On the average uncertainty for systems with nonlinear coupling

The increased uncertainty and complexity of nonlinear systems have motivated investigators to consider generalized approaches to defining an entropy function. New insights are achieved by defining the average uncertainty in the probability domain as a transformation of entropy functions. The Shannon entropy when transformed to the probability domain is the weighted geometric mean of the probabilities. For the exponential and Gaussian distributions, we show that the weighted geometric mean of the distribution is equal to the density of the distribution at the location plus the scale, i.e. at the width of the distribution. The average uncertainty is generalized via the weighted generalized mean, in which the moment is a function of the nonlinear source. Both the Renyi and Tsallis entropies transform to this definition of the generalized average uncertainty in the probability domain. For the generalized Pareto and Student's t-distributions, which are the maximum entropy distributions for these generalized entropies, the appropriate weighted generalized mean also equals the density of the distribution at the location plus scale. A coupled entropy function is proposed, which is equal to the normalized Tsallis entropy divided by one plus the coupling.Comment: 24 pages, including 4 figures and 1 tabl

Use of the geometric mean as a statistic for the scale of the coupled Gaussian distributions

The geometric mean is shown to be an appropriate statistic for the scale of a heavy-tailed coupled Gaussian distribution or equivalently the Student's t distribution. The coupled Gaussian is a member of a family of distributions parameterized by the nonlinear statistical coupling which is the reciprocal of the degree of freedom and is proportional to fluctuations in the inverse scale of the Gaussian. Existing estimators of the scale of the coupled Gaussian have relied on estimates of the full distribution, and they suffer from problems related to outliers in heavy-tailed distributions. In this paper, the scale of a coupled Gaussian is proven to be equal to the product of the generalized mean and the square root of the coupling. From our numerical computations of the scales of coupled Gaussians using the generalized mean of random samples, it is indicated that only samples from a Cauchy distribution (with coupling parameter one) form an unbiased estimate with diminishing variance for large samples. Nevertheless, we also prove that the scale is a function of the geometric mean, the coupling term and a harmonic number. Numerical experiments show that this estimator is unbiased with diminishing variance for large samples for a broad range of coupling values.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

Complete Sequences of Organelle Genomes from the Medicinal Plant Rhazya Stricta (Apocynaceae) and Contrasting Patterns of Mitochondrial Genome Evolution Across Asterids

Rhazya stricta is native to arid regions in South Asia and the Middle East and is used extensively in folk medicine to treat a wide range of diseases. In addition to generating genomic resources for this medicinally important plant, analyses of the complete plastid and mitochondrial genomes and a nuclear transcriptome from Rhazya provide insights into inter-compartmental transfers between genomes and the patterns of evolution among eight asterid mitochondrial genomes. Results: The 154,841 bp plastid genome is highly conserved with gene content and order identical to the ancestral organization of angiosperms. The 548,608 bp mitochondrial genome exhibits a number of phenomena including the presence of recombinogenic repeats that generate a multipartite organization, transferred DNA from the plastid and nuclear genomes, and bidirectional DNA transfers between the mitochondrion and the nucleus. The mitochondrial genes sdh3 and rps14 have been transferred to the nucleus and have acquired targeting presequences. In the case of rps14, two copies are present in the nucleus; only one has a mitochondrial targeting presequence and may be functional. Phylogenetic analyses of both nuclear and mitochondrial copies of rps14 across angiosperms suggests Rhazya has experienced a single transfer of this gene to the nucleus, followed by a duplication event. Furthermore, the phylogenetic distribution of gene losses and the high level of sequence divergence in targeting presequences suggest multiple, independent transfers of both sdh3 and rps14 across asterids. Comparative analyses of mitochondrial genomes of eight sequenced asterids indicates a complicated evolutionary history in this large angiosperm clade with considerable diversity in genome organization and size, repeat, gene and intron content, and amount of foreign DNA from the plastid and nuclear genomes. Conclusions: Organelle genomes of Rhazya stricta provide valuable information for improving the understanding of mitochondrial genome evolution among angiosperms. The genomic data have enabled a rigorous examination of the gene transfer events. Rhazya is unique among the eight sequenced asterids in the types of events that have shaped the evolution of its mitochondrial genome. Furthermore, the organelle genomes of R. stricta provide valuable genomic resources for utilizing this important medicinal plant in biotechnology applications.King Abdulaziz UniversityIntegrative Biolog

Associated Factors of Low Back Pain in a Sample of Patients Attending Hawler Teaching Hospital/Erbil City A Case Control Group

الخلاصة الخلفية والهدف: آلام أسفل الظهر هو مشكلة سريرية, اجتماعية واقتصادية هامة وهو بالتأكيد مشكلة صحية عامة تؤثر على الانسان بطريقة متقطعة وبشكل عشوائي.  الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو تحديد العوامل المرتبطة بآلام أسفل الظهر بين المرضى الذين يراجعون قسم العلاج الطبيعي في مستشفى هولير التعليمي في مدينة أربيل بهدف العلاج. الطريقة والمنهاج: أجريت الدراسة  واستمرت لعام كامل  بدءا من ال 3 من شهر تشرين الثاني 2014 إلى ال 3 من شهر تشرين الثاني من 2015. وشملت الدراسة 100 حالة تم تشخيصها  بآلام أسفل الظهر في قسم العلاج الطبيعي في مستشفى هولير التعليمي  مع عدد مماثل من الاشخاص الاصحاء لا يعانون من نفس المشكلة  كمجموعة ضابطة و مراعاة  التطابق في العمر والجنس لكلا المجموعتين. النتائج: اظهرت نتائج التحليل الاحصائي للانحدار المنطقي المتعدد للعوامل المرتبطة بالام اسفل الظهر ان مؤشر كتلة الجسم7.55, عدم استخدام دعم المنطقة القطنية في حالة الجلوس31.81, عدم ممارسة الرياضة 5.58,  الوقوف بشكل منتصب 34.836, الجلوس على الكرسي بمسند عالي للظهر 27.986, والجلوس على الكرسي  بمسند منخفض للظهر 65.167, عدم شرب كمية كافية من الماء يوميا 18.989, التوتر النفسي والعاطفي 14.636 مرة لها تأثير الخطورة على الاصابة بالام اسفل الظهر بشكل متوالي لكل عامل. الاستنتاجات: توصلت الدراسة الى ان معظم المشاركين في البحث هم من الموظفين و اصحاب الاعمال و هم  يؤدون اوضاع مختلفة اثناء العمل مثل: الانحناء, جلوس القرفصاء والجلوس اثناء العمل لفترات طويلة. واكد ان هناك ارتباط ذات دلالات احصائية عالية بين مؤشر كتلة الجسم, رفع الاشياء الثقيلة, قيادة السيارات والتوترات العاطفية والنفسية و بين تطور حالات الام اسفل الظهر.Background and objective: Low back pain (LBP) is an important clinical, social, economic, and public health problem affecting the population erratically and random. The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with low back pain among patients attending physiotherapy department at Hawler teaching hospital in Erbil City. Methods: the study was carried out from November 3rd, 2014 to November 3rd 2015. The study involved of 100 cases diagnosed with low back pain in the physiotherapy depart- ment at Hawler teaching hospital subjects in control group are of the same age and gender of those in the experiment group , and 100 participants as a 100 as control group free from low back pain. Result: Multiple logistic regression of risk factors of low back pain revealed that body mass index7.55 , non using lumbar support in sitting chair during work31.81, non-practice exercise 5.58, standing erect 34.836, sitting on a high backrest chair 27.986, sitting on a low backrest chair 65.167, drinking water per day 18.989, emotional stress 14.636 time have risky effect on low back affect low back pain respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that most of the participants in the study were employers and they perform different types of positions such as bending, squatting and sitting during work time, there were statistical significant association between body mass index, lifting heavy objects, driving and emotional stress with development of low back pai

Ультразвуковой контроль качества заготовок в условиях металлургического предприятия

Целью работы является изучение возможности использования неразрушающего контроля качества металлопродукции с помощью ультразвуковой установки в условиях современного металлургического предприятия. Использование эхо–импульсного метода для испытания заготовок сечением 150х150 мм позволяет достаточно хорошо выявлять дефекты типа шлаковых включений, усадочной раковины, внутренних трещин и разрывов, расслоений. Анализ результатов ультразвукового контроля позволяет оценить уровень технологии производства и качества проката, определить ряд технических и организационных мер, обеспечивающих конкурентоспособность продукции.Метою роботи є вивчення можливості використання неруйнівного контролю якості металопродукції за допомогою ультразвукової установки в умовах сучасного металургійного підприємства. Використано ехо–імпульсний метод для контролю якості заготовок перетином 150х150 мм, що дозволяє достатньо надійно виявляти дефекти типу шлакових включень, усадкової раковини, внутрішніх тріщин і розривів, розшарувань. Аналіз результатів ультразвукового контролю дозволяє оцінити рівень технології виробництва і якості прокату, визначити ряд технічних і організаційних заходів, що забезпечують конкурентоспроможність продукції.The work purpose of not destroying quality assurance application possibility studying of metal products by means of ultrasonic apparatus in the conditions of the modern metallurgical enterprise. Application of an echo-impulse method for test of billet with the section 150х150 mm allows to reveal well enough defects of slag inclusions type, a pipe, internal cracks and ruptures, stratifications. The analysis of results of the ultrasonic control allows to estimate a technological level of manufacture and quality of rolled metal, to define a number of the technical and organizational measures providing competitiveness of production

The effects of different nitrogen doses on yield, quality and leaf nitrogen content of some early grape cultivars (V. vinifera L.) grown in greenhouse

Nitrogen deficiency is a worldwide problem, causing restrictions in productivity of many horticultural produces. Particularly, the issue is compounded when the greenhouse production is employed. Therefore, reliable knowledge on proper application of nitrogen ensures not only satisfactory yield but also balanced vegetative and reproductive growth in plants. This study was thus conducted to investigate the effects of different nitrogen doses (10, 20 and 30 kg N da-1) on some quality properties with petiole nitrogen content of grape cultivars ‘Early Cardinal’ (EC), ‘Yalova Incisi’ (YI) and ‘Ergin Cekirdeksizi’ (ER) grown in plastic greenhouse for two years. Overall results indicated that cluster weight, cluster length and yield values increased depending on the nitrogen doses. On the other hand, increasing nitrogen applications generally resulted in higher petiole nitrogen content. The highest petiole nitrogen values were obtained from the treatment of 30 kg N da-1 for two phenologycal periods (1.29 and 1.59% for full bloom and veraison, respectively). Considering the general investigations, 20 kg N da-1 application could be recommended in terms of nitrogen supply under such conditions.Key words: Grapevine, nitrogen fertilizing, yield, petiole analysis

Gower sign positive muscle weakness in a patient with short stature and hypophosphatemia

A 17-year-old Sudanese patient presented with short stature, generalized body aches, and proximal muscle weakness. He was seen by two orthopedic surgeons and an adult neurologist and misdiagnosed as having benign bone cysts, osteomalacia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Infact, he was suffering from severe hypophosphatemia, which manifest by unusual presentation. The diagnostic pitfalls are explained and the importance of urinalysis and measurement of bone minerals are emphasized.Keywords: Renal tubular acidosis, Fanconi syndrome, Rickets

Impact of Water Injection System on Diesel Engine Brake Power and Exhaust Emissions

A series of experiments were carried out to study and clarify the effect of Water Injection system (WI) on diesel engine performance and exhaust gas emissions (Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, and Carbon Monoxide). The results obtained showed that, water injection increases the power output of the engine. Adding water to the incoming air allows for greater charge density. The water absorbs a large amount of heat as it vaporizes, thus reducing peak temperature and Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) emissions. WI also decreases the emissions of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); the presence of water converts some of SO2 gas into sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Similarly, WI system was found to decrease the emissions of Carbon Monoxide (CO)