bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Naturally Occurring Recombinant Enterovirus Expresses a Torovirus Deubiquitinase
Authors: Shang Pengcheng , Misra Saurav , Hause Ben , Fang Ying
Published: May 2017

Enteroviruses (EVs) are implicated in a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. In this study, a novel enterovirus (enterovirus species G [EVG]) (EVG 08/NC_USA/2015) was isolated from a diagnostic sample from a neonatal pig diarrhea case and identified by using metagenomics and complete genome sequencing. The viral genome shares 75.4% nucleotide identity with a prototypic EVG strain (PEV9 UKG/410/73). Remarkably, a 582-nucleotide insertion, flanked by 3C
pro
cleavage sites at the 5′ and 3′ ends, was found in the 2C/3A junction region of the viral genome. This insertion encodes a predicted protease with 54 to 68% amino acid identity to torovirus (ToV) papain-like protease (PLP) (ToV-PLP). Structural homology modeling predicts that this protease adopts a fold and a catalytic site characteristic of minimal PLP catalytic domains. This structure is similar to those of core catalytic domains of the foot-and-mouth disease virus leader protease and coronavirus PLPs, which act as deubiquitinating and deISGylating (interferon [IFN]-stimulated gene 15 [ISG15]-removing) enzymes on host cell substrates. Importantly, the recombinant ToV-PLP protein derived from this novel enterovirus also showed strong deubiquitination and deISGylation activities and demonstrated the ability to suppress IFN-β expression. Using reverse genetics, we generated a ToV-PLP knockout recombinant virus. Compared to the wild-type virus, the ToV-PLP knockout mutant virus showed impaired growth and induced higher expression levels of innate immune genes in infected cells. These results suggest that ToV-PLP functions as an innate immune antagonist; enterovirus G may therefore gain fitness through the acquisition of ToV-PLP from a recombination event.

IMPORTANCE
Enteroviruses comprise a highly diversified group of viruses. Genetic recombination has been considered a driving force for viral evolution; however, recombination between viruses from two different orders is a rare event. In this study, we identified a special case of cross-order recombination between enterovirus G (order
Picornavirales
) and torovirus (order
Nidovirales
). This naturally occurring recombination event may have broad implications for other picornaviral and/or nidoviral species. Importantly, we demonstrated that the exogenous ToV-PLP gene that was inserted into the EVG genome encodes a deubiquitinase/deISGylase and potentially suppresses host cellular innate immune responses. Our results provide insights into how a gain of function through genetic recombination, in particular cross-order recombination, may improve the ability of a virus to evade host immunity.
Deletion of the Vaccinia Virus I2 Protein Interrupts Virion Morphogenesis, Leading to Retention of the Scaffold Protein and Mislocalization of Membrane-Associated Entry Proteins
Authors: Hyun Seong-In , Weisberg Andrea , Moss Bernard
Published: May 2017

The I2L open reading frame of vaccinia virus (VACV) encodes a conserved 72-amino-acid protein with a putative C-terminal transmembrane domain. Previous studies with a tetracycline-inducible mutant demonstrated that I2-deficient virions are defective in cell entry. The purpose of the present study was to determine the step of replication or entry that is affected by loss of the I2 protein. Fluorescence microscopy experiments showed that I2 colocalized with a major membrane protein of immature and mature virions. We generated a cell line that constitutively expressed I2 and allowed construction of the VACV I2L deletion mutant vΔI2. As anticipated, vΔI2 was unable to replicate in cells that did not express I2. Unexpectedly, morphogenesis was interrupted at a stage after immature virion formation, resulting in the accumulation of dense spherical particles instead of brick-shaped mature virions with well-defined core structures. The abnormal particles retained the D13 scaffold protein of immature virions, were severely deficient in the transmembrane proteins that comprise the entry fusion complex (EFC), and had increased amounts of unprocessed membrane and core proteins. Total lysates of cells infected with vΔI2 also had diminished EFC proteins due to instability attributed to their hydrophobicity and failure to be inserted into viral membranes. A similar instability of EFC proteins had previously been found with unrelated mutants blocked earlier in morphogenesis that also accumulated viral membranes retaining the D13 scaffold. We concluded that I2 is required for virion morphogenesis, release of the D13 scaffold, and the association of EFC proteins with viral membranes.

IMPORTANCE
Poxviruses comprise a large family that infect vertebrates and invertebrates, cause disease in both in humans and in wild and domesticated animals, and are being engineered as vectors for vaccines and cancer therapy. In addition, investigations of poxviruses have provided insights into many aspects of cell biology. The I2 protein is conserved in all poxviruses that infect vertebrates, suggesting an important role. The present study revealed that this protein is essential for vaccinia virus morphogenesis and that its absence results in an accumulation of deformed virus particles retaining the scaffold protein and deficient in surface proteins needed for cell entry.
Roles of M1 and M2 Macrophages in Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infectivity
Authors: Lee Dhong Hyun , Ghiasi Homayon
Published: May 2017

Macrophages are the predominant infiltrate in the corneas of mice that have been ocularly infected with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). However, very little is known about the relative roles of M1 (classically activated or polarized) and M2 (alternatively activated or polarized) macrophages in ocular HSV-1 infection. To better understand these relationships, we assessed the impact of directed M1 or M2 activation of RAW264.7 macrophages and peritoneal macrophages (PM) on subsequent HSV-1 infection. In both the RAW264.7 macrophage and PMin vitromodels, HSV-1 replication in M1 macrophages was markedly lower than in M2 macrophages and unstimulated controls. The M1 macrophages expressed significantly higher levels of 28 of the 32 tested cytokines and chemokines than M2 macrophages, with HSV-1 infection significantly increasing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the M1 versus the M2 macrophages. To examine the effects of shifting the immune response toward either M1 or M2 macrophagesin vivo, wild-type mice were injected with gamma interferon (IFN-γ) DNA or colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) DNA prior to ocular infection with HSV-1. Virus replication in the eye, latency in trigeminal ganglia (TG), and markers of T cell exhaustion in the TG were determined. We found that injection of mice with IFN-γ DNA, which enhances the development of M1 macrophages, increased virus replication in the eye; increased latency; and also increased CD4, CD8, IFN-γ, and PD-1 transcripts in the TG of latently infected mice. Conversely, injection of mice with CSF-1 DNA, which enhances the development of M2 macrophages, was associated with reduced virus replication in the eye and reduced latency and reduced the levels of CD4, CD8, IFN-γ,and PD-1 transcripts in the TG. Collectively, these results suggest that M2 macrophages directly reduce the levels of HSV-1 latency and, thus, T-cell exhaustion in the TG of ocularly infected mice.

IMPORTANCEOur findings demonstrate a novel approach to further reducing HSV-1 replication in the eye and latency in the TG by modulating immune components, specifically, by altering the phenotype of macrophages. We suggest that inclusion of CSF-1 as part of any vaccination regimen against HSV infection to coax responses of macrophages toward an M2, rather than an M1, response may further improve vaccine efficacy against ocular HSV-1 replication and latency.
Dok-1 and Dok-2 Are Required To Maintain Herpes Simplex Virus 1-Specific CD8+T Cells in a Murine Model of Ocular Infection
Authors: Lahmidi Soumia , Yousefi Mitra , Dridi Slimane , Duplay Pascale , Pearson Angela
Published: May 2017

Dok-1 and Dok-2 negatively regulate responses downstream of several immune receptors in lymphoid and myeloid cells. Recent evidence showed that Dok proteins are essential in the formation of memory CD8+T cells to an exogenous epitope expressed by vaccinia virus; however, the importance of Dok-1 and Dok-2 in the control of viral infection is unknown. Here, we investigated the role of Dok proteins in modulating the immune response against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in a mouse model of ocular infection. During acute infection, viral titers in the eye were similar in wild-type (WT) and Dok-1 and Dok-2 double-knockout (DKO) mice, and the percentages of infiltrating leukocytes were similar in DKO and WT corneas and trigeminal ganglia (TG). DKO mice exhibited a diminished CD8+T cell response to the immunodominant HSV-1 glycoprotein B (gB) epitope in the spleen and draining lymph nodes compared to WT mice during acute infection. Remarkably, gB-specific CD8+T cells almost completely disappeared in the spleens of DKO mice during latency, and the reduction of CD8+effector memory T (Tem) cells was more severe than that of CD8+central memory T (Tcm) cells. The percentage of gB-specific CD8+T cells in TG during latency was also dramatically reduced in DKO mice; however, they were phenotypically similar to those from WT mice. Inex vivoassays, reactivation was detected earlier in TG cultures from infected DKO versus WT mice. Thus, Dok-1 and Dok-2 promote survival of gB-specific CD8+T cells in TG latently infected with HSV-1.

IMPORTANCEHSV-1 establishes lifelong latency in sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG). In humans, HSV-1 is able to sporadically reactivate from latently infected neurons and establish a lytic infection at a site to which the neurons project. Most herpetic disease in humans is due to reactivation of HSV-1 from latency rather than to primary acute infection. CD8+T cells are thought to play an important role in controlling recurrent infections. In this study, we examined the involvement of Dok-1 and Dok-2 signaling proteins in the control of HSV-1 infection. We provide evidence that Dok proteins are required to maintain a CD8+T cell response against HSV-1 during latency—especially CD8+Tem cells—and that they negatively affect HSV-1 reactivation from latency. Elucidating Dok-mediated mechanisms involved in the control of HSV-1 reactivation from latency might contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent recurrent HSV-1-induced pathology.
Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus Infection and the Enigma of Maternal Immunity
Authors: Britt William J.
Published: May 2017

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common viral infection acquired by the developing human fetus and can result in damage to the developing central nervous system. Although vaccine development to modify this congenital infection is ongoing, the unique epidemiology of maternal HCMV infections appears discordant with strategies for vaccine development. Several characteristics of congenital HCMV infections suggest that the efficacy of vaccines designed to induce responses similar to those that follow natural infection will be limited.
Cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral vein
Authors: Howard Emma , Benson Ruth , Day Christopher , Gwynn Brian
Published: May 2017

We present the case of a 46-year-old commercial pilot with a history of unilateral leg swelling following a flight to Geneva. Although initial clinical examination suggested a deep vein thrombosis, the swelling only partially resolved with anticoagulation and further imaging suggested the presence of adventitial cystic disease (ACD). The patient underwent initial anticoagulation to allow any thrombus to be lysed, followed by excision of the ACD from the venous wall and venous reconstruction. Following the excision of the ACD, providing the patient remains asymptomatic and further imaging finds normal venous anatomy, we hope the patient will discontinue anticoagulation and return to flying.
Does treadmill running performance, heart rate and breathing rate response during maximal graded exercise improve after volitional respiratory muscle training?
Authors: Radhakrishnan K , Sharma VK , Subramanian SK
Published: May 2017

Aim

Maximal physical exertion in sports usually causes fatigue in the exercising muscles, but not in the respiratory muscles due to triggering of the Respiratory muscle metabo-reflex, a sympathetic vasoconstrictor response leading to preferential increment in blood flow to respiratory muscles.1We planned to investigate whether a six week yogic pranayama based Volitional Respiratory Muscle Training (VRMT) can improve maximal Graded Exercise Treadmill Test (GXTT) performance in healthy adult recreational sportspersons.

Methods

Consecutive, consenting healthy adult recreational sportspersons aged 20.56±2.49 years (n=30), volunteered to ‘baseline recording’ of resting heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), and Bruce ramp protocol maximal GXTT until volitional exhaustion providing total test time (TTT), derived VO2max, Metabolic Equivalent of Task (METs), HR and BP response during maximal GXTT and drop in recovery HR data. After six weeks of observation, they underwent ‘pre-intervention recording’ followed by supervised VRMT intervention for 6 weeks (30 minutes a day; 5 days a week) and then ‘post-intervention recording’. Repeated measures ANOVA with pairwise t statistical comparison was used to analyse the data.

Results

After supervised VRMT, we observed significant decrease in their resting supine RR (p<0.001), resting supine HR (p=0.001), HR after 5 minutes of assuming standing posture (p=0.003); significant increase in TTT (p<0.001), derived VO2max (p<0.001), METs (p<0.001) and drop in recovery HR (p=0.038); altered HR response and BP response during exercise.

Conclusions

We hypothesize that these changes are probably due to VRMT induced learnt behaviour to control the breathing pattern that improves breathing economy, improvement in respiratory muscle aerobic capacity, attenuation of respiratory muscle metabo-reflex, increase in cardiac stroke volume and autonomic resetting towards parasympatho-dominance. Yogic Pranayama based VRMT can be used in sports conditioning programme of athletes to further improve their maximal exercise performance, and as part of rehabilitation training during return from injury.
Selective impact of disease on short-term and long-term components of self-reported memory: a population-based HUNT study
Authors: Almkvist Ove , Bosnes Ole , Bosnes Ingunn , Stordal Eystein
Published: May 2017

Background

Subjective memory is commonly considered to be a unidimensional measure. However, theories of performance-based memory suggest that subjective memory could be divided into more than one dimension.

Objective

To divide subjective memory into theoretically related components of memory and explore the relationship to disease.

Methods

In this study, various aspects of self-reported memory were studied with respect to demographics and diseases in the third wave of the HUNT epidemiological study in middle Norway. The study included all individuals 55 years of age or older, who responded to a nine-item questionnaire on subjective memory and questionnaires on health (n=18 633).

Results

A principle component analysis of the memory items resulted in two memory components; the criterion used was an eigenvalue above 1, which accounted for 54% of the total variance. The components were interpreted as long-term memory (LTM; the first component; 43% of the total variance) and short-term memory (STM; the second component; 11% of the total variance). Memory impairment was significantly related to all diseases (except Bechterew’s disease), most strongly to brain infarction, heart failure, diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and whiplash. For most diseases, the STM component was more affected than the LTM component; however, in cancer, the opposite pattern was seen.

Conclusions

Subjective memory impairment as measured in HUNT contained two components, which were differentially associated with diseases.
Four-year nationwide incidence of retinitis pigmentosa in South Korea: a population-based retrospective study from 2011 to 2014
Authors: Rim Tyler Hyungtaek , Park Hye Won , Kim Dong Wook , Chung Eun Jee
Published: May 2017

Objective

To determine the incidence of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in South Korea.

Design

Nationwide, population-based retrospective study.

Setting

Census population of South Korea

Participants

This study involved the entire population of South Korea (n=47 990 761). Patients confirmed as having RP by an ophthalmologist from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2014 were included.

Primary outcome measure

The average incidence of RP during the 4-year study period was estimated using population data from the 2010 Korean census.

Results

A total of 3144 (1567 men and 1577 women) patients confirmed as having RP were identified. The average incidence of RP was 1.64 cases/100 000 person-years (95% CI 1.58 to 1.70). The incidence of RP distribution skewed to the left across age groups, with one smaller peak observed in the 20–24-year-old age group (1.24 cases/100 000 person-years) and a larger peak observed in the 65–69-year-old age group (3.26 cases/100 000 person-years). The overall incidence was similar in men and women (1.64 cases/100 000 person-years (95% CI 1.56 to 1.73) for men; 1.63 cases/100 000 person-years (95% CI 1.55 to 1.72) for women).

Conclusions

Our study’s estimates of the nationwide population-based incidence of RP in an Asian population will help advance the understanding of the disease onset and allow healthcare systems to plan accordingly.
Association between serum osmolarity and mortality in patients who are critically ill: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Shen Yanfei , Cheng Xuping , Ying Manzhen , Chang Hao-Tang , Zhang Weimin
Published: May 2017

Objectives

This research aims to explore the association between serum osmolarity and mortality in patients who are critically ill with specific categories of disease.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

Data were extracted from an online database named ‘Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II’. 16 598 patients were included.

Methods

Patients were divided into six disease subgroups based on the diagnosis at admission: cardiac, cerebral, vascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory and non-respiratory. The association between maximum osmolarity (osmolaritymax) and hospital mortality in each subgroup was evaluated using osmolaritymaxas a design variable (six levels).

Results

Analysis of the 16 598 patients revealed a ‘U’-shaped relationship between osmolarity and mortality with a threshold of 300 mmoL/L. For patients with non-respiratory disease, both hypo-osmolarity and hyperosmolaritymaxwere associated with increased mortality, with the OR increasing from osmolaritymaxlevel 3 (OR: 1.98, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.33, p<0.001) to level 6 (OR: 4.45, 95% CI 3.58 to 5.53, p<0.001), using level 2 (290–309 mmoL/L) as the reference group. For patients with respiratory disease, however, neither hypo-osmolarity nor hyperosmolaritymaxwas significantly associated with mortality (levels 1 to 5) except for extreme hyperosmolaritymax(≥340 mmoL/L, OR: 2.03, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.42, p=0.007). ORs of mortality in the other four subgroups (cardiac, cerebral, vascular, gastrointestinal) were similar, with OR progressively increasing from level 3 to 6. In all six subgroups, vasopressin use was consistently associated with increased mortality.

Conclusions

Hyperosmolarity is associated with increased mortality in patients who are critically ill with cardiac, cerebral, vascular and gastrointestinal admission diagnoses, with thresholds at 300 mmoL/L. For patients with respiratory disease, however, no significant association was detected.
Red blood cell distribution width and myocardial scar burden in coronary artery disease
Authors: Magri Caroline Jane , Tian Tan Xiao , Camilleri Liberato , Xuereb Robert , Galea Joseph , Fava Stephen
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a novel independent marker of cardiovascular disease including heart failure, coronary artery disease and myocardial ischaemia. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between RDW and myocardial scar burden, as assessed by a MIBI viability scan. A secondary objective was to assess whether there is an association between RDW and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods

The study comprised 123 subjects with ischaemic heart disease who underwent a myocardial viability scan between June 2008 and July 2014. Haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, RDW, platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), estimated glomerular filtration rate, fasting blood glucose, liver and lipid profiles were evaluated for all patients. The extent of myocardial scarring and LVEF were noted. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0. Univariate followed by multivariate analyses were performed to assess for independent predictors of myocardial scarring and LVEF, respectively.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 63.5 years; most of the subjects were men. The median LVEF was 31% and median percentage of myocardial scarring was 8.7%. Multivariate analyses revealed that RDW, HDL-cholesterol and alanine transaminase were independent predictors of myocardial scarring while RDW, MPV, LDL-cholesterol and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were independent predictors of LVEF.

Conclusions

Increased RDW is an independent predictor both of myocardial scar burden and of impaired left ventricular function in subjects with coronary artery disease.
Dendrimers for ocular drug delivery
Authors: Lancina Michael G. , Yang Hu
Published: May 2017

Existing methods of administering ocular drugs are limited in either their safety or efficiency. Nanomedicine therapies have the potential to address this deficiency by creating vehicles that can control drug biodistribution. Dendrimers are synthetic polymeric nanoparticles with a unique, highly organized branching structure. In recent years, promising results using dendrimer vehicles to deliver ocular drugs through different routes of administration have been reported. In this minireview, we briefly summarize these results with emphasis on the dendrimer modifications used to target different ocular structures.
Performance of carbon nanotubes in mortar using different surfactants
Authors: Elkashef M. , Abou-Zeid M.N.
Published: May 2017

The performance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in cement-based composites relies to a great extent on its degree of dispersion. In this work, the performance of two commonly used surfactants; sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100, is being compared. The effect of surfactant-to-CNT ratio on dispersion efficiency is studied using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometry, to determine the optimum surfactant dosage. For the optimum ultrasonication energy, Raman spectroscopy is used to assess the degree of imperfections on CNTs. CNTs-reinforced mortar specimens prepared using Triton X-100 and SDS are tested for compressive and flexural strength. Triton X-100 is shown to exhibit better dispersion efficiency than SDS, leading to greater improvement in flexural and compressive strength. An ultrasonication time of 60 min (19.4 kJ/mL) is shown to be sufficient to achieve proper dispersion, however notable degradation of CNTs was noted beyond 30 min (9.7 kJ/mL) of dispersion leading to a strength reduction.
British Columbia Smart Infrastructure Monitoring System
Authors: Kaya Yavuz , Ventura Carlos , Huffman Sharlie , Turek Martin
Published: May 2017

This paper describes the architecture of a comprehensive seismic monitoring system developed in 2009 by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoT) and the University of British Columbia, Canada. The main purpose of the British Columbia Smart Infrastructure Monitoring System project is to instrument and monitor key structures to provide confirmation of their seismic capacity, assist in focusing retrofit efforts, detect structural damage, and provide rapid damage assessment of those structures, following a seismic event. The automatic creation of shakemaps following an earthquake provides information for the MoT’s non-instrumented bridges. The public notification systems and web pages have been developed to display real-time seismic data both from the strong motion network and seismic structural health monitoring network. Tools and methods have been developed to help transform the current practice of inspecting and evaluating structures to a more rational and effective one that uses the up-to-date sensing technology with fast and efficient techniques.
Species assemblage of buprestid beetles in four hardwood cover types in Michigan
Authors: Redilla Kyle M. , McCullough Deborah G.
Published: May 2017

Information on species assemblages of metallic wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in forested habitats in North America is relatively scarce, likely reflecting the difficulty of effectively trapping and accurately identifying species. We identified buprestid species captured on four baited traps placed in each of 12 sites representing four common forest cover types in five Michigan counties. Overstory vegetation was dominated by ash (Fraxinus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), or poplar (Populus spp.) trees (three sites per cover type). A total of 1656 buprestids representing 28 species were captured on sticky purple prism traps baited with either cis-3-hexenol plus Manuka oil or 3R-hydroxyhexane-2-one plus ethanol from May to August 2014. Buprestid species richness ranged from 6 to 13 species per site. PERMANOVA results showed that buprestid species composition differed among forest cover types (P < 0.005). The invasive Agrilus sulcicollis Lacordaire and the native Chrysobothris femorata Olivier species group were significant indicators of oak sites, while Agrilus obsoletoguttatus Gory was a significant indicator of maple sites. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed that abundance of captured buprestids was influenced by availability of fresh snags and coarse woody debris. Our results indicate that trapping can provide an efficient means to assess assemblages of phloem- or wood-boring buprestids.
Current status and a novel framework to attract Pakistani women in physics
Authors: Jabeen M. , Javed M.T.
Published: May 2017

Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with a population of over 180 million people. It is reported in the 1998 census the sex ratio (male per 100 female) is 108.5 and the literacy ratio (education of above 10 years) is 43.92%. Population under 15 years is 43.4% and between 15 and 65 years is 53.09%. Keeping in view the current reforms and vision of “one nation – one vision” there is growing interest in developing programs to make Pakistan listed in top 25 economies by 2025. The social barriers faced by female scientists in their professional career are discussed in this paper. The opportunities for an exciting career in physics in particular for women are discussed. A degree in engineering physics as proposed in the paper could make the subject more attractive and may help in improving the position of Pakistan in the Global Innovation Index. This paper also presents the current status of women in physics and is aimed to attract women taking physics as a profession to bring innovation and thus promoting entrepreneurship in Pakistan to achieve the vision by 2025.
Drell–Yan constraints on new electroweak states: LHC as a pp → ℓ+ℓ− precision machine
Authors: Gross Christian , Lebedev Oleg , No Jose Miguel
Published: May 2017

The Standard Model (SM) extensions with vector-like states which have either zero hypercharge or zero weak isospin are rather poorly constrained by the electroweak precision measurements. Such new states would however modify the running of the gauge couplings at high energies. As a result, the Drell–Yan process [Formula: see text] at the LHC places useful constraints on these models. The relevant observables include both the dilepton invariant mass distribution [Formula: see text] and the forward–backward asymmetry [Formula: see text]. We find that the LHC Run 1 data and the initial data from Run 2 surpass the sensitivity of LEP and already put meaningful constraints on the existence of such particles, which will become progressively stronger with more data.
Simulated HAZ continuous cooling transformation diagram of a bogie steel of high-speed railway
Authors: Liu Yue , Chen Hui , Liu Yan , Hang Zongqiu
Published: May 2017

Simulated HAZ continuous cooling transformation (SH-CCT) diagram presents the start and end points of phase transformation and the relationships of the microstructures of HAZ, temperature and cooling rates. It is often used to assess the weldability of materials. In this paper, a weathering steel Q345C which is widely used in the bogies manufacturing was studied. The cooling times from 800[Formula: see text]C to 500[Formula: see text]C ([Formula: see text]) were from 3 s to 6000 s, aiming to study the microstructures under different cooling rates. Different methods such as color metallography were used to obtain the metallography images. The results show that ferrite nucleates preferentially at the prior austenite grain boundaries and grows along the grain boundaries with a lath-like distribution when [Formula: see text] is 300 s. Austenite transforms into ferrite, pearlite and bainite with decreasing [Formula: see text]. Pearlite disappears completely when [Formula: see text] s. Martensite gradually appears when [Formula: see text] decreases to 30 s. The hardness increases with decreasing [Formula: see text]. The SH-CCT diagram indicates that the welding input and [Formula: see text] should be taken into consideration when welding. This work provides the relationships of welding parameters and microstructures.
Morphology, photophysics and optoelectronics of P3HT nanoparticles and TiO2 nanorods composite
Authors: Xu Wei-Long , Yuan Hongchun , Xiao Jin , Xiong Chao , Zhu Xifang
Published: May 2017

Morphology and photophysics of polymers are critical to the performance of organic optoelectronics. In this work, poly(3-thiophene) (P3HT) nanoparticles were successfully fabricated by the miniemulsion and reprecipitation methods. The P3HT nanoparticles demonstrated uniform distribution with the domain size of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]40 nm. The photophysics of P3HT nanoparticles was investigated by absorption and steady-state and time-resolved PL spectroscopy. P3HT nanoparticles showed more ordered and longer conjugation length than pristine P3HT. At the same time, P3HT nanoparticles showed aggregate species which are favorable for interchain charge transfer. The organic/inorganic hybrid photodetectors based on P3HT and TiO2 nanorods were fabricated. The superior performance of the photodetector based on P3HT nanoparticle and TiO2 nanorods comes from the efficient charge transfer and large donor/acceptor interface.
Formaldehyde adsorption on carbon nanotubes fragment by density functional theory
Authors: Chen D. , Yuan Yong J.
Published: May 2017

The interaction between formaldehyde (HCOH) and pristine single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) fragment was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) to evaluate the detection of HCOH. The simulation results demonstrated less adsorption on surface of SWCNT and doped CNTs, while a HCOH molecule tended to be chemisorbed to the C atom located on SWCNT’s edge positions with larger binding energy of 1.742 eV and smaller binding distance of 1.351 Å. Furthermore, charge transfer and density of states study indicated that the electronic properties changed evidently in the most stable HCOH-SWCNT system, and were mainly around the Fermi level. More importantly, the adsorption of HCOH affected the electronic conductance of SWCNT. It is expected that the results could provide a useful theoretical guidance for the investigation of molecular films interface bonding and design of HCOH sensing devices.
Preparation of broadband absorption ceramic coatings by using plasma electrolytic deposition
Authors: Yao Caizhen , Li Yuan , Li Qin , Lu Songtao , Wu Xiaohong , Jiang Yong , Gao Wei , Yan Hongwei , Wang Haijun , Ye Yayun
Published: May 2017

Two types of black ceramic coatings with high spectrum absorptivity were prepared on Al alloy substrate by using plasma electrolytic deposition method. The spectrum absorption properties of coatings were tested by using 355 nm ultraviolet laser pulses. Particle counter device was employed to collect and analyze the particles formed during the irradiation process. Experimental results showed that the coatings have porous structures. The sample coatings 1 and 2 have thickness of 120 [Formula: see text]m and 60 [Formula: see text]m with holes’ diameter of about 70 [Formula: see text]m and 15 [Formula: see text]m, respectively. The coating 1 is mainly composed of Al2O3 and SiO2 while coating 2 consists of Al2O3. The reflectivity of both coatings is much lower than that of Al alloy substrate. The absorptivity of samples 1 and 2 is about 99.88% and 99.92% for wavelength from 300 nm to 800 nm. The mechanisms of spectrum absorption were also explored.
Bound-state solutions, Lax pair and conservation laws for the coupled higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equations in the birefringent or two-mode fiber
Authors: Liu De-Yin , Tian Bo , Xie Xi-Yang
Published: May 2017

For describing the propagation of ultrashort pulses in the birefringent or two-mode fiber, we consider the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations with higher-order effects. According to the Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur system, 3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]3 Lax pair for such equations is derived. Based on the Lax pair, we construct the conservation laws and Darboux transformation (DT). One- and two-soliton solutions are obtained via the DT, and we graphically present the one soliton and bound-state two solitons.
The cosmic matrix in the 50th anniversary of relativistic astrophysics
Authors: Ruffini R. , Aimuratov Y. , Becerra L. , Bianco C. L. , Karlica M. , Kovacevic M. , Melon Fuksman J. D. , Moradi R. , Muccino M. , Penacchioni A. V. , Pisani G. B. , Primorac D. , Rueda J. A. , Shakeri S. , Vereshchagin G. V. , Wang Y. , Xue S.-S.
Published: May 2017

Our concept of induced gravitational collapse (IGC paradigm) starting from a supernova occurring with a companion neutron star, has unlocked the understanding of seven different families of gamma ray bursts (GRBs), indicating a path for the formation of black holes in the universe. An authentic laboratory of relativistic astrophysics has been unveiled in which new paradigms have been introduced in order to advance knowledge of the most energetic, distant and complex systems in our universe. A novel cosmic matrix paradigm has been introduced at a relativistic cosmic level, which parallels the concept of an S-matrix introduced by Feynmann, Wheeler and Heisenberg in the quantum world of microphysics. Here the “in” states are represented by a neutron star and a supernova, while the “out” states, generated within less than a second, are a new neutron star and a black hole. This novel field of research needs very powerful technological observations in all wavelengths ranging from radio through optical, X-ray and gamma ray radiation all the way up to ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.
A Robust Eco-Design Approach Based on New Sensitivity Coefficients by Considering the Uncertainty of LCI
Authors: Yu Xi , Zhang Haiqing , Shu Hongping , Zhao Weidong , Yan Tao , Liu Yonghong , Wang Xie
Published: May 2017

It is urgent to introduce life cycle assessment (LCA) into eco-design in order to conduct eco-design in the quantitative and systematic era. In the design phase, various uncertainties in product life cycle inventory (LCI) are emerged. In practice, the real value of LCI calculated in the product end-of-life phase may be much different from the target LCI value predicted in the design phase. The aim of this research is to propose a robust design method to overcome the uncertainty issue. Regarding the scope of LCI analysis, this paper focused on the product manufacturing phase and its end-of-life phase. In this paper, the design problem of robust eco-design is modeled in a mathematical way, the novel sensitivity coefficient of LCI with uncertainty is proposed to solve the robust eco-design problem from mathematical perspective, and a guideline-based approach for robust design is proposed based on the new sensitivity coefficients. A case study is provided to illustrate the application of this research and validate our methods.
Extending Hypermedia Conceptual Models to Support Hyperknowledge Specifications
Authors: Moreno Marcio Ferreira , Brandao Rafael , Cerqueira Renato
Published: May 2017

Most multimedia documents available today are agnostic to data semantics. Moreover, their specification language offers little to ease authoring of meaningful content. In this paper, we present the main entities of a new version (3.1) of the Nested Context Model (NCM), which concentrate efforts at integrating support for enriched concept description to the model. These extensions enable the specification of relationships between concept descriptions and multimedia content in the hypermedia way, composing what we call hyperknowledge in this paper. NCM previous version (3.0) is a hypermedia conceptual model. NCL (Nested Context Language), which is part of international standards and ITU recommendations, was engineered according to NCM 3.0 definitions. The extensions discussed in this paper contribute not only for advances in the NCL, but mainly as a conceptual model for hyperknowledge document engineering.
Home Price Index: A Machine Learning Methodology
Authors: Barr Joseph R. , Ellis Eden A. , Kassab Antonio , Redfearn Christian L. , Srinivasan Narayanan Nani , Voris Kurtis B.
Published: May 2017

Estimating house prices is essential for homeowners and investors alike with both needing to understand the value of their asset, and to understand real estate assets as part of an overall portfolios. Commonly-used indices like the National Association of Realtors (NAR) median home price index, or the celebrated Case-Shiller Home Price Index are reported exclusively over a large geographic areas, i.e., a metropolitan, whereby home price dynamics are lost. In this paper, we propose a improved method to capture price dynamics over time at the most granular level possible — a single home. Using over 16 years of home sale data, from the year 2000 to 2016, we estimate home price index for each house. Once home price dynamics is captured, its possible to aggregate price dynamics to construct a price index over geographies of any kind, e.g., ZIP code. This particular index relies on a so-called ‘gradient boosted’ model, a methodology framework relying on multiple calibration parameters and heavily dependent on sampling techniques. We demonstrate that this approach offers several strengths compared to the commonly reported indices, the ‘median sale’ and ‘repeat sales’ indices.
Shape Analysis and Deployment of the ExaVolt Antenna
Authors: Baginski Frank , Zhao Kaiyu , Furer Joshua , Landay Justin , Bailoor Shantanu , Gorham Peter , Varner Gary , Miki Christian , Hill Brian , Schoorlemmer Harm , Nguyen Liem , Romero-Wolf Andrew , Liewer Kurt , Sauder Jonathan , Brakke Kenneth , Beatty Jim , Connolly Amy , Allison Patrick , Pfendner Carl , Dailey Brian , Fairbrother Debra , Said Magdi , Lang Steven , Young Leyland
Published: May 2017

The ExaVolt Antenna (EVA) is the next generation balloon-borne ultra-high energy (UHE) particle observatory under development for NASA’s suborbital super-pressure balloon program in Antarctica. Unlike a typical mission where the balloon lifts a gondola that carries the primary scientific instrument, the EVA mission is a first-of-its-kind in that the balloon itself is part of the science instrument. Specifically, a toroidal RF reflector is mounted onto the outside surface of a superpressure balloon (SPB) and a feed antenna is suspended inside the balloon, creating a high-gain antenna system with a synoptic view of the Antarctic ice sheet. The EVA mission presents a number of technical challenges. For example, can a stowed feed antenna be inserted through an opening in the top-plate? Can the feed antenna be deployed during the ascent? Once float altitude is achieved, how might small shape changes in the balloon shape affect the antenna performance over the life of the EVA mission? The EVA team utilized a combination of testing with a 1/20-scale physical model, mathematical modeling and numerical simulations to probe these and related questions. While the problems are challenging, they are solvable with current technology and expertise. Experiments with a 1/20-scale EVA physical model outline a pathway for inserting a stowed feed into a SPB. Analysis indicates the EVA system will ascend, deploy and assume a stable configuration at float altitude. Nominal shape changes in an Antarctic SPB are sufficiently small to allow the use of the surface of the balloon as a high-gain reflector.
Economic Impacts of Irrigation-Constrained Agriculture in the Lower Po Basin
Authors: Pérez-Blanco C. D. , Koks E. E. , Calliari E. , Mysiak J.
Published: May 2017

Climate change, increasing demand for water, higher environmental standards and inelastic water supply suggest that future drought response in Southern Europe would require more efficient management of water use. In this context, there is a pressing need for a better understanding of the economic impacts of irrigation restrictions, including their microeconomic and broad economic repercussions. This paper connects a multi-attribute Revealed Preference Model working at an agricultural district level with a regionally calibrated supply and use model that combines nonlinear programming and input-output modeling techniques to address water allocation issues. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these two modeling approaches are combined in this fashion. Methods are illustrated with an application to the Lower Po River Basin (LPRB) in the Emilia Romagna Region, Italy. Results show that irrigation restrictions generate rising incremental losses in the agricultural districts of the LPRB, which are amplified through negative inter-sectorial feedbacks at a regional level. Contraction of production in Emilia Romagna results in an excess demand situation that propels the production of substitute goods elsewhere in Italy, partially but not fully compensating economic losses in the region. Methods and results offer a basis for assessing tradeoffs in irrigation restrictions and related adaptations, for climate change included.
Formal Model-Based Synthesis of Application-Specific Static RTOS
Authors: Tigori Kabland Toussaint Gautier , Béchennec Jean-Luc , Faucou Sébastien , Roux Olivier Henri
Published: May 2017

In an embedded system, the specialization of the code of the real-time operating system (RTOS) according to the requirements of the application allows one to remove unused services and other sources of dead code from the binary program. The typical specialization process is based on a mix of precompiler macros and build scripts, both of which are known for being sources of errors.

In this article, we present a new model-based approach to the design of application-specific RTOS. Starting with finite state models describing the RTOS and the application requirements, the set of blocks in the RTOS code actually used by the application is automatically computed. This set is used to build an application-specific RTOS model. This model is fed into a code generator to produce the source code of an application-specific RTOS. It is also used to carry on model-based validations and verifications, including the formal verification that the specialization process did not introduce unwanted behaviors or suppress expected ones.

To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, it is applied to specialize Trampoline, an open-source implementation of the AUTOSAR OS standard, to an industrial case study from the automotive domain.
Task Transition Scheduling for Data-Adaptable Systems
Authors: Sandoval Nathan , Mackin Casey , Whitsitt Sean , Gopinath Vijay Shankar , Mahadevan Sachidanand , Milakovich Andrew , Merry Kyle , Sprinkle Jonathan , Lysecky Roman
Published: May 2017

Data-adaptable embedded systems operate on a variety of data streams, which requires a large degree of configurability and adaptability to support runtime changes in data stream inputs. Data-adaptable reconfigurable embedded systems, when decomposed into a series of tasks, enable a flexible runtime implementation in which a system can transition the execution of certain tasks between hardware and software while simultaneously continuing to process data during the transition. Efficient runtime scheduling of task transitions is needed to optimize system throughput and latency of the reconfiguration and transition periods. In this article, we provide an overview of a runtime framework enabling the efficient transition of tasks between software and hardware in response to changes in system inputs. We further present and analyze several runtime transition scheduling algorithms and highlight the latency and throughput tradeoffs for two data-adaptable systems. To evaluate the task transition selection algorithms, a case study was performed on an adaptable JPEG2000 implementation as well as three other synchronous dataflow systems characterized by transition latency and communication load.
Automatic Synthesis of Switching Controllers for Linear Hybrid Systems
Authors: Benerecetti Massimo , Faella Marco
Published: May 2017

We consider the problem of computing the controllable region of a Linear Hybrid Automaton with controllable and uncontrollable transitions, w.r.t. a reachability objective. We provide an algorithm for the finite-horizon version of the problem, based on computing the set of states that must reach a given non-convex polyhedron while avoiding another one, subject to a polyhedral constraint on the slope of the trajectory. Experimental results are presented, based on an implementation of the proposed algorithm on top of the tool SpaceEx.
Exploiting Multiple Write Modes of Nonvolatile Main Memory in Embedded Systems
Authors: Pan Chen , Xie Mimi , Yang Chengmo , Chen Yiran , Hu Jingtong
Published: May 2017

Existing Nonvolatile Memories (NVMs) have many attractive features to be the main memory of embedded systems. These features include low power, high density, and better scalability. Recently, Multilevel Cell (MLC) NVM has gained more and more popularity as it can provide a higher density than the traditional Single-Level Cell (SLC) NVM. However, there are also drawbacks in MLC NVM, namely, limited write endurance and expensive write operation. These two drawbacks have to be overcome before MLC NVM can be practically adopted as the main memory. In MLC Nonvolatile Main Memory (NVMM), two different types of write operations with very diverse data retention times are allowed. The first type maintains data for years but takes a longer time to write and is detrimental to the endurance. The second type maintains data for a short period but takes a shorter time to write. By observing that much of the data written to main memory is temporary and does not need to last long during the execution of a program, in this article, we propose novel task scheduling and write operation selection algorithms to improve MLC NVMM endurance and program efficiency. An Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation is first proposed to obtain optimal results. Since ILP takes exponential time to solve, we also propose the Multiwrite Mode-Aware Scheduling (MMAS) algorithm to achieve a near-optimal solution in polynomial time. Additionally, the Dynamical Memory Block Screening (DMS) algorithm is proposed to achieve wear leveling. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed techniques can greatly improve the lifetime of the MLC NVMM as well as the efficiency of the program.