K-plane regression

In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for piecewise linear regression which can learn continuous as well as discontinuous piecewise linear functions. The main idea is to repeatedly partition the data and learn a linear model in each partition. The proposed algorithm is similar in spirit to k-means clustering algorithm. We show that our algorithm can also be viewed as a special case of an EM algorithm for maximum likelihood estimation under a reasonable probability model. We empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by comparing its performance with that of the state of art algorithms on various datasets. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Limiting two-Higgs-doublet models

We update the constraints on two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) focusing on the parameter space relevant to explain the present muon g - 2 anomaly, Delta alpha(mu), in four different types of models, type I, II, ``lepton specific'' (or X) and ``flipped'' (or Y). We show that the strong constraints provided by the electroweak precision data on the mass of the pseudoscalar Higgs, whose contribution may account for Delta alpha(mu), are evaded in regions where the charged scalar is degenerate with the heavy neutral one and the mixing angles alpha and beta satisfy the Standard Model limit beta - alpha approximate to pi/2. We combine theoretical constraints from vacuum stability and perturbativity with direct and indirect bounds arising from collider and B physics. Possible future constraints from the electron g - 2 are also considered. If the 126 GeV resonance discovered at the LHC is interpreted as the light CP-even Higgs boson of the 2HDM, we find that only models of type X can satisfy all the considered theoretical and experimental constraints.

Origem e composição da matéria orgânica sedimentar na margem continental próximo a Cabo Frio (RJ), porção sul da Bacia de Campos, costa sudeste do Brasil

Lipídios como marcadores moleculares (ácidos graxos, esterois e n- alcoois) e COT foram analisados em 48 amostras de sedimento superficial (0-2 cm) em dois períodos (inverno de 2008/2009 e verão de 2009) ao longo de 12 isóbatas em 2 transectos (25 a 3000 m) na principal região de ressurgência da costa sudeste do Brasil, onde a influência do aporte fluvial é mínima. O objetivo foi (i) avaliar as fontes, transporte e regiões de acúmulo da matéria orgânica (MO) (ii) identificar a fração da MO potencialmente disponível para os orgânismos bentônicos. Este estudo faz parte do Projeto Habitats Heterogeneidade Ambiental da Bacia de Campos coordenado pelo CENPES/PETROBRAS. Lipídios derivados da produção primária (0.058 - 3.1 mg gCOT-1) e secundária (0.015 - 2.2 mg gCOT-1) representaram a maior fração da MO sedimentar, enquanto lipídios derivados de fontes alóctonas (0.043 - 0.40 mg gCOT-1) e bactérias (<0.01 - 0.43 mg gCOT-1) foram menos representativos. O padrão de transporte e acúmulo da MO no sedimento depende da associação entre fatores físicos (hidrodinâmicos) e biológicos (resposta a ressurgência), e não é influenciado sazonalmente como observado em dados prévios na mesma região. Verificou-se que regiões restritas da plataforma continental apresentam acúmulo de MO lábil e esse material é exportado para regiões do talude (400 a 1000 m de profundidade), o que representa uma fonte importante de MO biodisponível para a comunidade bentônica desta região.

Age and growth of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in the Gulf of Alaska: analysis of alternative growth models

Ten growth models were fitted to age and growth data for spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in the Gulf of Alaska. Previous studies of spiny dogfish growth have all fitted the t0 formulation of the von Bertalanffy model without examination of alternative models. Among the alternatives, we present a new two-phase von Bertalanffy growth model formulation with a logistically scaled k parameter and which estimates L0. A total of 1602 dogfish were aged from opportunistic collections with longline, rod and reel, set net, and trawling gear in the eastern and central Gulf of Alaska between 2004 and 2007. Ages were estimated from the median band count of three independent readings of the second dorsal spine plus the estimated number of worn bands for worn spines. Owing to a lack of small dogfish in the samples, lengths at age of small individuals were back-calculated from a subsample of 153 dogfish with unworn spines. The von Bertalanffy, two-parameter von Bertalanffy, two-phase von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, two-parameter Gompertz, and logistic models were fitted to length-at-age data for each sex separately, both with and without back-calculated lengths at age. The two-phase von Bertalanffy growth model produced the statistically best fit for both sexes of Gulf of Alaska spiny dogfish, resulting in L∞ = 87.2 and 102.5 cm and k= 0.106 and 0.058 for males and females, respectively.

A review of length-weight relationships of fishes from Greek marine waters

This paper presents 649 length-weight relationships gathered from literature pertaining to 83 fish species, belonging to 34 families, throughout Greek marine waters. The value of the slope b ranged from 1.667 for Cepola macrophthalma to 3.707 for Mullus barbatus. The mean value of b was 2.989 (SD=0.339) and did not differ significantly from 3(t-test, p<0.05). The median value of b was 3.058 and 50% of the b values ranged between 2.900 and 3.186.

Toxicidade aguda sobre Daphnia similis decorrente de contaminação aquática recente e antiga por gasolina, etanol e suas misturas: simulações em escala de bancada.

A contaminação de ambientes aquáticos decorrente de acidentes com gasolina, álcool combustível e misturas binárias representa um risco crescente, tendo em vista as projeções do setor para os próximos 50 anos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade aguda da Gasolina C, Gasolina P e álcool combustível isoladamente e em misturas binárias, assim como de suas respectivas Frações Solúveis em Água (FSA) e Frações Dispersas em Água (FDA) sobre Daphnia similis. O estudo ainda incluiu a avaliação da toxicidade aguda remanescente na matriz água de uma contaminação antiga (intemperismo) com a Gasolina C. Paralelamente, foram conduzidos ensaios de toxicidade aguda com amostras ambientais (água subterrânea, superficial e elutriato a partir de sedimentos) de uma área alagada com histórico de contaminação antiga. O cultivo e os ensaios com D. similis foram de acordo com a NBR 12.713 (2009). Tanto a gasolina C quanto a P foram extremamente tóxicas para os organismos, apresentando valores médios de CE50% em 48 h de 0,00113% e 0,058% respectivamente. As diferenças entre os resultados obtidos com a Gasolina C e aqueles obtidos com suas frações FSA e FDA foram significativas (p < 0,05), sendo que não houve diferença significativa entre a toxicidade aguda da FSA e da FDA (p < 0,05). Os resultados obtidos com os ensaios com Gasolina P e FDA não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre si (p < 0,05), mas, foram significativamente diferentes daqueles obtidos com FSA (p < 0,05). Os resultados dos ensaios de toxicidade aguda com misturas binárias sugeriram efeito menos que aditivo (antagonismo). Os resultados da simulação de uma contaminação antiga demonstraram redução acentuada da toxicidade para D. similis ao longo de apenas 28 dias. Entretanto, com relação aos ensaios com as amostras ambientais da área com histórico de contaminação, apesar da ausência ou baixa toxicidade nas amostras de água superficial (sugerindo intemperismo), toxicidade alta foi observada em amostras de água subterrânea e no elutriato de sedimentos, sugerindo condições de adsorção aos sedimentos com alto teor de argila e/ou aprisionamento dos compostos em zona saturada.

Age, growth, and mortality of the Mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) from the southeastern Everglades

Mayan cichlids (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) were collected monthly from March 1996 to October 1997 with hook-and-line gear at Taylor River, Florida, an area within the Crocodile Sanctuary of Everglades National Park, where human activities such as fishing are prohibited. Fish were aged by examining thin-sectioned otoliths, and past size-at-age information was generated by using back-calculation techniques. Marginal increment analysis showed that opaque growth zones were annuli deposited between January and May. The size of age-1 fish was estimated to be 33–66 mm standard length (mean=45.5 mm) and was supported by monthly length-frequency data of young-of-year fish collected with drop traps over a seven-year period. Mayan cichlids up to seven years old were observed. Male cichlids grew slower but achieved a larger size than females. Growth was asymptotic and was modeled by the von Bertalanffy growth equation Lt=263.6(1–exp[–0.166(t–0.001)]) for males (r2=0.82, n=581) and Lt=215.6 (1–exp[–0.197(t–0.058)]) for females (r2= 0.77, n=639). Separate estimates of total annual mortality were relatively consistent (0.44–0.60) and indicated moderate mortality at higher age classes, even in the absence of fishing mortality. Our data indicated that Mayan cichlids grow slower and live longer in Florida than previously reported from native Mexican habitats. Because the growth of Mayan cichlids in Florida periodically slowed and thus produced visible annuli, it may be possible to age introduced populations of other subtropical and tropical cichlids in a similar way.

Determination of some dominant genetic characteristics and morpho-meristic features for selection of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) broodstocks

In this study, Iranian and French male and female Oncorhynchus mykiss broodstocks were divided into two groups 50 and 24 respectively in Research center of genetic and breeding of coldwater fishes, Yasouj, Iran and the genetic structure of them was investigated using 6 microsatellite markers. Then 19 morphometric and 5 meristic of broodstock were measured and compared in two populations. Along with broodstock maturation, fertilization 1:1(female:male) were randomly assigned and occurred in 25 of 12 Iranian and French treatment respectively. Reproductive parameters were recorded for the whole family. Average number of observed alleles in Iranian and French stocks was 6.68 and 6.83, respectively. Average number of effective alleles in Iranian and French stocks was 3.13 and 3.45 respectively. Fixation index Fst was calculated based on allelic frequency between two stocks was 0.058 with significant difference between 2 stocks. Morphometric analysis showed significant difference between two stocks in 8 characteristics. Meristic characters was without significant difference in broodstock groups. Eyed percentage for french broodstock calculated zero and deleted. Fertilization rate (100-0), the eyed percentage (98- 0), The hatch rate (98-0), the average fecundity 4114.708, the average eggs size 4.88 mm, Survival in the first three months 19-73% calculated for Iranian broodstocks. Considering the quality of eggs and larvae at different stages and selection between the different family and the within family remained 10 treatments and are kept as future broodstocks. The relationship between fecundity - egg size, fecundity - weight , fecundity - length, egg size- weight was performed using regression. The results showed that Fecundity was influenced more by weight and productive length. The research is beginning to ID the broodstock in our country.

云南西双版纳片断热带雨林鼠形啮齿类的物种多样性研究

该文以３个不同面积和环境状况的片断热带雨林即西双版纳傣族“龙山林”和１个自然保护区对照样地为工作样区, 对热带雨林片断化后, 鼠形啮齿类物种多样性的变化及其与环境的关系等进行了研究, 结果如下：(1)４个样地铗捕获得的鼠形啮齿类种数分别为３、３、４和５种; (2)城子龙山和保护区对照样地的多样性指数较高(分别为2.058和1.944), 而曼养广龙山和曼俄龙山的物种多样性指数仅为1.165和1.350; (３)各“龙山”的鼠形啮齿类物种多样性与其面积大小的相关性较弱, 而与样地的隔离状况及人为干扰破坏的程度有较显著的相关性; (4)样地内鼠种组成的变化也和样地隔离状态及人为干扰破坏程度的不同密切相关; (5)各样地鼠形啮群落中生物量的分布也很不均匀。

Airfoil flow and noise computation using monotonically integrated large eddy simulation and acoustic analogy: Effect of the grid resolution.

A new scalable Monotonically Integrated Large Eddy Simulation (MILES) method based on the Compact Accurately Boundary-Adjusting high-REsolution Technique (CABARET) has been applied for the simulation of unsteady flow around NACA0012 airfoil at Re = 400,000 and M = 0.058. The flow solution is coupled with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings formulation for far-field noise prediction. The computational modeling results are presented for several computational grid resolutions: 8, 16, and 32 million grid cells and compared with the experimental data available.

Distribution of microcystins in various organs (heart, liver, intestine, gonad, brain, kidney and lung) of Wistar rat via intravenous injection

The distribution of microcystins (MCs) in various tissues of Wistar rats was studied under laboratory conditions. Rats were injected intravenously (i.v.) with extracted MCs at a dose of 80 mu g MC-LRequivalent/kg body weight. MCs concentrations in various tissues were detected at 1, 2. 4, 6, 12 and 24 h post-injection using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The highest concentration of MCs was found in kidney (0.034-0.295 mu g/g dry weight), followed by lung (0.007-0.067 mu g/g dry weight), stomach (0.010-0.058 mu g/g dry weight) and liver (0.003-0.052 mu g/g dry weight). The maximum MCs content in the whole body of rat, 2.9% of the injected dose, was observed at 2 h post-injection. MCs concentration was higher in kidney than in liver during the experiment, and two peaks of MCs concentration (at 2 and 24 h, respectively) were observed in kidney, indicating that MCs can be excreted directly via kidney of rat. Though heart, intestine, spleen, brain, gonad and stomach contained less than 0.2% of injected MCs during the whole experiment stage, the presence of MCs in these tissues represents potential damage to them. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All Fights reserved.

Nonylphenol and octylphenol in urban eutrophic lakes of the subtropical China

The paper studied two estrogenic pollutants, 4-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) in water, suspended particle (SP) and sediments in urban eutrophic lakes. The concentrations of NP ranged from 1.94 to 32.85 mu g/l, 0.876 to 31.13 mu g/l and 3.54 to 32.43 mu g/g dry weight (dw) in water, suspended particle (SP) and sediments, respectively, and that of OP from 0.027 to 1.44 mu g/l, 0.008 to 1.777 mu g/l and 0.058 to 1.245 mu g/g dw in water, suspended particle (SP) and sediments, respectively. An increasing trend in the concentration was noticed in all matrices close to the sewage inlets, which was found to be the major factor affecting the spatial distribution of alkylphenols (APs) in the lakes. Due to restoration of submerged macrophytes, which might accumulate APs, the contaminations of APs in the Little Moon Lake (LML) and the Little Lotus Lake (LLL) were lower than those in the Big, Moon Lake (BML) and the Bier Lotus Lake (BLL). A reasonable correlation of NP and OP was obtained among water, suspended particle and sediment. The possible environmental stress of APs concentration on aquatic organisms in Wuhan urban lakes was also discussed.

Tuning of detection wavelength in a resonant-cavity-enhanced quantum-dot-embedded photodiode by changing detection angle

We have fabricated a resonant-cavity-enhanced photodiode (RCE-PD) with InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) as an active medium. This sort of QD-embedded RCE-PD is capable of a peak external quantum efficiency of 32% and responsivity of 0.27A/W at 1.058 mu m with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 5 nm. Angle-resolved photocurrent response eventually proves that with the detection angle changing from 0 degrees to 60 degrees, the peak-current wavelength shifts towards the short wavelength side by 37 nm, while the quantum efficiency remains larger than 15%.

取代环戊二烯基稀土有机氯化物的合成及其反应

本文通过无水LnCl_3(Ln = Pr.Nd.Gd)与两倍摩尔的叔丁基环戊二烯基碱金属盐在THF中60－80℃反应，分离到一类新的二（叔丁基环戊二烯基）稀土氯化物（T-DuCp）_2 2net.nTHF (Ln = Pr,Nd,n = 2 Ln = Gd,n = 1)，对它们进行了元素分析。红外光谱及水鲜色质谱的表征。对于配合物（t-BuCp）_2PrCl·2THF的单晶，测定了它的晶体结构，晶体层单斜晶系P21/C空间群，晶胞参数为：a = 15.080 b = 8.855 c = 21.196A, β = 110.34°V = 2653.9A~3 δ = 4，结构分析表明此配合物是一中性的单分子配合物。最后的R = Rw = 0.058平均Pr-C.2.81 Pr-Cent 2.53A, Pr-Cl及Rr-O键长分别为2.72与2.62A。本文通过Lnel_3(Ln = Nd.Pr.Ga)与等摩尔的叔丁基环戊二烯基碱金属盐在THF中60－80℃反应，分离到一类中性的单(叔丁基环戊二烯基)稀土二氯化物，并对它们进行了元素分析，红外光谱及水鲜色质谱的表征。本文通过轻稀土元素La,Pr的三氯化物与带基钠以1:2摩尔比在THF中70－80℃反应，分离到了二带基轻稀土氯化物（CaH_7）_2LaCl.2THF及[(CqH_7)_2PrCl.THF]_2。并且对此二配合物进行了元素分析。红外光谱及水鲜色质谱的表征。对于[(CuH_7)_2PrCl.TH]_2配合物，测定了它的晶体结构，这是第一个得到结构表征的茚基稀土氯化物，晶体层于单斜晶系，P_(21)/C空间群，晶胞参数为a = 7.808 b = 17.796 c = 14.070A β = 93.97°v = 1950.31A. E = 2最后的R = 0.045. Rw = 0.039结构分析表明此配合物以中性的二聚体形式存在。平均的Pr-C.2.81 Pr-Cent 2.53. Pr-Cl.2.84H Pr-O钻长2.54A。为了进一步研究不同配体对配合物结构的影响，我们还研究了Gael_3与Nae_5Mes以1:1摩尔比在THF中的反应，分离到了两种配合物[(NaTHF)(C_5MesGd.THF)_2Cl_5]_2.6THF(I)及L_5Me_5GdCl2.3THF(II)并且对配合物（I），测定了它的晶体结构，晶体层于三斜晶系。Pi空间群。晶胞参数a = 12.183 b = 13.638 c = 17.883A, α = 110.38 β = 94.04 γ = 99.44°, V = 2721.20A, E = 1。结构分析表明，此配合物是一种以两个Na原子通过THF中的O原子而桥联的金层有机配合物，在结构上有十分新颖的特点。在此配合物分子中含有四个Gd原子及二个Na原子，Na及Gd间以Cl桥键相联结，Gd-Gd_2 = 4.033 Gdll-Na = 2.818A。最后的R = 0.04M Rw = 0.042。本文还对（t-BuCp）_2P_2Cl.2THF与NaH及LiAlH4的反应进行了初步的研究，分离到（t-Bucp）_2PrH.2THF及(t-Bucp)_2P_2RIH_4.3THF两种新的氢化物，并且对它们进行了元素分析，红外光谱的表征，对于它们水鲜产物的气相分中的H_2，用气相色谱法进行了定性表征。

Syntheses and reactions of heterometallic complexes of nickel and copper with tetrathiotungstates. The molecular structures of [Ph(4)P](2)[S2W(mu-S)(2)Ni(S-2)] and W(mu-S)(4)Cu-2(PPh(3))(4)center dot py

Reaction of [Ph(4)P]2WS4 With NiCl2 in methanol solution in the presence of NaOCH3 leads to the formation of [Ph(4)P](2) [S2W(mu-S)(2)Ni(S-2)] (I) A Similar reaction between (NH4)(2)WS4 and NiCl2 under O-2 atmosphere in the presence of Ph(4)PCl or (n)Bu(4)NCl affords [Ph(4)P](2)([(S-2)W(O)(mu-S)(2)]Ni-2] (IIa) and [(n)Bu(4)N](2)([(S-2)W(O)(mu-S)(2)]Ni-2} (IIb) Under argon the same reaction gives [Ph(4)P](2)[Ni(WS4)(2)] (IIIa) and [(n)Bu(4)N](2)[Ni(WS4)(2)] (IIIb). [Ph(4)P](2)[Ni(WOS3)(2)] (IV) and [Ph(4)P](2)[Ni(WO2S2)(2)] (V) can be prepared from the reaction of [Ph(4)P]2WOS3 and [Ph(4)P]2WO2S2 with NiCl2. Treatment of (NH4)(2)WS4 with CuCl in the presence of PPh(3) in boiling pyridine produces W(mu-S)(4)Cu-2(PPh(3))(3) (VI), which can further react with excess PPh(3) to give W(mu-S)(4)Cu-2(PPh(3))(4) . py (VII). Complex I crystallizes in the space group P2(1)/n with the cell parameters: a = 20.049(4), b = 17.010(4), c = 14.311(7) Angstrom; beta = 110.24(3)degrees and Z = 4; R = 0.058 for 4267 independent reflections. The structural study confirms that complex I contains two terminal sulfide ligands, two bridging sulfide ligands, a side-on disulfide ligand, and a planar central W(mu-S)(2)Ni four membered ring. Complex VII crystallizes in the space group C2/c with the cell parameters: a = 26.436(8), b = 20.542(6), c = 19.095(8) Angstrom; beta = 125.00(3)degrees and Z = 4; R = 0.080 for 3802 independent reflections. The structural study reveals a perfect linear arrangement of the three metal atoms Cu-W-Cu.