bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Surveillance for Metachronous Esophageal Squamous Cell Neoplasms among Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Chen Yi-Hsun , Wang Yao-Kuang , Chuang Yun-Shiuan , Hsu Wen-Hung , Kuo Chao-Hung , Wu Che-Wei , Chan Leong-Perng , Wu Ming-Tsang , Wu I-Chen
Published: December 2020

Esophageal squamous cell neoplasms (ESCNs) are the most common second primary neoplasm in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and few studies have focused on metachronous ESCNs. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for metachronous ESCNs and to provide a reasonable endoscopic follow-up plan for HNSCC patients. We extended our prospective cohort since October 2008 by recruiting incident HNSCC patients. All enrolled patients were interviewed to collect information on substance use (smoking, alcohol, and betel nut) and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with Lugol chromoendoscopy results for synchronous ESCNs soon after HNSCC diagnosis. Endoscopic screenings for metachronous ESCNs were performed 6 to 12 months after the previous examinations. A total of 1042 incident HNSCC patients were enrolled, but only 175 patients met all the criteria and were analyzed. A total of 20 patients had metachronous ESCNs (20/175, 11.4%). Only the initial Lugol-voiding lesion (LVL) classification significantly predicted the development of metachronous ESCNs. Patients with an LVL classification of C/D had a higher risk of developing metachronous ESCNs than those with an LVL classification of A/B (adjusted odds ratio: 5.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–16.67). The mean interval for developing metachronous ESCNs was 33 months, but the shortest interval for developing metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was 12 months. Lugol chromoendoscopy screening among incident HNSCC patients predicts the risk of developing metachronous ESCNs. A closer follow-up with an endoscopy every 6 months is recommended for those with LVL classifications of C and D.
Cancer Chemotherapy Related Cognitive Impairment and the Impact of the Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Factor APOE
Authors: Fernandez Harvey R. , Varma Ashima , Flowers Sarah A. , Rebeck George William
Published: December 2020

Cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a serious impairment to maintaining quality of life in cancer survivors. Cancer chemotherapy contributes to this condition through several potential mechanisms, including damage to the blood brain barrier, increases in oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, and impaired neurogenesis, each of which lead to neuronal dysfunction. A genetic predisposition to CRCI is the E4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), which is also the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. In normal brains, APOE performs essential lipid transport functions. The APOE4 isoform has been linked to altered lipid binding, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, reduced turnover of neural progenitor cells, and impairment of the blood brain barrier. As chemotherapy also affects these processes, the influence of APOE4 on CRCI takes on great significance. This review outlines the main areas where APOE genotype could play a role in CRCI. Potential therapeutics based on APOE biology could mitigate these detrimental cognitive effects for those receiving chemotherapy, emphasizing that the APOE genotype could help in developing personalized cancer treatment regimens.
Deep Learning Prediction of Cancer Prevalence from Satellite Imagery
Authors: Bibault Jean-Emmanuel , Bassenne Maxime , Ren Hongyi , Xing Lei
Published: December 2020

The worldwide growth of cancer incidence can be explained in part by changes in the prevalence and distribution of risk factors. There are geographical gaps in the estimates of cancer prevalence, which could be filled with innovative methods. We used deep learning (DL) features extracted from satellite images to predict cancer prevalence at the census tract level in seven cities in the United States. We trained the model using detailed cancer prevalence estimates from 2018 available in the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 500 Cities project. Data from 3500 census tracts covering 14,483,366 inhabitants were included. Features were extracted from 170,210 satellite images with deep learning. This method explained up to 64.37% (median = 43.53%) of the variation of cancer prevalence. Satellite features are highly correlated with individual socioeconomic and health measures that are linked to cancer prevalence (age, smoking and drinking status, and obesity). A higher similarity between two environments is associated with better generalization of the model (p = 1.10–6). This method can be used to accurately estimate cancer prevalence at a high spatial resolution without using surveys at a fraction of the cost.
The YAP/TEAD Axis as a New Therapeutic Target in Osteosarcoma: Effect of Verteporfin and CA3 on Primary Tumor Growth
Authors: Morice Sarah , Mullard Mathilde , Brion Regis , Dupuy Maryne , Renault Sarah , Tesfaye Robel , Brounais-Le Royer Bénédicte , Ory Benjamin , Redini Françoise , Verrecchia Franck
Published: December 2020

Although some studies suggested that disruption of the Hippo signaling pathway is associated with osteosarcoma progression, the molecular mechanisms by which YAP regulates primary tumor growth is not fully clarified. In addition, the validation of YAP as a therapeutic target through the use of inhibitors in a preclinical model must be demonstrated. RNA-seq analysis and Kaplan–Meier assays identified a YAP signature in osteosarcoma patients and a correlation with patients’ outcomes. Molecular and cellular analysis (RNAseq, PLA, immunoprecipitation, promoter/specific gene, proliferation, cell cycle assays) using overexpression of mutated forms of YAP able or unable to interact with TEAD, indicate that TEAD is crucial for YAP-driven cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth. In addition, in vivo experiments using an orthotopic mice model of osteosarcoma show that two YAP/TEAD inhibitors, verteporfin and CA3, reduce primary tumor growth. In this context, in vitro experiments demonstrate that these inhibitors decrease YAP expression, YAP/TEAD transcriptional activity and cell viability mainly by their ability to induce cell apoptosis. We thus demonstrate that the YAP/TEAD signaling axis is a central actor in mediating primary tumor growth of osteosarcoma, and that the use of YAP inhibitors may be a promising therapeutic strategy against osteosarcoma tumor growth.
Light Stability, Pro-Apoptotic and Genotoxic Properties of Silver (I) Complexes of Metronidazole and 4-Hydroxymethylpyridine against Pancreatic Cancer Cells In Vitro
Authors: Żyro Dominik , Śliwińska Agnieszka , Szymczak-Pajor Izabela , Stręk Małgorzata , Ochocki Justyn
Published: December 2020

Antimicrobial properties of silver (I) ion and its complexes are well recognized. However, recent studies suggest that both silver (I) ion and its complexes possess anticancer activity associated with oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of various cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether silver nitrate and its complexes with metronidazole and 4-hydroxymethylpyridine exert anticancer action against human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1 and 1.2B4). In the study, we compared decomposition speed for silver complexes under the influence of daylight and UV-A (ultraviolet-A) rays. We employed the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazonium bromide) assay to evaluate the cytotoxicity and the alkaline comet assay to determine genotoxicity of silver nitrate and its complexes. Flow cytometry and the Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit were used to detect the apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells. We found a dose dependent decrease of both pancreatic cancer cell line viability after exposure to silver nitrate and its complexes. The flow cytometry analysis confirmed that cell death occurred mainly via apoptosis. We also documented that the studied compounds induced DNA damage. Metronidazole and 4-hydroxymethylpyridine alone did not significantly affect viability and level of DNA damage of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Complex compounds showed better stability than AgNO3, which decomposed slower than when exposed to light. UV-A significantly influences the speed of silver salt decomposition reaction. To conclude, obtained data demonstrated that silver nitrate and its complexes exerted anticancer action against human pancreatic cancer cells.
Highlighting the Potential for Chronic Stress to Minimize Therapeutic Responses to Radiotherapy through Increased Immunosuppression and Radiation Resistance
Authors: Chen Minhui , Singh Anurag K. , Repasky Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2020

Ionizing radiation has been used in the treatment of cancer for more than 100 years. While often very effective, there is still a great effort in place to improve the efficacy of radiation therapy for controlling the progression and recurrence of tumors. Recent research has revealed the close interaction between nerves and tumor progression, especially nerves of the autonomic nervous system that are activated by a variety of stressful stimuli including anxiety, pain, sleep loss or depression, each of which is likely to be increased in cancer patients. A growing literature now points to a negative effect of chronic stressful stimuli in tumor progression. In this review article, we present data on the potential for adrenergic stress to influence the efficacy of radiation and in particular, its potential to influence the anti-tumor immune response, and the frequency of an “abscopal effect” or the shrinkage of tumors which are outside an irradiated field. We conclude that chronic stress can be a major impediment to more effective radiation therapy through mechanisms involving immunosuppression and increased resistance to radiation-induced tumor cell death. Overall, these data highlight the potential value of stress reduction strategies to improve the outcome of radiation therapy. At the same time, objective biomarkers that can accurately and objectively reflect the degree of stress in patients over prolonged periods of time, and whether it is influencing immunosuppression and radiation resistance, are also critically needed.
Chaperonin-Containing TCP-1 Promotes Cancer Chemoresistance and Metastasis through the AKT-GSK3β-β-Catenin and XIAP-Survivin Pathways
Authors: Chang Yun-Xun , Lin Yuan-Feng , Chen Chi-Long , Huang Ming-Shyan , Hsiao Michael , Liang Po-Huang
Published: December 2020

Chaperonin-containing TCP-1 (CCT) is a chaperonin composed of eight subunits that participates in intracellular protein folding. Here, we showed that increased levels of subunits of CCT, particularly CCT-β, were significantly correlated with lower survival rates for cancer patients. Endogenously high expression of CCT-β was found in cancer cell lines, such as the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and the highly metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer cell line CL1-5. Knocking down CCT-β in these cancer cells led to decreased levels of anti-apoptotic proteins, such as XIAP, as well as inhibited phosphorylation of Ser473-AKT and GSK3, resulting in decrease of the nucleus-entering form of β-catenin; these changes reduced the chemoresistance and migration/invasion of the cells. Conversely, overexpression of CCT-β recovered the chemoresistance and cell migration/invasion by promoting the AKT-GSK3β-β-catenin and XIAP-Survivin pathways. Coimmunoprecipitation data revealed that the CCT complex might directly bind and stabilize XIAP and β-catenin. This study not only elucidates the roles of CCT in chemoresistance and metastasis, which are two major obstacles for current cancer therapy, but also provides a possible therapeutic strategy against cancers with overexpressed CCT-β.
LncRNA LINC00518 Acts as an Oncogene in Uveal Melanoma by Regulating an RNA-Based Network
Authors: Barbagallo Cristina , Caltabiano Rosario , Broggi Giuseppe , Russo Andrea , Puzzo Lidia , Avitabile Teresio , Longo Antonio , Reibaldi Michele , Barbagallo Davide , Di Pietro Cinzia , Purrello Michele , Ragusa Marco
Published: December 2020

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults; little is known about the contribution of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) to UM pathogenesis. Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks based on RNA–RNA interactions regulate physiological and pathological processes. Through a combined approach of in silico and experimental biology, we investigated the expression of a set of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in patient biopsies, identifying LINC00518 as a potential oncogene in UM. The detection of LINC00518 dysregulation associated with several in vitro functional assays allowed us to investigate its ceRNA regulatory network and shed light on its potential involvement in cancer-related processes, such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and CoCl2-induced hypoxia-like response. In vitro transient silencing of LINC00518 impaired cell proliferation and migration, and affected mRNA expression of LINGO2, NFIA, OTUD7B, SEC22C, and VAMP3. A “miRNA sponge” and “miRNA protector” model have been hypothesized for LINC00518-induced regulation of mRNAs. In vitro inhibition of MITF suggested its role as a potential activator of LINC00518 expression. Comprehensively, LINC00518 may be considered a new oncogene in UM and a potential target for RNA-based therapeutic approaches.
Grapefruit-Derived Micro and Nanovesicles Show Distinct Metabolome Profiles and Anticancer Activities in the A375 Human Melanoma Cell Line
Authors: Stanly Christopher , Alfieri Mariaevelina , Ambrosone Alfredo , Leone Antonietta , Fiume Immacolata , Pocsfalvi Gabriella
Published: December 2020

Fruit juice is one of the most easily accessible resources for the isolation of plant-derived vesicles. Here we found that micro- and nano-sized vesicles (MVs and NVs) from four Citrus species, C. sinensis, C. limon, C. paradisi and C. aurantium, specifically inhibit the proliferation of lung, skin and breast cancer cells, with no substantial effect on the growth of non-cancer cells. Cellular and molecular analyses demonstrate that grapefruit-derived vesicles cause cell cycle arrest at G2/M checkpoint associated with a reduced cyclins B1 and B2 expression levels and the upregulation of cell cycle inhibitor p21. Further data suggest the inhibition of Akt and ERK signalling, reduced intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and cathepsins expressions, and the presence of cleaved PARP-1, all associated with the observed changes at the cellular level. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics reveals distinct metabolite profiles for the juice and vesicle fractions. NVs exhibit a high relative amount of amino acids and organic acids whereas MVs and fruit juice are characterized by a high percentage of sugars and sugar derivatives. Grapefruit-derived NVs are in particular rich in alpha–hydroxy acids and leucine/isoleucine, myo-inositol and doconexent, while quininic acid was detected in MVs. Our findings reveal the metabolite signatures of grapefruit-derived vesicles and substantiate their potential use in new anticancer strategies.
Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: From Experimental Models to Potential Therapeutic Targets in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
Authors: Yeh Ti-Yen , Luo I-Wei , Hsieh Yu-Lin , Tseng To-Jung , Chiang Hao , Hsieh Sung-Tsang
Published: December 2020

Neuropathic pain exerts a global burden caused by the lesions in the somatosensory nerve system, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. The mechanisms of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain involve multiple mechanisms, various signaling pathways, and molecules. Currently, poor efficacy is the major limitation of medications for treating neuropathic pain. Thus, understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms should shed light on the development of new therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain. Several well-established in vivo pain models were used to investigate the detail mechanisms of peripheral neuropathic pain. Molecular mediators of pain are regulated differentially in various forms of neuropathic pain models; these regulators include purinergic receptors, transient receptor potential receptor channels, and voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels. Meanwhile, post-translational modification and transcriptional regulation are also altered in these pain models and have been reported to mediate several pain related molecules. In this review, we focus on molecular mechanisms and mediators of neuropathic pain with their corresponding transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification underlying peripheral sensitization in the dorsal root ganglia. Taken together, these molecular mediators and their modification and regulations provide excellent targets for neuropathic pain treatment.
Emotional Intelligence and Its Relationship with Emotional Well-Being and Academic Performance: The Vision of High School Students
Authors: Toscano-Hermoso María Dolores , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos , Fagundo-Rivera Javier , Gómez-Salgado Juan , García-Iglesias Juan Jesús , Romero-Martín Macarena
Published: December 2020

Emotional intelligence skills in students may be related with physical and mental health, within and outside the academic field. Strengthening these skills can lead to greater overall well-being, lower use of substances, and improved academic performance, as well as reduced aggressive behaviours. The objective of this study was to analyse the levels of emotional intelligence (differentiating between the dimensions: emotional Attention, Clarity, and Repair) among high school students and examine its relationship with academic performance and emotional well-being, considering if there are differences between boys and girls and between different grades. A cross-sectional descriptive study was developed on a sample of 333 High School students using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS) and KIDSCREEN-10 Index tools. Differences in emotional intelligence were observed between boys and girls for the three dimensions, and a relationship between emotional intelligence and student well-being was appreciated. No relationships were found between emotional intelligence and academic performance, nor have any differences been observed between the different courses analysed. It cannot be concluded that academic performance is related to emotional intelligence, but a relationship between well-being and emotional intelligence is found.
Pulsed Magnetron Sputtering of Strongly Thermochromic VO2-Based Coatings with a Transition Temperature of 22 °C onto Ultrathin Flexible Glass
Authors: Bárta Tomáš , Vlček Jaroslav , Houška Jiří , Haviar Stanislav , Čerstvý Radomír , Szelwicka Jolanta , Fahland Matthias , Fahlteich John
Published: December 2020

The reversible semiconductor-to-metal transition of vanadium dioxide (VO2) makes VO2-based coatings a promising candidate for thermochromic smart windows, reducing the energy consumption of buildings. This paper deals with maximizing the application potential of these coatings in terms of their performance, an industry-friendly preparation technique, and an industrially relevant substrate. We present a scalable sputter deposition technique for the preparation of strongly thermochromic ZrO2/V0.984W0.016O2/ZrO2 coatings on ultrathin flexible glass and standard glass at a relatively low substrate surface temperature (330 °C) and without any substrate bias voltage. The V0.984W0.016O2 layers were deposited by a controlled high-power impulse magnetron sputtering of a V target, combined with a simultaneous pulsed dc magnetron sputtering of a W target. We explain the fundamental principles of this technique using the discharge characteristics measured for both discharges. We characterize the coating structure (X-ray diffraction) and a wide range of optical properties (spectrophotometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry). We find that the coatings combine a transition temperature of 22 °C, a luminous transmittance approaching 50%, a modulation of the solar energy transmittance over 10% and a temperature-independent color. The results in general, and the successful transfer from a standard glass to the ultrathin flexible glass in particular, are crucial for future applications of the coatings on smart windows.
Analysis of Surface Roughness and Flank Wear Using the Taguchi Method in Milling of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy with Uncoated Tools
Authors: Altas Emre , Gokkaya Hasan , Karatas Meltem , Ozkan Dervis
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study was to optimize machining parameters to obtain the smallest average surface roughness (Ra) and flank wear (Vb) values as a result of the surface milling of a nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy (SMA) with uncoated cutting tools with different nose radius (rε) under dry cutting conditions. Tungsten carbide cutting tools with different rε (0.4 mm and 0.8 mm) were used in milling operations. The milling process was performed as lateral/surface cutting at three different cutting speeds (Vc) (20, 35 and 50 m/min), feed rates (fz) (0.03, 0.07 and 0.14 mm/tooth) and a constant axial cutting depth (0.7 mm). The effects of machining parameters in milling experiments were investigated based on the Taguchi L18 (21 × 32) orthogonal sequence, and the data obtained were analyzed using the Minitab 17 software. To determine the effects of processing parameters on Ra and Vb, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. The analysis results reveal that the dominant factor affecting the Ra is the cutting tool rε, while the main factor affecting Vb is the fz. Since the predicted values and measured values are very close to each other, it can be said that optimization is correct according to the validation test results.
Characteristics of MgIn2O4 Thin Film Transistors Enhanced by Introducing an MgO Buffer Layer
Authors: Chen Wei-De , Chang Sheng-Po , Huang Wei-Lun
Published: December 2020

In this work, an MgIn2O4 (MIO) thin film transistor (TFT) with a bottom gate structure was fabricated. The MIO channel layer was deposited by RF sputtering using a single MgIn2O4 target. The performance of MIO TFT was highly related to oxygen vacancies. As-deposited MIO TFT showed a low field-effect mobility due to doping of Mg. An MgO buffer layer was introduced to enhance the mobility of MIO TFT due to improvement of the interface with the channel layer. In addition, oxygen vacancies in the MIO channel were suppressed because of oxygen diffusion from the buffer layer. MIO TFT with a 5 nm MgO buffer layer showed an on/off current ratio of 9.68 × 103, a field-effect mobility of 4.81 cm2/V∙s, which was increased more than an order of magnitude compared with the device without a buffer layer, a threshold voltage of 2.01 V, and a subthreshold swing of 0.76 V/decade, which was improved more than 20% compared with the as-deposited one.
Heteroepitaxial Growth of III-V Semiconductors on Silicon
Authors: Park Jae-Seong , Tang Mingchu , Chen Siming , Liu Huiyun
Published: December 2020

Monolithic integration of III-V semiconductor devices on Silicon (Si) has long been of great interest in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), as well as traditional integrated circuits (ICs), since it provides enormous potential benefits, including versatile functionality, low-cost, large-area production, and dense integration. However, the material dissimilarity between III-V and Si, such as lattice constant, coefficient of thermal expansion, and polarity, introduces a high density of various defects during the growth of III-V on Si. In order to tackle these issues, a variety of growth techniques have been developed so far, leading to the demonstration of high-quality III-V materials and optoelectronic devices monolithically grown on various Si-based platform. In this paper, the recent advances in the heteroepitaxial growth of III-V on Si substrates, particularly GaAs and InP, are discussed. After introducing the fundamental and technical challenges for III-V-on-Si heteroepitaxy, we discuss recent approaches for resolving growth issues and future direction towards monolithic integration of III-V on Si platform.
Landscape Transformation Influences Responses of Terrestrial Small Mammals to Land Use Intensity in North-Central Namibia
Authors: Starik Nicole , Mbango Oskar Kandali , Bengsch Susanne , Göttert Thomas , Zeller Ulrich
Published: December 2020

In this study, we investigate and compare the response patterns of small mammal communities to increasing land use intensity in two study areas: private farmland at the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and smallholder farmland in Tsumeb agricultural area. Species richness, community composition and a standardized capture index (RCI) are compared between sites of (a) increasing grazing pressure of ungulates (Etosha) and (b) increasing conversion of bushland to arable land (Tsumeb). Within each study area, we found clear response patterns towards increasing land use intensity. However, patterns differ significantly between the two areas. Within the less-transformed area (Etosha), high land use intensity results in a decrease in the RCI but not species richness. Small mammal communities remain relatively stable, but ecosystem functions (e.g., bioturbation, seed dispersal) are weakened. Within the more-transformed area (Tsumeb), high land use intensity leads to a decrease in species richness and increasing RCIs of two common pest species. The disappearance of a balanced community and the dramatic increase in a few pest species has the potential to threaten human livelihoods (e.g., crop damage, disease vectors). Our comparative approach clearly indicates that Gerbilliscus leucogaster is a possible candidate for an ecological indicator of ecosystem integrity. Mastomys natalensis has the potential to become an important pest species when bushland is transformed into irrigated arable land. Our results support the importance of area-specific conservation and management measures in savanna ecosystems.
Evaluation of Strengths of Dual Vocational Educational Training in Andalusia (Spain): A Stake on the Future
Authors: Pozo-Llorente María Teresa , Poza-Vilches María de Fátima
Published: December 2020

Dual Vocational Training was introduced in Spain in 2012 with the purpose to reinforce training based on employment requirements and to promote youth employment within the labour market. Since its implementation, there has been continuous growth of the presence of this modality across every Autonomous Community, with Andalusia being one of the latest regions to dualize the Vocational Educational Training (hereinafter VET) educational scheme. From the outset however, this modality has faced a number of obstacles that question its sustainability. Without losing sight of these obstacles, and with the purpose of providing arguments that justify the suitability of this model in Andalusia, this study aims to identify—from the unique perspective of three Andalusian educational institutions—the strengths of this modality and the opportunities that the Andalusian context offers. To this end, we have used the SWOT technique to analyse the opinion of a group of teachers regarding their thoughts on the Andalusian Dual VET system, from both an internal and external perspective. Workforce insertion and the quality of skills gained through training are some of the strengths that characterize this model, with the greatest opportunities derived from the needs of the Andalusian business and productive sectors. Based on the scenarios drawn, we have suggested a number of guidelines to capitalize on some of the identified strengths and take advantage of the opportunities observed.
Jointly Optimize the Residual Energy of Multiple Mobile Devices in the MEC–WPT System
Authors: Li Long , Xu Gaochao , Liu Peng , Li Yang , Ge Jiaqi
Published: December 2020

With the rapid popularity of mobile devices (MDs), mobile edge computing (MEC) networks and wireless power transmission (WPT) will receive more attention. Naturally, by integrating these two technologies, the inherent energy consumption during task execution can be effectively reduced, and the collected energy can be provided to charge the MD. In this article, our research focuses on extending the battery time of MDs by maximizing the harvested energy and minimizing the consumed energy in the MEC–WPT system, which is formulated as a residual energy maximization problem and also a non-convex optimization problem. On the basis of study on maximizing the residual energy under multi-users and multi-time blocks, we propose an effective jointly optimization method (i.e., jointly optimize the energy harvesting time, task-offloading time, task-offloading size and the MDs’ CPU frequency), which combines the convex optimization method and the augmented Lagrangian to solve the residual energy maximum problem. We leverage Time Division Multiple Access (TMDA) mode to coordinate computation offloading. Simulation results show that our scheme has better performance than the benchmark schemes on maximizing residual energy. In particular, our proposed scheme is outstanding in the failure rate of multiple MDs and can adapt to the task size to minimize the failure rate.
EmuCD: An Emulator for Content Dissemination Protocols in Vehicular Networks
Authors: Chaves Ricardo , Senna Carlos , Luís Miguel , Sargento Susana , Moreira André , Recharte Diogo , Matos Ricardo
Published: December 2020

The development of protocols for mobile networks, especially for vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs), presents great challenges in terms of testing in real conditions. Using a production network for testing communication protocols may not be feasible, and the use of small networks does not meet the requirements for mobility and scale found in real networks. The alternative is to use simulators and emulators, but vehicular network simulators do not meet all the requirements for effective testing. Aspects closely linked to the behaviour of the network nodes (mobility, radio communication capabilities, etc.) are particularly important in mobile networks, where a delay tolerance capability is desired. This paper proposes a distributed emulator, EmuCD, where each network node is built in a container that consumes a data trace that defines the node’s mobility and connectivity in a real network (but also allowing the use of data from simulated networks). The emulated nodes interact directly with the container’s operating system, updating the network conditions at each step of the emulation. In this way, our emulator allows the development and testing of protocols, without any relation to the emulator, whose code is directly portable to any hardware without requiring changes or customizations. Using the facilities of our emulator, we tested InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), Sprinkler and BitTorrent content dissemination protocols with real mobility and connectivity data from a real vehicular network. The tests with a real VANET and with the emulator have shown that, under similar conditions, EmuCD performs closely to the real VANET, only lacking in the finer details that are extremely hard to emulate, such as varying loads in the hardware.
Laboratory Assessment of Disease Activity in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: What’s New?
Authors: Shentova-Eneva Rayna , Velikova Tsvetelina
Published: December 2020

Laboratory tests are an integral part of both the diagnostic and follow-up algorithm of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Their advantages over other non-invasive methods for assessing disease activity are greater objectivity than clinical activity indices and imaging studies. This review aims to analyze shortly the most common laboratory tests used to assess disease activity in pediatric patients with IBD. In addition to the conventional blood and serum markers that are not specific for gut inflammation, although routinely used, we also reviewed the established fecal markers such as calprotectin, lactoferrin, M2-pyruvate kinase, osteoprotegerin, HMGB1, chitinase 3-like 1, and the promising non-coding microRNA. In conclusion, neither marker is unique to the pediatric IBD. More clinical data are required to assess biomarkers’ full potential for diagnosis, management, and follow-up of pediatric IBD patients.
Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on River Flow Regimes in the Upstream of Awash Basin, Ethiopia: Based on IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Daba Mekonnen H. , You Songcai
Published: December 2020

The Awash River Basin is the most irrigated area in Ethiopia, which is facing critical water resources problems. The main objective of this study was to assess the impacts of climate change on river flows in the upper Awash Subbasin, Ethiopia, using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) hydrological model. The ensemble of two global climate models (CSIRO-Mk3-6-0 and MIROC-ESM-CHEM with RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) for climate data projections (the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s) and historical climate data from 1981–2010 was considered. Bias-corrections were made for both the GCM data. SWAT model was calibrated and validated to simulate future hydrologic variables in response to changes in rainfall and temperature. The results showed that the projected climate change scenarios were an increase in rainfall for the period of the 2020s but reduced for the periods of 2050s and 2080s. The annual mean temperature increases, ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 °C under RCP4.5 and 0.6 to 1.2 °C under RCP8.5 for all time slices. In the 2020s, annual mean rainfall increases by 5.77% under RCP4.5 and 7.80% under RCP8.5, while in 2050s and 2080s time slices, rainfall decrements range from 3.31 to 9.87% under RCP4.5 and 6.80 to 16.22% under RCP8.5. The change in rainfall and temperature probably leads to increases in the annual streamflow by 5.79% for RCP4.5 and 7.20% for RCP8.5 in the 2020s, whereas decreases by 10.39% and 11.45% under RCP4.5; and 10.79% and −12.38% for RCP8.5 in 2050s and 2080s, respectively. Similarly, in the 2020s, an increment of annual runoff was 10.73% for RCP4.5 and 12.08% for RCP8.5. Runoff reduces by 12.03% and 4.12% under RCP4.5; and 12.65% and 5.31% under RCP8.5 in the 2050s and the 2080s, respectively. Overall, the results revealed that changes in rainfall and temperature would have significant impacts on the streamflow and surface runoff, causing a possible reduction in the total water availability in the subbasin. This study provides useful information for future water resource planning and management in the face of climate change in the upper Awash River basin.
Microbiological Testing of Gastric Aspirate Improves the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Unconscious Adults with TB Meningitis
Authors: Ganiem Ahmad Rizal , Djung Lilya Wati , Chaidir Lidya , Gamayani Uni
Published: December 2020

Conventional sputum collection for TB diagnosis is difficult in TB meningitis patients since most of them are admitted with decreased consciousness. It is assumed that unconscious patients swallow their sputum; therefore, gastric aspiration can replace sputum collection in unconscious patients. A prospective study was conducted to see whether examining gastric aspirate could increase the diagnosis certainty of pulmonary TB in such subjects. The inclusion criteria were age 18–60 years, decreased level of consciousness, and use of a nasogastric tube. Subjects who had taken antituberculosis drugs for more than 3 days were excluded. Gastric lavage was performed in the morning after an overnight fast. Specimens were examined for direct smear, culture, and rapid molecular testing. Demographic, clinical, chest X-ray, and laboratory data were also recorded. During the study period, 31 subjects were available. The positivity rates for microbiological tests were 19.3%, 41.9%, and 48.4% for smear, culture, and rapid molecular testing, respectively. All positive smears were confirmed by either culture or rapid molecular testing. Gastric lavage can be considered a tool for improving extraneural TB diagnosis in unconscious patients.
Transferrin Receptors in Erythropoiesis
Authors: Richard Cyrielle , Verdier Frédérique
Published: December 2020

Erythropoiesis is a highly dynamic process giving rise to red blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells present in the bone marrow. Red blood cells transport oxygen to tissues thanks to the hemoglobin comprised of α- and β-globin chains and of iron-containing hemes. Erythropoiesis is the most iron-consuming process to support hemoglobin production. Iron delivery is mediated via transferrin internalization by the endocytosis of transferrin receptor type 1 (TFR1), one of the most abundant membrane proteins of erythroblasts. A second transferrin receptor—TFR2—associates with the erythropoietin receptor and has been implicated in the regulation of erythropoiesis. In erythroblasts, both transferrin receptors adopt peculiarities such as an erythroid-specific regulation of TFR1 and a trafficking pathway reliant on TFR2 for iron. This review reports both trafficking and signaling functions of these receptors and reassesses the debated role of TFR2 in erythropoiesis in the light of recent findings. Potential therapeutic uses targeting the transferrin-TFR1 axis or TFR2 in hematological disorders are also discussed.
Exploring Traits of Engineered Coral Entities to be Employed in Reef Restoration
Authors: Shefy Dor , Shashar Nadav , Rinkevich Baruch
Published: December 2020

Aggregated settlement of coral larvae results in a complex array of compatible (chimerism) and incompatible (rejection) allogenic responses. Each chimeric assemblage is considered as a distinct biological entity, subjected to selection, however, the literature lacks the evolutionary and ecological functions assigned to these units of selection. Here, we examined the effects of creating chimera/rejecting partners in terms of growth and survival under prolonged field conditions. Bi/multichimeras, bi/multi-rejecting entities, and genetically homogenous colonies (GHC) of the coral Stylophora pistillata were monitored under prolonged field conditions in a mid-water floating nursery in the northern Red Sea. Results revealed an increased aerial size and aeroxial ecological volume for rejected and chimeric entities compared to GHCs. At age 18 months, there were no significant differences in these parameters among the entities and traits, and rejecting partners did not differ from GHC. However, survival probabilities were significantly higher for chimeras that further revealed disparate initiation of up-growing branches and high diversity of chimeric phenotypes. These results suggest enhanced fitness for chimerism, augmenting earlier alluded chimeric benefits that trail the increased size at crucial early life-stages. Adding chimerism to the tool-box of reef restoration may enhance coral fitness in mitigating anthropogenic/climate change impacts.
Bubble Sweep-Down of Research Vessels Based on the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian Method
Authors: Wang Wei , Cai Guobin , Pang Yongjie , Guo Chunyu , Han Yang , Zhou Guangli
Published: December 2020

To explore the reason for the bubble sweep-down phenomenon of research vessels and its effect on the position of the stern sonar of a research vessel, the use of a fairing was investigated as a defoaming appendage. The separation vortex turbulence model was selected for simulation, and the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian method was adopted to study the characteristics of the bubble sweep-down motion, captured using a discrete element model. The interaction between the bubbles, water, air, and hull was defined via a multiphase interaction method. The bubble point position and bubble layer were calculated separately. The spatial movement characteristics of the bubbles were extracted from bubble trajectories. It was demonstrated that the bubble sweep-down phenomenon is closely related to the distribution of the bow pressure field and that the bubble motion characteristics is related to the speed and initial bubble position. When the initial bubble position is between the water surface and the ship bottom, the impact on the middle of the ship bottom is greater and increases further with increasing speed. A deflector forces the bubbles to both sides through physical shielding, strengthening the local vortex structure and keeping bubbles away from the middle of the ship bottom.
Update on Respiratory Fungal Infections in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease and after Lung Transplantation
Authors: Renner Sabine , Nachbaur Edith , Jaksch Peter , Dehlink Eleonora
Published: December 2020

Cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal-recessive metabolic disease in the Western world. Impaired trans-membrane chloride transport via the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein causes thickened body fluids. In the respiratory system, this leads to chronic suppurative cough and recurrent pulmonary infective exacerbations, resulting in progressive lung damage and respiratory failure. Whilst the impact of bacterial infections on CF lung disease has long been recognized, our understanding of pulmonary mycosis is less clear. The range and detection rates of fungal taxa isolated from CF airway samples are expanding, however, in the absence of consensus criteria and univocal treatment protocols for most respiratory fungal conditions, interpretation of laboratory reports and the decision to treat remain challenging. In this review, we give an overview on fungal airway infections in CF and CF-lung transplant recipients and focus on the most common fungal taxa detected in CF, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida spp., Scedosporium apiospermum complex, Lomentospora species, and Exophiala dermatitidis, their clinical presentations, common treatments and prophylactic strategies, and clinical challenges from a physician’s point of view.
Institutional Drivers of Crowdfunding Volumes
Authors: Kukk Mari-Liis , Laidroo Laivi
Published: December 2020

Crowdfunding improves access to financing, yet cases of crowdfunding’s importance, besides traditional financing, are rare and notably localized. In explaining why global crowdfunding volumes are so heterogeneous, previous academic research has focused mainly on the existence of a legal system that is supportive of crowdfunding, but with conflicting results. We argue that a broader range of institutions must be considered to describe the spread of crowdfunding at its current early stage of development, and provide first empirical evidence on the matter. Using a dataset covering crowdfunding volumes of 122 countries over the years 2015–2016, we confirm that the existence of crowdfunding-specific regulations has a positive association with total crowdfunding volumes per capita. We also find that regulation targeted at a specific type of crowdfunding has an economically stronger association with corresponding transaction volumes. In line with our argument, we find that a significantly broader range of less crowdfunding-specific institutions exhibit strong ties to crowdfunding volumes, with strong e-service culture emerging as an especially robust determinant of all types of crowdfunding volumes. Stronger legal rights, greater financial freedom, and higher democracy levels are also associated with greater total crowdfunding volumes, but exhibit varying relevance across different types of crowdfunding.
Inflation and Risky Investments
Authors: Laurila Hannu , Ilomäki Jukka
Published: December 2020

The paper uses a Walrasian two-period financial market model with informed and uninformed constant absolute risk averse (CARA) rational investors and noise traders. The investors allocate their initial wealth between risky assets and risk-free fiat money. The analysis concentrates on the effects of decreasing value of money, or inflation, on the rational investors’ behavior and the asset market. The main findings are the following: Inflation does not affect the informed investors’ prediction coefficient but makes that of the uninformed investors diminish. Inflation does not affect rational investors’ risk but makes the asset price more sensitive to fundament-based and sentiment-based shocks. Inflation changes the market price of the risky asset rise; while it has no effects on the informed investors’ demand of the risky asset, it does affect the uninformed investors’ demand. Finally, inflation makes the asset market more volatile.
Risk Appetite and Jumps in Realized Correlation
Authors: Demirer Riza , Gkillas Konstantinos , Kountzakis Christos , Mavragani Amaryllis
Published: December 2020

This paper examines the role of non-cash flow factors over correlation jumps in financial markets. Utilizing time-varying risk aversion measure as a proxy for investor sentiment and the cross-quantilogram method applied to intraday data, we show that risk aversion captures significant predictive power over realized stock-bond correlation jumps at different quantiles and lags. The predictive relation between correlation jumps and time-varying risk aversion is found to be asymmetric, as we detect a heterogeneous dependence pattern across different quantiles and lag orders. Our findings underline the importance of non-cash flow factors over correlation jumps, highlighting the role of behavioral factors in optimal portfolio allocations and the effectiveness of diversification strategies.
Relations between Generalization, Reasoning and Combinatorial Thinking in Solving Mathematical Open-Ended Problems within Mathematical Contest
Authors: Medová Janka , Bulková Kristína Ovary , Čeretková Soňa
Published: December 2020

Algebraic thinking, combinatorial thinking and reasoning skills are considered as playing central roles within teaching and learning in the field of mathematics, particularly in solving complex open-ended mathematical problems Specific relations between these three abilities, manifested in the solving of an open-ended ill-structured problem aimed at mathematical modeling, were investigated. We analyzed solutions received from 33 groups totaling 131 students, who solved a complex assignment within the mathematical contest Mathematics B-day 2018. Such relations were more obvious when solving a complex problem, compared to more structured closed subtasks. Algebraic generalization is an important prerequisite to prove mathematically and to solve combinatorial problem at higher levels, i.e., using expressions and formulas, therefore a special focus should be put on this ability in upper-secondary mathematics education.
Aspergillosis, Avian Species and the One Health Perspective: The Possible Importance of Birds in Azole Resistance
Authors: Melo Aryse Martins , Stevens David A. , Tell Lisa A. , Veríssimo Cristina , Sabino Raquel , Xavier Melissa Orzechowski
Published: December 2020

The One Health context considers health based on three pillars: humans, animals, and environment. This approach is a strong ally in the surveillance of infectious diseases and in the development of prevention strategies. Aspergillus spp. are fungi that fit substantially in this context, in view of their ubiquity, as well as their importance as plant pathogens, and potentially fatal pathogens for, particularly, humans and avian species. In addition, the emergence of azole resistance, mainly in Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto, and the proven role of fungicides widely used on crops, reinforces the need for a multidisciplinary approach to this problem. Avian species are involved in short and long distance travel between different types of landscapes, such as agricultural fields, natural environments and urban environments. Thus, birds can play an important role in the dispersion of Aspergillus, and of special concern, azole-resistant strains. In addition, some bird species are particularly susceptible to aspergillosis. Therefore, avian aspergillosis could be considered as an environmental health indicator. In this review, aspergillosis in humans and birds will be discussed, with focus on the presence of Aspergillus in the environment. We will relate these issues with the emergence of azole resistance on Aspergillus. These topics will be therefore considered and reviewed from the “One Health” perspective.