bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tailored relocation stress intervention programme for family caregivers of patients transferred from a surgical intensive care unit to a general ward
Authors: Lee Seul , Oh HyunSoo , Suh YeonOk , Seo WhaSook
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To develop and examine a relocation stress intervention programme tailored for the family caregivers of patients scheduled for transfer from a surgical intensive care unit to a general ward.

Background

Family relocation stress syndrome has been reported to be similar to that exhibited by patients, and investigators have emphasised that nurses should make special efforts to relieve family relocation stress to maximise positive contributions to the well‐being of patients by family caregivers.

Design

A nonequivalent control group, nonsynchronised pretest–post‐test design was adopted.

Methods

The study subjects were 60 family caregivers of patients with neurosurgical or general surgical conditions in the surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital located in Incheon, South Korea. Relocation stress and family burden were evaluated at three times, that is before intervention, immediately after transfer and four to five days after transfer.

Results

This relocation stress intervention programme was developed for the family caregivers based on disease characteristics and relocation‐related needs. In the experimental group, relocation stress levels significantly and continuously decreased after intervention, whereas in the control group, a slight nonsignificant trend was observed. Family burden levels in the control group increased significantly after transfer, whereas burden levels in the experimental group increased only marginally and nonsignificantly. No significant between‐group differences in relocation stress or family burden levels were observed after intervention.

Conclusions

Relocation stress levels of family caregivers were significantly decreased after intervention in the experimental group, which indicates that the devised family relocation stress intervention programme effectively alleviated family relocation stress.

Relevance to clinical practice

The devised intervention programme, which was tailored to disease characteristics and relocation‐related needs, may enhance the practicality and efficacy of relocation stress management and make meaningful contribution to the relief of family relocation stress, promote patient recovery and enhance the well‐being of patients and family caregivers.
Registered nurses’ reflections on bioscience courses during the undergraduate nursing programme: an exploratory study
Authors: Craft Judy A , Hudson Peter B , Plenderleith Mark B , Gordon Christopher J
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To explore new graduate registered nurses’ reflections of bioscience courses during their nursing programme and the relationship between bioscience content and their clinical practice.

Background

Undergraduate nursing students internationally find bioscience courses challenging, which may be due to the volume of content and level of difficulty of these courses. Such challenges may be exacerbated by insufficient integration between bioscience theory and nursing clinical practice.

Design

A descriptive, cross‐sectional mixed methods study was conducted.

Methods

A 30‐item questionnaire with five written response questions which explored recently registered nurses’ reflections on bioscience courses during their nursing degree was employed. Descriptive analyses were reported for individual items. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses was grouped to reveal emerging themes.

Results

Registered nurses’ (n = 22) reflections revealed that bioscience courses were a significant challenge during their undergraduate programme, and they lacked confidence explaining the biological basis of nursing. Participants would like improved knowledge of the relevant bioscience for nursing and agreed that bioscience courses should be extended into the undergraduate final year. The importance of relating bioscience content to nursing practice was elaborated extensively throughout written responses.

Conclusions

Although registered nurses reflected that bioscience courses were difficult with large volumes of content, having more bioscience with greater relevance to nursing applications was considered important in their current clinical practice. It is suggested that bioscience academics develop greater contextual links between bioscience content and clinical practice relevant to nursing.

Relevance to clinical practice

After working as a registered nurse, there was appreciation of bioscience relevance for clinical practice, and the nurses believed they would have benefitted from more nursing‐related bioscience during their undergraduate programme. Focussed integration of bioscience with clinical nursing courses should be driven by academics, nurse educators and clinical nurses to provide a biological basis for patient care to nursing students.
Managing boundaries between professional and lay nursing following the influenza pandemic, 1918–1919: insights for professional resilience today?
Authors: Wood Pamela J
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To examine lay–professional nursing boundaries, using challenges to the New Zealand nursing profession following the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic as the example.

Background

The influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 had an overwhelming international impact on communities and the nursing profession. After the pandemic, the expectation for communities to be able to nurse the sick reflects today's increasing reliance on families to care for people at home. It similarly raised questions about the profession's role and professional boundaries in relation to volunteer or lay nursing. In New Zealand, the postpandemic challenge to build community lay nursing capacity tested these boundaries.

Design

Historical research.

Methods

Analysis of historical primary sources of official reports, newspaper accounts, articles in New Zealand's professional nursing journal Kai Tiaki and the memoir of Hester Maclean, the country's chief nurse. Interpretation of findings in relation to secondary sources examining similar historical tensions between professional and lay nursing, and to the more recent notion of professional resilience.

Results

Maclean guarded nursing's professional boundaries by maintaining considerable control over community instruction in nursing and by strenuously resisting the suggestion that this should be done in hospitals where professional nurses trained.

Conclusions

This historical example shows how the nursing profession faced the perceived threat to its professional boundaries. It also shows how competing goals of building community lay nursing capacity and protecting professional boundaries can be effectively managed.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

In the context of a global nursing shortage, limited healthcare budgets and a consequently increasing reliance on households to provide care for family members, this historical research shows nurses today that similar issues have been faced and effectively managed in the past.
Retrospective 2‐ to 7‐Year Follow‐Up Study of 20 Double Full‐Arch Implant‐Supported Monolithic Zirconia Fixed Prostheses: Measurements and Recommendations for Optimal Design
Authors: Rojas Vizcaya Fernando
Published: August 2016

Purpose

To measure the extension of cantilever lengths, thicknesses, and heights of zirconia prostheses in the lingual and facial areas of the distal screw access openings, and to evaluate the clinical performance regarding chipping or fracture of the distal cantilevered sections of double full‐arch CAD/CAM screw‐retained, stained, monolithic zirconia, gingival‐colored ceramic implant‐supported fixed prostheses (MZ‐FPs).

Materials and Methods

Ten edentulous patients were provided with a total of 20 CAD/CAM double full‐arch MZ‐FPs. The zirconia thicknesses around distal screw access openings at three different levels (crown height space, screw access opening lengths, and dimensions of the cantilevered segments) were measured in the resin prototypes. Patients were evaluated clinically (visually) without magnification, with intraoral digital photography, and radiologically by the author, approximately every 6 months. Ten patients with 20 MZ‐FPs were evaluated. Twenty resin prototypes with 35 cantilevered segments (15 maxillary, 20 mandibular) were measured. The lingual and facial thicknesses of the resin frameworks and the crown height spaces of 35 distal access openings were measured.

Results

The average extension of the maxillary cantilever segments was 7.72 mm; the mandibular cantilever average was 13.72 mm. The average crown height space for maxillary prostheses was 13.27 mm, for the mandibular prostheses it was 11.89 mm. Zirconia thickness around distal screw access openings at the middle of the crowns, margins and middle of the gingival areas (buccal side of maxillary prostheses) was 4.29, 3.79, and 3.87 mm, respectively. On the lingual sides the thicknesses were 3.13, 2.85, and 3.15 mm, respectively. For mandibular prostheses the thicknesses were 3.56, 3.08, and 3.15 mm, respectively, on the buccal sides, and 2.07, 2.00, and 2.99 mm, respectively, on the lingual sides. No implant failure or changes in the occlusal surface, chipping of the cuspid or incisal edges, or prosthesis distal extension fractures were observed during follow‐up periods ranging from 2 to 7 years. The survival rate was 100% for implants and prostheses. In one of the patients, chipping of the pink ceramic was noted in the maxillary prosthesis 36 months after placement.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicated that full‐arch MZ‐FPs without cutback, or with partial digital cutback and veneering ceramic, were a therapeutic option. Recommendations regarding the thickness of zirconia at the level of the distal screw access openings, the crown height spaces, and the lengths of the cantilever segments were recorded. Additional in vitro and clinical studies will be required for more scientific analysis of the criteria for design of this type of prosthesis to minimize prosthetic complications. Long‐term and multicenter studies are needed to corroborate the findings discussed in this report.
Factors that influence delivery of tobacco cessation support in general dental practice: a narrative review
Authors: Lala Rizwana , Csikar Julia , Douglas Gail , Muarry Jenni
Published: August 2016

Objectives

To review the literature reporting factors that are associated with the delivery of lifestyle support in general dental practice.

Methods

A systematic review of the quantitative observational studies describing activities to promote the general health of adults in primary care general dental practice. Behavior change included tobacco cessation, alcohol reduction, diet, weight management, and physical activity. Tooth brushing and oral hygiene behaviors were excluded as the focus of this review was on the common risk factors that affect general health as well as oral health.

Results

Six cross sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. Five studies only reported activities to support tobacco cessation. As well as tobacco cessation one study also reported activities related to alcohol usage, physical activity, and Body Mass Index. Perceptions of time availability consistently correlated with activities and beliefs about tobacco cessation, alongside the smoking status of the dental professional. Dentists who perceive having more available time were more likely to discuss smoking with patients, prescribe smoking cessation treatments and direct patients toward (signpost to) lifestyle support services. Dental professionals who smoke were less likely to give smoking cessation advice and counselling than nonsmokers. Finally, the data showed that professional support may be relevant. Professionals who work in solo practices or those who felt a lack of support from the wider professional team (peer support) were more likely to report barriers to delivering lifestyle support.

Conclusion

Organizational changes in dental practices to encourage more team working and professional time for lifestyle support may influence delivery. Dental professionals who are smokers may require training to develop their beliefs about the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions.
Weather correlates of temporal activity patterns in a desert lizard: insights for designing more effective surveys
Authors: Treilibs C. E. , Pavey C. R. , Raghu S. , M. Bull C.
Published: August 2016

Imperfect detection of individuals within an animal population can bias estimates of abundance and other population metrics. However, detectability may be improved by timing surveys with conditions that increase detection among individuals of the population. We explored the weather conditions that promote surface activity in a burrowing desert lizard, Slater's skink Liopholis slateri, with the aim of increasing detectability in observational surveys for this endangered species. We matched repeated count data (n = 126) of individuals within a population of Slater's skink sampled across four survey years with corresponding weather observations. We used classification and regression tree (CART) models to determine the environmental conditions that promoted high skink counts, and by inference high levels of surface activity. We also investigated how individual activity patterns varied over a day–night cycle through the course of a survey year using remote infrared cameras at burrow entrances set to capture images every 30 min. We found that two weather variables, air temperature and humidity, influenced activity levels, but there was no consistent single covariate, or set of covariates that explained surface activity. Variation in results of analysis between morning and evening datasets suggests that lizards respond to different weather conditions at different times of the day. We also found evidence of previously unreported nocturnal activity during the hottest months of the year.
Effects of Task Complexity on L2 Writing Behaviors and Linguistic Complexity
Authors: Révész Andrea , Kourtali Nektaria‐Efstathia , Mazgutova Diana
Published: August 2016

This study investigated whether task complexity influences second language (L2) writers’ fluency, pausing, and revision behaviors and the cognitive processes underlying these behaviors; whether task complexity affects linguistic complexity of written output; and whether relationships between writing behaviors and linguistic complexity are moderated by task complexity. Participants were 73 advanced L2 writers, who completed simple or complex essay tasks. Task complexity was operationalized as the absence versus presence of content support. Participants’ writing behaviors were recorded via keystroke logging software. Four writers, drawn from groups performing simple and complex tasks, additionally engaged in stimulated recall. Content support was found to lead to less pausing, more revision, and increased linguistic complexity. When content support was absent, more frequent pauses and revisions were associated with less sophisticated lexis. These results, combined with stimulated recall comments, suggest that content support likely reduced processing burden on planning processes, facilitating attention to linguistic encoding.

Open Practices

This article has been awarded an Open Materials badge. All materials are publicly accessible in the IRIS digital repository at http://www.iris-database.org. Learn more about the Open Practices badges from the Center for Open Science: https://osf.io/tvyxz/wiki.
Neuroendocrine profiles associated with discrete behavioural variation in Symphodus ocellatus, a species with male alternative reproductive tactics
Authors: Nugent B. M. , Stiver K. A. , Alonzo S. H. , Hofmann H. A.
Published: August 2016

The molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity are not well understood. Identifying mechanisms underlying alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) in species for which the behavioural and fitness consequences of this variation are well characterized provides an opportunity to integrate evolutionary and mechanistic understanding of the maintenance of variation within populations. In the ocellated wrasse Symphodus ocellatus, the behavioural phenotypes of three distinct male morphs (sneakers, satellites and nesting males), which arise from a single genome, have been thoroughly characterized. To determine the neuroendocrine and genomic mechanisms associated with discrete phenotypic variation and ARTs in S. ocellatus in their natural environment, we constructed a whole‐brain de novo transcriptome and compared global patterns of gene expression between sexes and male morphs. Next, we quantified circulating cortisol and 11‐ketotestosterone (11‐kt), mediators of male reproductive behaviours, as well as stress and gonadal steroid hormone receptor expression in the preoptic area, ventral subpallial division of the telencephalon and dorsolateral telencephalon, critical brain regions for social and reproductive behaviours. We found higher levels of 11‐kt in nesting males and higher levels of cortisol in sneaker males relative to other male morphs and females. We also identified distinct patterns of brain region‐specific hormone receptor expression between males such that most hormone receptors are more highly expressed in satellites and nesting males relative to sneakers and females. Our results establish the neuroendocrine and molecular mechanisms that underlie ARTs in the wild and provide a foundation for experimentally testing hypotheses about the relationship between neuromolecular processes and reproductive success.
FAUSTMANN'S FORMULAS FOR FORESTS
Authors: CAIRNS ROBERT D.
Published: August 2016

The canonical, Faustmannian forest is revisited to sharpen understanding of forests as forms of irreversibly invested capital. Investment and two r‐percent rules are discussed and re‐interpreted. A forest's two natural resources, the stand and the land, act in conjunction as a composite, sunk asset. All returns are attributed to the composite. Nonmarketed or intangible capital is also absorbed into the composite. If capital is comprehensively defined, there is no independent role for the concept of an internal rate of return. A forest provides real options in optimal and suboptimal rotation patterns. Old growth has superficial similarities to an exhaustible resource, but the forest still consists of two resources that, in conjunction, behave comparably to a plantation forest. Nonconvexities inherent in the benefits and costs of forest use indicate that implementing a sustainable program may be very difficult.
USE OF AGE‐ AND STAGE‐STRUCTURED MATRIX MODELS TO PREDICT LIFE HISTORY SCHEDULES FOR SEMELPAROUS POPULATIONS
Authors: DAVISON RAZIEL J. , SATTERTHWAITE WILLIAM H.
Published: August 2016

Many studies of semelparous salmon populations use Leslie matrices that classify individuals on the basis of age alone and do not explicitly impose death upon reproduction. Although these models may suffice for studying long‐term population dynamics (like asymptotic growth rate), they do not accurately represent the diversity of individual life history outcomes in semelparous populations. Cohorts breeding at different ages have different life history traits (e.g., age at first reproduction and remaining life expectancy) that are obscured in Leslie models and this distorts our understanding of life history diversity and its importance for semelparous population dynamics. We present a simple transformation that uses age‐specific breeding probabilities to reconfigure Leslie matrices as explicitly semelparous models. Explicitly semelparous models conserve asymptotic measures like population growth rate, vital rate elasticities, life expectancy at birth, and generation time but also better predict life history schedules and reproductive values. Strictly age‐classified Leslie models underestimate ages at first reproduction and mean ages at death for older breeders but overestimate mean ages at death for early breeders. Leslie models also slightly overestimate variance in lifetime reproductive success, and underestimate entropy exhibited by life history outcomes.
The Esophagiome: concept, status, and future perspectives
Authors: Gregersen Hans , Liao Donghua , Brasseur James G.
Published: August 2016

The term “Esophagiome” is meant to imply a holistic, multiscale treatment of esophageal function from cellular and muscle physiology to the mechanical responses that transport and mix fluid contents. The development and application of multiscale mathematical models of esophageal function are central to the Esophagiome concept. These model elements underlie the development of a “virtual esophagus” modeling framework to characterize and analyze function and disease by quantitatively contrasting normal and pathophysiological function. Functional models incorporate anatomical details with sensory–motor properties and functional responses, especially related to biomechanical functions, such as bolus transport and gastrointestinal fluid mixing. This brief review provides insight into Esophagiome research. Future advanced models can provide predictive evaluations of the therapeutic consequences of surgical and endoscopic treatments and will aim to facilitate clinical diagnostics and treatment.
Oral healthcare management in Bardet Biedl syndrome
Authors: Hassona Yazan , Kasabreh Najla , Hammoudeh Hanin , Scully Crispian
Published: August 2016

Bardet Biedl syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with variable clinical presentation and challenging diagnosis. Recognition of orofacial features might help in the diagnosis. Dental management of affected patients might be complicated by renal, cardiac, metabolic, neurosensory, and cognitive defects.
SCOPED‐W: SCalable Online Platform for extracting Environmental Data and Water‐related model outputs
Authors: Guigoz Yaniss , Lacroix Pierre , Rouholahnejad Elham , Ray Nicolas , Giuliani Grégory
Published: August 2016

This article presents SCOPED, an innovative approach for extracting environmental data using OGC services. In the field of water resource management, SCOPED‐W (‘W’ for ‘Water’) is a method that was developed in the framework of EU/FP7 IASON and EOPOWER projects. This platform supports the collection of data required to build a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and the uptake, spatialization and dissemination of raw data generated from the outputs of different SWAT models for the Black Sea region. Scientists are documenting the data served by the platform in ISO standardized metadata to support informed use. SCOPED‐W primarily targets the community of SWAT users in the Black Sea region but it can easily be replicated in other geographical areas. Additionally, the SCOPED approach is based on data interoperability that makes it fully compatible with other domains of application as demonstrated here with three original use cases. The article also highlights the benefits of the approach for the GEO community and discusses future improvements for supporting integration with other platforms such as UNEP Live.
Numerical Characterization of Hot-Gas Ingestion Through Turbine Rim Seals
Authors: Da Soghe Riccardo , Bianchini Cosimo , Sangan Carl M. , Scobie James A. , Lock Gary D.
Published: August 2016

This paper deals with a numerical study aimed at the characterization of hot-gas ingestion through turbine rim seals. The numerical campaign focused on an experimental facility which models ingress through the rim seal into the upstream wheel-space of an axial-turbine stage. Single-clearance arrangements were considered in the form of axial- and radial-seal gap configurations. With the radial-seal clearance configuration, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) steady-state solutions were able to predict the system sealing effectiveness over a wide range of coolant mass flow rates reasonably well. The greater insight of flow field provided by the computations illustrates the thermal buffering effect when ingress occurs: For a given sealing flow rate, the effectiveness on the rotor was significantly higher than that on the stator due to the axial flow of hot gases from stator to rotor caused by pumping effects. The predicted effectiveness on the rotor was compared with a theoretical model for the thermal buffering effect showing good agreement. When the axial-seal clearance arrangement is considered, the agreement between CFD and experiments worsens; the variation of sealing effectiveness with coolant flow rate calculated by means of the simulations displays a distinct kink. It was found that the “kink phenomenon” can be ascribed to an overestimation of the egress spoiling effects due to turbulence modeling limitations. Despite some weaknesses in the numerical predictions, the paper shows that CFD can be used to characterize the sealing performance of axial- and radial-clearance turbine rim seals.
An Acoustic Time-of-Flight Approach for Unsteady Temperature Measurements: Characterization of Entropy Waves in a Model Gas Turbine Combustor
Authors: Wassmer Dominik , Schuermans Bruno , Oliver Paschereit Christian , Moeck Jonas P.
Published: August 2016

Lean premixed combustion promotes the occurrence of thermoacoustic phenomena in gas turbine combustors. One mechanism that contributes to the flame–acoustic interaction is entropy noise. Fluctuations of the equivalence ratio in the mixing section cause the generation of hot spots in the flame. These so-called entropy waves are convectively transported to the first stage of the turbine and generate acoustic waves that travel back to the flame; a thermoacoustic loop is closed. However, due to the lack of experimental tools, a detailed investigation of entropy waves in gas turbine combustion systems has not been possible up to now. This work presents an acoustic time-of-flight based temperature measurement method which allows the measurement of temperature fluctuations in the relevant frequency range. A narrow acoustic pulse is generated with an electric spark discharge close to the combustor wall. The acoustic response is measured at the same axial location with an array of microphones circumferentially distributed around the combustion chamber. The delay in the pulse arrival times corresponds to the line-integrated inverse speed of sound. For the measurement of entropy waves in an atmospheric combustion test rig, fuel is periodically injected into the mixing tube of a premixed combustor. The subsequently generated entropy waves are measured for different forcing frequencies of the fuel injection and for different mean flow velocities in the combustor. The amplitude decay and phase lag of the entropy waves adhere well to a Strouhal number scaling for different mean flow velocities.
Effects of Purge Jet Momentum on Sealing Effectiveness
Authors: Clark Kenneth , Barringer Michael , Thole Karen , Clum Carey , Hiester Paul , Memory Curtis , Robak Christopher
Published: August 2016

Driven by the need for higher cycle efficiencies, overall pressure ratios for gas turbine engines continue to be pushed higher thereby resulting in increasing gas temperatures. Secondary air, bled from the compressor, is used to cool turbine components and seal the cavities between stages from the hot main gas path. This paper compares a range of purge flows and two different purge hole configurations for introducing the purge flow into the rim cavities. In addition, the mate face gap leakage between vanes is investigated. For this particular study, stationary vanes at engine-relevant Mach and Reynolds numbers were used with a static rim seal and rim cavity to remove rotational effects and isolate gas path effects. Sealing effectiveness measurements, deduced from the use of CO2 as a flow tracer, indicate that the effectiveness levels on the stator and rotor side of the cavity depend on the mass and momentum flux ratios of the purge jets relative to the swirl velocity. For a given purge flow rate, fewer purge holes resulted in better sealing than the case with a larger number of holes.
Tissue-specific emergence of regulatory and intraepithelial T cells from a clonal T cell precursor
Authors: Bilate Angelina M. , Bousbaine Djenet , Mesin Luka , Agudelo Marianna , Leube Justin , Kratzert Andreas , Dougan Stephanie K. , Victora Gabriel D. , Ploegh Hidde L.
Published: August 2016

A single T cell receptor can give rise to two distinct T cell types at distinct anatomical locations.
A one-protein signaling pathway in the innate immune system
Authors: Orzalli Megan H. , Kagan Jonathan C.
Published: August 2016

Group A
Streptococcus
protease SpeB directly binds and activates IL-1β.
Innovative non-surgical management of pelvic and anterior vaginal wall abscess following vaginal surgery
Authors: Singh Nisha , Negi Neha , Kumar Namrata
Published: August 2016

Surgical site infections remain a common cause of morbidity following gynaecological surgery. The widespread implementation of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to surgery, as well as cognizance of modifiable risk factors for postoperative infection, has led to a significant reduction in postoperative infection rates. However, in low resource settings where sepsis and infections are common, surgical site infections following vaginal hysterectomy are sometimes encountered. It is a challenge to treat these infections with minimal intervention avoiding repeat surgery. We report here a unique situation following vaginal hysterectomy and then laparotomy; where a pelvic abscess communicated with the vesicovaginal space and drained through an opening into the anterior vaginal wall. An innovative technique was used to drain this anterior vaginal wall abscess connecting to pelvic cavity using a 40 cm long disposable urinary catheter (made of polyvinyl chloride), which was inserted into the vaginal opening under ultrasound guidance.
Molecular diagnosis of opportunistic pericardial infection in a patient treated with adalimumab: the role of next-generation sequencing
Authors: Poli Stefano , Comar Manola , Luzzati Roberto , Sinagra Gianfranco
Published: August 2016

Biological immune-modulator drugs, especially inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α, are frequently encountered in modern clinical practice and opportunistic infections are therefore a common concern. Infective pericarditis has been described as a complication of these treatments with possible life-threatening consequences. In similar cases cultures may isolate multiple opportunistic bacteria from the pericardial fluid without specific identification of the responsible germ, representing a problem for targeted antibiotic therapy. We present a case of acute pericarditis evolving in pericardial constriction and cardiac tamponade in a patient treated with adalimumab for psoriatic arthritis overlapping with recurrent polychondritis. Next-generation sequencing allowed the identification of a common oral pathogen as the aetiological agent confirming its role in the identification of species that can be overlooked by common microbiological techniques.
Effects of peripheral layer thickness on pulsatile flow of Herschel–Bulkley fluid through a stenotic artery
Authors: Zaman Akbar , Ali Nasir
Published: August 2016

A study is conducted to analyze two-phase flow model of blood in a flexible stenotic artery. The Newtonian and Herschel–Bulkley constitutive relations are used to model the core and peripheral regions, respectively. The arterial wall is assumed to be elastic. By making appropriate assumptions, the flow problem is transformed into a set of nonlinear partial different equations. These equation together with suitable initial and boundary data are solved using an explicit finite difference scheme. The radial and axial velocities of the streaming blood are computed for several values of the emerging parameters. The axial distribution of flow rate, resistance impedance, and wall shear stress are also shown graphically and discussed in detail. The instantaneous streamlines patterns of the flow are also shown.
Assessing the availability of aerially delivered baits to feral cats through rainforest canopy using unmanned aircraft
Authors: Johnston Michael , McCaldin Guy , Rieker Andrew
Published: August 2016

At least eight threatened wildlife species are at direct risk from predation by cats (Felis catus) on Christmas Island (Director of National Parks. 2014. Christmas Island biodiversity conservation plan. Canberra. Australia: Department of the Environment.). A range of strategies are now being used to manage cats across the island, including responsible ownership methods for domestic cats and lethal control tools to remove feral cats outside the township area. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were used to drop non-toxic baits through the rainforest canopy to assess whether aerial baiting could be undertaken successfully on the island. Ground crews located 88% of baits, indicating that sufficient baits would be accessible to feral cats if broad-scale aerial baiting was to be undertaken in the future.
Resonances in the two-center Coulomb systems
Authors: Seri Marcello , Knauf Andreas , Esposti Mirko Degli , Jecko Thierry
Published: August 2016

We investigate the existence of resonances for two-center Coulomb systems with arbitrary charges in two dimensions, defining them in terms of generalized complex eigenvalues of a non-selfadjoint deformation of the two-center Schrödinger operator. We construct the resolvent kernels of the operators and prove that they can be extended analytically to the second Riemann sheet. The resonances are then analyzed by means of perturbation theory and numerical methods.
Almost commuting self-adjoint matrices: The real and self-dual cases
Authors: Loring Terry A. , Sørensen Adam P. W.
Published: August 2016

We show that a pair of almost commuting self-adjoint, symmetric matrices is close to a pair of commuting self-adjoint, symmetric matrices (in a uniform way). Moreover, we prove that the same holds with self-dual in place of symmetric and also for paths of self-adjoint matrices. Since a symmetric, self-adjoint matrix is real, we get a real version of Huaxin Lin’s famous theorem on almost commuting matrices. Similarly, the self-dual case gives a version for matrices over the quaternions.

To prove these results, we develop a theory of semiprojectivity for real [Formula: see text]-algebras and also examine various definitions of low-rank for real [Formula: see text]-algebras.
The ground state construction of bilayer graphene
Authors: Giuliani Alessandro , Jauslin Ian
Published: August 2016

We consider a model of half-filled bilayer graphene, in which the three dominant Slonczewski–Weiss–McClure hopping parameters are retained, in the presence of short-range interactions. Under a smallness assumption on the interaction strength [Formula: see text] as well as on the inter-layer hopping [Formula: see text], we construct the ground state in the thermodynamic limit, and prove that the pressure and two-point Schwinger function, away from its singularities, are analytic in [Formula: see text], uniformly in [Formula: see text]. The interacting Fermi surface is degenerate, and consists of eight Fermi points, two of which are protected by symmetries, while the locations of the other six are renormalized by the interaction, and the effective dispersion relation at the Fermi points is conical. The construction reveals the presence of different energy regimes, where the effective behavior of correlation functions changes qualitatively. The analysis of the crossover between regimes plays an important role in the proof of analyticity and in the uniform control of the radius of convergence. The proof is based on a rigorous implementation of fermionic renormalization group methods, including determinant estimates for the renormalized expansion.
Uncovering urban mobility patterns and impact of spatial distribution of places on movements
Authors: Chen Wang , Gao Qiang , Xiong Hua-Gang
Published: August 2016

As an important component in varieties of practical applications, understanding human urban mobility patterns draws intensive attention from researchers. In this paper, we investigate the urban mobility patterns and the impact of spatial distribution of places on the patterns using the data from a popular location-based social network Whrrl which are unrestricted to transportation modes. A movement region is demarcated for each city, which better depicts the concentrated active area of residents in the city than the administrative region. We show that the trip lengths in urban areas follow the exponential law unlike the power law in large scale of space. We find that the cities with larger sizes of place distribution area generally have smaller exponents of trip length distribution, larger means and deviations of trip lengths, while there are no apparent relationships between place densities and trip lengths. To examine the findings, we construct series of synthetic cities based on the power-law decay of place density and simulate urban human movement by the rank-based model. The simulations validate our findings and imply that the exponential distribution of urban trips is a combined result of power-law decay of place density and rank-based mobility preference.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: THE CASE OF THE AMAZON REGION
Authors: IMORI DENISE , GUILHOTO JOAQUIM JOSÈ MARTINS , WAISMAN CAIO
Published: August 2016

This paper verifies the existence of possible tradeoffs between policies directed at reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and those policies directed at fostering the development of the Brazilian Amazon Region, considering its economic relations with the rest of the country and international markets. To achieve this goal, this paper uses an interregional input–output model, estimated for the Brazilian economy for the year 2004. The results of our analysis show that the sectors with the greatest importance in terms of emissions are cattle and soybean production, which are also the most prominent for the region’s economic development. Although 63% of Brazil’s anthropogenic emissions of CO2eq were concentrated in the Amazon Region, under a consumer perspective the region’s responsibility corresponded to only 24% of emissions in the country, being surpassed by the consumer-based emissions of rest of Brazil (49%), as well as that belonging to foreign countries by means of exports (27%). This poses a dilemma that needs to be faced not only by Brazil but also by developed nations, as the burden of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in the Brazilian Amazon region cannot be put only on the poor population of the region.
A Shape-Aware Road Detection Method for Aerial Images
Authors: Wang Huan , Hou YangYang , Ren Mingwu
Published: August 2016

Road detection in aerial images is a crucial technique for visual navigation and scene understanding in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A shape-aware road detection method for aerial images is proposed in this paper. It first employs the stroke width transform (SWT) and a geodesic distance based superpixel clustering to generate proposal regions. Then, a shape classification is responsible for selecting all potential road segments from the proposal regions which appear to be long and with consistent width. All road segments selected are clustered into several groups based on width and color features. A global graph based labeling model is then applied based on each group to remove potential background clutters, as well as to generate the final output. Experiments on two public datasets demonstrate that the proposed method can handle more diverse and challenging road scenes and needs less pre-training, leading to better performance compared to conventional methods.
Hierarchic Entropy: An Information Theoretic Measure of Evolutionary Robotic Behavioral Diversity
Authors: Zhang Guohua , Wang Weijia
Published: August 2016

This paper investigates the design of information theoretic-based fitness function for embedded evolutionary robotics (ERs). Such fitness relies on the assumption that interesting behaviors result in a high sensorimotor (individual) diversity. The current simple entropy as a diversity metric only considers individuals’ difference but ignores their spatial relationship. The sensorimotor stream can be analyzed to construct a simple directed graph that has unique entry and exit nodes. This paper proposes a hierarchic entropy as a diversity metric by incorporating the simple entropy and the spatial relationship based graph entropy. Maximizing the hierarchic entropy, achieved by on-board evolutionary algorithm, thus defines a self-driven fitness function enforcing the controller visiting diverse sensorimotor states. The proposed algorithm achieves better performance than the published results of other entropy-based methods only relying on simple entropy, without requiring additional computational resources.
Differential Form of Bivariate MMSE Estimator Based on Gaussian Noise
Authors: Kittisuwan P. , Chinrungrueng C.
Published: August 2016

In fact, the noise signal is an important problem in signal, circuits and systems. The minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation technique is useful in several additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) reduction methods. Original form of MMSE estimator is the integral form. Unfortunately, integral form of MMSE estimator cannot be obtained in simple form for any interesting peaked, heavy-tailed densities (also known as super-Gaussian densities). In this work, we proposed a differential form of bivariate MMSE estimator. The development depends on bivariate Taylor series. The proposed estimator requires no integration. In fact, the derivation is an extension of the existing results for differential form of univariate MMSE estimator.
Genetic Algorithm-Based Multi-Objective Optimization for Statistical Yield Analysis Under Parameter Variations
Authors: Li Xin , Sun Jin
Published: August 2016

Due to process scaling, variability in process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) parameters leads to a significant parametric yield loss, and thus impacts the optimization for circuit designs seriously. Previous parametric yield optimization algorithms are limited to optimizing either power yield or timing yield separately, without combining them together for simultaneous optimization. However, neglecting the negative correlation between the performance metrics, such as power and timing measurements, will bring on significant accuracy loss. This paper suggests an efficient multi-objective optimization framework based on Bayes’ theorem, Markov chain method, and an NSGA-II-based genetic algorithm. In the proposed framework, power and timing yields are considered as the optimization objectives to be optimized simultaneously, in order to maintain the negative correlation between power and timing metrics. First, the framework explicitly expresses both leakage current and gate delay in terms of the underlying PVT parameter variations. Then, parametric yields for both metrics are predicted by the computation of cumulative distribution function (CDF) based on Bayes’ theorem and Markov chain method. Finally, a NSGA-II-based genetic algorithm is suggested to solve power–timing optimization problem and generate well-distributed Pareto solutions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed multi-objective optimization procedure is able to provide the designer with guaranteed trade-off information between power and timing yields and give them the flexibility in choosing the most appropriate solution(s).
Novel CMOS Current Inverting Differential Input Transconductance Amplifier and Its Application
Authors: Kumar Atul , Chaturvedi Bhartendu
Published: August 2016

This paper presents the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) implementation of active building block, namely, current inverting differential input transconductance amplifier (CIDITA) along with its performance parameters. The detailed study of the proposed CMOS CIDITA has been incorporated. The presented study shows the good performance of CIDITA in terms of good bandwidth range, good linear range of input current, high accuracy and low operating voltage. A new circuit of single active element-based quadrature oscillator is further realized to explore the workability of CIDITA. The proposed circuit of quadrature oscillator employs two grounded capacitors, one resistor and single CIDITA. The proposed quadrature oscillator provides both quadrature current outputs and quadrature voltage outputs simultaneously. The frequency of oscillation of the proposed quadrature oscillator is electronically controllable. The possible practical realization of the CIDITA using commercially available ICs is also given. HSPICE simulation results using 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS parameters are given to validate the proposed theory.
From a multiscale derivation of nonlinear cross-diffusion models to Keller–Segel models in a Navier–Stokes fluid
Authors: Bellomo N. , Bellouquid A. , Chouhad N.
Published: August 2016

This paper deals with a micro–macro derivation of a variety of cross-diffusion models for a large system of active particles. Some of the models at the macroscopic scale can be viewed as developments of the classical Keller–Segel model. The first part of the presentation focuses on a survey and a critical analysis of some phenomenological models known in the literature. The second part is devoted to the design of the micro–macro general framework, where methods of the kinetic theory are used to model the dynamics of the system including the case of coupling with a fluid. The third part deals with the derivation of macroscopic models from the underlying description, delivered within a general framework of the kinetic theory.
Predator–prey model with diffusion and indirect prey-taxis
Authors: Tello J. Ignacio , Wrzosek Dariusz
Published: August 2016

We analyze predator–prey models in which the movement of predator searching for prey is the superposition of random dispersal and taxis directed toward the gradient of concentration of some chemical released by prey (e.g. pheromone), Model II, or released from damaged or injured prey due to predation (e.g. blood), Model I. The logistic O.D.E. describing the dynamics of prey population is coupled to a fully parabolic chemotaxis system describing the dispersion of chemoattractant and predator’s behavior. Global-in-time solutions are proved in any space dimension and stability of homogeneous steady states is shown by linearization for a range of parameters. For space dimension [Formula: see text] the basin of attraction of such a steady state is characterized by means of nonlinear analysis under some structural assumptions. In contrast to Model II, Model I possesses spatially inhomogeneous steady states at least in the case [Formula: see text].
Wulff shape emergence in graphene
Authors: Davoli Elisa , Piovano Paolo , Stefanelli Ulisse
Published: August 2016

Graphene samples are identified as minimizers of configurational energies featuring both two- and three-body atomic-interaction terms. This variational viewpoint allows for a detailed description of ground-state geometries as connected subsets of a regular hexagonal lattice. We investigate here how these geometries evolve as the number [Formula: see text] of carbon atoms in the graphene sample increases. By means of an equivalent characterization of minimality via a discrete isoperimetric inequality, we prove that ground states converge to the ideal hexagonal Wulff shape as [Formula: see text]. Precisely, ground states deviate from such hexagonal Wulff shape by at most [Formula: see text] atoms, where both the constant [Formula: see text] and the rate [Formula: see text] are sharp.
On the pressureless damped Euler–Poisson equations with quadratic confinement: Critical thresholds and large-time behavior
Authors: Carrillo José A. , Choi Young-Pil , Zatorska Ewelina
Published: August 2016

We analyze the one-dimensional pressureless Euler–Poisson equations with linear damping and nonlocal interaction forces. These equations are relevant for modeling collective behavior in mathematical biology. We provide a sharp threshold between the supercritical region with finite-time breakdown and the subcritical region with global-in-time existence of the classical solution. We derive an explicit form of solution in Lagrangian coordinates which enables us to study the time-asymptotic behavior of classical solutions with the initial data in the subcritical region.