bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON OF THE MECHANICAL AND DIELECTRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS POLYMERS MIXED WITH GROUND TIRED RUBBER (GTR) FOR ITS APPLICATION AS INDUSTRIAL WORK FOOTWEAR INSULATOR
Authors: MUJAL ROSAS RAMON , MARIN GENESCA MARC , GARCIA AMOROS JORDI , COLOM FAJULA XAVIER , SALUEÑA BERNA XAVIER
Published: July 2019

The massive manufacture of tires and their difficulty for subsequent recycling, represents today, a serious environmental problem. There are several methods to try to recycle used tires, one of them is mechanical separation, in which the vulcanized rubber is separated from steel and fibers, which results in a rubber that can be milled into small particles (Ground Tire Rubber, or GTR). This rubber can be used in various applications, such as the one presented by this research, in which, once mixed with customary polymers, it should be used for the manufacture of insulation for industrial work shoes. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the results of mixing these GTR particles with several commonly used polymer matrices (polymer + GTR), verifying that both their mechanical and dielectric properties comply with the standards established for the manufacture of the insulation for shoes for industrial use. The analysis will be carried out using seven polymer matrices mixed with different concentrations of GTR.

Keywords: GTR, Recycling, Electrical properties, Mechanical properties, Insulation, Use as isolation of work shoes.
Choice history biases subsequent evidence accumulation
Authors: Urai Anne E , de Gee Jan Willem , Tsetsos Konstantinos , Donner Tobias H
Published: July 2019

Perceptual choices depend not only on the current sensory input but also on the behavioral context, such as the history of one’s own choices. Yet, it remains unknown how such history signals shape the dynamics of later decision formation. In models of decision formation, it is commonly assumed that choice history shifts the starting point of accumulation toward the bound reflecting the previous choice. We here present results that challenge this idea. We fit bounded-accumulation decision models to human perceptual choice data, and estimated bias parameters that depended on observers’ previous choices. Across multiple task protocols and sensory modalities, individual history biases in overt behavior were consistently explained by a history-dependent change in the evidence accumulation, rather than in its starting point. Choice history signals thus seem to bias the interpretation of current sensory input, akin to shifting endogenous attention toward (or away from) the previously selected interpretation.
Preoperative Diagnosis of Upper Gastrointestinal Leiomyoma by Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration
Authors: Shaprynskyi V. O. , Nasr Zaki Nageeb , Babii Y. V. , Alkamali Abdulhakeem
Published: July 2019

Aims: To evaluate the role of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with using immunohistochemical analysis in the preoperative diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal leiomyoma.

Study Design:  This was ’prospective’ observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of surgery №1, Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine; between September 2016 and February 2019.

Methodology: Sixteen prospectively studies have been performed using endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in patients with submucosal hypoechoic tumors (according to the results of previous gastroduodenoscopy) with continuity to proper muscle layer suspected as leiomyoma of upper gastrointestinal tract. All cases for the final diagnosis underwent surgery (n = 16). Additionally, immunophenotyping of specimens obtained by EUS-FNA and surgical resection specimens have been compared.

Results: The puncture has been performed in all patients without any anatomical problems. The collection rate of adequate specimens from the GI tract subepithelial hypoechoic tumor with continuity to proper muscle layer was 87, 5%. The diagnostic rate for the tumor less than 2 cm, 2 to 4 cm, and 4 cm or more were 77, 8%, 100% and 100% respectively. In 16 surgically resected cases, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA using immunohistochemical analysis of leiomyoma were 100%; 83,3%; 90,9%; 100% and 93,75% respectively. No major complications were encountered.

Conclusion: EUS-FNA with immunohistochemical analysis is a safe and accurate method in the preoperative diagnosis of gastrointestinal leiomyoma. It should be taken into consideration in decision making, especially in early diagnosis following minimal invasive surgery for gastrointestinal leiomyoma.
Avant‐Garde in the Age of Identity: Alvin Boyarsky, the Architectural Association and the Impact of Pedagogy
Authors: Marjanovic Igor
Published: July 2019

Under the stewardship of its iconic chairman Alvin Boyarsky, the Architectural Association (AA) presided over a burgeoning of architectural avant‐garde tendencies that encouraged tutors and students to expand their architectural vocabulary and outlook by embracing issues of sexuality and identity, as well as other art forms. St Louis‐based architect, historian and academic Igor Marjanovic explores this era.
Logic‐Based Delivery of Site‐Specifically Modified Proteins from Environmentally Responsive Hydrogel Biomaterials
Authors: Gawade Prathamesh Milind , Shadish Jared A. , Badeau Barry A. , DeForest Cole A.
Published: July 2019

The controlled presentation of proteins from and within materials remains of significant interest for many bioengineering applications. Though “smart” platforms offer control over protein release in response to a single external cue, no strategy has been developed to trigger delivery in response to user‐specified combinations of environmental inputs, nor to independently control the release of multiple species from a homogenous material. Here, a modular semisynthetic scheme is introduced to govern the release of site‐specifically modified proteins from hydrogels following Boolean logic. A sortase‐mediated transpeptidation reaction is used to generate recombinant proteins C‐terminally tethered to gels through environmentally sensitive degradable linkers. By varying the connectivity of multiple stimuli‐labile moieties within these customizable linkers, YES/OR/AND control of protein release is exhaustively demonstrated in response to one and two‐input combinations involving enzyme, reductant, and light. Tethering of multiple proteins each through a different stimuli‐sensitive linker permits their independent and sequential release from a common material. It is expected that these methodologies will enable new opportunities in tissue engineering and therapeutic delivery.
Additional Organic‐Solvent‐Rinsing Process to Enhance Perovskite Photovoltaic Performance
Authors: Song Qi , Liang Chunjun , Zhang Huimin , Ji Chao , Sun Mengjie , Sun Fulin , Jing Xiping , You Fangtian , Lu Yanwu , He Zhiqun
Published: July 2019

Methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite is manipulated through an additional organic‐solvent‐rinsing process during an intermediate film fabrication stage. This additional process includes low‐temperature preannealing following by rinsing the films using isobutyl alcohol (IBA) before final annealing. This partially dissolves the small crystals in the perovskite intermediate and reduces nucleation density. The small crystals recrystallize into larger sizes via a dissolution–crystallization mechanism, leading to a reduction in the grain boundaries and interfacial defects. Preannealing is also crucial in solubility control and for tuning the crystallization. Crystal‐size‐dependent optical band gaps may be attributed to a weak quantum confinement effect. Excess PbI2 residue is induced at the perovskite surface thanks to the selective solubility of IBA, which improves the passivation of the perovskite surface. A synergistic improvement in grain size and in PbI2 residue leads to substantial enhancement in device performance. The power conversion efficiency of an optimized photovoltaic device reaches 18.47%, which is more than a 15% increase compared to a control device.
A 3D Trilayered CNT/MoSe2/C Heterostructure with an Expanded MoSe2 Interlayer Spacing for an Efficient Sodium Storage
Authors: Yousaf Muhammad , Wang Yunsong , Chen Yijun , Wang Zhipeng , Firdous Attia , Ali Zeeshan , Mahmood Nasir , Zou Ruqiang , Guo Shaojun , Han Ray P. S.
Published: July 2019

Freestanding composite structures with embedded transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) as the active material are highly attractive in the development of advanced electrodes for energy storage devices. Most 3D electrodes consist of a bilayer design involving a core–shell combination. To further enhance the gravimetric and areal capacities, a 3D trilayer design is proposed that has MoSe2 as the TMDC sandwiched in‐between an inner carbon nanotube (CNT) core and an outer carbon layer to form a CNT/MoSe2/C framework. The CNT core creates interconnected pathways for the e−/Na+ conduction, while the conductive inert carbon layer not only protects the corrosive environment between the electrolyte and MoSe2 but also is fully tunable for an optimized Na+ storage. This unique heterostructure is synthesized via a solvothermal‐carbonization approach. Due to annealing under a confined structural configuration, MoSe2 interlayer spaces are expanded to facilitate a faster Na+ diffusion. It is shown that an ≈3 nm thick carbon layer yielded an optimized anode for a sodium‐ion battery. The 3D porosity of the heterostructure remains intact after an intense densification process to produce a high areal capacity of 4.0 mAh cm−2 and a high mass loading of 13.9 mg cm−2 with a gravimetric capacity of 347 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1 after 500 cycles.
Social Informatics Research: Schools of Thought, Methodological Basis, and Thematic Conceptualization
Authors: Smutny Zdenek , Vehovar Vasja
Published: July 2019

Research activities related to social informatics (SI) are expanding, even as community fragmentation, topical dispersion, and methodological diversity continue to increase. Specifically, the different understandings of SI in regional communities have strong impacts, and each has a different history, methodological grounding, and often a different thematic focus. The aim of this article is to connect three selected perspectives on SI—intellectual (regional schools of thought), methodological, and thematic—and introduce a comparative framework for understanding SI that includes all known approaches. Thus, the article draws from a thematic and methodological grounding of research across schools of thought, along with definitions that rely on the extension and intension of the notion of SI. The article is built on a paralogy of views and pluralism typical of postmodern science. Because SI is forced to continually reform its research focus, due to the rapid development of information and communication technology, social changes and ideologies that surround computerization and informatization, the presented perspective maintains a high degree of flexibility, without the need to constantly redefine the boundaries, as is typical in modern science. This approach may support further developments in promoting and understanding SI worldwide.
MCMC calibration of spot‐prices models in electricity markets
Authors: Guerini Alice , Marziali Andrea , De Nicolao Giuseppe
Published: July 2019

The calibration of some stochastic differential equation used to model spot prices in electricity markets is investigated. As an alternative to relying on standard likelihood maximization, the adoption of a fully Bayesian paradigm is explored, that relies on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) stochastic simulation and provides the posterior distributions of the model parameters. The proposed method is applied to one‐ and two‐factor stochastic models, using both simulated and real data. The results demonstrate good agreement between the maximum likelihood and MCMC point estimates. The latter approach, however, provides a more complete characterization of the model uncertainty, an information that can be exploited to obtain a more realistic assessment of the forecasting error. In order to further validate the MCMC approach, the posterior distribution of the Italian electricity price volatility is explored for different maturities and compared with the corresponding maximum likelihood estimates.
Dramatic red fluorescence enhancement and emission red shift of carbon dots following Zn/ZnO decoration
Authors: Zuo Gancheng , Hu Jiangsheng , Wang Yuting , Xie Aming , Dong Wei
Published: July 2019

Metal atom doping, an easy and convenient method, can optimize and tune the physical–chemical properties and photometrics of carbon dots (CDs). However, there are few reports on the preparation of metal‐decorated CDs that give red emission and a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). Here, we demonstrate a zinc (existing in human body) ion‐doping strategy to observably enhance the PLQY and lengthen the CD emission wavelength. The prepared Zn/ZnO‐decorated CDs (Zn‐CDs) produced red fluorescence (623 nm) with a superior PLQY of 40.3%. Through a series of analyses, Zn‐CDs were confirmed to contain an oxidation state and reduction state of Zn doping into the internal defects and surface of Zn‐CDs. More valuably, the Zn‐CDs had excellent chemical stability, photo‐stability, long‐term storage stability, and high biocompatibility, and therefore could be used as a robust red fluorescence probe for high‐quality cellular imaging.
Development and validation of a generic RP‐HPLC PDA method for the simultaneous separation and quantification of active ingredients in cold and cough medicines
Authors: Dongala Thirupathi , Katari Naresh Kumar , Palakurthi Ashok Kumar , Jonnalagadda Sreekantha B.
Published: July 2019

A novel generic reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) method is developed and validated for simultaneous determination of seven pharmaceutically active ingredients, namely, acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, phenylephrine, guaifenesin, caffeine and aspirin. All seven ingredients were quantified in soft gel, syrup and tablet formulations of the over‐the‐counter US‐marketed products, as per the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization. The separation was achieved in a 16 min run time on an Agilent Zorbax Phenyl column using a gradient method with two mobile phases. Mobile phase A was 0.15% trifluoro acetic acid in purified water and while mobile phase B was a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol (750:250 v/v) with 0.02% trifluoro acetic acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min−1 and injection volume was 10 μL. Detection was performed at 280 nm using a photodiode array detector. As part of the method validation, specificity, linearity, precision and recovery parameters were verified. The concentration and area relationships were linear (R2 > 0.999), over the concentration ranges 20–120 μg mL−1 for acetaminophen, 75–450 μg mL−1 for dextromethorphan, 31.25–187.5 μg mL−1 for doxylamine, 25–150 μg mL−1 for phenylephrine, 25–150 μg mL−1 for aspirin, 6.5–39 μg mL−1 for caffeine and 12–72 μg mL−1 for guaifenesin. The relative standard deviations for precision and intermediate precision were <1.5%. The proposed RP‐HPLC generic method is applicable for routine analysis of cold and cough over‐the‐counter products.
Low cost DSP‐based educational embedded platform for real‐time simulation and fast implementation of complex systems in Simulink
Authors: Dávila Delgado Emmanuel , Raygoza Panduro Juan José , Becerra Álvarez Edwin Christian , Espinoza Jurado Francisco Javier , Gutiérrez Frías Eric Francisco
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we present a teaching methodology based on a low‐cost embedded system platform that is easy to use and replicate, oriented to real‐time simulation project development. Designed for real‐time implementation of coding generated with MPLAB Device Blocks for Simulink. The purpose of this methodology is that students, teachers, and professionals will be able to carry out a theoretical project of a simulation in a computer, which includes complex mathematical modeling, to interact with its environment in real‐time. This system has been utilized already by students of Engineering of the first semesters as well as professors and researchers in updated and initialization courses in embedded systems within the University of Guadalajara. Finally, in the results section, we show a comparison of the proposed platform and a dSPACE platform applied in a control problem with an intricate mathematical model to process through a Hardware‐in‐the‐loop (HIL).
Distribution of hospital care among pediatric and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma survivors—A population‐based cohort study from Sweden and Denmark
Authors: Glimelius Ingrid , Englund Annika , Rostgaard Klaus , Smedby Karin E. , Eloranta Sandra , de Nully Brown Peter , Johansen Christoffer , Kamper Peter , Ljungman Gustaf , Hjalgrim Lisa Lyngsie , Hjalgrim Henrik
Published: July 2019

The burden of late effects among Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors treated according to contemporary protocols remains poorly characterized. We used nation‐wide registers to assess number of inpatient bed‐days and specialist outpatient visits among 1048 HL‐patients (<25 years, diagnosed 1990‐2010) and 5175 country‐, sex‐, and age‐matched comparators. We followed them for up to 24 years, with time‐dependent assessment of relapse status. International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐10) chapter‐specific hazard ratios (HRs) were assessed in Cox regression analyses, and nonparametric statistics described patterns of health‐care‐use. Relative to comparators, relapse‐free survivors were at increased risk of infections, diseases of the blood, endocrine, circulatory and respiratory systems, and unspecific symptoms, HRs ranging from 1.86 to 3.05. Relative to comparators, relapsed survivors had at statistically significantly increased risk of diseases reflecting practically all investigated disease‐chapters, HRs ranging from 1.60 to 18.7. Among relapse‐free survivors, 10% of the patients accounted for 80% of all hospital bed days, and 55% were never hospitalized during follow‐up. Among relapsed‐survivors, 10% of the patients accounted for 50% of the bed days, and only 24% were never hospitalized during follow‐up. In contrast, 10% of the comparators accounted for 90% of hospital bed days and 75% were never hospitalized. These findings challenge the impression of a uniformly distributed long‐term morbidity among all HL survivors and emphasize the need for early identification and attention to patients particularly susceptible to late effects, such as relapsed survivors.
Gene polymorphism of cytochrome P450 significantly affects lung cancer susceptibility
Authors: Li Meng , Li Anqi , He Ruiqing , Dang Wenhui , Liu Xinyu , Yang Tian , Shi Puyu , Bu Xiang , Gao Dan , Zhang Ning , Du Shuli , Jin Tianbo , Chen Mingwei
Published: July 2019

Background

Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) are heme proteins involved in the metabolism of a variety of endogenous and exogenous substances and play an important role in the carcinogenesis mechanisms of environmental and hereditary factors. The objective of this study was to investigate how polymorphisms of CYPs correlate with lung cancer (LC) susceptibility.

Methods

Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in this study. The chi‐square test and unconditional logistic regression model were used to evaluate the correlation between SNPs and LC susceptibility. The expressions and survival data of genes in patients with LC were mined using Oncomine and Kaplan‐Meier Plotter database.

Results

Four SNPs were found to be significantly associated with the risk of LC development (P < 0.05). The most significant correlation was that the A allele and AA genotype of CYP2D6 rs1065852 were associated with increased risk of LC development (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.13‐1.60, P = 9.04e‐4; OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.29‐2.59, P = 0.001 respectively). Similar association of this variant was also found in the subgroups of male patients, cases in III‐IV stages, positive lymph node, squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Whereas rs1065852 was considered as protective factor in females (adjusted OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.16‐0.70, P = 0.004). In stratified analyses, the association of CYP24A1 rs2762934, CYP24A1 rs6068816, CYP20A1 rs2043449 polymorphism with LC risk appeared stronger in some subgroups. CYP2D6, CYP24A1 and CYP20A1 are overexpressed in some pathological types of LC (P < 0.05), and high levels of CYP2D6 and CYP20A1 indicate poor and good prognosis of LC, respectively.

Conclusion

This study revealed that rs1065852, rs2043449, rs2762s934, and rs6068816 of CYPs were associated with LC susceptibility in the Northwestern Chinese Han population; CYP2D6 and CYP20A1 were overexpressed and correlated with prognosis of LC.
Evaluating the Graded Care Profile 2: Comparisons with the Original Tool and Factors Affecting Uptake and Use of the Updated Tool
Authors: Smith Emma , Johnson Robyn , Andersson Tove , Belton Emma , Kyriacou Samantha , Hodson Dawn
Published: July 2019

Previous research on the original Graded Care Profile, widely used in assessments of child neglect, found that it helped practitioners make more objective, evidence‐based decisions where neglect was suspected. However, the tool was also criticised for being too long and not very user‐friendly. Subsequently, the tool was revised, updated and renamed the ‘Graded Care Profile 2’ (GCP2). The NSPCC supported the implementation of this tool in 65 local authorities.

This article reports on an evaluation of the GCP2 conducted by the NSPCC, involving surveys and interviews with a range of participants trained to use the tool or involved in its implementation. The evaluation aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to using the tool, and to observe whether changes made to the original tool had helped.

‘This article reports on an evaluation of the GCP2 conducted by the NSPCC’

Participants were positive about the GCP2, which some interviewees said was a huge improvement on the original tool. They felt that it increased their confidence to identify neglect and make referrals which were more likely to have an impact, because interviewees felt that it produced clear evidence which held weight within the child protection field. There were reservations about aspects of the tool and, although the roll‐out appeared successful overall, use of the tool was fairly limited eight to ten months following training.

Key Practitioner Messages

The GCP2 was viewed as more accessible, attractive and user‐friendly than the original tool. There were some concerns about aspects of the tool, such as its length.

Practitioners who used the tool felt that it improved their confidence to identify neglect and helped them make referrals which were more likely to have an impact.

The majority of local authorities initially involved in rolling out the GCP2 were still engaged and using the GCP2.
Rhabdomyosarcoma debut masquerading as acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: López‐Andrade Bernardo , Duran Maria Antonia , Torres Lourdes , García‐Recio Marta , Lo Riso Laura , Formica Alejandro , Ramos Rafael F. , Cerda Niurka , Sampol Antonia
Published: July 2019

Bone marrow infiltration by alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is uncommon, some cases can mimicry acute leukemia at presentation and mislead the diagnosis. The integration of diagnostics tests and techniques in uncommon malignancies is important to suspect and reach the diagnosis and avoid delay on treatment. We report a case of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma bone marrow infiltration associated with hemophagocytosis and cell cannibalism, mimicking acute leukemia at presentation.
Free‐Standing 3D Electrodes for Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Peng Ming , Zhao Yang , Chen Dechao , Tan Yongwen
Published: July 2019

Electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide has achieved rapid development, due to the wide presence in industrial production, everyday life, bioprocess and green energy chemistry, etc. Many three‐dimensional structures have emerged as state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts due to their fascinating structures and electrochemical properties. This review summarizes free‐standing three‐dimensional electrocatalysts based on metal, metal oxide, carbon & silicon, and unconventional materials for detection of hydrogen peroxide with low limit of detection, wide range and fast response. The work also highlights their applications in near neutral conditions, especially their ability for single cell detection and mapping in biological environment. Further exploration into these materials together with devices design will facilitate the development of next‐generation detection technologies toward in situ and real‐time detection and contribute to wearable/portable smart detection electronics.
Decentralized monitoring for large‐scale process using copula‐correlation analysis and Bayesian inference–based multiblock principal component analysis
Authors: Tian Ying , Hu Tian , Peng Xin , Du Wenli , Yao Heng
Published: July 2019

Due to the massive monitored samples and their features such as strong coupling and time delay in large‐scale industrial process, the decentralized monitoring methods, which divide the variables into several blocks and perform local monitoring in each subblock, have been brought up to handle the complex characteristics. However, most of the existing decentralized methods utilize the correlation degree among variables for block division, while the correlation patterns among variables are ignored. The missing of correlation pattern will influence the monitoring performance. To address this problem, the copula‐correlation analysis, which considers both the correlation degree and the correlation pattern, is adopted for block division; then the principal component analysis (PCA)–based method is used for subblock monitoring, and the Bayesian inference is introduced to achieve decision fusion of fault detection. The superiority and effectiveness of the proposed method are illustrated through comparison studies on a numerical example and the Tennessee Eastman (TE) benchmark process.
The spatial cerebral damage caused by larger infarct and β‐amyloid toxicity is driven by the anatomical/functional connectivity
Authors: Amtul Zareen , Frías Carmen , Randhawa Jasmine , Hill David J. , Arany Edith J.
Published: July 2019

Large cerebral infarctions are major predictors of death and severe disability from stroke. Conversely, data concerning these types of infarctions and the affected adjacent brain circuits are scarce. It remains to be determined if the co‐morbid concurrence of large infarct and β‐amyloid (Aβ) toxicity can precipitate the early development of dementia. Here, we described a dose‐dependent effect of a unilateral striatal injection of vasoconstrictive endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) along with Aβ toxicity on CNS pathogenesis; driven by the anatomical and functional networks within a brain circuit. After 21 days of treatment, a high dose (60 pmol) of ET‐1 (E60) alone caused the greatest increase in neuroinflammation, mainly in the ipsilateral striatum and distant regions with synaptic links to the striatal lesion such as white matter (subcortical white matter, corpus callosum, internal capsule, anterior commissure), gray matter (globus pallidus, thalamus), and cortices (cingulate, motor, somatosensory, entorhinal). The combined E60 + Aβ treatment also extended perturbation in the contralateral hemisphere of these rats, such as increased deposition of amyloid precursor protein fragments associated with the appearance of degenerating cells and the leakage of laminin from the basement membrane across a compromised blood–brain barrier. However, the cerebral damage induced by the 6 pmol ET‐1 (E6), Aβ and E6 + Aβ rats was not detrimental enough to injure the complete network. The appreciation of the causal interactions among distinct anatomical units in the brain after ischemia and Aβ toxicity will help in the design of effective and alternative therapeutics that may disassociate the synergistic or additive association between the infarcts and Aβ toxicity.
Resolving a common vulnerability in secret sharing scheme–based data outsourcing schemes
Authors: Ghasemi Reza
Published: July 2019

Every day, the amount of generated data from different resources are increasing significantly and posing new serious challenges in terms of data storage and maintaining. As a solution, outsourcing data to a public cloud server with high storage and processing capacity sounds reasonable in comparison with storing in local data storage. Therefore, the database as a service (DaaS) paradigm has gained much popularity over the last decade since the introduction of cloud services. Storing confidential data into a third party arises some concerns regarding security and privacy of the data. One popular approach to address these problems in data outsourcing is utilizing secret sharing and distributing sensitive data among several databases. In this paper, we introduce a flaw that exhibits a deficiency relating to current schemes. This flaw indicates an intrinsic vulnerability to such methods and necessitates a reconsideration of these schemes. Moreover, a new way will be developed to resolve this problem in the previous schemes, which can be employed in all current schemes to mitigate the mentioned concern. Finally, a comprehensive implementation demonstrates that the proposed method is scalable to meet increasing demands in large databases.
ADAPT: Adaptive distributed optimization approach for uploading data with redundancy in cooperative mobile cloud
Authors: Wang Ji , Bao Weidong , Zhu Xiaomin
Published: July 2019

With the development of information technology and the ubiquity of mobile devices, increasing amounts of data are generated, processed, and transmitted by mobile devices. To alleviate the tension between the energy poverty of mobile devices and the increasing demand for transmitting data, the energy‐efficient data transmission problem attracts considerable interests. Nonetheless, how to upload data with redundancy efficiently lacks a thorough study despite the wide existence of this problem in many situations like data storage among mobile devices and mobile crowd sensing. Since uploading redundant data brings little value while still consuming precious energy, it is important to design an efficient approach for mobile devices to upload data with redundancy cooperatively. In this work, we formulate the uploading data with redundancy in cooperative mobile cloud as an energy‐constrained utility maximization problem. To solve this problem, we propose an adaptive distributed optimization approach consisting of the correlated upload decision and the online distributed scheduling algorithm. By the correlated upload decision, each mobile device can make adaptive decisions on how much data to upload and which data to upload according to its own observations independently. The online distributed scheduling algorithm enables mobile devices to optimally upload data. A series of simulation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. Finally, we test our approach on a real demo system to verify its practicability in reality.
Imaging of the Axon Initial Segment
Authors: Di Re Jessica , Kayasandik Cihan , Botello‐Lins Gonzalo , Labate Demetrio , Laezza Fernanda
Published: July 2019

The axon initial segment (AIS) is the first 20‐ to 60‐μm segment of the axon proximal to the soma of a neuron. This highly specialized subcellular domain is the initiation site of the action potential and contains a high concentration of voltage‐gated ion channels held in place by a complex nexus of scaffolding and regulatory proteins that ensure proper electrical activity of the neuron. Studies have shown that dysfunction of many AIS channels and scaffolding proteins occurs in a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, raising the need to develop accurate methods for visualization and quantification of the AIS and its protein content in models of normal and disease conditions. In this article, we describe methods for immunolabeling AIS proteins in cultured neurons and brain slices as well as methods for quantifying protein expression and pattern distribution using fluorescent labeling of these proteins. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Book Review
Authors: Bowen Wayne H.
Published: July 2019

A Pocket Guide to Mentoring Higher Education Faculty: Making the Time, Finding the Resources
Health care utilization and mortality associated with heart failure‐related admissions among cancer patients
Authors: Guha Avirup , Dey Amit Kumar , Armanious Merna , Dodd Katherine , Bonsu Janice , Jneid Hani , Abraham William , Fradley Michael G. , Addison Daniel
Published: July 2019

Aims

Heart failure (HF) outcomes continue to improve with widespread use of new therapies. Concurrently, cancer survival has dramatically improved. Yet whether cancer patients share similar strategies and outcomes of inpatient HF treatment to those without HF is unknown. We sought to assess the contemporary impacts of cancer on inpatient HF outcomes over time.

Methods and results

The retrospective National Inpatient Sample (2003–15) and National Readmissions Database (2013–14) registries were queried for adults admitted for HF and stratified for cancer status, excluding cases of metastatic disease. Temporal trends in HF admissions, hospital charge rates, length of hospitalization, HF‐related procedure utilization, in‐hospital mortality, and hospital readmissions were analysed. Over 13 years of follow‐up, there were 12 769 077 HF admissions (mean age 73 years, 50.8% female, 30.8% non‐White), among which 1 413 287 (11%) had a co‐morbid cancer diagnosis. Cancer patients were older, were predominantly male, and tended to be smokers. Over time, HF admission rates among cancer patients increased, despite a concurrent decrease among patients without cancer (P < 0.0001). After propensity matching, in‐hospital mortality was significantly higher among cancer HF patients (5.1% vs. 2.9%, P < 0.0001). Additionally, HF‐related procedure utilization was disproportionately lower among cancer patients (0.30 vs. 0.35 procedures/HF hospitalization, P < 0.001); the presence of cancer was associated with increased costs, length of hospitalizations, and all‐cause readmissions, but fewer HF readmissions (P < 0.0001, each).

Conclusions

While the incidence of HF hospitalizations has increased among cancer patients, they do not appear to share the same rates of advanced HF care, readmissions trends, or reductions in in‐hospital mortality. Future studies targeting modifiable factors related to these differences are needed.
Case of isolated cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosed by newly developed abnormal uptake during serial follow‐up fluorine‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography
Authors: Maeda Daichi , Kanzaki Yumiko , Fujita Shuichi , Inuyama Maaya , Takashima Shogo , Miyamura Masatoshi , Terasaki Fumio , Hoshiga Masaaki
Published: July 2019

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) causes lethal arrhythmia and heart failure and has a poor prognosis; therefore, early detection and early stage treatment are important. However, diagnosis of isolated CS may be difficult in some cases owing to the low sensitivity of myocardial biopsy. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with isolated CS, showing change from negative to positive fluorine‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) uptake results within 9 months. The patient showed rapid reduction in left ventricular systolic function with sustained ventricular tachycardia. The diagnosis of isolated CS is often under‐recognized in clinical practice because it commonly requires the diagnosis of extracardiac disease in the absence of a positive endomyocardial biopsy. The Japanese Circulation Society recently published guidelines for CS diagnosis stating that isolated CS can be clinically diagnosed with positive 18F‐FDG PET or 67Gallium result. In this case, serial follow‐up 18F‐FDG PET was useful for diagnosing isolated CS.
Epidemiology and etiology of infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathies in Tasmania
Authors: Ware Tyson L. , Huskins Shannon R. , Grinton Bronwyn E. , Liu Yu‐Chi , Bennett Mark F. , Harvey Michael , McMahon Jacinta , Andreopoulos‐Malikotsinas Danae , Bahlo Melanie , Howell Katherine B. , Hildebrand Michael S. , Damiano John A. , Rosenfeld Alexander , Mackay Mark T. , Mandelstam Simone , Leventer Richard J. , Harvey A. Simon , Freeman Jeremy L. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Jones Dean L. , Berkovic Samuel F.
Published: July 2019

We sought to determine incidence, etiologies, and yield of genetic testing in infantile onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) in a population isolate, with an intensive multistage approach. Infants born in Tasmania between 2011 and 2016, with seizure onset <2 years of age, epileptiform EEG, frequent seizures, and developmental impairment, were included. Following review of EEG databases, medical records, brain MRIs, and other investigations, clinical genetic testing was undertaken with subsequent research interrogation of whole exome sequencing (WES) in unsolved cases. The incidence of infantile DEEs was 0.44/1000 per year (95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.71), with 16 cases ascertained. The etiology was structural in 5/16 cases. A genetic basis was identified in 6 of the remaining 11 cases (3 gene panel, 3 WES). In two further cases, WES identified novel variants with strong in silico data; however, paternal DNA was not available to support pathogenicity. The etiology was not determined in 3/16 (19%) cases, with a candidate gene identified in one of these. Pursuing clinical imaging and genetic testing followed by WES at an intensive research level can give a high diagnostic yield in the infantile DEEs, providing a solid base for prognostic and genetic counseling.
Fractal characteristics of uranium‐bearing sandstone structure and their effects on acid leaching
Authors: Zeng Sheng , Zhang Ni , Zhang Shuwen , Sun Bing , Tan Kaixuan , Duan Xianzhe , Du Xueming
Published: July 2019

Pore structure characteristics have significant effects on the flow distribution, seepage characteristics, and reaction mechanism of the leachate as well as the uranium leaching efficiency in‐situ leaching (ISL) of uranium. In this study, a series of experiments including mercury injection and uranium leaching were conducted to study the characteristics of the pore structure and their effects on uranium leaching. The following conclusions can be drawn: The distribution of uranium‐bearing sandstone particle size shows the double fractal characteristic, and the particle size can be divided into coarse particles (r > 0.6 mm) and fine particles (r ≤ 0.6 mm). Furthermore, the pore volume and specific surface area of uranium sandstone both have dual fractal features corresponding to an intergranular‐dominant region and intragranular‐dominant region from mercury injection results. Fractures in the uranium‐bearing sandstone may be the main factors that lead to the abnormal fractal dimensions of pore structure. The uranium leaching efficiency of the sandstone increase with the leaching time and reach the maximum value (above 90%) at the 112th hour, and the whole leaching process can be divided into two phases taking the 60th hour as the demarcation point. Through correlation analysis, fractal dimension of the particle size, pore volume, and specific surface area was significantly correlated with the leaching efficiency of uranium at different dissolution phase. Corresponding measures such as adjusting solutions concentration and adding hydrofluoric acid can be taken to avoid the negative effect of pore structure. Those observations can provide a theoretical reference for the optimization of the leaching period and site design parameters of uranium‐bearing sandstone.
Environmental DNA in lake sediment reveals biogeography of native genetic diversity
Authors: Nelson‐Chorney Hedin T , Davis Corey S , Poesch Mark S , Vinebrooke Rolf D , Carli Christopher M , Taylor Mark K
Published: July 2019

Understanding the historical distributions of species is vital to the conservation and restoration of native species, yet such information is often qualitative. We show that the paleolimnological history of threatened freshwater fishes can be reconstructed using species‐diagnostic markers amplified from environmental DNA deposited in lake sediments (lake sedDNA). This method was validated through the detection of lake sedDNA from non‐native trout (Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), which corroborated historical records of human‐mediated introductions. We also discovered native trout (westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) lake sedDNA that predated human‐mediated introductions of freshwater fishes in a watershed with high topographical relief. This unexpected result revealed that the westslope population was of native origin and requires immediate conservation protection. Our findings demonstrate that lake sedDNA can be used to determine the colonization history of freshwater fishes and the structure of ecosystems, aiding in the identification of native ranges, novel native diversity, and introductions of non‐native species.
Electrocatalytic Activity of Galvanostatically Deposited Ni Thin Films for Methanol Electrooxidation
Authors: Salinas‐Quezada M. P. , Crespo‐Yapur D. A. , Cano‐Marquez A. , Videa M.
Published: July 2019

Nickel and nickel‐based nanomaterials are an attractive choice to replace noble metals as electrocatalysts in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFCs) owing to their lower cost and suitable electrocatalytic activity. Among the different synthetic methods available for the production of nanostructured materials, galvanostatic electrodeposition offers a fast and simple means of fabricating active electrodes. Therefore, thin‐layers of nickel were electrodeposited onto polycrystalline gold electrodes using constant current pulses from an electrolyte containing 50 mM NiSO4. Combined effects of current density pulse and the presence of sulfate or chloride anions in the supporting electrolyte on the electrocatalytic activity of the deposited nickel nanostructures were studied. The surface concentration of Ni(OH)2 in alkaline medium, evaluated through cyclic voltammetry in 0.5M methanol + 1M KOH, was used as a performance parameter together with the electrocatalytic intensity, EI, defined as the sum of forward and reverse currents densities in methanol electro‐oxidation. It was found that highest electrocatalytic activities were obtained when using current density pulses close to 4.0 × 10−3A cm−2 in the presence of sulfates, which leads to a strong correlation between the electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol and the surface concentration of Ni(OH)2, displaying better properties than their chloride counterparts.
Geochemistry and Nd isotopes of Lower Permian siliciclastic rocks from central Tibet, western China: Evidence for Early Permian initiation of the rifting between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks?
Authors: Yan Li‐Long , Zeng Lu , Wang Yang , Tang Xian‐Chun
Published: July 2019

Fifteen Lower Permian siliciclastic rocks from central Tibet were analysed for the major and trace elements, and ten samples among them were chosen for determination of Nd isotopic compositions. They are characterized by low concentrations of SiO2 and low ratios of SiO2/Al2O3, moderate abundances of Fe2O3 + MgO (mudstones, 7.28–9.72 wt.%; sandstones, 4.62–10.02 wt.%) and TiO2 (mudstones, 0.55–0.95 wt.%; sandstones, 0.53–0.99 wt.%), significant enrichments of light rare‐earth elements (LREEs) relative to the heavy REEs (HREEs; average (La/Yb)N = 9.8 [mudstones] and 9.48 [sandstones]), flat HREE distribution, obvious negative Eu anomalies (average Eu/Eu* = 0.68), higher Th/Sc and La/Sc ratios, and negative initial εNd values (on average −7.2 and −8.5 for sandstones and mudstones, respectively). The mixing modal analysis based on some elemental pairs and Nd isotopic composition, respectively, Nd depleted mantle model age (TDM) and initial εNd values, uniformly indicates that about 30–40% mafic materials could have been added into these sedimentary rocks. These siliciclastic rocks could have formed in a setting of rifting between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks, when a 280 Ma mantle plume upwelling event was occurring in northern Gondwana.
Dihydroartemisinin attenuates alcoholic fatty liver through regulation of lipin‐1 signaling
Authors: Chen Xingran , Bian Mianli , Jin Huanhuan , Lian Naqi , Shao Jiangjuan , Zhang Feng , Zheng Shizhong
Published: July 2019

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is generated from excessive alcohol consumption, characterized by hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, excessive hepatic lipid accumulation was attributed to the aberrant lipin‐1 signaling during the development of alcoholic steatosis in rodent species and human. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been recently identified to relieve hepatocytes necrosis and prevent from hepatic steatosis in alcohol‐induced liver diseases; however, the role of DHA in ALD has not been elucidated completely. Therefore, this study was aimed to further identify the potential mechanisms of pharmacological effects of DHA on ALD. Results demonstrated that DHA regulated the expression and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of lipin‐1 in mice with chronic ethanol exposure. Results confirmed that the disruption of lipin‐1 signaling abolished the suppression of DHA on alcohol‐induced hepatic steatosis. Interestingly, DHA also significantly improved liver injury, and inflammation mediated by lipin‐1 signaling in chronic alcohol‐fed mice. in vivo experiments further consolidated the concept that DHA protected against hepatocyte lipoapoptosis dependent on the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of lipin‐1 signaling, resulting in attenuated ratio of Lpin1 β/α. Obvious increases in cell apoptosis were observed in alcohol‐treated lipin1β‐overexpressed mice. Although DHA attenuated cell apoptosis, overexpression of lipin‐1β neutralized DHA action. DHA ameliorated activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress through inhibiting activation of JNK and CHOP, which was abrogated by overexpression of lipin‐1β. In summary, DHA significantly improved liver injury, steatosis and hepatocyte lipoapoptosis in chronic alcohol‐fed mice via regulation of lipin‐1 signaling.
Evaluation of the effect of cafeteria diet on the kidney Na,K‐ATPase activity, and oxidative stress
Authors: Pinheiro Isadora Reis Restier , Melo Marina Fátima Nunes , de Sousa Sarah Vivas , Cardoso Bárbara Gatti , da Silva Thaís Marques , Rangel Luciana Pereira , Cortes Vanessa Faria , de Lima Santos Hérica , Chaves Valéria Ernestânia , Garcia Israel José Pereira , Barbosa Leandro Augusto
Published: July 2019

In this study, renal tissue, subdivided into the cortex and medulla of Wistar rats subjected to a cafeteria diet (CAF) for 24 days or to normal diet, was used to analyze whether the renal enzyme Na,K‐ATPase activity was modified by CAF diet, as well as to analyze the α1 subunit of renal Na,K‐ATPase expression levels. The lipid profile of the renal plasma membrane and oxidative stress were verified. In the Na,K‐ATPase activity evaluation, no alteration was found, but a significant decrease of 30% in the cortex was detected in the α1 subunit expression of the enzyme. There was a 24% decrease in phospholipids in the cortex of rats submitted to CAF, a 17% increase in cholesterol levels in the cortex, and a 23% decrease in the medulla. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the groups submitted to CAF, both in the cortical region, 29%, and in the medulla, 35%. Also, a reduction of 45% in the glutathione levels was observed in the cortex and medulla with CAF. CAF showed a nearly two‐fold increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in relation to the control group in the cortex and a 59% increase in the GPx activity in the medulla. In conclusion, although the diet was administered for a short period of time, important results were found, especially those related to the lipid profile and oxidative stress, which may directly affect renal function.