bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Directed Policy Search for Decision Making Using Relevance Vector Machines
Authors: Rexakis Ioannis , Lagoudakis Michail G.
Published: August 2014

Several recent learning approaches in decision making under uncertainty suggest the use of classifiers for representing policies compactly. The space of possible policies, even under such structured representations, is huge and must be searched carefully to avoid computationally expensive policy simulations (rollouts). In our recent work, we proposed a method for directed exploration of policy space using support vector classifiers, whereby rollouts are directed to states around the boundaries between different action choices indicated by the separating hyperplanes in the represented policies. While effective, this method suffers from the growing number of support vectors in the underlying classifiers as the number of training examples increases. In this paper, we propose an alternative method for directed policy search based on relevance vector machines. Relevance vector machines are used both for classification (to represent a policy) and regression (to approximate the corresponding relative action advantage function). Classification is enhanced by anomaly detection for accurate policy representation. Exploiting the internal structure of the regressor, we guide the probing of the state space only to critical areas corresponding to changes of action dominance in the underlying policy. This directed focus on critical parts of the state space iteratively leads to refinement and improvement of the underlying policy and delivers excellent control policies in only a few iterations, while the small number of relevance vectors yields significant computational time savings. We demonstrate the proposed approach and compare it with our previous method on standard reinforcement learning domains (inverted pendulum and mountain car).
A Mixture Model-Based Combination Approach for Outlier Detection
Authors: Bouguessa Mohamed
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we propose an approach that combines different outlier detection algorithms in order to gain an improved effectiveness. To this end, we first estimate an outlier score vector for each data object. Each element of the estimated vectors corresponds to an outlier score produced by a specific outlier detection algorithm. We then use the multivariate beta mixture model to cluster the outlier score vectors into several components so that the component that corresponds to the outliers can be identified. A notable feature of the proposed approach is the automatic identification of outliers, while most existing methods return only a ranked list of points, expecting the outliers to come first; or require empirical threshold estimation to identify outliers. Experimental results, on both synthetic and real data sets, show that our approach substantially enhances the accuracy of outlier base detectors considered in the combination and overcome their drawbacks.
An explicit formula for the A-polynomial of twist knots
Authors: Mathews Daniel V.
Published: August 2014

We extend Hoste–Shanahan's calculations for the A-polynomial of twist knots, to give an explicit formula.
Exactly separable Bohr Hamiltonian with the Morse potential for triaxial nuclei
Authors: Inci I.
Published: August 2014

In this paper, the Morse potential is used in the β-part of the collective Bohr Hamiltonian for triaxial nuclei. Energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained in a closed form through exactly separating the Hamiltonian into its variables by using an appropriate form of the potential. The results are applied to generate the nuclear spectrum of 192 Pt , 194 Pt and 196 Pt isotopes which are known to be the best candidate exhibiting triaxiality. Electric quadrupole transition ratios are calculated and then compared with the experimental data and the Z(5) model results.
Single-Point Characterization of Uninorms with Nilpotent Underlying T-Norm and T-Conorm
Authors: Li Gang , Liu Hua-Wen , Fodor János
Published: August 2014

Uninorms, as binary operations on the unit interval, have been widely applied in fuzzy set theory. In this paper, we study uninorms with nilpotent underlying t-norm and t-conorm. We prove that such a uninorm belongs to [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. Moreover, some construction methods of uninorms from given t-norm and t-conorm are discussed.
Optimization of Intrinsic Stochastic Resonance in Adaptive Newman–Watts Network of Channel Blocked Hodgkin–Huxley Neurons
Authors: Wang Qi , Gong Yubing , Wu Yanan
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we study stochastic resonance (SR) induced by channel noise in adaptive weighted Newman–Watts networks of Hodgkin–Huxley neurons with channel blocking (CB). It is found that the intrinsic SR is dependent on adaptive coupling and is strongly enhanced when the changing rate of adaptive coupling is optimal, and this phenomenon is independent of sodium and potassium CB levels. As CB increases, the channel noise for SR decreases, but the strength of intrinsic SR nearly does not change in the presence of adaptive coupling, which is different from the case for fixed coupling. These results show that intrinsic SR can be enhanced and optimized by adaptive coupling, and CB's effect on the intrinsic SR can be reduced by adaptive coupling. This implies that adaptive coupling could more efficiently improve the time precision of information processing in neural systems.
China's Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform
Authors: GORE Lance L P
Published: August 2014

The powerful Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms faces three main challenges: overcome resistance from status quo interests, establish the “new norm” and make the Chinese Communist Party rule compatible with new reality. The reform package enacted at the Third Plenum will need broadbased support and active participation from the entire cadre corps. These however may not be forthcoming since these reforms tend to undermine their interests.
miR-21 in ischemia/reperfusion injury: a double-edged sword?
Authors: Xu Xialian , Kriegel Alison J. , Jiao Xiaoyan , Liu Hong , Bai Xiaowen , Olson Jessica , Liang Mingyu , Ding Xiaoqiang
Published: August 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are endogenous, small RNA molecules that suppress expression of targeted mRNA. miR-21, one of the most extensively studied miRNAs, is importantly involved in divergent pathophysiological processes relating to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, such as inflammation and angiogenesis. The role of miR-21 in renal I/R is complex, with both protective and pathological pathways being regulated by miR-21. Preconditioning-induced upregulation of miR-21 contributes to the protection against subsequent renal I/R injury through the targeting of genes such as the proapoptotic gene programmed cell death 4 and interactions between miR-21 and hypoxia-inducible factor. Conversely, long-term elevation of miR-21 may be detrimental to the organ by promoting the development of renal interstitial fibrosis following I/R injury. miR-21 is importantly involved in several pathophysiological processes related to I/R injury including inflammation and angiogenesis as well as the biology of stem cells that could be used to treat I/R injury; however, the effect of miR-21 on these processes in renal I/R injury remains to be studied.
Dual-Feed Small-Size Penta-Band PIFA for LTE/WWAN Mobile Handset Applications
Authors: Liu Mingyang , Zhao Bin
Published: August 2014

A dual-feed small-size penta-band PIFA for LTE/WWAN mobile handset applications is presented. The proposed PIFA is composed of a simple U-shaped patch with dual-shorting pins connected to the ground plane. The patch, having a low profile of 5 mm, has dimensions of about 10 × 35 mm2. The antenna is excited at one arm of the U-shaped radiating patch to cover the higher band of GSM1800/1900/UMTS2100/LTE2300/2500, while it is excited at the other arm to realize the GSM900. In this way, the proposed PIFA achieves enhanced bandwidth coverage with no increased dimensions and additional active switches. In addition, the matching networks, employed on both feeds, ensure a high electrical insulation between the low and the high frequency bands, covered by the antenna. The measured antenna efficiency is 45%~50% and over 60% for the lower band and the higher band, respectively. A prototype of the proposed PIFA with dual-feed and dual-shorting pins was fabricated. The measured results including reflection coefficients and radiation characteristics are presented.
A Change in Students’ Perceptions of Peer and Faculty Attitudes to Rural Medicine following the Introduction of a Rural Health Rotation
Authors: Williamson Martyn
Published: August 2014

Introduction. In 2000, the Dunedin School of Medicine (one of Otago Medical School’s 3 clinical schools) introduced 7-week rural placement. A survey of students conducted before attending the placement showed that most students did not perceive faculty to have a positive view of rural health. In 2007, we explored whether students’ perceptions had changed. Method. All 5th year medical students at Otago Medical School were surveyed using items from the original study. The perceptions of students in Dunedin were compared with those of students in the other clinical schools (no rural rotation) and with those of students in the original study. Results. In 2007, there was a significantly increased likelihood of students from Dunedin reporting perceptions of positive faculty attitudes towards rural health compared with students from the other two clinical schools and with Dunedin students from the original survey. Conclusion. The results suggest that student perceptions of faculty attitudes in the school towards rural health may be changed following the introduction of a general practice rural placement to its curriculum.
Methylisothiazolinone: An Emergent Allergen in Common Pediatric Skin Care Products
Authors: Schlichte Megan J. , Katta Rajani
Published: August 2014

Recalcitrant dermatitis, such as that of the hands, face, or genitals, may be due to allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from ingredients in seemingly innocuous personal care products. Rising rates of allergy have been noted due to the preservative methylisothiazolinone (MI). This preservative is commonly found in skin and hair care products, especially wipes. This study evaluated the use of MI in products specifically marketed for babies and children and examined the associated marketing terms of such products. Ingredients of skin care products specifically marketed for babies and children were surveyed at two major retailers. Of 152 products surveyed, 30 products contained MI. Categories of products surveyed included facial or body wipes, antibacterial hand wipes, hair products, soaps, bubble baths, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Facial or body wipes and hair products were the categories with the greatest number of MI-containing products. MI-containing products were manufactured by a number of popular brands. Of note, products marketed as “gentle,” “sensitive,” “organic,” or “hypoallergenic” often contained MI, thus emphasizing the importance of consumer scrutiny of product choices. These findings reinforce the importance of educating parents and providing consumer decision-making advice regarding common skin care products, in order to help prevent ACD in children.
Distributed Cooperative Regulation for Multiagent Systems and Its Applications to Power Systems: A Survey
Authors: Hu Jianqiang , Li Yaping , Yong Taiyou , Cao Jinde , Yu Jie , Mao Wenbo
Published: August 2014

Cooperative regulation of multiagent systems has become an active research area in the past decade. This paper reviews some recent progress in distributed coordination control for leader-following multiagent systems and its applications in power system and mainly focuses on the cooperative tracking control in terms of consensus tracking control and containment tracking control. Next, methods on how to rank the network nodes are summarized for undirected/directed network, based on which one can determine which follower should be connected to leaders such that partial followers can perceive leaders’ information. Furthermore, we present a survey of the most relevant scientific studies investigating the regulation and optimization problems in power systems based on distributed strategies. Finally, some potential applications in the frequency tracking regulation of smart grids are discussed at the end of the paper.
The Trigonometric Polynomial Like Bernstein Polynomial
Authors: Han Xuli
Published: August 2014

A symmetric basis of trigonometric polynomial space is presented. Based on the basis, symmetric trigonometric polynomial approximants like Bernstein polynomials are constructed. Two kinds of nodes are given to show that the trigonometric polynomial sequence is uniformly convergent. The convergence of the derivative of the trigonometric polynomials is shown. Trigonometric quasi-interpolants of reproducing one degree of trigonometric polynomials are constructed. Some interesting properties of the trigonometric polynomials are given.
Global Renewable Energy-Based Electricity Generation and Smart Grid System for Energy Security
Authors: Islam M. A. , Hasanuzzaman M. , Rahim N. A. , Nahar A. , Hosenuzzaman M.
Published: August 2014

Energy is an indispensable factor for the economic growth and development of a country. Energy consumption is rapidly increasing worldwide. To fulfill this energy demand, alternative energy sources and efficient utilization are being explored. Various sources of renewable energy and their efficient utilization are comprehensively reviewed and presented in this paper. Also the trend in research and development for the technological advancement of energy utilization and smart grid system for future energy security is presented. Results show that renewable energy resources are becoming more prevalent as more electricity generation becomes necessary and could provide half of the total energy demands by 2050. To satisfy the future energy demand, the smart grid system can be used as an efficient system for energy security. The smart grid also delivers significant environmental benefits by conservation and renewable generation integration.
Secretoglobin Superfamily Protein SCGB3A2 Deficiency Potentiates Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Pulmonary Inflammation
Authors: Kido Taketomo , Yoneda Mitsuhiro , Cai Yan , Matsubara Tsutomu , Ward Jerrold M. , Kimura Shioko
Published: August 2014

Secretoglobin (SCGB) 3A2, a cytokine-like secretory protein of small molecular weight, which may play a role in lung inflammation, is predominantly expressed in airway epithelial cells. In order to understand the physiological role of SCGB3A2,Scgb3a2−/−mice were generated and characterized.Scgb3a2−/−mice did not exhibit any overt phenotypes. In ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced airway allergy inflammation model,Scgb3a2−/−mice in mixed background showed a decreased OVA-induced airway inflammation, while six times C57BL/6NCr backcrossed congenicScgb3a2−/−mice showed a slight exacerbation of OVA-induced airway inflammation as compared to wild-type littermates. These results indicate that the loss of SCGB3A2 function was influenced by a modifier gene(s) in mixed genetic background and suggest that SCGB3A2 has anti-inflammatory property. The results further suggest the possible use of recombinant human SCGB3A2 as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Retrotransposon-Based Molecular Markers for Analysis of Genetic Diversity within the GenusLinum
Authors: Melnikova Nataliya V. , Kudryavtseva Anna V. , Zelenin Alexander V. , Lakunina Valentina A. , Yurkevich Olga Yu. , Speranskaya Anna S. , Dmitriev Alexey A. , Krinitsina Anastasia A. , Belenikin Maxim S. , Uroshlev Leonid A. , Snezhkina Anastasiya V. , Sadritdinova Asiya F. , Koroban Nadezda V. , Amosova Alexandra V. , Samatadze Tatiana E. , Guzenko Elena V. , Lemesh Valentina A. , Savilova Anastasya M. , Rachinskaia Olga A. , Kishlyan Natalya V. , Rozhmina Tatiana A. , Bolsheva Nadezhda L. , Muravenko Olga V.
Published: August 2014

SSAP method was used to study the genetic diversity of 22Linumspecies from sectionsLinum,Adenolinum, Dasylinum, Stellerolinum, and 46 flax cultivars. All the studied flax varieties were distinguished using SSAP for retrotransposonsFL9andFL11. Thus, the validity of SSAP method was demonstrated for flax marking, identification of accessions in genebank collections, and control during propagation of flax varieties. Polymorphism ofFl1a, Fl1b, andCassandrainsertions were very low in flax varieties, but these retrotransposons were successfully used for the investigation ofLinumspecies. Species clusterization based on SSAP markers was in concordance with their taxonomic division into sectionsDasylinum, Stellerolinum, Adenolinum, andLinum. All species of sect.Adenolinumclustered apart from species of sect.Linum. The data confirmed the accuracy of the separation in these sections. Members of sectionLinumare not as closely related as members of other sections, so taxonomic revision of this section is desirable.L. usitatissimumaccessions genetically distant from modern flax cultivars were revealed in our work. These accessions are of utmost interest for flax breeding and introduction of new useful traits into flax cultivars. The chromosome localization ofCassandraretrotransposon inLinumspecies was determined.
A Finite Element Procedure with Poisson Iteration Method Adopting Pattern Approach Technique for Near-Incompressible Rubber Problems
Authors: Kwon Young-Doo , Kwon Soon-Bum , Lu Xiaozhe , Kwon Hyun-Wook
Published: August 2014

A finite element procedure is presented for the analysis of rubber-like hyperelastic materials. The volumetric incompressibility condition of rubber deformation is included in the formulation using the penalty method, while the principle of virtual work is used to derive a nonlinear finite element equation for the large displacement problem that is presented in a total-Lagrangian description. The behavior of rubber deformation is represented by hyperelastic constitutive relations based on a generalized Mooney-Rivlin model. The proposed finite element procedure using analytic differentiation exhibited results that matched very well with those from the well-known commercial packages NISA II and ABAQUS. Furthermore, the convergence of equilibrium iteration is quite slow or frequently fails in the case of near-incompressible rubber. To prevent such phenomenon even for the case that Poisson's ratio is very close to 0.5, Poisson's ratio of 0.49000 is used, first, to get an approximate solution without any difficulty; then the applied load is maintained and Poisson's ratio is increased to 0.49999 following a proposed pattern and adopting a technique of relaxation by monitoring the convergence rate. For a given Poisson ratio near 0.5, with this approach, we could reduce the number of substeps considerably.
Optimization of Ionic Liquid Based Simultaneous Ultrasonic- and Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Rutin and Quercetin from Leaves of Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Zhao Chunjian , Lu Zhicheng , Li Chunying , He Xin , Li Zhao , Shi Kunming , Yang Lei , Fu Yujie , Zu Yuangang
Published: August 2014

An ionic liquids based simultaneous ultrasonic and microwave assisted extraction (ILs-UMAE) method has been proposed for the extraction of rutin (RU), quercetin (QU), from velvetleaf leaves. The influential parameters of the ILs-UMAE were optimized by the single factor and the central composite design (CCD) experiments. A 2.00 M 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C4mim]Br) was used as the experimental ionic liquid, extraction temperature 60°C, extraction time 12 min, liquid-solid ratio 32 mL/g, microwave power of 534 W, and a fixed ultrasonic power of 50 W. Compared to conventional heating reflux extraction (HRE), the RU and QU extraction yields obtained by ILs-UMAE were, respectively, 5.49 mg/g and 0.27 mg/g, which increased, respectively, 2.01-fold and 2.34-fold with the recoveries that were in the range of 97.62–102.36% for RU and 97.33–102.21% for QU with RSDs lower than 3.2% under the optimized UMAE conditions. In addition, the shorter extraction time was used in ILs-UMAE, compared with HRE. Therefore, ILs-UMAE was a rapid and an efficient method for the extraction of RU and QU from the leaves of velvetleaf.
Pharmacologic Prophylaxis of Portal Venous System Thrombosis after Splenectomy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Qi Xingshun , Bai Ming , Guo Xiaozhong , Fan Daiming
Published: August 2014

Portal venous system thrombosis (PVST) is a life-threatening complication of splenectomy. A meta-analysis was conducted to explore the role of pharmacologic prophylaxis of PVST after splenectomy. Overall, 359 papers were initially identified via the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Eight of them were eligible. The incidence of PVST after splenectomy was significantly lower in patients who received the preventive measures than in those who did not (odds ratio [OR]: 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.47,P<0.00001). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the significant difference remained in studies including patients with portal hypertension (n=6), but not in those including patients with hematological diseases (n=2); the significant difference remained in studies using any type of prophylactic drugs (anticoagulants [n=6], thrombolytics [n=1], and prostaglandin E1 [n=1]); the significant difference remained in nonrandomized studies (n=5), but not in randomized studies (n=3). The risk of bleeding was similar between the two groups (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.10–4.04,P=0.64). In conclusion, pharmacologic prophylaxis might decrease the incidence of PVST after splenectomy in patients with portal hypertension and did not increase the risk of bleeding. However, the effect of pharmacologic prophylaxis of PVST in patients with hematological diseases remained questioned.
Integration Strategy Is a Key Step in Network-Based Analysis and Dramatically Affects Network Topological Properties and Inferring Outcomes
Authors: Jin Nana , Wu Deng , Gong Yonghui , Bi Xiaoman , Jiang Hong , Li Kongning , Wang Qianghu
Published: August 2014

An increasing number of experiments have been designed to detect intracellular and intercellular molecular interactions. Based on these molecular interactions (especially protein interactions), molecular networks have been built for using in several typical applications, such as the discovery of new disease genes and the identification of drug targets and molecular complexes. Because the data are incomplete and a considerable number of false-positive interactions exist, protein interactions from different sources are commonly integrated in network analyses to build a stable molecular network. Although various types of integration strategies are being applied in current studies, the topological properties of the networks from these different integration strategies, especially typical applications based on these network integration strategies, have not been rigorously evaluated. In this paper, systematic analyses were performed to evaluate 11 frequently used methods using two types of integration strategies: empirical and machine learning methods. The topological properties of the networks of these different integration strategies were found to significantly differ. Moreover, these networks were found to dramatically affect the outcomes of typical applications, such as disease gene predictions, drug target detections, and molecular complex identifications. The analysis presented in this paper could provide an important basis for future network-based biological researches.
Function Formula Oriented Construction of Bayesian Inference Nets for Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Sekar Booma Devi , Dong Mingchui
Published: August 2014

An intelligent cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnosis system using hemodynamic parameters (HDPs) derived from sphygmogram (SPG) signal is presented to support the emerging patient-centric healthcare models. To replicate clinical approach of diagnosis through a staged decision process, the Bayesian inference nets (BIN) are adapted. New approaches to construct a hierarchical multistage BIN using defined function formulas and a method employing fuzzy logic (FL) technology to quantify inference nodes with dynamic values of statistical parameters are proposed. The suggested methodology is validated by constructing hierarchical Bayesian fuzzy inference nets (HBFIN) to diagnose various heart pathologies from the deduced HDPs. The preliminary diagnostic results show that the proposed methodology has salient validity and effectiveness in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.
Newcastle Disease Virus Interaction in Targeted Therapy against Proliferation and Invasion Pathways of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Abdullah Jafri Malin , Mustafa Zulkifli , Ideris Aini
Published: August 2014

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), or grade IV glioma, is one of the most lethal forms of human brain cancer. Current bioscience has begun to depict more clearly the signalling pathways that are responsible for high-grade glioma initiation, migration, and invasion, opening the door for molecular-based targeted therapy. As such, the application of viruses such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as a novel biological bullet to specifically target aberrant signalling in GBM has brought new hope. The abnormal proliferation and aggressive invasion behaviour of GBM is reported to be associated with aberrant Rac1 protein signalling. NDV interacts with Rac1 upon viral entry, syncytium induction, and actin reorganization of the infected cell as part of the replication process. Ultimately, intracellular stress leads the infected glioma cell to undergo cell death. In this review, we describe the characteristics of malignant glioma and the aberrant genetics that drive its aggressive phenotype, and we focus on the use of oncolytic NDV in GBM-targeted therapy and the interaction of NDV in GBM signalling that leads to inhibition of GBM proliferation and invasion, and subsequently, cell death.
Ultra-Low-Voltage Low-Power Bulk-Driven Quasi-Floating-Gate Operational Transconductance Amplifier
Authors: Alsibai Ziad , Bay Abo Dabbous Salma
Published: August 2014

A new ultra-low-voltage (LV) low-power (LP) bulk-driven quasi-floating-gate (BD-QFG) operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) is presented in this paper. The proposed circuit is designed using 0.18 μm CMOS technology. A supply voltage of ±0.3 V and a quiescent bias current of 5 μA are used. The PSpice simulation result shows that the power consumption of the proposed BD-QFG OTA is 13.4 μW. Thus, the circuit is suitable for low-power applications. In order to confirm that the proposed BD-QFG OTA can be used in analog signal processing, a BD-QFG OTA-based diodeless precision rectifier is designed as an example application. This rectifier employs only two BD-QFG OTAs and consumes only 26.8 μW.
Development of Solar Drying Model for Selected Cambodian Fish Species
Authors: Hubackova Anna , Kucerova Iva , Chrun Rithy , Chaloupkova Petra , Banout Jan
Published: August 2014

A solar drying was investigated as one of perspective techniques for fish processing in Cambodia. The solar drying was compared to conventional drying in electric oven. Five typical Cambodian fish species were selected for this study. Mean solar drying temperature and drying air relative humidity were 55.6°C and 19.9%, respectively. The overall solar dryer efficiency was 12.37%, which is typical for natural convection solar dryers. An average evaporative capacity of solar dryer was 0.049 kg·h−1. Based on coefficient of determination (R2), chi-square (χ2) test, and root-mean-square error (RMSE), the most suitable models describing natural convection solar drying kinetics were Logarithmic model, Diffusion approximate model, and Two-term model for climbing perch and Nile tilapia, swamp eel and walking catfish and Channa fish, respectively. In case of electric oven drying, the Modified Page 1 model shows the best results for all investigated fish species except Channa fish where the two-term model is the best one. Sensory evaluation shows that most preferable fish is climbing perch, followed by Nile tilapia and walking catfish. This study brings new knowledge about drying kinetics of fresh water fish species in Cambodia and confirms the solar drying as acceptable technology for fish processing.
One Adaptive Synchronization Approach for Fractional-Order Chaotic System with Fractional-Order1<q<2
Authors: Zhou Ping , Bai Rongji
Published: August 2014

Based on a new stability result of equilibrium point in nonlinear fractional-order systems for fractional-order lying in1<q<2, one adaptive synchronization approach is established. The adaptive synchronization for the fractional-order Lorenz chaotic system with fractional-order1<q<2is considered. Numerical simulations show the validity and feasibility of the proposed scheme.
The Effects of Herbs and Fruits on Leukaemia
Authors: Saedi Tayebeh Azam , Md Noor Sabariah , Ismail Patimah , Othman Fauziah
Published: August 2014

In developing countries, herbal therapy is the first and basis form of treatment for most types of diseases. About 75–80% of the world’s population prefers herbal therapy as a major treatment due to its better adequacy and satisfactoriness, which enhance human body’s symmetry with minimal side effects. Fruits and plants have been presented from the past as promising tools in becoming a natural anticancer agents. Many of these plant extracts are currently used in cancer therapy and prevention. This review paper will particularly explore and emphasize on herbs and fruits used in the treatment of the leukaemia.
Green Nanoparticles for Mosquito Control
Authors: Soni Namita , Prakash Soam
Published: August 2014

Here, we have used the green method for synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles. In the present study the silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using the aqueous bark extract of Indian spice dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) (C. zyelanicumorC. verumJ. Presl). Additionally, we have used these synthesized nanoparticles for mosquito control. The larvicidal activity has been tested against the malaria vectorAnopheles stephensiand filariasis vectorCulex quinquefasciatus. The results were obtained using UV-visible spectrophotometer and the images were recorded with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The efficacy tests were then performed at different concentrations and varying numbers of hours by probit analysis. The synthesized AgNPs were in spherical shape and average sizes (11.77 nm AgNPs and 46.48 nm AuNPs). The larvae ofAn. stephensiwere found highly susceptible to the synthesized AgNPs and AuNPs than theCx. quinquefasciatus. These results suggest that theC. zeylanicumsynthesized silver and gold nanoparticles have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of mosquito.
An Alternative Approach to Energy Eigenvalue Problems of Anharmonic Potentials
Authors: Ozer Okan , Koklu Halide
Published: August 2014

Energy eigenvalues of quartic and sextic type anharmonic potentials are obtained by using an alternative method called asymptotic Taylor expansion method (ATEM) which is an approximate approach based on the asymptotic Taylor series expansion of a function. It is shown that the energy eigenvalues found by ATEM are in excellent agreement with the existing results.
TolC Promotes ExPEC Biofilm Formation and Curli Production in Response to Medium Osmolarity
Authors: Hou Bo , Meng Xian-Rong , Zhang Li-Yuan , Tan Chen , Jin Hui , Zhou Rui , Gao Jian-Feng , Wu Bin , Li Zi-Li , Liu Mei , Chen Huan-Chun , Bi Ding-Ren , Li Shao-Wen
Published: August 2014

While a high osmolarity medium activates Cpx signaling and causes CpxR to represscsgDexpression, and efflux protein TolC protein plays an important role in biofilm formation inEscherichia coli,whether TolC also responds to an osmolarity change to regulate biofilm formation in extraintestinal pathogenicE. coli(ExPEC) remains unknown. In this study, we constructedΔtolCmutant and complement ExPEC strains to investigate the role of TolC in the retention of biofilm formation and curli production capability under different osmotic conditions. TheΔtolCmutant showed significantly decreased biofilm formation and lost the ability to produce curli fimbriae compared to its parent ExPEC strain PPECC42 when cultured in M9 medium or 1/2 M9 medium of increased osmolarity with NaCl or sucrose at 28°C. However, biofilm formation and curli production levels were restored to wild-type levels in theΔtolCmutant in 1/2 M9 medium. We propose for the first time that TolC protein is able to form biofilm even under high osmotic stress. Our findings reveal an interplay between the role of TolC in ExPEC biofilm formation and the osmolarity of the surrounding environment, thus providing guidance for the development of a treatment for ExPEC biofilm formation.
Agmatine Protects against Zymosan-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice by Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated Inflammatory Response
Authors: Li Xuanfei , Liu Zheng , Jin He , Fan Xia , Yang Xue , Tang Wanqi , Yan Jun , Liang Huaping
Published: August 2014

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by overwhelming lung inflammation and anti-inflammation treatment is proposed to be a therapeutic strategy for ALI. Agmatine, a cationic polyamine formed by decarboxylation of L-arginine, is an endogenous neuromodulator that plays protective roles in diverse central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Consistent with its neuromodulatory and neuroprotective properties, agmatine has been reported to have beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, hypoxic ischemia, Parkinson’s disease, and gastric disorder. In this study, we tested the effect of agmatine on the lung inflammation induced by Zymosan (ZYM) challenge in mice. We found that agmatine treatment relieved ZYM-induced acute lung injury, as evidenced by the reduced histological scores, wet/dry weight ratio, and myeloperoxidase activity in the lung tissue. This was accompanied by reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and decreased iNOS expression in lung. Furthermore, agmatine inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB and subsequently blocked the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB induced by Zymosan. Taken together, our results showed that agmatine treatment inhibited NF-κB signaling in lungs and protected mice against ALI induced by Zymosan, suggesting agmatine may be a potential safe and effective approach for the treatment of ALI.
ABO and Rhesus Blood Groups and Risk of Endometriosis in a French Caucasian Population of 633 Patients Living in the Same Geographic Area
Authors: Borghese Bruno , Chartier Mélanie , Souza Carlos , Santulli Pietro , Lafay-Pillet Marie-Christine , de Ziegler Dominique , Chapron Charles
Published: August 2014

Objectives. The identification of epidemiological factors increasing the risk of endometriosis could shorten the time to diagnosis. Specific blood groups may be more common in patients with endometriosis.Study Design. We designed a cross-sectional study of 633 Caucasian women living in the same geographic area. Study group included 311 patients with histologically proven endometriosis. Control group included 322 patients without endometriosis as checked during surgery. Frequencies of ABO and Rhesus groups in the study and control groups were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results. We observed a higher proportion of Rh-negative women in the study group, as compared to healthy controls. Multivariate analysis showed that Rh-negative women are twice as likely to develop endometriosis (aOR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.20–2.90). There was no significant difference in ABO group distribution between patients and controls. There was no difference when taking into account either the clinical forms (superficial endometriosis, endometrioma, and deep infiltration endometriosis) or the rAFS stages.Conclusion. Rh-negative women are twice as likely to develop endometriosis. Chromosome 1p, which contains the genes coding for the Rhesus, could also harbor endometriosis susceptibility genes.
Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Nanocellulose: Structure and Chemical Process
Authors: Lee H. V. , Hamid S. B. A. , Zain S. K.
Published: August 2014

Lignocellulosic biomass is a complex biopolymer that is primary composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The presence of cellulose in biomass is able to depolymerise into nanodimension biomaterial, with exceptional mechanical properties for biocomposites, pharmaceutical carriers, and electronic substrate’s application. However, the entangled biomass ultrastructure consists of inherent properties, such as strong lignin layers, low cellulose accessibility to chemicals, and high cellulose crystallinity, which inhibit the digestibility of the biomass for cellulose extraction. This situation offers both challenges and promises for the biomass biorefinery development to utilize the cellulose from lignocellulosic biomass. Thus, multistep biorefinery processes are necessary to ensure the deconstruction of noncellulosic content in lignocellulosic biomass, while maintaining cellulose product for further hydrolysis into nanocellulose material. In this review, we discuss the molecular structure basis for biomass recalcitrance, reengineering process of lignocellulosic biomass into nanocellulose via chemical, and novel catalytic approaches. Furthermore, review on catalyst design to overcome key barriers regarding the natural resistance of biomass will be presented herein.
Experiment and Simulation Study on the Amorphous Silicon Photovoltaic Walls
Authors: Zhang Wenjie , Hao Bin , Li Nianping
Published: August 2014

Based on comparative study on two amorphous silicon photovoltaic walls (a-Si PV walls), the temperature distribution and the instant power were tested; and with EnergyPlus software, similar models of the walls were built to simulate annual power generation and air conditioning load. On typical sunshine day, the corresponding position temperature of nonventilated PV wall was generally 0.5~1.5°C higher than that of ventilated one, while the power generation was 0.2%~0.4% lower, which was consistent with the simulation results with a difference of 0.41% in annual energy output. As simulation results, in summer, comparing the PV walls with normal wall, the heat per unit area of these two photovoltaic walls was 5.25 kWh/m2(nonventilated) and 0.67 kWh/m2(ventilated) higher, respectively. But in winter the heat loss of nonventilated one was smaller, while ventilated PV wall was similar to normal wall. To annual energy consumption of heating and cooling, the building with ventilated PV wall and normal wall was also similar but slightly better than nonventilated one. Therefore, it is inferred that, at low latitudes, such as Zhuhai, China, air gap ventilation is suitable, while the length to thickness ratio of the air gap needs to be taken into account.
Theoretical Analysis and Circuit Verification for Fractional‐Order Chaotic Behavior in a New Hyperchaotic System
Authors: Liu Ling , Liu Chongxin
Published: August 2014

A novel nonlinear four‐dimensional hyperchaotic system and its fractional‐order form are presented. Some dynamical behaviors of this system are further investigated, including Poincaré mapping, parameter phase portraits, equilibrium points, bifurcations, and calculated Lyapunov exponents. A simple fourth‐channel block circuit diagram is designed for generating
strange attractors of this dynamical system. Specifically, a novel network module fractance is introduced to achieve fractional‐order
circuit diagram for hardware implementation of the fractional attractors of this nonlinear hyperchaotic system with order as low
as 0.9. Observation results have been observed by using oscilloscope which demonstrate that the fractional‐order nonlinear hyperchaotic attractors exist indeed in this new system.
Postcolonoscopy Followup Recommendations: Comparison with and without Use of Polyp Pathology
Authors: Ratuapli Shiva K. , Gurudu Suryakanth R. , Atia Mary A. , Crowell Michael D. , Umar Sarah B. , Harrison M. Edwyn , Leighton Jonathan A. , Ramirez Francisco C.
Published: August 2014

Background. Appropriate recommendations for a followup exam after an index colonoscopy are an important quality indicator. Lack of knowledge of polyp pathology at the time of colonoscopy may be one reason that followup recommendations are not made. Aim. To describe and compare the accuracy of followup recommendations made at colonoscopy based on the size and number of polyps with recommendations made at a later date based on actual polyp pathology. Methods. All patients who underwent screening and surveillance colonoscopy from March, 2012, to August, 2012, were included. Surveillance recommendations from the endoscopy reports were graded as “accurate” or “not accurate” based on the postpolypectomy surveillance guidelines established by US Multisociety Task Force on Colon Cancer. Polyp pathology was then used to regrade the surveillance recommendations. Results. Followup recommendations were accurate in 759/884 (86%) of the study colonoscopies, based upon size and number of polyps with the assumption that all polyps were adenomatous. After incorporating actual polyp pathology, 717/884 (81%) colonoscopies had accurate recommendations. Conclusion. In our practice, the knowledge of actual polyp pathology does not change the surveillance recommendations made at the time of colonoscopy in the majority of patients.
Characteristics of Low Reynolds Number Shear-Free Turbulence at an Impermeable Base
Authors: Wan Mohtar W. H. M. , ElShafie A.
Published: August 2014

Shear-free turbulence generated from an oscillating grid in a water tank impinging on an impermeable surface at varying Reynolds number74≤Rel≤570was studied experimentally, where the Reynolds number is defined based on the root-mean-square (r.m.s) horizontal velocity and the integral length scale. A particular focus was paid to the turbulence characteristics for lowRel<150to investigate the minimum limit ofRelobeying the profiles of rapid distortion theory. The measurements taken at near base included the r.m.s turbulent velocities, evolution of isotropy, integral length scales, and energy spectra. Statistical analysis of the velocity data showed that the anisotropic turbulence structure follows the theory for flows withRel≥117. At lowRel<117, however, the turbulence profile deviated from the prediction where no amplification of horizontal velocity components was observed and the vertical velocity components were seen to be constant towards the tank base. Both velocity components sharply decreased towards zero at a distance of≈1/3of the integral length scale above the base due to viscous damping. The lower limit whereRelobeys the standard profile was found to be within the range114≤Rel≤116.
Krasnosel’skii Type Hybrid Fixed Point Theorems and Their Applications to Fractional Integral Equations
Authors: Srivastava H. M. , Bedre Sachin V. , Khairnar S. M. , Desale B. S.
Published: August 2014

Some hybrid fixed point theorems of Krasnosel’skii type, which involve product of two operators, are proved in partially ordered normed linear spaces. These hybrid fixed point theorems are then applied to fractional integral equations for proving the existence of solutions under certain monotonicity conditions blending with the existence of the upper or lower solution.
Motion of Passive Scalar by Elasticity-Induced Instability in Curved Microchannel
Authors: Li Xiao-Bin , Zhang Hong-Na , Cao Yang , Oshima Marie , Li Feng-Chen
Published: August 2014

This paper presented a direct numerical simulation (DNS) study on the elasticity-induced irregular flow, passive mixing, and scalar evolution in the curvilinear microchannel. The mixing enhancement was achieved at vanishingly low-Reynolds-number chaotic flow raised by elastic instabilities. Along with the mixing process, the passive scalar transportation carried by the flow was greatly affected by the flow structure and the underlying interaction between microstructures of viscoelastic fluid and flow structure itself. The simulations are conducted for a wide range of viscoelasticity. As the elastic effect exceeds the critical value, the flow tends to a chaotic state, while the evolution of scalar gets strong and fast, showing excellent agreement with experimental results. For the temporal changing of scalar gradients, they vary rapidly in the form of isosurfaces, with the shape of “rolls” in the bulk and evolving into “threads” near the wall. That indicates that the flow fields should be related to the deformation of viscoelastic micromolecules. The probability distribution function analysis between micromolecular deformation and flow field deformation shows that the main direction of molecular stretching is perpendicular to the main direction of flow field deformation. It implies they are weakly correlated, due to the confinement of channel wall.
Combined Kernel-Based BDT-SMO Classification of Hyperspectral Fused Images
Authors: Huang Fenghua , Yan Luming
Published: August 2014

To solve the poor generalization and flexibility problems that single kernel SVM classifiers have while classifying combined spectral and spatial features, this paper proposed a solution to improve the classification accuracy and efficiency of hyperspectral fused images: (1) different radial basis kernel functions (RBFs) are employed for spectral and textural features, and a new combined radial basis kernel function (CRBF) is proposed by combining them in a weighted manner; (2) the binary decision tree-based multiclass SMO (BDT-SMO) is used in the classification of hyperspectral fused images; (3) experiments are carried out, where the single radial basis function- (SRBF-) based BDT-SMO classifier and the CRBF-based BDT-SMO classifier are used, respectively, to classify the land usages of hyperspectral fused images, and genetic algorithms (GA) are used to optimize the kernel parameters of the classifiers. The results show that, compared with SRBF, CRBF-based BDT-SMO classifiers display greater classification accuracy and efficiency.
Study on the Influence of Aerosol Radiation Balance in One‐Dimensional Atmospheric Medium Using Pn‐Approximation Method
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Huang Xing , Shuai Yong , Mao Qian-Jun
Published: August 2014

A numerical study, used for the influence of aerosol on the atmospheric radiation transfer, is conducted in this paper. Based on the established atmospheric radiation transfer model, we calculated the effect of species, concentration, and height distribution of aerosols on atmosphere radiation. The calculation results show that the aerosol particles affect the atmospheric radiation balance greatly and thus are the important component of the radiation balance of the earth‐troposphere system.
A Lattice-Theoretic Approach to Multigranulation Approximation Space
Authors: He Xiaoli , She Yanhong
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we mainly investigate the equivalence between multigranulation approximation space and single-granulation approximation space from the lattice-theoretic viewpoint. It is proved that multigranulation approximation space is equivalent to single-granulation approximation space if and only if the pair of multigranulation rough approximation operators(Σi=1nRi¯,Σi=1nRi_)forms an order-preserving Galois connection, if and only if the collection of lower (resp., upper) definable sets forms an (resp., union) intersection structure, if and only if the collection of multigranulation upper (lower) definable sets forms a distributive lattice whenn=2, and if and only if∀X⊆U,  Σi=1nRi_(X)=∩i=1nRi_(X). The obtained results help us gain more insights into the mathematical structure of multigranulation approximation spaces.