bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple marker abundance profiling: combining selected reaction monitoring and data‐dependent acquisition for rapid estimation of organelle abundance in subcellular samples
Authors: Hooper Cornelia M. , Stevens Tim J. , Saukkonen Anna , Castleden Ian R. , Singh Pragya , Mann Gregory W. , Fabre Bertrand , Ito Jun , Deery Michael J , Lilley Kathryn S. , Petzold Christopher J. , Millar A. Harvey , Heazlewood Joshua L. , Parsons Harriet T.
Published: October 2017

Measuring changes in protein or organelle abundance in the cell is an essential, but challenging aspect of cell biology. Frequently‐used methods for determining organelle abundance typically rely on detection of a very few marker proteins, so are unsatisfactory. In silico estimates of protein abundances from publicly available protein spectra can provide useful standard abundance values but contain only data from tissue proteomes, and are not coupled to organelle localization data. A new protein abundance score, the normalized protein abundance scale (NPAS), expands on the number of scored proteins and the scoring accuracy of lower‐abundance proteins in Arabidopsis. NPAS was combined with subcellular protein localization data, facilitating quantitative estimations of organelle abundance during routine experimental procedures. A suite of targeted proteomics markers for subcellular compartment markers was developed, enabling independent verification of in silico estimates for relative organelle abundance. Estimation of relative organelle abundance was found to be reproducible and consistent over a range of tissues and growth conditions. In silico abundance estimations and localization data have been combined into an online tool, multiple marker abundance profiling, available in the SUBA4 toolbox (http://suba.live).
Trends in antigen‐negative red blood cell distributions by racial or ethnic groups in the United States
Authors: Yazer Mark H. , Anani Waseem Q. , Denomme Gregory A. , Karafin Matthew S. , Sayers Merlyn , Shaz Beth H. ,   Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

The overall number of red blood cell (RBC) units distributed to hospitals throughout the world and in the United States has decreased lately. This study was performed to determine if the number of antigen‐negative RBC units distributed to hospitals has followed this trend.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Stratified by ethnicity, data on total RBC distributions and antigen‐negative RBC distributions from six large blood collectors in the United States were obtained from 2009 through 2016. An antigen‐negative unit was defined as a unit with a specific RBC phenotype that had been specially ordered as such by a hospital.

RESULTS

Overall, 10,103,703 RBC units were distributed by these six blood collectors; 650,516 (6.4%) were distributed as antigen‐negative units. While the overall number of RBCs distributed decreased by 27.2% between 2009 and 2016, the number of antigen‐negative RBC distributions increased by 39.5%. In each year, the majority of the distributed antigen‐negative RBCs were donated by whites. However, antigen‐negative RBC units from black or African American donors were distributed in a disproportionately high fraction compared to the overall number of RBCs distributed from these donors. Most of the one through four antigen‐negative RBCs were donated by whites. However, as antigen matching became more extensive, the proportion of units distributed from black or African American donors increased such that they were the predominant donors of five or more antigen‐negative units.

CONCLUSION

Blood collectors will need to be aware of the trend of increasing antigen‐negative distributions despite decreased overall distributions.
Application of computed tomography and stereolithography to correct a complex angular and torsional limb deformity in a donkey
Authors: Radtke Alexandra , Morello Samantha , Muir Peter , Arnoldy Courtney , Bleedorn Jason
Published: October 2017

Objective

To report the evaluation, surgical planning, and outcome for correction of a complex limb deformity in the tibia of a donkey using computed tomographic (CT) imaging and a 3D bone model.

Study design

Case report.

Animals

A 1.5‐year‐old, 110 kg donkey colt with an angular and torsional deformity of the right pelvic limb.

Methods

Findings on physical examimation included a severe, complex deformity of the right pelvic limb that substantially impeded ambulation. Both hind limbs were imaged via CT, and imaging software was used to characterize the bone deformity. A custom stereolithographic bone model was printed for preoperative planning and rehersal of the surgery. A closing wedge ostectomy with de‐rotation of the tibia was stabilized with 2 precontoured 3.5‐mm locking compression plates. Clinical follow‐up was available for 3.5 years postoperatively.

Results

CT allowed characterization of the angular and torsional bone deformity of the right tibia. A custom bone model facilitated surgical planning and rehearsal of the procedure. Tibial corrective ostectomy was performed without complication. Postoperative management included physical rehabilitation to help restore muscular function and pelvic limb mechanics. Short‐term and long‐term follow‐up confirmed bone healing and excellent clinical function.

Conclusion

CT imaging and stereolithography facilitated the evaluation and surgical planning of a complex limb deformity. This combination of techniques may improve the accuracy of the surgeons' evaluation of complex bone deformities in large animals, shorten operating times, and improve outcomes.
Physiological tremor increases when skeletal muscle is shortened: implications for fusimotor control
Authors: Jalaleddini Kian , Nagamori Akira , Laine Christopher M. , Golkar Mahsa A. , Kearney Robert E. , Valero‐Cuevas Francisco J.
Published: October 2017

Key points

In tonic, isometric, plantarflexion contractions, physiological tremor increases as the ankle joint becomes plantarflexed.

Modulation of physiological tremor as a function of muscle stretch differs from that of the stretch reflex amplitude.

Amplitude of physiological tremor may be altered as a function of reflex pathway gains.

Healthy humans likely increase their γ‐static fusimotor drive when muscles shorten.

Quantification of physiological tremor by manipulation of joint angle may be a useful experimental probe of afferent gains and/or the integrity of automatic fusimotor control.

The involuntary force fluctuations associated with physiological (as distinct from pathological) tremor are an unavoidable component of human motor control. While the origins of physiological tremor are known to depend on muscle afferentation, it is possible that the mechanical properties of muscle–tendon systems also affect its generation, amplification and maintenance. In this paper, we investigated the dependence of physiological tremor on muscle length in healthy individuals. We measured physiological tremor during tonic, isometric plantarflexion torque at 30% of maximum at three ankle angles. The amplitude of physiological tremor increased as calf muscles shortened in contrast to the stretch reflex whose amplitude decreases as muscle shortens. We used a published closed‐loop simulation model of afferented muscle to explore the mechanisms responsible for this behaviour. We demonstrate that changing muscle lengths does not suffice to explain our experimental findings. Rather, the model consistently required the modulation of  γ‐static fusimotor drive to produce increases in physiological tremor with muscle shortening – while successfully replicating the concomitant reduction in stretch reflex amplitude. This need to control γ‐static fusimotor drive explicitly as a function of muscle length has important implications. First, it permits the amplitudes of physiological tremor and stretch reflex to be decoupled. Second, it postulates neuromechanical interactions that require length‐dependent γ drive modulation to be independent from α drive to the parent muscle. Lastly, it suggests that physiological tremor can be used as a simple, non‐invasive measure of the afferent mechanisms underlying healthy motor function, and their disruption in neurological conditions.
Evolución histórica y ambiental en los procesos de trasformación del lago Chapala
Authors: Pedroza-Gutiérrez Carmen , Catalán-Romero Juan Manuel
Published: October 2017

El lago de Chapala ha sufrido grandes transformaciones que han afectado su capacidad productiva. Esta situación se ve reflejada en los cambios del territorio que conforma su ribera, ya que los usos y el control del territorio ribereño han afectado negativamente sus perspectivas y potencial productivo. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo hacer un recuento histórico de factores que han detonado las transformaciones del territorio ribereño del lago de Chapala y, a su vez, cómo estas transformaciones han afectado su capacidad productiva. Los resultados indican que, históricamente, el lago ha sido sometido a un uso excesivo de sus recursos determinado por los modelos de desarrollo que ha seguido el país y de acuerdo con una mala comprensión de los ecosistemas lacustres.
A simulation of temperature influence on echolocation click beams of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
Authors: Song Zhongchang , Zhang Yu , Wang Xianyan , Wei Chong
Published: October 2017

A finite element method was used to investigate the temperature influence on sound beams of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. The numerical models of a dolphin, which originated from previous computed tomography (CT) scanning and physical measurement results, were used to investigate sound beam patterns of the dolphin in temperatures from 21 °C to 39 °C, in increments of 2 °C. The −3 dB beam widths across the temperatures ranged from 9.3° to 12.6°, and main beam angle ranged from 4.7° to 7.2° for these temperatures. The subsequent simulation suggested that the dolphin's sound beam patterns, side lobes in particular, were influenced by temperature.
Examination of a hybrid beamformer that preserves auditory spatial cues
Authors: Best Virginia , Roverud Elin , Mason Christine R. , Kidd Gerald
Published: October 2017

A hearing-aid strategy that combines a beamforming microphone array in the high frequencies with natural binaural signals in the low frequencies was examined. This strategy attempts to balance the benefits of beamforming (improved signal-to-noise ratio) with the benefits of binaural listening (spatial awareness and location-based segregation). The crossover frequency was varied from 200 to 1200 Hz, and performance was compared to full-spectrum binaural and beamformer conditions. Speech intelligibility in the presence of noise or competing speech was measured in listeners with and without hearing loss. Results showed that the optimal crossover frequency depended on the listener and the nature of the interference.
Detection of tones of unexpected frequency in amplitude-modulated noise
Authors: Wright Beverly A. , Fitzgerald Matthew B.
Published: October 2017

Detection of a tonal signal in amplitude-modulated noise can improve with increases in noise bandwidth if the pattern of amplitude fluctuations is uniform across frequency, a phenomenon termed comodulation masking release (CMR). Most explanations for CMR rely on an assumption that listeners monitor frequency channels both at and remote from the signal frequency in conditions that yield the effect. To test this assumption, detectability was assessed for signals presented at expected and unexpected frequencies in wideband amplitude-modulated noise. Detection performance was high even for signals of unexpected frequency, suggesting that listeners were monitoring multiple frequency channels, as has been assumed.
A cold case
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: October 2017

Years ago, two women allege, their team leader sexually harassed them in Antarctica. Now they are taking action.
Regulation of the ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation of CREB-binding protein modulates histone acetylation and lung inflammation
Authors: Wei Jianxin , Dong Su , Bowser Rachel K. , Khoo Andrew , Zhang Lina , Jacko Anastasia M. , Zhao Yutong , Zhao Jing
Published: October 2017

The stability of the histone acetyltransferase CBP must be maintained to promote cytokine release and inflammation in the lung.
Evaluation of the Clinical Performance of the HPV-Risk Assay Using the VALGENT-3 Panel
Authors: Polman N. J. , Oštrbenk A. , Xu L. , Snijders P. J. F. , Meijer C. J. L. M. , Poljak M. , Heideman D. A. M. , Arbyn M.
Published: October 2017

Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is increasingly being incorporated into cervical cancer screening. The Validation of HPV Genotyping Tests (VALGENT) is a framework designed to evaluate the clinical performance of various HPV tests relative to that of the validated and accepted comparator test in a formalized and uniform manner. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of the HPV-Risk assay with samples from the VALGENT-3 panel and to compare its performance to that of the clinically validated Hybrid Capture 2 assay (HC2). The VALGENT-3 panel comprises 1,300 consecutive samples from women participating in routine cervical cancer screening and is enriched with 300 samples from women with abnormal cytology. DNA was extracted from original ThinPrep PreservCyt medium aliquots, and HPV testing was performed using the HPV-Risk assay by investigators blind to the clinical data. HPV prevalence was analyzed, and the clinical performance of the HPV-Risk assay for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse (CIN3+) and CIN2 or worse (CIN2+) relative to the performance of HC2 was assessed. The sensitivity of the HPV-Risk assay for the detection of CIN3+ was similar to that of HC2 (relative sensitivity, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95 to 1.05;
P
= 1.000), but the specificity of the HPV-Risk assay was significantly higher than that of HC2 (relative specificity, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04;
P
< 0.001). For the detection of CIN2+, similar results were obtained, with the relative sensitivity being 0.98 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.02;
P
= 0.257) and the relative specificity being 1.02 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.03;
P
< 0.001). The performance of the HPV-Risk assay for the detection of CIN3+ and CIN2+ was noninferior to that of HC2, with all
P
values being ≤0.006. In conclusion, the HPV-Risk assay demonstrated noninferiority to the clinically validated HC2 by the use of samples from the VALGENT-3 panel for test validation and comparison.
Collection of Viable Aerosolized Influenza Virus and Other Respiratory Viruses in a Student Health Care Center through Water-Based Condensation Growth
Authors: Pan Maohua , Bonny Tania S. , Loeb Julia , Jiang Xiao , Lednicky John A. , Eiguren-Fernandez Arantzazu , Hering Susanne , Fan Z. Hugh , Wu Chang-Yu
Published: October 2017

The significance of virus aerosols in the natural transmission of respiratory diseases has been a contentious issue, primarily because it is difficult to collect or sample virus aerosols using currently available air sampling devices. We tested a new air sampler based on water vapor condensation for efficient sampling of viable airborne respiratory viruses in a student health care center as a model of a real world environment. The new sampler outperformed the industry standard device (the SKC BioSampler) in the collection of natural virus aerosols and in maintaining virus viability. These results using the VIVAS indicate that respiratory virus aerosols are more prevalent and potentially pose a greater inhalation biohazard than previously thought. The VIVAS thus appears to be a useful apparatus for microbiology air quality tests related to the detection of viable airborne viruses.
Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Destabilizes Influenza Viruses
Authors: Bandoro Christopher , Runstadler Jonathan A.
Published: October 2017

Influenza A virus (IAV), transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route in wild birds, encounters high concentrations of bacteria and their products. Understanding the extent to which bacteria affect the infectivity of IAV will lead to a broader understanding of viral ecology in reservoir hosts and may lead to insights for the development of therapeutics in respiratory infection. Herein we show that bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) interact with and destabilize influenza virions. Moreover, we show that LPS reduces the long-term persistence and freeze-thaw stability of IAV, which is important information for modeling the movement and emergence of novel strains from animal hosts. Our results, demonstrating that the subtype and host origin of a virus also influence its susceptibility to LPS, raise key questions about the fitness of viruses in reservoir hosts, their potential to transmit to humans, and the importance of bacterial-viral interactions in viral ecology.
Patient characteristics of the Accident and Emergency Department of Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: a cross-sectional, prospective analysis
Authors: Myers Justin Guy , Hunold Katherine M , Ekernas Karen , Wangara Ali , Maingi Alice , Mutiso Vincent , Dunlop Stephen , Martin Ian B K
Published: October 2017

Background

Resource-limited settings are increasingly experiencing a ‘triple burden’ of disease, composed of trauma, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and known communicable disease patterns. However, the epidemiology of acute and emergency care is not well characterised and this limits efforts to further develop emergency care capacity.

Objective

To define the burden of disease by describing the patient population presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Kenya.

Methods

We completed a prospective descriptive assessment of patients in KNH’s A&E obtained via systematic sampling over 3 months. Research assistants collected data directly from patients and their charts. Chief complaint and diagnosis codes were grouped for analysis. Patient demographic characteristics were described using the mean and SD for age and n and percentages for categorical variables. International Classification of Disease 10 codes were categorised by 2013 Global Burden of Disease Study methods.

Results

Data were collected prospectively on 402 patients with an average age of 36 years (SD 19), and of whom, 50% were female. Patients were most likely to arrive by taxi or bus (39%), walking (28%) or ambulance (17%). Thirty-five per cent of patients were diagnosed with NCDs, 24% with injuries and 16% with communicable diseases, maternal and neonatal conditions. Overall, head injury was the single most common final diagnosis and occurred in 32 (8%) patients. The most common patient-reported mechanism for head injury was road traffic accident (39%).

Conclusion

This study estimates the characteristics of the A&E population at a tertiary centre in Kenya and highlights the triple burden of disease. Our findings emphasise the need for further development of emergency care resources and training to better address patient needs in resource-limited settings, such as KNH.
Sex differences in the significance of isolated reactive treponemal chemiluminescence immunoassay results
Authors: Bopage Rohan I , Vollmer-Conna Ute , Shand Antonia W , Post Jeffrey John
Published: October 2017

Objectives

The significance of sera with isolated reactive treponemal chemiluminescence immunoassay (IRTCIA) results is unclear. Women have this phenotype more commonly than men. Most cohorts examining this phenotype have included predominantly men and have demonstrated evidence of past or subsequently confirmed syphilis infection in a significant proportion of cases. We hypothesised that a proportion of sera with IRTCIA results would be positive on immunoblot testing and that sera from women with IRTCIA would have different results in immunoblot testing than men.

Methods

IRTCIA sera from a tertiary referral serology laboratory serving multiple clinical sites were analysed with a syphilis line immunoblot assay (LIA) and analysed by sex. Logistic regression was undertaken to assess factors associated with LIA status. Medical record review and descriptive analysis of a separate cohort of women with the IRTCIA phenotype from a single campus was also undertaken.

Results

Overall, 19/63 (30.1%) subjects with the IRTCIA phenotype were positive in the LIA, including 13 men and 6 women. Women were significantly less likely to have definitive results (positive or negative) than men (p=0.015). Pregnant women were less likely than non-pregnant women to have a negative LIA result (OR 0.57; p=0.03). Record review of 22 different women with IRTCIA reactivity showed that 2/22 (9.1%) had HIV and previous syphilis infection, 15/22 (68.2%) were pregnant and 3 (13.6%) had autoimmune disease.

Conclusions

A significant proportion of sera with IRTCIA results on serological tests are reactive on LIA testing and some may not be false positive results. The interpretation of IRTCIA results should be undertaken in conjunction with an assessment of factors such as sex, pregnancy, a history of syphilis and other STIs and syphilis risk.
The effects of combined probiotic ingestion and circuit training on muscular strength and power and cytokine responses in young males
Authors: Ibrahim Nur Syazwani , Muhamad Ayu Suzailiana , Ooi Foong Kiew , Meor-Osman Jamaayah , Chen Chee Keong
Published: October 2017

To our knowledge, the efficacy of combined probiotic supplementation with circuit training has not been evaluated. Thus, we investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation combined with circuit training on isokinetic muscular strength and power and cytokine responses in young males. Forty-eight healthy sedentary young males were recruited and randomised into 4 separate groups: sedentary placebo control, probiotics (P), circuit training with placebo (CT), and circuit training with probiotics (CTP). Participants in the CT and CTP groups performed circuit training 3 times/week with 2 circuits of exercises from weeks 1–8 followed by 3 circuits of exercises from weeks 9–12. Participants in the P and CTP groups consumed multi-strain probiotics containing 3 × 1010 colony-forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. lactis, L. casei, Bifidobacterium longum, B. bifidum and B. infantis twice daily for 12 weeks. Measurements of body height and weight, blood pressure, resting heart rate, blood samples, and isokinetic muscular strength and power were carried out at pre- and post-tests. Isokinetic knee strength and power in CT and CTP groups were significantly higher (P < 0.05) at post-test. In addition, interleukin (IL)-10 concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.0001) at post-test in P and CT but a trend toward significant increase in CTP (P = 0.09). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in IL-6. This study suggests that 12 weeks of circuit training alone and the combination of circuit training and probiotic consumption improved muscular performance while circuit training alone and probiotics alone increased IL-10 concentration.
Experimental study of spreading characteristics of droplet impacting on canopy fabric surface
Authors: Cheng Han , Qiu Chao , Zhou Changchun , Sun Xuebin , Yang Rui
Published: October 2017

A new experiment based on visualization technology is designed to study the spreading characteristics of droplet impacting on canopy fabric. The processes of droplet impacting on 66 type polyamide grid silk are captured. The experimental results show that the spreading characteristics are also affected by fabric pretension and fabric permeability. The pretension is favorable for the droplet to reach the final equilibrium stage. The impact velocity determines the initial kinetic energy and plays a major role in the droplet spreading. The fabric permeability determines the wettability and has different effects on spreading characteristics under different working conditions. In addition, the above factors can enhance the two competitive processes of spreading and imbibing at the same time. The spreading characteristics depend on which process is the dominant one.
MACsec-Based Security for Automotive Ethernet Backbones
Authors: Carnevale Berardino , Fanucci Luca , Bisase Samson , Hunjan Harman
Published: October 2017

The increasing complexity of automotive electronics and the communication of cars with the external environment have led to extensive security issues. The car industry is moving towards the use of Ethernet backbones to improve the performance and reduce the complexity of in-car networks. In this paper, we propose a security solution for automotive Ethernet-based communications. We designed a hardware Media Access Control (MAC) layer based on the MAC Security Standard (MACsec) that considers the specific constraints of the automotive world in terms of latency, throughput and area. From a security point of view, our solution guarantees the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of data. Furthermore, the system can be configured before synthesis to meet the security needs of the context in which the Ethernet communication is used. We synthesized our architecture on a low-power 28[Formula: see text]nm standard-cell CMOS technology, which is appropriate for automotive microcontrollers. The results show that our implementation is suitable for 100[Formula: see text]Mbps, 1[Formula: see text]Gbps and 10[Formula: see text]Gbps Ethernet speeds introducing less than 350[Formula: see text]ns of latency. The size of the circuit varies from 285 to 622 kgates depending on the required level of security and the required features.
Design of Low Voltage Low Power DC–DC Converters Using Adiabatic Technique
Authors: Kordetoodeshki Elham , Hassanzadeh Alireza
Published: October 2017

In this paper two low voltage, low power DC–DC converter circuits have been designed with input voltages as low as 290[Formula: see text]mV to 500[Formula: see text]mV. Adiabatic technique has been used to reduce power consumption and increase the efficiency of the charge pump of the converters. Boost converter circuits are simulated and the efficiency and power consumption are improved using adiabatic technique. Optimum capacitor bank and rise time–fall time values have been obtained for the adiabatic circuits. Power consumption for the doubler circuit with 310[Formula: see text]mV input decreases by 67% using adiabatic technique and 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS technology parameters.
Investigation of Seasonal and Latitudinal Effects on the Expression of Clock Genes in Drosophila
Authors: Hosseini Seyede Sanaz , Nazarimehr Fahimeh , Jafari Sajad
Published: October 2017

The primary goal in this work is to develop a dynamical model capturing the influence of seasonal and latitudinal variations on the expression of Drosophila clock genes. To this end, we study a specific dynamical system with strange attractors that exhibit changes of Drosophila activity in a range of latitudes and across different seasons. Bifurcations of this system are analyzed to peruse the effect of season and latitude on the behavior of clock genes. Existing experimental data collected from the activity of Drosophila melanogaster corroborate the dynamical model.
Perturbations of the Lanford System Which Do Not Change the Reflecting Function
Authors: Musafirov Eduard V.
Published: October 2017

For the Lanford system the set of admissible perturbations have been obtained. Reflecting functions of the set of admissible perturbed systems and the Lanford system coincide. This allows for investigating the admissible perturbed systems using outcomes of researches of the well-known Lanford system and the theory of reflecting function.
Quantifying the Role of Folding in Nonautonomous Flows: The Unsteady Double-Gyre
Authors: Sulalitha Priyankara K. G. D. , Balasuriya Sanjeeva , Bollt Erik
Published: October 2017

We analyze chaos in the well-known nonautonomous Double-Gyre system. A key focus is on folding, which is possibly the less-studied aspect of the “stretching+folding=chaos” mantra of chaotic dynamics. Despite the Double-Gyre not having the classical homoclinic structure for the usage of the Smale–Birkhoff theorem to establish chaos, we use the concept of folding to prove the existence of an embedded horseshoe map. We also show how curvature of manifolds can be used to identify fold points in the Double-Gyre. This method is applicable to general nonautonomous flows in two dimensions, defined for either finite or infinite times.
Bifurcation of Limit Cycles from a Class of Piecewise Smooth Systems with Two Vertical Straight Lines of Singularity
Authors: Gao Yunfei , Peng Linping , Liu Changjian
Published: October 2017

Perturbing the following systems [Formula: see text] having a linear center with two vertical straight lines ([Formula: see text]) of singularity inside the class of all piecewise polynomials of degree [Formula: see text], we give the estimate of the maximum number [Formula: see text] of limit cycles bifurcating from the period annulus around the center based on the argument principle and the first order averaging theory. It shows that [Formula: see text] is at least [Formula: see text] bigger than the maximum number of limit cycles bifurcating from the period annulus around the linear center with two parallel straight lines of singularity in [Li & Liu, 2015].
Bifurcation of Nonhyperbolic Limit Cycles in Piecewise Smooth Planar Systems with Finitely Many Zones
Authors: Li Yurong , Yuan Liping , Du Zhengdong
Published: October 2017

Like for smooth systems, it is very important to discuss the stability and bifurcation of limit cycles in a piecewise smooth planar system. Most of the previous works focus only on hyperbolic limit cycles. Few works have considered nonhyperbolic limit cycles. In fact, to date, no concrete examples of piecewise smooth planar system with nonhyperbolic limit cycles have been given in literature. In this paper, we consider for the first time the bifurcation of nonhyperbolic limit cycles in piecewise smooth planar systems with discontinuities on finitely many straight lines intersecting at the origin. We present a method of Melnikov type to derive two quantities which can be used to determine the stability and the number of limit cycles that can bifurcate from a nonhyperbolic limit cycle of a piecewise smooth planar system. As applications, we present two examples of piecewise smooth systems with two and three zones respectively whose unperturbed system has a nonhyperbolic limit cycle.
Subharmonic Bifurcation for a Nonsmooth Oscillator
Authors: Tian R. L. , Zhao Z. J. , Yang X. W. , Zhou Y. F.
Published: October 2017

A nonsmooth pendulum model with multiple impulse effect is constructed to detect the bifurcation of a periodic orbit with multiple jump discontinuous points. Subharmonic Melnikov function of this kind of nonsmooth systems is studied. Differences of subharmonic Melnikov function between the nonsmooth system with multiple jump discontinuities and the smooth system are analyzed by using the Hamiltonian function and piecewise integral method. Applying the recursive method and perturbation principle, the effects of the jump discontinuous points on the subharmonic Melnikov function are converted to integral items which can be easily calculated. Hence, the subharmonic Melnikov function for the subharmonic orbit with multiple jump discontinuous points is obtained. Finally, the existence conditions for periodic motion of the subharmonic orbit are derived and the efficiency of the conclusions is verified via numerical simulations.
Topological Dynamics of Zadeh’s Extension on Upper Semi-Continuous Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Wu Xinxing , Ding Xianfeng , Lu Tianxiu , Wang Jianjun
Published: October 2017

In this paper, some characterizations are obtained on the transitivity, mildly mixing property, a-transitivity, equicontinuity, uniform rigidity and proximality of Zadeh’s extensions restricted on some invariant closed subsets of all upper semi-continuous fuzzy sets in the level-wise metric. In particular, it is proved that a dynamical system is weakly mixing (resp., mildly mixing, weakly mixing and a-transitive, equicontinuous, uniformly rigid) if and only if the corresponding Zadeh’s extension is transitive (resp., mildly mixing, a-transitive, equicontinuous, uniformly rigid).
Interferometric gravitational wave detectors
Authors: Saulson Peter R.
Published: October 2017

Gravitational wave detection has now entered the era in which signals are being found. It is timely, therefore, to review the current detectors and how they work. This review focuses on the dramatic arc that links the earliest clear understanding of gravitational wave detection with the current generation of detectors. I will also discuss the prospects for expansion of the global network of gravitational wave detectors, with special attention to the role of LIGO-India.
The Puzzling of Zero-Point Energy Contribution to Black-Body Radiation Spectrum: The Role of Casimir Force
Authors: Reggiani L. , Alfinito E.
Published: October 2017

The role played by zero-point contribution in black-body radiation spectrum is investigated in connection with the presence of Casimir force. We assert that once mechanical stability for the physical system is established, there is no further role for zero-point contribution to the spectrum in full agreement with experimental evidence. As a direct consequence, Johnson–Nyquist noise in dissipative conductors, should be interpreted just in terms of thermal fluctuations only, thus neglecting quantum fluctuations predicted by [H. Callen and T. Welton, Irreversibility and generalized noise, Phys. Rev. 83 (1951) 34]. Casimir force between opposite metallic plates can be independently measured by its equilibration through application of a mechanical force and measuring it at a mechanical equilibrium.
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF AGE-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN BALANCE, MUSCLE STRENGTH, AND POSTURAL SWAY FOR THE RISK OF FALLING
Authors: CHOI JIN SEUNG , KANG DONG WON , SEO JEONG WOO , KIM TAE HO , CHO HAE MI , TACK GYE RAE
Published: October 2017

Fall is the main cause of activity decline for the elderly. In general, it has been known to be closely related to decline in muscle strength and physical balance. The age profile of the elderly has a very wide range from 60 to 90 or more. Therefore, this study was to determine age-specific risk factors for falling in elderly individuals. Elderly females were included either in the old group ([Formula: see text]75 years; [Formula: see text], with 11 fallers and 24 nonfallers) or the older group ([Formula: see text]75 years; [Formula: see text], with 14 fallers and 22 nonfallers). The following were assessed and compared between the age-based groups and between fall-based subgroups (fallers and nonfallers within a given age group): height, weight, mental state, balance on the Berg balance scale (BBS), muscle strength of nine muscle groups, and 20 variables of postural sway. The two age-based groups differed significantly in terms of height, weight, balance, and postural sway (total sway area, 95% ellipse area, root mean square, mean distance, and total power); on the other hand, the fall-based subgroups differed only in terms of the median frequency of postural sway. Furthermore, the strength of the hip abductors displayed an interaction effect between age and fall status, and the result of main effect analysis revealed significant differences between fallers from the two age-based groups. These results confirm that extraction of specific factors for each age group is necessary to perform fall detection and prevention studies for the healthy elderly.
Celebrating the past, present, and future of computing
Authors: Lee Timothy E. , Svegliato Justin
Published: October 2017

Timothy Lee and Justin Svegliato, two Student SIGAI Scholars, cover
The 50 Years of the ACM Turing Award Celebration
, which convened in San Francisco last June. The semi-centennial celebration addressed the past, present, and future advancements of computing, ranging from deep learning and ethics to augmented reality and quantum computing.
ACM SIGAI China
Authors: Dong Le , Yuan Man , Xu Ming-Liang , Wan Ji
Published: October 2017

The China Chapter of ACM SIGAI committees have been preparing ACM SIGAI China for a year. In March 2016, Le Dong and the ACM China council decided to establish

a new chapter-ACM SIGAI China

.
Risk detection and prediction from indoor tracking data
Authors: Ahmed Tanvir , Calders Toon , Lu Hua , Pedersen Torben Bach
Published: October 2017

Technologies such as RFID and Bluetooth have received considerable attention for tracking indoor moving objects. In a time-critical indoor tracking scenario such as airport baggage handling, a bag has to move through a sequence of locations until it is loaded into the aircraft. Inefficiency or inaccuracy at any step can make the bag risky, i.e., the bag may be delayed at the airport or sent to a wrong airport. In this paper, we discuss a risk detection and a risk prediction method for such kinds of indoor moving objects. We propose a data mining methodology for detecting risk factors from RFID baggage tracking data. The factors should identify potential issues in the baggage management. The paper presents the essential steps for pre-processing the unprocessed raw tracking data and discusses how to deal with the class imbalance problem present in the data set. Next, we propose an online risk prediction system for time constrained indoor moving objects, e.g., baggage in an airport. The target is to predict the risk of an object in real-time during its operation so that it can be saved before being mishandled. We build a probabilistic flow graph that captures object flow and transition times using least duration probability histograms, which in turn is used to obtain a risk score of an online object in risk prediction.
Electric vehicle charging
Authors: Aveklouris Angelos , Nakahira Yorie , Vlasiou Maria , Zwart Bert
Published: October 2017

The number of electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to increase. As a consequence, more EVs will need charging, potentially causing not only congestion at charging stations, but also in the distribution grid. Our goal is to illustrate how this gives rise to resource allocation and performance problems that are of interest to the Sigmetrics community.
A Case Study of Energy Efficiency on a Heterogeneous Multi-Processor
Authors: Oi Hitoshi
Published: October 2017

In this extended abstract, we present a case study of powerefficiency on a heterogeneous multi-core processor, Exynos 5422 based on the ARM big.LITTLE architecture. We show the effect of thermal management on the big (faster) cores and the comparisons between big and LITTLE (slower) cores using the EEMBC CoreMark-Pro benchmarks. As expected, the LITTLE cores are more energy efficient than the big cores at the maximum performances of both cores for all workloads. However, the big cores are similarly or more power efficient as LITTLE cores for 5 out of 9 workloads when the performance of both cores are matched by lowering the clock frequency of big cores. Delay-insertion for matching the performance is only effective for one workload, but it may be useful in a multi-programmed environment when the frequency of each core cannot be set independently (which is the case for Exynos).
Interdependencies in Critical Infrastructure Modeling
Authors: Kelic Andjelka
Published: October 2017

Critical infrastructures are highly interconnected both within an infrastructure sector and with one another. In many cases, there are also cyber systems that provide information or control to those infrastructures. Those dependencies can lead to unexpected consequences in the event of an incident. Simulation models that account for dependencies are critical to gain insight. This document provides an overview of accounting for dependencies in constructing simulation models and some of the associated challenges. The 9-1-1 system provides an example of a highly connected critical infrastructure system.
Monotonicity Properties and Spectral Characterization of Power Redistribution in Cascading Failures
Authors: Guo Linqi , Liang Chen , Low Steven H.
Published: October 2017

In this work, we apply spectral graph theory methods to study the monotonicity and structural properties of power redistribution in a cascading failure process. We demonstrate that in contrast to the lack of monotonicity in physical domain, there is a rich collection of monotonicity one can explore in the spectral domain, leading to a systematic way to define topological metrics that are monotonic. It is further shown that many useful quantities in cascading failure analysis can be unified into a spectral inner product, which itself is related to graphical properties of the transmission network. Such graphical interpretations precisely capture the Kirchhoff's law expressed in terms of graph structural properties and gauge the impact of a line when it is tripped.
Algorithms for Power Grid State Estimation after Cyber-Physical Attacks
Authors: Soltan Saleh , Zussman Gil
Published: October 2017

We present methods for estimating the state of the power grid following a cyber-physical attack. We assume that an adversary attacks an area by: (i) disconnecting some lines within that area (failed lines), and (ii) obstructing the information from within the area to reach the control center. Given the phase angles of the nodes outside the attacked area under either the DC or AC power flow models (before and after the attack), the provided methods can estimate the phase angles of the nodes and detect the failed lines inside the attacked area. The novelty of our approach is the transformation of the line failures detection problem, which is combinatorial in nature, to a convex optimization problem. As a result, our methods can detect any number of line failures in a running time that is independent of the number of failures and is solely dependent on the size of the attacked area.
Hydrogen sulfide: an agent of stability at the microbiome-mucosa interface
Authors: Wallace John L. , Motta Jean-Paul , Buret Andre G.
Published: October 2017

A diverse range of effects of the intestinal microbiota on mucosal defense and injury has become increasingly clear over the past decade. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an important mediator of many physiological functions, including gastrointestinal mucosal defense and repair. Hydrogen sulfide is produced by gastrointestinal tract tissues and by bacteria residing within the gut and can influence the function of a wide range of cells. The microbiota also appears to be an important target of hydrogen sulfide. H2S donors can modify the gut microbiota, and the gastrointestinal epithelium is a major site of oxidation of microbial-derived H2S. When administered together with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, H2S can prevent some of the dysbiosis those drugs induce, possibly contributing to the observed prevention of gastrointestinal damage. Exogenous H2S can also markedly reduce the severity of experimental colitis and plays important roles in modulating epithelial cell-mucus-bacterial interactions in the intestine, contributing to its ability to promote resolution of inflammation and repair of tissue injury. In this paper we review recent studies examining the roles of H2S in mucosal defense, the possibility that H2S can damage the gastrointestinal epithelium, and effects of H2S on the gut microbiota and on mucus and biofilm interactions in the context of intestinal inflammation.
Enhancement of phrenic long-term facilitation following repetitive acute intermittent hypoxia is blocked by the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose
Authors: MacFarlane P. M. , Vinit S. , Mitchell G. S.
Published: October 2017

Moderate acute intermittent hypoxia (mAIH) elicits a form of respiratory motor plasticity known as phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF). Preconditioning with modest protocols of chronic intermittent hypoxia enhances pLTF, demonstrating pLTF metaplasticity. Since “low-dose” protocols of repetitive acute intermittent hypoxia (rAIH) show promise as a therapeutic modality to restore respiratory (and nonrespiratory) motor function in clinical disorders with compromised breathing, we tested 1) whether preconditioning with a mild rAIH protocol enhances pLTF and hypoglossal (XII) LTF and 2) whether the enhancement is regulated by glycolytic flux. In anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated adult male Lewis rats, mAIH (three 5-min episodes of 10% O2) elicited pLTF (pLTF at 60 min post-mAIH: 49 ± 5% baseline). rAIH preconditioning (ten 5-min episodes of 11% O2/day with 5-min normoxic intervals, 3 times per week, for 4 wk) significantly enhanced pLTF (100 ± 16% baseline). XII LTF was unaffected by rAIH. When glycolytic flux was inhibited by 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) administered via drinking water (~80 mg·kg−1·day−1), pLTF returned to normal levels (58 ± 8% baseline); 2-DG had no effect on pLTF in normoxia-pretreated rats (59 ± 7% baseline). In ventral cervical (C4/5) spinal homogenates, rAIH increased inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA vs. normoxic controls, an effect blocked by 2-DG. However, there were no detectable effects of rAIH or 2-DG on several molecules associated with phrenic motor plasticity, including serotonin 2A, serotonin 7, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B, or VEGF mRNA. We conclude that modest, but prolonged, rAIH elicits pLTF metaplasticity and that a drug known to inhibit glycolytic flux (2-DG) blocks pLTF enhancement.
Orderly recruitment of thermoeffectors in resting humans
Authors: Schlader Zachary J. , Sackett James R. , Sarker Suman , Johnson Blair D.
Published: October 2017

The recruitment of thermoeffectors, including thermoregulatory behavior, relative to changes in body temperature has not been quantified in humans. We tested the hypothesis that changes in skin blood flow, behavior, and sweating or metabolic rate are initiated with increasing changes in mean skin temperature (Tskin) in resting humans. While wearing a water-perfused suit, 12 healthy young adults underwent heat (Heat) and cold stress (Cold) that induced gradual changes in Tskin. Subjects controlled the temperature of their dorsal neck to their perceived thermal comfort. Thus neck skin temperature provided an index of thermoregulatory behavior. Neck skin temperature (Tskin), core temperature (Tcore), metabolic rate, sweat rate, and nonglabrous skin blood flow were measured continually. Data were analyzed using segmental regression analysis, providing an index of thermoeffector activation relative to changes in Tskin. In Heat, increases in skin blood flow were observed with the smallest elevations in Tskin ( P < 0.01). Thermal behavior was initiated with an increase in Tskin of 2.4 ± 1.3°C (mean ± SD, P = 0.04), while sweating was observed with further elevations in Tskin (3.4 ± 0.5°C, P = 0.04), which coincided with increases in Tcore ( P = 0.98). In Cold, reductions in skin blood flow occurred with the smallest decrease in Tskin ( P < 0.01). Thermal behavior was initiated with a Tskin decrease of 1.5 ± 1.3°C, while metabolic rate ( P = 0.10) and Tcore ( P = 0.76) did not change throughout. These data indicate that autonomic and behavioral thermoeffectors are recruited in coordination with one another and likely in an orderly manner relative to the comparative physiological cost.