bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Investigation of Differential-Fed Ultra-Wideband Patch Antenna with Polarization Diversity
Authors: Wang Yanfang , Zhu Fuguo , Gao Steven
Published: November 2016

A novel single- or dual-polarized ultra-wideband (UWB) patch antenna fed by coupled feeding mechanism is proposed. The single-polarized antenna consists of a square ring patch and two Γ-shaped patches which are coupled to the radiating patch. The vertical portions of the Γ-shaped patches are connected to the microstrip lines which are printed on the bottom layer of the grounded FR4 substrate. To realize the differential feeding mechanism for enhancing the polarization purity, a tapered balun is employed to excite the antenna. Further to provide dual linear orthogonal polarizations, another pair of Γ-shaped patches is added in the single-polarized UWB antenna. The dual-polarized UWB antenna prototype can achieve two orthogonal polarizations with an impedance bandwidth (S11≤-10 dB) of 113% and isolation of over 25 dB across the entire frequency band.
Can We Accurately Time the Administration of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Labor?
Authors: Aghajanian Paola , Nguyen Quy T. , Greene Naomi H. , Gregory Kimberly D.
Published: November 2016

Background. Accurate timing of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) has resulted in improved neonatal outcomes.Objectives. Our primary objective was to determine predictors for optimal timing of ACS in women presenting with spontaneous preterm labor.Study Design. A retrospective cohort study of women receiving ACS for spontaneous preterm birth was conducted. Women were included if they presented with preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Accurate timing of ACS was defined as administration within 7 days of delivery. Maternal demographic and obstetrics characteristics were compared between the groups receiving ACS ≤7 days and >7 days from delivery. Statistical analyses were performed using parametric and nonparametric tests.P<0.05was considered significant.Results. The study included 215 subjects. Median latency from ACS administration to delivery was 6 days (IQR 32). Accurate timing of ACS occurred in 113 (53%) women and was associated with rupture of membranes (OR 13.8, 95% CI 5.9–32.6), cervical change (OR 7.1, 95% CI 3.0–17.1), and cervical dilation ≥ 2 cm (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.5–10.3).Conclusions. Rupture of membranes, cervical change, and cervical dilation ≥ 2 cm were strong predictors of optimal timing. 53% of women with preterm labor received ACS optimally.
Thermal Analysis for the Dense Granular Target of CIADS
Authors: Chen Kang , Yang Yongwei , Gao Yucui
Published: November 2016

For the China Initiative Accelerator Driven System (CIADS), the energy of the protons is 250 MeV, and the current intensity will reach 10 milliamperes. A new concept of a dense granular spallation target is proposed for which the tungsten granules are chosen as the target material. After being bombarded with the accelerated protons from the accelerator, the tungsten granules with high-temperature flow out of the subcritical reactor and the heat is removed by the heat exchanger. One key issue of the target is to remove the 2.5 MW heat deposition safely. Another one is the heat exchange between the target and the subcritical reactor. Based on the model of effective thermal conductivity, a new thermal code is developed in Matlab. The new code is used to calculate the temperature field of the target area near active zone and it is partly verified by commercial CFD code Fluent. The result shows that the peak temperature of the target zone is nearly 740°C and the reactor and the target are proved to be uncoupled in thermal process.
Orbital Infarction due to Sickle Cell Disease without Orbital Pain
Authors: McBride Cameron L. , Mai Kim-Binh T. , Kumar Kartik S.
Published: November 2016

Sickle cell disease is a hemoglobinopathy that results in paroxysmal arteriolar occlusion and tissue infarction that can manifest in a plurality of tissues. Rarely, these infarcted crises manifest in the bony orbit. Orbital infarction usually presents with acute onset of periorbital tenderness, swelling, erythema, and pain. Soft tissue swelling can result in proptosis and attenuation of extraocular movements. Expedient diagnosis of sickle cell orbital infarction is crucial because this is a potentially sight-threatening entity. Diagnosis can be delayed since the presentation has physical and radiographic findings mimicking various infectious and traumatic processes. We describe a patient who presented with sickle cell orbital crisis without pain. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in patients with known sickle cell disease or of African descent born outside the United States in a region where screening for hemoglobinopathy is not routine, even when the presentation is not classic.
Size and Proportions of Slow-Twitch and Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers in Human Costal Diaphragm
Authors: Meznaric Marija , Cvetko Erika
Published: November 2016

Smaller diaphragmatic motor unit potentials (MUPs) compared to MUPs of limb muscles lead to the hypothesis that diaphragmatic muscle fibers, being the generators of MUPs, might be also smaller. We compared autopsy samples of costal diaphragm and vastus lateralis of healthy men with respect to fibers’ size and expression of slow myosin heavy chain isoform (MyHC-1) and fast 2A isoform (MyHC-2A). Diaphragmatic fibers were smaller than fibers in vastus lateralis with regard to the mean minimal fiber diameter of slow-twitch (46.8 versus 72.2 μm,p<0.001), fast-twitch (45.1 versus 62.4 μm,p<0.001), and hybrid fibers (47.3 versus 65.0 μm,p<0.01) as well as to the mean fiber cross-sectional areas of slow-twitch (2376.0 versus 5455.9 μm2,p<0.001), fast-twitch (2258.7 versus 4189.7 μm2,p<0.001), and hybrid fibers (2404.4 versus 4776.3 μm2,p<0.01). The numerical proportion of slow-twitch fibers was higher (50.2 versus 36.3%,p<0.01) in costal diaphragm and the numerical proportion of fast-twitch fibers (47.2 versus 58.7%,p<0.01) was lower. The numerical proportion of hybrid fibers did not differ. Muscle fibers of costal diaphragm have specific characteristics which support increased resistance of diaphragm to fatigue.
Continuous Size-Dependent Sorting of Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles in Laser-Ablated Microchannel
Authors: Fan Yiqiang , Gao Feng , Li Huawei , Tang Gang , Zhuang Jian , Yu Bo
Published: November 2016

This paper reports a low-cost method of continuous size-dependent sorting of magnetic nanoparticles in polymer-based microfluidic devices by magnetic force. A neodymium permanent magnet was used to generate a magnetic field perpendicular to the fluid flow direction. Firstly, FeNi3 magnetic nanoparticles were chemically synthesized with diameter ranges from 80 nm to 200 nm; then, the solution of magnetic nanoparticles and a buffer were passed through the microchannel in laminar flow; the magnetic nanoparticles were deflected from the flow direction under the applied magnetic field. Nanoparticles in the microchannel will move towards the direction of high-gradient magnetic fields, and the degree of deflection depends on their sizes; therefore, magnetic nanoparticles of different sizes can be separated and finally collected from different output ports. The proposed method offers a rapid and continuous approach of preparing magnetic nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution from an arbitrary particle size distribution. The proposed new method has many potential applications in bioanalysis field since magnetic nanoparticles are commonly used as solid support for biological entities such as DNA, RNA, virus, and protein. Other than the size sorting application of magnetic nanoparticles, this approach could also be used for the size sorting and separation of naturally magnetic cells, including blood cells and magnetotactic bacteria.
Massive Ascites in a Renal Transplant Patient after Laparoscopic Fenestration of a Lymphocele
Authors: Kawaguchi Shohei , Nohara Takahiro , Shima Takashi , Matsuyama Satoko , Nose Chikako , Yamahana Junya , Kadono Yoshifumi , Seto Chikashi , Kawabata Masahiko , Mizokami Atsushi
Published: November 2016

Retroperitoneal lymphocele is a common complication of renal transplantation. Here, we report the case of a 67-year-old woman with massive ascites after fenestration surgery for a lymphocele that developed following renal transplantation. She had been on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for 9 years. Living donor renal transplantation was performed and an intrapelvic lymphocele subsequently developed. The lymphocele did not resolve after aspiration therapy; therefore, laparoscopic fenestration was performed. Although the lymphocele disappeared, massive ascites appeared in its stead. Half a year later, the ascites was surgically punctured, which then gradually resolved and disappeared 6 weeks later. Aspiration therapy should be considered in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis, although laparoscopic fenestration is safe and effective.
Electrochemical Investigation of Catechol at Poly(niacinamide) Modified Carbon Paste Electrode: A Voltammetric Study
Authors: Teradale A. B. , Lamani S. D. , Swamy B. E. Kumara , Ganesh P. S. , Das S. N.
Published: November 2016

A polymeric thin film modified electrode, that is, poly(niacinamide) modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE), was developed for the electrochemical determination of catechol (CC) by using cyclic voltammetric technique. Compared to bare carbon paste electrode (BCPE), the poly(niacinamide) MCPE shows good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of catechol in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of physiological pH 7.4. All experimental parameters were optimized. Poly(niacinamide) modified carbon paste electrode gave a linear response between concentration of CC and its anodic peak current in the range within 20.6–229.0 μM. The limit of detection (3S/M) and limit of quantification (10S/M) were 1.497 μM and 4.99 μM, respectively. From the study of scan rate variation, the electrode process was found to be adsorption-controlled. The involvement of protons and electrons in the oxidation of CC was found to be equal. The probable electropolymerisation mechanism of niacinamide was proposed. Finally, this method can be used in development of a sensor for sensitive determination of CC.
Analytical Model of Bolted Joint Structure and Its Nonlinear Dynamic Characteristics in Transient Excitation
Authors: Liao Xin , Zhang Jianrun , Xu Xiyan
Published: November 2016

The dynamic response of crucial components often depends upon the dynamic behavior of bolted connections. As is usually the case, the accurate modeling of structures with many mechanical joints remains a challenge work. The nonlinear behavior included in assembled structures strongly depends on the interface properties. In this paper, an analytical model of the simple bolted joint beam in tangential direction is first proposed for transient excitation, based on phenomenological model. The fourth-order Runge-Kutta method is employed to calculate the transient response, where the dynamic response of the nonlinear stiffness on system is also investigated. The simulation results show that natural frequency has a certain dependence on cubic stiffness term and cubic stiffness is more suitable for modeling of nonlinear system of a wider frequency range. Thereby, a series Iwan model containing cubic stiffness term is established to describe nonlinear behaviors of bolted joint beams in shear vibration. The amplitude-frequency curves show that the influence of interaction between nonlinear stiffness and damping mechanism on dynamic response characteristics is more obvious. Finally, a new type of nonlinear model is applied into finite element analysis. The results of proposed transient excitation experiment are discussed qualitatively, indicating that nonlinear effects observed agree with the numerical simulation results.
Biomolecular Network-Based Synergistic Drug Combination Discovery
Authors: Li Xiangyi , Qin Guangrong , Yang Qingmin , Chen Lanming , Xie Lu
Published: November 2016

Drug combination is a powerful and promising approach for complex disease therapy such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, the number of synergistic drug combinations approved by the Food and Drug Administration is very small. To bridge the gap between urgent need and low yield, researchers have constructed various models to identify synergistic drug combinations. Among these models, biomolecular network-based model is outstanding because of its ability to reflect and illustrate the relationships among drugs, disease-related genes, therapeutic targets, and disease-specific signaling pathways as a system. In this review, we analyzed and classified models for synergistic drug combination prediction in recent decade according to their respective algorithms. Besides, we collected useful resources including databases and analysis tools for synergistic drug combination prediction. It should provide a quick resource for computational biologists who work with network medicine or synergistic drug combination designing.
Isolated Bilateral Gastrocnemius Myositis in Crohn Disease Successfully Treated with Adalimumab
Authors: Vadala di Prampero Salvatore , Marino Marco , Toso Francesco , Avellini Claudio , Nguyen Vu , Sorrentino Dario
Published: November 2016

Extraintestinal manifestations are common in inflammatory bowel disease; however, muscular involvement in Crohn disease is rarely reported. We present a case of a 26-year-old male with ileocolonic Crohn disease who developed sudden tenderness in both calves. Doppler ultrasound was negative for deep vein thrombosis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrocnemius muscle showed high intensity signal in the muscle fibers, and muscle biopsy demonstrated nonspecific lymphocytic myositis. Other relevant laboratory results included normal antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and creatine kinase as well as elevated C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae IgG titer. The patient was in clinical remission, being treated with azathioprine 2.5 mg/kg. Prednisone 60 mg/day was initiated with rapid resolution of calf tenderness; however, tenderness soon returned when the dose was tapered to 10 mg/day. Subsequently, prednisone and azathioprine were discontinued, and adalimumab was started at standard induction and maintenance doses. The patient’s symptoms resolved shortly after the first induction dose. A repeat magnetic resonance imaging of the calves – 3 months after starting adalimumab – showed complete resolution of muscle inflammation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of gastrocnemius myositis – a rare extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn disease – successfully treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents.
Bending Genders: The Biology of Natural Sex Change in Fish
Authors: Todd Erica V. , Liu Hui , Muncaster Simon , Gemmell Neil J.
Published: November 2016

Sexual fate is no longer seen as an irreversible deterministic switch set during early embryonic development but as an ongoing battle for primacy between male and female developmental trajectories. That sexual fate is not final and must be actively maintained via continuous suppression of the opposing sexual network creates the potential for flexibility into adulthood. In many fishes, sexuality is not only extremely plastic, but sex change is a usual and adaptive part of the life cycle. Sequential hermaphrodites begin life as one sex, changing sometime later to the other, and include species capable of protandrous (male-to-female), protogynous (female-to-male), or serial (bidirectional) sex change. Natural sex change involves coordinated transformations across multiple biological systems, including behavioural, anatomical, neuroendocrine, and molecular axes. We here review the biological processes underlying this amazing transformation, focussing particularly on its molecular basis, which remains poorly understood, but where new genomic technologies are significantly advancing our understanding of how sex change is initiated and progressed at the molecular level. Knowledge of how a usually committed developmental process remains plastic in sequentially hermaphroditic fishes is relevant to understanding the evolution and functioning of sexual developmental systems in vertebrates generally, as well as pathologies of sexual development in humans.
Esophageal Cancer with Bone Marrow Hyperplasia Mimicking Bone Metastasis: Report of a Case
Authors: Yasuda Hiromi , Shimura Tadanobu , Okigami Masato , Yoshiyama Shigeyuki , Ohi Masaki , Tanaka Koji , Mohri Yasuhiko , Kusunoki Masato
Published: November 2016

A 63-year-old man visited the clinic with numbness in the right hand. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated multiple low-intensity lesions in the cervical vertebrae and sacrum, which was suspicious of cervical bone metastasis. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed areas of increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the thoracic esophagus, sternum and sacrum. A flat, elevated esophageal cancer was identified by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and the macroscopic appearance indicated early-stage disease. From the cervical, thoracic and abdominal computed tomography images, there were no metastatic lesions except for the bone lesions. To confirm whether the bone lesions were metastatic, we performed bone biopsy. The histopathological diagnosis was bone marrow hyperplasia. It was crucial for treatment planning to establish whether the lesions were distant metastases. Here, we report a case of esophageal cancer with bone marrow hyperplasia mimicking bone metastasis.
Extramedullary Relapse of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Presenting as a Large Serous Retinal Detachment
Authors: Green Wesley , Rao P. Kumar , Harocopos George J.
Published: November 2016

Background/Aims: To describe the rare presentation of a large, unilateral, serous retinal detachment as an extramedullary manifestation of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) recurrence without bone marrow or central nervous system involvement after more than 1 year of follow-up. Methods: Case report. Results: A teenage patient with AML, previously treated with multiple courses of systemic chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplant, presented with acute vision loss. Ophthalmic workup revealed a large, unilateral, bullous, serous retinal detachment. Ultimately, he underwent subretinal fluid biopsy, which was found to be positive for leukemic blast cells. Cytologic markers matched his initial bone marrow biopsy, and therefore were diagnostic of extramedullary AML relapse. Conclusions: Leukemia can cause various ophthalmic manifestations. Autopsy studies suggest that choroidal infiltration is relatively common, but clinical progression to serous retinal detachment is quite uncommon. Furthermore, serous retinal detachment is generally shallow, posterior, and much more often reported in acute lymphocytic leukemia. The ophthalmologist plays a critical role in identifying leukemic ocular involvement. This case demonstrates the potential for ocular biopsy to secure the diagnosis of extramedullary relapse in order to initiate prompt treatment and systemic workup.
Aging of Cloned Animals: A Mini-Review
Authors: Burgstaller Jörg Patrick , Brem Gottfried
Published: November 2016

The number of species for which somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) protocols are established is still increasing. Due to the high number of cloned farm, companion, and sport animals, the topic of animal cloning never ceases to be of public interest. Numerous studies cover the health status of SCNT-derived animals, but very few cover the effects of SCNT on aging. However, only cloned animals that reach the full extent of the species-specific lifespan, doing so with only the normal age-related afflictions and diseases, would prove that SCNT can produce completely healthy offspring. Here, we review the available literature and own data to answer the question whether the aging process of cloned animals is qualitatively different from normal animals. We focus on 4 main factors that were proposed to influence aging in these animals: epigenetic (dys)regulation, accumulation of damaged macromolecules, shortened telomeres, and (nuclear donor-derived) age-related DNA damage. We find that at least some cloned animals can reach the species-specific maximum age with a performance that matches that of normal animals. However, for most species, only anecdotal evidence of cloned animals reaching high age is available. We therefore encourage reports on the aging of cloned animals to make further analysis on the performance of SCNT possible.
Pulmonary Perfusion Changes as Assessed by Contrast-Enhanced Dual-Energy Computed Tomography after Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction by Coils
Authors: Lador Frédéric , Hachulla Anne-Lise , Hohn Olivia , Plojoux Jérôme , Ronot Maxime , Montet Xavier , Soccal Paola M.
Published: November 2016

Background: Endoscopic lung volume reduction by coils (LVRC) is a recent treatment approach for severe emphysema. Furthermore, dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) now offers a combined assessment of lung morphology and pulmonary perfusion. Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the impact of LVRC on pulmonary perfusion with DECT. Methods: Seventeen patients (64.8 ± 6.7 years) underwent LVRC. DECT was performed prior to and after LVRC. For each patient, lung volumes and emphysema quantification were automatically calculated. Then, 6 regions of interest (ROIs) on the iodine perfusion map were drawn in the anterior, mid, and posterior right and left lungs at 4 defined levels. The ROI values were averaged to obtain lung perfusion as assessed by the lung's iodine concentration (CLung, μg·cm-3). The CLung values were normalized using the left atrial iodine concentration (CLA) to take into account differences between successive DECT scans. Results: The 6-min walk distance (6MWD) improved significantly after the procedure (p = 0.0002). No lung volume changes were observed between successive DECT scans for any of the patients (p = 0.32), attesting the same suspended inspiration. After LVRC, the emphysema index was significantly reduced in the treated lung (p = 0.0014). Lung perfusion increased significantly adjacent to the treated areas (CLung/CLA from 3.4 ± 1.7 to 5.6 ± 2.2, p < 0.001) and in the ipsilateral untreated areas (from 4.1 ± 1.4 to 6.6 ± 1.7, p < 0.001), corresponding to a mean 65 and 61% increase in perfusion, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the contralateral upper and lower areas (from 4.4 ± 1.9 to 4.8 ± 2.1, p = 0.273, and from 4.9 ± 2.0 to 5.2 ± 1.7, p = 0.412, respectively). A significant correlation between increased 6MWD and increased perfusion was found (p = 0.0027, R2 = 0.3850). Conclusions: Quantitative analysis based on DECT acquisition revealed that LVRC results in a significant increase in perfusion in the coil-free areas adjacent to the treated ones, as well as in the ipsilateral untreated areas. This suggests a possible role for LVRC in the improvement of the ventilation/perfusion relationship.
Optimal Power and Modulation Adaptation Policies with Receiver Diversity over Rayleigh Fading Channel
Authors: Imran Tariq Muhammad , Beuran Razvan , Shinoda Yoichi
Published: November 2016

Efficient bandwidth utilization is paramount in wireless communication systems, particulary in fading
environments, since fading is one of the major constraints that impair communication in wireless systems.
The bandwidth efficiency of a wireless communication system can be enhanced significantly by employing
power and modulation adaptation policies with diversity combining gain. In this work, first we examine an
analytically-derived solution for Maximum Combining Ratio (MRC) diversity technique for the capacity per
unit bandwidth. Then, we design an adaptive transmission system to utilize the diversity combining gain while
retaining the target BER by adapting power and constellation size using continuous power, channel inversion
with fixed rate and continuous power and disrecte-rate. By considering the effect of diversity combining
gain, the designed system yields a reasonable spectral efficiency with respect to target BER that grows as
the number of diversity levels increase. Furthermore, the presented results show continuous power and
discrete-rate adaptation policy reduces probability of outage unlike its achieved spectral efficiency is close
to other selected policies, which ratifies the optimized switching thresholds and makes it best candidate for
imperfect channel conditions.
Quantitative Analysis and Comparison of Symmetric Cryptographic Security Algorithms
Authors: Saad Mahaba , Youssef Khalid , Abdel-Kader Hala
Published: November 2016

Nowadays, the rapid evolution of communication systems offers, to a very large percentage of population, access to a huge amount of information and a variety of means to use in order to exchange personal data. Hence the search for the best solution to offer the necessary protection against the data intruders’ attacks along with providing these services in time is one of the most interesting subjects in the security related communities. Cryptography is usually referred to as “the study of secret”. Encryption is the process of converting normal text to unreadable form. There are a variety of encryption algorithms have been developed. This paper provides quantitative analysis and comparison of some symmetric key cryptographic ciphers (DES, 3DES, AES, Blowfish, RC5, and RC6).  The quantitative analysis approach is a step towards optimizing the security operations for an efficient next generation family of network processors with enhanced speed and power performance. A framework will be proposed as a reference model for quantitative analysis of security algorithm mathematical and logical operations. 
Two Dimensional Tunable Optical-CDMA System
Authors: Yadav Rajesh Yadav , Kaur Gurjit Kaur
Published: November 2016

In this work an experimental demonstration is proposed to implement the synchronous optical code division multiple access system using two dimensional wavelength hopping and time spreading optical prime code is presented. An optical CDMA system is configured on latest version of optisystem by optiwave for the 20 users (Prime Number = 5) connected in a network operating at a bit rate 10 Gbps each. Tunability is achieved by using a MATLAB based delay selector which serves as the source of control signal for optical delay lines. The encoded optical signal of each user has been assigned a particular mode. The resulting optical signal is then transmitted over parabolic index multimode optical fiber. The received signal can successfully be retrieved at the decoder, when the encoder and decoder are configured for the same user. The performance of Optical CDMA system is evaluated in terms of the autocorrelation and cross correlation function, BER, Q factor, eye diagram and compared with 1D code for a given prime number. 
An Energy-Efficient Key Management Scheme using Trust Model for Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Raja P. , Karthikeyan E.
Published: November 2016

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), secret shared keys must be established with the neighboring nodes in order to achieve secure communication. The challenge issues for secured communication in WSN are the Key management. Location Dependent Key (LDK) management is a suitable scheme when compared to other location based key management schemes because of lesser memory space requirement and lesser number of keys to be stored on each sensor node. However, the LDK is affected by communication interference problem which is solved by the key is distributed based on trust model. The distributed key updates and revocation processes are effectively resist inside attackers. An energy-efficient Key Management with Trust Model (KM-TM) for WSNs is proposed to achieve the secured communication and the nodes are resisting from the attackers. The performances of proposed KM-TM for WSNs are evaluated in terms of trustworthiness of sensor nodes and security breaches more effectively.  
TreeNet Analysis of Human Stress Behavior using Socio-Mobile Data
Authors: Padmaja B. , V. Rama Prasad V. , V. N K.
Published: November 2016

Human behavior is essentially social and humans start their daily routines by interacting with others. There are many forms of social interactions and we have used mobile phone based social interaction features and social surveys for finding human stress behavior. For this, we gathered mobile phone call logs data set containing 111444 voice calls of 131 adult members of a living community for a period of more than 5 months. And we identified that top 5 social network measures like hierarchy, density, farness, reachability and eigenvector of individuals have profound influence on individuals stress levels in a social network. If an ego lies in the shortest path of all other alters then the ego receives more information and hence is more stressed. In this paper, we have used TreeNet machine learning algorithm for its speed and immune to outliers. We have tested our results with another Random Forest classifier as well and yet, we found TreeNet to be more efficient. This research can be of vital importance to economists, professionals, analysts, and policy makers.
Efficiency of JSON approach for Data Extraction and Query Retrieval
Authors: Kamir Yusof Mohd , Man Mustafa
Published: November 2016

Students’ Information System (SIS) in Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) handles thousands of records on the information of students, subject registration, etc. Efficiency of storage and query retrieval of these records is the matter of database management especially involving with huge data. However, the execution time for storing and retrieving these data are still considerably inefficient due to several factors. In this contribution, two database approaches namely Extensible Markup Language (XML) and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) were investigated to evaluate their suitability for handling thousands records in SIS. The results showed JSON is the best choice for storage and query speed. These are essential to cope with the characteristics of students’ data. Whilst, XML and JSON technologies are relatively new to date in comparison to the relational database. Indeed, JSON technology demonstrates greater potential to become a key database technology for handling huge data due to an increase of data annually.
Website Quality Evaluation Based on Search Engine Queries using Web Rank Position Algorithm (WRPA)
Authors: M Chandran , A. V Ramani
Published: November 2016

The research work is about to test the quality of the website and to improve the quality by analyzing the hit counts, impressions, clicks, count through rates and average positions. This is accomplished using WRPA and SEO technique. The quality of the website mainly lies on the keywords which are present in it. The keywords can be of a search query which is typed by the users in the search engines and based on these keywords, the websites are displayed in the search results. This research work concentrates on bringing the particular websites to the first of the search result in the search engine. The website chosen for research is SRKV. The research work is carried out by creating an index array of Meta tags. This array will hold all the Meta tags. All the search keywords for the website from the users are stored in another array. The index array is matched and compared with the search keywords array. From this, hit to count is calculated for the analysis. Now the calculated hit count and the searched keywords will be analyzed to improve the performance of the website. The matched special keywords from the above comparison are included in the Meta tag to improve the performance of the website. Again all the Meta tags and newly specified keywords in the index array are matched with the SEO keywords. If this matches, then the matched keyword will be stored for improving the quality of the website. Metrics such as impressions, clicks, CTR, average positions are also measured along with the hit counts. The research is carried out under different types of browsers and different types of platforms. Queries about the website from different countries are also measured. In conclusion, if the number of the clicks for the website is more than the average number of clicks, then the quality of the website is good. This research helps in improvising the keywords using WRPA and SEO and thereby improves the quality of the website easily.
Android Malware Detection Using Backpropagation Neural Network
Authors: Al Huda Fais , Firdaus Mahmudy Wayan , Tolle Herman
Published: November 2016

The rapid growing adoption of android operating system around the world affects the growth of malware that attacks this platform. One possible solution to overcome the threat of malware is building a comprehensive system to detect existing malware. This paper proposes multilayer perceptron artificial neural network trained with backpropagation algorithm to determine an application is malware or non-malware application which is often called benign application. The parameters that used in this study based on the list of permissions in the manifest file, the battery rating based on permission, and the size of the application file. Final weights obtained in the training phase will be used in mobile applications for malware detection. The experimental results show that the proposed method for detection of malware on android is effective. The effectiveness is demonstrated by the results of the accuracy of the system developed in this study is relatively high to recognize existing malware samples.
Impact of Distributed Power Flow Controller to Improve Line Flow Based on PWM Control with PI Technique
Authors: C Subramani , S. Dash S. , C Vimala , Mageshwari Uma
Published: November 2016

In this paper we presents a new component within the flexible ac-transmission system (FACTS) family, called Distributed Power-Flow Controller (DPFC). The DPFC is derived from the unified power-flow controller (UPFC). The DPFC can be considered as a UPFC with an eliminated common dc link. The active power exchange between the shunt and series converters, which is through the common dc link in the UPFC, is now through the transmission lines at the third-harmonic frequency. The DPFC employs the distributed FACTS (DFACTS) concept, which is to use multiple small-size single-phase converters instead of the one large-size three-phase series converter in the UPFC. The large number of series converters provides redundancy, thereby increasing the system reliability. As the D-FACTS converters are single-phase and floating with respect to the ground, there is no high-voltage isolation required between the phases. Accordingly, the cost of the DPFC system is lower than the UPFC. The DPFC has the same control capability as the UPFC, which comprises the adjustment of the line impedance, the transmission angle, and the bus voltage. The controller is designed to achieve the most appropriate operating point based on the real power priority.
An Improved Criterion for Induced Stability of Fixed-Point Digital Filters with Saturation Arithmetic
Authors: Kokil Priyanka , Arockiaraj S Xavier
Published: November 2016

This paper establishes a criterion for the induced  stability of fixed-point state-space digital filters with saturation nonlinearities and external interference. The criterion is established in a linear matrix inequality (LMI) setting, and therefore, computationally tractable. The criterion turns out to be an improvement over a previously reported criterion. A comparison of the presented criterion with existing criterion is made. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Long Noncoding RNAs in Cardiovascular Pathology, Diagnosis, and Therapy
Authors: Bär Christian , Chatterjee Shambhabi , Thum Thomas
Published: November 2016

Vast parts of mammalian genomes encode for transcripts that are not further translated into proteins. The purpose of the majority of such noncoding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) remained paradoxical for a long time. However, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that long noncoding RNAs are dynamically expressed in different cell types, diseases, or developmental stages to execute a wide variety of regulatory roles at virtually every step of gene expression and translation. Indeed, long noncoding RNAs influence gene expression via epigenetic modulations, through regulating alternative splicing, or by acting as molecular sponges. The abundance of long noncoding RNAs in the cardiovascular system indicates that they may be part of a complex regulatory network governing physiology and pathology of the heart. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted functions of long noncoding RNAs and highlight the current literature with an emphasis on cardiac development and disease. Furthermore, as the enormous spectrum of long noncoding RNAs potentially opens up new avenues for diagnosis and prevention of heart failure, we ultimately evaluate the futuristic prospects of long noncoding RNAs as biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, as well.
The Growing Segmentation of the Charter School Sector in North Carolina
Authors: Ladd Helen F. , Clotfelter Charles T. , Holbein John B.
Published: November 2016

A defining characteristic of charter schools is that they introduce a strong market element into public education. In this paper, we examine through the lens of a market model the evolution of the charter school sector in North Carolina between 1999 and 2012. We examine trends in the mix of students enrolled in charter schools, the racial imbalance of charter schools, patterns in student match quality by schools’ racial composition, and the distributions of test score performance gains compared to those in traditional public schools. In addition, we use student fixed effects models to examine plausibly causal measures of charter school effectiveness. Our findings indicate that charter schools in North Carolina are increasingly serving the interests of relatively able white students in racially imbalanced schools and that despite improvements in the charter school sector over time, charter schools are still no more effective on average than traditional public schools.
What Public Visualization Can Learn from Street Art
Authors: Claes Sandy , Vande Moere Andrew
Published: November 2016

As public visualization is becoming increasingly popular, our physical environment should be considered an intrinsic component of its design because of the various rich, interpretative meanings that it inherently possesses. As many concepts of street art deliberately deploy such meanings within the environment in order to convey particular messages, the authors believe it can act as a valuable resource for public visualization design. The authors thus discuss four distinct rhetoric strategies to demonstrate how street art practices can relate to their environment and how these relationships can trigger critical reflection for public visualization.
Automatically Generating Animations from Escher’s Images
Authors: Bazo Danny
Published: November 2016

This article presents a real-time interactive software tool for automatically selecting and rearranging windowed regions of a single large image into frame-by-frame animations. Demonstrated on the tessellating, morphing pictures created by M.C. Escher, the software tool uses image-processing algorithms to compute a path through an image, traveling along visually similar regions and presenting them as a short looping movie.
Can the Postcolonial Animal Speak?
Authors: Chagani Fayaz
Published: November 2016

This essay addresses the repression of considerations of human-animal relations in postcolonial studies. It suggests that because the field has not fully examined its own anthropocentrism, it continues to reproduce a rather conventional humanism in spite of many claims to the contrary. A central argument of the essay is that in failing to recognize the subjectivity of nonhuman animals, and accepting their exclusion from a moral universe reserved for humans, postcolonial criticism participates in the symbolic and physical violence committed against them. In terms of approach, the essay begins by tracing three humanist “moments” in the career of postcolonialism. This is followed by an assessment of the recent ecocritical turn in postcolonial literary studies. The essay concludes by considering whether humanism does in fact need to be overcome and what remains to be done for postcolonial thinking to more adequately confront “the question of the animal.”
A checklist of marine benthic diatoms (Bacillariophyta) from Mexico
Authors: LÓPEZ-FUERTE FRANCISCO OMAR , SIQUEIROS BELTRONES DAVID ALFARO
Published: November 2016

This article summarizes nearly three decades of research on marine benthic diatoms from coastal areas in Mexico. The studies analyzed yielded 1162 taxonomic entities that include species, varieties, and forms, plus a considerable number of informal designations; i.e., “aff.” and “cf.”. The taxonomic list resulted from surveying all available published data on the topic, mostly by the authors, from northwest and southeast Mexico, with the objective of providing an up-to-date basis for further research on benthic diatoms from Mexico and related areas. Members of the Class Bacillariophyceae are the best represented with 881 taxa, followed by the Coscinodiscophyceae and Fragilariophyceae with 165 and 116 taxa, respectively. This is the first floristic list of benthic marine diatoms for Mexico, and it shows that many areas of the country’s extensive coastal zone are yet to be surveyed, while simultaneously providing a basis for future ecological and biogeographical studies.
Humbertacalia madagascarensis sp. nov. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) from Madagascar
Authors: PENG YU-LAN , ZHANG LI-BING
Published: November 2016

A new species of Humbertacalia in the tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae), H. madagascarensis, from Antsiranana, northern Madagascar, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to H. voluta in having brown tomentum and short peduncles but is different from the latter in having much longer and coriaceous involucres, larger coriaceous and abaxially purple leaves, leaf blade elliptic, cuneate and oblique at base, and yellowish pappus. This new species is endemic to Madagascar.
A new widespread European bee species of the genus Dasypoda Latreille (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)
Authors: RADCHENKO VLADIMIR G.
Published: November 2016

A new bee species of the genus Dasypoda Latreille (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Melittidae), D. morawitzi Radchenko sp. nov., is described. This species is closely related to, and easily confusable with, D. hirtipes (Fabricius), and its specimens have been previously attributed to the latter species. A comparative morphological analysis of D. morawitzi with other species of the D. hirtipes group is provided. The distribution and trophic links of this new species are discussed.
Alloionema californicum n. sp. (Nematoda: Alloionematidae): a new alloionematid from USA
Authors: NERMUŤ JIŘÍ , PŮŽA VLADIMÍR , MRÁČEK ZDENĚK , LEWIS EDWIN
Published: November 2016

A new species of the family Alloionematidae was isolated from a rotten winged gourd at White Crane Garden, San Francisco, USA, sampled by Christopher Nelson in November 2010, and a live culture is deposited in Félix Lab Strain Database (http://www.justbio.com/worms/index.php), IBENS, Paris, France. Specimens from the culture have been examined. Both morphologically and molecularly, the nematode described herein as Alloionema californicum n. sp. differs from the other alloionematid species, A. appendiculatum and Neoalloionema tricaudatum. It is characterised by having a narrow stoma, 2.5–3.5 or 4 times longer than broad in adults or dauer juveniles respectively. Lateral fields are not present in adults but occur as one prominent ridge in dauers. Males have no bursa, six pairs of genital papillae and one single papilla. Dauers have large apparent phasmids in the middle of the tail. The ecology of the newly described species is unknown but probably it is a saprobic bacteriophagous nematode preferring rotting organic material.
Potential of Higher-Order Moments and Slopes of the Radar Doppler Spectrum for Retrieving Microphysical and Kinematic Properties of Arctic Ice Clouds
Authors: Maahn Maximilian , Löhnert Ulrich
Published: November 2016

Retrievals of ice-cloud properties from cloud-radar observations are challenging because the retrieval methods are typically underdetermined. Here, the authors investigate whether additional information can be obtained from higher-order moments and the slopes of the radar Doppler spectrum such as skewness and kurtosis as well as the slopes of the Doppler peak. To estimate quantitatively the additional information content, a generalized Bayesian retrieval framework that is based on optimal estimation is developed. Real and synthetic cloud-radar observations of the Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) dataset obtained around Barrow, Alaska, are used in this study. The state vector consists of the microphysical (particle-size distribution, mass–size relation, and cross section–area relation) and kinematic (vertical wind and turbulence) quantities required to forward model the moments and slopes of the radar Doppler spectrum. It is found that, for a single radar frequency, more information can be retrieved when including higher-order moments and slopes than when using only reflectivity and mean Doppler velocity but two radar frequencies. When using all moments and slopes with two or even three frequencies, the uncertainties of all state variables, including the mass–size relation, can be considerably reduced with respect to the prior knowledge.
A Dynamical and Statistical Characterization of U.S. Extreme Precipitation Events and Their Associated Large-Scale Meteorological Patterns
Authors: Zhao Siyu , Deng Yi , Black Robert X.
Published: November 2016

Regional patterns of extreme precipitation events occurring over the continental United States are identified via hierarchical cluster analysis of observed daily precipitation for the period 1950–2005. Six canonical extreme precipitation patterns (EPPs) are isolated for the boreal warm season and five for the cool season. The large-scale meteorological pattern (LMP) inducing each EPP is identified and used to create a “base function” for evaluating a climate model’s potential for accurately representing the different patterns of precipitation extremes. A parallel analysis of the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4), reveals that the CCSM4 successfully captures the main U.S. EPPs for both the warm and cool seasons, albeit with varying degrees of accuracy. The model’s skill in simulating each EPP tends to be positively correlated with its capability in representing the associated LMP. Model bias in the occurrence frequency of a governing LMP is directly related to the frequency bias in the corresponding EPP. In addition, however, discrepancies are found between the CCSM4’s representation of LMPs and EPPs over regions such as the western United States and Midwest, where topographic precipitation influences and organized convection are prominent, respectively. In these cases, the model representation of finer-scale physical processes appears to be at least equally important compared to the LMPs in driving the occurrence of extreme precipitation.