bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Variational Formula for Nonzero‐Sum Stochastic Differential Games of FBSDEs and Applications
Authors: Tang Maoning
Published: April 2014

A nonzero‐sum stochastic differential game problem is investigated for fully coupled forward‐backward stochastic differential
equations (FBSDEs in short) where the control domain is not necessarily convex. A variational formula for the cost functional in a given spike perturbation direction of control processes is derived by the Hamiltonian and associated adjoint systems. As an application, a global stochastic maximum principle of Pontryagin’s type for open‐loop Nash equilibrium points is established. Finally, an example of a linear quadratic nonzero‐sum game problem is presented to illustrate that the theories may have interesting practical applications and the corresponding Nash equilibrium point is characterized by the optimality system. Here the optimality system is a fully coupled FBSDE with double dimensions (DFBSDEs in short) which consists of the state equation,
the adjoint equation, and the optimality conditions.
Selective Depletion of Regulatory T Cell Subsets by Docetaxel Treatment in Patients with Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Jie-Yao , Duan Xiu-Fang , Wang Li-Ping , Xu Yu-Jie , Huang Lan , Zhang Teng-Fei , Liu Jin-Yan , Li Feng , Zhang Zhen , Yue Dong-Li , Wang Fei , Zhang Bin , Zhang Yi
Published: April 2014

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are potent suppressors that maintain immune homeostasis. Accumulation of Treg can inhibit effective immune responses in cancer patients, leading to tumor development and progression. Despite direct cytotoxicity, several chemotherapeutic drugs have been reported to deplete Treg cells for better prognosis for cancer patients. Treg cells are a heterogenous population with at least three different subsets, nonsuppressive, resting, and activated Treg cells. However, the characteristics of Treg cell subsets in lung cancer patients and how chemotherapy affects Treg cells remain elusive. In this study, we first analyzed Treg cell subsets in peripheral blood samples from 40 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 20 healthy donors. Treg cells, specifically activated Treg cell subset, significantly increased in patients with NSCLC. Compared to nonsuppressive Treg cells, activated Treg cells expressed higher level of CD39 and predominantly produced inhibitory cytokines.In vitroassay showed that docetaxel reduced all three subsets of Treg cells. More importantly, we found docetaxel-based chemotherapy significantly decreased all three Treg subsets after 4 cycles of treatment in 17 NSCLC patients. Taken together, this study revealed dynamic changes of various Treg cell subsets in NSCLC patients before and after chemotherapy, providing activated Treg cells as a potential target for chemotherapy.
Sound Radiation and Vibration of Composite Panels Excited by Turbulent Flow: Analytical Prediction and Analysis
Authors: Rocha Joana
Published: April 2014

The present study investigates the vibration and sound radiation by panels exited by turbulent flow and by random noise. Composite and aluminum panels are analyzed through a developed analytical framework. The main objective of this study is to identify the difference between the vibroacoustic behaviour of these two types of panels. This topic is of particular importance, given the growing interest in applying composite materials for the construction of aircraft structures, in parts where aluminum panels were traditionally being used. An original mathematical framework is presented for the prediction of noise and vibration for composite panels. Results show the effect of panel size, thickness of core, and thickness of face layers on the predictions. Smaller composite panels generally produced lower levels of sound and vibration than longer and wider composite panels. Compared with isotropic panels, the composite panels analyzed generated lower noise levels, although it was observed that noise level was amplified at certain frequencies.
On the Oscillation for Second-Order Half-Linear Neutral Delay Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
Authors: Zhang Quanxin , Song Xia
Published: April 2014

We discuss oscillation criteria for second-order half-linear neutral delay dynamic equations on time scales by using the generalized Riccati transformation and the inequality technique. Under certain conditions, we establish four new oscillation criteria. Our results in this paper are new even for the cases of𝕋=ℝand𝕋=ℤ.
Higher Order Mean Squared Error of Generalized Method of Moments Estimators for Nonlinear Models
Authors: Hu Yi , Xia Xiaohua , Deng Ying , Guo Dongmei
Published: April 2014

Generalized method of moments (GMM) has been widely applied for estimation of nonlinear models in economics and finance. Although generalized method of moments has good asymptotic properties under fairly moderate regularity conditions, its finite sample performance is not very well. In order to improve the finite sample performance of generalized method of moments estimators, this paper studies higher-order mean squared error of two-step efficient generalized method of moments estimators for nonlinear models. Specially, we consider a general nonlinear regression model with endogeneity and derive the higher-order asymptotic mean square error for two-step efficient generalized method of moments estimator for this model using iterative techniques and higher-order asymptotic theories. Our theoretical results allow the number of moments to grow with sample size, and are suitable for general moment restriction models, which contains conditional moment restriction models as special cases. The higher-order mean square error can be used to compare different estimators and to construct the selection criteria for improving estimator’s finite sample performance.
Dynamics of Flexible Rotor Systems with an Interim Mass Unbalanced Disk Using a Spectral Element Model
Authors: Choi Sangkyu , Lee Usik
Published: April 2014

A frequency domain spectral element model is developed for a rotor system that consists of two spinning shafts and an interim disk or blade system. In this study, the shafts are represented by spinning Timoshenko beam models, and the interim disk system is represented by a uniform thick rigid disk with an unbalanced mass. In our derivation of the governing equations of motion of the disk system, the disk is considered to be wobbling about the geometric center of the disk at which the spinning shafts are attached. The high accuracy of the proposed spectral element model is evaluated by comparison with the natural frequencies obtained using the conventional finite element method (FEM). The spectral element model is then used to investigate the effects of the unbalanced mass on the natural frequencies and dynamic responses of an example rotor system.
Chemical Immobilization of Sloth Bears (Melursus ursinus) with Ketamine Hydrochloride and Xylazine Hydrochloride: Hematology and Serum Biochemical Values
Authors: Veeraselvam M. , Sridhar R. , Perumal P. , Jayathangaraj M. G.
Published: April 2014

The present study was conducted to define the physiological responses of captive sloth bears immobilized with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride and to determine and compare the values of hematology and serum biochemical parameters between sexes. A total of 15 sloth bears were immobilized using combination of ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride drugs at the dose rate of 5.0 milligram (mg) per kg body weight and 2.0 mg per kg body weight, respectively. The use of combination of these drugs was found satisfactory for the chemical immobilization of captive sloth bears. There were no significant differences observed in induction time and recovery time and physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature between sexes. Health related parameters comprising hematological values like packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), erythrocyte indices, and so forth and biochemical values like total protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alkaline amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate amino-transferase (AST), and so forth were estimated in 11 (5 males and 6 females) apparently healthy bears. Comparison between sexes revealed significant difference in PCV (P<0.05) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P<0.05). The study might help to evaluate health profiles of sloth bears for appropriate line treatment.
The Structural Modeling of the Interaction between Levofloxacin and theMycobacterium tuberculosisGyrase Catalytic Site Sheds Light on the Mechanisms of Fluoroquinolones Resistant Tuberculosis in Colombian Clinical Isolates
Authors: Alvarez N. , Zapata E. , Mejía G. I. , Realpe T. , Araque P. , Peláez C. , Rouzaud F. , Robledo J.
Published: April 2014

We compared the prevalence of levofloxacin (LVX) resistance with that of ofloxacin (OFX) and moxifloxacin (MFX) among multidrug resistant (MDR)MTBclinical isolates collected in Medellin, Colombia, between 2004 and 2009 and aimed at unraveling the underlying molecular mechanisms that explain the correlation between QRDR-A mutations and LVX resistance phenotype. We tested 104 MDR isolates for their susceptibility to OFX, MFX, and LVX. Resistance to OFX was encountered in 10 (9.6%) of the isolates among which 8 (7.7%) were also resistant to LVX and 6 (5.7%) to MFX. Four isolates resistant to the 3 FQ were harboring the Asp94Gly substitution, whilst 2 other isolates resistant to OFX and LVX presented the Ala90Val mutation. No mutations were found in the QRDR-B region. The molecular modeling of the interaction between LVX and the DNA-DNA gyrase complex indicates that the loss of an acetyl group in the Asp94Gly mutation removes the acid base interaction with LVX necessary for the quinolone activity. The Ala90Val mutation that substitutes a methyl for an isopropyl group induces a steric modification that blocks the LVX access to the gyrase catalytic site.
Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma Presenting within the Meckel Diverticulum as Diverticulitis: A Case Report
Authors: Nael A. , Wu M. L. , Rao P. Nagesh , Rezk S. , Zhao X.
Published: April 2014

Meckel diverticulum is the most common congenital defect of the gastrointestinal tract. It can be asymptomatic or mimic appendicitis and may be complicated by bleeding, diverticulitis, obstruction, and, rarely, neoplasia. We report the first case of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma occupying a Meckel diverticulum. A 44-year-old man with history of colonic diverticulitis presented to the emergency department for evaluation of acute abdominal pain. Radiography showed enteric obstruction, prompting diagnostic laparoscopy. Above the level of mid-ileum an intact Meckel diverticulum was identified. Microscopy showed extensive infiltration of sheets of small lymphocytes with abundant cytoplasm (monocytoid B-cells) prominently in submucosa and focally transmural involving serosal adipose tissue with multiple reactive germinal centers. The immunostains showed positivity for CD20, BCL-2, and CD43 (weak) and negativity for CD3, CD5, BCL-1, CD10, and BCL-6 in monocytoid B-cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies revealed API2-MALT1 fusion signals consistent with t(11;18)(q21;q21), which confirmed the diagnosis of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, also known as mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.
Multiple Naïve Bayes Classifiers Ensemble for Traffic Incident Detection
Authors: Liu Qingchao , Lu Jian , Chen Shuyan , Zhao Kangjia
Published: April 2014

This study presents the applicability of the Naïve Bayes classifier ensemble for traffic incident detection. The standard Naive Bayes (NB) has been applied to traffic incident detection and has achieved good results. However, the detection result of the practically implemented NB depends on the choice of the optimal threshold, which is determined mathematically by using Bayesian concepts in the incident‐detection process. To avoid the burden of choosing the optimal threshold and tuning the parameters and, furthermore, to improve the limited classification performance of the NB and to enhance the detection performance, we propose an NB classifier ensemble for incident detection. In addition, we also propose to combine the Naïve Bayes and decision tree (NBTree) to detect incidents. In this paper, we discuss extensive experiments that were performed to evaluate the performances of three algorithms: standard NB, NB ensemble, and NBTree. The experimental results indicate that the performances of five rules of the NB classifier ensemble are significantly better than those of standard NB and slightly better than those of NBTree in terms of some indicators. More importantly, the performances of the NB classifier ensemble are very stable.
Design and Implementation of a Field Inspection Management System Based on Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Choi Shin-Hyeong , Park Hyoung-Keun
Published: April 2014

Various errors and failures occur every day in the plant field. However these errors have been managed manually by field inspector. In this paper, we present a design and implementation of a field inspection management system based on wireless sensor networks. This system works on a portable embedded device. To develop the field inspection management system, we analyzed work tasks and process in the plant field. In addition, we propose security measures for preventing information stealing and alteration in the embedded system. Through this system, we can manage effectively error information collected in the field.
Thomas-Fermi Model in the Presence of Natural Cutoffs
Authors: Nozari Kourosh , Haghani Z. , Vahedi J.
Published: April 2014

It has been revealed, in the context of quantum gravity candidates, that measurement of position cannot be done with arbitrary precision and there is a finite resolution of space-time points. This leads naturally to a minimal measurable length of the order of Planck length. Also, in the context of newly proposed doubly special relativity theories, a test particle’s momentum cannot be arbitrarily imprecise leading nontrivially to a maximal momentum for a test particle. These two natural cutoffs affects most of quantum field theoretic arguments in the spirit of condensed matter physics. Here we focus on the role of these natural cutoffs on Thomas-Fermi theory in condensed matter physics. We show how quantum gravity effects can play important role phenomenologically in many-body interactions of solids.
Evaluation of Three Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Systems for Identification of Respiratory Viruses in Clinical Specimens by Multiplex Real-Time PCR
Authors: Kim Yoonjung , Han Mi-Soon , Kim Juwon , Kwon Aerin , Lee Kyung-A
Published: April 2014

A total of 84 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from 84 patients. Viral nucleic acid was extracted by three automated extraction systems: QIAcube (Qiagen, Germany), EZ1 Advanced XL (Qiagen), and MICROLAB Nimbus IVD (Hamilton, USA). Fourteen RNA viruses and two DNA viruses were detected using the Anyplex II RV16 Detection kit (Seegene, Republic of Korea). The EZ1 Advanced XL system demonstrated the best analytical sensitivity for all the three viral strains. The nucleic acids extracted by EZ1 Advanced XL showed higher positive rates for virus detection than the others. Meanwhile, the MICROLAB Nimbus IVD system was comprised of fully automated steps from nucleic extraction to PCR setup function that could reduce human errors. For the nucleic acids recovered from nasopharyngeal swab specimens, the QIAcube system showed the fewest false negative results and the best concordance rate, and it may be more suitable for detecting various viruses including RNA and DNA virus strains. Each system showed different sensitivity and specificity for detection of certain viral pathogens and demonstrated different characteristics such as turnaround time and sample capacity. Therefore, these factors should be considered when new nucleic acid extraction systems are introduced to the laboratory.
Research on Rock Fracture Surface Morphology Characterization under Brazilian Test
Authors: Feng Zhigang , Pan Xuezai , Dai Guoxing , Liu Hongguang
Published: April 2014

In order to test the differences in the morphology characterization of rock fracture surfaces under different loading directions and rates, the following three steps are operated. Firstly, using Brazilian test, the Brazilian discs are loaded to fracture under different loading modes. Secondly, each rock fracture surface is scanned with a highly accurate laser profilometer and accordingly the coordinates of three lines on every rock fracture surface and three sections of every line are selected to analyze their fracture morphology characterization. Finally, modulus maximum method of wavelet transform, including a new defined power algorithm and signal to noise ratio, and fractal variation method are used to determine the differences in rock fracture surfaces’ morphology characterization under different loading directions and rates. The result illustrates that both modulus maximum and fractal variation method can detect anisotropy of rock fracture failure. Compared to modulus maximum method, fractal variation method shows stronger sensitivity to the change of loading rates, which is more suitable to differentiate the rock fracture surface’s morphology characterization under different loading modes.
Distensibility and Strength of the Pelvic Floor Muscles of Women in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Petricelli Carla Dellabarba , Resende Ana Paula Magalhães , Elito Júnior Julio , Araujo Júnior Edward , Alexandre Sandra Maria , Zanetti Miriam Raquel Diniz , Nakamura Mary Uchiyama
Published: April 2014

Objective.The objective of this study was to compare the role of the pelvic floor muscles between nulliparous and multiparous women in the third trimester of pregnancy, by analyzing the relationship between electrical activity (surface electromyography—EMG), vaginal palpation (modified Oxford scale), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no).Methods.This was an observational cross-sectional study on a sample of 60 healthy pregnant women with no cervical dilation, single fetus, gestational age between 35 and 40 weeks, and maternal age ranging from 15 to 40 years. The methods used were bidigital palpation (modified Oxford scale, graded 0–5), surface EMG (electrical activity during maximal voluntary contraction), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no device). The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyze the Epi-no values and the surface EMG findings. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the median values from surface EMG and Epi-no, using the modified Oxford scale scores.Results.Among the 60 patients included in this study, 30 were nulliparous and 30 multiparous. The average maternal age and gestational age were 26.06 (±5.58) and 36.56 (±1.23), respectively. It was observed that nulliparous women had both higher perineal muscle strength (2.53 ± 0.57versus2.06 ± 0.64;P = 0.005) and higher electrical activity (45.35 ± 12.24 μV versus35.79 ± 11.66 μV;P = 0.003), while among the multiparous women, distensibility was higher (19.39 ± 1.92versus18.05 ± 2.14;P = 0.013). We observed that there was no correlation between perineal distensibility and electrical activity during maximal voluntary contraction (r = -0.193;P = 0.140). However, we found a positive relationship between vaginal palpation and surface electromyography (P = 0.008), but none between Epi-no values (P = 0.785).Conclusion.The electrical activity and muscle strength of the pelvic floor muscles of the multiparous women were damaged, in relation to the nulliparous women, while the perineal distensibility was lower in the latter group. There was a positive relationship between surface EMG and the modified Oxford scale.
An Error Control Method with Linear Block Code in Sensor Networks
Authors: Shim Yong-Geol
Published: April 2014

An error control method is investigated and obtained by combination of the modulation and linear block code in sensor networks. The constructed coding scheme is multistage decoded using a new low-complexity soft-decision decoding method in sensor networks. Computer simulations of the proposed method are presented and compared with the reunion junction technique. The proposed method shows a better performance than the reunion junction technique. The low complexity of the method allows the use of long linear block codes. It is possible to construct an efficient bandwidth multilevel code on signal set partitioning. A wide range of design tradeoffs are possible with multilevel codes. Composite codes are possible using component codes.
Application of Sumudu Decomposition Method to Solve Nonlinear System Volterra Integrodifferential Equations
Authors: Eltayeb Hassan , Kılıçman Adem , Mesloub Said
Published: April 2014

We develop a method to obtain approximate solutions for nonlinear systems of Volterra integrodifferential equations with the help of Sumudu decomposition method (SDM). The technique is based on the application of Sumudu transform to nonlinear coupled Volterra integrodifferential equations. The nonlinear term can easily be handled with the help of Adomian polynomials. We illustrate this technique with the help of three examples and results of the present technique have close agreement with approximate solutions which were obtained with the help of Adomian decomposition method (ADM).
The Method of Lines for Ternary Diffusion Problems
Authors: Leszczyński Henryk , Matusik Milena
Published: April 2014

The method of lines (MOL) for diffusion equations with Neumann boundary conditions is considered. These equations are transformed by a discretization in space variables into systems of ordinary differential equations. The proposed ODEs satisfy the mass conservation law. The stability of solutions of these ODEs with respect to discreteL2norms and discreteW1,∞norms is investigated. Numerical examples confirm the parabolic behaviour of this model and very regular dynamics.
Constants within Error Estimates for Legendre-Galerkin Spectral Approximations of Control-Constrained Optimal Control Problems
Authors: Zhou Jianwei
Published: April 2014

Explicit formulae of constants within the aposteriorierror estimate for optimal control problems are investigated with Legendre-Galerkin spectral methods. The constrained set is put on the control variable. For simpleness, one-dimensional bounded domain is taken. Meanwhile, the corresponding aposteriorierror indicator is established with explicit constants.
BMPs as Therapeutic Targets and Biomarkers in Astrocytic Glioma
Authors: González-Gómez Pilar , Anselmo Nilson Praia , Mira Helena
Published: April 2014

Astrocytic glioma is the most common brain tumor. The glioma initiating cell (GIC) fraction of the tumor is considered as highly chemoresistant, suggesting that GICs are responsible for glioma relapse. A potential treatment for glioma is to induce differentiation of GICs to a more benign and/or druggable cell type. Given BMPs are among the most potent inducers of GIC differentiation, they have been considered as noncytotoxic therapeutic compounds that may be of use to prevent growth and recurrence of glioma. We herein summarize advances made in the understanding of the role of BMP signaling in astrocytic glioma, with a particular emphasis on the effects exerted on GICs. We discuss the prognostic value of BMP signaling components and the implications of BMPs in the differentiation of GICs and in their sensitization to alkylating drugs and oncolytic therapy/chemotherapy. This mechanistic insight may provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention of brain cancer.
A Spectral Relaxation Approach for Unsteady Boundary-Layer Flow and Heat Transfer of a Nanofluid over a Permeable Stretching/Shrinking Sheet
Authors: Motsa S. S. , Sibanda P. , Ngnotchouye J. M. , Marewo G. T.
Published: April 2014

This paper introduces two novel numerical algorithms for the efficient solution of coupled systems of nonlinear boundary value problems. The methods are benchmarked against existing methods by finding dual solutions of the highly nonlinear system of equations that model the flow of a viscoelastic liquid of Oldroyd-B type in a channel of infinite extent. The methods discussed here are the spectral relaxation method and spectral quasi-linearisation method. To verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methods a comparative evaluation of the performance of the methods against established numerical techniques is given.
Reaching Perinatal Women Online: TheHealthy You, Healthy BabyWebsite and App
Authors: Hearn Lydia , Miller Margaret , Lester Leanne
Published: April 2014

Overwhelming evidence reveals the close link between unwarranted weight gain among childbearing women and childhood adiposity. Yet current barriers limit the capacity of perinatal health care providers (PHCPs) to offer healthy lifestyle counselling. In response, today’s Internet savvy women are turning to online resources to access health information, with the potential of revolutionising health services by enabling PHCPs to guide women to appropriate online resources. This paper presents the findings of a project designed to develop an online resource to promote healthy lifestyles during the perinatal period. The methodology involved focus groups and interviews with perinatal women and PHCPs to determine what online information was needed, in what form, and how best it should be presented. The outcome was the development of the Healthy You, Healthy Baby website and smartphone app. This clinically-endorsed, interactive online resource provides perinatal women with a personalised tool to track their weight, diet, physical activity, emotional wellbeing, and sleep patterns based on the developmental stage of their child with links to quality-assured information. One year since the launch of the online resource, data indicates it provides a low-cost intervention delivered across most geographic and socioeconomic strata without additional demands on health service staff.
Serum Leptin Concentrations in Turkish Parkinson’s Disease Population
Authors: Ozdilek Betul , Kenangil Gulay
Published: April 2014

Objectives. To investigate leptin levels and their relationship to body composition and demographic and clinical characteristics of Turkish patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).Patients and Methods. Forty eligible PD patients and 25 healthy controls were included in the study. Body composition measurements (height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI)) of the whole sample and clinical findings of PD patients were evaluated in the on-state. A single 5 mL fasting blood sample was obtained from each participant in the morning. Severity of PD was evaluated using the Hoehn and Yahr scale and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale.Results. The mean age of the patients and controls was60.8±9.4and61.8±5.8years, while the mean BMI was30.17±5.10and28.03±3.23and the mean leptin levels were6.8±6.9and3.9±3.8 ng/mL, respectively. Only age and gender were correlated with leptin levels. There was a significant difference (P<0.001) in leptin levels between male (3.6±3.1 ng/mL) and female (14.3±7.7 ng/mL) PD patients. Among the male PD patients, older age and higher BMI and WC values were associated with higher mean leptin levels. There was not any significant relationship between leptin levels and clinical findings in PD patients.Conclusion. These results may suggest that leptin levels have no determinative role in the follow-up of PD patients with regard to the severity and clinical prognosis of PD.
Redundancy Model and Boundary Effects Based Coverage-Enhancing Algorithm for 3D Underwater Sensor Networks
Authors: Huang Junjie , Sun Lijuan , Wei Xun , Sun Peng , Huang Haiping , Wang Ruchuan
Published: April 2014

In the study of three-dimensional underwater sensor networks, the nodes would produce changes in perception range under the influence of environmental factors and their own hardware. Requesting all nodes completely isomorphic is unrealistic. Ignoring boundary effects usually causes the coverage effect of the actual deployment of networks to not reach the anticipated result. This paper firstly presents an underwater sensing model with normal distributed node sensing radius. Secondly, it gives the relationship between expected deployment quality and the number of nodes in the premise of considering boundary effects. Then, it deduces nodes’ redundancy formula based on the sensing model with normal distributed node sensing radius, making node could determine whether itself is a redundant node only based on the number of its neighbour nodes. Furthermore, this paper proposes a redundancy model and boundary effects based coverage-enhancing algorithm for three-dimensional underwater sensor networks (RBCT). Simulation results show that RBCT, compared to similar algorithms, has certain advantages in saving energy and enhancing coverage rate.
An Intelligence Optimized Rolling Grey Forecasting Model Fitting to Small Economic Dataset
Authors: Liu Li , Wang Qianru , Liu Ming , Li Lian
Published: April 2014

Grey system theory has been widely used to forecast the economic data that are often highly nonlinear, irregular, and nonstationary. The size of these economic datasets is often very small. Many models based on grey system theory could be adapted to various economic time series data. However, some of these models did not consider the impact of recent data or the effective model parameters that can improve forecast accuracy. In this paper, we proposed the PRGM(1,1) model, a rolling mechanism based grey model optimized by the particle swarm optimization, in order to improve the forecast accuracy. The experiment shows that PRGM(1,1) gets much better forecast accuracy among other widely used grey models on three actual economic datasets.
ADAMTS-12: A Multifaced Metalloproteinase in Arthritis and Inflammation
Authors: Wei Jianlu , Richbourgh Brendon , Jia Tanghong , Liu Chuanju
Published: April 2014

ADAMTS-12 is a member of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) family of proteases, which were known to play important roles in various biological and pathological processes, such as development, angiogenesis, inflammation, cancer, arthritis, and atherosclerosis. In this review, we briefly summarize the structural organization of ADAMTS-12; concentrate on the emerging role of ADAMTS-12 in several pathophysiological conditions, including intervertebral disc degeneration, tumorigenesis and angioinhibitory effects, pediatric stroke, gonad differentiation, trophoblast invasion, and genetic linkage to schizophrenia and asthma, with special focus on its role in arthritis and inflammation; and end with the perspective research of ADAMTS-12 and its potential as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target in various kinds of diseases and conditions.
Obesity Disease and Surgery
Authors: Al-Mulhim Abdulrahman Saleh , Al-Hussaini Hessah Abdulaziz , Al-Jalal Bashaeer Abdullah , Al-Moagal Rehab Omar , Al-Najjar Sara Abdullah
Published: April 2014

Obesity is a medical disease that is increasing significantly nowadays. Worldwide obesity prevalence doubled since 1980. Obese patients are at great risk for complications with physical and psychological burdens, thus affecting their quality of life. Obesity is well known to have higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, musculoskeletal diseases and shorter life expectancy. In addition, obesity has a great impact on surgical diseases, and elective surgeries in comparison to general population. There is higher risk for wound infection, longer operative time, poorer outcome, and others. The higher the BMI (body mass index), the higher the risk for these complications. This literature review illustrates the prevalence of obesity as a diseases and complications of obesity in general as well as, in a surgical point of view, general surgery perioperative risks and complications among obese patients. It will review the evidence-based updates in these headlines.
A Prospective Study of Soft Tissue Tumors Histocytopathology Correlation
Authors: Soni Priyanka Bhatia , Verma Anand Kumar , Chandoke Raj Kumar , Nigam Jitendra Singh
Published: April 2014

Background. Soft tissue tumors are defined as nonepithelial extraskeletal tissue of the body exclusive of the reticuloendothelial system, glia, and supporting tissue of various parenchymal organs. The absence of recognizable tissue architectural patterns in cytological preparation makes diagnosis by FNAC more difficult. Aims. To assess the utility of FNAC in diagnosing soft tissue tumors and to determine their patterns compared with with the respective histopathology results. Materials and Methods. 150 cases of soft tissue tumors were included in this study for cytologic and histologic correlation. FNAC air dried smears were stained with Giemsa stain and 95% ethanol fixed smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain. The smears were studied for cytological diagnosis and were categorized as benign, suspicious of malignancy, and malignant along with specific subtyping of the lesion. All diagnostic FNAC results were compared for diagnostic concordance using histology results as the “gold standard.” Results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and efficiency were 70%, 100%, 97.90%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. P value was <0.0001 which shows statistically extreme significant correlation. Conclusion. FNAC is a very important preliminary diagnostic tool in palpable soft tissue lumps with high degree of correlation with the final histopathology report.
Dynamics of Almost Periodic BAM Neural Networks with Neutral Delays
Authors: Li Yaqin
Published: April 2014

The paper investigates the almost periodic oscillatory properties of neutral-type BAM neural networks with time-varying delays. By employing the contracting mapping principle and constructing suitable Lyapunov functional, several sufficient conditions are established for the existence, uniqueness, and global exponential stability of almost periodic solution of the system. The results of this paper are new and a simple example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the new results.
Distributed Relay-Assisted Retransmission Scheme for Wireless Home Networks
Authors: Park Seunghyun , Park Hyunhee , Kim Eui-Jik
Published: April 2014

A relay transmission is a promising technology to improve network performance in dynamic infrastructure. In this paper, we propose a distributed relay-assisted retransmission (DRR) scheme in multirate wireless home networks. The idea is to exploit overhearing nodes to retransmit on behalf of sender node after receiving the block acknowledgement (B-ACK) from destination node. For the first transmission, a basic relay (BR) node is used by considering the high data rate between source node and BR node. And then, for the retransmission, a retransmission relay (RR) node is used by considering the high data rate between RR node and destination node. The DRR scheme extends a distributed reservation protocol in WiMedia home networks and inquires the candidate relay node as BR nodes and RR nodes during beacon period. In addition, the DRR scheme can minimize control overhead for relay transmission because all nodes should send and listen to the beacon frames of neighbor nodes during beacon period. We also present the relay decision scheme and channel allocation procedure for maximizing the efficiency in the DRR scheme. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the DRR scheme can improve the overall throughput by 40% and reduce the energy consumption by 47% compared with nonrelay transmission schemes when the number of nodes increases.
Qingkailing Suppresses the Activation of BV2 Microglial Cells by Inhibiting Hypoxia/Reoxygenation‐Induced Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Mana Lulu , Wang Shan , Zhu Haiyan , Xing Yanwei , Lou Lixia , Wu Aiming , Dong Bin , Sun Yikun , Yang Shuo , Wang Lin , Gao Yonghong
Published: April 2014

Qingkailing (QKL) is a well‐known composite extract used in traditional Chinese medicine. This extract has been extensively administered to treat the acute phase of cerebrovascular disease. Our previous experiments confirmed that QKL exerts an inhibitory effect on cerebral ischemia‐induced inflammatory responses. However, whether QKL suppresses the activation of microglia, the primary resident immune cells in the brain, has yet to be determined. In this study, BV2 microglial cells were used to validate the protective effects of QKL treatment following ischemia‐reperfusion injury simulated via hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro. Under these conditions, high expression levels of ROS, COX‐2, iNOS, and p‐p38 protein were detected. Following ischemia/reperfusion injury, QKL significantly increased the activity of BV2 cells to approximately the basal level by modulating microglial activation via inhibition of inflammatory factors, including TNF‐α, COX‐2, iNOS, and p‐p38. However, QKL treatment also displayed dose‐dependent differences in its inhibitory effects on p38 phosphorylation and inflammatory factor expression.
Cortisol Is an Associated-Risk Factor of Brain Dysfunction in Patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock
Authors: Nguyen Duc Nam , Huyghens Luc , Zhang Haibo , Schiettecatte Johan , Smitz Johan , Vincent Jean-Louis
Published: April 2014

Objectives. To investigate cortisol levels in brain dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.Methods. In 128 septic and sedated patients, we studied brain dysfunction including delirium and coma by the evaluation of Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), the Confusion Method Assessment in the ICU (CAM-ICU) after sedation withdrawal and the measurement of serum S100B biomarker of brain injury. Serum cortisol and S100B were measured within 12 hours after ICU admission and daily over the next four days.Results. Brain dysfunction was observed in 50% (64/128) before but in 84% (107/128) of patients after sedation withdrawal, and was more common in the patients older than 57 years (P= 0.009). Both cortisol (P= 0.007) and S100B levels (P= 0.028) were higher in patients with than patients without brain dysfunction. Cortisol levels were associated with ICU mortality (hazard ratio = 1.17,P= 0.024). Multivariate logistic regression showed that cortisol (odds ratio (OR): 2.34, 95% CI (2.01, 3.22),P= 0.02) and the combination effect of cortisol with age (OR: 1.004, 95% CI (1.002, 1.93),P= 0.038) but not S100B were associated with brain dysfunction.Conclusions. Cortisol was an associated-risk factor of brain dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
Multiply Warped Products with a Semisymmetric Metric Connection
Authors: Wang Yong
Published: April 2014

We study the Einstein multiply warped products with a semisymmetric metric connection and the multiply warped products with a semisymmetric metric connection with constant scalar curvature, and we apply our results to generalized Robertson-Walker space-times with a semisymmetric metric connection and generalized Kasner space-times with a semisymmetric metric connection and find some new examples of Einstein manifolds with a semisymmetric metric connection and manifolds with constant scalar curvature with a semisymmetric metric connection.
A Novel Single Neuron Perceptron with Universal Approximation and XOR Computation Properties
Authors: Lotfi Ehsan , Akbarzadeh-T M.-R.
Published: April 2014

We propose a biologically motivated brain-inspired single neuron perceptron (SNP) with universal approximation and XOR computation properties. This computational model extends the input pattern and is based on the excitatory and inhibitory learning rules inspired from neural connections in the human brain’s nervous system. The resulting architecture of SNP can be trained by supervised excitatory and inhibitory online learning rules. The main features of proposed single layer perceptron are universal approximation property and low computational complexity. The method is tested on 6 UCI (University of California, Irvine) pattern recognition and classification datasets. Various comparisons with multilayer perceptron (MLP) with gradient decent backpropagation (GDBP) learning algorithm indicate the superiority of the approach in terms of higher accuracy, lower time, and spatial complexity, as well as faster training. Hence, we believe the proposed approach can be generally applicable to various problems such as in pattern recognition and classification.
Coordinated Actions of FXR and LXR in Metabolism: From Pathogenesis to Pharmacological Targets for Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ding Lin , Pang Shuguang , Sun Yongmei , Tian Yuling , Yu Li , Dang Ningning
Published: April 2014

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most prevalent metabolic disease, and many people are suffering from its complications driven by hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-inducible transcription factors that mediate changes to metabolic pathways within the body. As metabolic regulators, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the liver X receptor (LXR) play key roles in the pathogenesis of T2D, which remains to be clarified in detail. Here we review the recent progress concerning the physiological and pathophysiological roles of FXRs and LXRs in the regulation of bile acid, lipid and glucose metabolism and the implications in T2D, taking into account that these two nuclear receptors are potential pharmaceutical targets for the treatment of T2D and its complications.
A Matrix Approach to Hypergraph Stable Set and Coloring Problems with Its Application to Storing Problem
Authors: Meng Min , Feng Jun-e
Published: April 2014

This paper considers the stable set and coloring problems of hypergraphs and presents several new results and algorithms using the semitensor product of matrices. By the definitions of an incidence matrix of a hypergraph and characteristic logical vector of a vertex subset, an equivalent algebraic condition is established for hypergraph stable sets, as well as a new algorithm, which can be used to search all the stable sets of any hypergraph. Then, the vertex coloring problem is investigated, and a necessary and sufficient condition in the form of algebraic inequalities is derived. Furthermore, with an algorithm, all the coloring schemes and minimum coloring partitions with the givenqcolors can be calculated for any hypergraph. Finally, one illustrative example and its application to storing problem are provided to show the effectiveness and applicability of the theoretical results.
Strength Analysis of the Carbon‐Fiber Reinforced Polymer Impeller Based on Fluid Solid Coupling Method
Authors: Lin Jinbao , Jin Yanjuan , Zhang Zhu , Cui Xiaochao
Published: April 2014

Carbon‐fiber reinforced polymer material impeller is designed for the centrifugal pump to deliver corrosive, toxic, and abrasive media in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The pressure‐velocity coupling fields in the pump are obtained from the CFD simulation. The stress distribution of the impeller couple caused by the flow water pressure and rotation centrifugal force of the blade is analyzed using one‐way fluid‐solid coupling method. Results show that the strength of the impeller can meet the requirement of the centrifugal pumps, and the largest stress occurred around the blades root on a pressure side of blade surface. Due to the existence of stress concentration at the blades root, the fatigue limit of the impeller would be reduced greatly. In the further structure optimal design, the blade root should be strengthened.
Development of Ray Tracing Algorithms for Scanning Plane and Transverse Plane Analysis for Satellite Multibeam Application
Authors: Abd Rahman N. H. , Islam M. T. , Misran N. , Yamada Y. , Michishita N.
Published: April 2014

Reflector antennas have been widely used in many areas. In the implementation of parabolic reflector antenna for broadcasting satellite applications, it is essential for the spacecraft antenna to provide precise contoured beam to effectively serve the required region. For this purpose, combinations of more than one beam are required. Therefore, a tool utilizing ray tracing method is developed to calculate precise off-axis beams for multibeam antenna system. In the multibeam system, each beam will be fed from different feed positions to allow the main beam to be radiated at the exact direction on the coverage area. Thus, detailed study on caustics of a parabolic reflector antenna is performed and presented in this paper, which is to investigate the behaviour of the rays and its relation to various antenna parameters. In order to produce accurate data for the analysis, the caustic behaviours are investigated in two distinctive modes: scanning plane and transverse plane. This paper presents the detailed discussions on the derivation of the ray tracing algorithms, the establishment of the equations of caustic loci, and the verification of the method through calculation of radiation pattern.
Construction of Approximate Analytical Solutions to Strongly Nonlinear Coupled van der Pol Oscillators
Authors: Qian Y. H. , Liu W. K. , Chen S. M.
Published: April 2014

Using nonlinear theory to research vibration model of engineering system has important theoretical and practical significance. Multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) coupled van der Pol oscillator is a typical model in the nonlinear vibration; many complex dynamic problems in practical engineering can be simplified as this model to be solved in the end. This paper discusses a class of two-degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) coupled van der Pol oscillator, which was divided into three parameters of different situations α1≠α2, β1≠β2, and γ1≠γ2 to discuss. Employing symbolic software such as Mathematica for those problems, the explicit analytical solutions of frequency ω and displacements x1( t) and x2( t) are well formulated. Results showed that the homotopy analysis method (HAM) can effectively deal with this kind of parameter of different coupled vibrators, just request the values of some parameters are not too big. Finally, we got four important theorems to simplify the solution of the nonlinear system.
A Study of Digital Image Enlargement and Enhancement
Authors: Lin Hsueh-Yi , Lin Chi-Yuan , Lin Cheng-Jian , Yang Sheng-Chih , Yu Cheng-Yi
Published: April 2014

Most image enlargement techniques suffer the problem of zigzagged edges and jagged images following enlargement. Humans are sensitive to the edges of objects; if the edges in the image are sharp, the visual is considered to be high quality. To solve this problem, this paper presents a new and effective method for image enlargement and enhancement based on adaptive inverse hyperbolic tangent (AIHT) algorithm. Conventional image enlargement and enhancement methods enlarge the image using interpolation, and subsequently enhance the image without considering image features. However, this study presents the method based on Adaptive Inverse Hyperbolic Tangent algorithm to enhance images according to image features before enlarging the image. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm is capable of adaptively enhancing the image and extruding object details, thereby improving enlargements by smoothing the edge of the objects in the image.