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As the world becomes increasingly data-centric, the tasks dealt with by a database management system (DBMS) become more complex and diverse. Compared with traditional workloads that typically require only a single data model, modern-day computational tasks often involve multiple data sources and rely on more than one data model. Unfortunately, however, there is currently no standard benchmark program that can evaluate a DBMS in the various aspects of multi-model databases, especially when the array data model is concerned. In this paper, we propose M2Bench , a new benchmark program capable of evaluating a multi-model DBMS that supports several important data models such as relational, document-oriented, property graph, and array models. M2Bench consists of multi-model workloads that are inspired by real-world problems. Each task of the workload mimics a real-life scenario where at least two different models of data are involved. To demonstrate the efficacy of M2Bench , we evaluated polyglot or multi-model database systems with the M2Bench workloads and unfolded the diverse characteristics of the database systems for each data model.

As the laws of physics are expressed in a manner that makes their invariance under coordinate transformations manifest, they should be written in terms of tensors. Furthermore, tensors make manifest the characteristics and behaviors of electromagnetic fields through inhomogeneous, anisotropic, and compressible media. Electromagnetic fields are expressed completely in tensor form, Fαβ, which implies both electric field E → and magnetic field B → rather than separately in the vector fields. This study presents the Mathematica platform that generates and transforms a second-rank antisymmetric field-strength tensor Fαβ and whiskbroom pattern in Minkowski space. The platforms enhance the capabilities of students and researchers in tensor analysis and improves comprehension of the elegant features of complete structure in physics.

Given the prevalence of mobile and IoT devices, continuous clustering against streaming data has become an essential tool of increasing importance for data analytics. Among many clustering approaches, the density-based clustering has garnered much attention due to its unique advantages. The main drawback is, however, the limited scalability attributed to its relatively high computational cost, which is further aggravated when it has to update clusters continuously along with evolving data. In this paper, we present a new incremental density-based clustering algorithm called DISC optimized for the sliding window model. DISC is capable of producing exactly the same clustering results as existing methods such as Incremental DBSCAN for streaming data much more quickly and efficiently.

With increasing volumes of scientific data, a scalable and parallel computing framework is required for scientific analysis in computer simulations and experiments. Scientific data are commonly generated in multi-dimensional arrays, and the array data model is appropriate to store them for analysis, including for data mining and arithmetic computation. In this paper, we introduce an array processing system called Spangle. It is implemented on top of Apache Spark, a popular map-reduce framework for complex computation workloads. To support array data computation, we extended Resilient Distributed Dataset (RDD) based on the array data model named ArrayRDD. ArrayRDD is an inherently parallel data structure that provides fault-tolerance. In addition, by adopting the array data model, Spangle provides an interface for expressing machine learning algorithms, which heavily rely on linear algebra. We tailored two popular algorithms, PageRank and Stochastic Gradient Descent, for large-scale datasets in Spangle.

Background Autism, a childhood behavioral disorder, belongs to a large suite of diseases, collectively referred to as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Though multifactorial in etiology, approximately 10% of ASD are associated with atopic dermatitis (AD). Moreover, ASD prevalence increases further as AD severity worsens, though these disorders share no common causative mutations. We assessed here the link between these two disorders in the standard, valproic acid mouse model of ASD. In prior studies, there was no evidence of skin involvement, but we hypothesized that cutaneous involvement could be detected in experiments conducted in BALB/c mice. BALB/c is an albino, laboratory-bred strain of the house mouse and is among the most widely used inbred strains used in animal experimentation. Methods We performed our studies in valproic acid (VPA)-treated BALB/c hairless mice, a standard mouse model of ASD. Mid-trimester pregnant mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of either valproic acid sodium salt dissolved in saline or saline alone on embryonic day 12.5 and were housed individually until postnatal day 21. Only the brain and epidermis appeared to be affected, while other tissues remain unchanged. At various postnatal time points, brain, skin and blood samples were obtained for histology and for quantitation of tissue sphingolipid content and cytokine levels. Results AD-like changes in ceramide content occurred by day one postpartum in both VPA-treated mouse skin and brain. The temporal co-emergence of AD and ASD, and the AD phenotype-dependent increase in ASD prevalence correlated with early appearance of cytokine markers (i.e., interleukin [IL]-4, 5, and 13), as well as mast cells in skin and brain. The high levels of interferon (IFN)γ not only in skin, but also in brain likely account for a significant decline in esterified very-long-chain N-acyl fatty acids in brain ceramides, again mimicking known IFNγ-induced changes in AD. Conclusion Baseline involvement of both AD and ASD could reflect concurrent neuro- and epidermal toxicity, possibly because both epidermis and neural tissues originate from the embryonic neuroectoderm. These studies illuminate the shared susceptibility of the brain and epidermis to a known neurotoxin, suggesting that the atopic diathesis could be extended to include ASD.

Puppet Book is a new concept of a digital storybook that is incorporated with puppetry. It enables parents to manipulate characters in real-time through a back-of-device interface while reading a storybook to their children. Puppet Book aims to provide enhanced expressiveness for parents and immersion for children. The Puppet Book interface was implemented carefully to minimize parents' task workload and maximize the expressiveness of puppeteering. A user study with 11 parent-child groups was conducted. Parents who easily adapted to the interface showed a higher motivation to tell the story, by identifying themselves with the characters. Children showed increased concentration and motivation for reading.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial, heterogeneous disease associated with epidermal barrier disruption and intense systemic inflammation. Previously, we showed that exosomes derived from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC-exosomes) attenuate AD-like symptoms by reducing multiple inflammatory cytokine levels. Here, we investigated ASC-exosomes&rsquo, effects on skin barrier restoration by analyzing protein and lipid contents. We found that subcutaneous injection of ASC-exosomes in an oxazolone-induced dermatitis model remarkably reduced trans-epidermal water loss, while enhancing stratum corneum (SC) hydration and markedly decreasing the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-&alpha, IFN-&gamma, IL-17, and TSLP, all in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, ASC-exosomes induced the production of ceramides and dihydroceramides. Electron microscopic analysis revealed enhanced epidermal lamellar bodies and formation of lamellar layer at the interface of the SC and stratum granulosum with ASC-exosomes treatment. Deep RNA sequencing analysis of skin lesions demonstrated that ASC-exosomes restores the expression of genes involved in skin barrier, lipid metabolism, cell cycle, and inflammatory response in the diseased area. Collectively, our results suggest that ASC-exosomes effectively restore epidermal barrier functions in AD by facilitating the de novo synthesis of ceramides, resulting in a promising cell-free therapeutic option for treating AD.

Human epidermis is positioned at the interface with the external environment, protecting our bodies against external challenges, including air pollutants. Emerging evidence suggests that diesel particulate extract (DPE), a major component of air pollution, leads to impairment of diverse cellular functions in keratinocytes (KC). In this study, we investigated the cellular mechanism underlying DPE-induced KC apoptosis. We first addressed cell death occurring in KC exposed to DPE, paralleled by increased activation of NADPH oxidases (NOXs) and subsequent ROS generation. Blockade of NOX activation with a specific inhibitor attenuated the expected DPE-induced KC apoptosis. In contrast, pre-treatment with a specific inhibitor of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation did not reverse DPE/NOX-mediated increase in KC apoptosis. We next noted that NOX-mediated KC apoptosis is mainly attributable to neutral sphingomyelinase (SMase)-mediated stimulation of ceramides, which is a well-known pro-apoptotic lipid. Moreover, we found that inhibition of NOX activation significantly attenuated DPE-mediated increase in the ratio of ceramide to its key metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), an important determinant of cell fate. Together, these results suggest that activation of neutral SMase serves as a key downstream signal for the DPE/NOX activation-mediated alteration in ceramide and S1P productions, and subsequent KC apoptosis.

Aims The present extension study evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of gemigliptin during a 40-week follow-up period after a 12-week study. Methods The main study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, phase IIIb study in which 50 mg of gemigliptin (N = 66) or placebo (N = 66) was administered to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with moderate or severe renal impairment over a 12-week period. Patients with a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 7-11% and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 15–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 were enrolled in the main study. After 12 weeks, the patients in the gemigliptin group continued to receive gemigliptin (N = 50), whereas the patients in the placebo group were transitioned from placebo to linagliptin (N = 52). Each group received the indicated treatment over the subsequent 40-week period. A total of 102 patients consented to participate in the extension study, and 79 patients ultimately completed the study. Results The HbA1c levels of both groups were significantly reduced at week 52 compared with baseline. Specifically, the adjusted mean change ± standard error in the HbA1c level in the gemigliptin and placebo/linagliptin groups was 1.00 ± 0.21% and 0.65 ± 0.22% lower at week 52 than at baseline (P

To develop an effective vanadium precursor for the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of VO2 thin films on glass, ALD reactions were investigated via a multiscale approach combining density functional theory (DFT) and an off-lattice kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model. Tris(dimethylamino) cyclopentadienyl vanadium (CpV(NMe2)3) was designed as a novel precursor and compared with tetrakis(ethylmethylamino) vanadium (TEMAV). DFT was applied to predict the thermal stability and adsorption energy of precursors and ALD reaction pathways for ligand decomposition. The thermal stability of CpV(NMe2)3 is at a similar level to that of TEMAV, and the ligands of CpV(NMe2)3 exhibit weaker adsorption than those of TEMAV, implying lower surface contamination. Calculations of energetics during ligand decomposition show that the dominant reaction paths of CpV(NMe2)3 are more energetically favorable than those of TEMAV, which lead to fast growth of pure film. The off-lattice KMC model was employed to simulate the ALD process with ac...

Puppets are often used in storytelling, but there are few studies about puppets regarding the storytelling experience. In this paper, we introduce the concept of an ideal puppet for storytelling and discuss directions for puppet development. The ideal puppet is able to automatically animate itself in line with a story plot and positively influence the interactions in the storytelling dynamic. To see how children and parents would accept the concept, we created a preliminary prototype and conducted user study using Wizard-of-Oz method. Participants experienced enhanced immersion and increased communication between them by through the automatic movement of the puppet. They expected various roles from the puppet such as actor, support tool, and friend, which made various usage scenarios possible. The puppet should be developed in the direction of enhancing its advantages and including various usage scenarios, especially by combining the needs of both automation and manipulation.

The aim of this study is to assess the quality of Telmi plus V® tablet (test formulation) by comparing its pharmacokinetic parameters with Micardis plus® tablet (reference formulation) in forty healthy Korean male volunteers. Seven subjects were withdrawn during the periods. This study was performed under fasted condition with a randomized, single-dose, 2-period crossover design. The dissolution studies of both formulations were conducted using USP apparatus 2 at 75 rpm with 1000 mL of phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5) at 37 ± 0.5 °C. Forty healthy Korean male volunteers were enrolled in this study with 19–34 years (24.7 ± 3.9), height 164–184 cm (174.9 ± 5.3) and weight 52–85 kg (71.2 ± 9.0). The results of telmisartan were as follows: the mean AUC0−∞ of reference tablet and test tablet was 3290 ± 2270 and 3080 ± 2010 ng h/mL, respectively; the mean Cmax was 674 ± 366 and 612 ± 252 ng/mL, respectively; the mean Tmax was 0.92 ± 0.44 and 0.99 ± 0.46 h, respectively. The results of HCTZ were as follows: the mean AUC0−∞ of reference tablet and test tablet was 525 ± 94.3 and 536 ± 96.8 ng h/mL, respectively; the mean Cmax was 90.8 ± 25.4 and 86.2 ± 21.4 ng/mL, respectively; the mean Tmax was 1.58 ± 0.60 and 1.78 ± 0.66 h, respectively. The 90 % confidence intervals for geometric mean ratios of test to reference formulation of AUC0−t and Cmax were 0.9132–1.0441 and 0.8579–1.1048 for telmisartan, and 0.9737–1.0713 and 0.8801–1.0326 for HCTZ, respectively. The results of this study in healthy Korean male volunteers showed that the test and reference formulations of 80/12.5 mg telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide met the MFDA regulatory criteria for bioequivalence. Both formulations were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.

In this study we compare the temporal variations of the solar, interplanetary, and geomagnetic (SIG) parameters with that of open solar magnetic flux from 1976 to 2012 (from Solar Cycle 21 to the early phase of Cycle 24) for a purpose of identifying their possible relationships. By the open flux, we mean the average magnetic field over the source surface (2.5 solar radii) times the source area as defined by the potential field source surface (PFSS) model of the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO). In our result, most SIG parameters except the solar wind dynamic pressure show rather poor correlations with the open solar magnetic field. Good correlations are recovered when the contributions from individual multipole components are counted separately. As expected, solar activity indices such as sunspot number, total solar irradiance, 10.7 cm radio flux, and solar flare occurrence are highly correlated with the flux of magnetic quadrupole component. The dynamic pressure of solar wind is strongly correlated with the dipole flux, which is in anti-phase with Solar Cycle (SC). The geomagnetic activity represented by the A p index is correlated with higher order multipole components, which show relatively a slow time variation with SC. We also found that the unusually low geomagnetic activity during SC 23 is accompanied by the weak open solar fields compared with those in other SCs. It is argued that such dependences of the SIG parameters on the individual multipole components of the open solar magnetic flux may clarify why some SIG parameters vary in phase with SC and others show seemingly delayed responses to SC variation.

Objectives For patient convenience, a gemigliptin/metformin sustainedrelease fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablet was developed. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of food on the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of the FDC tablets. Materials and methods This was an open-label, randomized, single dose, 2-period, 2-sequence crossover study in 24 healthy male volunteers. The FDC tablets (25/500 mg × 2 tablets) were administered in high-fat fed and fasted states on separate occasions, and each subject was randomly allocated to each sequence with a 7-day washout period. PK blood samplings were conducted from predose to 48 hours after dosing. Tolerability assessments were performed throughout the study. Results Nine adverse events (AEs) of mild intensity were reported from 8 subjects after study drug administration, and the AE frequency was similar between treatments. No serious AEs were reported. The PK parameters of gemigliptin and metformin were compared between fasting and fed states. For gemigliptin, the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) (fed : fasted state) of the Cmax and AUClast were 0.886 (90% confidence interval (CI) 0.781 - 1.006) and 1.021 (90% CI 0.949 - 1.099), respectively. For metformin, the GMRs of the Cmax and AUClast were 0.811 (90% CI 0.712 - 0.923) and 1.144 (90% CI 1.013 - 1.291), respectively. A prolonged tmax for metformin was observed. These results are similar to the effects of food on each component. Conclusion The FDC tablet may have a similar PK profile as that of individual drugs and is generally tolerable when administered with food. These results indicate that the FDC tablet can be administered in the same dosing regimen as each component, especially that of metformin sustained-release.

The length of solar cycle 23 has been prolonged up to about 13 years. Many studies have speculated that the solar cycle 23/24 minimum will indicate the onset of a grand minimum of solar activity, such as the Maunder Minimum. We check the trends of solar (sunspot number, solar magnetic fields, total solar irradiance, solar radio flux, and frequency of solar X-ray flare), interplanetary (interplanetary magnetic field, solar wind and galactic cosmic ray intensity), and geomagnetic (Ap index) parameters (SIG parameters) during solar cycles 21-24. Most SIG parameters during the period of the solar cycle 23/24 minimum have remarkably low values. Since the 1970s, the space environment has been monitored by ground observatories and satellites. Such prevalently low values of SIG parameters have never been seen. We suggest that these unprecedented conditions of SIG parameters originate from the weakened solar magnetic fields. Meanwhile, the deep 23/24 solar cycle minimum might be the portent of a grand minimum in which the global mean temperature of the lower atmosphere is as low as in the period of Dalton or Maunder minimum.

Recently there has been an increasing interest in analyzing scientific data generated by observations and scientific experiments. For managing these data efficiently, SciDB, a multi-dimensional array-based DBMS, is suggested. When SciDB processes a query with where predicates, it uses filter operator internally to produce a result array that matches the predicates. Most queries for scientific data analysis utilize spatial information. However, filter operator of SciDB reads all data without considering features of array-based DBMSs and spatial information. In this demo, we present an efficient query processing scheme utilizing characteristics of array-based data, implemented by employing coordinates. It uses a selective scan that retrieves data corresponding to a range that satisfies specific conditions. In our experiments, the selective scan is up to 30x faster than the original scan. We demonstrate that our implementation of the filter operator will reduce the processing time of a selection query significantly and enable SciDB to handle a massive amount of scientific data in more scalable manner.

An efficient and mild method is developed for the deprotection of bulky (trialkylsilyl)acetylenes. Treatment of 1-(triisopropylsilyl)acetylenes with silver fluoride, followed by hydrolysis of the intermediate silver acetylide with organic or inorganic acids, produces terminal acetylenes in good to excellent yields. The reactions are chemoselective and various functional groups are tolerated.

An efficient and mild method is developed for the deprotection of bulky (trialkylsilyl)acetylenes. Treatment of 1-(triisopropylsilyl)acetylenes with silver fluoride, followed by hydrolysis of the intermediate silver acetylide with organic or inorganic acids, produces terminal acetylenes in good to excellent yields. The reactions are chemoselective and various functional groups are tolerated.

Solar cycle (SC) 23 was extraordinarily long with remarkably low magnetic activity. We have investigated whether this is a common behavior of solar-type stars. From the Ca ii H and K line intensities of 111 stars observed at Mount Wilson Observatory from 1966 to 1991, we have retrieved data of all 23 G-type stars and recalculated their cycle lengths using the damped least-squares method for the chromospheric activity index S as a function of time. A regression analysis was performed to find relations between the derived cycle length, Pavg, and the index for excess chromospheric emission, . As a noteworthy result, we found a segregation between young and old solar-type stars in the cycle length-activity correlation. We incorporated the relation for the solar-type stars into the previously known rule for stellar chromospheric activity and brightness to estimate the variation of solar brightness from SC 22 to SC 23 as (0.12 ± 0.06)%, much higher than the actual variation of total solar irradiance (TSI) ≤0.02%. We have then examined solar spectral irradiance (SSI) to find a good phase correlation with a sunspot number in the wavelength range of 170–260 nm, which is close to the spectral range effective in heating the Earth's atmosphere. Therefore, it appears that SSI rather than TSI is a good indicator of the chromospheric activity, and its cycle length dependent variation would be more relevant to the possible role of the Sun in the cyclic variation of the Earth's atmosphere.