bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The contribution of fecundity and embryo quality to reproductive potential of eastern Bering Sea snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio)
Authors: Webb Joel B. , Slater Laura M. , Eckert Ginny L. , Kruse Gordon H.
Published: June 2016

Development of refined indices of female reproductive potential is needed for estimation of alternative biological reference points for the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery, which is managed with large male-only harvest regulations. Females were collected from 2007 to 2009 to investigate seasonal and interannual variation in fecundity with maternal size, shell condition (a proxy for age after maturity), and recent mating and again in 2010 to examine biochemical measures (carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen) of embryo quality. Mean model-adjusted fecundity was highest for primiparous and young multiparous females and declined with advancing shell condition, presumably from senescence. This pattern was also found for clutch fullness indices evaluated from 20 years of stock assessment survey data. Indicators of low female sperm reserves were associated with decreased (∼10%) fecundity for multiparous females. Seasonal comparison of size–fecundity relationships suggested that embryo loss during brooding was minimal, and embryo quality analyses suggested that strong variation with maternal characteristics was unlikely. Finally, fecundity-at-size of EBS females may be lower than that of conspecifics in Japan and eastern Canada.
Climate and bark beetle effects on forest productivity — linking dendroecology with forest landscape modeling
Authors: Kretchun Alec M. , Loudermilk E. Louise , Scheller Robert M. , Hurteau Matthew D. , Belmecheri Soumaya
Published: June 2016

In forested systems throughout the world, climate influences tree growth and aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). The effects of extreme climate events (i.e., drought) on ANPP can be compounded by biotic factors (e.g., insect outbreaks). Understanding the contribution of each of these influences on growth requires information at multiple spatial scales and is essential for understanding regional forest response to changing climate. The mixed conifer forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin, California and Nevada, provide an opportunity to analyze biotic and abiotic influences on ANPP. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of moisture stress (climatic water deficit, CWD) and bark beetles on basin-wide ANPP from 1987 to 2006, estimated through tree core increments and a landscape simulation model (LANDIS-II). Tree ring data revealed that ANPP increased throughout this period and had a nonlinear relationship to water demand. Simulation model results showed that despite increased complexity, simulations that include moderate moisture sensitivity and bark beetle outbreaks most closely approximated the field-derived ANPP∼CWD relationship. Although bark beetle outbreaks and episodic drought-induced mortality events are often correlated, decoupling them within a simulation model offers insight into assessing model performance, as well as examining how each contributes to total declines in productivity.
Bs,d0 → l+l− in the minimal gauged (B − L) supersymmetry
Authors: Feng Tai-Fu , Yan Yu-Li , Zhang Hai-Bin , Zhao Shu-Min
Published: June 2016

Complete expressions of effective Hamilton for [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] are derived in the framework of minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model with local [Formula: see text] gauge symmetry. With some assumptions on parameters of the model, a numerical analysis of the supersymmetric contributions to the branching ratios of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] is presented.
Photoluminescence, ellipsometric, optical and morphological studies of sprayed Co-doped ZnO films
Authors: Gençyılmaz O. , Atay F. , Akyüz İ.
Published: June 2016

In this study, undoped and cobalt (Co)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) films were successfully produced by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) technique at low temperature (350[Formula: see text]C). The optical and surface properties were investigated as a function of Co content. The optical parameters (thickness, refractive index and extinction coefficient) were determined using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and it was seen that the refractive index and extinction coefficient values of Co-doped ZnO films decreased slightly depending on the increasing of Co doping. For investigation, the transmittance and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films, UV–Vis spectrophotometer and PL spectroscopy were used at room temperature. The transmittance spectra show that transmittance values decreased and Co[Formula: see text] ions substitute Zn[Formula: see text] ions of ZnO lattice. The optical band gap values decreased from 3.26 eV to 2.85 eV with the changing of Co content. The results of PL spectra exhibit the position of the different emission peaks unchanged but the intensity of peaks increased with increasing Co doping. Also, the surface properties of the films were obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and these results indicated that the surface morphology and roughness values were prominently changed with Co doping.
Fabrication of Fe2O3 nanoflakes-based electrochemical solar cells prepared by facile thermal oxidation
Authors: Rashid Norhana Mohamed , Kishi Naoki , Soga Tetsuo
Published: June 2016

A Fe2O3 nanoflakes-based solar cell was successfully prepared by thermal oxidation of iron film on FTO glass. The short circuit current density [Formula: see text] of the cell increased with annealing time while the open circuit voltage was saturated after 1 h. This enhancement was caused by the increased surface area of the nanoflakes and improved electron transfer through the (110) crystal plane in the Fe2O3-based electrochemical solar cell. The overall photovoltaic performance significantly increased with ruthenium dye, which likely suppressed carrier recombination on the Fe2O3 surface.
Investigation on multilayer microstructure grating for three-port splitting
Authors: Shu Wenhao , Wang Bo , Pei Hao , Li Hongtao , Chen Li , Lei Liang , Zhou Jinyun
Published: June 2016

A new structure of microstructure reflection three-port beam splitter grating is described in this paper. The grating includes two dielectric layers and a metal slab on the substrate, where incident waves are reflected into the zeroth-order and the ± first-order with polarization-independent property. With the optimized grating profile, reflection efficiencies’ ratios between the first-order and the zeroth-order can reach 0.998 and 1.001 for TE and TM polarizations, respectively. Especially, the reflection grating can diffract efficiencies more than 30% into the ± first-order and the zeroth-order with the incident angular bandwidth of −1.9–1.9[Formula: see text] for TM polarization, which can have merits compared with single-layer transmission grating.
Towards Efficient Application of Cryptographic Schemes on Constrained Microcontrollers
Authors: Malina Lukas , Hajny Jan , Mlynek Petr , Machacek Jiri , Svoboda Radomir
Published: June 2016

This work deals with the application of cryptographic schemes and primitives on the computational and memory-restricted microcontrollers. The efficient implementation of proper cryptographic schemes on these devices improves the security and performance of many applications and communication services in wireless sensor networks, Internet of Things, embedded systems and home automation and other systems which employ constrained devices. In this work, we experimentally implement well-known and widely used cryptographic schemes on the MSP430FX family of microcontrollers and study their performance and memory demands. On these microcontrollers, we evaluate 10 symmetric ciphers, 8 hash functions, modular arithmetic operations and asymmetric cryptographic schemes. Based on obtained results we propose a lightweight cryptographic solution which provides authentication and secure data communication. Our solution has two versions which are designed for applications that must use memory-constrained microcontrollers and for real-time applications that require efficiency and security. We believe that our proposal and results can help engineers and developers to improve the security or performance in their applications that employ constrained devices.
Inflationary birefringence and baryogenesis
Authors: Alexander Stephon
Published: June 2016

A decade ago, the first leptogenesis model based on inflation was proposed, where the complex phase of the inflaton field carries lepton number [S. H. S. Alexander, M. E. Peskin and M. M. Sheikh-Jabbari, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 (2006) 081301, arXiv:hep-th/0403069 ]. If the inflaton field is an axion, it can couple to gravitational waves and gauge fields via Chern–Simons invariants. Due to these couplings, birefringent gravitational and gauge primordial perturbations are created during inflation to generate a lepton asymmetry, establishing a possible connection between nonvanishing TB-parity-violating polarization cross-correlations and leptogenesis. We also discuss the prospect for a subset of these models which can directly source circular (V-mode) polarization in the CMB.
A New Stochastic Optimization Approach — Dolphin Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Yong Wang , Tao Wang , Cheng-Zhi Zhang , Hua-Juan Huang
Published: June 2016

A novel nature-inspired swarm intelligence (SI) optimization is proposed called dolphin swarm optimization algorithm (DSOA), which is based on mimicking the mechanism of dolphins in detecting, chasing after, and preying on swarms of sardines to perform optimization. In order to test the performance, the DSOA is evaluated against the corresponding results of three existing well-known SI optimization algorithms, namely, particle swarm optimization (PSO), bat algorithm (BA), and artificial bee colony (ABC), in the terms of the ability to find the global optimum of a range of the popular benchmark functions. The experimental results show that the proposed optimization seems superior to the other three algorithms, and the proposed algorithm has the performance of fast convergence rate, and high local optimal avoidance.
Climate Change Discourses in the UK General Election in 2015
Authors: WANG Sidan
Published: June 2016

There is a wide range of researches on climate change policy and politics at the European and global level. However, the existing studies ignore the importance of understanding climate change discourses and politics in the UK particularly during the General Election. The General Election in 2015 will influence the post-2015 climate change politics and policy in the UK. Further, the UK’s potential withdrawal from the EU poses a threat to the existing arrangement of climate change politics. This paper argues how different climate change discourses among main political parties influence climate policy options in the UK.
Optimal Stable Approximation for the Cauchy Problem for Laplace Equation
Authors: Li Hongfang , Zhou Feng
Published: June 2016

Cauchy problem for Laplace equation in a strip is considered. The optimal error bounds between the exact solution and its regularized approximation are given, which depend on the noise level either in a Hölder continuous way or in a logarithmic continuous way. We also provide two special regularization methods, that is, the generalized Tikhonov regularization and the generalized singular value decomposition, which realize the optimal error bounds.
Fibronectin-Grafted Titanium Dental Implants: AnIn VivoStudy
Authors: Chang Yu-Chi , Ho Kuo-Ning , Feng Sheng-Wei , Huang Haw-Ming , Chang Chia-Hsun , Lin Che-Tong , Teng Nai-Chia , Pan Yu Hwa , Chang Wei-Jen
Published: June 2016

Modification of the physiochemical properties of titanium surfaces using glow discharge plasma (GDP) and fibronectin coating has been shown to enhance the surface hydrophilicity, surface roughness, cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Thisin vivostudy aimed to evaluate the bone integration efficacy of a biologically modified implant surface. Two different surface-modified implants (Ar-GDP and GDP-fib) were placed in the mandibular premolar area of six beagle dogs for 2–8 weeks. Three techniques [histologic evaluation, resonance frequency analysis (RFA), and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) evaluation] were used to detect the implant stability and bone-implant contact. The implant stability quotient values of GDP-fib implants were significantly greater than the Ar-GDP implants at 2 and 4 weeks (P<0.01). The bone volume/total volume ratio of GDP-fib implants was greater than the Ar-GDP implants in micro-CT evaluation. A high positive correlation was observed between RFA and micro-CT measurements. At 2 weeks, osteoblasts were seen to line the implant surface, and multinuclear osteoclasts could be seen on the surface of old parent bone. After 8 weeks, a majority of the space in the wound chamber appeared to be replaced by bone. Enhancement of the stability of biologically modified implants was proved by the results of RFA, micro-CT, and histological analysis. This enhanced stability may help fasten treatment and be clinically beneficial.
Soft Tissue Response to Titanium Abutments with Different Surface Treatment: Preliminary Histologic Report of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Canullo Luigi , Dehner Jan Friedrich , Penarrocha David , Checchi Vittorio , Mazzoni Annalisa , Breschi Lorenzo
Published: June 2016

The aim of this preliminary prospective RCT was to histologically evaluate peri-implant soft tissues around titanium abutments treated using different cleaning methods. Sixteen patients were randomized into three groups: laboratory customized abutments underwent Plasma of Argon treatment (Plasma Group), laboratory customized abutments underwent cleaning by steam (Steam Group), and abutments were used as they came from industry (Control Group). Seven days after the second surgery, soft tissues around abutments were harvested. Samples were histologically analyzed. Soft tissues surrounding Plasma Group abutments predominantly showed diffuse chronic infiltrate, almost no acute infiltrate, with presence of few polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes, and a diffuse presence of collagenization bands. Similarly, in Steam Group, the histological analysis showed a high variability of inflammatory expression factors. Tissues harvested from Control Group showed presence of few neutrophil granulocytes, moderate presence of lymphocytes, and diffuse collagenization bands in some sections, while they showed absence of acute infiltrate in 40% of sections. However, no statistical difference was found among the tested groups for each parameter (p>0.05). Within the limit of the present study, results showed no statistically significant difference concerning inflammation and healing tendency between test and control groups.
Cooperative Secure Transmission in the Presence of Untrusted Relay
Authors: Chen Dechuan , Yang Weiwei , Hu Jianwei , Cai Yueming , Zhu Sen
Published: June 2016

Considering a nonregenerative untrusted relay network, we investigate three different secure transmission strategies, for example, noncooperative strategy, conventional amplify-and-forward (AF) strategy, and cooperative jamming (CJ) strategy. To thoroughly assess the secrecy performance achieved by the three strategies, we derive the closed-form expressions for the connection outage probability and secrecy outage probability regarding each strategy. Based on these expressions, the reliability and security tradeoff (RST) is examined to facilitate the design of the transmitting parameters. We then present the closed-form expression for the effective secrecy throughput (EST) and characterize the overall efficiency of these transmission strategies. Furthermore, we conduct the asymptotic analysis for the secrecy throughput, which enables us to determine the optimal transmission strategy under different scenarios. Our analytical and numerical results demonstrate that compared with the noncooperative and AF strategies, the CJ strategy possesses the best performance in terms of RST. Additionally, we also find that the EST performance of the AF strategy is nearly invariable when the quality of the second hop changes.
Animal Models of Uveal Melanoma: Methods, Applicability, and Limitations
Authors: Stei Marta M. , Loeffler Karin U. , Holz Frank G. , Herwig Martina C.
Published: June 2016

Animal models serve as powerful tools for investigating the pathobiology of cancer, identifying relevant pathways, and developing novel therapeutic agents. They have facilitated rapid scientific progress in many tumor entities. However, for establishing a powerful animal model of uveal melanoma fundamental challenges remain. To date, no animal model offers specific genetic attributes as well as histologic, immunologic, and metastatic features of uveal melanoma. Syngeneic models with intraocular injection of cutaneous melanoma cells may suit best for investigating immunologic/tumor biology aspects. However, differences between cutaneous and uveal melanoma regarding genetics and metastasis remain problematic. Human xenograft models are widely used for evaluating novel therapeutics but require immunosuppression to allow tumor growth. New approaches aim to establish transgenic mouse models of spontaneous uveal melanoma which recently provided preliminary promising results. Each model provides certain benefits and may render them suitable for answering a respective scientific question. However, all existing models also exhibit relevant limitations which may have led to delayed research progress. Despite refined therapeutic options for the primary ocular tumor, patients’ prognosis has not improved since the 1970s. Basic research needs to further focus on a refinement of a potent animal model which mimics uveal melanoma specific mechanisms of progression and metastasis. This review will summarise and interpret existing animal models of uveal melanoma including recent advances in the field.
Performance Evaluation of Antlion Optimizer Based Regulator in Automatic Generation Control of Interconnected Power System
Authors: Gupta Esha , Saxena Akash
Published: June 2016

This paper presents an application of the recently introduced Antlion Optimizer (ALO) to find the parameters of primary governor loop of thermal generators for successful Automatic Generation Control (AGC) of two-area interconnected power system. Two standard objective functions, Integral Square Error (ISE) and Integral Time Absolute Error (ITAE), have been employed to carry out this parameter estimation process. The problem is transformed in optimization problem to obtain integral gains, speed regulation, and frequency sensitivity coefficient for both areas. The comparison of the regulator performance obtained from ALO is carried out with Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) based regulators. Different types of perturbations and load changes are incorporated to establish the efficacy of the obtained design. It is observed that ALO outperforms all three optimization methods for this real problem. The optimization performance of ALO is compared with other algorithms on the basis of standard deviations in the values of parameters and objective functions.
An Assessment of Grid-Charged Inverter-Battery Systems for Domestic Applications in Ghana
Authors: Quansah David A. , Adaramola Muyiwa S. , Edwin Isaac A. , Anto Emmanuel K.
Published: June 2016

Ghana, like many African countries, is currently facing power supply shortage, which has led to load shedding. To minimize the impact of the power crisis, options such as diesel and petrol generators, grid-charged battery-inverter systems (GBIS), and solar PV with battery storage (SPVS) have been used in residential and nonresidential contexts. In this paper, we develop analytical models to conduct a technical and economic comparison of GBIS and SPVS systems. Using average electricity tariff of $0.186 for residential sector (excluding lifeline customers) we show that although initial cost of SPVS is higher, it costs 30% less than GBIS. We also show that losses associated with the GBIS are as high as 42% when viewed from a systems perspective and that some of its costs are externalized. We conclude by commending the Ghana Government’s initiative of rolling out 200,000 residential rooftop solar systems and recommend an increase in system capacities as well as a similar programme for nonresidential facilities.
Genetic Variation of Flavonols Quercetin, Myricetin, and Kaempferol in the Sri Lankan Tea (Camellia sinensisL.) and Their Health-Promoting Aspects
Authors: Jeganathan Brasathe , Punyasiri P. A. Nimal , Kottawa-Arachchi J. Dananjaya , Ranatunga Mahasen A. B. , Abeysinghe I. Sarath B. , Gunasekare M. T. Kumudini , Bandara B. M. Ratnayake
Published: June 2016

Flavonol glycosides in tea leaves have been quantified as aglycones, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. Occurrence of the said compounds was reported in fruits and vegetable for a long time in association with the antioxidant potential. However, data on flavonols in tea were scanty and, hence, this study aims to envisage the flavonol content in a representative pool of accessions present in the Sri Lankan tea germplasm. Significant amounts of myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol have been detected in the beverage type tea accessions of the Sri Lankan tea germplasm. This study also revealed that tea is a good source of flavonol glycosides. TheCamellia sinensisvar.sinensisshowed higher content of myricetin, quercetin, and total flavonols than var.assamicaand ssp.lasiocalyx. Therefore flavonols and their glycosides can potentially be used in chemotaxonomic studies of tea germplasm. The nonbeverage type cultivars, especiallyCamellia rosafloraandCamellia japonicaRed along with the exotic accessions resembling China type, could be useful in future germplasm studies because they are rich sources of flavonols, namely, quercetin and kaempferol, which are potent antioxidants. The flavonol profiles can be effectively used in choosing parents in tea breeding programmes to generate progenies with a wide range of flavonol glycosides.
Influence of a 10-Day Mimic of Our Ancient Lifestyle on Anthropometrics and Parameters of Metabolism and Inflammation: The “Study of Origin”
Authors: Pruimboom Leo , Ruiz-Núñez Begoña , Raison Charles L. , Muskiet Frits A. J.
Published: June 2016

Chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance are intimately related entities that are common to most, if not all, chronic diseases of affluence. We hypothesized that a short-term intervention based on “ancient stress factors” may improve anthropometrics and clinical chemical indices. We executed a pilot study of whether a 10-day mimic of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle favorably affects anthropometrics and clinical chemical indices. Fifty-five apparently healthy subjects, in 5 groups, engaged in a 10-day trip through the Pyrenees. They walked 14 km/day on average, carrying an 8-kilo backpack. Raw food was provided and self-prepared and water was obtained from waterholes. They slept outside in sleeping bags and were exposed to temperatures ranging from 12 to 42°C. Anthropometric data and fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and the study end. We found important significant changes in most outcomes favoring better metabolic functioning and improved anthropometrics. Coping with “ancient mild stress factors,” including physical exercise, thirst, hunger, and climate, may influence immune status and improve anthropometrics and metabolic indices in healthy subjects and possibly patients suffering from metabolic and immunological disorders.
Anatomic Locking Plate Fixation for Scaphoid Nonunion
Authors: Mirrer Joshua , Yeung Just , Sapienza Anthony
Published: June 2016

Nonunion can occur relatively frequently after scaphoid fracture and appears to be associated with severity of injury. There have been a number of techniques described for bone grafting with or without screw fixation to facilitate fracture healing. However, even with operative fixation of scaphoid fractures with bone grafting nonunion or malunion rates of 5 to 10 percent are still reported. This is the first report of an anatomic locking plate for scaphoid fracture repair in a 25-year-old right hand dominant healthy male.
Energy-Efficient Transmission Strategy by Using Optimal Stopping Approach for Mobile Networks
Authors: Peng Ying , Wang Gaocai , Wang Nao
Published: June 2016

In mobile networks, transmission energy consumption dominates the major part of network energy consumption. To reduce energy consumption for data transmission is an important topic for constructing green mobile networks. According to Shannon formula, when the transmission power is constant, the better the channel quality is, the greater the transmission rate is. Then, more data will be delivered in a given period. And energy consumption per bit data transmitted will be reduced. Because channel quality varies with time randomly, it is a good opportunity for decreasing energy consumption to deliver data in the best channel quality. However, data has delay demand. The sending terminal cannot wait for the best channel quality unlimitedly. Actually, sending terminal has to select an optimal time to deliver data before data exceeds delay. For this, this paper obtains the optimal transmission rate threshold at each detection slot time by using optimal stopping approach. Then, sending terminal determines whether current time is the optimal time through comparing current transmission rate with the corresponding rate threshold, thus realizing energy-efficient transmission strategy, so as to decrease average energy consumption per bit data transmitted.
RANKL-Expressing Ectopic Extramammary Paget’s Disease on the Lower Abdomen
Authors: Hagiwara-Takita Akiko , Fujimura Taku , Kakizaki Aya , Aiba Setsuya
Published: June 2016

Ectopic extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a rare variant of EMPD that develops in nonapocrine regions. Since reports about ectopic EMPD are limited, little is known about the biological and immunological background of ectopic EMPD. In this report, we present a case of ectopic EMPD on the lower abdomen that expressed RANKL but lacked the expression of MMP7. As we previously reported, Paget’s cells express RANKL and MMP7, release soluble RANKL in the tumor microenvironment, and stimulate tumor-associated macrophages to produce tumor-loading factors in conventional EMPD. In our present case, both CCL5-expressing cells and MMP25-bearing cells were lacking, whereas substantial numbers of CCL5-expressing cells and MMP25-bearing cells were found in conventional EMPD. Our case suggested that the lack of MMP7 on Paget’s cells might be one of the possible explanations for the biology of ectopic EMPD.
Low, but Not High, Doses of Cisplatin Damage Cochlear Hair Cells in C57 Mouse Organotypic Cultures
Authors: Zeng Shan , Sun Xiaoqiang , Chen Zhengnong , Yu Dongzhen , Chen Bin , Yin Shankai
Published: June 2016

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of cisplatin-induced C57 mouse cochlear hair cell damage in vitro. Methods: Forty-seven cochleae harvested from 2- to 4-day-old C57 mice were used. Forty specimens were treated with different concentrations of cisplatin (10, 25, 50, 100, 400, and 1,000 μmol/l) for 48 h. The remaining seven specimens were used as a control group. Results: The rate of hair cell loss increased from 14.5 to 78.4% over cisplatin concentrations of 10 to 100 μmol/l, whereas hair cell loss decreased to 48.8 and 8.77% at concentrations of 400 and 1,000 μmol/l, respectively. Apoptosis was detected by DAPI staining in the areas of hair cell damage. Hair cell loss rates differed significantly among the cisplatin-treated groups. Linear regression analysis of cisplatin dose versus hair cell number showed a significant negative correlation for cisplatin doses up to 100 μmol/l and a positive correlation with further increases up to 1,000 μmol/l. Conclusions: We conclude that cisplatin-induced hair cell damage was concentration dependent only up to a certain dose and that injury resistance may occur in cochlear cells treated with higher doses of cisplatin.
Ulcers as a Sign of Skin Infection with Mycobacterium wolinskyi: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bossart Simon , Schnell Barbara , Kerl Katrin , Urosevic-Maiwald Mirjana
Published: June 2016

Infection with Mycobacterium wolinskyi, if not detected, may cause severe skin and soft tissue infection with prolonged healing process and is therefore associated with high morbidity. Only about 20 cases of M. wolinskyi infections in humans have been described in the literature until now, none of them in Switzerland. We report a case of an infection in a 72-year-old male patient with recurrent subcutaneous abdominal wall abscesses and ulcer formation after insulin injection in the underbelly. A culture of skin biopsy tissue showed rapid growth of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), which were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as M. wolinskyi. Surgical excision and primary closure of all abdominal ulcers in combination with antibiotic therapy, based on the antimicrobiotic susceptibility test results, were performed and resulted in complete resolution of the clinical symptoms and no recurrence of infection at a 6-month follow-up. The present case emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection with ulcer formation. In such cases, it is crucial to consider the presence of NTM, such as M. wolinskyi, in order to obtain rapid diagnosis, specific treatment and improved patient care.
Eight-Year Experience with Nocturnal, Every-Other-Day, Online Haemodiafiltration
Authors: Maduell Francisco , Ojeda Raquel , Arias-Guillen Marta , Rossi Florencia , Fontseré Néstor , Vera Manel , Rico Nayra , Gonzalez Leonardo Nicolás , Piñeiro Gastón , Jiménez-Hernández Mario , Rodas Lida , Bedini José Luis
Published: June 2016

Background: New haemodialysis therapeutic regimens are required to improve patient survival. Longer and more frequent dialysis sessions have produced excellent survival and clinical advantages, while online haemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) provides the most efficient form of dialysis treatment. Methods: In this single-centre observational study, 57 patients on 4-5-hour thrice-weekly OL-HDF were switched to nocturnal every-other-day OL-HDF. Inclusion criteria consisted of stable patients with good prospects for improved occupational, psychological and social rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to report our 8-year experience with this schedule and to evaluate analytical and clinical outcomes. Results: Nocturnal, every-other-day OL-HDF was well tolerated and 56% of patients were working. The convective volume increased from 26.7 ± 2 litres at baseline to 46.6 ± 6.5 litres at 24 months (p < 0.01). Increasing the dialysis dose significantly decreased bicarbonate, blood-urea-nitrogen and creatinine values. Predialysis phosphate levels fell markedly with complete suspension of phosphate binders from the second year of follow-up. Although haemoglobin was unchanged, there was a 50.4% reduction in darbepoetin dose at 24 months and a significant decrease in the erythropoietin resistance index. Blood pressure significantly decreased in a few months. Antihypertensive medication requirements were decreased by 60% after 3 months and by 73% after 1 year and this difference was maintained thereafter. Conclusions: Nocturnal, every-other-day OL-HDF could be an excellent therapeutic alternative since it is well tolerated and leads to clinical and social-occupational rehabilitation with satisfactory morbidity and mortality. These encouraging results strengthen us to continue and invite other clinicians to join this initiative.
Regulation of the Pacemaker Activity of Colonic Interstitial Cells of Cajal by Protease-Activated Receptors: Involvement of Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide Channels
Authors: Shin Dong Hoon , Kim Man Woo , Choi Seok , Zuo Dong Chuan , Park Chan Guk , Kim Young Dae , Lee Jun , Cho Ju Yeon , So Insuk , Jun Jae Yeoul
Published: June 2016

Background and Purpose: The exact mechanism of protease-activated receptors (PARs) on pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) has not been reported. We investigated the effects on pacemaker activity by the activation of PARs and its signal mechanisms in colonic ICCs. Methods: The whole-cell patch-clamp technique, RT-PCR and Ca2+ imaging were used in cultured ICCs from mouse colon. Results: PAR-1 and PAR-2 were expressed in Ano-1 positive ICCs. TFLLR-NH2 (a PAR-1 agonist) and trypsin (a PAR-2 agonist) depolarized the membrane and increased the pacemaker potential frequency. U-73122 (a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor) and thapsigargin (a Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor) suppressed the TFLLR-NH2- and trypsin-induced effects on pacemaker potential. TFLLR-NH2 and trypsin also increased intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) intensity with increasing of Ca2+ oscillations. Genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor), CsCl, ZD7288, clonidine (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide (HCN) channel blockers), SQ-22536 and dideoxyadenosine (adenylate cyclase inhibitors) suppressed the increased pacemaker potential frequency without effects on depolarization of the membrane induced by TFLLR-NH2 and trypsin. Conclusion: These results suggest that activation of PAR-1 and PAR-2 modulates the pacemaker activity of colonic ICCs through the PLC-dependent [Ca2+]i release pathway. The increased pacemaker potential frequency by PAR-1 and PAR-2 was also dependent on tyrosine kinase, JNK, and HCN activation.
Arithmatic Coding Based Approach for Power System Parameter Data Compression
Authors: J. Sarkar Subhra , Kr. Sarkar Nabendu , Dutta Trishayan , Dey Panchalika , Mukherjee Aindrila
Published: June 2016

For stable power system operation, various system parameters like voltage, current, frequency, active and reactive power etc. are monitored at a regular basis. These data are either stored in the database of the system or transmitted to the monitoring station through SCADA. If these data can be compressed by suitable data compression techniques, there will be reduced memory requirement as well as lower energy consumption for transmitting the data. In this paper, an algorithm based on Arithmetic Coding is developed for compressing and decompressing such parameters in MATLAB environment. The compression ratio of the algorithm clearly indicates the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Daily Constant PV Output Power Supplying AC pumps using Batteries
Authors: Mahmoud Ismail Mohamed
Published: June 2016

This paper presents 200 KW three phase standalone photovoltaic systems supplying pumping station consist of four pumps 40 KW rating. The system utilizes a two stage energy conversion power conditioning unit topology composed of a DC-DC boost converter and three level-three phase voltage source inverter (VSI). The Boost converter in this paper is designed to operate in continuous mode and controlled for maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The fluctuating output power of the PV array system during the day is the commonly problem in the power system.  In this paper a nickel-Cadmium battery will be used to maintain the output power generated from the PV array supplying the pumps to be constant all the day under different operating conditions. The system is modeled and studied using MATLAB/Simulink
Review on AC-AC Converter Based Dynamic Voltage Restorer
Authors: G. Tamilvanan , S. Mahendran
Published: June 2016

The maintain power quality is one of the major part of all kind of industry as well as power systems. Voltage sag and voltage swell the common power quality issue. The Dynamic Voltage Restorer is the common Device which is used to mitigate the above problems. In this paper provides review on various type of AC-AC converter based DVR. The use of AC-AC converter can compensate the voltage sag and swell without need of any kind of storage elements like capacitor and batteries. The absence of storage elements can reduce size and weight of the DVR. The feature various type of AC- AC converters based DVR is concentrated in this paper.
Failure Analysis and Reliability Study of NAND Flash-Based Solid State Drives
Authors: Sayyad R. , Redkar Sangram
Published: June 2016

The research focuses on conducting failure analysis and reliability study to understand and analyze the root cause of Quality, Endurance component Reliability Demonstration Test (RDT) failures and determine SSD performance capability. It addresses essential challenges in developing techniques that utilize solid-state memory technologies (with emphasis on NAND flash memory) from device, circuit, architecture, and system perspectives. These challenges include not only the performance degradation arising from the physical nature of NAND flash memory, e.g., the inability to modify data in-place read/write performance asymmetry, and slow and constrained erase functionality, but also the reliability drawbacks that limits Solid State Drives (SSDs) performance.  In order to understand the nature of failures, a Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) was performed that identified the potential causes of component failures. In the course of this research, significant data gathering and analysis effort was carried out that led to a systematic evaluation of the components under consideration. 
Improved UFIR Tracking Algorithm for Maneuvering Target
Authors: Yin Shoulin , Wang Jinfeng , Liu Tianhua
Published: June 2016

Maneuvering target tracking is a target motion estimation problem, which can describe the irregular target maneuvering motion. It has been widely used in the field of military and civilian applications. In the maneuvering target tracking, the performance of Kalman filter(KF) and its improved algorithms depend on the accuracy of process noise statistical properties. If there exists deviation between process noise model and the actual process, it will generate the phenomenon of estimation error increasing. Unbiased finite impulse response(UFIR) filter does not need priori knowledge of noise statistical properties in the filtering process. The existing UFIR filters have the problem that generalized noise power gain(GNPG) does not change with measurement of innovation. We propose an improved UFIR filter based on measurement of innovation with ratio dynamic adaptive adjustment at adjacent time. It perfects the maneuvering detect-ability. The simulation results show that the improved UFIR filter has the best filtering effect than KF when process noise is not accurate.
Experimental Multipath Delay Profile of Underwater Acoustic Communication Channel in Shallow Water
Authors: Al_Aboosi Yasin Yousif , Sha'ameri Ahmad Zuri
Published: June 2016

The shallow water channel is an environment that is of particular interest to many research fields. An underwater acoustic channel is characterized as a multipath channel. Time-varying multipath propagation is one of the major factors that limit the acoustic communication performance in shallow water. This study conducts two underwater acoustic experiments in Tanjung Balau, Johor, Malaysia. A transducer and a hydrophone are submerged at different depths and separated by different distances. Linear frequency modulated (LFM) pulses are chosen as the main transmit signal for the experiments. The cross-correlation between the transmitted and received signals represents the impulse response of the channel (multipath profile). The results show that the amplitude of the successive paths will not rapidly decline, and vice versa, when the distance between the sender and the receiver increases. Moreover, the time difference between the different paths will be small in the case of distance increase. In other words, the successive paths will converge in time.
Energy Preservation in Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks through Zone Partitioning
Authors: Hassan Shahzad , S.Nisar Muhammad , Jiang Hongbo
Published: June 2016

Energy preservation is critical task in the wireless sensor networks and the energy cost increases proportionally as the transmission distance increases. Since nodes are equipped with limited energy it is very crucial to decrease the energy consumption by decreasing the communication distance between the nodes. In clustering protocols inter-cluster and intra-cluster communication is most neglected part. We have proposed a new zone based clustering protocol which reduces the intra- clustering and inter-clustering transmission distance between the communicating nodes. Experimental results reveal that our proposed protocols have outperformed the compared protocols in terms of stability period, instability period and throughput.
Ensuring Data Integrity Scheme Based on Digital Signature and Iris Features in Cloud
Authors: H. Abbdal Salah , A. Kadhim Thair , Abduljabbar Zaid Ameen , Hussien Zaid Alaa , A. Yassin Ali , Abdulridha Hussain Mohammed , Waley Salam
Published: June 2016

Cloud computing is a novel paradigm that allows users to remotely access their data through web- based tools and applications. Later, the users do not have the ability to monitor or arrange their data. In this case, many security challenges have been raised. One of these challenges is data integrity. Contentiously, the user cannot access his data directly and he could not know whether his data is modified or not. Therefore, the cloud service provider should provide efficient ways for the user to ascertain whether the integrity of his data is protected or compromised. In this paper, we focus on the problem of ensuring the integrity of data stored in the cloud. Additionally, we propose a method which combines biometric and cryptography techniques in a cost-effective manner for data owners to gain trust in the cloud. We present efficient and secure integrity based on the iris feature extraction and digital signature.  Iris recognition has become a new, emergent approach to individual identification in the last decade. It is one of the most accurate identity verification systems. This technique gives the cloud user more confidence in detecting any block that has been changed. Additionally, our proposed scheme employs user’s iris features to secure and integrate data in a manner difficult for any internal or external unauthorized entity to take or compromise it. Iris recognition is an internal organ that is well protected against damage and wear by a highly transparent and sensitive membrane. Extensive security and performance analysis show that our proposed scheme is highly efficient and provably secure.
Prepregnancy Diabetes and Offspring Risk of Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Øyen Nina , Diaz Lars J. , Leirgul Elisabeth , Boyd Heather A. , Priest James , Mathiesen Elisabeth R. , Quertermous Thomas , Wohlfahrt Jan , Melbye Mads
Published: June 2016

Background—

Maternal diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of offspring congenital heart defects (CHD); however, the causal mechanism is poorly understood. We further investigated this association in a Danish nationwide cohort.

Methods and Results—

In a national cohort study, we identified 2 025 727 persons born from 1978 to 2011; among them were 7296 (0.36%) persons exposed to maternal pregestational diabetes mellitus. Pregestational diabetes mellitus was identified by using the National Patient Register and individual-level information on all prescriptions filled in Danish pharmacies. Persons with CHD (n=16 325) were assigned to embryologically related cardiac phenotypes. The CHD prevalence in the offspring of mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus was 318 per 10 000 live births (n=232) in comparison with a baseline risk of 80 per 10 000; the adjusted relative risk for CHD was 4.00 (95% confidence interval, 3.51–4.53). The association was not modified by year of birth, maternal age at diabetes onset, or diabetes duration, and CHD risks associated with type 1 (insulin-dependent) and type 2 (insulin-independent) diabetes mellitus did not differ significantly. Persons born to women with previous acute diabetes complications had a higher CHD risk than those exposed to maternal diabetes mellitus without complications (relative risk, 7.62; 95% confidence interval, 5.23–10.6, and relative risk, 3.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.91–4.13, respectively;
P
=0.0004). All specific CHD phenotypes were associated with maternal pregestational diabetes mellitus (relative risk range, 2.74–13.8).

Conclusions—

The profoundly increased CHD risk conferred by maternal pregestational diabetes mellitus neither changed over time nor differed by diabetes subtype. The association with acute pregestational diabetes complications was particularly strong, suggesting a role for glucose in the causal pathway.
Agriculture and Its Discontents: Coalitional Politics at the wto with Special Reference to India’s Food Security Interests
Authors: Singh J.P. , Gupta Surupa
Published: June 2016

The demise of the Doha round of trade negotiations is often attributed to deadlocks in agricultural negotiations between the developed and the developing world. Why has agriculture been so difficult to negotiate? This article explains North-South agricultural negotiations through the lens of coalition politics, especially the shift from bloc to issue-based diplomacy from the developing world. We argue against the proposition in the negotiation literature that multiple coalitions at the international level allow negotiators room to maneuver. Our study shows that bloc coalitions in fact allowed for compromise more than issue-based coalitions in agriculture, which are often supported by strong domestic constituencies. Empirically, the article focuses on the Uruguay Round when the North and South struck an agreement on agriculture and the Doha Round, which remains deadlocked. The article also provides an in-depth case study of India’s agricultural interests and its food security program in the context of thewto.
Should Anthroposophic Medicinal Products Be Regulated in Europe?
Authors: Michaux Geneviève
Published: June 2016

European Commission’s reports suggest that the European Union should address the status of anthroposophic products, i.e. products that are developed, manufactured and prescribed in accordance with the holistic approach on which anthroposophic medicine is based. Anthroposophic products cannot be placed as such on the European market because they cannot meet the marketing authorisation or even registration requirements set out by European or national pharmaceutical law. Yet, the 95-year European tradition and good safety profile of anthroposophic products justify giving them an easier access to market. Such access can result from specific rules on anthroposophic products, but can be more efficiently achieved by encouraging the Member States to better apply the existing rules on marketing authorisation procedures or on registration of homeopathic and traditional herbal medicinal products, or by including anthroposophic substances, manufacturing methods or uses in monographs.
From Admiralty Meadow to Palace Square
Authors: McCaffray Susan P.
Published: June 2016

While many have characterized St. Petersburg as the carefully planned creation of the ambitious autocrat Peter the Great, in fact the plans of Peter and his successors were often modified by the needs and habits of the city’s growing population. A key case in point is the process by which Palace Square, the locus of popular, civic and national festivities and solemnities, came to be the city center. This process took place in the eighteenth century and was linked to the gradual pull of the city population to the south, which was eventually recognized and accommodated by Peter’s daughter, Elizabeth, and her brilliant architect, Francesco Rastrelli.