bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cosmochemical and spectroscopic properties of Northwest Africa 7325—A consortium study
Authors: Weber I. , Morlok A. , Bischoff A. , Hiesinger H. , Ward D. , Joy K. H. , Crowther S. A. , Jastrzebski N. D. , Gilmour J. D. , Clay P. L. , Wogelius R. A. , Greenwood R. C. , Franchi I. A. , Münker C.
Published: December 2015

This work is part of a project to build an infrared database in order to link IR data of planetary materials (and therefore possible Mercury material) with remote sensing observations of Mercury, which will probably be obtained by the MERTIS instrument on the forthcoming BepiColombo mission.

The unique achondrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 7325, which has previously been suggested to represent the first sample from Mercury, was investigated by optical and electron microscopy, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, the oxygen, strontium, xenon, and argon isotopes were measured and the abundance of selected trace elements determined. The meteorite is a cumulate rock with subchondritic abundances of HFSE and REE and elevated Sr contents, which underwent a second heating and partial remelting process. Oxygen isotope measurements show that NWA 7325 plots in the ureilite field, close to the ALM‐A trachyandesitic fragment found in the unique Almahata Sitta meteorite breccia. On the other hand, mineralogical investigations of the pyroxenes in NWA 7325 provide evidence for similarities to the lodranites and acapulcoites. Furthermore, the rock is weakly shocked and argon isotope data record ancient (~4.5 Ga) plateau ages that have not been reset. The sample records a cosmogenic exposure age of ~19 Ma. Systematics of Rb‐Sr indicate an extreme early volatile depletion of the precursor material, similar to many other achondrite groups. However, despite its compositional similarities to other meteorite groups, our results suggest that this meteorite is unique and unrelated to any other known achondrite group. An origin for NWA 7325 as a sample from the planet Mercury is not supported by the results of our investigation. In particular, the evidence from infrared spectroscopy indicates that a direct relationship between NWA 7325 and the planet Mercury can be ruled out: no acceptable spectral match between laboratory analyses and remote sensing observations from Mercury has been obtained. However, we demonstrate that infrared spectroscopy is a rapid and nondestructive method to characterize mineral phases and thus an excellent tool for planetary surface characterization in space missions.
Paternal intergenerational epigenetic response to heat exposure in male Wild guinea pigs
Authors: Weyrich Alexandra , Lenz Dorina , Jeschek Marie , Chung Tzu Hung , Rübensam Kathrin , Göritz Frank , Jewgenow Katarina , Fickel Jörns
Published: December 2015

Epigenetic modifications, of which DNA methylation is the best studied one, can convey environmental information through generations via parental germ lines. Past studies have focused on the maternal transmission of epigenetic information to the offspring of isogenic mice and rats in response to external changes, whereas heterogeneous wild mammals as well as paternal epigenetic effects have been widely neglected. In most wild mammal species, males are the dispersing sex and have to cope with differing habitats and thermal changes. As temperature is a major environmental factor we investigated if genetically heterogeneous Wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) males can adapt epigenetically to an increase in temperature and if that response will be transmitted to the next generation(s). Five adult male guinea pigs (F0) were exposed to an increased ambient temperature for 2 months, i.e. the duration of spermatogenesis. We studied the liver (as the main thermoregulatory organ) of F0 fathers and F1 sons, and testes of F1 sons for paternal transmission of epigenetic modifications across generation(s). Reduced representation bisulphite sequencing revealed shared differentially methylated regions in annotated areas between F0 livers before and after heat treatment, and their sons’ livers and testes, which indicated a general response with ecological relevance. Thus, paternal exposure to a temporally limited increased ambient temperature led to an ‘immediate’ and ‘heritable’ epigenetic response that may even be transmitted to the F2 generation. In the context of globally rising temperatures epigenetic mechanisms may become increasingly relevant for the survival of species.
Demographic, maternal, and infant health correlates of post‐partum depression in Jordan
Authors: Safadi Reema R. , Abushaikha Lubna A. , Ahmad Muayyad M.
Published: December 2015

This cross‐sectional correlational study examined post‐partum depression and its relationship with demographic, maternal, and infant health problems in urban Jordanian women. Participants (n = 315) were selected from five maternal child healthcare centers and one major hospital in Amman, Jordan. Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 was used to measure post‐partum depression within 12 weeks of birth. A number of socio‐demographic and health problems were examined for an association with post‐partum depression. Results showed that 25% of post‐partum women suffered moderate to severe depression and 50% of the sample had mild depression. None of the socio‐demographic variables (age, education, employment, income) were significantly related to post‐partum depression; however, two obstetric/infant variables (mode of birth and breastfeeding), were significantly associated with post‐partum depression. There was a significant association between post‐partum depression and 15 health problems of obstetric, gynecologic (i.e. episiotomy pain, infection), and general health conditions (i.e. fatigue, headache). Nurses and midwives need to emphasize post‐partum depression screening, follow‐up, and proper management of maternal and infant health factors predisposing to post‐partum depression rather than merely focusing on women's inherent demographic factors.
Climate Projections and Uncertainty Communication
Authors: Joslyn Susan L. , LeClerc Jared E.
Published: December 2015

Lingering skepticism about climate change might be due in part to the way climate projections are perceived by members of the public. Variability between scientists’ estimates might give the impression that scientists disagree about the fact of climate change rather than about details concerning the extent or timing. Providing uncertainty estimates might clarify that the variability is due in part to quantifiable uncertainty inherent in the prediction process, thereby increasing people's trust in climate projections. This hypothesis was tested in two experiments. Results suggest that including uncertainty estimates along with climate projections leads to an increase in participants’ trust in the information. Analyses explored the roles of time, place, demographic differences (e.g., age, gender, education level, political party affiliation), and initial belief in climate change. Implications are discussed in terms of the potential benefit of adding uncertainty estimates to public climate projections.
Precedence based speech segregation in bilateral cochlear implant users
Authors: Hossain Shaikat , Montazeri Vahid , Assmann Peter F. , Litovsky Ruth Y.
Published: December 2015

The precedence effect (PE) enables the perceptual dominance by a source (lead) over an echo (lag) in reverberant environments. In addition to facilitating sound localization, the PE can play an important role in spatial unmasking of speech. Listeners attending to binaural vocoder simulations with identical channel center frequencies and phase demonstrated PE-based benefits in a closed-set speech segregation task. When presented with the same stimuli, bilateral cochlear implant users did not derive such benefits. These findings suggest that envelope extraction in itself may not lead to a breakdown of the PE benefits, and that other factors may play a role.
Empirical prediction of peak pressure levels in anthropogenic impulsive noise. Part I: Airgun arrays signals
Authors: Galindo-Romero Marta , Lippert Tristan , Gavrilov Alexander
Published: December 2015

This paper presents an empirical linear equation to predict peak pressure level of anthropogenic impulsive signals based on its correlation with the sound exposure level. The regression coefficients are shown to be weakly dependent on the environmental characteristics but governed by the source type and parameters. The equation can be applied to values of the sound exposure level predicted with a numerical model, which provides a significant improvement in the prediction of the peak pressure level. Part I presents the analysis for airgun arrays signals, and Part II considers the application of the empirical equation to offshore impact piling noise.
The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel modulates uterine tone during pregnancy
Authors: Ying Lihua , Becard Margaux , Lyell Deirdre , Han Xiaoyuan , Shortliffe Linda , Husted Cristiana Iosef , Alvira Cristina M. , Cornfield David N.
Published: December 2015

TRPV4 channel activity determines myometrial tone and may be a target for treating preterm labor.
Translational cancer research comes of age in Latin America
Authors:   Investigators of the U.S.–Latin America Cancer Research Network, Llera A. S. , Podhajcer O. L. , Breitenbach M. M. , Santini L. , Muller B. , Daneri-Navarro A. , Velázquez C. A. , Artagaveytia N. , Gómez J. , Frech M. S. , Brown T. , Gross T.
Published: December 2015

The U.S.–Latin America Cancer Research Network strives to expand translational research capabilities and forge new collaborations.
Methane Seep Carbonates Host Distinct, Diverse, and Dynamic Microbial Assemblages
Authors: Case David H. , Pasulka Alexis L. , Marlow Jeffrey J. , Grupe Benjamin M. , Levin Lisa A. , Orphan Victoria J.
Published: December 2015

Marine methane seeps are globally distributed geologic features in which reduced fluids, including methane, are advected upward from the subsurface. As a result of alkalinity generation during sulfate-coupled methane oxidation, authigenic carbonates form slabs, nodules, and extensive pavements. These carbonates shape the landscape within methane seeps, persist long after methane flux is diminished, and in some cases are incorporated into the geologic record. In this study, microbial assemblages from 134 native and experimental samples across 5,500 km, representing a range of habitat substrates (carbonate nodules and slabs, sediment, bottom water, and wood) and seepage conditions (active and low activity), were analyzed to address two fundamental questions of seep microbial ecology: (i) whether carbonates host distinct microbial assemblages and (ii) how sensitive microbial assemblages are to habitat substrate type and temporal shifts in methane seepage flux. Through massively parallel 16S rRNA gene sequencing and statistical analysis, native carbonates are shown to be reservoirs of distinct and highly diverse seep microbial assemblages. Unique coupled transplantation and colonization experiments on the seafloor demonstrated that carbonate-associated microbial assemblages are resilient to seep quiescence and reactive to seep activation over 13 months. Various rates of response to simulated seep quiescence and activation are observed among similar phylogenies (e.g.,
Chloroflexi
operational taxonomic units) and similar metabolisms (e.g., putative S oxidizers), demonstrating the wide range of microbial sensitivity to changes in seepage flux. These results imply that carbonates do not passively record a time-integrated history of seep microorganisms but rather host distinct, diverse, and dynamic microbial assemblages.

IMPORTANCE
Since their discovery in 1984, the global distribution and importance of marine methane seeps have become increasingly clear. Much of our understanding of methane seep microorganisms—from metabolisms to community ecology—has stemmed from detailed studies of seep sediments. However, it has become apparent that carbonates represent a volumetrically significant habitat substrate at methane seeps. Through combined
in situ
characterization and incubation experiments, this study demonstrates that carbonates host microbial assemblages distinct from and more diverse than those of other seep habitats. This emphasizes the importance of seep carbonates as biodiversity locales. Furthermore, we demonstrate that carbonate-associated microbial assemblages are well adapted to withstand fluctuations in methane seepage, and we gain novel insight into particular taxa that are responsive (or recalcitrant) to changes in seep conditions.
Meningiomatosis revealed by a major depressive syndrome
Authors: Dautricourt Sophie , Marzloff Vincent , Dollfus Sonia
Published: December 2015

Depressive symptoms may be the only expression of brain tumours. Thus, it is challenging to suspect a brain tumour when patients with depression have a normal neurological examination. We illustrate this by a case report regarding a meningiomatosis revealed by a treatment-resistant depressive syndrome that improved after surgery. This case highlights the importance of identifying signs of brain tumour in patients with depression. Although there is no consensus about whether brain imaging is indicated for depressive syndromes, it should be performed, particularly in late onset of depressive syndrome (after 50 years of age), treatment-resistant depression or in apathy with a reduced emotional response or without dysphoric manifestations.
Effect of ski geometry and standing height on kinetic energy: equipment designed to reduce risk of severe traumatic injuries in alpine downhill ski racing
Authors: Gilgien Matthias , Spörri Jörg , Kröll Josef , Müller Erich
Published: December 2015

Background

Injuries in downhill (DH) are often related to high speed and, therefore, to high energy and forces which are involved in injury situations. Yet to date, no study has investigated the effect of ski geometry and standing height on kinetic energy (EKIN) in DH. This knowledge would be essential to define appropriate equipment rules that have the potential to protect the athletes’ health.

Methods

During a field experiment on an official World Cup DH course, 2 recently retired world class skiers skied on 5 different pairs of skis varying in width, length and standing height. Course characteristics, terrain and the skiers’ centre of mass position were captured by a differential Global Navigational Satellite System-based methodology. EKIN, speed, ski–snow friction force (FF), ground reaction force (FGRF) and ski–snow friction coefficient (CoeffF) were calculated and analysed in dependency of the used skis.

Results

In the steep terrain, longer skis with reduced width and standing height significantly decreased average EKINby ∼3%. Locally, even larger reductions of EKINwere observed (up to 7%). These local decreases in EKINwere mainly explainable by higher FF. Moreover, CoeffFdifferences seem of greater importance for explaining local FFdifferences than the differences in FGRF.

Conclusions

Knowing that increased speed and EKINlikely lead to increased forces in fall/crash situations, the observed equipment-induced reduction inEKINcan be considered a reasonable measure to improve athlete safety, even though the achieved preventative gains are rather small and limited to steep terrain.
BET 2: Is ST elevation in aVR a sure sign of left main coronary artery stenosis?
Authors: Morris Niall , Body Richard
Published: December 2015

A shortcut review was carried out to establish whether ST elevation in aVR accurately identifies acute myocardial infarction caused by left main coronary artery stenosis. 141 unique papers were found in Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ACP Journal Club and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects using the reported searches. Of these, 12 presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. It is concluded that ST elevation in aVR can identify high-risk patients for early intensive investigation, particularly when found alongside widespread ST depression. It has insufficient utility to identify patients who require immediate revascularisation.
Is beetroot juice more effective than sodium nitrate? The effects of equimolar nitrate dosages of nitrate-rich beetroot juice and sodium nitrate on oxygen consumption during exercise
Authors: Flueck Joelle Leonie , Bogdanova Anna , Mettler Samuel , Perret Claudio
Published: December 2015

Dietary nitrate has been reported to lower oxygen consumption in moderate- and severe-intensity exercise. To date, it is unproven that sodium nitrate (NaNO3−; NIT) and nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) have the same effects on oxygen consumption, blood pressure, and plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations or not. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different dosages of NIT and BR on oxygen consumption in male athletes. Twelve healthy, well-trained men (median [minimum; maximum]; peak oxygen consumption: 59.4 mL·min−1·kg−1 [40.5; 67.0]) performed 7 trials on different days, ingesting different nitrate dosages and placebo (PLC). Dosages were 3, 6, and 12 mmol nitrate as concentrated BR or NIT dissolved in plain water. Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations were measured before, 3 h after ingestion, and postexercise. Participants cycled for 5 min at moderate intensity and further 8 min at severe intensity. End-exercise oxygen consumption at moderate intensity was not significantly different between the 7 trials (p = 0.08). At severe-intensity exercise, end-exercise oxygen consumption was ∼4% lower in the 6-mmol BR trial compared with the 6-mmol NIT (p = 0.003) trial as well as compared with PLC (p = 0.010). Plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations were significantly increased after the ingestion of BR and NIT with the highest concentrations in the 12-mmol trials. Plasma nitrite concentration between NIT and BR did not significantly differ in the 6-mmol (p = 0.27) and in the 12-mmol (p = 0.75) trials. In conclusion, BR might reduce oxygen consumption to a greater extent compared with NIT.
Analysis of the Complexity Measures in the EEG of Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Akar S. Akdemir , Kara S. , Latifoğlu F. , Bilgiç V.
Published: December 2015

Complexity measures have been enormously used in schizophrenia patients to estimate brain dynamics. However, the conflicting results in terms of both increased and reduced complexity values have been reported in these studies depending on the patients’ clinical status or symptom severity or medication and age status. The objective of this study is to investigate the nonlinear brain dynamics of chronic and medicated schizophrenia patients using distinct complexity estimators. EEG data were collected from 22 relaxed eyes-closed patients and age-matched healthy controls. A single-trial EEG series of 2[Formula: see text]min was partitioned into identical epochs of 20[Formula: see text]s intervals. The EEG complexity of participants were investigated and compared using approximate entropy (ApEn), Shannon entropy (ShEn), Kolmogorov complexity (KC) and Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZC). Lower complexity values were obtained in schizophrenia patients. The most significant complexity differences between patients and controls were obtained in especially left frontal (F3) and parietal (P3) regions of the brain when all complexity measures were applied individually. Significantly, we found that KC was more sensitive for detecting EEG complexity of patients than other estimators in all investigated brain regions. Moreover, significant inter-hemispheric complexity differences were found in the frontal and parietal areas of schizophrenics’ brain. Our findings demonstrate that the utilizing of sensitive complexity estimators to analyze brain dynamics of patients might be a useful discriminative tool for diagnostic purposes. Therefore, we expect that nonlinear analysis will give us deeper understanding of schizophrenics’ brain.
A certain generalization of the Heinz inequality for positive operators
Authors: Kosaki Hideki
Published: December 2015

Norm inequalities of the form [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are studied. Here, [Formula: see text] are operators with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is an arbitrary unitarily invariant norm. We show that the inequality holds true if and only if [Formula: see text].
On Siegel paramodular forms of degree 2 with small levels
Authors: Aoki Hiroki
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we show that the graded ring of Siegel paramodular forms of degree [Formula: see text] with level [Formula: see text] has a very simple unified structure, taking with character. All are generated by six modular forms. The first five are obtained by a kind of Maass lift. The last one is obtained by a kind of Rankin–Cohen–Ibukiyama differential operator from the first five. This result is similar to the case of the graded ring of Siegel modular forms of degree [Formula: see text] with respect to [Formula: see text].
Improvement of train transportation performance by convoy signaling
Authors: Zhao Yingbo , Orlik Philip , Parsons Kieran , Kataoka Kenji , Kalmar-Nagy Tamas
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we compare the transportation performance of a given railway for three types of signaling system: fixed-block signaling, moving-block signaling and train-convoy signaling. The transportation performance is evaluated from two aspects: track capacity and robustness to delays. The transportation performance is computed using numerical method and a new cellular automaton model is proposed to simulate the behavior of a train. The simulation results show that train-convoy signaling can improve track capacity and robustness to delays, at the same time, compared to fixed-block signaling and moving-block signaling.
Modeling the impact of pedestrian behavior diversity on traffic dynamics at a crosswalk with push button
Authors: Xie Dong-Fan , Zhao Xiao-Mei , Li Xin-Gang , Zhu Tai-Lang
Published: December 2015

Crosswalk with push button is prevalent in lots of cities for the purpose of promoting the efficiency of the crosswalk, and thus the delays of both vehicles and pedestrians can be reduced. This strategy has been confirmed to be effective in several developed countries. However, it is a pity that application of push button is aborted in some cities in China. In this work, diverse behaviors of vehicles and pedestrians are analyzed and discussed. Then, a microscopic model is developed by incorporating the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. Numerical simulations are performed to reveal the characteristics of traffic flow and the efficiency of the signal control strategy. Also, the impacts of risker proportion and button reaction time, as well as the impacts of various behaviors as mass behavior, the patience of pedestrian and push button habit are investigated. It is expected that the results will be helpful to the strategy design of a signalized crosswalk in such developing countries as China.
A dynamical definition of f.g. virtually free groups
Authors: Bennett Daniel , Bleak Collin
Published: December 2015

We show that the class of finitely generated virtually free groups is precisely the class of finitely generated demonstrable subgroups for Thompson’s group [Formula: see text]. The class of demonstrable groups for [Formula: see text] consists of all groups which can embed into [Formula: see text] with a natural dynamical behavior in their induced actions on the Cantor space [Formula: see text]. There are also connections with formal language theory, as the class of groups with context-free word problem is also the class of finitely generated virtually free groups, while Thompson’s group [Formula: see text] is a candidate as a universal [Formula: see text] group by Lehnert’s conjecture, corresponding to the class of groups with context free co-word problem (as introduced by Holt, Rees, Röver, and Thomas). Our main results answers a question of Berns-Zieve, Fry, Gillings, Hoganson, and Matthews, and separately of Bleak and Salazar-Díaz, and it fits into the larger exploration of the class of [Formula: see text] groups as it shows that all four of the known closure properties of the class of [Formula: see text] groups hold for the set of finitely generated subgroups of [Formula: see text].
Foundations of topological racks and quandles
Authors: Elhamdadi Mohamed , Moutuou El-Kaïoum M.
Published: December 2015

We give a foundational account on topological racks and quandles. Specifically, we define the notions of ideals, kernels, units, and inner automorphism group in the context of topological racks. Further, we investigate topological rack modules and principal rack bundles. Central extensions of topological racks are then introduced providing a first step toward a general continuous cohomology theory for topological racks and quandles.
On the Links–Gould invariant and the square of the Alexander polynomial
Authors: Kohli Ben-Michael
Published: December 2015

This paper gives a connection between well-chosen reductions of the Links–Gould invariants of oriented links and powers of the Alexander–Conway polynomial. This connection is obtained by showing the representations of the braid groups we derive the specialized Links–Gould polynomials from can be seen as exterior powers of a direct sum of Burau representations.
On lassos and the Jones polynomial of satellite knots
Authors: Jiménez Pascual Adrián
Published: December 2015

In this paper, I present a new family of knots in the solid torus called lassos, and their properties. Given a knot [Formula: see text] with Alexander polynomial [Formula: see text], I then use these lassos as patterns to construct families of satellite knots that have Alexander polynomial [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text]. In particular, I prove that if [Formula: see text] these satellite knots have different Jones polynomials.
EFFECT OF DEPOSITION TEMPERATURE ON THE PROPERTIES OF TIO2 THIN FILMS DEPOSITED BY MOCVD
Authors: KHALIFA ZAKI S.
Published: December 2015

Crystal structure, microstructure, and optical properties of TiO2 thin films deposited on quartz substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) in the temperature range from 250[Formula: see text]C to 450[Formula: see text]C have been studied. The crystal structure, thickness, microstructure, and optical properties have been carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and UV-visible transmittance spectroscopy, respectively. XRD patterns show that the obtained films are pure anatase. Simultaneously, the crystal size calculated using XRD peaks, and the grain size measured by AFM decrease with the increase in deposition temperature. Moreover, the texture of the films change and roughness decrease with the increase in deposition temperature. The spectrophotometric transmittance spectra have been used to calculate the refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric constant, optical energy gap, and porosity of the deposited films. While the refractive index and dielectric constant decrease with the increase of deposition temperature, the porosity shows the opposite.
EFFECT OF SURFACE TREATMENT ON ABRASIVE WEAR RESISTANCE OF SEEDER COULTER FLAP
Authors: PACZKOWSKA MARTA , SELECH JAROSŁAW , PIASECKI ADAM
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the surface condition of the coulters of a Poznaniak mechanical seeder working in a sand medium on their abrasive wear resistance. Two types of coulter flap surface treatments were performed. The first treatment method was flame spraying, performed with the use of Eutalloy 10112 powder and other method was laser surface modification consisting in remelting a piece of the coulter flap tip by means of TRUMPF’s CO2 molecular laser. The study involved the use of a purpose-built laboratory test stand dedicated to testing wear in a sandy medium. The study revealed that surface treatment changes surface microstructure and thus improves its hardness by [Formula: see text] to 3 times, which translates into two- to six-fold improvement in wear resistance per hectare of cultivated field. Laser surface modification is more economical than thermal spraying and that the coulter flap surface area modified by thermal spraying was much greater than in the case of laser remelting, and finally that the average wear measured as a weight loss of tested coulters was comparable, one can conclude that in the analyzed context laser surface modification will probably prove more efficient than flame spraying. The study showed that there exist ready-to-use technologies for improving operational performance and delaying terminal wear.
On model-theoretic connected components in some group extensions
Authors: Gismatullin Jakub , Krupiński Krzysztof
Published: December 2015

We analyze model-theoretic connected components in extensions of a given group by abelian groups which are defined by means of 2-cocycles with finite image. We characterize, in terms of these 2-cocycles, when the smallest type-definable subgroup of the corresponding extension differs from the smallest invariant subgroup. In some situations, we also describe the quotient of these two connected components. Using our general results about extensions of groups together with Matsumoto–Moore theory or various quasi-characters considered in bounded cohomology, we obtain new classes of examples of groups whose smallest type-definable subgroup of bounded index differs from the smallest invariant subgroup of bounded index. This includes the first known example of a group with this property found by Conversano and Pillay, namely the universal cover of [Formula: see text] (interpreted in a monster model), as well as various examples of different nature, e.g. some central extensions of free groups or of fundamental groups of closed orientable surfaces. As a corollary, we get that both non-abelian free groups and fundamental groups of closed orientable surfaces of genus [Formula: see text], expanded by predicates for all subsets, have this property, too. We also obtain a variant of the example of Conversano and Pillay for [Formula: see text] instead of [Formula: see text], which (as most of our examples) was not accessible by the previously known methods.
Avalanche dynamics
Authors: Denker Manfred , Levina Anna
Published: December 2015

The avalanche transformation as a model for avalanches in neural dynamics was introduced in [8] in 2008. Here we discuss this transformation in terms of group actions, random dynamics and skew products with a finite invariant measure. The results are based on [8]. Some open problems are mentioned.
Graph-based Pólya’s urn: Completion of the linear case
Authors: Lima Yuri
Published: December 2015

Given a finite connected graph [Formula: see text], place a bin at each vertex. Two bins are called a pair if they share an edge of [Formula: see text]. At discrete times, a ball is added to each pair of bins. In a pair of bins, one of the bins gets the ball with probability proportional to its current number of balls. This model was introduced by Benaim, Benjamini, Chen, and Lima. When [Formula: see text] is not balanced bipartite, Chen and Lucas proved that the proportion of balls in the bins converges to a point [Formula: see text] almost surely.

We prove almost sure convergence for balanced bipartite graphs: the possible limit is either a single point [Formula: see text] or a closed interval [Formula: see text].
Ballistic Performance Study of Nanowire FET: Effect of Channel Materials and Phonon Scattering
Authors: Iztihad Hossain Md. , Khan Touhid , Sufian Abu , Alam Md. Nur Kutubul , Mollah Md. Nurunnabi , Islam Md. Rafiqul
Published: December 2015

The ballistic performance of Si and Ge nanowire (NW) is compared in this study. Current–voltage characteristic is obtained by self-consistently solving the nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) transport equation with Poisson’s equation. The result is obtained at [Formula: see text] channel orientation. Simulation result shows Ge NW gives higher ON-state current than Si NW, when OFF-state current is made equal by gate metal work function engineering. However, at subthreshold region, performance of NW FET for both material is almost identical. The intravalley and intervalley electron–phonon scattering effect is also calculated using the deformation potential theory and the self-consistent Born approximation. It is found that electron–phonon scattering effect is more pronounced at ON-state of Si NW FET. The ballistic current decreases with the decrease in diameter of the Si NW FET due to electron–phonon scattering.
Molecular simulations of substrate release and coupled conformational motions in adenylate kinase
Authors: Cui Dachao , Ren Weitong , Li Wenfei , Wang Wei
Published: December 2015

Conformational opening coupled substrate release is believed to be related to the rate limiting step in the catalysis cycle of the adenylate kinase. However, it is still unclear how the substrate dissociates from its active site and how the substrate release is coupled to conformational changes of the kinase. In this work, by using metadynamics simulations, we investigated the ADP release process and the coupled protein dynamics. We found that the ADP release involves overcoming a high free energy barrier, and protonation of the [Formula: see text]-phosphate of the ADP molecules can drastically reduce the barrier height, therefore, promote the ADP release. We identified several key residues contributing to the high free energy barrier. We also showed that the ADP attached to LID domain leaves the binding pocket earlier than the one attached to the NMP domain. We further observed that the ADP release is accompanied by almost fully opening of the LID domain and partially opening of the NMP domain. Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanism of the substrate release of adenylate kinase and the coupled conformational motions.
Large scale vibrational calculations on IVR in S0 thiophosgene
Authors: Rashev Svetoslav , Moule David C.
Published: December 2015

In this work, using a recently derived refined potential energy surface for [Formula: see text] thiophosgene, we perform large scale vibrational calculations to explore the IVR characteristics and vibrational mixing at very high vibrational excitation energies, ranging up to the dissociation limit (at [Formula: see text]20,000[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text]). The results from our calculations have been compared to the conclusions based on the available experimentally measured dataset (obtained from SEP and LIF spectra) as well as to the conclusions from the analyses by other authors using local coupling models.
The symmetric q-oscillator algebra: q-coherent states, q-Bargmann–Fock realization and continuous q-Hermite polynomials with 0 < q < 1
Authors: Fakhri H. , Hashemi A.
Published: December 2015

The symmetric [Formula: see text]-analysis is used to construct a type of minimum-uncertainty [Formula: see text]-coherent states in the Fock representation space of the symmetric [Formula: see text]-oscillator ∗-algebra with [Formula: see text]. Then, its corresponding [Formula: see text]-Hermite polynomials are derived by using the [Formula: see text]-Bargmann–Fock realization of the symmetric [Formula: see text]-oscillator algebra.
A Cluster-Based Data Balancing Ensemble Classifier for Response Modeling in Bank Direct Marketing
Authors: Amini Mohammad , Rezaeenour Jalal , Hadavandi Esmaeil
Published: December 2015

The aim of direct marketing is to find the right customers who are most likely to respond to marketing campaign messages. In order to detect which customers are most valuable, response modeling is used to classify customers as respondent or non-respondent using their purchase history information or other behavioral characteristics. Data mining techniques, including effective classification methods, can be used to predict responsive customers. However, the inherent problem of imbalanced data in response modeling brings some difficulties into response prediction. As a result, the prediction models will be biased towards non-respondent customers. Another problem is that single models cannot provide the desired high accuracy due to their internal limitations. In this paper, we propose an ensemble classification method which removes imbalance in the data, using a combination of clustering and under-sampling. The predictions of multiple classifiers are combined in order to achieve better results. Using data from a bank’s marketing campaigns, this ensemble method is implemented on different classification techniques and the results are evaluated. We also evaluate the performance of this ensemble method against two alternative ensembles. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method can improve the performance of the response models for bank direct marketing by raising prediction accuracy and increasing response rate.
On a problem of Mircea Merca
Authors: Chen Yong-Gao , He Da-Wei
Published: December 2015

Let [Formula: see text] be the number of multinomial coefficients such that [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text]. Recently, Merca gave the formula for [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text] is prime, and Guo confirmed a conjecture of Merca by extending Merca’s result to all prime powers [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we consider [Formula: see text] for all positive integers [Formula: see text]. As a corollary of our results, we give the formula for [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] are distinct primes and [Formula: see text] are nonnegative integers.
Bifurcation analysis in a predator–prey model for the effect of delay in prey
Authors: Wang Qiubao
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we study dynamics in a predator–prey model with delay, in which predator can be infected, with particular attention focused on nonresonant double Hopf bifurcation. By using center manifold reduction methods, we obtain the equivalent normal forms near a double Hopf critical point in this system. Moreover, bifurcations are classified in a two-dimensional parameter space near the critical point. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the theoretical results.
The effect of diffusion loss on the time-varying giant Panda population
Authors: Zhang Meng , Song Guohua
Published: December 2015

It has been certificated that corridors can help giant pandas to keep their habitat from fragmenting. However there are still losses during the process of moving along corridors. In this study, a mathematical model with Allee effect is carried out to describe the diffusion of giant pandas between n patches. Some criteria are obtained to keep the system persisting. It is proved that the system has a unique positive [Formula: see text]-periodic solution which is globally asymptotically stable. The ecological meanings of these findings are discussed following the results. And some numerical simulations in the Qinling Mountain giant panda nature reservation area are also presented in the end.
Perturbation analysis for pulsatile flow of Carreau fluid through tapered stenotic arteries
Authors: Sankar D. S.
Published: December 2015

The pulsatile flow of blood in a tapered narrow artery with overlapping time-dependent stenosis is mathematically analyzed, modeling blood as Carreau fluid. Perturbation method is employed for solving the resulting nonlinear system of equations along with the appropriate boundary conditions. The analytic solutions to the pressure gradient, velocity distribution, flow rate, wall shear stress and longitudinal impedance to flow are obtained in the asymptotic form. The variation of the aforesaid flow quantities with respect to various physical parameters such as maximum depth of the stenosis, angle of tapering of the artery, power law index, Reynolds number, pulsatile amplitude of the flow and Weissenberg number is investigated. It is found that the wall shear stress and longitudinal impedance to flow increase with the increase of the angle of tapering of the artery, the maximum depth of the stenosis and pulsatile Reynolds number and these decrease with the increase of the amplitude of the flow, power law index and Weissenberg number. The mean velocity of blood decreases significantly with the increase of the artery radius, maximum depth of the stenosis, angle of tapering of the artery.
Multifractal methods for rapeseed nitrogen nutrition qualitative diagnosis modeling
Authors: Li Jian-Hui , Wang Fang , Li Jin-Wei , Zou Rui-Biao , Liao Gui-Ping
Published: December 2015

Nutrition diagnosis plays a key role in the crop’s growth, which has mainly been carried out in the field by agricultural workers. Currently, automatic nutrition recognition technologies have been widely used in this field. A procedure is proposed in this paper to diagnose nitrogen nutrition non-destructively for rapeseed qualitatively based on the multifractal theory. Twelve texture parameters are given by the method of multifractal detrended fluctuation (MF-DFA), which contains six generalized Hurst exponents and six relative multifractal parameters that are used as features of the rapeseed leaf images for identifying the two nitrogen levels, namely, the [Formula: see text]-mezzo and the [Formula: see text]-wane. For the base leaves, central leaves and top leaves of the rapeseed plant and the three-section mixed samples, three parameters combinations are selected to conduct the work. Five classifiers of Fisher’s linear discriminant algorithm (LDA), extreme learning machine (ELM), support vector machine and kernel method (SVMKM), random decision forests (RF) and [Formula: see text]-nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN) are employed to calculate the diagnosis accuracy. An interesting finding is that the best diagnose accuracy is from the base leaves of the rapeseed plant. It is explained that the base leaf is the most sensitive to the nitrogen deficiency. The diagnose effect by the base leaves samples is outshining the existing result significantly for the same leaves samples. For the mixed samples, the averaged discriminant accuracy reaches 97.12% and 97.56% by SVMKM and RF methods with the [Formula: see text]-fold cross-validation respectively. The resulting high accuracy on [Formula: see text]-levels identification shows the feasibility and efficiency of our method.
Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy improved refractory acne conglobata and perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens rather than hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Zhang Linglin , Wang Peiru , Shi Lei , Zhang Guolong , Zhang Yunfeng , Zhou Zhongxia , Huang Zheng , Wang Hongwei , Wang Xiuli
Published: December 2015

Acne conglobata (AC), perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens (PCAS) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are uncommon refractory chronic, inflammatory, scarring diseases but cause serious damage to the quality of life. These three diseases are associated with follicular occlusion. Several studies indicated topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) improved follicular occlusion besides acne treatment. So we attempted to apply ALA-PDT to medicine resistant AC, PCAS and HS. Topical ALA-PDT was applied to 10 patients with AC, seven patients with PCAS and three patients with HS for more than three sessions. All the patients completed the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire and were assessed for the efficacy at the baseline and on two weeks after each treatment. Adverse effects were recorded at each visit. The results showed 25.5% (5/20, two cases of AC and three cases of PCAS) of patients achieved excellent improvement after three sessions of PDT and another 60.0% (12/20, eight cases of AC and four cases of PCAS) of patients achieved good improvement. 15.0% (3/20, three cases of HS) got poor response ([Formula: see text] 20% lesions clearance). Another five cases (three cases of AC and two cases of PCAS) also achieved excellent response after 5–7 sessions of PDT. We also found that papular/nodular, cyst/abscess showed higher clearance rate than sinus/fistula (88.5%, 86.1% versus 11.1%). DLQI was reduced after three sessions of PDT in AC and PCAS patients rather than HS patients. 5-ALA-PDT could improve refractory AC and PCAS but could not lead to improvement in late stage of HS. The efficacy increased with more treatment sessions.
Solar paint of ZnO/CdS and ZnO/CdSe based on commercial ZnO
Authors: Guo Yi , Zhang Xiang , Li Yanhong , Li Yanmei , Hu Chunli , Zhou Xingfu
Published: December 2015

We report a facile and cheap route to the fabrication of ZnO/CdS and ZnO/CdSe based on commercial ZnO particles. The obtained product can be directly brush printed as solar paint. The results show that the solar cell based on the mixture of ZnO/CdS and ZnO/CdSe have a better light absorption and electron transport ability, and a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.36% was obtained, which is the highest PCE reported for inorganic paint-based solar cells to date. This method greatly simplifies the process of the solar cell fabrication and opens a door toward the cheap and printable solar paint based on commercial available materials.
Natural human–computer interaction control of multi operators in collaborative virtual maintenance based on optical human motion capture system
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Zhang Zhili , Liang Feng , Gao Qinhe , Tan Lilong
Published: December 2015

Aiming at the human–computer interaction control (HCIC) requirements of multi operators in collaborative virtual maintenance (CVM), real-time motion capture and simulation drive of multi operators with optical human motion capture system (HMCS) is proposed. The detailed realization process of real-time motion capture and data drive for virtual operators in CVM environment is presented to actualize the natural and online interactive operations. In order to ensure the cooperative and orderly interactions of virtual operators with the input operations of actual operators, collaborative HCIC model is established according to specific planning, allocating and decision-making of different maintenance tasks as well as the human–computer interaction features and collaborative maintenance operation features among multi maintenance trainees in CVM process. Finally, results of the experimental implementation validate the effectiveness and practicability of proposed methods, models, strategies and mechanisms.
Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in Co-Based Full Heusler Alloy Thin Films
Authors: Wu Y. , Xu X. G. , Miao J. , Jiang Y.
Published: December 2015

Half-metallic Co-based full Heusler alloys have been qualified as promising functional materials in spintronic devices due to their high spin polarization. The lack of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is one of the biggest obstacles restricting their application in next generation ultrahigh density storage such as magnetic random access memory (MARM). How to induce the PMA in Co-based full Heusler alloy thin films has attracted much research interest of scientists. This paper presents an overview of recent progress in this research area. We hope that this paper would provide some guidance and ideas to develop highly spin-polarized Co-based Heusler alloy thin films with PMA.