bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cracking Behaviors and Mechanical Properties of Rock‐Like Specimens with Two Unparallel Flaws under Conventional Triaxial Compression
Authors: Le Huilin , Sun Shaorui , Xu Chenghua , Li Liuyang , Liu Yong
Published: April 2019

Flaws existing in rock masses are generally unparallel and under three‐dimensional stress; however, the mechanical and cracking behaviors of the specimens with two unparallel flaws under triaxial compression have been rarely studied. Therefore, this study conducted comprehensive research on the cracking and coalescence behavior and mechanical properties of specimens with two unparallel flaws under triaxial compression. Triaxial compressive tests were conducted under different confining pressures on rock‐like specimens with two preexisting flaws but varying flaw geometries (with respect to the inclination angle of the two unparallel flaws, rock bridge length, and rock bridge inclination angle). Six crack types and eleven coalescence types in the bridge region were observed, and three types of failure modes (tensile failure, shear failure, and tensile‐shear failure) were observed in experiments. Test results show that bridge length and bridge inclination angle have an effect on the coalescence pattern, but the influence of bridge inclination angle is larger than that of the bridge length. When the confining pressure is low, coalescence patterns and failure modes of the specimens are greatly affected by flaw geometry, but when confining pressure rose to a certain level, the influence of confining pressure is larger than the effect of flaw geometry. The peak strength of the specimens is affected by flaw geometry and confining pressure. There is a critical value for the bridge length. If the bridge length is larger than the critical value, peak strengths of the samples almost keep constant as the bridge length increases. In addition, as the bridge inclination angle increases, there is an increase in the probability of tensile cracks occurring, and with an increase in the confining pressure, the probability of the occurrence of shear cracks increases.
Preparation of Monodisperse Enrofloxacin Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Microspheres and Their Recognition Characteristics
Authors: Wang Xiaoxiao , Zhou Yanqiang , Niu Yuling , Zhao Shanwen , Gong Bolin
Published: April 2019

This study presents a new strategy for the detection of enrofloxacin (ENR) in food samples by the use of monodisperse ENR molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). Using enrofloxacin as template molecule, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, and ethylene diglycidyl ether as cross-linker, surface molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared on the surface of polymeric glycidyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PGMA-EDMA) microspheres. The surface morphology and imprinting behavior of PGMA-EDMA@MIPs were investigated and optimized. Synthesized PGMA-EDMA@MIPs showed good physical and chemical stability and specific recognition toward fluoroquinolones. The introduction of PGMA-EDMA microspheres greatly increased the adsorption area of PGMA-EDMA@MIPs and increased the adsorption capacity of target molecules. The core shell structure increased the adsorption rate, and adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 6 min, much higher than that of MIPs synthesized by traditional methods. Enrofloxacin in milk samples was detected by molecular imprinting solid phase extraction (MISPE) combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Implementing this method resulted in a recovery rate of 94.6~109.6% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 3.2%. The limit of detection (LOD) of this method was identified as three times the signal-to-noise ratio (10 μg/L). In summary, this work proposed a sensitive, rapid, and convenient method for the determination of trace ENR in food samples.
Constructing a Method for an Evaluation Index System Based on Graph Distance Classification and Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Shi Keyou , Liu Yong , Zhang Zhijun , Yu Qing , Zhang Qiucai
Published: April 2019

Based on the importance of having an evaluation index system, a new method that combines PCA with graph distance classification is presented to make up the deficiencies of principal component analysis in the process of index screening, and this method is applied in the construction of an evaluation index system for the environmental quality of decommissioning uranium tailing. The seepage indexes were classified into six classes using graph distance classification, which selects the representative elements, including pH, ∑α, 210Pb, 210Po, F−, and NO3−. All of the representative elements were analyzed by PCA while determining the seepage indexes, including pH, U, Ra, ∑α, NH4-N, and F−, and establishing an index system for environmental quality evaluation that consists of two primary indexes (seepage and radiation environment) and 12 secondary indexes. The results showed that the model had ensured that the sifted indexes had a significant effect on the evaluation result and avoided the deletion of some important indexes and that it had stronger applicability and maneuverability.
Sectional Analysis Procedure for Reinforced Concrete Members Subjected to Pure Torsion
Authors: Choi Jongkwon , Lee Seong-Cheol
Published: April 2019

A sectional analysis procedure for reinforced concrete members subjected to pure torsion is presented in this paper. On the development of the analysis procedure, the reinforced concrete section is modeled with reinforced concrete elements subjected to biaxial stress states, on the basis of the thin‐walled tube analogy. Each reinforced concrete element is analyzed with the modified compression field theory (MCFT) to take into account for compression softening and tension stiffening effects in cracked reinforced concrete. Considering analysis results of reinforced concrete elements, equilibrium, and compatibility on the section are checked. For verification of the developed analysis procedure, analytical predictions were compared with test results of 16 reinforced concrete beams subjected to a pure torsional load which are available in the literature. Comparison between predicted and experimentally obtained torque‐twist responses showed that the proposed procedure is capable of capturing the ultimate torsional capacity as well as the angle of twist within a reasonable range.
Some Remarks on Estimate of Mittag-Leffler Function
Authors: Jia Jia , Wang Zhen , Huang Xia , Wei Yunliang
Published: April 2019

The estimate of Mittag-Leffler function has been widely applied in the dynamic analysis of fractional-order systems in some recently published papers. In this paper, we show that the estimate for Mittag-Leffler function is not correct. First, we point out the mistakes made in the estimation process of Mittag-Leffler function and provide a counterexample. Then, we propose some sufficient conditions to guarantee that part of the estimate for Mittag-Leffler function is correct. Meanwhile, numerical examples are given to illustrate the validity of the two newly established estimates.
Effect of Real-Time Surveys on Patient Satisfaction Scores in the Emergency Department
Authors: Sobel Julia , Bates Jessica , Ng Vivienne , Berkman Matthew , Nuño Tomas , Denninghoff Kurt , Stoneking Lisa
Published: April 2019

Background. Patient satisfaction surveys have become increasingly important as their results help to determine Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement. However, these questionnaires have known sources of bias (self-selection, responder, attribution, and nonresponse). Objective. We developed a real-time (RT) survey delivered in the hospital ED to evaluate the effect of implementing RT patient satisfaction surveys on physician behavior and hypothesized that the timing of patient satisfaction survey delivery would significantly impact the results. Method. Data from real-time patient satisfaction surveys were collected in phases from 12/2015 to 5/2017. Hospital-sponsored (HS) surveys were administered after discharge from 12/2015 to 12/2016. Results. For RT surveys, resident physicians were significantly more likely to write their names on the whiteboard (p=0.02) and sit down (p=0.01) with patients. Behavior modifications by attending physicians were not significant. Patient satisfaction measures did not improve significantly between periods for RT or HS surveys; however, RT survey responders were significantly more likely to recommend the ED to others. Conclusion. The timing of survey administration did significantly alter resident physician’s behavior; however, it had no effect on patient satisfaction scores. RT responders were significantly more likely to recommend the emergency department to others.
Physical Structure Induced Hydrophobicity Analyzed from Electrospinning and Coating Polyvinyl Butyral Films
Authors: Chen Shuo , Liu Guo-Sai , He Hong-Wei , Zhou Cheng-Feng , Yan Xu , Zhang Jun-Cheng
Published: April 2019

Surface wettability of a film plays a critical role in its practical applications. To control the surface wettability, modification on the physical surface structures has been a useful method. In this paper, we reported the controlling physical surface structure of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) films by different film-forming methods, spin-coating, bar-coating, and electrospinning. The wettability of these PVB films was examined, and the surface morphologies and roughness were investigated. The results indicated that coating PVB films were hydrophilic, while electrospun films were hydrophobic. The physical surface structure was the key role on the interesting transition of their surface wettability. Theoretical analyses on these results found that the coating PVB films showed different mechanism with electrospun ones. These results may help to find the way to control the PVB film surface wettability and then guide for applications.
Iodine Status in the Colombian Population and the Impact of Universal Salt Iodization: A Double-Edged Sword?
Authors: Vargas-Uricoechea Hernando , Pinzón-Fernández María Virginia , Bastidas-Sánchez Beatriz Eugenia , Jojoa-Tobar Elisa , Ramírez-Bejarano Luis Eduardo , Murillo-Palacios Julián
Published: April 2019

Iodine deficiency and iodine excess have severe consequences on human health and have been associated with the presence of goiter, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules and thyroid autoimmunity, poor mental health, and impaired intellectual development. Universal salt iodization programs have been considered one of the most cost-effective interventions for the prevention of iodine deficiency-associated disorders, as evidenced over time since the implementation of such programs. However, these efforts have also led to an excessive consumption of iodine in certain geographical regions, due to salt overuse. Consequently, the amount of iodine derived from salt intake exceeds the established limits required for achieving the right balance between salt consumption and health benefits and leads to undesirable health effects. In Colombia, the recommendations and standards for the production and commercialization of iodized salt are fully complied with. Nevertheless, there is a remarkable rate of iodine excess among the country’s population, which, at least hypothetically, represents a higher risk for developing functional and structural disorders of the thyroid gland. This review analyzes universal salt iodization programs worldwide, particularly their impact on the thyroid gland and the results of the studies conducted in Colombia following the implementation of such strategy.
Preparation and Characterization of Printed LTCC Substrates for Microwave Devices
Authors: Shi Yanfeng , Chai Yongqiang , Hu Shengbo
Published: April 2019

A novel LTCC substrate manufacturing process based on 3D printing was investigated in this paper. Borosilicate glass-alumina substrates with controlled size and thickness were successfully manufactured using a self-developed dual-nozzle hybrid printing system. The printing parameters were carefully analyzed. The mechanical and dielectric properties of the printed substrate were examined. The results show that the printed substrates obtain smooth surface (Ra=0.92μm), compact microstructure (relative density 93.7%), proper bending strength (156 mPa), and low dielectric constant and loss (Ɛr=6.2,1/tan⁡δ=0.0055, at 3 GHz). All of those qualify the printed glass–ceramic substrates to be used as potential LTCC substrates in the microwave applications. The proposed method could simplify the traditional LTCC technology.
Exercise-Induced Irisin, the Fat Browning Myokine, as a Potential Anticancer Agent
Authors: Maalouf George-Emmanuel , El Khoury Diala
Published: April 2019

Irisin is a recently discovered myokine that plays an important role in fat metabolism through the browning of white adipose tissue. This myokine is usually secreted after exercise by improving energy balance and has shown great potential as a possible treatment for some metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Obesity has been linked to a higher incidence of some cancers. Furthermore, some studies have shown irisin to have direct positive effects on different types of cancers. Although it is hard to relay conclusions from in vitro to in vivo studies, the majority of the available data favor irisin as a potential substance for cancer regression through reducing proinflammatory markers linked to obesity. However, some controversies remain on the exact benefits of irisin on cancer with some studies showing no or even a negative effect of irisin on cancer. This review summarizes these 2 differing viewpoints and synthesizes them to form a clearer picture of exercise-induced irisin’s effects on cancer.
HIV Status and Other Risk Factors for Prevalent and Incident Sexually Transmitted Infection during Pregnancy (2000-2014)
Authors: Dionne-Odom Jodie , Khan Michelle J. , Jauk Victoria C. , Szychowski Jeff , Long Dustin M. , Wallace Suzanne , Neely Cherry , Fry Karen , Marrazzo Jeanne , Crain Marilyn , Tita Alan T. N.
Published: April 2019

Background. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with adverse birth outcomes. Current prenatal STI screening guidelines define “risk” without explicit consideration of HIV status. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that HIV status is associated with bacterial STI in pregnant women.Methods. We designed a retrospective cohort study to identify pregnant women with HIV who delivered at our facility during 2000-2014. HIV+ women were compared to HIV- women with matching by year of delivery. Logistic regression was used to model adjusted odds of prevalent and incident STI. Prevalent STI was defined as chlamydia (CT), gonorrhea (GC), syphilis, or trichomoniasis detected on an initial prenatal screening test and incident STI as a newly positive result following a negative prenatal test.Results. The cohort included 432 women, 210 HIV+ and 222 HIV-. Most pregnant women were screened for STI (92% of HIV+ women and 74% of HIV- women). STI rates were high and particularly elevated in HIV+ women: 29% vs 18% (p=0.02), for prevalent STI and 11% vs 2% (p<0.001) for incident STI. Risk factors for prevalent STI were as follows: HIV status (aOR 3.0, CI: 1.4-6.4), Black race (aOR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-6.6), and more recent delivery (2007-2014 compared to 2000-2006) (aOR 2.3, CI: 1.1-4.7). HIV status was an independent risk factor for incident STI (aOR 7.2, CI: 2.1-25.0).Conclusion. Pregnant women who delivered in our center had high STI rates. Since HIV infection was independently associated with prevalent and incident STI, prenatal screening guidelines may need to incorporate HIV status as a high-risk group for repeat testing.
Nonlinear Voltage Regulation Algorithm for DC-DC Boost Converter with Finite-Time Convergence
Authors: Duan Chun , Wu Di
Published: April 2019

For the DC-DC Boost converter system, this paper employs the finite-time control technique to design a new nonlinear fast voltage regulation control algorithm. Compared with the existing algorithm, the main advantage of the proposed algorithm lies in the fact that it can offer a fast convergent rate, i.e., finite-time convergence. Based on the average state space model of Boost converter system and finite-time control theory, rigorous stability analysis showed that the output voltage converges to the reference voltage in a finite time. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. Compared with PI control algorithm, it is shown that the proposed algorithm has a faster regulation performance and stronger robust performance on load-variation.
Effect of YAP on an Immortalized Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell Line
Authors: Chen Xiyan , Wang Qi , Gu Ke , Li Aonan , Fu Xucheng , Wang Ying , Gu Weiting , Wen Yong
Published: April 2019

Objective. To establish an immortalized human periodontal ligament stem cell line (hPDLSC) and investigate whether and how YAP mediates the establishment of the stem cell line. Methods. Primary hPDLSCs were cultured and transfected with lentivirus containing the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene. The expression of TERT was detected via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). Flow cytometry was employed to detect surface markers of hPDLSCs and TERT-hPDLSCs. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) methods were used to examine the proliferation ability of the cells. Flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were employed to examine the cell apoptosis rate. The β-galactosidase staining assay was used to assess the rate of cell senescence. The osteogenic differentiation ability of the cells was detected via alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin red staining assays. BALB/c mice were employed to determine the tumorigenicity of TERT-hPDLSCs. The expression levels of YAP and other proteins in the Hippo signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting. Verteporfin was used to inhibit the binding of YAP to the downstream target gene TEAD. Results. TERT-hPDLSCs showed stable high expression of TERT, even at the thirtieth passage after transfection with lentivirus containing the TERT gene. Compared with primary hPDLSCs, TERT-hPDLSCs exhibited a stronger proliferation ability and lower cell apoptosis and senescence rates while maintaining the same osteogenetic differentiation ability as primary hPDLSCs. The transfection of hPDLSCs with lentivirus containing the TERT gene did not lead to tumorigenesis in nude mice. The Hippo signaling pathway was inactivated in TERT-hPDLSCs compared to hPDLSCs. When treated with verteporfin, the proliferation of TERT-hPDLSCs decreased, while the apoptosis and senescence rates of these cells increased. However, TERT-hPDLSCs still showed a stronger proliferation ability and lower cell apoptosis and senescence rates than hPDLSCs treated with verteporfin at the same concentration. Conclusions. Overexpression of TERT in hPDLSCs resulted in the successful establishment of an immortalized periodontal ligament stem cell line. TERT may regulate the biological characteristics of hPDLSCs through the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. hPDLSCs could be a feasible resource for stem cell research and a promising resource for stem cell therapy.
Hybrid Coupled Fixed Point Theorems in Metric Spaces with Applications
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Sarwar Muhammad , Abdeljawad Thabet
Published: April 2019

In this manuscript, using CLR property, coupled coincidence and common coupled fixed point results for two-hybrid pairs satisfying (F,φ)- contraction are demonstrated. Using the established results existence of solution to the coupled system of functional and nonlinear matrix equations is also discussed. We provide examples where the main theorem is applicable but most current relevant results in literature fail to have a common coupled fixed point.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derivation and Ex Vivo Gene Correction Using a Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 1 Disease Mouse Model
Authors: Miki Toshio , Vazquez Ludivina , Yanuaria Lisa , Lopez Omar , Garcia Irving M. , Ohashi Kazuo , Rodriguez Natalie S.
Published: April 2019

Mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS-1), also known as Hurler’s disease, is a congenital metabolic disorder caused by a mutation in the alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA) gene, which results in the loss of lysosomal enzyme function for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans. Here, we demonstrate the proof of concept of ex vivo gene editing therapy using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies with MPS-1 model mouse cell. Disease-affected iPSCs were generated from Idua knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, which carry a disrupting neomycin-resistant gene cassette (Neor) in exon VI of the Idua gene. Double guide RNAs were used to remove the Neor sequence, and various lengths of donor templates were used to reconstruct the exon VI sequence. A quantitative PCR-based screening method was used to identify Neor removal. The sequence restoration without any indel mutation was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. After induced fibroblast differentiation, the gene-corrected iPSC-derived fibroblasts demonstrated Idua function equivalent to the wild-type iPSC-derived fibroblasts. The Idua-deficient cells were competent to be reprogrammed to iPSCs, and pluripotency was maintained through CRISPR/CAS9-mediated gene correction. These results support the concept of ex vivo gene editing therapy using iPSC and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies for MPS-1 patients.
Surface Coatings Modulate the Differences in the Adhesion Forces of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells as Detected by Single Cell Force Microscopy
Authors: Wysotzki Philipp , Gimsa Jan
Published: April 2019

Single cell force microscopy was used to investigate the maximum detachment force (MDF) of primary neuronal mouse cells (PNCs), osteoblastic cells (MC3T3), and prokaryotic cells (Staphylococcus capitissubsp.capitis) from different surfaces after contact times of 1 to 5 seconds. Positively charged silicon nitride surfaces were coated with positively charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) or poly-D-lysine. Laminin was used as the second coating. PEI induced MDFs of the order of 5 to 20 nN, slightly higher than silicon nitride did. Lower MDFs (1 to 5 nN) were detected on PEI/laminin with the lowest on PDL/laminin. To abstract from the individual cell properties, such as size, and to obtain cell type-specific MDFs, the MDFs of each cell on the different coatings were normalized to the silicon nitride reference for the longest contact time. The differences in MDF between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells were generally of similar dimensions, except on PDL/laminin, which discriminated against the prokaryotic cells. We explain the lower MDFs on laminin by the spatial prevention of the electrostatic cell adhesion to the underlying polymers. However, PEI can form long flexible loops protruding from the surface-bound layer that may span the laminin layer and easily bind to cellular surfaces and the small prokaryotic cells. This was reflected in increased MDFs after two-second contact times on silicon nitride, whereas the two-second values were already observed after one second on PEI or PEI/laminin. We assume that the electrostatic charge interaction with the PEI loops is more important for the initial adhesion of the smaller prokaryotic cells than for eukaryotic cells.
Surface Laser Processing of Additive Manufactured 1.2709 Steel Parts: Preliminary Study
Authors: Černašėjus O. , Škamat J. , Markovič V. , Višniakov N. , Indrišiūnas S.
Published: April 2019

Recently, metal selective laser sintering (SLS) techniques have attracted lively interest as a promising technology, which offers a number of unique applications in manufacturing of metal parts with complex internal structure and geometry. However, unsatisfactory surface properties of as-manufactured SLS parts cause high cost of finish processing and restrict wider application of SLS products. The paper presents results of the study, which was taken to evaluate capability of laser processing to improve surface quality of SLS parts manufactured from powder maraging steel 1.2709 (X3NiCoMoTi 18-9-5). The properties of processed surfaces were assessed, and the main dependencies of the roughness, hardness, wear resistance, and phase composition on the main parameters of laser processing—scanning speed, laser power, and number of processing times—were determined. The roughness of surfaces was diminished up to ∼41%, the hardness was increased up to ∼88%, and the wear resistance was improved up to almost 4 times, as compared with surface of as-manufactured SLS part. The preliminary study has demonstrated that laser processing has considerable potential for improvement of surface conditions of steel additive manufactured parts.
Analysis of CSN 12050 Carbon Steel in Dry Turning Process for Product Sustainability Optimization Using Taguchi Technique
Authors: Wakjira Melesse Workneh , Altenbach Holm , Perumalla Janaki Ramulu
Published: April 2019

The aim of this research paper is to investigate the machinability of CSN 12050 carbon steel bars using carbide insert tool in order to utilize the optimum cutting parameters by employing Taguchi approach. Experiments have been performed under dry cutting condition using an optimization approach according to Taguchi’s L9(34) orthogonal arrays; signal-to-noise ratio tests are designed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the importance of machining parameters on the material removal rate (MRR). The results were analyzed using signal-to-noise ratios (S/N); 3D surface graphs, main effect graphs of mean, and predictive equations are employed to study the performance characteristics. The optimal parameters resulted as A3B2C3 (i.e., cutting speed 275 (m/min), depth of cut 0.35 (mm), and feed rate 0.25 (mm/rev), respectively). In the present study, there is an improvement of 5.22 dB at optimal cutting conditions for each significant MRR response parameters such as cutting speed, depth of cut, and feed rate. With these proposed optimal parameters, it is possible to optimize machinability for product sustainability.
Carbon Nanofibers Coated with Silicon/Calcium-Based Compounds for Medical Application
Authors: Smolka Wojciech , Dlugon Elzbieta , Jelen Piotr , Niemiec Wiktor , Panek Agnieszka , Paluszkiewicz Czeslawa , Zagrajczuk Barbara , Menaszek Elzbieta , Markowski Jaroslaw , Blazewicz Marta
Published: April 2019

The aim of this work was to develop a method for the manufacture of carbon nanofibers in the form of mats containing silicon and calcium compounds with potential biomedical application. Carbon nanofibers (ECNF) were prepared from the electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. The electrospun polymer nanofibers were heat treated up to 1000°C to obtain carbon nanofibers. The surface of ECNF was covered with a silica-calcium sol (ECNF+Si/Ca) by dip-coating technique followed by the stabilization process. Both types of carbon nanofibers, i.e., the as-received and covered with the sol, were tested to confirm their osteoconductive properties. Biological tests were performed, including genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Morphology of adhering cells to nanofiber surface was described. The nanofibers were subjected to a bioactivity test in contact with SBF artificial plasma. Biological tests have revealed that the nanofiber-modified ECNF+Si/Ca in contact with osteoblast cells were biocompatible, and the level of cytotoxicity was lower compared to the control. The ALP activity of the modified nanofibers was higher than nonmodified nanofibers and indicates potential applications of such carbon materials in the form of mats as a substrate for bone tissue regeneration.
Current Status of Immunotherapy for Localized and Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ghali Fady , Patel Sunil H. , Derweesh Ithaar H.
Published: April 2019

Systemic therapy strategies in the setting of localized and locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have continued to evolve in two directions: as adjuvant therapy (to reduce risk of recurrence or progression in high risk localized groups), or as neoadjuvant therapy as a strategy to render primary renal tumors amenable to planned surgical resection in settings where radical resection or nephron-sparing surgery was not thought to be safe or feasible. In the realm of adjuvant therapy, the results of phase III randomized clinical trials have been mixed and contradictory; nonetheless based on the findings of the landmark S-TRAC study, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sunitinib has been approved as an adjuvant agent in the United States. In the realm of neoadjuvant therapy, presurgical tumor reduction has been demonstrated in a number of phase II studies utilizing targeted molecular agents. The advent of immunomodulation through checkpoint inhibition as first line therapy for metastatic RCC represents an exciting horizon for adjuvant and neoadjuvant strategies. This article reviews the current status and future prospects of adjuvant and neoadjuvant immunotherapy in localized and locally advanced RCC.
A Noninvasive Imaging Toolbox Indicates Limited Therapeutic Potential of Conditionally Activated Macrophages in a Mouse Model of Multiple Organ Dysfunction
Authors: Sharkey Jack , Ressel Lorenzo , Brillant Nathalie , Scarfe Lauren , Wilm Bettina , Park B. Kevin , Murray Patricia
Published: April 2019

Cell-based regenerative medicine therapies require robust preclinical safety, efficacy, biodistribution, and engraftment data prior to clinical testing. To address these challenges, we have developed an imaging toolbox comprising multispectral optoacoustic tomography and ultrasonography, which allows the degree of kidney, liver, and cardiac injury and the extent of functional recovery to be assessed noninvasively in a mouse model of multiorgan dysfunction. This toolbox allowed us to determine the therapeutic effects of adoptively transferred macrophages. Using bioluminescence imaging, we could then investigate the association between amelioration and biodistribution. Macrophage therapy provided limited improvement of kidney and liver function, although not significantly so, without amelioration of histological damage. No improvement in cardiac function was observed. Biodistribution analysis showed that macrophages homed and persisted in the injured kidneys and liver but did not populate the heart. Our data suggest that the limited improvement observed in kidney and liver function could be mediated by M2 macrophages. More importantly, we demonstrate here the utility of the imaging toolbox for assessing the efficacy of potential regenerative medicine therapies in multiple organs.
VR Locomotion in the New Era of Virtual Reality: An Empirical Comparison of Prevalent Techniques
Authors: Boletsis Costas , Cedergren Jarl Erik
Published: April 2019

The latest technical and interaction advancements within the virtual reality (VR) field have marked a new era, not only for VR, but also for VR locomotion. In this era, well-established, prevalent VR locomotion techniques are mostly used as points of comparison for benchmarking of new VR locomotion designs. At the same time, there is the need for more exploratory, comparative studies of contemporary VR locomotion techniques, so that their distinguished interaction aspects can be documented and guide the design process of new techniques. This article presents a comparative, empirical evaluation study of contemporary and prevalent VR locomotion techniques, examining the user experience (UX) they offer. First, the prevalent VR locomotion techniques are identified based on literature, i.e., walking-in-place, controller/joystick, and teleportation. Twenty-six adults are enrolled in the study and perform a game-like task using the techniques. The study follows a mixed methods approach, utilising the System Usability Scale survey, the Game Experience Questionnaire, and a semistructured interview to assess user experiences. Results indicate that the walking-in-place technique offers the highest immersion but also presents high levels of psychophysical discomfort. Controller/joystick VR locomotion is perceived as easy-to-use due to the users’ familiarity with controllers, whereas teleportation is considered to be effective due to its fast navigation, although its visual ‘jumps’ do break the users’ sense of immersion. Based on the interviews, the users focused on the following interaction dimensions to describe their VR locomotion experiences: (i) immersion and flow, (ii) ease-of-use and mastering, (iii) competence and sense of effectiveness, and (iv) psychophysical discomfort. The study implications for VR locomotion are discussed, along with the study limitations and the future direction for research.
Evolutionary Search with Multiple Utopian Reference Points in Decomposition‐Based Multiobjective Optimization
Authors: Lin Wu , Lin Qiuzhen , Zhu Zexuan , Li Jianqiang , Chen Jianyong , Ming Zhong
Published: April 2019

Decomposition‐based multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEA/Ds) have become increasingly popular in recent years. In these MOEA/Ds, evolutionary search is guided by the used weight vectors in decomposition function to approximate the Pareto front (PF). Generally, the decomposition function will be constructed by the weight vectors and the reference point, which play an important role to balance convergence and diversity during the evolutionary search. However, in most existing MOEA/Ds, only one ideal point is used as the reference point for all the evolutionary search, which is harmful to search the entire PF when tackling the problems with difficult‐to‐approximate PF boundaries. To address the above problem, this paper proposes an evolutionary search method with multiple utopian reference points in MOEA/Ds. Similar to the existing MOEA/Ds, each solution is associated with one weight vector, which provides an evolutionary search direction, while the novelty of our approach is to use multiple utopian reference points, which can provide evolutionary search directions for different weight vectors. Corner solutions are used to approximate the nadir point and then multiple utopian reference points for evolutionary search can be constructed based on the ideal point and the nadir point, which are uniformly distributed on the coordinate axis or planes. The use of these utopian points can prevent solutions to gather in the same region of PF and helps to strike a good balance of exploration and exploitation in the search space. The performance of our proposed algorithm is validated on tackling 16 recently proposed test problems with difficult‐to‐approximate PF boundaries and empirically compared to eight state‐of‐the‐art multiobjective evolutionary algorithms. The experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm on solving most of the test problems adopted.
Vertical Profile of Wind Diurnal Cycle in the Surface Boundary Layer over the Coast of Cotonou, Benin, under a Convective Atmosphere
Authors: Donnou Hagninou E. V. , Akpo Aristide B. , Kouchadé Clément A. , Kounouhewa Basile B. , Hounguè Guy H. , Nonfodji Gbènoukpo F. , Djossou Julien
Published: April 2019

The characteristics of the wind vertical profile over the coast of Cotonou during wind convective diurnal cycle were explored in this study. Wind data at 10 m above the ground and the radiosonde data in the lower 60 m of the surface boundary layer were used over the period from January 2013 to December 2016. Based on Monin–Obukhov theory, the logarithmic and power laws have allowed characterizing the wind profile. The error estimators of the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) were, respectively, evaluated at 0.025; 0.016 (RMSE; MAE) and 0.018; 0.015. At the site of Cotonou, the atmosphere is generally unstable from 09:00 to 18:00 MST and stable for the remainder of the time. The annual mean value of the wind shear coefficient is estimated at 0.20 and that of the ground surface roughness length and friction velocity are, respectively, of 0.007 m, 0.38 m·s−1. A comparative study between the wind extrapolation models and the data was carried out in order to test their reliability on our study site. The result of this is that whatever the time of the year is, only the models proposed (best fitting equation) are always in good agreement with the data unlike the other models evaluated. Finally, from the models suitable for our site, the profile of wind convective diurnal cycle was obtained by extrapolation of the wind data measured at 10 m from the ground. The average wind speed during this cycle is therefore evaluated to 8.07 m·s−1 for August which is the windiest month and to 4.98 m·s−1 for the least windy month (November) at 60 m of the ground. Considering these results, we can so consider that the site of Cotonou coastal could be suitable for the installation of wind turbines.
Antineuroinflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of Gyejibokryeong-Hwan in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglia
Authors: Park Bo-Kyung , Kim Young Hwa , Kim Yu Ri , Choi Jeong June , Yang Changsop , Jang Ik-Soon , Lee Mi Young
Published: April 2019

Microglia, the central nervous system’s innate immune cells, mediate neuroinflammation and are implicated in a variety of neuropathologies. The present study investigated the antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects of Gyejibokryeong-hwan (GBH), a traditional Korean medicine, in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated murine BV2 microglia. BV2 cells were pretreated with GBH, fluoxetine (FXT), or amitriptyline (AMT) for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS (100 ng/mL). The expression levels of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, and chemokines were determined by the Griess method, ELISA, or real-time PCR. Western blotting was used to measure various transcription factors and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activity. GBH significantly reduced the levels of NO, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, macrophage inhibitory protein- (MIP-) 1α, macrophage chemoattractant protein- (MCP-) 1, and IFN-γ inducible protein- (IP-) 10, regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed sequence (RANTES) in a dose-dependent manner. Expression of nuclear factor- (NF-) κB p65 was significantly decreased and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and PI3K/Akt by GBH, but not p38 MAPK, was decreased. Furthermore, production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased and Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was upregulated via the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) pathway, collectively indicating the neuroprotective effects of GBH. We concluded that GBH may suppress neuroinflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB activation and upregulating the neuroprotective factor, HO-1. These results suggest that GBH has potential as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents against microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory disorders.
Knowledge Encoding in Game Mechanics: Transfer-Oriented Knowledge Learning in Desktop-3D and VR
Authors: Oberdörfer Sebastian , Latoschik Marc Erich
Published: April 2019

Affine Transformations (ATs) are a complex and abstract learning content. Encoding the AT knowledge in Game Mechanics (GMs) achieves a repetitive knowledge application and audiovisual demonstration. Playing a serious game providing these GMs leads to motivating and effective knowledge learning. Using immersive Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to even further increase the serious game’s learning outcome and learning quality. This paper compares the effectiveness and efficiency of desktop-3D and VR in respect to the achieved learning outcome. Also, the present study analyzes the effectiveness of an enhanced audiovisual knowledge encoding and the provision of a debriefing system. The results validate the effectiveness of the knowledge encoding in GMs to achieve knowledge learning. The study also indicates that VR is beneficial for the overall learning quality and that an enhanced audiovisual encoding has only a limited effect on the learning outcome.
Huge Primary Parasitic Leiomyoma in a Postmenopausal Lady: A Rare Presentation
Authors: Osegi Nkencho , Oku E. Yilaiba , Uwaezuoke C. Stanley , Alawode K. Timothy , Afolabi S. Adeniyi
Published: April 2019

Although uterine myomas are the most common benign tumours of the female pelvis in the reproductive age group, they rarely grow in menopausal women. Parasitic fibroids without prior history of laparoscopic myomectomy are even a rarer presentation particularly in menopausal women. The case presented is a 58-year-old grand-multiparous, menopausal lady with progressive abdominal swelling of three-year duration. She had excision of a huge parasitic fibroid attached to omentum. She had partial omentectomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The parasitic fibroid mass weighed 5.2kg and histopathology confirmed leiomyoma uteri with cystic degeneration and lymph nodes with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. She had uneventful postoperative recovery and follow-up has so far been uneventful.
A Heuristic Algorithm for Optimal Service Composition in Complex Manufacturing Networks
Authors: Wu Yinan , Peng Gongzhuang , Wang Hongwei , Zhang Heming
Published: April 2019

Service composition in a Cloud Manufacturing environment involves the adaptive and optimal assembly of manufacturing services to achieve quick responses to varied manufacturing needs. It is challenged by the inherent heterogeneity and complexity of these services in terms of their diverse and complex functions, qualities of service, execution paths, etc. In this paper, a manufacturing network is constructed to explicitly identify and describe the relationships between individual services based on their attributes. On this basis, the service composition problem can be modeled as a multiple‐constrained optimal path (MCOP) selection problem by taking into account different types of composition, namely, sequence, parallel, selection, and cycle. A novel Dual Heuristic Functions based Optimal Service Composition Path algorithm (DHA_OSCP) is proposed to solve the NP‐Complete MCOP problem, which involves exploiting the backward search procedure with different search targets to obtain two heuristic functions for the forward search procedure. The proposed algorithm is evaluated through a set of computational experiments in which the proposed algorithm and other popular algorithms such as MFPB_HOSTP are applied to the same dataset, and the results obtained show that DHA_OSCP can efficiently find the optimal service composition path with better Quality of Service (QoS). The viability of DHA_OSCP is further proved in a case study of services composition on a Cloud Manufacturing platform.
A Novel Memcapacitor Model and Its Application for Image Encryption Algorithm
Authors: Li Nan , Sun Junwei , Wang Yanfeng
Published: April 2019

In this paper, a novel chaotic circuit with one memcapacitor is designed, which has abundant dynamic behaviors. As a potential application, combining the DNA binding mode and the characteristics of the chaotic system, a new image encryption scheme is proposed. Firstly, the original image is processed and generates a set of hash values by the SHA-3 algorithm. The generated hash value and original image are performed XOR operation. The hash values are processed to generate the initial value of the chaotic system by the Hamming distance. Furthermore, the elliptic curve with the hyperchaotic sequence is used to construct the Hill encryption matrix, and the plaintext image is permuted and encrypted. At last, the proposed chaotic system is used to scramble the image. The simulation results and theoretical analysis show that the chaotic system has abundant dynamic behaviors, and the proposed algorithm has a better anti-interference ability for image and information encryption.
Prediction of the Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of a Schiff Base Derivatives via DFT
Authors: Valverde Clodoaldo , Ribeiro Ítalo Nuta , Soares João Victor B. , Baseia Basílio , Osório Francisco A. P.
Published: April 2019

In this work, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation combined with a polarizable continuum model (PCM) was used to study the solvent media effects on the electrical and geometrical behaviors of the Schiff-base derivative, (E)-4-[({4-[(pyridin-2-ilmetilideno)amino]phenyl}amino)-metil]fenol (EPAF). The linear and nonlinear optics parameters, as the dipole moment, linear polarizability, and first and second hyperpolarizabilities, were calculated at DFT/B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level, for the EPAF molecule in several solvent media. The dynamic behavior of the Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering (HRS) first hyperpolarizability was studied as function of the electric field frequency. The results presented for HRS first hyperpolarizability suggest that the studied crystal has good nonlinear optical properties. In addition, the gap energy was calculated from the HOMO-LUMO energies difference in several solvent media. The EPAF crystal intermolecular interactions were studied by the Hirshfeld surface analysis. The third-order electric susceptibility χ(3) of the crystal EPAF was also calculated, indicating the EPAF crystal as a promising candidate for NLO applications in photonic and optoelectronic devices.
Enabling Noninvasive Physical Assault Monitoring in Smart School with Commercial Wi-Fi Devices
Authors: Zhou Qizhen , Wu Chenshu , Xing Jianchun , Zhao Shuo , Yang Qiliang
Published: April 2019

Monitoring physical assault is critical for the prevention of juvenile delinquency and promotion of school harmony. A large portion of assault events, particularly school violence among teenagers, usually happen at indoor secluded places. Pioneering approaches employ always-on-body sensors or cameras in the limited surveillance area, which are privacy-invasive and cannot provide ubiquitous assault monitoring. In this paper, we present Wi-Dog, a noninvasive physical assault monitoring scheme that enables privacy-preserving monitoring in ubiquitous circumstances. Wi-Dog is based on widely deployed commodity Wi-Fi infrastructures. The key intuition is that Wi-Fi signals are easily distorted by human motions, and motion-induced signals could convey informative characteristics, such as intensity, regularity, and continuity. Specifically, to explicitly reveal the substantive properties of physical assault, we innovatively propose a set of signal processing methods for informative components extraction by selecting sensitive antenna pairs and subcarriers. Then a novel signal-complexity-based segmentation method is developed as a location-independent indicator to monitor targeted movement transitions. Finally, holistic analysis is employed based on domain knowledge, and we distinguish the violence process from both local and global perspective using time-frequency features. We implement Wi-Dog on commercial Wi-Fi devices and evaluate it in real indoor environments. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of Wi-Dog which consistently outperforms the advanced abnormal detection methods with a higher true detection rate of 94% and a lower false alarm rate of 8%.
A Novel Hardware Systolic Architecture of a Self-Organizing Map Neural Network
Authors: Ben Khalifa Khaled , Blaiech Ahmed Ghazi , Bedoui Mohamed Hédi
Published: April 2019

In this article, we propose to design a new modular architecture for a self-organizing map (SOM) neural network. The proposed approach, called systolic-SOM (SSOM), is based on the use of a generic model inspired by a systolic movement. This model is formed by two levels of nested parallelism of neurons and connections. Thus, this solution provides a distributed set of independent computations between the processing units called neuroprocessors (NPs) which define the SSOM architecture. The NP modules have an innovative architecture compared to those proposed in the literature. Indeed, each NP performs three different tasks without requiring additional external modules. To validate our approach, we evaluate the performance of several SOM network architectures after their integration on an FPGA support. This architecture has achieved a performance almost twice as fast as that obtained in the recent literature.