bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a 5-Gene Metabolic Signature for Predicting Prognosis Based on an Integrated Analysis of Tumor Microenvironment in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yu Xiaolin , Zhang Xiaomei , Zhang Yanxia
Published: June 2020

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common subtype of lung cancer with a depressing survival rate. The reprogramming of tumor metabolism was identified as a new hallmark of cancer in tumor microenvironment (TME), and we made a comprehensive exploration to reveal the prognostic role of the metabolic-related genes. Transcriptome profiling data of LUAD were, respectively, downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Based on the extracted metabolic-related genes, a novel 5-gene metabolic prognostic signature (including GNPNAT1, LPGAT1, TYMS, LDHA, and PTGES) was constructed by univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. This signature confirmed its robustness and accuracy by external validation in multiple databases. It could be an independent risk factor for LUAD, and the nomograms possessed moderately accurate performance with the C-index of 0.755 (95% confidence interval: 0.706–0.804) and 0.691 (95% confidence interval: 0.636–0.746) in training set and testing set. This signature could reveal the metabolic features according to the results of gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and meanwhile monitor the status of TME through ESTIMATE scores and the infiltration levels of immune cells. In conclusion, this gene signature is a cost-effective tool which could indicate the status of TME to provide more clues in the exploration of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.
Screening and Functional Pathway Analysis of Pulmonary Genes Associated with Suppression of Allergic Airway Inflammation by Adipose Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Kim Sung-Dong , Kang Shin Ae , Kim Yong-Wan , Yu Hak Sun , Cho Kyu-Sup , Roh Hwan-Jung
Published: June 2020

Background. Although mesenchymal stem cell- (MSC-) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are as effective as MSCs in the suppression of allergic airway inflammation, few studies have explored the molecular mechanisms of MSC-derived EVs in allergic airway diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the lung associated with the suppression of allergic airway inflammation using adipose stem cell- (ASC-) derived EVs. Methods. C57BL/6 mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection and challenged intranasally with OVA. To evaluate the effect of ASC-derived EVs on allergic airway inflammation, 10 μg/50 μL of EVs were administered intranasally prior to OVA challenge. Lung tissues were removed and DEGs were compared pairwise among the three groups. DEG profiles and hierarchical clustering of the identified genes were analyzed to evaluate changes in gene expression. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the expression levels of genes upregulated after treatment with ASC-derived EVs. Enrichment analysis based on the Gene Ontology (GO) database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were also performed to further identify the function of DEGs. Results. Expression of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), brain-expressed X-linked 2 (Bex2), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (Igfbp6), formyl peptide receptor 1 (Fpr1), and secretoglobin family 1C member 1 (Scgb1c1) was significantly increased in asthmatic mice following treatment with ASC-derived EVs. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes were strongly associated with immune system processes and their regulation, cellular processes, single-organism processes, and biological regulation. Conclusion. These results suggest that the DEGs identified in this study (PON1, Bex2, Igfbp6, Fpr1, and Scgb1c1) may be involved in the amelioration of allergic airway inflammation by ASC-derived EVs.
Effect of Interleukin-17 in the Activation of Monocyte Subsets in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Garza-Reyes Montserrat Guadalupe , Mora-Ruíz Mónica Daniela , Chávez-Sánchez Luis , Madrid-Miller Alejandra , Cabrera-Quintero Alberto Jose , Maravillas-Montero José Luis , Zentella-Dehesa Alejandro , Moreno-Ruíz Luis , Pastor-Salgado Selene , Ramírez-Arias Erick , Pérez-Velázquez Nataly , Chávez-Rueda Adriana Karina , Blanco-Favela Francisco , Vazquez-Gonzalez Wendy Guadalupe , Contreras-Rodríguez Alicia
Published: June 2020

Interleukin- (IL-) 17 is increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and plays a key role in inflammatory diseases through its involvement in the activation of leukocytes. Here, we describe for the first time the effect of IL-17 in the migration and activation of monocyte subsets in patients during ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and post-STEMI. We analyzed the circulating levels of IL-17 in patient plasma. A gradual increase in IL-17 was found in STEMI and post-STEMI patients. Additionally, IL-17 had a powerful effect on the recruitment of CD14++CD16+/CD14+CD16++monocytes derived from patients post-STEMI compared with the monocytes from patients with STEMI, suggesting that IL-17 recruits monocytes with inflammatory activity post-STEMI. Furthermore, IL-17 increased the expression of TLR4 on CD14+CD16-and CD14++CD16+/CD14+CD16++monocytes post-STEMI and might enhance the response to danger-associated molecular patterns post-STEMI. Moreover, IL-17 induced secretion of IL-6 from CD14++CD16−and CD14++CD16+/CD14+CD16++monocytes both in STEMI and in post-STEMI, which indicates that IL-17 has an effect on the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from monocytes during STEMI and post-STEMI. Overall, we demonstrate that in STEMI and post-STEMI, IL-17 is increased and induces the migration and activation of monocyte subsets, possibly contributing to the inflammatory response through TLR4 and IL-6 secretion.
Subepithelial Corneal Deposits Associated with Exemestane
Authors: Amireskandari Annahita , Nguyen Elena , Hinkle David , Mauger Thomas
Published: June 2020

This is a case report of corneal deposits noted in a 69-year-old female patient taking the aromatase inhibitor, exemestane, after undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy for breast cancer. The patient presented to our eye clinic for a new-onset floater in one eye, and bilateral subepithelial opacities were found incidentally on exam. The patient completed a 5-year course of the medication shortly after her initial visit with us and was noted to have a slight improvement in the density of the opacities on a follow-up visit 3 months later. We believe these corneal changes were most likely secondary to exemestane. The effect of aromatase inhibitors on the eye deserves further exploration as an increasing number of patients are prescribed these medications.
Evaluation of Four Rapid Tests for Detection of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Ivory Coast
Authors: Dembele Bamory , Affi-Aboli Roseline , Kabran Mathieu , Sevede Daouda , Goha Vanessa , Adiko Aimé Cézaire , Kouamé Rodrigue , Allah-Kouadio Emile , Inwoley Andre
Published: June 2020

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) could be an ideal tool for a large-scale HBV screening in settings with high endemicity but limited infrastructure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis performance of such RDTs for screening HBV infection in Ivory Coast. Methods. From September 2018 to January 2019, a cross-sectional phase I evaluation study of RDTs was conducted in three laboratories of Abidjan (CeDReS, CNTS and IPCI), on a panel of 405 whole blood samples and 699 plasmas. Four HBsAg RDTs (Determine™ HBsAg, SD Bioline HBsAg WB®, Standard Q HBsAg® and Vikia HBsAg®) were evaluated. The diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) was calculated in comparison to the reference sequential algorithms of two EIA tests (Dia.Pro HBsAg® one version ULTRA and Monolisa™ HBsAg ULTRA). Results. The Determine™ HBsAg and Vikia HBsAg® tests performed well, with 100% of sensitivity, specificity both on plasma and on whole blood. For SD Bioline HBsAg WB® and Standard Q HBsAg®, the specificities were 99.8% and the sensitivities 99.3% and 97.1% respectively. Finally, there were a total of 19 false negative results: 3 with SD Bioline HBsAg WB® and 16 with Standard Q HBsAg®. Conclusion. Determine HBsAg® from Alere and Vikia HBsAg® from Biomérieux are the most suitable RDTs for screening for HBV in Ivory Coast. A phase II evaluation must be initiated.
Clinical Conditions of Hospitalized Older Adult Patients and Their Outcomes in a Regional Referral Hospital in Southwestern Uganda
Authors: Orikiriza Patrick , Rukundo Godfrey Z. , Kayanja Adrian , Bazira Joel
Published: June 2020

Background. Recent advances in medicine have caused positive impact on the life expectancy of most countries, resulting in increased older adult population. Aging comes with a number of health challenges. This study investigated health conditions of older adults at admission and clinical outcomes in a regional referral hospital in southwestern Uganda. Methods. A retrospective study reviewed clinical data of older adult patients admitted between January 2016 and December 2017. Demographic data, cause of admission, length, and outcomes of hospitalization are described. Results. Up to 813 patient files were reviewed. The patients had been hospitalized to emergency, 371 (45.6%); medical, 355 (43.7%); surgical, 84 (10.3%); psychiatry, 2 (0.3%); and obstetrics and gynecology, 1 (0.1%) wards. The majority, 427 (52.5%), of the patients were females. Cancer was the most common reason for hospitalization, 130/889 (14.6%), followed by stroke, 94/889 (10.6%); heart failure, 76/889 (8.6%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 56/889 (6.3%); pneumonia, 47/889 (5.3%); and head injury, 45/889 (5.1%), whilst 560 (68.9%) of the hospitalized patients were discharged, 197 (24.2%) died, 18 (2.2%) were referred for advanced care, and 38 (4.7%) escaped from the facility. The emergency ward had the highest deaths, 101 (51.3%), then medical, 56 (28.4%), and surgical, 39 (19.8%), wards. Mortality of those who died was admitted with stroke, 30 (15.2%), cancer, 21 (10.7%), head injury, 16 (8.1%), heart failure, 14 (7.1%), sepsis, 14 (7.1%), and renal disease, 12 (6.1%). On average, patients were admitted for 5 days (IQR: 3–8). Conclusions. The high proportion of mortality in this group is worrying and requires further investigations.
Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni Infection and Associated Risk Factors among School Children in Jiga Town, Northwest-Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wubet Ketemaw , Damtie Destaw
Published: June 2020

Background. Schistosomiasis, one of the 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases, is a human disease which is caused by infection with Schistosoma spp. In Ethiopia, the intestinal form of schistosomiasis (caused by Schistosoma mansoni) is widely distributed. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of S. mansoni and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Jiga town and its surrounding rural “Kebeles”, Northwest Ethiopia (Kebele = the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia). Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out among children from three schools in Jiga town and its surrounding rural “Kebeles”. The schools were selected mainly according to their proximity to water bodies that were likely to have been used by the children. A total of 362 randomly selected children were screened for S. mansoni infection. Samples of stool were collected from each pupil and examined by the concentration and microscopic techniques. Semistructured interview questionnaires were administered to the study subjects to identify the possible risk factors of infection with S. mansoni. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 software. Results. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 15.2%. A higher proportion of S. mansoni infection (30.3%) was observed at Chifarit primary school children followed by Tikur Wuha primary school children (17.3%) and Jiga 01 primary school children (10.2%). The habit of contact with river water (AOR, 4.86; 95% CI, 0.991-23.8; P=0.051) and the irregular wearing of shoes (AOR, 6.06; 95% CI, 2.61-14.13; P=0.001) were risk factors for S. mansoni infection. Conclusion. S. mansoni infection remains a public health problem in the study area. Snail control, mass deworming, and health promotion are recommended.
Existence Theorem for Impulsive Differential Equations with Measurable Right Side for Handling Delay Problems
Authors: Lipcsey Z. , Ugboh J. A. , Esuabana I. M. , Isaac I. O.
Published: June 2020

Due to noncontinuous solution, impulsive differential equations with delay may have a measurable right side and not a continuous one. In order to support handling impulsive differential equations with delay like in other chapters of differential equations, we formulated and proved existence and uniqueness theorems for impulsive differential equations with measurable right sides following Caratheodory’s techniques. The new setup had an impact on the formulation of initial value problems (IVP), the continuation of solutions, and the structure of the system of trajectories. (a) We have two impulsive differential equations to solve with one IVP (φσ0=ξ0) which selects one of the impulsive differential equations by the position of σ0 in a,bν. Solving the selected IVP fully determines the solution on the other scale with a possible delay. (b) The solutions can be continued at each point of α,β×Ω0≕Ω by the conditions in the existence theorem. (c) These changes alter the flow of solutions into a directed tree. This tree however is an in-tree which offers a modelling tool to study among other interactions of generations.
Hirudin Ameliorates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis via Regulating TGF‐β1/Smad and NF‐κB Signaling in UUO Rat Model
Authors: Yang Kang , Fan Boya , Zhao Qingyun , Ji Yue , Liu Panying , Gao Shan , Ren Tong , Dou Yitian , Pei Ming , Yang Hongtao
Published: June 2020

Purpose. Hirudin, a polypeptide structure containing 65 amino acids, is a potent natural thrombin inhibitor with anticoagulant property extracted from Hirudo medicinalis. It has been reported to have anti‐inflammatory and antifibrotic property. Here we explored the renoprotective effect of hirudin on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) induced renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). Methods. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, UUO alone group, and three UUO + hirudin‐treatment groups (10, 20, or 40 IU/kg/d, for 14 continuous days). At the end of the experiment period, animals were sacrificed. Pathologic changes in renal specimens were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. The expressions of collagen III (Col III), fibronectin (FN), α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), protease‐activated receptor 1 (PAR‐1), and proteins in the TGF‐β1/Smad and NF‐κB pathways in renal tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry and/or Western blotting. Results. HE and Masson staining showed that hirudin‐treated UUO rats had lower extent of renal injury and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in renal interstitium than those in the UUO group. The results of immunohistochemistry and WB indicated decreased protein expressions of Col III, FN, α‐SMA, PAR‐1, and inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 after hirudin treatment. Furthermore, hirudin reduced the expressions of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), phosphorylated‐Smad2, and phosphorylated‐Smad3 in the UUO model. In parallel, we found inhibited nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signaling after hirudin treatment, with downregulated protein expressions of P65, phosphorylated‐P65, and phosphorylated‐iκBα and increased iκBα. Conclusion. Hirudin improves kidney injury and suppresses inflammatory response and ECM accumulation in UUO rats; its underlying mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of TGF‐β1/Smad and NF‐κB signaling.
Flocking Control of Mobile Robots with Obstacle Avoidance Based on Simulated Annealing Algorithm
Authors: Cheng Jin , Wang Bin
Published: June 2020

Flocking control problem of mobile robots under environment with unknown obstacles is addressed in this paper. Based on the simulated annealing algorithm, a flocking behaviour for mobile robots is achieved which converges to alignment while avoiding obstacles. Potential functions are designed to evaluate the positional relationship between robots and obstacles. Unlike the existing analytical method, simulated annealing algorithm is utilized to search the quasi-optimal position of robots in order to reduce the potential functions. Motion control law is designed to drive the robot move to the desired position at each sampling period. Experiments are implemented, and the results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed flocking control method.
Clinical Significance of Pain in Differential Diagnosis between Spinal Meningioma and Schwannoma
Authors: Olex-Zarychta Dorota
Published: June 2020

While common MRI characteristics for schwannomas exist, diagnosis by imaging alone remains challenging. Detailed analysis of symptoms reported by the patient is very important in the differential diagnosis between meningioma and schwannoma in cases where MRI images are not sufficient for determining the tumor type. The pain, its classification of the character, and the timing seem to be an important predictive symptom in the differential diagnosis of spinal schwannoma.
Using Evolving ANN-Based Algorithm Models for Accurate Meteorological Forecasting Applications in Vietnam
Authors: Chen Tim , Kapron N. , Chen J. C.-Y.
Published: June 2020

The reproduction of meteorological tsunamis utilizing physically based hydrodynamic models is complicated in light of the fact that it requires large amounts of information, for example, for modelling the limits of hydrological and water driven time arrangement, stream geometry, and balanced coefficients. Accordingly, an artificial neural network (ANN) strategy utilizing a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) and a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is perceived as a viable option for modelling and forecasting the maximum peak and variation with time of meteorological tsunamis in the Mekong estuary in Vietnam. The parameters, including both the nearby climatic weights and the wind field factors, for finding the most extreme meteorological waves, are first examined, through the preparation of evolved neural systems. The time series of meteorological tsunamis were used for training and testing the models, and data for three cyclones were used for model prediction. Given the 22 selected meteorological tidal waves, the exact constants for the Mekong estuary, acquired through relapse investigation, are A = 9.5 × 10−3 and B = 31 × 10−3. Results showed that both the Multilayer Perceptron Network (MLP) and evolved radial basis function (ERBF) methods are capable of predicting the time variation of meteorological tsunamis, and the best topologies of the MLP and ERBF are I3H8O1 and I3H10O1, respectively. The proposed advanced ANN time series model is anything but difficult to use, utilizing display and prediction tools for simulating the time variation of meteorological tsunamis.
Clinical Outcomes of Drug-Eluting versus Bare-Metal In-Stent Restenosis after the Treatment of Drug-Eluting Stent or Drug-Eluting Balloon: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yang Yi-Xing , Liu Yin , Li Chang-Ping , Lu Peng-Ju , Wang Jiao , Gao Jing
Published: June 2020

Background. Although drug-eluting stents (DES) have reduced the rates of in-stent restenosis (ISR) compared with bare-metal stents (BMS), DES related ISR (DES-ISR) still occurs and outcomes of DES-ISR remain unclear. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with DES-ISR compared with patients with BMS related ISR (BMS-ISR) after the treatment of DES or drug-eluting balloon (DEB). Methods and results. We searched the literature in the main electronic databases including PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The primary endpoints were target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR). The secondary endpoints included all cause death (ACD), cardiac death (CD), myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis or re-in-stent restenosis (ST/RE-ISR), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). A total of 19 studies with 6256 participants were finally included in this meta-analysis. Results showed that the rates of TLR (P<0.00001), TVR (P<0.00001), CD (P=0.02), ST/RE-ISR (P<0.00001), and MACEs (P<0.00001) were significantly higher in the DES-ISR group than in the BMS-ISR group. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the rates of MI (P=0.05) and ACD (P=0.21). Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that patients with DES-ISR had worse clinical outcomes at the long-term follow-up than patients with BMS-ISR after the treatment of DES or DEB, suggesting that DES and DEB may be more effective for BMS-ISR than that for DES-ISR. Positive prevention of DES-ISR is indispensable and further studies concentrating on detecting the predictors of outcomes of DES-ISR are required.
Factors Associated with Treatment Failure in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of COPD Admitted to the Emergency Department Observation Unit
Authors: Pethyabarn Wasuntaraporn , Chewae Sareeman , Dadeh Ar-aishah
Published: June 2020

Objective. We aimed to identify factors associated with treatment failure in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) admitted to the emergency department observation unit (EDOU). Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1, 2013, and October 31, 2019. The electronic medical records were reviewed of patients with AECOPD admitted to the EDOU. The patients were divided into treatment failure and treatment success groups. Treatment failure was defined as prolonged stay at the EDOU (>48 h) or COPD-related ED revisit (within 72 h) or readmission within 1 month. The two groups were compared and analyzed using univariable and multivariable analyses by logistic regression. Results. Of the 220 patients enrolled, 82 (37.3%) developed treatment failure. Factors associated with treatment failure included arrhythmias (odds ratio [OR] 3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–13.9), diabetic mellitus (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.09–4.95), long-term oxygen therapy (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.08–7.72), short-acting beta-agonist use (OR 6.06, 95% CI 1.98–18.62), pneumonia findings on chest X-ray (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.06–9.95), and ED length of stay less than 4 h (OR 2, 95% CI 1.08–3.73). Conclusion. Arrhythmias, diabetic mellitus, long-term oxygen therapy, short-acting beta-agonist use, pneumonia findings on chest X-ray, and ED length of stay <4 h were the significant factors associated with treatment failure of AECOPD to which physicians at the ED should pay special attention before the admission of patients to the EDOU.
Predictive and Prognostic Role of PD-L1 in Urothelial Carcinoma Patients with Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Haoran , Ye Tao , Yang Xiaoqi , Lv Peng , Wu Xiaoliang , Zhou Hui , Lu Hongyan , Tang Kun , Ye Zhangqun
Published: June 2020

Recently, checkpoint inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis has been shown to be therapeutically relevant in urothelial carcinoma (UC). To evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of PD-L1 on response and survival in UC patients after cystectomy, chemotherapy, or anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, a systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was performed. A total of 2154 patients from 14 published studies were included. In all UC patients after cystectomy, tumour cell (TC) PD-L1 expression was not associated with the OS or PFS. For the subset of patients with organ-confined disease, TC PD-L1 expression significantly predicted OS after cystectomy (P=0.0004). There was no significant evidence of an association between TC PD-L1 status and ORR or OS for UC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. For UC patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, TC PD-L1 expression≥5% could predict the response (P=0.005), but not for the 1% cut-off (P≥0.05). As for PD-L1 expression in tumour-inflating immune cells (TIICs), both subsets with IC2/3 vs. IC0/1 and IC1/2/3 vs. IC0 were associated with ORR to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. In the TIIC subset, IC2/3 vs. IC0/1 of PD-L1 was associated with higher CR (P=0.002), PR (P=0.04), and PD (P=0.007). Further, higher TIIC PD-L1 status benefited from longer PFS (P<0.001), but was not associated with OS in UC patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Our study suggested that TIIC PD-L1 expression with 5% cut-off was valuable as a predictive and prognostic biomarker for ORR and PFS in UC patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
Analysis of Apple Flavours: The Use of Volatile Organic Compounds to Address Cultivar Differences and the Correlation between Consumer Appreciation and Aroma Profiling
Authors: Roberts Gareth , Spadafora Natasha D.
Published: June 2020

In the selection of apple (Malus domestica Borkh) fruits, consumers predominantly use visual and organoleptic responses, such as aroma and texture, as quality/preference markers. Previous studies profiling the sensory properties and aroma profiles of apple varieties have provided a lexicon describing important attributes within the modalities of aroma, texture, and flavour. The range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by four apple cultivars was assessed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). To facilitate automated dynamic headspace extraction of the VOCs from bulk samples, a small multichamber thermal extraction system was used. Forty compounds were detected and putatively identified by mass spectral comparison with NIST libraries. Eight compounds were not previously identified in apples. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA) and canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) done on the whole volatile organic compound profiles show separation of the four cultivars. The use of random forest classification enabled the determination of a minimum set of fifteen potential VOC markers that successfully differentiate the cultivars under study. Trends across samples, VOCs, and sensory evaluation are revealed. The association between 4-hexen-1-ol acetate with texture/consistency, and crispiness, and correlation of 2-methylbut-2-en-1-yl acetate with juiciness and acidity is shown for the first time. These sensory correlations indicate that the compounds determined by this experiment could be used as objective markers for the consumer appreciation of fresh apples, enabling the optimum conditions for processing and storage of individual cultivars to be identified without recourse to expensive sensory panels in every case. Such tests could also be used as part of routine quality control by the producer and retailer, reducing costs and eliminating waste due to batches of inferior product.
The Effect of Divalent Metal Ions on the Temperature Stability of Poly(I:C) Duplex
Authors: Usenko Evgeniya , Valeev Vladimir , Glamazda Alexander , Karachevtsev Victor
Published: June 2020

The effect of divalent ions on the thermal stability of the double-stranded polynucleotide polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) in a buffer solution (pH 7) was studied by UV absorption spectroscopy and thermal denaturation by measuring the absorbance at 260 nm. The concentration dependence of the polynucleotide melting temperature (Tm) in the presence of metal ions (2.5 × 10−6–10−2 M) was obtained. It was found that the duplex thermal stability grew gradually upon an increase of Ca2+ and Mn2+ concentration. The thermal stability of the duplex in the presence of Cd2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ rises up to an ion concentration of about 10−4 M and further falls. In contrast to these ions, the addition of Cu2+ to the solution leads to a sharp decline in Тm of the duplex at a concentration above 10−5 M. The observed difference in the influence of metal ions on the poly(I:C) thermal stability is explained by the different affinity of these ions to both the phosphate groups and the nitrogenous bases of the polynucleotides. Based on the analysis of the Tm concentration dependence, the dominant binding of each ion to the specific polynucleotide components was proposed.
Towards the Design of Context-Aware Adaptive User Interfaces to Minimize Drivers’ Distractions
Authors: Khan Inayat , Khusro Shah
Published: June 2020

The usage of a smartphone while driving is a pervasive problem and has been acknowledged as a significant source of road accidents and crashes. Several solutions have been developed to control and minimize risky driving behavior. However, these solutions were mainly designed from the perspective of normal users to be used in a nondriving scenario. In a driving scenario, any deviation from these assumptions (e.g., touching or taping interfaces and looking to visual items) could impact driving performance. In this research paper, we aimed to design and develop a context-aware adaptive user interface framework to minimize driver distraction. The proposed framework is implemented in Android platform, namely, “DriverSense,” which is capable of adapting smartphone user interfaces based on contextual factors including driver preferences, environmental factors, and device usage in real time using adaptation rules. The proposed solution is evaluated both in real time using AutoLog application and through an empirical study by collecting data from 93 drivers through a mixed-mode survey using a questionnaire. Results obtained from AutoLog dataset show that performing activities on smartphone native interfaces while driving leads to abrupt changes in speed and steering wheel angle. However, minimal variations have been observed while performing activities on DriverSense interfaces. The results obtained from the empirical study show that the data are found to be internally consistent with 0.7 Cronbach’s alpha value. Furthermore, an Iterated Principal Factor Analysis (IPFA) retained 60 of a total of 61 measurement items with lower uniqueness values. The findings show that the proposed solution has significantly minimized the driver distractions and has positive perceptions in terms of usefulness, attitude, learnability and understandability, and user satisfaction.
Caveolin-1 Knockdown Decreases SMMC7721 Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Invasiveness by Inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Induced Angiogenesis
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Bo , Shi Zheng , Yang Lan-Fang , Gao Hong-Bin
Published: June 2020

Background. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that caveolin-1 overexpression is involved in apoptosis resistance, angiogenesis, and invasiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms underlying caveolin-1-mediated tumor progression remain unclear. Methodogy. Lentiviral vectors were used to construct caveolin-1 small interfering RNA- (siRNA-) expressing cells. Secreted VEGF levels in SMMC7721 cells were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SMMC7721 cell proliferation, cycle, apoptosis, and invasiveness were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, Annexin V-FITC/PI, and invasion assay, respectively. Phospho-eNOS levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cocultured with SMMC7721 cell supernatants were analyzed by Western blot. Capillary-like tubule formation assay was performed to analyze endothelial tubular structure formation in HUVECs treated with supernatants from caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells. SMMC7721 implantation and growth in nude mice were observed. Angiogenesis in vivo was analyzed by immunohistochemical angiogenesis assay. Results. Caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells secreted reduced levels of VEGF. Caveolin-1 RNAi also caused an inhibition of SMMC7721 cell proliferation and cell cycle progression that was accompanied by increased apoptosis. Supernatants from caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells inhibited cell cycle progression and decreased phospho-eNOS levels in HUVECs. Endothelial tubular structure formation in HUVECs treated with supernatants from caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells was considerably reduced. Caveolin-1 siRNA-expressing SMMC7721 cells also showed reduced tumorigenicity and angiogenesis induction in vivo. Conclusion. Our results reveal a novel mechanism, whereby caveolin-1 positively regulates human HCC cell invasiveness by coordinating VEGF-induced angiogenesis.
Comparative Analysis of Virulence Factors of Homozygous and Heterozygous Strains of Candida albicans Vaginal Isolates
Authors: Nouraei Hasti , Sheykhi Sahar , ZareShahrabadi Zahra , Khodadadi Hossein , Zomorodian Kamiar , Pakshir Keyvan
Published: June 2020

Although the epidemiology of pathogenic Candida species is changing due to invasive diseases, Candida albicans has become the common cause of human infections worldwide. Candida albicans is a diploid yeast with a mostly clonal mode of reproduction and without known complete sexual cycle. This species has two heterozygous and homozygous strains at hyphal wall protein 1 gene locus (hwp1). Little is known about virulence factors of these strains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exoenzyme activity of heterozygous and homozygous C. albicans strains. A total of 60 stock Candida albicans species isolates, which consisted of 30 homozygous and 30 heterozygous strains, were used for exoenzyme activities. We used egg yolk agar, Sabouraud blood agar, and bovine serum albumin agar for evaluation of phospholipase, hemolysin, and proteinase activity, respectively. Homozygous strains of Candida albicans had more phospholipase and proteinase activity than heterozygous strains. However, there were no significant statistical differences between the two strains in the severity of exoenzymes production. Beta hemolysin activity was seen in 100% and 96.7% of the homozygous and heterozygous strains, respectively. The results of this study indicated that both of the strains exhibited exoenzyme activities in different ranges. There were no significant statistical differences in virulence factors between the homozygous and heterozygous strains.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Enhancement by Nicotinamide and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide: A New Therapeutic Approach for Retinal Degenerative Diseases
Authors: Alonso-Alonso Maria L. , Srivastava Girish K. , Usategui-Martín Ricardo , García-Gutierrez Maria T. , Pastor José Carlos , Fernandez-Bueno Ivan
Published: June 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) secrete neuroprotective molecules that may be useful as an alternative to cell transplantation itself. Our purpose was to develop different pharmaceutical compositions based on conditioned medium (CM) of adipose MSC (aMSC) stimulated by and/or combined with nicotinamide (NIC), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), or both factors; and to evaluate in vitro their proliferative and neuroprotective potential. Nine pharmaceutical compositions were developed from 3 experimental approaches: (1) unstimulated aMSC-CM collected and combined with NIC, VIP, or both factors (NIC+VIP), referred to as the aMSC-CM combined composition; (2) aMSC-CM collected just after stimulation with the mentioned factors and containing them, referred to as the aMSC-CM stimulated-combined composition; and (3) aMSC-CM previously stimulated with the factors, referred to as the aMSC stimulated composition. The potential of the pharmaceutical compositions to increase cell proliferation under oxidative stress and neuroprotection were evaluated in vitro by using a subacute oxidative stress model of retinal pigment epithelium cells (line ARPE-19) and spontaneous degenerative neuroretina model. Results showed that oxidatively stressed ARPE-19 cells exposed to aMSC-CM stimulated and stimulated-combined with NIC or NIC+VIP tended to have better recovery from the oxidative stress status. Neuroretinal explants cultured with aMSC-CM stimulated-combined with NIC+VIP had better preservation of the neuroretinal morphology, mainly photoreceptors, and a lower degree of glial cell activation. In conclusion, aMSC-CM stimulated-combined with NIC+VIP contributed to improving the proliferative and neuroprotective properties of the aMSC secretome. Further studies are necessary to evaluate higher concentrations of the drugs and to characterize specifically the aMSC-secreted factors related to neuroprotection. However, this study supports the possibility of improving the potential of new effective pharmaceutical compositions based on the secretome of MSC plus exogenous factors or drugs without the need to inject cells into the eye, which can be very useful in retinal pathologies.
Study on the Impact Resistance of Metal Flexible Net to Rock fall
Authors: Wang Gaosheng , Sun Yunhou , Zhang Ao , Zheng Lei , Lv Yuzheng , Wu Huajie , Yang Yuanyou
Published: June 2020

Based on experiments and finite element analysis, the impact resistance of metal flexible net was studied, which can provide reference for the application of metal flexible net in rock fall protection. The oblique (30 degrees) impact experiment of metal flexible net was carried out, the corresponding finite element (FE) to the experiment was established, and the FE model was verified by simulation results to the experimental tests from three aspects: the deformation characteristics of metal flexible net, the time history curves of impact force on supporting ropes, and the maximum instantaneous impact force on supporting ropes. The FE models of metal flexible nets with inclination angles of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 degrees were established, and the impact resistance of metal flexible nets with different inclination angles was analyzed. The research shows that the metal flexible net with proper inclination can bounce the impact rock fall out of the safe area and prevent rock fall falling on the metal flexible net, thus realizing the self-cleaning function. When the inclination angle of the metal flexible net is 15, 30, and 45 degrees, respectively, the bounce effect after impact is better, the remaining height is improved, the protection width is improved obviously, and the impact force is reduced. Herein, the impact force of rock fall decreases most obviously at 45 degrees inclination, and the protective performance is relatively good.
Association Study of Coronary Artery Disease-Associated Genome-Wide Significant SNPs with Coronary Stenosis in Pakistani Population
Authors: Cheema Asma Naseer , Pirim Dilek , Wang Xingbin , Ali Jabar , Bhatti Attya , John Peter , Feingold Eleanor , Demirci F. Yesim , Kamboh M. Ilyas
Published: June 2020

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of coronary artery disease (CAD) have revealed multiple genetic risk loci. We assessed the association of 47 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 43 CAD loci with coronary stenosis in a Pakistani sample comprising 663 clinically ascertained and angiographically confirmed cases. Genotypes were determined using the iPLEX Gold technology. All statistical analyses were performed using R software. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) between significant SNPs was determined using SNAP web portal, and functional annotation of SNPs was performed using the RegulomeDB and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Genotyping comparison was made between cases with severe stenosis (≥70%) and mild/minimal stenosis (<30%). Five SNPs demonstrated significant associations: three with additive genetic models PLG/rs4252120 (p=0.0078), KIAA1462/rs2505083 (p=0.005), and SLC22A3/rs2048327 (p=0.045) and two with recessive models SORT1/rs602633 (p=0.005) and UBE2Z/rs46522 (p=0.03). PLG/rs4252120 was in LD with two functional PLG variants (rs4252126 and rs4252135), each with a RegulomeDB score of 1f. Likewise, KIAA1462/rs2505083 was in LD with a functional SNP, KIAA1462/rs3739998, having a RegulomeDB score of 2b. In the GTEx database, KIAA1462/rs2505083, SLC22A3/rs2048327, SORT1/rs602633, and UBE2Z/rs46522 SNPs were found to be expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in CAD-associated tissues. In conclusion, five genome-wide significant SNPs previously reported in European GWAS were replicated in the Pakistani sample. Further association studies on larger non-European populations are needed to understand the worldwide genetic architecture of CAD.
Investigation of voltage regulation in grid–connected PV system
Authors: Gorai Soumen , D Sattianadan , Shanmugasundaram V. , Vidyasagar S. , Prudhvi Kumar G. R. , Sudhakaran M.
Published: June 2020

In the present scenario the power demand on the load side is increasing day by day, so to balance the power demand and power supply various renewable energy comes to picture as the additional source of electricity generation. The power generated by various renewable resources such as solar, wind, tidal energy and geothermal sources is environmentally clean and have a less emission impact. Out of which PV system draws more attention because it generates energy with a much lower level of carbon dioxide emissions. In the proposed work the objective is to investigate the synchronisation of the grid-connected PV system in terms of voltage and frequency. It includes the P-V characteristics under the circumstances of MPPT technique such as perturb & observe (P&O) method can able to track the local maximum point. The proposed inverter is a voltage source H-Bridge inverter which is controlled using a Clarke and Park transformation to drive a controlled current into the grid to maintain the THD value within the standards. As the grid frequency is fluctuating between SRF-PLL is generally used to fix the output frequency and phase of the grid. It also includes with the design of a three-phase H-bridge inverter as an interface between PV system and grid system. The proposed work is designed and simulated in MATLAB SIMULINK 2017b environment.
Electric field bridging pattern of pre-breakdown and breakdown condition in transformer oil
Authors: Mustafa Nur Badariah Ahmad , Ali N H Nik , Zainuddin H. , Daud Marizuana Mat , Nordin Farah Hani
Published: June 2020

Transformer is considered as one of the most important equipment in electrical power system networks. However, most problems occurred in transformer were related to the defects and weakness of the insulation systems. The oils used in transformer act as coolant and insulation purposes hence maintaining the dielectric strength of the transformer. In this work, electric field bridging pattern is observed from pre-breakdown and breakdown condition. The electric field bridging formation was recorded in the experimental setup and images were captured per frame. 193 images were randomly chosen from the whole video frames where 102 images were the pre-breakdown images and 91 images were the breakdown images. This system comprises of four stages: (i) a preprocessing stage to mark the electrodes tips and background subtraction; (ii) a segmentation stage to extract the electric field bridging formation in region of interest; (iii) a feature extraction stage to extract electric field bridging using feature descriptors, area, minor-axis and major-axis length   (iv) a classification stage to identify the pre-breakdown and breakdown condition. System performance was evaluated using support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbour (k-NN) and random forest (RF) and SVM provided the most promising accuracy that was 99%. The results show that the combination of three feature descriptors, area, minor-axis and major-axis length are the best features combination in identifying the transformer oil condition. In future work, further studies will be conducted to investigate the pattern of pre- and post-breakdown due to some similarity found in image pattern. Due to that, more feature descriptors will be identified to find a unique pattern between pre- and post-breakdown condition
Illuminance levels based on different sky conditions by considering daylight harvesting
Authors: Ahmad Nik Sahidah Nik , Radzi N. H. , Abdullah Mohd Noor
Published: June 2020

Daylight Harvesting Systems (DHS) offer the most effective and significant to reduce energy consumption. In the lighting system, there are various problems which include waste of energy consumption, inappropriate lighting and increasing greenhouse effect. Therefore, the waste of energy consumption should be reduced by controlling the dimming levels of artificial lighting according to the standard thus reducing the greenhouse effect. Hence, this paper considered the daylight adaptive for the lighting system to determine the dimming level and illuminance level for the office room. The simulation has been carried out using DIALux simulation lighting software to simulate the average daylight and average illuminance level with different conditions sky, which is clear, average, and overcast sky. Based on the result, the illuminance level has complied with the European Standard EN12464-1. Furthermore, the presence of daylight and weather conditions plays an essential role in the lighting system. The illuminance and dimming levels are different depending on the time and type of sky condition at that time. Therefore, the daylight adaptive in the lighting system can reduce the use of artificial light in the room.
Method of the adaptive decoding of self-orthogonal codes in telecommunication
Authors: Boiko Juliy , Pyatin Ilya , Eromenko Oleksander , Stepanov Mykhailo
Published: June 2020

The methodology description of the adaptive multi-threshold decoding of self-orthogonal codes in the telecommunication channels of information transfer is shown in this paper. The method of multi-threshold decoder modification is described on the basis of adaptive filtration algorithms. Principles of adaptive algorithms application provide for necessary data transmission validity in the case of the multi-threshold decoding are explored. The graphic charts of multi-threshold decoders noise immunity of self-orthogonal block and convolutional codes are presented. It is determined the coding gain (CG) for multi-threshold decoding schemes. The result of research conducted in the course of the paper is to develop a set of scientifically grounded theoretical positions and practical recommendations and proposals for the development of mechanisms of formalization of description of method of increasing of noise immunity of telecommunication systems transmitting information to the synthesis and improving receiver circuit modulated signals on the theory and practice the use of signal-code constructions (SCC) when deciding maximize system capacity information transmission in the presence of noise.
Faulty antenna detection in a linear array using simulated annealing optimization
Authors: Boopalan Navaamsini , Ramasamy Agileswari K. , Nagi Farrukh Hafiz
Published: June 2020

Sonar, radar and communication systems solely depend on antenna arrays for signal attainment. These arrays are capable of producing directional signals which can be steered in a certain direction. Faulty elements in an array will result in distorted radiation pattern with increased sidelobe levels.  Far-field faulty antenna detection is necessary due to the near field repairing at complex systems like spacecraft. This paper proposes simulated annealing (SA) optimizing method to find the faulty element’s location in a linear array. In this study, a Chebyshev array is presented with the SA optimization method to detect faulty element location with a random permutation of failure locations tested. This method can successfully detect faulty antenna in a linear array. Even though, this method is developed for linear array it can easily be adapted to a planar array.