Ensemble Prediction of Stream Flows Enhanced by Harmony Search Optimization

This work presents the application of a data-driven model for streamflow predictions, which can be one of the possibilities for the preventive protection of a population and its property. A new methodology was investigated in which ensemble modeling by data-driven models was applied and in which harmony search was used to optimize the ensemble structure. The diversity of the individual basic learners which form the ensemble is achieved through the application of different learning algorithms. In the proposed ensemble modeling of river flow predictions, powerful algorithms with good performances were used as ensemble constituents (gradient boosting machines, support vector machines, random forests, etc.). The proposed ensemble provides a better degree of precision in the prediction task, which was evaluated as a case study in comparison with the ensemble components, although they were powerful algorithms themselves. For this reason, the proposed methodology could be considered as a potential tool in flood predictions and prediction tasks in general

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker efficacy for maize hybrid identification

Knowledge as to genetic diversity and relationships among maize hybrids is important for breeding strategies. The main aims of this study were to (1) estimate molecular genetic diversity among 30 maize hybrids by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers; and (2) compare the genetic relatedness values obtained from these marker types. A set of 30 maize hybrids was assessed. To compare these two methods, genetic parameters were computed such as the number of polymorphic bands, average number of alleles per locus, effective number of alleles per locus, expected heterozygosity, effectiveness index of analysis and polymorphism information content (PIC). Better results were provided by SSR. The discrimination ability of individual markers was also determined. The SSR system provided an average PIC of 0.71 (ranging from 0.47 to 0.91) and RAPD provided an average value of 0.61 (ranging from 0.44 to 0.82). Genetic similarities (GS) were estimated using Nei and Li’s coefficients for SSR and Jaccard’s coefficient for RAPD. For SSR, GS ranged from 26.3 to 88.5% (with average of 58.8%); for RAPD, GS ranged from 6.7 to 86.7% (with average of 49.5%). Hybrids were clustered using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The correlation between similarity matrices for RAPD and SSR was 0.11.Key words: Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence repeat (SSR), genetic similarity, molecular marker, Zea mays L. var. indurata, Zea mays L. var. indentata

Taxa-specific activity loss and mortality patterns in freshwater trematode cercariae under subarctic conditions

A series of laboratory experiments simulating natural subarctic conditions in warmer and colder months (two temperature scenarios, 6 and 13 °C) were conducted to characterise cercarial activity and survival of three trematode genera, represented by four taxa (Diplostomum spp., Apatemon spp., small- and large-sized Plagiorchis spp. that differ in terms of morphology, life history and transmission strategy) parasitizing a freshwater snail species, the lymnaeid Radix balthica. A statistical approach, where activity loss and mortality of cercariae are analyzed as a proxy for activity and survival, was used. The aims of this study were 1) to quantify the effect of the two temperature scenarios on cercarial activity loss and mortality in the different trematode taxa, and 2) to compare cercarial activity loss and mortality among the four trematode taxa and to relate them to specific morphology and behaviour of the cercariae. A strong temperature-dependent response was identified in both activity loss and mortality in all taxa, with Diplostomum spp. cercariae showing the most gradual changes compared to other taxa. Furthermore, whilst activity loss and mortality dynamics could not be divided into “fish- vs invertebrate-infecting cercariae” groups, the detected taxa-specific responses in relation to life-history traits likely indicate the swimming behaviour of cercariae and energy allocation among larvae individuals as the main drivers.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

A new reference material for UV-visible circular dichroism spectroscopy

To obtain accurate and consistent measurements from circular dichroism (CD) instruments over time and from different laboratories, it is important that they are properly calibrated. The characteristics of the available reference materials are not ideal to ensure proper calibration as they typically only give peaks in one or two spectral regions, and often have issues concerning purity and stability. Currently either camphor sulfonic acid or ammonium camphor sulfonate are used. The latter can be an unstable, slightly hygroscopic secondary standard compound with only one characterized CD band. The former is the very hygroscopic primary standard for which only one enantiomer is readily available. We have synthesized a new reference material for CD, Na[Co(EDDS)]center dot H2O (EDDS = N,N-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid) which addresses these problems. It is extremely stable and available in both enantiomeric forms. The CD spectrum of Na[Co(EDDS)]center dot H2O has nine distinct peaks between 180 and 599 nm. It thus fulfils the principal requirements for CD calibration chemical standards and has the potential to be used to ensure good practice in the measurement of CD data, providing two spectra of equal magnitude and opposite sign for a given concentration and path length. We have carried out an interlaboratory comparison using this material and show how it can be used to improve CD comparability between laboratories. A fitting algorithm has been developed to assess CD spectropolarimeter performance between 750 and 178 nm. This could be the basis of a formal quality control process once criteria for performance have been decided

Absence of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling Results in Delayed Yersinia enterocolitica YopP-Induced Cell Death of Dendritic Cells

In an initial period (≤4 h) Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling is required for Yersinia enterocolitica YopP-induced dendritic cell (DC) death. Later (>4 h), DC die independent of TLR4 signaling. In TLR4-deficient DC caspase 8 cleavage is delayed, indicating that TLR4 signaling accelerates caspase 8 activation, leading to DC death

Yersinia enterocolitica Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Surface Molecule Expression and Cytokine Production in Murine Dendritic Cells

Yersinia enterocolitica evades innate immunity by expression of a variety of pathogenicity factors. Therefore, adaptive immunity including CD4(+) T cells plays an important role in defense against Y. enterocolitica. We investigated whether Y. enterocolitica might target dendritic cells (DC) involved in adaptive T-cell responses. For this purpose, murine DC were infected with Y. enterocolitica wild-type and mutant strains prior to incubation with ovalbumin (OVA) as antigen and 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate N-succinimidyl ester-labeled OVA-specific T cells from DO11.10 mice. While T-cell proliferation was partially affected by infection of DC with plasmid-cured and YopP-deficient Yersinia mutant strains, no T-cell proliferation occurred after infection of DC with wild-type Y. enterocolitica. Infection of DC with Y. enterocolitica wild type resulted in decreased up-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II, CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1), CD 80, and CD86 expression. Experiments with plasmid-cured Y. enterocolitica or a YopP-deficient mutant strain revealed that YopP accounts for inhibition of surface molecule expression. Wild-type Y. enterocolitica suppressed the release of KC, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and IL-12 by DC, while infection of DC with plasmid-cured Y. enterocolitica or with the YopP-deficient mutant resulted in the production of these cytokines. Moreover, infection with wild-type Y. enterocolitica induced apoptosis in DC mediated by YopP. Apoptosis occurred despite translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus, as demonstrated by electromobility shift assays. Together, these data demonstrate that Y. enterocolitica targets functions of murine DC that are required for T-cell activation. This might contribute to evasion of adaptive immune responses by Y. enterocolitica

Lingual vs. labial fixed orthodontic appliances: systematic review and meta-analysis of treatment effects

The aim of this systematic review was to compare the therapeutic and adverse effects of lingual and labial orthodontic fixed appliances from clinical trials on human patients in an evidence-based manner. Randomized and prospective non-randomized clinical trials comparing lingual and labial appliances were included. Risk of bias within and across studies was assessed using the Cochrane tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted, followed by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Six electronic databases were searched from inception to July 2015, without limitations. A total of 13 papers pertaining to 11 clinical trials were included with a total of 407 (34% male/66% female) patients. Compared with labial appliances, lingual appliances were associated with increased overall oral discomfort, increased speech impediment (measured using auditory analysis), worse speech performance assessed by laypersons, increased eating difficulty, and decreased intermolar width. On the other hand, lingual appliances were associated with increased intercanine width and significantly decreased anchorage loss of the maxillary first molar during space closure. Based on existing trials, there is insufficient evidence to make robust recommendations for lingual fixed orthodontic appliances regarding their therapeutic or adverse effects, as the quality of evidence was low