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In the recent years the concept of knowledge graph has emerged as a way to aggregate information from various sources without imposing too strict data modelling constraints. Several graph models have been proposed during the years, ranging from the “standard” RDF to more expressive ones, such as Neo4J and RDF-star. The adoption of knowledge graph has become established in several domains. It is for instance the case of the 3D geoinformation domain, where the adoption of semantic web technologies has led to several works in data integration and publishing. However, yet there is not a well-defined model or technique to represent 3D geoinformation including uncertainty and time variation in knowledge graphs. In this paper we propose a model to represent parameterized geometries of subsurface objects. The vocabulary of the model has been defined as an OWL ontology and it extends existing ontologies by adding classes and properties to represent the uncertainty and the spatio-temporal behaviour of a geometry, as well as additional attributes, such as the data provenance. The model has been validated on significant use cases showing different types of uncertainties on 3D subsurface objects. A possible implementation is also presented, using RDF-star for the data representation.

Percent Change in Wound Area of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Over a 4-Week Period Is a Robust Predictor of Complete Healing in a 12-Week Prospective Trial Peter Sheehan , MD 1 , Peter Jones , MSC 2 , Antonella Caselli , MD 3 , John M. Giurini , DPM 3 and Aristidis Veves , MD 3 1 Diabetes Foot and Ankle Center, Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 2 With Confidence Ltd., Surrey, U.K. 3 Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center and Microcirculation Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Abstract OBJECTIVE —To assess the ability of the 4-week healing rate to predict complete healing over a 12-week period in a large prospective multicenter trial of diabetic patients with foot ulceration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —We examined the change in ulcer area over a 4-week period as a predictor of wound healing within 12 weeks in patients who were seen weekly in a prospective, randomized controlled trial. RESULTS —Wound area measurements at baseline and after 4 weeks were performed in 203 patients. The midpoint between the percentage area reduction from baseline at 4 weeks in patients healed versus those not healed at 12 weeks was found to be 53%. Subjects with a reduction in ulcer area greater than the 4-week median had a 12-week healing rate of 58%, whereas those with reduction in ulcer area less than the 4-week median had a healing rate of only 9% ( P < 0.01). The absolute change in ulcer area at 4 weeks was significantly greater in healers versus nonhealers (1.5 vs. 0.8 cm 2 , P < 0.02). The percent change in wound area at 4 weeks in those who healed was 82% (95% CI 70–94), whereas in those who failed to heal, the percent change in wound area was 25% (15–35; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS —The percent change in foot ulcer area after 4 weeks of observation is a robust predictor of healing at 12 weeks. This simple tool may serve as a pivotal clinical decision point in the care of diabetic foot ulcers for early identification of patients who may not respond to standard care and may need additional treatment. Footnotes Address correspondence and reprint requests to Aristidis Veves, MD, Joslin Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, One Deaconess Rd., Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: aveves{at}caregroup.harvard.edu . Received for publication 4 December 2002 and accepted in revised form 25 February 2003. P.J. is a paid statistical consultant for Ethicon Ltd. P.S. and A.V. have been members of advisory panels for and have received honoraria and research grants from Johnson & Johnson Wound Management/Ethicon. A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. DIABETES CARE

This paper presents a model for representing compliance rules related to subsurface objects. Rules expressed in this model can be automatically evaluated (using SHACL or SPARQL) on existing 3D city models expressed in RDF. The main characteristics of the proposed model are (1) its expressiveness, that comes from the use of formal ontologies for representing the rules and the objects they refer to, (2) its integrative nature, given by the interconnection among the proposed ontologies and the connection of these ontologies with CityGML and IFC (in an ontological form), and (3) its multi-geometry aspect. Preliminary results allow to automatically evaluate formally expressed compliance rules for underground objects in a 3D city model, that will considerably ease the task of professionals of the field.

This study presents the chemical and isotopic compositions of hydrothermal gases from fumaroles discharging around Copahue volcano (Argentina). Gas samples, including those from two fumaroles at the active summit crater, were collected during 13 surveys carried out by different research teams from 1976 to February 2016. The time-series of H 2 , CO and light hydrocarbons showed episodic increases related to the main events of the last eruptive cycle that started on 19 July 2012. Concentration peaks were likely caused by enhanced input of hot magmatic fluids affecting the hydrothermal reservoir. These data contrast with the temporal variations shown by Rc / Ra and δ 13 C-CO 2 values in 2012–2014, which indicated an increasing input from a crustal fluid source. In 2015–2016, however, these isotopic parameters showed opposite trends; their composition became closer to that of the two summit fumaroles, which possibly corresponds to that of the deep magmatic-related end-member. The delayed and reduced compositional changes in the peripheral hydrothermal fluid discharge in response to the 2012–2016 eruptive events suggest that geochemical surveys of these emissions are unlikely to provide premonitory signals of volcanic unrest if the volcanic activity remains centered in the main crater. Instead, an instrument which is able to provide measurements of volcanic gases in the air (e.g. MultiGAS) may be used to detect changes at the summit crater. Otherwise, monitoring of seismic activity and ground deformation, as well as the periodic measurement of the chemistry of the water in the Rio Agrio, which is fed by thermal discharge from the summit crater, seem to represent the most reliable means of monitoring at Copahue. However, the relative compositional stability of the hydrothermal reservoir is a great advantage in terms of geothermal resource exploitation and could encourage new investments in the Copahue geothermal project which was abandoned in the 1990s.

Public employees who suffer adverse employment consequences for exercising their free speech rights may file suit under the First Amendment retaliation doctrine. Claimants typically must first prove that they engaged in protected conduct and then prove that such conduct causally contributed to the adverse action. While the First, Sixth, and Tenth Circuits have permitted perceived-affiliation claims, the Third Circuit has barred such actions. According to the Third Circuit, constitutional protection presumes the existence of actual protected conduct in the first place. Accordingly, for claims based solely on perceived affiliation, the absence of affirmative conduct is necessarily fatal. This Comment advocates a less formalistic reading of the First Amendment retaliation doctrine's \"conduct\" requirement. While speech necessarily entails readily observable manifestations, the same cannot be said of affiliation. Further, this Comment notes that perceived-affiliation firings resemble political patronage dismissals. Critically, the democratic values animating the Supreme Court's patronage jurisprudence also underlie the First Amendment's associative protections.

Objective: To validate nerve–axon reflex-related vasodilatation as an objective method to evaluate C-nociceptive fibre function by comparing it with the standard diagnostic criteria. Methods: Neuropathy was evaluated in 41 patients with diabetes (26 men and 15 women) without peripheral vascular disease by assessing the Neuropathy Symptom Score, the Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), the vibration perception threshold (VPT), the heat detection threshold (HDT), nerve conduction parameters and standard cardiovascular tests. The neurovascular response to 1% acetylcholine (Ach) iontophoresis was measured at the forearm and at both feet by laser flowmetry. An age-matched and sex-matched control group of 10 healthy people was also included. Results: Significant correlations were observed between the neurovascular response at the foot and HDT (rs = −0.658; p<0.0001), NDS (rs = −0.665; p<0.0001), VPT (rs = −0.548; p = 0.0005), tibial nerve conduction velocity (rs = 0.631; p = 0.0002), sural nerve amplitude (rs = 0.581; p = 0.0002) and autonomic function tests. According to the NDS, in patients with diabetes who had mild, moderate or severe neuropathy, a significantly lower neurovascular response was seen at the foot than in patients without neuropathy and controls. A neurovascular response <50% was found to be highly sensitive (90%), with a good specificity (74%), in identifying patients with diabetic neuropathy. Conclusion: Small-fibre dysfunction can be diagnosed reliably with neurovascular response assessment. This response is already reduced in the early stages of peripheral neuropathy, supporting the hypothesis that small-fibre impairment is an early event in the natural history of diabetic neuropathy.

The Lower Permian Patquía Formation is the youngest unit of the Paganzo Basin, western Argentina. The lower section consists of red mudstones, and fine- and coarse grained sandstones deposited in fluvial systems with extensive and thick floodplain deposits. These rocks contain a low-diversity and relatively abundant association of trace fossils suggesting the activity of a sub-superficial to superficial fauna. The association is characterized by Rusophycus carbonarius (Cubichnia), Cruziana problematica (Repichnia), and Palaeophycus tubularis (Domichnia) of the Scoyenia ichnofacies. Disarticulated fish remains are also present. The upper section is dominated by red, cross-bedded, medium- to fine-grained sandstones deposited in eolian systems that host a lowdiversity and low-abundance association of trace fossils that indicates the activity of a mainly superficial fauna. Tetrapod footprints (Chelichnus duncani, oval digit imprints, short parallel grooves, and sinusoidal grooves), horizontal to vertical burrows (Palaeophycus tubularis and Skolithos isp. respectively), and arthropod trackways are the typical components of these deposits. The association shows elements of the three presently proposed eolian ichnofacies (Chelichnus, Octopodichnus and Entradichnus ichnofacies) suggesting the necessity of revision and the possible integration of these separate ichnofacies into a single model. The record of fossil vertebrate tracks is uncommon in Lower Permian strata of South America. Therefore, the ichnologic record of the Patquía Formation is a significant contribution to the understanding of Lower Permian South American ichnofaunas.

The Effect of Vitamin E on Endothelial Function of Micro- and Macrocirculation and Left Ventricular Function in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Patients Panayiotis A. Economides 1 , Lalita Khaodhiar 2 , Antonella Caselli 2 , A. Enrique Caballero 1 , Hillary Keenan 1 , Sven-Erik Bursell 1 , George L. King 1 , Michael T. Johnstone 3 , Edward S. Horton 1 and Aristidis Veves 2 1 Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts 2 Microcirculation Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 3 Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Address correspondence and reprint requests to Aristidis Veves, MD, Microcirculation Laboratory, Palmer 317, BIDMC/West, 1 Deaconess Rd., Boston, MA, 02215. E-mail: aveves{at}bidmc.harvard.edu Abstract We examined the effects of high-dosage vitamin E treatment over a 12-month period on the vascular reactivity of micro- and macrocirculation and left ventricular function in diabetic patients. Subjects ( n = 89) were randomized to vitamin E (1,800 IU daily) or placebo and were followed for 12 months. High-resolution ultrasound images were used to measure the flow-mediated dilation (FMD; endothelium dependent) and nitroglycerin-induced dilation (NID; endothelium independent) of the brachial artery. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used to measure vascular reactivity in the forearm skin. Left ventricular function was evaluated using transthoracic echocardiogram. At the end of the 6-month period, a worsening in endothelium-dependent skin vasodilation ( P = 0.02) and rise in endothelin levels ( P = 0.01) were found in the vitamin E compared with the placebo group. At the end of the 12-month period, a worsening was observed in NID ( P = 0.02) and a marginal worsening was seen in systolic blood pressure ( P = 0.04) and FMD ( P = 0.04) in the vitamin E compared with the placebo group. In addition C-reactive protein levels decreased marginally in the vitamin E compared with the placebo group ( P = 0.05). No changes were observed in left ventricular function. We concluded that long-term treatment with 1,800 IU of vitamin E has no beneficial effects on endothelial or left ventricular function in diabetic patients. Because vitamin E–treated patients had a worsening in some vascular reactivity measurements when compared with control subjects, the use of high dosages of vitamin E cannot be recommended. Footnotes G.L.K.’s laboratory has received funds from Lilly for studies on a new drug to treat diabetic neuropathy. Ach, acetylcholine chloride; CAM, cellular adhesion molecule; CRP, C-reactive protein; FMD, flow-mediated dilation; LV, left ventricular; NID, nitroglycerin-induced dilation; PAI-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; PKC, protein kinase C; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; tPA, tissue plasminogen activator. Accepted September 10, 2004. Received June 30, 2004. DIABETES

Lifestyle Modification Improves Endothelial Function in Obese Subjects With the Insulin Resistance Syndrome Osama Hamdy , MD 1 , Sarah Ledbury , MED, RD 1 , Cathy Mullooly , MS, CDE 1 , Catherine Jarema , MS, CDE 1 , Satoko Porter , MS, CDE 1 , Kerry Ovalle , MS, CDE 1 , Amr Moussa , MD 1 , Antonella Caselli , MD 2 , A. Enrique Caballero , MD 1 , Panayiotis A. Economides , MD 1 , Aristidis Veves , MD 2 and Edward S. Horton , MD 1 1 Clinical Research Center, Joslin Diabetes Center, the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 2 Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center and Microcirculation Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Address correspondence and reprint requests to Osama Hamdy, MD, Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: osama.hamdy{at}joslin.harvard.edu . Abstract OBJECTIVE —Endothelial dysfunction has been reported in type 2 diabetic patients and in obese subjects with insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). This study evaluates the effects of weight reduction and exercise on vascular reactivity of the macro- and the microcirculation in obese subjects with IRS. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —We studied 24 obese subjects (9 men and 15 women, age 49.3 ± 1.9 years, BMI 36.7 ± 0.94 kg/m 2 , mean ± SEM) with IRS at baseline and after 6 months of weight reduction and exercise. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and response to sublingual glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) were assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Microvascular reactivity was evaluated by the laser-Doppler perfusion imaging after iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. We also measured plasma levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM), vascular adhesion molecule, von Willebrand factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen, and tissue plasminogen activator antigen. RESULTS —This intervention resulted in 6.6 ± 1% reduction in body weight ( P < 0.001) and significant improvement of insulin sensitivity index (2.9 ± 0.36 vs. 1.9 ± 0.33 [10 −4 · min −1 · (μU ml −1 )], P < 0.001). FMD significantly improved (12.9 ± 1.2% vs. 7.9 ± 1.0%, P < 0.001), whereas response to GTN and microvascular reactivity did not change. Similar observations were seen when the subjects were subclassified according to their glucose tolerance to normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetes. sICAM and PAI-1 significantly decreased (251.3 ± 7.7 vs. 265.6 ± 9.3 ng/ml, P = 0.018 and 36.2 ± 3.6 vs. 48.6 ± 3.9 ng/ml, P = 0.001, respectively). The relationship between percentage weight reduction and improved FMD was linear ( R 2 = 0.47, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS —We conclude that 6 months of weight reduction and exercise improve macrovascular endothelial function and reduces selective markers of endothelial activation and coagulation in obese subjects with IRS regardless of the degree of glucose tolerance. DBP, diastolic blood pressure DPP, Diabetes Prevention Program EF, endothelial function FMD, flow-mediated dilation FPG, fasting plasma glucose GTN, glyceryltrinitrate IRS, insulin resistance syndrome sICAM, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule PAI-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 Si, sensitivity index sVCAM, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule TC, total cholesterol VR, vascular reactivity vWF, von Willebrand factor Footnotes A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. Accepted March 31, 2003. Received February 10, 2003. DIABETES CARE

The Forefoot-to-Rearfoot Plantar Pressure Ratio Is Increased in Severe Diabetic Neuropathy and Can Predict Foot Ulceration Antonella Caselli , MD 1 , Hau Pham , DPM 1 , John M. Giurini , DPM 1 , David G. Armstrong , DPM 2 and Aristidis Veves , MD 1 1 Joslin Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, Harvard Medical School, Department of Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts 2 Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona Abstract OBJECTIVE —We have previously demonstrated that high plantar pressures can predict foot ulceration in diabetic patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate both the relationship between forefoot and rearfoot plantar pressure in diabetic patients with different degrees of peripheral neuropathy and their role in ulcer development. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Diabetic patients of a 30-month prospective study were classified according to the neuropathy disability score: scores of 0, 1–5, 6–16, and 17–28 are defined as absent ( n = 20), mild ( n = 66), moderate ( n = 95), and severe ( n = 57) neuropathy, respectively. The F-Scan mat system was used to measure dynamic plantar pressures. The peak pressures under the forefoot and the rearfoot were selectively measured for each foot, and the forefoot-to-rearfoot ratio (F/R ratio) was calculated. RESULTS —Foot ulcers developed in 73 (19%) feet. The peak pressures were increased in the forefoot of the severe and moderate neuropathic groups compared with the mild neuropathic and nonneuropathic groups (6.2 ± 4.5 and 3.8 ± 2.7 vs. 3.0 ± 2.1 and 3.3 ± 2.1 kg/cm 2 [mean ± SD], respectively; P < 0.0001). The rearfoot pressures were also higher in the severe and moderate neuropathic groups compared with the mild neuropathic and nonneuropathic groups (3.2 ± 2.0 and 3.2 ± 1.9 vs. 2.5 ± 1.3 and 2.3 ± 1.0, respectively; P < 0.0001). The F/R ratio was increased only in the severe group compared with the moderate and mild neuropathic and nonneuropathic groups (2.3 ± 2.4 vs. 1.5 ± 1.2, 1.3 ± 0.9, and 1.6 ± 1.0, respectively; P < 0.0001). In a logistic regression analysis, both forefoot pressure (odds ratio 1.19 [95% CI 1.11–1.28], P < 0.0001) and the F/R ratio (1.37 [1.16–1.61], P < 0.0001) were related to risk of foot ulceration, whereas rearfoot pressure was not. CONCLUSIONS —Both the rearfoot and forefoot pressures are increased in the diabetic neuropathic foot, whereas the F/R ratio is increased only in severe diabetic neuropathy, indicating an imbalance in pressure distribution with increasing degrees of neuropathy. This may lend further evidence toward the concept that equinus develops in the latest stages of peripheral neuropathy and may play an important role in the etiology of diabetic foot ulceration. CPPT, cutaneous pressure perception threshold F/R ratio, forefoot-to-rearfoot ratio GRF, ground reactive force MTPJ, metatarsophalangeal joint NDS, neuropathy disability score OR, odds ratio STJ, subtalar joint VPT, vibration perception threshold. Footnotes Address correspondence and reprint requests to Aristidis Veves, MD, Joslin Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, One Deaconess Rd., Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: aveves{at}caregroup.harvard.edu . Received for publication 13 September 2001 and accepted in revised form 13 March 2002. A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances. DIABETES CARE