bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-Term Effects of the Kinesio Taping® on Early Postoperative Hip Muscle Weakness in Male Patients With Hamstring Autograft or Allograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Balki Selvin , Göktas¸ Hanım Eda
Published: December 2017

Objective: Kinesio taping® (KT) is a widely used treatment method in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Little is known about the KT treatment and hip strength in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the KT treatment on hip muscle weakness in early rehabilitation of ACLR and the possible determinants of the ACLR-hip strength deficit (HSD). Design: Double-blind sham-controlled study. Setting: Rehabilitation department. Patients: A total of 26 male patients who underwent unilateral ACLR using hamstring autograft or allograft 4 days before. Interventions: The patients were randomized to receive the knee KT treatment (n = 13) with lymphatic correction plus muscle (biceps/rectus femoris) facilitation or sham KT (n = 13) for 10 days. In addition, the same ACLR rehabilitation program was applied to all the patients. Main Outcome Measures: The baseline data included demographic and clinical characteristics, postoperative swelling, knee motion loss and knee pain, and bilateral strength of the knee and hip muscle groups, except for rotator. Then, percentage values of hip HSD and knee strength limb symmetry index were calculated. The hip strength measurements in ACLR-operated leg were repeated on the 5th to 10th days of KT. Results: Changes in all hip strength values over time were significant in both groups (P < .01). In intergroup analysis of 5th and 10th days, improvements in the flexor (only 10th day), extensor, and adductor hip strength on operated leg were in favor of KT group (P < .05). In addition, the postoperative thigh swelling and knee strength limb symmetry index values were correlated with the HSD outcomes in baseline data (P < .05). Conclusions: ACLR-HSD can be caused by postoperative increased swelling and reduced knee strength. The KT treatment with lymphatic correction and muscle facilitation can be used in the treatment of postoperative hip muscle weakness after ACLR.
Validity and Reliability of a Digital Inclinometer to Assess Knee Joint Position Sense in an Open Kinetic Chain
Authors: Romero-Franco Natalia , Montaño-Munuera Juan Antonio , Fernández-Domínguez Juan Carlos , Jiménez-Reyes Pedro
Published: December 2017

Context: New methods are being validated to easily evaluate the knee joint position sense (JPS) due to its role in the sports movement and the risk of injury. However, no studies to date have considered the open kinetic chain (OKC) technique, despite the biomechanical differences compared with closed kinetic chain movements. Objective: To analyze the validity and reliability of a digital inclinometer to measure the knee JPS in the OKC movement. Design: The validity and intertester and intratester reliability of a digital inclinometer for measuring knee JPS were evaluated. Setting: Sports research laboratory. Participants: A total of 18 athletes (11 males and 7 females; 28.4 [6.6] y; 71.9 [14.0] kg; 1.77 [0.09] m; 22.8 [3.2] kg/m2) voluntary participated in this study. Main Outcomes Measures: Absolute angular error (AAE), relative angular error (RAE), and variable angular error (VAE) of knee JPS in an OKC. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of the mean (SEM) were calculated to determine the validity and reliability of the inclinometer. Data showed excellent validity of the inclinometer to obtain proprioceptive errors compared with the video analysis in JPS tasks (AAE: ICC = .981, SEM = 0.08; RAE: ICC = .974, SEM = 0.12; VAE: ICC = .973, SEM = 0.07). Intertester reliability was also excellent for all the proprioceptive errors (AAE: ICC = .967, SEM = 0.04; RAE: ICC = .974, SEM = 0.03; VAE: ICC = .939, SEM = 0.08). Similar results were obtained for intratester reliability (AAE: ICC = .861, SEM = 0.1; RAE: ICC = .894, SEM = 0.1; VAE: ICC = .700, SEM = 0.2). Conclusions: The digital inclinometer is a valid and reliable method to assess the knee JPS in OKC. Sport professionals may evaluate the knee JPS to monitor its deterioration during training or improvements throughout the rehabilitation process.
Insert Name of Openly Gay Hockey Player Here: Attitudes Towards Homosexuality Among Canadian Male Major Midget AAA Ice Hockey Players
Authors: MacDonald Cheryl A.
Published: December 2017

This article examines attitudes towards homosexuality among male Major Midget AAA ice hockey players in Canada. Qualitative and quantitative surveys, interviews, and a social media content analysis were used to identify and analyze the ways in which the players perceive sexual orientation in a hockey context. This level presents a unique opportunity for investigation because the players, typically between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, find themselves at the intersection of a generation that is relatively inclusive of the queer community and a sport that can be said to encourage heterosexism. Informed by theories of masculinity and sport, the study situates itself within a body of literature that is divided regarding the current status of homophobia in sport.
In Search of a Five-Star: The Centrality of Body Discourses in the Scouting of High School Football Players
Authors: Silva Derek M.D. , Bower Roy , Cipolli William
Published: December 2017

This study explores how high school football athletes’ bodies are constructed within the context of contemporary scouting regimes. Deploying a quantitative approach, we analyze 6600 scouting reports on a total of 1650 high school football athletes available online from four high-profile media outlets which offer ‘expert’ analyses of athletes’ body characteristics, performance, and estimated potential. The findings indicate that subjective measurements of the athlete’s body are the best predictors of hierarchical classification. The findings also indicate that objective measurements do not seem to predict the subjective assessment of those very athletic bodies. We argue that the evaluation of high school football athletes by so-called expert analysts is remarkably arbitrary, and thus call into question the very practice of football scouting that has become so dominant and influential. ‘Scouts’ promote a system of scrutiny that contributes the reification of hegemonic relations between the observers and the observed.
Gibberish in Communicating Written Physical Activity Information: Making Strides at Derailing a Perpetual Problem
Authors: Thomas Jafrā D. , Cardinal Bradley J.
Published: December 2017

The majority of physical activity resources are too difficult to be easily read and understood by most U.S. adults. Attempts to ensure that such resources are written in the most accessible manner possible have been advanced (e.g., 2010 U.S.National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy). For this study, physical activity educational resources were collected through the Internet (N = 163), and their reading grade levels were analyzed. Over 50% of the resources were written at an unsatisfactory level, with the observed reading grade level being greater than eighth-grade (M = 8.98,SD = 2.92,p < .001, 95% CI [8.53, 9.43]), the maximum recommended. Suggestions for future research and publicly engaged sociology of sport praxis are discussed, with a focus on increasing the equity of written physical activity educational resources.
Superhuman AI for heads-up no-limit poker: Libratus beats top professionals
Authors: Brown Noam , Sandholm Tuomas
Published: December 2017

Libratus versus humans

Pitting artificial intelligence (AI) against top human players demonstrates just how far AI has come. Brown and Sandholm built a poker-playing AI called Libratus that decisively beat four leading human professionals in the two-player variant of poker called heads-up no-limit Texas hold'em (HUNL). Over nearly 3 weeks, Libratus played 120,000 hands of HUNL against the human professionals, using a three-pronged approach that included precomputing an overall strategy, adapting the strategy to actual gameplay, and learning from its opponent.

Science
, this issue p.
418
Roles of Staphylococcus aureus Mnh1 and Mnh2 Antiporters in Salt Tolerance, Alkali Tolerance, and Pathogenesis
Authors: Vaish Manisha , Price-Whelan Alexa , Reyes-Robles Tamara , Liu Jun , Jereen Amyeo , Christie Stephanie , Alonzo Francis , Benson Meredith A. , Torres Victor J. , Krulwich Terry A.
Published: December 2017

Staphylococcus aureus
has three types of cation/proton antiporters. The type 3 family includes two
m
ultisubunit
N
a
+
/
H
+
(Mnh) antiporters, Mnh1 and Mnh2. These antiporters are clusters of seven hydrophobic membrane-bound protein subunits. Mnh antiporters play important roles in maintaining cytoplasmic pH in prokaryotes, enabling their survival under extreme environmental stress. In this study, we investigated the physiological roles and catalytic properties of Mnh1 and Mnh2 in
S. aureus
. Both Mnh1 and Mnh2 were cloned separately into a pGEM3Z+ vector in the antiporter-deficient KNabc
Escherichia coli
strain. The catalytic properties of the antiporters were measured in everted (inside out) vesicles. The Mnh1 antiporter exhibited a significant exchange of Na
+
/H
+
cations at pH 7.5. Mnh2 showed a significant exchange of both Na
+
/H
+
and K
+
/H
+
cations, especially at pH 8.5. Under elevated salt conditions, deletion of the
mnhA1
gene resulted in a significant reduction in the growth rate of
S. aureus
in the range of pH 7.5 to 9. Deletion of
mnhA2
had similar effects but mainly in the range of pH 8.5 to 9.5. Double deletion of
mnhA1
and
mnhA2
led to a severe reduction in the
S. aureus
growth rate mainly at pH values above 8.5. The effects of functional losses of both antiporters in
S. aureus
were also assessed via their support of virulence in a mouse
in vivo
infection model. Deletion of the
mnhA1
gene led to a major loss of
S. aureus
virulence in mice, while deletion of
mnh2
led to no change in virulence.

IMPORTANCE
This study focuses on the catalytic properties and physiological roles of Mnh1 and Mnh2 cation/proton antiporters in
S. aureus
and their contributions under different stress conditions. The Mnh1 antiporter was found to have catalytic activity for Na
+
/H
+
antiport, and it plays a significant role in maintaining halotolerance at pH 7.5 while the Mnh2 antiporter has catalytic antiporter activities for Na
+
/H
+
and K
+
/H
+
that have roles in both osmotolerance and halotolerance in
S. aureus
. Study of
S. aureus
with a single deletion of either
mnhA1
or
mnhA2
was assessed in an infection model of mice. The result shows that
mnhA1
, but not
mnhA2
, plays a major role in
S. aureus
virulence.
Multiple Structures Disclose the Secretins' Secrets
Authors: Filloux Alain , Voulhoux Romé
Published: December 2017

Bacterial secretins are outer membrane proteins that provide a path for secreted proteins to access the cell exterior/surface. They are one of the core components of secretion machines and are found in type II and type III secretion systems (T2SS and T3SS, respectively). The secretins comprise giant ring-shaped homo-oligomers whose precise atomic organization was only recently deciphered thanks to spectacular developments in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging techniques.
The Host Factor AUF1 p45 Supports Flavivirus Propagation by Triggering the RNA Switch Required for Viral Genome Cyclization
Authors: Friedrich Susann , Engelmann Susanne , Schmidt Tobias , Szczepankiewicz Grit , Bergs Sandra , Liebert Uwe G. , Kümmerer Beate M. , Golbik Ralph P. , Behrens Sven-Erik
Published: December 2017

In previous studies, we showed that the cellular RNA-binding protein AUF1 supports the replication process of the flavivirus West Nile virus. Here we demonstrate that the protein also enables effective proliferation of dengue virus and Zika virus, indicating that AUF1 is a general flavivirus host factor. Further studies demonstrated that the AUF1 isoform p45 significantly stimulates the initiation of viral RNA replication and that the protein's RNA chaperone activity enhances the interactions of the viral 5′UAR and 3′UAR genome cyclization sequences. Most interestingly, we observed that AUF1 p45 destabilizes not only the 3′-terminal stem-loop (3′SL) but also 5′-terminal stem-loop B (SLB) of the viral genome. RNA structure analyses revealed that AUF1 p45 increases the accessibility of defined nucleotides within the 3′SL and SLB and, in this way, exposes both UAR cyclization elements. Conversely, AUF1 p45 does not modulate the fold of stem-loop A (SLA) at the immediate genomic 5′ end, which is proposed to function as a promoter of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). These findings suggest that AUF1 p45, by destabilizing specific stem-loop structures within the 5′ and 3′ ends of the flaviviral genome, assists genome cyclization and concurrently enables the RdRp to initiate RNA synthesis. Our study thus highlights the role of a cellular RNA-binding protein inducing a flaviviral RNA switch that is crucial for viral replication.

IMPORTANCE
The genus
Flavivirus
within the
Flaviviridae
family includes important human pathogens, such as dengue, West Nile, and Zika viruses. The initiation of replication of the flaviviral RNA genome requires a transformation from a linear to a cyclized form. This involves considerable structural reorganization of several RNA motifs at the genomic 5′ and 3′ ends. Specifically, it needs a melting of stem structures to expose complementary 5′ and 3′ cyclization elements to enable their annealing during cyclization. Here we show that a cellular RNA chaperone, AUF1 p45, which supports the replication of all three aforementioned flaviviruses, specifically rearranges stem structures at both ends of the viral genome and in this way permits 5′-3′ interactions of cyclization elements. Thus, AUF1 p45 triggers the RNA switch in the flaviviral genome that is crucial for viral replication. These findings represent an important example of how cellular (host) factors promote the propagation of RNA viruses.
Antagonism of the Protein Kinase R Pathway in Human Cells by Rhesus Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Child Stephanie J. , Hickson Sarah E. , Bayer Avraham , Malouli Daniel , Früh Klaus , Geballe Adam P.
Published: December 2017

While cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are often limited in host range by lengthy coevolution with a single host species, a few CMVs are known to deviate from this rule. For example, rhesus macaque CMV (RhCMV), a model for human CMV (HCMV) pathogenesis and vaccine development, can replicate in human cells, as well as in rhesus cells. Both HCMV and RhCMV encode species-specific antagonists of the broadly acting host cell restriction factor protein kinase R (PKR). Although the RhCMV antagonist of PKR, rTRS1, has very limited activity against human PKR, here, we show it is essential for RhCMV replication in human cells because it prevents human PKR from phosphorylating the translation initiation factor eIF2α, thereby allowing continued translation and viral replication. Although rTRS1 is necessary for RhCMV replication, it is not sufficient to rescue replication of HCMV lacking its own PKR antagonists in human fibroblasts. However, overexpression of rTRS1 in human fibroblasts enabled HCMV expressing rTRS1 to replicate, indicating that elevated levels or early expression of a weak antagonist can counteract a resistant restriction factor like human PKR. Exploring potential mechanisms that might allow RhCMV to replicate in human cells revealed that RhCMV makes no less double-stranded RNA than HCMV. Rather, in human cells, RhCMV expresses rTRS1 at levels 2 to 3 times higher than those of the HCMV-encoded PKR antagonists during HCMV infection. These data suggest that even a modest increase in expression of this weak PKR antagonist is sufficient to enable RhCMV replication in human cells.

IMPORTANCE
Rhesus macaque cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) offers a valuable model for studying congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pathogenesis and vaccine development. Therefore, it is critical to understand variations in how each virus infects and affects its host species to be able to apply insights gained from the RhCMV model to HCMV. While HCMV is capable only of infecting cells from humans and very closely related species, RhCMV displays a wider host range, including human as well as rhesus cells. RhCMV expresses an antagonist of a broadly acting antiviral factor present in all mammalian cells, and its ability to counter both the rhesus and human versions of this host factor is a key component of RhCMV's ability to cross species barriers. Here, we examine the molecular mechanisms that allow this RhCMV antagonist to function against a human restriction factor.
Feasibility study of a randomised controlled trial to investigate the treatment of sarcoidosis-associated fatigue with methylphenidate (FaST-MP): a study protocol
Authors: Atkins Christopher , Fordham Richard , Clark Allan B , Stockl Andrea , Jones Andrew P , Wilson Andrew M
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Fatigue is a frequent and troublesome manifestation of chronic sarcoidosis. This symptom can be debilitating and difficult to treat, with poor response to the treatment. Symptomatic management with neurostimulants, such as methylphenidate, is a possible treatment option. The use of such treatment strategies is not without precedent and has been trialled in cancer-related fatigue. Their use in sarcoidosis requires further evaluation before it can be recommended for clinical practice.

Methods and analysis

The Fatigue and Sarcoidosis—Treatment with Methylphenidate study is a randomised, controlled, parallel-arm and feasibility trial of methylphenidate for the treatment of sarcoidosis-associated fatigue. Patients are eligible if they have a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, significant fatigue (measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale) and have stable disease. Up to 30 participants will be randomly assigned to either methylphenidate (20 mg two times per day) or identical placebo in a 3:2 ratio for 24 weeks. The primary objective is to collect data determining the feasibility of a future study powered to determine the clinical efficacy of methylphenidate for sarcoidosis-associated fatigue. The trial is presently open and will continue until July 2018.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee on 21 June 2016 (reference 16/EE/0087) and was approved and sponsored by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (reference 190280). Clinical Trial Authorisation (EudraCT number 2016-000342-60) from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was granted on 19 April 2016. Results will be presented at relevant conferences and submitted to appropriate journals following trial closure and analysis.

Trial registration number

NCT02643732; Pre-results.
Emerging branches of the N-end rule pathways are revealing the sequence complexities of N-termini dependent protein degradation
Authors: Eldeeb Mohamed A. , Leitao Luana C.A. , Fahlman Richard P.
Published: December 2017

The N-end rule links the identity of the N-terminal amino acid of a protein to its in vivo half-life, as some N-terminal residues confer metabolic instability to a protein via their recognition by the cellular machinery that targets them for degradation. Since its discovery, the N-end rule has generally been defined as set of rules of whether an N-terminal residue is stabilizing or not. However, recent studies are revealing that the N-terminal code of amino acids conferring protein instability is more complex than previously appreciated, as recent investigations are revealing that the identity of adjoining downstream residues can also influence the metabolic stability of N-end rule substrate. This is exemplified by the recent discovery of a new branch of N-end rule pathways that target proteins bearing N-terminal proline. In addition, recent investigations are demonstrating that the molecular machinery in N-termini dependent protein degradation may also target proteins for lysosomal degradation, in addition to proteasome-dependent degradation. Herein, we describe some of the recent advances in N-end rule pathways and discuss some of the implications regarding the emerging additional sequence requirements.
Effective friction angle of clays and silts from piezocone penetration tests
Authors: Ouyang Zhongkun , Mayne Paul W.
Published: December 2017

An existing effective stress limit plasticity solution for piezocone penetration tests (CPTu) is calibrated to evaluate the effective stress friction angle ([Formula: see text]) for undrained conditions for a variety of fine-grained soils ranging from natural lean to plastic clays and clayey silts from marine, alluvial, lacustrine, deltaic, and glaciofluvial origins. Data from 105 clay sites are compiled to examine the CPTu-interpreted [Formula: see text] values in comparison with laboratory benchmark values obtained from undrained consolidated anisotropic (CAUC) and undrained compression (CIUC) triaxial tests made on undisturbed samples. An approximate inversion of the theoretical solution is developed to allow profiles of [Formula: see text] to be evaluated with depth. Five well-documented case studies in Illinois, Louisiana, South Carolina, Ireland, and Massachusetts are presented to illustrate the application of the solution. Lastly, results from 1g chamber tests involving kaolin and kaolinitic–silica mixtures tested by miniature piezocone probes are shown for additional verification.
An ethylene glycol-based new sol-gel route to multiferroic (1–x)LaCrO3–xBiCrO3 solid solution
Authors: Abbasi Bahareh , Guo Haiyan , Wu Hua , Tailor Hamel N. , Ye Zuo-Guang
Published: December 2017

Solid solution of multiferroic (1–x)LaCrO3–xBiCrO3 has been synthesized in the perovskite structure via a new sol-gel route using ethylene glycol as solvent. This synthetic process proved to be superior to the solid state reaction method, with a lower formation temperature, improved reactivity, and a higher solubility limit. The complex chemical reactions taking place in the sol and precursor powder upon heating are investigated by simultaneous thermal gravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA). The substitution of BiCrO3 for LaCrO3 results in a higher density for the ceramics and an increased electric conductivity at high temperatures. The sol-gel synthesized La1−xBixCrO3 solid solution (x = 0.3) exhibits a superparaelectric behaviour with a slim and nonlinear polarization – electric field hysteresis loop, whereas a double hysteresis loop of antiferroelectric appearance is displayed in the compound with x = 0.4.
Investigating trade-offs in alternative catch share systems: an individual-based bio-economic model applied to the Bay of Biscay sole fishery
Authors: Bellanger Manuel , Macher Claire , Merzéréaud Mathieu , Guyader Olivier , Le Grand Christelle
Published: December 2017

An individual-based bio-economic model is presented and applied to the Bay of Biscay sole (Solea solea) fishery to investigate alternative quota management systems from a multicriteria perspective. For this study, the model integrates several institutional arrangements related to catch share management. The current French co-management system with nontransferability of quota is compared with an alternative individual transferable quota (ITQ) system in a context of transition to maximum sustainable yield. Trade-offs between ecological and socioeconomic impacts are highlighted and the effectiveness of governance scenarios is discussed in regard to the challenge of capacity adjustment. Results emphasize that the introduction of ITQs is expected to reduce by 40% the number of vessels in the fishery. While effectively mitigating the economic impacts of the transition phase to maximum sustainable yield, ITQs are also expected to increase substantially the fishing effort by trawlers, which may cause ecological concerns. The scenarios tested also include the simulation of a decommissioning scheme where subsequent decommissioned vessels are considerably different from the vessels that would lease out their quotas in an ITQ system, resulting in differentiated ecological and socioeconomic impacts between scenarios.
Loss of SNP genetic diversity following population collapse in a recreational walleye (Sander vitreus) fishery
Authors: Allen Brandon E. , Bowles Ella , Morris Matthew R.J. , Rogers Sean M.
Published: December 2017

Walleye (Sander vitreus) are in demand as a commercially and recreationally harvested freshwater fish in Canada. Managed populations may exhibit different phenotypic and genetic signatures from their natural counterparts. In Alberta, Canada, this fishery is recovering from population collapses attributed to intensive recreational angling. We hypothesized that historical population collapses would be associated with signatures of reduced genetic diversity. To address this question, we sampled six walleye lakes in northern Alberta, including historical tissue samples for one population, and used genotyping-by-sequencing to characterize 1081 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Lakes were identified as unique genetic clusters except for two lakes that unexpectedly exhibited signs of genetic clustering. Using historical DNA samples, 428 homologous SNPs characterized in walleye between pre- and postpopulation collapse exhibited significant reductions in multiple estimates of genetic diversity. Collectively, our results illustrate that genotype-by-sequencing methods that integrate historical and contemporary samples in association with managed populations provide insight into the consequences of harvest pressure causing collapse.
Isolation and characterization of two lytic cold-active bacteriophages infecting Pseudomonas fluorescens from the Napahai plateau wetland
Authors: Xiang Yingying , Wang Shuang , Li Jiankai , Wei Yunlin , Zhang Qi , Lin Lianbing , Ji Xiuling
Published: December 2017

As the “kidneys of the Earth”, wetlands play important roles as biodiversity reservoirs, in water purification, and in flood control. In this study, 2 lytic cold-active bacteriophages, named VW-6S and VW-6B, infecting Pseudomonas fluorescens W-6 cells from the Napahai plateau wetland in China were isolated and characterized. Electron microscopy showed that both VW-6S and VW-6B had an icosahedral head (66.7 and 61.1 nm, respectively) and a long tail (8.3 nm width × 233.3 nm length and 11.1 nm width × 166.7 nm length, respectively). The bacteriophages VW-6S and VW-6B were classified as Siphoviridae and had an approximate genome size of 30–40 kb. The latent and burst periods of VW-6S were 60 and 30 min, whereas those of VW-6B were 30 and 30 min, respectively. The optimal pH values for the bacteriophages VW-6S and VW-6B were 8.0 and 10.0, respectively, and their activity decreased rapidly at temperatures higher than 60 °C. These cold-active bacteriophages provide good materials for further study of cold-adaptation mechanisms and interaction with the host P. fluorescens.
The role of long relaxation times in a simple model with massless modes
Authors: Timmons R. , De’Bell K.
Published: December 2017

The next-nearest-neighbour Ising model with competing nearest-neighbour (nn) and next-nearest-neighbour (nnn) interactions, provides an example of a system in which massless modes destroy order at any finite temperature. This occurs only at a critical ratio, Kc, of the nnn and nn interactions. In this paper we investigate the role of long relaxation times in determining the behaviour of the system when the ratio of the nnn and nn interactions, K, is at and close to this critical ratio. Despite the absence of an order–disorder transition in systems with K = Kc, in Monte Carlo simulations reported here the temperature-dependent behaviour of the relaxation times indicates the existence of a glass transition with a glass transition temperature of Tg ≈ 0.26 in a model with nn interaction J = kB = 1.
Keeping science’s seat at the decision-making table: Mechanisms to motivate policy-makers to keep using scientific information in the age of disinformation
Authors: Marleau Justin N. , Girling Kimberly D.
Published: December 2017

Policy-makers are confronted with complex problems that require evaluating multiple streams of evidence and weighing competing interests to develop and implement solutions. However, the policy interventions available to resolve these problems have different levels of supporting scientific evidence. Decision-makers, who are not necessarily scientifically trained, may favour policies with limited scientific backing to obtain public support. We illustrate these tensions with two case studies where the scientific consensus went up against the governing parties’ chosen policy. What mechanisms exist to keep the weight of scientific evidence at the forefront of decision-making at the highest levels of government? In this paper, we propose that Canada create “Departmental Chief Science Advisors” (DCSAs), based on a program in the UK, to help complement and extend the reach of the newly created Chief Science Advisor position. DCSAs would provide advice to ministers and senior civil servants, critically evaluate scientific work in their host department, and provide public outreach for the department’s science. We show how the DCSAs could be integrated into their departments and illustrate their potential benefits to the policy making process and the scientific community.
A New Delay Connection for Long Short-Term Memory Networks
Authors: Wang Jianyong , Zhang Lei , Chen Yuanyuan , Yi Zhang
Published: December 2017

Connections play a crucial role in neural network (NN) learning because they determine how information flows in NNs. Suitable connection mechanisms may extensively enlarge the learning capability and reduce the negative effect of gradient problems. In this paper, a new delay connection is proposed for Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) unit to develop a more sophisticated recurrent unit, called Delay Connected LSTM (DCLSTM). The proposed delay connection brings two main merits to DCLSTM with introducing no extra parameters. First, it allows the output of the DCLSTM unit to maintain LSTM, which is absent in the LSTM unit. Second, the proposed delay connection helps to bridge the error signals to previous time steps and allows it to be back-propagated across several layers without vanishing too quickly. To evaluate the performance of the proposed delay connections, the DCLSTM model with and without peephole connections was compared with four state-of-the-art recurrent model on two sequence classification tasks. DCLSTM model outperformed the other models with higher accuracy and F1[Formula: see text]score. Furthermore, the networks with multiple stacked DCLSTM layers and the standard LSTM layer were evaluated on Penn Treebank (PTB) language modeling. The DCLSTM model achieved lower perplexity (PPL)/bit-per-character (BPC) than the standard LSTM model. The experiments demonstrate that the learning of the DCLSTM models is more stable and efficient.
Recent searches for continuous gravitational waves
Authors: Riles Keith
Published: December 2017

Gravitational wave astronomy opened dramatically in September 2015 with the LIGO discovery of a distant and massive binary black hole coalescence. The more recent discovery of a binary neutron star merger, followed by a gamma ray burst (GRB) and a kilonova, reinforces the excitement of this new era, in which we may soon see other sources of gravitational waves, including continuous, nearly monochromatic signals. Potential continuous wave (CW) sources include rapidly spinning galactic neutron stars and more exotic possibilities, such as emission from axion Bose Einstein “clouds” surrounding black holes. Recent searches in Advanced LIGO data are presented, and prospects for more sensitive future searches are discussed.
Investigation of the scalar spectrum in SU (3) with eight degenerate flavors
Authors: Rinaldi E.
Published: December 2017

The Lattice Strong Dynamics collaboration is investigating the properties of a SU(3) gauge theory with [Formula: see text] light fermions on the lattice. We measure the masses of the lightest pseudoscalar, scalar and vector states using simulations with the nHYP staggered-fermion action on large volumes and at small fermion masses, reaching [Formula: see text]. The axial-vector meson and the nucleon are also studied for the same range of fermion masses. One of the interesting features of this theory is the dynamical presence of a light flavor-singlet scalar state with [Formula: see text] quantum numbers that is lighter than the vector resonance and has a mass consistent with the one of the pseudoscalar state for the whole fermion mass range explored. We comment on the existence of such state emerging from our lattice simulations and on the challenges of its analysis. Moreover we highlight the difficulties in pursuing simulations in the chiral regime of this theory using large volumes.
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of Hg-doped Cu2Se
Authors: Li Erying , Wang Siqi , Zhu Zheng , Cao Ruijuan , Hu Xing , Song Hongzhang
Published: December 2017

The Cu[Formula: see text]Hg[Formula: see text]Se (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) nanopowders were fabricated using the hydrothermal synthesis, and then hot-pressed into bulk alloys. The effects of Hg doping on the thermoelectric (TE) properties of Cu2Se were investigated. The electrical resistivities of all the doped samples are lower than that of the nondoped sample due to the induced cation vacancies. For the x = 0.10 and x = 0.15 samples, Seebeck coefficients increase slightly compared with the nondoped sample at higher temperature. Except for the sample of x = 0.05, the thermal conductivities of x = 0.10 and x = 0.15 samples are substantially lower than that of the x = 0.00 sample. As an overall result, the maximum value of ZT, which is the dimensionless TE figure of merit, reaches 1.50 at 600[Formula: see text]C for the x = 0.10 sample.
An Automated Vision System for Vehicle License Plate Localization, Segmentation in Real Life Scene
Authors: Chen Bei , Cao Wenlun , He Yuyao
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we propose an image-based approach to detect the presence of a vehicle license plate (VLP) in a traffic image. This method is based on the fractal character difference between the VLP region and the other regions. The technique extracts information from fractal feature blocks and computes the dimension zone that describes the difference between the license plate and the other areas in the scene. A new fractal-dimension computing method aimed at gray-image data has been presented and been applied to image segmentation. Three indexes have been defined to measure the performance of the method. The fractal-dimension parameter’s choice and self-adapting adjustment have been discussed in detail. Further, the proposed system has been evaluated using test and verification datasets and has been proven to be robust against common issues of traffic images, such as varying illumination, camera vibration, insensitivity to vehicle plate’s color and location, and high noise levels. Since there is always a large number of fractal characteristic blocks around the same spatial location in traffic video frames, the efficiency of the proposed algorithm for video will be greatly improved.
Iteration of Quadratic Maps on Coquaternions
Authors: Falcão Maria Irene , Miranda Fernando , Severino Ricardo , Soares Maria Joana
Published: December 2017

This paper is concerned with the study of the iteration of the quadratic coquaternionic map [Formula: see text], where c is a fixed coquaternionic parameter. The fixed points and periodic points of period two are determined, revealing the existence of a type of sets of these points which do not occur in the classical complex case: sets of nonisolated points. This brings the need to consider a different concept of stability. The analysis of the stability, in this new sense, of the sets of fixed points and periodic points is performed and a discussion of certain type of bifurcations which occur, in the case of a real parameter c, is also presented.
Discrete-Time Mapping for an Impulsive Goodwin Oscillator with Three Delays
Authors: Churilov Alexander N. , Medvedev Alexander , Zhusubaliyev Zhanybai T.
Published: December 2017

A popular biomathematics model of the Goodwin oscillator has been previously generalized to a more biologically plausible construct by introducing three time delays to portray the transport phenomena arising due to the spatial distribution of the model states. The present paper addresses a similar conversion of an impulsive version of the Goodwin oscillator that has found application in mathematical modeling, e.g. in endocrine systems with pulsatile hormone secretion. While the cascade structure of the linear continuous part pertinent to the Goodwin oscillator is preserved in the impulsive Goodwin oscillator, the static nonlinear feedback of the former is substituted with a pulse modulation mechanism thus resulting in hybrid dynamics of the closed-loop system. To facilitate the analysis of the mathematical model under investigation, a discrete mapping propagating the continuous state variables through the firing times of the impulsive feedback is derived. Due to the presence of multiple time delays in the considered model, previously developed mapping derivation approaches are not applicable here and a novel technique is proposed and applied. The mapping captures the dynamics of the original hybrid system and is instrumental in studying complex nonlinear phenomena arising in the impulsive Goodwin oscillator. A simulation example is presented to demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach in bifurcation analysis.
Iteration Problem for Distributional Chaos
Authors: Hantáková Jana
Published: December 2017

We disprove the conjecture that the existence of a DC3-scrambled pair is preserved under iteration and show that a slightly strengthened definition of distributional chaos of type 3, denoted by DC2[Formula: see text], is iteration invariant, i.e. that [Formula: see text] is DC2[Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] is. Unlike DC3, DC2[Formula: see text] is also conjugacy invariant and implies Li–Yorke chaos. The definition of DC2[Formula: see text] is the following: a pair [Formula: see text] is DC2[Formula: see text]-scrambled iff [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] (resp., [Formula: see text]) is lower (resp., upper) asymptotic density of the set of times [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text], and both densities are defined at 0 as limits of their values for [Formula: see text]. DC[Formula: see text] shares similar properties with DC1 and DC2 but it is essentially weaker than DC2.
On the KBSM of links in lens spaces
Authors: Gabrovšek Boštjan , Manfredi Enrico
Published: December 2017

In this paper, the properties of the Kauffman bracket skein module (KBSM) of [Formula: see text] are investigated. Links in lens spaces are represented both through band and disk diagrams. The possibility to transform between the diagrams enables us to compute the KBSM on an interesting class of examples consisting of inequivalent links with equivalent lifts in the [Formula: see text]-sphere. The computations show that the KBSM is an essential invariant, that is, it may take different values on links with equivalent lifts. We also show how the invariant is related to the Kauffman bracket of the lift in the [Formula: see text]-sphere.
INTEGRAL REPRESENTATION OF PROBABILITY DENSITY OF STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY MODELS AND TIMER OPTIONS
Authors: CUI ZHENYU , KIRKBY J. LARS , LIAN GUANGHUA , NGUYEN DUY
Published: December 2017

This paper contributes a generic probabilistic method to derive explicit exact probability densities for stochastic volatility models. Our method is based on a novel application of the exponential measure change in [Z. Palmowski & T. Rolski (2002) A technique for exponential change of measure for Markov processes, Bernoulli 8(6), 767–785]. With this generic approach, we first derive explicit probability densities in terms of model parameters for several stochastic volatility models with nonzero correlations, namely the Heston 1993, [Formula: see text], and a special case of the [Formula: see text]-Hypergeometric stochastic volatility models recently proposed by [J. Da Fonseca & C. Martini (2016) The [Formula: see text]-Hypergeometric stochastic volatility model, Stochastic Processes and their Applications 126(5), 1472–1502]. Then, we combine our method with a stochastic time change technique to develop explicit formulae for prices of timer options in the Heston model, the [Formula: see text] model and a special case of the [Formula: see text]-Hypergeometric model.
Effects of Stochastic Excitation and Phase Lag of Pedestrians on Lateral Vibration of Footbridges
Authors: Jia Buyu , Yu Xiaolin , Yan Quansheng
Published: December 2017

Incidents of pedestrian-induced large lateral vibrations of footbridges reveal the occurrence of an instability-type phenomenon in pedestrian-induced vibration. However, the mechanism involved has yet to be clearly explained. In this work, a novel model for predicting the lateral vibration of footbridges is proposed. Under an algebraic framework of nonlinear stochastic vibration, the narrow-band vibration caused by the pedestrian intra-subject randomness and the phase lag between the footbridge motion and the pedestrian load are considered. The critical condition that triggers the large lateral vibration of the footbridge is identified using the stochastic averaging method and the concept of stability based on the Lyapunov exponent. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed through case studies of three bridges. Through a parametric analysis, the effects of several crucial parameters on the stability/instability of vibration are discussed. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding insights that can be useful to the future designs of footbridges.
Trivial extensions defined by 2-absorbing-like conditions
Authors: Issoual Mohammed , Mahdou Najib
Published: December 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring with [Formula: see text] The notions of 2-absorbing ideal and 2-absorbing primary ideal are introduced by Ayman Badawi as generalizations of prime ideal and primary ideal, respectively. A proper ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called a 2-absorbing ideal of [Formula: see text] (respectively, 2-absorbing primary ideal) if whenever [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] then [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]).

In this paper, we investigate the transfer of 2-absorbing-like properties to trivial ring extensions.
On κ-sparse numerical semigroups
Authors: Tizziotti Guilherme , Villanueva Juan
Published: December 2017

Given a positive integer [Formula: see text], we investigate the class of numerical semigroups verifying the property that every two subsequent non-gaps are spaced by at least [Formula: see text]. These semigroups will be called [Formula: see text]-sparse and generalize the concept of sparse numerical semigroups.
Almost inner derivations of Lie algebras
Authors: Burde Dietrich , Dekimpe Karel , Verbeke Bert
Published: December 2017

We study almost inner derivations of Lie algebras, which were introduced by Gordon and Wilson in their work on isospectral deformations of compact solvmanifolds. We compute all almost inner derivations for low-dimensional Lie algebras, and introduce the concept of fixed basis vectors for proving that all almost inner derivations are inner for [Formula: see text]-step nilpotent Lie algebras determined by graphs, free [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]-step nilpotent Lie algebras, free metabelian nilpotent Lie algebras on two generators, almost abelian Lie algebras and triangular Lie algebras. On the other hand, we also exhibit families of nilpotent Lie algebras having an arbitrary large space of non-inner almost inner derivations.
A note on general quadratic groups
Authors: Basu Rabeya
Published: December 2017

We deduce an analogue of Quillen–Suslin’s local-global principle for the transvection subgroups of the general quadratic (Bak’s unitary) groups. As an application, we revisit the result of Bak–Petrov–Tang on injective stabilization for the [Formula: see text]-functor of the general quadratic groups.
Representation and central extension of hom-Lie algebroids
Authors: Merati S. , Farhangdoost M. R.
Published: December 2017

The aim of this paper is to develop the theory of representation of hom-Lie algebroids. After introducing some key constructions and examples of hom-Lie algebroids involving sub-Lie hom-algebroids and direct sum hom-Lie algebroids, we describe the notion and some properties of infinitesimal action of hom-Lie algebroids. We introduce concept of representation of hom-Lie algebroids and prove some fundamental properties to show a one to one correspondence between representations and exterior differentials. Finally, we review trivial representations and its associated cohomology to introduce the central extensions. Also, we show that the central extensions induced by two trivial representations are isomorphic if their [Formula: see text]-forms are cohomologous.
Optical and Electronic Analysis of Pure and Fe-Doped ZnO Thin Films Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Kramers–Kronig Method
Authors: Aghgonbad Maryam Motallebi , Sedghi Hassan
Published: December 2017

In the present work, pure and Fe-doped ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates by sol–gel method. Zinc acetate and iron nitrate were used as the starting material and dopant source, respectively. The concentration of Fe doping was 6[Formula: see text]at.% and 8[Formula: see text]at.%. The optical and electronic properties of pure and Fe-doped ZnO thin films such as refraction index, extinction coefficient, dielectric function and optical band gap energy of the layers were obtained by spectroscopic ellipsometry method in the wavelength range of 300–900[Formula: see text]nm. The incidence angle of the layers kept 70[Formula: see text]. Also data obtained by Kramers–Kronig relations were used for comparison. The influence of Fe-doping concentration on the optical and electronic properties of thin films was studied. The transmittance data of ZnO thin films showed that 6[Formula: see text]at.% Fe-doped ZnO thin film has the highest transmittance value. Dielectric function of pure ZnO films was found to be higher compared with Fe-doped ones. Also it can be deduced from the results that Fe doping influences the optical band gap energy of thin films.
An appropriate thresholding method of wavelet denoising for dropping ambient noise
Authors: Il Kim Kyong , Hwan Ri Ui , Pil Chon Bong
Published: December 2017

For the non-stationary signal denoising, an effective method for dropping ambient noise is based on discrete wavelet transform. Also, in order to minimize the loss of useful signal and get high SNR in the wavelet denoising, it is very important that the thresholding is suitable for the characteristics of signal. In this paper, we propose new thresholding method to reduce an ambient noise and to detect effectively the useful signal. First, we analyze four kinds of previous wavelet threshold functions (Hard, Soft, Garrote and Hyperbola) and propose new wavelet threshold function compromised between Garrote and Hyperbola threshold functions. Next, a threshold value is selected by value to reduce exponentially according to the wavelet decomposition level. We also analyze a continuity and monotonicity, and prove the logic of new threshold function. The results of theoretical analysis show that new threshold function solves the problems of constant error and discontinuity of previous threshold functions, and minimizes the information loss of useful signal. The results of experiment show that SNR of new thresholding method is highest and RMSE and Entropy are smallest. The results of theoretical analysis and experiment show that new thresholding method is more appropriate to wavelet denoising for dropping ambient noise than previous methods.