bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orexin signaling is necessary for hypoglycemia-induced prevention of conditioned place preference
Authors: Otlivanchik Oleg , Sanders Nicole M. , Dunn-Meynell Ambrose , Levin Barry E.
Published: October 2015

While the neural control of glucoregulatory responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia is beginning to be elucidated, brain sites responsible for behavioral responses to hypoglycemia are relatively poorly understood. To help elucidate central control mechanisms associated with hypoglycemia unawareness, we first evaluated the effect of recurrent hypoglycemia on a simple behavioral measure, the robust feeding response to hypoglycemia, in rats. First, food intake was significantly, and similarly, increased above baseline saline-induced intake (1.1 ± 0.2 g; n = 8) in rats experiencing a first (4.4 ± 0.3; n = 8) or third daily episode of recurrent insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH, 3.7 ± 0.3 g; n = 9; P < 0.05). Because food intake was not impaired as a result of prior IIH, we next developed an alternative animal model of hypoglycemia-induced behavioral arousal using a conditioned place preference (CPP) model. We found that hypoglycemia severely blunted previously acquired CPP in rats and that recurrent hypoglycemia prevented this blunting. Pretreatment with a brain penetrant, selective orexin receptor-1 antagonist, SB-334867A, blocked hypoglycemia-induced blunting of CPP. Recurrently hypoglycemic rats also showed decreased preproorexin expression in the perifornical hypothalamus (50%) but not in the adjacent lateral hypothalamus. Pretreatment with sertraline, previously shown to prevent hypoglycemia-associated glucoregulatory failure, did not prevent blunting of hypoglycemia-induced CPP prevention by recurrent hypoglycemia. This work describes the first behavioral model of hypoglycemia unawareness and suggests a role for orexin neurons in mediating behavioral responses to hypoglycemia.
Development of internal models and predictive abilities for visual tracking during childhood
Authors: Ego Caroline , Yüksel Demet , Orban de Xivry Jean-Jacques , Lefèvre Philippe
Published: October 2015

The prediction of the consequences of our own actions through internal models is an essential component of motor control. Previous studies showed improvement of anticipatory behaviors with age for grasping, drawing, and postural control. Since these actions require visual and proprioceptive feedback, these improvements might reflect both the development of internal models and the feedback control. In contrast, visual tracking of a temporarily invisible target gives specific markers of prediction and internal models for eye movements. Therefore, we recorded eye movements in 50 children (aged 5–19 yr) and in 10 adults, who were asked to pursue a visual target that is temporarily blanked. Results show that the youngest children (5–7 yr) have a general oculomotor behavior in this task, qualitatively similar to the one observed in adults. However, the overall performance of older subjects in terms of accuracy at target reappearance and variability in their behavior was much better than the youngest children. This late maturation of predictive mechanisms with age was reflected into the development of the accuracy of the internal models governing the synergy between the saccadic and pursuit systems with age. Altogether, we hypothesize that the maturation of the interaction between smooth pursuit and saccades that relies on internal models of the eye and target displacement is related to the continuous maturation of the cerebellum.
Computational modeling of neurons: intensity-duration relationship of extracellular electrical stimulation for changes in intracellular calcium
Authors: Adams Robert D. , Willits Rebecca K. , Harkins Amy B.
Published: October 2015

In many instances of extensive nerve damage, the injured nerve never adequately heals, leaving lack of nerve function. Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to increase the rate and orient the direction of neurite growth, and is a promising therapy. However, the mechanism in which ES affects neuronal growth is not understood, making it difficult to compare existing ES protocols or to design and optimize new protocols. We hypothesize that ES acts by elevating intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) via opening voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs). In this work, we have created a computer model to estimate the ES Ca2+ relationship. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we modeled a small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron that includes one Na+ channel, two K+ channels, and three VDCCs to estimate [Ca2+]i in the soma and growth cone. As expected, the results show that an ES that generates action potentials (APs) can efficiently raise the [Ca2+]i of neurons. More interestingly, our simulation results show that sub-AP ES can efficiently raise neuronal [Ca2+]i and that specific high-voltage ES can preferentially raise [Ca2+]i in the growth cone. The intensities and durations of ES on modeled growth cone calcium rise are consistent with directionality and orientation of growth cones experimentally shown by others. Finally, this model provides a basis to design experimental ES pulse parameters, including duration, intensity, pulse-train frequency, and pulse-train duration to efficiently raise [Ca2+]i in neuronal somas or growth cones.
A geometric model of defensive peripersonal space
Authors: Bufacchi R. J. , Liang M. , Griffin L. D. , Iannetti G. D.
Published: October 2015

Potentially harmful stimuli occurring within the defensive peripersonal space (DPPS), a protective area surrounding the body, elicit stronger defensive reactions. The spatial features of the DPPS are poorly defined and limited to descriptive estimates of its extent along a single dimension. Here we postulated a family of geometric models of the DPPS, to address two important questions with respect to its spatial features: What is its fine-grained topography? How does the nervous system represent the body area to be defended? As a measure of the DPPS, we used the strength of the defensive blink reflex elicited by electrical stimulation of the hand (hand-blink reflex, HBR), which is reliably modulated by the position of the stimulated hand in egocentric coordinates. We tested the goodness of fit of the postulated models to HBR data from six experiments in which we systematically explored the HBR modulation by hand position in both head-centered and body-centered coordinates. The best-fitting model indicated that 1) the nervous system's representation of the body area defended by the HBR can be approximated by a half-ellipsoid centered on the face and 2) the DPPS extending from this area has the shape of a bubble elongated along the vertical axis. Finally, the empirical observation that the HBR is modulated by hand position in head-centered coordinates indicates that the DPPS is anchored to the face. The modeling approach described in this article can be generalized to describe the spatial modulation of any defensive response.
The temporal dynamics of heading perception in the presence of moving objects
Authors: Layton Oliver W. , Fajen Brett R.
Published: October 2015

Many forms of locomotion rely on the ability to accurately perceive one's direction of locomotion (i.e., heading) based on optic flow. Although accurate in rigid environments, heading judgments may be biased when independently moving objects are present. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the conditions in which moving objects influence heading perception, with a focus on the temporal dynamics and the mechanisms underlying this bias. Subjects viewed stimuli simulating linear self-motion in the presence of a moving object and judged their direction of heading. Experiments 1 and 2 revealed that heading perception is biased when the object crosses or almost crosses the observer's future path toward the end of the trial, but not when the object crosses earlier in the trial. Nonetheless, heading perception is not based entirely on the instantaneous optic flow toward the end of the trial. This was demonstrated in Experiment 3 by varying the portion of the earlier part of the trial leading up to the last frame that was presented to subjects. When the stimulus duration was long enough to include the part of the trial before the moving object crossed the observer's path, heading judgments were less biased. The findings suggest that heading perception is affected by the temporal evolution of optic flow. The time course of dorsal medial superior temporal area (MSTd) neuron responses may play a crucial role in perceiving heading in the presence of moving objects, a property not captured by many existing models.
Proteomic profiling of nuclear fractions from native renal inner medullary collecting duct cells
Authors: Pickering Christina M. , Grady Cameron , Medvar Barbara , Emamian Milad , Sandoval Pablo C. , Zhao Yue , Yang Chin-Rang , Jung Hyun Jun , Chou Chung-Lin , Knepper Mark A.
Published: October 2015

The control of renal water excretion occurs in part by regulation of transcription in response to vasopressin in cells of the collecting duct. A systems biology-based approach to understanding transcriptional control in renal collecting duct cells depends on knowledge of what transcription factors and other regulatory proteins are present in the cells' nuclei. The goal of this article is to report comprehensive proteomic profiling of cellular fractions enriched in nuclear proteins from native inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells of the rat. Multidimensional separation procedures and state-of-the art protein mass spectrometry produced 18 GB of spectral data that allowed the high-stringency identification of 5,048 proteins in nuclear pellet (NP) and nuclear extract (NE) fractions of biochemically isolated rat IMCD cells (URL: https://helixweb.nih.gov/ESBL/Database/IMCD_Nucleus/ ). The analysis identified 369 transcription factor proteins out of the 1,371 transcription factors coded by the rat genome. The analysis added 1,511 proteins to the recognized proteome of rat IMCD cells, now amounting to 8,290 unique proteins. Analysis of samples treated with the vasopressin analog dDAVP (1 nM for 30 min) or its vehicle revealed 99 proteins in the NP fraction and 88 proteins in the NE fraction with significant changes in spectral counts (Fisher exact test, P < 0.005). Among those altered by vasopressin were seven distinct histone proteins, all of which showed decreased abundance in the NP fraction, consistent with a possible effect of vasopressin to induce chromatin remodeling. The results provide a data resource for future studies of vasopressin-mediated transcriptional regulation in the renal collecting duct.
Size Controlled CaF2 Nanocubes and Their Dosimetric Properties Using Photoluminescence Technique
Authors: Alharbi Najlaa D.
Published: October 2015

A new synthetic chemical coprecipitation route for the preparation of well‐crystallized size controlled nano‐ and microcrystalline cubes of CaF2 is reported. Crystalline cubes in the range of 2 μm–20 nm could be synthesized and their sizes were controlled by varying the solvent : cosolvent ratio. The as‐synthesized CaF2 nanocubes were characterized by different techniques. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectrum of CaF2 nanocrystalline powder showed strong emission band at 415 nm. Moreover, the effect of Eu as a dopant on the emission spectrum of CaF2 was investigated. This dopant was found to get incorporated in its Eu2+ and Eu3+ forms. The as‐produced nanocubes were exposed to UV irradiation and the corresponding PL emission was studied. Excellent results are obtained, where CaF2:Eu nanocubes were found to be highly sensitive and might be suitable for esteeming the doses of UV irradiation using the PL technique.
Design of a Backstepping Tracking Controller for a Class of Linear Systems with Actuator Delay
Authors: Liao Yonglong , Liao Fucheng
Published: October 2015

This paper presents a method for designing a backstepping tracking controller for a class of continuous-time linear systems with actuator delay subject to a reference signal. The actuator delay can be modeled by a first-order hyperbolic PDE, and then a PDE-ODE coupled system is obtained. By applying the backstepping transformation to the coupled system, a feedback controller that includes the state of the system, the integral of the input control, and the integral of the tracking error is derived. We show that the closed-loop system is asymptotically stable at the equilibrium point and achieves complete regulation under the stabilizability assumption. The designs in this paper are illustrated with numerical simulations.
On the Surface Fields of a Small Circular Loop Antenna Placed on Plane Stratified Earth
Authors: Parise Mauro
Published: October 2015

An analytical method is presented which makes it possible to derive exact explicit expressions for the time-harmonic surface fields excited by a small circular loop antenna placed on the top surface of plane layered earth. The developed procedure leads to casting the complete integral representations for the EM field components into forms suitable for application of Cauchy’s integral formula. As a result, the surface fields are expressed as sums of Hankel functions. Numerical simulations are performed to show the validity and accuracy of the proposed solution.
The Natural Gas Cash-Out Problem: A Bilevel Optimal Control Approach
Authors: Kalashnikov Vyacheslav V. , Benita Francisco , Mehlitz Patrick
Published: October 2015

The aim of this paper is threefold: first, it formulates the natural gas cash-out problem as a bilevel optimal control problem (BOCP); second, it provides interesting theoretical results about Pontryagin-type optimality conditions for a general BOCP where the upper level boasts a Mayer-type cost function and pure state constraints, while the lower level is a finite-dimensional mixed-integer programming problem with exactly one binary variable; and third, it applies these theoretical results in order to find possible local minimizers of the natural gas cash-out problem.
Case Report Associated with Aspergillosis and Hepatitis E Virus Coinfection in Himalayan Griffons
Authors: Li Heng , Zhu Rining , She Ruiping , Zhang Chenglin , Shi Ruihan , Li Wei , Du Fang , Wu Qiaoxing , Hu Fengjiao , Zhang Yang , Soomro Majid Hussain , Zheng Changming
Published: October 2015

This study involved a death which occurred in four Himalayan griffons housed in Beijing zoo, China. Based on pathogen identification and the pathological changes observed, we did characterize the fungi and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in four dead Himalayan griffons. Pathological changes were severe. Membranous-like material was observed on the surface of the internal organs. Spleen was necrotic. Focal lymphocyte infiltration in the liver and many sunflower-like fungi nodules were evident in the tissues, especially in the kidney. PCR was used to identify the pathogen. Based on the 18SrRNA genomic sequence of known fungi, the results confirmed that all four dead Himalayan griffons were infected withAspergillus. At the same time the detection of HEV also showed positive results. To the best of our knowledge, this work appears to be the first report of concurrent presence of Aspergillosis and Hepatitis E virus in rare avian species.
Validation of a HPLC/FLD Method for Quantification of Tocotrienols in Human Plasma
Authors: Che Hui-Ling , Tan Doryn Meam-Yee , Meganathan Puvaneswari , Gan Yee-Lin , Abdul Razak Ghazali , Fu Ju-Yen
Published: October 2015

Quantification of tocotrienols in human plasma is critical when the attention towards tocotrienols on its distinctive properties is arising. We aim to develop a simple and practical normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography method to quantify the amount of four tocotrienol homologues in human plasma. Using both the external and internal standards, tocotrienol homologues were quantified via a normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector maintained at the excitation wavelength of 295 nm and the emission wavelength of 325 nm. The four tocotrienol homologues were well separated within 30 minutes. A large interindividual variation between subjects was observed as the absorption of tocotrienols is dependent on food matrix and gut lipolysis. The accuracies of lower and upper limit of quantification ranged between 92% and 109% for intraday assays and 90% and 112% for interday assays. This method was successfully applied to quantify the total amount of four tocotrienol homologues in human plasma.
Association between Serum Soluble Klotho Levels and Mortality in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Otani-Takei Naoko , Masuda Takahiro , Akimoto Tetsu , Honma Sumiko , Watanabe Yuko , Shiizaki Kazuhiro , Miki Takuya , Kusano Eiji , Asano Yasushi , Kuro-o Makoto , Nagata Daisuke
Published: October 2015

Klotho is a single-pass transmembrane protein predominantly expressed in the kidney. The extracellular domain of Klotho is subject to ectodomain shedding and is released into the circulation as a soluble form. Soluble Klotho is also generated from alternative splicing of theKlothogene. In mice, defects in Klotho expression lead to complex phenotypes resembling those observed in dialysis patients. However, the relationship between the level of serum soluble Klotho and overall survival in hemodialysis patients, who exhibit a state of Klotho deficiency, remains to be delineated. Here we prospectively followed a cohort of 63 patients with a mean duration of chronic hemodialysis of6.7±5.4years for a median of 65 months. Serum soluble Klotho was detectable in all patients (median 371 pg/mL, interquartile range 309–449). Patients with serum soluble Klotho levels below the lower quartile (<309 pg/mL) had significantly higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates. Furthermore, the higher all-cause mortality persisted even after adjustment for confounders (hazard ratio 4.14, confidence interval 1.29–13.48). We conclude that there may be a threshold for the serum soluble Klotho level associated with a higher risk of mortality.
Geographic Variation of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence: Correlation with the Incidence of Renal Cell Carcinoma or Urothelial Carcinoma?
Authors: Yap Yit-Sheung , Chuang Kai-Wen , Chiang Chun-Ju , Chuang Hung-Yi , Lu Sheng-Nan
Published: October 2015

Background. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether geographic variations in the prevalence of late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) exist and are associated with incidence rates of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), or lower tract urothelial carcinoma (LTUC).Methods. Prevalence rates of late-stage CKD for 366 townships (n>30) in Taiwan were calculated for 1,518,241 and 1,645,151 subjects aged 40 years or older in years 2010 and 2009, respectively. Late-stage CKD prevalence in year 2010 was used as a training set and its age-adjusted standardized morbidity rates (ASMR) were divided into three groups as defined <1.76%, 1.76% ≤ ASMR < 2.64%, and ≥2.64%, respectively. Year 2009, defined as the validation set, was used to validate the results.Results. The ASMR of late-stage CKD in years 2010 and 2009 were 1.76%, and 2.09%, respectively. Geographic variations were observed, with notably higher rates of disease in areas of the central, southwestern mountainside, and southeastern seaboard. There were no significant differences among different combined risk groups of RCC, UTUC, and LTUC incidence.Conclusion. The substantial geographic variations in the prevalence of late-stage CKD exist, but are not correlated with RCC, UTUC, or LTUC incidence.
Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Life Table Indices ofPlutella xylostellain Multigenerations
Authors: Mahmoudvand Mohammad , Moharramipour Saeid , Iranshahi Mehrdad
Published: October 2015

The diamondback moth (DBM),Plutella xylostella(L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a major pest of Brassicaceae family in Iran. This study investigated the sublethal effects of pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analogue, on DBM, for two subsequent generations. The leaf dip bioassay method was adopted in conducting this experiment. Sublethal concentrations resulted in a significant decrease in fecundity, oviposition period, and pupal weight of parents and offspring generations. Also, the development time of DBM was prolonged after exposure to pyriproxyfen. The biological parameters such as net reproductive rate (R0) and intrinsic (rm) and finite (λ) rate of increase were lower than control in treatment groups, significantly. From our investigations, pyriproxyfen is a good choice for control of the diamondback moth population through continuous generations.
Imaging Performance of Quantitative Transmission Ultrasound
Authors: Lenox Mark W. , Wiskin James , Lewis Matthew A. , Darrouzet Stephen , Borup David , Hsieh Scott
Published: October 2015

Quantitative Transmission Ultrasound (QTUS) is a tomographic transmission ultrasound modality that is capable of generating 3D speed-of-sound maps of objects in the field of view. It performs this measurement by propagating a plane wave through the medium from a transmitter on one side of a water tank to a high resolution receiver on the opposite side. This information is then used via inverse scattering to compute a speed map. In addition, the presence of reflection transducers allows the creation of a high resolution, spatially compounded reflection map that is natively coregistered to the speed map. A prototype QTUS system was evaluated for measurement and geometric accuracy as well as for the ability to correctly determine speed of sound.
Alterations of the Ceramide Metabolism in the Peri-Infarct Cortex Are Independent of the Sphingomyelinase Pathway and Not Influenced by the Acid Sphingomyelinase Inhibitor Fluoxetine
Authors: Brunkhorst R. , Friedlaender F. , Ferreirós N. , Schwalm S. , Koch A. , Grammatikos G. , Toennes S. , Foerch C. , Pfeilschifter J. , Pfeilschifter W.
Published: October 2015

Ceramides induce important intracellular signaling pathways, modulating proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and inflammation. However, the relevance of the ceramide metabolism in the reconvalescence phase after stroke is unclear. Besides its well-known property as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine has been reported to inhibit the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), a key regulator of ceramide levels which derives ceramide from sphingomyelin. Furthermore, fluoxetine has shown therapeutic potential in a randomized controlled rehabilitation trial in stroke patients. Our aim was to investigate and modulate ceramide concentrations in the peri-infarct cortex, whose morphological and functional properties correlate with long-term functional outcome in stroke. We show that certain ceramide species are modulated after experimental stroke and that these changes do not result from alterations of ASM activity, but rather from nontranscriptional induction of the ceramidede novopathway. Unexpectedly, although reducing lesion size, fluoxetine did not improve functional outcome in our model and had no significant influence on ASM activity or the concentration of ceramides. The ceramide metabolism could emerge as a potential therapeutic target in the reconvalescence phase after stroke, as its accumulation in the peri-infarct cortex potentially influences membrane functions as well as signaling events in the tissue essential for neurological recovery.
Enterococcus faeciumMediastinitis Complicated by DisseminatedCandida parapsilosisInfection after Congenital Heart Surgery in a 4-Week-Old Baby
Authors: Renk Hanna , Neunhoeffer Felix , Hölzl Florian , Hofbeck Michael , Kumpf Matthias
Published: October 2015

Background. Cardiac surgery offers multiple treatment options for children with congenital heart defects. However, infectious complications still remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Mediastinitis is a detrimental complication in children undergoing cardiac surgery. The risk of mediastinitis after delayed sternal closure is up to 10%.Case Presentation. We report a case ofEnterococcus faeciummediastinitis in a 4-week-old female baby on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after Norwood procedure. Although repeated antibiotic irrigation, debridement, and aggressive antibiotic treatment were started early, the pulmonary situation deteriorated.Candida parapsilosiswas isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage after pulmonary hemorrhage. DisseminatedC. parapsilosisinfection with pulmonary involvement was treated with liposomal amphotericin B. Subsequently, inflammatory markers increased again and eventuallyC. parapsilosiswas isolated from the central venous catheter.Conclusion. Children undergoing delayed sternal closure have a higher risk of mediastinitis. Therefore, antibiotic prophylaxis, for example, for soft tissue infection seems justified. However, long-term antibiotic treatment is a risk factor for fungal superinfection. Antifungal treatment of disseminatedC. parapsilosisinfection may fail in PICU patients with nonbiological material in place due to capacity of this species to form biofilms on medical devices. Immediate removal of central venous catheters and other nonbiological material is life-saving in these patients.
Delay-Dependent Finite-TimeH∞Controller Design for a Kind of Nonlinear Descriptor Systems via a T-S Fuzzy Model
Authors: Zhu Baoyan , Zhang Jingjun , Zhang Daqing , Liu Aibin
Published: October 2015

Delay-dependent finite-timeH∞controller design problems are investigated for a kind of nonlinear descriptor system via a T-S fuzzy model in this paper. The solvable conditions of finite-timeH∞controller are given to guarantee that the loop-closed system is impulse-free and finite-time bounded and holds theH∞performance to a prescribed disturbance attenuation levelγ. The method given is the ability to eliminate the impulsive behavior caused by descriptor systems in a finite-time interval, which confirms the existence and uniqueness of solutions in the interval. By constructing a nonsingular matrix, we overcome the difficulty that results in an infeasible linear matrix inequality (LMI). Using the FEASP solver and GEVP solver of the LMI toolbox, we perform simulations to validate the proposed methods for a nonlinear descriptor system via the T-S fuzzy model, which shows the application of the T-S fuzzy method in studying the finite-time control problem of a nonlinear system. Meanwhile the method was also applied to the biological economy system to eliminate impulsive behavior at the bifurcation value, stabilize the loop-closed system in a finite-time interval, and achieve aH∞performance level.
Anomalous DIBL Effect in Fully Depleted SOI MOSFETs Using Nanoscale Gate-Recessed Channel Process
Authors: Karsenty Avi , Chelly Avraham
Published: October 2015

Nanoscale Gate-Recessed Channel (GRC) Fully Depleted- (FD-) SOI MOSFET device with a silicon channel thickness (tSi) as low as 2.2 nm was first tested at room temperature for functionality check and then tested at low temperature (77 K) forI-Vcharacterizations. In spite of its FD-SOI nanoscale thickness and long channel feature, the device has surprisingly exhibited a Drain-Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL) effect at RT. However, this effect was suppressed at 77 K. If the apparition of such anomalous effect can be explained by a parasitic short channel transistor located at the edges of the channel, its suppression is explained by the decrease of the potential barrier between the drain and the channel when lowering the temperature.
Applying Data Mining Techniques to Identify Suitable Activities
Authors: Yeh Yu-Fang , Chang Ching-Pao
Published: October 2015

Identifying suitable physical activities is crucial for personal health management. However, a big challenge in identifying suitable physical activities is the influencing factors are extremely complex. Therefore, this study aims to propose an approach to facilitate the construction of suitable physical activity models. In the approach, association rule mining and clustering technique are applied to analyze personal activity-physiological information. To demonstrate how the proposed approach can be used for constructing the activity models, an experiment using mobile devices to collect personal activity-physiological information was designed. The revealed models can be used to not only understand personal health conditions but also provide useful information about proper and improper physical activities.
Fast Jacket-Haar Transform with Any Size
Authors: Liu Guibo , Huang Dazu , Luo Dayong , Lei Wang , Guo Ying , Lee Moonho
Published: October 2015

Jacket-Haar transform has been recently generalized from Haar transform and Jacket transform, but, unfortunately, it is not available in a case where the lengthNis not a power of 2. In this paper, we have proposed an arbitrary-length Jacket-Haar transform which can be conveniently constructed from the 2-point generalized Haar transforms with the fast algorithm, and thus it can be constructed with any sizes. Moreover, it can be further extended with elegant structures, which result in the fast algorithms for decomposing. We show that this approach can be practically applied for the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal processing. Simulation results show that it is more efficient than the conventional fast Fourier transform (FFT) in signal processing.
Iterative Homotopy Harmonic Balance Approach for Determining the Periodic Solution of a Strongly Nonlinear Oscillator
Authors: Chen Huaxiong , Ni Mingkang
Published: October 2015

A novel approach about iterative homotopy harmonic balancing is presented to determine the periodic solution for a strongly nonlinear oscillator. This approach does not depend upon the small/large parameter assumption and incorporates the salient features of both methods of the parameter-expansion and the harmonic balance. Importantly, in obtaining the higher-order analytical approximation, all the residual errors are considered in the process of every order approximation to improve the accuracy. With this procedure, the higher-order approximate frequency and corresponding periodic solution can be obtained easily. Comparison of the obtained results with those of the exact solutions shows the high accuracy, simplicity, and efficiency of the approach. The approach can be extended to other nonlinear oscillators in engineering and physics.
Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Mixed Ligands Beryllium Complexes for Display Device Applications
Authors: Nishal Vandna , Singh Devender , Saini Raman Kumar , Tanwar Vijeta , Bhagwan Shri , Kadyan Sonika , Singh Ishwar , Kadyan Pratap Singh
Published: October 2015

Synthesis and photoluminescent behaviour of mixed ligand based beryllium complexes with 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HPB) and 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline (Clq) or 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline (Cl2q) or 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline (Meq) or 8-hydroxyquinoline (q) are reported in this work. These complexes, that is, [BeHPB(Clq)], [BeHPB(Cl2q)], [BeHPB(Meq)], and [BeHPB(q)], were prepared and their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The beryllium complexes exhibited good thermal stability up to ~300°C temperature. The photophysical properties of beryllium complexes were studied using ultraviolet-visible absorption and photoluminescence emission spectroscopy. The complexes showed absorption peaks due toπ-π∗andn-π∗electronic transitions. The complexes emitted greenish blue light with peak wavelength at 496 nm, 510 nm, 490 nm, and 505 nm, respectively, consisting of high intensity. Color tuning was observed with changing the substituents in quinoline ring ligand in metal complexes. The emitted light had Commission Internationale d’Eclairage color coordinates values atx=0.15andy=0.43for [BeHPB(Clq)],x=0.21andy=0.56for [BeHPB(Cl2q)],x=0.14andy=0.38for [BeHPB(Meq)],x=0.17andy=0.41for [BeHPB(q)]. Theoretical calculations using DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method were performed to reveal the three-dimensional geometries and the frontier molecular orbital energy levels of these synthesized metal complexes.
Protective Effects of Aqueous Extract ofLuehea divaricataagainst Behavioral and Oxidative Changes Induced by 3-Nitropropionic Acid in Rats
Authors: Courtes Aline Alves , Arantes Letícia Priscila , Barcelos Rômulo Pillon , da Silva Ingrid Kich , Boligon Aline Augusti , Athayde Margareth Linde , Puntel Robson Luiz , Soares Félix Alexandre Antunes
Published: October 2015

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. Accordingly, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) has been found to effectively produce HD-like symptoms.Luehea divaricata(L. divaricata), popularly known in Brazil as “açoita-cavalo,” may act as a neuroprotective agentin vitroandin vivo. We evaluated the hypothesis that the aqueous extract ofL. divaricatacould prevent behavioral and oxidative alterations induced by 3-NP in rats. 25 adult Wistar male rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) control, (2)L. divaricata(1000 mg/kg), (3) 3-NP, (4)L. divaricata(500 mg/kg) + 3-NP, and (5)L. divaricata(1000 mg/kg) + 3-NP. Groups 2, 4, and 5 receivedL. divaricatavia intragastric gavage daily for 10 days. Animals in groups 3, 4, and 5 received 20 mg/kg 3-NP daily from days 8–10. At day 10, parameters of locomotor activity and biochemical evaluations were performed. Indeed, rats treated with 3-NP showed decreased locomotor activity compared to controls. Additionally, 3-NP increased levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and decreased ratio of GSH/GSSG and acetylcholinesterase activity in cortex and/or striatum. Our results suggest that rats pretreated withL. divaricataprior to 3-NP treatment showed neuroprotective effects when compared to 3-NP treated controls, which may be due to its antioxidant properties.
The Maximizing Deviation Method Based on Interval-Valued Pythagorean Fuzzy Weighted Aggregating Operator for Multiple Criteria Group Decision Analysis
Authors: Liang Wei , Zhang Xiaolu , Liu Manfeng
Published: October 2015

As a new extension of Pythagorean fuzzy set (also called Atanassov’s intuitionistic fuzzy set of second type), interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy set which is parallel to Atanassov’s interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set has recently been developed to model imprecise and ambiguous information in practical group decision making problems. The aim of this paper is to put forward a novel decision making method for handling multiple criteria group decision making problems within interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment based on interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers (IVPFNs). There are three key issues being addressed in this approach. The first is to introduce an interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy weighted arithmetic averaging (IVPF-WAA) operator to aggregate the decision data in order to get the overall preference values of alternatives. Some desirable properties of the IVPF-WAA operator are also investigated. Based on the idea of the maximizing deviation method, the second is to establish an optimization model for determining the weights of criteria for each expert. The third is to construct a minimizing consistency optimal model to derive the weights of criteria for the group. Finally, an illustrating example is given to verify the proposed approach.
Threshold Research on Highway Length under Typical Landscape Patterns Based on Drivers’ Physiological Performance
Authors: Zhao Xia , Wei Zhonghua , Li Zhixia , Zhang Yong , Feng Xingyu
Published: October 2015

The appropriately landscaped highway scenes may not only help improve road safety and comfort but also help protect ecological environment. Yet there is very little research data on highway length threshold with consideration of distinctive landscape patterns. Against this backdrop, the paper aims to quantitatively analyze highway landscape’s effect on driving behavior based on drivers’ physiological performance and quantify highway length thresholds under three typical landscape patterns, namely, “open,” “semiopen,” and “vertical” ones. The statistical analysis was based on data collected in a driving simulator and electrocardiograph. Specifically, vehicle-related data, ECG data, and supplemental subjective stress perception were collected. The study extracted two characteristic indices, lane deviation and LF/HF, and extrapolated the drivers’ U-shaped physiological response to landscape patterns. Models on highway length were built based on LF/HF’s variation trend with highway length. The results revealed that the theoretical highway length threshold tended to increase when the landscape pattern was switched to open, semiopen, and vertical ones. And the reliability and accuracy of the results were validated by questionnaires and field operational tests. Findings from this research will assist practitioners in taking active environmental countermeasures pertaining to different roadside landscape patterns.
Random Forest with Adaptive Local Template for Pedestrian Detection
Authors: Xiang Tao , Li Tao , Ye Mao , Liu Zijian
Published: October 2015

Pedestrian detection with large intraclass variations is still a challenging task in computer vision. In this paper, we propose a novel pedestrian detection method based on Random Forest. Firstly, we generate a few local templates with different sizes and different locations in positive exemplars. Then, the Random Forest is built whose splitting functions are optimized by maximizing class purity of matching the local templates to the training samples, respectively. To improve the classification accuracy, we adopt a boosting-like algorithm to update the weights of the training samples in a layer-wise fashion. During detection, the trained Random Forest will vote the category when a sliding window is input. Our contributions are the splitting functions based on local template matching with adaptive size and location and iteratively weight updating method. We evaluate the proposed method on 2 well-known challenging datasets: TUD pedestrians and INRIA pedestrians. The experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art or competitive performance.
Adaptive Neural Control Based on High Order Integral Chained Differentiator for Morphing Aircraft
Authors: Wu Zhonghua , Lu Jingchao , Rajput Jahanzeb , Shi Jingping , Ma Wen
Published: October 2015

This paper presents an adaptive neural control for the longitudinal dynamics of a morphing aircraft. Based on the functional decomposition, it is reasonable to decompose the longitudinal dynamics into velocity and altitude subsystems. As for the velocity subsystem, the adaptive control is proposed via dynamic inversion method using neural network. To deal with input constraints, the additional compensation system is employed to help engine recover from input saturation rapidly. The highlight is that high order integral chained differentiator is used to estimate the newly defined variables and an adaptive neural controller is designed for the altitude subsystem where only one neural network is employed to approximate the lumped uncertain nonlinearity. The altitude subsystem controller is considerably simpler than the ones based on backstepping. It is proved using Lyapunov stability theory that the proposed control law can ensure that all the tracking error converges to an arbitrarily small neighborhood around zero. Numerical simulation study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, during the morphing process, in spite of some uncertain system nonlinearity.
Tree Diversity and Community Composition of the Tutong White Sands, Brunei Darussalam: A Rare Tropical Heath Forest Ecosystem
Authors: Din Hazimah , Metali Faizah , Sukri Rahayu Sukmaria
Published: October 2015

Bornean heath (Kerangas) forests are a unique and increasingly rare tropical forest ecosystem that remains little studied. We quantified tree floristic diversity inKerangasforests in the Tutong White Sands, Brunei Darussalam, and investigated the influence of soil and environmental variables on community composition. Six 20 m × 20 m plots were established, where all trees of ≥5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were identified and measured to determine stem diameter and basal area. We determined pH, gravimetric water content, and concentrations of total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in topsoil, as well as litter depth and percentage canopy openness. A total of 296 trees were recorded, representing 78 species in 59 genera and 38 families. Stem diameter, basal area, species richness, and species diversity differed significantly among the six plots. The NMDS ordination revealed that differences in tree community compositions were significantly associated with total N concentrations and percentage canopy openness. Despite the small sampling area, we recorded several Bornean endemic tree species (16/78 tree species; 20.5%), including several IUCN Red List endangered and vulnerable species. Our results illustrate the potentially high conservation value of theKerangasforests in the Tutong White Sands and highlight the urgent need to protect and conserve this area.
Effects of Symptom Perception Interventions on Trigger Identification and Quality of Life in Children with Asthma
Authors: Janssens Thomas , Harver Andrew
Published: October 2015

Background. Management of individual triggers is suboptimal in practice. In this project, we investigated the impact of symptom perception interventions on asthma trigger identification and self-reported asthma quality of life.Methods. Children with asthma (n=227) participated in three asthma education sessions and then were randomized first to one of three home monitoring conditions (symptom monitoring and peak flow training with feedback, peak flow training without feedback, or no peak flow training) and then subsequently to one of three resistive load discrimination training conditions (signal detection training with feedback, signal detection training without feedback, or no training). Triggers were reported at enrollment, following home monitoring, and following discrimination training; quality of life was measured after home monitoring and after resistive load testing.Results. Symptom perception interventions resulted in increases in reported triggers, which increased reliably as a function of home monitoring, and increased further in participants who completed discrimination training with feedback. Increases in the number of reported asthma triggers were associated with decreases in quality of life.Discussion. Patients may benefit from strategies that make trigger-symptom contingencies clear. Complementary strategies are needed to address changes in the perceived burden of asthma which comes from awareness of new asthma triggers.
HRVN: A Highly Reliable Forwarding Model Based on Virtual Nodes in Node-Intensive WSNs
Authors: Chen Wenlong , Zheng Zhe , Xiao Rong , Li Fan , Sun Zhenzhen
Published: October 2015

Transmission links in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are prone to failure because of breakdown, movement, and energy depletion of nodes. Aiming at node-intensive environment, this paper proposes a highly reliable forwarding model based on virtual nodes (HRVN) in tree-based topology networks. A virtual node (VN) consists of several neighboring physical sensor nodes, which have common parent node and children nodes. Normally, the physical sensor nodes in the same VN forward packets in a load-balancing scheme. When a sensor node in a VN is in failure, the others would take over its forwarding work immediately. Moreover, the internal changes of a VN are transparent to its parent and children nodes. The experiments prove the model can provide load-balance and fast recovery from failure with low cost.
Small Size and Low Cost UHF RFID Tag Antenna Mountable on Metallic Objects
Authors: López-Soriano Sergio , Parrón Josep
Published: October 2015

Reducing tag size while maintaining good performance is one of the major challenges in radio-frequency identification applications (RFID), in particular when labeling metallic objects. In this contribution, a small size and low cost tag antenna for identifying metal objects in the European UHF band (865–868 MHz) is presented. The antenna consists of a transmission line mounted on an inexpensive thin dielectric which is proximity-coupled to a short-ended patch mounted on FR4 substrate. The overall dimensions of the tag are 33.5 × 30 × 3.1 mm. Experimental results show that, for an EIRP of 3.2 W (European regulations), such a small and cheap tag attains read ranges of about 5 m when attached to a metallic object.
Nanomechanical and Macrotribological Properties of CVD‐Grown Graphene as a Middle Layer between Metal Pt Cylinders and SiO2/Si Substrate
Authors: Wu Hongyan , Gu Zhengbin , Zhang Shantao , Hussain G.
Published: October 2015

The CVD‐grown graphene as a middle layer was introduced between Pt cylinders and SiO2/Si to extend the application of graphene for improving the wear performance of microelectromechanical systems. Periodic arrays of Pt cylinders were prepared on the graphene/SiO2/Si (Pt/graphene) and SiO2/Si substrate (Pt/SiO2) using the magnetron sputtering technique. To characterize Pt/graphene and Pt/SiO2, nanoindentation and macrotribological tests were performed. The results showed that the friction coefficient was lower and the wear lifetime of Pt/graphene was longer than those of Pt/SiO2. Graphene, as a middle layer, was not only observed to have significant influence on the mechanical properties (i.e., microhardness and elastic modulus), but also found to improve the adhesive strength between SiO2/Si and Pt cylinders.
Breast Cancer Metabolism and Mitochondrial Activity: The Possibility of Chemoprevention with Metformin
Authors: Cazzaniga Massimiliano , Bonanni Bernardo
Published: October 2015

Metabolic reprogramming refers to the ability of cancer cells to alter their metabolism in order to support the increased energy request due to continuous growth, rapid proliferation, and other characteristics typical of neoplastic cells. It has long been believed that the increase of metabolic request was independent of the mitochondrial action but recently we know that mitochondrial activity together with metabolism plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the energy needed for tumor cell growth and proliferation. For these reasons the mitochondria pathways could be a new target for therapeutic and chemopreventive intervention. Metformin in particular is actually considered a promising agent against mitochondrial activity thanks to its ability to inhibit the mitochondrial complex I.
Robust Control of the Air to Fuel Ratio in Spark Ignition Engines with Delayed Measurements from a UEGO Sensor
Authors: Espinoza-Jurado Javier , Dávila Emmanuel , Rivera Jorge , Raygoza-Panduro Juan José , Ortega Susana
Published: October 2015

A precise control of the normalized air to fuel ratio in spark ignition engines is an essential task. To achieve this goal, in this work we take into consideration the time delay measurement presented by the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor along with uncertainties in the volumetric efficiency. For that purpose, observers are designed by means of a super-twisting sliding mode estimation scheme. Also two control schemes based on a general nonlinear model and a similar nonlinear affine representation for the dynamics of the normalized air to fuel ratio were designed in this work by using the super-twisting sliding mode methodology. Such dynamics depends on the control input, that is, the injected fuel mass flow, its time derivative, and its reciprocal. The two latter terms are estimated by means of a robust sliding mode differentiator. The observers and controllers are designed based on an isothermal mean value engine model. Numeric and hardware in the loop simulations were carried out with such model, where parameters were taken from a real engine. The obtained results show a good output tracking and rejection of disturbances when the engine is closed loop with proposed control methods.