bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Excretion of NaCl and KCl loads in mosquitoes. 2. Effects of the small molecule Kir channel modulator VU573 and its inactive analog VU342
Authors: Rouhier Matthew F. , Hine Rebecca M. , Park Seokhwan Terry , Raphemot Rene , Denton Jerod , Piermarini Peter M. , Beyenbach Klaus W.
Published: July 2014

The effect of two small molecules VU342 and VU573 on renal functions in the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti was investigated in vitro and in vivo. In isolated Malpighian tubules, VU342 (10 μM) had no effect on the transepithelial secretion of Na+, K+, Cl−, and water. In contrast, 10 μM VU573 first stimulated and then inhibited the transepithelial secretion of fluid when the tubules were bathed in Na+-rich or K+-rich Ringer solution. The early stimulation was blocked by bumetanide, suggesting the transient stimulation of Na-K-2Cl cotransport, and the late inhibition of fluid secretion was consistent with the known block of AeKir1, an Aedes inward rectifier K+channel, by VU573. VU342 and VU573 at a hemolymph concentration of about 11 μM had no effect on the diuresis triggered by hemolymph Na+or K+loads. VU342 at a hemolymph concentration of 420 μM had no effect on the diuresis elicited by hemolymph Na+or K+loads. In contrast, the same concentration of VU573 significantly diminished the Na+diuresis by inhibiting the urinary excretion of Na+, Cl−, and water. In K+-loaded mosquitoes, 420 μM VU573 significantly diminished the K+diuresis by inhibiting the urinary excretion of K+, Na+, Cl−, and water. We conclude that 1) the effects of VU573 observed in isolated Malpighian tubules are overwhelmed in vivo by the diuresis triggered with the coinjection of Na+and K+loads, and 2) at a hemolymph concentration of 420 μM VU573 affects Kir channels systemically, including those that might be involved in the release of diuretic hormones.
Inhibition of smooth muscle force generation by focal adhesion kinase inhibitors in the hyperplastic human prostate
Authors: Kunit Thomas , Gratzke Christian , Schreiber Andrea , Strittmatter Frank , Waidelich Raphaela , Rutz Beata , Loidl Wolfgang , Andersson Karl-Erik , Stief Christian G. , Hennenberg Martin
Published: July 2014

Smooth muscle contraction may be critical for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and requires stable anchorage of the cytoskeleton to the cell membrane. These connections are regulated by focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Here, we addressed the involvement of FAK in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction in hyperplastic human prostate tissues. Prostate tissues were obtained from radical prostatectomy. Expression of FAK and focal adhesion proteins was assessed by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical stainings. Effects of the FAK inhibitors PF-573228 and Y-11 on contraction of prostate strips were examined in the organ bath. Expression of FAK and focal adhesion proteins (integrin-5α, paxilin, and c-Src) was detected by Western blot analysis in prostate samples. By double immunofluorescence staining with calponin and pan-cytokeratin, expression of FAK was observed in stromal and epithelial cells. Immunoreactivity for FAK colocalized with integrin-5α, paxilin, talin, and c-Src. Stimulation of prostate tissues with the α1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine increased the phosphorylation state of FAK at Tyr397 and Tyr925 with different kinetics, which was blocked by the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist tamsulosin. Norepinephrine and phenylephrine induced concentration-dependent contractions of prostate strips. Both FAK inhibitors PF-573228 and Y-11 significantly inhibited norepinephrine- and phenylephrine-induced contractions. Finally, PF-573228 and Y-11 inhibited contractions induced by electric field stimulation, which was significant at the highest frequency. In conclusion, α1-adrenergic smooth muscle contraction or its regulation involves FAK in the human prostate. Consequently, FAK may be involved in the pathophysiology of LUTS and in current or future LUTS therapies.
Expression of a novel stress-inducible protein, sestrin 2, in rat glomerular parietal epithelial cells
Authors: Hamatani Hiroko , Hiromura Keiju , Sakairi Toru , Takahashi Satoshi , Watanabe Mitsuharu , Maeshima Akito , Ohse Takamoto , Pippin Jeffery W. , Shankland Stuart J. , Nojima Yoshihisa
Published: July 2014

Sestrin 2, initially identified as a p53 target protein, accumulates in cells exposed to stress and inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. In normal rat kidneys, sestrin 2 was selectively expressed in parietal epithelial cells (PECs), identified by the marker protein gene product 9.5. In adriamycin nephropathy, sestrin 2 expression decreased in PECs on day 14, together with increased expression of phosphorylated S6 ribosomal protein (P-S6RP), a downstream target of mTOR. Sestrin 2 expression was markedly decreased on day 42, coinciding with glomerulosclerosis and severe periglomerular fibrosis. In puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy, decreased sestrin 2 expression, increased P-S6RP expression, and periglomerular fibrosis were observed on day 9, when massive proteinuria developed. These changes were transient and nearly normalized by day 28. In crescentic glomerulonephritis, sestrin 2 expression was not detected in cellular crescents, whereas P-S6RP increased. In conditionally immortalized cultured PECs, the forced downregulation of sestrin 2 by short hairpin RNA resulted in increased expression of P-S6RP and increased apoptosis. These data suggest that sestrin 2 is involved in PEC homeostasis by regulating the activity of mTOR. In addition, sestrin 2 could be a novel marker of PECs, and decreased expression of sestrin 2 might be a marker of PEC injury.
Shared muscle synergies in human walking and cycling
Authors: Barroso Filipe O. , Torricelli Diego , Moreno Juan C. , Taylor Julian , Gomez-Soriano Julio , Bravo-Esteban Elisabeth , Piazza Stefano , Santos Cristina , Pons José L.
Published: July 2014

The motor system may rely on a modular organization (muscle synergies activated in time) to execute different tasks. We investigated the common control features of walking and cycling in healthy humans from the perspective of muscle synergies. Three hypotheses were tested: 1) muscle synergies extracted from walking trials are similar to those extracted during cycling; 2) muscle synergies extracted from one of these motor tasks can be used to mathematically reconstruct the electromyographic (EMG) patterns of the other task; 3) muscle synergies of cycling can result from merging synergies of walking. A secondary objective was to identify the speed (and cadence) at which higher similarities emerged. EMG activity from eight muscles of the dominant leg was recorded in eight healthy subjects during walking and cycling at four matched cadences. A factorization technique [nonnegative matrix factorization (NNMF)] was applied to extract individual muscle synergy vectors and the respective activation coefficients behind the global muscular activity of each condition. Results corroborated hypotheses 2 and 3, showing that 1) four synergies from walking and cycling can successfully explain most of the EMG variability of cycling and walking, respectively, and 2) two of four synergies from walking appear to merge together to reconstruct one individual synergy of cycling, with best reconstruction values found for higher speeds. Direct comparison of the muscle synergy vectors of walking and the muscle synergy vectors of cycling ( hypothesis 1) produced moderated values of similarity. This study provides supporting evidence for the hypothesis that cycling and walking share common neuromuscular mechanisms.
Persistence of the dark-background-contingent gaze upshift during visual fixations of rhesus monkeys
Authors: Spivak Oleg , Thier Peter , Barash Shabtai
Published: July 2014

During visual fixations, the eyes are directed so that the image of the target (object of interest) falls on the fovea. An exception to this rule was described in macaque monkeys (though not in humans): dark background induces a gaze shift upwards, sometimes large enough to shift the target's image off the fovea. In this article we address an aspect not previously rigorously studied, the time course of the upshift. The time course is critical for determining whether the upshift is indeed an attribute of visual fixation or, alternatively, of saccades that precede the fixation. These alternatives lead to contrasting predictions regarding the time course of the upshift (durable if the upshift is an attribute of fixation, transient if caused by saccades). We studied visual fixations with dark and bright background in three monkeys. We confined ourselves to a single upshift-inducing session in each monkey so as not to study changes in the upshift caused by training. Already at their first sessions, all monkeys showed clear upshift. During the first 0.5 s after the eye reached the vicinity of the target, the upshift was on average larger, but also more variable, than later in the trial; this initial high value 1) strongly depended on target location and was maximal at locations high on the screen, and 2) appears to reflect mostly the intervals between the primary and correction saccades. Subsequently, the upshift stabilized and remained constant, well above zero, throughout the 2-s fixation interval. Thus there is a persistent background-contingent upshift genuinely of visual fixation.
Efficient Big Integer Multiplication and Squaring Algorithms for Cryptographic Applications
Authors: Jahani Shahram , Samsudin Azman , Subramanian Kumbakonam Govindarajan
Published: July 2014

Public-key cryptosystems are broadly employed to provide security for digital information. Improving the efficiency of public-key cryptosystem through speeding up calculation and using fewer resources are among the main goals of cryptography research. In this paper, we introduce new symbols extracted from binary representation of integers called Big-ones. We present a modified version of the classical multiplication and squaring algorithms based on the Big-ones to improve the efficiency of big integer multiplication and squaring in number theory based cryptosystems. Compared to the adopted classical and Karatsuba multiplication algorithms for squaring, the proposed squaring algorithm is 2 to 3.7 and 7.9 to 2.5 times faster for squaring 32-bit and 8-Kbit numbers, respectively. The proposed multiplication algorithm is also 2.3 to 3.9 and 7 to 2.4 times faster for multiplying 32-bit and 8-Kbit numbers, respectively. The number theory based cryptosystems, which are operating in the range of 1-Kbit to 4-Kbit integers, are directly benefited from the proposed method since multiplication and squaring are the main operations in most of these systems.
Mathematical Simulation of Heat and Mass Transfer Processes at the Ignition of Liquid Fuel by Concentrated Flux of Radiation
Authors: Vysokomornaya Olga V. , Kuznetsov Genii V. , Strizhak Pavel A.
Published: July 2014

The physical and forecasting mathematical models of heat and mass transfer with phase transformations and chemical reactions under heating and following ignition of typical liquid fuel by using concentrated flow of radiation were developed. The influence scales of energy absorption process by means of gas‐vapor mixture and liquid on ignition characteristics were established. The ignition delay time dependencies on the concentrated luminous power and radius of its coverage were determined.
Implicit Numerical Solutions for Solving Stochastic Differential Equations with Jumps
Authors: Du Ying , Mei Changlin
Published: July 2014

To realize the applications of stochastic differential equations with jumps, much attention has recently been paid to the construction of efficient numerical solutions of the equations. Considering the fact that the use of the explicit methods often results in instability and inaccurate approximations in solving stochastic differential equations, we propose two implicit methods, theθ-Taylor method and the balancedθ-Taylor method, for numerically solving the stochastic differential equation with jumps and prove that the numerical solutions are convergent with strong order 1.0. For a linear scalar test equation, the mean-square stability regions of the methods are derived. Finally, numerical examples are given to evaluate the performance of the methods.
Generalized Models for Rock Joint Surface Shapes
Authors: Du Shigui , Hu Yunjin , Hu Xiaofei
Published: July 2014

Generalized models of joint surface shapes are the foundation for mechanism studies on the mechanical effects of rock joint surface shapes. Based on extensive field investigations of rock joint surface shapes, generalized models for three level shapes named macroscopic outline, surface undulating shape, and microcosmic roughness were established through statistical analyses of 20,078 rock joint surface profiles. The relative amplitude of profile curves was used as a borderline for the division of different level shapes. The study results show that the macroscopic outline has three basic features such as planar, arc-shaped, and stepped; the surface undulating shape has three basic features such as planar, undulating, and stepped; and the microcosmic roughness has two basic features such as smooth and rough.
Strategy of Surgical Management of Peripheral Neuropathy Form of Diabetic Foot Syndrome in Ghana
Authors: Rdeini W. M. , Agbenorku P. , Mitish V. A.
Published: July 2014

Introduction.Foot disorders such as ulceration, infection, and gangrene which are often due to diabetes mellitus are some major causes of morbidity and high amputation.Aim.This study aims to use a group of methods for the management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in order to salvage the lower limb so as to reduce the rate of high amputations of the lower extremity.Materials and Methods.A group of different advanced methods for the management of DFU such as sharp debridement of ulcers, application of vacuum therapy, and other forms of reconstructive plastic surgical procedures were used. Data collection was done at 3 different hospitals where the treatments were given.Results.Fifty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the current study: femalesn=37(68.51%) and malesn=17(31.49%) with different stages of PEDIS classification. They underwent different methods of surgical management: debridement, vacuum therapy (some constructed from locally used materials), and skin grafting giving good and fast results. Only 4 had below knee amputations.Conclusion.Using advanced surgical wound management including reconstructive plastic surgical procedures, it was possible to reduce the rate of high amputations of the lower limb.
Optimal Control of Investment-Reinsurance Problem for an Insurer with Jump-Diffusion Risk Process: Independence of Brownian Motions
Authors: Sheng De-Lei , Rong Ximin , Zhao Hui
Published: July 2014

This paper investigates the excess-of-loss reinsurance and investment problem for a compound Poisson jump-diffusion risk process, with the risk asset price modeled by a constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model. It aims at obtaining the explicit optimal control strategy and the optimal value function. Applying stochastic control technique of jump diffusion, a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation is established. Moreover, we show that a closed-form solution for the HJB equation can be found by maximizing the insurer’s exponential utility of terminal wealth with the independence of two Brownian motionsW(t)andW1(t). A verification theorem is also proved to verify that the solution of HJB equation is indeed a solution of this optimal control problem. Then, we quantitatively analyze the effect of different parameter impacts on optimal control strategy and the optimal value function, which show that optimal control strategy is decreasing with the initial wealthxand decreasing with the volatility rate of risk asset price. However, the optimal value functionV(t;x;s)is increasing with the appreciation rateμof risk asset.
Prescribed Burning and Clear-Cutting Effects on Understory Vegetation in aPinus canariensisStand (Gran Canaria)
Authors: Arévalo José Ramón , Fernández-Lugo Silvia , García-Domínguez Celia , Naranjo-Cigala Agustín , Grillo Federico , Calvo Leonor
Published: July 2014

Prescribed fires are a powerful tool for reducing fire hazards by decreasing amounts of fuel. The main objective is to analyze the effects of prescribed burning on the understory vegetation composition as well as on the soil characteristics of a reforested stand ofPinus canariensis. The study attempts to identify the effects of the preburning treatment of cutting understory vegetation on the floristic parameters of the vegetation community. This study was carried out for two years following a prescribed fire in a Canarian pine stand. Cutting and burning treatment affected species composition and increased diversity. Burnt and cut plots were characterized by a diverse array of herbaceous species and by a lower abundance ofTeline microphylla(endemic legume), although burning apparently induced its germination. Cut treatment was more consistently differentiated from the control plots than burnt treatment. Soil K decreased after both treatments, pH slightly decreased after cutting, while P and Ca increased after fire. From an ecological point of view, prescribed burning is a better management practice than cutting the woody species of the understory. However, long-term studies would be necessary to evaluate the effects of fire intensity, season and frequency in which the prescribed burning is applied.
Describing the Access Network by means of Router Buffer Modelling: A New Methodology
Authors: Sequeira Luis , Fernández-Navajas Julián , Saldana Jose , Gállego José Ramón , Canales María
Published: July 2014

The behaviour of the routers’ buffer may affect the quality of service (QoS) of network services under certain conditions, since it may modify some traffic characteristics, as delay or jitter, and may also drop packets. As a consequence, the characterization of the buffer is interesting, especially when multimedia flows are transmitted and even more if they transport information with real-time requirements. This work presents a new methodology with the aim of determining the technical and functional characteristics of real buffers (i.e., behaviour, size, limits, and input and output rate) of a network path. It permits the characterization of intermediate buffers of different devices in a network path across the Internet.
Takayasu’s Arteritis and Crohn’s Disease in a Young Hispanic Female
Authors: Singh Namrata , Saurabh Shireesh , Tan Irene J.
Published: July 2014

Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are chronic inflammatory granulomatous disorders of undetermined etiology. TA is a large vessel vasculitis with a predilection for the aorta and its branches in young women of Asian descent; whereas CD has characteristic gastrointestinal manifestations more prevalent in young Caucasians. We describe a case of both diseases in a young Hispanic female, review the literature, and impart new insight on possible genetic linkage and the role of interleukin 12 B (IL-12B) as the common autoimmune mechanism and potential therapeutic target in this rare disease combination.
Geochemical Modeling of Trivalent Chromium Migration in Saline-Sodic Soil during Lasagna Process: Impact on Soil Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Lukman Salihu , Bukhari Alaadin , Al-Malack Muhammad H. , Mu’azu Nuhu D. , Essa Mohammed H.
Published: July 2014

Trivalent Cr is one of the heavy metals that are difficult to be removed from soil using electrokinetic study because of its geochemical properties. High buffering capacity soil is expected to reduce the mobility of the trivalent Cr and subsequently reduce the remedial efficiency thereby complicating the remediation process. In this study, geochemical modeling and migration of trivalent Cr in saline-sodic soil (high buffering capacity and alkaline) during integrated electrokinetics-adsorption remediation, called the Lasagna process, were investigated. The remedial efficiency of trivalent Cr in addition to the impacts of the Lasagna process on the physicochemical properties of the soil was studied. Box-Behnken design was used to study the interaction effects of voltage gradient, initial contaminant concentration, and polarity reversal rate on the soil pH, electroosmotic volume, soil electrical conductivity, current, and remedial efficiency of trivalent Cr in saline-sodic soil that was artificially spiked with Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, phenol, and kerosene. Overall desirability of 0.715 was attained at the following optimal conditions: voltage gradient 0.36 V/cm; polarity reversal rate 17.63 hr; soil pH 10.0. Under these conditions, the expected trivalent Cr remedial efficiency is 64.75 %.
A Full Ranking for Decision Making Units Using Ideal and Anti-Ideal Points in DEA
Authors: Barzegarinegad A. , Jahanshahloo G. , Rostamy-Malkhalifeh M.
Published: July 2014

We propose a procedure for ranking decision making units in data envelopment analysis, based on ideal and anti-ideal points in the production possibility set. Moreover, a model has been introduced to compute the performance of a decision making unit for these two points through using common set of weights. One of the best privileges of this method is that we can make ranking for all decision making units by solving only three programs, and also solving these programs is not related to numbers of decision making units. One of the other advantages of this procedure is to rank all the extreme and nonextreme efficient decision making units. In other words, the suggested ranking method tends to seek a set of common weights for all units to make them fully ranked. Finally, it was applied for different sets holding real data, and then it can be compared with other procedures.
The Evolution of Legislation in the Field of Medically Assisted Reproduction and Embryo Stem Cell Research in European Union Members
Authors: Busardò Francesco Paolo , Gulino Matteo , Napoletano Simona , Zaami Simona , Frati Paola
Published: July 2014

Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR), involving in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and research on embryos have created expectation to many people affected by infertility; at the same time it has generated a surplus of laws and ethical and social debates. Undoubtedly, MAR represents a rather new medical field and constant developments in medicine and new opportunities continue to defy the attempt to respond to those questions. In this paper, the authors reviewed the current legislation in the 28 EU member states trying to evaluate the different legislation paths adopted over the last 15 years and highlighting those EU countries with no specific legislation in place and MAR is covered by a general health Law and those countries in which there are no laws in this field but only “guidelines.” The second aim of this work has been to compare MAR legislation and embryo research in EU countries, which derive from different origins ranging from an extremely prohibitive approach versus a liberal one, going through a cautious regulatory approach.
Availability Allocation of Networked Systems Using Markov Model and Heuristics Algorithm
Authors: Li Ruiying , Liu Xiaoxi , Huang Ning
Published: July 2014

It is a common practice to allocate the system availability goal to reliability and maintainability goals of components in the early design phase. However, the networked system availability is difficult to be allocated due to its complex topology and multiple down states. To solve these problems, a practical availability allocation method is proposed. Network reliability algebraic methods are used to derive the availability expression of the networked topology on the system level, and Markov model is introduced to determine that on the component level. A heuristic algorithm is proposed to obtain the reliability and maintainability allocation values of components. The principles applied in the AGREE reliability allocation method, proposed by the Advisory Group on Reliability of Electronic Equipment, and failure rate‐based maintainability allocation method persist in our allocation method. A series system is used to verify the new algorithm, and the result shows that the allocation based on the heuristic algorithm is quite accurate compared to the traditional one. Moreover, our case study of a signaling system number 7 shows that the proposed allocation method is quite efficient for networked systems.
Antidepressant Fluoxetine Modulates the In Vitro Inhibitory Activity of Buffalo Brain Cystatin: A Thermodynamic Study Using UV and Fluorescence Techniques
Authors: Amin Fakhra , Bano Bilqees
Published: July 2014

Cystatins constitute a superfamily of homologous proteins. The major role of cystatins is to regulate the unwanted proteolysis and to protect the organism against endogenous proteases released from lysosomes, invading microorganisms and parasites that use cysteine proteases to enter the body. Imbalance in regulation of proteolytic activity may lead to a wide range of human diseases. An enormous progress has been made in understanding of protein degradation process under normal and pathological conditions; infact proteases are now clearly viewed as important drug targets. Fluoxetine a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is an antidepressant. It is used to treat major depressive disorders. In the present study binding of fluoxetine to cystatin was studied by UV and fluorescence quenching technique. Intrinsic fluorescence of fluoxetine complexed with purified buffalo brain cystatin (BC) was measured by selectively exciting the tryptophan residues. Gradual quenching was observed on complex formation. When cystatin was added to fluoxetine solutions at a molar ratio of 1 : 0.5, it not only quenched more than half of its fluorescence but also reduced the activity of cystatin. Stern-Volmer plots obtained from experiments carried out at 25°C showed the quenching of fluorescence to be a collisional phenomenon. Our results suggest the prime binding site for fluoxetine on BC to be at or near tryptophan residues. Fluoxetine quenched the fluorescence by a static process, which specifically indicates the formation of a complex.
Technique of Coaxial Frame in Reflection for the Characterization of Single and Multilayer Materials with Correction of Air Gap
Authors: Lamia Zarral , Farid Djahli , Fabien Ndagijimana
Published: July 2014

Techniques based on fixture probes in reflection are used in microwave reflectometry as a novel diagnostic tool for detection of skin cancers, for complex permittivity measurements on liquid samples and oil shale, and for complex dielectric permittivity of animals’ organs and tissues measurements in microwave band for the needs of modern veterinary medicine. In this work, we have developed a technique to characterize multilayer materials in a broadband frequency range. A coaxial probe in reflection has been specially developed for microelectronic substrate. Using SMA connector, loss tangent of 10−4and relative permittivity have been measured with an error of 0.145%. The extension of the coaxial probe in reflection technique to multilayer substrates such as Delrin and Teflon permitted to measure bilayer material provided the good knowledge of electrical parameters and dimensions of one layer. In the coaxial transmission line method, a factor that greatly influences the accuracy of the results is the air gaps between the material under test and the coaxial test fixture. In this paper, we have discussed the influence of the air gaps (using samples of 0.5 mm air gaps) and the measures that can be taken to minimize that influence when material is measured. The intrinsic values thus determined have been experimentally verified. We have described the structure of the test fixture, its calibration issues, and the experimental results. Finally, electromagnetism simulations showed that the best results can be obtained.
Model and Topological Characteristics of Power Distribution System Security Region
Authors: Xiao Jun , Zu Guo-qiang , Gong Xiao-xu , Wang Cheng-shan
Published: July 2014

As an important tool of transmission system dispatching, the region-based method has just been introduced into distribution area with the ongoing smart distribution grid initiatives. First, a more accurate distribution system security region (DSSR) model is proposed. The proposed model is based on detailed feeder-interconnected topology, and both substation transformer and feeder N-1 contingencies are considered. Second, generic characteristics of DSSR are discussed and mathematically proved. That is, DSSR is a dense set of which boundary has no suspension and can be expressed by several union subsurfaces. Finally, the results from both a test case and a practical case demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed modeling approach; the shape of DSSR is also illustrated by means of 2- and 3-dimensional visualization. Moreover, the DSSR-based assessment and control are preliminary illustrated to show the application of DSSR. The researches in this paper are fundamental work to develop new security region theory for future distribution systems.
A Review on the Modified Finite Point Method
Authors: Wu Nan-Jing , Chen Boe Shiun , Tsay Ting-Kuei
Published: July 2014

The objective of this paper is to make a review on recent advancements of the modified finite point method, named MFPM hereafter. This MFPM method is developed for solving general partial differential equations. Benchmark examples of employing this method to solve Laplace, Poisson, convection‐diffusion, Helmholtz, mild‐slope, and extended mild‐slope equations are verified and then illustrated in fluid flow problems. Application of MFPM to numerical generation of orthogonal grids, which is governed by Laplace equation, is also demonstrated.
Stability Analysis of a System of Exponential Difference Equations
Authors: Din Q. , Khan K. A. , Nosheen A.
Published: July 2014

We study the boundedness character and persistence, existence and uniqueness of positive equilibrium, local and global behavior, and rate of convergence of positive solutions of the following system of exponential difference equations:xn+1=(α1+β1e-xn+γ1e-xn-1)/(a1+b1yn+c1yn-1),yn+1=(α2+β2e-yn+γ2e-yn-1)/(a2+b2xn+c2xn-1), where the parametersαi, βi, γi, ai, bi, andcifori∈{1,2}and initial conditionsx0, x-1, y0, andy-1are positive real numbers. Furthermore, by constructing a discrete Lyapunov function, we obtain the global asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium. Some numerical examples are given to verify our theoretical results.
Runoff Potentiality of a Watershed through SCS and Functional Data Analysis Technique
Authors: Adham M. I. , Shirazi S. M. , Othman F. , Rahman S. , Yusop Z. , Ismail Z.
Published: July 2014

Runoff potentiality of a watershed was assessed based on identifying curve number (CN), soil conservation service (SCS), and functional data analysis (FDA) techniques. Daily discrete rainfall data were collected from weather stations in the study area and analyzed through lowess method for smoothing curve. As runoff data represents a periodic pattern in each watershed, Fourier series was introduced to fit the smooth curve of eight watersheds. Seven terms of Fourier series were introduced for the watersheds 5 and 8, while 8 terms of Fourier series were used for the rest of the watersheds for the best fit of data. Bootstrapping smooth curve analysis reveals that watersheds 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 are with monthly mean runoffs of 29, 24, 22, 23, 26, and 27 mm, respectively, and these watersheds would likely contribute to surface runoff in the study area. The purpose of this study was to transform runoff data into a smooth curve for representing the surface runoff pattern and mean runoff of each watershed through statistical method. This study provides information of runoff potentiality of each watershed and also provides input data for hydrological modeling.
Solving Fractional Diffusion Equation via the Collocation Method Based on Fractional Legendre Functions
Authors: Syam Muhammed , Al-Refai Mohammed
Published: July 2014

A formulation of the fractional Legendre functions is constructed to solve the generalized time-fractional diffusion equation. The fractional derivative is described in the Caputo sense. The method is based on the collection Legendre and path following methods. Analysis for the presented method is given and numerical results are presented.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Soluble Syndecan-1 in Pleural Malignancies
Authors: Mundt Filip , Heidari-Hamedani Ghazal , Nilsonne Gustav , Metintas Muzaffer , Hjerpe Anders , Dobra Katalin
Published: July 2014

Background. The distinction between malignant and benign pleural effusions is a diagnostic challenge today and measuring soluble biomarkers could add to the diagnostic accuracy. Syndecan-1 is a proteoglycan involved in various cellular functions and is cleaved from the cell surface in a regulated manner. The shed fragment, which can be recovered in effusion supernatant and in serum, retains its binding capacities, but often with different functions and signalling properties than the cell-bound form.Aim. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of soluble syndecan-1 in pleural effusions and sera from patients with pleural malignancies.Study Design. Using two cohorts of patients, we assessed the diagnostic and prognostic value of soluble syndecan-1 in pleural effusions and sera, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results. In pleural effusions, syndecan-1 distinguished malignant and benign diseases, with an odds ratio of 8.59 (95% CI 3.67 to 20.09). Furthermore, syndecan-1 in pleural effusions predicted a survival difference for patients with pleural metastatic disease and malignant mesothelioma of 11.2 and 9.2 months, respectively. However, no such effects were seen when syndecan-1 was measured in serum.Conclusion. Soluble syndecan-1 is a promising candidate biomarker for the cytopathological diagnosis and prognostication of malignant pleural effusions.
Improved Crosstalk Reduction on Multiview 3D Display by Using BILS Algorithm
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Hou Chunping
Published: July 2014

In multiview three-dimensional (3D) displays, crosstalk is one of the most annoying artefacts degrading the quality of the 3D image. In this paper, we present a system-introduced crosstalk measurement method and derive an improved crosstalk reduction method. The proposed measurement method is applied to measure the exact crosstalk among subpixels corresponding to different view images and the obtained results are very effective for crosstalk reduction method. Furthermore, an improved crosstalk reduction method is proposed to alleviate crosstalk by searching for the optimal integral intensity values of subpixels on the synthetic image. The derived algorithm based on modified Schnorr-Euchner strategy is implemented to seek the optimal solution to this box-constrained integer least squares (BILS) problem, such that the Euclidean distance between solution and its target decreases substantially. The method we develop is applicable to both multiview 3D parallax barrier displays and multiview 3D lenticular displays. Both simulation and experimental results indicate that the derived method is capable of improving 3D image quality more effectively than the existing method on multiview 3D displays.
Improvement of Power Flow Calculation with Optimization Factor Based on Current Injection Method
Authors: Wang Lei , Chen Chen , Shen Tao
Published: July 2014

This paper presents an improvement in power flow calculation based on current injection method by introducing optimization factor. In the method proposed by this paper, the PQ buses are represented by current mismatches while the PV buses are represented by power mismatches. It is different from the representations in conventional current injection power flow equations. By using the combined power and current injection mismatches method, the number of the equations required can be decreased to only one for each PV bus. The optimization factor is used to improve the iteration process and to ensure the effectiveness of the improved method proposed when the system is ill-conditioned. To verify the effectiveness of the method, the IEEE test systems are tested by conventional current injection method and the improved method proposed separately. Then the results are compared. The comparisons show that the optimization factor improves the convergence character effectively, especially that when the system is at high loading level andR/Xratio, the iteration number is one or two times less than the conventional current injection method. When the overloading condition of the system is serious, the iteration number in this paper appears 4 times less than the conventional current injection method.
A Selection Model to Logistic Centers Based on TOPSIS and MCGP Methods: The Case of Airline Industry
Authors: Chen Kou-Huang , Liao Chin-Nung , Wu Li-Chun
Published: July 2014

The location selection of a logistics center is a crucial decision relating to cost and benefit analysis in airline industry. However, it is difficult to be solved because there are many conflicting and multiple objectives in location problems. To solve the problem, this paper integrates fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) and multichoice goal programming (MCGP) to obtain an appropriate logistics center from many alternative locations for airline industry. The proposed method in this paper will offer the decision makers (DMs) to set multiple aspiration levels for the decision criteria. A numerical example of application is also presented.
Correlation between the Severity and Type of Acne Lesions with Serum Zinc Levels in Patients with Acne Vulgaris
Authors: Rostami Mogaddam Majid , Safavi Ardabili Nastaran , Maleki Nasrollah , Soflaee Maedeh
Published: July 2014

Acne vulgaris is the most common cutaneous disorder affecting adolescents and young adults. Some studies have reported an association between serum zinc levels and acne vulgaris. We aimed to evaluate the serum zinc level in patients with acne vulgaris and compare it with healthy controls. One hundred patients with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls were referred to our clinic. Acne severity was classified according to Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure serum zinc levels. Mean serum level of zinc in acne patients and controls was 81.31 ± 17.63 μg/dl and 82.63 ± 17.49 μg/dl, respectively. Although the mean serum zinc level was lower in acne group, it was not statistically significant (P=0.598). There was a correlation between serum zinc levels with severity and type of acne lesions. The results of our study suggest that zinc levels may be related to the severity and type of acne lesions in patients with acne vulgaris. Relative decrease of serum zinc level in acne patients suggests a role for zinc in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.
Reliability of a Fully Automated Interpretation ofγ-H2AX Foci in Lymphocytes of Moderately Trained Subjects under Resting Conditions
Authors: Heydenreich Juliane , Otto Christoph , Mayer Frank , Carlsohn Anja
Published: July 2014

Background. Analysis ofγ-H2AX foci is a promising approach to evaluate exercise-induced DNA damage. However, baseline levels and day-to-day variability ofγ-H2AX foci have not been investigated in healthy subjects at rest.Methods. Blood was taken from eight moderately trained healthy males (29 ± 3 yrs, 1.84 ± 0.03 m, and 85 ± 6 kg) at two separate days (M1/M2) after 24-hour exercise cessation. Number ofγ-H2AX foci per 100 lymphocytes (N), number of foci per affected lymphocyte (NAL), percentage of affected lymphocytes (PAL), and diameter (D) ofγ-H2AX foci were analyzed (mean ± SD). Differences between M1 and M2 were analyzed using pairedt-tests (α= 0.05). Day-to-day variability was evaluated by calculating the coefficients of variation (CV%), bias, and limits of agreement (LoA).Results. There were no statistically significant differences between M1 (N: 7.6 ± 4.4, NAL: 1.2 ± 0.2, PAL: 5.9 ± 2.6%, and D: 0.63 ± 0.07) and M2 (N: 8.4 ± 4.6, NAL: 1.3 ± 0.1, PAL: 6.9 ± 4.2%, and D: 0.66 ± 0.06). CV was calculated to be 98.5% (N), 88.9% (PAL), 11.3% (NAL), and 8.0% (D). Bias (LoA) was 0.75 (−15.2/13.7), −0.02 (−0.36/0.33), −1.0 (−11.9/9.9), and −0.04 (−0.16/0.09), respectively.Conclusions. Background level in healthy subjects is approximately 0.07 to 0.09γ-H2AX foci/cell. NAL and D are reliable measures.
Auricular Electroacupuncture Reduced Inflammation-Related Epilepsy Accompanied by Altered TRPA1, pPKCα, pPKCε, and pERk1/2 Signaling Pathways in Kainic Acid-Treated Rats
Authors: Lin Yi-Wen , Hsieh Ching-Liang
Published: July 2014

Background. Inflammation is often considered to play a crucial role in epilepsy by affecting iron status and metabolism. In this study, we investigated the curative effect of auricular acupuncture and somatic acupuncture on kainic acid- (KA-) induced epilepsy in rats.Methods. We established an epileptic seizure model in rats by KA (12 mg, ip). The 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) was applied at auricular and applied atZusanliandShangjuxu(ST36-ST37) acupoints for 20 min for 3 days/week for 6 weeks beginning on the day following the KA injection.Results. The electrophysiological results indicated that neuron overexcitation occurred in the KA-treated rats. This phenomenon could be reversed among either the auricular EA or ST36-ST37 EA treatment, but not in the sham-control rats. The Western blot results revealed that TRPA1, but not TRPV4, was upregulated by injecting KA and could be attenuated by administering auricular or ST36-ST37 EA, but not in the sham group. In addition, potentiation of TRPA1 was accompanied by increased PKCαand reduced PKCε. Furthermore, pERK1/2, which is indicated in inflammation, was also increased by KA. Furthermore, the aforementioned mechanisms could be reversed by administering auricular EA and could be partially reversed by ST36-ST37 EA.Conclusions. These results indicate a novel mechanism for treating inflammation-associated epilepsy and can be translated into clinical therapy.
Development and Application of Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Optical Amplification
Authors: Zhang Tong , Shan Feng
Published: July 2014

Propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) along the interface between a metal and a dielectric has attracted significant attention due to its unique optical properties, which has inspired a plethora of fascinating applications in photonics and optoelectronics. However, SPPs suffer from large attenuation because of the ohmic losses in the metal layer. It has become the main bottom‐neck problem for the development of high performance plasmonic devices. This limitation can be overcome by providing the material adjacent to the metal with optical gain. In this paper, a review of gain compensation to SPPs is presented. We focus on the spontaneous radiation amplification and simulated radiation amplification. The ohmic loss of metal was greatly improved by introducing optical gain. Then we introduce several gain mediums of dye doped, quantum dots, erbium ion, and semiconductor to compensate optical loss of SPPs. Using gain medium mentioned above can compensate losses and achieve many potential applications, for example, laser, amplifier, and LRSPP discussed.
A Closed-Loop Supply Chain Problem with Retailing and Recycling Competition
Authors: Xu Chuanchao , Li Bo , Lan Yanfei , Tang Yi
Published: July 2014

We investigate a durable product retailing and recycling problem in a closed-loop supply chain consisting of a single manufacturer and two competitive retailers, in which the manufacturer collects used products via retailers from the consumers and has sufficient channel power over the retailers to act as a Stackelberg leader; the retailers compete in retail products and recycling used products. In order to analyze the impact of retailing and recycling competitions on the profits of the manufacturer and the competitive retailers, two collection models (coordinated collection (ModelC) and decentralized collection (ModelD)) are established, respectively. Then, based on game theory, we derive the optimal retail price, the optimal repurchase price, and the optimal profits of the manufacturer and the retailers. The managerial insights demonstrate that more intense retailing competition induces the increase of the manufacturer's profits in both forward and reverse channels and retailers' profits in the forward channel and the decrease of retailers' profits in the reverse channel, while more intense recycling competition induces the decrease of the profits of the manufacturer and retailers in both forward and reverse channels. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed models.
On Some Classes of Double Difference Sequences of Interval Numbers
Authors: Mohiuddine S. A. , Raj Kuldip , Alotaibi Abdullah
Published: July 2014

The aim of this paper is to introduce some interval valued double difference sequence spaces by means of Musielak-Orlicz functionM=(Mij). We also determine some topological properties and inclusion relations between these double difference sequence spaces.
Subgeometric Ergodicity under Random-Time State-Dependent Drift Conditions
Authors: Lekgari Mokaedi V.
Published: July 2014

Motivated by possible applications of Lyapunov techniques in the stability of stochastic networks, subgeometric ergodicity of Markov chains is investigated. In a nutshell, in this study we take a look atf-ergodic general Markov chains, subgeometrically ergodic at rater, when the random-time Foster-Lyapunov drift conditions on a set of stopping times are satisfied.
An Intelligent System for Identifying Acetylated Lysine on Histones and Nonhistone Proteins
Authors: Lu Cheng-Tsung , Lee Tzong-Yi , Chen Yu-Ju , Chen Yi-Ju
Published: July 2014

Lysine acetylation is an important and ubiquitous posttranslational modification conserved in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This process, which is dynamically and temporally regulated by histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, is crucial for numerous essential biological processes such as transcriptional regulation, cellular signaling, and stress response. Since the experimental identification of lysine acetylation sites within proteins is time-consuming and laboratory-intensive, several computational approaches have been developed to identify candidates for experimental validation. In this work, acetylated protein data collected from UniProtKB were categorized into histone or nonhistone proteins. Support vector machines (SVMs) were applied to build predictive models by using amino acid pair composition (AAPC) as a feature in a histone model. We combined BLOSUM62 and AAPC features in a nonhistone model. Furthermore, using maximal dependence decomposition (MDD) clustering can enhance the performance of the model on a fivefold cross-validation evaluation to yield a sensitivity of 0.863, specificity of 0.885, accuracy of 0.880, and MCC of 0.706. Additionally, the proposed method is evaluated using independent test sets resulting in a predictive accuracy of 74%. This indicates that the performance of our method is comparable with that of other acetylation prediction methods.
Sequence Alignment Tools: One Parallel Pattern to Rule Them All?
Authors: Misale Claudia , Ferrero Giulio , Torquati Massimo , Aldinucci Marco
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we advocate high-level programming methodology for next generation sequencers (NGS) alignment tools for both productivity and absolute performance. We analyse the problem of parallel alignment and review the parallelisation strategies of the most popular alignment tools, which can all be abstracted to a single parallel paradigm. We compare these tools to their porting onto the FastFlow pattern-based programming framework, which provides programmers with high-level parallel patterns. By using a high-level approach, programmers are liberated from all complex aspects of parallel programming, such as synchronisation protocols, and task scheduling, gaining more possibility for seamless performance tuning. In this work, we show some use cases in which, by using a high-level approach for parallelising NGS tools, it is possible to obtain comparable or even better absolute performance for all used datasets.