bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in growth and developmental responses to supraoptimal temperatures near latitudinal range limits of gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.), an expanding invasive species
Authors: Thompson Lily M. , Faske Trevor M. , Banahene Nana , Grim Dominique , Agosta Salvatore J. , Parry Dylan , Tobin Patrick C. , Johnson Derek M. , Grayson Kristine L.
Published: March 2017

Variation in thermal performance within and between populations provides the potential for adaptive responses to increasing temperatures associated with climate change. Organisms experiencing temperatures above their optimum on a thermal performance curve exhibit rapid declines in function and these supraoptimal temperatures can be a critical physiological component of range limits. The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is one of the best‐documented biological invasions and factors driving its spatial spread are of significant ecological and economic interest. The present study examines gypsy moth sourced from different latitudes across its North American range for sensitivity to high temperature in constant temperature growth chamber experiments. Supraoptimal temperatures result in higher mortality in northern populations compared with populations from the southern range extent (West Virginia and coastal plain of Virginia, U.S.A.). Sublethal effects of high temperature on traits associated with fitness, such as smaller pupal mass, are apparent in northern and West Virginia populations. Overall, the results indicate that populations near the southern limits of the range are less sensitive to high temperatures than northern populations from the established range. However, southern populations are lower performing overall, based on pupal mass and development time, relative to northern populations. This suggests that there may be a trade‐off associated with decreased heat sensitivity in gypsy moth. Understanding how species adapt to thermal limits and possible fitness trade‐offs of heat tolerance represents an important step toward predicting climatically driven changes in species ranges, which is a particularly critical consideration in conservation and invasion ecology.
Trichomonas vaginalis exosome‐like vesicles modify the cytokine profile and reduce inflammation in parasite‐infected mice
Authors: Olmos‐Ortiz L. M. , Barajas‐Mendiola M. A. , Barrios‐Rodiles M. , Castellano L. E. , Arias‐Negrete S. , Avila E. E. , Cuéllar‐Mata P.
Published: March 2017

Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is a flagellated parasite commonly spread through sexual transmission. This protozoan initiates a severe inflammatory process, inducing nitric oxide, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐17 and IL‐22 production by host immune cells. The parasites elicit these responses by releasing surface lipophosphoglycan, small extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and other factors. Tv exosomes are similar to mammalian exosomes and have been implicated in the modulation of IL‐8 secretion by epithelial cells. Here, we report that exosome‐like vesicles from T. vaginalis (Tv‐ELVs) induced a more than 15‐fold increase in IL‐10 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages but only a two fold increase in IL‐6 and TNF‐α expression levels measured by RT‐PCR. Because Tv‐ELVs modulated the macrophage response, we also explored the effect of Tv‐ELVs in a murine model of infection. Pretreatment with Tv‐ELVs significantly increased IL‐10 production as measured in vaginal washes by days 8 and 16 post‐infection. Remarkably, Tv‐ELVs‐pretreated mice exhibited a decrease in IL‐17 production and a significant decrease in vulvar inflammation. In addition, IL‐6 and IL‐13 were decreased during infection. Our results suggest that Tv‐ELVs have an immunomodulatory role on the cytokine profile induced by the parasite and promote a decrease in the inflammatory process in mice infected with T. vaginalis.
Twice‐Weekly Hemodialysis in China: Can It Be A Better Option for Initiation or Maintenance Dialysis Therapy?
Authors: Yan Yucheng , Ramirez Sylvia , Anand Shuchi , Qian Jiaqi , Zuo Li
Published: March 2017

Cumulative evidence indicates it may be worthwhile revisiting the twice‐weekly hemodialysis (HD) regimen as a valid option for individualized or incremental treatments for selected patients with end‐stage renal disease. In this article, we will review the current evidences on the potential pros and cons of twice‐weekly HD compared to thrice‐weekly HD including China's experience in the practice of twice‐weekly HD. A prudent patient selection and close dialysis adequacy monitoring might be necessary for this medical treatment choice. More randomized prospective controlled studies for the critical evaluation of twice‐weekly dialysis are encouraged.
Increasing skeletal muscle carnitine availability does not alter the adaptations to high‐intensity interval training
Authors: Shannon Christopher E. , Ghasemi Reza , Greenhaff Paul L. , Stephens Francis B.
Published: March 2017

Increasing skeletal muscle carnitine availability alters muscle metabolism during steady‐state exercise in healthy humans. We investigated whether elevating muscle carnitine, and thereby the acetyl‐group buffering capacity, altered the metabolic and physiological adaptations to 24 weeks of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) at 100% maximal exercise capacity (Wattmax). Twenty‐one healthy male volunteers (age 23±2 years; BMI 24.2±1.1 kg/m2) performed 2 × 3 minute bouts of cycling exercise at 100% Wattmax, separated by 5 minutes of rest. Fourteen volunteers repeated this protocol following 24 weeks of HIIT and twice‐daily consumption of 80 g carbohydrate (CON) or 3 g l‐carnitine+carbohydrate (CARN). Before HIIT, muscle phosphocreatine (PCr) degradation (P<.0001), glycogenolysis (P<.0005), PDC activation (P<.05), and acetylcarnitine (P<.005) were 2.3‐, 2.1‐, 1.5‐, and 1.5‐fold greater, respectively, in exercise bout two compared to bout 1, while lactate accumulation tended (P<.07) to be 1.5‐fold greater. Following HIIT, muscle free carnitine was 30% greater in CARN vs CON at rest and remained 40% elevated prior to the start of bout 2 (P<.05). Following bout 2, free carnitine content, PCr degradation, glycogenolysis, lactate accumulation, and PDC activation were all similar between CON and CARN, albeit markedly lower than before HIIT. VO2max, Wattmax, and work output were similarly increased in CON and CARN, by 9, 15, and 23% (P<.001). In summary, increased reliance on non‐mitochondrial ATP resynthesis during a second bout of intense exercise is accompanied by increased carnitine acetylation. Augmenting muscle carnitine during 24 weeks of HIIT did not alter this, nor did it enhance muscle metabolic adaptations or performance gains beyond those with HIIT alone.
Increasing preferred step rate during running reduces plantar pressures
Authors: Gerrard James M. , Bonanno Daniel R.
Published: March 2017

Increasing preferred step rate during running is a commonly used strategy in the management of running‐related injuries. This study investigated the effect of different step rates on plantar pressures during running. Thirty‐two healthy runners ran at a comfortable speed on a treadmill at five step rates (preferred, ±5%, and ±10%). For each step rate, plantar pressure data were collected using the pedar‐X in‐shoe system. Compared to running with a preferred step rate, a 10% increase in step rate significantly reduced peak pressure (144.5±46.5 vs 129.3±51 kPa; P=.033) and maximum force (382.3±157.6 vs 334.0±159.8 N; P=.021) at the rearfoot, and reduced maximum force (426.4±130.4 vs 400.0±116.6 N; P=.001) at the midfoot. In contrast, a 10% decrease in step rate significantly increased peak pressure (144.5±46.5 vs 161.5±49.3 kPa; P=.011) and maximum force (382.3±157.6 vs 425.4±155.3 N; P=.032) at the rearfoot. Changing step rate by 5% provided no effect on plantar pressures, and no differences in plantar pressures were observed at the medial forefoot, lateral forefoot or hallux between the step rates. This study's findings indicate that increasing preferred step rate by 10% during running will reduce plantar pressures at the rearfoot and midfoot, while decreasing step rate by 10% will increase plantar pressures at the rearfoot. However, changing preferred step rate by 5% will provide no effect on plantar pressures, and forefoot pressures are unaffected by changes in step rate.
Merger and Reversal of the Bären and Beeren Vowels: The Role of Salience
Authors: Sloos Marjoleine
Published: March 2017

The Bären vowel in German is known to be subject to extensive variation, including, for some speakers, a merger with the Beeren vowel. This article investigates the behaviour of the Bären and Beeren vowels in Standard German in Switzerland and Austria. We observe an ongoing merger in Swiss Standard German but an ongoing reversal of such a merger in Austrian Standard German. Independent evidence shows that both varieties (Swiss and Austrian German) accommodate toward the prestige variety in northern Germany. This presents a kind of paradox: why should merger and reversal occur side by side? We attribute these opposite tendencies of merger and reversal to perceptual salience. In the prestige variety, much variation between these two vowels occurs, so Swiss and Austrian speakers are exposed to variable input for both vowels. This paper argues that the vowel that is different from the own variety is perceptually most salient and therefore accommodated to. As for the Swiss speakers, the merger of the Bären and the Beeren vowel is unexpected, therefore salient, hence accommodated to. As for the Austrian speakers, the distinction between the Bären and the Beeren vowel is unexpected, therefore salient, and accommodated to. This leads to the observed, opposite, patterns of change.
Distinguishing the effect of diapir growth on magnetic fabrics of syn‐diapiric overburden rocks: Basque–Cantabrian basin, Northern Spain
Authors: Soto Ruth , Beamud Elisabet , Roca Eduard , Carola Eloi , Almar Ylenia
Published: March 2017

An analysis of Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility was done on Aptian–Albian sediments from the Basque–Cantabrian basin. Samples were collected from 39 sites in the halokinetic sequences of the Bakio, Bermeo, Guernica and Mungia diapirs; 28 sites were sampled close to diapirs, and 11 sites were far from the diapir edges. The magnetic foliation is parallel to bedding, suggesting it reflects depositional and compaction processes, whereas the orientation of magnetic lineation varies. Far from the diapir edges, the magnetic lineation is interpreted as being related to the regional Pyrenean compression. Close to diapir edges, the observed behaviour shows that diapirs, predominantly formed by rigid ophites, have acted as buttresses, with shadow areas at their northern faces being protected from the Pyrenean compression. The high sensitivity of AMS makes it a very useful tool to distinguish deformation in halokinetic sequences related to diapir growth from that related to subsequent compression.
Effect of fluid pressure distribution on the structural evolution of accretionary wedges
Authors: Ruh Jonas B.
Published: March 2017

Numerical experiments on evolving accretionary wedges usually implement predefined weak basal décollements and constant strength parameters for overlying compressed sequences, although fluid pressure ratio, and therefore brittle strength, can vary strongly in sedimentary basins. A two‐dimensional finite difference model with a visco‐elasto‐plastic rheology is used to investigate the influence of different simplified fluid pressure ratio distributions on the structural evolution of accretionary wedge systems. Results show that a linear increase in fluid pressure ratio towards the base leads to toeward‐verging thrust sheets and underplating of strata, while simulations with a predefined décollement form conjugate shear zones supporting box‐fold‐type frontal accretion. Surface tapers are in agreement with the critical wedge theory, which here is modified for cases of varying fluid pressure ratio. Furthermore, the numerical results resemble findings from natural examples of accretionary wedges.
The chloroplast RNA helicase ISE2 is required for multiple chloroplast RNA processing steps in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Bobik Krzysztof , McCray Tyra N. , Ernest Ben , Fernandez Jessica C. , Howell Katharine A. , Lane Thomas , Staton Margaret , Burch‐Smith Tessa M.
Published: March 2017

INCREASED SIZE EXCLUSION LIMIT2 (ISE2) is a chloroplast‐localized RNA helicase that is indispensable for proper plant development. Chloroplasts in leaves with reduced ISE2 expression have previously been shown to exhibit reduced thylakoid contents and increased stromal volume, indicative of defective development. It has recently been reported that ISE2 is required for the splicing of group II introns from chloroplast transcripts. The current study extends these findings, and presents evidence for ISE2's role in multiple aspects of chloroplast RNA processing beyond group II intron splicing. Loss of ISE2 from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves resulted in defects in C‐to‐U RNA editing, altered accumulation of chloroplast transcripts and chloroplast‐encoded proteins, and defective processing of chloroplast ribosomal RNAs. Potential ISE2 substrates were identified by RNA immunoprecipitation followed by next‐generation sequencing (RIP‐seq), and the diversity of RNA species identified supports ISE2's involvement in multiple aspects of chloroplast RNA metabolism. Comprehensive phylogenetic analyses revealed that ISE2 is a non‐canonical Ski2‐like RNA helicase that represents a separate sub‐clade unique to green photosynthetic organisms, consistent with its function as an essential protein. Thus ISE2's evolutionary conservation may be explained by its numerous roles in regulating chloroplast gene expression.
Evaluation of the effects of time, temperature, and specimen storage on in vitro lactate concentrations in healthy dogs
Authors: Reich Colin F. , Bach Jonathan F. , Walker Julie M.
Published: March 2017

Background

Lactate concentrations increase significantly under certain storage conditions, except for when glycolysis‐arresting agents are used. Evaluation of time and storage conditions on heparinized whole blood lactate concentrations without glycolysis‐arresting agents have not been evaluated in dogs.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of preanalytic storage conditions on the in vitro concentration of lactate in heparinized canine venous blood specimens.

Methods

In this prospective study, blood collected from 30 healthy dogs was aliquoted and stored under different conditions: anaerobic refrigerated (3°C), aerobic refrigerated, anaerobic room temperature (RT), and aerobic RT. Whole blood lactate was analyzed at 15–25, 30–40, 60–70, and 120–130 minutes from time 0 (T0) under all storage conditions. Percent increases from the T0 specimen were calculated.

Results

There were significantly increased lactate concentrations at all time points within the anaerobic refrigerated specimens compared to T0, and in the anaerobic RT specimens after 15–25 minutes. The aerobic refrigerated specimens did not have significant changes in lactate when compared to anaerobic refrigerated specimens, while the aerobic RT specimens had significant increases at all time points. Anaerobically refrigerated specimens stored < 40 minutes and aerobically refrigerated specimens stored < 25 minutes had in vitro lactate increases of < 20%.

Conclusions

Results support analyzing lactate specimens immediately. If lactate analysis is delayed, anaerobic refrigerated specimens should be analyzed within 40 minutes, and aerobic refrigerated specimens should be analyzed within 25 minutes. Room temperature specimens stored either aerobically or anaerobically should be avoided as lactate concentrations may be falsely increased.
Bilge-Keel Influence on Free Decay of Roll Motion of a Realistic Hull1
Authors: Jiang Yichen , Yeung Ronald W.
Published: March 2017

The prediction of roll motion of a ship with bilge keels is particularly difficult because of the nonlinear characteristics of the viscous roll damping. Flow separation and vortex shedding caused by bilge keels significantly affect the roll damping and hence the magnitude of the roll response. To predict the ship motion, the Slender-Ship Free-Surface Random-Vortex Method (SSFSRVM) was employed. It is a fast discrete-vortex free-surface viscous-flow solver developed to run on a standard desktop computer. It features a quasi-three-dimensional formulation that allows the decomposition of the three-dimensional ship-hull problem into a series of two-dimensional computational planes, in which the two-dimensional free-surface Navier–Stokes solver Free-Surface Random-Vortex Method (FSRVM) can be applied. In this paper, the effectiveness of SSFSRVM modeling is examined by comparing the time histories of free roll-decay motion resulting from simulations and from experimental measurements. Furthermore, the detailed two-dimensional vorticity distribution near a bilge keel obtained from the numerical model will also be compared with the existing experimental Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) images. Next, we will report, based on the time-domain simulation of the coupled hull and fluid motion, how the roll-decay coefficients and the flow field are altered by the span of the bilge keels. Plots of vorticity contour and vorticity isosurface along the three-dimensional hull will be presented to reveal the motion of fluid particles and vortex filaments near the keels.
Predicting synergy in atomic layer etching
Authors: Kanarik Keren J. , Tan Samantha , Yang Wenbing , Kim Taeseung , Lill Thorsten , Kabansky Alexander , Hudson Eric A. , Ohba Tomihito , Nojiri Kazuo , Yu Jengyi , Wise Rich , Berry Ivan L. , Pan Yang , Marks Jeffrey , Gottscho Richard A.
Published: March 2017

Atomic layer etching (ALE) is a multistep process used today in manufacturing for removing ultrathin layers of material. In this article, the authors report on ALE of Si, Ge, C, W, GaN, and SiO2 using a directional (anisotropic) plasma-enhanced approach. The authors analyze these systems by defining an “ALE synergy” parameter which quantifies the degree to which a process approaches the ideal ALE regime. This parameter is inspired by the ion-neutral synergy concept introduced in the 1979 paper by Coburn and Winters [J. Appl. Phys. 50, 5 (1979)]. ALE synergy is related to the energetics of underlying surface interactions and is understood in terms of energy criteria for the energy barriers involved in the reactions. Synergistic behavior is observed for all of the systems studied, with each exhibiting behavior unique to the reactant–material combination. By systematically studying atomic layer etching of a group of materials, the authors show that ALE synergy scales with the surface binding energy of the bulk material. This insight explains why some materials are more or less amenable to the directional ALE approach. They conclude that ALE is both simpler to understand than conventional plasma etch processing and is applicable to metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics.
Convergence criteria on the acoustic velocity continuity in a panel-cavity system
Authors: Hu Zhongyu , Maxit Laurent , Cheng Li
Published: March 2017

Modal-based acoustoelastic formulation is regarded as the cornerstone of vibro-acoustics and has been widely used for coupling analyses of structure-cavity systems. The controversy and the skepticism surrounding the acoustic velocity continuity with the surrounding vibrating structures have been persistent, calling for a systematic investigation and clarification. This fundamental issue of significant relevance is addressed in this paper. Through numerical analyses and comparisons with wave-based exact solution, an oscillating convergence pattern of the calculated acoustic velocity is revealed. Normalization of the results leads to a unified series truncation criterion allowing minimal prediction error, which is verified in three-dimensional cases. The paper establishes the fact that the modal based decomposition method definitely allows correct prediction of both the acoustic pressure and the velocity inside an acoustic cavity covered by a flexural structure upon using appropriate series truncation criteria.
Physical quantities and arbitrariness in resolving quantum master equation
Authors: Batalin Igor A. , Lavrov Peter M.
Published: March 2017

By proceeding with the idea that the presence of physical (BRST invariant) extra factors in the path integral is equivalent to taking into account explicitly the arbitrariness in resolving the quantum master equation, we consider the field–antifield quantization procedure both with the Abelian and the non-Abelian gauge fixing.
Abnormal capacitance–voltage behaviors of bismuth-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics
Authors: Xu Ling Fang , Sun Kang , Feng Xing , Xiao Hai Bo , Wang Rui Long , Yang Chang Ping
Published: March 2017

Ca[Formula: see text]Bi[Formula: see text]Cu3Ti4O[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3; BCCTO) ceramics were prepared by traditional solid-state sintering method. All samples had pure cubic perovskite-like structure. A drastic grain size reduction was observed with bismuth doping. Dielectric spectra showed two obvious relaxation steps corresponding to two series of peaks in the imaginary part of electric modulus spectra and dielectric loss spectra too. Activation energy fitting by electric modulus spectra reflected different conducting segments in BCCTO ceramics of grains and oxygen vacancies below room temperature. Normalized capacitance dependent of extra bias showed different voltage–capacitance coefficients at special frequencies that suggested multirelaxation mechanisms related with grain and oxygen vacancy. A positive capacitance curvature implies dipolar relaxations in CCTO grains. Whereas a negative curvature suggests oxygen-related relaxations at the interface.
Physical properties of ternary silicide superconductors Li2XSi3 (X = Rh, Os): An ab initio study
Authors: Alam M. A. , Zilani M. A. K. , Parvin F. , Hadi M. A.
Published: March 2017

An ab initio method, based on the plane wave pseudopotential and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), is performed to investigate the physical properties such as structural, elastic, electronic and bonding properties of newly synthesized Li2RhSi3 and predicted Li2OsSi3 ternary silicide superconductors for the first time. Both of these compounds are mechanically stable and are brittle in nature. They also have good machinability. Electronic band structures reveal that these compounds have metallic characteristics. They possess complex bonding nature (metallic, covalent and ionic). According to theoretical Vickers hardness, Li2RhSi3 is softer than Li2OsSi3.
Uncertainties on gamma-ray energies and intensities measured in the decay of 83Sr
Authors: Shen Shuifa , Yu Xiaohan , Shen Jiejie , Shi Shuanghui , Liu Jingyi , Li Wenxin , Li Yan , Yan Yupeng
Published: March 2017

We analyze once again the [Formula: see text] singles spectra and [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] coincidence spectra following the [Formula: see text]EC decay of 83Sr. Multipeaks are carefully separated and many [Formula: see text] transition cascades are clearly obtained in the work. As a complement to our previous work, the uncertainties on [Formula: see text]-rays energies, [Formula: see text]-rays intensities and deduced level energies in the [Formula: see text]EC decay of 83Sr are given now.
CONSTRUCTION AND ANALYSIS OF A SPECIAL ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONTINUOUS FUNCTION
Authors: WANG J. , YAO K.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, the definition of unbounded variation point is introduced firstly. Then, we construct a continuous function containing uncountable unbounded variation points on the basis of Devil stair function. Finally, a mass of meaningful properties have been proved, such as Box dimension of continuous function constructed in the paper is 1 and the continuous function has infinite length on [0,1].
GBT-Based Buckling Analysis Using the Exact Element Method
Authors: Bebiano Rui , Eisenberger Moshe , Camotim Dinar , Gonçalves Rodrigo
Published: March 2017

Generalized Beam Theory (GBT), intended to analyze the structural behavior of prismatic thin-walled members and structural systems, expresses the member deformed configuration as a combination of cross-section deformation modes multiplied by the corresponding longitudinal amplitude functions. The determination of the latter, usually the most computer-intensive step of the analysis, is almost always performed by means of GBT-based conventional 1D (beam) finite elements. This paper presents the formulation, implementation and application of the so-called “exact element method” in the framework of GBT-based linear buckling analyses. This method, originally proposed by Eisenberger (1990), uses the power series method to solve the governing differential equation and obtains the buckling eigenvalue problem from the boundary terms. A few illustrative numerical examples are presented, focusing mainly on the comparison between the combined accuracy and computational effort associated with the determination of buckling solutions with the exact and standard GBT-based (finite) elements. This comparison shows that the GBT-based exact element method may lead to significant computational savings, particularly when the buckling modes exhibit larger half-wave numbers.
INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOUR OF INDIAN MICRO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
Authors: SHARMA NOMITA
Published: March 2017

The aim of this paper is to explore innovative behaviour of Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. It is interesting to study innovative behaviour of microsmau and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since they try to innovate while surrounded by many barriers. They also face high failure rate in doing so. This failure is due to presence of barriers that MSMEs fail to manage. But it has been observed that many MSMEs are now awakening to their potential and becoming innovative. They tend to respond to environmental factors in an innovative way, either by cutting cost or changing ways of management. This innovative way defines their innovative behaviour. The innovative behaviour of MSMEs is studied through three variables, i.e., size, age and barriers faced by them. The result shows that size does influence innovation activities undertaken by MSMEs and statistically, there is no correlation between age and innovative behaviour. Their innovative behaviour is affected by barriers like shortage of technical skilled manpower, technology and shortage of funds or complex funding procedure. The paper is concluded by summarising the key findings, discussing implications, limitations and further scope of study.
Dynamical Behavior of a Malaria Model with Discrete Delay and Optimal Insecticide Control
Authors: Kar Tuhin Kumar , Jana Soovoojeet
Published: March 2017

In this paper we have proposed and analyzed a simple three-dimensional mathematical model related to malaria disease. We consider three state variables associated with susceptible human population, infected human population and infected mosquitoes, respectively. A discrete delay parameter has been incorporated to take account of the time of incubation period with infected mosquitoes. We consider the effect of insecticide control, which is applied to the mosquitoes. Basic reproduction number is figured out for the proposed model and it is shown that when this threshold is less than unity then the system moves to the disease-free state whereas for higher values other than unity, the system would tend to an endemic state. On the other hand if we consider the system with delay, then there may exist some cases where the endemic equilibrium would be unstable although the numerical value of basic reproduction number may be greater than one. We formulate and solve the optimal control problem by considering insecticide as the control variable. Optimal control problem assures to obtain better result than the noncontrol situation. Numerical illustrations are provided in support of the theoretical results.
China’s Politics 2016: Xi Jinping As “Core Leader” and Massive Personnel Reshuffles
Authors: CHEN Gang
Published: March 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been consolidating his power over local affairs and preparing for the next round of power transfer at the 19th Party Congress in 2017. The Congress is likely to effect a far-reaching change in the composition of the central leadership. Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang are expected to retain their seats in the Politburo Standing Committee, while Wang Qishan may stay on due to his role in the anti-corruption campaign.
Pricing derivatives with fractional volatility
Authors: Funahashi Hideharu
Published: March 2017

This paper studies the effect of fractional volatility on path-dependent options, which are highly sensitive to the volatility structure of a targeted underlying asset process. To this end, we propose an approximation formula for average and barrier options when volatility follows a fractional Brownian motion. Furthermore, using the analytical formula, we investigate the impact of the Hurst index on option prices. Overall, our important finding is that when the maturity is short and speed of mean-reversion is slow, the impact of the Hurst index strongly influences the option prices and that is non-negligible. This is an important lesson for practitioners who uses standard Brownian motion.
e-Sampling
Authors: Bhuiyan Md Zakirul Alam , Wu Jie , Wang Guojun , Wang Tian , Hassan Mohammad Mehedi
Published: March 2017

Sampling rate adaptation is a critical issue in many resource-constrained networked systems, including Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Existing algorithms are primarily employed to detect events such as objects or physical changes at a high, low, or fixed frequency sampling usually adapted by a central unit or a sink, therefore requiring additional resource usage. Additionally, this algorithm potentially makes a network unable to capture a dynamic change or event of interest, which therefore affects monitoring quality. This article studies the problem of a fully autonomous adaptive sampling regarding the presence of a change or event. We propose a novel scheme, termed “event-sensitive adaptive sampling and low-cost monitoring (e-Sampling)” by addressing the problem in two stages, which leads to reduced resource usage (e.g., energy, radio bandwidth). First, e-Sampling provides the embedded algorithm to adaptive sampling that automatically switches between high- and low-frequency intervals to reduce the resource usage, while minimizing false negative detections. Second, by analyzing the frequency content, e-Sampling presents an event identification algorithm suitable for decentralized computing in resource-constrained networks. In the absence of an event, the “uninteresting” data is not transmitted to the sink. Thus, the energy cost is further reduced. e-Sampling can be useful in a broad range of applications. We apply e-Sampling to Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Fire Event Monitoring (FEM), which are typical applications of high-frequency events. Evaluation via both simulations and experiments validates the advantages of e-Sampling in low-cost event monitoring, and in effectively expanding the capacity of WSNs for high data rate applications.
Row-Interleaved Sampling for Depth-Enhanced 3D Video Coding for Polarized Displays
Authors: Homayouni Maryam , Aflaki Payman , Hannuksela Miska M. , Gabbouj Moncef
Published: March 2017

Passive stereoscopic displays create the illusion of three dimensions by employing orthogonal polarizing filters and projecting two images onto the same screen. In this article, a coding scheme targeting depth-enhanced stereoscopic video coding for polarized displays is introduced. We propose to use asymmetric row-interleaved sampling for texture and depth views prior to encoding. The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with several other schemes, and the objective results confirm the superior performance of the proposed method. Furthermore, subjective evaluation proves that no quality degradation is introduced by the proposed coding scheme compared to the reference method.
Crowd Scene Understanding from Video
Authors: Grant Jason M. , Flynn Patrick J.
Published: March 2017

Crowd video analysis has applications in crowd management, public space design, and visual surveillance. Example tasks potentially aided by automated analysis include anomaly detection (such as a person walking against the grain of traffic or rapid assembly/dispersion of groups of people), population and density measurements, and interactions between groups of people. This survey explores crowd analysis as it relates to two primary research areas: crowd statistics and behavior understanding. First, we survey methods for counting individuals and approximating the density of the crowd. Second, we showcase research efforts on behavior understanding as related to crowds. These works focus on identifying groups, interactions within small groups, and abnormal activity detection such as riots and bottlenecks in large crowds. Works presented in this section also focus on tracking groups of individuals, either as a single entity or a subset of individuals within the frame of reference. Finally, a summary of datasets available for crowd activity video research is provided.
Reining in Long Tails in Warehouse-Scale Computers with Quick Voltage Boosting Using Adrenaline
Authors: Hsu Chang-Hong , Zhang Yunqi , Laurenzano Michael A. , Meisner David , Wenisch Thomas , Dreslinski Ronald G. , Mars Jason , Tang Lingjia
Published: March 2017

Reducing the long tail of the query latency distribution in modern warehouse scale computers is critical for improving performance and quality of service (QoS) of workloads such as Web Search and Memcached. Traditional turbo boost increases a processor’s voltage and frequency during a coarse-grained sliding window, boosting all queries that are processed during that window. However, the inability of such a technique to pinpoint tail queries for boosting limits its tail reduction benefit. In this work, we propose
Adrenaline
, an approach to leverage finer-granularity (tens of nanoseconds) voltage boosting to effectively rein in the tail latency with query-level precision. Two key insights underlie this work. First, emerging finer granularity voltage/frequency boosting is an enabling mechanism for intelligent allocation of the power budget to precisely boost only the queries that contribute to the tail latency; second, per-query characteristics can be used to design indicators for proactively pinpointing these queries, triggering boosting accordingly. Based on these insights, Adrenaline effectively pinpoints and boosts queries that are likely to increase the tail distribution and can reap more benefit from the voltage/frequency boost. By evaluating under various workload configurations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our methodology. We achieve up to a 2.50 × tail latency improvement for Memcached and up to a 3.03 × for Web Search over coarse-grained dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) given a fixed boosting power budget. When optimizing for energy reduction, Adrenaline achieves up to a 1.81 × improvement for Memcached and up to a 1.99 × for Web Search over coarse-grained DVFS. By using the carefully chosen boost thresholds, Adrenaline further improves the tail latency reduction to 4.82 × over coarse-grained DVFS.
Superabsorbent Polymer Based on Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose Grafted Polyacrylic Acid by Inverse Suspension Polymerization
Authors: Klinpituksa Pairote , Kosaiyakanon Patchareeya
Published: March 2017

A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) based on graft copolymerization of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and acrylic acid was prepared by inverse suspension polymerization using potassium persulfate as an initiator and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linker. Experiments were performed at 70°C for 90 min but varying the concentrations of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC), acrylic acid (AA), potassium persulfate (KPS), and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA), and also varying % neutralization of AA. The maximum swelling capacity for SAP was 544.95 g/g in distilled water and 44.0 g/g in 0.9% w/v NaCl solution. This near optimal SAP was prepared using 2.0 g/100 mL NaCMC, 1.0 mol/L AA with 70% neutralization, 0.014 mol/L KPS, and 0.01 mol/L MBA.
Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Boron Carbide by Direct Microwave Carbothermal Reduction of Boric Acid
Authors: Gunnewiek Rodolfo F. K. , Souto Pollyane M. , Kiminami Ruth H. G. A.
Published: March 2017

The excellent physical and chemical properties of boron carbide make it suitable for many applications. However, its synthesis requires a large amount of energy and is time-consuming. Microwave carbothermal reduction is a fast technique for producing well crystallized equiaxial boron carbide nanoparticles of about 50 nm and very few amounts of elongated nanoparticles were also synthesized. They presented an average length of 82 nm and a high aspect ratio (5.5). The total reaction time was only 20 minutes, which disfavor the growing process, leading to the synthesis of nanoparticles. Microwave-assisted synthesis leaded to producing boron-rich boron carbide. Increasing the forward power increases the boron content and enhances the efficiency of the reaction, resulting in better crystallized boron carbide.
Effect of Enamel Caries Lesion Baseline Severity on Fluoride Dose-Response
Authors: Lippert Frank
Published: March 2017

This study aimed to investigate the effect of enamel caries lesion baseline severity on fluoride dose-response under pH cycling conditions. Early caries lesions were created in human enamel specimens at four different severities (8, 16, 24, and 36 h). Lesions were allocated to treatment groups (0, 83, and 367 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride) based on Vickers surface microhardness (VHN) and pH cycled for 5 d. The cycling model comprised 3 × 1 min fluoride treatments sandwiched between 2 × 60 min demineralization challenges with specimens stored in artificial saliva in between. VHN was measured again and changes versus lesion baseline were calculated (ΔVHN). Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA (p<0.05). Increased demineralization times led to increased surface softening. The lesion severity×fluoride concentration interaction was significant (p<0.001). Fluoride dose-response was observed in all groups. Lesions initially demineralized for 16 and 8 h showed similar overall rehardening (ΔVHN) and more than 24 and 36 h lesions, which were similar. The 8 h lesions showed the greatest fluoride response differential (367 versus 0 ppm F) which diminished with increasing lesion baseline severity. The extent of rehardening as a result of the 0 ppm F treatment increased with increasing lesion baseline severity, whereas it decreased for the fluoride treatments. In conclusion, lesion baseline severity impacts the extent of the fluoride dose-response.
A Curious Case of Intestinal Diaphragm Disease Unmasked by Perforation of a Duodenal Ulcer
Authors: McNally Mairéad , Cretu Ion
Published: March 2017

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a common cause of intestinal injury. A variety of NSAID-induced injuries may occur including ulcers, erosions, colitis, strictures, and diaphragm disease. Diaphragm disease refers to the development of multiple thin, concentric, stenosing strictures in the intestine. Strictures occur most often in the midintestine and are thought to be pathognomonic of NSAID damage. They can lead to intermittent or complete bowel obstruction. Diagnosis may be elusive as there is nothing specific about NSAID-induced injury at endoscopy and histology is also nonspecific. Even at laparotomy, the diagnosis of diaphragm disease may be missed as the serosa may appear normal and strictures can be difficult to palpate. While most NSAID-induced lesions tend to resolve quickly following withdrawal of the offending drug, diaphragm-like strictures usually require intervention such as stricturoplasty or surgical resection of the involved segment of bowel. Here we report the case of a 60-year-old male patient who presented with iron deficiency anaemia and recurrent subacute bowel obstruction. Following endoscopy and repeated CT scanning of his abdomen, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He was treated with 5-ASAs and immune suppression until a perforated duodenal ulcer resulted in emergency laparotomy and the subsequent discovery of multiple intestinal diaphragms attributable to long-standing NSAID use.
Innate Immunity of Adipose Tissue in Rodent Models of Local and SystemicStaphylococcus aureusInfection
Authors: Schmid Andreas , Karrasch Thomas , Thomalla Miriam , Schlegel Jutta , Salzberger Bernd , Schäffler Andreas , Hanses Frank
Published: March 2017

Background. The role of adipose tissue in systemic inflammation during bacterial infection is unclear. Effects ofStaphylococcus aureusinfection on adipocytes in rodent models of experimental endocarditis and peritonitis, the impact ofS. aureusinfection on gene expression in epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and effects ofS. aureusinfection on the toll-like receptor-2- (TLR2-) cathelicidin pathway in vivo and in vitro were investigated.Material and methods.The rat model of catheter-inducedS. aureusendocarditis and the mouse model ofS. aureus-induced peritonitis were used for infection experiments, gene expression profiling in adipose tissue, and measurement of cytokines. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were analyzed for expression of the TLR2-cathelicidin pathway.Results. Upon systemic bacterial infection byS. aureus, there is a shift from anti- to proinflammatory cytokines in serum and in adipose tissue gene expression. The TLR2-cathelicidin pathway is increasingly expressed during adipocyte differentiation in vitro and is induced upon stimulation by synthetic lipopeptides.Conclusions. Systemic infection by Gram-positive bacteria induces proinflammatory transformation of adipose tissue sites distinct from infection sites, documented on the levels of gene expression and secreted mediators. The TLR2-cathelicidine pathway is expressed and highly inducible in adipocytes in vitro. Lipopeptides are important immune-modulators of adipocytes in both gene expression and protein secretion.
Nonfamilial Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome with Exon 5 Novel Mutation in SMAD 4 Gene
Authors: Ahmed Amna , Alsaleem Badr
Published: March 2017

Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder, characterized by multiple juvenile polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. JPS is most frequently caused by mutations in the SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes. Herein, we report a child with juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) with a novel mutation in the SMAD4 gene. An 8-year-old boy presented with recurrent rectal bleeding and was found to have multiple polyps in the entire colon. The histology of the resected polyps was consistent with juvenile polyps. Subsequent genetic screening revealed a novel mutation in SMAD4, exon 5 (p.Ser144Stop). To the best of our knowledge, this mutation has not been reported before. Offering genotypic diagnosis for patients with JPS is an important step for strategic plan of management.
Numerical Study on Flow around Four Square‐Arranged Cylinders at Low Reynolds Numbers
Authors: Gao Yang-yang , Yin Chang-shan , Zhang Hao-qiang , Yang Kang , Zhao Xi-zeng , Sun Zhilin
Published: March 2017

In this paper, numerical simulations of flow past four square‐arranged cylinders are carried out at different spacing ratios (1.5 ≤ L/D ≤ 5.0; L is the center to center distance; D is the cylinder diameter) and Reynolds numbers (100 ≤ Re ≤ 1000). The effects of spacing ratio and Reynolds number on the wake flow characteristics are investigated, such as the instantaneous vorticity contours, force coefficients, and vortex shedding frequencies. The results show that the flow characteristics behind the four‐cylinder cases are significantly affected by the spacing ratios and Reynolds numbers. At the same spacing ratio, the transformation of flow pattern is advanced quickly with increasing of Reynolds numbers, the values of force coefficients are correspondingly fluctuated with large amplitude, and the vortex shedding frequency is increased significantly with Re.
Successful Treatment of Facial Acne Fulminans: Antimicrobial Agents and Oral Prednisolone as Promising Regimes
Authors: Siadat Amir Hossein , Bostakian Anis , Abtahi-Naeini Bahareh , Shahbazi Masoom
Published: March 2017

Acne fulminans (AF), also known as acne maligna, is a rare painful ulcerative form of acne with an abrupt onset and systemic symptoms. Its incidence appears to be decreasing, possibly because of earlier and better treatment of acne. This report highlights a case on a necrotizing facial wound due to AF that was successfully treated with oral prednisolone and antimicrobial medication.
SEM and AFM Studies of Two-Phase Magnetic Alkali Borosilicate Glasses
Authors: Andreeva N. , Tomkovich M. , Naberezhnov A. , Nacke B. , Filimonov A. , Alekseeva O. , Vanina P. , Nizhankovskii V.
Published: March 2017

The morphology and composition of four types of two-phase alkali borosilicate glasses with magnetic atoms prepared by inductive melting have been studied. The results of scanning electron microscopy point to uniform distribution of Na, Si, and O atoms in these samples while magnetic iron atoms form ball-shaped agglomerates. The magnetic properties of these agglomerates have been confirmed by magnetic force microscopy. Atomic force microscopy had shown that in these samples two different morphological structures, drop-like and dendrite net, are formed. The formation of dendrite-like structure is a necessary condition for production of porous magnetic glasses. The obtained results allow us to optimize the melting and heat treatment processes leading to production of porous alkali borosilicate glasses with magnetic properties. The first results for nanocomposite materials on the basis of magnetic glasses containing the embedded ferroelectrics KH2PO4 demonstrate the effect of applied magnetic field on the ferroelectric phase transition.
Optimizing the Dose of Erythropoietin Required to Prevent Acute Ventilation-Induced Cerebral White Matter Injury in Preterm Lambs
Authors: Chan Kyra Y.Y. , LaRosa Domenic A. , Tolcos Mary , Li Anqi , Zahra Valerie A. , Polglase Graeme R. , Barton Samantha K.
Published: March 2017

Erythropoietin (EPO) is being trialed in preterm neonates for neuroprotection. We have recently demonstrated that a single high bolus dose (5,000 IU/kg) of recombinant human EPO amplified preterm lung and brain ventilation-induced injury. We aimed to determine the optimal dose of EPO to reduce ventilation-induced cerebral white matter inflammation and injury in preterm lambs. Lambs (0.85 gestation) were ventilated with an injurious strategy for 15 min followed by conventional ventilation for 105 min. Lambs were randomized to no treatment (VENT; n = 8) or received a bolus dose of EPO (EPREX®): 300 IU/kg (EPO 300; n = 5), 1,000 IU/kg (EPO 1,000; n = 5), or 3,000 IU/kg (EPO 3,000; n = 5). Physiological parameters were measured throughout the study. After 2 h, brains were collected for analysis; real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to assess inflammation, cell death, and vascular leakage in the periventricular and subcortical white matter (PVWM; SCWM). Molecular and histological inflammatory indices in the PVWM were not different between groups. EPO 300 lambs had higher IL-6 (p = 0.006) and caspase-3 (p = 0.025) mRNA expression in the SCWM than VENT lambs. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) occludin mRNA levels were higher in EPO 3,000 lambs in the PVWM and SCWM than VENT lambs. The number of blood vessels with protein extravasation in the SCWM was lower in EPO 1,000 (p = 0.010) and EPO 3,000 (p = 0.025) lambs compared to VENT controls but not different between groups in the PVWM. Early administration of EPO at lower doses neither reduced nor exacerbated cerebral white matter inflammation or injury. 3,000 IU/kg EPO may provide neuroprotection by improving BBB integrity.