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In this article, we present an optimization method for threshold logic networks (TLNs) based on observability don’t-care-based node merging. To reduce gate count in a TLN, it iteratively merges two gates that are functionally equivalent or whose differences are never observed at the primary outputs. Furthermore, it is able to identify redundant wires and replace wires for removing more gates. Basically, the proposed method is primarily adapted from an ATPG-based node-merging approach which works for conventional Boolean logic networks. To extend the approach for TLNs, we develop a method for computing mandatory assignments of a stuck-at fault test on a threshold gate and a method for conducting logic implication in a TLN. Additionally, to achieve a better optimization quality, we integrate the proposed method with other optimization methods. The experimental results show that the overall optimization method can save an average of approximately 4.7% threshold gates for a set of TLNs which are generated by using the latest TLN synthesis method. The experimental results also demonstrate the efficiency of the optimization method.

Background/aim Etomidate, an intravenous anesthetic, has been shown to have anticancer effects, including induction of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports about the anti-metastasis effects of etomidate on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Materials and methods The cell viability, cell adhesion, gelatin zymography assay, transwell migration and invasion assay, and western blotting analysis were used to investigate the effects of etomidate on A549 cells. Results In our study, etomidate showed low cytotoxicity, inhibited cell adhesion, and suppressed the migration and invasion in A549 cells. The activity of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) was reduced by 48 h treatment of etomidate. Results of western blotting analysis indicated that etomidate down-regulated the expression of protein kinase C, MMP7, MMP1, MMP9, and p-p-38, but up-regulated that of RAS, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and phosphor-extracellular-signal related kinase after 24 and 48 h treatment, in A549 cells. Conclusion Etomidate suppressed the migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells via inhibiting the expression of MMP1, MMP2, MMP7 and MMP9, and provides potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer treatment.

Threshold logic re-attracts researchers’ attention recently due to the advancement of hardware realization techniques and its applications to deep learning. In the past decade, several design automation techniques for threshold logic have been proposed, such as logic synthesis and logic optimization. Although they are effective, threshold logic network (TLN) optimization based on don’t cares has not been well studied. In this paper, we propose a don’t-care-based node minimization scheme for TLNs. We first present a sufficient condition for don’t cares to exist and a logic-implication-based method to identify the don’t cares of a threshold logic gate (TLG). Then, we transform the problem of TLG minimization with don’t cares to an integer linear programming problem, and present a method to compute the necessary constraints for the ILP formulation. We apply the proposed optimization scheme to two set of TLNs generated by the state-of-the-art synthesis technique. The experimental results show that, for the two sets, it achieves an average of 11% and 19% of area reduction in terms of the sum of the weights and threshold values without overhead on the TLG count and logic depth. Additionally, it completes the optimization of most TLNs within one minute.

Background and objectives: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) reportedly have a much higher risk of death due to stroke. Faced with this heavy burden, it remains unclear if the Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), the most common form complementary and alternative medicine, can lower the risk of stroke for them. This study aimed to evaluate the association of CHMs use with stroke risk among them. Materials and Methods: From a nationwide database, 11,456 AF patients aged ≧ 20 years between 1998 and 2007 were identified. Afterwards, we enrolled 2670 CHMs users and randomly selected 2670 non-CHMs users using the propensity score method. The occurrence of stroke was recorded until the end of 2012. Results: Within the follow-up period, 671 CHMs users and 900 non-CHMs users developed stroke, with incidence rates of 33.02 and 45.46 per 1000 person-years, respectively. CHMs use was associated with a 30% lower stroke risk, especially for those receiving CHMs for over two years. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that adding CHMs to conventional therapy could decrease subsequent stroke risk for AF patients. It is also suggested that prospective randomized trials are needed to further clarify if the detected association revealed in this study supports a causal link, and to identify the specific CHMs that may be beneficial to AF patients.

Norcantharidin (NCTD) was purified from mylabris, the dried body of the Chinese blister beetle. NCTD has been shown to exhibit anticancer activities in many human cancer cell lines, but there are no reports to show whether it induces apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated NCTD-induced cell death and associated protein expression in human gastric cancer AGS cells in vitro. Cell morphological changes, viability and cell-cycle distribution were examined and analyzed by phase-contrast microscopy and flow cytometric assays. Flow cytometry was also used to measure the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm) and activity of caspases. The results indicated that NCTD induced cell morphological changes, reduced total viable cell number and induced G0/G1 phase arrest. NCTD also increased ROS production and reduced the Ψm and increased caspase-9 activity in AGS cells. Western blotting also found that NCTD increased the pro-apoptotic proteins such as BCL2-associated X protein (BAX) and BH3 interacting-domain death agonist (BID) and increased the release of cytochrome c, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo G) release from mitochondria in AGS cells. NCTD also significantly increased the expression of active forms of caspase-3 and -8 and -9 and reduced the expression of caspase-4 and -12 in AGS cells. Based on these observations, we suggest that NCTD-induced apoptotic cell death may be through mitochondria- and caspase-dependent pathways.

In this paper, we present an optimization method for threshold logic networks (TLNs) based on observability don't care (ODC)-based node merging. The method is adapted from an ATPG-based node-merging approach that works for conventional Boolean logic networks. To extend the approach for TLNs, we propose a method for computing the mandatory assignments of a stuck-at fault test on a threshold gate and a method for conducting logic implication in a TLN. The experimental results show that the proposed optimization method can save an average of approximately 2% threshold gates for a set of TLNs which are generated by using the latest TLN synthesis approach. The experimental results also demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed optimization method.

To introduce and evaluate the clinical effects of percutaneous reduction and Kirschner pin fixation for the treatment of intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus in children.From March 2001 to February 2009,12 patients with intraarticular calcaneal fractures were treated by percutaneous reduction and Kirschner pin fixation (13 feet). There were 8 males and 4 females,ranging in age from 3 to 14,with an average of 8.7 years. According to Essex-Lopresti classification, among 5 feet were tongue fractures and 8 feet were compressed fractures. According to Sanders classification, 9 feet were type II and 4 feet were type III. The Biihler angle and Gissane angle of the calcaneus were obtained before and after operation. All patients were evaluated according to Maryland Foot Score.All the patients were followed up for 16-71 months (means 35.9 months),and all the incisions were healed without complications and infection. The preoperative X-ray film showed that Böhler angle was (19.7+/-5.3) degrees, Gissane angle was (137.3+/-7.5) degrees. The postoperative X-ray film demonstrated that Böhler angle was (32.6+/-3.7) degrees, Gissane angle was (125.4+/-2.9) degrees. There was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative (P0.01). The average Maryland score was 96.3+/-2.4 (range, 92 to 100 points).Percutaneous reduction and Kirschner pin fixation is an effective minimally invasive way to treat intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus in children, it has many advantages such as minimal invasion, reliable fixation and satisfactory effects.

Study Design. Morphology comparisons between the pedicle and pedicle rib unit in the immature spine were conducted through computed tomographic scans. Objective. To establish reference data concerning the dimensions of the pedicle rib unit for normal children. Summary of Background Data. Until recently, studies on extrapedicular fixation were mostly based on adults. No published study has assessed the morphology of the pedicle rib unit in the normal immature population. Establishment of the basic morphometric characteristics may be beneficial in treating immature patients with spinal disorders. Methods. Measurements were carried out on the chest computed tomography scans of the immature Chinese patients without any spinal disorder findings. The width, chord length, and transverse angle of the pedicle rib unit were obtained and compared with the corresponding pedicle index. Difference between sex groups was measured, and significant statistical correlations were carefully studied to determine potentially important clinical relationships. Results. The mean values and the standard deviations obtained for each thoracic segment were determined. The width, chord length, and transverse angle of the pedicle rib unit were significantly larger than corresponding pedicle measurements at all levels. Significant difference for measurements between sexes was found at some segments. Compared with the sex, age seemed to have a more significant effect on the measurements. Linear pedicle and pedicle rib unit dimensions had good correlations with age, whereas the transverse angle seemed to change little with age. Conclusion. Compared with the dimensions of the immature pedicle, the significantly larger size of the corresponding pedicle rib unit provides a more ample space, which accommodates screws with larger diameters. Extrapedicular vertebral body fixation was anatomically feasible for the immature spine. The new procedure should be cautiously applied to avoid potential implant failures or a new deformity because of the growth of the immature spine.