bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forward Static Optimization in Dynamic Simulation of Human Musculoskeletal Systems: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Shourijeh Mohammad S. , Mehrabi Naser , McPhee John
Published: March 2017

Static optimization (SO) has been used extensively to solve the muscle redundancy problem in inverse dynamics (ID). The major advantage of this approach over other techniques is the computational efficiency. This study discusses the possibility of applying SO in forward dynamics (FD) musculoskeletal simulations. The proposed approach, which is entitled forward static optimization (FSO), solves the muscle redundancy problem at each FSO time step while tracking desired kinematic trajectories. Two examples are showcased as proof of concept, for which results of both dynamic optimization (DO) and FSO are presented for comparison. The computational costs are also detailed for comparison. In terms of simulation time and quality of muscle activation prediction, FSO is found to be a suitable method for solving forward dynamic musculoskeletal simulations.
Automatic Discovery of Design Task Structure Using Deep Belief Nets
Authors: Lan Lijun , Liu Ying , Feng Lu Wen
Published: March 2017

With the arrival of cyber physical world and an extensive support of advanced information technology (IT) infrastructure, nowadays it is possible to obtain the footprints of design activities through emails, design journals, change logs, and different forms of social data. In order to manage a more effective design process, it is essential to learn from the past by utilizing these valuable sources and understand, for example, what design tasks are actually carried out, their interactions, and how they impact each other. In this paper, a computational approach based on the deep belief nets (DBN) is proposed to automatically uncover design tasks and quantify their interactions from design document archives. First, a DBN topic model with real-valued units is developed to learn a set of intrinsic topic features from a simple word-frequency-based input representation. The trained DBN model is then utilized to discover design tasks by unfolding hidden units by sets of strongly connected words, followed by estimating the interactions among tasks on the basis of their co-occurrence frequency in a hidden topic space. Finally, the proposed approach is demonstrated through a real-life case study using a design email archive spanning for more than 2 yr.
Multibody dynamics in acoustophoresis
Authors: Baasch Thierry , Leibacher Ivo , Dual Jürg
Published: March 2017

Determining the trajectories of multiple acoustically and hydrodynamically interacting as well as colliding particles is one of the challenges in numerical acoustophoresis. Although the acoustic forces between multiple small spherical particles can be obtained analytically, previous research did not address the particle-particle contacts in a rigorous way. This article extends existing methods by presenting an algorithm on displacement level which models the hard contacts using set-valued force laws, hence allowing for the first time the computation of a first approximation of complete trajectories of multiple hydrodynamically and acoustically interacting particles. This work uses a semi-analytical method to determine the acoustic forces, which is accurate up to the dipole contributions of the multipole expansion. The hydrodynamic interactions are modeled using the resistance and mobility functions of the Stokes' flow. In previous experimental work particles have been reported to interact acoustically, ultimately forming stacked lines near the pressure nodes of a standing wave. This phenomenon is examined experimentally and numerically, the simulation shows good agreement with the experimental results. To demonstrate the capabilities of the method, the rotation of a particle clump in two orthogonal waves is simulated. The presented method allows further insight in self-assembly applications and acoustic particle manipulation.
Continental igneous rock composition: A major control of past global chemical weathering
Authors: Bataille Clément P. , Willis Amy , Yang Xiao , Liu Xiao-Ming
Published: March 2017

Changes in the isotopic composition of the continental crust control the strontium isotope ratio in seawater.
Improving the Specificity of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Diagnosis in High-Transmission Settings with a Two-Step Rapid Diagnostic Test and Microscopy Algorithm
Authors: Murungi Moses , Fulton Travis , Reyes Raquel , Matte Michael , Ntaro Moses , Mulogo Edgar , Nyehangane Dan , Juliano Jonathan J. , Siedner Mark J. , Boum Yap , Boyce Ross M.
Published: March 2017

Poor specificity may negatively impact rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-based diagnostic strategies for malaria. We performed real-time PCR on a subset of subjects who had undergone diagnostic testing with a multiple-antigen (histidine-rich protein 2 and
pan
-lactate dehydrogenase pLDH [HRP2/pLDH]) RDT and microscopy. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of the RDT in comparison to results of PCR for the detection of
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria. We developed and evaluated a two-step algorithm utilizing the multiple-antigen RDT to screen patients, followed by confirmatory microscopy for those individuals with HRP2-positive (HRP2
+
)/pLDH-negative (pLDH
−
) results. In total, dried blood spots (DBS) were collected from 276 individuals. There were 124 (44.9%) individuals with an HRP2
+
/pLDH
+
result, 94 (34.1%) with an HRP2
+
/pLDH
−
result, and 58 (21%) with a negative RDT result. The sensitivity and specificity of the RDT compared to results with real-time PCR were 99.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95.9 to 100.0%) and 46.7% (95% CI, 37.7 to 55.9%), respectively. Of the 94 HRP2
+
/pLDH
−
results, only 32 (34.0%) and 35 (37.2%) were positive by microscopy and PCR, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the two-step algorithm compared to results with real-time PCR were 95.5% (95% CI, 90.5 to 98.0%) and 91.0% (95% CI, 84.1 to 95.2), respectively. HRP2 antigen bands demonstrated poor specificity for the diagnosis of malaria compared to that of real-time PCR in a high-transmission setting. The most likely explanation for this finding is the persistence of HRP2 antigenemia following treatment of an acute infection. The two-step diagnostic algorithm utilizing microscopy as a confirmatory test for indeterminate HRP2
+
/pLDH
−
results showed significantly improved specificity with little loss of sensitivity in a high-transmission setting.
Strategies for Optimizing the Diagnostic Predictive Value of Clostridium difficile Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Kociolek Larry K.
Published: March 2017

Because nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) do not distinguish
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) and asymptomatic
C. difficile
carriage, the diagnostic predictive value of NAATs is limited when used in patients with a low probability of CDI. In this issue of the
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
, Truong et al. (J. Clin. Microbiol., 55:1276–1284, 2017,
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02319-16
) report significant reductions in hospital-onset CDI and oral vancomycin utilization at their institution following implementation of a novel intervention that leveraged their clinical bioinformatics resources to prevent
C. difficile
testing of stools from patients without clinically significant diarrhea and in patients with recent laxative use.
Rapid Detection of Cell-Free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in Tuberculous Pleural Effusion
Authors: Che Nanying , Yang Xinting , Liu Zichen , Li Kun , Chen Xiaoyou
Published: March 2017

Tuberculous pleurisy is one of the most common types of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, but its diagnosis remains difficult. In this study, we report for the first time on the detection of cell-free
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA in pleural effusion and an evaluation of a newly developed molecular assay for the detection of cell-free
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA. A total of 78 patients with pleural effusion, 60 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, and 18 patients with alternative diseases were included in this study. Mycobacterial culture, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, the adenosine deaminase assay, the T-SPOT.TB assay, and the cell-free
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA assay were performed on all the pleural effusion samples. The cell-free
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA assay and adenosine deaminase assay showed significantly higher sensitivities of 75.0% and 68.3%, respectively, than mycobacterial culture and the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, which had sensitivities of 26.7% and 20.0%, respectively (
P
< 0.01). All four of these tests showed good specificities: 88.9% for the adenosine deaminase assay and 100% for the remaining three assays. The T-SPOT.TB assay with pleural effusion showed the highest sensitivity of 95.0% but the lowest specificity of 38.9%. The cell-free
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA assay detected as few as 1.25 copies of IS
6110
per ml of pleural effusion and showed good accordance of the results between repeated tests (
r
= 0.978,
P
= 2.84 × 10
−10
). These data suggest that the cell-free
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA assay is a rapid and accurate molecular test which provides direct evidence of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
etiology.
Oral Prion Disease Pathogenesis Is Impeded in the Specific Absence of CXCR5-Expressing Dendritic Cells
Authors: Bradford Barry M. , Reizis Boris , Mabbott Neil A.
Published: March 2017

After oral exposure, the early replication of certain prion strains upon stromal cell-derived follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in the Peyer's patches in the small intestine is essential for the efficient spread of disease to the brain. However, little is known of how prions are initially conveyed from the gut lumen to establish infection on FDC. Our previous data suggest that mononuclear phagocytes such as CD11c+conventional dendritic cells play an important role in the initial propagation of prions from the gut lumen into Peyer's patches. However, whether these cells conveyed orally acquired prions toward FDC within Peyer's patches was not known. The chemokine CXCL13 is expressed by FDC and follicular stromal cells and modulates the homing of CXCR5-expressing cells toward the FDC-containing B cell follicles. Here, novel compound transgenic mice were created in which a CXCR5 deficiency was specifically restricted to CD11c+cells. These mice were used to determine whether CXCR5-expressing conventional dendritic cells propagate prions toward FDC after oral exposure. Our data show that in the specific absence of CXCR5-expressing conventional dendritic cells the early accumulation of prions upon FDC in Peyer's patches and the spleen was impaired, and disease susceptibility significantly reduced. These data suggest that CXCR5-expressing conventional dendritic cells play an important role in the efficient propagation of orally administered prions toward FDC within Peyer's patches in order to establish host infection.

IMPORTANCEMany natural prion diseases are acquired by oral consumption of contaminated food or pasture. Once the prions reach the brain they cause extensive neurodegeneration, which ultimately leads to death. In order for the prions to efficiently spread from the gut to the brain, they first replicate upon follicular dendritic cells within intestinal Peyer's patches. How the prions are first delivered to follicular dendritic cells to establish infection was unknown. Understanding this process is important since treatments which prevent prions from infecting follicular dendritic cells can block their spread to the brain. We created mice in which mobile conventional dendritic cells were unable to migrate toward follicular dendritic cells. In these mice the early accumulation of prions on follicular dendritic cells was impaired and oral prion disease susceptibility was reduced. This suggests that prions exploit conventional dendritic cells to facilitate their initial delivery toward follicular dendritic cells to establish host infection.
Tight Junction Protein Occludin Is a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Entry Factor
Authors: Luo Xiaolei , Guo Longjun , Zhang Jian , Xu Yunfei , Gu Weihong , Feng Li , Wang Yue
Published: March 2017

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), the causative agent of porcine epidemic diarrhea, has caused huge economic losses in pig-producing countries. Although PEDV was long believed to replicate in the intestinal epithelium by using aminopeptidase N as a receptor, the mechanisms of PEDV infection are not fully characterized. In this study, we found that PEDV infection of epithelial cells results in disruption of the tight junctional distribution of occludin to its intracellular location. Overexpression of occludin in target cells makes them more susceptible to PEDV infection, whereas ablation of occludin expression by use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in target cells significantly reduces their susceptibility to virus infection. However, the results observed with occludin siRNA indicate that occludin is not required for virus attachment. We conclude that occludin plays an essential role in PEDV infection at the postbinding stages. Furthermore, we observed that macropinocytosis inhibitors blocked occludin internalization and virus entry, indicating that virus entry and occludin internalization are closely coupled. However, the macropinocytosis inhibitors could not impede virus replication once the virus had entered host cells. This suggests that occludin internalization by macropinocytosis or a macropinocytosis-like process is involved in the virus entry events. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed that PEDV was trapped at cellular junctional regions upon macropinocytosis inhibitor treatment, indicating that occludin may serve as a scaffold in the vicinity of virus entry. Collectively, these data show that occludin plays an essential role in PEDV infection during late entry events. Our observation may provide novel insights into PEDV infection and related pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCETight junctions are highly specialized membrane domains whose main function is to attach adjacent cells to each other, thereby forming intercellular seals. Here we investigate, for the first time, the role of the tight junction protein occludin in PEDV infection. We observed that PEDV infection induced the internalization of occludin. By using genetic modification methods, we demonstrate that occludin plays an essential role in PEDV infection. Moreover, PEDV entry and occludin internalization seem to be closely coupled. Our findings reveal a new mechanism of PEDV infection.
Broadly Reactive Anti-Respiratory Syncytial Virus G Antibodies from Exposed Individuals Effectively Inhibit Infection of Primary Airway Epithelial Cells
Authors: Cortjens B. , Yasuda E. , Yu X. , Wagner K. , Claassen Y. B. , Bakker A. Q. , van Woensel J. B. M. , Beaumont T.
Published: March 2017

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe respiratory disease in young children. Antibodies specific for the RSV prefusion F protein have guided RSV vaccine research, and in human serum, these antibodies contribute to >90% of the neutralization response; however, detailed insight into the composition of the human B cell repertoire against RSV is still largely unknown. In order to study the B cell repertoire of three healthy donors for specificity against RSV, CD27
+
memory B cells were isolated and immortalized using BCL6 and Bcl-xL. Of the circulating memory B cells, 0.35% recognized RSV-A2-infected cells, of which 59% were IgA-expressing cells and 41% were IgG-expressing cells. When we generated monoclonal B cells selected for high binding to RSV-infected cells, 44.5% of IgG-expressing B cells and 56% of IgA-expressing B cells reacted to the F protein, while, unexpectedly, 41.5% of IgG-expressing B cells and 44% of IgA expressing B cells reacted to the G protein. Analysis of the G-specific antibodies revealed that 4 different domains on the G protein were recognized. These epitopes predicted cross-reactivity between RSV strain A (RSV-A) and RSV-B and matched the potency of antibodies to neutralize RSV in HEp-2 cells and in primary epithelial cell cultures. G-specific antibodies were also able to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis of RSV-A2-infected cells. However, these processes did not seem to depend on a specific epitope. In conclusion, healthy adults harbor a diverse repertoire of RSV glycoprotein-specific antibodies with a broad range of effector functions that likely play an important role in antiviral immunity.

IMPORTANCE
Human RSV remains the most common cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in premature babies, young infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients and plays an important role in asthma exacerbations. In developing countries, RSV lower respiratory tract disease has a high mortality. Without an effective vaccine, only passive immunization with palivizumab is approved for prophylactic treatment. However, highly potent RSV-specific monoclonal antibodies could potentially serve as a therapeutic treatment and contribute to disease control and mortality reduction. In addition, these antibodies could guide further vaccine development. In this study, we isolated and characterized several novel antibodies directed at the RSV G protein. This information can add to our understanding and treatment of RSV disease.
Internal Disequilibria and Phenotypic Diversification during Replication of Hepatitis C Virus in a Noncoevolving Cellular Environment
Authors: Moreno Elena , Gallego Isabel , Gregori Josep , Lucía-Sanz Adriana , Soria María Eugenia , Castro Victoria , Beach Nathan M. , Manrubia Susanna , Quer Josep , Esteban Juan Ignacio , Rice Charles M. , Gómez Jordi , Gastaminza Pablo , Domingo Esteban , Perales Celia
Published: March 2017

Viral quasispecies evolution upon long-term virus replication in a noncoevolving cellular environment raises relevant general issues, such as the attainment of population equilibrium, compliance with the molecular-clock hypothesis, or stability of the phenotypic profile. Here, we evaluate the adaptation, mutant spectrum dynamics, and phenotypic diversification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the course of 200 passages in human hepatoma cells in an experimental design that precluded coevolution of the cells with the virus. Adaptation to the cells was evidenced by increase in progeny production. The rate of accumulation of mutations in the genomic consensus sequence deviated slightly from linearity, and mutant spectrum analyses revealed a complex dynamic of mutational waves, which was sustained beyond passage 100. The virus underwent several phenotypic changes, some of which impacted the virus-host relationship, such as enhanced cell killing, a shift toward higher virion density, and increased shutoff of host cell protein synthesis. Fluctuations in progeny production and failure to reach population equilibrium at the genomic level suggest internal instabilities that anticipate an unpredictable HCV evolution in the complex liver environment.

IMPORTANCE
Long-term virus evolution in an unperturbed cellular environment can reveal features of virus evolution that cannot be explained by comparing natural viral isolates. In the present study, we investigate genetic and phenotypic changes that occur upon prolonged passage of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human hepatoma cells in an experimental design in which host cell evolutionary change is prevented. Despite replication in a noncoevolving cellular environment, the virus exhibited internal population disequilibria that did not decline with increased adaptation to the host cells. The diversification of phenotypic traits suggests that disequilibria inherent to viral populations may provide a selective advantage to viruses that can be fully exploited in changing environments.
Phentermine induced acute interstitial nephritis
Authors: Shao Emily Ximin , Wilson Gregory John , Ranganathan Dwarakanathan
Published: March 2017

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) has a number of medication-related aetiologies. Antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are common causes; however, any medication has the potential to cause drug-induced AIN. We report the first case of phentermine-induced AIN. A Caucasian woman aged 43 years presented with a 5-week history of lethargy, left-sided lower abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. She had been taking phentermine for weight loss for 9 months and had recently ceased the medication. The patient underwent a renal biopsy that showed a predominantly lymphohistiocytic interstitial infiltrate with a moderate number of eosinophils consistent with AIN. Phentermine is increasingly used for weight loss in obese patients. This is the first case implicating phentermine as the causative agent for drug-induced AIN. While rare, phentermine-induced AIN is a possible adverse reaction of phentermine. Physicians and patients need to be aware of this risk.
ACE and response to pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: two observational studies
Authors: Kon Samantha S C , Jolley Caroline J , Shrikrishna Dinesh , Montgomery Hugh E , Skipworth James R A , Puthucheary Zudin , Moxham John , Polkey Michael I , Man William D-C , Hopkinson Nicholas S
Published: March 2017

Introduction

Skeletal muscle impairment is an important feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Renin–angiotensin system activity influences muscle phenotype, so we wished to investigate whether it affects the response to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Methods

Two studies are described; in the first, the response of 168 COPD patients (mean forced expiratory volume in one second 51.9% predicted) to pulmonary rehabilitation was compared between different ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism genotypes. In a second, independent COPD cohort (n=373), baseline characteristics and response to pulmonary rehabilitation were compared between COPD patients who were or were not taking ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARB).

Results

In study 1, the incremental shuttle walk distance improved to a similar extent in all three genotypes; DD/ID/II (n=48/91/29) 69(67)m, 61 (76)m and 78 (78)m, respectively, (p>0.05). In study 2, fat free mass index was higher in those on ACE-I/ARB (n=130) than those who were not (n=243), 17.8 (16.0, 19.8) kg m−2vs 16.5 (14.9, 18.4) kg/m2(p<0.001). However change in fat free mass, walking distance or quality of life in response to pulmonary rehabilitation did not differ between groups.

Conclusions

While these data support a positive association of ACE-I/ARB treatment and body composition in COPD, neither treatment to reduce ACE activity nor ACE (I/D) genotype influence response to pulmonary rehabilitation.
Reflections on using non-inferiority randomised placebo controlled trials in assessing cardiovascular safety of new agents for treatment of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Campbell-Scherer Denise
Published: March 2017

The 2008 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance to industry requires experimental evidence that new agents to treat type 2 diabetes do not have an unacceptable increase in cardiovascular risk. They specify this unacceptable increase to be a risk ratio of 1.3 in non-inferiority trials which may use placebo control. Clinically, this means that if a new agent achieves this threshold of not being 30% worse than placebo it is declared ‘non-inferior’. This guidance was in response to safety concerns raised about medications approved on their basis of reducing glycated haemoglobin alone. There was concern that this FDA guidance would stifle new drugs coming to market. On the contrary, there have been a number of exciting new classes of agents approved with improved confidence that they reduce glycated haemoglobin, and that they also do not excessively increase cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular safety trials have been conducted for a number of novel medications using a non-inferiority approach. However, clinicians need to recognise that the results of non-inferiority trials are not as credible as superiority trials. It is important to closely review the trials before accepting claims of ‘non-inferiority’ or ‘cardiac neutrality’ especially when these studies are often compared with placebo, and may be accepting estimates of effect which span potentially clinically meaningful harm. There are compelling reasons to further investigate agents showing promise in non-inferiority trials with superiority trials, which include prespecified subgroups, and with sufficient power and duration to provide robust estimates of harms and benefits to inform clinical decision-making.
Variation in haemoglobin measurement across different HemoCue devices and device operators in rural Cambodia
Authors: Rappaport Aviva I , Barr Susan I , Green Timothy J , Karakochuk Crystal D
Published: March 2017

Point-of-use haemoglobinometers, such as the HemoCue, are a common method to measure haemoglobin (Hb) concentration in field settings as the device is portable, requires only a small finger-prick capillary blood sample and computes an immediate Hb reading. The aim of this study was to compare Hb measurements across different HemoCue devices and across device operators using capillary blood samples collected from women during a trial in rural Cambodia. We compared mean±SD capillary Hb concentration (g/L) across n=12 different HemoCue Hb 301 devices and across n=9 device operators among 2846 Cambodian women. Significant variability in mean Hb concentration was observed across HemoCue devices (means ranged from 117 to 124 g/L) and across device operators (means ranged from 118 to 124 g/L). This variability is of particular concern when a single HemoCue device or device operator is used at different time points in surveys or research trials.

Trial registration number

NCT02481375
Tracheal constriction in a growing dog
Authors: De Armond Christina , Niimura del Barrio Maria Chie , Rosati Tommaso , McAllister Hester , Ryan John
Published: March 2017

A six‐month‐old neutered male German shepherd dog/husky cross was presented for investigation of a progressive dyspnoea and regurgitation. A circumferential cervical wound had been identified and closed following debridement by the primary care veterinarian when the dog was three months old. There was an extraluminal tracheal compression on radiographs. Surgical exploration revealed a plastic band tied and embedded in the dorsal musculature of the neck. The band had been increasingly constricting the trachea and the oesophagus ventrally as the animal grew. Segmental tracheal resection and anastomosis and removal of the band and associated scar tissue resulted in sustained resolution of clinical signs.
Endemic caseous lymphadenitis in a wild Caprinae population
Authors: Varela‐Castro L. , Lara‐Vergara J. , Ortega N. , Salinas J. , Colom‐Cadena A. , Lavín S. , Tizzani P. , Velarde R. , Serrano E. , Mentaberre G.
Published: March 2017

Between 2010 and 2013, an outbreak of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) occurred in a captive stock of Iberian ibexes (Capra pyrenaica, Schinz 1838) maintained for conservation purposes in the National Game Reserve ‘Ports de Tortosa i Beseit’ (PTB), northeastern Spain. The aim of this study was to assess the CLA status in the free‐ranging donor population of ibexes. An ELISA test to detect antibodies to CLA was performed in 360 hunter‐harvested ibexes between 2007 and 2013. A spatial analysis and recursive partitioning approaches with regression tree models were used to explore CLA‐associated risk factors. Nineteen per cent of ibexes had antibodies to CLA. Significant differences in seroprevalence were observed among game management areas but no clear trends of CLA occurrence were observed over the study period. Ibexes from areas of higher population density and living close to aggregation points displayed a higher probability of testing positive to CLA. These results suggest that CLA is endemic in the Iberian ibex population inhabiting PTB and density‐dependent risk factors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of CLA maintenance in a free‐ranging wild Caprinae population.
Meander migration: the observation method
Authors: Briaud Jean-Louis , Montalvo-Bartolomei Axel M.
Published: March 2017

River meanders migrate over time and the consequences of this migration can create a problem for bridges and embankments near the river. This is why it is important to predict the lateral extent of future migration over the life of neighboring infrastructure. In the observation method for meander migration (OMM), the past movement and velocity history of the meander are used to back-calculate site specific erosion parameters. Those parameters serve as input to predict the meander migration for a chosen future velocity hydrograph. In this article and after a review of existing knowledge, the analytical steps leading to the development of the OMM are described, then the field and laboratory work at four full-scale meander migration case histories are presented, and then the four full-scale meander migration case histories are used to evaluate the OMM. The OMM has been automated in an Excel spreadsheet.
Characterization of the role of endogenous nitric oxide in myogenic vascular oscillations during cooling-evoked hemodynamic perturbations of rats
Authors: Lin Yi-Hsien , Liu Yia-Ping , Lin Yu-Chieh , Lee Po-Lei , Tung Che-Se
Published: March 2017

Rapid immersion of a rat’s limbs into 4 °C water, a model of cold stress, can elicit hemodynamic perturbations (CEHP). We previously reported that CEHP is highly relevant to sympathetic activation and nitric oxide production. This study identifies the role of nitric oxide in CEHP. Conscious rats were pretreated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) alone or following the removal of sympathetic influences using hexamethonium or guanethidine. Rats were then subjected to a 10 min cold-stress trial. Hemodynamic indices were telemetrically monitored throughout the experiment. The analyses included measurements of systolic blood pressure; heart rate; dicrotic notch; short-term cardiovascular oscillations and coherence between blood pressure variability and heart rate variability in regions of very low frequency (0.02–0.2 Hz), low frequency (0.2–0.6 Hz), and high frequency (0.6–3.0 Hz). We observed different profiles of hemodynamic reaction between hexamethonium and guanethidine superimposed on L-NAME, suggesting an essential role for a functional adrenal medulla release of epinephrine under cold stress. These results indicate that endogenous nitric oxide plays an important role in the inhibition of sympathetic activation and cardiovascular oscillations in CEHP.
A Hybrid Classification Approach Based on Support Vector Machine and K-Nearest Neighbor for Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Alimjan Gulnaz , Sun Tieli , Jumahun Hurxida , Guan Yu , Zhou Wanting , Sun Hongguang
Published: March 2017

Analysis and classification for remote sensing landscape based on remote sensing imagery is a popular research topic. In this paper, we propose a new remote sensing data classifier by incorporating the support vector machine (SVM) learning information into the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier. The SVM is well known for its extraordinary generalization capability even with limited learning samples, and it is very useful for remote sensing applications as data samples are usually limited. The KNN has been widely used in data classification due to its simplicity and effectiveness. However, the KNN is instance-based and needs to keep all the training samples for classification, which could cause not only high computation complexity but also overfitting problems. Meanwhile, the performance of the KNN classifier is sensitive to the neighborhood size [Formula: see text] and how to select the value of the parameter [Formula: see text] relies heavily on practice and experience. Based on the observations that the SVM can contribute to the KNN on the problems of smaller training samples size as well as the selection of the parameter [Formula: see text], we propose a support vector nearest neighbor (abbreviated as SV-NN) hybrid classification approach which can simplify the parameter selection while maintaining classification accuracy. The proposed approach is consist of two stages. In the first stage, the SVM is performed on the training samples to obtain the reduced support vectors (SVs) for each of the sample categories. In the second stage, a nearest neighbor classifier (NNC) is used to classify a testing sample, i.e. the average Euclidean distance between the testing data point to each set of SVs from different categories is calculated and the NNC identifies the category with minimum distance. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, firstly experiments of classification for samples from remote sensing data are evaluated, and then experiments of identifying different land covers regions in the remote sensing images are evaluated. Experimental results show that the SV-NN approach maintains good classification accuracy while reduces the training samples compared with the conventional SVM and KNN classification model.
Super-Resolution Reconstruction from Single Image Based on Join Operation in Granular Computing
Authors: Liu Hongbing , Zhou Wenyong , Ma Xuewen , Wu Chang-An
Published: March 2017

Improving the resolution of the image is convenient for people to study the local details of the image, and plays an important role in computer vision. The problem of generating a corresponding super-resolution (SR) image from a single low-resolution (LR) image is addressed via the join operation in the paper. Firstly, the LR image is partitioned into some patches, each patch is represented as the sphere granule set. Secondly, the join operation between two adjacent image patches is used to compensate the pixel value of SR image. Experimental results showed the feasibility and superiority via join operation by root mean square errors (RMSE) between the reconstructed SR image and the original image compared with bicubic interpolation and NNLasso.
Three-Dimensional Physical Design Flow for Monolithic 3D-FPGAs to Improve Timing Closure and Chip Area
Authors: Belghadr Armin , Jahanian Ali
Published: March 2017

By scaling the semiconductor industry to nano-scale era, design and prototyping cost of cell-based Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) becomes more expensive and it makes Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) more popular among designers. However, there is a gap between FPGAs and ASICs in terms of timing, dynamic power consumption and logic density. Three-dimensional integration, particularly in the full monolithic process, has been considered as a promising solution to reduce the performance gap of ASICs and FPGAs. In this paper, two new architectures for the monolithically integrated 3D-FPGAs are introduced. In order to exploit the great potentials of the suggested architectures, a new three-dimensional FPGA placement algorithm is proposed thereafter. The proposed placement algorithm, named JABE, is the first of its kind that enables designers to take advantages of the large number of vertical interconnections in the monolithically stacked 3D-FPGAs. Our experiments show a 24% timing improvement for the new architectures and CAD algorithms compared with the conventional TSV-based 3D-FPGAs and design flows. In addition, improvements in terms of the total wirelength and area footprint are reported for the proposed placement algorithms and new architectures.
Reconfigurable Fractional-Order Filter with Electronically Controllable Slope of Attenuation, Pole Frequency and Type of Approximation
Authors: Jerabek Jan , Sotner Roman , Dvorak Jan , Polak Josef , Kubanek David , Herencsar Norbert , Koton Jaroslav
Published: March 2017

This paper presents design of electronically reconfigurable fractional-order filter that is able to be configured to operate as fractional-order low-pass filter (FLPF) or fractional-order high-pass filter (FHPF). Its slope of attenuation between pass band and stop band, i.e., order of the filter, is electronically adjustable in the range between 1 and 2. Also, pole frequency can be electronically controlled independently with respect to other tuned parameters. Moreover, particular type of approximation can be also controlled electronically. This feature set is available both for FLPF and FHPF-type of response. Presented structure of the filter is based on well-known follow-the-leader feedback (FLF) topology adjusted in our case for utilization with just simple active elements operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and adjustable current amplifiers (ACAs), both providing possibility to control its key parameter electronically. This paper explains how reconfigurable third-order FLF topology is used in order to approximate both FLPF and FHPF in concerned frequency band of interest. Design is supported by PSpice simulations for three particular values of order of the filter (1.25, 1.5, 1.75), for several values of pole frequency and for two particular types of approximation forming the shape of both the magnitude and phase response. Moreover, theoretical presumptions are successfully confirmed by laboratory measurements with prepared prototype based on behavioral modeling.
Gravitoelectromagnetism in teleparallel equivalent of general relativity: A new alternative
Authors: Ming Kian , Triyanta  , Kosasih J. S.
Published: March 2017

Spaniol and Andrade introduced gravitoelectromagnetism in TEGR by considering superpotentials, times the determinant of tetrads, as the gravitoelectromagnetic fields. However, since this defined gravitoelectromagnetic field strength does not give rise to a complete set of Maxwell-like equations, we propose an alternative definition of the gravitoelectromagnetic field strength: instead of superpotentials, torsions are taken as the gravitoelectromagnetic field strengths. Based on this new proposal, we are able to derive a complete set of Maxwell-like equations. We then apply them to obtain explicit expressions of the gravitoelectromagnetic fields both in Schwarzschilds spacetime and for gravitational waves.
SURFACE POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION MODEL BASED ON ANALYTICAL CHANNEL POTENTIAL APPROXIMATION FOR ULTRA-THIN BODY POLY-SI THIN FILM TRANSISTORS IN LINEAR REGION
Authors: ZHU ZHEN , CHU JUNHAO
Published: March 2017

For ultra-thin body polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors, the surface potential distribution model, in the linear region, based on the analytical channel potential (CP) approximation is presented without or with the interface charge, respectively. For the purpose of simplifying the process of the solution and with the merit of the clear physical picture, both the surface potential distribution models in the linear region are developed, attributed to the deduction of the analytical CP approximation, by solving one-dimensional Poisson’s equation and applying the Gauss’s law at the poly-Si/oxide interface. Furthermore, the quantitative conditions for the model validity are also developed for both surface potential distribution models. Under these proposed quantitative conditions, both models are verified by the two-dimensional-device simulation on the normalized channel distance under various gate voltages, drain voltages, channel lengths and various areal interface charge densities for the consideration of the interface charge.
SITUATIONAL LOGIC: AN ANALYSIS OF OPEN INNOVATION USING CORPORATE ACCELERATORS
Authors: JACKSON PAUL , RICHTER NANCY
Published: March 2017

Open innovation is an innovation framework proposing that established firms use external sources as pathways to new ideas, technologies, business models and markets. Within this framework, established companies can use startups, or young, growth-oriented business to help them achieve radical or breakthrough innovations. In this paper, we focus on established firms which use “corporate accelerators” to run fast-moving, competitive programs in which startup companies participate. Our purpose is to identify inhibitors to the collaboration between established firms and startups in these accelerator programs. We conducted 27 interviews with participants from startups, established companies using startups as innovators, and the accelerator management who provided the platform for this engagement. Our theoretical framework is the social realist theory of Margaret Archer. This provides a conceptualisation of the reflexivity of the participants and the “situational logic” of conflict and competition in which they find themselves. We found that collaboration will be inhibited by conflicts in basic beliefs, or propositions, about concepts such as authority, autonomy and risk, as well as competition for material resources and personal goals.
One-Pot Preparation of Graphene-Based Polyaniline Conductive Nanocomposites for Anticorrosion Coatings
Authors: Zhao Yun , Ma Jiangquan , Chen Kun , Zhang Chuandong , Yao Chao , Zuo Shixiang , Kong Yong
Published: March 2017

Graphene-based polyaniline (PANI/RGO), used as conductive filler, was synthesized through a new one-pot emulsion polymerization technology. Graphene dispersion (RGO) was obtained by ultrasonically reducing graphene oxide (GO) in a hot sodium hydroxide solution in the absence of any toxic reductant, such as hydrazine hydrate. Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), in which RGO sheets were dispersed, was synthesized using dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) and NaOH. In this RGO/SDBS mixture, polyaniline (PANI), doped with multiple acids (HCl-DBSA), was then uniformly polymerized on the surface of the RGO sheets. The experimental results showed that this reaction improved the dispersion of the RGO in the PANI system, and increased the homogeneous distribution of the formed PANI particles on the RGO surface. The synthesized composite material (PANI/RGO) had good thermal stability, electrical conductivity (about 11.71[Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and water dispersibility. Based on its excellent properties, the PANI/RGO was combined with waterborne epoxy resin to prepare anticorrosion coatings. The corrosion resistance of these coatings was studied using Tafel plots, along with other critical properties tested by the national standards. The results suggested that the surface resistivity of the coatings could be as high as 2.48[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]10[Formula: see text] with the addition around 3[Formula: see text]wt.% of the PANI/RGO meeting good antistatic standards. In addition, the antistatic coatings had outstanding corrosion resistance, as well as tremendous physical and chemical properties.
Fat Tailed Distributions for Deaths in Conflicts and Disasters
Authors: Chatterjee Arnab , Chakrabarti Bikas K
Published: March 2017

We study the statistics of human deaths from wars and similar man-made conflicts as well as natural disasters. The probability distribution of number of people killed in natural disasters as well as man-made situations show power law decay for the largest sizes, with similar exponent values. Comparisons with natural disasters, when event sizes are measured in terms of physical quantities (e.g., energy released in earthquake, volume of rainfall, land area affected in forest fires, etc.) also show striking resemblances. The universal patterns in their statistics suggest that some subtle similarities in their mechanisms and dynamics might be responsible.
α7β1 Integrin regulation of gene transcription in skeletal muscle following an acute bout of eccentric exercise
Authors: Mahmassani Ziad S. , Son Kook , Pincu Yair , Munroe Michael , Drnevich Jenny , Chen Jie , Boppart Marni D.
Published: March 2017

The α7β1 integrin is concentrated at the costameres of skeletal muscle and provides a critical link between the actin cytoskeleton and laminin in the basement membrane. We previously demonstrated that expression of the α7BX2 integrin subunit (MCK:α7BX2) preserves muscle integrity and enhances myofiber cross-sectional area following eccentric exercise. The purpose of this study was to utilize gene expression profiling to reveal potential mechanisms by which the α7BX2-integrin contributes to improvements in muscle growth after exercise. A microarray analysis was performed using RNA extracted from skeletal muscle of wild-type or transgenic mice under sedentary conditions and 3 h following an acute bout of downhill running. Genes with false discovery rate probability values below the cutoff of P < 0.05 ( n = 73) were found to be regulated by either exercise or transgene expression. KEGG pathway analysis detected upregulation of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum protein processing with integrin overexpression. Targeted analyses verified increased transcription of Rpl13a, Nosip, Ang, Scl7a5, Gys1, Ndrg2, Hspa5, and Hsp40 as a result of integrin overexpression alone or in combination with exercise ( P < 0.05). A significant increase in HSPA5 protein and a decrease in CAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) were detected in transgenic muscle ( P < 0.05). In vitro knockdown experiments verified integrin-mediated regulation of Scl7a5. The results from this study suggest that the α7β1 integrin initiates transcription of genes that allow for protection from stress, including activation of a beneficial unfolded protein response and modulation of protein synthesis, both which may contribute to positive adaptations in skeletal muscle as a result of engagement in eccentric exercise.
H2O2 augments cytosolic calcium in nucleus tractus solitarii neurons via multiple voltage-gated calcium channels
Authors: Ostrowski Tim D. , Dantzler Heather A. , Polo-Parada Luis , Kline David D.
Published: March 2017

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a profound role in cardiorespiratory function under normal physiological conditions and disease states. ROS can influence neuronal activity by altering various ion channels and transporters. Within the nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS), a vital brainstem area for cardiorespiratory control, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induces sustained hyperexcitability following an initial depression of neuronal activity. The mechanism(s) associated with the delayed hyperexcitability are unknown. Here we evaluate the effect(s) of H2O2 on cytosolic Ca2+ (via fura-2 imaging) and voltage-dependent calcium currents in dissociated rat nTS neurons. H2O2 perfusion (200 µM; 1 min) induced a delayed, slow, and moderate increase (~27%) in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The H2O2-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i prevailed during thapsigargin, excluding the endoplasmic reticulum as a Ca2+ source. The effect, however, was abolished by removal of extracellular Ca2+ or the addition of cadmium to the bath solution, suggesting voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) as targets for H2O2 modulation. Recording of the total voltage-dependent Ca2+ current confirmed H2O2 enhanced Ca2+ entry. Blocking VGCC L, N, and P/Q subtypes decreased the number of cells and their calcium currents that respond to H2O2. The number of responder cells to H2O2 also decreased in the presence of dithiothreitol, suggesting the actions of H2O2 were dependent on sulfhydryl oxidation. In summary, here, we have shown that H2O2 increases [Ca2+]i and its Ca2+ currents, which is dependent on multiple VGCCs likely by oxidation of sulfhydryl groups. These processes presumably contribute to the previously observed delayed hyperexcitability of nTS neurons in in vitro brainstem slices.