bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interleaved coding and sequential transmission scheme for packet‐level forward error correction over burst loss channels
Authors: Weng Yung‐Tsung , Shih Chi‐Huang , Chou Yeh‐Kai 
Published: July 2017

SummaryBurst packet loss is a common problem over wired and wireless networks and leads to a significant reduction in the performance of packet‐level forward error correction (FEC) schemes used to recover packet losses during transmission. Traditional FEC interleaving methods adopt the sequential coding‐interleaved transmission (SCIT) process to encode the FEC packets sequentially and reorder the packet transmission sequence. Consequently, the burst loss effect can be mitigated at the expense of an increased end‐to‐end delay. Alternatively, the reversed interleaving scheme, namely, interleaved coding‐sequential transmission (ICST), performs FEC coding in an interleaved manner and transmits the packets sequentially based on their generation order in the application. In this study, the analytical FEC model is constructed to evaluate the performance of the SCIT and ICST schemes. From the analysis results, it can be observed that the interleaving delay of ICST FEC is reduced by transmitting the source packets immediately as they arrive from the application. Accordingly, an Enhanced ICST scheme is further proposed to trade the saved interleaving time for a greater interleaving capacity, and the corresponding packet loss rate can be minimized under a given delay constraint. The simulation results show that the Enhanced ICST scheme achieves a lower packet loss rate and a higher peak signal‐to‐noise‐ratio than the traditional SCIT and ICST schemes for video streaming applications.
Crevasse‐splay and associated depositional environments of the hominin‐bearing lower Okote Member, Koobi Fora Formation (Plio‐Pleistocene), Kenya
Authors: Lepre Christopher J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe Okote Member from the northeast Turkana Basin of Kenya represents an exceptionally good archive of Early Pleistocene archaeological and fossil sites. Field study of the lower Okote Member and underlying deposits was conducted in detail at two sets of outcrops (500 to 1000 m long) separated by some 22 km of modern landscape. The examined sections (10 to 15 m thick) preserve two facies: interbedded sandstones, tuffs and mudstones (crevasse splay) and ribbon‐like bodies of sandstone/tuff (crevasse channel). Mudstones are overprinted with small carbonate nodules and sparse slickensides that are interpreted as evidence of weak soil development after the cessation of suspension deposition in a floodplain. The immaturity of the ancient soils implies that sediment accumulation was fairly rapid, yet the nodules and slickensides indicate seasonal contrasts in moisture. Episodically rapid sedimentation is suggested by the types of depositional environments and their structures, and indications of soft‐sediment deformation. Crevassing may have been influenced by rivers that flooded in response to monsoonal rainfall variations and the voluminous influx of fluvially reworked volcaniclastics to the basin. A well‐developed palaeosol directly underlying the lower Okote Member suggests that the deposits accumulated following a significant depositional hiatus. This basal contact, in addition to the apparent pervasiveness and penecontemporaneousness of the sedimentary facies, resembles a crevasse‐splay system deposited by a sub‐delta lobe or river avulsion. A paucity of lacustrine/deltaic indicators might indicate that the studied deposits correspond better with an avulsion origin. Sedimentation rates calculated from prior radiometric dating of tuffs tend to overestimate the timeframe of accumulation for individual strata of the lower Okote Member. Many appear to have formed on the order of 100to 103 years, as suggested by facies, palaeosols and observations of modern crevasse splays. This cautions against using sedimentation rates alone to infer how much time a stratum preserving fossil/archaeological information represents.
Animal models of human type 1 diabetes for evaluating combination therapies and successful translation to the patient with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Lenzen Sigurd 
Published: July 2017

SummaryAnimal models of human type 1 diabetes will be of a great importance for the evaluation of new combination therapies with curative potential. However, reliable predictive power for successful translation to patients with type 1 diabetes is crucial. This will be particularly important in the future when evaluating success of new combination therapies that show great promise for preservation and restoration of beta cell mass and thereby reverse the type 1 diabetic hyperglycaemia. But not all spontaneous animal models are equally well suited for this purpose. The advantages and disadvantages of the three spontaneous rat models (BioBreeding diabetes‐prone [BB] rat, Komeda [KDP] rat, and LEW.1AR1‐iddm [IDDM] rat) as well as the NOD mouse, compared with the characteristics of human type 1 diabetes, are considered in this review.
Detection of metabolites of the new synthetic cannabinoid CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA in authentic urine samples and human liver microsomes using high‐resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Öztürk Yeter Erol , Yeter Oya , Öztürk Serkan , Karakus Goksun , Ates Ismail , Buyuk Yalçın , Yurdun Turkan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA(1‐(4‐cyanobutyl)‐N‐(2‐phenylpropan‐2‐yl)‐1H–indazole‐3‐carboxamide) is a recently introduced indazole‐3‐carboxamide‐type synthetic cannabinoid (SC) that was detected in herbal incense seized by of the Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul Narcotics Department, in May 2016 in Turkey. Recently introduced SCs are not detected in routine toxicological analysis; therefore, analytical methods to measure these compounds are in demand. The present study aims to identify urinary marker metabolites of CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA by investigating its metabolism in human liver microsomes and to confirm the results in authentic urine samples (n = 80). In this study, 5 μM CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA was incubated with human liver microsomes (HLMs) for up to 3 hours, and metabolites were identified using liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS). Less than 21% of the CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA parent compound remained after 3 hours of incubation. We identified 18 metabolites that were formed via monohydroxylation, dealkylation, oxidative decyanation to aldehyde, alcohol, and carboxylic acid formation, glucuronidation or reaction combinations. CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA N‐butanoic acid (M16) was found to be major metabolite in HLMs. In urine samples CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA was not detected; CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA N‐butanoic acid (M16) was major metabolite after β‐glucuronidase hydrolysis. Based on these findings, we recommend using M16 (CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA N‐butanoic acid), M8 and M11 (hydroxylcumyl CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA) as urinary marker metabolites to confirm CUMYL‐4CN‐BINACA intake.
Comparison of photo‐matching algorithms commonly used for photographic capture–recapture studies
Authors: Matthé Maximilian , Sannolo Marco , Winiarski Kristopher , Spitzen ‐ van der Sluijs Annemarieke , Goedbloed Daniel , Steinfartz Sebastian , Stachow Ulrich 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPhotographic capture–recapture is a valuable tool for obtaining demographic information on wildlife populations due to its noninvasive nature and cost‐effectiveness. Recently, several computer‐aided photo‐matching algorithms have been developed to more efficiently match images of unique individuals in databases with thousands of images. However, the identification accuracy of these algorithms can severely bias estimates of vital rates and population size. Therefore, it is important to understand the performance and limitations of state‐of‐the‐art photo‐matching algorithms prior to implementation in capture–recapture studies involving possibly thousands of images. Here, we compared the performance of four photo‐matching algorithms; Wild‐ID, I3S Pattern+, APHIS, and AmphIdent using multiple amphibian databases of varying image quality. We measured the performance of each algorithm and evaluated the performance in relation to database size and the number of matching images in the database. We found that algorithm performance differed greatly by algorithm and image database, with recognition rates ranging from 100% to 22.6% when limiting the review to the 10 highest ranking images. We found that recognition rate degraded marginally with increased database size and could be improved considerably with a higher number of matching images in the database. In our study, the pixel‐based algorithm of AmphIdent exhibited superior recognition rates compared to the other approaches. We recommend carefully evaluating algorithm performance prior to using it to match a complete database. By choosing a suitable matching algorithm, databases of sizes that are unfeasible to match “by eye” can be easily translated to accurate individual capture histories necessary for robust demographic estimates.
Leaf and root litter decomposition is discontinued at high altitude tropical montane rainforests contributing to carbon sequestration
Authors: Marian Franca , Sandmann Dorothee , Krashevska Valentyna , Maraun Mark , Scheu Stefan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe investigated how altitude affects the decomposition of leaf and root litter in the Andean tropical montane rainforest of southern Ecuador, that is, through changes in the litter quality between altitudes or other site‐specific differences in microenvironmental conditions. Leaf litter from three abundant tree species and roots of different diameter from sites at 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 m were placed in litterbags and incubated for 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Environmental conditions at the three altitudes and the sampling time were the main factors driving litter decomposition, while origin, and therefore quality of the litter, was of minor importance. At 2,000 and 3,000 m decomposition of litter declined for 12 months reaching a limit value of ~50% of initial and not decomposing further for about 24 months. After 36 months, decomposition commenced at low rates resulting in an average of 37.9% and 44.4% of initial remaining after 48 months. In contrast, at 1,000 m decomposition continued for 48 months until only 10.9% of the initial litter mass remained. Changes in decomposition rates were paralleled by changes in microorganisms with microbial biomass decreasing after 24 months at 2,000 and 3,000 m, while varying little at 1,000 m. The results show that, irrespective of litter origin (1,000, 2,000, 3,000 m) and type (leaves, roots), unfavorable microenvironmental conditions at high altitudes inhibit decomposition processes resulting in the sequestration of carbon in thick organic layers.
Polysaccharide‐rich hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (LipiGo®) increases fatty acid and neutral sterol excretion in guinea pigs fed with hypercholesterolemic diets
Authors: Santas Jonathan , Rafecas Magda , Cuñé Jordi 
Published: July 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the hypolipidemic properties of a polysaccharide‐rich hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae comprising β‐glucan‐chitin‐chitosan (BCC). Guinea pigs (n = 8 per group) were fed high‐fat and hypercholesterolemic diets (17 g/100 g of fat, 0.2 g/100 g of cholesterol), containing 12 g/100 g of either cellulose (CEL) as negative control, oat bran as a source of β‐glucan (BOB), or BCC. Food intake and body weight were monitored for 4 weeks and fatty acid (FA), neutral sterol (NS), and bile acid (BA) excretion were determined. BCC, but not BOB, reduced body weight gain and plasma total and LDL‐cholesterol, without altering food consumption. This effect correlated well with the capacity of BCC to reduce apparent FA absorption (78.36 ± 7.41 vs. 89.51 ± 3.93% in control group), mainly due to an increase of saturated fatty acid (SFA) excretion and, to a lower extent of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). NS excretion was also increased by BCC, although no effects were observed on BA excretion. Therefore, results suggest that the hypolipidemic effect of BCC can be mainly ascribed to its capacity to increase FA and NS excretion.Practical applications: This research provides evidence on the hypolipidemic effect and mechanism of action of Lipigo®, a polysaccharide‐rich hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae comprising β‐glucan‐chitin‐chitosan (BCC). Particularly, results show that BCC can effectively increase the excretion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and neutral sterols (NS), having a beneficial effect on plasma lipids. This information can be of interest for the development of food supplements in the field of diseases associated with high fat intake such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity.Supplementation of hypercholesterolemic diets with a polysaccharide‐rich hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae comprising β‐glucan‐chitin‐chitosan increases the excretion of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and neutral sterols compared to cellulose. This effect is consistent with a reduction in body weight gain and plasma total and LDL‐cholesterol.
Modification of stochastic ground motion models for matching target intensity measures
Authors: Tsioulou Alexandra , Taflanidis Alexandros A. , Galasso Carmine 
Published: July 2017

SummaryStochastic ground motion models produce synthetic time‐histories by modulating a white noise sequence through functions that address spectral and temporal properties of the excitation. The resultant ground motions can be then used in simulation‐based seismic risk assessment applications. This is established by relating the parameters of the aforementioned functions to earthquake and site characteristics through predictive relationships. An important concern related to the use of these models is the fact that through current approaches in selecting these predictive relationships, compatibility to the seismic hazard is not guaranteed. This work offers a computationally efficient framework for the modification of stochastic ground motion models to match target intensity measures (IMs) for a specific site and structure of interest. This is set as an optimization problem with a dual objective. The first objective minimizes the discrepancy between the target IMs and the predictions established through the stochastic ground motion model for a chosen earthquake scenario. The second objective constraints the deviation from the model characteristics suggested by existing predictive relationships, guaranteeing that the resultant ground motions not only match the target IMs but are also compatible with regional trends. A framework leveraging kriging surrogate modeling is formulated for performing the resultant multi‐objective optimization, and different computational aspects related to this optimization are discussed in detail. The illustrative implementation shows that the proposed framework can provide ground motions with high compatibility to target IMs with small only deviation from existing predictive relationships and discusses approaches for selecting a final compromise between these two competing objectives.
Regional, individual and political determinants of FOMC members' key macroeconomic forecasts
Authors: Eichler Stefan , Lähner Tom 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe study Federal Open Market Committee members' individual forecasts of inflation and unemployment in the period 1992–2004. Our results imply that Governors and Bank presidents forecast differently, with Governors submitting lower inflation and higher unemployment rate forecasts than bank presidents. For Bank presidents we find a regional bias, with higher district unemployment rates being associated with lower inflation and higher unemployment rate forecasts. Bank presidents' regional bias is more pronounced during the year prior to their elections or for nonvoting bank presidents. Career backgrounds or political affiliations also affect individual forecast behavior.
Aus der Hand gegeben
Authors: Montag Christian 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAchtung, Suchtgefahr: Neun von zehn Menschen in Deutschland sind heute online. Nicht nur für die „digital natives“ kann die dauerhafte Nutzung von Smartphone, Laptop und Tablet dabei zum Problem werden. Psychologen fragen jetzt auch nach den molekulargenetischen Grundlagen und Hintergründen internetabhängigen Verhaltens.
A comparison of methods for inferring causal relationships between genotype and phenotype using additional biological measurements
Authors: Ainsworth Holly F. , Shin So‐Youn , Cordell Heather J. 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACTGenome wide association studies (GWAS) have been very successful over the last decade at identifying genetic variants associated with disease phenotypes. However, interpretation of the results obtained can be challenging. Incorporation of further relevant biological measurements (e.g. ‘omics’ data) measured in the same individuals for whom we have genotype and phenotype data may help us to learn more about the mechanism and pathways through which causal genetic variants affect disease. We review various methods for causal inference that can be used for assessing the relationships between genetic variables, other biological measures, and phenotypic outcome, and present a simulation study assessing the performance of the methods under different conditions. In general, the methods we considered did well at inferring the causal structure for data simulated under simple scenarios. However, the presence of an unknown and unmeasured common environmental effect could lead to spurious inferences, with the methods we considered displaying varying degrees of robustness to this confounder. The use of causal inference techniques to integrate omics and GWAS data has the potential to improve biological understanding of the pathways leading to disease. Our study demonstrates the suitability of various methods for performing causal inference under several biologically plausible scenarios.
Evaluation of water‐use policies for baseflow recovery during droughts in an agricultural intensive karst watershed: Case study of the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, southeastern United States
Authors: Singh Sarmistha , Mitra Subhasis , Srivastava Puneet , Abebe Ash , Torak Lynn 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin in the Southeast United States represents a major agricultural area underlain by the highly productive karstic Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA). During El Niño Southern Oscillation‐induced droughts, intense groundwater withdrawal for irrigation lowers streamflow in the Flint River due to its hydraulic connectivity with the UFA and threatens the habitat of the federally listed and endangered aquatic biota. This study assessed the compounding hydrologic effects of increased irrigation pumping during drought years (2010–2012) on stream–aquifer water exchange (stream–aquifer flux) between the Flint River and UFA using the United States Geological Survey modular finite element groundwater flow model. Principal component and K‐means clustering analyses were used to identify critical stream reaches and tributaries that are adversely affected by irrigation pumping. Additionally, the effectiveness of possible water restriction scenarios on stream–aquifer flux was also analysed. Moreover, a cost–benefit analysis of acreage buyout procedure was conducted for various water restriction scenarios. Results indicate that increased groundwater withdrawal in Water Year 2011 decreased baseflow in the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, particularly, in Spring Creek, where irrigation pumping during April, June, and July changed the creek condition from a gaining to losing stream. Results from sensitivity analysis and simulated water restrictions suggest that reducing pumping in selected sensitive areas is more effective in streamflow recovery (approximately 78%) than is reducing irrigation intensity by a prescribed percentage of current pumping rates, such as 15% or 30%, throughout the basin. Moreover, analysis of acreage buyout indicates that restrictions on irrigation withdrawal can have significant impacts on stream–aquifer flux in the Basin, especially in critical watersheds such as Spring and Ichawaynochaway Creeks. The proposed procedure for ranking of stream reaches (sensitivity analysis) in this study can be replicated in other study areas/models. This study provides useful information to policymakers for devising alternate irrigation water withdrawal policies during droughts for maintaining flow levels in the study area.
Integrating cervical cancer screening and preventive treatment with family planning and HIV‐related services
Authors: White Heather L. , Meglioli Alejandra , Chowdhury Raveena , Nuccio Olivia 
Published: July 2017

AbstractCervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality in Sub‐Saharan Africa—in large part because of inadequate coverage of screening and preventive treatment services. A number of programs have begun integrating cervical cancer prevention services into existing family planning or HIV/AIDS service delivery platforms, to rapidly expand “screen and treat” programs and mitigate cervical cancer burden. Drawing upon a review of literature and our experiences, we consider benefits and challenges associated with such programs in Sub‐Saharan Africa. We then outline steps that can optimize uptake and sustainability of integrated sexual and reproductive health services. These include increasing coordination among implementing organizations for efficient use of resources; task shifting for services that can be provided by nonphysicians; mobilizing communities via trusted frontline health workers; strengthening management information systems to allow for monitoring of multiple services; and prioritizing an operational research agenda to provide further evidence on the cost‐effectiveness and benefits of integrated service delivery.
Two roads to effectiveness: CEO feedback seeking, vision articulation, and firm performance
Authors: Ashford Susan J. , Wellman Ned , Sully de Luque Mary , De Stobbeleir Katleen E.M. , Wollan Melody 
Published: July 2017

SummaryHumble leadership is attracting increased scholarly attention, but little is known about its effects when used in conjunction with less humble leadership behaviors that rely on a perception of the leader as confident and charismatic. This study contrasts the effects on top management team (TMT) potency and organizational performance of a more humble (feedback seeking) and a less humble (vision) CEO leader behavior. We hypothesize that CEO feedback seeking increases TMT potency and firm performance by communicating to TMT members that the organization values their input and encouraging their own feedback seeking, whereas CEO vision articulation influences these outcomes by fostering greater clarity about the firm's direction, and an enhanced ability to coordinate efforts within the TMT. CEOs who have not developed a vision can achieve a similar positive impact on TMT potency and firm performance by seeking feedback. In a sample of CEOs and TMT members from 65 firms, both CEO feedback seeking and vision articulation exhibit positive direct relationships with firm performance. However, only feedback seeking displays an indirect effect on performance via TMT potency. Finally, CEO feedback seeking has its strongest effects on firm performance and TMT potency for CEOs who are not seen as having a vision.