LEGClust—A Clustering Algorithm Based on Layered Entropic Subgraphs

Hierarchical clustering is a stepwise clustering method usually based on proximity measures between objects or sets of objects from a given data set. The most common proximity measures are distance measures. The derived proximity matrices can be used to build graphs, which provide the basic structure for some clustering methods. We present here a new proximity matrix based on an entropic measure and also a clustering algorithm (LEGCIust) that builds layers of subgraphs based on this matrix and uses them and a hierarchical agglomerative clustering technique to form the clusters. Our approach capitalizes on both a graph structure and a hierarchical construction. Moreover, by using entropy as a proximity measure, we are able, with no assumption about the cluster shapes, to capture the local structure of the data, forcing the clustering method to reflect this structure. We present several experiments on artificial and real data sets that provide evidence on the superior performance of this new algorithm when compared with competing ones.     

LEGClust- a clustering algorithm based on layered entropic subgraphs.

Hierarchical clustering is a stepwise clustering method usually based on proximity measures between objects or sets of objects from a given data set. The most common proximity measures are distance measures. The derived proximity matrices can be used to build graphs, which provide the basic structure for some clustering methods. We present here a new proximity matrix based on an entropic measure and also a clustering algorithm (LEGClust) that builds layers of subgraphs based on this matrix, and uses them and a hierarchical agglomerative clustering technique to form the clusters. Our approach capitalizes on both a graph structure and a hierarchical construction. Moreover, by using entropy as a proximity measure we are able, with no assumption about the cluster shapes, to capture the local structure of the data, forcing the clustering method to reflect this structure. We present several experiments on artificial and real data sets that provide evidence on the superior performance of this new algorithm when compared with competing ones.     

An Abstract Reachability Approach by Combining HOL Induction and Multiway Decision Graphs

In this paper, we provide a necessary infrastructure to define an abstract state exploration in the HOL theorem prover. Our infrastructure is based on a deep embedding of the Multiway Decision Graphs (MDGs) theory in HOL. MDGs generalize Reduced Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (ROBDDs) to represent and manipulate a subset of first-order logic formulae. The MDGs embedding is based on the logical formulation of an MDG as Directed Formulae (DF). Then, the MDGs operations are defined and the correctness pro...     

Long short-term cognitive networks

Neural Computing and Applications - In this paper, we present a recurrent neural system named long short-term cognitive networks (LSTCNs) as a generalization of the short-term cognitive network...     

Psychosocial aspects of children and families treated with hemodialysis

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the selected psychosocial aspects of chronic kidney disease in children treated with hemodialysis (HD). Methods: The study included 25 children treated with HD aged 2 to 18 years and their parents. Data concerning the illness and socio‐demographic parameters was collected. We used the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for patients and for their parents the PedsQL‐proxy version, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12), Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), and the Caregivers Burden Scale (CBS) to evaluate health‐related quality of life (QoL) of HD children and their primary caregivers. Findings: In the PedsQL test, the QoL of HD children was lower than in healthy children. Children treated with HD assessed their QoL on the PedsQL questionnaire higher than the primary caregivers, on all subscales as well as an overall health‐related QoL. Scoring below 2 on the GHQ‐12 test was reported in 56% of mothers, which may indicate that psychological symptoms have intensified. There was no correlation between BSSS, CBS, and GHQ‐12. Discussion: The assessment of QoL in pediatric patients would allow for the earliest possible identification of their nonsomatic problems and irregularities. This could, consequently, contribute to improving QoL in both children with chronic kidney disease and their families.     

Biofunctionalized upconverting CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>:Yb,Tm nanoparticles for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis> detection and imaging

Versatile optimization of the synthesis method and composition of Yb3+ and Tm3+ co-doped CaF2 nanoparticles as well as a novel biofunctionalization method were developed and evaluated.Through multistep synthesis,the luminescence intensity of the Tm3+ activator was enhanced by more than 10-fold compared to standard one-step synthesis.The proposed methods were used to homogenously distribute the doping ions within the nanoparticle's volume and thus reduce luminescence quenching.Optimization of dopant ions concentration led to the selection of the most efficient visible and near-infrared up-converting nanoparticles,which were CaF2 doped with 10％ Yb3+ 0.05％ Tm3+ and 20％ Yb3+ 0.5％ Tm3+,respectively.To illustrate the suitability of the synthesized nanoparticles as bio-labels,a dedicated biofunctionalization method was used,and the nanoparticles were applied for labeling and imaging of Candida albicans cells.This method shows great promise because of extremely low background and high specificity because of the presence of the attached molecules.     

The influence of bile salts on the distribution of simvastatin in the octanol/buffer system

Abstract

Introduction: Distribution coefficient (D) is useful parameter for evaluating drugs permeability properties across biological membranes, which are of importance for drugs bioavailability. Given that bile acids are intensively studied as drug permeation-modifying and -solubilizing agents, the aim of this study was to estimate the influence of sodium salts of cholic (CA), deoxycholic (DCA) and 12-monoketocholic acids (MKC) on distribution coefficient of simvastatin (SV) (lactone [SVL] and acid form [SVA]) which is a highly lipophilic compound with extremely low water solubility and bioavailability.

Methods: LogD values of SVA and SVL with or without bile salts were measured by liquid–liquid extraction in n-octanol/buffer systems at pH 5 and 7.4. SV concentrations in aqueous phase were determined by HPLC-DAD. Chem3D Ultra program was applied for computation of physico-chemical properties of analyzed compounds and their complexes.

Results: Statistically significant decrease in both SVA and SVL logD was observed for all three studied bile salts at both selected pH. MKC exerted the most pronounced effect in the case of SVA while there were no statistically significant differences between observed bile salts for SVL. The calculated physico-chemical properties of analyzed compounds and their complexes supported experimental results.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that the addition of bile salts into the n-octanol/buffer system decreases the values of SV distribution coefficient at both studied pH values. This may be the result of the formation of hydrophilic complexes increasing the solubility of SV that could consequently impact the pharmacokinetic parameters of SV and the final drug response in patients.     

功能需求与用户体验下的快递包装设计研究

目的针对目前快递包装在功能上发生的新变化,研究基于功能需求与用户体验的快递包装的设计策略,力求增加快递包装的适用性和附加价值,减少包装物废弃和资源浪费。方法秉承减量化和可循环的绿色包装设计理念,分析快递包装的功能变化与用户体验等层次的要求。结论基于功能需求与用户体验来进行的快递包装创新设计,需要外观设计独特,有趣味;信息传达智能化、突出品牌;结构设计注重保护性、针对性和便利性;通过趣味设计,交互体验,情感共鸣,来拓展快递包装的用途。     

科技论文参考文献著录的规范表达

依据ＧＢ７７１４－８７《文后参考文献著录规则》,对３９０篇来稿所引用的参考文献进行统计,分析了几种不规范的著录方式,并给出正确的表达方法,可为科技论文写作者及科技期刊编缉提供参考。     

Veal colour assessment with three wavelengths

A method to derive reflectance spectra and colour coordinates of meat by measurement of reflectance at only three wavelengths, 480, 570 and 620 nm has been developed, by treating the spectra of a meat sample as a linear combination of the spectra of the three major myoglobin derivatives (reduced myoglobin, oxymyoglobin and metmyoglobin). Applied to 300 samples of Semitendinosus and Longissimus dorsi veal muscles at different times post mortem (24 h to 9 d), colour differences ΔE (?) between the derived spectra and the real ones were about 1.5 units. The total pigment content, with high correlation with the extraction method (P < 0.02), and the relative proportions of the derivatives can also be estimated.