Dueling CSP representations: Local search in the primal versus dual constraint graph.

Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) can be used to represent and solve many problems in Artificial Intelligence and the real world. When solving Constraint Satisfaction Problems, many of the methods developed and studied have focused only on the solution of binary CSPs while a large portion of real life problems are naturally modeled as non-binary CSPs. In this thesis we have designed an empirical study to investigate the behaviour of several local search methods in primal and dual constraint graph representations when solving non-binary CSPs. Local search methods tend to find a solution quickly since they generally give up the guarantee of completeness for polynomial time performance. Such local search methods include simple hill-climbing, steepest ascent hill-climbing and min-conflicts heuristics hill-climbing. We evaluate the performance of these three algorithms in each representation for a variety of parameter settings and we compare the search time cost means of two groups to support the comparison. Our comparison shows that we can use local search to solve a CSP with tight constraints in its dual representation and gain a better performance than using it in its primal representation. When constraints are getting looser, using local search in primal representation is a better choice. Among the three local search methods used in our empirical study, min-conflicts heuristics hill-climbing always gain the best performance while steepest ascent hill-climbing tends to have the worst performance and simple hill climbing is in the middle or sometimes it is the best. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2004 .H824. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-01, page: 0237. Adviser: Scott Goodwin. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2004

Feasibility and Safety of Flow Diversion in the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms via Transradial Approach: A Single-Arm Meta-Analysis

BackgroundWhile studies have confirmed that flow diversion (FD) can treat intracranial aneurysms via transradial approach (TRA), it remains unclear whether their treatment ultimately impacts safety and feasibility. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the safety and feasibility after FD treatment of intracranial aneurysms via TRA.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically reviewed. The primary outcomes were the success rate and the access-related complications of deploying FD via TRA. Meta-analysis was performed using a random or fixed effect model based on heterogeneity. And the publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot. This study was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42021244448.ResultsData from 8 studies met inclusion criteria (250 non-duplicated patients). The success rate was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86–0.98; I2 = 61.05%; p = 0.01). The access-related complications rate was 1% (95% CI 0–0.03; I2 = 0.00%; p < 0.01). The mainly access-related complications included radial artery spasm (85.7%) and radial artery occlusion (14.3%). The TRA convert to transfemoral approach (TFA) was 7% (95% CI 0.02–0.14; I2 = 61.05%; p = 0.01).ConclusionsAlthough TFA is still the main access for FD in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, the TRA also has a higher success rate and lower access-related complications rate. With the improvement of future experience and equipment, the TRA may become the main access for FD which has more advantages. Future studies should design prospective, multicenter randomized controlled studies for long-term follow-up

SIMULATION OF PULVERIZED COAL INJECTION IN A BLAST FURNACE

ABSTRACT A three-dimensional multiphase CFD model using an Eulerian approach is developed to simulate the process of pulverized coal injection into a blast furnace. The model provides the detailed fields of fluid flow velocity, temperatures, and compositions, as well as coal mass distributions during the devolatilization and combustion of the coal. This paper focuses on coal devolatilization and combustion in the space before entering the raceway of the blast furnace. Parametric studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of coal properties and injection operations

PREDICTION OF RACEWAYS IN A BLAST FURNACE

ABSTRACT In a blast furnace, preheated air and fuel (gas, oil or pulverized coal) are often injected into the lower part of the furnace through tuyeres, forming a raceway in which the injected fuel and some of the coke descending from the top of the furnace are combusted and gasified. The shape and size of the raceway greatly affect the combustion of the coke and the injected fuel in the blast furnace. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to investigate the raceway evolution. The furnace geometry and operating conditions are based on the Mittal Steel IH7 blast furnace. The effects of Tuyere velocity, coke particle size and burden properties are computed. It is found that the raceway depth increases with an increase in the tuyere velocity and a decrease in the coke particle size in the active coke zone. The CFD results are validated using experimental correlations and actual observations. The computational results provide useful insight into the raceway formation and the factors that influence its size and shape

Effects of Linpan nature therapy on health benefits in older women with and without hypertension

BackgroundNature therapy can significantly benefit the physiology and psychology of middle-aged and older people, but previous studies have focused on forest environments. The restoration potential of rural environments in urban fringe areas, which are more accessible to older people on a daily basis, has not been fully studied. This study assessed the effects of nature therapy on the physical and mental health of older women in a rural setting (locally known as Linpan) in the urban fringe area of Chengdu, China.MethodsWe recruited a total of 60 older women (65.3 ± 5.5 years old) living in cities for 3 days of nature therapy in the winter (30 subjects) and spring (30 subjects), including 20 hypertensive patients.ResultsThe results showed that the overall blood pressure, pulse and sleep dysfunction rating scores of the participants were significantly lower than the pretest levels, and the finger blood oxygen saturation, mid-day salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol were increased post-treatment. Increases in these biomarker indicates and increase in stress. There were significant differences in the changes in systolic blood pressure between the hypertension group (HTN) and the normal group (normal) (HTN decreased by 8.8%, normal decreased by 5.4%), salivary alpha-amylase content (HTN decreased by 0.3%, normal increased by 16.9%), and sleep dysfunction rating scores (HTN decreased by 59.6%, normal decreased by 54%). The decreases in systolic blood pressure and pulse in the winter group were higher than those in the spring group by 1.8 and 4.4%, respectively, while the increases in salivary alpha-amylase content and salivary cortisol content were lower than those in the spring group by 11.7 and 11.2%, respectively, and the decrease in sleep dysfunction rating scores was lower than that in the spring group by 7.1%.ConclusionOur study concluded that nature therapy based on various health activities in the Linpan has significant health effects on older women. It can regulate blood pressure and pulse in older women, relieve cardiovascular disease, improve sleep quality. Meanwhile, older women with high blood pressure experienced a more significant effect than the healthy group

Upregulation of UCP2 by Adiponectin: The Involvement of Mitochondrial Superoxide and hnRNP K

Background: The adipocyte-derived hormone adiponectin elicits protective functions against fatty liver diseases and hepatic injuries at least in part by stimulating the expression of a mitochondrial inner membrane transporter, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). The present study was designed to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying adiponectin-induced UCP2 expression. Methodology/Principal Findnigs: Mice were treated with adiponectin and/or different drug inhibitors. Parenchymal (PCs) and nonparenchymal (NPCs) cells were fractionated from the liver tissues for mitochondria isolation, Western blotting and quantitative PCR analysis. Mitochondrial superoxide production was monitored by MitoSOX staining and flow cytometry analysis. Compared to control mice, the expression of UCP2 was significantly lower in NPCs, but not PCs of adiponectin knockout mice (AKO). Both chronic and acute treatment with adiponectin selectively increased the mRNA and protein abundance of UCP2 in NPCs, especially in the enriched endothelial cell fractions. The transcription inhibitor actinomycin D could not block adiponectin-induced UCP2 expression, whereas the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide inhibited the elevation of UCP2 protein but not its mRNA levels. Mitochondrial content of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), a nucleic acid binding protein involved in regulating mRNA transportation and stabilization, was significantly enhanced by adiponectin, which also evoked a transient elevation of mitochondrial superoxide. Rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory complex I, abolished adiponectin-induced superoxide production, hnRNP K recruitment and UCP2 expression. Conclusions/Significance: Mitochondrial superoxide production stimulated by adiponectin serves as a trigger to initiate the translocation of hnRNP K, which in turn promotes UCP2 expressions in liver. © 2012 Zhou et al.published_or_final_versio

RNA-Seq of Human Neurons Derived from iPS Cells Reveals Candidate Long Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Neurogenesis and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Genome-wide expression analysis using next generation sequencing (RNA-Seq) provides an opportunity for in-depth molecular profiling of fundamental biological processes, such as cellular differentiation and malignant transformation. Differentiating human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide an ideal system for RNA-Seq since defective neurogenesis caused by abnormalities in transcription factors, DNA methylation, and chromatin modifiers lie at the heart of some neuropsychiatric disorders. As a preliminary step towards applying next generation sequencing using neurons derived from patient-specific iPSCs, we have carried out an RNA-Seq analysis on control human neurons. Dramatic changes in the expression of coding genes, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), pseudogenes, and splice isoforms were seen during the transition from pluripotent stem cells to early differentiating neurons. A number of genes that undergo radical changes in expression during this transition include candidates for schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that function as transcription factors and chromatin modifiers, such as POU3F2 and ZNF804A, and genes coding for cell adhesion proteins implicated in these conditions including NRXN1 and NLGN1. In addition, a number of novel lncRNAs were found to undergo dramatic changes in expression, one of which is HOTAIRM1, a regulator of several HOXA genes during myelopoiesis. The increase we observed in differentiating neurons suggests a role in neurogenesis as well. Finally, several lncRNAs that map near SNPs associated with SZ in genome wide association studies also increase during neuronal differentiation, suggesting that these novel transcripts may be abnormally regulated in a subgroup of patients