bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous detection of positive and negative secondary ions
Authors: Chater Richard J. , Smith Alan J. , Cooke Graham
Published: March 2016

A secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) instrument is described that is configured with two SIMS detectors that are both low-field extraction, quadrupole-based filters. Secondary ions are generated by sputtering with a liquid-metal ion gallium source and column of the type that is common on two-beam electron microscopes. The gallium ion beam, or focused ion beam achieves sub-100 nm focus with a continuous current of up to 300 pA. Positive secondary ions are detected by one SIMS detector, and simultaneously, negative secondary ions are detected by the second SIMS detector. The SIMS detectors are independently controlled for recording mass spectra, concentration depth profiles, and secondary ion images. Examples of simultaneous positive and negative SIMS are included that demonstrate the advantage of this facility for surface analysis and depth profiling. The SIMS secondary ion collection has been modeled using the ray tracing program simion (“simion”, Scientific Instrument Services, Inc., Ringoes, NJ, 08551-1054, see http://www.simion.com) in order to understand the interaction of the secondary ions of opposite polarities in the extraction volume for the purpose of optimizing secondary ion collection.
Kisameet Clay Isolated from the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, Demonstrates Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Zhanel George G. , Karlowsky James A.
Published: March 2016

Clay minerals are naturally occurring layered phyllosilicates which consist of fine particles and possess antimicrobial activity. In a recent article, Behroozian et al. obtained Kisameet clay (KC) from Kisameet, from the central coast of British Columbia, Canada, northwest of Vancouver and assessed its antimicrobial activity versus 16 selected ESKAPE pathogens (
Enterococcus faecium
,
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Acinetobacter baumannii
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Enterobacter
spp.) possessing a variety of different resistance profiles [S. Behroozian, S. L. Svensson, and J. Davies, mBio 7(1):e01842-15, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01842-15]. KC demonstrated complete bacterial eradication of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Acinetobacter baumannii
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Staphylococcus aureus
within 24 h. For
Enterobacter
spp., the organisms were eradicated with 1% KC within 5 h, while for
Enterococcus faecium
, it took 48 h to kill all organisms. Although many questions need to be answered, these exciting findings highlight the importance of testing natural substances/products from around the globe to assess whether they possess antimicrobial activity and potential for usage as topical, oral, or systemic agents for the treatment of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
The Fast-Evolvingphy-2Gene Modulates Sexual Development in Response to Light in the Model Fungus Neurospora crassa
Authors: Wang Zheng , Li Ning , Li Jigang , Dunlap Jay C. , Trail Frances , Townsend Jeffrey P.
Published: March 2016

Rapid responses to changes in incident light are critical to the guidance of behavior and development in most species. Phytochrome light receptors in particular play key roles in bacterial physiology and plant development, but their functions and regulation are less well understood in fungi. Nevertheless, genome-wide expression measurements provide key information that can guide experiments that reveal how genes respond to environmental signals and clarify their role in development. We performed functional genomic and phenotypic analyses of the two phytochromes inNeurospora crassa, a fungal model adapted to a postfire environment that experiences dramatically variable light conditions. Expression ofphy-1andphy-2was low in early sexual development and in the case ofphy-2increased in late sexual development. Under light stimulation, strains with the phytochromes deleted exhibited increased expression of sexual development-related genes. Moreover, under red light, thephy-2knockout strain commenced sexual development early. In the evolution of phytochromes within ascomycetes, at least two duplications have occurred, and the faster-evolvingphy-2gene has frequently been lost. Additionally, the three key cysteine sites that are critical for bacterial and plant phytochrome function are not conserved within fungalphy-2homologs. Through the action of phytochromes, transitions between asexual and sexual reproduction are modulated by light level and light quality, presumably as an adaptation for fast asexual growth and initiation of sexual reproduction ofN. crassain exposed postfire ecosystems.

IMPORTANCEEnvironmental signals, including light, play critical roles in regulating fungal growth and pathogenicity, and balance of asexual and sexual reproduction is critical in fungal pathogens’ incidence, virulence, and distribution. Red light sensing by phytochromes is well known to play critical roles in bacterial physiology and plant development. Homologs of phytochromes were first discovered in the fungal modelNeurospora crassaand then subsequently in diverse other fungi, including many plant pathogens. Our study investigated the evolution of red light sensors in ascomycetes and confirmed—using the model fungusNeurospora crassa—their roles in modulating the asexual-sexual reproduction balance in fungi. Our findings also provide a key insight into one of the most poorly understood aspects of fungal biology, suggesting that further study of the function of phytochromes in fungi is critical to reveal the genetic basis of the asexual-sexual switch responsible for fungal growth and distribution, including diverse and destructive plant pathogens.
Cardiac arrest in an 18-year-old man caused by anomalous right coronary artery origin
Authors: Cronin Heather , Curtin Ronan
Published: March 2016

An 18-year-old man presented to hospital following an out of hospital ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, with successful resuscitation at the scene. The incident happened during a competitive football match in which the man was playing. In the course of an extensive work up, a CT coronary angiogram demonstrated an anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) origin in the left coronary sinus. The RCA followed an initial intramural and subsequent interarterial course between the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk. Cardiac MRI showed a small subendocardial area of delayed gadolinium enhancement in the inferoseptal wall, consistent with a small infarct. Treatment involved elective coronary artery bypass of the RCA with a right internal mammary artery graft. The patient made a full recovery. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was not inserted and he was advised not to return to competitive sports.
Effect of vitamin D replacement on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a randomised controlled trial in pregnant women with hypovitaminosis D. A protocol
Authors: Chakhtoura M , Nassar A , Arabi A , Cooper C , Harvey N , Mahfoud Z , Nabulsi M , El-Hajj Fuleihan G
Published: March 2016

Introduction

The vitamin D recommended doses during pregnancy differ between societies. The WHO guidelines do not recommend routine prenatal supplementation, but they underscore the fact that women with the lowest levels may benefit most. The effects of routine supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal clinical outcomes have not been investigated in the Middle East, where hypovitaminosis D is prevalent. Our hypothesis is that in Middle Eastern pregnant women, a vitamin D dose of 3000 IU/day is required to reach a desirable maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level, and to positively impact infant bone mineral content (BMC).

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre blinded randomised controlled trial. Pregnant women presenting to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics will be approached. Eligible women will be randomised to daily equivalent doses of cholecalciferol, 600 IU or 3000 IU, from 15 to 18 weeks gestation until delivery. Maternal 25(OH)D and chemistries will be assessed at study entry, during the third trimester and at delivery. Neonatal anthropometric variables and 25(OH)D level will be measured at birth, and bone and fat mass assessment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan at 1 month. A sample size of 280 pregnant women is needed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the proportion of women reaching a 25(OH)D level ≥50 nmol/L at delivery, and a difference in infant BMC of 6 (10)g, for a 90% power and a 2.5% level of significance. The proportions of women achieving a target 25(OH)D level will be compared between the two arms, using χ2. An independent t test will be used to compare mean infant BMC between the two arms. The primary analysis is an intention-to-treat analysis of unadjusted results.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at the American University of Beirut-Lebanon (IM.GEHF.22). The trial results will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals and presented at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT02434380.
Short-term changes in liver tests predict long-term mortality
Authors: Saffouri Eliana , Lim Eugénie S , Kim Susan W , Hakendorf Paul , Thompson Campbell H
Published: March 2016

Objective

To determine whether short-term changes in liver tests (bilirubin, albumin, gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase) predict 12-month mortality and, if so, which test is most informative.

Design

Retrospective review of general medicine inpatients at a tertiary hospital (2005–2012) identified non-elective admissions of minimum 7 days’ duration. Patients with liver disease, malignancy, admission to the intensive care unit or inpatient mortality were excluded. Linear spline modelled the vector of intra-admission change from admission. The association between 12-month mortality and admission and intra-admission changes in liver tests was assessed by logistic regression modelling, adjusted for age, gender, comorbidity index and heart failure.

Results

12-month mortality was 17% in 4160 patients analysed. 12-month mortality for patients with abnormally low albumin at admission was 5% higher per 1 g/L below 34 g/L (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.98, p<0.001). Albumin and ALT were the only tests for which an intra-admission change significantly predicted mortality; the predictive effects were additive. 12-month mortality was greater by 4% per 1 g/L intra-admission decrement in albumin (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.06, p<0.001) and 6% per 100 IU/L intra-admission increment in ALT (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.1, p=0.005). Intra-admission changes were superior to admission values in predicting mortality.

Conclusions

Changes in liver tests predict long-term mortality better than a single value and provide prognostic information more quickly than long-term monitoring. In the absence of known liver disease, albumin predicts long-term mortality better than transaminases. The patient whose albumin decreases in the short term is at high risk of death within 1 year, even from a normal baseline.
A Late Ordovician age for the Whirlpool and Power Glen formations, New York
Authors: Schröer Laurenz , Vandenbroucke Thijs R.A. , Hints Olle , Steeman Thomas , Verniers Jacques , Brett Carlton E. , Cramer Bradley D. , McLaughlin Patrick I.
Published: March 2016

A restudy of the palynology of the Whirlpool Formation and Power Glen Formation in New York (USA) yielded a diverse fossil assemblage with cryptospores, glomalean fungi, acritarchs, chitinozoans, scolecodonts, and small carbonaceous fossils. These new data, and particularly the presence of the chitinozoan index fossil Hercochitina crickmayi, combined with emerging stable carbon isotope data, suggest a Late Ordovician (Katian or Hirnantian) age for these formations, which is older than their previously suggested Silurian (Rhuddanian) age.
Previous growing season climate controls the occurrence of black spruce growth anomalies in boreal forests of Eastern Canada
Authors: Ols Clémentine , Hofgaard Annika , Bergeron Yves , Drobyshev Igor
Published: March 2016

To better understand climatic origins of annual tree-growth anomalies in boreal forests, we analysed 895 black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) tree-growth series from 46 xeric sites situated along three latitudinal transects in Eastern Canada. We identified interannual (based on comparison with previous year growth) and multidecadal (based on the entire tree-ring width distribution) growth anomalies between 1901 and 2001 at site and transect levels. Growth anomalies occurred mainly at site level and seldom at larger spatial scales. Both positive interannual and multidecadal growth anomalies were strongly associated with below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation during the previous growing season (Junet–1 – Augustt–1). The climatic signature of negative interannual and multidecadal growth anomalies was more complex and mainly associated with current-year climatic anomalies. Between the early and late 20th century, only negative multidecadal anomalies became more frequent. Our results highlight the role of previous growing season climate in controlling tree growth processes and suggest a positive association between climate warming and increases in the frequency of negative multidecadal growth anomalies. Projected climate change may further favour the occurrence of tree-growth anomalies and enhance the role of site conditions as modifiers of tree response to regional climate change.
Diversity of fungi from the mound nests ofFormica ulkeiand adjacent non-nest soils
Authors: Duff Lyndon B. , Urichuk Theresa M. , Hodgins Lisa N. , Young Jocelyn R. , Untereiner Wendy A.
Published: March 2016

Culture-based methods were employed to recover 3929 isolates of fungi from soils collected in May and July 2014 from mound nests of Formica ulkei and adjacent non-nest sites. The abundance, diversity, and richness of species from nest mounds exceeded those of non-mound soils, particularly in July. Communities of fungi from mounds were more similar to those from mounds than non-mounds; this was also the case for non-mound soils with the exception of one non-mound site in July. Species of Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, and Penicillium were dominant in nest soils and represented up to 81.8% of the taxa recovered. Members of the genus Aspergillus accounted for the majority of Trichocomaceae from nests and were represented almost exclusively by Aspergillus navahoensis and Aspergillus pseudodeflectus. Dominant fungi from non-mound sites included Cladosporium cladosporioides, Geomyces pannorum, and species of Acremonium, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Phoma. Although mound nests were warmer than adjacent soils, the dominance of xerotolerant Aspergillus in soils from mounds and the isolation of the majority of Trichocomaceae at 25 and 35 °C suggests that both temperature and water availability may be determinants of fungal community structure in nests of F. ulkei.
Random walks on real metro systems
Authors: Zhu Yueying , Zhao Longfeng , Li Wei , Wang Qiuping A. , Cai Xu
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we investigate the random walks on metro systems in 28 cities from worldwide via the Laplacian spectrum to realize the trapping process on real systems. The average trapping time is a primary description to response the trapping process. Firstly, we calculate the mean trapping time to each target station and to each entire system, respectively. Moreover, we also compare the average trapping time with the strength (the weighted degree) and average shortest path length for each station, separately. It is noted that the average trapping time has a close inverse relation with the station’s strength but rough positive correlation with the average shortest path length. And we also catch the information that the mean trapping time to each metro system approximately positively correlates with the system’s size. Finally, the trapping process on weighted and unweighted metro systems is compared to each other for better understanding the influence of weights on trapping process on metro networks. Numerical results show that the weights have no significant impact on the trapping performance on metro networks.
The dynamics of the rise and fall of empires
Authors: Gündüz Güngör
Published: March 2016

The rise of empires can be elucidated by treating them as living organisms, and the celebrated Verhulst or Lotka–Volterra dynamics can be used to understand the growth mechanisms of empires. The fast growth can be expressed by an exponential function as in the case of Macedonian empire of the Alexander the Great whereas a sigmoidal growth can be expressed by power-law equation as in the case of Roman and Ottoman empires. The superpowers Russia and the USA follow somehow different mechanisms, Russia displays two different exponential growth behaviors whereas the USA follows two different power-law behaviors. They did not disturb and mobilize their social capacity much during the course of their rise. The decline and the collapse of an empire occur through a kind of fragmentation process, and the consequently formed small states become rather free in their behavior. The lands of the new states formed exhibit a hierarchical pattern, and the number of the states having an area smaller than the largest one can be given either by an exponential or power-law function. The exponential distribution pattern occurs when the states are quite free in their pursuits, but the power-law behavior occurs when they are under the pressure of an empire or a strong state in the region. The geological and geographical conditions also affect whether there occurs exponential or power-law behavior. The new unions formed such as the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation increase the power-law exponent implying that they increase the stress in the international affairs. The viscoelastic behavior of the empires can be found from the scattering diagrams, and the storage [Formula: see text]and loss modulus [Formula: see text], and the associated work-like and heat-like terms can be determined in the sense of thermodynamics. The [Formula: see text] of Ottomans was larger than that of Romans implying that they confronted severe resistance during their expansion. The [Formula: see text] of Russia is also larger than that of the USA; in fact the USA did not face severe resistance as they had an overwhelming superiority over native Americans. The [Formula: see text] indicates solidity in the social structure and Romans, Ottomans, and Russians all have [Formula: see text] larger than [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text] is slightly larger than [Formula: see text] for the USA indicating that they have had a very flexible social structure. By the same token the ratio of the work-like term to the internal energy is larger for Ottomans than that of Romans, and larger for the USA than that of Russia. That means the fraction of the total energy allocated to improve the social capacity is larger for Romans than that of Ottomans, and is larger for Russians than that of the USA.
Queueing Analysis of Continuous Queries for Uncertain Data Streams Over Sliding Windows
Authors: Xiao Guoqing , Li Kenli , Zhou Xu , Li Keqin
Published: March 2016

With the rapid development of data collection methods and their practical applications, the management of uncertain data streams has drawn wide attention in both academia and industry. System capacity planning and Quality of service (QoS) metrics are two very important problems for data stream management systems (DSMSs) to process streams efficiently due to unpredictable input characteristics and limited memory resource in the system. Motivated by this, in this paper, we explore an effective approach to estimate the memory requirement, data loss ratio, and tuple latency of continuous queries for uncertain data streams over sliding windows in a DSMS. More specifically, we propose a queueing model to address these problems in this paper. We study the average number of tuples, average tuple latency in the queue, and the distribution of the number of tuples and tuple latency in the queue under the Poisson arrival of input data streams in our queueing model. Furthermore, we also determine the maximum capacity of the queueing system based on the data loss ratio. The solutions for the above problems are very important to help researchers design, manage, and optimize a DSMS, including allocating buffer needed for a queue and admitting a continuous uncertain query to the system without violation of the pre-specified QoS requirements.
A Symbolic Dynamics Perspective of Conway’s Game of Life
Authors: Chen Fangyue , Chen Bo , Guan Junbiao , Jin Weifeng
Published: March 2016

An interesting question is whether the intrinsic complexity of the gliders in [Formula: see text]-dimensional cellular automata could be quantitatively analyzed in rigorously mathematical sense. In this paper, by introducing the [Formula: see text]-dimensional symbolic space, some fundamental dynamical properties of [Formula: see text]-dimensional shift map are explored in a subtle way. The purpose of this article is to present an accurate characterization of complex symbolic dynamics of gliders in Conway’s game of life. A series of dynamical properties of gliders on their concrete subsystems are investigated by means of the directed graph representation and transition matrix. More specifically, the gliders here are topologically mixing and possess the positive topological entropy on their subsystems. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the method presented in this paper is also applicable to other gliders in different [Formula: see text] dimensions.
Templates of Two Foliated Attractors — Lorenz and Chen Systems
Authors: Rosalie Martin
Published: March 2016

A chaotic attractor solution of the Lorenz system [Lorenz, 1963] with foliated structure is topologically characterized. Its template permits to both summarize the organization of its periodic orbits and detail the topology of the solution as a branched manifold. A template of an attractor solution of the Chen system [Chen & Ueta, 1999] with a similar foliated structure is also established.
Artificial Bee Colony-Fuzzy Q Learning for Reinforcement Fuzzy Control (Truck Backer-Upper Control Problem)
Authors: Saeed Sima , Niknafs Aliakbar
Published: March 2016

A new method for reinforcement fuzzy controllers is presented by this article. The method uses Artificial Bee Colony algorithm based on Q-Value to control reinforcement fuzzy system; the algorithm is called Artificial Bee Colony-Fuzzy Q learning (ABC-FQ). In fuzzy inference system, precondition part of rules is generated by prior knowledge, but ABC-FQ algorithm is responsible to achieve the best combination of actions for the consequence part of the rules. In ABC-FQ algorithm, each combination of actions is considered a food source for consequence part of the rules and the fitness level of this food source is determined by Q-Value. ABC-FQ Algorithm selects the best food resource, which is the best combination of actions for fuzzy system, using Q criterion. This algorithm tries to generate the best reinforcement fuzzy system to control the agent. ABC-FQ algorithm is used to solve the problem of Truck Backer-Upper Control, a reinforcement fuzzy control. The results have indicated that this method arrives to a result with higher speed and fewer trials in comparison to previous methods.
Observer Based Adaptive Fuzzy Controller with Modulated Membership Functions for Nonlinear System
Authors: Yao Leehter , Jiang Jen-nan , Lin Tung-bin
Published: March 2016

An observer based adaptive fuzzy controller for nonlinear system is proposed. Parameters in the proposed adaptive fuzzy controller are tuned on-line by the genetic algorithm (GA). For on-line tuning, a parsimonious parameterization scheme for fuzzy controller called orthogonal modulated membership functions (mmf)35 is utilized. A simplified GA called micro GA that greatly improves the learning efficiency is applied. The valid range of mmf parameters will be proved in this paper. With the valid range of mmf parameters, the search by MGA for the optimal parameterization of the adaptive fuzzy controller is more focused resulting in fast convergence to the optimal solutions. A Lyapunov theorem based supervisory control is added to the fuzzy controller assuring that close loop stability is always maintained for the adaptive fuzzy controller during the learning process.
A note on the zeroth products of Frenkel–Jing operators
Authors: Kožić Slaven
Published: March 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be an untwisted affine Kac–Moody Lie algebra. The top of every irreducible highest weight integrable [Formula: see text]-module is the finite-dimensional irreducible [Formula: see text]-module, where the action of the simple Lie algebra [Formula: see text] is given by zeroth products arising from the underlying vertex operator algebra theory. Motivated by this fact, we consider zeroth products of level [Formula: see text] Frenkel–Jing operators corresponding to Drinfeld realization of the quantum affine algebra [Formula: see text]. By applying these products, which originate from the quantum vertex algebra theory developed by Li, on the extension of Koyama vertex operator [Formula: see text], we obtain an infinite-dimensional vector space [Formula: see text]. Next, we introduce an associative algebra [Formula: see text], a certain quantum analogue of the universal enveloping algebra [Formula: see text], and construct some infinite-dimensional [Formula: see text]-modules [Formula: see text] corresponding to the finite-dimensional irreducible [Formula: see text]-modules [Formula: see text]. We show that the space [Formula: see text] carries a structure of an [Formula: see text]-module and, furthermore, we prove that the [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to the [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text].
Energy–momentum tensors in classical field theories — A modern perspective
Authors: Voicu Nicoleta
Published: March 2016

The paper presents a general geometric approach to energy–momentum tensors in Lagrangian field theories, based on a global Hilbert-type definition. The approach is consistent with the ones defining energy–momentum tensors in terms of hypermomentum maps given by the diffeomorphism invariance of the Lagrangian — and, in a sense, complementary to these, with the advantage of an increased simplicity of proofs and also, opening up new insights on the topic. A special attention is paid to the particular cases of metric and metric-affine theories.
A generalized Weierstrass representation of Lorentzian surfaces in ℝ2,2 and applications
Authors: Patty Victor
Published: March 2016

We give a generalized Weierstrass formula for a Lorentz surface conformally immersed in the four-dimensional space [Formula: see text] using spinors and Lorentz numbers. We also study the immersions of a Lorentzian surface in the Anti-de Sitter space (a pseudo-sphere in [Formula: see text]): we give a new spinor representation formula and deduce the conformal description of a flat Lorentzian surface in that space.
Nitrogen-Doped High Surface Area Carbon as Efficient Electrode Material for Supercapacitors
Authors: Sun Kanjun , Yang Qian , Zhao Guohu , Peng Hui , Ma Guofu , Lei Ziqiang
Published: March 2016

Polyaspartic acid-based nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PC) has been prepared by one-step activation and carbonization of polyaspartic acid at 800[Formula: see text]C in N2 atmosphere. The morphologies and structures of products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, element analysis, scanning electron microscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption. The characterizations show that the morphologies and structures of the N-PC deeply depend on the additive amount of activating agent. The as-prepared activated carbon possesses irregular surface morphology with high surface area in the range of 1600–1800[Formula: see text]m2 g[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the activated carbon possesses proper amount of micropore and mesopore structures. As an electrode material for supercapacitors, the specific capacitance of N-PC is as high as 265[Formula: see text]F g[Formula: see text] at a current density of 0.5[Formula: see text]A g[Formula: see text], and it also exhibits good cyclability (retains about 93% initial capacitance after 5000 cycles).
Mathematical study of fractional-order biological population model using optimal homotopy asymptotic method
Authors: Sarwar S. , Zahid M. A. , Iqbal S.
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we study the fractional-order biological population models (FBPMs) with Malthusian, Verhulst, and porous media laws. The fractional derivative is defined in Caputo sense. The optimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM) for partial differential equations (PDEs) is extended and successfully implemented to solve FBPMs. Third-order approximate solutions are obtained and compared with the exact solutions. The numerical results unveil that the proposed extension in the OHAM for fractional-order differential problems is very effective and simple in computation. The results reveal the effectiveness with high accuracy and extremely efficient to handle most complicated biological population models.
Bounds for the Chebyshev functional and corrected four-point quadrature formulae of Euler type
Authors: Pečarić J. , Penava M. Ribičić
Published: March 2016

The aim of this paper is to consider some new estimations of the reminder in closed corrected four-point quadrature formulae of Euler type using some inequalities for the Chebyshev functional. In special case, we obtain some new bounds for the corrected Euler–Simpson [Formula: see text] formula. Some new error estimates for the corrected Euler–Bullen–Simpson [Formula: see text] formula are derived too.
ADAPTATION IN CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN ASSESSING FOR TWO AND A HALF DECADES?
Authors: ASHRAF ARISHA , DINAR ARIEL , MONTEIRO ÉRIKA , GASTON TODD
Published: March 2016

Following the release of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, and realizing the likely impact on California water and agricultural sectors, we review key concepts in the climate change lexicon in the context of California agriculture. There are a range of modeling approaches used to study the benefits of water basin- and/or farm-level adaptations, including hydrological, crop simulation, economic programming, and econometric models. Given the central role of farmer and institutional responsiveness, how do recent agro-economic assessments suggest that specific adaptations may improve economic welfare and reduce vulnerability? What is economically efficient adaptation in the short and long-run? What are the limits to the agricultural sector’s adaptive capacity?
Effects of Liquidity on the Non-Default Component of Corporate Yield Spreads: Evidence from Intraday Transactions Data
Authors: Han Song , Zhou Hao
Published: March 2016

We estimate the non-default component of corporate bond yield spreads and examine its relationship with bond liquidity. We measure bond liquidity using intraday transactions data and estimate the default component using the term structure of credit default swaps (CDS) spreads. With swap rate as the risk free rate, the estimated non-default component is generally moderate but statistically significant for AA-, A-, and BBB-rated bonds and increasing in this order. With Treasury rate as the risk free rate, the estimated non-default component is the largest in basis points for BBB-rated bonds but, as a fraction of yield spreads, it is the largest for AAA-rated bonds. Controlling for the unobservable firm heterogeneity, we find a positive and significant relationship between the non-default component and illiquidity for investment-grade bonds but no significant relationship for speculative-grade bonds. We also find that the non-default component comoves with indicators for macroeconomic conditions.
Renovascular remodeling and renal injury after extended angiotensin II infusion
Authors: Casare Fernando Augusto Malavazzi , Thieme Karina , Costa-Pessoa Juliana Martins , Rossoni Luciana Venturini , Couto Gisele Kruger , Fernandes Fernanda Barrinha , Casarini Dulce Elena , Oliveira-Souza Maria
Published: March 2016

Chronic angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion for 1 or 2 wk leads to progressive hypertension and induces inward hypertrophic remodeling in preglomerular vessels, which is associated with increased renal vascular resistance (RVR) and decreased glomerular perfusion. Considering the ability of preglomerular vessels to exhibit adaptive responses, the present study was performed to evaluate glomerular perfusion and renal function after 6 wk of ANG II infusion. To address this study, male Wistar rats were submitted to sham surgery (control) or osmotic minipump insertion (ANG II 200 ng·kg−1·min−1, 42 days). A group of animals was treated or cotreated with losartan (10 mg·kg−1·day−1), an AT1receptor antagonist, between days 28 and 42. Chronic ANG II infusion increased systolic blood pressure to 185 ± 4 compared with 108 ± 2 mmHg in control rats. Concomitantly, ANG II-induced hypertension increased intrarenal ANG II level and consequently, preglomerular and glomerular injury. Under this condition, ANG II enhanced the total renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow and induced pressure natriuresis. These changes were accompanied by lower RVR and enlargement of the lumen of interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles, consistent with impairment of renal autoregulatory capability and outward preglomerular remodeling. The glomerular injury culminated with podocyte effacement, albuminuria, tubulointerstitial macrophage infiltration and intrarenal extracellular matrix accumulation. Losartan attenuated most of the effects of ANG II. Our findings provide new information regarding the contribution of ANG II infusion over 2 wk to renal hemodynamics and function via the AT1receptor.
Optimization of Reservoir Operation Using Cuckoo Search Algorithm: Example of Adiguzel Dam, Denizli, Turkey
Authors: Yasar Mutlu
Published: March 2016

The Adiguzel Dam is located in Denizli in the western part of Turkey. It was built for irrigation purposes, but it also produces energy at the same time. The dam’s energy-production regime is not regular since there are no reservoir-operating rules. Thus, this study develops a reservoir optimization rule to generate a corresponding gain in energy production. It is well known that operating a reservoir is a complex problem that depends on many parameters such as inflow, storage capacity, water elevation, tailwater elevation, and evaporation. Therefore, in order to optimize energy production, there is a need to use heuristic algorithms such as the Cuckoo Search (CS). This study develops a CS algorithm-based solution to optimize the reservoir’s operational system and generate an optimal operation rule curve. Results show that the CS algorithm improves the system operation, and the energy production will be increased by about 10% to a value of 160000 MWh with a corresponding economic gain of about $12 × 106in total for 183 months.
Targeted Nutritional and Behavioral Feeding Intervention for a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Barnhill Kelly , Tami Amanda , Schutte Claire , Hewitson Laura , Olive Melissa L.
Published: March 2016

A variety of feeding issues and concerns, including food aversion, food selectivity, and complete food refusal, are not uncommon among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Other underlying issues are often comorbid with the concerns for feeding and ASD. These may include food allergies, gastrointestinal issues, oral motor issues, and swallowing disorders. The refusal to consume particular foods coupled with the inability to tolerate, digest, and absorb these foods can compromise an individual’s overall nutrition status. Therefore, a child’s behavior toward food and feeding activities has great impact on dietary intake, nutritional status, and growth. This case report is the first to document combined medical, behavioral, and nutritional intervention for a toddler with ASD and comorbid feeding disorder.
FPIES: Reviewing the Management of Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome
Authors: Khanna Neha , Patel Kirtika
Published: March 2016

Purpose of Review.The aim of this review is to provide a case driven presentation of the presenting features and diagnostic criteria particularly focusing on the management of FPIES. It also summarises the natural history and resolution of cow’s milk induced FPIES.Data Sources.OvidSP Database was used to search for literature using the keywords food protein-induced enterocolitis and FPIES.Recent Findings.The diagnosis of FPIES is often delayed following two or more presentations. Symptoms in the acute form include profuse vomiting usually 2–6 hours following ingestion of food. Vomiting may or may not be accompanied by diarrhoea. Management involves removing the causal food protein from diet. There is some concomitance in cow’s milk and soya induced FPIES. Hence extensively hydrolysed formula is the milk of choice unless breast-feeding is carried out in which case that should be continued.Summary.FPIES is a complex form of non-IgE mediated food allergy. More awareness and knowledge of the condition are required to prevent misdiagnosis. Early diagnosis and removal of the culprit food protein improve the outcome. Good nutritional advice and clear management plans are important. More multicentre studies are required to reevaluate and produce consistent oral food challenge criteria and guidelines.
Protective Effect of Mangifera indica Linn., Cocos nucifera Linn., and Averrhoa carambola Linn. Extracts against Ultraviolet B‐Induced Damage in Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Ronpirin Chalinee , Pattarachotanant Nattaporn , Tencomnao Tewin
Published: March 2016

This study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant activity of Mangifera indica Linn., Cocos nucifera Linn., and Averrhoa carambola Linn. and their biological effect on human keratinocytes affected by the ultraviolet B (UVB), a major cause of cell damage and skin cancer through induction of DNA damage, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis. The richest antioxidant activity was found in ethanol fraction of M. indica (21.32 ± 0.66 mg QE/g dry weight), while the lowest one was found in aqueous fractions of M. indica and C. nucifera (1.76 ± 2.10 and 1.65 ± 0.38 mg QE/g dry weight, respectively). Ethanol and aqueous fractions of A. carambola (250 µg/mL) significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells. The expression of cleaved caspase 3 in UVB‐treated group was significantly greater than that in untreated group. Both fractions of A. carambola (50, 100, and 250 µg/mL) significantly decreased the expression of cleaved caspase 3. Regarding the induction of DNA repair, ethanol (100 and 250 µg/mL) and aqueous (50, 100 and 250 µg/mL) fractions of A. carambola significantly decreased the percentage of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). Taken together, our results suggest that both fractions of A. carambola may be potentially developed for dermal applications.
3D Gravity Modeling of Complex Salt Features in the Southern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Nava-Flores Mauricio , Ortiz-Aleman Carlos , Orozco-del-Castillo Mauricio G. , Urrutia-Fucugauchi Jaime , Rodriguez-Castellanos Alejandro , Couder-Castañeda Carlos , Trujillo-Alcantara Alfredo
Published: March 2016

We present a three-dimensional (3D) gravity modeling and inversion approach and its application to complex geological settings characterized by several allochthonous salt bodies embedded in terrigenous sediments. Synthetic gravity data were computed for 3D forward modeling of salt bodies interpreted from Prestack Depth Migration (PSDM) seismic images. Density contrasts for the salt bodies surrounded by sedimentary units are derived from density-compaction curves for the northern Gulf of Mexico’s oil exploration surveys. By integrating results from different shape- and depth-source estimation algorithms, we built an initial model for the gravity anomaly inversion. We then applied a numerically optimized 3D simulated annealing gravity inversion method. The inverted 3D density model successfully retrieves the synthetic salt body ensemble. Results highlight the significance of integrating high-resolution potential field data for salt and subsalt imaging in oil exploration.
Use of a Novel Grammatical Inference Approach in Classification of Amyloidogenic Hexapeptides
Authors: Wieczorek Wojciech , Unold Olgierd
Published: March 2016

The present paper is a novel contribution to the field of bioinformatics by using grammatical inference in the analysis of data. We developed an algorithm for generating star-free regular expressions which turned out to be good recommendation tools, as they are characterized by a relatively high correlation coefficient between the observed and predicted binary classifications. The experiments have been performed for three datasets of amyloidogenic hexapeptides, and our results are compared with those obtained using the graph approaches, the current state-of-the-art methods in heuristic automata induction, and the support vector machine. The results showed the superior performance of the new grammatical inference algorithm on fixed-length amyloid datasets.
Molecular Characterization of Human Rotavirus from Children with Diarrhoeal Disease in Sokoto State, Nigeria
Authors: Alkali B. R. , Daneji A. I. , Magaji A. A. , Bilbis L. S. , Bande F.
Published: March 2016

This study was conducted to detect and characterize prevalent human group A rotavirus strains from 200 diarrheic children in Sokoto, Nigeria, by ELISA, monoclonal antibody (Mab) serotyping and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Rotavirus was detected in 25.5% of the children. The G-serotypes observed in circulation were G4: 16 (59.3%), G1: 4 (14.8%), G2: 3 (11.1%), G3: 3 (11.1%), and G12: 1 (3.7%). The monoclonal antibody (Mab) serotyping detected G1 and G3 but did not detect G4 and G2 serotypes. The Mab typing of the G1 and G3 serotypes was consistent with the result of the RT-PCR. The VP4 genotypes detected were P[6]3 (13%), P[8]11 (47.8%), and the rare human P genotype (P[9]), found in 9 patients (39.1%). Nine strains identified with the common G and P combinations were G4 P[8]5 (56%), G4 P[6]1 (11%), G1 P[8]2 (22%), and G3 P[8]1 (11%), while seven strains with unusual combinations or rare G or P genotypes identified were G12 P[8]1 (14%), G2 P[8]2 (29%), and G4 P[9]4 (57%). To our knowledge this is the first molecular study of human rotavirus and report of rare human G and P serotypes in Sokoto State.
A Simplified Mobile Ad Hoc Network Structure for Helicopter Communication
Authors: Abdelgader Abdeldime Mohamed Salih , Wu Lenan , Nasr Mohammed Mohsen Mohammed
Published: March 2016

There are a number of volunteer and statutory organizations who are capable of conducting an emergency response using helicopters. Rescue operations require a rapidly deployable high bandwidth network to coordinate necessary relief efforts between rescue teams on the ground and helicopters. Due to massive destruction and loss of services, ordinary communication infrastructures may collapse in these situations. Consequently, information exchange becomes one of the major challenges in these circumstances. Helicopters can be also employed for providing many services in rugged environments, military applications, and aerial photography. Ad hoc network can be used to provide alternative communication link between a set of helicopters, particularly in case of significant amount of data required to be shared. This paper addresses the ability of using ad hoc networks to support the communication between a set of helicopters. A simplified network structure model is presented and extensively discussed. Furthermore, a streamlined routing algorithm is proposed. Comprehensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the proposed routing algorithm.
How Does Environmental Regulation Affect Industrial Transformation? A Study Based on the Methodology of Policy Simulation
Authors: Liu Wei , Tong Jian , Yue Xiaohang
Published: March 2016

The difference of factor input structure determines different response to environmental regulation. This paper constructs a theoretical model including environmental regulation, factor input structure, and industrial transformation and conducts a policy simulation based on the difference of influencing mechanism of environmental regulation considering industrial heterogeneity. The findings show that the impact of environmental regulation on industrial transformation presents comparison of distortion effect of resource allocation and technology effect. Environmental regulation will promote industrial transformation when technology effect of environmental regulation is stronger than distortion effect of resource allocation. Particularly, command-control environmental regulation has a significant incentive effect and spillover effect of technological innovation on cleaning industries, but these effects do not exist in pollution-intensive industries. Command-control environmental regulation promotes industrial transformation. The result of simulation showed that environmental regulation of market incentives is similar to that of command-control.
FuzzyCe-I(ec,eo)and Fuzzy CompletelyCe-I(rc,eo)Functions via Fuzzy e-Open Sets
Authors: Seenivasan V. , Kamala K.
Published: March 2016

We introduced the notions of fuzzyCe-I(ec,eo)functions and fuzzy completelyCe-I(rc,eo)functions via fuzzy e-open sets. Some properties and several characterization of these types of functions are investigated.
Amyloid Goiter Secondary to Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Aydin Bunyamin , Koca Yavuz Savas , Koca Tugba , Yildiz Ihsan , Gerek Celikden Sevda , Ciris Metin
Published: March 2016

Diffuse amyloid goiter (AG) is an entity characterized by the deposition of amyloid in the thyroid gland. AG may be associated with either primary or secondary amyloidosis. Secondary amyloidosis is rarely caused by inflammatory bowel diseases. Secondary amyloidosis is relatively more common in the patients with Crohn’s disease, whereas it is highly rare in patients with ulcerative colitis. Diffuse amyloid goiter caused by ulcerative colitis is also a rare condition. In the presence of amyloid in the thyroid gland, medullary thyroid cancer should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis. Imaging techniques and biochemical tests are not very helpful in the diagnosis of secondary amyloid goiter and the definitive diagnosis is established based on the histopathologic analysis and histochemical staining techniques. In this report, we present a 35-year-old male patient with diffuse amyloid goiter caused by secondary amyloidosis associated with ulcerative colitis.
Cytokines as Early Markers of Colorectal Anastomotic Leakage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sparreboom Cloë L. , Wu Zhouqiao , Dereci Adem , Boersema Geesien S. A. , Menon Anand G. , Ji Jiafu , Kleinrensink Gert-Jan , Lange Johan F.
Published: March 2016

Purpose.Colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) is one of the most severe complications after colorectal surgery. This meta-analysis evaluates whether systemic or peritoneal inflammatory cytokines may contribute to early detection of CAL.Methods. Systematic literature search was performed in the acknowledged medical databases according to the PRISMA guidelines to identify studies evaluating systemic and peritoneal levels of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 for early detection of CAL. Means and standard deviations of systemic and peritoneal cytokine levels were extracted, respectively, for patients with and without CAL. The meta-analysis of the mean differences was carried out for each postoperative day using Review Manager.Results.Seven articles were included. The meta-analysis was performed with 5 articles evaluating peritoneal cytokine levels. Peritoneal levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with CAL compared to patients without CAL on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (P<0.05). Similar results were found for peritoneal levels of TNF but on postoperative days 3, 4, and 5 (P<0.05). The articles regarding systemic cytokine levels did not report any significant difference accordingly.Conclusion.Increased postoperative levels of peritoneal IL-6 and TNF are significantly associated with CAL and may contribute to its early detection.