bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Engine Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Multi-Sensor Data Fusion
Authors: Jiang Wen , Hu Weiwei , Xie Chunhe
Published: March 2017

Fault diagnosis is an important research direction in modern industry. In this paper, a new fault diagnosis method based on multi-sensor data fusion is proposed, in which the Dempster–Shafer (D–S) evidence theory is employed to model the uncertainty. Firstly, Gaussian types of fault models and test models are established by observations of sensors. After the models are determined, the intersection area between test model and fault models is transformed into a set of BPAs (basic probability assignments), and a weighted average combination method is used to combine the obtained BPAs. Finally, through some given decision making rules, diagnostic results can be obtained. The proposed method in this paper is tested by the Iris data set and actual measurement data of the motor rotor, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Recent Advancements in Stereoselective Olefin Metathesis Using Ruthenium Catalysts
Authors: Montgomery T. Patrick , Johns Adam M. , Grubbs Robert H.
Published: March 2017

Olefin metathesis is a prevailing method for the construction of organic molecules. Recent advancements in olefin metathesis have focused on stereoselective transformations. Ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts have had a particularly pronounced impact in the area of stereoselective olefin metathesis. The development of three categories of Z-selective olefin metathesis catalysts has made Z-olefins easily accessible to both laboratory and industrial chemists. Further design enhancements to asymmetric olefin metathesis catalysts have streamlined the construction of complex molecules. The understanding gained in these areas has extended to the employment of ruthenium catalysts to stereoretentive olefin metathesis, the first example of a kinetically E-selective process. These advancements, as well as synthetic applications of the newly developed catalysts, are discussed.
In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Gracilaria verrucosa Extracts on Osteoclast Differentiation
Authors: Kim Kwang-Jin , Lee Yong-Jin , Hwang Yun-Ho , Kang Kyung-Yun , Yee Sung-Tae , Son Young-Jin
Published: March 2017

Bone remodeling, a physiological process characterized by bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts, is important for the maintenance of healthy bone in adult humans. Osteoclasts play a critical role in bone erosion and osteoporosis and are bone-specific multinucleated cells generated through differentiation of monocyte/macrophage lineage precursors. Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) has been reported to induce osteoclast differentiation. In this study, we explored whether Gracilaria verrucosa extracts (GE) could affect RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation. GE significantly inhibited RANKL-activated osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting protein expression of c-fos and nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), vital factors in RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis. In addition, GE attenuated ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice. In summary, GE can prevent osteoclastogenesis and hormone-related bone loss via blockage of c-fos-NFATc1 signaling. Our results suggest that GE may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Prospects for a Sports Ombudsman in Canada
Authors: Fowlie Frank
Published: March 2017

This article examines the potential of using an Ombudsman to resolve sports related disputes, and further researches underway in Canada to incorporate an Ombudsman scheme. The article looks at the various types of Ombudsmen, the existing Ombudsman or Ombudsman-like dispute resolution schemes concerning sport, and provides guidance on the establishment of a nation-wide scheme for Canada. The article finds that the addition of a sports Ombudsman to ADR services already provided by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada would be of benefit to athletes and the sports community.
Effect of Native Defects on Transport Properties in Non-Stoichiometric CoSb3
Authors: Realyvázquez-Guevara Paula , Rivera-Gómez Francisco , Faudoa-Arzate Alejandro , Botello-Zubiate  María , Sáenz-Hernández Renee , Santillán-Rodríguez Carlos , Matutes-Aquino José
Published: March 2017

The effect of native defects originated by a non-stoichiometric variation of composition in CoSb3 on I-V curves and Hall effect was investigated. Hysteretic and a non-linear behavior of the  I-V curves at cryogenic temperatures were observed; the non-linear behavior originated from the Poole-Frenkel effect, a field-dependent ionization mechanism that lowers Coulomb barriers and increases emission of charge carriers, and the hysteresis was attributed to the drastic decrease of specific heat which produces Joule heating at cryogenic temperatures. CoSb3 is a narrow gap semiconductor and slight variation in the synthesis process can lead to either n- or p-type conduction. The Sb-deficient CoSb3 presented an n-type conduction. Using a single parabolic model and assuming only acoustic-phonon scattering the charge transport properties were calculated at 300 K. From this model, a carrier concentration of 1.18 × 1018 cm−3 and a Hall factor of 1.18 were calculated. The low mobility of charge carriers, 19.11 cm2/V·s, and the high effective mass of the electrons, 0.66 m0, caused a high resistivity value of 2.75 × 10−3 Ω·m. The calculated Lorenz factor was 1.50 × 10−8 V2/K2, which represents a decrease of 38% over the degenerate limit value (2.44 × 10−8 V2/K2).
Chitin Oligosaccharide (COS) Reduces Antibiotics Dose and Prevents Antibiotics-Caused Side Effects in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Patients with Spinal Fusion Surgery
Authors: Qu Yang , Xu Jinyu , Zhou Haohan , Dong Rongpeng , Kang Mingyang , Zhao Jianwu
Published: March 2017

Antibiotics are always considered for surgical site infection (SSI) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery. However, the use of antibiotics often causes the antibiotic resistance of pathogens and side effects. Thus, it is necessary to explore natural products as drug candidates. Chitin Oligosaccharide (COS) has anti-inflammation and anti-bacteria functions. The effects of COS on surgical infection in AIS surgery were investigated. A total of 312 AIS patients were evenly and randomly assigned into control group (CG, each patient took one-gram alternative Azithromycin/Erythromycin/Cloxacillin/Aztreonam/Ceftazidime or combined daily), experiment group (EG, each patient took 20 mg COS and half-dose antibiotics daily), and placebo group (PG, each patient took 20 mg placebo and half-dose antibiotics daily). The average follow-up was one month, and infection severity and side effects were analyzed. The effects of COS on isolated pathogens were analyzed. SSI rates were 2%, 3% and 8% for spine wounds and 1%, 2% and 7% for iliac wound in CG, EG and PG (p < 0.05), respectively. COS reduces the side effects caused by antibiotics (p < 0.05). COS improved biochemical indexes and reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. COS reduced the antibiotics dose and antibiotics-caused side effects in AIS patients with spinal fusion surgery by improving antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. COS should be developed as potential adjuvant for antibiotics therapies.
Marine Lectins DlFBL and HddSBL Fused with Soluble Coxsackie-Adenovirus Receptor Facilitate Adenovirus Infection in Cancer Cells BUT Have Different Effects on Cell Survival
Authors: Wu Bingbing , Mei Shengsheng , Cui Lianzhen , Zhao Zhenzhen , Chen Jianhong , Wu Tao , Li Gongchu
Published: March 2017

Cancer development and progression are usually associated with glycosylation change, providing prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets, for various cancers. In this work, Dicentrarchus labrax fucose binding lectin (DlFBL) and Haliotis discus discus sialic acid binding lectin (HddSBL) were genetically fused with soluble coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (sCAR), and produced through a bacterial expression system. Results showed that recombinant sCAR-DlFBL not only facilitated adenovirus Ad-EGFP infection in K562/ADR and U87MG cells, but also enhanced the cytotoxicity of adenovirus harboring gene encoding Pinellia pedatisecta agglutinin (PPA) or DlFBL (Ad-PPA or Ad-DlFBL) on U87MG cells through inducing apoptosis. Recombinant sCAR-HddSBL facilitated Ad-EGFP infection, but dramatically counteracted the cytotoxicity of both Ad-PPA and Ad-DlFBL in U87MG cells. Further analysis revealed that sCAR-HddSBL, but not sCAR-DlFBL, significantly upregulated transcription factor E2F1 levels in U87MG cells, which might be responsible for the adverse effect of sCAR-HddSBL on Ad-PPA and Ad-DlFBL. Taken together, our data suggested that sCAR-DlFBL could be further developed to redirect therapeutic adenoviruses to infect cancer cells such as U87MG, and the sCAR-lectin fusion proteins for adenoviral retargeting should be carefully examined for possible survival signaling induced by lectins, such as HddSBL.
Three-Dimensional BiOI/BiOX (X = Cl or Br) Nanohybrids for Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Liu Yazi , Xu Jian , Wang Liqiong , Zhang Huayang , Xu Ping , Duan Xiaoguang , Sun Hongqi , Wang Shaobin
Published: March 2017

Three-dimensional flower-like BiOI/BiOX (X = Br or Cl) hybrids were synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal approach. With systematic characterizations by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)specific surface area, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), the BiOI/BiOCl composites showed a fluffy and porous 3-D architecture with a large specific surface area (SSA) and high capability for light absorption. Among all the BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) and BiOI/BiOX (X = Cl or Br) composites, BiOI/BiOCl stands out as the most efficient photocatalyst under both visible and UV light irradiations for methyl orange (MO) oxidation. The reaction rate of MO degradation on BiOI/BiOCl was 2.1 times higher than that on pure BiOI under visible light. Moreover, BiOI/BiOCl exhibited enhanced water oxidation efficiency for O2 evolution which was 1.5 times higher than BiOI. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of a heterojunction between BiOI and BiOCl, with a nanoporous structure, a larger SSA, and a stronger light absorbance capacity especially in the visible-light region. The in situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) revealed that BiOI/BiOCl composites could effectively evolve superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals for photodegradation, and the superoxide radicals are the dominant reactive species. The superb photocatalytic activity of BiOI/BiOCl could be utilized for the degradation of various industrial dyes under natural sunlight irradiation which is of high significance for the remediation of industrial wastewater in the future.
Echo-Enabled Harmonic Generation Studies for the FERMI Free-Electron Laser
Authors: Rebernik Ribič Primož , Roussel Eléonore , Penn Gregory , De Ninno Giovanni , Giannessi Luca , Penco Giuseppe , Allaria Enrico
Published: March 2017

Studying ultrafast processes on the nanoscale with element specificity requires a powerful femtosecond source of tunable extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) or x-ray radiation, such as a free-electron laser (FEL). Current efforts in FEL development are aimed at improving the wavelength tunability and multicolor operation, which will potentially lead to the development of new characterization techniques offering a higher chemical sensitivity and improved spatial resolution. One of the most promising approaches is the echo-enabled harmonic generation (EEHG), where two external seed lasers are used to precisely control the spectro-temporal properties of the FEL pulse. Here, we study the expected performance of EEHG at the FERMI FEL, using numerical simulations. We show that, by employing the existing FERMI layout with minor modifications, the EEHG scheme will be able to produce gigawatt peak-power pulses at wavelengths as short as 5 nm. We discuss some possible detrimental effects that may affect the performance of EEHG and compare the results to the existing double-stage FEL cascade, currently in operation at FERMI. Finally, our simulations show that, after substantial machine upgrades, EEHG has the potential to deliver coherent multicolor pulses reaching wavelengths as short as 3 nm, enabling x-ray pump–x-ray probe experiments in the water window.
Poly(Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate) Grafted Chitosan for Dye Removal from Water
Authors: Tsai Bryan , Garcia-Valdez Omar , Champagne Pascale , Cunningham Michael
Published: March 2017

As the demand for textile products and synthetic dyes increases with the growing global population, textile dye wastewater is becoming one of the most significant water pollution contributors. Azo dyes represent 70% of dyes used worldwide, and are hence a significant contributor to textile waste. In this work, the removal of a reactive azo dye (Reactive Orange 16) from water by adsorption with chitosan grafted poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (CTS-GMA-g-PPEGMA) was investigated. The chitosan (CTS) was first functionalized with glycidyl methacrylate and then grafted with poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) using a nitroxide-mediated polymerization grafting to approach. Equilibrium adsorption experiments were carried out at different initial dye concentrations and were successfully fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Adsorption isotherms showed maximum adsorption capacities of CTS-g-GMA-PPEGMA and chitosan of 200 mg/g and 150 mg/g, respectively, while the Langmuir equations estimated 232 mg/g and 194 mg/g, respectively. The fundamental assumptions underlying the Langmuir model may not be applicable for azo dye adsorption, which could explain the difference. The Freundlich isotherm parameters, n and K, were determined to be 2.18 and 17.7 for CTS-g-GMA-PPEGMA and 0.14 and 2.11 for chitosan, respectively. An “n” value between one and ten generally indicates favorable adsorption. The adsorption capacities of a chitosan-PPEGMA 50/50 physical mixture and pure PPEGMA were also investigated, and both exhibited significantly lower adsorption capacities than pure chitosan. In this work, CTS-g-GMA-PPEGMA proved to be more effective than its parent chitosan, with a 33% increase in adsorption capacity.
Robot-Assisted Therapy for Learning and Social Interaction of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Bharatharaj Jaishankar , Huang Loulin , Mohan Rajesh , Al-Jumaily Ahmed , Krägeloh Christian
Published: March 2017

This paper puts forward the potential for designing a parrot-inspired robot and an indirect teaching technique, the adapted model-rival method (AMRM), to help improve learning and social interaction abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder. The AMRM was formulated by adapting two popular conventional approaches, namely, model-rival method and label-training procedure. In our validation trials, we used a semi-autonomous parrot-inspired robot, called KiliRo, to simulate a set of autonomous behaviors. A proposed robot-assisted therapy using AMRM was pilot tested with nine children with autism spectrum disorder for five consecutive days in a clinical setting. We analyzed the facial expressions of children when they interacted with KiliRo using an automated emotion recognition and classification system, Oxford emotion API (Application Programming Interface). Results provided some indication that the children with autism spectrum disorder appeared attracted and happy to interact with the parrot-inspired robot. Short qualitative interviews with the children’s parents, the pediatrician, and the child psychologist who participated in this pilot study, also acknowledged that the proposed parrot-inspired robot and the AMRM may have some merit in aiding in improving learning and social interaction abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder.
An Alternative Wearable Tracking System Based on a Low-Power Wide-Area Network
Authors: Fernández-Garcia Raul , Gil Ignacio
Published: March 2017

This work presents an alternative wearable tracking system based on a low-power wide area network. A complete GPS receiver was integrated with a textile substrate, and the latitude and longitude coordinates were sent to the cloud by means of the SIM-less SIGFOX network. To send the coordinates over SIGFOX protocol, a specific codification algorithm was used and a customized UHF antenna on jeans fabric was designed, simulated and tested. Moreover, to guarantee the compliance to international regulations for human body exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the electromagnetic specific absorption rate of this antenna was analyzed. A specific remote server was developed to decode the latitude and longitude coordinates. Once the coordinates have been decoded, the remote server sends this information to the open source data viewer SENTILO to show the location of the sensor node in a map. The functionality of this system has been demonstrated experimentally. The results guarantee the utility and wearability of the proposed tracking system for the development of sensor nodes and point out that it can be a low cost alternative to other commercial products based on GSM networks.
A Coupled Allocation for Regional Initial Water Rights in Dalinghe Basin, China
Authors: Ge Min , Wu Feng-ping , Chen Xiao-ping
Published: March 2017

Regional initial water rights is a crucial part of initial water rights and clarification of it is an essential method to improve the efficiency of water use. It also promotes sustainable use of valuable water resources. Consequently, under new circumstances of China’s most stringent water resources management, with water quantity and quality control, we propose a new perspective for a coupled allocation model of regional initial water rights for a typical river basin. Firstly, we design an index system following principles of the “Three Red Lines” considering the real situation of Dalinghe River Basin, China. Then, under the control of total water use, we establish an allocation model of regional initial water quantity rights by the projection pursuit technology. Secondly, under total pollutant discharge control, we established an allocation model of regional initial pollutant discharge rights considering optimized objectives of economy and society. Thirdly, considering both regional initial water quantity rights and the regional pollutant discharge rights above, we provide an incentive function to build a coupled allocation model for regional initial water rights of Dalinghe River Basin. Finally, according to the scenario of the water frequency 50% and planning year 2030, the research finding shows Chaoyang City obtains the largest quantity of regional initial water rights, followed by Jinzhou, Fuxin, Panjin and Huludao, sequentially, which approximately match the pilot plans of China’s Ministry of Water Resources. The empirical research about Dalinghe River Basin further verifies effectiveness of the model in this paper. It also provides scientific decision support for implementing China’s most stringent water resources management for Dalinghe River Basin.
Modelling Hydrology and Sediment Transport in a Semi-Arid and Anthropized Catchment Using the SWAT Model: The Case of the Tafna River (Northwest Algeria)
Authors: Zettam Amin , Taleb Amina , Sauvage Sabine , Boithias Laurie , Belaidi Nouria , Sánchez-Pérez José
Published: March 2017

Sediment deposits in North African catchments contribute to around 2%–5% of the yearly loss in the water storage capacity of dams. Despite its semi-arid climate, the Tafna River plays an important role in Algeria’s water self-sufficiency. There is continuous pressure on the Tafna’s dams to respond to the demand for water. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to evaluate the contribution of different compartments in the basin to surface water and the dams’ impact on water and sediment storage and its flux to the sea in order to develop reservoir management. The hydrological modelling fitted well with the observed data (Nash varying between 0.42 and 0.75 and R2 varying between 0.25 and 0.84). A large proportion of the surface water came from surface runoff (59%) and lateral flow (40%), while the contribution of groundwater was insignificant (1%). SWAT was used to predict sediments in all the gauging stations. Tafna River carries an average annual quantity of 2942 t·yr−1 to the Mediterranean Sea. A large amount of water was stored in reservoirs (49%), which affected the irrigated agricultural zone downstream of the basin. As the dams contain a large amount of sediment, in excess of 27,000 t·yr−1 (90% of the sediment transported by Tafna), storage of sediment reduces the lifetime of reservoirs.
Collaborative Approaches to Flow Restoration in Intermittent Salmon-Bearing Streams: Salmon Creek, CA, USA
Authors: Woelfle-Erskine Cleo
Published: March 2017

In Mediterranean-climate regions of California and southern Oregon, juvenile salmon depend on groundwater aquifers to sustain their tributary habitats through the dry summers. Along California’s North Coast streams, private property regimes on land have created commons tragedies in groundwater and salmon fisheries, both classic examples of commons that are often governed collectively and sustainably by their users. Understanding the linkages between salmon and groundwater is one major focus of salmon recovery and climate change adaptation planning in central California and increasingly throughout the Pacific Northwest. In this paper, I use extended field interviews and participant-observation in field ecology campaigns and regulatory forums to explore how, in one water-scarce, salmon-bearing watershed on California’s central coast, collaborators are synthesizing agency and landowner data on groundwater and salmon management. I focus on three projects undertaken by citizen scientists in collaboration with me and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District staff: salmonid censuses, mapping of wet and dry stream reaches and well monitoring. I find that collaborative research initiated by local residents and agency personnel has, in some cases, created a new sense of ecological possibility in the region. I also consider some limitations of this collaborations, namely the lack of engagement with indigenous Pomo and Miwok tribal members, with the Confederated Tribes of Graton Rancheria and with farmworkers and other marginalized residents, and suggest strategies for deepening environmental justice commitments in future collaborative work.
Gambling problems among patients in primary care: a cross-sectional study of general practices
Authors: Cowlishaw Sean , Gale Lone , Gregory Alison , McCambridge Jim , Kessler David
Published: March 2017

Background

Primary care is an important context for addressing health-related behaviours, and may provide a setting for identification of gambling problems.

Aim

To indicate the extent of gambling problems among patients attending general practices, and explore settings or patient groups that experience heightened vulnerability.

Design and setting

Cross-sectional study of patients attending 11 general practices in Bristol, South West England.

Method

Adult patients (n= 1058) were recruited from waiting rooms of practices that were sampled on the basis of population characteristics. Patients completed anonymous questionnaires comprising measures of mental health problems (for example, depression) and addictive behaviours (for example, risky alcohol use). The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) measured gambling problems, along with a single-item measure of gambling problems among family members. Estimates of extent and variability according to practice and patient characteristics were produced.

Results

There were 0.9% of all patients exhibiting problem gambling (PGSI ≥5), and 4.3% reporting problems that were low to moderate in severity (PGSI 1–4). Around 7% of patients reported gambling problems among family members. Further analyses indicated that rates of any gambling problems (PGSI ≥1) were higher among males and young adults, and more tentatively, within a student healthcare setting. They were also elevated among patients exhibiting drug use, risky alcohol use, and depression.

Conclusion

There is need for improved understanding of the burden of, and responses to, patients with gambling problems in general practices, and new strategies to increase identification to facilitate improved care and early intervention.
Prescription rates of adrenaline auto-injectors for children in UK general practice: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Diwakar Lavanya , Cummins Carole , Ryan Ronan , Marshall Tom , Roberts Tracy
Published: March 2017

Background

Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) should be provided to individuals considered to be at high risk of anaphylaxis. There is some evidence that the rate of AAI prescription is increasing, but the true extent has not been previously quantified.

Aim

To estimate the trends in annual GP-issued prescriptions for AAI among UK children between 2000 and 2012.

Design and setting

Retrospective cohort study using data from primary care practices that contributed to The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database.

Method

Children and young people aged between 0–17 years of age with a prescription for AAIs were identified, and annual AAI device prescription rates were estimated using Stata (version 12).

Results

A total of 1.06 million UK children were identified, providing 5.1 million person years of follow-up data. Overall, 23 837 children were deemed high risk by their GPs, and were prescribed 98 737 AAI devices. This equates to 4.67 children (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.66 to 4.69), and 19.4 (95% CI = 19.2 to 19.5) devices per 1000 person years. Between 2000 and 2012, there has been a 355% increase in the number of children prescribed devices, and a 506% increase in the total number of AAI devices prescribed per 1000 person years in the UK. The number of devices issued per high-risk child during this period has also increased by 33%.

Conclusion

The number of children being prescribed AAI devices and the number of devices being prescribed in UK primary care between 2000 and 2012 has significantly increased. A discussion to promote rational prescribing of AAIs in the NHS is needed.
Addressing the crisis of GP recruitment and retention: a systematic review
Authors: Marchand Catherine , Peckham Stephen
Published: March 2017

Background

The numbers of GPs and training places in general practice are declining, and retaining GPs in their practices is an increasing problem.

Aim

To identify evidence on different approaches to retention and recruitment of GPs, such as intrinsic versus extrinsic motivational determinants.

Design and setting

Synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research using seven electronic databases from 1990 onwards (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Health Management Information Consortium [HMIC], Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (Cinahl), PsycINFO, and the Turning Research Into Practice [TRIP] database).

Method

A qualitative approach to reviewing the literature on recruitment and retention of GPs was used. The studies included were English-language studies from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. The titles and abstracts of 138 articles were reviewed and analysed by the research team.

Results

Some of the most important determinants to increase recruitment in primary care were early exposure to primary care practice, the fit between skills and attributes, and a significant experience in a primary care setting. Factors that seemed to influence retention were subspecialisation and portfolio careers, and job satisfaction. The most important determinants of recruitment and retention were intrinsic and idiosyncratic factors, such as recognition, rather than extrinsic factors, such as income.

Conclusion

Although the published evidence relating to GP recruitment and retention is limited, and most focused on attracting GPs to rural areas, the authors found that there are clear overlaps between strategies to increase recruitment and retention. Indeed, the most influential factors are idiosyncratic and intrinsic to the individuals.
Satisfaction of users of the Family Health Strategy in a capital city of Northeast Brazil
Authors: Batista Moura Luana Kelle , Milanês Sousa Laelson Rochelle , Batista Moura Maria Eliete , De Mesquita Rafael Fernandes , Matos Fátima Regina Ney , Campelo Lago Eliana , Monte Thiago Lima , Coelho Matos Francisca Tereza , De Arêa Leão Ferraz Maria Ângela , Clementino Santos Tanit , Monteiro Falcão Carlos Alberto , Ibiapina Tapety Fabrício , Mobin Mitra
Published: March 2017

Objective: To analyze the satisfaction of users of the Family Health Strategy in relation to the Reliability and Safety aspects.

Method: This is a quantitative research carried out with 353 participants enrolled in an Integrated Health Center of the eastern region of a capital in the Northeast Brazil, through the SERVQUAL instrument. The data collection took place from January to May 2015, the research was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the UNINOVAFAPI University Center.

Results: The results indicated that in the Reliability dimension, participants agreed that the healthcare professionals record the attendance, perform on the promised date and have an interest in solving the problems. In the Security dimension, the majority of the participants were indifferent as to the behavior of the professionals generating confidence. They demonstrated security in requesting the services because they were politely attended by the professionals. Moreover, in the two dimensions analyzed, it was noticed that there is a tendency to increase satisfaction as the participants' income decreases with significant statistical relations, with satisfaction on Reliability and Security inversely proportional to income.

Conclusion: It is considered that users of the Family Health Strategy have demonstrated satisfaction with the services received, however, there is a need for more studies with different methodological approaches to better elucidate the intersubjective issues that shape the process of interaction between users, healthcare professionals and services.

Keywords: Family health; patient satisfaction; security.
PRUDENT DECISIONS TO ESTIMATE THE RISK OF LOSS IN INSURANCE
Authors: BUTACI Casian , DZITAC Simona , DZITAC Ioan , BOLOGA Gabriela
Published: March 2017

The directive 2009/138/EC „Solvency II”, provides the determination of insurance capital requirements based either on a standard formula or an internal model built by the company and approved by the regulatory authority. The build of an internal model involves the determination of an extreme quantile from the empirical distribution of portfolio. An estimate of this quantile, with a 99.5% confidence level, requires a large number of simulations, each taking into account different scenarios as: insufficient reserves, unfavourable developments of financial assets, etc. The present paper proposes to argue the necessity of the extreme value theory approach in order to estimate the risk of loss for the insurance issue, in accordance with European Directive „Solvency II”, from the perspective of making prudent decisions for the assessment of insurance capital requirements.
An Alternative Method for Identifying Interplanetary Magnetic Cloud Regions
Authors: Ojeda-Gonzalez A. , Mendes O. , Calzadilla A. , Domingues M. O. , Prestes A. , Klausner V.
Published: March 2017

Spatio-temporal entropy (STE) analysis is used as an alternative mathematical tool to identify possible magnetic cloud (MC) candidates. We analyze Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) data using a time interval of only 10 days. We select a convenient data interval of 2500 records moving forward by 200 record steps until the end of the time series. For every data segment, the STE is calculated at each step. During an MC event, the STE reaches values close to zero. This extremely low value of STE is due to MC structure features. However, not all of the magnetic components in MCs have STE values close to zero at the same time. For this reason, we create a standardization index (the so-called Interplanetary Entropy, IE, index). This index is a worthwhile effort to develop new tools to help diagnose ICME structures. The IE was calculated using a time window of one year (1999), and it has a success rate of 70% over other identifiers of MCs. The unsuccessful cases (30%) are caused by small and weak MCs. The results show that the IE methodology identified 9 of 13 MCs, and emitted nine false alarm cases. In 1999, a total of 788 windows of 2500 values existed, meaning that the percentage of false alarms was 1.14%, which can be considered a good result. In addition, four time windows, each of 10 days, are studied, where the IE method was effective in finding MC candidates. As a novel result, two new MCs are identified in these time windows.
A Possible Mechanism for Driving Oscillations in Hot Giant Planets
Authors: Dederick Ethan , Jackiewicz Jason
Published: March 2017

The κ-mechanism has been successful in explaining the origin of observed oscillations of many types of “classical” pulsating variable stars. Here we examine quantitatively if that same process is prominent enough to excite the potential global oscillations within Jupiter, whose energy flux is powered by gravitational collapse rather than nuclear fusion. Additionally, we examine whether external radiative forcing, i.e., starlight, could be a driver for global oscillations in hot Jupiters orbiting various main-sequence stars at defined orbital semimajor axes. Using planetary models generated by the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics and nonadiabatic oscillation calculations, we confirm that Jovian oscillations cannot be driven via the κ-mechanism. However, we do show that, in hot Jupiters, oscillations can likely be excited via the suppression of radiative cooling due to external radiation given a large enough stellar flux and the absence of a significant oscillatory damping zone within the planet. This trend does not seem to be dependent on the planetary mass. In future observations, we can thus expect that such planets may be pulsating, thereby giving greater insight into the internal structure of these bodies.
The Mass, Color, and Structural Evolution of Today’s Massive Galaxies Since z ∼ 5
Authors: Hill Allison R. , Muzzin Adam , Franx Marijn , Clauwens Bart , Schreiber Corentin , Marchesini Danilo , Stefanon Mauro , Labbe Ivo , Brammer Gabriel , Caputi Karina , Fynbo Johan , Milvang-Jensen Bo , Skelton Rosalind E. , Dokkum Pieter van , Whitaker Katherine E.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we use stacking analysis to trace the mass growth, color evolution, and structural evolution of present-day massive galaxies (

) out to z = 5. We utilize the exceptional depth and area of the latest UltraVISTA data release, combined with the depth and unparalleled seeing of CANDELS to gather a large, mass-selected sample of galaxies in the NIR (rest-frame optical to UV). Progenitors of present-day massive galaxies are identified via an evolving cumulative number density selection, which accounts for the effects of merging to correct for the systematic biases introduced using a fixed cumulative number density selection, and find progenitors grow in stellar mass by

since z = 5. Using stacking, we analyze the structural parameters of the progenitors and find that most of the stellar mass content in the central regions was in place by

, and while galaxies continue to assemble mass at all radii, the outskirts experience the largest fractional increase in stellar mass. However, we find evidence of significant stellar mass build-up at

beyond

probing an era of significant mass assembly in the interiors of present-day massive galaxies. We also compare mass assembly from progenitors in this study to the EAGLE simulation and find qualitatively similar assembly with z at

. We identify

as a distinct epoch in the evolution of massive galaxies where progenitors transitioned from growing in mass and size primarily through in situ star formation in disks to a period of efficient growth in r

e
consistent with the minor merger scenario.
A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE NON-PARAMETRIC AND FUZZY LOGIC-BASED CLASSIFICATIONS IN RECOGNITION OF HUMAN DAILY ACTIVITIES
Authors: Namdari Hamideh , Tahami Ehsan , Far Fatimah Hadian
Published: March 2017

Appropriate and accurate detection of the people like the elderly and patients suffering from imbalanced-oriented problems is a significant step to implement the necessary actions in order to enhance quality of life and increase their independence during their life. The aim of this paper was to investigate the differences in performance of parametric and non-parametric classifiers in recognition of daily activities of people. As daily affairs of human being can change dynamically, new patterns may emerge as well as an old habit may be forgotten or stopped to be used. It is difficult to build a classifier that will have a full description of all possible ways to perform an activity. In this research, for exact identification of everyday activities, data collected from information of four accelerometers in noteworthy points of body which have the greatest role in the process of identifying and separating activities. This dataset was acquired from UCI Machine Learning database. After extraction of convenient features, different algorithms including KNN and Neuro-fuzzy classifiers were applied to data to check the rate of accuracy in exact recognition of daily activities. The results showed that the KNN classifier as anon-parametric classifier encompasses the highest accuracy rate of about 99.758[Formula: see text]. It is concluded that recognizing activities using multiple small body-worn accelerometers and implementing an optimized unobtrusive approach can lead us to a significant result.
A NEW METHOD FOR SIGNATURE VERIFICATION BASED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HAND MUSCLES AND TENDONS
Authors: Ganjdanesh Yousef , Maghooli Keivan , Nasrabadi A Motie , Moein Mohammad-Shahram
Published: March 2017

Signature authentication with static and dynamic features of signature has been studied for decades, in this paper a novel and new method based on estimating elasticity and viscoelasticity characteristics of the muscles and tendons of index finger of the right hand was presented and the angles between the finger knuckles were collected by data collection glove and the location of digital pen tip on sensitive pad is stored in computer too. With NMC model and writing required mathematical equations and inverse modeling, physiological characteristics of muscles and tendons of right hand were estimated by LMS criteria. This approach has been applied on 30 right-hand persons that of each individual 5 genuine signature and some ordinary forgers to counterfeit genuine signature only by seeing the shape of original signature. 93.4% forgery signatures could have been recognized from genuine and only 6.6% could not have been detected. For verification, we used 5-fold cross-validation, with mean of EER[Formula: see text] 3.57 and standard deviation of EER[Formula: see text] 0.736. Therefore, we identified the physiological viscoelasticity and elasticity of muscles and tendons of hand as a new biometric.
Flexural properties of four fast-growing eucalypts woods deteriorated by three different field tests
Authors: Delucis Rafael De Avila , Gatto Darci Alberto
Published: March 2017

Durability is a wood characteristic determined by several factors, making it difficult to investigate the service life of pieces designated for outdoor use. In this study, the decaying of juvenile and adult woods of four fast-growing eucalypts from southern Brazil subjected to three different exposure environments was monitored through mechanical properties (flexural test). The study material was obtained from adult trees of Eucalyptus botryoides, Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus paniculata and Eucalyptus tereticornis. Field tests were conducted in the city of Piratini, southern Brazil, and samplings were carried out during 540 days of experiment. Comparing the four eucalypts, the decreasing order of biological resistance was: Eucalyptus tereticornis, Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus paniculata and Eucalyptus botryoides. The mature wood showed greater and more stable physical-mechanical properties than juvenile wood.
Intelligent system for improving dosage control
Authors: Santos Fabio Cosme Rodrigues dos , Librantz André Felipe Henriques , Dias Cleber Gustavo , Rodrigues Sheila Gozzo
Published: March 2017

Coagulation is one of the most important processes in a drinking-water treatment plant, and it is applied to destabilize impurities in water for the subsequent flocculation stage. Several techniques are currently used in the water industry to determine the best dosage of the coagulant, such as the jar-test method, zeta potential measurements, artificial intelligence methods, comprising neural networks, fuzzy and expert systems, and the combination of the above-mentioned techniques to help operators and engineers in the water treatment process. Current paper presents an artificial neural network approach to evaluate optimum coagulant dosage for various scenarios in raw water quality, using parameters such as raw water color, raw water turbidity, clarified and filtered water turbidity and a calculated Dose Rate to provide the best performance in the filtration process. Another feature in current approach is the use of a backpropagation neural network method to estimate the best coagulant dosage simultaneously at two points of the water treatment plant. Simulation results were compared to the current dosage rate and showed that the proposed system may reduce costs of raw material in water treatment plant.
Quantifying the effect of waterways and green areas on the surface temperature
Authors: Alves Elis Dener Lima
Published: March 2017

The cooling effects of urban parks and green areas, which form the “Park Cool Island” (PCI) can help decrease the surface temperature and mitigate the effects of urban heat islands (UHI). Therefore, the objective of this research was to know the temporal variability of PCI intensity, as well as analyze the factors that determines it and propose an equation to predict the PCI intensity in Iporá, Goiás State, Brazil. To this purpose, the PCI intensity values were obtained using the Landsat-8 satellite (band 10), and then correlated with the NDVI and the LAI, in which proposes equations through multiple linear regression to estimate the PCI intensity. The results indicated that: 1) the greater the distance of the natural area, greater the surface temperature; 2) there is a great seasonality in PCI, in which the intensity of PCI is much higher in the spring (or close to it); 3) the relationship between NDVI and LAI variables, showed good coefficients of determination; 4) the equations for the buffer of 200 and 500 m, had low RMSE with high coefficients of determination (r2 = 0.924 and r2 = 0.957 respectively).
Cutting Edge: Innate Immune Augmenting Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Expressing Zika Virus Proteins Confers Protective Immunity
Authors: Betancourt Dillon , de Queiroz Nina M. G. P. , Xia Tianli , Ahn Jeonghyun , Barber Glen N.
Published: March 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) has become a serious public health concern because of its link to brain damage in developing human fetuses. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) was shown to be a highly effective and safe vector for the delivery of foreign immunogens for vaccine purposes. In this study, we generated rVSVs (wild-type and attenuated VSV with mutated matrix protein [VSVm] versions) that express either the full length ZIKV envelope protein (ZENV) alone or include the ZENV precursor to the membrane protein upstream of the envelope protein, and our rVSV-ZIKV constructs showed efficient immunogenicity in murine models. We also demonstrated maternal protective immunity in challenged newborn mice born to female mice vaccinated with VSVm-ZENV containing the transmembrane domain. Our data indicate that rVSVm may be a suitable strategy for the design of effective vaccines against ZIKV.
Investigating Mumps Outbreak in Odisha, India: An Opportunity to Assess the Health System by Utilizing the Essential Public Health Services Framework
Authors: Paul Sourabh , Mahajan Preetam B. , Sahoo Jyotiranjan , Bhatia Vikas , Subba Sonu H.
Published: March 2017

Mumps, a highly contagious, viral disease continues to spread in India, despite the availability of an effective vaccine. On November 24, 2014, we came across a suspected case of mumps in a 6-year-old boy in a village of Bhusandapur sector in Odisha. We initiated an outbreak investigation using standard techniques outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. This uncovered a silent epidemic of 94 case patients (10% of the population) over a period of 16 weeks between August and December 2014, in a single village, which had gone completely unnoticed by the existing health-care system. Since the index case was one of the last case patients of the outbreak, investigation for immediate control was not a priority. Hence, we have used this exercise to describe the outbreak and identify causes that led to its nondetection. Age range of the case patients was between 2 and 40 years; 85 (90.4%) case patients were ≤ 15 years of age and 54 (57.4%) were females. Average duration of illness was 9 days. No child had received the mumps vaccine. The outbreak had led to a community expenditure of 538 USD. The exercise uncovered a number of weak links in the essential public health services within the health-care delivery system in the area.
Fatal Flea-Borne Typhus in Texas: A Retrospective Case Series, 1985–2015
Authors: Pieracci Emily G. , Evert Nicole , Drexler Naomi A. , Mayes Bonny , Vilcins Inger , Huang Philip , Campbell Jill , Behravesh Casey Barton , Paddock Christopher D.
Published: March 2017

Flea-borne (murine) typhus is a global rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia typhi. Although flea-borne typhus is no longer nationally notifiable, cases are reported for surveillance purposes in a few U.S. states. The infection is typically self-limiting, but may be severe or life-threatening in some patients. We performed a retrospective review of confirmed or probable cases of fatal flea-borne typhus reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services during 1985–2015. When available, medical charts were also examined. Eleven cases of fatal flea-borne typhus were identified. The median patient age was 62 years (range, 36–84 years) and 8 (73%) were male. Patients presented most commonly with fever (100%), nausea and vomiting (55%), and rash (55%). Respiratory (55%) and neurologic (45%) manifestations were also identified frequently. Laboratory abnormalities included thrombocytopenia (82%) and elevated hepatic transaminases (63%). Flea or animal contact before illness onset was frequently reported (55%). The median time from hospitalization to administration of a tetracycline-class drug was 4 days (range, 0–5 days). The median time from symptom onset to death was 14 days (range, 1–34 days). Flea-borne typhus can be a life-threatening disease if not treated in a timely manner with appropriate tetracycline-class antibiotics. Flea-borne typhus should be considered in febrile patients with animal or flea exposure and respiratory or neurologic symptoms of unknown etiology.