bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The CMS ECAL Upgrade for Precision Crystal Calorimetry at the HL-LHC
Authors: Petyt D. A.
Published: May 2018

The electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) of the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment (CMS) is operating at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy and at a bunch spacing of 25 ns. Upgrades are necessary for the High-Luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC). We review the design and R&D studies for the CMS ECAL crystal calorimeter upgrade. We present test beam results of hadron irradiated PbWO4 crystals up to fluences expected at the HL-LHC. We also report on the R&D for the new readout and trigger electronics, which must be upgraded due to the increased trigger and latency requirements at the HL-LHC.
OnNetwork+
Authors: Kim Hyeonggyu , Ju Minho , Kim Soontae
Published: May 2018

Network errors such as packet losses consume large amounts of energy. We analyzed the reason for this through measurements using the latest smartphones and full-system simulation. We found that on packet losses the smartphones maintain high frequencies for CPU without doing useful work. To address this problem, we propose a method for reducing the energy consumption by lowering the performance level by exploiting a dynamic voltage and frequency scaling mechanism when long network delays are expected. According to our experiments, our method reduces the total energy consumption of web browsing on two different smartphones by up to 10.0% and 11.5%, respectively.
Elastic Places
Authors: Pericàs Miquel
Published: May 2018

The diversity and complexity of modern computing platforms makes the development of high-performance software challenging. Designing
scalable
software requires tuning for a large set of resources, including cores (parallelism), memory bandwidths, and various levels of private and shared caches, as well as developing strategies for optimizing locality. But highly optimized implementations are often inefficient when executed on a different platform. This is the
performance portability
problem. One approach to scalability and portability is to tune the amount of work per task based on runtime overheads and concurrency. This results in a better balance between parallelism and scheduling overheads, but it can neither tune data reuse nor avoid inter-task interference. We propose a complementary approach that consists in tuning the amount of resources allocated to tasks and combine it with software-defined task topologies to provide portable locality. These ideas are combined into a low-overhead resource management scheme called
Elastic Places
. Elastic Places is implemented in the XiTAO software framework but the core ideas are equally applicable to other languages and runtimes. Experimental results on an AMD-based NUMA machine and an Intel Knights Landing system show that elastic places provides both high scalability and performance portability, with speed-ups of up to 2.3× on both platforms compared to state-of-the-art runtimes.
1st AAAI/ACM Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Society
Authors: Kuipers Benjamin , Mattei Nicholas
Published: May 2018

The 1st AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (AIES-18) was held February 13, 2018 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event was held just before AAAI in order to highlight the overlap of the two conference and logistical support for the conference was provided by AAAI. By attendance measures the conference was a resounding success with a sold out registration of over 300 people. The conference brought together program chairs from the four major focal areas: AI and jobs: Jason Furman (Harvard University); AI and law: Gary Marchant (Arizona State University); AI and philosophy: Huw Price (Cambridge University); and AI: Francesca Rossi (IBM and University of Padova). All the paper from the conference are available for download at the conference website: http://www.aies-conference.com/
Obituary
Authors: Quigley Aaron
Published: May 2018

Professor Jon Oberlander (University of Edinburgh) passed away suddenly on the 19th of December 2017. Jon was remembered by friends, family and colleagues, at a deeply moving ceremony in the Playfair Library at the University of Edinburgh this January. Stories from his life as a friend and father attest to the deep impact Jon had on all those around him, and the lasting legacy he now leaves behind.
AI policy
Authors: Medsker Larry
Published: May 2018

AI Policy is a regular column in
AI Matters
featuring summaries and commentary based on postings that appear twice a month in the AI Matters blog (https://sigai.acm.org/aimatters/blog/).
ITiCSE 2018 preview
Authors: Goldweber Michael
Published: May 2018

ITiCSE 2018, to be held in Larnaka, Cyprus and hosted by the University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus (UCLan Cyprus) is shaping up to be a truly international event of the highest caliber. Consider the following statistics. Approximately one third of the 193 submitted full paper manuscripts had at least one author affiliated with a USA-based institution. Similarly, one third of the submissions had at least one author affiliated with an institution outside of both the USA and Europe. About 45% of the submissions had at least one author affiliated with a European institution. The sum of these percentages exceeds 100% due to 23 submissions co-authored by researchers from multiple countries. This fills out a "standard" ITiCSE program of two and half days of three parallel sessions with 56 accepted manuscripts yielded an acceptance rate of 29%; this is the second lowest in ITiCSE history! Only ITiCSE 2007, in Dundee, Scotland had a lower acceptance rate (28.9%)
Ancient Biomolecules and Evolutionary Inference
Authors: Cappellini Enrico , Prohaska Ana , Racimo Fernando , Welker Frido , Pedersen Mikkel Winther , Allentoft Morten E. , de Barros Damgaard Peter , Gutenbrunner Petra , Dunne Julie , Hammann Simon , Roffet-Salque Mélanie , Ilardo Melissa , Moreno-Mayar J. Víctor , Wang Yucheng , Sikora Martin , Vinner Lasse , Cox Jürgen , Evershed Richard P. , Willerslev Eske
Published: May 2018

Over the past three decades, studies of ancient biomolecules—particularly ancient DNA, proteins, and lipids—have revolutionized our understanding of evolutionary history. Though initially fraught with many challenges, today the field stands on firm foundations. Researchers now successfully retrieve nucleotide and amino acid sequences, as well as lipid signatures, from progressively older samples, originating from geographic areas and depositional environments that, until recently, were regarded as hostile to long-term preservation of biomolecules. Sampling frequencies and the spatial and temporal scope of studies have also increased markedly, and with them the size and quality of the data sets generated. This progress has been made possible by continuous technical innovations in analytical methods, enhanced criteria for the selection of ancient samples, integrated experimental methods, and advanced computational approaches. Here, we discuss the history and current state of ancient biomolecule research, its applications to evolutionary inference, and future directions for this young and exciting field.
Cystic Fibrosis Disease Modifiers: Complex Genetics Defines the Phenotypic Diversity in a Monogenic Disease
Authors: O'Neal Wanda K. , Knowles Michael R.
Published: May 2018

In many respects, genetic studies in cystic fibrosis (CF) serve as a paradigm for a human Mendelian genetic success story. From recognition of the condition as a heritable pathological entity to implementation of personalized treatments based on genetic findings, this multistep pathway of progress has focused on the genetic underpinnings of CF clinical disease. Along this path was the recognition that not all CFTR gene mutations produce the same disease and the recognition of the complex, multifactorial nature of CF genotype–phenotype relationships. The non- CFTR genetic components (gene modifiers) that contribute to variation in phenotype are the focus of this review. A multifaceted approach involving candidate gene studies, genome-wide association studies, and gene expression studies has revealed significant gene modifiers for multiple CF phenotypes. The bold challenges for the future are to integrate the findings into our understanding of CF pathogenesis and to use the knowledge to develop novel therapies.
Neural Circuits of Sexual Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Emmons Scott W.
Published: May 2018

The recently determined connectome of the Caenorhabditis elegans adult male, together with the known connectome of the hermaphrodite, opens up the possibility for a comprehensive description of sexual dimorphism in this species and the identification and study of the neural circuits underlying sexual behaviors. The C. elegans nervous system consists of 294 neurons shared by both sexes plus neurons unique to each sex, 8 in the hermaphrodite and 91 in the male. The sex-specific neurons are well integrated within the remainder of the nervous system; in the male, 16% of the input to the shared component comes from male-specific neurons. Although sex-specific neurons are involved primarily, but not exclusively, in controlling sex-unique behavior—egg-laying in the hermaphrodite and copulation in the male—these neurons act together with shared neurons to make navigational choices that optimize reproductive success. Sex differences in general behaviors are underlain by considerable dimorphism within the shared component of the nervous system itself, including dimorphism in synaptic connectivity.
Deletion or pharmacological blockade of TLR4 confers protection against cyclophosphamide-induced mouse cystitis
Authors: de Oliveira Mariana G. , Mónica Fabiola Z. , Calmasini Fabiano B. , Alexandre Eduardo C. , Tavares Edith B. G. , Soares Antonio G. , Costa Soraia K. P. , Antunes Edson
Published: May 2018

Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic inflammatory disease without consistently effective treatment. We investigate the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on voiding dysfunction and inflammation in the cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced mouse cystitis. Male C57BL/6 [wild-type, (WT)] and/or TLR4 knockout (TLR4−/−) mice were treated with an injection of CYP (300 mg/kg, 24 h) or saline (10 ml/kg). The pharmacological blockade of the TLR4 by resatorvid (10 mg/kg) was also performed 1 h prior CYP-injection in WT mice. Urodynamic profiles were assessed by voiding stain on filter paper and filling cystometry. Contractile responses to carbachol were measured in isolated bladders. In CYP-exposed WT mice, mRNA for TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary response 88, and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β increased by 45%, 72%, and 38%, respectively ( P < 0.05). In free-moving mice, CYP-exposed mice exhibited a higher number of urinary spots and smaller urinary volumes. Increases of micturition frequency and nonvoiding contractions, concomitant with decreases of intercontraction intervals and capacity, were observed in the filling cystometry of WT mice ( P < 0.05). Carbachol-induced bladder contractions were significantly reduced in the CYP group, which was paralleled by reduced mRNA for M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors. These functional and molecular alterations induced by CYP were prevented in TLR4−/−and resatorvid-treated mice. Additionally, the increased levels of inflammatory markers induced by CYP exposure, myeloperoxidase activity, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were significantly reduced by resatorvid treatment. Our findings reveal a central role for the TLR4 signaling pathway in initiating CYP-induced bladder dysfunction and inflammation and thus emphasize that TLR4 receptor blockade may have clinical value for IC/BPS treatment.
Expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase in renal tubular epithelial cells regulates macrophage infiltration and polarization in IgA nephropathy
Authors: Wang Qian , Liang Yan , Qiao Yingjin , Zhao Xiangya , Yang Yi , Yang Shengnan , Li Bing , Zhao Qianru , Dong Ling , Quan Songxia , Tian Rui , Liu Zhangsuo
Published: May 2018

Tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and activation contribute to kidney inflammation and fibrosis. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are rapidly metabolized to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids by the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), have multiple biological functions, including vasodilation, anti-inflammatory action, and others. Inhibition of sEH has been demonstrated to attenuate inflammation in many renal disease models. However, the relationship between sEH expression and macrophage polarization in the kidney remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the relationships between the level of sEH and clinical and pathological parameters in IgA nephropathy. The level of sEH expression positively correlated with proteinuria and infiltration of macrophages. sEH-positive tubules were found to be surrounded by macrophages. Furthermore, we found that incubation of immortalized human proximal tubular HK-2 cells with total urinary protein and overexpression of sEH promoted inflammatory factor production, which was associated with M1 polarization. We also exposed RAW264.7 mouse leukemic monocytes/macrophages to different HK-2 cell culture media conditioned by incubation with various substances affecting sEH amount or activity. We found that the upregulation of sEH promoted M1 polarization. However, pharmacological inhibition of sEH and supplementation with EETs reversed the conditioning effects of urinary proteins by inhibiting M1 polarization through the NF-κB pathway and stimulating M2 polarization through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway. These data suggest that inhibition of sEH could be a new strategy to prevent the progression of inflammation and to attenuate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
Optogenetic surface stimulation of the rat cervical spinal cord
Authors: Mondello S. E. , Sunshine M. D. , Fischedick A. E. , Dreyer S. J. , Horwitz G. D. , Anikeeva P. , Horner P. J. , Moritz C. T.
Published: May 2018

Electrical intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) at various sites along the cervical spinal cord permits forelimb muscle activation, elicits complex limb movements and may enhance functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Here, we explore optogenetic spinal stimulation (OSS) as a less invasive and cell type-specific alternative to ISMS. To map forelimb muscle activation by OSS in rats, adeno-associated viruses (AAV) carrying the blue-light sensitive ion channels channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and Chronos were injected into the cervical spinal cord at different depths and volumes. Following an AAV incubation period of several weeks, OSS-induced forelimb muscle activation and movements were assessed at 16 sites along the dorsal surface of the cervical spinal cord. Three distinct movement types were observed. We find that AAV injection volume and depth can be titrated to achieve OSS-based activation of several movements. Optical stimulation of the spinal cord is thus a promising method for dissecting the function of spinal circuitry and targeting therapies following injury.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Optogenetics in the spinal cord can be used both for therapeutic treatments and to uncover basic mechanisms of spinal cord physiology. For the first time, we describe the methodology and outcomes of optogenetic surface stimulation of the rat spinal cord. Specifically, we describe the evoked responses of forelimbs and address the effects of different adeno-associated virus injection paradigms. Additionally, we are the first to report on the limitations of light penetration through the rat spinal cord.
Specialized Proresolving Mediators in Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Airway Diseases
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Nandini , Abdulnour Raja-Elie E. , Walker Katherine H. , Engstrom Braden D. , Levy Bruce D.
Published: May 2018

Airborne pathogens and environmental stimuli evoke immune responses in the lung. It is critical to health that these responses be controlled to prevent tissue damage and the compromise of organ function. Resolution of inflammation is a dynamic process that is coordinated by biochemical and cellular mechanisms. Recently, specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) have been identified in resolution exudates. These molecules orchestrate anti-inflammatory and proresolving actions that are cell type specific. In this review, we highlight SPM biosynthesis, the influence of SPMs on the innate and adaptive immune responses in the lung, as well as recent insights from SPMs on inflammatory disease pathophysiology. Uncovering these mediators and cellular mechanisms for resolution is providing new windows into physiology and disease pathogenesis.
(Re)generating Human Beta Cells: Status, Pitfalls, and Perspectives
Authors: Baeyens Luc , Lemper Marie , Staels Willem , De Groef Sofie , De Leu Nico , Heremans Yves , German Michael S. , Heimberg Harry
Published: May 2018

Diabetes mellitus results from disturbed glucose homeostasis due to an absolute (type 1) or relative (type 2) deficiency of insulin, a peptide hormone almost exclusively produced by the beta cells of the endocrine pancreas in a tightly regulated manner. Current therapy only delays disease progression through insulin injection and/or oral medications that increase insulin secretion or sensitivity, decrease hepatic glucose production, or promote glucosuria. These drugs have turned diabetes into a chronic disease as they do not solve the underlying beta cell defects or entirely prevent the long-term complications of hyperglycemia. Beta cell replacement through islet transplantation is a more physiological therapeutic alternative but is severely hampered by donor shortage and immune rejection. A curative strategy should combine newer approaches to immunomodulation with beta cell replacement. Success of this approach depends on the development of practical methods for generating beta cells, either in vitro or in situ through beta cell replication or beta cell differentiation. This review provides an overview of human beta cell generation.
Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Cardiomyocytes during the Aging Process in Rats Treated with Resveratrol
Authors: Aguilar-Alonso P. , Vera-López O. , Brambila-Colombres E. , Segura-Badilla O. , Avalos-López R. , Lazcano-Hernández M. , Navarro-Cruz A. R.
Published: May 2018

The substantial increase in the number of elderly people in our societies represents a challenge for biology and medicine. The societies of the industrialized countries are subject to a progressive aging process that translates into an increase in the cardiovascular risk of the population. In the present work, the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase was evaluated, as well as markers of oxidative stress (concentration of nitric oxide and total lipoperoxidation in its main components: malondialdehyde and 4‐hydroxyalkene) in cardiomyocytes during the aging process in rats treated with resveratrol. Rats were divided into 4 groups according to the following categories: control (without treatment), negative control group (administered with physiological solution with 10% ethanol), positive control group (administered with vitamin E, 2 mg/kg/day), and group administered with resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day); these groups in turn were divided into 2, 4, 6, and 8 months of treatment. The analysis of nitric oxide showed a decreased level in the cardiac tissue in the groups treated with resveratrol; the same occurs when total lipoperoxidation is analyzed. The enzymatic activity studied (catalase and superoxide dismutase) did not present significant changes with respect to the controls. It is concluded that the cardioprotective effect of resveratrol is due to the antioxidant effect and other antiaging effects and not to the activation of the enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase.
Cereal-Based Snack Bar with Added Plant Stanol Ester (Benecol®) Consumed between Meals Lowers Serum Total and LDL Cholesterol Effectively in Mildly to Moderately Hypercholesterolemic Subjects
Authors: Sarkkinen Essi , Lyyra Mari , Nieminen Sakari , Kuusisto Päivi , Wester Ingmar
Published: May 2018

The cholesterol-lowering effect of foods with added plant sterols or stanols consumed as snacks might be compromised. The purpose of this study was to confirm the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of a specially formulated cereal-based snack bar with added plant stanol ester (1.6 g plant stanols/day) when consumed between meals twice a day. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-week parallel-design study, 71 mildly to moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects were randomized into one of two groups, stanol or placebo group. Subjects were advised to replace their ordinary snacks with test products in an isocaloric manner and otherwise keep their habitual diet unchanged. The study showed that a snack bar product with added plant stanol ester lowered LDL and non-HDL cholesterol by 8.6% and 9.2% (mean%-change), respectively, as compared to the placebo product. The change in LDL cholesterol was statistically significantly different (P=0.001) between the groups while the change in HDL cholesterol or triglycerides did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, the cereal-based snack bar with added plant stanol ester ingested without a meal reduced LDL cholesterol significantly without affecting HDL cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic men and women. The study is registered as NCT03284918.
Analysis of Window Components Affecting U‐Value Using Thermal Transmittance Test Results and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis
Authors: No Sang-Tae , Seo Jun-Sik
Published: May 2018

Currently, global warming is accelerating, and many countries are trying to reduce greenhouse emission by enforcing low energy building. And the thermal performance of the windows is one of the factors that greatly influence the heating and cooling energy consumption of buildings. According to the development of the window system, the thermal performance of the windows is greatly improved. There are simulations and tests for window thermal performance evaluation techniques, but both are time consuming and costly. The purpose of this study is to develop a convenient method of predicting U‐value at the window system design stage by multiple linear regression analysis. 532 U‐value test results were collected, and window system components were set as independent values. As a result, the number of windows (single or double) among the components of the window has the greatest effect on the U‐value. In this research, two regression equations for predicting U‐value of window system were suggested, and the estimated standard errors of equations were 0.2569 in single window and 0.2039 in double window.
Extended Reach 10 Gb/s Transmission with an Optical I/Q Modulator Using VCSELs over OFDM-Based Multimode Fiber Link
Authors: Kedia Deepak , Nehra Monika
Published: May 2018

This paper investigates the possibilities of extending the reach of a 10 Gb/s orthogonal frequency division multiplexing- (OFDM-) based multimode fiber (MMF) link with an optical I/Q modulation technique through vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). The proposed I/Q modulation technique comprises two VCSELs in a 90° hybrid combination to produce I/Q modulated OFDM signal. The results show the excellent performance (in terms of BER and Q factor) of the direct-detection optical- (DDO-) OFDM system with the proposed I/Q modulation in comparison to the direct modulation case. The proposed system is able to achieve worst-case BER of about 1.8616 × 10−3 and Q factor of about 10.9949 dB over a 5 km MMF link. The I/Q modulation technique in the DDO-OFDM system has further been investigated for extending the transmission reach of the MMF link using multispan configuration.
Antioxidant Activity and Genotoxic Assessment of Crabwood (Andiroba, Carapa guianensis Aublet) Seed Oils
Authors: Araujo-Lima Carlos F. , Fernandes Andreia S. , Gomes Erika M. , Oliveira Larisse L. , Macedo Andrea F. , Antoniassi Rosemar , Wilhelm Allan E. , Aiub Claudia A. F. , Felzenszwalb Israel
Published: May 2018

The seed oil of Carapa guianensis (Aublet), a tree from the Meliaceae family commonly known as andiroba, is widely used in Brazilian traditional medicine because of its multiple curative properties against fever and rheumatism and as an anti‐inflammatory agent, antibacterial agent, and insect repellant. Since there is no consensus on the best way to obtain the C. guianensis oil and due to its ethnomedicinal properties, the aim of the present research was to evaluate the chemical composition, free‐radical scavenging activity, and mutagenic and genotoxicity properties of three C. guianensis oils obtained by different extraction methods. The phenolic contents were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Oil 1 was obtained by pressing the dried seeds at room temperature; oil 2 was obtained by autoclaving, drying, and pressing; oil 3 was obtained by Soxhlet extraction at 30–60°C using petroleum ether. The oil from each process presented differential yields, physicochemical properties, and phenolic contents. Oil 1 showed a higher scavenging activity against the DPPH radical when compared to oils 2 and 3, suggesting a significant antioxidant activity. All oils were shown to be cytotoxic to bacteria and to CHO‐K1 and RAW264.7 cells. At noncytotoxic concentrations, oil 2 presented mutagenicity to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and induced micronuclei in both cell types. Under the same conditions, oil 3 also induced micronucleus formation. However, the present data demonstrated that oil 1, extracted without using high temperatures, was the safest for use as compared to the other two oils, not showing mutagenicity or micronucleus induction.
Estimates of Combining Ability and Heterosis for Yield and Its Related Traits in Pearl Millet Inbred Lines under Downy Mildew Prevalent Areas of Senegal
Authors: Kanfany Ghislain , Fofana Amadou , Tongoona Pangirayi , Danquah Agyemang , Offei Samuel , Danquah Eric , Cisse Ndiaga
Published: May 2018

Pearl millet is an important cereal crop for smallholder farmers’ food security in West and Central Africa. However, its production has stagnated due to several factors such as the continuous use of local populations. A set of 17 inbred lines was crossed with Sosat C 88 and Souna 3 following a line × tester mating design. The F1 hybrids, their parents, and a check were evaluated in Bambey and Nioro research stations during the rainy season of 2017. Data on downy mildew incidence, plant height, flowering time, panicle length and diameter, productive tillers, thousand-grain weight, panicle, and grain yield were recorded. GCA and SCA mean squares were significant for most of the traits indicating that both additive and nonadditive gene effects were involved in the control of the inheritance of these traits. However, the contribution of GCA to total mean squares was higher than that of SCA for all the traits, providing that additive gene action was more important in their inheritance. The top-cross hybrid IBL155-2-1 × Sosat C 88 exhibited negative and significant SCA effects for downy mildew incidence, flowering time, and plant height. Lines IBL003-B-1, IBL091-1-1, IBL095-4-1, IBL110-B-1, and IBL 206-1-1 had positive GCA effects for grain yield and negative GCA effects for downy mildew, flowering time, and plant height. These lines can be used as parents to create synthetic varieties or hybrids.
Analysis of Conduction and Charging Mechanisms in Atomic Layer Deposited Multilayered HfO2/Al2O3 Stacks for Use in Charge Trapping Flash Memories
Authors: Novkovski Nenad , Paskaleva Albena , Skeparovski Aleksandar , Spassov Dencho
Published: May 2018

Method for characterization of electrical and trapping properties of multilayered high permittivity stacks for use in charge trapping flash memories is proposed. Application of the method to the case of multilayered HfO2/Al2O3 stacks is presented. By applying our previously developed comprehensive model for MOS structures containing high-κ dielectrics on the J-V characteristics measured in the voltage range without marked degradation and charge trapping (from −3 V to +3 V), several parameters of the structure connected to the interfacial layer and the conduction mechanisms have been extracted. We found that the above analysis gives precise information on the main characteristics and the quality of the injection layer. C-V characteristics of stressed (with write and erase pulses) structures recorded in a limited range of voltages between −1 V and +1 V (where neither significant charge trapping nor visible degradation of the structures is expected to occur) were used in order to provide measures of the effect of stresses with no influence of the measurement process. Both trapped charge and the distribution of interface states have been determined using modified Terman method for fresh structures and for structures stressed with write and erase cycles. The proposed method allows determination of charge trapping and interface state with high resolution, promising a precise characterization of multilayered high permittivity stacks for use in charge trapping flash memories.
Evaluation of Navigated Laser Photocoagulation (Navilas 577+) for the Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Kato Fusae , Nozaki Miho , Kato Aki , Hasegawa Norio , Morita Hiroshi , Yoshida Munenori , Ogura Yuichiro
Published: May 2018

Purpose. To evaluate navigated laser photocoagulation for the treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods. Retrospective study of 25 eyes (21 patients) treated with Navilas 577+ focal laser system. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters were measured at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months, and final visit. Results. The mean follow-up period was 12.8 ± 2.4 (7–16 months). All subjects had history of previous treatment which was injection of triamcinolone acetonide or antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. The navigated laser photocoagulation was delivered to the microaneurysms on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in 21 of 25 eyes (84%), fluorescein angiography (FA) guided in 3 eyes, and OCT angiography guided in 1 eye. After initial navigated laser treatment, 16 of 25 eyes (64%) were needed additional navigated laser photocoagulation, injection of triamcinolone acetonide, and/or injection of VEGF agents. Although median BCVA remained stable, the central retinal thickness and macular volume were significantly decreased over 6 months (p<0.05). All patients were treated without complications. Conclusions. Focal photocoagulation using Navilas 577+ showed to be effective in treating DME with improvement in macular edema on OCT over 6 months. Navilas 577+ was beneficial to perform navigated laser photocoagulation based on three modalities (ICGA, FA, and OCT angiography).
CuCl Complexation in the Vapor Phase: Insights from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Mei Yuan , Liu Weihua , Migdiov A. A. , Brugger Joël , Williams-Jones A. E.
Published: May 2018

We investigated the hydration of the CuCl0 complex in HCl-bearing water vapor at 350°C and a vapor-like fluid density between 0.02 and 0.09 g/cm3 using ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The simulations reveal that one water molecule is strongly bonded to Cu(I) (first coordination shell), forming a linear [H2O-Cu-Cl]0 moiety. The second hydration shell is highly dynamic in nature, and individual configurations have short life-spans in such low-density vapors, resulting in large fluctuations in instantaneous hydration numbers over a timescale of picoseconds. The average hydration number in the second shell (m) increased from ~0.5 to ~3.5 and the calculated number of hydrogen bonds per water molecule increased from 0.09 to 0.25 when fluid density (which is correlated to water activity) increased from 0.02 to 0.09 g/cm3 (fH2O 1.72 to 2.05). These changes of hydration number are qualitatively consistent with previous solubility studies under similar conditions, although the absolute hydration numbers from MD were much lower than the values inferred by correlating experimental Cu fugacity with water fugacity. This could be due to the uncertainties in the MD simulations and uncertainty in the estimation of the fugacity coefficients for these highly nonideal “vapors” in the experiments. Our study provides the first theoretical confirmation that beyond-first-shell hydrated metal complexes play an important role in metal transport in low-density hydrothermal fluids, even if it is highly disordered and dynamic in nature.
Budesonide and Calcitriol Synergistically Inhibit Airway Remodeling in Asthmatic Mice
Authors: Qian Jun , Xu Yaqin , Yu Zhiwei
Published: May 2018

Background and Objective. While calcitriol can inhibit airway remodeling in asthmatic mice, the mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of action of calcitriol on airway remodeling in asthma and its interaction with budesonide. Methods. A mouse model of asthma was established by allergic sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin. The mice were treated with budesonide, calcitriol, or budesonide plus calcitriol. The expression of airway remodeling-related proteins, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway-related proteins, the glucocorticoid receptor, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) was determined by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in the lung tissue of mice. Results. Monotherapy with budesonide or calcitriol inhibited the high expression of collagen type I protein and upregulated the low expression of Smad7 in asthmatic mice. There was a synergistic interaction between budesonide and calcitriol in combined treatment. The expression of miR-21 in the combined treatment group was significantly lower than that in the calcitriol treatment group. VDR expression in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of the calcitriol treatment group. Conclusion. Budesonide and calcitriol have a synergistic effect on airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.
Research on Power Flow Transmission through Elastic Structure into a Fluid-Filled Enclosure
Authors: Huo Rui , Li Chuangye , Jing Laizhao , Wang Weike
Published: May 2018

The work of this paper is backgrounded by prediction or evaluation and control of mechanical self-noise in sonar array cavity. The vibratory power flow transmission analysis is applied to reveal the overall vibration level of the fluid-structural coupled system. Through modal coupling analysis on the fluid-structural vibration of the fluid-filled enclosure with elastic boundaries, an efficient computational method is deduced to determine the vibratory power flow generated by exterior excitations on the outside surface of the elastic structure, including the total power flow entering into the fluid-structural coupled system and the net power flow transmitted into the hydroacoustic field. Characteristics of the coupled natural frequencies and modals are investigated by a numerical example of a rectangular water-filled cavity with five acoustic rigid walls and one elastic panel. Influential factors of power flow transmission characteristics are further discussed with the purpose of overall evaluation and reduction of the cavity water sound energy.
Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Creep Behavior of Bayer Red Mud
Authors: Zhao Baoyun , Huang Wei , Shu Zhile , Han Mengmeng , Feng Yanbo
Published: May 2018

Long‐term stability and safety of the Bayer red mud (BRM) disposal field is very important for the local residents’ life, which necessitates the knowledge of its creep behavior. In order to investigate the creep behavior of BRM, a series of triaxial drained creep tests were conducted by using an improved triaxial creep apparatus. The results indicate that the creep behavior of BRM is significant with confining and deviatoric stresses being critical factors. The creep strain is in a nonlinear relationship with stress and time, and a larger deviator stress will lead to a larger creep strain. The main failure mechanism of BRM is plastic shear, accompanied by a significant compression and ductile dilatancy. Based on the test results, two well‐established creep models, the Burgers creep model and Singh–Mitchell creep model, were used to comparatively analyze the creep behavior of the Bayer red mud under a certain stress level. Then, an improved Burgers creep damage constitutive model with the addition of a damage variable was proposed, whose parameters were also analyzed in detail. The comparison of the calculated values of the creep model and the experimental values shows that the proposed creep damage model can better describe the instant elastic deformation, attenuation creep, steady‐state creep, and accelerated creep stages of the Bayer red mud.
Corrosion and Leaching Behaviours of Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni Lead-Free Solder in 3.5 wt.% NaCl Solution
Authors: Guerrero Jan-Ervin C. , Camacho Drexel H. , Mokhtari Omid , Nishikawa Hiroshi
Published: May 2018

The corrosion and leaching behaviour of a new ternary Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni alloy in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution is reported herein. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements show that Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni has the highest corrosion rate. Results of the 30-day Sn leaching measurement show that Sn-Cu-Ni joint has slight decrease attributed to the formation of thin passivation film after 15 days. The leaching amounts of Sn are observed to be higher in solder joint than in solder alloy due to the galvanic corrosion happening on the surface. EDS and XRD results of the corroded surface confirm that the corroded product is made up of oxides of tin.
An Underlooked Cause of Periodic Fever (PFAPA) in an Adult Patient with No Response to Tonsillectomy
Authors: Alam Fiaz , Hammoudeh Mohammed
Published: May 2018

Periodic fever with aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) is an autoinflammatory disease manifested as recurrent febrile episodes associated with one of the following cardinal features: aphthous ulceration, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis. It was initially described in children and thought to be a disease of pediatric age group. Few adult cases were also reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 39-year-old female affected by PFAPA who presented with a history of febrile episodes associated with aphthous ulceration, stomatitis, and tonsillitis for 4 years. The febrile episodes occurred at a regular interval of 4 weeks and resolved within 5 days. The patient underwent tonsillectomy without any significant improvement. The patient responded only to a single high dose of steroid during the attack. Although PFAPA was initially thought to be a disease of pediatric age group, it should be considered in patients with recurrent febrile illness in all age groups.
Seismic Performance of a Corroded Reinforce Concrete Frame Structure Using Pushover Method
Authors: Zhang Meng , Liu Ran , Li Yaoliang , Zhao Guifeng
Published: May 2018

SAP2000 software was used to build the finite element model of a six‐storey‐three‐span reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure. The numerical simulation of the seismic performance of the RC frame structure incorporating different levels of rebar corrosion was conducted using pushover analysis method. The degradation characteristics of the seismic performance of the corroded structure under severe earthquake were also analyzed. The results show that the seismic performance of the RC frame decreased significantly due to corrosion of the longitudinal rebars. And the interstory drift ratios increase dramatically with the increasing of the corrosion rate. At the same time, the formation and development of plastic hinges (beam hinges or column hinges) will accelerate, which leads to a more aggravated deformation of the structure under rare earthquake action, resulting in a negative effect to the seismic bearing capacity of the structure.
Tangible User Interface for Social Interactions for the Elderly: A Review of Literature
Authors: Bong Way Kiat , Chen Weiqin , Bergland Astrid
Published: May 2018

The global population is ageing rapidly. The ageing population faces not only the risk of health-related problems but also the challenge of social isolation and loneliness. While mainstream technology is designed to improve daily life, elderly people’s unique needs are often neglected. These technology designs can be difficult for older adults to learn and use. Tangible user interface (TUI) gives physical form to digital information, with the aim of bridging the gap between the digital world and the physical world. Thus, it can be a more natural and intuitive interface for the older adults. The objective of this research is to review the existing research on TUI for enhancing the social interactions of elderly people. Results show that very little research has been published, given that the TUI concept was introduced 20 years ago. Our systematic literature review also resulted in several recommendations for future research, which includes getting elderly people involved in the process, from designing to evaluating the prototype and investigating the effect of TUI on older adults’ social interactions and health.
Perinatal Depression and Associated Factors among Mothers in Southern Ethiopia: Evidence from Arba Minch Zuria Health and Demographic Surveillance Site
Authors: Gebremichael Gebrekiros , Yihune Manaye , Ajema Dessalegn , Haftu Desta , Gedamu Genet
Published: May 2018

Background. Perinatal depression is a serious mental health problem that can negatively affect the lives of women and children. The adverse consequences of perinatal depression in high-income countries also occur in low-income countries. Objective. To assess the perinatal depression and associated factors among mothers in Southern Ethiopia. Methods. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among selected 728 study participants in Arba Minch Zuria HDSS. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using STATA version 12 software. Descriptive statistical methods were used to summarize the characteristics of the mothers. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used for analysis. Results. The prevalence of perinatal depression among the study period was 26.7%. In the final multivariable logistic regression, monthly income AOR (95% C.I): 4.2 (1.9, 9.3), parity [AOR (95% C.I): 0.14 (0.03, 0.65)], pregnancy complications AOR (95% C.I): 5 (2.5, 10.4), husband smoking status [AOR (95% C.I): 4.12 (1.6, 10.6)], history of previous depression AOR (95% C.I): 2.7 (1.54, 4.8), and family history of psychiatric disorders were the independent factors associated with perinatal depression. Conclusion. The study showed a high prevalence of perinatal depression among pregnant mothers and mothers who have less than a one-year-old child.
A Novel Entropy-Based Decoding Algorithm for a Generalized High-Order Discrete Hidden Markov Model
Authors: Chan Jason Chin-Tiong , Ong Hong Choon
Published: May 2018

The optimal state sequence of a generalized High-Order Hidden Markov Model (HHMM) is tracked from a given observational sequence using the classical Viterbi algorithm. This classical algorithm is based on maximum likelihood criterion. We introduce an entropy-based Viterbi algorithm for tracking the optimal state sequence of a HHMM. The entropy of a state sequence is a useful quantity, providing a measure of the uncertainty of a HHMM. There will be no uncertainty if there is only one possible optimal state sequence for HHMM. This entropy-based decoding algorithm can be formulated in an extended or a reduction approach. We extend the entropy-based algorithm for computing the optimal state sequence that was developed from a first-order to a generalized HHMM with a single observational sequence. This extended algorithm performs the computation exponentially with respect to the order of HMM. The computational complexity of this extended algorithm is due to the growth of the model parameters. We introduce an efficient entropy-based decoding algorithm that used reduction approach, namely, entropy-based order-transformation forward algorithm (EOTFA) to compute the optimal state sequence of any generalized HHMM. This EOTFA algorithm involves a transformation of a generalized high-order HMM into an equivalent first-order HMM and an entropy-based decoding algorithm is developed based on the equivalent first-order HMM. This algorithm performs the computation based on the observational sequence and it requires OTN~2 calculations, where N~ is the number of states in an equivalent first-order model and T is the length of observational sequence.
Research on a Micro-Nano Si/SiGe/Si Double Heterojunction Electro-Optic Modulation Structure
Authors: Feng Song , Li Lian-bi , Xue Bin
Published: May 2018

The electro-optic modulator is a very important device in silicon photonics, which is responsible for the conversion of optical signals and electrical signals. For the electro-optic modulator, the carrier density of waveguide region is one of the key parameters. The traditional method of increasing carrier density is to increase the external modulation voltage, but this way will increase the modulation loss and also is not conducive to photonics integration. This paper presents a micro-nano Si/SiGe/Si double heterojunction electro-optic modulation structure. Based on the band theory of single heterojunction, the barrier heights are quantitatively calculated, and the carrier concentrations of heterojunction barrier are analyzed. The band and carrier injection characteristics of the double heterostructure structure are simulated, respectively, and the correctness of the theoretical analysis is demonstrated. The micro-nano Si/SiGe/Si double heterojunction electro-optic modulation is designed and tested, and comparison of testing results between the micro-nano Si/SiGe/Si double heterojunction micro-ring electro-optic modulation and the micro-nano Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) micro-ring electro-optic modulation, Free Spectrum Range, 3 dB Bandwidth, Q value, extinction ratio, and other parameters of the micro-nano Si/SiGe/Si double heterojunction micro-ring electro-optic modulation are better than others, and the modulation voltage and the modulation loss are lower.
Evaluation of an Automated Screening Assay, Compared to Indirect Immunofluorescence, an Extractable Nuclear Antigen Assay, and a Line Immunoassay in a Large Cohort of Asian Patients with Antinuclear Antibody-Associated Rheumatoid Diseases: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Jeong Seri , Hwang Hyunyong , Roh Juhye , Shim Jung Eun , Kim Jinmi , Kim Geun-Tae , Tag Hee-Sang , Kim Hyon-Suk
Published: May 2018

We assessed the diagnostic utility of the connective tissue disease (CTD) screen as an automated screening test, in comparison with the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), EliA extractable nuclear antigen (ENA), and line immunoassay (LIA) for patients with antinuclear antibody- (ANA-) associated rheumatoid disease (AARD). A total of 1115 serum samples from two university hospitals were assayed using these four autoantibody-based methods. The AARD group consisted of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The qualitative results of all four autoantibody assays showed a significant association with AARDs, compared to controls (P<0.0001for all). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC-AUCs) of the CTD screen for differentiating total AARDs, SLE, SSc, SS, and MCTD from controls were 0.89, 0.93, 0.73, 0.93, and 0.95, respectively. The ROC-AUCs of combination testing with LIA were slightly higher in patients with AARDs (0.92) than those of CTD screen alone. Multivariate analysis indicated that all four autoantibody assays could independently predict AARDs. CTD screening alone and in combination with IIF, EliA ENA, and LIA are potentially valuable diagnostic approaches for predicting AARDs. Combining CTD screen with LIA might be effective for AARD patients.