A Parallel Mining Algorithm for Maximum Erasable Itemset Based on Multi-core Processor

Mining the erasable itemset is an interesting research domain, which has been applied to solve the problem of how to efficiently use limited funds to optimise production in economic crisis. After the problem of mining the erasable itemset was posed, researchers have proposed many algorithms to solve it, among which mining the maximum erasable itemset is a significant direction for research. Since all subsets of the maximum erasable itemset are erasable itemsets, all erasable itemsets can be obtained by mining the maximum erasable itemset, which reduces both the quantity of candidate and resultant itemsets generated during the mining process. However, computing many itemset values still takes a lot of CPU time when mining huge amounts of data. And it is difficult to solve the problem quickly with sequential algorithms. Therefore, this proposed study presents a parallel algorithm for the mining of maximum erasable itemsets, called PAMMEI, based on a multi-core processor platform. The algorithm divides the entire mining task into multiple subtasks and assigns them to multiple processor cores for parallel execution, while using an efficient pruning strategy to downsize the space to be searched and increase the mining speed. To verify the efficiency of the PAMMEI algorithm, the paper compares it with most advanced algorithms. The experimental results show that PAMMEI is superior to the comparable algorithms with respect to runtime, memory usage and scalability

NiO hollow microspheres interconnected by carbon nanotubes as an anode for lithium ion batteries

In this work, NiO hollow microspheres interconnected by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared, characterized, and evaluated in terms of lithium ion storage properties. Characterization results showed that the NiO hollow microspheres were formed by self assembly of NiO nanoparticles promoted by MWCNTs, which connected the NiO microspheres to form a long-range network. Electrochemical measurement results showed a charge capacity as high as 597.2 mAh g when cycling at the rate 2 C and maintained 85.3% capacity of 0.1 C. After cycling for 100 times at 1 C, it maintained a capacity of 692.3 mAh g with retention 89.3% of the initial capacity. The observed excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the presence of MWCNTs interconnecting the NiO microspheres of the composite material, of which electronic conductivity was improved, and the mesoporous hollow structure effectively alleviated the volume changes to maintain the structural stability during cycling

Toxoplasma gondii cathepsin proteases are undeveloped prominent vaccine antigens against toxoplasmosis

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite, infects a wide range of warm-blooded animals including humans. T. gondii expresses five members of the C1 family of cysteine proteases, including cathepsin B-like (TgCPB) and cathepsin L-like (TgCPL) proteins. TgCPB is involved in ROP protein maturation and parasite invasion, whereas TgCPL contributes to proteolytic maturation of proTgM2AP and proTgMIC3. TgCPL is also associated with the residual body in the parasitophorous vacuole after cell division has occurred. Both of these proteases are potential therapeutic targets in T. gondii. The aim of this study was to investigate TgCPB and TgCPL for their potential as DNA vaccines against T. gondii. METHODS: Using bioinformatics approaches, we analyzed TgCPB and TgCPL proteins and identified several linear-B cell epitopes and potential Th-cell epitopes in them. Based on these results, we assembled two single-gene constructs (TgCPB and TgCPL) and a multi-gene construct (pTgCPB/TgCPL) with which to immunize BALB/c mice and test their effectiveness as DNA vaccines. RESULTS: TgCPB and TgCPL vaccines elicited strong humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, both of which were Th-1 cell mediated. In addition, all of the vaccines protected the mice against infection with virulent T. gondii RH tachyzoites, with the multi-gene vaccine (pTgCPB/TgCPL) providing the highest level of protection. CONCLUSIONS: T. gondii CPB and CPL proteases are strong candidates for development as novel DNA vaccines

Cinnamaldehyde attenuates streptozocin-induced diabetic osteoporosis in a rat model by modulating netrin-1/DCC-UNC5B signal transduction

Background: Cinnamaldehyde (CMD) is a major functional component of Cinnamomum verum and has shown treatment effects against diverse bone diseases. This study aimed to assess the anti-diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) potential of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to explore the underlying mechanism driving the activity of CMD.Methods: A DOP model was induced via an intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ) into Sprague–Dawley rats, and then two different doses of CMD were administered to the rats. The effects of CMD on the strength, remodeling activity, and histological structure of the bones were assessed. Changes in the netrin-1 related pathways also were detected to elucidate the mechanism of the anti-DOP activity by CMD.Results: CMD had no significant effect on the body weight or blood glucose level of the model rats. However, the data showed that CMD improved the bone strength and bone remodeling activity as well as attenuating the bone structure destruction in the DOP rats in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of netrin-1, DCC, UNC5B, RANKL, and OPG was suppressed, while the expression of TGF-β1, cathepsin K, TRAP, and RANK was induced by the STZ injection. CMD administration restored the expression of all of these indicators at both the mRNA and protein levels, indicating that the osteoclast activity was inhibited by CMD.Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that CMD effectively attenuated bone impairments associated with DM in a STZ-induced DOP rat model, and the anti-DOP effects of CMD were associated with the modulation of netrin-1/DCC/UNC5B signal transduction

Electrically Guiding Migration of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

A major road-block in stem cell therapy is the poor homing and integration of transplanted stem cells with the targeted host tissue. Human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells are considered an excellent alternative to embryonic stem (ES) cells and we tested the feasibility of using small, physiological electric fields (EFs) to guide hiPS cells to their target. Applied EFs stimulated and guided migration of cultured hiPS cells toward the anode, with a stimulation threshold of <30 mV/mm; in three-dimensional (3D) culture hiPS cells remained stationary, whereas in an applied EF they migrated directionally. This is of significance as the therapeutic use of hiPS cells occurs in a 3D environment. EF exposure did not alter expression of the pluripotency markers SSEA-4 and Oct-4 in hiPS cells. We compared EF-directed migration (galvanotaxis) of hiPS cells and hES cells and found that hiPS cells showed greater sensitivity and directedness than those of hES cells in an EF, while hES cells migrated toward cathode. Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibition, a method to aid expansion and survival of stem cells, significantly increased the motility, but reduced directionality of iPS cells in an EF by 70–80%. Thus, our study has revealed that physiological EF is an effective guidance cue for the migration of hiPS cells in either 2D or 3D environments and that will occur in a ROCK-dependent manner. Our current finding may lead to techniques for applying EFs in vivo to guide migration of transplanted stem cells

A parametric study on natural frequency of sandwich panel using refined shear model

The natural frequency of a thick rectangular sandwich panel was studied using refined shear deformation theory. Both faces sheets and core materials are orthotropic. Nonlinear behavior of shear deformation of sandwich panel was described by a proposed polynomial function. The effect of transverse shear modulus of sandwich core on flexural vibration of the panel was investigated. Comparison was made among the classical thin plate theory, low order shear deformation theory and high order refined shear theory. Results from finite element analysis were also provided to verify the theoretical predictions

Natural Frequency Analysis of a Sandwich Panel with Soft Core Based on a Refined Shear Deformation Model

The natural frequency of a thick rectangular sandwich panel composed of orthotropic facesheets and a soft core was studied based on a refined shear deformation model. The shear deformation of the sandwich panel was described by a polynomial function. The effect of transverse shear modulus of the facesheets and core on flexural vibration of the panel was investigated. Comparison was made among classical thin plate theory, linear shear (low order) deformation theory and the refined shear (high order) deformation model. Results from finite element analysis were also provided to verify the theoretical predictions. It was shown that the refined shear deformation model provided a better prediction on the natural frequency of vibration of a sandwich panel than thin plate model or low order deformation model

Prediction of Natural Frequencies of a Sandwich Panel Using Thick Plate Theory

The vibration of a sandwich panel with two identical isotropic facesheets and an orthotropic core was studied. The governing partial differential equation was derived using a variational principle. Linear shear theory was employed to describe the transverse deformation of the panel, and the rotational effect was taken into consideration. The natural frequencies of a rectangular sandwich panel can be predicted on the basis of the proposed analytical model. Results from the proposed model were compared with those from thin plate theory. The effects of the structural and material parameters such as core anisotropy, core density, and facesheet thickness on natural frequencies were discussed. © 2001, Sage Publications. All rights reserved

Effect of Soft Honeycomb Core on Flexural Vibration of Sandwich Panel using Low Order and High Order Shear Deformation Models

Low order and high order shear deformation models are applied to investigate the effect of honeycomb core (transversely shear deformable) on flexural vibration of thick rectangular sandwich panel with isotropic facesheets. Strain and kinetic energy of sandwich panel are expressed in terms of material properties and structural parameters. Partial differential equations are derived based upon a variational principle. Solutions in Navier form are obtained for a simply supported rectangular panel. The effect of honeycomb core parameters, such as characteristic angle, cell wall thickness, and cell size is studied. Comparison between low order model, high order model, and finite element method is provided. It is shown that in most cases results from a high order model without facesheet shear effect are close to those from finite element analysis