bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antecedents Effect of Financial Inclusion for the People of North Sumatera
Authors: Lubis Adelina , Dalimunthe Ritha , Situmeang Chandra
Published: November 2019

This study aims to determine the effect of financial literacy and financial technology (fintech) partially influencing financial inclusion in the people of North Sumatra, then to determine the effect of financial literacy and financial technology (fintech) simultaneously influencing financial inclusion in the people of North Sumatra. The research samples are 100 respondents. The method of analysis in this study is multiple linear regression analysis. The results of the regression analysis partially show financial literacy and financial technology have a positive and significant effect on financial inclusion in the people of North Sumatra. Simultaneously financial literacy and financial technology affect financial inclusion in society North Sumatra. The most dominant variable affecting financial inclusion is financial literacy.
Motivation Role in Improving Work Effectiveness
Authors: Kuswati Yeti
Published: November 2019

In an effort to realize the vision of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of Irrigation Network at Talaga, Majalengka, which is "providing optimal and maximum service in the field of irrigation to the public", it is needed a motivation from the Head of the UPTD so that employees can actively and enthusiastically carry out management, utilization, and services of irrigation. Based on observations, it turned out that the effectiveness of employee's work in irrigation management is still not optimal (still low). The problem was because the implementation of motivation by Head of the UPTD is not based on the principles of motivation maximally. This research was conducted at the UPTD of Irrigation Network at Talaga, Majalengka, using a theoretical basis on motivation with the parameters of principles of motivation proposed by Malayu S.P. Hasibuan and for the measurement of work effectiveness using indicators according to Gibson which are production, quality, efficiency, flexibility, and satisfaction. The analytical method used was a quantitative analysis method using quantitative descriptive analysis techniques, scoring, and crosstab. In this study, the sample used was random sampling.
Transcendental Epistemology Study of Philosophy of Wisdom Muta'aliyah Mulla Sadra
Authors: Nurdin Fauziah , Nasution Hasymsyah , Nasution Hasan Bakti
Published: November 2019

The aim of the study is to find out Transcendental Epistemology by using Muta'aliyah Mulla Sadra. This study used qualitative research methodology. The result of the study is Mullâ Shadrâ system is different from the emphasis on specific aspects of "rationality" as it is now does not mean that its founder understands it as "irrational" nor is it given to "mystical experience". But the system emphasizes a world view that intuitive vision is an inseparable part of knowledge. With this method, knowledge or wisdom is obtained not only that is generated by the power of reason but also through spiritual enlightenment, and all of that is then presented in rational form using rational arguments. For Mullâ Shadrâ, knowledge or wisdom is not only to enlighten cognition but also realization; change the form of the recipient of enlightenment itself and realize the knowledge gained so that the transformation of form occurs. All that cannot be achieved except by following the Shari'a, so a thought must hook the infant method in its system.
Perilaku Makan Burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) di Kawasan Hutan Maligano Suaka Marga Satwa Buton Utara Sulawesi Tenggara
Authors: Firdayanti Andi , Amirullah Amirullah , Muhsin Muhsin
Published: November 2019

This study aims to know foraging behavior and distribution of peak time of foraging behavior of red knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix) In Maligano Wild Life Reserve Of North Buton Southeast Sulawesi. This Study Was Conducted from November-December 2018. Observation was done in the morning and afternoon, for 2 station observations, station I located on the outskirts of Forest while station II is located in the middle of the Forest. Observations of foraging behavior red knobbed hornbill (aceros cassidix) using binoculars and monokuler, as well as documented by using the digital camera. The Method was used to observe foraging behavior of red knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix) is a method of observations directly. The distribution of peak time foraging of red knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix) seen by the number of the frequency of the emergence of red knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix) to do the activity. Observations indicate foraging behavior of red knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix) of them is perch and foraging, the move, perched then fly, perch, select the food (gleaning), interesting food (pulling), swallowing food (swallowing), voice, self-cleaning (grooming) and the fly. While the distribution of peak time of red knobbed hornbill raging (aceros cassidix) that is in the afternoon, by the number of individuals that 21 individu that consists of 13 male and 8 females.Keywords : Red knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix), foraging, behavior, time ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perilaku makan serta sebaran waktu puncak makan burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) di Kawasan Hutan Maligano Suaka Marga Satwa Buton Utara Sulawesi Tenggara. Pengamatan perilaku makan dilakukan pada waktu pagi dan sore hari, pada 2 stasiun pengamatan, yaitu stasiun I berada di pinggiran hutan dan stasiun II berada di tengah hutan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dari bulan November-Desember 2018. Pengamatan perilaku makan burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) dengan menggunakan teropong binokuler dan monokuler, dokumentasi dengan menggunakan kamera digital. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode pengamatan secara langsung. Sebaran waktu puncak makan burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) dilihat berdasarkan jumlah frekuensi munculnya burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) untuk melakukan aktivitas makan. Hasil pengamatan menunjukkan perilaku dan aktivitas makan burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) diantaranya adalah bertengger dan mencari makan, berpindah tempat, bertengger kemudian terbang, memilih makanan (Gleaning), menarik makanan (Pulling), menelan makanan (Swallowing), bersuara (Voiced), membersihkan diri (Grooming) dan terbang (Flying). Sedangkan sebaran waktu puncak makan burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix) yaitu pada sore hari, dengan jumlah individu yaitu 21 ekor yang terdiri dari 13 ekor jantan dan 8 ekor betina.Kata Kunci : Burung Julang Sulawesi (Aceros cassidix), Makan, Perilaku, Waktu
Computer Aided Quick Determination of Earthquake Performance of Buildings by Using Street Survey and Preliminary Assessment Methods
Authors: Muvafık Murat , Özdemir Muhammet
Published: November 2019

In this study, 7 different rapid evaluation methods which are used to determine the performance of buildings under the influence of earthquakes in a fast and practical way are examined. These methods were used to determine the earthquake performance behaviors (risky or safe) of buildings according to each method by using the parameters of 50 buildings that were collapsed or severely damaged in Van earthquake that occurred in 2011. Accurate estimation percentages of the methods on the buildings were calculated by comparing the obtained earthquake performance behaviors with the current situation of the buildings. The most suitable method has been tried to determine for 50 buildings related to these calculations. At the same time, a computer program called EPA (Earthquake Performance Analysis) was developed in order to evaluate the parameters of the related data set faster, easier and without error.

Three of the 7 rapid assessment methods used to determine the earthquake performance behavior of buildings are first-stage methods called street screening (6306 RYY, FEMA P-154 and Sucuoğlu and Yazgan level-1), and the remaining four methods are second-stage methods called pre-assessment (Sucuoğlu and Yazgan level-2, Özcebe, Yakut and MVP). According to the results, the pre-assessment methods predicted the earthquake performance status of the buildings examined by 24% higher than the street screening methods. At the same time, the most successful method of street survey methods was 6306 RYY with 74% accurate estimation, and the most successful method of preliminary assessment with 86% accurate prediction was Yakut method.
Modelling Climate Suitability for Rainfed Maize Cultivation in Kenya Using a Maximum Entropy (MaxENT) Approach
Authors: Kogo Benjamin Kipkemboi , Kumar Lalit , Koech Richard , Kariyawasam Champika S.
Published: November 2019

Climate change and variability are projected to alter the geographic suitability of lands for crop cultivation. In many developing countries, such as Kenya, information on the mean changes in climate is limited. Therefore, in this study, we model the current and future changes in areas suitable for rainfed maize production in the country using a maximum entropy (MaxENT) model. Maize is by far a major staple food crop in Kenya. We used maize occurrence location data and bioclimatic variables for two climatic scenarios-Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 from two general circulation models (HadGEM2-ES and CCSM4) for 2070. The study identified the annual mean temperature, annual precipitation and the mean temperature of the wettest quarter as the major variables that affect the distribution of maize. Simulation results indicate an average increase of unsuitable areas of between 1.9–3.9% and a decrease of moderately suitable areas of 14.6–17.5%. The change in the suitable areas is an increase of between 17–20% and in highly suitable areas of 9.6% under the climatic scenarios. The findings of this study are of utmost importance to the country as they present an opportunity for policy makers to develop appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies required to sustain maize production under future climates.
CRISPR/Cas9-Induced Mutagenesis of Semi-Rolled Leaf1,2 Confers Curled Leaf Phenotype and Drought Tolerance by Influencing Protein Expression Patterns and ROS Scavenging in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Liao Shanyue , Qin Xuemei , Luo Liang , Han Yue , Wang Xin , Usman Babar , Nawaz Gul , Zhao Neng , Liu Yaoguang , Li Rongbai
Published: November 2019

Rice leaf morphology is an essential agronomic trait to develop drought-tolerant genotypes for adequate and stable crop production in drought-prone areas. Here, rolled leaf mutant plants were acquired by CRISPR/Cas9-based mutagenesis of Semi-rolled leaf1,2 (SRL1 and SRL2) genes, and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) based proteomic analysis was performed to analyze the subsequent proteomic regulation events. Homozygous mutants exhibit decreased chlorophyll content, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, vascular bundles (VB), stomatal number, and agronomic traits with increased panicle number and bulliform cells (BCs). Under drought stress, mutant plants displayed lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content while higher survival rate, abscisic acid (ABA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and grain filling percentage compare with their wild type (WT). Proteomic results revealed that 270 proteins were significantly downregulated, and 107 proteins were upregulated in the mutant line compared with WT. Proteins related to lateral organ boundaries’ (LOB) domain (LBD) were downregulated, whereas abiotic stress-responsive proteins were upregulated in the CRISPR mutant. LBD proteins (Q5KQR7, Q6K713, Q7XGL4, Q8LQH4), probable indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase (Q60EJ6), putative auxin transporter-like protein 4 (Q53JG7), Monoculm 1 (Q84MM9) and AP2 (Apetala2) domain-containing protein (Q10A97) were found to be hub-proteins. The hybrids developed from mutant restorers showed a semi-rolled leaf phenotype with increased panicle number, grain number per panicle, and yield per plant. Our findings reveal the intrinsic value of genome editing and expand the knowledge about the network of proteins for leaf rolling and drought avoidance in rice.
Thermophile Lytic Enzyme Fusion Proteins that Target Clostridium perfringens
Authors: Swift Steven M. , Reid Kevin P. , Donovan David M. , Ramsay Timothy G.
Published: November 2019

Clostridium perfringens is a bacterial pathogen that causes necrotic enteritis in poultry and livestock, and is a source of food poisoning and gas gangrene in humans. As the agriculture industry eliminates the use of antibiotics in animal feed, alternatives to antibiotics will be needed. Bacteriophage endolysins are enzymes used by the virus to burst their bacterial host, releasing bacteriophage particles. This type of enzyme represents a potential replacement for antibiotics controlling C. perfringens. As animal feed is often heat-treated during production of feed pellets, thermostable enzymes would be preferred for use in feed. To create thermostable endolysins that target C. perfringens, thermophile endolysin catalytic domains were fused to cell wall binding domains from different C. perfringens prophage endolysins. Three thermostable catalytic domains were used, two from prophage endolysins from two Geobacillus strains, and a third endolysin from the deep-sea thermophilic bacteriophage Geobacillus virus E2 (GVE2). These domains harbor predicted L-alanine-amidase, glucosaminidase, and L-alanine-amidase activities, respectively and degrade the peptidoglycan of the bacterial cell wall. The cell wall binding domains were from C. perfringens prophage endolysins (Phage LYtic enzymes; Ply): PlyCP18, PlyCP10, PlyCP33, PlyCP41, and PlyCP26F. The resulting fifteen chimeric proteins were more thermostable than the native C. perfringens endolysins, and killed swine and poultry disease-associated strains of C. perfringens.
The Profile and Content of Polyphenols and Carotenoids in Local and Commercial Sweet Cherry Fruits (Prunus avium L.) and Their Antioxidant Activity In Vitro
Authors: Średnicka-Tober Dominika , Ponder Alicja , Hallmann Ewelina , Głowacka Agnieszka , Rozpara Elżbieta
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the content of a number of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of fruits of selected local and commercial sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars. The experiment showed that the selected cultivars of sweet cherries differ significantly in the content of polyphenolic compounds and carotenoids. The fruits of commercial sweet cherry cultivars were, on average, richer in polyphenols (the sum of phenolic compounds determined chromatographically), flavonoids, as well as anthocyanins and were characterized by higher antioxidant activity when compared to the local, traditional cultivars. In the group of the traditional sweet cherry cultivars, particular attention could be paid to Black Late cv., showing the highest antioxidant activity of fruits. In the group of commercial sweet cherry cultivars, Cordia and Sylvia fruits could be recognized as being rich in bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity. Yellow skin cultivars were characterized by the highest concentrations of carotenoids. Strong positive correlations between the identified bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of fruits were also found. Although different cultivars of sweet cherries show a high variability in phenolics and carotenoids profiles as well as in the antioxidant activity of fruits, they all should be, similarly to other types of cherries, recognized as a rich source of bioactive compounds with an antioxidant potential.
The Susceptibility of Tenocytes from Different Ages of Donors Towards Dexamethasone and Ascorbic Acid can be Screened in a Microfluidic Platform
Authors: Chiu Chih-Hao , Chen Poyu , Chen Alvin Chao-Yu , Chan Yi-Sheng , Hsu Kuo-Yao , Higashikawa Rei , Lei Kin Fong
Published: November 2019

Hamstring tendon is one of the best graft choices for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The upper age limit of reconstruction is not determined because tenocytes from old individuals have less proliferative ability than young ones. Dexamethasone is commonly used to deal with musculoskeletal disorder with dose-dependent cytotoxicity toward tenocytes. Ascorbic acid is essential for tenocytes culture and collagen secretion and can alleviate the cytotoxicity of dexamethasone. In the current study, a microfluidic platform was used to screen the best dexamethasone and ascorbic acid combination treatment for tenocytes from young and old donors because it has been proven to provide a high throughput analysis platform. Comparison of their proliferation under three concentrations of ascorbic acid and dexamethasone was performed. Tenocytes proliferation among young and old donors was also measured when exposed to nine combinations of ascorbic acid and dexamethasone. The result confirmed the differences in cells proliferation when hamstring tenocytes from different ages of donors are exposed to different concentrations of dexamethasone and ascorbic acid. Tenocytes from old donors are not always more susceptible to dexamethasone and ascorbic acid. An optimal dose of ascorbic acid in decreasing the cytotoxic effect of dexamethasone can be screened by a high throughput microfluidic platform.
Enhanced Multiple-Object Tracking Using Delay Processing and Binary-Channel Verification
Authors: Li Muyu , He Xin , Wei Zhonghui , Wang Jun , Mu Zhiya , Kuijper Arjan
Published: November 2019

Tracking objects over time, i.e., identity (ID) consistency, is important when dealing with multiple object tracking (MOT). Especially in complex scenes with occlusion and interaction of objects this is challenging. Significant improvements in single object tracking (SOT) methods have inspired the introduction of SOT to MOT to improve the robustness, that is, maintaining object identities as long as possible, as well as helping alleviate the limitations from imperfect detections. SOT methods are constantly generalized to capture appearance changes of the object, and designed to efficiently distinguish the object from the background. Hence, simply extending SOT to a MOT scenario, which consists of a complex scene with spatially mixed, occluded, and similar objects, will encounter problems in computational efficiency and drifted results. To address this issue, we propose a binary-channel verification model that deeply excavates the potential of SOT in refining the representation while maintaining the identities of the object. In particular, we construct an integrated model that jointly processes the previous information of existing objects and new incoming detections, by using a unified correlation filter through the whole process to maintain consistency. A delay processing strategy consisting of the three parts—attaching, re-initialization, and re-claiming—is proposed to tackle drifted results caused by occlusion. Avoiding the fuzzy appearance features of complex scenes in MOT, this strategy can improve the ability to distinguish specific objects from each other without contaminating the fragile training space of a single object tracker, which is the main cause of the drift results. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach on the MOT17 challenge benchmarks. Our approach shows better overall ID consistency performance in comparison with previous works.
Analogy Study of Center-Of-Pressure and Acceleration Measurement for Evaluating Human Body Balance via Segmentalized Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Wu Tian-Yau , Liou Ching-Ting
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of evaluating the human’s balancing ability by means of the human body’s swaying acceleration measurements instead of the traditional center-of-pressure (COP) measurement. The COP measurement has been used broadly for assessing the balance ability of patients in hospitals. However, the force plate system which is employed to measure the COP signals of the human body is generally restrictive due to the very high cost as well as the bulky portability. In this study, the balancing ability of the human body was evaluated through the measurements of a capacitive accelerometer. The segmentalized principal components analysis (sPCA) was employed to reduce the influence of the gravity component in acceleration measurement projected onto the horizontal components while the accelerometer inevitably tilts. The signal relationship between the COP and the acceleration was derived, so that the swaying acceleration measurements of human body can be utilized to evaluate the human body’s balancing ability.
Time Shared Optical Network (TSON): A Programmable Network Edge Solution for Multi-Access Support
Authors: Farhadi Beldachi Arash , Tzanakaki Anna , Nejabati Reza , Simeonidou Dimitra
Published: November 2019

The time shared optical network (TSON) has been proposed as a dynamic optical transport network solution to provide high bandwidth and low latency connectivity in support of 5G technology and beyond. This work reviews the TSON evolution stages developed in the framework of the U.K. national project Towards Ultimate Convergence of All Networks (TOUCAN). The details of the TSON architecture and its various development phases are discussed, and the performance of its latest implementation is evaluated through relevant demonstration activities across the Smart Internet Lab’s 5G (5GUK) test network.
Future Changes of Precipitation over the Han River Basin Using NEX-GDDP Dataset and the SVR_QM Method
Authors: Xu Ren , Chen Yumin , Chen Zeqiang
Published: November 2019

After the release of the high-resolution downscaled National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections (NEX-GDDP) dataset, it is worth exploiting this dataset to improve the simulation and projection of local precipitation. This study developed support vector regression (SVR) and quantile mapping (SVR_QM) ensemble and correction models on the basis of historic precipitation in the Han River basin and the 21 NEX-GDDP models. The generated SVR_QM models were applied to project changes of precipitation during the 21st century for the region. Several statistical metrics, including Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC), root mean squared error (RMSE), and relative bias (Rbias), were used for evaluation and comparative analyses. The results demonstrated the superior performance of SVR_QM compared with multi-layer perceptron (MLP), SVR, and random forest (RF), as well as simple model average (MME) ensemble methods and single NEX-GDDP models. PCC was up to 0.84 from 0.61–0.71 for the single NEX-GDDP models, RMSE was up to 34.02 mm from 48–51 mm, and Rbias values were almost removed. Additionally, the projected precipitation changes during the 21st century in most stations had an increasing trend under both Representative Concentration Pathway RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios; the regional average precipitation during the middle (2040–2059) and late (2070–2089) 21st century increased by 3.54% and 5.12% under RCP4.5 and by 7.44% and 9.52% under RCP8.5, respectively.
Formation, Tentative Mass Spectrometric Identification, and Color Stability of Acetaldehyde-Catalyzed Condensation of Red Radish (Raphanus sativus) Anthocyanins and (+) Catechin
Authors: Stebbins Nathan B. , Howard Luke R. , Prior Ronald L. , Brownmiller Cindi , Liyanage Rohana , Lay Jackson O.
Published: November 2019

Red radish anthocyanins are relatively stable due to the acylation of anthocyanins with organic and phenolic acid moieties. The objective of this study was to create and identify a novel ethyl-bridged acylated anthocyanin with a stable violet color from red radishes in the presence of acetaldehyde and catechin. After incubation at ambient temperature for one week at 21 °C the reaction mixture with acetaldehyde and catechin turned from bright red to a vivid purple color. The newly formed compounds were tentatively identified with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Color stability (CIE L*C*h) was monitored over six months at 21 °C and anthocyanin stability was evaluated by HPLC. Next, radishes were fermented by Zymomonas mobilis, a high acetaldehyde producing bacteria. Natural sources of catechin were used to replace the catechin standard, but the same purple color did not appear with the addition of cocoa powder or fava beans. The ethyliden-bridged radish anthocyanins possess excellent color stability and could serve as a natural food colorant.
The Performance of Different Artificial Intelligence Models in Predicting Breast Cancer among Individuals Having Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Hsieh Meng-Hsuen , Sun Li-Min , Lin Cheng-Li , Hsieh Meng-Ju , Hsu Chung , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: November 2019

Objective: Early reports indicate that individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may have a greater incidence of breast malignancy than patients without T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of three different models for predicting risk of breast cancer in patients with T2DM of different characteristics. Study design and methodology: From 2000 to 2012, data on 636,111 newly diagnosed female T2DM patients were available in the Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. By applying their data, a risk prediction model of breast cancer in patients with T2DM was created. We also collected data on potential predictors of breast cancer so that adjustments for their effect could be made in the analysis. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technology (SMOTE) was utilized to increase data for small population samples. Each datum was randomly assigned based on a ratio of about 39:1 into the training and test sets. Logistic Regression (LR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF) models were determined using recall, accuracy, F1 score and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The AUC of the LR (0.834), ANN (0.865), and RF (0.959) models were found. The largest AUC among the three models was seen in the RF model. Conclusions: Although the LR, ANN, and RF models all showed high accuracy predicting the risk of breast cancer in Taiwanese with T2DM, the RF model performed best.
Mononuclear but Not Polymorphonuclear Phagocyte Depletion Increases Circulation Times and Improves Mammary Tumor-Homing Efficiency of Donor Bone Marrow-Derived Monocytes
Authors: Combes Francis , Sofias Alexandros Marios , Mc Cafferty Séan , Huysmans Hanne , De Temmerman Joyca , Hak Sjoerd , Meyer Evelyne , Sanders Niek N.
Published: November 2019

Tumor associated macrophages are an essential part of the tumor microenvironment. Consequently, bone marrow-derived monocytes (BMDMs) are continuously recruited to tumors and are therefore seen as ideal delivery vehicles with tumor-targeting properties. By using immune cell depleting agents and macroscopic in vivo fluorescence imaging, we demonstrated that removal of endogenous monocytes and macrophages (but not neutrophils) leads to an increased tumor accumulation of exogenously administered BMDMs. By means of intravital microscopy (IVM), we confirmed our macroscopic findings on a cellular level and visualized in real time the migration of the donor BMDMs in the tumors of living animals. Moreover, IVM also revealed that clodronate-mediated depletion drastically increases the circulation time of the exogenously administered BMDMs. In summary, these new insights illustrate that impairment of the mononuclear phagocyte system increases the circulation time and tumor accumulation of donor BMDMs.
Targeted-Gene Sequencing to Catch Triple Negative Breast Cancer Heterogeneity before and after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Di Cosimo Serena , Appierto Valentina , Silvestri Marco , Pruneri Giancarlo , Vingiani Andrea , Perrone Federica , Busico Adele , Folli Secondo , Scaperrotta Gianfranco , de Braud Filippo Guglielmo , Bianchi Giulia Valeria , Cavalieri Stefano , Daidone Maria Grazia , Dugo Matteo
Published: November 2019

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients not attaining pathological Complete Response (pCR) after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) have poor prognosis. We characterized 19 patients for somatic mutations in primary tumor biopsy and residual disease (RD) at surgery by 409 cancer-related gene sequencing (IonAmpliSeqTM Comprehensive Cancer Panel). A median of four (range 1–66) genes was mutated in each primary tumor biopsy, and the most common mutated gene was TP53 followed by a long tail of low frequency mutations. There were no recurrent mutations significantly associated with pCR. However, half of patients with RD had primary tumor biopsy with mutations in genes related to the immune system compared with none of those achieving pCR. Overall, the number of mutations showed a downward trend in post- as compared to pre-NAC samples. PIK3CA was the most common altered gene after NAC. The mutational profile of TNBC during treatment as inferred from patterns of mutant allele frequencies in matched pre-and post-NAC samples showed that RD harbored alterations of cell cycle progression, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistance pathways. Our findings support the use of targeted-gene sequencing for TNBC therapeutic development, as patients without pCR may present mutations of immune-related pathways in their primary tumor biopsy, or actionable targets in the RD.
The mRNA-binding Protein TTP/ZFP36 in Hepatocarcinogenesis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kröhler Tarek , Kessler Sonja M. , Hosseini Kevan , List Markus , Barghash Ahmad , Patial Sonika , Laggai Stephan , Gemperlein Katja , Haybaeck Johannes , Müller Rolf , Helms Volkhard , Schulz Marcel H. , Hoppstädter Jessica , Blackshear Perry J. , Kiemer Alexandra K.
Published: November 2019

Hepatic lipid deposition and inflammation represent risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mRNA-binding protein tristetraprolin (TTP, gene name ZFP36) has been suggested as a tumor suppressor in several malignancies, but it increases insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of TTP in hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC progression. Employing liver-specific TTP-knockout (lsTtp-KO) mice in the diethylnitrosamine (DEN) hepatocarcinogenesis model, we observed a significantly reduced tumor burden compared to wild-type animals. Upon short-term DEN treatment, modelling early inflammatory processes in hepatocarcinogenesis, lsTtp-KO mice exhibited a reduced monocyte/macrophage ratio as compared to wild-type mice. While short-term DEN strongly induced an abundance of saturated and poly-unsaturated hepatic fatty acids, lsTtp-KO mice did not show these changes. These findings suggested anti-carcinogenic actions of TTP deletion due to effects on inflammation and metabolism. Interestingly, though, investigating effects of TTP on different hallmarks of cancer suggested tumor-suppressing actions: TTP inhibited proliferation, attenuated migration, and slightly increased chemosensitivity. In line with a tumor-suppressing activity, we observed a reduced expression of several oncogenes in TTP-overexpressing cells. Accordingly, ZFP36 expression was downregulated in tumor tissues in three large human data sets. Taken together, this study suggests that hepatocytic TTP promotes hepatocarcinogenesis, while it shows tumor-suppressive actions during hepatic tumor progression.
Lack of Durable Remission with Conventional-Dose Total Skin Electron Therapy for the Management of Sezary Syndrome and Multiply Relapsed Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Campbell Belinda A. , Ryan Gail , McCormack Christopher , Tangas Eleanor , Bressel Mathias , Twigger Robert , Buelens Odette , van der Weyden Carrie , Prince H. Miles
Published: November 2019

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are multi-relapsing, morbid, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Optimal treatment sequencing remains undefined. Total skin electron therapy (TSE) is a highly technical, skin-directed treatment, uniquely producing symptom-free and treatment-free intervals. Recent publications favour low-dose TSE for reduced toxicity, but early data support conventional-dose TSE (cdTSE) for longer disease control. Patient selection requires weighing-up tolerability against response durability. We investigated duration of benefit from cdTSE in patients with poorer prognosis diseases: SS and heavily pre-treated MF. Endpoints were overall survival, and “time to next treatment” (TTNT) as surrogate for clinical benefit duration. Seventy patients (53 MF, 17 SS) were eligible: median prior treatments, 4; median cdTSE dose, 30 Gy; median follow-up, 5.8 years. SS patients had worse prognosis (HR = 5.0, p < 0.001) and shorter TTNT (HR = 4.5, p < 0.001) than MF patients; median TTNT was only 3.7 months. Heavily pre-treated MF patients had inferior prognosis (HR = 1.19 per additional line, p = 0.005), and shorter TTNT (HR = 1.13 per additional line, p = 0.031). Median TTNT for MF patients with ≥3 prior treatments was 7.1 months, versus 23.2 months for 0–2 prior treatments. In conclusion, cdTSE has a limited role in SS. TTNT is reduced in heavily pre-treated MF patients, suggesting greater benefit when utilized earlier in treatment sequencing.
Verteporfin-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles Improve Ovarian Cancer Photodynamic Therapy In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Michy Thierry , Massias Thibault , Bernard Claire , Vanwonterghem Laetitia , Henry Maxime , Guidetti Mélanie , Royal Guy , Coll Jean-Luc , Texier Isabelle , Josserand Véronique , Hurbin Amandine
Published: November 2019

Advanced ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer, with a high rate of chemoresistance and relapse. Photodynamic therapy offers new prospects for ovarian cancer treatment, but current photosensitizers lack tumor specificity, resulting in low efficacy and significant side-effects. In the present work, the clinically approved photosensitizer verteporfin was encapsulated within nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for targeted photodynamic therapy of ovarian cancer. Cellular uptake and phototoxicity of free verteporfin and NLC-verteporfin were studied in vitro in human ovarian cancer cell lines cultured in 2D and 3D-spheroids, and biodistribution and photodynamic therapy were evaluated in vivo in mice. Both molecules were internalized in ovarian cancer cells and strongly inhibited tumor cells viability when exposed to laser light only. In vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetic studies evidenced a long circulation time of NLC associated with efficient tumor uptake. Administration of 2 mg·kg−1 free verteporfin induced severe phototoxic adverse effects leading to the death of 5 out of 8 mice. In contrast, laser light exposure of tumors after intravenous administration of NLC-verteporfin (8 mg·kg−1) significantly inhibited tumor growth without visible toxicity. NLC-verteporfin thus led to efficient verteporfin vectorization to the tumor site and protection from side-effects, providing promising therapeutic prospects for photodynamic therapy of cancer.
The New Genetic Landscape of Cushing’s Disease: Deubiquitinases in the Spotlight
Authors: Sbiera Silviu , Kunz Meik , Weigand Isabel , Deutschbein Timo , Dandekar Thomas , Fassnacht Martin
Published: November 2019

Cushing’s disease (CD) is a rare condition caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing adenomas of the pituitary, which lead to hypercortisolism that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment options in case of persistent or recurrent disease are limited, but new insights into the pathogenesis of CD are raising hope for new therapeutic avenues. Here, we have performed a meta-analysis of the available sequencing data in CD to create a comprehensive picture of CD’s genetics. Our analyses clearly indicate that somatic mutations in the deubiquitinases are the key drivers in CD, namely USP8 (36.5%) and USP48 (13.3%). While in USP48 only Met415 is affected by mutations, in USP8 there are 26 different mutations described. However, these different mutations are clustering in the same hotspot region (affecting in 94.5% of cases Ser718 and Pro720). In contrast, pathogenic variants classically associated with tumorigenesis in genes like TP53 and BRAF are also present in CD but with low incidence (12.5% and 7%). Importantly, several of these mutations might have therapeutic potential as there are drugs already investigated in preclinical and clinical setting for other diseases. Furthermore, network and pathway analyses of all somatic mutations in CD suggest a rather unified picture hinting towards converging oncogenic pathways.
Effect of Metal Oxide–Support Interactions on Ethylene Oligomerization over Nickel Oxide/Silica–Alumina Catalysts
Authors: Yoon Ji Sun , Park Min Bum , Kim Youngmin , Hwang Dong Won , Chae Ho-Jeong
Published: November 2019

We investigated the interactions between nickel oxide and silica–alumina supports, which were applied to the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene by powder X-ray diffraction, UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, H2 temperature-programmed reduction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic activity was also correlated with the acidity of catalysts determined by NH3 temperature-programmed desorption and pyridine FT-IR spectroscopy. Although all the catalysts had similar Ni contents, their catalytic performances were strongly influenced by the strength of the metal oxide–support interaction. Strong interaction promoted the formation of nickel aluminate on the catalyst surface, and resulted in low catalytic activity due to reducing the amount of nickel oxide active sites. However, weak interaction favored the aggregation of nickel oxide species into larger particles, and thus resulted in low ethylene conversion and selectivity to oligomers. Eventually, the optimal activity was realized at the medium interaction strength, preserving a high amount of both active nickel oxides and acid sites.
Predicting Disease Related microRNA Based on Similarity and Topology
Authors: Chen Zhihua , Wang Xinke , Gao Peng , Liu Hongju , Song Bosheng
Published: November 2019

It is known that many diseases are caused by mutations or abnormalities in microRNA (miRNA). The usual method to predict miRNA disease relationships is to build a high-quality similarity network of diseases and miRNAs. All unobserved associations are ranked by their similarity scores, such that a higher score indicates a greater probability of a potential connection. However, this approach does not utilize information within the network. Therefore, in this study, we propose a machine learning method, called STIM, which uses network topology information to predict disease–miRNA associations. In contrast to the conventional approach, STIM constructs features according to information on similarity and topology in networks and then uses a machine learning model to predict potential associations. To verify the reliability and accuracy of our method, we compared STIM to other classical algorithms. The results of fivefold cross validation demonstrated that STIM outperforms many existing methods, particularly in terms of the area under the curve. In addition, the top 30 candidate miRNAs recommended by STIM in a case study of lung neoplasm have been confirmed in previous experiments, which proved the validity of the method.
Treatment with Human Amniotic Suspension Allograft Improves Tendon Healing in a Rat Model of Collagenase-Induced Tendinopathy
Authors: de Girolamo Laura , Morlin Ambra Luiz Felipe , Perucca Orfei Carlotta , McQuilling John P. , Kimmerling Kelly A. , Mowry Katie C. , Johnson Kimberly A. , Phan Amy T. , Whited Jessica L. , Gomoll Andreas H.
Published: November 2019

Treatment of tendon injuries is challenging, with neither conservative nor surgical approaches providing full recovery. Placental-derived tissues represent a promising tool for the treatment of tendon injuries. In this study, human amniotic suspension allograft (ASA) was investigated in a pre-clinical model of Achilles tendinopathy. Collagenase type I was injected in the right hind limb of Sprague Dawley rats to induce disease. Contralateral tendons were either left untreated or injected with saline as controls. Seven days following induction, tendons were injected with saline, ASA, or left untreated. Rats were sacrificed 14 and 28 days post-treatment. Histological and biomechanical analysis of tendons was completed. Fourteen days after ASA injection, improved fiber alignment and reduced cell density demonstrated improvement in degenerated tendons. Twenty-eight days post-treatment, tendons in all treatment groups showed fewer signs of degeneration, which is consistent with normal tendon healing. No statistically significant differences in histological or biomechanical analyses were observed between treatment groups at 28 days independent of the treatment they received. In this study, ASA treatment was safe, well-tolerated, and resulted in a widespread improvement of the tissue. The results of this study provide preliminary insights regarding the potential use of ASA for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy.
Integration of Mobile Devices and Point-Of-Care Diagnostic Devices—The Case of C-Reactive Protein Diagnosis
Authors: Wu Xin-Fang , Shen Ching-Fen , Cheng Chao-Min
Published: November 2019

In recent years, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics has promoted antibiotic resistance, which has now become a global public health concern [...]
Economic News Releases and Financial Markets in South Africa
Authors: Gkillas Konstantinos , Vortelinos Dimitrios , Floros Christos , Tsagkanos Athanasios
Published: November 2019

We examine the impact of economic news releases on returns, volatility and jumps of the stock and foreign exchange markets of South Africa. We also assess the impact of macroeconomic determinants. The dataset range is fifteen years covering the period from January, 2000 to December, 2014. Results are robust to different sub-periods before and after the global financial crisis of 2008. Volatility is estimated with the use of the median realized variance estimator. Jumps are also detected. The impact of the announcements is assessed building using regression techniques. Returns, volatility and jumps of both stock and foreign exchange markets are significantly explained nationally by macroeconomic fundamentals and economic news releases.
Hall-Effect Current Sensors Susceptibility to EMI: Experimental Study
Authors: Aiello Orazio
Published: November 2019

The paper deals with the susceptibility to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) of Hall-effect current sensors. They are usually employed in power systems because of their galvanic isolation. The EMI robustness of such contactless device was compared with that of resistive current sensing (wired method). To this purpose, a printed circuit board (PCB) was fabricated. EMI tests methods such as Bulk Current Injection (BCI), Transverse-Electromagnetic (TEM) cell and Direct Power injection (DPI) were performed to evaluate the robustness of the Hall-Effect current sensor. EMI-induced failures are highlighted by comparing the different measurements tests and setups.
Fractional-Order Modeling and Parameter Identification for Ultracapacitors with a New Hybrid SOA Method
Authors: Guo Jianhua , Liu Weilun , Chu Liang , Zhao Jingyuan
Published: November 2019

This paper deals with an ultracapacitor (UC) model and its identification procedure. To take UC’s fractional characteristic into account, two constant phase elements (CPEs) are used to construct a model structure according to impedance spectrum analysis. The different behaviors of UC such as capacitance, resistance, and charge distribution dynamics are simulated by the corresponding part in the model. The resistance under different voltages is calculated through the voltage rebound method to explore its non-linear characteristics and create a look-up table. A nonlinear fractional model around an operation voltage is then deduced by applying the resistance table. This time identification is carried by a proposed hybrid optimization algorithm: Nelder-Mead seeker algorithm (NMSA), which embeds the Nelder–Mead Simplex (NMS) method into the seeker optimization algorithm (SOA). Its time behavior has been compared with the linear fractional model for charging and discharging current profiles at different levels.
Double-Layer E-Structure Equalization Circuit for Series Connected Battery Strings
Authors: Xu Shungang , Gao Kai , Zhang Xiaobing , Li Kangle
Published: November 2019

In order to eliminate the voltage imbalance among battery cells when they are connected in series, the paper proposes a double-layer E-structure (DLE) equalizer based on bidirectional buck–boost converters, which has the advantage of quick equalization speed and can be applied to arbitrary number batteries. Furthermore, a novel two-stage equalization control strategy is proposed for the DLE equalizer to decrease maximum voltage gap between the maximum and minimum voltage cells. The paper analyses the working principle of proposed equalizer in detail and describes the detailed design of the control strategy and implement process. Simulation and experiment results show that the proposed equalizer can improve equalization performance of battery cells compared with adjacent cell-to-cell (AC2C) equalizer.
Evaluation of the PAH Content in Soot from Solid Fuels Combustion in Low Power Boilers
Authors: Szatyłowicz Ewa , Skoczko Iwona
Published: November 2019

The emission of carbon compounds (in the form of soot) to the atmosphere has a significant impact on the environment and human health. Air pollution with combustion products, having a unique combination of physical and chemical properties, is an important component of very fine suspended dust, which is emitted from various sources related to combustion processes. The carbon compounds in aerosol form and deposited in the substrate are found all over the Earth. The paper presents results of comparative research on the content of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soot samples obtained as a result of combustion of solid fuels such as hard coal with granulation above 60 mm, coal with a grain size of 25–80 mm, coal with a grain size of 8–25 mm, pellets and dry wood. On the basis of the conducted tests, it was found that the soot obtained in the combustion of coal in different granulation contains more cytotoxic PAH in comparison to the combustion of wood pellets or dry firewood.
Computational Simulation of PT6A Gas Turbine Engine Operating with Different Blends of Biodiesel—A Transient-Response Analysis
Authors: Bayona-Roa Camilo , Solís-Chaves J.S. , Bonilla Javier , Rodriguez-Melendez A.G. , Castellanos Diego
Published: November 2019

Instead of simplified steady-state models, with modern computers, one can solve the complete aero-thermodynamics happening in gas turbine engines. In the present article, we describe a mathematical model and numerical procedure to represent the transient response of a PT6A gas turbine engine operating at off-design conditions. The aero-thermal model consists of a set of algebraic and ordinary differential equations that arise from the application of the mass, linear momentum, angular momentum and energy balances in each engine’s component. The solution code has been developed in Matlab-Simulink® using a block-oriented approach. Transient simulations of the PT6A engine start-up have been carried out by changing the original Jet-A1 fuel with biodiesel blends. Time plots of the main thermodynamic variables are shown, especially those regarding the structural integrity of the burner. Numerical results have been validated against reported experimental measurements and GasTurb® simulations. The computer model has been capable to predict acceptable fuel blends, such that the real PT6A engine can be substituted to avoid the risk of damaging it.