bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CLUSTER BASED ENSEMBLE CLASSIFIER GENERATION BY JOINT OPTIMIZATION OF ACCURACY AND DIVERSITY
Authors: RAHMAN ASHFAQUR , VERMA BRIJESH
Published: December 2013

This paper presents an algorithm to generate ensemble classifier by joint optimization of accuracy and diversity. It is expected that the base classifiers in an ensemble are accurate and diverse (i.e., complementary in terms of errors) among each other for the ensemble classifier to be more accurate. We adopt a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) for joint optimization of accuracy and diversity on our recently developed nonuniform layered cluster oriented ensemble classifier (NULCOEC). In NULCOEC, the data set is partitioned into a variable number of clusters at different layers. Base classifiers are then trained on the clusters at different layers. The performance of NULCOEC is a function of the vector of the number of layers and clusters. The research presented in this paper investigates the implication of applying MOEA to generate NULCOEC. Accuracy and diversity of the ensemble classifier is expressed as a function of layers and clusters. A MOEA then searches for the combination of layers and clusters to obtain the nondominated set of (accuracy, diversity). We have obtained the results of single objective optimization (i.e., optimizing either accuracy or diversity) and compared them with the results of MOEA on sixteen UCI data sets. The results show that the MOEA can improve the performance of ensemble classifier.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DATA SIZE, ACCURACY, DIVERSITY AND CLUSTERS IN NEURAL NETWORK ENSEMBLES
Authors: CHIU CHIEN-YUAN , VERMA BRIJESH
Published: December 2013

This paper presents an approach for analyzing relationships between data size, cluster, accuracy and diversity in neural network ensembles. The main objective of this research is to find out the influence of data size such as number of patterns, number of inputs and number of classes on various parameters such as clusters, accuracy and diversity of a neural network ensemble. The proposed approach is based on splitting data sets into different groups using the data size, clustering data and conducting training and testing of neural network ensembles. The test data is same for all groups and used to test all trained ensembles. The experiments have been conducted on 15 UCI machine learning benchmark datasets and results are presented in this paper.
Electrocaloric properties of Zr-modified Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 polycrystalline ceramics
Authors: Hamad Mahmoud A.
Published: December 2013

In this work, electrocaloric properties of Pb ( Mg 1/3 Zr 2x/3 Nb 2(1-x)/3) O 3-x/3 polycrystalline ceramics for different stoichiometric compositions have been investigated. The results show that largest changes (ΔT) are in range of 1.07 to 4.84 K in 10 kV cm-1 electric field change. These values are significantly large, and are comparable with values of other lead-containing ceramics under the same or larger electric field shift. The conclusion is that these materials are excellent candidates for working materials in refrigeration and liquefaction devices in a wide temperature range.
Structural position and oxidation state of nickel in SrTiO3
Authors: Sluchinskaya Irina A. , Lebedev Alexander I. , Erko Alexei
Published: December 2013

The properties of Ni -doped strontium titanate are studied using X-ray diffraction and XAFS spectroscopy. It is shown that regardless of the preparation conditions, the SrTi 1-x Ni x O 3 solid solution and the NiTiO 3 phase are the most stable phases which can coexist. According to the EXAFS data, in the single-phase sample of SrTi 0.97 Ni 0.03 O 3, the Ni atoms substitute for the Ti ones and are on-center. The distortion of the oxygen octahedra is not observed. The XANES spectra analysis shows that the oxidation state of nickel in NiTiO 3 is 2+, and in the SrTi 1-x Ni x O 3 solid solution it is close to 4+. It is shown that the strongest light absorption in doped samples is associated with the presence of tetravalent nickel in the SrTi 1-x Ni x O 3 solid solution. This doping seems the most promising one for solar energy converters that exploit the bulk photovoltaic effect.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF FOREIGN INVESTORS TO PRICE DISCOVERY IN THE INDONESIAN STOCK EXCHANGE
Authors: SUDIMAN JOSEPHINE , ALLEN DAVID EDMUND , POWELL ROBERT JOHN
Published: December 2013

This article examines the contribution of foreign investors to price discovery by applying a vector error correction model (VECM) to 30 frequently-traded stocks on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. We use the Lee and Ready (1991) rule to determine the initiator of a trade and compute the volume weighted average price (VWAP) for every 30 min interval during the period 2004–2006. There are three key findings. First, foreign investors are more aggressive than local investors in placing their orders yet foreigners do not trade as often as locals. Second, the profits of foreign investors are smaller than local investors. Third, foreign investors need to adjust their trade price at a higher magnitude to achieve price equilibrium, which indicates that the majority of price discovery occurs among local investors in the Indonesian market.
Hydrogeological challenges in a low-carbon economy
Authors: Younger Paul L.
Published: December 2013

Hydrogeology has traditionally been regarded as the province of the water industry, but it is increasingly finding novel applications in the energy sector. Hydrogeology has a longstanding role in geothermal energy exploration and management. Although aquifer management methods can be directly applied to most high-enthalpy geothermal reservoirs, hydrogeochemical inference techniques differ somewhat owing to peculiarities of high-temperature processes. Hydrogeological involvement in the development of ground-coupled heating and cooling systems using heat pumps has led to the emergence of the sub-discipline now known as thermogeology. The patterns of groundwater flow and heat transport are closely analogous and can thus be analysed using very similar techniques. Without resort to heat pumps, groundwater is increasingly being pumped to provide cooling for large buildings; the renewability of such systems relies on accurate prediction and management of thermal breakthrough from reinjection to production boreholes. Hydrogeological analysis can contribute to quantification of accidental carbon emissions arising from disturbance of groundwater-fed peatland ecosystems during wind farm construction. Beyond renewables, key applications of hydrogeology are to be found in the nuclear sector, and in the sunrise industries of unconventional gas and carbon capture and storage, with high temperatures attained during underground coal gasification requiring geothermal technology transfer.
Tracking how we read
Authors: Kunze Kai
Published: December 2013

Using activity recognition for cognitive tasks can provide new insights about reading and learning habits.
Wearable brain computer interface are we there yet?
Authors: Nathan Viswam
Published: December 2013

Brain computer interfaces are still restricted to the domains of health and research, but we understand what needs to be done and are getting closer to making a commercial wearable EEG system.
Airwriting
Authors: Amma Christoph , Schultz Tanja
Published: December 2013

It may be possible to enable text entry by writing freely in the air, using only the hand as a stylus.
Infographics: A visual link to learning
Authors: Bellato Nathan
Published: December 2013

In a world of information overload, infographics are fast becoming a powerful learning tool in the context of the modern day learner. In this article we look at the concept of infographics and explore the ways these visually engaging mediums can become not only an effective learning tool, but advantageous to your learner.
The Software Inferno
Authors: Bell Alex E.
Published: December 2013

The Software Inferno is a tale that parallels The Inferno, Part One of The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri in the early 1300s. That literary masterpiece describes the condemnation and punishment faced by a variety of sinners in their hell-spent afterlives as recompense for atrocities committed during their earthly existences. The Software Inferno is a similar account, describing a journey where "sinners against software" are encountered amidst their torment, within their assigned areas of eternal condemnation, and paying their penance.
Intraduodenal milk protein concentrate augments the glycemic and food intake suppressive effects of DPP-IV inhibition
Authors: Olivos Diana R. , McGrath Lauren E. , Turner Christopher A. , Montaubin Orianne , Mietlicki-Baase Elizabeth G. , Hayes Matthew R.
Published: December 2013

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone released from intestinal L-cells in response to food entering into the gastrointestinal tract. GLP-1-based pharmaceuticals improve blood glucose regulation and may hold promise for obesity treatment, as GLP-1 drugs reduce food intake and body weight in humans and animals. In an effort to improve GLP-1 pharmacotherapies, we focused our attention on macronutrients that, when present in the gastrointestinal tract, may enhance GLP-1 secretion and improve glycemic regulation and food intake suppression when combined with systemic administration of sitagliptin, a pharmacological inhibitor of DPP-IV (enzyme responsible for GLP-1 degradation). In particular, previous data suggest that specific macronutrient constituents found in dairy foods may act as potent secretagogues for GLP-1 and therefore may potentially serve as an adjunct dietary therapy in combination with sitagliptin. To directly test this hypothesis, rats received intraperitoneal injections of sitagliptin (6 mg/kg) or saline vehicle followed by intraduodenal infusions of either milk protein concentrate (MPC; 80/20% casein/whey; 4 kcal), soy protein (nondairy control infusate; 4 kcal), or 0.9% NaCl. Food intake was assessed 30 min postinfusion. In separate studies, regulation of blood glucose was examined via a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (2 g/kg) following identical sitagliptin treatment and intraduodenal nutrient infusions. Collectively, results show that intraduodenal MPC, but not soy protein, significantly enhances both the food intake suppression and improved control of blood glucose produced by sitagliptin. These data support the hypothesis that dietary intake of dairy protein may be beneficial as an adjunct behavioral therapy to enhance the glycemic and food intake suppressive effects of GLP-1-based pharmacotherapies.
Thalamic olfaction: characterizing odor processing in the mediodorsal thalamus of the rat
Authors: Courtiol Emmanuelle , Wilson Donald A.
Published: December 2013

Thalamus is a key crossroad structure involved in various functions relative to visual, auditory, gustatory, and somatosensory senses. Because of the specific organization of the olfactory pathway (i.e., no direct thalamic relay between sensory neurons and primary cortex), relatively little attention has been directed toward the thalamus in olfaction. However, an olfactory thalamus exists: the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MDT) receives input from various olfactory structures including the piriform cortex. How the MDT contributes to olfactory perception remains unanswered. The present study is a first step to gain insight into the function of the MDT in olfactory processing. Spontaneous and odor-evoked activities were recorded in both the MDT (single unit and local field potential) and the piriform cortex (local field potential) of urethane-anesthetized rats. We demonstrate that: 1) odorant presentation induces a conjoint, coherent emergence of beta-frequency-band oscillations in both the MDT and the piriform cortex; 2) 51% of MDT single units were odor-responsive with narrow-tuning characteristics across an odorant set, which included biological, monomolecular, and mixture stimuli. In fact, a majority of MDT units responded to only one odor within the set; 3) the MDT and the piriform cortex showed tightly related activities with, for example, nearly 20% of MDT firing in phase with piriform cortical beta-frequency oscillations; and 4) MDT-piriform cortex coherence was state-dependent with enhanced coupling during slow-wave activity. These data are discussed in the context of the hypothesized role of MDT in olfactory perception and attention.
Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Barlati Stefano , Deste Giacomo , De Peri Luca , Ariu Cassandra , Vita Antonio
Published: December 2013

Objectives. This study is aimed to review the current scientific literature on cognitive remediation in schizophrenia. In particular, the main structured protocols of cognitive remediation developed for schizophrenia are presented and the main results reported in recent meta-analyses are summarized. Possible benefits of cognitive remediation in the early course of schizophrenia and in subjects at risk for psychosis are also discussed.Methods. Electronic search of the relevant studies which appeared in the PubMed database until April 2013 has been performed and all the meta-analyses and review articles on cognitive remediation in schizophrenia have been also taken into account.Results. Numerous intervention programs have been designed, applied, and evaluated, with the objective of improving cognition and social functioning in schizophrenia. Several quantitative reviews have established that cognitive remediation is effective in reducing cognitive deficits and in improving functional outcome of the disorder. Furthermore, the studies available support the usefulness of cognitive remediation when applied in the early course of schizophrenia and even in subjects at risk of the disease.Conclusions. Cognitive remediation is a promising approach to improve real-world functioning in schizophrenia and should be considered a key strategy for early intervention in the psychoses.
Arterial Injury to the Profunda Femoris Artery following Internal Fixation of a Neck of Femur Fracture with a Compression Hip Screw
Authors: Craxford Simon , Gale Michael , Lammin Kimberly
Published: December 2013

We report the case of an 82-year-old woman who developed extensive proximal thigh swelling and persistent anaemia following internal fixation of an extracapsular neck of femur fracture with a dynamic hip screw (DHS). This was revealed to be a pseudoaneurysm of a branch of profunda femoris artery on angiography. Her case was further complicated by a concurrent pulmonary embolism (PE). She underwent endovascular coil embolisation of the pseudoaneurysm. An IVC filter was inserted and the patient was fully anticoagulated once it had been ensured that there was no active bleeding. In this case, we review the potential for anatomical variations in the blood supply to this region and discuss treatment options for a complicated patient. We recommend that a pseudoaneurysm should be part of a differential diagnosis for postoperative patients with anaemia refractory to blood transfusion so as not to miss this rare but potentially serious complication.
Vibrio parahaemolyticusInduced Necrotizing Fasciitis: An Atypical Organism Causing an Unusual Presentation
Authors: Ahmad Asim , Brumble Lisa , Maniaci Michael
Published: December 2013

Background necrotizing fasciitis (NF) represents a life-threatening bacterial infection characterized by a rapid necrosis of deep subcutaneous tissue and facia underlying the skin. Despite its lethal nature, NF occurs infrequently, leaving many physicians unfamiliar with the disease process, common pathogens, and treatment strategies. Here we present a case of NF caused by an unlikely organism,Vibrio parahaemolyticus. We highlight the innocuous nature of initial presentation and the potentially devastating sequela.
A Universal Fast Algorithm for Sensitivity‐Based Structural Damage Detection
Authors: Yang Q. W. , Liu J. K. , Li C.H. , Liang C.F.
Published: December 2013

Structural damage detection using measured response data has emerged as a new research area in civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering communities in recent years. In this paper, a universal fast algorithm is presented for sensitivity‐based structural damage detection, which can quickly improve the calculation accuracy of the existing sensitivity‐based technique without any high‐order sensitivity analysis or multi‐iterations. The key formula of the universal fast algorithm is derived from the stiffness and flexibility matrix spectral decomposition theory. With the introduction of the key formula, the proposed method is able to quickly achieve more accurate results than that obtained by the original sensitivity‐based methods, regardless of whether the damage is small or large. Three examples are used to demonstrate the feasibility and superiority of the proposed method. It has been shown that the universal fast algorithm is simple to implement and quickly gains higher accuracy over the existing sensitivity‐based damage detection methods.
Neoplastic Meningitis: How MRI and CSF Cytology Are Influenced by CSF Cell Count and Tumor Type
Authors: Prömmel P. , Pilgram-Pastor S. , Sitter H. , Buhk J.-H. , Strik H.
Published: December 2013

Background. Although CSF cytology and MRI are standard methods to diagnose neoplastic meningitis (NM), this complication of neoplastic disease remains difficult to detect. We therefore reevaluated the sensitivity of gadolinium (GD)‐enhanced MRI and cerebrospinal‐fluid (CSF)‐cytology and the relevance of tumor type and CSF cell count. Methods. We retrospectively identified 111 cases of NM diagnosed in our CSF laboratory since 1990 with complete documentation of both MRI and CSF cytology. 37 had haematological and 74 solid neoplasms. CSF cell counts were increased in 74 and normal in 37 patients. Results. In hematological neoplasms, MRI was positive in 49% and CSF cytology in 97%. In solid tumors, the sensitivity of MRI was 80% and of cytology 78%. With normal CSF cell counts, MRI was positive in 59% (50% hematological, 72% solid malignancies) and CSF cytology in 76% (92% in hematological, 68% in solid neoplasms). In cases of elevated cell counts, the sensitivity of MRI was 72% (50% for hematological, 83% for solid malignancies) and of CSF cytology 91% (100% for haematological and 85% for solid neoplasms). 91% of cytologically positive cases were diagnosed at first and another 7% at second lumbar puncture. Routine protein analyses had a low sensitivity in detecting NM. Conclusions. The high overall sensitivity of MRI was only confirmed for NM from solid tumors and for elevated CSF cell counts. With normal cell counts and haematological neoplasms, CSF‐cytology was superior to MRI. None of the analysed routine CSF proteins had an acceptable sensitivity and specificity in detecting leptomeningeal disease.
Anti-IL-17 Antibody Improves Hepatic Steatosis by Suppressing Interleukin-17-Related Fatty Acid Synthesis and Metabolism
Authors: Shi Weidong , Zhu Qiang , Gu Jian , Liu Xiaoshan , Lu Ling , Qian Xiaofeng , Shen Jian , Zhang Feng , Li Guoqiang
Published: December 2013

To investigate the relationship between interleukin-17 and proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism with respect to alcoholic liver disease, male ICR mice were randomized into five groups: control, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks, and anti-IL-17 antibody treated ALD. A proteomic approach was adopted to investigate changes in liver proteins between control and ALD groups. The proteomic analysis was performed by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. Spots of interest were subsequently subjected to nanospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for protein identification. Additionally, expression levels of selected proteins were confirmed by western blot. Transcriptional levels of some selected proteins were determined by RT-PCR. Expression levels of 95 protein spots changed significantly (ratio >1.5,P<0.05) during the development of ALD. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-lc (SREBP-1c), carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase (ECHS1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) were identified by MS/MS among the proteins shown to vary the most; increased IL-17 elevated the transcription of SREBP-1c and ChREBP but suppressed ECHS1 and PPAR-α. The interleukin-17 signaling pathway is involved in ALD development; anti-IL-17 antibody improved hepatic steatosis by suppressing interleukin-17-related fatty acid metabolism.
Thermodynamic and Interfacial Properties of DTABr/CTABr Mixed Surfactant Systems in Ethanolamine/Water Mixtures: A Conductometry Study
Authors: Esan Olaseni Segun , Osundiya Medinat Olubunmi , Aboluwoye Christopher Olumuyiwa , Olanrewaju Owoyomi , Ige Jide
Published: December 2013

Mixed-micelle formation in the binary mixtures of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTABr) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) surfactants in water-ethanolamine mixed solvent systems has been studied by conductometric method in the temperature range of 298.1 to 313.1 K at 5 K intervals. It was observed that the presence of ethanolamine forced the formation of mixed micelle to lower total surfactant concentration than in water only. The synergistic interaction was quantitatively investigated using the theoretical models of Clint and Rubingh. The interaction parameter β12 was negative at all the mole fractions of DTABr in the surfactant mixtures indicating a strong synergistic interaction, with the presence of ethanolamine in the solvent system resulting in a more enhanced synergism in micelle formation than in water only. The free energy of micellization ΔGM values was more negative in water-ethanolamine mixed solvent system than in pure water indicating more spontaneity in mixed micelle formation in the presence of ethanolamine than in pure water.
Oral Immunogenicity of Plant-MadeMycobacterium tuberculosisESAT6 and CFP10
Authors: Uvarova Elena A. , Belavin Pavel A. , Permyakova Natalya V. , Zagorskaya Alla A. , Nosareva Olesya V. , Kakimzhanova Almagul A. , Deineko Elena V.
Published: December 2013

Two lines of transgenic carrot plants producingMycobacterium tuberculosisproteins (ESAT6 and CFP10) have been constructed. The target proteins are present in carrot storage roots at a level not less than 0.056% of the total storage protein (TSP) for ESAT6 and 0.002% of TSP for CFP10. As has been shown, oral immunization of mice induces both the cell-mediated and humoral immunities. These data suggest that the proteins in question are appropriate as a candidate edible vaccine against tuberculosis.
The Association of Sleep Disordered Breathing with Heart Failure and Other Cardiovascular Conditions
Authors: Stopford Elizabeth , Ravi Karthik , Nayar Vikrant
Published: December 2013

An abundance of evidence exists in support of primary and secondary prevention for tackling the scourge of cardiovascular disease. Despite our wealth of knowledge, certain deficiencies still remain. One such example is the association between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiovascular disease. A clear body of evidence exists to link these two disease entities (independent of other factors such as obesity and smoking), yet our awareness of this association and its clinical implication does not match that of other established cardiovascular risk factors. Here, we outline the available evidence linking SDB and cardiovascular disease as well as discussing the potential consequences and management in the cardiovascular disease population.
An Enhanced Approach for Reliable Bulk Data Transmission Based on Erasure-Resilient Codes in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Park Taehyun , Kim Seung Young , Lei Jian-Jun , Kwon Gu-In
Published: December 2013

We suggest an enhanced approach for reliable bulk data transmission of image files, multimedia video files, and successive log files for monitoring systems over wireless sensor networks. Recently, some approaches have been proposed that use multiple blocks in a frame. These approaches simply drop the block that contains the error and the error-free blocks are transmitted to other nodes. This paper proposes an enhanced FEC scheme, called M-FEC, which reduces the overhead and the total number of transmissions. M-FEC fragments bulk data into many small blocks and these blocks are encoded using rateless codes. Only the erroneous blocks that are detected in a frame are dropped and a relay node waits for other incoming blocks in order to construct a full-sized frame. This simple approach can improve the performance of the FEC scheme over WSNs. Our experiments show that M-FEC reduces the number of received frames at the sink node by almost half compared to the previous approach. We compared our results for different degrees of Wi-Fi interference by choosing particular IEEE 802.15.4 channels and running our experiments for three different types of Wi-Fi interference.
Anomalous Left Main Coronary Artery: Case Series of Different Courses and Literature Review
Authors: Marler Adam T. , Malik Jamil A. , Slim Ahmad M.
Published: December 2013

Background. Congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries are a cause of sudden cardiac death. Of the known anatomic variants, anomalous origination of a coronary artery from an opposite sinus of Valsalva (ACAOS) remains the main focus of debate.Case Series. We present three cases, all presenting to our facility within one week’s time, of patients with newly discovered anomalous origination of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva (L-ACAOS). All patients underwent cardiac computed tomography for evaluation of coronary anatomy along with other forms of functional testing. Despite the high risk nature of two of the anomalies, the patients are being treated medically without recurrence of symptoms.Summary. After review of the literature, we have found that the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with congenital coronary anomalies, even among variants considered the highest risk, may be overestimated. In addition, the exact prevalence of coronary anomalies in the general population is currently underestimated. A national coronary artery anomaly registry based on cardiac computed tomography and invasive coronary angiography data would be helpful in advancing our understanding of these cardiac peculiarities. The true prevalence of congenital coronary anomalies and overall risk of sudden cardiac death in this population are not well known. Surgical intervention remains the mainstay of therapy in certain patients though recent investigations into the pathophysiology of these abnormalities have shown that the risk of surgery may outweigh the minimal reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death.
Dependence of Adhesion Properties on Blend Ratio of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Rubber/Standard Malaysian Rubber Blend Adhesive
Authors: Poh B. T. , Lamaming J. , Tay G. S.
Published: December 2013

Viscosity, tack and, peel and shear strengths of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)/standard Malaysian rubber (SMR L) blend adhesive were studied using various blend ratios of the two rubbers, ranging from 0 to 100% EPDM. Coumarone-indene resin, toluene, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were used as the tackifier, solvent, and coating substrate, respectively. The tackifier content was fixed at 40 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr). A SHEEN hand coater was used to coat the adhesive on PET film at four coating thicknesses, that is, 30, 60, 90, and 120 µm. The viscosity and adhesion properties were determined by a Brookfield viscometer and a Lloyd Adhesion Tester, respectively. Results show that the viscosity, loop tacks and peel strength of blend adhesives decrease gradually with increasing % EPDM. This observation is attributed to dilution effect and lowering in wettability and compatibility. Shear strength, however, passes through a maximum at 20–40% EPDM blend ratio, an observation which is ascribed to culmination of cohesive strength at the optimum EPDM blend ratio. Increasing coating thickness increases the adhesion properties in all blend ratios in this study.
Multimodal Processes Rescheduling: Cyclic Steady States Space Approach
Authors: Bocewicz Grzegorz , Wójcik Robert , Banaszak Zbigniew Antoni , Pawlewski Paweł
Published: December 2013

The paper concerns cyclic scheduling problems arising in a Multimodal Transportation Network (MTN) in which several unimodal networks (AGVs, hoists, lifts, etc.) interact with each other via common shared workstations as to provide a variety of demand-responsive material handling operations. The material handling transport modes provide movement of work-pieces between workstations along their manufacturing routes in the MTN. The goal is to provide a declarative framework enabling to state a constraint satisfaction problem aimed at AGVs fleet match-up scheduling taking into consideration assumed itineraries of concurrently manufactured product types. In that context, treating the different product types as a set of cyclic multimodal processes is the main objective to discuss the conditions sufficient for FMS rescheduling imposed by production orders changes. To conclude, the conditions sufficient for an FMS rescheduling imposed by changes of production orders treated as cyclic multimodal processes are stated as the paper’s main contribution.
Numerical Analysis of Hot Cracking in Laser-Hybrid Welded Tubes
Authors: Gebhardt Moritz Oliver , Gumenyuk Andrey , Rethmeier Michael
Published: December 2013

In welding experiments conducted on heavy wall pipes, the penetration mode (full or partial penetration) occurred to be a significant factor influencing appearance of solidification cracks. To explain the observed phenomena and support further optimization of manufacturing processes, a computational model was developed, which used a sophisticated strategy to model the material. High stresses emerged in the models in regions which showed cracking during experiments. In partial penetration welding, they were caused by the prevention of weld shrinkage due to the cold and strong material below the joint. Another identified factor having an influence on high stress localization is bulging of the weld.
A High-Fidelity Virtual Environment for the Study of Paranoia
Authors: Broome Matthew R. , Zányi Eva , Hamborg Thomas , Selmanovic Elmedin , Czanner Silvester , Birchwood Max , Chalmers Alan , Singh Swaran P.
Published: December 2013

Psychotic disorders carry social and economic costs for sufferers and society. Recent evidence highlights the risk posed by urban upbringing and social deprivation in the genesis of paranoia and psychosis. Evidence based psychological interventions are often not offered because of a lack of therapists. Virtual reality (VR) environments have been used to treat mental health problems. VR may be a way of understanding the aetiological processes in psychosis and increasing psychotherapeutic resources for its treatment. We developed a high-fidelity virtual reality scenario of an urban street scene to test the hypothesis that virtual urban exposure is able to generate paranoia to a comparable or greater extent than scenarios using indoor scenes. Participants (n=32) entered the VR scenario for four minutes, after which time their degree of paranoid ideation was assessed. We demonstrated that the virtual reality scenario was able to elicit paranoia in a nonclinical, healthy group and that an urban scene was more likely to lead to higher levels of paranoia than a virtual indoor environment. We suggest that this study offers evidence to support the role of exposure to factors in the urban environment in the genesis and maintenance of psychotic experiences and symptoms. The realistic high-fidelity street scene scenario may offer a useful tool for therapists.
Outcome of Prolonged Ventricular Fibrillation and CPR in a Rat Model of Chronic Ischemic Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Authors: Fang Xiangshao , Huang Lei , Sun Shijie , Weil Max Harry , Tang Wanchun
Published: December 2013

Patients with chronic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction are assumed to have a lower chance of successful CPR and lower likelihood of ultimate survival. However, these assumptions have rarely been documented. Therefore, we investigated the outcome of prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF) and CPR in a rat model of chronic LV dysfunction. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to (1) chronic LV dysfunction: animals underwent left coronary artery ligation; and (2) sham control. Echocardiography was used to measure cardiac performance before surgery and 4 weeks after surgery. Four weeks after surgical intervention, 8 min of VF was induced and defibrillation was delivered after 8 min of CPR. LV dilation and low ejection fraction were observed 4 weeks after coronary ligation. With optimal chest compressions, coronary perfusion pressure values during CPR were well maintained and indistinguishable between groups. There were no differences in resuscitability and numbers of shock required for successful resuscitation between groups. Despite the significantly decreased cardiac index in LV dysfunction animals before induction of VF, no differences in cardiac index were observed between groups following resuscitation, which was associated with the insignificant difference in postresuscitation survival. In conclusion, the outcomes of CPR were not compromised by the preexisting chronic LV dysfunction.
T-DLRP: Detection of Fast Retransmission Losses Using TCP Timestamp for Improving the End-to-End Performance of TCP over Wireless Networks
Authors: Sreekumari Prasanthi , Chung Sang-Hwa , Lee Meejeong , Kim Won-Suk
Published: December 2013

Improving the end-to-end performance of TCP over wireless networks has been an active research area. When TCP operates in wireless networks, the performance of TCP degrades significantly. It is well known that frequent retransmission timeouts are the leading source of TCP performance degradation over wireless networks. Retransmission timeouts are unavoidable, when the fast retransmission of a lost packet fails to reach the destination. There have been many schemes developed for reducing the retransmission timeouts of TCP. However, these schemes have no mechanism to detect the loss of fast retransmitted packets over wireless networks. In this paper, we introduce an efficient TCP mechanism, called T-DLRP, which is able to detect the loss of fast retransmitted packets and react accordingly. To justify our contributions, we compared T-DLRP against TCP New Reno, Vegas, New Jersey, Veno, Cerl, and DAC via extensive simulations using Qualnet 4.5 simulator. The results demonstrate that our mechanism achieves significant improvement over existing TCP variants especially in a coexisted network with packet loss and fast retransmission losses. Compared to DAC, T-DLRP gains more than 70% improvement in terms of accuracy over wireless networks. Also, our experiments of multiple connections of the same TCP flows reveal that T-DLRP has better fairness compared to TCP NewReno.
Hydrogeological Conditions of a Crystalline Aquifer: Simulation of Optimal Abstraction Rates under Scenarios of Reduced Recharge
Authors: Yidana Sandow Mark , Fynn Obed Fiifi , Chegbeleh Larry Pax , Nude Prosper M. , Asiedu Daniel K.
Published: December 2013

A steady state numerical groundwater flow model has been calibrated to characterize the spatial distribution of a key hydraulic parameter in a crystalline aquifer in southwestern Ghana. This was to provide an initial basis for characterizing the hydrogeology of the terrain with a view to assisting in the large scale development of groundwater resources for various uses. The results suggest that the structural entities that control groundwater occurrence in the area are quite heterogeneous in their nature and orientation, ascribing hydraulic conductivity values in the range of 4.5 m/d to over 70 m/d to the simulated aquifer. Aquifer heterogeneities, coupled possibly with topographical trends, have led to the development of five prominent groundwater flowpaths in the area. Estimated groundwater recharge at calibration ranges between 0.25% and 9.13% of the total annual rainfall and appears to hold significant promise for large‐scale groundwater development to support irrigation schemes. However, the model suggests that with reduced recharge by up to 30% of the current rates, the system can only sustain increased groundwater abstraction by up to 150% of the current abstraction rates. Prudent management of the resource will require a much more detailed hydrogeological study that identifies all the aquifers in the basin for the assessment of sustainable basin yield.
The Effect of Ag Content of the Chitosan-Silver Nanoparticle Composite Material on the Structure and Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Akmaz Solmaz , Dilaver Adıgüzel Esra , Yasar Muzaffer , Erguven Oray
Published: December 2013

The aim of this study is to investigate the antibacterial properties and characterization of chitosan-silver nanoparticle composite materials. Chitosan-silver nanoparticle composite material was synthesized by adding AgNO3and NaOH solutions to chitosan solution at 95°C. Different concentrations (0,02 M, 0,04 M, and 0,06 M) of AgNO3were used for synthesis. Chitosan-silver nanoparticle composite materials were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer techniques.Escherichia coli,Acinetobacter baumannii,Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andStreptococcus pneumoniaewere used to test the bactericidal efficiency of synthesized chitosan-Ag nanoparticle composite materials. The biological activity was determined by the minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) of the materials. Antibacterial effect of chitosan-silver nanoparticle materials was increased by increasing Ag amount of the composite materials. The presence of small amount of metal nanoparticles in the composite was enough to significantly enhance antibacterial activity as compared with pure chitosan.
Conservative Treatment of Uterine Cervical Adenocarcinoma in Pregnancy
Authors: Lima Cid Almeida de , Barcelos Ana Cristina Macêdo , Paschoini Marina de Carvalho , Silva João Henrique do Amaral e , Lima Marcus Aurelho de , Murta Eddie Fernando Candido , Nomelini Rosekeila Simões
Published: December 2013

Cancer of the cervix is the most common malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy, with an incidence of 1–10 cases per 10,000 pregnancies. The desire of patients to maintain pregnancy and subsequent fertility is a difficult target to be achieved and should be widely studied, since it depends on the stage of disease, gestational age at diagnosis, and the woman's desire to maintain pregnancy. We describe in this report the case of a pregnant woman with invasive cervical adenocarcinoma in stage IB1 (FIGO) initially treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by radical surgery and cesarean section in the same surgical procedure.
N-Acetylcysteine Prevents Hypertension via Regulation of the ADMA-DDAH Pathway in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Fan Nai-Chia , Tsai Chih-Min , Hsu Chien-Ning , Huang Li-Tung , Tain You-Lin
Published: December 2013

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) reduces nitric oxide (NO), thus causing hypertension. ADMA is metabolized by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), which can be inhibited by oxidative stress. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, can facilitate glutathione (GSH) synthesis. We aimed to determine whether NAC can prevent hypertension by regulating the ADMA-DDAH pathway in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rats aged 4 weeks were assigned into 3 groups (n=8/group): control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), SHR, and SHR receiving 2% NAC in drinking water. All rats were sacrificed at 12 weeks of age. SHR had higher blood pressure than WKY, whereas NAC-treated animals did not. SHR had elevated plasma ADMA levels, which was prevented by NAC therapy. SHR had lower renal DDAH activity than WKY, whereas NAC-treated animals did not. Renal superoxide production was higher in SHR than in WKY, whereas NAC therapy prevented it. NAC therapy was also associated with higher GSH-to-oxidized GSH ratio in SHR kidneys. Moreover, NAC reduced oxidative stress damage in SHR. The observed antihypertensive effects of NAC in young SHR might be due to restoration of DDAH activity to reduce ADMA, leading to attenuation of oxidative stress. Our findings highlight the impact of NAC on the development of hypertension by regulating ADMA-DDAH pathway.
Anticonvulsant Effect of Diazoxide against Dichlorvos‐Induced Seizures in Mice
Authors: Jazayeri Amin , Zolfaghari Samira , Ostadhadi Sattar
Published: December 2013

Dichlorvos, a synthetic organophosphate toxin, is used as pesticides. These toxins can be used as pesticides in farming and medicine for the devastation and/or elimination of ectoparasites of animals. Reports have shown that Dichlorvos generate seizure effects in various animals. Potassium channel opener is extensively used for medication of cardiovascular and other diseases. Studies have shown that potassium channel opener has anticonvulsant effects in different animal models. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of dizoxide on Dichlorvos‐induced seizures in mice. In this research, the animals received different doses of Diazoxide (1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg b.wt.) intraperitoneally 30 min before intraperitoneal injection of Dichlorvos (50 mg/kg b.w.t). After Dichlorvos injection, latency of clones, severity of seizure, and finally death as the fate were investigated. Results showed that Diazoxide dose‐dependently decreased the severity of Dichlorvos‐induced seizures, so that Diazoxide at a dose of 5 mg (the lowest, P < 0.05) and 20 mg/kg b.wt. (the highest, P < 0.001) has anticonvulsant effects. Thus, our data suggest that diazoxide as ATP‐sensitive potassium channels opener has anticonvulsant activity against dichlorvas‐induced seizure.
Instability Analysis of a Model Pump-Turbine with MGV Based on Nonlinear Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes Methods
Authors: Liu Jintao , Wu Yulin , Wang Leqin
Published: December 2013

Pump-turbines were always running at partial condition with the power grid changing. Flow separations and stall phenomena were obvious in the pump-turbine. Most of the RANS turbulence models solved the shear stress by linear difference scheme and isotropic models, so they could not capture all kinds of vortexes in the pump-turbine well. At present, partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) model has been found to be better than LES in simulating flow regions especially those with less discretized grid. In this paper, a new nonlinear PANS turbulence model was proposed, which was modified from RNG k-ε turbulence model and the shear stresses were solved by Ehrhardt's nonlinear methods. The nonlinear PANS model was used to study the instability of “S” region of a model pump-turbine with misaligned guide vanes (MGV). The opening of preopened guide vanes had great influence on the “S” characteristics. The optimal relative opening of the preopened guide vanes was 50% for the improvement of the “S” characteristics. Pressure fluctuations in the vaneless space were analyzed. It is found that the dominant frequency at the vaneless space was twice the blade passing frequency, while the second dominant frequency decreased as the preopening increased.
A Case Study on the Power-Aware Protocol Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Díaz Pedro , Royo Fernando , Olivares Teresa , Ramirez-Mireles Fernando , Orozco-Barbosa Luis
Published: December 2013

The proliferation of wireless sensor networks is one of the main hardware components enabling the creation of the Internet of Things. As sensor nodes are being deployed in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor environments, they are in general battery-powered devices. In fact, power provisioning is one of the main challenges faced by engineers when deploying IoT-based applications. This paper develops crosslayer architecture, integrating smart and power-aware protocols with a low-cost and high-efficiency power management module, which is the basis of long-lasting of self-powered WSNs. The main physical components of the proposed architecture are a wireless node comprising a set of small solar cells responsible for harvesting the energy and an ultracapacitor as storage device. Energy consumption is reduced significantly by varying the sleep/wake duty cycle of the radio module. For environments with only a few hours of sunlight per day we present the feasibility of ensuring long-lasting operation by means of adapting the duty cycle scheme according to the energy stored in the ultracapacitor. Our experiments prove the feasibility of a long-endurance outdoors operation with a low-complexity power management unit. This is an important advance towards the development of novel IoT-based applications.
A Novel Authentication Scheme for V2I Communication Based on WAVE Unicast Services
Authors: Suwannasa Atthapol , Puangpronpitag Somnuk , Phongsiri Wirat
Published: December 2013

One of the most challenging issues in vehicular network designs is security matter. Particularly, there have been several potential attacks (e.g., message alteration, eavesdropping, privacy violation, and replay) on Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication. Most previous studies have based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and authentication in broadcast services. By relying on the PKI solutions, cryptographic overhead and the management difficulties of public key certificates can be problematic. Furthermore, broadcast services can cause network flooding. Hence, this paper proposes a novel authentication scheme based on WAVE unicast services to reduce the PKI overhead between vehicles and Road Side Units (RSU). The new scheme is based on Pairwise Transient Key (PTK) procedures with a few extra authentication steps. To evaluate the new scheme, we have experimented on a Network Simulator (NS-2) under both city and highway scenarios. The experimental results have demonstrated that our new scheme introduces only small WAVE Short Message (WSM) delay. The new scheme is also flexible to use in various scenarios under different road situations.
An Asymptomatic Large Anterior Sacral Meningocele in a Patient with a History of Gestation: A Case Report with Radiological Findings
Authors: Beyazal Mehmet
Published: December 2013

Anterior sacral meningocele is characterized by herniation of the meningeal sac due to a developmental bone defect in the front of a sacrum bone. It was first described in 1837. The sacral meningocele may be congenital or acquired. It is usually discovered during a rectal or pelvic examination as a cystic lesion or discovered incidentally. Most of the symptoms are due to compression on the adjacent organs. In this paper, we present a case of an asymptomatic female patient who had a pelvic cyst detected during a routine obstetric ultrasound examination. We show radiological findings of the detailed postpartum evaluation of the cyst, which led to detection of sacral agenesis, huge anterior sacral meningocele, and significant arcuate uterus.
Cytotoxic Effect of Nanocrystalline MgFe2O4 Particles for Cancer Cure
Authors: Kanagesan S. , Hashim M. , Tamilselvan S. , Alitheen N. B. , Ismail I. , Bahmanrokh G.
Published: December 2013

Nanocrystalline magnesium ferrites (MgFe2O4) were produced with an average grain size of about 20 nm. Their structural, morphological, and magnetic characterizations were studied. The cytotoxic effects of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles in various concentrations (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 μg/mL) against MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells were analyzed. MTT assay findings suggest the increased accumulation of apoptotic bodies with the increasing concentration of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles in a dose‐dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis shows that MgFe2O4 nanoparticles in 800 μg/mL concentration are more cytotoxic compared to vehicle‐treated MCF‐7 cells and suggests their potential utility as a drug carrier in the treatment of cancer.