bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic limits of nanophotonic light trapping in thin film silicon solar cells
Authors: Maynard Brian R. , Schiff E.A.
Published: March 2014

We have extended an earlier thermodynamic treatment of light-trapping in lattice-textured solar cells to higher absorptances. This treatment is used to calculate the quantum efficiency spectra and short-circuit current densities JSC for thin-film silicon solar cells with ideal lattice textures. An optimal triangular lattice period of 900 nm yields a calculated JSC that is 2 mA/cm2 larger than for ideal random textures in a 1000 nm thick cell. We compare the calculations to recent experiments with periodically textured cells. While the experimental cells give JSC values that are comparable to the best cells with conventional textures, they do not show the features associated with the prediction of higher JSC. We discuss the role of imperfections in the periodic texturing, and suggest that cells used with solar tracking may realize the predicted JSC improvement.
Renormalization of massless Feynman amplitudes in configuration space
Authors: Nikolov Nikolay M. , Stora Raymond , Todorov Ivan
Published: March 2014

A systematic study of recursive renormalization of Feynman amplitudes is carried out both in Euclidean and in Minkowski configuration spaces. For a massless quantum field theory (QFT), we use the technique of extending associate homogeneous distributions to complete the renormalization recursion. A homogeneous (Poincaré covariant) amplitude is said to be convergent if it admits a (unique covariant) extension as a homogeneous distribution. For any amplitude without subdivergences — i.e. for a Feynman distribution that is homogeneous off the full (small) diagonal — we define a renormalization invariant residue. Its vanishing is a necessary and sufficient condition for the convergence of such an amplitude. It extends to arbitrary — not necessarily primitively divergent — Feynman amplitudes. This notion of convergence is finer than the usual power counting criterion and includes cancellation of divergences.
Holstein–Primakoff realization of Higgs algebra and its q-extension
Authors: Chung Won Sang
Published: March 2014

In this paper, Holstein–Primakoff realization of Higgs algebra is obtained by using the linear (or quadratic) deformation of Heisenberg algebra and q-deformed Higgs algebra is proposed. Some applications such as Kepler problem in a two-dimensional curved space and SUSY quantum mechanics are also discussed.
Riemann zeta zeros and zero-point energy
Authors: Dueñas J. G. , Svaiter N. F.
Published: March 2014

The sequence of nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function is zeta regularizable. Therefore, systems with countably infinite number of degrees of freedom described by self-adjoint operators whose spectra is given by this sequence admit a functional integral formulation. We discuss the consequences of the existence of such self-adjoint operators in field theory framework. We assume that they act on a massive scalar field coupled to a background field in a (d+1)-dimensional flat space–time where the scalar field is confined to the interval [0, a] in one of its dimensions and there are no restrictions in the other dimensions. The renormalized zero-point energy of this system is presented using techniques of dimensional and analytic regularization. In even-dimensional space–time, the series that defines the regularized vacuum energy is finite. For the odd-dimensional case, to obtain a finite vacuum energy per unit area, we are forced to introduce mass counterterms. A Riemann mass appears, which is the correction to the mass of the field generated by the nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function.
INDEX AND SOLVABILITY OF UNCOUPLED CIRCUITS: A CHARACTERIZATION WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR PASSIVITY, TOPOLOGY OR CONTROLLING STRUCTURE
Authors: DE LA VEGA IGNACIO GARCÍA , RIAZA RICARDO
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we extend the topological formulae of Maxwell and Kirchhoff, characterizing the non-singularity of node-admittance and loop-impedance matrices, to mixed problems, that is, to circuits combining admittance and impedance descriptions or, in nonlinear cases, involving both voltage- and current-controlled resistors. By means of this mixed formula we analyze the index of differential-algebraic models of nonlinear uncoupled circuits in a very broad setting, namely, without assumptions on their topology, their passivity or the controlling variables for nonlinear resistors. In particular, our approach allows for a characterization of index two circuits in topologically degenerate settings, which had been so far elusive in the non-passive context. As a byproduct we address the unique solvability of mixed resistive circuits, a problem which also arises in connection to the so-called DC-solvability condition of dynamic circuits. For the sake of brevity, we discuss in less detail how to extend the analysis to problems with mixed descriptions in reactive devices.
Stochastic calculus for fractional Lévy processes
Authors: He Kai
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we construct fractional Lévy processes for any parameter H ∈ (0, 1), as the generalization of the fractional Brownian motion. By using Malliavin calculus, we also define the stochastic integral for fractional Lévy processes.
Modeling and qualitative analysis of diabetes therapies with state feedback control
Authors: Huang Mingzhan , Song Xinyu
Published: March 2014

For the therapies of diabetes mellitus, a novel mathematical model with two state impulses: impulsive injection of insulin and impulsive injection of glucagon, is proposed. To avoid hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, the injections of insulin and glucagon are determined by closely monitoring the plasma glucose level of the patients. By using differential equation geometry theory, the existence of periodic solution and the attraction region of the system have been obtained, which ensures that injections in such an automated way can keep the blood glucose concentration under control. The simulation results verify that the better insulin injection strategy in closed-loop control is a larger dose but longer interval rather than a smaller dose but shorter interval. Besides, our numerical analysis reveals that medicine studies and practice that slow down the insulin degradation are helpful for the plasma glucose control. Our findings can provide significant guidance in both design of artificial pancreas and clinical treatment.
In situ high pressure synthesis of cBN-based composites
Authors: Xue Yanan , Qin Jiaqian , Zhang Xinyu , Ma Mingzhen , He Duanwei , Liu Riping
Published: March 2014

Vickers hardness, phase combination, elastic modulus and cutting performance of the cubic boron nitride (cBN) based composites with different cBN weight ratios sintered at high pressure and high temperature were investigated. During high-pressure sintering, reactions occurred between cBN and Ti 3 SiC 2, then new compounds, TiB 2, C 0.7 N 0.3 Ti , SiC and SiB 4 were formed, and no hBN phase was observed. Bulk modulus and hardness of the cBN composites decreased with increasing Ti 3 SiC 2 contents in raw mixture, and the highest hardness of 35.9 GPa was achieved for 95 wt.% cBN–5 wt.% Ti 3 SiC 2 composition specimen sintered at 1600°C. In addition, the present cBN-based composites exhibited good cutting performance.
Epitaxial BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 film prepared by sol–gel method combined with rapid thermal annealing
Authors: Wang K. M. , Li L. , Su Y. T. , Zhou Y. , Li X. H. , Li M. , Sui Y. , Ma L. X. , Liu B. T.
Published: March 2014

Epitaxial BiFe 0.95 Mn 0.05 O 3 (BFMO) film with room-temperature switching properties is prepared on SrTiO 3 (STO) substrate with a SrRuO 3 (SRO) buffer layer by sol–gel method coupled with rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The remnant polarization and coercive field of SRO/BFMO/SRO capacitor, measured at 455 kV/cm, are 51.8 μC/cm2 and 153.5 kV/cm, respectively. Besides the good fatigue resistance and retention characteristics, the relatively small leakage current density of the capacitor is mainly attributed to the suppression of oxygen vacancies resulting from RTA. Moreover, the SRO/BFMO/SRO capacitor satisfies the Ohmic conduction behavior at fields lower than 90 kV/cm, and the Schottky emission at fields higher than 90 kV/cm.
The Vestibular-Auditory Interaction for Auditory Brainstem Response to Low Frequencies
Authors: Emami Seyede Faranak , Gohari Nasrin
Published: March 2014

Since saccular projection is sound sensitive, the objective is to investigate the possibility that the saccular projections may contribute to auditory brainstem response to 500 HZ tone burst (ABR500 HZ). During the case-control research, twenty healthy controls compared to forty selected case groups as having chronic and resistant BPPV were evaluated in the audiology department of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (Hamadan, Iran). Assessment is comprised of audiologic examinations, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), and ABR500 HZ. We found that forty affected ears of BPPV patients with decreased vestibular excitability as detected by abnormal cVEMPs had abnormal results in ABR500 HZ, whereas unaffected ears presented normal findings. Multiple comparisons of mean p13, n23 latencies, and peak-to-peak amplitudes between three groups (affected, unaffected, and healthy ears) were significant. In conclusion, the saccular nerves can be projective to auditory bundles and interact with auditory brainstem response to low frequencies. Combine the cVEMPs and ABR500 HZ in battery approach tests of vestibular assessment and produce valuable data for judgment on the site of lesion. Regarding vestibular cooperation for making of wave V, it is reasonable that the term of ABR500 HZ is not adequate and the new term or vestibular-auditory brainstem response to 500 HZ tone burst is more suitable.
Hybridization of Cognitive Radar and Phased Array Radar Having Low Probability of Intercept Transmit Beamforming
Authors: Basit Abdul , Qureshi Ijaz Mansoor , Khan Wasim , Ulhaq Ihsan , Khan Shafqat Ullah
Published: March 2014

A novel design of a cognitive radar (CR) hybridized with a phased array radar (PAR) having a low probability of intercept (LPI) transmit beam forming is proposed. PAR directed high gain property reveals its position to interceptors. Hence, the PAR high gain scanned beam patterns, over the entire surveillance region, are spoiled to get the series of low gain basis patterns. For unaffected array detection performance, these basis patterns are linearly combined to synthesize the high gain beam pattern in the desired direction using the set of weight. Genetic algorithm (GA) based evolutionary computing technique finds these weights offline and stores to memory. The emerging CR technology, having distinct properties (i.e., information feedback, memory, and processing at receiver and transmitter), is hybridized with PAR having LPI property. The proposed radar receiver estimates the interceptor range and the direction of arrival (DOA), using the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the GA, respectively, and sends as feedback to transmitter. Selector block in transmitter gets appropriate weights from memory to synthesize the high gain beam pattern in accordance with the interceptor range and the direction. Simulations and the results validate the ability of the proposed radar.
The Use of the Phrenic Nerve Communicating Branch to the Fifth Cervical Root for Nerve Transfer to the Suprascapular Nerve in Infants with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy
Authors: Al-Qattan M. M. , El-Sayed A. A. F.
Published: March 2014

Traditionally, suprascapular nerve reconstruction in obstetric brachial plexus palsy is done using either the proximal C5 root stump or the spinal accessory nerve. This paper introduces another potential donor nerve for neurotizing the suprascapular nerve: the phrenic nerve communicating branch to the C5 root. The prevalence of this communicating branch ranges from 23% to 62% in various anatomical dissections. Over the last two decades, the phrenic communicating branch was used to reconstruct the suprascapular nerve in 15 infants. Another 15 infants in whom the accessory nerve was used to reconstruct the suprascapular nerve were selected to match the former 15 cases with regard to age at the time of surgery, type of palsy, and number of avulsed roots. The results showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups with regard to recovery of external rotation of the shoulder. It was concluded that the phrenic nerve communicating branch may be considered as another option to neurotize the suprascapular nerve.
Effects of Paracetamol on NOS, COX, and CYP Activity and on Oxidative Stress in Healthy Male Subjects, Rat Hepatocytes, and Recombinant NOS
Authors: Trettin Arne , Böhmer Anke , Suchy Maria-Theresia , Probst Irmelin , Staerk Ulrich , Stichtenoth Dirk O. , Frölich Jürgen C. , Tsikas Dimitrios
Published: March 2014

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a widely used analgesic drug. It interacts with various enzyme families including cytochrome P450 (CYP), cyclooxygenase (COX), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and this interplay may produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the effects of paracetamol on prostacyclin, thromboxane, nitric oxide (NO), and oxidative stress in four male subjects who received a single 3 g oral dose of paracetamol. Thromboxane and prostacyclin synthesis was assessed by measuring their major urinary metabolites 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2and 2,3-dinor-6-ketoprostaglandin F1α, respectively. Endothelial NO synthesis was assessed by measuring nitrite in plasma. Urinary 15(S)-8-iso-prostaglanding F2αwas measured to assess oxidative stress. Plasma oleic acid oxide (cis-EpOA) was measured as a marker of cytochrome P450 activity. Upon paracetamol administration, prostacyclin synthesis was strongly inhibited, while NO synthesis increased and thromboxane synthesis remained almost unchanged. Paracetamol may shift the COX-dependent vasodilatation/vasoconstriction balance at the cost of vasodilatation. This effect may be antagonized by increasing endothelial NO synthesis. High-dosed paracetamol did not increase oxidative stress. At pharmacologically relevant concentrations, paracetamol did not affect NO synthesis/bioavailability by recombinant human endothelial NOS or inducible NOS in rat hepatocytes. We conclude that paracetamol does not increase oxidative stress in humans.
A Three-Dimensional OFDM System with PAPR Reduction Method for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Chen Zhenxing , Kang Seog Geun
Published: March 2014

A three-dimensional (3D) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system with peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction method for the wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is presented. The transmit power of wireless nodes in an ad hoc network is strictly limited. Thus, high PAPR of the 3D OFDM system is a possible drawback when it is considered as a physical layer transmission scheme for the WSNs. Here, we propose an improved partial transmit sequence (PTS) technique to reduce PAPR of the OFDM system with 3D modulation formats. In the proposed algorithm, the components of 3D signals are assigned to different subblocks using a diagonal rule (DR), increasing randomness of the signals in the disjoint subblocks forcibly. As a result, the proposed method reduces PAPR of the 3D OFDM system significantly without increase in computational complexity. Hence, the proposed algorithm makes the 3D OFDM system be a possible candidate for a physical layer transmission scheme in future WSNs.
Optimization Design of the Ultra‐High‐Speed Vertical Rotor’s Supporting Mechanism
Authors: Liu Yongguang , Gao Xiaohui , Yang Xiaowei , Wang Yixuan
Published: March 2014

How to increase the rotational speed and decrease vibration of the rotor in the acceleration has become an attractive subject, especially for the vertical rotors. This paper introduces a novel supporting mechanism to make the vertical rotor work at 80000 r/min smoothly. How to design and optimize the sensitive parameters of the supporting mechanism is the core problem to reduce the vibration in passing through critical speeds. Therefore, the FEM (finite element method) considering the gyroscopic couple is introduced to get the dynamic characteristic of the rotor system. The matching principle of the upper and lower supporting mechanism in the two‐degree freedom system is extended to the multiple degree‐freedom system, which is applied to optimize the parameters of the supporting mechanism combining with dynamic characteristic of the rotors system. At last, the rotor system can work at 80000 r/min smoothly in experiment.
A Note on Jordan, Adamović-Mitrinović, and Cusa Inequalities
Authors: Yang Zhen-Hang , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: March 2014

We improve the Jordan, Adamović-Mitrinović, and Cusa inequalities. As applications, several new Shafer-Fink type inequalities for inverse sine function and bivariate means inequalities are established, and a new estimate for sine integral is given.
Psychosocial and Quality of Life Outcomes of Prosthetic Auricular Rehabilitation with CAD/CAM Technology
Authors: Tam Chi Keung , McGrath Colman Patrick , Ho Samuel Mun Yin , Pow Edmond Ho Nang , Luk Henry Wai Kuen , Cheung Lim Kwong
Published: March 2014

Introduction. The psychosocial and quality of life (QoL) of patients with deformed or missing ears are frequently compromised. The aim of this study is to develop innovative techniques using CAD/CAM technology in prosthetic auricular rehabilitation and provide improvement in the treatment outcomes, including their psychology and QoL.Methods. This is a preliminary clinical cohort study. Six patients requesting for auricular reconstruction were recruited and rehabilitated with implant-supported prosthesis using CAD/CAM technology. Different treatment outcomes including QoL and psychological changes were assessed at different time points.Results. A significant reduction in severity of depressive symptoms(P=0.038)and an improving trend of satisfaction with life were found at 1 year postoperatively when compared with the preoperative findings. The domain scores in ‘‘Body image’’, ‘‘Family/friends/strangers’’, and ‘‘Mood’’ were also significantly higher(P<0.05)at 1 year postoperatively than 1 week postoperatively. However, only 50% of the patients wear their auricular prosthesis regularly.Conclusion. This preliminary study has confirmed that implant-supported auricular prosthesis could induce improvement in the psychology and QoL with statistically significant differences in the domains of the body image, social interaction, and mood. Our present findings can inform research design and hypotheses generation of future studies.
Followee Recommendation in Microblog Using Matrix Factorization Model with Structural Regularization
Authors: Yu Yan , Qiu Robin G.
Published: March 2014

Microblog that provides us a new communication and information sharing platform has been growing exponentially since it emerged just a few years ago. To microblog users, recommending followees who can serve as high quality information sources is a competitive service. To address this problem, in this paper we propose a matrix factorization model with structural regularization to improve the accuracy of followee recommendation in microblog. More specifically, we adapt the matrix factorization model in traditional item recommender systems to followee recommendation in microblog and use structural regularization to exploit structure information of social network to constrain matrix factorization model. The experimental analysis on a real-world dataset shows that our proposed model is promising.
An Efficient Diffusion Scheme for Chaos‐Based Digital Image Encryption
Authors: Chen Jun-xin , Zhu Zhi-liang , Zhang Li-bo , Fu Chong , Yu Hai
Published: March 2014

In recent years, amounts of permutation‐diffusion architecture‐based image cryptosystems have been proposed. However, the key stream elements in the diffusion procedure are merely depending on the secret key that is usually fixed during the whole encryption process. Cryptosystems of this type suffer from unsatisfactory encryption speed and are considered insecure upon known/chosen plaintext attacks. In this paper, an efficient diffusion scheme is proposed. This scheme consists of two diffusion procedures, with a supplementary diffusion procedure padded after the normal diffusion. In the supplementary diffusion module, the control parameter of the selected chaotic map is altered by the resultant image produced after the normal diffusion operation. As a result, a slight difference in the plain image can be transferred to the chaotic iteration and bring about distinct key streams, and hence totally different cipher images will be produced. Therefore, the scheme can remarkably accelerate the diffusion effect of the cryptosystem and will effectively resist known/chosen plaintext attacks. Theoretical analyses and experimental results prove the high security performance and satisfactory operation efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Towards an Environmental Measurement Cloud: Delivering Pollution Awareness to the Public
Authors: Domínguez Federico , Dauwe Samuel , Cuong Nguyen The , Cariolaro Dimitri , Touhafi Abdellah , Dhoedt Bart , Botteldooren Dick , Steenhaut Kris
Published: March 2014

Geosensor networks and sensor webs are two technologies widely used for determining our exposure to pollution levels and ensuring that this information is publicly available. However, most of these networks are independent from each other and often designed for specific domains, hindering the integration of sensor data from different sources. We contributed to the integration of several environmental sensor networks in the context of the IDEA project. The objective of this project was to measure noise and air quality pollution levels in urban areas in Belgium using low-cost sensors. This paper presents the IDEA Environmental Measurement Cloud as a proof-of-concept Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) cloud platform that integrates environmental sensor networks with a sensor web. Our DaaS platform implements a federated two-layer architecture to loosely couple together sensor networks deployed over a wide geographical area with web services. It offers several data access, discovery, and visualization services to the public while serving as a scientific tool for noise pollution research. After one year of operation, it hosts approximately 6.5 TB of environmental data and offers to the public near real-time noise pollution measurements from over 40 locations in Belgium.
Mathematical Modeling of a Transient Vibration Control Strategy Using a Switchable Mass Stiffness Compound System
Authors: Francisco Ledezma-Ramirez Diego , Ferguson Neil , Salas Zamarripa Adriana
Published: March 2014

A theoretical control strategy for residual vibration control resulting from a shock pulse is studied. The semiactive control strategy is applied in a piecewise linear compound model and involves an on-off logic to connect and disconnect a secondary mass stiffness system from the primary isolation device, with the aim of providing high energy dissipation for lightly damped systems. The compound model is characterized by an energy dissipation mechanism due to the inelastic collision between the two masses and then viscous damping is introduced and its effects are analyzed. The objective of the simulations is to evaluate the transient vibration response in comparison to the results for a passive viscously damped single degree-of-freedom system considered as the benchmark or reference case. Similarly the decay in the compound system is associated with an equivalent decay rate or logarithmic decrement for direct comparison. It is found how the compound system provides improved isolation compared to the passive system, and the damping mechanisms are explained.
Weighted Morrey Estimates for Multilinear Fourier Multiplier Operators
Authors: Wang Songbai , Jiang Yinsheng , Li Peng
Published: March 2014

The multilinear Fourier multipliers and their commutators with Sobolev regularity are studied. The purpose of this paper is to establish that these operators are bounded on certain product Morrey spacesLp,k(ℝn). Based on the boundedness of these operators fromLp1(ω1)×⋯×Lpm(ωm)toLp(∏j=1m‍ωp/pj), we obtained that they are also bounded fromLp1,k(ω1)×⋯×Lpm,k(ωm)toLp,k(∏j=1m‍ωp/pj), with0<k<1,1<pj<∞,1/p=1/p1+⋯+1/pm, andωj∈Apj,j=1,…,m.
The Role of Foaming Agent and Processing Route in Mechanical Performance of Fabricated Aluminum Foams
Authors: Byakova Alexandra , Kartuzov Iegor , Gnyloskurenko Svyatoslav , Nakamura Takashi
Published: March 2014

The results of this study highlight the role of foaming agent and processing route in influencing the contamination of cell wall material by side products, which, in turn, affects the macroscopic mechanical response of closed-cell Al-foams. Several kinds of Al-foams have been produced with pure Al/Al-alloys by the Alporas like melt process, all performed with and without Ca additive and processed either with conventional TiH2foaming agent or CaCO3as an alternative one. Damage behavior of contaminations was believed to affect the micromechanism of foam deformation, favoring either plastic buckling or brittle failure of cell walls. No discrepancy between experimental values of compressive strengths for Al-foams comprising ductile cell wall constituents and those prescribed by theoretical models for closed-cell structure was found while the presence of low ductile and/or brittle eutectic domains and contaminations including particles/layers of Al3Ti, residues of partially reacted TiH2, and Ca bearing compounds, results in reducing the compressive strength to values close to or even below those of open-cell foams of the same relative density.
Mining 3D Patterns from Gene Expression Temporal Data: A New Tricluster Evaluation Measure
Authors: Gutiérrez-Avilés David , Rubio-Escudero Cristina
Published: March 2014

Microarrays have revolutionized biotechnological research. The analysis of new data generated represents a computational challenge due to the characteristics of these data. Clustering techniques are applied to create groups of genes that exhibit a similar behavior. Biclustering emerges as a valuable tool for microarray data analysis since it relaxes the constraints for grouping, allowing genes to be evaluated only under a subset of the conditions. However, if a third dimension appears in the data, triclustering is the appropriate tool for the analysis. This occurs in longitudinal experiments in which the genes are evaluated under conditions at several time points. All clustering, biclustering, and triclustering techniques guide their search for solutions by a measure that evaluates the quality of clusters. We present an evaluation measure for triclusters called Mean Square Residue 3D. This measure is based on the classic biclustering measure Mean Square Residue. Mean Square Residue 3D has been applied to both synthetic and real data and it has proved to be capable of extracting groups of genes with homogeneous patterns in subsets of conditions and times, and these groups have shown a high correlation level and they are also related to their functional annotations extracted from the Gene Ontology project.
Angiogenesis and Proliferation Index in Patients with Acute Leukemia: A Prospective Study
Authors: Jothilingam Prabhavati , Basu Debdatta , Dutta Tarun K.
Published: March 2014

Angiogenesis and proliferation as measured by microvessel density (MVD) and proliferation index (PI) are essential correlates of malignancy. The aim of our study was to evaluate difference between these values in AML and ALL and also to study the modulation in these parameters following achievement of remission in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Differences between adult and adolescent cases of acute leukemia in relation to these values were also studied. We also tried to assess the relationship between angiogenesis and proliferation. Fifty-five patients with acute leukemia were included in the study. Trephine biopsies were immunostained with CD34 and factor VIIIrAg to demonstrate angiogenesis measured as MVD. Immunostaining with PCNA and Ki-67 was done to study proliferation. We found a significant increase in MVD and PI in cases when compared with controls (P<0.0001). In addition cases with ALL had a significantly higher MVD compared to those with AML (P<0.01). The patients with ALL who went into remission showed a significant reduction in MVD; PI remained high. The cases which did not achieve remission showed no significant reduction in either MVD or PI. All adolescent cases of ALL were similar to adults with respect to MVD and PI.
Efficacy of 1.5% Dish Washing Solution and 95% Lemon Water in Substituting Perilous Xylene as a Deparaffinizing Agent for Routine H and E Staining Procedure: A Short Study
Authors: Ananthaneni Anuradha , Namala Srilekha , Guduru Vijay Srinivas , Ramprasad V. V. S. , Ramisetty Sabitha Devi , Udayashankar Urmila , Naik Kiran Kumar
Published: March 2014

Aim. To assess the efficacy of dish washing solution and diluted lemon water in deparaffinizing sections during conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining technique.Objective. The objective is to utilize eco-friendly economical substitute for xylene.Materials and Methods. Using twenty paraffin embedded tissue blocks, three sections each were prepared. One section was stained with conventional H and E method (Group A) and the other two sections with xylene-free (XF) H and E (Groups B and C). Staining characteristics were compared with xylene and scoring was given. Total score of 3–5 was regarded as adequate for diagnosis and less than that inadequate for diagnosis.Statistical Analysis. Chi-square test, Kruskal Wallis ANOVA test, and Mann-WhitneyUtest were used.Results. Adequacy of nuclear staining, crispness, and staining for diagnosis were greater in both Groups A and C (100%) than Group B (95%). Adequacy of cytoplasmic staining was similar in all the three groups (100%). Group B showed comparatively superior uniform staining and less retention of wax.Conclusion. Dish washing solution or diluted lemon water can be replaced for xylene as deparaffinizing agent in hematoxylin and eosin procedure.
Approximating the Inverse of a Square Matrix with Application in Computation of the Moore-Penrose Inverse
Authors: Soleymani F. , Sharifi M. , Shateyi S.
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a computational iterative method to find approximate inverses for the inverse of matrices. Analysis of convergence reveals that the method reaches ninth-order convergence. The extension of the proposed iterative method for computing Moore-Penrose inverse is furnished. Numerical results including the comparisons with different existing methods of the same type in the literature will also be presented to manifest the superiority of the new algorithm in finding approximate inverses.
The Role of Epigenetics in the Fibrotic Processes Associated with Glaucoma
Authors: McDonnell Fiona , O’Brien Colm , Wallace Deborah
Published: March 2014

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that affects 60 million people worldwide. The main risk factor for glaucoma is increased intraocular pressure (IOP), this is currently the only target for treatment of glaucoma. However, some patients show disease progression despite well-controlled IOP. Another possible therapeutic target is the extracellular matrix (ECM) changes in glaucoma. There is an accumulation of ECM in the lamina cribrosa (LC) and trabecular meshwork (TM) and upregulation of profibrotic factors such as transforming growth factorβ(TGFβ), collagen1α1 (COL1A1), andα-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). One method of regulating fibrosis is through epigenetics; the study of heritable changes in gene function caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms have been shown to drive renal and pulmonary fibrosis by upregulating profibrotic factors. Hypoxia alters epigenetic mechanisms through regulating the cell’s response and there is a hypoxic environment in the LC and TM in glaucoma. This review looks at the role that hypoxia plays in inducing aberrant epigenetic mechanisms and the role these mechanisms play in inducing fibrosis. Evidence suggests that a hypoxic environment in glaucoma may induce aberrant epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to disease fibrosis. These may prove to be relevant therapeutic targets in glaucoma.
The Effect oftert-Butyl Hydroperoxide-Induced Oxidative Stress on Lean and Steatotic Rat HepatocytesIn Vitro
Authors: Kučera Otto , Endlicher René , Roušar Tomáš , Lotková Halka , Garnol Tomáš , Drahota Zdeněk , Červinková Zuzana
Published: March 2014

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play an important role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and toxic liver injury. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of exogenous inducer of oxidative stress (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, tBHP) on nonfatty and steatotic hepatocytes isolated from the liver of rats fed by standard and high-fat diet, respectively. In control steatotic hepatocytes, we found higher generation of ROS, increased lipoperoxidation, an altered redox state of glutathione, and decreased ADP-stimulated respiration using NADH-linked substrates, as compared to intact lean hepatocytes. Fatty hepatocytes exposed to tBHP exert more severe damage, lower reduced glutathione to total glutathione ratio, and higher formation of ROS and production of malondialdehyde and are more susceptible to tBHP-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Respiratory control ratio of complex I was significantly reduced by tBHP in both lean and steatotic hepatocytes, but reduction in NADH-dependent state 3 respiration was more severe in fatty cells. In summary, our results collectively indicate that steatotic rat hepatocytes occur under conditions of enhanced oxidative stress and are more sensitive to the exogenous source of oxidative injury. This confirms the hypothesis of steatosis being the first hit sensitizing hepatocytes to further damage.
Deregulation of Bone Forming Cells in Bone Diseases and Anabolic Effects of Strontium-Containing Agents and Biomaterials
Authors: Tan Shuang , Zhang Binbin , Zhu Xiaomei , Ao Ping , Guo Huajie , Yi Weihong , Zhou Guang-Qian
Published: March 2014

Age-related bone loss and osteoporosis are associated with bone remodeling changes that are featured with decreased trabecular and periosteal bone formation relative to bone resorption. Current anticatabolic therapies focusing on the inhibition of bone resorption may not be sufficient in the prevention or reversal of age-related bone deterioration and there is a big need in promoting osteoblastogenesis and bone formation. Enhanced understanding of the network formed by key signaling pathways and molecules regulating bone forming cells in health and diseases has therefore become highly significant. The successful development of agonist/antagonist of the PTH and Wnt signaling pathways are profits of the understanding of these key pathways. As the core component of an approved antiosteoporosis agent, strontium takes its effect on osteoblasts at multilevel through multiple pathways, representing a good example in revealing and exploring anabolic mechanisms. The recognition of strontium effects on bone has led to its expected application in a variety of biomaterial scaffolds used in tissue engineering strategies aiming at bone repairing and regeneration. While summarizing the recent progress in these respects, this review also proposes the new approaches such as systems biology in order to reveal new insights in the pathology of osteoporosis as well as possible discovery of new therapies.
A Nonparametric Operational Risk Modeling Approach Based on Cornish-Fisher Expansion
Authors: Zhu Xiaoqian , Li Jianping , Chen Jianming , YangHuo Yingqi , Gao Lijun , Feng Jichuang , Wu Dengsheng , Xie Yongjia
Published: March 2014

It is generally accepted that the choice of severity distribution in loss distribution approach has a significant effect on the operational risk capital estimation. However, the usually used parametric approaches with predefined distribution assumption might be not able to fit the severity distribution accurately. The objective of this paper is to propose a nonparametric operational risk modeling approach based on Cornish-Fisher expansion. In this approach, the samples of severity are generated by Cornish-Fisher expansion and then used in the Monte Carlo simulation to sketch the annual operational loss distribution. In the experiment, the proposed approach is employed to calculate the operational risk capital charge for the overall Chinese banking. The experiment dataset is the most comprehensive operational risk dataset in China as far as we know. The results show that the proposed approach is able to use the information of high order moments and might be more effective and stable than the usually used parametric approach.
Automatic Parking Based on a Bird's Eye View Vision System
Authors: Wang Chunxiang , Zhang Hengrun , Yang Ming , Wang Xudong , Ye Lei , Guo Chunzhao
Published: March 2014

This paper aims at realizing an automatic parking method through a bird's eye view vision system. With this method, vehicles can make robust and real-time detection and recognition of parking spaces. During parking process, the omnidirectional information of the environment can be obtained by using four on-board fisheye cameras around the vehicle, which are the main part of the bird's eye view vision system. In order to achieve this purpose, a polynomial fisheye distortion model is firstly used for camera calibration. An image mosaicking method based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used to combine four individual images from fisheye cameras into one omnidirectional bird's eye view image. Secondly, features of the parking spaces are extracted with a Radon transform based method. Finally, double circular trajectory planning and a preview control strategy are utilized to realize autonomous parking. Through experimental analysis, we can see that the proposed method can get effective and robust real-time results in both parking space recognition and automatic parking.
MX/G1, G2/1 with Setup Time, Bernoulli Vacation, Break Down, and Delayed Repair
Authors: Ayyappan G. , Shyamala S.
Published: March 2014

We present a single server in which customers arrive in batches and the server provides service one by one. The server provides two heterogeneous service stages such that service time of both stages is different and mandatory to all arriving customers in such a way that, after the completion of first stage, the second stage should also be provided to the customers. The server may subject to random breakdowns with brake down rate λ and, after break down, it should be repaired but it has to wait for being repaired and such waiting time is called delay time. Both the delay time and repair time follow exponential distribution. Upon the completion of the second stage service, the server will go for vacation with probability p or stay back in the system probability 1-p, if any. The vacation time follows general (arbitrary) distribution. Before providing service to a new customer or a batch of customers that joins the system in the renewed busy period, the server enters into a random setup time process such that setup time follows exponential distribution. We discuss the transient behavior and the corresponding steady state results with the performance measures of the model.
Oridonin Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Enhanced Antitumor Activity in MCF‐7 Cells
Authors: Wang Lu , Wang Shengpeng , Chen Ruie , Wang Yanping , Li Hui , Wang Yitao , Chen Meiwan
Published: March 2014

Oridonin (ORI), a famous diterpenoid from Chinese herbal medicine, has drawn rising attention for its remarkable apoptosis and autophagy‐inducing activity in human cancer therapy, while clinical application of ORI is limited by its strong hydrophobicity and rapid plasma clearance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the antitumor activity of ORI could be enhanced by loading into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). ORI‐loaded SLNs were prepared by hot high pressure homogenization with narrow size distribution and good entrapment efficacy. MTT assay indicated that ORI‐loaded SLNs enhanced the inhibition of proliferation against several human cancer cell lines including breast cancer MCF‐7 cells, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG 2 cells, and lung carcinoma A549 cells compared with free ORI, while no significant enhancement of toxicity to human mammary epithelial MCF‐10A cells was shown. Meanwhile, flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that ORI‐SLNs induced more significant cell cycle arrest at S and decreased cell cycle arrest at G1/G0 phase in MCF‐7 cells than bulk ORI solution. Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V/PI assay indicated that apoptotic rates of cells treated with ORI‐loaded SLNs were higher compared with free ORI. In summary, our data indicated that SLNs may be a potential carrier for enhancing the antitumor effect of hydrophobic drug ORI.
SO2 Poisoning Behaviors of Ca‐Mn/TiO2 Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3 at Low Temperature
Authors: Tian Qingqing , Liu Hongfeng , Yao Weiyuan , Wang Yan , Liu Yue , Wu Zhongbiao , Wang Haiqiang , Weng Xiaole
Published: March 2014

The sulfur tolerance of Ca modified MnOx
/TiO2 catalysts in low‐temperature SCR process was investigated. Experimental results revealed that the durability of developed catalysts in the presence of SO2 could be improved by Ca modification. After being subjected to a range of analytical techniques, it was found that the surface Ca species could act as a SO2 trap by preferentially reacting with SO2 to form bulk‐like CaSO4, inhibiting the sulfation of active phase. Furthermore, the introduction of SO2 had also preserved part of Lewis sites over the MnOx.
Both of these are conducive to NH3 adsorption and activation at low temperature, hence improving the sulfur tolerance of Ca doped catalysts.
Numerical Analysis of Pressure Fluctuation Intensity for a Low-Speed Sewage Centrifugal Pump
Authors: Pei Ji , Yuan Shouqi , Wang Wenjie
Published: March 2014

Sewage centrifugal pumps can operate at different flow rates with variable rotating speeds to meet different performance requirements and achieve certain energy consumption criteria in pipeline systems. In this paper, the unsteady pressure field has been investigated numerically by CFD calculation to evaluate the transient pressure variation in a single-blade pump running with low rotating speeds. Based on the CFD results, the pressure fluctuation intensity was analyzed quantitatively by defining the standard deviation of the pressure fluctuation of a revolution period. The analysis of the results shows that the flow rate can influence the fluctuation intensity distribution obviously, and the same intensity distribution law can be found in the volute domain for the same flow rates with different rotating speeds. Obvious asymmetrical distributions can be observed in both front and back side chamber channels, and the pressure fluctuation intensity in back side chamber is weaker than in front side chamber. This work can obtain the knowledge of unsteady pressure phenomenon for typical flow rates in the low-speed running single-blade pump and can provide basis to optimize and to obtain more reliable pump at variable rotating speeds.
Is Contrast Medium Osmolality a Causal Factor for Contrast-Induced Nephropathy?
Authors: Bucher Andreas M. , De Cecco Carlo N. , Schoepf U. Joseph , Meinel Felix G. , Krazinski Aleksander W. , Spearman James V. , McQuiston Andrew D. , Wang Rui , Bucher Judith , Vogl Thomas J. , Katzberg Richard W.
Published: March 2014

The exact pathophysiology of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is not fully clarified, yet the osmotic characteristics of contrast media (CM) have been a significant focus in many investigations of CIN. Osmotic effects of CM specific to the kidney include transient decreases in blood flow, filtration fraction, and glomerular filtration rate. Potentially significant secondary effects include an osmotically induced diuresis with a concomitant dehydrating effect. Clinical experiences that have compared the occurrence of CIN between the various classes of CM based on osmolality have suggested a much less than anticipated advantage, if any, with a lower osmolality. Recent animal experiments actually suggest that induction of a mild osmotic diuresis in association with iso-osmolar agents tends to offset potentially deleterious renal effects of high viscosity-mediated intratubular CM stagnation.
Oral Allergy Syndrome in a Child Provoked by Royal Jelly
Authors: Paola Fantini , Pantalea Delle Donne , Gianfranco Calogiuri , Antonio Ferrannini , Angelo Vacca , Eustachio Nettis , Elisabetta Di Leo
Published: March 2014

Royal jelly has been demonstrated to have several physiological activities. However, in the literature, different reactions induced by royal jelly are reported. We describe a case of seven-year-old child that was referred to our observation for two episodes of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) that appeared ten minutes after ingestion of royal jelly. Skin prick test with standard panel of inhalant and food allergens, a prick-to-prick test using the royal jelly’s extract responsible for patient’s reactions, and royal jelly patch test with extemporaneous preparation were performed. The specific IgE by ImmunoCAP System method versus Hymenoptera venom, inhalant allergens, food allergens, and lipid transfer proteins was dosed. According to the positive reactions to royal jelly both by prick-by-prick test and by a first reading patch test, royal jelly immediate hypersensitivity was diagnosed. According to the positive response for almond in bothin vivoandin vitrotests we can think of the royal jelly contamination with almond pollen as possible cause of patient’s reaction. Moreover, from the results of specific IgE titers versus Compositae pollens, we have argued the possibility that this case of royal jelly allergy could be explained also by the mechanism of cross-reaction with Compositae pollens.
Piezoelectric Phenomenon of Fullerene‐Graphene Bonded Structure
Authors: Aijiang Lu
Published: March 2014

The adsorption of a C60 molecule on the graphene revealed the contribution of a conductor‐semiconductor transition, based on a theoretical calculation. A stress or a strain was predicted as a possible reason to tune the transition backwards.
Martelli Chaotic Properties of a Generalized Form of Zadeh’s Extension Principle
Authors: Lan Yaoyao , Mu Chunlai
Published: March 2014

LetXdenote a compact metric space and letf : X→Xbe a continuous map. It is known that a discrete dynamical system (X,f) naturally induces its fuzzified counterpart, that is, a discrete dynamical system on the space of fuzzy compact subsets ofX. In 2011, a new generalized form of Zadeh’s extension principle, so-calledg-fuzzification, had been introduced by Kupka 2011. In this paper, we study the relations between Martelli’s chaotic properties of the original andg-fuzzified system. More specifically, we study the transitivity, sensitivity, and stability of the orbits in system (X,f) and its connections with the same ones in itsg-fuzzified system.