bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seasonal Irrigation Amount, Evapotranspiration, Yield, and Water Productivity under Semiarid Climate
Authors: Djaman Koffi , O’Neill Michael , Owen Curtis , Smeal Daniel , West Margaret , Begay Dallen , Allen Samuel , Koudahe Komlan , Irmak Suat , Lombard Kevin
Published: June 2018

A long-term field experiment was conducted from 2002 to 2014 for the evaluation of yield and water productivity of three winter wheat varieties—Kharkof, Scout 66, and TAM107—under sprinkler irrigation at New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. Winter wheat daily evapotranspiration was estimated following the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FAO crop coefficient approach (ETc = Kc ETo), and crop water use efficiency (CWUE), evapotranspiration water use efficiency (ETWUE), and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were estimated for each growing season. There was inter-annual variation in seasonal precipitation and irrigation amounts. Seasonal irrigation amounts varied from 511 to 787 mm and the total water supply varied from 590 to 894 mm with precipitation representing a range of 7.7–24.2%. Winter wheat daily actual evapotranspiration (ETc) varied from 0.1 to 14.5 mm/day, averaging 2.7 mm/day during the winter wheat growing seasons, and the seasonal evapotranspiration varied from 625 to 890 mm. Grain yield was dependent on winter wheat variety, decreased with years, and varied from 1843.1 to 7085.7 kg/ha. TAM107 obtained the highest grain yield. Winter wheat CWUE, IWUE, and ETWUE were also varietal dependent and varied from 0.22 to 1.01 kg/m3, from 0.26 to 1.17 kg/m3, and from 0.29 to 0.92 kg/m3, respectively. CWUE linearly decreased with seasonal water, and IWUE linearly decreased with seasonal irrigation amount, while CWUE, IWUE, and ETWUE were positively correlated with the grain yield for the three winter wheat varieties, with R2 ≥ 0.85 for CWUE, R2 ≥ 0.69 for IWUE, and R2 ≥ 0.89 for ETWUE. The results of this study can serve as guidelines for winter wheat production in the semiarid Four Corners regions. Additional research need to be conducted for optimizing winter wheat irrigation management relative to planting date and fertilization management to reduce the yield gap between winter wheat actual yield and the national average yield.
Ultraviolet Transient Absorption Spectrometer with Sub-20-fs Time Resolution
Authors: Borrego-Varillas Rocío , Ganzer Lucia , Cerullo Giulio , Manzoni Cristian
Published: June 2018

We describe a transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy system in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral range, for the study of the ultrafast optical response of biomolecules. After reviewing the techniques for the generation and characterization of ultrashort UV pulses, we describe the experimental setup of our ultrabroadband UV TA spectrometer. The setup combines sub-20-fs UV pump pulses tunable between 3.35 and 4.7 eV, with broadband white-light-continuum probe pulses in the 1.7–4.6 eV range. Thanks to the broad tunability of the pump pulses in the UV spectral range, the extremely high temporal resolution and the broad spectral coverage of the probe, this TA system is a powerful and versatile tool for the study of many biomolecules. As an example of its potential, we apply the TA spectrometer to track ultrafast internal conversion processes in pyrene after excitation in the UV, and to resolve an impulsively excited molecular vibration with 85-fs period.
An Improved PSO Algorithm and Its Application in GNSS Ambiguity Resolution
Authors: Li Xin , Guo Jiming , Hu Jiyuan
Published: June 2018

In this study, we proposed a novel method for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) ambiguity resolution (AR). The proposed method utilizes an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm to obtain the GNSS integer ambiguity with the double differenced (DD) float resolution and its corresponding covariance matrix. First, we introduced population maturity to the standard PSO (SPSO) algorithm for the adaptive adjustment of inertia weight. Next, to improve the global convergence and robustness of the SPSO algorithm, we adopted population classification and constructed a Gauss mutation for the particle evolution process of the optimal population. Then, we applied the IPSO algorithm in the field of GNSS AR, called IPSO–AR. Finally, we evaluated the performance of the IPSO–AR algorithm under different DD ambiguity float resolutions with various dimensions and precisions. Numerical results showed that compared with the SPSO–AR algorithm, the IPSO–AR algorithm has a superior correct rate, but low efficiency. Under the appropriate parameter settings, the efficiency of the IPSO–AR algorithm is mainly dependent on the dimensions of DD ambiguity, whereas the correct rate of the IPSO–AR algorithm is mainly dependent on the precision of DD ambiguity. The proposed IPSO–AR algorithm has potential applications under the conditions of few visible satellites or constrained baseline length.
Microfluidic Technology for Cell Manipulation
Authors: Kwon Jae-Sung , Oh Je Hoon
Published: June 2018

Microfluidic techniques for cell manipulation have been constantly developed and integrated into small chips for high-performance bioassays. However, the drawbacks of each of the techniques often hindered their further advancement and their wide use in biotechnology. To overcome this difficulty, an examination and understanding of various aspects of the developed manipulation techniques are required. In this review, we provide the details of primary microfluidic techniques that have received much attention for bioassays. First, we introduce the manipulation techniques using a sole driving source, i.e., dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis, optical tweezers, magnetophoresis, and acoustophoresis. Next, we present rapid electrokinetic patterning, a hybrid opto-electric manipulation technique developed recently. It is introduced in detail along with the underlying physical principle, operating environment, and current challenges. This paper will offer readers the opportunity to improve existing manipulation techniques, suggest new manipulation techniques, and find new applications in biotechnology.
Effect of Nested Elements on Avoided Crossing between the Higher-Order Core Modes and the Air-Capillary Modes in Hollow-Core Antiresonant Optical Fibers
Authors: Provino Laurent
Published: June 2018

Optimal suppression of higher-order modes (HOMs) in hollow-core antiresonant fibers comprising a single ring of thin-walled capillaries was previously studied, and can be achieved when the condition on the capillary-to-core diameter ratio is satisfied (d/D≈0.68). Here we report on the conditions for maximizing the leakage losses of HOMs in hollow-core nested antiresonant node-less fibers, while preserving low confinement loss for the fundamental mode. Using an analytical model based on coupled capillary waveguides, as well as full-vector finite element modeling, we show that optimal d/D value leading to high leakage losses of HOMs, is strongly correlated to the size of nested capillaries. We also show that extremely high value of degree of HOM suppression (∼1200) at the resonant coupling is almost unchanged on a wide range of nested capillary diameter dNested values. These results therefore suggest the possibility of designing antiresonant fibers with nested elements, which show optimal guiding performances in terms of the HOM loss compared to that of the fundamental mode, for clearly defined paired values of the ratios dNested/d and d/D. These can also tend towards a single-mode behavior only when the dimensionless parameter dNested/d is less than 0.30, with identical wall thicknesses for all of the capillaries.
A Regional Mapping Method for Oilseed Rape Based on HSV Transformation and Spectral Features
Authors: Wang Dong , Fang Shenghui , Yang Zhenzhong , Wang Lin , Tang Wenchao , Li Yucui , Tong Chunyan
Published: June 2018

This study proposed a colorimetric transformation and spectral features-based oilseed rape extraction algorithm (CSRA) to map oilseed rape at the provincial scale as a first step towards country-scale coverage. Using a stepwise analysis strategy, our method gradually separates vegetation from non-vegetation, crop from non-crop, and oilseed rape from winter wheat. The wide-field view (WFV) images from Chinese Gaofen satellite no. 1 (GF-1) at six continuous flowering stages in Wuxue City, Hubei Province, China are used to extract the unique characteristics of oilseed rape during the flowering period and predict the parameter of the CSRA method. The oilseed rape maps of Hubei Province from 2014 to 2017 are obtained automatically based on the CSRA method using GF-1 WFV images. As a result, the CSRA-derived provincial oilseed rape maps achieved at least 85% overall accuracy of spatial consistency when comparing with local reference oilseed rape maps and lower than 20% absolute error of provincial planting areas when comparing with agricultural census data. The robustness of the CSRA method is also tested on other satellite images including one panchromatic and multispectral image from GF-2 and two RapidEye images. Moreover, the comparison between the CSRA and other previous methods is discussed using the six GF-1 WFV images of Wuxue City, showing the proposed method has better mapping accuracy than other tested methods. These results highlight the potential of our method for accurate extraction and regional mapping capacity for oilseed rape.
Unanswered Questions Regarding Sex and BMP/TGF-β Signaling
Authors: Shah Tapan A. , Rogers Melissa B.
Published: June 2018

Crosstalk between the BMP and TGF-β signaling pathways regulates many complex developmental processes from the earliest stages of embryogenesis throughout adult life. In many situations, the two signaling pathways act reciprocally. For example, TGF-β signaling is generally pro-fibrotic, whereas BMP signaling is anti-fibrotic and pro-calcific. Sex-specific differences occur in many diseases including cardiovascular pathologies. Differing ratios of fibrosis and calcification in stenotic valves suggests that BMP/TGF-β signaling may vary in men and women. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the interplay between sex and BMP/TGF-β signaling and pose several unanswered questions.
Optimal Kinematic Design of a 6-UCU Kind Gough-Stewart Platform with a Guaranteed Given Accuracy
Authors: Liu Guojun
Published: June 2018

The 6-UCU (U-universal joint; C-cylinder joint) kind Gough-Stewart platform is extensively employed in motion simulators due to its high accuracy, large payload, and high-speed capability. However, because of the manufacturing and assembling errors, the real geometry may be different from the nominal one. In the design process of the high-accuracy Gough-Stewart platform, one needs to consider these errors. The purpose of this paper is to propose an optimal design method for the 6-UCU kind Gough-Stewart platform with a guaranteed given accuracy. Accuracy analysis of the 6-UCU kind Gough-Stewart platform is presented by considering the limb length errors and joint position errors. An optimal design method is proposed by using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). A set of Pareto-optimal parameters was found by applying the proposed optimal design method. An engineering design case was studied to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Monetary and Fiscal Policy Interactions in the Czech Republic
Authors: Rezabek Pavel , Doucek Petr
Published: June 2018

The paper provides empirical analysis of interactions between monetary and fiscal policy in the Czech Republic and document changes in policy conduct across the time. To this end, we build and estimate a six-variable Bayesian VAR and propose some refinements to the modelling framework. These improvements make it possible to better capture the main features of the economic system populated by both macroeconomic policy authorities. The results point to the lack of complementarity between policy actions adopted by the authorities and suggest that there is still enough room for enhancing the effectiveness of economic policies.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROXIMATE CONSTRUCTION DURATION PREDICTION MODEL DURING THE PROJECT PLANNING PHASE FOR GENERAL OFFICE BUILDINGS
Authors: Yeom Dong-Jun , Seo Hae-Mi , Kim Yoo-Jun , Cho Chung-Suk , Kim Youngsuk
Published: June 2018

Accurate prediction of the construction duration is imperative to the reliable cash flow analysis during the project planning phase when feasibility analysis is carried out. However, lack of information and frequent changes that occur as a result of a negotiation process between the owner and the designer in defining the project scope make it difficult to compute real-time construction duration. Domestic and foreign models for calculating the construction durations cannot be readily applied to computation of construction duration for general office buildings in Korea specifically during the project planning phase as there is a limit in its applicability due to numerous restrictions. Moreover, there are no preceding studies suggesting different computational approaches to predict the entire construction duration for office buildings with the approximate construction duration concept during planning phase. Therefore, based on the collected performance data, this study proposes a multiple linear regression model that facilitates reliable prediction of approximate construction duration for office buildings in the project planning phase. The model will allow the owner and other stakeholders to predict the real-time construction duration using the basic information on office buildings and to assess the construction durations incorporating frequent changes during the project planning phase.
Low spontaneous apoptosis index at diagnosis predicts a high-risk phenotype in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Singh Ankita , Bhatia Prateek , Trehan Amita , Bansal Deepak , Singh Ajit , Bhatia Alka
Published: June 2018

Background & objectives:

Significance of apoptosis as a prognostic marker is less well studied in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cases. Hence, a prospective study, involving 30 paediatric ALL cases, was done to assess the clinical relevance of in vivo apoptosis.

Methods:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all patients were subjected to annexin V/propidium iodide staining to detect the degree of apoptosis [apoptotic index (AI)] at day 0 and day 35 post-induction chemotherapy. In addition, Bax and Bcl2 apoptotic protein expressions were studied at day 0 and their relative fluorescence mean intensity (RFMI) ratios were calculated.

Results:

Mean age of patients was 5.1 years. Of the 30 cases, 21 (70%) were at standard-risk, five (17%) at intermediate and four (13%) at high risk. Majority (83%) were B-ALL. Day 8 absolute blast count was >1000/μl in seven (23%) and <1000/μl in 23 of 30 (77%) cases. Day 35 marrow was M1 in 23 (92%) and M2 in two of 25 (8%) cases. AI at day 0 and day 35 ranged from 0.9 to16.6 per cent and 1.4 to 62.8 per cent with a mean of 5.90 and 19.64 per cent, respectively. The Bax/Bcl2 ratio ranged from 0.2 to 3.5 with a mean of 0.83. The ratio was predominantly anti-apoptotic, i.e. <1 (77%). A significant association was noted between low AI at day 0 and high total leucocyte count (P=0.02), T-cell phenotype (P=0.043) and high-risk as per NCI category (P=0.025). Significant increase (>30%) in day 35 AI was seen in only six cases.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Our study showed that low AI at day 0 was associated with a high-risk clinical phenotype in paediatric ALL. However, studies on larger group, especially with longer follow up or study of relapse cases, will help draw conclusions regarding apoptosis assessment in paediatric ALL.
Ureterocolic fistula diagnosed on the basis of diuretic renogram and direct radionuclide cystography
Authors: Manglunia AS , Kini S , Pawar S , Patwardhan S
Published: June 2018

Ureterocolic fistulae are a rare phenomenon and are most commonly seen secondary to obstructive ureteric calculi. These are usually diagnosed on barium enema or intravenous urography. Most of the times, more than one investigation is needed to confirm the findings. We present a case of iatrogenically-induced ureterocolic fistula, diagnosed on renogram and direct radionuclide cystography. This case showcases the possibility of using a renogram study as a diagnostic tool for a suspected ureterocolic fistula. A renogram study also enables to asess the renal function, which is essential in deciding the management.
Rules of English Spelling and the Choice to Use t or s in Shun-Words: A Wink at Anglophone Cameroonian Students
Authors: Achiri-Taboh Blasius
Published: June 2018

Although English spelling has been of significant interest to scholars since the 1950s, it has remained a major problem even to native speakers. One peculiar problem with it is the spelling variation of the noun formation suffix often represented in discourse as “shun,” mainly between -tion and -sion. Current textbooks of English grammar have generally not discussed rules of its spelling with either form, even though they do many others. However, following online resources, conflicting on how to spell it are in current debate, with two main schools of thought that each fall in line with one of two approaches that can be called the “word-based model” and the “base-word model.” In Achiri-Taboh (2018), I have shown that, in writing down words that end with “shun,” the base-word model is to be preferred, presenting argument for a synchronic rule following the base-word model with seven conditions to warrant the use of -sion as opposed to -tion, albeit with exceptions. Following current debates and a test of Anglophone Cameroonian students for their spelling preferences, the present study establishes the problem as global and compelling enough, especially for Non-Native users and learners of English, to warrant an address in grammar textbooks by means of available recourses like the recent base-word-based rule. The study also demonstrates that the prevalence of the problem actually stems from the lack of readily available spelling rules in grammar textbooks, and that there is a need for further research on spelling rules in English.
Litterfall and Nutrient Returns in the Rainforest of Southwestern Cameroon: Some Implications for Tropical Forest Productivity
Authors: Ngaiwi Mary E. , Molua Ernest L. , Egbe Andrew E.
Published: June 2018

Understanding litterfall and macronutrients in the rainforest ecosystem gives baseline information on nutrient dynamics. Litterfall and macronutrients return were studied for 12 months from November 2011 to October 2012 in a 50 ha plot in the Takamanda National Park, South-western Cameroon. This study evaluates the pattern and quantity of litterfall, with implications for forest productivity. It thus assesses the macronutrient concentrations, nutrient inputs into the surface soil, nutrient retranslocation by some key tree species and some physicochemical properties of the soil in the study site. Litter traps where placed randomly in the study plot. Litter was collected every fortnight sorted and air-dried after which they were oven dried at 70°C to constant weight. Soils were sampled from three flanks at depths of 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm. Percentage retranslocation or accumulation before leaf fall was calculated from freshly fallen litter and mature green leaf. Total annual litterfall was 5.46 t/ha/yr and this varied with the seasons. Leaf litter contributed 90.9% of total litterfall. The concentration of N and Ca was higher than other nutrient elements Mg, K, P in all litter fragments. Nitrogen had the highest total nutrient input with the following pattern N>Ca>K>Mg>P (85.36 kg/ha/yr> 56.71 kg/ha/yr> 23.1 kg/ha/yr> 17.32 kg/ha/yr> 4.27 kg/ha/yr) respectively.Pterocarpus soyauxii had the highest retranslocation percentages for all the macronutrients studied compared to Afziliabipidensis and Terminalia ivorensis. It was observed that Terminalia ivorensis could be a good nutrient recycler that could be used to improve on degraded soils. It was however observed that Ca and Mg tend to accumulate in leaf litter for all the three species.
OCUPAÇÕES URBANAS EM BELO HORIZONTE: CONCEITOS E EVIDÊNCIAS DAS ORIGENS DE UM MOVIMENTO SOCIAL URBANO
Authors: Castelo Branco Lourenço Thiago
Published: June 2018

Este artigo apresenta evidências históricas, sociais e políticas dos primórdios dos movimentos de ocupações urbanas que têm ocorrido na cidade de Belo Horizonte e região desde os anos 2000. Oferece desde o histórico desse tipo de luta política de acesso ao direito à cidade na capital de Minas Gerais, apresentando também as origens políticas e ideológicas dos movimentos sociais que conduzem essas ações políticas e contextualizando-as dentro da história política local. O artigo também apresenta algumas discussões conceituais que têm sido construídas e processadas entre ativistas sociais, lideranças e moradores das ocupações urbanas da cidade, além de discussões sobre os processos de autonomia e heteronomia que envolvem os projetos de arquitetura e urbanismo dentro do contexto desses movimentos sociais urbanos.
O ENSINO DE PROJETO INTEGRADO DE ARQUITETURA E URBANISMO E A MUDANÇA NO HABITUS
Authors: Medeiros de Freitas Daniel
Published: June 2018

A necessária integração conceitual e instrumental entre o projeto de edificações e o planejamento do espaço urbano é, de um lado, um desafio recorrente no debate sobre a formação dos arquitetos urbanistas. Por outro lado, o contexto de intensificação da ação do capital sobre a forma urbana em diferentes frentes, sobretudo por meio de Grandes Projetos Urbanos, demanda a problematização da forma urbana autoral e fechada e o modo como esta é abordada na estrutura curricular dos cursos de graduação em arquitetura e urbanismo. Este artigo se insere nessa lacuna por meio da análise da disciplina Projeto Integrado de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, na qual os alunos desenvolvem intervenção construída na interface entre o campo da arquitetura e do planejamento urbano. Foram analisados registros das bancas de avaliação e o memorial descritivo dos projetos, complementados por notas de aula ao longo de experiência docente na disciplina entre 2012 e 2015. A análise recorre ao conceito bourdiano de habitus, com ênfase no papel desse tipo de disciplina na sua construção e consolidação. O artigo aponta as dificuldades de integração entre escalas e discute como essa situação pode estar contribuindo, em vez de reverter, para a produção de projetos arquitetônicos cada vez mais desarticulados com a leitura do lugar, de formas urbanas fechadas, espetacularizadas e reprodutoras dos processos de acumulação e segregação socioespacial.
Letter from the Editor (June 2018)
Authors: Varnum Kenneth J.
Published: June 2018

In the current (June 2018) issue, we continue our celebration of ITAL’s 50th year with a summary of the articles published in the 1970s, the journal’s first full decade of publication. The 1970s are particularly pivotal in library technology, as it marks the introduction of the personal computer, as a hobbyist’s tool, to society. The web is still more than a decade away, but the seeds are being planted.
EFFECT OF STERIC ACCESSIBILITY OF EXCHANGE CENTER OF HIGHER QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALTS AND PLASTICIZER NATURE ON CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRODES, REVERSIBLE TO DOUBLE-CHARGED ANIONS
Authors: Rakhman’ko E.M. , Matveiychuk Yu.V.
Published: June 2018

The effect of the steric accessibility of the exchange center of higher quaternary ammonium salts and plasticizer nature on the selectivity and the limit of detection for film electrodes reversible to hydrophilic double-charged anions was studied. It was established the decrease in selectivity coefficients lgKi,jPot by 2.8−3.8 order of magnitude and low detection limit by 2−3 order of magnitude in the series of QAS: TOD≤TC<TL<TNODA<TB<TE<TM< DCPBTM. Also, the increase in low detection limit by 1−0.7 order of magnitude in the series of plasticizers: DBP>DDP>o-NPDE>1-BN was established. The composition of membranes of ion-selective electrodes was optimized.
ANODIC OXYGEN EVOLUTION ON IRON, COBALT AND NICKEL SILICIDES IN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE
Authors: Panteleeva V.V. , Shein A.B.
Published: June 2018

The kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction on iron, cobalt and nickel monosilicides in (0.1 – 5.0) M NaOH was studied using methods of polarization and impedance measurements. The values of derivatives dE/dlgi, dlgi/dpH, dE/dpH were determined. The oxygen evolution on FeSi, CoSi and NiSi electrodes in alkaline solution was established to have regularities which are characteristic to Fe, Co and Ni electrodes, respectively.
Safe exposure distances for transcranial magnetic stimulation based on computer simulations
Authors: Palatnik de Sousa Iam , Barbosa Carlos R. H. , Costa Monteiro Elisabeth
Published: June 2018

The results of a computer simulation examining the compliance of a given transcranial magnetic stimulation device to the 2010 International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines are presented. The objective was to update the safe distance estimates with the most current safety guidelines, as well as comparing these to values reported in previous publications. The 3D data generated was compared against results available in the literature, regarding the MCB-70 coil by Medtronic. Regarding occupational exposure, safe distances of 1.46 m and 0.96 m are derived from the simulation according to the 2003 and 2010 ICNIRP guidelines, respectively. These values are then compared to safe distances previously reported in other studies.
Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis
Authors: Wentrup Curt
Published: June 2018

Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) allows the generation, direct observation, and in many cases isolation of reactive intermediates and unusual molecules such as carbenes, nitrenes, free radicals, and cumulenes. Detailed characterization of unstable species is achieved in conjunction with matrix isolation or gas‐phase spectroscopic techniques. In addition,FVPhas many important applications in organic synthesis, where reactions are often initiated by extrusion of small molecules (eg,N2,CO,CO2, orSO2), or by elimination (eg,HCl,CH3COOH,HNCO, or isobutene), or by (retro)pericyclic reaction. These reactions are chemoselective, stereospecific, and usually proceed via the lowest activation energy paths to the products, which are often formed in high yields. Photochemistry is often complementary to pyrolysis, and the two methods in combination are powerful tools in investigations of chemical reactions.
Using secondary outcome to sharpen bounds for treatment harm rate in characterizing heterogeneity
Authors: Yin Yunjian , Cai Zheng , Zhou Xiao‐Hua
Published: June 2018

In a clinical trial, statistical reports are typically concerned about the mean difference in two groups. Now there is increasing interest in the heterogeneity of the treatment effect, which has important implications in treatment evaluation and selection. The treatment harm rate (THR), which is defined by the proportion of people who has a worse outcome on the treatment compared to the control, was used to characterize the heterogeneity. Since THR involves the joint distribution of the two potential outcomes, it cannot be identified without further assumptions even in the randomized trials. We can only derive the simple bounds with the observed data. But the simple bounds are usually too wide. In this paper, we use a secondary outcome that satisfies the monotonicity assumption to tighten the bounds. It is shown that the bounds we derive cannot be wider than the simple bounds. We also construct some simulation studies to assess the performance of our bounds in finite sample. The results show that a secondary outcome, which is more closely related to the primary outcome, can lead to narrower bounds. Finally, we illustrate the application of the proposed bounds in a randomized clinical trial of determining whether the intensive glycemia could reduce the risk of development or progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius Squalene‐Hopene Cyclase: The Critical Role of Steric Bulk at Ala306 and the First Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxydammarane from 2,3‐Oxidosqualene
Authors: Ideno Natsumi , Umeyama Shikou , Watanabe Takashi , Nakajima Mami , Sato Tsutomu , Hoshino Tsutomu
Published: June 2018

The acyclic molecule squalene (1) is cyclized into 6,6,6,6,5‐fused pentacyclic hopene (2) and hopanol (3; ca. 5:1) through the action of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius squalene‐hopene cyclase (AaSHC). The polycyclization reaction proceeds with regio‐ and stereochemical specificity under precise enzymatic control. This pentacyclic hopane skeleton is generated by folding 1 into an all‐chair conformation. The Ala306 residue in AaSHC is conserved in known squalene‐hopene cyclases (SHCs); however, increasing the steric bulk (A306T and A306V) led to the accumulation of 6,6,6,5‐fused tetracyclic scaffolds possessing 20R stereochemistry in high yield (94 % for A306V). The production of the 20R configuration indicated that 1 had been folded in a chair‐chair‐chair‐boat conformation; in contrast, the normal chair‐chair‐chair‐chair conformation affords the tetracycle with 20S stereochemistry, but the yield produced by the A306V mutant was very low (6 %). Consequently, bulk at position 306 significantly affects the stereochemical fate during the polycyclization reaction. The SHC also accepts (3R) and (3S)‐2,3‐oxidosqualenes (OXSQs) to generate 3α,β‐hydroxyhopenes and 3α,β‐hydroxyhopanols through polycyclization initiated at the epoxide ring. However, the Val and Thr mutants generated epoxydammarane scaffolds from (3R)‐OXSQ; this indicated that the polycyclization cascade started in these instances at the terminal double bond position. This work is the first to report the polycyclization of oxidosqualene starting at the terminal double bond.
Impact of human disturbance on bee pollinator communities in savanna and agricultural sites in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Authors: Stein Katharina , Stenchly Kathrin , Coulibaly Drissa , Pauly Alain , Dimobe Kangbeni , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Konaté Souleymane , Goetze Dethardt , Porembski Stefan , Linsenmair K. Eduard
Published: June 2018

All over the world, pollinators are threatened by land‐use change involving degradation of seminatural habitats or conversion into agricultural land. Such disturbance often leads to lowered pollinator abundance and/or diversity, which might reduce crop yield in adjacent agricultural areas. For West Africa, changes in bee communities across disturbance gradients from savanna to agricultural land are mainly unknown. In this study, we monitored for the impact of human disturbance on bee communities in savanna and crop fields. We chose three savanna areas of varying disturbance intensity (low, medium, and high) in the South Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso, based on land‐use/land cover data via Landsat images, and selected nearby cotton and sesame fields. During 21 months covering two rainy and two dry seasons in 2014 and 2015, we captured bees using pan traps. Spatial and temporal patterns of bee species abundance, richness, evenness and community structure were assessed. In total, 35,469 bee specimens were caught on 12 savanna sites and 22 fields, comprising 97 species of 32 genera. Bee abundance was highest at intermediate disturbance in the rainy season. Species richness and evenness did not differ significantly. Bee communities at medium and highly disturbed savanna sites comprised only subsets of those at low disturbed sites. An across‐habitat spillover of bees (mostly abundant social bee species) from savanna into crop fields was observed during the rainy season when crops are mass‐flowering, whereas most savanna plants are not in bloom. Despite disturbance intensification, our findings suggest that wild bee communities can persist in anthropogenic landscapes and that some species even benefitted disproportionally. West African areas of crop production such as for cotton and sesame may serve as important food resources for bee species in times when resources in the savanna are scarce and receive at the same time considerable pollination service.
Study of detection limit and sensitivity of Kα and Lα spectral lines of 47Ag, 48Cd, and 50Sn elements using polychromatic wavelength dispersive X‐ray spectrometer
Authors: Kainth Harpreet Singh
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the instrumental detection limit and sensitivity for determination of elemental composition of 47Ag, 48Cd, and 50Sn elements in the standard liquid solution with highly advanced polychromatic wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (PC‐WDXRF) spectrometer equipped with 45Rh X‐ray tube. To improve the sensitivity and detection limit, the bremsstrahlung coming from 45Rh source were reduced by choosing suitable primary beam filters (Al and Cu). Instrumental measuring parameters as well as study of linear calibration curves of K and L shell spectral lines were evaluated to select the best conditions for 47Ag, 48Cd, and 50Sn quantification. The detection limit of Lα spectral lines were found to be ~3 to 5 times lower than Kα spectral lines which results in high sensitivity.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Study on the spatial–temporal change characteristics and influence factors of fog and haze pollution based on GAM
Authors: Wu Zhuang , Zhang Shuo
Published: June 2018

PM2.5 (particulate matter) is an important object for air quality monitoring, and the research on related influence factors and diffusion process of PM2.5 plays a key role in the fight against pollution of fog and haze. Based on the air quality monitoring data and related meteorological data of 16 districts of Beijing during November 2016 and December 2017, such methods as time-series analysis and nonparametric test are adopted to describe the variation trend of PM2.5 concentration in space and time and its disparities in different seasons, time periods and areas. Linear regression method is used in most of the previous research on influence factors and prediction of PM2.5 concentration, but actually, the relation between these factors is rather intricate and it is usually nonlinear. So, generalized additive model (GAM) is used in this paper to analyze the impact that different influence factors, especially their interaction, have on PM2.5 concentration and its diffusion process. The result shows that in the dimensionality of time, PM2.5 concentration has strong autocorrelation over time and it is most significant in the first to the third order (lag 0–lag 3). Throughout the year, PM2.5 concentration is relatively high in winter and low in summer. It is usually the lowest during 16:00–18:00 and the highest during 9:00–11:00 every day and far higher at night than in the daytime (MD = − 6.455, P = 0.003). And in terms of space, PM2.5 concentration shows distinct spatial gradient and it gradually decreases from south to north (MD = − 19.250, P = 0.004). It is found in the analysis of influence factors of PM2.5 concentration that the change of PM2.5 concentration is a complex nonlinear time series driven and affected by many factors; among these factors, the interaction between air pollutants and meteorological elements is the most prominent, while average wind speed (WS lag 1) plays a decisive role in the entire diffusion process, and it explains the whole diffusion of PM2.5 concentration to a large extent.
Hyperactive behavior in female rats in utero‐exposed to group B Streptococcus‐induced inflammation
Authors: Allard Marie‐Julie , Brochu Marie‐Elsa , Bergeron Julie D. , Sebire Guillaume
Published: June 2018

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one the most common bacterium responsible of maternal infections during pregnancy. Offspring in utero‐exposed to GBS‐induced placental inflammation displayed sex‐specific forebrain injuries. Sex differences have been reported in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Hence, we hypothesized that female rats in utero‐exposed to GBS may present sex‐specific neurobehavioral impairments. Lewis rats were injected intraperitoneally every 12 h from gestational day (G) 19 to G22 with either saline (controls) or inactivated serotype Ia GBS (109 CFU). Before puberty, no difference in terms of spontaneous motor activity, exploratory or anxiety‐related behaviors was noticed between experimental conditions. During puberty, GBS‐exposed females – but not males – performed worse than same‐sex controls in a forced motor task. During adulthood, GBS‐exposed females – but not males – displayed increased spontaneous locomotor activity and decreased inhibition. In conclusion, our findings show for the first time that adult females – but not males – in utero‐exposed to GBS‐induced inflammation presented a hyperactive and disinhibited phenotype emerging after puberty.
A localized turbulent mixing layer in a uniformly stratified environment
Authors: Watanabe Tomoaki , Riley James J. , Nagata Koji , Onishi Ryo , Matsuda Keigo
Published: June 2018

Localized turbulence bounded by non-turbulent flow in a uniformly stratified environment is studied with direct numerical simulations of stably stratified shear layers. Of particular interest is the turbulent/non-turbulent interfacial (TNTI) layer, which is detected by identifying the turbulent region in terms of its potential vorticity. Fluid near the outer edge of the turbulent region gains potential vorticity and becomes turbulent by diffusion arising from both viscous and molecular effects. The flow properties near the TNTI layer change depending on the buoyancy Reynolds number near the interface,$Re_{bI}$. The TNTI layer thickness is approximately 13 times the Kolmogorov length scale for large$Re_{bI}$($Re_{bI}\gtrsim 30$), consistent with non-stratified flows, whereas it is almost equal to the vertical length scale of the stratified flow,$l_{vI}=l_{hI}Re^{-1/2}$(here$l_{hI}$is the horizontal length scale near the TNTI layer, and$Re$is the Reynolds number), in the low-$Re_{bI}$regime ($Re_{bI}\lesssim 2$). Turbulent fluid is vertically transported towards the TNTI layer when$Re_{bI}$is large, sustaining the thin TNTI layer with large buoyancy frequency and mean shear. This sharpening effect is weakened as$Re_{bI}$decreases and eventually becomes negligible for very low$Re_{bI}$. Overturning motions occur near the TNTI layer for large$Re_{bI}$. The dependence on buoyancy Reynolds number is related to the value of$Re_{bI}$near the TNTI layer, which is smaller than the value deep inside the turbulent core region. An imprint of the internal gravity waves propagating in the non-turbulent region is found for vorticity within the TNTI layer, inferring an interaction between turbulence and internal gravity waves. The wave energy flux causes a net loss of the kinetic energy in the turbulent core region bounded to the TNTI layer, and the amount of kinetic energy extracted from the turbulent region by internal gravity waves is comparable to the amount dissipated in the turbulent region.
Definitions of vortex vector and vortex
Authors: Tian Shuling , Gao Yisheng , Dong Xiangrui , Liu Chaoqun
Published: June 2018

Although the vortex is ubiquitous in nature, its definition is somewhat ambiguous in the field of fluid dynamics. In this absence of a rigorous mathematical definition, considerable confusion appears to exist in visualizing and understanding the coherent vortical structures in turbulence. Cited in the previous studies, a vortex cannot be fully described by vorticity, and vorticity should be further decomposed into a rotational and a non-rotational part to represent the rotation and the shear, respectively. In this paper, we introduce several new concepts, including local fluid rotation at a point and the direction of the local fluid rotation axis. The direction and the strength of local fluid rotation are examined by investigating the kinematics of the fluid element in two- and three-dimensional flows. A new vector quantity, which is called the vortex vector in this paper, is defined to describe the local fluid rotation and it is the rotational part of the vorticity. This can be understood as that the direction of the vortex vector is equivalent to the direction of the local fluid rotation axis, and the magnitude of vortex vector is the strength of the location fluid rotation. With these new revelations, a vortex is defined as a connected region where the vortex vector is not zero. In addition, through direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) examples, it is demonstrated that the newly defined vortex vector can fully describe the complex vertical structures of turbulence.
Mixing efficiency in large-eddy simulations of stratified turbulence
Authors: Khani Sina
Published: June 2018

The irreversible mixing efficiency is studied using large-eddy simulations (LES) of stratified turbulence, where three different subgrid-scale (SGS) parameterizations are employed. For comparison, direct numerical simulations (DNS) and hyperviscosity simulations are also performed. In the regime of stratified turbulence where$Fr_{v}\sim 1$, the irreversible mixing efficiency$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{i}$in LES scales like$1/(1+2Pr_{t})$, where$Fr_{v}$and$Pr_{t}$are the vertical Froude number and turbulent Prandtl number, respectively. Assuming a unit scaling coefficient and$Pr_{t}=1$,$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{i}$goes to a constant value$1/3$, in agreement with DNS results. In addition, our results show that the irreversible mixing efficiency in LES, while consistent with this prediction, depends on SGS parameterizations and the grid spacing$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E5}$. Overall, the LES approach can reproduce mixing efficiency results similar to those from the DNS approach if$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E5}\lesssim L_{o}$, where$L_{o}$is the Ozmidov scale. In this situation, the computational costs of numerical simulations are significantly reduced because LES runs require much smaller computational resources in comparison with expensive DNS runs.
All parabolas through three non-collinear points
Authors: Huddy Stanley R. , Jones Michael A.
Published: June 2018

If no two of three non-collinear points share the same x-coordinate, then the parabola y = a2x2 + a1x + a0 through the points is easily found by solving a system of linear equations. That is but one of an infinite number of parabolas through the three points. How does one find the other parabolas? In this note, we find all parabolas through any three non-collinear points by reducing the problem to finding the equation of a parabola by using rotations.

The parabola y = a2x2 + a1x + a0 has an axis of symmetry parallel to the y-axis. Other parabolas have an axis of symmetry that is parallel to some line y = mx. We focus on the angle θ that the axis of symmetry makes with the y-axis, as in Figure 1, so that tanθ = 1/m. To find the parabola associated with θ that goes through three non-collinear points, we rotate the three points counterclockwise by θ, find the equation of the parabola, and then rotate the parabola (and the three points) counterclockwise back by −θ so that the parabola goes through the original points.
Metric relations in crossed trapezia
Authors: Josefsson Martin
Published: June 2018

The trapezium (trapezoid in American English) is one of the seven most well-known quadrilaterals that is studied in school geometry. However, it is always assumed that it is convex. In this note we shall derive metric formulas for the most important quantities in crossed trapezia and compare them to the similar formulas for convex trapezia. The corresponding investigation regarding crossed cyclic quadrilaterals was conducted in [1]. Any crossed quadrilateral has a pair of opposite sides intersecting and both of its diagonals are outside of itself.
Assisted resection of lateral extension of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma using a sphenopalatine fossa dissector
Authors: Mishra A
Published: June 2018

Background

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma often attaches firmly to the adjoining bony region around the sphenopalatine foramina–sphenopalatine fossa–pterygomaxillary fissure. This can result in hourglass-shaped constriction and predispose to incomplete resection (residual disease) with a transpalatal approach. This paper describes attempts to address this ‘inaccessible’ area with a novel instrument, used since 2012.

Methods

Measurements of the sphenopalatine foramen, nasal septum, posterior nasopharyngeal wall and hard palate were undertaken in 20 skulls and 10 computed tomography scans (lateral extension). A device was designed (in terms of angulation and length) following several trials with malleable wire. A search of patents was also undertaken. Recurrence rates were compared in cases of device use and non-use.

Results

The novelty of the sphenopalatine fossa dissector was established and the device was patented. This device has significantly improved our 17.59 per cent recurrence rate of the past 4 decades; of 63 cases over 3 years, there were only 3 recurrences and 2 residual disease cases. Findings of our previous studies with or without the device are compared.

Conclusion

Existing evidence supports the incorporation of this inexpensive instrument in the armamentarium for resecting lateral extension of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma during a transpalatal approach.
Public Authority Under Sovereign Encroachment: Leadership in two villages during Sri Lanka's war
Authors: KLEM BART , MAUNAGURU SIDHARTHAN
Published: June 2018

In this article, we compare two kinds of public authority under conditions of civil war. We study two villages in eastern Sri Lanka, both of which came under LTTE rule during the 1990s and 2000s. The first case study describes a rural development society, which was co-opted by the LTTE to rule the village. The second describes the leaders of a Hindu temple, who defied LTTE attempts to settle temple-related conflicts. Conceptually, we draw on the notion of the public sphere as a space of encounter between the rulers and the ruled. This perspective helps us come to grips with the convoluted political landscape of war. Our two case studies suggest that public authority and sovereignty are mutually constituted. We argue that both forms of power are reworked in the encounter with the public sphere. A sovereign aspirant like the LTTE does not simply impose itself on society, it encroaches on it. This involves contingent efforts of reigning in other forms of public authority, some of which are more defiant than others. Conversely, public authority not only derives validity from sovereign endorsement, but from contestations around sovereignty as well.
Seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Vojvodina, Serbia
Authors: Medić S. , Petrović V. , Milosević V. , Lozanov-Crvenković Z. , Brkić S. , Andrews N. , de Ory F. , Anastassopoulou C.
Published: June 2018

The present cross-sectional serosurvey constitutes the first effort to describe the varicella zoster virus (VZV) seroepidemiology in Serbia. An age-stratified serum bank of 3570 residual samples collected between 2015 and 2016 in each of the seven districts of the Vojvodina Province was tested for IgG anti-VZV antibodies with an enzyme immunoassay. Results were standardised into common units according to the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) methodology. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to examine the relationships between standardised anti-VZV positivity or logarithmically transformed antibody titres and demographic features of study subjects. Seropositivity (85% overall) increased with age, in parallel with geometric mean titres. By the time of school entry, 68% of children were immune. The slower subsequent acquisition of immunity leaves epidemiologically relevant proportions of adolescents (7%), young adults (6%) and especially females of reproductive age (6%) prone to more severe forms of varicella. In the ongoing pre-vaccine era, natural infection provides a high level of collective immunity, with the highest VZV transmission in children of preschool age. The detected gaps in VZV immunity of the Serbian population support the adoption of the official recommendations for varicella immunisation of non-immune adolescents and young adults, including non-pregnant women of childbearing age.