bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Practical Methodology to Automate Routine and Data Intensive Design Activities
Authors: Rangan Ravi M. , Maddux Kenneth , Duwe William
Published: March 2021

Many engineering enterprises are involved in routine design operations. Routine design, in such cases, is concerned with varying the size and/or configuration of the chosen system using established solution principles, i.e. no new solution principles are introduced. However, in most engineering environments that deliver custom products to customers, the processes followed in ensuring that these routine designs are viable, are dependent on complex interactions within the organization. For example, customer delivery requirements may dictate material selection based on timely availability and scheduling logistics, manufacturability, adherence to codes and standards and test procedures, in addition to technical design issues such as stress and fit calculations.

This paper explores a practical and generic approach to help understand the design process, and then to subsequently prioritize the appropriate automation potential from a business standpoint. Using a structured methodology that equally emphasizes business process modeling, design process modeling, information modeling and final process implementation, the engineering enterprise is able to identify a technical focus area and an associated implementation plan. Upon identifying the technical focus, structured methodologies are again applied to develop and implement the design automation function.

We illustrate this methodology using, as an example, a production-level automation capability that was developed within the framework of routine design operations at TDW, a designer and manufacturer of pipeline fittings, a company that services the major oil, gas and utilities companies. The complete program was carried out over a two year period and the company has successfully reduced the tedious manual design process of complex pressure vessel systems to a streamlined automated process that has resulted in vast improvements in time to market, product quality and consistency, and significantly shorter design cycle times.

This automated system was developed on the UNIX platform, and integrates TDW proprietary algorithms and rules with SDRC’s I-DEAS (SDRC, 1994), a geometric modeling system, ORACLE (ORACLE, 1992), a database management system, and KES (KES, 1988), a commercial expert system shell.
Impact of precursor concentration on the properties of perovskite solar cells obtained from the dehydrated lead acetate precursors
Authors: Sanni Dahiru M. , Yerramilli Aditya S. , Ntsoenzok Esidor , Adeniji Sharafadeen A. , Oyelade Omolara V. , Koech Richard K. , Fashina Adebayo A. , Alford Terry L.
Published: March 2021

In this research, we examined the impact of solution concentration on the photovoltaic and the material properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) obtained from dehydrated Pb-acetate precursors. The perovskite solution was deposited by a one-step spin-coating technique followed by 5 min of thermal annealing on a hotplate at the temperature of 90 °C to form the perovskite active layer. The PSC device structure adopted was the inverted planar architecture. The precursor solution concentrations were varied from 0.7 to 1.1M, with the optimal solution concentration found to be 1.0M. This concentration results in a power conversion efficiency of 12.2%, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.94 V, a short circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) of 20.71 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 62.69%. Our investigations revealed that the precursor solution concentration had a huge effect on the quality of the perovskite film and the photovoltaic properties of the PSCs.
Deep-sea microbes as tools to refine the rules of innate immune pattern recognition
Authors: Gauthier Anna E. , Chandler Courtney E. , Poli Valentina , Gardner Francesca M. , Tekiau Aranteiti , Smith Richard , Bonham Kevin S. , Cordes Erik E. , Shank Timothy M. , Zanoni Ivan , Goodlett David R. , Biller Steven J. , Ernst Robert K. , Rotjan Randi D. , Kagan Jonathan C.
Published: March 2021

LPS immune detection strategies are tailored for host-microbe interactions that are possible in nature.
Structural Basis for Selective Oxidation of Phosphorylated Ethylphenols by Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase CreJ
Authors: Dong Sheng , Chen Jingfei , Zhang Xingwang , Guo Fei , Ma Li , You Cai , Wang Xiao , Zhang Wei , Wan Xiaobo , Liu Shuang-Jiang , Yao Li-Shan , Li Shengying , Du Lei , Feng Yingang
Published: March 2021

The key cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CreJ showed excellent regio- and stereoselectivity in the oxidation of various alkylphenol substrates. C-H bond functionalization of these toxic alkylphenols holds great significance both for biological degradation of these environmental chemicals and production of value-added structural derivatives in pharmaceutical and biochemical industries.
Distribution of ε-Poly-
l
-Lysine Synthetases in Coryneform Bacteria Isolated from Cheese and Human Skin
Authors: Jiang Xinglin , Radko Yulia , Gren Tetiana , Palazzotto Emilia , Jørgensen Tue Sparholt , Cheng Tao , Xian Mo , Weber Tilmann , Lee Sang Yup
Published: March 2021

Every year, microbial contamination causes billions of tons of food wasted and millions of cases of illness. ε-Poly-
l
-lysine has potent, wide-spectrum inhibitory activity and is heat stable and biodegradable. It has been approved for food preservation by an increasing number of countries. ε-Poly-
l
-lysine is produced from soil bacteria of the genus
Streptomyces
, also producers of various antibiotic drugs and toxins and not considered to be a naturally occurring food component.
Prevalence and Epidemiology of Non-O157 Escherichia coli Serogroups O26, O103, O111, and O145 and Shiga Toxin Gene Carriage in Scottish Cattle, 2014–2015
Authors: Hoyle Deborah V. , Keith Marianne , Williamson Helen , Macleod Kareen , Mathie Heather , Handel Ian , Currie Carol , Holmes Anne , Allison Lesley , McLean Rebecca , Callaby Rebecca , Porphyre Thibaud , Tongue Sue C. , Henry Madeleine K. , Evans Judith , Gunn George J. , Gally David L. , Silva Nuno , Chase-Topping Margo E.
Published: March 2021

Cattle are reservoirs for Shiga toxin
Escherichia coli
(STEC), bacteria shed in animal feces. Humans are infected through consumption of contaminated food or water and by direct contact, causing serious disease and kidney failure in the most vulnerable.
Twelve-month outcomes of ranibizumab versus aflibercept for macular oedema in branch retinal vein occlusion: data from the FRB! registry
Authors: Hunt Adrian R , Nguyen Vuong , Creuzot-Garcher Catherine P , Alforja Socorro , Gabrielle Pierre-Henry , Zarranz-Ventura Javier , Guillemin Martin , Fraser-Bell Samantha , Casaroli Marano Ricardo P , Arnold Jennifer , McAllister Ian L , O'Toole Louise , Gillies Mark C , Barthelmes Daniel , Mehta Hemal
Published: March 2021

Background/Aims

To compare the efficacy of ranibizumab (0.5 mg) with aflibercept (2 mg) in the treatment of cystoid macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) over 12 months.

Methods

A multicentre, international, database observational study recruited 322 eyes initiating therapy in real-world practice over 5 years. The main outcome measure was mean change in EDTRS letter scores of visual acuity (VA). Secondary outcomes included anatomic outcomes, percentage of eyes with VA >6/12 (70 letters), number of injections and visits, time to first inactivity, switching or non-completion.

Results

Generalised mixed effect models demonstrated that mean (95% CI) adjusted 12-month VA changes for ranibizumab and aflibercept were similar (+10.8 (8.2 to 13.4) vs +10.9 (8.3 to 13.5) letters, respectively, p=0.59). The mean adjusted change in central subfield thickness (CST) was greater for aflibercept than ranibizumab (−170 (−153 to –187) µm vs −147 (−130 to –164) µm, respectively, p=0.001). The overall median (Q1, Q3) of 7 (4, 8) injections and 9 (7, 11) visits was similar between treatment groups. First grading of inactivity occurred sooner with aflibercept (p=0.01). Switching was more common from ranibizumab (37 eyes, 23%) than from aflibercept (17 eyes, 11%; p=0.002).

Conclusion

Visual outcomes at 12 months in this direct comparison of ranibizumab and aflibercept for BRVO in real-world practice were generally good and similar for the 2 drugs, despite a greater effect of aflibercept on CST and time to first grading of inactivity.
Treatment approach and survival from glioblastoma: results from a population-based retrospective cohort study from Western Norway
Authors: Bjorland Line Sagerup , Fluge Oystein , Gilje Bjornar , Mahesparan Rupavathana , Farbu Elisabeth
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To evaluate treatment and survival from glioblastoma in a real-world setting.

Design and settings

A population-based retrospective cohort study from Western Norway.

Participants

363 patients aged 18 years or older diagnosed with glioblastoma between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2014.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Overall survival and survival rates determined by Kaplan-Meier method, groups compared by log-rank test. Associations between clinical characteristics and treatment approach assessed by logistic regression. Associations between treatment approach and outcome analysed by Cox regression.

Results

Median overall survival was 10.2 months (95% CI 9.1 to 11.3). Resection was performed in 221 patients (60.9%), and was inversely associated with age over 70 years, higher comorbidity burden, deep-seated tumour localisation and multifocality. Median survival was 13.7 months (95% CI 12.1 to 15.4) in patients undergoing tumour resection, 8.3 months (95% CI 6.6 to 9.9) in patients undergoing biopsy and 4.5 months (95% CI 4.0 to 5.1) in patients where no surgical intervention was performed. Chemoradiotherapy according to the Stupp protocol was given to 157 patients (43%). Age over 70 years, higher comorbidity burden and cognitive impairment were associated with less intensive chemoradiotherapy. Median survival was 16.3 months (95% CI 14.1 to 18.5), 7.9 months (95% CI 6.7 to 9.0) and 2.0 months (95% CI 0.9 to 3.2) in patients treated according to the Stupp protocol, with less intensive chemoradiotherapy and with best supportive care, respectively. Surgical resection (HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.79)) and chemoradiotherapy according to the Stupp protocol (HR 0.09 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.15)) were strongly associated with favourable overall survival, when adjusted for clinical variables.

Conclusions

In a real-world setting, less than half of the patients received full-course chemoradiotherapy, with a median survival comparable to results from clinical trials. Survival was considerably worse in patients receiving less intensive treatment. Our results point out a substantial risk of undertreating glioblastoma, especially in elderly patients.
Long-term serological, virological and histological responses to RNA inhibition by ARC-520 in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients on entecavir treatment
Authors: Yuen Man-Fung , Wong Danny Ka-Ho , Schluep Thomas , Lai Ching-Lung , Ferrari Carlo , Locarnini Stephen , Lo Regina Cheuk-Lam , Gish Robert G , Hamilton James , Wooddell Christine I , Mak Lung Yi , Given Bruce D
Published: March 2021

Objective

We examined the serological, virological (in serum and liver) and histological profiles in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients during and after completion of multiple dose (MD) ARC-520.

Design

The present phase 1b study was a multidose, open-label extension cohort of patients that had received single dose ARC-520 in our previous study. Eight patients received 4–9 4 weekly doses of MD ARC-520 and entecavir. Liver biopsies were performed in six patients. Intrahepatic and serum HBV DNA, HBV RNA and viral antigens were measured.

Results

All patients had 28.9–30.4 months of follow-up after the last MD. All three hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients had profound reductions in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, hepatitis B core-related antigen and HBV RNA with two undergoing HBeAg seroconversion. One further achieved HBsAg seroconversion (anti-HBs level of 25.1 IU/L) and the remaining two had HBsAg reductions of −1.7 and −3.5 log IU/mL >30 months after MD. Among the five HBeAg-negative patients, four had modest HBsAg reduction >29 months after completion of MD and one achieved HBsAg seroconversion (anti-HBs level of 152.5 IU/L) and was negative for liver HBsAg staining. Entecavir was successfully stopped in this patient 12 months after HBsAg seroconversion. Temporally related alanine aminotransferase elevations preceded by HBsAg reductions were observed in three patients suggesting immune activation. HBcAg staining was negative in all six biopsied patients. Two patients with <10% HBsAg positive staining of hepatocytes had correspondingly low serum HBsAg levels of 1.5 and 11.5 IU/mL.

Conclusions

MD ARC-520 therapy achieved sustained and profound reductions of viral antigens and HBV RNA. HBsAg seroclearance was achievable.

Trial registration number

NCT02065336.
Role of extracellular vesicles in chronic lung disease
Authors: Trappe Anne , Donnelly Seamas C , McNally Paul , Coppinger Judith A
Published: March 2021

To explore the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in chronic lung diseases.

EVs are emerging as mediators of intercellular communication and possible diagnostic markers of disease. EVs harbour cargo molecules including RNA, lipids and proteins that they transfer to recipient cells. EVs are intercellular communicators within the lung microenvironment. Due to their disease-specific cargoes, EVs have the promise to be all-in-one complex multimodal biomarkers. EVs also have potential as drug carriers in chronic lung disease.

Descriptive discussion of key studies of EVs as contributors to disease pathology, as biomarkers and as potential therapies with a focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.

We provide a broad overview of the roles of EV in chronic respiratory disease. Recent advances in profiling EVs have shown their potential as biomarker candidates. Further studies have provided insight into their disease pathology, particularly in inflammatory processes across a spectrum of lung diseases. EVs are on the horizon as new modes of drug delivery and as therapies themselves in cell-based therapeutics.

EVs are relatively untapped sources of information in the clinic that can help further detail the full translational nature of chronic lung disorders.
An information-theoretic view on spacetime
Authors: Saueressig Frank , Khosravi Amir
Published: March 2021

We argue in a quantitative way that the unitarity principle of quantum field theory together with the quantum information bound on correlation functions is in tension with a space which is made out of disconnected patches at microscopic scales.
Quantum dynamics of a general time-dependent coupled oscillator
Authors: Hassoul Sara , Menouar Salah , Choi Jeong Ryeol , Sever Ramazan
Published: March 2021

Quantum dynamical properties of a general time-dependent coupled oscillator are investigated based on the theory of two-dimensional (2D) dynamical invariants. The quantum dynamical invariant of the system satisfies the Liouville–von Neumann equation and it coincides with its classical counterpart. The mathematical formula of this invariant involves a cross term which couples the two oscillators mutually. However, we show that, by introducing two pairs of annihilation and creation operators, it is possible to uncouple the original invariant operator so that it becomes the one that describes two independent subsystems. The eigenvalue problem of this decoupled quantum invariant can be solved by using a unitary transformation approach. Through this procedure, we eventually obtain the eigenfunctions of the invariant operator and the wave functions of the system in the Fock state. The wave functions that we have developed are necessary in studying the basic quantum characteristics of the system. In order to show the validity of our theory, we apply our consequences to the derivation of the fluctuations of canonical variables and the uncertainty products for a particular 2D oscillatory system whose masses are exponentially increasing.
Hammerfest Basin Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element, Barents Sea
Authors: Henriksen Erik , Kvamme Leif , Rydningen Tom Arne
Published: March 2021

The Hammerfest Basin is an east–west-trending graben located between the Loppa High and the Finnmark Platform in the southern part of the Norwegian Barents Sea. Mainly siliciclastic strata of Carboniferous–Cenozoic age cover the Caledonian basement and have a total estimated thickness of 5–8 km. The basin evolved through several tectonic phases: Carboniferous rifting, Late Jurassic rifting, opening of the Atlantic Ocean, Oligocene reorganization of plate movements and post-glacial isostatic rebound. An east–west-trending dome in the centre of the basin developed during the main extensional tectonic event in the Late Jurassic. Horst structures represent the main hydrocarbon traps. Erosional channels on the flanks of the basin represent entry points for Lower Cretaceous sands. For the rest of the Cretaceous and Cenozoic intervals, no significant reservoir sands are expected.

The first exploration well in the Barents Sea in 1980 was located in the Hammerfest Basin and by 2019 a total of 45 wells had been drilled in the basin, with 34 classified as exploration wells. The result is 18 oil and gas discoveries, which gives a discovery rate of 53%. Two fields are now in production: the Snøhvit gas-condensate fields and the Goliat oilfield.

A total of 340 Msm
3
(2140 Mbbl) recoverable oil equivalents have been discovered. For the middle Jurassic play, the yet-to-find potential may be around 50 Msm
3
, distributed in several small structures in the basin. Following the oil discovery in the Middle Triassic interval in the Goliat structure, and because several of the previously drilled structures only penetrated the Jurassic and the uppermost Triassic section, considerable exploration potential may exist in the deeper Triassic interval in structures with the best reservoir facies. Stratigraphic traps of Cretaceous age may have a moderate petroleum potential, with excellent reservoirs encountered along the flank of the basin. Exploration potential may also exist in Upper Permian sandstones along the southern and eastern flanks of the basin. However, in large parts of the basin, the remaining potential is in the deep structures and, hence, is gas prone.
Intercepting a Stealthy Network
Authors: Bessos Mai Ben Adar , Herzberg Amir
Published: March 2021

We investigate an understudied threat:
networks of stealthy routers (S-Routers)
, relaying messages to a hidden
destination
. The S-Routers relay communication along a path of multiple short-range, low-energy hops, to avoid remote localization by triangulation. Mobile devices called
Interceptors
can detect communication by an S-Router, but only when the Interceptor is next to the transmitting S-Router. We examine algorithms for a set of mobile Interceptors to find the
destination
of the communication relayed by the S-Routers. The algorithms are compared according to the number of
communicating rounds
before the
destination
is found, i.e., rounds in which data is transmitted from the source to the
destination
. We evaluate the algorithms analytically and using simulations, including against a parametric, optimized strategy for the S-Routers. Our main result is an Interceptors algorithm that bounds the expected number of
communicating rounds
by a term quasilinear in the number of S-Routers. For the case where S-Routers transmit at every round (“continuously”), we present an algorithm that improves this bound.
The January 2021 issue
Authors: Uhlig Steve
Published: March 2021

This January 2021 issue contains three technical papers as well as two editorial notes.
The case for model-driven interpretability of delay-based congestion control protocols
Authors: Khan Muhammad , Zaki Yasir , Iyer Shiva , Ahamd Talal , Poetsch Thomas , Chen Jay , Sivaraman Anirudh , Subramanian Lakshmi
Published: March 2021

Analyzing and interpreting the exact behavior of new delay-based congestion control protocols with complex non-linear control loops is exceptionally difficult in highly variable networks such as cellular networks. This paper proposes a Model-Driven Interpretability (MDI) congestion control framework, which derives a model version of a delay-based protocol by simplifying a congestion control protocol's response into a guided random walk over a two-dimensional Markov model. We demonstrate the case for the MDI framework by using MDI to analyze and interpret the behavior of two delay-based protocols over cellular channels: Verus and Copa. Our results show a successful approximation of throughput and delay characteristics of the protocols' model versions across variable network conditions. The learned model of a protocol provides key insights into an algorithm's convergence properties.
Role of perivascular nerve and sensory neurotransmitter dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Norton Charles E. , Grunz-Borgmann Elizabeth A. , Hart Marcia L. , Jones Benjamin W. , Franklin Craig L. , Boerman Erika M.
Published: March 2021

Our study is the first to show that IBD causes profound impairment of sensory vasodilation and inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction in mesenteric arteries. This occurs alongside decreased SP-containing nerve density and increased expression of NK1 receptors for SP. In contrast, CGRP dilation, nerve density, and receptor expression are unchanged. Blocking NK1 receptors restores sensory vasodilation in MAs and increases CGRP-mediated vasodilation, indicating that SP interference with CGRP signaling may underlie impaired sensory vasodilation with IBD.
An Immunocompetent HIV-Negative Elderly Patient with Low-Grade Fever, Generalized Lymphadenopathy, Splenomegaly, and Acute Phase Response: Do Not Forget Castleman Disease
Authors: Azariadis Kalliopi , Ioannou Maria , Zachou Kalliopi , Dalekos George N.
Published: March 2021

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that mainly affects middle-aged patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, HIV-negative patients can also be affected representing a small proportion of the total MCD cases. Of note, recent studies from China in HIV-negative patients with MCD have suggested that the onset of the disease can be observed in younger age than previously thought. If undiagnosed and untreated, the MCD has a poor prognosis and may progress to lymphoma. We present an 82-year-old immunocompetent male patient who was admitted to our department because of low-grade fever, cachexia, anasarca, hepatosplenomegaly, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Laboratory findings showed anemia and increased markers of inflammation including hyperferritinemia and polyclonal hyperglobulinemia. Infectious causes including HIV were ruled out. Histological examination of a cervical lymph-node revealed lesions supportive of MCD diagnosis. Of note, the outer-zone plasmablasts’ nuclei stained positive for human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8). The patient received 4 cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone with regression of all symptoms. This case underlines that HHV8-associated MCD should be considered as a rare cause of generalized lymphadenopathy even in HIV-negative immunocompetent patients when other causes have been appropriately excluded because a timely diagnosis can be life-saving.
Landmark-Based Facial Feature Construction and Action Unit Intensity Prediction
Authors: Ma Jialei , Li Xiansheng , Ren Yuanyuan , Yang Ran , Zhao Qichao
Published: March 2021

Human face recognition has been widely used in many fields, including biorobots, driver fatigue monitoring, and polygraph tests. However, the end-to-end models fit by most of the existing algorithms perform poorly in interpretation because complex classifiers are constructed using facial images directly. In addition, in some of the models, dynamic characteristics of subjects as individuals are not fully considered, so dynamic information is not extracted. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes an action unit intensity prediction model. The three-dimensional coordinates of 68 landmarks of human faces are obtained based on the convolutional experts constrained local model (CE-CLM), which enables the construction of dynamic facial features. Based on the error analysis of the CE-CLM algorithm, dimension reduction of the constructed features is performed by the principal components analysis (PCA). The radial basis function (RBF) neural network is also constructed to train the action unit prediction models. The proposed method is verified by the experiments, and the overall mean square error (MSE) of the proposed method is 0.01826. Lastly, the network construction process is optimized, so that for the same training samples, the models are fitted using fewer iterations. The number of iterations is decreased by 27 on average. In summary, this paper provides a method to rapidly construct action unit (AU) intensity prediction models and constructs automatic AU intensity estimation models for facial images.
Dissipativity-Based Fuzzy Integral Sliding Mode Control of Nonlinear Stochastic Systems
Authors: Luo Honglin , Zheng Jiali
Published: March 2021

In this paper, both dissipation and stabilization of nonlinear T-S fuzzy systems with uncertain parameters are considered. By designing a new integral sliding mode control scheme, which sufficiently utilizes the special properties of T-S fuzzy membership functions, the difficulties induced by the uncertainties and external interference in T-S fuzzy systems are overcome by this new scheme. For the time delay and uncertainty, sufficient conditions are given to ensure the strict dissipation and asymptotic stability of the corresponding sliding mode dynamics. We propose a fuzzy integral sliding mode control law to drive the system trajectory to the fuzzy switching surface in the case of uncertainty and external interference. The realization of a fuzzy sliding mode controller for an inverted pendulum system proves the feasibility and superiority of our theoretical results.
A Novel Model Using Virtual State Variables and Bayesian Discriminant Analysis to Classify Surrounding Rock Stability
Authors: Sun Jinglai , Ren Darui , Song Yu , Yu Mingyuan , Chu Zhaofei , Liu Baoguo , Li Shaogang , Guo Xinyang
Published: March 2021

To accurately classify the stability of surrounding rock masses, a novel method (VSV‐BDA) based on virtual state variables (VSVs) and Bayesian discriminant analysis (BDA) is proposed. The factors influencing stability are mapped by an artificial neural network (ANN) capable of recognizing the model of rock mass classification, and the obtained output vector is treated as VSVs, which are verified as obeying a multinormal distribution with equal covariance matrixes by normal distribution testing and constructed statistics. The prediction variance ratio test method is introduced to determine the optimal dimension of the VSVs. The VSV‐BDA model is constructed through the use of VSVs and the optimal dimension on the basis of the training samples, which are divided from the collected samples into three situations having different numbers. ANN and BDA models are also constructed based on the same training samples. The predictions by the three models for the testing samples are compared; the results show that the proposed VSV‐BDA model has high prediction accuracy and can be applied in practical engineering.
α‐Lipoic Acid Increases Collagen Synthesis and Deposition in Nondiabetic and Diabetic Rat Kidneys
Authors: Grdović Nevena , Rajić Jovana , Arambašić Jovanović Jelena , Dinić Svetlana , Tolić Anja , Đorđević Miloš , Đorđević Marija , Trifunović Svetlana , Vidaković Melita , Uskoković Aleksandra , Mihailović Mirjana
Published: March 2021

α‐Lipoic acid (ALA) is widely used as a nutritional supplement and therapeutic agent in diabetes management. Well‐established antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects of ALA were considered to be particularly important in combating diabetic complications including renal injury. The present study evaluated the potential of ALA to affect profibrotic events in kidney that could alter its structure and functioning. ALA was administered intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg) to nondiabetic and streptozotocin‐induced diabetic male Wistar rats for 4 and 8 weeks. The effects of ALA were assessed starting from structural/morphological alterations through changes that characterize profibrotic processes, to regulation of collagen gene expression in kidney. Here, we demonstrated that ALA improved systemic glucose and urea level, reduced formation of renal advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and maintained renal structural integrity in diabetic rats. However, profibrotic events provoked in diabetes were not alleviated by ALA since collagen synthesis/deposition and expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) remained elevated in ALA‐treated diabetic rats, especially after 8 weeks of diabetes onset. Moreover, 8 weeks treatment of nondiabetic rats with ALA led to the development of profibrotic features reflected in increased collagen synthesis/deposition. Besides the TGF‐β1 downstream signaling, the additional mechanism underlying the upregulation of collagen IV in nondiabetic rats treated with ALA involves decreased DNA methylation of its promoter that could arise from increased Tet1 expression. These findings emphasize the therapeutic caution in the use of ALA, especially in patients with renal diabetic complication.
Analysis and Implementation of Optimization Techniques for Facial Recognition
Authors: Appati Justice Kwame , Abu Huzaifa , Owusu Ebenezer , Darkwah Kwaku
Published: March 2021

Amidst the wide spectrum of recognition methods proposed, there is still the challenge of these algorithms not yielding optimal accuracy against illumination, pose, and facial expression. In recent years, considerable attention has been on the use of swarm intelligence methods to help resolve some of these persistent issues. In this study, the principal component analysis (PCA) method with the inherent property of dimensionality reduction was adopted for feature selection. The resultant features were optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. For the purpose of performance comparison, the resultant features were also optimized with the genetic algorithm (GA) and the artificial bee colony (ABC). The optimized features were used for the recognition using Euclidean distance (EUD), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and the support vector machine (SVM) as classifiers. Experimental results of these hybrid models on the ORL dataset reveal an accuracy of 99.25% for PSO and KNN, followed by ABC with 93.72% and GA with 87.50%. On the central, an experimentation of the PSO, GA, and ABC on the YaleB dataset results in 100% accuracy demonstrating their efficiencies over the state-of-the art methods.
Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Modulates the Transcriptional Profiles of CD4+ T Cells
Authors: Holub Michal , Stráníková Alžběta , Beran Ondřej , Arientová Simona , Bartoš Oldřich , Kondelková Kateřina , Plíšek Stanislav , Chalupa Pavel
Published: March 2021

Background. Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with altered cell-mediated immune response. Objective. The aim of the study was to characterize functional alterations in CD4+ T cell subsets and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methodology. The expression levels of the lineage-defining transcriptional factors (TFs) T-bet, Gata3, Rorγt, and Foxp3 in circulating CD4+ T cells and percentages of MDSCs in peripheral blood were evaluated in 33 patients with CHC, 31 persons, who had spontaneously cleared the HCV infection, and 30 healthy subjects. Analysis. The CD4+ T cells TFs T-bet (T-box expressed in T cells), Foxp3 (Forkhead box P3 transcription factor), Gata3 (Gata-binding protein 3), and Rorγt (retinoic-acid-related orphan receptor gamma) and activation of CD8+ T cells, as well as percentages of MDSCs, were measured by multicolor flow cytometry after intracellular and surface staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with fluorescent monoclonal antibodies. Result. The patients with CHC had significantly lower percentages of CD4+ T cells expressing Rorγt and Gata3 and higher percentages of Foxp3-expressing CD4+ T cells than healthy controls and persons who spontaneously cleared HCV infection. The ratios of T-bet+/Gata3+ and Foxp3+/Rorγt+ CD4+ T cells were the highest in the patients with CHC. In the patients with CHC, the percentages of Gata3+ and Rorγt+ CD4+ T cells and the percentages of T-bet+ CD4+ T cells and CD38+/HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells demonstrated significant positive correlations. In addition, the percentage of CD38+/HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells correlated negatively with the percentage of MDSCs. Conclusion. Chronic HCV infection is associated with downregulation of TFs Gata3 and Rorγt polarizing CD4+ T cells into Th2 and Th17 phenotypes together with upregulation of Foxp3 responsible for induction of regulatory T cells suppressing immune response.
Abstract P21: Saliva as a testing specimen with or without pooling for SARS-CoV-2 detection by multiplex RT-PCR test
Authors: Sun Qing , Li Jonathan , Ren Hui , Pastor Larry , Loginova Yulia , Wong Joseph , Zhang Zhao , Zhang Aiguo , Lu Chuanyi Mark , Sha Michael
Published: March 2021

Objectives Sensitive and high throughput molecular testing availability is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. The vast majority of the SARS-CoV-2 molecular assays use nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab specimens collected from suspected individuals. However, collecting these specimens has apparent drawbacks, including discomfort to patients and exposure risk to healthcare workers. Methods We developed and validated of QuantiVirus™ SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test using saliva as the testing specimens with pooling. Results The analytical sensitivity (LOD) was confirmed to be 100-200 copies/mL. For clinical evaluation, 85 known positive and 90 knowns negative NPS specimens were showed a positive predictive agreement of 100% and a negative predictive agreement of 98.9%. Twenty paired NPS and saliva samples were tested and showed overall 80% concordance rate without significant difference between NPS and saliva specimens by Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p=0.13). On a large scale of saliva-based population screening, the positive test rate was 1.79% among 389 saliva specimens. Furthermore, saliva sample pooling up to 6 samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection is feasible with sensitivity of 94.8% and specificity of 100%. Conclusions These results demonstrated that the clinical performance of saliva-based testing is comparable to that of NPS-based testing, and that pooling of saliva specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection is feasible.

Citation Format: Qing Sun, Jonathan Li, Hui Ren, Larry Pastor, Yulia Loginova, Joseph Wong, Zhao Zhang, Aiguo Zhang, Chuanyi Mark Lu, Michael Sha. Saliva as a testing specimen with or without pooling for SARS-CoV-2 detection by multiplex RT-PCR test [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2021 Feb 3-5. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(6_Suppl):Abstract nr P21.
Abstract P27: Effect of paclitaxel in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mohiuddin Md , Kasahara Kazuo
Published: March 2021

Background: For cancer patients' treatment, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a great challenge. COVID-19 presents as a severe respiratory infection in aging individuals, including patients with lung cancer. COVID-19 may be linked to the progression of aggressive lung cancer. Conversely, chemotherapy's side effects, such as chemotherapy resistance, acceleration of cellular senescence, could worsen COVID-19. Considering the above-mentioned facts, our present work was aimed to investigate the role of paclitaxel (a chemotherapy drug) in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cellular senescence of gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells (PC9-MET) and reveal the underlying mechanisms. Methods: PC9-MET cells were treated with paclitaxel for 72 h and then evaluated by cell viability assay, DAPI staining, Giemsa staining, apoptosis assay, ROS assay, SA-β-Gal staining, TUNEL assay and western blotting. Results: Our results revealed that paclitaxel significantly reduced the viability of PC9-MET cells and induced morphological signs of apoptosis. The apoptotic effects of paclitaxel were observed by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved PARP. Additionally, paclitaxel increased ROS production, leading to DNA damage. Importantly, paclitaxel eliminated cellular senescence, which was observed by SA-β-Gal staining. Conclusion: In light of these findings, paclitaxel could be a promising anticancer drug and could offer a new therapeutic strategy for gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citation Format: Md Mohiuddin, Kazuo Kasahara. Effect of paclitaxel in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2021 Feb 3-5. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(6_Suppl):Abstract nr P27.
Abstract P32: Inequalities in the decline and recovery of pathological cancer diagnoses during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study
Authors: Hamilton Ashleigh C. , Donnelly David W. , Loughrey Maurice B. , Turkington Richard C. , Fox Colin , Fitzpatrick Deirdre , O'Neill Ciaran E. , Gavin Anna T. , Coleman Helen G.
Published: March 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on pathological diagnoses of cancer in Northern Ireland, and assess potential inequalities across subgroups of the population. Methods: Data from the four Northern Ireland pathology labs were used to assess trends in pathological cancer diagnoses from 1st March to 12th September 2020 overall and by cancer site, gender and age. These trends were compared to the same timeframe from 2017-2019. Results: Between 1st March and 12th September 2020 there was a 23% reduction in cancer diagnoses compared to the same time period in the preceding three years. Although some recovery occurred in August and September 2020, this revealed inequalities across certain patient groups. Pathological diagnoses of lung, prostate and gynaecological malignancies remained well below pre-pandemic levels. Males and younger/middle-aged adults, particularly the 50-59 year old patient group, also lagged behind other population demographic groups in terms of returning to expected numbers of pathological cancer diagnoses. Conclusions: There is a critical need to protect cancer diagnostic services in the ongoing pandemic to facilitate timely investigation of potential cancer cases. Targeted public health campaigns may be needed to reduce emerging inequalities in cancer diagnoses as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Citation Format: Ashleigh C. Hamilton, David W. Donnelly, Maurice B. Loughrey, Richard C. Turkington, Colin Fox, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Ciaran E. O'Neill, Anna T. Gavin, Helen G. Coleman. Inequalities in the decline and recovery of pathological cancer diagnoses during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2021 Feb 3-5. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(6_Suppl):Abstract nr P32.
Neurofeedback Training versus Treatment-as-Usual for Alcohol Dependence: Results of an Early-Phase Randomized Controlled Trial and Neuroimaging Correlates
Authors: Subramanian Leena , Skottnik Leon , Cox W. Miles , Lührs Michael , McNamara Rachel , Hood Kerry , Watson Gareth , Whittaker Joseph R. , Williams Angharad N. , Sakhuja Raman , Ihssen Niklas , Goebel Rainer , Playle Rebecca , Linden David E.J.
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Alcohol dependence is one of the most common substance use disorders, and novel treatment options are urgently needed. Neurofeedback training (NFT) based on real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtf­MRI) has emerged as an attractive candidate for add-on treatments in psychiatry, but its use in alcohol dependence has not been formally investigated in a clinical trial. We investigated the use of rtfMRI-based NFT to prevent relapse in alcohol dependence. Methods: Fifty-two alcohol-dependent patients from the UK who had completed a detoxification program were randomly assigned to a treatment group (receiving rtfMRI NFT in addition to standard care) or the control group (receiving standard care only). At baseline, alcohol consumption was assessed as the primary outcome measure and a variety of psychological, behavioral, and neural parameters as secondary outcome measures to determine feasibility and secondary training effects. Participants in the treatment group underwent 6 NFT sessions over 4 months and were trained to downregulate their brain activation in the salience network in the presence of alcohol stimuli and to upregulate frontal activation in response to pictures related to positive goals. Four, 8, and 12 months after baseline assessment, both groups were followed up with a battery of clinical and psychometric tests. Results: Primary outcome measures showed very low relapse rates for both groups. Analysis of neural secondary outcome measures indicated that the majority of patients modulated the salience system in the desired directions, by decreasing activity in response to alcohol stimuli and increasing activation in response to positive goals. The intervention had a good safety and acceptability profile. Conclusion: We demonstrated that rtfMRI-neurofeedback targeting hyperactivity of the salience network in response to alcohol cues is feasible in currently abstinent patients with alcohol dependence.
Vigilância negra: O dispositivo de reconhecimento facial e a disciplinaridade dos corpos
Authors: Magno Madja Elayne da Silva Penha , Bezerra Josenildo Soares
Published: March 2021

Os dispositivos de reconhecimento facial são a grande novidade da Big Data para a segurança nacional. Todavia, a tecnologia se tornou uma ameaça para populações socialmente vulneráveis, pois um estudo revela que 90% das 151 pessoas detidas com base em câmeras de reconhecimento facial são negras. O objetivo deste artigo é discutir o conceito de dispositivo disciplinar a partir de uma perspectiva foucaultiana, compreendendo a mediação algorítmica para uma vigilância e disciplinaridade dos corpos. Para esse fim, consideramos dados da Rede de Observatório da Segurança. A tecnologia não é neutra. O algoritmo é uma representação social. Como aportes teóricos, utilizamos Barbero (2014) em sua apreensão sobre mediação; Browne (2015) em uma discussão sobre vigilância negra; e Foucault abrangendo o discurso do dispositivo disciplinar.
Três tons sobre o apartheid: as fotografias sitiadas da África do Sul
Authors: Valle Marcela Chaves do
Published: March 2021

A proposta do trabalho é examinar, em perspectiva comparada, as sujeições e insurgências de três fotógrafos sul-africanos durante o regime do apartheid: Peter Magubane, Ernest Cole e David Goldblatt. De acordo com restrições e liberdades relativas aos tons de pele, podemos observar três atuações distintas que implicam em diferentes soluções políticas e estéticas para o problema em comum. Entrelaçando história e fotografia em tempos sombrios com embasamento teórico nas teses Sobre o conceito de história de Walter Benjamin, serão analisados os gestos de resistência de fotógrafos e imagens em seu potencial de escrita de uma outra história.
O cemitério como espaço multifuncional: um estudo de caso em Tangará da Serra- MT
Authors: Andrade Ana Paula Silva de , Grzebieluckas Cleci , Oliveira Flávio Amaral , Pinheiro Rodrigo Henrique
Published: March 2021

Os cemitérios são estruturas essenciais para gestão ambiental e ordenamento das cidades e, com sua inclusão no contexto urbano, o espaço a eles destinado vem sendo repensado em favor da conservação ambiental e do paisagismo. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a configuração do cemitério municipal de Tangará da Serra – MT, com o objetivo específico de elencar as vantagens e as desvantagens da tipologia tradicional em comparação com a proposta do cemitério parque, por meio de um estudo de caso de natureza descritiva e abordagem qualiquantitativa, baseado em levantamento bibliográfico, visitas in loco e entrevistas informais. Os resultados demonstraram que, na comparação entre os dois modelos, o cemitério horizontal apresenta desvantagens em relação a utilização do espaço e paisagismo, enquanto o segundo, apesar de não ser imediatamente reconhecido como cemitério, tem a contrapartida de sua estrutura ser baseada na ampla arborização, com benefícios ambientais relacionados ao conforto térmico, conservação e beleza cênica.
Obesity and Outcomes Following Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support
Authors: Sreenivasan Jayakumar , Khan Muhammad Shahzeb , Sharedalal Parija , Hooda Urvashi , Fudim Marat , Demmer Ryan T. , Yuzefpolskaya Melana , Ahmad Hasan , Khan Sadiya S. , Lanier Gregg M. , Colombo Paolo C. , Rich Jonathan D.
Published: March 2021

Background:

The association of obesity on outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock requiring acute mechanical circulatory support has not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods:

We evaluated the National Readmission Database for adults with either acute myocardial infarction or heart failure complicated by cardiogenic shock requiring acute mechanical circulatory support between January 2016 and November 2017. Exposure was assessed using
International Classification of Diseases
,
Tenth Revision
codes for the degree of obesity with the reference being body mass index (BMI) of 20.0 to 29.9 group. Multiple logistic regression and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission, respectively.

Results:

The survey-weighted sample included a total of 35 555 hospitalizations with a mean age of 65.4±0.2 years and 29.8% females. Obesity was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (no obesity, 26.4% [BMI, 20.0–29.9] versus class I obesity, 25.0% [BMI, 30.0–34.9] versus class II obesity, 28.7% [BMI, 35.0–39.9] versus class III obesity, 34.9% [BMI, ≥40];
P
<0.001). On stratified analysis, compared with a nonobese phenotype, younger adults (age <60) with class II and class III obesity (odds ratio, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.1–3.5],
P
=0.02; odds ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.2–3.7],
P
=0.01) and older adults (age ≥60) with class III obesity (odds ratio, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.2–2.4],
P
=0.005) had higher mortality. There was no association between the degree of obesity and 30-day readmission.

Conclusions:

Among adults with acute myocardial infarction or acute heart failure resulting in cardiogenic shock requiring acute mechanical circulatory support, younger adults with class II and class III obesity and older patients with class III obesity have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared with nonobese patients.