bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
M-theory exotic scalar glueball decays to mesons at finite coupling
Authors: Yadav Vikas , Misra Aalok
Published: September 2018

Abstract

Using the pull-back of the perturbed type IIA metric corresponding to the perturbation of [1]’s M-theory uplift of [2]’s UV-complete top-down type IIB holographic dual of large-N thermal QCD, at finite coupling, we obtain the interaction Lagrangian corresponding to exotic scalar glueball(G

E
)-ρ/π-meson interaction, linear in the exotic scalar glueball and up to quartic order in the π mesons. In the Lagrangian the coupling constants are determined as (radial integrals of) [1]’s M-theory uplift’s metric components and six radial functions appearing in the M-theory metric perturbations. Assuming M

G

> 2M

ρ
, we then compute ρ → 2π, G

E
→ 2π, 2ρ, ρ + 2π decay widths as well as the direct and indirect (mediated via ρ mesons) G

E
→ 4π decays. For numerics, we choose f 0[1710] and compare with previous calculations. We emphasize that our results can be made to match PDG data (and improvements thereof) exactly by appropriate tuning of some constants of integration appearing in the solution of the M-theory metric perturbations and the ρ and π meson radial profile functions — a flexibility that our calculations permits.
An action for and hydrodynamics from the improved Large D membrane
Authors: Dandekar Yogesh , Kundu Suman , Mazumdar Subhajit , Minwalla Shiraz , Mishra Amiya , Saha Arunabha
Published: September 2018

Abstract

It has recently been demonstrated that black hole dynamics at large D is dual to the motion of a probe membrane propagating in the background of a spacetime that solves Einstein’s equations. The equation of motion of this membrane is determined by the membrane stress tensor. In this paper we ‘improve’ the membrane stress tensor derived in earlier work to ensure that it defines consistent probe membrane dynamics even at finite D while reducing to previous results at large D. Our improved stress tensor is the sum of a Brown York term and a fluid energy momentum tensor. The fluid has an unusual equation of state; its pressure is nontrivial but its energy density vanishes. We demonstrate that all stationary solutions of our membrane equations are produced by the extremization of an action functional of the membrane shape. Our action is an offshell generalization of the membrane’s thermodynamical partition function. We demonstrate that the thermodynamics of static spherical membranes in flat space and global AdS space exactly reproduces the thermodynamics of the dual Schwarzschild black holes even at finite D. We study the long wavelength dynamics of membranes in AdS space that are everywhere approximately ‘parallel’ to the boundary, and demonstrate that the boundary ‘shadow’ of this membrane dynamics is boundary hydrodynamics with a definite constitutive relation. We determine the explicit form of shadow dual boundary stress tensor upto second order in derivatives of the boundary temperature and velocity, and verify that this stress tensor agrees exactly with the fluid gravity stress tensor to first order in derivatives, but deviates from the later at second order and finite D.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) measured as skin autofluorescence: The Rotterdam Study
Authors: Chen Jinluan , van der Duin Daniel , Campos-Obando Natalia , Ikram Mohammad Arfan , Nijsten Tamar E. C. , Uitterlinden André G. , Zillikens Maria Carola
Published: September 2018

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in tissues with aging and may influence age-related diseases. They can be estimated non-invasively by skin autofluorescence (SAF) using the AGE Reader™. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) may inhibit AGEs accumulation through anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties but evidence in humans is scarce. The objective was to investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D3 and SAF in the population-based cohort study. Serum 25(OH)D3 and other covariates were measured at baseline. SAF was measured on average 11.5 years later. Known risk factors for AGE accumulation such as higher age, BMI, and coffee intake, male sex, smoking, diabetes, and decreased renal function were measured at baseline. Linear regression models were adopted to explore the association between 25(OH)D3 and SAF with adjustment for confounders. Interaction terms were tested to identify effect modification. The study was conducted in the general community. 2746 community-dwelling participants (age ≥ 45 years) from the Rotterdam Study were included. Serum 25(OH)D3 inversely associated with SAF and explained 1.5% of the variance (unstandardized B = − 0.002 (95% CI[− 0.003, − 0.002]), standardized β = − 0.125), independently of known risk factors and medication intake. The association was present in both diabetics (B = − 0.004 (95% CI[− 0.008, − 0.001]), β = − 0.192) and non-diabetics (B = − 0.002 (95% CI[− 0.003, − 0.002]), β = − 0.122), both sexes, both smokers and non-smokers and in each RS subcohort. Serum 25(OH)D3 concentration was significantly and inversely associated with SAF measured prospectively, also after adjustment for known risk factors for high SAF and the number of medication used, but the causal chain is yet to be explored in future studies.

Clinical Trial Registry (1) Netherlands National Trial Register: Trial ID: NTR6831 (http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=6831). (2) WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform: under shared catalogue number NTR6831 (www.who.int/ictrp/network/primary/en/).
Heterotic affinity and combining ability of exotic maize inbred lines for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation
Authors: Meseka Silvestro , Williams W. Paul , Warburton Marilyn L. , Brown Robert L. , Augusto Joao , Ortega-Beltran Alejandro , Bandyopadhyay Ranajit , Menkir Abebe
Published: September 2018

Aflatoxin accumulation in maize (Zea maysL.) kernels is a serious economic and health problem that reduces grain quality and nutritional values and causes death to livestock and humans. Understanding the genetic parameters and heterotic responses of exotic maize inbred lines can facilitate their use for developing aflatoxin resistant parents of hybrids in Africa. This study was designed to (1) determine the heterotic affinities of aflatoxin resistant exotic lines, (2) identify exotic inbreds with good combining ability, and (3) determine the mode of inheritance of resistance to aflatoxin contamination in these lines. A line × tester mating design was used to determine combining ability of 12 yellow and 13 white inbreds and classify them into heterotic groups. The inbreds were crossed to two adapted testers representing two African heterotic groups and the resulting testcrosses along with hybrid checks were evaluated in separate trials at two locations for 2 years in Nigeria. General combining ability (GCA) effects were more important than specific combining ability effects for aflatoxin and grain yield. Among 15 exotic inbred lines having negative GCA effects for aflatoxin and 13 with positive GCA effects for grain yield, six combined the two desired traits. Five white and six yellow endosperm testcrosses were found to be good specific combiners for the two desired traits. The exotic lines with negative GCA effects for aflatoxin accumulation will be used as donor parents to develop backcross populations for generating new inbred lines with much higher levels of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation.
The turbulent age of innovation
Authors: von Schomberg Lucien , Blok Vincent
Published: September 2018

The concept of innovation has entered a turbulent age. On the one hand, it is uncritically understood as ‘technological innovation’ and ‘commercialized innovation.’ On the other hand, ongoing research under the heading responsible research and innovation (RRI) suggests that current global issues require innovation to go beyond its usual intent of generating commercial value. However, little thought goes into what innovation means conceptually. Although there is a focus on enablingoutcomesof innovation processes to become more responsible and desirable, the technological and commercial nature of these processes is rarely questioned. For these reasons, this paper poses the following research question:what concept of innovation is implicitly taken up by the RRI discourse and what implications does this concept have for the societal purpose of RRI?As a first step, we analyze the extent to which the concept of innovation in the RRI literature is uncritically presupposed to be technological. Subsequently, we examine the diverse meanings innovation has had over time and argue that while innovation originally had a political connotation it is only recently restricted to the meaning of technological innovation. We go on to show that even though the concept of technological innovation can contribute to the societal purpose of RRI, this requires certain conditions that are difficult to guarantee. Consequentially, we argue that future research should explore alternative understandings of innovation that better enable the overall feasibility of the emerging frameworks of RRI.
HCCDB: A Database of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Expression Atlas
Authors: Lian Qiuyu , Wang Shicheng , Zhang Guchao , Wang Dongfang , Luo Guijuan , Tang Jing , Chen Lei , Gu Jin
Published: September 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly heterogeneous in nature and has been one of the most common cancer types worldwide. To ensure repeatability of identified gene expression patterns and comprehensively annotate the transcriptomes of HCC, we carefully curated 15 public HCC expression datasets that cover around 4000 clinical samples and developed the database HCCDB to serve as a one-stop online resource for exploring HCC gene expression with user-friendly interfaces. The global differential gene expression landscape of HCC was established by analyzing the consistently differentially expressed genes across multiple datasets. Moreover, a 4D metric was proposed to fully characterize the expression pattern of each gene by integrating data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of gene expression patterns in HCC, HCCDB also provides links to third-party databases on drug, proteomics, and literatures, and graphically displays the results from computational analyses, including differential expression analysis, tissue-specific and tumor-specific expression analysis, survival analysis, and co-expression analysis. HCCDB is freely accessible at http://lifeome.net/database/hccdb.
The Influence of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Pain, Quality of Life, and Depression in Patients Receiving Physical Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hajihasani Abdolhamid , Rouhani Mitra , Salavati Mahyar , Hedayati Rosita , Kahlaee Amir H.
Published: September 2018

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of adding the cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) component to routine physical therapy (PT) on pain and depression reduction, improvement in quality of life, and enhanced function in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Type

Systematic review.

Literature Survey

Google Scholar, PubMed, Ovid, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase electronic databases were explored for the key terms of “behavioral (or behavioural) treatment” OR “behavior (behaviour) treatment” OR “behavior (behaviour) therapy” OR “cognitive behavior (or behaviour) treatment” OR “cognitive treatment” OR “cognitive therapy” OR “operant behavior (or behaviour) treatment” OR “respondent behavior (or behaviour) treatment” AND “physical therapy” OR “physiotherapy” OR “exercise therapy” OR “electrotherapy” OR “electrical therapy” OR “manual therapy” OR “myofascial therapy” OR “rehabilitation” AND “low back pain” OR “lower back pain” OR “back pain” OR “chronic back pain” OR “chronic lower back pain”, with no limitation on language, through January 2018.

Methodology

All randomized controlled trials that statistically compared the effectiveness of CBT + PT and PT were included for quality analysis. Studies were rated by high to poor quality, using Hailey's classification, based on their design and performance.

Synthesis

Of the 10 included studies, 7 were rated as high quality and 3 as good quality. Although CBT + PT was found to be superior to PT for pain, disability, quality of life, and functional capacity variables in some of the included studies, no extra benefit from CBT was documented in other investigations. The included studies also failed to show any advantage of CBT + PT over PT in reducing depression, and PT was even found to be superior to CBT + PT in one high‐quality study.

Conclusions

Although appearing to be advantageous by reducing pain and disability and enhancing functional capacity and quality of life, CBT effects on depression cannot be teased out from the effects of PT.

Level of Evidence

I
Cautery‐assisted palatal stiffening operation for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Llewellyn Charles M. , Noller Michael W. , Camacho Macario
Published: September 2018

Objective

To systematically review outcomes for cautery‐assisted palatal stiffening operation (CAPSO) as a treatment for adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

Five databases (including PubMed/MEDLINE) were searched through July 12, 2017.

Results

Eight studies (307 patients) met criteria. Overall, CAPSO alone (80 patients) improved AHI from a mean ± standard deviation (M ± SD) of (16.8 ± 11.9) to (9.9 ± 10.9) events/h (41.1% decrease). Mixed CAPSO with/without tonsillectomy (92 patients) improved AHI from a M ± SD of (24.8 ± 12.6) to (10.6 ± 9.5) events/h (61.7% decrease). CAPSO with expansion pharyngoplasty (EP), (78 patients) improved AHI from a M ± SD of (26.3 ± 17.7) to (12.6 ± 5.8) events/h (52.1% decrease). CAPSO alone (90 patients) improved lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) by 5.4 points. Mixed CAPSO with/without tonsillectomy (77 patients) improved LSAT by 10.6 points, and CAPSO with EP (78 patients) improved LSAT by 5.2 points. Sleepiness improved (182 patients) from an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 11.8 to 5.1, P < 0.001. Snoring reduced (120 patients) from 7.9 to 2.5 on visual analog scales (0–10 scale), P < 0.001.

Conclusions

Apnea‐hypopnea index has improved by 41.0% for CAPSO alone, 61.7% for CAPSO with tonsillectomy and 52.1% for CAPSO with expansion pharyngoplasty. Additionally, lowest oxygen saturation, sleepiness and snoring have also improved after CAPSO.
Adaptive aerial ecosystem framework to support tactical conflict resolution
Authors: Radanovic M. , Piera M.A. , Koca T.
Published: September 2018

To support a seamless transition between safety net layers in air traffic management, this article examines an extra capacity in the generation of the resolution trajectories, conditioned by future high dense, complex surrounding air traffic scenarios. The aerial ecosystem framework consists of a set of aircraft services inside a digitalised airspace volume, in which amended trajectories could induce a set of safety events such as an induced collision. Those aircraft services strive to the formation of a cost-efficient airborne separation management by exploring the preferred resolutions and actively interacting with each other. This study focuses on the dynamic analysis of a decreasing rate in the number of available resolutions, as well as the ecosystem deadlock event from the identified spatiotemporal interdependencies among the ecosystem aircraft at the separation management level. A deadlock event is characterised by a time instant at which an induced collision could emerge as an effect of an ecosystem aircraft trajectory amendment. Through simulations of two generated ecosystems, extracted from a real traffic scenario, the paper illustrates the relevant properties inside the structure of the ecosystem interdependencies, demonstrates and discusses an available time capacity for the resolution process of the aerial ecosystem.
Variational construction of positive entropy invariant measures of Lagrangian systems and Arnold diffusion
Authors: SLIJEPČEVIĆ SINIŠA
Published: September 2018

We develop a variational method for constructing positive entropy invariant measures of Lagrangian systems without assuming transversal intersections of stable and unstable manifolds, and without restrictions to the size of non-integrable perturbations. We apply it to a family of $2\frac{1}{2}$ degrees of freedom a priori unstable Lagrangians, and show that if we assume that there is no topological obstruction to diffusion (precisely formulated in terms of topological non-degeneracy of minima of the Peierls barrier), then there exists a vast family of ‘horseshoes’, such as ‘shadowing’ ergodic positive entropy measures having precisely any closed set of invariant tori in its support. Furthermore, we give bounds on the topological entropy and the ‘drift acceleration’ in any part of a region of instability in terms of a certain extremal value of the Fréchet derivative of the action functional, generalizing the angle of splitting of separatrices. The method of construction is new, and relies on study of formally gradient dynamics of the action (coupled parabolic semilinear partial differential equations on unbounded domains). We apply recently developed techniques of precise control of the local evolution of energy (in this case the Lagrangian action), energy dissipation and flux.
Jesner v. Arab Bank (U.S. Sup. Ct.)
Authors: Conn Laura
Published: September 2018

On April 24, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in Jesner v. Arab Bank. In only the third case in which the Supreme Court has considered the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) since its enactment in 1789, the Court held that foreign corporations may not be defendants in suits brought under the ATS. In foreclosing foreign corporate liability under the ATS, the Court limited the pool of possible ATS claims that can be brought. However, it left open the question of whether U.S. corporations could be sued under the ATS.
DARSTELLUNGEN DER SUḪÄER UND WEITERER NACHBARN DER ASSYRER IM 9. JH. 1. TEIL
Authors: Braun-Holzinger Eva A.
Published: September 2018

Representations of foreigners in their strange attire have a long tradition in the Ancient Near East. While the Assyrian Empire was expanding during the early first millennium BC, the Assyrian kings ‒ with the help of skilled and even inspired craftsmen – attached a growing importance to the differentiation of their near neighbours and people further away. The palace reliefs of Assurnaṣirpal were of excellent craftsmanship, the garments, the hair-styles, the beards and the surrounding landscape were carefully rendered, quite often in every minute detail. Through these details the meaning of the ‘images’ became fully understandable to the well informed Assyrian viewer. Foreign people were not merely enemies, they were people in their own right.
UBAID CERAMIC PRODUCTION IN THE HILLY FLANKS OF NORTHWESTERN POSHT-I KUH (ILAM - WEST IRAN)
Authors: Mazaheri Khoda Karam
Published: September 2018

This paper examines discoveries made during the survey of Kall Karim and presents a chronological framework for this site based on ceramic decorative styles and forms. This site was first identified during archaeological survey of the northwestern part of the Posht-i Kuh area in Ilam province (west Iran) in the winter of 2016. Kall Karim is located in a rugged area on the northern slopes of Seh Kurvand Mountain in the Bawlly region, which is used for winter pastures of nomadic tribes. According to surface remains, the ancient use of Kall Karim is entirely related to pottery production activities. All the surface sherds belong to the Ubaid period; according to typological studies and comparison of motifs and forms, we propose that Kall Karim belongs to Ubaid 2-3. It seems that both abundance of necessary materials and the accessibility of fuel for kilns caused the formation of Kall Karim in this location, far from residential centers.
Transition to turbulence over convex surfaces
Authors: Karp Michael , Hack M. J. Philipp
Published: September 2018

Although boundary-layer flows over convex surfaces are exponentially stable, non-modal mechanisms may enable significant disturbance growth which can make the flow susceptible to secondary instabilities. A parametric investigation of the transient growth and secondary instabilities in flows over convex surfaces is performed. The optimal disturbance in the steady case corresponds to alternating streaks and streamwise vortices of opposite sign that reinforce one another due to lift-up and centrifugal forces, respectively. The process repeats with a constant (naturally appearing) streamwise wavelength which is proportional to the square root of the radius. Unsteady disturbances achieve a higher optimal gain, compared to the steady case, as a result of the opposing effects of the lift-up and centrifugal mechanisms. Linear analysis shows that the curvature has a negligible effect on secondary instabilities. Direct numerical simulations of transient growth with and without secondary instabilities confirm the predictions obtained by the local stability theory. It is found that the presence of a secondary instability is not sufficient, on its own, to ensure transition to turbulence. Only sufficiently long and energetic streaks trigger the breakdown to turbulence.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on genetically engineered crops influences public discourse
Authors: Howell Emily L. , Wirz Christopher D. , Brossard Dominique , Jamieson Kathleen Hall , Scheufele Dietram A. , Winneg Kenneth M. , Xenos Michael A.
Published: September 2018

In May 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released the report “Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects,” summarizing scientific consensus on genetically engineered crops and their implications. NASEM reports aim to give the public and policymakers information on socially relevant science issues. Their impact, however, is not well understood. This analysis combines national pre- and post-report survey data with a large-scale content analysis of Twitter discussion to examine the report’s effect on public perceptions of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We find that the report’s release corresponded with reduced negativity in Twitter discourse and increased ambivalence in public risk and benefit perceptions of GMOs, mirroring the NASEM report’s conclusions. Surprisingly, this change was most likely for individuals least trusting of scientific studies or university scientists. Our findings indicate that NASEM consensus reports can help shape public discourse, even in, or perhaps because of, the complex information landscape of traditional and social media.
Holocene Precipitation Records from Inner Mongolia Derived from Hydrogen Isotope Compositions of Sediment Fatty Acids
Authors: Chen Qingmin , Zhou Weijian , Wang Zhe , Xian Feng , Burr George S
Published: September 2018

The Inner Mongolian Plateau lies along the northern limit reached by the East Asian summer monsoon. This geographic setting makes it especially sensitive to environmental change and an excellent site for understanding Quaternary East Asian monsoon variability. In this study we present new results of hydrogen isotopic compositions of fatty acids extracted from sediments, which were used to construct Holocene paleoprecipitation (or moisture) changes in Northern China. The hydrogen isotopic composition (D/H ratio) of n-acids in the sedimentary sequence of the Duoerji peat, Inner Mongolia, was determined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Changes in the precipitation from middle Inner Mongolia are recorded by the D/H ratio of n-C20, n-C22, n-C24, n-C26, n-C28 acids (δD). From 10–9 ka, the relatively high δD values indicate reduced precipitation in the Early Holocene. Subsequently, increased precipitation is reflected by reduced δD values from 9–5.5 ka. After 5.5 ka, gradually increasing δD values record an overall decrease in precipitation. The precipitation trends established for the Duoerji sequence are consistent with other major paleoclimate proxies in the East Asian monsoon region, especially with a distinct Holocene optimum of increased monsoonal activity from 9–5.5 ka. The δD resulting paleo-precipitation record clearly shows that the Holocene climate in Northern China is basically controlled by the insolation changes.
Sea level implications from Late Quaternary/Holocene paleosols from the Oujiang Delta, China
Authors: Fan Daidu , Shang Shuai , Burr George
Published: September 2018

We describe two coastal paleosols recovered in sediment cores from the Oujiang Delta, Southeast China. These provide useful benchmarks for past sea level change on the East China Sea coast. Radiocarbon (14C) dates on charcoal and plant matter show that one formed during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) and was exposed for perhaps 20 ka, during the Last Glacial Maximum. The other formed in the Early Holocene and was briefly exposed, during a period of fluctuating sea level. Similar paleosols have been described from the Changjiang (Yangtze) Delta, and at many other sites from the East China Sea. The MIS 3 paleosol records a regional relative sea level of about –27 m at the end of MIS 3. While this value is consistent with other paleo sea level estimates for the East China Sea region, it is much higher than predicted by eustatic sea level estimates.
Pre-sleep protein in casein supplement or whole-food form has no impact on resting energy expenditure or hunger in women
Authors: Leyh Samantha M. , Willingham Brandon D. , Baur Daniel A. , Panton Lynn B. , Ormsbee Michael J.
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a whole-food protein (cottage cheese, CC) consumed before sleep on next-morning resting energy expenditure (REE), RER and appetite compared with an isoenergetic/isonitrogenous casein protein (CP) supplement and placebo (PL) in active women. In a beverage-blinded, randomised, cross-over design, ten active women (age, 23·1 (sd 1·9) years; body fat, 22·0 (sd 4·6) %) consumed pre-sleep CC (30 g of protein, 10 g of carbohydrate and 0 g of fat) or energy- and protein-matched liquid CP or PL (0 kJ). Participants arrived at 18.00 hours for an overnight stay in the laboratory. At 30–60 min before normal bed time (2 h post standard meal), participants consumed CC, CP or PL before measurement of REE. Upon waking (05.00–08.00 hours), REE was repeated and subjective appetite was recorded. Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated-measures ANOVA (SPSS). Significance was accepted at P≤0·05. There were no significant differences in acute REE (CC, 7217 (sd 1368); CP, 7188 (SD 895); PL, 7075 (sd 1108) kJ/d, P=0·95), acute RER (0·79 (sd 0·05), P=0·56), morning REE (CC, 5840 (sd 1225); CP, 5694 (sd 732); PL, 5991 (sd 903) kJ/d, P=0·79) or morning RER (0·77 (sd 0·03), P=0·52). Subjective measures of appetite were not different between groups. In active women, pre-sleep consumption of CC does not alter REE or RER more than a CP or PL beverage. These data suggest that the metabolic response from whole-food protein do not differ from the metabolic response of liquid protein.
Ethnicity, National Identity and the State: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Green Elliott
Published: September 2018

The process by which people transfer their allegiance from ethnic to national identities is highly topical yet somewhat opaque. This article argues that one of the key determinants of national identification is membership in a ‘core’ ethnic group, orStaatsvolk, and whether or not that group is in power. It uses the example of Uganda as well as Afrobarometer data to show that, when the core ethnic group is in power (as measured by the ethnic identity of the president), members of this group identify more with the nation, but when this group is out of power members identify more with their ethnic group. This finding has important implications for the study of nationalism, ethnicity and African politics.
Low Growth Equational Complexity
Authors: Jackson Marcel
Published: September 2018

The equational complexity function$\beta \nu \,:\,{\open N} \to {\open N}$of an equational class of algebrasbounds the size of equation required to determine the membership ofn-element algebras in. Known examples of finitely generated varietieswith unbounded equational complexity have growth in Ω(nc), usually forc≥ (1/2). We show that much slower growth is possible, exhibiting$O(\log_{2}^{3}(n))$growth among varieties of semilattice-ordered inverse semigroups and additive idempotent semirings. We also examine a quasivariety analogue of equational complexity, and show that a finite group has polylogarithmic quasi-equational complexity function, bounded if and only if all Sylow subgroups are abelian.
Determining multi-species site use outside the protected areas of the Maasai Mara, Kenya, using false positive site-occupancy modelling
Authors: Madsen Emily K. , Broekhuis Femke
Published: September 2018

Although protected areas are the basis for many conservation efforts they are rarely of an adequate size for the long-term survival of populations of large, wide-roaming mammals. In the Maasai Mara, Kenya, communally owned wildlife conservancies have been developed to expand the area available for wildlife. As these continue to develop it is important to ensure that the areas chosen are beneficial to wildlife. Using presence data for cheetahsAcinonyx jubatus, elephantsLoxodonta africana, spotted hyaenasCrocuta crocuta, leopardsPanthera pardus, lionsPanthera leoand wild dogsLycaon pictus, collected through interviews with 648 people living outside protected areas, we identify key wildlife areas using false positive site-occupancy modelling. The probabilities of site use were first determined per species based on habitat, distance to protected area, human presence and rivers, and these probabilities were then combined to create a map to highlight key wildlife areas. All species, except hyaenas, preferred sites closer to the protected areas but site use varied by species depending on habitat type. All six species avoided human presence. Leopards, elephants, lions and wild dogs preferred sites closer to rivers. The resulting combined map highlights areas that could potentially benefit from conservation efforts, including the expansion of wildlife areas, and areas where human development, such as a newly tarmacked road, could have an impact on wildlife.
PREFERENCES OF PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FOR ATTRIBUTES OF INJECTABLE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TREATMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FRANCE
Authors: Poulos Christine , Kinter Elizabeth , van Beek Johan , Christensen Katrine , Posner Joshua
Published: September 2018

Objectives:

Adherence to injectable disease-modifying treatments in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts outcomes and can be influenced by perceptions of treatment efficacy, side effects, injection frequency, and the duration of injection. This study aimed to quantify preferences for selected attributes of injectable treatments among individuals with MS in the United Kingdom and France.

Methods:

Respondents with a self-reported diagnosis of MS completed an online discrete-choice-experiment survey, consisting of a series of treatment-choice questions. Each choice question presented two hypothetical treatments, each with six attributes (years until disability progression, relapses in the next 4 years, injection time, injection frequency, flu-like symptoms (FLS), and injection-site reactions), each with various levels. Mixed-logit regression analysis was used to estimate preference weights for attribute levels and to calculate the relative importance of changes in treatment attributes (vertical distance between preference weights). Minimum acceptable efficacy estimates indicate improvement in efficacy that respondents would require in exchange for worsening injection frequency and FLS.

Results:

In both countries, 100 respondents completed the survey. In the United Kingdom and France, respectively, improving the time until disability progression from 2 to 4 years, reducing injection frequency from “daily” to “every 2 weeks”, and reducing FLS from 3 days after every injection to none had a relative importance of 2.9 and 2.6, 3.0 and 3.5, and 2.5 and 3.1. Given the ranges included in the study, changes in these attributes were more important than most changes in other attributes assessed.

Conclusions:

Reductions in the injection frequency of MS treatments and FLS can be as important to patients as improvements in treatment efficacy.
Homotypic and heterotypic continuity of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from ages 3 to 12: The moderating role of diurnal cortisol
Authors: Frost Allison , Kessel Ellen , Black Sarah , Goldstein Brandon , Bernard Kristin , Klein Daniel N.
Published: September 2018

Psychological symptoms that arise in early childhood can follow a multitude of patterns into adolescence, including homotypic continuity (i.e., similar symptoms over time) and heterotypic continuity (i.e., a shift in symptoms over time). However, we know very little about the factors that distinguish homotypic vs. heterotypic continuity of early internalizing and externalizing symptoms over development. In a separate line of research, diurnal cortisol has been shown to predict later internalizing and externalizing problems. In the current study, we tested whether diurnal cortisol patterns moderated the course of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from preschool to early adolescence. 554 children (54% male) and parents participated in a longitudinal study. Parents reported on their children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms at ages 3 and 12, and children collected diurnal saliva samples at age 9. Results showed that asteepercortisol decline at age 9 combined with high internalizing or externalizing problems at age 3 predicted higher internalizing problems at age 12. A morebluntedcortisol decline combined with early internalizing or externalizing problems predicted higher externalizing problems in early adolescence. These results illustrate the moderating role of stress system functioning in homotypic and heterotypic patterns of psychopathology from preschool to early adolescence.
Poisoning causing the decline in South-East Asia’s largest vulture population
Authors: LOVERIDGE ROBIN , RYAN GERARD EDWARD , SUM PHEARUN , GRAY-READ OLIVER , MAHOOD SIMON P. , MOULD ALISTAIR , HARRISON STEFAN , CROUTHERS RACHEL , KO SOK , CLEMENTS TOM , EAMES JONATHAN C. , PRUVOT MATHIEU
Published: September 2018

Cambodia supports populations of three Critically Endangered vulture species that are believed to have become isolated from the rest of the species’ global range. Until recently Cambodia’s vulture populations had remained stable. However a recent spike in the number of reports of the use of poisons in hunting practices suggests the need to re-evaluate the conservation situation in Cambodia. Population trend analysis showed that since 2010 populations of the White-rumped VultureGyps bengalensisand Red-headed VultureSarcogyps calvushave declined, while the Slender-billed VultureGyps tenuirostrismay also have started to decline since 2013. These trends are supported by evidence of reduced nesting success. A survey of veterinary drug availability revealed that diclofenac, the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug responsible for vulture declines in South Asia was not available for sale in any of the 74 pharmacies surveyed. However, a poisoned Slender-billed Vulture tested positive for carbofuran in toxicology tests. This provides the first evidence of a vulture mortality resulting from carbofuran in Cambodia. The findings suggest the urgent need to tackle use of carbamate pesticides in hunting. Proposed conservation actions are: a) prevention of poisoning through national bans on harmful carbamate pesticides and diclofenac and education campaigns to reduce demand and use; b) training of personnel in priority protected areas in detection and response to poisoning incidents; c) maintenance of a safe and reliable food source through vulture restaurants to ensure short-term survival, and d) protection and restoration of large areas of deciduous dipterocarp forests to enable long-term species recovery.
Explicitly Accounting for the Role of Remote Oceans in Regional Climate Modeling of South America
Authors: Erfanian Amir , Wang Guiling
Published: September 2018

The common practice in dynamic downscaling is to nest a higher‐resolution regional climate model (RCM) into a global model that resolves the large‐scale circulation. However, nested RCMs can develop distinct large‐scale features that substantially diverge from those of the driving model. This is especially problematic over regions such as South America (SA), where the climate features strong teleconnection with remote oceans. Here we propose to explicitly resolve the atmospheric processes underlying the teleconnection by expanding the RCM domain to include the influential oceans. Using the coupled RegCM4.3.4‐CLM4.5 model, RCM simulations designed under the new paradigm demonstrate a substantial improvement of model skills over those using the standard CORDEX SA domain. Analysis of the underlying physical mechanisms indicates that the RCM captures the large‐scale dynamics and climate teleconnections substantially better when it includes the influential oceans. The Big Brother experimental protocol is then used to identify sources of uncertainties and skills, and the results suggest that the nesting practice cannot effectively capture the impact of forcings and processes acting outside the RCM domain. This uncertainty introduces substantial systematic bias to RCM simulations yet is not sampled by existing coordinated regional modeling projects (e.g., CORDEX) due to the use of a single domain focusing over land. Explicitly including oceans within the domain substantially reduces the sensitivity of the SA model climate to domain size/location and promises great potential for RCM applicability in studying regional mechanisms and feedback processes of SA's hydroclimate.
Algorithm for Analysis of Power Grid Vulnerability to Geomagnetic Disturbances
Authors: Sokolova O. , Burgherr P. , Sakharov Ya. , Korovkin N.
Published: September 2018

Multiple power system equipment damage from strong geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) can significantly disrupt power grid operation. This has happened twice: in 1989, in North America and the United Kingdom and, in 2003, in Scandinavia and South Africa. Modern bulk high‐voltage power grids were designed more than 60 years ago for achieving more economic benefits in power transfer. In turn, high‐voltage, and especially the lately designed ultrahigh‐voltage, grids are more vulnerable to GMD. It is anticipated that the demand of detailed study of power grid's vulnerability to GMD will expand with broader awareness of the negative effects. The common approach requires the knowledge of the data on geophysical parameters of the study region, which is not accessible to the specialists without relevant background. In this paper, an alternative algorithm for preliminary evaluation of power grid's robustness to GMD is proposed. It takes into account various critical factors and provides a useful tool for stakeholders to identify potentially weak power grids and develop mitigation procedures beforehand. The advantage is that this algorithm can be used by specialists who do not have a comprehensive understanding of the GMD effect on power grid operation.
Microbiota and skin defense peptides may facilitate coexistence of two sympatric Andean frog species with a lethal pathogen
Authors: Flechas Sandra V , Acosta-González Alejandro , Escobar Laura A , Kueneman Jordan G , Sánchez-Quitian Zilpa Adriana , Parra-Giraldo Claudia M , Rollins-Smith Louise A , Reinert Laura K , Vredenburg Vance T , Amézquita Adolfo , Woodhams Douglas C
Published: September 2018

Management of hyper-virulent generalist pathogens is an emergent global challenge, yet for most disease systems we lack a basic understanding as to why some host species suffer mass mortalities, while others resist epizootics. We studied two sympatric species of frogs from the Colombian Andes, which coexist with the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), to understand why some species did not succumb to the infection. We found high Bd prevalence in juveniles for both species, yet infection intensities remained low. We also found that bacterial community composition and host defense peptides are specific to amphibian life stages. We detected abundant Bd-inhibitory skin bacteria across life stages and Bd-inhibitory defense peptides post-metamorphosis in both species. Bd-inhibitory bacteria were proportionally more abundant in adults of both species than in earlier developmental stages. We tested for activity of peptides against the skin microbiota and found that in general peptides did not negatively affect bacterial growth and in some instances facilitated growth. Our results suggest that symbiotic bacteria and antimicrobial peptides may be co-selected for, and that together they contribute to the ability of Andean amphibian species to coexist with the global pandemic lineage of Bd.
Higher ambient synaptic glutamate at inhibitory versus excitatory neurons differentially impacts NMDA receptor activity
Authors: Yao Lulu , Grand Teddy , Hanson Jesse E. , Paoletti Pierre , Zhou Qiang
Published: September 2018

Selective disruption of synaptic drive to inhibitory neurons could contribute to the pathophysiology of various brain disorders. We have previously identified a GluN2A-selective positive allosteric modulator, GNE-8324, that selectively enhances N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated synaptic responses in inhibitory but not excitatory neurons. Here, we demonstrate that differences in NMDAR subunit composition do not underlie this selective potentiation. Rather, a higher ambient glutamate level in the synaptic cleft of excitatory synapses on inhibitory neurons is a key factor. We show that increasing expression of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) eliminates GNE-8324 potentiation in inhibitory neurons, while decreasing GLT-1 activity enables potentiation in excitatory neurons. Our results reveal an unsuspected difference between excitatory synapses onto different neuronal types, and a more prominent activation of synaptic NMDARs by ambient glutamate in inhibitory than excitatory neurons. This difference has implications for tonic NMDAR activity/signaling and the selective modulation of inhibitory neuron activity to treat brain disorders.
Metabolic profiling of metformin treatment for low-level Pb-induced nephrotoxicity in rat urine
Authors: Huang Yu-Shen , Wang Shwu-Huey , Chen Shih-Ming , Lee Jen-Ai
Published: September 2018

Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide problem, and Pb contamination is a potential risk factor. Since current biomarkers are not sensitive for the diagnosis of Pb-induced nephrotoxicity, novel biomarkers are needed. Metformin has both hypoglycaemic effects and reno-protection ability. However, its mechanism of action is unknown. We aimed to discover the early biomarkers for the diagnosis of low-level Pb-induced nephrotoxicity and understand the mechanism of reno-protection of metformin. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, Pb, Pb + ML, Pb + MH and MH groups. Pb (250 ppm) was given daily via drinking water. Metformin (50 or 100 mg/kg/d) was orally administered. Urine was analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics coupled with multivariate statistical analysis, and potential biomarkers were subsequently quantified. The results showed that Pb-induced nephrotoxicity was closely correlated with the elevation of 5-aminolevulinic acid, d-lactate and guanidinoacetic acid in urine. After co-treatment with metformin, 5-aminolevulinic acid and d-lactate were decreased. This is the first demonstration that urinary 5-aminolevulinic acid, d-lactate and guanidinoacetic acid could be early biomarkers of low-level Pb-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The reno-protection of metformin might be attributable to the reduction of d-lactate excretion.
Expanded A-DROP Score: A New Scoring System for the Prediction of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Ahn June Hong , Choi Eun Young
Published: September 2018

There are several established prognostic scoring systems for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) is a prediction rule consisting of 20 variables to identify low-risk patients with CAP. Although PSI had high discrimination ability, it is complex to calculate and difficult to use in busy hospital settings. The CURB-65 score is much simpler to use than is PSI, but it has lower sensitivity for predicting mortality compared with PSI. The A-DROP score is a modified version of the CURB-65 score and provides similar predictive power to that of CURB-65. This study was performed to determine whether a simpler score (CURB-65, A-DROP), expanded with a small number of additional variables, can predict mortality more accurately than PSI. We conducted a retrospective observational study of 1,031 patients with CAP who were hospitalized at a tertiary teaching hospital. We used age, sex, comorbidities, vital signs, and laboratory findings as prognostic variables. We compared the PSI, CURB-65, and A-DROP scores using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The areas under the curves (AUCs) of PSI, CURB-65, and A-DROP were 0.735, 0.701, and 0.730, respectively.Multivariable analysis identified malignancy [odds ratio (OR): 2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13–4.17], respiration rate ≥ 24/min [OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.24–3.82], heart rate ≥ 100/min [OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.68–5.08], albumin ≤ 3.09 g/dL [OR: 3.85, 95% CI: 2.09–7.07], lactate > 1.7 mmol/L [OR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.53–4.38], and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide > 500 pg/mL [OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.26–3.95] as prognostic factors. Using the prognostic variables identified in the multivariable analysis, we assembled a new scoring system, the expanded A-DROP score. The AUC of this score for the prediction of 28-day mortality was 0.834 (95% CI: 0.794–0.874). Bootstrap validation yielded an estimated AUC of 0.833, indicating negligible overfitting of the model.The expanded A-DROP score is a relatively simple and effective scoring system, and its predictive value was superior to those of other scoring systems.