Principal Regions Research Articles

A Meteo-Epidemiological Vulnerability Index as a the resilience factor for the principal regions in Haiti

The hydrometeorological information is shown in the form of intensity, duration and period of return of extreme rains, in order to characterize the pluviometric regime in Haiti. Using information from health services in Haiti a Meteo-Epidemiological Vulnerability Index (MEVI) is proposed. This index uses infectious-contagious disease data, the capacity and distribution of medical infrastructure, physiographic conditions of the country, and rainfall data (expressed in intensities, durations and frequency). The results show how mortality and morbidity rates are influenced mainly by communicable diseases in different risk areas. It is concluded that the territorial vulnerability exposed to hydrometeorological phenomena increases in the West and South Departments, where there is a high prevalence of diseases that exceeds the capacity of medical attention. With these results, two resilience indexes are proposed. A theoretical index (TRF) based on the conditions of the region, taking into account vulnerability (V), MEVI, resistance (RT) and homeostasis (HO). And another index of resilience measured in situ (RF). The comparison of both indices allows us to know the future capacity of the region to face the activities of resilience.

Migration patterns and winter population dynamics of rice planthoppers in Indochina: New perspectives from field surveys and atmospheric trajectories

Rice planthoppers (RPH) are the most serious insect pests of rice production in East Asia, frequently out-breaking in China, Korea and Japan each summer. They are unable to overwinter in temperate East Asia, and summer populations arise anew each year via northward spring migration from south-east Asia. The annual migration cycle is generally believed to be a closed loop with mass returns to south-east Asia in the autumn, but this leg of the journey and the overwintering dynamics are much less studied than the spring immigrations. Previous studies have indicated that the north-central Vietnam (NCV) region is a key location for both the spring colonisation of China and for receiving return migrants from southern China each autumn. However, NCV experiences a three-month rice-free fallow period during mid-winter, and so it cannot be the principal over-wintering region for RPH populations. In this study, the continental-scale migration patterns of RPH in East Asia were explored using data from light trap catches, field surveys and atmospheric trajectory simulations. Our results confirmed that large numbers of return migrants arrive in NCV from southern China each autumn, but that they are unable to survive there over winter. The NCV region is recolonised in the early-spring (mid-February to mid-March) of each year by migrants from winter rice-growing regions in north-east Thailand, southern Laos and south-central coastal Vietnam, which are transported on favourable high-altitude synoptic winds. The following generation initiates the colonisation of East Asia from a large source population in NCV. Our results provide a new perspective on RPH migration patterns and over-wintering dynamics in East Asia, which is governed by crop production, environmental conditions and synoptic wind patterns at a continental scale.

Dynamic Stability of Rotating FG-CNTRC Cylindrical Shells under Combined Static and Periodic Axial Loads

The dynamic stability behavior of rotating functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) cylindrical shells under combined static and periodic axial forces is investigated. The governing equations are derived based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) of shells. The initial mechanical stresses due to the steady state rotation of the shell are evaluated by solving the dynamic equilibrium equations. The equations of motion under different boundary conditions are discretized in the spatial domain and transformed into a system of Mathieu–Hill type equations using the differential quadrature method (DQM) together with the trigonometric series. The influences of both the initial mechanical stresses and Coriolis acceleration are considered. Then, the parametric resonance is analyzed and the dynamic instability regions are determined by employing the Bolotin’s first approximation. After validating the approach, the effects of rotational speed, Coriolis acceleration, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) distribution in the thickness direction, CNTs volume fraction, length and thickness-to-mean radius ratios on the principal dynamic instability regions are examined in detail.

Ultrasonic study of hyaluronan interactions with Septonex—A pharmaceutical cationic surfactant

Interactions between hyaluronan and the cationic surfactant Septonex were studied using high resolution ultrasound spectroscopy. Four different interaction regions were identified in aqueous solution in a narrow interval of surfactant concentrations. In contrast, in 0.15 mol/L NaCl solution, essentially only two principal regions were observed. Hyaluronan-Septonex aggregates were generally less compressible than Septonex monomers or micelles and their formation in water was not appreciably affected by hyaluronan molecular weight. In the presence of NaCl, the effect of hyaluronan molecular weight was more profound, which can be ascribed to its conformational sensitivity to ionic strength combined with its role as a surfactant counterion. Hyaluronan-Septonex interactions were closer to interactions with CTAB than with TTAB. Differences in structure or Krafft temperature (solubility) between Septonex and CTAB were thus not significantly reflected in these interactions. The basic characteristics of Septonex surfactant were also determined.

LPS-induced histone H3 phospho(Ser10)-acetylation(Lys14) regulates neuronal and microglial neuroinflammatory response

Epigenetic modifications of DNA and histone proteins are emerging as fundamental mechanisms by which neural cells adapt their transcriptional response to environmental cues, such as, immune stimuli or stress. In particular, histone H3 phospho(Ser10)-acetylation(Lys14) (H3S10phK14ac) has been linked to activation of specific gene expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of H3S10phK14ac in a neuroinflammatory condition. Adult male rats received a intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (830 μg/Kg/i.p., n = 6) or vehicle (saline 1 mL/kg/i.p., n = 6) and were sacrificed 2 or 6 h later. We showed marked region- and time-specific increases in H3S10phK14ac in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, two principal target regions of LPS. These changes were accompanied by a marked transcriptional activation of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) α, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the immediate early gene c-Fos. By means of chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated an increased region- and time-specific association of H3S10phK14ac with the promoters of IL-6, c-Fos and iNOS genes, suggesting that part of the LPS-induced transcriptional activation of these genes is regulated by H3S10phK14ac. Finally, by means of multiple immunofluorescence approach, we showed that increased H3S10phK14ac is cell type-specific, being neurons and reactive microglia, the principal histological types involved in this response.Present data point to H3S10phK14ac as a principal epigenetic regulator of neural cell response to systemic LPS and underline the importance of distinct time-, region- and cell-specific epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene transcription to understand the mechanistic complexity of neuroinflammatory response to immune challenges.

Gem amphiboles from Mogok, Myanmar: crystal-structure refinement, infrared spectroscopy and short-range order–disorder in gem pargasite and fluoro-pargasite

AbstractThe crystal structures of six gem-quality pargasites and fluoro-pargasites from Mogok, Myanmar, space group C2/m, Z = 2, have been refined to R1 indices of 2.20–2.90% using MoKα X-radiation. The unit formulae were calculated from the results of electron-microprobe analysis, and were used with the refined site-scattering values and the observed mean bond lengths to assign site populations. TAl occurs at both the T(1) and T(2) sites but is strongly ordered at T(1). [6]Al is partly disordered over the M(2) and M(3) sites but does not occur at the M(1) site. ANa is split between the A(2) and A(m) sites and K occurs at the A(m) site. The infrared spectra in the principal OH-stretching region were measured and the fine structure was fit to component bands. The component bands were assigned to short-range ion arrangements over the configuration symbol M(1)M(1)M(3)–O(3)–A–O(3):T(1)T(1) using the refined site-populations and the expected frequencies from previously assigned spectra in more simple amphibole compositions, and correspond to the local arrangements: (1) MgMgMg–OH–Na–OH:SiAl; (2) MgMgMg–OH–Na–F:SiAl; (3) MgMgAl–OH–Na–OH:SiAl and (4) MgMgAl–OH–Na–F:SiAl.

Bayesian error regions in quantum estimation I: analytical reasonings

Results concerning the construction of quantum Bayesian error regions as a means to certify the quality of parameter point estimators have been reported in recent years. This task remains numerically formidable in practice for large dimensions and so far, no analytical expressions of the region size and credibility (probability of any given true parameter residing in the region) are known, which form the two principal region properties to be reported alongside a point estimator obtained from collected data. We first establish analytical formulas for the size and credibility that are valid for a uniform prior distribution over parameters, sufficiently large data samples and general constrained convex parameter estimation settings. These formulas provide a means to an efficient asymptotic error certification for parameters of arbitrary dimensions. Next, we demonstrate the accuracies of these analytical formulas as compared to numerically computed region quantities with simulated examples in qubit and qutrit quantum-state tomography where computations of the latter are feasible.

Assessment of dynamic instability of laminated composite-sandwich plates

The current work deals with the assessment of dynamic stability behavior of laminated composite and sandwich plates subjected to in-plane static and periodic compressive loads based on a recently developed zigzag theory by the authors. This theory satisfies the traction-free boundary conditions at top and bottom surfaces of the laminate as well as the inter-laminar stress continuity at layer interfaces. Also, it obviates the need of artificial shear correction factor. The theory is based upon shear strain shape function assuming non-linear distribution of transverse shear stresses. An efficient C0 continuous, eight-noded isoparametric element with seven field variables is employed for the dynamic stability analysis of laminated composite and sandwich plates. The boundaries of principal instability domains are obtained following Bolotin's approach and are represented either in the non-dimensional load amplitude-excitation frequency plane or load amplitude-load frequency plane. A series of numerical examples on the dynamic stability analysis of laminated composite and sandwich plates are studied to demonstrate the effects of modular ratio, span to thickness ratio, boundary conditions, thickness ratio, static load factor and various load parameters on the principal instability regions. The predicted results are compared with the available existing results in order to ensure the performance of the proposed model.

Ultrastructural, cytochemistry and electron tomography analysis of Caryophyllaeides fennica (Schneider, 1902) (Cestoda: Lytocestidae) reveals novel spermatology characteristics in the Eucestoda.

Spermatozoon formation in Caryophyllaeides fennica (Schneider, 1902) is characterised by the following: (1) apical electron-dense material in the zone of differentiation, (2) typical striated roots situated unconventionally in opposite directions in early stages of spermiogenesis, (3) intercentriolar body composed of three electron-dense and two electron-lucent plates, (4) free flagellum and a flagellar bud that correspond to a greatly reduced flagellum and (5) rotation of free flagellum and a flagellar bud to the median cytoplasmic process at 90°. The development of two flagella of significantly unequal length clearly supports a derived form of spermiogenesis in the Caryophyllidea. New for cestodes is a finding of two additional striated roots situated opposite each other, in conjunction with both the flagellar bud and free flagellum. Mutual position of additional striated roots and typical striated roots is parallel in early stages and perpendicular in advanced stages of spermiogenesis. A complete proximodistal fusion gives rise to a mature spermatozoon consisting of one axoneme, parallel cortical microtubules, a nucleus and a moderately electron-dense cytoplasm with glycogen particles, detected by a technique of Thiéry (J Microsc 6:987-1018, 1967), in the principal regions (II, III, IV). Electron tomography analysis of the free flagellum and one axoneme of a mature spermatozoon of C. fennica provides clear evidence, for the first time, that two tubular structures are present in the central axonemal electron-dense core. Phylogenetically important aspects of spermiogenesis of the Caryophyllidea with one axoneme, and other cestodes with one or two axonemes, are briefly reviewed and discussed.

An interval algorithm for uncertain dynamic stability analysis

Analysis on the stability of dynamic systems is a very important field in structural elasticity theory. For possible engineering situations where the system parameters are uncertain‑but‑bounded, the propagation from the initial uncertainties of parameters to the consequent uncertainty of dynamic stability of structure is elaborately investigated by interval analysis for the first time. The interval dynamic stability issue is studied through the column structure as a generalized interval eigenvalue problem, and an analytic theorem is rigorously derived and numerically verified for solving the generalized interval eigenvalue problem. Moreover, to avoid the exaggeration on actual bounds of solution, an effective approach is established to limit the dependency phenomenon in the interval dynamic stability analysis. The interval relationships of the excitation parameter and the critical load frequency with five types of system parameters are further bridged according to the interval arithmetic to propose a three-stage interval scheme for evaluating the effects of interval system parameters on the dynamic stability of structures. Numerical studies demonstrate that the uncertainty of the constant part of load influences the boundaries of principal instability region much more than that of the variable part of load. Within all structural parameters, the uncertainty of column length has the most effect on the boundaries, which could make the critical frequency of load be magnified about ten times the uncertainty of parameter. In particular, if all the system parameters are interval with an identical uncertainty degree, the uncertainty of parameter would be propagated in the system of dynamic stability and enlarged as high as 20 times the uncertainty of parameter. Consequently, the impacts of parameter uncertainties on the dynamic stability of structures are fairly significant.

Coupled Dynamic Instability Analysis of Thin-Walled Columns Subjected to Harmonic Axial Loading

This paper presents triply coupled vibrations and instability analysis of thin-walled columns having a non-symmetrical open cross-section. Vlasov’s theory is used to derive the governing differential equations for coupled flexural and torsional vibrations. A numerical method is presented to determine the exact natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes in terms of real functions. Employing Galerkin’s method, the coupled partial differential equations are reduced to a set of coupled Mathieu type equations. Following Bolotin’s method, the principal instability regions of thin-walled column with a non-symmetrical cross-section having various boundary conditions are determined. Numerical examples are presented to examine the effect of different boundary conditions, aspect ratios, static and dynamic load factors on principal instability regions. The study of response and corresponding phase plot in stable and unstable regions are carried out to identify the dynamic instability behavior.

Sediment accumulation and mixing in the Penobscot River and estuary, Maine

Mercury (Hg) was discharged in the late 1960s into the Penobscot River by the Holtra-Chem chlor-alkali production facility, which was in operation from 1967 to 2000. To assess the transport and distribution of total Hg, and recovery of the river and estuary system from Hg pollution, physical and radiochemical data were assembled from sediment cores collected from 58 of 72 coring stations sampled in 2009. These stations were located throughout the lower Penobscot River, and included four principal study regions, the Penobscot River (PBR), Mendall Marsh (MM), the Orland River (OR), and the Penobscot estuary (ES). To provide the geochronology required to evaluate sedimentary total Hg profiles, 58 of 72 sediment cores were dated using the atmospheric radionuclide tracers 137Cs, 210Pb, and 239,240Pu. Sediment cores were assessed for depths of mixing, and for the determination of sediment accumulation rates using both geochemical (total Hg) and radiochemical data. At most stations, evidence for significant vertical mixing, derived from profiles of 7Be (where possible) and porosity, was restricted to the upper ~1–3cm. Thus, historic profiles of both total Hg and radionuclides were only minimally distorted, allowing a reconstruction of their depositional history. The pulse input tracers 137Cs and 239,240Pu used to assess sediment accumulation rates agreed well, while the steady state tracer 210Pb exhibited weaker agreement, likely due to irregular lateral sediment inputs.

Caves and karst of Ecuador – state-of-the-art and research perspectives

Current knowledge of caves and karst regions of Ecuador is scarce and broadly limited to discrete areas such as that of the Galápagos volcanokarst. In continental Ecuador, carbonate karst mostly outcrops in the Amazonian basin and accounts for 5–10% of the surface of the country. However, owing to the difficulties of access within the Amazonian rainforest, most surface and subterranean karst is yet to be revealed. In this review, we present an updated map of the solutional karst of Ecuador based on the most recent geological surveys and our own research. We describe the principal karst regions of Ecuador from the Amazonian basin (Napo and Santiago) as well as the Galápagos pseudokarst. We show that Ecuador karst research may be of considerable importance for both basic and applied research owing to its geographical position and intrinsic vulnerabilities. We discuss the main challenges of karst-related research in Ecuador, such as paleoclimatic studies, subterranean biodiversity, and archeology. We discuss the main vulnerabilities and hazards related to karst uses in Ecuador, considering the paramount importance of tourism for the country.

The First Record of the Genus Nepalomyia Hollis (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) for the Western Part of the Palaearctic Region

The distribution of the species of Nepalomyia Hollis, 1964 over the principal zoogeographical regions is briefly summarized. A new species, Nepalomyia chalajaesp. n. from the North Caucasus, is described. The replacement name Nepalomyia igorinom. n. is proposed for the homonym Nepalomyia yangi Grootaert, 2013, nec Wang, Yang and Grootaert, 2007. A key to males of the ten Palaearctic species of Nepalomyia is given.

Dynamic Stability of a Cylindrical Shell Stiffened with a Cylinder and Longitudinal Diaphragms at External Pressure

A study has been made of the dynamic stability of a cylindrical orthotropic shell stiffened with a hollow cylinder and inhomogeneous longitudinal diaphragms under the action of axial forces and pulsating external pressure. The influence of the cylinder and diaphragms on the stability of the shell was taken account of in the form of elastic foundations whose moduli of subgrade reaction are determined from the equations of a three-dimensional theory of elasticity and the Timoshenko model respectively. A solution to the equation of motion of the shell has been found in the form of a trigonometric circumferential-coordinate series. To construct the principal region of instability of the shell, a binomial approximation was used in the obtained Mathieu–Hill equations. As a result, the problem was reduced to a system of two algebraic equations for normal displacement of the shell at diaphragm installation sites. For uniformly spaced identical diaphragms, a solution has been obtained in explicit form. The dependences of the principal region of instability of the shell on the number and rigidity of the diaphragms have been determined at different radii of the cylinder channel.

Potholing of the hydrophobic heme oxygenase-1 western region for the search of potent and selective imidazole-based inhibitors

Here we report the design, synthesis, and molecular modeling of new potent and selective imidazole-based HO-1 inhibitors in which the imidazole nucleus and the hydrophobic groups are linked by a phenylethanolic spacer. Most of the tested compounds showed a good inhibitor activity with IC50 values in the low micromolar range, with two of them (1b and 1j) exhibiting also high selectivity toward HO-2. These results were obtained by the idea of potholing the entire volume of the principal hydrophobic western region with an appropriate ligand volume. Molecular modeling studies showed that these molecules bind to the HO-1 in the consolidated fashion where the imidazolyl moiety coordinates the heme iron while the aromatic groups are stabilized by hydrophobic interaction in the western region of the binding pocket. Finally, the synthesized compounds were analyzed for in silico ADME-Tox properties to establish oral drug-like behavior and showed satisfactory results.

Phylogenetic classification of the world’s tropical forests

Knowledge about the biogeographic affinities of the world's tropical forests helps to better understand regional differences in forest structure, diversity, composition, and dynamics. Such understanding will enable anticipation of region-specific responses to global environmental change. Modern phylogenies, in combination with broad coverage of species inventory data, now allow for global biogeographic analyses that take species evolutionary distance into account. Here we present a classification of the world's tropical forests based on their phylogenetic similarity. We identify five principal floristic regions and their floristic relationships: (i) Indo-Pacific, (ii) Subtropical, (iii) African, (iv) American, and (v) Dry forests. Our results do not support the traditional neo- versus paleotropical forest division but instead separate the combined American and African forests from their Indo-Pacific counterparts. We also find indications for the existence of a global dry forest region, with representatives in America, Africa, Madagascar, and India. Additionally, a northern-hemisphere Subtropical forest region was identified with representatives in Asia and America, providing support for a link between Asian and American northern-hemisphere forests.

Content and activity of the testis-specific isoform of angiotensin-converting enzyme are reduced in frozen-thawed bull spermatozoa.

Sperm cryopreservation and thawing reduces fertility and alters the content and function of various sperm proteins. Previously, we reported that a testes-specific isoform of angiotensin-converting enzyme (tACE) was required for capacitation of bovine spermatozoa. The aim of the present study was to determine effects of sperm cryopreservation and thawing on the content, activity and localisation of tACE in bovine spermatozoa. Relative median fluorescence intensity (flow cytometry) was greater (P<0.01), tACE content (110 kDa protein) in sperm proteins was higher (P<0.01) and there was greater tACE enzyme activity (mean (±s.e.m.) 0.16±0.01 vs 0.06±0.02UmL-1; P<0.01) in fresh versus frozen-thawed spermatozoa (n=6 bulls). In fresh spermatozoa, tACE was immunolocalised in the acrosomal and principal piece regions of the sperm head and tail respectively. However, in frozen-thawed spermatozoa, there were four patterns of localisation: most frozen-thawed spermatozoa (64%) had fluorescence in the acrosomal ridge, whereas in 17% and 9% of spermatozoa the signal was limited to the post-acrosomal region and the equatorial segment respectively; in the remainder (10%), there was no signal. We conclude that cryopreservation and thawing decrease the content and activity of tACE and cause it to be translocated to other parts of the sperm head.

Spermiogenesis and spermatozoon ultrastructure in basal polyopisthocotylean monogeneans, Hexabothriidae and Chimaericolidae, and their significance for the phylogeny of the Monogenea

Sperm ultrastructure provides morphological characters useful for understanding phylogeny; no study was available for two basal branches of the Polyopisthocotylea, the Chimaericolidea and Diclybothriidea. We describe here spermiogenesis and sperm in Chimaericola leptogaster (Chimaericolidae) and Rajonchocotyle emarginata (Hexabothriidae), and sperm in Callorhynchocotyle callorhynchi (Hexabothriidae). Spermiogenesis in C. leptogaster and R. emarginata shows the usual pattern of most Polyopisthocotylea with typical zones of differentiation and proximo-distal fusion of the flagella. In all three species, the structure of the spermatozoon is biflagellate, with two incorporated trepaxonematan 9 + “1” axonemes and a posterior nucleus. However, unexpected structures were also seen. An alleged synapomorphy of the Polyopisthocotylea is the presence of a continuous row of longitudinal microtubules in the nuclear region. The sperm of C. leptogaster has a posterior part with a single axoneme, and the part with the nucleus is devoid of the continuous row of microtubules. The spermatozoon of R. emarginata has an anterior region with membrane ornamentation, and posterior lateral microtubules are absent. The spermatozoon of C. callorhynchi has transverse sections with only dorsal and ventral microtubules, and its posterior part shows flat sections containing a single axoneme and the nucleus. These findings have important implications for phylogeny and for the definition of synapomorphies in the Neodermata. We point out a series of discrepancies between actual data and interpretation of character states in the matrix of a phylogeny of the Monogenea. Our main conclusion is that the synapomorphy “lateral microtubules in the principal region of the spermatozoon” does not define the Polyopisthocotylea but is restricted to the Mazocraeidea.

An improved principal component analysis based region matching method for fringe direction estimation

The principal component analysis (PCA) and region matching combined method is effective for fringe direction estimation. However, its mask construction algorithm for region matching fails in some circumstances, and the algorithm for conversion of orientation to direction in mask areas is computationally-heavy and non-optimized. We propose an improved PCA based region matching method for the fringe direction estimation, which includes an improved and robust mask construction scheme, and a fast and optimized orientation–direction conversion algorithm for the mask areas. Along with the estimated fringe direction map, filtered fringe pattern by automatic selective reconstruction modification and enhanced fast empirical mode decomposition (ASRm-EFEMD) is used for Hilbert spiral transform (HST) to demodulate the phase. Subsequently, windowed Fourier ridge (WFR) method is used for the refinement of the phase. The robustness and effectiveness of proposed method are demonstrated by both simulated and experimental fringe patterns.