bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Trends in Noninvasive Insulin Delivery
Authors: Verma Arun , Kumar Nitin , Malviya Rishabha , Sharma Pramod Kumar
Published: May 2014

This paper deals with various aspects of oral insulin delivery system. Insulin is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by the elevated glucose level (above the normal range) in the blood stream, that is, hyperglycemia. Oral route of administration of any drug is the most convenient route. Development of oral insulin is still under research. Oral insulin will cause the avoidance of pain during the injection (in subcutaneous administration), anxiety due to needle, and infections which can be developed. Different types of enzyme inhibitors, like sodium cholate, camostat, mesilate, bacitracin, leupeptin, and so forth, have been used to prevent insulin from enzymatic degradation. Subcutaneous route has been used for administration of insulin, but pain and itching at the site of administration can occur. That is why various alternative routes of insulin administration like oral route are under investigation. In this paper authors summarized advancement in insulin delivery with their formulation aspects.
Synthesis of Nanocobalt Powders for an Anode Material of Lithium‐Ion Batteries by Chemical Reduction and Carbon Coating
Authors: Hong Seong-Hyeon , Jin Yeong-Mi , Kim Kyung Tae , Ahn Cheol-Woo , Park Dong-Su , Song Myoung Youp
Published: May 2014

Nanosized Co powders were prepared by a chemical reduction method with and without CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, C19H42BrN) and carbon‐coating heat treatment at 700°C for 1 h, and the electrochemical properties of the prepared nanosized Co powders were examined to evaluate their suitability as an anode material of Li‐ion batteries. Nanosized amorphous Co‐based powders could be synthesized by a chemical reduction method in which a reducing agent is added to a Co ion‐dissolved aqueous solution. When the prepared nanosized Co‐based powders were subjected to carbon‐coating heat treatment at 700°C for 1 h, the amorphous phase was crystallized, and a Co single phase could be obtained. The Co‐based powder prepared by chemical reduction with CTAB and carbon‐coating heat treatment had a smaller first discharge capacity (about 557 mAh/g) than the Co‐based powder prepared by chemical reduction without CTAB and carbon‐coating heat treatment (about 628 mAh/g). However, the former had a better cycling performance than the latter from the third cycle. The carbon‐coated layers are believed to have led to quite good cycling performances of the prepared Co‐based powders from the third cycle.
Effects and Mechanism of Bufei Yishen Formula in a Rat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model
Authors: Li Jiansheng , Yang Liping , Yao Qin , Li Ya , Tian Yange , Li Suyun , Jiang Suli , Wang Ying , Li Xinmin , Guo Zheng
Published: May 2014

Bufei Yishen Formula (BYF) has been used for centuries in Asia to effectively treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study established a COPD animal model in rats, wherein three groups (control, COPD, and BYF) were used to evaluate the mechanism(s) and curative effect of BYF. Pulmonary function and histomorphology demonstrated that BYF had an evident effect on COPD. Gene microarray was then exploited to analyze the effects of BYF on COPD. ClueGO analysis of differentially expressed genes indicated that BYF improved COPD by regulating expression of interleukins, myosin filament assembly components, and mitochondrial electron transport‐related molecules. Moreover, ELISA revealed that expression of several interleukins (IL1β, IL6, IL8,    and IL10) was reduced in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by BYF treatment. It was concluded that BYF has therapeutic effects on COPD in rats through its effects on interleukin expression and/or secretion. Furthermore, pharmacological or targeted expression of two differentially expressed genes,   F2R and    Sprik1, might be useful in novel COPD therapies. This study provides the basis for mechanisms of BYF on COPD and new therapeutic drug targets.
A Globally Convergent Matrix-Free Method for Constrained Equations and Its Linear Convergence Rate
Authors: Sun Min , Liu Jing
Published: May 2014

A matrix-free method for constrained equations is proposed, which is a combination of the well-known PRP (Polak-Ribière-Polyak) conjugate gradient method and the famous hyperplane projection method. The new method is not only derivative-free, but also completely matrix-free, and consequently, it can be applied to solve large-scale constrained equations. We obtain global convergence of the new method without any differentiability requirement on the constrained equations. Compared with the existing gradient methods for solving such problem, the new method possesses linear convergence rate under standard conditions, and a relax factorγis attached in the update step to accelerate convergence. Preliminary numerical results show that it is promising in practice.
High-Dimensional Additive Hazards Regression for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Microarray Data: A Comparative Study
Authors: Hamidi Omid , Tapak Lily , Jafarzadeh Kohneloo Aarefeh , Sadeghifar Majid
Published: May 2014

Microarray technology results in high-dimensional and low-sample size data sets. Therefore, fitting sparse models is substantial because only a small number of influential genes can reliably be identified. A number of variable selection approaches have been proposed for high-dimensional time-to-event data based on Cox proportional hazards where censoring is present. The present study applied three sparse variable selection techniques of Lasso, smoothly clipped absolute deviation and the smooth integration of counting, and absolute deviation for gene expression survival time data using the additive risk model which is adopted when the absolute effects of multiple predictors on the hazard function are of interest. The performances of used techniques were evaluated by time dependent ROC curve and bootstrap .632+ prediction error curves. The selected genes by all methods were highly significant(P<0.001). The Lasso showed maximum median of area under ROC curve over time (0.95) and smoothly clipped absolute deviation showed the lowest prediction error (0.105). It was observed that the selected genes by all methods improved the prediction of purely clinical model indicating the valuable information containing in the microarray features. So it was concluded that used approaches can satisfactorily predict survival based on selected gene expression measurements.
RhoA Controls Wnt Upregulation on Microstructured Titanium Surfaces
Authors: Lumetti Simone , Mazzotta Silvia , Ferrillo Sara , Piergianni Maddalena , Piemontese Marilina , Passeri Giovanni , Macaluso Guido Maria , Galli Carlo
Published: May 2014

Rough topography enhances the activation of Wnt canonical signaling in vitro, and this mediates its effects on cell differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying topography-dependent control of Wnt signaling are still poorly understood. As the small GTPase RhoA controls cytoskeletal reorganization and actomyosin-induced tensional forces, we hypothesized that RhoA could affect the activation of Wnt signaling in cells on micropatterned titanium surfaces. G-LISA assay revealed that RhoA activation was higher in C2C12 cells on rough (SLA) surfaces under basal conditions than on smooth (Polished) titanium. Transfection with dominant negative RhoA decreased Wnt activation by normalized TCF-Luc activity on SLA, whilst transfection with constitutively active RhoA increased TCF-Luc activation on Polished titanium. One mM Myosin II inhibitor Blebbistatin increased RhoA activation but decreased Wnt activation on SLA surfaces, indicating that tension-generating structures are required for canonical Wnt modulation on titanium surfaces. Actin inhibitor Cytochalasin markedly enhanced RhoA and TCF-Luc activation on both surfaces and increased the expression of differentiation markers in murine osteoblastic MC3T3 cells. Taken together, these data show that RhoA is upregulated in cells on rough surfaces and it affects the activation of Wnt canonical signaling through Myosin II modulation.
Quadrature Rules and Iterative Method for Numerical Solution of Two-Dimensional Fuzzy Integral Equations
Authors: Sadatrasoul S. M. , Ezzati R.
Published: May 2014

We introduce some generalized quadrature rules to approximate two-dimensional, Henstock integral of fuzzy-number-valued functions. We also give error bounds for mappings of bounded variation in terms of uniform modulus of continuity. Moreover, we propose an iterative procedure based on quadrature formula to solve two-dimensional linear fuzzy Fredholm integral equations of the second kind (2DFFLIE2), and we present the error estimation of the proposed method. Finally, some numerical experiments confirm the theoretical results and illustrate the accuracy of the method.
Use of Rice Husk-Bark Ash in Producing Self-Compacting Concrete
Authors: Rukzon Sumrerng , Chindaprasirt Prinya
Published: May 2014

This paper presents the use of blend of Portland cement with rice husk-bark ash in producing self-compacting concrete (SCC). CT was partially replaced with ground rice husk-bark ash (GRHBA) at the dosage levels of 0%–40% by weight of binder. Compressive strength, porosity, chloride penetration, and corrosion of SCC were determined. Test results reveal that the resistance to chloride penetration of concrete improves substantially with partial replacement of CT with a blend of GRHBA and the improvement increases with an increase in the replacement level. The corrosion resistances of SCC were better than the CT concrete. In addition, test results indicated that the reduction in porosity was associated with the increase in compressive strength. The porosity is a significant factor as it affects directly the durability of the SCC. This work is suggested that the GHRBA is effective for producing SCC with 30% of GHRBA replacement level.
A Bioinspired Adaptive Congestion‐Avoidance Routing for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Qiong Huang , Pengfei Yin , Qianbin Chen , Pu Gong , Xiaolong Yang
Published: May 2014

Traditional mobile Ad Hoc network routing protocols are mainly based on the Shortest Path, which possibly results in many congestion nodes that incur routing instability and rerouting. To mitigate the side‐efforts, this paper proposed a new bioinspired adaptive routing protocol (ATAR) based on a mathematics biology model ARAS. This paper improved the ARAS by reducing the randomness and by introducing a new routing‐decision metric “the next‐hop fitness” which was denoted as the congestion level of node and the length of routing path. In the route maintenance, the nodes decide to forward the data to next node according to a threshold value of the fitness. In the recovery phase, the node will adopt random manner to select the neighbor as the next hop by calculation of the improved ARAS. With this route mechanism, the ATAR could adaptively circumvent the congestion nodes and the rerouting action is taken in advance. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation results show that the ATAR protocol outperforms AODV and MARAS in terms of delivery ratio, ETE delay, and the complexity. In particular, ATAR can efficiently mitigate the congestion.
Real‐Time Visualization System for Deep‐Sea Surveying
Authors: Li Yujie , Lu Huimin , Zhang Lifeng , Li Jianru , Serikawa Seiichi
Published: May 2014

Remote robotic exploration holds vast potential for gaining knowledge about extreme environments, which is difficult to be accessed by humans. In the last two decades, various underwater devices were developed for detecting the mines and mine‐like objects in the deep‐sea environment. However, there are some problems in recent equipment, like poor accuracy of mineral objects detection, without real‐time processing, and low resolution of underwater video frames. Consequently, the underwater objects recognition is a difficult task, because the physical properties of the medium, the captured video frames, are distorted seriously. In this paper, we are considering use of the modern image processing methods to determine the mineral location and to recognize the mineral actually within a little computation complex. We firstly analyze the recent underwater imaging models and propose a novel underwater optical imaging model, which is much closer to the light propagation model in the underwater environment. In our imaging system, we remove the electrical noise by dual‐tree complex wavelet transform. And then we solve the nonuniform illumination of artificial lights by fast guided trilateral bilateral filter and recover the image color through automatic color equalization. Finally, a shape‐based mineral recognition algorithm is proposed for underwater objects detection. These methods are designed for real‐time execution on limited‐memory platforms. This pipeline is suitable for detecting underwater objects in practice by our experiences. The initial results are presented and experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed real‐time visualization system.
A New Approach to Reducing Search Space and Increasing Efficiency in Simulation Optimization Problems via the Fuzzy‐DEA‐BCC
Authors: Miranda Rafael de Carvalho , Montevechi José Arnaldo Barra , Silva Aneirson Francisco da , Marins Fernando Augusto Silva
Published: May 2014

The development of discrete‐event simulation software was one of the most successful interfaces in operational research with computation. As a result, research has been focused on the development of new methods and algorithms with the purpose of increasing simulation optimization efficiency and reliability. This study aims to define optimum variation intervals for each decision variable through a proposed approach which combines the data envelopment analysis with the Fuzzy logic (Fuzzy‐DEA‐BCC), seeking to improve the decision‐making units’ distinction in the face of uncertainty. In this study, Taguchi’s orthogonal arrays were used to generate the necessary quantity of DMUs, and the output variables were generated by the simulation. Two study objects were utilized as examples of mono‐ and multiobjective problems. Results confirmed the reliability and applicability of the proposed method, as it enabled a significant reduction in search space and computational demand when compared to conventional simulation optimization techniques.
The Relationship between the Efficacy of Tonsillectomy and Renal Pathology in the Patients with IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Nomura Tsutomu , Makizumi Yoshimi , Yoshida Tsuyoshi , Yamasoba Tatsuya
Published: May 2014

Objective.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tonsillectomy as a treatment for IgA nephropathy in relation to renal pathological findings.Methods.This is a retrospective analysis of 13 patients having IgA nephropathy treated by tonsillectomy.Results.UP/UCre levels decreased from 820.8 to 585.4 one month postsurgery and then showed slight worsening to 637.3 at the most recent follow-up. There was no significant difference in the improvement rate between pathological grades I–III and IV. There was positive correlation between Pre-UP/UCre level and the reduction rate of UP/UCre, which was statistically significant (R = 0.667,R2 = 0.445, andP=0.01).Conclusions.Reduction of UP/UCre at one month postsurgery is considered to be an overall prognostic factor, and tonsillectomy is considered to be an effective therapy for IgA patients regardless of the grade of renal pathology.
Salvage Therapy of Multiple Myeloma: The New Generation Drugs
Authors: Romano Alessandra , Conticello Concetta , Cavalli Maide , Vetro Calogero , Di Raimondo Cosimo , Di Martina Valentina , Schinocca Elena , La Fauci Alessia , Parrinello Nunziatina Laura , Chiarenza Annalisa , Di Raimondo Francesco
Published: May 2014

During the past decade, overall results of treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) have been improved and survival curves are now significantly better with respect to those obtained with historical treatment. These improvements are linked to a deeper knowledge of the biology of disease and to the introduction in clinical practice of drugs with different mechanism of action such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs). However, MM remains in most cases an incurable disease. For patients who relapse after treatment with novel agents, the prognosis is dismal and new drugs and therapeutic strategies are required for continued disease control. In this review, we summarize new insights in salvage therapy for relapsed/refractory MM as emerging from recent clinical trials exploring the activity of bendamustine, new generation proteasome inhibitors, novel IMiDs, monoclonal antibodies, and drugs interfering with growth pathways.
Growth and Replication of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in the DF-1 Cell Line and Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts
Authors: Rekha Kaliyaperumal , Sivasubramanian Chandran , Chung Ill-Min , Thiruvengadam Muthu
Published: May 2014

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes a highly contagious disease in young chicks and leads to significant economic losses in the poultry industry. To determine a suitable cell line for IBDV infection, replication, and growth kinetics of the virus, DF-1 cells and chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) were used. The population doubling per day (Pd/D) was found to be higher in DF-1 as compared to CEF cells. A suitable time of infection (TOI) was established for increased production of virus and greater infectivity titers. The DF-1 and CEF cells were found to be susceptible to infection by producing marked cytopathic effects (CPEs), and the growth curves of IBDV in DF-1 and CEF cells were evaluated by infectivity assay using tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50). The cytopathic effects of the virus in DF-1 and CEF cells were found to be similar, but higher viral titers were detected in the DF-1 cells as compared to CEF. Thus the DF-1 cell line had a higher growth potential and infectivity, which will be of advantage in vaccine production.
Risk Management at the Macroeconomy Level and Development in Developing Countries
Authors: Dao Minh Quang
Published: May 2014

This paper examines the impact of risk management at the macroeconomy level on economic development in developing countries. Based on data from the World Bank, we use a sample of sixty-three developing economies and find that selected indicators related to risk management at the macroeconomy level do have a statistically significant effect on economic development in these countries. We observe that high inflation rates do not seem to statistically affect economic development even though the coefficient estimate of this variable does have the anticipated negative sign. Regression results show that almost sixty percent of cross-developing country variations in purchasing power parity per capita gross national income can be explained by its linear dependency on the share of international reserves in the GDP and the Worldwide Governance Indicators average. Statistical results of such empirical examination will assist governments in developing countries identify risk management strategies at the macroeconomy level that may be used as powerful instruments for economic development.
Effect of Light-Activated Hypocrellin B on the Growth and Membrane Permeability of Gram-NegativeEscherichia coliCells
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Leung Wingnang , Tang Qingjuan , Zhang Hongwei , Xu Chuanshan
Published: May 2014

Aim. To investigate the effect of light-activated hypocrellin B on the growth and membrane permeability of Gram-negative bacteria.Methods.Escherichia coli(E. coli) as a model bacterium of Gram-negative bacteria was incubated with various concentrations of hypocrellin B for 60 min and was subsequently irradiated by blue light with wavelength of 470 nm at the dose of 12 J/cm2. Colony forming units were counted and the growth inhibition rate ofE. colicells was calculated after light-activated hypocrellin B. Membrane permeability was measured using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) with propidium iodide (PI) staining. Bacterial morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reactive oxygen species in bacterial cells were measured using flow cytometry with DCFH-DA staining.Results. Significant growth inhibition rate ofE. colicells was observed after photodynamic action of hypocrellin B. Remarkable damage to the ultrastructure ofE. coliwas also observed by TEM. Flow cytometry and CLSM observation showed that light-activated hypocrellin B markedly increased membrane permeability ofE. coli. Flow cytometry showed the intracellular ROS increase inE. colitreated by photodynamic action of hypocrellin B.Conclusion. Light-activated hypocrellin B caused intracellular ROS increase and structural damages and inhibited the growth of Gram-negativeE. colicells.
The Investigation of Reducing PAHs Emission from Coal Pyrolysis by Gaseous Catalytic Cracking
Authors: Wang Yulong , Zhao Ruifang , Zhang Chun , Li Guanlong , Zhang Jing , Li Fan
Published: May 2014

The catalytic cracking method of PAHs for the pyrolysis gaseous products is proposed to control their pollution to the environment. In this study, the Py-GC-MS is used to investigate in situ the catalytic effect of CaO and Fe2O3on the 16 PAHs from Pingshuo coal pyrolysis under different catalytic temperatures and catalyst particle sizes. The results demonstrate that Fe2O3is effective than that of CaO for catalytic cracking of 16 PAHs and that their catalytic temperature corresponding to the maximum PAHs cracking rates is different. The PAHs cracking rate is up to 60.59% for Fe2O3at 600°C and is 52.88% at 700°C for CaO. The catalytic temperature and particle size of the catalysts have a significant effect on PAHs cracking rate and CaO will lose the capability of decreasing 16 PAHs when the temperature is higher than 900°C. The possible cracking process of 16 PAHs is deduced by elaborately analyzing the cracking effect of the two catalysts on 16 different species of PAHs.
The Research Trends and the Effectiveness of Smart Learning
Authors: Ha Ilkyu , Kim Chonggun
Published: May 2014

The introduction of useful microblogging services like Twitter derives significant changes in various areas of society. The smart tools such as mobile devices and microblogging services have led to great changes in the traditional way of education. It is possible to access good quality educational contents and methods in a more convenient way. Although a lot of smart tools have been applied for educational application, there are only limited researches that demonstrate the educational effectiveness of smart tools through experiment considerations. In this study, research documents about smart learning from 2007 have been treated based on 5 major searching sites; we investigate the research trends of smart learning of education. The opinion of the researchers about the educational use of smart tools is analyzed. Then, through substantial experiment, we are acquainted that the smart tools have a positive effect on the educational environment. As a practical application, the Twitter microblogging service is used for educational communications in 2 classes of a university during a semester. As a result, we can find that smart tools contribute to increase the efficiency of education, but learners and teachers need to pay considerable efforts on the use of smart tools to achieve the purpose.
The Melatonin Receptor Agonist Ramelteon Effectively Treats Insomnia and Behavioral Symptoms in Autistic Disorder
Authors: Kawabe Kentaro , Horiuchi Fumie , Oka Yasunori , Ueno Shu-ichi
Published: May 2014

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including autistic disorder, frequently suffer from comorbid sleep problems. An altered melatonin rhythm is considered to underlie the impairment in sleep onset and maintenance in ASD. We report three cases with autistic disorder in whom nocturnal symptoms improved with ramelteon, a selective melatonin receptor agonist. Insomnia and behavior, assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale, improved in two cases with 2 mg ramelteon and in the third case with 8 mg ramelteon. Our findings demonstrate that ramelteon is effective not only for insomnia, but for behavioral problems as well, in patients with autistic disorder.
Does Propolis Contain Tannins?
Authors: Mayworm Marco A. S. , Lima Carolina A. , Tomba Augusto C. B. , Fernandes-Silva Caroline C. , Salatino Maria L. F. , Salatino Antonio
Published: May 2014

Although polyphenols have been reported as common constituents of propolis, tannins have rarely been mentioned as its constituents. Propolis samples from seven localities in Brazil were analyzed for detection of proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins) and determination of the tannin content. Positive reaction for proanthocyanidins was observed for all samples tested. The contents of tannins varied in the range 0.6–4.1%. A high degree of correlation was noted between total phenols and tannin content. Red and green propolis contained high contents of tannins, while in brown propolis the content was lower. It is suggested that the contents of tannins should be a parameter to be considered in propolis characterization.
Gene Expression Profiling of Colorectal Tumors and Normal Mucosa by Microarrays Meta-Analysis Using Prediction Analysis of Microarray, Artificial Neural Network, Classification, and Regression Trees
Authors: Chu Chi-Ming , Yao Chung-Tay , Chang Yu-Tien , Chou Hsiu-Ling , Chou Yu-Ching , Chen Kang-Hua , Terng Harn-Jing , Huang Chi-Shuan , Lee Chia-Cheng , Su Sui-Lun , Liu Yao-Chi , Lin Fu-Gong , Wetter Thomas , Chang Chi-Wen
Published: May 2014

Background. Microarray technology shows great potential but previous studies were limited by small number of samples in the colorectal cancer (CRC) research. The aims of this study are to investigate gene expression profile of CRCs by pooling cDNA microarrays using PAM, ANN, and decision trees (CART and C5.0).Methods. Pooled 16 datasets contained 88 normal mucosal tissues and 1186 CRCs. PAM was performed to identify significant expressed genes in CRCs and models of PAM, ANN, CART, and C5.0 were constructed for screening candidate genes via ranking gene order of significances.Results. The first screening identified 55 genes. The test accuracy of each model was over 0.97 averagely. Less than eight genes achieve excellent classification accuracy. Combining the results of four models, we found the top eight differential genes in CRCs; suppressor genes,CA7, SPIB, GUCA2B, AQP8, IL6RandCWH43;oncogenes,SPP1andTCN1. Genes of higher significances showed lower variation in rank ordering by different methods.Conclusion. We adopted a two-tier genetic screen, which not only reduced the number of candidate genes but also yielded good accuracy (nearly 100%). This method can be applied to future studies. Among the top eight genes,CA7,TCN1, andCWH43have not been reported to be related to CRC.
Preparation and Application of Sustained-Release Potassium Ferrate(VI)
Authors: Xu Xuan , Wei Wei , Tao Ping , Zhang Yan
Published: May 2014

In this study, a composite system for the sustained release of potassium ferrate(VI) (sustained-release K2FeO4) was prepared and applied for water treatment. The objective of this research was to maximize the effectiveness of K2FeO4for water treatment by enhancing its stability using diatomite. The sustained-release K2FeO4was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that no new crystal phase was formed during the preparation and some K2FeO4crystals entered the pores of the diatomite. From K2FeO4release experiments, we found that the decomposition rate of K2FeO4was obviously decreased, which greatly improved the contact rate between released K2FeO4and pollutants. Via degradation of methyl orange, which was used as a model pollutant, the influential factor of K2FeO4content within the complete sustained-release K2FeO4system was studied. The optimal K2FeO4content within the sustained-release K2FeO4system was approximately 70%. In natural water samples, sustained-release K2FeO4at a dosage of 0.06 g/L and with a reaction time of 20 minutes removed 36.84% of soluble microbial products and 17.03% of simple aromatic proteins, and these removal rates were better than those observed after traditional chlorine disinfection.
Path‐Wise Test Data Generation Based on Heuristic Look‐Ahead Methods
Authors: Xing Ying , Gong Yun-Zhan , Wang Ya-Wen , Zhang Xu-Zhou
Published: May 2014

Path‐wise test data generation is generally considered an important problem in the automation of software testing. In essence, it is a constraint optimization problem, which is often solved by search methods such as backtracking algorithms. In this paper, the backtracking algorithm branch and bound and state space search in artificial intelligence are introduced to tackle the problem of path‐wise test data generation. The former is utilized to explore the space of potential solutions and the latter is adopted to construct the search tree dynamically. Heuristics are employed in the look‐ahead stage of the search. Dynamic variable ordering is presented with a heuristic rule to break ties, values of a variable are determined by the monotonicity analysis on branching conditions, and maintaining path consistency is achieved through analysis on the result of interval arithmetic. An optimization method is also proposed to reduce the search space. The results of empirical experiments show that the search is conducted in a basically backtrack‐free manner, which ensures both test data generation with promising performance and its excellence over some currently existing static and dynamic methods in terms of coverage. The results also demonstrate that the proposed method is applicable in engineering.
High Capacity Reversible Watermarking for Audio by Histogram Shifting and Predicted Error Expansion
Authors: Wang Fei , Xie Zhaoxin , Chen Zuo
Published: May 2014

Being reversible, the watermarking information embedded in audio signals can be extracted while the original audio data can achieve lossless recovery. Currently, the few reversible audio watermarking algorithms are confronted with following problems: relatively low SNR (signal-to-noise) of embedded audio; a large amount of auxiliary embedded location information; and the absence of accurate capacity control capability. In this paper, we present a novel reversible audio watermarking scheme based on improved prediction error expansion and histogram shifting. First, we use differential evolution algorithm to optimize prediction coefficients and then apply prediction error expansion to output stego data. Second, in order to reduce location map bits length, we introduced histogram shifting scheme. Meanwhile, the prediction error modification threshold according to a given embedding capacity can be computed by our proposed scheme. Experiments show that this algorithm improves the SNR of embedded audio signals and embedding capacity, drastically reduces location map bits length, and enhances capacity control capability.
Numerical Simulation of the Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition in Inhomogeneous Mixtures
Authors: Ettner Florian , Vollmer Klaus G. , Sattelmayer Thomas
Published: May 2014

In this study the hazardous potential of flammable hydrogen-air mixtures with vertical concentration gradients is investigated numerically. The computational model is based on the formulation of a reaction progress variable and accounts for both deflagrative flame propagation and autoignition. The model is able to simulate the deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) without resolving all microscopic details of the flow. It works on relatively coarse grids and shows good agreement with experiments. It is found that a mixture with a vertical concentration gradient can have a much higher tendency to undergo DDT than a homogeneous mixture of the same hydrogen content. In addition, the pressure loads occurring can be much higher. However, the opposite effect can also be observed, with the decisive factor being the geometric boundary conditions. The model gives insight into different modes of DDT. Detonations occurring soon after ignition do not necessarily cause the highest pressure loads. In mixtures with concentration gradient, the highest loads can occur in regions of very low hydrogen content. These new findings should be considered in future safety studies.
S-Calprotectin (S100A8/S100A9): A Potential Marker of Inflammation in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Hansson Claes , Eriksson Catharina , Alenius Gerd-Marie
Published: May 2014

Objective. To analyse levels of S100A8/S100A9 (calprotectin) and selected cytokines, in blood, in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods. Sixty-five patients with PsA were examined for clinical manifestations and laboratory measurements of S-calprotectin, ESR, hs-CRP, and selected cytokines. Thirty-two patients had mono-/oligoarthritis and 33 had polyarthritis. S-calprotectin, hs-CRP, and cytokines were measured using ELISA, immunoturbidimetry, and multiplex technology (Bio-Plex). Patients with PsA were compared with 31 healthy controls.Results. S-calprotectin and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with PsA compared with controls (P<0.001andP<0.001, resp.). Patients suffering a polyarthritic disease pattern presented with significantly higher levels of S-calprotectin compared with controls and patients with mono-/oligoarthritis (P<0.001andP=0.017, resp.). The levels of S-calprotectin correlated with hs-CRP (P<0.001;rs=0.441), swollen joint count (P=0.002,rs=0.397), and CXCL10 (P=0.046,rs=0.678) but not with any of the other cytokines evaluated. In multiple logistic regression analysis, S-calprotectin was the only variable significantly associated with psoriatic arthritis (P=0.002,OR=1.006, 95% CI = 1.002–1.010).Conclusion. S-calprotectin and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with PsA. A polyarthritic disease pattern showed higher levels of S-calprotectin than mono-/oligoarthritis. S-calprotectin is considered a potential marker of disease activity in patients with PsA.
Effects of Acute Bleeding Followed by Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 or a Crystalloid on Propofol Concentrations, Cerebral Oxygenation, and Electroencephalographic and Haemodynamic Variables in Pigs
Authors: Silva Aura , Ortiz Ana Liza , Venâncio Carlos , Souza Almir P. , Ferreira Luísa Maria , Branco Paula Sério , de Pinho Paula Guedes , Amorim Pedro , Ferreira David A.
Published: May 2014

Bleeding changes the haemodynamics, compromising organ perfusion. In this study, the effects of bleeding followed by replacement with hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES) or lactated Ringer’s (LR) on cerebral oxygenation and electroencephalogram-derived parameters were investigated. Twelve young pigs under propofol-remifentanil anaesthesia were bled 30 mL/kg and, after a 20-minute waiting period, volume replacement was performed with HES (GHES;N=6) or LR (GRL;N=6). Bleeding caused a decrease of more than 50% in mean arterial pressure (P<0.01) and a decrease in cerebral oximetry (P=0.039), bispectral index, and electroencephalogram total power (P=0.04andP<0.01, resp.), while propofol plasma concentrations increased (P<0.01). Both solutions restored the haemodynamics and cerebral oxygenation similarly and were accompanied by an increase in electroencephalogram total power. No differences between groups were found. However, one hour after the end of the volume replacement, the cardiac output (P=0.03) and the cerebral oxygenation (P=0.008) decreased in the GLRand were significantly lower than in GHES(P=0.02). Volume replacement with HES 130/0.4 was capable of maintaining the cardiac output and cerebral oxygenation during a longer period than LR and caused a decrease in the propofol plasma concentrations.
A Simple Method to Stabilize Radiation Pattern over a Large Bandwidth
Authors: Zhang Haiyang , Mahe Yann , Razban Tchanguiz , Toutain Serge
Published: May 2014

An alternative radiation stabilization method has been presented for patch antenna. With this method, side radiation could be suppressed when a conductor ring and a circular slot both with the width of a quarter-wavelength are placed on the same layer and around patch antenna. An experimental structure has been simulated and the distance l from antenna part to conductor ring is optimized using parametric function of HFSS software. Measured results given in this paper obviously indicate that not only the side radiation from the boundary of substrate could be suppressed effectively, but also the antenna directivity could be adjusted and enhanced after this method has been carried out. Both simulation and measurement indicate that when the distance l is set to one guided wavelength (λg), side radiation could be suppressed the most effectively and the return loss of patch antenna is only slightly affected.
Norm and Essential Norm of Composition Followed by Differentiation from Logarithmic Bloch Spaces toHμ∞
Authors: Ye Shanli
Published: May 2014

In this note we express the norm of composition followed by differentiationDCφfrom the logarithmic Bloch and the little logarithmic Bloch spaces to the weighted spaceHμ∞on the unit disk and give an upper and a lower bound for the essential norm of this operator from the logarithmic Bloch space toHμ∞.
Metabolic Syndrome: An Important Risk Factor for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Zhang Pei , Tian Bo
Published: May 2014

Metabolic syndrome is becoming commoner due to a rise in obesity rates among adults. Generally speaking, a person with metabolic syndrome is twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease and five times as likely to develop diabetes as someone without metabolic syndrome. Increasing oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome and Parkinson’s disease is mentioned in the comprehensive articles; however, the system review about clear relation between metabolic syndrome and Parkinson’s disease is deficient. In this review, we will focus on the analysis that the metabolic syndrome may be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease and the preventions that reduce the incident of Parkinson’s disease by regulating the oxidative stress.
Intrauterine Growth Retardation Fetus with Trisomy 16 Mosaicism
Authors: Chareonsirisuthigul Takol , Worawichawong Suchin , Parinayok Rachanee , Promsonthi Patama , Rerkamnuaychoke Budsaba
Published: May 2014

Fetal trisomy 16 is considered uniformly lethal early in gestation. It has been reported to be associated with the variability of clinical features and outcomes. Mosaic trisomy 16 leads to a high risk of abnormality in prenatal cases. Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a common outcome of mosaic trisomy 16. Herein, we report on the case of Thai male IUGR fetus with trisomy 16 mosaicism. The fetal body was too small. Postmortem investigation of placenta revealed the abnormality including small placenta with furcated cord insertion and single umbilical cord artery. Cytogenetic study demonstrated trisomy 16 that was found 100% in placenta and only 16% in the fetal heart while other organs had normal karyotype. In addition, cardiac and other internal organs examination revealed normal morphology.
Utility of Intraoperative Parathormone Assay as an Index to Successful Parathyroidectomy
Authors: Shenoy Ranjeetha , Behl Arun , Pawar Tushar
Published: May 2014

Introduction. Surgery is the definitive treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). Focused approaches for excision of single gland pathology are gaining popularity. Preoperative parathyroid localization and intraoperative parathormone (IOPTH) assay are essential components of successful parathyroidectomy using focused approach. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of IOPTH in patients undergoing surgery for PHP. Methods. Retrospective review of twelve patients who underwent surgery for PHP at tertiary corporate hospital in Mumbai, India, between January 2009 and December 2012. Results. IOPTH had true results in 10 patients (83%) and led to unnecessary further exploration in 1 patient (8%). The concordance rate between ultrasonogram, sestamibi, and IOPTH was 66%. The mean decay of IOPTH was 65%, and all patients were normocalcemic at the end of six months. Conclusion. IOPTH is a useful adjunct to predict successful removal of the involved gland.
Generalized Lagging Response of Thermoelastic Beams
Authors: El-Sirafy Ibrahim H. , Abdou Mohamed A. , Awad Emad
Published: May 2014

The vibrations of Euler‐Bernoulli metal beam are accommodated in the present study by taking into account the possibility of activating the microstructural effects, captured by the temperature gradient phase lag, in the fast transient process captured by the heat flux phase lag. The thermal moment is approximated as the difference between the top and the bottom surface temperatures (Massalas and Kalpakidis 1983). Three generalizations of the Biot model of thermomechanics are considered: Lord‐Shulman, dual‐phase‐lag (Tzou 1997), and modified dual‐phase‐lag (Awad 2012). It is found that when the response time is shortened, the material dimensions are small, or when the method of heating is changed, the dual‐phase‐lag model records a significant decrease in the lattice variables. The spurious serrations of the classical thermoelastic wave are smoothed in the dual‐phase‐lag wave. The dual‐phase‐lag thermoelasticity is the closest macroscopic approach to the ultrafast model (Chen et al. 2002).
Peganum harmalaL. Intoxication in a Pregnant Woman
Authors: Berdai Mohamed Adnane , Labib Smael , Harandou Mustapha
Published: May 2014

Peganum harmalaL. is a plant widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. It is commonly used in traditional medicine in Morocco as sedative and abortifacient but exposes users to the risk of overdose and poisoning. The pharmacologically active compounds of this plant include a number ofβ-carboline and quinazoline alkaloids responsible of its pharmacological and toxicological effects. We report the case of a 24-year-old woman, 22 weeks pregnant, intoxicated with the seeds ofPeganum harmalaL. On admission, she had disturbance of consciousness, uterine contraction, and oliguria. Laboratory tests revealed renal failure and liver injury, and she benefited then from hemodialysis. During hospitalization, she was intubated after deterioration of consciousness and presented a spontaneous expulsion of the fetus. After extubation, she kept unusual sequelae: cerebellar ataxia and peripheral polyneuropathy. Physicians in regions usingPeganum harmalaL. as traditional medicine must be able to detect symptoms of its toxicity, in order to establish early gastrointestinal decontamination. The prognosis of this intoxication is variable; most cases can be managed successfully; but in high doses of intoxication, evolution can be fatal.
Climate-Related Variation in Body Dimensions within Four Lacertid Species
Authors: Volynchik Stanislav
Published: May 2014

A close relationship between habitat and external morphology is widespread among many animals, including reptiles. Here, I studied the relationship between abiotic environmental conditions and body size of four lacertid species (Phoenicolacerta laevis, Ophisops elegans, Acanthodactylus boskianus,andMesalina guttulata) occurring in Israel. I examined the effect of average annual temperature and average annual precipitation on body and limb dimensions, using linear statistical models. Temperature- and precipitation-related geographic clines in body size showed the same trend among all species. Females displayed stronger phenotypic response to temperature gradient than conspecific males, suggesting a sex-specific effect of natural selection. Snout-vent length (SVL) was negatively correlated with temperature, supporting Bergmann’s rule inO. elegansand in femaleP. laevisandA. boskianus, but not inM. guttulata.Precipitation was positively related to SVL inO. elegansandM. guttulata, and in femaleP. laevisandA. boskianus.The relative extremity lengths, especially hind limb segments, generally increase towards hot and dry locations, following Allen’s rule. Among the Mediterranean region species (P. laevis, O. elegans) the morphological-environmental link with temperature was stronger than in desert dwellers (A. boskianus, M. guttulata), for which precipitation was the major determinant of spatial variation.
A Rare Case of Continuous Type Splenogonadal Fusion in a Young Male with Primary Infertility
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Jayant Kumar , Agrawal Swati , Parmar Kalpesh Mahesh , Singh Shrawan Kumar
Published: May 2014

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare developmental anomaly in which an abnormal connection between splenic tissue and gonads or mesonephric derivatives is present. Here we present a case of young man with the complaint of primary infertility for 3 years. On evaluation (USG and MRI abdomen and pelvis), his right scrotal testis was atrophied and left intra-abdominal undescended testis. On laparoscopic assessment, a mass was seen on the left side due to continuous type of splenogonadal fusion for which excision and left orchidectomy were done. Postoperative period was uneventful and he was discharged under satisfactory condition. Splenogonadal fusion is a rare entity and it is commonly mistaken for testicular tumour. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of testicular masses especially when there are associated congenital anomalies and preoperative laparoscopic assessment, should be done to avoid unnecessary radical surgery.
Serum Parathyroid Hormone Is a New Potential Risk Factor in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Kang Min-Gu , Won Eun-Jeong , Choi Hyun-Woo , Kim Hye-Ran , Choi Hyun-Jung , Park Hye-Ri , Shin Jong-Hee , Suh Soon-Pal , Ryang Dong-Wook , Shin Myung-Geun
Published: May 2014

We hypothesized that serum PTH might be associated with various clinicopathological parameters in multiple myeloma (MM). So we investigated the implications of serum PTH in MM patients and the relationship with other risk factors of MM. A total of 115 patients who were newly diagnosed with MM were enrolled. Serum PTH level was 24.7 ± 34.9 (ranged 0.0–284.1) pg/mL. Serum levels of IgG, IgM, FLC-lambda, albumin, and LDH were in positive correlation with serum PTH. Compared to non-high PTH (<68.3 pg/mL) group, the hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival was higher for group with high PTH level (≥68.3 pg/mL) (HR, 1.710). Furthermore, the patient group with high PTH level showed inferior progression-free survival than non-high PTH group (P=0.056). Interestingly, subgroup analysis showed that serum PTH level at diagnosis was associated with risk factors and clinical outcome in MM patients, especially in complete remission group, transplantation cases, ISS stage II cases, and cases without chromosome abnormality. In conclusion, this study showed that blood PTH level in MM at diagnosis was associated with risk factors and clinical outcome in MM patients.
A Pseudospectral Algorithm for Solving Multipantograph Delay Systems on a Semi-Infinite Interval Using Legendre Rational Functions
Authors: Doha E. H. , Baleanu D. , Bhrawy A. H. , Hafez R. M.
Published: May 2014

A new Legendre rational pseudospectral scheme is proposed and developed for solving numerically systems of linear and nonlinear multipantograph equations on a semi-infinite interval. A Legendre rational collocation method based on Legendre rational-Gauss quadrature points is utilized to reduce the solution of such systems to systems of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations. In addition, accurate approximations are achieved by selecting few Legendre rational-Gauss collocation points. The numerical results obtained by this method have been compared with various exact solutions in order to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. Indeed, for relatively limited nodes used, the absolute error in our numerical solutions is sufficiently small.