bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A noise reduction method for semi-supervised community detection based on harmonic function
Authors: Fan Lilin , Song Kaiyuan , Liu Dong
Published: April 2018

Semi-supervised community detection is an important research topic in the field of complex network, which incorporates prior knowledge and topology to guide the community detection process. However, most of the previous work ignores the impact of the noise from prior knowledge during the community detection process. This paper proposes a novel strategy to identify and remove the noise from prior knowledge based on harmonic function, so as to make use of prior knowledge more efficiently. Finally, this strategy is applied to three state-of-the-art semi-supervised community detection methods. A series of experiments on both real and artificial networks demonstrate that the accuracy of semi-supervised community detection approach can be further improved.
First-principles study of Cu adsorption on vacancy-defected/Au-doped graphene
Authors: Liu Yang , An Libao , Gong Liang
Published: April 2018

To enhance the interaction between Cu and graphene in graphene reinforced Cu matrix composites, the first principles calculation was carried out to study the adsorption of Cu atoms on graphene. P-type doping and n-type doping were formed, respectively, on vacancy-defected and Au-doped graphene based on band structure analysis, and this was verified by subsequent investigation on density of states. A computation on charge transfer confirmed that p-type doping could promote the electron transport between Cu and graphene, while n-type doping would prevent it. In addition, adsorption energy and Mulliken population analysis revealed that both vacancy defects and Au doping could improve the stability of the Cu–graphene system. The research conducted in this paper provides useful guidance for the preparation of Cu/graphene composites.
Nonchaotic Behavior in Quadratic Three-Dimensional Differential Systems with a Symmetric Jacobian Matrix
Authors: Messias Marcelo , Silva Rafael Paulino
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we give an algebraic criterion to determine the nonchaotic behavior for polynomial differential systems defined in [Formula: see text] and, using this result, we give a partial positive answer for the conjecture about the nonchaotic dynamical behavior of quadratic three-dimensional differential systems having a symmetric Jacobian matrix. The algebraic criterion presented here is proved using some ideas from the Darboux theory of integrability, such as the existence of invariant algebraic surfaces and Darboux invariants, and is quite general, hence it can be used to study the nonchaotic behavior of other types of differential systems defined in [Formula: see text], including polynomial differential systems of any degree having (or not having) a symmetric Jacobian matrix.
Hopf and Bautin Bifurcation in a Tritrophic Food Chain Model with Holling Functional Response Types III and IV
Authors: Castellanos Víctor , Castillo-Santos Francisco Eduardo , Dela-Rosa Miguel Angel , Loreto-Hernández Iván
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we analyze the Hopf and Bautin bifurcation of a given system of differential equations, corresponding to a tritrophic food chain model with Holling functional response types III and IV for the predator and superpredator, respectively. We distinguish two cases, when the prey has linear or logistic growth. In both cases we guarantee the existence of a limit cycle bifurcating from an equilibrium point in the positive octant of [Formula: see text]. In order to do so, for the Hopf bifurcation we compute explicitly the first Lyapunov coefficient, the transversality Hopf condition, and for the Bautin bifurcation we also compute the second Lyapunov coefficient and verify the regularity conditions.
Limit Cycle Bifurcations by Perturbing a Hamiltonian System with a 3-Polycycle Having a Cusp of Order One or Two
Authors: Mousavi Marzieh , Zangeneh Hamid R. Z.
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we study the asymptotic expansion of the first order Melnikov function near a 3-polycycle connecting a cusp (of order one or two) to two hyperbolic saddles for a near-Hamiltonian system in the plane. The formulas for the first coefficients of the expansion are given as well as the method of bifurcation of limit cycles. Then we use the results to study two Hamiltonian systems with this 3-polycycle and determine the number and distribution of limit cycles that can bifurcate from the perturbed systems. Moreover, a sharp upper bound for the number of limit cycles bifurcated from the whole periodic annulus is found when there is a cusp of order one.
Bifurcation and Control in a Singular Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Fish Model with Nonlinear Fish Harvesting and Taxation
Authors: Meng Xin-You , Wu Yu-Qian
Published: April 2018

In this paper, a delayed differential algebraic phytoplankton-zooplankton-fish model with taxation and nonlinear fish harvesting is proposed. In the absence of time delay, the existence of singularity induced bifurcation is discussed by regarding economic interest as bifurcation parameter. A state feedback controller is designed to eliminate singularity induced bifurcation. Based on Liu’s criterion, Hopf bifurcation occurs at the interior equilibrium when taxation is taken as bifurcation parameter and is more than its corresponding critical value. In the presence of time delay, by analyzing the associated characteristic transcendental equation, the interior equilibrium loses local stability when time delay crosses its critical value. What’s more, the direction of Hopf bifurcation and stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions are investigated based on normal form theory and center manifold theorem, and nonlinear state feedback controller is designed to eliminate Hopf bifurcation. Furthermore, Pontryagin’s maximum principle has been used to obtain optimal tax policy to maximize the benefit as well as the conservation of the ecosystem. Finally, some numerical simulations are given to demonstrate our theoretical analysis.
Topological Ergodic Shadowing and Chaos on Uniform Spaces
Authors: Wu Xinxing , Ma Xin , Zhu Zhu , Lu Tianxiu
Published: April 2018

This paper firstly proves that every dynamical system defined on a Hausdorff uniform space with topologically ergodic shadowing is topologically mixing, thus topologically chain mixing. Then, the following is proved: (1) every weakly mixing dynamical system defined on a second countable Baire–Hausdorff uniform space is chaotic in the sense of both Li–Yorke and Auslander–Yorke; (2) every point transitive dynamical system defined on a Hausdorff uniform space is either almost equicontinuous or sensitive.
Birecurrent sets
Authors: Dolce Francesco , Perrin Dominique , Restivo Antonio , Reutenauer Christophe , Rindone Giuseppina
Published: April 2018

A set is called recurrent if its minimal automaton is strongly connected and birecurrent if it is recurrent as well as reversal. We prove a series of results concerning birecurrent sets. It is already known that any birecurrent set is completely reducible (that is, such that the minimal representation of its characteristic series is completely reducible). The main result of this paper characterizes completely reducible sets as linear combinations of birecurrent sets
Observation of universality for high pT distribution at LHC energies
Authors: Tabassam U. , Ali Y. , Ullah S. , Ajaz M. , Ali Q. , Suleymanov M. , Bhatti A. S. , Suleymanov R.
Published: April 2018

We have studied the distributions of the yield of primary charged particles produced in the asymmetric [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] for the three pseudorapidity regions: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and the transverse momentum range of [Formula: see text]. Heavy ion jet interaction generator (HIJING) and Ultra relativistic quantum molecular dynamics (UrQMD) models are used to produce simulated data and the results are compared with the CMS and ATLAS data. The comparison of models and data shows the existence of high [Formula: see text] area with boundary values that depend upon pseudorapidity ([Formula: see text]). At high [Formula: see text] values, the behavior of the distributions shows some universality, which does not depend upon the models. The reason of the universality could be the string dynamics for the parton hadronization at high [Formula: see text] values.
Ritz-Based Analytical Solutions for Bending, Buckling and Vibration Behavior of Laminated Composite Beams
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc-Duong , Nguyen Trung-Kien , Vo Thuc P. , Thai Huu-Tai
Published: April 2018

In this paper, the Ritz-based solutions are developed for the bending, buckling and vibration behaviors of laminated composite beams with arbitrary lay-ups. A quasi-3D theory, which accounts for a higher-order variation of both the axial and transverse displacements, is used to capture the effects of both shear and normal deformations on the behaviors of composite beams. Numerical results for various boundary conditions are presented and compared with existing ones available in the literature. Besides, the effects of fiber angle, span-to-height ratio, material anisotropy and Poisson’s ratio on the displacements, stresses, natural frequencies and buckling loads of the composite beams are investigated.
Out-of-Plane Responses of Overspeeding High-Speed Train on Curved Track
Authors: Dai Jian , Ang Kok Keng , Luong Van Hai , Tran Minh Thi , Jiang Dongqi
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a numerical study on the out-of-plane responses of a high-speed train running on a curved railway track segment using the moving element method. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed computation model presented herein are compared with available analytical results from the literature and a finite element solver based on a simplified moving load model. Thereafter, a half-railcar moving sprung-mass model and a double-rail track-foundation model are presented to investigate the behavior of a high-speed train traversing a curved track, particularly when the train speed is greater than the design speed of the curved track segment. The results show that the train speed and severity of track irregularity significantly affect the contact forces on the rails. This paper also presents a case of a railcar overturning when the train speed is greater than 2.5 times the design speed of a curved track segment.
Image Fluctuations in LED Electromechanical 3D–Display
Authors: Klyuev Alexey V. , Yakimov Arkady V.
Published: April 2018

Fluctuations in parameters of light-emitting diode (LED) electromechanical 3D–display are investigated. It is shown, that there are two types of fluctuations in the rotating 3D–display. The first one is caused by a small increment in the rotation angle, which has a tendency to the increase. That occurs in the form of the “drift” without periodic changes of the angle. The second one is the change in small linear increments of the angle, which occurs as undamped harmonic oscillations with constant amplitude. This shows the stability of the investigated steady state because there is no tendency to increase the amplitude of the considered parameter regime. In conclusion we give some recommendations how to improve synchronization of the system.
Lie groupoids and algebroids applied to the study of uniformity and homogeneity of Cosserat media
Authors: Jiménez Víctor Manuel , de León Manuel , Epstein Marcelo
Published: April 2018

A Lie groupoid, called second-order non-holonomic material Lie groupoid, is associated in a natural way to any Cosserat medium. This groupoid is used to give a new definition of homogeneity which does not depend on a material archetype. The corresponding Lie algebroid, called second-order non-holonomic material Lie algebroid, is used to characterize the homogeneity property of the material. We also relate these results with the previously obtained ones in terms of non-holonomic second-order [Formula: see text]-structures.
A pure geometric approach to stellar structure: Mass–radius relation
Authors: Wanas M. I. , Ammar Samah A. , Foda Mona M.
Published: April 2018

This paper represents the second step towards understanding stellar structure using pure geometric tools. It is an attempt to get a theoretical expression for a mass–radius relation. The stellar model used has been obtained as an analytic solution of the field equations of a pure geometric field theory. The method suggested to get this relation is very simple. It depends mainly on a set of differential equations implying the vanishing of all components of a geometric material-energy tensor on a boundary of stellar configuration. The theoretical relation obtained is a linear one [Formula: see text] with one free parameter [Formula: see text] Comparison with observation, using a sample of lower main-sequence stars, members of binary systems, is given. For the primary members [Formula: see text], we get [Formula: see text]. It is worthy of mention that the model obtained is a simple one. Rotation, magnetic field, etc. are not considered in the present treatment. So, the model is far from being complete. It is just a step to show that pure geometric consideration objects can be used to treat problems of stellar structure.
A Data-Clustering Technique for Fault Detection and Diagnostics in Field-Assembled Air Conditioners
Authors: Payne W. Vance , Heo Jaehyeok , Domanski Piotr A.
Published: April 2018

Fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) can be used to monitor the performance of air conditioners (ACs) and heat pumps (HPs), signal any departure from their optimal performance, and provide diagnostic information indicating a possible fault if degradation of performance occurs. For packaged systems fully assembled in a factory, an FDD module can be fully developed for all units of a given model based on laboratory tests of a single unit. For field-assembled systems, laboratory tests of a representative AC or HP installation can lead to the development of a “back-bone” preliminary FDD algorithm; however, in situ adaptation of these algorithms is required because of installation variations in the field. This paper describes a method for adapting a laboratory-based FDD module to field-assembled systems by automatically customizing the in situ FDD fault-free performance correlations. We validated the developed data-clustering technique with a set of nearly 6000 data points to generate fault-free correlations for an HP operating in the cooling mode in our laboratory. The study evaluated several fault-free feature models and indicated that the use of different order correlations during stages of data collection produced better fits to the data.
Social Media Sentiment and Bank Loan Contracting
Authors: Chong Dazhi , Li Ling , Wu Harris , Park Jong , Shi Hui , Yan Gongjun
Published: April 2018

This study analyzes how social media affects bank loan contracting. Using a sample of 642 US bank loan contracts, we hypothesize that social media can enhance information dissemination and mitigate the information asymmetry between borrowers and lenders. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that borrowers that receive positive social media user opinion on social media enjoy more favorable price of bank loan contracts. Additional analyses indicate that the relations among social media user opinion and bank loan price vary with the firm size, loan structure and availability of public information of borrowers. Overall, this research provides evidence that social media reduces cost of bank loans by decreasing information asymmetry between borrowers and lenders in the capital markets.
Quality Assessment of Business-to-Business (B2B) Relationships between SMEs: A Qualitative Approach Based on the Relational Capability Conception
Authors: Giraldi Luca , Ceccacci Silvia , Bevilacqua Maurizio , Mengoni Maura
Published: April 2018

Interorganizational cooperation and in particular dyadic relationships are increasingly considered as key factors for small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) business success in the ultracompetitive context of globalization. To support the development of successful relationships, this paper proposes a qualitative approach to assess the quality of business-to-business (B2B) between SMEs based on the Relational Capability framework proposed by Alves et al. (2016). The proposed approach is applied to a real relationship between two SMEs, to verify its applicability in order to understand whether the quality of the relationship has an impact on the success of jointly produced products. Experimental results suggest the possibility that the proposed method could be effective to assess quality of relations in interorganizational cooperation and that it can be useful to better analyze and understand the nature of relationships and to underline the aspects most related to power-dependence situations, which may compromise synergy between partners and negatively affect the success of the alliance.
Adam Sedgwick, Roderick Murchison, the Magnesian Limestone (Zechstein) of northeastern England and the foundation of the Permian System
Authors: Holliday D. W.
Published: April 2018

The acrimonious controversy between Sedgwick and Murchison with regard to the definition and boundaries of the Cambrian and Silurian systems in the mid-1800s is well known and documented. The claim by Sedgwick's biographers, never actually made by Sedgwick himself in print – that his study of the Magnesian Limestone Series (now Zechstein Group) of NE England should have had priority over Murchison's Russian work in the naming of what is now internationally recognized as the Permian System – suggests a possible additional cause of conflict between the parties that has been less considered. Though this claim has only limited substance, it is indicative of the ill-feeling felt against Murchison by some of Sedgwick's supporters several decades after the origins of the feud. It is now clear that the Zechstein rocks of England and Germany would have made an inadequate type area, but nevertheless the work of Sedgwick and his German contemporaries provided Murchison with many of the essentials he needed to establish the new system in Russia: help he might have been reluctant to acknowledge.
The youngest occurrence of ichthyosaur embryos in the UK: A new specimen from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) of Yorkshire
Authors: Boyd M. J. , Lomax D. R.
Published: April 2018

The remains of between six and eight ichthyosaur embryos, still situated within a fragment of the rib-cage of the parent animal, are described. Each is represented by a string of vertebral centra, some with associated ribs. Other skeletal elements, including possible skull material, are represented only by isolated bones, none identifiable with certainty. The small limestone boulder in which the ichthyosaur specimens are preserved was collected from the beach at Sandsend, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, and derives from the Whitby Mudstone Formation (
Hildoceras bifrons
Ammonite Biozone) of the Toarcian Stage of the Lower Jurassic. The specimen cannot be identified beyond Ichthyosauria indet. However, it represents the geologically-youngest occurrence of ichthyosaur embryos thus far recorded from the UK and the first such occurrence to be reported from Yorkshire.
The Posidonia Shale of northern Germany: unconventional oil and gas potential from high-resolution 3D numerical basin modelling of the cross-junction between the eastern Lower Saxony Basin, Pompeckj Block and Gifhorn Trough
Authors: Stock Alexander T. , Littke Ralf
Published: April 2018

A high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) numerical basin model, incorporating the eastern part of the Lower Saxony Basin (LSB), the Gifhorn Trough and parts of the southern Pompeckj Block, was built to reconstruct the thermal and structural evolution of this area. The estimation and calculation of the unconventional oil and gas resource density within the Posidonia Shale source-rock unit was the main objective of this study. Incorporating organic–geochemical data for the Posidonia Shale source-rock units, such as compositional petroleum generation kinetics data, allowed a more accurate prediction of hydrocarbon potential compared to large-scale models of the area, as well as a better prediction of bulk adsorption capacity and adsorbed gas content. For the accurate calculation of oil and gas contents within the source-rock lithologies, mineralogy and physical properties of the rocks, such as compressibility, sorption capacity and porosity, are important as well as organic matter quantity, quality and thermal maturity. These properties in turn are strongly dependent on the vastly different burial/uplift histories within the LSB, Gifhorn Trough and the Pompeckj Block. The Gifhorn Trough, large parts of the Pompeckj Block and the flanks of the LSB are interesting concerning the unconventional oil potential, with current source-rock maturities between 0.65% and 1.2% vitrinite reflectance. Central parts of the LSB and small parts of the Pompeckj Block show inherent unconventional gas potential. Methane adsorption capacity is influenced by the burial/uplift history of the basin, which stresses the importance of structural and geochemical interlocking in understanding unconventional hydrocarbon systems.
The relationship between systematic metamorphic patterns and collisional processes along the Qinling–Sulu–Odesan collisional belt between the North and South China Cratons
Authors: Oh Chang Whan , Lee Byung Choon
Published: April 2018

Along the Qinling–Sulu–Odesan collisional belt, the peak metamorphic conditions reflect systematically changing metamorphic regimes from east to west: ultra-high temperature (UHT) granulite-facies metamorphism in the Odesan area; high pressure (HP) eclogite-facies metamorphism in the Hongseong area; ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogite-facies metamorphism in the Sulu, Dabie and Hong'an areas; HP eclogite-facies metamorphism in the Tonbai area; epidote–amphibolite- and blueschist facies metamorphism in the Wudang area; and HP granulite-facies metamorphism in the western Qinling area. Additionally, the Triassic post-collisional igneous rocks regionally intruded at both ends of the collision belt, in the west Qinling and Hongseong–Odesan areas. These observations indicate that the following collisional processes occurred along the Qinling–Dabie–Odesan collisional belt. The North China Craton and South China Craton first collided at their eastern margins (the Odesan area) with an angle of approximately 60° between their long axes. Consequently, the amount of oceanic slab subducted before the collision increased from the Odesan area to the Sulu area, resulting in an increase in the depth of slab break-off. After slab break-off occurred in the Sulu area, the lateral tearing force strengthened, decreasing the depth of slab break-off from the Sulu area to the western Qinling area as collision propagated westward.
PAI-1 is a novel component of the miR-17~92 signaling that regulates pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell phenotypes
Authors: Chen Tianji , Huang Jason B. , Dai Jingbo , Zhou Qiyuan , Raj J. Usha , Zhou Guofei
Published: April 2018

We have previously reported that miR-17~92 is critically involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). We also identified two novel mR-17/20a direct targets, PDZ and LIM domain protein 5 (PDLIM5) and prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2), and elucidated the signaling pathways by which PDLIM5 and PHD2 regulate functions of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). In addition, we have shown that plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is also downregulated in PASMCs that overexpress miR-17~92. However, it is unclear whether PAI-1 is a direct target of miR-17~92 and whether it plays a role in regulating the PASMC phenotype. In this study, we have identified PAI-1 as a novel target of miR-19a/b, two members of the miR-17~92 cluster. We found that the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of PAI-1 contains a miR-19a/b binding site and that miR-19a/b can target this site to suppress PAI-1 protein expression. MiR-17/20a, two other members of miR-17~92, may also indirectly suppress PAI-1 expression through PDLIM5. PAI-1 is a negative regulator of miR-17~92-mediated PASMC proliferation. Silencing of PAI-1 induces Smad2/calponin signaling in PASMCs, suggesting that PAI-1 is a negative regulator of the PASMC contractile phenotype. We also found that PAI-1 is essential for the metabolic gene expression in PASMCs. Furthermore, although there is no significant change in PAI-1 levels in PASMCs isolated from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and associated pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, PAI-1 is downregulated in hypoxia/Sugen-induced hypertensive rat lungs. These results suggest that miR-17~92 regulates the PASMC contractile phenotype and proliferation coordinately and synergistically by direct and indirect targeting of PAI-1.
Understanding angiogenesis during aging: opportunities for discoveries and new models
Authors: Hodges Nicholas A. , Suarez-Martinez Ariana D. , Murfee Walter L.
Published: April 2018

Microvascular network growth and remodeling are common denominators for most age-related pathologies. For multiple pathologies (myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension), promoting microvascular growth, termed angiogenesis, would be beneficial. For others (cancer, retinopathies, rheumatoid arthritis), blocking angiogenesis would be desirable. Most therapeutic strategies, however, are motivated based on studies using adult animal models. This approach is problematic and does not account for the impaired angiogenesis or the inherent network structure changes that might result from age. Considering the common conception that angiogenesis is impaired with age, a need exists to identify the causes and mechanisms of angiogenesis in aged scenarios and for new tools to enable comparison of aged versus adult responses to therapy. The objective of this article is to introduce opportunities for advancing our understanding of angiogenesis in aging through the discovery of novel cell changes along aged microvascular networks and the development of novel ex vivo models.
Peripheral revascularization attenuates the exercise pressor reflex and increases coronary exercise hyperemia in peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Miller Amanda J. , Luck J. Carter , Kim Danielle Jin-Kwang , Leuenberger Urs A. , Aziz Faisal , Radtka John F. , Sinoway Lawrence I. , Muller Matthew D.
Published: April 2018

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with augmented blood pressure (BP) and impaired coronary blood flow responses to exercise, which may increase cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effects of leg revascularization on the BP and coronary blood flow responses to exercise in PAD. Seventeen PAD patients (11 men, 66 ± 2 yr) performed single-leg plantar flexion exercise 24 h before and 1 mo following leg revascularization. BP and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously, and rate pressure product (systolic BP × HR) was calculated as an index of myocardial oxygen demand. Coronary blood velocity was obtained by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in 8/17 subjects. The mean BP response to plantar flexion exercise was attenuated by leg revascularization (pre-revascularization: 15 ± 4 vs. post-revascularization: 7 ± 3 mmHg, P = 0.025). The HR response to plantar flexion was also attenuated following leg revascularization (pre-revascularization: 9 ± 1 vs. post-revascularization: 6 ± 1 beats/min, P = 0.006). The change in coronary blood velocity with exercise was greater at the post-revascularization visit: 4 ± 1 vs. pre-revascularization: −1 ± 2 cm/s ( P = 0.038), even though the change in rate pressure product was not greater following revascularization in these subjects (pre-revascularization: 2,796 ± 871 vs. post-revascularization: 1,766 ± 378 mmHg·beats/min, P = 0.082). These data suggest that leg revascularization alters reflex control of BP, HR, and coronary blood flow in response to exercise in patients with PAD.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found that peripheral revascularization procedures lowered exercise blood pressure and improved coronary blood flow in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Transfer coefficients better reflect emphysematous changes than carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in obstructive lung diseases
Authors: Shimizu Kaoruko , Konno Satoshi , Makita Hironi , Kimura Hirokazu , Kimura Hiroki , Suzuki Masaru , Nishimura Masaharu
Published: April 2018

The overlap between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has attracted the interest of pulmonary physicians; thus, measurement of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLco) and/or transfer coefficients (Kco, DLco/VA) may become valuable in clinical settings. How these parameters behave in chronic obstructive lung diseases is poorly understood. We predicted that Kco might more accurately reflect emphysematous changes in the lungs than DLco. We examined DLco and Kco in nonsmokers and smokers with asthma and investigated their relationships with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV1) by group. We then selected nonsmokers (As-NS) and smokers with asthma (As-Sm) in both groups and those with COPD while controlling for the degree of airflow limitation across groups. Emphysema volumes [%lung attenuation volume (%LAV)] and percentage of cross-sectional area of small pulmonary vessels <5 mm2(%CSA<5) were measured by computed tomography. In As-NS, %Kco was significantly higher when FEV1% was reduced, but such a correlation was not seen in As-Sm. %Kco successfully differentiated among the three groups when airflow limitation levels were matched. However, %DLc, was significantly reduced only in patients with COPD. Both %LAV and %CSA<5were better correlated with %Kco than with %DLco. There was discordance between %DLCOand %Kco in As-Sm, which was not seen in As-NS. Overall, %Kco better reflects emphysematous changes in obstructive lung diseases than %DLco.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Despite differing behaviors of %Kco and %DLco in several diseases, the characteristics of these parameters have not been fully examined in smokers with asthma. Here, we demonstrated that %Kco is a more sensitive parameter of pathophysiology, better reflecting emphysematous changes in chronic obstructive lung diseases overall, compared with %DLco. Thus, more precise interpretations of %DLco and %Kco may provide clues for understanding the pathophysiology of obstructive lung diseases.
Preliminary evidence of reductive stress in human cytotoxic T cells following exercise
Authors: Wadley Alex J. , Holliday Adrian , Morgan Rhys G. , Heesom Kate J. , Aldred Sarah , Peters Derek M. , Bueno Allain A. , Coles Steven J.
Published: April 2018

This study investigated immunophenotypic differences in intracellular thiol redox state of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from trained [ n = 9, means ± SD: age 28 ± 5 yr; (body mass index) BMI 23.2 ± 2.6 kg/m2; V̇o2max (maximal oxygen intake)56.9 ± 6.1 ml·kg−1·min−1] and recreationally active (RA, n = 11, means ± SD: age 27 ± 6 yr; BMI 24.2 ± 3.7 kg/m2; V̇o2max 45.1 ± 6.4 ml·kg−1·min−1) participants before and after a maximal aerobic exercise tolerance test. Blood samples were taken before (Pre), during (sample acquired at 70% maximum heart rate), immediately after (Post + 0), and 15 min postexercise (Post + 15). PBMCs were isolated, and reduced thiol analysis [fluorescein-5 maleimide (F5M)] by immunophenotype [cluster of differentiation (CD)3+, CD4+, and CD8+] was performed using flow cytometry. A significant increase in cellular F5M fluorescence was observed in CD3+ T cells at Post + 0, with changes driven to a greater extent by CD8+ T cells (fold change in both groups CD4: +2.3, CD8: +2.8; P < 0.05). Further analysis revealed a population of highly reduced CD8+ T cells (CD8+T-reduced+) that significantly increased from Pre to Post + 0 in RA participants only (RA: +272 cell/µl, P < 0.05). To understand these results further, CD8+T-reduced+ and CD8+T-reduced− cells were analyzed for immunophenotype in response to the same exercise protocol ( n = 6, means ± SD: age 24 ± 5 yr; BMI 25.7 ± 4.1 kg·m−2; V̇o2max 41.33 ± 7.63 ml·kg−1·min−1). CD8+T-reduced+ had significantly less lymphoid homing potential (chemokine receptor type 7) Post + 0 compared with Pre. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate that lymphocyte populations become more reductive in response to acute exercise.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The study presented provides the first evidence to suggest that cytotoxic T cells become transiently reductive in healthy individuals following a single bout of cycling. Detection of these cells was enabled via the use of a flow cytometric assay that incorporates the thiol reactive probe fluorescein-5 maleimide. Using this method, transient reductive stress in viable T cells is permissible and provides the basis for further research in the area of exercise immunology.
Efficient Shared Execution Processing of k-Nearest Neighbor Joins in Road Networks
Authors: Cho Hyung-Ju
Published: April 2018

We investigate the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) join in road networks to determine the k-nearest neighbors (NNs) from a dataset S to every object in another dataset R. The kNN join is a primitive operation and is widely used in many data mining applications. However, it is an expensive operation because it combines the kNN query and the join operation, whereas most existing methods assume the use of the Euclidean distance metric. We alternatively consider the problem of processing kNN joins in road networks where the distance between two points is the length of the shortest path connecting them. We propose a shared execution-based approach called the group-nested loop (GNL) method that can efficiently evaluate kNN joins in road networks by exploiting grouping and shared execution. The GNL method can be easily implemented using existing kNN query algorithms. Extensive experiments using several real-life roadmaps confirm the superior performance and effectiveness of the proposed method in a wide range of problem settings.
Operation Optimization of Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines Based on Stochastic Optimization Algorithms: A Review
Authors: Wu Xia , Li Changjun , He Yufa , Jia Wenlong
Published: April 2018

Operation optimization of natural gas pipelines has received increasing attentions, due to such advantages as maximizing the operating economic benefit and the gas delivery amount. This paper provides a review on the most relevant research progress related to the steady-state operation optimization models of natural gas pipelines as well as corresponding solution methods based on stochastic optimization algorithms. The existing operation optimization model of the natural gas pipeline is a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model involving a nonconvex feasible region and mixing of continuous, discrete, and integer optimization variables, which represents an extremely difficult problem to be solved by use of optimization algorithms. A survey on the state of the art demonstrates that many stochastic algorithms show better performance of solving such optimization models due to their advantages of handling discrete variables and of high computation efficiency over classical deterministic optimization algorithms. The essential progress mainly with regard to the applications of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithms, and their extensions is summarized. The performances of these algorithms are compared in terms of the quality of optimization results and the computation efficiency. Furthermore, the research challenges of improving the optimization model, enhancing the stochastic algorithms, developing an online optimization technology, researching the transient optimization, and studying operation optimization of the integrated energy network are discussed.
Geometric Programming with Discrete Variables Subject to Max-Product Fuzzy Relation Constraints
Authors: Qin Zejian , Cao Bingyuan , Fang Shu-Cherng , Yang Xiao-Peng
Published: April 2018

The problem of geometric programming subject to max-product fuzzy relation constraints with discrete variables is studied. The major difficulty in solving this problem comes from nonconvexity caused by these product terms in the general geometric function and the max-product relation constraints. We proposed a 0-1 mixed integer linear programming model and adopted the branch-and-bound scheme to solve the problem. Numerical experiments confirm that the proposed solution method is effective.
Absent Audiovisual Integration Elicited by Peripheral Stimuli in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Ren Yanna , Suzuki Keisuke , Yang Weiping , Ren Yanling , Wu Fengxia , Yang Jiajia , Takahashi Satoshi , Ejima Yoshimichi , Wu Jinglong , Hirata Koichi
Published: April 2018

The basal ganglia, which have been shown to be a significant multisensory hub, are disordered in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study was to investigate the audiovisual integration of peripheral stimuli in PD patients with/without sleep disturbances. Thirty-six age-matched normal controls (NC) and 30 PD patients were recruited for an auditory/visual discrimination experiment. The mean response times for each participant were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and race model. The results showed that the response to all stimuli was significantly delayed for PD compared to NC (allp<0.01). The response to audiovisual stimuli was significantly faster than that to unimodal stimuli in both NC and PD (p<0.001). Additionally, audiovisual integration was absent in PD; however, it did occur in NC. Further analysis showed that there was no significant audiovisual integration in PD with/without cognitive impairment or in PD with/without sleep disturbances. Furthermore, audiovisual facilitation was not associated with Hoehn and Yahr stage, disease duration, or the presence of sleep disturbances (allp>0.05). The current results showed that audiovisual multisensory integration for peripheral stimuli is absent in PD regardless of sleep disturbances and further suggested the abnormal audiovisual integration might be a potential early manifestation of PD.
Effective Mechanical Property Estimation of Composite Solid Propellants Based on VCFEM
Authors: Shen Liu-Lei , Shen Zhi-Bin , Xie Yan , Li Hai-Yang
Published: April 2018

A solid rocket motor is one of the critical components of solid missiles, and its life and reliability mostly depend on the mechanical behavior of a composite solid propellant (CSP). Effective mechanical properties are critical material constants to analyze the structural integrity of propellant grain. They are estimated by a numerical method that combines the Voronoi cell finite element method (VCFEM) and the homogenization method in the present paper. The correctness of this combined method has been validated by comparing with a standard finite element method and conventional theoretical models. The effective modulus and the effective Poisson’s ratio of a CSP varying with volume fraction and component material properties are estimated. The result indicates that the variations of the volume fraction of inclusions and the properties of the matrix have obvious influences on the effective mechanical properties of a CSP. The microscopic numerical analysis method proposed in this paper can also be used to provide references for the design and the analysis of other large volume fraction composite materials.
Transcriptome Analysis of Porcine PBMCs Reveals the Immune Cascade Response and Gene Ontology Terms Related to Cell Death and Fibrosis in the Progression of Liver Failure
Authors: Zhang YiMin , Shao Li , Zhou Ning , Li JianZhou , Chen Yu , Lu Juan , Wang Jie , Chen ErMei , Xie ZhongYang , Li LanJuan
Published: April 2018

Background. The key gene sets involved in the progression of acute liver failure (ALF), which has a high mortality rate, remain unclear. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the transcriptional response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following ALF. Methods. ALF was induced by D-galactosamine (D-gal) in a porcine model. PBMCs were separated at time zero (baseline group), 36 h (failure group), and 60 h (dying group) after D-gal injection. Transcriptional profiling was performed using RNA sequencing and analysed using DAVID bioinformatics resources. Results. Compared with the baseline group, 816 and 1,845 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the failure and dying groups, respectively. A total of five and two gene ontology (GO) term clusters were enriched in 107 GO terms in the failure group and 154 GO terms in the dying group. These GO clusters were primarily immune-related, including genes regulating the inflammasome complex and toll-like receptor signalling pathways. Specifically, GO terms related to cell death, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy, and those related to fibrosis, coagulation dysfunction, and hepatic encephalopathy were enriched. Seven Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, hematopoietic cell lineage, lysosome, rheumatoid arthritis, malaria, and phagosome and pertussis pathways were mapped for DEGs in the failure group. All of these seven KEGG pathways were involved in the 19 KEGG pathways mapped in the dying group. Conclusion. We found that the dramatic PBMC transcriptome changes triggered by ALF progression was predominantly related to immune responses. The enriched GO terms related to cell death, fibrosis, and so on, as indicated by PBMC transcriptome analysis, seem to be useful in elucidating potential key gene sets in the progression of ALF. A better understanding of these gene sets might be of preventive or therapeutic interest.
Global Behavior of a Computer Virus Propagation Model on Multilayer Networks
Authors: Zhang Chunming
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a new linear computer viruses propagation model on multilayer networks to explore the mechanism of computer virus propagation. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that the maximum eigenvalue of the sum of all the subnetworks is a vital factor in determining the viral prevalence. And then, a new sufficient condition for the global stability of virus-free equilibrium has been obtained. The persistence of computer virus propagation system has also been proved. Eventually, some numerical simulation results verify the main conclusions of the theoretical analysis.
Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Targets
Authors: Gravina Antonietta Gerarda , Dallio Marcello , Masarone Mario , Rosato Valerio , Aglitti Andrea , Persico Marcello , Loguercio Carmelina , Federico Alessandro
Published: April 2018

Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory conditions involving primarily the gastrointestinal tract. However, they may be also associated with systemic manifestations and comorbidities. The relationship between chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction has been extensively demonstrated. Mucosal immunity and gastrointestinal physiology are modified in inflammatory bowel diseases, and these modifications are mainly sustained by alterations of endothelial function. The key elements involved in this process are cytokines, inflammatory cells, growth factors, nitric oxide, endothelial adhesion molecules, and coagulation cascade factors. In this review, we discuss available data in literature concerning endothelial dysfunction in patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease and we focus our attention on both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic targets.
The Relationship between Physical Fitness and Simulated Firefighting Task Performance
Authors: Nazari Goris , MacDermid Joy C. , Sinden Kathryn E. , Overend Tom J.
Published: April 2018

The overall aim of this study was to measure the physiological responses of firefighters from a single fire service during simulated functional firefighting tasks and to establish the relationship between physical fitness parameters and task performance. 46 males and 3 females firefighters were recruited. Firefighters’ aerobic capacity levels were estimated using the Modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (mCAFT). Grip strength levels, as a measure of upper body strength levels, were assessed using a calibrated J-Tech dynamometer. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) protocol for the static floor lifting test was used to quantify lower body strength levels. Firefighters then performed two simulated tasks: a hose drag task and a stair climb with a high-rise pack tasks. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between firefighters’ physical fitness parameters and task completion times. Two separate multivariable enter regression analyses were carried out to determine the predictive abilities of age, sex, muscle strength, and resting heart rate on task completion times. Our results displayed that near maximal heart rates of ≥88% of heart rate maximum were recorded during the two tasks. Correlation (r) ranged from −0.30 to 0.20. For the hose drag task, cardiorespiratory fitness and right grip strength (kg) demonstrated the highest correlations of −0.30 and −0.25, respectively. In predicting hose drag completion times, age and right grip strength scores were shown to be the statistically significant (p<0.05) independent variables in our regression model. In predicting stair climb completion times, age and NIOSH scores were shown to be the statistically significant (p<0.05) independent variables in our regression model. In conclusion, the hose drag and stair climb tasks were identified as physiological demanding tasks. Age, sex, resting heart rate, and upper body/lower body strength levels had similar predictive values on hose drag and stair climb completion times.
FROG: A Robust and Green Wireless Sensor Node for Fog Computing Platforms
Authors: Castillo-Cara Manuel , Huaranga-Junco Edgar , Quispe-Montesinos Milner , Orozco-Barbosa Luis , Antúnez Enrique Arias
Published: April 2018

Over the past few years, we have witnessed the widespread deployment of wireless sensor networks and distributed data management facilities: two main building blocks of the Internet of things (IoT) technology. Due to the spectacular increase on the demand for novel information services, the IoT-based infrastructures are more and more characterized by their geographical sparsity and increasing demands giving rise to the need of moving from a cloud to a fog model: a novel deployment paradigm characterized by the provisioning of elastic resources geographically located as close as possible to the end user. Despite the large number of wireless sensor networks already available in the market, there are still many issues to be addressed on the design and deployment of robust network platforms capable of meeting the demand and quality of fog-based systems. In this paper, we undertake the design and development of a wireless sensor node for fog computing platforms addressing two of the main issues towards the development and deployment of robust communication services, namely, energy consumption and network resilience provisioning. Our design is guided by examining the relevant macroarchitecture features and operational constraints to be faced by the network platform. We based our solution on the integration of network hardware platforms already available on the market supplemented by smart power management and network resilience mechanisms.