bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Extraction of Petrographic Features from Pottery of Archaeological Interest
Authors: Puglisi Giovanni , Stanco Filippo , Barone Germana , Mazzoleni Paolo
Published: March 2015

The microscopic description of ancient pottery is widely used for the fabric definition, classification and provenance assessment. In most cases, however, the description is qualitative. An improvement of the study of archaeological pottery needs a more objective approach with quantitative analysis. In classical scientific literature, the structural features and mineralogical composition of pottery are carried out on thin sections by means of transmitted polarized light microscope. The determination were obtained through observations with and without cross polarizator (nicols). The quantitative measurements are normally achieved with tedious and time consuming table with point counter. In this article the attention has been focused on the automatic identification of structural and textural components of the potteries through optical microscopy. Image analysis techniques have been then used to automatically classify the image components. Results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach: petrographic data collection becomes faster with respect to the traditional method providing also quantitative information useful for fabric recognition.
Mixed-Reality World Exploration Using Image-Based Rendering
Authors: Okura Fumio , Kanbara Masayuki , Yokoya Naokazu
Published: March 2015

This article describes a Mixed-Reality (MR) application that superimposes lost buildings of a historical site onto real scenes virtualized using spherical aerial images. The proposed application is set at a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan, and is based on a novel framework that supports the photorealistic superimposition of virtual objects onto virtualized real scenes. The proposed framework utilizes Image-Based Rendering (IBR), which enables users to freely change their viewpoint in a real-world virtualization constructed using precaptured images. This framework combines the offline rendering of virtual objects and IBR to take advantage of the higher quality of offline rendering without the additional computational cost of online processing; that is, it incurs only the cost of online lightweight IBR, which is simplified through the pregeneration of structured viewpoints (e.g., at grid points).
An Analysis of HTML and CSS Syntax Errors in a Web Development Course
Authors: Park Thomas H. , Dorn Brian , Forte Andrea
Published: March 2015

Many people are first exposed to code through web development, yet little is known about the barriers beginners face in these formative experiences. In this article, we describe a study of undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory web development course taken by both computing majors and general education students. Using data collected during the initial weeks of the course, we investigate the nature of the syntax errors they make when learning HTML and CSS, and how they resolve them. This is accomplished through the deployment of openHTML, a lightweight web-based code editor that logs user activity. Our analysis reveals that nearly all students made syntax errors that remained unresolved in their assessments, and that these errors continued weeks into the course. Approximately 20% of these errors related to the relatively complex system of rules that dictates
when
it is valid for HTML elements to be nested in one another. On the other hand, 35% of errors related to the relatively simple tag syntax determining
how
HTML elements are nested. We also find that validation played a key role in resolving errors: While the majority of unresolved errors were present in untested code, nearly all of the errors that were detected through validation were eventually corrected. We conclude with a discussion of our findings and their implications for computing education.
Beat the Machine
Authors: Attenberg Joshua , Ipeirotis Panos , Provost Foster
Published: March 2015

We present techniques for gathering data that expose errors of automatic predictive models. In certain common settings, traditional methods for evaluating predictive models tend to miss rare but important errors—most importantly, cases for which the model is confident of its prediction (but wrong). In this article, we present a system that, in a game-like setting, asks humans to identify cases that will cause the predictive model-based system to fail. Such techniques are valuable in discovering problematic cases that may not reveal themselves during the normal operation of the system and may include cases that are rare but catastrophic. We describe the design of the system, including design iterations that did not quite work. In particular, the system incentivizes humans to provide examples that are difficult for the model to handle by providing a reward proportional to the magnitude of the predictive model's error. The humans are asked to “Beat the Machine” and find cases where the automatic model (“the Machine”) is wrong. Experiments show that the humans using Beat the Machine identify more errors than do traditional techniques for discovering errors in predictive models, and, indeed, they identify many more errors where the machine is (wrongly) confident it is correct. Furthermore, those cases the humans identify seem to be not simply outliers, but coherent areas missed completely by the model. Beat the Machine identifies the “unknown unknowns.” Beat the Machine has been deployed at an industrial scale by several companies. The main impact has been that firms are changing their perspective on and practice of evaluating predictive models.

“
There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know
.”

--
Donald Rumsfeld
Performance-Energy Considerations for Shared Cache Management in a Heterogeneous Multicore Processor
Authors: Holey Anup , Mekkat Vineeth , Yew Pen-Chung , Zhai Antonia
Published: March 2015

Heterogeneous multicore processors that integrate CPU cores and data-parallel accelerators such as graphic processing unit (GPU) cores onto the same die raise several new issues for sharing various on-chip resources. The shared last-level cache (LLC) is one of the most important shared resources due to its impact on performance. Accesses to the shared LLC in heterogeneous multicore processors can be dominated by the GPU due to the significantly higher number of concurrent threads supported by the architecture. Under current cache management policies, the CPU applications’ share of the LLC can be significantly reduced in the presence of competing GPU applications. For many CPU applications, a reduced share of the LLC could lead to significant performance degradation. On the contrary, GPU applications can tolerate increase in memory access latency when there is sufficient thread-level parallelism (TLP). In addition to the performance challenge, introduction of diverse cores onto the same die changes the energy consumption profile and, in turn, affects the energy efficiency of the processor.

In this work, we propose heterogeneous LLC management (HeLM), a novel shared LLC management policy that takes advantage of the GPU’s tolerance for memory access latency. HeLM is able to throttle GPU LLC accesses and yield LLC space to cache-sensitive CPU applications. This throttling is achieved by allowing GPU accesses to bypass the LLC when an increase in memory access latency can be tolerated. The latency tolerance of a GPU application is determined by the availability of TLP, which is measured at runtime as the average number of threads that are available for issuing. For a baseline configuration with two CPU cores and four GPU cores, modeled after existing heterogeneous processor designs, HeLM outperforms least recently used (LRU) policy by 10.4%. Additionally, HeLM also outperforms competing policies. Our evaluations show that HeLM is able to sustain performance with varying core mix.

In addition to the performance benefit, bypassing also reduces total accesses to the LLC, leading to a reduction in the energy consumption of the LLC module. However, LLC bypassing has the potential to increase off-chip bandwidth utilization and DRAM energy consumption. Our experiments show that HeLM exhibits better energy efficiency by reducing the ED
2
by 18% over LRU while impacting only a 7% increase in off-chip bandwidth utilization.
Online Automated Synthesis of Compact Normative Systems
Authors: Morales Javier , López-sánchez Maite , Rodriguez-Aguilar Juan A. , Vasconcelos Wamberto , Wooldridge Michael
Published: March 2015

Most normative systems make use of explicit representations of norms (namely, obligations, prohibitions, and permissions) and associated mechanisms to support the self-regulation of open societies of self-interested and autonomous agents. A key problem in research on normative systems is that of how to synthesise effective and efficient norms. Manually designing norms is time consuming and error prone. An alternative is to automatically synthesise norms. However, norm synthesis is a computationally complex problem. We present a novel online norm synthesis mechanism, designed to synthesise compact normative systems. It yields normative systems composed of concise (simple) norms that effectively coordinate a multiagent system (MAS) without lapsing into overregulation. Our mechanism is based on a central authority that monitors a MAS, searching for undesired states. After detecting undesirable states, the central authority then synthesises norms aimed to avoid them in the future. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through experimental results.
Auditory Distance Presentation in an Urban Augmented Reality Environment
Authors: Albrecht Robert , Lokki Tapio
Published: March 2015

Presenting points of interest in the environment by means of audio augmented reality offers benefits compared with traditional visual augmented reality and map-based approaches. However, presentation of distant virtual sound sources is problematic. This study looks at combining well-known auditory distance cues to convey the distance of points of interest. The results indicate that although the provided cues are intuitively mapped to relatively short distances, users can with only little training learn to map these cues to larger distances.
The Influence of the Stereo Base on Blind and Sighted Reaches in a Virtual Environment
Authors: Renner Rebekka S. , Steindecker Erik , MüLler Mathias , Velichkovsky Boris M. , Stelzer Ralph , Pannasch Sebastian , Helmert Jens R.
Published: March 2015

In virtual environments, perceived distances are frequently reported to be shorter than intended. One important parameter for spatial perception in a stereoscopic virtual environment is the stereo base—that is, the distance between the two viewing cameras. We systematically varied the stereo base relative to the interpupillary distance (IPD) and examined influences on distance and size perception. Furthermore, we tested whether an individual adjustment of the stereo base through an alignment task would reduce the errors in distance estimation. Participants performed reaching movements toward a virtual tennis ball either with closed eyes (blind reaches) or open eyes (sighted reaches). Using the participants' individual IPD, the stereo base was set to (a) the IPD, (b) proportionally smaller, (c) proportionally larger, or (d) adjusted according to the individual performance in an alignment task that was conducted beforehand. Overall, consistent with previous research, distances were underestimated. As expected, with a smaller stereo base, the virtual object was perceived as being farther away and bigger, in contrast to a larger stereo base, where the virtual object was perceived to be nearer and smaller. However, the manipulation of the stereo base influenced blind reaching estimates to a smaller extent than expected, which might be due to a combination of binocular disparity and pictorial depth cues. In sighted reaching, when visual feedback was available, presumably the use of disparity matching led to a larger effect of the stereo base. The use of an individually adjusted stereo base diminished the average underestimation but did not reduce interindividual variance. Interindividual differences were task specific and could not be explained through differences in stereo acuity or fixation disparity.
Filteryedping: Design Challenges and User Performance of Dwell-Free Eye Typing
Authors: Pedrosa Diogo , Pimentel Maria Da Graça , Wright Amy , Truong Khai N.
Published: March 2015

The ability to use the movements of the eyes to write is extremely important for individuals with a severe motor disability. With eye typing, a virtual keyboard is shown on the screen and the user enters text by gazing at the intended keys one at a time. With dwell-based eye typing, a key is selected by continuously gazing at it for a specific amount of time. However, this approach has two possible drawbacks: unwanted selections and slow typing rates. In this study, we propose a dwell-free eye typing technique that filters out unintentionally selected letters from the sequence of letters looked at by the user. It ranks possible words based on their length and frequency of use and suggests them to the user. We evaluated Filteryedping with a series of experiments. First, we recruited participants without disabilities to compare it with another potential dwell-free technique and with a dwell-based eye typing interface. The results indicate it is a fast technique that allows an average of 15.95 words per minute after 100min of typing. Then, we improved the technique through iterative design and evaluation with individuals who have severe motor disabilities. This phase helped to identify and create parameters that allow the technique to be adapted to different users.
3D Point Cloud Data Basis Shape Management for Assembly of Modularized Large and Complicated Marine Structures
Authors: Yoon Deok-Hyun , Kang Hee Jin , Choi Jin , Kim Deok Eun , Huang Xin
Published: March 2015

As global competition heats up, in order to improve the productivity, simulation-based methods are becoming increasingly dominant in shipyards. The advancement of the CAD-based production management process even allows verification of installability and functionality before beginning the actual construction. However, whether the ship has been exactly constructed as designed can still and only be manually verified for a limited area. Therefore, significant interblock and intermodule errors are inevitably present in assembly, resulting in costly, time-consuming inspections and modifications. If the construction errors and defects can be investigated and controlled in each shop before assembly of modules, the productivity will be considerably improved. In the installation simulation of large structures, early detection and correction of the errors in junction allow fast and efficient assembly and provide better quality product development even with distributed construction yards. This technique can promote interindustrial collaboration among companies of different sizes, resulting in a significant improvement in overall productivity. In this paper, 3D point cloud data basis shape management framework has been studied with several case studies in a shipyard.
Self-Organizing Construction Method of Offshore Structures by Cellular Automata Model
Authors: Ishida Takeshi
Published: March 2015

We propose a new algorithm to build self-organizing and self-repairing marine structures on the ocean floor, where humans and remotely operated robots cannot operate. The proposed algorithm is based on the one-dimensional cellular automata model and uses simple transition rules to produce various complex patterns. This cellular automata model can produce various complex patterns like sea shells with simple transition rules. The model can simulate the marine structure construction process with distributed cooperation control instead of central control. Like living organism is constructed with module called cell, we assume that the self-organized structure consists of unified modules (structural units). The units pile up at the bottom of the sea and a structure with the appropriate shape eventually emerges. Using the attribute of emerging patterns in the one-dimensional cellular automata model, we construct specific structures based on the local interaction of transition rules without using complex algorithms. Furthermore, the model requires smaller communication data among the units because it only relies on communication between adjacent structural units. With the proposed algorithm, in the future, it will be possible to use self-assembling structural modules without complex built-in computers.
Association Study between Novel CYP26 Polymorphisms and the Risk of Betel Quid‐Related Malignant Oral Disorders
Authors: Wu Shyh-Jong , Chen Yun-Ju , Shieh Tien-Yu , Chen Chun-Ming , Wang Yen-Yun , Lee Kun-Tsung , Lin Yueh-Ming , Chien Pei-Hsuan , Chen Ping-Ho
Published: March 2015

BQ chewing may produce significant amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in oral mucosa damage, and ROS may be metabolized by CYP26 families. Because the CYP26 polymorphisms associated with malignant oral disorders are not well known, we conducted an association study on the associations between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of CYP26 families and the risks of malignant oral disorders. BQ chewers with the CYP26A1 rs4411227 C/C+C/G genotype and C allele showed an increased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.30 and 1.93, respectively). The CYP26B1 rs3768647 G allele may be associated with oral and pharyngeal cancer (aOR = 3.12) and OPMDs (aOR = 2.23). Subjects with the rs9309462 CT genotype and C allele had an increased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer (aOR = 9.24 and 8.86, respectively) and OPMDs (aOR = 8.17 and 7.87, respectively). The analysis of joint effects between the CYP26A1 rs4411227 and CYP26B1 rs3768647/rs9309462 polymorphisms revealed statistical significance (aOR = 29.91 and 10.03, respectively). Additionally, we observed a significant mRNA expression of CY26A1 and CYP26B1 in cancerous tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues. Our findings suggest that novel CYP26 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of malignant oral disorders, particularly among BQ chewers.
Obesity and Metabolic Phenotypes (Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Variants) Are Significantly Associated with Prevalence of Elevated C-Reactive Protein and Hepatic Steatosis in a Large Healthy Brazilian Population
Authors: Shaharyar Sameer , Roberson Lara L. , Jamal Omar , Younus Adnan , Blaha Michael J. , Ali Shozab S. , Zide Kenneth , Agatston Arthur A. , Blumenthal Roger S. , Conceição Raquel D. , Santos Raul D. , Nasir Khurram
Published: March 2015

Background. Among the obese, the so-called metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype is thought to confer a lower CVD risk as compared to obesity with typical associated metabolic changes. The present study aims to determine the relationship of different subtypes of obesity with inflammatory-cardiometabolic abnormalities.Methods. We evaluated 5,519 healthy, Brazilian subjects (43±10years, 78% males), free of known cardiovascular disease. Those with <2 metabolic risk factors (MRF) were considered metabolically healthy, and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2and/or waist circumference meeting NCEP criteria for metabolic syndrome as overweight/obese (OW). High sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured to assess underlying inflammation and hepatic steatosis (HS) was determined via abdominal ultrasound.Results. Overall, 40% of OW individuals were metabolically healthy, and 12% normal-weight had ≥2 MRF. The prevalence of elevated CRP (≥3 mg/dL) and HS in MHO versus normal weight metabolically healthy group was 22% versus 12%, and 40% versus 8% respectively (P<0.001). Both MHO individuals and metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) phenotypes were associated with elevated hsCRP and HS.Conclusion. Our study suggests that MHO and MUNW phenotypes may not be benign and physicians should strive to treat individuals in these subgroups to reverse these conditions.
Fabrication Process and Thermoelectric Properties of CNT/Bi2(Se,Te)3 Composites
Authors: Kim Kyung Tae , Eom Yeong Seong , Son Injoon
Published: March 2015

Carbon nanotube/bismuth‐selenium‐tellurium composites were fabricated by consolidating CNT/Bi2(Se,Te)3 composite powders prepared from a polyol‐reduction process. The synthesized composite powders exhibit CNTs homogeneously dispersed among Bi2(Se,Te)3 matrix nanopowders of 300 nm in size. The powders were densified into a CNT/Bi2(Se,Te)3 composite in which CNTs were randomly dispersed in the matrix through spark plasma sintering process. The effect of an addition of Se on the dimensionless figure‐of‐merit (ZT) of the composite was clearly shown in 3 vol.% CNT/Bi2(Se,Te)3 composite as compared to CNT/Bi2Te3 composite throughout the temperature range of 298 to 473 K. These results imply that matrix modifications such as an addition of Se as well as the incorporation of CNTs into bismuth telluride thermoelectric materials is a promising means of achieving synergistic enhancement of the thermoelectric performance levels of these materials.
Microphase Separation of a PS-b-PFS Block CopolymerviaSolvent Annealing: Effect of Solvent, Substrate, and Exposure Time on Morphology
Authors: O’Mahony Colm T. , Borah Dipu , Morris Michael A.
Published: March 2015

Block copolymer (BCP) lithography makes use of the microphase separation properties of BCPs to pattern ordered nanoscale features over large areas. This work presents the microphase separation of an asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(ferrocenyl dimethylsilane) (PS-b-PFS) BCP that allows ordered arrays of nanostructures to be formed by spin casting PS-b-PFS on substrates and subsequent solvent annealing. The effects of the solvent annealing conditions on self-assembly and structural stability are discussed.
Quintessence and Holographic Dark Energy infTGravity
Authors: Zubair M.
Published: March 2015

We regardfTtheory as an efficient tool to explain the current cosmic acceleration and associate its evolution with the known dark energy models. The numerical scheme is applied to reconstructfTtheory from dark energy model with constant equation of state parameter and holographic dark energy model. We set the model parametersωϑandcas describing the different evolution eras and show the distinctive behavior of each case realized infTtheory. We also present the future evolution of reconstructedfTand find that it is consistent with the recent observations.
Monoarticular Hip Involvement in Pseudogout
Authors: Kocyigit Figen , Kuyucu Ersin , Kocyigit Ali
Published: March 2015

Pseudogout is the acutest form of arthritis in the elderly. Although clinical manifestations vary widely, polyarticular involvement is typical mimicking osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Monoarticular involvement is relatively rare and is generally provoked by another medical condition. There are reported cases of hip involvement by pseudogout in monoarticular form. However, all of the cases were presented as septic arthritis. In this report, we present a case of monoarticular hip involvement mimicking soft tissue abscess. We confirmed the pseudogout diagnosis after ultrasonographic evaluation of the involved hip joint and pathological and biochemical analysis of synovial fluid analysis. Diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary medical and surgical treatment in cases of the bizarre involvement of hip in pseudogout.
Synthetic Cannabis-Induced Mania
Authors: Ustundag Mehmet Fatih , Ozhan Ibis Esra , Yucel Atakan , Ozcan Halil
Published: March 2015

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), cannabinoid 1 and cannabinoid 2 receptors agonists, are the psychoactive substances. SC was originally produced to treat medical conditions. Compared to other narcotics, SC is easier to obtain, cheap, and highly potent and has a long half-life. In addition, routine analysis does not detect SC, which has led to widespread use. A case is presented that manic episode was developed with the use of SC. Hospitalization and admission to psychiatric units depending on SC use have been observed mostly with psychosis. Although SC-induced affective symptoms were mentioned in the literature, mania has not been reported before. We aimed to discuss the psychiatric conditions induced by widespread use of SC via our case.
Wu-Tou Decoction Inhibits Chronic Inflammatory Pain in Mice: Participation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 Ion Channels
Authors: Wang Chao , Liu Chunfang , Wan Hongye , Wang Danhua , Sun Danni , Xu Tengfei , Yang Yue , Qu Yakun , Xu Ying , Jing Xianghong , Liu Junling , Chen Shuping , Liu Zhiqiang , Lin Na
Published: March 2015

Wu-tou decoction (WTD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula and has been used effectively to treat joint diseases clinically. Previous reports indicated that WTD possesses anti-inflammatory activity; however, its actions on pain have not been clarified. Here, we investigated the antinociceptive activity of WTD in CFA-induced mice, and its possible mechanism of the action associated with transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels was also explored. Our results showed that 1.58, 3.15, and 6.30 g/kg WTD significantly attenuated mechanical, cold, and heat hypersensitivities. Moreover, WTD effectively inhibited spontaneous nociceptive responses to intraplantar injections of capsaicin and cinnamaldehyde, respectively. WTD also effectively suppressed jumping and wet-dog-shake behaviors to intraperitoneal injection of icilin. Additionally, WTD significantly reduced protein expression of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in dorsal root ganglia and skins of injured paw. Collectively, our data demonstrate firstly that WTD exerts antinociceptive activity in inflammatory conditions by attenuating mechanical, cold, and heat hypersensitivities. This antinociceptive effect may result in part from inhibiting the activities of TRPV1, TRPA1, and TRPM8, and the suppression of TRPV1 and TRPA1 protein by WTD was also highly effective. These findings suggest that WTD might be an attractive and suitable therapeutic agent for the management of chronic inflammatory pain.
Random Fixed Point Theorems of Random Comparable Operators and an Application
Authors: Yin Jiandong , Liu Zhongdong
Published: March 2015

We introduce the new concept of random comparable operators as a generalization of random monotone operators and prove several random fixed point theorems for such a class of operators in partially ordered Banach spaces. Part of the presented results generalize and extend some known results of random monotone operators. Finally, as an application, we consider the existence of the solution of a random Hammerstein integral equation.
Improvement in the Mechanical Properties of High Temperature Shape Memory Alloy (Ti50Ni25Pd25) by Copper Addition
Authors: Rehman Saif ur , Khan Mushtaq , Khan A. Nusair , Jaffery Syed Husain Imran , Ali Liaqat , Mubashar Aamir
Published: March 2015

High temperature shape memory alloys Ti50Ni25Pd25and Ti50Ni20Pd25Cu5were developed, characterized, and tensile tested in both martensite ( Mf− 50°C) and austenite ( Af+ 50°C) phases. The transformation temperatures of ternary Ti50Ni25Pd25alloy were increased by 11 to 12.5°C by substitution of Ni with 5 at% Cu. At the same time, transformation heat absorbed and released during forward and reverse martensitic transformation was also increased. In the martensite phase, the mechanical properties, that is, the stress for reorientation of martensite variants and fracture stress, were increased by 33 and 60 MPa, respectively, whereas the fracture strain was decreased by 1.5%. In the austenite phase, the critical stress for slip and fracture stress were increased by 62 and 40.9 MPa, respectively, whereas the fracture strain was decreased by 1.2%. The increase in both stresses was attributed to the solid solution strengthening by substitution of Ni atoms with relatively greater atomic radius of copper (Cu) atoms. The overall results suggest that the addition of 5 at% Cu in place of Ni in Ti50Ni25Pd25alloy is very beneficial to improving the mechanical and shape memory properties and increasing the transformation temperatures.
The Land Use and Cover Change in Miombo Woodlands under Community Based Forest Management and Its Implication to Climate Change Mitigation: A Case of Southern Highlands of Tanzania
Authors: Lupala Z. J. , Lusambo L. P. , Ngaga Y. M. , Makatta Angelingis A.
Published: March 2015

In Tanzania, miombo woodland is the most significant forest vegetation with both ecological and socioeconomic importance. The vegetation has been threatened from land use and cover change due to unsustainable utilization. Over the past two decades, community based forest management (CBFM) has been practiced to address the problem. Given the current need to mitigate global climate change, little is known on the influence of CBFM to the land use and cover change in miombo woodlands and therefore compromising climate change mitigation strategies. This study explored the dynamic of land use and covers change and biomass due to CBFM and established the implication to climate change mitigation. The study revealed increasing miombo woodland cover density with decreasing unsustainable utilization. The observed improvement in cover density and biomass provides potential for climate change mitigation strategies. CBFM also developed solidarity, cohesion, and social control of miombo woodlands illegal extraction. This further enhances permanence, reduces leakage, and increases accountability requirement for carbon credits. Collectively with these promising results, good land use plan at village level and introduction of alternative income generating activities can be among the best options to further reduce land use change and biomass loss in miombo woodlands.
In VitroEvaluation of Bioactivity of Chemically Deposited Hydroxyapatite on Polyether Ether Ketone
Authors: Almasi D. , Izman S. , Sadeghi M. , Iqbal N. , Roozbahani F. , Krishnamurithy G. , Kamarul T. , Abdul Kadir M. R.
Published: March 2015

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is considered the best alternative material for titanium for spinal fusion cage implants due to its low elasticity modulus and radiolucent property. The main problem of PEEK is its bioinert properties. Coating with hydroxyapatite (HA) showed very good improvement in bioactivity of the PEEK implants. However the existing methods for deposition of HA have some disadvantages and damage the PEEK substrate. In our previous study a new method for deposition of HA on PEEK was presented. In this study cell proliferation of mesenchymal stem cell and apatite formation in simulated body fluid (SBF) tests were conducted to probe the effect of this new method in improvement of the bioactivity of PEEK. The mesenchymal stem cell proliferation result showed better cells proliferation on the treated layer in comparison with untreated PEEK. The apatite formation results showed the growth of the HA on the treated PEEK but there was not any sight of the growth of HA on the untreated PEEK even after 2 weeks. The results showed the new method of the HA deposition improved the bioactivity of the treated PEEK in comparison with the bare PEEK.
Electronic Properties of Antiperovskite Materials from State-of-the-Art Density Functional Theory
Authors: Bilal M. , Jalali-Asadabadi S. , Ahmad Rashid , Ahmad Iftikhar
Published: March 2015

We present a review on the research developments on the theoretical electronic properties of the antiperovskite materials. The antiperovskite materials have perovskite type structure with the positions of cations and anions interchanged. The electronic structures are used to explain different physical properties of materials; therefore it is crucial to understand band structures and densities of states of materials for their effective use in technology. The theoretical results of the electronic structure of antiperovskites were discussed and compared with the available experimental results to measure the accuracy of the research done so far on these materials. The important physical properties of these compounds like magnetic properties and superconductivity are also highlighted. Nevertheless the thermoelectric properties of these materials are still unexplored except for a few reports which suggest that antiperovskite materials may be potential candidates for thermoelectric generators.
The Interplay between Synaptic Activity and Neuroligin Function in the CNS
Authors: Hu Xiaoge , Luo Jian-hong , Xu Junyu
Published: March 2015

Neuroligins (NLs) are postsynaptic transmembrane cell-adhesion proteins that play a key role in the regulation of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Previousin vitroandin vivostudies have suggested that NLs contribute to synapse formation and synaptic transmission. Consistent with their localization, NL1 and NL3 selectively affect excitatory synapses, whereas NL2 specifically affects inhibitory synapses. Deletions or mutations in NL genes have been found in patients with autism spectrum disorders or mental retardations, and mice harboring the reported NL deletions or mutations exhibit autism-related behaviors and synapse dysfunction. Conversely, synaptic activity can regulate the phosphorylation, expression, and cleavage of NLs, which, in turn, can influence synaptic activity. Thus, in clinical research, identifying the relationship between NLs and synapse function is critical. In this review, we primarily discuss how NLs and synaptic activity influence each other.
Assessment of the Body Composition and Parameters of the Cardiovascular Risk in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Jednacz Ewa , Rutkowska-Sak Lidia
Published: March 2015

The study was aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk parameters, body mass index (BMI) centiles for sex and age, and body fat percentage using the electric bioimpedance method in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). 30 children with JIA participated in the study. A control group included 20 children. Patients were well matched for the age and sex. The body mass and body fat percentage were determined using the segmental body composition analyser; the BMI centiles were determined. All patients had the following parameters determined: lipid profile, hsCRP, homocysteine, and IL-6. The intima media thickness (IMT) was measured. Patients with JIA had significantly lower body weight, BMI, and the BMI centile compared to the control group. The IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with JIA compared to the control group. There were no differences between two groups with regard to the lipid profile, % content of the fat tissue, homocysteine levels, hsCRP, and IMT. Further studies are necessary to search for reasons for lower BMI and BMI centile in children with JIA and to attempt to answer the question of whether lower BMI increases the cardiovascular risk in these patients, similarly as in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
A Novel Approach for Interest Point Detection via Laplacian-of-Bilateral Filter
Authors: Huang Mingming , Mu Zhichun , Zeng Hui , Huang Hongbo
Published: March 2015

Scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, one of the most famous and popular interest point detectors, detects extrema by using difference-of-Gaussian (DoG) filter which is an approximation to the Laplacian-of-Gaussian (LoG) for improving speed. However, DoG filter has a strong response along edge, even if the location along the edge is poorly determined and therefore is unstable to small amounts of noise. In this paper, we propose a novel interest point detection algorithm, which detects scale space extrema by using a Laplacian-of-Bilateral (LoB) filter. The LoB filter, which is produced by Bilateral and Laplacian filter, can preserve edge characteristic by fully utilizing the information of intensity variety. Compared with the SIFT algorithm, our algorithm substantially improves the repeatability of detected interest points on a very challenging benchmark dataset, in which images were generated under different imaging conditions. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed approach is more robust to challenging problems such as illumination and viewpoint changes, especially when encountering large illumination change.
Neutron Interferometry at the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Authors: Pushin D. A. , Huber M. G. , Arif M. , Shahi C. B. , Nsofini J. , Wood C. J. , Sarenac D. , Cory D. G.
Published: March 2015

Neutron interferometry has proved to be a very precise technique for measuring the quantum mechanical phase of a neutron caused by a potential energy difference between two spatially separated neutron paths inside interferometer. The path length inside the interferometer can be many centimeters (and many centimeters apart) making it very practical to study a variety of samples, fields, potentials, and other macroscopic medium and quantum effects. The precision of neutron interferometry comes at a cost; neutron interferometers are very susceptible to environmental noise that is typically mitigated with large, active isolated enclosures. With recent advances in quantum information processing especially quantum error correction (QEC) codes we were able to demonstrate a neutron interferometer that is insensitive to vibrational noise. A facility at NIST’s Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) has just been commissioned with higher neutron flux than the NCNR’s older interferometer setup. This new facility is based on QEC neutron interferometer, thus improving the accessibility of neutron interferometry to the greater scientific community and expanding its applications to quantum computing, gravity, and material research.
Traditional Herbal FormulaBanhasasim-tangExerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in RAW 264.7 Macrophages and HaCaT Keratinocytes
Authors: Jin Seong Eun , Lim Hye-Sun , Kim Yeji , Seo Chang-Seob , Yoo Sae-Rom , Shin Hyeun-Kyoo , Jeong Soo-Jin
Published: March 2015

Banhasasim-tang(BHSST) is a Korean traditional herbal formula comprising eight medicinal herbs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of BHSST using macrophage and keratinocyte cell lines. First, we evaluated the effects of BHSST on inflammatory mediator and cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. BHSST markedly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2(PGE2), and interleukin- (IL-) 6. BHSST significantly suppressed the protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in RAW 264.7 cells. Second, we examined whether BHSST influences the production of chemokines and STAT1 phosphorylation in tumor necrosis factor-α/interferon-γTI-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes. BHSST significantly suppressed the production of RANTES/CCL5, TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and IL-8 in TI-stimulated HaCaT cells. BHSST also suppressed TI-induced phosphorylation of STAT1 in HaCaT cells. These results suggest that BHSST may be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent, especially for inflammatory skin diseases.
Status of the GRANIT Facility
Authors: Roulier Damien , Vezzu Francis , Baeßler Stefan , Clément Benoît , Morton Daniel , Nesvizhevsky Valery V. , Pignol Guillaume , Rebreyend Dominique
Published: March 2015

The GRANIT facility is a follow-up project, which is motivated by the recent discovery of gravitational quantum states of ultracold neutrons. The goal of the project is to approach the ultimate accuracy in measuring parameters of such quantum states and also to apply this phenomenon and related experimental techniques to a broad range of applications in particle physics as well as in surface and nanoscience studies. We overview the current status of this facility, the recent test measurements, and the nearest prospects.
Discovery of Specific Inhibitors for Intestinal E. coli  β‐Glucuronidase through In Silico Virtual Screening
Authors: Cheng Ta-Chun , Chuang Kuo-Hsiang , Roffler Steve R. , Cheng Kai-Wen , Leu Yu-Lin , Chuang Chih-Hung , Huang Chien-Chaio , Kao Chien-Han , Hsieh Yuan-Chin , Chang Long-Sen , Cheng Tian-Lu , Chen Chien-Shu
Published: March 2015

Glucuronidation is a major metabolism process of detoxification for carcinogens, 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridy)‐1‐butanone (NNK) and 1,2‐dimethylhydrazine (DMH), of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, intestinal E. coli   β‐glucuronidase (eβG) has been considered pivotal to colorectal carcinogenesis. Specific inhibition of eβG may prevent reactivating the glucuronide‐carcinogen and protect the intestine from ROS‐mediated carcinogenesis. In order to develop specific eβG inhibitors, we found that 59 candidate compounds obtained from the initial virtual screening had high inhibition specificity against eβG but not human βG. In particular, we found that compounds 7145 and 4041 with naphthalenylidene‐benzenesulfonamide (NYBS) are highly effective and selective to inhibit eβG activity. Compound 4041  (IC50 = 2.8 μM) shows a higher inhibiting ability than compound 7145  (IC50 = 31.6 μM) against eβG. Furthermore, the molecular docking analysis indicates that compound 4041 has two hydrophobic contacts to residues L361 and I363 in the bacterial loop, but 7145 has one contact to L361. Only compound 4041 can bind to key residue (E413) at active site of eβG via hydrogen‐bonding interactions. These novel NYBS‐based eβG specific inhibitors may provide as novel candidate compounds, which specifically inhibit eβG to reduce eβG‐based carcinogenesis and intestinal injury.
Complication with Removal of a Lumbar Spinal Locking Plate
Authors: Crawford Brooke , Lenarz Christopher , Watson J. Tracy , Alander Dirk
Published: March 2015

Introduction. The use of locking plate technology for anterior lumbar spinal fusion has increased stability of the vertebral fusion mass over traditional nonconstrained screw and plate systems. This case report outlines a complication due to the use of this construct.Case. A patient with a history of L2 corpectomy and anterior spinal fusion presented with discitis at the L4/5 level and underwent an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) supplemented with a locking plate placed anterolaterally for stability. Fifteen months after the ALIF procedure, he returned with a hardware infection. He underwent debridement of the infection site and removal of hardware.Results. Once hardware was exposed, removal of the locking plate screws was only successful in one out of four screws using a reverse thread screw removal device. Three of the reverse thread screw removal devices broke in attempt to remove the subsequent screws. A metal cutting drill was then used to break hoop stresses associated with the locking device and the plate was removed.Conclusion. Anterior locking plates add significant stability to an anterior spinal fusion mass. However, removal of this hardware can be complicated by the inherent properties of the design with significant risk of major vascular injury.
The Effect of Highly Hydroxylated Fullerenol C60(OH)36on Human Erythrocyte Membrane Organization
Authors: Grebowski Jacek , Krokosz Anita
Published: March 2015

The mechanism of the interaction of highly hydroxylated fullerenol C60(OH)36with erythrocyte membranes was studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) of stearic acid derivatives labeled with a nitroxyl radical at C-12 or C-16 and with a nitroxyl derivative of maleimide covalently attached to sulfhydryl groups of membrane proteins. A significant increase in membrane fluidity in the hydrophobic region of the lipid bilayer was observed for 12-doxylstearic acid at fullerenol concentrations of 100 mg/L or 150 mg/L, while for 16-doxylstearic acid significant increase in fluidity was only observed at 150 mg/L. Fullerenol at 100 mg/L or 150 mg/L caused conformational changes in membrane proteins, expressed as an increase in thehw/hsparameter, when fullerenol was added before the maleimide spin label (MSL) to the membrane suspension. The increase of thehw/hsparameter may be caused by changes in lipid-protein or protein-protein interactions which increase the mobility of the MSL label and as a result increase the membrane fluidity. Incubation of the membranes with the MSL before the addition of fullerenol blocked the available membrane protein –SH groups and minimized the interaction of fullerenol with them. This confirms that fullerenol interacts with erythrocyte membrane proteins via available protein –SH groups.
Use of False Nearest Neighbours for Selecting Variables and Embedding Parameters for State Space Reconstruction
Authors: Krakovská Anna , Mezeiová Kristína , Budáčová Hana
Published: March 2015

If data are generated by a system with a d-dimensional attractor,
then Takens’ theorem guarantees that reconstruction that is diffeomorphic
to the original attractor can be built from the single time series
in 2d+1-dimensional phase space. However, under certain conditions,
reconstruction is possible even in a space of smaller dimension. This
topic is very important because the size of the reconstruction space
relates to the effectiveness of the whole subsequent analysis. In
this paper, the false nearest neighbour (FNN) methods are revisited
to estimate the optimum embedding parameters and the most appropriate
observables for state space reconstruction. A modification of the
false nearest neighbour method is introduced.
The findings contribute to evidence that the length of the embedding
time window (TW) is more important than the reconstruction delay time
and the embedding dimension (ED) separately. Moreover, if several
time series of the same system are observed, the choice of the one
that is used for the reconstruction could also be critical. The results
are demonstrated on two chaotic benchmark systems.
Shengmai Injection Improved Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy by Alleviating Myocardial Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Caspase-12 Dependent Apoptosis
Authors: Chen Yu , Tang Yong , Xiang Yin , Xie Yu-Quan , Huang Xiao-Hong , Zhang Ya-Chen
Published: March 2015

Background.Apoptosis plays vital roles in the progression of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DOX-CM). Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) could induce specific apoptosis by caspase-12 dependent pathway. Shengmai Injection (SMI), a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine, could alleviate the heart damage via inhibiting myocardial apoptosis. However, it is unknown whether SMI can alleviate ER stress and its specific apoptosis in the setting of DOX-CM.Objective.To explore the effects of SMI on heart function, myocardial ER stress, and apoptosis of DOX-CM rats.Methods.Rats with DOX-CM were treated by SMI. Heart function was assessed by echocardiography and brain natriuretic peptide. Myocardial apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. ER stress was assessed by detecting the expressions of GRP78 and caspase-12.Results.At the end of eight-week, compared to control, significant heart dysfunction happened in DOX group. The ratio of apoptotic cardiomyocytes and the expressions of GRP78 and caspase-12 increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared to DOX group, the apoptotic ratio and the expressions of GRP78 and caspase-12 significantly decreased in DOX + SMI group (P<0.05), accompanied with improved heart function.Conclusion.SMI could alleviate myocardial ER stress and caspase-12 dependent apoptosis, which subsequently helped to improve the heart function of rats with DOX-CM.