bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TRIM29 is required for efficient recruitment of 53BP1 in response to DNA double‐strand breaks in vertebrate cells
Authors: Wikiniyadhanee Rakkreat , Lerksuthirat Tassanee , Stitchantrakul Wasana , Chitphuk Sermsiri , Sura Thanyachai , Dejsuphong Donniphat
Published: August 2020

Tripartite motif‐containing protein 29 (TRIM29) is involved in DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair. However, the specific roles of TRIM29 in DNA repair are not clearly understood. To investigate the involvement of TRIM29 in DNA DSB repair, we disrupted TRIM29 in DT40 cells by gene targeting with homologous recombination (HR). The roles of TRIM29 were investigated by clonogenic survival assays and immunofluorescence analyses. TRIM29 triallelic knockout (TRIM29−/−/−/+) cells were sensitive to etoposide, but resistant to camptothecin. Foci formation assays to assess DNA repair activities showed that the dissociation of etoposide‐induced phosphorylated H2A histone family member X (ɣ‐H2AX) foci was retained in TRIM29−/−/−/+ cells, and the formation of etoposide‐induced tumor suppressor p53‐binding protein 1 (53BP1) foci in TRIM29−/−/−/+ cells was slower compared with wild‐type (WT) cells. Interestingly, the kinetics of camptothecin‐induced RAD51 foci formation of TRIM29−/−/−/+ cells was higher than that of WT cells. These results indicate that TRIM29 is required for efficient recruitment of 53BP1 to facilitate the nonhomologous end‐joining (NHEJ) pathway and thereby suppress the HR pathway in response to DNA DSBs. TRIM29 regulates the choice of DNA DSB repair pathway by facilitating 53BP1 accumulation to promote NHEJ and may have potential for development into a therapeutic target to sensitize refractory cancers or as biomarker of personalized therapies.
Exploring Wholly Doped Conjugated Polymer Films Based on Hybrid Doping: Strategic Approach for Optimizing Electrical Conductivity and Related Thermoelectric Properties
Authors: Yoon Sang Eun , Kang Yeongkwon , Jeon Gyeong G. , Jeon Dohyeon , Lee Sang Yeon , Ko Seo‐Jin , Kim Taekyeong , Seo Hyungtak , Kim Bong‐Gi , Kim Jong H.
Published: August 2020

Conventional chemical doping processes for conjugated polymers (CPs) often degrade the film morphology or cause unsatisfactory doping efficiency owing to the aggregation formation between charged species or insufficient dopant diffusion. In this work, a new strategic doping method, “hybrid doping,” is suggested for maximizing the doping efficiency of CPs without hampering the surface morphology of the CP films. The advantage of hybrid doping is that it combines mixture blending and sequential soaking processes. Based on systemic characterizations including spectroscopic, structural, and electrical analyses, it is revealed that hybrid doping enables whole area doping for the crystalline and amorphous regions of CP films, and thus an unprecedentedly high electrical conductivity of up to 81.5 and 639.1 S cm−1, for poly(3‐hexylthiophene) P3HT and poly (2‐([2,2′‐bithiophen]‐5‐yl)‐3,8‐difluoro‐5,10‐bis(5‐octylpentadecyl)‐5,10‐dihydroindolo [3,2‐b]indole) (PIDF‐BT), respectively, is achieved. Furthermore, the exceptional electrical conductivity compensates a reduced Seebeck coefficient, resulting in excellent power factors up to 26.8 and 76.1 μW m−1 K−2 for thermoelectric devices based on doped‐P3HT and PIDF‐BT films, respectively, which is among the highest levels for semiconducting CPs. Hybrid doping is a strategic approach for the simultaneous optimization of electrical conductivity and thermoelectric properties of various CPs.
Designing false data injection attacks penetrating AC‐based bad data detection system and FDI dataset generation
Authors: Tran Nam N. , Pota Hemanshu R. , Tran Quang N. , Yin Xuefei , Hu Jiankun
Published: August 2020

The evolution of the traditional power system toward the modern smart grid has posed many new cybersecurity challenges to this critical infrastructure. One of the most dangerous cybersecurity threats is the false data injection (FDI) attack, especially when it is capable of completely bypassing the widely deployed bad data detector of state estimation (SE) and interrupting the normal operation of the power system. Most of the simulated FDI attacks are designed using a simplified linearized DC model, while most of the industry‐standard SE systems are based on the nonlinear AC model. In this article, a comprehensive FDI attack scheme is presented based on the nonlinear AC model. A case study of the nine‐bus Western System Coordinated Council (WSCC)'s power system is provided, using an industry‐standard package to assess the outcomes of the proposed design scheme. A public FDI dataset is generated as a test set for the community to develop and evaluate new detection algorithms, which are lacking in the field. The FDI's stealthy quality of the dataset is assessed and proven through a preliminary analysis based on both physical power law and statistical analysis.
Research advances in nanomedicine, immunotherapy, and combination therapy for leukemia
Authors: Wan Zhuoya , Sun Runzi , Moharil Pearl , Chen Jing , Liu Yuzhe , Song Xu , Ao Qiang
Published: August 2020

In the past decade, clinical and laboratory studies have led to important new insights into the biology of leukemia and its treatment. This review describes the progress of leukemia research in the United States in recent years. Whereas the traditional method of treatment is chemotherapy, it is nonselective and could induce systemic toxicities. Thus, in parallel with research on new chemotherapies, great emphasis has been placed on developing immunotherapies. Here, we will review the current immunotherapies available in research and development that overcome current challenges, specifically looking in the field of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, checkpoint inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates. With about 100 clinical trials for CAR-T therapies and 30 in checkpoint inhibitors for leukemia treatment, scientists are trying to make these technologies cheaper, faster, and more feasible. Further describing the delivery of these therapeutics, we look at the current progress, clinical, and preclinical status of nano-based medicines such as liposomes, polymeric micelles, and metal nanoparticles. Taking advantage of their physicochemical and biologic properties, nanoparticles have been shown to increase the efficacy of commonly administered chemotherapies with reduced adverse effects.
Academic Achievement and Psychosocial Adjustment in Child Refugees: A Systematic Review
Authors: Aghajafari Fariba , Pianorosa Emilie , Premji Zahra , Souri Soheil , Dewey Deborah
Published: August 2020

Child refugees are at high risk for problems with academic achievement and psychosocial well‐being. We aimed to review the literature concerning these outcomes in primary school–aged child refugees. This study was a systematic review and included studies that reported on outcomes of interest in child refugees between 5 and 12 years of age. Our search generated 3,172 articles; we selected 313 for review and included 45. Child refugees are diverse in their educational performance, and early deficits often resolve with time spent in the host country. These children are at an increased risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties, and multiple factors are associated with these outcomes. Although educational difficulties of primary school–aged child refugees in high‐income countries tend to resolve, the risks for psychosocial problems persist. This review provides a deepened understanding of the diverse educational and psychosocial experiences of these children and highlights the need for developing health and educational programs to support this population.
Time is Money: Relative Value Units and Operative Time in Otolaryngology
Authors: Barinsky Gregory L. , Wassef David W. , Povolotskiy Roman , Grube Jordon G. , Hsueh Wayne D. , Baredes Soly , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Physician compensation for procedures is typically rooted in the work relative value unit (wRVU) system. Operative time is one of the factors that goes into the determination of wRVU assignment. There should be consistency between the wRVU/hr rate, irrespective of average operative time required to perform certain procedures. We investigate if wRVU assignment for otolaryngology procedures adequately accounts for increased operative time.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis of a surgical database.

Methods

NSQIP was queried from 2015–2018 for the top 50 most frequently performed otolaryngology Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes completed as standalone procedures. Median operative time was determined for each CPT code, and wRVU/hr was calculated. Correlations between operative time, wRVU, and wRVU/hr were investigated using linear regression analysis. A secondary analysis using complication rate as an indicator for procedure complexity was performed to examine the relation between wRVUs and complication rates.

Results

Fifty CPT codes containing 64,084 patients where only one code was reported were included in this analysis. The median operative time was 84 minutes, median wRVU was 11.23, and median wRVU/hour was 7.96. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between operative time and wRVU assignment (R2 = 0.805, P < .001). Further analysis found no correlation between operative time and wRVU/hr (R2 = 0.008, P = .525). Linear regression of wRVU/hr and complication rate showed a statistically significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.113, P = .017).

Conclusion

This analysis suggests that compensation for otolaryngology procedures is positively correlated with operative time. Surgeries where more than one code is reported could not be evaluated, thus excluding some common combination of procedures performed by otolaryngologists.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E395–E400, 2021
Engineering the Mammalian Cell Surface with Synthetic Polymers: Strategies and Applications
Authors: Arno Maria C.
Published: August 2020

Manipulating the surface of living cells represents a powerful tool by which to control cell behavior and provides a unique strategy to modulate cellular function and cell–cell interactions. Recent progress in this area has seen the development of robust and elegant approaches to selectively decorate the cell surface, leading to unprecedented advances in cellular manipulation and cell‐based therapies. Despite some impressive in vitro results, several obstacles remain to the broader application of some of these strategies, including their limited translation in vivo. In this review, the leading techniques used to introduce polymers at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells are discussed, focusing on strategies that generate a stable and homogeneous distribution of polymeric chains at the cell surface. Application of these strategies to control cell behavior and deliver cell‐based therapies to targeted tissues are highlighted.
Making smart drugs smarter: The importance of linker chemistry in targeted drug delivery
Authors: Yang Xiaoxiao , Pan Zhixiang , Choudhury Manjusha R. , Yuan Zhengnan , Anifowose Abiodun , Yu Bingchen , Wang Wenyi , Wang Binghe
Published: August 2020

Smart drugs, such as antibody‐drug conjugates, for targeted therapy rely on the ability to deliver a warhead to the desired location and to achieve activation at the same site. Thus, designing a smart drug often requires proper linker chemistry for tethering the warhead with a vehicle in such a way that either allows the active drug to retain its potency while being tethered or ensures release and thus activation at the desired location. Recent years have seen much progress in the design of new linker activation strategies. Herein, we review the recent development of chemical strategies used to link the warhead with a delivery vehicle for preferential cleavage at the desired sites.
Internal capital markets and bank holding company efficiency
Authors: Bressan Silvia , Rammerstorfert Margarethe , Weinmayer Karl
Published: August 2020

Bank Holding Companies and in particular their internal capital markets have been widely discussed in recent financial literature. The financial crisis especially brought regulatory intervention in financial markets into question. Empirical evidence suggests that bank holding companies have clear preferences for double leverage, which are not based on unambiguous and explicit economic foundations. In this article, we analyze the effects of equity, debt and double leverage on the efficiency of bank holding companies. We show that Bank Holding Company efficiency is negatively affected by equity financing from parents to subsidiaries and this effect is even more pronounced in case of double leveraging. Our findings indicate that further measures from regulators are necessary in order to prevent inefficient financing via double leverage, which may be used to circumvent regulatory capital requirements.
Designing Sustainable Smart Cities: Cooperative Energy Management Systems and Applications
Authors: Fujimoto Yu , Ishii Hideo , Hayashi Yasuhiro
Published: August 2020

Smart cities will be an important component for the construction of a sustainable future society. This paper focuses on the functionalities of smart cities from the perspective of electric power systems and reviews recent works on the various types of energy management systems (EMSs), particularly those focusing on the interaction among systems distributed in a city. Furthermore, this paper describes the idea of a platform for evaluating cooperative EMS technologies distributed in a city. The related research and demonstration of the EMS technology in real cities that were evaluated using the proposed platform are presented. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
German Schools Abroad: Teachers’ Views on Translanguaging and Emerging Research Perspectives on Children’s Language Biographies and Educational Professionalization
Authors: Panagiotopoulou Julie A. , Rosen Lisa , Strzykala Jenna , Fißmer Janine , Neubert Timo
Published: August 2020

In this chapter, we present three ongoing dissertation projects that emerged from the research project “migration-related multilingualism and educational professionalism” (led by Julie A. Panagiotopoulou and Lisa Rosen). The common ground of these projects is the focus on German schools abroad and the qualitative research approach to firstly, translingual practices and language ideologies, secondly, multilingual educational biographies of students, and thirdly, transnational professional biographies of teachers.
‘What Shall We Sing Now, Amir?’ Developing a Voice through Translanguaging Pedagogy—An Ethnographic Research and Professional Training Project in Day-Care Centers and Schools
Authors: Panagiotopoulou Julie A. , Hammel Maria J.
Published: August 2020

With the aim of promoting inclusion and social justice in education, a new project supports (multilingual) professionals who address their own pedagogical practice of counteracting the disadvantages multilingual children face within a monolingual norm in Germany. The presentation of the project highlights how translanguaging as a pedagogy gives language-minoritized children a voice and as a sensitizing concept can be utilized for the analysis of project data and especially of ethnographic observations of learning and teaching practices.
‘We Learn Together’—Translanguaging within a Holistic Approach towards Multilingualism in Education
Authors: Duarte Joana , Günther-van der Meij Mirjam
Published: August 2020

Within two multilingual education projects in the north of the Netherlands a holistic model for multilingualism in education is being tested. This is done through design-based interventions in which in- and pre-service teachers, teacher trainers and researchers co-develop and evaluate multilingual activities for different school types. Results show that through experimenting in a safe environment teachers gradually embraced their pupils’ multilingualism. This contradicts earlier findings on teachers strongly favouring monolingual instruction and viewing migrant languages as a deficit.
Language Comparison as an Inclusive Translanguaging Strategy: Analysis of a Multilingual Teaching Situation in a German Primary School Classroom
Authors: Fürstenau Sara , Çelik Yağmur , Plöger Simone
Published: August 2020

This chapter highlights the practical implementation of language comparisons in a multilingual classroom. Following the key-incident-approach, we analysed a specific teaching situation in a German primary school in order to point out how the teacher shapes a translanguaging strategy that includes all children and their knowledge, and how she deals with the associated challenges.
Emerging Spanning Trees in the Work of Candilis–Josic–Woods
Authors: Athanasopoulos Georgios-Spyridon
Published: August 2020

This paper introduces the use of graph theory for the study of the work of Candilis–Josic–Woods. Α short introduction to the architects’ main strategies as members of Team Χ and CIAM (Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne) critics is given. Geometry and computational design methods for city planning and design are briefly discussed. Definitions of the minimum spanning tree, the shortest walk tree and the Steiner tree are then developed. The research projects these methods onto the main principles of Candilis–Josic–Woods’ planning and urban design approach to reinforce their strategic concepts. Distance-related and proximity-based ideas and their importance are sought in the literature related to Candilis–Josic–Woods’ body of work. Algorithmic based examples approximating a Euclidean Steiner tree are shown and discussed in the context of Candilis–Josic–Woods’ syntax. This paper argues that the generation of additional points through the use of a Euclidean Steiner tree algorithmic process is of importance in the work of Candilis–Josic–Woods as it allows for a systematic but emerging creation of hubs that can be activated as space on the one hand, and facilitate pedestrian circulation on the other. The project seeks to demonstrate the relevance of the triplet’s design methods to today’s complex networks of urban environments.
Akute virale Bronchiolitis und obstruktive Bronchitis bei Kindern
Authors: Schorlemer Christina , Eber Ernst
Published: August 2020

Akute Bronchiolitis und obstruktive Bronchitis sind im Säuglings- und Kleinkindalter sehr häufige Krankheitsbilder. Sie werden durch Viren, v. a. respiratorisches Synzytialvirus und Rhinoviren, verursacht. Risikofaktoren für schwere Verläufe sind u. a. Frühgeburtlichkeit, Tabakrauchexposition und Immundysfunktionen. Die Diagnose kann durch Anamnese und klinische Untersuchung gestellt werden; Thorax-Röntgen und Laboruntersuchungen sind in der Regel nicht notwendig. Für die akute Bronchiolitis wurden viele therapeutische Ansätze propagiert, generell empfohlen sind aber nur supportive Maßnahmen (minimales Handling, Sicherstellung ausreichender Oxygenierung und Hydratation). Routinemäßig nicht empfohlen werden u. a. Antibiotika, Bronchodilatatoren, Kortikosteroide und Leukotrienrezeptorantagonisten. Kurz wirksame β2-Agonisten sind Therapie der 1. Wahl bei akuter obstruktiver Bronchitis. Bei häufigen und/oder schweren obstruktiven Bronchitiden kann zur Symptomkontrolle eine Therapie mit inhalativen Kortikosteroiden versucht werden. Die Entstehung von Asthma bronchiale ist jedoch durch keine medikamentöse Therapie zu verhindern.
Comparative study of eutectic Al-Si alloys manufactured by WAAM and casting
Authors: Langelandsvik Geir , Horgar Annbjørg , Furu Trond , Roven Hans J. , Akselsen Odd M.
Published: August 2020

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) of metallic materials is expected to become part of the new industrial revolution. The possibilities for complex designs and superior mechanical properties can in many cases replace traditional manufacturing processes such as casting. In order to benchmark the properties of aluminium WAAM components, a comparative study was performed with two different casting techniques: permanent casting with steel mould and sand mould casting. Aluminium-silicon alloys with near eutectic composition were used for the comparison. Porosity levels, secondary dendrite arm spacing, grain size distribution, tensile strength and microhardness were considered for the comparison. The WAAM material exhibited superior mechanical properties originating from a finer dendritic and eutectic microstructure compared with the castings. A slight anisotropy in tensile ductility was observed in the WAAM material, probably due to a coarse microstructural zone between individual beads. All investigated materials had low levels of porosity, < 1% by area fraction. The comparative study has shown that WAAM of aluminium-silicon alloys is well suited for high-integrity applications.
Energy distribution of harmonic 1-forms and Jacobians of Riemann surfaces with a short closed geodesic
Authors: Buser Peter , Makover Eran , Muetzel Bjoern , Silhol Robert
Published: August 2020

We study the energy distribution of harmonic 1-forms on a compact hyperbolic Riemann surface S where a short closed geodesic is pinched. If the geodesic separates the surface into two parts, then the Jacobian variety of S develops into a variety that splits. If the geodesic is nonseparating then the Jacobian degenerates. The aim of this work is to get insight into this process and give estimates in terms of geometric data of both the initial surface S and the final surface, such as its injectivity radius and the lengths of geodesics that form a homology basis. The Jacobians in this paper are represented by Gram period matrices. As an invariant we introduce new families of symplectic matrices that compensate for the lack of full dimensional Gram-period matrices in the noncompact case.
Semi-Oblivious Chase Termination: The Sticky Case
Authors: Calautti Marco , Pieris Andreas
Published: August 2020

The chase procedure is a fundamental algorithmic tool in database theory with a variety of applications. A key problem concerning the chase procedure is all-instances termination: for a given set of tuple-generating dependencies (TGDs), is it the case that the chase terminates for every input database? In view of the fact that this problem is undecidable, it is natural to ask whether known well-behaved classes of TGDs, introduced in different contexts such as ontological reasoning, ensure decidability. We consider a prominent paradigm that led to a robust TGD-based formalism, called stickiness. We show that for sticky sets of TGDs, all-instances chase termination is decidable if we focus on the (semi-)oblivious chase, and we pinpoint its exact complexity: PSpace-complete in general, and NLogSpace-complete for predicates of bounded arity. These complexity results are obtained via a graph-based syntactic characterization of chase termination that is of independent interest.
On the Relation Between Structured d-DNNFs and SDDs
Authors: Bollig Beate , Farenholtz Martin
Published: August 2020

Structuredd-DNNFs and SDDs are restricted negation normal form circuits used in knowledge compilation as target languages into which propositional theories are compiled. Structuredness is imposed by so-called vtrees. By definition SDDs are restricted structuredd-DNNFs. Beame and Liew (2015) as well as Bova and Szeider (2017) mentioned the question whether structuredd-DNNFs are really more general than SDDs w.r.t. polynomial-size representations (w.r.t. the number of Boolean variables the represented functions are defined on.) The main result in the paper is the proof that a function can be represented by SDDs of polynomial size if the function and its complement have polynomial-size structuredd-DNNFs that respect the same vtree.
On the preimage of a sphere by a polynomial mapping
Authors: Jelonek Zbigniew
Published: August 2020

Let X be an irreducible complex affine variety of dimension greater than one and let $$f:X \rightarrow \mathbb {C}^m$$

f
:
X
→

C

m

be a polynomial mapping. Let $${|}*{|}$$

|

∗
|

be a semialgebraic norm on $$\mathbb {C}^m.$$

C

m

.

Then for R large enough the sets $$f^{-1}(B_R), f^{-1}(S_R), X{\setminus } f^{-1}(B_R)$$

f

-
1

(

B
R

)

,

f

-
1

(

S
R

)

,
X
\

f

-
1

(

B
R

)

are all connected, where $$B_R=\{ z\in \mathbb {C}^m : |z|\le R\}$$

B
R

=
{
z
∈

C

m

:
|
z
|
≤
R
}

and $$S_R=\{ z\in \mathbb {C}^m : |z| = R\}.$$

S
R

=
{
z
∈

C

m

:
|
z
|
=
R
}
.

As an application we show that if F is a counterexample to the Jacobian Conjecture, then the non-properness set of F has a non-trivial link at infinity.
Engineering of cellobiose phosphorylase for the defined synthesis of cellotriose
Authors: Ubiparip Zorica , Moreno David Sáez , Beerens Koen , Desmet Tom
Published: August 2020

Cellodextrins are non-digestible oligosaccharides that have attracted interest from the food industry as potential prebiotics. They are typically produced through the partial hydrolysis of cellulose, resulting in a complex mixture of oligosaccharides with a varying degree of polymerisation (DP). Here, we explore the defined synthesis of cellotriose as product since this oligosaccharide is believed to be the most potent prebiotic in the mixture. To that end, the cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP) from Cellulomonas uda and the cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP) from Clostridium cellulosi were evaluated as biocatalysts, starting from cellobiose and α-d-glucose 1-phosphate as acceptor and donor substrate, respectively. The CDP enzyme was shown to rapidly elongate the chains towards higher DPs, even after extensive mutagenesis. In contrast, an optimised variant of CBP was found to convert cellobiose to cellotriose with a molar yield of 73%. The share of cellotriose within the final soluble cellodextrin mixture (DP2-5) was 82%, resulting in a cellotriose product with the highest purity reported to date. Interestingly, the reaction could even be initiated from glucose as acceptor substrate, which should further decrease the production costs.

Key points

• Cellobiose phosphorylase is engineered for the production of cellotriose.

• Cellotriose is synthesised with the highest purity and yield to date.

• Both cellobiose and glucose can be used as acceptor for cellotriose production.
Tumour blood flow for prediction of human prostate cancer aggressiveness: a study with Rubidium-82 PET, MRI and Na+/K+-ATPase-density
Authors: Jochumsen Mads Ryø , Sörensen Jens , Pedersen Bodil Ginnerup , Nyengaard Jens Randel , Krag Søren Rasmus Palmelund , Frøkiær Jørgen , Borre Michael , Bouchelouche Kirsten , Tolbod Lars Poulsen
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Tumour blood flow (TBF) is a crucial determinant of cancer growth. Recently, we validated Rubidium-82 (82Rb) positron emission tomography (PET) for TBF measurement in prostate cancer (PCa) and found TBF and cancer aggressiveness positively correlated. The aims of the present study were to determine the ability of TBF for separating significant from insignificant PCa and to examine the relation to underlying Na+/K+-ATPase density, which is relevant as 82Rb is transported intracellularly via the Na+/K+-ATPase.

Methods

One hundred and two patients were included for pelvic 82Rb PET scan prior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided prostate biopsy. Findings constituted 100 PCa lesions (86 patients) and 25 benign lesions (16 patients). Tumours were defined on MRI and transferred to 82Rb PET for TBF measurement. Immunohistochemical Na+/K+-ATPase staining was subsequently performed on biopsies.

Results

TBF was the superior predictor (rho = 0.68, p < 0.0001, inflammatory lesions excluded) of MRI-guided biopsy grade group (GG) over lowest apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value (rho = −0.23, p = 0.01), independent of ADC value and tumour volume (p < 0.0001). PET could separate GG-2-5 from GG-1 and benign lesions with an area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of 0.79, 96%, and 59%, respectively. For separating GG-3-5 from GG-1-2 and benign lesions the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.82, 95%, and 63%, respectively. Na+/K+-ATPase density per PCa cell profile was 38% lower compared with that of the benign prostate cell profiles. Neither cell density nor Na+/K+-ATPase density determined tumour 82Rb uptake.

Conclusion

TBF is an independent predictor of PCa aggressiveness and deserves more attention, as it may be valuable in separating clinically significant from insignificant PCa.
PD-L1+ lung cancer stem cells modify the metastatic lymph-node immunomicroenvironment in nsclc patients
Authors: Raniszewska A. , Vroman H. , Dumoulin D. , Cornelissen R. , Aerts J. G. J. V. , Domagała-Kulawik J.
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumor initiation and development of metastasis. However, whether CSCs also affect the immune system is not fully understood. We investigated correlations between the PD-L1+ CSCs, changes in T-cell phenotype in metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) and response to treatment.

Methods

LNs’ aspirates were obtained during the EBUS/TBNA procedure of 20 NSCLC patients at different stages of the disease. CSCs and T-cell characteristics were determined by flow cytometry.

Results

PD-L1+ CSCs positively correlated with the percentage of Tregs, PD-1+ CD4 T cells and Tim3+ CD4+ T cells, whereas PD-L1+ CSCs were negatively correlated with CD4+ T cells and CD28+ CD4+ T cells. The percentage of PD-L1+ CSCs was higher in patients with progressive disease (PD) as compared to patients with stable disease (SD) or partial response (PR). Among T cells, only PD-1+ CD4+ T cells and Tim3+ CD4+ T-cell frequencies were higher in patients with PD as compared to patients with SD or PR.

Conclusion

The frequency of PD-L1+ CSCs associates with an altered T-cell frequency and phenotype indicating that CSCs can affect the immune system. The higher percentage of PD-L1+ CSCs in patients with PD may confirm their resistance to conventional therapy, suggesting that CSCs may be an interesting target for immunotherapy.
Surgical Management of Carotid Body Tumor and Risk Factors of Postoperative Cranial Nerve Injury
Authors: Jiang Xiaolang , Fang Gang , Guo Daqiao , Xu Xin , Chen Bin , Jiang Junhao , Dong Zhihui , Fu Weiguo
Published: August 2020

Background

To identify risk factors of postoperative cranial nerve injury (CNI) following surgical treatment of a carotid body tumor (CBT) by retrospective analysis of the data during the past decade in our center.

Methods

From May 2008 to September 2018, patients who underwent CBT resections at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, were included in the study. Demographic, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data of patients were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors of CNI.

Results

A total of 203 CBTs were excised in 196 patients; 17.7% was classified as Shamblin I, 59.1% as Shamblin II, and 23.2% as Shamblin III. CNI after surgery occurred in 57 (28.1%) patients. Postoperative CNI, external carotid artery (ECA) ligation, internal carotid artery (ICA) reconstruction, tumor volume, and established blood loss (EBL) were significantly correlated with Shamblin classification. On univariate analysis, there were statistically significant differences in Shamblin classification (p = 0.002), tumor volume (p = 0.014), number of lymph nodes removed (NOLNR) (p < 0.001), and EBL (p = 0.019) between two groups (with and without CNI after surgery). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between CNI and Shamblin III (AOR, 4.744; 95% CI, 1.21–18.56; p = 0.025) and NOLNR (AOR, 0.25; 95% CI, 1.23–1.46 for each three‐interval increase, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Shamblin III and NOLNR are independent risk factors of CNI for patients who undergo CBT resections.
Safety of Use of a Sheet‐Type Adhesion Barrier (Interceed®) During Liver Surgery
Authors: Okubo Satoshi , Shindoh Junichi , Kobayashi Yuta , Hashimoto Masaji
Published: August 2020

Background

Adhesion barriers are increasingly used in hepatobiliary surgery. However, there has been no solid evidence yet in support of their safety.

Methods

Incidences of global postoperative morbidities and major abdominal morbidities were compared between 101 consecutive patients who received a sheet‐type adhesion barrier (Interceed®) and 134 patients who did not receive any adhesion barriers during hepatectomy. Propensity score (PS) adjustment was used to account for potential bias to receive Interceed.

Results

In the PS‐adjusted population, the incidences of both global postoperative morbidities and major abdominal morbidities showed no significant difference between the Interceed group and the control group (17.9% vs. 17.6%; P = 0.948 and 7.8% vs. 9.1%; P = 0.813, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that age + 10 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.70; 95% CI, 1.15–2.50; P = 0.007), estimated blood loss + 100 mL (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01–1.09, P = 0.009), and laparoscopic approach (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01–0.75; P = 0.026) were independent predictors for global postoperative morbidities and operation time + 1 h (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.23–1.96; P < 0.001) was a risk factor for major abdominal morbidity, while no specific association between the use of Interceed and the risk of postoperative morbidity was observed.

Conclusions

Use of Interceed does not increase the risk of postoperative morbidities after hepatectomy.
Insights into the Microwave Instruments Onboard the Fengyun 3D Satellite: Data Quality and Assimilation in the Met Office NWP System
Authors: Carminati Fabien , Atkinson Nigel , Candy Brett , Lu Qifeng
Published: August 2020

This paper evaluates the microwave instruments onboard the latest Chinese polar-orbiting satellite, Feng-Yun 3D (FY-3D). Comparing three months of observations from the Microwave Temperature Sounder 2 (MWTS-2), the Microwave Humidity Sounder 2 (MWHS-2), and the Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI) to Met Office short-range forecasts, we characterize the instrumental biases, show how those biases have changed with respect to their predecessors onboard FY-3C, and how they compare to the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) onboard NOAA-20 and the Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GMI). The MWTS-2 global bias is much reduced with respect to its predecessor and compares well to ATMS at equivalent channel frequencies, differing only by 0.36 ± 0.28 K (1σ) on average. A suboptimal averaging of raw digital counts is found to cause an increase in striping noise and an ascending—descending bias. MWHS-2 benefits from a new calibration method improving the 183-GHz humidity channels with respect to its predecessor and biases for these channels are within ± 1.9 K to ATMS. MWRI presents the largest improvements, with reduced global bias and standard deviation with respect to FY-3C; although, spurious, seemingly transient, brightness temperatures have been detected in the observations at 36.5 GHz (vertical polarization). The strong solar-dependent bias that affects the instrument on FY-3C has been reduced to less than 0.2 K on average for FY-3D MWRI. Experiments where radiances from these instruments were assimilated on top of a full global system demonstrated a neutral to positive impact on the forecasts, as well as on the fit to the background of independent instruments.
A mean curvature type flow with capillary boundary in a unit ball
Authors: Wang Guofang , Weng Liangjun
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we study a mean curvature type flow with capillary boundary in the unit ball. Our flow preserves the volume of the bounded domain enclosed by the hypersurface, and monotonically decreases an energy functionalE. We show that it has the longtime existence and subconverges to spherical caps. As an application, we solve an isoperimetric problem for hypersurfaces with capillary boundary.
Sustainability empowerment in the workplace: determinants and effects
Authors: Harrach Christoph , Geiger Sonja , Schrader Ulf
Published: August 2020

There is a dynamic stream of research, which examines why and how employees contribute and respond to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Building on these micro-CSR findings, this article makes a contribution to a better understanding of employee engagement in CSR by considering its determinants and effects. The research centres around the established motivational concept of psychological empowerment in the workplace and applies it to sustainability. The authors propose a model of sustainability empowerment in the workplace (SEW) and empirically test the construct in a comprehensive framework. Results indicate that the sustainability-orientation of employees and the perceived organisational support towards sustainability act as two valid determinants of SEW. It is also shown that SEW has positive effects on job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Further results indicate that the sustainability-orientation of employees plays an important role as a moderator in the relationship between SEW and its effects. In the overall view, the paper contributes to micro-CSR research by showing that SEW is a valid construct that helps to answer why and how employees engage in CSR activities and what positive effects arise therefrom for organisations. The authors give an overview of these contributions and discuss the implications for researchers and practitioners in the field of CSR and HRM.
Overall survival analysis in patients with metastatic breast cancer and liver or lung metastases treated with eribulin, gemcitabine, or capecitabine
Authors: Kazmi Shayma , Chatterjee Debanjana , Raju Dheeraj , Hauser Rob , Kaufman Peter A.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to estimate the overall survival (OS) in real-world clinical practice in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and visceral metastases (liver or lung) treated in the third-line setting with eribulin, gemcitabine or capecitabine overall and in the major clinical categories of MBC (TNBC, HR+/HER2−, and HER2+).

Methods

A retrospective, observational study was conducted with de-identified patient electronic health records from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). Patients with a diagnosis of metastatic breast with lung or liver metastases, and treated with eribulin, gemcitabine, or capecitabine as third-line therapy were included in the analysis. Landmark survival was calculated as percentage of patients alive at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Overall survival was compared between treatment arms within TNBC and HR+/HER2− using log-rank analysis. Cox regression analyses was performed to estimate hazard ratios for comparison of treatments within TNBC and HR+/HER2− subtype.

Results

443 patients with liver or lung metastases received third-line therapy with eribulin (n = 229), gemcitabine (n = 134), or capecitabine (n = 80). Eribulin patients had a higher percentage of patients alive at all landmark timepoints vs. gemcitabine, and a higher percentage of patients alive until 36 months vs. capecitabine. Median survival times showed that overall, and within the TNBC and HR+/HER2− subtype, patients receiving eribulin had a numerically higher median overall survival.

Conclusions

This real-world evidence study is consistent with randomized clinical trial data and demonstrates consistency of eribulin effectiveness in MBC patients with lung or liver metastases overall and in TNBC and HR+/HER2− disease.
The Incidence of Some Voting Paradoxes Under Domain Restrictions
Authors: Nurmi Hannu
Published: August 2020

Voting paradoxes have played an important role in the theory of voting. They typically say very little about the circumstances in which they are particularly likely or unlikely to occur. They are basically existence findings. In this article we study some well known voting paradoxes under the assumption that the underlying profiles are drawn from the Condorcet domain, i.e. a set of preference profiles where a Condorcet winner exists. The motivation for this restriction is the often stated assumption that profiles with a Condorcet winner are more likely than those without it. We further restrict the profiles by assuming that the starting point of our analysis is that the Condorcet winner coincides with the choice of the voting rule under scrutiny. The reason for making this additional restriction is that—intuitively—the outcomes that coincide with the Condorcet winner make those outcomes stable and, thus, presumably less vulnerable to various voting paradoxes. It will be seen that this is, indeed, the case for some voting rules and some voting paradoxes, but not for all of them.
Thermal behavior of the products of 2-chloro-2-propen-1-ol oligomerization
Authors: Drzeżdżon Joanna , Gawdzik Barbara , Rybiński Przemysław , Malinowski Jacek , Jacewicz Dagmara
Published: August 2020

The thermal stability of the oligomers obtained by using 2-chloro-2-propen-1-ol as the monomer has been studied. The oligomers were synthesized using chromium(III) and oxovanadium(IV) complexes as the catalysts after activation by modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO-12). The complexes used as the catalysts were polycarboxylate complex compounds of oxovanadium(IV) and chromium(III). The studies have been conducted by two methods: thermal gravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The obtained results allow to determine the glass transition temperatures and thermal stability of the oligomers depending on the central catalyst cation Cr3+ and V4+.
Encryption technology of voice transmission in mobile network based on 3DES-ECC algorithm
Authors: Chang Zhixian , Woźniak Marcin
Published: August 2020

The traditional design of voice collector has poor anti attack ability, which makes the encryption effect of voice transmission poor. Therefore, taking the mobile network voice collector as the research object, 3des-ecc algorithm is applied to the information transmission encryption of the mobile network voice collector.An improved speech signal collector is designed, which combines 3DES and ECC algorithm to realize the encryption of speech transmission information. An improved voice signal collector is designed, which combines 3DES and ECC algorithm to realize the encryption of voice transmission information. In the process of encryption, 168-bit random key is generated first, and it is grouped according to 56 bits as 3DES key, and then the plaintext is encrypted by the key to generate ciphertext; the random key is encrypted by ECC public key of the receiver. The experimental results show that the encryption time of this method is less than 1 s, the data integrity is 93%, and the data loss rate is only 0.33%. It has better anti attack ability, fast encryption speed and good encryption effect.
44Ti diffusion labelling of commercially available, engineered TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Holzwarth Uwe , Ponti Jessica
Published: August 2020

In realistic exposure scenarios, the detection and quantification of engineered nanoparticles in complex environmental or biological matrixes is a challenge since nanoparticle concentrations are frequently low and have to be discerned from a background that may contain the same elements in various chemical forms in much higher concentrations. The use of radiolabelled nanoparticles may overcome these difficulties offering high detection sensitivity without the necessity of complex sample preparation procedures. However, the labelling procedure must not alter the physicochemical and biological properties of the nanoparticles. In the present work, the radiolabelling of three different types of TiO2nanoparticles with primary particle sizes between 5 nm and 26 nm with commercially available44Ti has been investigated applying a simple diffusion heat treatment at 180 °C for 2.5 h on nanoparticles impregnated with a solution containing the44Ti radiolabel. The same treatment has been investigated to radiolabel amorphous SiO2nanoparticles with44Ti. The radiolabels are stably integrated in the nanoparticle matrix, and the release is less than 0.1% in aqueous suspension at neutral pH for at least 4 weeks. The method appears to be fast and reliable. By transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and ζ-potential measurements, only minor alterations of the nanoparticle size could be detected in the range of 1 to 2 nm.
Plants increase silicon content as a response to nitrogen or phosphorus limitation: a case study with Holcus lanatus
Authors: Minden Vanessa , Schaller Jörg , Olde Venterink Harry
Published: August 2020

Aims

Silicon (Si) has been shown to beneficially affect plant performance under stressful environmental conditions, such as water or nutrient deficiency. Here we tested the effects of two important plant nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), on Si content in different plant organs in the grass speciesHolcus lanatus.

Methods

We studied trait responses to N limitation, balanced nutrient availability and P limitation. Single plant individuals were grown in sand-filled pots in a greenhouse for 2 months. Nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon and silicon contents were determined in leaves, stems and roots, as were leaf and roots traits, biomass production and root enzyme activity.

Results

Si content was lowest under balanced nutrient supply in all plant organs. Under P limitation Si content was highest in leaves and stems, in roots it was highest under N limitation. Si:C ratios were lowest under balanced conditions, and highest under nutrient limitation. Root phosphatase activity was highest under P limitation and chlorophyll content was lowest under N limitation.

Conclusions

Our model species assimilated less ‘high cost C’ and took up more ‘low cost Si’ under nutrient limitation, especially under P deficiency. Si potentially plays an important role in different environments, such as nutrient or light limitation, which in turn may be related to different plant strategies, for example higher stem rigidity in high Si plants versus higher stem flexibility in low Si plants. More research is needed to further elucidate the role of silicon in different concepts of trait-environment relationships.
A socioeconomic analysis of commuting professionals
Authors: Kersting Moritz , Matthies Eike , Lahner Jörg , Schlüter Jan
Published: August 2020

Everyday commuting as a mobility phenomenon is well-investigated and has been the topic of many contributions.
Nevertheless, the distinct determinants of the commuting professional’s motivation to regularly travel comparably long distances have not been in the focus of research yet.
Thus, this contribution analyses the sociodemographic variables that underpin the well-educated group’s decision to commute longer distances than other educational groups. For German Microcensus data, ordered logistic regression models are used to estimate and compare the influences of sociodemographic variables on all commuting employees and commuting professionals.
The data of German Microcensus of the year 2012 are used for the analysis. The results imply that some characteristics exert the already known effects on both samples. Others do vary with education and thus illustrate some unique sociodemographic influences on the commuting behaviour of professionals.