bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mixed haemosporidian infections are associated with higher fearfulness in Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Authors: Marinov M.P. , Marchetti C. , Dimitrov D. , Ilieva M. , Zehtindjiev P.
Published: March 2017

Blood parasite infections have been shown to influence behavioural traits of their avian hosts, in particular activity level and boldness. Following the hypothesis that a mixed infection by different parasite species should have higher effects than single-species infections, we analysed activity and boldness in wild-caught Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava L., 1758), a trans-Saharan migrant, during the energetically demanding spring migration. Eighty-five percent of the birds were naturally infected with Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890 or Plasmodium Marchiafava and Celli, 1885 (Sporozoa, Haemosporida) and 27% of individuals had parasites from both genera. No differences in activity were found among uninfected, single infection, and mixed infection groups. Birds with infections from both genera appeared to be more fearful when first introduced to a cage. These birds also tended to be less likely to approach a novel object compared with uninfected birds and birds infected by a single genus only.
Classification of Cytochrome P450 1A2 Inhibitors and Noninhibitors Based on Deep Belief Network
Authors: Yu Long , Shi Xinyu , Tian Shengwei , Gao Shuangyin , Li Li
Published: March 2017

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily, exists in the human liver, is responsible for more than 90% of the metabolism of clinical drugs. So it is necessary to adopt a new kind of computer simulation methods that can predict the rejection capability of compounds for a concrete CYPs isoform. In this work, a model is presented for classification of CYP450 1A2 inhibitors and noninhibitors based on a multi-tiered deep belief network (DBN) on a large dataset. The dataset composed of more than 13,000 heterogeneous compounds was acquired from PubChem. Firstly, 139 2D and 53 3D descriptors are calculated and preprocessed. Then, the unsupervised learning method is used to train DBN model to automatically extract multiple levels of distributed representation from the descriptors of training set. Finally, by using testing set and external validation set, we evaluate the classified performance of DBN for the inhibition of CYP1A2. Meanwhile, the proposed model is compared with shallow machine learning models (support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN)). We also discussed the performance of DBN by comparing it with different features combination. The experimental results showed that DBN has a better prediction ability compared with SVM and ANN. And these models combined with the features of 2D and 3D obtain the best forecast accuracy.
Decomposition-Assisted Computational Technique Based on Surrogate Modeling for Real-Time Simulations
Authors: Fouladinejad Nariman , Fouladinejad Nima , Abdul Jalil Mohamad Kasim , Mohd Taib Jamaludin
Published: March 2017

The development of complex simulation systems is extremely costly as it requires high computational capability and expensive hardware. As cost is one of the main issues in developing simulation components, achieving real-time simulation is challenging and it often leads to intensive computational burdens. Overcoming the computational burden in a multidisciplinary simulation system that has several subsystems is essential in producing inexpensive real-time simulation. In this paper, a surrogate-based computational framework was proposed to reduce the computational cost in a high-dimensional model while maintaining accurate simulation results. Several well-known metamodeling techniques were used in creating a global surrogate model. Decomposition approaches were also used to simplify the complexities of the system and to guide the surrogate modeling processes. In addition, a case study was provided to validate the proposed approach. A surrogate-based vehicle dynamic model (SBVDM) was developed to reduce computational delay in a real-time driving simulator. The results showed that the developed surrogate-based model was able to significantly reduce the computing costs, unlike the expensive computational model. The response time in surrogate-based simulation was considerably faster than the conventional model. Therefore, the proposed framework can be used in developing low-cost simulation systems while yielding high fidelity and fast computational output.
Rutin Protects against Pirarubicin‐Induced Cardiotoxicity through TGF‐β1‐p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wang Yadi , Zhang Yang , Sun Bo , Tong Qing , Ren Liqun
Published: March 2017

We investigated the potential protective effect of rutinum (RUT) against pirarubicin‐ (THP‐) induced cardiotoxicity. THP was used to induce toxicity in rat H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. Positive control cells were pretreated with a cardioprotective agent dexrazoxane (DZR) prior to treatment with THP. Some of the cells were preincubated with RUT and a p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, SB203580, both individually and in combination, prior to THP exposure. At a dose range of 30–70 μM, RUT significantly prevented THP‐induced reduction in cell viability; the best cardioprotective effect was observed at a dose of 50 μM. Administration of RUT and SB203580, both individually as well as in combination, suppressed the elevation of intracellular ROS, inhibited cell apoptosis, and reversed the THP‐induced upregulation of TGF‐β1, p‐p38 MAPK, cleaved Caspase‐9, Caspase‐7, and Caspase‐3. A synergistic effect was observed on coadministration of RUT and SB203580. RUT protected against THP‐induced cardiotoxicity by inhibition of ROS generation and suppression of cell apoptosis. The cardioprotective effect of RUT appears to be associated with the modulation of the TGF‐β1‐p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
Surface Morphology and Electrical Resistivity in Polycrystalline Au/Cu/Si(100) System
Authors: Novelo T. E. , Alonzo-Medina G. M. , Amézaga-Madrid P. , Maldonado R. D.
Published: March 2017

This work describes the analysis of morphology and electrical resistivity (ρ) obtained in the Au/Cu/Si system. The Au/Cu bilayers were deposited by thermal evaporation technique with thicknesses from 50 to 250 nm on SiOx/Si(100) substrates. The Au : Cu concentration ratio of the samples was of 25 : 75 at%. The bilayers were annealed into a vacuum oven with argon atmosphere at 660 K for one hour. The crystalline structures of AuCu and CuSi alloys were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to study the morphology, final thickness, and the atomic concentration of the alloys formed, respectively. The four-point probe technique was used to measure the electrical resistivity (ρ) in the prepared alloys as a function of thickness. The ρ value was measured and it was numerically compared with the Fuchs–Sondheimer (FS) and the Mayadas–Shatzkes (MS) models of resistivity. Results show values of electrical resistivity between 0.9 and 1.9 μΩ-cm. These values are four times smaller than the values of the AuCu systems reported in literature.
ARES: A Parallel Discrete Ordinates Transport Code for Radiation Shielding Applications and Reactor Physics Analysis
Authors: Chen Yixue , Zhang Bin , Zhang Liang , Zheng Junxiao , Zheng Ying , Liu Cong
Published: March 2017

ARES is a multidimensional parallel discrete ordinates particle transport code with arbitrary order anisotropic scattering. It can be applied to a wide variety of radiation shielding calculations and reactor physics analysis. ARES uses state-of-the-art solution methods to obtain accurate solutions to the linear Boltzmann transport equation. A multigroup discretization is applied in energy. The code allows multiple spatial discretization schemes and solution methodologies. ARES currently provides diamond difference with or without linear-zero flux fixup, theta weighted, directional theta weighted, exponential directional weighted, and linear discontinuous finite element spatial differencing schemes. Discrete ordinates differencing in angle and spherical harmonics expansion of the scattering source are adopted. First collision source method is used to eliminate or mitigate the ray effects. Traditional source iteration and Krylov iterative method preconditioned with diffusion synthetic acceleration are applied to solve the linear system of equations. ARES uses the Koch-Baker-Alcouffe parallel sweep algorithm to obtain high parallel efficiency. Verification and validation for the ARES transport code system have been done by lots of benchmarks. In this paper, ARES solutions to the HBR-2 benchmark and C5G7 benchmarks are in excellent agreement with published results. Numerical results are presented which demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of these methods.
Meningococcal Neonatal Purulent Conjunctivitis/Sepsis and Asymptomatic Carriage of N. meningitidis in Mother’s Vagina and Both Parents’ Nasopharynx
Authors: Chacon-Cruz Enrique , Alvelais-Palacios Jorge Arturo , Rodriguez-Valencia Jaime Alfonso , Lopatynsky-Reyes Erika Zoe , Volker-Soberanes Maria Luisa , Rivas-Landeros Rosa Maria
Published: March 2017

Neonatal conjunctivitis is usually associated with vagina’s infection by Chlamydia sp., N. gonorrhoeae, and/or other bacteria during delivery. Meningococcal neonatal conjunctivitis is an extremely rare disease. We report a case of neonatal meningococcal sepsis/conjunctivitis and asymptomatic carriage of N. meningitidis from both parents (vagina and nasopharynx). As part of our active surveillance for meningococcal disease at the Tijuana General Hospital (TGH), Mexico, we identified a 3-day-old newborn with meningococcal conjunctivitis and sepsis. The patient had a one-day history of conjunctivitis and poor feeding. Clinical examination confirmed profuse purulent conjunctival discharge, as well as clinical signs and laboratory findings suggestive of bacteraemia. Gram stain from conjunctival exudate revealed intracellular Gram negative diplococci; we presumed the baby had gonorrheal conjunctivitis; however, serogroup Y, N. meningitidis was isolated both from conjunctival exudate and blood. Additionally, isolation of serogroup Y, N. meningitidis was obtained from mother’s vagina and both parents’ nasopharynx. The baby was treated with 7 days of IV ceftriaxone and discharged with no sequelae.
The Efficacy and Safety of 12 Weeks of Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir versus Sofosbuvir, Ledipasvir, and Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C, Genotype 1, Who Have Cirrhosis and Have Failed Prior Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Stokes William , Fenton Carol , Clement Fiona , James Matthew , Ronksley Paul , Tang Karen L.
Published: March 2017

Background.The recommended therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), genotype 1, who have cirrhosis and have failed prior therapy is 12 weeks of sofosbuvir (SOF), ledipasvir (LDV), and ribavirin (RBV). This recommendation is based on expert opinion, and the efficacy of 12 weeks of SOF/LDV compared to SOF/LDV/RBV in this patient population has not yet been established.Methods. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Two investigators independently searched electronic databases and relevant conference proceedings for randomized controlled trials comparing rates of sustained virologic response 12 weeks after therapy (SVR12) when using 12 weeks of SOF/LDV versus 12 weeks of SOF/LDV/RBV in patients with CHC, genotype 1, who have cirrhosis and failed previous therapy.Results.Our search strategy yielded 596 studies of which four met criteria for inclusion. The pooled RR of not achieving SVR12 with SOF/LDV versus SOF/LDV/RBV was 1.21 (95% CI: 0.42–3.48). Adverse events were lower in the SOF/LDV compared to the SOF/LDV/RBV arms (pooled RR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04–0.29).Conclusions.Our findings suggest that 12 weeks of SOF/LDV cannot be considered noninferior to 12 weeks of SOF/LDV/RBV to achieve SVR12 in patients with CHC who have cirrhosis and failed prior therapy.
Differential S1P Receptor Profiles on M1- and M2-Polarized Macrophages Affect Macrophage Cytokine Production and Migration
Authors: Müller Jan , von Bernstorff Wolfram , Heidecke Claus-Dieter , Schulze Tobias
Published: March 2017

Introduction. Macrophages are key players in complex biological processes. In response to environmental signals, macrophages undergo polarization towards a proinflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lysophospholipid that acts via 5 G-protein coupled receptors (S1P1–5) in order to influence a broad spectrum of biological processes. This study assesses S1P receptor expression on macrophages before and after M1 and M2 polarization and performs a comparative analysis of S1P signalling in the two activational states of macrophages. Methods. Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) from C57 BL/6 mice were cultured under either M1- or M2-polarizing conditions. S1P-receptor expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Influence of S1P on macrophage activation, migration, phagocytosis, and cytokine secretion was assessed in vitro. Results. All 5 S1P receptor subclasses were expressed in macrophages. Culture under both M1- and M2-polarizing conditions led to significant downregulation of S1P1. In contrast, M1-polarized macrophages significantly downregulated S1P4. The expression of the remaining three S1P receptors did not change. S1P increased expression of iNOS under M2-polarizing conditions. Furthermore, S1P induced chemotaxis in M1 macrophages and changed cytokine production in M2 macrophages. Phagocytosis was not affected by S1P-signalling. Discussion. The expression of different specific S1P receptor profiles may provide a possibility to selectively influence M1- or M2-polarized macrophages.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Presenting with MPO-ANCA Associated Vasculitis and Aortic Dissection
Authors: Voorzaat Bram M. , van Schaik Jan , Crobach Stijn L. P. , van Rijswijk Catharina S. P. , Rotmans Joris I.
Published: March 2017

The combination of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, ANCA-vasculitis, and aortic aneurysm has been rarely described in literature. We report an eventually fatal case in a 70-year-old patient who initially presented with giant cell arteritis and ANCA associated glomerulonephritis. Several years later, he presented with aortic dissection due to large vessel vasculitis, raising the suspicion of AAT deficiency, as two first-line relatives had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while they never smoked. This diagnosis was confirmed by AAT electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry on a temporal artery biopsy. Considering AAT deficiency in these cases might lead to a more timely diagnosis.
Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Activities of Byrsonima duckeana W. R. Anderson (Malpighiaceae)
Authors: Verdam Maria Christina dos Santos , Guilhon-Simplicio Fernanda , Andrade Kleyton Cardoso de , Fernandes Karina Lorena Meira , Machado Tallita Marques , da Silva Felipe Moura Araújo , Souza Mayane Pereira de , Koolen Hector Henrique Ferreira , Paula Cristiane da Silva , Hirota Beatriz Cristina Konopatzki , Oliveira Vinícius Bednarczuk de , Miyazaki Cristina Mayumi Sasaki , Kalegari Milena , Miguel Marilis Dallarmi , Stuelp-Campelo Patricia Maria , Miguel Obdulio Gomes
Published: March 2017

Background. Byrsonima is a promising neotropical genus, rich in flavonoids and triterpenes, with several proven pharmacological properties. Nevertheless, Byrsonima duckeana W. R. Anderson is an Amazonian species almost not studied. Objective. To assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities of Byrsonima duckeana leaves. Materials and Methods. We analyzed an ethanol extract and its fractions for polyphenol content and UHPLC-MS/MS, phosphomolybdenum, DPPH, TBARS antioxidant tests, formalin-induced pain, carrageenan-induced peritonitis, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhings, and hot plate assays. Results. All the samples showed high polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity in the phosphomolybdenum, DPPH, and TBARS tests. We identified ethyl gallate, quinic acid, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, quercetrin, and quercetin in the samples. B. duckeana was able to reduce leukocyte migration in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis by 43% and the licking time in the formalin test by 57%. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, the chloroform (FCL) and ethyl acetate (FEA) fractions were the most active samples. FEA was selected for the hot plate test, where all the dosages tested (5, 50, and 200 mg·kg−1) showed significant analgesic activity. Conclusion. B. duckeana has interesting analgesic and antioxidant activities, due to its high phenolic content, especially phenolic acids.
Determination of Aflatoxin M1 and Chloramphenicol in Milk Based on Background Fluorescence Quenching Immunochromatographic Assay
Authors: Wu Xiaoxia , Tian Xiaofeng , Xu Lihua , Li Jiutong , Li Xinxia , Wang Yuwen
Published: March 2017

Harsh demanding has been exposed on the concentration of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and chloramphenicol (CAP) in milk. In this study, we developed a new method based on background fluorescence quenching immunochromatographic assay (bFQICA) to detect AFM1 and CAP in milk. The detection limit for AFM1 was 0.0009 ng/mL, while that for the CAP was 0.0008 ng/mL. The assay variability was determined with 3 AFM1 standards (i.e., 0.25 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL, and 1.0 ng/mL), and the actual detection value was 0.2497, 0.5329, and 1.0941, respectively. For the assay variability of 3 CAP standards (i.e., 0.10 ng/mL, 0.30 ng/mL, and 0.50 ng/mL), the actual detection value was 0.0996, 0.3096, and 0.4905, respectively. The recovery rate of AFM1 was 99.7%–101.7%, while that for CAP was 95.3%–97.6%. For the test stability, AFM1 and CAP showed satisfactory test stability even at month 5. Compared with the sensitivity of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method, no statistical difference was noticed in results of the bFQICA. Our method is convenient for the detection of AFM1 and CAP in milk with a test duration of about 8 minutes. Additionally, an internal WiFi facility is provided in the system allowing for quick connection and storage in the intelligent cell phone.
Structure Characteristics of the International Stock Market Complex Network in the Perspective of Whole and Part
Authors: Cao Guangxi , Shi Yingying , Li Qingchen
Published: March 2017

International stock market forms an abstract complex network through the fluctuation correlation of stock price index. Past studies of complex network almost focus on single country’s stock market. Here we investigate the whole and partial characteristics of international stock market network (ISMN) (hereinafter referred to as ISMN). For the analysis on the whole network, we firstly determine the reasonable threshold as the basic of the following study. Robustness is applied to analyze the stability of the network and the result shows that ISMN has robustness against random attack but intentional attack breaks the connection integrity of ISMN rapidly. In the partial network, the sliding window method is used to analyze the dynamic evolution of the relationship between the Chinese (Shanghai) stock market and the international stock market. The connection between the Chinese stock market and foreign stock markets becomes increasingly closer, and the links between them show a significant enhancement especially after China joined the WTO. In general, we suggest that transnational investors pay more attention to some significant event of the stock market with large degree for better risk-circumvention.
Image Analysis for MRI Based Brain Tumor Detection and Feature Extraction Using Biologically Inspired BWT and SVM
Authors: Bahadure Nilesh Bhaskarrao , Ray Arun Kumar , Thethi Har Pal
Published: March 2017

The segmentation, detection, and extraction of infected tumor area from magnetic resonance (MR) images are a primary concern but a tedious and time taking task performed by radiologists or clinical experts, and their accuracy depends on their experience only. So, the use of computer aided technology becomes very necessary to overcome these limitations. In this study, to improve the performance and reduce the complexity involves in the medical image segmentation process, we have investigated Berkeley wavelet transformation (BWT) based brain tumor segmentation. Furthermore, to improve the accuracy and quality rate of the support vector machine (SVM) based classifier, relevant features are extracted from each segmented tissue. The experimental results of proposed technique have been evaluated and validated for performance and quality analysis on magnetic resonance brain images, based on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and dice similarity index coefficient. The experimental results achieved 96.51% accuracy, 94.2% specificity, and 97.72% sensitivity, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed technique for identifying normal and abnormal tissues from brain MR images. The experimental results also obtained an average of 0.82 dice similarity index coefficient, which indicates better overlap between the automated (machines) extracted tumor region with manually extracted tumor region by radiologists. The simulation results prove the significance in terms of quality parameters and accuracy in comparison to state-of-the-art techniques.
Competition with Variety Seeking and Habitual Consumption: Price Commitment or Quality Commitment?
Authors: Xiong Liyang , Liu Guan , Jiang Shi
Published: March 2017

This paper investigates price and quality competition in a market where consumers seek variety and habit formation. Variety seeking is modeled as a decrease in the willingness to pay for product purchased on the previous occasion while habitual consumption may increase future marginal utility. We compare two competing strategies: price commitment and quality commitment. With a three‐stage Hotelling‐type model, we show that variety seeking intensifies while habitual consumption softens the competition. With price commitment, firms supply lower quality levels in period 1 and higher quality levels in period 2, while, with quality commitment, firms charge higher prices in period 1 and lower prices in period 2. However, the habitual consumption brings the opposite effect. In addition, with quality commitment variety seeking leads to a lower profit and a higher consumer surplus, while habitual consumption leads to the opposite results. On the other side, with price commitment these behaviors have no effect on the consumer surplus, although they still lower down the firm profits. Finally, we also identify conditions under which one strategy outperforms the other.
Djavan ou “De la musique avant toute chose ”
Authors: Siqueira Ivan
Published: March 2017

This article is an attempt to address the method of writing songs employed by Djavan, one of the greatest songwriters and singers of the 20th century in Brazil, by highlighting his musical singularities such as asymmetric rhythmic forms, a feeling of strangeness and prevalence of musical aspects over the sense of lyrics. It also deals with his major influences – Brazilian popular music, music from the Northeast, Bossa Nova, jazz and pop music
O arranjo como estrutura e tecido do discurso musical
Authors: Jardim Gil
Published: March 2017

This article focuses on the attributes of a musical arrangement category which turn into information that is inseparable from the song for which it was made, thus playing a significant role in the compositional plan of the work. Planning a certain arrangement structurally and defining its sound texture that will sustain the melody are then the parameters which identify the song itself. Rogério Duprat’s arrangement for “Construção” [Construction], a song by Chico Buarque de Holanda, is the work chosen for our analysis
Criar um mundo do nada
Authors: Moraes José Geraldo Vinci de
Published: March 2017

During the course of the 1960s, a generation of journalists based in Rio de Janeiro city was concerned with commenting and systematically analyzing different aspects of the making of urban popular music in Brazil. Deeply interested in the subject, which was part of their own life experiences; they went beyond the limits of journalistic chronicles and devoted themselves to individually making comprehensive inventories, organizing wonderful private collections and gathering bibliography on the subject. Ary Vasconcelos, a journalist and chronicler from Rio de Janeiro, was one of the main protagonists of this process. This article aims to critically examine aspects of his historiographical work process, as well as his interpretations and contributions to the invention and construction of a historiographical narrative
Undervaluation, Financial Development, and Economic Growth
Authors: Zou Jingxian , Wang Yaqi
Published: March 2017

This paper analyzes the effect of undervaluation on economic growth in the presence of borrowing constraints. Based on a two-sector, small open-economy model, we show that undervaluation can promote economic growth by partly correcting distortions in financial markets through the channels of increased within-sector productivity and the relative share of the tradable sector in an economy. Such an effect is magnified amid tight borrowing constraints. We empirically test the theoretical conclusions using cross-economy data for the period 1980–2011. For economies whose level of financial development lies at the 25th percentile of our sample, a 50% undervaluation can boost the economic growth rate by 0.3 percentage points. There is an additional 0.045 percentage point increase in economic growth with a 10% decline in the financial development measure.
Household Energy Consumption and Its Determinants in Timor-Leste
Authors: Rahut Dil Bahadur , Mottaleb Khondoker Abdul , Ali Akhter
Published: March 2017

Using data from the 2007 Timor-Leste Living Standards Survey, this paper examines the determinants of household energy choices in Timor-Leste. The majority of households are dependent on dirty fuels such as fuelwood and kerosene for energy. Only a small fraction of households use clean energy such as electricity. Econometric results show that wealthy households, urban households, and those headed by individuals with higher levels of education are less likely to use and depend on kerosene and more likely to use and depend on electricity. While female-headed households are generally more likely to use and depend on fuelwood, richer female-headed households are more likely to use and depend on electricity. Our findings highlight the importance of ensuring an adequate supply of clean energy for all at affordable prices and of investing in education to raise awareness about the adverse impacts of using dirty fuels.
The Feudal Unconscious: Capitalism and the Family Romance
Authors: Meisel Perry
Published: March 2017

A close reading of Freud's texts reveals that they make a surprising historical argument by virtue of their metaphors. The fantasy world of the family romance (primary process or the unconscious) and the world of consciousness (secondary process or the ego) are represented, respectively, by the vocabularies of feudalism and capitalism. Even after Freud's mid-career revision of his model of the mind, in which the difference between consciousness and the unconscious and between ego and libido becomes less important, he continues to use the metaphors to describe primary and secondary processes. The author demonstrates how durable and precise this double tropology is, and how clearly it conforms to representations of feudalism in classical historiography and Christian theology and to representations of capitalism in Hegel, Marx, and John Maynard Keynes. The result is a picture of the Freudian psyche as a storehouse of the concrete, material history from which modern subjectivity derives.
Rooms: Richard Hamilton and Postmodernism
Authors: Lotery Kevin
Published: March 2017

In 1978, Richard Hamilton mounted The artist's eye at the National Gallery, London, the second in the museum's series of artist-designed exhibitions. The result was a strange space in which Bosch and Velázquez commingled with an Eames recliner, an ironing board, and a working television. Five years later, Hamilton constructed Treatment Room (1983–84), in which painting's skillful gestures found themselves interrogated by Orwellian machineries of destruction and paranoia. This essay argues that Hamilton's remobilization of traditions of painterly imagination and skill held a critical spatial function: to equip spectators with cognitive tools for thinking through and imagining routes out of the traumatic “rooms” of a postmodern decade.
Future from the Balkans
Authors: Badovinac Zdenka
Published: March 2017

Drawing on the practices of several Eastern European artists, this essay explores ways in which the European refugee crisis has the potential to transform ideas of community. The author highlights artists whose direct commentary on the crisis confronts a loss of the type of collectivity that socialism used to maintain. Given the fact that the Balkan refugee route has, until recently, run mainly through former Yugoslav countries, it seems critical to reconsider notions of collectivity in light of the effect of the war in the region in the 1990s. On the one hand, collectivity in the socialist era served as an official ideology that meant, among other things, that responsibility was held by everyone and no one; on the other hand, there was a genuine spirit of collectivism among the people. In Yugoslavia, founded as it was on communist notions and on the ideology of brotherhood and unity, the collective habitus has become strongly rooted among artists. Indeed, it is still operative in the current environment of razor-wire fences, and as one result, artists in the region have paid relatively little attention to how contemporary crises affect the individual and have focused instead on how those crises challenge us to reexamine the concept of community.
A new species of Passiflora section Granadillastrum (Passifloraceae) from Jaén, Peru
Authors: ESQUERRE-IBAÑEZ BORIS
Published: March 2017

Passiflora jaenensis B.Esquerre is described and illustrated as a species new to science and endemic to Peru. According to a recent classification of Passiflora its placement within subgenus Passiflora, section Granadillastrum is proposed. This new species is morphologically similar to Passiflora sprucei Masters (1872: 568) and Passiflora subulata Masters (1872: 567) but it differs in features of the leaves, flowers and geographic distribution. Information about its habitat and preliminary distribution are included here.
A checklist of the Robber Flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) of Wyoming, USA
Authors: LAVIGNE ROBERT J. , DENNIS D. STEVE
Published: March 2017

A checklist of 158 species of Wyoming robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) is presented for the first time based on personal collecting, literature review, museum specimens, and online databases. In Wyoming, asilid habitats range from arid desert environments to mountainous pine-douglas fir forests. According to the latest classification system of Dikow (2009), these include 54 species of Asilinae, 24 species of Brachyrhopalinae, 10 species of Dasypogoninae, 3 species of Dioctriinae, 23 species of Laphriinae, 8 species of Leptogastrinae, 24 species of Stenopogoninae, 8 species of Stichopogoninae, 1 species of Trigonomiminae, and 3 species of Willistonininae. Thirty-one of these species have not been previously recorded as occurring in Wyoming.
Description of two new species of the Neoperla montivaga group (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Authors: YANG JUAN , ZHANG SUJIONG , LI WEIHAI
Published: March 2017

The following two new species from Shiwandashan of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China are described, Neoperla bicolor Yang, Zhang & Li, sp. nov. and N. muranyii Yang, Zhang & Li, sp. nov. The new species are compared with related congeners of their respective species subgroups.
The Glyptothorax of the Bolaven Plateau, Laos (Teleostei: Sisoridae): new and endangered
Authors: NG HEOK HEE , KOTTELAT MAURICE
Published: March 2017

Glyptothorax forabilis, new species, and G. porrectus, new species, are described from the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos. Both species closely resemble G. laosensis, but can be distinguished from it and other Indochinese congeners by combinations of color pattern, morphometry (with particular regards to the eye, body depth, and caudal peduncle) and thoracic adhesive apparatus morphology. Both species are endemic to the Bolaven Plateau, have a very limited distribution and are threatened by hydropower and agricultural activities.
Revision of the Greater Antilles genus Paratrikona Spaeth, 1923 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Dorynotini)
Authors: SIMÕES MARIANNA V. P.
Published: March 2017

The Greater Antilles genus Paratrikona is revised. One new species is described from Cuba: Paratrikona blakeae Simões new species. An updated identification key to the species of the genus and new distributional records are provided.
Revision of the Remaneicaris argentina-group (Copepoda, Harpacticoida,
Parastenocarididae): supplementary description of species, and description of the first semi-terrestrial Remaneicaris from the tropical forest of Southeast Mexico
Authors: CORGOSINHO PAULO HENRIQUE C. , MERCADO-SALAS NANCY F. , ARBIZU PEDRO MARTÍNEZ , SILVA EDINALDO NELSON DOS SANTOS , KIHARA TERUE C.
Published: March 2017

Remaneicaris is a species-rich Neotropical monophyletic group, easily recognized by the synapomorphic position of the outer seta of the third exopodite of leg 4, localized at 2/3 of the outer margin. The genus, comprising 35 species in five monophyletic groups, plus R. ignotus and R. meyerabichi, retains an unusual set of plesiomorphic characters. Herein we supplement the descriptions of the species belonging to the Remaneicaris argentina-group, and describe a new species from the tropical forest of Southeast Mexico. The present study extends the geographic distribution of the genus, with the northernmost record until now being from El Salvador. The genus having hitherto been known from interstitial groundwater habitats, this is its first record in epigean semi-terrestrial habitats. Remaneicaris siankaan sp. nov. was found in phytotelmata (bromeliads), leaf litter, moist soil, permanent ponds (known locally as “aguadas”), and temporal and permanent wetlands (savannahs). The new species can be easily characterized by its finely pitted cuticle, the ε (epsilon)-shaped thumb of the male P3 and the bifid accessory spine with distal hyaline inner tip, which precedes the thumb. A new method for the 3D reconstruction of microcrustaceans is described.
A new species of Mud Snake (Serpentes, Homalopsidae, Gyiophis Murphy & Voris, 2014) from Myanmar with a first molecular phylogenetic assessment of the genus
Authors: QUAH EVAN S.H. , GRISMER L. LEE , WOOD PERRY L., JR. , THURA MYINT KYAW , ZIN THAW , KYAW HTET , LWIN NGWE , GRISMER MARTA S. , MURDOCH MATTHEW L.
Published: March 2017

A newly discovered species of homalopsid snake from the genus Gyiophis Murphy & Voris is described from the lowlands of Mawlamyine District in Mon state, southeastern Myanmar. Gyiophis salweenensis sp. nov. is presumed to be closely related to G. maculosa Blanford and G. vorisi Murphy based on the similarities in pholidosis and patterning but can be separated from G. maculosa by the shape of its first three dorsal scale rows that are square, ventral scale pattern that lacks a central spot, and a faint stripe on dorsal scale rows 1–4. It can be further distinguished from G. vorisi by its lower number of ventral scales (129 vs. 142–152), lower number of subcaudals (30/29 vs. 41–58), narrow rostral scale, and having more rows of spots on the dorsum (four vs. three). A preliminary molecular analysis using 1050 base pairs of cytochrome b (cytb) recovered G. salweenensis sp. nov. as the sister species to the Chinese Mud Snake (Myrrophis chinensis). G. maculosa and G. vorisi were unavailable for the analysis. The discovery of G. salweenensis sp. nov. highlights the need for more surveys into the herpetological diversity of eastern Myanmar which remains very much underestimated.
Modulating Effects of Planetary Wave 3 on a Stratospheric Sudden Warming Event in 2005
Authors: Shi Chunhua , Xu Ting , Guo Dong , Pan Zaitao
Published: March 2017

The Eliassen–Palm flux (EPF) and Plumb’s wave activity flux (WAF) were computed, using ERA-Interim data, to analyze the influence of planetary wave 3 on a stratospheric sudden warming event from 17 February to 15 March 2005 (SSW05). It was found that 1) SSW05 consisted of three stages: a prior minor warming (MnW05), a late final warming (FW05), and a warming stagnation between MnW05 and FW05; 2) the wave 3 first decreased total upward EPFs by more than 30% at 100 hPa, resulting in the warming stagnation, and then increased upward EPFs by greater than 50%, leading to FW05; and 3) the anomalies of wave-3 activity fluxes were associated with the pattern of Atlantic blocking high in the latter two stages. The interactions between the wave 3 and wave 1 partitioned the zonal upward channel of total wave activity fluxes from one longitudinal region into two longitudinal regions and affected SSW05.
A Climatology of Central American Gyres
Authors: Papin Philippe P. , Bosart Lance F. , Torn Ryan D.
Published: March 2017

Central American gyres (CAGs) are large, closed, cyclonic circulations that occur during the rainy season (May–November), which can yield exceptional rainfall leading to catastrophic flooding and large societal impacts. A reanalysis-based climatology of CAGs is developed from an algorithm that distinguishes CAG cases from other systems. This algorithm identified CAG cases based on circulation intensity, a broad radius of maximum winds, and the existence of closed, Earth-relative, cyclonic flow. Based on these criteria, 47 CAG cases were identified from 1980 to 2010, featuring a bimodal distribution of cases with maxima in May–June and September–November.

CAG cases are composited into two categories based on their upper-tropospheric PV structure: nonbaroclinic CAGs are more common (N = 42) and characterized by an upper-tropospheric anticyclone, while baroclinic CAGs are less common (N = 5) and characterized by an upper-tropospheric trough. Whereas a nonbaroclinic CAG has anomalous moisture and precipitation surrounding the center, a baroclinic CAG has anomalous moisture and precipitation concentrated east of the center, with these structural differences attributed to their upper-tropospheric PV structure. Both nonbaroclinic and baroclinic CAGs are preceded by anomalous westerly lower-tropospheric flow in the eastern Pacific before their development, which is linked to a climatological reduction in easterly trade winds and is coincident with MJO phases 1, 2, and 8. Extreme precipitation is observed over multiple days in all available CAG cases, most commonly along the Central American coastline and on average over a large fractional area (25%) within 10° of their center.
Teacher Evaluation, Pay for Performance, and Learning Around Instruction: Between Dissonant Incentives and Resonant Procedures
Authors: Mintrop Rick , Ordenes Miguel , Coghlan Erin , Pryor Laura , Madero Cristobal
Published: March 2017

Purpose: The study examines why the logic of a performance management system, supported by the federal Teacher Incentive Fund, might be faulty. It does this by exploring the nuances of the interplay between teaching evaluations as formative and summative, the use of procedures, tools, and artifacts obligated by the local Teacher Incentive Fund system, and bonus payments as extrinsic motivators. Research Methods: The study is a qualitative longitudinal study in three public charter schools that were selected as a presumably conducive environment for incentive-driven performance management. Eight rounds of semistructured interviews, 130 interviews, and 65 hours of meeting observations are the data for this study. Findings: In the three charter schools, the adoption period was characterized by consonance, the belief that the performance management system served valued purposes. In midlife, dissonance set in. Performance contingencies attached to both bonus and external evaluations were perceived as disconfirming the values of the schools. Incentives and status competition were largely rebuffed and relegated to the periphery. Once the power of incentives became latent, a period of resonance set in. Administrators and teachers came to interact with the two main artifacts, videos of lessons and the Summative Evaluation of Teaching observation tool, in ways that afforded new learning. Implications for Research and Practice: The study suggests that research insights can be gained when logics of complex performance management systems are disentangled and competing dynamics deliberately studied. Practically speaking, when schools try to maintain a rich collegial culture, incentives may crowd out the use of teaching evaluations for formative learning.
Comparison of Sedentary Behaviors in Office Workers Using Sit-Stand Tables With and Without Semiautomated Position Changes
Authors: Barbieri Dechristian França , Srinivasan Divya , Mathiassen Svend Erik , Oliveira Ana Beatriz
Published: March 2017

Objective:

We compared usage patterns of two different electronically controlled sit-stand tables during a 2-month intervention period among office workers.

Background:

Office workers spend most of their working time sitting, which is likely detrimental to health. Although the introduction of sit-stand tables has been suggested as an effective intervention to decrease sitting time, limited evidence is available on usage patterns of sit-stand tables and whether patterns are influenced by table configuration.

Method:

Twelve workers were provided with standard sit-stand tables (nonautomated table group) and 12 with semiautomated sit-stand tables programmed to change table position according to a preset pattern, if the user agreed to the system-generated prompt (semiautomated table group). Table position was monitored continuously for 2 months after introducing the tables, as a proxy for sit-stand behavior.

Results:

On average, the table was in a “sit” position for 85% of the workday in both groups; this percentage did not change significantly during the 2-month period. Switches in table position from sit to stand were, however, more frequent in the semiautomated table group than in the nonautomated table group (0.65 vs. 0.29 hr-1; p = .001).

Conclusion:

Introducing a semiautomated sit-stand table appeared to be an attractive alternative to a standard sit-stand table, because it led to more posture variation.

Application:

A semiautomated sit-stand table may effectively contribute to making postures more variable among office workers and thus aid in alleviating negative health effects of extensive sitting.
Electro-deposition of Ni-Co/graphene oxide nanocomposites and deformational behavior of tension and bulging
Authors: Wang Guofeng , Li You , Liu Siyu , Yang Chao
Published: March 2017

The Ni-Co/graphene oxide nanocomposites were fabricated by alternating current pulse electrodeposition. Tensile as well as bulging forming tests were also performed on the fabricated material. The results show that graphene oxide can be effectively deposited on the Ni-Co matrix. With increasing of current density used in electrodeposition, elongations of composites at room temperature and the high temperature was first increased and then decreased, having a maximum value. The elongations increased with the growth of pH of the electrodeposition electrolyte. The proper addition of graphene oxide improved the plastic forming capability of the material, which was verified in the tensile test and bulging experiment at high temperature.
TRPA1 Channels Mediate Human Gingival Fibroblast Response to Phenytoin
Authors: López-González M.J. , Luis E. , Fajardo O. , Meseguer V. , Gers-Barlag K. , Niñerola S. , Viana F.
Published: March 2017

Drug-induced gingival enlargement (GE) is a frequent adverse effect observed in patients treated with anticonvulsant, immunosuppressant, and some antihypertensive medications—the antiepileptic phenytoin being the main drug associated with GE due to its high incidence (around 50%). The molecular mechanisms behind drug-induced gingival overgrowth are still unknown. By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we demonstrate that the calcium-permeable ion channels TRPA1, TRPV1, and its capsaicin-insensitive isoform TRPV1b are expressed in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), the most abundant cellular type in periodontal tissue. Cultured HGFs responded with intracellular calcium elevations to phenytoin and to the canonical TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate. Application of phenytoin activated a nonselective cationic current in HGFs with a typical signature for TRPA1 channels. Moreover, this activation was blocked by HC030031, a specific TRPA1 blocker. Similarly, the use of shRNAs against hTRPA1 in HGFs reduced TRPA1 expression and activation by phenytoin. In addition, we show that phenytoin increased intracellular calcium levels in cells transfected with mouse or human TRPA1 channels. Responses to phenytoin were not observed in untransfected cells or cells expressing TRPM8 or TRPV1. The activation of HGFs by phenytoin was markedly reduced in the presence of antioxidant vitamins: ascorbic acid, folic acid, and α-tocopherol. By performing cell proliferation assays, we found that phenytoin did not augment the proliferation rate of HGFs. In contrast, alcian blue and picrosirius red staining of long-term HGFs cultures indicated that phenytoin induces extracellular matrix accumulation of collagen. Collectively, these findings support an important role of TRPA1 channels in phenytoin-induced GE, provide insight into the pathophysiologic mechanism, and offer novel therapeutic opportunities for its treatment.
Localized recursive spatial-temporal state quantification method for data assimilation of wildfire spread simulation
Authors: Gu Feng
Published: March 2017

Data assimilation is a procedure to improve the state inference by assimilating the real-time observation data into dynamic systems, such as wildfire spread simulation. Various techniques are used for data assimilation, such as sequential Monte Carlo methods, also called particle filters. In the standard sequential Monte Carlo methods, the used number of particles is the same during the entire process and their convergence is not measured or characterized for runtime state estimation. Therefore, to guarantee the convergence, an abundance of particles is required so that they can be widely distributed in the state space to converge to the true posterior of the system state. In the application of wildfire spread simulation, the spatial states are large and the system behaves in a heterogeneous manner in different fire areas. The heterogeneous feature and the spatially and temporally dynamic behavior of the wildfire spread simulation cause the state inference uncertainty to be dynamically changed. In this paper, we propose the localized recursive spatial-temporal state quantification method to measure the convergence of particles at runtime and apply various approaches to improve the state inference. To show its effectiveness, we apply two different algorithms – the adaptively perturbing the localized state space algorithm and the adaptive particle filtering algorithm – to the localized recursive spatial-temporal state quantification method to improve the state estimation and enhance the performance respectively. The designed experiments are used to show the effectiveness of the adaptively perturbing the localized state space algorithm and the adaptive particle filtering algorithm in the improvement of the state estimation and the performance of data assimilation in wildfire spread simulation.