bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegetation, Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape
Authors: Odadi Wilfred O. , Fargione Joe , Rubenstein Daniel I.
Published: February 2017

Rangelands are vital for wildlife conservation and socio‐economic well‐being, but many face widespread degradation because in part of poor grazing management practices. Planned grazing management, typically involving time‐controlled rotational livestock grazing, is widely touted as a tool for promoting sustainable rangelands. However, real‐world assessments of its efficacy have been lacking in communal pastoral landscapes globally, and especially in Africa. We performed landscape‐scale assessment of the effects of planned grazing on selected vegetation, wildlife, and cattle attributes across wide‐ranging communally managed pastoral rangelands in northern Kenya. We found that planned grazing enhanced vegetation condition through a 17% increase in normalized difference vegetation index, 45–234% increases in herbaceous vegetation foliar cover, species richness and diversity, and a 70% reduction in plant basal gap. In addition, planned grazing increased the presence (44%) and species richness (53%) of wild ungulates and improved cattle weight gain (>71%) during dry periods when cattle were in relatively poor condition. These changes occurred relatively rapidly (within 5 years) and despite grazing incursion incidents and higher livestock stocking rates in planned grazing areas. These results demonstrate, for the first time in Africa, the positive effects of planned grazing implementation in communal pastoral rangelands. These improvements can have broad implications for biodiversity conservation and pastoral livelihoods. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating Sediment Delivery Ratios for Grassed Waterways using WEPP
Authors: Singh Harsh Vardhan , Panuska John , Thompson Anita M.
Published: February 2017

Grassed waterways (GWWs) transport sediment and nutrients from upland source areas to receiving waters. Watershed planners have a critical need to understand GWW sediment delivery to optimally target source area management practices. Better physically based tools are needed to estimate sediment delivery by GWWs. This study developed several distributed sediment delivery ratio (SDR) regressions for GWWs using the process‐based Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model to provide simple equations to estimate sediment delivery for planning applications. Water Erosion Prediction Project was calibrated and validated for runoff and sediment yield for large 30.2‐ha and smaller 5·7‐ha nested watersheds with terraces and a common GWW outlet. A crop rotation of corn, oat and alfalfa and fall tillage using chisel plow were used in the nested watersheds. A hypothetical management case without terraces using corn, oat and alfalfa rotation with chisel plow as fall tillage was also evaluated for the 5·7‐ha watershed and the GWW. The length, slope, Manning's roughness coefficient and infiltration rate for the GWW were varied and SDRs calculated for 30 representative (in terms of daily rainfall) days over a 20‐year period of simulated climate. Regressions were developed for the existing (terraced) and hypothetical (non‐terraced) management scenarios for early (April–July), late (August–October) and full (April–October) growing seasons. Equations developed for the non‐terrace watershed had higher R2 values compared to the terraced watershed suggesting that channel and rainfall parameters were better able to explain the variation in SDR for the non‐terraced watershed. Manning's roughness coefficient was the most significant parameter for predicting SDR for both the terraced and non‐terraced watersheds. The equations developed here can be used to estimate SDRs for watersheds that are drained via GWWs having similar physical characteristics: slope (1–5%), Mannings's roughness coefficient (0·1–0·3), length (0·15–1 km) and infiltration rate (0·025–25 mm h−1). The SDRs can be used to estimate sediment yield, which is an essential element for making land management decisions but is rarely measured. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Decline of the Lake Tana (Ethiopia) Fisheries: Causes and Possible Solutions
Authors: Dejen Eshete , Anteneh Wassie , Vijverberg Jacobus
Published: February 2017

This article reviews major findings of a vast body of scientific studies on the ecology of the fish community and the fisheries in Lake Tana over the past 25 years. There are three commercially important fish taxa in the lake: Nile tilapia, African catfish andLabeobarbusspp. The catch per unit of effort for all the three taxa declined during the last two decades: total catch 177 kg/trip in 1993,140 kg/trip in 2001 and 56 kg/trip in 2010. But the most drastic reduction was observed for theLabeobarbusspecies: 63 kg/trip in 1993, 28 kg/trip in 2001 and only 6 kg/trip in 2010. Most probably, both recruitment overfishing and increased recession farming contributed to the decline. The migratingLabeobarbusspp. were heavily affected by irrigation and dam constructions causing destruction of breeding and nursery habitats in the spawning rivers. We conclude that implementation of the fisheries legislation gazetted in 2003 and the lake management plan adopted in 2015 is crucial to prevent the collapse of the Lake Tana fishery. Suspended silt from erosion and land degradation, caused by deforestation in the catchment, increased the turbidity of the lake water. The current Maximum Sustainable Yield is approximately 10–20 kg ha−1 y−1, which is low compared to other African lakes. The low productivity seems to be caused both by both light limitation and nutrient limitation. Soil erosion is probably limiting primary production. Appropriate land use management and soil conservation around Lake Tana, such as afforestation and implementing zero‐grazing practices, are urgently needed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stage‐discharge relationship in tidal channels
Authors: Kearney William S. , Mariotti Giulio , Deegan Linda A. , Fagherazzi Sergio
Published: February 2017

Long‐term records of the flow of water through tidal channels are essential to constrain the budgets of sediments and biogeochemical compounds in salt marshes. Statistical models which relate discharge to water level allow the estimation of such records from more easily obtained records of water stage in the channel. Here, we compare four different types of stage‐discharge models, each of which captures different characteristics of the stage‐discharge relationship. We estimate and validate each of these models on a 2‐month long time series of stage and discharge obtained with an acoustic Doppler current profiler in a salt marsh channel. We find that the best performance is obtained by models that account for the nonlinear and time‐varying nature of the stage‐discharge relationship. Good performance can also be obtained from a simplified version of these models, which captures nonlinearity and nonstationarity without the complexity of the fully nonlinear or time‐varying models.
Evaluation of the combined use of narrow band imaging and high‐speed imaging to discriminate laryngeal lesions
Authors: Volgger Veronika , Felicio Axelle , Lohscheller Jörg , Englhard Anna S. , Al‐Muzaini Hanan , Betz Christian S. , Schuster Maria E.
Published: February 2017

Background and Objective

Laryngeal lesions are usually investigated by microlaryngoscopy, biopsy, and histopathology. This study aimed to evaluate the combined use of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) and High‐Speed Imaging (HSI) in the differentiation of glottic lesions in awake patients.

Study Design

Prospective diagnostic study.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐six awake patients with 41 glottic lesions were investigated with both NBI and HSI, and the suspected diagnoses were compared to the histopathological results of tissue biopsies taken during subsequent microlaryngoscopies. Of the 41 lesions, 28 were primary lesions and 13 recurrent lesions after previous laryngeal pathologies.

Results

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in the differentiation between benign/premalignant and malignant lesions with both NBI and HSI accounted to 100.0%, 79.4%, 50.0%, and 100.0%. Sensitivities and specificities were 100.0% and 85.7% for HSI alone, and 100.0% and 79.4% for NBI alone. Regarding only primary lesions the results were generally better with sensitivities and specificities of 100% and 81% for NBI, 100% and 84.2% for HSI and 100% and 85.7% for the combination of both methods, respectively.

Conclusion

NBI and HSI both seem to be promising adjunct tools in the differentiation of various laryngeal lesions in awake patients with high sensitivities. Specificities, however, were moderate but could be increased when using NBI and HSI in combination in a subgroup of patients with only primary lesions. Although both methods still have limitations they might ameliorate the evaluation of suspicious laryngeal lesions in the future and could possibly spare patients from repeated invasive tissue biopsies. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:609–618, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Entrapment of polyaspartic acid on silica nanoparticle for self‐healing coatings
Authors: Qian B. , Song Z. W. , Hao L. , Fan H. Q.
Published: February 2017

The present work studies a self‐healing coating based on nanocontainers entrapped polyaspartic acid as corrosion inhibitor. To produce the nanocontainers the layer by layer deposition procedure was used where natural polyelectrolyte chitosan (CS) and polyaspartic acid (PASP) layers were alternatively deposited on SiO2 nanoparticles surface for obtaining a final structure of SiO2/CS/PASP/CS/PASP. The synthesized nanocontainers have been analyzed using zeta‐potential measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. Zeta potential results demonstrate the CS or PASP layer adsorbed on the nanoparticles upon each added layer by electrostatic interaction. The anticorrosion performance of the self‐healing coatings was tested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The results showed excellent anticorrosion performance in self‐healing coating, indicating promising practical application in the field of organic coating.
High temperature corrosion and electrochemical behavior of HVOF sprayed Inconel 718 coating using an innovative device: HTCMD
Authors: Galedari S. A. , Jazi M. S. , Azarmi F. , Wang Y. C.
Published: February 2017

Inconel 718 is one of the most commonly used nickel‐based superalloy materials in petroleum industry due to its high temperature mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Generally, corrosion resistance assessment of materials at high temperature condition is a challenging task and most of the previous studies in this area were based on estimation of weight‐loss in the sample, which cannot provide accurate results, and it could be very time‐consuming. In this study, a high temperature corrosion measurement device (HTCMD) was used to evaluate electrochemical behavior of HVOF deposited Inconel 718 coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at elevated temperatures. EIS and potentiodynamic polarization results revealed very low corrosion rate of the Inconel 718 coating. Materials characterization by SEM, XRD, and EDS indicated formation of chromium oxide rich unstable passive layer resulted in localized protection of superalloy material that was not sufficient to provide corrosion protection for the entire surface, during the service at high temperature condition.
Recent advantages in laser fabrication of micro‐channel heat exchangers
Authors: Mehrpouya M. , Emamian S.
Published: February 2017

Micro‐channel heat exchangers transfer more heat because of having a greater surface area compared to the conventional generation. This principle advantage can be applied widely in various industries for waste heat recovery purposes. Laser micromachining is a unique fabrication process, which presents some challenges. The main drawback of laser processes is introduction of residual stresses, which create distortion on the surface of heat‐affected areas. This study investigates some recent improvement in the fabrication methods of micro‐channel heat exchangers and concludes the strategies to control the distortion.
Microbial diversity of a full‐scale UASB reactor applied to poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment: integration of 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Authors: Delforno Tiago Palladino , Lacerda Júnior Gileno Vieira , Noronha Melline F. , Sakamoto Isabel K. , Varesche Maria Bernadete A. , Oliveira Valéria M.
Published: February 2017

The 16S rRNA gene amplicon and whole‐genome shotgun metagenomic (WGSM) sequencing approaches were used to investigate wide‐spectrum profiles of microbial composition and metabolic diversity from a full‐scale UASB reactor applied to poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. The data were generated by using MiSeq 2 × 250 bp and HiSeq 2 × 150 bp Illumina sequencing platforms for 16S amplicon and WGSM sequencing, respectively. Each approach revealed a distinct microbial community profile, with Pseudomonas and Psychrobacter as predominant genus for the WGSM dataset and Clostridium and Methanosaeta for the 16S rRNA gene amplicon dataset. The virome characterization revealed the presence of two viral families with Bacteria and Archaea as host, Myoviridae, and Siphoviridae. A wide functional diversity was found with predominance of genes involved in the metabolism of acetone, butanol, and ethanol synthesis; and one‐carbon metabolism (e.g., methanogenesis). Genes related to the acetotrophic methanogenesis pathways were more abundant than methylotrophic and hydrogenotrophic, corroborating the taxonomic results that showed the prevalence of the acetotrophic genus Methanosaeta. Moreover, the dataset indicated a variety of metabolic genes involved in sulfur, nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus cycles, with many genera able to act in all cycles. BLAST analysis against Antibiotic Resistance Genes Database (ARDB) revealed that microbial community contained 43 different types of antibiotic resistance genes, some of them were associated with growth chicken promotion (e.g., bacitracin, tetracycline, and polymyxin).
Chronotype differences in timing of energy and macronutrient intakes: A population‐based study in adults
Authors: Maukonen Mirkka , Kanerva Noora , Partonen Timo , Kronholm Erkki , Tapanainen Heli , Kontto Jukka , Männistö Satu
Published: February 2017

Objective

To examine the association between chronotype and timing of energy and macronutrient intakes in adults.

Methods

The study sample included 1,854 participants from the National FINRISK 2007 and FINDIET 2007 studies, aged 25 to 74 years. Diet was assessed with 48‐hour dietary recalls. Chronotype was assessed with a shortened version of Horne and Östberg's Morningness–eveningness Questionnaire. Associations between chronotype and intakes of energy and macronutrients in the morning (by 10 am) and in the evening (after 8 pm) were analyzed with linear regression and ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test.

Results

In the morning, evening types had lower energy and macronutrient intakes (except for sucrose of which they had a higher intake) than morning types (P < 0.05), while in the evening, evening types had higher intakes of energy, sucrose, fat, and saturated fatty acids than morning types (P < 0.05). On the weekend, chronotype differences in evening intakes of energy, sucrose, and fat intake were more pronounced, and evening types had more eating occasions and more irregular meal times than morning types.

Conclusions

Postponed energy and macronutrient intake timing of evening types with unfavorable dietary patterns may put them at higher risk of obesity and metabolic disturbances in the future.
Appetite self‐regulation: Environmental and policy influences on eating behaviors
Authors: Schwartz Marlene B. , Just David R. , Chriqui Jamie F. , Ammerman Alice S.
Published: February 2017

Objective

Appetite regulation is influenced by the environment, and the environment is shaped by food‐related policies. This review summarizes the environment and policy research portion of an NIH Workshop (Bethesda, MD, 2015) titled “Self‐Regulation of Appetite—It's Complicated.”

Methods

In this paper, we begin by making the case for why policy is an important tool in efforts to improve nutrition, and we introduce an ecological framework that illustrates the multiple layers that influence what people eat. We describe the state of the science on how policies influence behavior in several key areas: the federal food programs, schools, child care, food and beverage pricing, marketing to youth, behavioral economics, and changing defaults. Next, we propose novel approaches for multidisciplinary prevention and intervention strategies to promote breastfeeding, and examine interactions between psychology and the environment.

Results

Policy and environmental change are the most distal influences on individual‐level appetite regulation, yet these strategies can reach many people at once by changing the environment in which food choices are made. We note the need for more research to understand compensatory behavior, reactance, and how to effectively change social norms.

Conclusions

To move forward, we need a more sophisticated understanding of how individual psychological and biological factors interact with the environment and policy influences.
Introduction to special issue: Self‐regulation of appetite—it's complicated
Authors: Young‐Hyman Deborah
Published: February 2017

Objective

A meeting of multidisciplinary biobehavioral scientists and National Institutes of Health (NIH) program staff was convened by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Director, NIH to examine mechanisms associated with humans' ability to self‐regulate appetite and appetitive behavior.

Methods

Based upon prior discussions of the NIH Obesity Research Task Force Behavioral Phenotyping Work Group, the premise was adopted that, in modern society, multiple factors on multiple levels interact to create circumstances wherein self‐control of appetite is difficult, leading to overconsumption of unhealthy foods versus healthy eating patterns, contributing to our current levels of obesity. Through presentations and group discussions, the panel examined how foundational processes/mechanisms directly and indirectly affect appetitive behavior and how these processes can be manipulated to affect food intake and thereby weight. The meeting identified evidence‐based mechanisms with the potential to impact self‐regulation of appetite and appetitive states (hunger, satiety, food wanting, restraint, reward) and associated behaviors such as overconsumption, eating in the absence of hunger, food seeking, and decision‐making that could inform novel weight intervention strategies in free‐living, nonlaboratory settings.

Conclusion

The three summary papers contained in this issue represent the synthesis of the material presented at the meeting and the panel's recommendations on how existing evidence regarding mechanisms and pathways to appetitive behavior can be used to inform future research and novel prevention and intervention strategies to impact prevalence of obesity.
Psychological and neural contributions to appetite self‐regulation
Authors: Stoeckel Luke E. , Birch Leann L. , Heatherton Todd , Mann Traci , Hunter Christine , Czajkowski Susan , Onken Lisa , Berger Paige K. , Savage Cary R.
Published: February 2017

Objective

This paper reviews the state of the science on psychological and neural contributions to appetite self‐regulation in the context of obesity.

Methods

Three content areas (neural systems and cognitive functions; parenting and early childhood development; and goal setting and goal striving) served to illustrate different perspectives on the psychological and neural factors that contribute to appetite dysregulation in the context of obesity. Talks were initially delivered at an NIH workshop consisting of experts in these three content areas, and then content areas were further developed through a review of the literature.

Results

Self‐regulation of appetite involves a complex interaction between multiple domains, including cognitive, neural, social, and goal‐directed behaviors and decision‐making. Self‐regulation failures can arise from any of these factors, and the resulting implications for obesity should be considered in light of each domain. In some cases, self‐regulation is amenable to intervention; however, this does not appear to be universally true, which has implications for both prevention and intervention efforts.

Conclusions

Appetite regulation is a complex, multifactorial construct. When considering its role in the obesity epidemic, it is advisable to consider its various dimensions together to best inform prevention and treatment efforts.
Influence of porosity and aspect ratio of nanoparticles on the interface modification of glass/epoxy composites
Authors: Najafi Hamideh , Zadhoush Ali , Talebi Zahra , Rezazadeh Tehrani Sayed Pedram
Published: February 2017

Various nanostructured particles including colloidal silica nanoparticles, mesoporous silica aerogel, silicon carbide nanoparticles, and nanowhiskers were used to modify the glass fibers surface. The influence of porosity and aspect ratio of nanoscale particles on the mechanical properties of modified glass fiber/epoxy composite samples were investigated. Fiber surfaces treated with nanoscale particles exhibited much higher coefficient of friction and roughness than unmodified fiber surfaces. Surface modified composites by silica aerogel showed the maximum increase in interfacial shear strength (IFSS) by 31%. An increase of 61% in shear punch stress was obtained by samples treated with silica aerogel and 27% for samples treated with silica nanoparticles. Improvement of 23% and 63% in tensile and flexural strength of composite samples treated with 0.5 wt% of SiC nanowhiskers and 7% and 18% for samples treated with the same content of SiC nanoparticles were observed. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3073–3080, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of graphite nanoplatelets on melt drawing and properties of PCL/PLA microfibrillar composites
Authors: Kelnar Ivan , Kratochvíl Jaroslav , Fortelný Ivan , Kaprálková Ludmila , Zhigunov Alexander , Nevoralová Martina
Published: February 2017

The study deals with upgrading of a poly (ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based biodegradable material using graphite nanoplatelets‐aided in‐situ formation of reinforcing microfibers, that is, preparation of a microfibrillar composite (MFC) based on the PCL/poly lactic acid (PLA) 80/20 blend. Recently, we have found that effective melt‐drawing is impossible due to flow instability and that PLA fibrils formation is only possible with addition of high‐aspect‐ratio nanofillers (NF), such as momtmorillonite or halloysite. This work concerns modification of the PCL/PLA blend with graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs). Results indicate that relatively large GNPs excellently support stability of extrusion which leads to better drawability in comparison with other NF. Hence, reinforcement of the components by GNP and fibrils formation accompanied by increased PLA crystallinity lead to a biocompatible and biodegradable material with good performance. Increased PLA crystallinity due to its annealing during subsequent processing and substantial suppression of cold crystallization is another advantage of the MFC concept in the PCL/PLA system. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3147–3156, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
A comprehensive feasibility study on the properties of LDPE‐Ag nanocomposites for food packaging applications
Authors: Bumbudsanpharoke Nattinee , Lee Wooseok , Ko Seonghyuk
Published: February 2017

The intense recent interest in active food packaging with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is attributed to the extraordinary efficacies of the AgNPs against a broad‐spectrum of food‐borne pathogens. A comprehensive study of silver nanocomposites was conducted to identify the effect of the AgNPs on the properties of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) for food packaging applications. The investigation included the study of the optical, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties, as well as antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Upon addition of AgNPs in LDPE, LDPE‐AgNP composite films became less transparent and more yellowish because of surface plasmon resonance vibrations of the AgNPs. The SEM, EDS, and TEM results revealed that spherical AgNPs were distributed on both surface and interior of the LDPE film. While these well‐dispersed AgNPs enhanced the barrier properties of LDPE for both oxygen and water vapor, the incorporation of AgNPs impinged onto the thermal properties by reducing the thermal stability and the melting enthalpy of the LDPE film. In addition, LDPE‐AgNP composite film showed effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings suggest that the LDPE‐AgNP composite film can be feasibly used in food packaging to preserve the food quality and extend the shelf‐life of the product. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3178–3186, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Elevation of SHARPIN Protein Levels in Prostate Adenocarcinomas Promotes Metastasis and Impairs Patient Survivals
Authors: Huang Hai , Du Tao , Zhang Yiming , Lai Yiming , Li Kaiwen , Fan Xinxing , Zhu Dingjun , Lin Tianxin , Xu Kewei , Huang Jian , Liu Leyuan , Guo Zhenghui
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND

SHARPIN, SHANK‐associated RH domain interacting protein, associates with a linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) to regulate inflammation and immunity. It has been reported that SHARPIN is highly expressed in several human tumors including ovarian cancer and liver cancer. We found that SHARPIN is also highly expressed in prostate cancer cell lines of DU145, LNCAP, and PC‐3. Suppression of SHARPIN caused an inhibition of NF‐κB signal and decreases in tumorigenesis of cultured cells in NOD/SCID mouse model. Overexpression of SHARPIN in prostate cancer cells promoted cell growth and reduced apoptosis through NF‐kB/ERK/Akt pathway and apoptosis‐associated proteins.

METHODS

We analyzed the expression of SHARPIN in prostate cancer tissues from 95 patients and its relationship with other clinical characteristics associated with PCA malignancies and patient survivals, and examined the impacts of SHARPIN suppression with siRNA on proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and expression levels of MMP‐9 of prostate cancer cells and metastasis to lung by these cells in nude mice.

RESULTS

High levels of SHARPIN were associated with high malignancies of PCA and predicted shorter survivals of PCA patients. Suppression of SHARPIN impaired cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion and reduced levels of MMP‐9 in prostate cancer cells and reduced the size of metastatic lung tumors induced by these cells in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

SHARPIN enhances the metastasis of prostate cancer and impair patient survivals. Prostate 77:718–728, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphology of Fronto-temporal Regions and Word Generation in First-episode Schizophrenia
Authors: Kasparek Tomas , Kucerova Hana , Prikryl Radovan , Ceskova Eva , Mikl Michal , Krupa Petr
Published: February 2017

Fronto-temporal (FT) dysfunction is a characteristic feature of schizophrenia. We tried to find features of brain morphology that are connected with the solving of Verbal Fluency Task (VFT). We hypothesized that verbal fluency results correlate positively with gray and white matter volume in fronto-temporal areas. 25 first-episode schizophrenia men were tested using VFT. Brain morphology–regional gray and white matter volume was analyzed using optimized voxel-based morphometry. Correlations between VFT score and brain morphology were performed using General linear mode — regression analysis. There was a significant positive correlation of regional gray matter and VFT score in the posterior part of superior temporal gyrus, on the borders with middle temporal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule. As for the regional white matter volume there was one significant cluster in the depth of the inferior frontal gyrus, pars triangularis. The ability to generate context appropriate words is not only the result of abnormal FT co-operation or ability to “hire” prefrontal activity when necessary, but also stems from the condition of relevant neuronal networks.
Separately Administered Selective Dopamine D1 and D2 Antagonists do not Affect Performance Accuracy in a Conditional Response Task in Rats
Authors: Moustgaard Anette , Lind Nanna M. , Hau Jann
Published: February 2017

The acute effects of separately administered selective dopamine D1 and D2 receptor antagonists–SCH 23390 and raclopride, respectively–on the performance of a conditional response task were tested in a preliminary (small group, n = 6) study in rats. The effects of four doses of each drug (SCH 23390: 0–0.1 mg/kg; raclopride: 0–0.4 mg/kg) were tested consecutively in the same rats, using blinded Latin square designs. The conditional response task was performed in T-maze using tactile discrimination stimuli and spatial responses. The number of errors was not affected by the dopamine antagonists. However, the average response latency was significantly increased after administration of the highest doses of SCH 23390 and raclopride compared to saline. it seems that antagonism at either D1 or D2 receptors alone is not sufficient to produce impairments in performance accuracy using the present conditional response task.
Human EEG Potentials before Express Saccades
Authors: Moiseeva Vika V. , Shulgovsky Valerii V. , Slavutskaya Maria V.
Published: February 2017

Using EEG backward averaging method there were fast negative and positive potentials found before regular short latency saccades and express-saccades. These potentials can reflect different stages of presaccadic preparation which include processes of saccadic system release of central fixation, attention disengagement from the central stimulus, decision making and activation of premotor cortical and subcortical structures. There were two schemes of visual stimulus presentation used–“step” and with a 200-ms “gap”. Analysis of parameters and spatiotemporal dynamics of potentials allowed us to assume that express-saccades appear in conditions when the previously selected motor programm and prediction of the target location coincides with the real coordinates of the target. At that optimum preparation of neuronal structure and a high level of readiness and attention are necessary. Decreasing an express-saccade latency can be the result of participation of main oculomotor areas of motor and saccadic planning in express-saccades initiation, particularly by direct signal transferring from the cortex to the saccadic brainstem generator, by-passing superior colliculus. Moreover, to successfully start initiation process and generate express-saccades, release from central fixation and attention disengagement has to begin in advance.
Chaos, Cognition and Disordered Brain
Authors: Bob Petr
Published: February 2017

Important feature of chaotic transitions is a self-organization that presents a spontaneous order arising in a system when certain parameters of the system reach critical values. Recent findings suggest that these principles may implicate new concepts for understanding consciousness and cognition. Self-organization may produce random-like processes that could explain “randomness” in neural synchronization related to cognitive functions and consciousness, and also in mental disorganization related to psychopathological phenomena.
Dissociative States and Chaotic Patterns of Electrodermal Activity During Associative Experiment
Authors: Bob Petr , Susta Marek , Glaslova Katerina , Chladek Jan
Published: February 2017

A dynamic concept of schizophrenia linked to the theory of dissociated complexes was experimentally demonstrated by Jung in “The Psychology of the Dementia Praecox”. According to him, during schizophrenia the psyche is split-off into a plurality of autonomous complexes and the whole personality is pathologically disintegrated. This pathological disintegration is frequently observed in schizophrenic associations that display “chaotic randomness”. The “chaotic randomness” does not mean a true randomness because schizophrenic associations are not without underlying order and causality. An important aspect of schizophrenic dissociation is an extreme subjective sensitivity. These two signs of schizophrenic associations are analogical to known characteristics of chaotic nonlinear dynamical systems. The hypothesis tested in the present study is that neural chaos, calculated from electrodermal activity (EDA), during rest and word-association process is more prominent in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy controls. To test the hypothesis we have measured EDA during the experiment performed in 25 schizophrenic patients and 21 healthy control subjects. Results of nonlinear and statistical analysis indicate that the neural chaos characterized by positive largest Lyapunov exponents during rest and the word-association process is significantly higher in the schizophrenic patients. These data suggest that pseudo-randomness of schizophrenic associations and increased sensitivity related to dissociative states might be linked to the chaotic neural dynamics.
The Necessity for Developing Skill at Mind-Process Observation, and a Suggested Methodology
Authors: Macdonald Copthorne
Published: February 2017

Ever since introspectionism was abandoned early in this century, the scientific community has shown little interest in training people to observe the functioning of their own minds with greater than ordinary clarity. Thus, despite advanced academic training and much knowledge about physical phenomena and processes, few consciousness theorists or experimentalists have any special expertise at closely observing mental artifacts and processes. Without observational clarity about the mental, how is that web of physical/mental correlations going to be mapped?
Religious Education As a Prevention of Learned Helplessness and Depression: Theoretical Consideration
Authors: Rotenberg Vadim S.
Published: February 2017

In comparison to the expected outcome of the long lasting suppression and persecution, Jews during centuries demonstrated the relative resistance to stress, learned helplessness and depression.

This article suggests that this resistance may be related to the peculiarity of the traditional Jewish religious education that stimulates intellectual search activity as well as right-hemispheric polysemantic thinking in equilibrium with the left hemispheric verbal thinking.
Default Mode Network Connectivity Differences in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Authors: Koçak Orhan Murat , Kale Emre , Çiçek Metehan
Published: February 2017

Recent evidence suggests that the brain intrinsic activity during rest might be as significant as task evoked activities and consumes considerable energy linked to neural signaling processes. We performed an fMRI study recently aiming to compare the differences in brain activity between patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy volunteers during a simple suppression paradigm. We hypothesized that the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder would show default mode network (DMN) connectivity dissociations from healthy individuals. OcD patients had higher connectivity (p < 0.05) than controls between right inferior parietal lobe (IPL) and left ventral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC).
Effectiveness of Cognitive Retraining After Brain Trauma—Case Studies
Authors: Nehra Ashima , Bajpai Swati
Published: February 2017

India has a rather unenviable distinction of having the highest rate of head injury in the world. In India, more than 100,000 lives are lost every year with over 1 million suffering from serious head injuries. Traumatic brain injury is a complex injury with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities. The impact on a person and his or her family can be devastating. Cognitive difficulties are very common in people with traumatic brain injury. Studies have shown that cognitive retraining plays a crucial role in improving the cognitive and basic functioning in these patients. We report three confirmed cases of effective cognitive retraining in moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.
Probability Forecast in Different Types of Behavior and in Rem Sleep in Frame of Search Activity Concept
Authors: Rotenberg Vadim
Published: February 2017

The search activity concept proposed a new classification of the types of behavior according to the adaptation to the environment. In this article I have explained the story of the creation of this concept and discuss the probability forecasts of the outcomes of activity in different types of behavior and in REM sleep dreams. The direction of search can be changed if the outcome of activity does not correspond to the forecast. Stereotyped behavior uses habitual skills and algorithms with a definite forecast of the results. Chaotic (panic) behavior does not include monitoring of the results of activity. It determines the unreasonable fluctuations of the direction of activity independent of its outcome without probability forecast. Finally after painful failures it can lead to the renunciation of activity where the forecast of the positive results of activity is on the zero level. In REM sleep dreams subject is separated from the surrounding environment and the “failures” of the virtual activity are not dangerous for the subject. The process of activity by itself is more important than its direction and its outcome. For this reason search activity in dreams imitates chaotic activity in wakefulness however without its negative outcome and after awakening subject is ready to perform normal search activity.
Children’s Development and Parental Input: Evidence From the UK Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Hernández-Alava Mónica , Popli Gurleen
Published: February 2017

In this study, we use the UK Millennium Cohort Study to estimate a dynamic factor model of child development. Our model follows the children from birth until 7 years of age and allows for both cognitive and noncognitive abilities in children. We find a significant self-productivity effect in both cognitive and noncognitive development, as well as some evidence of dynamic dependence across different abilities. The activities that parents carry out with children at home (parental investment) have a significant effect on children’s development; we find substantial evidence of two distinct latent parental investment variables with differential effects across the two abilities.
Gestión diferencial de recursos humanos: una revisión e integración de la literatura
Authors: Rivero Andrea Gabriela , Dabos Guillermo Enrique
Published: February 2017

Desde finales del siglo xx, la diferenciación de la fuerza laboral emerge como un desarrollo teórico central para la gestión estratégica de recursos humanos. La diferenciación se fundamenta en el mayor valor que ciertos empleados aportan a la organización. A partir de una revisión bibliográfica sobre gestión diferencial de recursos humanos, se examinan los criterios utilizados para diferenciar y gestionar estratégicamente a distintos grupos de empleados. Como resultado, se identifican dos perspectivas dominantes que explican la base de la diferenciación, destacándose que un empleado puede ser valioso por sus características individuales o por el puesto de trabajo ocupado. De esta forma, este artículo integra ambas perspectivas, que permanecían demasiado disociadas en la literatura, y plantea nuevos interrogantes para futuras investigaciones.
Approximation and regularization of arbitrary functions in Hilbert spaces by the Lasry–Lions method
Authors: Attouch H. , Aze D.
Published: February 2017

The Lasry–Lions regularization method is extended to arbitrary functions. In particular, to any proper lower semicontinuous function

f: X→ ℝ ∪\{ + ∞\}

defined on a Hilbert space

X

and which is quadratically minorized (
i.e
.

f(x)\: ≧ −\:c\:(1\: + \left\|x\right\|^{2})

for some

c≧0

), is associated a sequence of differentiable functions with Lipschitz continuous derivatives which approximate

f

from below. Some variants of the method are considered including the case of non quadratic kernels.

La méthode de régularisation de Lasry-Lions est étendue à des fonctions quelconques. En particulier, à toute fonction

f: X → ℝ∪\{ + ∞\}

semicontinue inférieurement propre sur un espace de Hilbert

X

et qui est quadratiquement minorée

f(x)\: ≧−\:c\:(1\: + \left\|x\right\|^{2})

pour un

c ≧ 0

) est associée une suite de fonctions différentiables à dérivées lipschitziennes qui approche

f

par valeurs inférieures. Quelques variantes de la méthode sont considérées, notamment le cas de noyaux non quadratiques.
Semidifferentials, quadratic forms and fully nonlinear elliptic equations of second order
Authors: Crandall Michael G.
Published: February 2017

We study the function

u(x)–v(y)−\frac{\mathrm{\lambda }}{2}\left\|x–y\right\|^{2}

to second order, when

u

is u. s. c. and

v

is l. s. c., near a point

(\hat x,\hat y)

where the maximum is attained. We obtain a sharpening of a result of P.-L. Lions and H. Ishii which implies comparison results for fully nonlinear elliptic equations of second order.

On étudie au second ordre la fonction

u(x)–v(y)−\frac{\mathrm{\lambda }}{2}\left\|x–y\right\|^{2}

, quand

u

est s. c. s.,

v

est s. c. i., au voisinage d’un point

(\hat x,\hat y)

où elle atteint son maximum. On en déduit notamment des résultats de comparaison pour des équations elliptiques non linéaires du second ordre.
An asymptotic expansion for the solution of the generalized Riemann problem. Part 2 : application to the equations of gas dynamics
Authors: Bourgeade A. , Le Floch Ph. , Raviart P.A.
Published: February 2017

We apply to the gas dynamics equations the general method of approximation for the generalized Riemann problem proposed by Le Floch-Raviart [6]. We both consider the equations of gas dynamics in Lagrangian coordinates in slab symmetry with a source term and the equations in Eulerian coordinates in plane, cylindrical or spherical symmetry. Explicit formulae are derived for the first order approximation of the solution of the generalized Riemann problem. Such an approximate solution may be easily used to construct a second order version of the numerical Godunov method.

Nous appliquons au système de la dynamique des gaz la méthode générale proposée par Le Floch-Raviart [6] pour l’approximation du problème de Riemann généralisé. Nous considérons à la fois les équations de la dynamique des gaz en coordonnées lagrangiennes en symétrie plane avec terme de source et les équations en coordonnées eulériennes en symétrie plane, cylindrique ou sphérique. Des formules explicites sont obtenues pour l’approximation du premier ordre de la solution du problème de Riemann généralisé. Ces résultats peuvent être facilement utilisés pour construire une version d’ordre 2 de la méthode de Godunov.
Small time periodic solutions of fully nonlinear telegraph equations in more spatial dimensions
Authors: Štědrý Milan
Published: February 2017

The solution to the problem is expressed by means of a couple of new dependent variables—the time derivative of the desired solution and a function independent of time, which is the trace of the solution in a fixed time. This simple device makes it possible to prove the existence of a time-periodic solution without encountering the “loss of derivatives” phenomenon.

The result provides a small smooth solution, unique in a neighbourhood of zero, for any equation which is a perturbation of a suitable linear telegraph equation at least by quadratic terms which can involve any derivatives up to order two of the unknown function.

On démontre l’existence d’une solution périodique en temps pour une équation hyperbolique du deuxième ordre avec dissipation et une force périodique mais petite et avec une non-linéarité composée de dérivées de la variable dépendante dont l’ordre ne dépasse pas deux.

Le phénomène de «la perte des dérivées» est détourné par une simple transformation de la variable dépendante.
Harmonic gauges on Riemann surfaces and stable bundles
Authors: Valli Giorgio
Published: February 2017

We consider, on a compact Riemann surface

M

, a set of equations, generalizing harmonic maps from M into the unitary group.

Using a 0-curvature representation, we describe every solution on

S^2

in terms of appropriate holomorphic vector bundles (called unitons), extending some previous results by Uhlenbeck and the author; and we make some remarks on the Morse and algebro-geometric stability of the solutions.

Nous considérons, sur une surface de Riemann compacte

M

, un système d’équations, généralisant les fonctions harmoniques de

M

dans le groupe unitaire.

En employant une représentation de Zakharov–Shabat, nous décrivons toutes les solutions sur

S^2

en termes d’appropriés fibrés vectoriels holomorphes (appelés unitons), en étendant quelques résultats précédents de Uhlenbeck et de l’auteur; nous faisons des observations sur la stabilité de Morse et algébro-géométrique des solutions.
Variable-speed tail rotors for helicopters with variable-speed main rotors
Authors: Han D. , Barakos G. N.
Published: February 2017

Variable tail rotor speed is investigated as a method for reducing tail rotor power, and improving helicopter performance. A helicopter model able to predict the main rotor and tail rotor powers is presented, and the flight test data of the UH-60A helicopter is used for validation. The predictions of the main and tail rotor powers are generally in good agreement with flight tests, which justifies the use of the present method in analysing main and tail rotors. Reducing the main rotor speed can result in lower main rotor power at certain flight conditions. However, it increases the main rotor torque and the corresponding required tail rotor thrust to trim, which then decreases the yaw control margin of the tail rotor. In hover, the tail rotor may not be able to provide enough thrust to counter the main rotor torque, if it is slowed to follow the main rotor speed. The main rotor speed corresponding to the minimum main rotor power increases, if the change of tail rotor power in hover is considered. As a helicopter translates to cruise, the induced power decreases, and the profile power increases, with the profile power dominating the tail rotor. Reducing the tail rotor speed in cruise reduces the profile power to give a 37% reduction in total tail rotor power and a 1.4% reduction to total helicopter power. In high-speed flight, varying the tail rotor speed is ineffective for power reduction. The power reduction obtained by the variable tail rotor speed is reduced for increased helicopter weight.
Fostering growth through business development: Core activities and challenges for micro-firm entrepreneurs
Authors: Achtenhagen Leona , Ekberg Sara , Melander Anders
Published: February 2017

As a concept stemming from practice, business development has received scarce academic attention. In this paper, we explore core business development activities of micro-firms and the challenges they perceive in conducting them. Based on interviews with 30 micro-firms, we identify three core business development activities that leverage the firm’s resource base, complemented by three support activities that secure and organize the firm’s resources. We find the business development activities to be tightly related to the three practices of leveraging, securing and organizing resources. We also identify three important contextual influences on business development in micro-firms: industry, age and if the firm is in an incubator. Our findings contribute to developing a conceptualization and theorization of business development for micro-firms, which is relevant as the vast majority of companies worldwide are micro-firms, but many never embark on a growth path. Based on our results, we outline practical implications, for example, how companies could overcome their perceived lack of time and an agenda for future research encouraging further studies comprising micro-firms with different qualities.