bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bridging the Conceptual Gap Between Free Fall and Drag-Dominated Regimes
Authors: de Obaldia Elida , Miller Norma , Wittel Fred , Jaimison George , Wallis Kendra
Published: March 2016

Some misconceptions about physics are hard to change. For example, students continue to believe that heavier objects fall faster than light ones, even after a year of physics instruction. Physics misconceptions are persistent. Light objects do fall more slowly if their size-to-weight ratio is sufficient for drag to be appreciable. Motion through a viscous medium is an advanced topic and students are asked to hold their curiosity until they take a more advanced course. Most never will. We suggest that the idea that heavier objects fall faster (or lighter objects fall slower) is a reasonable approximation that people develop from observing the world around them. We also suggest that discussing drag qualitatively at the outset may allow students to reconcile what they learn in physics class with a concept formed in early childhood. This approach asks students to modify their concept rather than discard it. In this paper we present a simple physics lab experiment that can be performed with readily available equipment and which bridges the gap between the domains of constant velocity and constant acceleration free fall. It is motivated by a lab experiment described in Paul Robinson's laboratory manual.
Hispanic representation among bachelor's degree recipients in physical sciences and engineering
Authors: White Susan C.
Published: March 2016

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of bachelor's degrees earned in the physical sciences grew by 47%; in engineering, the number increased by 33%. The number of Hispanics earning degrees in these disciplines grew even faster: 78% in the physical sciences and 64% in engineering. Though the growth in the physical sciences was larger, about five times more Hispanics earned degrees in an engineering field in 2012 than in the physical sciences.
The Moral Frameworks and Foundations of Contesting Orientations
Authors: Shields David Light , Funk Christopher D. , Bredemeier Brenda Light
Published: March 2016

According to contesting theory (Shields & Bredemeier, 2011), people conceptualize competition either through a metaphor of partnership or war. These two alternate metaphors suggest differing sociomoral relationships among the participants. In the current study of intercollegiate athletes (n = 610), we investigated the two approaches to contesting in relation to formalist and consequentialist moral frameworks (Brady & Wheeler, 1996) and individualizing and binding moral foundations (Haidt, 2001). Correlational analysis indicated that the partnership approach correlated significantly with all four moral dimensions, while the war approach correlated with formalist and consequentialist frameworks and binding foundations (i.e., appeals to in-group loyalty, authority, and purity). Multiple regressions demonstrated that the best predictors of a partnership approach were formalist thinking and endorsement of individualizing moral foundations (i.e., appeal to fairness and welfare). Among our primary variables, the best predictors of a war orientation were consequentialist thinking and endorsement of binding foundations.
Identification of IL-23p19 as an endothelial proinflammatory peptide that promotes gp130-STAT3 signaling
Authors: Espígol-Frigolé Georgina , Planas-Rigol Ester , Ohnuki Hidetaka , Salvucci Ombretta , Kwak Hyeongil , Ravichandran Sarangan , Luke Brian , Cid Maria C. , Tosato Giovanna
Published: March 2016

The cytokine subunit p19 signals alone and intracellularly to promote inflammation in endothelial cells.
Science Signaling
Podcast for 15 March 2016: An inflammatory peptide in blood vessels
Authors: Tosato Giovanna , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: March 2016

A cytokine subunit activates inflammatory signaling inside endothelial cells.
Papers of note in
Science
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: March 2016

This week’s articles highlight imbalanced signaling in an autism spectrum disorder and the importance of cellular dynamics in determining whether cancer cells are sensitive to therapies.
Nitrogen assimilation gets a HY5
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: March 2016

A transcription factor translocates from shoots to roots to coordinate carbon and nitrogen metabolism in plants.
Protumorigenic switches in TGF-β signaling
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: March 2016

Cellular context—inside and out—directs the diverse output of TGF-β signaling.
Enhancing cytotoxic T cells by inhibiting GSK3
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: March 2016

Inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3 in CD8
+
T cells reduces the amount of the inhibitory co-receptor PD-1 to enhance cytotoxic function.
New connections: Taming vascular inflammation
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: March 2016

Understanding how to limit the stickiness of vascular endothelial cells reveals new targets for treating vascular diseases.
In Vitro
Activity of Quaternary Ammonium Surfactants against Streptococcal, Chlamydial, and Gonococcal Infective Agents
Authors: Inácio Ângela S. , Nunes Alexandra , Milho Catarina , Mota Luís Jaime , Borrego Maria J. , Gomes João P. , Vaz Winchil L. C. , Vieira Otília V.
Published: March 2016

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) are widely used, cheap, and chemically stable disinfectants and topical antiseptics with wide-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Within this group of compounds, we recently showed that there are significant differences between the pharmacodynamics of
n
-alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactants (QAS) with a short (C
12
) alkyl chain when
in vitro
toxicities toward bacterial and mammalian epithelial cells are compared. These differences result in an attractive therapeutic window that justifies studying short-chain QAS as prophylactics for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and perinatal vertically transmitted urogenital infections (UGI). We have evaluated the antimicrobial activities of short-chain (C
12
)
n
-alkyl QAS against several STI and UGI pathogens as well as against commensal
Lactobacillus
species. Inhibition of infection of HeLa cells by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
and
Chlamydia trachomatis
was studied at concentrations that were not toxic to the HeLa cells. We show that the pathogenic bacteria are much more susceptible to QAS toxic effects than the commensal vaginal flora and that QAS significantly attenuate the infectivity of
N. gonorrhoeae
and
C. trachomatis
without affecting the viability of epithelial cells of the vaginal mucosa.
N
-Dodecylpyridinium bromide (C
12
PB) was found to be the most effective QAS. Our results strongly suggest that short-chain (C
12
)
n
-alkyl pyridinium bromides and structurally similar compounds are promising microbicide candidates for topical application in the prophylaxis of STI and perinatal vertical transmission of UGI.
In Vitro
Screening of the Open-Source Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box Reveals Novel Compounds with Profound Activities against Theileria annulata Schizonts
Authors: Hostettler Isabel , Müller Joachim , Hemphill Andrew
Published: March 2016

Intracellular schizonts of the apicomplexans
Theileria annulata
and
Theileria parva
immortalize bovine leukocytes and thereby cause fatal diseases. The hydroxynaphthoquinone buparvaquone is currently the only option for the treatment of theileriosis, and resistance development has been reported. It is therefore tempting to investigate the repurposing of compounds effective against related apicomplexan parasites, such as
Plasmodium
. Here, we present the results of a screen of 400 compounds included in the open-access Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) malaria box on TaC12 cells, a macrophage-derived cell line immortalized by
T. annulata
schizonts. Using a combination of the classical alamarBlue vitality assay and a recently developed quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR method based on the
Theileria
TaSP gene, we have identified 5 compounds, characterized their effects on the ultrastructure of TaC12 cells, and investigated whether they easily induce resistance formation. Two compounds, the quinolinols MMV666022 and MMV666054, have 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) of 0.5 and 0.2 μM on TaC12 cells and 5.3 and 5.2 μM on BoMac cells, respectively. Thus, with therapeutic indexes of 11 and 18, they represent promising leads for further development of antitheilerial chemotherapeutics.
A Polymorphism in
leuS
Confers Reduced Susceptibility to GSK2251052 in a Clinical Isolate of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Gupta Arya , Monteferrante Carmine , Rasina Dace , Leitis Gundars , Randall Christopher P. , Tomlinson Jennifer H. , Jirgensons Aigars , Goessens Wil H. F. , Hays John P. , O'Neill Alex J.
Published: March 2016

GSK2251052 is a broad-spectrum antibacterial inhibitor of leucyl tRNA-synthetase (LeuRS) that has been evaluated in phase II clinical trials. Here, we report the identification of a clinical isolate of
Staphylococcus aureus
that exhibits reduced susceptibility to GSK2251052 without prior exposure to the compound and demonstrate that this phenotype is attributable to a single amino acid polymorphism (P
329
) within the editing domain of LeuRS.
Depressive symptomatology, weight status and obesogenic risk among Australian adolescents: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Hoare Erin , Millar Lynne , Fuller-Tyszkiewicz Matthew , Skouteris Helen , Nichols Melanie , Malakellis Mary , Swinburn Boyd , Allender Steven
Published: March 2016

Objectives

Adolescence is a period of increased risk for mental health problems and development of associated lifestyle risk behaviours. This study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between obesogenic risk factors, weight status, and depressive symptomatology in a cohort of Australian adolescents.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

The study used repeated measures data from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)It's Your Moveproject, an Australian community-based obesity prevention intervention. Intervention effect was non-significant therefore intervention and comparison groups were combined in this study.

Participants

Total sample was 634 secondary school students (female n=338, male n=296) with mean age 13 years (SD=0.6) at baseline (2012) and 15 years (SD=0.6) at follow-up (2014) recruited from 6 government secondary schools in the ACT.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures

Primary outcome was depressive symptomatology measured by Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were weight status, physical activity, screen time and diet related measures.

Results

Increased physical activity was associated to lower depressive symptomatology among males (OR=0.35, p<0.05). Sweet drink (OR=1.15, p<0.05) and takeaway consumption (OR=1.84, p<0.05) were associated with higher levels of depressive symptomatology among females at follow-up. Males who were classified as overweight or obese at baseline, and remained so over the study period, were at increased risk of depressive symptomatology at follow-up (b=1.63, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.92). Inactivity among males over the 2-year study period was predictive of higher depressive symptomatology scores at follow-up (b=2.55, 95% CI 0.78 to 4.32). For females, those who increased their consumption of takeaway foods during the study period were at increased risk for developing depressive symptomatology (b=1.82, 95% CI −0.05 to 3.71).

Conclusions

There are multiple, probably complex, relationships between diet, physical activity and outcomes of obesity and mental health as well as between the outcomes themselves. Healthier diets and increased physical activity should be foundations for healthier body weight and mental health.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12615000842561; Results.
Waist-to-height ratio as an indicator of ‘early health risk’: simpler and more predictive than using a ‘matrix’ based on BMI and waist circumference
Authors: Ashwell Margaret , Gibson Sigrid
Published: March 2016

Objectives

There is now good evidence that central obesity carries more health risks compared with total obesity assessed by body mass index (BMI). It has therefore been suggested that waist circumference (WC), a proxy for central obesity, should be included with BMI in a ‘matrix’ to categorise health risk. We wanted to compare how the adult UK population is classified using such a ‘matrix’ with that using another proxy for central obesity, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), using a boundary value of 0.5. Further, we wished to compare cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with ‘healthy’ BMI divided according to whether they have WHtR below or above 0.5.

Setting, participants and outcome measures

Recent data from 4 years (2008–2012) of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) (n=1453 adults) were used to cross-classify respondents on anthropometric indices. Regression was used to examine differences in levels of risk factors (triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), TC: HDL, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting glucose, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)) according to WHtR below and above 0.5, with adjustment for confounders (age, sex and BMI).

Results

35% of the group who were judged to be at ‘no increased risk’ using the ‘matrix’ had WHtR ≥0.5. The ‘matrix’ did not assign ‘increased risk’ to those with a ‘healthy’ BMI and ‘high’ waist circumference. However, our analysis showed that the group with ‘healthy’ BMI, and WHtR ≥0.5, had some significantly higher cardiometabolic risk factors compared to the group with ‘healthy’ BMI but WHtR below 0.5.

Conclusions

Use of a simple boundary value for WHtR (0.5) identifies more people at ‘early health risk’ than does a more complex ‘matrix’ using traditional boundary values for BMI and WC. WHtR may be a simpler and more predictive indicator of the ‘early heath risks’ associated with central obesity.
Do health literacy and patient empowerment affect self-care behaviour? A survey study among Turkish patients with diabetes
Authors: Eyüboğlu Ezgi , Schulz Peter J
Published: March 2016

Objective

This study aimed to assess the impact of health literacy and patient empowerment on diabetes self-care behaviour in patients in metropolitan Turkish diabetes centres. The conceptual background is provided by the psychological health empowerment model, which holds that health literacy without patient empowerment comes down to wasting health resources, while empowerment without health literacy can lead to dangerous or suboptimal health behaviour.

Design, setting and participants

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 167 patients over the age of 18 from one of two diabetes clinics in a major Turkish City. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to eligible outpatients who had an appointment in one of the clinics. Health literacy was measured by a newly translated Turkish version of the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA) and the Chew self-report scale. Patient empowerment was measured by a 12-item scale based on Spreitzer's conceptualisation of psychological empowerment in the workplace. Self-care behaviour was measured by the Self-care behaviours were measured by the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure (SDSCA). Level of diabetes knowledge was measured by Diabetes Knowledge Test.

Results

Two subscales of empowerment, impact and self-determination, predicted self-reported frequency of self-care behaviours. Neither health literacy nor diabetes knowledge had an effect on self-care behaviours.

Conclusions

Health literacy might be more effective in clinical decisions while empowerment might exert a stronger influence on habitual health behaviours.
Pragmatic message to junior doctors
Authors: Chamsi-Pasha Hassan , Chamsi-Pasha Majed , Albar Mohammed Ali
Published: March 2016

Although several studies described the experience of doctors in their first postgraduate years, few shed the light on the ethical issues encountered by them. These doctors face a broad range of ‘everyday’ ethical challenges, from breach of confidentiality to truth-telling or improper informed consent. The daily ethical issues faced by junior doctors are not as dramatic as the major issues learned at medical school. Junior doctors have to make the best ethical decisions within the time limits available. Undergraduate medical ethics curricula should give priority to the real-life issues that doctors will face in their first years of practice.
Project delivery and contracting strategies for district energy projects in Canada
Authors: Mogerman Aaron , Mendis Daylath , Hewage Kasun N.
Published: March 2016

New district energy projects facilitate to decentralize their energy supply, create efficiency in the production and distribution of energy, and enable the use of renewable fuels. Selection of an appropriate project delivery and contracting strategy is essential to achieve owner’s key objectives over the lifecycle of a district energy facility. The goal of this paper is to identify objectives of the owners in Canadian district energy projects, and then align those with project delivery and contracting strategy (PDCS) alternatives. The paper also provides a practical tool to assist owners in the selection of an appropriate PDCS for their district energy projects. This research has identified and validated key PDCS selection factors for Canadian district energy projects using Delphi based research method. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying PDCS alternatives, specifically for Canadian district energy projects, and selecting PDCS alternatives in the context of the project lifecycle.
On Lagrangian embeddings into the complex projective spaces
Authors: Yoshiyasu Toru
Published: March 2016

We prove that for any closed orientable connected [Formula: see text]-manifold [Formula: see text] and any Lagrangian immersion of the connected sum [Formula: see text] either into the complex projective [Formula: see text]-space [Formula: see text] or into the product [Formula: see text] of the complex projective line and the complex projective plane, there exists a Lagrangian embedding which is homotopic to the initial Lagrangian immersion. To prove this, we show that Eliashberg–Murphy’s [Formula: see text]-principle for Lagrangian embeddings with a concave Legendrian boundary and Ekholm–Eliashberg–Murphy–Smith’s [Formula: see text]-principle for self-transverse Lagrangian immersions with the minimal or near-minimal number of double points hold for six-dimensional simply connected compact symplectic manifolds.
Modified function projective synchronization between two different complex networks with delayed couplings and delayed nodes of different dimensions
Authors: Han Min , Zhang Yamei , Zhang Meng
Published: March 2016

In this paper, to deal with the problem of modified function projective synchronization (MFPS) between two different networks with delayed couplings and delayed nodes of different dimensions, a hybrid control scheme combining adaptive control and nonlinear control is proposed. First, a more realistic drive-response complex network model is constructed by introducing double delays. Then, we design hybrid feedback controllers to synchronize up the drive and response networks of different dimensions to a scaling function matrix. Based on Lyapunov stability theory and the linear matrix inequality (LMI), we rigorously prove that the MFPS between the proposed drive-response networks can be achieved and meanwhile some sufficient conditions are derived by adopting an appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii energy function. Noteably, many existing synchronization settings can be regarded as special cases of the present synchronization framework. Numerical simulation experiments are employed to verify the correctness and the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The one-dimensional minesweeper game: What are your chances of winning?
Authors: Rodríguez-Achach M. , Coronel-Brizio H. F. , Hernández-Montoya A. R. , Huerta-Quintanilla R. , Canto-Lugo E.
Published: March 2016

Minesweeper is a famous computer game consisting usually in a two-dimensional lattice, where cells can be empty or mined and gamers are required to locate the mines without dying. Even if minesweeper seems to be a very simple system, it has some complex and interesting properties as NP-completeness. In this paper and for the one-dimensional case, given a lattice of n cells and m mines, we calculate the winning probability. By numerical simulations this probability is also estimated. We also find out by mean of these simulations that there exists a critical density of mines that minimize the probability of winning the game. Analytical results and simulations are compared showing a very good agreement.
A High Invariance Motion Representation for Skeleton-Based Action Recognition
Authors: Guo Songrui , Pan Huawei , Tan Guanghua , Chen Lin , Gao Chunming
Published: March 2016

Human action recognition is very important and significant research work in numerous fields of science, for example, human–computer interaction, computer vision and crime analysis. In recent years, relative geometry features have been widely applied to the description of relative relation of body motion. It brings many benefits to action recognition such as clear description, abundant features etc. But the obvious disadvantage is that the extracted features severely rely on the local coordinate system. It is difficult to find a bijection between relative geometry and skeleton motion. To overcome this problem, many previous methods use relative rotation and translation between all skeleton pairs to increase robustness. In this paper we present a new motion representation method. It establishes a motion model based on the relative geometry with the aid of special orthogonal group SO(3). At the same time, we proved that this motion representation method can establish a bijection between relative geometry and motion of skeleton pairs. After the motion representation method in this paper is used, the computation cost of action recognition reduces from the two-way relative motion (motion from A to B and B to A) to one-way relative motion (motion from A to B or B to A) between any skeleton pair, namely, permutation problem [Formula: see text] is simplified into combinatorics problem [Formula: see text]. Finally, the experimental results of the three motion datasets are all superior to present skeleton-based action recognition methods.
A Circular Band Extraction Method Based on Extended Hough Transform
Authors: Lo Rong-Chin , Hsu Hsiu-Chen
Published: March 2016

This study proposes a method to detect thick circular curves, called circular bands, using the extended Hough Transform. This method enables the direct input of a binary image without requiring pre-processing in edge detection or a post-processing stage to recover the band in the original image. Thus, the useful positional relationships among the pixels of a circular band are preserved for subsequent processing. Several experiments involving the recognition of general circular band objects, traffic signs, and a tunnel entrance in real scenes were conducted to establish the feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach.
A Novel Parallel LSA-SVM Algorithm Based on Semantic Distance for Blog
Authors: Tong Zhao , Xiao Zheng , Liu Hong , Chen Ming
Published: March 2016

Emotional analysis can be considered as a kind of classification of sentiment polarity in essence. Against the background of mass data processing, in order to increase the accuracy of judgment on the emotion conveyed by a text, a method to classify the emotional tendency of a text that combines Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) is proposed herein. By this method, a semantic distance vector space modal of “word-document” is developed from semantic aspect following the method of LSA. Then, with the help of SVM that is featured by high classification accuracy and good generalization ability, the emotion is classified. At last, this paper proposed a parallel implementation of LSA-SVM algorithm. The algorithm is developed using Message Passing Interface (MPI) in parallel environment. Experiments show that the accuracy of this method is higher than that of the conventional SVM method in the Blog assessment where sentences are short and emotional tendency is evident, the classification accuracy in a test set approximates to 92.2%, and compared with the serial implementation, the parallel LSA-SVM algorithm increases efficiency significantly.
Self-alignment driven by jump processes: Macroscopic limit and numerical investigation
Authors: Dimarco Giacomo , Motsch Sebastien
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we are interested in studying self-alignment mechanisms described as jump processes. In the dynamics proposed, active particles are moving at a constant speed and align with their neighbors at random times following a Poisson process. This dynamics can be viewed as an asynchronous version of the so-called Vicsek model. Starting from this particle dynamics, we introduce the related kinetic description and then derive a continuum hydrodynamic model. We then introduce different discretization strategies for the hierarchy of proposed models, we numerically study the convergence of the schemes and compare the behaviors of the different systems for several test cases.
On zero-divisor graphs of skew polynomial rings over non-commutative rings
Authors: Hashemi E. , Amirjan R. , Alhevaz A.
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we continue to study zero-divisor properties of skew polynomial rings [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is an associative ring equipped with an endomorphism [Formula: see text] and an [Formula: see text]-derivation [Formula: see text]. For an associative ring [Formula: see text], the undirected zero-divisor graph of [Formula: see text] is the graph [Formula: see text] such that the vertices of [Formula: see text] are all the nonzero zero-divisors of [Formula: see text] and two distinct vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are connected by an edge if and only if [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. As an application of reversible rings, we investigate the interplay between the ring-theoretical properties of a skew polynomial ring [Formula: see text] and the graph-theoretical properties of its zero-divisor graph [Formula: see text]. Our goal in this paper is to give a characterization of the possible diameters of [Formula: see text] in terms of the diameter of [Formula: see text], when the base ring [Formula: see text] is reversible and also have the [Formula: see text]-compatible property. We also completely describe the associative rings all of whose zero-divisor graphs of skew polynomials are complete.
Optimization for the Harvesting Structure of the Piezoelectric Bimorph Energy Harvesters Circular Plate by Reduced Order Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Solovyev A. N. , Duong L. V.
Published: March 2016

The power generation efficiency of piezoelectric energy harvesters is dependent on the coupling of their resonant frequency with that of the source vibration. The mechanical design of the energy harvester plays an important role in defining the resonant frequency characteristics of the system and therefore in order to maximize power density, it is important for a designer to be able to model, simulate and optimize designs to match new target applications. This paper gives a detailed calculation of piezoelectric energy harvesters that is in the form of a bimorph-circular plate fixed in the contour in the device frame by finite element (FE) analysis using the commercially available software package ANSYS, ACELAN. The piezoelectric bimorph is assumed to be driven into flexural vibration by an ambient acoustic source to convert the mechanical energies into electric energies. The optimal design was based on matching the resonant frequency of the device with the environmental exciting frequency, and balancing the output voltage. The simplified models of the account of a proof mass are offered. On the basis of calculations, the most effective construction of the device is offered that exhibit the targeted resonant frequency response chosen by the designer.
Three-Dimensional Static and Free Vibration Analysis of Carbon Nano Tube Reinforced Composite Cylindrical Shell Using Differential Quadrature Method
Authors: Alibeigloo A. , Jafarian H.
Published: March 2016

In this paper, bending and free vibration analysis of carbon nanotubes reinforced composite (CNTRC) cylindrical shell is carried out using the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. The single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) reinforcement is either uniformly distributed (UD) or functionally graded (FG) in the thickness direction which, are specified as the cases [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and FG-X. Effective material properties of CNTRC cylindrical shell are estimated according to the rule of mixture as well as considering the CNT efficiency parameters. An analytical solution is performed by using Fourier series along the axial coordinate together with state space technique along the radial coordinate for the simply supported CNTRC cylindrical shell. Moreover, for CNTRC cylindrical shell with other edges boundary conditions, a semi-analytical solution is accomplished by using differential quadrature method (DQM) along the axial coordinate and state space technique along the radial coordinate. Present approach is validated by comparing the numerical results with the available published results. Furthermore, effect of types of CNT distributions in the polymer matrix, volume fraction of CNT, edges boundary conditions and radial-to-thickness ratio on the bending and free vibration behavior of FG-CNTRC cylindrical are examined.
Modeling Equilibrium Swelling of a Dual pH- and Temperature-Responsive Core/Shell Hydrogel
Authors: Hamzavi N. , Drozdov A. D. , Gu Y. , Birgersson E.
Published: March 2016

The equilibrium swelling of a dual stimuli-responsive core/shell hydrogel is studied by a thermodynamic model. This hydrogel shows thermo-sensitivity as well as pH-sensitivity. The model captures the inhomogeneous swelling of core/shell hydrogels and also, accounts for temperature and pH sensitivity. The predictions of this model are verified with the swelling experiments of a core/shell microgel comprising poly N-isopropyl acrylamide (pNIPAM) and acrylic acid (AAc). The model calculates the equilibrium swelling within the ionic core and the neutral shell. Simulation results can reproduce the equilibrium swelling-temperature curves of this microgel at different pH values considering the delay in the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the ionic polymer gel (pNIPAM-co-AAc) in the core. Two transition points are found in the equilibrium swelling behavior of the hydrogel akin to the VPTTs of the core and shell domains at high pH values of bath solutions. Likewise, the degree of ionization in the core domain is predicted to have a two-step transition behavior corresponding to the VPTTs of the core and shell domains at high pH values of bath solutions. It is shown that the equilibrium swelling of the ionic core is mainly influenced by the electrostatic repulsion between bound charges rather than the ionic pressure. Furthermore, it is determined that the maximum radial stress occurs at the core/shell interface and reaches its maximum value about the VPTT of the core.
Boltzmann machines with clusters of stochastic binary units
Authors: Teng Da , Li Zhang , Gong Guanghong , Han Liang
Published: March 2016

The original restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs) are extended by replacing the binary visible and hidden variables with clusters of binary units, and a new learning algorithm for training deep Boltzmann machine of this new variant is proposed. The sum of binary units of each cluster is approximated by a Gaussian distribution. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed Boltzmann machines can achieve good performance in the MNIST handwritten digital recognition task.
Tetrad currents in the Einstein–Cartan theory
Authors: Polishchuk Rostislav F.
Published: March 2016

Local and non-local integral conservation laws in the Riemann–Cartan spaces are given. Hypothesis of the friedmons as dark matter particles is proposed. The friedmon mass is about [Formula: see text] GeV, and thesymmetry group is dual for [Formula: see text] one.
Equations of geodesic deviation and properties of tidal forces in the Kerr metric
Authors: Rasulova A. M.
Published: March 2016

In the paper the work of the tidal forces that arise when the relative deviation of the protons on distance of the order of the Compton wavelength near the horizon of Kerr black hole is considered. For ease of calculation the assumption is made that the proton has only a radial component of the velocity. It is shown that the work of the tidal forces at speeds close to the speed of light sharply increases with Lorentz factor and it can obtain very high energy of the Grand Unification order.
Cosmological model favored by the holographic principle
Authors: Dymnikova Irina , Dobosz Anna , Sołtysek Bożena
Published: March 2016

We present a regular spherically symmetric cosmological model of the Lemaitre class distinguished by the holographic principle as the thermodynamically stable end-point of quantum evaporation of the cosmological horizon. A source term in the Einstein equations connects smoothly two de Sitter vacua with different values of cosmological constant and corresponds to anisotropic vacuum dark fluid defined by symmetry of its stress-energy tensor which is invariant under the radial boosts. Global structure of space-time is the same as for the de Sitter space-time. Cosmological evolution goes from a big initial value of the cosmological constant towards its presently observed value.
Neutron and quark stars in f(R) gravity
Authors: Astashenok Artyom V.
Published: March 2016

The realistic compact star models are considered in [Formula: see text] gravity. The main result is that simple modified gravity can be consistent with current observational mass limit of neutron stars, with current data on their masses and radii; also, it simplifies solution of the hyperon problem. The effect of strong magnetic field in [Formula: see text]-gravity is also investigated. The existence of more compact (in comparison with General Relativity) stars with large magnetic fields in central regions is possible. In fact the second branch of stability appears.
On possible tachyonic state of neutrino dark matter
Authors: Makukov Maxim A. , Mychelkin Eduard G. , Saveliev Vladimir L.
Published: March 2016

We revive the historically first neutrino dark matter model, but with an additional assumption that neutrinos might exist in tachyonic almost sterile states. To this end we propose a group-theoretical algorithm for the description of tachyons. The key point is that we employ a distinct tachyon Lorentz group with another (superluminal) parametrization which does not require traditional introduction of imaginary masses and negative energies, and therefore does not lead to violation of causality and unitarity. Our dark matter model represents effectively scalar tachyonic neutrino-antineutrino conglomerate. Distributed all over the universe, such fluid behaves as stable isothermal/stiff medium which produces somewhat denser regions (‘smoothed halos’) around galaxies and clusters. It is shown to be consistent with observational effects (galactic rotation curves).
Transport of laser emission with broadband spectrum in optically dense atomic medium under the coherent population trapping
Authors: Barantsev K. A. , Litvinov A. N. , Popov E. N.
Published: March 2016

The paper presents a theory describing the formation of the coherent population trapping resonance for the finite laser bandwidth in an optically-dense medium of atoms inside a buffer gas cell. The equations of the atomic density matrix are established, as well as the transfer equations of laser emission spectrum inside a cell with working and buffer gas at a determined temperature. The dependence of the quality of the coherent population trapping resonance on the laser bandwidth has been studied in the case of detecting the signal of the transmitted emission and the fluorescence signal.
Precise digital demodulation for fiber optic interferometer sensors
Authors: Medvedev Andrei , Berezhnoi Andrei , Kudryashov Aleksei , Liokumovich Leonid
Published: March 2016

Different methods are used in the interferometer sensors for target signal extraction. Digital technologies provide new opportunities for precise signal detection. We have developed the principle of signal demodulation using an additional harmonic phase modulation and digital signal processing. The principle allows implementation of processing algorithms using different ratios between modulation and discretization frequencies. The expressions allowing calculation of the phase difference using the inverse trigonometric functions were derived. The method was realized in LabVIEW programming environment and was demonstrated for various signal shapes.
Coherent specular reflection of resonant light from a dense ensemble of motionless point-like scatters in a slab geometry
Authors: Kuraptsev A. S. , Sokolov I. M. , Fofanov Ya. A.
Published: March 2016

We analyze resonant light scattering from a dense and disordered ensemble of motionless point-like scatters with uniform (on average) spatial distribution of the density. The average interatomic distance is considered comparable with the resonant wavelength and the mean free path of photon. The inhomogeneity of dipole-dipole interaction near the surface is discussed. Angular distribution of the light scattered from a medium in a slab geometry is calculated. The total reflected light power [Formula: see text] and the reflectivity [Formula: see text] depending on the optical thickness of a medium [Formula: see text] are analyzed. It is shown that in the case of small optical thickness ([Formula: see text]) [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. With further increasing of the optical thickness we observe oscillations of the dependencies [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The attenuation coefficient of these oscillations is discussed.
Ramsey resonance of coherent population trapping in slow rubidium beam
Authors: Sokolov I. M.
Published: March 2016

We calculate the coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance in slow beam of rubidium 87 atoms caused by of their interaction with bichromatic electromagnetic field in two separated spatial domains. In the case of monovelocity beam we study the properties of the CPT resonance depending on type of working transitions, velocity of the atomic beam, intensity and polarization of electromagnetic fields, and space separation in Ramsey scheme.
Nuclear-resonance magnetometer with flowing liquid for superstrong inhomogeneous fields measuring
Authors: Davydov V. V. , Dudkin V. I. , Vologdin V. A.
Published: March 2016

Multichannel nuclear-resonance magnetometer for remote monitoring of induction and heterogeneity of a magnetic field in different areas inside and near a charged particle accelerator is considered. The maximal distance between the nuclear magnetic resonance signal detector and the magnetometer is 50 m. Measurement error is 0.5%, sensitivity of the magnetometer is 10[Formula: see text] T/Hz[Formula: see text], measurement time of the magnetic field parameters in 24 control points is no more than 4 minutes.
Electromagnetic Field of Surface Waves Propagation in Fiber-Reinforced Generalized Thermoelastic Medium
Authors: Lotfy Kh. , Salem Al. M. , Al-Sayed A.
Published: March 2016

The objective of this paper is to investigate the surface waves in fiber-reinforced anisotropic elastic medium subjected to magnetic and thermal fields. We introduce the coupled theory (CD), Lord–Shulman (LS) theory and Green–Lindsay (GL) theory to study the influence of magnetic field on 2D problem of a fiber-reinforced thermoelastic. The analytical expressions for displacement components and force stress are obtained in the physical domain by using the harmonic vibrations. The wave velocity equations have been obtained in different cases. Numerical results for the temperature, displacement, and thermal stress components are given and illustrated graphically in the presence and absence of the magnetic field of the material medium. A comparison is also made between the three theories in the case of presence and absence of fiber-reinforced parameters.
Acute Rheumatic Fever: Findings of a Hospital‐Based Study and an Overview of Reported Outbreaks
Authors: Allen Upton D , Braudo Michael , Read Stanley E
Published: March 2016

To review the characteristics of reported outbreaks of acute rheumatic fever in the United States, and to determine if there is an increase in the incidence of acute rheumatic fever in the population served by the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, the authors conducted a literature search and a retrospective review of inpatients and outpatients, satisfying the revised Jones criteria for the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever, from 1972 to 1988. Patients satisfying the revised Jones criteria for the time period 1972–88 were included in the study. There have been eight articles reporting an increase in acute rheumatic fever in the United States. In three, the majority of children were white and from middle class suburban/rural communities in different geographic locations. Mucoid strains of group A streptococci were implicated but not confirmed as being associated with the outbreaks in three. The results of the chart review at the Hospital for Sick Children revealed that 83 cases satisfied the revised Jones criteria. The number of cases per 100,000 children (aged 18 years or less) per year, decreased progressively over the study period. Polyarthritis was the most frequently seen major criterion occurring in 73% of patients (61 of 83). The most frequently affected ethnic groups were Italians 23%, Afro‐Canadians 19% and Orientals 8%. The reported outbreaks in the United States are multifocal and predominantly confined to white middle class children residing in suburban/rural communities. There was no evidence of an increase in the number of cases of acute rheumatic fever seen in the population served by the Hospital for Sick Children; there was a progressive decline in number of cases over the study period. The results facilitate the characterization of acute rheumatic fever within North America into three different patterns of occurrence.
Rapid Diagnosis of Bacteremia in Adults Using Acridine Orange Stained Buffy Coat Smears
Authors: Miller Mark , Mendelson Jack
Published: March 2016

The use of acridine orange stained buffy coat smears was assessed as a rapid screening test for bacteremia in adults. A total of 356 consecutive blood cultures were submitted with simultaneous anticoagulated blood samples, from which a buffy coat smear was prepared and stained with acridine orange (100 mg/L; pH 3.0). Forty‐one of 356 blood samples (12%) yielded organisms in the blood culture system. Compared to blood culture, the overall sensitivity of acridine orange stained buffy coat smears was 16%, specificity 88%, and positive predictive value 13%. There was no statistically significant difference in performance of the test among patients who had fever greater than 39°C and/or shock. The low sensitivity and specificity of the test makes it unsuitable as a means of rapid screening for adults with suspected bacteremia.
Non‐Beta‐Lactamase‐Producing Penicillin‐Resistant Enterococcus faecium in a Clinical Setting
Authors: Eymard Daniel , Dascal Andre , Hiscott John , Gioseffini Sonia , Stevenson Janet , Portnoy Joseph , Mendelson Jack
Published: March 2016

Six clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium highly resistant to penicillin are reported. These strains did not produce beta‐lactamase and no plasmid DNA could be detected. It is postulated that the mechanism of resistance is one or more chromosomally mediated alterations of penicillin‐binding proteins.
Accumulation of Trospectomycin by Strains of Salmonella typhimurium, escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Wong S , Bryan LE
Published: March 2016

Trospectomycin, unlike aminoglycosidic aminocyclitols, is accumulated by a nonsaturable, energy‐independent, diffusional process in Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae. A deep rough mutant of S typhimurium was more susceptible and accumulated the drug faster, and F porin deficient mutants of E coli were more resistant than parental strains. Trospectomycin likely uses both porin and nonporin pathways to cross the outer membrane. An E coli strain effectively accumulated the drug anaerobically, explaining its anaerobic activity. An H influenzae strain accumulated trospectomycin at concentrations below those for which detectable uptake could be observed with E coli or S typhimurium strains, consistent with greater activity in Haemophilus species.
Effect of Enterococcus faecalis Pyelonephritis on the Intracortical Accumulation Kinetics of Gentamicin in Rats
Authors: Jullien Martial , Thériault Guy , Bergeron Michel G , Beauchamp Denis
Published: March 2016

The role of serum levels on the intracortical accumulation kinetics of gentamicin was evaluated in normal and Enterococcus faecalis‐infected kidneys using a short term infusion model in conscious rats. Female Sprague‐Dawley rats were infused over a period of 6 h with gentamicin achieving individual steady‐state serum levels ranging from 0.5 to 20 μg/mL. Pyelonephritis was induced by a direct inoculation of the left kidney with a suspension of E faecalis. This model resulted in severe infection of the left kidney and mild infection of the right kidney. Gentamicin cortical concentrations were analyzed as a function of serum levels by linear regression (least squares regression analysis). Steady‐state elevation of serum concentrations of gentamicin was associated with a linear increase of cortical concentrations in normal, and in both left and right infected kidneys. No significant difference in the kinetics of gentamicin uptake was observed between normal and right and left infected kidneys. Therefore, E faecalis pyelonephritis does not modify the intracortical accumulation kinetics of gentamicin.
Spontaneous Yersinia enterocolitica Septicemia in a Patient with Iron Overload
Authors: Larigakis Steven S , Noble Michael A , Sparling Terence G
Published: March 2016

Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia is described in a patient with transfusional iron overload and a myelodysplastic syndrome. The organism was biotype 1 serotype 0:5,27 and carried a virulence‐encoding plasmid. It was calcium‐dependent, autoagglutinating and virulent to orally challenged mice, but not resistant to the bacteriocidal activity of serum. The patient had depressed neutrophil chemotaxis and bactericidal activity. In this case, both host and microbial factors were present to select out this particular bacteremic disease. Patients with iron overload states should be recognized as compromised hosts and potentially susceptible to spontaneous sepsis due to Y enterocolitica.
Meningitis Due to Ampicillin‐and Chloramphenicol‐Resistant Haemophilus influenzae Type B in Canada. Case Report and Review
Authors: Kabani Amin , Joffe Ari , Cadrain Gisele , Jadavji Taj
Published: March 2016

The first report of a case of ampicillin‐ and chloramphenicol‐resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b invasive infection in Canada is described in a four‐month‐old male with meningitis. He was treated with cefotaxime 200 mg/kg/day divided every 6 h and dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg/day divided every 6 h, eventually recovering after a complicated course. Follow‐up at 21 months showed mild to moderate global developmental delay. While chloramphenicol resistance is rare in North America, a case of meningitis initially unresponsive to ampicillin and chloramphenicol must be considered suspect for resistance. Third generation cephalosporins should be used for resistant cases.