bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Domain-aware Binary Fuzzing to Aid Android Virtual Machine Testing
Authors: Kyle Stephen , Leather Hugh , Franke Björn , Butcher Dave , Monteith Stuart
Published: August 2015

The development of a new application virtual machine (VM), like the creation of any complex piece of software, is a bug-prone process. In version 5.0, the widely-used Android operating system has changed from the Dalvik VM to the newly-developed ART VM to execute Android applications. As new iterations of this VM are released, how can the developers aim to reduce the number of potentially security-threatening bugs that make it into the final product? In this paper we combine domain-aware binary fuzzing and differential testing to produce DexFuzz, a tool that exploits the presence of multiple modes of execution within a VM to test for defects. These modes of execution include the interpreter and a runtime that executes ahead-of-time compiled code. We find and present a number of bugs in the in-development version of ART in the Android Open Source Project. We also assess DexFuzz's ability to highlight defects in the experimental version of ART released in the previous version of Android, 4.4, finding 189 crashing programs and 15 divergent programs that indicate defects after only 5,000 attempts.
A Hybrid I/O Virtualization Framework for RDMA-capable Network Interfaces
Authors: Pfefferle Jonas , Stuedi Patrick , Trivedi Animesh , Metzler Bernard , Koltsidas Ionnis , Gross Thomas R.
Published: August 2015

DMA-capable interconnects, providing ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, are increasingly being used in the context of distributed storage and data processing systems. However, the deployment of such systems in virtualized data centers is currently inhibited by the lack of a flexible and high-performance virtualization solution for RDMA network interfaces.

In this work, we present a hybrid virtualization architecture which builds upon the concept of separation of paths for control and data operations available in RDMA. With hybrid virtualization, RDMA control operations are virtualized using hypervisor involvement, while data operations are set up to bypass the hypervisor completely. We describe HyV (Hybrid Virtualization), a virtualization framework for RDMA devices implementing such a hybrid architecture. In the paper, we provide a detailed evaluation of HyV for different RDMA technologies and operations. We further demonstrate the advantages of HyV in the context of a real distributed system by running RAMCloud on a set of HyV-enabled virtual machines deployed across a 6-node RDMA cluster. All of the performance results we obtained illustrate that hybrid virtualization enables bare-metal RDMA performance inside virtual machines while retaining the flexibility typically associated with paravirtualization.
Skeletal muscle AMP-activated protein kinase γ1H151R overexpression enhances whole body energy homeostasis and insulin sensitivity
Authors: Schönke Milena , Myers Martin G. , Zierath Juleen R. , Björnholm Marie
Published: August 2015

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major sensor of energy homeostasis and stimulates ATP-generating processes such as lipid oxidation and glycolysis in peripheral tissues. The heterotrimeric enzyme consists of a catalytic α-subunit, a β-subunit that is important for enzyme activity, and a noncatalytic γ-subunit that binds AMP and activates the AMPK complex. We generated a skeletal muscle Cre-inducible transgenic mouse model expressing a mutant γ1-subunit (AMPKγ1H151R), resulting in chronic AMPK activation. The expression of the predominant AMPKγ3 isoform in skeletal muscle was reduced in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle (81–83%) of AMPKγ1H151R transgenic mice, whereas the abundance and phosphorylation of the AMPK target acetyl-CoA carboxylase was increased in tibialis anterior muscle. Glycogen content was increased 10-fold in gastrocnemius muscle. Whole body carbohydrate oxidation was increased by 11%, and whereas glucose tolerance was unaffected, insulin sensitivity was increased in AMPKγ1H151R transgenic mice. Furthermore, perigonadal white adipose tissue mass and serum leptin were reduced in female AMPKγ1H151R transgenic mice by 38 and 51% respectively. Conversely, in male AMPKγ1H151R transgenic mice, food intake was increased (14%), but body weight and body composition were unaltered, presumably because of increased energy expenditure. In conclusion, transgenic activation of skeletal muscle AMPKγ1 in this model plays an important sex-specific role in skeletal muscle metabolism and whole body energy homeostasis.
Contrasting roles for the receptor for advanced glycation end-products on structural cells in allergic airway inflammation vs. airway hyperresponsiveness
Authors: Taniguchi Akihiko , Miyahara Nobuaki , Waseda Koichi , Kurimoto Etsuko , Fujii Utako , Tanimoto Yasushi , Kataoka Mikio , Yamamoto Yasuhiko , Gelfand Erwin W. , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Tanimoto Mitsune , Kanehiro Arihiko
Published: August 2015

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a multiligand receptor that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. RAGE is reported to be involved in various inflammatory disorders; however, studies that address the role of RAGE in allergic airway disease are inconclusive. RAGE-sufficient (RAGE+/+) and RAGE-deficient (RAGE−/−) mice were sensitized to ovalbumin, and airway responses were monitored after ovalbumin challenge. RAGE−/− mice showed reduced eosinophilic inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia, lower T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production from spleen and peribronchial lymph node mononuclear cells, and lower numbers of group 2 innate lymphoid cells in the lung compared with RAGE+/+ mice following sensitization and challenge. Experiments using irradiated, chimeric mice showed that the mice expressing RAGE on radio-resistant structural cells but not hematopoietic cells developed allergic airway inflammation; however, the mice expressing RAGE on hematopoietic cells but not structural cells showed reduced airway inflammation. In contrast, absence of RAGE expression on structural cells enhanced innate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). In the absence of RAGE, increased interleukin (IL)-33 levels in the lung were detected, and blockade of IL-33 receptor ST2 suppressed innate AHR in RAGE−/− mice. These data identify the importance of RAGE expressed on lung structural cells in the development of allergic airway inflammation, T helper type 2 cell activation, and group 2 innate lymphoid cell accumulation in the airways. RAGE on lung structural cells also regulated innate AHR, likely through the IL-33-ST2 pathway. Thus manipulating RAGE represents a novel therapeutic target in controlling allergic airway responses.
Serum Calprotectin: A Potential Biomarker for Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Decembrino Lidia , De Amici Mara , Pozzi Margherita , De Silvestri Annalisa , Stronati Mauro
Published: August 2015

Introduction.The correct diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is a relevant problem because sepsis is one of the most important causes of neonatal morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospital stay. Calprotectin is an antimicrobial, calcium and zinc binding heterocomplex protein that could be used as a nonspecific marker for activation of granulocytes and mononuclear phagocytes. Calprotectin has been proposed for the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions. Our aim is to study serum calprotectin as a biomarker for neonatal sepsis diagnosis.Methods.41 (20 females, 21 males) infants who underwent blood culture due to suspected sepsis were enrolled in the study. Serum calprotectin was measured by a commercial ELISA assay (Calprest, Eurospital, Trieste, Italy). Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical software package Stata 13.1 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA).Results.8 neonates (19.51%) showed sepsis with positive culture and 33 (80.49%) showed suspected sepsis. The optimal cut-off for calprotectin is 2.2 μg/mL with a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 69.7%.Conclusions.Calprotectin may be considered a promising early, sensitive, specific marker of sepsis thanks to the importance of calprotectin in defense mechanisms and physiological functions of the immune system.
Self-Organization of Polymeric Fluids in Strong Stress Fields
Authors: Semakov A. V. , Kulichikhin V. G. , Malkin A. Y.
Published: August 2015

Analysis of literature data and our own experimental observations have led to the conclusion that, at high deformation rates, viscoelastic liquids come to behave as rubbery materials, with strong domination by elastic deformations over flow. This can be regarded as a deformation-induced fluid-to-rubbery transition. This transition is accompanied by elastic instability, which can lead to the formation of regular structures. So, a general explanation for these effects requires the treatment of viscoelastic liquids beyond critical deformation rates as rubbery media. Behaviouristic modeling of their behaviour is based on a new concept, which considers the medium as consisting of discrete elastic elements. Such a type of modeling introduces a set of discrete rotators settled on a lattice with two modes of elastic interaction. The first of these is their transformation from spherical to ellipsoidal shapes and orientation in an external field. The second is elastic collisions between rotators. Computer calculations have demonstrated that this discrete model correctly describes the observed structural effects, eventually resulting in a “chaos-to-order” transformation. These predictions correspond to real-world experimental data obtained under different modes of deformation. We presume that the developed concept can play a central role in understanding strong nonlinear effects in the rheology of viscoelastic liquids.
To Make Good Decision: A Group DSS for Multiple Criteria Alternative Rank and Selection
Authors: Wang Chen-Shu , Yang Heng-Li , Lin Shiang-Lin
Published: August 2015

Decision making is a recursive process and usually involves multiple decision criteria. However, such multiple criteria decision making may have a problem in which partial decision criteria may conflict with each other. An information technology, such asthe decision support system(DSS) and group DSS (GDSS), emerges to assist decision maker for decision-making process. Both the DSS and GDSS should integrate with a symmetrical approach to assist decision maker to take all decision criteria into consideration simultaneously. This study proposes a GDSS architecture named hybrid decision-making support model (HDMSM) and integrated four decision approaches (Delphi, DEMATEL, ANP, and MDS) to help decision maker to rank and select appropriate alternatives. The HDMSM consists of five steps, namely, criteria identification, criteria correlation calculation, criteria evaluation, critical criteria selection, and alternative rank and comparison. Finally, to validate the proposed feasibility of the proposed model, this study also conducts a case study to find out the important indexes of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from multiple perspectives. As the case study demonstrates the proposed HDMSM enables a group of decision makers to implement the MCDM effectively and help them to analyze the relation and degree of mutual influence among different evaluation factors.
Uterus Wrapping: A Novel Concept in the Management of Uterine Atony during Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Kimmich N. , Engel W. , Kreft M. , Zimmermann R.
Published: August 2015

Uterine atony during cesarean delivery is a serious cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Management strategies include medical treatment with uterotonic agents, manual compression of the uterus, and interventional or surgical procedures. A novel technique to compress the uterus by wrapping it with an elastic bandage and its outcome in 3 cases of uterine atony during cesarean section are presented. Our novel method of intermittent wrapping of the uterus during cesarean delivery seems to be a successful additional approach in the management of uterine atony during cesarean delivery and may be an alternative treatment option to other compressing procedures in order to avoid high blood loss and last but not least postpartum hysterectomy.
Enhancement of Selective Siphon Control Method for Deadlock Prevention in FMSs
Authors: Pan Yen-Liang , Yang Cheng-Fu , Jeng Mu-Der
Published: August 2015

One novel control policy named selective siphon control policy is proposed to solve for deadlock problems of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). The new policy not only solves the deadlock problem successfully but also obtains maximally permissive controllers. According to our awareness, the policy is the first one to achieve the goal of obtaining maximally permissive controllers for all S3PR (one system of simple sequential processes with resources, S3PR) models in existing literature. However, one main problem is still needed to solve in their algorithm. The problem is that the proposed policy cannot check the exact number of maximally permissive states of a deadlock net in advance. After all iterating steps, the final maximally permissive states can then be known. Additionally, all legal markings are still to be checked again and again until all critical markings vanished. In this paper, one computationally improved methodology is proposed to solve the two problems. According to the experimental results, the computational efficiency can be enhanced based on the proposed methodology in this paper.
Silver Nanoparticles Influence on Photocatalytic Activity of Hybrid Materials Based on TiO2 P25
Authors: Kodom Tomkouani , Rusen Edina , Călinescu Ioan , Mocanu Alexandra , Şomoghi Raluca , Dinescu Adrian , Diacon Aurel , Boscornea Cristian
Published: August 2015

The aim of the present study consists in the obtaining of a hybrid material film, obtained using TiO2 P25 and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The film manufacturing process involved realization of physical mixtures of TiO2 P25 and AgNPs dispersions. The size distribution of the AgNPs proved to be a key factor determining the photodegradation activity of the materials measured using methyl orange. The best result was 33% degradation of methyl orange (MO) after 150 min. The second approach was the generation of AgNPs on the surface of TiO2 P25. The obtained hybrid material presents photocatalytic activity of 45% MO degradation after 150 min. The developed materials were characterized by UV‐VIS, SEM, and DLS analyses.
Gain Incorporated Split-Ring Resonator Structures for Active Metamaterials
Authors: Chaires Jordan , Schumerth David , Drawdy Cole , Yang Weiguo
Published: August 2015

We present a systematic study of split-ring resonator (SRR) structures that are used as the basic building blocks of active metamaterials with incorporated gain. The active split-ring resonator (aSRR) structures with gain elements can in theory have similar unusual electromagnetic responses such as negative effective permeability near their resonance of the artificial magnetic response just like their passive counterparts. At the same time aSRRs can have reversed imaginary part of the effective permeability and, therefore, mitigate the loss of passive SRRs. We explored in detail both passive and active SRRs through analytic theory, numerical simulations, and lab experimentation and demonstrated that aSRRs can have the similar negative effective permeability responses while reducing and even reversing the loss.
Successful Use of the MYNXGRIP Closure Device during Repeated Transbrachial Percutaneous Peripheral Intervention
Authors: Hertting Klaus , Raut Werner
Published: August 2015

The use of closure devices after transbrachial arterial puncture is still controversial. Here we report on a case where the MYNXGRIP (AccessClosure Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) could be used successfully in a patient, who underwent percutaneous peripheral arterial intervention twice via transbrachial access.
Real-Time Monitoring and Early Warning Method Utilizing FBG Sensors in the Retrofitting Process of Structures
Authors: Fan Shuli , Ren Liang , Li Hongnan , Song Biao
Published: August 2015

Associated with a project, the application of real-time monitoring and early warning system in the retrofitting process of structures was investigated. Based on the software ANSYS, structural analysis and thermal analysis were carried out to determine the distribution of sensors and the early warning threshold value in monitoring process. SHM system was developed for damage sensing in real-time using FBG sensors. Eight FBG sensor clusters consisting of a strain sensor and a temperature sensor were welded on the steel beam surface. Using these FBG sensors, the real-time strains in key positions during the cutting process of steel beam were measured. The monitoring data provided the early warnings and effective reference for analyzing the stability of steel beam in real-time.
One‐Year Follow‐Up of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Patients’ Depression: A Randomized, Single‐Blinded, Controlled Study
Authors: Chiang Kai-Jo , Chen Tsai-Hui , Hsieh Hsiu-Tsu , Tsai Jui-Chen , Ou Keng-Liang , Chou Kuei-Ru
Published: August 2015

The aim of the study was to investigate the long‐term (one year) effectiveness of a 12‐session weekly cognitive behavior group therapy (CBGT) on patients with depression. This was a single‐blind randomized controlled study with a 2‐arm parallel group design. Eighty‐one subjects were randomly assigned to 12 sessions intervention group (CBGT) or control group (usual outpatient psychiatric care group) and 62 completed the study. The primary outcome was depression measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). The secondary outcomes were automatic thoughts measured by automatic thoughts questionnaire (ATQ). Both groups were evaluated at the pretest (before 2 weeks), posttest (after 12 therapy sessions), and short‐ (3 months), medium‐ (6 months), and long‐term (12 months) follow‐up. After receiving CBGT, the experimental group had a statistically significant reduction in the BDI‐II from 40.30 at baseline to 17.82 points at session eight and to 10.17 points at postintervention (P < 0.001). Similar effects were seen on the HRSD. ATQ significantly decreased at the 12th session, 6 months after sessions, and 1 year after the sessions ended (P < 0.001). We concluded that CBGT is effective for reducing depression and continued to be effective at 1 year of follow‐up.
Supraspinatus Intramuscular Calcified Hematoma or Necrosis Associated with Tendon Tear
Authors: Lädermann Alexandre , Genevay Muriel , Abrassart Sophie , Schwitzguébel Adrien Jean-Pierre
Published: August 2015

Introduction. Rotator cuff intramuscular calcification is a rare condition usually caused by heterotopic ossification and myositis ossificans.Case Presentation. We describe a patient with voluminous calcified mass entrapped in supraspinatus muscle associated with corresponding tendon tear. Histological examination corresponded to a calcified hematoma or necrosis. Patient was surgically managed with open excision of the calcified hematoma and rotator cuff arthroscopic repair. At 6 months, supraspinatus muscle was healed, and functional outcome was good.Discussion and Conclusion. We hypothesized that supraspinatus intramuscular calcified hematoma was responsible for mechanical stress on the tendon. This association has never been described.
Stimulation of Innate and Adaptive Immunity by Using Filamentous Bacteriophage fd Targeted to DEC-205
Authors: D’Apice Luciana , Costa Valerio , Sartorius Rossella , Trovato Maria , Aprile Marianna , De Berardinis Piergiuseppe
Published: August 2015

The filamentous bacteriophage fd, codisplaying antigenic determinants and a single chain antibody fragment directed against the dendritic cell receptor DEC-205, is a promising vaccine candidate for its safety and its ability to elicit innate and adaptive immune response in absence of adjuvants. By using a system vaccinology approach based on RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis, we describe a relevant gene modulation in dendritic cells pulsed with anti-DEC-205 bacteriophages fd. RNA-Seq data analysis indicates that the bacteriophage fd virions are sensed as a pathogen by dendritic cells; they activate the danger receptors that trigger an innate immune response and thus confer a strong adjuvanticity that is needed to obtain a long-lasting adaptive immune response.
Hinokitiol Negatively Regulates Immune Responses through Cell Cycle Arrest in Concanavalin A-Activated Lymphocytes
Authors: Chung Chi-Li , Leung Kam-Wing , Lu Wan-Jung , Yen Ting-Lin , He Chia-Fu , Sheu Joen-Rong , Lin Kuan-Hung , Lien Li-Ming
Published: August 2015

Autoimmune diseases are a group of chronic inflammatory diseases that arise from inappropriate inflammatory responses. Hinokitiol, isolated from the wood ofChamaecyparis taiwanensis, engages in multiple biological activities. Although hinokitiol has been reported to inhibit inflammation, its immunological regulation in lymphocytes remains incomplete. Thus, we determined the effects of hinokitiol on concanavalin A- (ConA-) stimulated T lymphocytes from the spleens of mice. In the present study, the MTT assay revealed that hinokitiol (1–5 μM) alone did not affect cell viability of lymphocytes, but at the concentration of 5μM it could reduce ConA-stimulated T lymphocyte proliferation. Moreover, propidium iodide (PI) staining revealed that hinokitiol arrested cell cycle of T lymphocytes at the G0/G1 phase. Hinokitiol also reduced interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secretion from ConA-activated T lymphocytes, as detected by an ELISA assay. In addition, hinokitiol also downregulated cyclin D3, E2F1, and Cdk4 expression and upregulated p21 expression. These results revealed that hinokitiol may regulate immune responses. In conclusion, we for the first time demonstrated that hinokitiol upregulates p21 expression and attenuates IFN-γsecretion in ConA-stimulated T lymphocytes, thereby arresting cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. In addition, our findings also indicated that hinokitiol may provide benefits to treating patients with autoimmune diseases.
A Novel Hybrid Anticollision Algorithm for RFID System Based on Grouped Dynamic Framed Recognition and Binary Tree Recursive Process
Authors: Yang Jian , Wang Yonghua , Cai Qingling , Zhan Yiju
Published: August 2015

Recently, RFID technology has come into end-user applications for monitoring, tracking, and so forth. In RFID system, a reader identifies a set of tags over a shared wireless channel. When multiple tags communicate with the same reader simultaneously, all packages will be lost and no tag can be recognized, which is known as tag collision. Tag collision is a significantly important issue for fast tag identification. We firstly make a thorough analysis among a variety of traditional RFID anticollision algorithms. Then a novel hybrid anticollision algorithm called T-GDFSA is proposed. Tags are assigned to different groups based on the initial tag estimation and then experience several dynamic read frames for identification. When a collision occurs in current slot, a tree-based recursive process will be deployed immediately. T-GDFSA combines the advantages of ALOHA-based and tree-based together and acquires higher system throughput by reducing unnecessary idle and collision slots and lower communication complexity by decreasing the data transmitted, which makes it identify tags faster with less power consumption. Simulations show that the theoretical values match well the simulation results. Moreover, T-GDFSA also has a good tolerance for the inaccuracy of initial tag estimation and the length variation of tag's ID.
Negative Group Delay Circuit Based on Microwave Recursive Filters
Authors: Ali Mohammad Ashraf , Wu Chung-Tse Michael
Published: August 2015

This work presents a novel approach to design a maximally flat negative group delay (NGD) circuit based on microwave recursive filters. The proposed NGD circuit is realized by cascading N stages of quarter-wavelength stepped-impedance transformer. It is shown that the given circuit can be designed to have any prescribed group delay by changing the characteristic impedance of the quarter-wave transformers (QWTs) cascaded with each other. The proposed approach provides a systematic method to synthesize NGD of arbitrary amount without including any discrete lumped component. For various prescribed NGD, the characteristic impedance of QWT has been tabulated for two and three stages of the circuit. The widths and lengths of microstrip transmission lines can be obtained from characteristic impedance and the frequency of operation of the transmission line. The results are verified in both simulation and measurement, showing a good agreement.
Tumor-Associated Mast Cells in Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Visciano Carla , Prevete Nella , Liotti Federica , Marone Gianni
Published: August 2015

There is compelling evidence that the tumor microenvironment plays a major role in mediating aggressive features of cancer cells, including invasive capacity and resistance to conventional and novel therapies. Among the different cell populations that infiltrate cancer stroma, mast cells (MCs) can influence several aspects of tumor biology, including tumor development and progression, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and tissue remodelling. Thyroid cancer (TC), the most frequent neoplasia of the endocrine system, is characterized by a MC infiltrate, whose density correlates with extrathyroidal extension and invasiveness. Recent evidence suggests the occurrence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness in human TC. The precise role of immune cells and their mediators responsible for these features in TC remains unknown. Here, we review the relevance of MC-derived mediators (e.g., the chemokines CXCL1/GRO-α, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL8/IL-8) in the context of TC. CXCL1/GRO-αand CXCL10/IP-10 appear to be involved in the stimulation of cell proliferation, while CXCL8/IL-8 participates in the acquisition of TC malignant traits through its ability to induce/enhance the EMT and stem-like features of TC cells. The inhibition of chemokine signaling may offer novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of refractory forms of TC.
Configuration, Deployment, and Scheduling Models for Management and Optimization of Patrol Services
Authors: Yang Bin , Hu Zhi-Hua , Zhou Jing-Xian
Published: August 2015

This paper presents a decision support system (DSS) and its models for patrol service center (PSC). PSC plays an important role in public security and emergency management. The configuration, deployment, and scheduling of resources of PSC are important for improving the efficiency of patrol-related resources, service quantity, and emergency response capability. A series of decision-making models of the DSS are studied. First, the criteria and models are proposed for configuring and deploying PSCs; second, three types of models for incremental, direct, and redeployment optimization are built in views for decisions aiming at PSC configuration, deployment, and scheduling problems; third, considering three typical patrol-related service scenarios (alarm assignment, main road blockade, and besiege program), three scheduling models are built, respectively, for PSC-related service and coordination of multiple PSCs. This work contributes to the literature on patrol services and network optimization problems in the following aspects: based on a series of models, a DSS framework is designed for PSCs; the models are formulated for resource management and scheduling upon geography information system; coordination strategies among close PSCs are incorporated into decision models. These features are examined in integration manners. The assessment criteria and optimization models studied in the paper are beneficial for building DSSs for PSC.
A Robust Optimization of Capacity Allocation Policies in the Third-Party Warehouse
Authors: Xian-hao Xu , Wei-hong Dong , Hongxia Peng
Published: August 2015

We study the capacity allocation policies of a third-party warehouse center, which supplies several different level services on different prices with fixed capacity, on revenue management perspective. For the single period situation, we use three different robust methods, absolute robust, deviation robust, and relative robust method, to maximize the whole revenue. Then we give some numerical examples to verify the practical applicability. For the multiperiod situation, as the demand is uncertain, we propose a stochastic model for the multiperiod revenue management problem of the warehouse. A novel robust optimization technique is applied in this model to maximize the whole revenue. Then we give some numerical examples to verify the practical applicability of our method.
Genotype-Dependent Difference in 5-HT2CReceptor-Induced Hypolocomotion: Comparison with 5-HT2AReceptor Functional Activity
Authors: Bazovkina Darya V. , Kondaurova Elena M. , Naumenko Vladimir S. , Ponimaskin Evgeni
Published: August 2015

In the present study behavioral effects of the 5-HT2Cserotonin receptor were investigated in different mouse strains. The 5-HT2Creceptor agonist MK-212 applied intraperitoneally induced significant dose-dependent reduction of distance traveled in the open field test in CBA/Lac mice. This effect was receptor-specific because it was inhibited by the 5-HT2Creceptor antagonist RS102221. To study the role of genotype in 5-HT2Creceptor-induced hypolocomotion, locomotor activity of seven inbred mouse strains was measured after MK-212 acute treatment. We found that the 5-HT2Creceptor stimulation by MK-212 decreased distance traveled in the open field test in CBA/Lac, C57Bl/6, C3H/He, and ICR mice, whereas it failed to affect locomotor activity in DBA/2J, Asn, and Balb/c mice. We also compared the interstrain differences in functional response to 5-HT2Cand 5-HT2Areceptors activation measured by the quantification of receptor-mediated head-twitches. These experiments revealed significant positive correlation between 5-HT2C and 5-HT2A receptors functional responses for all investigated mouse strains. Moreover, we found that 5-HT2Areceptor activation with DOI did not change locomotor activity in CBA/Lac mice. Taken together, our data indicate the implication of 5-HT2Creceptors in regulation of locomotor activity and suggest the shared mechanism for functional responses mediated by 5-HT2Cand 5-HT2Areceptors.
Analysis of Vehicle Steering and Driving Bifurcation Characteristics
Authors: Wang Xianbin , Shi Shuming
Published: August 2015

The typical method of vehicle steering bifurcation analysis is based on the nonlinear autonomous vehicle model deriving from the classic two degrees of freedom (2DOF) linear vehicle model. This method usually neglects the driving effect on steering bifurcation characteristics. However, in the steering and driving combined conditions, the tyre under different driving conditions can provide different lateral force. The steering bifurcation mechanism without the driving effect is not able to fully reveal the vehicle steering and driving bifurcation characteristics. Aiming at the aforementioned problem, this paper analyzed the vehicle steering and driving bifurcation characteristics with the consideration of driving effect. Based on the 5DOF vehicle system dynamics model with the consideration of driving effect, the 7DOF autonomous system model was established. The vehicle steering and driving bifurcation dynamic characteristics were analyzed with different driving mode and driving torque. Taking the front-wheel-drive system as an example, the dynamic evolution process of steering and driving bifurcation was analyzed by phase space, system state variables, power spectral density, and Lyapunov index. The numerical recognition results of chaos were also provided. The research results show that the driving mode and driving torque have the obvious effect on steering and driving bifurcation characteristics.
NFC-Based User Interface for Smart Environments
Authors: Spinsante Susanna , Gambi Ennio
Published: August 2015

The physical support of a home automation system, joined with a simplified user-system interaction modality, may allow people affected by motor impairments or limitations, such as elderly and disabled people, to live safely and comfortably at home, by improving their autonomy and facilitating the execution of daily life tasks. The proposed solution takes advantage of the Near Field Communications technology, which is simple and intuitive to use, to enable advanced user interaction. The user can perform normal daily activities, such as lifting a gate or closing a window, through a device enabled to read NFC tags containing the commands for the home automation system. A passive Smart Panel is implemented, composed of multiple Near Field Communications tags properly programmed, to enable the execution of both individual commands and so-calledscenarios. The work compares several versions of the proposed Smart Panel, differing for interrogation and composition of the single command, number of tags, and dynamic user interaction model, at a parity of the number of commands to issue. Main conclusions are drawn from the experimental results, about the effective adoption of Near Field Communications in smart assistive environments.
A Threat Assessment Model under Uncertain Environment
Authors: Deng Yong
Published: August 2015

Threat evaluation is extremely important to decision makers in many situations, such as military application and physical protection systems. In this paper, a new threat assessment model based on interval number to deal with the intrinsic uncertainty and imprecision in combat environment is proposed. Both objective and subjective factors are taken into consideration in the proposed model. For the objective factors, the genetic algorithm (GA) is used to search out an optimal interval number representing all the attribute values of each object. In addition, for the subjective factors, the interval Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is adopted to determine each object’s threat weight according to the experience of commanders/experts. Then a discounting method is proposed to integrate the objective and subjective factors. At last, the ideal of Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is applied to obtain the threat ranking of all the objects. A real application is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.
An Ant Optimization Model for Unrelated Parallel Machine Scheduling with Energy Consumption and Total Tardiness
Authors: Liang Peng , Yang Hai-dong , Liu Guo-sheng , Guo Jian-hua
Published: August 2015

This research considers an unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem with energy consumption and total tardiness. This problem is compounded by two challenges: differences of unrelated parallel machines energy consumption and interaction between job assignments and machine state operations. To begin with, we establish a mathematical model for this problem. Then an ant optimization algorithm based on ATC heuristic rule (ATC-ACO) is presented. Furthermore, optimal parameters of proposed algorithm are defined via Taguchi methods for generating test data. Finally, comparative experiments indicate the proposed ATC-ACO algorithm has better performance on minimizing energy consumption as well as total tardiness and the modified ATC heuristic rule is more effectively on reducing energy consumption.
A Risk-Averse Inventory Model with Markovian Purchasing Costs
Authors: Choi Sungyong , Park Kyungbae
Published: August 2015

We study a few dynamic risk-averse inventory models using additive utility functions. We add Markovian behavior of purchasing costs in our models. Such Markovian purchasing costs can reflect a market situation in a global supply chain such as fluctuations at exchange rates or the existence of product spot markets. We provide our problem formulations with finite and infinite MDP (Markovian Decision Process) problems. For finite time models, we first prove (joint) concavity of the model for each state and obtain a (modified) base-stock optimal policy. Then, we conduct comparative static analysis for model parameters and derive monotone properties to the optimal solutions. For infinite time models, we show the existence of stationary base-stock optimal policies and the inheritance of the monotone properties proven at our finite time models.
Fast Model Predictive Control Combining Offline Method and Online Optimization with K-D Tree
Authors: Ding Yi , Xu Zuhua , Zhao Jun , Shao Zhijiang
Published: August 2015

Computation time is the main factor that limits the application of model predictive control (MPC). This paper presents a fast model predictive control algorithm that combines offline method and online optimization to solve the MPC problem. The offline method uses a k-d tree instead of a table to implement partial enumeration, which accelerates online searching operation. Only a part of the explicit solution is stored in the k-d tree for online searching, and the k-d tree is updated in runtime to accommodate the change in the operating point. Online optimization is invoked when searching on the k-d tree fails. Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm is efficient on both small-scale and large-scale processes. The average speedup factor in the large-scale process is at least 6, the worst-case speedup factor is at least 2, and the performance is less than 0.05% suboptimal.
The Estrogen Receptor Cofactor SPEN Functions as a Tumor Suppressor and Candidate Biomarker of Drug Responsiveness in Hormone-Dependent Breast Cancers
Authors: Légaré Stéphanie , Cavallone Luca , Mamo Aline , Chabot Catherine , Sirois Isabelle , Magliocco Anthony , Klimowicz Alexander , Tonin Patricia N. , Buchanan Marguerite , Keilty Dana , Hassan Saima , Laperrière David , Mader Sylvie , Aleynikova Olga , Basik Mark
Published: August 2015

The treatment of breast cancer has benefitted tremendously from the generation of estrogen receptor-α (ERα)–targeted therapies, but disease relapse continues to pose a challenge due to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. In an effort to delineate potential predictive biomarkers of therapy responsiveness, multiple groups have identified several uncharacterized cofactors and interacting partners of ERα, including Split Ends (SPEN), a transcriptional corepressor. Here, we demonstrate a role for SPEN in ERα-expressing breast cancers. SPEN nonsense mutations were detectable in the ERα-expressing breast cancer cell line T47D and corresponded to undetectable protein levels. Further analysis of 101 primary breast tumors revealed that 23% displayed loss of heterozygosity at the SPEN locus and that 3% to 4% harbored somatically acquired mutations. A combination of in vitro and in vivo functional assays with microarray-based pathway analyses showed that SPEN functions as a tumor suppressor to regulate cell proliferation, tumor growth, and survival. We also found that SPEN binds ERα in a ligand-independent manner and negatively regulates the transcription of ERα targets. Moreover, we demonstrate that SPEN overexpression sensitizes hormone receptor–positive breast cancer cells to the apoptotic effects of tamoxifen, but has no effect on responsiveness to fulvestrant. Consistent with these findings, two independent datasets revealed that high SPEN protein and RNA expression in ERα-positive breast tumors predicted favorable outcome in patients treated with tamoxifen alone. Together, our data suggest that SPEN is a novel tumor-suppressor gene that may be clinically useful as a predictive biomarker of tamoxifen response in ERα-positive breast cancers. Cancer Res; 75(20); 4351–63. ©2015 AACR.
Glioblastomas Require Integrin αvβ3/PAK4 Signaling to Escape Senescence
Authors: Franovic Aleksandra , Elliott Kathryn C. , Seguin Laetitia , Camargo M. Fernanda , Weis Sara M. , Cheresh David A.
Published: August 2015

Integrin αvβ3 has been implicated as a driver of aggressive and metastatic disease, and is upregulated during glioblastoma progression. Here, we demonstrate that integrin αvβ3 allows glioblastoma cells to counteract senescence through a novel tissue-specific effector mechanism involving recruitment and activation of the cytoskeletal regulatory kinase PAK4. Mechanistically, targeting either αvβ3 or PAK4 led to emergence of a p21-dependent, p53-independent cell senescence phenotype. Notably, glioblastoma cells did not exhibit a similar requirement for either other integrins or additional PAK family members. Moreover, αvβ3/PAK4 dependence was not found to be critical in epithelial cancers. Taken together, our findings established that glioblastomas are selectively addicted to this pathway as a strategy to evade oncogene-induced senescence, with implications that inhibiting the αvβ3–PAK4 signaling axis may offer novel therapeutic opportunities to target this aggressive cancer. Cancer Res; 75(21); 4466–73. ©2015 AACR.
Docetaxel Resistance in Prostate Cancer: Taking It Up a Notch
Authors: Zhang Tian , Armstrong Andrew J.
Published: August 2015

Notch signaling is implicated in prostate cancer progression and docetaxel resistance. Cui and colleagues describe the additive efficacy and mechanisms of a γ-secretase inhibitor, PF-03084014, and docetaxel in preclinical models of prostate cancer, suggesting the need for further clinical development of Notch pathway modulators in men with metastatic prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 21(20); 4505–7. ©2015 AACR.

See related article by Cui et al., p. 4619
Comparison of the 2 Most Popular Deconvolution Techniques for the Detection of Penumbral Flow in Acute Stroke
Authors: Zaro-Weber Olivier , Livne Michelle , Martin Steve Z. , von Samson-Himmelstjerna Federico C. , Moeller-Hartmann Walter , Schuster Alexander , Brunecker Peter , Heiss Wolf-Dieter , Sobesky Jan , Madai Vince I.
Published: August 2015

Background and Purpose—

Dynamic susceptibility–weighted contrast–enhanced (DSC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to identify the tissue-at-risk in acute stroke, but the choice of optimal DSC postprocessing in the clinical setting remains a matter of debate. Using 15O-water positron emission tomography (PET), we validated the performance of 2 common deconvolution methods for DSC-MRI.

Methods—

In (sub)acute stroke patients with consecutive MRI and PET imaging, DSC maps were calculated applying 2 deconvolution methods, standard and block-circulant single value decomposition. We used 2 standardized analysis methods, a region of interest–based and a voxel-based analysis, where PET cerebral blood flow masks of <20 mL/100 g per minute (penumbral flow) and gray matter masks were overlaid on DSC parameter maps. For both methods, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify the accuracy of each DSC-MR map for the detection of PET penumbral flow.

Results—

In 18 data sets (median time after stroke onset: 18 hours; median time PET to MRI: 101 minutes), block-circulant single value decomposition showed significantly better performance to detect PET penumbral flow only for mean transit time maps. Time-to-maximum (Tmax) had the highest performance independent of the deconvolution method.

Conclusions—

Block-circulant single value decomposition seems only significantly beneficial for mean transit time maps in (sub)acute stroke. Tmax is likely the most stable deconvolved parameter for the detection of tissue-at-risk using DSC-MRI.
Reaching Down and Finding Humanity
Authors: Taylor Myra F. , Pooley Julie Ann , Edwards Mary
Published: August 2015

It is conservatively estimated that 12% of all American soldiers who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan fields of engagement have returned home with psychological problems. Research that investigates the psychological underpinnings of these problems is pertinent to meeting the mental health needs of serving and returned soldiers. This study was used to investigate the psychological needs of combat soldiers who adopted strays dog while on deployment, and the impact that ending that bonded relationship had on their actions as they neared the end of their deployments. A triangulated three-phase content analysis was conducted to study the narratives of 22 dog adopting soldiers whose experiences were reported in the popular media, the comments of 24 journalists reporting these stories, and 83 social media responses to the journalists’ reports. The soldiers’ dog adopting-related behaviors reflected needs for nurturance, normalcy, recognition, esteem, and control during the periods of their deployments.
Theorizing Logger Religion within the Pacific Northwest Timber Conflict
Authors: Serenari Christopher , Peterson Nils , Clark Brett
Published: August 2015

This paper examines the links between the material and symbolic nature of timber extraction during the Pacific Northwest (PNW) timber wars of the 1980s and 1990s. Applying Durkheim’s work on religion and social solidarity, the authors consider a form of logger religion that emerged through many years of PNW timber production, shaping the identities of loggers and timber community dynamics. This paper proposes that forests are spaces that bridge the sacred and profane. Our evaluation examines a totemic meaning assigned to loggers originating from forest-based labour and reinforced by timber communities through rituals. Throughout the timber wars, loggers also developed a conflicted consciousness, stemming from their connection to and the destruction of forests. Given the character of logger religion that existed, the deployment of forest management and community development policies may not adequately re-create tacit relationships between the sacred and profane, previously damaged as a result of the drastic decline in timber production in the PNW.
Families and genera of mosses no longer believed to occur in sub-Saharan Africa

Authors: O’Shea Brian J. , Ochyra Ryszard
Published: August 2015

Twelve genera are excluded from the sub-Saharan Africa checklist based on evidence from literature or re-identification. Atractylocarpus, Chorisodontium, Ctenidium, Dicranodontium, Homalia, Isothecium, Lasiodontium, Meesia and Potamium are excluded as the collections belong to other genera, and Camptochaete, Phyllodrepanium and Ptychomnion are excluded because of evidence of mistaken (or no longer existing) localities. As a consequence, the following families no longer are known from Africa: Echinodiaceae, Lembophyllaceae, Phyllodrepaniaceae and Ptychomniaceae. Ectropothecium nishimurii O’Shea & Ochyra, nom. nov. replaces Ectropothecium mauritianum (Broth.) Nishimura, hom. illeg., and Kindbergia kenyae (Dixon ex Tosco & Piovano) O’Shea & Ochyra, comb. nov. replaces Isothecium kenyae Dixon ex Tosco & Piovano. Lasiodontium mieheanum Ochyra in S. Miehe & G. Miehe, nom. nud., is a synonym of Daltonia angustifolia Dozy & Molk. and accordingly Lasiodontium Ochyra in S. Miehe & G. Miehe, nom. nud., must be placed in synonymy with Daltonia Hook. & Taylor.