bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPROXIMATION PROPERTIES OF THE ORBITS UNDER β-TRANSFORMATION
Authors: WANG WEN-YA , CAO CHUN-YUN
Published: February 2019

This paper is concerned with the size of the set of [Formula: see text] where the orbit of a fixed point [Formula: see text] under [Formula: see text] ultimately has a positive distance from a given point [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text]. We show that for any [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and any [Formula: see text], the set [Formula: see text] has Hausdorff dimension one, where [Formula: see text] is the [Formula: see text]-transformation.
Nonlinear Elastic Stability of Web Panels in Built-Up Members
Authors: Singha M. K. , Kumari Emarti , Rasool Mehnaz , Kumar Amit
Published: February 2019

The stability characteristics of web panels in two built-up members, i.e. box-sections and I-sections, are investigated here using a higher order plate bending element. At the beginning, the critical buckling loads of rectangular flat panels under various theoretical states-of-stress (pure shear, in-plane bending, shear and in-plane bending and combined stresses) and boundary conditions (simply supported and restrained by flange panels) are investigated. Then, the buckling behavior of an isolated flat panel is correlated with the stability characteristics of the web panels of built-up members under various loading conditions. The results on the stability behavior of the web panels are presented in nondimensional form for easy reference to designers and researchers.
FRUGAL AND REVERSE INNOVATION FOR HARNESSING THE BUSINESS POTENTIAL OF EMERGING MARKETS — THE CASE OF A DANISH MNC
Authors: AGARWAL NIVEDITA , BREM ALEXANDER , DWIVEDI SANJEET
Published: February 2019

In recent years, there has been a shift in the epicenter of innovation from developed to emerging markets. Western multinationals are increasingly harnessing the potential of emerging markets by setting up local subsidiaries and developing frugal and reverse innovations. This study is an attempt to explore this shift and investigate the process of development of these innovations using a case study analysis approach. The study analyses the case of a technology-based Danish multinational (MNC) and explores how frugal innovations in India and China are developed. Based on nine interviews with leading R&D experts, the results provide evidence for the ongoing innovation shift and offer insights into the development of frugal products in local R&D projects. Growing traction towards reverse innovation, where MNCs are developing frugal products for global markets is also an important finding.
Geochronology and geochemistry of Meso- to Neoarchean magmatic epidote-bearing potassic granites, western Dharwar Craton (Bellur–Nagamangala–Pandavpura corridor), southern India: implications for the successive stages of crustal reworking and cratonization
Authors: Jayananda M. , Guitreau Martin , Tarun Thomas T. , Martin Hervé , Aadhiseshan K. R. , Gireesh R. V. , Peucat Jean-Jacques , Satyanarayanan M.
Published: February 2019

We present field and petrographical characteristics, zircon U–Pb ages, Nd isotopes, and major and trace element data for the magmatic epidote-bearing granitic plutons in the Bellur–Nagamangala–Pandavpura corridor, and address successive reworking and cratonization events in the western Dharwar Craton (WDC). U–Pb zircon ages reveal three stages of plutonism including: (i) sparse 3.2 Ga granodiorite plutons intruding the TTG (tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite) basement away from the western boundary of the Nagamangala greenstone belt; (ii) 3.0 Ga monzogranite to quartz monzonite plutons adjoining the Nagamangala greenstone belt; and (iii) 2.6 Ga monzogranite plutons in the Pandavpura region. Elemental data of the 3.2 Ga granodiorite indicate their origin through the melting of mafic protoliths without any significant residual garnet. Moderate to poorly fractionated REE patterns of 3.0 Ga plutons with negative Eu anomalies and Nd isotope data with
ε
Nd
(T) = 3.0 Ga ranging from −1.7 to +0.5 indicate the involvement of a major crustal source with minor mantle input. Melts derived from those two components interacted through mixing and mingling processes. Poorly fractionated REE patterns with negative Eu anomalies of 2.6 Ga plutons suggest plagioclase in residue. The presence of magmatic epidote in all of the plutons points to their rapid emplacement and crystallization at about 5 kbars. The 3.2 Ga intrusions could correspond to reworking associated with a major juvenile crust-forming episode, whilst 3.0 Ga potassic granites correspond to cratonization linked to melting of the deep crust. The 2.6 Ga Pandavpura granite could represent lower-crustal melting and final cratonization, as 2.5 Ga plutons are absent in the WDC.
Water budget and partial melting in an Archean crustal column: example from the Dharwar Craton, India
Authors: Nicoli Gautier
Published: February 2019

The fluid budget of a composite crustal column is a critical parameter that influences many lithospheric processes. The amount of water introduced into the middle and lower crust can be quantified using phase equilibrium modelling. The Dharwar Craton, India, displays a now-exposed continuous crustal section from near-surface conditions to
c.
30 km depth. This section records the different steps of a
c.
15 myr-long high-temperature metamorphic event (60°C kbar
−1
) responsible for the formation of syn- to post-tectonic anatectic intrusions. The global water budget is assessed using thermodynamic modelling on bulk-rock compositions of an average early Proterozoic supracrustal unit and
c.
3.0 Ga felsic basement, the Peninsular gneisses. Results show the fast burial of a water-saturated supracrustal package (1.6 wt%) will release
c.
50% of its mineral-bound water, triggering water-fluxed partial melting of the basement. Modelled anatectic magma compositions match the observed granitoid chemistries, and distinction can be made between water-fluxed melting and water-absent melting in the origin of syn- to post-tectonic anatectic granites. Findings from this study show the importance of crustal pile heterogeneity in controlling the nature of partial melting reactions, the composition of the magmas and the rheology of the crust.
Leveraging Glocality for Fast Failure Recovery in Distributed RAM Storage
Authors: Zhang Yiming , Li Dongsheng , Liu Ling
Published: February 2019

Distributed RAM storage aggregates the RAM of servers in data center networks (DCN) to provide extremely high I/O performance for large-scale cloud systems. For quick recovery of storage server failures, MemCube [53] exploits the proximity of the BCube network to limit the recovery traffic to the recovery servers’ 1-hop neighborhood. However, the previous design is applicable only to the
symmetric
BCube(
n
,
k
) network with
n

k
+1

nodes and has suboptimal recovery performance due to congestion and contention.

To address these problems, in this article, we propose CubeX, which (i) generalizes the “1-hop” principle of MemCube for arbitrary cube-based networks and (ii) improves the throughput and recovery performance of RAM-based key-value (KV) store via cross-layer optimizations. At the core of CubeX is to leverage the
glocality
(= globality + locality) of cube-based networks: It scatters backup data across a large number of disks
globally
distributed throughout the cube and restricts all recovery traffic within the small
local
range of each server node. Our evaluation shows that CubeX not only efficiently supports RAM-based KV store for cube-based networks but also significantly outperforms MemCube and RAMCloud in both throughput and recovery time.
Upcoming SIGWEB supported conferences
Authors: Samuel Hamman
Published: February 2019

The Special Interest Group on Hypertext and the Web, SIGWEB was created in 1989 to support the community participating in the annual ACM Hypertext Conference. Now in its third decade, SIGWEB has grown considerably and now sponsors seven annual conferences of different sizes and covering a wide range of topics. SIGWEB supports several specialized conferences, short courses, and workshops, as well as the Annual Hypertext Conference. SIGWEB sponsored conferences focus on timely topics in applied and computational hypertext and Web disciplines and provide a place for members and the entire applied Hypermedia and Web community to exchange ideas and to meet with and expand their network of colleagues. In this article, we provide a brief overview of SIGWEB sponsored conferences, in addition to events that are in cooperation with SIGWEB.
On the Lifecycle of the File
Authors: May Michael J. , Laron Etamar , Zoabi Khalid , Gerhardt Havah
Published: February 2019

Users and Operating Systems (OSs) have vastly different views of files. OSs use files to persist data and structured information. To accomplish this, OSs treat files as named collections of bytes managed in hierarchical file systems. Despite their critical role in computing, little attention is paid to the lifecycle of the file, the evolution of file contents, or the evolution of file metadata. In contrast, users have rich mental models of files: they group files into projects, send data repositories to others, work on documents over time, and stash them aside for future use. Current OSs and Revision Control Systems ignore such mental models, persisting a selective, manually designated history of revisions. Preserving the mental model allows applications to better match how users view their files, making file processing and archiving tools more effective. We propose two mechanisms that OSs can adopt to better preserve the mental model: File Lifecycle Events (FLEs) that record a file’s progression and Complex File Events (CFEs) that combine them into meaningful patterns. We present the Complex File Events Engine (CoFEE), which uses file system monitoring and an extensible rulebase (Drools) to detect FLEs and convert them into complex ones. CFEs are persisted in NoSQL stores for later querying.
Control Flow Checking or Not? (for Soft Errors)
Authors: Rhisheekesan Abhishek , Jeyapaul Reiley , Shrivastava Aviral
Published: February 2019

Huge leaps in performance and power improvements of computing systems are driven by rapid technology scaling, but technology scaling has also rendered computing systems susceptible to soft errors. Among the soft error protection techniques, Control Flow Checking (CFC) based techniques have gained a reputation of being lightweight yet effective. The main idea behind CFCs is to check if the program is executing the instructions in the right order. In order to validate the protection claims of existing CFCs, we develop a systematic and quantitative method to evaluate the protection achieved by CFCs using the metric of vulnerability. Our quantitative analysis indicates that existing CFC techniques are not only ineffective in providing protection from soft faults, but incur additional performance and power overheads. Our results show that software-only CFC protection schemes increase system vulnerability by 18%--21% with 17%--38% performance overhead and hybrid CFC protection increases vulnerability by 5%. Although the vulnerability remains almost the same for hardware-only CFC protection, they incur overheads of design cost, area, and power due to the hardware modifications required for their implementations.
Approximation Schemes for Clustering with Outliers
Authors: Friggstad Zachary , Khodamoradi Kamyar , Rezapour Mohsen , Salavatipour Mohammad R.
Published: February 2019

Clustering problems are well studied in a variety of fields, such as data science, operations research, and computer science. Such problems include variants of center location problems,
k
-median and
k
-means to name a few. In some cases, not all data points need to be clustered; some may be discarded for various reasons. For instance, some points may arise from noise in a dataset or one might be willing to discard a certain fraction of the points to avoid incurring unnecessary overhead in the cost of a clustering solution.

We study clustering problems with outliers. More specifically, we look at
uncapacitated facility location
(UFL),
k
-
median
, and
k
-
means
. In these problems, we are given a set

X

of data points in a metric space δ(., .), a set

C

of possible centers (each maybe with an opening cost), maybe an integer parameter
k
, plus an additional parameter
z
as the number of outliers. In
uncapacitated facility location
with outliers, we have to open some centers, discard up to
z
points of

X

, and assign every other point to the nearest open center, minimizing the total assignment cost plus center opening costs. In
k
-
median
and
k
-
means
, we have to open up to
k
centers, but there are no opening costs. In
k
-
means
, the cost of assigning
j
to
i
is δ
2
(
j
,
i
).

We present several results. Our main focus is on cases where δ is a doubling metric (this includes fixed dimensional Euclidean metrics as a special case) or is the shortest path metrics of graphs from a minor-closed family of graphs. For
uniform-cost
UFL with outliers on such metrics, we show that a multiswap simple local search heuristic yields a PTAS. With a bit more work, we extend this to bicriteria approximations for the
k
-
median
and
k
-
means
problems in the same metrics where, for any constant ϵ > 0, we can find a solution using (1 + ϵ)
k
centers whose cost is at most a (1 + ϵ)-factor of the optimum and uses at most
z
outliers. Our algorithms are all based on natural multiswap local search heuristics. We also show that natural local search heuristics that do not violate the number of clusters and outliers for
k
-
median
(or
k
-
means
) will have unbounded gap even in Euclidean metrics.

Furthermore, we show how our analysis can be extended to general metrics for
k
-
means
with outliers to obtain a (25 + ϵ, 1 + ϵ)-approximation: an algorithm that uses at most (1 + ϵ)
k
clusters and whose cost is at most 25 + ϵ of optimum and uses no more than
z
outliers.
Fast Gröbner basis computation and polynomial reduction for generic bivariate ideals
Authors: van der Hoeven Joris , Larrieu Robin
Published: February 2019

Let
A, B
∈ K[
X, Y
] be two bivariate polynomials over an effective field K, and let
G
be the reduced Gröbner basis of the ideal
I
:= 〈
A, B
〉 generated by
A
and
B
with respect to the usual degree lexicographic order. Assuming
A
and
B
sufficiently generic, we design a quasi-optimal algorithm for the reduction of
P ∈
K[
X, Y
] modulo
G,
where "quasi-optimal" is meant in terms of the size of the input
A, B, P.
Immediate applications are an ideal membership test and a multiplication algorithm for the quotient algebra A := K[
X, Y
]/〈
A, B
〉, both in quasi-linear time. Moreover, we show that
G
itself can be computed in quasi-linear time with respect to the output size.
A scale and shift paradigm for sparse interpolation in one and more dimensions
Authors: Cuyt Annie , Lee Wen-shin
Published: February 2019

Sparse interpolation from at least 2
n
uniformly spaced interpolation points

t
j

can be traced back to the exponential fitting method

[MATH HERE]

of de Prony from the 18-th century [5]. Almost 200 years later this basic problem is also reformulated as a generalized eigenvalue problem [8]. We generalize (1) to sparse interpolation problems of the form

[MATH HERE]

and some multivariate formulations thereof, from corresponding regular interpolation point patterns. Concurrently we introduce the wavelet inspired paradigm of dilation and translation for the analysis (2) of these complex-valued structured univariate or multivariate samples. The new method is the result of a search on how to solve ambiguity problems in exponential analysis, such as aliasing which arises from too coarsely sampled data, or collisions which may occur when handling projected data.
Towards a direct method for finding hypergeometric solutions of linear first order recurrence systems
Authors: Middeke Johannes , Schneider Carsten
Published: February 2019

We establish a connection between the hypergeometric solutions of a first order linear recurrence systems and the determinant of the system matrix. This enables us to find hypergeometric solutions for systems in a way similar to the scalar case. Our result works in the in the single basic and in the multibasic case.
Unboundedness of Betti numbers of curves
Authors: Mehta Ranjana , Saha Joydip , Sengupta Indranath
Published: February 2019

Bresinsky defined a class of monomial curves in A
4
with the property that the minimal number of generators or the first Betti number of the defining ideal is unbounded above. We prove that the same behaviour of unboundedness is true for all the Betti numbers and construct an explicit minimal free resolution for this class. We also propose a general construction of such curves in arbitrary embedding dimension.
Maximizing Interpretability and Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Predictive Models Using Feature-Specific Regularized Logistic Regression on Preoperative Temporal Data
Authors: Kocbek Primoz , Fijacko Nino , Soguero-Ruiz Cristina , Mikalsen Karl Øyvind , Maver Uros , Povalej Brzan Petra , Stozer Andraz , Jenssen Robert , Skrøvseth Stein Olav , Stiglic Gregor
Published: February 2019

This study describes a novel approach to solve the surgical site infection (SSI) classification problem. Feature engineering has traditionally been one of the most important steps in solving complex classification problems, especially in cases with temporal data. The described novel approach is based on abstraction of temporal data recorded in three temporal windows. Maximum likelihood L1-norm (lasso) regularization was used in penalized logistic regression to predict the onset of surgical site infection occurrence based on available patient blood testing results up to the day of surgery. Prior knowledge of predictors (blood tests) was integrated in the modelling by introduction of penalty factors depending on blood test prices and an early stopping parameter limiting the maximum number of selected features used in predictive modelling. Finally, solutions resulting in higher interpretability and cost-effectiveness were demonstrated. Using repeated holdout cross-validation, the baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) classifier achieved a mean AUC of 0.801, whereas our best full lasso model achieved a mean AUC of 0.956. Best model testing results were achieved for full lasso model with maximum number of features limited at 20 features with an AUC of 0.967. Presented models showed the potential to not only support domain experts in their decision making but could also prove invaluable for improvement in prediction of SSI occurrence, which may even help setting new guidelines in the field of preoperative SSI prevention and surveillance.
Effects of Cornelian Cherry on Atherosclerosis and Its Risk Factors
Authors: Lietava Jan , Beerova Nikoleta , Klymenko Svetlana V. , Panghyova Elena , Varga Ivan , Pechanova Olga
Published: February 2019

Functional food represents an important alternative management of atherosclerosis, its risk factors, and clinical complications. Atherosclerosis is characterized by microinflammation, formation of atheromatous lipoprotein-rich plaques, and protrombogenic status. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L., CC) contains polyphenols influencing all three components of atherosclerosis. Its high antioxidant potential, verified in experimental studies, exhibited a pronounced decrease of inflammatory markers. CC treatment demonstrated a favourable effect on lipid spectrum (comparable with statins), decrease of glycemia, and increase of insulin (comparable with glibenclamide). Polyphenols identified in CC exhibited both direct antiplatelet effects and reduction of platelet hyper-reactivity mediated via attenuation of oxidative stress. The first clinical trials confirmed a clinically relevant decrease of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerols, lipoproteins, amelioration of inflammatory activity, and insulin secretion improvement after the treatment with CC polyphenolic compounds. However, the limitation of published studies is the use of undefined cultivars of CC, their experimental nature, small scale, and missing longitudinal trials. Nevertheless, biochemical properties of CC, hitherto described, predispose its products for the adjuvant management of atherosclerosis.
Therapeutic Efficiency of an External Chinese Herbal Formula of Mammary Precancerous Lesions by BATMAN-TCM Online Bioinformatics Analysis Tool and Experimental Validation
Authors: Zhang Guijuan , Jiang Xuefeng , Liu Yusheng , Hao Xiaoqian , Wang Yurong , Yan Xianxin , Yuan Naijun , Ma Yi , Ma Min
Published: February 2019

Ruyan Neixiao Cream (RYNXC), a patented Chinese herbal formula, was reported to have the effect of treating mammary precancerous disease. In this study, we predicted the potential targets, pathways, and diseases of the ingredients contained in each herbal of RYNXC and constructed an ingredients-targets-diseases network. Then, we analyzed molecular mechanisms of this Chinese herbal formula by MCF-10AT cells and model rats of breast precancerous lesions. BATMAN-TCM prediction showed that ESR1, PGR, PTGS2, EGFR, and Src were mRNA targets of RYNXC. Our results suggested that RYNXC transdermal fluid downregulated ESR1, PGR, PTGS2, EGFR, and Src expression at gene and protein level in MCF-10AT cells. In the rat breast precancerous lesions model, high and low dose RYNXC could also significantly reduce genes and proteins expression of ESR1, PGR, PTGS2, EGFR, and Src. Taken together these data indicate that RYNXC targets multiple molecules responsible for breast precancerous lesion and is an effective Chinese herbal formula. So RYNXC may be a promising external drug for breast precancerous lesions.
Evaluation of Coal Seam Gas Drainability for Outburst-Prone and High-CO2-Containing Coal Seam
Authors: Zhang Lei , Ren Ting , Aziz Naj , Zhang Cun
Published: February 2019

This paper presents the results of an evaluation study of gas drainability in the Bulli seam in the Southern Coalfield of the Sydney Basin, NSW, Australia, where the coal seam gas (CSG) contains a high proportion of carbon dioxide (CO2). Historically the gas drainability in some particular areas of this coal seam was found to be particularly poor, which posed a significant challenge to gas predrainage. As a result, a large volume of greenhouse gases were released to the atmosphere during mining of the coal seam. Furthermore, the high gas content associated with the CO2-rich composition also increased the risks of coal and gas outburst incidents, affecting the safety of mining. After systematic literature review of evaluation factors affecting gas drainability, this evaluation study comprehensively analyzed the main critical factors, including the geology of the area, the coal cleat system, coal microstructure, coal permeability, coal sorption capacity, gas content, and gas composition. Field geology analysis showed geological variations that affected the variations of the coal cleat system and CO2 content in the coal seam. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tests showed the tight and less-porous features in hard-to-drain coal samples. The colliery gas database analysis was carried out to assess the impact of gas content and gas composition on the drainability of the coal seam. Laboratory tests showed that the coal seam had a permeability of less than 1 mD and also showed that the coal seam was highly undersaturated, especially with high CO2 content.
Some Manifestations of Antioxidation Coating for Hot Precision Forging Gears
Authors: Li Dongcheng , Han Nana , Quagliato Luca , Kim Naksoo , Yu Ge
Published: February 2019

A high temperature protective coating was prepared onto the surface of 20CrMnTi steel by brushing technique, and the heated billet was subjected to hot forging. Compared with an uncoated sample, the effect of coating on high-temperature oxidation behavior of steel was investigated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Before hot forging, an oxide layer of 153 μm was formed on the surface of the uncoated sample; however, no oxide layer was formed on the surface of the coated sample. After hot forging, the thickness of scale on the surface of uncoated gear forging is 89 μm while the thickness of coating on the surface of coated gear forging is 39 μm. It is concluded that such a coating material not only enhances the dimensional accuracy but also improves the surface quality of the gear.
Comparative Metabolic Profiling of Lycium Fruits (Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense) from Different Areas in China and from Nepal
Authors: Yossa Nzeuwa Irma Belinda , Guo Baofu , Zhang Ting , Wang Liya , Ji Qian , Xia Hui , Sun Guiju
Published: February 2019

Lycium fruits (Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense) are mainly cultivated and distributed in Northwest China. The fruits and root bark have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for centuries. In this study, Lycium dry fruit extracts from the main cultivation areas in China together with a sample from Nepal were subjected to a comparative metabolic profiling, including total carbohydrate content, total phenolic content, vitamin C content, carotenoid content, and mineral contents. Results showed that there was a slight difference in contents of nutrients and phytochemicals among samples from different areas. The total carbohydrate content was higher in the sample from Guazhou, Gansu province (69.47%), with an average value of total carbohydrate content of 61.59%, while the highest total phenolic content value was 14.13 mgGAE/g from Nepal. Data concerning vitamin C content ranged between 33.15 and 113.8 mg/100 g, with an average value of 55.29 mg/100 g. Zeaxanthin dipalmitate content in Lycium dry fruits ranged from 419.34 to 1008.90 μg/g among the different samples, with the highest content (1008.90 μg/g) observed in Tianjing. It appeared that we could not clearly differentiate Lycium samples in terms of their metabolic and mineral profile. The quantitative difference observed among samples might be linked to soil composition and environmental aspect of the harvest place. Our results were somehow in the same range as those reported in the literature. Therefore, Lycium fruits could be used as a dietary source of natural function foods and be worthy of development and utilization.
Correlates of Physical Activity of Students in Secondary School Physical Education: A Systematic Review of Literature
Authors: Zhou Yulan , Wang Lijuan
Published: February 2019

Background and Objective. Several reviews have summarised studies on secondary school students’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in physical education (PE), but no systematic review with semiquantitative assessment has been conducted to specifically identify the correlates of their MVPA. This review aims to systematically summarise the existing literature, which investigated correlates of MVPA of secondary school students during their PE lessons. Methods. A systematic search using ERIC, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, and Web of Science was conducted to identify the correlates of the MVPA of secondary school students in PE. Studies were eligible if they were English published articles and examined the association with MVPA during secondary school PE lessons and cross-sectional and prospective longitudinal quantitative studies. Two reviewers independently examined the articles, assessed their methodological quality, and performed data extraction. The correlates of MVPA were synthesised and further assessed semiquantitatively. Results. Fifty-five studies were identified to correlate with secondary school students’ MVPA in PE lessons. Further analysis only included 43 studies (78.2%) that were of medium and high quality by methodological quality assessment. Out of 54 variables identified from these medium and high-quality studies, 11 were consistently associated with the MVPA. Sex (boys), ethnicity (White), class gender (boys-only), PE activities (team games), lesson location (outdoors), expectancy beliefs, subjective task values, and enjoyment were consistently and positively associated with MVPA. Other variables, namely, class gender (girls-only), PE activities (movement activities), and lesson context (knowledge), were consistently and negatively related to MVPA. Conclusions. Interventions focusing on the consistent variables are needed to build active lesson time in PE. This review also provides insights for future research.
Black Rice (Oryza sativaL.) Fermented withLactobacillus caseiAttenuates Osteoclastogenesis and Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis
Authors: Lee Young Min , Kim In Sook , Lim Beong Ou
Published: February 2019

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antiosteoclastogenic effects of black rice (Oryza sativa L.) fermented withLactobacillus casei(LAB) in RANKL-induced RAW macrophage cells and its antiosteoporosis activity against ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. LAB extract (LABE) treatment attenuated receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) ligand-induced osteoclastic differentiation in RAW cells by inhibiting intercellular reactive oxygen species generation and downregulating the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-κB, leading to the downregulation of c-Fos and expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells c1. This consequently suppressed the expression of osteoclast-specific genes including those for cathepsin K, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcitonin receptor, and integrinβ3. Oral administration of LABE protected against ovariectomy-induced bone loss by significantly inhibiting bone architecture alterations and improving serum bone turnover markers in ovariectomized rats. The findings suggest that the antiosteoporotic activity of LABE may be derived from its antiosteoclastic and anti-bone-resorptive activities. LABE has potential as a promising functional material or substrate to prepare protective agents for osteoporosis and osteoclast-mediated bone diseases.
Synthesis, Characterization, and In Situ Antifungal and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Ascorbic Acid-Capped Copper Nanoparticles
Authors: Beltrán-Partida Ernesto , Valdez-Salas Benjamín , Valdez-Salas Ernesto , Pérez-Cortéz Guillermo , Nedev Nicola
Published: February 2019

The design route, synthesis, and characterization of spherical copper nanoparticles with antifungal potential are reported in the present work. Copper nanoparticles were synthesized by a novel, inexpensive, and eco-friendly chemical reduction method using ascorbic acid as a reductant and stabilizer under reflux conditions. The characterization results showed the formation of homogeneous, dispersed, and stable spherical ascorbic acid-capped copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) with a diameter of 250 nm. The CuNPs exhibited sustained antifungal activity againstCandida albicans(C. albicans) after 24 h and even 48 h of incubation. Using enhanced dark-field microscopy, we presented the in situ interaction between CuNPs andC. albicans. Here, part of the interaction of CuNPs among theC. albicans, studied without the use of any chemical and/or physical fixing method, is discussed. The results indicate that part of the antifungal mechanism involves a promoted adhesion of CuNPs onto the cell wall and a massive accumulation of CuNPs into the fungal cells, concluding in cellular leakage. The cytotoxicity (viability) evaluations indicated that our CuNPs were more biocompatible after comparison to the Cu precursor and triclosan (a commercial antifungal drug). The synthesized CuNPs will open up a new road for their possible use as a potent antimicrobial agent for clinical and industrial applications.
Evaluation of Residential Housing Prices on the Internet: Data Pitfalls
Authors: Li Ming , Zhang Guojun , Chen Yunliang , Zhou Chunshan
Published: February 2019

Many studies have used housing prices on the Internet real estate information platforms as data sources, but platforms differ in the nature and quality of the data they release. However, few studies have analysed these differences or their effect on research. In this study, second‐hand neighbourhood housing prices and information on five online real estate information platforms in Guangzhou, China, were comparatively analysed and the performance of neighbourhoods’ raw information from four for‐profit online real estate information platforms was evaluated by applying the same housing price model. The comparison results show that the official second‐hand residential housing prices at city and district level are generally lower than those issued on four for‐profit real estate websites. The same second‐hand neighbourhood housing prices are similar across each of the four for‐profit real estate websites due to cross‐referencing among real estate websites. The differences of housing prices in the central city area are significantly fewer than those in the periphery. The variation of each neighbourhood’s housing prices on each website decreases gradually from the city centre to the periphery, but the relative variation stays stable. The results of the four hedonic models have some inconsistencies with other studies’ findings, demonstrating that errors exist in raw information on neighbourhoods taken from Internet platforms. These results remind researchers to choose housing price data sources cautiously and that raw information on neighbourhoods from Internet platforms should be appropriately cleaned.
The Association between Absence of Abdominal Pain and Mortality in Lower Intestinal Perforation in Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Endo Yukari , Abe Yoshiyuki , Kawano Shingo , Ando Taiki , Sakamoto Kazuhiro , Tamura Naoto
Published: February 2019

Objective. To determine mortality and predictive factors for lower intestinal perforation (LIP) among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.Methods. This retrospective, single-center, observational study analyzed mortality rates in 31 autoimmune rheumatic disease patients with LIP who were admitted to our hospital from January 2002 to June 2017. The primary outcome was the mortality rate during hospitalization.Results. The median age at the time of LIP was 61 years, and the survival rate at discharge was 64.5%. Eleven patients died of sepsis during hospitalization. Cox univariable analysis for mortality during hospitalization showed that absence of abdominal pain (hazard ratio (HR) 5.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38–22.9), higher age (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.11), chronic kidney disease (HR 6.89, 95% CI 1.85–25.7), systemic vasculitis (HR 3.95, 95% CI 1.14–13.6), higher blood urea nitrogen (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04), higher serum creatinine (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06–1.87), and LIP due to malignancy (HR 14.3, 95% CI 1.95–105.1) significantly increased mortality.Conclusion. Abdominal pain was absent in 16% of LIP patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and this absence was a poor prognostic factor in this cohort. Moreover, higher age, chronic kidney disease, systemic vasculitis, and LIP due to malignancy were associated with significantly increased mortality. Physicians should be aware of LIP in autoimmune disease patients with higher age, chronic kidney diseases, or systemic vasculitis even if patients reveal mild abdominal symptoms.
Effects of the Cathepsin K Inhibitor ONO-5334 and Concomitant Use of ONO-5334 with Methotrexate on Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Cynomolgus Monkeys
Authors: Yamada Hiroyuki , Mori Hiroshi , Nakanishi Yasutomo , Nishikawa Satoshi , Hashimoto Yasuaki , Ochi Yasuo , Tanaka Makoto , Kawabata Kazuhito
Published: February 2019

We examined whether the cathepsin K inhibitor, ONO-5334, administered alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX), could ameliorate joint destruction evoked by collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in female cynomolgus monkeys. CIA was induced by immunizing with bovine type II collagen. ONO-5334 (30 mg/kg/day) was orally administered once daily and MTX (10 mg/body/day) twice weekly for 9 weeks. X-ray (evaluation of joint destruction) and swelling (inflammatory) scores of proximal interphalangeal (PIP), distal interphalangeal (DIP), and metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints were evaluated. Urinary concentrations of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) and type II collagen (CTX-II) were measured. Arthritis, accompanied by bone and cartilage destruction, was successfully induced in this collagen-induced arthritis monkey model. ONO-5334 showed no suppressive effect on joint swelling, while the joint swelling scores in the MTX and combination (ONO-5334 + MTX) groups were less than 50% compared with the control group. ONO-5334 decreased X-ray score by a mean of 64% (p<0.05 vs the control group), and MTX also decreased in X-ray score by a mean of 46% but with no statistical significance. Combination of ONO-5334 and MTX further decreased the X-ray score by 28% over MTX group (74% reduction vs the control group, p<0.01). Maximum increase in CTX-I (10-fold) and CTX-II (7-fold) compared to baseline was observed at 7 and 3 weeks after the first sensitization, respectively. After treatment with ONO-5334 alone or in combination with MTX, concentrations were maintained near baseline for both markers. In conclusion, ONO-5334 prevented joint destruction but not joint inflammation in this monkey CIA model. Concomitant use of ONO-5334 with MTX reduced architectural joint destruction compared to MTX alone; therefore, ONO-5334 may help to prevent joint destruction in combination with MTX for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Reliable Energy-Aware Routing Protocol in Delay-Tolerant Mobile Sensor Networks
Authors: Ma Xuebin , Zhang Xiaojuan , Yang Ren
Published: February 2019

In the data transmission process of delay-tolerant mobile sensor networks, data is easily lost, and the network lifetime decreases due to energy depletion by the nodes. We propose a reliable energy-aware routing protocol, called RER. To ensure the reliability of message transmission, a hop-by-hop retransmission acknowledgement mechanism is introduced in the RER. Second, we design a metric called Reliable Energy Cost Based on Distance (RECBD) to aid RER, which is determined by analysing the distance between the current node and the relay node, the distance between the relay node and the sink node, the current residual energy of the current node, and the link quality. Finally, the message is routed based on the RECBD to improve reliability and reduce energy consumption. The simulation results show that the routing protocol can improve the energy utilization of the sensor nodes and prolong the network lifetime while guaranteeing the delivery ratio and reliability.
Effects of High Temperatures on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Carbonated Ordinary Concrete
Authors: Xie Qifang , Zhang Lipeng , Yin Shenghua , Zhang Baozhuang , Wu Yaopeng
Published: February 2019

Fires are always known for seriously deteriorating concrete in structures, especially for those with certain carbonation due to long-time service. In this paper, 75 prism specimens were prepared and divided into four groups (three carbonated groups and one uncarbonated group). Specimens were tested under different temperatures (20, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700°C), exposure times (3, 4, and 6 hours), and cooling methods (water and natural cooling). Surface characteristics, weight loss rate, and residual mechanical properties (strength, initial elastic modulus, peak, and ultimate compressive strains) of carbonated concrete specimens after elevated temperatures were investigated and compared with that of the uncarbonated ones. Results show that the weight loss rates of the carbonated concrete specimens are slightly lower than that of the uncarbonated ones and that the cracks are increased with raising of temperatures. Surface colors of carbonated concrete are significantly changed, but they are not sensitive to cooling methods. Surface cracks can be evidently observed on carbonated specimens when temperature reaches 400°C. Residual compressive strength and initial elastic modulus of carbonated concrete after natural cooling are generally larger than those cooled by water. The peak and ultimate compressive strains of both carbonated and uncarbonated concrete specimens increase after heating, but the values of the latter are greater than that of the former. Finally, the constitutive equation to predict the compressive behaviors of carbonated concrete after high temperatures was established and validated by tests.
Posterolateral Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression Rotate-to-Retract Technique for Foraminal Disc Herniation: A Technical Report
Authors: Soo Eun Sang , Sourabh Chachan , Ho Lee Sang
Published: February 2019

Background and Study Aim. Foraminal disc herniations present the unique surgical challenge for exiting nerve root retraction and decompression. The aim of current study is to describe an innovative maneuver and evaluate its usefulness for endoscopic decompression of foraminal disc herniations.Material and Methods. A retrospective review was performed including cases of foraminal disc herniations who underwent endoscopic discectomy utilizing the rotate-to-retract technique. Data on patient demographics and improvement in VAS/ODI scores were collected and analyzed statistically.Results. There were ten patients (three male; seven female) in the final analysis. Seven procedures were done at the L4-L5 level, two were done at the L5-S1 level, and one was done at the L3-L4 level. The average VAS scores improved from preoperatively 7.5 to postoperatively 4.4 (p= 0.001). The mean preoperative ODI was 67.8 and improved to 26.6 postoperatively (p< 0.001). None of the cases reported any neurological or dural complication.Conclusion. Foraminal disc herniations can be safely and adequately addressed endoscopically with the use of rotate-to-retract technique.
Assessment of Diabetic Autonomic Nervous Dysfunction with a Novel Percussion Entropy Approach
Authors: Wei Hai-Cheng , Xiao Ming-Xia , Ta Na , Wu Hsien-Tsai , Sun Cheuk-Kwan
Published: February 2019

This study investigated the validity of a novel parameter, percussion entropy index (PEI), for assessing baroreflex sensitivity. PEI was acquired through comparing the similarity in tendency of change between the amplitudes of successive digital volume pulse (DVP) signals and changes in R‐R intervals (RRI) of successive cardiac cycles. Totally 108 upper middle‐aged volunteers were divided into three groups: healthy subjects (Group 1, age 41–80, n=41), those with well‐controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (Group 2, age 41–82, n=36, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)<6.5%), and patients with poorly controlled T2DM (Group 3, age 44–77, n=31, HbA1c≧6.5%). Percussion entropy index (PEI) was computed from DVP signals acquired through photoplethysmography (PPG) and RRI from electrocardiogram in 1000 successive cardiac cycles for each subject. Autonomic function was also assessed by Poincaré index (SD1/SD2 ratio, SSR), low‐ to high‐frequency power ratio (LFP/HFP, LHR), and small‐scale multiscale entropy index (MEISS) for comparison. Demographic, anthropometric, hemodynamic, and serum biochemical parameters of all testing subjects were obtained for investigating the significance of associations with the three parameters. The results showed that MEISS and PEI successfully discriminated among the three groups (p<0.017). However, only PEI showed significant associations with indicators of both acute (i.e., fasting blood sugar concentration, p<0.017) and chronic (i.e., HbA1c level, p<0.001) blood sugar control. Multivariate analysis also showed significant associations of PEI with fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels in all subjects. The interpreting effect of the two independent variables, HbA1c level and fasting blood sugar concentration, on PEI was 71.4% and 12.3%, respectively. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that additional information on diabetic autonomic dysfunction can be obtained through comparing two simultaneously acquired physiological time series. The significant associations of percussion entropy index with indicators of blood sugar control also highlight its possible role in early screening of the disease.
An Unusual Cervical Mass in the Hyoid Bone: Intermediate-Grade Chondrosarcoma
Authors: Caglar Ozge , Karatag O. , Avci A. , Dereköy Sefa
Published: February 2019

We describe a case of a 31-year-old woman with a chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone. The patient presented with a mass in the left submandibular region. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested chondroma, but further imaging investigation with CT revealed an exophytic tumor originating from the body of the hyoid bone. Histopathology of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of a intermediate-grade chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcomas account for 11% of all bone cancers. Primary sites of the head and the neck include the nasal cavity, the skull base, the maxilla, the mandible. Chondrosarcomas of the hyoid bone are very rare, with only 23 cases previously reported in the literature.
A Preliminary Study of Seeding Absence Detection Method for Drills on the Soil Surface of Cropland Based on Ultrasonic Wave without Soil Disturbance
Authors: Lu Caiyun , Li Hongwen , He Jin , Wang Qingjie , Wang Chao , Liu Junxiao
Published: February 2019

Seeding absence detection is essential during seeding operation, since it affects the subsequent crop performance. Existing methods cannot detect the seeding absence position immediately after planting without soil disturbance. In this paper, a nondestructive detection method for finding out the seeding absence position of drills is put forward. It focuses on the echo energy reflected by the circle energy inside the tilled cropland soil, to which the sensor is attached directly on the soil surface, not on ultrasonic waves that penetrate the soil-seed medium below tilled soil. Firstly, the energy circle is used to analyze the sound field distribution characteristics of the sensor in cropland soil. According to the size difference of the seeding absence length value and energy circle diameter, the total energy for three different cases with eight steps for each case is discussed in detail, and in order to find the left and right boundary lines and the length value of seeding absence, a program is designed to help with calculating four base positions automatically. At last, the nondestructive detection method is evaluated by the experiments, and the results demonstrate that the proposed method is accurate, efficient, and convenient in finding the seeding absence position of drilling seeds on the soil surface without soil disturbance.
Insight on Rosaceae Family with Genome Sequencing and Functional Genomics Perspective
Authors: Soundararajan Prabhakaran , Won So Youn , Kim Jung Sun
Published: February 2019

Rosaceae is one of the important families possessing a variety of diversified plant species. It includes many economically valuable crops that provide nutritional and health benefits for the human. Whole genome sequences of valuable crop plants were released in recent years. Understanding of genomics helps to decipher the plant physiology and developmental process. With the information of cultivating species and its wild relative genomes, genome sequence-based molecular markers and mapping loci for economically important traits can be used to accelerate the genome assisted breeding. Identification and characterization of disease resistant capacities and abiotic stress tolerance related genes are feasible to study across species with genome information. Further breeding studies based on the identification of gene loci for aesthetic values, flowering molecular circuit controls, fruit firmness, nonacid fruits, etc. is required for producing new cultivars with valuable traits. This review discusses the whole genome sequencing reports of Malus, Pyrus, Fragaria, Prunus, and Rosa and status of functional genomics of representative traits in individual crops.