bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limitations of Coverability Trees for Context-Free Parallel Communicating Grammar Systems and Why these Grammar Systems are not Linear Space
Authors: Bruda Stefan D. , Wilkin Mary Sarah Ruth
Published: September 2016

Coverability trees offer a finite characterization of all the derivations of a context-free parallel grammar system (CF-PCGS). Their finite nature implies that they necessarily omit some information about these derivations. We demonstrate that the omitted information is most if not all of the time too much, and so coverability trees are not useful as an analysis tool except for their limited use already considered in the paper that introduces them (namely, determining the decidability of certain decision problems over PCGS). We establish this result by invalidating an existing proof that synchronized CF-PCGS are less expressive than context-sensitive grammars. Indeed, we discover that this proof relies on coverability trees for CF-PCGS, but that such coverability trees do not in fact contain enough information to support the proof.
A Survey on the Metaheuristics Applied to QAP for the Graphics Processing Units
Authors: Abdelkafi Omar , Idoumghar Lhassane , Lepagnot Julien
Published: September 2016

The computational power requirements of real-world optimization problems begin to exceed the general performance of the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The modeling of such problems is in constant evolution and requires more computational power. Solving them is expensive in computation time and even metaheuristics, well known for their eficiency, begin to be unsuitable for the increasing amount of data. Recently, thanks to the advent of languages such as CUDA, the development of parallel metaheuristics on Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) platform to solve combinatorial problems such as the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) has received a growing interest. It is one of the most studied NP-hard problems and it is known for its high computational cost. In this paper, we survey several of the most important metaheuristics approaches for the QAP and we focus our survey on parallel metaheuristics using the GPU.
H → γγ, gauge invariance, and the hierarchy problem
Authors: Kile Jennifer
Published: September 2016

The calculation of [Formula: see text] displays interesting behavior which depends on the regulator used in the integration over loop momenta. If calculated using a gauge-invariant regulator, such as dimensional regularization, the calculation yields a unique, finite, gauge-invariant result. If four-dimensional symmetric regulation is used without finite subtractions, additional pieces occur which spoil QED gauge invariance. In both cases, a finite result is obtained, but the particular finite result depends on the regulator utilized in the calculation.

While gauge-invariant regulators such as dimensional regularization are normally used, four-dimensional symmetric integration is also physically motivated. Also, the gauge-invariance-violating terms that arise using four-dimensional symmetric integration are of the same form for the fermionic, scalar, and the SM [Formula: see text] loop calculated in renormalizable gauge. This presents an interesting possibility. Inspired by anomaly cancellation, we ask if it is possible that these gauge-invariance-violating terms may cancel in certain models when contributions from all diagrams are included.

Here, we calculate the regulator-dependent contributions to [Formula: see text] arising from generic fermion and scalar loops, as well as the Standard Model [Formula: see text] loop contribution, which we evaluate in renormalizable gauge for general [Formula: see text]. We find that a cancellation between such terms is possible, and derive the cancellation condition. Additionally, we find that this cancellation condition ensures QED gauge invariance without finite subtractions for any regulator used, not just for four-dimensional symmetric integration.

We additionally relate the regulator-dependent terms in [Formula: see text] to the behavior of quadratically-divergent Higgs tadpole diagrams under shifts of internal loop momentum. Thus, the cancellation condition for the gauge-invariance-violating terms in [Formula: see text] implies a relation between the quadratic divergences in Higgs tadpole diagrams; this has consequences for hypothesized solutions to the hierarchy problem. Lastly, we find that the MSSM obeys our cancellation condition.
Donor variability among anti-inflammatory pre-activated mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Gray Andrea , Schloss Rene S. , Yarmush Martin
Published: September 2016

Therapeutic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are attractive in part due to their immunomodulatory properties, achieved by their paracrine secretion of factors including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Despite promising pre-clinical data, demonstrating clinical efficacy has proven difficult. The current studies were designed to develop approaches to pre-induce desired functions from naïve MSCs and examine MSC donor variability, two factors contributing to this disconnect. MSCs from six human donors were pre-activated with interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) at a concentration and duration identified as optimal or interferon gamma (IFN-γ) as a comparator. Their secretion of PGE2 after pre-activation and secondary exposure to pro-inflammatory molecules was measured. Modulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion from M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages by co-cultured pre-activated MSCs was also measured. Our results indicated that pre-activation of MSCs with IL-1β resulted in upregulated PGE2 secretion post exposure. Pre-activation with IL-1β or IFN-γ resulted in higher sensitivity to induction by secondary stimuli compared to no pre-activation. While IL-1β pre-activation led to enhanced MSC-mediated attenuation of macrophage TNF-α secretion, IFN-γ pre-activation resulted in enhanced TNF-α secretion. Donor variability was noted in PGE2 secretion and upregulation and the level of improved or impaired macrophage modulation.
Digital Mont’e Prama
Authors: Rodríguez Marcos Balsa , Agus Marco , Bettio Fabio , Marton Fabio , Gobbetti Enrico
Published: September 2016

We present and evaluate a scalable interactive system for the exploration of large collections of detailed three-dimensional digital models of sculptures. The system has been applied to the valorization of the Mont’e Prama complex, an extraordinary collection of protostoric Mediterranean sculptures, which depict models of cone-shaped stone towers, as well as larger-than-life human figures. The software architecture is based on scalable components for efficient distribution and adaptive rendering of extremely detailed surface meshes with overlaid information. The user interface, based on a simple and effective interactive camera controller tailored for touch interaction, has been designed for targeting both small screens and large display systems. The system components have been integrated in different interactive applications, ranging from large-screen museum setups and low-end mobile devices both with very high visual quality. The large-scale system has been installed in a variety of temporal and permanent exhibitions and has been extensively used by tens of thousands of visitors. We provide an early analysis in this article of the data gathered during a 20-month period in the National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari and a 6-month period in the Civic Museum in Cabras, for a total of over 67,000 exploration sessions.
Soft Confidence-Weighted Learning
Authors: Wang Jialei , Zhao Peilin , Hoi Steven C. H.
Published: September 2016

Online learning plays an important role in many big data mining problems because of its high efficiency and scalability. In the literature, many online learning algorithms using gradient information have been applied to solve online classification problems. Recently, more effective second-order algorithms have been proposed, where the correlation between the features is utilized to improve the learning efficiency. Among them, Confidence-Weighted (CW) learning algorithms are very effective, which assume that the classification model is drawn from a Gaussian distribution, which enables the model to be effectively updated with the second-order information of the data stream. Despite being studied actively, these CW algorithms cannot handle nonseparable datasets and noisy datasets very well. In this article, we propose a family of Soft Confidence-Weighted (SCW) learning algorithms for both binary classification and multiclass classification tasks, which is the first family of online classification algorithms that enjoys four salient properties simultaneously: (1) large margin training, (2) confidence weighting, (3) capability to handle nonseparable data, and (4) adaptive margin. Our experimental results show that the proposed SCW algorithms significantly outperform the original CW algorithm. When comparing with a variety of state-of-the-art algorithms (including AROW, NAROW, and NHERD), we found that SCW in general achieves better or at least comparable predictive performance, but enjoys considerably better efficiency advantage (i.e., using a smaller number of updates and lower time cost). To facilitate future research, we release all the datasets and source code to the public at http://libol.stevenhoi.org/.
Many-body quantum mechanics
Authors: Wall Michael L. , Safavi-Naini Arghavan , Gärttner Martin
Published: September 2016

Special purpose quantum computers---realized with current technology---have the potential to revolutionize physics, chemistry, and materials science.
Reliable quantum circuits have defects
Authors: Paler Alexandru , Fowler Austin G. , Wille Robert
Published: September 2016

The first large-scale practical quantum computer is within reach. Coming to grips with the strategy and challenges of preparing reliable executions of an arbitrary quantum computation is not difficult. In fact, defects are good.
Stress-Induced Mutagenesis: Implications in Cancer and Drug Resistance
Authors: Fitzgerald Devon M. , Hastings P.J. , Rosenberg Susan M.
Published: September 2016

Genomic instability underlies many cancers and generates genetic variation that drives cancer initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. In contrast with classical assumptions that mutations occur purely stochastically at constant, gradual rates, microbes, plants, flies, and human cancer cells possess mechanisms of mutagenesis that are upregulated by stress responses. These generate transient, genetic-diversity bursts that can propel evolution, specifically when cells are poorly adapted to their environments—that is, when stressed. We review molecular mechanisms of stress-response-dependent (stress-induced) mutagenesis that occur from bacteria to cancer, and are activated by starvation, drugs, hypoxia, and other stressors. We discuss mutagenic DNA break repair in Escherichia coli as a model for mechanisms in cancers. The temporal regulation of mutagenesis by stress responses and spatial restriction in genomes are common themes across the tree of life. Both can accelerate evolution, including the evolution of cancers. We discuss possible anti-evolvability drugs, aimed at targeting mutagenesis and other variation generators, that could be used to delay the evolution of cancer progression and therapy resistance.
Behavioral Sabotage of Plant Defenses by Insect Folivores
Authors: Dussourd David E.
Published: September 2016

Plant susceptibility to herbivore attack is determined not just by the suite of defenses present in different tissues of the plant, but also by the capabilities of the herbivore for tolerating, circumventing, or disarming the defenses. This article reviews the elaborate behaviors exhibited by leaf-chewing insects that appear to function specifically to deactivate hostplant defenses. Shortcomings in our understanding and promising areas for future research are highlighted. Behaviors covered include vein cutting, trenching, girdling, leaf clipping, and application of fluids from exocrine glands. Many of these behaviors have a widespread distribution, having evolved independently in multiple insect lineages. Insects utilizing the behaviors include significant agricultural, horticultural, and forestry pests, as well as numerous species important in natural ecosystems. Behavioral, ecological, and phylogenetic studies have documented the importance of the behaviors and their ancient history, but the molecular analysis of how the behaviors affect plant physiology has scarcely begun.
Genome-Wide Analysis of RNA Secondary Structure
Authors: Bevilacqua Philip C. , Ritchey Laura E. , Su Zhao , Assmann Sarah M.
Published: September 2016

Single-stranded RNA molecules fold into extraordinarily complicated secondary and tertiary structures as a result of intramolecular base pairing. In vivo, these RNA structures are not static. Instead, they are remodeled in response to changes in the prevailing physicochemical environment of the cell and as a result of intermolecular base pairing and interactions with RNA-binding proteins. Remarkable technical advances now allow us to probe RNA secondary structure at single-nucleotide resolution and genome-wide, both in vitro and in vivo. These data sets provide new glimpses into the RNA universe. Analyses of RNA structuromes in HIV, yeast, Arabidopsis, and mammalian cells and tissues have revealed regulatory effects of RNA structure on messenger RNA (mRNA) polyadenylation, splicing, translation, and turnover. Application of new methods for genome-wide identification of mRNA modifications, particularly methylation and pseudouridylation, has shown that the RNA “epitranscriptome” both influences and is influenced by RNA structure. In this review, we describe newly developed genome-wide RNA structure-probing methods and synthesize the information emerging from their application.
Moving Beyond Correlations in Assessing the Consequences of Poverty
Authors: Duncan Greg J. , Magnuson Katherine , Votruba-Drzal Elizabeth
Published: September 2016

In the United States, does growing up in a poor household cause negative developmental outcomes for children? Hundreds of studies have documented statistical associations between family income in childhood and a host of outcomes in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Many of these studies have used correlational evidence to draw policy conclusions regarding the benefits of added family income for children, in particular children in families with incomes below the poverty line. Are these conclusions warranted? After a review of possible mechanisms linking poverty to negative childhood outcomes, we summarize the evidence for income's effects on children, paying particular attention to the strength of the evidence and the timing of economic deprivation. We demonstrate that, in contrast to the nearly universal associations between poverty and children's outcomes in the correlational literature, impacts estimated from social experiments and quasi-experiments are more selective. In particular, these stronger studies have linked increases in family income to increased school achievement in middle childhood and to greater educational attainment in adolescence and early adulthood. There is no experimental or quasi-experimental evidence in the United States that links child outcomes to economic deprivation in the first several years of life. Understanding the nature of socioeconomic influences, as well as their potential use in evidence-based policy recommendations, requires greater attention to identifying causal effects.
Circuits for presaccadic visual remapping
Authors: Rao Hrishikesh M. , Mayo J. Patrick , Sommer Marc A.
Published: September 2016

Saccadic eye movements rapidly displace the image of the world that is projected onto the retinas. In anticipation of each saccade, many neurons in the visual system shift their receptive fields. This presaccadic change in visual sensitivity, known as remapping, was first documented in the parietal cortex and has been studied in many other brain regions. Remapping requires information about upcoming saccades via corollary discharge. Analyses of neurons in a corollary discharge pathway that targets the frontal eye field (FEF) suggest that remapping may be assembled in the FEF's local microcircuitry. Complementary data from reversible inactivation, neural recording, and modeling studies provide evidence that remapping contributes to transsaccadic continuity of action and perception. Multiple forms of remapping have been reported in the FEF and other brain areas, however, and questions remain about the reasons for these differences. In this review of recent progress, we identify three hypotheses that may help to guide further investigations into the structure and function of circuits for remapping.
A switching cost for motor planning
Authors: Orban de Xivry Jean-Jacques , Lefèvre Philippe
Published: September 2016

Movement planning consists of choosing the intended endpoint of the movement and selecting the motor program that will bring the effector on the endpoint. It is widely accepted that movement endpoint is updated on a trial-by-trial basis with respect to the observed errors and that the motor program for a given movement follows the rules of optimal feedback control. In this article, we show clear limitations of these theories. First, participants in the current study could not tune their motor program appropriately for each individual trial. This was true even when the participants selected the width of the target that they reached toward or when they had learned the appropriate motor program previously. These data are compatible with the existence of a switching cost for motor planning, which relates to the drop in performance due to an imposed switch of motor programs. This cost of switching shares many features of costs reported in cognitive task switching experiments and, when tested in the same participants, was correlated with it. Second, we found that randomly changing the width of a target over the course of a reaching experiment prevents the motor system from updating the endpoint of movements on the basis of the performance on the previous trial if the width of the target has changed. These results provide new insights into the process of motor planning and how it relates to optimal control theory and to an action selection based on the reward consequences of the motor program rather than that based on the observed error.
The Discrepancy between Patient and Clinician Reported Function in Extremity Bone Metastases
Authors: Janssen Stein J. , van Rein Eva A. J. , Paulino Pereira Nuno Rui , Raskin Kevin A. , Ferrone Marco L. , Hornicek Francis J. , Lozano-Calderon Santiago A. , Schwab Joseph H.
Published: September 2016

Background. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scoring system measures function and is commonly used but criticized because it was developed to be completed by the clinician and not by the patient. We therefore evaluated if there is a difference between patient and clinician reported function using the MSTS score.Methods. 128 patients with bone metastasis of the lower (n=100) and upper (n=28) extremity completed the MSTS score. The MSTS score consists of six domains, scored on a 0 to 5 scale and transformed into an overall score ranging from 0 to 100% with a higher score indicating better function. The MSTS score was also derived from clinicians’ reports in the medical record.Results. The median age was 63 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 55–71) and the study included 74 (58%) women. We found that the clinicians’ MSTS score (median: 65, IQR: 49–83) overestimated the function as compared to the patient perceived score (median: 57, IQR: 40–70) by 8 points (p<0.001).Conclusion. Clinician reports overestimate function as compared to the patient perceived score. This is important for acknowledging when informing patients about the expected outcome of treatment and for understanding patients’ perceptions.
Hybrid Artificial Root Foraging Optimizer Based Multilevel Threshold for Image Segmentation
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Junfei , Tian Liwei , Ma Lianbo
Published: September 2016

This paper proposes a new plant-inspired optimization algorithm for multilevel threshold image segmentation, namely, hybrid artificial root foraging optimizer (HARFO), which essentially mimics the iterative root foraging behaviors. In this algorithm the new growth operators of branching, regrowing, and shrinkage are initially designed to optimize continuous space search by combining root-to-root communication and coevolution mechanism. With the auxin-regulated scheme, various root growth operators are guided systematically. With root-to-root communication, individuals exchange information in different efficient topologies, which essentially improve the exploration ability. With coevolution mechanism, the hierarchical spatial population driven by evolutionary pressure of multiple subpopulations is structured, which ensure that the diversity of root population is well maintained. The comparative results on a suit of benchmarks show the superiority of the proposed algorithm. Finally, the proposed HARFO algorithm is applied to handle the complex image segmentation problem based on multilevel threshold. Computational results of this approach on a set of tested images show the outperformance of the proposed algorithm in terms of optimization accuracy computation efficiency.
Acupuncture for Tourette Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yu Jinna , Ye Yongming , Liu Jun , Wang Yang , Peng Weina , Liu Zhishun
Published: September 2016

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that affects both children and adults. We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture to treat TS written in English or Chinese without restrictions on publication status. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of study quality were conducted independently by two reviewers. Meta‐analyses were performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 software from the Cochrane Collaboration. Data were combined with the fixed‐effect model based on a heterogeneity test. Results were presented as risk ratios for dichotomous data and mean differences (MDs) for continuous data. This review included 7 RCTs with a total of 564 participants. The combined results showed that acupuncture may have better short‐term effect than Western medicine for TS and that acupuncture may be an effective adjuvant therapy in improving the effect of Western medicine on TS, but the evidence is limited because of existing biases. Rigorous high‐quality RCTs are needed to verify these findings.
Advances in Molecular Imaging Strategies forIn VivoTracking of Immune Cells
Authors: Lee Ho Won , Gangadaran Prakash , Kalimuthu Senthilkumar , Ahn Byeong-Cheol
Published: September 2016

Tracking of immune cellsin vivois a crucial tool for development and optimization of cell-based therapy. Techniques for tracking immune cells have been applied widely for understanding the intrinsic behavior of immune cells and include non-radiation-based techniques such as optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiation-based techniques such as computerized tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging including single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Each modality has its own strengths and limitations. To overcome the limitations of each modality, multimodal imaging techniques involving two or more imaging modalities are actively applied. Multimodal techniques allow integration of the strengths of individual modalities. In this review, we discuss the strengths and limitations of currently available preclinicalin vivoimmune cell tracking techniques and summarize the value of immune cell tracking in the development and optimization of immune cell therapy for various diseases.
Molecular Mechanism of Enhanced Anticancer Effect of Nanoparticle Formulated LY2835219 via p16-CDK4/6-pRb Pathway in Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Line
Authors: Tang Xu , Zeng Bin , Gao Jian-Kun , Liu Han-Qiang
Published: September 2016

LY2835219 is a dual inhibitor to CDK4 and CDK6. This study was to prepare LY2835219-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CNP/LY) and LY2835219-loaded hyaluronic acid-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (HACNP/LY) and revealed their anticancer effect and influence on p16-CDK4/6-pRb pathway against colon cell line. The nanoparticle sizes of CNP/LY and HACNP/LY were approximately195±39.6 nm and217±31.1 nm, respectively. The zeta potentials of CNP/LY and HACNP/LY were37.3±1.5 mV and30.3±2.2 mV, respectively. And the preparation process showed considerable drug encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency. LY2835219, CNP/LY, and HACNP/LY inhibited HT29 cell proliferation with 0.68, 0.54, and 0.30 μM of IC50, respectively. G1 phase was arrested by LY2835219 and its formulations. Furthermore, inhibition of CDK4/6 by LY2835219 formulations induced CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1, and pRb decrease and p16 increase at both protein and mRNA levels. Overall, nanoparticle formulated LY2835219 could enhance the cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest, and HACNP/LY strengthened the trend furtherly compared to CNP/LY. It is the first time to demonstrate the anticancer effect and mechanism against HT29 by LY2835219 and its nanoparticles. The drug and its nanoparticle formulations delay the cell growth and arrest cell cycle through p16-CDK4/6-pRb pathway, while the nanoparticle formulated LY2835219 could strengthen the process.
Contralateral Cochlear Labyrinthine Concussion without Temporal Bone Fracture: Unusual Posttraumatic Consequence
Authors: Villarreal I. M. , Méndez D. , Silva J. M. Duque , Álamo P. Ortega del
Published: September 2016

Introduction. Labyrinthine concussion is a term used to describe a rare cause of sensorineural hearing loss with or without vestibular symptoms occurring after head trauma. Isolated damage to the inner ear without involving the vestibular organ would be designated as a cochlear labyrinthine concussion. Hearing loss is not a rare finding in head trauma that involves petrous bone fractures. Nevertheless it generally occurs ipsilateral to the side of the head injury and extraordinarily in the contralateral side and moreover without the presence of a fracture.Case Report. The present case describes a 37-year-old patient with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus in his right ear after a blunt head trauma of the left-sided temporal bone (contralateral). Otoscopy and radiological images showed no fractures or any abnormalities. A severe sensorineural hearing loss was found in his right ear with a normal hearing of the left side.Conclusion. The temporal bone trauma requires a complete diagnostic battery which includes a neurotologic examination and a high resolution computed tomography scan in the first place. Hearing loss after a head injury extraordinarily occurs in the contralateral side of the trauma as what happened in our case. In addition, the absence of fractures makes this phenomenon even more unusual.
Gene × Environment Interactions in Schizophrenia: Evidence from Genetic Mouse Models
Authors: Moran Paula , Stokes Jennifer , Marr Julia , Bock Gavin , Desbonnet Lieve , Waddington John , O’Tuathaigh Colm
Published: September 2016

The study of gene × environment, as well as epistatic interactions in schizophrenia, has provided important insight into the complex etiopathologic basis of schizophrenia. It has also increased our understanding of the role of susceptibility genes in the disorder and is an important consideration as we seek to translate genetic advances into novel antipsychotic treatment targets. This review summarises data arising from research involving the modelling of gene × environment interactions in schizophrenia using preclinical genetic models. Evidence for synergistic effects on the expression of schizophrenia-relevant endophenotypes will be discussed. It is proposed that valid and multifactorial preclinical models are important tools for identifying critical areas, as well as underlying mechanisms, of convergence of genetic and environmental risk factors, and their interaction in schizophrenia.
Evaluation of Neuroprotective Effect of Thymoquinone Nanoformulation in the Rodent Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Model
Authors: Xiao Xiao-Yu , Zhu Ying-Xian , Bu Ju-Yuan , Li Guo-Wei , Zhou Jian-Hui , Zhou Shao-Peng
Published: September 2016

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of optimized thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles delivered via nose to brain route in the rodent cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model. The neuroprotective efficacy of the optimized thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles was evaluated in middle cerebral artery occluded rats by various pharmacodynamic and biochemical studies. The pharmacokinetics of thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles in the brain and blood plasma together with qualitative localization of florescent labelled PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles in brain tissues were also determined. Intranasal delivery of optimized thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles (183.5±8.2 nm,33.63±2.25 mV) to brain significantly reduced the ischemia infarct volume and enhanced the locomotor activity and grip strength in the middle cerebral artery occluded rats. Biochemical studies showed that intranasal delivery of thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation but elevated the glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in the brain of middle cerebral artery occluded rats. The pharmacokinetic and localization studies showed that thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles facilitated the delivery of thymoquinone to brain by intranasal nose to brain transport pathways and enhanced their pharmacokinetic profile in brain tissues. Thus, intranasal delivery of thymoquinone loaded PLGA-chitosan nanoparticles to brain could be potentially used for the neuroprotection and treatment of cerebral ischemia.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography in Pure Neuritic Leprosy: First Experience Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Colonna Michele R. , Tallarida Giuseppe , d’Alcontres Francesco Stagno , Noto Salvatore , Parodi Aurora , Tagliafico Alberto
Published: September 2016

Five years after both right ulnar and median nerve decompression for paraesthesias and palsy, a patient, coming from Nigeria but living in Italy, came to our unit claiming to have persistent pain and combined median and ulnar palsy. Under suspicion of leprosy, skin and left sural nerve biopsy were performed. Skin tests were negative, but Schwann cells resulted as positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), leading to the diagnosis of Pure Neuritic Leprosy (PNL). The patient was given PB multidrug therapy and recovered from pain in two months. After nine months both High Resolution Ultrasonography (HRUS) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were performed, revealing thickening of the nerves. Since demyelination is common in PNL, the Authors started to use Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography (DTIT) to get better morphological and functional data about myelination than does the traditional imaging. DTIT proved successful in showing myelin discontinuity, reorganization, and myelination, and the Authors suggest that it can give more information about the evolution of the disease, as well as further indications for surgery (nerve decompression, nerve transfers, and babysitting for distal effector protection), and should be added to traditional imaging tools in leprosy.
Optimized Collection Protocol for Plasma MicroRNA Measurement in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Wu Chi-Sheng , Lin Fen-Chiung , Chen Shu-Jen , Chen Yung-Lung , Chung Wen-Jung , Cheng Cheng-I
Published: September 2016

Background. Various microRNAs (miRNAs) are used as markers of acute coronary syndrome, in which heparinization is considered mandatory therapy. Nevertheless, a standard method of handling plasma samples has not been proposed, and the effects of heparin treatment on miRNA detection are rarely discussed.Materials and Method. This study used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis to investigate how storage temperature, standby time, hemolysis, and heparin treatment affect miRNA measurement in plasma samples from 25 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.Results. For most miRNAs, the qPCR results remained consistent during the first 2 hours. The miRNA signals did not significantly differ between samples stored at 4°C before processing and samples stored at room temperature (RT) before processing. miR-451a/miR-23a ratio < 60 indicated < 0.12% hemolysis with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Pretreatment with 0.25 U heparinase I recovered qPCR signals that were reduced byin vivoheparinization.Conclusions. For miRNA measurement, blood samples stored at RT should be processed into plasma within 2 hours after withdrawal and should be pretreated with 0.25 U heparinase I to overcome heparin-attenuated miRNA signals. The miR-451a/miR-23a ratio is a reliable indicator of significant hemolysis.
Effects of Biochar Amendment on Tomato Bacterial Wilt Resistance and Soil Microbial Amount and Activity
Authors: Lu Yang , Rao Shuang , Huang Fei , Cai Yixia , Wang Guoping , Cai Kunzheng
Published: September 2016

Bacterial wilt is a serious soilborne disease of Solanaceae crops which is caused byRalstonia solanacearum. The important role of biochar in enhancing disease resistance in plants has been verified; however, the underlying mechanism remains not fully understood. In this study, two different biochars, made from peanut shell (BC1) and wheat straw (BC2), were added toRalstonia solanacearum-infected soil to explore the interrelation among biochar, tomato bacterial wilt, and soil microbial properties. The results showed that both BC1 and BC2 treatments significantly reduced the disease index of bacterial wilt by 28.6% and 65.7%, respectively. The populations ofR. solanacearumin soil were also significantly decreased by biochar application.Ralstonia solanacearuminfection significantly reduced the densities of soil bacteria and actinomycetes and increased the ratio of soil fungi/bacteria in the soil. By contrast, BC1 and BC2 addition to pathogen-infected soil significantly increased the densities of soil bacteria and actinomycetes but decreased the density of fungi and the ratios of soil fungi/bacteria and fungi/actinomycetes. Biochar treatments also increased soil neutral phosphatase and urease activity. Furthermore, higher metabolic capabilities of microorganisms by biochar application were found at 96 and 144 h in Biolog EcoPlates. These results suggest that both peanut and wheat biochar amendments were effective in inhibiting tomato bacterial wilt caused byR. solanacearum. The results suggest a relationship between the disease resistance of the plants and the changes in soil microbial population densities and activity.
Using EVT for Geological Anomaly Design and Its Application in Identifying Anomalies in Mining Areas
Authors: Qin Feilong , Liu Bingli , Guo Ke
Published: September 2016

A geological anomaly is the basis of mineral deposit prediction. Through the study of the knowledge and characteristics of geological anomalies, the category of extreme value theory (EVT) to which a geological anomaly belongs can be determined. Associating the principle of the EVT and ensuring the methods of the shape parameter and scale parameter for the generalized Pareto distribution (GPD), the methods to select the threshold of the GPD can be studied. This paper designs a new algorithm called the EVT model of geological anomaly. These study data on Cu and Au originate from 26 exploration lines of the Jiguanzui Cu-Au mining area in Hubei, China. The proposed EVT model of the geological anomaly is applied to identify anomalies in the Jiguanzui Cu-Au mining area. The results show that the model can effectively identify the geological anomaly region of Cu and Au. The anomaly region of Cu and Au is consistent with the range of ore bodies of actual engineering exploration. Therefore, the EVT model of the geological anomaly can effectively identify anomalies, and it has a high indicating function with respect to ore prospecting.
Archaea and Bacteria Acclimate to High Total Ammonia in a Methanogenic Reactor Treating Swine Waste
Authors: Esquivel-Elizondo Sofia , Parameswaran Prathap , Delgado Anca G. , Maldonado Juan , Rittmann Bruce E. , Krajmalnik-Brown Rosa
Published: September 2016

Inhibition by ammonium at concentrations above 1000 mgN/L is known to harm the methanogenesis phase of anaerobic digestion. We anaerobically digested swine waste and achieved steady state COD-removal efficiency of around 52% with no fatty-acid or H2accumulation. As the anaerobic microbial community adapted to the gradual increase of total ammonia-N (NH3-N) from890±295to2040±30 mg/L, the Bacterial and Archaeal communities became less diverse. Phylotypes most closely related to hydrogenotrophicMethanoculleus(36.4%) andMethanobrevibacter(11.6%), along with acetoclasticMethanosaeta(29.3%), became the most abundant Archaeal sequences during acclimation. This was accompanied by a sharp increase in the relative abundances of phylotypes most closely related to acetogens and fatty-acid producers (Clostridium,Coprococcus, andSphaerochaeta) and syntrophic fatty-acid Bacteria (Syntrophomonas,Clostridium, Clostridiaceae species, and Cloacamonaceae species) that have metabolic capabilities for butyrate and propionate fermentation, as well as for reverse acetogenesis. Our results provide evidence countering a prevailing theory that acetoclastic methanogens are selectively inhibited when the total ammonia-N concentration is greater than ~1000 mgN/L. Instead, acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens coexisted in the presence of total ammonia-N of ~2000 mgN/L by establishing syntrophic relationships with fatty-acid fermenters, as well as homoacetogens able to carry out forward and reverse acetogenesis.
Characteristics of Eddy Current Distribution in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer
Authors: Jiao Shaoni , Li Jian , Du Fei , Sun Lei , Zeng Zhiwei
Published: September 2016

The paper studies the characteristics of eddy current (EC) distribution in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates so as to guide the research and operation of eddy current testing of CFRP. To this end, an electromagnetic field computation model of EC response to CFRP based on the finite element method is developed. Quantitative analysis of EC distribution in plies of unidirectional CFRP reveals that EC changes slowly along the fiber direction due to the strong electrical anisotropy of the material. Variation of EC in plies of multidirectional CFRP is fast in both directions. The attenuation of EC in the normal direction in unidirectional CFRP is faster than that in isotropic material due to faster diffusion of EC. In multidirectional CFRP, EC increases near the interfaces of plies having different fiber orientations. The simulation results are beneficial to optimizing sensor design and testing parameters, as well as damage detection and evaluation.
Vibration Analysis and Experimental Research of the Linear-Motor-Driven Water Piston Pump Used in the Naval Ship
Authors: Huang Ye-qing , Nie Song-lin , Ji Hui , Nie Shuang
Published: September 2016

Aiming at the existing problems of traditional water piston pump used in the naval ship, such as low efficiency, high noise, large vibration, and nonintelligent control, a new type of linear-motor-driven water piston pump is developed and its vibration characteristics are analyzed in this research. Based on the 3D model of the structure, the simulation analyses including static stress analysis, modal analysis, and harmonic response analysis are conducted. The simulation results reveal that the mode shape under low frequency stage is mainly associated with the eccentricity swing of the piston rod. The vibration experiment results show that the resonance frequency of linear-motor-driven water piston pump is concentrated upon 500 Hz and 800 Hz in the low frequency range. The dampers can change the resonance frequency of the system to a certain extent. The vibration under triangular motion curve is much better than that of S curve, which is consistent with the simulation conclusion. This research provides an effective method to detect the vibration characteristics and a reference for design and optimization of the linear-motor-driven water piston pump.
A Novel Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Parking Space Guidance
Authors: Dong Na , Fang Xing , Wu Ai-guo
Published: September 2016

An evolutionary approach of parking space guidance based upon a novel Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO) algorithm is proposed. In the newly proposed CPSO algorithm, the chaotic dynamics is combined into the position updating rules of Particle Swarm Optimization to improve the diversity of solutions and to avoid being trapped in the local optima. This novel approach, that combines the strengths of Particle Swarm Optimization and chaotic dynamics, is then applied into the route optimization (RO) problem of parking lots, which is an important issue in the management systems of large-scale parking lots. It is used to find out the optimized paths between any source and destination nodes in the route network. Route optimization problems based on real parking lots are introduced for analyzing and the effectiveness and practicability of this novel optimization algorithm for parking space guidance have been verified through the application results.
A Fault Diagnosis Model Based on LCD-SVD-ANN-MIV and VPMCD for Rotating Machinery
Authors: Luo Songrong , Cheng Junsheng , Wei Kexiang
Published: September 2016

The fault diagnosis process is essentially a class discrimination problem. However, traditional class discrimination methods such as SVM and ANN fail to capitalize the interactions among the feature variables. Variable predictive model-based class discrimination (VPMCD) can adequately use the interactions. But the feature extraction and selection will greatly affect the accuracy and stability of VPMCD classifier. Aiming at the nonstationary characteristics of vibration signal from rotating machinery with local fault, singular value decomposition (SVD) technique based local characteristic-scale decomposition (LCD) was developed to extract the feature variables. Subsequently, combining artificial neural net (ANN) and mean impact value (MIV), ANN-MIV as a kind of feature selection approach was proposed to select more suitable feature variables as input vector of VPMCD classifier. In the end of this paper, a novel fault diagnosis model based on LCD-SVD-ANN-MIV and VPMCD is proposed and proved by an experimental application for roller bearing fault diagnosis. The results show that the proposed method is effective and noise tolerant. And the comparative results demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to the other methods in diagnosis speed, diagnosis success rate, and diagnosis stability.
IL-15 Mediates Mitochondrial Activity through a PPARδ-Dependent-PPARα-Independent Mechanism in Skeletal Muscle Cells
Authors: Thornton Shantaé M. , Krolopp James E. , Abbott Marcia J.
Published: September 2016

Molecular mediators of metabolic processes, to increase energy expenditure, have become a focus for therapies of obesity. The discovery of cytokines secreted from the skeletal muscle (SKM), termed “myokines,” has garnered attention due to their positive effects on metabolic processes. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a myokine that has numerous positive metabolic effects and is linked to the PPAR family of mitochondrial regulators. Here, we aimed to determine the importance of PPARαand/or PPARδas targets of IL-15 signaling. C2C12 SKM cells were differentiated for 6 days and treated every other day with IL-15 (100 ng/mL), a PPARαinhibitor (GW-6471), a PPARδinhibitor (GSK-3787), or both IL-15 and the inhibitors. IL-15 increased mitochondrial activity and induced PPARα, PPARδ, PGC1α, PGC1β, UCP2, and Nrf1 expression. There was no effect of inhibiting PPARα, in combination with IL-15, on the aforementioned mRNA levels except for PGC1βand Nrf1. However, with PPARδinhibition, IL-15 failed to induce the expression levels of PGC1α, PGC1β, UCP2, and Nrf1. Further, inhibition of PPARδabolished IL-15 induced increases in citrate synthase activity, ATP production, and overall mitochondrial activity. IL-15 had no effects on mitochondrial biogenesis. Our data indicates that PPARδactivity is required for the beneficial metabolic effects of IL-15 signaling in SKM.
Vestas V90-3MW Wind Turbine Gearbox Health Assessment Using a Vibration-Based Condition Monitoring System
Authors: Romero A. , Lage Y. , Soua S. , Wang B. , Gan T.-H.
Published: September 2016

Reliable monitoring for the early fault diagnosis of gearbox faults is of great concern for the wind industry. This paper presents a novel approach for health condition monitoring (CM) and fault diagnosis in wind turbine gearboxes using vibration analysis. This methodology is based on a machine learning algorithm that generates a baseline for the identification of deviations from the normal operation conditions of the turbine and the intrinsic characteristic-scale decomposition (ICD) method for fault type recognition. Outliers picked up during the baseline stage are decomposed by the ICD method to obtain the product components which reveal the fault information. The new methodology proposed for gear and bearing defect identification was validated by laboratory and field trials, comparing well with the methods reviewed in the literature.
Chemical Species, Micromorphology, and XRD Fingerprint Analysis of Tibetan MedicineZuotaiContaining Mercury
Authors: Li Cen , Yang Hongxia , Du Yuzhi , Xiao Yuancan , Zhandui  , Sanglao  , Wang Zhang , Ladan Duojie , Bi Hongtao , Wei Lixin
Published: September 2016

Zuotai(gTso thal) is one of the famous drugs containing mercury in Tibetan medicine. However, little is known about the chemical substance basis of its pharmacodynamics and the intrinsic link of different samples sources so far. Given this, energy dispersive spectrometry of X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to assay the elements, micromorphology, and phase composition of nineZuotaisamples from different regions, respectively; the XRD fingerprint features ofZuotaiwere analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. EDX result shows thatZuotaicontains Hg, S, O, Fe, Al, Cu, and other elements. SEM and AFM observations suggest thatZuotaiis a kind of ancient nanodrug. Its particles are mainly in the range of 100–800 nm, which commonly further aggregate into 1–30 μm loosely amorphous particles. XRD test shows thatβ-HgS, S8, andα-HgS are its main phase compositions. XRD fingerprint analysis indicates that the similarity degrees of nine samples are very high, and the results of multivariate statistical analysis are broadly consistent with sample sources. The present research has revealed the physicochemical characteristics ofZuotai, and it would play a positive role in interpreting this mysterious Tibetan drug.
The Influence of Titanium Dioxide on Diamond-Like Carbon Biocompatibility for Dental Applications
Authors: Wachesk C. C. , Trava-Airoldi V. J. , Da-Silva N. S. , Lobo A. O. , Marciano F. R.
Published: September 2016

The physical and chemical characteristics of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films make them suitable for implantable medical and odontological interests. Despite their good interactions with biological environment, incorporated nanoparticles can significantly enhance DLC properties. This manuscript studies the potential of titanium dioxide (TiO2) incorporated-DLC films in dental applications. In this scene, both osteoblasts attachment and spreading on the coatings and their corrosion characteristics in artificial saliva were investigated. The films were grown on 304 stainless steel substrates using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Raman scattering spectroscopy characterized the film structure. As the concentration of TiO2increased, the films increased the osteoblast viability (MTT assay), becoming more thermodynamically favorable to cell spreading (WAdvalues became more negative). The increasing number of osteoblast nuclei indicates a higher adhesion between the cells and the films. The potentiodynamic polarization test in artificial saliva shows an increase in corrosion protection when TiO2are present. These results show the potential use of TiO2-DLC films in implantable surfaces.