bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of face‐to‐face versus live video‐feed interviewing on children's event reports
Authors: Hamilton Gemma , Whiting Elizabeth A. , Brubacher Sonja P. , Powell Martine B.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Recent advances in technology have raised a potentially promising service to overcome difficulties associated with remote witnesses: live video‐feed interviews. The efficacy of this mode of interviewing, however, lacks empirical evidence, particularly with children in an investigative context.

Methods

This study explored the effects of live video‐feed compared to face‐to‐face interviewing on the memory reports of 100 children (aged 5–12). Children participated in an innocuous event and were interviewed 1–2 days later by experienced interviewers.

Results

Analyses indicated that live video‐feed interviewing was just as effective as face‐to‐face interviewing in terms of the accuracy and informativeness of children's accounts. Video‐feed interviews, however, required a higher number of clarification prompts compared to face‐to‐face interviews. These findings were not influenced by children's familiarity with technology.

Conclusions

An initial test of live video‐feed interviewing indicates it is a safe and effective method for interviewing children about an innocuous event.
Mammalian biogeography and the Ebola virus in Africa
Authors: Olivero Jesús , Fa Julia E. , Real Raimundo , Farfán Miguel Ángel , Márquez Ana Luz , Vargas J. Mario , Gonzalez J. Paul , Cunningham Andrew A. , Nasi Robert
Published: June 2016

Ebola virus is responsible for the fatal Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Identifying the distribution area of the Ebola virus is crucial for understanding the risk factors conditioning the emergence of new EVD cases. Existing distribution models have underrepresented the potential contribution that reservoir species and vulnerable species make in sustaining the presence of the virus.

In this paper, we map favourable areas for Ebola virus in Africa according to environmental and zoogeographical descriptors, independent of human‐to‐human transmissions. We combine two different biogeographical approaches: analysis of mammalian distribution types (chorotypes), and distribution modelling of the Ebola virus.

We first obtain a model defining the distribution of environmentally favourable areas for the presence of Ebola virus. Based on a review of mammal taxa affected by or suspected of exposure to the Ebola virus, we model favourable areas again, this time according to mammalian chorotypes. We then build a combined model in which both the environment and mammalian distributions explain the favourable areas for Ebola virus in the wild.

We demonstrate that mammalian biogeography contributes to explaining the distribution of Ebola virus in Africa, although vegetation may also underscore clear limits to the presence of the virus. Our model suggests that the Ebola virus may be even more widespread than previously suspected, given that additional favourable areas are found throughout the coastal areas of West and Central Africa, stretching from Cameroon to Guinea, and extend further East into the East African Lakes region.

Our findings show that the most favourable area for the Ebola virus is significantly associated with the presence of the virus in non‐human mammals. Core areas are surrounded by regions of intermediate favourability, in which human infections of unknown source were found. The difference in association between humans and other mammals and the virus may offer further insights on how EVD can spread.
Exploding Explicatures
Authors: Borg Emma
Published: June 2016

‘Pragmaticist’ positions posit a three‐way division within utterance content between: (i) the standing meaning of the sentence, (ii) a somewhat pragmatically enhanced meaning which captures what the speaker explicitly conveys (following Sperber and Wilson, I label this the ‘explicature’), and (iii) further indirectly conveyed propositions which the speaker merely implies. Here I re‐examine the notion of an explicature, asking how it is defined and what work explicatures are supposed to do. I argue that explicatures get defined in three different ways and that these distinct definitions can and do pull apart. Thus the notion of an explicature turns out to be ill‐defined.
Making Sense of the Cotard Syndrome: Insights from the Study of Depersonalisation
Authors: Billon Alexandre
Published: June 2016

Patients suffering from the Cotard syndrome can deny being alive, having guts, thinking or even existing. They can also complain that the world or time have ceased to exist. In this article, I argue that even though the leading neurocognitive accounts have difficulties meeting that task, we should, and we can, make sense of these bizarre delusions. To that effect, I draw on the close connection between the Cotard syndrome and a more common (and better studied) condition known as depersonalisation. Even though they are not delusional, depersonalised patients seem to have experiences that are quite similar to those of Cotard patients. I argue that these experiences are essentially characterised by a (more or less important) lack of subjective character and of two other structural features of experience, which I call ‘the present character’ and ‘the actual character’. Cotard's nihilistic delusions simply consist in taking these anomalous experiences at face value.
Autonomic nervous system function predicts the inflammatory response over three years in newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis patients
Authors: Gunterberg V. , Simrén M. , Öhman L. , Friberg P. , Jones M. P. , Van Oudenhove L. , Strid H.
Published: June 2016

Background

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulates intestinal inflammation in animal models. Human evidence confirming such modulating influence is limited. We aimed to investigate whether ANS function is associated with inflammatory parameters at disease onset, and whether it predicts the evolution of inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

We prospectively monitored 51 patients from onset of UC for 3 years. Upon remission of the onset flare, ANS activity was assessed by heart rate variability analysis and compared with healthy controls. Inflammatory parameters in blood, stool, and colonic biopsies obtained at onset and during follow‐up visits were analyzed. Generalized linear models were used to test cross‐sectional associations between ANS activity and inflammatory parameters at onset; linear mixed models were used to test whether ANS function at onset predicted the evolution of inflammation over the following 3 years.

Key Results

Sympathovagal balance was different in UC patients compared to healthy controls, and cross‐sectional associated with higher levels of systemic (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], CRP, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ) and mucosal inflammation (interleukin‐8, IFN‐γ) at onset. Conversely, a negative cross‐sectional association with parasympathetic activity was found for ESR & TNF‐α. Longitudinally, parasympathetic activity at onset predicted systemic (ESR, WBC), but not mucosal inflammation during follow‐up.

Conclusions & Inferences

This study further strengthens the association between the ANS system and intestinal inflammation previously found in animal models and recently in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. These results may have important implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of UC.
Isolation and characterization of primary bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Li Hongzhe , Ghazanfari Roshanak , Zacharaki Dimitra , Lim Hooi Ching , Scheding Stefan
Published: June 2016

Bone marrow (BM) contains a rare population of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which have been characterized as nonhematopoietic skeletal progenitor cells with central importance for the hematopoietic microenvironment. Classically, MSCs are isolated by plastic adherence and subsequent culture. However, as cultured stromal cells differ from their in vivo progenitors, it is important to identify the phenotype of the primary MSCs to study these cells in more detail. In the past years, several surface markers have been reported to be suitable for effective enrichment of BM‐MSCs, and recent data indicate that the putative MSC stem/progenitor cell population in human adult BM is highly enriched in Lin− CD45− CD271+ CD140a (PDGFRα)low/− cells. Moreover, surface marker combinations have been described for the isolation of MSCs from murine BM. On the basis of these findings, the role of primary MSCs can now be studied in normal and, importantly, diseased BM. Furthermore, genetically engineered mouse models have been developed as powerful tools to investigate well‐defined BM stromal cell populations in vivo. Our discussion aims to provide a concise overview of the current state of the art in BM‐MSC isolation in humans and briefly present murine MSC isolation approaches and genetic models.
Resource conflict and cooperation between human host and gut microbiota: implications for nutrition and health
Authors: Wasielewski Helen , Alcock Joe , Aktipis Athena
Published: June 2016

Diet has been known to play an important role in human health since at least the time period of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. In the last decade, research has revealed that microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract, known as the gut microbiota, are critical factors in human health. This paper draws on concepts of cooperation and conflict from ecology and evolutionary biology to make predictions about host–microbiota interactions involving nutrients. To optimally extract energy from some resources (e.g., fiber), hosts require cooperation from microbes. Other nutrients can be utilized by both hosts and microbes (e.g., simple sugars, iron) in their ingested form, which may lead to greater conflict over these resources. This framework predicts that some negative health effects of foods are driven by the direct effects of these foods on human physiology and by indirect effects resulting from microbiome–host competition and conflict (e.g., increased invasiveness and inflammation). Similarly, beneficial effects of some foods on host health may be enhanced by resource sharing and other cooperative behaviors between host and microbes that may downregulate inflammation and virulence. Given that some foods cultivate cooperation between hosts and microbes while others agitate conflict, host–microbe interactions may be novel targets for interventions aimed at improving nutrition and human health.
Chemerin and interleukin‐6 levels in obese individuals following periodontal treatment
Authors: Balli U , Ongoz Dede F , Bozkurt Dogan S , Gulsoy Z , Sertoglu E
Published: June 2016

Objective

To investigate changes in the levels of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) chemerin and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in both obese/non‐obese individuals with periodontitis following non‐surgical periodontal therapy.

Methods

Individuals (n = 80) were split into four groupings according to periodontal/anthropometric parameters: (i) periodontal healthy without obesity; (ii) chronic periodontitis (CP) without obesity; (iii) periodontal healthy with obesity; and (iv) CP with obesity. Individuals with periodontitis were treated with non‐surgical periodontal therapy. Both GCF sampling procedures and clinical periodontal measures were performed prior to treatment and 6 weeks thereafter. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to measure both chemerin and IL‐6 levels.

Results

Greater values for chemerin and IL‐6 were observed in obese individuals compared to their non‐obese controls and in individuals with CP compared to their periodontal healthy controls (P < 0.008), which decreased following therapy (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between chemerin and IL‐6 in obese groups (P < 0.05). A comprehensive overview of all groups showed a statistically significant positive correlation among chemerin, along with IL‐6, waist‐to‐hip ratio, body mass index, and clinical attachment levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

It could be concluded that chemerin levels may act as both diagnostic and prognostic indicators. Chemerin may also play an integral part in the pathologic mechanisms that relate adipokines to both periodontal disease and obesity.
Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV deficiency complicated with chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction in a neonate
Authors: Hashimura Yuya , Morioka Ichiro , Hisamatsu Chieko , Yokoyama Naoki , Taniguchi‐Ikeda Mariko , Yokozaki Hiroshi , Murayama Kei , Ohtake Akira , Itoh Kyoko , Takeshima Yasuhiro , Iijima Kazumoto
Published: June 2016

A female infant born at 36 weeks gestational age with birthweight 2135 g, and who developed respiratory disorder, hyperlactacidemia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after birth, was admitted to hospital at 3 days of age. After admission, bilious emesis, abdominal distention, and passage disorder of the gastrointestinal tract were resistant to various drugs. Exploratory laparotomy was performed at 93 days of age, but no organic lesions were identified and normal Meissner/Auerbach nerve plexus was confirmed, which led to a clinical diagnosis of chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO). She was diagnosed with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV deficiency on histopathology of the abdominal rectus muscle and enzyme activity measurement. This is the first report of a neonate with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex deficiency with intractable CIPO. CIPO can occur in neonates with mitochondrial respiratory chain disorder, necessitating differential diagnosis from Hirschsprung disease.
The Ethics of Procreation and Adoption
Authors: Rulli Tina
Published: June 2016

It is widely assumed that people have a moral right to procreate. This article explores recent arguments in opposition to procreation in some or all contexts. Some such views are concerned with the risks and harms of life that procreation imposes on non‐consenting children. Others articulate concerns for third parties – the environmental damage or opportunity costs that procreation poses to already existing people. The article then surveys arguments that favor procreation despite the risks to the children created and third parties. The best argument for procreation is based on the significant interest people have in forming the parent–child relationship. An important under‐discussed middle ground is suggested – one that avoids the criticisms of the anti‐natalist while fulfilling the best aims of procreation – viz. adoption. The duty to adopt is summarized and objections to it considered. Thoughtful people who deeply desire to become parents but do not wish to participate in the range of potential procreative harms should consider adoption as a first choice.
Protective Effects of Quercetin on Selected Oxidative Biomarkers in Bovine Spermatozoa Subjected to Ferrous Ascorbate
Authors: Tvrdá E , Tušimová E , Kováčik A , Paál D , Libová Ľ , Lukáč N
Published: June 2016

Contents

Quercetin (QUE) is a natural flavonol‐type flavonoid with antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐aggregatory properties. It is also a powerful reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and chelating agent. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of QUE to reverse ROS‐mediated alterations to the motility, viability and intracellular antioxidant profile of bovine spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were washed out of fresh bovine semen, suspended in 2.9% sodium citrate and subjected to QUE treatment (7.5, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/l) in the presence or absence of a pro‐oxidant, that is ferrous ascorbate (FeAA; 150 μmol/l FeSO4 and 750 μmol/l ascorbic acid) during a 6‐h in vitro culture. Spermatozoa motion characteristics were assessed using the SpermVision computer‐aided sperm analysis (CASA) system. Cell viability was examined with the metabolic activity (MTT) assay, ROS generation was quantified via luminometry, and the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test was applied to quantify the intracellular superoxide formation. Cell lysates were prepared at the end of the in vitro culture to investigate the intracellular activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as the concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). FeAA treatment led to a reduced sperm motility (p < 0.001), viability (p < 0.001) and decreased the antioxidant parameters of the sperm samples (p < 0.001) but increased the ROS generation (p < 0.001), superoxide production (p < 0.001) and lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001). QUE administration resulted in a preservation of the spermatozoa vitality and antioxidant characteristics (p < 0.01 with respect to the enzymatic antioxidants, p < 0.001 in relation to GSH) with a concentration range of 50–100 μmol/l QUE revealing to be the most effective. Our results suggest that QUE exhibits significant ROS‐scavenging and metal‐chelating properties which may prevent spermatozoa alterations caused by ROS, and preserve the functionality of male reproductive cells.
Biomechanical properties of infantile hemangiomas: clinical stage and effect of age
Authors: Visscher M. O. , Burkes S. A. , Adams D. M. , Gupta A. , Wickett R. R.
Published: June 2016

Background

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are benign vascular neoplasms with rapid capillary proliferation shortly after birth and slow involution with diminishing capillary proliferative activity, fibrosis, and fatty replacement over 7–10 years.

Methods

Hemangiomas and contralateral control sites in 88 subjects were measured using a suction device, 6‐mm probe and 200 mbar negative pressure. Mechanical properties were assessed vs. controls and effects of body site, depth, clinical stage, histology diagnosis, and time.

Results

Biological elasticity, overall elasticity, net elasticity, total recovery, and elastic recovery were lower for IH vs. controls (P < 0.001). IH total deformation, elastic deformation, viscoelastic creep, and residual deformation were higher than controls (P < 0.001). Involuting IHs had lower viscoelasticity than proliferating and stable lesions (P < 0.001) and lower viscoelastic creep than stable IHs (P = 0.04). IH viscoelasticity was higher at 2.3 than 12.9, 23.7, and 61.0 months and at 4.9 and 8.1 than 61.0 months. IH elastic recovery varied by body site with larger differences vs. control for abdomen and leg. Elastic recovery differences from control were smaller at younger vs. older ages.

Conclusions

Measurement of biomechanical properties may be useful to characterize IH progression and treatment response in clinical settings.
Thermographic mapping of the skin surface in biometric evaluation of cellulite treatment effectiveness
Authors: Wilczyński S. , Koprowski R. , Deda A. , Janiczek M. , Kuleczka N. , Błońska‐Fajfrowska B.
Published: June 2016

Background

Cellulite is one of the worst tolerated aesthetic imperfections. Edema that accompanies cellulite causes disorders of blood flow what may be observed as changes in the skin surface temperature. The aim of this paper was to develop a new method based on the analysis and processing of thermal images of the skin for biometric evaluation of severity of cellulite and monitoring its treatment.

Methods

The observations of the treatment effects were conducted on 10 females (33.4 ± 6.4 years). Thermal images of the volunteers’ thighs were captured before starting the therapy (T0). In the following stages: T1, T2, and T3, thermal images were captured 2 weeks after the first, second and third Alidya treatment administration, respectively. Profiled algorithms were developed to determine the mean Grey Level Co‐occurrence Matrix (GLCM) contrast in the acquired thermograms.

Results

The mean GLCM contrast for the phase T0 was 70.91, and for the stages T1, T2, and T3: 57.78, 41.80, and 38.53, respectively.

Conclusion

The use of proposed method (GLCM contrast) enables biometric evaluation of the effectiveness of cellulite treatment. Traditionally used parameters of infrared analysis such as local points of the maximum and minimum temperature or the median temperatures are not useful in thermal, biometric evaluation of anti‐cellulite preparations.
Role of Chamfering Angles and Flow Through Slit on Heat Transfer Augmentation Behind a Surface-Mounted Rib
Authors: Ali Md Shaukat , Tariq Andallib , Gandhi B. K.
Published: June 2016

Detailed heat transfer and flow field investigations behind a surface-mounted slitted trapezoidal rib have been performed using liquid crystal thermography (LCT) and particle image velocimetry (PIV). In the accomplished experiments, the effects of varying the chamfering angle over the trailing edge of a rib with a centrally placed longitudinal continuous slit carrying an open area ratio equivalent to 25% were studied. The chamfering angle has been varied from 0 to 20 deg in a step of 5 deg. Experiments were carried out for four different Reynolds numbers ranging in between 9400 and 61,480, which were based upon the hydraulic diameter of the rectangular duct. The motive behind the present work is to systematically study the effect of change in chamfering angle of a trapezoidal rib with a centrally placed continuous slit over the flow and heat transfer parameters. Emphasis was made to identify the flow parameters responsible for augmentation in surface heat transfer coefficients (HTCs). Results are presented in terms of mean and rms velocity fields, stream traces, Reynolds stress, vorticity, and surface- and spanwise-averaged augmentation Nusselt number distribution. The reattachment length and the average augmentation Nusselt number have been evaluated for all of the different configurations. Entire configurations under selected range of Reynolds number led to the rise in heat transfer enhancement as against the flat surface without the rib. It is observed that slitted ribs cause shorter reattachment length and better heat transfer enhancement in the downstream vicinity of the rib. Further, the recirculation area behind the rib is enlarged to the point of spanning the nearby downstream vicinity of the rib (x/e<4), which signifies the zone of maximum heat transfer enhancement due to the effect of flow coming out of the slit. Salient critical points and foci of secondary recirculation patterns are extracted, which provides clues to the physical process occurring in the flow, which were responsible for the mixing enhancement behind slitted trapezoidal rib geometries.
Note on Turbulent Kinetic Energy Production for Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes Models
Authors: Jee Solkeun , Medic Gorazd , Kalitzin Georgi
Published: June 2016

Linear eddy-viscosity Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence models are based on the Boussinesq approximation that asserts the Reynolds stresses to be linearly dependent on the mean strain rate. Using the Boussinesq approximation for the Reynolds stress yields a production term in the turbulent kinetic energy equation that is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the strain rate tensor. For some flows, this relation to the strain causes overproduction of turbulence. Widely used ad hoc modifications of the production term using vorticity lead to an inconsistent energy balance in the mean flow kinetic energy equation, violating the energy conservation. In this note, how to obtain a consistent RANS framework for a given production term modification is shown.
How the demographic makeup of our community influences speech perception
Authors: Lev-Ari Shiri , Peperkamp Sharon
Published: June 2016

Speech perception is known to be influenced by listeners' expectations of the speaker. This paper tests whether the demographic makeup of individuals' communities can influence their perception of foreign sounds by influencing their expectations of the language. Using online experiments with participants from all across the U.S. and matched census data on the proportion of Spanish and other foreign language speakers in participants' communities, this paper shows that the demographic makeup of individuals' communities influences their expectations of foreign languages to have an alveolar trill versus a tap (Experiment 1), as well as their consequent perception of these sounds (Experiment 2). Thus, the paper shows that while individuals' expectations of foreign language to have a trill occasionally lead them to misperceive a tap in a foreign language as a trill, a higher proportion of non-trill language speakers in one's community decreases this likelihood. These results show that individuals' environment can influence their perception by shaping their linguistic expectations.
Limb salvage following iatrogenic arterial injury: complications of cardiac support using intra-aortic balloon pumps
Authors: Hunt Adam , Waldin Owen , Slim Hani , Brar Ranjeet
Published: June 2016

This is a unique case report describing complex limb salvage in a patient who experienced acute limb ischaemia due to a complication of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation. This case focuses on a patient who had an IABP counterpulsation device inserted following myocardial infarction, requiring urgent coronary artery bypass grafting for acute coronary syndrome. Postoperatively, the IABP could not be removed, with consequent iliac thrombosis and acute limb ischaemia. Emergency femoral-to-femoral crossover bypass was performed using a polytetrafluoroethylene graft. A portion of the IABP balloon tip was entrapped and retained, however, and became the focus of delayed septicaemia, resulting in graft infection and wound breakdown 6 weeks later. Explantation of the residual balloon tip, ligation of the right external iliac artery and redo femoral–femoral crossover using the great saphenous vein were successfully performed.
Novel methodology to replicate clot analogs with diverse composition in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Duffy Sharon , Farrell Michael , McArdle Kevin , Thornton John , Vale David , Rainsford Eleanor , Morris Liam , Liebeskind David S , MacCarthy Eugene , Gilvarry Michael
Published: June 2016

Background

Translational research on clot composition may be advanced by the use of clot analogs for the preclinical evaluation of mechanical thrombectomy devices. This work describes a novel set of clot analogs to represent a diverse range of fibrin and red blood cell (RBC) compositions for use in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occlusion models.

Method

Fresh whole blood obtained from ovine species was used to create seven different clot analog types. Five replicates were formed for each clot type. Varying amounts of whole blood constituents were mixed with thrombotic factors to create clots of varying compositions. Following histological processing, five sections from each clot were stained with H&E and Martius Scarlet Blue. Fibrin, RBC and white blood cell compositions were quantified.

Results

Histological examination demonstrated that the clot types had a distinct RBC and fibrin composition. No significant difference in composition was shown between replicates (p>0.05), indicating that the method of clot formation was reproducible. Percentage fibrin composition of the clot types was 1%, 8%, 31%, 38%, 64%, 79%, and 100%. A significant difference in fibrin and RBC composition between clot types was observed (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Seven different clot types were developed to replicate common AIS thrombi. These clot analogs may be beneficial for the preclinical evaluation of endovascular therapies, and may be applied to interventional technique training.
Frequency of sprout-origin trees in pre-European settlement forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains
Authors: Copenheaver Carolyn A. , Keyser Tara L.
Published: June 2016

We hypothesized that tree form, recorded in historical public land surveys, would provide a valuable proxy record of regeneration patterns during early-European settlement of North America’s eastern deciduous forest. To test this hypothesis, we tallied stem form from witness trees used in land survey records in the southern Appalachian Mountains from 13 counties spanning four physiographic provinces: Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, and Cumberland Plateau. A total of 3% of witness trees used in the land surveys were of sprout origin. American basswood (Tilia americana L.) exhibited the highest proportion of sprout-origin trees at 12%. Other overstory species with a high proportion of sprout-origin trees were hickory (Carya sp.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.), all with 6% of stems being from sprout origin. Blue Ridge had significantly more sprout-origin trees compared with the other three physiographic provinces. Forests in the southern Appalachian Mountains during the pre-European settlement period had a suite of disturbances that controlled their growth and regeneration; however, most of these disturbances did not result in large-scale tree mortality, and therefore, sprouts were not an important source of regeneration.
Consequences of mountain pine beetle outbreak on forest ecosystem services in western Canada
Authors: Dhar Amalesh , Parrott Lael , Heckbert Scott
Published: June 2016

After affecting millions of hectares of pine forests in western Canada, the mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonous ponderosae Hopkins) is spreading out of its native range and into Canada’s boreal forest. Impacts of outbreaks can be environmental, economic, and social, and an ecosystem services (ES) viewpoint provides a useful perspective for an integrated approach to assessing these impacts and may help to identify how possible management strategies could minimize these impacts. In this regards, a comprehensive overview of the ecosystem functions and socioeconomic factors that have been impacted by the current outbreaks in western Canada was carried out to facilitate a more general ES assessment. In addition to timber production, current MPB outbreaks have negative effects on provisioning services (water supply and food production) and aesthetic cultural services, while effects on regulating services (carbon and forest fire) are still in debate. Among the supporting services, nutrient cycling and aquatic habitat showed short- and long-term negative effects, while terrestrial habitat showed a mostly positive response. The overall impact on ES may be more severe if salvage logging is practiced as a post-MPB forest management strategy. The outcomes of this study may help to identify areas of greatest socioecological vulnerability to MPB and identify knowledge gaps and avenues for research to advance the ES framework for MPB outbreak management.
The 750 GeV diphoton excess and SUSY
Authors: Heinemeyer S.
Published: June 2016

The LHC experiments ATLAS and CMS have reported an excess in the diphoton spectrum at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]750 GeV. At the same time the motivation for Supersymmetry (SUSY) remains unbowed. Consequently, we review briefly the proposals to explain this excess in SUSY, focusing on “pure” (N)MSSM solutions. We then review in more detail a proposal to realize this excess within the NMSSM. In this particular scenario a Higgs boson with mass around 750 GeV decays to two light pseudo-scalar Higgs bosons. Via mixing with the pion these pseudo-scalars decay into a pair of highly collimated photons, which are identified as one photon, thus resulting in the observed signal.
Transition time of nonlinear Landau–Zener model in adiabatic limit
Authors: Liu Xuan-Zuo , Tian Dong-Ping , Chong Bo
Published: June 2016

The impact of nonlinear interaction on the loop structure of lower energy level and on the time evolution curve of canonical momentum which corresponds to the lower eigenstate are analyzed respectively. We find that the curve changes from single-valued to multi-valued as nonlinear interaction grows. The fascinating part is that the time range delimited by turning points in the loop of energy level and the period between two inflexion points on the multi-valued part of the evolution curve of canonical momentum are the same. Therefore, we propose a characteristic time in the transition process of nonlinear Landau–Zener model in adiabatic limit. Last, the physical meaning of the transition time as a measure of how much time the system experiences a structural change which directly results in the breakdown of adiabaticity is discussed.
How can rainbow gravity affect gravitational force?
Authors: Sefiedgar Akram Sadat
Published: June 2016

According to Verlinde’s recent proposal, the gravity is originally an entropic force. In this paper, we obtain the corrections to the entropy-area law of black holes within rainbow gravity. The corrected entropy-area law leads to the modifications of the number of bits [Formula: see text]. Inspired by Verlinde’s argument on the entropic force, and using the modified number of bits, we can investigate the effects of rainbow gravity on the modified Newtonian dynamics, Newton’s law of gravitation, and Einstein’s general relativity in entropic force approach.
Radial oscillation of compact stars in the presence of magnetic field
Authors: Baral R. C. , Mohanta K. K. , Panda N. R. , Sahu P. K.
Published: June 2016

Compact stars are classified into three categories: neutron stars (NSs), quark stars (QSs) and hybrid stars (HSs). Stars having only hadronic matter are NSs, QSs having only quark matter up to u, d and s quarks and stars having quark core surrounded by a mixed matter (hadronic matter and quark matter) followed by hadronic matter are HSs. The mixed matter is well distributed to both hadron and quark matters. A huge magnetic field is predicted in the core of the neutron star and is observed in the surface of the neutron star. We study the effect of such huge magnetic field in the matter inside the compact objects basically the equation of state (EOS) of the matters. Since matter inside the star are very dense both hadronic and quark matter, we consider relativistic mean field theory in the hadronic matter and simple MIT bag model in the quark matter in the presence of strong magnetic field. We calculate the phase transition between hadronic and quark phases, maximum mass and eigenfrequencies of radial pulsation of NS, HS and QS in the presence of such a huge magnetic field. The mixed phase is constructed by using Glendenning conjecture in between hadron and quark phases. We find in the presence of magnetic field, the EOS in both matter becomes soft. As a result, the maximum mass is reduced and the period of oscillation is changed significantly and there is a sudden dip in the period of oscillations in the HS, which signifies the transition from one to another matter.
Investigation of Blood Flow Modeling in Artery Using ALE Formulation
Authors: Mhamed Souli , Essam Al-Bahkali , Thamer Al-Bahkali , Mojtaba Moatamedi
Published: June 2016

The aim of the paper is to use Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) formulation for fluid–structure interaction for modeling blood flow in artery. Predicting blood flow and its effects on arteries requires simulation of fluid–structure coupling with deformable mesh. For fluid simulation velocity–pressure formulation is used, we present the algorithm which allows to compute fluid velocity and pressure using explicit time integration. This method has been applied successfully for several applications including sloshing tank analysis. For the structure shell type elements with five points integration through the thickness to accurately represent bending effects, are modeled. Since the structure is deformable, to prevent high mesh distortion an elasticity material model for the mesh is used for mesh deformation. For fluid–structure coupling, explicit contact algorithm based on penalty method. Such a model can be used to study the profile of the flow and pressure waves as they propagate along the arteries. In the paper, the onset of a pressure pulse was simulated at the entrance of a three dimension straight artery blood vessel and the resulting dynamic response in the form of a propagating pulse wave through the wall was analyzed and compared. Good agreement was found between the numerical results and the theoretical description of an idealized artery. Work has also been done on implementing the material constitutive models specific for vascular applications.
Noether symmetries of vacuum classes of pp-waves and the wave equation
Authors: Jamal Sameerah , Shabbir Ghulam
Published: June 2016

The Noether symmetry algebras admitted by wave equations on plane-fronted gravitational waves with parallel rays are determined. We apply the classification of different metric functions to determine generators for the wave equation, and also adopt Noether's theorem to derive conserved forms. For the possible cases considered, there exist symmetry groups with dimensions two, three, five, six and eight. These symmetry groups contain the homothetic symmetries of the spacetime.
Roman domination in graphs: The class ℛUV R
Authors: Samodivkin Vladimir
Published: June 2016

For a graph [Formula: see text], a Roman dominating function (RDF) [Formula: see text] has the property that every vertex [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] has a neighbor [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. The weight of a RDF [Formula: see text] is the sum [Formula: see text], and the minimum weight of a RDF on [Formula: see text] is the Roman domination number [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. The Roman bondage number [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the minimum cardinality of all sets [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text]. A graph [Formula: see text] is in the class [Formula: see text] if the Roman domination number remains unchanged when a vertex is deleted. In this paper, we obtain tight upper bounds for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] provided a graph [Formula: see text] is in [Formula: see text]. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for a tree to be in the class [Formula: see text]. We give a constructive characterization of [Formula: see text]-trees using labelings.
A paper-based microbial fuel cell operating under continuous flow condition
Authors: Hashemi Niloofar , Lackore Joshua M. , Sharifi Farrokh , Goodrich Payton J. , Winchell Megan L. , Hashemi Nastaran
Published: June 2016

Microbial fuel cells have gained popularity as a viable, environmentally friendly alternative for the production of energy. However, the challenges in miniaturizing the system for application in smaller devices as well as the short duration of operation have limited the application of these devices. Here, the capillary motion was employed to design a self-pumped paper-based microbial fuel cell operating under continuous flow condition. A proof-of-concept experiment ran approximately 5 days with no outside power or human interference required for the duration of operation. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was used to create a maximum current of 52.25 µA in a 52.5 µL paper-based microfluidic device. SEM images of the anode following the experiment showed biofilm formation on the carbon cloth electrode. The results showed a power density of approximately 25 W/m3and proved unique capabilities of the paper-based microbial fuel cells to produce energy for an extended period of time.
Effects of Anthocyanin and Flavanol Compounds on Lipid Metabolism and Adipose Tissue Associated Systemic Inflammation in Diet-Induced Obesity
Authors: van der Heijden Roel A. , Morrison Martine C. , Sheedfar Fareeba , Mulder Petra , Schreurs Marijke , Hommelberg Pascal P. H. , Hofker Marten H. , Schalkwijk Casper , Kleemann Robert , Tietge Uwe J. F. , Koonen Debby P. Y. , Heeringa Peter
Published: June 2016

Background.Naturally occurring substances from the flavanol and anthocyanin family of polyphenols have been proposed to exert beneficial effects in the course of obesity. We hypothesized that their effects on attenuating obesity-induced dyslipidemia as well as the associated inflammatory sequelae especially have health-promoting potential.Methods.Male C57BL/6J mice (n=52) received a control low-fat diet (LFD; 10 kcal% fat) for 6 weeks followed by 24 weeks of either LFD (n=13) or high-fat diet (HFD; 45 kcal% fat;n=13) or HFD supplemented with 0.1% w/w of the flavanol compound epicatechin (HFD+E;n=13) or an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract (HFD+B;n=13). Energy substrate utilization was determined by indirect calorimetry in a subset of mice following the dietary switch and at the end of the experiment. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 3 days and 4, 12, and 20 weeks after dietary switch and analyzed for systemic lipids and proinflammatory cytokines. Adipose tissue (AT) histopathology and inflammatory gene expression as well as hepatic lipid content were analyzed after sacrifice.Results.The switch from a LFD to a HFD lowered the respiratory exchange ratio and increased plasma cholesterol and hepatic lipid content. These changes were not attenuated by HFD+E or HFD+B. Furthermore, the polyphenol compounds could not prevent HFD-induced systemic rise of TNF-αlevels. Interestingly, a significant reduction inTnfgene expression in HFD+B mice was observed in the AT. Furthermore, HFD+B, but not HFD+E, significantly prevented the early upregulation of circulating neutrophil chemoattractant mKC. However, no differences in AT histopathology were observed between the HFD types.Conclusion.Supplementation of HFD with an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract but not with the flavanol epicatechin may exert beneficial effects on the systemic early inflammatory response associated with diet-induced obesity. These systemic effects were transient and not observed after prolongation of HFD-feeding (24 weeks). On the tissue level, long-term treatment with bilberry attenuated TNF-αexpression in adipose tissue.
On Internet Traffic Classification: A Two-Phased Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Bakhshi Taimur , Ghita Bogdan
Published: June 2016

Traffic classification utilizing flow measurement enables operators to perform essential network management. Flow accounting methods such as NetFlow are, however, considered inadequate for classification requiring additional packet-level information, host behaviour analysis, and specialized hardware limiting their practical adoption. This paper aims to overcome these challenges by proposing two-phased machine learning classification mechanism with NetFlow as input. The individual flow classes are derived per application throughk-means and are further used to train a C5.0 decision tree classifier. As part of validation, the initial unsupervised phase used flow records of fifteen popular Internet applications that were collected and independently subjected tok-means clustering to determine unique flow classes generated per application. The derived flow classes were afterwards used to train and test a supervised C5.0 based decision tree. The resulting classifier reported an average accuracy of 92.37% on approximately 3.4 million test cases increasing to 96.67% with adaptive boosting. The classifier specificity factor which accounted for differentiating content specific from supplementary flows ranged between 98.37% and 99.57%. Furthermore, the computational performance and accuracy of the proposed methodology in comparison with similar machine learning techniques lead us to recommend its extension to other applications in achieving highly granular real-time traffic classification.
Effect of High Dietary Tryptophan on Intestinal Morphology and Tight Junction Protein of Weaned Pig
Authors: Tossou Myrlene Carine B. , Liu Hongnan , Bai Miaomiao , Chen Shuai , Cai Yinghua , Duraipandiyan Veeramuthu , Liu Hongbin , Adebowale Tolulope O. , Al-Dhabi Naif Abdullah , Long Lina , Tarique Hussain , Oso Abimbola O. , Liu Gang , Yin Yulong
Published: June 2016

Tryptophan (Trp) plays an essential role in pig behavior and growth performances. However, little is known about Trp’s effects on tight junction barrier and intestinal health in weaned pigs. In the present study, twenty-four (24) weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments with 8 piglets/treatments. The piglets were fed different amounts of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) as follows: 0.0%, 0.15, and 0.75%, respectively, named zero Trp (ZTS), low Trp (LTS), and high Trp (HTS), respectively. No significant differences were observed in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain: feed (G/F) ratio between the groups. After 21 days of the feeding trial, results showed that dietary Trp significantly increased (P<0.05) crypt depth and significantly decreased (P<0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) in the jejunum of pig fed HTS. In addition, pig fed HTS had higher (P<0.05) serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate. Furthermore, pig fed HTS significantly decreased mRNA expression of tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1 but not claudin-1 in the jejunum. The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells were not significantly different (P>0.05) between the groups. Collectively, these data suggest that dietary Trp supplementation at a certain level (0.75%) may negatively affect the small intestinal structure in weaned pig.
The Influence of Irradiation Time and Layer Thickness on Elution of Triethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate from SDR® Bulk-Fill Composite
Authors: Łagocka Ryta , Jakubowska Katarzyna , Chlubek Dariusz , Buczkowska-Radlińska Jadwiga
Published: June 2016

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) elution from SDR bulk-fill composite.Methods. Three groups of samples were prepared, including samples polymerized in a 4 mm layer for 20 s, in a 4 mm layer for 40 s, and in a 2 mm layer for 20 s. Elution of TEGDMA into 100% ethanol, a 75% ethanol/water solution, and distilled water was studied. The TEGDMA concentration was measured using HPLC.Results. The TEGDMA concentration decreased in the following order: 100% ethanol > 75% ethanol > distilled water. Doubling the energy delivered to the 4 mm thick sample caused decrease (p<0.05) in TEGDMA elution to distilled water. In ethanol solutions, the energy increase had no influence on TEGDMA elution. Decreasing the sample thickness resulted in decrease (p<0.05) in TEGDMA elution for all the solutions.Conclusions. The concentration of eluted TEGDMA and the elution time were both strongly affected by the hydrophobicity of the solvent. Doubling the energy delivered to the 4 mm thick sample did not decrease the elution of TEGDMA but did decrease the amount of the monomer available to less aggressive solvents. Elution of TEGDMA was also correlated with the exposed sample surface area.Clinical Relevance. Decreasing the SDR layer thickness decreases TEGDMA elution.
Assessment of Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of Copeptin in the Clinical Setting of Sepsis
Authors: Battista Stefania , Audisio Umberto , Galluzzo Claudia , Maggiorotto Matteo , Masoero Monica , Forno Daniela , Pizzolato Elisa , Ulla Marco , Lucchiari Manuela , Vitale Annarita , Moiraghi Corrado , Lupia Enrico , Settanni Fabio , Mengozzi Giulio
Published: June 2016

The diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of copeptin were evaluated in septic patients, as compared to procalcitonin assessment. In this single centre and observational study 105 patients were enrolled: 24 with sepsis, 25 with severe sepsis, 15 with septic shock, and 41 controls, divided in two subgroups (15 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding and 26 with suspected SIRS secondary to trauma, acute coronary syndrome, and pulmonary embolism). Biomarkers were determined at the first medical evaluation and thereafter 24, 48, and 72 hours after admission. Definitive diagnosis and in-hospital survival rates at 30 days were obtained through analysis of medical records. At entry, copeptin proved to be able to distinguish cases from controls and also sepsis group from septic shock group, while procalcitonin could distinguish also severe sepsis from septic shock group. Areas under the ROC curve for copeptin and procalcitonin were 0.845 and 0.861, respectively. Noteworthy, patients with copeptin concentrations higher than the threshold value (23.2 pmol/L), calculated from the ROC curve, at admission presented higher 30-day mortality. No significant differences were found in copeptin temporal profile among different subgroups. Copeptin showed promising diagnostic and prognostic role in the management of sepsis, together with its possible role in monitoring the response to treatment.