bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Rotavirus A in Nigeria: Molecular Diversity and Current Insights
Authors: Motayo Babatunde Olanrewaju , Faneye Adedayo Omotayo , Adeniji Johnson Adekunle
Published: October 2018

Rotavirus induced acute gastroenteritis AGE has been a major disease burden in Nigeria, since it was first reported in 1985. Prevalence rates have increased with severe public health consequences particularly among children. The vaccine Rotarix® has been introduced and is commercially available in Nigeria. However routine rotavirus vaccination is yet to be introduced into the National Immunization Program. Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus in Nigeria has shown the presence of various genotypes, with genotype G12P[8]being the most recent introduction. There are however gaps in molecular data on rotavirus in Nigeria. We therefore reviewed molecular data on rotavirus isolated in Nigeria and also analyzed VP4 and VP7 genes of Nigerian rotavirus strains in Genbank. We have shown that there is a distinct trend in rotavirus molecular epidemiology in Nigeria, with new genotype introductions occurring after the year 2010. We also observed from our analysis the emergence of genotype G12 Lineage III as a dominant genotype. This information elucidates rotavirus molecular epidemiology in Nigeria and gives insight to the expanding landscape of rotavirus genotypes. We recommend the institution of molecular surveillance country wide, before considering the inclusion of rotavirus vaccination into the National Immunization Program in Nigeria, in other to monitor evolution of divergent or recombinant strains.
A Social Robot, “Dali,” for Aging in Place Technology
Authors: Um Dugan , Park Jangwoon , Shin Jeongsik , Lee Woo Ho
Published: October 2018

Healthcare has a trend of going hi-tech. With an aging population growing more than ever, researchers and health care providers are now relying on robots to ease the symptoms of dementia and help an aging population stay where they would like, at home. Several therapeutic robots such as Paro recently introduced in the markets are manifestation of such trends. In this paper, we propose a social robot missioned to autonomously capture images of people and feed multimedia contents to a social network or to a hospital for various social activities or for health monitoring purpose. The main technical barriers of such robots include autonomous navigation, human face detection, distance, and angle adjustment for clean and better shots. To that end, we study autonomous mapping/navigation as well as optimal image capturing technology via motion planning and visual servoing. To overcome the mapping and navigation at a crowded environment, we use the potential field path planning harnessed with two competitive potential update techniques. The robot is an agent navigating in a potential field where detected environmental significances provide sources of attractive forces, while previously occupied locations estimated by SLAM technique provide sources of repelling forces. We also study visual servo technique to optimize image capturing processes. This includes facial recognition, photographic distance/angle adjustment, and backlight avoidance. We tested several scenarios with the assembled robot for its usefulness.
Construction Prototyping, Flight Dynamics Modeling, and Aerodynamic Analysis of Hybrid VTOL Unmanned Aircraft
Authors: Czyba Roman , Lemanowicz Marcin , Gorol Zbigniew , Kudala Tomasz
Published: October 2018

A challenging issue associated with fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is that these vehicles are often not appropriate for operating effectively in limited airspace. This problem emerges especially in urban environment where the usage of a runway is not possible, and UAVs usually have to fly at a relatively low speed and altitude. The development of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing plane is a promising trend which hopefully will solve this issue. This paper presents the design process of an unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft including prototyping of the airframe construction and mathematical modeling as well as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The designed system is to be a hybrid platform, for which different operating modes correspond to the vertical flight, transition, and spatial flight in the airframe system. The paper discusses an iterative design process of the platform with emphasis on CAD design and aerodynamic analysis for particular flight modes. The operating prototype is presented and future plans for platform improvement are discussed.
Self-Similarity Analysis of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation in the Madelung Form
Authors: Barna Imre F. , Pocsai Mihály A. , Mátyás L.
Published: October 2018

In the present study a particular case of Gross-Pitaevskii or nonlinear Schrödinger equation is rewritten to a form similar to a hydrodynamic Euler equation using the Madelung transformation. The obtained system of differential equations is highly nonlinear. Regarding the solutions, a larger coefficient of the nonlinear term yields stronger deviation of the solution from the linear case.
On Computability and Applicability of Mann-Reich-Sabach-Type Algorithms for Approximating the Solutions of Equilibrium Problems in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Isiogugu F. O. , Pillay P. , Nwokoro P. U.
Published: October 2018

We establish the existence of a strong convergent selection of a modified Mann-Reich-Sabach iteration scheme for approximating the common elements of the set of fixed points F(T) of a multivalued (or single-valued) k-strictly pseudocontractive-type mapping T and the set of solutions EP(F) of an equilibrium problem for a bifunction F in a real Hilbert space H. This work is a continuation of the study on the computability and applicability of algorithms for approximating the solutions of equilibrium problems for bifunctions involving the construction of a sequence {Kn}n=1∞ of closed convex subsets of H from an arbitrary x0∈H and a sequence {xn}n=1∞ of the metric projections of x0 into Kn. The obtained result is a partial resolution of the controversy over the computability of such algorithms in the contemporary literature.
Uniformity Assessment of TRISO Fuel Particle Distribution in Spherical HTGR Fuel Element Using Voronoi Tessellation and Delaunay Triangulation
Authors: Zhu Libing , Xiang Xincheng , Du Yi , Yu Gongyi , Li Ziqiang , Peng Yahui , Wang Xiangang
Published: October 2018

Nonuniform distribution of tri-structural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles in a spherical fuel element (SFE) may increase the failure probability of the SFE in the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, leading to the release of fission products. To evaluate the uniformity of the TRISO particles nondestructively, 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography is used to image the SFE, and TRISO particles are segmented. After TRISO particle positions are identified, the Voronoi tessellation and Delaunay triangulation are used to extract several geometric metrics. Results indicate that both the Voronoi volume distribution and the nearest neighbor-distance distribution follow the log-normal distributions, which provide strong evidence that the TRISO particles are approximately randomly uniformly distributed. Further study will be focused on validating the conclusion with more SFE data.
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Four Organic Acids Used in Chicks Feed to ControlSalmonella typhimurium: Suggestion of Amendment in the Search Standard
Authors: El Baaboua Aicha , El Maadoudi Mohamed , Bouyahya Abdelhakim , Belmehdi Omar , Kounnoun Ayoub , Zahli Rajae , Abrini Jamal
Published: October 2018

Today, the general public has become increasingly aware of salmonellosis problems. Organic acids are known by their antimicrobial potential and commonly used for improving the quality of poultry feed. In this context, the present work evaluated the inhibitory effect of four organic acids, namely, acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, and tartaric acid, at different levels of contamination bySalmonella typhimurium. The neutralization of these organic acidsin vitroand in the presence of one-day-old chick’s organs was also investigated during the search forSalmonellaserovars in birds as described in the Moroccan standard “NM 08.0.550.” The effect of four organic acids onSalmonella typhimuriumwas testedin vitroand in the presence of chick’s organs at different concentrations set of strain and organic acids tested. The MIC results demonstrated that tartaric acid, citric acid, and acetic acid inhibitedSalmonella typhimuriumat concentrations of 0.312%, 0.625%, and 0.512% for the three levels of strain: 10, 100, and 103 CFU/ml, respectively, while lactic acid and depending on the amount of the strain introduced acts differently: 0.078% for 10 CFU/ml and 0.156% for 100 and 103 CFU/ml. The concentration of 0.04M of Na2HPO4solution has proved,in vitro, in caecums and organs of chicks (in presence of organic acids) that strain introduced, even at low concentrations, can be recovered. The use of additives has beneficial effects inSalmonellacontrol program. However, the present results recommend the amendment ofSalmonellaresearch standard, taking into account the probable presence of organic acids in digestive content of one-day-old chicks.
The Impact of a New Pedagogical Intervention on Nursing Students’ Knowledge Acquisition in Simulation-Based Learning: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Haukedal Thor Arne , Reierson Inger Åse , Hedeman Hanne , Bjørk Ida Torunn
Published: October 2018

Simulation-based learning is an effective technique for teaching nursing students’ skills and knowledge related to patient deterioration. This study examined students’ acquisition of theoretical knowledge about symptoms, pathophysiology, and nursing actions after implementing an educational intervention during simulation-based learning. A quasi-experimental study compared theoretical knowledge among two groups of students before and after implementation of the intervention. The intervention introduced the following new components to the existing technique: a knowledge test prior to the simulation, video-recording of the performance, and introduction of a structured observation form used by students and facilitator during observation and debriefing. The intervention group had significantly higher scores on a knowledge test conducted after the simulations in comparison to the scores in the control group. In both groups scores were highest on knowledge of symptoms and lowest on knowledge of pathophysiology; the intervention group had significantly higher scores than the control group on both topics. Students’ theoretical knowledge of patient deterioration may be enhanced by improving the students’ prerequisites for learning and by strengthening debriefing after simulation.
Population-Wide Associations between Common Viral Pathogens and Self-Reported Arthritis: NHANES 2009-2012
Authors: Shmagel Anna , Skemp-Dymond Grace , Langsetmo Lisa , Schousboe John T. , Ensrud Kristine , Foley Robert
Published: October 2018

Objective. Persistent infectious agents have been implicated in chronic and recurrent inflammation, which may trigger or worsen many types of arthritis. Our objective was to determine whether exposure to herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with self-reported arthritis among US adults. Methods. We used data from two consecutive cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009 until 2012 (N of examined adults ages 20-69 = 9483). Participants were classified as having arthritis by self-report. Viral serology for HSV-1 and HSV-2 and HPV PCR studies from oral rinse and vaginal swabs were available for analysis. We compared HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity as well as oral and vaginal HPV DNA positivity between participants with self-reported arthritis vs. those without, adjusting for age, gender, race, income, education, BMI, and the use of immunosuppressive medications. We used three comparator outcomes, gout, kidney stones, and hypertension, to evaluate whether the associations were specific or not to arthritis. Results. Arthritis was associated with older age, female gender, non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black race, higher BMI, and lower socioeconomic status. HSV-2 seropositivity, but not HSV-1 seropositivity, was independently associated with arthritis after adjustment for age, gender, race, income, education, BMI, and the use of immunosuppressive medications: AOR 1.48 (1.10-1.99). Oral HPV DNA positivity was also independently associated with arthritis: AOR 1.63 (1.17-2.28). After adjustment, there was no statistically significant difference in vaginal HPV DNA positivity between those with vs. those without arthritis: AOR 1.22 (0.90-1.66). There were no significant associations between viral exposures and any of the comparator outcomes. Conclusions. HSV-2 seropositivity and oral HPV DNA positivity were associated with self-reported arthritis and not with comparator outcomes, after adjustment for multiple potential confounders. These findings should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.
Bednar Tumour Occurring after Malignant Melanoma Excision
Authors: Ferlosio Amedeo , Di Prete Monia , Rossi Piero , Campione Elena , Orlandi Augusto
Published: October 2018

We report the case of a seventy-four-year-old man with a slow-growing 2 cm mass on the back that arose near the surgical scar of previously excised melanoma, invasive to a Breslow depth of 3 mm. Preoperative clinical diagnosis was “in-transit” melanoma metastasis. After surgical excision, histopathologic examination revealed a dermal nodular proliferation of spindle cells arranged in storiform pattern, with mild pleomorphism, infiltrating around appendages and into the subcutaneous tissue. Immunohistochemical investigation documented diffuse positivity for CD34 and vimentin of spindle cells. Scattered dendritic cells, containing dark pigment in varying proportion and positive for S100, Melan-A and HMB-45, were also observed. A final diagnosis of Bednar tumour was formulated. Subsequently, the patient developed numerous metastases from the primary melanoma and died after 18 months. Bednar tumour is a rare pigmented variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of intermediate malignant potential. The presence of pigmented cells in Bednar tumour requires careful differential diagnosis with malignant or benign pigmented skin tumours. The clinical history of a Bednar tumour developing close to the scar of a previous melanoma gives the opportunity of a critical and intriguing discussion about the potential origin of pigmented cells in this rare variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Mid and Near-Infrared Reflection Spectral Database of Natural Organic Materials in the Cultural Heritage Field
Authors: Invernizzi Claudia , Rovetta Tommaso , Licchelli Maurizio , Malagodi Marco
Published: October 2018

This study presents mid and near-infrared (7500-375 cm−1) total reflection mode spectra of several natural organic materials used in artworks as binding media, consolidants, adhesives, or protective coatings. A novel approach to describe and interpret reflectance bands as well as calculated absorbance after Kramers-Kronig transformation (KKT) is proposed. Transflection mode spectra have represented a valuable support both to study the distorted reflectance bands and to validate the applicability and usefulness of the KK correction. The aim of this paper is to make available to scientists and conservators a comprehensive infrared reflection spectral database, together with its detailed interpretation, as a tool for the noninvasive identification of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, and resins by means of portable noncontact FTIR spectrometers.
Benefits of Seismic Isolation for Nuclear Structures Subjected to Severe Earthquake
Authors: Lo Frano Rosa
Published: October 2018

The Fukushima accident has reiterated that the seismic safety is a clear necessity in the design of nuclear power plants. To overcome the weaknesses of the plant design, appropriate measures or interventions have thus to be put in place to improve the nuclear safety. In this study, seismic isolation, widely adopted for conventional constructions, is considered as retrofit measure to provide superior performance of plant itself, even when exceptional events occur. In this paper, we numerically investigate the dynamic behaviour of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) plant subjected to 0.6g PGA; in doing that time-history analysis has been performed assuming the reactor building with and without isolators. For that purpose, a suitable FEM model has been implemented to provide in-structure response spectra at safety relevant locations and subsystem supports. Adequate steel and concrete properties as well as isolators properties, experimentally determined, have been assumed. Results have shown the benefits of seismic isolation for NPP that can so sustain levels of loading beyond the design input and demonstrated that failure of an isolation system cannot occur before failure of the isolated structure. However, the large horizontal displacements of the structure require appropriate considerations in the layout and interfaces for interconnected systems.
Mixed Epithelial and Stromal Tumor of the Kidney with Extension into Inferior Vena Cava: Case Report and Discussion of Adult Biphasic Cystic Renal Lesions and the Significance of Vascular Involvement
Authors: Picken Maria M. , Bova Davide , Pins Michael R. , Quek Marcus L.
Published: October 2018

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor (MEST) is a biphasic adult renal lesion composed of solid and cystic areas containing spindle cell stroma and epithelium that lines the tubules and cystic spaces. While most MEST lesions are benign, rare cases with malignant morphology and biology have been reported. We present a case of mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney (MEST) with extension into the inferior vena cava in a young adult male. We discuss the differential diagnosis of MEST in the context of other biphasic cystic renal lesions and the significance of vascular involvement in the setting of an otherwise benign tumor morphology.
Current Developments in Pt(IV) Prodrugs Conjugated with Bioactive Ligands
Authors: Li Xuejiao , Liu Yahong , Tian Hongqi
Published: October 2018

To overcome the side effects of and resistance to cisplatin, a variety of Pt(IV) prodrugs were designed and synthesized via different modifications including combination with lipid chains to increase hydrophobicity, conjugation with short peptide chains or nanoparticles to improve drug delivery, or addition of bioactive ligands to the axial positions of Pt(IV) complexes to exert dual-function effects. This review summarizes the recent progress in the development of Pt(IV) prodrugs conjugated with bioactive-targeting ligands, including histone deacetylase inhibitors, p53 agonists, alkylating agents, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Although Pt(IV) complexes that conjugated with bioactive ligands show satisfactory anticancer effects, none has been approved for clinical use. Therefore, we hope that this review will contribute to further study and development of Pt(IV) complexes conjugated with bioactive and other ligands.
Performance Assessment of Multiple Classifiers Based on Ensemble Feature Selection Scheme for Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Ghosh Monalisa , Sanyal Goutam
Published: October 2018

Sentiment classification or sentiment analysis has been acknowledged as an open research domain. In recent years, an enormous research work is being performed in these fields by applying various numbers of methodologies. Feature generation and selection are consequent for text mining as the high-dimensional feature set can affect the performance of sentiment analysis. This paper investigates the inability or incompetency of the widely used feature selection methods (IG, Chi-square, and Gini Index) with unigram and bigram feature set on four machine learning classification algorithms (MNB, SVM, KNN, and ME). The proposed methods are evaluated on the basis of three standard datasets, namely, IMDb movie review and electronics and kitchen product review dataset. Initially, unigram and bigram features are extracted by applying n-gram method. In addition, we generate a composite features vector CompUniBi (unigram + bigram), which is sent to the feature selection methods Information Gain (IG), Gini Index (GI), and Chi-square (CHI) to get an optimal feature subset by assigning a score to each of the features. These methods offer a ranking to the features depending on their score; thus a prominent feature vector (CompIG, CompGI, and CompCHI) can be generated easily for classification. Finally, the machine learning classifiers SVM, MNB, KNN, and ME used prominent feature vector for classifying the review document into either positive or negative. The performance of the algorithm is measured by evaluation methods such as precision, recall, and F-measure. Experimental results show that the composite feature vector achieved a better performance than unigram feature, which is encouraging as well as comparable to the related research. The best results were obtained from the combination of Information Gain with SVM in terms of highest accuracy.
Adaptive Secure Cross-Cloud Data Collaboration with Identity-Based Cryptography and Conditional Proxy Re-Encryption
Authors: Huang Qinlong , He Yue , Yue Wei , Yang Yixian
Published: October 2018

Data collaboration in cloud computing is more and more popular nowadays, and proxy deployment schemes are employed to realize cross-cloud data collaboration. However, data security and privacy are the most serious issues that would raise great concerns from users when they adopt cloud systems to handle data collaboration. Different cryptographic techniques are deployed in different cloud service providers, which makes cross-cloud data collaboration to be a deeper challenge. In this paper, we propose an adaptive secure cross-cloud data collaboration scheme with identity-based cryptography (IBC) and proxy re-encryption (PRE) techniques. We first present a secure cross-cloud data collaboration framework, which protects data confidentiality with IBC technique and transfers the collaborated data in an encrypted form by deploying a proxy close to the clouds. We then provide an adaptive conditional PRE protocol with the designed full identity-based broadcast conditional PRE algorithm, which can achieve flexible and conditional data re-encryption among ciphertexts encrypted in identity-based encryption manner and ciphertexts encrypted in identity-based broadcast encryption manner. The extensive analysis and experimental evaluations demonstrate the well security and performance of our scheme, which meets the secure data collaboration requirements in cross-cloud scenarios.
Comparative Antiviral Efficacy of Generic Sofosbuvir versus Brand Name Sofosbuvir with Ribavirin for the Treatment of Hepatitis C
Authors: Tang L. , Kamat M. , Shukla A. , Vora M. , Kalal C. , Kottilil S. , Shah S.
Published: October 2018

Background. Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major cause for liver failure and liver cancer and can be treated with highly effective all oral directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs. Generic versions of these DAAs are available in India. Method. This was an open-label, single-center, prospective, nonrandomized observational study for the comparative safety and efficacy of generic versus brand name sofosbuvir with ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection (all genotypes). Between December 2014 and December 2015, 66 patients received either generic sofosbuvir (400mg) or brand name SOLVALDI (400mg) with weight based ribavirin for 24 weeks in a single multispecialty hospital in Mumbai. Monitoring viral loads and safety labs was performed as per national guidelines. Results. Sustained virologic response was 72.4% versus 75.7% (p=0.78) among patients treated with generics and SOVALDI, respectively. At 4 weeks on-treatment, approximately 90% of patients from both groups had undetectable or below the lower limit of quantification. Change in hemoglobin was comparable in both groups (p=0.26). Conclusion. Generic versions of sofosbuvir reported in this study are safe and efficacious to treat hepatitis C. However, bioequivalency studies of all generic DAAs need to be performed before wider use of such drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C.
Effect of Soil Type and Foliar Factors on the Distribution of Imbrasia belina in the Southeastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe
Authors: Mufandaedza Edward , Moyo Doreen Z. , Makoni Paul
Published: October 2018

The aims of this study were to find out whether soil parameters (i.e., soil texture, soil pH, and available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and level of tannins in the bark of tree as measured by total amount of N & P in the droppings significantly influenced Imbrasia belina distribution in the Southeastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe. The samples were collected in February-March 2013. Standard methods were employed on 80 samples across the four tenure regimes studied. Soil pH, percentage clay, silt, and sand were randomly measured across the four tenure regimes. The study results revealed that soil pH (p=0.475), % silt (p=0.172), % sand (p=0.907), available nitrogen (p=0.192), available phosphorus (p=0.247), and the mean tannin level (p=0.999) influenced the distribution of Imbrasia belina in the study area. Multiple comparison analysis showed that there were significant differences in percentage clay (p=0.044) between Gonakudzingwa Small-Scale Farms (GSSCF) and Chikombedzi Communal Area (CCA). However, Mwenezi Resettlement Area (MRA) and Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) results were insignificant for percentage silt (p=0.172) and percentage sand (p=0.907), respectively. The soil and foliar factors discussed are critical in determining Imbrasia belina distribution, forest health, and vitality.
The Plant Proteinase InhibitorCrataBLPlays a Role in Controlling Asthma Response in Mice
Authors: Bortolozzo Anelize Sartori Santos , Rodrigues Adriana Palmeira Dias , Arantes-Costa Fernanda Magalhães , Saraiva-Romanholo Beatriz Mangueira , Souza Flávia Castro Ribas de , Brüggemann Thayse Regina , Brito Marlon Vilela de , Ferreira Rodrigo da Silva , Correia Maria Tereza dos Santos , Paiva Patrícia Maria Guedes , Prado Carla Máximo , Leick Edna Aparecida , Oliva Maria Luiza Vilela , Martins Milton de Arruda , Ruiz-Schutz Viviane Christina , Righetti Renato Fraga , Tibério Iolanda de Fátima Lopes Calvo
Published: October 2018

Background. CrataBLis a protein isolated fromCrataeva tapiabark. It has been shown to exhibit several biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, and insecticidal activities. There are no studies evaluating the role ofCrataBLin experimental asthma models.Aim. To evaluate the effects ofCrataBLon lung mechanics, inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress activation of mice with allergic pulmonary inflammation.Materials and Methods. BALB/c mice (6-7 weeks old, 25-30g) were divided into four groups: nonsensitized and nontreated mice (C group, n=8); ovalbumin- (OVA-) sensitized and nontreated mice (OVA group, n=8); nonsensitized andCrataBL-treated mice (C+CR group, n=8); OVA-sensitized andCrataBL-treated mice (OVA+CR group, n=8). We evaluated hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), pulmonary inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress markers.Results. CrataBLtreatment in OVA-sensitized mice (OVA+CR group) attenuated the following variables compared to OVA-sensitized mice without treatment (OVA group) (all p<0.05): (1) respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and elastance (Ers) after methacholine challenge; (2) total cells, macrophages, polymorphonuclear cells, and lymphocytes in BALF; (3) eosinophils and volume fraction of collagen and elastic fibers in the airway and alveolar wall according to histopathological and morphometry analysis; (4) IL-4-, IL-5-, IL-13-, IL-17-, IFN-γ-, MMP-9-, TIMP-1-, TGF-β-, iNOS-, and NF-kB-positive cells and volume of 8-iso-PGF2αin airway and alveolar septa according to immunohistochemistry; and (5) IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-γaccording to an ELISA.Conclusion. CrataBLcontributes to the control of hyperresponsiveness, pulmonary inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress responses in an animal model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation.
Architecture Characteristics and Technical Trends of UHF RFID Temperature Sensor Chip
Authors: Zhang Guofeng , Wu Dehua , Jia Jingdun , Gao Wanlin , Cai Qiang , Xiao Wan’ang , Yu Lina , Tao Sha , Chu Qi
Published: October 2018

The integration of temperature sensor (TS) and UHF RFID technology has attracted wide attention theoretically and experimentally. The architecture, power consumption, temperature measurement range, accuracy, and communication distance are key indicators of the performance of UHF RFID temperature sensor chip (RID-TSC). This work aims to provide a clearer view of the development of UHF RFID-TSC integration technology. After a systematic analysis of the characteristics of ADC, TDC, and FDC used in an integrated TS, the key low-power technologies under different architectures are summarized. Through the observation of the latest researches and commercial products, the development trend of UHF RFID-TSC technology is obtained, including on-chip and off-chip coordination, multiprotocol and multifrequency support, passive wireless sensor intelligence, miniaturization, and concealment.
Head and Neck Cancer in Haiti: A Case Series from Hopital de L’Universite d’Etat d’Haiti
Authors: Kligerman Maxwell P. , Alexandre Anahuma , Jean-Gilles Patrick , Walmer David K. , Gomez Adam J. , Kong Christina S. , Cheney Mack L. , Mittleman Murray A. , Messner Anna H.
Published: October 2018

This manuscript characterizes the demographics, presenting symptoms and risk factors of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer at Hopital de L’Universite d’Etat d’Haiti (HUEH), Haiti’s single largest healthcare facility. We conducted a prospective study of patients who presented to HUEH between January and March of 2016 with a lesion of the head or neck suspicious for cancer. All patients who met eligibility criteria received a biopsy, which was interpreted by a Haitian pathologist and when the specimen was available was confirmed by a team of pathologists from Stanford University. A total of 34 participants were identified. The biopsy-confirmed diagnoses were squamous cell carcinoma (n=7), benign (n=7), large cell lymphoma (n=2), ameloblastoma (n=2), pleomorphic adenoma (n=1), and adenocarcinoma (n=1). Fourteen patients were unavailable for biopsy. Patients with head and neck cancer had a mean age of 63.4 years, were majority male (62.5%), waited on average 10.9 months to seek medical attention, and most commonly presented with T-stage 3 or higher disease (87.5%). By characterizing patterns of head and neck cancer at HUEH we hope to facilitate efforts to improve early detection, diagnosis, and management of this important public health condition.
Measuring the Phase of an Optical Field from Two Intensity Measurements: Analysis of a Simple Theoretical Model
Authors: Kelly Damien P.
Published: October 2018

Under the scalar paraxial approximation, an optical wavefield is considered to be complex function dependent on position; i.e., at a given location in space the optical field is a complex value with an intensity and phase. The optical wavefield propagates through space and can be modeled using the Fresnel transform. Lenses, apertures, and other optical elements can be used to control and manipulate the wavefield and to perform different types of signal processing operations. Often these optical systems are described theoretically in terms of linear systems theory leading to a commonly used Fourier optics framework. This is the theoretical framework that we will assume in this manuscript. The problem which we consider is how to recover the phase of an optical wavefield over a plane in space. While today it is relatively straightforward to measure the intensity of the optical wavefield over a plane using CMOS or CCD sensors, recovering the phase information is more complicated. Here we specifically examine a variant of the problem of phase retrieval using two intensity measurements. The intensity of the optical wavefield is recorded in both the image plane and the Fourier plane. To make the analysis simpler, we make a series of important theoretical assumptions and describe how in principle the phase information can be recovered. Then, a deterministic but iterative algorithm is derived and we examine the characteristics and properties of this algorithm. Finally, we examine some of the theoretical assumptions we have made and how valid these assumptions are in practice. We then conclude with a brief discussion of the results.
All-Optical Switching Based on the Plasma Channel Induced by Laser Pulses
Authors: Tan Chao , Hu Binliang , Zhan Shiping , Hu Yonghua , Zhong Bin
Published: October 2018

We display a theoretical and experimental study of all-optical switching for signal lasers based on the plasma channel induced by the control laser. Using the plasma channel generated in the carbon disulfide (CS2) solution, the signal light can be modulated as some spatial distributions including unchanging, ring-shaped beam, and other intensity profiles. The modulation on the signal light can be conveniently adjusted by changing the control light’s incident intensity distribution. We can infer the dark spot shape in the modulated signal laser through the intensity profile of control laser beam. These results provide the great potential of plasma channel induced by lasers as an all-optical switching for various optoelectronic applications.
Model‐Free Composite Control of Flexible Manipulators Based on Adaptive Dynamic Programming
Authors: Yang Chunyu , Xu Yiming , Zhou Linna , Sun Yongzheng
Published: October 2018

This paper studies the problems of tip position regulation and vibration suppression of flexible manipulators without using the model. Because of the two‐timescale characteristics of flexible manipulators, applying the existing model‐free control methods may lead to ill‐conditioned numerical problems. In this paper, the dynamics of a flexible manipulator is decomposed into two subsystems which are linear and controllable at different timescales by singular perturbation (SP) theory and a model‐free composite controller is designed to alleviate the ill‐conditioned numerical problems. To do this, a model‐free composite control strategy is constructed which facilitates in designing the controller in slow and fast timescales. In the slow timescale, the slow subsystem controller is designed by adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) based on the measurements of the slow inputs and the position, while the vibration in the slow timescale is estimated by the least square method. In the fast timescale, the vibration is reconstructed based on the measurements of vibration and its estimate in the slow timescale, by which the fast controller is designed using ADP. Stability of the closed‐loop system is proved by SP theory. Finally, simulations are given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Growth and Yield Performance of Roselle Accessions as Influenced by Intercropping with Maize in the Guinea Savannah Ecology of Ghana
Authors: Ayipio Emmanuel , Abu Moomin , Agyare Richard Yaw , Azewongik Dorothy Ageteba , Bonsu Samuel Kwame
Published: October 2018

Growing roselle with maize is common in Ghana. However, there is little information on whether the choice of accession affects maize/roselle intercrops. Also, there is little information on whether intercropping roselle with maize is beneficial or detrimental to the yields of the crops. A field experiment was conducted for two seasons to assess the growth and yield performance of three roselle accessions as influenced by intercropping with maize and to assess whether maize growth and yield would be influenced upon intercropping with roselle. The roselle accessions were Bissap, Local, and Samadah. Intercropped roselle accessions, their soles, and sole maize were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Intercrop performance was determined using area × time equivalence ratio (ATER) and competitive ratio (CR). The results showed significant differences in roselle accessions for growth and yield performance. Local outperformed the other accessions in both growth and yield attributes. Roselle calyx and shoot yields were significantly higher in intercrops than in soles. Maize growth and yield were not significantly affected by intercropping with roselle, but maize yield attributes differed between seasons. The ATERs were 1.99, 2.18, and 2.49 for Samadah, Bissap, and Local, respectively, indicating that there was productive use of space and time for intercropping. The CR ranged from 1.03 to 1.17, 0.96 to 1.09, and 1.12 to 1.25 for stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, and plant height, respectively. The study showed that the choice of accession did not affect the intercrop performance. It also showed that intercropping roselle with maize is beneficial to roselle without compromising the yield of maize.
Predicting and Visualizing the Uncertainty Propagations in Traffic Assignments Model Using Monte Carlo Simulation Method
Authors: Seger Mundher , Kisgyörgy Lajos
Published: October 2018

Uncertainty can be found at all stages of travel demand model, where the error is passing from one stage to another and propagating over the whole model. Therefore, studying the uncertainty in the last stage is more important because it represents the result of uncertainty in the travel demand model. The objective of this paper is to assist transport modellers in perceiving uncertainty in traffic assignment in the transport network, by building a new methodology to predict the traffic flow and compare predicted values to the real values or values calculated in analytical methods. This methodology was built using Monte Carlo simulation method to quantify uncertainty in traffic flows on a transport network. The values of OD matrix were considered as stochastic variables following a specific probability distribution. And, the results of the simulation process represent the predicted traffic flows in each link on the transport network. Consequently, these predicted results are classified into four cases according to variability and bias. Finally, the results are drawn into figures to visualize the uncertainty in traffic assignments. This methodology was applied to a case study using different scenarios. These scenarios are varying according to inputs parameters used in MC simulation. The simulation results for the scenarios gave different bias for each link separately according to the physical feature of the transport network and original OD matrix, but in general, there is a direct relationship between the input parameter of standard deviation with the bias and variability of the predicted traffic flow for all scenarios.
Abnormal Capacitance Increasing at Elevated Temperature in Tantalum Capacitors with PEDOT:PSS Electrodes
Authors: Pan Qifeng , Liu Qiao , Yang Yuanjiang , Tian Dongbin
Published: October 2018

Due to the importance of capacitance temperature stability in precise analog circuit applications, capacitance instability at elevated temperature of 125°C was investigated in tantalum capacitors with PEDOT:PSS counter electrodes. Capacitance-voltage measurement supposed that residual ions in the PEDOT:PSS dispersion caused an accumulation of charges at the dielectric-cathode interface which contributed to an increase in the dielectric constant and resulted in the capacitance increasing at high temperature. Based on the hypothesis, water wash process was applied and capacitance dropped significantly at high temperature. This study shows that an additional water wash process is necessary to improve the capacitance temperature stability after each dispersion dip step.
Sexual Inequality in the Cancer Cell
Authors: Arnold Arthur P. , Disteche Christine M.
Published: October 2018

Investigating sex differences in cancer will improve therapy for both sexes and discover sex-specific protective mechanisms. Two recent analyses by Lopes-Ramos and colleagues and Li and colleagues point to specific gene regulatory networks and genomic alterations associated with sex differences in tumor incidence and progression. Integrating this information with emerging concepts about sex biases in the genome may help focus attention on factors that shift the odds for tumor growth. Cancer Res; 78(19); 5504–5. ©2018 AACR.

See related articles by Li et al., p. 5527, and Lopes-Ramos et al., p. 5538.
The Influence of Prediagnosis Alcohol Consumption and the Polymorphisms of Ethanol-Metabolizing Genes on the Survival of Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Lee Wei-Ting , Hsiao Jenn-Ren , Ou Chun-Yen , Huang Cheng-Chih , Chang Chan-Chi , Tsai Sen-Tien , Chen Ken-Chung , Huang Jehn-Shyun , Wong Tung-Yiu , Lai Yu-Hsuan , Wu Yuan-Hua , Hsueh Wei-Ting , Wu Shang-Yin , Yen Chia-Jui , Chang Jang-Yang , Lin Chen-Lin , Weng Ya-Ling , Yang Han-Chien , Chen Yu-Shan , Chang Jeffrey S.
Published: October 2018

Background:

Although alcohol drinking is an established risk factor of head and neck cancer (HNC), less is known about its role in the prognosis of HNC. The current study investigated the association between pretreatment alcohol consumption and the overall survival (OS) of HNC patients.

Methods:

Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate the association between prediagnosis alcohol drinking and the OS of HNC patients. In addition, the influence of the polymorphisms of two ethanol-metabolizing genes, ADH1B and ALDH2, on this relationship was also evaluated.

Results:

The results showed a significant positive dose–response relationship between prediagnosis alcohol use and worse OS of HNC patients. This association was more significant for oropharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, and laryngeal cancer than for oral cancer. The association between alcohol use and the poorer OS of HNC patients was mainly through its association with a higher stage of HNC at diagnosis. The worst OS associated with alcohol use was observed among HNC patients with the fast ADH1B and the slow/nonfunctional ALDH2 genotype combination.

Conclusions:

Our analysis showed a significant positive dose–response relationship between prediagnosis alcohol use and a worse OS of HNC. This association was mainly due to the higher stage of HNC among alcohol drinkers. In addition, the polymorphisms of the ethanol-metabolizing genes, ADH1B and ALDH2, modified the relationship between prediagnosis alcohol use and the OS of HNC patients.

Impact:

Prediagnosis alcohol use may be a prognostic indicator of HNC.
Proteogenomic Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenografts Highlights the Role of REST in Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Flores-Morales Amilcar , Bergmann Tobias B. , Lavallee Charlotte , Batth Tanveer S. , Lin Dong , Lerdrup Mads , Friis Stine , Bartels Anette , Kristensen Gitte , Krzyzanowska Agnieszka , Xue Hui , Fazli Ladan , Hansen Klaus H. , Røder Martin A. , Brasso Klaus , Moreira José M. , Bjartell Anders , Wang Yuzhuo , Olsen Jesper V. , Collins Colin C. , Iglesias-Gato Diego
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

An increasing number of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) tumors exhibit neuroendocrine (NE) features. NE prostate cancer (NEPC) has poor prognosis, and its development is poorly understood.

Experimental Design: We applied mass spectrometry–based proteomics to a unique set of 17 prostate cancer patient–derived xenografts (PDX) to characterize the effects of castration in vivo, and the proteome differences between NEPC and prostate adenocarcinomas. Genome-wide profiling of REST-occupied regions in prostate cancer cells was correlated to the expression changes in vivo to investigate the role of the transcriptional repressor REST in castration-induced NEPC differentiation.

Results:

An average of 4,881 proteins were identified and quantified from each PDX. Proteins related to neurogenesis, cell-cycle regulation, and DNA repair were found upregulated and elevated in NEPC, while the reduced levels of proteins involved in mitochondrial functions suggested a prevalent glycolytic metabolism of NEPC tumors. Integration of the REST chromatin bound regions with expression changes indicated a direct role of REST in regulating neuronal gene expression in prostate cancer cells. Mechanistically, depletion of REST led to cell-cycle arrest in G1, which could be rescued by p53 knockdown. Finally, the expression of the REST-regulated gene secretagogin (SCGN) correlated with an increased risk of suffering disease relapse after radical prostatectomy.

Conclusions:

This study presents the first deep characterization of the proteome of NEPC and suggests that concomitant inhibition of REST and the p53 pathway would promote NEPC. We also identify SCGN as a novel prognostic marker in prostate cancer.
Copenhagen Prospective Personalized Oncology (CoPPO)—Clinical Utility of Using Molecular Profiling to Select Patients to Phase I Trials
Authors: Tuxen Ida Viller , Rohrberg Kristoffer Staal , Oestrup Olga , Ahlborn Lise Barlebo , Schmidt Ane Yde , Spanggaard Iben , Hasselby Jane P. , Santoni-Rugiu Eric , Yde Christina Westmose , Mau-Sørensen Morten , Nielsen Finn Cilius , Lassen Ulrik
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

We evaluated the clinical benefit of tumor molecular profiling to select treatment in the phase I setting.

Experimental Design:

Patients with advanced solid cancers and exhausted treatment options referred to a phase I unit were included in a prospective, single-center, single-arm open-label study (NCT02290522). Tumor biopsies were obtained for comprehensive genomic analysis including whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing. When possible, patients were treated with regimen matched to the genomic profile. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results:

From May 2013 to January 2017, a total of 591 patients were enrolled, with 500 patients undergoing biopsy. Genomic profiles were obtained in 460 patients and a potential actionable target was identified in 352 (70%) of 500 biopsied patients. A total of 101 patients (20%) received matched treatment based on either gene mutations or RNA expression levels of targets available in early clinical trials or off-label treatment. Objective response according to RECIST1.1 was observed in 15 of 101 patients (0% complete response, 15% partial response), with a median PFS of 12 weeks (95% confidence interval, 9.9–14.4).

Conclusions:

Our study supports the feasibility of genomic profiling to select patients in the phase I setting and suggests that genomic matching can be beneficial for a minor subset of patients with no other treatment options. Randomized studies may validate this assumption.

See related commentary by Ratain, p. 1136