Finding perfect polynomials mod 2

A number is said to be “perfect” if it equals the sum of its proper divisors. For example 6 is “perfect” because 6 = 1 + 2 + 3. On the other hand, a polynomial with integer coefficients modulo 2 is said to be “perfect” if the sum of its divisors equals the polynomial itself. In this presentation, we will highlight work that has been done to identify and classify all “perfect” polynomials

The Effect of Ventilation on the Accuracy of Pulmonary Artery and Wedge Pressure Measurements

journal articleBiomedical Informatic

A Note on Using Eigenvalues in Dimensionality Assessment

The dimensionality of a set of items is important for scale development. In practice, tools that make use of eigenvalues are often used to assess dimensionality. Parallel analysis is featured here as it is becoming an increasingly popular method for assessing the number of dimensions, and computational tools have recently been made available which will likely increase its use by practitioners. The current paper argues that methods that use eigenvalues to ascertain the number of factors may perform poorly under certain conditions, particularly for increasing levels of variable complexity and/or inter-factor correlations in the latent structure. A simulation study and an example are offered to substantiate this assertion. Accessed 2,400 times on https://pareonline.net from September 06, 2017 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right

Molekularna serotipizacija sojeva bakterije Salmonella izoliranih iz pilećeg mesa za prodaju, na temelju in silico višestrukog PCR-a, određivanja ESBL-a i gena kolistin rezistencije mcr-1 do -5

Salmonella spp. are zoonotic pathogenic agents that cause important infections in humans and animals. They are the most common foodborne pathogens after Campylobacter spp. worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the phenotypic and genotypic extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and colistin resistance of 67 Salmonella spp. isolated from retail chicken meats between May and December 2016, and stored in the culture collection of Ataturk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Microbiology. The isolates were serotyped using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR). The serovar distribution of strains was 74.6% S. Infantis, 16.4% S. Enteritidis, 3.0% S. Arizonae, 3.0% S. Dublin, 1.5% S. Gallinarum and 1.5% S. Indica. Of the 67 strains, 20 (29.9%) were ESBL- positive. The main types of β-lactamase identified were blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-8-25, blaSHV and blaTEM. Four isolates were found to be phenotypically colistin-resistant. These isolates did not carry mobilised colistin resistance (mcr) genes 1 to 5. In this study, both genotypically ESBL-producing and phenotypically colistin-resistant Salmonella strains were found. We revealed that ESBL-producing Salmonella strains have dramatically increased over the years, especially when compared with previously reported chicken meat Salmonella strains in Turkey. The increase in Salmonella strains, particularly ESBL producers and the colistin resistant, is of great concern for selected antimicrobial therapy in human infections. Hence, epidemiological information and monitoring systems are extremely important in controlling Salmonella infections in public health services.Salmonella spp. zoonotski su patogeni koji uzrokuju infekcije u ljudi i životinja. Na globalnoj su razini najčešći patogeni koji se prenose hranom poslije bakterija Campylobacter spp. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je fenotipski i genotipski odrediti β-laktamaze proširenog spektra (ESBL) i otpornost na kolistin 67 sojeva bakterija Salmonella spp. izoliranih iz pilećeg mesa za prodaju od svibnja do prosinca 2016. i pohranjenih u kulturama na Odsjeku za mikrobiologiju Fakulteta veterinarske medicine na Sveučilištu Ataturk. Izolati su serotipizirani primjenom višestruke lančane reakcije polimerazom (mPCR). Distribucija serovara bila je: 74,6 % za S. Infantis, 16,4 % za S. Enteritidis, 3,0 % za S. Arizonae, 3,0 % za S. Dublin, 1,5 % za S. Gallinarum i 1,5 % za S. Indica. Od 67 sojeva njih je 20 (29,9 %) bilo pozitivno na ESBL. Glavni identificirani tipovi β-laktamaza bili su: blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-8-25, blaSHV i blaTEM. Četiri izolata bila su fenotipski otporna na kolistin. Ovi izolati nisu sadržavali aktivne gene rezistencije na kolistin (mcr) 1 do 5. U ovom su istraživanju nađeni i sojevi salmonele koji su genotipski proizvodili ESBL i sojevi fenotipski otporni na kolistin. Sojevi salmonele koji proizvode ESBL s godinama su se znatno povećali, posebno u usporedbi s prethodnim izvješćima o sojevima salmonele u mesu pilića u Turskoj. Porast sojeva salmonele, osobito onih koji proizvode ESBL i onih koji su otporni na kolistin, zabrinjava zbog antimikrobnog liječenja infekcija u ljudi. Zbog toga su u kontroli infekcija salmonelama u javnome zdravstvu iznimno važni epidemiološki podaci i sustavi praćenja

Persuasive technology for overcoming food cravings and improving snack choices

This research is partially supported by EPSRC Grant EP/G004560

Morphometrische Analyse der retinalen Ganglienzellen in der menschlichen Netzhaut

Ziel dieser Studie war es, mit neuroanatomischen Verfahren der Fluoreszenzfärbung retinale Ganglienzellen retrograd anzufärben, um sie zu beschreiben und zu klassifizieren. Dies ist wichtig, weil GZ bei verschiedenen Erkrankungen mit einer Degeneration reagieren. Es wurden 1-2 Tage post mortem entnommene Retinae nach Anfärbung mit DiI für mehrere Monate bei Raumtemperatur aufbewahrt. Einzelne „komplett“ angefärbte GZ wurden fluoreszenzmikroskopisch aufgenommen. Eine Klassifizierung der GZ erfolgte aufgrund ihrer: Morphologie, Größe, Dendritenposition und -anzahl sowie Lokalisation. Die RGZ zeigten eine aufschlussreiche morphologische Vielfältigkeit. Die Midgetzellen und die Parasolzellen konnten u.a. identifiziert, unterklassifiziert und morphometrisch ausgewertet werden. Hiernach wurde festgestellt, dass diese Technik der Fluoreszenzfärbung allein nicht geeignet ist, aussagekräftige Rückschlüsse über degenerierte GZ infolge bestimmter Erkrankungen zu machen

Growth, feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of Karakas and crossbred lambs (F1) (Ile de France x Akkaraman (G1) x Karakas) under rural farm conditions in Turkey

In this study the possibilities of using the Ile de France x Akkaraman (G1) genotype (IDFAG1) in improving the growth performance and carcass characteristics of fat-tailed Karakas sheep raised in rural farm conditions in the Van Region of Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, were investigated. The aim was to obtain some preliminary results for future studies which will be designed to develop a genotype which has the ability to adapt to the region's conditions, has a high yield and quality meat, grows fast, has a high feed conversion ability and a thin fat tail. Growth and feedlot performances and carcass characteristics of Karakas (KAR) and crossbred (IDFAK) lambs obtained from the mating of IDFAG1 rams with Karakas ewes were evaluated. A total of 97 KAR and IDFAK lambs reared under farm conditions was evaluated for growth characteristics. For the evaluation of feedlot performance and carcass characteristics, 10 KAR and seven IDFAK single-born male lambs weaned at two months of age were subjected to a finishing diet for 70 days and slaughtered. Least squares means of the weights of KAR and IDFAK lambs at birth and at six months were 3.2 ± 0.08 and 3.5 ± 0.08 kg and 29.6 ± 1.24 and 30.2 ± 1.41 kg, respectively. The means of untailed cold carcass weight and untailed dressing percentage of KAR and IDFAK lambs were 13.2 ± 0.39 and 14.3 ± 1.10 kg and 39.7 ± 0.42 and 44.3 ± 1.10%, respectively. Although feed efficiency and many carcass characteristics did not differ between groups, the carcasses of the IDFAK lambs contained a higher percentage of intramuscular fat that is desirable for consumers in Eastern Anatolia. Encouraging results have been obtained to suggest that IDFAG1 rams could be used to improve the productivity of Karakas sheep. Nevertheless, more detailed and larger scale experiments are needed to confirm the results on growth and carcass characteristics of crossbred lambs under different farm conditions. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 34(4) 2004: 223- 23

Rapid Microwave Polymerization of Porous Nanocomposites with Piezoresistive Sensing Function

In this paper, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites with piezoresistive sensing function were fabricated using microwave irradiation. The effects of precuring time on the mechanical and electrical properties of nanocomposites were investigated. The increased viscosity and possible nanofiller re-agglomeration during the precuring process caused decreased microwave absorption, resulting in extended curing times, and decreased porosity and electrical conductivity in the cured nanocomposites. The porosity generated during the microwave-curing process was investigated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and density measurements. Increased loadings of MWCNTs resulted in shortened curing times and an increased number of small well-dispersed closed-cell pores. The mechanical properties of the synthesized nanocomposites including stress–strain behaviors and Young’s Modulus were examined. Experimental results demonstrated that the synthesized nanocomposites with 2.5 wt. % MWCNTs achieved the highest piezoresistive sensitivity with an average gauge factor of 7.9 at 10% applied strain. The piezoresistive responses of these nanocomposites were characterized under compressive loads at various maximum strains, loading rates, and under viscoelastic stress relaxation conditions. The 2.5 wt. % nanocomposite was successfully used in an application as a skin-attachable compression sensor for human motion detection including squeezing a golf ball.This research received no external funding and The APC was funded by University Libraries Open Access fund. Open Access fees paid for in whole or in part by the University of Oklahoma Libraries.Ye

Pneumatic-probe measurement errors caused by fluctuating flow angles

Pneumatic probes such as five-hole probes (5HP) can conveniently measure three-dimensional flow angles, plus total and static pressure. In most applications, transducers are connected using pneumatic tubes, allowing the probe head to be highly miniaturized and robust. However, such “steady” probes are often used in unsteady flows, where they measure a pneumatically averaged flowfield that can differ from the time mean. To better understand these pneumatic averaging effects, an analytical framework is constructed using a quasi-steady model. Total and static pressure coefficients have a symmetric response to both positive and negative incidence. When incidence fluctuates, there is therefore a bias in the pneumatic average. These errors are evident in a shedding wake experiment, where a 5HP overestimates total pressure loss by up to 44% compared to a Kiel probe. These effects can be predicted by coupling an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes calculation with the quasi-steady model. By predicting pneumatic averaging errors, the quasi-steady model can be used to obtain like-for-like validation of calculations against experimental data. Measurement data can also be corrected, provided that flow angle fluctuations can be measured or estimated. This approach can be readily used to postcorrect the large body of historical data likely to have been corrupted by pneumatic-averaging errors