bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian Network Method for Quantitative Evaluation of Defects in Multilayered Structures from Eddy Current NDT Signals
Authors: Ye Bo , Shu Hongchun , Cao Min , Zeng Fang , Qiu Gefei , Dong Jun , Zhang Wenying , Shan Jieshan
Published: March 2014

Accurate evaluation and characterization of defects in multilayered structures from eddy current nondestructive testing (NDT) signals are a difficult inverse problem. There is scope for improving the current methods used for solving the inverse problem by incorporating information of uncertainty in the inspection process. Here, we propose to evaluate defects quantitatively from eddy current NDT signals using Bayesian networks (BNs). BNs are a useful method in handling uncertainty in the inspection process, eventually leading to the more accurate results. The domain knowledge and the experimental data are used to generate the BN models. The models are applied to predict the signals corresponding to different defect characteristic parameters or to estimate defect characteristic parameters from eddy current signals in real time. Finally, the estimation results are analyzed. Compared to the least squares regression method, BNs are more robust with higher accuracy and have the advantage of being a bidirectional inferential mechanism. This approach allows results to be obtained in the form of full marginal conditional probability distributions, providing more information on the defect. The feasibility of BNs presented and discussed in this paper has been validated.
Integrating Globality and Locality for Robust Representation Based Classification
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Li Zhengming , Xie Binglei , Wang Long , Chen Yan
Published: March 2014

The representation based classification method (RBCM) has shown huge potential for face recognition since it first emerged. Linear regression classification (LRC) method and collaborative representation classification (CRC) method are two well‐known RBCMs. LRC and CRC exploit training samples of each class and all the training samples to represent the testing sample, respectively, and subsequently conduct classification on the basis of the representation residual. LRC method can be viewed as a “locality representation” method because it just uses the training samples of each class to represent the testing sample and it cannot embody the effectiveness of the “globality representation.” On the contrary, it seems that CRC method cannot own the benefit of locality of the general RBCM. Thus we propose to integrate CRC and LRC to perform more robust representation based classification. The experimental results on benchmark face databases substantially demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high classification accuracy.
Numerical Study of Traffic Pollutant Dispersion within Different Street Canyon Configurations
Authors: Miao Yucong , Liu Shuhua , Zheng Yijia , Wang Shu , Li Yuan
Published: March 2014

The objective of this study is to numerically study flow and traffic exhaust dispersion in urban street canyons with different configurations to find out the urban-planning strategies to ease the air pollution. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model used in this study—Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation (OpenFOAM) software package—was firstly validated against the wind-tunnel experiment data by using three differentk-εturbulence models. And then the patterns of flow and dispersion within three different kinds of street canyon configuration under the perpendicular approaching flow were numerically studied. The result showed that the width and height of building can dramatically affect the pollution level inside the street canyon. As the width or height of building increases, the pollution at the pedestrian level increases. And the asymmetric configuration (step-up or step-down street canyon) could provide better ventilation. It is recommended to design a street canyon with nonuniform configurations. And the OpenFOAM software package can be used as a reliable tool to study flows and dispersions around buildings.
Novel Adaptive Bacteria Foraging Algorithms for Global Optimization
Authors: Nasir Ahmad N. K. , Tokhi M. O. , Ghani N. Maniha Abd.
Published: March 2014

This paper presents improved versions of bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA). The chemotaxis feature of bacteria through random motion is an effective strategy for exploring the optimum point in a search area. The selection of small step size value in the bacteria motion leads to high accuracy in the solution but it offers slow convergence. On the contrary, defining a large step size in the motion provides faster convergence but the bacteria will be unable to locate the optimum point hence reducing the fitness accuracy. In order to overcome such problems, novel linear and nonlinear mathematical relationships based on the index of iteration, index of bacteria, and fitness cost are adopted which can dynamically vary the step size of bacteria movement. The proposed algorithms are tested with several unimodal and multimodal benchmark functions in comparison with the original BFA. Moreover, the application of the proposed algorithms in modelling of a twin rotor system is presented. The results show that the proposed algorithms outperform the predecessor algorithm in all test functions and acquire better model for the twin rotor system.
Experimental Study of the Effect of Radially Distorted Inflow on a Contrarotating Fan Stage
Authors: Mistry Chetan , Pradeep A. M.
Published: March 2014

The paper reports results of a detailed study of hub- and tip-strong radial inflow distortion on the performance of a low speed, high aspect ratio (3.0) contrarotating fan stage. The distortion screen (placed upstream of the first rotor) covers 1/3 of the span of the blade near the hub and the casing for hub-strong and tip-strong inflow distortions, respectively. The performance of the contrarotating fan was investigated under both the radially distorted inflows and compared with the clean inflow conditions under different speed combinations of rotor-1 and rotor-2. The hub-strong radial distortion reduces the overall performance (pressure rise and efficiency) as well as the operating range by about 2 to 4% under the different speed combinations. On the other hand, it is interesting to observe that the tip covered radial distortion not only improves the pressure rise, but also increases the overall operating range by about 6 to 8%. There was, however, a 6 to 8% decrease in efficiency in this case as compared to 12 to 15% for hub-strong radial inflow distortion. The results reveal the physics of the effects of radial inflow distortion on the overall performance of the contrarotating fan stage.
Calibration of the Volatility in Option Pricing Using the Total Variation Regularization
Authors: Zeng Yu-Hua , Wang Shou-Lei , Yang Yu-Fei
Published: March 2014

In market transactions, volatility, which is a very important risk measurement in financial economics, has significantly intimate connection with the future risk of the underlying assets. Identifying the implied volatility is a typical PDE inverse problem. In this paper, based on the total variation regularization strategy, a bivariate total variation regularization model is proposed to estimate the implied volatility. We not only prove the existence of the solution, but also provide the necessary condition of the optimal control problem—Euler-Lagrange equation. The stability and convergence analyses for the proposed approach are also given. Finally, numerical experiments have been carried out to show the effectiveness of the method.
Understanding Physical Activity in the Daily Lives of Bangladeshi and Pakistani Elders in Great Britain
Authors: Victor Christina R.
Published: March 2014

In the United Kingdom, there are physical activity guidelines specifically for older adults. Self-report data indicate that approximately 15% of those achieved 65+ the activity target of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on 5 (or more) days a week and 30% when the 150 minutes may be achieved in 10-minute (or greater) bursts. Levels of activity are higher among men, the more affluent, and those aged 65–74 but we have little evidence about levels of activity among the ageing ethnic minority population. Reanalysis of 109 interviews conducted with people aged 50+ from Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities was undertaken to explore how participants talk about physical activity in terms of their daily lives. Few, 13 participants (7 females), reported that physical activity and/or exercise formed part of their daily routine; a further 7 had been advised to take exercise by their doctors but had not done so and 9 described why they could not exercise. Barriers to exercise included lack of time (because of work or childcare) and cultural factors such as ideas about age and gender appropriate behaviour. We need to develop appropriate interventions to encourage exercise which address these cultural factors and general barriers to exercise.
Surface Structure and Catalytic Performance of Ni-Fe Catalyst for Low-Temperature CO Hydrogenation
Authors: Meng Fanhui , Zhong Pengzhan , Li Zhong , Cui Xiaoxi , Zheng Huayan
Published: March 2014

Catalysts 16NixFe/Al2O3(xis 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method and the catalytic performance for the production of synthetic natural gas (SNG) from CO hydrogenation in slurry-bed reactor were studied. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, UV-Vis DRS, H2-TPR, CO-TPD, and XPS, and the results showed that the introduction of iron improved the dispersion of Ni species, weakened the interaction between Ni species and support and decreased the reduction temperature and that catalyst formed Ni-Fe alloy when the content of iron exceeded 2%. Experimental results revealed that the addition of iron to the catalyst can effectively improve the catalytic performance of low-temperature CO methanation. Catalyst 16Ni4Fe/Al2O3with the iron content of 4% exhibited the best catalytic performance, the conversion of CO and the yield of CH4reached 97.2% and 84.9%, respectively, and the high catalytic performance of Ni-Fe catalyst was related to the property of formed Ni-Fe alloy. Further increase of iron content led to enhancing the water gas shift reaction.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biodegradation Studies of Poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene-adipate-carbonate)s
Authors: Chandure Ajay S. , Bhusari Ganesh S. , Umare Suresh S.
Published: March 2014

Aliphatic/alicyclic poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene-adipate-carbonate)s (PCACs) were synthesized by a transesterification from 1,4-cyclohexamethylendimethanol (1,4-CHDM), adipic acid (AA), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and titanium butoxide Ti(OBu)4 as a transesterification catalyst. The synthesized PCACs were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), solubility, solution viscosity, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) for their structural, physical, thermal, and morphological investigation. The structure of synthesized PCACs was confirmed by FTIR. All TGA curves of PCACs shows 10% weight loss above 270°C, and they reveal good thermal stability. Biodegradability of PCACs was investigated by hydrolytic degradation at (pH 7.2 and 11.5), enzymatic degradation using Rhizopus delemar lips at 37°C in phosphate buffer solution (PBS), and soil burial degradation at 30°C. The hydrolytic degradation shows the greater rate of weight loss in PBS at pH-11.5 than pH-7.2. The hydrolytic and soil burial degradation shows faster rate of weight loss as compared to enzymatic degradation. Biodegradation rate of PCACs follows the order: PCAC-20 > PCAC-40 > PCAC-60. SEM images show that degradation occurred all over the film surface, creating holes and cracks. These biodegradable PCACs may be able to replace conventional polymer in the fabrication of packaging film in near future.
Identification of Shaft Centerline Orbit for Wind Power Units Based on Hopfield Neural Network Improved by Simulated Annealing
Authors: Ren Kun , Qu Jihong
Published: March 2014

In the maintenance system of wind power units, shaft centerline orbit is an important feature to diagnosis the status of the unit. This paper presents the diagnosis of the orbit as follows: acquire characters of orbit by the affine invariant moments, take this as the characteristic parameters of neural networks to construct the identification model, utilize Simulated Annealing (SA) Algorithm to optimize the weights matrix of Hopfield neural network, and then some typical faults were selected as examples to identify. Experiment’s results show that SA‐Hopfield identification model performed better than the previous methods.
Performance Evaluation of Heart Sound Cancellation in FPGA Hardware Implementation for Electronic Stethoscope
Authors: Chao Chun-Tang , Maneetien Nopadon , Wang Chi-Jo , Chiou Juing-Shian
Published: March 2014

This paper presents the design and evaluation of the hardware circuit for electronic stethoscopes with heart sound cancellation capabilities using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The adaptive line enhancer (ALE) was adopted as the filtering methodology to reduce heart sound attributes from the breath sounds obtained via the electronic stethoscope pickup. FPGAs were utilized to implement the ALE functions in hardware to achieve near real-time breath sound processing. We believe that such an implementation is unprecedented and crucial toward a truly useful, standalone medical device in outpatient clinic settings. The implementation evaluation with one Altera cyclone II–EP2C70F89 shows that the proposed ALE used 45% resources of the chip. Experiments with the proposed prototype were made using DE2-70 emulation board with recorded body signals obtained from online medical archives. Clear suppressions were observed in our experiments from both the frequency domain and time domain perspectives.
Vitamin D Status in Central Europe
Authors: Pludowski Pawel , Grant William B. , Bhattoa Harjit Pal , Bayer Milan , Povoroznyuk Vladyslav , Rudenka Ema , Ramanau Heorhi , Varbiro Szabolcs , Rudenka Alena , Karczmarewicz Elzbieta , Lorenc Roman , Czech-Kowalska Justyna , Konstantynowicz Jerzy
Published: March 2014

Little published information is available regarding epidemiological data on vitamin D status in the large geographical region of Central Europe (CE). We searched the journal literature with regard to 25(OH)D concentrations among community-dwelling or healthy people living in CE. 25(OH)D concentrations varied by age, season, study sample size, and methodological approach [i.e., 25(OH)D assay used]. Concentrations of 25(OH)D in CE appeared lower than 30 ng/mL, and the magnitude of hypovitaminosis D was similar to that reported in Western Europe. While most of the studies reviewed were cross-sectional studies, a longitudinal study was also included to obtain information on seasonal variability. The longitudinal study reported wintertime 25(OH)D values close to 21–23 ng/mL for all studied age groups, with a significant increase of 25(OH)D in August reaching 42 ng/mL for those aged 0–9 years, but only 21 ng/mL for the elderly aged 80–89 years. The decrease in 25(OH)D with respect to age was attributed to decreased time spent in the sun and decreased vitamin D production efficiency. Based on the literature review on vitamin D status in the CE populations, it can be concluded that 25(OH)vitamin D levels are on average below the 30 ng/mL level.
A Parallel Preconditioned Modified Conjugate Gradient Method for Large Sylvester Matrix Equation
Authors: Hou Junxia , Lv Quanyi , Xiao Manyu
Published: March 2014

Computational effort of solving large‐scale Sylvester equations AX + XB + F = O is frequently hindered in dealing with many complex control problems. In this work, a parallel preconditioned algorithm for solving it is proposed based on combination of a parameter iterative preconditioned method and modified form of conjugate gradient (MCG) method. Furthermore, Schur’s inequality and modified conjugate gradient method are employed to overcome the involved difficulties such as determination of parameter and calculation of inverse matrix. Several numerical results finally show that high performance of proposed parallel algorithm is obtained both in convergent rate and in parallel efficiency.
Growth Phase-Dependent Proteomes of the Malaysian IsolatedLactococcus lactisDairy Strain M4 Using Label-Free Qualitative Shotgun Proteomics Analysis
Authors: Yap Theresa Wan Chen , Rabu Amir , Abu Bakar Farah Diba , Abdul Rahim Raha , Mahadi Nor Muhammad , Illias Rosli Md. , Abdul Murad Abdul Munir
Published: March 2014

Lactococcus lactisis the most studied mesophilic fermentative lactic acid bacterium. It is used extensively in the food industry and plays a pivotal role as a cell factory and also as vaccine delivery platforms. The proteome of the Malaysian isolatedL. lactisM4 dairy strain, obtained from the milk of locally bred cows, was studied to elucidate the physiological changes occurring between the growth phases of this bacterium. In this study, ultraperformance liquid chromatography nanoflow electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC- nano-ESI-MSE) approach was used for qualitative proteomic analysis. A total of 100 and 121 proteins were identified from the midexponential and early stationary growth phases, respectively, of theL. lactisstrain M4. During the exponential phase, the most important reaction was the generation of sufficient energy, whereas, in the early stationary phase, the metabolic energy pathways decreased and the biosynthesis of proteins became more important. Thus, the metabolism of the cells shifted from energy production in the exponential phase to the synthesis of macromolecules in the stationary phase. The resultant proteomes are essential in providing an improved view of the cellular machinery ofL. lactisduring the transition of growth phases and hence provide insight into various biotechnological applications.
Asian Option Pricing with Transaction Costs and Dividends under the Fractional Brownian Motion Model
Authors: Zhang Yan , Pan Di , Zhou Sheng-Wu , Han Miao
Published: March 2014

The pricing problem of geometric average Asian option under fractional Brownian motion is studied in this paper. The partial differential equation satisfied by the option’s value is presented on the basis of no-arbitrage principle and fractional formula. Then by solving the partial differential equation, the pricing formula and call-put parity of the geometric average Asian option with dividend payment and transaction costs are obtained. At last, the influences of Hurst index and maturity on option value are discussed by numerical examples.
Diversity of the DNA Replication System in theArchaeaDomain
Authors: Sarmiento Felipe , Long Feng , Cann Isaac , Whitman William B.
Published: March 2014

The precise and timely duplication of the genome is essential for cellular life. It is achieved by DNA replication, a complex process that is conserved among the three domains of life. Even though the cellular structure of archaea closely resembles that of bacteria, the information processing machinery of archaea is evolutionarily more closely related to the eukaryotic system, especially for the proteins involved in the DNA replication process. While the general DNA replication mechanism is conserved among the different domains of life, modifications in functionality and in some of the specialized replication proteins are observed. Indeed,Archaeapossess specific features unique to this domain. Moreover, even though the general pattern of the replicative system is the same in all archaea, a great deal of variation exists between specific groups.
Existence of Solutions for Nonlinear Impulsive Fractional Differential Equations with p‐Laplacian Operator
Authors: Karaca Ilkay Yaslan , Tokmak Fatma
Published: March 2014

This paper studies the existence of solutions for a nonlinear boundary value problem of impulsive fractional
differential equations with p‐Laplacian operator. Our results are based on some standard fixed point theorems.
Examples are given to show the applicability of our results.
Potential Synergy Activity of the Novel Ceragenin, CSA-13, against Carbapenem-ResistantAcinetobacter baumanniiStrains Isolated from Bacteremia Patients
Authors: Bozkurt-Guzel Cagla , Savage Paul B. , Akcali Alper , Ozbek-Celik Berna
Published: March 2014

Carbapenem-resistantAcinetobacter baumanniiis an important cause of nosocomial infections, particularly in patients in the intensive care units. As chronic infections are difficult to treat, attempts have been made to discover new antimicrobials. Ceragenins, designed to mimic the activities of antimicrobial peptides, are a new class of antimicrobial agents. In this study, the in vitro activities of CSA-13 either alone or in combination with colistin (sulphate), tobramycin, and ciprofloxacin were investigated using 60 carbapenem-resistantA. baumanniistrains isolated from bacteremia patients blood specimens. MICs and MBCs were determined by microbroth dilution technique. Combinations were assessed by using checkerboard technique. The MIC50values (mg/L) of CSA-13, colistin, tobramycin, and ciprofloxacin were 2, 1, 1.25, and 80, respectively. The MIC90(mg/L) of CSA-13 and colistin were 8 and 4. The MBCs were equal to or twice greater than those of the MICs. Synergistic interactions were mostly seen with CSA-13-colistin (55%), whereas the least synergistic interactions were observed in the CSA-13-tobramycin (35%) combination. No antagonism was observed. CSA-13 appears to be a good candidate for further investigations in the treatment ofA. baumanniiinfections. However, future studies should be performed to correlate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic parameters of this molecule.
Adaptive Robust Quadratic Stabilization Tracking Control for Robotic System with Uncertainties and External Disturbances
Authors: Peng Jinzhu , Liu Yan
Published: March 2014

An adaptive robust quadratic stabilization tracking controller with hybrid scheme is proposed for robotic system with uncertainties and external disturbances. The hybrid scheme combines computed torque controller (CTC) with an adaptive robust compensator, in which variable structure control (VSC) andH∞optimal control approaches are adopted. The uncertain robot manipulator is mainly controlled by CTC, the VSC is used to eliminate the effect of the uncertainties and ensure global stability, andH∞approach is designed to achieve a certain tracking performance of closed-loop system. A quadratic stability approach, which allows separate treatment of parametric uncertainties, is used to reduce the conservatism of the conventional robust control approach. It can be also guaranteed that all signals in closed-loop system are bounded. The validity of the proposed control scheme is shown by computer simulation of a two-link robotic manipulator.
Optimization of Biohydrogen Production with Biomechatronics
Authors: Hsia Shao-Yi , Chou Yu-Tuan
Published: March 2014

Massive utilization of petroleum and natural gas caused fossil fuel shortages. Consequently, a large amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants are produced and induced environmental impact. Hydrogen is considered a clean and alternative energy source. It contains relatively high amount of energy compared with other fuels and by‐product is water. In this study, the combination of ultrasonic mechanical and biological effects is utilized to increase biohydrogen production from dark fermentation bacteria. The hydrogen production is affected by many process conditions. For obtaining the optimal result, experimental design is planned using the Taguchi Method. Four controlling factors, the ultrasonic frequency, energy, exposure time, and starch concentration, are considered to calculate the highest hydrogen production by the Taguchi Method. Under the best operating conditions, the biohydrogen production efficiency of dark fermentation increases by 19.11%. Results have shown that the combination of ultrasound and biological reactors for dark fermentation hydrogen production outperforms the traditional biohydrogen production method. The ultrasonic mechanical effects in this research always own different significances on biohydrogen production.
Privacy-Preserving Location-Based Query Using Location Indexes and Parallel Searching in Distributed Networks
Authors: Zhong Cheng , Liu Lei , Zhao Jing
Published: March 2014

An efficient location-based query algorithm of protecting the privacy of the user in the distributed networks is given. This algorithm utilizes the location indexes of the users and multiple parallel threads to search and select quickly all the candidate anonymous sets with more users and their location information with more uniform distribution to accelerate the execution of the temporal-spatial anonymous operations, and it allows the users to configure their custom-made privacy-preserving location query requests. The simulated experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can offer simultaneously the location query services for more users and improve the performance of the anonymous server and satisfy the anonymous location requests of the users.
An Approach to the Concept of Soft Fuzzy Proximity
Authors: Çetkin Vildan , Šostak Alexander P. , Aygün Halis
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of soft fuzzy proximity. Firstly, we give the definitions of soft fuzzy proximity and Katsaras soft fuzzy proximity, and also we investigate the relations between the soft fuzzy proximity and slightly modified version of Katsaras soft fuzzy proximity. Secondly, we induce a soft fuzzy topology from a given soft fuzzy proximity by using soft fuzzy closure operator. Then, we obtain the initial soft fuzzy proximity from a given family of soft fuzzy proximities. So, we describe products in the category of soft fuzzy proximities. Finally, we show that a family of all soft fuzzy proximities on a given set constitutes a complete lattice.
Domestic Systemically Important Banks: A Quantitative Analysis for the Chinese Banking System
Authors: Chen Yibing , Shi Yong , Wei Xianhua , Zhang Lingling
Published: March 2014

This paper serves as a response to the official assessment approach proposed by Basel Committee to identify domestic systemically important banks (D‐SIBs) in China. Our analysis presents not only current levels of domestic systemic importance of individual banks but also the changes. We also consider the systemic risk of the whole banking system, by investigating how D‐SIBs and non‐D‐SIBs are correlated before and after the recent financial crises using Copula. We find that the systemic importance of major banks is decreasing, while some banks becoming more systemically important should require tight regulations. D‐SIBs as a whole subsystem display stronger correlation with non‐D‐SIBs than the individual D‐SIBs, which alerts the regulatory to pay attention to “too‐many‐to‐fail” problems. Contagion effects between D‐SIBs and non‐D‐SIBs exist during the subprime crisis, but did not exist during the European debt crisis. This yields good signal of a more balanced banking system in China.
A Simulation Approach to Decision Making in IT Service Strategy
Authors: Orta Elena , Ruiz Mercedes
Published: March 2014

We propose to use simulation modeling to support decision making in IT service strategy scope. Our main contribution is a simulation model that helps service providers analyze the consequences of changes in both the service capacity assigned to their customers and the tendency of service requests received on the fulfillment of a business rule associated with the strategic goal of customer satisfaction. This business rule is set in the SLAs that service provider and its customers agree to, which determine the maximum percentage of service requests that are permitted to be abandoned because they have exceeded the waiting time allowed. To illustrate the use and applications of the model, we include some of the experiments conducted and describe our conclusions.
Support Vector Machine Based on Adaptive Acceleration Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Abdulameer Mohammed Hasan , Sheikh Abdullah Siti Norul Huda , Othman Zulaiha Ali
Published: March 2014

Existing face recognition methods utilize particle swarm optimizer (PSO) and opposition based particle swarm optimizer (OPSO) to optimize the parameters of SVM. However, the utilization of random values in the velocity calculation decreases the performance of these techniques; that is, during the velocity computation, we normally use random values for the acceleration coefficients and this creates randomness in the solution. To address this problem, an adaptive acceleration particle swarm optimization (AAPSO) technique is proposed. To evaluate our proposed method, we employ both face and iris recognition based on AAPSO with SVM (AAPSO-SVM). In the face and iris recognition systems, performance is evaluated using two human face databases, YALE and CASIA, and the UBiris dataset. In this method, we initially perform feature extraction and then recognition on the extracted features. In the recognition process, the extracted features are used for SVM training and testing. During the training and testing, the SVM parameters are optimized with the AAPSO technique, and in AAPSO, the acceleration coefficients are computed using the particle fitness values. The parameters in SVM, which are optimized by AAPSO, perform efficiently for both face and iris recognition. A comparative analysis between our proposed AAPSO-SVM and the PSO-SVM technique is presented.
Genotype by Energy Expenditure Interaction and Body Composition Traits: The Portuguese Healthy Family Study
Authors: Santos D. M. , Katzmarzyk P. T. , Diego V. P. , Gomes T. N. , Santos F. K. , Blangero J. , Maia J. A.
Published: March 2014

Background and Aims. Energy expenditure has been negatively correlated with fat accumulation. However, this association is highly variable. In the present study we applied a genotype by environment interaction method to examine the presence of Genotype x by Total Daily Energy Expenditure and Genotype x by Daily Energy Expenditure interactions in the expression of different body composition traits.Methods and Results. A total of 958 subjects from 294 families ofThe Portuguese Healthy Family Studywere included in the analysis. TDEE and DEE were assessed using a physical activity recall. Body fat percentages were measured with a bioelectrical impedance scale. GxTDEE and GxDEE examinations were performed using SOLAR 4.0 software. All BC traits were significantly heritable, with heritabilities ranging from 21% to 34%. The GxTDEE and GxDEE interaction models fitted the data better than the polygenic model for all traits. For all traits, a significant GxTDEE and GxDEE interaction was due to variance heterogeneity among distinct levels of TDEE and DEE. For WC, GxTDEE was also significant due to the genetic correlation function.Conclusions. TDEE and DEE are environmental constraints associated with the expression of individuals’ BC genotypes, leading to variability in the phenotypic expression of BC traits.
Upper Semicontinuity of Pullback Attractors for the 3D Nonautonomous Benjamin-Bona-Mahony Equations
Authors: Yang Xinguang , Wang Xiaosong , Li Juntao , Zhang Lingrui
Published: March 2014

We will study the upper semicontinuity of pullback attractors for the 3D nonautonomouss Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equations with external force perturbation terms. Under some regular assumptions, we can prove the pullback attractors𝒜ε(t)of equationut-Δut-νΔu+∇·F→(u)=ɛg(x,t),x∈Ω,converge to the global attractor𝒜of the above-mentioned equation withε=0for anyt∈ℝ.
Therapeutic Effects of PADRE-BAFF Autovaccine on Rat Adjuvant Arthritis
Authors: Feng Guo-dong , Xue Xiao-chang , Gao Mei-li , Wang Xian-feng , Shu Zhen , Mu Nan , Gao Yuan , Wang Zeng-lu , Hao Qiang , Li Wei-na , Li Meng , Zhang Cun , Zhang Wei , Zhang Ying-qi
Published: March 2014

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine of tumor necrosis factor family mainly produced by monocytes and dendritic cells. BAFF can regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of B lymphocytes by binding with BAFF-R on B cell membrane. Accumulating evidences showed that BAFF played crucial roles and was overexpressed in various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This suggests that BAFF may be a therapeutic target for these diseases. In the present study, we developed a BAFF therapeutic vaccine by coupling a T helper cell epitope AKFVAAWTLKAA (PADRE) to the N terminus of BAFF extracellular domains (PADRE-BAFF) and expressed this fusion protein inEscherichia coli. The purified vaccine can induce high titer of neutralizing BAFF antibodies and ameliorate the syndrome of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced rheumatoid arthritis in rats. Our data indicated that the BAFF autovaccine may be a useful candidate for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases associated with high level of BAFF.
A Novel Mathematical Formula for Retrieval Algorithm
Authors: Qin Yuping , Karimi Hamid Reza , Zhang Aihua , Leng Qiangkui
Published: March 2014

A method is proposed to retrieve mathematical formula in LaTeX documents. Firstly, we represent the retrieved mathematical formula by binary tree according to its LaTeX description, normalize the structure of the binary tree, and obtain the structure code and then search the mathematical formula table that is named by the structure code and the formula elements of the first two levels of the binary tree in the mathematical formula database. If the table exists, then we search the normalizing variable name preorder traversing sequence of the binary tree in the table and display the document information that contain the mathematical formula. The experimental results show that the algorithm realizes the retrieval of mathematical formula in LaTeX documents and has higher retrieval precision and faster retrieval speed.
The Role of Antioxidants in Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Authors: Godic Aleksandar , Poljšak Borut , Adamic Metka , Dahmane Raja
Published: March 2014

Skin cells are constantly exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress from exogenous and endogenous sources. UV radiation is the most important environmental factor in the development of skin cancer and skin aging. The primary products caused by UV exposure are generally direct DNA oxidation or generation of free radicals which form and decompose extremely quickly but can produce effects that can last for hours, days, or even years. UV-induced generation of ROS in the skin develops oxidative stress when their formation exceeds the antioxidant defense ability. The reduction of oxidative stress can be achieved on two levels: by lowering exposure to UVR and/or by increasing levels of antioxidant defense in order to scavenge ROS. The only endogenous protection of our skin is melanin and enzymatic antioxidants. Melanin, the pigment deposited by melanocytes, is the first line of defense against DNA damage at the surface of the skin, but it cannot totally prevent skin damage. A second category of defense is repair processes, which remove the damaged biomolecules before they can accumulate and before their presence results in altered cell metabolism. Additional UV protection includes avoidance of sun exposure, usage of sunscreens, protective clothes, and antioxidant supplements.
Ta2O5 Nanowires, Nanotubes, and Ta2O5/SiO2 Core‐Shelled Structures: From Growth to Material Characterization
Authors: Tsai Hsu-Sheng , Yang Tsung-Ying , Chang Mu-Tung , Chou Li-Jen , Chueh Yu-Lun
Published: March 2014

One‐dimensional polycrystalline Ta2O5 nanostructures are synthesized by the annealing of the SiO2 nanowires at 950°C in a reductive Ta vapor ambiance. The formation mechanism of Ta2O5 nanostructures is discussed and illustrated in detail. The nucleation and grain growth of Ta2O5 crystals were investigated during the formation of the SiO2/Ta2O5 core‐shelled structures. The diffusion‐controlled growth is suggested to be the rate‐determining step for the diffusion of the Ta atoms through the ash layer to react with O atoms and substitute Si atoms.
Eigenvalue Problem for Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations with Integral Boundary Conditions
Authors: Wang Guotao , Liu Sanyang , Zhang Lihong
Published: March 2014

By employing known Guo-Krasnoselskii fixed point theorem, we investigate the eigenvalue interval for the existence and nonexistence of at least one positive solution of nonlinear fractional differential equation with integral boundary conditions.
Costs and Quality of Life in Diabetic Macular Edema: Canadian Burden of Diabetic Macular Edema Observational Study (C-REALITY)
Authors: Gonder John R. , Walker Valery M. , Barbeau Martin , Zaour Nancy , Zachau Bryan H. , Hartje James R. , Li Ruihong
Published: March 2014

Purpose. To characterize the economic and quality of life burden of diabetic macular edema (DME) in Canadian patients.Patients and Methods. 145 patients with DME were followed for 6 months with monthly telephone interviews and medical chart reviews at months 0, 3, and 6. Visual acuity in the worst-seeing eye was assessed at months 0 and 6. DME-related healthcare costs were determined over 6 months, and vision-related (National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire) and generic (EQ-5D) quality of life was assessed at months 0, 3, and 6.Results. Mean age of patients was 63.7 years: 52% were male and 72% had bilateral DME. At baseline, visual acuity was categorized as normal/mild loss for 63.4% of patients, moderate loss for 10.4%, and severe loss/nearly blind for 26.2%. Mean 6-month DME-related costs/patient were as follows: all patients (n=135), $2,092; normal/mild loss (n=88), $1,776; moderate loss (n=13), $1,845; and severe loss/nearly blind (n=34), $3,007. Composite scores for vision-related quality of life declined with increasing visual acuity loss; generic quality of life scores were highest for moderate loss and lowest for severe loss/nearly blind.Conclusions. DME-related costs in the Canadian healthcare system are substantial. Costs increased and vision-related quality of life declined with increasing visual acuity severity.
Challenges in Double Beta Decay
Authors: Cremonesi Oliviero , Pavan Maura
Published: March 2014

In the past ten years, neutrino oscillation experiments have provided the incontrovertible evidence that neutrinos mix and have finite masses. These results represent the strongest demonstration that the electroweak Standard Model is incomplete and that new Physics beyond it must exist. In this scenario, a unique role is played by the Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay searches which can probe lepton number conservation and investigate the Dirac/Majorana nature of the neutrinos and their absolute mass scale (hierarchy problem) with unprecedented sensitivity. Today Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay faces a new era where large-scale experiments with a sensitivity approaching the so-called degenerate-hierarchy region are nearly ready to start and where the challenge for the next future is the construction of detectors characterized by a tonne-scale size and an incredibly low background. A number of new proposed projects took up this challenge. These are based either on large expansions of the present experiments or on new ideas to improve the technical performance and/or reduce the background contributions. In this paper, a review of the most relevant ongoing experiments is given. The most relevant parameters contributing to the experimental sensitivity are discussed and a critical comparison of the future projects is proposed.
Avian Influenza Surveillance in the Danube Delta Using Sentinel Geese and Ducks
Authors: Coman Alexandru , Maftei Daniel Narcis , Chereches Razvan M. , Zavrotchi Elena , Bria Paul , Dragnea Claudiu , McKenzie Pamela P. , Valentine Marissa A. , Gray Gregory C.
Published: March 2014

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus incursions from migrating birds have occurred multiple times in Romania since 2005. Beginning in September 2008 through April 2013, seasonal sentinel surveillance for avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) using domestic geese (Anser cygnoides) and ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Danube Delta was established by placing 15 geese and 5 ducks at seven sites. Tracheal and cloacal swabs, and sera collections (starting in 2009) were taken monthly. We studied a total of 580 domestic birds and collected 5,520 cloacal and tracheal swabs from each and 2,760 sera samples. All swabs were studied with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) for evidence of AIV. Serological samples were studied with hemagglutination inhibition assays against avian H5, H7, and H9 influenza viruses. From 2009 to 2013, 47 swab specimens from Cot Candura, Enisala, and Saon screened positive for AIV; further subtyping demonstrated that 14 ducks and 20 geese had cloacal evidence of H5N3 carriage. Correspondingly, 4 to 12 weeks after these molecular detections, sentinel bird sera revealed elevated HI titers against H5 virus antigens. We posit that domestic bird surveillance is an effective method to conduct AIV surveillance among migrating birds in delta areas.
Development of Antibody‐Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Biomarker Immobilization
Authors: Chapa Gonzalez Christian , Martínez Pérez Carlos A. , Martínez Martínez Alejandro , Olivas Armendáriz Imelda , Zavala Tapia Oscar , Martel-Estrada Adriana , García-Casillas Perla E.
Published: March 2014

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have great potential in biomedical applications because of their magnetic response offers the possibility to direct them to specific areas and target biological entities. Magnetic separation of biomolecules is one of the most important applications of MNPs because their versatility in detecting cancer biomarkers. However, the effectiveness of this method depends on many factors, including the type of functionalization onto MNPs. Therefore, in this study, magnetite nanoparticles have been developed in order to separate the 5′‐nucleotidase enzyme (5eNT). The 5eNT is used as a bio‐indicator for diagnosing diseases such as hepatic ischaemia, liver tumor, and hepatotoxic drugs damage. Magnetic nanoparticles were covered in a core/shell type with silica, aminosilane, and a double shell of silica‐aminosilane. A ScFv (fragment antibody) and anti‐CD73 antibody were attached to the coated nanoparticles in order to separate the enzyme. The magnetic separation of this enzyme with fragment antibody was found to be 28% higher than anti‐CD73 antibody and the enzyme adsorption was improved with the double shell due to the increased length of the polymeric chain. Magnetite nanoparticles with a double shell (silica‐aminosilane) were also found to be more sensitive than magnetite with a single shell in the detection of biomarkers.
Quantitative Measurements of Tumoral p95HER2 Protein Expression in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Trastuzumab: Independent Validation of the p95HER2 Clinical Cutoff
Authors: Duchnowska Renata , Sperinde Jeff , Chenna Ahmed , Haddad Mojgan , Paquet Agnes , Lie Yolanda , Weidler Jodi M. , Huang Weidong , Winslow John , Jankowski Tomasz , Czartoryska-Arłukowicz Bogumiła , Wysocki Piotr J. , Foszczyńska-Kłoda Małgorzata , Radecka Barbara , Litwiniuk Maria M. , Żok Jolanta , Wiśniewski Michał , Zuziak Dorota , Biernat Wojciech , Jassem Jacek
Published: March 2014

Purpose: P95HER2 (p95) is a truncated form of the HER2, which lacks the trastuzumab-binding site and contains a hyperactive kinase domain. Previously, an optimal clinical cutoff of p95 expression for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was defined using a quantitative VeraTag assay (Monogram Biosciences) in a training set of trastuzumab-treated metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

Experimental Design: In the current study, the predictive value of the p95 VeraTag assay cutoff established in the training set was retrospectively validated for PFS and OS in an independent series of 240 trastuzumab-treated MBC patients from multiple institutions.

Results: In the subset of 190 tumors assessed as HER2-total (H2T)-positive using the quantitative HERmark assay (Monogram Biosciences), p95 VeraTag values above the predefined cutoff correlated with shorter PFS (HR = 1.43; P = 0.039) and shorter OS (HR = 1.94; P = 0.0055) where both outcomes were stratified by hormone receptor status and tumor grade. High p95 expression correlated with shorter PFS (HR = 2.41; P = 0.0003) and OS (HR = 2.57; P = 0.0025) in the hormone receptor-positive subgroup of patients (N = 78), but not in the hormone receptor-negative group. In contrast with the quantitative p95 VeraTag measurements, p95 immunohistochemical expression using the same antibody was not significantly correlated with outcomes.

Conclusions: The consistency in the p95 VeraTag cutoff across different cohorts of patients with MBC treated with trastuzumab justifies additional studies using blinded analyses in larger series of patients. Clin Cancer Res; 20(10); 2805–13. ©2014 AACR.
Association between Polymorphisms in Sclerostin, Dickkopfs and Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein Genes and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Korean Women
Authors: Lee Dong Ock , Kim Hoon , Ku Seung-Yup , Kim Seok Hyun , Kim Jung Gu
Published: March 2014

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sclerostin (SOST), dickkopf (DKK), secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP) genes and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women. Methods: The SOST, Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1), sFRP1,sFRP2,sFRP3, sFRP4, sFRP5, DKK1, DKK2 and DKK3 polymorphisms were analyzed in 399 postmenopausal Korean women. Serum levels of bone turnover markers were measured, and BMDs at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were also examined. Results: No significant differences in adjusted BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were noted according to any single and combined polymorphisms measured in SOST, DKKs and sFRPs. However, osteoporosis at the femoral neck was 2.35 times more frequently observed in the AA genotype of the sFRP4 c.958C>A polymorphism compared to the non-AA genotype (95% CI 1.09-5.08, p = 0.03). Also, the CC genotype of the sFRP3 c.970C>G polymorphism had a higher rate of osteoporosis at the femoral neck compared to the GC genotype (OR 8.47, 95% CI 1.37-52.63, p = 0.049). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the sFRP3 c.970C>G and sFRP4 c.958C>A polymorphisms may be genetic factors associated with the prevalence of osteoporosis at the femoral neck in postmenopausal Korean women.
Tumor Calcification: A New Response Pattern of Myxoid Liposarcoma to Trabectedin
Authors: Turpin Anthony , Taieb Sophie , Penel Nicolas
Published: March 2014

Introduction: Myxoid/round-cell liposarcoma (MRCL) is a specific histological subtype that accounts for 30-35% of liposarcomas and whose virulence depends on the quantity of round-cells within the tumor. MRCL is associated with specific chromosomal translocations resulting in the formation of CHOP/FUS and CHOP/EWS fusion proteins. A high sensitivity of MRCL to trabectedin was reported. Case Report: We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with a bulky and metastatic MRCL, treated with trabectedin 1.5 mg/m2 as a first-line treatment. She experienced a long-lasting clinical benefit. The patients received 14 cycles of trabectedin and achieved a durable partial response to the metastases and a stable disease of the primary tumor, which is a very favorable safety profile. Also noteworthy is that we have observed a calcification of the primary tumor and the metastasis. The response, which lasted 30 months, led to a symptomatic improvement, associated with an excellent general condition and an absence of pain. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a MRCL treated with trabectedin that resulted in a calcification of the primary tumor and the metastases, associated with an outstandingly long response. This case suggests that trabectedin may represent a feasible first-line therapeutic option for patients with MRCL, with meaningful clinical benefits and an acceptable safety profile.