bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detrusorrhaphy during Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Early Recovery of Urinary Continence and Surgical Technique
Authors: Shin Tae Young , Lee Yong Seong
Published: February 2019

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has largely replaced open radical prostatectomy as the standard surgical treatment for prostate cancer. However, postoperative urinary incontinence still persists and has a significant impact on quality of life. We report the superior results of the detrusorrhaphy technique during RARP that helps achieve early continence. Our prospective study involved 95 consecutive patients who underwent RARP between March 2015 and May 2017; fifty patients underwent RARP using the new detrusorrhaphy technique (group 1) and 45 underwent standard RARP (group 2). The postoperative oncological and functional outcomes were compared between the two groups. The postoperative continence was assessed at 0 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, 8–12 weeks, and 6 months after catheter removal. Continence was defined as the use of no pad over a 24 h period. Mean operative time in groups 1 and 2 were 250 and 220 min, respectively. Intraoperative complications were not encountered in any patient. The continence rates after catheter removal in groups 1 and 2 were 68% and 0% at 0 day, 78% and 17.8% at 1 week, 86% and 64.4% at 4 weeks, 92% and 73.3% at 8–12 weeks, and 100% and 91.1% at 6 months, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the nerve sparing technique, D’Amico risk groups, and prostate volume were involved in the early recovery of urinary continence. The detrusorrhaphy technique is simple, safe, and feasible, which helped achieve earlier continence. It showed significantly better outcomes than those achieved with the standard RARP technique in terms of urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, our findings need to be validated in further studies.
Smartphone’s Sensing Capabilities for On‐Board Railway Track Monitoring: Structural Performance and Geometrical Degradation Assessment
Authors: Paixão André , Fortunato Eduardo , Calçada Rui
Published: February 2019

Railway infrastructure managers run dedicated inspection vehicles to monitor the geometric quality of the track (among other aspects) to detect irregularities and ensure safe running conditions of railway lines, in accordance with specific regulations. Unfortunately, these inspections disturb the normal traffic operation, especially in networks with intense traffic; are generally carried out only a few times per year; and, consequently, do not provide prompt identification of critical situations. Considering the recent developments and cost reduction in sensing capabilities of smartphones, the authors present an approach to use these technologies to perform constant acceleration measurements inside in‐service trains to complement the assessment of the structural performance and geometrical degradation of the tracks. Cross‐correlation values above 0.85 were obtained between the standard deviations of the longitudinal level and the experimental vertical accelerations measured on‐board a passenger train on an 11‐km railway stretch. The results showed that the approach can be used to identify critical situations that affect the performance of the track, regarding passenger comfort, degradation rates, and risk of derailment. It may comprise a low‐cost and crowdsourced complement to the general current practice of track geometric inspection by dedicated vehicles and contribute to an earlier detection of track malfunctions, consequently, to a more efficient maintenance planning and infrastructure management.
Barrier Lyapunov Function‐Based Adaptive Control of an Uncertain Hovercraft with Position and Velocity Constraints
Authors: Fu Mingyu , Wang Taiqi , Wang Chenglong
Published: February 2019

This paper considers the problem of constrained path following control for an underactuated hovercraft subject to parametric uncertainties and external disturbances. A four‐degree‐of‐freedom hovercraft model with unknown curve‐fitted coefficients is first rewritten into a parameterized form. By introducing a barrier Lyapunov function into the line‐of‐sight guidance, the specific transient tracking performance in terms of position error is guaranteed. A novel constrained yaw rate controller is proposed to ensure time‐varying yaw rate constraint satisfaction, in which the yaw rate barrier is required to vary with the speed of the hovercraft. Moreover, a command filter is incorporated into the control design to generate the desired virtual controls and its time derivatives. Theoretical analyses show that, under the proposed controller, the position tracking error constraints and the yaw rate constraint can be strictly guaranteed. Finally, numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed control scheme.
Effect of the Freeze-Thaw on the Suspension Stability and Thermal Conductivity of EG/Water-Based Al2O3Nanofluids
Authors: Choi Tae Jong , Jang Seok Pil , Jung Dae Soo , Lim Hyung Mi , Byeon Young Man , Choi Im Joo
Published: February 2019

This paper reports the effect of the freeze-thaw on the suspension stability, particle size distribution, and thermal conductivity of EG/water-based nanofluids containing Al2O3nanoparticles that can be used as improved working fluid for cooling systems. The EG/water-based Al2O3nanofluids were prepared using a two-step method with a nanodisperser and decanting processes. To investigate the effect of freeze-thaw on the suspension stability and thermal conductivity of nanofluids, the prepared nanofluids were frozen at -32°C for 24 hours using a refrigerating chamber, and then they were completely thawed at room temperature for 24 hours. The suspension stability of the thawed nanofluids was quantitatively analysed for over a day using a Turbiscan. In addition, the particle size distributions and deformation of nanoparticles dispersed in the nanofluids were measured using a particle size analyzer (PSA) and TEM. Also, the thermal conductivity of the nanofluids was measured using a transient hot wire (THW) method in temperature from -10 to 70°C. Based on the results, we show that the suspension stability, thermal conductivity, and particle size of EG/water-based Al2O3nanofluids were not affected by low temperature.
A Novel Hybrid Network Traffic Prediction Approach Based on Support Vector Machines
Authors: Chen Wenbo , Shang Zhihao , Chen Yanhua
Published: February 2019

Network traffic prediction performs a main function in characterizing network community performance. An approach which could appropriately seize the salient characteristics of the network visitors could be very useful for network analysis and simulation. Network traffic prediction methods could be divided into two classes: one is the single models and the opposite is the hybrid fashions. The hybrid models integrate the merits of several single models and consequently can enhance the network traffic prediction accuracy. In this paper, a new hybrid network traffic prediction method (EPSVM) primarily based on Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Support Vector Machines (SVM) is presented. The EPSVM first utilizes EMD to eliminate the impact of noise signals. Then, SVM is applied to model training and fitting, and the parameters of SVM are optimized by PSO. The effectiveness of the presented method is examined by evaluating it with different methods, including basic SVM (BSVM), Empirical Mode Decomposition processed by SVM (ESVM), and SVM optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSVM). Case studies have demonstrated that EPSVM performed better than the other three network traffic prediction models.
Dynamical Analysis and Optimal Harvesting Strategy for a Stochastic Delayed Predator‐Prey Competitive System with Lévy Jumps
Authors: Liu Guodong , Liu Kaiyuan , Meng Xinzhu
Published: February 2019

This paper develops a theoretical framework to investigate optimal harvesting control for stochastic delay differential systems. We first propose a novel stochastic two‐predator and one‐prey competitive system subject to time delays and Lévy jumps. Then we obtain sufficient conditions for persistence in mean and extinction of three species by using the stochastic qualitative analysis method. Finally, the optimal harvesting effort and the maximum of expectation of sustainable yield (ESY) are derived from Hessian matrix method and optimal harvesting theory of delay differential equations. Moreover, some numerical simulations are given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Autosplenectomy in a Patient with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Authors: Burns Ethan , Anand Kartik , Acosta Gonzalo , Irani Malcolm , Chung Betty , Maiti Abhishek , Ibrahim Ibrahim , Rice Lawrence
Published: February 2019

Autosplenectomy (AS) is a known complication of diseases such as sickle cell anemia, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. We report the first known case of AS due to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). A 24-year-old Caucasian male had evidence of hemolytic anemia at the age of 14 and was diagnosed with PNH at the age of 16. He had recurrent episodes of sepsis due to dialysis line infections from poor hygiene, and blood cultures had been positive for multiple organisms includingStaphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis, andStreptococcus pneumoniae. The patient’s peripheral blood smears since the age of 14 years demonstrated Howell–Jolly bodies in conjunction with thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia, but abdominal ultrasonography reported a normal appearing spleen. The patient presented with septicemia two years after starting eculizumab, and his peripheral blood smear showed extensive Howell–Jolly bodies, Pappenheimer bodies, acanthocytes, and target cells. Splenic ultrasonography demonstrated an atrophic spleen with multifocal scarring, and absent splenic uptake of liver-spleen scintigraphy, consistent with AS. Clinicians should remain vigilant of the potential sequelae of PNH and consider the possibility of the development of AS.
Portable Near-Infrared Technologies and Devices for Noninvasive Assessment of Tissue Hemodynamics
Authors: Hou Lin , Liu Yinqiu , Qian Lixia , Zheng Yucong , Gao Jinnan , Cao Wenxing , Shang Yu
Published: February 2019

Tissue hemodynamics, including the blood flow, oxygenation, and oxygen metabolism, are closely associated with many diseases. As one of the portable optical technologies to explore human physiology and assist in healthcare, near-infrared diffuse optical spectroscopy (NIRS) for tissue oxygenation measurement has been developed for four decades. In recent years, a dynamic NIRS technology, namely, diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), has been emerging as a portable tool for tissue blood flow measurement. In this article, we briefly describe the basic principle and algorithms for static NIRS and dynamic NIRS (i.e., DCS). Then, we elaborate on the NIRS instrumentation, either commercially available or custom-made, as well as their applications to physiological studies and clinic. The extension of NIRS/DCS from spectroscopy to imaging was depicted, followed by introductions of advanced algorithms that were recently proposed. The future prospective of the NIRS/DCS and their feasibilities for routine utilization in hospital is finally discussed.
Effect of the Chinese Medicine YangZheng XiaoJi on Reducing Fatigue in Mice with Orthotopic Transplantation of Colon Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yanni , Li Zhongxin , Zhao Zhaolong , Kuai Wentao , Wei Cong , Lv Jian , Zhi Jie , Jia Yitao
Published: February 2019

Background. Fatigue is a common, distressing, and persistent symptom for patients with malignant tumor including colorectal cancer (CRC). Although studies of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) have sprung out in recent years, the pathophysiological mechanisms that induce CRF remain unclear, and effective therapeutic interventions have yet to be established. Methods. To investigate the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine YangZheng XiaoJi (YZXJ) on CRF, we constructed orthotopic colon cancer mice, randomly divided into YZXJ group and control (NS) group. Physical or mental fatigue was respectively assessed by swimming exhaustion time or suspension tail resting time. At the end of the experiment, serum was collected to measure the expression level of inflammatory factors by ELISA and feces to microbiota changes by 16s rDNA, and hepatic glycogen content was detected via the anthrone method. Result. The nutritional status of the YZXJ group was better than that of the control group, and there was no statistical difference in tumor weight. The swimming exhaustion times of YZXJ group and control group were (162.80 ± 14.67) s and (117.60 ± 13.42, P < 0.05) s, respectively; the suspension tail resting time of YZXJ group was shorter than that of the control group (49.85 ± 4.56) s and (68.83 ± 7.26) s, P < 0.05)). Serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in YZXJ group were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Liver glycogen in YZXJ group was (5.18 ± 3.11) mg/g liver tissue, which was significantly higher than that in control group (2.95 ± 2.06) mg/g liver tissue (P < 0.05). At phylum level, increased abundance of Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria and decreased Proteobacteria in YZXJ group emerged as the top differences between the two groups, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was decreased in YZXJ group compared to the control group. At genus level, the abundance of Parabacteroides, unidentified Saprospiraceae, and Elizabethkingia which all belong to phylum Bacteroidetes were increased, while Arcobacter, Marinobacter, Alkanindiges, Sulfuricurvum, Haliangium, and Thiobacillus in phylum Proteobacteria were decreased after YZXJ intervention. YZXJ can also increase Pirellula, Microbacterium, and Alpinimonas and decrease Rubrobacter and Iamia. Conclusion. YZXJ may reduce the physical and mental fatigue caused by colorectal cancer by inhibiting inflammatory reaction, promoting hepatic glycogen synthesis, and changing the composition of intestinal microbiota.
Histomorphometric Analysis of Callus Formation Stimulated by Axial Dynamisation in a Standardised Ovine Osteotomy Model
Authors: Reich K. M. , Tangl S. , Heimel P. , Lettner S. , Ignatius A. , Claes L. E. , Pfeil J. , Janousek A. , Redl H.
Published: February 2019

The cyclic axial dynamisation of a stabilised fracture is intended to promote callus formation and bone healing. Most studies focused on biomechanical properties or the quantity of new bone formation. Far less is known about the quality of newly formed callus tissues, such as tissue distribution and arrangement within the callus. The aim of this current study was to investigate the effect of cyclic, axial dynamisation on the quantity and quality of callus in an established delayed fracture healing model. In 41 sheep transverse osteotomies with a gap size of 3 mm were stabilised with a unilateral external fixator. In 32 of these, fracture ends were axially stimulated with displacement amplitudes of 0.8 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.2 mm, or 0.0 mm, respectively, for six weeks. In the remaining 9 sheep of the control group, an additional external fixator was mounted to achieve almost total rigidity. Animal material originating from a past animal experiment was reanalysed in this study. Histological thin-ground sections were histomorphometrically analysed regarding the histological structure and composition of the defect region. A slight tendency towards an increase in size of total callus area, area of new bone (nB.Ar), and cartilage (Cg.Ar) was detected with increasing displacement amplitudes compared to the control group. At the anterior callus side nB.Ar and Cg.Ar were significantly larger than at the posterior side in all groups independent of treatment. Regarding the quality of callus, areas of very compact bone were predominant in the treatment groups whereas in the control group a slight shift to more porous bone was observed. No difference of callus compactness was observed between the anterior and the posterior side. The established method to assess the local compactness of callus areas is a useful tool to quantitatively determine the spatial distribution of new bone tissue within the callus. The application of this method in combination with biomechanical testing might reveal interesting relations between tissue distribution and bone strength that, with traditional histomorphometry, cannot be identified.
Cross-Layer Resource Allocation for Multihop V2X Communications
Authors: He Yanhua , Tang Liangrui , Ren Yun , Rodriguez Jonathan , Mumtaz Shahid
Published: February 2019

Inspired by the increasingly mature vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technology, we propose a multihop V2X downlink transmission system to improve users’ quality of experience (QoE) in hot spots. Specifically, we develop a cross-layer resource allocation algorithm to optimize the long-term system performance while guaranteeing the stability of data queues. Lyapunov optimization is employed to transform the long-term optimization problem into a series of instantaneous subproblems, which involves the joint optimization of rate control, power allocation, and mobile relay selection at each time slot. On one hand, the optimization of rate control is decoupled and carried out independently. On the other hand, a low-complexity pricing-based stable matching algorithm is proposed to solve the joint power allocation and mobile relay selection problem. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve superior performance and simultaneously guarantee queue stability.
Seismic Fragility Analysis of High Earth‐Rockfill Dams considering the Number of Ground Motion Records
Authors: Jin Congcong , Chi Shichun
Published: February 2019

This study analyzes the impact of the number of ground motions on the seismic fragility of a high earth‐rockfill dam and the estimation of reasonable fragility parameters based on a sufficient number of earthquake records. In this paper, the vertical deformation is obtained using the three‐dimensional finite element program DYNE3WAC combined with the Pastor–Zienkiewicz–Chan model and Biot dynamic consolidation theory. The relative seismic settlement rate is considered the damage index for the seismic fragility analysis of the dam. The fragility curves of the high earth‐rockfill dam are determined by the multiple stripe analysis (MSA) method. A set of seismic waves is chosen based on the spectrum in the Chinese hydraulic structure seismic code. With an increasing number of earthquake records, the coefficients of variation (COV) of the mean and standard deviation (STD) of the relative seismic settlement rate decrease and tend to stabilize when the number of earthquake records reaches 34. The estimated fragility parameters θ and β are constant when the number of earthquake records exceeds 34. The requisite number of earthquake records for an accurate fragility estimation is determined by analyzing the lower and upper confidence intervals for the estimated θ and β. The 95% and 90% confidence interval can accurately estimate the fragility of a high earth‐rockfill dam when the number of ground motion records reaches 36 and 32, respectively. The results of the fragility analysis demonstrate that the DYNE3WAC program and MSA method can provide an effective basis for determining fragility curves. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis of earthquake records is essential for assessing the seismic fragility of high earth‐rockfill dams.
Experimental Study on Damage and Gas Migration Characteristics of Gas-Bearing Coal with Different Pore Structures under Sorption-Sudden Unloading of Methane
Authors: Wang Gang , Guo Yangyang , Du Chang’ang , Sun Lulu , Liu Zhiyuan , Wang Yue , Cao Jianjun
Published: February 2019

Coal and gas outburst is one of the most serious hazards in underground mine operations. In this paper, we explored the damage and gas seepage characteristics of gas-bearing coal samples with different pore structures under methane sorption-sudden unloading conditions using a self-developed experimental apparatus. The results show that (1) the deformation of coal samples can be divided into three stages, namely, pressure-increase-induced compression, sorption-induced expansion, and sudden-unloading-induced deformation or failure stage; (2) with the increase of the number of diffusion pores in the coal sample, the amount of gas sorption gradually increases and the expansion and failure of coal samples become more obvious; (3) in the experiment, the damage of coal samples is mainly along the axial direction and rarely along the radial direction; (4) the radial strain is always greater than the axial strain.
Instability of Vertical Constant Through Flows in Binary Mixtures in Porous Media with Large Pores
Authors: Capone Florinda , De Luca Roberta , Torcicollo Isabella
Published: February 2019

A binary mixture saturating a horizontal porous layer, with large pores and uniformly heated from below, is considered. The instability of a vertical fluid motion (throughflow) when the layer is salted by one salt (either from above or from below) is analyzed. Ultimately boundedness of solutions is proved, via the existence of positively invariant and attractive sets (i.e. absorbing sets). The critical Rayleigh numbers at which steady or oscillatory instability occurs are recovered. Sufficient conditions guaranteeing that a secondary steady motion or a secondary oscillatory motion can be observed after the loss of stability are found. When the layer is salted from above, a condition guaranteeing the occurrence of “cold” instability is determined. Finally, the influence of the velocity module on the increasing/decreasing of the instability thresholds is investigated.
Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Cloud Condensation Nuclei Concentration on the Microphysical Processes in Typhoon Usagi
Authors: Ye Xiying , Cao Qimin , Jiang Baolin , Lin Wenshi
Published: February 2019

The Weather Research and Forecasting model version 3.2.1 with the Lin microphysics scheme was used herein to simulate super typhoon Usagi, which occurred in 2013. To investigate the effect of the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) on the development of typhoon Usagi, a control simulation was performed with a CCN concentration of 100 cm−3, together with two sensitivity tests: C10 and C1000, having CCN concentrations of 10 cm−3 and 1000 cm−3, respectively. The path, intensity, precipitation, microphysical processes, and the release of latent heat resulting from the typhoon in all three simulations were analyzed to show that an increase in CCN concentration leads to decreases in intensity and precipitation, an increase of the cloudless area in the eye of the typhoon, a more disordered cloud system, and less latent heat released through microphysical processes, especially the automatic conversion of cloud water into rainwater. Overall, an increase in CCN concentration reduces the total latent heat released during the typhoon suggesting that typhoon modification by aerosol injection may be optimized using numerical simulations to ensure the strongest release of latent heat within the typhoon.
Oxygen Distribution and Air Leakage Law in Gob of Working Face of U+L Ventilation System
Authors: Zhai Xiaowei , Wang Bo , Jiang Shangrong , Zhang Weixia
Published: February 2019

In order to prevent and control coal spontaneous combustion effectively in the gob of U+L working face, the 30105 working face of Hanglaiwan mine was taken as the research object. The relationship models between oxygen concentration and burial depth of the two tunnels in the gob of U+L working face were established. The distribution of oxygen in the gob of the working face of U+L ventilation system was studied by field observation combined with numerical simulation. The results show that the air leakage in the gob is serious. There are a number of fluctuation areas where the oxygen concentration first decreases and then increases in the air intake side of the gob. The oxygen concentration peaked at 100m, 175m, and 245m, respectively, from the intake side of the gob. In the same position of the gob depth, the air leakage intensity on the intake side is generally higher than that on the return side, and the oxygen concentration on the intake side of the gob is slower than the return side. Oxygen concentration maintains at 5.09% when the depth of gob reaches 400m. Measures to prevent coal spontaneous combustion should be strengthened in the air intake side.
Parameter Estimation and Sensitivity Analysis of Dysentery Diarrhea Epidemic Model
Authors: Berhe Hailay Weldegiorgis , Makinde Oluwole Daniel , Theuri David Mwangi
Published: February 2019

In this paper, dysentery diarrhea deterministic compartmental model is proposed. The local and global stability of the disease-free equilibrium is obtained using the stability theory of differential equations. Numerical simulation of the system shows that the backward bifurcation of the endemic equilibrium exists for R0>1. The system is formulated as a standard nonlinear least squares problem to estimate the parameters. The estimated reproduction number, based on the dysentery diarrhea disease data for Ethiopia in 2017, is R0=1.1208. This suggests that elimination of the dysentery disease from Ethiopia is not practical. A graphical method is used to validate the model. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the importance of model parameters in the disease dynamics. It is found out that the reproduction number is the most sensitive to the effective transmission rate of dysentery diarrhea (βh). It is also demonstrated that control of the effective transmission rate is essential to stop the spreading of the disease.
T-Type Cav3.1 Channels Mediate Progression and Chemotherapeutic Resistance in Glioblastoma
Authors: Visa Anna , Sallán Marta C. , Maiques Oscar , Alza Lía , Talavera Elisabet , López-Ortega Ricard , Santacana Maria , Herreros Judit , Cantí Carles
Published: February 2019

T-type Ca2+ channels (TTCC) have been identified as key regulators of cancer cell cycle and survival. In vivo studies in glioblastoma (GBM) murine xenografts have shown that drugs able to block TTCC in vitro (such as tetralol derivatives mibefradil/NNC-55-096, or different 3,4-dihydroquinazolines) slow tumor progression. However, currently available TTCC pharmacologic blockers have limited selectivity for TTCC and are unable to distinguish between TTCC isoforms. Here we analyzed the expression of TTCC transcripts in human GBM cells and show a prevalence of Cacna1g/Cav3.1 mRNAs. Infection of GBM cells with lentiviral particles carrying short hairpin RNA against Cav3.1 resulted in GBM cell death by apoptosis. We generated a murine GBM xenograft via subcutaneous injection of U87-MG GBM cells and found that tumor size was reduced when Cav3.1 expression was silenced. Furthermore, we developed an in vitro model of temozolomide-resistant GBM that showed increased expression of Cav3.1 accompanied by the activation of macroautophagy. We confirmed a positive correlation between Cav3.1 and autophagic markers in both GBM cultures and biopsies. Of note, Cav3.1 knockdown resulted in transcriptional downregulation of p62/SQSTM1 and deficient autophagy. Together, these data identify Cav3.1 channels as potential targets for slowing GBM progression and recurrence based on their role in regulating autophagy.

Significance:

These findings identify Cav3.1 calcium channels as a molecular target to regulate autophagy and prevent progression and chemotherapeutic resistance in glioblastoma.
Combined Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) and WEE1 Inhibition Demonstrates Synergistic Antitumor Effect in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Lee Jong Woo , Parameswaran Janaki , Sandoval-Schaefer Teresa , Eoh Kyung Jin , Yang Dong-hua , Zhu Fang , Mehra Ranee , Sharma Roshan , Gaffney Stephen G. , Perry Elizabeth B. , Townsend Jeffrey P. , Serebriiskii Ilya G. , Golemis Erica A. , Issaeva Natalia , Yarbrough Wendell G. , Koo Ja Seok , Burtness Barbara
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) commonly bear disruptive mutations in TP53, resulting in treatment resistance. In these patients, direct targeting of p53 has not been successful, but synthetic lethal approaches have promise. Although Aurora A kinase (AURKA) is overexpressed and an oncogenic driver, its inhibition has only modest clinical effects in HPV-negative HNSCC. We explored a novel combination of AURKA and WEE1 inhibition to overcome intrinsic resistance to AURKA inhibition.

Experimental Design: AURKA protein expression was determined by fluorescence-based automated quantitative analysis of patient specimens and correlated with survival. We evaluated treatment with the AURKA inhibitor alisertib (MLN8237) and the WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib (AZD1775), alone or in combination, using in vitro and in vivo HNSCC models.

Results:

Elevated nuclear AURKA correlated with worse survival among patients with p16(−) HNSCC. Alisertib caused spindle defects, G2–M arrest and inhibitory CDK1 phosphorylation, and cytostasis in TP53 mutant HNSCC FaDu and UNC7 cells. Addition of adavosertib to alisertib instead triggered mitotic entry and mitotic catastrophe. Moreover, in FaDu and Detroit 562 xenografts, this combination demonstrated synergistic effects on tumor growth and extended overall survival compared with either vehicle or single-agent treatment.

Conclusions:

Combinatorial treatment with adavosertib and alisertib leads to synergistic antitumor effects in in vitro and in vivo HNSCC models. These findings suggest a novel rational combination, providing a promising therapeutic avenue for TP53-mutated cancers.
Alternative RNA Splicing as a Potential Major Source of Untapped Molecular Targets in Precision Oncology and Cancer Disparities
Authors: Robinson Timothy J. , Freedman Jennifer A. , Al Abo Muthana , Deveaux April E. , LaCroix Bonnie , Patierno Brendon M. , George Daniel J. , Patierno Steven R.
Published: February 2019

Studies of alternative RNA splicing (ARS) have the potential to provide an abundance of novel targets for development of new biomarkers and therapeutics in oncology, which will be necessary to improve outcomes for patients with cancer and mitigate cancer disparities. ARS, a key step in gene expression enabling individual genes to encode multiple proteins, is emerging as a major driver of abnormal phenotypic heterogeneity. Recent studies have begun to identify RNA splicing–related genetic and genomic variation in tumors, oncogenes dysregulated by ARS, RNA splice variants driving race–related cancer aggressiveness and drug response, spliceosome-dependent transformation, and RNA splicing–related immunogenic epitopes in cancer. In addition, recent studies have begun to identify and test, preclinically and clinically, approaches to modulate and exploit ARS for therapeutic application, including splice-switching oligonucleotides, small molecules targeting RNA splicing or RNA splice variants, and combination regimens with immunotherapies. Although ARS data hold such promise for precision oncology, inclusion of studies of ARS in translational and clinical cancer research remains limited. Technologic developments in sequencing and bioinformatics are being routinely incorporated into clinical oncology that permit investigation of clinically relevant ARS events, yet ARS remains largely overlooked either because of a lack of awareness within the clinical oncology community or perceived barriers to the technical complexity of analyzing ARS. This perspective aims to increase such awareness, propose immediate opportunities to improve identification and analysis of ARS, and call for bioinformaticians and cancer researchers to work together to address the urgent need to incorporate ARS into cancer biology and precision oncology.
A travessia atlântica como um trajeto iniciático nos romances de formação Un océan, deux mers, trois continents, de Wilfrid n'Sondé, e A rainha Ginga, de José Eduardo Agualusa
Authors: Silva Andreia Joana Oliveira da
Published: February 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é refletir sobre a travessia atlântica no eixo Sul-Sul e o seu caráter iniciático nos romances de formação (Bildungsroman) Un océan, deux mers, trois continents, de Wilfried N’Sondé e A Rainha Ginga de José Eduardo Agualusa. Na leitura comparatista proposta, salientaremos a complementaridade dos romances estudados que narram um contexto histórico específico: o comércio transatlântico de escravos durante os séc. XVI e XVII. Debruçar-nos-emos mais especificamente sobre a questão da travessia atlântica e todos os aspetos inerentes à viagem: separação da terra natal, solidão, questionamento e reflexão pessoais. Elementos que ao longo de ambas as obras conduzirão os protagonistas a uma morte iniciática e a uma posterior ressurreição simbólica, culminando num processo de construção identitária, consciência humanista e descrença religiosa.
Atlantique Sud en Littérature
Authors: Pino Claudia Amigo , Rocha Vanessa Massoni da , Bonnet Véronique
Published: February 2019

sans résumé
tramas intersubjetivas del encuentro pedagógico
Authors: Buján Federico
Published: February 2019

Las complejas tramas intersubjetivas que se despliegan al interior de los procesos educativos nos enfrentan a la problemática de la diversidad como uno de los ejes principales desde el que se construyen los vínculos pedagógicos. En este contexto, es preciso caracterizar la circulación discursiva como núcleo dinamizador de las prácticas pedagógicas y como configurador de las redes semióticas que allí se despliegan. Nos interrogamos, en el presente artículo, por este orden de problemáticas: por sus implicancias, potencialidades y resonancias; nos interrogamos por los desafíos que comportan al interior de los procesos educativos y por las inflexiones de sentido a las que dan lugar; y nos cuestionamos, finalmente, por el modo en que su atención desde la formación docente participa en la definición ética y política tanto del posicionamiento de los futuros profesores así como también de sus proyectos educativos.
Para manter vivo o pensamento crítico da comunicação latino-americana
Authors: Crovi Délia , Nonato Cláudia
Published: February 2019

A entrevistada Delia Crovi Druetta é professora doutora na Universidade Nacional Autônoma do México. Há muito, contribui com a área dos estudos em comunicação. Seu percurso profissional, no jornalismo, inicia-se no rádio e na televisão para consolidar-se no ensino e na pesquisa. A experiência profissional e acadêmica faz que suas pesquisas se voltem para a interrelação comunicação/educação, sendo reconhecida como uma grande pesquisadora latino-americana na temática juventude e usos das tecnologias digitais. É uma entusiasta da escola como espaço de acesso e formação crítica para o uso das novas mídias. Delia Crovi destaca a contribuição pioneira e essencial dos latino-americanos para os estudos da educomunicação. É a atual presidente da Associação Latino-Americana de Investigadores em Comunicação (Alaic).
Materialidades do Trabalho Digital no Sul Global e Invisibilidades Comunicacionais
Authors: Grohmann Rafael
Published: February 2019

O livro O Privilégio da Servidão: o novo proletariado de serviços na era digital, de Ricardo Antunes, oferece uma leitura sobre as mutações e contradições do mundo do trabalho, passando pelas materialidades do trabalho digital e as morfologias da “classe-que-vive-do-trabalho”, em um diálogo tanto teórico-conceitual a partir do Sul Global quanto em uma análise conjuntural dos últimos anos no Brasil, incluindo a contrarrevolução burguesa e a devastação do trabalho no governo Temer. Procuramos, então, trazer um diálogo da obra com a comunicação.
Educomunicação e Jornalismo
Authors: Pereira Antonia Alves , Pinheiro Rose Mara
Published: February 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é identificar a pertinência da educomunicação para os cursos de jornalismo, com ênfase nas contribuições de Paulo Freire, fundamentado nas experiências realizadas em cursos de jornalismo nos estados de Mato Grosso e Mato Grosso do Sul. A análise parte da aplicabilidade do pensamento de Freire aos estudos jornalísticos, com base nas reflexões de Meditsch e Faraco, Oliveira e Ijuim, e resgata o diálogo e formação crítica para o exercício de um jornalismo capaz de promover a emancipação e libertação de sujeitos protagonistas, que assumam o controle e a responsabilidade numa sociedade midiatizada e mediada pela comunicação e tecnologia. As experiências mostram a apropriação do conceito da Educomunicação, a partir de Soares e Citelli, no ensino superior, alicerçada no tripé “ensino, pesquisa e extensão”.
Olhos passageiros
Authors: Vargas Eduardo Viana
Published: February 2019

Ensaio fotoetnográfico realizado com passageiros e passageiras do histórico comboio que liga Nampula a Cuamba, em Moçambique, através do caminho de ferro do norte. Principal meio de transporte das pessoas e dos produtos de machamba entre os inúmeros povoados da região, a mais populosa do país, desde 2016 este comboio de gente cede passagem aos inúmeros comboios de carvão que na última década vem sendo extraído das minas de Moatize em escala sem precedentes por grandes companhias mundiais, sobretudo a mineradora Vale.
Negro na universidade, branco no trabalho de campo
Authors: Domingues Bruno Rodrigo Carvalho
Published: February 2019

Este texto visa refletir acerca do processo de inversão das lógicas de pesquisa em antropologia, processo pelo qual os “outros” passam a desempenhar o papel de pesquisadores. Farei isso através de relatos em primeira pessoa, a partir de algumas experiências de pesquisa em comunidades quilombolas da Amazônia paraense, onde a naturalização da “antropologia dos brancos” fez com que alguns moradores me tratassem como um pesquisador branco, quando sou negro. Tal fato me fez refletir sobre ações afirmativas, representação, racismo institucional e a necessidade urgente de enegrecermos os espaços universitários.
Mojitos com limões do campo
Authors: Gonçalves João Felipe
Published: February 2019

Este artigo argumenta que certas adversidades encontradas no trabalho de campo etnográfico podem ser produtivas para a pesquisa antropológica. Para fundamentar esse ponto, o artigo discute três situações adversas enfrentadas pelo autor durante seu trabalho de campo em Cuba – um despejo, dois furacões, e umas queimaduras – e o conhecimento etnográfico que elas lhes proporcionaram. Temas mais substantivos abordados incluem a ansiedade moral, a produção do Estado, a solidariedade informal, a economia de dádivas e a temporalidade cotidiana na Cuba contemporânea.
Em meio ao "Vírus" há uma "Pessoa"
Authors: Nelvo Romário Vieira
Published: February 2019

Neste artigo analiso a história de vida de Luíza, uma jovem mulher e mãe soropositiva, de camadas populares do Rio de Janeiro. Acompanhá-la permitiu compreender uma série de negociações e instâncias existenciais e relacionais que a conforma, que vão desde sua infância, o momento de sua gravidez e embates micropolíticos do dia a dia. Esse texto procurou visibilizar essa interlocutora, lançando mão de perspectivas antropológicas que nos informam ações sociais e a análise fenomenológica do “eu”, da noção de pessoa. As relações de parentesco, o diagnóstico de uma doença moralizante e traumatizante, seu tratamento diário, os projetos de maternidade e as dinâmicas de gênero bem como o ato de escrever acerca dessas experiências, parecem nos informar que a atenção minuciosa de uma biografia em específico é uma saída crucial para o entendimento da experiência vivida pelos atores e é, portanto, rico do ponto de vista etnográfico.
Tumor Suppressors RB1 and CDKN2a Cooperatively Regulate Cell-Cycle Progression and Differentiation During Cardiomyocyte Development and Repair
Authors: Hatzistergos Konstantinos E. , Williams Adam R. , Dykxhoorn Derek , Bellio Michael A. , Yu Wendou , Hare Joshua M.
Published: February 2019

Rationale:

Although rare cardiomyogenesis is reported in the adult mammalian heart, whether this results from differentiation or proliferation of cardiomyogenic cells remains controversial. The tumor suppressor genes
RB1
(retinoblastoma) and
CDKN2a
(cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2a) are critical cell-cycle regulators, but their roles in human cardiomyogenesis remains unclear.

Objective:

We hypothesized that developmental activation of
RB1
and
CDKN2a
cooperatively cause permanent cell-cycle withdrawal of human cardiac precursors (CPCs) driving terminal differentiation into mature cardiomyocytes, and that dual inactivation of these tumor suppressor genes promotes myocyte cell-cycle reentry.

Methods and Results:

Directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into cardiomyocytes revealed that
RB1
and
CDKN2a
are upregulated at the onset of cardiac precursor specification, simultaneously with
GATA4
(GATA-binding protein 4) homeobox genes
PBX1
(pre-B–cell leukemia transcription factor 1) and
MEIS1
(myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 homolog), and remain so until terminal cardiomyocyte differentiation. In both GATA4
+
hPSC cardiac precursors and postmitotic hPSC-cardiomyocytes,
RB1
is hyperphosphorylated and inactivated. Transient, stage-specific, depletion of
RB1
during hPSC differentiation enhances cardiomyogenesis at the cardiac precursors stage, but not in terminally differentiated hPSC-cardiomyocytes, by transiently upregulating
GATA4
expression through a cell-cycle regulatory pathway involving
CDKN2a
. Importantly, cytokinesis in postmitotic hPSC-cardiomyocytes can be induced with transient, dual
RB1
, and
CDKN2a
silencing. The relevance of this pathway in vivo was suggested by findings in a porcine model of cardiac cell therapy post-MI, whereby dual RB1 and CDKN2a inactivation in adult GATA4
+
cells correlates with the degree of scar size reduction and endogenous cardiomyocyte mitosis, particularly in response to combined transendocardial injection of adult human hMSCs (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells) and cKit
+
cardiac cells.

Conclusions:

Together these findings reveal an important and coordinated role for
RB1
and
CDKN2a
in regulating cell-cycle progression and differentiation during human cardiomyogenesis. Moreover, transient, dual inactivation of RB1 and CDKN2a in endogenous adult GATA4
+
cells and cardiomyocytes mediates, at least in part, the beneficial effects of cell-based therapy in a post-MI large mammalian model, a finding with potential clinical implications.
Association Between Heart Transplantation and Subsequent Risk of Stroke Among Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Merkler Alexander E. , Chen Monica L. , Parikh Neal S. , Murthy Santosh B. , Yaghi Shadi , Goyal Parag , Okin Peter M. , Karas Maria G. , Navi Babak B. , Iadecola Costantino , Kamel Hooman
Published: February 2019

Background and Purpose—

It is uncertain whether heart transplantation decreases the risk of stroke. The objective of our study was to determine whether heart transplantation is associated with a decreased risk of subsequent stroke among patients with heart failure awaiting transplantation.

Methods—

We performed a retrospective cohort study using administrative data from New York, California, and Florida between 2005 and 2015. Individuals with heart failure awaiting heart transplantation were identified using previously validated
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification
diagnosis codes for heart failure in combination with code V49.83 for awaiting organ transplant status. Individuals with prior stroke were excluded. Our primary exposure variable was heart transplantation, modeled as a time-varying covariate and defined by procedure code 37.51. The primary outcome was stroke, defined as the composite of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Survival statistics were used to calculate stroke incidence, and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to determine the association between heart transplantation and stroke while adjusting for demographics, stroke risk factors, Elixhauser comorbidities, and implantation of a left ventricular assist device.

Results—

We identified 7848 patients with heart failure awaiting heart transplantation, of whom 1068 (13.6%) underwent heart transplantation. During a mean follow-up of 2.7 years, we identified 428 strokes. The annual incidence of stroke was 0.7% (95% CI, 0.5%–1.0%) after heart transplantation versus 2.4% (95% CI, 2.2%–2.6%) among those awaiting heart transplantation. After adjustment for potential confounders, heart transplantation was associated with a lower risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2–0.6).

Conclusions—

Heart transplantation is associated with a decreased risk of stroke among patients with heart failure awaiting transplantation.
Five new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849 (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) in elasmobranchs from the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico with first records from smooth-hound sharks and guitarfish
Authors: VARDO-ZALIK ANNE M. , CAMPBELL RONALD A.
Published: February 2019

Five new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849 are described from elasmobranchs from Atlantic coastal waters of the United States and western Gulf of Mexico. Acanthobothrium cairae sp. nov., a category 3 species, from the roughtail stingray Dasyatis centroura (Mitchill), from New England coastal waters of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island is differentiated from congeners by a combination of characteristics including hook lengths, testis number (82–166) and distribution, bilobed ovary and 8 large muscle fascicles symmetrically encircling the reproductive organs. Four new category 1 species of Acanthobothrium from four new host species from the Gulf of Mexico are Acanthobothrium lentiginosum sp. nov. from the rhinobatid (guitarfish), Rhinobatos lentiginosus Garman; Acanthobothrium schalli sp. nov. from two species of triakid sharks, Mustelus canis canis Mitchill and M. norrisi Springer; and Acanthobothrium ulmeri sp. nov. and A. westi sp. nov., both from the skate Raja texana Chandler (Rajidae). Acanthobothrium floridensis Goldstein, 1964 is reported from a new host, R. texana off the Texas coast in the western Gulf of Mexico, a new locality for this species. These species are differentiated by a combination of characters including size, bothridial size, total hook length, ratio of total hook length to bothridium length, ratio of bothridial length to cephalic peduncle length, ovarian shape, position of the genital pore, testis number and distribution. Biogeographically these records from sharks and the guitarfish are new for Acanthobothrium and add two new host families to the distribution of Acanthobothrium in coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. Acanthobothrium is now known to occur in six families of elasmobranchs in the Gulf of Mexico: skates (Rajidae), rays (Dasyatidae, Gymnuridae, Myliobatidae), sharks (Triakidae) and guitarfish (Rhinobatidae) making it the most diverse geographical region for these cestodes in the eastern coastal waters of North America.
Two new species of Eulepethidae (Polychaeta) from Australian seas
Authors: WOOLLEY SKIPTON , WILSON ROBIN S.
Published: February 2019

Exploration of poorly known regions of the Australian continental margin has resulted in the discovery of two new species in the scale worm family Eulepethidae. Grubeulepis kurnai sp. nov. occurs in southeastern Australia while Proeulepethus payungu sp. nov. was collected at one site in the Indian Ocean on the continental margin of Western Australia. Pareulepis malayana (Horst, 1913), also collected from the continental margin of Western Australia, is newly recorded from Australia, representing a range extension of that species previously known from Madagascar, Malaysia and the South China Sea. Four species, and four of the six known genera of Eulepethidae are now known from Australian waters. The family Eulepethidae remains species-poor compared with most polychaete families, and now comprises 21 species world wide.