bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Potential for Entangled States Between Chaotic Systems
Authors: Morena Matthew A. , Short Kevin M.
Published: June 2014

We report on the tendency of chaotic systems to be controlled onto their unstable periodic orbits in such a way that these orbits are stabilized. The resulting orbits are known as cupolets and collectively provide a rich source of qualitative information on the associated chaotic dynamical system. We show that pairs of interacting cupolets may be induced into a state of mutually sustained stabilization that requires no external intervention in order to be maintained and is thus considered bound or entangled. A number of properties of this sort of entanglement are discussed. For instance, should the interaction be disturbed, then the chaotic entanglement would be broken. Based on certain properties of chaotic systems and on examples which we present, there is further potential for chaotic entanglement to be naturally occurring. A discussion of this and of the implications of chaotic entanglement in future research investigations is also presented.
The Jerk Dynamics of Chua's Circuit
Authors: Buscarino Arturo , Fortuna Luigi , Frasca Mattia
Published: June 2014

In this paper, the dynamics of Chua's circuit in jerk form is presented. It is proved that two forms of Chua's circuit in jerk dynamics can be derived. The electronic circuit of the simpler dynamics has been implemented. The link between Chua's circuit and the search for simple jerk circuits has been established, therefore, proposing complex dynamics (like that of Chua's circuit) in jerk form.
Bifurcations and Exact Traveling Wave Solutions for a Model of Nonlinear Pulse Propagation in Optical Fibers
Authors: Li Jibin
Published: June 2014

In this paper, we consider a model of nonlinear pulse propagation in optical fibers. By investigating the dynamical behavior and bifurcations of solutions of the traveling wave system of PDE, we derive all possible exact explicit traveling wave solutions under different parameter conditions. These results completed the study of traveling wave solutions for the mentioned model posed by [Lenells, 2009].
Towards a Reusable Fault Handling in WS-BPEL
Authors: Kocbek Andrej , Juric Matjaz B.
Published: June 2014

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an evolution of distributed computing and it is based on the concepts of interoperable services. To enable reliable and robust service oriented information systems, it is important to establish an effective fault handling. WS-BPEL 2.0 specification does not provide sophisticated and reusable support for handling faults and challenges process designers with many obstacles in the process implementation. We introduce a novel policy driven fault handling framework for BPEL by extending the WS-BPEL 2.0 specification. We propose to separate business process and fault handling logic with the aim to decrease code duplication, process complexity and overall process size. The proposed framework consists of a fault policy which includes the definition of BPEL fault handling logic. The fault policy defines fault handlers and fault handling recovery actions that can be used to design handling BPEL process faults. As a proof-of-concept, we have developed a prototype implementation of the proposed policy driven fault handling framework for BPEL and tested it on 117 real world BPEL scenarios. We have confirmed that the proposed solution decreases the code duplication, the process complexity and overall the process size. Even more, we successfully improved the reliability and readability of BPEL processes.
Extension of Vertex Operator Algebra $V_{\widehat{H}_{4}}(\ell,0)$
Authors: Jiang Cuipo , Wang Song
Published: June 2014

We classify the irreducible restricted modules for the affine Nappi-Witten Lie algebra [Formula: see text] with some natural conditions. It turns out that the representation theory of [Formula: see text] is quite different from the theory of representations of Heisenberg algebras. We also study the extension of the vertex operator algebra [Formula: see text] by the even lattice L. We give the structure of the extension [Formula: see text] and its irreducible modules via irreducible representations of [Formula: see text] viewed as a vertex algebra.
Equity-credit modeling under affine jump-diffusion models with jump-to-default
Authors: Chung Tsz Kin , Kwok Yue Kuen
Published: June 2014

This paper considers the stochastic models for pricing credit-sensitive financial derivatives using the joint equity-credit modeling approach. The modeling of credit risk is embedded into a stochastic asset dynamics model by adding the jump-to-default (JtD) feature. We discuss the class of stochastic affine jump-diffusion (AJD) models with JtD and apply the models to price defaultable European options and credit default swaps. Numerical studies of the equity-credit models are also considered. The impact on the pricing behavior of derivative products with the added JtD feature is examined.
Socio-hydrology modelling for an uncertain future, with examples from the USA and Canada
Authors: Gober Patricia , White Dave D. , Quay Ray , Sampson David A. , Kirkwood Craig W.
Published: June 2014

Socio-hydrology brings an interest in human values, markets, social organizations and public policy to the traditional emphasis of water science on climate, hydrology, toxicology and ecology. It also conveys a decision focus in the form of decision support tools, stakeholder engagement and new knowledge about the science–policy interface. This paper demonstrates how policy decisions and human behaviour can be better integrated into climate and hydrological models to improve their usefulness for decision support. Examples from SW USA and western Canada highlight uncertainties, vulnerabilities and critical tradeoffs facing water decision makers in the face of rapidly changing environmental and societal conditions. Irreducible uncertainties in downscaled climate and hydrological models limit the usefulness of climate-driven, predict-and-plan methods of water resource planning and management. Thus, it is argued that such methods should be replaced by approaches that use exploratory modelling, scenario planning and risk assessment in which the emphasis is on managing uncertainty rather than on reducing it. Model fusion supports all of these processes in integrating human and biophysical aspects of water systems, allowing policy impacts to be quantified and clarified, and fostering public engagement with water resource modelling.
Interacting with Virtual Reconstructions in Museums
Authors: Pietroni Eva , Adami Andrea
Published: June 2014

Starting from our experience in this domain, we discuss some fundamental concepts about the potentialities of the virtual reconstructions of cultural sites inside museums, with a specific focus on the communication needs, the design, the combination of media, the interaction interfaces, and the embodiment. We conceive a virtual reconstruction as a digital ecosystem, whose main peculiarities are (1) 3D reconstruction, (2) inclusivity, and (3) interactivity. A virtual reconstruction, in a wide sense, should integrate different levels of visualization, both realistic and symbolic; 3D models; metadata; storytelling; behaviors; and tools of visualization and interaction, in order to “reconstruct” and communicate a cultural context, an ecosystem where all the information is integrated. Despite the great advancements of the last years in the digitization process, computer graphics techniques, and archiving strategies, a basic limit of most of virtual museums is that they do not fire up the attention and the involvement of the public: they lack stimulating activities for visitors, narratives metaphors, and emotional impact. The interaction interfaces are not always simple to understand and to control in a few minutes, and they can generate a sense of frustration that causes users to abandon the application after a short and superficial approach. No gap should exist between knowledge and communication. But how can we translate the complexity of the knowledge in appealing to users and into simple applications that fit with the public's need? This article focuses on some communication rules and criteria that are often considered of minor importance by the researchers working in the field of digital cultural heritage but that are really essential to cultural transmission, especially inside museums. We believe that a stronger collaboration between research institutions and museums and among different disciplines would be recommended. Given this premise, we present the Etruscanning EU project, developed in 2011--2013, focused on the virtual reconstruction of two important Etruscan tombs of the Orientalizing period: the Regolini-Galassi tomb in Cerveteri and the tomb n.5 of Monte Michele in Veii.
Predicting user traits from a snapshot of apps installed on a smartphone
Authors: Seneviratne Suranga , Seneviratne Aruna , Mohapatra Prasant , Mahanti Anirban
Published: June 2014

Third party apps are an integral component of the smartphone ecosystem. In this paper, we investigate how user traits can be inferred by observing only a single snapshot of installed apps. Using supervised learning methods and minimal external information we show that user traits such as religion, relationship status, spoken languages, countries of interest, and whether or not the user is a parent of small children, can be easily predicted. Using data collected from over 200 smartphone users, specifically the list of installed apps and the corresponding ground truth traits of the users, we show that for most traits we can achieve over 90% precision. Our inference method can be used to provide services such as personalized content delivery or recommender systems for users. We also highlight privacy loss that can occur from unrestricted access to the app lists in popular smartphone operating systems.
Skeletal muscle and organ masses differ in overweight adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Davidson Lance E. , Kelley David E. , Heshka Stanley , Thornton John , Pi-Sunyer F. Xavier , Boxt Lawrence , Balasubramanyam Ashok , Gallagher Dympna
Published: June 2014

Whether lean body mass (LBM) composition, especially skeletal muscle and abdominal organs, differs in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) compared with nondiabetic healthy controls has not been investigated. A subset of African-American and Caucasian participants with T2DM from the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial had body composition assessed and compared with a sample of healthy controls. Skeletal muscle mass (SMM), liver, kidneys, and spleen mass were quantified using a contiguous slice magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol. Cardiac mass was quantified by either a cardiac gated MRI protocol or by echocardiography. MRI volumes were converted to mass using assumed densities. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessed LBM. Using general linear models adjusted for height, weight, sex, age, race, and interactions of diabetes status with race or sex, persons with T2DM ( n = 95) had less LBM (49.7 vs. 51.6 kg) and SMM (24.1 vs. 25.4 kg) and larger kidneys (0.40 vs. 0.36 kg) than controls ( n = 76) (all P < 0.01). Caucasians with T2DM had larger livers (1.90 vs. 1.60 kg, P < 0.0001) and spleens (0.29 vs. 0.22 kg, P < 0.01), and T2DM men had less cardiac mass than controls (0.25 vs. 0.30 kg, P < 0.001). In this sample, T2DM is characterized by less relative skeletal muscle and cardiac mass in conjunction with larger kidneys, liver, and spleen. Further investigation is needed to establish the causes and metabolic consequences of these race- and sex-specific organ mass differences in T2DM.
Investigation into the Impact and Buffering Characteristics of a Non-Newtonian Fluid Damper: Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Sun Jingya , Jiao Sujuan , Huang Xiuchang , Hua Hongxing
Published: June 2014

Dampers are widely applied to protect devices or human body from severe impact or harmful vibration circumstances. Considering that dampers with low velocity exponent have advantages in energy absorption, they have been widely used in antiseismic structures and shock buffering. Non-Newtonian fluid with strong shear-thinning effect is commonly adopted to achieve this goal. To obtain the damping mechanism and find convenient methods to design the nonlinear fluid damper, in this study, a hydraulic damper is filled with 500,000 cSt silicone oil to achieve a low velocity exponent. Drop hammer test is carried out to experimentally obtain its impact and buffering characteristics. Then a coupling model is built to analyze its damping mechanism, which consists of a model of impact system and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Results from the coupling model can be consistent with the experiment results. Simulation method can help design non-Newtonian fluid dampers more effectively.
The Finite Spectrum of Fourth-Order Boundary Value Problems with Transmission Conditions
Authors: Bo Fang-zhen , Ao Ji-jun
Published: June 2014

A class of fourth-order boundary value problems with transmission conditions are investigated. By constructing we prove that these class of fourth order problems consist of finite number of eigenvalues. Further, we show that the number of eigenvalues depend on the order of the equation, partition of the domain interval, and the boundary conditions (including the transmission conditions) given.
The Diagnostic Value of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma by Using Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Perfusion
Authors: Zhong Jin , Lu Zonghong , Xu Liang , Dong Longchun , Qiao Hui , Hua Rui , Gong Yi , Liu Zhenxing , Hao Caixian , Liu Xuehuan , Zong Changqing , He Li , Liu Jun
Published: June 2014

Purpose.The aim of this study was to compare diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) with computed tomography perfusion (CTP) for preoperative detection of metastases to lymph nodes (LNs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).Methods.Between May 2010 and April 2012, 30 patients with head and neck SCC underwent preoperative DWI and CTP. Two radiologists measured apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and CTP parameters independently. Surgery and histopathologic examinations were performed on all patients.Results.On DWI, 65 LNs were detected in 30 patients. The mean ADC value of metastatic nodes was lower than benign nodes and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). On CTP images, the mean value in metastatic nodes of blood flow (BF) and blood volume (BV) was higher than that in benign nodes, and mean transit time (MTT) in metastatic nodes was lower than that in benign nodes. There were significant differences in BF and MTT values between metastatic and benign LNs (P<0.05). There were significant differences between the AUCs of DWI and CTP (Z=4.612,P<0.001).Conclusion.DWI with ADC value measurements may be more accurate than CTP for the preoperative diagnosis of cervical LN metastases.
Administration of the Resveratrol Analogues Isorhapontigenin and Heyneanol-A Protects Mice Hematopoietic Cells against Irradiation Injuries
Authors: Wang Hui , Yang Yi-ling , Zhang Heng , Yan Hao , Wu Xiao-jing , Zhang Chun-ze
Published: June 2014

Ionizing radiation (IR) is known not only to cause acute bone marrow (BM) suppression but also to lead to long-term residual hematopoietic injury. These effects have been attributed to IR inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hematopoietic cells. In this study, we examined if isorhapontigenin and heyneanol-A, two analogues of resveratrol, could mitigate IR-induced BM suppression. The results of cell viability assays, clonogenic assays, and competitive repopulation assays revealed that treatment with these compounds could protect mice BM mononuclear cells (BMMNC), hematopoietic progenitor cells, and hematopoietic stem cells from IR-induced BM suppression. Moreover, the expression of genes related to the endogenous cellular antioxidant system in hematopoietic cells was analyzed. The expression and activity of SOD2 and GPX1 were found to be decreased in irradiated BMMNC, and the application of the resveratrol analogues could ameliorate this damage. Our results suggest that in comparison with resveratrol and isorhapontigenin, treatment with heyneanol-A can protect hematopoietic cells from IR-induced damage to a greater degree; the protective effects of these compounds are probably the result of their antioxidant properties.
Optical Measurement Techniques of Recombination Lifetime Based on the Free Carriers Absorption Effect
Authors: De Laurentis Martina , Irace Andrea
Published: June 2014

We review successful measurement techniques for the evaluation of the recombination properties in semiconductor materials based on the optically induced free carrier absorption. All the methodologies presented share the common feature of exploiting a laser beam to excite electron-hole pairs within the volume of the sample under investigation, while the probing methods can vary according to the different methodology analyzed. As recombination properties are of paramount importance in determining the properties of semiconductor devices (i.e, bipolar transistor gain, power devices switching features, and solar cells efficiency), their knowledge allows for better understanding of experimental results and robust TCAD simulator calibration. Being contactless and applicable without any particular preparation of the sample under investigation, they have been considered attractive to monitor these parameters inline or just after production of many different semiconductor devices.
Valuing Convertible Bonds Based on LSRQM Method
Authors: Liu Jian , Yan Lizhao , Ma Chaoqun
Published: June 2014

Convertible bonds are one of the essential financial products for corporate finance, while the pricing theory is the key problem to the theoretical research of convertible bonds. This paper demonstrates how to price convertible bonds with call and put provisions using Least-Squares Randomized Quasi-Monte Carlo (LSRQM) method. We consider the financial market with stochastic interest rates and credit risk and present a detailed description on calculating steps of convertible bonds value. The empirical results show that the model fits well the market prices of convertible bonds in China’s market and the LSRQM method is effective.
Approach to the Highest HXR Yield in Plasma Focus Device Using Adaptive Neurofuzzy Inference System to Optimize Anode Configuration
Authors: Mahtab M. , Taghipour M. , Roshani G. H. , Habibi M.
Published: June 2014

Adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is investigated to optimize the configuration of anode shape in plasma focus devices to achieve the highest X-ray yield. Variables of discharge voltage, filling gas pressure, and angles of anode slopes (Φ1 and Φ2) are chosen as input parameters, while the output is designated to be the radiated hard X-ray intensity. The trained ANFIS has achieved good agreement with the experimental results and has mean relative error percentages (MRE%) 1.12% and 2.18% for training and testing data, respectively. The study demonstrates that adaptive neurofuzzy inference system is useful, reliable, and low-cost way to interpret the highest X-ray yield and corresponding anode configuration in plasma focus devices.
Impact of Underweight after Treatment on Prognosis of Advanced-Stage Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Kim Se Ik , Kim Hee Seung , Kim Tae Hun , Suh Dong Hoon , Kim Kidong , No Jae Hong , Chung Hyun Hoon , Kim Yong Beom , Song Yong Sang
Published: June 2014

This study aimed to investigate the impact of underweight status on the prognosis of advanced-stage ovarian cancer. A total of 360 patients with stage III-IV epithelial ovarian cancer were enrolled and divided into three groups by body mass indexes (BMIs): underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2); normal weight to overweight (18.5 kg/m2 BMI < 27.5 kg/m2); obesity (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), CA-125, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker reflecting host inflammation and immunity were compared among the three groups according to the three treatment times: at diagnosis; after surgery; and after treatment. Only underweight status after treatment was associated with poor OS in comparison with normal weight to overweight or obesity (mean value, 44.9 versus 78.8 or 67.4 months;P=0.05); it was also an unfavorable factor for OS (adjusted HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.08–4.85). Furthermore, NLR was higher in patients with underweight than in those with obesity after treatment (median value, 2.15 versus 1.47;P=0.03), in spite of no difference in CA-125 among the three groups at the three treatment times. In conclusion, underweight status after treatment may be a poor prognostic factor in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, which accompanies increased host inflammation and decreased immunity.
A DAG Scheduling Scheme on Heterogeneous Computing Systems Using Tuple-Based Chemical Reaction Optimization
Authors: Jiang Yuyi , Shao Zhiqing , Guo Yi
Published: June 2014

A complex computing problem can be solved efficiently on a system with multiple computing nodes by dividing its implementation code into several parallel processing modules or tasks that can be formulated as directed acyclic graph (DAG) problems. The DAG jobs may be mapped to and scheduled on the computing nodes to minimize the total execution time. Searching an optimal DAG scheduling solution is considered to be NP-complete. This paper proposed a tuple molecular structure-based chemical reaction optimization (TMSCRO) method for DAG scheduling on heterogeneous computing systems, based on a very recently proposed metaheuristic method, chemical reaction optimization (CRO). Comparing with other CRO-based algorithms for DAG scheduling, the design of tuple reaction molecular structure and four elementary reaction operators of TMSCRO is more reasonable. TMSCRO also applies the concept of constrained critical paths (CCPs), constrained-critical-path directed acyclic graph (CCPDAG) and super molecule for accelerating convergence. In this paper, we have also conducted simulation experiments to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of TMSCRO upon a large set of randomly generated graphs and the graphs for real world problems.
miRSeq: A User-Friendly Standalone Toolkit for Sequencing Quality Evaluation and miRNA Profiling
Authors: Pan Cheng-Tsung , Tsai Kuo-Wang , Hung Tzu-Min , Lin Wei-Chen , Pan Chao-Yu , Yu Hong-Ren , Li Sung-Chou
Published: June 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) present diverse regulatory functions in a wide range of biological activities. Studies on miRNA functions generally depend on determining miRNA expression profiles between libraries by using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform. Currently, several online web services are developed to provide small RNA NGS data analysis. However, the submission of large amounts of NGS data, conversion of data format, and limited availability of species bring problems. In this study, we developed miRSeq to provide alternatives. To test the performance, we had small RNA NGS data from four species, including human, rat, fly, and nematode, analyzed with miRSeq. The alignments results indicate that miRSeq can precisely evaluate the sequencing quality of samples regarding percentage of self-ligation read, read length distribution, and read category. miRSeq is a user-friendly standalone toolkit featuring a graphical user interface (GUI). After a simple installation, users can easily operate miRSeq on a PC or laptop by using a mouse. Within minutes, miRSeq yields useful miRNA data, including miRNA expression profiles, 3′ end modification patterns, and isomiR forms. Moreover, miRSeq supports the analysis of up to 105 animal species, providing higher flexibility.
Biomarkers as Predictors of Recurrence following Curative Resection for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Review
Authors: Osayi Sylvester N. , Bloomston Mark , Schmidt Carl M. , Ellison E. Christopher , Muscarella Peter
Published: June 2014

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the fourth most common cancer causing death in the United States. Early tumor recurrence is an important contributor to the dismal prognosis. The availability of an accurate prognostic biomarker for predicting disease recurrence following curative resection will be beneficial for patient care. Most of the currently studied biomarkers remain in the investigational phase, with CA 19-9 being the only biomarker currently approved by the FDA. Herein, we review the utility of CA 19-9 and other investigational cellular, gene, and molecular tumor markers for predicting PDA recurrence following curative surgical resection.
Puerarin Alleviates Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting Neuroinflammation in Spinal Cord
Authors: Liu Ming , Liao Kaijun , Yu Changxi , Li Xuejun , Liu Suhuan , Yang Shuyu
Published: June 2014

Neuropathic pain responds poorly to drug treatments, and partial relief is achieved in only about half of the patients. Puerarin, the main constituent ofPuerariae Lobatae Radix, has been used extensively in China to treat hypertension and tumor. The current study examined the effects of puerarin on neuropathic pain using two most commonly used animal models: chronic constriction injury (CCI) and diabetic neuropathy. We found that consecutive intrathecal administration of puerarin (4–100 nM) for 7 days inhibited the mechanical and thermal nociceptive response induced by CCI and diabetes without interfering with the normal pain response. Meanwhile, in both models puerarin inhibited the activation of microglia and astroglia in the spinal dorsal horn. Puerarin also reduced the upregulated levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and other proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, in the spinal cord. In summary, puerarin alleviated CCI- and diabetes-induced neuropathic pain, and its effectiveness might be due to the inhibition of neuroinflammation in the spinal cord. The anti-inflammation effect of puerarin might be related to the suppression of spinal NF-κB activation and/or cytokines upregulation. We conclude that puerarin has a significant effect on alleviating neuropathic pain and thus may serve as a therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain.
Renormalization of QED Near Decoupling Temperature
Authors: Masood Samina S.
Published: June 2014

We study the effective parameters of QED near decoupling temperatures and show that the QED perturbative series is convergent, at temperatures below the decoupling temperature. The renormalization constant of QED acquires different values if a system cools down from a hotter system to the electron mass temperature or heats up from a cooler system to the same temperature. At T = m, the first order contribution to the electron self-mass, δm/m is 0.0076 for a heating system and 0.0115 for a cooling system and the difference between two values is equal to 1/3 of the low temperature value and 1/2 of the high temperature value around T~m. This difference is a measure of hot fermion background at high temperatures. With the increase in release of more fermions at hotter temperatures, the fermion background contribution dominates and weak interactions have to be incorporated to understand the background effects.
The Higher Plasma Malondialdehyde Concentrations Are Determined by Metabolic Syndrome-Related Glucolipotoxicity
Authors: Moreto Fernando , de Oliveira Erick P. , Manda Rodrigo M. , Burini Roberto C.
Published: June 2014

This study aimed to elucidate the determinants of higher plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) in free-living adults. In a cross-sectional study we evaluated 148 free-living subjects (54 ± 11 years, 78% women) at high risk for or with metabolic syndrome (MetS). They were assessed by anthropometry and body composition, dietary intake, and clinical and laboratorial analysis. The analysis of plasma MDA was performed by HPLC, and concentration values were used to provide four groups according to percentile distribution. Subjects with higher plasma MDA showed higher prevalence of MetS and higher values of waist circumference (WC), glucose, triglycerides (TG),γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), and higher energy intake. Multiadjusted logistic regression analysis identified as determinants of higher plasma MDA the altered values of WC andγ-GT followed by hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, higher dietary sugar-intake, and presence of MetS. In conclusion, the glucolipotoxic state predisposed by the presence of MetS seems to be the major determinant of higher plasma MDA concentrations.
Correlation between Density and Resorption of Fresh-Frozen and Autogenous Bone Grafts
Authors: Lumetti Simone , Galli Carlo , Manfredi Edoardo , Consolo Ugo , Marchetti Claudio , Ghiacci Giulia , Toffoli Andrea , Bonanini Mauro , Salgarelli Attilio , Macaluso Guido M.
Published: June 2014

Trial Design. This analysis compared the outcome of fresh-frozen versus autologous bone block grafts for horizontal ridge augmentation in patients with Cawood and Howell class IV atrophies.Methods. Seventeen patients received autologous grafts and 21 patients received fresh-frozen bone grafts. Patients underwent CT scans 1 week and 6 months after surgery for graft volume and density analysis.Results. Two autologous and 3 fresh-frozen grafts failed. Autologous and fresh-frozen grafts lost, respectively, 28% and 46% of their initial volume(P=0.028). It is noteworthy that less dense fresh-frozen blocks lost more volume than denser grafts (61% versus 16%).Conclusions. According to these 6-month results, only denser fresh-frozen bone graft may be an acceptable alternative to autologous bone for horizontal ridge augmentation. Further studies are needed to investigate its behaviour at longer time points.
Increasing Longevity and the New Demography of Death
Authors: Leeson George W.
Published: June 2014

The world is ageing at both an individual and population levels and population ageing is truly a global phenomenon, the only notable region of exception being sub-Saharan Africa, which remains relatively young in demographic terms. At an individual level, life expectancies at birth have increased at the global level from 47 years in the mid-20th century to around 70 years today and are expected to rise to 76 years by the mid-21st century. At the population level, the proportion of the world’s population aged 60 years and over has increased from 8 percent in the mid-20th century to 12 percent, and by 2050, it is expected to reach 21 percent. In Europe, ageing has continued at a slower rate, but with the emergence of increasing numbers of centenarians. This paper outlines the transition using data from England and Wales from a demography of young death in the mid-19th century to a demography of survival in the 20th century and on to the new demography of old death in the 21st century. The paper provides evidence that it is likely that ages at death will continue to increase, with more and more people reaching extreme old age. At the same time, it is likely that life expectancies at birth will continue to rise, taking life expectancy at birth in England and Wales to 100 years or more by the end of the 21st century. The new 21st century demography of death will lead to annual numbers of deaths far in excess of previous maxima.
Antiangiogenesis Therapy of Endometriosis Using PAMAM as a Gene Vector in a Noninvasive Animal Model
Authors: Wang Ningning , Liu Bin , Liang Lili , Wu Yanxin , Xie Hongzhe , Huang Jiaming , Guo Xu , Tan Jinfeng , Zhan Xuejun , Liu Yongdong , Wang Liantang , Ke Peiqi
Published: June 2014

Objective. To evaluate the characteristics and antiangiogenic effects of endostatin-loaded PAMAM on endometriosis in a noninvasive animal model.Materials and Methods. A noninvasive animal model was established by injecting adenovirus-GFP transfected endometrial stromal and glandular epithelial cells subcutaneously into nude mice. Endostatin-loaded PAMAM was prepared and identified by transmission electron microscopy. Forin vitrostudies, the DNA protection and cytotoxicity of PAMAM were investigated and compared with Lipofectamine 2000. Forin vivostudy, endostatin-loaded PAMAM was injected into the noninvasive model and evaluated by continuously observing the fluorescent lesion, lesion weight, microvessel density and VEGF immunostaining.Results. Compared with Lipofectamine 2000, PAMAM and HC PAMAM-ES group, MC PAMAM-ES group and LC PAMAM-ES group demonstrated a better stromal cells protective such that MC PAMAM-ES group of CCK8 was 0.617 ± 0.122 at 24 hr and 0.668 ± 0.143 at 48 hr and LC PAMAM-ES group of CCK8 was 0.499 ± 0.103 at 24 hr and 0.610 ± 0.080 at 48 hr in stromal cells (P<0.05) but similar cytotoxicity in glandular epithelial cellsin vitro. After 16 hrs of digestion, DNA decreased slightly under the protection of PAMAM. Endostatin-loaded PAMAM of HD PAMAM-ES group and LD PAMAM-ES group inhibited the growth of the endometriotic lesionin vivoat days 15, 20, 25 and 30 detected by noninvasive observation after injecting one dose endostatin of various medicines into the endometrial lesion in each mouse on day 10 (P<0.05) and confirmed by lesion weight at day 30 with HD PAMAM-ES group being 0.0104 ± 0.0077 g and LD PAMAM-ES group being 0.0140 ± 0.0097 g (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry results showed that endostatin-loaded PAMAM reduced the microvessel density 3.8 ± 2.4 especially in HD PAMAM-ES group in the lesion (P<0.05).Conclusion. Endostatin-loaded PAMAM inhibits the development of endometriosis through an antiangiogenic mechanism and can be observed through the noninvasive endometriosis model.
Inter- Not Intraindividual Differences in sTWEAK Levels Predict Functional Deterioration and Mortality in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Jarr Kai-Uwe , Nelles Manfred , Katus Hugo A. , Chorianopoulos Emmanuel
Published: June 2014

Background. TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) has been reported to predict mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. However, whether it can be used as a biomarker for disease monitoring or rather represents a risk factor for disease progression remains unclear.Aim of the Study. To evaluate the potential of sTWEAK as a biomarker in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.Results. We conducted a serial study of sTWEAK levels in 78 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Soluble TWEAK levels predicted not only a combined mortality/heart transplantation endpoint after 4 years (P=0.0001), but also the risk for clinical deterioration (P=0.0001). Compared to NT-proBNP, sTWEAK remained relatively stable in individual patients on follow-up indicating that inter- rather than intraindividual differences in sTWEAK levels predicted outcome. Finally, neither did the scavenger receptor sCD163 correlate with sTWEAK levels nor did its determination add additional information on outcome in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.Conclusion. Soluble TWEAK levels in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy may not be of value for disease monitoring but may represent a risk factor for disease progression and death. Further research will be necessary to elucidate the exact role of sTWEAK as a potential modulator of immune response in the setting of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Serum Levels of Resistin, Adiponectin, and Apelin in Gastroesophageal Cancer Patients
Authors: Diakowska Dorota , Markocka-Mączka Krystyna , Szelachowski Piotr , Grabowski Krzysztof
Published: June 2014

The aim of the study was the investigation of relationship between cachexia syndrome and serum resistin, adiponectin, and apelin in patients with gastroesophageal cancer (GEC).Material and Methods. Adipocytokines concentrations were measured in sera of 85 GEC patients and 60 healthy controls. They were also evaluated in tumor tissue and appropriate normal mucosa of 38 operated cancer patients.Results. Resistin and apelin concentrations were significantly higher in GEC patients than in the controls. The highest resistin levels were found in cachectic patients and in patients with distant metastasis. Serum adiponectin significantly decreased in GEC patients with regional and distant metastasis. Serum apelin was significantly higher in cachectic patients than in the controls. Apelin was positively correlated with hsCRP level. Resistin and apelin levels increased significantly in tumor tissues. Weak positive correlations between adipocytokines levels in serum and in tumor tissue were observed.Conclusions. Resistin is associated with cachexia and metastasis processes of GEC. Reduction of serum adiponectin reflects adipose tissue wasting in relation to GEC progression. Correlation of apelin with hsCRP can reflect a presumable role of apelin in systemic inflammatory response in esophageal and gastric cancer.
Vascular Functions and Brain Integrity in Midlife: Effects of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Haley Andreana P.
Published: June 2014

Intact cognitive function is the best predictor of quality of life and functional ability in older age. Thus, preventing cognitive decline is central to any effort to guarantee successful aging for our growing population of elderly. The purpose of the work discussed in this outlook paper is to bridge knowledge from basic and clinical neuroscience with the aim of improving how we understand, predict, and treat age- and disease-related cognitive impairment. Over the past six years, our research team has focused on intermediate neuroimaging phenotypes of brain vulnerability in midlife and isolating the underlying physiological mechanisms. The ultimate goal of this work was to pave the road for the development of early interventions to enhance cognitive function and preserve brain integrity throughout the lifespan.
Real-Time Pricing Decision Making for Retailer-Wholesaler in Smart Grid Based on Game Theory
Authors: Dai Yeming , Gao Yan
Published: June 2014

Real-time pricing DSM (demand side management) is widely used to dynamically change or shift the electricity consumption in the smart grid. In this paper, a game decision making scheme is proposed in the smart grid with DSM. The interaction between two retailers and their wholesaler is modeled as a two-stage game model. Considering the competition between two retailers, two different game models are developed in terms of the different action order between retailers and their wholesaler. Through analyzing the equilibrium revenues of the retailers for different situations we find that although the wholesaler expects to decentralize certain management powers to the retailers, it has retained the right to change the rules of the game and frequently reneged on the promises. More specifically, the law should ensure that any change of the revenue-sharing formula must go through certain legal procedures. Imposing legal restrictions on the wholesaler’s discretionary policy suggests that the time-inconsistency problem is mitigated. Numerical simulation shows the effectiveness of proposed scheme.
Identification of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Monofloral Honey from Bangladesh by High Performance Liquid Chromatography: Determination of Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: Moniruzzaman Mohammed , Yung An Chua , Rao Pasupuleti Visweswara , Hawlader Mohammad Nurul Islam , Azlan Siti Amirah Binti Mohd , Sulaiman Siti Amrah , Gan Siew Hua
Published: June 2014

The aim of the present study was to characterize the phenolic acids, flavonoids, and antioxidant properties of monofloral honey collected from five different districts in Bangladesh. A new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a UV detector method was developed for the identification of the phenolic acids and flavonoids. A total of five different phenolic acids were identified, with the most abundant being caffeic acid, benzoic acid, gallic acid, followed by chlorogenic acid and trans-cinnamic acid. The flavonoids, kaempferol, and catechin were most abundant, followed by myricetin and naringenin. The mean moisture content, total sugar content, and color characteristics of the honey samples were 18.36 ± 0.95%, 67.40 ± 5.63 g/100 g, and 129.27 ± 34.66 mm Pfund, respectively. The mean total phenolic acids, total flavonoid content, and proline content were 199.20 ± 135.23, 46.73 ± 34.16, and 556.40 ± 376.86 mg/kg, respectively, while the mean FRAP values and DPPH radical scavenging activity were 327.30 ± 231.87 μM Fe (II)/100 g and 36.95 ± 20.53%, respectively. Among the different types of honey, kalijira exhibited the highest phenolics and antioxidant properties. Overall, our study confirms that all the investigated honey samples are good sources of phenolic acids and flavonoids with good antioxidant properties.
A Practical Approach for Identity-Embodied 3D Artistic Face Modeling
Authors: Sucontphunt Tanasai
Published: June 2014

This paper describes a practical technique for 3D artistic face modeling where a human identity can be inserted into a 3D artistic face. This approach can automatically extract the human identity from a 3D human face model and then transfer it to a 3D artistic face model in a controllable manner. Its core idea is to construct a face geometry space and a face texture space based on a precollected 3D face dataset. Then, these spaces are used to extract and blend the face models together based on their facial identities and styles. This approach can enable a novice user to interactively generate various artistic faces quickly using a slider control. Also, it can run in real-time on an off-the-shelf computer without GPU acceleration. This approach can be broadly used in various 3D artistic face modeling applications such as a rapid creation of a cartoon crowd with different cartoon characters.
Inhibitory Potential ofTurbinaria ornataagainst Key Metabolic Enzymes Linked to Diabetes
Authors: Unnikrishnan P. S. , Suthindhiran K. , Jayasri M. A.
Published: June 2014

One of the therapeutic approaches in treating diabetes is to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting major carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes. In the present study, crude extracts of marine seaweed,Turbinaria ornata, were tested for their antidiabetic potential using enzyme inhibitory assays (α-amylase,α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV). Among the tested extracts, methanol and acetone extracts showed significant inhibitory effects onα-amylase (IC50250.9 μg/mL),α-glucosidase (535.6 μg/mL), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (55.2 μg/mL), respectively. Free radical scavenging activity of these extracts was analyzed using DPPH assay (65%). Extracts were tested forin vitrotoxicity using DNA fragmentation assay, haemolytic assay, and MTT assay. None of the extracts showed toxicity in tested models. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis of lead extracts showed the presence of major compounds, hentriacontane, z, z-6, 28-heptatriactontadien-2-one, 8-heptadecene, and 1-heptacosanol. Our findings suggest thatTurbinaria ornatacan be used as a potential source for furtherin vivostudies in controlling hyperglycemia.
Intraoperative Assessment of Surgical Margins of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Frozen Sections: A Practical Clinicopathological Management for Recurrences
Authors: Miyota Shun , Kobayashi Takanori , Abé Tatsuya , Miyajima Hisashi , Nagata Masaki , Hoshina Hideyuki , Kobayashi Tadaharu , Takagi Ritsuo , Saku Takashi
Published: June 2014

Background. Local recurrence remains a challenging clinical issue for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We analyzed retrospectively how effective the frozen section technique (FS) was against recurrences of oral SCC.Methods. We screened 343 surgical samples from 236 patients who had oral SCC, carcinoma in situ (CIS), or epithelial dysplasia, and we followed up their clinical outcomes for at least 5 years. Histopathological states of surgical margins were compared between FS and surgical materials in relapse and relapse-free groups, respectively.Results. Among the 236 patients, 191 were classified into the relapse-free group, and 45 into the relapse group. FS was more frequently performed in the relapse-free group (128/191) than in the relapse group (83/152). Histopathologically, moderate dysplasia or CIS (borderline malignancies) and SCC were recognized in 55 samples of the relapse-free group and in 57 of the relapse group. For those surgical margins with borderline malignancies, additional incisions were performed in 38 of the 55 relapse-free cases, which reduced to 20 from the 38 margins with borderline malignancies (47.4% reduction), and in 39 of the 57 relapse cases, which reduced to only 3 of 39 (7.7% reduction).Conclusions. The intraoperative assessment of surgical margins by FS is essential in preventing recurrences of oral mucosal malignancies.
The Impact of Arthroscopic Capsular Release in Patients with Primary Frozen Shoulder on Shoulder Muscular Strength
Authors: Waszczykowski Michał , Polguj Michał , Fabiś Jarosław
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of arthroscopic capsular release in patients with primary frozen shoulder on muscular strength of nonaffected and treated shoulder after at least two-year follow-up after the surgery. The assessment included twenty-seven patients, who underwent arthroscopic capsular release due to persistent limitation of range of passive and active motion, shoulder pain, and limited function of upper limb despite 6-month conservative treatment. All the patients underwent arthroscopic superior, anteroinferior, and posterior capsular release. After at least two-year follow-up, measurement of muscular strength of abductors, flexors, and external and internal rotators of the operated and nonaffected shoulder, as well as determination of range of motion (ROM) and function (ASES) in the operated and nonaffected shoulder, was performed. Measurement of muscular strength in the patient group did not reveal statistically significant differences between operated and nonaffected shoulder. The arthroscopic capsular release does not have significant impact on the decrease in the muscular strength of the operated shoulder.
Solution of the Stochastic Heat Equation with Nonlinear Losses Using Wiener-Hermite Expansion
Authors: El-Beltagy Mohamed A. , Al-Mulla Noha A.
Published: June 2014

In the current work, the Wiener-Hermite expansion (WHE) is used to solve the stochastic heat equation with nonlinear losses. WHE is used to deduce the equivalent deterministic system up to third order accuracy. The solution of the equivalent deterministic system is obtained using different techniques numerically and analytically. The finite-volume method (FVM) with Pickard iteration is used to solve the equivalent system iteratively. The WHE with perturbation technique (WHEP) is applied to deduce more simple and decoupled equivalent deterministic system that can be solved numerically without iterations. The system resulting from WHEP technique is solved also analytically using the eigenfunction expansion technique. The Monte-Carlo simulations (MCS) are performed to get the statistical properties of the stochastic solution and to verify other solution techniques. The results show that higher-order solutions are essential especially in case of nonlinearities where non-Gaussian effects cannot be neglected. The comparisons show the efficiency of the numerical WHE and WHEP techniques in solving stochastic nonlinear PDEs compared with the analytical solution and MCS.
Optimal Time-Consistent Investment Strategy for a DC Pension Plan with the Return of Premiums Clauses and Annuity Contracts
Authors: Sheng De-Lei , Rong Ximin
Published: June 2014

Defined contribution and annuity contract are merged into one pension plan to study both accumulation phase and distribution phase, which results in such effects that both phases before and after retirement being “defined”. Under the Heston’s stochastic volatility model, this paper focuses on mean-variance insurers with the return of premiums clauses to study the optimal time-consistent investment strategy for the DC pension merged with an annuity contract. Both accumulation phase before retirement and distribution phase after retirement are studied. In the time-consistent framework, the extended Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations associated with the optimization problem are established. Applying stochastic optimal control technique, the time-consistent explicit solutions of the optimal strategies and the efficient frontiers are obtained. In addition, numerical analysis illustrates our results and also deepens our knowledge or understanding of the research results.