bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERFORM
Authors: Durupinar Funda , Kapadia Mubbasir , Deutsch Susan , Neff Michael , Badler Norman I.
Published: April 2018

A major goal of research on virtual humans is the animation of expressive characters that display distinct psychological attributes. Body motion is an effective way of portraying different personalities and differentiating characters. The purpose and contribution of this work is to describe a formal, broadly applicable, procedural, and empirically grounded association between personality and body motion and apply this association to modify a given virtual human body animation that can be represented by these formal concepts. Because the body movement of virtual characters may involve different choices of parameter sets depending on the context, situation, or application, formulating a link from personality to body motion requires an intermediate step to assist generalization. For this intermediate step, we refer to Laban Movement Analysis, which is a movement analysis technique for systematically describing and evaluating human motion. We have developed an expressive human motion generation system with the help of movement experts and conducted a user study to explore how the psychologically validated OCEAN personality factors were perceived in motions with various Laban parameters. We have then applied our findings to procedurally animate expressive characters with personality, and validated the generalizability of our approach across different models and animations via another perception study.
Decomposing Images into Layers via RGB-Space Geometry
Authors: Tan Jianchao , Lien Jyh-Ming , Gingold Yotam
Published: April 2018

In digital image editing software, layers organize images. However, layers are often not explicitly represented in the final image, and may never have existed for a scanned physical painting or a photograph. We propose a technique to decompose an image into layers. In our decomposition, each layer represents a single-color coat of paint applied with varying opacity. Our decomposition is based on the image’s RGB-space geometry. In RGB-space, the linear nature of the standard Porter-Duff [1984] “over” pixel compositing operation implies a geometric structure. The vertices of the convex hull of image pixels in RGB-space correspond to a palette of paint colors. These colors may be “hidden” and inaccessible to algorithms based on clustering visible colors. For our layer decomposition, users choose the palette size (degree of simplification to perform on the convex hull), as well as a layer order for the paint colors (vertices). We then solve a constrained optimization problem to find translucent, spatially coherent opacity for each layer, such that the composition of the layers reproduces the original image. We demonstrate the utility of the resulting decompositions for recoloring (global and local) and object insertion. Our layers can be interpreted as generalized barycentric coordinates; we compare to these and other recoloring approaches.
Quasi-Newton Methods for Real-Time Simulation of Hyperelastic Materials
Authors: Liu Tiantian , Bouaziz Sofien , Kavan Ladislav
Published: April 2018

We present a new method for real-time physics-based simulation supporting many different types of hyperelastic materials. Previous methods such as Position-Based or Projective Dynamics are fast but support only a limited selection of materials; even classical materials such as the Neo-Hookean elasticity are not supported. Recently, Xu et al. [2015] introduced new “spline-based materials” that can be easily controlled by artists to achieve desired animation effects. Simulation of these types of materials currently relies on Newton’s method, which is slow, even with only one iteration per timestep. In this article, we show that Projective Dynamics can be interpreted as a quasi-Newton method. This insight enables very efficient simulation of a large class of hyperelastic materials, including the Neo-Hookean, spline-based materials, and others. The quasi-Newton interpretation also allows us to leverage ideas from numerical optimization. In particular, we show that our solver can be further accelerated using L-BFGS updates (Limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm). Our final method is typically more than 10 times faster than one iteration of Newton’s method without compromising quality. In fact, our result is often more accurate than the result obtained with one iteration of Newton’s method. Our method is also easier to implement, implying reduced software development costs.
Domain of Attraction Expansion for Physics-Based Character Control
Authors: Borno Mazen Al , Panne Michiel Van De , Fiume Eugene
Published: April 2018

Determining effective control strategies and solutions for high-degree-of-freedom humanoid characters has been a difficult, ongoing problem. A controller is only valid for a subset of the states of the character, known as the
domain of attraction
(DOA). This article shows how many states that are initially outside the DOA can be brought inside it. Our first contribution is to show how DOA expansion can be performed for a high-dimensional simulated character. Our second contribution is to present an algorithm that efficiently increases the DOA using random trees that provide denser coverage than the trees produced by typical sampling-based motion-planning algorithms. The trees are constructed offline but can be queried fast enough for near-real-time control. We show the effect of DOA expansion on getting up, crouch-to-stand, jumping, and standing-twist controllers. We also show how DOA expansion can be used to connect controllers together.
Practical Acquisition and Rendering of Diffraction Effects in Surface Reflectance
Authors: Toisoul Antoine , Ghosh Abhijeet
Published: April 2018

We propose two novel contributions for measurement-based rendering of diffraction effects in surface reflectance of planar homogeneous diffractive materials. As a general solution for commonly manufactured materials, we propose a practical data-driven rendering technique and a measurement approach to efficiently render complex diffraction effects in real time. Our measurement step simply involves photographing a planar diffractive sample illuminated with an LED flash. Here, we directly record the resultant diffraction pattern on the sample surface due to a narrow-band point source illumination. Furthermore, we propose an efficient rendering method that exploits the measurement in conjunction with the Huygens-Fresnel principle to fit relevant diffraction parameters based on a first-order approximation. Our proposed data-driven rendering method requires the precomputation of a
single
diffraction look-up table for accurate spectral rendering of complex diffraction effects. Second, for sharp specular samples, we propose a novel method for practical measurement of the underlying diffraction grating using out-of-focus “bokeh” photography of the specular highlight. We demonstrate how the measured bokeh can be employed as a height field to drive a diffraction shader based on a first-order approximation for efficient real-time rendering. Finally, we also drive analytic solutions for a few special cases of diffraction from our measurements and demonstrate realistic rendering results under complex light sources and environments.
String Actuated Curved Folded Surfaces
Authors: Kilian Martin , Monszpart Aron , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: April 2018

Curved folded surfaces, given their ability to produce elegant freeform shapes by folding flat sheets etched with curved creases, hold a special place in computational Origami. Artists and designers have proposed a wide variety of different fold patterns to create a range of interesting surfaces. The creative process, design, as well as fabrication is usually only concerned with the static surface that emerges once folding has completed. Folding such patterns, however, is difficult as multiple creases have to be folded simultaneously to obtain a properly folded target shape. We introduce string actuated curved folded surfaces that can be shaped by pulling a network of strings, thus, vastly simplifying the process of creating such surfaces and making the folding motion an integral part of the design. Technically, we solve the problem of which surface points to string together and how to actuate them by locally expressing a desired folding path in the space of isometric shape deformations in terms of novel string actuation modes. We demonstrate the validity of our approach by computing string actuation networks for a range of well-known crease patterns and testing their effectiveness on physical prototypes. All the examples in this article can be downloaded for personal use from http://geometry.cs.ucl.ac.uk/projects/2017/string-actuated/.
Understanding and Exploiting Object Interaction Landscapes
Authors: Pirk Sören , Krs Vojtech , Hu Kaimo , Rajasekaran Suren Deepak , Kang Hao , Yoshiyasu Yusuke , Benes Bedrich , Guibas Leonidas J.
Published: April 2018

Interactions play a key role in understanding objects and scenes for both virtual and real-world agents. We introduce a new general representation for proximal interactions among physical objects that is agnostic to the type of objects or interaction involved. The representation is based on tracking particles on one of the participating objects and then observing them with sensors appropriately placed in the interaction volume or on the interaction surfaces. We show how to factorize these interaction descriptors and project them into a particular participating object so as to obtain a new functional descriptor for that object, its
interaction landscape
, capturing its observed use in a spatiotemporal framework. Interaction landscapes are independent of the particular interaction and capture subtle dynamic effects in how objects move and behave when in functional use. Our method relates objects based on their function, establishes correspondences between shapes based on functional key points and regions, and retrieves peer and partner objects with respect to an interaction.
Wasserstein Blue Noise Sampling
Authors: Qin Hongxing , Chen Yi , He Jinlong , Chen Baoquan
Published: April 2018

In this article, we present a multi-class blue noise sampling algorithm by throwing samples as the constrained Wasserstein barycenter of multiple density distributions. Using an entropic regularization term, a constrained transport plan in the optimal transport problem is provided to break the partition required by the previous Capacity-Constrained Voronoi Tessellation method. The entropic regularization term cannot only control spatial regularity of blue noise sampling, but it also reduces conflicts between the desired centroids of Vornoi cells for multi-class sampling. Moreover, the adaptive blue noise property is guaranteed for each individual class, as well as their combined class. Our method can be easily extended to multi-class sampling on a point set surface. We also demonstrate applications in object distribution and color stippling.
Cross-Browser Differences Detection Based on an Empirical Metric for Web Page Visual Similarity
Authors: Xu Zhen , Miller James
Published: April 2018

This article aims to develop a method to detect visual differences introduced into web pages when they are rendered in different browsers. To achieve this goal, we propose an empirical visual similarity metric by mimicking human mechanisms of perception. The Gestalt laws of grouping are translated into a computer compatible rule set. A block tree is then parsed by the rules for similarity calculation. During the translation of the Gestalt laws, experiments are performed to obtain metrics for proximity, color similarity, and image similarity. After a validation experiment, the empirical metric is employed to detect cross-browser differences. Experiments and case studies on the world’s most popular web pages provide positive results for this methodology.
A Survey of Modelling Trends in Temporal GIS
Authors: Siabato Willington , Claramunt Christophe , Ilarri Sergio , Manso-Callejo Miguel Angel
Published: April 2018

The main achievements of spatio-temporal modelling in the field of Geographic Information Science that spans the past three decades are surveyed. This article offers an overview of: (i) the origins and history of Temporal Geographic Information Systems (T-GIS); (ii) relevant spatio-temporal data models proposed; (iii) the evolution of spatio-temporal modelling trends; and (iv) an analysis of the future trends and developments in T-GIS. It also presents some current theories and concepts that have emerged from the research performed, as well as a summary of the current progress and the upcoming challenges and potential research directions for T-GIS. One relevant result of this survey is the proposed taxonomy of spatio-temporal modelling trends, which classifies 186 modelling proposals surveyed from more than 1,450 articles.
Edge-Oriented Computing Paradigms
Authors: Li Chao , Xue Yushu , Wang Jing , Zhang Weigong , Li Tao
Published: April 2018

While cloud computing has brought paradigm shifts to computing services, researchers and developers have also found some problems inherent to its nature such as bandwidth bottleneck, communication overhead, and location blindness. The concept of fog/edge computing is therefore coined to extend the services from the core in cloud data centers to the edge of the network. In recent years, many systems are proposed to better serve ubiquitous smart devices closer to the user. This article provides a complete and up-to-date review of edge-oriented computing systems by encapsulating relevant proposals on their architecture features, management approaches, and design objectives.
Analyzing Node-Weighted Oblivious Matching Problem via Continuous LP with Jump Discontinuity
Authors: Chan T.-H. Hubert , Chen Fei , Wu Xiaowei
Published: April 2018

We prove the first non-trivial performance ratio strictly above 0.5 for the weighted Ranking algorithm on the oblivious matching problem where nodes in a general graph can have arbitrary weights.

We have discovered a new structural property of the ranking algorithm: if a node has two unmatched neighbors, then it will still be matched even when its rank is demoted to the bottom. This property allows us to form LP constraints for both the weighted and the unweighted versions of the problem.

Using a new class of continuous linear programming (LP), we prove that the ratio for the weighted case is at least 0.501512, and we improve the ratio for the unweighted case to 0.526823 (from the previous best 0.523166 in SODA 2014). Unlike previous continuous LP, in which the primal solution must be continuous everywhere, our new continuous LP framework allows the monotone component of the primal function to have jump discontinuities, and the other primal components to take non-conventional forms, such as the Dirac δ function.
Known Algorithms on Graphs of Bounded Treewidth Are Probably Optimal
Authors: Lokshtanov Daniel , Marx Dániel , Saurabh Saket
Published: April 2018

We obtain a number of lower bounds on the running time of algorithms solving problems on graphs of bounded treewidth. We prove the results under the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis of Impagliazzo and Paturi. In particular, assuming that
n
-variable
m
-clause SAT cannot be solved in time (2-ϵ)

n

m

O
(1)

, we show that for any ϵ > 0:

• I
ndependent
S
et
cannot be solved in time (2-ϵ)

tw(
G
)

|
V
(
G
)|

O
(1)

,

• D
ominating
S
et
cannot be solved in time (3-ϵ)

tw(
G
)

|
V
(
G
)|

O
(1)

,

• M
ax
C
ut
cannot be solved in time (2-ϵ)

tw(
G
)

|
V
(
G
)|

O
(1)

,

• O
dd
C
ycle
T
ransversal
cannot be solved in time (3-ϵ)

tw(
G
)

|
V
(
G
)|

O
(1)

,

• For any fixed
q
≥ 3,
q
-C
oloring
cannot be solved in time (
q
-ϵ)

tw
(
G
)

|
V
(
G
)|

O
(1)

,

• P
artition
I
nto
T
riangles
cannot be solved in time (2-ϵ)

tw
(
G
)

|
V
(
G
)|

O
(1)

.

Our lower bounds match the running times for the best known algorithms for the problems, up to the ϵ in the base.
Social Network Monitoring for Bursty Cascade Detection
Authors: Xie Wei , Zhu Feida , Xiao Jing , Wang Jianzong
Published: April 2018

Social network services have become important and efficient platforms for users to share all kinds of information. The capability to monitor user-generated information and detect bursts from information diffusions in these social networks brings value to a wide range of real-life applications, such as viral marketing. However, in reality, as a third party, there is always a cost for gathering information from each user or so-called social network sensor. The question then arises how to select a budgeted set of social network sensors to form the data stream for burst detection without compromising the detection performance. In this article, we present a general sensor selection solution for different burst detection approaches. We formulate this problem as a constraint satisfaction problem that has high computational complexity. To reduce the computational cost, we first reduce most of the constraints by making use of the fact that bursty cascades are rare among the whole population. We then transform the problem into an Linear Programming (LP) problem. Furthermore, we use the sub-gradient method instead of the standard simplex method or interior-point method to solve the LP problem, which makes it possible for our solution to scale up to large social networks. Evaluating our solution on millions of real information cascades, we demonstrate both the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.
The Alternating Stock Size Problem and the Gasoline Puzzle
Authors: Newman Alantha , Röglin Heiko , Seif Johanna
Published: April 2018

Given a set
S
of integers whose sum is zero, consider the problem of finding a permutation of these integers such that (i) all prefix sums of the ordering are nonnegative and (ii) the maximum value of a prefix sum is minimized. Kellerer et al. call this problem the
stock size problem
and showed that it can be approximated to within 3/2. They also showed that an approximation ratio of 2 can be achieved via several simple algorithms.

We consider a related problem, which we call the
alternating stock size problem
, where the numbers of positive and negative integers in the input set
S
are equal. The problem is the same as that shown earlier, but we are additionally required to alternate the positive and negative numbers in the output ordering. This problem also has several simple 2-approximations. We show that it can be approximated to within 1.79.

Then we show that this problem is closely related to an optimization version of the gasoline puzzle due to Lovász, in which we want to minimize the size of the gas tank necessary to go around the track. We present a 2-approximation for this problem, using a natural linear programming relaxation whose feasible solutions are doubly stochastic matrices. Our novel rounding algorithm is based on a transformation that yields another doubly stochastic matrix with special properties, from which we can extract a suitable permutation.
Randomized Embeddings with Slack and High-Dimensional Approximate Nearest Neighbor
Authors: Anagnostopoulos Evangelos , Emiris Ioannis Z. , Psarros Ioannis
Published: April 2018

Approximate nearest neighbor search (ϵ-ANN) in high dimensions has been mainly addressed by Locality Sensitive Hashing (LSH), which has complexity with polynomial dependence in dimension, sublinear query time, but subquadratic space requirement. We introduce a new “low-quality” embedding for metric spaces requiring that, for some query, there exists an approximate nearest neighbor among the pre-images of its
k
> 1 approximate nearest neighbors in the target space. In Euclidean spaces, we employ random projections to a dimension inversely proportional to
k
.

Our approach extends to the decision problem with witness of checking whether there exists an approximate
near
neighbor; this also implies a solution for ϵ-ANN. After dimension reduction, we store points in a uniform grid of side length ϵ /√
d
′
, where
d
′
is the reduced dimension. Given a query, we explore cells intersecting the unit ball around the query. This data structure requires linear space and query time in
O
(
d
n
ρ
), ρ ≈ 1-ϵ
2
i>/log(1ϵ), where
n
denotes input cardinality and
d
space dimension. Bounds are improved for doubling subsets via
r
-nets.

We present our implementation for ϵ-ANN in C++ and experiments for
d
≤ 960,
n
≤ 10
6
, using synthetic and real datasets, which confirm the theoretical analysis and, typically, yield better practical performance. We compare to FALCONN, the state-of-the-art implementation of multi-probe LSH: our prototype software is essentially comparable in terms of preprocessing, query time, and storage usage.
Perfect Phylogenies via Branchings in Acyclic Digraphs and a Generalization of Dilworth’s Theorem
Authors: Hujdurović Ademir , Husić Edin , Milanić Martin , Rizzi Romeo , Tomescu Alexandru I.
Published: April 2018

Motivated by applications in cancer genomics and following the work of Hajirasouliha and Raphael (WABI 2014), Hujdurović et al. (IEEE TCBB, 2018) introduced the minimum conflict-free row split (MCRS) problem: split each row of a given binary matrix into a bitwise OR of a set of rows so that the resulting matrix corresponds to a perfect phylogeny and has the minimum possible number of rows among all matrices with this property. Hajirasouliha and Raphael also proposed the study of a similar problem, in which the task is to minimize the number of distinct rows of the resulting matrix. Hujdurović et al. proved that both problems are NP-hard, gave a related characterization of transitively orientable graphs, and proposed a polynomial-time heuristic algorithm for the MCRS problem based on coloring cocomparability graphs.

We give new, more transparent formulations of the two problems, showing that the problems are equivalent to two optimization problems on branchings in a derived directed acyclic graph. Building on these formulations, we obtain new results on the two problems, including (1) a strengthening of the heuristic by Hujdurović et al. via a new min-max result in digraphs generalizing Dilworth’s theorem, which may be of independent interest; (2) APX-hardness results for both problems; (3) approximation algorithms; and (4) exponential-time algorithms solving the two problems to optimality faster than the naïve brute-force approach. Our work relates to several well-studied notions in combinatorial optimization: chain partitions in partially ordered sets, laminar hypergraphs, and (classical and weighted) colorings of graphs.
Data Usage Control for Distributed Systems
Authors: Kelbert Florian , Pretschner Alexander
Published: April 2018

Data usage control enables data owners to enforce policies over how their data may be used after they have been released and accessed. We address distributed aspects of this problem, which arise if the protected data reside within multiple systems. We contribute by formalizing, implementing, and evaluating a fully decentralized system that (i) generically and transparently tracks protected data across systems, (ii) propagates data usage policies along, and (iii) efficiently and preventively enforces policies in a decentralized manner. The evaluation shows that (i) dataflow tracking and policy propagation achieve a throughput of 21--54% of native execution and (ii) decentralized policy enforcement outperforms a centralized approach in many situations.
Designing Size Consistent Statistics for Accurate Anomaly Detection in Dynamic Networks
Authors: Fond Timothy La , Neville Jennifer , Gallagher Brian
Published: April 2018

An important task in network analysis is the detection of anomalous events in a network time series. These events could merely be times of interest in the network timeline or they could be examples of malicious activity or network malfunction. Hypothesis testing using network statistics to summarize the behavior of the network provides a robust framework for the anomaly detection decision process. Unfortunately, choosing network statistics that are dependent on confounding factors like the total number of nodes or edges can lead to incorrect conclusions (e.g., false positives and false negatives). In this article, we describe the challenges that face anomaly detection in dynamic network streams regarding confounding factors. We also provide two solutions to avoiding error due to confounding factors: the first is a randomization testing method that controls for confounding factors, and the second is a set of size-consistent network statistics that avoid confounding due to the most common factors, edge count and node count.
Motif Counting Beyond Five Nodes
Authors: Bressan Marco , Chierichetti Flavio , Kumar Ravi , Leucci Stefano , Panconesi Alessandro
Published: April 2018

Counting graphlets is a well-studied problem in graph mining and social network analysis. Recently, several papers explored very simple and natural algorithms based on Monte Carlo sampling of Markov Chains (MC), and reported encouraging results. We show, perhaps surprisingly, that such algorithms are outperformed by color coding (CC) [2], a sophisticated algorithmic technique that we extend to the case of graphlet sampling and for which we prove strong statistical guarantees. Our computational experiments on graphs with millions of nodes show CC to be more accurate than MC; furthermore, we formally show that the mixing time of the MC approach is too high in general, even when the input graph has high conductance. All this comes at a price however. While MC is very efficient in terms of space, CC’s memory requirements become demanding when the size of the input graph and that of the graphlets grow. And yet, our experiments show that CC can push the limits of the state-of-the-art, both in terms of the size of the input graph and of that of the graphlets.
Dosage Compensation of the X Chromosome: A Complex Epigenetic Assignment Involving Chromatin Regulators and Long Noncoding RNAs
Authors: Samata Maria , Akhtar Asifa
Published: April 2018

X chromosome regulation represents a prime example of an epigenetic phenomenon where coordinated regulation of a whole chromosome is required. In flies, this is achieved by transcriptional upregulation of X chromosomal genes in males to equalize the gene dosage differences in females. Chromatin-bound proteins and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) constituting a ribonucleoprotein complex known as the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex or the dosage compensation complex mediate this process. MSL complex members decorate the male X chromosome, and their absence leads to male lethality. The male X chromosome is also enriched with histone H4 lysine 16 acetylation (H4K16ac), indicating that the chromatin compaction status of the X chromosome also plays an important role in transcriptional activation. How the X chromosome is specifically targeted and how dosage compensation is mechanistically achieved are central questions for the field. Here, we review recent advances, which reveal a complex interplay among lncRNAs, the chromatin landscape, transcription, and chromosome conformation that fine-tune X chromosome gene expression.
Chalkophores
Authors: Kenney Grace E. , Rosenzweig Amy C.
Published: April 2018

Copper-binding metallophores, or chalkophores, play a role in microbial copper homeostasis that is analogous to that of siderophores in iron homeostasis. The best-studied chalkophores are members of the methanobactin (Mbn) family—ribosomally produced, posttranslationally modified natural products first identified as copper chelators responsible for copper uptake in methane-oxidizing bacteria. To date, Mbns have been characterized exclusively in those species, but there is genomic evidence for their production in a much wider range of bacteria. This review addresses the current state of knowledge regarding the function, biosynthesis, transport, and regulation of Mbns. While the roles of several proteins in these processes are supported by substantial genetic and biochemical evidence, key aspects of Mbn manufacture, handling, and regulation remain unclear. In addition, other natural products that have been proposed to mediate copper uptake as well as metallophores that have biologically relevant roles involving copper binding, but not copper uptake, are discussed.
Functional properties of human muscle spindles
Authors: Macefield Vaughan G. , Knellwolf Thomas P.
Published: April 2018

Muscle spindles are ubiquitous encapsulated mechanoreceptors found in most mammalian muscles. There are two types of endings, primary and secondary, and both are sensitive to changes in muscle length and velocity, with the primary endings having a greater dynamic sensitivity. Unlike other mechanoreceptors in the somatosensory system, muscle spindles are unique in possessing motor innervation, via γ-motoneurons (fusimotor neurons), that control their sensitivity to stretch. Much of what we know about human muscles spindles comes from studying the behavior of their afferents via intraneural microelectrodes (microneurography) inserted into accessible peripheral nerves. We review the functional properties of human muscle spindles, comparing and contrasting with what we know about the functions of muscle spindles studied in experimental animals. As in the cat, many human muscle spindles possess a background discharge that is related to the degree of muscle stretch, but mean firing rates are much lower (~10 Hz). They can faithfully encode changes in muscle fascicle length in passive conditions, but higher level extraction of information is required by the central nervous system to measure changes in muscle length during muscle contraction. Moreover, although there is some evidence supporting independent control of human muscle spindles via fusimotor neurons, any effects are modest compared with the clearly independent control of fusimotor neurons observed in the cat.
Tenofovir-Based Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated with Superior CD4 T Cells Repopulation Compared to Zidovudine-Based HAART in HIV 1 Infected Adults
Authors: Badii Vitus Sambo , Buabeng Kwame Ohene , Agyarko Poku Thomas , Forkuo Arnold Donkor , Boamah Bright Boafo , Arhin Stephen Mensah , Kpewou Daniel Edem
Published: April 2018

Tenofovir-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is one of the preferred first-line therapies in the management of HIV 1 infection. Ghana has since 2014 adopted this recommendation; however there is paucity of scientific data that reflects the safety and efficacy of the tenofovir-based therapy compared to zidovudine in the Ghanaian health system. This study sought to assess the comparative immune reconstitution potential between tenofovir and zidovudine-based HAART regimens, which includes lamivudine and efavirenz in combination therapy. It also aimed to investigate the adverse drug reactions/events (ADREs) associated with pharmacotherapy with these agents in a total of 106 HAART naïve HIV patients. The study included 80 patients in the tenofovir cohort while 26 patients were on the zidovudine regimen. The occurrence of HIV comorbidities profile was assessed at diagnosis and throughout the study period. The baseline CD4 T cells count of the participants was also assessed at diagnosis and repeated at a median period of five months (range 4–6 months), after commencing treatment with either tenofovir- or zidovudine-based HAART. After five months of the HAART, the tenofovir cohort recorded higher CD4 T cell count change from baseline compared to the zidovudine cohort (p<0.0001). The patients on the tenofovir-based HAART and female sex however appeared to be associated with more multiple ADREs.
Plasma Cytokine Levels in Fibromyalgia and Their Response to 15 Weeks of Progressive Resistance Exercise or Relaxation Therapy
Authors: Ernberg M. , Christidis N. , Ghafouri B. , Bileviciute-Ljungar I. , Löfgren M. , Bjersing J. , Palstam A. , Larsson A. , Mannerkorpi K. , Gerdle B. , Kosek E.
Published: April 2018

The aims of this study were to compare circulating cytokines between FM and healthy controls and to investigate the effect on cytokine levels by 15 weeks of progressive resistance exercise or relaxation therapy in FM. Baseline plasma cytokine levels and clinical data were analyzed in 125 women with FM and 130 age-matched healthy women. The FM women were then randomized to progressive resistance exercise (n=49) or relaxation (n=43). Baseline IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IP-10, and eotaxin were higher in FM than in healthy controls (P<0.041), whereas IL-1βwas lower (P<0.001). There were weak correlations between cytokine levels and clinical variables. After both interventions, IL-1ra had increased (P=0.004), while IL-1βhad increased in the relaxation group (P=0.002). Changes of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17A were weakly correlated with changes of PPT, but there were no significant correlations between changes of cytokine and changes in other clinical variables. The elevated plasma levels of several cytokines supports the hypothesis that chronic systemic inflammation may underlie the pathophysiology of FM even if the relation to clinical variables was weak. However, 15 weeks of resistance exercise, as performed in this study, did not show any anti-inflammatory effect on neither FM symptoms nor clinical and functional variables. This trial is registered withClinicalTrials.govNCT01226784, registered October 21, 2010. The first patient was recruited October 28, 2010.
Full N,N-Methylation of 4,4′-Methylenedianiline with Dimethyl Carbonate: A Feasible Access to 4,4′-Methylene bis(N,N-Dimethylaniline)
Authors: Qiu Zegang , Wang Kunjie , Li Zhiqin , Li Tao , Bai Jinhao , Yin Chanjuan , Ye Xiushen , Liu Haining
Published: April 2018

The full N,N-methylation of 4,4′-methylenedianiline (MDA) with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was investigated. The yield of the major product 4,4′-methylene bis(N,N-dimethylaniline) (MBDMA) reached as high as 97% over NaY catalyst at 190°C for 6 h. The catalyst could be used for two more times with acceptable MBDMA yields higher than 90%. The main by-products were identified as three N-methylated derivatives. Surprisingly, the formation of the N-methoxycarbonylation product was extremely restrained, which could be produced in high yields of 98% on zinc acetate catalyst. Furthermore, the reaction pathway to the major product MBDMA was proposed. Finally, a feasible synthetic route of 4,4′-methylene bis(N,N-dimethylaniline) (MBDMA) was established, featuring a high yield, mild reaction conditions, and simple operations.
Correlation of Internal Organ Weights with Body Weight and Body Height in Normal Adult Zambians: A Case Study of Ndola Teaching Hospital
Authors: Mubbunu Lumamba , Bowa Kasonde , Petrenko Volodymyer , Silitongo Moono
Published: April 2018

The objective of the research was to study the correlation of internal organ weights with body weight and length in normal adult Zambians. The study involved 114 (83 males and 31 females) forensic autopsies from Ndola Teaching Hospital done over a period of 12 months. The cases included autopsies of unnatural deaths including road traffic accidents and homicide. Cases where information about age and origin of the person was not available were left out of the study. The age of the decedents ranged from 16 to 85 years. The data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient to determine correlation. P values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. It was observed that the heart, liver, left kidney, right kidney, brain, and left lung were positively correlated to body weight, while only the brain and the left lung were positively correlated to the height in the male population. In the female population, the heart, liver, right kidney, brain, and right lung were positively correlated to the weight of the body, while only the right kidney was positively correlated to the height of the body.
Treatment-Emergent Mania in a Prepubertal Boy
Authors: Dahanayake Dulangi Maneksha Amerasinghe , Wijetunge Gampolage Swarna
Published: April 2018

Bipolar disorder among children has gained acceptance as a diagnostic entity but continues to pose diagnostic and management challenges due to the developmental differences in children and inadequate evidence for pharmacological management. We present the case of a prepubertal child presenting with an apparent depressive episode who developed treatment-emergent mania when commenced on sertraline. This case highlights the need for further research into the presentations and pharmacological management of prepubertal children with bipolar affective disorder.
Optimal Band Configuration for the Roof Surface Characterization Using Hyperspectral and LiDAR Imaging
Authors: Nimbalkar Prakash , Jarocinska Anna , Zagajewski Bogdan
Published: April 2018

Imaging spectroscopy in the remote sensing is an ever emerging platform that has offered the hyperspectral imaging (HSI) which delivers the Earth’s object information in hundreds of bands. HSI integrates conventional imaging with spectroscopy to get rich spectral and spatial features of the object. However, the challenges associated with HSI are its huge dimensionality and data redundancy that requests huge space, complex computations, and lengthier processing time. Therefore, this study aims to find the optimal bands to characterize the roof surfaces using supervised classifiers. To deal with high dimensionality of hyperspectral data, this study assesses the band selection method over data transformation methods. This study provides the comparison between data reduction methods and used classifiers. The height information from LiDAR was used to characterize urban roofs above the height of 2.5 meters. The optimal bands were investigated using supervised classifiers such as artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and spectral angle mapper (SAM) by comparing accuracies. The classification result shows that ANN and SVM classifiers outperform whereas SAM performed poorly in roof characterization. The band selection method worked efficiently than the transformation methods. The classification algorithm successfully identifies the optimum bands with significant accuracy.
A Fractional-Order Model for HIV Dynamics in a Two-Sex Population
Authors: Fatmawati  , Shaiful Endrik Mifta , Utoyo Mohammad Imam
Published: April 2018

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks or infects cells in the immune system that causes immune decline. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most severe stage of HIV infection. AIDS is the rapidly spreading and becoming epidemic diseases in the world of almost complete influence across the country. A mathematical model approach of HIV/AIDS dynamic is needed to predict the spread of the diseases in the future. In this paper, we presented a fractional-order model of the spread of HIV and AIDS diseases which incorporates two-sex population. The fractional derivative order of the model is in the interval (0,1]. We compute the basic reproduction number and prove the stability of the equilibriums of the model. The sensitivity analysis also is done to determine the important factor controlling the spread. Using the Adams-type predictor-corrector method, we then perform some numerical simulations for variation values of the order of the fractional derivative. Finally, the effects of various antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatments are studied and compared with numerical approach.
Efficacy of High-Dose and Low-Dose Simvastatin on Vascular Oxidative Stress and Neurological Outcomes in Patient with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Controlled Trial
Authors: Uransilp Nattaphol , Chaiyawatthanananthn Pannawat , Muengtaweepongsa Sombat
Published: April 2018

Backgrounds. Stroke is the leading cause of death and long-term disability. Oxidative stress is elevated during occurrence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) and NO are used as biomarkers for vascular oxidative stress that can reflect stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque. Previous study showed that simvastatin can reduce oxidative stress and LOX-1 expression. Objectives. To evaluate neurological outcomes and serum sLOX-1 and NO levels in patients with AIS treatment with low dose 10 mg/day and high dose 40 mg/day of simvastatin. Methods. 65 patients with AIS within 24 hours after onset were randomized to treatment with simvastatin 10 mg/day or 40 mg/day for 90 days. Personal data and past history of all patients were recorded at baseline. The blood chemistries were measured by standard laboratory techniques. Serum sLOX-1 and NO levels and neurological outcomes including NIHSS, mRS, and Barthel index were tested at baseline and Day 90 after simvastatin therapy. Results. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different in both groups except history of hypertension. Serum sLOX-1 and NO levels significantly reduce in both groups (sLOX-1 = 1.19±0.47 and 0.98±0.37 ng/ml; NO = 49.28±7.21 and 46.59±9.36 μmol/l) in 10 mg/day and 40 mg/day simvastatin groups, respectively. Neurological outcomes including NIHSS, mRS, and Barthel index significantly improve in both groups. However, no difference in NO level and neurological outcomes was found at 90 days after treatment as compared between low dose 10 mg/day and high dose 40 mg/day of simvastatin. Conclusion. High-dose simvastatin might be helpful to reduce serum sLOX-1. But no difference in clinical outcomes was found between high- and low-dose simvastatin. Further more intensive clinical trial is needed to confirm the appropriate dosage of simvastatin in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03402204.
Oscillation Criteria for Delay and Advanced Differential Equations with Nonmonotone Arguments
Authors: Chatzarakis George E. , Li Tongxing
Published: April 2018

We study the oscillatory behavior of differential equations with nonmonotone deviating arguments and nonnegative coefficients. New oscillation criteria, involving lim sup and lim inf, are obtained based on an iterative method. Examples, numerically solved in MATLAB, are given to illustrate the applicability and strength of the obtained conditions over known ones.
Modeling of Lateral Stability of Tractor-Semitrailer on Combined Alignments of Freeway
Authors: Qu Guixian , He Yulong , Sun Xiaoduan , Tian Jingjing
Published: April 2018

The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of roadway geometrics and speed on lateral stability of tractor-semitrailer on combined alignments of freeways since the current design guidelines of combined alignments are not available in China. A closed-loop vehicle dynamic simulation model was established using TruckSim multibody dynamics software. The maximum wheel side friction demand and lateral load transfer ratio were used to measure the skidding and rollover risks, and the variation laws of each indicator were determined by developing the controlled variable simulation scenarios. Based on the theory of statistical analysis, an orthogonal test was designed, and the effects of various impact factors on the lateral stability of the tractor-semitrailer were analyzed. The models for lateral stability indicators were developed by multiple linear regression analysis and applied to evaluate the driving risk of tractor-semitrailer on a wet road surface. The results showed that the radius and speed have significant effects on the lateral stability while the effect of the downgrade is of general significance. In addition, lower safe speed should be adopted on wet road surfaces of curved downgrade. This paper proposed a surrogate approach to road safety analysis and the models can be used for building the freeway driving security system.
Wolfram Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Clinical Manifestations, Genetics Pathophysiology, and Potential Therapies
Authors: Toppings N. B. , McMillan J. M. , Au P. Y. B. , Suchowersky O. , Donovan L. E.
Published: April 2018

Background.Classical Wolfram syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations inWFS1,a gene implicated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial function. WS is characterized by insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. A constellation of other features contributes to the acronym DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness). This review seeks to raise awareness of this rare form of diabetes so that individuals with WS are identified and provided with appropriate care.Case.We describe a woman without risk factors for gestational or type 2 diabetes who presented with gestational diabetes (GDM) at the age of 39 years during her first and only pregnancy. Although she had optic atrophy since the age of 10 years, WS was not considered as her diagnosis until she presented with GDM. Biallelic mutations inWFS1were identified, supporting a diagnosis of classical WS.Conclusions.The distinct natural history, complications, and differences in management reinforce the importance of distinguishing WS from other forms of diabetes. Recent advances in the genetics and pathophysiology of WS have led to promising new therapeutic considerations that may preserveβ-cell function and slow progressive neurological decline. Insight into the pathophysiology of WS may also inform strategies forβ-cell preservation for individuals with type 1 and 2 diabetes.
Contingent Negative Variation and Working Memory Maintenance in Adolescents with Low and High Motor Competencies
Authors: Ludyga Sebastian , Herrmann Christian , Mücke Manuel , Andrä Christian , Brand Serge , Pühse Uwe , Gerber Markus
Published: April 2018

Although it has been suggested that motor and cognitive development is interrelated, the link between motor competencies and neurophysiological indices of working memory operations has not yet been examined in adolescents. This study is aimed at comparing contingent negative variation and working memory performance between adolescents with low and high motor competencies. In eighty-two adolescents, motor competencies were assessed with the MOBAK-5 (basic motor competencies, 5th grade) test battery and a median split was performed on this variable to divide them into low and high performers. Additionally, all participants completed a Sternberg paradigm to assess working memory maintenance. The initial (iCNV) and terminal (tCNV) components of the contingent negative variation elicited by the cognitive task were recorded using electroencephalography. Higher working memory maintenance was found in adolescents with high motor competencies compared to those with low motor competencies. Cluster-based permutation testing further revealed increased iCNV in adolescents with higher motor competencies. In contrast, there was no difference in tCNV between groups. The findings suggest that high working memory maintenance and effective task preparation are both linked to high motor competencies. Thus, high performers on complex motor tasks seem to rely more on a proactive control strategy, which is optimal in tasks with high working memory demands.