bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Approach Based on Multi-Dimensional Evaluation and Benchmarking for Data Hiding Techniques
Authors: Zaidan B. B. , Zaidan A. A. , Karim H. Abdul , Ahmad N. N.
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a new approach based on multi-dimensional evaluation and benchmarking for data hiding techniques, i.e., watermarking and steganography. The novelty claim is the use of evaluation matrix (EM) for performance evaluation of data hiding techniques; however, one major problem with performance evaluation of data hiding techniques is to find reasonable thresholds for performance metrics and the trade-off among them in different data hiding applications. Two experiments are conducted. The first experiment included LSB techniques (eight approaches) based on different payload results and the noise gate approach; a total of nine approaches were used. Five audio samples with different audio styles are tested using each of the nine approaches and considering three evaluation criteria, namely, complexity, payload, and quality, to generate watermarked samples. The second experiment involves the use of various decision-making techniques simple additive weighting (SAW), multiplicative exponential weighting (MEW), hierarchical adaptive weighting (HAW), technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), weighted sum model (WSM) and weighted product method (WPM) to benchmark the results of the first experiment. Mean, standard deviation (STD), and paired sample t-test are then performed to compare the correlations among different techniques on the basis of ranking results. The findings are as follows: (1) A statistically significant difference is observed among the ranking results of each multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, (2) TOPSIS-Euclidean is the best technique to solve the benchmarking problem among digital watermarking techniques. (3) Among the decision-making techniques, WSM has the lowest rank in terms of solving the benchmarking problem. (4) Under different circumstances, the noise gate watermarking approach performs better than LSB algorithms.
Phonon drag and carrier diffusion contribution to heat transport of superconductor MgB2
Authors: Sharma Roopam , Singh Namita , Akhtar Khurshid , Khenata R. , Varshney Dinesh
Published: March 2017

The temperature variation of phonon drag thermoelectric power [Formula: see text] is computed within the relaxation time approximation for high temperature MgB2 superconductors. The phonon drag thermoelectric power ([Formula: see text] in normal state of MgB2 superconductors dominates and is an artifact of strong phonon-impurity and phonon scattering mechanism. The carrier diffusive thermoelectric power is explored when heat transfer is limited by the scattering of phonons from defects, grain boundaries, phonons and charge carriers. The carrier diffusion contribution to the thermoelectric power ([Formula: see text] is analyzed keeping in mind the inherent two energy gaps. The conductivity within the relaxation time approximation for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] band carriers has been taken into account ignoring a possible energy dependence of the scattering rates. Such an estimate sets an upperbound on [Formula: see text] and is about 50% of total heat transfer at room temperature. Both these channels for heat transfer are added and [Formula: see text] starts departing from linear temperature dependence at about 150[Formula: see text]K, before increasing at higher temperatures weakly. It is shown that the behavior of the [Formula: see text] is determined by competition among the several operating scattering mechanisms for the heat carriers and a balance between carrier diffusion and phonon drag contributions. The numerical analysis of thermoelectric power in the metallic phase of MgB2 shows similar results as those revealed from experiments. The anomalies reported experimentally are well accounted in terms of the scattering mechanism by phonon drag and carrier scattering with impurities.
Functions of Nano-Materials in Food Packaging
Authors: Yap Ray Chin Chong , Kwablah Amegadze Paul Seyram , He Jiating , Li Xu
Published: March 2017

Food packaging has been changing from bulky and rigid form in the past to different variation of lights and plastic packagings. Regardless of the changes, the packaging must be able to uphold its original function which is to serve as food containment as well as to protect the food from the external environment. Coupled with the increasing consumer’s awareness on food waste, higher standard of living, technological developments are underway to enhance the shelf-life of packed food as well as methods to provide indications of food packaging environment. There are many different indicators for food spoilage, but two commonly found gases in food packaging are oxygen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen is the main mechanism for food spoilage, while carbon dioxide is often used in modified-atmosphere-packaging. There are also different methods of gas scavenging and/or sensing techniques based on different concepts in the literature. In this review, the focus will be on nano-materials, namely titanium dioxide, silica, zeolites and metal organic frameworks. This review is structured in a manner to highlight how each material can be used in both gas scavenging and/or indicators applications. The last part of the review focuses on the approach and some key considerations when integrating nano-materials into the plastic film.
Determining the porosity of mudrocks using methodological pluralism
Authors: Busch Andreas , Schweinar Kevin , Kampman Niko , Coorn Ab , Pipich Vitaliy , Feoktystov Artem , Leu Leon , Amann-Hildenbrand Alexandra , Bertier Pieter
Published: March 2017

Porosity of shales is an important parameter that impacts rock strength for seal or wellbore integrity, gas-in-place calculations for unconventional resources or the diffusional solute and gas transport in these microporous materials. From a well section obtained from the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory in St Ursanne, Switzerland, we determined porosity, pore size distribution and specific surface areas on a set of 13 Opalinus Clay samples. The porosity methods employed are helium-pycnometry, water and mercury injection porosimetry, liquid saturation and immersion, and low pressure N
2
sorption, as well as small-angle to ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (SANS–USANS). These were used in addition to mineralogical and geochemical methods for sample analysis that comprise X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, total organic carbon content and cation exchange capacity. We find large variations in total porosity, ranging from approximately 23% for the neutron-scattering method to approximately 10% for mercury injection porosimetry. These differences can partly be related to differences in pore accessibility, while no or negligible inaccessible porosity was found. Pore volume distributions between neutron scattering and low-pressure sorption compare very well but differ significantly from those obtained from mercury porosimetry: this is realistic since the latter provides information on pore throats only, and the two former methods on pore throats and pore bodies. Finally, we find that specific surface areas determined using low-pressure sorption and neutron scattering match well.
Stress-dependence of porosity and permeability of the Upper Jurassic Bossier shale: an experimental study
Authors: Fink R. , Krooss B. M. , Amann-Hildenbrand A.
Published: March 2017

In order to characterize the stress-dependence of porosity and permeability of Bossier shale, a series of measurements was conducted on three dry, horizontally orientated samples using various gases under controlled stress conditions.

The Klinkenberg-corrected permeability and gas slippage factors varied by more than two orders of magnitude (0.21–86 µD) and by one order of magnitude (0.09–0.89 MPa), respectively. Porosity values measured under
in situ
stress conditions were lower by up to 30% than those measured at ambient conditions. Therefore, disregarding the stress-dependence of porosity may lead to a substantial overestimation of the free gas storage capacity.

The stress sensitivity of Klinkenberg-corrected permeability coefficients (−0.012–−0.063MPa
−1
) is much larger than the stress sensitivity of porosity (−0.0014–−0.0033 MPa
−1
). Particularly for pore systems dominated by microfractures or slit-shaped pores, the permeability is highly sensitive to effective stress changes. While conventional pore models use porosity stress-sensitivity exponents (
m
) ranging between 3 and 5, we measured values of up to 27. Strongly stress-sensitive permeability behaviour is a result of effective stress preferentially reducing the volume and effective cross-section of transport pathways. In contrast, stress-dependent permeability of a less stress-sensitive sample is instead controlled by the redistribution of flow.
Plasmonic Imaging of Electrochemical Impedance
Authors: Yuan Liang , Tao Nongjian , Wang Wei
Published: March 2017

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measures the frequency spectrum of an electrochemical interface to resist an alternating current. This method allows label-free and noninvasive studies on interfacial adsorption and molecular interactions and has applications in biosensing and drug screening. Although powerful, traditional EIS lacks spatial resolution or imaging capability, hindering the study of heterogeneous electrochemical processes on electrodes. We have recently developed a plasmonics-based electrochemical impedance technique to image local electrochemical impedance with a submicron spatial resolution and a submillisecond temporal resolution. In this review, we provide a systematic description of the theory, instrumentation, and data analysis of this technique. To illustrate its present and future applications, we further describe several selected samples analyzed with this method, including protein microarrays, two-dimensional materials, and single cells. We conclude by summarizing the technique's unique features and discussing the remaining challenges and new directions of its application.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as a Tool for Assessing Macromolecular Structure and Function in Living Cells
Authors: Li Conggang , Zhao Jiajing , Cheng Kai , Ge Yuwei , Wu Qiong , Ye Yansheng , Xu Guohua , Zhang Zeting , Zheng Wenwen , Zhang Xu , Zhou Xin , Pielak Gary , Liu Maili
Published: March 2017

Investigating the structure, modification, interaction, and function of biomolecules in their native cellular environment leads to physiologically relevant knowledge about their mechanisms, which will benefit drug discovery and design. In recent years, nuclear and electron magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as a useful tool for elucidating the structure and function of biomacromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates in living cells at atomic resolution. In this review, we summarize the progress and future of in-cell NMR as it is applied to proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.
Coded Apertures in Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Amsden Jason J. , Gehm Michael E. , Russell Zachary E. , Chen Evan X. , Di Dona Shane T. , Wolter Scott D. , Danell Ryan M. , Kibelka Gottfried , Parker Charles B. , Stoner Brian R. , Brady David J. , Glass Jeffrey T.
Published: March 2017

The use of coded apertures in mass spectrometry can break the trade-off between throughput and resolution that has historically plagued conventional instruments. Despite their very early stage of development, coded apertures have been shown to increase throughput by more than one order of magnitude, with no loss in resolution in a simple 90-degree magnetic sector. This enhanced throughput can increase the signal level with respect to the underlying noise, thereby significantly improving sensitivity to low concentrations of analyte. Simultaneous resolution can be maintained, preventing any decrease in selectivity. Both one- and two-dimensional (2D) codes have been demonstrated. A 2D code can provide increased measurement diversity and therefore improved numerical conditioning of the mass spectrum that is reconstructed from the coded signal. This review discusses the state of development, the applications where coding is expected to provide added value, and the various instrument modifications necessary to implement coded apertures in mass spectrometers.
Progress and Potential of Electron Cryotomography as Illustrated by Its Application to Bacterial Chemoreceptor Arrays
Authors: Briegel Ariane , Jensen Grant
Published: March 2017

Electron cryotomography (ECT) can produce three-dimensional images of biological samples such as intact cells in a near-native, frozen-hydrated state to macromolecular resolution (∼4 nm). Because one of its first and most common applications has been to bacterial chemoreceptor arrays, ECT's contributions to this field illustrate well its past, present, and future. While X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy have revealed the structures of nearly all the individual components of chemoreceptor arrays, ECT has revealed the mesoscale information about how the components are arranged within cells. Receptors assemble into a universally conserved 12-nm hexagonal lattice linked by CheA/CheW rings. Membrane-bound arrays are single layered; cytoplasmic arrays are double layered. Images of in vitro reconstitutions have led to a model of how arrays assemble, and images of native arrays in different states have shown that the conformational changes associated with signal transduction are subtle, constraining models of activation and system cooperativity. Phase plates, better detectors, and more stable stages promise even higher resolution and broader application in the near future.
Theory and Modeling of RNA Structure and Interactions with Metal Ions and Small Molecules
Authors: Sun Li-Zhen , Zhang Dong , Chen Shi-Jie
Published: March 2017

In addition to continuous rapid progress in RNA structure determination, probing, and biophysical studies, the past decade has seen remarkable advances in the development of a new generation of RNA folding theories and models. In this article, we review RNA structure prediction models and models for ion–RNA and ligand–RNA interactions. These new models are becoming increasingly important for a mechanistic understanding of RNA function and quantitative design of RNA nanotechnology. We focus on new methods for physics-based, knowledge-based, and experimental data–directed modeling for RNA structures and explore the new theories for the predictions of metal ion and ligand binding sites and metal ion-dependent RNA stabilities. The integration of these new methods with theories about the cellular environment effects in RNA folding, such as molecular crowding and cotranscriptional kinetic effects, may ultimately lead to an all-encompassing RNA folding model.
The Clinic Is My Laboratory: Life as a Clinical Geneticist
Authors: Hall Judith G.
Published: March 2017

Clinical genetics is the application of advances in genetics and medicine to real human families. It involves diagnosis, care, and counseling concerning options available to affected individuals and their family members. Advances in medicine and genetics have led to dramatic changes in the scope and responsibilities of clinical genetics. This reflection on the last 50+ years of clinical genetics comes from personal experience, with an emphasis on the important contributions that clinical geneticists have made to the understanding of disease/disorder processes and mechanisms. The genetics clinic is a research laboratory where major advances in knowledge can and have been made.
Neurotransmitter Switching in the Developing and Adult Brain
Authors: Spitzer Nicholas C.
Published: March 2017

Neurotransmitter switching is the gain of one neurotransmitter and the loss of another in the same neuron in response to chronic stimulation. Neurotransmitter receptors on postsynaptic cells change to match the identity of the newly expressed neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitter switching often appears to change the sign of the synapse from excitatory to inhibitory or from inhibitory to excitatory. In these cases, neurotransmitter switching and receptor matching thus change the polarity of the circuit in which they take place. Neurotransmitter switching produces up or down reversals of behavior. It is also observed in response to disease. These findings raise the possibility that neurotransmitter switching contributes to depression, schizophrenia, and other illnesses. Many early discoveries of the single gain or loss of a neurotransmitter may have been harbingers of neurotransmitter switching.
Metal-Free Motifs for Solar Fuel Applications
Authors: Ilic Stefan , Zoric Marija R. , Kadel Usha Pandey , Huang Yunjing , Glusac Ksenija D.
Published: March 2017

Metal-free motifs, such as graphitic carbon nitride, conjugated polymers, and doped nanostructures, are emerging as a new class of Earth-abundant materials for solar fuel devices. Although these metal-free structures show great potential, detailed mechanistic understanding of their performance remains limited. Here, we review important experimental and theoretical findings relevant to the role of metal-free motifs as either photoelectrodes or electrocatalysts. First, the light-harvesting characteristics of metal-free photoelectrodes (band energetics, exciton binding energies, charge carrier mobilities and lifetimes) are discussed and contrasted with those in traditional inorganic semiconductors (such as Si). Second, the mechanistic insights into the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, hydrogen evolution reaction, and carbon dioxide reduction reaction by metal-free motifs are summarized, including experimental surface-sensitive spectroscopy findings, studies on small molecular models, and computational modeling of these chemical transformations.
IL-1β-induces NF-κB and upregulates microRNA-372 to inhibit spinal cord injury recovery
Authors: Zhou Wei , Yuan Tongzhou , Gao Youshui , Yin Peipei , Liu Wei , Pan Chenhao , Liu Yingjie , Yu Xiaowei
Published: March 2017

Excessive inflammation including IL-1β-initiated signaling is among the earlies reactions that can cause neuronal damage following spinal cord injury (SCI). It has been suggested that microRNAs may participate in stem cell repair to facilitate functional recovery following SCI. In this study we have shown that in cultured human neural stem cells (hNSC), IL-1β reduced the expression of both KIF3B (kinesin family member 3B) and NOSIP (nitric oxide synthase-interacting protein), two key modulators for restricting inflammation and promoting neuronal regeneration. The induction of microRNA-372 (miR-372) by IL-1β is specifically responsible for the inhibition of KIF3B and NOSIP. The 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) of both KIF3B and NOSIP contain targeting sequences to miR-372 that directly inhibit their expression. Moreover, we found that the expression of miR-372 was stimulated in hNSC by IL-1β through an NF-κB binding site at its promoter region. Finally, stable overexpression of miR-372 inhibitor in hNSC rescued the IL-1β-induced impairment as shown by significant improvements in tissue water content, myeloperoxidase activity, and behavioral assessments in SCI rats. These findings suggest a critical role of miR-372 in inflammatory signaling and pinpoint a novel target for the treatment of acute SCI.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our data demonstrate that IL-1β can impair the functional recovery of neural stem cell transplant therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment in rats. This effect is dependent on microRNA-372 (miR-372)-dependent gene repression of KIF3B and NOSIP. Therefore, specific knockdown of miR-372 may provide benefits for SCI treatments.
Study on Mechanical Characteristics of Fully Grouted Rock Bolts for Underground Caverns under Seismic Loads
Authors: Liu Guoqing , Xiao Ming , Chen Juntao , Zhou Hao
Published: March 2017

This study establishes an analytical model for the interaction between the bolt and surrounding rock based on the bearing mechanism of fully grouted rock bolts. The corresponding controlled differential equation for load transfer is deduced. The stress distributions of the anchorage body are obtained by solving the equations. A dynamic algorithm for the bolt considering shear damage on the anchoring interface is proposed based on the dynamic finite element method. The rationality of the algorithm is verified by a pull‐out test and excavation simulation of a rounded tunnel. Then, a case study on the mechanical characteristics of the bolts in underground caverns under seismic loads is conducted. The results indicate that the seismic load may lead to stress originating from the bolts and damage on the anchoring interface. The key positions of the antiseismic support can be determined using the numerical simulation. The calculated results can serve as a reference for the antiseismic optimal design of bolts in underground caverns.
Fabrication of Fiber Bragg Grating Coating with TiO2 Nanostructured Metal Oxide for Refractive Index Sensor
Authors: Tahhan Shaymaa Riyadh , Chen Rong Zhang , Huang Sheng , Hajim Khalil I. , Chen Kevin P.
Published: March 2017

To increase the sensitivity of biosensor a new approach using an optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) coated with a suitable nanostructured metal oxide (NMO) is proposed which is costly effective compared to other biosensors. Bragg grating was written on a D-shaped optical fiber by phase mask method using a 248 nm KrF excimer laser for a 5 min exposure time producing a grating with a period of 528 nm. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructured metal oxide was coated over the fiber for the purpose of increasing its sensing area. The etched D-shaped FBG was then coated with 312 nm thick TiO2 nanostructured layer to ensure propagating the radiation modes within the core. The final structure was used to sense deionized water and saline. The etched D-shaped FBG original sensitivity before coating to air-deionized water and to air-saline was 0.314 nm/riu and 0.142 nm/riu, respectively. After coating the sensitivity became 1.257 nm/riu for air-deionized water and 0.857 nm/riu for air-saline.
A KAM Theorem for Lower Dimensional Elliptic Invariant Tori of Nearly Integrable Symplectic Mappings
Authors: Jiang Shunjun
Published: March 2017

This paper develops a new KAM theorem for a class of lower dimensional elliptic invariant tori of nearly integrable symplectic mappings with generating functions but without assuming any nondegenerate condition.
Rare Presentation of Primary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma as Lip Lesion
Authors: Him Mali , Meier Maggie , Mehta Vikas
Published: March 2017

Malignant plasma cell proliferation can be presented as part of disseminated disease of multiple myeloma, as solitary plasmacytoma of bone, or in soft tissue as extramedullary plasmacytoma. Extramedullary plasmacytomas represented approximately 3% of all plasma cell proliferation. Approximately 80% of extramedullary plasmacytomas occur in the head and neck region while the other 4% occur in the skin and to a lesser extent in the lip. In this paper, we report a rare case of primary cutaneous plasmacytoma involving the lip in a 65-year-old male. The patient presented with a nonhealing lower lip sore for the past 3 years. Upon further workup, there was no evidence of multiple myeloma or light chain disease. The patient was treated with radiation therapy and his last follow-up revealed no evidence of multiple myeloma or light chain disease.
Male Hypogonadism and Osteoporosis: The Effects, Clinical Consequences, and Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency in Bone Health
Authors: Golds Gary , Houdek Devon , Arnason Terra
Published: March 2017

It is well recognized that bone loss accelerates in hypogonadal states, with female menopause being the classic example of sex hormones affecting the regulation of bone metabolism. Underrepresented is our knowledge of the clinical and metabolic consequences of overt male hypogonadism, as well as the more subtle age-related decline in testosterone on bone quality. While menopause and estrogen deficiency are well-known risk factors for osteoporosis in women, the effects of age-related testosterone decline in men on bone health are less well known. Much of our knowledge comes from observational studies and retrospective analysis on small groups of men with variable causes of primary or secondary hypogonadism and mild to overt testosterone deficiencies. This review aims to present the current knowledge of the consequences of adult male hypogonadism on bone metabolism. The direct and indirect effects of testosterone on bone cells will be explored as well as the important differences in male osteoporosis and assessment as compared to that in females. The clinical consequence of both primary and secondary hypogonadism, as well as testosterone decline in older males, on bone density and fracture risk in men will be summarized. Finally, the therapeutic options and their efficacy in male osteoporosis and hypogonadism will be discussed.
Computational Identification and Characterization of a Promiscuous T-Cell Epitope on the Extracellular Protein 85B ofMycobacteriumspp. for Peptide-Based Subunit Vaccine Design
Authors: Hossain Md. Saddam , Azad Abul Kalam , Chowdhury Parveen Afroz , Wakayama Mamoru
Published: March 2017

Tuberculosis (TB) is a reemerging disease that remains as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. To identify and characterize a T-cell epitope suitable for vaccine design, we have utilized the Vaxign server to assess all antigenic proteins ofMycobacteriumspp. recorded to date in the Protegen database. We found that the extracellular protein 85B displayed the most robust antigenicity among the proteins identified. Computational tools for identifying T-cell epitopes predicted an epitope, 181-QQFIYAGSLSALLDP-195, that could bind to at least 13 major histocompatibility complexes, revealing the promiscuous nature of the epitope. Molecular docking simulation demonstrated that the epitope could bind to the binding groove of MHC II and MHC I molecules by several hydrogen bonds. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the epitope had a distinctive binding pattern to all DRB1 and A and B series of MHC molecules and presented almost no polymorphism in its binding site. Moreover, using “Allele Frequency Database,” we checked the frequency of HLA alleles in the worldwide population and found a higher frequency of both class I and II HLA alleles in individuals living in TB-endemic regions. Our results indicate that the identified peptide might be a universal candidate to produce an efficient epitope-based vaccine for TB.
Anomaly Detection for Aviation Safety Based on an Improved KPCA Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Chen Jiusheng , Gan Quan
Published: March 2017

Thousands of flights datasets should be analyzed per day for a moderate sized fleet; therefore, flight datasets are very large. In this paper, an improved kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) method is proposed to search for signatures of anomalies in flight datasets through the squared prediction error statistics, in which the number of principal components and the confidence for the confidence limit are automatically determined by OpenMP-based K-fold cross-validation algorithm and the parameter in the radial basis function (RBF) is optimized by GPU-based kernel learning method. Performed on Nvidia GeForce GTX 660, the computation of the proposed GPU-based RBF parameter is 112.9 times (average 82.6 times) faster than that of sequential CPU task execution. The OpenMP-based K-fold cross-validation process for training KPCA anomaly detection model becomes 2.4 times (average 1.5 times) faster than that of sequential CPU task execution. Experiments show that the proposed approach can effectively detect the anomalies with the accuracy of 93.57% and false positive alarm rate of 1.11%.
Fully Discrete Local Discontinuous Galerkin Approximation for Time-Space Fractional Subdiffusion/Superdiffusion Equations
Authors: Qiu Meilan , Mei Liquan , Li Dewang
Published: March 2017

We focus on developing the finite difference (i.e., backward Euler difference or second-order central difference)/local discontinuous Galerkin finite element mixed method to construct and analyze a kind of efficient, accurate, flexible, numerical schemes for approximately solving time-space fractional subdiffusion/superdiffusion equations. Discretizing the time Caputo fractional derivative by using the backward Euler difference for the derivative parameter (0<α<1) or second-order central difference method for (1<α<2), combined with local discontinuous Galerkin method to approximate the spatial derivative which is defined by a fractional Laplacian operator, two high-accuracy fully discrete local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) schemes of the time-space fractional subdiffusion/superdiffusion equations are proposed, respectively. Through the mathematical induction method, we show the concrete analysis for the stability and the convergence under theL2norm of the LDG schemes. Several numerical experiments are presented to validate the proposed model and demonstrate the convergence rate of numerical schemes. The numerical experiment results show that the fully discrete local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) methods are efficient and powerful for solving fractional partial differential equations.
Can Mitochondria DNA Provide a Novel Biomarker for Evaluating the Risk and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer?
Authors: Shuwen Han , Xi Yang , Yuefen Pan
Published: March 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) was one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Accurate risk and prognosis evaluation could obtain better quality of life and longer survival time for the patients. Current research hotspot was focus on the gene biomarker to evaluate the risk and prognosis. Mitochondrion contains its own DNA and regulates self-replicating so that it can be as a candidate biomarker for evaluating the risk and prognosis of colorectal cancer. But there were already huge controversies on this issue. The review was to summarize current viewpoints of the controversial issues and described our understanding from the four aspects including mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial displacement loop, mtDNA variation, and mtDNA microsatellite instability, wishing the summary of the mtDNA in colorectal cancer could provide a meaningful reference or a valuable direction in the future studies.
Static Pull Testing of a New Type of Large Deformation Cable with Constant Resistance
Authors: Tao Zhigang , Pang Shihui , Zhou Yijun , Zhang Haijiang , Peng Yanyan
Published: March 2017

A new type of energy-absorbing cable, Constant-Resistance Large Deformation cable (CRLD cable) with three different specifications, has been recently developed and tested. An effective cable should occupy the ability of absorbing deformation energy from these geodisaster loads and additionally must be able to yield with the sliding mass movements and plastic deformation over large distances at high displacement rates. The new cable mainly consists of constant-resistance casing tube and frictional cone unit that transfers the load from the slope. When experiencing a static or dynamic load and especially the load exceeding the constant resistance force (CR-F, a static friction force derived from the movement of frictional cone unit in casing tube) of CRLD cable, the frictional cone unit will move in the casing tube along the axis and absorb deformation energy, accordingly. In order to assess the performance of three different specified cables in situ, a series of field static pull tests have been performed. The results showed that the first type of CRLD cable can yield 2000 mm displacement while acting 850 kN static pull load, which is superior to that of other two types, analyzing based on the length of the displacement and the level of static pull load.
Characterization of NO‐Induced Nitrosative Status in Human Placenta from Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Visiedo Francisco , Santos-Rosendo Celeste , Mateos-Bernal Rosa M. , Gil-Sánchez M. del Mar , Bugatto Fernando , Aguilar-Diosdado Manuel , Segundo Carmen , López-Tinoco Cristina
Published: March 2017

Dysregulation of NO production is implicated in pregnancy‐related diseases, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The role of NO and its placental targets in GDM pregnancies has yet to be determined. S‐Nitrosylation is the NO‐derived posttranslational protein modification that can modulate biological functions by forming NO‐derived complexes with longer half‐life, termed S‐nitrosothiol (SNO). Our aim was to examine the presence of endogenous S‐nitrosylated proteins in cysteine residues in relation to antioxidant defense, apoptosis, and cellular signal transduction in placental tissue from control (n = 8) and GDM (n = 8) pregnancies. S‐Nitrosylation was measured using the biotin‐switch assay, while the expression and protein activity were assessed by immunoblotting and colorimetric methods, respectively. Results indicated that catalase and peroxiredoxin nitrosylation levels were greater in GDM placentas, and that was accompanied by reduced catalase activity. S‐Nitrosylation of ERK1/2 and AKT was increased in GDM placentas, and their activities were inhibited. Activities of caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 were increased, with the latter also showing diminished nitrosylation levels. These findings suggest that S‐nitrosylation is a little‐known, but critical, mechanism by which NO directly modulates key placental proteins in women with GDM and, as a consequence, maternal and fetal anomalies during pregnancy can occur.
Effects of Adhesive Connection on Composite Action between FRP Bridge Deck and Steel Girder
Authors: Jiang Xu , Luo Chengwei , Qiang Xuhong , Kolstein Henk , Bijlaard Frans
Published: March 2017

The FRP-steel girder composite bridge system is increasingly used in new constructions of bridges as well as rehabilitation of old bridges. However, the understanding of composite action between FRP decks and steel girders is limited and needs to be systematically investigated. In this paper, depending on the experimental investigations of FRP to steel girder system, the Finite Element (FE) models on experiments were developed and analyzed. Comparison between experiments and FE results indicated that the FE models were much stiffer for in-plane shear stiffness of the FRP deck panel. To modify the FE models, rotational spring elements were added between webs and flanges of FRP decks, to simulate the semirigid connections. Numerical analyses were also conducted on four-point bending experiments of FRP-steel composite girders. Good agreement between experimental results and FE analysis was achieved by comparing the load-deflection curves at midspan and contribution of composite action from FRP decks. With the validated FE models, the parametric studies were conducted on adhesively bonded connection between FRP decks and steel girders, which indicated that the loading transfer capacity of adhesive connection was not simply dependent on the shear modulus or thickness of adhesive layer but dominated by the in-plane shear stiffness K.
PHUIMUS: A Potential High Utility Itemsets Mining Algorithm Based on Stream Data with Uncertainty
Authors: Wang Ju , Liu Fuxian , Jin Chunjie
Published: March 2017

High utility itemsets (HUIs) mining has been a hot topic recently, which can be used to mine the profitable itemsets by considering both the quantity and profit factors. Up to now, researches on HUIs mining over uncertain datasets and data stream had been studied respectively. However, to the best of our knowledge, the issue of HUIs mining over uncertain data stream is seldom studied. In this paper, PHUIMUS (potential high utility itemsets mining over uncertain data stream) algorithm is proposed to mine potential high utility itemsets (PHUIs) that represent the itemsets with high utilities and high existential probabilities over uncertain data stream based on sliding windows. To realize the algorithm, potential utility list over uncertain data stream (PUS‐list) is designed to mine PHUIs without rescanning the analyzed uncertain data stream. And transaction weighted probability and utility tree (TWPUS‐tree) over uncertain data stream is also designed to decrease the number of candidate itemsets generated by the PHUIMUS algorithm. Substantial experiments are conducted in terms of run‐time, number of discovered PHUIs, memory consumption, and scalability on real‐life and synthetic databases. The results show that our proposed algorithm is reasonable and acceptable for mining meaningful PHUIs from uncertain data streams.
Early-Life Nutritional Programming of Health and Disease in The Gambia
Authors: Moore Sophie E.
Published: March 2017

Background: Exposures during early life are increasingly being recognised as factors that play an important role in the aetiology of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease” (DOHaD) hypothesis asserts that adverse early-life exposures - most notably unbalanced nutrition - leads to an increased risk for a range of NCDs and that disease risk is highest when there is a “mismatch” between the early- and later-life environments. Thus, the DOHaD hypothesis would predict highest risk in settings undergoing a rapid nutrition transition. Summary: We investigated the link between early-life nutritional exposures and long-term health in rural Gambia, West Africa. Using demographic data dating back to the 1940s, the follow-up of randomised controlled trials of nutritional supplementation in pregnancy, and the “experiment of nature” that seasonality in this region provides, we investigated the DOHaD hypothesis in a population with high rates of maternal and infant under-nutrition, a high burden from infectious disease, and an emerging risk of NCDs. Key Messages: Our work in rural Gambia suggests that in populations with high rates of under-nutrition in early life, the immune system may be sensitive to nutritional deficiencies early in life, resulting in a greater susceptibility to infection-related morbidity and mortality.
Persistent Environmental Toxicants in Breast Milk and Rapid Infant Growth
Authors: Criswell Rachel , Lenters Virissa , Mandal Siddhartha , Stigum Hein , Iszatt Nina , Eggesbø Merete
Published: March 2017

Background/Aims: Many environmental toxicants are passed to infants in utero and through breast milk. Exposure to toxicants during the perinatal period can alter growth patterns, impairing growth or increasing obesity risk. Previous studies have focused on only a few toxicants at a time, which may confound results. We investigated levels of 26 toxicants in breast milk and their associations with rapid infant growth, a risk factor for later obesity. Methods: We used data from the Norwegian HUMIS study, a multi-center cohort of 2,606 mothers and newborns enrolled between 2002 and 2008. Milk samples collected 1 month after delivery from a subset of 789 women oversampled by overweight were analyzed for toxicants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, and pesticides. Growth was defined as change in weight-for-age z-score between 0 and 6 months among the HUMIS population, and rapid growth was defined as change in z-score above 0.67. We used a Bayesian variable selection method to determine the exposures that most explained variation in the outcome. Identified toxicants were included in logistic and linear regression models to estimate associations with growth, adjusting for maternal age, smoking, education, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain, parity, child sex, cumulative breastfeeding, birth weight, gestational age, and preterm status. Results: Of 789 infants, 19.2% displayed rapid growth. The median maternal age was 29.6 years, and the median pre-pregnancy BMI was 24.0 kg/m2, with 45.3% of mothers overweight or obese. Rapid growers were more likely to be firstborn. Hexachlorobenzene, β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), and PCB-74 were identified in the variable selection method. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in β-HCH exposure was associated with a lower odds of rapid growth (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.94). Newborns exposed to high levels of β-HCH showed reduced infant growth (β = -0.03, 95% CI -0.05 to -0.01 for IQR increase in breast milk concentration). No other significant associations were found. Conclusions: Our results suggest that early life β-HCH exposure may be linked to slowed growth. Further research is warranted on the potential mechanism behind this association and the longer-term metabolic effects of perinatal β-HCH exposure.
A Tactical Chaos based PWM Technique for Distortion Restraint and Power Spectrum Shaping in Induction Motor Drives
Authors: Mohan V. , Stalin N. , Jeevananthan S.
Published: March 2017

The pulse width modulated voltage source inverters (PWM-VSI) dominate in the modern industrial environment. The conventional PWM methods are designed to have higher fundamental voltage, easy filtering and reduced total harmonic distortion (THD). There are number of clustered harmonics around the multiples of switching frequency in the output of conventional sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) and space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) inverters. This is due to their fixed switching frequency while the variable switching frequency makes the filtering very complex. Random carrier PWM (RCPWM) methods are the host of PWM methods, which use randomized carrier frequency and result in a harmonic profile with well distributed harmonic power (no harmonic possesses significant magnitude and hence no filtering is required). This paper proposes a chaos-based PWM (CPWM) strategy, which utilizes a chaotically changing switching frequency to spread the harmonics continuously to a wideband and to reduce the peak harmonics to a great extent. This can be an effective way to suppress the current harmonics and torque ripple in induction motor drives. The proposed CPWM scheme is simulated using MATLAB / SIMULINK software and implemented in three phase voltage source inverter (VSI) using field programmable gate array (FPGA).
A Novel Approach of Position Estimation and Power Factor Corrector Converter Fed BLDC Motor
Authors: Kaliappan S. , Rajeswari R.
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes a Power factor Corrected (PFC) Bridgeless Buck-Boost converter fed BLDC motor drive. The Bridgeless configuration eliminates the Diode Bridge Rectifier in order to reduce the number of components and the conduction loss. The position sensors used in BLDC drives have drawbacks of additional cost, mechanical alignment problems. These bottle necks results in sensorless technique. The Sensorless technique mostly relies on measurement of Back EMF to determine relative positions of stator and rotor for the correct coil energising sequence can be implemented. This paper introduces the offline Finite Element method for sensorless operation. The proposed sensorless scheme estimates the motor position at standstill and running condition. The obtained Power Factor is within the acceptable limits IEC 61000-3-2. The proposed drive is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink the obtained results are validated experimentally on a developed prototype of the drive.
Improved Torque Control Performance in Direct Torque Control using Optimal Switching Vectors
Authors: Rifqi Zuber Ahmadi Muhd Zharif , Jidin Auzani , Azri Maaspaliza , Rahim Khairi , Sutikno Tole
Published: March 2017

This paper presents the significant improvement of Direct Torque Control (DTC) of 3-phases induction machine using a Cascaded H-Bidge Multilevel Inverter (CHMI). The largest torque ripple and variable switching frequency are known as the major problem founded in DTC of induction motor. As a result, it can diminish the performance induction motor control. Therefore, the conventional 2-level inverter has been replaced with CHMI the in order to increase the performance of the motor either in dynamic or steady-state condition. By using the multilevel inverter, it can produce a more selection of the voltage vectors. Besides that, it can minimize the torque ripple output as well as increase the efficiency by reducing the switching frequency of the inverter. The simulation model of the proposed method has been developed and tested by using Matlab software. Its improvements were also verified via experimental results.
FC/PV Fed SAF with Fuzzy Logic Control for Power Quality Enhancement
Authors: Balamurugan R. , Nithya R.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, a Fuel cell (FC) / Photovoltaic cell (PV)/ Battery operated three phase Shunt Active power Filter (SAF) is proposed for improving the power quality at the utility side. Fuzzy based instantaneous p-q theory control is proposed for SAF. This SAF consists of Voltage Source PWM Converter (VSC) and a DC link capacitor supplied by a FC/PV/Battery. The filter provides harmonic mitigation with reactive power compensation and neutral compensation for loads at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC). A Single switch boost DC-DC converter connects the FC/PV/Battery with the VSC to maintain the load. The performance of the proposed SAF is tested in MATLAB / SIMULINK environment with Fuzzy logic controller (FLC). The controller maintains the DC link voltage based on the current reference generated by the p-q theory. The Hysteresis PWM current controller is employed to generate the gating pulses to the switches in VSC. The simulation results of the proposed SAF validate the effectiveness of FLC in power quality enhancement.
A Comparative Analysis of Integrated Boost Flyback Converter using PID and Fuzzy Controller
Authors: Babu R.Samuel Rajesh
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a comparative analysis of Integrated boost flyback converter for Renewable energy System. IBFC is the combination of boost converter and fly back converter. The proposed converter is simulated in open and closed loop using PID and FUZZY controller. The Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) is used reduce the rise time, settling time to almost negligible and try to remove the delay time and inverted response. The performance of IBFC with fuzzy logic controller  is found better instead of PID controller. The simulation results are verified experimentally and  the output of converter is free from ripples and has regulated output voltage.
Corroboration of Normalized Least Mean Square Based Adaptive Selective Current Harmonic Elimination in Voltage Source Inverter using DSP Processor
Authors: Avirajamanjula P. , Palanivel P.
Published: March 2017

A direct Selective current harmonic elimination pulse width modulation technique is proposed for induction motor drive fed from voltage source inverter. The developed adaptive filtering algorithm for the selective current harmonic elimination in a three phase Voltage Source Inverter is a direct method to improve the line current quality of the Voltage Source Inverter base drive at any load condition. The self-adaptive algorithm employed has the capability of managing the time varying nature of load (current). The proposed Normalized Least Mean Squares algorithm based scheme eliminates the selected dominant harmonics in load current using only the knowledge of the frequencies to be eliminated. The algorithm is simulated using Matlab/Simulink tool for a three-phase Voltage Source Inverter to eliminate the fifth and seventh harmonics. The system performance is analyzed based on the simulation results considering total harmonic distortion, magnitude of eliminated harmonics and harmonic spectrum. The corroboration is done in the designed Voltage Source Inverter feeding induction motor using digital signal processor-TMS320L2812.The developed algorithm is transferred to digital signal processor using VisSimTM software.
Versions of Switched Reluctance Generatior Design at a Constant Stator Configuration
Authors: Grebennikov Nikolay , Kireev Alexander
Published: March 2017

The investigation of the influence of the number of phases of switched reluctance generator (SRG) to the pulse of electromagnetic torque was carried out. The computer model was created. The amplitude of torque ripples reduces to 6 times with increasing of the ripple frequency to 5 times, that is more acceptable in terms of requirements.