bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monolayer ZnS@Ag Nanospheres SERS Substrate for Highly Sensitive Dye Molecules Detection
Authors: Li Chenyan , Yang Chengxiang , Li Weijun , Cheng Mingming , Liu Yingkai
Published: July 2020

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with low cost, high sensitivity and good reproducibility are still challenging in practical application. Herein, we propose a facile method to prepare monolayer ZnS@Ag nanospheres (NSs) by sputtering Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the surfaces of the monolayer ZnS NSs produced by self-assembly. The monolayer ZnS@Ag NSs have rough surface and nanoscale gaps, which can produce large SERS effect. The dye molecules, Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Rhodamine B (RhB), were used as probe to evaluate the SERS performance on the monolayer ZnS@Ag NSs. It was found that the monolayer ZnS@Ag NSs showed the high SERS sensitivity in the detection of R6G and RhB, the limit of detection (LOD) down to 9.12×10−13 M and 8.55×10−11 M, respectively. The corresponding enhancement factors (EF) are 3.01×108 and 8.2×106, respectively. Furthermore, the ordered structure makes the monolayer ZnS@Ag NSs substrate with high signal reproducibility and stability, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) values are less than 15%. Therefore, the monolayer ZnS@Ag NSs is a candidate for detecting organic dyes in the environment.
Fabrication of Small Multifunctional CuS Nanoclusters for Fluorescence Imaging and Chemo-Photothermal Therapy of Cancer
Authors: Zhao Yanqiu , Zou Yang , Deng Xunxun , Wang Hanwen , Wu Shuo
Published: July 2020

A multifunctional nanodrug, PAMAM@CuS-HA-RB/DOX, was prepared for the real time tracking and chemo-photothermal therapy of tumor cells. The CuS nanoclusters with diameter less than 10[Formula: see text]nm could be easily ingested by tumor cells and showed good colloid stability and high photothermal conversion efficiency. The hyaluronic acid (HA) coating and rhodamine B (RB) labeling endowed the nanocomposite with low cytotoxity and real time fluorescence imaging ability. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, the doxorubicin linked via the pH-responsive hydrazone bonds was released and worked synergistically with CuS to kill the tumor cells, which showed a high chemo-photothermal therapy capacity. All these properties indicated the PAMAM@CuS-HA-RB/DOX have promising application for the therapy of cancers and tracking of nanodrugs.
Spin Gapless Semiconductor Behavior in d∘-d Half-Heusler CrSbSr: Potential Candidate for Spintronic Application
Authors: Saib H. , Dergal S. , Rached H. , Dergal M.
Published: July 2020

This study was to investigate theoretically the d°-d Half Heusler compound CrSbSr. We have adopted the first-principles full potential linearized augmented plane waves (FP-LAPW) method within GGA and mBJ-GGA potential. The calculated values of formation energy and elastic constants for the d∘-d HH CrSbSr compound support the thermodynamic and mechanical stability. To the best of our knowledge, there are no available data to compare our results. The calculated lattice parameter and magnetic moments are in good agreement with the available works for VSbSr compound. The electronic structure within the GGA scheme indicates that the d∘-d HH CrSbSr compound exhibits a spin gapless semiconductor behavior. This behavior was improved by using the mBJ-GGA potential, thus this compound can be a potential candidate for spintronic applications. We believe that our predictive results can be useful for future studies.
Equivalent symmetric kernels of determinantal point processes
Authors: Stevens Marco
Published: July 2020

Determinantal point processes are point processes whose correlation functions are given by determinants of matrices. The entries of these matrices are given by one fixed function of two variables, which is called the kernel of the point process. It is well known that there are different kernels that induce the same correlation functions. We classify all the possible transformations of a kernel that leave the induced correlation functions invariant, restricting to the case of symmetric kernels.
Fertility Physicians’ Opinions and Attitudes on Access to Assisted Reproductive Technology: An Asia-Pacific Perspective
Authors: Pawa Raweena , Udomsrisumran Lucksika , Kiatpongsan Sorapop
Published: July 2020

Background: Fertility physicians are gatekeepers of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and have immediate control over access to fertility care. However, little is understood about their attitudes and willingness to provide and support different procedures. Therefore, we examined fertility physicians’ perspectives on support of public funding and willingness to provide care in various scenarios.

Methods: We invited fertility physicians attending the 8th Congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE 2018) to participate in a 10-minute survey. Participants completed the survey anonymously and in private.

Results: 78 out of 105 fertility physicians from 12 countries completed the survey (response rate = 74.3%). Mean age was 44.9 years (SD = 11.1). A majority of respondents supported public funding for ART: 76.3% for intrauterine insemination and 80.5% for in vitro fertilization. For controversial procedures, a majority agreed to provide social egg freezing (88.5%) compared to sex selection (25.6%) and gene editing for nonmedical reasons (19.2%), p < 0.001 for both comparisons. Support for public funding was also significantly higher for social egg freezing (51.3%) compared to sex selection (23.1%) and gene editing for nonmedical reasons (20.5%), p < 0.001 for both comparisons. For eligibility criteria, willingness to provide treatment to single women (50.0%) was significantly higher compared to other nontraditional family structures — single men (33.3%), p < 0.001, male homosexual couples (33.3%), p = 0.002, female homosexual couples (32.1%), p = 0.001 and unmarried heterosexual couples (32.1%), p = 0.004. Consistently, support for public finding was significantly higher for single women (32.1%) compared to single men (23.1%), p = 0.013, male homosexual couples (20.5%), p = 0.020, and unmarried heterosexual couples (20.5%), p = 0.006.

Conclusions: These results show support for public funding and conservative opinions toward ART for nontraditional family structures among physicians in the Asia-Pacific region.
Threats of a replication crisis in empirical computer science
Authors: Cockburn Andy , Dragicevic Pierre , Besançon Lonni , Gutwin Carl
Published: July 2020

Research replication only works if there is confidence built into the results.
Digital creativity support for original journalism
Authors: Maiden Neil , Zachos Konstantinos , Brown Amanda , Apostolou Dimitris , Holm Balder , Nyre Lars , Tonheim Aleksander , van den Beld Arend
Published: July 2020

A tool that helps journalists discover new story angles by offering insight not search results.
Digital humans on the big screen
Authors: Monroe Don
Published: July 2020

Motion pictures are using new techniques in computer-generated imagery to create feature-length performances by convincingly "de-aged" actors.
Seeing light at the end of the cybersecurity tunnel
Authors: Hoffmann Leah
Published: July 2020

After decades of cybersecurity research, Elisa Bertino remains optimistic.
Magellan
Authors: Doan AnHai , Konda Pradap , Suganthan G. C. Paul , Govind Yash , Paulsen Derek , Chandrasekhar Kaushik , Martinkus Philip , Christie Matthew
Published: July 2020

Entity matching (EM) finds data instances that refer to the same real-world entity. In 2015, we started the Magellan project at UW-Madison, jointly with industrial partners, to build EM systems. Most current EM systems are stand-alone monoliths. In contrast, Magellan borrows ideas from the field of data science (DS), to build a new kind of EM systems, which is ecosystems of interoperable tools for multiple execution environments, such as on-premise, cloud, and mobile. This paper describes Magellan, focusing on the system aspects. We argue why EM can be viewed as a special class of DS problems and thus can benefit from system building ideas in DS. We discuss how these ideas have been adapted to build PyMatcher and CloudMatcher, sophisticated on-premise tools for power users and self-service cloud tools for lay users. These tools exploit techniques from the fields of machine learning, big data scaling, efficient user interaction, databases, and cloud systems. They have been successfully used in 13 companies and domain science groups, have been pushed into production for many customers, and are being commercialized. We discuss the lessons learned and explore applying the Magellan template to other tasks in data exploration, cleaning, and integration.
Does domain name encryption increase users' privacy?
Authors: Trevisan Martino , Soro Francesca , Mellia Marco , Drago Idilio , Morla Ricardo
Published: July 2020

Knowing domain names associated with traffic allows eavesdroppers to profile users without accessing packet payloads. Encrypting domain names transiting the network is, therefore, a key step to increase network confidentiality. Latest efforts include encrypting the TLS Server Name Indication (eSNI extension) and encrypting DNS traffic, with DNS over HTTPS (DoH) representing a prominent proposal. In this paper, we show that an attacker able to observe users' traffic relying on plain-text DNS can uncover the domain names of users relying on eSNI or DoH. By relying on large-scale network traces, we show that simplistic features and off-the-shelf machine learning models are sufficient to achieve surprisingly high precision and recall when recovering encrypted domain names. The triviality of the attack calls for further actions to protect privacy, in particular considering transient scenarios in which only a fraction of users will adopt these new privacy-enhancing technologies.
Lessons learned organizing the PAM 2020 virtual conference
Authors: Misa Chris , Guse Dennis , Hohlfeld Oliver , Durairajan Ramakrishnan , Sperotto Anna , Dainotti Alberto , Rejaie Reza
Published: July 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizing committee of the 2020 edition of the Passive and Active Measurement (PAM) conference decided to organize it as a
virtual
event. Unfortunately, little is known about designing and organizing virtual academic conferences in the networking domain and their impacts on the participants' experience. In this editorial note, we first provide challenges and rationale for various organizational decisions we made in designing the virtual format of PAM 2020. We then illustrate the key results from a questionnaire-based survey of participants' experience showing that, while virtual conferences have the potential to broaden participation and strengthen focus on technical content, they face serious challenges in promoting social interactions and broadening the scope of discussions. We conclude with key takeaways, lessons learned, and suggestions for future virtual conferences distilled from this experience.
Update on ACM SIGCOMM CCR reviewing process
Authors: Holz Ralph , Mellia Marco , Bonaventure Olivier , Haddadi Hamed , Caesar Matthew , Gorinsky Sergey , Antichi Gianni , Camp Joseph , Klaffy kc , Raman Bhaskaran , Sperotto Anna , Viana Aline , Uhlig Steve
Published: July 2020

This editorial note aims to first inform the SIGCOMM community on the reviewing process in place currently at CCR, and second, share our plans to make CCR a more open and welcoming venue by making changes to the review process, adding more value to the SIGCOMM community.
Social health recommender system
Authors: De Maria Marida , Vizza Patrizia , Lambardi Pasquale , Tradigo Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

The amount of information and services available on the web represents an important opportunity for people to enrich and share knowledges. The easy access and the continuous growth of data in the web are responsible of an overload of information that leads the user to navigate in a saturated and often uninteresting and non-comprehensive environment. In the medical-clinical context, a lot of information on the web is often incomplete, inaccurate or completely wrong due to an incorrect sharing and a lack of control of the sources. In this context, recommendation systems become essential to filter truthful information and to target users with respect to their needs. The status of recent covid-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity of having health reliable sources. Health recommender systems support user in medical environment to find right information.

In this contribution, we report about a project of health recommender system aiming to: (i) aggregate similar users and (ii) guarantee the truthful and quality of the extracted information through a check of the sources and a validation by the medical scientific community.
Precautions of Using Three-Electrode Configuration to Measure Electrode Overpotential in Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells: Insights from Finite Element Modeling
Authors: Jin Xinfang , Huang Kevin
Published: July 2020

Accurate determination of electrode overpotentials is essential to assess the performance of the electrode and understand the rate-limiting steps involved. Three-electrode configuration with the use of a reference electrode at a fixed potential is a standard way to measure overpotential of a specific electrode in liquid electrochemical systems. However, application of such three-electrode configuration to solid electrochemical cells for overpotential determination is not straightforward and requires extra caution. Here we report a theoretical Finite Element Analysis on the geometrical requirements for which the reference electrode can be applied to anode- or electrolyte-supported solid oxide button cells. The modeling results suggest that the symmetry of the working and counter electrodes is the key factor determining if a reference electrode is suitable to use. For anode-supported fuel cells with asymmetrical working and counter electrodes, reference electrode cannot be used under all circumstances. To use reference electrode for overpotential measurements, electrolyte-supported cells with symmetrical semicircular-shaped electrodes are preferred. A data processing procedure has also been presented to obtain the electrode overpotential from the measured potential using the three-electrode scheme in solid oxide electrochemical cells.
Regulation of Lin28a-miRNA let-7b-5p pathway in skeletal muscle cells by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta
Authors: Araujo Hygor N. , Lima Tanes I. , Guimarães Dimitrius Santiago P. S. F. , Oliveira Andre G. , Favero-Santos Bianca C. , Branco Renato C. S. , da Silva Araújo Rafaela Mariano , Dantas Alvaro F. B. , Castro Alex , Chacon-Mikahil Mara Patrícia T. , Minatel Elaine , Geraldo Murilo V. , Carneiro Everardo Magalhães , Rodrigues Alice C. , Narkar Vihang A. , Silveira Leonardo R.
Published: July 2020

Lin28a/miRNA let-7b-5p pathway has emerged as a key regulators of energy homeostasis in the skeletal muscle. However, the mechanism through which this pathway is regulated in the skeletal muscle has remained unclear. We have found that 8 wk of aerobic training (Tr) markedly decreased let-7b-5p expression in murine skeletal muscle, whereas high-fat diet (Hfd) increased its expression. Conversely, Lin28a expression, a well-known inhibitor of let-7b-5p, was induced by Tr and decreased by Hfd. Similarly, in human muscle biopsies, Tr increased LIN28 expression and decreased let-7b-5p expression. Bioinformatics analysis of LIN28a DNA sequence revealed that its enrichment in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) binding sites, which is a well-known metabolic regulator of exercise. Treatment of primary mouse skeletal muscle cells or C2C12 cells with PPARδ activators GW501516 and AICAR increased Lin28a expression. Lin28a and let-7b-5p expression was also regulated by PPARδ coregulators. While PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC1α) increased Lin28a expression, corepressor NCoR1 decreased its expression. Furthermore, PGC1α markedly reduced the let-7b-5p expression. PGC1α-mediated induction of Lin28a expression was blocked by the PPARδ inhibitor GSK0660. In agreement, Lin28a expression was downregulated in PPARδ knocked-down cells leading to increased let-7b-5p expression. Finally, we show that modulation of the Lin28a- let-7b-5p pathway in muscle cells leads to changes in mitochondrial metabolism in PGC1α dependent fashion. In summary, we demonstrate that Lin28a- let-7b-5p is a direct target of PPARδ in the skeletal muscle, where it impacts mitochondrial respiration.
Evaluating the suitability of supra-POpeak verification trials after ramp-incremental exercise to confirm the attainment of maximum O2 uptake
Authors: Iannetta Danilo , de Almeida Azevedo Rafael , Ingram Christina P. , Keir Daniel A. , Murias Juan M.
Published: July 2020

During exhaustive ramp-incremental cycling tests, the incidence of O2 uptake (V̇o2) plateaus is low. To verify the attainment of maximum V̇o2 (V̇o2max), it is recommended that a trial at a power output (PO) corresponding to 110% of the ramp-derived peak (POpeak) is performed. It remains unclear whether verification trials set at this PO can be tolerated for long enough to allow attainment of V̇o2max. Eleven recreationally trained individuals performed five ramp tests of varying slope (5, 10, 15, 25, and 30 W/min), each followed, in series, by two verification trials: the first at 110% POpeak of the 25 W/min ramp and the second at 110% POpeak attained in the preceding ramp test. Exercise duration of the first verification trial was on average 81 ± 15 s (CV = 9 ± 3%) versus 162 ± 32, 121 ± 24, 103 ± 15, and 73 ± 10 s for the second verification trials at 110% of POpeak of the 5, 10, 15, and 30 W/min ramp tests, respectively ( P < 0.05). Compared with the highest V̇o2 recorded during ramp tests, V̇o2 from the subsequent verification trials was not different for the 5, 10, and 15 W/min ramp tests ( P > 0.05) but was lower for the 25 and 30 W/min ramp tests ( P < 0.05). Verification trials at 110% POpeak of rapidly incrementing ramp tests (i.e., 25 W/min) were not sustained for long enough to allow the attainment of V̇o2max. With commonly used rapidly incrementing ramp tests engendering exhaustion within 8–12 min, verification trials less than POpeak should be preferred as they can be sustained sufficiently long to allow the attainment of V̇o2max.
Effects of Tart Cherry Powder on Serum Uric Acid in Hyperuricemia Rat Model
Authors: Li Ruirui , Tan Yuefeng , Li Yanxia , Zhu Xia , Tang Xinyao , Zhang Lishi , Chen Jinyao
Published: July 2020

Hyperuricemia, as a critical risk factor for various adverse clinical outcomes, shows a trend of increasing prevalence among young‐aged population. Dietary adjuvant therapy by function foods, such as tart cherry, is promising. Thus, effects of tart cherry powder specialized in hyperuricemia were explored via establishing a hyperuricemia model in Sprague Dawley rats by cotreatment with oteracil potassium and adenine. The results indicated that low dose of tart cherry powder (0.17 g/kg·bw) showed effects on hyperuricemia by slightly decreasing serum uric acid and improving kidney injury, whereas high dose of tart cherry powder (0.50 g/kg·bw) could merely alleviate kidney injury. Meanwhile, adenosine deaminase activity rather than xanthine oxidase activity was affected at low dose, which reveals low dose of tarty cherry powder may be beneficial to hyperuricemia through reduction of ADA activity, and its reported potentials on antioxidation or anti‐inflammation provide clues for further study.
Cooperative Multiagent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (CoMADDPG) for Intelligent Connected Transportation with Unsignalized Intersection
Authors: Wu Tianhao , Jiang Mingzhi , Zhang Lin
Published: July 2020

Unsignalized intersection control is one of the most critical issues in intelligent transportation systems, which requires connected and automated vehicles to support more frequent information interaction and on-board computing. It is very promising to introduce reinforcement learning in the unsignalized intersection control. However, the existing multiagent reinforcement learning algorithms, such as multiagent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG), hardly handle a dynamic number of vehicles, which cannot meet the need of the real road condition. Thus, this paper proposes a Cooperative MADDPG (CoMADDPG) for connected vehicles at unsignalized intersection to solve this problem. Firstly, the scenario of multiple vehicles passing through an unsignalized intersection is formulated as a multiagent reinforcement learning (RL) problem. Secondly, MADDPG is redefined to adapt to the dynamic quantity agents, where each vehicle selects reference vehicles to construct a partial stationary environment, which is necessary for RL. Thirdly, this paper incorporates a novel vehicle selection method, which projects the reference vehicles on a virtual lane and selects the largest impact vehicles to construct the environment. At last, an intersection simulation platform is developed to evaluate the proposed method. According to the simulation result, CoMADDPG can reduce average travel time by 39.28% compared with the other optimization-based methods, which indicates that CoMADDPG has an excellent prospect in dealing with the scenario of unsignalized intersection control.
Mechanisms of the Regulation and Dysregulation of Glucagon Secretion
Authors: Onyango Arnold N.
Published: July 2020

Glucagon, a hormone secreted by pancreatic alpha cells, contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose concentration by inducing hepatic glucose production in response to declining blood glucose. However, glucagon hypersecretion contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, diabetes is associated with relative glucagon undersecretion at low blood glucose and oversecretion at normal and high blood glucose. The mechanisms of such alpha cell dysfunctions are not well understood. This article reviews the genesis of alpha cell dysfunctions during the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and after the onset of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It unravels a signaling pathway that contributes to glucose- or hydrogen peroxide-induced glucagon secretion, whose overstimulation contributes to glucagon dysregulation, partly through oxidative stress and reduced ATP synthesis. The signaling pathway involves phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, protein kinase B, protein kinase C delta, non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src, and phospholipase C gamma-1. This knowledge will be useful in the design of new antidiabetic agents or regimens.
Objective Imaging Diagnostics for Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Han Sang Beom , Liu Yu-Chi , Mohamed-Noriega Karim , Tong Louis , Mehta Jodhbir S.
Published: July 2020

Traditional diagnostic tests for dry eye disease (DED), such as fluorescein tear film break-up time and the Schirmer test, are often associated with poor reproducibility and reliability, which make the diagnosis, follow-up, and management of the disease challenging. Advances in ocular imaging technology enables objective and reproducible measurement of changes in the ocular surface, tear film, and optical quality associated with DED. In this review, the authors will discuss the application of various imaging techniques, such as, noninvasive tear break-up time, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo confocal microscopy, meibography, interferometry, aberrometry, thermometry, and tear film imager in DED. Many studies have shown these devices to correlate with clinical symptoms and signs of DED, suggesting the potential of these imaging modalities as alternative tests for diagnosis and monitoring of the condition.
A Model-Based Decoupling Method for Surge Speed and Heading Control in Vessel Path Following
Authors: Wang Xudong , Zhao Jin , Geng Tao
Published: July 2020

In this paper, to solve the surge speed loss problem generated by sway-yaw motion in the path-following control, a model-based decoupling (MBD) method for surge speed and heading control in vessel path following is proposed. The guidance law is designed independently in the kinematic level. In the kinetic level, the surge model and sway-yaw model can be decoupled by assuming that the surge speed varies slowly, and the heading controller and surge speed controller are designed under the framework of the MBD method. Commonly, the surge speed controller is ignored in the path following or designed separately. In the MBD method, the heading controller is designed first through the MPC method, and the coupling terms between the surge model and sway-yaw model are treated as time-varying disturbances, which can be predicted through the outcomes of the heading controller. Then, the time-varying disturbances are compensating in the surge speed controller so that the surge speed can be feedforward compensated to achieve better performance. The simulation results compared the surge speed performance in path following of the MBD method and usual approaches to illustrate the effectiveness of the MBD method.
A Neurophysiological Study of Musical Pitch Identification in Mandarin-Speaking Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Cai Jieqing , Liu Yimeng , Yao Minyun , Xu Muqing , Zhang Hongzheng
Published: July 2020

Music perception in cochlear implant (CI) users is far from satisfactory, not only because of the technological limitations of current CI devices but also due to the neurophysiological alterations that generally accompany deafness. Early behavioral studies revealed that similar mechanisms underlie musical and lexical pitch perception in CI-based electric hearing. Although neurophysiological studies of the musical pitch perception of English-speaking CI users are actively ongoing, little such research has been conducted with Mandarin-speaking CI users; as Mandarin is a tonal language, these individuals require pitch information to understand speech. The aim of this work was to study the neurophysiological mechanisms accounting for the musical pitch identification abilities of Mandarin-speaking CI users and normal-hearing (NH) listeners. Behavioral and mismatch negativity (MMN) data were analyzed to examine musical pitch processing performance. Moreover, neurophysiological results from CI users with good and bad pitch discrimination performance (according to the just-noticeable differences (JND) and pitch-direction discrimination (PDD) tasks) were compared to identify cortical responses associated with musical pitch perception differences. The MMN experiment was conducted using a passive oddball paradigm, with musical tone C4 (262 Hz) presented as the standard and tones D4 (294 Hz), E4 (330 Hz), G#4 (415 Hz), and C5 (523 Hz) presented as deviants. CI users demonstrated worse musical pitch discrimination ability than did NH listeners, as reflected by larger JND and PDD thresholds for pitch identification, and significantly increased latencies and reduced amplitudes in MMN responses. Good CI performers had better MMN results than did bad performers. Consistent with findings for English-speaking CI users, the results of this work suggest that MMN is a viable marker of cortical pitch perception in Mandarin-speaking CI users.
Statistical Inference of Odd Fréchet Inverse Lomax Distribution with Applications
Authors: ZeinEldin Ramadan A. , Ahsan ul Haq Muhammad , Hashmi Sharqa , Elsehety Mahmoud , Elgarhy M.
Published: July 2020

In this article, we propose and study a new three-parameter distribution, called the odd Fréchet inverse Lomax (OFIL) distribution, derived by combining the odd Fréchet-G family and the inverse Lomax distribution. Since Fréchet is a continuous distribution with wide applicability in extreme value theory, the new model contains these properties as well as the characteristics of the inverse Lomax distribution which make it more flexible and provide a good alternative for some well-known lifetime distributions. We initially present a linear representation of its functions and discussion on density and hazard rate function. Then, we study its various mathematical properties. Different estimation methods are used to estimate parameters of OFIL. The Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out to compare the efficiencies of different methods of estimation. The maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method is used to estimate the OFIL parameters by considering three practical data applications. We show that the related model is the best in comparisons based on Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and other goodness-of-fit measures.
Experimental Investigation of Ground and Air Temperature Fields of a Cold‐Region Road Tunnel in NW China
Authors: Wu Hao , Zhong Yujian , Xu Wei , Shi Wangshuaiyin , Shi Xinghao , Liu Tong
Published: July 2020

To fully understand the temperature distribution of cold regions and the variation law of temperature fields in cold‐region tunnels, this paper presents a case‐history study on a tunnel located on the eastern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, China. The conclusion is as follows: the temperature outside the tunnel and the ambient temperature are affected by wind speed and light. The law of the temperature field in the tunnel is greatly affected by wind speed and wind direction. According to the field test, the wind speed in the tunnel is about 2.8 m/s in winter, and the daily average temperature at the exit of the tunnel is basically lower than that at the entrance. From the central to the entrance, the temperature in the tunnel decreases by 0.11°C every 10 meters along the longitudinal direction; from the central to the exit, the temperature in the tunnel increases by 0.07°C every 10 meters. In this regard, for the problems of lining frost damage and central drainage pipe freezing, it is suggested to adopt the way of heating and drainage, but heating the freezing area outside the drainage pipe should be avoided. The test results can provide references for the design, construction, and research of the temperature field of the tunnel antifreezing system in the cold region. It is hoped that the test results can be useful in the design and construction of frost damage prevention systems and the investigation of temperature fields in cold‐region tunnels.
Evaluation of Caries-Free Restorations Bonded with Various Adhesive Systems: In Vitro Study
Authors: Piemjai Morakot , Chantarawej Pareewan , Nakabayashi Nobuo
Published: July 2020

Purpose. Secondary caries originate from a leakage pathway where oral acids can penetrate faster and demineralize the tooth substrate deeper which can be visualized by dye penetration. The ability to prevent secondary caries by contemporary adhesive systems was evaluated in this study. Dye penetration distance through leakage and into the tooth substrate adjacent to Class V restorations after artificial caries exposure was compared. Materials and Methods. Previously frozen extracted human molars were used to prepare the Class V cavities at the CEJ on axial surfaces. All cavities were restored with either the resin-composite or amalgam with or without resin adhesives: dry bonding: Super-Bond D-Liner II Plus; moist bonding: All-Bond 2; and self-etch bonding: AQ Bond and Clearfil Protect Bond. Two subgroups of Super-Bond D-Liner II Plus were immersed for 14 days at 37°C either in artificial saliva (negative control) or the artificial caries solution. The other groups were soaked in the artificial caries solution. The distance of dye penetration into the adjacent enamel, cementum/dentin, and tooth-resin interfaces was measured after immersion in 0.5% basic fuchsin dye for 24 h. The tooth-resin interfacial layer was investigated using SEM. Results. No dye penetration into the tooth-resin interface was found in Super-Bond D-Liner II Plus and AQ Bond groups which demonstrated a constant hybrid layer after a chemical challenge. The leakage distance at the cementum/dentin-resin interface of All-Bond 2, Clearfil Protect Bond, and non-adhesive amalgam (positive control) groups was significantly higher than the distance of dye penetration into the adjacent demineralized root surface (p<0.05). Conclusion. Caries associated with either amalgam or resin-composite restorations can be prevented using resin adhesives which can penetrate into the intact tooth substrate to form a stable hybrid layer. With caries-free restorations, tooth vitality may be conserved lifelong.
Clinicopathological Significance of Heat Shock Protein (HSP) 27 Expression in Gastric Cancer: A Updated Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Liu Tong , Liu Duo , Kong Xiangxue , Dong Mei
Published: July 2020

Aim. HSP27 is a protein chaperone protecting cell from heat shock, and upregulated HSP27 expression has been found in many different cancers. We conduct this update meta‐analysis to evaluate the relationship between HSP27 expression and clinicopathological features. Methods. We searched PubMed, Chinese CNKI, and WanFang databases to identify studies that assessed the association between clinicopathological feature and HSP27 expression in gastric cancer patients. Results. We found overexpression of HSP27 was associated with incidence of gastric cancer (OR = 6.31, 95% CI = 1.10–36.15, P < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between HSP27 expression and gastric cancer differentiation, gender difference, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Conclusion. Our meta‐analysis study indicates that overexpression of HSP27 is associated with incidence of gastric cancer statistically.
A Concise Review and Required Precautions for COVID-19 Outbreak in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
Authors: Kord Ali , Rabiee Behnam , Wang Siwen , Rostami Sara , Gaba Ron C. , Xie Karen L.
Published: July 2020

A global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia began in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The rapid rise in the case numbers and mortality led to the saturation of hospitals in many countries. COVID-19 patients usually present with fever, fatigue, dry cough, and dyspnea. Given the shortage of diagnostic kits in many countries and very high sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of COVID-19 in clinically suspicious patients, the chest CT has been implemented among the primary initial methods of diagnosis before the confirmatory laboratory tests. This puts radiologists and radiology staff on the front line of this alarming pandemic. This report summarizes chest CT findings of COVID-19 patients to facilitate diagnosis and reviews a list of necessary precautions and safety measures for diagnostic and interventional radiology personnel. These precautionary plans are extremely important to avoid contamination of the health-care providers, as well as cross-contamination between patients.
Clinical Efficacy Evaluation of Sirolimus in Congenital Hyperinsulinism
Authors: Hashemian Somayyeh , Jafarzadeh Esfehani Reza , Karimdadi Siroos , Vakili Rahim , Zamanfar Daniel , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: July 2020

Background. Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder. Sirolimus as a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor may be helpful in patients with CHI who do not respond well to other treatments including diazoxide and octreotide. However, the safety and efficacy of this therapy are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of sirolimus in CHI patients with mutations in the ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes. Methods. During the period of this follow-up study, every child with a confirmed diagnosis of unresponsive CHI underwent genetic evaluation. Among those who had positive genetic testing, six families agreed to participate in this study. The participants were evaluated for ABCC8, KCNJ11, or HNF4α gene mutations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. The participants who were unresponsive to diazoxide and octreotide therapy received 0.5 mg/m2/d of sirolimus, and the dose was gradually increased until a serum concentration of 5–15 ng/ml was achieved. Then, the participants were followed up for any possible complications. Results. Among the study participants, only one neonate was completely free of hypoglycemia after one year of follow-up, whereas three others experienced a partial reduction in hypoglycemic episodes over six months. One neonate underwent pancreatectomy despite receiving sirolimus. The oldest participant with a mutation in the ABCC8 gene responded well to sirolimus therapy after surgery and remained asymptomatic for 18 months. Conclusion. This study suggested that sirolimus therapy needs further evaluation to determine which patients will benefit the most. The genetic basis of CHI may have possible implications for determining the patient’s response.
Optical Coherence Tomography for the Diagnosis of Exercise-Related Acute Cardiovascular Events and Inconclusive Coronary Angiography
Authors: Mas-Lladó Caterina , Maristany Jaume , Gómez-Lara Josep , Pascual Marcos , Alameda María del Mar , Gómez-Jaume Alfredo , Peral-Disdier Vicente
Published: July 2020

Objectives. The aim of this study is to assess the utility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with exercise-related acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presenting with inconclusive angiographic findings. Background. Regular physical activity reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, the risk of ACS or sudden cardiac death (SCD) increases during sport. In adults older than 35 years, exercise-related ACS or SCD is associated with plaque rupture, but not infrequently patients present ambiguous angiographic findings. Methods. Between September 2015 and January 2020, patients admitted for ACS or SCD triggered by physical exertion and with coronary stenosis ≤50% were included in this prospective observational study. OCT was performed on the artery deemed to be responsible of the event. Results. Ten patients were enrolled, predominantly men (80%) of middle age (51 years old, IQR 41–63) with low cardiovascular risk burden. Cycling was the most frequent (50%) exercise-related trigger, 8 patients were regular sport practitioners, and 7 had the clinical event during strenuous exertion. Five patients presented with non-ST-elevation ACS, two with ST-elevation ACS, and three with SCD. Angiographic analysis showed nonsignificant stenosis in all patients (42% stenosis, IQR 36–46). OCT identified the etiology of the event in 9 patients (4 plaque erosion, 3 plaque rupture, 1 eruptive calcific nodule, and 1 coronary dissection). Treatment was adjusted according to OCT findings. Conclusions. OCT is a valuable technique to identify the etiology of exercise-related ACS or SCD in patients with nonobstructive coronary arteries and, as a result, may lead to a more specific treatment.
Compressing Phase Space Detects State Changes in Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
Authors: d’Andrea Valeria , De Domenico Manlio
Published: July 2020

Equations governing the nonlinear dynamics of complex systems are usually unknown, and indirect methods are used to reconstruct their manifolds. In turn, they depend on embedding parameters requiring other methods and long temporal sequences to be accurate. In this paper, we show that an optimal reconstruction can be achieved by lossless compression of system’s time course, providing a self-consistent analysis of its dynamics and a measure of its complexity, even for short sequences. Our measure of complexity detects system’s state changes such as weak synchronization phenomena, characterizing many systems, in one step, integrating results from Lyapunov and fractal analysis.
Chemical Constituents and Health Benefits of Four Chinese Plum Species
Authors: Liu Wei , Nan Guangming , Nisar Muhammad Farrukh , Wan Chunpeng
Published: July 2020

Prunus is a large genus in the Rosaceae family of flowering plants, comprising over 340 species inhabiting variable landscapes in the world. Over 500 listed phytochemicals have been isolated from this single genus so far. The present study focused four Chinese Prunus species, viz., Prunus cerasifera, Prunus domestica, Prunus salicina, and Prunus spinosa, due to their uses, demand, nutritional value, medicinal importance, and diverse biological potential. The current review article highlights the details about the active phytochemicals and various pharmacological activities already reported. Almost 212 compounds, the majority of which are flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and their derivatives, which have been isolated from these four Prunus species fall in different categories and are helpful to evade chronic oxidative stress-mediated diseases. A huge variation exists in the total phytochemicals composition in different Prunus species, making these species to have different biological activities in multiple disease conditions, and even the same variety growing under different edaphic conditions may have different antioxidant capacities. It is suggested to perform extensive and indepth studies to find new phytochemicals from these four Chinese Prunus species which could boost the local industry to fulfill the increasing demands.
Design and Implementation of ADL Content with VR Sensor at a Smart Human-Care Service
Authors: Eun Sung-Jong , Kim Jung Yoon
Published: July 2020

This paper deals with the development of the content of Activity of Daily Life (ADL) based on VR (virtual reality) for cognitive function training for the elderly. The proposed ADL content has been developed focusing on a feedback technique based on performance analysis unlike in the existing VR-based cognitive training content wherein the customized training management based on performance evaluation was difficult. Experiments were conducted with 30 elderly people in the welfare center for 3 months. As a result of the effectiveness evaluation, the proposed ADL content showed higher results in all aspects of immersion, satisfaction, and performance. It is expected that user departure from existing ADL content will be prevented, and various artificial intelligence researches will be carried out to improve the technology accuracy to provide customized difficulty which is an important factor.
Ginsenoside Rg1 Drives Stimulations of Timosaponin AIII‐Induced Anticancer Effects in Human Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Lee Sang Yeol
Published: July 2020

A ginsenoside Rg1 is an active compound extracted from the stem and/or root of ginseng. Rg1 has been known to affect various human organ systems including the immune, cardiovascular, and nervous systems with its pharmacological effects. Timosaponin AIII (TA3) is a type of spirostanol saponins that are the major compounds of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. TA3 exerts anticancer effects in various human cancers, and the effects include attenuations of cancer cell migration and induction of apoptosis. In this study, I report that Rg1 drives the stimulation of TA3‐induced cytotoxic effects in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells. Rg1 stimulates TA3‐induced apoptosis in MG63 cells via selective intensification of caspase‐3 activation. Rg1 and TA3 synergistically induced antimetastatic effects such as attenuation of MG63 cell migration and inhibitions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐2 and MMP‐9). Rg1 and TA3 synergistically suppressed JNK, p38, ERK, β‐catenin, and CREB signaling, which are key regulators of cancer metastasis. Finally, the synergistic anticancer effects of Rg1 and TA3 were also observed in U2OS human osteosarcoma cells, and this may indicate that the synergy is not limited specifically to MG63 cells. The results presented here suggest that the combinatorial use of Rg1 and TA3 may be a promising way to develop an effective antiosteosarcoma agent.
Mesothelioma Biomarkers: A Review Highlighting Contributions from the Early Detection Research Network
Authors: Pass Harvey I. , Alimi Marjan , Carbone Michele , Yang Haining , Goparaju Chandra M.
Published: July 2020

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an asbestos-related neoplasm, which can be treated successfully only if correctly diagnosed and treated in early stages. The asbestos-exposed population serves as a high-risk group that could benefit from sensitive and specific blood- or tissue-based biomarkers. This review details the recent work with biomarker development in MPM and the contributions of the NCI Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Developmental Laboratory of NYU Langone Medical Center. The literature of the last 20 years was reviewed to comment on the most promising of the blood- and tissue-based biomarkers. Proteomic, genomic, and epigenomic platforms as well as novel studies such as “breath testing” are covered. Soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP) have been characterized extensively and constitute an FDA-approved biomarker in plasma with diagnostic, monitoring, and prognostic value in MPM. Osteopontin is found to be a valuable prognostic biomarker for MPM, while its utility in diagnosis is slightly lower. Other biomarkers, such as calretinin, fibulin 3, and High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), remain under study and need international validation trials with large cohorts of cases and controls to demonstrate any utility. The EDRN has played a key role in the development and testing of MPM biomarkers by enlisting collaborations all over the world. A comprehensive understanding of previously investigated biomarkers and their utility in screening and early diagnosis of MPM will provide guidance for further future research.

See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, “NCI Early Detection Research Network: Making Cancer Detection Possible.”
Tattoos and Hematologic Malignancies in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Warner Freda M. , Darvishian Maryam , Boyle Terry , Brooks-Wilson Angela R. , Connors Joseph M. , Lai Agnes S. , Le Nhu D. , Song Kevin , Sutherland Heather , Woods Ryan R. , Bhatti Parveen , Spinelli John J.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Tattoos may cause a variety of adverse reactions in the body, including immune reactions and infections. However, it is unknown whether tattoos may increase the risk of lymphatic cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma.

Methods:

Participants from two population-based case–control studies were included in logistic regression models to examine the association between tattoos and risk of NHL and multiple myeloma.

Results:

A total of 1,518 participants from the NHL study (737 cases) and 742 participants from the multiple myeloma study (373 cases) were included in the analyses. No statistically significant associations were found between tattoos and risk of NHL or multiple myeloma after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, body mass index, and family history.

Conclusions:

We did not identify any significant associations between tattoos and risk of multiple myeloma, NHL, or NHL subtypes in these studies.

Impact:

Though biologically plausible, tattoos were not associated with increased risk of NHL or multiple myeloma in this study. Future studies with greater detail regarding tattoo exposure may provide further insights.
An Object Relations Model Perspective on the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (DSM-5)
Authors: Clarkin John F. , Caligor Eve , Sowislo Julia F.
Published: July 2020

The Alternative Model of DSM-5 combines dimensional ratings of self-functioning, interpersonal functioning, and traits with categorical classification. The object relations model has a long tradition pre-dating the Alternative Model and, in part, has been incorporated into the Alternative Model. The object relations model provides a theoretical background (generally missing in the Alternative Model) that enhances the clinical assessment of personality pathology and its relationship to treatment planning.