bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can You Have Your Vigorous Exercise and Enjoy It Too? Ramping Intensity Down Increases Postexercise, Remembered, and Forecasted Pleasure
Authors: Zenko Zachary , Ekkekakis Panteleimon , Ariely Dan
Published: March 2016

There is a paucity of methods for improving the affective experience of exercise. We tested a novel method based on discoveries about the relation between exercise intensity and pleasure, and lessons from behavioral economics. We examined the effect of reversing the slope of pleasure during exercise from negative to positive on pleasure and enjoyment, remembered pleasure, and forecasted pleasure. Forty-six adults were randomly assigned to a 15-min bout of recumbent cycling of either increasing intensity (0–120% of watts corresponding to the ventilatory threshold) or decreasing intensity (120–0%). Ramping intensity down, thereby eliciting apositive slope of pleasure during exercise, improved postexercise pleasure and enjoyment, remembered pleasure, and forecasted pleasure. The slope of pleasure accounted for 35–46% of the variance in remembered and forecasted pleasure from 15 min to 7 days postexercise. Ramping intensity down makes it possible to combine exposure to vigorous and moderate intensities with a pleasant affective experience.
Cross-Cultural Invariance of the Mental Toughness Inventory Among Australian, Chinese, and Malaysian Athletes: A Bayesian Estimation Approach
Authors: Gucciardi Daniel F. , Zhang Chun-Qing , Ponnusamy Vellapandian , Si Gangyan , Stenling Andreas
Published: March 2016

The aims of this study were to assess the cross-cultural invariance of athletes’ self-reports of mental toughness and to introduce and illustrate the application of approximate measurement invariance using Bayesian estimation for sport and exercise psychology scholars. Athletes from Australia (n = 353, Mage = 19.13, SD = 3.27, men = 161), China (n = 254, Mage = 17.82, SD = 2.28, men = 138), and Malaysia (n = 341, Mage = 19.13, SD = 3.27, men = 200) provided a cross-sectional snapshot of their mental toughness. The cross-cultural invariance of the mental toughness inventory in terms of (a) the factor structure (configural invariance), (b) factor loadings (metric invariance), and (c) item intercepts (scalar invariance) was tested using an approximate measurement framework with Bayesian estimation. Results indicated that approximate metric and scalar invariance was established. From a methodological standpoint, this study demonstrated the usefulness and flexibility of Bayesian estimation for single-sample and multigroup analyses of measurement instruments. Substantively, the current findings suggest that the measurement of mental toughness requires cultural adjustments to better capture the contextually salient (emic) aspects of this concept.
Loss of Reelin protects against atherosclerosis by reducing leukocyte–endothelial cell adhesion and lesion macrophage accumulation
Authors: Ding Yinyuan , Huang Linzhang , Xian Xunde , Yuhanna Ivan S. , Wasser Catherine R. , Frotscher Michael , Mineo Chieko , Shaul Philip W. , Herz Joachim
Published: March 2016

Reelin in the circulation promotes vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.
Effect of Surotomycin, a Novel Cyclic Lipopeptide Antibiotic, on Intestinal Colonization with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Mice
Authors: Deshpande Abhishek , Hurless Kelly , Cadnum Jennifer L. , Chesnel Laurent , Gao Lihong , Chan Luisa , Kundrapu Sirisha , Polinkovsky Alexander , Donskey Curtis J.
Published: March 2016

Surotomycin (formerly called CB-183,315) is a novel, orally administered cyclic lipopeptide antibacterial in development for the treatment of
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) that has potent activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) but limited activity against Gram-negative bacilli, including
Bacteroides
spp. We used a mouse model to investigate the impact of surotomycin exposure on the microbiome, and to test the consequences of the disruption on colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(ESBL-KP), in comparison with the effects of oral vancomycin and metronidazole. Mice (8 per group) received saline, vancomycin, metronidazole, or surotomycin through an orogastric tube daily for 5 days and were challenged with 10
5
CFU of VRE or ESBL-KP administered through an orogastric tube on day 2 of treatment. The concentrations of the pathogens in stool were determined during and after treatment by plating on selective media. A second experiment was conducted to determine if the antibiotics would inhibit established VRE colonization. In comparison to controls, oral vancomycin promoted VRE and ESBL-KP overgrowth in stool (8 log
10
to 10 log
10
CFU/g;
P
< 0.001), whereas metronidazole did not (<4 log
10
CFU/g;
P
> 0.5). Surotomycin promoted ESBL-KP overgrowth (>8 log
10
CFU/g;
P
, <0.001 for comparison with saline controls) but not VRE overgrowth. Surotomycin suppressed preexisting VRE colonization, whereas metronidazole and vancomycin did not. These results suggest that treatment of CDI with surotomycin could reduce levels of VRE acquisition and overgrowth from those with agents such as vancomycin and metronidazole. However, surotomycin and vancomycin may promote colonization by antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.
MIC of Delamanid (OPC-67683) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates and a Proposed Critical Concentration
Authors: Stinson Kelly , Kurepina Natalia , Venter Amour , Fujiwara Mamoru , Kawasaki Masanori , Timm Juliano , Shashkina Elena , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Liu Yongge , Matsumoto Makoto , Geiter Lawrence
Published: March 2016

The increasing global burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) requires reliable drug susceptibility testing that accurately characterizes susceptibility and resistance of pathogenic bacteria to effectively treat patients with this deadly disease. Delamanid is an anti-TB agent first approved in the European Union in 2014 for the treatment of pulmonary MDR-TB in adults. Using the agar proportion method, delamanid MIC was determined for 460 isolates: 316 from patients enrolled in a phase 2 global clinical trial, 76 from two phase 2 early bactericidal activity trials conducted in South Africa, and 68 isolates obtained outside clinical trials (45 from Japanese patients and 23 from South African patients). With the exception of two isolates, MICs ranged from 0.001 to 0.05 μg/ml, resulting in an MIC
50
of 0.004 μg/ml and an MIC
90
of 0.012 μg/ml. Various degrees of resistance to other anti-TB drugs did not affect the distribution of MICs, nor did origin of isolates from regions/countries other than South Africa. A critical concentration/breakpoint of 0.2 μg/ml can be used to define susceptible and resistant isolates based on the distribution of MICs and available pharmacokinetic data. Thus, clinical isolates from delamanid-naive patients with tuberculosis have a very low MIC for delamanid and baseline resistance is rare, demonstrating the potential potency of delamanid and supporting its use in an optimized background treatment regimen for MDR-TB.
Adverse Events Lead to Drug Discontinuation More Commonly among Patients Who Receive Nafcillin than among Those Who Receive Oxacillin
Authors: Viehman J. Alexander , Oleksiuk Louise-Marie , Sheridan Kathleen R. , Byers Karin E. , He Peimei , Falcione Bonnie A. , Shields Ryan K.
Published: March 2016

Nafcillin and oxacillin are used interchangeably in clinical practice, yet few studies have evaluated the safety of these two agents. Our objective was to compare the differential tolerabilities of nafcillin and oxacillin among hospitalized patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients who received 12 g/day of nafcillin or oxacillin for at least 24 h. Two hundred twenty-four patients were included. Baseline characteristics and comorbidities were similar among patients receiving nafcillin (
n
= 160) and those receiving oxacillin (
n
= 64). Hypokalemia, defined as a potassium level of ≤3.3 mmol/liter or ≤2.9 mmol/liter or as a ≥0.5-mmol/liter decrease from the baseline level, occurred more frequently among patients who received nafcillin (51%, 20%, and 56%, respectively) than among those who received oxacillin (17%, 3%, and 34%, respectively;
P
< 0.0001,
P
= 0.0008, and
P
= 0.005, respectively). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, receipt of nafcillin was an independent predictor of severe hypokalemia (odds ratio [OR] = 6.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46 to 31.2;
P
= 0.02). Rates of hepatotoxicity did not differ between groups; however, acute kidney injury occurred more commonly with nafcillin than with oxacillin (18% versus 6%;
P
= 0.03). Overall, 18% of patients who received nafcillin discontinued therapy prematurely due to adverse events, compared to 2% of patients who received oxacillin (
P
= 0.0004). Nafcillin treatment is associated with higher rates of adverse events and treatment discontinuation than oxacillin among hospitalized adult patients. These findings have important implications for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings, particularly patients who require long-term therapy and cannot be monitored routinely. Future randomized controlled studies evaluating the efficacy, costs, and tolerability of nafcillin versus oxacillin are warranted.
Binding of CFA/I Pili of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to Asialo-GM1 Is Mediated by the Minor Pilin CfaE
Authors: Madhavan T. P. Vipin , Riches James D. , Scanlon Martin J. , Ulett Glen C. , Sakellaris Harry
Published: March 2016

CFA/I pili are representatives of a large family of related pili that mediate the adherence of enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
to intestinal epithelial cells. They are assembled via the alternate chaperone-usher pathway and consist of two subunits, CfaB, which makes up the pilus shaft and a single pilus tip-associated subunit, CfaE. The current model of pilus-mediated adherence proposes that CFA/I has two distinct binding activities; the CfaE subunit is responsible for binding to receptors of unknown structure on erythrocyte and intestinal epithelial cell surfaces, while CfaB binds to various glycosphingolipids, including asialo-GM1. In this report, we present two independent lines of evidence that, contrary to the existing model, CfaB does not bind to asialo-GM1 independently of CfaE. Neither purified CfaB subunits nor CfaB assembled into pili bind to asialo-GM1. Instead, we demonstrate that binding activity toward asialo-GM1 resides in CfaE and this is essential for pilus binding to Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. We conclude that the binding activities of CFA/I pili for asialo-GM1, erythrocytes, and intestinal cells are inseparable, require the same amino acid residues in CfaE, and therefore depend on the same or very similar binding mechanisms.
The Histidine Kinase BinK Is a Negative Regulator of Biofilm Formation and Squid Colonization
Authors: Brooks John F. , Mandel Mark J.
Published: March 2016

Bacterial colonization of animal epithelial tissue is a dynamic process that relies on precise molecular communication. Colonization of
Euprymna scolopes
bobtail squid by
Vibrio fischeri
bacteria requires bacterial aggregation in host mucus as the symbiont transitions from a planktonic lifestyle in seawater to a biofilm-associated state in the host. We have identified a gene,
binK
(biofilm inhibitor kinase; VF_A0360), which encodes an orphan hybrid histidine kinase that negatively regulates the
V. fischeri
symbiotic biofilm (Syp)
in vivo
and
in vitro
. We identified
binK
mutants as exhibiting a colonization advantage in a global genetic screen, a phenotype that we confirmed in controlled competition experiments. Bacterial biofilm aggregates in the host are larger in strains lacking BinK, whereas overexpression of BinK suppresses biofilm formation and squid colonization. Signaling through BinK is required for temperature modulation of biofilm formation at 28°C. Furthermore, we present evidence that BinK acts upstream of SypG, the σ
54
-dependent transcriptional regulator of the
syp
biofilm locus. The BinK effects are dependent on intact signaling in the RscS-Syp biofilm pathway. Therefore, we propose that BinK antagonizes the signal from RscS and serves as an integral component in
V. fischeri
biofilm regulation.

IMPORTANCE
Bacterial lifestyle transitions underlie the colonization of animal hosts from environmental reservoirs. Formation of matrix-enclosed, surface-associated aggregates (biofilms) is common in beneficial and pathogenic associations, but investigating the genetic basis of biofilm development in live animal hosts remains a significant challenge. Using the bobtail squid light organ as a model, we analyzed putative colonization factors and identified a histidine kinase that negatively regulates biofilm formation at the host interface. This work reveals a novel
in vivo
biofilm regulator that influences the transition of bacteria from their planktonic state in seawater to tight aggregates of cells in the host. The study enriches our understanding of biofilm regulation and beneficial colonization by an animal's microbiome.
Biofilms 2015: Multidisciplinary Approaches Shed Light into Microbial Life on Surfaces
Authors: Visick Karen L. , Schembri Mark A. , Yildiz Fitnat , Ghigo Jean-Marc
Published: March 2016

The 7th ASM Conference on Biofilms was held in Chicago, Illinois, from 24 to 29 October 2015. The conference provided an international forum for biofilm researchers across academic and industry platforms, and from different scientific disciplines, to present and discuss new findings and ideas. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, spanning environmental sciences, applied biology, evolution, ecology, physiology, and molecular biology of the biofilm lifestyle. This report summarizes the presentations with regard to emerging biofilm-related themes.
Analysis of the sex ratio of reported gonorrhoea incidence in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Xiong Mingzhou , Lan Lina , Feng Tiejian , Zhao Guanglu , Wang Feng , Hong Fuchang , Wu Xiaobing , Zhang Chunlai , Wen Lizhang , Liu Aizhong , Best John McCulloch , Tang Weiming
Published: March 2016

Objective

To assess the clinical process of gonorrhoea diagnosis and report in China, and to determine the difference of sex ratio between reported incidence based on reporting data and true diagnosis rate based on reference tests of gonorrhoea.

Setting

A total of 26 dermatology and sexually transmitted disease (STD) departments, 34 obstetrics-gynaecology clinics and 28 urology outpatient clinics selected from 34 hospitals of Shenzhen regarded as our study sites.

Participants

A total of 2754 participants were recruited in this study, and 2534 participants completed the questionnaire survey and provided genital tract secretion specimens. There were 1106 male and 1428 female participants. Eligible participants were patients who presented for outpatient STD care at the selected clinics for the first time in October 2012 were at least 18 years old, and were able to give informed consent.

Outcome measures

Untested rate, true-positive rate, false-negative rate and unreported rate of gonorrhoea, as well as reported gonorrhoea incidence sex ratio and true diagnosis sex ratio were calculated and used to describe the results.

Results

2534 participants were enrolled in the study. The untested rate of gonorrhoea among females was significantly higher than that among males (female 88.1%, male 68.3%, p=0.001). The male-to-female sex ratios of untested rate, true-positive rate, false-negative rate and unreported rate were 1:1.3, 1.2:1, 1:1.6 and 1:1.4, respectively. The reported gonorrhoea incidence sex ratio of new diagnosed gonorrhoea was 19.8:1 (male vs female: 87/1106 vs 5/1420), while the true diagnosis sex ratio was 2.5:1 (male vs female: 161/1106 vs 84/1420). These data indicate that the sex ratio of reported gonorrhoea incidence has been overestimated by a factor of 7.9 (19.8/2.5).

Conclusions

We found the current reported gonorrhoea incidence and sex ratios to be inaccurate due to underestimations of gonorrhoea incidence, especially among women.
Artificialtransfat in popular foods in 2012 and in 2014: a market basket investigation in six European countries
Authors: Stender Steen , Astrup Arne , Dyerberg Jørn
Published: March 2016

Objective

To minimise the intake of industrially producedtransfat (I-TF) and thereby decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), nearly all European countries rely on food producers to voluntarily reduce the I-TF content in food. The objective of this study was to monitor the change in presence of I-TF in biscuits/cakes/wafers in six countries in South-eastern Europe from 2012 to 2014, including two members of the European Union (Slovenia and Croatia).

Design

Three large supermarkets were visited in each of the six capitals in 2012. Pre-packaged biscuits/cakes/wafers were bought if the products contained more than 15 g of total fat per 100 g of product and if partially hydrogenated oil or a similar term was disclosed at the beginning of the ingredients list. These same supermarkets were revisited in 2014 and the same collection procedure was followed. All foods were subsequently analysed for total fat andtransfat in the same laboratory.

Results

The number of packages bought in the six countries taken together was 266 in 2012 and 643 in 2014. Some were identical, and therefore only 226 were analysed in 2012 and 434 in 2014. Packages with less than 2% of fat from I-TF went up from 69 to 235, while products with more than 2% (illegal in Denmark) doubled from an average of 33 to an average of 68 products for the six countries, with considerable variation across countries. The per cent of I-TF in total fat decreased slightly, from a mean (SD) of 22 (13) in 2012 to 18 (9) in 2014.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that voluntary reduction of I-TF in foods with high amounts is an ineffective strategy in several European countries. Alternative strategies both within and outside the European Union are necessary to protect all subgroups of the populations against an increased risk of CHD.
Effects of the number of embryos in a seed and seed mass on seedling survival and growth in polyembryonic Ophiopogon japonicus var. umbrosus (Asparagaceae)
Authors: Oka Chihiro , Itagaki Tomoyuki , Sakai Satoki
Published: March 2016

Research on polyembryony suggests that the presence of multiple embryos in a seed confers an advantage for seedling survival. Because observations from embryo to seedling stages are lacking, however, the effect of the exact number of embryos on seedling survival is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of seed embryo number on seedling survival and growth to determine the number of embryos in a seed that are advantageous for seedling survival in Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. var. umbrosus Maxim., which is a taxon exhibiting cleavage polyembryony. We also investigated whether seed mass affects seed embryo number and seedling survival and growth. We found that the number of embryos in seeds of O. japonicus var. umbrosus was weakly dependent on seed mass. As the number of embryos increased, the number of seedlings surviving from seeds initially increased and then decreased; the greatest number of seedlings was produced from an intermediate number of embryos, with the number of embryos producing the greatest number of seedlings increasing with seed mass. The sum of individual seedling lengths increased with the number of seedlings. Our results indicate that an intermediate number of embryos may be advantageous in polyembryonic O. japonicus var. umbrosus.
Genetic variation between and within two populations of Rhabdocline pseudotsugae in Germany
Authors: Morgenstern Kristin , Polster Jens-Ulrich , Krabel Doris
Published: March 2016

Knowledge of the ecology and biology of Rhabdocline pseudotsugae Sydow is still at a very early stage. Recent results indicate the existence of an endophytic stage of the fungus in the form of symptomless infections in various Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) tissue types. This study represents the first description of genetic variation between and within two populations of R. pseudotsugae. Needles featuring fruiting bodies of R. pseudotsugae were collected from sample areas in Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia (in Germany), with different fungal genotypes distinguished using the start codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) and branch point signal sequences (BPS) techniques. Five of the 20 primers tested could be selected for further investigation. A total of 349 fragments were amplified at an average of 69.8 fragments per primer. Results showed the two sample areas to exhibit a high degree of both genetic variability and genetic diversity. A clear differentiation between the sample areas was not observed. There was nevertheless a clear connection between the genetic distance and spatial distribution of the fruiting bodies of R. pseudotsugae within the sample areas themselves.
Optimizing complex networks controllability by local structure information
Authors: Yan Houyi , Hou Lvlin , Ling Yunxiang , Wu Guohua
Published: March 2016

Research in network controllability has mostly been focused on the effects of the network structure on its controllability, and some methods have been proposed to optimize the network controllability. However, they are all based on global structure information of networks. We propose two different types of methods to optimize controllability of a directed network by local structure information. Extensive numerical simulation on many modeled networks demonstrates that this method is effective. Since the whole topologies of many real networks are not visible and we only get some local structure information, this strategy is potentially more practical.
The α↔γ transformation of an Fe1−xCrx alloy: A molecular-dynamics approach
Authors: Sak-Saracino Emilia , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: March 2016

Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we study the temperature-induced [Formula: see text] phase transformation of an Fe[Formula: see text]Cr[Formula: see text] alloy. We find that the austenitic transition temperature is increased with respect to that of an Fe[Formula: see text]Ni[Formula: see text] alloy containing the same concentration of impurity atoms. During the austenitic transformation, heterogeneous nucleation of close-packed (cp) nuclei leads to a polycrystalline structure. The microstructure formed closely resembles that found in pure Fe and in FeNi alloys.
Traffic-driven epidemic spreading on scale-free networks with tunable degree distribution
Authors: Yang Han-Xin , Wang Bing-Hong
Published: March 2016

We study the traffic-driven epidemic spreading on scale-free networks with tunable degree distribution. The heterogeneity of networks is controlled by the exponent [Formula: see text] of power-law degree distribution. It is found that the epidemic threshold is minimized at about [Formula: see text]. Moreover, we find that nodes with larger algorithmic betweenness are more likely to be infected. We expect our work to provide new insights in to the effect of network structures on traffic-driven epidemic spreading.
A New Waters Hole Detection and Tracking Method for UGV in Cross-Country Environment
Authors: Zhao Yibing , Ding Feng , Yu Xuecai , Zhang Ronghui , Xiang Xiumei
Published: March 2016

Environment perception is one of the important issues for unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). It is necessary to develop waters hole detection and tracking method in cross-country environment. This paper is related to the waters hole detection and tracking by using visual information. Image processing strategies based on support vector machine (SVM) and speeded up robust feature (SURF) methods are employed to detect and track waters hole. It focuses on how to extract the waters feature descriptor by exploring the machine learning algorithm. Based on the S/V color features and Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix, the waters feature descriptor is extracted. The radial basis function (RBF) kernel function and the sampling-window size are determined by using the SVM classifier. The optimal parameters are obtained under the cross-validation conditions by the grid method. In terms of waters tracking, SURF feature matching method is applied to extract the remarkable feature points, then to observe the relation between feature point movement of adjacent frames and scale change ratio. Experiments show that SURF algorithm can still be effective to detect and match the remarkable feature points, against the negative effects of waters scale transformation and affine transform. The conclusion is that the computing speed of SURF algorithm is about three times faster than that of scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, and the comprehensive performance of SURF algorithm is better.
Global well-posedness and attractors for the hyperbolic Cahn–Hilliard–Oono equation in the whole space
Authors: Savostianov Anton , Zelik Sergey
Published: March 2016

We prove the global well-posedness of the so-called hyperbolic relaxation of the Cahn–Hilliard–Oono equation in the whole space [Formula: see text] with the nonlinearity of the sub-quintic growth rate. Moreover, the dissipativity and the existence of a smooth global attractor in the naturally defined energy space is also verified. The result is crucially based on the Strichartz estimates for the linear Schrödinger equation in [Formula: see text].
Approximation error estimates and inverse inequalities for B-splines of maximum smoothness
Authors: Takacs Stefan , Takacs Thomas
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we develop approximation error estimates as well as corresponding inverse inequalities for B-splines of maximum smoothness, where both the function to be approximated and the approximation error are measured in standard Sobolev norms and semi-norms. The presented approximation error estimates do not depend on the polynomial degree of the splines but only on the grid size. We will see that the approximation lives in a subspace of the classical B-spline space. We show that for this subspace, there is an inverse inequality which is also independent of the polynomial degree. As the approximation error estimate and the inverse inequality show complementary behavior, the results shown in this paper can be used to construct fast iterative methods for solving problems arising from isogeometric discretizations of partial differential equations.
Verifying the Security Characteristics of a Secure Physical Access Control Protocol
Authors: Carryl Clyde , Alhalabi Bassem , Khoshgoftaar Taghi M. , Bullard Lofton
Published: March 2016

Physical access control protocols provide a structured method of controlling the behavior of physical devices which in many cases are not only remotely located with respect to the accessing entity, but require the exchange of messages over one or more untrusted networks, such as the internet. Therefore, if it is necessary to prevent unauthorized access to the controlled physical devices, it is essential that the physical access control protocol exhibit certain verifiable security properties. We studied the Universal Physical Access Control System (UPACS) and used the formal protocol verification tool Proverif to verify that it possesses several key security properties. We also conducted a security analysis of the protocol and verified that it was resilient or otherwise invulnerable to several known forms of security attack, including Attacks on User Privacy and Anonymity, Session Key Security Attacks, Password Guessing Attacks, De-Synchronization Attacks, Replay Attacks, Eavesdropping Attacks, Denial-of-Service Attacks, User and Server Masquerade Attacks, Stolen Verifier Attacks and Stolen Password Attacks.
On the number of minimal nonabelian subgroups in a nonabelian finite p-group
Authors: Berkovich Yakov
Published: March 2016

The number of minimal nonabelian subgroups in a nonabelian finite [Formula: see text]-group containing a maximal normal abelian subgroup of given index is estimated. Also the [Formula: see text]-group for which the above estimate is attained, are described in great detail.
Meta-analysis of transcriptome data identified TGTCNN motif variants associated with the response to plant hormone auxin in Arabidopsis thaliana L.
Authors: Zemlyanskaya Elena V. , Wiebe Daniil S. , Omelyanchuk Nadezhda A. , Levitsky Victor G. , Mironova Victoria V.
Published: March 2016

Auxin is the major regulator of plant growth and development. It regulates gene expression via a family of transcription factors (ARFs) that bind to auxin responsive elements (AuxREs) in the gene promoters. The canonical AuxREs found in regulatory regions of many auxin responsive genes contain the TGTCTC core motif, whereas ARF binding site is a degenerate TGTCNN with TGTCGG strongly preferred. Thereby two questions arise: which TGTCNN variants are functional AuxRE cores and whether different TGTCNN variants have distinct functional roles? In this study, we performed meta-analysis of microarray data to reveal TGTCNN variants essential for auxin response and to characterize their functional features. Our results indicate that four TGTCNN motifs (TGTCTC, TGTCCC, TGTCGG, and TGTCTG) are associated with auxin up-regulation and two (TGTCGG, TGTCAT) with auxin down-regulation, but to a lesser extent. The genes having some of these motifs in their regulatory regions showed time-specific auxin response. Functional annotation of auxin up- and down-regulated genes also revealed GO terms specific for the auxin-regulated genes with certain TGTCNN variants in their promoters. Our results provide an idea that various TGTCNN motifs may play distinct roles in the auxin regulation of gene expression.
Qubits from black holes in M-theory on K3 surface
Authors: Belhaj Adil , Benslimane Zakariae , Sedra Moulay Brahim , Segui Antonio
Published: March 2016

Using M-theory compactification, we develop a three-factor separation for the scalar submanifold of [Formula: see text] seven-dimensional supergravity associated with 2-cycles of the K3 surface. Concretely, we give an interplay between the three-scalar submanifold factors and the extremal black holes obtained from M2-branes wrapping such 2-cycles. Then, we show that the corresponding black hole charges are linked to one, two and four qubit systems.
Two-dimensional centered wave flow patches to the Guderley Mach reflection configurations for steady flows in gas dynamics
Authors: Lai Geng , Sheng Wancheng
Published: March 2016

In an attempt to resolve the von Neumann triple point paradox in shock reflection phenomenon, a new type of reflection configuration, called Guderley Mach reflection, was observed both in numerical simulations and physical experiments recently. In this type of reflection configuration, there exists a sequence of triple points, with a centered expansion fan and a supersonic patch at each triple point. In this paper, we present a mathematical analysis of the centered wave flow patches of Guderley Mach reflection. In order to construct such a flow patch, a centered wave problem is introduced. The existence of a global classical solution to the centered wave problem for the two-dimensional isentropic irrotational steady Euler equations is established.
Stress Concentration Factor in Matrix of a Composite Subjected to Transverse Compression
Authors: Huang Zheng-Ming , Xin Li-Min
Published: March 2016

To predict strength of a composite loaded arbitrarily using its constituent information, in situ strengths of the matrix, different from its original counterparts, must be provided. Experiments can measure only the original strengths. Nobody is practically able to measure an in situ one. In our previous work, a stress concentration was found to be the main reason causing the difference between the in situ and the original strengths. In this study, we point out that the previous evaluation on the stress concentration factor (SCF) is valid only in the case of a transverse tension. When a unidirectional (UD) composite is subjected to a transverse compression, its failure surface has an inclined angle to the loading direction and a different SCF from that under a transverse tension is resulted. Explicit derivation of the SCF under a transverse compression is presented in this work. The matrix in situ transverse tensile and compressive strengths are assigned as its original counterparts divided by the respective SCFs. These in situ strengths together with the other original constituent properties are used as input data for strength prediction of a number of UD composites. Favorable correlation between the theoretical and experimental data has been shown.
Vibration Analysis of Laminated and Stepped Circular Arches by a Strong Formulation Spectral Collocation Approach
Authors: Xie Xiang , Zheng Hui , Yang Haosen
Published: March 2016

A strong formulation-based spectral collocation approach is presented to investigate the statics and free vibrations of laminated and stepped arches with arbitrary boundary conditions even full rings. The influences of shear deformation, inertia rotary and deepness term are considered in the theoretical model. The basic concept of the present approach is the expansion of the highest derivatives appearing in the governing equations instead of solution function itself by adopted basis functions. Then lower order derivatives and function itself are obtained by integration. The constants arising from the integrating process are determined by given boundary conditions. Due to the approximation process based on integration technique rather than conventional differentiation, it does not require the basis function to be differentiable or continuous, which makes the choice of basis functions quite freely. The robustness of the approach for the application of various basis functions is evaluated by using Haar wavelet and Chebyshev orthogonal polynomials. To test the convergence, efficiency and accuracy of the approach, the numerical results are compared with those previously published in literature. Very good agreement can be observed. A distinctive feature of the proposed approach is its unified applicability for arbitrary elastic-supported boundary conditions.
Layout Optimization of Ill-Loaded Multiphase Bi-Modulus Materials
Authors: Cai Kun , Cao Jing , Shi Jiao , Qin Qing H.
Published: March 2016

The optimal layouts of multiple bi-modulus materials in a continuum under ill-loaded cases are found using the scheme of fractional-norm ([Formula: see text]-norm and [Formula: see text] is in (0, 1)) weighting objective function. The major ideas of the present study are as follows. First, the bi-modulus material topology optimization is solved using material replacement approach. Second, the power-law scheme is adopted to express the equivalent stiffness of multiple materials. Third, the ill-loaded topology optimization is solved by changing the value of [Formula: see text]. Combining the three techniques, a feasible solution for the ill-loaded structural optimization can be found even when there are many bi-modulus materials. Numerical tests are presented to show the characters of the materials layout in the structure.
A Nondestructive Method for Probing Mechanical Properties of a Thin Film Using Impacts with Nanoclusters
Authors: Inui Norio , Mochiji Kozo , Moritani Kousuke
Published: March 2016

The impact of an argon (Ar)-cluster ion on a thin film is evaluated in order to investigate a new method for probing the mechanical properties of the thin metallic film. Using a molecular dynamic (MD) method, we show that an Ar nanocluster ion with an incident velocity of 4[Formula: see text]km/s dissociates in approximately 1[Formula: see text]ps without sputtering the atoms of a target sample. After the impact, the Ar ion is scattered from the target surface with several neutral Ar atoms. The number of neutral atoms combining with the Ar ion and the velocity of the Ar ion depend on the mass density and Young’s modulus of the target. Analyzing these dependencies, we find that the mass density and Young’s modulus of thin films can be simultaneously determined by measuring the mass and velocity of the Ar-cluster ion scattered from the sample surface.
Induced gravitation in nonlinear field models
Authors: Chernitskii Alexander A.
Published: March 2016

The description of gravitation in the framework of soliton interaction is considered for two nonlinear field models. These models are Born — Infeld nonlinear electrodynamics and so-called Born — Infeld type scalar field model. The last model can also be called the extremal space-time film one because of the specific form of the appropriate variational principle. Gravitational interaction is considered in the context of unification for all interactions of material particles. It is shown that long-range interaction of solitons of the models appears as force one and metrical one. The force interaction can be interpreted as electromagnetic one. The metrical interaction can be interpreted as gravitational one.
From Taub-NUT to Kaluza-Klein magnetic monopole
Authors: Riazi Nematollah , Hashemi S. Sedigheh
Published: March 2016

We present a Kaluza-Klein vacuum solution which closely resembles the Taub-NUT magnetic monopole and we investigate its physical properties as viewed from four space-time dimensions. We show that the Taub-NUT Kaluza-Klein vacuum solution in five dimensions is a static magnetic monopole. We find that the four dimensional matter properties do not obey the equation of state of radiation and there is no event horizon. A comparison with the available magnetic monopole solutions and the issue of vanishing and negative mass are discussed.
Dirac equation and optical scalars in the Einstein-Cartan theory
Authors: Timofeev Vladimir
Published: March 2016

The article deals with the Dirac equation in the Newman-Penrose formalism within the framework of Einstein-Cartan theory and behavior of isotropic congruence of autoparallels, i. e. a congruence of the curves along which tangent null vector transferred in parallel.
Geometric interpretation of Planck-scale-deformed co-products
Authors: Lobo Iarley P. , Palmisano Giovanni
Published: March 2016

For theories formulated with a maximally symmetric momentum space we propose a general characterization for the description of interactions in terms of the isometry group of the momentum space. The well known cases of [Formula: see text]-Poincaré-inspired and (2+1)-dimensional gravity-inspired composition laws both satisfy our condition. Future applications might include the proposal of a class of models based on momenta spaces with anti-de Sitter geometry.
Friedmann cosmology in Regge-Teitelboim gravity
Authors: Sheykin A. A. , Paston S. A.
Published: March 2016

This paper is devoted to the approach to gravity as a theory of a surface embedded in a flat ambient space. After the brief review of the properties of original theory by Regge and Teitelboim we concentrate on its field-theoretic reformulation, which we call splitting theory. In this theory embedded surfaces are defined through the constant value surfaces of some set of scalar fields in high-dimensional Minkowski space. We obtain an exact expressions for this scalar fields in the case of Friedmann universe. We also discuss the features of quantization procedure for this field theory.
Equilibrium structure of white dwarfs at finite temperatures
Authors: Boshkayev K. A. , Rueda J. A. , Zhami B. A. , Kalymova Zh. A. , Balgymbekov G. Sh.
Published: March 2016

Recently, it has been shown by S. M. de Carvalho et al. (2014) that the deviations between the degenerate case and observations were already evident for 0.7-0.8 M[Formula: see text] white dwarfs. Such deviations were related to the neglected effects of finite temperatures on the structure of a white dwarf. Therefore, in this work by employing the Chandrasekhar equation of state taking into account the effects of temperature we show how the total pressure of the white dwarf matter depends on the mass density at different temperatures. Afterwards we construct equilibrium configurations of white dwarfs at finite temperatures. We obtain the mass-radius relations of white dwarfs for different temperatures by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation, and compare them with the estimated masses and radii inferred from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4.
Strong-field tests of f(R)-gravity in binary pulsars
Authors: Dyadina Polina I. , Alexeyev Stanislav O. , Capozziello Salvatore , De Laurentis Mariafelicia , Rannu Kristina A.
Published: March 2016

We develop the parameterized post-Keplerian approach for class of analytic [Formula: see text]-gravity models. Using the double binary pulsar system PSR J0737-3039 data we obtain restrictions on the parameters of this class of [Formula: see text]-models and show that [Formula: see text]-gravity is not ruled out by the observations in strong field regime. The additional and more strong corresponding restriction is extracted from solar system data.
Extending the geometric deformation: New black hole solutions
Authors: Ovalle Jorge
Published: March 2016

By using the extension of the Minimal Geometric Deformation approach, recently developed to investigate the exterior spacetime of a self-gravitating system in the Braneworld, we identified a master solution for the deformation undergone by the radial metric component when time deformations are produced by bulk gravitons. A specific form for the temporal deformation is used to generate a new exterior solution with a tidal charge [Formula: see text]. The main feature of this solution is the presence of higher-order terms in the tidal charge, thus generalizing the well known tidally charged solution. The horizon of the black hole lies inside the Schwarzschild radius, [Formula: see text], indicating that extra-dimensional effects weaken the gravitational field.
Short-scale atomic clock based on the quantum magnetometers system
Authors: Ermak S. V. , Sagitov E. A. , Smolin R. V. , Semenov V. V.
Published: March 2016

The experimental results of dependence of Allan variance as averaging time for system of two quantum magnetometers with laser pumping of the alkaline atoms are presented. Also the role of different components of luminous frequency shift of a radio optical resonance in case of an optimum operation mode of quantum magnetometers in such system is noted. It is shown that the effect of compensation of luminous shift components allows to reduce Allan variance in times of averaging more, than hundreds of seconds in comparison with the quantum standard of frequency on 0-0 transition.
New microwave excitation signal generating circuit for quantum frequency standard on the atoms of caesium Cs133
Authors: Petrov A. A. , Davydov V. V.
Published: March 2016

In this work the study, design, development and experimental results of a new microwave excitation signal generating circuit are presented. New design of this circuit is based on the method of direct digital synthesis. The results of theoretical calculations and experimental researches show that the new design not only has a high precision, but also has an improvement in the spectral characteristics of the output signal. Range of generated output frequencies is expanded, that leads to the possibility of detuning the frequency of the neighboring resonance of spectral line and adjust the C-field in quantum frequency standard. Experimental research of the metrological characteristics of the quantum frequency standard on the atoms of caesium with a new functional unit showed an improvement in the daily frequency stability.
Recognition of frequency-modulated signals using the Wigner distribution
Authors: Vysotskiy M. G. , Kaasik V. P. , Rogov S. A. , Rozov S. V.
Published: March 2016

Precision and resolution ability of the frequency-modulated signals time-frequency distributions at the formation of these distributions with the help of pseudo-Wigner processors is investigated. Linear-frequency modulated signals and signals with frequency dependence on time to the higher than the first power are considered. The results of the numerical simulation are presented.
Brain Abscess Due to Wolinella recta and Streptococcus intermedius
Authors: Marrie Thomas J , Kerr Elizabeth
Published: March 2016

The authors present a case of a 62‐year‐old female with a frontal lobe brain abscess caused by Wolinella recta and two strains of Streptococcus intermedius. One of the strains of S intermedius was resistant to penicillin. Resolution of the abscess required 60 days of antibiotic therapy and aspiration on four occasions. The source of the brain abscess could not be determined. This is the first case in which W recta has been isolated from a brain abscess.
Modification of Specific Regions of the Human Cytomegalovirus Genome During in Vitro Passage
Authors: Hamelin Claude , Dion Michel
Published: March 2016

Different regions of the human cytomegalovirus strain AD‐169 DNA molecule were tested for stability using cloned Hind III fragments. Results indicate that insertion, deletion and/or rearrangement of nucleotide sequences occur at a relatively high frequency in all parts of the human cytomegalovirus genome during in vitro passage.
Increased Risk of Bacteremia in Patients Hemodialyzed Through Central Catheters
Authors: Taylor Geoffrey , Kirkland Teresa , Hamilton Peter
Published: March 2016

As part of an ongoing prospective survey of nosocomial bacteremias, patients developing bacteremia while undergoing in‐centre hemodialysis were observed over a 23 month period. Thirty‐six episodes of bacteremia occurred in 30 patients: every episode was directly attributable to hemodialysis. In 28 of the 36 episodes (78%), there was evidence of inflammation with or without drainage of pus at the hemodialysis access site. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 76% of the bacteremic isolates. Patients hemodialyzing through central venous catheters had a far higher incidence of bacteremia (0.01 per dialysis run) than patients hemodialyzing through vascular grafts (0.0005 per dialysis run).
Influence of Rifampin Therapy on Serum Bactericidal Activity in the Presence of Cloxacillin and Vancomycin
Authors: Mackenzie Andrew MR , MacDonald Noni E
Published: March 2016

In this study the effect of rifampin on serum inhibitory and serum bactericidal titres was examined. Sera were prepared from pooled human serum to contain vancomycin (10 mg/L), cloxacillin (5 mg/L) or rifampin (1 mg/L), and the combinations cloxacillin/rifampin and vancomycin/rifampin. These five sera were tested by a microtitre method for serum inhibitory power and serum bactericidal titre against 11 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. A 48 h incubation period was required to detect full colony growth for subculture plates. It was found with all strains that the effect of the addition of rifampin to the other two antibiotics was to increase the serum inhibitory power, lower the serum bactericidal titre, increase the inhibitory/cidal ratio, and slow colony growth on subculture. In the clinical part of the study it was shown that only three of 38 sera (8%) from patients receiving betalactam or vanomycin but not rifampin gave an inhibitory/cidal ratio greater than 8, but that nine of 10 sera (90%) from patients receiving rifampin in addition to betalactam or vancomycin gave a ratio greater than 8 (P<0.001). The study verified that the effect of rifampin in serum was to increase inhibitory power and decrease bactericidal titre. The clinical significance of these results is not known and it is suggested that a high ratio of inhibitory to bactericidal titre in the presence of rifampin is to be expected, and that a low bactericidal titre under these circumstances is not necessarily an indication to modify therapy.