bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneity of GNAQ/11 mutation inversely correlates with the metastatic
rate in uveal melanoma
Authors: Liang Chen , Peng Lan ya , Zou Ming , Chen Xuemei , Chen Yingying , Chen Hou , Xiao Lirong , Yan Naihong , Zhang Junjun , Zhao Qing , Huang Xi
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To determine whether the GNAQ/11 mutation correlated with the outcome of
patients with uveal melanoma (UM) when genetic heterogeneity was
considered.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of sixty-seven patients with UM. The
heterogeneity of GNAQ/11 was examined by using droplet digital PCR. The
correlation between metastasis and heterogeneity of the GNAQ/11 mutation was
analysed. Disease free survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier
method, and the Wilcoxon log-rank test was used to compare the curves.

Results

The GNAQ/11 mutation ratio was varied between each case. Among these
patients, 28.35% of them harboured homogeneous mutation of GNAQ/11, 62.69%
present heterogeneous mutation and 8.96% didn’t present either GNAQ or GNA11
mutation. The tumour with heterogeneous mutation of GNAQ/11 has a higher
metastatic rate than that with homogeneous mutation (13/29 vs 1/18, p=0.027).
In Kaplan-Meier analysis, metastasis-free survival was not significantly
associated with either homogeneous or heterogeneous mutation of
GNAQ/11.

Conclusion

The mutation ratio of GNAQ/11 in UM was quite variable. The tumour with
heterogeneous mutation of GNAQ/11 is more likely to develop a poor prognosis
than that with homogeneous mutation of GNAQ/11.
Pedagogical value of a hospitality awards programme
Authors: Reach Gérard , Bentégeat Sophie , Mounier-Emeury Isabelle , Le Cossec Brigitte , Yesilmen Sadiyé , Hirsch Vincent , de Oliveira Granja Yohann , Minetti Audrey
Published: September 2019

Objective

Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), the leading university hospital in France, proposed to offer its services to candidate on a voluntary basis for a hospitality award, certifying compliance to a 240-item home-made questionnaire designed by healthcare providers and patients’ representatives. It combined an objective examination of the services and patients’ questionnaires, covering seven domains: reception and information from admission to discharge; cleanliness, comfort and environment; proposed services (eg, access to Wi-Fi); culture, relaxation and well-being; meals; linen and relationship quality with hospital staff. The procedure was completed in two steps: an initial self-evaluation to detect improvable deficiencies, followed by an awarding visit. A service received the hospitality award if at least 80% of the reference criteria were met during this second evaluation. Here, we describe the construction of this hospitality awards programme and present a comparison of the scores obtained during the two steps.

Design and methods

Retrospective comparison by usual statistical tests.

Setting

AP-HP, grouping 39 university hospitals (21 000 beds, 8 million annual patient visits).

Participants

The 211 services from 29 different hospitals engaged in the procedure (2017–2019).

Results

Only one service did not get the award (self-evaluation 83%, visit score 79%). The score was higher during the awarding visit (89.0%±5.6%) than during self-evaluation (85.5%±4.3%, n=211, p<0.00001), with increased scores for the following domains (p<0.005): patient reception and information; cleanliness, comfort and environment; proposed services; culture, relaxation and well-being.

Conclusion

(1) Internal self-evaluation is feasible. (2) By diffusing criteria of hospitality, the procedure had a pedagogical value leading to rapid and significant improvements. (3) This quality assessment procedure results in an award that can be posted in the departments. By appealing to pride, this procedure should promote hospitality in hospitals.
Layoffs and the mental health and safety of remaining workers: a difference-in-differences analysis of the US aluminium industry
Authors: Elser Holly , Ben-Michael Eli , Rehkopf David , Modrek Sepideh , Eisen Ellen A , Cullen Mark R
Published: September 2019

Background

Relatively few studies have examined the effects of layoffs on remaining workers, although the effects of layoffs and downsizing events may extend beyond those employees who lose their jobs.

Methods

We examined the effects of layoffs on mental healthcare utilisation and injury risk among workers at 30 US plants between 2003 and 2013. We defined layoffs as reductions in the hourly workforce of 20% or more at each plant. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compared the change in outcomes during layoffs versus the same 3-month period 1 year previously, accounting for secular trends with control plants.

Results

Our study population included 15 502 workers and 7 layoff events between 2003 and 2013. Layoffs were associated with only minor decreases in injuries (−0.006, 95% CI −0.013 to 0.001). The probability of outpatient visits related to mental health increased by 1% during layoffs (0.010, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.017), and the probability of mental health-related prescriptions increased by 1.4% (0.014, 95% CI −0.0006 to 0.027). Among women, the increase in outpatient visits was more pronounced (0.017, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.031). Increased prescription utilisation appeared attributable primarily to opioid use (0.016, 95% CI 0.005 to 0.027).

Conclusion

Our results indicate an association between layoffs and remaining workers’ mental health and safety, although changes mental healthcare utilisation may reflect both changes in underlying mental health and changes in care-seeking. Future research on concordance of service utilisation and underlying health may yield valuable insight into the experiences employed workers in the wake of layoffs.
CMOS Implementation of Current Differencing Operational Amplifier and Its Notch Filter Application
Authors: Başak Muhammed Emin
Published: September 2019

Active elements are fundamental circuits for a wide scope of scientific and industrial processes. Many researchers have examined active devices to implement filters, oscillators, rectifiers, and converters. This paper presents the current differencing operational amplifier (CDOA) as an active element, firstly implemented with CMOS transistors. The input part of this circuit is a current differencing unit and the conventional operational amplifier (Op-Amp) pursues it. A new realization of a notch filter consists of CDOA is suggested. Voltage-mode band-pass filter and current-mode notch filter are presented as a different filter applications. Simulation results using TSMC 0.18-[Formula: see text]m CMOS process model are used to verify the theoretical analyses. The sensitivity, noise, total harmonic distortion (THD) and the Monte Carlo analysis have been performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed active element and notch filter.
Neutron stars within the Skyrme model
Authors: Naya Carlos
Published: September 2019

The Skyrme model is a low energy effective field theory of strong interactions where nuclei and baryons appear as collective excitations of pionic degrees of freedom. In the last years, there has been a revival of Skyrme’s ideas and new related models, and some of them with BPS bounds (topological lower energy bounds) have been proposed. It is the aim of this paper to review how they can be applied to the study of neutron stars allowing for a description by means of topological solitons. We will focus on different aspects as the equation of state or the mass-radius relation, where we find that high maximal masses are supported.
Multi-Scale Buckling and Post-Buckling Analysis of Functionally Graded Laminated Composite Plates Reinforced by Defective Graphene Sheets
Authors: Karimi Zeverdejani M. , Tadi Beni Y. , Kiani Y.
Published: September 2019

The present study focusses on buckling and post-buckling of graphene-reinforced laminated composite plates subjected to uniaxial and biaxial loadings. Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) is used for matrix. Depending on the type of graphene distribution in each layer, three patterns are considered for the plate cross-section. Graphene sheets are considered in both perfect and defective forms. Kinematics of the plate is modeled using the first shear deformation theory and for large deformation, von Karman nonlinearity is considered. Mechanical properties of each layer are evaluated using the molecular dynamics simulation. Besides, Halpin–Tsai and rule of mixtures are calibrated for graphene PMMA composite. Stability equations are solved based on the incremental-iterative type of Ritz method. In order to validate the solution procedure, comparison studies are conducted on isotropic plates. Numerical results are presented for four different types of boundary conditions. It is shown that, for all types of boundary condition, X-pattern provides higher buckling load. Furthermore, it is found that plates reinforced by defective graphene sheets with 5% vacancy provide lower buckling and post-buckling resistance with respect to those reinforced by pristine graphene.
Construction of Phenol/O2 Fuel Cell with CuO/MWCNTs Modified Electrode as Anode
Authors: Liu Shuhui , Wu Yuan , Xing Yonglei , Hai Yan , Peng Juan , Ni Gang , Jin Xiaoyong
Published: September 2019

Traditional biofuel cells (BFCs) are devices that use biological catalysts to catalyze the oxidation of organic materials and in the meantime convert chemical energy into electrical energy. In this work, a nonenzymatic catalyst that integrated copper oxide with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CuO/MWCNTs) was synthesized by a simple solvothermal method, and the composites show an outstanding electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of phenol due to the synergistical contribution of CuO nanoparticles and MWCNTs. The effects of the pH, concentration of electrolyte and phenol and scan rate on the phenol oxidation are investigated. Benefitting from the excellent performance toward phenol oxidation, a H-type phenol fuel cell was fabricated with CuO/MWCNTs as anode material and electro-deposited platinum film as cathode material. The results show that the phenol fuel cell has an open-circuit potential (OCP) of 0.69[Formula: see text]V and can produce a maximum power density of 0.25[Formula: see text]mW[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] at 0.44[Formula: see text]V with 500[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]L[Formula: see text] phenol and 0.1[Formula: see text]mol[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]L[Formula: see text] PBS. The stability test revealed that the fuel cell could still deliver about 0.24[Formula: see text]mW[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] after repeating the test for five times, indicating that the fuel cell has good stability.
Comparative Study of Pore Characterizations of Anodized Al–0.5 wt.% Cu Thin Films in Oxalic and Phosphoric Acids
Authors: Abd-Elnaiem Alaa M. , Moustafa S. , Asafa T. B.
Published: September 2019

Porous anodic alumina (PAA) thin films, having interconnected pores, were fabricated from Cu-doped aluminum films deposited on [Formula: see text]-type silicon wafers by anodization. The anodization was done at four different anodizing voltages (60[Formula: see text]V, 70[Formula: see text]V, 80[Formula: see text]V and 90[Formula: see text]V) in phosphoric acid and two voltages (60[Formula: see text]V and 70[Formula: see text]V) in oxalic acid. The aluminum and PAA samples were characterized by SEM and XRD while the pore arrangement, pore density, pore diameter, pore circularity and pore regularity were also analyzed. XRD spectra confirmed the aluminum to be crystalline with the dominant plane being (220), the Cu-rich phase have an average particle size of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm uniformly distributed within the Al matrix of 0.4-[Formula: see text]m grain size. The steady-state current density through the anodization increased by 117% and 49% for oxalic and phosphoric acids, respectively, for 10[Formula: see text]V increase (from 60 to 70 V) in anodization voltage. Similarly, the etching rate increased by 100% for oxalic acid and by 40% for phosphoric acid which are responsible for 47% and 29% decreases in anodization duration, respectively. The highest value of circularity obtained for anodized Al–0.5[Formula: see text]wt.% Cu formed in oxalic acid at 60[Formula: see text]V was 0.86, and it was 0.80 for the phosphoric acid at 90[Formula: see text]V. Anodization of Al–0.5[Formula: see text]wt.% Cu films allows the formation of circular pores directly on [Formula: see text]-type silicon wafers which is of importance for future nanofabrication of advanced electronics. The results of anodized Al–0.5[Formula: see text]wt.% Cu thin film were compared with other anodized systems such as anodized pure Al and Al doped with Si.
Estimation of optimum sample size allocation: An illustration with body mass index for evaluating the effect of a dietetic supplement
Authors: Bouza-Herrera Carlos N. , Allende-Alonso Sira M. , Vishwakarma Gajendra K. , Singh Neha
Published: September 2019

In many medical researches, it is needed to determine the optimal sample size allocation in a heterogeneous population. This paper proposes the algorithm for optimal sample size allocation. We consider the optimal allocation problem as an optimization problem and the solution is obtained by using Bisection, Secant, Regula–Falsi and other numerical methods. The performance of the algorithm for different numerical methods are analyzed and evaluated in terms of computing time, number of iterations and gain in accuracy using stratification. The efficacy of algorithm is evaluated for the response in terms of body mass index (BMI) to the dietetic supplement with diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS and cancer post-operatory recovery patients.
Some additive results on M-P inverse of operator product
Authors: Xiong Zhiping , Zhou Wanna
Published: September 2019

The M-P inverse has many important applications in the aspects of theoretic research of operator and statistics. One of the core problems in M-P inverse is to find the M-P inverse of operator product. In this paper, by using the technique of matrix form of bounded linear operators, we study the existence and give an expression of the M-P inverse of an operator product. In particular, by applying this expression, we introduce a formula for the M-P inverse of a sum of two operators.
High Energy Density Asymmetric Supercapacitor Based on NiCo2S4/CNTs Hybrid and Carbon Nanotube Paper Electrodes
Authors: Sajjad Muhammad , Chen Xu , Yu Chunxin , Guan Linlin , Zhang Shuyu , Ren Yang , Zhou Xiaowei , Liu Zhu
Published: September 2019

NiCo2S4/CNTs (NCS/CNTs) hybrid nanostructures have been synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method with varying content of CNTs. The structure and morphology of the synthesized NCS/CNTs hybrid revealed the formation of platelets anchored on the CNT matrix. When evaluated as electrode materials for supercapacitor, the as-synthesized NCS/CNT-1 hybrid (with 1% of CNT) manifested remarkable specific capacitance of 1690[Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] at the current density of 5[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. More importantly, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) assembled based on NCS/CNT-1 as positive electrode and carbon nanotube paper (CNP) as a negative electrode delivered high energy density of 58[Formula: see text]Wh[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text] under power density of 8[Formula: see text]kW[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the ASC device exhibited high cycling stability and 77.7% of initial specific capacitance retention after 7000 charge–discharge cycles at a current density of 8[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. The large enhancement in the electrochemical performance is attributed to the benefits of the nanostructured architecture, including good mechanical stability, high electrical conductivity as well as buffering for the volume changes during charge–discharge process. These convincing results show that NCS/CNTs hybrid nanostructures are promising electrode materials for high energy density supercapacitors (SCs).
Detecting Causal Relationships in Simulation Models Using Intervention-based Counterfactual Analysis
Authors: Herd Benjamin C. , Miles Simon
Published: September 2019

Central to explanatory simulation models is their capability to not just show
that
but also
why
particular things happen. Explanation is closely related with the detection of causal relationships and is, in a simulation context, typically done by means of controlled experiments. However, for complex simulation models, conventional “blackbox” experiments may be too coarse-grained to cope with spurious relationships. We present an intervention-based causal analysis methodology that exploits the manipulability of computational models, and detects and circumvents spurious effects. The core of the methodology is a formal model that maps basic causal assumptions to causal observations and allows for the identification of combinations of assumptions that have a negative impact on observability. First, experiments indicate that the methodology can successfully deal with notoriously tricky situations involving asymmetric and symmetric overdetermination and detect fine-grained causal relationships between events in the simulation. As illustrated in the article, the methodology can be easily integrated into an existing simulation environment.
An Analysis of Approaches Taken in the ACM RecSys Challenge 2018 for Automatic Music Playlist Continuation
Authors: Zamani Hamed , Schedl Markus , Lamere Paul , Chen Ching-Wei
Published: September 2019

The ACM Recommender Systems Challenge 2018 focused on the task of automatic music playlist continuation, which is a form of the more general task of sequential recommendation. Given a playlist of arbitrary length with some additional meta-data, the task was to recommend up to 500 tracks that fit the target characteristics of the original playlist. For the RecSys Challenge, Spotify released a dataset of one million user-generated playlists. Participants could compete in two tracks, i.e., main and creative tracks. Participants in the main track were only allowed to use the provided training set, however, in the creative track, the use of external public sources was permitted. In total, 113 teams submitted 1,228 runs to the main track; 33 teams submitted 239 runs to the creative track. The highest performing team in the main track achieved an R-precision of 0.2241, an NDCG of 0.3946, and an average number of recommended songs clicks of 1.784. In the creative track, an R-precision of 0.2233, an NDCG of 0.3939, and a click rate of 1.785 was obtained by the best team. This article provides an overview of the challenge, including motivation, task definition, dataset description, and evaluation. We further report and analyze the results obtained by the top-performing teams in each track and explore the approaches taken by the winners. We finally summarize our key findings, discuss generalizability of approaches and results to domains other than music, and list the open avenues and possible future directions in the area of automatic playlist continuation.
Rolling dice at the nanoscale
Authors: Zhang Xiangyu , Bashizade Ramin
Published: September 2019

Can emerging devices allow us to overcome the inherent determinism of digital logic?
Toward decentralization: Democracy for devices
Authors: Shivaraman Nitin
Published: September 2019

As more and more devices are connected to one another, there is a growing shift to decentralized independent operation without the need of a central controller. We look into the aspects of collective operation, resilience, security, and peer-to-peer economy in a decentralized network, analyzing the benefits and challenges of introducing "democracy" among devices.
Toward a universal quantum programming language
Authors: Palsberg Jens
Published: September 2019

Quantum computing may be more powerful than classical computing, but it has a radically different programming model. While current languages are in their infancy and future languages are likely to be different, now is a great time for language designers and implementers to try new ideas.
Revisiting Gilbert Strang's "a chaotic search for
i
"
Authors: Li Ao , Corless Robert M.
Published: September 2019

In the paper "A Chaotic Search for
i
" ([25]), Strang completely explained the behaviour of Newton's method when using real initial guesses on
f
(
x
) =
x
2
+ 1, which has only the pair of complex roots ±
i
. He explored an exact symbolic formula for the iteration, namely

x
n

= cot (2

n

θ
0
), which is valid in exact arithmetic. In this paper, we extend this to to

k
th

order Householder methods, which include Halley's method, and to the secant method. Two formulae,

x
n

= cot (
θ

n
-1

+
θ

n
-2

) with
θ

n
-1

= arccot (
x

n
-1

) and
θ

n
-2

= arccot (
x

n
-2

), and

x
n

= cot ((
k
+ 1)

n

θ
0
) with
θ
0
= arccot(
x
0
), are provided. The asymptotic behaviour and periodic character are illustrated by experimental computation. We show that other methods (Schröder iterations of the first kind) are generally not so simple. We also explain an old method that can be used to allow Maple's
Fractals[Newton]
package to visualize general one-step iterations by disguising them as Newton iterations.
Diversity, Mechanisms, and Significance of Macrophage Plasticity
Authors: Locati Massimo , Curtale Graziella , Mantovani Alberto
Published: September 2019

Macrophages are a diverse set of cells present in all body compartments. This diversity is imprinted by their ontogenetic origin (embryonal versus adult bone marrow–derived cells); the organ context; by their activation or deactivation by various signals in the contexts of microbial invasion, tissue damage, and metabolic derangement; and by polarization of adaptive T cell responses. Classic adaptive responses of macrophages include tolerance, priming, and a wide spectrum of activation states, including M1, M2, or M2-like. Moreover, macrophages can retain long-term imprinting of microbial encounters (trained innate immunity). Single-cell analysis of mononuclear phagocytes in health and disease has added a new dimension to our understanding of the diversity of macrophage differentiation and activation. Epigenetic landscapes, transcription factors, and microRNA networks underlie the adaptability of macrophages to different environmental cues. Macrophage plasticity, an essential component of chronic inflammation, and its involvement in diverse human diseases, most notably cancer, is discussed here as a paradigm.
Oral delivery of nanoparticle urolithin A normalizes cellular stress and improves survival in mouse model of cisplatin-induced AKI
Authors: Zou Dianxiong , Ganugula Raghu , Arora Meenakshi , Nabity Mary B. , Sheikh-Hamad David , Kumar M. N. V. Ravi
Published: September 2019

The popular anticancer drug cisplatin causes many adverse side effects, the most serious of which is acute kidney injury (AKI). Emerging evidence from laboratory and clinical studies suggests that the AKI pathogenesis involves oxidative stress pathways; therefore, regulating such pathways may offer protection. Urolithin A (UA), a gut metabolite of the dietary tannin ellagic acid, possesses antioxidant properties and has shown promise in mouse models of AKI. However, therapeutic potential of UA is constrained by poor bioavailability. We aimed to improve oral bioavailability of UA by formulating it into biodegradable nanoparticles that use a surface-conjugated ligand targeting the gut-expressed transferrin receptor. Nanoparticle encapsulation of UA led to a sevenfold enhancement in oral bioavailability compared with native UA. Treatment with nanoparticle UA also significantly attenuated the histopathological hallmarks of cisplatin-induced AKI and reduced mortality by 63% in the mouse model. Expression analyses indicated that nanoparticle UA therapy coincided with oxidative stress mitigation and downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2- and P53-inducible genes. Additionally, normalization of miRNA (miR-192-5p and miR-140-5p) implicated in AKI, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 levels, antiapoptotic signaling, intracellular NAD+, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation were observed in the treatment group. Our findings suggest that nanoparticles greatly increase the oral bioavailability of UA, leading to improved survival rates in AKI mice, in part by reducing renal oxidative and apoptotic stress.
A common mechanism modulates saccade timing during pursuit and fixation
Authors: Badler Jeremy B. , Watamaniuk Scott N. J. , Heinen Stephen J.
Published: September 2019

Smooth pursuit is punctuated by catch-up saccades, which are thought to automatically correct sensory errors in retinal position and velocity. Recent studies have shown that the timing of catch-up saccades is susceptible to cognitive modulation, as is the timing of fixational microsaccades. Are the timing of catchup and microsaccades thus modulated by the same mechanism? Here, we test directly whether pursuit catch-up saccades and fixational microsaccades exhibit the same temporal pattern of task-related bursts and subsidence. Observers pursued a linear array of 15 alphanumeric characters that translated across the screen and simultaneously performed a character identification task on it. At a fixed time, a cue briefly surrounded the central element to specify it as the pursuit target. After a random delay, a probe (E or 3) appeared briefly at a randomly selected character location, and observers identified it. For comparison, a fixation condition was also tested with trial parameters identical to the pursuit condition, except that the array remained stationary. We found that during both pursuit and fixation tasks, saccades paused after the cue and then rebounded as expected but also subsided in anticipation of the task. The time courses of the reactive pause, rebound, and anticipatory subsidence were similar, and idiosyncratic subject behavior was consistent across pursuit and fixation. The results provide evidence for a common mechanism of saccade control during pursuit and fixation, which is predictive as well as reactive and has an identifiable temporal signature in individual observers.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY During natural scene viewing, voluntary saccades reorient the fovea to different locations for high-acuity viewing. Less is known about small “microsaccades” that also occur when fixating stationary objects and “catch-up saccades” that occur during smooth pursuit of moving objects. We provide evidence that microsaccade and catch-up saccade frequencies are generally modulated by the same mechanism. Furthermore, on a finer time scale the mechanism operates differently in different observers, suggesting that neural saccade generators are individually unique.
Assessing the Relationship between Retail Store Tobacco Advertising and Local Tobacco Control Policies: A Massachusetts Case Study
Authors: Usidame Bukola , Miller Edward Alan , Cohen Joanna E.
Published: September 2019

Objective. This study documents the extent of tobacco ads in retail stores and evaluates its association with the comprehensiveness of local tobacco control policies in the state of Massachusetts, US. Methods. Using a two-stage cluster sampling method, we sampled 419 retail stores across 42 municipalities to assess the presence and count of nine mutually exclusive tobacco ad categories. Tobacco ads by store type and municipality were analyzed using summary statistics and contingency tables. Regression models tested the association between the extent of tobacco ads and local tobacco control policy comprehensiveness. Results. Overall, 86.6% (n = 363) of all the retail stores had tobacco ads. On average, there were 6.7 ads per retail store (SD = 6.61) and 2804 ads across all the retail stores (range = 0 : 32). Retail stores had an average of three different categories of tobacco ads (mean = 2.98, SD = 1.84). Across all retail stores, the most frequent ad categories were power walls (80.0%) and e-cigarette ads (55.8%). Retail stores in municipalities with more comprehensive local tobacco control policies were more likely to have fewer tobacco ads (IRR = 0.92, p<0.01) and a lower number of tobacco ad categories (OR = 0.88, p<0.05). Conclusion. Municipalities can adopt more comprehensive tobacco control policies to help limit the extent of tobacco retail advertising. This can ultimately reduce smoking in their jurisdiction.
SGK1 Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Injury by Regulating Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Jiang Daofang , Fu Chensheng , Xiao Jing , Zhang Zhenxing , Zou Jianan , Ye Zhibin , Zhang Xiaoli
Published: September 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the early stages or progression of many renal diseases. Improving mitochondrial function and homeostasis has the potential to protect renal function. Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) is known to regulate various cellular processes, including cell survival. In this study, we intend to demonstrate the effect and molecular mechanisms of SGK1 in renal tubular cells upon oxidative stress injury and to determine whether regulation of mitochondrial function is implicated in this process. HK-2 cells were exposed to H2O2, and cell viability and apoptosis were dynamically detected by the CCK-8 assay and annexin-V/PI staining. The concentrations of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the expression of the SGK1/GSK3β/PGC-1α signaling pathway were analyzed by flow cytometry or western blot. In addition, shRNA targeting SGK1 and SB216763 were added into the culture medium before H2O2 exposure to downregulate SGK1 and GSK3β, respectively. Cell viability and mitochondrial functions, including mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), Cytochrome C release, mtDNA copy number, and mitochondrial biogenesis, were examined. Protein levels and SGK1 activation were significantly stimulated by H2O2 exposure. HK-2 cells with SGK1 inhibition were much more sensitive to H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury than control group cells, as they exhibited increased apoptotic cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction involving the deterioration of cellular ATP production, ROS accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential reduction, and release of Cytochrome C into the cytoplasm. Studies on SGK1 knockdown also indicated that SGK1 is required for the induction of proteins associated with mitochondrial biogenesis, including PGC-1α, NRF-1, and TFAM. Moreover, the deleterious effects of SGK1 suppression on cell apoptosis and mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial biogenesis, were related to the phosphorylation of GSK3β and partially reversed by SB216763 treatment. H2O2 leads to SGK1 overexpression in HK-2 cells, which protects human renal tubule cells from oxidative stress injury by improving mitochondrial function and inactivating GSK3β.
Synergistic Adsorption and Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Irradiation Using Ag-ZnO/GO Nanoparticles Derived at Low Temperature
Authors: Tran Thi Viet Ha , Cao The Ha , Pham Tri Nhut , Pham Tien Thanh , Le Manh Cuong
Published: September 2019

Ag-ZnO/graphene oxide (AG-ZnO/GO) nanocomposite was synthesized via facile aqueous solution reactions at low temperature in order to improve the photocatalytic activity for cationic dye removal under visible light irradiation. Analytical techniques were carried out in order to determine the abilities including structure, state of elements, morphology, and surface area of synthesized materials. Ag-ZnO/GO nanocomposite presented an extremely high removal rate of methylene blue (MB) not only under UV light (over 99% removal) but also under visible light (85% removal) during the same irradiation time. In this study, initial process parameters of catalyst dosage, MB concentration, and pH of the solution were also examined for MB removal efficiency effects. The proposed mechanisms for the increased removal of MB by Ag-ZnO/GO nanocomposite under visible irradiation include increased photocatalytic degradation, mainly due to increased charge transfer capacity by lowering band gap energy; minimized recombination of the excited electron-hole pairs of ZnO with the addition of Ag into the ZnO crystal lattice; and an increased adsorption capacity with the addition of GO with high surface area and semiconductor function with zero band gap energy.
Case Reports on Metaplastic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast and Treatment Dilemma
Authors: Pandey Anita , Joshi Kishor , Moussouris Harry , Joseph Gardith
Published: September 2019

Metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a very rare form of breast cancer that consists of both glandular and nonglandular components mixed with epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. Worldwide, the incidence of this tumor is between 0.1 and 2%. Because of the rarity of this tumor and heterogeneous behavior of the tumor cells, it is difficult to establish the standard therapeutic approach. We report 2 cases of metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma of the breast in young patients with different responses to treatment strategies. The first case is a premenopausal female with metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, and the second case is perimenopausal metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid subtype and osteoid matrix production which progressed on chemotherapy and was treated with surgery and radiation.
Additive Manufacturing: A Novel Method for Developing an Acoustic Panel Made of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites with Enhanced Mechanical and Acoustical Properties
Authors: Sekar Vignesh , Fouladi Mohammad Hosseini , Namasivayam Satesh Narayana , Sivanesan Sivakumar
Published: September 2019

Natural fibers and their composites are being widely used in almost all the applications in this modern era. However, the properties of natural fibers have to be enhanced in order to compete with synthetic fibers. This review paper opens up additive manufacturing, as a novel method for developing an acoustic panel using natural fiber composites with enhanced mechanical and acoustical properties. This approach will help to replace synthetic-based acoustic absorbers with biodegradable composite panels in acoustic applications. This review also covers, poly(lactic acid) as a polymer matrix and its advantages, the available variety of natural fibers as reinforcement in terms of mechanical and acoustical properties. The natural fiber-based filaments used in additive manufacturing and acoustic panels made from the available natural fibers are also elaborated here. This review shows the importance of additive manufacturing and its application to develop novel acoustic panels made of agricultural waste.
Phikud Navakot Modulates the Level of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators and the Protein Expression of SOD1 and 2 and the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in Rats with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Gerdprasert Orapin , Choomchuay Nantana , Chantong Boonrat , Sutanthavibul Narueporn , Meksuriyen Duangdeun , Nusuetrong Punnee
Published: September 2019

Phikud Navakot (PN) is nine major herbs in a famous traditional Thai recipe namely “Yahom Navakot” used to treat cardiovascular disorders. This study investigated the cardioprotective effects of PN formula on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (IMI) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Forty-five rats were randomly divided into nine groups (n = 5 per group): the control, the IMI, the IMI + propranolol, the control or the IMI + PN formula (PN ethanolic extract at doses of 64, 127, or 255 mg/kg) by oroesophageal gavage for 28 days. The ST segment and serum troponin T levels were significantly increased in IMI rats. PN did not eliminate tissue necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, or interstitial edema in IMI rats. All doses of PN decreased (p<0.001) serum TNF-αand IL-6 levels. PN (127 and 255 mg/kg) up-regulated (p<0.05) heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression, whereas PN (255 mg/kg) significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 and 2 expression, compared with IMI rats. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and HO-1 expression significantly increased in IMI rats and IMI rats that received PN. PN formula possesses potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by modulating the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and antioxidant enzymes. Our study reveals a novel cardioprotective effect of PN in IMI rats through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.
Unloading Creep Characteristics of Frozen Clay Subjected to Long‐Term High‐Pressure K0 Consolidation before Freezing
Authors: Jia Jinbo , Wang Yansen , Leng Yangguang
Published: September 2019

Artificial ground freezing has been widely applied in the construction of vertical shafts in deep and thick alluvia. As an important factor, the in situ creep behavior of deep, frozen soil affects the mechanical properties of frozen walls and the safety and stability of shaft linings. Acquiring creep characteristics and deep soil parameters by methods that ignore the engineering and geological situations is currently inadvisable. A series of triaxial unloading tests were conducted with frozen clay subjected to long‐term high‐pressure K0 consolidation before freezing to research the unloading creep characteristics, creep strength, and other parameters of the clay, and the results indicated the following: (1) The creep behaviors of frozen clay are affected by the consolidation time and consolidation stress. Long‐term high‐pressure K0 consolidation reduces the creep strain and creep rate of frozen clay. (2) The decrease in the ice and the unfrozen water contents of frozen clay caused by the prolongation of consolidation time result in an increase in the long‐term strength and instantaneous strength. Consolidation time has an obvious effect on long‐term strength and weakens the creep property of frozen clay. Consolidation stress significantly affects the instantaneous strength. (3) The deformation resistance capability of frozen clay is enhanced by compaction; thus, E1, η1, and η2 increase with prolonged consolidation, and the nonlinearity of the accelerated creep increases.
Polarization and DOA Estimation Based on Dual-Polarized Conformal Array
Authors: Liu Chao , Xiang Shuai , Xu Liangfeng , Fang Zhengfei
Published: September 2019

A dual-polarized multiple signal classification (DP-MUSIC) algorithm is presented to estimate the arrival directions and polarizations for a dual-polarized conformal array. Each polarization signal is decomposed into two orthogonal polarization components, which are considered to be a pair of coherent signals coming from the same direction but different polarization. The polarization parameters are modeled as the equivalent coherence coefficients of the orthogonal polarization components. Then, the method of decoherence can be used to decouple the information of polarization states and signal angles. After that, the direction of arrival (DOA) and polarization parameters can be estimated by the DP-MUSIC algorithm. Moreover, the angles of incident direction are re-estimated, which greatly improves the accuracy of DOA estimation. The Cramer–Rao bound (CRB) is derived and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by Monte Carlo simulations.
Immune Profiles of Tumor Microenvironment and Clinical Prognosis among Women with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Deng Ling , Lu Donghao , Bai Yingnan , Wang Yanping , Bu Hong , Zheng Hong
Published: September 2019

Background:

The impact of the immune landscape of the microenvironment on cancer progression is not well understood for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We, therefore, aimed to examine the association of immune cell enrichment scores as a proxy for immune profiles of tumor microenvironment with TNBC prognosis.

Methods:

We included 76 patients with TNBC diagnosed between 2008 to 2016 in West China Hospital and 158 patients with TNBC from The Cancer Genome Atlas. On the basis of transcriptome data, we calculated the overall ImmuneScore and type-specific enrichment scores for 34 types of immune cells, using xCell, a gene signature–based method. HRs of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:

During the median follow-up time of 2.8 (0.1–9.8) years, 42 patients had a recurrence, and 34 patients died. The overall ImmuneScore and most immune cell enrichment scores were relatively higher in tumors than normal tissues. A higher enrichment score of plasma cells was associated with favorable RFS [HR 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.27–0.73] and OS (HR 0.32; 95% CI, 0.17–0.61). The score of CD4+ central memory T cell (Tcm) was negatively associated with RFS (HR 1.52; 95% CI, 1.17–1.97). Besides, CD4+ Tcm enrichment score was higher in invasive tumors that were not ductal/lobular carcinoma (OR 1.59; 95% CI, 1.06–2.37).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that plasma cells and CD4+ Tcm in the tumor microenvironment may play a role in the subsequent progression of TNBC.

Impact:

This study provides evidence of the role of immune cells in TNBC progression that may have clinical utility.
Processed Meat Intake and Bladder Cancer Risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cohort
Authors: Xu Xin
Published: September 2019

Background:

The association between processed meat intake and bladder cancer risk has been evaluated by several observational studies with inconsistent results.

Methods:

In a cohort of 101,721 subjects in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, we analyzed the association of processed meat intake with bladder cancer risk.

Results:

After a median of 12.5 years of follow-up, 776 new cases of bladder cancer were identified. Intake of processed red meat was significantly associated with the incidence of bladder cancer after multivariate adjustment [highest vs. lowest quintile: HR, 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12–1.93; Ptrend = 0.008]. In contrast, there was only a suggestive but not significant association between intake of total processed meat and bladder cancer risk after multivariable adjustment (highest vs. lowest quintile: HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.89–1.50; Ptrend = 0.073).

Conclusions:

This large prospective study suggests that intake of processed red meat is associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer.

Impact:

Bladder cancer risk is increased with cumulative intake of processed red meat.
Influence of Buffers of Different pH and Composition on the Murine Skin Barrier, Epidermal Proliferation, Differentiation, and Inflammation
Authors: Proksch Ehrhardt , Soeberdt Michael , Neumann Claudia , Kilic Ana , Reich Hubert , Abels Christoph
Published: September 2019

The pH of the skin is tightly regulated by endogenous buffering systems. We examined the influence of buffers of different pH and composition on skin barrier repair, pH, inflammation, and epidermal thickness/proliferation/differentiation. After tape-stripping in hairless mice buffers with pH 4–7 were applied in patch test chambers. After removal of the chambers, skin pH and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were monitored for 24 h, and biopsies were taken for histology/immunohistology. Hairless mice showed a basal skin pH of about 5.8. Following barrier disruption and application of water, the pH increased by 0.6 units; increase in pH was reduced by the pH 4 glycolate buffer, unchanged by pH 4 citrate and pH 5.5 buffers, and even increased by the pH 7 buffer. pH 5.5, pH 4 citrate, and pH 4 glycolate buffers led to a slight, while the pH 7 buffer led to a significant increase in TEWL after barrier disruption compared to water. The pH 7 buffers led to a significant increase in epidermal thickness/proliferation/differentiation and inflammation after barrier disruption, whereas buffers with pH 4 and 5.5 caused a slight increase. In conclusion, only the pH 4 glycolate buffer significantly reduced the skin barrier disruption-related increase in skin pH. This was accompanied by only slight increase in epidermal thickness and inflammation compared to water. Application of the pH 7 buffer led to a significant increase in the skin pH, TEWL, epidermal thickness, and inflammation. The results are important for the formulation of topical products for effective acidification in pathological skin conditions.
Risk Factors for Nephrolithiasis in Adults with Short Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Yang Jianbo , Sun Haifeng , Wan Songlin , Mamtawla Gulsudum , Gao Xuejin , Zhang Li , Li Yousheng , Wang Xinying , Li Jieshou
Published: September 2019

Introduction: Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) commonly develop nephrolithiasis. However, the risk factors for nephrolithiasis in patients with SBS remain unclarified. The present study aimed to identify the risk factors for nephrolithiasis in adults with SBS. Methods: All eligible adults diagnosed with SBS and admitted to a tertiary referral center from December 2008 to 2018 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the risk factors for nephrolithiasis. Results: Of 231 adults with SBS, 42 (18.2%) developed nephrolithiasis. The mean age was 46.4 ± 17.8 years, the mean body mass index was 18.2 ± 3.8 kg/m2, and median duration of SBS was 11 months (range 2–324 months). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for nephrolithiasis in adults with SBS were jejuno-ileal anastomosis and colon-in-continuity (OR 4.335; 95% CI 1.175–16.002; p = 0.028), prolonged duration of SBS (OR 1.008; 95% CI 1.002–1.014; p = 0.010), and increased serum creatinine concentration (OR 1.005; 95% CI 1.001–1.009; p = 0.012). Conclusions: Nephrolithiasis is common in adults with SBS. As nephrolithiasis can have adverse clinical consequences, patients with SBS should be closely monitored, and prophylactic interventions should be considered.