythmia. Median SQC age was 177 days and the age of the oldest SQC removed was 3,041 days. Infection was the indication for removal in 14 patients. One removal was performed surgically and 20 were completed percutaneously. Three procedures required additional incisions beyond the device pocket and tie‐down sleeve to complete the SQC lead removal due to dense adhesions. One removal procedure required the use of a laser sheath to relieve fibrosis. Complications in this group did not appear related to SQC removal.

Conclusions

Drawing from our SQC removal experience, there may be a need for additional incisions and extra tools to complete removal of older subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads.
Correlation between atrial fibrillation driver locations and complex fractionated atrial electrograms in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Ammar‐Busch Sonia , Reents Tilko , Knecht Sebastien , Rostock Thomas , Arentz Thomas , Duytschaever Mattias , Neumann Thomas , Cauchemez Bruno , Albenque Jean‐Paul , Hessling Gabriele , Deisenhofer Isabel
Published: August 2018

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate a spatial correlation between active atrial fibrillation (AF) drivers measured by electrocardiographic imaging and complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) in patients with persistent AF.

Methods

Sixteen patients with persistent AF were included. A biatrial geometry relative to an array of 252‐body‐surface‐electrodes was obtained from a noncontrast computed tomography scan. The reconstructed unipolar AF electrograms were signal‐processed (ECVUE™, CardioInsight Technologies Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA) to identify AF drivers. Before driver ablation, a biatrial mapping using the NavX system (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) was performed to identify CFAEs. CFAE and driver regions were then quantified and compared.

Results

AF was terminated by driver ablation in 11/16 (70%) patients. The mean number of ablated driver regions was 4 ± 1 per patient. The most frequent driver locations were the inferior left atrium and coronary sinus, the right pulmonary veins, and the right atrium. In 49/63 (78%) of the driver locations, more than 75% of the driver site showed CFAEs. The mean ablated driver area was 58 ± 24 cm2 (19 ± 11% of total surface area). The mean CFAE area was 178 ± 59 cm2 (49 ± 16%). The percentage of non‐ablated CFAE area was 76 ± 13% of total CFAEs. In 9/11 patients with AF termination, the termination site showed CFAEs.

Conclusions

There is a significant overlap between AF driver regions identified by the ECVUE™ system and CFAE areas identified by the NavX system. AF driver regions are smaller and mostly embedded in larger CFAE areas. Selective ablation of drivers in CFAE areas seems sufficient to terminate persistent AF in the majority of patients.
Electrocardiogram screening of deaf children for long QT syndrome: An Egyptian experience
Authors: Gouda Sherif , Saif Mohammed Q. , Shabana Mohammed , Salama Sameh , Eldamaty Ahmed
Published: August 2018

Background

Jervell and Lange‐Nielsen syndrome is an autosomal recessive form of long QT syndrome (LQTS), clinically manifested by long QT interval and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with the highest prevalence in Norway and Sweden. No data are available about the prevalence of such syndrome in Egypt.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess by electrocardiogram (ECG) the prevalence of LQTS among Egyptian children with SNHL.

Methods

One thousand and twelve patients, aged ≤ 10 years (mean age 5.8 ± 2.6), were included in this study, 578 male patients (57%) and 434 female patients (43%). A 12‐lead ECG was recorded for all patients and the corrected QT interval (QTc) was calculated by Bazett's formula. The probability of LQTS was evaluated by Schwartz criteria and laboratory investigations were done on all patients with long QT interval.

Results

In the current study, the mean QTc interval was 411.7 ± 25.3 ms (range 343–675 ms). Twenty‐one patients (2.1 %) had probable LQTS; of these, 11 patients had intermediate probability (Schwartz score 1.5–3 points) and 10 patients had high probability (Schwartz score ≥ 3.5 points).

Conclusion

This study shows that 2.1% of Egyptian children with SNHL in a tertiary care setting have LQTS.
Asymmetric Inter‐Korean Negotiations on Forest Carbon Offset Projects: Feasibility, Stakes, and Referential Variables
Authors: Heo Man‐ho , Kim Mi‐ran
Published: August 2018

North Korean forests represent a potential substitutive option for central/local governments and private companies in South Korea seeking to abide by the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. Yet the “protracted [inter‐Korean] conflict” poses many difficulties for negotiating with the North and fulfilling any agreement. Therefore, this research seeks to identify an appropriate orientation and effective negotiation policy with reference to North Korean negotiating behavior and the 1978 Netherlands International Workshop negotiation model. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the concerned party interests evaluates the feasibility of negotiations on forest carbon offset, indicates possible problems, and assesses the viability of different strategies. The strengths–opportunities (SO; maxi–maxi) strategy is relatively easy for South Korean participants, whereby unavoidable weaknesses and threats should be used as reference variables during negotiation and to minimize harm. Organic solidarity is needed among South Korean private and governmental participants. Furthermore, technical alternatives should be prepared at each stage for overall success.
Partially Right, Partially Wrong: Rethinking the Implementation of International Human Rights Law in Countries with Gross Human Rights Violations
Authors: Baek Buhm‐Suk
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this paper is to carefully examine the way in which international law has been implemented in the domestic human rights system, with a special focus on how the public legitimacy of international human rights norms can be established in individual states. Simultaneously, it will review whether the current international human rights system has evolved to formulate practically attainable standards and policies of human rights for all countries. In this vein, the main question of this paper is how human rights norms can be effectively implemented in individual countries, especially those with the worst records of gross human rights violations. To find the appropriate approaches for this question, it will focus on two test cases – (i) the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea and (ii) the US–South Korea Free‐Trade Agreement – and their human rights impact on North Korea.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: An unusual presentation of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a pediatric post–liver transplant patient
Authors: Jarchin Lauren , Chu Jaime , Januska Megan , Merola Pamela , Arnon Ronen
Published: August 2018

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare condition characterized by immune dysfunction with uncontrolled activation of macrophages and hypersecretion of cytokines, has only been reported in a small number of pediatric patients following solid organ transplant (SOT). The diagnosis of HLH after SOT is especially difficult, as several of the diagnostic criteria, including fever, splenomegaly, and cytopenias, are nonspecific and can be seen with other post‐transplant complications. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) has also been reported after pediatric SOT and is thought to be related to immunosuppression, specifically tacrolimus. Although HLH and AIHA have been separately described following SOT, there have been no reports of them occurring together in post–liver transplant (LT) patients. We report the first case of autoimmune hemolysis as the presenting symptom of HLH in a pediatric post‐LT patient.
The role of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in C4 photosynthesis
Authors: Schlüter U. , Bräutigam A. , Droz J.‐M. , Schwender J. , Weber A. P. M.
Published: August 2018

Alanine and aspartate are essential transfer metabolites for C4 species of the NAD‐malic enzyme and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase subtype. To some degree both amino acids are also part of the metabolite shuttle in NADP‐malic enzyme plants. In comparison with C3 species, the majority of C4 species are therefore characterised by enhanced expression and activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (AT) in the photosynthetically active tissue. Both enzymes exist in multiple copies and have been found in different subcellular compartments. We tested whether different C4 species show preferential recruitment of enzymes from specific lineages and subcellular compartments.

Phylogenetic analysis of alanine and aspartate ATs from a variety of monocot and eudicot C4 species and their C3 relatives was combined with subcellular prediction tools and analysis of the subsequent transcript amounts in mature leaves.

Recruitment of aspartate AT from a specific subcellular compartment was strongly connected to the biochemical subtype. Deviation from the main model was however observed in Gynandropsis gynandra. The configuration of alanine AT generally differed in monocot and eudicot species. C4 monocots recruited an alanine AT from a specific cytosolic branch, but eudicots use alanine AT copies from a mitochondrial branch.

Generally, plants display high plasticity in the setup of the C4 pathway. Beside the common models for the different C4 subtypes, individual solutions were found for plant groups or lineages.
Breeding systems in Balsaminaceae in relation to pollen/ovule ratio, pollination syndromes, life history and climate zone
Authors: Lozada‐Gobilard S. , Weigend M. , Fischer E. , Janssens S. B. , Ackermann M. , Abrahamczyk S.
Published: August 2018

Pollen/ovule (P/O) ratios are often used as proxy for breeding systems. Here, we investigate the relations between breeding systems and P/O ratios, pollination syndromes, life history and climate zone in Balsaminaceae.

We conducted controlled breeding system experiments (autonomous and active self‐pollination and outcrossing tests) for 65 Balsaminaceae species, analysed pollen grain and ovule numbers and evaluated the results in combination with data on pollination syndrome, life history and climate zone on a phylogenetic basis.

Based on fruit set, we assigned three breeding systems: autogamy, self‐compatibility and self‐incompatibility. Self‐pollination led to lower fruit set than outcrossing. We neither found significant P/O differences between breeding systems nor between pollination syndromes. However, the numbers of pollen grains and ovules per flower were significantly lower in autogamous species, but pollen grain and ovule numbers did not differ between most pollination syndromes. Finally, we found no relation between breeding system and climate zone, but a relation between climate zone and life history.

In Balsaminaceae reproductive traits can change under resource or pollinator limitation, leading to the evolution of autogamy, but are evolutionary rather constant and not under strong selection pressure by pollinator guild and geographic range changes. Colonisation of temperate regions, however, is correlated with transitions towards annual life history. Pollen/ovule‐ratios, commonly accepted as good indicators of breeding system, have a low predictive value in Balsaminaceae. In the absence of experimental data on breeding system, additional floral traits (overall pollen grain and ovule number, traits of floral morphology) may be used as proxies.
A non‐normative account of assertion
Authors: Black Dylan
Published: August 2018

Many contemporary philosophers argue that assertion is governed by an epistemic norm. In particular, many defend the knowledge account of assertion, which says that one should assert only what one knows. Here, I defend a non‐normative alternative to the knowledge account that I call the repK account of assertion. According to the repK account, assertion represents knowledge, but it is not governed by a constitutive epistemic rule. I show that the repK account offers a more straightforward interpretation of the conversational patterns and intuitions that motivate the knowledge account. It does so in terms of ordinary normative principles that philosophers already accept, none of which are constitutive to assertion. I then contend that the repK account is preferable to the knowledge account because it is simpler, its implications are less contentious, and it avoids a problem for normative accounts of assertion recently raised by Peter Pagin. I also argue that the repK account offers a satisfying explanation of selfless assertion, a counterexample to the knowledge account posed by Jennifer Lackey.
Valuing the Benefits of Rock Climbing and the Welfare Gains from Decreasing Injury Risk
Authors: Nicita Lea , Shaw W. Douglass , Signorello Giovanni
Published: August 2018

Rock climbing is an increasingly popular recreation activity worldwide, nevertheless there are only few studies that estimate the demand for it. In this article the Kuhn–Tucker approach is used to estimate the demand for rock climbing in Sicily, the recreation value of different climbing sites, and the welfare impact of reducing injury risk. In modeling the demand for climbing we account for the heterogeneity of preferences. We find that decreasing the level of injury risk generates remarkable welfare gains to climbers. This is the first study we know of that provides a welfare measure of risk reduction in rock climbing and one of a very few studies in environmental economics that uses a revealed preference approach to estimate a welfare measure associated with a reduction in risk.
Neurobiological Mechanisms for Semantic Feature Extraction and Conceptual Flexibility
Authors: Pulvermüller Friedemann
Published: August 2018

Signs and symbols relate to concepts and can be used to speak about objects, actions, and their features. Theories of semantic grounding address the question how the latter two, concepts and real‐world entities, come into play and interlink in symbol learning. Here, a neurobiological model is used to spell out concrete mechanisms of symbol grounding, which implicate the “association” of information about sign and referents and, at the same time, the extraction of semantic features and the formation of abstract representations best described as conjoined and disjoined feature sets that may or may not have a real‐life equivalent. The mechanistic semantic circuits carrying these feature sets are not static conceptual entries, but exhibit rich activation dynamics related to memory, prediction, and contextual modulation. Four key issues in specifying these activation dynamics will be highlighted: (a) the inner structure of semantic circuits, (b) mechanisms of semantic priming, (c) task specificity in semantic activation, and (d) context‐dependent semantic circuit activation in the processing of referential, existential, and universal statements. These linguistic‐semantic examples show that specific mechanisms are required to account for context‐dependent semantic function or conceptual “flexibility.” Static context‐independent concepts as such are insufficient to account for these different semantic functions. Whereas abstract amodal models of concepts did so far not spell out concrete mechanisms for context‐dependent semantic function, neuronal assembly mechanisms offer a workable perspective.
Market access implications of non‐tariff measures: Estimates for four developed country markets
Authors: Webb Mike , Gibson John , Strutt Anna
Published: August 2018

We quantify the effects of non‐tariff measures on the extensive margin of trade, examining the number of countries exporting particular products to Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and the United States. We find that non‐tariff measures that impose a conformity requirement, that is, testing, certification or inspection, will reduce the number of countries exporting to these markets. Conformity requirements imposed for sanitary or phytosanitary reasons have the largest effect in Canada, reducing the number of exporting countries by 47% compared to the situation where no compliance requirement is imposed. Conformity requirements imposed for other reasons covered by the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade have the largest effect in Canada and New Zealand, reducing the number of exporting countries by 27% compared to the situation where no compliance requirement is imposed. However, we generally find a statistically significant positive effect for nontariff measures that do not impose a compliance burden, suggesting that such measures may facilitate trade.
Inhibition of GluN2A NMDA receptors ameliorates synaptic plasticity deficits in the Fmr1−/y mouse model
Authors: Lundbye Camilla J. , Toft Anna Karina H. , Banke Tue G.
Published: August 2018

Key points

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic condition that is the most common form of inherited intellectual impairment and causes a range of neurodevelopmental complications including learning disabilities and intellectual disability and shares many characteristics with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In the FXS mouse model, Fmr1−/y, impaired synaptic plasticity was restored by pharmacologically inhibiting GluN2A‐containing NMDA receptors but not GluN2B‐containing receptors.

Similar results were obtained by crossing Fmr1−/y with GluN2A knock‐out (Grin2A−/−) mice.

These results suggest that dampening the elevated levels of GluN2A‐containing NMDA receptors in Fmr1−/y mice has the potential to restore hyperexcitability of the neural circuitry to (a more) normal‐like level of brain activity.

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) play important roles in synaptic plasticity at central excitatory synapses, and dysregulation of their function may lead to severe disorders such Fragile X syndrome (FXS). FXS is caused by transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene followed by lack of the encoding protein. Here we examined the effects of pharmacological and genetic manipulation of hippocampal NMDAR functions in long‐term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). We found impaired NMDAR‐dependent LTP in the Fmr1‐deficient mice, which could be fully restored when GluN2A‐containing NMDARs was pharmacological inhibited. Interestingly, similar LTP effects were observed when the GluN2A gene (Grin2a) was deleted in Fmr1−/y mice (Fmr1−/y/Grin2a−/− double knockout). In addition, GluN2A inhibition improved elevated mGluR5‐dependent LTD to normal level in the Fmr1−/y mouse. These findings suggest that GluN2A is a promising target in FXS research that could help us better understand the disorder.
Review of Solar Cooling Technologies in the MENA Region
Authors: Iqbal Abdul Ahad , Al-Alili Ali
Published: August 2018

The demand for air conditioning and refrigeration has been increasing due to a rise in the global temperature and the burgeoning world population. Conventional electricity-driven vapor compression cycles (VCCs) use refrigerants, which are harmful to the environment, and are responsible for the consumption of huge amounts of electricity leading to high CO2 emissions. Therefore, solar-driven cooling cycles have great potential to address these issues, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has an abundant supply of solar radiation. In this study, the research carried out within the MENA region on solar cooling technologies is presented. The solar cooling cycles reviewed are the adsorption, absorption, solid desiccant, liquid desiccant, ejector, and solar electric-driven cycles. The interest over time and across countries in each of these cycles is also discussed. This review shows that interest in solar cooling technologies has increased sharply in the MENA region since late 2000s, and there are several issues like subsidized electricity prices hindering their adoption. In addition, this work shows researches where more investigations are needed.
Validating automated click detector dolphin detection rates and investigating factors affecting performance
Authors: Garrod Aran , Fandel Amber D. , Wingfield Jessica E. , Fouda Leila , Rice Aaron N. , Bailey Helen
Published: August 2018

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a widely used technique for studying the distribution and habitat use of cetaceans. The C-POD, an acoustic sensor with an onboard automated click detector, has been deployed in diverse acoustic environments, but studies verifying its offshore detection rates and factors affecting detection probability are scarce. To empirically evaluate the performance of C-PODs in detecting bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), C-PODs were deployed alongside archival acoustic recorders 12–30 km offshore in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The C-POD and acoustic recordings, post-processed using PAMGUARD software, were compared for a period of 6852 h. C-POD false positive rates were very low (mean 0.003%), and positive hourly detection accuracy was very high (mean 99.6%). Analysis of the acoustic environment and dolphin click characteristics revealed that true positive detections by C-PODs were significantly more likely to occur when PAMGUARD detected more clicks and there was increased high frequency noise (>20 kHz), likely from distant or unclassified clicks. C-PODs were found to be reliable indicators of dolphin presence at hourly or greater time scales. These results support the application of C-PODs in PAM studies that aim to investigate patterns of dolphin occurrence, such as those related to offshore windfarms.
Effects of age and duration of deafness on Mandarin speech understanding in competing speech by normal-hearing and cochlear implant children
Authors: Tao Duo-Duo , Liu Yang-Wenyi , Fei Ye , Galvin John J. , Chen Bing , Fu Qian-Jie
Published: August 2018

Due to poor perception of fundamental frequency (F0) cues that are important for lexical tone perception and talker segregation, pediatric Chinese cochlear implant (CI) users may be especially susceptible to informational masking. Here, speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) were measured in steady noise or competing speech in Mandarin-speaking CI and normal-hearing (NH) children. CI children were more susceptible to informational masking and were unable to use F0 cues to segregate talkers. SRTs were significantly correlated with chronological age in NH children and with duration of deafness in CI children, suggesting that auditory deprivation may limit developmental processes important for talker segregation.
Rheology of fumed silica nanoparticles/partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide aqueous solutions under small and large amplitude oscillatory shear deformations
Authors: Aliabadian Ehsan , Sadeghi Soheil , Kamkar Milad , Chen Zhangxin , Sundararaj Uttandaraman
Published: August 2018

Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is one of the most widely used polymers for enhanced oil recovery operations. However, high temperature and high salinity in oil reservoirs restrict its functionality and performance. To alleviate this, incorporating fumed silica nanoparticles (NPs) in HPAM solutions was found to be very effective in harsh oil reservoir conditions to improve the efficiency of polymer flooding. Studying the flow behavior of hybrid polymer and fumed silica NP solutions under real reservoir conditions can be very challenging and hard to achieve due to continuously converging and diverging flow through porous structures. In this regard, rheological analysis of such systems under well-controlled flow histories within the capability of rotational rheometers can be of great importance to fully understand the mechanical response of these hybrid solution systems. In this study, two types of fumed silica NPs with different surface chemistries and two types of HPAM polymers with different molecular weights were dispersed/dissolved in deionized water. Linear viscoelastic properties of the hybrid solution systems were studied based on their step-stress (creep) and small amplitude oscillatory shear responses. As deformation in porous media can be rapid and large, consideration of nonlinear viscoelastic properties can be very crucial. The stress decomposition method and Lissajous–Bowditch curves were used to describe the intercycle and intracycle shear-thickening and strain-stiffening ratios quantitatively and qualitatively. In brief, linear and nonlinear rheology conjugated with thermogravimetric analysis and cryo-scanning electron microscopy imaging enabled us to characterize viscoelastic properties of the hybrid systems and link our observations to microstructural features. Through polymer bridging, the slightly hydrophobic fumed silica NPs (AEROSIL R816) had a unique ability to form interconnected, predominately elastic network structures in contrast to large agglomerated structures formed by highly hydrophilic AEROSIL 300. This has led to observing very different rheological behaviors, regardless of the HPAM polymer molecular weight, below and above a critical fumed silica NPs concentration.
From elastic deformation to flow in tempered chocolate
Authors: Bergemann Nico , Heil Matthias , Smith Beccy , Juel Anne
Published: August 2018

We characterize the yield behavior and flow curve of a commercially available, molten, tempered milk chocolate with a fat content of 30%, from rheological measurements performed with a rotational rheometer fitted with a four-bladed vane spindle in a large-gap setup. We show that the yield behavior can be captured by the viscoelastic White–Metzner model, which indicates that elastic deformation precedes flow as the shear stress is increased. Following an initial fluidization cycle, the shear modulus of the tempered chocolate increases by a factor of 60 to G=4.4×104 Pa. We find that the Bingham model provides the best fit to our extensive flow curve data, where the yield stress is τyield=36.1±0.6 Pa and the Newtonian plateau viscosity is μB=8.7±0.02 Pa s.
Regulation of energy rheostasis by the melanocortin-3 receptor
Authors: Ghamari-Langroudi Masoud , Cakir Isin , Lippert Rachel N. , Sweeney Patrick , Litt Michael J. , Ellacott Kate L. J. , Cone Roger D.
Published: August 2018

The melanocortin-3 receptor acts as a rheostat on energy homeostasis through presynaptic inhibition of MC4R neuronal activity.
Fireflies thwart bat attack with multisensory warnings
Authors: Leavell Brian C. , Rubin Juliette J. , McClure Christopher J. W. , Miner Krystie A. , Branham Marc A. , Barber Jesse R.
Published: August 2018

Naïve bats learn to avoid noxious fireflies fastest when integrating bioluminescent and echo-derived warnings.
A physics-based earthquake simulator replicates seismic hazard statistics across California
Authors: Shaw Bruce E. , Milner Kevin R. , Field Edward H. , Richards-Dinger Keith , Gilchrist Jacquelyn J. , Dieterich James H. , Jordan Thomas H.
Published: August 2018

An earthquake simulator needing fewer inputs and assumptions replicates seismic hazard estimates.
Robots for the people, by the people: Personalizing human-machine interaction
Authors: Clabaugh Caitlyn , Matarić Maja
Published: August 2018

Multimodal, interactive, and multitask machine learning can personalize human-machine interaction to a broad diversity of individuals.
Transposase-Mediated Chromosomal Integration of Exogenous Genes in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
Authors: Inaba Yuta , Banerjee Indrani , Kernan Timothy , Banta Scott
Published: August 2018

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
is an iron- and sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotroph and is a key member of the microbial consortia used in industrial biomining applications. There is interest in exploiting these cells for other metal recovery applications as well as in developing them as unique nonmodel microbial cell factories. Plasmid-driven expression of exogenous genes has been reported, and homologous recombination has been used to knock out some gene expression. Here, new selection protocols facilitated the development of a transposition method for chromosomal integration of exogenous genes into
A. ferrooxidans
. This greatly expands the available genetic toolbox, which will open the door to greater metabolic engineering efforts for these cells.
Complete Genome Sequence of Acidithiobacillus ferridurans JCM 18981
Authors: Miyauchi Tomoko , Kouzuma Atsushi , Abe Takashi , Watanabe Kazuya
Published: August 2018

Acidithiobacillus ferridurans
is an acidophilic chemolithotrophic bacterium that can grow in the presence of high concentrations of ferrous iron. Here, we present the complete 2,921,399-bp genome sequence of the strain
A. ferridurans
JCM 18981
T
, isolated from uranium mine drainage water.
Patient-reported outcome measures for use in clinical trials of SLE: a review
Authors: Izadi Zara , Gandrup Julie , Katz Patricia P , Yazdany Jinoos
Published: August 2018

Inclusion of patient-reported outcomes is important in SLE clinical trials as they allow capture of the benefits of a proposed intervention in areas deemed pertinent by patients. We aimed to compare the measurement properties of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures used in adults with SLE and to evaluate their responsiveness to interventions in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). A systematic review was undertaken using full original papers in English identified from three databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed. Studies describing the validation of HRQoL measures in English-speaking adult patients with SLE and SLE drug RCTs that used an HRQoL measure were retrieved. Twenty-five validation papers and 26 RCTs were included in the indepth review evaluating the measurement properties of 4 generic (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF36), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) item-bank, EuroQol-5D, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue) and 3 disease-specific (Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), Lupus Patient Reported Outcomes, Lupus Impact Tracker (LIT)) instruments. All measures had good convergent and discriminant validity. PROMIS provided the strongest evidence for known-group validity and reliability among generic instruments; however, data on its responsiveness have not been published. Across measures, standardised response means were generally indicative of poor-moderate sensitivity to longitudinal change. In RCTs, clinically important improvements were reported in SF36 scores from baseline; however, between-arm differences were frequently non-significant and non-important. SF36, PROMIS, LupusQoL and LIT had the strongest evidence for acceptable measurement properties, but few measures aside from the SF36 have been incorporated into clinical trials. This review highlights the importance of incorporating a broader range of SLE-specific HRQoL measures in RCTs and warrants further research that focuses on longitudinal responsiveness of newer instruments.
A novel method for modeling age and length selectivity of sockeye salmon as applied to the Bristol Bay Port Moller test fishery
Authors: Feddern Megan , Bassett Hannah R. , McElroy Katherine N. , Ree Marta , Gho Marcus , Hilborn Ray
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a novel approach for assessing sources selectivity in test fisheries using the Port Moller test fishery (PMTF) as a case study. The PMTF intercepts sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) migrating to Bristol Bay, Alaska, to estimate run strength and timing. In 2011, the mesh size of gillnets used in the test fishery was decreased for half of the net panels to generate more accurate run estimates by correcting for greater selectivity of larger 3-ocean fish (fish that have spent 3 years in the ocean) relative to smaller 2-ocean fish (fish that have spent 2 years in the ocean). Here, we quantify two sources of age selectivity in the PMTF program, length selectivity parameterized by mean fish length (which should be corrected by the net mesh change) and length-independent selectivity, which we refer to as residual program selectivity (which would not be impacted by the net mesh change), both before and after the net change. Model parameters of selectivity show strong support length selectivity was eliminated, but residual program selectivity still existed after the reduction in net mesh size. Our results demonstrate the necessity of considering both vulnerability and accessibility to fishing gear when assessing selectivity in test fisheries.
The canopy coverage is correlated with the number of shoots produced by Eucalyptus clones in a clonal mini-garden
Authors: Saudade de Aguiar Natália , Navroski Marcio Carlos , Miranda Letícia , Sehnen Mota Clenilso , Estopa Regiane Abjaud , Nicoletti Marcos Felipe , Konzen Enéas Ricardo
Published: August 2018

In this work, we analyzed the correlation between the canopy coverage of two commercial clones of Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage and one of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden and their shoot yields in a clonal mini-garden system. By canopy coverage, we referred to the area of a picture occupied by leaves (green area) when analyzed using computational resources. The mini-garden was set up to yield shoots on a regular time schedule (between 20 and 30 days) to obtain mini-cuttings for clonal propagation. Pictures were taken at approximately 30 cm above the upper leaves from the plots containing mini-stumps of each clone on the day before the collection of mini-cuttings for six consecutive harvests (approximately 6 months). The leaf coverage was obtained using the computational package Easy Leaf Area. Our results indicated a significantly high Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0744, P < 0.001) between the canopy coverage and the number of shoots produced by each clone. A logistic regression model was adjusted to this dataset, enabling a prediction of the number of shoots based on the canopy coverage. This approach has the potential for assisting forest nurseries in predicting the yield of mini-cuttings while conducting clonal propagation of their genetic materials.
Optimal control of a fractional-order model for the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Authors: Kheiri Hossein , Jafari Mohsen
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we present a general formulation for a fractional optimal control problem (FOCP), in which the state and co-state equations are given in terms of the left fractional derivatives. We develop the forward–backward sweep method (FBSM) using the Adams-type predictor–corrector method to solve the FOCP. We present a fractional model for transmission dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) with treatment and incorporate three control efforts (effective use of condoms, ART treatment and behavioral change control) into the model aimed at controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic. The necessary conditions for fractional optimal control of the disease are derived and analyzed. The numerical results show that implementing all the control efforts increases the life time and the quality of life those living with HIV and decreases significantly the number of HIV-infected and AIDS people. Also, the maximum levels of the controls and the value of objective functional decrease when the derivative order [Formula: see text] limits to 1 ([Formula: see text]). In addition, the effect of the fractional derivative order [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) on the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic and the treatment of HIV-infected population is investigated. The results show that the derivative order [Formula: see text] can play the role of using ART treatment in the model.
Distal actions on coset spaces in totally disconnected locally compact groups
Authors: Reid Colin D.
Published: August 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a totally disconnected locally compact (t.d.l.c.) group and let [Formula: see text] be an equicontinuously (for example, compactly) generated group of automorphisms of [Formula: see text]. We show that every distal action of [Formula: see text] on a coset space of [Formula: see text] is a SIN action, with the small invariant neighborhoods arising from open [Formula: see text]-invariant subgroups. We obtain a number of consequences for the structure of the collection of open subgroups of a t.d.l.c. group. For example, it follows that for every compactly generated subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], there is a compactly generated open subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and such that every open subgroup of [Formula: see text] containing a finite index subgroup of [Formula: see text] contains a finite index subgroup of [Formula: see text]. We also show that for a large class of closed subgroups [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] (including for instance all closed subgroups [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is an intersection of subnormal subgroups of open subgroups), every compactly generated open subgroup of [Formula: see text] can be realized as [Formula: see text] for an open subgroup of [Formula: see text].
Improving the Betweenness Centrality of a Node by Adding Links
Authors: Bergamini Elisabetta , Crescenzi Pierluigi , D'angelo Gianlorenzo , Meyerhenke Henning , Severini Lorenzo , Velaj Yllka
Published: August 2018

Betweenness is a well-known centrality measure that ranks the nodes according to their participation in the shortest paths of a network. In several scenarios, having a high betweenness can have a positive impact on the node itself. Hence, in this article, we consider the problem of determining how much a vertex can increase its centrality by creating a limited amount of new edges incident to it. In particular, we study the problem of maximizing the betweenness score of a given node—Maximum Betweenness Improvement (MBI)—and that of maximizing the ranking of a given node—Maximum Ranking Improvement (MRI). We show that MBI cannot be approximated in polynomial-time within a factor (1−1/2e) and that MRI does not admit any polynomial-time constant factor approximation algorithm, both unless
P
=
NP
. We then propose a simple greedy approximation algorithm for MBI with an almost tight approximation ratio and we test its performance on several real-world networks. We experimentally show that our algorithm highly increases both the betweenness score and the ranking of a given node and that it outperforms several competitive baselines. To speed up the computation of our greedy algorithm, we also propose a new dynamic algorithm for updating the betweenness of one node after an edge insertion, which might be of independent interest. Using the dynamic algorithm, we are now able to compute an approximation of MBI on networks with up to 10
5
edges in most cases in a matter of seconds or a few minutes.