bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A regional analysis of the impact of dams on water temperature in medium-size rivers in eastern Canada
Authors: Maheu Audrey , St-Hilaire André , Caissie Daniel , El-Jabi Nassir , Bourque Guillaume , Boisclair Daniel
Published: August 2016

Various studies have helped gain a better understanding of the thermal impacts of dams on a site-specific basis, but very few studies have compared the thermal impacts of varying types of dams within the same region. In this study, we conducted a regional-scale assessment of the impacts of dams on the thermal regime of 13 medium-size rivers in eastern Canada. The objectives of this study were to identify features of the thermal regime of rivers that are predominantly impacted by dams and to compare the impacts associated with different types of regulation (run-of-river, storage, peaking). The thermal regime of regulated and unregulated rivers was characterized using 15 metrics that described the magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change of water temperature. Results indicate that storage and peaking dams impounding at least 10% of the median annual runoff generally (i) reduced the magnitude of water temperature variation at seasonal, daily, and subdaily timescales and (ii) increased the monthly mean water temperature in September. This regional assessment offers important insight regarding a generalized pattern of thermal alteration by dams, and this information could be used to guide biological monitoring efforts in regulated rivers.
Agent-based simulation of multiple-round timber combinatorial auction
Authors: Farnia Farnoush , Frayret Jean-Marc , Lebel Luc , Beaudry Catherine
Published: August 2016

This paper presents a simulation-based analysis of a multiple-round timber combinatorial auction in the timber industry. Currently, most timber auctions are single-unit auctions (i.e., each forest stand is sold separately). However, other types of auctions could be applied to take advantage of the various needs of the bidders with respect to species, volumes, and quality. This study aims to analyze the use of combinatorial auction to this specific context using a simulation approach. Various number of auctions per year, periodicity, lot size, and number of bidders are considered as parameters to set up the different market configurations. The outcomes of both combinatorial auction and single-unit auction are compared with respect to different setup configurations. This analysis shows that combinatorial auction can bring more profit for both seller and buyer when the market is less competitive.
The generalized uncertainty relation and the quantum entropy of static spherical black hole surrounded by quintessence due to spin fields
Authors: Li Guqiang
Published: August 2016

By using the brick-wall model, the quantum entropies of static spherical black hole surrounded by quintessence due to the Weyl neutrino, electromagnetic, massless Rarita–Schwinger, and gravitational fields for the source-free case are investigated from a generalized uncertainty relation. It is shown that in addition to the usual quadratically and logarithmically divergent terms, there exist additional quadratic, biquadratic, and logarithmic divergences at ultraviolet σ → 0, which not only depend on the black hole characteristics but also on the spins of the fields and the gravity correction factor. These additional terms describe the contribution of the quantum fields to the entropy and the effect of gravitational interactions on it. After the smallest length scale is taken into account, we find that the contribution of the gravitational interactions to the entropy is larger than the usual dominant term and becomes a part of the whole dominant term, so it is very important and cannot be neglected.
Simvastatin inhibited oxLDL-induced proatherogenic effects through calpain-1–PPARγ–CD36 pathway
Authors: Yang Xueyan , Yin Meihui , Yu Lan , Lu Meili , Wang Hongxin , Tang Futian , Zhang Yingjie
Published: August 2016

We previously reported that simvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, inhibits atherosclerosis in rats. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of simvastatin on mouse peritoneal macrophage foam cell formation, the early feature of atherosclerosis, and explore its mechanisms. The results showed that simvastatin decreased cholesterol content and DiI–oxLDL (1,1′-didodecyl 3,3,3′,3′-indocarbocyanine perchlorate – oxidized low-density lipoprotein) uptake, reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the medium, down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of CD36 (a fatty acid receptor), and reduced the mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), TNF-α, and IL-6 in macrophages treated with oxLDL. However, PPARγ agonist troglitazone partly abolished the effects of simvastatin on foam cells. In addition, simvastatin reduced the protein expression of calpain-1, a Ca2+-sensitive cysteine protease, in oxLDL-treated macrophages. Furthermore, PD150606, a specific calpain inhibitor, reduced mRNA expressions of PPARγ and CD36 in macrophages treated with oxLDL. Combination of simvastatin and PD150606 had no further effect on mRNA expression of PPARγ and CD36 compared with either alone. However, over-expression of calpain-1 in macrophages partly reversed the simvastatin effects, including cell cholesterol content, mRNA expressions of PPARγ, and CD36. The results suggested that simvastatin inhibits foam cell formation of oxLDL-treated macrophages through a calpain-1–PPARγ–CD36 pathway.
Rift migration and lateral propagation: evolution of normal faults and sediment-routing systems of the western Corinth rift (Greece)
Authors: Ford Mary , Hemelsdaël Romain , Mancini Marco , Palyvos Nikolaos
Published: August 2016

The active Corinth rift records hanging-wall migration of faulting and slip-rate acceleration. The rift initiated at approximately 5–4 Ma, and older parts are well exposed in the northern Peloponnese. A new correlation of chrono- and lithostratigraphy and structure across the onland central to westernmost rift with offshore data reveals westward rift propagation, as well as northward fault migration. Northward fault migration ended first in the east, with the stabilization of major north-dipping faults that now bound the Gulf. The basin then propagated to the WNW in two stages, each involving the initiation of a new fault that propagated east to SE to link to the stable fault system. Extension rates accelerated in distinct steps as the rift opened to the west. The youngest faults in the westernmost rift are associated with high seismicity and highest geodetic extension due to rapid fault growth and linkage at depth.

The early synrift succession infilled substantial inherited palaeo-relief. Antecedent rivers established vigorous sediment-routing systems that controlled facies distribution throughout rifting, albeit with drainage reorganization during fault-migration events. Multiple deepening events recorded in the stratigraphy can be due to lateral rift propagation. The transition from rift initiation to rift climax is, therefore, diachronous along the rift axis.
Collapse informatics and practice
Authors: Tomlinson Bill , Blevis Eli , Nardi Bonnie , Patterson Donald J. , Silberman M. SIX , Pan Yue
Published: August 2016

What happens if efforts to achieve sustainability fail? Research in many fields argues that contemporary global industrial civilization will not persist indefinitely in its current form, and may, like many past human societies, eventually collapse. Arguments in environmental studies, anthropology, and other fields indicate that this transformation could begin within the next half-century. While imminent collapse is far from certain, it is prudent to consider now how to develop sociotechnical systems for use in these scenarios. We introduce the notion of collapse informatics—the study, design, and development of sociotechnical systems in the abundant present for use in a future of scarcity. We sketch the design space of collapse informatics and a variety of example projects. We ask how notions of practice—theorized as collective activity in the “here and now”—can shift to the future since collapse has yet to occur.
A sustainable design fiction
Authors: Wakkary Ron , Desjardins Audrey , Hauser Sabrina , Maestri Leah
Published: August 2016

In this article, we argue that an approach informed by practice theory coupled with design fiction provides useful insights into the role of interaction design with respect to environmental sustainability. We argue that a practice-oriented approach can help interaction designers step away from models of individual behavior and studies of artifacts towards seeing sustainable behaviors as part of multidimensional and interrelated practices and practice elements. We analyze two previously conducted studies. The first study of everyday repair focuses on how people repair their broken objects. The second study of green-DIY examines how green enthusiasts facilitate their practices of making sustainable DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. We describe the practices of everyday repairers and green enthusiasts in terms of materials, competences, and meanings, and the interrelations among those elements, using the framework of Shove et al. [2012]. We argue that understanding the dynamics of practice and their unique configurations is a starting point to redefine the roles of sustainable interaction design (SID). We propose that designers design towards resources and tools in ways that reflect on the challenges of intelligibility of their design interventions in practices. In addition to considering SID in the light of practice theories, we reveal how design fictions are readily incorporated into green practices in ways that transform those practices and hold implications for transformations of design as well. We bring forward opportunities for designers to co-design with DIY enthusiasts, targeted as practitioners in their own right, designing toward or within a design fiction. As a result, we conclude with the possibility for sustainable interaction designers to become practice-oriented designers who design with transparent open strategies and accessible materials and competences.
Algorithm 966
Authors: Tozoni Davi C. , Rezende Pedro J. De , Souza Cid C. De
Published: August 2016

In the last few decades, the search for exact algorithms for known NP-hard geometric problems has intensified. Many of these solutions use Integer Linear Programming (ILP) modeling and rely on state-of-the- art solvers to be able to find optimal solutions for large instances in a matter of minutes. In this work, we discuss an ILP-based algorithm that solves to optimality the Art Gallery Problem (AGP), one of the most studied problems in computational geometry. The basic idea of our method is to iteratively generate upper and lower bounds for the problem through the resolution of discretized versions of the AGP, which are reduced to instances of the Set Cover Problem. Our algorithm was implemented and tested on almost 3,000 instances and attained optimal solutions for the vast majority of them, greatly increasing the set of instances for which exact solutions are known. To the best of our knowledge, in spite of the extensive study of the AGP in the last four decades, no other algorithm has shown the ability to solve the AGP as effectively and efficiently as the one described here. Evidence of its robustness is presented through tests done on a number of classes of polygons of various sizes with and without holes. A software package implementing the algorithm is made available.
Implementing Multifrontal Sparse Solvers for Multicore Architectures with Sequential Task Flow Runtime Systems
Authors: Agullo Emmanuel , Buttari Alfredo , Guermouche Abdou , Lopez Florent
Published: August 2016

To face the advent of multicore processors and the ever increasing complexity of hardware architectures, programming models based on DAG parallelism regained popularity in the high performance, scientific computing community. Modern runtime systems offer a programming interface that complies with this paradigm and powerful engines for scheduling the tasks into which the application is decomposed. These tools have already proved their effectiveness on a number of dense linear algebra applications. This article evaluates the usability and effectiveness of runtime systems based on the Sequential Task Flow model for complex applications, namely, sparse matrix multifrontal factorizations that feature extremely irregular workloads, with tasks of different granularities and characteristics and with a variable memory consumption. Most importantly, it shows how this parallel programming model eases the development of complex features that benefit the performance of sparse, direct solvers as well as their memory consumption. We illustrate our discussion with the multifrontal QR factorization running on top of the StarPU runtime system.
Tools for Predicting the Reliability of Large-Scale Storage Systems
Authors: Hall Robert J.
Published: August 2016

Data-intensive applications require extreme scaling of their underlying storage systems. Such scaling, together with the fact that storage systems must be implemented in actual data centers, increases the risk of data loss from failures of underlying components. Accurate engineering requires quantitatively predicting reliability, but this remains challenging due to the need to account for extreme scale, redundancy scheme type and strength, distribution architecture, and component dependencies. This article introduces CQS
im
-R, a tool suite for predicting the reliability of large-scale storage system designs and deployments. CQS
im
-R includes (a) direct calculations based on an only-drives-fail failure model and (b) an event-based simulator for detailed prediction that handles failures of and failure dependencies among arbitrary (drive or nondrive) components. These are based on a common combinatorial framework for modeling placement strategies. The article demonstrates CQS
im
-R using models of common storage systems, including replicated and erasure coded designs. New results, such as the poor reliability scaling of spread-placed systems and a quantification of the impact of data center distribution and rack-awareness on reliability, demonstrate the usefulness and generality of the tools. Analysis and empirical studies show the tools’ soundness, performance, and scalability.
Systemic Concentration in Sponsored Search Markets
Authors: Gupta Agam , Saha Biswatosh , Sarkar Uttam K.
Published: August 2016

Keyword-based search engine advertising markets on the Internet, referred to as Sponsored Search Markets (SSMs), have reduced entry barriers to advertising for niche players. Known empirical research, though scant and emerging, suggests that while these markets provided niche firms with greater access, they do exhibit high levels of concentration—a phenomenon that warrants further study. This research, using agent-based simulation of SSM, investigates the role of “market rules” and “advertiser practices” in generating emergent click share heterogeneity among advertisers in an industry. SSMs often rank ads based on the click-through rate (CTR) that gives rise to reinforcing dynamics at an individual keyword level. In the presence of spillovers arising from advertisers’ practice of managing keyword bids with a cost cap operating on the keyword portfolio, these reinforcing dynamics can endogenously generate industry-level concentration. Analysis of counterfactual markets with different window sizes used to compute CTR reveals that industry-level concentration bears an inverted-“U” relationship with window size.
Topology-Oriented Incremental Algorithm for the Robust Construction of the Voronoi Diagrams of Disks
Authors: Lee Mokwon , Sugihara Kokichi , Kim Deok-Soo
Published: August 2016

Voronoi diagrams are useful for spatial reasoning, and the robust and efficient construction of the ordinary Voronoi diagram of points is well known. However, its counterpart for circular disks in R
2
and spherical balls in R
3
remains a challenge. In this article, we propose a topology-oriented incremental algorithm which robustly and efficiently computes a Voronoi diagram by incrementing a new disk generator to an existing one. The key idea is to enforce the convexity of the Voronoi cell corresponding to the incrementing disk so that a simple variation of the algorithm for points proposed by Sugihara in 1992 can be applied. A benchmark using both random and degenerate disks shows that the proposed algorithm is superior to CGAL in both computational efficiency and algorithmic robustness.
A Note on Performance Profiles for Benchmarking Software
Authors: Gould Nicholas , Scott Jennifer
Published: August 2016

In recent years, performance profiles have become a popular and widely used tool for benchmarking and evaluating the performance of several solvers when run on a large test set. Here we use data from a real application as well as a simple artificial example to illustrate that caution should be exercised when trying to interpret performance profiles to assess the relative performance of the solvers.
The Complexity of Fairness Through Equilibrium
Authors: Othman Abraham , Papadimitriou Christos , Rubinstein Aviad
Published: August 2016

Competitive equilibrium from equal incomes (CEEI) is a well-known fair allocation mechanism with desirable fairness and efficiency properties; however, with indivisible resources, a CEEI may not exist [Foley 1967; Varian 1974; Thomson and Varian 1985]. It was shown in Budish [2011] that in the case of indivisible resources, there is always an allocation, called
A-CEEI
, that is approximately fair, approximately truthful, and approximately efficient for some favorable approximation parameters. A heuristic search that attempts to find this approximation is used in practice to assign business school students to courses. In this article, we show that finding the A-CEEI allocation guaranteed to exist by Budish’s theorem is PPAD-complete. We further show that finding an approximate equilibrium with better approximation guarantees is even harder: NP-complete.
177Lu-Dendrimer Conjugated to Folate and Bombesin with Gold Nanoparticles in the Dendritic Cavity: A Potential Theranostic Radiopharmaceutical
Authors: Mendoza-Nava Héctor , Ferro-Flores Guillermina , Ramírez Flor de María , Ocampo-García Blanca , Santos-Cuevas Clara , Aranda-Lara Liliana , Azorín-Vega Erika , Morales-Avila Enrique , Isaac-Olivé Keila
Published: August 2016

177Lu-labeled nanoparticles conjugated to biomolecules have been proposed as a new class of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals. The aim of this research was to synthesize 177Lu-dendrimer(PAMAM-G4)-folate-bombesin with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the dendritic cavity and to evaluate the radiopharmaceutical potential for targeted radiotherapy and the simultaneous detection of folate receptors (FRs) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) overexpressed in breast cancer cells. p-SCN-Benzyl-DOTA was conjugated in aqueous-basic medium to the dendrimer. The carboxylate groups of Lys1Lys3(DOTA)-bombesin and folic acid were activated with HATU and also conjugated to the dendrimer. The conjugate was mixed with 1% HAuCl4 followed by the addition of NaBH4 and purified by ultrafiltration. Elemental analysis (EDS), particle size distribution (DLS), TEM analysis, UV-Vis, and infrared and fluorescence spectroscopies were performed. The conjugate was radiolabeled using 177LuCl3 or 68GaCl3 and analyzed by radio-HPLC. Studies confirmed the dendrimer functionalization with high radiochemical purity (>95%). Fluorescence results demonstrated that the presence of AuNPs in the dendritic cavity confers useful photophysical properties to the radiopharmaceutical for optical imaging. Preliminary binding studies in T47D breast cancer cells showed a specific cell uptake (41.15±2.72%). 177Lu-dendrimer(AuNP)-folate-bombesin may be useful as an optical and nuclear imaging agent for breast tumors overexpressing GRPR and FRs, as well as for targeted radiotherapy.
Adaptive Radio Frequency Interference Mitigation for Passive Bistatic Radar Using OFDM Waveform
Authors: Zhao Zhixin , Zhu Sihang , Wang Yuhao , Cheng Siyuan , Hong Sheng
Published: August 2016

High frequency passive bistatic radar (HFPBR) is a novel and promising technique in development. DRM broadcast exploiting orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique supplies a good choice for the illuminator of HFPBR. HFPBR works in crowded short wave band. It faces severe radio frequency interference (RFI) problem. In this paper, a theoretical analysis of the range-domain correlation of RFI in OFDM-based HF radar is presented. A RFI mitigation method in the range domain is introduced. After the direct-path wave rejection, the interference subspace is constructed using the echo signals at the reserved range bins. Then RFI in the effective range bins is mitigated by the subspace projection, using the correlation among different range bins. The introduced algorithm is easy to perform in practice and the RFI mitigation performance is evaluated using the experimental data of DRM-based HFPBR.
The Application of Predictor Feedback in Designing a Preview Controller for Discrete-Time Systems with Input Delay
Authors: Liao Fucheng , Liao Yonglong , Deng Jiamei
Published: August 2016

This paper presents a method for designing a type one servomechanism for a discrete-time linear system with input delay subject to a previewable desired output and a nonmeasurable constant disturbance. The tracking problem of a delay system is transformed into a regulation problem of a delay-free system via constructing an augmented error system and a variable substitution. A controller is obtained with delay compensation and preview compensation based on preview control theory and the predictor method. When the state vector is not directly measurable, a full-dimensional observer is offered. The effectiveness of the design method is demonstrated by numerical simulations.
Postpartum Tuberculosis: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge
Authors: Kodadhala Vijay , Gudeta Alemeshet , Zerihun Aklilu , Lewis Odene , Ahmed Sohail , Gajjala Jhansi , Thomas Alicia
Published: August 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) infection in pregnant women and newborn babies is always challenging. Appropriate treatment is pivotal to curtail morbidity and mortality. TB diagnosis or exposure to active TB can be emotionally distressing to the mother. Circumstances can become more challenging for the physician if the mother’s TB status is unclear. Effective management of TB during pregnancy and the postpartum period requires a multidisciplinary approach including pulmonologist, obstetrician, neonatologist, infectious disease specialist, and TB public health department. Current guidelines recommend primary Isoniazid prophylaxis in TB exposed pregnant women who are immune-suppressed and have chronic medical conditions or obstetric risk factors and close and sustained contact with a patient with infectious TB. Treatment during pregnancy is the same as for the general adult population. Infants born to mothers with active TB at delivery should undergo a complete diagnostic evaluation. Primary Isoniazid prophylaxis for at least twelve weeks is recommended for those with negative diagnostic tests and no evidence of disease. Repeated negative diagnostic tests are mandatory before interrupting prophylaxis. Separation of mother and infant is only necessary when the mother has received treatment for less than 2 weeks, is sputum smear-positive, or has drug-resistant TB. This case highlights important aspects for management of TB during the postpartum period which has a higher morbidity. We present a case of a young mother migrating from a developing nation to the USA, who was found to have a positive quantiFERON test associated with multiple cavitary lung lesions and gave birth to a healthy baby.
Numerical Simulation of Urban Waterlogging Based on FloodArea Model
Authors: Xue Fengchang , Huang Minmin , Wang Wei , Zou Lin
Published: August 2016

Assessment of urban water logging risk depth is mainly based on extreme value of rainstorm and its occurrence frequency as disaster causing factor. Regional waterlogging disaster risk assessment can be determined through regional geographic spatial information coupling calculation; the fundamental reason lies in the lack of an effective method for numerical simulation of waterlogging risk depth. Based on the hydrodynamic principle, FloodArea model realizes the numerical simulation of regional waterlogging depth by hydrologic calculating of runoff generation and runoff concentration of waterlogging. Taking risk assessment in Nanchang city as an example, spatial distribution of urban waterlogging depth was simulated by using FloodArea model in return period of 5 years, 10 years, 50 years, and 100 years. Research results show that FloodArea model can simulate urban waterlogging forming process and spatial distribution qualitatively.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children and Adolescents with Abdominal Pain: Comparison with EoE-Dysphagia and Functional Abdominal Pain
Authors: Gunasekaran Thirumazhisai , Prabhakar Gautham , Schwartz Alan , Gorla Kiranmai , Gupta Sandeep , Berman James
Published: August 2016

Aim. Compare EoE-AP with EoE-D for clinical, endoscopy (EGD), histology and outcomes and also with FAP-N.Method. Symptoms, physical findings, EGD, histology, symptom scores, and treatments were recorded for the three groups. Cluster analysis was done.Results. Dysphagia and abdominal pain were different in numbers but not statistically significant between EoE-AP and EoE-D. EGD, linear furrows, white exudates were more in the EoE-D and both combined were significant (p<0.05). EoE-D, peak and mean eosinophils (p  0.06) and eosinophilic micro abscesses (p  0.001) were higher.Follow-Up. Based on single symptom, EoE-AP had 30% (p  0.25) improvement, EoE-D 86% (p<0.001) and similar with composite score (p  0.57and <0.001, resp.). Patients who had follow-up, EGD: 42.8% with EoE-AP and 77.8% with EoE-D, showed single symptom improvement and the eosinophil count fell from 38.5/34.6 (peak and mean) to 31.2/30.4 (p  0.70) and from 43.6/40.8 to 25.2/22.8 (p<0.001), respectively. FAP-N patients had similar symptom improvement like EoE-D.Cluster Analysis. EoE-AP and FAP-N were similar in clinical features and response to treatment, but EoE-D was distinctly different from EoE-AP and FAP-N.Conclusion. Our study demonstrates that EoE-AP and EoE-D have different histology and outcomes. In addition, EoE-AP has clinical features similar to the FAP-N group.
Multiband Circular Polarizer Based on Fission Transmission of Linearly Polarized Wave forX-Band Applications
Authors: Mangi Farman Ali , Xiao Shaoqiu , Mallah Ghulam Ali , Jamro Deedar Ali , Memon Imran , Kakepoto Ghulam Fatima
Published: August 2016

A multiband circular polarizer based on fission transmission of linearly polarized wave forx-band application is proposed, which is constructed of 2 × 2 metallic strips array. The linear-to-circular polarization conversion is obtained by decomposing the linearly incidentx-polarized wave into two orthogonal vector components of equal amplitude and 90° phase difference between them. The innovative approach of “fission transmission of linear-to-circular polarized wave” is firstly introduced to obtain giant circular dichroism based on decomposition of orthogonal vector components through the structure. It means that the incident linearly polarized wave is converted into two orthogonal components through lower printed metallic strips layer and two transmitted waves impinge on the upper printed strips layer to convert into four orthogonal vector components at the end of structure. This projection and transmission sequence of orthogonal components sustain the chain transmission of electromagnetic wave and can achieve giant circular dichroism. Theoretical analysis and microwave experiments are presented to validate the performance of the structure. The measured results are in good agreement with simulation results. In addition, the proposed circular polarizer exhibits the optimal performance with respect to the normal incidence. The right handed circularly polarized wave is emitted ranging from 10.08 GHz to 10.53 GHz and 10.78 GHz to 11.12 GHz, while the left handed circular polarized wave is excited at 10.54 GHz–10.70 GHz and 11.13 GHz–11.14 GHz, respectively.
Surface Modification of Electrospun PVDF/PAN Nanofibrous Layers by Low Vacuum Plasma Treatment
Authors: Yalcinkaya Fatma , Yalcinkaya Baturalp , Pazourek Adam , Mullerova Jana , Stuchlik Martin , Maryska Jiri
Published: August 2016

Nanofibres are very promising for water remediation due to their high porosity and small pore size. Mechanical properties of nanofibres restrict the application of pressure needed water treatments. Various PAN, PVDF, and PVDF/PAN nanofibre layers were produced, and mechanical properties were improved via a lamination process. Low vacuum plasma treatment was applied for the surface modification of nanofibres. Atmospheric air was used to improve hydrophilicity while sulphur hexafluoride gas was used to improve hydrophobicity of membranes. Hydrophilic membranes showed higher affinity to attach plasma particles compared to hydrophobic membranes.
tPA‐MMP‐9 Axis Plays a Pivotal Role in Mobilization of Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Bone Marrow to Circulation and Ischemic Region for Angiogenesis
Authors: Leu Steve , Day Yuan-Ji , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Yip Hon-Kan
Published: August 2016

We examined the role of tissue plasminogen activator‐ (tPA‐) matrix metalloproteinase‐ (MMP‐) 9 in mobilizing endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from bone marrow to circulation and critical limb ischemia (CLI) region. Male C57BL/6J mice having been irradiated were categorized into wild‐type mice (WT) receiving WT bone marrow cell (BMC) transfusion (group 1), WT mice receiving MMP‐9 knockout (MMP‐9−/−) BMC (group 2), MMP‐9−/− receiving MMP‐9−/− BMC (group 3), and MMP‐9−/− receiving WT BMC (group 4), each of which was subdivided into sham control (SC), CLI, SC‐tPA, and CLI‐tPA. In groups 1 and 4, by post‐CLI 18 h and day 14, circulating EPC (C‐kit+/CD31+, Sca‐1+/KDR+) levels were highest in CLI‐tPA subgroup. In groups 2 and 3, EPC levels did not differ among all subgroups. The EPC levels in bone marrow were higher in groups 2 and 3 than those in groups 1 and 4. By day 14, in animals with CLI, expression levels of proangiogenic factors (CXCR4, SDF‐1α, and VEGF) showed similar trends as circulating EPC levels. Moreover, the number of infiltrated neutrophils and macrophages in quadriceps was higher in groups 1 and 4 than groups in 2 and 3. In conclusion, tPA‐MMP‐9 axis plays a crucial role in EPC mobilization and angiogenesis in experimental CLI.
Self-Organizing Wearable Device Platform for Assisting and Reminding Humans in Real Time
Authors: Park Yu Jin , Seong Ki Eun , Jeong Seol Young , Kang Soon Ju
Published: August 2016

Most older persons would prefer “aging in my place,” that is, to remain in good health and live independently in their own home as long as possible. For assisting the independent living of older people, the ability to gather and analyze a user’s daily activity data would constitute a significant technical advance, enhancing their quality of life. However, the general approach based on centralized server has several problems such as the usage complexity, the high price of deployment and expansion, and the difficulty in identifying an individual person. To address these problems, we propose a wearable device platform for the life assistance of older persons that automatically records and analyzes their daily activity without intentional human intervention or a centralized server (i.e., cloud server). The proposed platform contains self-organizing protocols, Delay-Tolerant Messaging system, knowledge-based analysis and alerting for daily activities, and a hardware platform that provides low power consumption. We implemented a prototype smart watch, called Personal Activity Assisting and Reminding (PAAR), as a testbed for the proposed platform, and evaluated the power consumption and the service time of example scenarios.
Metainflammation in Diabetic Coronary Artery Disease: Emerging Role of Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses
Authors: Aravindhan Vivekanandhan , Madhumitha Haridoss
Published: August 2016

Globally, noncommunicable chronic diseases such as Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) are posing a major threat to the world. T2DM is known to potentiate CAD which had led to the coining of a new clinical entity named diabetic CAD (DM-CAD), leading to excessive morbidity and mortality. The synergistic interaction between these two comorbidities is through sterile inflammation which is now being addressed as metabolic inflammation or metainflammation, which plays a pivotal role during both early and late stages of T2DM and also serves as a link between T2DM and CAD. This review summarises the current concepts on the role played by both innate and adaptive immune responses in setting up metainflammation in DM-CAD. More specifically, the role played by innate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) like Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD1-like receptors (NLRs), Rig-1-like receptors (RLRs), and C-type lectin like receptors (CLRs) and metabolic endotoxemia in fuelling metainflammation in DM-CAD would be discussed. Further, the role played by adaptive immune cells (Th1, Th2, Th17, and Th9 cells) in fuelling metainflammation in DM-CAD will also be discussed.
Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging to Control the Placement of Tension-Free Transobturator Tape in Female Urinary Stress Incontinence
Authors: Gräf Charlotte M. , Kupec Tomas , Stickeler Elmar , Goecke Tamme W. , Meinhold-Heerlein Ivo , Najjari Laila
Published: August 2016

Purpose. The objective was to evaluate, by means of tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI), the reliability of a novel approach for determining the position of the implanted tension-free transobturator tape (TOT). Furthermore, we analyzed the association between the position of the tape at rest and the subjective cure in stress incontinent women.Methods. This retrospective pilot study consists of 32 stress incontinent women, who underwent TOT procedure and routine sonographic control at day 1 postoperatively and at follow-up visit. TUI was applied on the resulting 4D volumes, thereby delivering 9 axial slices with a 4 mm interslice distance starting at the meatus urethrae internus in caudal direction. The reliability of the approach was tested by two examiners. Postoperative and follow-up ultrasound parameters of uncured and cured patients were analyzed.Results. Measurements of the position of the TOT demonstrated high intraclass correlation coefficients. We found minor differences between sonographic parameters at day 1 postoperatively and at follow-up after a median period of 321 days. In cured patients, the position of the tape was measured in a more caudal position than in uncured patients.Conclusions. TUI can be a reliable method for determining the position of the tape. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether the postoperatively determined position can be used as an indicator of future subjective cure.
A Chaos-Enhanced Particle Swarm Optimization with Adaptive Parameters and Its Application in Maximum Power Point Tracking
Authors: Hong Ying-Yi , Beltran Angelo A. , Paglinawan Arnold C.
Published: August 2016

This work proposes an enhanced particle swarm optimization scheme that improves upon the performance of the standard particle swarm optimization algorithm. The proposed algorithm is based on chaos search to solve the problems of stagnation, which is the problem of being trapped in a local optimum and with the risk of premature convergence. Type1′′constriction is incorporated to help strengthen the stability and quality of convergence, and adaptive learning coefficients are utilized to intensify the exploitation and exploration search characteristics of the algorithm. Several well known benchmark functions are operated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The test performance of the proposed method is compared with those of other popular population-based algorithms in the literature. Simulation results clearly demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits faster convergence, escapes local minima, and avoids premature convergence and stagnation in a high-dimensional problem space. The validity of the proposed PSO algorithm is demonstrated using a fuzzy logic-based maximum power point tracking control model for a standalone solar photovoltaic system.
High Surface Area Ceria Nanoparticles via Hydrothermal Synthesis Experiment Design
Authors: Kurajica Stanislav , Minga Iva , Guliš Martina , Mandić Vilko , Simčić Ivan
Published: August 2016

Hydrothermal synthesis of CeO2was optimized on two reactant concentrations and synthesis temperature and duration, in order to achieve material having the greatest specific surface area (SSA). Taguchi method of experimental design was employed in evaluation of the relative importance of synthesis parameters. CeO2nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, and scanning electron microscopy. Optimum conditions for obtaining particles with greater SSA were calculated according to Taguchi’s model “the-higher-the-better.” Synthesis temperature was found to be the only parameter significant for enabling nanoparticles with greater SSA. Mesoporous nanocrystalline ceria with SSA as great as 226 m2 g−1was achieved, which is unprecedented for the hydrothermally synthesized ceria. The reason for this achievement was found in temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient which, when low, favors nucleation yielding with fine particles, while when high it favors crystal growth and formation of one-dimensional structures. The occurrence of 1D-structure in sample exhibiting the smallest SSA was confirmed. Very fine crystallites with crystallite size as low as 5.9 nm have been obtained being roughly inverse proportional to SSA. Selected samples were tested as catalyst for soot oxidation. Catalyst morphology turned out to be decisive factor for catalytic activity.
Neuromuscular Plasticity: Disentangling Stable and Variable Motor Maps in the Human Sensorimotor Cortex
Authors: Kraus Dominic , Gharabaghi Alireza
Published: August 2016

Motor maps acquired with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are evolving as a biomarker for monitoring disease progression or the effects of therapeutic interventions. High test-retest reliability of this technique for long observation periods is therefore required to differentiate daily or weekly fluctuations from stable plastic reorganization of corticospinal connectivity. In this study, a novel projection, interpolation, and coregistration technique, which considers the individual gyral anatomy, was applied in healthy subjects for biweekly acquired TMS motor maps over a period of twelve weeks. The intraclass correlation coefficient revealed long-term reliability of motor maps with relevant interhemispheric differences. The sensorimotor cortex and nonprimary motor areas of the dominant hemisphere showed more extended and more stable corticospinal connectivity. Long-term correlations of the MEP amplitudes at each stimulation site revealed mosaic-like clusters of consistent corticospinal excitability. The resting motor threshold, centre of gravity, and mean MEPs across all TMS sites, as highly reliable cortical map parameters, could be disentangled from more variable parameters such as MEP area and volume. Cortical TMS motor maps provide high test-retest reliability for long-term monitoring when analyzed with refined techniques. They may guide restorative interventions which target dormant corticospinal connectivity for neurorehabilitation.
Soluble HLA-G and HLA-E Levels in Bone Marrow Plasma Samples Are Related to Disease Stage in Neuroblastoma Patients
Authors: Morandi Fabio , Pozzi Sarah , Carlini Barbara , Amoroso Loredana , Pistoia Vito , Corrias Maria Valeria
Published: August 2016

The role of nonclassical HLA-class Ib molecules HLA-G and HLA-E in the progression of Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumor, has been characterized in the last years. Since BM infiltration by NB cells is an adverse prognostic factor, we have here analyzed for the first time the concentration of soluble (s)HLA-G and HLA-E in bone marrow (BM) plasma samples from NB patients at diagnosis and healthy donors. sHLA-G and sHLA-E are present in BM plasma samples, and their levels were similar between NB patients and controls, thus suggesting that these molecules are physiologically released by resident or stromal BM cell populations. This hypothesis was supported by the finding that sHLA-G and sHLA-E levels did not correlate with BM infiltration and other adverse prognostic factors (MYCNamplification and age at diagnosis). In contrast, BM plasma levels of both molecules were higher in patients with metastatic disease than in patients with localized NB, thus suggesting that concentration of these molecules might be correlated with disease progression. The prognostic role of sHLA-G and sHLA-E concentration in the BM plasma for NB patients will be evaluated in future studies, by analyzing the clinical outcome of the same NB patients at follow-up.
Modeling and Calculation of Dent Based on Pipeline Bending Strain
Authors: Feng Qingshan , Li Rui , Zhang Hong
Published: August 2016

The bending strain of long-distance oil and gas pipelines can be calculated by the in-line inspection tool which used inertial measurement unit (IMU). The bending strain is used to evaluate the strain and displacement of the pipeline. During the bending strain inspection, the dent existing in the pipeline can affect the bending strain data as well. This paper presents a novel method to model and calculate the pipeline dent based on the bending strain. The technique takes inertial mapping data from in-line inspection and calculates depth of dent in the pipeline using Bayesian statistical theory and neural network. To verify accuracy of the proposed method, an in-line inspection tool is used to inspect pipeline to gather data. The calculation of dent shows the method is accurate for the dent, and the mean relative error is 2.44%. The new method provides not only strain of the pipeline dent but also the depth of dent. It is more benefit for integrity management of pipeline for the safety of the pipeline.
Respiratory Presentation of Pediatric Patients in the 2014 Enterovirus D68 Outbreak
Authors: Martin Georgina , Li Rachel , Cook Victoria E. , Carwana Matthew , Tilley Peter , Sauve Laura , Tang Patrick , Kapur Akshat , Yang Connie L.
Published: August 2016

Background. In the fall of 2014, a North American outbreak of enterovirus D68 resulted in a significant number of pediatric hospital admissions for respiratory illness throughout North America. This study characterized the clinical presentation and risk factors for a severe clinical course in children admitted to British Columbia Children’s Hospital during the 2014 outbreak.Methods. Retrospective chart review of patients with confirmed EV-D68 infection admitted to BCCH with respiratory symptoms in the fall of 2014. Past medical history, clinical presentation, management, and course in hospital was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Comparison was made between those that did and did not require ICU admission to identify risk factors.Results. Thirty-four patients were included (median age 7.5 years). Fifty-three percent of children had a prior history of wheeze, 32% had other preexisting medical comorbidities, and 15% were previously healthy. Ten children (29%) were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. The presence of complex medical conditions (excluding wheezing) (P=0.03) and copathogens was associated with PICU admission (P=0.02).Conclusions. EV-D68 infection resulted in severe, prolonged presentations of asthma-like illness in the hospitalized pediatric population. Patients with a prior history of wheeze and preexisting medical comorbidities appear to be most severely affected, but the virus can also cause wheezing in previously well children.
A Novel Approach to Wideband Spectrum Compressive Sensing Based on DST for Frequency Availability in LEO Mobile Satellite Systems
Authors: Li Feilong , Li Guangxia , Li Zhiqiang , Wang Yulin , Zhang Gengxin
Published: August 2016

In LEO mobile satellite network, the L/S frequency availability is an essential task for global communication but entails several major technical challenges: high sampling rate required for wideband sensing, limited power and computing resources for processing load, and frequency-selective wireless fading. This paper investigates the issue of frequency availability in LEO mobile satellite system, and a novel wideband spectrum compressed signal detection approach is proposed to obtain active primary users (PUs) subbands and their locations that should be avoided during frequency allocation. We define the novel wideband spectrum compressed sensing method based on discrete sine transform (DST-WSCS), which significantly improves the performance of spectrum detection and recovery accuracy compared with conventional discrete Fourier transform based wideband spectrum compressed sensing scheme (DFT-WSCS). Additionally, with the help of intersatellite links (ISL), the scheme of multiple satellites cooperative sensing according to OR and MAJ decision fusion rules is presented to achieve spatial diversity against wireless fading. Finally, in-depth numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme in aspect of signal detection probability, reconstruction precision, processing time, and so forth.
Comparison of Osteogenesis between Adipose‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Sheets on Poly‐ε‐Caprolactone/β‐Tricalcium Phosphate Composite Scaffolds in Canine Bone Defects
Authors: Kim Yongsun , Lee Seung Hoon , Kang Byung-jae , Kim Wan Hee , Yun Hui-suk , Kweon Oh-kyeong
Published: August 2016

Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSC sheets have effective potentials of bone regeneration. Composite polymer/ceramic scaffolds such as poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL)/β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) are widely used to repair large bone defects. The present study investigated the in vitro osteogenic potential of canine adipose‐derived MSCs (Ad‐MSCs) and Ad‐MSC sheets. Composite PCL/β‐TCP scaffolds seeded with Ad‐MSCs or wrapped with osteogenic Ad‐MSC sheets (OCS) were also fabricated and their osteogenic potential was assessed following transplantation into critical‐sized bone defects in dogs. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of osteogenic Ad‐MSCs (O‐MSCs) and OCS was significantly higher than that of undifferentiated Ad‐MSCs (U‐MSCs). The ALP, runt-related transcription factor 2, osteopontin, and bone morphogenetic protein 7 mRNA levels were upregulated in O‐MSCs and OCS as compared to U‐MSCs. In a segmental bone defect, the amount of newly formed bone was greater in PCL/β‐TCP/OCS and PCL/β‐TCP/O‐MSCs/OCS than in the other groups. The OCS exhibit strong osteogenic capacity, and OCS combined with a PCL/β‐TCP composite scaffold stimulated new bone formation in a critical‐sized bone defect. These results suggest that the PCL/β‐TCP/OCS composite has potential clinical applications in bone regeneration and can be used as an alternative treatment modality in bone tissue engineering.