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Indoor localization for pedestrians, which relies solely on inertial odometry, has been a topic of great interest. Its significance lies in its ability to provide positioning solutions independently, without the need for external data. Although traditional strap-down inertial navigation shows rapid drift, the introduction of pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR), and artificial intelligence (AI) has enhanced the applicability of inertial odometry for indoor localization. However, inertial odometry continues to be affected by drift, inherent to the nature of dead reckoning. This implies that even a slight error at a given moment can lead to a significant decrease in accuracy after continuous integration operations. In this paper, we propose a novel approach aimed at enhancing the positioning accuracy of inertial odometry. Firstly, we derive a learning-based forward speed using inertial measurements from a smartphone. Unlike mainstream methods where the learned speed is directly used to determine the position, we use the forward speed combined with non-holonomic constraint (NHC) as a measurement to update the state predicted within a strap-down inertial navigation framework. Secondly, we employ an invariant extended Kalman filter (IEKF)-based state estimation to facilitate fusion to cope with the nonlinearity arising from the system and measurement model. Experimental tests are carried out in different scenarios using an iPhone 12, and traditional methods, including PDR, robust neural inertial navigation (RONIN), and the EKF-based method, are compared. The results suggest that the method we propose surpasses these traditional methods in performance.

Precise and robust localization is critical for many navigation tasks, especially autonomous driving systems. The most popular localization approach is global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). However, it has several shortcomings such as multipath and nonline- of-sight reception. Vision-based localization is one of the approaches without using GNSS which is based on vision. This paper used visual localization with a prior 3D LiDAR map. Compared to common methods for visual localization using camera-acquired maps, this paper used the method that tracks the image feature and poses of a monocular camera to match with prior 3D LiDAR maps. This paper reconstructs the image feature to several sets of 3D points by a local bundle adjustment-based visual odometry system. Those 3D points matched with the prior 3D point cloud map to track the globe pose of the user. The visual localization approach has several advantages. (1) Since it only relies on matching geometry, it is robust to changes in ambient luminosity appearance. (2) Also, it uses the prior 3D map to provide viewpoint invariance. Moreover, the proposed method only requires users to use low-cost and lightweight camera sensors.

This paper discusses ubiquitous smartphone pedestrian positioning challenges in urban canyons and GNSS-denied areas such as indoor spaces. Existing sensor-based techniques, including GNSS, INS, and VIO, have limitations that affect positioning accuracy and reliability. A machine learning-based approach is suggested to employ Support Vector Machine (SVM) to classify indoor/outdoor (IO) detection using GNSS measurement data. The proposed system integrates local estimates on VIO and 3D mapping aided (3DMA) GNSS measurements using Factor Graph Optimization (FGO) with an IO detection switch to estimate precise pose and eliminate global drift. The effectiveness of the system is evaluated through real-world experiments that produce notable outcomes.

We first use the multi-robot SLAM framework DiSCo-SLAM to evaluate the performance of cooperative SLAM based on the complicated dataset in urban scenes. Besides, we perform comparisons of single-robot SLAM and multi-robot SLAM to explore whether the cooperative framework can noticeably improve robot localization performance and the influence of inter-robot constraints in local pose graph, utilizing an identical dataset generated via the Carla simulator. Our findings indicate that under specific conditions, the integration of inter-robot constraints may effectively mitigate drift in local pose estimation. The extent to which inter-robot constraints affect the correction of local SLAM is related to various factors, such as the confidence level of the constraints and the range of keyframes imposed by the constraint.

Global sustainable agricultural systems are under threat, due to increasing and co-occurring drought and salinity stresses. Combined effects of these stresses on agricultural crops have traditionally been evaluated in small-scale experimental studies. Consequently, large-scale studies need to be performed to increase our understanding and assessment of the combined impacts in agricultural practice in real-life scenarios. This study aims to provide a new monitoring approach using remote-sensing observations to evaluate the joint impacts of drought and salinity on crop traits. In our tests over the Netherlands at large spatial scale (138.74 km2), we calculated five functional traits for both maize and potato from Sentinel-2 observations, namely leaf area index (LAI), the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR), the fraction of vegetation cover (FVC), leaf chlorophyll content (Cab), and leaf water content (Cw). Individual and combined effects of the stresses on the seasonal dynamics in crop traits were determined using both one-way and two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs). We found that both stresses (individual and co-occurring) affected the functional traits of both crops significantly (with R2 ranging from 0.326 to 0.796) though with stronger sensitivities to drought than to salinity. While we found exacerbating effects within co-occurrent stresses, the impact level depended strongly on the moment in the growing season. For both crops, LAI, FAPAR, and FVC dropped the most under severe drought stress conditions. The patterns for Cab and Cw were more inhibited by co-occurring drought and salinity. Consequently, our study constitutes a way towards evaluating drought and salinity impacts in agriculture, with the possibility of potential large-scale application for sustainable food security.

Ca3Ti2O7 with Ruddlesden-Popper structure exhibits the largest polarization among the known hybrid improper ferroelectrics. However, the high Curie temperature impedes the thorough study of phase transition through dielectric characterization. According to the previous theoretical design rule, the Curie temperature can be suppressed by increasing the tolerance factor. So, in the present work, high-quality Ca3-xLaxTi2-xAlxO7 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) ceramics with increased tolerance factors were successfully prepared. The amplitude of oxygen octahedral tilt mode indeed decreases with increasing tolerance factors, leading to a degeneration of ferroelectric polarization. However, the unexpected rigid rotation mode causes the composition-invariable coercive fields. The Curie temperatures decrease linearly with increasing x and tolerance factors. The variable-temperature dielectric constant confirms first-order improper ferroelectric transitions in Ca3Ti2O7-based ceramics. The results of variable temperature X-ray diffraction reveal the coexistence of two-phases below Curie temperature. The present work confidently confirms the first-order improper ferroelectric transition in Ca3Ti2O7-based ceramics by combining results of variable-temperature dielectric response and in-situ X-ray powder diffraction. Keywords: Hybrid improper ferroelectricity, Ca3Ti2O7, Rigid rotation mode, First-order phase transition, Dielectric response

To comprehensively evaluate the effects of the recent “2+26” regional strategy for air quality improvement, we compared the variations in PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing during four pollution episodes with different emission-reduction strategies. The 2+26 strategy implemented in March 2018 led to a mean PM2.5 concentration 16.43 % lower than that during the pollution episode in March 2013, when no specific emission-reduction measures were in place. The same 2+26 strategy implemented in November 2017 led to a mean PM2.5 concentration 32.70 % lower than that during the pollution episode in November 2016, when local emission-reduction measures were implemented. The results suggested that the effects of the 2+26 regional emission-reduction measures on PM2.5 reductions were influenced by a diversity of factors and could differ significantly during specific pollution episodes. Furthermore, we found the proportions of sulfate ions decreased significantly, and nitrate ions were the dominant PM2.5 components during the two 2+26 orange alert periods. Meanwhile, the relative contribution of coal combustion to PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing during the pollution episodes in March 2013, November 2016, November 2017 and March 2018 was 40 %, 34 %, 28 % and 11 %, respectively, indicating that the recent “Coal to Gas” project and the contingent 2+26 strategy led to a dramatic decrease in coal combustion in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. On the other hand, the relative contribution of vehicle exhaust during the 2+26 orange alert periods in November 2017 and March 2018 reached 40 % and 54 %, respectively. The relative contribution of local emissions to PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing also varied significantly and ranged from 49.46 % to 89.35 % during the four pollution episodes. These results suggested that the 2+26 regional emission-reduction strategy should be implemented with red air pollution alerts during heavy pollution episodes to intentionally reduce the dominant contribution of vehicle exhausts to PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing, while specific emission-reduction measures should be implemented accordingly for different cities within the 2+26 framework.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by cognitive dysfunction emerging from neuropathological processes impacting brain function. AD affects brain dynamics at the local level, such as changes in the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neuronal populations, as well as long-range changes to the global network. Individual differences in these changes as they relate to behaviour are poorly understood. Here, we use a multi-scale neurophysiological model, “The Virtual Brain (TVB)”, based on empirical multi-modal neuroimaging data, to study how local and global dynamics correlate with individual differences in cognition. In particular, we modeled individual resting-state functional activity of 124 individuals across the behavioural spectrum from healthy aging, to amnesic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), to AD. The model parameters required to accurately simulate empirical functional brain imaging data correlated significantly with cognition, and exceeded the predictive capacity of empirical connectomes.

Various sensors from airborne and satellite platforms are producing large volumes of remote sensing images for mapping, environmental monitoring, disaster management, military intelligence, and others. However, it is challenging to efficiently storage, query and process such big data due to the data- and computing- intensive issues. In this paper, a Hadoop-based framework is proposed to manage and process the big remote sensing data in a distributed and parallel manner. Especially, remote sensing data can be directly fetched from other data platforms into the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). The Orfeo toolbox, a ready-to-use tool for large image processing, is integrated into MapReduce to provide affluent image processing operations. With the integration of HDFS, Orfeo toolbox and MapReduce, these remote sensing images can be directly processed in parallel in a scalable computing environment. The experiment results show that the proposed framework can efficiently manage and process such big remote sensing data.

Abstract Here, we performed a systematic DFT study assisted by the workflow framework SimStack for the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the clay mineral lizardite in pristine and six different types of O vacancies configurations. In most cases, the defect caused a structural phase transition in the lizardite from the trigonal (pristine) to the triclinic phase. The results show that oxygen vacancies in lizardite significantly reduce the lattice thermal conductivity, accompanied by an elastic moduli reduction and an anisotropy index increase. Through the P–V relation, an increase in compressibility was evidenced for vacancy configurations. Except for the vacancy with the same crystalline structure as pristine lizardite, the sound velocities of the other vacancy configurations produce a decrease in these velocities, and it is essential to highlight high values for the Grüneisen parameter. We emphasize the great relevance of the punctual-defects introduction, such as O vacancies, in lizardite, since this microstructural design is responsible for the decrease of the lattice thermal conductivity in comparison with the pristine system by decreasing the heat transfer ability, turning lizardite into a promising candidate for thermoelectric materials

Abstract Two-dimensional hybrid lead iodide perovskites based on methylammonium (MA) cation and butylammonium (BA) organic spacer—such as $${\hbox {BA}_{2}\hbox {MA}_{n-1}\hbox {Pb}_{n}\hbox {I}_{3n+1}}$$ BA 2 MA n - 1 Pb n I 3 n + 1 —are one of the most explored 2D hybrid perovskites in recent years. Correlating the atomistic profile of these systems with their optoelectronic properties is a challenge for theoretical approaches. Here, we employed first-principles calculations via density functional theory to show how the cation partially canceled dipole moments through the $${{\hbox {NH}_{3}}^{+}}$$ NH 3 + terminal impact the structural/electronic properties of the $${\hbox {Pb}_{n}\hbox {I}_{3n+1}}$$ Pb n I 3 n + 1 sublattices. Even though it is known that at high temperatures, the organic cation assumes a spherical-like configuration due to the rotation of the cations inside the cage, our results discuss the correct relative orientation according to the dipole moments for ab initio simulations at 0 K, correlating well structural and electronic properties with experiments. Based on the combination of relativistic quasiparticle correction and spin-orbit coupling, we found that the MA horizontal-like configuration concerning the inorganic sublattice surface leads to the best relationship between calculated and experimental gap energy throughout n = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 number of layers. Conversely, the dipole moments cancellation (as in BA-MA aligned-like configuration) promotes the closing of the gap energies through an electron depletion mechanism. We found that the anisotropy $$\rightarrow$$ → isotropy optical absorption conversion (as a bulk convergence) is achieved only for the MA horizontal-like configuration, which suggests that this configuration contribution is the majority in a scenario under temperature effects.

There have been many studies of marine fog, some using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and other models. Several model studies report overpredictions of near-surface liquid water content (Qc), leading to visibility estimates that are too low. This study has found the same. One possible cause of this overestimation could be the treatment of a surface deposition rate of fog droplets at the underlying water surface. Most models, including the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) Model, available from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), take account of gravitational settling of cloud droplets throughout the domain and at the surface. However, there should be an additional deposition as turbulence causes fog droplets to collide and coalesce with the water surface. A water surface, or any wet surface, can then be an effective sink for fog water droplets. This process can be parameterized as an additional deposition velocity with a model that could be based on a roughness length for water droplets, z0c, that may be significantly larger than the roughness length for water vapour, z0q. This can be implemented in WRF either as a variant of the Katata scheme for deposition to vegetation or via direct modifications in boundary-layer modules.

Flash flood has been increasing in the Khartoum area, Sudan due to geographical conditions and climatic change as heavy rainfall and high temperature, therefore the present work tried to estimate the sensitivity of flash flood. The present work proposes an advanced technique of flood sensitivity mapping using the method of analytical hierarchy process. Ten factors as elevation, slope, distance from the network, land use, density of the drainage, flow accumulation, surface roughness, stream power index, topographic wetness index and curvature of the topography were digitized and then contributed in the mapping of Flash flood. Remote sensing data were integrated with analytical hierarchy process to determine the flood sensitive area in Sudan. The model was applied and completed as the consistency ratio was mostly reasonable (< 0.1). Based on the proposed model, about 75.56 Km2 (12.26 %), 156.14 Km2 (25.33%), 169.89 Km2 (27.56 %), 141.40 Km2 (22.94 %) and 73.50 Km2 (11.92 %); were classified as no susceptible, low susceptible, high susceptible, moderate susceptible and very highly susceptible to flooding. The present study showed a high variation in flood sensitivity due to climatic change and geographic condition. This index can be modified and applied in areas of the same characteristics of climatic conditions as one of the main recommendation in the study area. The study showed that poor infrastructure and lack of preparedness were the main causes of the disaster of flood in Sudan. This study merely demonstrated the critical analysis of geospatial mapping in proper mitigating, sustainable development and great monitoring the negative effects of flooding along the Khartoum region to reduce hazards of flood.

The abundant evapotranspiration provided by the Amazon forests is an important component of the hydrological cycle, both regionally and globally. Since the last century, deforestation and expanding agricultural activities have been changing the ecosystem and its provision of moisture to the atmosphere. However, it remains uncertain how the ongoing land use change will influence rainfall, runoff, and water availability as findings from previous studies differ. Using moisture tracking experiments based on observational data, we provide a spatially detailed analysis recognizing potential teleconnection between source and sink regions of atmospheric moisture. We apply land use scenarios in upwind moisture sources and quantify the corresponding rainfall and runoff changes in downwind moisture sinks. We find spatially varying responses of water regimes to land use changes, which may explain the diverse results from previous studies. Parts of the Peruvian Amazon and western Bolivia are identified as the sink areas most sensitive to land use change in the Amazon and we highlight the current water stress by Amazonian land use change on these areas in terms of the water availability. Furthermore, we also identify the influential source areas where land use change may considerably reduce a given target sink's water reception (from our example of the Ucayali River basin outlet, rainfall by 5–12 % and runoff by 19–50 % according to scenarios). Sensitive sinks and influential sources are therefore suggested as hotspots for achieving sustainable land–water management.

The structural, energetic and electronic properties of carbon nanobuds (CNBs) with the smallest fullerene C20 covalently attached to the sidewall of singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are studied by first-principles calculations. Due to the high curvature of C20 and the resulting chemical activity, the binding between C20 and SWNTs is quite strong. Among different CNB configurations, bond cycloaddition is energetically most favorable. The activation barrier for C20-CNB formation is only one-fourth that of C60 and it would maintain good stability once formed. Our results also reveal that C20-CNB stability depends on the chirality of the SWNTs, and they exhibit tunable band gaps that can be modulated by the density of C20 attached to the SWNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and electrochemical properties of Li-doped carbon nanotube–zeolite complex are studied by first-principles calculations. There are four possible sites for Li to be doped and the reactions are all exothermic. The corresponding energy band structures follow a rigid band picture and there are charge transfers from Li to the nanotube and/or zeolite. The Li capacity of the complex can be reached to 386 mAh g−1with only a slight increase in the cell volume, and the complex may be of good cyclic stability during the charge and discharge process. Moreover, a higher voltage of about 4 V can be obtained if the complex is used in an Li-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ehrlichiae are small gram-negative obligately intracellular bacteria that multiply within vacuoles of their host cells and are associated for a part of their life cycle with ticks, which serve as vectors for vertebrate hosts. Two morphologically and physiologically different ehrlichial cell types, reticulate cells (RC) and dense-cored cells (DC), are observed during experimental infection of cell cultures, mice, and ticks. Dense-cored cells and reticulate cells in vertebrate cell lines alternate in a developmental cycle. We observed ultrastructure of RC and DC of Ehrlichia murisin morulae in salivary gland cells and coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato (sl), “Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae,”and a flavivirus (presumably, tick-borne encephalitis virus [TBEV]) of Ixodes persulcatustickscollected in the Cis-Ural region of Russia. Polymerase chain reaction revealed 326 (81.5) of 400 ticks carrying at least one infectious agent, and 41.5 (166 ticks) were coinfected with two to four agents. Ehrlichiae and rickettsiae were identified by sequencing of 359 bp of the 16S rRNA gene of E. murisand of 440 bp of the 16S rRNA gene and 385 bp of the gltAgene of “R. tarasevichiae.”Different organs of the same tick harbored different microorganisms TBEV in salivary gland and borreliae in midgut; E. murisin salivary gland; and “R. tarasevichiae”in midgut epithelium. Salivary gland cells contained both RC and DC, a finding that confirmed the developmental cycle in naturally infected ticks. Dense-cored cells in tick salivary glands were denser and of more irregular shape than DC in cell cultures. Ehrlichia-infected salivary gland cells had lysed cytoplasm, suggesting pathogenicity of E. murisfor the tick host at the cellular level, as well as potential transmission during feeding. Rickettsiae in the midgut epithelial cells multiplied to significant numbers without altering the host cell ultrastructure. This is the first demonstration of E. muris, “R. tarasevichiae,”and the ehrlichial developmental cycle in naturally infected I. persulcatussticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of literature suggests that cytokines play an important part in the pathogenesis of chronic nasal sinusitis. However, the mechanism by which the expression of cytokines in chronic nasal sinusitis is upregulated has not been well documented. The present study investigated the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in upregulating the expression of interleukin-5, -6 and -8 (IL-5, IL-6 and IL-8). We titrated the levels of IL-5, IL-6 and IL-8 in nasal mucosa in 52 cases of chronic nasal sinusitis and 12 normal subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. According to whether allergic rhinitis was associated or not, we subdivided the patients into the AR group (with allergic rhinitis) and the NAR group (without allergic rhinitis). Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate expression and activation of NF-κB P50 and P65 subunits in nasal mucosa. The correlation between activities of P50 and P65 and cytokines expression was analysed. Our results showed that IL-5, IL-6 and IL-8 in both the AR and NAR groups were strikingly elevated in comparison with the control group (all p < 0.01 for AR group; p < 0.05, 0.05, 0.01, respectively, for NAR group); and they were even higher in the AR group than those in the NAR group (p < 0.01, 0.05, 0.01, respectively). P50 and P65 mRNA levels in both AR and NAR groups were markedly greater than those in the control group (all p < 0.01); and the AR group had further higher levels as compared with the NAR group (both p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical study revealed that nucleus-positive rates of P50 and P65 in both AR and NAR groups were significantly higher than those of the control group (all p < 0.01), and they were much greater in the AR group in comparison with the NAR group (all p < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that P50 and P65 nucleus-positive rates were closely correlated with IL-6 and IL-8 levels, but not IL-5, with a correlation coefficient of 0.49 for P50 and IL-6, 0.54 for P50 and IL-8, 0.61 for P65 and IL-6, and 0.66 for P65 and IL-8 (all p < 0.01). In conclusion, upregulated expression and activation of NF-κB P50 and P65 might be one of the mechanisms for induction of IL-6 and IL-8 expression in chronic nasal sinusitis. Association of allergic rhinitis with chronic nasal sinusitis further enhanced NF-κB activity, and subsequently lead to even stronger expression of IL-6 and IL-8. IL-5 expression appeared to be independent of NF-κB pathway in chronic nasal sinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to identify antibiogram and heavy metal resistance pattern of Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda isolated from red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) coinfected with motile aeromonas septicemia and edwardsiellosis in four commercial fish farms. Materials and Methods: A. hydrophila and E. tarda were isolated using glutamate starch phenol red and xylose lysine deoxycholate (Merck, Germany) as a selective medium, respectively. All the suspected bacterial colonies were identified using conventional biochemical tests and commercial identification kit (BBL Crystal, USA). Susceptibility testing of present bacterial isolates to 16 types of antibiotics (nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, compound sulfonamides, doxycycline, tetracycline, novobiocin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, sulfamethoxazole, flumequine, erythromycin, ampicillin, spiramycin, oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, and fosfomycin) and four types of heavy metals (mercury, chromium, copper, and zinc) were carried out using disk diffusion and two-fold agar dilution method, respectively. Results: Three hundred isolates of A. hydrophila and E. tarda were successfully identified by biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing results showed that 42.2% of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to compound sulfonamides, sulfamethoxazole, flumequine, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, and oxolinic acid. On the other hand, 41.6% of these isolates were resistant to novobiocin, ampicillin, spiramycin, and chloramphenicol, which resulted for multiple antibiotic resistance index values 0.416. Among tested heavy metals, bacterial isolates exhibited resistant pattern of Zn2+ > Cr6+ > Cu2+ > Hg2+. Conclusion: Results from this study indicated that A. hydrophila and E. tarda isolated from coinfected farmed red hybrid tilapia were multi-resistant to antibiotics and heavy metals. These resistant profiles could be useful information to fish farmers to avoid unnecessary use of antimicrobial products in the health management of farmed red hybrid tilapia.

Aim: This study was revealed the potential of Peperomia pellucida leaf extract as an immunostimulator agent in controlling motile aeromonad septicemia due to Aeromonas hydrophila in red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis sp. Materials and Methods: In the present study, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of P. pellucida leaf extract against A. hydrophila was determined through two-fold microbroth dilution method. The plant extract was screening for its active compound using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, and the effectiveness of P. pellucida leaf extract as an immunostimulator agent was evaluated. The experimental fish were fed with medicated feed at three different concentrations (25 mg/kg, PP-25; 50 mg/kg, PP-50; and 100 mg/kg, PP-100) of P. pellucida leaf extract for 1 week before they were intraperitoneally exposed to A. hydrophila. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out to determine the value of antibody response to A. hydrophila in fish from a group of fish that received medicated feed, and the percentage of total cumulative mortality of the experimental fish were observed at the end of the experiment. Results: The results showed that the major bioactive compound is phytol (40%), and the MIC value was 31.5 mg/L. The value of antibody response to A. hydrophila in fish from a group of fish which received medicated feed (PP-25, 0.128±0.014 optical density [OD]; PP-50, 0.132±0.003 OD; and PP-100, 0.171±0.02 OD) was found significantly higher (p

Aim: The aim was to evaluate antimicrobial property of bacteriocin isolated from Escherichia coli against pathogenic bacteria from aquaculture sites. Materials and Methods: E. coli was isolated from fermented pineapple Ananas comosus using eosin methylene blue agar. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated E. coli was screened using hole-plate diffusion method. The bacterial strain that showed the widest inhibition zone was selected and grown in tryptic soy broth, followed by partial purification of bacteriocin by using ammonium sulphate. Bacteriocin derived from the E. coli was subjected to the antimicrobial test against 55 bacteria strains namely Aeromonas hydrophila (n=10), Citrobacter freundii (n=5), Edwardsiella tarda (n=10), Flavobacterium spp. (n=10), Pseudomonas spp. (n=10), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (n=5) and Vibrio alginolyticus (n=5) by using twofold broth microdilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the bacteriocin against the tested bacteria. Results: The results of the present study showed that the MIC values of the partially purified bacteriocin against present pathogenic bacteria isolates ranged from 7.81 to 31.25 ppm whereas the MIC values of kanamycin (positive control) ranged from 15.63 to 125 ppm. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed the bacteriocin derived from E. coli can control all the present bacterial isolates indicating the huge potential of the bacteriocin as a new antimicrobial agent for aquaculture uses.

The Non-Linear Mixed Spectral Finite-Difference (NLMSFD) model for surface boundary-layer flow over complex terrain has been extended to planetary boundary-layer flow over topography. Comparisons are made between this new version and the surface layer model. The model is also applied to simulate an Askervein experimental case. The results are discussed and compared with the observed field data.

Abstract Background A carotid-cavernous fistula is an abnormal communication between the arteries and veins within the cavernous sinus. While conservative management may be prudent in low risk cases, many patients require intervention and endovascular embolization has evolved as the preferred method of treatment. Embolization can be performed via either the transarterial or transvenous approach. One major challenge of the transvenous approach is the complex and variable compartmentation of the cavernous sinus, which often requires the use of low profile microcatheters to navigate and reach the fistulous point. Fibered coils are also preferred when performing transvenous embolization of carotid-cavernous fistula, as they are of higher thrombogenicity and allow for faster occlusion of the fistula. However, most low profile (0.017-inch) microcatheters are not able to deploy fibered coils based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Case presentation We present two successful cases of off-label use of Medtronic Concerto fibered coils via a 0.017-inch microcatheter during transvenous embolization of carotid-cavernous fistula in a 60-year-old and an 80-year-old Chinese female, respectively. Conclusion Our case series highlight the possibility of deploying large diameter (up to 10 mm) Concerto fibered coils through a low profile (0.017-inch) microcatheter in an off-label manner for transvenous embolization of indirect carotid-cavernous fistula.

Admitindo a existência de correlação positiva entre o tempo de enchimento dos grãos e a produtividade, foi estudada a duração do período de formação dos grãos em cultivares brasileiras de trigo. Os resultados obtidos demonstram existir grande variação entre cultivares na duração deste período, o qual mostrou-se menor nas cultivares tardias de ciclo vegetativo longo. Destacaram-se, por possuírem longo período de formação dos grãos, as cultivares super-precoces SB 7519, CEP 7596 e IAS 58; as cultivares precoces Jacui, PF 75171, CNT 9, PEL 72393, Frontana, PAT 7392, IAS 54, Coxilha, Cotiporã e Nobre e as cultivares de ciclo intermediário CNT 8 e PEL 72390. Nenhuma cultivar tardia dentre as testadas evidenciou longo período do espigamento à colheita.Assuming positive correlation between the grain filling period duration and yield this character was studied for 38 Brazilian wheat cultivare. Results demonstrate a great variation in the gram filling period duration that was shorter in late than hi earlier cultivars. The following earlier and semi-late cultivare had the longest grain filling period: SB 7519, CEP 7596, IAS 58, Jacui, PF 75171, CNT 9, PEL 72393, Frontana, PAT 7392, IAS 54, Coxilha, Cotiporã, Nobre CNT 8 and PEL 72390. None of the tested late cultivars has shown a long period from heading to harvest.