Time-sensitivity-aware shared cache architecture for multi-core embedded systems

The Journal of Supercomputing - In embedded systems such as automotive systems, multi-core processors are expected to improve performance and reduce manufacturing cost by integrating multiple...     

Basic Oxygen Furnace: Assessment of Recent Physicochemical Models

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Modeling of the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process, both for online monitoring and fundamental research, has gained importance in steelmaking industry...     

Hybrid Segmentation Scheme for Skin Features Extraction Using Dermoscopy Images

Objective and quantitative assessment of skin conditions is essential for cosmeceutical studies and research on skin aging and skin regeneration. Various handcraft-based image processing methods have been proposed to evaluate skin conditions objectively, but they have unavoidable disadvantages when used to analyze skin features accurately. This study proposes a hybrid segmentation scheme consisting of Deeplab v3+ with an Inception-ResNet-v2 backbone, LightGBM, and morphological processing (MP) to overcome the shortcomings of handcraft-based approaches. First, we apply Deeplab v3+ with an Inception-ResNet-v2 backbone for pixel segmentation of skin wrinkles and cells. Then, LightGBM and MP are used to enhance the pixel segmentation quality. Finally, we determine several skin features based on the results of wrinkle and cell segmentation. Our proposed segmentation scheme achieved a mean accuracy of 0.854, mean of intersection over union of 0.749, and mean boundary F1 score of 0.852, which achieved 1.1%, 6.7%, and 14.8% improvement over the panoptic-based semantic segmentation method, respectively.     

A new one-phase material model for the numerical prediction of critical material flow conditions in thixoforging processes

Thixoforging allows one-step forming processes of near-net shape components having excellent mechanical properties. However, the high sensitivity of thixoforging regarding process conditions requires precise modelling and determination of process related parameters. At the same time, simple numerical design proves challenging because of the inaccuracy of existing one-phase material models regarding the shear thinning flow behaviour of semi solid metals. Consequently, this paper deals with the development of a new one-phase material model providing a more precise simulation of materials’ shear rate dependency. By using this model, simulations could be performed, which allowed the prediction of solidification and flow-related component defects.     

Possibility of Japanese Cedar Pollen Causing False Positives in the Deep Mycosis Test

Because Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) contains beta-1,3-d-glucan (BG), there is concern that its lingering presence in the atmosphere, especially during its scattering period, may cause false positives in the factor-G-based Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay used to test for deep mycosis (i.e., G-test). Hence, we examined whether the LAL assay would react positively with substances contained in JCP by using the G-test to measure JCP particles and extracts. BG was purified from the JCP extract on a BG-specific affinity column, and the percentage extractability was measured using three different BG-specific quantitative methods. The G-test detected 0.4 pg BG in a single JCP particle and 10 fg from a single particle in the extract. The percentage extractability of JCP-derived BG was not significantly different among the three quantitative methods. As the JCP particles should technically have been removed during serum separation, they should be less likely to be a direct false-positive factor. However, given that the LAL-assay-positive substances in the JCP extract were not distinguishable by the three BG-specific quantitative methods, we conclude that they may cause the background to rise. Therefore, in Japan false positives arising from JCP contamination should be considered when testing patients for deep mycosis.     

Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Evernic Acid in an MPTP-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Model

Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), which suggests that anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory compounds might provide an alternative treatment for PD. Here, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of evernic aid (EA), which was screened from a lichen library provided by the Korean Lichen Research Institute at Sunchon National University. EA is a secondary metabolite generated by lichens, including Ramalina, Evernia, and Hypogymnia, and several studies have described its anticancer, antifungal, and antimicrobial effects. However, the neuroprotective effects of EA have not been studied. We found that EA protected primary cultured neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridium (MPP⁺)-induced cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress, and effectively reduced MPP⁺-induced astroglial activation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. In vivo, EA ameliorated MPTP-induced motor dysfunction, dopaminergic neuronal loss, and neuroinflammation in the nigrostriatal pathway in C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that EA has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in PD models and suggest that EA is a potential therapeutic candidate for PD.     

How do Virtual Badges Incentivize Voluntary Contributions to Online Communities?

Online communities rely heavily on badges to incentivize users to participate in voluntary activities. We examine the relationship between earned badges/pursued badges and contributions in the Stack Overflow question and answer community. Our main results reveal that different levels of earned and pursued badges increase the amount of subsequent answering activity. In addition, earned gold badges are the most influential in the motivation of users while earned bronze badges are the least impactful. Furthermore, the effect of badges involves positive spillovers from higher levels of earned badges to lower ones. Our findings offer important theoretical and managerial implications for online communities.     

Differences in indentation and wear behaviors between the two sides of thermally tempered soda lime silica glass

Thermal tempering is an industrial process widely used to make soda lime silica (SLS) glass panels stronger and tougher. During the tempering process, the upper and bottom sides of the glass may experience different cooling rates, and thus, their properties could be different. This study characterized changes in surface composition and subsurface glass network structures as well as indentation and wear resistance properties of the air- and tin-sides of 6-mm-thick SLS window panels faced toward the upper and sliding roller sides during thermal tempering. The results showed that although the chemical and structural differences detected with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and specular reflection infrared spectroscopy are subtle, there are large differences in nanoindentation behaviors and mechanochemical wear properties of the SLS glass surface. The findings of this study provide further insights into the performance difference between the air- and tin-sides of the SLS glass panel treated with thermal tempering.     

Phenotypic Discovery of SB1501, an Anti-obesity Agent,through Modulating Mitochondrial Activity

Obesity has become a pandemic that threatens the quality of life and discovering novel therapeutic agents that can reverse obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders are necessary. Here, we aimed to identify new anti-obesity agents using a phenotype-based approach. We performed image-based high-content screening with a fluorogenic bioprobe (SF44), which visualizes cellular lipid droplets (LDs), to identify initial hit compounds. A structure-activity relationship study led us to yield a bioactive compound SB1501, which reduces cellular LDs in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without cytotoxicity. SB1501 induced the expression of gene products that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Daily treatment with SB1501 improved the metabolic states of db/db mice by reducing body fat mass, adipose tissue mass, food intake, and increasing glucose tolerance. The anti-obesity effect of SB1501 may result from perturbation of the PGC-1α–UCP1 regulatory axis in inguinal white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue. These data suggest the therapeutic potential of SB1501 as an anti-obesity agent via modulating mitochondrial activities.