Modular feature selection using relative importance factors

Feature selection plays an important role in finding relevant or irrelevant features in classification. Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been used as conventional methods for classifiers to adaptively evolve solutions for classification problems. In this paper, we explore the use of feature selection in modular GA-based classification. We propose a new feature selection technique, Relative Importance Factor (RIF), to find irrelevant features in the feature space of each module. By removing these features, we aim to improve classification accuracy and reduce the dimensionality of classification problems. Benchmark classification data sets are used to evaluate the proposed approaches. The experiment results show that RIF can be used to determine irrelevant features and help achieve higher classification accuracy with the feature space dimension reduced. The complexity of the resulting rule sets is also reduced which means the modular classifiers with irrelevant features removed will be able to classify data with a higher throughput

Aharonov-Casher phase and persistent current in a polyacetylene ring

We investigate a polyacetylene ring in an axially symmetric, static electric field with a modified SSH Hamiltonian of a polyacetylene chain. An effective gauge potential of the single electron Hamiltonian due to spin-field interaction is obtained and it results in a Fr\"{o}hlich's type of superconductivity equivalent to the effect of travelling lattice wave. The total energy as well as the persistent current density are shown to be a periodic function of the flux of the gauge field embraced by the polyacetylene ring.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on respiration control of state 3/4 in mitochondria from bovine heart

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) could availably regulate electron transport in the inner membrane of mitochondria from bovine heart when succinate as substrate and rotenone as complex I inhibitor at 37°C were used. H2S increased to a certain extent the respiratory rate of state 4. It also increased first and then decreased the respiratory rate of state 3, respiratory control ratio and ADP/O ratio. In addition, it quicken first and then delayed recovery time from state 3 to state 4. The effects of H2S as aforementioned in normoxic condition were more obvious than those in hypoxic condition. Experimental results indicated that more than 10 µM H2S brought about uncoupling of mitochondrial electron transport and the opening of mitochondrial KATP channel located in complex III-IV, and less than 10 µM H2S unexpectedly facilitated this course, which might be via sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase. The finding that H2S was closely related with sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase, however, requires in depth investigation.Key words: Respiration, hydrogen sulfide, mitochondria, bovine heart

The effects of daily fasting hours on shaping gut microbiota in mice

BACKGROUND: It has recently been reported that intermittent fasting shapes the gut microbiota to benefit health, but this effect may be influenced to the exact fasting protocols. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of different daily fasting hours on shaping the gut microbiota in mice. Healthy C57BL/6 J male mice were subjected to 12, 16 or 20 h fasting per day for 1 month, and then fed ad libitum for an extended month. Gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing and food intake was recorded as well. RESULTS: We found that cumulative food intake was not changed in the group with 12 h daily fasting, but significantly decreased in the 16 and 20 h fasting groups. The composition of gut microbiota was altered by all these types of intermittent fasting. At genus level, 16 h fasting led to increased level of Akkermansia and decreased level of Alistipes, but these effects disappeared after the cessation of fasting. No taxonomic differences were identified in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that intermittent fasting shapes gut microbiota in healthy mice, and the length of daily fasting interval may influence the outcome of intermittent fasting

Assessment of the Developmental Toxicity of Epidermal Growth Factor using Embryonic Stem Cell Test

Purpose: To determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) is involved in reproductive developmental toxicity, using the embryonic stem cell test (EST), as well as ascertain how EGF influences embryonic development.Methods: To predict developmental toxicity on the basis of reducing cell viability and inhibition of differentiation of embryonic stem cells, EST was used to assess changes in different blastodermic genes and expression of proteins including ectodermal-specific genes Pax6, NF-H and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), mesodermal-specific genes BMP4, GATA4, and MyoD, and endodermal-specific genes, viz, α-fetoprotein, transthyretin (TTR), and albumin, as well as undifferentiated genes, Nanog and Oct4.Results: The results indicate that EGF was weakly embryotoxic with IC50ESC (i.e., the concentration that reduced ESC viability by 50 %), IC503T3 (the concentration that reduced 3T3 cell viability by 50 %), and ID50ESC (the concentration that inhibited differentiation of ESC by 50 %) of 6.773, 10.531, and 1.793 μg/mL, respectively. The expression levels of tissue-specific genes of the three germ layers were mainly promoted by 0.01 - 1 μg/mL EGF. Distinctively, relatively high concentrations of EGF caused a discordant effect on the three germ layers. High concentrations of EGF promoted differentiation of the ectoderm and mesoderm, and either inhibited or had mostly no impact on the endoderm.Conclusion: The imbalance of the three layer-specific genes and expression of proteins, as a result of EGF, might be responsible for its weak level of developmental toxicity. The sensitivity of TTR means that further investigation is required to determine whether it can be used as an embryotoxicity biomarker for growth factors.Keywords: Embryonic stem cell test, Epidermal growth factor, Developmental toxicity, Germ layers, Blastodermic genes, Protein expressio

Evaluation of Embryotoxicity of Radix scutellariae Based on Embryonic Stem Test

Purpose: To determine the potential embryotoxicity of Radix scutellariae (RS) extract using an embryonic stem cell test (EST) and to evaluate its effect on the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells.Methods: All the test samples were obtained by water extraction method. The embryotoxicity of RS was assessed with cytotoxicity assays, namely, embryonic stem (ES) cells (IC50ES) and 3T3 fibroblasts (IC503T3), as well as cardiac differentiation inhibition assay (ID50ES). The expression of specific genes and proteins was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.Results: RS was weakly embryotoxic with IC50ES, IC503T3 and ID50ES of 0.1524, 0.1061, and 0.4169 mg/ml, respectively. Also RS had discordant effects on the expression of tissue-specific genes and proteins in three germ layers, promoting differentiation of the ectoderm (⋆p < 0.05; ⋆⋆p < 0.01) and endoderm (⋆p < 0.05; ⋆⋆p < 0.01; ⋆⋆⋆p < 0.001), while inhibiting mesoderm differentiation (⋆p < 0.05; ⋆⋆p < 0.01; ⋆⋆⋆p < 0.001). The effect of RS on the embryonic development of the three germ layers was concentration-dependent.Conclusion: These results indicate that RS possesses weak embryotoxicity. The variability in the effects of RS may be responsible for its weak embryotoxicity.Keywords: Embryonic stem test, Radix scutellariae, Embryotoxicity, Cardiac differentiation inhibition assay, Ectoderm, Endoderm, Mesoder

An Action-Based Fine-Grained Access Control Mechanism for Structured Documents and Its Application

This paper presents an action-based fine-grained access control mechanism for structured documents. Firstly, we define a describing model for structured documents and analyze the application scenarios. The describing model could support the permission management on chapters, pages, sections, words, and pictures of structured documents. Secondly, based on the action-based access control (ABAC) model, we propose a fine-grained control protocol for structured documents by introducing temporal state and environmental state. The protocol covering different stages from document creation, to permission specification and usage control are given by using the Z-notation. Finally, we give the implementation of our mechanism and make the comparisons between the existing methods and our mechanism. The result shows that our mechanism could provide the better solution of fine-grained access control for structured documents in complicated networks. Moreover, it is more flexible and practical

Secondary batteries with multivalent ions for energy storage

The use of electricity generated from clean and renewable sources, such as water, wind, or sunlight, requires efficiently distributed electrical energy storage by high-power and high-energy secondary batteries using abundant, low-cost materials in sustainable processes. American Science Policy Reports state that the next-generation “beyond-lithium” battery chemistry is one feasible solution for such goals. Here we discover new “multivalent ion” battery chemistry beyond lithium battery chemistry. Through theoretic calculation and experiment confirmation, stable thermodynamics and fast kinetics are presented during the storage of multivalent ions (Ni2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, or La3+ ions) in alpha type manganese dioxide. Apart from zinc ion battery, we further use multivalent Ni2+ ion to invent another rechargeable battery, named as nickel ion battery for the first time. The nickel ion battery generally uses an alpha type manganese dioxide cathode, an electrolyte containing Ni2+ ions, and Ni anode. The nickel ion battery delivers a high energy density (340 Wh kg-1, close to lithium ion batteries), fast charge ability (1 minute), and long cycle life (over 2200 times)

A New Experimental Technique for Applying Impulse Tension Loading

This paper deals with a new experimental technique for applying impulse tension loads. Briefly, the technique is based on the use of pulsed-magnetic-driven tension loading. Electromagnetic forming (EMF) can be quite effective in increasing the forming limits of metal sheets, such as aluminium and magnesium alloys. Yet, why the forming limit is increased is still an open question. One reason for this is the difficulty to let forming proceed on a certain influence monotonically: the main phenomena causing this increase in formability are considered to due to “body force” effect, inertia effect, changes in strain rate sensitivity. In this study, an impulse tension loading setup is presented. “Body force” effect and strain rate, which are known to be the two key factors leading to higher formability, can now be separated freely by our designed device. Reproducible and adjustable loading rate (80s-1~3267s-1) can be achieved by adjusting the discharge voltage and capacitance. The relation between the discharge voltage and strain rate was obtained with the help of finite element calculations and high-camera measurement results. The results of an exploratory experiment carried out on the designed device are presented for aluminum alloy AA5052 sheet. It shows that this technique could be used to study the dynamic response of sheets