bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Serum Level of 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Deficiency and Pulmonary Function in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Moghaddassi Maryam , Pazoki Marzieh , Salimzadeh Ahmad , Ramim Tayeb , Alipour Zahra
Published: April 2018

Background. Besides the extensive regulatory role in growing number of biologic processes, vitamin D has been recently considered essential for lungs function as well as protective against exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. We assessed the correlation between vitamin D serum levels with pulmonary function in healthy individuals. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, healthy volunteer (n=92) participants underwent the following laboratory procedures: a blood test, a 24-hour urine collection test, and the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D before undergoing spirometry. Linear correlation coefficient was calculated to detect the association between serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and pulmonary volumes. Results. The mean age of participants was 39.95±9.98 years. 48% of participants showed different levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency. We recognized a consistent direct positive correlation between serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and lung function volumes. The coefficient for forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow 25–75%, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio were 0.610, 0.509, 0.454, and 0.551, respectively. Conclusions. Our findings suggest correlation between higher serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and improved pulmonary function. Accordingly, supplemental vitamin D might significantly improve treatment response.
Predictive Role of Interleukin-18 in Liver Steatosis in Obese Children
Authors: Flisiak-Jackiewicz Marta , Bobrus-Chociej Anna , Tarasów Eugeniusz , Wojtkowska Małgorzata , Białokoz-Kalinowska Irena , Lebensztejn Dariusz Marek
Published: April 2018

Introduction. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be recognized as a feature of MS.Material and Methods. Serum IL-18 concentration was evaluated in serum of 108 obese children, determined with ELISA, and referred to degree of liver steatosis in USG or total intrahepatic lipid content assessed by magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy (1HMRS).Results. Fatty liver was confirmed in 89 children with USG and in 72 with1HMRS. IL-18 concentration demonstrated significantly higher values in patients than in controls. Significant correlations between IL-18 and ALT, GGT, triglycerides, hsCRP, and the degree of liver steatosis were demonstrated. NAFLD children had significantly higher level of IL-18, ALT, GGT, HOMA-IR, waist circumference, and total lipids content in1HMRS than other obese children. IL-18 level was also significantly higher in obese children with advanced liver steatosis. Measurement of serum IL-18 showed ability to differentiate children with fatty liver from those without steatosis.Conclusion. Elevated serum IL-18 concentration and its correlation with hepatocyte injury, systemic inflammation, and degree of liver steatosis support role in NAFLD pathomechanism. IL-18 can be considered to play a role in predicting advanced liver steatosis and fatty liver in obese children.
Improvement of Urinary Stones Analysis Combining Morphological Analysis and Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Gervasoni Jacopo , Primiano Aniello , Ferraro Pietro Manuel , Urbani Andrea , Gambaro Giovanni , Persichilli Silvia
Published: April 2018

Daudon et al. have developed a complex morphoconstitutional classification of renal stone in six different morphological types and several subtypes. According to this classification, a precise correspondence exists between causes of renal stones and subtypes with a great clinical relevance and can be considering a sort of shortcut for the metabolic diagnosis in renal stone patients. Now the diagnosis of causes of renal stones generally requires repeated biochemical investigations on urine and blood samples and usually remains presumptive. We analyzed 150 urinary stones both by stereoscopic microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The comparison of 150 stones did not reveal any disagreement. We have only 20 partial agreement, and clinicians agreed that the imprecise information obtained with morphological analysis alone would have missed an important clinical finding only in 3 cases. In conclusion, in our opinion, the analysis of urinary stone must combine two different analytical techniques: morphological analysis by stereomicroscope and biochemical analysis with the FT-IR.
Selected Parameters of Nutritional and Pro-Health Value in the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpioL.) Muscle Tissue
Authors: Kłobukowski J. , Skibniewska K. , Janowicz K. , Kłobukowski F. , Siemianowska E. , Terech-Majewska E. , Szarek J.
Published: April 2018

This study analysed the effect of the type of production on the nutritional and health value of common carp muscle tissue, especially lipid-related indexes. The muscle tissue of common carps originating from three types of fish farms with different technological levels (i.e., intensive, low-intensive, and semiextensive) was studied. The type of production technology, especially the intensive breeding technique, has been shown to have a significant effect on dry weight, total protein, and total fat content in the common carp muscle tissue under study. The muscles of fish originating from these farms were characterised by the highest values of the mentioned indicators, which amounted to 24.6%, 18.74%, and 1.58%, respectively, for dry matter, protein content, and total fat content. The type of feed used in intensive, low-intensive, and semiextensive common carp breeding has been proven to have a highly significant effect on the fatty acid profile. As regards unsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids were dominant in all cases. The muscle tissue of fish cultured in farms with a semiextensive technological level was characterised by the highest content of unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was, in this case, the most favourable. Dietary indices of atherogenicity (AI) and thrombogenicity (TI) were studied as well. In all analysed cases, the values of these indices were very favourable and several times lower than for other animal fats.
STATCOM Estimation Using Back-Propagation, PSO, Shuffled Frog Leap Algorithm, and Genetic Algorithm Based Neural Networks
Authors: Soodi Hamed Atyia , Vural Ahmet Mete
Published: April 2018

Different optimization techniques are used for the training and fine-tuning of feed forward neural networks, for the estimation of STATCOM voltages and reactive powers. In the first part, the paper presents the voltage regulation in IEEE buses using the Static Compensator (STATIC) and discusses efficient ways to solve the power systems featuring STATCOM by load flow equations. The load flow equations are solved using iterative algorithms such as Newton-Raphson method. In the second part, the paper focuses on the use of estimation techniques based on Artificial Neural Networks as an alternative to the iterative methods. Different training algorithms have been used for training the weights of Artificial Neural Networks; these methods include Back-Propagation, Particle Swarm Optimization, Shuffled Frog Leap Algorithm, and Genetic Algorithm. A performance analysis of each of these methods is done on the IEEE bus data to examine the efficiency of each algorithm. The results show that SFLA outperforms other techniques in training of ANN, seconded by PSO.
Strabismus Recognition Using Eye-Tracking Data and Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Chen Zenghai , Fu Hong , Lo Wai-Lun , Chi Zheru
Published: April 2018

Strabismus is one of the most common vision diseases that would cause amblyopia and even permanent vision loss. Timely diagnosis is crucial for well treating strabismus. In contrast to manual diagnosis, automatic recognition can significantly reduce labor cost and increase diagnosis efficiency. In this paper, we propose to recognize strabismus using eye-tracking data and convolutional neural networks. In particular, an eye tracker is first exploited to record a subject’s eye movements. A gaze deviation (GaDe) image is then proposed to characterize the subject’s eye-tracking data according to the accuracies of gaze points. The GaDe image is fed to a convolutional neural network (CNN) that has been trained on a large image database called ImageNet. The outputs of the full connection layers of the CNN are used as the GaDe image’s features for strabismus recognition. A dataset containing eye-tracking data of both strabismic subjects and normal subjects is established for experiments. Experimental results demonstrate that the natural image features can be well transferred to represent eye-tracking data, and strabismus can be effectively recognized by our proposed method.
Determination of Tobramycin in M9 Medium by LC-MS/MS: Signal Enhancement by Trichloroacetic Acid
Authors: Huang Liusheng , Haagensen Janus Anders Juul , Verotta Davide , Cheah Vincent , Spormann Alfred M. , Aweeka Francesca , Yang Katherine
Published: April 2018

It is well known that ion-pairing reagents cause ion suppression in LC-MS/MS methods. Here, we report that trichloroacetic acid increases the MS signal of tobramycin. To support studies of an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulator for bacterial biofilms, an LC-MS/MS method for determination of tobramycin in M9 media was developed. Aliquots of 25 μL M9 media samples were mixed with the internal standard (IS) tobramycin-d5 (5 µg/mL, 25 µL) and 200 µL 2.5% trichloroacetic acid. The mixture (5 µL) was directly injected onto a PFP column (2.0 × 50 mm, 3 µm) eluted with water containing 20 mM ammonium formate and 0.14% trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in a gradient mode. ESI+ and MRM with ion m/z 468 → 324 for tobramycin and m/z 473 → 327 for the IS were used for quantification. The calibration curve concentration range was 50–25000 ng/mL. Matrix effect from M9 media was not significant when compared with injection solvents, but signal enhancement by trichloroacetic acid was significant (∼3 fold). The method is simple, fast, and reliable. Using the method, the in vitro PK/PD model was tested with one bolus dose of tobramycin.
Functional Change in the Caudal Pontine Reticular Nucleus Induced by Age-Related Hearing Loss
Authors: Zhao Ning , Alkharabsheh Ana’am , Xu Fei , Sun Wei
Published: April 2018

Increased acoustic startle responses (ASR), which represent reduced uncomfortable loudness level in humans, have been reported in middle-aged C57BL/6J mice with sensorineural hearing loss. Although neural plasticity changes in the central auditory system after the peripheral lesions were suggested to underlie this phenomenon, the neurological cause of exaggerated ASR is still not clear. In this study, the local field potentials and firing rates of the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC), which plays a major role in the ASR pathway, were recorded in 2-month- and 6-month-old C57BL/6 J mice. Consistent with our previous studies, the amplitude of ASR increased, and the threshold of ASR decreased in the 6-month-old mice after developing 20–40 dB hearing loss. The PnC response induced by high-frequency stimuli (>20 kHz) decreased in the 6-month group, whereas the PnC response induced by low-frequency stimuli (<12 kHz) showed a significant increase in the 6-month group compared to the 2-month group. The enhancement of PnC response is similar to the ASR increase found in the 6-month-old C57 mice. Our results suggest that the high-frequency hearing loss caused an increase in PnC sensitivity in the C57 mice which may enhance ASRs.
Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Cisplatin‐Induced Testicular Damage in Rats
Authors: Almeer Rafa S. , Abdel Moneim Ahmed E.
Published: April 2018

In the present investigation, the effect of olive leaf extract (OLE) on testicular damage induced in rats by an intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)) at a dose of 5 mg/kg was tested. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, CDDP, OLE, and OLE + CDDP. After 5 days of CDDP treatment, body and testicular weights, histopathological alteration, and serum male sex hormone levels were determined. In addition to the biochemical and immunohistochemical changes in the testes, CDDP caused the disorganization of germinal epithelium and apoptosis by inducing Bax and inhibiting Bcl‐2 protein expression. Testicular weights, catalase, serum testosterone, testicular enzymatic (including glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase) along with nonenzymatic (glutathione) antioxidants, and levels of luteinizing and follicle‐stimulating hormones were significantly reduced in addition to a significant increase in testicular malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate levels when compared with the control group. OLE treatment markedly attenuated both biochemical and histopathological changes. The reproductive beneficial effects of OLE were mediated, at least partly, by inducing the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) pathway.
Effect of Cutaneous Heat Pain on Corticospinal Excitability of the Tibialis Anterior at Rest and during Submaximal Contraction
Authors: Billot Maxime , Neige Cécilia , Gagné Martin , Mercier Catherine , Bouyer Laurent J.
Published: April 2018

Previous studies have shown that pain can interfere with motor control. The neural mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. At the upper limb, mounting evidence suggests that pain-induced reduction in corticospinal excitability is involved. No equivalent data is currently available at the lower limb. The present study therefore examined the effect of thermal pain on the corticospinal drive to tibialis anterior (TA) at rest and during an isometric submaximal dorsiflexion. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to induce motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in the TA at rest and during contraction in the presence or absence of cutaneous heat pain induced by a thermode positioned above the TA (51°C during 1 s). With similar pain ratings between conditions (3.9/10 at rest and 3.6/10 during contraction), results indicate significant decreases in MEP amplitude during both rest (−9%) and active conditions (−13%) (main effect of pain, p=0.02). These results therefore suggest that cutaneous heat pain can reduce corticospinal excitability in the TA muscle and that such reduction in corticospinal excitability could contribute to the interference of pain on motor control/motor learning.
Reentry Trajectory Optimization for a Hypersonic Vehicle Based on an Improved Adaptive Fireworks Algorithm
Authors: Wei Xing , Liu Lei , Wang Yongji , Yang Ye
Published: April 2018

Generation of optimal reentry trajectory for a hypersonic vehicle (HV) satisfying both boundary conditions and path constraints is a challenging task. As a relatively new swarm intelligent algorithm, an adaptive fireworks algorithm (AFWA) has exhibited promising performance on some optimization problems. However, with respect to the optimal reentry trajectory generation under constraints, the AFWA may fall into local optimum, since the individuals including fireworks and sparks are not well informed by the whole swarm. In this paper, we propose an improved AFWA to generate the optimal reentry trajectory under constraints. First, via the Chebyshev polynomial interpolation, the trajectory optimization problem with infinite dimensions is transformed to a nonlinear programming problem (NLP) with finite dimension, and the scope of angle of attack (AOA) is obtained by path constraints to reduce the difficulty of the optimization. To solve the problem, an improved AFWA with a new mutation strategy is developed, where the fireworks can learn from more individuals by the new mutation operator. This strategy significantly enhances the interactions between the fireworks and sparks and thus increases the diversity of population and improves the global search capability. Besides, a constraint-handling technique based on an adaptive penalty function and distance measure is developed to deal with multiple constraints. The numerical simulations of two reentry scenarios for HV demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed improved AFWA optimization method, when compared with other optimization methods.
Dipolar Excitation of a Perfectly Electrically Conducting Spheroid in a Lossless Medium at the Low-Frequency Regime
Authors: Vafeas Panayiotis
Published: April 2018

The electromagnetic vector fields, which are scattered off a highly conductive spheroid that is embedded within an otherwise lossless medium, are investigated in this contribution. A time-harmonic magnetic dipolar source, located nearby and operating at low frequencies, serves as the excitation primary field, being arbitrarily orientated in the three-dimensional space. The main idea is to obtain an analytical solution of this scattering problem, using the appropriate system of spheroidal coordinates, such that a possibly fast numerical estimation of the scattered fields could be useful for real data inversion. To this end, incident and scattered as well as total fields are written in a rigorous low-frequency manner in terms of positive integral powers of the real-valued wave number of the exterior environment. Then, the Maxwell-type problem is converted to interconnected Laplace’s or Poisson’s equations, complemented by the perfectly conducting boundary conditions on the spheroidal object and the necessary radiation behavior at infinity. The static approximation and the three first dynamic contributors are sufficient for the present study, while terms of higher orders are neglected at the low-frequency regime. Henceforth, the 3D scattering boundary value problems are solved incrementally, whereas the determination of the unknown constant coefficients leads either to concrete expressions or to infinite linear algebraic systems, which can be readily solved by implementing standard cut-off techniques. The nonaxisymmetric scattered magnetic and electric fields follow and they are obtained in an analytical compact fashion via infinite series expansions in spheroidal eigenfunctions. In order to demonstrate the efficiency of our analytical approach, the results are degenerated so as to recover the spherical case, which validates this approach.
PHF5A Epigenetically Inhibits Apoptosis to Promote Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: Zheng Yi-Zi , Xue Meng-Zhu , Shen Hong-Jie , Li Xiao-Guang , Ma Ding , Gong Yue , Liu Yi-Rong , Qiao Feng , Xie Hong-Yan , Lian Bi , Sun Wei-Li , Zhao Hai-Yun , Yao Ling , Zuo Wen-Jia , Li Da-Qiang , Wang Peng , Hu Xin , Shao Zhi-Ming
Published: April 2018

Alternative splicing (AS) and its regulation play critical roles in cancer, yet the dysregulation of AS and its molecular bases in breast cancer development have not yet been elucidated. Using an in vivo CRISPR screen targeting RNA-binding proteins, we identified PHD finger protein 5A (PHF5A) as a key splicing factor involved in tumor progression. PHF5A expression was frequently upregulated in breast cancer and correlated with poor survival, and knockdown of PHF5A significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and tumor formation. PHF5A was required for SF3b spliceosome stability and linked the complex to histones, and the PHF5A–SF3b complex modulated AS changes in apoptotic signaling. In addition, expression of a short truncated FAS-activated serine/threonine kinase (FASTK) protein was increased after PHF5A ablation and facilitated Fas-mediated apoptosis. This PHF5A-modulated FASTK–AS axis was widely present in breast cancer specimens, particularly those of the triple-negative subtype. Taken together, our findings reveal that PHF5A serves as an epigenetic suppressor of apoptosis and thus provides a mechanistic basis for breast cancer progression and may be a valuable therapeutic target.

Significance: This study provides an epigenetic mechanistic basis for the aggressive biology of breast cancer and identifies a translatable therapeutic target. Cancer Res; 78(12); 3190–206. ©2018 AACR.
Lectin Affinity Plasmapheresis for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus and Marburg Virus Glycoprotein Elimination
Authors: Koch Benjamin , Schult-Dietrich Patricia , Büttner Stefan , Dilmaghani Bijan , Lohmann Dario , Baer Patrick C. , Dietrich Ursula , Geiger Helmut
Published: April 2018

Background/Aims: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Marburg virus (MARV) are among the World Health Organization’s top 8 emerging pathogens. Both zoonoses share nonspecific early symptoms, a high lethality rate, and a reduced number of specific treatment options. Therefore, we evaluated extracorporeal virus and glycoprotein (GP) elimination by lectin affinity plasmapheresis (LAP). Methods: For both MERS-CoV (pseudovirus) as well as MARV (GPs), 4 LAP devices (Mini Hemopurifiers, Aethlon Medical, San Diego, CA, USA) and 4 negative controls were tested. Samples were collected every 30 min and analyzed for reduction in virus infectivity by a flow cytometry-based infectivity assay (MERS-CoV) and in soluble GP content (MARV) by an immunoassay. Results: The experiments show a time-dependent clearance of MERS-CoV of up to 80% within 3 h (pseudovirus). Up to 70% of MARV-soluble GPs were eliminated at the same time. Substantial saturation of the binding resins was detected within the first treatment hour. Conclusion: MERS-CoV (pseudovirus) and MARV soluble GPs are eliminated by LAP in vitro. Considering the high lethality and missing established treatment options, LAP should be evaluated in vivo. Especially early initiation, continuous therapy, and timed cartridge exchanges could be of importance.
Vibrant Soundbridge Implantation: Floating Mass Transducer Coupled with the Stapes Head and Embedded in Fat
Authors: Liu Qingsong , Feng Guodong , Shang Yingying , Wang Suju , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: April 2018

Subtotal petrosectomy may be performed for refractory chronic middle ear diseases, such as massive cholesteatoma or recurrent otitis media. It involves permanent obliteration of the operative cavity, thus precluding the chance to restore conductive hearing via traditional inertial ossicular prostheses. The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is an alternative option for hearing rehabilitation. Vibrant energy is delivered into the inner ear via a floating mass transducer (FMT), which can be coupled with any part of the middle ear acoustic transmission structure. To restore the hearing of a young woman with cholesteatoma, we combined subtotal petrosectomy with obliteration of the cavity and VSB implantation with an FMT coupled to the stapes head. Two years of follow-up demonstrated excellent auditory rehabilitation, improved sound source localization ability, and a lower speech recognition threshold. This study showed that the FMT works well in an obliterated cavity, and the experience acquired through this successful exploration is worth disseminating.
Salivary and Serum Antioxidant and Oxidative Stress Markers in Dental Caries
Authors: Ahmadi-Motamayel Fatemeh , Goodarzi Mohammad Taghi , Mahdavinezhad Ali , Jamshidi Zohreh , Darvishi Mohammad
Published: April 2018

Dental caries is the most common, chronic, noncommunicable, preventable oral disease worldwide. Oxidation may play an important role in dental caries initiation and progression. Antioxidants in body fluids protect cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in dental caries. A total of 118 healthy caries-free and caries-active male and female students participated. Caries was detected clinically. Unstimulated whole-saliva samples and blood samples were obtained. Sialochemical analysis was carried out by spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzed with the Student t test using STATA 11. Salivary and serum TAC levels in the case and control groups did not show any significant differences. Mean salivary MDA levels in the case and control groups were 0.71 ± 0.1 and 0.35 ± 0.06 nmol/mL, respectively. The results showed significantly higher levels of salivary and serum MDA in the case group compared to the healthy control group. The oxidative stress marker was significantly higher in the caries group compared to the healthy control group. Antioxidants were not significantly different between the two groups. MDA can be produced by dental caries, resulting in a decrease in antioxidant levels, causing disease progression. Further studies are necessary to determine whether MDA is the cause or effect of the disease.
Apparent Treatment Resistant Hypertension, Blood Pressure Control and the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Viazzi Francesca , Greco Eulalia , Ceriello Antonio , Fioretto Paola , Giorda Carlo , Guida Pietro , Russo Giuseppina , De Cosmo Salvatore , Pontremoli Roberto ,   AMD-Annals Study Group
Published: April 2018

Background/Aims: Apparent treatment resistant hypertension (aTRH) is highly prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of aTRH and achievement of recommended blood pressure (BP) values on the rate of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) loss in CKD patients is poorly known. To assess the role of aTRH and time-updated BP control (BPC) on the progression of CKD in patients with T2D and hypertension (HT) in real life clinical practice. Methods: Clinical records from a total of 2,778 diabetic patients with HT and stage 3 CKD (i.e. baseline eGFR values between 30 and 60 ml/min) and regular visits during a four-year follow-up were analyzed. The association between BPC (i.e. 75% of visits with BP <140/90 mmHg) and eGFR loss (i.e. a >30% reduction from baseline) or worsening of albuminuria status over time was assessed. Results: At baseline 33% of patients had aTRH. Over the 4-year follow-up, 20% had a >30% eGFR reduction. Patients with aTRH had an increased risk of eGFR loss >30% (OR 1.31; P<0.007). In patients with aTRH, BPC was associated with a 79% (P=0.029) greater risk of eGFR reduction despite a 58% (P=0.001) lower risk of albuminuria status worsening. In non-aTRH, no association was found between BPC and renal outcome. Conclusion: In patients with stage 3 CKD the presence of aTRH entails a faster loss of eGFR. More effective prevention of aTRH should be implemented as this condition is associated with a burden of risk not modifiable by tight BP reduction.
Concept Drift Identification using Classifier Ensemble Approach
Authors: Deshpande Leena , Rao M. Narsing
Published: April 2018

Abstract:-In Internetworking system, the huge amount of data is scattered, generated and processed over the network. The data mining techniques are used to discover the unknown pattern from the underlying data. A traditional classification model is used to classify the data based on past labelled data. However in many current applications, data is increasing in size with fluctuating patterns. Due to this new feature may arrive in the data. It is present in many applications like sensornetwork, banking and telecommunication systems, financial domain, Electricity usage and prices based on its demand and supplyetc .Thus change in data distribution reduces the accuracy of classifying the data. It may discover some patterns as frequent while other patterns tend to disappear and wrongly classify. To mine such data distribution, traditionalclassification techniques may not be suitable as the distribution generating the items can change over time so data from the past may become irrelevant or even false for the current prediction. For handlingsuch varying pattern of data, concept drift mining approach is used to improve the accuracy of classification techniques. In this paper we have proposed ensemble approach for improving the accuracy of classifier. The ensemble classifier is applied on 3 different data sets. We investigated different features for the different chunk of data which is further given to ensemble classifier. We observed the proposed approach improves the accuracy of classifier for different chunks of data.
Ant Colony Optimization for Optimal Low-Pass State Variable Filter Sizing
Authors: Loubna Kritele , Bachir Benhala , Izeddine Zorkani
Published: April 2018

In analog filter design, discrete components values such as resistors (R) and capacitors (C) are selected from the series following constant values chosen. Exhaustive search on all possible combinations for an optimized design is not feasible. In this paper, we present an application of the Ant Colony Optimization technique (ACO) in order to selected optimal values of resistors and capacitors from different manufactured series to satisfy the filter design criteria. Three variants of the Ant Colony Optimization are applied, namely, the AS (Ant System), the MMAS (Min-Max AS) and the ACS (Ant Colony System), for the optimal sizing of the Low-Pass State Variable Filter. SPICE simulations are used to validate the obtained results/performances which are compared with already published works.
Symbolic-Connectionist Representational Model for Optimizing Decision Making Behavior in Intelligent Systems
Authors: Martin R. John , Sujatha Sujatha
Published: April 2018

Modeling higher order cognitive processes like human decision making come in three representational approaches namely symbolic, connectionist and symbolic-connectionist. Many connectionist neural network models are evolved over the decades for optimizing decision making behaviors and their agents are also in place. There had been attempts to implement symbolic structures within connectionist architectures with distributed representations. Our work was aimed at proposing an enhanced connectionist approach of optimizing the decisions within the framework of a symbolic cognitive model. The action selection module of this framework is forefront in evolving intelligent agents through a variety of soft computing models. As a continous effort, a Connectionist Cognitive Model (CCN) had been evolved by bringing a traditional symbolic cognitive process model proposed by LIDA as an inspiration to a feed forward neural network model for optimizing decion making behaviours in intelligent agents. Significanct progress was observed while comparing its performance with other varients.
Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) based Data Hiding in Image Complex Region
Authors: Khan Sahib
Published: April 2018

This paper presents data an Ant colony optimization (ACO) based data hiding technique. ACO is used to detect complex region of cover image and afterward, least significant bits (LSB) substitution is used to hide secret information in the detected complex regions’ pixels. ACO is an algorithm developed inspired by the inborn manners of ant species. The ant leaves pheromone on the ground for searching food and provisions. The proposed ACO-based data hiding in complex region establishes an array of pheromone, also called pheromone matrix, which represents the complex region in sequence at each pixel position of the cover image. The pheromone matrix is developed according to the movements of ants, determined by local differences of the image element’s intensity. The least significant bits of complex region pixels are substituted with message bits, to hide secret information. The experimental results, provided, show the significance of the performance of the proposed method.
Analytical Model of Cage Induction Machine Dedicated to the Study of the Inner Race Bearing Fault
Authors: Hadjami Marouane , Razik Hubert , Oumaamar Mohamed El Kamel , Kezzar Abdelmamek
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a new analytical model for inner bearing raceway defect. The model is based on the presentation of different machine inductances as Fourier series without any kind of reference frame transformation. The proposed approach shows that this model is able to give important features on the state of the motor. Simulation based on spectral analysis of stator current signal using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and experimental results are given to shed light on the usefulness of the proposed model.
Improving the Performance of Viterbi Decoder using Window System
Authors: Kahina Rekkal , Bassou Abdesselam
Published: April 2018

An efficient Viterbi decoder is introduced in this paper; it is called Viterbi decoder with window system. The simulation results, over Gaussian channels, are performed from rate 1/2, 1/3 and 2/3 joined to TCM encoder with memory in order of 2, 3. These results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the classical Viterbi by a gain of 1 dB. On the other hand, we propose a function called RSCPOLY2TRELLIS, for recursive systematic convolutional (RSC) encoder which creates the trellis structure of a recursive systematic convolutional encoder from the matrix “H”. Moreover, we present a comparison between the decoding algorithms of the TCM encoder like Viterbi soft and hard, and the variants of the MAP decoder known as BCJR or forward-backward algorithm which is very performant in decoding TCM, but depends on the size of the code, the memory, and the CPU requirements of the application.
Routing Design Issues in Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Dhage Manisha R. , Vemuru Srikanth
Published: April 2018

WSN has important applications such as habitat monitoring, structural health monitoring, target tracking in military and many more. This has evolved due to availability of sensors that are cheaper and intelligent but these are having battery support. So, one of the major issues in WSN is maximization of network life. Heterogeneous WSNs have the potential to improve network lifetime and also provide higher quality networking and system services than the homogeneous WSN. Routing is the main concern of energy consumption in WSN. Previous research shows that performance of the network can be improve significantly using protocol of hierarchical HWSN. However, the appropriateness of a particular routing protocol mainly depends on the capabilities of the nodes and on the application requirements. This study presents different aspects of Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor network and design issues for routing in heterogeneous environment. Different perspectives from different authors regarding energy efficiency based on resource heterogeneity for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks have been presented.
From Agasa Cristie to Group Image Play-Analysis of Horror Survival Game Panic Room : Escaping from the Den on Emotional Elements Development
Authors: Song Doo Heon , Rhee Hae Kyung , Kim Ji-eun , Lee Jong Hee
Published: April 2018

A maniac computer game genre called "Survival Horror Games‟ is aimed for making gamers feel cathartic feeling when they escaped from the designed horror successfully. The degree of gaming quality, however, is not easy to measure. In this paper, we apply Caillois‟ game playing categories and other standards to measure how a game induces the feeling of fear and other emotional experience to players. Once dominated horror survival game series called Panic Room: Escaping from the Den was chosen to analyze and evaluate with those standards as well as its narratives and subsystems. Especially the 2nd version was most welcomed to users among 4 versions thus we focused on the difference between the version 1 and the version 2 in terms of game playing and fear elements in the game content and story structure. In result, version 2 showed much more Agon and Mimicry and all other fear elements than version 1. The group image playing structure and conference/collection subsystem that were newly provided to version 2 were attributed to its success.
Design of Hybrid Solar Wind Energy System in a Microgrid with MPPT Techiques
Authors: Chinnakullay Reddy D. , Satyanarayana S. , Ganesh V.
Published: April 2018

DC Microgrid is one feasible and effective solution to integrate renewable energy sources as well as to supply electricity. This paper proposes a DC microgrid with enhanced Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques for wind and solar energy systems. In this paper, the PV system power generation is enhanced by introducing a two-model MPPT technique that combines incremental conductance and constant voltage MPPT algorithms. Also, for the Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) with pitch angle controlling technique, an Optimal Power Control MPPT technique is added. The Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation technique is introduced on grid side converter to improve the supply to the grid. The performance of proposed system is analyzed and the efficiency obtained with these methods is enhanced as compared with the previous methods.
Neural Network based p-q-r Theory for Harmonic Reduction and Neutral Current Mitigation
Authors: Malathi S. , Jayachandran J.
Published: April 2018

The power quality compensator chosen in this paper is a DSTATCOM which integrates a three phase four leg Voltage Source Converter (VSC) with a DC capacitor. The major role of the DSTATCOM is to mitigate the components of harmonic/reactive current present in the line current thereby shapes the grid current to be sinusoidal and improves the power factor nearly unity under varying conditions. In addition DSATATCOM mitigates neutral current (Isn) and balances the load currents under unbalanced conditions in three phase four wire (3P4W) distribution system. The control strategy proposed for the DSTATCOM is a Neural Network (NN) based p-q-r theory with two Artificial Neural Network (ANN) controllers for a 3P4W distribution system. The reference signal for 3P3W Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) is calculated by implementing an ANN controller. The alleviation of Isn under unbalanced condition is achieved by another ANN controller which produces reference signal for the 1Φ APF. The performance of the proposed DSTATCOM is analysed for various conditions through simulations in MATLAB SIMULINK and the simulation results justify the effectiveness of the propounded NN based control algorithm for DSTATCOM.
Energy Audit and Analysis of an Institutional Building under Subtropical Climate
Authors: Ghadi Yazed Yasin , Baniyounes Ali M.
Published: April 2018

Evaluation and estimation of energy consumption are essential in order to classify the amount of energy used and the way it is utilized in building. Hence, the possibility of any energy savings potential and energy savings opportunities can be identified. The intention of this article is to study and evaluate energy usage pattern of the Central Queensland University campus’ buildings, Queensland, Australia. This article presents the field survey results from the audit of an office building and performance-related measurements of the indoor environmental parameters, for instance, indoor air temperature, humidity and energy consumption concerned to the indoor heating and cooling load. Monthly observed energy usage information was employed to investigate influence of the climate conditions on energy usage.
Analytic Estimation of Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Density and Current-Voltage Characteristic in AlGaN/GaN HEMT’s
Authors: Babaya Asmae , Seddik Bri , Adil Saadi
Published: April 2018

This paper is mainly dedicated to understand the phenomena governing the formation of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) confined in the quantum well which hold the role of the channel in the high electron density transistors (HEMT) based on AlGaN / GaN heterojunction. The theory takes into account: the crystal structure, the spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization concept, the formation mechanism of two-dimensional electron gas at the AlGaN / GaN interface, the approximate resolution of the Poisson and Schrödinger equations to determine the density of Two-dimensional electron gas after the analytical formula of the current-voltage characteristic is established. Our study is also concerned with the dependence of the two-dimensional electron gas density on the following technological parameters: Aluminum molare fraction, AlGaN layer thickness and AlGaN layer doping, In order to control the influence of these parameters on the device performance. Finally, the current-voltage characteristic which reflects the variation of the drain-source current as a function of the modulation of the gate voltage has been discussed.
Feminicídio em cena: da dimensão simbólica à política
Authors: Machado Isadora Vier , Elias Maria Lígia Ganacim Granado Rodrigues
Published: April 2018

Em março de 2015, a Lei 13.104/15 instituiu a qualificadora do feminicídio, incorporando-a aos discursos dos/as julgadores/as. Neste trabalho, cabe-nos ressaltar que o campo jurídico-penal é uma das diversas áreas em que se estabelecem complexas relações sociais, portanto, não apenas palco de lutas sociais, mas ele próprio objeto de disputas. Assim, temos por proposta central sistematizar as principais críticas levantadas, até então, sobre a criminalização do feminicídio e, com base nelas, produzir uma reflexão sobre o significado das paradoxais lutas por judicialização, no cenário feminista nacional.
Tentando “chegar lá”: as experiências de jovens de um cursinho popular
Authors: Bonaldi Eduardo Vilar
Published: April 2018

Este artigo retrata o caso de jovens de camadas populares que buscam alcançar o ensino superior com base em uma iniciativa de “cursinho popular” organizada na cidade de São Paulo. O texto busca caracterizar e evidenciar, primeiramente, os agenciamentos de socialização a partir dos quais esses jovens são investidos de disposições ao alongamento de suas expectativas escolares, incorporando o ensino superior como destino educacional pressentido como “possível” por eles. Em seguida, o artigo busca esclarecer como esses agenciamentos se desdobram, no entanto, em desajustes, limites e inadequações entre as disposições incorporadas por esses jovens e as exigências dos modos de seleção próprios às instituições de ensino superior público, que passam a ser valorizadas e pretendidas por eles a partir de suas passagens pelo cursinho popular.
Hebraica: dos dois aos vinte : elaboração de um programa de formação esportiva
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Educação Física e Esporte, Portaro Ana Lúcia , Barros Cláudia Mendonça de ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Educação Física e Esporte, Inglez Carlos ,   Associação Brasileira A Hebraica – SP, De Rose Junior Dante ,   Associação Brasileira a Hebraica - SP, Minakawa Edison ,   Associação Brasileira A Hebraica – SP, Santos Murilo Monteiro ,   Associação Brasileira A Hebraica – SP, Barhum Reynaldo ,   Associação Brasileira A Hebraica – SP
Published: April 2018

O projeto “Hebraica dos dois aos vinte” tem como objetivo tornar constante a participação e a assiduidade dos associados do Clube, desenvolvendo um programa de formação esportiva de continuidade no esporte (de forma competitiva ou não), de alta qualidade, respeitando o desenvolvimento geral de cada criança e acreditando que a habilidade e a desenvoltura aconteçam de forma distinta dentro das diferentes faixas etárias. E é sobre a construção desse programa que esse livro foi elaborado, mostrando passo a passo todo o trabalho realizado - um trabalho coletivo que mostra a força e a competência de um elenco de profissionais qualificados e envolvidos os quais visam, sobretudo, o bem-estar de nossas crianças e jovens.
Entreviver – desafios cosmopolíticos contemporâneos
Authors: Bailão André , Pinheiro Jamille , Oliveira Joana Cabral de , Marini Marisol , Taddei Renzo , Marras Stelio
Published: April 2018

O dossiê que integra esta edição é fruto da proposta e dos debates transcorridos na VI Reunião de Antropologia da Ciência e da Tecnologia – ReACT, realizada entre os dias 16 e 19 de maio de 2017 no Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros da Universidade de São Paulo (IEB/USP). Idealizadas e realizadas por uma rede fundada em 2013, que congrega grupos de pesquisa de diversas instituições em torno da antropologia da ciência e da tecnologia no Brasil, as reuniões bienais têm crescido e abarcado cada vez mais pesquisadores e temáticas. Não foi diferente com o tema “Entreviver” da VI ReACT, cujas apresentações nas conferências e mesas estão na maior parte publicadas neste dossiê.
Botos bons, peixes e pescadores: sobre a pesca conjunta em Laguna (Santa Catarina, Brasil)
Authors: Catão Brisa , Barbosa Gabriel Coutinho
Published: April 2018

Em Laguna (Santa Catarina, Brasil), pescadores artesanais e golfinhos-nariz-degarrafa desenvolvem formas peculiares de pescar juntos. “Botas boas” e “botos bons” (como são conhecidos os animais que participam da pesca) conduzem cardumes de tainhas em direção aos pescadores, sinalizam a localização dos peixes e o momento certo de lançar as tarrafas. Este artigo apresenta uma descrição geral dessa pesca, abordando as relações entre botos, pescadores e peixes, os conhecimentos dos pescadores sobre os golfinhos, a comunicação entre eles, bem como a coaprendizagem e o desenvolvimento interespecífico de habilidades entre botos e pescadores.
Por uma antropologia do entre: reflexões sobre um novo e urgente descentramento do humano
Authors: Marras Stelio
Published: April 2018

Neste artigo pretende-se refletir sobre problemas de antropologia contemporânea visando a ressituar o objeto da disciplina (o humano e suas relações) face às crescentes ameaças ecológicas do presente e do futuro desse presente. Tais problemas apontam para um novo descentramento do humano em relação ao cosmos, o que implica repor a pergunta sobre quem ou o que mesmo descrevemos em nossas etnografias. A realidade humana será a realidade do humano? O desafio é o de encarar o fundamento inerentemente antropocêntrico da antropologia (como, de resto, das ciências sociais e das humanidades) como condição para engendrarmos descrições mais realistas que respondam a esse descentramento e abram passagem a abordagens que permitam reconhecer novas coalizões políticas (se não melhor, cosmopolíticas) que apontem para continuidades entre humanos e seus mundos, conforme indica parte importante do pensamento contemporâneo.
O feitiço e a feitiçaria capitalista
Authors: Vanzolini Marina
Published: April 2018

Parece ser comum aos pesquisadores da área a percepção de que o Alto Xingu, conjunto multilíngue de povos que habitam a região dos formadores do rio Xingu, vem passando por mudanças significativas associadas ao aumento do afluxo de dinheiro e bens industrializados ao longo da última década ou mais. O que segue é uma tentativa preliminar de formular uma hipótese sobre um aspecto particular desse contexto – a questão de se há uma relação, e qual, entre essas mudanças e a feitiçaria – com base na etnografia dos Aweti, povo tupi xinguano. Resistir à tentação de achar que nós sabemos melhor do que eles o que está acontecendo, e que sabemos o que é melhor para eles, é também compreender qual a forma, ou uma das formas, que a resistência à captura capitalista pode tomar em seu mundo.
Report of the early winter migrants and resident birds in an inland wetland near Tundi Camp, Bajana, Gujarat
Authors: Chatterjee Abhishek , Ghoshal Sudeshna , Chowdhury Soumyajit , Chakrabarti Pinakiranjan
Published: April 2018

The study is based on the avian community observed in the region.  In total, 1,079 individuals, 62 genera and 79 species of birds belonging to 35 families have been recorded.  Among them, the family Anatidae with 20.42% incidence is the most frequent; immediately followed by the family Phoenicopteridae (10.59% of occurrence).  Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger is the most abundant avian species observed.  The community consists of 44% resident; 36% resident-migrant and 20% migrant bird species.  It was observed that the concerned community shows a considerable diversity and a correspondingly low value of dominance.  In the feeding guild analysis, the insectivore guild has the most number of recorded avian species.  The feeding guild affiliations also point out that the overall community is fairly rich in its composition as it houses bird species belonging to various feeding guilds.