bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The optimal lignin quantification method to breed for an improved cell wall digestibility in perennial ryegrass
Authors: van Parijs F. , Van Waes C. , Vandecasteele B. , Haesaert G. , Roldán‐Ruiz I. , Muylle H.
Published: June 2017

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is an important source of protein and energy for dairy cattle. To improve the protein/energy ratio of this forage, focus is now on improving its cell wall digestibility. The in vitro assessment of the digestible fraction of the neutral detergent fibre (NDFD) is a superior method for determining the cell wall digestibility, but requires the use of ruminal fluid, which has a highly variable composition and is often not readily available. As lignin is considered the main cell wall component that impedes NDFD, we investigated whether this “subtrait” could serve as alternative breeding selection criterion to improve NDFD. Therefore, we assessed the accuracy of two lignin quantification methods: van Soest (ADL) and Klason lignin (KL). We also considered KL estimates corrected for the solubilized lignin (total lignin or TL) and non‐solubilized protein (TL'). Although the latter is considered the truest possible lignin content, it was not always the most correlated to NDFD, due to the limited accuracy of protein quantification on lignin residue. TL is most correlated to NDFD and we therefore recommend it for use in conventional breeding if NDFD determination is not a possibility. However, NDFD is still a superior selection criterion, as it combines the effect of several subtraits and not just lignin. For marker–trait association studies, a more accurate estimate of lignin content is more important than a high correlation with NDFD, but also here, TL performs best.
Fibrinogen Mahdia: A congenitally abnormal fibrinogen characterized by defective fibrin polymerization
Authors: Amri Y. , Jouini H. , Becheur M. , Dabboubi R. , Mahjoub B. , Messaoud T. , Sfar M. T. , Casini A. , de Moerloose P. , Toumi N. E. H.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Congenital dysfibrinogenemia is a rare qualitative fibrinogen deficiency. Molecular defects that result in dysfibrinogenemia are usually caused by mutations which affect fibrinopeptide release, fibrin polymerization, fibrin cross‐linking or fibrinolysis.

Aim

Here, we investigated the genetic basis of hypodysfibrinogenemia in two Tunisian siblings with major bleeding.

Methods

Coagulation‐related tests were performed on the patients and their family members. Functional analysis was performed in plasma fibrinogen to characterize fibrin polymerization. The sequences of fibrinogen genes were amplified and analysed by sequencing.

Results

Coagulation studies revealed a reduced functional and a borderline low antigenic fibrinogen plasma levels with prolonged thrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times. The fibrinogen is also characterized by a markedly impaired polymerization and could incorporate into fibrin fibres to a smaller extent (22%). Mutational screening disclosed a heterozygous single nucleotide deletion (G) at c.1025, resulting in a frameshift mutation (AαGly323GlufsX79) that is predicted to delete a part of the αC‐domain containing some of the FXIII cross‐linking sites. Both the normal and the aberrant Aα‐chain (approximately 43 kDa) were detected by electrophoretic analysis in the patients.

Conclusion

The new dysfunctional fibrinogen, Mahdia variant, describes its impact on fibrin assembly after the loss of the αC domains which are involved in the lateral aggregation of protofibrils. The study confirms that the truncated Aα‐chain could be incorporated into mature fibrinogen molecules.
Trauma‐Informed Day Services: An Initial Conceptualization and Preliminary Assessment
Authors: Keesler John M. , Isham Cory
Published: June 2017

Trauma‐informed care (TIC) is a systems‐focused philosophy of service delivery based upon principles of choice, collaboration, empowerment, safety and trustworthiness that recognizes the pervasive impact of trauma across the human experience. In a grassroots effort, one organization developed an innovative, trauma‐informed day program to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who were recently deinstitutionalized. The present study is intended to provide an initial conceptualization and preliminary assessment of TIC within IDD services in order to understand its impact among individuals and staff. The study sought to answer the following questions: Has the program's culture been stable over time? How have individuals’ behaviors changed over time? What have been the experiences of the program's staff members with TIC? Through a mixed methods design, secondary data analysis and semi structured staff interviews were used to assess the impact of TIC. Findings revealed an initial strong presence of choice, collaboration, empowerment, safety, and trustworthiness within the program's culture, with non significant changes at follow‐up. Significant reductions were noted in overall challenging behavior, aggression, and PRN medication usage; while non significant changes were noted in physical interventions with the exception of “other” interventions (i.e., least restrictive) which significantly increased. Three major categories emerged from the qualitative data (making a difference, recognizing progress and compromising factors), illuminating staff satisfaction with work experiences, individuals’ progress, and factors that challenged fidelity to TIC. The study provides a preliminary conceptualization and evidence for the efficacy of the integration of TIC into IDD services despite methodological limitations and concerns regarding the use of physical interventions. Directions for future research are presented.
Immigrant and extrinsic hybrid seed inviability contribute to reproductive isolation between forest and dune ecotypes of Epipactis helleborine (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Jacquemyn Hans , Kort Hanne De , Broeck An Vanden , Brys Rein
Published: June 2017

Reproductive isolation caused by divergent natural selection arising from differences between ecological environments or ecological interactions represents a major mechanism contributing to speciation, but its relative importance is poorly known. In this study, controlled reciprocal crossings and seed germination experiments were combined with genetic and morphometric analyses to test the hypothesis that previously described differences in mycorrhizal communities between forest and dune ecotypes of Epipactis helleborine were sufficiently strong to create complete reproductive isolation between the two ecotypes. Molecular analyses using 770 SNP markers showed that the two ecotypes were genetically distinct and that populations of the dune ecotype were genetically impoverished compared to populations of the forest ecotype. Morphologically, the two ecotypes were also significantly different, with plants of the dune ecotype generally being smaller than plants of the forest ecotype. The results further showed that immigrant seeds had a significantly lower probability of protocorm formation than native seeds, indicating strong immigrant inviability. Although both ecotypes were able to cross easily and to produce a large number of viable seeds, hybrid seeds showed significantly lower protocorm formation than pure seeds, further contributing to reproductive isolation. Overall, these results indicate that interfertile populations of a widespread orchid adapting to contrasting environments diverge as a consequence of concurrent selection acting against immigrants and hybrids and suggest that mycorrhizal fungi can play a role in the early stages of plant speciation.
Walking a Tightrope: Are U.S. State and Local Governments on a Fiscally Sustainable Path?
Authors: Zhao Bo , Coyne David
Published: June 2017

This paper develops a new measure of state and local fiscal sustainability called the “trend gap,” which is estimated from a panel data model and removes the short‐term influence of business cycles. The paper finds that the nationwide trend gap has grown over the past three decades. Education and social services and income maintenance programs have played a major role in the growth of the trend gap, while public pensions have become increasingly important in driving up the trend gap. The paper projects that the trend gap will continue to grow through 2026 in the absence of policy changes.
Structuralism in the philosophy of physics
Authors: Lam Vincent
Published: June 2017

Ontic structuralism or ontic structural realism in the philosophy of physics can be broadly considered as an interpretative strategy providing a set of conceptual and metaphysical tools—or, more ambitiously, an ontological framework—in order to account for central features of current fundamental physics. This article aims to review the main structuralist interpretative moves in the context of our two best fundamental physical theories of matter and spacetime, namely, quantum theory (quantum mechanics and quantum field theory) and general relativity. We highlight in particular the structuralist understanding of permutation invariance, entanglement and nonlocality in quantum theory, and of the dynamical features of spacetime, (gauge‐theoretic) diffeomorphism invariance and background independence in general relativity.
Mental disorder between naturalism and normativism
Authors: Varga Somogy
Published: June 2017

Worries about the potential medicalization of social and moral problems has propelled the debate on the nature of mental disorder, with normativists insisting that psychiatric classification is inherently value‐laden and naturalists maintaining that a purely descriptive account of disease is possible. In recent work, some authors take a different path, accepting that the concepts of disease and mental disorder are value‐laden but maintaining that this does not prevent objective truths regarding mental disorder attribution. This paper explores two such accounts and the important steps they provide toward rethinking the nature and metaphysical status of mental disorder. The challenges raised in this paper are meant to contribute to the further development of this stimulating work.
Multinationals as global institution: Power, authority and relative autonomy
Authors: Ruggie John Gerard
Published: June 2017

This article aims to inform the long‐standing and unresolved debate between voluntary corporate social responsibility and initiatives to impose binding legal obligations on multinational enterprises. The two approaches share a common feature: neither can fully specify its own scope conditions, that is, how much of the people and planet agenda either can expect to deliver. The reason they share this feature is also the same: neither is based on a foundational political analysis of the multinational enterprise in the context of global governance. Such an analysis is essential for providing background to and perspective on what either approach can hope to achieve, and how. This article begins to bridge the gap by illustrating aspects of the political power, authority, and relative autonomy of the contemporary multinational enterprise. The conclusion spells out some implications for the debate itself, and for further research.
Bank lending channel in a dual banking system: Why are Islamic banks so responsive?
Authors: Aysan Ahmet F. , Disli Mustafa , Ozturk Huseyin
Published: June 2017

We examine the interest rate sensitivity of both deposits and credits at Islamic and conventional banks in Turkey. We find that the bank lending channel is especially operative for Islamic banks. Impulse responses for conventional and Islamic banks reveal that Islamic bank depositors’ sensitivity to policy rate changes is substantially larger than that of conventional bank depositors. Next to heavily dependence on deposit funding, we consider that inertia in Islamic bank deposit rates impedes these banks to keep those depositors who consider the opportunity cost of monetary policy rates is unbearable. On the lending side, we obtain similar results, implying that tight monetary policy leads to a larger contraction in Islamic bank credits. This finding is a reflection of the favourable attitude of Islamic banks towards small and medium‐sized enterprise (SME) financing. When similar relationships are analysed for currency and inflation shocks, we again find larger responses for Islamic banks showing the cyclical nature of SME credits.
Numerical solutions of one-dimensional parabolic convection-diffusion problems arising in biology by the Laguerre collocation method
Authors: Gürbüz Burcu , Sezer Mehmet
Published: June 2017

In this work, we present a numerical scheme for the approximate solutions of the one-dimensional parabolic convection-diffusion model problems. Diffusion models form a reasonable basis for studying insect and animal dispersal and invasion, which arise from the question of persistence of endangered species, biodiversity, disease dynamics, multi-species competition so on. Convection diffusion problem is also a form of heat and mass transfer in biological models. The presented method is based on the Laguerre collocation method used for these problems of differential equations. In fact, the approximate solution of the problem in the truncated Laguerre series form is obtained by this method. By substituting truncated Laguerre series solution into the problem and by using the matrix operations and the collocation points, the suggested scheme reduces the problem to a linear algebraic equation system. By solving this equation system, the unknown Laguerre coefficients can be computed. The accuracy and the efficiency of the method is showed by numerical examples and the comparisons by the other methods.
The dynamic excitation of a granular chain: Contact mechanics finite element analysis and experimental validation
Authors: Gélat P. , Yang J. , Akanji O. , Thomas P. J. , Hutchins D. , Harput S. , Freear S. , Saffari N.
Published: June 2017

There is currently interest in transmitting acoustic signals along granular chains to produce waveforms of relevance to biomedical ultrasound applications. The study of such a transduction mechanism is greatly aided by the use of validated theoretical models. In view of this, a finite element analysis is presented in this paper. The dynamics of a granular chain of six, 1 mm diameter chrome steel spherical beads, was excited at one end using a sinusoidal displacement signal at 73 kHz, and terminated by a rigid support. Output from this model was compared with the solution provided by the equivalent discrete dynamics model, and good agreement obtained. An experimental configuration involving the same chain, but terminated by an annular support made of a liquid photopolymer resin was also simulated and the velocity of the last sphere obtained through simulation was compared with laser vibrometer measurement, with good agreement. This model was then extended whereby the granular chain was coupled to an acoustic medium with the properties of water, via a thin vitreous carbon cylinder. Finite element predictions of the acoustic pressure indicate that, for a 73 kHz excitation frequency, harmonic rich acoustic pulses with harmonic content close to 1 MHz are predicted.
An algorithm to increase intelligibility for hearing-impaired listeners in the presence of a competing talker
Authors: Healy Eric W. , Delfarah Masood , Vasko Jordan L. , Carter Brittney L. , Wang DeLiang
Published: June 2017

Individuals with hearing impairment have particular difficulty perceptually segregating concurrent voices and understanding a talker in the presence of a competing voice. In contrast, individuals with normal hearing perform this task quite well. This listening situation represents a very different problem for both the human and machine listener, when compared to perceiving speech in other types of background noise. A machine learning algorithm is introduced here to address this listening situation. A deep neural network was trained to estimate the ideal ratio mask for a male target talker in the presence of a female competing talker. The monaural algorithm was found to produce sentence-intelligibility increases for hearing-impaired (HI) and normal-hearing (NH) listeners at various signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). This benefit was largest for the HI listeners and averaged 59%-points at the least-favorable SNR, with a maximum of 87%-points. The mean intelligibility achieved by the HI listeners using the algorithm was equivalent to that of young NH listeners without processing, under conditions of identical interference. Possible reasons for the limited ability of HI listeners to perceptually segregate concurrent voices are reviewed as are possible implementation considerations for algorithms like the current one.
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for the Detection of Antibodies against the 2C and 3ABC Nonstructural Proteins Induced by Infecting Pigs with Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus
Authors: Liu Zezhong , Shao Junjun , Zhao Furong , Zhou Guangqing , Gao Shandian , Liu Wei , Lv Jianliang , Li Xiumei , Li Yangfan , Chang Huiyun , Zhang Yongguang
Published: June 2017

The potential diagnostic value of chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIAs) has been accepted in recent years, although their use for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) diagnostics has not been reported. Full-length 3ABC and 2C proteins were expressed in bacteria and purified by affinity chromatography to develop a rapid and accurate approach to distinguish pigs infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) from vaccinated pigs. The recombinant proteins were then used as antigens to develop two CLIAs for the detection of antibodies against nonstructural viral proteins. The diagnostic performance of the two assays was compared by analyzing serum from pigs (naive pigs,
n
= 63; vaccinated, uninfected pigs,
n
= 532; naive, infected pigs,
n
= 117) with a known infection status. The 3ABC-2C CLIA had a higher accuracy rate, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% and a diagnostic specificity of 96.5%, than the 3ABC CLIA, which had a diagnostic sensitivity of 95.7% and a diagnostic specificity of 96.0%. The results of the 3ABC-2C CLIA also had a high rate of concordance with those of two commercial FMDV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits used to assess serum collected from 962 pigs in the field (96.2% and 97.8%, respectively). The 3ABC-2C CLIA detected infection in serum samples from infected pigs earlier than the commercial ELISA kits. In addition, the 3ABC-2C CLIA produced results within 15 min. On the basis of these findings, the 3ABC-2C CLIA could serve as the foundation for the development of penside FMD diagnostics and offers an alternative method to detect FMDV infections.
Novel Cross-Reactive Monoclonal Antibodies against Ebolavirus Glycoproteins Show Protection in a Murine Challenge Model
Authors: Duehr James , Wohlbold Teddy John , Oestereich Lisa , Chromikova Veronika , Amanat Fatima , Rajendran Madhusudan , Gomez-Medina Sergio , Mena Ignacio , tenOever Benjamin R. , García-Sastre Adolfo , Basler Christopher F. , Munoz-Fontela Cesar , Krammer Florian
Published: June 2017

Out of an estimated 31,100 cases since their discovery in 1976, ebolaviruses have caused approximately 13,000 deaths. The vast majority (∼11,000) of these occurred during the 2013-2016 West African epidemic. Three out of five species in the genus are known to cause Ebola Virus Disease in humans. Several monoclonal antibodies against the ebolavirus glycoprotein are currently in development as therapeutics. However, there is still a paucity of monoclonal antibodies that can cross-react between the glycoproteins of different ebolavirus species, and the mechanism of these monoclonal antibody therapeutics is still not understood in detail. Here, we generated a panel of eight murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) utilizing a prime-boost vaccination regimen with a
Zaire ebolavirus
glycoprotein expression plasmid followed by infection with a vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the
Zaire ebolavirus
glycoprotein. We tested the binding breadth of the resulting monoclonal antibodies using a set of recombinant surface glycoproteins from Reston, Taï Forest, Bundibugyo, Zaire, Sudan, and Marburg viruses and found two antibodies that showed pan-ebolavirus binding. An
in vivo Stat2
−/−
mouse model was utilized to test the ability of these MAbs to protect from infection with a vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the
Zaire ebolavirus
glycoprotein. Several of our antibodies, including the broadly binding ones, protected mice from mortality despite lacking neutralization capability
in vitro
, suggesting their protection may be mediated by Fc-FcR interactions. Indeed, three antibodies displayed cellular phagocytosis and/or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
in vitro
. Our antibodies, specifically the two identified cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (KL-2E5 and KL-2H7), might add to the understanding of anti-ebolavirus humoral immunity.

IMPORTANCE
This study describes the generation of a panel of novel anti-ebolavirus glycoprotein monoclonal antibodies, including two antibodies with broad cross-reactivity to all known ebolavirus species. The antibodies were raised using a heterologous DNA-viral vector prime-boost regimen, resulting in a high proportion of cross-reactive antibodies (25%). Similar vaccination regimens have been used successfully to induce broad protection against influenza viruses in humans, and our limited data indicate that this might be a useful strategy for filovirus vaccines as well. Several of our antibodies showed protective efficacy when tested in a novel murine challenge model and may be developed into future therapeutics.
MicroRNAs of Epstein-Barr Virus Control Innate and Adaptive Antiviral Immunity
Authors: Albanese Manuel , Tagawa Takanobu , Buschle Alexander , Hammerschmidt Wolfgang
Published: June 2017

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has established lifelong infection in more than 90% of humanity. While infection is usually controlled by the immune system, the human host fails to completely eliminate the pathogen. Several herpesviral proteins are known to act as immunoevasins, preventing or reducing recognition of EBV-infected cells. Only recently were microRNAs of EBV identified to reduce immune recognition further. This Gem summarizes what we know about immunomodulatory microRNAs of herpesviruses.
Rehabilitation interventions to improve patient-reported outcomes and physical fitness in survivors of muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Rammant Elke , Bultijnck Renée , Sundahl Nora , Ost Piet , Pauwels Nele S , Deforche Benedicte , Pieters Ronny , Decaestecker Karel , Fonteyne Valérie
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Survivors of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) experience physical and psychosocial side effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. These negative side effects have a crucial impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). To date, there is evidence that rehabilitation interventions such as physical activity and psychosocial support have a positive effect on the HRQoL of cancer survivors. Unfortunately, there are no specific guidelines for rehabilitation or survivorship programmes for MIBC survivors. Therefore, this systematic review aims to assess the effects of exercise-based and psychosocial rehabilitation interventions in MIBC survivors.

Methods and analysis

The approach of this review is consistent with the Cochrane methodology. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomised studies will be included. The population of interest is patients (≥18 years of age) with diagnosis of MIBC or high-risk non-MIBC for whom a radical cystectomy is indicated. There will be two eligible intervention types for inclusion: exercise-based and psychosocial rehabilitation interventions. The primary outcome measures are patient-reported outcomes (eg, HRQoL, fatigue and pain) and physical fitness. Studies will be identified independently by two review authors by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database. A third reviewer will be asked by disagreements. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data will be summarised descriptively. If homogeneity of the studies is sufficient, meta-analysis will be undertaken. The broad scope of this review (ie, different interventions and study designs) is needed to have a comprehensive view on effective rehabilitation interventions.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required, as no primary data will be collected. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.
Investigation of immersion influence on dynamic properties of high-speed railway subgrade with semi-rigid waterproof functional layer through field-excitation testing
Authors: Wang Liang-liang , Lei Xiaoqin , Liu Shukui
Published: June 2017

The subgrade below the under-construction Kunming–Shanghai high-speed railway faces serious stability problems induced by considerable swelling and shrinkage volume change of expansive soil along with variation of moisture content. To prevent the occurrence of potential damage, reasons for the frequent occurrence of drainage ditch breakage and platform damage along the railway corridor in expansive soil areas were analyzed. A novel integral ancillary facility and semi-rigid waterproof functional layer were developed. Large-scale field dynamic tests were carried out to investigate the fatigue performance of the waterproof functional layer and the influences of different service environments (relatively dry condition and immersion condition) on the dynamic response of the subgrade. Results show that the fatigue property and waterproofing capability of the waterproof functional layer can fulfill the standard requirements for the high-speed railway subgrade. There was an enlargement phenomenon of the dynamic stress and vibration velocity when the service environment of subgrade changed from a relatively dry condition to an immersion condition. The vibration velocity seemed to increase along the depth of the graded broken stone surface layer and decrease linearly with further depth increase from the bottom surface of the waterproof functional layer.
Experimental study on two oscillating grid turbulence with viscoelastic fluids based on PIV
Authors: Wang Yue , Cai Wei-Hua , Zheng Xin , Zhang Hong-Na , Li Feng-Chen
Published: June 2017

In this paper, to study the viscoelastic effect on isotropic turbulence without wall effects, a two oscillating grid turbulence is built to investigate this phenomenon using particle image velocimetry. In the experiments, the classical drag-reducing additives are chosen: polyacrylamide (PAM) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), which have shown remarkable drag-reducing effect in wall-bounded turbulent flows. The results show that the existence of drag-reducing additives makes velocity field more anisotropic and reduces turbulent kinetic energy. We propose an intuitive and natural definition for a reduction rate of turbulent kinetic energy to show viscoelastic effect. It suggests that there exists a critical concentration for the reduction rate of turbulent kinetic energy in the CTAC solution case. Also, the small-scale vortex structures are inhibited, which suggests the drag-reducing mechanism in grid turbulence without wall effect.
Micro-structured fibers and their applications in fiber-optic sensors and random fiber lasers
Authors: Xu Yanping , Bao Xiaoyi
Published: June 2017

Micro-structured fibers are important devices that have drawn intensive attentions and proved to be powerful platforms for various applications over the past decades due to their remarkable merits and advantages, such as small footprint, immunity to electromagnetic interferences, light weight, high physical flexibility, and low cost. Modifications in optical fibers can be used as light-steering elements to excite and couple back different core and cladding modes and form various in-fiber structures, including in-line fiber interferometer, fiber micro-cantilever, fiber random gratings, and so on. These micro-structures, when applied as fiber-optic sensors in the presence of external disturbances, show high sensitivity in terms of the significant changes in the guided light features. Novel micro-structured bend-insensitive fiber-based in-line fiber interferometer and micro-cantilever have been proposed to realize both static and dynamic parameter measurements, including temperature, axial strain, surrounding refractive index, and vibration. We have also developed a novel fiber random grating along with a spectral correlation algorithm for simultaneous measurement of three static measurands. To move a step forward, random fiber lasers based on fiber random grating are achieved for either improving the laser performances or sensing applications of temperature, strain, and ultrasound measurements with high sensitivity.
Dietary niche partitioning among black bears, grizzly bears, and wolves in a multiprey ecosystem
Authors: Merkle Jerod A. , Polfus Jean L. , Derbridge Jonathan J. , Heinemeyer Kimberly S.
Published: June 2017

Identifying mechanisms that promote coexistence of sympatric species is important for predicting ecological effects of anthropogenic change. Many caribou (Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) populations are declining, and it is unclear to what extent sympatric predators consume caribou or how alternative prey affect caribou–predator relationships. We used stable isotope mixing models to estimate diets of black bear (Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos L., 1758), and grey wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) during early, middle, and late summer of 2009–2010 in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Although we expected wolf diet to be primarily composed of moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) — as they exist at twice the density of caribou — wolf diet consisted principally of caribou, and to a lesser extent moose and beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820), with little change occurring throughout summer. Black bear diet consisted mainly of vegetation and moose, shifting from moose to vegetation through summer. Grizzly bear diet consisted primarily of vegetation and moose, and did not change throughout summer. Our results demonstrate the role of dietary niche partitioning in bear and wolf coexistence, and that caribou may be primary prey for wolves in an ecosystem with relatively high moose abundance and low human development.
DECOMPOSITION OF SOCIAL INCOME ADJUSTMENT EFFECT OF CHINA’S PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND SELECTION AMONG DIFFERENT UNIFORM INCOME TAX MODES
Authors: HUA HU
Published: June 2017

Based on 10342 Chinese family samples, by means of non-linear models, the effects of wage income tax (WIT), individual business income tax (IBIT) and other income tax (OIT) on the income gap in China are analyzed. It is found that China’s classified income tax is helpful to narrow the income gap. WIT plays a very important role in narrowing the income gap, with IBIT and OIT widening the income gap. Such income taxes, especially WIT, cause differences of the tax burden between taxpayers who have the same income amount. Uniform income tax is an indispensable measure to solve the problems. On the basis of the income tax systems of 13 countries, 16 different kinds of personal or household uniform income tax modes were built up. Namibia’s household uniform income tax mode is practical to China, because the income adjustment effect of such mode is stronger than that of China’s classified income tax, but the average tax rate of it is lower than that of China’s classified income tax.
Electrochemical investigation of mixed metal oxide nanocomposite electrode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell
Authors: Abbas Ghazanfar , Raza Rizwan , Ashfaq Ahmad M. , Ajmal Khan M. , Jafar Hussain M. , Ahmad Mukhtar , Aziz Hammad , Ahmad Imran , Batool Rida , Altaf Faizah , Zhu Bin
Published: June 2017

Zinc-based nanostructured nickel (Ni) free metal oxide electrode material Zn[Formula: see text]/Cu[Formula: see text]Mn[Formula: see text] oxide (CMZO) was synthesized by solid state reaction and investigated for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell (LTSOFC) applications. The crystal structure and surface morphology of the synthesized electrode material were examined by XRD and SEM techniques respectively. The particle size of ZnO phase estimated by Scherer’s equation was 31.50 nm. The maximum electrical conductivity was found to be 12.567 S/cm and 5.846 S/cm in hydrogen and air atmosphere, respectively at 600[Formula: see text]C. The activation energy of the CMZO material was also calculated from the DC conductivity data using Arrhenius plots and it was found to be 0.060 and 0.075 eV in hydrogen and air atmosphere, respectively. The CMZO electrode-based fuel cell was tested using carbonated samarium doped ceria composite (NSDC) electrolyte. The three layers 13 mm in diameter and 1 mm thickness of the symmetric fuel cell were fabricated by dry pressing. The maximum power density of 728.86 mW/cm2 was measured at 550[Formula: see text]C.
Energy-Efficient Gain Cell and Its Applications in the Limiting Amplifier and Ring Oscillator for Gbps Communications
Authors: Ying Yutong , Bai Xuefei , Lin Fujiang
Published: June 2017

This paper presents a low-power, high gain-bandwidth product (GBW) gain cell for gigabits-per-second communications. Based on this gain cell, a large GBW limiting amplifier (LA) and two types of high oscillation-frequency ring oscillators (ROs) are implemented with good energy efficiencies. Fabricated in the 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS process, the proposed LA can support 1.25[Formula: see text]Gbps data-rate with a measured GBW of 338[Formula: see text]GHz under 5[Formula: see text]mW. The proposed single- and multi-loop ROs obtain a simulated typical oscillation frequency of 5.26[Formula: see text]GHz and 6.96[Formula: see text]GHz, respectively, under 6.2 mW, which is less than one-eighth the power consumption of published ROs at similar frequencies in the same process.
A Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Active Example Selection
Authors: Han Zhiyan , Wang Jian
Published: June 2017

The fault diagnosis in the real world is often complicated. It is due to the fact that not all relevant fault information is available directly. In many fault diagnosis situations, it is impossible or inconvenient to find all fault information before establishing a fault diagnosis model. To deal with this issue, a method named active example selection (AES) is proposed for the fault diagnosis. AES could actively discover unseen faults and choose useful samples to improve the fault detection accuracy. AES consists of three key components: (1) a fusion model of combining the advantage of the unsupervised and supervised fault diagnosis methods, where the unsupervised fault diagnosis methods could discover unseen faults and the supervised fault diagnosis methods could provide better fault detection accuracy on seen faults, (2) an active learning algorithm to help the supervised fault diagnosis methods actively discover unseen faults and choose useful samples to improve the fault detection accuracy, and (3) an incremental learning scheme to speed up the iterative training procedure for AES. The proposed method was evaluated on the benchmark Tennessee Eastman Process data. The proposed method performed better on both unseen and seen faults than the stand-alone unsupervised, supervised fault diagnosis methods, their joint and referenced support vector machines based on active learning.
Artificially Engineered Protein Polymers
Authors: Yang Yun Jung , Holmberg Angela L. , Olsen Bradley D.
Published: June 2017

Modern polymer science increasingly requires precise control over macromolecular structure and properties for engineering advanced materials and biomedical systems. The application of biological processes to design and synthesize artificial protein polymers offers a means for furthering macromolecular tunability, enabling polymers with dispersities of ∼1.0 and monomer-level sequence control. Taking inspiration from materials evolved in nature, scientists have created modular building blocks with simplified monomer sequences that replicate the function of natural systems. The corresponding protein engineering toolbox has enabled the systematic development of complex functional polymeric materials across areas as diverse as adhesives, responsive polymers, and medical materials. This review discusses the natural proteins that have inspired the development of key building blocks for protein polymer engineering and the function of these elements in material design. The prospects and progress for scalable commercialization of protein polymers are reviewed, discussing both technology needs and opportunities.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Velocity Mapping in Chemical Engineering Applications
Authors: Gladden Lynn F. , Sederman Andrew J.
Published: June 2017

This review aims to illustrate the diversity of measurements that can be made using magnetic resonance techniques, which have the potential to provide insights into chemical engineering systems that cannot readily be achieved using any other method. Perhaps the most notable advantage in using magnetic resonance methods is that both chemistry and transport can be followed in three dimensions, in optically opaque systems, and without the need for tracers to be introduced into the system. Here we focus on hydrodynamics and, in particular, applications to rheology, pipe flow, and fixed-bed and gas-solid fluidized bed reactors. With increasing development of industrially relevant sample environments and undersampling data acquisition strategies that can reduce acquisition times to <1 s, magnetic resonance is finding increasing application in chemical engineering research.
Novel analysis of 4DCT imaging quantifies progressive increases in anatomic dead space during mechanical ventilation in mice
Authors: Kim Elizabeth H. , Preissner Melissa , Carnibella Richard P. , Samarage Chaminda R. , Bennett Ellen , Diniz Marcio A. , Fouras Andreas , Zosky Graeme R. , Jones Heather D.
Published: June 2017

Increased dead space is an important prognostic marker in early acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that correlates with mortality. The cause of increased dead space in ARDS has largely been attributed to increased alveolar dead space due to ventilation/perfusion mismatching and shunt. We sought to determine whether anatomic dead space also increases in response to mechanical ventilation. Mice received intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline and mechanical ventilation (MV). Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans were performed at onset of MV and after 5 h of MV. Detailed measurements of airway volumes and lung tidal volumes were performed using image analysis software. The forced oscillation technique was used to obtain measures of airway resistance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance. The ratio of airway volumes to total tidal volume increased significantly in response to 5 h of mechanical ventilation, regardless of LPS exposure, and airways demonstrated significant variation in volumes over the respiratory cycle. These findings were associated with an increase in tissue elastance (decreased lung compliance) but without changes in tidal volumes. Airway volumes increased over time with exposure to mechanical ventilation without a concomitant increase in tidal volumes. These findings suggest that anatomic dead space fraction increases progressively with exposure to positive pressure ventilation and may represent a pathological process.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that anatomic dead space ventilation increases significantly over time in mice in response to mechanical ventilation. The novel functional lung-imaging techniques applied here yield sensitive measures of airway volumes that may have wide applications.
The Influence of the Intermittent Behavior of the Nocturnal Atmospheric Flow on the Prediction of the Diurnal Temperature Range: A Simplified Model Analysis
Authors: Gonzales Leandro L. , Costa Felipe D. , Acevedo Otávio C. , dos Santos Daniel M. , Medeiros Luiz E. , Carvalho Junior Arlindo D. , Puhales Franciano S. , Anabor Vagner , Martins Luis G. N. , Demarco Giuliano , Degrazia Gervásio A.
Published: June 2017

The variation of the atmospheric temperature near the surface associated with anthropogenic effects is analyzed using a simplified atmospheric model. Local changes in cloud cover and four different scenarios of atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide are considered. The results show that the highest temperature variability occurs in the weak wind and decoupled state and in the transition between flow regimes. In agreement with previous efforts, the results indicate that the reduction of diurnal temperature range is related to the existence of two distinct flow regimes in the stable boundary layer. However, in the decoupled state, the occurrence of intermittent bursts of turbulence may cause temperature variations among the different scenarios to become unpredictable. It implies that it is difficult to predict the diurnal temperature range in places where low winds are common.
New Directions in 3D Medical Modeling: 3D-Printing Anatomy and Functions in Neurosurgical Planning
Authors: Gargiulo Paolo , Árnadóttir Íris , Gíslason Magnús , Edmunds Kyle , Ólafsson Ingvar
Published: June 2017

This paper illustrates the feasibility and utility of combining cranial anatomy and brain function on the same 3D-printed model, as evidenced by a neurosurgical planning case study of a 29-year-old female patient with a low-grade frontal-lobe glioma. We herein report the rapid prototyping methodology utilized in conjunction with surgical navigation to prepare and plan a complex neurosurgery. The method introduced here combines CT and MRI images with DTI tractography, while using various image segmentation protocols to 3D model the skull base, tumor, and five eloquent fiber tracts. This 3D model is rapid-prototyped and coregistered with patient images and a reported surgical navigation system, establishing a clear link between the printed model and surgical navigation. This methodology highlights the potential for advanced neurosurgical preparation, which can begin before the patient enters the operation theatre. Moreover, the work presented here demonstrates the workflow developed at the National University Hospital of Iceland, Landspitali, focusing on the processes of anatomy segmentation, fiber tract extrapolation, MRI/CT registration, and 3D printing. Furthermore, we present a qualitative and quantitative assessment for fiber tract generation in a case study where these processes are applied in the preparation of brain tumor resection surgery.
The Anonymization Protection Algorithm Based on Fuzzy Clustering for the Ego of Data in the Internet of Things
Authors: Xie Mingshan , Huang Mengxing , Bai Yong , Hu Zhuhua
Published: June 2017

In order to enhance the enthusiasm of the data provider in the process of data interaction and improve the adequacy of data interaction, we put forward the concept of the ego of data and then analyzed the characteristics of the ego of data in the Internet of Things (IOT) in this paper. We implement two steps of data clustering for the Internet of things; the first step is the spatial location of adjacent fuzzy clustering, and the second step is the sampling time fuzzy clustering. Equivalent classes can be obtained through the two steps. In this way we can make the data with layout characteristics to be classified into different equivalent classes, so that the specific location information of the data can be obscured, the layout characteristics of tags are eliminated, and ultimately anonymization protection would be achieved. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can greatly improve the efficiency of protection of the data in the interaction with others in the incompletely open manner, without reducing the quality of anonymization and enhancing the information loss. The anonymization data set generated by this method has better data availability, and this algorithm can effectively improve the security of data exchange.
Combined Detection of Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and CEA as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Nonmetastatic Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Resection Is Superior to NLR or CEA Alone
Authors: Zhan Xiaoli , Sun Xiaobo , Hong Yonggang , Wang Yuedong , Ding Kefeng
Published: June 2017

Objective. To explore the role of combined detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the prognostic assessment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods. We investigated preoperative NLR and CEA in 125 surgical CRC patients, determined the patients’ thresholds by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and assessed their prognostic values by Kaplan–Meier curve and Cox regression models. In addition, we used nomograms of several risk factors to evaluate the risk in survival and predictive accuracy by using Harrell’s concordance index (c-index). Results. Results of multivariate analysis showed high NLR, high CEA, and high COCN (combination of CEA and NLR) were significantly correlated with decreased disease-free survival (DFS) [HR: 2.229, 95% CI: 1.012–4.911, and P=0.047; HR: 3.652, 95% CI: 1.630–8.179, and P=0.002; HR: 3.139, 95% CI: 1.800–5.472, and P<0.001]. But high CEA and COCN remained significant only for decreased overall survival (OS) [HR: 3.713, 95% CI: 1.396–9.873, and P=0.009; HR: 3.106, 95% CI: 1.576–6.123, and P=0.001]. High NLR showed higher mortality rates with worse OS (P=0.058), and nomograms containing NLR improved the predictive accuracy. Area under the curve of COCN was higher than that of CEA or NLR. Conclusion. COCN acts as a better independent prognostic biomarker of CRC than NLR or CEA alone.
Multichannel Filtered-X Error Coded Affine Projection-Like Algorithm with Evolving Order
Authors: Avalos J. G. , Rodriguez A. , Martinez H. M. , Sanchez J. C. , Perez H. M.
Published: June 2017

Affine projection (AP) algorithms are commonly used to implement active noise control (ANC) systems because they provide fast convergence. However, their high computational complexity can restrict their use in certain practical applications. The Error Coded Affine Projection-Like (ECAP-L) algorithm has been proposed to reduce the computational burden while maintaining the speed of AP, but no version of this algorithm has been derived for active noise control, for which the adaptive structures are very different from those of other configurations. In this paper, we introduce a version of the ECAP-L for single-channel and multichannel ANC systems. The proposed algorithm is implemented using the conventional filtered-x scheme, which incurs a lower computational cost than the modified filtered-x structure, especially for multichannel systems. Furthermore, we present an evolutionary method that dynamically decreases the projection order in order to reduce the dimensions of the matrix used in the algorithm’s computations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm yields a convergence speed and a final residual error similar to those of AP algorithms. Moreover, it achieves meaningful computational savings, leading to simpler hardware implementation of real-time ANC applications.
Secure-Network-Coding-Based File Sharing via Device-to-Device Communication
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Qing
Published: June 2017

In order to increase the efficiency and security of file sharing in the next-generation networks, this paper proposes a large scale file sharing scheme based on secure network coding via device-to-device (D2D) communication. In our scheme, when a user needs to share data with others in the same area, the source node and all the intermediate nodes need to perform secure network coding operation before forwarding the received data. This process continues until all the mobile devices in the networks successfully recover the original file. The experimental results show that secure network coding is very feasible and suitable for such file sharing. Moreover, the sharing efficiency and security outperform traditional replication-based sharing scheme.