Coupling between time series: a network view

Recently, the visibility graph has been introduced as a novel view for analyzing time series, which maps it to a complex network. In this paper, we introduce new algorithm of visibility, "cross-visibility", which reveals the conjugation of two coupled time series. The correspondence between the two time series is mapped to a network, "the cross-visibility graph", to demonstrate the correlation between them. We applied the algorithm to several correlated and uncorrelated time series, generated by the linear stationary ARFIMA process. The results demonstrate that the cross-visibility graph associated with correlated time series with power-law auto-correlation is scale-free. If the time series are uncorrelated, the degree distribution of their cross-visibility network deviates from power-law. For more clarifying the process, we applied the algorithm to real-world data from the financial trades of two companies, and observed significant small-scale coupling in their dynamics

The effect of sexual health counseling on women’s sexual satisfaction in postpartum period: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Many couples experience decreasing sexual satisfaction in postpartum period. Various sexual health counseling approaches have been designed for postpartum women to address their common sexual concerns and problems. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Women’s Postpartum Sexual Health Program (WPSHP) on women’s sexual satisfaction in postpartum period. Materials and Methods: The study was a single blind randomized clinical trial on 75 postpartum women aged 18–35 yr with low sexual satisfaction who attended urban health-care centres in Mashhad, Iran in 2016. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and the Larson Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire. The intervention group received counselling based on the WPSHP, a four-session, group- and couples-based program. The control group  just received postpartum routine care. Results: Both the intervention and control groups were homogeneous for demographic variables. According to the Mann-Whitney test, sexual satisfaction score in the  intervention group was significantly higher than the control group 8 weeks after the intervention (p < 0.001). According to the Wilcoxon test, there was a significant difference in the mean score of sexual satisfaction before and after intervention in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: WPSHP caused higher levels of sexual satisfaction. It is therefore recommended to use this program in women during the postpartum period to promote their sexual satisfaction. Key words: Sexual satisfaction, Sexual counseling, Sexual health, Postpartum

Quorum sensing blockade in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: biodegrading of N-Acyl homoserine lactone by Bacillus cereus UT26 and its consequent effects on their interaction

Bacteria use a chemical language to communicate with each other which enables them to synchronize gene expression as a result of cell density. This special language which is called quorum sensing (QS) is based on producing and sensing the small signals and eventually leads them to perceive when a minimum population unit is reached. On the contrary, quorum sensing blockade (quorum quenching) has been recently grabbed scientists attention as a promising tool in controlling bacterial pathogens which utilize N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) to regulate their virulence factor production. Biodegradation of AHL molecules is an efficient way in QS interrupting which normally happens in the natural environment. In this survey, the effect of Bacillus cereus UT26 strain as an efficient quorum quencher on degrading both signal molecules (C4-HSL and 3oxoC12-HSL) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated. The strain strongly degraded both AHLs and hereby inhibited pyocyanin production in the lab condition. Moreover, co-culture experiments revealed that quorum quenching activity has an important role in interaction between different bacterial species; since the wild type (wt) strain of B. cereus UT26 reached 1000 fold higher growth yield comparing aiiA mutant strain of  which has lost quorum quenching activity by a site directed mutation in AiiA lactonase gene

Effect of Drying Conditions on the Catalytic Performance, Structure, and Reaction Rates over the Fe-Co-Mn/MgO Catalyst for Production of Light Olefins

The MgO-supported Fe-Co-Mn catalysts, prepared using co-precipitation procedure, were tested for production of light olefins via CO hydrogenation reaction. The effect of a range of drying conditions including drying temperature and drying time on the structure and catalytic performance of Fe-Co-Mn/MgO catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was investigated in a fixed bed micro-reactor under the same operational conditions of T = 350 °C, P = 1 bar, H2/CO = 2/1, and GHSV = 4500 h-1. It was found that the catalyst dried at 120 °C for 16 h has shown the best catalytic performance for CO hydrogenation. Furthermore, the effect of drying conditions on different surface reaction rates was also investigated and it was found that the precursors drying conditions influenced the rates of different surface reactions. Characterization of catalyst precursors and calcined samples (fresh and used) was carried out using powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements, Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Characterization results showed that different investigated variables (drying conditions) influenced the structure, morphology and catalytic performance of the ternary catalysts.

Utilization of grape seed oil as a dietary lipid source in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diets

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of grape seed oil (GO) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, fillet proximate and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles (40.17 ± 0.04 g). Five experimental diets were formulated where fish oil (FO) was replaced with 0 (D1), 25 (D2), 50 (D3), 75 (D4) and 100 (D5) % GO. The growth performance was significantly improved with increasing GO levels up to 50% after which fish growth declined (P < .05). Fillet fatty acid composition was showed significantly highest n-6 PUFA levels with increasing GO in diets, while n-3 HUFA levels especially EPA and DHA were significantly decreased (P < .05). Fish fed on diets containing higher levels of GO revealed a decrease in α-amylase activity, whereas trypsin, total alkaline protease, and lipase activities increased significantly with increasing GO levels up to 50% and then decreased. Based on the findings of the present study, it could be concluded that GO could be included in diets up to 50% where it had the best performance over the other diets tested in the present experiment.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio