bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generador de modelos de simulación. Aplicaciones en scheduling
Authors: Castrillón Omar Danilo , Giraldo Jaime Alberto , Sarache William Ariel
Published: August 2014

El objetivo del presente trabajo es divulgar entre la comunidad acadÉmica un prototipo informático que genera automáticamente modelos de simulación de un sistema de producción industrial dado, en aras de facilitar el aprendizaje de algunos modelos determinísticos y estocásticos de scheduling. La arquitectura básica del prototipo informa ́tico se desarrolló en términos de las capas de presentación, procesamiento y almacenamiento. A través de la capa de procesamiento el prototipo genera un modelo de simulación que se guarda en la capa de almacenamiento y que posteriormente puede ser corrido con el fin de probar diversos modelos de scheduling del sistema de producción. La teoría de scheduling ha originado diferentes alternativas para generar las mejores soluciones a problemas de programación de producción y se propone con el desarrollo de este software probar algunas de estas alternativas mediante simulación computarizada. Entre las ventajas que la simulación trae consigo está la posibilidad de evaluar el impacto que las decisiones tomadas tendrán, para así tener un acercamiento a la realidad que permita evaluar las decisiones con vistas a tomar la más asertiva. Para la prueba del prototipo se utilizó como ejemplo el modelamiento de un sistema de producción con 9 máquinas y 5 trabajos, según una configuración Job Shop, probando tiempos de procesamiento y paradas de máquinas estocásticos con el fin de medir tasas de utilización de máquinas y tiempo promedio de los trabajos en el sistema, como medidas de desempeño del sistema. Esta prueba muestra la bondad del prototipo, al ahorrarle al usuario la construcción del modelo de simulación.
Funciones regulares en el plano y operadores de Nemytskii
Authors: Aziz Wadie
Published: August 2014

En este artículo mostramos que el espacio de las llamadas funciones regularizadas definidas sobre algún rectángulo del plano es un espacio de Banach. Más aún, bajo las hipótesis adecuadas damos condición necesaria y suficiente para el operador de Nemytskii aplique el espacio de funciones regularizadas sobre el mismo.
El problema del agente viajero: un algoritmo determinístico usando búsqueda tabú
Authors: López Erasmo , Salas Oscar , Murillo Álex
Published: August 2014

Se implementa un algoritmo correspondiente al método Búsqueda Tabú, llamado EraDeterminístico, experimentado con el algoritmo básico que explora el espacio de búsqueda e incorporando la diversificación como estrategia para explorar nuevas regiones. El algoritmo se desarrolla en el ambiente de programación Visual Basic 6.0 y la implementación se orienta a encontrar soluciones cercanas a la óptima del problema NP−Completo del Agente Viajero Simétrico (AVS). Para probar la funcionalidad, el modelo se compara con algunas instancias de la Travel Salesman Problem Library (TSPLIB), algunas instancias aleatorias y se aplica a tres situaciones reales. Finalmente, se presenta una sección donde se exponen recomendaciones y conclusiones, las cuales orientan posibles desarrollos futuros de ésta teoría y donde se pone en evidencian las bondades y la eficiencia de la implementación.
Una noción de proceso puntual en tiempo discreto
Authors: Lobo Segura Jaime
Published: August 2014

Luego de señalar las dificultades de la teoría clásica en el tratamiento de los procesos puntuales sobre la recta, se da una noción de proceso puntual en tiempo discreto cuya definición reposa sobre conceptos del análisis no standard. Este proceso se asemeja al de una sucesión finita de variables de Bernoulli indexadas por el tiempo. Se expone una breve teoría sobre estos procesos, y se establece el nexo con los procesos puntuales del tipo clásico. El marco de referencia es la versión de la “Internal Set Theory”.
Obtención de la fórmula de la Variancia del Estadístico de la Dócima de rangos de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney
Authors: Pastrana José Francisco
Published: August 2014

En este artículo se deriva la fórmula de V ar(S), en donde S es el estadístico de la dócima de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, para probar la hipótesis de igualdad de las distribuciones de dos poblaciones. El propósito es brindar detalles del tipo de pruebas propias de la Estadística No Paramétricas que a menudo son omitidos en los libros de texto especializados. El fundamento principal del procedimiento que se ofrece para derivar la fórmula, es el hecho de que bajo la hipótesis de igualdad de las distribuciones, los rangos R(x1), R(x2), . . . , R(xm), la muestra de una de las dos poblaciones constituye una muestra simple al azar sin reemplazo del conjunto de rangos {1, 2, . . . , m + n} en donde m y n son los tamaños de las dos muestras independientes obtenidas.
Series de Fourier aplicadas a problemas de cálculo de variaciones con retardo
Authors: Salazar Solórzano Lorena
Published: August 2014

En este artículo presentamos una aproximación de la función que minimiza el funcional

J [X ] = ∫T0 F (t, X(t), X(t − τ), Ẋ(t)) dt

aproximando X(t) por medio de expansiones de la serie de Fourier Coseno Xn(t). Se dan condiciones bajo las cuales

J [Xn(t)] → J [X(t)] cuando n → ∞.
Algoritmo de Karmarkar y matrices ralas
Authors: Ávila Herrera Juan Félix
Published: August 2014

Este es el segundo de una serie de dos artículos en los que se estudia el método de Karmarkar. Se muestra cómo utilizar la teoría de matrices ralas para obtener una implementación eficiente del proceso de Karmarkar, presentado en el primer artículo. En la fase I del proceso de Karmarkar, se pone en evidencia la forma como se incrementa el tamaño de la matriz de resticciones tecnológicas. La nueva matriz sin embargo, posee una estructura peculiar bastante favorable, debido a la presencia de bloques de ceros que la hacen parte de una familia de matrices bastante conocida, a saber las matrices ralas. Se discute en este trabajo algunas técnicas para manejar este tipo de matrices, y finalmente el autor propone una variante del método del Karmarkar que aprovecha dicha situación.
Sobre el Teorema Tauberiano de W. Rudin
Authors: Mora Marielos
Published: August 2014

Usando el método de Rudin demostramos que el teorema tauberiano no sólamente es cierto para el núcleo de Poisson, sino para muchos otros núcleos que tengan ciertas características. Así mismo, demostramos un teorema abeliano, que no es otra cosa que el inverso del teorema tauberiano.
El Número Equivalente como medida de la Información en Análisis de Datos
Authors: Trejos Zelaya Javier
Published: August 2014

Se recuerda la definición del número equivalente, propuesto para medir el número de unidades independientes de información y lo adaptamos al contexto del análisis multivariado de datos. Proponemos algunas propiedades en el contexto euclídeo usual y estudiamos algunas aplicaciones: en la determinación del número de factores en un análisis factorial, del número de clases en clasificación automática y del número de componentes de una conjunción de modalidades.
The multiplicative products between the distribution (P ± i0)λ and the operators Lr{δ} and Kr{δ}
Authors: Aguirre Manuel A.
Published: August 2014

In this note we give a sense to some multiplicative products of distributions:

i) (P ± i0)λ . Lr{δ}

ii) (P ± i0)λ . Kr{δ}

where (P ± i0)λ is the distribution defined by the formula (2), P is the quadratic form defined by the formula (1), Lr is the ultrahyperbolic operator defined by (5) and Kr is the Klein-Gordon operator iterated r-times defined by the formula (15).
Análisis evolutivo de la Opinión en Costa Rica: 1988-1991
Authors: Castillo Elizondo William , González Jorge
Published: August 2014

En este artículo se utiliza el método Statis para analizar la evolución de la Opinión de los Costarricenses mayores de 18 años. Para tal efecto se usaron las encuestas anuales de opinión realizadas en el período 1988-1991, específicamente en aquellas preguntas que se repitieron en los cuatro años [9]
Presentación e implementación del método de nubes dinámicas difuso
Authors: Mora Flores Walter
Published: August 2014

Se hace una presentación del método de Nubes Dinámicas Difuso considerando la variante del centro de gravedad (Forgy, 1965). La clasificación difusa obtenida se usa como herramienta de validación para establecer el número k de clases.
Triángulos casi congruentes
Authors: Piza Volio Eduardo
Published: August 2014

En este artículo se estudian los triángulos casi congruentes, que consisten en las parejas de triángulos que tienen exactamente 5 de sus 6 elementos congruentes. Se caracterizan todas las soluciones enteras a este problema. Se analizan algunas propiedades interesantes, concernientes al tipo de ángulos, a los perímetros, a las áreas y algunas otras. Se establecen algunas relaciones interesantes entre los triángulos casi congruentes y la famosa razón áurea
Algunos potenciales aleatorios del tipo Ornstein-Uhlenbeck para el operador de Schrödinger
Authors: Cambronero V. Santiago
Published: August 2014

Se considera el operador de Schrödinger en el círculo de perímetro 1, con ciertos potenciales aleatorios del tipo Ornstein-Uhlenbeck, con deslizamiento dependiente del tiempo. Se describe la distribución del primer valor propio periódico para ese tipo de potenciales, basándose en la medida del movimiento browniano circular.
Sobre la continuidad de la proyección métrica
Authors: Morales José R.
Published: August 2014

En esta nota mostraremos que la proyección métrica asociada a subespacios de Chebyshev en espacios de Banach que poseen la propiedad (ωM) es una aplicación continua.
Precuantización en difeologías suaves
Authors: Torre Carlos A.
Published: August 2014

Definimos una precuantización en la categoría de espacios difeológicos suaves (una categoría que incluye sistemas de dimensión finita e infinita), en el caso en que la forma simpléctica es exacta, para este caso, los resultados de Kirillov, Kostant y Souriau que son desarrollados para sistemas físicos de dimensión finita.
Analyis on the vascular epiphytes of tree ferns in a montane rain forest in Costa Rica
Authors: Bittner Jens , Trejos Zelaya Javier
Published: August 2014

The relationships between epiphytes and host specifity are known. We investigated the relation between specific epiphytes and tree fern trunks. Only some epiphytes are frequent or very frequent on tree ferns. Most of the epiphyte species are unspecific on these trunks. Blechnum fragile are the only found exclusively on tree ferns. We also observed different epiphyte communities dependent on the tree fern species and the morphology of the tree trunk.
Asignación óptima de recursos
Authors: Ávila Herrera Juan Félix
Published: August 2014

Este trabajo trata sobre asignación óptima de recursos. El modelo propuesto está basado en teoría de Flujo de Redes y se dan indicaciones para una implementación eficiente del modelo.
La factorización de una transformada de Fourier en el método de Wiener-Hopf
Authors: Rosales Ortega José , Márquez Rivera Carlos
Published: August 2014

Se factoriza la transformada de Fourier del núcleo de una ecuación integral singular, al utilizar el método de Wiener-Hopf, como el producto de dos funciones: una holomorfa en el semiplano superior y una holomorfa en el semiplano inferior.
Scenario development, qualitative causal analysis and system dynamics
Authors: Ruge Michael H. , Kessler Howard , Singh Ajit , Hejazi Shahram
Published: August 2014

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that technology assessments can be supported by methods such as scenario modeling and qualitative causal analysis. At Siemens, these techniques are used to develop preliminary purely qualitative models. These or parts of these comprehensive models may be extended to system dynamics models.While it is currently not possible to automatically generate a system dynamics models (or vice versa, obtain a qualitative simulation model from a system dynamics model), the two thechniques scenario development and qualitative causal analysis provide valuable indications on how to proceed towards a system dynamics model. For the qualitative analysis phase, the Siemens – proprietary prototype Computer – Aided Technology Assessment Software (CATS) supportes complete cycle and submodel analysis.
Shapley's value for fuzzy games
Authors: Alvarado Sibaja Raúl
Published: August 2014

This is the continuation of a previous article titled “Fuzzy Games”, where I defined a new type of games based on the Multilinear extensions f, of characteristic functions v for  cooperative  games.   We  showed  that f fulfills  the  definition  of  characteristic functions and most of standard theorems for cooperative games also hold for this new type of games: The fuzzy games. Now we give some other properties and the extension of the definition of Shapley’s Value for Fuzzy Games
Estimación no paramétrica de la densidad y de la regresión - previsión no paramétrica
Authors: Carbon Michel , Francq Christian
Published: August 2014

Después de un vistazo sobre la estimación no paramétrica de la densidad y de la regresión, detallamos e interpretamos un método de previsión, llamado de previsión no paramétrica. Mostramos los diferentes aspectos tanto técnicos como prácticos, y comparamos el método propuesto sobre algunos ejemplos respecto a la metodología de Box y Jenkins.
Casi-ortogonalidad y proximidad en L2 de martingalas PII en casi intervalos
Authors: Lobo Segura Jaime
Published: August 2014

El autor de este trabajo introdujo en [2] la noción de proceso de incrementos independientes en casi intervalos, del que se estudió una descomposición en componentes con ciertas propiedades de regularidad. En este trabajo se profundiza el estudio de la descomposición de una martingala PII en sus dos componentes martingalas, dependientes de un parámetro, en relación con las propiedades que denominamos de casi – ortogonalidad y de proximidad en L2.
On a variational principle for shape optimization and elliptic free boundary problems
Authors: González De Paz Raúl B.
Published: August 2014

A variational principle for several free boundary value problems using a relaxation approach is presented. The relaxed Energy functional is concave and it is defined on a convex set, so that the minimizing points are characteristic functions of sets. As a consequence of the first order optimality conditions, it is shown that the corresponding sets are domains bounded by free boundaries, so that the equivalence of the solution of the relaxed problem with the solution of several free boundary value problem is proved.
Análisis de proximidades métrico usando búsqueda tabú
Authors: Villalobos Mario , Trejos Javier
Published: August 2014

Se aplica la técnica de búsqueda tabú (BT) en análisis de proximidades, obteniéndose buenos resultados, comparables a los obtenidos con sobrecalentamiento simulado. Un estado en BT es una configuración de n puntos en un espacio p dimensional, y un vecino se define por la traslación de longitud h de una o más de las coordenadas de un punto.
Algunos aspectos teóricos de las funciones casi periódicas n-dimensionales
Authors: Arguedas Vernor , Castro Edwin
Published: August 2014

Presentamos una definición de función casi periódica en RN, la cual generaliza la definición usual en R . A partir de esa definición demostramos algunas propiedades topológicas para esta clase de funciones. Al final del artículo, demostramos algunas propiedades algebraicas usando el teorema de estructura que se incluye en el apéndice.
Deformaciones isométricas infinitesimales de superficies multidimensionales ensambladas
Authors: Markov Pavel , Trejos Olman
Published: August 2014

Se introduce el concepto de superficies multidimensionales ensambladas y no se descarta el caso cuando los trozos de las superficies a ensamblar tienen diferentes dimensiones. Se consideran deformaciones infintesimales de estas superficies. En forma muy general, se demuestra que si los trozos de superficies contienen rigidez infinitesimal de primer grado, entonces la superficie ensamblada contiene rigidez infitesimal de primer grado.
On the Stability of a class of Polytopes of third order square matrices and stability radius
Authors: Vázquez Silva Efrén
Published: August 2014

En este trabajo estudiamos las propiedads de estabilidad de un politopo simétrico y convexo de matrices de tercer orden  invariantes en el tiempo, este politopo depende de un parámetro real positivo r. Los resultados que se obtienen son aplicados al cálculo de radio real de estabilidad, no dependiente del tiempo, de una matriz cuadrada de tercer orden sometida a cierta multiperturbación afin.
Un modelo de equilibrio para economías de producción con análisis de actividad
Authors: Acuña Ortega Osvaldo
Published: August 2014

En el presente trabajo se desarrolla un modelo para economías de producción con análisis de actividad. En este modelo se consideran los conceptos de equilibrio regular y de economías regulares. Se demuestra que éstos, se reducen a los conceptos correspondientes para el caso de economías de intercambio estudiados en [1], [8]. Se prueba también un teorema del índice para economías regulares. Todas las pruebas y argumentos matemáticos empleados en el trabajo son lo suficientemente simples para que sean entendidos por lectores sin una formación matemática sólida, de tal manera que este modelo está al alcance de estudiantes de economía avanzados. El modelo desarrollado en este artículo está inspirado en el trabajo de Kehoe [6]
The determinant of matching matrix in the evaluation of matching polynomial
Authors: Wahid Shanaz A.
Published: August 2014

A characterization is given for graphs whose matching polynomial is the determinant of their matching matrices. The matching matrix is then modified and its relation with other graph polynomials is examined.
Homozygous E387K (1159G>A) mutation of the CYP1B1 gene in a Roma boy affected with primary congenital glaucoma. Case report
Authors: Vogt Gábor , Kádasi Ľudevit/Lajos , Czeizel Endre
Published: August 2014

Primary congenital glaucoma was diagnosed in a son (born in 2009) of a healthy, non-consanguineous Roma couple. This couple terminated their next two pregnancies because of the 25% recurrence risk of this autosomal recessive ophthalmological abnormality. Molecular genetic analysis showed the homozygote E387K mutation of the CYP1B1 gene in the proband and the presence of this gene mutation in heterozygous form in both parents. This gene mutation is characteristic for Slovakian Roma population. There are two objectives of this case report. On one hand this finding indicates the genetic relationship of Slovakian and Hungarian Romas. On the other hand, the couple plans to have further pregnancies, and prenatal genetic test may help to assess the possible recurrence risk of this hereditary disease. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(33), 1325–1328.
Irruptive dynamics of introduced caribou on Adak Island, Alaska: an evaluation of Riney‐Caughley model predictions
Authors: Ricca Mark A. , Van Vuren Dirk H. , Weckerly Floyd W. , Williams Jeffrey C. , Miles A. Keith
Published: August 2014

Large mammalian herbivores introduced to islands without predators are predicted to undergo irruptive population and spatial dynamics, but only a few well‐documented case studies support this paradigm. We used the Riney‐Caughley model as a framework to test predictions of irruptive population growth and spatial expansion of caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) introduced to Adak Island in the Aleutian archipelago of Alaska in 1958 and 1959. We utilized a time series of spatially explicit counts conducted on this population intermittently over a 54‐year period. Population size increased from 23 released animals to approximately 2900 animals in 2012. Population dynamics were characterized by two distinct periods of irruptive growth separated by a long time period of relative stability, and the catalyst for the initial irruption was more likely related to annual variation in hunting pressure than weather conditions. An unexpected pattern resembling logistic population growth occurred between the peak of the second irruption in 2005 and the next survey conducted seven years later in 2012. Model simulations indicated that an increase in reported harvest alone could not explain the deceleration in population growth, yet high levels of unreported harvest combined with increasing density‐dependent feedbacks on fecundity and survival were the most plausible explanation for the observed population trend. No studies of introduced island Rangifer have measured a time series of spatial use to the extent described in this study. Spatial use patterns during the post‐calving season strongly supported Riney‐Caughley model predictions, whereby high‐density core areas expanded outwardly as population size increased. During the calving season, caribou displayed marked site fidelity across the full range of population densities despite availability of other suitable habitats for calving. Finally, dispersal and reproduction on neighboring Kagalaska Island represented a new dispersal front for irruptive dynamics and a new challenge for resource managers. The future demography of caribou on both islands is far from certain, yet sustained and significant hunting pressure should be a vital management tool.
Back to Africa: monitoring post‐hydropower restoration to facilitate reintroduction of an extinct‐in‐the‐wild amphibian
Authors: Vandvik Vigdis , Måren Inger E. , Ndangalasi Henry J. , Taplin James , Mbago Frank , Lovett Jon C.
Published: August 2014

Monitoring of the ecological efficiency of different restoration and mitigation measures is important to inform decision‐making but can be challenging, especially in remote and low‐resource settings. Species composition of the vegetation is sensitive to environmental variation, and can thus be used in restoration assessment, but this requires statistical approaches that can accommodate multivariate responses. We use principal response curves (PRC) to assess the efficiency of post‐hydropower mitigation measures installed to secure the reintroduction of an extinct‐in‐the‐wild amphibian back into its only native habitat.

The endemic ovoviviparous Kihansi spray toad Nectophrynoides asperginis is only known from a wetland in the Lower Kihansi River Gorge in the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania. River flow was diverted from the gorge for hydropower production in 1999, causing the spray wetland to desiccate, consequently threatening the toad and other plant and animal species dependent on the spray‐zone habitat. To mitigate the toad population collapse, a sprinkler system was installed over a limited section of the original spray‐zone wetlands to mimic the waterfall spray and toads were taken to the USA for ex situ breeding. The decline, extinction, ex situ breeding, and planned reintroduction of the species has driven substantial research on Kihansi spray toad biology. In contrast, the efficiency of the mitigation measures in restoring the spray‐zone wetland habitat required for its successful reintroduction has not been formally evaluated.

Here, we analyze re‐sampled vegetation data from the spray‐zone wetland over a period of eight years by means of principal response curves to investigate if the post‐hydropower mitigation measures have successfully restored the pre‐hydropower ecosystem. The results show that the spray‐zone vegetation is recovering. The wetland flora and especially species important to the Kihansi spray toad have increased and the restored ecosystem has stabilized, favoring the reintroduction of the Kihansi spray toad to its native habitat. However, the wetland ecosystem is not restored entirely and continued mitigation measures are needed. Continued monitoring is essential to support evidence‐based restoration, and we conclude that assessment based on vegetation monitoring coupled with principal response curve analyses provides a cost‐effective and efficient monitoring tool for such projects.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in High-risk Infants – an Update on Palivizumab Prophylaxis
Authors: Resch Bernhard
Published: August 2014

Morbidity due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease is still high in infants and children worldwide during the first two to five years of life. Certain categories of high-risk infants with increased morbidity and mortality attributed to RSV disease have been identified and are included in national recommendations for prophylaxis with the monoclonal RSV antibody palivizumab. Most guidelines recommend palivizumab for preterm infants born less than or equal to 32 weeks gestational age with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia, those born between 33 and 35 weeks gestational age with additional risk factors, and infants and children with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. Over the last years several rare diseases have been identified demonstrating high morbidity associated with RSV disease, thus, extension of guidelines for the prophylaxis with palivizumab for these patients with rare diseases including children with malignancy, congenital and acquired immune deficiency, Down syndrome, neuromuscular impairment, cystic fibrosis, congenital diaphragmatic hernia and other severe respiratory disease is increasingly discussed.

Efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis is documented by meta-analysis, and different economic analyses demonstrate cost-effectiveness of palivizumab for the most common indications during the first RSV season.
Prevalence of Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus Oropharyngeal Colonization in Children and Therapeutic Regimen Based on Antistreptolysin Levels: Data from a City From Southern Brazil
Authors: Merlini Alexandre B , Stocco Carolina S , Schafranski Marcelo D , Arruda Polliane , Bail Larissa , Borges Celso L , Dornelles Cecília F
Published: August 2014

The aim of this study is to determinate the prevalence of oropharyngeal colonization by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) in pediatric population of Ponta Grossa, a midsize city of southern Brazil; estimate the effectiveness of antistreptolysin-O (ASO), compared to culture, in presence of infection; and design an unpublished investigative algorithm of rheumatic fever's suspicion, based on needs identified in worldwide consensus. It is an epidemiologic, observational and transversal study, involving 180 children younger than 12 years. Secretion of posterior oropharynx was collected for culture; and peripheral blood for determination of ASO. Student-t and chi-square tests, with Yates correction, were performed for statistical analysis. The ASO cutoff was determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The prevalence encountered was 3.9%, and 25.5% of the children showed reagent ASO. This serological test demonstrated quantitatively and qualitatively significant associations to the GABHS presence (p=0.0001 for both associations) throughout the ROC curve, 200 U Todd was the value that resulted in the best accuracy, demonstrating 100% of sensibility and 80% of specificity in the GAS infection documentation. Also, it was found that the value of 1.200 U represents a specificity of 100%. The results emphasize the need for similar studies in other populations, to provide better targeting of the diagnosis and treatment of oropharyngitis by GABHS, which in turn can prevent up to 80% the cases of rheumatic fever, and consequently, the chronic rheumatic heart disease.
Relationships Between Hybrid Performance and Genetic Distance Revealed by Morphological and AFLP Marker in Cucumber
Authors: Olfati J.A. , Samizadeh H. , Peyvast Gh. , Rabiei B. , Khodaparast S.A.
Published: August 2014

This study investigated the relationship of morphological and molecular genetic distance with hybrid performance and heterosis in cucumber in an attempt to make use of genetic distance in predicting hybrid performance. The results of this study showed that GD, in general, correlated poorly with heterosis and SCA. Results showed that the mean values of the hybrids were significantly larger or smaller for many traits when compared with the mean of parental lines, indicating that heterosis was present for these traits. In next step we compare inter group hybrids versus intra group hybrids. This test showed that intra group hybridization although increased the yield and yield component but decrease some fruit quality such as fruit color and shape.
Territorial location of cerebral infarcts on imaging in patients with first ever stroke with diabetes
Authors: Bhowmik Nirmalendu Bikash , Saifuddin Mohammad , Bhadra Rajib , Islam Md Rashedul , Habib Rumana , Rahman Aminur , Hassan Md Zahid , Haque Md Amirul
Published: August 2014

Aims: The study was aimed to evaluate vascular territories of infarcts involved in patients with stroke for the first time with diabetes on CT and/ or MRI of brain. Methodology: This cross sectional descriptive study was carried on a total of 100 adult patients with first ever stroke consecutively reported in the Department of Neurology, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, over a period of six months. Results: The mean age was 61.45 years and majority (35%) belongs to age group of 50-59. Ten (10%) subjects had age above 80 years. Male were 68% and 32% were female. Majority (89%) of the subjects had hemiplegia following acute stroke. Aphasia (71%), headache (39%), convulsion (23%), vomiting (18%) and cranial nerve palsy (17%) were also found. Additional preexisting risk factors were hypertension (72%), dyslipidaemia (59%), smoking (56%) and alcohol abuse (2%). Among the study subjects the diabetic complications were peripheral vascular disease (4% ), neuropathy (8%), nephropathy( 9%)and retinopathy(25%). CT scan and/ or MRI brain showed parietal lobe lesion in 57% cases. Majority (76%) had infarcts in middle cerebral artery territory. Involvement of anterior and posterior cerebral artery territory was found in 7% and 5% subjects respectively. Vertebro-basilar arterial system involvement was observed in 6% cases. 4% subjects had involvement of both middle and posterior cerebral arteries. Both anterior and posterior arterial territory infarcts were found in 2% cases. Conclusions: In conclusion most of the diabetic subjects with first ever ischemic stroke had involvement of middle cerebral artery. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v2i1.19951 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2014; 2 (1): 16-20
Childhood Deaths with a Co-Morbidity of Diarrhea and Severe Malnutrition: A Brief Insight in an Urban Critical Care Ward in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Md Shakil , Islam Sufia , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer
Published: August 2014

Background and aim: Although co-morbidity of childhood diarrhea and severe malnutrition is very common with high mortality, data on predicting factors for deaths in diarrheal under-five children also having severe malnutrition are very limited in medical literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical predicting factors for death in diarrheal under-five children with severe malnutrition. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective analysis from retrospective data of diarrheal children (case control design) which were collected from electronic database of the hospital of the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) from mid-September 2011 to mid-September 2012. The cases were severely malnourished diarrheal children under the age of five years who died in the intensive care unit and the controls were those who survived. Comparison of clinical characteristics among the cases and the controls were made. Results: There were 32 cases from the ICU and 1790 controls including 253 from the ICU. The median (inter-quartile range) age (months) of the cases compared to the controls was significantly lower [8.0 (4.1, 14.1) vs. 10.0 (6.1, 17.2); p=0.050]. The cases more often had pneumonia (OR 3.40, 95% CI 1.48-7.66, p<0.001) with respiratory distress (OR 30.06, 95% CI 11.47-77.67, p<0.001), frequently presented with the features of clinical sepsis (OR 52.22, 95% CI 24.02-127.68; p<0.001), less often received Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) at home (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.03-0.14; p<0.001), and more often had lower Z-score for weight for age [(mean -5.42 ± standard deviation 1.35) vs. (mean -4.14 ± standard deviation 1.28); p<0.001] compared the controls. Conclusion: The brief results of the data suggest that severely malnourished diarrheal children presenting with younger age with a history of lack of intake of ORS at home, extreme under-weight, pneumonia with respiratory distress or clinical sepsis are at higher risk of death. This re-emphasizes the importance of identification of these simple clinical parameters which may help in early aggressive management of these children and underscores the importance of the requirement of extensive mass media education in encouraging the adequate intake of ORS during diarrhea in order to reduce their morbidity and deaths. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v2i1.19953 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2014; 2 (1): 25-27
Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis
Authors: Roy Sharmistha , Maitra Tapash Kumar , Mondal Samiron Kumar
Published: August 2014

Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonotis ( SEP) or Abdominal Cocoon is a rare condition characterized by total or partial encasement of the small bowel by a fibrocollagenous cocoon like sac. It was first described and named by Foo et al in 1978. Here we present a case of SEP or cocoon in a young girl with typical radiological and per operative finding. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v2i1.19969 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2014; 2 (1): 42-43
Prolonged QTc: "Mind the Gap"
Authors: Anam Ahmad Mursel , Rabbani Raihan , Shumy Farzana , Polash M Mufizul Islam , Islam M Motiul , Nooruzzaman ARM , Uddin Mirza Nazim
Published: August 2014

We report a case of drug induced torsades de pointes, following acquired long QT syndrome. The patient got admitted for shock with acute abdomen. The initial prolonged QT-interval was missed, and a torsadogenic drug was introduced post-operatively. Patient developed torsades de pointes followed by cardiac arrest. She was managed well and discharged without complications. The clinical manifestations of long QT syndromes, syncope or cardiac arrest, result from torsades de pointes. As syncope or cardiac arrest have more common differential diagnoses, even the symptomatic long QT syndrome are commonly missed or misdiagnosed. In acquired long QT syndrome with no prior suggestive feature, it is not impossible to miss the prolonged QT-interval on the ECG tracing. We share our experience so that the clinicians, especially the junior doctors, will be more alert on checking the QT-interval even in asymptomatic patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v2i1.19970 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2014; 2 (1): 44-45
An Unusual Presentation of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Roy Mukut , Sahana Pranab Kumar , Das Chanchal , Sengupta Nilanjan , Somani Prashant , Dasgupta Ranen
Published: August 2014

In this part of world, the mode of presentation of type 2 diabetes is enormously varied and infections may be the first presenting feature of previously unknown diabetes. In this case, we report an initial way of presentation of type 2 diabetes mellitus as emphysematous pyelonephritis. He was treated successfully by antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare life-threatening gas-producing, necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma and surrounding areas which can be focal or diffuse and may spread to the collecting system or perinephric tissues. It is rapidly progressive and fatal if untreated. Prompt recognition and aggressive treatment helps in complete recovery of patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v2i1.19971 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2014; 2 (1): 46-47
Guillain Barrè Syndrome following Hepatitis E
Authors: Sengupta Poly , Biswas Rama , Ahmed Hasan Shahrear , Fatema Kaniz
Published: August 2014

Guillain- Barrè Syndrome is characterized by acute progressive symmetric limb weakness and areflexia. A 32 year old female presented with progressive ascending areflexic muscular weakness and bilateral lower motor neuron type of facial palsy. She had anorexia, nausea and upper abdominal pain for 2 weeks. The findings of motor nerve conduction study are consistent with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. She had elevated liver enzyme and positive immunoglobulin M antibody against hepatitis E in blood. Based on clinical features, laboratory findings and electrophysiological study, she was diagnosed as Guillain- Barrè Syndrome following hepatitis E. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and recovered fully. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bccj.v2i1.19973 Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2014; 2 (1): 48-49
Constraints faced by the farmers in commercial cultivation of vegetables
Authors: Pandit JC , Basak NC
Published: August 2014

The study was conducted to determine the constraints faced by the farmers in commercial cultivation of vegetables and to explore relationship between the selected characteristics of the farmers and constraints faced by them. Data were collected through personal interview from 142 randomly selected respondents out of 1422 vegetable growers of the three villages viz. Panchpara, Bagan and Rampur, under Trishal Upazila of Mymensingh district during January to March 2011. In terms of overall constraints the highest portion (83.30%) of the respondents faced medium constraint. Based on constraint facing index (CEI), low price of vegetables during harvesting ranked first followed by lack of quality seed and high wages of labourer. Among the ten selected characteristics, level of education, family size, farm size, extension media contact, knowledge on vegetable production and cosmopoliteness showed significant negative correlation and family subsistence pressure showed significant positive correlation with farmers constraints in commercial cultivation of vegetables. Stepwise multiple regressions showed that extension media contact, cosmopoliteness and knowledge on vegetable production had greater influence on farmers constraints. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v11i2.19893 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(2): 193-198, 2013
Effects of PU, USG and NPK briquette on nitrogen use efficiency and yield of BR22 rice under reduced water condition
Authors: Naznin A , Afroz H , Hoque TS , Mian MH
Published: August 2014

An experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the aman season of 2012 to investigate the effects of prilled urea (PU), urea super granule (USG) and NPK briquette on NH4- N concentration in field water, yield and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) of BR22 rice under reduced water conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. There were altogether eight treatment combinations viz. T1: Control (No N fertilizer), T2: 52 kg N ha-1 from USG, T3: 104 kg N ha-1 from USG, T4: 78 kg N ha-1 from PU, T5: 120 kg N ha-1 from PU, T6: 51 kg N ha-1 from NPK briquette, T7: 78 kg N ha-1 from USG and T8: 78 kg N ha-1 from NPK briquette. Water samples were collected from rice field for seven consecutive days after deep placement of USG and the first split application of PU and the samples were analyzed for NH4-N. The Highest concentration of NH4-N in water was observed at the second day of PU application followed by gradual decrease with time. The yield contributing characters like plant height, panicle length, number of effective tillers hill-1 and grains panicle-1 were significantly influenced by different treatments. The highest grain yield of 3.93 t ha-1 was recorded from 104 kg N ha-1 as USG (T3) and the lowest value of 2.12 t ha-1 was obtained from control. The N use efficiency was increased when the N was applied as USG. The overall results revealed that application of USG and NPK briquette may be practised for obtaining better yields in addition to increasing the efficiency of N fertilizer. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v11i2.19897 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(2): 215-220, 2013
Why some poor women in Bangladesh do not opt for micro-credit?
Authors: Khatun MA , Islam MA , Majumder S
Published: August 2014

Despite many positive impacts of micro-credit, some studies found that micro-credits are not reaching the extreme poor. This study is designed to find out the major causes why rural women do not join micro-credit programme. The present study conducted case studies on ten dropped out members, three non-NGO/MFI members and five NGO/MFI officials. The important causes for dropout are high interest rate, poor management of loan money by clients, management of default cases by NGO/MFI officials, starting time of repayments of instalment, improper utilisation of loan money, husbands unacceptable interference, lack of training to utilise the money and difficulty in getting large amount of loan. On the other hand, worry of failure to repay the instalment, unwillingness to take loan and husbands opposition are the main reasons for non-membership of micro-credit programmes. Tough membership criteria set by the NGOs/MFIs restricts the access to micro-credit option for many of the poor families. Though some NGOs/MFIs have some programmes to support the ultra poor, the coverage is limited. One important hurdle to overcome is the psychological poverty. There are many poor people who are not motivated to get involved in the process despite many NGOs/MFIs are operating at their doorsteps. Appropriate actions are needed to increase the coverage of the micro-credit programme to fight against poverty. NGOs/MFIs should focus not only on the profit but also on the true achievement in poverty alleviation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v11i2.19927 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(2): 285-292, 2013
Shelf life of antibiotic treated rohu fish, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) under ice storage condition
Authors: Haque SA , Reza MS , Akhter JN , Rahman MK
Published: August 2014

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of antibiotic on shelf life in rohu fish, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) under ice storage condition. Oxytetracycline (OTC), the most widely used antibiotic, was fed to rohu (average body weight 16.0 g) at the rate of 2 g/kg through fish diet for 5 days and their shelf life was determined in iced condition. Organoleptically, fish were found to be acceptable up to 16 days before becoming inedible compared to 15 days for control fish which received pelleted diet with no antibiotic under the same condition. Initial moisture, ash, protein, lipid, NPN and TVB-N values were 70.42±1.91%, 2.80±0.10%, 17.90±0.50%, 3.12±0.04%, 0.0086±0.01% and 17.43±0.60 mg/100g respectively in the control which reached at values of 78.45±1.50%, 3.84±0.10%, 13.47±1.00%, 2.80±0.08%, 0.0053±0.001%, 26.17±0.76 mg/100g, respectively after 16 days of ice storage. There was no significant difference for these values compared to control group. In case of total bacterial load, values of aerobic plate count (APC) was 2.0±0.1×103 during the start of ice storage condition which increased significantly to 5.6±0.38×107, exceeding the acceptable limit for ice stored fish. The APC values also did not show any significant variation compared to control fish, suggesting that the use of antibiotic in fish diet had little or no effect on shelf life of rohu fish during ice storage condition. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v11i2.19946 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(2): 385-390, 2013
Is a medical humanities test needed in the National Medical Licensing Examination of Korea? Opinions of medical students and physician writers (secondary publication)
Authors: Hwang Kun
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the opinions of medical students and physician writers regarding the medical humanities as a subject and its inclusion in the medical school curriculum. Furthermore, we addressed whether an assessment test should be added to the National Medical Licensing Examination of Korea (KMLE). A total of 192 medical students at Inha University and 39 physician writers registered with the Korean Association of Physician Essayists and the Korean Association of Physician Poets participated in this study. They were asked to answer a series of questionnaires. Most medical students (59%) and all physician writers (100%) answered that the medical humanities should be included in the medical school curriculum to train good physicians. They thought that the KMLE did not currently include an assessment of the medical humanities (medical students 69%, physician writers 69%). Most physician writers (87%; Likert scale, 4.38 ± 0.78) felt that an assessment of the medical humanities should be included in the KMLE. Half of the medical students (51%; Likert scale, 2.51 ± 1.17) were against including it in the KMLE, which they would have to pass after several years of study. For the preferred field of assessment, medical ethics was the most commonly endorsed subject (medical students 59%, physician writers 39%). The most frequently preferred evaluation method was via an interview (medical students 45%, physician writers 33%). In terms of the assessment of the medical humanities and the addition of this subject to the KMLE, an interview-based evaluation should be developed.
Reflective writing and its impact on empathy in medical education: systematic review
Authors: Chen Isabel , Forbes Connor
Published: August 2014

Purpose: Medical schools are increasingly aware of the ways in which physician empathy can have a profound impact on patients’ lives and have developed humanities initiatives to address this concern. Reflective writing in particular is more commonly promoted in medical curricula, but there is limited research on the impact of reflective writing on medical student empathy levels. It aims to find the emotional effects of reflective writing interventions on medical and healthcare students by systemic review. Methods: Two investigators independently reviewed educational publications for critical analysis. This review focused systematically on quantitative papers that measure the impact of reflective writing on empathy. Results: Of the 1,032 studies found on Medline and CINAHL, only 8 used quantitative measures pre- and postwritten reflection to measure any impact on empathy outcomes. The outcomes measured included impact of reflective writing exercises on student wellness, aptitude, and/or clinical skills. Of these studies, a significant change in student empathy was observed in 100% of the studies, demonstrating a significant change in outcomes. Conclusion: Although the lack of homogeneity in outcome measurement in the literature limits possible conclusion from this review, the overwhelmingly positive reporting of outcomes suggests that reflective writing should be considered in any medical curriculum.
Is Gravity Entropic Force?
Authors: Yang Rongjia
Published: August 2014

If we assume that the source of thermodynamic system, ρ and p, are also the source of gravity, then either thermal quantities, such as entropy, temperature, and chemical potential, can induce gravitational effects, or gravity can induce thermal effects. We find that gravity can be seen as entropic force only for systems with constant temperature and zero chemical potential. The case for Newtonian approximation is discussed.
Anthrax and the Geochemistry of Soils in the Contiguous United States
Authors: Griffin Dale , Silvestri Erin , Bowling Charlena , Boe Timothy , Smith David , Nichols Tonya
Published: August 2014

Soil geochemical data from sample sites in counties that reported occurrences of anthrax in wildlife and livestock since 2000 were evaluated against counties within the same states (MN, MT, ND, NV, OR, SD and TX) that did not report occurrences. These data identified the elements, calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), phosphorus (P) and strontium (Sr), as having statistically significant differences in concentrations between county type (anthrax occurrence versus no occurrence). Tentative threshold values of the lowest concentrations of each of these elements (Ca = 0.43 wt %, Mn = 142 mg/kg, P = 180 mg/kg and Sr = 51 mg/kg) and average concentrations (Ca = 1.3 wt %, Mn = 463 mg/kg, P = 580 mg/kg and Sr = 170 mg/kg) were identified from anthrax-positive counties as prospective investigative tools in determining whether an outbreak had “potential” or was “likely” at any given geographic location in the contiguous United States.