bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
Authors: Foster S. B. , Allen D. M.
Published: October 2015

Watersheds located within a mountain to coast physiographic setting have been described as having a highly interconnected surface water and groundwater environment. The quantification of groundwater—surface water interactions at the watershed scale requires upscaling. This study uses MIKE SHE, a coupled numerical model, to explore the seasonally and spatially dynamic nature of these interactions in the Cowichan Watershed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The calibrated model simulates a transition of the Cowichan River from mostly gaining within the valley, to losing stream near the coast where groundwater extraction is focused. Losing and gaining sections correlate with geological substrate. Recharge across the watershed accounts for 17% of precipitation. Climate change is projected to lessen snowpack accumulation in the high alpine and alter timing of snowmelt, resulting in higher spring and winter river discharge and lower summer flows.
Analysis of Challenges Facing Rice Processing in Nigeria
Authors: Ajala A. S. , Gana A.
Published: October 2015

Rice is the most economically important food crop in many developing countries and has also become a major crop in many developed countries where its consumption has increased considerably. It has become necessary to meet the demand of the world’s current population growth rate, and the least costly means for achieving this aim is to increase rice productivity, wherever possible. The main challenges encountered by rice processors in Nigeria are to find appropriate solutions for quality rice processing. Therefore this work provides basic information about the challenges of rice processing and focuses on the challenges faced by the small scale rice processors and reasons for continuous rice importation with a view to guiding decision-making to be self-sufficient in rice production, thereby making some improvement in Nigerian economy.
Therapeutic Actions of the Thiazolidinediones in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Pérez María José , Quintanilla Rodrigo A.
Published: October 2015

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial metabolic brain disorder characterized by protein aggregates, synaptic failure, and cognitive impairment. In the AD brain is common to observe the accumulation of senile plaques formed by amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and the neurofibrillary tangles composed of modified tau protein, which both lead to cellular damage and progressive neurodegeneration. Currently, there is no effective therapy for AD; however several studies have shown that the treatments with the peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonists known as thiazolidinedione drugs (TZDs), like rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, attenuate neurodegeneration and improve cognition in mouse models and patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Furthermore, studies on animal models have shown that TZDs inhibit neuroinflammation, facilitate amyloid-βplaque clearance, enhance mitochondrial function, improve synaptic plasticity, and, more recently, attenuate tau hyperphosphorylation. How TZDs may improve or reduce these pathologic signs of AD and what the mechanisms and the implicated pathways in which these drugs work are are questions that remain to be answered. However, in this review, we will discuss several cellular targets, in which TZDs can be acting against the neurodegeneration.
Molecular Dynamics Study on Lubrication Mechanism in Crystalline Structure between Copper and Sulfur
Authors: Saitoh Ken-ichi , Sato Tomohiro , Takuma Masanori , Takahashi Yoshimasa , Chin Ryuketsu
Published: October 2015

To clarify the nanosized mechanism of good lubrication in copper disulfide (Cu2S) crystal which is used as a sliding material, atomistic modeling of Cu2S is conducted and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed in this paper. The interatomic interaction between atoms and crystalline structure in the phase of hexagonal crystal of Cu2S are carefully estimated by first-principle calculations. Then, approximating these interactions, we originally construct a conventional interatomic potential function of Cu2S crystal in its hexagonal phase. By using this potential function, we perform MD simulation of Cu2S crystal which is subjected to shear loading parallel to the basal plane. We compare results obtained by different conditions of sliding directions. Unlike ordinary hexagonal metallic crystals, it is found that the easy-glide direction does not always show small shear stress for Cu2S crystal. Besides, it is found that shearing velocity affects largely the magnitude of averaged shear stress. Generally speaking, higher velocity results in higher resistance against shear deformation. As a result, it is understood that Cu2S crystal exhibits somewhat liquid-like (amorphous) behavior in sliding condition and shear resistance increases with increase of sliding speed.
Simultaneous Determination of Six Active Compounds in Yixin Badiranjibuya Granules, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, by RP-HPLC-UV Method
Authors: Yu Ning , He ChenHui , Awuti Gulistan , Zeng Cheng , Xing JianGuo , Huang Wei
Published: October 2015

In this study, a sensitive, precise, and accurate HPLC-UV method was developed and validated to simultaneously determine the six analytes (luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, acacetin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, tilianin, and rosmarinic acid) in Yixin Badiranjibuya Granules, in which five analytes (i.e., luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, acacetin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and rosmarinic acid) were determined for the first time in Yixin Badiranjibuya Granules, the content of tilianin in Yixin Badiranjibuya Granules was reported in other literatures, and the content of tilianin in our work was higher than that of the literature reports. The quality of 11 batch samples from four different manufacturers was evaluated using the proposed determination method. The contents of the six analytes were largely different among samples from various manufacturers. Therefore, this determination method can provide a scientific basis for quality evaluation and control of Yixin Badiranjibuya Granules.
Pneumatological Challenges to Postcolonial Lutheran Mission in the Tswana Context
Authors: Auvinen-Pöntinen Mari-Anna
Published: October 2015

This article analyses pneumatological thinking as it appears in postcolonial mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana (elcb), thereby engaging with challenges being posed by the new Pentecostal Churches and African Independent Churches in the region.1 These “spiritual churches” are attracting increasing numbers of worshippers with the result that the Lutheran Church is currently facing the dual challenge of both the new phenomenon and the historical colonial heritage of the missionary era. Pneumatological thinking in theelcbis examined from an epistemic point of view, and the difficulties and strengths in both the postcolonial Lutheran mission and the new religiosity are evaluated.
Reading Rainbow Spirit Theology
Authors: Cronshaw Darren
Published: October 2015

The bookRainbow Spirit Theologyasserts that the gospel needs to be expressed in Aboriginal terms for Aboriginal people. The Rainbow Spirit Elders articulate an indigenous theology to help revitalize Aboriginal spirituality. Their contextualization model is anthropological; Aboriginal culture is their main source for doing theology. Scripture and church tradition are secondary sources that are creatively used to illustrate their developing theology of the land, suffering and reconciliation. The Gospel is the third source, with a focus on cosmic redemption, especially for the land and the crying need for justice and reconciliation. The book affirms but does not explicitly deal with personal redemption, but other writers are further exploring salvation images for Aboriginal people and what Jesus means to them. As these streams of reflection flow together, the Rainbow Spirit Elders hope to help all of Australia develop a deeper spirituality at home in our land.
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction of National Courts and Human Rights Enforcement: Quo vadis justitia?
Authors: Kapelańska-Pręgowska Julia
Published: October 2015

The article constitutes an argument in the debate over the legitimacy of exercising domestic jurisdiction over extraterritorial human rights violations. It seeks to answer a question of the current and future role of national courts in enforcing human rights with respect to extraterritorial violations. The article thus presents and analyses examples of judicial practice from different jurisdictions (United States, Europe and Canada). It also discusses the interrelation between adjudicatory jurisdiction and sovereignty. The survey of the recent case-law proves that in many countries there is a tendency of limiting extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction. The article concludes i.e. that perhaps the time has come to substitute a doctrine of forum non conveniens with the principle of forum necessitatits.
Genesis of Hurricane Julia (2010) within an African Easterly Wave: Sensitivity to Ice Microphysics
Authors: Cecelski Stefan F. , Zhang Da-Lin
Published: October 2015

While much attention has been given to investigating the dynamics of tropical cyclogenesis (TCG), little work explores the thermodynamical evolution and related cloud microphysical processes occurring during TCG. This study elaborates on previous research by examining the impact of ice microphysics on the genesis of Hurricane Julia during the 2010 North Atlantic Ocean hurricane season. As compared with a control simulation, two sensitivity experiments are conducted in which the latent heat of fusion owing to depositional growth is removed in one experiment and homogeneous freezing is not allowed to occur in the other. Results show that removing the latent heat of fusion substantially reduces the warming of the upper troposphere during TCG. This results in a lack of meso-α-scale hydrostatic surface pressure falls and no tropical depression (TD)-scale mean sea level pressure (MSLP) disturbance. In contrast, removing homogeneous freezing has little impact on the structure and magnitude of the upper-tropospheric thermodynamic changes and MSLP disturbance. Fundamental changes to the strength and spatial extent of deep convection and related updrafts are found when removing the latent heat of fusion from depositional processes. That is, deep convection and related updrafts are weaker because of the lack of heating in the upper troposphere. These changes to convective development impact the creation of a storm-scale outflow and thus the accumulation of upper-tropospheric warming and the development of the TD-scale MSLP disturbance.
Cloud Droplet Collisions in Turbulent Environment: Collision Statistics and Parameterization
Authors: Chen Sisi , Bartello Peter , Yau M. K. , Vaillancourt P. A. , Zwijsen Kevin
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the influence of turbulence in collision statistics by separately studying the impacts of computational domain sizes, eddy dissipation rates (EDRs), and droplet sizes and eventually to develop an accurate parameterization of collision kernels. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) were performed with a relatively wide range of EDRs and Taylor microscale Reynolds numbers . EDR measures the turbulence intensity levels. DNS model studies have simulated homogeneous turbulence in a small domain in the cloud’s adiabatic core. Clouds clearly have much larger scales than current DNS can simulate. For this reason, it is emphasized that obtained from current DNS is fundamentally only a measure of the computational domain size for a given EDR and cannot completely describe the physical properties of cloud turbulence. Results show that the collision statistics are independent of the domain sizes and hence of the computational for droplet sizes no bigger than 25 μm as long as the droplet separation distance, which is on the order of the Kolmogorov scale in real clouds, is resolved. Instead, they are found to be highly correlated with EDRs and droplet sizes, and this correlation is used to formulate an improved parameterization scheme. The new scheme well represents the turbulent geometric collision kernel with a relative uncertainty of 14%. A comparison between different parameterizations is made, and the formulas proposed here are shown to improve the fit to the collision statistics.
Atmospheric and Oceanic Contributions to Irreducible Forecast Uncertainty of Arctic Surface Climate
Authors: Tietsche Steffen , Hawkins Ed , Day Jonathan J.
Published: October 2015

Uncertainty of Arctic seasonal to interannual predictions arising from model errors and initial state uncertainty has been widely discussed in the literature, whereas the irreducible forecast uncertainty (IFU) arising from the chaoticity of the climate system has received less attention. However, IFU provides important insights into the mechanisms through which predictability is lost and hence can inform prioritization of model development and observations deployment. Here, the authors characterize how internal oceanic and surface atmospheric heat fluxes contribute to the IFU of Arctic sea ice and upper-ocean heat content in an Earth system model by analyzing a set of idealized ensemble prediction experiments. It is found that atmospheric and oceanic heat flux are often equally important for driving unpredictable Arctic-wide changes in sea ice and surface water temperatures and hence contribute equally to IFU. Atmospheric surface heat flux tends to dominate Arctic-wide changes for lead times of up to a year, whereas oceanic heat flux tends to dominate regionally and on interannual time scales. There is in general a strong negative covariance between surface heat flux and ocean vertical heat flux at depth, and anomalies of lateral ocean heat transport are wind driven, which suggests that the unpredictable oceanic heat flux variability is mainly forced by the atmosphere. These results are qualitatively robust across different initial states, but substantial variations in the amplitude of IFU exist. It is concluded that both atmospheric variability and the initial state of the upper ocean are key ingredients for predictions of Arctic surface climate on seasonal to interannual time scales.
An In-Depth Evaluation of Heritage Algorithms for Snow Cover and Snow Depth Using AMSR-E and AMSR2 Measurements
Authors: Lee Yong-Keun , Kongoli Cezar , Key Jeffrey
Published: October 2015

The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) was launched in 2012 on board the Global Change Observation Mission 1st–Water (GCOM-W1) satellite. This study presents a robust evaluation of AMSR2 algorithms for the retrieval of snow-covered area (SCA) and snow depth (SD) that will be used operationally by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Quantitative assessment of the algorithms was performed for a 10-yr period with AMSR-E and a 2-yr period with AMSR2 data using the NOAA Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) snow cover and in situ SD data as references. AMSR-E SCA showed a monthly overall accuracy rate of about 80% except in May. Accuracy improves significantly to over 90% when wet snow cases are excluded, and accuracy differences between ascending and descending portions of orbits also decrease. Microwave-derived SCA over dry snow areas can therefore be obtained with accuracy close to optically derived SCA. An evaluation of the results for AMSR-E SD showed a low overall bias of 1 cm and a root-mean-square error of 20 cm. Results for AMSR2-based SCA and SD are similar to those from AMSR-E. Biases and root-mean-square errors show dependencies on elevation, forest fraction, the magnitude of snow depth, and snow cover class.
Biomechanical comparison of unilateral semi-rigid and dynamic stabilization on ovine vertebrae
Authors: Karakoyun Dursun O , Özkaya Mustafa , Okutan Volkan C , Dalgıç Ali , Belen Deniz , Demir Teyfik
Published: October 2015

Using the unilateral pedicle screw fixation was thought to decrease the stiffness of the fixed segments. Various prospective, randomized studies were performed to determine whether unilateral pedicle screw fixation provides the necessities of bilateral fixation in one- or two-segment lumbar spinal fusion. In this study, four different unilateral pedicle screw fixation systems were evaluated to determine which one best approximated an intact spine with respect to biomechanics and kinematics. The four groups included an intact group, a unilateral facetectomy group with no fixation, a unilateral semi-rigid pedicle screw fixation group with a poly-ether-ether-ketone rod, and a unilateral dynamic pedicle screw fixation group. The bone mineral densities of all specimens were measured and specimens were matched with groups randomly. Flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation tests were performed to compare the groups. For the flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation tests, the best biomechanical outcomes were in the control group. The unilateral facetectomy group had the poorest performance and was not stable enough, compared with the control group. The dynamic and semi-rigid groups showed performance closer to that of the control group. The biomechanical responses of these two groups were also in good agreement, showing no significant statistical differences. Based on these test results, it is concluded that the unilateral dynamic and semi-rigid pedicle screw fixations can be used to provide stability to the vertebrae.
Looking elsewhere: Howard S. Becker as unwilling organisational theorist
Authors: Hughes Jason
Published: October 2015

This article explores the idea of Howard S. Becker as organisational theorist. It examines some of the principal conceptual imagery in Becker’s work and considers the significance of this imagery for how organisations are ‘seen’ (conceptualised) and ‘looked at’ (analysed). To this end, a critical comparison of Becker’s concept of world and Bourdieu’s concept of field is undertaken. By his own admission, Becker recognises that some of his key studies—of art worlds, jazz musicians, educational environments and so forth—might be recast as centrally ‘about organisations’. However, it is argued that Becker is something of an ‘unwilling’ organisational theorist; not in the sense that he avoids or is ignorant of the conceptual debates invoked by that term, but in as much as formal theory without object is profoundly at odds with key aspects of his sociological practice. Accordingly, this article centrally considers how Becker has consistently ‘looked elsewhere’ in much of his work. ‘Looking elsewhere’, it is proposed, involves reframing key conceptual and methodological problems such that they are amenable to research. It also involves an often radical rejection of the framing of certain kinds of problem, points towards alternative modes of analysis and investigation and entails the development of conceptual imagery expressly intended to avoid the restrictions and confinement of now dominant forms of analytical convention.
Predictors of costs from the hospital perspective of primary pulmonary embolism
Authors: Motte Serge , Mélot Christian , Di Pierdomenico Lionel , Martins Dimitri , Leclercq Pol , Pirson Magali
Published: October 2015

The objective of this study was to estimate the total hospital cost per patient admitted through the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE), and to identify the main components and predictors of costs.

Actual costs of care of 652 consecutive patients hospitalised in 10 general hospitals in Belgium, including 31 outlier patients in terms of length of stay (4.8%), were obtained by aggregating all cost components contributing to care of each patient.

In both inlier and outlier patients, the mean total cost per patient increased linearly with the degree of severity of illness classes related to the All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group (p<0.0001). Medical procedures, nursing activities and hospitalisation accommodation were the main cost components. We identified six independent predictors of costs in inliers: age group, chronic pulmonary heart disease, heart failure, admission to intensive care unit, initial thrombolysis treatment and type of hospital. There was a statistically significant linear trend between age groups and costs (p<0.0001).

An increasing burden of comorbid illness was strongly associated with increasing actual cost for caring hospitalised patients for PE. Increasing age was associated with an increase in all main cost components.
Change in the manifestations of asthma and asthma-related traits in childhood: a latent transition analysis
Authors: Garden Frances L. , Simpson Judy M. , Mellis Craig M. , Marks Guy B.
Published: October 2015

It is known that asthma is a heterogeneous entity whose manifestations vary with age. Our objective was to examine changes in the manifestation of asthma and asthma-related traits in childhood by defining empirically derived childhood asthma phenotypes and examining their transitions over time.

To define the phenotypes we used data on respiratory symptoms, healthcare utilisation, medications, spirometry, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), exhaled nitric oxide concentration and atopy from a birth cohort recruited on the basis of having a first-degree relative with asthma. Data were acquired at ages 1.5–11.5 years and analysed using latent transition analysis.

In a study population of 370 participants, we classified subjects into four phenotypes: 1) nonatopic, few symptoms (prevalence range from 1.5 to 5 years: 52–60%), 2) atopic, few symptoms (3–21%), 3) nonatopic, asthma and rhinitis symptoms (13–35%), and 4) atopic, asthma and rhinitis symptoms (2–14%) in early childhood; and 1) nonatopic, no respiratory disease (prevalence range from 8 to 11.5 years: 41–46%), 2) atopic, no respiratory disease (23–33%), 3) nonatopic, asthma symptoms, no AHR or airway inflammation (8–12%) and 4) atopic asthma (19%) in mid-childhood. Transitioning between phenotypes was common in early childhood, but less common in later childhood.

This analysis represents the first attempt to incorporate longitudinal patterns of several manifestations of asthma into a single model to simultaneously define phenotypes and examine their transitions over time. It provides quantitative support for the view that asthma is a heterogeneous entity, and that some children with wheeze and other respiratory symptoms in early life progress to asthma in mid-childhood, while others become asymptomatic.
The minimal important difference for the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire in patients with severe COPD
Authors: Welling Jorrit B.A. , Hartman Jorine E. , Ten Hacken Nick H.T. , Klooster Karin , Slebos Dirk-Jan
Published: October 2015

The St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is a validated, commonly used questionnaire for measuring quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The current established minimal important difference (MID) for SGRQ scores in an average COPD population is −4 units. However, for patients with severe COPD, the MID has not been thoroughly validated. We re-determined the SGRQ MID for this patient group.

115 severe COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 26±9% of predicted, SGRQ score 62±11 units; mean±sd,) who participated in seven different bronchoscopic lung volume reduction clinical trials were included in the analysis. Anchor- and distribution-based methods were used to define the MID for SGRQ scores. FEV1, 6-min walk distance and residual volume were used as anchors.

Combining both anchor- and distribution-based methods, we identified a SGRQ MID of −8.3 units at 1 month and −7.1 units at 6 months.

This study proposes an alternative SGRQ MID for patients with severe COPD of −8.3 units at 1 month and −7.1 units at 6 months follow-up after intervention. Our new MID estimates could be applied for both interpreting SGRQ outcomes as well as sample size determination in future clinical trials investigating interventions in severe COPD patients.
Oxygen sensing and signal transduction in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
Authors: Sommer Natascha , Strielkov Ievgen , Pak Oleg , Weissmann Norbert
Published: October 2015

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), also known as the von Euler–Liljestrand mechanism, is an essential response of the pulmonary vasculature to acute and sustained alveolar hypoxia. During local alveolar hypoxia, HPV matches perfusion to ventilation to maintain optimal arterial oxygenation. In contrast, during global alveolar hypoxia, HPV leads to pulmonary hypertension. The oxygen sensing and signal transduction machinery is located in the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) of the pre-capillary vessels, albeit the physiological response may be modulatedin vivoby the endothelium. While factors such as nitric oxide modulate HPV, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been suggested to act as essential mediators in HPV. ROS may originate from mitochondria and/or NADPH oxidases but the exact oxygen sensing mechanisms, as well as the question of whether increased or decreased ROS cause HPV, are under debate. ROS may induce intracellular calcium increase and subsequent contraction of PASMCsviadirect or indirect interactions with protein kinases, phospholipases, sarcoplasmic calcium channels, transient receptor potential channels, voltage-dependent potassium channels and L-type calcium channels, whose relevance may vary under different experimental conditions. Successful identification of factors regulating HPV may allow development of novel therapeutic approaches for conditions of disturbed HPV.
Pathological variations in mummified feet between two near‐distance/long‐time populations in Ancient Egypt
Authors: Isidro Albert , Huber Beatrice , Malik Aamer , Malgosa Assumpció
Published: October 2015

Background

In ancient populations, a significant quantity of foot pathology was related either to the type of footwear they used or the underlying terrain they walked on. Our study was carried out to analyze these parameters with the foot pathologies the mummies presented.

Methods

Between 2006 and 2012, more than 650 individuals were recovered from the Sharuna and Qarara necropolis (Middle Egypt) dating from the VIth Dynasty of the first Ptolemaic Period to the second Coptic Period. From among them, a total of 73 mummified feet (41 from Sharuna and 32 from Qarara) were studied. We took into account the differences existing between both sites in location (15 km apart) and in time (2500 years apart).

Results

Almost all feet from Sharuna were wrapped and impregnated with a preservative substance (anthropological mummification), while the mummification process in Qarara was quite natural. Pathologies were found in 36 of the 73 ft (20 from Sharuna and 16 from Qarara). The differences in foot pathologies between the two sites were analysed.

Conclusions

The foot pathologies we found in both necropolises have led us to hypothesise that the majority of the diachronic differences could be related more to progressive changes in the type of the terrain brought out through droughts, than the changes in footwear habits.
EphrinB2 sharpens lateral motor column division in the developing spinal cord
Authors: Luxey Maëva , Laussu Julien , Davy Alice
Published: October 2015

Background

During sensori-motor circuit development, the somas of motoneurons (MN) are distributed in a topographic manner in the ventral horn of the neural tube. Indeed, their position within the lateral motor columns (LMC) correlates with axonal trajectories and identity of target limb muscles. The mechanisms by which this topographic distribution is established remains poorly understood. To address this issue, we assessed the role of ephrinB2 in MN topographic organization in the developing mouse spinal cord.

Results

First, we used a reporter mouse line to establish the spatio-temporal expression pattern of EfnB2 in the developing LMC. We show that early in LMC development, ephrinB2 is differentially expressed in MN of the lateral versus medial LMC, suggesting a possible role in MN sorting and/or migration. We demonstrate that while MN-specific excision of EfnB2 did not perturb specification or migration of MN, conditional loss of ephrinB2 led to the blurring of the LMC divisional boundary and to errors in the selection of LMC axon trajectory in the limb.

Conclusions

Altogether, our study uncovered a novel cell autonomous role for ephrinB2 in LMC MN thus emphasizing the prevalent role of this ephrin member in maintaining cell population boundaries.
Existence of solutions for a class of operator equations
Authors: Feng Xiaojing
Published: October 2015

In this paper we deal with the existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions to a class of operator equation. By using infinite dimensional Morse theory, we establish some conditions which guarantee that the equation has many nontrivial solutions.
High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM1743 - an effective microsymbiont of an Indigofera sp. growing in Australia
Authors: Eshraghi Leila , De Meyer Sofie E. , Tian Rui , Seshadri Rekha , Ivanova Natalia , Pati Amrita , Markowitz Victor , Woyke Tanja , Kyrpides Nikos C. , Tiwari Ravi , Yates Ron , Howieson John , Reeve Wayne
Published: October 2015

Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM1743 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that can exist as a soil saprophyte or as a legume microsymbiont of an Indigofera sp. WSM1743 was isolated from a nodule recovered from the roots of an Indigofera sp. growing 20 km north of Carnarvon in Australia. It is slow growing, tolerates up to 1 % NaCl and is capable of growth at 37 °C. Here we describe the features of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM1743, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 8,341,956 bp high-quality permanent draft genome is arranged into 163 scaffolds and 167 contigs, contains 7908 protein-coding genes and 75 RNA-only encoding genes and was sequenced as part of the Root Nodule Bacteria chapter of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project.
Partial genome sequence of the haloalkaliphilic soda lake bacterium Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanoxidans ARh 2T
Authors: Berben Tom , Sorokin Dimitry Y. , Ivanova Natalia , Pati Amrita , Kyrpides Nikos , Goodwin Lynne A. , Woyke Tanja , Muyzer Gerard
Published: October 2015

Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanoxidans strain ARh 2T is a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium isolated from haloalkaline soda lakes. It is a motile, Gram-negative member of the Gammaproteobacteria. Remarkable properties include the ability to grow on thiocyanate as the sole energy, sulfur and nitrogen source, and the capability of growth at salinities of up to 4.3 M total Na+. This draft genome sequence consists of 61 scaffolds comprising 2,765,337 bp, and contains 2616 protein-coding and 61 RNA-coding genes. This organism was sequenced as part of the Community Science Program of the DOE Joint Genome Institute.
Hydrosilane-Assisted Formation of Metal Nanoparticles on Graphene Oxide
Authors: Saito Akinori , Kinoshita Hiroshi , Shimizu Ken-ichi , Nishina Yuta
Published: October 2015

Metal nanoparticles were formed on graphene oxide by a deposition process with hydrosilane, giving thin layer metal–graphene oxide (metal/GO) composites. The particle size and catalytic activity could be controlled by varying the hydrosilane amount. Hydrosilane prevented the aggregation of GO layers by surface functionalization via silane coupling reaction. The metal/GO composites were evaluated as catalysts in hydrosilane oxidation.
The strong-willed athlete training
Authors: Григорьева  , Grigoreva Iya , Волкова  , Volkova Elena
Published: October 2015

This article refers to the basic volitional qualities of the athlete and their sig-nificance. And also considered requirements for a systematic approach to the study of volitional training in the sport.
Scheme to select the desired option electrodynamic braking of the induction motor
Authors: Мазуха  , Mazukha N.
Published: October 2015

The proposed scheme for fast selection of electrodynamic braking of an in-duction motor. Considered five options schemes electrodyne-economic deceleration. Need option scheme braking is set horizontal-LEM.
The effectiveness of the recovery of used machine parts by plasma spraying and hardening with the modulation parameters
Authors: Сухочев  , Sukhochev Gennadiy , Кадырметов  , Kadyrmetov Anvar , Мальцев  , Maltsev Aleksandr
Published: October 2015

The effectivities of using the plasma-spraying processes and strengthening of coatings for retailoring of machine details. The results of experiment with coated details and presented.
Modern technical equipment for hazardous production facilities of storage and processing of vegetable raw materials
Authors: Панова  , Panova L , Атаманов  , Atamanov Sergey , Горбунов  , Gorbunov E
Published: October 2015

In the article there is the analysis of modern technical tools used to ensure explosion protection of machinery on hazardous production facilities. The criteria for classification are specified in Annex 1 to the Federal Law of 21.07.1997 № 116-FZ «Industrial safety of hazardous production facilities».
Use of a systematic approach to support the design parameters skidder
Authors: Яковлев  , Yakovlev Konstantin
Published: October 2015

In article application of system approach for research, the analysis and syn-thesis of technical objects, on the example of a trelevochny tractor is considered.
The study covers the state on forest roads with limestone
Authors: Козлов  , Kozlov V , Скрыпников  , Skrypnikov Aleksey , Скворцова  , Skvortsova Tatyana
Published: October 2015

In order to determine the working conditions of road pavements coated loose limestone, as well as to establish the types of fracture strain crushed stone, and their condition was carried out a survey of a number of plots of forest roads. Based on a survey of the road section with macadam identified the main causes of pot-holes.
Method for determining the optimum land use
Authors: Сушков  , Sushkov Oleg
Published: October 2015

The article describes the approach to determining the size of the forecast of forest management in the development of forest bases tenants based on sustainable forest management. The approach to determine the environmental consequences of the intervention in forest ecosystems.
Mechanization and technology of animal husbandry: laboratory practical work
Authors: Ivanov Yuriy , Filonov Roman , Murusidzye Dzhaniko
Published: October 2015

In the manual questions of technology, mechanization and automation of processes in animal husbandry are considered; bases of the modern production technology of production of animal husbandry are stated; the short description of designs and the principles of work of the equipment used in animal husbandry is given. All material is issued in the form of the separate laboratory works distributed according to the program of a course. In each laboratory work
separate groups of cars and the equipment according to their classification and technological appointment are considered; method of calculation of the parameters necessary for definition of optimum completing of line and technological lines are presented; questions of operation of the equipment and technical and economic efficiency are taken up.
Each laboratory work includes the purpose, the contents, the reporting and control questions.
The manual is intended for the bachelors who are trained in the direction 35.03.06 "Agroinzheneriya".
Robust Comparative Statics of Risk Changes
Authors: Nocetti Diego C.
Published: October 2015

The standard method for establishing the comparative statics of risk changes in optimization problems has been confined to comparing unique interior solutions, relying on strong assumptions about payoff functions and decision variables. We propose a simple and intuitive approach that hinges on considerably weaker assumptions. Merging insights from the monotone comparative statics literature with insights from the risk apportionment literature, we show that the ranking of simple lottery pairs is all that is needed for establishing the comparative statics of risk changes. We use this approach to analyze the comparative statics of Nth-degree stochastic dominance shifts in a general setting with one and with multiple decision variables, and we show how these results can be applied to generalize the classical theories of precautionary saving, self-protection, and others.

This paper was accepted by James Smith, decision analysis.
The Data-Driven Newsvendor Problem: New Bounds and Insights
Authors: Levi Retsef , Perakis Georgia , Uichanco Joline
Published: October 2015

Consider the newsvendor model, but under the assumption that the underlying demand distribution is not known as part of the input. Instead, the only information available is a random, independent sample drawn from the demand distribution. This paper analyzes the sample average approximation (SAA) approach for the data-driven newsvendor problem. We obtain a new analytical bound on the probability that the relative regret of the SAA solution exceeds a threshold. This bound is significantly tighter than existing bounds, and it matches the empirical accuracy of the SAA solution observed in extensive computational experiments. This bound reveals that the demand distribution’s weighted mean spread affects the accuracy of the SAA heuristic.
A Robust Optimization Model for Managing Elective Admission in a Public Hospital
Authors: Meng Fanwen , Qi Jin , Zhang Meilin , Ang James , Chu Singfat , Sim Melvyn
Published: October 2015

The admission of emergency patients in a hospital is unscheduled, urgent, and takes priority over elective patients, who are usually scheduled several days in advance. Hospital beds are a critical resource, and the management of elective admissions by enforcing quotas could reduce incidents of shortfall. We propose a distributionally robust optimization approach for managing elective admissions to determine these quotas. Based on an ambiguous set of probability distributions, we propose an optimized budget of variation approach that maximizes the level of uncertainty the admission system can withstand without violating the expected bed shortfall constraint. We solve the robust optimization model by deriving a second order conic problem (SOCP) equivalent of the model. The proposed model is tested in simulations based on real hospital admission data, and we report favorable results for adopting the robust optimization models.
3D automatic liver segmentation using feature-constrained Mahalanobis distance in CT images
Authors: Salman Al-Shaikhli Saif Dawood , Yang Michael Ying , Rosenhahn Bodo
Published: October 2015

Automatic 3D liver segmentation is a fundamental step in the liver disease diagnosis and surgery planning. This paper presents a novel fully automatic algorithm for 3D liver segmentation in clinical 3D computed tomography (CT) images. Based on image features, we propose a new Mahalanobis distance cost function using an active shape model (ASM). We call our method MD-ASM. Unlike the standard active shape model (ST-ASM), the proposed method introduces a new feature-constrained Mahalanobis distance cost function to measure the distance between the generated shape during the iterative step and the mean shape model. The proposed Mahalanobis distance function is learned from a public database of liver segmentation challenge (MICCAI-SLiver07). As a refinement step, we propose the use of a 3D graph-cut segmentation. Foreground and background labels are automatically selected using texture features of the learned Mahalanobis distance. Quantitatively, the proposed method is evaluated using two clinical 3D CT scan databases (MICCAI-SLiver07 and MIDAS). The evaluation of the MICCAI-SLiver07 database is obtained by the challenge organizers using five different metric scores. The experimental results demonstrate the availability of the proposed method by achieving an accurate liver segmentation compared to the state-of-the-art methods.
Seaweed extract by microwave assisted extraction as plant growth biostimulant
Authors: Michalak Izabela , Tuhy Łukasz , Chojnacka Katarzyna
Published: October 2015

Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) was used to obtain aqueous extracts of Baltic seaweeds. Three different temperatures: 25, 40, 60°C were examined. Algal extracts were characterized in terms of polyphenols, micro- and macroelements, lipids content and antibacterial properties. This is the first study that examines the effect of algal extract obtained by MAE in plant cultivation. The utilitarian properties were checked in the germination tests on Lepidium sativum for three dilutions of extract (0.5, 2.5 and 10%). Results showed that the content of polyphenols in extracts decreased with temperature, whereas the content of micro- and macroalements increased with temperature. The aqueous extracts did not contain fatty acids and did not show inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Germination tests showed that plants in the experimental groups with an optimal concentration of extract had a higher height, weight, chlorophyll and micro- and macroelement content than plants in the control group. The algal extracts did not significantly influence the morphology of plants as shown in SEM pictures. Results show that algal extracts obtained by MAE have the highest potential applied in agriculture as biostimulants.
Extruded corn gruels containing linden flowers: quantitation of phenolic compounds
and selected quality characteristics
Authors: Oniszczuk Anna , Wójtowicz Agnieszka , Oniszczuk Tomasz , Olech Marta , Nowak Renata , Wojtunik Karolina , Klimek Magdalena , Krawczyk Wojciech , Hajnos Mieczysław
Published: October 2015

Extrusion-cooking of plant materials may enhance antioxidant activity and improve health benefits. Selected antioxidant polyphenols in extruded corn gruels enriched with different amounts of linden flowers were determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS and quality characteristics were determined.

Phenolic content increased with Tiliae inflorescentia addition and was not decreased by high-temperature extrusion. Linden flower incorporation into instant gruels should be limited to 10% to retain acceptable sensory properties.
Interfacial Evolution of Cement and Steel in CO2 Dissolved Solution Under High Temperature and High Pressure
Authors: Ren Chengqiang , Peng Ye , Li Bing , Wang Shuliang , Shi Taihe
Published: October 2015

The experiments were operated for the cylindrical sample (cement/steel) in high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) CO2 environment to simulate surrounding CO2 attack in oil and gas well. The interfacial evolutions between well cement and casing steel were measured, including mechanical property, structure alteration, chemical change and electrochemical character. The interfacial behaviors are attributed to the competition of hydration and degradation of Portland cement. The damage at the interface was faster than the cement bulk deterioration by carbonation. Thus, the interface provided a potential flow leakage pathway for the HTHP gas and fluid in the well, so improving interfacial stability between well cement and casing steel is the key issue to long-term zonal isolation.
NMR Relaxometry and Imaging to Study Water Dynamics during Soaking and Blanching of Soybean
Authors: Li Teng , Rui Xin , Tu Chuanhai , Li Wei , Wang Kun , Huang Lu , Dong Mingsheng
Published: October 2015

In the present study, soaking and blanching soybean were studied by time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) relaxometry and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Four proton fractions with different mobilities were observed in dried, soaked and blanched soybean samples, which reflects macromolecule, oil and water in different microenvironment of soybean. The proton distribution of soybean was significantly changed during soaking process. According to the result of MRI, water may initially penetrated into soybean from its radicle and micropyle. In terms of water distribution, the optimum soaking time for soybean was appeared to be 8 h. Blanching also significantly changed the proton distribution of soybean. During blanching, all four proton fractions became more mobile, and the accumulation of extracellular water was observed due to the partial destruction of cell/membrane integrity. The heat-induced variations of cotyledon tissues structure mainly occurred in the first 30 min, which implied blanching process should last at least for 30 min.
Finite automata for Schreier graphs of
virtually free groups
Authors: Silva Pedro V. , Soler-Escrivà Xaro , Ventura Enric
Published: October 2015

The Stallings construction for f.g. subgroups of free groups is generalized by introducing the concept of Stallings section, which allows efficient computation of the core of a Schreier graph based on edge folding. It is proved that the groups that admit Stallings sections are precisely the f.g. virtually free groups, this is proved through a constructive approach based on Bass–Serre theory. Complexity issues and applications are also discussed.
Tau-mediated synaptic damage in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Jadhav Santosh , Cubinkova Veronika , Zimova Ivana , Brezovakova Veronika , Madari Aladar , Cigankova Viera , Zilka Norbert
Published: October 2015

Synapses are the principal sites for chemical communication between neurons and are essential for performing
the dynamic functions of the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies, synapses are exposed to
disease modified protein tau, which may cause the loss of synaptic contacts that culminate in dementia. In recent
decades, structural, transcriptomic and proteomic studies suggest that Alzheimer’s disease represents a synaptic
disorder. Tau neurofibrillary pathology and synaptic loss correlate well with cognitive impairment in these
disorders. Moreover, regional distribution and the load of neurofibrillary lesions parallel the distribution of the
synaptic loss. Several transgenic models of tauopathy expressing various forms of tau protein exhibit structural
synaptic deficits. The pathological tau proteins cause the dysregulation of synaptic proteome and lead to the
functional abnormalities of synaptic transmission. A large body of evidence suggests that tau protein plays a key
role in the synaptic impairment of human tauopathies.
Evaluation of the water soluble extractive of astragali radix with different growth patterns using 1H-NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Zheng-Zheng , Tian Dong , Gao Ji-Ning , Qin Xue-Mei , Li Zhen-Yu
Published: October 2015

Astragali radix (AR), known in China as huangqi, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Water soluble extractive (WSE) values play an important role in the quality evaluation of herbal drugs. In this study, WSE of wild and cultivated AR were compared systematically. The WSE value of cultivated AR was significantly higher than that of the wild AR, and their UV-absorbance in the range of 250–400 nm was also different. The chemical compositions of different WSE were further compared by 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis. Results from the principal component analysis and the hierarchical cluster analysis showed a clear separation between the WSEs of wild and cultivated AR. The differential metabolites responsible for the separation were identified by orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis and recursive support vector machine. The WSE of wild AR contained more arginine, valine, threonine, asparagine, succinate, and glutamine, while the cultivated AR contained more sucrose. Thus, the WSE can be used as a simple and reliable method for discrimination of wild and cultivated ARs, and the results obtained in this study extend the potential use of WSE in the quality evaluation of herbal drugs.
Pygmalion and the Music of Mere Interest
Authors: Lockhart Ellen
Published: October 2015

This article brings together two instances of “quirk” objects that are remote from one another in genre and time (Rousseau’s Pygmalion and a Busby Berkeley dance number), in order to put pressure on the explanatory power of historical context within musicology.