bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vitro
Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam Combination in
In Vitro
Checkerboard Assays
Authors: Berkhout Johanna , Melchers Maria J. , van Mil Anita C. , Nichols Wright W. , Mouton Johan W.
Published: December 2014

To evaluate the
in vitro
effects of the combination of ceftazidime and avibactam on the MICs of both compounds, checkerboard assays were performed for 81 clinical strains, including 55
Enterobacteriaceae
strains (32
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, 19
Escherichia coli
, 1
Citrobacter freundii
, and 3
Enterobacter cloacae
) and 26 strains of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, all with known resistance mechanisms such as extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases, phenotypically or molecularly determined. Phenotypically ceftazidime-resistant strains (
n
= 69) were analyzed in more detail. For the
Enterobacteriaceae
strains, a concentration-dependent effect of avibactam was found for most strains with a maximum effect of avibactam at a concentration of 4 mg/liter, which decreased all ceftazidime MICs to ≤4 mg/liter. Avibactam alone also showed antibacterial activity (the MIC
50
and MIC
90
being 8 and 16 mg/liter, respectively). For the ceftazidime-resistant
P. aeruginosa
strains, considerable inhibition of β-lactamases by avibactam was acquired at a concentration of 4 mg/liter, which decreased all ceftazidime MICs except one to ≤8 mg/liter (the CLSI and EUCAST susceptible breakpoint). Increasing the concentration of avibactam further decreased the MICs, resulting in a maximum effect for most strains at 8 to 16 mg/liter. In summary, for most strains, the tested addition of avibactam of 4 mg/liter restored the antibacterial activity of ceftazidime to a level comparable to that of wild-type strains, indicating full inhibition, and strains became susceptible according to the EUCAST and CLSI criteria. Based on these
in vitro
data, avibactam is a promising inhibitor of different β-lactamases, including ESBLs and carbapenemases.
Microbiome Changes in Healthy Volunteers Treated with GSK1322322, a Novel Antibiotic Targeting Bacterial Peptide Deformylase
Authors: Arat Seda , Spivak Aaron , Van Horn Stephanie , Thomas Elizabeth , Traini Christopher , Sathe Ganesh , Livi George P. , Ingraham Karen , Jones Lori , Aubart Kelly , Holmes David J. , Naderer Odin , Brown James R.
Published: December 2014

GSK1322322 is a novel antibacterial agent under development, and it has known antibacterial activities against multidrug-resistant respiratory and skin pathogens through its inhibition of the bacterial peptide deformylase. Here, we used next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes from stool samples collected from 61 healthy volunteers at the predosing and end-of-study time points to determine the effects of GSK1322322 on the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota in a phase I, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. GSK1322322 was administered either intravenously (i.v.) only or in an oral-i.v. combination in single- and repeat-dose-escalation infusions. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence data found no significant changes in the relative abundances of GI operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between the prestudy and end-of-study samples for either the placebo- or i.v.-only-treated subjects. However, oral-i.v. treatment resulted in significant decreases in some bacterial taxa, the
Firmicutes
and
Bacteroidales
, and increases in others, the
Betaproteobacteria
,
Gammaproteobacteria
, and
Bifidobacteriaceae
. Microbiome diversity plots clearly differentiated the end-of-study oral-i.v.-dosed samples from all others collected. The changes in genome function as inferred from species composition suggest an increase in bacterial transporter and xenobiotic metabolism pathways in these samples. A phylogenetic analysis of the peptide deformylase protein sequences collected from the published genomes of clinical isolates previously tested for GSK1322322
in vitro
susceptibility and GI bacterial reference genomes suggests that antibiotic target homology is one of several factors that influences the response of GI microbiota to this antibiotic. Our study shows that dosing regimen and target class are important factors when considering the impact of antibiotic usage on GI microbiota. (This clinical trial was registered at the GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Study Register under study identifier PDF 113376.)
Added Benefit of Raxibacumab to Antibiotic Treatment of Inhalational Anthrax
Authors: Migone Thi-Sau , Bolmer Sally , Zhong John , Corey Al , Vasconcelos Daphne , Buccellato Matthew , Meister Gabriel
Published: December 2014

Although antibiotics treat bacteremia in inhalational anthrax, pathogenesis is mainly driven by bacterial exotoxins. Raxibacumab, an IgG1 monoclonal antibody, binds the protective antigen (PA) of
Bacillus anthracis
, thus blocking toxin effects and leading to improved survival in the rabbit and monkey models of inhalational anthrax. To assess raxibacumab's added benefit over levofloxacin (LVX) alone, rabbits surviving to 84 h after a challenge with 200 times the median (50%) lethal dose of
B. anthracis
spores were randomized to receive 3 daily intragastric LVX doses of 50 mg/kg of body weight, with the first LVX dose administered just prior to administration of a single intravenous dose of placebo or 40 mg/kg raxibacumab. The percentages of animals alive at 28 days following the last LVX dose were compared between the 2 treatment groups using a two-sided likelihood-ratio chi-square test. The 82% survival rate for the LVX-raxibacumab combination was higher than the 65% survival rate for LVX alone (
P
= 0.0874). There were nearly 2-fold fewer deaths for the combination (7 deaths;
n
= 39) than for LVX alone (13 deaths;
n
= 37), and the survival time was prolonged for the combination (
P
= 0.1016). Toxin-neutralizing-activity titers were similar for both treatment groups, suggesting that survivors in both groups were able to mount a toxin-neutralizing immune response. Microscopic findings considered consistent with anthrax were present in animals that died or became moribund on study in both treatment groups, and there were no anthrax-related findings in animals that survived. Overall, raxibacumab provided a meaningful benefit over antibiotic alone when administered late in the disease course.
Impact of Resolvin E1 on Murine Neutrophil Phagocytosis in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Herrera Bruno S. , Hasturk Hatice , Kantarci Alpdogan , Freire Marcelo O. , Nguyen Olivia , Kansal Shevali , Van Dyke Thomas E.
Published: December 2014

Diabetic complications involve inflammation-mediated microvascular and macrovascular damage, disruption of lipid metabolism, glycosylation of proteins, and abnormalities of neutrophil-mediated events. Resolution of inflamed tissues to health and homeostasis is an active process mediated by endogenous lipid agonists, including lipoxins and resolvins. This proresolution system appears to be compromised in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The goal of this study was to investigate unresolved inflammation in T2D. Wild-type (WT) and genetically engineered mice, including T2D mice (
db
/
db
), transgenic mice overexpressing the human resolvin E1 (RvE1) receptor (
ERV1
), and a newly bred strain of
db
/
ERV1
mice, were used to determine the impact of RvE1 on the phagocytosis of
Porphyromonas gingivalis
in T2D. Neutrophils were isolated and incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled
P. gingivalis
, and phagocytosis was measured in a fluorochrome-based assay by flow cytometry. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (p42 and p44) and Akt (Thr308 and Ser473) phosphorylation was analyzed by Western blotting. The mouse dorsal air pouch model was used to evaluate the
in vivo
impact of RvE1. Results revealed that RvE1 increased the neutrophil phagocytosis of
P. gingivalis
in WT animals but had no impact in
db
/
db
animals. In
ERV1
-transgenic and
ERV1
-transgenic diabetic mice, phagocytosis was significantly increased. RvE1 decreased Akt and MAPK phosphorylation in the transgenic animals.
In vivo
dorsal air pouch studies revealed that RvE1 decreases neutrophil influx into the pouch and increases neutrophil phagocytosis of
P. gingivalis
in the transgenic animals; cutaneous fat deposition was reduced, as was macrophage infiltration. The results suggest that RvE1 rescues impaired neutrophil phagocytosis in obese T2D mice overexpressing
ERV1
.
Mechanisms of Protection against Clostridium difficile Infection by the Monoclonal Antitoxin Antibodies Actoxumab and Bezlotoxumab
Authors: Yang Zhiyong , Ramsey Jeremy , Hamza Therwa , Zhang Yongrong , Li Shan , Yfantis Harris G. , Lee Dong , Hernandez Lorraine D. , Seghezzi Wolfgang , Furneisen Jamie M. , Davis Nicole M. , Therien Alex G. , Feng Hanping
Published: December 2014

Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) represents the most prevalent cause of antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal infections in health care facilities in the developed world. Disease symptoms are caused by the two homologous exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB. Standard therapy for CDI involves administration of antibiotics that are associated with a high rate of disease recurrence, highlighting the need for novel treatment paradigms that target the toxins rather than the organism itself. A combination of human monoclonal antibodies, actoxumab and bezlotoxumab, directed against TcdA and TcdB, respectively, has been shown to decrease the rate of recurrence in patients treated with standard-of-care antibiotics. However, the exact mechanism of antibody-mediated protection is poorly understood. In this study, we show that the antitoxin antibodies are protective in multiple murine models of CDI, including systemic and local (gut) toxin challenge models, as well as primary and recurrent models of infection in mice. Systemically administered actoxumab-bezlotoxumab prevents both the damage to the gut wall and the inflammatory response, which are associated with
C. difficile
in these models, including in mice challenged with a strain of the hypervirulent ribotype 027. Furthermore, mutant antibodies (N297Q) that do not bind to Fcγ receptors provide a level of protection similar to that of wild-type antibodies, demonstrating that the mechanism of protection is through direct neutralization of the toxins and does not involve host effector functions. These data provide a mechanistic basis for the prevention of recurrent disease observed in CDI patients in clinical trials.
Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses Reveal Key Innate Immune Signatures in the Host Response to the Gastrointestinal Pathogen Campylobacter concisus
Authors: Kaakoush Nadeem O. , Deshpande Nandan P. , Man Si Ming , Burgos-Portugal Jose A. , Khattak Faisal A. , Raftery Mark J. , Wilkins Marc R. , Mitchell Hazel M.
Published: December 2014

Pathogenic species within the genus
Campylobacter
are responsible for a considerable burden on global health.
Campylobacter concisus
is an emergent pathogen that plays a role in acute and chronic gastrointestinal disease. Despite ongoing research on
Campylobacter
virulence mechanisms, little is known regarding the immunological profile of the host response to
Campylobacter
infection. In this study, we describe a comprehensive global profile of innate immune responses to
C. concisus
infection in differentiated THP-1 macrophages infected with an adherent and invasive strain of
C. concisus
. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative PCR (qPCR), mass spectrometry, and confocal microscopy, we observed differential expression of pattern recognition receptors and robust upregulation of DNA- and RNA-sensing molecules. In particular, we observed IFI16 inflammasome assembly in
C. concisus
-infected macrophages. Global profiling of the transcriptome revealed the significant regulation of a total of 8,343 transcripts upon infection with
C. concisus
, which included the activation of key inflammatory pathways involving CREB1, NF-κB, STAT, and interferon regulatory factor signaling. Thirteen microRNAs and 333 noncoding RNAs were significantly regulated upon infection, including MIR221, which has been associated with colorectal carcinogenesis. This study represents a major advance in our understanding of host recognition and innate immune responses to infection by
C. concisus
.
Lipids, adiposity and tendinopathy: is there a mechanistic link? Critical review
Authors: Scott Alex , Zwerver Johannes , Grewal Navi , de Sa Agnetha , Alktebi Thuraya , Granville David J , Hart David A
Published: December 2014

Being overweight or obese is associated with an elevated risk of tendon pathology. However, for sportspeople the epidemiological data linking weight or adiposity on one hand, and risk of tendon pathology on the other, are less consistent. Indeed, the mechanistic links between diet, adiposity and tendon pathology remain largely unexamined. Recent studies have begun to examine the effects of dietary interventions on outcomes such as tendon biomechanics or pain. Oxidised low-density lipoprotein has been shown to (A) accumulate in the tendon tissues of mice that eat a fatty diet and (B) induce a pathological phenotype in human tendon cells. This paper addresses the current debate: is excessive body mass index (causing increased load and strain on tendon tissue) per se the underlying mechanism? Or do local or systemic influences of fat on tendons predispose to tendon pathology? This narrative review argues that excessive blood lipids may be an important avenue for clinical investigations.
The Copenhagen Standardised MRI protocol to assess the pubic symphysis and adductor regions of athletes: outline and intratester and intertester reliability
Authors: Branci Sonia , Thorborg Kristian , Bech Birthe Højlund , Boesen Mikael , Magnussen Erland , Court-Payen Michel , Nielsen Michael Bachmann , Hölmich Per
Published: December 2014

Background

There is currently no standardised MRI evaluation protocol for athletes who present with symptoms that may relate to the pubic symphysis, the pubic bones, and the adductor muscle insertions. We outline the protocol and reliability data.

Material and methods

Three musculoskeletal radiologists developed an 11-element MRI evaluation protocol defined according to precise criteria and illustrated in a pictorial atlas. Eighty-six male athletes (soccer players and non-soccer players) underwent standardised 3 Tesla MRI of the pelvis. Two external musculoskeletal radiologists were trained to use the protocol and pictorial atlas during two sessions of 2–4 h each. Each radiologist rated all 86 MRI independently. One radiologist evaluated the scans once, the other twice 2 months apart. Cohen κ statistics were used to determine intraobserver and interobserver agreement.

Results

The main findings were (1) substantial intraobserver (κ range 0.65–0.67) and moderate interobserver (κ range 0.45–0.52) agreement in rating pubic bone marrow oedema, (2) substantial to moderate intraobserver (κ range 0.49–0.72) and moderate-to-fair interobserver (κ range 0.21–0.52) agreement in rating most other MRI findings, (3) slight intraobserver and interobserver (κ range −0.06–0.05) agreement in rating adductor longus tendinopathy.

Conclusions

The Copenhagen Standardised MRI protocol demonstrated moderate-to-substantial reliability in rating bone marrow oedema, and varied from fair-to-substantial agreement for the majority of MRI features, but showed only slight agreement in rating adductor longus tendinopathy. This rigorous investigation also confirms that while MRI evaluation seems to provide reasonable reliability in rating pubic bone marrow oedema, the evaluation of adductor tendinopathy in a clinical and research setting needs further resolution by continued development and testing of MRI acquisition protocols.
Australian community pharmacy services: a survey of what people with chronic conditions and their carers use versus what they consider important
Authors: McMillan Sara S , Kelly Fiona , Sav Adem , King Michelle A , Whitty Jennifer A , Wheeler Amanda J
Published: December 2014

Objective

To explore the purpose/s for which people with chronic conditions and their carers use Australian community pharmacies, and compare this to what pharmacy services they consider important, from the perspectives of both consumers and pharmacists.

Design

An exploratory study involving a survey, which asked participants to indicate the pharmacy services they had ever used, and rate the importance of 22 pharmacy services to them, or the person they care for, or for their consumers if a pharmacist.

Setting

Four regions of Australia: Logan-Beaudesert and Mt Isa/North West region, Queensland, Northern Rivers, New South Wales, and the Greater Perth area, Western Australia.

Participants

Surveys were undertaken with 602 consumers and 91 community pharmacists.

Results

Community pharmacy is predominantly used to obtain advice about medication and whether a doctor's visit is necessary, as well as for monitoring and screening services. Pharmacy services that were patient centric were important, such as individualised medication advice and respectful care, as well as tools or procedures to facilitate streamlined medication access. Less important services included adult vaccinations and health and wellness programmes. Carers identified services that assisted them with their specific role/s to be important. Overall, community pharmacists had a good understanding of the services that were important to people with chronic conditions and their carers.

Conclusions

People with chronic conditions and their carers not only care about what services are delivered, but how they are delivered; they sought services that generally improved their access to medication and information, but in a way that was patient centred. Ultimately, pharmacists understood the importance of patient-centred care for people with chronic conditions and their carers, perhaps indicating a greater acceptance of integrating patient-centred care into their everyday practice.
Comparative outcomes of carotid artery stenting for asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid artery stenosis: a single-center prospective study
Authors: Mo Dapeng , Wang Bo , Ma Ning , Gao Feng , Miao Zhongrong
Published: December 2014

Background

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis (SCS) has been proved to be safe and effective in many randomized controlled trials, but the safety and efficacy of CAS for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACS) is not clear.

Objective

To prospectively compare the outcomes of CAS between patients with ACS and SCS.

Methods

402 consecutive patients, 233 with ACS and 169 with SCS, underwent CAS. The primary outcome was a composite of death, stroke or myocardial infarction at 30 days and during the follow-up period. Procedural success and complications such as hyperperfusion, sinus-cardiac reflex, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, acute thrombosis, and vagus nerve reflex were also compared between the ACS and SCS groups.

Results

CAS was successful in all patients. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics of the patients (age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption and dyslipidemia) and in 30-day or long-term follow-up outcomes between the ACS and SCS groups.

Conclusions

Periprocedural and long-term follow-up outcomes of CAS appear similar for ACS and SCS.
Quasi-equilibrium relaxation of two identical quantum oscillators with arbitrary coupling strength
Authors: Dorofeyev Illarion
Published: December 2014

This paper deals with the problem of open systems out of equilibrium. An analytical expression for a time-dependent density matrix of two arbitrarily coupled identical quantum oscillators interacting with separate reservoirs is derived using path integral methods. The temporal behavior of spatial variances and of covariance from given initial values up to stationary values is investigated. It is shown that at comparatively low coupling strengths, the asymptotic variances in the long-time limit achieve steady states independently of initial values. Stationary variances differ from the case of total equilibrium due to their coupling with separate thermal reservoirs of different temperatures. The larger the difference in temperatures of thermal baths, the larger is the difference of the stationary values of variances of coupled oscillators compared with values given by the fluctuation dissipation theorem. At strong couplings the variances have divergent character in the framework of the accepted model. Otherwise, in the weak coupling limit the asymptotic stationary variances are always in accordance with the fluctuation dissipation theorem with some accuracy.
On gauge independence for gauge models with soft breaking of BRST symmetry
Authors: Reshetnyak Alexander
Published: December 2014

A consistent quantum treatment of general gauge theories with an arbitrary gauge-fixing in the presence of soft breaking of the BRST symmetry in the field–antifield formalism is developed. It is based on a gauged (involving a field-dependent parameter) version of finite BRST transformations. The prescription allows one to restore the gauge-independence of the effective action at its extremals and therefore also that of the conventional S-matrix for a theory with BRST-breaking terms being additively introduced into a BRST-invariant action in order to achieve a consistency of the functional integral. We demonstrate the applicability of this prescription within the approach of functional renormalization group to the Yang–Mills and gravity theories. The Gribov–Zwanziger action and the refined Gribov–Zwanziger action for a many-parameter family of gauges, including the Coulomb, axial and covariant gauges, are derived perturbatively on the basis of finite gauged BRST transformations starting from Landau gauge. It is proved that gauge theories with soft breaking of BRST symmetry can be made consistent if the transformed BRST-breaking terms satisfy the same soft BRST symmetry breaking condition in the resulting gauge as the untransformed ones in the initial gauge, and also without this requirement.
A Nonparametric Bayesian Approach to Multiple Instance Learning
Authors: Manandhar Achut , Morton Kenneth D. , Collins Leslie M. , Torrione Peter A.
Published: December 2014

Multiple instance learning (MIL) is a type of supervised learning in which labels are available for sets of observations (bags), but not for individual observations (instances). MIL has been applied in different areas, which has led to a large number of algorithms for learning based on MIL data. Many of these approaches focus on maximizing class margins, performing instance selection, or developing distance metrics and kernels suitable for application directly to bags. Although these approaches have shown promise, most require cross-validation-based optimization of hyper parameters or iterative numerical optimization to determine the proper number of target concepts. This work proposes a nonparametric Bayesian approach to learning in MIL scenarios based on Dirichlet process mixture models. The nonparametric nature of the model and the use of noninformative priors remove the need to perform cross-validation-based optimization while variational Bayesian inference allows for rapid parameter learning. The resulting approach generalizes to different applications by easily incorporating alternate data generation models. In a related effort [A. Manandhar et al., IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing53(4) (2015) 1737–1745.], the proposed model has been extended to incorporate time-varying data. Results indicate that when the data generation assumption holds, the proposed approach performs competitively with existing MIL and nonMIL methods for several standard MIL datasets and a new MIL dataset introduced in this work.
Classification of involutions on finitary incidence algebras
Authors: Brusamarello Rosali , Fornaroli Érica Zancanella , Santulo Ednei Aparecido
Published: December 2014

Let X be a connected partially ordered set and let K be a field of characteristic different from 2. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for two involutions on the finitary incidence algebra of X over K, FI (X), to be equivalent in the case when every multiplicative automorphism of FI (X) is inner. To get the classification of involutions we extend the concept of multiplicative automorphism to finitary incidence algebras and prove the Decomposition Theorem of involutions of [Anti-automorphisms and involutions on (finitary) incidence algebras, Linear Multilinear Algebra 60 (2012) 181–188] for finitary incidence algebras.
How many Boolean polynomials are irreducible?
Authors: Shitov Yaroslav
Published: December 2014

We present a number of new results on the multiplicative structure of univariate polynomials over the Boolean and tropical semirings. We answer the question asked by Kim and Roush in 2005 by proving that almost all Boolean polynomials with nonzero constant term are irreducible. We also give a lower bound for the number of reducible polynomials, and we discuss the related issues for polynomials over tropical semiring.
Product Selection in E-Commerce Under Fuzzy Environment: A MADM Game Theoretic Model
Authors: Mohanty B. K. , Gupta Mahima
Published: December 2014

This paper introduces a methodology based on fuzzy game theory to determine the buyer's priority of the attributes and select a product in the e-business system. The game theory model developed in our paper considers the prioritization of attributes as strategies for the player (player 1) in one side and selection of the products for the opponent player (player 2). The fuzzy probabilities of the strategies in the game theory are obtained by using the concepts of similarities between the fuzzy numbers. The e-business system devises strategies for the player 1 by attaching appropriate priority levels to product attributes for maximum gain. On the other hand the opponent player 2 select the products as the strategies accordingly. The payoffs obtained in the game theory model as fuzzy numbers are subsequently converted to their equivalent probabilistic mean intervals. This process leads to transform the game theory model into a linear programming problem (LPP) with interval coefficients. The solution to LPP gives us the optimal strategies. These probability of strategies are considered as attributes' weights to determine ranking of the products in e-business system. The methodology is illustrated with the help of a numerical example.
Extended Nash Equilibria of Nonmonetized Noncooperative Games on Preordered Sets
Authors: Li Jinlu
Published: December 2014

A noncooperative game is said to be nonmonetized if the ranges of the utilities (payoffs) of the players are preordered sets. In this paper, we examine some nonmonetized noncooperative games in which both of the collection of strategies and the ranges of the utilities for the players are preordered sets. Then, we spread the concept of extended Nash equilibria of noncooperative games from posets to preordered sets. By applying some fixed point theorems on preordered sets and by using the order preserving property of the utilities, we prove an existence theorem of extended Nash equilibria for nonmonetized noncooperative games.
The Concert Queueing Game: Fluid Regime with Random Order Service
Authors: Juneja Sandeep , Raheja Tushar
Published: December 2014

The concert queueing problem corresponds to determining the equilibrium arrival profile of non-cooperative customers selecting their arrival times to a queue where the service opens at a specified time. The customers are allowed to arrive before or after this time. This problem has a variety of queuing applications including how people queue at airport, movie theaters, passport offices, ration lines, etc. This also captures the settings where large computational jobs are sent to servers that open for service at a specified time. Substantial literature is devoted to studying the more tractable fluid version of this problem, that is, each customer is considered an infinitesimal particle, resulting in a non-atomic game between customers. This allows for explicit determination of the unique equilibrium arrival profile in many such settings as well as the associated socially optimal centralized solution. The knowledge of both then allows the computation of price of anarchy (PoA) in the system. The literature thus far focuses on queues with the first come first serve (FCFS) service discipline. In this paper, we again consider the fluid regime and extend the analysis to the case where the service discipline is random order service (ROS). This is equivalent to the practically equally important processor sharing regime when the service times are exponential. The latter is relevant in computational settings while the former is a good approximation to settings where a customer is selected more or less at random by the server.
Long-run Strategic Advertising and Short-run Bertrand Competition
Authors: Joosten Reinoud
Published: December 2014

We model and analyze strategic interaction over time in a duopoly. Each period the firms independently and simultaneously take two sequential decisions. First, they decide whether or not to advertise, then they set prices for goods which are imperfect substitutes. Not only the own, but also the other firm's past advertisement efforts affect the current "sales potential" of each firm. How much of this potential materializes as immediate sales, depends on current advertisement decisions. If both firms advertise, "sales potential" turns into demand, otherwise part of it "evaporates" and does not materialize. We determine feasible rewards and equilibria for the limiting average reward criterion. Uniqueness of equilibrium is by no means guaranteed, but Pareto efficiency may serve very well as a refinement criterion for wide ranges of the advertisement costs.
Legal Disputes Resolved via Game Theoretic Methods
Authors: Raghavan T. E. S.
Published: December 2014

Mathematical foundations of conflict resolutions are deeply rooted in the theory of cooperative and non-cooperative games. While many elementary models of conflicts are formalized, one often raises the question whether game theory and its mathematically developed tools are applicable to actual legal disputes in practice. We choose an example from union management conflict on hourly wage dispute and how zero sum two person game theory can be used by a judge to bring about the need for realistic compromises between the two parties. We choose another example from the 2000-year old Babylonian Talmud to describe how a certain debt problem was resolved. While they may be unaware of cooperative game theory, their solution methods are fully consistent with the solution concept called the nucleolus of a TU game.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Vehicle Sound Package in Middle Frequency Using Gray Relational Analysis Coupled with Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Chen Shuming , Wang Dengfeng , Shi Tianze , Chen Jing
Published: December 2014

This research studies optimization design of the thickness of sound packages for a passenger car. The major characteristics indexes for performance determined to evaluate the process are sound pressure level of the interior middle frequency noise and weight of the sound package. Three kinds of materials of sound packages are selected for the optimization process. The corresponding parameters of the sound packages are the thickness of the insulation plate for outer side of the firewall, thickness of the sound absorbing wool for inner side of the firewall, thickness of PU foam for the front floor, and thickness of PU foam for the rear floor, respectively. In this paper, the optimization procedure is a multi-objective optimization. Therefore, gray relational analysis (GRA) is applied to decide the optimal combination of sound package parameters. Furthermore, the principal component analysis (PCA) is used to calculate the weighting values which are corresponding to multiple performance characteristics. Then, the results of the confirmation tests uncover that GRA coupled with principal analysis methods can effectively be applied to find the optimal combination of the thickness of the sound packages at different positions for a passenger car. Thus, the proposed method can be a useful tool to improve the automotive interior middle frequency noise and lower the weight of the sound packages. Additionally, it will also be useful for automotive manufactures and designers in other fields.
A Comparing Study on Copper Adsorption on Nanoscale Carbon Black Modified by Different Kinds of Acid
Authors: Cheng Jiemin , Yu Yaqin , Li Tong , Liu Yuzhen , Lu Chengxiu
Published: December 2014

Considerable attention has been focused on the nanoscale carbon black development and application in wastewater treatment. But the CB is a hydrophobic and nonpolar adsorbent, and it has strong adsorption ability to nonpolar organic compounds and poor adherence to heavy metal ions. The nanoscale carbon black modified by appropriate physical and chemical treatments could improve their adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions. In this study, a surface-modified nanoscale carbon black was prepared by oxidizing the carbon black with 65% HNO 3 (B), 0.05 mol⋅L-1 HAc (C), 20% HNO 3+ 1.58% K 2 MnO 4 (D) and 50% H 2 SO 4 (E), respectively. Batch experiments showed that the adsorption quantities of Cu(II) on the nanoscale carbon black modified by different kind of acids (MCBs) were significantly increased compared with those on the parent one, and the maximum adsorption quantities of Cu(II) were 48.92 mg⋅g-1 (D), 30.15 mg⋅g-1 (B), 12.33 mg⋅g-1 (A), 13.51 mg⋅g- (C) and 5.47 mg⋅g-1 (E), respectively. The Langmuir isotherm provided a better fit to the experimental data of the parent one and the MCBs fitted well into Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The adsorption kinetic model of Cu(II) on all sorbents followed pseudo second order model well. It is clear from this work that the nanoscale carbon black modified by 65% HNO 3 (B) and 20% HNO 3+ 1.58% K 2 MnO 4 (D) had very good adsorption properties for the metal ions.
Spectral Properties of Circulant Quantum Markov Semigroups
Authors: Bolaños-Servin Jorge R. , Carbone Raffaella
Published: December 2014

We study the spectral properties of the generators of circulant quantum Markov semigroups. We can find an explicit expression for eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the infinitesimal generator and, in particular, we prove that the spectral gap is strictly positive. By proper techniques, we can reduce the problem on non-commutative algebras to the analogous one for a classical process with a circulant generator.
Global Geometric Difference Between Separable and Positive Partial Transpose States
Authors: Ha Kil-Chan , Kye Seung-Hyeok
Published: December 2014

In the convex set of all 3 ⊗ 3 states with positive partial transposes, we show that one can take two extreme points whose convex combinations belong to the interior of the convex set. Their convex combinations may be even in the interior of the convex set of all separable states. In general, we need at least mn extreme points to get an interior point by their convex combination, for the case of the convex set of all m ⊗ n separable states. This shows a sharp distinction between PPT states and separable states. We also consider the same questions for positive maps and decomposable maps.
Convergence Conditions of Mixed States and their von Neumann Entropy in Continuous Quantum Measurements
Authors: Fuda Toru
Published: December 2014

By carrying out appropriate continuous quantum measurements with a family of projection operators, a unitary channel can be approximated in an arbitrary precision in the trace norm sense. In particular, the quantum Zeno effect is described as an application. In the case of an infinite dimension, although the von Neumann entropy is not necessarily continuous, the difference of the entropies between the states, as mentioned above, can be made arbitrarily small under some conditions.
Scaling a Unitary Matrix
Authors: Vos Alexis De , Baerdemacker Stijn De
Published: December 2014

The iterative method of Sinkhorn allows, starting from an arbitrary real matrix with non-negative entries, to find a so-called ‘scaled matrix’ which is doubly stochastic, i.e. a matrix with all entries in the interval (0, 1) and with all line sums equal to 1. We conjecture that a similar procedure exists, which allows, starting from an arbitrary unitary matrix, to find a scaled matrix which is unitary and has all line sums equal to 1. The existence of such algorithm guarantees a powerful decomposition of an arbitrary quantum circuit.
A mathematical study of a predator–prey model with disease circulating in the both populations
Authors: Das Krishna Pada , Chattopadhyay J.
Published: December 2014

Disease in ecological systems plays an important role. In the present investigation we propose and analyze a predator–prey mathematical model in which both species are affected by infectious disease. The parasite is transmitted directly (by contact) within the prey population and indirectly (by consumption of infected prey) within the predator population. We derive biologically feasible and insightful quantities in terms of ecological as well as epidemiological reproduction numbers that allow us to describe the dynamics of the proposed system. Our observations indicate that predator–prey system is stable without disease but high infection rate drive the predator population toward extinction. We also observe that predation of vulnerable infected prey makes the disease to eradicate into the community composition of the model system. Local stability analysis of the interior equilibrium point near the disease-free equilibrium point is worked out. To study the global dynamics of the system, numerical simulations are performed. Our simulation results show that for higher values of the force of infection in the prey population the predator population goes to extinction. Our numerical analysis reveals that predation rates specially on susceptible prey population and recovery of infective predator play crucial role for preventing the extinction of the susceptible predator and disease propagation.
Analysis of an HIV model with distributed delay and behavior change
Authors: Obaid Hasim A. , Ouifki Rachid , Patidar Kailash C.
Published: December 2014

We develop and analyze a mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of HIV that accounts for behavioral change. The contact rate is modeled by a decreasing function (response function) of HIV prevalence to reflect a reduction in risky behavior that results from the awareness of individuals to a higher HIV prevalence. The model also includes a distributed delay representing the time needed for individuals to reduce their risky behavior. We study mathematically and numerically the impact of the response function and the distributed delay on the model's dynamics. Threshold values for the delay at which the system destabilizes and periodic solutions can arise through Hopf bifurcation are determined.
On the energy and Estrada index of Cayley graphs
Authors: Ghorbani Modjtaba
Published: December 2014

The concept of energy of a graph was first defined in 1978 by Gutman as the sum of the absolute values of the eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix. Let λ1, λ2, …, λn be eigenvalues of graph Γ, then the Estrada index of Γ is defined as [Formula: see text]. The aim of this paper is to estimate the energy and Estrada index of Cayley graphs Cay (G, S) where G ≅ D2n, U6n and S is a normal symmetric generating subset of G.
Effect of Seed Distribution and Population on Maize (Zea maysL.) Grain Yield
Authors: Chim Bee Khim , Omara Peter , Macnack Natasha , Mullock Jeremiah , Dhital Sulochana , Raun William
Published: December 2014

Maize planting is normally accomplished by hand in the developing world where two or more seeds are placed per hill with a heterogeneous plant spacing and density. To understand the interaction between seed distribution and distance between hills, experiments were established in 2012 and 2013 at Lake Carl Blackwell (LCB) and Efaw Agronomy Research Stations, near Stillwater, OK. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications and 9 treatments and a factorial treatment structure of 1, 2, and 3 seeds per hill using interrow spacing of 0.16, 0.32, and 0.48 m. Data for normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR), grain yield, and grain N uptake were collected. Results showed that, on average, NDVI and IPAR increased with number of seeds per hill and decreased with increasing plant spacing. In three of four site-years, planting 1 or 2 seeds per hill, 0.16 m apart, increased grain yield and N uptake. Over sites, planting 1 seed, every 0.16 m, increased yields by an average of 1.15 Mg ha−1(range: 0.33 to 2.46 Mg ha−1) when compared to the farmer practice of placing 2 to 3 seeds per hill, every 0.48 m.
Modeling of SPERT IV Reactivity Initiated Transient Tests in EUREKA-2/RR Code
Authors: Badrun N. H. , Altaf M. H. , Motalab M. A. , Mahmood M. S. , Khan M. J. H.
Published: December 2014

EUREKA-2/RR code has been used for SPERT IV reactor benchmark calculations against the experimental results provided by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) obtained for a series of transient tests initiated by step insertion of different magnitudes of positive reactivity with varying degrees of different controlled parameters such as reactor initial power, coolant temperature and coolant flow condition. 20 out of 39 tests that fall under forced convection mode have been considered for the present simulation provided the reactor scram system is disabled. Peak power and peak clad temperature due to transient have been calculated and it was found that although peak clad temperature values agreed, the peak power values seem to underestimate the experimental values. Further study appears to be needed to identify the limitations in modeling or examining the effect of input parameters during modeling to obtain the better simulation results.
Maintenance and Neuronal Differentiation of Chicken Induced Pluripotent Stem-Like Cells
Authors: Dai Rui , Rossello Ricardo , Chen Chun-chun , Kessler Joeran , Davison Ian , Hochgeschwender Ute , Jarvis Erich D.
Published: December 2014

Pluripotent stem cells have the potential to become any cell in the adult body, including neurons and glia. Avian stem cells could be used to study questions, like vocal learning, that would be difficult to examine with traditional mouse models. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are differentiated cells that have been reprogrammed to a pluripotent stem cell state, usually using inducing genes or other molecules. We recently succeeded in generating avian iPSC-like cells using mammalian genes, overcoming a limitation in the generation and use of iPSCs in nonmammalian species (Rosselló et al., 2013). However, there were no established optimal cell culture conditions for avian iPSCs to establish long-term cell lines and thus to study neuronal differentiationin vitro. Here we present an efficient method of maintaining chicken iPSC-like cells and for differentiating them into action potential generating neurons.
Joint DOA and DOD Estimation in Bistatic MIMO Radar without Estimating the Number of Targets
Authors: Xi Zaifang , Wu Xiao-feng , Wu Shuyue , Tang Zhijun , Hu Shigang
Published: December 2014

Existing subspace-based direction finding methods for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar assume perfect knowledge about the dimension of the signal or noise subspace, which is hard to be established without prior knowledge of the signal environment. In this paper, an efficient method for joint DOA and DOD estimation in bistatic MIMO radar without estimating the number of targets is presented. The proposed method computes an estimate of the noise subspace using the power of R (POR) technique. Then the two-dimensional (2D) direction finding problem is decoupled into two successive one-dimensional (1D) angle estimation problems by employing the rank reduction (RARE) estimator.
Effect of Calcium Ion Removal, Ionic Strength, and Temperature on the Conformation Change in Calmodulin Protein at Physiological pH
Authors: Negi Sunita
Published: December 2014

The response of the calmodulin (CaM) protein as a function of calcium ion removal, ionic strength, and temperature at physiological pH condition was investigated using classical molecular dynamics simulations. Changing the ionic strength and temperature came out to be two of the possible routes for observing a conformation change in the protein. This behavior is similar to the conformation change observed in our previous study where a change in the pH was observed to trigger a conformation change in this protein. In the present study, as the calcium ions are removed from the protein, the protein is observed to acquire more flexibility. This flexibility is observed to be more prominent at a higher ionic strength. At a lower ionic strength of 150 mM with all the four calcium ions intact, the N- and C-lobes are observed to come close to a distance of 30 Å starting from an initial separation distance of 48 Å. This conformation change is observed to take place around 50 ns in a simulation of 100 ns. As a second parameter, temperature is observed to play a key role in the conformation change of the protein. With an increase in the temperature, the protein is observed to acquire a more compact form with the formation of different salt bridges between the residues of the N- and the C-lobes. The salt bridge formation leads to an overall lowering of the energy of the protein thus favoring the bending of the two lobes towards each other. The improper and dihedral terms show a significant shift thus leading to a more compact form on increasing the temperature. Another set of simulations is also performed at an increased temperature of 500 K to verify the reproducibility of the results. Thus a set of three possible alterations in the environmental conditions of the protein CaM are studied, with two of them giving rise to a conformation change and one adding flexibility to the protein.
Effects of Misalignments in the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measurements with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Barella Kleyton A. , Cremasco Fernanda , Zangalli Camila , Costa Vital P.
Published: December 2014

Purpose. To investigate misalignments (MAs) on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements obtained withCirrus©SD-OCT.Methods. This was a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Twenty-seven healthy and 29 glaucomatous eyes of 56 individuals with one normal exam and another showing MA were included. MAs were defined as an improper alignment of vertical vessels in the en face image. MAs were classified in complete MA (CMA) and partial MA (PMA), according to their site: 1 (superior, outside the measurement ring (MR)), 2 (superior, within MR), 3 (inferior, within MR), and 4 (inferior, outside MR). We compared RNFLT measurements of aligned versus misaligned exams in all 4 sectors, in the superior area (sectors 1 + 2), inferior area (sectors 3 + 4), and within the measurement ring (sectors 2 + 3).Results. RNFLT measurements at 12 clock-hour of eyes with MAs in the superior area (sectors 1 + 2) were significantly lower than those obtained in the same eyes without MAsP=0.043. No significant difference was found in other areas (sectors 1 + 2 + 3 + 4, sectors 3 + 4, and sectors 2 + 3).Conclusion. SD-OCT scans with superior MAs may present lower superior RNFLT measurements compared to aligned exams.