bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposedness of Choi-Type Entanglement Witnesses and Applications to Lengths of Separable States
Authors: Ha Kil-Chan , Kye Seung-Hyeok
Published: November 2013

We present a large class of indecomposable exposed positive linear maps between 3 × 3 matrix algebras. We also construct two-qutrit separable states with lengths ten in the interior of their dual faces. With these examples, we show that the length of a separable state may decrease strictly when we mix it with another separable state.
Quantum Blackwell–Sherman–Stein Theorem and Related Results
Authors: Kaniowski Krzysztof , Lubnauer Katarzyna , Łuczak Andrzej
Published: November 2013

We investigate the problem of comparing quantum statistical models in the general operator algebra framework in arbitrary dimension, thus generalizing results obtained so far in finite dimension, and for the full algebra of operators on a Hilbert space. In particular, the quantum Blackwell–Sherman–Stein theorem is obtained, and informational subordination of quantum information structures is characterized.
On Pure Quasi-Quantum Quadratic Operators of 𝕄2(ℂ)
Authors: Mukhamedov Farrukh , Abduganiev Abduaziz
Published: November 2013

In this paper we study quasi-quantum quadratic operators (quasi-QQO) acting on the algebra of 2 × 2 matrices 𝕄2(ℂ). It is known that a channel is called pure if it sends pure states to pure ones. In this paper, we introduce a weaker condition for the channel called q-purity. To study q-pure channels, we concentrate on quasi-QQO acting on 𝕄2(ℂ). We describe all trace-preserving quasi-QQO on 𝕄2(ℂ), which allows us to prove that if a trace-preserving symmetric quasi-QQO is such that the corresponding quadratic operator is linear, then its q-purity implies its positivity. If a symmetric quasi-QQO has a Haar state τ, then its corresponding quadratic operator is nonlinear, and it is proved that such q-pure symmetric quasi-QQO cannot be positive. We think that such a result will allow one to check whether a given mapping from 𝕄2(ℂ) to 𝕄2(ℂ) ⊗ 𝕄2(ℂ) is pure or not. On the other hand, our study is related to the construction of pure quantum nonlinear channels. Moreover, we also indicate that nonlinear dynamics associated with pure quasi-QQO may have different kind of dynamics, i.e. it may behave chaotically or trivially.
A YIELD CRITERION AND PLASTIC ANALYSIS FOR PHYSICALLY ASYMMETRIC SANDWICH BEAM WITH METAL FOAM CORE
Authors: QIN QINGHUA , WANG MINGSHI , WANG ZHENGJIN , ZHANG JIANXUN , WANG T. J.
Published: November 2013

A yield criterion for physically asymmetric sandwich cross-sections is proposed in this paper. Using the yield criterion, analytical solutions for the large deflections of fully clamped asymmetric slender sandwich beams transversely loaded by a flat punch at the midspan are derived considering the core strength effect and interaction of bending and axial stretching. Finite element (FE) method is employed to predict the large deflection behavior of the sandwich beams. Good agreement is achieved between the analytical predictions and FE results. Effects of asymmetric factor, core strength and loading punch size are also discussed. It is demonstrated that core strength and loading punch size have significant influences on the load-carrying and energy absorption capacities of physically asymmetric metal sandwich beams while the asymmetry effect could be neglected when the deflection exceeds sandwich beam depth.
Ice Sheets and the Anthropocene
Authors: Wolff Eric W.
Published: November 2013

Ice could play a role in identifying and defining the Anthropocene. The recurrence of northern hemisphere glaciation and the stability of the Greenland Ice Sheet are both potentially vulnerable to human impact on the environment. However, only a very long hiatus in either would be unusual in the context of the Quaternary Period, requiring the definition of a geological boundary. Human influence can clearly be discerned in several ice-core measurements. These include a sharp boundary in radioactivity due to atmospheric nuclear testing; increases, unprecedented at least in the Holocene, in Greenland concentrations of sulphate, nitrate and metals such as lead; the appearance in ice-core air bubbles of previously undetectable compounds such as SF
6
; and the rise, unprecedented in the last 800 ka, in concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane. Some combination of these changes could be used by future generations to clearly identify the onset of a new epoch defined at a particular calendar date. However, it is not yet clear what the character of the fully developed Anthropocene will be, and it might be wise to let future generations decide, with hindsight, when the Anthropocene started, acknowledging only that we are in the transition towards it.
Legal aspects of interface accessibility in the U.S.
Authors: Lazar Jonathan , Hochheiser Harry
Published: November 2013

Accessible information technology is not just good design and a clever way to win new users, it is the law.
A Hardware Viewpoint on Biosequence Analysis
Authors: Graziano Mariagrazia , Frache Stefano , Zamboni Maurizio
Published: November 2013

Biosequence alignment recently received an increasing support from both commodity and dedicated hardware platforms. Processing capabilities are constantly rising, but still not satisfying the limitless requirements of this application. We give an insight on the contribution to this need that can possibly be expected from emerging technology devices and architectures, focusing as an example on nanofabrics based on silicon nanowires. By varying a few parameters we explore the solution space, and demonstrate with proper figures of merit how this family of beyond CMOS structures could be considered as the effective disruptive technology for biosequence analysis applications.
Seeing the big picture
Authors: Greengard Samuel
Published: November 2013

Lensless cameras and other advances in digital imaging, computational optics, signal processing, and big data are transforming how we think about photography.
CS enrollments rise … at the expense of the humanities?
Authors: Frenkel Karen A.
Published: November 2013

A growing proportion of U.S. college students are earning degrees in computer and information sciences, surprising some in academia.
Puzzled: Solutions and sources
Authors: Winkler Peter
Published: November 2013

Last month (November 2013) we posted three tricky puzzles concerning coin flipping. Here, we offer solutions to all three. How did you do?
Inductive invariant generation via abductive inference
Authors: Dillig Isil , Dillig Thomas , Li Boyang , McMillan Ken
Published: November 2013

This paper presents a new method for generating inductive loop invariants that are expressible as boolean combinations of linear integer constraints. The key idea underlying our technique is to perform a backtracking search that combines Hoare-style verification condition generation with a logical abduction procedure based on quantifier elimination to speculate candidate invariants. Starting with true, our method iteratively strengthens loop invariants until they are inductive and strong enough to verify the program. A key feature of our technique is that it is lazy: It only infers those invariants that are necessary for verifying program correctness. Furthermore, our technique can infer arbitrary boolean combinations (including disjunctions) of linear invariants. We have implemented the proposed approach in a tool called HOLA. Our experiments demonstrate that HOLA can infer interesting invariants that are beyond the reach of existing state-of-the-art invariant generation tools.
Steering symbolic execution to less traveled paths
Authors: Li You , Su Zhendong , Wang Linzhang , Li Xuandong
Published: November 2013

Symbolic execution is a promising testing and analysis methodology. It systematically explores a program's execution space and can generate test cases with high coverage. One significant practical challenge for symbolic execution is how to effectively explore the enormous number of program paths in real-world programs. Various heuristics have been proposed for guiding symbolic execution, but they are generally inefficient and ad-hoc. In this paper, we introduce a novel, unified strategy to guide symbolic execution to less explored parts of a program. Our key idea is to exploit a specific type of path spectra, namely the
length-n subpath program spectra
, to systematically approximate full path information for guiding path exploration. In particular, we use frequency distributions of explored length-
n
subpaths to prioritize "less traveled" parts of the program to improve test coverage and error detection. We have implemented our general strategy in KLEE, a state-of-the-art symbolic execution engine. Evaluation results on the GNU Coreutils programs show that (1) varying the length
n
captures program-specific information and exhibits different degrees of effectiveness, and (2) our general approach outperforms traditional strategies in both coverage and error detection.
Programming and reasoning with algebraic effects and dependent types
Authors: Brady Edwin
Published: November 2013

One often cited benefit of pure functional programming is that pure code is easier to test and reason about, both formally and informally. However, real programs have side-effects including state management, exceptions and interactions with the outside world. Haskell solves this problem using
monads
to capture details of possibly side-effecting computations --- it provides monads for capturing state, I/O, exceptions, non-determinism, libraries for practical purposes such as CGI and parsing, and many others, as well as
monad transformers
for combining multiple effects.

Unfortunately, useful as monads are, they do not compose very well. Monad transformers can quickly become unwieldy when there are lots of effects to manage, leading to a temptation in larger programs to combine everything into one coarse-grained state and exception monad. In this paper I describe an alternative approach based on handling
algebraic effects
, implemented in the IDRIS programming language. I show how to describe side effecting computations, how to write programs which compose multiple fine-grained effects, and how, using dependent types, we can use this approach to reason about states in effectful programs.
System FC with explicit kind equality
Authors: Weirich Stephanie , Hsu Justin , Eisenberg Richard A.
Published: November 2013

System FC, the core language of the Glasgow Haskell Compiler, is an explicitly-typed variant of System F with first-class type equality proofs called coercions. This extensible proof system forms the foundation for type system extensions such as type families (type-level functions) and Generalized Algebraic Datatypes (GADTs). Such features, in conjunction with kind polymorphism and datatype promotion, support expressive compile-time reasoning.

However, the core language lacks explicit kind equality proofs. As a result, type-level computation does not have access to kind-level functions or promoted GADTs, the type-level analogues to expression-level features that have been so useful. In this paper, we eliminate such discrepancies by introducing kind equalities to System FC. Our approach is based on dependent type systems with heterogeneous equality and the "Type-in-Type" axiom, yet it preserves the metatheoretic properties of FC. In particular, type checking is simple, decidable and syntax directed. We prove the preservation and progress theorems for the extended language.
Unifying refinement and hoare-style reasoning in a logic for higher-order concurrency
Authors: Turon Aaron , Dreyer Derek , Birkedal Lars
Published: November 2013

Modular programming and modular verification go hand in hand, but most existing logics for concurrency ignore two crucial forms of modularity: *higher-order functions*, which are essential for building reusable components, and *granularity abstraction*, a key technique for hiding the intricacies of fine-grained concurrent data structures from the clients of those data structures. In this paper, we present CaReSL, the first logic to support the use of granularity abstraction for modular verification of higher-order concurrent programs. After motivating the features of CaReSL through a variety of illustrative examples, we demonstrate its effectiveness by using it to tackle a significant case study: the first formal proof of (partial) correctness for Hendler et al.'s "flat combining" algorithm.
A nanopass framework for commercial compiler development
Authors: Keep Andrew W. , Dybvig R. Kent
Published: November 2013

Contemporary compilers must typically handle sophisticated high-level source languages, generate efficient code for multiple hardware architectures and operating systems, and support source-level debugging, profiling, and other program development tools. As a result, compilers tend to be among the most complex of software systems. Nanopass frameworks are designed to help manage this complexity. A nanopass compiler is comprised of many single-task passes with formally defined intermediate languages. The perceived downside of a nanopass compiler is that the extra passes will lead to substantially longer compilation times. To determine whether this is the case, we have created a plug replacement for the commercial Chez Scheme compiler, implemented using an updated nanopass framework, and we have compared the speed of the new compiler and the code it generates against the original compiler for a large set of benchmark programs. This paper describes the updated nanopass framework, the new compiler, and the results of our experiments. The compiler produces faster code than the original, averaging 15-27% depending on architecture and optimization level, due to a more sophisticated but slower register allocator and improvements to several optimizations. Compilation times average well within a factor of two of the original compiler, despite the slower register allocator and the replacement of five passes of the original 10 with over 50 nanopasses.
Domestication Genomics: Evidence from Animals
Authors: Wang Guo-Dong , Xie Hai-Bing , Peng Min-Sheng , Irwin David , Zhang Ya-Ping
Published: November 2013

Animal domestication has far-reaching significance for human society. The sequenced genomes of domesticated animals provide critical resources for understanding the genetic basis of domestication. Various genomic analyses have shed a new light on the mechanism of artificial selection and have allowed the mapping of genes involved in important domestication traits. Here, we summarize the published genomes of domesticated animals that have been generated over the past decade, as well as their origins, from a phylogenomic point of view. This review provides a general description of the genomic features encountered under a two-stage domestication process. We also introduce recent findings for domestication traits based on results from genome-wide association studies and selective-sweep scans for artificially selected genomic regions. Particular attention is paid to issues relating to the costs of domestication and the convergent evolution of genes between domesticated animals and humans.
Community and Ecosystem Responses to Elevational Gradients: Processes, Mechanisms, and Insights for Global Change
Authors: Sundqvist Maja K. , Sanders Nathan J. , Wardle David A.
Published: November 2013

Community structure and ecosystem processes often vary along elevational gradients. Their responses to elevation are commonly driven by changes in temperature, and many community- and ecosystem-level variables therefore frequently respond similarly to elevation across contrasting gradients. There are also many exceptions, sometimes because other factors such as precipitation can also vary with elevation. Given this complexity, our capacity to predict when and why the same variable responds differently among disparate elevational gradients is often limited. Furthermore, there is utility in using elevational gradients for understanding community and ecosystem responses to global climate change at much larger spatial and temporal scales than is possible through conventional ecological experiments. However, future studies that integrate elevational gradient approaches with experimental manipulations will provide powerful information that can improve predictions of climate change impacts within and across ecosystems.
Biology and Genetics of Prions Causing Neurodegeneration
Authors: Prusiner Stanley B.
Published: November 2013

Prions are proteins that acquire alternative conformations that become self-propagating. Transformation of proteins into prions is generally accompanied by an increase in β-sheet structure and a propensity to aggregate into oligomers. Some prions are beneficial and perform cellular functions, whereas others cause neurodegeneration. In mammals, more than a dozen proteins that become prions have been identified, and a similar number has been found in fungi. In both mammals and fungi, variations in the prion conformation encipher the biological properties of distinct prion strains. Increasing evidence argues that prions cause many neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, and Lou Gehrig's diseases, as well as the tauopathies. The majority of NDs are sporadic, and 10% to 20% are inherited. The late onset of heritable NDs, like their sporadic counterparts, may reflect the stochastic nature of prion formation; the pathogenesis of such illnesses seems to require prion accumulation to exceed some critical threshold before neurological dysfunction manifests.
RNase III: Genetics and Function; Structure and Mechanism
Authors: Court Donald L. , Gan Jianhua , Liang Yu-He , Shaw Gary X. , Tropea Joseph E. , Costantino Nina , Waugh David S. , Ji Xinhua
Published: November 2013

RNase III is a global regulator of gene expression in Escherichia coli that is instrumental in the maturation of ribosomal and other structural RNAs. We examine here how RNase III itself is regulated in response to growth and other environmental changes encountered by the cell and how, by binding or processing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) intermediates, RNase III controls the expression of genes. Recent insight into the mechanism of dsRNA binding and processing, gained from structural studies of RNase III, is reviewed. Structural studies also reveal new cleavage sites in the enzyme that can generate longer 3′ overhangs.
Bacteria and the Aging and Longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kim Dennis H.
Published: November 2013

The molecular genetic analysis of longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans has yielded fundamental insights into evolutionarily conserved pathways and processes governing the physiology of aging. Recent studies suggest that interactions between C. elegans and its microbial environment may influence the aging and longevity of this simple host organism. Experimental evidence supports a role for bacteria in affecting longevity through distinct mechanisms—as a nutrient source, as a potential pathogen that induces double-edged innate immune and stress responses, and as a coevolved sensory stimulus that modulates neuronal signaling pathways regulating longevity. Motivating this review is the anticipation that the molecular genetic dissection of the integrated host immune, stress, and neuroendocrine responses to microbes in C. elegans will uncover basic insights into the cellular and organismal physiology that governs aging and longevity.
Genomic Sequencing for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Wang Linghua , Wheeler David A.
Published: November 2013

For a decade, the technologies behind DNA sequencing have improved rapidly in cost reduction and speed. Sequencing in large populations of cancer patients is leading to dramatic advances in our understanding of the cancer genome. The wide variety of cancer types sequenced and analyzed using these technologies has revealed many novel fundamental genetic mechanisms driving cancer initiation, progression, and maintenance. We have deepened our understanding of the signaling pathways, demonstrating disruption in epigenetic regulation and destabilization of the splicing machinery. The molecular mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies are being elucidated for the first time. The translation of genome-scale variation into clinically actionable information is still in its infancy; nevertheless, insights from sequencing studies have led to the discovery of a variety of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Here, we review recent advances in cancer genomics and discuss what the new findings have taught us about cancer biology and, more importantly, how these new findings guide more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Superresolution Localization Methods
Authors: Small Alexander R. , Parthasarathy Raghuveer
Published: November 2013

Superresolution localization microscopy methods produce nanoscale images via a combination of intermittently active fluorescent probes and algorithms that can precisely determine the positions of these probes from single-molecule or few-molecule images. These algorithms vary widely in their underlying principles, complexity, and accuracy. In this review, we begin by surveying the principles of localization microscopy and describing the fundamental limits to localization precision. We then examine several different families of fluorophore localization algorithms, comparing their complexity, performance, and range of applicability (e.g., whether they require particular types of experimental information, are optimized for specific situations, or are more general). Whereas our focus is on the localization of single isotropic emitters in two dimensions, we also consider oriented dipoles, three-dimensional localization, and algorithms that can handle overlapping images of several nearby fluorophores. Throughout the review, we try to highlight practical advice for users of fluorophore localization algorithms, as well as open questions.
Feed Your Head: Neurodevelopmental Control of Feeding and Metabolism
Authors: Lee Daniel A. , Blackshaw Seth
Published: November 2013

During critical periods of development early in life, excessive or scarce nutritional environments can disrupt the development of central feeding and metabolic neural circuitry, leading to obesity and metabolic disorders in adulthood. A better understanding of the genetic networks that control the development of feeding and metabolic neural circuits, along with knowledge of how and where dietary signals disrupt this process, can serve as the basis for future therapies aimed at reversing the public health crisis that is now building as a result of the global obesity epidemic. This review of animal and human studies highlights recent insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of central feeding circuitries, the mechanisms by which gestational and early postnatal nutritional status affects this process, and approaches aimed at counteracting the deleterious effects of early over- and underfeeding.
A New Model for the Regulation Width of Waterway Based on Hydraulic Geometry Relation
Authors: Zhi-hui Ni , Li-chun Wu , Xu-jin Zhang , Qiang Zeng , Ming-hui Wang , Jing Yi
Published: November 2013

Based on the results of the width of channel regulation on the field observations and indoor experiments, a new model of the width of channel regulation on hydraulic geometry relation was proposed and its coefficients were determined in theory in terms of the principle of dimensional analysis and multiple linear regression method in this paper. Considering the action of channel width, average flow velocity, average water depth and the slope of bed river, the median grain sizeD50was introduced. Through field data were verified well, and flow gradient formulas and hydraulic formulas results were compared with more consistent ones, and it was shown that this model could better reflect relatively stable riverbed. Moreover, the established expression not only was simple and explicit, but also better laid a good theoretical basis for waterway project design. Last, taking the waterway regulation project which was from Shaoguan to Qingyuan for calculation, the results showed that new calculation method was feasible and it could be a useful reference for the design of waterway regulation.
Performance Evaluation of Page Migration Scheme for NVRAM-Based Wireless Sensor Nodes
Authors: Ryu Yeonseung
Published: November 2013

A wireless sensor network consists of low-powered and multifunctional sensor nodes. Since each sensor node is operated by a battery, the energy management has become one of the critical design challenges in wireless sensor networks. Some recent studies have shown that DRAM-based main memory spends a significant portion of the total system power. In this paper, we studied a buffer management scheme for hybrid main memory that combines low-power nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) and DRAM in order to reduce the energy consumption in a sensor node. Though NVRAMs consume less power than volatile memories, they have common problems in write performance. The proposed scheme employs the page migration technique in order to reduce the write operations on NVRAM part of hybrid main memory. We have performed simulation studies and showed that the proposed page migration scheme outperforms the legacy buffer management schemes in terms of the number of write operations on NVRAM.
Dynamic Feature Extraction Method of Driver's Propensity under Complicated Vehicle Group
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Zhang Jinglei , Ban Xuegang(Jeff) , Tan Derong
Published: November 2013

The effect of driver's physiological and psychological characteristics on traffic safety is represented mainly as driver's propensity. Previous researches focus mostly on psychology test and its influence on traffic safety from relative static and macroscopic perspective. However, in the field of vehicle active safety, there are few studies on driver's affective measurement and computing from microcosmic and dynamic perspective, and previous researchers did not consider the influence of environment. The emphasis is about situation factors which directly influence driver's affection in all environment factors under two-lane condition. Various experiments are designed to collect driver's microdynamic information, and characteristics of driver's propensity toward different environments are extracted using genetic simulated annealing algorithm. Results show that the method can provide a basis to establish dynamic recognition model of driver's propensity further which is adapted to multilane environment.
Output Signal Power Analysis in Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier with Pump Power and Length Variation Using Various Pumping Techniques
Authors: Semmalar S. , Malarkkan S.
Published: November 2013

The scope of this paper is to analyze the output signal power with pump power and length variation in cascaded EDFA simulation model performance. This paper describes the simulation model of Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) of variable lengths (10 m, 50 m, and 120 m) with dual pumping techniques (dual forward pumping with two 980 nm wavelengths, dual forward and backward pumping with two 980 nm wavelengths) and Tri-pumping techniques. The simulation models consist of input source and pump power coupled by WDM coupler which gives optimized signal power in the above-mentioned simulation model. The simulation model consists of source with multiple wavelengths (1520 nm–1618 nm), pumping source with the wavelength 980 nm, isolator, and filter. The resulting models accurately represent EDFA optimized output signal power. Simulation results show that choosing careful fiber length 120 m and pump power 1 W in dual pumping provided 0.07 W optimized output signal power compared to other pumping techniques.
Effects of Phosphorus Diffusion on Gettering of Metal Impurities in UMG Silicon Wafers
Authors: Yoon Sung Yean , Kim Jeong , Choi Kyoon
Published: November 2013

Fe distributions were simulated by using impurity-to-efficiency simulator for the analysis of phosphorus diffusion gettering and confirmed the dependencies of the electron lifetime on the various gettering conditions. It was observed that iron atoms in the Si wafer could be more efficiently gettered if the temperatures were provided to the wafer in two different steps. That two-step gettering process was applied to an upgraded-metallurgical grade (UMG) Si wafer, and the electron lifetimes of the UMG-Si wafer were 3 μsec by applying the second temperature profile at 600°C for 420 min. It was also confirmed that the efficiency of the UMG-Si solar cell increased 0.53% due to two-step gettering process.
Painful Diabetic Neuropathy in Japanese Diabetic Patients Is Common but Underrecognized
Authors: Tsuji Mayumi , Yasuda Tetsuyuki , Kaneto Hideaki , Matsuoka Taka-aki , Hirose Takahisa , Kawamori Ryuzo , Iseki Masako , Shimomura Iichiro , Shibata Masahiko
Published: November 2013

Although chronic pain due to diabetic neuropathy, defined as painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), is a debilitating and distressing complication of diabetes, epidemiological data on PDN has been scarce, especially in Asia. We evaluated the prevalence of Japanese PDN and its impact on their quality of life (QOL) and metnal state. In addition, we examined to which extent physicians are aware of patients’ PDN. A total of 298 patients with diabetes were found to be eligible for the study. We revealed that substantial percentage (22.1%) of Japanese diabetic patients had PDN and that PDN had negative effect on patients’ QOL and mental state. However, physicians were aware of PDN in only 36.4% of patients with the condition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the extent of physicians’ awareness of patients’ PDN. In conclusion, physicians treating diabetes need to be more aware of patients’ PDN in everyday clinical practice to prevent the progression of PDN and improve the patients’ QOL and mental state.
Hopf-Pitchfork Bifurcation in a Phytoplankton-Zooplankton Model with Delays
Authors: Zhang Jia-Fang , Zhang Dan
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamics of a phytoplankton-zooplankton model with toxin delay. By studying the distribution of the eigenvalues of the associated characteristic equation, the pitchfork bifurcation curve of the system is obtained. Furthermore, on the pitchfork bifurcation curve, we find that the system can undergo a Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium, and we derive the critical values where Hopf-Pitchfork bifurcation occurs.
Tourniquet-Related Iatrogenic Femoral Nerve Palsy after Knee Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Mingo-Robinet Juan , Castañeda-Cabrero Carlos , Alvarez Vicente , León Alonso-Cortés José Miguel , Monge-Casares Eva
Published: November 2013

Purpose. Tourniquet-induced nerve injuries have been reported in the literature, but even if electromyography abnormalities in knee surgery are frequent, only two cases of permanent femoral nerve palsies have been reported, both after prolonged tourniquet time. We report a case of tourniquet-related permanent femoral nerve palsy after knee surgery.Case Report. We report a case of a 58-year-old woman who underwent surgical treatment of a patella fracture. Tourniquet was inflated to 310 mmHg for 45 minutes. After surgery, patient complained about paralysis of the quadriceps femoris with inability to extend the knee. Electromyography and nerve conduction study showed a severe axonal neuropathy of the left femoral nerve, without clinical remission after several months.Discussion. Even if complications are not rare, safe duration and pressure for tourniquet use remain a controversy. Nevertheless, subtle clinical lesions of the femoral nerve or even subclinical lesions only detectable by nerve conduction and EMG activity are frequent, so persistent neurologic dysfunction, even if rare, may be an underreported complication of tourniquet application. Elderly persons with muscle atrophy and flaccid, loose skin might be in risk for iatrogenic nerve injury secondary to tourniquet.
In VitroCytotoxicity andIn VivoAcute and Chronic Toxicity of Xanthii Fructus and Its Processed Product
Authors: Yu Jie , Song Mei-Zhen , Wang Jing , Li Yun-Fei , Lin Pei , Que Lin , Bao Zhaorigetu
Published: November 2013

Xanthii Fructus (XF), the fruit ofXanthium sibiricumPatr., was used in the treatment of rhinitis and related nasal disease. Adverse effects of Xanthii Fructus are frequently reported these years. In the paper,in vitrorenal cytotoxicity andin vivoacute and chronic toxicity researches of Xanthii Fructus (XF) and its processed product (processed Xanthii Fructus (PXF)) were carried out. Water extraction of XF displayed no cell membrane damage effects even in the highest concentration (100 μg/mL); however, it might affect the function of renal cell mitochondria. Acute toxicities were observed only in high and middle dosage groups. Fortunately, the single dose administration of XF or PXF was safe even at the highest daily dosage. Twelve-week chronic toxicity assays were performed in SD rats with low, middle, and high dosage. Notable changes in body weight and blood cell and BUN and Scr changes sporadically occurred in middle and high groups after the 9th week. Serum HA and HPCIII values were sustained increasing from the 4th week to the 8th week in Group V male rats, which indicated that the renal fibrosis risks still existed although no fibrosis was found in the pathological examination of the liver and kidney.
Optimal Slip Ratio Based Fuzzy Control of Acceleration Slip Regulation for Four-Wheel Independent Driving Electric Vehicles
Authors: Yin Guodong , Wang Shanbao , Jin Xianjian
Published: November 2013

To improve the driving performance and the stability of the electric vehicle, a novel acceleration slip regulation (ASR) algorithm based on fuzzy logic control strategy is proposed for four-wheel independent driving (4WID) electric vehicles. In the algorithm, angular acceleration and slip rate based fuzzy controller of acceleration slip regulation are designed to maintain the wheel slip within the optimal range by adjusting the motor torque dynamically. In order to evaluate the performance of the algorithm, the models of the main components related to the ASR of the four-wheel independent driving electric vehicle are built in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The simulations show that the driving stability and the safety of the electric vehicle are improved for fuzzy logic control compared with the conventional PID control.
Determining the Optimum Ordering Policy in Multi-Item Joint Replenishment Problem Using a Novel Method
Authors: Ho Wen-Tsung
Published: November 2013

This work investigates the joint replenishment problem (JRP) involving multiple items where economies exist for replenishing several items simultaneously. The demand rate for each item is known and constant. Shortages are not permitted and lead times are negligible. Many heuristic algorithms have been proposed to find quality solutions for the JRP. In this paper, cycle time division and recursive tightening methods are developed to calculate an efficient and optimal replenishment policy for JRP. Two theorems are demonstrated to guarantee that an optimal solution to the problem can be derived using cycle time division and recursive tightening methods. Restated, cycle time division and recursive tightening methods theoretically yield the optimal solution in 100% of instances. The complexity of cycle time division and recursive tightening methods is justO(NlogN), whereNrepresents the number of items involved in the problem. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the algorithmic procedures.
Effects of Dissolving Solutions on the Accuracy of an Electronic Apex Locator‐Integrated Endodontic Handpiece
Authors: Ustun Yakup , Uzun Ozgur , Er Ozgur , Maden Murat , Yalpı Fatma , Canakci Burhan Can
Published: November 2013

The effects of three dissolving agents on the accuracy of an electronic apex locator‐ (EAL‐) integrated endodontic handpiece during retreatment procedures were evaluated. The true lengths (TLs) of 56 extracted incisor teeth were determined visually. Twenty teeth were filled with gutta‐percha and a resin‐based sealer (group A), 20 with gutta‐percha and a zinc oxide/eugenol‐based sealer (group B), and 16 roots were used as the control group (group C). All roots were prepared to TL. Guttasolv, Resosolv, and Endosolv E were used as the dissolving solutions. Two evaluations of the handpiece were performed: the apical accuracy during the auto reverse function (ARL) and the apex locator function (EL) alone. The ARL function of the handpiece gave acceptable results. There were significant differences between the EL mode measurements and the TL (P < 0.05). In these comparisons, Tri Auto ZX EL mode measurements were significantly shorter than those of the TL.
On the Approximation of Generalized Lipschitz Function by Euler Means of Conjugate Series of Fourier Series
Authors: Kushwaha Jitendra Kumar
Published: November 2013

Approximation theory is a very important field which has various applications in pure and applied mathematics. The present study deals with a new theorem on the approximation of functions of Lipschitz class by using Euler’s mean of conjugate series of Fourier series. In this paper, the degree of approximation by using Euler’s means of conjugate of functions belonging to
Lip
(ξ(t), p) class has been obtained. Lipα and Lip (α, p) classes are the particular cases of
Lip
(ξ(t), p) class. The main result of this paper generalizes some well‐known results in this direction.
Evaluation of Motor Performances of Hemiplegic Patients Using a Virtual Cycling Wheelchair: An Exploratory Trial
Authors: Sugita Norihiro , Yoshizawa Makoto , Kojima Yoshihisa , Abe Makoto , Homma Noriyasu , Seki Kazunori , Handa Nobuyasu
Published: November 2013

Cycling is known to be an effective rehabilitation exercise for hemiplegic patients who face difficulty during walking because of stroke or other brain disorders. A cycling wheelchair (CWC) is a useful tool to provide exercise for these patients and improve their quality of life. In previous studies, our group developed a system that allows patients to safely practice driving a CWC in a virtual environment. However, it has been difficult to check their motor performances and determine the effects of the exercise on a daily basis. This study is an exploratory trial for developing a method to evaluate the motor performances of users based on their CWC pedaling patterns. An experiment with some hemiplegic patients and healthy subjects was conducted and their pedaling patterns were analyzed. Results showed a significant difference between the hemiplegic patients and healthy subjects in an index that reflects pedaling balance between the feet. This result indicates a possible method of evaluating the motor performances of users based on their pedaling patterns.
Local Fractional Discrete Wavelet Transform for Solving Signals on Cantor Sets
Authors: Zhao Yang , Baleanu Dumitru , Cattani Carlo , Cheng De-Fu , Yang Xiao-Jun
Published: November 2013

The discrete wavelet transform via local fractional operators is structured and applied to process the signals on Cantor sets. An illustrative example of the local fractional discrete wavelet transform is given.
Global Positive Periodic Solutions of Generalizedn-Species Gilpin-Ayala Delayed Competition Systems with Impulses
Authors: Luo Zhenguo , Luo Liping , Huang Jianhua , Dai Binxiang
Published: November 2013

We consider the following generalizedn-species Lotka-Volterra type and Gilpin-Ayala type competition systems with multiple delays and impulses:xi′(t)=xi(t)[ai(t)-bi(t)xi(t)-∑j=1n‍cij(t)xjαij(t-ρij(t))-∑j=1n‍dij(t)xjβij(t-τij(t))-∑j=1n‍eij(t)∫-ηij0‍kij(s)xjγij(t+s)ds-∑j=1n‍fij(t)∫-θij0‍Kij(ξ)xiδij(t+ξ)xjσij(t+ξ)dξ],a.e,t>0,t≠tk;xi(tk+)-xi(tk-)=hikxi(tk),i=1,2,…,n,k∈Z+.By applying the Krasnoselskii fixed-point theorem in a cone of Banach space, we derive some verifiable necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of positive periodic solutions of the previously mentioned. As applications, some special cases of the previous system are examined and some earlier results are extended and improved.
A Heuristic Multiobjective Method for Radial Distribution Networks Reconfiguration
Authors: Shojaeian Shahrokh , Ghandehari Ebrahim
Published: November 2013

This paper introduces a novel algorithm for radial distribution networks reconfiguration, called “Sifting algorithm.” It not only has a simple structure but also has high speed and accuracy. It works by eliminating infeasible states and reduces the search space and then it uses a simple method to find optimum answer in remaining space. To ensure the effectiveness of this algorithm, a 16-switch test network was tested and the results were compared with three other well-known algorithms. The results of simulations showed high speed and accuracy of this algorithm.
Solution of the Boundary Layer Equation of the Power-Law Pseudoplastic Fluid Using Differential Transform Method
Authors: Mosayebidorcheh Sobhan
Published: November 2013

The boundary layer equation of the pseudoplastic fluid over a flat plate is considered. This equation is a boundary value problem (BVP) with the high nonlinearity and a boundary condition at infinity. To solve such problems, powerful numerical techniques are usually used. Here, through using differential transform method (DTM), the BVP is replaced by two initial value problems (IVP) and then multi-step differential transform method (MDTM) is applied to solve them. The differential equation and its boundary conditions are transformed to a set of algebraic equations, and the Taylor series of solution is calculated in every sub domain. In this solution, there is no need for restrictive assumptions or linearization. Finally, DTM results are compared with the numerical solution of the problem, and a good accuracy of the proposed method is observed.
Using Enstrophy-Based Diagnostics in an Ensemble for Two Blocking Events
Authors: Jensen Andrew D. , Lupo Anthony R.
Published: November 2013

Recent research has used enstrophy-based diagnostics to identify the development and dissipation stages of blocking events. These previous studies made use of reanalysis data sets in the calculations of the enstrophy-based diagnostics, such as the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis (2.5° × 2.5°) of geopotential height and horizontal winds. However, none of these studies has explored the use of the enstrophy-based diagnostics in weather or climate models with higher horizontal resolution. In this paper, the enstrophy-based diagnostics are used to analyze two blocking events, using data from the ERA-Interim reanalysis data set (0.75° × 0.75°) and also the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) (1° × 1°). The results of this work indicate that using an ensemble may be more effective than a single dynamical control forecast in evaluating the enstrophy-based diagnostic quantities, and that the results are similar to those obtained with coarser resolution.
iEzy-Drug: A Web Server for Identifying the Interaction between Enzymes and Drugs in Cellular Networking
Authors: Min Jian-Liang , Xiao Xuan , Chou Kuo-Chen
Published: November 2013

With the features of extremely high selectivity and efficiency in catalyzing almost all the chemical reactions in cells, enzymes play vitally important roles for the life of an organism and hence have become frequent targets for drug design. An essential step in developing drugs by targeting enzymes is to identify drug-enzyme interactions in cells. It is both time-consuming and costly to do this purely by means of experimental techniques alone. Although some computational methods were developed in this regard based on the knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of enzyme, unfortunately their usage is quite limited because three-dimensional structures of many enzymes are still unknown. Here, we reported a sequence-based predictor, called “iEzy-Drug,” in which each drug compound was formulated by a molecular fingerprint with 258 feature components, each enzyme by the Chou’s pseudo amino acid composition generated via incorporating sequential evolution information and physicochemical features derived from its sequence, and the prediction engine was operated by the fuzzyK-nearest neighbor algorithm. The overall success rate achieved by iEzy-Drug via rigorous cross-validations was about 91%. Moreover, to maximize the convenience for the majority of experimental scientists, a user-friendly web server was established, by which users can easily obtain their desired results.
Effects of Unburned Lime on Soil pH and Base Cations in Acidic Soil
Authors: Nduwumuremyi Athanase , Ruganzu Vicky , Mugwe Jayne Njeri , Cyamweshi Rusanganwa Athanase
Published: November 2013

Sustainable agriculture is threatened by the widespread soil acidity in many arable lands of Rwanda. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of unburned limes and their effects on soil acidity and base cations in acidic soils of high land of Buberuka. The lime materials used were agricultural burned lime and three unburned lime materials, Karongi, Musanze, and Rusizi. The test crop was Irish Potato. All lime materials were analyzed for Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (CCE) and Fineness. A field trial in Randomized Complete Block Design was established in 2011 at Rwerere research station. The treatments comprised of the four lime materials applied at four levels: 0, 1.4, 2.8, and 4.3 t ha−1 of CCE. Soil cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+) were determined by extraction method using atomic absorption spectrophotometer for Ca and Mg and flame photometer for K and Na. The Al3+ was determined using potassium chloride extraction method. Experimental soil baseline showed that the soil was very strongly acidic (2.8 cmol kg−1 Al3+). The unburned limes were significantly (P<0.001) different in terms of CCE and fineness. A higher CCE was recorded in agricultural burned and Rusizi unburned limes (86.36% and 85.46%, resp.). In terms of fineness, agricultural burned and Musanze unburned lime were higher (70.57 and 63.03%, resp.). Soil acidity significantly affected from 4.8 to 5.6 pH and exchangeable Al reduced from 2.8 cmol kg−1 to 0.16 cmol kg−1 of Al3+. Similarly all cations affected by unburned limes application, significantly (P<0.001) Ca saturation increased from 27.44 to 71.81%, Mg saturation from 11.18 to 36.87% and significantly (P<0.001) Al saturation reduced from 58.45 to 3.89%. The increase of Mg saturation was observed only with Karongi unburned lime application. This study recommends therefore, the use of 2.8 t ha−1 of CaCO3 of Rusizi or Musanze unburned lime as alternative to the agricultural burned lime for improving soil acidity and base cations in acidic soils.
Parallelized Genetic Identification of the Thermal-Electrochemical Model for Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Zhang Liqiang , Lyu Chao , Wang Lixin , Zheng Jun , Luo Weilin , Ma Kehua
Published: November 2013

The parameters of a well predicted model can be used as health characteristics for Lithium-ion battery. This article reports a parallelized parameter identification of the thermal-electrochemical model, which significantly reduces the time consumption of parameter identification. Since the P2D model has the most predictability, it is chosen for further research and expanded to the thermal-electrochemical model by coupling thermal effect and temperature-dependent parameters. Then Genetic Algorithm is used for parameter identification, but it takes too much time because of the long time simulation of model. For this reason, a computer cluster is built by surplus computing resource in our laboratory based on Parallel Computing Toolbox and Distributed Computing Server in MATLAB. The performance of two parallelized methods, namely Single Program Multiple Data (SPMD) and parallel FOR loop (PARFOR), is investigated and then the parallelized GA identification is proposed. With this method, model simulations running parallelly and the parameter identification could be speeded up more than a dozen times, and the identification result is batter than that from serial GA. This conclusion is validated by model parameter identification of a real LiFePO4 battery.