bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutrient-Dependent Impact of Microbes onDrosophila suzukiiDevelopment
Authors: Bing XiaoLi , Gerlach Joseph , Loeb Gregory , Buchon Nicolas
Published: March 2018

Drosophila suzukiiMatsumura is an invasive species of vinegar fly that has become a prominent pest of berries and other soft-skinned fruits. Unlike most otherDrosophilaspecies, femaleD. suzukiiflies lay their eggs in ripening and ripe fruits and larvae develop within the fruit. To understand howD. suzukiilarvae utilize ripe and ripening fruits, which usually have low levels of protein, we investigated the microbiota of field-captured and laboratory-rearedD. suzukiiflies and further examined the combined influence of diet and microbes on host fitness. Field-captured flies were associated with diverse microbiota, which varied significantly with sampling location and season. In contrast, laboratory-reared flies possessed strikingly lower bacterial abundance and diversity. A comparison of conventionally reared (CR) and germ-free (GF) flies revealed that the microbiota ofD. suzukiidoes not alter its development significantly but decreases its life span under conditions of a nutrient-sufficient diet. However, the microbiota is essential forD. suzukiidevelopment on strawberry-based or blueberry-based fruit diets. This developmental failure could be rescued by reassociation with single bacterial or fungal species or by the addition of a high quantity of heat-killed microbes. In addition, we found that proteins are limiting with respect to fly development on fruit-based diets and that GF flies show signs of protein starvation. Taken together, our study results demonstrate that the microbiota provides key proteins required for the development ofD. suzukiireared on fresh fruit. Our work shows that the impact of microbes on fly fitness depends strongly on nutritional conditions.

IMPORTANCEAnimals are commonly associated with specific microbes, which play important roles in host development and fitness. However, little information about the function of microbes has been available for the important invasive pestDrosophila suzukii, also known as Spotted wing drosophila. Our study results demonstrate that the abundance and structure of microbiota inD. suzukiiare strongly affected by the environment, where microbes have variable roles depending on the nutritional situation. For instance, we found that the presence of microbes is deleterious for flies growing on a protein-rich diet and yet is beneficial for flies growing on a diet of protein-poor fruits. Additionally, germ-free flies must feed on microbes to obtain the necessary protein for larval development on strawberries and blueberries. Our report validates the complexity seen in host-microbe interactions and may provide information useful forD. suzukiipest control.
Toward Personalized Control of Human Gut Bacterial Communities
Authors: David Lawrence A.
Published: March 2018

A key challenge in microbiology will be developing tools for manipulating human gut bacterial communities. Our ability to predict and control the dynamics of these communities is now in its infancy.
Role of the Gut Microbiome in Vertebrate Evolution
Authors: Sharpton Thomas J.
Published: March 2018

Darwin referred to life as a struggle. Organisms compete for limited resources in nature, and their traits influence the outcome.
Predicting respiratory hospital admissions in young people with cerebral palsy
Authors: Blackmore Amanda Marie , Bear Natasha , Blair Eve , Langdon Katherine , Moshovis Lisa , Steer Kellie , Wilson Andrew C
Published: March 2018

Objective

To determine the early predictors of respiratory hospital admissions in young people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Design

A 3-year prospective cohort study using linked data.

Patients

Children and young people with CP, aged 1 to 26 years.

Main outcome measures

Self-reported and carer-reported respiratory symptoms were linked to respiratory hospital admissions (as defined by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes) during the following 3 years.

Results

482 participants (including 289 males) were recruited. They were aged 1 to 26 years (mean 10 years, 10 months; SD 5 years, 11 months) at the commencement of the study, and represented all Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) levels. During the 3-year period, 55 (11.4%) participants had a total of 186 respiratory hospital admissions, and spent a total of 1475 days in hospital. Statistically significant risk factors for subsequent respiratory hospital admissions over 3 years in univariate analyses were GMFCS level V, at least one respiratory hospital admission in the year preceding the survey, oropharyngeal dysphagia, seizures, frequent respiratory symptoms, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, at least two courses of antibiotics in the year preceding the survey, mealtime respiratory symptoms and nightly snoring.

Conclusions

Most risk factors for respiratory hospital admissions are potentially modifiable. Early identification of oropharyngeal dysphagia and the management of seizures may help prevent serious respiratory illness. One respiratory hospital admission should trigger further evaluation and management to prevent subsequent respiratory illness.
‘It feels like being trapped in an abusive relationship’: bullying prevalence and consequences in the New Zealand senior medical workforce: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chambers Charlotte N L , Frampton Christopher M A , McKee Martin , Barclay Murray
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To estimate prevalence of and factors contributing to bullying among senior doctors and dentists in New Zealand’s public health system, to ascertain rates of reporting bullying behaviour, perceived barriers to reporting and the effects of bullying professionally and personally.

Design

Cross-sectional, mixed methods study.

Setting

New Zealand.

Participants

Members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (40.8% response rate).

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of bullying was measured using the Negative Acts Questionnaire (revised) (NAQ-r). Workplace demands and level of peer and managerial support were measured with the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Analysis tool. Categories of perpetrators for self-reported and witnessed bullying and barriers to reporting bullying were obtained and qualitative data detailing the consequence of bullying were analysed thematically.

Results

The overall prevalence of bullying, measured by the NAQ-r, was 38% (at least one negative act on a weekly or daily basis), 37.2% self-reported and 67.5% witnessed. There were significant differences in rates of bullying by specialty (P=0.001) with emergency medicine reporting the highest bullying prevalence (47.9%). The most commonly cited perpetrators were other senior medical or dental specialists. 69.6% declined to report their bullying. Bullying across all measures was significantly associated with increasing work demands and lower peer and managerial support (P=0.001). Consequences of bullying were wide ranging, affecting workplace environments, personal well-being and subjective quality of patient care.

Conclusions

Bullying is prevalent in New Zealand’s senior medical workforce and is associated with high workloads and low peer and managerial support. These findings help identify conditions and pressures that may encourage bullying and highlight the significant risk of bullying for individuals and their patients.
Do NHS GP surgeries employing GPs additionally trained in integrative or complementary medicine have lower antibiotic prescribing rates? Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of national primary care prescribing data in England in 2016
Authors: van der Werf Esther T , Duncan Lorna J , Flotow Paschen von , Baars Erik W
Published: March 2018

Objective

To determine differences in antibiotic prescription rates between conventional General Practice (GP) surgeries and GP surgeries employing general practitioners (GPs) additionally trained in integrative medicine (IM) or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) (referred to as IM GPs) working within National Health Service (NHS) England.

Design

Retrospective study on antibiotic prescription rates per STAR-PU (Specific Therapeutic group Age–sex weighting Related Prescribing Unit) using NHS Digital data over 2016. Publicly available data were used on prevalence of relevant comorbidities, demographics of patient populations and deprivation scores.

Setting

Primary Care.

Participants

7283 NHS GP surgeries in England.

Primary outcome measure

The association between IM GPs and antibiotic prescribing rates per STAR-PU with the number of antibiotic prescriptions (total, and for respiratory tract infection (RTI) and urinary tract infection (UTI) separately) as outcome.

Results

IM GP surgeries (n=9) were comparable to conventional GP surgeries in terms of list sizes, demographics, deprivation scores and comorbidity prevalence. Negative binomial regression models showed that statistically significant fewer total antibiotics (relative risk (RR) 0.78, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.97) and RTI antibiotics (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.94) were prescribed at NHS IM GP surgeries compared with conventional NHS GP surgeries. In contrast, the number of antibiotics prescribed for UTI were similar between both practices.

Conclusion

NHS England GP surgeries employing GPs additionally trained in IM/CAM have lower antibiotic prescribing rates. Accessibility of IM/CAM within NHS England primary care is limited. Main study limitation is the lack of consultation data. Future research should include the differences in consultation behaviour of patients self-selecting to consult an IM GP or conventional surgery, and its effect on antibiotic prescription. Additional treatment strategies for common primary care infections used by IM GPs should be explored to see if they could be used to assist in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Soft tissue sarcoma in the dog: an update
Authors: Bray Jonathan
Published: March 2018

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a large group of tumours derived from mesenchymal tissues. STS may arise anywhere in the body, but most commonly appear on the appendicular skeleton. They typically present as a firm, discrete and expansile mass. They can present the clinician with significant challenges with respect to management. When treated appropriately, the prognosis for the majority of dogs is good, provided a complete resection has been achieved. However, about 20 to 30 per cent of dogs may ultimately die of their disease due to unresectable local recurrence or metastatic disease. Surgery is the mainstay for the treatment of STS, but inclusion of radiation therapy may allow for a reduction in surgical margins, or the control of incomplete resections. A role for chemotherapy remains unclear. This article reviews the diagnostic and treatment options available for STS, and seeks to improve awareness of the many questions and uncertainties that remain with regards to their management.
Can diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging alone accurately triage anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke patients to endovascular therapy?
Authors: Wolman Dylan N , Iv Michael , Wintermark Max , Zaharchuk Gregory , Marks Michael P , Do Huy M , Dodd Robert L , Albers Gregory W , Lansberg Maarten G , Heit Jeremy J
Published: March 2018

Background and purpose

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who benefit from endovascular treatment have a large vessel occlusion (LVO), small core infarction, and salvageable brain. We determined if diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) alone can correctly identify and localize anterior circulation LVO and accurately triage patients to endovascular thrombectomy (ET).

Materials and methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients undergoing MRI for the evaluation of AIS symptoms. DWI and PWI images alone were anonymized and scored for cerebral infarction, LVO presence and LVO location, DWI-PWI mismatch, and ET candidacy. Readers were blinded to clinical data. The primary outcome measure was accurate ET triage. Secondary outcomes were detection of LVO and LVO location.

Results

Two hundred and nineteen patients were included. Seventy-three patients (33%) underwent endovascular AIS treatment. Readers correctly and concordantly triaged 70 of 73 patients (96%) to ET (κ=0.938; P=0.855) and correctly excluded 143 of 146 patients (98%; P=0.942). DWI and PWI alone had a 95.9% sensitivity and a 98.4% specificity for accurate endovascular triage. LVO were accurately localized to the ICA/M1 segment in 65 of 68 patients (96%; κ=0.922; P=0.817) and the M2 segment in 18 of 20 patients (90%; κ=0.830; P=0.529).

Conclusion

AIS patients with anterior circulation LVO are accurately identified using DWI and PWI alone, and LVO location may be correctly inferred from PWI. MRA omission may be considered to expedite AIS triage in hyperacute scenarios or may confidently supplant non-diagnostic or artifact-limited MRA.
MicroRNAs in type 1 diabetes: new research progress and potential directions
Authors: Miao Chenggui , Chang Jun , Zhang Guoxue , Fang Yanxi
Published: March 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules encoded by endogenous genes of about 22 nucleotides, which are involved in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation in animals and plants. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that is clinically silent until the majority of β cells are destroyed, and a large number of studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in the pathological mechanism of T1D. In this review, we searched the related research in recent years and summarized the important roles of miRNAs in T1D diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, we summarized the current understanding of miRNA-mediated regulation mechanisms of gene expression in the T1D pathogenesis as well as related signaling pathways with a focus on the important roles of miRNAs and their antagonists in T1D pathogenesis, and brought insight into the potential therapeutic value of miRNAs for T1D patients. In view of the important roles of miRNAs in T1D pathology, disordered miRNAs may be important diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for patients with T1D.
Beam offset impact on the polarization in the CLIC beam delivery system
Authors: Usun Simitcioglu Aysegul , Tapan Ilhan , Tomas R. , Barranco J. , Beckmann M.
Published: March 2018

The baseline configuration of the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) foresees an electron beam with 80% polarization at the interaction point (IP) to be measured with an accuracy of 0.1%. The propagation of the polarization through the CLIC beam delivery system (BDS) is investigated here using the BMAD code. The impact of offsets applied both to the beam and the different elements in the CLIC BDS on the polarization at the IP is evaluated.
Wavelength-dependent nonlinear optical properties of 8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-oxo-3-p-tolyl-6H-pyrido[1,2-b][1,2,4]triazine-7,9-dicarbonitrile
Authors: Khanzadeh M. , Dehghanipour M. , Darehkordi A. , Rahmani F.
Published: March 2018

In this study, 8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-oxo-3-p-tolyl-6H-pyrido[1,2-b][1,2,4]triazine-7,9-dicarbonitrile (A) was prepared and then the nonlinear optical properties of this compound, including nonlinear refractive index (n2) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) were measured using Z-scan technique by continuous wave laser diode at wavelengths of 405 and 532 nm. At wavelength of 532 nm, by increasing the incident intensity a switch over from saturable absorption (SA) to reverse saturable absorption (RSA) was observed. The results showed that the nonlinear optical properties of this compound depend on the wavelength. It was also observed that with decreasing incident intensity, the thermal nonlinear refractive coefficient increased accordingly, while its thermo-optic coefficient decreased. In addition, the third-order susceptibility of this compound in wavelength of 532 nm was obtained higher than 405 nm.
AAC Oriental 200 oriental mustard
Authors: Cheng Bifang , Bundrock Tiina , Williams David J.
Published: March 2018

AAC Oriental 200 is a doubled-haploid line. It was produced via microspore culture from the F1 hybrid plants resulting from a cross between the oriental mustard cultivars Cutlass and Forge. AAC Oriental 200 has a higher (7%) yield than the check cultivar Cutlass and similar levels of blackleg and white rust resistance. AAC Oriental 200 is well adapted to all mustard growing areas of western Canada.
Epileptic EEG Identification via LBP Operators on Wavelet Coefficients
Authors: Yuan Qi , Zhou Weidong , Xu Fangzhou , Leng Yan , Wei Dongmei
Published: March 2018

The automatic identification of epileptic electroencephalogram (EEG) signals can give assistance to doctors in diagnosis of epilepsy, and provide the higher security and quality of life for people with epilepsy. Feature extraction of EEG signals determines the performance of the whole recognition system. In this paper, a novel method using the local binary pattern (LBP) based on the wavelet transform (WT) is proposed to characterize the behavior of EEG activities. First, the WT is employed for time–frequency decomposition of EEG signals. After that, the “uniform” LBP operator is carried out on the wavelet-based time–frequency representation. And the generated histogram is regarded as EEG feature vector for the quantification of the textural information of its wavelet coefficients. The LBP features coupled with the support vector machine (SVM) classifier can yield the satisfactory recognition accuracies of 98.88% for interictal and ictal EEG classification and 98.92% for normal, interictal and ictal EEG classification on the publicly available EEG dataset. Moreover, the numerical results on another large size EEG dataset demonstrate that the proposed method can also effectively detect seizure events from multi-channel raw EEG data. Compared with the standard LBP, the “uniform” LBP can obtain the much shorter histogram which greatly reduces the computational burden of classification and enables it to detect ictal EEG signals in real time.
Landstad–Vaes theory for locally compact quantum groups
Authors: Roy Sutanu , Woronowicz Stanisław Lech
Published: March 2018

Landstad–Vaes theory deals with the structure of the crossed product of a [Formula: see text]-algebra by an action of locally compact (quantum) group. In particular, it describes the position of original algebra inside crossed product. The problem was solved in 1979 by Landstad for locally compact groups and in 2005 by Vaes for regular locally compact quantum groups. To extend the result to non-regular groups we modify the notion of [Formula: see text]-dynamical system introducing the concept of weak action of quantum groups on [Formula: see text]-algebras. It is still possible to define crossed product (by weak action) and characterize the position of original algebra inside the crossed product. The crossed product is unique up to an isomorphism. At the end we discuss a few applications.
Polynomial hull of a torus fibered over the circle
Authors: Duval Julien , Lawrence Mark
Published: March 2018

Given a 2-sheeted torus over the circle with winding number 1, we prove that its polynomial hull is a union of 2-sheeted holomorphic discs. Moreover, when the hull is non-degenerate its boundary is a Levi-flat solid torus foliated by such discs.
Distributive and completely distributive lattice extensions of ordered sets
Authors: Morton W. , van Alten C. J.
Published: March 2018

It is known that a poset can be embedded into a distributive lattice if, and only if, it satisfies the prime filter separation property. We describe here a class of “prime filter completions” for posets with the prime filter separation property that are completely distributive lattices generated by the poset and preserve existing finite meets and joins. The free completely distributive lattice generated by a poset can be obtained through such a prime filter completion. We also show that every completely distributive completion of a poset with the prime filter separation property is representable as a canonical extension of the poset with respect to some set of filters and ideals. The connections between the prime filter completions and canonical extensions are described and yield the following corollary: the canonical extension of any distributive lattice is the free completely distributive lattice generated by the lattice. A construction that is a variant of the prime filter completion is given that can be used to obtain the free distributive lattice generated by a poset. In addition, it is shown that every distributive lattice extension of the poset can be represented by such a construction. Finally, we show that a poset with the prime filter separation property and the free distributive lattice generated by it generates the same free completely distributive lattice.
The index of reducibility of powers of a standard parameter ideal
Authors: Cuong Nguyen Tu , Quy Pham Hung , Truong Hoang Le
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we study the index of reducibility of powers of a standard parameter ideal. An explicit formula is proved for the extremal case. We apply the main result to compute Hilbert polynomials of socle ideals of standard parameter ideals.
The fundamental group of an algebra with a strongly simply connected Galois covering
Authors: Castonguay Diane , Chaio Claudia , Trepode Sonia
Published: March 2018

In this work, we prove that if a triangular algebra [Formula: see text] admits a strongly simply connected universal Galois covering for a given presentation, then the fundamental group associated to this presentation is free.
Resistance distances in corona and neighborhood corona networks based on Laplacian generalized inverse approach
Authors: Cao Jinde , Liu Jia-Bao , Wang Shaohui
Published: March 2018

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be two graphs on disjoint sets of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] vertices, respectively. The corona of graphs [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the graph formed from one copy of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] copies of [Formula: see text] where the [Formula: see text]th vertex of [Formula: see text] is adjacent to every vertex in the [Formula: see text]th copy of [Formula: see text]. The neighborhood corona of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the graph obtained by taking one copy of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] copies of [Formula: see text] and joining every neighbor of the [Formula: see text]th vertex of [Formula: see text] to every vertex in the [Formula: see text]th copy of [Formula: see text] by a new edge. In this paper, the Laplacian generalized inverse for the graphs [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is investigated, based on which the resistance distances of any two vertices in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can be obtained. Moreover, some examples as applications are presented, which illustrate the correction and efficiency of the proposed method.
Performance Evaluation for Taiwanese Hospitals by Multi-Activity Network Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Hsiao Bo , Chen Li-Hsueh
Published: March 2018

This study proposes an alternative method for evaluating the overall performance of hospitals in Taiwan. Specifically, three types of hospital activities, medical, pharmaceutical, and rehabilitation, are classified and connected using the parallel method. To bridge the difference between the performance evaluation methods adopted in hospitals and the evaluation method adopted by traditional enterprises, each activity is divided into two serial-type connected processes, which are the production and service processes. This study analyzes the performance of the six processes in three types of activities of three levels of hospitals, namely medical centers, regional hospitals, and district hospitals, by using multi-activity network data envelopment analysis (MNDEA) in Taiwan in 2012. The average overall efficiency was 0.41, while the average estimated efficiency for medical, pharmaceutical, and rehabilitation activities was 0.62, 0.34, and 0.27, respectively. At the hospital level, the average efficiency for medical centers, regional hospitals, and district hospitals was 0.59, 0.49, and 0.35, respectively. The production processes of medical and rehabilitation activities in Taiwan have higher average efficiency than their service processes, while the production processes of pharmaceutical activity have lower average efficiency than its service processes. These results provide a reference for upgrading the operation and management strategies for all hospitals in the country.
Fabrication of Unique and Green Tin(IV) Sulfide/Moss Photocatalyst for Highly Effective Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI)
Authors: Zhang Xia , Wang Yumin , Hou Chao , Lin Xiaohui , Jiang Hongli , Wei Zhenhua
Published: March 2018

We report a simple and green method for fabricating SnS2 modified moss composites for removal of heavy metal (Cr(VI)) considering the fact that the issue of wastewater caused by the discharge of heavy metal is becoming increasingly serious. More importantly, this kind of functional materials that are capable of removing effectively Cr(VI) from wastewater for water purification is quite few on the market. Hence, in the paper, such SnS2 decorated moss photocatalysts for removal of heavy metal (Cr(VI)) were designed and prepared via a simple and green method: chemical bath reaction. The as-designed materials (C@SnS[Formula: see text] integrate the independent properties of moss (with excellent performance in absorption of heavy metal) and SnS2 (with good photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) under visible light irradiation), showing a faster photocatalytic rate than those independent components. The experiment results indicate that more than 98.5% of Cr(VI) was reduced under visible light irradiation for 70[Formula: see text]min, while only 18.2% and 84.4% of Cr(VI) were removed in the presence of C-moss and pure SnS2 at the same condition, respectively. Furthermore, the as-designed C@SnS2 has good recyclability in the removal of Cr(VI). We believe such simple and green method to prepare photocatalyst for wastewater treatment with excellent performance will provide a good platform to design new photocatalytic materials for water purification.
Electrically Conductive Graphene-Based Biodegradable Polymer Composite Films with High Thermal Stability and Flexibility
Authors: Liu Xuejiao , Zou Qinfeng , Wang Tianhao , Zhang Liping
Published: March 2018

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and graphene (GR) powder were added into polylactic acid (PLA)/polypyrrole (PPy) composite films via a low-cost, eco-friendly, low-temperature, and in-situ polymerization synthesis, which obtain novel flexible and conductive polylacticacid-cellulose nanofibril-graphene/polypyrrole (PLA–CNF–GR/PPy) composite films. The CNF was embedded in the PLA matrix to enhance the mechanical properties. Remarkably, when a few GR (1%) powder was added, the tensile strength of composite films increased by 5.6%, respectively, compared with pure PLA–CNF, and increased by 17.6% compared with the PLA. The GR and CNF had a positive influence on mechanical properties of composite films. In addition, the PLA–CNF–GR/PPy composite films exhibited many unique properties when GR powder was introduced, including high thermal stability, and especially electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of the PLA–CNF–GR/PPy composite films increased from 0.12 to 1.06[Formula: see text]S/cm as the content of GR powder increased from 0 to 10%. The PLA–CNF–GR-10/PPy also demonstrated excellent flexible stability, only 7.5% deviation after over 100 bending cycles. Furthermore, we designed and found that the exploration of a flexible solid-state supercapacitor assembled with PLA–CNF–GR-10/PPy composite electrodes had a capacitance of 30[Formula: see text]F/g at a current density of 0.5[Formula: see text]A/g. Although it was not quite as prominent as the capacitance, it provided an innovative means for preparing the conductive composite films. Based on these advantages the PLA–CNF–GR/PPy could be considered as sensors, flexible electrodes, and flexible displays. It also opens a new field of potential applications of biodegradable materials.
Strong stability of an optimal control hybrid system in fed-batch fermentation
Authors: Dong Zhenyu , Tan Bing , Zhang Yuduo , Yuan Jinlong , Feng Enmin , Yin Hongchao , Xiu Zhilong
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we consider a nonlinear hybrid dynamic (NHD) system to describe fed-batch culture where there is no analytical solutions and no equilibrium points. Our goal is to prove the strong stability with respect to initial state for the NHD system. To this end, we construct corresponding linear variational system (LVS) for the solution of the NHD system, also prove the boundedness of fundamental matrix solutions for the LVS. On this basis, the strong stability is proved by such boundedness.
Development of a mathematical model to evaluate the rate of aggregate risk of invasive alien plant species: Fuzzy risk assessment approach
Authors: Peiris H. O. W. , Perera S. S. N. , Chakraverty S. , Ranwala S. M. W.
Published: March 2018

This study presents a novel approach to evaluate the rate of aggregate risk of Invasive Alien Plant Species. Using risk values and grade of importance of weights of risk factors which may reflect invasiveness of plant species are considered. We use Linguistic Ordered Weighted Averaging operator to evaluate the grade of important of weights. Since the risk values and important weights are identified from two different linguistic term sets, fuzzy set theory techniques were used to combine the two sets. The rates obtained from the model were compared with NRA risk levels and the model was validated with data from known and non-invasive species. The model is improved by weighting the risk values of risk factors. The improved model produced significant results and resulted a better tracking system for identifying potential invaders than the conventional risk assessment.
Numerical study on thermal therapy of triple layer skin tissue using fractional bioheat model
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Damor Ramesh S. , Shukla Ajay K.
Published: March 2018

This paper deals with the study of heat transfer and thermal damage in triple layer skin tissue using fractional bioheat model. Here, we consider three types of heating viz. sinusoidal heat flux, constant temperature and constant heat flux heating on skin surface. An implicit finite difference scheme is obtained by approximating fractional time derivative by quadrature formula and space derivative by central difference formula. The temperature profiles and thermal damage in the skin tissue are obtained to study the effect of fractional parameter [Formula: see text] on diffusion process for constant temperature and heat flux boundary heating on skin surface. A parametric study for sinusoidal heat flux at skin surface has also been made.
Multiple bifurcations in an early brain tumor model with piecewise constant arguments
Authors: Kartal Senol
Published: March 2018

In this paper, a differential equation with piecewise constant arguments modeling an early brain tumor growth is considered. The discretization process in the interval [Formula: see text] leads to two-dimensional discrete dynamical system. By using the Schur–Cohn criterion, stability conditions of the positive equilibrium point of the system are obtained. Choosing appropriate bifurcation parameter, the existence of Neimark–Sacker and flip bifurcations is verified. In addition, the direction and stability of the Neimark–Sacker and flip bifurcations are determined by using the normal form and center manifold theory. Finally, the Lyapunov exponents are numerically computed to characterize the complexity of the dynamical behaviors of the system.
MnO2 nanowires-decorated carbon fiber cloth as electrodes for aqueous asymmetric supercapacitor
Authors: Hong Congcong , Wang Xing , Yu Houlin , Wu Huaping , Wang Jianshan , Liu Aiping
Published: March 2018

Manganese dioxide nanowires (MnO2 NWs) anchored on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) were fabricated through a simple hydrothermal reaction and used as integrated electrodes for supercapacitor. The morphology-dependent electrochemical performance of MnO2 NWs was confirmed, yielding good capacitance performance with a high specific capacitance of 3.88[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at a charge–discharge current density of 5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and excellent stability of 91.5% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles. Moreover, the composite electrodes were used to fabricate supercapacitors, which showed a high specific capacitance of 194[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at a charge–discharge current density of 2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and high energy density of 0.108[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at power density of 2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text], foreboding its potential application for high-performance supercapacitor.
Entire Zagreb indices of graphs
Authors: Alwardi Anwar , Alqesmah Akram , Rangarajan R. , Cangul Ismail Naci
Published: March 2018

The Zagreb indices have been introduced in 1972 to explain some properties of chemical compounds at molecular level mathematically. Since then, the Zagreb indices have been studied extensively due to their ease of calculation and their numerous applications in place of the existing chemical methods which needed more time and increased the costs. Many new kinds of Zagreb indices are recently introduced for several similar reasons. In this paper, we introduce the entire Zagreb indices by adding incidency of edges and vertices to the adjacency of the vertices. Our motivation in doing so was the following fact about molecular graphs: The intermolecular forces do not only exist between the atoms, but also between the atoms and bonds, so one should also take into account the relations (forces) between edges and vertices in addition to the relations between vertices to obtain better approximations to intermolecular forces. Exact values of these indices for some families of graphs are obtained and some important properties of the entire Zagreb indices are established.
The M-intersection graph of ideals of a commutative ring
Authors: Heydari F.
Published: March 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring and [Formula: see text] be an [Formula: see text]-module, and let [Formula: see text] be the set of all nontrivial ideals of [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text]-intersection graph of ideals of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is a graph with the vertex set [Formula: see text], and two distinct vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are adjacent if and only if [Formula: see text]. For every multiplication [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text], the diameter and the girth of [Formula: see text] are determined. Among other results, we prove that if [Formula: see text] is a faithful [Formula: see text]-module and the clique number of [Formula: see text] is finite, then [Formula: see text] is a semilocal ring. We denote the [Formula: see text]-intersection graph of ideals of the ring [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] are integers and [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text]-module. We determine the values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text] is perfect. Furthermore, we derive a sufficient condition for [Formula: see text] to be weakly perfect.
Equitable coloring parameters of certain graph classes
Authors: Naduvath Sudev
Published: March 2018

Coloring the vertices of a graph [Formula: see text] subject to given conditions can be considered as a random experiment and corresponding to this experiment, a discrete random variable [Formula: see text] can be defined as the color of a vertex chosen at random, with respect to the given type of coloring of [Formula: see text] and a probability mass function for this random variable can be defined accordingly. A proper coloring [Formula: see text] of a graph [Formula: see text], which assigns colors to the vertices of [Formula: see text] such that the numbers of vertices in any two color classes differ by at most one, is called an equitable coloring of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we study two statistical parameters of certain graphs, with respect to their equitable colorings.
Coloring 3-power of 3-subdivision of subcubic graph
Authors: Wang Fang , Liu Xiaoping
Published: March 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a graph and [Formula: see text] be a positive integer. The [Formula: see text]-subdivision [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the graph obtained from [Formula: see text] by replacing each edge by a path of length [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text]-power [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the graph with vertex set [Formula: see text] in which two vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are adjacent if and only if the distance [Formula: see text] between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] is at most [Formula: see text]. Note that [Formula: see text] is the total graph [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. The chromatic number [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the minimum integer [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text] has a proper [Formula: see text]-coloring. The total chromatic number of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the chromatic number of [Formula: see text]. Rosenfeld [On the total coloring of certain graphs, Israel J. Math. 9 (1971) 396–402] and independently, Vijayaditya [On total chromatic number of a graph, J. London Math. Soc. 2 (1971) 405–408] showed that for a subcubic graph [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. In this note, we prove that for a subcubic graph [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text].
Thermodynamic Analysis and Effects of Replacing HFC by Fourth-Generation Refrigerants in VCR Systems
Authors: Gupta Sachin , Karanam Narasimha Kalyan , Konijeti Ramakrishna , Dasore Abhishek
Published: March 2018

The third-generation refrigerants belonging to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) do not contribute to ozone depletion. However, HFCs are listed as greenhouse gases by Kyoto Protocol because of their relatively high global-warming potential (GWP). At present the research is now mainly focused on refrigerants with zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and less GWP, which are termed as Fourth generation refrigerants. This paper analyzes the advancement in refrigerants, and presented the different options in choosing a refrigerant with respect to international agreements to curb the stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming. The hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) i.e., fourth generation refrigerants are available in limited quantities and also their performance is not completely tested in different applications. Hence this paper aims at assessing the performance of fourth generation refrigerants in terms of their mass flow rate requirement and COP for a specified cooling load and compared with the existing third generation refrigerants in usage. It is found that fourth generation refrigerants COP is low and mass flow rate and power requirements are high. However, HFO1234ze(E) can replace R134a as its performance is almost similar to R134a with an added advantage of low GWP.
Limiting eigenvalue distribution of random matrices of Ihara zeta function of long-range percolation graphs
Authors: Khorunzhiy O.
Published: March 2018

We consider the ensemble of [Formula: see text] real random symmetric matrices [Formula: see text] obtained from the determinant form of the Ihara zeta function associated to random graphs [Formula: see text] of the long-range percolation radius model with the edge probability determined by a function [Formula: see text]. We show that the normalized eigenvalue counting function of [Formula: see text] weakly converges in average as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] to a unique measure that depends on the limiting average vertex degree of [Formula: see text] given by [Formula: see text]. This measure converges in the limit of infinite [Formula: see text] to a shift of the Wigner semi-circle distribution. We discuss relations of these results with the properties of the Ihara zeta function and weak versions of the graph theory Riemann Hypothesis.
A Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogel for Controlled Release of Drug
Authors: Biswas Subharanjan , Datta Lakshmi Priya , Roy Soumyajit
Published: March 2018

An inexpensive, facile, and environmentally benign method has been developed for the preparation of stimuli-responsive and self-healing polyacrylic acid–chitosan-based supramolecular hydrogels. Guanidine hydrochloride is used as the supramolecular crosslinker to form an interconnected network with polyacrylic acid–chitosan complex. Because of the dynamic equilibrium between the hydrogen-bonding sites of the components, the hydrogels were found to be self-healable and sensitive to biochemical-stimulus, such as pH. Controlled loading of drug like doxorubicin and its significant anticancer activity of such hydrogels is worth mentioning.
Examining the influence of tectonic inheritance on the evolution of the North Atlantic using a palinspastic deformable plate reconstruction
Authors: Ady Bridget E. , Whittaker Richard C.
Published: March 2018

To accurately reconstruct plate configurations, there is a need for a quantitative method to calculate the amount and timing of crustal extension independent of any one model for the formation of rifted margins. This paper evaluates the suitability of the various plate modelling methods for structural inheritance studies and proposes a classification scheme for the methods that are currently in use. A palinspastic deformable margin plate kinematic model is most suitable for tectonic inheritance studies, particularly at hyperextended margins. This type of plate model provides a valuable analytical tool that can be used to show the temporal and spatial relationship between pre-existing orogenic structures, evolving rift axes and global plate reorganization events. We use a palinspastic deformable margin plate model for the southern North Atlantic and Labrador Sea to quantitatively restore up to 350 km of Mesozoic–Cenozoic extension. This provides us with a pre-rift restoration of the Proterozoic and Paleozoic terranes and structural lineaments on the conjugate margins that helps us to analyse their relationship to evolving rift axes and global plate reorganization events through time. Interpretation of these modelling results has led to a clearer understanding of the relationship between inherited structural features and their control on rifting and the break-up history.
Crustal structure of the conjugate Equatorial Atlantic Margins, derived by gravity anomaly inversion
Authors: Kusznir Nick J. , Roberts Alan M. , Alvey Andrew D.
Published: March 2018

The crustal structure of the Equatorial Atlantic conjugate margins (South America and West Africa) has been investigated using 3D gravity anomaly inversion, which allows for (1) the elevated geothermal gradient of the lithosphere following rifting and break-up and (2) magmatic addition to the crust during rifting and break-up. It is therefore particularly suitable for the analysis of rifted margins and their associated ocean basins. Maps of crustal thickness and conjugate-margin stretching, derived from gravity anomaly inversion, are used to illustrate how the Equatorial Atlantic opened as a set of stepped rift-transform segments, rather than as a simple orthogonal rifted margin. The influence of the transform faults and associated oceanic fracture zones is particularly clear when the results of the gravity anomaly inversion are combined with a shaded-relief display of the free-air gravity anomaly. A set of crustal cross-sections has been extracted from the results of the gravity inversion along both equatorial margins. These illustrate the crustal structure of both rifted-margin segments and transform-margin segments. The maps and cross-sections are used to delineate crustal type on the margins as (1) inboard, entirely continental, (2) outboard, entirely oceanic and (3) the ocean–continent transition in between where mixed continental and magmatic crust is likely to be present. For a given parameterization of melt generation the amount of magmatic addition within the ocean–continent transition is predicted by the gravity inversion. One of the strengths of the gravity-inversion technique is that these predictions can be made in the absence of any other directly acquired data. On both margins anomalously thick crust is resolved close to a number of oceanic fracture zones. On the South American margin we believe that this thick crust is probably the result of post-break-up magmatism within what was originally normal-thickness oceanic crust. On the West African margin, however, three possible origins are discussed: (1) continental crust extended oceanwards along the fracture zones; (2) oceanic crust magmatically thickened at the fracture zones; and (3) oceanic crust thickened by transpression along the fracture zones. Gravity inversion alone cannot discriminate between these possibilities. The cross-sections also show that, while ‘normal thickness’ oceanic crust (
c.
7 km) predominates regionally, local areas of thinner (
c.
5 km) and thicker (
c.
10 km) oceanic crust are also present along both margins. Finally, using maps of crustal thickness and thinning factor as input to plate reconstructions, the regional palaeogeography of the Equatorial Atlantic during and after break-up is displayed at 10 Ma increments.
International Negotiation: Some Conceptual Developments
Authors: O'Neill Barry
Published: March 2018

Negotiation is a central activity in international affairs, but it tends to be studied indirectly through particular cases. Considering it as a subject in itself brings out some important principles. The general literature on negotiation falls into five categories: advice from practitioners, studies of particular cases or contexts, statistical tests of data, psychological theories with experiments, and game theory models. Each approach complements the others, but there has been too little interaction among them. Game models, in particular, are important for the international context, which involves more planning and more experienced actors. They resist the generalizations to which other approaches are prone, often showing that whether a move is well-advised or mistaken depends on some easy-to-overlook detail.