bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid cloud computing monitoring software architecture
Authors: Aktas Mehmet S.
Published: May 2018

Cloud computing provides scalable computing resources on demand. Monitoring cloud computing resources is important so that resources can be dynamically allocated, migrated, or shut down to meet users' requirements. Challenges in cloud computing monitoring systems include detecting patterns that might lead to failure of the cloud system, detecting malfunctioning problems within the cloud platform after they occur, and issues related to the fact that existing monitoring solutions are tightly coupled to specific cloud platforms, while there is an emerging need for monitoring solutions that are independent of underlying subsystems. To address these challenges, we designed a hybrid cloud monitoring software architecture that can work as an add‐on layer on top of existing cloud computing platforms. The proposed architecture is designed based on facade software design pattern and utilizes complex event processing concept in which data from various primitive metrics streams is processed to detect previously defined patterns. Prototype applications have been developed to demonstrate the architecture's usability. Performance tests were applied to prototype applications. Computation times required for the operation of the proposed architecture were negligible.
Current‐input current‐output analog half center oscillator and central pattern generator circuits with memristors
Authors: Köymen Itir , Drakakis Emmanuel M.
Published: May 2018

The comparison of the memristor to the biological synapse has motivated the introduction of memristors to biomimetic circuits such as Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) and Half Center Oscillators (HCOs). The effects of the utilization of memristors in such systems have been investigated in this work. The HCO is a neural oscillator, and the CPG is made up of 4 HCOs producing oscillations corresponding to the locomotion of a 4‐limbed animal. Analog HCO and CPG circuits have been simulated using the Cadence Virtuoso platform and effects of using current‐driven and voltage‐driven memristors in different configurations with different parameters have been analyzed. Improvement in the stability of rhythm and variations in oscillation amplitudes have been observed.
Three decades of annual growth, mortality, physical condition, and microsite for ten tropical rainforest tree species
Authors: Clark Deborah A. , Clark David B. , Letcher Susan G.
Published: May 2018

In lowland tropical rainforest, hundreds of tree species typically occur within mesoscale landscapes (50–500 ha). There is no consensus ecological theory that accounts for the coexistence of so many species with similar morphologies and the same fundamental requirements of light, nutrients, water, and physical space. In part this is due to the limited understanding of post‐establishment ecology for the vast majority of tropical tree species. Of even more concern is the lack of understanding of how these trees are responding to on‐going atmospheric and climatic changes. Here we present long‐term data on the post‐establishment ecology of ten species of tropical rainforest trees that span a broad life‐history spectrum. The study site was upland (non‐swamp) old‐growth tropical wet forest at the La Selva Biological Station (N.E. Costa Rica). Focal individuals from established seedlings to mature trees were assessed annually, with an emphasis on accuracy and long‐term consistency of the observations. The annual time‐step, rare for longterm studies in tropical rainforest, captures the typically abrupt changes in forest structure and light environments, the frequent instances of major physical damage, and the trees’ responses to these events and to interannual and long‐term climatic variation. With the completion of the study in 2016, the data for survivorship, growth, and microsite conditions span 4,499 individuals and 34 yr. The first ten years of these data were published as an Ecology/Ecological Archives data paper in 2000 (Clark and Clark 2000), with two subsequent update publications (Clark and Clark 2006, 2012). This final update adds the final six years of observations, digitized field comments, and histories of points of measurement on the trees. The metadata now include the scanned original field data‐sheets for the entire study and a narrative detailing the annual qa/qc of the data. The data set is unique for its scope (years of continuous annual measurements, number of monitored individuals), the in‐depth documentation, and the unrestricted data access. The data have been used to study life history patterns, tree ecology through ontogeny, and effects on tree performance from interannual and long‐term climatic and atmospheric change. They have also contributed to numerous remote‐sensing studies. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set other than citation of the paper; the authors believe scientific data should be freely available for scientific use. The authors would appreciate notification of when and how data are used, but this is discretionary on the part of the data users and is in no sense mandatory.
Costs and benefits of alternative food handling tactics help explain facultative exploitation of pollination mutualisms
Authors: Lichtenberg Elinor M. , Irwin Rebecca E. , Bronstein Judith L.
Published: May 2018

Many mutualisms are taken advantage of by organisms that take rewards from their partners but provide no benefit in return. In the absence of traits that limit exploitation, facultative exploiters (partners that can either exploit or cooperate) are widely predicted by mutualism theory to choose an exploitative strategy, potentially threatening mutualism stability. However, it is unknown whether facultative exploiters choose to exploit, and, if so, make this choice because it is the most beneficial strategy for them. We explored these questions in a subalpine plant‐insect community in which individuals of several bumble bee species visit flowers both “legitimately” (entering via the flower opening, picking up and depositing pollen, and hence behaving mutualistically) and via nectar robbing (creating holes through corollas or using an existing hole, bypassing stigmas and anthers). We applied foraging theory to (1) quantify handling costs, benefits and foraging efficiencies incurred by three bumble bee species as they visited flowers legitimately or robbed nectar in cage experiments, and (2) determine whether these efficiencies matched the food handling tactics these bee species employed in the field. Relative efficiencies of legitimate and robbing tactics depended on the combination of bee and plant species. In some cases (Bombus mixtusvisitingCorydalis caseanaorMertensia ciliata), the robbing tactic permitted more efficient nectar removal. As both mutualism and foraging theory would predict, in the field,B. mixtusvisitingC. caseanawere observed more frequently robbing than foraging legitimately. However, forBombus flavifronsvisitingM. ciliata, the expectation from mutualism theory did not hold: legitimate visitation was the more efficient tactic. Legitimate visitation toM. ciliatawas in fact more frequently observed in free‐flyingB. flavifrons. Free‐flyingB. mixtusalso frequently visitedM. ciliataflowers legitimately. This may reflect lower nectar volumes in robbed than unrobbed flowers in the field. These results suggest that a foraging ecology perspective is informative to the choice of tactics facultative exploiters make. In contrast, the simple expectation that exploiters should always have an advantage, and hence could threaten mutualism persistence unless they are deterred or punished, may not be broadly applicable.
Biomass potential analysis of aquatic biomass and challenges for its use as a nonconventional substrate in anaerobic digestion plants
Authors: Zehnsdorf Andreas , Moeller Lucie , Stabenau Nele , Bauer Aline , Wedwitschka Harald , Gallegos Daniela , Stinner Walter , Herbes Carsten
Published: May 2018

Aquatic macrophytes are important components of aquatic habitats. However, the overgrowth of aquatic plants can cause severe problems for the management of bodies of water. As a result, these plants must be removed and disposed of as waste. However, the usage of this biomass as a substrate in biogas plants would appear to be more beneficial. The present study shows the advantages and barriers to the use of harvested aquatic biomass for energy production in Germany. The results cover several aspects of this issue, such as the question of biomass potential, the quality of the harvested aquatic plants, and ensiling for the purpose of conservation for anaerobic digestion. In addition, the social aspects of the de‐weeding in bodies of water are discussed.
Soil‐structure system frequency and damping: Estimation from eigenvalues and results for a 2D model in layered half‐space
Authors: Fu Jia , Liang Jianwen , Todorovska Maria I. , Trifunac Mihailo D.
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a formulation for estimation of the frequency and damping of a soil‐structure interaction system based on the classical modal analysis and solving the system eigenvalue problem. Without loss of generality, the structure is represented by a single degree of freedom oscillator, while the soil effects are included through impedance functions for in‐plane motion of a 2D rigid foundation. For the results presented in this paper, the impedance functions were computed by the indirect boundary element method for a rectangular foundation embedded in a soil layer over elastic bedrock. The study shows that the classical modal‐analysis approach works well, with the exception of squat, stiff structures, even though the impedance functions are frequency‐dependent and the soil‐structure interaction system does not possess normal modes. The study also shows that system frequency and damping are independent of the wave passage effects, contrary to findings of some previous studies, and that the site conditions, represented by the soil‐layer thickness and stiffness contrast between bedrock and soil layer, have significant influences on both system frequency and system damping. Finally, the paper examines the accuracy of some of the simple methods for estimation of these two system parameters and comments on some conflicting conclusions of previous studies about the effects of foundation embedment.
Differences in set‐shifting and central coherence across anorexia nervosa subtypes in children and adolescents
Authors: Herbrich Laura , Kappel Viola , van Noort Betteke Maria , Winter Sibylle
Published: May 2018

Objective

Regarding executive functioning in anorexia nervosa (AN), little is known about differences between the restricting (AN‐R) and binge eating/purging (AN‐BP) subtypes. Especially for adolescents, there is sparse data. Hence, the current aim is to investigate differences in set‐shifting, central coherence, and self‐reported executive functioning across adolescent AN subtypes.

Methods

Ninety AN‐R, 21 AN‐BP, and 63 controls completed an extensive assessment battery including neuropsychological tests for executive functioning and the self‐report questionnaire Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning.

Results

Patients with AN‐R and AN‐BP did not differ on neuropsychological measures, and both performed similarly to controls. Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning scores fell within the normal range with AN subtypes showing mostly comparable ratings. AN‐BP patients scored higher on 2 composite indices and the “shift” subscale compared with AN‐R.

Conclusions

The results suggest similar cognitive functioning in adolescent AN subtypes as well as healthy controls. However, more research is needed to draw more general conclusions.
Modeling wet headwater stream networks across multiple flow conditions in the Appalachian Highlands
Authors: Jensen Carrie K. , McGuire Kevin J. , Shao Yang , Andrew Dolloff C.
Published: May 2018

Despite the advancement of remote sensing and geospatial technology in recent decades, maps of headwater streams continue to have high uncertainty and fail to adequately characterize temporary streams that expand and contract in the wet length. However, watershed management and policy increasingly require information regarding the spatial and temporal variability of flow along streams. We used extensive field data on wet stream length at different flows to create logistic regression models of stream network dynamics for four physiographic provinces of the Appalachian Highlands: New England, Appalachian Plateau, Valley and Ridge, and Blue Ridge. The topographic wetness index (TWI) was the most important parameter in all four models, and the topographic position index (TPI) further improved model performance in the Appalachian Plateau, Valley and Ridge, and Blue Ridge. We included stream runoff at the catchment outlet as a model predictor to represent the wetness state of the catchment, but adjustment of the probability threshold defining wet stream presence/absence to high values for low flows was the primary mechanism for approximating network extent at multiple flow conditions. Classification accuracy was high overall (> 0.90), and McFadden's pseudo R2 values ranged from 0.69 for the New England model to 0.79 in the Appalachian Plateau. More notable errors included an overestimation of wet stream length in wide valleys and inaccurate reach locations amid boulder deposits and along headwardly eroding tributaries. Logistic regression was generally successful for modeling headwater streams at high and low flows with only a few simple terrain metrics. Modification and application of this modeling approach to other regions or larger areas would be relatively easy and provide a more accurate portrayal of temporary headwaters than existing datasets. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 2‐stage biased‐randomized iterated local search for the uncapacitated single allocation p‐hub median problem
Authors: Alvarez Fernandez Stephanie , Ferone Daniele , Juan Angel A. , Silva Daniel G. , de Armas Jesica
Published: May 2018

The hub location problem has gained attention over the last decades. In telecommunications network, a hub is a place of concurrence in where the work of the network is centralized with the purpose of delivering out the data that arrives from one or more directions to other destinations. There are different versions of the hub location problem depending upon (1) the existence or not of restrictions on the capacity related to the volume of flow a hub is allowed to support, (2) the existence or not of a set‐up cost associated with selecting any node as a hub, etc. In these types of configurations, the hubs serve as connection point between 2 installations, allowing, in this way, to replace a large amount of direct connections between all pair of the nodes, therefore, minimizing the total transportation cost of the network. Thus, this work proposes a 2‐stage metaheuristic based on the combination of biased‐randomized technique with an iterated local search framework for solving the uncapacitated single allocation p‐hub median problem, with computational results that validate the methodology for large‐size instances from the literature.
Gating by induced Α–Γ asynchrony in selective attention
Authors: Pascucci David , Hervais‐Adelman Alexis , Plomp Gijs
Published: May 2018

Visual selective attention operates through top–down mechanisms of signal enhancement and suppression, mediated by α‐band oscillations. The effects of such top–down signals on local processing in primary visual cortex (V1) remain poorly understood. In this work, we characterize the interplay between large‐scale interactions and local activity changes in V1 that orchestrates selective attention, using Granger‐causality and phase‐amplitude coupling (PAC) analysis of EEG source signals. The task required participants to either attend to or ignore oriented gratings. Results from time‐varying, directed connectivity analysis revealed frequency‐specific effects of attentional selection: bottom–up γ‐band influences from visual areas increased rapidly in response to attended stimuli while distributed top–down α‐band influences originated from parietal cortex in response to ignored stimuli. Importantly, the results revealed a critical interplay between top–down parietal signals and α–γ PAC in visual areas. Parietal α‐band influences disrupted the α–γ coupling in visual cortex, which in turn reduced the amount of γ‐band outflow from visual areas. Our results are a first demonstration of how directed interactions affect cross‐frequency coupling in downstream areas depending on task demands. These findings suggest that parietal cortex realizes selective attention by disrupting cross‐frequency coupling at target regions, which prevents them from propagating task‐irrelevant information.
Oxaphosphoranylation of Methyl α‐d‐Glucopyranoside with Diethoxytriphenylphosphorane: Highly Stereoselective Approach to Anhydropyranosides
Authors: Eskew Nita A. , Evans Slayton A.
Published: May 2018

Diethoxytriphenylphosphorane (DTPP) efficiently oxaphosphoranylates methyl α‐d‐glucopyranoside to afford two unstable isomeric 1,3,2λ5‐dioxaphospholanes. Thermolysis (60–90°C) of these 1,3,2λ5‐dioxaphospholanes affords only two of four possible isomeric anhydropyranosides. Two distinct intermediate betaines and their unique “pre‐transition state” chair or twist‐boat structures are used to rationalize the regiochemistry‐attending cyclodehydration. The decomposition of these rapidly interconverting 1,3,2λ5‐dioxaphospholanes is accelerated in the presence of lithium bromide (LiBr) to afford a single anhydropyranoside.
X‐ray Structure of a Pentacarbonyltungsten Complex of 1‐Phosphaallene
Authors: Yoshifuji Masaaki , Toyota Kozo , Sato Takahiro , Inamoto Naoki , Hirotsu Ken
Published: May 2018

The structure of a tungstenpentacarbonyl complex of 3, 3‐dipheny1‐1‐(2,4,6‐tri‐t‐butylpheny1)‐1‐phosphaallene has been determined by X‐ray analysis.
Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy‐detection of the uptake of mannose‐modified nanoparticles by macrophages in vitro: A model for detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: Dugandžić Vera , Drikermann Denis , Ryabchykov Oleg , Undisz Andreas , Vilotijević Ivan , Lorkowski Stefan , Bocklitz Thomas W. , Matthäus Christian , Weber Karina , Cialla‐May Dana , Popp Jürgen
Published: May 2018

Atherosclerosis is a process of thickening and stiffening of the arterial walls through the accumulation of lipids and fibrotic material, as a consequence of aging and unhealthy life style. However, not all arterial plaques lead to complications, which can lead to life‐threatening events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Diagnosis of the disease in early stages and identification of unstable atherosclerotic plaques are still challenging. It has been shown that the development of atherosclerotic plaques is an inflammatory process, where the accumulation of macrophages in the arterial walls is immanent in the early as well as late stages of the disease. We present a novel surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)‐based strategy for the detection of early stage atherosclerosis, based on the uptake of tagged gold nanoparticles by macrophages and subsequent detection by means of SERS. The results presented here provide a basis for future in vivo studies in animal models.The workflow of tracing the SERS‐active nanoparticle uptake by macrophages employing confocal Raman imaging.
The changes of cerebral hemodynamics during ketamine induced anesthesia in a rat model
Authors: Bae Jayyoung , Shin Teo J. , Kim Seonghyun , Choi Dong‐Hyuk , Cho Dongrae , Ham Jinsil , Manca Marco , Jeong Seongwook , Lee Boreom , Kim Jae G.
Published: May 2018

Current electroencephalogram (EEG) based‐consciousness monitoring technique is vulnerable to specific clinical conditions (eg, epilepsy and dementia). However, hemodynamics is the most fundamental and well‐preserved parameter to evaluate, even under severe clinical situations. In this study, we applied near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system to monitor hemodynamic change during ketamine‐induced anesthesia to find its correlation with the level of consciousness. Oxy‐hemoglobin (OHb) and deoxy‐hemoglobin concentration levels were continuously acquired throughout the experiment, and the reflectance ratio between 730 and 850 nm was calculated to quantify the hemodynamic changes. The results showed double peaks of OHb concentration change during ketamine anesthesia, which seems to be closely related to the consciousness state of the rat. This finding suggests the possibility of NIRS based‐hemodynamic monitoring as a supplementary parameter for consciousness monitoring, compensating drawbacks of EEG signal based monitoring.
Women, Land and Empowerment in Rwanda
Authors: Abbott Pamela , Mugisha Roger , Sapsford Roger
Published: May 2018

Rwanda has recently registered all legal owners of land and has required spouses to be registered as co‐owners of joint property; this is aimed at contributing to the empowerment of women, among many other things. A 2015 survey explored the impact of law and official practice on women's empowerment—whether they knew their rights and whether they could claim them. The conclusion is that there has indeed been some impact. The problems of women's subordination remain, however, given patriarchal attitudes, unequally shared decision‐making and a tension between Rwanda's espousal of the rule of law on the one hand and the principle of dialogue and consensus on the other. Moreover, the position of a substantial proportion of women in unregistered domestic partnerships has not changed. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fabrication of polymer‐modified magnetic nanoparticle based adsorbents for the capture and release of quinolones by manipulating the metal–coordination interaction
Authors: Zhang Mingming , Qiao Juan , Zhao Zhenwen , Zhang Shufeng , Qi Li
Published: May 2018

Functional polymers with a metal–coordination interaction have been fabricated for sample pretreatment. Poly(N‐4‐vinyl‐benzyl iminodiacetic acid‐co‐methacrylic acid‐co‐styrene)‐modified magnetic nanoparticles were prepared and used as solid‐phase extraction adsorbents for the analysis of quinolones by tuning the metal–coordination interaction. In the construction of the polymer‐based adsorbents, functional monomer (N‐(4‐vinyl)‐benzyl iminodiacetic acid) and comonomers (methacrylic acid and styrene) were fabricated onto the magnetic nanoparticles by free radical polymerization. Factors affecting the performance of the adsorbents were investigated, and the results revealed that Fe3+ played a vital role in the formation of metal–coordination adsorbents. Compared with other compounds, the resultant adsorbents displayed good selectivity to quinolones due to the metal–coordination complex (N‐4‐vinyl‐benzyl iminodiacetic acid‐Fe3+‐quinolones). Interestingly, the captured quinolones could be rapidly released by manipulating the metal–coordination interaction with Cu2+. The linearity range for analysis of the test quinolones was 0.025–2.0 μg/mL (R2 > 0.999), and the recovery varied from 80.0 to 100.7%. Further, the proposed adsorbents were combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of quinolones in real urine samples. The results demonstrated that the prepared adsorbents have good selectivity and sensitivity for quinolones, showing great potential for drug analysis in real samples.
European rural entrepreneur and tourism‐based diversification: Does national culture matter?
Authors: Calza Francesco , Go Frank M. , Parmentola Adele , Trunfio Mariapina
Published: May 2018

Integrated rural tourism assumes a pivotal role in the regeneration of rural areas. The farmer's transition towards rural tourism is influenced by diverse macroeconomic and microeconomic factors. This paper contributes to the debate on tourism‐based farm diversification by cross‐fertilizing 3 theoretical domains—integrated rural tourism, cultural contexts, and rural entrepreneurship—in order to investigate how national cultural dimensions can influence European rural entrepreneur diversification into the tourism sector. To address our research question, we analyse the tourism‐based diversification of farmers in 17 European countries that have instituted the European Rural Development Policy of 2007–2013.
The process of outpatient care of children and adolescents in a tertiary‐level hospital specializing in pediatrics: A case study focused on identifying opportunities for improvement with the aid of modeling using BPMN
Authors: Vinci André Luiz Teixeira , Barbosa Francisco , de Pádua Silvia Inês Dallavalle , Rijo Rui , Alves Domingos
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Business process management has gained importance in organizations for providing improved productivity and cost reduction, with process modeling being the central role. Usually, with reduced resources, the health area can benefit from good management of its processes.

Objective

To identify proposals for improvements in the process of outpatient care of children and adolescents in a tertiary‐level—the most specialized and complex—pediatric hospital.

Methods

A bibliographic survey on the subject and a case study with in loco observation of the processes with semistructured interviews with the professionals involved were carried out. Alpha Hospital was chosen for this study, and the modeling of the process was performed using Business Process Model and Notation.

Results

Twelve relevant articles were identified. The “AS‐IS” model of the process was obtained as a result and presents the existing 4 subprocesses (patient reception, preconsultation, consultation, and postconsultation). Specifically, the following improvement opportunities were identified: (a) process monitoring through indicators; (b) adequacy of the information system; (c) creation of service evaluation mechanisms; and (d) definition and application of training sessions for whenever a new professional begins working in a specific sector. The problem with the waiting time for patient care was also identified, but with no obvious solution; further studies should be carried to solve the problem.

Conclusion

The use of the business process modeling approach and process analysis allowed the hospital team awareness of the process and the identification of an improved set that can be helpful to Alpha Hospital or be used by other hospitals.
Spatiotemporal drought evaluation of Hyrcanian deciduous forests and semi‐steppe rangelands using moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer time series in Northeast Iran
Authors: Abdi Omid , Shirvani Zeinab , Buchroithner Manfred F.
Published: May 2018

Advanced MODIS data have provided diverse products for assessing and monitoring natural vegetation affected by droughts. Between 2000 and 2016, we estimated monthly precipitation anomalies in the deciduous forests and semi‐steppe rangelands of northeastern Iran using kriging models, and analyzed 16‐day vegetation anomalies using vegetation greenness and water content indices—including the enhanced vegetation index, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the normalized difference water index (NDWI). Vegetation anomalies showed high positive responses to interseasonal precipitation anomalies over the 17‐year period, and low positive responses to monthly precipitation deficits during critical droughts. Forest and rangeland anomalies recorded higher Moran's coefficients based on the NDVI (I = 0.253 ± 0.102) and NDWI (I = 0.284 ± 0.087) with interseasonal precipitation anomalies, respectively. Throughout critical droughts, the NDWI anomalies showed higher coefficients with monthly precipitation deficits for both forests (I = 0.0716 ± 0.059) and rangelands (I = 0.125 ± 0.0615). Nevertheless, there were only significant differences between the Moran's coefficients of the three vegetation indices for rangelands (F = 2.873; p < 0.05). BiLISA maps indicated that sparse forests show higher spatial associations with drought conditions (High‐high cluster), whereas dense forests experienced lower stresses by severe droughts (High‐low outlier) during drought periods. Meanwhile, some severe vegetation stresses occurred at locations with low droughts (Low‐high outlier), which indicate the impact of other significant climate‐induced disturbances on vegetation anomalies.
A Facile Strategy for Preparing PCL/PEG Block Copolymer Microspheres via Electrospraying as Coatings for Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Wang Haipeng , Li Wulong , Li Zhanxiong
Published: May 2018

Polymeric microspheres can serve as microcarrier matrices and be used to prepare fabric coatings. After embedding spices or drugs in microspheres, and using them to coat fabrics, the coated fabrics can be applied to functional textiles. A facile one‐step, single‐solvent electrospray technology is utilized to produce polycaprolactone (PCL), PCL‐PEG400, and PCL‐PEG1000 microspheres with controlled sizes and tunable surface morphologies by adjusting parameters such as flow rate, voltage, and collection distance. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with an image analysis software (ImageJ) is employed to evaluate the size distribution and structures of the microspheres. Using PCL, PCL‐PEG400, and PCL‐PEG1000 as matrices, spherical particles with micro‐nanostructure surfaces are produced by adjusting the electrospraying parameters. According to observation and analysis results, PCL, PCL‐PEG400, and PCL‐PEG1000 form different microspheres with many porous pits, few pits, or nonporous wrinkles on a spherical surface, respectively. Increasing the flow rate or voltage produces larger or smaller microspheres, respectively. A slight increase in the average particle size is obtained by increasing the collection distance. Cotton fabrics pretreated with adhesive are directly coated by electrospraying to successfully enhance microsphere adhesion on fabric surfaces.
Note on periodic solutions of fractional differential equations
Authors: Fečkan Michal
Published: May 2018

The existence and nonexistence of periodic solutions are discussed for fractional differential equations by varying the lower limits of Caputo derivatives. The developed approach is illustrated on several examples.
Worth a thousand words? Visual concept mapping of the quality of life of people with severe mental health problems
Authors: Buitenweg David C. , Bongers Ilja L. , van de Mheen Dike , van Oers Hans A.M. , Van Nieuwenhuizen Chijs
Published: May 2018

Objectives

Conventional approaches to quality of life (QoL) measurement rely heavily on verbal, language‐based communication. They require respondents to have significant cognitive and verbal ability, making them potentially unsuitable for people with severe mental health problems. To facilitate an alternative approach to QoL assessment, the current study aims to develop an alternative, visual representation of QoL for people with severe mental health problems.

Methods

An alternative, visual adaptation of the concept mapping method was used to construct this visual representation of QoL. Eighty‐two participants (i.e., patients, care professionals, and family members) contributed to this study. Results were processed statistically to construct the concept map.

Results

The concept map contains 160 unique visual statements, grouped into 8 clusters labelled (1) Support and Attention, (2) Social Contacts, (3) Happiness and Love, (4) Relaxation and Harmony, (5) Leisure, (6) Lifestyle, (7) Finances, and (8) Health and Living. Examples of visual statements are pictures of family silhouettes, romantic couples, natural scenes, houses, sports activities, wallets and coins, smiley faces, and heart shapes. The clusters were interpreted and labelled by participants.

Conclusions

Almost all of the statements correspond to clusters found in previous (non‐visual) QoL research. Hence, QoL domains can also be presented visually.
A prospective naturalistic multicenter study on choice of parenteral medication in psychiatric emergency settings in Japan
Authors: Hatta Kotaro , Katayama Shigemasa , Morikawa Fumiyoshi , Imai Atsushi , Fujita Kiyoshi , Fujita Aiko , Ishizuka Takuya , Abe Takayuki , Sudo Yasuhiko , Hashimoto Kijiro , Usui Chie , Nakamura Hiroyuki , Yamanouchi Yoshio , Hirata Toyoaki ,   the JAST study group
Published: May 2018

Aim

To provide information about psychiatric emergency situations in Japan, we examined psychiatrists’ preference among parenteral medication since intramuscular (IM)‐olanzapine became available and clinical characteristics in patients given IM‐olanzapine compared to those given other parenteral medication.

Methods

We conducted a naturalistic study proceeding over a 1‐year period in 9 psychiatric emergency departments.

Results

Among 197 patients, the distribution of IM‐injections (n = 89) was as follows: IM‐olanzapine, 66 patients (74.2%), IM‐levomepromazine, 17 patients (19.1%), IM‐haloperidol, 5 patients (5.6%), and IM‐diazepam, 1 patient (1.1%). The distribution of intravenous (IV)‐injections (n = 108) was as follows: IV‐haloperidol, 78 patients (72.2%), and IV‐benzodiazepines (diazepam, flunitrazepam, or midazolam), 30 patients (27.8%). Advantages of IM‐olanzapine over other parenteral medications in efficacy were found as follows: less frequent needs of an additional injection despite no difference in duration until a patient became cooperative for oral administration, and less frequent needs of restraint after the injection. Furthermore, advantages of IM‐olanzapine over other injections in safety were found as follows: less frequent appearance of extrapyramidal symptoms, no occurrence of ECG abnormality and other serious adverse events except a fall, less frequent needs of an adjunctive anticholinergic drug, and less frequent needs of another kind of drug additionally injected.

Conclusions

Olanzapine has rapidly become the first choice of intramuscular medication in psychiatric emergency situations since it became available in Japan, probably due to the advantages in both efficacy and safety. This study reflecting psychiatric emergency practice in Japan may contribute to periodic international comparison of psychiatric emergency practice.
Perfluorophenyl azide functionalization of electrospun poly(para‐dioxanone)
Authors: Luetzow Karola , Hommes‐Schattmann Paul J. , Neffe Axel T. , Ahmad Bilal , Williams Gareth R. , Lendlein Andreas
Published: May 2018

Strategies to surface‐functionalize scaffolds by covalent binding of biologically active compounds are of fundamental interest to control the interactions between scaffolds and biomolecules or cells. Poly(para‐dioxanone) (PPDO) is a clinically established polymer that has shown potential as temporary implant, eg, for the reconstruction of the inferior vena cava, as a nonwoven fiber mesh. However, PPDO lacks suitable chemical groups for covalent functionalization. Furthermore, PPDO is highly sensitive to hydrolysis, reflected by short in vivo half‐life times and degradation during storage. Establishing a method for covalent functionalization without degradation of this hydrolyzable polymer is therefore important to enable the surface tailoring for tissue engineering applications. It was hypothesized that treatment of PPDO with an N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester group bearing perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) under UV irradiation would allow efficient surface functionalization of the scaffold. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy investigation revealed the successful binding, while a gel permeation chromatography study showed that degradation did not occur under these conditions. Coupling of a rhodamine dye to the N‐hydroxysuccinimide esters on the surface of a PFPA‐functionalized scaffold via its amine linker showed a homogenous staining of the PPDO in laser confocal microscopy. The PFPA method is therefore applicable even to the surface functionalization of hydrolytically labile polymers, and it was demonstrated that PFPA chemistry may serve as a versatile tool for the (bio‐)functionalization of PPDO scaffolds.
Longitudinal reference ranges for serial measurements of myocardial performance index (MPI) by conventional and pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler in monochorionic diamniotic twins at 17 to 26 weeks of gestation
Authors: Zanardini Cristina , Fichera Anna , Calza Stefano , Cappa Veronica , Orabona Rossana , Frusca Tiziana , Prefumo Federico
Published: May 2018

Objective

To describe the longitudinal changes of fetal myocardial performance index (MPI) measured by conventional Doppler (MPI) and by pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler (MPI′) based on a prospective cohort of uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic twin.

Method

Single‐center observational study. We measured MPI and MPI′ in the right and left ventricles 3 times between 17 and 26 weeks of gestation. Second‐degree fractional polynomials were built to obtain the best fitting curves in relation to gestational age (weeks) for each parameter. Gestational age‐specific reference values were estimated by using two‐level hierarchical models.

Results

Eighty‐three uncomplicated monochorionic pregnancies were included in our study with a total of 249 observations. Fetal cardiac function was measured as MPI RV and LV, MPI′ RV and LV at a mean gestational age of 18+3 (range 17+1 to 19+2), 22+3 (21+1 to 23+5), and 24+3 (22+6 to 26+2) weeks. The reference ranges for MPI LV, MPI RV, MPI′ LV, and MPI′ RV at 17 to 26 weeks were constructed and conditional percentiles calculated.

Conclusion

The present study provides additional data on fetal cardiac function in uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic twin gestations, describing the evolution of MPI and MPI′ in both ventricles in uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies.
Use and Incidence of Adverse Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: McCrory Bradley E. , Harper Heidi N. , McPhail Gary L.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the incidence of adverse effects associated with chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use as well as the dosing, indication, and duration of use of PPIs in the cystic fibrosis (CF) population at a pediatric academic medical center.

Methods

Study design was a retrospective chart review evaluating patients with CF who were prescribed a PPI for at least 6 months (PPI group) or patients with CF who had never been prescribed a PPI (control group) from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2015.

Results

The study enrolled 126 patients in the PPI group and 49 patients in the control group. Forty‐four patients (34.9%) had an indication for both gastroesophageal reflux and enzyme enhancement, with an average PPI daily dose of 1 mg/kg/day. Twenty‐one patients (16.7%) in the PPI group had an incidence of hypomagnesemia compared with one patient (2%) in the control group (p=0.097). Overall, 75 patients (59.6%) receiving chronic PPI therapy had at least one pulmonary exacerbation compared with 12 patients (24.5%) in the control group (p<0.001). No significant difference was noted in the incidence of hypocalcemia, low bone mineral density, or positive Clostridium difficile toxin between the two groups.

Conclusion

The PPI group had a higher risk of pulmonary exacerbation compared with the control group. Further studies are needed to assess adverse effects associated with chronic PPI use in patients with CF.
Olfactory co‐receptor Orco stimulated by Rice stripe virus is essential for host seeking behavior in small brown planthopper
Authors: Li Shuo , Zhou Changwei , Zhou Yijun
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Laodelphax striatellus, the small brown planthopper (SBPH), is an economically important pest, besides sucking damage, which transmits rice viruses to cause severe damages to rice. In the process of virus transmission, the host orientation behavior of insect is mainly driven by olfaction. In this context, the molecular basis of olfaction in SBPH is of particular interest.

RESULTS

Here, we identified the gene that encodes olfactory receptor co‐receptor (Orco) and analyzed its expression profiles in Rice stripe virus (RSV)‐infected and RSV‐free SBPH. It was found that LstrOrco shared high identity with other Orcos from different order insects. LstrOrco was mainly expressed in the head of SBPH, and its expression was significantly stimulated by RSV‐infection. The behavioral bioassay revealed that viruliferous SBPH might have a stronger olfactory and seeking ability for rice than RSV‐free insect. After silencing of LstrOrco expression, the olfaction and seeking behavior of nymphs for rice seedlings was significantly inhibited, mainly in the increase of the ‘no response’ percent and the prolongation of the response time.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that Orco played an important role in olfactory signaling and seeking behavior of SBPH, which provided a basic for future development of olfactory‐based agriculture pest management strategies. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Action of antimicrobial peptides and their prodrugs on model and biological membranes
Authors: Forde Éanna , Shafiy Ghady , Fitzgerald‐Hughes Deirdre , Strömstedt Adam A. , Devocelle Marc
Published: May 2018

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising broad‐spectrum antibiotic candidates in the wake of multi‐drug resistant pathogens. Their clinical use still requires a solution based on lead optimisation and/or formulation to overcome certain limitations, such as unwanted cytotoxicity. A prodrug approach could overcome this safety barrier and can be achieved through reversible reduction or neutralisation of the AMPs' net cationic charge. By prodrug activation through pathogen associated enzymes, this approach could increase the therapeutic index of membrane active peptides. P18, a cecropin/magainin hybrid, and WMR, a myxinidin analogue from hagfish, were used as templates for the design strategy. The membrane permeabilizing activities of these AMPs and their prodrugs are reported here for liposomes of either Escherichia coli polar lipid extract or a human model lipid system of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. These results are compared with their antibacterial and haemolytic activities. Overall, correlation between liposome permeabilization and the corresponding bioactivity is observed and indicate that the broad‐spectrum antibacterial effect exerted by these peptides is associated with membrane disruption. Furthermore, the prodrug modification had a general negative influence on membrane disruption and bioactivity, notably as much on bacterial as on human membranes. This prodrug strategy is particularly successful when complete neutralisation of the AMP's net charge occurs. Thus, on‐target selectivity between bacterial and human membranes can be improved, which may be used to prevent the unnecessary exposure of host cells and commensal bacteria to active AMPs.
Missing data handling in non‐inferiority and equivalence trials: A systematic review
Authors: Rabe Brooke A. , Day Simon , Fiero Mallorie H. , Bell Melanie L.
Published: May 2018

Background

Non‐inferiority (NI) and equivalence clinical trials test whether a new treatment is therapeutically no worse than, or equivalent to, an existing standard of care. Missing data in clinical trials have been shown to reduce statistical power and potentially bias estimates of effect size; however, in NI and equivalence trials, they present additional issues. For instance, they may decrease sensitivity to differences between treatment groups and bias toward the alternative hypothesis of NI (or equivalence).

Aims

Our primary aim was to review the extent of and methods for handling missing data (model‐based methods, single imputation, multiple imputation, complete case), the analysis sets used (Intention‐To‐Treat, Per‐Protocol, or both), and whether sensitivity analyses were used to explore departures from assumptions about the missing data.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of NI and equivalence trials published between May 2015 and April 2016 by searching the PubMed database. Articles were reviewed primarily by 2 reviewers, with 6 articles reviewed by both reviewers to establish consensus.

Results

Of 109 selected articles, 93% reported some missing data in the primary outcome. Among those, 50% reported complete case analysis, and 28% reported single imputation approaches for handling missing data. Only 32% reported conducting analyses of both intention‐to‐treat and per‐protocol populations. Only 11% conducted any sensitivity analyses to test assumptions with respect to missing data.

Conclusion

Missing data are common in NI and equivalence trials, and they are often handled by methods which may bias estimates and lead to incorrect conclusions.
Accelerating reconfiguration for VLSI arrays with A‐Star algorithm
Authors: Qian Junyan , Zhou Zhide , Zhao Lingzhong , Zhang Jingwei , Li Fengying
Published: May 2018

We describe a novel technique to speed up the reconfiguration for the very large scale integration (VLSI) arrays. We propose an efficient algorithm, making use of the idea of the A‐star algorithm, for accelerating the reconfiguration of the VLSI processor arrays to meet the real‐time constraints of embedded systems. The proposed algorithm treats the problem of constructing a local optimal logical column that has the minimum number of long interconnects as a shortest path problem. Then the local optimal column can be constructed by utilizing the A‐star algorithm with the appropriate heuristic strategy. We prove that the proposed method can find the shortest local logical column. Simulation experiments reveal that the proposed algorithm can greatly reduce the number of visits to the fault‐free processing elements (PEs) for constructing a local optimal logical column and effectively decrease the reconfiguration running time. Experimental results show that the computation time can be reduced by more than 38.64% for a 128 × 128 host array with fault density of 20%, without loss of harvest. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Improved very short‐term spatio‐temporal wind forecasting using atmospheric regimes
Authors: Browell J. , Drew D. R. , Philippopoulos K.
Published: May 2018

We present a regime‐switching vector autoregressive method for very short‐term wind speed forecasting at multiple locations with regimes based on large‐scale meteorological phenomena. Statistical methods for wind speed forecasting based on recent observations outperform numerical weather prediction for forecast horizons up to a few hours, and the spatio‐temporal interdependency between geographically dispersed locations may be exploited to improve forecast skill. Here, we show that conditioning spatio‐temporal interdependency on “atmospheric modes” derived from gridded numerical weather data can further improve forecast performance. Atmospheric modes are based on the clustering of surface wind and sea‐level pressure fields, and the geopotential height field at the 5000‐hPa level. The data fields are extracted from the MERRA‐2 reanalysis dataset with an hourly temporal resolution over the UK; atmospheric patterns are clustered using self‐organising maps and then grouped further to optimise forecast performance. In a case study based on 6 years of measurements from 23 weather stations in the UK, a set of 3 atmospheric modes are found to be optimal for forecast performance. The skill of 1‐ to 6‐hour‐ahead forecasts is improved at all sites compared with persistence and competitive benchmarks. Across the 23 test sites, 1‐hour‐ahead root mean squared error is reduced by between 0.3% and 4.1% compared with the best performing benchmark and by an average of 1.6% over all sites; the 6‐hour‐ahead accuracy is improved by an average of 3.1%.