Exploring brain connectivity with two-dimensional neural maps

We introduce two-dimensional neural maps for exploring connectivity in the brain. For this, we create standard streamtube models from diffusion-weighted brain imaging data sets along with neural paths hierarchically projected into the plane. These planar neural maps combine desirable properties of low-dimensional representations, such as visual clarity and ease of tract-of-interest selection, with the anatomical familiarity of 3D brain models and planar sectional views. We distribute this type of visualization both in a traditional stand-alone interactive application and as a novel, lightweight web-accessible system. The web interface integrates precomputed neural-path representations into a geographical digital-maps framework with associated labels, metrics, statistics, and linkouts. Anecdotal and quantitative comparisons of the present method with a recently proposed 2D point representation suggest that our representation is more intuitive and easier to use and learn. Similarly, users are faster and more accurate in selecting bundles using the 2D path representation than the 2D point representation. Finally, expert feedback on the web interface suggests that it can be useful for collaboration as well as quick exploration of data.     

A new ECG beat clustering method based on kernelized fuzzy c-means and hybrid ant colony optimization for continuous domains

The kernelized fuzzy c-means algorithm uses kernel methods to improve the clustering performance of the well known fuzzy c-means algorithm by mapping a given dataset into a higher dimensional space non-linearly. Thus, the newly obtained dataset is more likely to be linearly seprable. However, to further improve the clustering performance, an optimization method is required to overcome the drawbacks of the traditional algorithms such as, sensitivity to initialization, trapping into local minima and lack of prior knowledge for optimum paramaters of the kernel functions. In this paper, to overcome these drawbacks, a new clustering method based on kernelized fuzzy c-means algorithm and a recently proposed ant based optimization algorithm, hybrid ant colony optimization for continuous domains, is proposed. The proposed method is applied to a dataset which is obtained from MIT–BIH arrhythmia database. The dataset consists of six types of ECG beats including, Normal Beat (N), Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC), Fusion of Ventricular and Normal Beat (F), Artrial Premature Beat (A), Right Bundle Branch Block Beat (R) and Fusion of Paced and Normal Beat (f). Four time domain features are extracted for each beat type and training and test sets are formed. After several experiments it is observed that the proposed method outperforms the traditional fuzzy c-means and kernelized fuzzy c-means algorithms.     

Electrical properties of monoazacrown ether-substituted phthalocyanines

D.c. conductivities of polycrystalline monoazacrown ether-substituted phthalocyanines (M=2H, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) and diphthalocyanine (M=Lu) are measured as Au-MPc-Au sandwiches to be of the order 10^–10–10^–12 S m^–1. Chemical doping with oxidants (e.g. NOBF₄) and enhancing the stacking of planar phthalocyanine moieties through the formation of alkali metal adducts with sodium and potassium ions leads to increase in conductivity of the order 10¹–10². The low conductivity and the diamagneticity of the bis(phthalocyaninato)-lutetium can be ascribed to the lack of radical nature in LuH(Pc)₂. For the a.c. conductivities, lead and lutetium complexes form a group with higher conductivities and the rest show lower conductivity. The conduction activation energies calculated from Arrhenius plots exhibit the lowest value (0.40 eV) for the lutetium compound.Part of this work was presented at NATO-ASI on Semiconductor Materials and Processing Technologies, Erice, Sicily, 1–13 July 1991.     

电能质量综合指标评价方法研究

文章首先回顾了现有电能质量指标的评价方法,包括单一监测点单一指标及多指标综合评价、同电压等级下多监测点单一指标综合评价方法;在此基础上,文章提出了一种包括所有电压等级的系统性多监测点多指标综合评价方法.算例分析结果表明:该方法适用于从时间域、空间域两个维度得到统一的电能质量综合指标,以实现不同区域电能质量综合指标的全面评估比较.     

基于语义分析的设计实体智能搜索

本文提出了在设计联盟组织过程中实现互联网上设计实体智能搜索的方法。根据对互联网上设计实体搜索问题的分析建立了设计实体智能搜索策略；定义了提取设计实体查询向量和描述向量的语义分析规则；提出了基于语义分析的设计实体智能搜索算法；最后编程实现了各项功能。     

基于FPGA&ASIC的专用USB接口设计与实现

无驱型USB KEY专用接口的设计和实现是基于FPGA&ASIC的. 该设计主要使用Verilog语言在FPGA上实现USB协议,并提供针对USB收发器和微控制器的接口. 通过该接口USB KEY在接入系统后不需要驱动程序即可正常使用. 该设计通过了软件的仿真并在FPGA上进行了硬件验证.     

PGRP-LB: An Inside View into the Mechanism of the Amidase Reaction

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are ubiquitous among animals and play pivotal functions in insect immunity. Non-catalytic PGRPs are involved in the activation of immune pathways by binding to the peptidoglycan (PGN), whereas amidase PGRPs are capable of cleaving the PGN into non-immunogenic compounds. Drosophila PGRP-LB belongs to the amidase PGRPs and downregulates the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway by cleaving meso-2,6-diaminopimelic (meso-DAP or DAP)-type PGN. While the recognition process is well analyzed for the non-catalytic PGRPs, little is known about the enzymatic mechanism for the amidase PGRPs, despite their essential function in immune homeostasis. Here, we analyzed the specific activity of different isoforms of Drosophila PGRP-LB towards various PGN substrates to understand their specificity and role in Drosophila immunity. We show that these isoforms have similar activity towards the different compounds. To analyze the mechanism of the amidase activity, we performed site directed mutagenesis and solved the X-ray structures of wild-type Drosophila PGRP-LB and its mutants, with one of these structures presenting a protein complexed with the tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), a muropeptide derived from the PGN. Only the Y78F mutation abolished the PGN cleavage while other mutations reduced the activity solely. Together, our findings suggest the dynamic role of the residue Y78 in the amidase mechanism by nucleophilic attack through a water molecule to the carbonyl group of the amide function destabilized by Zn²⁺.     

管桩水泥性能优化与控制方法

预应力高强管桩是采用高标号品种水泥等原料作为原材料,经离心工艺成型后,再通过蒸汽或蒸压养护而成的一种空心圆筒体的等截面混凝土构件,具有脱模快、强度高、施工方便、适用范围广、生产成本低等优点,广泛应用于建筑、港口、码头、铁路、桥梁等基础设施建设工程中[1]。管桩制品厂家一般对水泥强度要求高,尤其是早期强度[2],另外因操作时间不长和对产品外观质量要求较高,相比普通的混凝土,对流动性要求更高。中国葛洲坝水泥有限公司长期向荆州、荆门等地的管桩生产企业供应管桩专用水泥,为更好地满足客户需求,提升公司管桩水泥产品的强度与工作流动性能,开展相关试验研究。     

Microstructure and Crystallization Evolution of Directionally Solidified Al–Cu–Si Alloys With the Assistance of a Static Magnetic Field

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - We report on the study of the evolution of microstructure and crystallization during directionally solidified Al–Cu–Si alloys with the...