bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post biopsy Liver Hemorrhage Successfully Controlled by Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation
Authors: Wai Ophelia Ka Heng , Ng Lawrence Fung Him , Yu Peter San Ming , Chan James Chi Sang
Published: September 2016

Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy has been one of the major new developments in tumor ablation. Microwave ablation has also been used intraoperatively to achieve hemostasis at surgical margins in laparotomy. However, the use of microwave ablation for coagulation and hemostasis through percutaneous approach has not been described in the literature. Here, we report a case of hepatic amyloidosis with massive post biopsy liver hemorrhage, which could not be by transarterial embolization, and subsequently controlled by ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this technology application in human.
The Pattern of Sickle Cell Disease in Sickle Cell Patients from Northwestern Nigeria
Authors: Saganuwan Saganuwan Alhaji
Published: September 2016

Sickle cell disease is caused due to a genetic disorder, which accounts for people dying at an early age in Nigeria. A retrospective study of sickle cell disease patients was carried out with a view to determining the disease pattern in sickle cell patients from the Northwestern Nigeria. Case notes of 319 sickle cell patients were collected and reviewed retrospectively. The prevalence of sickle cell trait, comorbidity of sickle cell disease and malaria, and the effects of sickle cell disease and age on the weight and hematological parameters of sickle cell patients were determined and analyzed. Results showed the prevalence rate of sickle cell trait to be 61.8% (197) and that of non-sickle cell trait to be 38.2% (122). The sickle cell trait comprised 96 males (48.7%) and 101 females (51.3%). Among these patients, 51 (41.8%) males and 71 (58.2%) females had malaria. However, 35.4% (113) of sickle cell patients and 7.5% (24) of malaria patients showed anemia. Genotyping revealed 32 AS (16.2%), 102 SS (51.8%), SS+F (3.6%), and 56 SC (28.4%). The associated prevalence rates of clinical signs were pain/crisis 45.1% (89), pneumonia 28.4% (56), gastric disorders 9.1% (18), central nervous system (CNS) disorders 4.1% (8), renal diseases 2.5% (5), musculo-skeletal disorders 2.5% (5), conjunctivitis 0.5% (1), acute chest syndrome 0.5% (1), cholecystitis 0.5% (1), hemophilia 0.5% (1), fever 0.5% (1), priapism 2.0% (4), splenomegaly 2.0% (4), and epistaxis 1.5% (3). Few patients lived up to 49 years. There was significant difference ( P < 0.05) in hematological parameters of the patients from various age groups. The use of anti-sickling, hematonic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimalarial drugs in the treatment of the affected disease in patients might have improved their quality of life.
Symplectomorphism group relations and degenerations of Landau–Ginzburg models
Authors: Diemer Colin , Katzarkov Ludmil , Kerr Gabriel
Published: September 2016

We describe explicit relations in the symplectomorphism groups of hypersurfaces in toric stacks. To define the elements involved, we construct a proper stack of these hypersurfaces whose boundary represents stable pair degenerations. Our relations arise through the study of the one-dimensional strata of this stack. The results are then examined from the perspective of homological mirror symmetry where we view sequences of relations as maximal degenerations of Landau–Ginzburg models. We then study the

B

-model mirror to these degenerations, which gives a new mirror symmetry approach to the minimal model program.
On a Large Time-Stepping Method for the Swift-Hohenberg Equation
Authors: Zhang Zhengru , Ma Yuanzi
Published: September 2016

The main purpose of this work is to contrast and analyze a large time-stepping numerical method for the Swift-Hohenberg (SH) equation. This model requires very large time simulation to reach steady state, so developing a large time step algorithm becomes necessary to improve the computational efficiency. In this paper, a semi-implicit Euler schemes in time is adopted. An extra artificial term is added to the discretized system in order to preserve the energy stability unconditionally. The stability property is proved rigorously based on an energy approach. Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the large time-stepping approaches by comparing with the classical scheme.
Restricted Additive Schwarz Preconditioner for Elliptic Equations with Jump Coefficients
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , He Yinnian
Published: September 2016

This paper provides a proof of robustness of the restricted additive Schwarz preconditioner with harmonic overlap (RASHO) for the second order elliptic problems with jump coefficients. By analyzing the eigenvalue distribution of the RASHO preconditioner, we prove that the convergence rate of preconditioned conjugate gradient method with RASHO preconditioner is uniform with respect to the large jump and meshsize.
New Non-Travelling Wave Solutions of Calogero Equation
Authors: Peng Xiaoming , Shang Yadong , Zheng Xiaoxiao
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the idea of a combination of variable separation approach and the extended homoclinic test approach is proposed to seek non-travelling wave solutions of Calogero equation. The equation is reduced to some (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear equations by applying the variable separation approach and solves reduced equations with the extended homoclinic test technique. Based on this idea and with the aid of symbolic computation, some new explicit solutions can be obtained.
Toward Cost-Effective Reservoir Simulation Solvers on GPUs
Authors: Li Zheng , Wu Shuhong , Xu Jinchao , Zhang Chensong
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we focus on graphical processing unit (GPU) and discuss how its architecture affects the choice of algorithm and implementation of fully-implicit petroleum reservoir simulation. In order to obtain satisfactory performance on new many-core architectures such as GPUs, the simulator developers must know a great deal on the specific hardware and spend a lot of time on fine tuning the code. Porting a large petroleum reservoir simulator to emerging hardware architectures is expensive and risky. We analyze major components of an in-house reservoir simulator and investigate how to port them to GPUs in a cost-effective way. Preliminary numerical experiments show that our GPU-based simulator is robust and effective. More importantly, these numerical results clearly identify the main bottlenecks to obtain ideal speedup on GPUs and possibly other many-core architectures.
A Hybrid Lattice Boltzmann Flux Solver for Simulation of Viscous Compressible Flows
Authors: Yang L. M. , Shu C. , Wu J.
Published: September 2016

In this paper, a hybrid lattice Boltzmann flux solver (LBFS) is proposed for simulation of viscous compressible flows. In the solver, the finite volume method is applied to solve the Navier-Stokes equations. Different from conventional Navier-Stokes solvers, in this work, the inviscid flux across the cell interface is evaluated by local reconstruction of solution using one-dimensional lattice Boltzmann model, while the viscous flux is still approximated by conventional smooth function approximation. The present work overcomes the two major drawbacks of existing LBFS [28–31], which is used for simulation of inviscid flows. The first one is its ability to simulate viscous flows by including evaluation of viscous flux. The second one is its ability to effectively capture both strong shock waves and thin boundary layers through introduction of a switch function for evaluation of inviscid flux, which takes a value close to zero in the boundary layer and one around the strong shock wave. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the present solver can accurately and effectively simulate hypersonic viscous flows.
Estimating fat mass in heart failure patients
Authors: Trippel Tobias Daniel , Lenk Julian , Gunga Hanns-Christian , Doehner Wolfram , von Haehling Stephan , Loncar Goran , Edelmann Frank , Pieske Burkert , Stahn Alexander , Duengen Hans-Dirk
Published: September 2016

Introduction: Body composition (BC) assessments in heart failure (HF) patients are mainly based on body weight, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. The present study compares BC assessments by basic anthropometry, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS), and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) for the estimation of fat (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) in a HF population.

Material and methods:  In this single-centre, observational pilot study we enrolled 52 patients with HF (33 HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 19 HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); mean age was 67.7 ±9.9 years, 41 male) and 20 healthy controls. DXA was used as a reference standard for the measurement of FM and FFM.

Results:  In the HF population, linear regression for DXA-FM and waist-to-hip ratio (r = –0.05, 95% CI: (–0.32)–0.23), body mass index (r = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.23–0.669), and body density (r = –0.87, 95% CI: (–0.93)–(–0.87)) was obtained. In HF, Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient of DXA-FM (%) with ADP-FM (%) was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64–0.85) and DXA-FFM [kg] with DXA-ADP [kg] was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88–0.96). DXA-FM (%) for BIS-FM (%) was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.54–0.80) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.60–0.82) for DXA-FFM [kg] and BIS-FFM [kg].

Conclusions: Body density is a useful surrogate for FM. ADP was found suitable for estimating FM (%) and FFM [kg] in HF patients. BIS showed acceptable results for the estimation of FM (%) in HFrEF and for FFM [kg] in HFpEF patients. We encourage selecting a suitable method for BC assessment according to the compartment of interest in the HF population.
Metabolic syndrome severity score: range and associations with cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Dimitrov Borislav D. , Bahchevanov Karamfil M. , Atanassova Penka A. , Mitkov Mitko D. , Massaldjieva Radka I. , Chompalov Kostadin A. , Hadzhipetrov Georgi K.
Published: September 2016

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score (MSSS) is a new clinical prediction rule (CPR) for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions and employs available components (sex, age, race, systolic blood pressure, waistline circumference, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose). The aim of our work was to perform cross-sectional pilot trial on middle-aged healthy volunteers and patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for studying feasibility and implementation of MSSS and its associations with cardiovascular risk factors.

Material and methods: We approached 64 eligible participants from Bulgaria. The MSSS values, together with demographic, anthropometric, medical history, laboratory findings, CVD risk factors, QRISK2 score for 10-year cardiovascular risk and predicted heart age, were analysed. Descriptive statistics with tests for comparison (e.g., t-test, χ2) between groups as well as ANOVA and logistic regression were applied.

Results: We analysed data from 56 participants (aged 50.11 ±3.43 years). The MSSS was higher in MetS patients (including 6 T2DM patients) than in controls (n = 29; 51.8%) presented as percentiles (69.97% and 34.41%, respectively) and z-scores (0.60 and –0.45, respectively) (p < 0.05). The logistic regression model of MSSS indicated a positive association with MetS/T2DM cases (correctness > 85%, p < 0.01). For further validation purposes, positive correlations of MSSS with CVD risk factor as diastolic blood pressure (Rho = 0.399; p < 0.003) and QRISK2 score (Rho = 0.524; p < 0.001) or predicted heart age (Rho = 0.368; p < 0.007) were also found.

Conclusions: The pilot study of MSSS in Bulgaria indicated feasibility and consistency of its implementation among patients with metabolic syndrome and/or T2DM and healthy volunteers.
Psychometric properties for the Polish version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ)
Authors: Kossakowska Marlena M. , Stefaniak Tomasz J.
Published: September 2016

Background

This study presents the Polish validation of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, a nine-item scale which was constructed to assess the cognitive and emotional representations of illness among Polish patients. This tool is derived from the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation of Health and Illness.

Participants and procedure

This study included 923 chronically ill people with the following diseases: eczema (E), bronchial asthma (BA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Hashimoto’s disease (HD), diabetes type II (D), acne (A), glaucoma and cataract (G, C), HIV/AIDS, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), psoriasis (P), breast and stomach cancer (C), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Test–retest reliability was assessed in 358 patients with selected chronic illnesses. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating Kurtzke’s EDSS and the Brief IPQ in 140 MS patients. Discriminant validity was verified by comparing means for the tool among four groups of patients.

Results

The Polish version of the Brief IPQ showed good test–retest reliability. The scale also demonstrates good concurrent validity in MS patients. The discriminant validity of the Brief IPQ was supported by its ability to distinguish among different illnesses.

Conclusions

The Brief IPQ is a good, short and easy to use tool for assessing the perceptions of illness among Polish patients.
Atmospheric wet and litterfall mercury deposition at urban and rural sites
in China
Authors: Fu Xuewu , Yang Xu , Lang Xiaofang , Zhou Jun , Zhang Hui , Yu Ben , Yan Haiyu , Lin Che-Jen , Feng Xinbin
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Mercury (Hg) concentrations and deposition fluxes in precipitation and litterfall were measured at multiple sites (six rural sites and an urban site) across a broad geographic area in China. The annual deposition fluxes of Hg in precipitation at rural sites and an urban site were 2.0 to 7.2 and 12.6 ± 6.5 µg m−2 yr−1, respectively. Wet deposition fluxes of Hg at rural sites showed a clear regional difference with elevated deposition fluxes in the subtropical zone, followed by the temporal zone and arid/semi-arid zone. Precipitation depth is the primary influencing factor causing the variation of wet deposition. Hg fluxes through litterfall ranged from 22.8 to 62.8 µg m−2 yr−1, higher than the wet deposition fluxes by a factor of 3.9 to 8.7 and representing approximately 75 % of the total Hg deposition at the forest sites in China. This suggests that uptake of atmospheric Hg by foliage is the dominant pathway to remove atmospheric Hg in forest ecosystems in China. Wet deposition fluxes of Hg at rural sites of China were generally lower compared to those in North America and Europe, possibly due to a combination of lower precipitation depth, lower GOM concentrations in the troposphere and the generally lower cloud base heights at most sites that wash out a smaller amount of GOM and PBM during precipitation events.
Constraining uncertainties in particle wall-deposition correction
during SOA formation in chamber experiments
Authors: Nah T. , McVay R. C. , Pierce J. R. , Seinfeld J. H. , Ng N. L.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The effect of vapor wall-deposition on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation has gained significant attention; however, uncertainties in experimentally derived SOA mass yields due to uncertainties in particle wall-deposition remain. Different approaches have been used to correct for particle wall-deposition in SOA-formation studies, each having its own set of assumptions in determining the particle wall-loss rate. In volatile and intermediate-volatility organic compound systems in which SOA formation is governed by kinetically limited growth, the effect of vapor wall-deposition on SOA mass yields can be constrained by using high surface area concentrations of seed aerosol to promote the condensation of SOA-forming vapors onto seed aerosol instead of the chamber walls. However, under such high seed aerosol levels, the presence of significant coagulation may complicate the particle wall-deposition correction. Here, we present a model framework that accounts for coagulation in chamber studies in which high seed aerosol surface area concentrations are used. For the α-pinene ozonolysis system, we find that, after accounting for coagulation, SOA mass yields remain approximately constant when large seed aerosol surface area concentrations (≥ 8000 μm2 cm−3) are used, consistent with our prior study (Nah et al., 2016) that α-pinene ozonolysis SOA formation is governed by quasi-equilibrium growth. In addition, we systematically assess the uncertainties in the calculated SOA mass concentrations and yields between four different particle wall-loss correction methods over the series of α-pinene ozonolysis experiments. At low seed aerosol surface area concentrations (
In situ air temperature and humidity measurements over diverse land covers in
Greenbelt, Maryland, November 2013–November 2015
Authors: Carroll Mark L. , Brown Molly E. , Wooten Margaret R. , Donham Joel E. , Hubbard Alfred B. , Ridenhour William B.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. As our climate changes through time there is an ever-increasing need to quantify how and where it is changing so that mitigation strategies can be implemented. Urban areas have a disproportionate amount of warming due, in part, to the conductive properties of concrete and asphalt surfaces, surface albedo, heat capacity, lack of water, etc. that make up an urban environment. The NASA Climate Adaptation Science Investigation working group at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, conducted a study to collect temperature and humidity data at 15 min intervals from 12 sites at the center. These sites represent the major surface types at the center: asphalt, building roof, grass field, forest, and rain garden. The data show a strong distinction in the thermal properties of these surfaces at the center and the difference between the average values for the center compared to a local meteorological station. The data have been submitted to Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center (ORNL-DAAC) for archival in comma separated value (csv) file format (Carroll et al., 2016) and can be found by following this link: http://daac.ornl.gov/cgi-bin/dsviewer.pl?ds_id=1319.
Bit Grooming: statistically accurate precision-preserving quantization with compression, evaluated in the netCDF Operators (NCO, v4.4.8+)
Authors: Zender Charles S.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Geoscientific models and measurements generate false precision (scientifically meaningless data bits) that wastes storage space. False precision can mislead (by implying noise is signal) and be scientifically pointless, especially for measurements. By contrast, lossy compression can be both economical (save space) and heuristic (clarify data limitations) without compromising the scientific integrity of data. Data quantization can thus be appropriate regardless of whether space limitations are a concern. We introduce, implement, and characterize a new lossy compression scheme suitable for IEEE floating-point data. Our new Bit Grooming algorithm alternately shaves (to zero) and sets (to one) the least significant bits of consecutive values to preserve a desired precision. This is a symmetric, two-sided variant of an algorithm sometimes called Bit Shaving that quantizes values solely by zeroing bits. Our variation eliminates the artificial low bias produced by always zeroing bits, and makes Bit Grooming more suitable for arrays and multi-dimensional fields whose mean statistics are important. Bit Grooming relies on standard lossless compression to achieve the actual reduction in storage space, so we tested Bit Grooming by applying the DEFLATE compression algorithm to bit-groomed and full-precision climate data stored in netCDF3, netCDF4, HDF4, and HDF5 formats. Bit Grooming reduces the storage space required by initially uncompressed and compressed climate data by 25–80 and 5–65 %, respectively, for single-precision values (the most common case for climate data) quantized to retain 1–5 decimal digits of precision. The potential reduction is greater for double-precision datasets. When used aggressively (i.e., preserving only 1–2 digits), Bit Grooming produces storage reductions comparable to other quantization techniques such as Linear Packing. Unlike Linear Packing, whose guaranteed precision rapidly degrades within the relatively narrow dynamic range of values that it can compress, Bit Grooming guarantees the specified precision throughout the full floating-point range. Data quantization by Bit Grooming is irreversible (i.e., lossy) yet transparent, meaning that no extra processing is required by data users/readers. Hence Bit Grooming can easily reduce data storage volume without sacrificing scientific precision or imposing extra burdens on users.
Estimation of trace gas fluxes with objectively determined basis functions using reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo
Authors: Lunt Mark F. , Rigby Matt , Ganesan Anita L. , Manning Alistair J.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Atmospheric trace gas inversions often attempt to attribute fluxes to a high-dimensional grid using observations. To make this problem computationally feasible, and to reduce the degree of under-determination, some form of dimension reduction is usually performed. Here, we present an objective method for reducing the spatial dimension of the parameter space in atmospheric trace gas inversions. In addition to solving for a set of unknowns that govern emissions of a trace gas, we set out a framework that considers the number of unknowns to itself be an unknown. We rely on the well-established reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to use the data to determine the dimension of the parameter space. This framework provides a single-step process that solves for both the resolution of the inversion grid, as well as the magnitude of fluxes from this grid. Therefore, the uncertainty that surrounds the choice of aggregation is accounted for in the posterior parameter distribution. The posterior distribution of this transdimensional Markov chain provides a naturally smoothed solution, formed from an ensemble of coarser partitions of the spatial domain. We describe the form of the reversible-jump algorithm and how it may be applied to trace gas inversions. We build the system into a hierarchical Bayesian framework in which other unknown factors, such as the magnitude of the model uncertainty, can also be explored. A pseudo-data example is used to show the usefulness of this approach when compared to a subjectively chosen partitioning of a spatial domain. An inversion using real data is also shown to illustrate the scales at which the data allow for methane emissions over north-west Europe to be resolved.
OMIP contribution to CMIP6: experimental and diagnostic
protocol for the physical component of the Ocean Model
Intercomparison Project
Authors: Griffies Stephen M. , Danabasoglu Gokhan , Durack Paul J. , Adcroft Alistair J. , Balaji V. , Böning Claus W. , Chassignet Eric P. , Curchitser Enrique , Deshayes Julie , Drange Helge , Fox-Kemper Baylor , Gleckler Peter J. , Gregory Jonathan M. , Haak Helmuth , Hallberg Robert W. , Heimbach Patrick , Hewitt Helene T. , Holland David M. , Ilyina Tatiana , Jungclaus Johann H. , Komuro Yoshiki , Krasting John P. , Large William G. , Marsland Simon J. , Masina Simona , McDougall Trevor J. , Nurser A. J. George , Orr James C. , Pirani Anna , Qiao Fangli , Stouffer Ronald J. , Taylor Karl E. , Treguier Anne Marie , Tsujino Hiroyuki , Uotila Petteri , Valdivieso Maria , Wang Qiang , Winton Michael , Yeager Stephen G.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The Ocean Model Intercomparison Project (OMIP) is an endorsed project in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). OMIP addresses CMIP6 science questions, investigating the origins and consequences of systematic model biases. It does so by providing a framework for evaluating (including assessment of systematic biases), understanding, and improving ocean, sea-ice, tracer, and biogeochemical components of climate and earth system models contributing to CMIP6. Among the WCRP Grand Challenges in climate science (GCs), OMIP primarily contributes to the regional sea level change and near-term (climate/decadal) prediction GCs.OMIP provides (a) an experimental protocol for global ocean/sea-ice models run with a prescribed atmospheric forcing; and (b) a protocol for ocean diagnostics to be saved as part of CMIP6. We focus here on the physical component of OMIP, with a companion paper (Orr et al., 2016) detailing methods for the inert chemistry and interactive biogeochemistry. The physical portion of the OMIP experimental protocol follows the interannual Coordinated Ocean-ice Reference Experiments (CORE-II). Since 2009, CORE-I (Normal Year Forcing) and CORE-II (Interannual Forcing) have become the standard methods to evaluate global ocean/sea-ice simulations and to examine mechanisms for forced ocean climate variability. The OMIP diagnostic protocol is relevant for any ocean model component of CMIP6, including the DECK (Diagnostic, Evaluation and Characterization of Klima experiments), historical simulations, FAFMIP (Flux Anomaly Forced MIP), C4MIP (Coupled Carbon Cycle Climate MIP), DAMIP (Detection and Attribution MIP), DCPP (Decadal Climate Prediction Project), ScenarioMIP, HighResMIP (High Resolution MIP), as well as the ocean/sea-ice OMIP simulations.
The Marine Virtual Laboratory (version 2.1): enabling efficient ocean model configuration
Authors: Oke Peter R. , Proctor Roger , Rosebrock Uwe , Brinkman Richard , Cahill Madeleine L. , Coghlan Ian , Divakaran Prasanth , Freeman Justin , Pattiaratchi Charitha , Roughan Moninya , Sandery Paul A. , Schaeffer Amandine , Wijeratne Sarath
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The technical steps involved in configuring a regional ocean model are analogous for all community models. All require the generation of a model grid, preparation and interpolation of topography, initial conditions, and forcing fields. Each task in configuring a regional ocean model is straightforward – but the process of downloading and reformatting data can be time-consuming. For an experienced modeller, the configuration of a new model domain can take as little as a few hours – but for an inexperienced modeller, it can take much longer. In pursuit of technical efficiency, the Australian ocean modelling community has developed the Web-based MARine Virtual Laboratory (WebMARVL). WebMARVL allows a user to quickly and easily configure an ocean general circulation or wave model through a simple interface, reducing the time to configure a regional model to a few minutes. Through WebMARVL, a user is prompted to define the basic options needed for a model configuration, including the model, run duration, spatial extent, and input data. Once all aspects of the configuration are selected, a series of data extraction, reprocessing, and repackaging services are run, and a “take-away bundle” is prepared for download. Building on the capabilities developed under Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System, WebMARVL also extracts all of the available observations for the chosen time–space domain. The user is able to download the take-away bundle and use it to run the model of his or her choice. Models supported by WebMARVL include three community ocean general circulation models and two community wave models. The model configuration from the take-away bundle is intended to be a starting point for scientific research. The user may subsequently refine the details of the model set-up to improve the model performance for the given application. In this study, WebMARVL is described along with a series of results from test cases comparing WebMARVL-configured models to observations and manually configured models. It is shown that the automatically configured model configurations produce a good starting point for scientific research.
Incorporation of globally available datasets into the roving cosmic-ray neutron probe method for estimating field-scale soil water content
Authors: Avery William Alexander , Finkenbiner Catherine , Franz Trenton E. , Wang Tiejun , Nguy-Robertson Anthony L. , Suyker Andrew , Arkebauer Timothy , Muñoz-Arriola Francisco
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The need for accurate, real-time, reliable, and multi-scale soil water content (SWC) monitoring is critical for a multitude of scientific disciplines trying to understand and predict the Earth's terrestrial energy, water, and nutrient cycles. One promising technique to help meet this demand is fixed and roving cosmic-ray neutron probes (CRNPs). However, the relationship between observed low-energy neutrons and SWC is affected by local soil and vegetation calibration parameters. This effect may be accounted for by a calibration equation based on local soil type and the amount of vegetation. However, determining the calibration parameters for this equation is labor- and time-intensive, thus limiting the full potential of the roving CRNP in large surveys and long transects, or its use in novel environments. In this work, our objective is to develop and test the accuracy of globally available datasets (clay weight percent, soil bulk density, and soil organic carbon) to support the operability of the roving CRNP. Here, we develop a 1 km product of soil lattice water over the continental United States (CONUS) using a database of in situ calibration samples and globally available soil taxonomy and soil texture data. We then test the accuracy of the global dataset in the CONUS using comparisons from 61 in situ samples of clay percent (RMSE  =  5.45 wt %, R2  =  0.68), soil bulk density (RMSE  =  0.173 g cm−3, R2  =  0.203), and soil organic carbon (RMSE  =  1.47 wt %, R2  =  0.175). Next, we conduct an uncertainty analysis of the global soil calibration parameters using a Monte Carlo error propagation analysis (maximum RMSE  ∼  0.035 cm3 cm−3 at a SWC  =  0.40 cm3 cm−3). In terms of vegetation, fast-growing crops (i.e., maize and soybeans), grasslands, and forests contribute to the CRNP signal primarily through the water within their biomass and this signal must be accounted for accurate estimation of SWC. We estimated the biomass water signal by using a vegetation index derived from MODIS imagery as a proxy for standing wet biomass (RMSE  <  1 kg m−2). Lastly, we make recommendations on the design and validation of future roving CRNP experiments.
High Road to Hell: Milton, Blake, McCarthy
Authors: Steven Mark
Published: September 2016

This article demonstrates that the poetry of William Blake irradiates Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel, Blood Meridian, where it occupies one side of a dialectical relationship with the work of another poet, John Milton. The essay's argument is that the poetic works of Milton and Blake strain against one another from within McCarthy's prose to determinately shape how we read the novel. It seeks to show how an understanding of why certain literary influences are enunciated will contribute to our knowledge of the book's relationship to its thematic content and historical referents.
Hydration patterns and physiologic quality of common bean seeds
Authors: Ehrhardt-Brocardo Natalia Carolina Moraes , Coelho Cileide Maria Medeiros
Published: September 2016

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the hydration pattern of landrace bean genotypes and their physiological quality. The hydration curve of eight landrace (BAFs 07, 13, 23, 42, 44, 50, 55, 81) and two commercial cultivars (IPR-88-Uirapurú and Iapar 81) genotypes was determined from seed moisture. Determination of initial physiological quality was performed by germination and vigor tests (seedling performance and accelerated aging). Characterization of the genotypes, regarding accelerated aging tests, showed that BAFs 13, 42, 55 and 81 had the highest physiological potential, whereas BAFs 07, 23, 44, 50 and the commercial cultivars had lower physiological quality. The hydration curve followed a triphasic pattern with radicle protrusion occurring between 21 and 27 hours after seed hydration. The percentage of reserves translocated to the seedling during formation showed that BAF 42 had the highest conversion efficiency compared to the smaller efficiencies of BAFs 23, 50 and Iapar 81. The seedling length test showed that BAFs 42 and 55 had the most vigorous seedlings, which was driven by the high percentage of reserves translocated to the seedling during formation. BAFs 23, 50 and the cultivar Iapar 81 showed lower reserve translocation, demonstrating that low mobilization potential leads to smaller seedlings. The hydration of bean seeds during germination was affected by physiological quality, as genotypes considered more vigorous exhibited higher hydration rates than those of the less vigorous genotypes.
Inert powders alone or in combination with neem oil for controlling Spodoptera eridania and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae
Authors: Silva Kelly Christiane Constanski , Zorzetti Janaina , Santoro Patricia Helena , Hoshino Adriano Thibes , Neves Pedro Manuel Oliveira Janeiro
Published: September 2016

Laboratory studies was carry out to evaluated the potential of inert powders: bentonite, kaolin and diatomaceous earth (DE) applied as dust and aqueous suspension alone and associated with neem oil to the control Spodoptera eridania and Spodoptera frugiperda second instar larvae. In dust applications, 100% mortality of S. eridania, at the concentrations of 1.5 and 2.0 grams of bentonite, and 93.3% of S. frugiperda, at the concentration of 2.0 g were observed. DE at the height concentration (2.0 g) caused 76.2% mortality of S. eridania and 46.6% of S. frugiperda. Kaolin, in all concentrations, was the only treatment that did not differed from the control for S. eridania but was different, in the high concentration, for S. frugiperda. When the plants were treated, larvae of S. eridania fed in the treatment DE, had an increase of two days in larval period. For the sex ratio, the percentage of males was greater in the treatments with kaolin, for both species. When powders was applied suspended in water separately or combined with neem oil, the best results were observed in combined of the bentonite (10%) + neem, with 100% mortality for both species, and kaolin (10%) + neem with 78.5% and 95.6% mortality for S. frugiperda and S. eridania, respectively. These treatments were classified as non-additive synergistic.
Comparison between biodegradable polymers from cassava starch and glycerol as additives to biogas production
Authors: Cremonez Paulo André , Feiden Armin , Teleken Joel Gustavo , Souza Samuel Nelson Melegari de , Feroldi Michael , Meier Thompson Weiser , Teleken Jhony Tiago , Dieter Jonathan
Published: September 2016

In this study, we compared cassava starch-based biodegradable polymers (PBMs) and glycerol (G) as additives used to increase biogas production from the co-digestion of swine wastewater (ARS). We chose to work with an inoculum comprising 40% (v/v) of the total volume of the reactor; this inoculum was obtained from a Canadian model digester for treating swine waste. In the anaerobic digestion process, batch reactors were used on a laboratory scale with a total volume of approximately 4 L and a working volume of 3.2 L. Three treatments were conducted to compare the efficiency of solid removal, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the production of biogas. The first treatment contained only swine waste; the second included the addition of glycerol at 1, 3, and 5% (w/v); and the third treatment included the addition of 1, 3, and 5% (w/v) of PBM residue in relation to the swine wastewater. From the results, it can be concluded that higher yields were obtained for the treatment with 3% PBM and 1% glycerol. Most treatments showed high removal rates of total solids and total volatile solids. Reductions lower than 70% were obtained only for treatments with PBM and glycerol at a ratio of 5%.
In vitro efficacy of teat antiseptics against Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis
Authors: Santos Renata Paoli , Souza Fernando Nogueira de , Vasconcelos Carla Gasparotto Chande , Cortez Adriana , Rosa Dalila Lapinha Silva Oliveira , Jardim Annatachi Botelho , Cunha Adriano França , Lana Ângela Maria Quintão , Heinemann Marcos Bryan , Cerqueira Mônica Maria Oliveira Pinho
Published: September 2016

The process of teat disinfection is a widely accepted component of successful mastitis control programs by reducing the number of bacteria on the teat skin and healing teat lesions. For contagious pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, post-milking teat disinfection remains a simple, effective and economical practice for prevention of new intramammary infections (IMIs) of lactating dairy cows. Despite the universal acceptance of teat dipping as a method of mastitis control, variations in the susceptibility and resistance profile of mastitis pathogens among antiseptics have been described. Thus, here we sought to explore the in vitro efficacy of the followings antiseptics against S. aureus isolated from IMIs: chlorhexidine (2.0%), chlorine (2.5%), quarternary ammonium (4.0%), lactic acid (2.0%) and iodine (0.6%). We used 50 S. aureus strains isolated from bovine IMIs from 50 dairy herds located at Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul States (Brazil). The antiseptics were evaluated at four different specific intervals (15, 30, 60 and 300 s). We found a higher activity for quarternary ammonium and chlorhexidine against S. aureus at all time-points, followed by iodine and then chlorine. Lactic acid treatment produced the worst results for all time-points and strains. Due to variations in the sensitivity and resistance profile of antiseptics against S. aureus isolated from IMIs, the effectiveness of the antiseptics against the major mastitis pathogens should be periodically evaluated in dairy farms in an attempt to reduce the rate of new IMIs in the herd.
Grazing behavior of non-supplemented and supplemented heifers on Italian ryegrass pasture
Authors: Hampel Viviane Da Silva , Rocha Marta Gomes da , Pötter Luciana , Stivanin Sheila Cristina Bosco , Alves Marcos Bernardino , Cadó Lucas Munareto , Amaral Neto Luiz Gonzaga do , Vicente Juliano Melleu
Published: September 2016

We evaluated the grazing behavior of heifers, at two phenological stages (vegetative and reproductive) of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), in four times of the day (early morning, morning, evening, and night), with heifers either exclusively grazing or with oat, or corn grain, supplementation. The experimental design was completely randomized, in sub-subdivided plot arrangement, in which the main plots were the feeding systems, the sub-plots were the phenological stages and the sub-sub-plots were the times of day. We assessed ingestion behavior along 24 hours through visual observation, on four evaluation dates, two during the vegetative stage and two during the reproductive stage, studying time spent on grazing, rumination, or other activities, as well as number and duration of, and interval between meals. Supplemented heifers remained less time at a feeding station, performed fewer bites daily and, during the reproductive stage of the ryegrass, spent more time in other activities. Grazing time of supplemented heifers was shorter in the morning and at night, and the duration of their meals was shorter at night. A change occurred in the pattern of time use when heifers received supplement, and when the structural and qualitative characteristics of the pasture changed during the vegetative and reproductive phenological stages of ryegrass.
Tifton 85 grass responses to different nitrogen levels and cutting intervals
Authors: Taffarel Loreno Egidio , Mesquita Eduardo Eustáquio , Castagnara Deise Dalazen , Galbeiro Sandra , Costa Patrícia Barcellos , Oliveira Paulo Sérgio Rabello de
Published: September 2016

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of five levels of N and two regrowth intervals on the structural, productive, and nutritional characteristics of Tifton 85 grass (Cynodon spp). The experiment was conducted in a hay production field at the State University of West Paraná, planted in 2004 with Cynodon spp. cv. Tifton 85. The experiment was established in a randomized block design with factorial treatments of five N fertilization amounts (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1 cut-1) applied as urea after each cut, and two regrowth intervals (28 and 35 d), with four replicates. N application promoted changes in plant structure, such as increased canopy height, stem length, leaf elongation rate, and dry mass (DM) production. The greatest N use efficiency, considering the four harvests, occurred in the plot with 25 kg N ha-1 cut-1 at the 35-d interval, with a production of 13.79 kg DM kg-1 of N applied. A nutritional analysis indicated that 100 kg ha-1 of N cut-1 promoted higher crude protein (CP) at 28 d, with the highest concentration observed in the fourth cut (208.2 g kg-1 DM) and the lowest in the second cut (140.12 g kg-1 DM). The content average in the four cuts for CP and LIG at 28 days of regrowth was 175.85 and 104.33 kg-1 g MS and at 35 days of regrowth interval was of 164.45 and 118.65 g kg-1 DM, respectively. No differences were found between regrowth intervals in the contents of mineral matter and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Environmental factors including the wide variation in precipitation (greater than 200 mm between the peak in December 2010 and the lowest in March 2011) greatly influenced Tifton 85 grass production, affecting DM and the nutritional value of the forage in each cut.
Seasonal milk contamination by aflatoxin m1, organophosphates and carbamates in Paraná – Brazil
Authors: Ramos Carlos Eduardo Crispim de Oliveira , Damasceno Julio Cesar , Kazama Ricardo , Vieira Thállitha Samih Wischral Jayme , Zambom Maximiliane Alavarse , Ferreira Fernanda Gazar , Santos Geraldo Tadeu dos
Published: September 2016

Aiming to evaluate the milk contamination in the dairy production systems (DPS) for mycotoxins and chemical residues of organophosphates and carbamates it was made a study encompassing 96 DPS in three regions of Parana state. There were collected samples of milk, water and food and they were evaluated for chemical residues in all samples and aflatoxin only for food and milk. Mycotoxins in food (aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, zearalenone and ochratoxin) were detected by the method of thin layer chromatography – TLC and for the determination of aflatoxin M1 was used an immunoassay kit competitive ELISA Ridascreen®. The residues of organophosphates and carbamates were performed by colorimetric method qualitatively. There were evaluated the differences between regions, periods and the sources of mycotoxin contamination. Carbamates and organophosphates were screened for their presence in milk and the sources of food and water. Then it was estimated the contributions of each mycotoxin for milk contamination, as well as their respective contaminated food. Differences were found between periods (p < 0,05) for milk contamination with aflatoxin M1 – AFM1. For carbamates and organophosphates were found different contamination sources (p < 0,01). For the carbamates the source were pesticides used to parasitic herd control and for the organophosphates pesticides used in agriculture. For food sources contamination resulting in the AFM1 contamination it was detected that aflatoxin B1 – AFB1 was the main source. The aflatoxin G1 – AFG1 showed a strong correlation (p < 0,01) with AFB1 levels suggesting causal relationship is a function of fungal strains producing both at the same time. It was also found the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in 70% of contaminated samples and its predominant presence in relation to other mycotoxins in all kinds of foods analyzed. By identifying the checkpoints of contamination can be proposed the inclusion of practical management methods to avoid this.
Guaiaca – a software tool for supporting the use of scientific applications designed for data analysis – part I: execution assistant
Authors: Medeiros Gil Carlos Rodrigues , Barros Willian Silva , Dionello Nelson José Laurino
Published: September 2016

The aim of this work is to develop a software tool that provides a user-friendly graphical interface of generic and configurable design in order to ease the researcher’s tasks in data manipulation and analysis. Two primary targets have influenced the design: data preparation for analysis in animal breeding programs and usability increase for those applications that perform important analysis methods, but interact with users only through text files and command lines. The Guaiaca tool was designed as a “utility belt” in the form of two integrated assistants, and it can be combined with multiple analysis applications. This tool offers facilities to: (a) collect, manipulate, and reorganize data; (b) organize, register, and retrieve analyses through descriptors; and (c) prepare and activate analysis processes. Guaiaca’s Execution Assistant module is described in this paper, where is also emphasized the parameters to configure, the main data structures to maintain, and the form of the relationship between its generic interface and combined analysis applications. The generic interface has been customized and validated for the peculiarities of two applications, WOMBAT (mixed models) and INTERGEN (Bayesian models). Several data analyses were performed with the interface support to prove its generality and ease of installation, configuration and operation. Data sets from 5,726 quails in a breeding program were used with these applications. Use of the integrated Guaiaca-WOMBAT application is illustrated with an analysis example, prepared and visualized on the Guaiaca tool and executed by WOMBAT. The Beta version of the Guaiaca tool for Windows is available free of charge to the scientific community and can be obtained at http://www.ufpel.edu.br/~gil.medeiros/guaiaca.
Assessment of Tourism Resource Potential at Buriram Province, Thailand
Authors: Nasa Mayuree , Hassan Fatimah Binti
Published: September 2016

The objective of this paper is to assess the resource potentials for tourism and potential tourist destinations in the province of Buriram, Thailand. Buriram province is located in the North-eastern part of Thailand, about 410 km northeast of Bangkok. Indicators and evaluative standards for resource potential assessment were determined, and altogether the total of 31 sites were assessed by a simple weighted score method, one of the popular methods for evaluating the potential of tourism sites. The total number of indicators used was 45. The results revealed that eight sites were categorized into the natural tourist destination, ten sites were the historical tourist destination, ten sites were the cultural tourist destination, and another three were the sport-recreational tourist destination. These three sport-recreational sites, known as I-Mobile Stadium, Chang International Circuit, and Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp, were the latest attractions because there were built within the last five years, but consequently have become among the most popular tourist attractions in the area. The site assessment revealed that tourism sites in Buriram province had a potential overall score of 2.23 (moderate level) from the highest score of 3.00. Approximately 39% of the total tourism sites have higher potential. According to the analysis of sites and tourism activities, Buriram is highly suitable for the educational tour in historical and cultural sites, and sports destination.

 