bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Efficacy of Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone in Postoperative Swelling and Trismus Following Mandibular 3rd Molar Surgery
Authors: Uzzaman Md Helal , Rahman AFM Shahidur , Rahman Md Masudur , Alam Md Shafiqul , Rahman Mohammad Shameemur , Rubel ATM Tarifuzzaman , Howlader Liton Bhushan
Published: July 2018

Introduction: Surgical removal of 3rd molars causes significant swelling and trismus which are unpleasant and uncomfortable for the patient even when teeth are removed by gentle surgical technique. Our surgical procedures can lead to serious inflammatory reactions in the facial soft tissues and should be minimized as much as possible. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a single intramuscular (I/M) dose of two different corticosteroids on postoperative facial soft tissue swelling and trismus.Methodology: This interventional study was conducted in oral and maxillofacial surgery department of BSMMU. 60 patients (33 male and 27 female)were included in this study and were randomly divided into two groups. In Group-I, 30 patients were included and 4mg of Dexamethasone was injected into the Deltoid region 30 minutes prior to extraction of mandibular 3rd molars. In Group-II,another 30 patients were included and 40mg of Methylprednisolone was injected into theDeltoid region 30 minutes prior to extraction of mandibular 3rd molars.Facial swelling was evaluated preoperatively, on 2nd POD and 7th POD by using measuring tape. Trismus was determined by measuring the maximum inter-incisal distance pre-operatively, on 2nd POD and 7th POD by vernier caliper.Result:Result showed that swelling and trismus was significantly reduced in both groups, p>0.05(not significant).Conclusion:The result concluded that the preoperative single dose of I/M administration of Dexamethasone or Methylprednisolone significantly reduces postoperative swelling and trismus after surgical removal of mandibular 3rd molars.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, December 2017, Vol.9(2); 60-64
The Flux-Based Sensorless Field-Oriented Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors without Integrational Drift
Authors: Strinić Tomislav , Silber Siegfried , Gruber Wolfgang
Published: July 2018

The magnitude of the rotor magnetic flux linkage and its spatial orientation within a permanent magnet synchronous motor directly define the angular position of the rotor and are thus used in many sensorless applications as the governing variables. The rotor magnetic flux linkage in the stator reference frame is represented by two orthogonal sinusoids whose amplitudes and phases are determined by the integration of the orthogonal components of the corresponding voltage, which, due to DC offsets and initial conditions at transient states, result in an integrational drift. This paper proposes a solution to the problem of such integrational drift in the form of a compensation based only on orthogonal properties of waveforms in the stator reference frame. That makes it completely independent of electrical parameters of the motor. As a result, the proposed compensation of the integrational drift does not require any optimization by the user and it is functional from a standstill. The effectiveness of the proposed compensation is demonstrated analytically, by a simulation, and an experiment on a real motor by a simple observer for the sensorless field-oriented control based on the voltage model in the stator reference frame.
Firm Performance among Internationalized SMEs: The Interplay of Market Orientation, Marketing Capability and Digitalization
Authors: Joensuu-Salo Sanna , Sorama Kirsti , Viljamaa Anmari , Varamäki Elina
Published: July 2018

The ability to internationalize has become a competitive necessity for many firms, and one important for survival and growth in the era of globalization. At the same time, digitalization is transforming the locus of entrepreneurial opportunities and entrepreneurial practices, thus offering new perspectives on internationalization. Internationalization requires marketing capability as well as market orientation. However, there is a gap in the literature exploring the interplay of digitalization, market orientation and marketing capability in the internationalization process. The objective of the present study is to improve our understanding of (1) the impact of market orientation, marketing capability and digitalization on firm performance among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and (2) the differences in this impact between internationalized SMEs and SMEs operating only in domestic markets. The data were gathered from 101 Finnish SMEs in the wood-product industry, and analyzed with AMOS using path analysis. The results show that marketing capability mediates the effect of market orientation on firm performance. For internationalized firms, market orientation and marketing capability are crucial to their success in foreign markets. However, digitalization has no effect on firm performance with internationalized firms. With other firms, the effect is direct and significant.
Why and How to Avoid the Flipped Quaternion Multiplication
Authors: Sommer Hannes , Gilitschenski Igor , Bloesch Michael , Weiss Stephan , Siegwart Roland , Nieto Juan
Published: July 2018

Over the last decades quaternions have become a crucial and very successful tool for attitude representation in robotics and aerospace. However, there is a major problem that is continuously causing trouble in practice when it comes to exchanging formulas or implementations: there are two quaternion multiplications commonly in use, Hamilton’s multiplication and its flipped version, which is often associated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This paper explains the underlying problem for the popular passive world-to-body usage of rotation quaternions, and promotes an alternative solution compatible with Hamilton’s multiplication. Furthermore, it argues for discontinuing the flipped multiplication. Additionally, it provides recipes for efficiently detecting relevant conventions and migrating formulas or algorithms between them.
Good Riddance? Breaking Disease Susceptibility in the Era of New Breeding Technologies
Authors: Engelhardt Stefan , Stam Remco , Hückelhoven Ralph
Published: July 2018

Despite a high abundance and diversity of natural plant pathogens, plant disease susceptibility is rare. In agriculture however, disease epidemics often occur when virulent pathogens successfully overcome immunity of a single genotype grown in monoculture. Disease epidemics are partially controlled by chemical and genetic plant protection, but pathogen populations show a high potential to adapt to new cultivars or chemical control agents. Therefore, new strategies in breeding and biotechnology are required to obtain durable disease resistance. Generating and exploiting a genetic loss of susceptibility is one of the recent strategies. Better understanding of host susceptibility genes (S) and new breeding technologies now enable the targeted mutation of S genes for genetic plant protection. Here we summarize biological functions of susceptibility factors and both conventional and DNA nuclease-based technologies for the exploitation of S genes. We further discuss the potential trade-offs and whether the genetic loss of susceptibility can provide durable disease resistance.
Using Farm Animal Welfare Protocols as a Base to Assess the Welfare of Wild Animals in Captivity—Case Study: Dorcas Gazelles (Gazella dorcas)
Authors: Salas Marina , Manteca Xavier , Abáigar Teresa , Delclaux Maria , Enseñat Conrad , Martínez-Nevado Eva , Quevedo Miguel Ángel , Fernández-Bellon Hugo
Published: July 2018

There is a lack of protocols specifically developed for the assessment of welfare of wild animals in captivity, even when it is known that providing good standards of welfare is important. The aim of this study was the development and the application of a protocol for the assessment of welfare in captive dorcas gazelles. The protocol was mainly developed taking into account the protocol for the assessment of welfare in cattle from the Welfare Quality® project, the available literature of the biology of this species and the Husbandry Guidelines developed for captive breeding and management of this species. The protocol was specifically developed for dorcas gazelles and included four principles, 10 criteria and 23 animal and environmental-based indicators. To test its utility, this protocol was applied to five different groups of gazelles from three different zoos. Its application made possible to detect areas for improvement in all groups assessed.
Tunable Silver-Functionalized Porous Frameworks for Antibacterial Applications
Authors: Isaacs Mark A. , Barbero Brunella , Durndell Lee J. , Hilton Anthony C. , Olivi Luca , Parlett Christopher M. A. , Wilson Karen , Lee Adam F.
Published: July 2018

Healthcare-associated infections and the rise of drug-resistant bacteria pose significant challenges to existing antibiotic therapies. Silver nanocomposites are a promising solution to the current crisis, however their therapeutic application requires improved understanding of underpinning structure-function relationships. A family of chemically and structurally modified mesoporous SBA-15 silicas were synthesized as porous host matrices to tune the physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles. Physicochemical characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and porosimetry demonstrate that functionalization by a titania monolayer and the incorporation of macroporosity both increase silver nanoparticle dispersion throughout the silica matrix, thereby promoting Ag2CO3 formation and the release of ionic silver in simulated tissue fluid. The Ag2CO3 concentration within functionalized porous architectures is a strong predictor for antibacterial efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including C. difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Learning Behavior Trees for Autonomous Agents with Hybrid Constraints Evolution
Authors: Zhang Qi , Yao Jian , Yin Quanjun , Zha Yabing
Published: July 2018

In modern training, entertainment and education applications, behavior trees (BTs) have already become a fantastic alternative to finite state machines (FSMs) in modeling and controlling autonomous agents. However, it is expensive and inefficient to create BTs for various task scenarios manually. Thus, the genetic programming (GP) approach has been devised to evolve BTs automatically but only received limited success. The standard GP approaches to evolve BTs fail to scale up and to provide good solutions, while GP approaches with domain-specific constraints can accelerate learning but need significant knowledge engineering effort. In this paper, we propose a modified approach, named evolving BTs with hybrid constraints (EBT-HC), to improve the evolution of BTs for autonomous agents. We first propose a novel idea of dynamic constraint based on frequent sub-trees mining, which can accelerate evolution by protecting preponderant behavior sub-trees from undesired crossover. Then we introduce the existing ‘static’ structural constraint into our dynamic constraint to form the evolving BTs with hybrid constraints. The static structure can constrain expected BT form to reduce the size of the search space, thus the hybrid constraints would lead more efficient learning and find better solutions without the loss of the domain-independence. Preliminary experiments, carried out on the Pac-Man game environment, show that the hybrid EBT-HC outperforms other approaches in facilitating the BT design by achieving better behavior performance within fewer generations. Moreover, the generated behavior models by EBT-HC are human readable and easy to be fine-tuned by domain experts.
Effect of Hydrophobicity on the Self-Assembly Behavior of Urea Benzene Derivatives in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Okamoto Yuna , Morishita Kosuke , Fuchi Yasufumi , Kobayashi Shigeki , Karasawa Satoru
Published: July 2018

Urea benzene derivatives (UBD) with amphiphilic side chains showed self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution to form nanoparticles ~100 nm in size. Subsequent thermal treatment led to additional self-assembly of the nanoparticles due to dehydration of the amphiphilic side chains, producing microparticles. This self-assembly process was accompanied by a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior, as revealed by the abrupt decrease in solution transmittance. In this study, three UBD (UBD-1–3) with different lengths of the alkyl segment in the amphiphilic side chain (namely, hexyl, heptyl, and octyl, respectively) were prepared to investigate the self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution. UBD-1–3 formed identical nanoparticles, with sizes in the 10~80 nm range but with different LCST values in the order 3 < 2 < 1. These results suggest a relationship between the hydrophobicity and the self-assembly behavior of UBD.
Doppler-Based Acoustic Gyrator
Authors: Zangeneh-Nejad Farzad , Fleury Romain
Published: July 2018

Non-reciprocal phase shifters have been attracting a great deal of attention due to their important applications in filtering, isolation, modulation, and mode locking. Here, we demonstrate a non-reciprocal acoustic phase shifter using a simple acoustic waveguide. We show, both analytically and numerically, that when the fluid within the waveguide is biased by a time-independent velocity, the sound waves travelling in forward and backward directions experience different amounts of phase shifts. We further show that the differential phase shift between the forward and backward waves can be conveniently adjusted by changing the imparted bias velocity. Setting the corresponding differential phase shift to 180 degrees, we then realize an acoustic gyrator, which is of paramount importance not only for the network realization of two port components, but also as the building block for the construction of different non-reciprocal devices like isolators and circulators.
Effect of Platinum Doping on the Morphology and Sensing Performance for CuO-Based Gas Sensor
Authors: Tang Qi , Hu Xiao-Bing , He Meng , Xie Li-Li , Zhu Zhi-Gang , Wu Jian-Qing
Published: July 2018

Pristine and Pt-doped CuO nano-flowers were synthesized by a simple water bath heating method in this paper. Highly sensitive hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas sensors based on Pt-doped CuO nano-flowers were fabricated. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to examine the characteristics and morphology of materials. The sensing performances of sensors with different concentrations of Pt dopants were evaluated at different operating temperatures. The results indicated that the CuO sensor doped with 1.25 wt % Pt exhibited the highest response (Rg/Ra, where Rg is the resistance in gas, and Ra is the resistance in air) of 135.1 to 10 ppm H2S at 40 ∘C, which was 13.1 times higher than the response of a pure CuO sensor. Pt doping also plays an important role for the enhancement of H2S selectivity against C2H5OH, NH3, H2, CH3COCH3, and NO2.
Can We Truly Predict the Compressive Strength of Concrete without Knowing the Properties of Aggregates?
Authors: De Brito Jorge , Kurda Rawaz , Raposeiro da Silva Pedro
Published: July 2018

This paper is focused on the influence of the geological nature and quality of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete and explains why it is important not to ignore the characteristics of aggregates in the estimation of the strength of concrete, even for virgin aggregates. For this purpose, three original (Abrams, American Concrete Institute Manual of concrete practice and Slater) and two modified (Bolomey and Feret) models were used to calculate the strength of concrete by considering results of various publications. The results show that the models do not properly predict the strength of concrete when the characteristics of aggregates are neglected. The scatter between the calculated and experimental compressive strength of concrete, even when made with natural aggregates (NAs) only, was significant. For the same mix composition (with similar cement paste quality), there was a significant difference between the results when NAs of various geological nature (e.g., limestone, basalt, granite, sandstone) were used in concrete. The same was true when different qualities (namely in terms of density, water absorption and Los Angles abrasion) of aggregates were used. The scatters significantly decreased when the mixes were classified based on the geological nature of the aggregates. The same occurred when the mixes were classified based on their quality. For both modified models, the calculated strength of mixes made with basalt was higher than that of the mixes containing other types of the aggregates, followed by mixes containing limestone, quartz and granite. In terms of the quality of the aggregates, the calculated strength of concrete increased (was overestimated) as the quality of the aggregates decreased. The influence of the aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete became much more discernible when recycled aggregates were used mainly due to their more heterogeneous characteristics.
Machine Learning Models Coupled with Variational Mode Decomposition: A New Approach for Modeling Daily Rainfall-Runoff
Authors: Seo Youngmin , Kim Sungwon , Singh Vijay
Published: July 2018

Accurate modeling for nonlinear and nonstationary rainfall-runoff processes is essential for performing hydrologic practices effectively. This paper proposes two hybrid machine learning models (MLMs) coupled with variational mode decomposition (VMD) to enhance the accuracy for daily rainfall-runoff modeling. These hybrid MLMs consist of VMD-based extreme learning machine (VMD-ELM) and VMD-based least squares support vector regression (VMD-LSSVR). The VMD is employed to decompose original input and target time series into sub-time series called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The ELM and LSSVR models are selected for developing daily rainfall-runoff models utilizing the IMFs as inputs. The performances of VMD-ELM and VMD-LSSVR models are evaluated utilizing efficiency and effectiveness indices. Their performances are also compared with those of VMD-based artificial neural network (VMD-ANN), discrete wavelet transform (DWT)-based MLMs (DWT-ELM, DWT-LSSVR, and DWT-ANN) and single MLMs (ELM, LSSVR, and ANN). As a result, the VMD-based MLMs provide better accuracy compared with the single MLMs and yield slightly better performance than the DWT-based MLMs. Among all models, the VMD-ELM and VMD-LSSVR models achieve the best performance in daily rainfall-runoff modeling with respect to efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, the VMD-ELM and VMD-LSSVR models can be an alternative tool for reliable and accurate daily rainfall-runoff modeling.
The Many Faces of Amphipathic Helices
Authors: Giménez-Andrés Manuel , Čopič Alenka , Antonny Bruno
Published: July 2018

Amphipathic helices (AHs), a secondary feature found in many proteins, are defined by their structure and by the segregation of hydrophobic and polar residues between two faces of the helix. This segregation allows AHs to adsorb at polar–apolar interfaces such as the lipid surfaces of cellular organelles. Using various examples, we discuss here how variations within this general scheme impart membrane-interacting AHs with different interfacial properties. Among the key parameters are: (i) the size of hydrophobic residues and their density per helical turn; (ii) the nature, the charge, and the distribution of polar residues; and (iii) the length of the AH. Depending on how these parameters are tuned, AHs can deform lipid bilayers, sense membrane curvature, recognize specific lipids, coat lipid droplets, or protect membranes from stress. Via these diverse mechanisms, AHs play important roles in many cellular processes.
Plug n Play: Future Prefab for Smart Green Schools
Authors: Newton Clare , Backhouse Sarah , Aibinu Ajibade , Cleveland Benjamin , Crawford Robert , Holzer Dominik , Soccio Philippa , Kvan Thomas
Published: July 2018

While relocatable, prefabricated learning environments have formed an important component of school infrastructure in Australia, prefabrication for permanent school buildings is a new and emerging field. This review of prefabrication for schools is timely. In 2017, Australia’s two largest state education departments committed to prefabrication programs for permanent school infrastructure. In this paper we examine the recent history of prefabrication for Australian school buildings in the context of prefabrication internationally. We explore the range of prefabrication methods used locally and internationally and introduce evaluation indicators for school infrastructure. Traditional post-occupancy evaluation (POE) tools measure indicators such as indoor environment quality (IEQ), cost benefit, life cycle performance, and speed of delivery. In response to a shift towards more student-centred learning in a digitally rich environment, recently developed POE tools now investigate the ability of new generation learning environments (NGLEs) to support optimum pedagogical encounters. We conclude with an argument for departments of education to consider how prefabrication provides opportunities for step changes in the delivery, life-cycle management and occupation of smart green schools rather than a program of simply building new schools quicker, better, and cheaper.
Phenotypic Characterization of the c.1679+1643G>T (1811+1643G>T) Mutation in Hispanic Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Fanous Hani K. , Delgado-Villata Silvia , Kovacs Reka , Shalaby-Rana Eglal , Sami-Zakahri Iman
Published: July 2018

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic diseases in the United States in Caucasians. More than 2000 genetic mutations have been described and CF is now known to affect other races. The incidence of CF in individuals of Hispanic descent is estimated to be 1:9200. An uncommon mutation, 1811+1643G>T, was recently reported. We report four patients with the 1811+1643G>T mutation (homozygous or heterozygous) and describe their clinical features and compare them to the remainder of our Hispanic cohort group. The homozygous patients had a more severe phenotype compared to the Hispanic cohort in the following areas: their pancreatic status, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonization, pulmonary exacerbations requiring oral and intravenous antibiotics, and hospitalization rate. These preliminary findings suggest that future studies investigating the clinical trajectory with a larger cohort of patients homozygous for the 1811+1643G>T mutation are needed.
Seasonal Variation and Retention of Ammonium in Small Agricultural Streams in Central Thailand
Authors: T. T. Le Anh , Kasahara Tamao , Vudhivanich Varawoot
Published: July 2018

Elevated nutrient concentrations are of concern in many agricultural streams. This study observed seasonal variation of inorganic nitrogen concentrations in small drainage streams that receive discharge predominantly from three different types of agricultural practices, swine farms, aquaculture, and paddy fields, in the Tha Chin River Basin in central Thailand. The drainage streams had high inorganic nitrogen concentrations, low dissolved oxygen concentrations (<3 mg L−1), and ammonium was the dominant form of inorganic nitrogen. The highest ammonium concentrations were observed in the drainage streams through swine farm areas, exceeding 4 mg L−1 throughout the year. In-stream ammonium retention was examined using pulse co-injections of ammonium and chloride in a drainage stream, and the effects of in-channel vegetation on ammonium retention were evaluated. This study showed that a considerable amount of ammonium was retained with the presence of in-channel vegetation. After vegetation removal, both the hydraulic and ammonium uptake length increased by >50 m, and the ammonium retention declined by approximately 50%. These results suggest that small agricultural streams experience a high concentration of inorganic nitrogen, similar or even more than larger streams, and that in-channel vegetation plays important role in nitrogen retention. The management of in-channel vegetation will have considerable effects on nitrogen transport.
Native Forests Have a Higher Diversity of Macrofungi Than Comparable Plantation Forests in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Authors: Li Huili , Guo Jiayu , Karunarathna Samantha C. , Ye Lei , Xu Jianchu , Hyde Kevin D. , Mortimer Peter E.
Published: July 2018

The Greater Mekong River Subregion (GMS) is a global biodiversity hotspot. Macrofungi play an essential role as decomposers, parasites, and symbionts, and are also an important source of medicine, food, and income for many communities in the GMS; however, the diversity and composition of macrofungi in this region remain poorly understood. In order to help address this knowledge gap, we established 20 permanent study plots in the GMS (native forests, tea plantation, pine plantations, mixed rubber and coffee plantation). Macrofungal diversity and community composition were evaluated across four study sites classified to two climate types and two management methods. Heat maps and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were used to show differences in macrofungal community composition, and linear relationships were illustrated in order to analyze how environmental factors influenced macrofungal diversity and community composition. In total, 7028 specimens were collected, belonging to 1360 species, 216 genera, and 79 families. Russula, Lactarius, Amanita, Mycena, Suillus, and Inocybe were found to be the dominant genera in the GMS. We found that ectomycorrhizal fungi were dominant in temperate forests and that saprobic fungi were dominant in tropical forests. We also found that macrofungal community composition in native forests differed from that of plantation forests, indicating that plantations can provide different and complementary habitats for macrofungal growth. Our analysis of environmental factors revealed that macrofungal diversity was weakly correlated with tree species richness, and strongly correlated with elevation and latitude.
The Effects of Forest Bathing on Stress Recovery: Evidence from Middle-Aged Females of Taiwan
Authors: Chen Huan-Tsun , Yu Chia-Pin , Lee Hsiao-Yun
Published: July 2018

Previous literature highlights the effects of forests on reviving psychological and physiological health. Given that middle-aged women are vulnerable to stress due to the transition in their lives, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forest bathing on their stress recovery using a field experiment design. This study examined both psychological and physiological responses after a forest therapy program among a middle-aged female group. Sixteen middle-aged (46.88 ± 7.83 years) women were recruited for a two-day (one-night) forest therapy program in the Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area (Nantou, Taiwan). Psychological indices were measured by Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Physiological indicators included pulse rate, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and salivary α-amylase. Both psychological and physiological measurements were collected before and after the program. The results showed that negative mood states (i.e., confusion, fatigue, anger-hostility, and tension) and anxiety levels were significantly reduced after visiting forests. In contrast, positive mood state (vigor) was improved after the program. Regarding the physiological responses, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure response was found after the program. In sum, the two-day forest therapy program benefited to mental health and systolic blood pressure among the middle-aged female group.
The Frequency of Cyclonic Wind Storms Shapes Tropical Forest Dynamism and Functional Trait Dispersion
Authors: Hogan J. Aaron , Zimmerman Jess K. , Thompson Jill , Uriarte María , Swenson Nathan G. , Condit Richard , Hubbell Stephen , Johnson Daniel J. , Sun I Fang , Chang-Yang Chia-Hao , Su Sheng-Hsin , Ong Perry , Rodriguez Lillian , Monoy Carla C. , Yap Sandra , Davies Stuart J.
Published: July 2018

As cyclonic wind storms (hurricanes and typhoons) increase in frequency and intensity with climate change, it is important to understand their effects on the populations and communities of tropical trees they impact. Using tree demographic data from four large, tropical forest dynamics plots that differ in cyclonic storm frequency, we compare tree population and community dynamics. Additionally, we assess the effect of cyclonic storms on three functional traits, specific leaf area, wood density, and tree height of the dynamic tree assemblages. Mortality, growth and recruitment rates and the intrinsic rates of population growth of species differed across the plots, and were most dynamic, especially for stems 1–2 cm in diameter, at the plot which had an intermediate level of cyclonic storm frequency. Functional assemblages of species had the greatest degree of temporal variation in relation to disturbance, as measured by the change in functional divergence for the two plots with more intermediate cyclonic storm recurrence. Therefore, cyclonic storms affecting these plots generally have a greater effect on forest composition and dynamism than comparable cyclonic storms do on the plot which experiences cyclonic storms more frequently. Thus, we provide some evidence that community-wide demographic resistance to cyclonic storms is generally lower at an intermediate frequency of storms. While cyclonic storm strength and timing are important determinants of the within forest variation in tree dynamics and functional trait assemblages, we also show that cyclonic storm timing and frequency shapes tropical forest dynamics and functional composition across forests. We conclude that, over a given time interval, sites with intermediate levels of damaging cyclonic wind disturbance express a greater potential for life-history variation in the forest community, when compared to sites with less or more frequent disturbance.
Fire Severity and Vegetation Recovery on Mine Site Rehabilitation Using WorldView-3 Imagery
Authors: McKenna Phillip , Phinn Stuart , Erskine Peter D.
Published: July 2018

As open-cut coal mines progress towards closure, mining companies have an obligation to provide certainty to stakeholders that their rehabilitated landscapes have the capacity to withstand future disturbance impacts such as fire and drought. This paper describes the assessment of fire severity and recovery using WorldView-3 spectral indices following an experimental fire in a 19- to 21-year old coal mine rehabilitation in semi-arid Central Queensland, Australia. In a highly heterogeneous reconstructed environment, the differenced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI) outperformed the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) with an overall map accuracy of 65% and 58%, respectively. The combination of red and near infra-red multispectral bands proved more effective at classifying severity compared with the shortwave infra-red, particularly when pre-fire imagery was dominated by highly cured grasses (>70%) and post-fire imagery contained a high coverage of residual ash. Recovery trends using spectral indices demonstrate the trajectory towards vegetation recovery, with 62% of the burnt site demonstrating high regrowth in the first two years following fire. This is supported by in situ recovery trends of understory biomass suggesting that under the study conditions, the rehabilitated site has the capacity to withstand impacts from a wildfire and recover to pre-fire levels.
Microbiological Parameters in the Primary Production of Berries: A Pilot Study
Authors: Macori Guerrino , Gilardi Giovanna , Bellio Alberto , Bianchi Daniela Manila , Gallina Silvia , Vitale Nicoletta , Gullino Maria Lodovica , Decastelli Lucia
Published: July 2018

The primary production of fresh soft fruits was considered to be a suspected critical point for the contamination of frozen berries that were responsible for the large 2013–2014 Hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak in Europe. In this study, an Italian berries’ production area was studied for its agro-technical characteristics, and the fresh fruits were analyzed for the presence of enteric viruses (HAV and Norovirus (NoV) genogroup I and genogroup II (GGI and GGII)), the enumeration of hygienic quality parameters, and the prevalence of bacterial pathogens. A total of 50 producers were sampled, who specialized in the exclusive or shared cultivation of berries. Escherichia coli was detected in two blackberry samples, whereas HAV and Norovirus were not detected. The samples were negative for Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The farms’ attributes were not associated with positive samples, apart from the presence of E. coli and the aerobic mesophilic bacteria for blackberry that were statistically correlated. In blueberries, the high aerobic mesophilic count could likely be associated with the resistance of the outer layer to handling. However, the two pathogens (Salmonella spp. and STEC) and the targeted viruses (HAV, NoV GGI and GGII) were not detected, highlighting the low risk of foodborne pathogens and viral contamination at the primary production stage of the berry food chain in the area considered in this pilot study.
Quantifying Hydrothermal Alteration: A Review of Methods
Authors: Mathieu Lucie
Published: July 2018

Hydrothermal alteration is proximal to many base and precious metal deposits, and its products can provide insights into the characteristics of hydrothermal systems. To be useful to exploration geologists and researchers, however, alteration needs to be typified and quantified. Alteration type informs on mineralising style (e.g., have we found a porphyry or a volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit?), while quantification of its intensity helps position a sample within the system (e.g., how close are we to the main economic deposit?). Numerous methods—all having their specific advantages and disadvantages—are dedicated to the characterisation of alteration. As alteration is a process that induces chemical and mineralogical changes in rocks, it can be studied using petrological (e.g., mineral recognition in thin sections, mineral chemistry), mineralogical (e.g., alteration indices that use normative minerals), and chemical (e.g., mass balance calculations) approaches. This short review provides an overview of the methods useful to researchers and that are also applicable in an exploration context.
Petrographic and Petrophysical Characterization of Detrital Reservoir Rocks for CO2 Geological Storage (Utrillas and Escucha Sandstones, Northern Spain)
Authors: Mateos-Redondo Félix , Kovács Timea , Berrezueta Edgar
Published: July 2018

The aim of this article is to provide a qualitative and quantitative description of Lower–Upper Cretaceous detrital rocks (Escucha and Utrillas sandstones) in order to explore their potential use as CO2 reservoirs based on their petrographic and petrophysical characteristics. Optical microscopy (OpM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) aided by optical image analysis (OIA) were used to get qualitative and quantitative information about mineralogy, texture and pore network structure. Complementary analyses by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed to refine the mineralogical information and to obtain whole rock geochemical data. Furthermore, mercury injection capillary pressure analysis (MICP), the gas permeameter test (GPT) and the hydraulic test (HT) were applied to assess the potential storage capacity and the facility of fluid flow through the rocks. Both of these factors have an outstanding importance in the determination of CO2 reservoir potential. The applied petrophysical and petrographic methods allowed an exhaustive characterization of the samples and a preliminary assessment of their potential as a CO2 reservoir. The studied conglomerates and sandstones have a porosity range of 8–26% with a dominant pore size range of 80–500 μm. The grain skeleton consists of quartz (95%), very minor potassium feldspars (orthoclase) and a small amount of mica (muscovite and chlorite). According to these preliminary results, among the studied varieties, the Escucha sandstones have the most favorable properties for CO2 geological storage at the rock matrix scale.
Bank Interest Margin, Multiple Shadow Banking Activities, and Capital Regulation
Authors: Lin Jyh-Horng , Chen Shi , Huang Fu-Wei
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we develop a contingent claim model to evaluate a bank’s equity and liabilities that integrates the premature default risk conditions with loan rate-setting behavioral mode and multiple shadow banking activities under capital regulation. The barrier options theory of corporate security valuation is applied to the contingent claims of a bank. The barrier reports that default can occur at any time before the maturity date. We focus on a type of earning-asset portfolio, consisting of balance-sheet banking activities of loans and liquid assets and shadow banking activities of wealth management products (WMPs) and entrusted loans (ELs). The optimal bank interest margin, i.e., the spread between the loan rate and the deposit rate, is derived and analyzed. The results provide an alternative explanation for the decline in bank interest margins, which better fits the narrative evidence on bank spread behavior under capital regulation in particular during a financial crisis. Raising either WMPs or ELs leads to a transfer of wealth from equity holders to the debt holders, and hence increases the deposit insurance liabilities. We also show that the multiple shadow banking activities of WMPs and ELs captured by scope equities may produce superior return performance for the bank. Tightened capital requirements may reinforce the superior return performance by a surge in shadow banking activities that makes the bank less prudent and more prone to risk-taking at a reduced margin, thereby adversely affecting banking stability. We demonstrate that financial disturbance may be created because of the potential for shadow banking activities to spill over to regular banking activities and damage the real economy.
Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analyses of Species in Gentiana section Cruciata (Gentianaceae) and the Development of Authentication Markers
Authors: Zhou Tao , Wang Jian , Jia Yun , Li Wenli , Xu Fusheng , Wang Xumei
Published: July 2018

Gentiana section Cruciata is widely distributed across Eurasia at high altitudes, and some species in this section are used as traditional Chinese medicine. Accurate identification of these species is important for their utilization and conservation. Due to similar morphological and chemical characteristics, correct discrimination of these species still remains problematic. Here, we sequenced three complete chloroplast (cp) genomes (G. dahurica, G. siphonantha and G. officinalis). We further compared them with the previously published plastomes from sect. Cruciata and developed highly polymorphic molecular markers for species authentication. The eight cp genomes shared the highly conserved structure and contained 112 unique genes arranged in the same order, including 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. We analyzed the repeats and nucleotide substitutions in these plastomes and detected several highly variable regions. We found that four genes (accD, clpP, matK and ycf1) were subject to positive selection, and sixteen InDel-variable loci with high discriminatory powers were selected as candidate barcodes. Our phylogenetic analyses based on plastomes further confirmed the monophyly of sect. Cruciata and primarily elucidated the phylogeny of Gentianales. This study indicated that cp genomes can provide more integrated information for better elucidating the phylogenetic pattern and improving discriminatory power during species authentication.
Effect of Squat Exercises on Lung Function in Elderly Women with Sarcopenia
Authors: Jeon Yun , Shin Myung , Kim Cheol , Lee Byeong-Ju , Kim Sang , Chae Da , Park Jong-Hwan , So Yong , Park Hyuntae , Lee Chang , Kim Byoung , Chang Jae , Shin Yong , Kim In
Published: July 2018

We explored whether a mechanically-assisted squat exercise improved muscle mass, muscle function, and pulmonary function in elderly women with or without sarcopenia. In total, 76 community-dwelling elderly subjects (>60 years of age) were screened. We ultimately included 30 subjects who completed more than 80% of the six-week course of mechanically-assisted squat exercises (three days per week, 30 min per day). We measured body composition, lung function, knee extensor strength, hand grip strength, and the 3-min walk distance (3MWD) before and after the exercise program. Subjects with sarcopenia had poor hand grip strength and knee extensor strength, and a slow walking speed. Their lung function parameters, including forced vital capacity (FVC), was lower than those of the controls. After six weeks of squat exercises, the hand grip strength, knee extensor strength, and 3MWD increased significantly in both groups. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass and leg lean mass were increased in subjects without sarcopenia. The FVC (L) increased significantly only in the sarcopenia group (p = 0.019). The mechanically-assisted squat exercise program increased muscle function and lung function, including FVC, in patients with sarcopenia. Muscle mass increased in subjects without sarcopenia.
Genotypic Diversity Is Independent of Pathogenicity in Colombian Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Galleria mellonella
Authors: Velez Norida , Alvarado Maira , Parra-Giraldo Claudia Marcela , Sánchez-Quitian Zilpa Adriana , Escandón Patricia , Castañeda Elizabeth
Published: July 2018

Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal opportunistic mycosis that affects the lungs and central nervous system. It has been suggested that certain strains of C. neoformans/C. gattii may have the potential to be more virulent according to the molecular type. This study aims to investigate the association between virulence in the G. mellonella model and genotypic diversity of Colombian clinical and environmental isolates of C. neoformans/C. gattii. A total of 33 clinical and 12 environmental isolates were selected according to their geographical origin and sequence types (STs). Pathogenicity was determined using the G. mellonella model, and the cell and capsular size before and after inoculation was determined. For C. neoformans, virulence in G. mellonella revealed that death occurred on average on day 6 (p < 0.05) and that ST5C, 6C, 25C and 71C were the most virulent. In C. gattii, death occurred at 7.3 days (p < 0.05), and ST47C, 58C, 75A and 106C were the most virulent. Capsular size increased for both species after passage in G. mellonella. In conclusion, the pathogenicity of Cryptococcus strains in the G. mellonella invertebrate model is independent of molecular type or pathogenicity factor, even within the same ST, but it is possible to find variable degrees of pathogenicity.
Model Based Regional Estimates of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potentials from Rice Croplands in Bangladesh
Authors: Begum Khadiza , Kuhnert Matthias , Yeluripati Jagadeesh , Ogle Stephen , Parton William , Kader Md Abdul , Smith Pete
Published: July 2018

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is cultivated as a major crop in most Asian countries and its production is expected to increase to meet the demands of a growing population. This is expected to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from paddy rice ecosystems, unless mitigation measures are in place. It is therefore important to assess GHG mitigation potential whilst maintaining yield. Using the process-based ecosystem model DayCent, a spatial analysis was carried out in a rice harvested area in Bangladesh for the period 1996 to 2015, considering the impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, GHG emissions and yield under various mitigation options. An integrated management (IM, a best management practice) considering reduced water, tillage with residue management, reduced mineral nitrogen fertilizer and manure, led to a net offset by, on average, −2.43 t carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq.) ha−1 year−1 (GHG removal) and a reduction in yield-scaled emissions intensity by −0.55 to −0.65 t CO2-eq. t−1 yield. Under integrated management, it is possible to increase SOC stocks on average by 1.7% per year in rice paddies in Bangladesh, which is nearly 4 times the rate of change targeted by the “4 per mille” initiative arising from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Continuity in the Adult and Children’s Comprehension of Subject and Object Relative Clauses in French and Italian
Authors: Guasti Maria Teresa , Vernice Mirta , Franck Julie
Published: July 2018

Subject and object relative clauses have been studied from the point of view of language acquisition and adult sentence processing. In the adult sentence processing literature, subject relative clauses (RCs) are read faster than object RCs (e.g., Frauenfelder et al. 1980 for French; King and Kutas 1995 for English; Schriefers et al. 1995 for Dutch). Similarly, children understand and produce subject RCs earlier and with greater accuracy than object RCs in a variety of languages with head-initial relative clauses, as English, Hebrew and Italian. These findings cannot be a coincidence but reflect the fact that what children acquire first is also easier to process by adults. In this article, we support this observation by investigating subject and object RCs in children and adults speaking French and Italian. These languages display subject and object relatives as in (1), but they also have a type of object relative in which the subject is postverbal. We replicate the observation that subject relatives are easier than object and show that object relatives as in (1b), with the embedded subject in preverbal position are easier than those with the embedded subject in postverbal position, both for children and adults. We offer an account of these findings in terms of Fodor and Inoue’s (2000) diagnosis model in light of the fact that acquisition involves processing.
First-Principles Investigation on the Electronic and Mechanical Properties of Cs-Doped CH3NH3PbI3
Authors: Liu Dongyan , Li Shanshan , Bian Fang , Meng Xiangying
Published: July 2018

Methylammonium lead iodide, CH3NH3PbI3, is currently a front-runner as light absorber in hybrid solar cells. Despite the high conversion efficiency, the stability of CH3NH3PbI3 is still a major obstacle for commercialization application. In this work, the geometry, electronic structure, thermodynamic, and mechanical property of pure and Cs-doped CH3NH3PbI3 have been systematically studied by first-principles calculations within the framework of the density functional theory (DFT). Our studies suggest that the (CH3NH3)+ organic group takes a random orientation in perovskite lattice due to the minor difference of orientation energy. However, the local ordered arrangement of CH3NH3+ is energetic favorable, which causes the formation of electronic dipole domain. The band edge states of pure and Cs-doped CH3NH3PbI3 are determined by (PbI6)− group, while A-site (CH3NH3)+ or Cs+ influences the structural stability and electronic level through Jahn–Teller effect. It has been demonstrated that a suitable concentration of Cs can enhance both thermodynamic and mechanical stability of CH3NH3PbI3 without deteriorating the conversion efficiency. Accordingly, this work clarifies the nature of electronic and mechanical properties of Cs-doped CH3NH3PbI3, and is conducive to the future design of high efficiency and stable hybrid perovskite photovoltaic materials.