Complement Method Research Articles

Anti-apoptotic effect of exercise on neuropsychiatric disorders.

Despite the remarkable advance in medicine and science, the complete cure of neuropsychiatric disorders is still a challenging task. In the aging society, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease has rapidly been increased. The complex relationship of the community members induces serious mental diseases including depression. Increment in the developmental disabilities causes not only personal suffering but also many social problems. In order to aid in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, the need for the alternative and complement methods has been raised. Exercise is hobby in humans and it also serves as the technology in the games such as Olympics. Exercise is known to exert many beneficial effects on health. Exercise increase cardiovascular function, decreases body fat, and reduces the incidence of metabolic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that exercise improves learning ability and memory function, protects against neurodegenerative diseases, delays age-related cognitive decline, and alleviates symptoms of the developmental disorders. Exercise exerts neuroprotective effects through enhancing neurogenesis, increasing neurotrophic factors’ expression, and inhibiting apoptosis. With the enhancing effect on neurogenesis, the suppressing effect on apoptosis is the most striking effect of exercise on neuropsychiatric disorders. Apoptosis, known as programmed cell death, is a highly regulated process that enables the body to eliminate unwanted or dysfunctional cells. However, inappropriate or excessive apoptosis is a component of many neurodegenerative conditions. Through our studies, suppressing effect of exercise on neuronal apoptosis has been demonstrated. Treadmill exercise promoted the recovery of motor function by suppressing apoptosis in the injured spinal cord (Jung et al., 2014). Kim et al. (2013) reported that exercise inhibited hippocampal apoptosis under the brain inflammatory conditions. Treadmill exercise inhibited apoptotic dopaminergic neuronal loss through suppressing microglial activation in Parkinson’s disease mice (Sung et al., 2012). Anti-apoptotic effect of exercise contributed to the improvement of depressive symptoms (Baek et al., 2012). Treadmill exercise could overcome traumatic brain injury by suppressing apoptosis in the hippocampus (Kim et al., 2010a). Treadmill exercise suppressed aging-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus, resulting in alleviation of memory impairment (Kim et al., 2010b). Treadmill exercise exerted as the mediator enhancing survival of Purkinje neurons in traumatic brain injury-induced indirect cerebellar injury (Seo et al., 2010). In our studies, the therapeutic efficacy of treadmill exercise can be ascribed to the anti-apoptotic effect of exercise. Based on the previous studies, it is possible that exercise might be considered as the therapeutic modality for many neuropsychiatric disorders.

A cautionary note on the use of split-YFP/BiFC in plant protein-protein interaction studies.

Since its introduction in plants 10 years ago, the bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) method, or split-YFP (yellow fluorescent protein), has gained popularity within the plant biology field as a method to study protein-protein interactions. BiFC is based on the restoration of fluorescence after the two non-fluorescent halves of a fluorescent protein are brought together by a protein-protein interaction event. The major drawback of BiFC is that the fluorescent protein halves are prone to self-assembly independent of a protein-protein interaction event. To circumvent this problem, several modifications of the technique have been suggested, but these modifications have not lead to improvements in plant BiFC protocols. Therefore, it remains crucial to include appropriate internal controls. Our literature survey of recent BiFC studies in plants shows that most studies use inappropriate controls, and a qualitative rather than quantitative read-out of fluorescence. Therefore, we provide a cautionary note and beginner’s guideline for the setup of BiFC experiments, discussing each step of the protocol, including vector choice, plant expression systems, negative controls, and signal detection. In addition, we present our experience with BiFC with respect to self-assembly, peptide linkers, and incubation temperature. With this note, we aim to provide a guideline that will improve the quality of plant BiFC experiments.

Scalable hybrid implementation of the Schur complement method for multi-GPU systems

This paper presents a new hybrid solver based on the Schur complement method, in which computations are distributed between multiple CPUs and GPUs. In this solver, the Schur complement is formed either on CPUs (for small problems) or on GPUs (for large problems). The interface system is solved by a new multi-GPU algorithm implementing the conjugate gradient method with explicit preconditioning. Numerical simulations performed on a hybrid multi-core multi-GPU cluster demonstrate scalability and efficiency of the proposed algorithms.

Domain Decomposition Algorithms for Edge Element Based Parabolic Type Problems

Today, a huge amount of interest in new actuators and a correspondingly huge pressure on companies and research centers to develop the most efficient, cost-effective electric design of the actuators for electric vehicles. However, the design and analysis of actuators is very complex task, thus need the help of multiprocessor computers to run efficient computations. This work analyzes the use of two non-overlapping domain decomposition methods (DDMs) in order to improve the calculation behaviour of finite element method (FEM) with edge element approximation. In this case, the DDMs under investigation are the Schur complement method and the Lagrange multiplier based Finite Element Tearing and Interconnecting (FETI) method with their algorithms. The performance of these methods and solvers have been investigated in detail for two-dimensional parabolic type problems as case studies.

Two Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases, MPK3 and MPK6, Are Required for Funicular Guidance of Pollen Tubes in Arabidopsis

Double fertilization in flowering plants requires the delivery of two immotile sperm cells to the female gametes by a pollen tube, which perceives guidance cues, modifies its tip growth direction, and eventually enters the micropyle of the ovule. In spite of the recent progress, so far, little is known about the signaling events in pollen tubes in response to the guidance cues. Here, we show that MPK3 and MPK6, two Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mitogen-activated protein kinases, mediate the guidance response in pollen tubes. Genetic analysis revealed that mpk3 mpk6 double mutant pollen has reduced transmission. However, direct observation of mpk3 mpk6 mutant pollen phenotype was hampered by the embryo lethality of double homozygous mpk3-/- mpk6-/- plants. Utilizing a fluorescent reporter-tagged complementation method, we showed that the mpk3 mpk6 mutant pollen had normal pollen tube growth but impaired pollen tube guidance. In vivo pollination assays revealed that the mpk3 mpk6 mutant pollen tubes were defective in the funicular guidance phase. By contrast, semi-in vitro guidance assay showed that the micropylar guidance of the double mutant pollen tube was normal. Our results provide direct evidence to support that the funicular guidance phase of the pollen tube requires an in vivo signaling mechanism distinct from the micropyle guidance. Moreover, our finding opened up the possibility that the MPK3/MPK6 signaling pathway may link common signaling networks in plant stress response and pollen-pistil interaction.

The Cumulative Risk of Multiple CT Exposures Using Two Different Methods

The aim of this study was to compare the summing method (A) with the complement method (B) for calculating the cumulative lifetime-attributable-risk (LAR(tot)) of tumor incidence and mortality of multiple CT exposures. Method A defines LAR(tot) as the summation of the risk of each separate exposure. Method B was defined as the complement of the probability of inducing no cancer in N separate exposures. The risk of each separate exposure was estimated using dose, gender, and age at exposure (BEIR VII phase 2). Both methods were compared in a simulation and applied to a database of 11,884 patients exposed to multiple CTs. The relative difference between the methods was defined as ΔP%. Simulation confirmed that Method A always overestimates LAR(tot). ΔP% was proportional to the dose per exposure and the number of exposures. The differences between Methods A and B were small. Average LAR(tot) of tumor incidence was 0.140% (Method A) and 0.139% (Method B) with maxima of 5.70% and 5.56%, respectively. Average LAR(tot) of mortality was 0.085% for both methods, with maxima of 2.20% and 2.18%, respectively. ΔP% was highest (2.43%) for a female patient (3-y old) exposed to eight recurrent scans and a cumulative dose of 144 mSv. Although Method B is more accurate, both methods can be used to estimate the cumulative risk of multiple CT exposures. These results have to be interpreted, however, in the perspective of the uncertainties in the cancer risk model, which have been estimated at a factor of 2 or 3.

Parallel iterative solution of the Hermite Collocation equations on GPUs II

Hermite Collocation is a high order finite element method for Boundary Value Problems modelling applications in several fields of science and engineering. Application of this integration free numerical solver for the solution of linear BVPs results in a large and sparse general system of algebraic equations, suggesting the usage of an efficient iterative solver especially for realistic simulations. In part I of this work an efficient parallel algorithm of the Schur complement method coupled with Bi-Conjugate Gradient Stabilized (BiCGSTAB) iterative solver has been designed for multicore computing architectures with a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). In the present work the proposed algorithm has been extended for high performance computing environments consisting of multiprocessor machines with multiple GPUs. Since this is a distributed GPU and shared CPU memory parallel architecture, a hybrid memory treatment is needed for the development of the parallel algorithm. The realization of the algorithm took place on a multiprocessor machine HP SL390 with Tesla M2070 GPUs using the OpenMP and OpenACC standards. Execution time measurements reveal the efficiency of the parallel implementation.

Rancang Bangun Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Dalam Mata Pelajaran Fisika Sekolah Menengah Atas

Strategy of using of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) as learning media is needed for solving problems that rise in learning process. Good learning packaging give positive effect in improving human potency. CAI as learning media based on computer microprocessor is built as complement and support learning method that usually use lecturing method, information discussion, and presentation. The goal of this research is design and build interactive learning media CAI by multimedia technology. Result of this research is CAI visualisation by tutorial model and simulation as physics learning media by computer for senior high school students, XI Grade. This research involve a number of 8 teachers and 90 student XI Grade as respondents. Respondents questionnaire result show that 91.11% of students state that CAI product is qualified, 75.11% of students state that material presentation are qualified, 95.11% of students state that CAI program can increase study motivation. Keywords : Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI); Learning Media; Multimedia; Physics.

Design of Digital Arithmetic Circuit Using Excess-3 Code & 9’S Complement Method

This paper presents a technique to design an Excess-3 Arithmetic circuit capable of doing addition and subtraction operation using 9's complement method. The explored method of the circuit of 9's complement method along with the conventional adder-subtractor composite unit achieves the design to get perfect result. By this circuit we can add or subtract any two numbers with any sign in an efficient way by using Excess-3 arithmetic process without employing the human brain.

BOSNIAN LANGUAGE AND ITS INAUGURATION: THE FATE OF THE FORMER SERBOCROAT OR CROATOSERB LANGUAGE

The study examines the fate of the Serbo-Croatian or Croat-Serbian language after the dissolution of the former common state of South Slavs, excluding Bulgarians, in 1991 with the main emphasis on the phenomenon of inauguration and promotion of the Bosnian language, which is one of the youngest Slavic and European languages today. The aim of this study is to present the development of the successor languages of the Serbo-Croatian or Croat-Serbian language with the main focus on Bosnian which was officially inaugurated in 1996 and up to now is spoken by the Muslim South Slavs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sandžak region divided between Serbia and Montenegro. However, the speakers of the Bosnian language identify themselves as the Bosniaks, but not as the Bosnians in the ethno-national sense. The specificity of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian ethno-linguistic situation in the last two decades is marked by the fact that in this republic officially three ethnic languages (Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian) are spoken although supporters of the Bosnian language try to prove that the mother tongue of all inhabitants of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sandžak (Raska) region is only Bosnian. The specific position of the Bosnian language among all Slavic languages is visible through the fact that its name is different from the name of the state (Bosnia-Herzegovina) in which it is spoken as well as from the name of the nation who speaks it (Bosniaks). From the linguistic point of view, after the dissolution of the Socialist Yugoslavia, the Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin and Serbian languages continue to use one linguistic system, but from the sociolinguistic point, we can speak about four internationally recognized independent languages. It is a matter of “linguistic engineering” to create more factual differences in syntax, vocabulary, orthography and grammar among the four only de jure separated languages in order that they become de facto different languages. The three languages (Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian), emerging on the grounds of the ex-Serbo-Croatian or Croat-Serbian language in Bosnia-Herzegovina, are standardized on the basis of the ijekavian dialect which is a common component that still connects them into a single linguistic system. However, it is expected that in the future the technology of “linguistic engineering” will focus on the creation of “ethnic” differences within this common dialect. In this short analysis of the sociolinguistic aspect of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, with the emphasis on the inauguration of the Bosnian language, a comparative method and the method of text analysis are used as a form of sociolinguistic penetration into the role and function of the language in the creation of national identity and in setting nation-state boundaries. In addition, we used a method of the mutual complement of the data from sources and literature.

A novel pair of split venus fragments to detect protein-protein interactions by in vitro and in vivo bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays.

Protein-protein interactions are critical components of almost every cellular process. The bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) method has been used to detect protein-protein interactions in both living cells and cell-free systems. The BiFC method is based on the principle that a fluorescent protein is reassembled from its two complementary non-fluorescent fragments when an interaction occurs between two proteins, each one fused to each fragment. In vivo and in vitro BiFC assays, which use a new pair of split Venus fragments composed of VN210 (amino acids 1-210) and VC210 (amino acids 210-238), are useful tools to detect and quantify various protein-protein interactions (including the cofilin-actin and Ras-Raf interactions) with high specificity and low background fluorescence. Moreover, these assays can be applied to screen small-molecule inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.

Creativity - Lost in Simplification?

A B S T R A C T The target article claims that creativity research is in crisis, which is associated with the excessive oversimplification employed in quantitative creativity research. We oppose this view by showing that lab measures of creative cognitive po- tential are valid with respect to real-life creativity and hence represent a valuable means of empirical creativity research. Neuroscientific research in particular, which is often viewed as a considerably artificial paradigm for the study of creativi- ty, is a powerful complemental method to unveil basic cogni- tive mechanisms (e.g., attention and memory processes) involved in creative thought and to extend our understanding of the creating brain. Conceptual clarity and methodological rigor necessarily go along with simplification in natural sci- ence, which does not generally forfeit validity but rather facil- itates the cumulative gain of dependable knowledge. This is particularly important for creativity research, a discipline that risks being seen as an immature science when it attempts to explain more than it actually can.

Schur complement method with iterative solver for 2D field- circuit coupling finite element problem with movement

The analysis and design of electromechanical devices involve the solution of large sparse linear systems, and require therefore high performance algorithms. In this paper, the Schur complement method with parallel preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) solver is introduced in two-dimensional parallel time-stepping finite element formulation to analyse rotating machine considering the electromagnetic field, external circuit and rotor movement. The proposed parallel solver is analysed concerning its computational efficiency and number of iterations. Simulation results of a rotating machine are also presented. Streszczenie. Analiza i projektowanie urządzen elektromechanicznych zawierają rozwiązanie duzych ukladow rownan z macierzami rzadkimi, i dlatego wymagają algorytmow o wysokiej wydajności. W artykule metode uzupelnien Schura z algorytmem opartym na metodzie gradientow sprzezonych wprowadzono do dwuwymiarowego, rownoleglego, czasowokrokowego sformulowania elementow skonczonych do analizy maszyny elektrycznej od strony pola elektromagnetycznego, obwodu elektrycznego zewnetrznego oraz ruchu wirnika. Proponowany rownolegly algorytm zostal poddany analizie pod kątem jego wydajności obliczeniowej, oraz liczby iteracji. Rezultaty symulacji maszyny wirującej są takze przytoczone. (Metoda uzupelnienia Schura z iteracyjnym algorytmem dla dwuwymiarowego obwodowo-polowego sprzezonego elementowo- skonczeniowego problemu z uwzglednieniem ruchu).

A mild removal of Fmoc group using sodium azide

A mild method for effectively removing the fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group using sodium azide was developed. Without base, sodium azide completely deprotected N (α)-Fmoc-amino acids in hours. The solvent-dependent conditions were carefully studied and then optimized by screening different sodium azide amounts and reaction temperatures. A variety of Fmoc-protected amino acids containing residues masked with different protecting groups were efficiently and selectively deprotected by the optimized reaction. Finally, a biologically significant hexapeptide, angiotensin IV, was successfully synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis using the developed sodium azide method for all Fmoc removals. The base-free condition provides a complement method for Fmoc deprotection in peptide chemistry and modern organic synthesis.

Performance study of domain decomposition methods for 2D parallel finite element analysis

The aim of this paper is to give a unified comparison of non-overlapping domain decomposition methods for solving magnetic field problems. The methods under investigation are the Schur complement method and the Lagrange multiplier based finite element tearing and interconnecting method, and their solvers. The performance of these methods has been investigated in detail for two-dimensional magnetic field problems as case studies.

Interkingdom complementation reveals structural conservation and functional divergence of 14-3-3 proteins.

The 14-3-3s are small acidic cytosolic proteins that interact with multiple clients and participate in essential cellular functions in all eukaryotes. Available structural and functional information about 14-3-3s is largely derived from higher eukaryotes, which contain multiple members of this protein family suggesting functional specialization. The exceptional sequence conservation among 14-3-3 family members from diverse species suggests a common ancestor for 14-3-3s, proposed to have been similar to modern 14-3-3ε isoforms. Structural features of the sole family member from the protozoan Giardia duodenalis (g14-3-3), are consistent with this hypothesis, but whether g14-3-3 is functionally homologous to the epsilon isoforms is unknown. We use inter-kingdom reciprocal functional complementation and biochemical methods to determine whether g14-3-3 is structurally and functionally homologous with members of the two 14-3-3 conservation groups of the metazoan Drosophila melanogaster. Our results indicate that although g14-3-3 is structurally homologous to D14-3-3ε, functionally it diverges presenting characteristics of other 14-3-3s. Given the basal position of Giardia in eukaryotic evolution, this finding is consistent with the hypothesis that 14-3-3ε isoforms are ancestral to other family members.

Non-Born-Oppenheimer potential energy curve: Hydrogen molecular ion with highly accurate free complement method

Although the concept of a potential energy curve (PEC) originates from the outgrowth of the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation, we propose the application of analysis methods for the physical PEC with non-Born-Oppenheimer (non-BO) wave functions. A numerical examination was performed with the highly accurate non-BO vibronic wave functions of hydrogen molecular ion, which were obtained in our previous studies with the free complement method. The reduced density function integrated over the electron coordinates plays an important role in understanding nuclear motion dynamics, since it corresponds to the wave function density of the vibrational and rotational motions. The maximum positions of this density indicate the high existence probability of nuclei and can be considered as a discrete representation of the PEC. Whereas an ordinary PEC with the BO approximation is obtained as a numeric curve after multiple electronic state calculations at fixed nuclear coordinates, we propose a new analytical expression of the PEC from a non-BO wave function.

SOLVING THE NON-BORN-OPPENHEIMER SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION FOR THE HYDROGEN MOLECULAR ION WITH THE FREE COMPLEMENT METHOD. II. HIGHLY ACCURATE ELECTRONIC, VIBRATIONAL, AND ROTATIONAL EXCITED STATES

Highly accurate wave functions of the ground and electronic (1s ? g and 3d ? g ), vibrational (v = 0-15 for 1s ? g and v = 0-8 for 3d ? g ), and rotational (L = 0-6: 1 S, 3 P, 1 D, 3 F, 1 G, 3 H, and 1 I) excited states of the hydrogen molecular ion were obtained by solving the non-Born-Oppenheimer (non-BO) Schr?dinger equation using the free complement (FC) method. The vibronic states belonging to the electronic excited state 3d ? g are embedded in the continuum of the dissociation, H(1s) + H+. Nevertheless, they exist as physical bound states that have negligible coupling with the continuum. The complex scaled Hamiltonian was employed to analyze the bound and/or resonance natures of the obtained eigenstates, and a new resonance state appeared between the above two electronic states. We numerically proved that the FC method is a reliable theoretical tool for investigating non-BO quantum effects, and it should be available for various studies of hydrogen-related space chemistry and low-temperature physics.

SU‐E‐T‐593: Comparison of Three IMRT Adaptive Methods: The Case of Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Independant movements of prostate and pelvic lymph nodes during IMRT can limit margin reduction and affect the protection of organs‐at‐risk (OAR). In this study we perform an analysis of three adaptive treatments that combine information from both bony and gold marker registrations. The efficiency of those treatments against interfraction prostate movements was evaluated. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on four prostate cancer patients with 5 to 10 daily CBCTs. Clinical target volumes (CTVs) consisting of pelvic lymph nodes, prostate and seminal vesicles (SV) and OAR were delineated on each CBCT and on the initial CT. Three adaptive methods were analyzed. Two methods relied on a double patient positioning at each fraction. For these, nodal CTVs prescription was delivered on bony registration. Gold markers match was then used either to: (1) complete the dose delivered to prostate and SV (Complement); (2) give almost the entire prescription to prostate and SV with slow gradient between targets to compensate for motions (Controlled Gradient). The third method (COR) used a pool of pre‐calculated plans from anterior fractions where the plan with the prostate center of mass closest to the daily anatomy was chosen. Adaptive techniques were compared to the standard non‐corrected CT plan. Results: With adaptive techniques, prostate and SV V(100%) is improved by 4% compared to non‐corrective method. This improvement does not Result in dose increase to OAR. EUD to bladder is reduced with an average reduction of 15% for COR. Conclusion: Because of their increase in CTV coverage and OAR sparing, COR and Complement methods may be good candidates for simple and effective adaptive treatment strategies for prostate cancer. Further improvements may be obtained by tuning CTV margins. A cumulative dose to simulate a complete treatment will show real effects and allow better comparison between each method. Ministere de la Sante et des Services Sociaux

A fast parallel algorithm for solving block-tridiagonal systems of linear equations including the domain decomposition method

In this study, we develop a new parallel algorithm for solving systems of linear algebraic equations with the same block-tridiagonal matrix but with different right-hand sides. The method is a generalization of the parallel dichotomy algorithm for solving systems of linear equations with tridiagonal matrices \cite{terekhov:Dichotomy}. Using this approach, we propose a parallel realization of the domain decomposition method (\mbox{the Schur} complement method). The calculation of acoustic wave fields using the spectral-difference technique improves the efficiency of the parallel algorithms. A near-linear dependence of the speedup with the number of processors is attained using both several and several thousands of processors. This study is innovative because the parallel algorithm developed for solving block-tridiagonal systems of equations is an effective and simple set of procedures for solving engineering tasks on a supercomputer.