bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disparités salariales au Pérou: les raisons de la pénalisation particulière des femmes autochtones
Authors: KOLEV Alexandre , SUÁREZ ROBLES Pablo
Published: February 2016

En Amérique latine, les inégalités entre groupes ethniques au travail inquiètent. A partir de données de l'Enquête nationale auprès des ménages, les auteurs analysent les disparités salariales entre groupes ethniques au Pérou, par sexe, sur la période 2005–2011. Ils concluent que l'écart salarial lié à l'origine ethnique est plus important que l'écart lié au sexe et que les femmes autochtones sont doublement pénalisées. Ils distinguent la part inexpliquée de l'écart salarial entre groupes ethniques (estimation haute de la discrimination) et sa part expliquée (décomposée entre effets des caractéristiques individuelles, du type d'emploi et du lieu de résidence). Ils préconisent en conséquence une action ciblée.
La discrimination salariale liée au sexe en Jordanie: les bonnes intentions ne suffisent pas
Authors: ALFARHAN Usamah F.
Published: February 2016

La Jordanie, qui est partie aux principaux instruments internationaux interdisant la discrimination à l'égard des femmes, présente toujours un écart salarial important entre les sexes. L'auteur décompose cet écart à partir de données de l'Enquête sur le revenu et les dépenses des ménages, en tenant compte des décisions d'activité des deux sexes. Il montre qu'il peut être expliqué dans sa totalité par les différences dans les coefficients estimés pour les hommes et les femmes, qu'il est généré à l'embauche, qu'il tend à diminuer par la suite et que l'activité féminine réduite améliore statistiquement le salaire relatif des femmes.
An ISO‐Protein Model Food System for Evaluating Food Texture Effects
Authors: Campbell Caroline L. , Daubert Christopher R. , Drake Maryanne , Foegeding E. Allen
Published: February 2016

Perceptions of food quality, acceptability and satiety are often driven by food texture. It is hypothesized that food texture alters satiety by adjusting eating rate and enjoyment; however, few studies have evaluated wide ranges of food textures with standardized nutritional compositions. The goal of this study was to formulate and characterize a set of isocaloric, macronutrient‐matched model foods with varying textures. Six distinct food textures were produced by varying the extent and type of aggregation of 11% whey protein isolate solutions. Textures were grouped into fluid‐like (fluid, thin and thick semisolids) and solid‐like (three soft solid gels) based on rheological and sensory properties. Increasing sample mechanical stiffness coincided with increasing cohesiveness in fluid‐like textures and decreasing cohesiveness in solid textures; total oral manipulations increased with increasing stiffness. Trends in sensory cohesiveness reflected that solid textures are fractured with the molars while fluid‐like textures are manipulated by tongue and jaw movements. These model foods demonstrated properties in the range of commercial food products. They are applicable to investigating structural mechanisms responsible for texture and satiety. A scheme was developed that outlines structural breakdown and coinciding perception of textural properties during oral processing.

Practical Applications

Understanding the multidisciplinary relationships among food structure, texture, sensory perception, satiety and nutrient availability are fundamental in the formulation of healthy and enjoyable food products. However, the selection of products to evaluate the role of food structure upon texture and health is often difficult due to variations in macronutrients, total calories, and sample volume. This research provides a nutritionally standardized model food system that spans a textural spectrum of fluids, semisolids, and soft solids. The basic model foods presented here can be used to establish fundamental relationships between food structure and physiological outcomes. Additionally, these model foods can easily be reformulated to represent more complex structures (e.g., mixed gels, emulsions) or to evaluate the effects of added flavor or color.
Iron and cancer: recent insights
Authors: Manz David H. , Blanchette Nicole L. , Paul Bibbin T. , Torti Frank M. , Torti Suzy V.
Published: February 2016

Iron is an essential dietary element. However, the ability of iron to cycle between oxidized and reduced forms also renders it capable of contributing to free radical formation, which can have deleterious effects, including promutagenic effects that can potentiate tumor formation. Dysregulation of iron metabolism can increase cancer risk and promote tumor growth. Cancer cells exhibit an enhanced dependence on iron relative to their normal counterparts, a phenomenon we have termed iron addiction. Work conducted in the past few years has revealed new cellular processes and mechanisms that deepen our understanding of the link between iron and cancer. Control of iron efflux through the combined action of ferroportin, an iron efflux pump, and its regulator hepcidin appears to play an important role in tumorigenesis. Ferroptosis is a form of iron‐dependent cell death involving the production of reactive oxygen species. Specific mechanisms involved in ferroptosis, including depletion of glutathione and inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4, have been uncovered. Ferritinophagy is a newly identified mechanism for degradation of the iron storage protein ferritin. Perturbations of mechanisms that control transcripts encoding proteins that regulate iron have been observed in cancer cells, including differences in miRNA, methylation, and acetylation. These new insights may ultimately provide new therapeutic opportunities for treating cancer.
Assessment of hemostatic changes in a model of acute hemorrhage in dogs
Authors: Lynch Alex M. , deLaforcade Armelle M. , Meola Dawn , Shih Andre , Bandt Carsten , Guerrero Natalia Henao , Riccó Carolina
Published: February 2016

Objective

To evaluate hemostatic changes following experimental acute hemorrhage in dogs using traditional coagulation tests (eg, platelet count, prothrombin time [PT], and activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]), kaolin‐activated thromboelastography (TEG), and whole blood multiple electrode impedance platelet aggregometry.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Animals

Five Beagles.

Interventions

Dogs were anesthetized prior to obtaining blood samples for baseline PCV, total plasma protein (TPP), arterial blood‐gas, platelet count, PT, aPTT, TEG, fibrinogen, and aggregometry. Blood was obtained at 4 additional time points, following 20% blood volume loss, 40% blood volume loss, 60 minutes of sustained hypotension, and after autologous blood transfusion. In addition, heart rate and direct arterial blood pressure were measured at each time point.

Measurements and Main Results

Significant decreases were noted for PCV (P = 0.048), TPP (P < 0.0001), and arterial blood pressures (P < 0.0001) over time. Platelet count did not change significantly (P = 0.879), but platelet function was decreased following hemorrhage when arachidonic acid (P = 0.004) and ADP (P = 0.008) were used as agonists. The TEG variables R (P = 0.030), MA (P = 0.043), and G (P = 0.037) were significantly, albeit mildly, changed following hemorrhage. Significant prolongations in PT (P < 0.0001) and aPTT (P = 0.041), and decreases in fibrinogen concentration (P = 0.002) were also seen.

Conclusion

Platelet dysfunction occurred following hemorrhage in this model, despite a stable platelet count. Additionally, significant changes associated with hemorrhage were documented in aPTT, fibrinogen, and MA. Platelet function testing in dogs with naturally occurring hemorrhage warrants further investigation.
Optimization of Moderator Design for Explosive Detection by Thermal Neutron Activation Using a Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Koreshi Zafar Ullah , Khan Hamda
Published: February 2016

An optimal design analysis is carried out for an explosives’ detection system (EDS) based on thermal neutron activation (TNA) of a sample under investigation. The objective of this work is to use a genetic algorithm (GA) to obtain the optimized moderator design that would yield the “best” signal in a detection system. In a preliminary analysis, a full Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is carried out to estimate the effectiveness of various moderators, namely, water, graphite, and beryllium with respect to radiative capture (n,γ) reactions in a sample under investigation. Since MC simulation is computationally “expensive,” it is generally not used for random-search-based optimization analysis. Thus, more efficient methods are required for the design of optimal nuclear systems, where neutron transport is accurately modeled and iteratively solved for estimating the effect of independent design parameters. This paper proposes a computational scheme in which GA is coupled with the two-group neutron diffusion equation (DE) for carrying out an optimization analysis. The coupled GA-DE optimization scheme is demonstrated for obtaining the optimal moderator design. It is found that with considerably less computational effort than in an elaborate MC computation, the GA-DE approach can be used for the optimal design of detection systems.
Self-catalyzed Ga(N)AsP nanowires and GaAsP/GaNAsP core–shell nanowires grown on Si (111) by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: La Rui , Pan Janet L. , Bastiman Faebian , Tu Charles W.
Published: February 2016

The authors report epitaxial growth of dilute nitride GaNAsP nanowires (NWs) and GaAsP/GaNAsP core–shell nanowires on Si (111) by a self-catalyzed method. Different sizes of GaNAsP NWs were observed with various N content. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) is observed from the GaNAsP NWs. The spectral peak of the temperature-dependent PL shows an S-shape and indicates defect states in the bandgap. The room-temperature PL intensity increased after rapid thermal annealing. A growth model explains the observed diameters of GaAsP/GaNAsP core–shell.
SCAPIS Pilot Study: Sitness, Fitness and Fatness— Is Sedentary Time Substitution by Physical Activity Equally Important for Everyone’s Markers of Glucose Regulation?
Authors: Ekblom-Bak Elin , Ekblom Örjan , Bolam Kate A. , Ekblom Björn , Bergström Göran , Börjesson Mats
Published: February 2016

Background:

Although moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is mainly recommended for glucose control, light physical activity (LIPA) may also have the potential to induce favorable changes. We investigated sedentary time (SED) substitution with equal time in LIPA and MVPA, and the association with markers of glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity after stratification by waist circumference, fitness and fasting glucose levels.

Methods:

A total of 654 men and women, 50 to 64 years, from the SCAPIS pilot study were included. Daily SED, LIPA and MVPA were assessed using hip-worn accelerometers. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR were determined.

Results:

Substituting 30 min of SED with LIPA was significantly associated with 3.0% lower fasting insulin values and 3.1% lower HOMA-IR values, with even lower levels when substituting SED with MVPA. Participants with lower fitness and participants with high fasting glucose levels benefited significantly more from substituting 30 min of SED with LIPA compared with participants with normal to high fitness levels and participants with normal glucose levels, respectively.

Conclusions:

LIPA, and not only MVPA, may have beneficial associations with glucose regulation. This is of great clinical and public health importance, not least because it may confer a higher compliance rate to regular PA.
Pitching science: A history of Obama's research budgets
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: February 2016

Economy, politics shape outcome of an uneven record.
Societies can combat harassment
Authors: McNutt Marcia
Published: February 2016

Imagine a student presenting a poster at a scientific meeting, thrilled when a senior scientist stops by to view the work. Chances are good, given the continuing underrepresentation of women at senior levels of academia, that the senior scientist is male. If the student is also male, he likely has no doubt that the senior scientist wants to learn more about the research. If the student is female, she may wonder: Does he want to get acquainted with my work, or me? This is the scenario that Meg Urry of Yale University, current president of the American Astronomical Society, posed during a session on “Forward Focused Ethics—What is the Role of Scientific Societies in Responding to Harassment and Other Workplace Climate Issues?” at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in December 2015.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces silvensis
ATCC 53525, a Producer of Novel Hormone Antagonists
Authors: Johnston Chad W. , Li Yongchang , Magarvey Nathan A.
Published: February 2016

Streptomyces silvensis
produces nonribosomal peptides that act as antagonists of the human oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. Here, we present the genome sequence of
S. silvensis
ATCC 53525 and demonstrate that this organism possesses a number of additional biosynthetic gene clusters and might be a promising source for genome-guided drug discovery efforts.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pantoea ananatis Strain AMG521, a Rice Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Endophyte Isolated from the Guadalquivir Marshes in Southern Spain
Authors: Megías Esaú , Megías Manuel , Ollero Francisco Javier , Hungria Mariangela
Published: February 2016

The rice endophyte
Pantoea ananatis
AMG521 shows several plant growth-promoting properties and promotes rice yield increases. Its draft genome was estimated at 4,891,568 bp with 4,704 coding sequences (CDS). The genome encodes genes for
N
-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) synthases, AHL hydrolases, hyperadherence (
yidQ
,
yidP
, and
yidR
)
,
fusaric acid resistance, and oxidation of lignin, highlighting its biotechnological potential.
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Low-pH-Active Veillonella parvula Strain SHI-1, Isolated from Human Saliva within an
In Vitro
Oral Biofilm Model
Authors: Edlund Anna , Liu Quanhui , Watling Michael , To Thao T. , Bumgarner Roger E. , He Xuesong , Shi Wenyuan , McLean Jeffrey S.
Published: February 2016

We announce here a draft genome sequence of
Veillonella parvula
strain SHI-1, obtained from healthy human saliva, discovered to be active at low pH using metatranscriptomics within an
in vitro
oral biofilm model. The genome is composed of 7 contigs, for a total of 2,200,064 bp.
Draft Genome Sequence of Tepidimonas taiwanensis Strain MB2, a Chemolithotrophic Thermophile Isolated from a Hot Spring in Central India
Authors: Dhakan Darshan B. , Saxena Rituja , Chaudhary Nikhil , Sharma Vineet K.
Published: February 2016

Tepidimonas taiwanensis
strain MB2 is a thermophile isolated from a hot spring located in central India. Here, we report a 2,849,160 bp draft genome sequence of
Tepidimonas taiwanensis
MB2. The genome shows properties of sulfur metabolism, nitrogen fixation, ammonia metabolism, assimilation of organic acids, and a wide variety of proteases.
Draft Genome Sequence of Type Strain Streptococcus gordonii ATCC 10558
Authors: Rasmussen Louise H. , Dargis Rimtas , Christensen Jens Jørgen , Skovgaard Ole , Nielsen Xiaohui C.
Published: February 2016

Streptococcus gordonii
ATCC 10558
T
was isolated from a patient with infective endocarditis in 1946 and announced as a type strain in 1989. Here, we report the 2,154,510-bp draft genome sequence of
S. gordonii
ATCC 10558
T
. This sequence will contribute to knowledge about the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis.
Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of
Trichoderma gamsii
T6085, a Promising Biocontrol Agent of
Fusarium
Head Blight on Wheat
Authors: Baroncelli Riccardo , Zapparata Antonio , Piaggeschi Giulia , Sarrocco Sabrina , Vannacci Giovanni
Published: February 2016

Trichoderma gamsii
T6085 is a promising beneficial isolate whose effects consist of growth inhibition of the main agents causing
Fusarium
head blight, reduction of mycotoxin accumulation, competition for wheat debris, and reduction of the disease in both the lab and the field. Here, we present the first genome assembly of a
T. gamsii
isolate, providing a useful platform for the scientific community.
Characterization of a Salivirus (
Picornaviridae
) from a Diarrheal Child in Guatemala
Authors: Ng Terry Fei Fan , Magaña Laura , Montmayeur Anna , Lopez Maria Renee , Gregoricus Nicole , Oberste M. Steven , Vinjé Jan , Nix W. Allan
Published: February 2016

The complete genome sequence of a salivirus was identified in a stool sample from a Guatemalan child with acute gastroenteritis during a 2009 norovirus outbreak. This genome (genotype A1 strain GUT/2009/A-1746) shares 82% to 94% genome-wide nucleotide identity with saliviruses from the United States, China, Germany, and Nigeria, representing the first salivirus sequence from Central America.
Evaluating railway track support stiffness from trackside measurements in the absence of wheel load data
Authors: Le Pen Louis , Milne David , Thompson David , Powrie William
Published: February 2016

It is generally accepted that track support stiffness is a major factor controlling rates of track geometry deterioration, particularly where the track support stiffness changes abruptly. There is, therefore, considerable potential benefit in being able to quantify and detect changes in the track support stiffness. In recent years, trackside techniques using various types of transducers have been developed to determine track deflections as trains pass. However, deducing the track support stiffness from these measurements requires assumptions to be made concerning train loading and track behaviour, and the possibility of different interpretations remains. For example, loads from moving trains vary dynamically and it is not usually feasible to measure their exact values at any given point along the track. This paper presents new methods of analysis, which can be applied to frequency spectra of track displacement, velocity or acceleration generated as trains pass to calculate the track support stiffness for trains of known axle intervals, without needing to know the actual loads applied. The approach is demonstrated with reference to theory and measured data from a range of field sites.
Finite element model calibration of multi-story buildings through interferometric imaging and spectral ratio method
Authors: Kaya Yavuz
Published: February 2016

To identify and calibrate the finite element model for multi-story buildings, a simplifıed approach is being introduced in this paper; this methodology is based on interferometric imaging and encompasses spectral ratio (SR) method. Interferometric imaging provides a new set of seismic data free of coupling between structures to its subsurface and independent of the excitation of the building. The SR method, on the other hand, is the ratio of Fourier amplitude spectra of the roof-deconvolved records on two adjacent stories. The newly introduced methodology enables each story to be identified uniquely for its stiffness since the SR of a particular story is dependent only on the properties of itself and the stories above.
Biochemostratigraphy of the Eramosa Formation in southwestern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Bancroft Alyssa M. , Kleffner Mark A. , Brunton Frank R.
Published: February 2016

The lithostratigraphic term “Eramosa” was introduced in Ontario more than a century ago to include a distinctive package of thin- to medium-bedded, black to medium-brown dolostones that make up key cuesta faces and railway roadcuts along the Eramosa River in the City of Guelph, southwestern Ontario, Canada. This stratigraphic unit makes up part of a stacked carbonate succession that constitutes one of the most economically significant Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in Ontario. The strata assigned to the Eramosa have a complex history of lithostratigraphic study, and the relative age, regional lithostratigraphic relationships, and varied depositional environments of the Eramosa were poorly understood. This research, which combines conodont biostratigraphy and carbonate carbon (δ13Ccarb) isotope stratigraphy to generate a detailed chronostratigraphic framework for the Eramosa Formation in southwestern Ontario, is part of a regional-scale surface and subsurface mapping initiative of the Silurian strata by the Ontario Geological Survey. Dolostone samples from Wiarton and the City of Guelph, Ontario, yielded three biostratigraphically important conodonts: Ozarkodina sagitta rhenana, Kockelella walliseri, and Kockelella ortus ortus. The carbonate carbon (δ13Ccarb) isotope data from the studied intervals record the descending limb of the Sheinwoodian (Ireviken) positive δ13Ccarbisotope excursion, including a distinctive positive shift in δ13Ccarbisotope values typical of records of the descending limb of the excursion in Laurentia and Baltica. Aldridgeodus minimus was also recovered from these conodont faunas and co-occurs with Kockelella walliseri, below the last occurrence of Ozarkodina sagitta rhenana (Lower Kockelella walliseri Zone), suggesting that the range of Aldridgeodus minimus should be extended lower into the Sheinwoodian Stage.
Dynamical analysis of autonomous system in entropic cosmology
Authors: Li Yu
Published: February 2016

The entropic cosmology model is an alternative method to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe. In this paper, we discuss the dynamical system in two types of entropic cosmology model: Λ(t) type and bulk viscous type. We found that the stability properties of fixed points are affected by the H2 term, while the H term and constant term have no influence on stability properties of fixed points. We also found that the dynamical properties of the C-version model are the same as the H-version model.
Repertoire structure, song sharing, reproductive success, and territory tenure in a population of Canada Warblers (Cardellina canadensis) in central New Hampshire
Authors: Demko Alana D. , Reitsma Leonard R. , Staicer Cynthia A.
Published: February 2016

Sexual selection for larger repertoires and the social advantages of sharing songs with territorial neighbours are two forces that may drive the evolution of complex song repertoires in songbirds. To evaluate the influence of these two selective pressures on repertoire evolution in a species with a complex repertoire, we examined repertoire structure, song sharing, reproductive success, and territory tenure in a Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis (L., 1766)) population in New Hampshire. Over two breeding seasons, we recorded 63 singing males, classified their song repertoires, quantified male song sharing, and determined male reproductive success and territory tenure. Male Canada Warblers had complex repertoires averaging 12 phrases (particular sequences of song elements) and 55 variants (songs composed of particular sequences of phrases). Song sharing decreased significantly with distance between territories, all of which were <1.75 km apart. Network analysis revealed clusters of male neighbours with high variant sharing, which was significantly associated with longer territory tenure. Overall pairing and fledging success were high, but were not related to repertoire size or song sharing. Our results suggest that song sharing aids in male territory acquisition and defence, and that females may therefore select mates based on their ability to retain a high-quality territory.
D2-brane as the wormhole and the number of the universes
Authors: Gusin Paweł
Published: February 2016

We construct wormhole-like solutions in type IIA string theory. These solutions represent wormholes in four dimensions and are given by the D2-branes within appropriated backgrounds fields. We present the conditions on these fields which lead to the four-dimensional wormholes. In the special case, we show how the particular solution in type IIA theory leads to the dynamic wormhole. We also speculate about the number of universes and the cosmological constant.
Coherent states of Landau–Aharonov–Casher levels
Authors: de Melo J. Lemos , Pedrosa I. A. , Furtado C.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we study the coherent states of Landau–Aharonov–Casher (LAC) levels. These LAC levels are an analogue of the Landau quantization for neutral particles. Afterwards, we investigate some properties of the coherent states, evaluate the uncertainty product and derive the wave functions for our problem. We also discuss the coherent states for the Landau–He–McKellar–Wilkens (LHMW) levels by using the Maxwell duality.
Entanglement formulation in the framework of electrically pumped laser cavity
Authors: Getahun Solomon
Published: February 2016

We analyze electrically pumped atomic cavity coupled to a two-mode vacuum reservoirs via a single-port mirror whose open cavity contains N nondegenerate three-level cascade atoms. We carry out our analysis by putting the noise operators associated with a vacuum reservoir in normal order. It is found that unlike the mean photon number, the quadrature squeezing and the degree of entanglement do not depend on the number of atoms. This implies that the quadrature squeezing and the degree of entanglement of the cavity light do not depend on the number of photons. We have also shown that the light generated by the three-level laser is in a squeezed and entangled state, with maximum quadrature squeezing and degree of entanglement being 50%. Moreover, the mean photon number of the system in which the laser operating at threshold and above threshold does not depend on the spontaneous decay constant.
Investigation on a field description of the chirped laser pulse
Authors: Chen H. Y. , Huang S. J. , Song Q. , Wang P. X.
Published: February 2016

Starting from a first-order approximate field description function for laser pulses, the method currently used to approximate chirped laser pulse (CLP) substitutes frequency and wave vector related variables with spatiotemporally varying functions. We investigated the error involved by calculating the relative deviation from Maxwell equations. Errors for the electric and magnetic fields are analyzed separately, and behaviors related to parameter changes (that is, in laser width, pulse duration and chirp parameter) were studied. Results show that aberration associated with currently used field-description functions for CLP increases monotonically with chirp parameter, and the deviation introduced by chirping is proportional to the relative frequency span of the laser. Simulations based on these functions will lead to considerable error, especially for laser pulses with large chirping.
Asymptotic Dynamics of Second Order Nonautonomous Systems on Infinite Lattices
Authors: Abdallah Ahmed Y.
Published: February 2016

We have introduced abstract sufficient conditions for the existence of a uniform exponential attractor for a special family of second order nonautonomous lattice dynamical systems with quasiperiodic symbols in a standard space of infinite sequences. Compared with the lattice dynamical system in [Zhou & Zhao, 2014], here a generalized nonlinear part and weaker assumptions have been presented, kindly see Remark Remark 2.1 for more details.
The Influence of Information Acquisition on the Complex Dynamics of Market Competition
Authors: Guo Zhanbing , Ma Junhai
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we build a dynamical game model with three bounded rational players (firms) to study the influence of information on the complex dynamics of market competition, where useful information is about rival’s real decision. In this dynamical game model, one information-sharing team is composed of two firms, they acquire and share the information about their common competitor, however, they make their own decisions separately, where the amount of information acquired by this information-sharing team will determine the estimation accuracy about the rival’s real decision. Based on this dynamical game model and some creative 3D diagrams, the influence of the amount of information on the complex dynamics of market competition such as local dynamics, global dynamics and profits is studied. These results have significant theoretical and practical values to realize the influence of information.
Exact Solutions and Bifurcations of a Modulated Equation in a Discrete Nonlinear Electrical Transmission Line (III)
Authors: Li Jibin , Chen Fengjuan
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we consider a modulated equation in a discrete nonlinear electrical transmission line. This model is an integrable planar dynamical system having three singular straight lines. By using the theory of singular systems to investigate the dynamical behavior for this system, we obtain bifurcations of phase portraits under different parameter conditions. Corresponding to some special level curves, we derive exact explicit parametric representations of solutions (including smooth solitary wave solutions, peakons, compactons, periodic cusp wave solutions) under different parameter conditions.
Melnikov Method for a Three-Zonal Planar Hybrid Piecewise-Smooth System and Application
Authors: Li Shuangbao , Ma Wensai , Zhang Wei , Hao Yuxin
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we extend the well-known Melnikov method for smooth systems to a class of planar hybrid piecewise-smooth systems, defined in three domains separated by two switching manifolds [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The dynamics in each domain is governed by a smooth system. When an orbit reaches the separation lines, then a reset map describing an impacting rule applies instantaneously before the orbit enters into another domain. We assume that the unperturbed system has a continuum of periodic orbits transversally crossing the separation lines. Then, we wish to study the persistence of the periodic orbits under an autonomous perturbation and the reset map. To achieve this objective, we first choose four appropriate switching sections and build a Poincaré map, after that, we present a displacement function and carry on the Taylor expansion of the displacement function to the first-order in the perturbation parameter [Formula: see text] near [Formula: see text]. We denote the first coefficient in the expansion as the first-order Melnikov function whose zeros provide us the persistence of periodic orbits under perturbation. Finally, we study periodic orbits of a concrete planar hybrid piecewise-smooth system by the obtained Melnikov function.
Characteristics of Promoter Architecture-Dependent Expression Noise and Bursting Kinetics
Authors: Tan Heli , Yuan Zhanjiang , Zhang Jiajun , Zhou Tianshou
Published: February 2016

Genes are expressed often in a bursting manner, leading to stochastic fluctuations in mRNA and protein abundances, but how the binding and unbinding of transcriptional factors to DNA affect expression noise and bursting kinetics remains not fully understood. Here, we compare and analyze two representative cases: the (E) model and the (M) model, each assuming that a gene has three activity states (one active and two inactive states) with dual transitions between every two and that the inactive states are directly linked in the former but separated by the active state in the latter. We find that the activation and inactivation rates can significantly impact gene expression. First, these two rates can induce counterintuitive correlations of expression noise with bursting kinetics in contrast to the common two-state model. Second, the correlation in the (E) model is fundamentally different from that in (M) model, implying that the counterintuitive phenomena are regulator-specific. Our investigation primarily gives us insight into the design principles of promoter architecture (a major source of cell-to-cell variability in genetically identical cells) as well as into how transcription factors influence gene expression through regulating transition rates.
Asymptotic Expansion of the Heteroclinic Bifurcation for the Planar Normal Form of the 1:2 Resonance
Authors: Roberto Luci A. F. , da Silva Paulo R. , Torregrosa Joan
Published: February 2016

We consider the family of planar differential systems depending on two real parameters [Formula: see text] This system corresponds to the normal form for the 1:2 resonance which exhibits a heteroclinic connection. The phase portrait of the system has a limit cycle which disappears in the heteroclinic connection for the parameter values on the curve [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] We significantly improve the knowledge of this curve in a neighborhood of the origin.
Actin Automata with Memory
Authors: Alonso-Sanz Ramón , Adamatzky Andy
Published: February 2016

Actin is a globular protein which forms long polar filaments in eukaryotic. The actin filaments play the roles of cytoskeleton, motility units, information processing and learning. We model actin filament as a double chain of finite state machines, nodes, which take states “0” and “1”. The states are abstractions of absence and presence of a subthreshold charge on actin units corresponding to the nodes. All nodes update their state in parallel to discrete time. A node updates its current state depending on states of two closest neighbors in the node chain and two closest neighbors in the complementary chain. Previous models of actin automata consider momentary state transitions of nodes. We enrich the actin automata model by assuming that states of nodes depend not only on the current states of neighboring node but also on their past states. Thus, we assess the effect of memory of past states on the dynamics of acting automata. We demonstrate in computational experiments that memory slows down propagation of perturbations, decrease entropy of space-time patterns generated, transforms traveling localizations to stationary oscillators, and stationary oscillations to still patterns.
Application of Morphosyntactic and Class-Based Language Models in Automatic Speech Recognition of Polish
Authors: Smywinski-Pohl Aleksander , Ziółko Bartosz
Published: February 2016

In this paper we investigate the usefulness of morphosyntactic information as well as clustering in modeling Polish for automatic speech recognition. Polish is an inflectional language, thus we investigate the usefulness of an N-gram model based on morphosyntactic features. We present how individual types of features influence the model and which types of features are best suited for building a language model for automatic speech recognition. We compared the results of applying them with a class-based model that is automatically derived from the training corpus. We show that our approach towards clustering performs significantly better than frequently used SRI LM clustering method. However, this difference is apparent only for smaller corpora.
Linear Logic as a Tool for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Workow Processes
Authors: Soares Passos Lígia Maria , Julia Stéphane
Published: February 2016

This article presents a method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of WorkFlow nets based on the proof trees of Linear Logic. The qualitative analysis is concerned with the proof of Soundness correctness criterion defined for WorkFlow nets. To prove the Soundness property, a proof tree of Linear Logic is built for each different scenario of the WorkFlow net. The quantitative analysis is concerned with the resource planning for each task of the workflow process and is based on the computation of symbolic date intervals for task execution. In particular, such symbolic date intervals are computed using the proof trees used to prove Soundness property.
A Multi-Objective Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm Combined with a Local Search Method
Authors: Tang Langping , Zhou Yuren , Xiang Yi , Lai Xinsheng
Published: February 2016

This paper proposes a new multi-objective artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm called MOABCLS by combining ABC with a polynomial mutation based local search method. In this algorithm, an external archive is used to store the non-dominated solutions found so far which are maintained by the crowding distance method. A global best food source gbest is selected and used to produce new food sources in both employed and onlooker bee phases. The aim of adopting a local search is to keep good balance between exploration and exploitation. The MOABCLS is able to deal with both unconstrained and constrained problems, and it is evaluated on test functions (with up to five objectives) taken from the CEC09 competition. The performance of MOABCLS is compared with that of eight state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms with respect to IGD metric. It is shown by the Wilcoxon test results that MOABCLS performs competitively or even better than the peer algorithms. Further experimental results clearly demonstrate MOABCLS’s ability of finding a set of well converged and appropriately distributed non-dominated solutions, and the performance promotion by introducing the local search method.
Conformal gravity as a Gauge natural theory
Authors: Campigotto Marta , Fatibene Lorenzo
Published: February 2016

We shall review conformal gravity as a gauge natural theory and discuss the consequences of Weyl covariance on the definition of physical states.
Vertical distribution of dissolved CO
2
in lakes Nyos and Monoun (Cameroon) as estimated by sound speed in water
Authors: Saiki Kazuto , Kaneko Katsuya , Ohba Takeshi , Sanemasa Mitsuhisa , Kusakabe Minoru , Ntchantcho Romaric , Fouepe Alain , Tanyileke Gregory , Hell Joseph V.
Published: February 2016

Vertical profiles of sound speed (SS) in lake water were measured at lakes Nyos and Monoun (Cameroon) in 2012 and 2014. A significant linear correlation with Pearson's
r
of 0.987 to 0.995 between total CO
2
concentration ([CO
2
]=[CO
2(aq)
]+[HCO
3
−
]) and SS excess (Δ
v
) in water was found. Based on this correlation, we propose the SS method as a new simple tool to monitor CO
2
concentration in lakes Nyos and Monoun. We applied this method to multipoint measurements of CO
2
in lakes Nyos and Monoun, and found horizontal differences between CO
2
distributions in the two lakes. The results indicated that Lake Nyos water was stably stratified, and the total CO
2
decreased from 2012 to 2014. At Lake Monoun, which consists of three basins (the western basin, the central basin, and the main basin), waters in the western and central basins exhibited a higher dissolved CO
2
content than those in the main basin at the same depth. An increase in CO
2
was also detected in the main basin from 2012 to 2014.
Cyclophilin D regulates necrosis, but not apoptosis, of murine eosinophils
Authors: Zhu Xiang , Hogan Simon P. , Molkentin Jeffery D. , Zimmermann Nives
Published: February 2016

Eosinophil degranulation and clusters of free extracellular granules are frequently observed in diverse diseases, including atopic dermatitis, nasal polyposis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Whether these intact granules are released by necrosis or a biochemically mediated cytolysis remains unknown. Recently, a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase located within the mitochondrial matrix, cyclophilin D (PPIF), was shown to regulate necrotic, but not apoptotic, cell death in vitro in fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes. Whether cyclophilin D regulates necrosis in hematopoietic cells such as eosinophils remains unknown. We used PPIF-deficient ( Ppif−/−) mice to test whether cyclophilin D is required for regulating eosinophil necrosis. PPIF deficiency did not affect eosinophil development or maturation at baseline. After in vitro ionomycin or H2O2 treatment, Ppif−/− eosinophils were significantly protected from Ca2+ overload- or oxidative stress-induced necrosis. Additionally, Ppif−/− eosinophils demonstrated significantly decreased necrosis, but not apoptosis, in response to Siglec-F cross-linking, a stimulus associated with eosinophil-mediated processes in vitro and in vivo. When treated with apoptosis inducers, Ppif+/+ and Ppif−/− eosinophils exhibited no significant difference in apoptosis or secondary necrosis. Finally, in a dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model, although levels of colitogenic cytokines and eosinophil-selective chemokines were comparable between Ppif+/+ and Ppif−/− mice, the latter exhibited decreased clinical outcomes. This correlated with significantly reduced eosinophil cytolysis in the colon. Collectively, our present studies demonstrate that murine eosinophil necrosis is regulated in vitro and in vivo by cyclophilin D, at least in part, thus providing new insight into the mechanism of eosinophil necrosis and release of free extracellular granules in eosinophil-associated diseases.
PR55α Subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A Supports the Tumorigenic and Metastatic Potential of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Sustaining Hyperactive Oncogenic Signaling
Authors: Hein Ashley L. , Seshacharyulu Parthasarathy , Rachagani Satyanarayana , Sheinin Yuri M. , Ouellette Michel M. , Ponnusamy Moorthy P. , Mumby Marc C. , Batra Surinder K. , Yan Ying
Published: February 2016

The protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) holoenzyme consists of a catalytic subunit, a scaffold subunit, and a regulatory subunit. Based on loss-of-function analysis using PP2A catalytic inhibitors or inhibition via tumor viral antigens, limited studies suggest that PP2A is a putative tumor suppressor. However, PP2A has also been shown to facilitate the activation of oncogenic signaling pathways when associated with specific regulatory subunits. In this study, we investigated the possible oncogenic role of PP2A in pancreatic cancer. We found a striking increase in the expression of PR55α (PPP2R2A), a PP2A regulatory subunit, in pancreatic cancer cells compared with normal pancreatic epithelial cells. Consistently, PR55α expression was markedly elevated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues compared with adjacent normal pancreatic tissues (P < 0.0001) and correlated with poor survival of pancreatic cancer patients (P < 0.0003). RNAi-mediated depletion of PR55α in pancreatic cancer cell lines resulted in diminished phosphorylation of both AKT and ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1) and decreased protein levels of β-catenin (CTNNB1). Accordingly, pancreatic cancer cells with reduced PR55α expression exhibited significantly impaired properties of transformation, including attenuated cell growth, clonogenicity, mobility, and anchorage-independent growth. Moreover, orthotopic implantation of PR55α-depleted pancreatic cancer cells into nude mice resulted in markedly reduced tumorigenicity (P < 0.001) and distant metastases. Together, these results suggest that PR55α promotes pancreatic cancer development by sustaining hyperactivity of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, including AKT, ERK, and Wnt. These studies also provide a basis for exploring PR55α as a diagnostic or therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2243–53. ©2016 AACR.
Drosophila Brat and Human Ortholog TRIM3 Maintain Stem Cell Equilibrium and Suppress Brain Tumorigenesis by Attenuating Notch Nuclear Transport
Authors: Mukherjee Subhas , Tucker-Burden Carol , Zhang Changming , Moberg Kenneth , Read Renee , Hadjipanayis Costas , Brat Daniel J.
Published: February 2016

Cancer stem cells exert enormous influence on neoplastic behavior, in part by governing asymmetric cell division and the balance between self-renewal and multipotent differentiation. Growth is favored by deregulated stem cell division, which enhances the self-renewing population and diminishes the differentiation program. Mutation of a single gene in Drosophila, Brain Tumor (Brat), leads to disrupted asymmetric cell division resulting in dramatic neoplastic proliferation of neuroblasts and massive larval brain overgrowth. To uncover the mechanisms relevant to deregulated cell division in human glioma stem cells, we first developed a novel adult Drosophila brain tumor model using brat-RNAi driven by the neuroblast-specific promoter inscuteable. Suppressing Brat in this population led to the accumulation of actively proliferating neuroblasts and a lethal brain tumor phenotype. brat-RNAi caused upregulation of Notch signaling, a node critical for self-renewal, by increasing protein expression and enhancing nuclear transport of Notch intracellular domain (NICD). In human glioblastoma, we demonstrated that the human ortholog of Drosophila Brat, tripartite motif-containing protein 3 (TRIM3), similarly suppressed NOTCH1 signaling and markedly attenuated the stem cell component. We also found that TRIM3 suppressed nuclear transport of active NOTCH1 (NICD) in glioblastoma and demonstrated that these effects are mediated by direct binding of TRIM3 to the Importin complex. Together, our results support a novel role for Brat/TRIM3 in maintaining stem cell equilibrium and suppressing tumor growth by regulating NICD nuclear transport. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2443–52. ©2016 AACR.
Spread of Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm Arising from the Cystic Duct of the Biliary Tree
Authors: Kadowaki Yoshihiko , Yokota Yuki , Komoto Satoshi , Kubota Nobuhito , Okamoto Takahiro , Ishido Nobuhiro , Okino Tsuyoshi
Published: February 2016

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant type of the bile duct carcinoma characterized by intraductal growth. IPNB is also recognized as a precursor of invasive carcinoma. We describe herein an extremely rare case of IPNB arising from the cystic duct. A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for investigation of epigastralgia and abnormal levels of biliary tract enzyme. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass lesion spreading from the cystic duct to the upper-middle bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography demonstrated diffuse duct dilation with a grossly visible intraductal mass and amorphous blobs, suggesting the presence of mucobilia or scattered tumors. We performed extrahepatic bile duct resection with lymphadenectomy. Macroscopically, a friable papillary tumor originated from the cystic duct grows intraluminally into the bile duct. Pathologically, the tumor was found to be intramucosal adenocarcinoma spreading to the whole extrahepatic bile duct, which was compatible with IPNB. We should discuss the features and progression processes of IPNB through this precious case.
The Impact of Mast Cell Density on the Progression of Bone Disease in Multiple Myeloma Patients
Authors: Vyzoukaki Rodanthi , Tsirakis George , Pappa Constantina A. , Devetzoglou Maria , Tzardi Maria , Alexandrakis Michael G.
Published: February 2016

Background: Osteolytic bone disease is a major hallmark in multiple myeloma (MM) progression and affects many patients. Several inflammatory cells are involved in MM progression. Among them, mast cells (MCs) accumulated in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment are known to play an important role in the mechanism of neovascularization. Methods: In 52 newly diagnosed active MM patients, we measured BM MC density (MCD) using an immunohistochemical stain for tryptase, serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) by a solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, along with urine levels of N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (Ntx) by a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in various clinical stages and skeletal grades. Results: MCD, RANKL and Ntx were higher in MM patients. All values increased in association with both the clinical stage and skeletal grade. Furthermore, MCD correlated positively with MMP-9, RANKL and Ntx. Conclusions: Our data suggest that MCs may contribute to osteolytic processes during MM progression. Although the major role of MCs in tumor progression is to enhance angiogenesis, it seems that they may affect MM bone disease and may secrete a plethora of mediators that may directly and indirectly have an impact on osteolysis.