Hierarchical Change Point Detection on Dynamic Networks

This paper studies change point detection on networks with community structures. It proposes a framework that can detect both local and global changes in networks efficiently. Importantly, it can clearly distinguish the two types of changes. The framework design is generic and as such several state-of-the-art change point detection algorithms can fit in this design. Experiments on both synthetic and real-world networks show that this framework can accurately detect changes while achieving up to 800X speedup.Comment: 9 pages, ACM WebSci'1

Increased TGFβ1 and SMAD3 Contribute to Age-Related Aortic Valve Calcification

AimsCalcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive heart disease that is particularly prevalent in elderly patients. The current treatment of CAVD is surgical valve replacement, but this is not a permanent solution, and it is very challenging for elderly patients. Thus, a pharmacological intervention for CAVD may be beneficial. In this study, we intended to rescue aortic valve (AV) calcification through inhibition of TGFβ1 and SMAD3 signaling pathways.Methods and ResultsThe klotho gene, which was discovered as an aging-suppressor gene, has been observed to play a crucial role in AV calcification. The klotho knockout (Kl–/–) mice have shorter life span (8–12 weeks) and develop severe AV calcification. Here, we showed that increased TGFβ1 and TGFβ-dependent SMAD3 signaling were associated with AV calcification in Kl–/– mice. Next, we generated Tgfb1- and Smad3-haploinsufficient Kl–/– mice to determine the contribution of TGFβ1 and SMAD3 to the AV calcification in Kl–/– mice. The histological and morphometric evaluation suggested a significant reduction of AV calcification in Kl–/–; Tgfb1± mice compared to Kl–/– mice. Smad3 heterozygous deletion was observed to be more potent in reducing AV calcification in Kl–/– mice compared to the Kl–/–; Tgfb1± mice. We observed significant inhibition of Tgfb1, Pai1, Bmp2, Alk2, Spp1, and Runx2 mRNA expression in Kl–/–; Tgfb1± and Kl–/–; Smad3± mice compared to Kl–/– mice. Western blot analysis confirmed that the inhibition of TGFβ canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways were associated with the rescue of AV calcification of both Kl–/–; Tgfb1± and Kl–/–; Smad3± mice.ConclusionOverall, inhibition of the TGFβ1-dependent SMAD3 signaling pathway significantly blocks the development of AV calcification in Kl–/– mice. This information is useful in understanding the signaling mechanisms involved in CAVD

Kinetics of phase ordering of nematic liquid crystals in a confined geometry

Employing a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model, we investigate the phase ordering kinetics of nematic liquid crystals confined in a narrow pore. We consider various orientations of the surface field and compute domain growth laws and scaling functions. In the absence of any anchoring field we find that (and in contrast to a confined binary liquid mixture) mere confinement of the liquid crystals is insufficient to produce slow growth of the nematic domains owing to the vector nature of the order parameter. In the presence of a strong homogeneous anchoring, the system quickly reaches a nematic state. On the other hand, for homeotropic anchoring, the liquid crystal takes on an XY character and the growth law exponent crosses over from 1/2 to 1/4 as the field strength is increased

Phase separation in binary mixtures confined in a strip geometry

We study the kinetics of phase separation of a model binary fluid confined within a narrow strip in two dimensions by numerically integrating the Cahn-Hilliard-Cook equation. We explore the systematics of the time evolution of domain shapes as a function of temperature and wetting field. The domains exhibit similar configurations as seen in recent Monte Carlo simulations of a related lattice model. We provide a quantitative estimate of the breakdown of power-law growth of domains once the domain size becomes comparable with the strip width, and show the relevance of the model to domain growth in Vycor glasses. Next we argue for the incorporation of an anisotropic kinetic coefficient in the coarse-grained dynamical equations. We find that even the slightest amount of anisotropy modifies the shapes of domains drastically and allows for complete phase separation

Diagnostic value of serum adenosine deaminase in Type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is suggested to modulate the bioactivity of insulin, but its clinical significance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is not yet established. The present study was undertaken to evaluate serum ADA activity and serum uric acid levels in patients of Type 2 DM. Aim: To evaluate the serum ADA level and to correlate ADA levels with Blood Glucose, Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in Type-2 DM patients. Material and Method: It is a case control study. The subjects in this study were divided into 3 groups. Group I consisted of 50 normal healthy individuals who served as controls with no history of DM. Group II consisted of 50 patients of Type 2 DM both males & females in the age group of 40-65 years on oral hypoglycemic drugs with HbA1c <7%. Group III consisted of 50 patients of Type 2 DM both males & females in the age group of 40-65 years on oral hypoglycemic drugs with HbA1c >7 %. Serum levels of fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, ADA and uric acid were estimated in all the subjects. Results: FBS, HbA1c, ADA and serum uric acid levels were found to be increased in the patients of Type 2 DM as compared with controls. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is an increase in serum ADA levels with increase in HbA1c levels. Serum uric acid levels increased with moderately increasing levels of HbA1c <7% and then decreased with further increasing levels of HbA1c >7% (a bell-shaped relation)

Dynamics of phase ordering of nematics in a pore

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR). Biblioteca Centrale / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal