Small Period Of Time Research Articles

Endophytic Fungi as Novel Resources of natural Therapeutics

ABSTRACT Fungal endophytes constitute a major part of the unexplored fungal diversity. Endophytic fungi (EF) are an important source for novel, potential and active metabolites. Plant-endophyte interaction and endophyte -endophyte interactions study provide insights into mutualism and metabolite production by fungi. Bioactive compounds produced by endophytes main function are helping the host plants to resist external biotic and abiotic stress, which benefit the host survival in return. These organisms mainly consist of members of the Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota and Oomycota. Recently, the genome sequencing technology has emerged as one of the most efficient tools that can provide whole information of a genome in a small period of time. Endophytes are fertile ground for drug discovery. EFare considered as the hidden members of the microbial world and represent an underutilized resource for new therapeutics and compounds. Endophytes are rich source of natural products displaying broad spectrum of biological activities like anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-arthritis and anti-inflammatory.

Casimir force in the G\xf6del space-time and its possible induced cosmological inhomogeneity

The Casimir force between two parallel plates in the Gödel universe is computed for a scalar field at finite temperature. It is observed that when the plates’ separation is comparable with the scale given by the rotation of the space-time, the force becomes repulsive and then approaches zero. Since it has been shown previously that the universe may experience a Gödel phase for a small period of time, the induced inhomogeneities from the Casimir force are also studied.

Manufacturing Analytics and Industrial Internet of Things

Over the last two decades, manufacturing across the globe has evolved to be more intel-ligent and data driven. In the age of industrial Internet of Things, a smart production unit can be perceived as a large connected industrial system of materials, parts, machines, tools, inventory, and logistics that can relay data and communicate with each other. While, traditionally, the focus has been on machine health and predictive maintenance, the manufacturing industry has also started focusing on analyzing data from the entire production line. These applications bring a new set of analytics challenges. Unlike tradi-tional data mining analysis, which consists of lean datasets (that is, datasets with few fea-tures), manufacturing has fat datasets. In addition, previous approaches to manufacturing analytics restricted themselves to small time periods of data. The latest advances in big data analytics allows researchers to do a deep dive into years of data. Bosch collects and utilizes all available information about its products to increase its understanding of complex linear and nonlinear relationships between parts, machines, and assembly lines. This helps in use cases such as the discovery of the root cause of internal defects. This article presents a case study and provides detail about challenges and approaches in data extraction, modeling, and visualization.

Postoperative delirium in patients with history of alcohol abuse

Abstract Introduction Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute confusional state characterized by changes in consciousness and cognition, which may be fluctuating, developing in a small period of time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between alcohol abuse and the development of POD. Methods We prospectively evaluated consecutively all postoperative patients admitted in the Post-anaesthesia Care Unit over a 1-month period for delirium, using the Portuguese versions of the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale. Before surgery, alcohol consumption was inquired and alcohol abuse was assessed by the CAGE (Cutting Down, Annoyance, Guilt and Eye-opener) questionnaire; a score ≥2 defined alcohol abuse. Fischer exact test or chi-square was applied for comparisons. Risk factors were analyzed in a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results Two hundred twenty-one patients were enrolled. Delirium was seen in 11% patients. The incidence of alcohol abuse was 10%. Patients with alcohol abuse were more frequently men ( p p = 0.021). POD was more frequent in patients with alcohol abuse (30% vs. 9%; p = 0.002). Age (OR: 5.9; 95% CI: 2.2–15.9; p p = 0.002) and alcohol abuse (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.4–12.9; p = 0.013) were found to be independent predictors for POD. Conclusions Older patients, higher ASA physical status and alcohol abuse were more frequent in patients with POD. Alcohol abuse was considered an independent risk factor for POD.

The Occupant Mobile Gateway: A participatory sensing and machine-learning approach for occupant-aware energy management

This paper presents and evaluates a prototype smartphone/server software service entitled the Occupant Mobile Gateway (OMG), developed to collect and analyze real-time occupant subjective feedback and objective thermal data from embedded sensors. The objective of the OMG is to enable mobile sensing as a scalable approach to realize the comfort and energy savings potential of data-driven thermal management using personalized comfort models. In contrast to the universal application of static comfort criteria, data-driven models have the potential to enable flexible and continuous interpretation of thermal comfort, allowing for more personalized control of the thermal environment and minimization of the energy wasted by overheating and overcooling. Novel machine-learning algorithms are applied to synthesize subjective and physical thermal measurements into personalized comfort models which can be interpreted to determine optimal temperature setpoints based on energy and comfort goals. The feasibility of machine learning algorithms to generate useful personalized occupant comfort profiles is examined using field data from four test sites (N = 45 occupants total). The findings demonstrate that it is possible to model the thermal preferences of occupants at both the individual and zone level with data collected over a relatively small time period (2-weeks). Application of occupant-driven comfort models in annual energy simulations shows that thermal management informed by occupant feedback has the potential for significant energy savings.

Do patients lose weight after total knee replacement?

ObjectiveSeveral studies show that patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) tend to maintain or gain weight after the procedure, which would result in increased wear of the prosthesis and new surgical interventions in a smaller period of time in comparison with patients with adequate body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TKA surgery on these patients’ BMI. MethodsInitially the records were analyzed, chosen at random from 91 patients undergoing TKA during the period from August 2011 to July 2013. Patients were stratified by BMI as normal weight (BMI between 20 and 25), overweight (BMI between 25 and 30), and obesity (BMI>30). They were re-evaluated in a minimum period of 18 months. ResultsThe mean age of the sample population was 68.1 years; 69.1 for men and 67.2 for women. The mean preoperative BMI was 27.24kg/m2. Among the study participants, in the preoperative period, 17 patients had normal weight, 65 were overweight, and nine were obese. Postoperative analysis showed weight loss in 41 patients (46%), and weight gain in 50 patients (54%). The mean postoperative BMI was 27.16kg/m2, in general, experiencing a slight decline in the mean BMI of 0.08kg/m2. ConclusionPatients who underwent TKA did not achieve significant reduction in BMI after surgery.

Simple and Fast Method for Identification and Quantification of Anthocyanidins in Berries by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The objective was identifying three different anthocyanidins and to quantify them in six different berries. Results from the conventional method (using extraction with hydrochloric acid) were compared with data from the proposed method (without acid extraction). The following figures of merit were used: linearity, accuracy, linear range, limits of detection and quantification, using an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source. The separation of anthocyanidins can be achieved in a much smaller period of time (1.30 min) and the cyanidin from Morus nigra L., Rubus idaeus L. and Vaccinium myrtillus L. was found in higher amounts in extracts obtained from the proposed method. Proposed mechanisms of mass spectrometry (MS/MS) collisional induced dissociation for pelargonidin, cyanidin and delphinidin were obtained and this is the first time that concentrations of anthocyanidins present in fruits of Solanum americanum Mill. were reported.

Finite volume numerical solution to a blood flow problem in human artery

In this paper, we solve a one dimensional blood flow model in human artery. This model is of a non-linear hyperbolic partial differential equation system which can generate either continuous or discontinuous solution. We use the Lax–Friedrichs finite volume method to solve this model. Particularly, we investigate how a pulse propagates in human artery. For this simulation, we give a single sine wave with a small time period as an impluse input on the left boundary. The finite volume method is successful in simulating how the pulse propagates in the artery. It detects the positions of the pulse for the whole time period.

Felsic magmas of the caldera-forming eruptions on the Iturup Island: the first results of studies of melt inclusions in phenocrysts from pumices of the Lvinaya Past and Vetrovoy Isthmus calderas

The paper reports the first results of the petrological studies of magmatic melts that formed siliceous pyroclastic deposits related to voluminous eruptions on Iturup Island. The caldera-forming eruptions of the Lvinaya Past and the Vetrovoy Isthmus, having similar features, resulted from the evolution of silicic melts that originated from partial melting of metabasalts. According to the mineral thermometry results, the melt was crystallized at ~800°C. The phenocrysts from the Vetrovoy Isthmus pumices were crystallized at <1 kbar, while those from the Lvinaya Past were formed at higher pressures. The pyroclastic rock compositions in both calderas correspond to moderately aluminous dacite and rhyolitic dacite of the normal series, whose melts likely did not undergo significant crystallization differentiation before the eruptions. The main volatile components of the magma include H2O, CO2, S, F, and Cl. Degassing with emission of water–carbon-dioxide fluid accompanied the early crystallization of plagioclase in the Vetrovoy Isthmus pumice. Evidence of pre-eruption melt degassing in the Lvinaya Past were not found. Water release from the melts may be related to both the early magma degassing and the eruptions. The lack of data evidencing the deep differentiation and mixing of contrasting melts implies a relatively small time period between the acid melt appearance and eruptions.

Improved Chamber Systems for Rapid, Real-Time Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Manure and Soil

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission rates have traditionally been measured using non-flow-through (NFT), non-steady-state (NSS) chambers, which rely on measuring the increase in N2O concentration in the sealed chamber headspace over time. These flux measurements are very labor- and time-intensive, requiring three to four gas samples collected over a 30 to 60 min period, followed by laboratory N2O measurement with a gas chromatograph (GC) and subsequent flux rate calculation. The objective of this research was to develop and evaluate improved, real-time flux chamber designs that rapidly quantify N2O emissions from manure and soil. The first chamber system consisted of six square 0.95 m2 chamber pans. The chamber pans were mounted on a rail system to facilitate controlled indoor/outdoor laboratory research at a pilot scale. An aluminum lid was moved among the chamber pans. A second portable chamber system with a circular footprint (0.49 m internal dia.) was designed for use in field measurements. With both systems, N2O concentrations were measured each second with 0.1 ppb resolution by recirculating sample air through a real-time continuous N2O analyzer with return flow into the recirculating-flow-through (RFT-NSS) chamber. Performance and observational data are presented for different chamber vent designs, sealing mechanisms between the chamber pan and lid, recirculation pumps, and presence/absence of an internal fan that mixes headspace air within the sealed chamber. As examples of the repeatability and precision of the methodology, ten consecutive flux measurements were obtained using moist manure (32.6% wet basis water content, WCWB) within a 15 min period in which chamber pans were fitted with lids for 60 s and removed for 30 s. The mean calculated N2O flux was 43.08 ±0.89 mg N2O m-2 h-1. Using dry manure (WCWB = 10.8%), five consecutive flux measurements showed a very low, but consistent, flux that averaged 0.025 ±0.0016 mg N2O m-2 h-1. Five case study experiments demonstrate the usefulness of these chamber systems and highlight discoveries and lessons learned to enhance future research efforts. Major discoveries and observations include: (1) installation of a small internal fan within the chamber lids decreased N2O fluctuation over small time periods, allowing precise measurement of manure N2O fluxes as low as 0.0073 mg N2O m-2 h-1 during a 60 s measurement period; (2) two distinct N2O peaks were observed at 1 and 21 d following the addition of water to manure (initial WCWB = 32.6%), with the second peak accounting for 83% of the total N2O emitted over 45 d; and (3) there was notable diurnal variation in N2O fluxes due to temperature variation, even when the manure was dry (WCWB = 10.8%). These flux chamber systems proved to be more rapid, precise, and repeatable than traditional flux chamber methods and offer promise for future greenhouse gas emissions research on manure and soil. Keywords: Cattle, Chamber, Diurnal, Fan, Feedlot, Greenhouse gas, Manure, Precision.

Synergetic openness as a social and technical system competitiveness parameter

The article introduces the general system competitiveness function in its business processes. It is assumed that in a small time period competitiveness can be viewed as a scalar function of process parameters that can be represented by system order parameters including its synergetic openness. The general problem of synergetic approach-based system openness management is set, part of which is defining optimum order parameters that improve the system competitiveness with restricted resources available. The article introduces a step-by-step management problem algorithm. Finally, a working example is made of an enterprise planning system openness degree management.

Developing and Validating a Simulation Model for Counting and Classification of Vehicles

An algorithm system approach has been presented for extracting traffic data using video image processing. While an offline program focuses on extracting vehicles, tracking them and provides the vehicle count for a short period of time. It uses background subtraction, shadow removal, and pixel analysis for extracting moving objects. The results show that the algorithm is capable of counting 95% of the vehicles due to some shaking in the video feed. These data have been analyzed by statistical regression to show the credibility of the results which been approved to be useful according to the value of R Square and Significance F compared with the value of the observation method. Also, the classification of vehicles was performed using the improfile command in Matlab-Video Image Processing that computes the intensity values along a line or a multiline path in an image. The algorithm program was developed to detect vehicles in traffic videos and get the vehicle count for the small time period as an assistance tool for a researcher who seeks vehicle counting.

Facile and controlled synthesis of copper sulfide nanostructures of varying morphology

Copper sulfide nanostructures with different morphology have been developed using wet chemical route. The product so obtained have been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) technique. Effect of reaction medium on the morphology of the obtained samples has been studied in detail. We hereby demonstrate that while the reaction medium used has no impact on the phase of the prepared sample, however it plays an important role in deciding the morphology. CuS nanoparticles, nanoflower and nanoflakes like structure have been prepared under optimized condition using facile method in small period of time.

TFDD: A trust-based framework for reliable data delivery and DoS defense in VANETs

A trust establishment scheme for enhancing inter-vehicular communication and preventing DoS attacks ‘TFDD’ is proposed in this paper. Based on a developed intrusion detection module (IDM) and data centric verification, our framework allows preventing DDoS attacks and eliminating misbehaving nodes in a distributed, collaborative and instantaneous manner. In addition, a trusted routing protocol is proposed that, using context-based information such as link stability and trust information, delivers data through the most reliable way. In this study, the simulation results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of our trust framework at detecting dishonest nodes, as well as malicious messages that are sent by honest or dishonest nodes, after a very low number of message exchanges. Furthermore, colluding attacks are detected in a small period of time, which results in network resources being released immediately after an overload period. We also show that, in a worst-case scenario, our trust-based framework is able to sustain performance levels, and outperforming existing solutions such as T-CLAIDS and AECFV.

Practical Applications of The Value of Low Volatility

<b>David Blitz</b> investigates the low-volatility effect to find out whether it’s just another way to look at value investing, as critics have charged. By breaking down the data into smaller time periods, he found that there is a distinction between how low vol and value stocks behave. “[O]ver the long term, low vol is more value-like two-thirds of the time, but one-third of the time it’s more growth-like,” says Blitz. He finds that the evidence for the low-volatility effect is at least as strong as that for the value effect, or perhaps even stronger. Blitz, who is Head of Quantitative Equity Research at <b>Robeco Asset Management</b>, published his findings, <b><i>The Value of Low Volatility</i></b>, in the Spring 2016 issue of <b><i>The Journal of Portfolio Management</i></b>.

Delirio postoperatorio en pacientes con historial de abuso de alcohol

IntroductionPostoperative delirium (POD) is an acute confusional state characterized by changes in consciousness and cognition, which may be fluctuating, developing in a small period of time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between alcohol abuse and the development of POD. MethodsWe prospectively evaluated consecutively all postoperative patients admitted in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit over a 1-month period for delirium, using the Portuguese versions of the the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale. Before surgery, alcohol consumption was inquired and alcohol abuse was assessed by the CAGE (Cutting Down, Annoyance, Guilt and Eye-opener) questionnaire; a score ≥2 defined alcohol abuse. Fischer exact test or chi-square was applied for comparisons. Risk factors were analyzed in a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). ResultsTwo hundred twenty-one patients were enrolled. Delirium was seen in 11% patients. The incidence of alcohol abuse was 10%. Patients with alcohol abuse were more frequently men (P<.001) and had a higher ASA physical status III/IV (P=.021). POD was more frequent in patients with alcohol abuse (30% vs. 9%; P=.002). Age (OR: 5.9; 95%CI: 2.2-15.9; P<.001 for patients ≥65years), ASA physical statusIII/IV (OR: 4.2; 95%CI: 1.7-10.7; P=.002) and alcohol abuse (OR: 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.9; P=.013) were found to be independent predictors for POD. ConclusionsOlder patients, higher ASA physical status and alcohol abuse were more frequent in patients with POD. Alcohol abuse was considered an independent risk factor for POD.

Synthetic Nerve Endings for Restoring the Axo-Axonal Transport

Currently, more than 450 million people are globally suffering from some type of neurological diseases that can hardly be treated [1].These diseases are caused by distorted electrical and neurochemical signaling in the nervous system. The awareness of this worldwide problem is not brought in yet and definitive treatment has not been introduced so far [2]. Most of therapies associated with neurological disorders are based on medical treatment such as medical therapy or electric stimulation [3]. However, results are temporary and ineffective. The major effect obtained so far, was to conceal the disease and this was just not enough. In our study, by taking into consideration this problem we are presenting a biomimetic system that duplicates the function of a neural cell and helps to reinstitute the defective electrochemical transport of nervous system. Nerve impulses are communicated across synapses by diffusible molecules called neurotransmitters, of which one is acetylcholine [3,4]. Acetylcholine molecules are contained in the axon foot inside vesicles. After the release of acetylcholine into the synaptic cleft, it binds to the cholinergic receptors located on the postsynaptic neuron and mediate excitation or inhibition on postsynaptic cells and thus causing the transportation of neural signal. Our system of artificial neuron synthesized from conductive, biocompatible polymeric membrane (disulfonated poly arylene ether sulfone) [5], inserted into a micro scaled cylindrical tube working on the principle based on the diffusion of acetylcholine chloride macromolecules. This system resembles a concentric tube, and voltage stimulation causes the transport of acetylcholine macromolecules to the outer layer where they are driven towards axon end in order to open ligand gated sodium channels and cause the transfer of current. Experiments that were performed so far were in macro scale concentration cell of which one side was filled with 0.1M acetylcholine chloride and other side with 0.1M KCl in order to detect the transport of acetylcholine molecules. Under application of only 1.0V to the system a net transfer of ions was detected. In specific time intervals samples from one side of concentration cell that contained KCl were ejected and analyzed in FTIR. Characteristic peaks of acetylcholine were found to be in 2970 and 2300 cm-1. Even in the shortest test period, acetylcholine molecules were detected on KCl side of the concentration cell, which means that under application of 1.0V a small period of time is just enough to diffuse this macromolecule through membrane. By applying 1.0 V of potential difference and testing the cell for 1 hour, 65 μA passed through the cell. Plotted graph was integrated to the charge vs. time format and obtained charge values corresponded to approximately 0.03 Coulombs/ 3600 seconds. These values were compared to actual number of transferred species. In human nerve cells, current flow through an open channel is 4pA at the membrane potential of -100mV. This corresponds to 2.49 x 107 charges s-1. Our system in macro scale concentration cell applications generates 8.33 x 10-6 A, which is nearly 5.2 x 1013 charges s-1. This logically rematches the results of actual neural cell and if we take into account the diameter of concentration cell by scaling down to standard neuron dimensions the result would approach expected values. The remarkable point of this study is that, previous studies done in this area could obtain similar results under application of 10V and higher voltages, while we obtain quite rational results under small potential differences, which is closer to the transport process in human corporality. This study is a brand new approach to neuromodulation, which is a hot topic of 21st century and it seems to be quite consistent. Further in our studies we are aiming to make cell cultivation and perform similar tests in vivo and see if our concentric tube shaped neuromodulated device is suitable for replacing the damaged nerve cells.

A Micro-Finance Model for Spectrum Management in Wireless Networks

This paper incorporates the idea of micro-financing into bandwidth allocation in wireless networks. Resource allocation in heterogeneous wireless networks has been widely studied from the perspective of maximizing the system utilization or maximizing the carried traffic in the network. However, measurements show that the distribution of signal strength at different parts of a region is similar to the income distribution in an economic framework, wherein certain users are starved of spectrum causing “spectrum poverty” or “spectrum access poverty” to those users. This paper proposes a micro-finance model-based spectrum usage etiquette to help those with poor spectrum availability, loan spectrum from different service providers for small periods of time, and thus alleviate spectrum poverty. We price each user according to the credit history of the user. Results indicate micro-financing-based spectrum etiquette results in overall benefit for the entire system. Numerical results show 20–50% increase in the overall system utilization for the micro-finance model-based spectrum etiquette, compared to the traditional spectrum allocation model. Individually, the micro-finance model results in a 50–75% reduction in the new call blocking and 30–80% in call dropping performance for delay in-tolerant traffic and 25–50% reduction in the mean delay for delay tolerant traffic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research on micro-finance based spectrum etiquette to improve overall system performance.

ADNI: ARGENTINEAN COHORT — ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is a worldwide standardized observational study which analyzes longitudinal changes in neuropsychological battery test, brain MRI, PET-PIB and FDG and AD biomarkers in CSF in patients who meet criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer Disease (AD) compared with Normal Controls (NC). Our Center is the only center in Latin- American. Herein, we show preliminary data on neuropsychological testing between those with positive and negative AD biomarkers. We aim to assess the neuropsychological variations of a cohort of patients in different stages of Alzheimeŕs disease with AD biomarkers. We included a total of 50 participants who had met the criteria of MCI (n=24) and AD (12) and also 14 NC to compare with. Initially we performed a complete neuropsychological battery test which included: MMSE, MoCA, ADAS cog, RALVT, Trail A and B, Weschler Logical Memory paragraph 1, Clock design, Semantic Fluency, Boston Naming Test, CDR, GDS, NPI and FAQ. Participants underwent to brain MRI, PET-PIB, PET-FDG and AD biomarkers in CSF. After one year participants repeated the same neuropsychological testing. One-way ANOVA was performed on the variations found in the neuropsychological testing after one year of follow-up (baseline - 12 months) between each group and between AD biomarker status. We found only significant decline in ADAS-cog (p=0.01), Logical Memory delayed (p=0.01), Trail A (p=0.01), Boston (p=0.03) and CDR (p<0.01) between clinical groups after one-year follow-up. But importantly, post hoc analysis only showed differences in Boston and CDR between MCI and AD. When we compared variances between those who had at least one AD biomarker with those with negative AD biomarkers (regardless of the clinical diagnosis), positive group showed significant decline on the exact same test. In this preliminary analysis, we identified a group of neuropsychological tests which were able to show a significant decline in a small period of time. Moreover, the Boston Naming Test differences between MCI and AD could be explained due to an accelerated decay rate.

Numerical Study of Contaminant Transport in Fractured Porous Rock with Distance Dependent Dispersivity

This paper presents solute concentration profiles with constant, linear and exponential distance-dependent dispersion models for solute transport through fractured porous rock matrices. A numerical analysis has been developed for solution of the equations governing the dispersion model using the hybrid finite volume method. The results of the numerical analysis have been used to investigate the effect of the matrix diffusion coefficient, fracture velocity, and matrix and fracture retardation factors on concentration profiles. It is found that in the presence of higher matrix diffusion coefficients, the behaviour of concentration profiles is different for constant and distance-dependent dispersion models. However, the behaviour of concentration profiles is observed to be nonlinear during the small transport time period, and the matrix diffusion is found to control the spreading of solute in the fracture in the presence of constant and distance-dependent dispersion models.