bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Response of a SAW Structure with WO3 Layers on Action of Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Hejczyk Tomasz , Urbańczyk Marian , Pustelny Tadeusz , Jakubik Wiesław
Published: May 2015

The paper presents the results of an analysis of gaseous sensors based on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) by means of the equivalent model theory. The applied theory analyzes the response of the SAW sensor in the steady state affected by carbon monoxide (CO) in air. A thin layer of WO3 has been used as a sensor layer. The acoustical replacing impedance of the sensor layer was used, which takes into account the profile of the concentration of gas molecules in the layer. Thanks to implementing the Ingebrigtsen equation, the authors determined analytical expressions for the relative changes of the velocity of the surface acoustic wave in the steady state. The results of the analysis have shown that there is an optimum thickness of the layer of CO sensor at which the acoustoelectric effect (manifested here as a change in the acoustic wave velocity) is at its highest. The theoretical results were verified and confirmed experimentally
Phase Autocorrelation Bark Wavelet Transform (PACWT) Features for Robust Speech Recognition
Authors: Majeed Sayf A. , Husain Hafizah , Samad Salina A.
Published: May 2015

In this paper, a new feature-extraction method is proposed to achieve robustness of speech recognition systems. This method combines the benefits of phase autocorrelation (PAC) with bark wavelet transform. PAC uses the angle to measure correlation instead of the traditional autocorrelation measure, whereas the bark wavelet transform is a special type of wavelet transform that is particularly designed for speech signals. The extracted features from this combined method are called phase autocorrelation bark wavelet transform (PACWT) features. The speech recognition performance of the PACWT features is evaluated and compared to the conventional feature extraction method mel frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCC) using TI-Digits database under different types of noise and noise levels. This database has been divided into male and female data. The result shows that the word recognition rate using the PACWT features for noisy male data (white noise at 0 dB SNR) is 60%, whereas it is 41.35% for the MFCC features under identical conditions
Technical Notes. Earmuff Noise Leakage Measurements and Evaluation
Authors: Gerges Samir N.Y. , Gerges Rafael N.C. , Dias Roberto A.
Published: May 2015

This paper reports the quantitative effect of leakage on the noise attenuation of earmuff hearing protectors. The technology used in this study to measure the noise leakage is considered to be a new contribution to this topic. An array of sensors placed between an earmuff and a dummy human head or flat surface was used to measure the contact area. Areas of no contact are considered as the leakage elements. Eight earmuffs varying from high quality/high cost to low quality/low cost were tested, the leakage areas were measured and the reduction in the noise attenuation due to leakage was calculated
Technical Note. Development and Research of Concentrator-Sonotrode with Increased Radiating Surface
Authors: Khmelev Sergei S. , Khmelev Vladimir N. , Golykh Roman N. , Shalunov Andrey V.
Published: May 2015

This paper presents the results of studies on functional possibilities of the optimization of geometric sizes and the design development of specialized resonance concentrating link (concentrator-sonotrode) with enlarged radiating surface. Developed theoretical model allows to determine the value of longitudinal and transverse sizes of each part of concentrating link providing the achievement of required features of the ultrasonic vibrating systems (gain factor of the unit and its resonance frequency). To verify the efficiency of designed model, the geometric sizes of resonance concentrating link were determined using the finite-element complex, which showed that the disagreement did not exceed 10%. The efficiency of proposed model at the determining of size and resonance characteristics of concentrating link was proved by the experiments.

Theoretical and experimental studies helped to optimize the size of concentrating link while the vi- brating system developed on its base enabled the enlargement of radiating surface without decreasing the radiation intensity for the realization of technologies of cavitation treatment of liquid media
Effect of age and gender on reference intervals of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mean red cell volume (MCV)
Authors: Hoffmann Johannes J.M.L. , Nabbe Karin C.A.M. , van den Broek Nicole M.A.
Published: May 2015

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was recently shown to be age-dependent when using Sysmex XE-2100 hematology analyzers. As measuring RDW is subject to technology, we have investigated if this relation also exists when using a different hematology analyzer, Abbott CELL-DYN Sapphire. In addition, as RDW is generally expressed relative to mean red blood cell volume (MCV), we have explored how MCV influences the age-dependency of RDW.

We measured RDW and MCV in a large cohort and calculated RDW-SD (the “absolute” RDW), which does not contain MCV. For establishing reference intervals we used Bhattacharya statistics.

In our study cohort of 8089 individuals we found a strong association between RDW and age, but not with gender. Also MCV showed an age-related increase over the entire age range. The conventional RDW increased by 6% from the youngest to oldest age class, whereas RDW-SD increased by nearly 15%. This difference was caused by a mean age-related increase in MCV of 6.6%. Age-dependent reference intervals were established for RDW, RDW-SD and MCV.

The age-dependency of RDW seems to be a universal biological feature rather than related with a single type of hematology analyzer. As not only RDW, but also MCV increases with age, we propose that future studies on the prognostic significance of RDW take its age-dependency into account and focus on RDW-SD as a potential marker of adverse events in many clinical conditions.
Theranos phenomenon: promises and fallacies
Authors: Diamandis Eleftherios P.
Published: May 2015

Recently, spectacular advances in diagnostic technologies, genomics, etc. offer unprecedented opportunities for widespread testing of asymptomatic individuals, in the hope that this testing will unravel early disease signs which could lead to preventative or more effective therapeutic measures. In particular, one commercial organization, Theranos, promises to revolutionize diagnostics by offering multi-analyte testing at low prices in commercial outlets, thus challenging the current paradigm of targeted and centralized diagnostic testing. In this paper, I analyze the Theranos technology and their promises, and contrast this information with the currently used technologies, to show that most of the company’s claims are exaggerated. While it remains to be seen if this technology will revolutionize diagnostics, in this Opinion Paper, I also draw attention of associated issues, such as self-testing and self-interpretation of results, over-testing, over-diagnosis and over-treatment, along with their associated harms. As the public is bombarded daily with new and revolutionary health-related advances, it is time to balance the enthusiasm of the seemingly obvious huge gains, by also explaining the associated possible harms.
Collocation Method for the Modeling of Membrane Gas Permeation Systems
Authors: Feichtinger Anna , Makaruk Aleksander , Weinmüller Ewa , Friedl Anton , Harasek Michael
Published: May 2015

In this work, we describe a numerical method which enables an efficient computation of membrane gas permeation processes that involve multiple membrane stages and multiple gas components. The utilized numerical approach is a collocation method equipped with a grid adaptation strategy based on a dependable error estimate of the numerical approximation. The comparison of the results provided by the collocation method with those calculated from an experimentally validated finite difference method has demonstrated that the accuracy of both numerical approximations is practically the same. However, the current procedure is characterized by a much better computational efficiency that allows to considerably reduce the computational time. This is a crucial feature when combining computation of membrane permeation processes with optimization algorithms. In such a setting the computation of the permeation process is frequently repeated and naturally, results in long computational times when the efficiency is not adequately improved.
Three-Dimensional Flow Optimization of a Nozzle with a Continuous Adjoint
Authors: Wolosz Krzysztof J. , Wernik Jacek
Published: May 2015

The article presents results of multi-criteria optimization of air nozzle topology. The optimization in the CFD has been recently developed since equations of flow in porous media were applied among others governing equations. Optimization is a seeking for extremum of an objective function with respect to the function constraints. With this definition in mind, the optimization by using a continuous adjoint for the current cases is a finding such channel topology which minimizes for example pressure or energy loss when the constraints of objective function are in the form of flow governing equations of momentum and continuity. This methodology of optimization makes a design process faster comparing to the methods related to Design of Experiments (DoE). However, for the sake of flow governing equations nonlinearity, the continuous adjoint method can be successfully applied only in relatively simply and steady-state cases. The reason is of possibility of finding the global extremum of the objective function only for that kind of cases. The results of optimization of two selected cases are presented in the article and show advantages and limitations of the method applied. The continuous adjoint simulation results indicate the nozzles design directions and can be applied in industry with limited reliability. The object of research reported in the article is the nozzle which is augmented equipment used with a pneumatic pulsator. The pulsators are devices that utilize an air stream to destruct vaults created in loose material structure. The pulsator productivity equipped with a nozzle depends on outlet pressure. Therefore, the optimization problem was stated so that pressure loss is to be as low as possible.
Numerical Simulations and Research of Heat Transfer in Pneumatic Pulsator
Authors: Wernik Jacek , Wolosz Krzysztof J.
Published: May 2015

In loose material beds above silo outlets or in vertical channels immovable vaults can occur limiting or making impossible the downward movement of the loose material. To prevent vault creation or to destroy vault by aeration and separation of the loose material from encasing walls, a pneumatic pulsator can be applied. In order to optimize the head design, the flow phenomena were numerically simulated and the channels were preliminarily designed. The data obtained from simulation were also used as a basis for setting up an experimental stand to validate simulation results. During air flow in the channels due to frictional heat is produced, which is discharged from the pulsator to the environment. To increase the heat transfer in pneumatic pulsator, the external surfaces of channel are finned. Numerical simulations carried out conduction and convection heat transfer in the fins, and the results illustrated the temperature distribution on the surface of the body, the temperature distribution in the fins, stress distribution, value of factor of safety, the static displacement of the body and the distribution of air temperature along with the speed vectors. The results were compared with experimental and analytical results that confirm their correctness. The results confirm the rational design of the body in terms of thermal. The obtained temperature distribution using CFD agrees approximately with the values measured during the tests.
Carotid intimal medial thickness and its relation to endothelial dysfunction and echocardiographic changes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Authors: El Dayem Soha M. Abd , El Bohy Abo El Magd , Battah Ahmed A.
Published: May 2015

To assess carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) in adolescent type 1 diabetic patients and to detect its relation with echocardiographic changes and flow mediated dilatation (FMD) in the brachial artery.

The study included 62 type 1 diabetic patients and 30 healthy volunteer of the same age and sex. A blood sample was taken for analysis of glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid profile and a urine sample was taken for analysis of albumin/creatinine ratio. cIMT, echocardiography, and FMD via ultrasound were also done; t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test (for non-symmetrically distributed data) for independent variables and Pearson’s or Spearman correlation were used.

The mean age of patients was 16.3±1.5 years and mean duration of diabetes was 9.4±2.9 years. cIMT (Rt, Lt, and both Rt and Lt) were significantly higher, while FMD and FMD/nitrate mediated dilatation (NMD) ratio was significantly lower in diabetics. Rt cIMT had a significant negative correlation with FMD and FMD/NMD. cIMT had a significant positive correlation with left ventricular end diastolic dimension, inter ventricular septum thickness, peak mitral flow velocity during early diastole/peak mitral flow velocity during late diastole, left ventricular mass, and left ventricular mass index (p<0.05). In addition, cIMT had a significant correlation with waist circumference, waist/height ratio, albumin/ creatinine ratio, total cholesterol, and triglyceride.

We conclude that alteration in myocardial function and vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by diabetes mellitus may begin early with the association of early atherosclerotic changes.
Cerebral infarction and femoral venous thrombosis detected in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis and heterozygous factor V Leiden G1691A and PAI-1 4G/5G mutations
Authors: Yaroglu Kazanci Selcen , Yesilbas Osman , Ersoy Melike , Kihtir Hasan Serdar , Yildirim Hamdi Murat , Sevketoglu Esra
Published: May 2015

Cerebral infarction is one of the serious neurological complications of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Especially in patients who are genetically prone to thrombosis, cerebral infarction may develop due to inflammation, dehydration, and hyperviscocity secondary to DKA. A 6-year-old child with DKA is diagnosed with cerebral infarction after respiratory insufficiency, convulsion, and altered level of consciousness. Femoral and external iliac venous thrombosis also developed in a few hours after central femoral catheter had been inserted. Heterozygous type of factor V Leiden and
Making Sense of White Identity Development: The Implications for Teacher Education
Authors: Rieger Alicja
Published: May 2015

This article discusses an individualized narrative on a contribution that a White educator can add to the field of teacher education, in particular multicultural teacher education. Through sharing my individual life experiences with a process of moving from an invisible Whiteness (Clark & O’Donnell, 1999; Giroux, 1997; Helms, 1992) toward more advanced levels of multiracial and multicultural awareness, followed by a review of a theoretical model of Helms’ (1992) White Racial Identity Theory, I provide a space and a structured forum for engaging in a dialogue on the complex issues of race and Whiteness among teacher candidates.
Variational pragmatics and responding to thanks – revisited
Authors: Bieswanger Markus
Published: May 2015

In 2005, Klaus P. Schneider published a fascinating article with the title “‘No problem, you’re welcome, anytime’: Responding to thanks in Ireland, England, and the U.S.A.”. Adopting the then emerging and now established framework of variational pragmatics, Schneider’s pioneering paper presents the results of a study on differences between responses to thanks across different varieties of English using experimental discourse completion tasks (DCTs). The paper at hand revisits this cross-varietal analysis and presents the results of an empirical investigation of this same speech act based on natural data collected with the help of Labovian-style fieldwork methodology common in variationist sociolinguistics. The results reveal fundamental differences between the two data types and underline the fact that these different datasets address different research questions. The findings also highlight the existence of regional variation in the use of this speech act in spontaneous real-life interaction. Finally, the paper also puts forward the term imbalance reducer after thanks (IRAT) as a more appropriate term for the speech act of responding to thanks.
Patterning of Quantum Dots by Dip-Pen and Polymer Pen Nanolithography
Authors: Biswas Soma , Brinkmann Falko , Hirtz Michael , Fuchs Harald
Published: May 2015

We present a direct way of patterning CdSe/ ZnS quantum dots by dip-pen nanolithography and polymer pen lithography. Mixtures of cholesterol and phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine serve as biocompatible carrier inks to facilitate the transfer of quantum dots from the tips to the surface during lithography. While dip-pen nanolithography of quantum dots can be used to achieve higher resolution and smaller pattern features (approximately 1 μm), polymer pen lithography is able to address intermediate pattern scales in the low micrometre range. This allows us to combine the advantages of micro contact printing in large area and massive parallel patterning, with the added flexibility in pattern design inherent in the DPN technique.
Degradation performance and cost implication of UV-integrated advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatments
Authors: Buthiyappan Archina , Abdul Aziz Abdul Raman , Wan Daud Wan Mohd Ashri
Published: May 2015

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are commonly used for treating recalcitrant wastewater with varying degree of efficiency, depending on several operating parameters. In this review, a comparative study among selected AOPs integrated with ultraviolet (UV) (UV/Fenton, UV/H2O2, UV/O3, UV/TiO2, UV/persulfate, UV/H2O2/O3, and UV/TiO2/H2O2) was conducted. The cost implication, changes in kinetics, changes in reaction rates, and effects of various parameters such as type of contaminants, pH, catalyst loading concentration of oxidants, and type of UV light are explained and concluded in this paper. From this review, it is concluded that UV-integrated AOPs are efficient for wastewater treatment. However, a few aspects must be considered including process scale-up, kinetics of combined processes, reactor configuration, modeling of a system, and optimization of operating parameters to enhance the process efficiency.
TopKLists: a comprehensive R package for statistical inference, stochastic aggregation, and visualization of multiple omics ranked lists
Authors: Schimek Michael G. , Budinská Eva , Kugler Karl G. , Švendová Vendula , Ding Jie , Lin Shili
Published: May 2015

High-throughput sequencing techniques are increasingly affordable and produce massive amounts of data. Together with other high-throughput technologies, such as microarrays, there are an enormous amount of resources in databases. The collection of these valuable data has been routine for more than a decade. Despite different technologies, many experiments share the same goal. For instance, the aims of RNA-seq studies often coincide with those of differential gene expression experiments based on microarrays. As such, it would be logical to utilize all available data. However, there is a lack of biostatistical tools for the integration of results obtained from different technologies. Although diverse technological platforms produce different raw data, one commonality for experiments with the same goal is that all the outcomes can be transformed into a platform-independent data format – rankings – for the same set of items. Here we present the
Taraxastane-type triterpene saponins isolated from Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd.
Authors: Bäcker Christian , Jenett-Siems Kristina , Siems Karsten , Niedermeyer Timo H.J. , Wurster Martina , Bodtke Anja , Lindequist Ulrike
Published: May 2015

Two new taraxastane-type triterpene saponins, named pittangretosides L (1) and C1 (2), were isolated from the leaves of Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. Their structures were established by NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and chemical means. The in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated against four cell lines. The compounds exhibited no cytotoxic activity up to a concentration of 130 μm.
First record of Kryptolebias hermaphroditus Costa, 2011 (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) in the extreme north Atlantic Forest mangroves, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil
Authors: Lira Mateus Germano Souza , Paiva Roney Emanuel Costa de , Ramos Telton Pedro Anselmo , Lima Sergio M. Q.
Published: May 2015

This study records the first occurrence of Kryptolebias hermaphroditus Costa, 2011 in canals or perennial salty water pools in two mangroves of the Rio Grande do Norte state, in the estuaries of Ceará-Mirim River and Curimataú River. Due to its hermaphroditism and self-fertilization, a unique feature among vertebrates, this species is very important for many biological areas. Kryptolebias hermaphroditus depends on favorable conditions for their development, therefore, human impacts such as shrimp farming and removal of native vegetation from mangroves may affect populations of this species in northeastern Brazil.
Electrochemical Study of 1018 Steel Exposed to Different Soils from South of México
Authors: Quej-Ake L. M. , Contreras A.
Published: May 2015

Physicochemical effect on the corrosion process of AISI 1018 steel exposed to five type of soils from South of México at different moisture content using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization curves was studied. Two soils were collected in the state of Veracruz (clay of high plasticity and silt) and three soils from the state of Campeche (sand, clay and clay-silt). Moisture values were determined by addition of 0, 20, 40 and 60 ml of deionized water in a volume of 125 cm3of each soil. The corrosion behavior of uncoated and coated steel with a viscoelastic polymer was analyzed. Effect of damage on the coating when the steel is exposed to corrosive soils was studied. EIS evaluations indicate that 1018 steel without coating is more susceptible to corrosion in the clay at the maximum moisture content (39.7 wt. %). However, for sand the more corrosive moisture belong to 12.8 wt. %, which is not the maximum moisture, which is agree with the lower polarization resistance (52.21 Ω.cm2). Potentiodynamic polarization curves suggested that uncoated steel exposed to clay-silt from state of Campeche exhibited the higher corrosion rate (0.698 mm/year) at 53.1 wt. % moisture. Meanwhile, in the coated steel with induced damage, the higher corrosion rate was obtained in the clay (0.0018 mm/year) at 34.2 wt. % moisture. 1018 steel coated with induced damage exposed to clay displayed the higher Ecorrvalues, which means that clay is more susceptible to overprotection as consequence of any change in the voltages originated by moisture content.
Effect of Composition on the Physical Properties of (TlInSe2)1-х (TlGaTe2)х Solid Solutions
Authors: Asadov M.M. , Mustafaeva S.N. , Tagiev D.B. , Mammadov A.N.
Published: May 2015

We carried out thermodynamic study of the TlInSe2-TlGaTe2 system based on the data of physicochemical analysis. Based on thermodynamic analysis and concentration dependence of physical properties, it was found that there is anion-cation substitution in TlInSe2-TlGaTe2 system. Continuous series of (TlInSe2)1-x (TlGaTe2)x solid solutions is forming throughout entire concentration range. We determined dielectric characteristics of samples, their frequency dispersion and nature of dielectric losses. The results demonstrate that the dielectric dispersion in the studied crystals TlInSe2 and (TlInSe2)0.5(TlGaTe2)0.5 has a relaxation nature. Hyperbolic decline of loss tangent with increasing frequency from 50 kHz to 35 MHz indicates the loss of pass-through conduction in (TlInSe2)1-x(TlGaTe2)x solid solutions.
An Unanticipated Outcome of Undergraduate Research Experiences for Community College Students: Creation of a Materials Science and Engineering Educational Program
Authors: Sheinberg Bartlett M.
Published: May 2015

Since 2005 the West Houston Center for Science & Engineering (WHC) has provided opportunities for select cohorts of community college students to participate in summer research experiences. Participating research institutions include regional universities, NASA-JSC and Sandia National Laboratories (NM). Research activities cross numerous engineering, physical and biological sciences, and computational disciplines, and have been supported by federal agencies and corporate/educational foundations. These experiences have generated three important outcomes: (1) Providing significant motivation for students regarding university transfer and completion; (2) Generating realistic expectations for students regarding completion of their undergraduate degrees, and transitioning into the science and engineering workforce and/or graduate school; and, (3) Providing support for the creation of a formal materials science educational program at the West Houston Center. This paper describes the influence and impact that the Materials Research Society, through its members, conferences, and working committees, has contributed to the transition of the West Houston Center as it moves from a broad based science and engineering educational center to one with a concentration on materials science.
Einflussfaktoren auf die bakteriologische Heilung boviner Mastitiden
Authors: Degen S. , Paduch J.-H. , Hoedemaker M. , Krömker V.
Published: May 2015

Ziel dieser Übersichtsarbeit war, Einflussfaktoren auf die Heilungswahrscheinlichkeit boviner Mastitiden zu erarbeiten und dadurch Kriterien für die Entscheidung zwischen Behandlung und Merzung einzelner Tiere festzulegen. Hierdurch sollen überflüssige antibiotische Behandlungen vermieden und das Risiko der Resistenzbildung minimiert werden, um den ökonomischen Nutzen zu optimieren. Bei der Beurteilung des Therapieerfolgs ist die bakteriologische Heilung die Standardform der Heilung und ist definiert durch die Elimination von Mastitiserregern aus dem Euter. Die Anwendung antibiotischer Präparate wird nur als sinnvoll betrachtet, wenn eine Chance auf bakteriologische Heilung besteht. Zusätzlich zum Alter der betroffenen Kuh beeinflussen die Mastitisvorgeschichte, die Anzahl infizierter Viertel und die somatische Zellzahl die bakteriologische Heilungswahrscheinlichkeit. Die Identifizierung und Charakterisierung chronischer Mastitiden, die enorme Produktionsverluste verursachen, sind besonders wichtig für die Vermeidung unnötiger Behandlungen und für die Entscheidung für oder gegen eine Merzung. Nach unserem Wissen ist dies die erste Arbeit, die eine vollständige Auflistung aller Faktoren bietet, die in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur als Einflussfaktoren auf die Heilungswahrscheinlichkeit bestätigt wurden. Diese Übersichtsarbeit sollte Landwirten und Tierärzten Hilfestellung geben, wenn Entscheidungen zwischen Merzung und angemessener Behandlung betroffener Tiere anstehen.
Low-Dose Glyphosate Does Not Control Annual Bromes in the Northern Great Plains
Authors: Espeland Erin K. , Kilian Robert
Published: May 2015

Annual bromes (downy brome and Japanese brome) have been shown to decrease perennial grass forage production and alter ecosystem functions in northern Great Plains rangelands. Large-scale chemical control might be a method for increasing rangeland forage production. Although fall application has been shown to be the most effective and least likely to impact co-occurring native species, spring germination of downy brome may reduce the efficacy of fall-only herbicide application. We assessed the impact of a low glyphosate dose rate (210 g ha−1) applied to rangelands in fall or in fall and spring on nontarget species and on annual brome abundance at two sites in eastern Montana over 2 yr. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) nontarget effects are greater with spring herbicide application, (2) fall and spring herbicide application are necessary for effective downy brome control, and (3) fall herbicide application is sufficient to control Japanese brome. Few nontarget effects occurred; two dicotyledonous species exhibited small increases in response to herbicide. We found that that a single fall application reduced downy brome cover and seed bank density, but after the second fall application in the following year, downy brome did not continue to show a response to herbicide. After 2 yr of fall herbicide application, Japanese brome had denser seed banks in plots where herbicide had been applied. Blanket glyphosate application on rangelands is an unreliable method for controlling annual brome invasions in the northern Great Plains.
Distribution of the ΔG210 Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase Mutation in Illinois Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) and an Improved Molecular Method for Detection
Authors: Wuerffel R. Joseph , Young Julie M. , Lee Ryan M. , Tranel Patrick J. , Lightfoot David A. , Young Bryan G.
Published: May 2015

Molecular assays are often implemented by weed scientists for detection of herbicide-resistant individuals; however, the utility of these assays can be limited if multiple mechanisms of evolved resistance exist. Waterhemp resistant to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)– inhibiting herbicides is conferred by a target-site mutation in PPX2L (a gene coding for PPO), resulting in the loss of a glycine at position 210 (ΔG210). This ΔG210 mutation of PPX2L is the only known mechanism responsible for PPO-inhibitor resistance (PPO-R) in waterhemp from five states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri); however, a limited number of populations have been tested, especially in Illinois. To verify the ubiquity of the ΔG210 in PPO-R waterhemp populations in Illinois, a previously published allele-specific PCR (asPCR) was used for the detection of the ΔG210 mutation to associate this mutation with phenotypic resistance in 94 Illinois waterhemp populations. The ΔG210 mutation was detected in all populations displaying phenotypic resistance to lactofen (220 g ai ha−1), indicating the deletion is likely the only mechanism of resistance. With evidence that the ΔG210 mutation dominates PPO-R waterhemp biotypes, molecular detection techniques have considerable utility. Unfortunately, the previously published asPCR is time consuming, very sensitive to PCR conditions, and requires additional steps to eliminate the possibility of false negatives. To overcome these limitations, a streamlined molecular method using the TaqMan® technique was developed, utilizing allele-specific, fluorescent probes for high-throughput, robust discrimination of each allele (resistant and susceptible) at the 210th amino acid position of PPX2L.
Alternative Herbicides for the Management of Clethodim-Resistant Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Faba Bean (Vicia fabaL.) in Southern Australia
Authors: Saini Rupinder Kaur , Kleemann Samuel G. L. , Preston Christopher , Gill Gurjeet S.
Published: May 2015

Two field experiments were conducted during 2012 and 2013 at Roseworthy, South Australia to identify effective herbicide options for the management of clethodim-resistant rigid ryegrass in faba bean. Dose–response experiments confirmed resistance in both field populations (B3, 2012 and E2, 2013) to clethodim and butroxydim. Sequencing of the target site of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase gene in both populations identified an aspartate-2078-glycine mutation. Although resistance of B3 and E2 populations to clethodim was similar (16.5- and 21.4-fold more resistant than the susceptible control SLR4), the B3 population was much more resistant to butroxydim (7.13-fold) than E2 (2.24-fold). Addition of butroxydim to clethodim reduced rigid ryegrass plant density 60 to 80% and seed production 71 to 88% compared with the standard grower practice of simazine PPI plus clethodim POST. Clethodim + butroxydim combination had the highest grain yield of faba bean (980 to 2,400 kg ha−1). Although propyzamide and pyroxasulfone plus triallate PPI provided the next highest levels of rigid ryegrass control (< 60%), these treatments were more variable and unable to reduce seed production (6,354 to 13,570 seeds m−2) to levels acceptable for continuous cropping systems.
Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) Control and Tomato Response to Application Methods of Drip-Applied Herbicides in Polyethylene-Mulched Tomato
Authors: Monday Tyler A. , Foshee Wheeler G. , Blythe Eugene K. , Wehtje Glenn R. , Gilliam Charles H.
Published: May 2015

Drip-applied herbicides provide farmers with a more timely and cost-effective approach for applying PRE herbicides; however, herbicide movement is often limited. Field studies were conducted evaluating drip-application methods for applying PRE herbicides under polyethylene-mulched beds on yellow nutsedge punctures and the corresponding responses of a tomato crop (height and yield). The experiment was a factorial treatment arrangement of three drip application methods and three PRE-applied herbicides [halosulfuron (54 g ai ha−1), S-metolachlor (1.4 kg ha−1), and fomesafen (280 g ha−1)]. Herbicides were applied either immediately following saturation of the planting beds (method A), over an extended period while saturating the beds (method B), or prior to bed saturation (method C). Additional treatments included a commercial standard (S-metolachlor sprayed to the bed surface prior to mulch application) and a nontreated control (polyethylene mulch only). Drip-applied fomesafen, halosulfuron, and S-metolachlor provided similar control of yellow nutsedge, produced comparable yields, and failed to elicit any negative growth responses when compared to our commercial standard. With the exception of nutsedge punctures counted 56 DAT, application method did not influenced measurable outcomes. At 56 DAT nutsedge punctures were significantly lower in treatments applied by method B compared to those applied with method A.
Legal barriers to effective ecosystem management: exploring linkages between liability, regulations, and prescribed fire
Authors: Wonkka Carissa L. , Rogers William E. , Kreuter Urs P.
Published: May 2015

Resistance to the use of prescribed fire is strong among many private land managers despite the advantages it offers for maintaining fire‐adapted ecosystems. Even managers who are aware of the benefits of using prescribed fire as a management tool avoid using it, citing potential liability as a major reason for their aversion. Recognizing the importance of prescribed fire for ecosystem management and the constraints current statutory schemes impose on its use, several states in the United States have undertaken prescribed burn statutory reform. The stated purpose of these statutory reforms, often called “right to burn” or “prescribed burning” acts, is to encourage prescribed burning for resource protection, public safety, and land management. Our research assessed the consequences of prescribed burn statutory reform by identifying legal incentives and impediments to prescribed fire application for ecosystem restoration and management, as well as fuel reduction. Specifically, we explored the relationship between prescribed burning laws and decisions made by land managers by exploiting a geographic‐based natural experiment to compare landowner‐prescribed fire use in contiguous counties with different regulations and legal liability standards. Controlling for potentially confounding variables, we found that private landowners in counties with gross negligence liability standards burn significantly more hectares than those in counties with simple negligence standards (F6,72 = 4.16, P = 0.046). There was no difference in hectares burned on private land between counties with additional statutorily mandated regulatory requirements and those requiring only a permit to complete a prescribed burn (F6,72 = 1.42, P = 0.24) or between counties with burn ban exemptions for certified prescribed burn managers and those with no exemptions during burn bans (F6,72 = 1.39, P = 0.24). Lawmakers attempting to develop prescribed burning statutes to promote the safe use of prescribed fire should consider the benefits of lower legal liability standards in conjunction with regulatory requirements that promote safety for those managing forests and rangelands with fire. Moreover, ecologists and land managers might be better prepared and motivated to educate stakeholder groups who influence prescribed fire policies if they are cognizant of the manner in which policy regulations and liability concerns create legal barriers that inhibit the implementation of effective ecosystem management strategies.
A unified approach for quantifying invasibility and degree of invasion
Authors: Guo Qinfeng , Fei Songlin , Dukes Jeffrey S. , Oswalt Christopher M. , III Basil V. Iannone , Potter Kevin M.
Published: May 2015

Habitat invasibility is a central focus of invasion biology, with implications for basic ecological patterns and processes and for effective invasion management. “Invasibility” is, however, one of the most elusive metrics and misused terms in ecology. Empirical studies and meta‐analyses of invasibility have produced inconsistent and even conflicting results. This lack of consistency, and subsequent difficulty in making broad cross‐habitat comparisons, stem in part from (1) the indiscriminant use of a closely related, but fundamentally different concept, that of degree of invasion (DI) or level of invasion; and (2) the lack of common invasibility metrics, as illustrated by our review of all invasibility‐related papers published in 2013. To facilitate both cross‐habitat comparison and more robust ecological generalizations, we clarify the definitions of invasibility and DI, and for the first time propose a common metric for quantifying invasibility based on a habitat's resource availability as inferred from relative resident species richness and biomass. We demonstrate the feasibility of our metric using empirical data collected from 2475 plots from three forest ecosystems in the eastern United States. We also propose a similar metric for DI. Our unified, resource‐based metrics are scaled from 0 to 1, facilitating cross‐habitat comparisons. Our proposed metrics clearly distinguish invasibility and DI from each other, which will help to (1) advance invasion ecology by allowing more robust testing of generalizations and (2) facilitate more effective invasive species control and management.
Can we infer plant facilitation from remote sensing? a test across global drylands
Authors: Xu Chi , Holmgren Milena , Van Nes Egbert H. , Maestre Fernando T. , Soliveres Santiago , Berdugo Miguel , Kéfi Sonia , Marquet Pablo A. , Abades Sebastián , Scheffer Marten
Published: May 2015

Facilitation is a major force shaping the structure and diversity of plant communities in terrestrial ecosystems. Detecting positive plant–plant interactions relies on the combination of field experimentation and the demonstration of spatial association between neighboring plants. This has often restricted the study of facilitation to particular sites, limiting the development of systematic assessments of facilitation over regional and global scales. Here we explore whether the frequency of plant spatial associations detected from high‐resolution remotely sensed images can be used to infer plant facilitation at the community level in drylands around the globe. We correlated the information from remotely sensed images freely available through Google Earth with detailed field assessments, and used a simple individual‐based model to generate patch‐size distributions using different assumptions about the type and strength of plant–plant interactions. Most of the patterns found from the remotely sensed images were more right skewed than the patterns from the null model simulating a random distribution. This suggests that the plants in the studied drylands show stronger spatial clustering than expected by chance. We found that positive plant co‐occurrence, as measured in the field, was significantly related to the skewness of vegetation patch‐size distribution measured using Google Earth images. Our findings suggest that the relative frequency of facilitation may be inferred from spatial pattern signals measured from remotely sensed images, since facilitation often determines positive co‐occurrence among neighboring plants. They pave the road for a systematic global assessment of the role of facilitation in terrestrial ecosystems.
Bias and correction for the log response ratio in ecological meta‐analysis
Authors: Lajeunesse Marc J.
Published: May 2015

Ecologists widely use the log response ratio for summarizing the outcomes of studies for meta‐analysis. However, little is known about the sampling distribution of this effect size estimator. Here I show with a Monte Carlo simulation that the log response ratio is biased when quantifying the outcome of studies with small sample sizes, and can yield erroneous variance estimates when the scale of study parameters are near zero. Given these challenges, I derive and compare two new estimators that help correct this small‐sample bias, and update guidelines and diagnostics for assessing when the response ratio is appropriate for ecological meta‐analysis. These new bias‐corrected estimators retain much of the original utility of the response ratio and are aimed to improve the quality and reliability of inferences with effect sizes based on the log ratio of two means.
Humanitarian Programs and Interventions in Turkey
Authors: Konuk Emre , Zat Zeynep
Published: May 2015

In this article, the concept of humanitarian aid, the basic needs in crisis situations, the definition of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and EMDR as a humanitarian intervention are explained. General needs and needs in Middle East are discussed. Some of the published studies about the EMDR therapy as a humanitarian intervention are summarized. Training and humanitarian programs in Turkey are documented. Two of our important humanitarian projects with EMDR including Marmara earthquake training and Intervention and Kilis Syrian refugees projects are described in detail. The aim of this article is to underline the importance of basic elements of natural and man-made disasters in terms of organization, financing, training, and intervention.
When to Suspect and How to Diagnose Dissociative Identity Disorder
Authors: Ross Colin A.
Published: May 2015

Previously undiagnosed dissociative identity disorder (DID) may be present in individuals being assessed for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Previously undiagnosed DID was present in 3.9% of 1,529 general adult psychiatric inpatients in 10 studies conducted in 6 different countries. In this article, a case of likely DID that was missed in a published case report is presented, and guidelines for when to suspect and how to diagnose DID are provided. Such guidelines are missing from the training of many mental health professionals.
A Practical Method of Predicting Calcium Carbonate Scale Formation in Well Completions
Authors: Hamid S.. , De Jesús O.. , Jacinto C.. , Izetti R.. , Pinto H.. , Droguett E.. , Edwards C.. , Cassidy J.. , Zhang H.. , Dagenais P.. , Batocchio M. A.
Published: May 2015

Scale formation in downhole tubular-flow passages can cause partial to complete plugging that will affect production or injection rates adversely. In an intelligent-well completion in which the interval-control-valve (ICV) opening must be changed to control flow rate, the completion will become ineffective if plugging of clearances prevents valve actuation. To mitigate these problems, a method to predict the potential rate of scale formation under realistic conditions has been developed.

This empirical method allows prediction of tool performance under scale-forming conditions for downhole applications, and uses chemical data and flow fields generated by computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) models for downhole tools. Chemical data are obtained from laboratory tests on coupons by use of brines matching the chemistry of connate fluids. Tests were conducted in a high-pressure, corrosion-resistant vessel over a range of high pressures (100 to 10,000 psi) and high temperatures (75 to 150 °C) to simulate downhole well conditions. Two test sets were conducted, each with fluid at rest and with an impeller generating low velocity in the reaction vessel, ranging from 4 hours to 4 days, with scaling rates determined from coupon-weight gain. Concentrations in the range of 50 to 125% of the typical connate-fluid concentration were used.

The weight-gain data obtained from the coupon tests and from a tube-plugging test were used to develop an empirical model for scale-growth rate at a given point on a solid surface with pressure, pressure gradient, temperature, fluid velocity, and brine concentration as independent variables. Artificial-intelligence methodology was used to develop this model, which can be used to predict the scale-growth rate for any arbitrary geometry. By use of the internal geometry of any tool to be modeled, a CFD model is prepared and the pressure, fluid velocity, and pressure-gradient data are generated for the entire internal solid surface of the tool for a given flow rate through the tool. These data are fed into the empirical model to calculate the scale-growth rate, which is integrated to obtain scale thickness at each point of the internal solid boundary. To verify accuracy, scale formation in a 4.5-in. ICV was predicted at high-pressure, high-temperature conditions at a low flow rate. Laboratory tests on the valve matched the model predictions well enough, which enabled Petrobras to design a better completion and fluid-handling system for a presalt well.
Age as a prognostic factor in skin melanoma
Authors: Martinovic Aleksandar , Buta Marko , Santrac Nada , Jovanovic Zelimir , Jokic Stevan , Gajic Milan , Lackovic Vesna , Minic Snezana
Published: May 2015

The aim of this study was to establish whether older patients with skin
melanoma (in an analyzed group of 189 patients treated at the Institute for
Oncology and Radiology of Serbia from 2004 to 2008), have worse survival
compared to younger patients. In 100 men and 89 women with an average age of
58.9 years, the following parameters were observed and statistically
analyzed in SPSS: gender, age, localization, tumor thickness, ulceration,
lymphonodal status and invasion level. In the four age subgroups -
quartiles, the best survival was shown in patients <50 years (85.7%), and
the worst in patients >70 years (76.1%). Patients without ulcerations, with
negative lymph nodes, thin melanomas and Clark levels I and II had
significantly better survival outcomes. Although the results showed no
statistical significance of age as a prognostic factor in the survival of
patients with skin melanoma, further research on a larger number of patients
is warranted.
Synthesis, structural characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of some novel piperidin-4-one oxime esters
Authors: Krishnan Gokula , Sivakumar R. , Thanikachalam V.
Published: May 2015

Fifteen novel biologically active piperidin-4-one oxime esters (8-22) have
been synthesized with good yields. These compounds were prepared from in-situ
activated carboxylic acids using POCl3 and pyridine with piperidin-4- one
oximes. The structure of the title compounds were elucidated on the basis of
FT-IR, NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectral analyses. The single crystal XRD
study of compounds 12 and 20 were the further evidence for the proposed
structure unambiguously. All the synthesized compounds were tested for in
vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. Many of these derivatives
exhibited good activity against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Escherichia coli, Trigoderma veride and Aspergillus flavus.