bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Especies de esponjas marinas conocidas para la isla Hispaniola
Authors: Herrera-Moreno Alejandro , Betancourt Liliana , Alcolado Pedro M.
Published: May 2019

Se ofrece una cronología histórica de las investigaciones sobre las esponjas de la Isla Hispaniola desde 1864 al presente. La información proviene de los resultados de expediciones y proyectos nacionales e internacionales en más de 20 localidades dominicanas y haitianas, colecciones de cinco museos que albergan 41 especies, y más de 40 publicaciones taxonómicas y ecológicas. De este análisis, se conocen ahora 138 especies de esponjas para Hispaniola: 127 para República Dominicana (lo cual añade unas 102 especies al último inventario nacional), 63 especies para Haití y una especie sin especificar el país. Seis especies, Axinella corrugata, Pseudotrachya amaza, Polymastia tenax, Xestospongia dominicana, Prosuberites psammophilus y Ecionemia dominicana, tienen como tipo una localidad dominicana. Las especies compiladas son representativas de los ecosistemas de manglares, sustratos particulados con macrovegetación y/o pastos marinos y arrecifes coralinos desde la orilla hasta aproximadamente 40 m de profundidad.
Manatíes y delfines en sitios arqueológicos precolombinos de Cuba
Authors: Jiménez Vázquez Osvaldo
Published: May 2019

Se revisa el registro de los mamíferos acuáticos hallados en sitios arqueológicos precolombinos de Cuba, el cual incluye mayormente el manatí (Trichechus manatus) y en muy escasa frecuencia al delfín nariz de botella (Turciops truncatus) y otro cetáceo. Se reitera que la foca monje del Caribe (Neomonachus tropicalis) no está presente en sitios arqueológicos cubanos.
Una nueva especie de cangrejo topo ciego del género Zygopa Holthuis, 1961 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) de Cuba
Authors: Ortiz Manuel
Published: May 2019

Se describe una nueva especie de cangrejo topo ciego del género Zygopa. La especie nueva Z. lalanai sp. nov. se diferencia de las otras dos especies del género conocidas al presentar los ojos soldados en una placa transversa con sus extremos romos; la presencia de un campo setoso dispuesto entre la zona CG-6 y el margen del carapacho; por tener un diente en el margen basal interno del dedo móvil del quelípedo izquierdo y poseer la punta de los dactilos de los pereópodos 2 y 3 romas. Z. lalanai sp. nov. es la primera especie de Zygopa para Cuba y la zona suroriental del Golfo de México. Es la tercera especie conocida a nivel mundial.
Evaluación del tratamiento adyuvante en Cáncer Colorrectal estadio II.
Authors: Tomalá Mateo Jorge , García Matamoros Katherine , Encalada O José
Published: May 2019

Introducción: El 70 % de los casos de cáncer colorrectal se diagnostican en estadios en los que es posible la resección quirúrgica del tumor. Sin embargo, un 50 % de estos pacientes fallecen o recaen por enfermedad metastásica. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la tasa de sobrevida global y libre de enfermedad en los pacientes con cáncer colorrectal estadio II.
Métodos:El presente estudio es de tipo descriptivo, retrospectivo realizado en el período de enero de 2006 a diciembre del 2010. Se analizaron las características clínico-patológicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de adenocarcinoma de colon estadio II que recibieronquimioterapia adyuvante en el Instituto Oncológico Nacional “Dr. Juan Tanca Marengo”, Solca-Guayaquil. Se reporta la supervivencia a cinco años y se compara con chi cuadrado.
Resultados:64 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio. La tasa de sobrevida global (SG) y libre de enfermedad fue del 75 % a 5 años. 14 casos (21.9 %) presentaron recurrencia tumoral, con una sobrevida 2.7 años. Los pacientes que recibieron el protocolo Folfox4 tuvieron una SG de 78.4 % a 5 años, mientras que los pacientes que recibieron Folfox6 tuvieron una SG de 81.8 % a 5 años P=0.57. Los factores que significativamente disminuyen la supervivencia fueron resección de 1-3 nodos supervivencia 53.8% P=0.048, Recurrencia supervivencia 35.7% P<0.0001. La edad >50 años supervivencia64.3% P=0.294, Obstrucción intestinal 67.6%. P=0.193.
Conclusión:En este estudio los factores que influyen en la supervivencia de los pacientes con cáncer colorectalestadio II fueron la resección ganglionar inadecuada, y la recurrencia de la enfermedad. La supervivencia global mejora con el protocolo Folfox 6.
Caso Clínico: Tumor de Askin.
Authors: Solórzano Morales Hollwuin , Morejón Naranjo Luis , Aguirre Guzmán Gabriela , Ulloa Paúl
Published: May 2019

Introducción: El tumor neuroectodérmico primitivo (PNET) de la pared torácica también denominado tumor de Askin es una neoplasia rara y agresiva, que afecta mayoritariamente a niños y adolescente.

Caso Clínico: Se reporta el caso de un joven de 17 años que presentó una gran tumoración subescapular derecha, acompañado de dolor y disnea a quien realizó previa quimioterapia neoadyuvante y dada buena repuesta, resección tumoral con márgenes oncológicos más reconstrucción plástica de hemitórax derecho. Constatándose como hallazgo intraoperatorio, no evidente en imágenes, metástasis pulmonar. Presenta evolución favorable posquirúrgica con posterior recurrencia local y metástasis a distancia, sin respuesta a la quimioterapia adyuvante con fallecimiento 7 meses luego de la cirugía.

Conclusión: En el presente caso el TA tuvo una sobrevida corta a pesar el tratamiento neoadyuvante, resección quirúrgica y nuevo ciclo de tratamiento quimioterápico.
The anti-bacterial efficacy of plant extracts against Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: B Akhila , Mallela George MK , Shanthan Mettu , Nallanchakrav Srinivas
Published: May 2019

Brief Background: The main requisites for an endodontic treatment to succeed are adequate cleaning and shaping of the root canals. Several conventional root canal irrigants are in use to decrease the number of microbes in the root canal system. Enterococci are the most frequently isolated organisms in failed root canals.
Aim: To compare the anti-bacterial efficacy of herbal root canal irrigating solutions with conventional irrigants.

Materials and Methods: The test solutions and tooth samples were prepared. The sectioned tooth samples were inoculated in the bacteria, incubated for 24 hours and biofilm collected. Another sample of biofilm was collected after delivering of the irrigating solutions. Bothe the biofilm samples were checked for the reduction in the bacterial growth.

Results: The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-microbial efficacy of herbal irrigating solutions and compare them with the conventional irrigating solutions. Chlorhexidine (CHX), Ocimum sanctum (OS) and Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) showed no statistical significance whereas the other intergroup differences were statistically significant.

Summary and Conclusion: OS showed a similar anti-bacterial efficacy to CHX and NaOCl, however, further research needs to be conducted in the area. The use of herbal alternatives may prove to be advantageous given the several unfavourable adverse effects of NaOCl and CHX.

Key Words: Antibacterial, Chlorhexidine, Herbal irrigants, Ocimum, Root canal irrigants.
Superficially Invasive Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting With Features Of Oral Verrucous Hyperplasia – A Case Report
Authors: C Lavanya , T Rooban , Joshua Elizabeth , Rao Umadevi , Ragnathan Kannan
Published: May 2019

Brief Background : Verrucous lesions of the oral cavity with warty and exophytic clinical presentations can have varied histopathology. Oral Verrucous hyperplasia (OVH) is a potentially malignant disorder, which may transform into oral carcinoma.

Case Report : We report a 56-year-old male patient who presented with a verruco-proliferative pinkish white growth on the lateral border of the tongue. The patient was diagnosed with superficially invasive squamous cell carcinoma in verrucous hyperplasia based on histopathological features.

Summary and Conclusion : The diagnosis of this entity poses difficulty as it can be underdiagnosed as oral verrucous hyperplasia particularly in superficial biopsies.

Key words : Verrucous hyperplasia, Squamous cell carcinoma, superficially invasive.
A Heuristic Algorithm for the Routing and Scheduling Problem with Time Windows: A Case Study of the Automotive Industry in Mexico
Authors: Juárez Pérez Marco Antonio , Pérez Loaiza Rodolfo Eleazar , Quintero Flores Perfecto Malaquias , Atriano Ponce Oscar , Flores Peralta Carolina
Published: May 2019

This paper investigates a real-world distribution problem arising in the vehicle production industry, particularly in a logistics company, in which cars and vans must be loaded on auto-carriers and then delivered to dealerships. A solution to the problem involves the loading and optimal routing, without violating the capacity and time window constraints for each auto-carrier. A two-phase heuristic algorithm was implemented to solve the problem. In the first phase the heuristic builds a route with an optimal insertion procedure, and in the second phase the determination of a feasible loading. The experimental results show that the purposed algorithm can be used to tackle the transportation problem in terms of minimizing total traveling distance, loading/unloading operations and transportation costs, facilitating a decision-making process for the logistics company.
Convolution Accelerator Designs Using Fast Algorithms
Authors: Zhao Yulin , Wang Donghui , Wang Leiou
Published: May 2019

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved great success in image processing. However, the heavy computational burden it imposes makes it difficult for use in embedded applications that have limited power consumption and performance. Although there are many fast convolution algorithms that can reduce the computational complexity, they increase the difficulty of practical implementation. To overcome these difficulties, this paper proposes several convolution accelerator designs using fast algorithms. The designs are based on the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and display a better balance between the digital signal processor (DSP) and the logic resource, while also requiring lower power consumption. The implementation results show that the power consumption of the accelerator design based on the Strassen–Winograd algorithm is 21.3% less than that of conventional accelerators.
Surrogate-Based Robust Design for a Non-Smooth Radiation Source Detection Problem
Authors: Ştefănescu Răzvan , Hite Jason , Cook Jared , Smith Ralph C. , Mattingly John
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we develop and numerically illustrate a robust sensor network design to optimally detect a radiation source in an urban environment. This problem exhibits several challenges: penalty functionals are non-smooth due to the presence of buildings, radiation transport models are often computationally expensive, sensor locations are not limited to a discrete number of points, and source intensity and location responses, based on a fixed number of sensors, are not unique. We consider a radiation source located in a prototypical 250 m × 180 m urban setting. To address the non-smooth properties of the model and computationally expensive simulation codes, we employ a verified surrogate model based on radial basis functions. Using this surrogate, we formulate and solve a robust design problem that is optimal in an average sense for detecting source location and intensity with minimized uncertainty.
Poisson Twister Generator by Cumulative Frequency Technology
Authors: Deon Aleksei F. , Menyaev Yulian A.
Published: May 2019

The widely known generators of Poisson random variables are associated with different modifications of the algorithm based on the convergence in probability of a sequence of uniform random variables to the created stochastic number. However, in some situations, this approach yields different discrete Poisson probability distributions and skipping in the generated numbers. This article offers a new approach for creating Poisson random variables based on the complete twister generator of uniform random variables, using cumulative frequency technology. The simulation results confirm that probabilistic and frequency distributions of the obtained stochastic numbers completely coincide with the theoretical Poisson distribution. Moreover, combining this new approach with the tuning algorithm of basic twister generation allows for a significant increase in length of the created sequences without using additional RAM of the computer.
Solar Module Integrated Converters as Power Generator in Small Spacecrafts: Design and Verification Approach
Authors: Gonzalez-Llorente Jesus , Lidtke Aleksander A. , Hatanaka Ken , Kawauchi Ryo , Okuyama Kei-Ichi
Published: May 2019

As small satellites are becoming more widespread for new businesses and applications, the development time, failure rate and cost of the spacecraft must be reduced. One of the systems with the highest cost and the most frequent failure in the satellite is the Electrical Power System (EPS). One approach to achieve rapid development times while reducing the cost and failure rate is using scalable modules. We propose a solar module integrated converter (SMIC) and its verification process as a key component for power generation in EPS. SMIC integrates the solar array, its regulators and the telemetry acquisition unit. This paper details the design and verification process of the SMIC and presents the in-orbit results of 12 SMICs used in Ten-Koh satellite, which was developed in less than 1.5 years. The in-orbit data received since the launch reveal that solar module withstands not only the launching environment of H-IIA rocket but also more than 1500 orbits in LEO. The modular approach allowed the design, implementation and qualification of only one module, followed by manufacturing and integration of 12 subsequent flight units. The approach with the solar module can be followed in other components of the EPS such as battery and power regulators.
Brassinosteroids Regulate Antioxidant System and Protect Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Autotoxicity-Stressed Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Seedlings
Authors: Yang Ping , Azher Nawaz Muhammad , Li Fuxin , Bai Lisha , Li Jie
Published: May 2019

Autotoxicity is a common problem being faced in protected vegetable cultivation system. Phytoremediation of plant autotoxicity is an emerging concept to minimize deterioration of soil environment and reduction of yield and quality of vegetable crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been reported as a potential phytohormone to assist phytoremediation. However, the effects of BRs-induced autotoxicity stress on plant growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system are poorly understood. Hence, we focused on the changes in physiological characteristics and ultrastructure of cucumber leaves in response to the application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) under autotoxicity stress conditions. The results showed that leaf area, plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of cucumber were obviously decreased under autotoxicity stress conditions. EBR application obviously improved the phenotypic characteristics of cucumber seedlings. Chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of cucumber leaves were markedly reduced under autotoxicity stress conditions. Application of EBR improved the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a by 15.80%, chlorophyll b by 18.70% and total chlorophyll content by 17.30%), net photosynthetic rate by 36.40% and stomatal opening of leaves under autotoxicity stress conditions. EBR application also maintained the integrity of chloroplast and thylakoid structures under autotoxicity stress conditions. The activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and antioxidative compounds ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were markedly decreased, however, these were obviously increased after EBR application under autotoxicity stress. EBR application also increased the soluble sugar and protein, and proline concentration by 59.70%, 7.22% and 36.58%, respectively in the leaves of cucumber, decreased malondialdehyde by 24.13% and reactive oxygen species contents (H2O2 by 35.17%, O2− by 12.01% and •OH by 16.59%), and reduced the relative permeability of the cell membrane by 14.31%. These findings suggest that EBR application enhanced the photosynthetic capacity of leaves, maintained the integrity of chloroplast and thylakoid structures, and effectively alleviated the damage of membrane caused by lipid peroxidation and root damage under autotoxicity stress conditions. The growth inhibition effect of autotoxicity stress on cucumber was reduced by EBR application.
Exogenous Application of Amino Acids Improves the Growth and Yield of Lettuce by Enhancing Photosynthetic Assimilation and Nutrient Availability
Authors: Khan Shumaila , Yu Hongjun , Li Qiang , Gao Yinan , Sallam Basheer Noman , Wang Heng , Liu Peng , Jiang Weijie
Published: May 2019

As natural plant growth stimulators, amino acids are widely used to improve the yield and quality of crops. Several studies have illustrated the effects of different amino acids on lettuce plant parts. However, the effects of applying single amino acids on root growth remain elusive. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of root application of L-methionine on the growth of lettuce. In this study, two successive experiments on butterhead lettuce were conducted under hydroponic conditions. Three amino acids, L-methionine (20 mg/L), L-glycine (210 mg/L), and L-tryptophan (220 mg/L), were applied separately. L-methionine significantly increased the growth performance by 23.60%, whereas growth using L-tryptophan and L-glycine decreased by 98.78% and 27.45%, respectively. Considering the results of the first experiment, a second experiment was established with different concentrations of L-methionine (2200 mg/L, 220 mg/L, 22 mg/L, 2.2 mg/L, 0.2 mg/L, and 0.02 mg/L). The plants were allowed to grow for four weeks. Leaf width, plant area, leaf area, chlorophyll contents, etc., were evaluated. The results show that plant growth significantly improved by applying L-methionine at the lowest concentrations of 0.2 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L, which can, therefore, improve hydroponic production of lettuce and, accordingly, human nutrition.
Perceptions of Antibiotic Therapy Among Nursing Home Residents: Perspectives of Caregivers and Residents in a Mixed Exploratory Study
Authors: Ahouah Mathieu , Lartigue Corinne , Rothan-Tondeur Monique
Published: May 2019

Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health threat worldwide. Some authors have suggested that end-users of nursing homes have an influence on antibiotic prescribing. The objective of this study is to describe the views of end-users and professionals on residents’ behavior towards antibiotic therapy in terms of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes towards this drug class and its prescribing process. This is a concurrent mixed methodology study using questionnaires and semi-directive individual interviews with nursing homes residents, nurses, and doctors practicing in these facilities. The questionnaires analyzed were collected from 35 residents (24.3%) and 109 nurses (75.7%). The qualitative interview involved 26 of total participants that agreed to be interviewed. We noticed misconceptions being held by the residents regarding the antibiotic resistance phenomenon. Additionally, nurses were not considered as a source of information about antibiotics. Nurses and residents had conflicting opinions about residents requesting antibiotics, and the findings depict a stereotypical view of the nurse profession as a reflection of a cognitive representation. The authors conclude that, despite many campaigns, further efforts are needed to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Initiatives could include raising awareness about antimicrobial resistance, clarifying the role of nurses, and communicating well with residents about their needs in nursing homes.
Evaluation of Antibiotics Residues in Chicken Meat Samples in Lebanon
Authors: Jammoul Adla , El Darra Nada
Published: May 2019

Antibiotic residue in chicken is a human health concern due to its harmful effects on consumer health. This study aims at screening the antibiotic residues from 80 chicken samples collected from farms located in different regions of Lebanon. An optimized multi-class method for identification and quantification of 30 antibiotics from four different chemical classes (sulfonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones, and beta-lactams) has been developed by using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The evaluation of antibiotics residues in 80 chicken muscles samples has shown that 77.5% of samples were at least contaminated with antibiotics residues, out of which 53.75% were exposed to co-occurrence of multidrug residues. The screening of the four antibiotics families has shown that ciprofloxacin (quinolones) represents the highest occurrence percentage (32.5%), followed by amoxicillin (β-lactams) (22.5%) and then tetracyclines (17.5%). Means of sarafloxacin, amoxicillin, and penicillin G residues levels were above the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) recommended limit according to the European Union EC. This study revealed that chicken samples collected from Lebanese farms contain antibiotic residues. Guidelines for prudent use of antimicrobials agents for chicken should be adopted to reduce the prevalence of resistant Salmonella in chicken.
Identifying Brain Abnormalities with Schizophrenia Based on a Hybrid Feature Selection Technology
Authors: Qiao Chen , Lu Lujia , Yang Lan , Kennedy Paul J.
Published: May 2019

Many medical imaging data, especially the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, usually have a small sample size, but a large number of features. How to reduce effectively the data dimension and locate accurately the biomarkers from such kinds of data are quite crucial for diagnosis and further precision medicine. In this paper, we propose a hybrid feature selection method based on machine learning and traditional statistical approaches and explore the brain abnormalities of schizophrenia by using the functional and structural MRI data. The results show that the abnormal brain regions are mainly distributed in the supramarginal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, frontal gyrus, precuneus and caudate, and the abnormal functional connections are related to the caudate nucleus, insula and rolandic operculum. In addition, some complex network analyses based on graph theory are utilized on the functional connection data, and the results demonstrate that the located abnormal functional connections in brain can distinguish schizophrenia patients from healthy controls. The identified abnormalities in brain with schizophrenia by the proposed hybrid feature selection method show that there do exist some abnormal brain regions and abnormal disruption of the network segregation and network integration for schizophrenia, and these changes may lead to inaccurate and inefficient information processing and synthesis in the brain, which provide further evidence for the cognitive dysmetria of schizophrenia.
Toward Long-Term Implantable Glucose Biosensors for Clinical Use
Authors: Heo Yun Jung , Kim Seong-Hyok
Published: May 2019

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors have led a paradigm shift to painless, continuous, zero-finger pricking measurement in blood glucose monitoring. Recent electrochemical CGM sensors have reached two-week lifespans and no calibration with clinically acceptable accuracy. The system with the recent CGM sensors is identified as an “integrated glucose monitoring system,” which can replace finger-pricking glucose-testing for diabetes treatment decisions. Although such innovation has brought CGM technology closer to realizing the artificial pancreas, discomfort and infection problems have arisen from short lifespans and open wounds. A fully implantable sensor with a longer-term lifespan (90 days) is considered as an alternative CGM sensor with high comfort and low running cost. However, it still has barriers, including surgery for applying and replacing and frequent calibration. If technical refinement is conducted (e.g., stability and reproducibility of sensor fabrication), fully implantable, long-term CGM sensors can open the new era of continuous glucose monitoring.
Influence of Time Delay in Signal Transmission on Synchronization between Two Coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo Neurons
Authors: Zhen Bin , Li Zhenhua , Song Zigen
Published: May 2019

In this paper, the energy method is employed to analytically investigate the influence of time delay in signal transmission on synchronization between two coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) neurons. Unlike pre-existing methods that deal with synchronization problems, our major idea is to consider the change rate of the energy of the synchronization error system, since the original system’s synchronization is equivalent to the disappearance of the energy of the error system. In rewriting the original coupled system in the corresponding energy coordinates based on the energy method, we find that the change rate of energy of the error system can be divided into two parts (periodic and non-periodic). The synchronization criterion for the original system can then be obtained by letting the non-periodic part of the change rate of the energy be less than zero. The correctness of the analysis is illustrated with numerical simulations. Our analytical results show that time delay in signal transmission has very significant effects on the synchronization between two FHN neurons. If the time delay in signal transmission is not taken into account in the two coupled FHN neurons, synchronous spikes cannot be achieved in the system for any given coupling strength. By adjusting the value of the time delay in signal transmission, the neural system can freely switch between neural rest and synchronous spikes. This means that time delay in signal transmission is crucial for the occurrence of synchronous spikes in the FHN neural system, which contributes to our understanding of the interaction between neurons. We analytically show the influence of the time delay on the synchronization between two FHN neurons, which was seldom considered by other researchers.
Study of Heat and Mass Transfer in Electroosmotic Flow of Third Order Fluid through Peristaltic Microchannels
Authors: Waheed Sadia , Noreen Saima , Hussanan Abid
Published: May 2019

An analysis is carried out to evaluate the effects of heat and mass transfer in an electro-osmotic flow of third order fluid via peristaltic pumping. Solutions are derived for small wave number and Peclet number. The emerging non-linear mathematical model is solved analytically and compared numerically by the built-in scheme of working software. The table is inserted for shear stress distribution and a graph for comparison of solution techniques and accuracy of obtained results. The effects of various parameters of interest on pumping, trapping, temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and concentration distribution have been studied graphically. Electro-osmotic exchange of energy and mass has a role in reservoir engineering, chemical industry, and in micro-fabrication technologies.
Impact of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Enhancement of Bioactive Compounds Using Cell Suspension Cultures of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br
Authors: Chung Ill-Min , Rajakumar Govindasamy , Subramanian Umadevi , Venkidasamy Baskar , Thiruvengadam Muthu
Published: May 2019

Gymnema sylvestre is a plant that is enriched in bioactive compounds. In particular, gymnemic acids (GA) and phenolic compounds (PC) are pharmaceutically important. There is a commercial demand for naturally occurring bioactive compounds, but their availability is limited due to geographical and seasonal variations. The elicitation approach can enhance the biosynthesis of phytochemicals during in vitro culture of G. sylvestre. Here, to further improve gymnemic acid II (GA II) and phenolic compounds (PC) production by G. sylvestre, cell suspension cultures (CSC), which has attracted attention for the production of essential phytochemicals, was explored using copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). Callus was obtained on MS medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, kinetin, phytoagar, and sucrose. Agar-free MS medium was used to initiate CSC, which was treated with three concentrations of CuO NPs (1, 3 or 5 mg/L). Treatment for 48 h with 3 mg/L CuO NPs resulted in the greatest yields of GA II, total phenolics, and flavonoids. The cultures also displayed pronounced antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. The use of CuO NPs (3 mg/L) significantly increased the production of GA II (nine-fold) and PC compared to unamended CSC. We propose that CSC and use of nanoparticles (NPs) as a new generation of elicitors, offer a suitable prospect for the production of bioactive compounds.
Field Research on the Wind-Induced Response of a Super High-Rise Building under Typhoon
Authors: Wang Chequan , Li Zhengnong , Hu Lan , Zhao Zhefei , Luo Qizhi , Hu Jiaxing , Zhang Xuewen
Published: May 2019

This paper simultaneously measures the characteristics of wind on the roof and the acceleration responses of the 10th, 18th, 25th, 32nd and 41st floors of a high-rise building in Wenzhou during the passing of typhoons between 2014 and 2016. This paper also analyses the dynamic characteristics and wind-induced response of buildings by using Welch and improved Natural Excitation Technique–Eigensystem Realisation Algorithm methods. The results show that the typhoons that affected Wenzhou are dominated by wind from the east, northeast and northwest. The acceleration response probability densities of different floors during Typhoons Chan-hom and Dujuan are similar to the Gaussian distribution. The first-order natural frequencies of the two wind directions of the test building are 0.390 and 0.409, which are in good agreement with Tamura’s prediction results. The relevant amplitude and frequency characteristics of the first three modes are investigated in detail according to the nonlinear characteristics of the measured building. The first-, second- and third-order damping ratios of the structure during Typhoons Chan-hom and Dujuan increased with the peak acceleration, whereas the damping during Typhoon Fung-wong remained almost unchanged. The root mean square of the acceleration response of the building structure during Typhoons Chan-hom and Dujuan increased with the wind speed. However, the increase rate of Typhoon Chan-hom was small, possibly because the angle between the incoming flow and the building is 45°, and the acceleration response in the downwind and crosswind directions is not apparent. The measured results show that the working environment of the staff at the top of the building under the influence of the typhoon also meets comfort requirements. The measured data and statistical parameters provide a valuable reference for the wind-resistant design of high-rise buildings in typhoon-prone areas.
Ensemble of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Classification of Early Barrett’s Neoplasia Using Volumetric Laser Endomicroscopy
Authors: Fonollà Roger , Scheeve Thom , Struyvenberg Maarten R. , Curvers Wouter L. , de Groof Albert J. , van der Sommen Fons , Schoon Erik J. , Bergman Jacques J.G.H.M. , de With Peter H.N.
Published: May 2019

Barrett’s esopaghagus (BE) is a known precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Patients with BE undergo regular surveillance to early detect stages of EAC. Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is a novel technology incorporating a second-generation form of optical coherence tomography and is capable of imaging the inner tissue layers of the esophagus over a 6 cm length scan. However, interpretation of full VLE scans is still a challenge for human observers. In this work, we train an ensemble of deep convolutional neural networks to detect neoplasia in 45 BE patients, using a dataset of images acquired with VLE in a multi-center study. We achieve an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.96 on the unseen test dataset and we compare our results with previous work done with VLE analysis, where only AUC of 0.90 was achieved via cross-validation on 18 BE patients. Our method for detecting neoplasia in BE patients facilitates future advances on patient treatment and provides clinicians with new assisting solutions to process and better understand VLE data.
Sources and Temporal Variations of Coarse Particulate Matter (PM) in Central Tehran, Iran
Authors: Soleimanian Ehsan , Taghvaee Sina , Mousavi Amirhosein , Sowlat Mohammad , Hassanvand Mohammad , Yunesian Masud , Naddafi Kazem , Sioutas Constantinos
Published: May 2019

In this study, we used the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to evaluate the sources of ambient coarse particulate matter (PM) and their temporal variations in two sampling sites, i.e., a school dormitory and a retirement home, located in central Tehran. 24-h ambient PM samples were collected using low-volume air samplers from May 2012 to June 2013. The collected filters were analyzed for their chemical components, including water-soluble ions, metals, and trace elements, which were used as the input to the PMF model. Our results indicated annual averages of 45.7 ± 3.8 µg/m3 and 36.2. ± 4.0 µg/m3 for coarse PM at the School dormitory and Tohid retirement home, respectively. Moreover, higher ambient coarse PM mass concentrations were observed in the warm season (53.3 ± 5.8 µg/m3 for school dormitory and 43.1 ± 6.1 µg/m3 for Tohid retirement home) as opposed to the cold season (41.4 ± 4.7 µg/m3 for school dormitory and 28.7 ± 4.6 µg/m3 for Tohid retirement home). Our PMF analysis also identified road dust, soil, and industry, and atmospherically processed coarse PM as the three sources of ambient coarse PM in central Tehran. Road dust, soil, and industry were the major sources of ambient coarse PM, contributing respectively to 74 ± 9% and 19 ± 2% of the total coarse PM mass concentration, while atmospherically aged aerosols had a rather minimal contribution of 7 ± 1% to total coarse PM mass concentration. The temporal trends of the resolved factors also revealed higher contributions of road dust to total ambient coarse PM during warm season as opposed to cold season, due to the increased resuspension rate from road surfaces as a result of higher wind speeds, and temperatures, combined with lower relative humidity. Similarly, higher resuspension rate of mechanically originated particulates resulted in higher warm-season time contributions of the soil factor. Results of this study clearly revealed the key role of road dust and non-tail pipe emissions on ambient coarse PM mass concentrations in crowded areas of central Tehran, and have important implications on the potential health impacts that can be caused by these difficult to mitigate sources of coarse PM.
Mesoscopic Urban-Traffic Simulation Based on Mobility Behavior to Calculate NOx Emissions Caused by Private Motorized Transport
Authors: Plakolb Simon , Jäger Georg , Hofer Christian , Füllsack Manfred
Published: May 2019

Motorized transport is one of the main contributors to anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, which cause global warming. Other emissions, like nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxide, are detrimental to human health. A prominent way to understand and thus be able to minimize emissions is by using traffic simulations to evaluate different scenarios. In that way, one can find out which policies, technical innovations, or behavioral changes can lead to a decrease in emissions. Since the effect of CO 2 is on a global scale, a macroscopic model is often enough to find reasonable results. However, NO x emissions can also have a direct, local effect. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate these emissions on a mesoscopic scale, to gain insight into the local distribution of this pollutant. In this study, we used a traffic model that, contrary to most other state-of-the-art traffic simulations, does not require an origin–destination matrix as an input, but calculates it from mobility behavior extracted from a survey. We then generated agents with realistic mobility behavior that perform their daily trips and calculate key features like congestion and emissions for every edge of the road network. Our approach has the additional advantage of allowing to investigate technical, juridical, as well as behavioral changes, all within the same framework. It is then possible to identify strategies that minimize NO x emissions caused by private motorized transport. Evaluation showed good agreement with reality in terms of local and temporal resolution. Especially when looking at the sum of emissions, the main feature for evaluating policies, and deviations between our simulation and available statistics were negligible. We found that, from all scenarios we investigated, the ban of old diesel cars is the most promising policy: By replacing all diesel cars built in 2005 or earlier with petrol cars of the same age, NO x emissions could drop by roughly a third.
(p, q)-Hermite–Hadamard Inequalities for Double Integral and (p, q)-Differentiable Convex Functions
Authors: Prabseang Julalak , Nonlaopon Kamsing , Tariboon Jessada
Published: May 2019

The aim of this paper is to establish some new ( p , q ) -calculus of Hermite–Hadamard inequalities for the double integral and refinements of the Hermite–Hadamard inequality for ( p , q ) -differentiable convex functions.
Adsorption and Diffusion of Cisplatin Molecules in Nanoporous Materials: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Nejad Marjan A. , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: May 2019

Using molecular dynamics simulations, the adsorption and diffusion of cisplatin drug molecules in nanopores is investigated for several inorganic materials. Three different materials are studied with widely-varying properties: metallic gold, covalent silicon, and silica. We found a strong influence of both the van der Waals and the electrostatic interaction on the adsorption behavior on the pore walls, which in turn influence the diffusion coefficients. While van der Waals forces generally lead to a reduction of the diffusion coefficient, the fluctuations in the electrostatic energy induced by orientation changes of the cisplatin molecule were found to help desorb the molecule from the wall.
Acute Skin Damage and Late Radiation-Induced Fibrosis and Inflammation in Murine Ears after High-Dose Irradiation
Authors: Dombrowsky Annique C. , Schauer Jannis , Sammer Matthias , Blutke Andreas , Walsh Dietrich W. M. , Schwarz Benjamin , Bartzsch Stefan , Feuchtinger Annette , Reindl Judith , Combs Stephanie E. , Dollinger Günther , Schmid Thomas E.
Published: May 2019

The use of different scoring systems for radiation-induced toxicity limits comparability between studies. We examined dose-dependent tissue alterations following hypofractionated X-ray irradiation and evaluated their use as scoring criteria. Four dose fractions (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 Gy/fraction) were applied daily to ear pinnae. Acute effects (ear thickness, erythema, desquamation) were monitored for 92 days after fraction 1. Late effects (chronic inflammation, fibrosis) and the presence of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)-expressing cells were quantified on day 92. The maximum ear thickness displayed a significant positive correlation with fractional dose. Increased ear thickness and erythema occurred simultaneously, followed by desquamation from day 10 onwards. A significant dose-dependency was observed for the severity of erythema, but not for desquamation. After 4 × 20 and 4 × 30 Gy, inflammation was significantly increased on day 92, whereas fibrosis and the abundance of TGFβ1-expressing cells were only marginally increased after 4 × 30 Gy. Ear thickness significantly correlated with the severity of inflammation and fibrosis on day 92, but not with the number of TGFβ1-expressing cells. Fibrosis correlated significantly with inflammation and fractional dose. In conclusion, the parameter of ear thickness can be used as an objective, numerical and dose-dependent quantification criterion to characterize the severity of acute toxicity and allow for the prediction of late effects.
TCam-2 Cells Deficient for SOX2 and FOXA2 Are Blocked in Differentiation and Maintain a Seminoma-Like Cell Fate In Vivo
Authors: Nettersheim Daniel , Vadder Saskia , Jostes Sina , Heimsoeth Alena , Schorle Hubert
Published: May 2019

Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) are very common in young men and can be stratified into seminomas and non-seminomas. While seminomas share a similar gene expression and epigenetic profile with primordial germ cells, the stem cell population of the non-seminomas, the embryonal carcinoma (EC), resembles malignant embryonic stem cells. Thus, ECs are able to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers (teratomas) and even extra-embryonic-tissue-like cells (yolk-sac tumor, choriocarcinoma). In the last years, we demonstrated that the cellular microenvironment considerably influences the plasticity of seminomas (TCam-2 cells). Upon a microenvironment-triggered inhibition of the BMP signaling pathway in vivo (murine flank or brain), seminomatous TCam-2 cells reprogram to an EC-like cell fate. We identified SOX2 as a key factor activated upon BMP inhibition mediating the reprogramming process by regulating pluripotency, reprogramming and epigenetic factors. Indeed, CRISPR/Cas9 SOX2-deleted TCam-2 cells were able to maintain a seminoma-cell fate in vivo for about six weeks, but after six weeks in vivo still small sub-populations initiated differentiation. Closer analyses of these differentiated clusters suggested that the pioneer factor FOXA2 might be the driving force behind this induction of differentiation, since many FOXA2 interacting genes and differentiation factors like AFP, EOMES, CDX1, ALB, HAND1, DKK, DLK1, MSX1 and PITX2 were upregulated. In this study, we generated TCam-2 cells double-deficient for SOX2 and FOXA2 using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique and xenografted those cells into the flank of nude mice. Upon loss of SOX2 and FOXA2, TCam-2 maintained a seminoma cell fate for at least twelve weeks, demonstrating that both factors are key players in the reprogramming to an EC-like cell fate. Therefore, our study adds an important piece to the puzzle of GCT development and plasticity, providing interesting insights in what can be expected in a patient, when GCT cells are confronted with different microenvironments.
Living Donor Liver Re-Transplantation for Recurrent Hepatoblastoma in the Liver Graft following Complete Eradication of Peritoneal Metastases under Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Takahashi Nobuhiro , Yamada Yohei , Hoshino Ken , Kawaida Miho , Mori Teizaburo , Abe Kiyotomo , Fujimura Takumi , Matsubara Kentaro , Hibi Taizo , Shinoda Masahiro , Obara Hideaki , Isshiki Kyohei , Shima Haruko , Shimada Hiroyuki , Kameyama Kaori , Fuchimoto Yasushi , Kitagawa Yuko , Kuroda Tatsuo
Published: May 2019

The curability of chemotherapy-resistant hepatoblastoma (HB) largely depends on the achievement of radical surgical resection. Navigation techniques utilizing indocyanine green (ICG) are a powerful tool for detecting small metastatic lesions. We herein report a patient who underwent a second living donor liver transplantation (LDLTx) for multiple recurrent HBs in the liver graft following metastasectomy for peritoneal dissemination with ICG navigation. The patient initially presented with ruptured HB at 6 years of age and underwent 3 liver resections followed by the first LDLTx with multiple sessions of chemotherapy at 11 years of age. His alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level increased above the normal limit, and metastases were noted in the transplanted liver and peritoneum four years after the first LDLTx. The patient underwent metastasectomy of the peritoneally disseminated HBs with ICG navigation followed by the second LDLTx for multiple metastases in the transplanted liver. The patient has been recurrence-free with a normal AFP for 30 months since the second LDLTx. To our knowledge, this report is the first successful case of re-LDLTx for recurrent HBs. Re-LDLTx for recurrent HB can be performed in highly select patients, and ICG navigation is a powerful surgical tool for achieving tumor clearance.
STAT3: A Promising Therapeutic Target in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Chong Phyllis S. Y. , Chng Wee-Joo , de Mel Sanjay
Published: May 2019

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy for which novel treatment options are required. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) overexpression in MM appears to be mediated by a variety of factors including interleukin-6 signaling and downregulation of Src homology phosphatase-1 (SHP-1). STAT3 overexpression in MM is associated with an adverse prognosis and may play a role in microenvironment-dependent treatment resistance. In addition to its pro-proliferative role, STAT3 upregulates anti-apoptotic proteins and leads to microRNA dysregulation in MM. Phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 (PRL-3) is an oncogenic phosphatase which is upregulated by STAT3. PRL-3 itself promotes STAT-3 phosphorylation resulting in a positive feedback loop. PRL-3 is overexpressed in a subset of MM patients and may cooperate with STAT3 to promote survival of MM cells. Indirectly targeting STAT3 via JAK (janus associated kinase) inhibition has shown promise in early clinical trials. Specific inhibitors of STAT3 showed in vitro efficacy but have failed in clinical trials while several STAT3 inhibitors derived from herbs have been shown to induce apoptosis of MM cells in vitro. Optimising the pharmacokinetic profiles of novel STAT3 inhibitors and identifying how best to combine these agents with existing anti-myeloma therapy are key questions to be addressed in future clinical trials.
Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: A Strategy for Effective Eradication of Cancer
Authors: Shibata Masahiro , Hoque Mohammad Obaidul
Published: May 2019

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are subpopulations of tumor cells with the ability to self-renew, differentiate, and initiate and maintain tumor growth, and they are considered to be the main drivers of intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity. While conventional chemotherapy can eradicate the majority of non-CSC tumor cells, CSCs are often drug-resistant, leading to tumor recurrence and metastasis. The heterogeneity of CSCs is the main challenge in developing CSC-targeting therapy; therefore, we and other investigators have focused on developing novel therapeutic strategies that combine conventional chemotherapy with inhibitors of CSC-regulating pathways. Encouraging preclinical findings have suggested that CSC pathway blockade can indeed enhance cellular sensitivity to non-targeted conventional therapy, and this work has led to several ongoing clinical trials of CSC pathway inhibitors. Our studies in bladder cancer and lung adenocarcinoma have demonstrated a crucial role of YAP1, a transcriptional regulator of genes that promote cell survival and proliferation, in regulating CSC phenotypes. Moreover, using cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models, we showed that inhibition of YAP1 enhances the efficacy of conventional therapies by attenuating CSC stemness features. In this review, we summarize the therapeutic strategies for targeting CSCs in several cancers and discuss the potential and challenges of the approach.
Deciphering The Potential Role of Hox Genes in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Kuo Tzu-Lei , Cheng Kuang-Hung , Chen Li-Tzong , Hung Wen-Chun
Published: May 2019

The Hox gene family plays an important role in organogenesis and animal development. Currently, 39 Hox genes that are clustered in four chromosome regions have been identified in humans. Emerging evidence suggests that Hox genes are involved in the development of the pancreas. However, the expression of Hox genes in pancreatic tumor tissues has been investigated in only a few studies. In addition, whether specific Hox genes can promote or suppress cancer metastasis is not clear. In this article, we first review the recent progress in studies on the role of Hox genes in pancreatic cancer. By comparing the expression profiles of pancreatic cancer cells isolated from genetically engineered mice established in our laboratory with three different proliferative and metastatic abilities, we identified novel Hox genes that exhibited tumor-promoting activity in pancreatic cancer. Finally, a potential oncogenic mechanism of the Hox genes was hypothesized.