bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early glottic cancer in a veteran population: Impact of race on management and outcomes
Authors: Fullmer Tanner M. , Shi Justin , Skinner Heath D. , Hernandez David J. , Huang Andrew T. , Mai Weiyuan , Parke Robert B. , Donovan Donald T. , Sandulache Vlad C.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Multiple population studies have shown racial discrepancies in head and neck cancer treatment and outcomes. We sought to characterize the impact of race on clinical outcomes for patients with early glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a tertiary institution which provides equivalent access to care.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all early glottic (T1–T2) squamous cell carcinoma at a single institution, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans’ Administration Medical Center (MEDVAMC). Data collected included demographic information, primary and adjuvant treatment modalities, time to diagnosis, time to treatment, recurrences, recurrence treatment modality, secondary malignancies, recurrence‐free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

One hundred seventeen patients with a primary diagnosis of T1–T2 glottic squamous cell carcinoma were included. Black and white patients demonstrated equivalent rates of recurrence, RFS, and OS. There was no significant difference in treatment delivery by race for all recorded parameters. T1b tumors were associated with an increased risk of recurrence which did not translate into a statistically significant decrease in RFS or OS. Surgical treatment was associated with increased recurrence but similar RFS and OS compared to radiation‐based treatment. Secondary malignancies were common; 12% of patients were diagnosed with a second primary lung cancer during the study period.

Conclusion

At our institution, race did not impact survival when access to care, treatment selection, and delivery are equivalent for early glottic SCC. Secondary lung cancer is a critical risk factor for mortality in this patient group and requires long‐term surveillance and monitoring.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:1733–1739, 2020
Does new sensitization correlate with nasal symptoms in children with allergic rhinitis?
Authors: Kim Jin Youp , Han Doo Hee , Kim Dong‐Young , Park Sue K. , Rhee Chae‐Seo
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the correlation between the increased number of sensitized allergens and nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis who were sensitized to house dust mites (HDMs).

Methods

Among the patients who were enrolled in the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort Study for Kids, 174 children with rhinitis symptoms who were sensitized to HDMs were included in the analysis. Skin prick tests, serum total immunoglobulin E, eosinophil count, and bronchial provocation tests were carried out during the initial and 3‐year follow‐up visits. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the change in the number of sensitized allergens: increased number of sensitized allergens (group I) and maintained or reduced number of sensitized allergens (group II).

Results

In the analysis of allergen sensitization from baseline to the 3‐year follow‐up, no significant correlation was observed between the changes in the number of allergens and the total nasal visual analog scale score (R2 < 0.001, P = .813). Furthermore, the comparison of demographic data and immunological factors between groups I and II did not show any significant differences. The changes in bronchial hyper‐responsiveness were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 1.000).

Conclusion

New sensitization may not be correlated with nasal symptoms in patients in Asian countries where HDMs play a major role as a dominant allergen. Although further investigation must be conducted, the importance of new sensitization as an indicator of treatment outcome should be reconsidered in individuals in Asia.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 130: 1864–1871, 2020
Change in the trade‐off between aboveground and belowground biomass of alpine grassland: Implications for the land degradation process
Authors: Peng Fei , Xue Xian , You Quangang , Sun Jian , Zhou Jun , Wang Tao , Tsunekawa Atsushi
Published: August 2019

Alpine grassland on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau has been degrading in recent decades. A better understanding of biomass trade‐off (biomass allocation between aboveground [AGB] and belowground [BGB]) change with alpine grassland degradation could uncover the degradation processes and its underlying mechanisms. We surveyed the plant and soil characteristics of alpine meadow (AM) and alpine steppe (AS) at varying degradation levels on the plateau. In the AM, the AGB was only reduced when very severely degraded, but the BGB declined at any level of degradation. In the AS, the AGB showed no significant difference in the slightly, moderately, and severely degraded levels, and the AGB only significantly declined in the very severely degraded, whereas the BGB was nonsignificantly higher in the slightly degraded and gradually declined when the levels changed from slightly to very severely degraded. In the undegraded grasslands, the biomass trade‐off was towards AGB and BGB in AS and AM, respectively. With degradation, the biomass trade‐off shifted from AGB to BGB at the slightly degraded levels and then gradually reached zero trade‐off at the very severely degraded level in the AS. In the AM, the trade‐off gradually reached zero as moderately degraded progressed to very severely degraded level. The change in plant community composition and bulk density affected the biomass trade‐off change independently with AM degradation, whereas only soil moisture, soil nitrogen, and soil pH interactively influenced the biomass trade‐off change with AS degradation. Our results suggest different AGB and BGB change processes and mechanisms with AS and AM degradation.
Land use strongly influences soil organic carbon and bacterial community export in runoff in tropical uplands‐
Authors: Le Huong T. , Rochelle‐Newall Emma , Ribolzi Olivier , Janeau Jean Louis , Huon Sylvain , Latsachack Keooudone , Pommier Thomas
Published: August 2019

Rapid development and associated land‐use change have resulted in increased soil erosion and widespread land degradation in tropical ecosystems. Precipitation‐induced soil erosion causes the export of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the associated bacterial community affecting soil quality and functioning. We assessed the transfer of SOC and soil bacterial diversity and functions in surface water runoff from different land uses: Teak with and without understory (TW and TWO, respectively) and upland rice (UR) in a tropical, upland catchment during a simulated rain event. Total suspended sediment (TSS) concentration was higher in TWO (1.23 ± 0.21 g L−1) than in TW (0.37 ± 0.16 g L−1) and UR (0.44 ± 0.2 g L−1), whereas dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was lower under TWO (3.8 ± 0.7 mg L−1) than under TW or UR (13.4 ± 7.5 and 9.57 ± 4.8 mg L−1, respectively). Runoff from TWO harboured the highest proportion of bacterial taxa common to soil (27% and 29.5%) as compared with TW (22.8% and 13%) and UR (17.3% and 7%) for both particle attached and free‐living fractions, respectively. Bacterial community export in surface runoff was driven by changes in DOC and TSS, suggesting that eroded soil particles simultaneously carry organic carbon and attached bacterial taxa in surface runoff. Consequently, the export of soil functional groups relating to organic carbon degradation and nitrogen cycle was higher under TWO than in TW or UR. Our results underline that teak plantations with unsustainable practices such as the removal of understory degrades soil functions and accelerates land degradation through soil erosion and surface runoff on the long term.
Bifurcation analysis and chaos control in a discrete‐time plant quality and larch budmoth interaction model with Ricker equation
Authors: Ali Irfan , Saeed Umer , Din Qamar
Published: August 2019

We investigate the dynamics of two‐dimensional discrete‐time model of leaf quality and larch budmoth interaction with Ricker equation. More precisely, the qualitative behavior of larch budmoth model is discussed in which the effect of food source upon the moth population is through intrinsic growth rate. We find the parametric conditions for local asymptotic stability of the unique positive fixed point. It is also proved that under certain parametric conditions, the system undergoes period‐doubling bifurcation with the help of center manifold theory. The parametric conditions for existence and direction of Neimark‐Sacker bifurcation at positive fixed point is investigated with the help of standard mathematical techniques of bifurcation theory. The chaos control in the system is discussed through implementation of hybrid control methodology. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate theoretical results. These results of numerical simulations demonstrate chaotic long‐term behavior over a broad range of parameters. The computation of the maximum Lyapunov exponents confirms the presence of chaotic behavior in the system.
The effective point of measurement for depth‐dose measurements in small MV photon beams with different detectors
Authors: Wegener Sonja , Sauer Otto A.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The effective point of measurement (EPOM) of cylindrical ionization chambers differs from their geometric center. The exact shift depends on chamber construction details, above all the chamber size, and to some degree on the field‐size and beam quality. It generally decreases as the chamber dimensions get smaller. In this work, effective points of measurement in small photon fields of a range of cylindrical chambers of different sizes are investigated, including small chambers that have not been studied previously.

Methods

In this investigation, effective points of measurement for different ionization chambers (Farmer type, scanning chambers, micro‐ionization chambers) and solid state detectors were determined by measuring depth‐ionization curves in a 6 MV beam in field sizes between 2 × 2 cm2 and 10 × 10 cm2 and comparing those curves with curves measured with plane‐parallel chambers.

Results

It was possible to average the results to one shift per detector, as the results were sufficiently independent of the studied field sizes. For cylindrical ion chambers, shifts of the EPOM were determined to be between 0.49 and 0.30 times the inner chamber radius from the reference point.

Conclusions

We experimentally confirmed the previously reported decrease of the EPOM shift with decreasing detector size. Highly accurate data for a large range of detectors, including new very small ones, were determined. Thus, small chambers noticeably differ from the 0.5‐times to 0.6‐times the inner chamber radius recommendations in current dosimetry protocols. The detector‐individual EPOMs need to be considered for measurements of depth‐dose curves.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma mimicking peri‐implant mucositis
Authors: Coopman Renaat , Coropciuc Ruxandra , Hauben Esther , Hermans Robert , Politis Constantinus
Published: August 2019

During the past decades, dental implants have become a widespread pillar of dental rehabilitation in partial and edentulous patients. Recently, an increasing number of case reports mention the presence of oral carcinoma in close proximity to functional dental implants. In this particular report, we present a case of an intraoral squamous cell carcinoma mimicking, both clinically and symptomatically, peri‐implant mucositis. To date, no plausible association between dental implants and oral squamous cell carcinoma is recognized. Clinicians should be aware of the importance of good clinical investigations, especially in cases where the clinical investigations do not match the radiological and histological findings. Every suspect mucosal lesion should be thoroughly investigated by biopsy.
Diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors versus other antihyperglycemic agents: An observational study of four US administrative claims databases
Authors: Wang Lu , Voss Erica A. , Weaver James , Hester Laura , Yuan Zhong , DeFalco Frank , Schuemie Martijn J. , Ryan Patrick B. , Sun Don , Freedman Amy , Alba Maria , Lind Joan , Meininger Gary , Berlin Jesse A. , Rosenthal Norman
Published: August 2019

Purpose

To compare the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were new users of sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) versus other classes of antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs).

Methods

Patients were identified from four large US claims databases using broad (all T2DM patients) and narrow (intended to exclude patients with type 1 diabetes or secondary diabetes misclassified as T2DM) definitions of T2DM. New users of SGLT2i and seven groups of comparator AHAs were matched (1:1) on exposure propensity scores to adjust for imbalances in baseline covariates. Cox proportional hazards regression models, conditioned on propensity score‐matched pairs, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of DKA for new users of SGLT2i versus other AHAs. When I2 <40%, a combined HR across the four databases was estimated.

Results

Using the broad definition of T2DM, new users of SGLT2i had an increased risk of DKA versus sulfonylureas (HR [95% CI]: 1.53 [1.31‐1.79]), DPP‐4i (1.28 [1.11‐1.47]), GLP‐1 receptor agonists (1.34 [1.12‐1.60]), metformin (1.31 [1.11‐1.54]), and insulinotropic AHAs (1.38 [1.15‐1.66]). Using the narrow definition of T2DM, new users of SGLT2i had an increased risk of DKA versus sulfonylureas (1.43 [1.01‐2.01]). New users of SGLT2i had a lower risk of DKA versus insulin and a similar risk as thiazolidinediones, regardless of T2DM definition.

Conclusions

Increased risk of DKA was observed for new users of SGLT2i versus several non‐SGLT2i AHAs when T2DM was defined broadly. When T2DM was defined narrowly to exclude possible misclassified patients, an increased risk of DKA with SGLT2i was observed compared with sulfonylureas.
Aloe vera as an herbal medicine in the treatment of metabolic syndrome: A review
Authors: Shakib Zahra , Shahraki Naghmeh , Razavi Bibi Marjan , Hosseinzadeh Hossein
Published: August 2019

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a highly prevalent health problem worldwide and is associated with different risk factors, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. This condition increases the risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular problems. The MS is one of the most important health concerns in industrialized countries and mainly results from a sedentary lifestyle, high levels of subjective stress, and unhealthy diets. Nowadays, the identification of appropriate health care approaches, such as herbal medicines, with fewer side effects is more favorable, especially with regard to the adverse effects of chemical drugs. Aloe barbadensis Miller known as Aloe vera is a useful plant with two major parts, including leaves that contain high concentrations of anthraquinone compounds and a clear gel. The gel is used as a food with several beneficial properties, such as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and wound‐healing features. Other effects of A. vera, such as its lipid‐lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and cardioprotective impacts, have been demonstrated in several studies. The present study was conducted to review the evidence on the pharmacological effects of A. vera on the different components of MS.
Small helium clusters formation
Authors: Popov Andrey
Published: August 2019

We investigated small helium clusters formation in nonequilibrium conditions using the non‐Hermitian formalism. Helium is a simple enough system for analytical study while complicated enough to have a rich variety of quantum properties. In this article, we used a new formalism based on non‐Hermitian quantum mechanics for describing the electronic excited states in clusters. This formalism enabled to estimate the decay time of excited states within a single scheme. Its implementation to helium shows the existence of new long‐lived excited states in small helium clusters at the distance of 5.6 Bohr radii between atoms. Moreover, several helium excimers and exciplexes at the distances between helium atoms of 35.5, 22.8, 14.0, and 8.5 Bohr radii with the scaling factor of about 1.6 were found. It is related to the restructuring of the electronic structure caused by powerful external excitations. These results give a new insight on clustering processes providing more profound and complete understanding.
Emerging hepatitis E virus compared with hepatitis A virus: A new sanitary challenge
Authors: Hartard Cédric , Gantzer Christophe , Bronowicki Jean‐Pierre , Schvoerer Evelyne
Published: August 2019

Hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) viruses are able to cause liver disease in humans. Among the five classical hepatotropic viruses, they are mainly transmitted via the fecal‐oral route. Historically, many similarities have thus been described between them according to their incidence and their pathogenicity, especially in countries with poor sanitary conditions. However, recent advances have provided new insights, and the gap is widening between them. Indeed, while HAV infection incidence tends to decrease in developed countries along with public health improvement, HEV is currently considered as an underdiagnosed emerging pathogen. HEV autochthonous infections are increasingly observed and are mainly associated with zoonotic transmissions. Extra hepatic signs resulting in neurological or renal impairments have also been reported for HEV, as well as a chronic carrier state in immunocompromised patients, arguing in favor of differential pathogenesis between those two viruses. Recent molecular tools have allowed studies of viral genome variability and investigation of links between viral plasticity and clinical evolution. The identification of key functional mutations in viral genomes may improve the knowledge of their clinical impact and is analyzed in depth in the present review.
A customised approach to determining the geomorphic effectiveness of small flood events in a regulated river
Authors: Rose Teresa , Erskine Wayne , Miners Brett
Published: August 2019

The construction of dams significantly alters flow and sediment regimes with subsequent deleterious effects on the morphological and ecological character of rivers. Effective experimental floods can ameliorate the downstream geomorphic impacts of dams. The traditional view is that large floods are required to perform effective geomorphic work, and the geomorphic outcomes of small floods are often overlooked. Many river restoration frameworks do not consider small floods. Yet, there is evidence that the hydrological characteristics that ameliorate specific geomorphic impacts in a river are unique to each river, and a customised approach to setting the right mix of floods (including small experimental floods) is needed. In this study, we modify an existing flood effectiveness model developed for large floods, for determining the geomorphic effectiveness of small floods in a highly regulated Australian river. Two flood classes were added to the model (medium peak stream power and moderate total energy expenditure), and the flood power characteristics were rescaled to reflect the relative difference in the magnitude of the small floods and the magnitude of the geomorphic work performed. Using a step‐wise approach, this customised model determined the geomorphic effectiveness of small floods. The best flood for ameliorating the geomorphic impacts of flow regulation had medium to long duration (10 to 51 days), high peak unit stream power (77 to 123 Wm−2) and moderate to large total energy expenditure (78,600 to 342,320 × 103 J). This approach to determining flood effectiveness for small floods is applicable to other geomorphically impacted river channels downstream of dams and can be used to inform experimental flood releases for geomorphic outcomes.
History and review of the habitat suitability criteria curve in applied aquatic ecology
Authors: Nestler John M. , Milhous Robert T. , Payne Thomas R. , Smith David L.
Published: August 2019

Hydraulic microhabitat assessment is a category of environmental flow tools (e.g., Physical Habitat Simulation system and other methodologically similar software) that, at its core, uses habitat suitability criteria (HSC) to link values of point hydraulic variables (usually depth, velocity, and substrate/cover) to habitat values for target life stages. Although this assessment tool has been used worldwide for decades, the history of the HSC curve is relatively unknown because the foundational information is predominantly contained in obscure and often unpublished reports. We review the history of the HSC concept in applied aquatic ecology to clarify its scientific pedigree, ensure its proper use, and build a foundation for future research. We begin the review with the formative decades of the 1950's through the 1970's, when consumptive‐based western USA water law conflicted with conservation traditions and natural resource management objectives, although water allocation issues date back at least to the 19th century. By analysing the history of the HSC concept, we aim to establish the biological, hydrologic, and geomorphological conditions that must be met for the HSC concept to be successfully employed. In spite of its documented assumptions and limitations, the HSC concept will likely continue to be a useful tool to help address water resources allocation issues in defined hydrologic and geomorphic settings. We conclude that HSC‐based methodologies should be considered as one of several environmental flow approaches involved in sustainable water resources management.
Unrestricted ramping rates and long‐term trends in the food web metrics of a boreal river
Authors: Pearce Jennie L. , Smokorowski Karen E. , Brush Jaclyn , Timusk Evan , Marty Jerome , Power Michael
Published: August 2019

Long‐term monitoring of the food web of a regulated hydropeaking river was conducted to assess if previously documented effects of changing ramping rates (RRs) were maintained with the addition of 6 years of data. Using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses, we hypothesized that: (1) macroinvertebrates and fish inhabiting areas below peaking hydrodams would be higher in δ15N and lower in δ13C due to increased flow velocity and the influence of light respired dissolved inorganic carbon, relative to those sampled from areas with a natural flow regime; (2) the increase in δ15N of macroinvertebrates would lead a shorter food web length in the regulated river, but δ13C and niche width would be similar between the restricted and unrestricted RR periods (i.e., the BACI analysis); and (3) isotopic metrics (e.g., δ13C, δ15N, niche width [SEAB], and food chain length [Δ15N]) would correlate with variations in flow characteristics through time. Consistent with previous analysis conducted over a shorter time period, a shift toward higher δ15N values was observed for both fish and invertebrates, but, contrarily, only invertebrates (not fish) had a lower δ13C value downstream of the dam. Over the long term, the before‐after‐control‐impact analysis found no effect of RRs on any of the food web metrics, implying that the change in operation did not affect the river food web. However, analysis of the time series data indicated that flow metrics and trophic metrics were often correlated, including a negative effect of RR (invertebrates) and discharge (fish) on food chain length. This study illustrates the difficulty in detecting changes in food web structure and function under changing flow regime influenced by natural and anthropogenic effects. As such, this study highlights the need for considering large spatial and temporal scales to differentiate between confounding effects of climate, natural variability, and altered flow regimes on food webs in regulated rivers.
The effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on Columbia River microplankton
Authors: Rose Vanessa , Rollwagen‐Bollens Gretchen , Bollens Stephen M. , Zimmerman Julie
Published: August 2019

Dams, increasingly common in riverine systems worldwide, are particularly prevalent on the Columbia River (CR) in the United States. Hydroelectric projects, including both storage and run‐of‐river (i.e., minimal storage) structures, on the mainstem CR highly manage water flow, often by releasing water over (rather than through) dams as “spill.” To test the effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on microplankton abundance and composition, we sampled above and below two dams in the lower CR before and during spill conditions in spring 2016 and during and after spill conditions in late summer 2007. We tested the effects of location (i.e., above vs. below dams), spill condition (i.e., before, during, and after spill), and their interaction on microplankton abundance. Generally, diatoms were most abundant during springtime, whereas cyanobacteria were most abundant in late summer. Most taxa were not significantly different in abundance above and below dams, regardless of spill status; although cyanobacteria abundance was marginally higher below dams in summer 2007 (p = .04). Abundances of all taxa were significantly different between pre‐spill and spill periods in spring 2016, whereas only diatom and flagellate abundances were significantly different between spill and post‐spill periods in summer 2007. We conclude that spill conditions may influence microplankton abundance, but are not likely to affect microplankton communities on either side of run‐of‐river dams on the CR. This is important information for dam managers concerned about ecosystem impacts of spill.
Trophic interactions among algal blooms, macroinvertebrates, and brown trout: Implications for trout recovery in a restored river
Authors: Peipoch Marc , Valett Herbert Maurice
Published: August 2019

Positive correlation between trout abundance and dissolved metal concentrations along the Upper Clark Fork River (UCFR; Montana, USA) have forced restoration practitioners to seek underlying causes of reduced fish density beyond heavy metal contamination. Throughout the river, nutrient enrichment and summer algal blooms may be hindering full recovery of trout populations. In this study, we evaluated the community structure and metal body burdens of benthic invertebrates and characterized existing trophic linkages between brown trout and dominant invertebrate taxa before and during summer algal blooms in a downstream reach of the UCFR where fish densities are low (20–30 trout/km), and where metal contamination is relevant but minimal compared with upstream. In spring, estimated invertebrate abundance was 1,727 ± 217 individuals/m2 and dominated by Ephemerellidae and Baetidae families. During summer algal bloom, invertebrate abundance increased 15‐fold (20,580 ± 3,510 individuals/m2) mostly due to greater abundance of Chironomidae, Hydropsychidae, and Simulidae. Copper body burdens (130 ± 42 ppm) were higher than any other heavy metal regardless of season, but detectable concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead were also found. A Bayesian mixing model combining metal burdens and stable isotopes showed that in the spring, trout of average size (355 ± 65 g) relied mostly on epibenthic taxa (Ephemerellidae and Hydropsychidae), contrasting with small (<100 g) and large (>400 g) trout relying heavily on Baetidae, a major component of invertebrate drift. Foraging segregation related to trout size did not occur during summer algal blooms, which may reflect increasing influence of benthic algal proliferation or indicate the indiscriminate use of pool habitats as thermal refugia over summer conditions by trout of different ages.
Estimating individual treatment effects by gradient boosting trees
Authors: Sugasawa Shonosuke , Noma Hisashi
Published: August 2019

The development of molecular diagnostic tools to achieve individualized medicine requires accurate estimation of individual treatment effects (ITEs). Although several effective data analytic strategies have been proposed for this purpose, they have limitations when it comes to flexibly capturing the complex relationships between clinical outcome and possibly high‐dimensional covariates. In this article, we propose an effective machine learning method to estimate ITEs using the gradient boosting trees (GBT). GBT is a powerful nonparametric regression tool in machine learning, and its outstanding performance has been widely recognized for various applications. We use GBT to develop an estimation method for the ITE that is formulated under the potential outcome model framework. Our method can flexibly capture the relationship between clinical outcome and possibly high‐dimensional covariates, and it would also be useful for identifying subpopulations of patients who would benefit from the treatment. Results of simulation studies and a real‐data analysis of a breast cancer clinical study show that the proposed method can precisely estimate ITEs, and these estimates possibly identify the subgroup of patients who can benefit from treatment.
Rabies Virus 31D Peptide‐[P(VP‐co‐AA)] Conjugates: Synthesis, Characterization and Cytotoxicity Evaluation
Authors: Arayici Pelin Pelit , Acar Tayfun , Ucar Burcu , Karahan Mesut , Arslan Belkis Atasever , Mustafaeva Zeynep
Published: August 2019

The prevention of rabies disease, which has been the subject of many pieces of researches since ancient times, has become possible by vaccination. Therefore, new generation vaccine systems should be developed to achieve more effective, accessible and reliable vaccines than conventional vaccines against this disease. In this study, modificated Rabies virus 31D antigenic peptide epitope was synthesized by microwave supported solid phase peptide synthesis method and the synthesized peptide was characterized. Bioconjugates of the antigenic peptide epitope with poly (N‐Vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐acrylic acid) that a biocompatible polymer was synthesized synthetically were synthesized at different ratios in the presence of 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. Characterization of bioconjugates was performed with Gel Permeation Chromatography and ZetaSizer. Cytotoxicity test was carried out using ECV304 human epithelial cells to determine the biocompatibility of peptide, polymer and bioconjugates. It is thought that the produced biocompatible synthetic peptide‐polymer based rabies vaccine systems will contribute greatly to the vaccination studies.
Acetoxylation and Halogenation of 2‐Arylbenzoxazinones via Palladium‐Catalyzed C(sp2)‐H Bond Oxidation
Authors: Vu Huu Manh , Chen Fei‐Wu , Li Xu‐Qin
Published: August 2019

Methods of selective synthesis of C−H acetoxylated and halogenated 2‐arylbenzoxazinones were developed. The reactions went smoothly under the benign conditions and gave the corresponding products with high selectivity. The methods are compatible to the 2‐arylbenzoxazinones with either electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating groups. Additionally, this transformation can also be scaled up to the gram level. This strategy allows for direct preparation of products, thus providing a good complement to previous C−H oxidations and expanding the field of benzoxazinone as Directing Groups.
Model‐Free Rheo‐AFM Probes the Viscoelasticity of Tunable DNA Soft Colloids
Authors: Moreno‐Guerra José A. , Romero‐Sánchez Ivany C. , Martinez‐Borquez Alejandro , Tassieri Manlio , Stiakakis Emmanuel , Laurati Marco
Published: August 2019

Atomic force microscopy rheological measurements (Rheo‐AFM) of the linear viscoelastic properties of single, charged colloids having a star‐like architecture with a hard core and an extended, deformable double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) corona dispersed in aqueous saline solutions are reported. This is achieved by analyzing indentation and relaxation experiments performed on individual colloidal particles by means of a novel model‐free Fourier transform method that allows a direct evaluation of the frequency‐dependent linear viscoelastic moduli of the system under investigation. The method provides results that are consistent with those obtained via a conventional fitting procedure of the force‐relaxation curves based on a modified Maxwell model. The outcomes show a pronounced softening of the dsDNA colloids, which is described by an exponential decay of both the Young's and the storage modulus as a function of the salt concentration within the dispersing medium. The strong softening is related to a critical reduction of the size of the dsDNA corona, down to ≈70% of its size in a salt‐free solution. This can be correlated to significant topological changes of the dense star‐like polyelectrolyte forming the corona, which are induced by variations in the density profile of the counterions. Similarly, a significant reduction of the stiffness is obtained by increasing the length of the dsDNA chains, which we attribute to a reduction of the DNA density in the outer region of the corona.
NeuCheck: A more practical Ethereum smart contract security analysis tool
Authors: Lu Ning , Wang Bin , Zhang Yongxin , Shi Wenbo , Esposito Christian
Published: August 2019

Ethereum is one of the currently popular trading platform, where any one can exchange, buy, or sell cryptocurrencies. Smart contract, a computer program, can help Ethereum to encode rules or scripts for processing transactions. Because the smart contract usually handles large number of cryptocurrencies worth billions of dollars apiece, its security has gained considerable attention. In this paper, we first investigate the security of smart contracts running on the Ethereum and introduce several new security vulnerabilities that allow adversaries to exploit and gain financial benefits. Then, we propose a more practical smart contract analysis tool termed NeuCheck, in which we introduce the syntax tree in the syntactical analyzer to complete the transformation from source code to intermediate representation, and then adopt the open source library working with XML to analyze such tree. We have built a prototype of NeuCheck for Ethereum and evaluate it with over 52 000 existing Ethereum smart contracts. The results show that (1) our new documented vulnerabilities are prevalent; (2) NeuCheck improves the analysis speed by at least 17.2 times compared to other popular analysis tools (eg, Securify and Mythril; and (3) allows for cross‐platform deployment.
The Effect of Initial Microstructure on Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Intercritically Rolled Low‐Carbon Microalloyed Steel Plates
Authors: Shen Xin-jun , Li De-zhi , Chen Jun , Tang Shuai , Wang Guo-dong
Published: August 2019

Steel plates rolled in the intercritical region have ultrafine and elongated‐grained microstructures, and excellent toughness. The effect of the initial microstructure on microstructure evolution and the mechanical properties of intercritically rolled (IR) low‐carbon microalloyed steel plates is investigated herein. Coarse‐grained initial microstructure mainly containing lath bainite and fine‐grained initial microstructure mainly containing quasi‐polygonal ferrite are produced by austenitization treatments at different temperatures. The results show that the coarse‐grained initial microstructure restrains continuous dynamic recrystallization during intercritical rolling, which leads to a less fraction of high‐angle grain boundaries (HAGBs). However, initial microstructure has little influence on the average size of ferrite grains surrounded by HAGBs. Moreover, coarse‐grained initial microstructure results in a relatively higher strength improving about 15 MPa due to the lower fraction of HAGBs. Fine‐grained initial microstructure is beneficial to the Charpy impact toughness such that the upper shelf energy is improved from 108 to 118 J, and low‐temperature toughness is also enhanced. However, the effect of the initial microstructure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of IR rolled steel plates is not great, which indicates that coarse‐grained initial microstructure can also be used to develop this kind of steel plates with excellent toughness.
How to Behave and Why: Exploring Moral Values and Behavior in the ESOL Newcomer Classroom
Authors: Pentón Herrera Luis Javier
Published: August 2019

This article presents an action research study conducted in an English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) newcomer classroom. The author engaged in meaningful teacher research to learn about the importance of exploring the topics of moral values and behavior through the lens of English learners (ELs). The reading project was carried out during seven instructional days, and participants had the opportunity to learn English while engaging in purposeful discussions that revealed their cultural similarities and differences. The findings suggest that, from the participants’ point of view, moral values and behavior are topics that should be learned in the household and enforced at school. However, participants also agreed that addressing these topics in the ESOL classroom is beneficial for those classmates with discipline challenges at school. In addition, data reveal important themes to consider when teaching reading to newcomer ELs.
Rolling circle amplification: A (random) primer on the enrichment of an infinite linear DNA template
Authors: Kieser Rachel E. , Budowle Bruce
Published: August 2019

Rolling circle amplification (RCA) is a robust enzymatic process in which a circular DNA molecule serves as a template for exponential amplification of molecular targets of interest. Random primers that have bound to DNA sequences across the circularized DNA template initiate copying via the action of a highly processive DNA polymerase. Following a cascade of strand displacement events, long tandem copies of the original template sequence are generated. Because the template molecule is in a circular format, it essentially serves as an infinite linear template. In conjunction with selective enrichment techniques, RCA may prove highly useful in the selectivity and sensitivity of current DNA typing systems. In addition, circularization potentially may allow for amplification of fragmented and low copy number DNA encountered in forensic casework samples that can be subsequently typed.

This article is categorized under:

Forensic Biology > Forensic DNA Technologies
Experiencing Materialized Reading: Individuals’ Encounters with Books
Authors: Fuchsberger Verena , Meneweger Thomas
Published: August 2019

In the past few years, the materials of which objects are made of have increasingly gained attention, particularly in relation to the design and usage of computational objects. Different kinds of materialities have been investigated, discussed, and attentively designed. In order to contribute knowledge on how the materiality of things influences how individuals experience (im-)material artefacts, this paper presents an inquiry into two independent debates on Twitter about whether or not consuming alternative material representations of books (audiobooks or ebooks) “count as” reading. Our findings indicate that experiential aspects of the material instantiations of books are of high relevance and that individuals show strong emotional and reflective responses about them. We discuss several aspects of materialized reading and conclude by detailing how the findings may influence (research on) the design of future books.
Inflaxion dark matter
Authors: Kobayashi Takeshi , Ubaldi Lorenzo
Published: August 2019

Abstract

A new mechanism for producing axion dark matter is proposed. By invoking low-scale inflation and a kinetic mixing between the axion and the inflaton, it is shown that the axion is driven to a field point slightly displaced from the potential minimum, which can give rise to the observed dark matter abundance. In this framework, different combinations of the axion and inflaton fields play various cosmological roles, including generating the cosmological perturbations, reheating the universe, and serving as dark matter. The kinetic mixing also relates the dark matter lifetime with the reheating temperature. The mechanism tames axions that would otherwise overdominate the universe, and thus opens up new windows in the axion parameter space, including decay constants at the GUT scale and higher.
Eigenstate thermalization hypothesis and approximate quantum error correction
Authors: Bao Ning , Cheng Newton
Published: August 2019

Abstract

The eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) is a powerful conjecture for understanding how statistical mechanics emerges in a large class of many-body quantum systems. It has also been interpreted in a CFT context, and, in particular, holographic CFTs are expected to satisfy ETH. Recently, it was observed that the ETH condition corresponds to a necessary and sufficient condition for an approximate quantum error correcting code (AQECC), implying the presence of AQECCs in systems satisfying ETH. In this paper, we explore the properties of ETH as an error correcting code and show that there exists an explicit universal recovery channel for the code. Based on the analysis, we discuss a generalization that all chaotic theories contain error correcting codes. We then specialize to AdS/CFT to demonstrate the possibility of total bulk reconstruction in black holes with a well-defined macroscopic geometry. When combined with the existing AdS/CFT error correction story, this shows that black holes are enormously robust against erasure errors.
A Three-dimensional and Dynamic (3DD) Cell Culture System for Evaluation of Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Efficacy of Anti-cancer Drugs
Authors: Vaidya Tanaya R. , Franco Yesenia L. , Ait-Oudhia Sihem
Published: August 2019

Purpose of Review

In this work, we will describe a scalable and versatile three-dimensional and dynamic (3DD) cell culture system used in our laboratory as an in vitro tool for pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and toxicodynamic (TD) evaluation of anti-cancer agents in mono and combination therapy.

Recent Findings

Certain attributes of the 3DD cell culture system such as its ability to sustain high-density cell growth, simulation of clinically relevant PK profiles, and sampling of PK, PD, and TD endpoints make it suitable for long-term in vitro studies. Here, we highlight two case examples from our laboratory using this system. First, we have successfully evaluated the PK and PD of a novel combination regimen against human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer refractory to HER2 therapy. The resulting PK/PD relationships allowed optimization of drug dosing of the agents in the combination. Second, our laboratory is currently examining the clinical PK determinants controlling doxorubicin (DOX)–induced cardiotoxicity, linking them with TD endpoints and evaluating optimal dosing regimens of DOX for alleviating cardiotoxicity.

Our promising state-of-the-art in vitro 3DD cell culture system holds several advantages over traditional tissue culture systems. The in vitro simulation of human PK profiles in combination with serial sampling over several weeks allows to more accurately study and predict tumor killing, resistance, and toxicities of anti-cancer agents and combinations for future rationally designed studies in patients.
Shared Epistemic Responsibility
Authors: Millar Boyd
Published: August 2019

It is widely acknowledged that individual moral obligations and responsibility entail shared (or joint) moral obligations and responsibility. However, whether individual epistemic obligations and responsibility entail shared epistemic obligations and responsibility is rarely discussed. Instead, most discussions of doxastic responsibility focus on individuals considered in isolation. In contrast to this standard approach, I maintain that focusing exclusively on individuals in isolation leads to a profoundly incomplete picture of what we're epistemically obligated to do and when we deserve epistemic blame. First, I argue that we have epistemic obligations to perform actions of the sort that can be performed in conjunction with other people, and that consequently, we are often jointly blameworthy when we violate shared epistemic obligations. Second, I argue that shared responsibility is especially important to doxastic responsibility thanks to the fact that we don't have the same kind of direct control over our beliefs that we have over our actions. In particular, I argue that there are many cases in which a particular individual who holds some problematic belief only deserves epistemic blame in virtue of belonging to a group all the members of which are jointly blameworthy for violating some shared epistemic obligation.
Intra- and inter-annual variability in dynamic discharge from the Academy of Sciences Ice Cap, Severnaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic, and its role in modulating mass balance
Authors: Sánchez-Gámez Pablo , Navarro Francisco J. , Benham Toby J. , Glazovsky Andrey F. , Bassford Robin P. , Dowdeswell Julian A.
Published: August 2019

We determined ice velocities for the Academy of Sciences Ice Cap, Severnaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic, during November 2016–November 2017, by feature-tracking 54 pairs of Sentinel-1 synthetic-aperture radar images. Seasonal velocity variations with amplitudes up to 10% of the yearly-averaged velocity were observed. Shorter-term (<15 d) intra-annual velocity variations had average and maximum deviations from the annual mean of up to 16 and 32%, respectively. This indicates the errors that could be incurred if ice discharge values determined from a single pair of images were extrapolated to the whole year. Average ice discharge for 2016–2017 was 1.93 ± 0.12 Gt a−1. The difference from an estimate of ~ 1.4 Gt a−1for 2003–2009 was attributed to the initiation of ice stream flow in Basin BC. The total geodetic mass balance over 2012–2016 was − 1.72 ± 0.67 Gt a−1(− 0.31 ± 0.12 m w.e. a−1). The climatic mass balance was not significantly different from zero, at 0.21 ± 0.68 Gt a−1(0.04 ± 0.12 m w.e. a−1), and has remained near zero at decadal-scale for the last four decades. Therefore, the total mass balance has been controlled largely by variations in ice discharge, whose long-term changes do not appear to have responded to environmental changes but to the intrinsic characteristics of the ice cap governing tidewater glacier dynamics.
Grafting influence on productivity and drought tolerance of tea clones
Authors: Karunakaran R. , Ilango R. V. J.
Published: August 2019

Grafting of fresh cuttings using drought-susceptible and low-yielding clones as scions on drought-tolerant clones as rootstocks offers the possibility of raising composite plants with improved productivity and drought tolerance. Hence, the study was aimed to widen the choice of compatible composites and to delineate the underlying factors responsible for productivity and drought tolerance in grafted plants. One year-old composite plants of TRF-1, TRF-2 and UPASI-28 cleft-grafted on the rootstocks of UPASI-2, UPASI-9, ATK-1 and TRI-2025 were field planted along with their respective controls and evaluated. The results indicated that productivity and drought tolerance of scion clones varied significantly with the rootstocks used. Significant increases in yield and yield components were noted in the following graft combinations compared with their corresponding self-rooted scion clones: TRF-1 grafted on UPASI-9 and ATK-1, TRF-2 grafted on all four rootstocks, and UPASI-28 grafted on UPASI-9, TRI-2025 and UPASI-2. The findings clearly emphasize the scion–rootstock interaction as the critical determinant of productivity in grafted plants compared with vigour, drought tolerance and yield potential of scion and rootstock clones. Further, high-yielding capacity of grafts over the ungrafted scions and rootstocks was largely dependent on the yield potential of the scion clone and the degree of scion–rootstock compatibility. Higher field survival and enhanced yield observed during the drought period in the compatible grafts demonstrated their better drought tolerance compared with their respective self-rooted scions.