bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Unimodular Sequences Design Method for Active Sensing Systems
Authors: Li Ze , Li Ping , Hao Xinhong , Yan Xiaopeng
Published: May 2018

In active sensing systems, unimodular sequences with low autocorrelation sidelobes are widely adopted as modulation sequences to improve the distance resolution and antijamming performance. In this paper, in order to meet the requirements of specific practical engineering applications such as suppressing certain correlation coefficients and finite phase, we propose a new algorithm to design both continuous phase and finite phase unimodular sequences with a low periodic weighted integrated sidelobe level (WISL). With the help of the transformation matrix, such an algorithm decomposes the N-dimensional optimization problem into N one-dimensional optimization problems and then uses the iterative method to search the optimal solutions of the N one-dimensional optimization problems directly. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and the convergence property of the proposed algorithm.
Embedding Approach to Modeling Electromagnetic Fields in a Complex Two-Dimensional Environment
Authors: Tijhuis Anton , Franchois Ann , Geffrin Jean-Michel
Published: May 2018

An approach is presented to combine the response of a two-dimensionally inhomogeneous dielectric object in a homogeneous environment with that of an empty inhomogeneous environment. This allows an efficient computation of the scattering behavior of the dielectric cylinder with the aid of the CGFFT method and a dedicated extrapolation procedure. Since a circular observation contour is adopted, an angular spectral representation can be employed for the embedding. Implementation details are discussed for the case of a closed 434 MHz microwave scanner, and the accuracy and efficiency of all steps in the numerical procedure are investigated. Guidelines are proposed for choosing computational parameters such as truncation limits and tolerances. We show that the embedding approach does not increase the CPU time with respect to the forward problem solution in a homogeneous environment, if only the fields on the observation contour are computed, and that it leads to a relatively small increase when the fields on the mesh are computed as well.
In Situ Testing of Square Footing Resting on Geobelt‐Reinforced Gravel Thin Cushion on Soft Silt
Authors: Zhang Wei , Du David , Bai Xiaohong
Published: May 2018

A series of in situ static loading tests of square footing were carried out on the geobelt‐reinforced gravel cushion on soft silt. The reinforced gravel cushion was thin with the depth‐to‐width ratio of 0.2. A parameters study was conducted by considering the number of geobelt layers, the depth of the first geobelt layer beneath the footing, the vertical spacing between two geobelt layers, the linear density of reinforcement, and the material type of geobelt. The pressure distribution on bottom of the cushion was measured. The test results showed that the bearing capacity of reinforced gravel cushion was significantly larger than that of unreinforced gravel cushion, and the stress diffusion effect of reinforced gravel cushion was also more pronounced than that of the unreinforced cushion. The pressure distribution on bottom of reinforced gravel cushion was in a saddle shape. According to calculation and analysis, the stress diffusion angles of reinforced cushions were all larger than 20°.
Before-and-After Field Investigation of the Effects on Pollutant Emissions of Replacing a Signal-Controlled Road Intersection with a Roundabout
Authors: Meneguzzer Claudio , Gastaldi Massimiliano , Arboretti Giancristofaro Rosa
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects on air pollution that may derive from replacing a signal-controlled intersection with a roundabout, using a before-and-after approach. Based on field data collected with a test car instrumented with a Portable Emission Measurement System, the two intersection configurations were compared in terms of emissions of CO2, CO, and NOX. The existence of significant differences in emissions between the two types of control was assessed by means of a statistical technique known as two-sample biaspect permutation test. In addition, focusing on trips carried out in peak traffic conditions, binary logistic regression models were developed to identify the factors that significantly affect vehicular emissions and to quantify their effect. The findings of our analyses show that emissions of CO2 and CO are generally lower for the roundabout than for the signal-controlled intersection, while an opposite result arises for NOX emissions. As far as other influential factors are concerned, trip direction (reflecting site-specific conditions) and driver behavior have a considerable impact on the emissions of all three pollutants.
Estimating Added Values of the Integrated Emergency Response System for Airport Accident: Improved Responsiveness and Increased Service Capacity
Authors: Guo Ying , Zhang Shen , Zhang Zhen , Meng Qingchun
Published: May 2018

This study presents a framework for estimating the value of response time and quantifying the economic impacts of improved responsiveness and increased service capacity in emergency response systems. In these systems, the value of response time, defined as the number of casualties rescued, forms the basis for understanding the value proposition of the emergency system. Efficiency gains from improved responsiveness are calculated by the difference in the time value function, considering the medical department emergency system as a benchmark. Based on the evaluating systems for welfare gains from price changes, this study will be the first of its kind to adopt the compensating variation method to deal with welfare gains from increased emergency service capacity, while the issue of number of casualties rescued forms the log-linear function of emergency service capacity and supply capacity. Two civil aviation accidents are empirically estimated, illustrating our approaches with specific civil aviation accident cases and examining how other parameters affect improved performance from the responsiveness and welfare arising from service capacity.
Low-Altitude and Slow-Speed Small Target Detection Based on Spectrum Zoom Processing
Authors: Zhang Xuwang , Lu Songtao , Sun Jinping , Shangguan Wei
Published: May 2018

This paper proposes a spectrum zoom processing based target detection algorithm for detecting the weak echo of low-altitude and slow-speed small (LSS) targets in heavy ground clutter environments, which can be used to retrofit the existing radar systems. With the existing range-Doppler frequency images, the proposed method firstly concatenates the data from the same Doppler frequency slot of different images and then applies the spectrum zoom processing. After performing the clutter suppression, the target detection can be finally implemented. Through the theoretical analysis and real data verification, it is shown that the proposed algorithm can obtain a preferable spectrum zoom result and improve the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) with a very low computational load.
Reliability Modelling of CNC Machine Tools Based on the Improved Maximum Likelihood Estimation Method
Authors: Yang Zhaojun , Zhu Dong , Chen Chuanhai , Tian Hailong , Guo Jinyan , Li Shizheng
Published: May 2018

The existing standard reliability models for computerized numerical control (CNC) machine tools are not satisfactory and they fall short of predicting failure rates or lifetime of key functional parts of CNC machine tools. This is attributed to two reasons: the small sample size of failure data and a large truncated ratio of the censored failure data. Improved correction method (ICM), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and empirical maximum likelihood estimation (EMLE) are presented and compared with each other in this study. In order to improve the shortage of reliability models developed by the traditional methods, an improved maximum likelihood estimation method (IMLE) is proposed through enlarging censored failure data. Moreover, the correction factors of mean ratio to extend censored time are designed, by which the censored failure data can be close to the true time between failures (TBF). Furthermore, a solution method of correction factors considering amount of calculation is proposed to meet the requirements of calculation precision. Finally, verification by the orthogonal experiment is simulated to verify the proposed model. The verifying test results show that the proposed method can be applied in reliability modelling for not only CNC machine tools but also the key functional parts of CNC machine tools.
Mining the Relationship between Spatial Mobility Patterns and POIs
Authors: Huang Liping , Yang Yongjian , Zhao Xuehua , Gao Hepeng , Yu Limin
Published: May 2018

Passengers move between urban places for diverse interests and drive the metropolitan regions as the aggregation of urban places to group into network communities. This paper aims to examine the relationship between the spatial patterns (represented by the network communities) of mobility flows and places of interest (POIs). Furtherly, it intends to identify the categories of POIs that play the most significant role in shaping the spatial patterns of mobility flows. To achieve these purposes, we partition the study area into disjoint regions and construct the network with each partitioned region as a node and connection between them as links weighted by the mobility flows. The community detection algorithm is implemented on the network to discover spatial mobility patterns, and the multiclass classification based on the logistic regression method is adopted to classify spatial communities featured by POIs. Taking the taxi systems of Shanghai and Beijing as examples, we detect spatial communities based on the movement strengths among regions. Then we investigate their correlations with POIs. It finds that communities’ modularity correlates linearly with POIs; particularly governments, hotels, and the traffic facilities are of the most significance for generating the mobility patterns. This study can provide valuable insight into understanding the spatial mobility patterns from the perspective of POIs.
Systems Pharmacology Dissection of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wen‐Dan Decoction for Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Lan Tao-Hua , Zhang Lu-Lu , Wang Yong-Hua , Wu Huan-Lin , Xu Dan-Ping
Published: May 2018

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been recognized as first killer of human health. The underlying mechanisms of CVDs are extremely complicated and not fully revealed, leading to a challenge for CVDs treatment in modern medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characterized by multiple compounds and targets has shown its marked effects on CVDs therapy. However, system‐level understanding of the molecular mechanisms is still ambiguous. In this study, a system pharmacology approach was developed to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of a clinically effective herb formula (Wen‐Dan Decoction) in treating CVDs. 127 potential active compounds and their corresponding 283 direct targets were identified in Wen‐Dan Decoction. The networks among active compounds, targets, and diseases were built to reveal the pharmacological mechanisms of Wen‐Dan Decoction. A “CVDs pathway” consisted of several regulatory modules participating in therapeutic effects of Wen‐Dan Decoction in CVDs. All the data demonstrates that Wen‐Dan Decoction has multiscale beneficial activity in CVDs treatment, which provides a new way for uncovering the molecular mechanisms and new evidence for clinical application of Wen‐Dan Decoction in cardiovascular disease.
Self‐Organized Cell Outage Detection Architecture and Approach for 5G H‐CRAN
Authors: Yu Peng , Zhou Fanqin , Zhang Tao , Li Wenjing , Feng Lei , Qiu Xuesong
Published: May 2018

An attractive architecture called heterogeneous cloud radio access networks (H‐CRAN) becomes one of the important components of 5G networks, which can provide ubiquitous high‐bandwidth services with flexible network construction. However, massive access nodes increase the risk of cell outages, leading to negative impact on user‐perceived QoS (Quality of Service) and QoE (Quality of Experience). Thus, cell outage management (COM) became a key function proposed in SON (Self‐Organized Networks) use cases. Based on COM, cell outage detection (COD) will be resolved before cell outage compensation (COC). Currently few studies concentrate on COD for 5G H‐CRAN, and we propose self‐organized COD architecture and approach for it. We firstly summarize current COD solutions for LTE/LTE‐A HetNets and then introduce self‐organized architecture and approach suitable for H‐CRAN, which includes COD architecture and procedures, and corresponding key technologies for it. Based on the architecture, we take a use case with handover data analysis using modified LOF (Local Outlier Factor) detection approach to detect outage for different kinds of cells in H‐CRAN. Results show that the proposed approach can identify the outage cell effectively.
An Improved Fractional-Order Optical Flow Model for Motion Estimation
Authors: Zhu Bin , Tian Lianfang , Du Qiliang , Wu Qiuxia , Shi Lixin
Published: May 2018

The Horn and Schunck (HS) optical flow model cannot preserve discontinuity of motion estimation and has low accuracy especially for the image sequence, which includes complex texture. To address this problem, an improved fractional-order optical flow model is proposed. In particular, the fractional-order Taylor series expansion is applied in the brightness constraint equation of the HS model. The fractional-order flow field derivative is also used in the smoothing constraint equation. The Euler-Lagrange equation is utilized for the minimization of the energy function of the fractional-order optical flow model. Two-dimensional fractional differential masks are proposed and applied to the calculation of the model simplification. Considering the spatiotemporal memory property of fractional-order, the algorithm preserves the edge discontinuity of the optical flow field while improving the accuracy of the estimation of the dense optical flow field. Experiments on Middlebury datasets demonstrate the predominance of our proposed algorithm.
A Selective‐Awakening MAC Protocol for Energy‐Efficient Data Forwarding in Linear Sensor Networks
Authors: Villordo-Jimenez Iclia , Torres-Cruz Noé , Carvalho Marcelo M. , Menchaca-Mendez Rolando , Rivero-Angeles Mario E. , Menchaca-Mendez Ricardo
Published: May 2018

We introduce the Selective-Awakening MAC (SA‐MAC) protocol which is a synchronized duty‐cycled protocol with pipelined scheduling for Linear Sensor Networks (LSNs). In the proposed protocol, nodes selectively awake depending on node density and traffic load conditions and on the state of the buffers of the receiving nodes. In order to characterize the performance of the proposed protocol, we present a Discrete‐Time Markov Chain‐based analysis that is validated through extensive discrete‐event simulations. Our results show that SA‐MAC significantly outperforms previous proposals in terms of energy consumption, throughput, and packet loss probability. This is particularly true under high node density and high traffic load conditions, which are expected to be common scenarios in the context of IoT applications. We also present an analysis by grade (i.e., the number of hops to the sink, which is located at one end of the LSN) that reveals that LSNs exhibit heterogeneous performance depending on the nodes’ grade. Such results can be used as a design guideline for future LSN implementations.
Pattern Synthesis for Sparse Arrays by Compressed Sensing and Low-Rank Matrix Recovery Methods
Authors: Wang Ting , Xia Ke-Wen , Lu Ning
Published: May 2018

Antenna array pattern synthesis technology plays a vital role in the field of smart antennas. It is well known that the pattern synthesis of homogeneous array is the key topic of pattern synthesis technology. But this technology needs plenty of homogeneous array elements to meet the antenna requirements. So, a novel pattern synthesis technology for sparse array based on the compressed sensing (CS) and low-rank matrix recovery (LRMR) methods is proposed. The proposed technology predominantly includes the design of sparse array, the recovery of homogeneous array, and the synthesis of antenna array pattern. The simulation result shows that an antenna array with low gain and strong directivity can be arbitrarily built by the use of a small amount of sparse array elements and it is useful for the miniaturization and economical efficiency of the antenna system.
Research on Real-Time Supervisory System for Compaction Quality in Face Rockfill Dam Engineering
Authors: Huang Shengxiang , Zhang Wen , Wu Gen
Published: May 2018

Compaction quality control in filling construction is of great significance to the stability and durability of the face rockfill dam. The conventional method of quality control mainly relies on manual process control and inspection for a limited number of test holes, which cannot meet the high requirements of modern mechanized construction and schedule anymore, with increasing of scale of face rockfill dams. There is an urgent need to propose a new quality control method of face rockfill dams during the entire compaction process. In this paper, a supervisory system based on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) technology, wireless data communication technology, Internet of things technology, and computer technology is developed to supervise the real-time roller compaction parameters of the working surface including rolling track, rolling times, rolling speed, thickness, and smoothness. The system obtains continuous and high-precision spatial position information of roller compaction machines through GNSS technology and then calculates the roller compaction parameter information. The compaction quality control for the face rockfill dam is achieved through the supervision of roller compaction parameters. The feasibility and robustness of the developed supervisory system are validated by a case study in the face rockfill dam of Shuibuya project in China. The practice shows that the system provides a new and effective method of process control for the construction quality of the roller compaction in dam engineering and realizes real-time, precision, and automatic supervising of roller compaction parameters and ensures better construction quality.
Improvement of Stability and Transdermal Delivery of Bioactive Compounds in Green Robusta Coffee Beans Extract Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers
Authors: Nitthikan Nichcha , Leelapornpisid Pimporn , Natakankitkul Surapol , Chaiyana Wantida , Mueller Monika , Viernstein Helmut , Kiattisin Kanokwan
Published: May 2018

The aim of this study was to develop green robusta coffee beans extract loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for enhancing dermal application and its efficiency. The green robusta coffee beans extract cultivated in Chumphon (CP) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay with IC50 of 34.1 ± 0.9 µg/ml, lipid peroxidation inhibition with percentage inhibition of 38.8 ± 1.7, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay with a FRAP value of 234.5 ± 12.3 mM FeSO4/g. The extract contained caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid as major compounds. The anti-inflammatory test indicated that CP could decrease the secretion of IL-6 in macrophage cells and caused no irritation to blood vessels on the irritation test by hen’s egg test chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) assay. The particle size of CP-loaded NLCs was 158.1 ± 0.2 nm with a narrow polydispersity index and showed no noticeable difference after the stability test. Entrapment efficacy of CP-loaded NLCs was found to be over 60%. Caffeine and chlorogenic acid in CP-loaded NLCs were released sustainably and penetrated deeper into the skin than the extract in a conventional emulsion. In conclusion, the CP-loaded NLCs can be further used in cosmetics for dermal applications due to good efficacy and safety.
Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria: Biofilm Formation and Corrosive Activity in Endodontic Files
Authors: Heggendorn Fabiano Luiz , Fraga Aline Guerra Manssour , Ferreira Dennis de Carvalho , Gonçalves Lucio Souza , Lione Viviane de Oliveira Freitas , Lutterbach Márcia Teresa Soares
Published: May 2018

Aim. This study describes the biofilm formation and the corrosive capacity of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on the metallic structure of used endodontic files.Methods. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) (Desulfovibrio desulfuricansoral andDesulfovibrio fairfieldensisorD. desulfuricansenvironmental) were inoculated into the culture media (Postgate C culture medium or modified Postgate E culture medium). The biocorrosive potential of these bacteria will be an important component of a biopharmaceutical under development called BACCOR. Afterwards, four used endodontic files (UEFs) were separately inoculated into a specific culture media for 445 days at 30°C in an incubator. The four UEFs were placed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analyzed by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS).Results. The confocal laser scanning microscopic images indicate the presence of biofilm in the four samples. The SEM and SEM-EDS revealed the presence of rough, irregular structures adhering along the metallic surface of the used endodontic files, suggesting a mature calcified biofilm with a high concentration of Ca, P, C, and S.Conclusion. The formation of SRB biofilms on used endodontic files shows characteristics that may contribute to the biocorrosion of these files, and the results may also provide complementary data for a biopharmaceutical, which is still under development to assist in the removal of fractured endodontic files inside root channels.
Global Optimization for Generalized Linear Multiplicative Programming Using Convex Relaxation
Authors: Zhao Yingfeng , Zhao Ting
Published: May 2018

Applications of generalized linear multiplicative programming problems (LMP) can be frequently found in various areas of engineering practice and management science. In this paper, we present a simple global optimization algorithm for solving linear multiplicative programming problem (LMP). The algorithm is developed by a fusion of a new convex relaxation method and the branch and bound scheme with some accelerating techniques. Global convergence and optimality of the algorithm are also presented and extensive computational results are reported on a wide range of problems from recent literature and GLOBALLib. Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm with a new convex relaxation method is more efficient than usual branch and bound algorithm that used linear relaxation for solving the LMP.
Prevalence of TMJ Disorders among the Patients Attending the Dental Clinic of Ajman University of Science and Technology–Fujairah Campus, UAE
Authors: AlShaban Kashef K. , Gul Abdul Waheed Zainab
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (if any) among the patients attending the dental clinic (for routine dental treatment) of Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST)–Fujairah campus, UAE, and its possible causes. A sample of 100 adult patients attending the dental clinic of AUST for different types of dental treatment were collected; the routine examination of the TMJ and possible disorders such as clicking, crepitation, limitation or deviation during mouth opening, or tenderness reveals that 41% of the sample experience varying degrees of disorders in the TMJ. Radiographs were taken if needed (panoramic radiograph). The information was collected and recorded for each patient through questionnaires.
slan+ Monocytes and Macrophages Mediate CD20-Dependent B-cell Lymphoma Elimination via ADCC and ADCP
Authors: Vermi William , Micheletti Alessandra , Finotti Giulia , Tecchio Cristina , Calzetti Federica , Costa Sara , Bugatti Mattia , Calza Stefano , Agostinelli Claudio , Pileri Stefano , Balzarini Piera , Tucci Alessandra , Rossi Giuseppe , Furlani Lara , Todeschini Giuseppe , Zamò Alberto , Facchetti Fabio , Lorenzi Luisa , Lonardi Silvia , Cassatella Marco A.
Published: May 2018

Terminal tissue differentiation and function of slan+ monocytes in cancer is largely unexplored. Our recent studies demonstrated that slan+ monocytes differentiate into a distinct subset of dendritic cells (DC) in human tonsils and that slan+ cells colonize metastatic carcinoma-draining lymph nodes. Herein, we report by retrospective analysis of multi-institutional cohorts that slan+ cells infiltrate various types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), particularly the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) group, including the most aggressive, nodal and extranodal, forms. Nodal slan+ cells displayed features of either immature DC or macrophages, in the latter case ingesting tumor cells and apoptotic bodies. We also found in patients with DLBCL that peripheral blood slan+ monocytes, but not CD14+ monocytes, increased in number and displayed highly efficient rituximab-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, almost equivalent to that exerted by NK cells. Notably, slan+ monocytes cultured in conditioned medium from nodal DLBCL (DCM) acquired a macrophage-like phenotype, retained CD16 expression, and became very efficient in rituximab-mediated antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). Macrophages derived from DCM-treated CD14+ monocytes performed very efficient rituximab-mediated ADCP, however, using different FcγRs from those used by slan+ macrophages. Our observations shed new light on the complexity of the immune microenvironment of DLBCL and demonstrate plasticity of slan+ monocytes homing to cancer tissues. Altogether, data identify slan+ monocytes and macrophages as prominent effectors of antibody-mediated tumor cell targeting in patients with DLBCL.

Significance: slan+ monocytes differentiate into macrophages that function as prominent effectors of antibody-mediated tumor cell targeting in lymphoma.

Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/13/3544/F1.large.jpg. Cancer Res; 78(13); 3544–59. ©2018 AACR.
The miR-371∼373 Cluster Represses Colon Cancer Initiation and Metastatic Colonization by Inhibiting the TGFBR2/ID1 Signaling Axis
Authors: Ullmann Pit , Rodriguez Fabien , Schmitz Martine , Meurer Steffen K. , Qureshi-Baig Komal , Felten Paul , Ginolhac Aurélien , Antunes Laurent , Frasquilho Sonia , Zügel Nikolaus , Weiskirchen Ralf , Haan Serge , Letellier Elisabeth
Published: May 2018

The vast majority of colorectal cancer–related deaths can be attributed to metastatic spreading of the disease. Therefore, deciphering molecular mechanisms of metastatic dissemination is a key prerequisite to improve future treatment options. With this aim, we took advantage of different colorectal cancer cell lines and recently established primary cultures enriched in colon cancer stem cells, also known as tumor-initiating cells (TIC), to identify genes and miRNAs with regulatory functions in colorectal cancer progression. We show here that metastasis-derived TICs display increased capacity for self-renewal, TGFβ signaling activity, and reduced expression of the miR-371∼373 cluster compared with nonmetastatic cultures. TGFβ receptor 2 (TGFBR2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase A1 (ALDH1A1) were identified as important target genes of the miR-371∼373 cluster. In addition, TGFBR2 repression, either by direct knockdown or indirectly via overexpression of the entire miR-371∼373 cluster, decreased tumor-initiating potential of TICs. We observed significantly reduced in vitro self-renewal activity as well as lowered tumor initiation and metastatic outgrowth capacity in vivo following stable overexpression of the miR-371∼373 cluster in different colon TIC cultures. Inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) was affected by both TGFBR2 and miR-371∼373 cluster alterations. Functional sphere and tumor formation as well as metastatic dissemination assays validated the link between miR-371∼373 and ID1. Altogether, our results establish the miR-371∼373/TGFBR2/ID1 signaling axis as a novel regulatory mechanism of TIC self-renewal and metastatic colonization.

Significance: These findings establish the miR-371∼373/TGFBR2/ID1 signaling axis as a novel mechanism regulating self-renewal of tumor-initiating cell and metastatic colonization, potentially opening new concepts for therapeutic targeting of cancer metastasis.

Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/14/3793/F1.large.jpg. Cancer Res; 78(14); 3793–808. ©2018 AACR.
TRAF1 Is Critical for Regulating the BRAF/MEK/ERK Pathway in Non–Small Cell Lung Carcinogenesis
Authors: Wang Qiushi , Gao Ge , Zhang Tianshun , Yao Ke , Chen Hanyong , Park Mi Hee , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Wang Keke , Ma Weiya , Malakhova Margarita , Bode Ann M. , Dong Zigang
Published: May 2018

Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)–associated factor 1 (TRAF1) is a unique TRAF protein that can interact directly or indirectly with multiple TNFR family members, regulatory proteins, kinases, and adaptors that contribute to its diverse functions in specific tissues. However, the role of TRAF1 in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. In this study, we report that TRAF1 is overexpressed in human lung cancer cells and tissues. TRAF1 expression level inversely correlated with patient survival probability. Loss of TRAF1 decelerated tumor invasion in a urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis mouse model. Furthermore, TRAF1 expression affected TRAF2-mediated BRAF Lys48–linked ubiquitination, which was followed by the inhibition of growth and differentiation, and the induction of death in lung cancer cells. Overall, our work suggests that TRAF1 plays a novel role in the regulation of the BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in NSCLC and offers a candidate molecular target for lung cancer prevention and therapy.

Significance: These findings identify TRAF1 as a new therapeutic target for NSCLC. Cancer Res; 78(14); 3982–94. ©2018 AACR.
Dual Suppressive Effect of miR-34a on the FOXM1/eEF2-Kinase Axis Regulates Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Growth and Invasion
Authors: Bayraktar Recep , Ivan Cristina , Bayraktar Emine , Kanlikilicer Pinar , Kabil Nashwa N. , Kahraman Nermin , Mokhlis Hamada A. , Karakas Didem , Rodriguez-Aguayo Cristian , Arslan Ahmet , Sheng Jianting , Wong Stephen , Lopez-Berestein Gabriel , Calin George A. , Ozpolat Bulent
Published: May 2018

Purpose: Recent studies indicated that dysregulation of noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) such as miRNAs is involved in pathogenesis of various human cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying miR-34a are not fully understood in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Experimental Design: We performed in vitro functional assays on TNBC cell lines to investigate the role of miR-34a in FOXM1/eEF2K signaling axis. TNBC tumor xenograft models were used for in vivo therapeutic delivery of miR-34a.

Results: In this study, we investigated the role of p53-driven ncRNA miR-34a and found that miR-34a is associated with significantly longer patient survival in TNBC and inversely correlated with levels of proto-oncogenic eEF2K, which was associated with significantly shorter overall patient survival. We showed that miR-34a directly binds to the 3′-untranslated region of eEF2K and FOXM1 mRNAs and suppresses their expression, leading to inhibition of TNBC cell proliferation, motility, and invasion. Notably, restoring miR-34a expression recapitulated the effects of inhibition of eEF2K and FOXM1, the transcription factor for eEF2K and the direct target of p53, in TNBC cell lines, whereas overexpression of eEF2K and FOXM1 rescued the effects and signaling pathways mediated by miR-34a. Moreover, in vivo therapeutic delivery of miR-34a nanoparticles by systemic intravenous administration delayed tumor growth of two different orthotopic TNBC tumor xenograft models by inhibiting eEF2K and FOXM1, intratumoral proliferation and angiogenesis, and inducing apoptosis.

Conclusions: Overall, our findings provide new insights into the tumor suppressor role of miR-34a by dual-targeting of FOXM1/eEF2K signaling axis and suggest that miR-34a–based gene therapy may be a potential therapeutic strategy in TNBC. Clin Cancer Res; 24(17); 4225–41. ©2018 AACR.
Satellite RNA Increases DNA Damage and Accelerates Tumor Formation in Mouse Models of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Kishikawa Takahiro , Otsuka Motoyuki , Suzuki Tatsunori , Seimiya Takahiro , Sekiba Kazuma , Ishibashi Rei , Tanaka Eri , Ohno Motoko , Yamagami Mari , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: May 2018

Highly repetitive tandem arrays such as satellite sequences in the centromeric and pericentromeric regions of chromosomes, which were previously considered to be silent, are actively transcribed in various biological processes, including cancers. In the pancreas, this aberrant expression occurs even in Kras-mutated pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) tissues, which are precancerous lesions. To determine the biological role of satellite RNAs in carcinogenesis in vivo, we constructed mouse major satellite (MajSAT) RNA-expressing transgenic mice. However, these transgenic mice did not show spontaneous malignant tumor formation under normal breeding. Importantly, however, DNA damage was increased in pancreatic tissues induced by caerulein treatment or high-fat diet, which may be due to impaired nuclear localization of Y-Box Binding Protein 1 (YBX1), a component of the DNA damage repair machinery. In addition, when crossed with pancreas-specific Kras-mutant mice, MajSAT RNA expression resulted in an earlier increase in PanIN formation. These results suggest that aberrant MajSAT RNA expression accelerates oncogenesis by increasing the probability of a second driver mutation, thus accelerating cells to exit from the breakthrough phase to the expansion phase.

Implications: Aberrant expression of satellite RNAs accelerates oncogenesis through a mechanism involving increased DNA damage. Mol Cancer Res; 16(8); 1255–62. ©2018 AACR.
O Financiamento do Ensino Superior
Authors: Wolynec Elisa
Published: May 2018

Neste trabalho, são discutidos os itens básicos da composição orçamentária de universidades e, em especial, a relação que deveria haver entre as despesas de pessoal e custeio. São apresentados dados orçamentá­ rios referentes ao financimento do ensino superior em países europeus, e outros indicadores relevantes. Comparações entre esses indicadores são feitas para as universidades do Estado de São Paulo e para o Sistema Federa! de Ensino Superior
Ciência, Filosofia e Humanidades: onde ficam as ciências sociais?
Authors: Durham Eunice Ribeiro
Published: May 2018

Este trabalho é um comentário ao artigo de Franklin Leopoldo e Silva, publicado no número anterior desta revista, que trata das relações entre ciência e filosofia. O comentario discute a posição das ciências sociais na dicotomía ciência-filosofia, a partir da compreensão do processo de constituição das identidades dos ramos do conhecimento
Tocando no ponto nevrálgico: A Democratização da Informação e da Comunicação Social
Authors: Comparato Fabio Konder
Published: May 2018

O pensamento liberal soube divisar a importância política da liberdade de imprensa numa sociedade de massas. Deixou, porém, de perceber que os órgãos de informação social compõem um dos elementos da res publica e nSo podem, por isso, ser objeto de apropriação. O desenvolvimento nacional implica uma mudança no quadro dos valores sociais, ou seja, um processo de educação social, o qual somente poc/e ser realizado, com eficiência, pelos meios audiovisuais de massa. Impõe-se, portanto, em nosso país, fundar o estatuto jurídico dos meios de informação social nos seguintes princípios: a) desvinculação entre o poder de direção e a propriedade do capital das empresas; b) eliminação do intuito lucrativo; c) concessão de faixas de onda em função do interesse público. Quanto à comunicação social, ela somente existirá, efetivamente, quando se reconhecer, aos diferentes grupos componentes da sociedade, o direito de utilização dos veículos de informação de massa
Disseminating health evidence summaries to increase evidence use in health care
Authors: Galvao Maria Cristiane Barbosa , Carmona Fabio , Grand Roland , Pluye Pierre , Ricarte Ivan Luiz Marques
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE: To verify whether an intervention based on disseminating health evidence summaries by e-mail to health professionals increases access to health evidence databases, and whether health professionals intend to apply the evidence received by e-mail in their clinical practice. METHODS: This quantitative study started with a survey to collect demographic data and patterns of access to health evidence databases. It was followed by a longitudinal intervention, over 48 weeks, that disseminated 143 health evidence summaries to 339 health professionals with higher education degree who work in the Brazilian Unified Health System. In the longitudinal intervention phase, health professionals voluntarily assessed the received health evidence summaries using the information assessment method. Finally, the study concluded with a survey to identify changes in accessing health evidence databases. RESULTS: Of the 339 Brazilian health professionals participating in this research, 90 (26.5%) answered the initial and final surveys. After 48 weeks, there was an increase in the use of health evidence databases; 186 (54.9%) participants submitted 7,942 assessments of health evidence summaries, which were relevant for patient care in 5,409 (68%) assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The dissemination of health evidence summaries by e-mail to health professionals in Brazil increases the reported use of evidence in clinical practice.
Noninvasive Assessment of Preload Reserve Enhances Risk Stratification of Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Matsumoto Kensuke , Onishi Akira , Yamada Hirotsugu , Kusunose Kenya , Suto Makiko , Hatani Yutaka , Matsuzoe Hiroki , Tatsumi Kazuhiro , Tanaka Hidekazu , Hirata Ken-Ichi
Published: May 2018

Background:

The leg-positive pressure maneuver can safely and noninvasively apply preload stress without increase in total body fluid volume. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preload stress could be useful for risk stratification of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Methods and Results:

For this study, 120 consecutive patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were prospectively recruited. The stroke work index was estimated as product of stroke volume index and mean blood pressure, and the E/e′ ratio was calculated to estimate ventricular filling pressure. The echocardiographic parameters were obtained both at rest and during leg-positive pressure stress. During the median follow-up period of 20 months, 30 patients developed adverse cardiovascular events. During preload stress, stroke work index increased significantly (from 3280±1371 to 3857±1581 mm Hg·mL/m
2
;
P
<0.001) along with minimal changes in ventricular filling pressure (E/e′, from 16±10 to 17±9;
P
<0.05) in patients without cardiovascular events. However, patients with cardiovascular events showed impairment of Frank–Starling mechanism (stroke work index, from 2863±969 to 2903±1084 mm Hg·mL/m
2
;
P
=0.70) and a serious increase in E/e′ ratio (from 19±11 to 25±14;
P
<0.001). Both the patients without contractile reserve and those without diastolic reserve exhibited worse event-free survival than the others (
P
<0.001). In a Cox proportional-hazards analysis, the changes in stroke work index (hazard ratio: 0.44 per 500 mm Hg·mL/m
2
increase;
P
=0.001) and in E/e′ (hazard ratio: 2.58 per 5-U increase;
P
<0.001) were predictors of cardiovascular events.

Conclusion:

Contractile reserve and diastolic reserve during leg-positive pressure stress are important determinants of cardiovascular outcomes for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
On the Runtime Analysis of the Clearing Diversity-Preserving Mechanism
Authors: Osuna Edgar Covantes , Sudholt Dirk
Published: May 2018

Clearing is a niching method inspired by the principle of assigning the available resources among a niche to a single individual. The clearing procedure supplies these resources only to the best individual of each niche: the winner. So far, its analysis has been focused on experimental approaches that have shown that clearing is a powerful diversity-preserving mechanism. Using rigorous runtime analysis to explain how and why it is a powerful method, we prove that a mutation-based evolutionary algorithm with a large enough population size, and a phenotypic distance function always succeeds in optimising all functions of unitation for small niches in polynomial time, while a genotypic distance function requires exponential time. Finally, we prove that with phenotypic and genotypic distances, clearing is able to find both optima for [Formula: see text] and several general classes of bimodal functions in polynomial expected time. We use empirical analysis to highlight some of the characteristics that makes it a useful mechanism and to support the theoretical results.
Cocconeis kurakakea, a new diatom species from Nukutavake (Tuamotu Archipelago, South Pacific): description and comparison with C. diruptoides and C. pseudodiruptoides
Authors: RIAUX-GOBIN CATHERINE , WITKOWSKI ANDRZEJ , JORDAN RICHARD W. , PARRAVICINI VALERIANO , PLANES SERGE
Published: May 2018

During the ‘Tara Pacific 2016–2018 Expedition’, marine benthic diatom samples were collected from several Tuamotu atolls in the South Pacific. Preparation and examination of these samples were conducted following standard methods including light and scanning electron microscopy. A small-celled taxon from the genus Cocconeis Ehrenb. (Bacillariophyceae) is described from the Nukutavake reef, and compared to several other taxa for which the definition is not always clear (e.g., Cocconeis diruptoides Hust. and Cocconeis pseudodiruptoides Foged). The new taxon is present only on one of the investigated Tuamotu atolls, possibly indicating local endemism.
Key to Chinese species of Copidosoma (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), with new records and three new species
Authors: WANG HAI-YAN , LI CHENG-DE
Published: May 2018

Six species of Copidosoma (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from Southwestern China are reviewed, including three new species (C. heinitane sp. nov., C. linzhiensis sp. nov., C. longchuane sp. nov.) and two species newly recorded from China (C. longiclavatum Kazmi & Hayat and C. recurvariae Sharkov). Copidosoma serricorne (Dalman) is newly recorded from Xizang, southwestern part of China. A key to all the Chinese species of the genus based on females is given.
One new species, two generic synonyms and eight new records of Thripidae from China (Thysanoptera)
Authors: ZHANG SHIMENG , WANG ZHAOHONG , LI YAJIN , MOUND LAURENCE
Published: May 2018

Baliothrips sunae sp.n. is described from eastern China, and eight thripid species are newly recorded from China. One species is shared with Europe, three with Australia and four with southeast Asia. Chilothrips Hood is synonymized with Oxythrips Uzel, and Graminothrips Zhang & Tong is synonymized with Organothrips Hood.
New species and additional data on the chewing louse genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from wild Neotropical Passeriformes (Aves)
Authors: KOLENCIK STANISLAV , SYCHRA OLDRICH , PAPOUSEK IVO , KUABARA KAMILA M.D. , VALIM MICHEL P. , LITERAK IVAN
Published: May 2018

Twenty-four species of chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from Neotropical Suboscines (Passeriformes: Formicariidae, Furnariidae, Pipridae, Thamnophilidae, Tityridae, Tyrannidae) are recorded and discussed. They include: eight new species which are described and illustrated (Myrsidea capeki new species ex Chiroxiphia caudata; Myrsidea leptopogoni new species ex Leptopogon superciliaris; Myrsidea leucophthalmi new species ex Automolus leucophthalmus; Myrsidea pachyramphi new species ex Pachyramphus polychopterus; Myrsidea philydori new species ex Philydor rufum; Myrsidea pyriglenae new species ex Pyriglena leucoptera; Myrsidea scleruri new species ex Sclerurus scansor and Myrsidea zuzanae new species ex Furnarius rufus), as well as nine previously known species with additional data on intraspecific morphological variability, host associations and geographical distribution (Myrsidea barbati Price, Hellenthal & Dalgleish, 2005; Myrsidea dalgleishi Valim, Price & Johnson, 2011; Myrsidea flaviventris Price, Hellenthal & Dalgleish, 2005; Myrsidea klimesi Sychra, 2006; Myrsidea meyi Valim, Price & Johnson, 2011; Myrsidea oleaginei Price, Hellenthal & Dalgleish, 2005; Myrsidea olivacei Price, Hellenthal & Dalgleish, 2005; Myrsidea pitangi Price, Hellenthal & Dalgleish, 2005 and Myrsidea spellmani Price, Johnson & Dalgleish, 2008b). Seven further species are recorded at genus level only due to lack of adequate material. A 379 bp portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was sequenced from seven species in order to assess relative genetic divergences among Myrsidea populations.
Taxonomic review of the genus Commatarcha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Carposinoidea: Carposinidae) from China, with descriptions of four new species
Authors: QIAN SHUONAN , LI HOUHUN
Published: May 2018

Nine species of the genus Commatarcha Meyrick, 1935 from China are reviewed. Four species: Commatarcha convoluta Li, sp. nov., C. setiferaedeaga Li, sp. nov., C. hamata Li, sp. nov. and C. rotundivalva Li, sp. nov. are described as new. Commatarcha palaeosema Meyrick, 1935 is newly recorded in China. The male of C. angustiptera Li, 2004 and the female of C. guangxiensis Li, 2004 are reported for the first time. A key to the Commatarcha species in China is given.
A new species and subgenus of Pachylaelaps Berlese from Turkey (Acari: Pachylaelapidae)
Authors: ÖZBEK HASAN HÜSEYIN , MAŠÁN PETER
Published: May 2018

This paper reports on three interesting species of the mite family Pachylaelapidae from Turkey (Acari: Mesostigmata). A new subgenus Longipachys Mašán & Ӧzbek, subgen. nov., with type species Pachylaelaps (Longipachylaelaps) anatolicus Ӧzbek, is erected in the genus Pachylaelaps Berlese. The description of P. anatolicus is extended to include females and males found in leaf litter in various habitats. A new species Pachylaelaps (Pachylaelaps) armiger sp. nov. is described, and compared with related species that have a polydentate chelicera. Pachylaelaps (Pachylaelaps) evansi Costa, 1971, a species previously reported from Israel, is recorded in Turkey for the first time.
A new species of Pasiphaea Savigny, 1816 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pasiphaeidae) from the southwestern Atlantic
Authors: RODRIGUES THAIANA G. A. , ALVES-JÚNIOR FLAVIO A. , CARDOSO IRENE A.
Published: May 2018

The genus Pasiphaea Savigny, 1816 (Caridea: Pasiphaeidae) includes 71 species, of which vast majority inhabit in the meso or bathypelagic zones in the world oceans. A new species is described herein, sampled during the project "ABRACOS 2" (Acoustic along the BRazilian COast) nearby the Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, in Brazilian waters. Pasiphaea antea n. sp. appears close to Pasiphaea dorsolineatus Komai & Chan, 2012 described from off Hawaii, but is distinguished from the latter by the different shape of the rostrum, the mid-dorsal line of the carapace sharply carinate in the anterior half, and the possession of more numerous spiniform setae on the meri of the pereopods 1 and 2. This is the third species known from the southwestern Atlantic.