bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Numerical Studies on a Curved Back Transonic Airfoil
Authors: Rajeevalochanam Prathapanayaka , Senthil Kumaran R. , Sunkara S. N. Agnimitra , Kalita Nilotpole , Sharath P. P.
Published: February 2018

The curvature of a turbine blade airfoil downstream of the throat location significantly affects its aerodynamic performance, specifically at Mach number close to unity. In the present work, a low aspect ratio (0.64), highly curved back airfoil corresponding to stator blade ‘mean’ section of a high-pressure (HP) turbine stage is studied. The details of the blade parameters, experimental test setup, CFD solver and numerical setup are explained in the paper. Its aerodynamic characteristics are obtained numerically using a commercial CFD solver and are compared to those from experimental cascade test results. For numerical assessment, CFD simulations are carried out on three configurations viz. (i) Full turbine stage (stator and rotor) domain (ii) Isolated turbine stator row domain (iii) Stator mean section airfoil cascade domain. The loss predictions obtained through CFD are also compared against the loss estimates calculated using two loss models. The experimental cascade pressure loss across the blade row at design point Mach number 0.996 increases to 250% of that at lower Mach numbers. This drastic increase is not desirable. But the airfoil performs appreciably well in a ‘stage’ setup i.e. with downstream rotor. Therefore, the present study brings out the behaviour of the stator airfoil performance in a linear cascade, annular cascade and stage environments.
Fatigue Crack Growth Retardation in Titanium Alloy
Authors: Biradar Sachin , Jha Jyoti Shankar , Mishra Sushil , Tewari Asim
Published: February 2018

The gas turbine components undergo fatigue load spectrum of variable amplitude loading. In this study, fatigue crack growth rate after multiple cycles of tensile overload has been investigated in Ti-2.77Sn-0.48Cu-1.15Fe-6.61V alloy. The overload at the crack tip produces the plastic zone at the vicinity, which retards the crack growth. Crack growth retardation effect has been studied at 15% and 25% overload percentages to observe its retardation effect. The multiple overloads applied after fixed interval of cycles produces a plastic region around the crack. After reloading the specimen further with constant loading, the crack growth rate is retarded thus causing increase in the fatigue life, which is observed in the graph of crack length vs number of cycles. The microstructure study has been carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Electron Back Scatter Diffraction (EBSD), which gives qualitative information of strain to characterize the fatigue crack growth. The slope of crack length vs number of cycles before and after tensile peak overload was compared to evaluate the retardation effect at varying overload percentages.
Development and Removal of Alpha-Case Layer From Heat Treated Titanium Alloys
Authors: Mohite Nikita , Biradar Sachin , Jha Jyoti Shankar , Mishra Sushil , Tewari Asim
Published: February 2018

The components of the aero engines such as fan blades are generally manufactured from Titanium alloy forgings. At the elevated temperatures, the affinity of Titanium towards oxygen is very high, which results in formation of oxide layer on surface known as alpha-case layer. This alpha-case is both hard and brittle in nature which results in localized micro failure during its application. This gives rise to a fatigue crack initiation zone and compromises the integrity of the component, causing it to fail. To investigate this, Titanium α-β (Ti 64), α (Sn) and β (Mo) alloys were heat treated at 1010°C for 30min, 60min, 90min and 120min followed by air cooling. Formation of alpha-case layer in Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-Sn and Ti-Mo increased from 120.5μm to 391.1μm, 128.77μm to 443.23μm, 105.75μm to 262.46μm at 30mins and 120mins respectively. Chemical treatment, cathodic de-oxygenation, surface coating and laser ablation methods are generally used to remove the alpha case. In the current study, acid pickling is used to remove the alpha case layer, as this process is simple and also easily applicable to any complex shape of the material. In this method, samples were dipped in the solution of HF (5%) and HNO3 (35%) at 80 °C for fixed time at fixed intervals to find the rate of alpha case removal. Micro indentation was carried out to obtain hardness profile from surface to bulk of heat treated specimen. The quantification of alpha case oxide layer from surface to bulk was done by EDS.
Comparison of time-frequency methods for analyzing stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions
Authors: Biswal Milan , Mishra Srikanta K.
Published: February 2018

Stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) can have multiple time varying components, including multiple internal reflections. It is, therefore, necessary to study SFOAEs using techniques that can represent their time-frequency behavior. Although various time-frequency schemes can be applied to identify and filter SFOAE components, their accuracy for SFOAE analysis has not been investigated. The relative performance of these methods is important for accurate characterization of SFOAEs that may, in turn, enhance the understanding of SFOAE generation. This study using in silico experiments examined the performance of three linear (short-time Fourier transform, continuous wavelet transform, Stockwell transform) and two nonlinear (empirical mode decomposition and synchrosqueezed wavelet transform) time-frequency approaches for SFOAE analysis. Their performances in terms of phase-gradient delay estimation, frequency specificity, and spectral component extraction are compared, and the relative merits and limitations of each method are discussed. Overall, this paper provides a comparative analysis of various time-frequency methods useful for otoacoustic emission applications.
Attitudes Toward the Coaching Profession: Evidence from a Nation-Wide Study in Qatar
Authors: Al-Emadi Ahmed , Theodorakis Nicholas D. , Pastore Donna , Sellami Abdellatif , Diop Abdulaye
Published: February 2018

The present study aimed to develop a scale for measuring Qataris’ attitudes toward coaching and their intentions towards this profession. The survey target population included Qataris who were 18 years or older and who lived in residential housing units in Qatar. To assure representation of population a proportionate stratified sampling method was used. Overall, 823 Qatari nationals participated in the study. To develop the scale for measuring Qataris’ attitudes toward coaching (ATC), standard scale development procedures were followed. These procedures resulted in a 5-factors measure; Image, Personal development, Job nature, Rewards and Limitations. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided initial evidence regarding the factorial, convergent and discriminant validity of the scale. The reliability of all factors were also satisfactory. The five aforementioned factors predicted 22% of the variability in job intentions. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.
Dams nudge Amazon's ecosystems off-kilter
Authors: Fraser Barbara
Published: February 2018

Decline of giant catfish emblematic of habitat fragmentation.
The piRNA targeting rules and the resistance to piRNA silencing in endogenous genes
Authors: Zhang Donglei , Tu Shikui , Stubna Michael , Wu Wei-Sheng , Huang Wei-Che , Weng Zhiping , Lee Heng-Chi
Published: February 2018

Self-defense by avoiding self-targeting

By silencing transposons, Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) protect the stability of animal genomes in germ lines. However, many piRNAs do not map to transposons, and their functions have remained undefined. Zhang
et al.
described the piRNA targeting logic in
Caenorhabditis elegans
and identified an intrinsic sequence signal in endogenous germline genes that confer resistance to piRNA silencing. Thus, diverse piRNAs silence foreign nucleic acids but spare self genes to defend the
C. elegans
genome. In addition, multiple foreign transgenes can be engineered to escape piRNA targeting, allowing successful expression in the germline.

Science
, this issue p.
587
Stealth reactions driving carbon fixation
Authors: Ragsdale Stephen W.
Published: February 2018

New twists to bacterial metabolic pathways that contribute to the global carbon cycle
Galaxy motions cause trouble for cosmology
Authors: Boylan-Kolchin Michael
Published: February 2018

Satellite galaxy motions around a nearby galaxy seem to be at odds with dark matter models
Our science, our society
Authors: Hockfield Susan
Published: February 2018

We live in a scientific golden age. Never has the pace of discovery been so rapid, the range of achievements so broad, and the changing nature of our understanding so revolutionary. Science today has extraordinary powers. It reveals fundamental phenomena of our universe, catalyzes new technologies, powers new businesses, fosters new industries, and improves lives. This month's annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of
Science
) in Austin, Texas, celebrates this golden age. More than 10,000 scientists, students, teachers, business people, journalists, philanthropists, science enthusiasts, government officials, and others will come together to hear and discuss talks by experts on such topics as immunooncology, exoplanets, election polling, and much more. Today's advances and innovations presage a future that most of us have not yet imagined.
The Unstructured Paramyxovirus Nucleocapsid Protein Tail Domain Modulates Viral Pathogenesis through Regulation of Transcriptase Activity
Authors: Thakkar Vidhi D. , Cox Robert M. , Sawatsky Bevan , da Fontoura Budaszewski Renata , Sourimant Julien , Wabbel Katrin , Makhsous Negar , Greninger Alexander L. , von Messling Veronika , Plemper Richard K.
Published: February 2018

The paramyxovirus replication machinery comprises the viral large (L) protein and phosphoprotein (P-protein) in addition to the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which encapsidates the single-stranded RNA genome. Common to paramyxovirus N proteins is a C-terminal tail (Ntail). The mechanistic role and relevance for virus replication of the structurally disordered central Ntail section are unknown. Focusing initially on members of the
Morbillivirus
genus, a series of measles virus (MeV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) N proteins were generated with internal deletions in the unstructured tail section. N proteins with large tail truncations remained bioactive in mono- and polycistronic minireplicon assays and supported efficient replication of recombinant viruses. Bioactivity of Ntail mutants extended to N proteins derived from highly pathogenic Nipah virus. To probe an effect of Ntail truncations on viral pathogenesis, recombinant CDVs were analyzed in a lethal CDV/ferret model of morbillivirus disease. The recombinant viruses displayed different stages of attenuation ranging from ameliorated clinical symptoms to complete survival of infected animals, depending on the molecular nature of the Ntail truncation. Reinfection of surviving animals with pathogenic CDV revealed robust protection against a lethal challenge. The highly attenuated virus was genetically stable after
ex vivo
passaging and recovery from infected animals. Mechanistically, gradual viral attenuation coincided with stepwise altered viral transcriptase activity in infected cells. These results identify the central Ntail section as a determinant for viral pathogenesis and establish a novel platform to engineer gradual virus attenuation for next-generation paramyxovirus vaccine design.

IMPORTANCE
Investigating the role of the paramyxovirus N protein tail domain (Ntail) in virus replication, we demonstrated in this study that the structurally disordered central Ntail region is a determinant for viral pathogenesis. We show that internal deletions in this Ntail region of up to 55 amino acids in length are compatible with efficient replication of recombinant viruses in cell culture but result in gradual viral attenuation in a lethal canine distemper virus (CDV)/ferret model. Mechanistically, we demonstrate a role of the intact Ntail region in the regulation of viral transcriptase activity. Recombinant viruses with Ntail truncations induce protective immunity against lethal challenge of ferrets with pathogenic CDV. This identification of the unstructured central Ntail domain as a nonessential paramyxovirus pathogenesis factor establishes a foundation for harnessing Ntail truncations for vaccine engineering against emerging and reemerging members of the paramyxovirus family.
Preoperative exercise halves the postoperative complication rate in patients with lung cancer: a systematic review of the effect of exercise on complications, length of stay and quality of life in patients with cancer
Authors: Steffens Daniel , Beckenkamp Paula R , Hancock Mark , Solomon Michael , Young Jane
Published: February 2018

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of preoperative exercises interventions in patients undergoing oncological surgery, on postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and quality of life.

Design

Intervention systematic review with meta-analysis.

Data sources

MEDLINE, Embase and PEDro.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Trials investigating the effectiveness of preoperative exercise for any oncological patient undergoing surgery were included. The outcomes of interest were postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and quality of life. Relative risks (RRs), mean differences (MDs) and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects models.

Results

Seventeen articles (reporting on 13 different trials) involving 806 individual participants and 6 tumour types were included. There was moderate-quality evidence that preoperative exercise significantly reduced postoperative complication rates (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.74) and length of hospital stay (MD −2.86 days, 95% CI −5.40 to −0.33) in patients undergoing lung resection, compared with control. For patients with oesophageal cancer, preoperative exercise was not effective in reducing length of hospital stay (MD 2.00 days, 95% CI −2.35 to 6.35). Although only assessed in individual studies, preoperative exercise improved postoperative quality of life in patients with oral or prostate cancer. No effect was found in patients with colon and colorectal liver metastases.

Conclusions

Preoperative exercise was effective in reducing postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in patients with lung cancer. Whether preoperative exercise reduces complications, length of hospital stay and improves quality of life in other groups of patients undergoing oncological surgery is uncertain as the quality of evidence is low.

PROSPEROregistration number
Varying levels of fidelity on psychomotor skill attainment: a CORTRAK product assessment
Authors: Gonzalez Laura , Bourgault Annette M , Aguirre Lillian
Published: February 2018

Background

A task trainer is defined as a model that represents a part or region of the human body such as an arm and an abdomen… generally used to support procedural skills training. Concepts for consideration when selecting a task trainer include fidelity and cognitive load. Insertion of small - bore FTs in acutely ill patients continues to be a high - risk skill. The most frequent complication is insertion of the F T into the pulmonary system, which can lead to pneumothorax, pneumonitis and death. Training consists of placing the FT under electromagnetic visual assistance in a task trainer.

Objective

This study describes assessment of two task trainers that are used to simulate assisted feeding tube (FT) insertion. Simulation is an excellent approach to close the learning gap and ensure competency. Study selection: This study used a prospective observational design. Participants (n=20) were registered nurses considered to be superusers. They were randomly assigned to order of the task trainer.

Findings and conclusions

The findings suggest the learners preferred the low-fidelity task trainer. The clear Anatomical Box scored higher overall (18.35/21) when compared with the human-like task trainer (16.5/21). A higher fidelity task trainer may seem attractive; however, with a lens to cognitive load theory, it may hinder the early learning process. Fidelity requirements vary depending on the training task. Recommendations from this study include: initial instruction should focus on the psychomotor steps for the FT insertion process. The high-fidelity human torso is recommended for performance, final competency and ongoing competency maintenance.
Gold nanoparticle-functionalized niobium oxide perovskites as photocatalysts for visible light-induced aromatic alcohol oxidations
Authors: Chassé Melissa , Hallett-Tapley Geniece L.
Published: February 2018

Spherical gold nanoparticles have been supported onto the surface of potassium niobium oxide perovskites, an underdeveloped class of semiconductor in photocatalytic organic transformations. The nanoparticle dopants of 9.5 nm in diameter and surface plasmon absorption at 530 nm are examined as possible visible light induced catalysts using alcohol photooxidation as the probe reaction. The nanomaterial-induced photooxidation of a series of aromatic alcohols is examined, in the absence of solvent, as a function of base, H2O2, and catalyst concentrations, as well as using multiple visible light sources. This experimental methodology affords extremely selective photooxidation to the carbonyl products (>99%) in as little as 2 h. Using the results obtained from the substitution of the aromatic alcohol, the proposed photocatalytic mechanism is suggested to rely heavily on plasmon-initiated electron transfer from the gold nanoparticle surface to the potassium niobium oxide perovskite and subsequent reductive decomposition of H2O2. This photodegradation step is proposed to favor the formation of ketyl radical species, a key intermediate in the visible light induced mechanism that undergoes both an electron and proton transfer to facilitate formation of the final, carbonyl products. Furthermore, the gold nanoparticle – potassium niobium oxide catalyst exhibits moderate reusability, highly desired in the realm of heterogeneous catalysis.
Trophic ecology of nonanadromous rainbow trout in a post-glacial lake system: partial convergence of adfluvial and fluvial forms
Authors: Arostegui M.C. , Quinn T.P.
Published: February 2018

The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)) is one of many salmonid species exhibiting a gradient of life histories including fluvial (stream-resident), anadromous (ocean-migrant), and adfluvial (lake-migrant) forms, the last of which is less extensively studied than the other two. Our goal was to determine the extent of diet segregation between fluvial and adfluvial rainbow trout. We collected stomach content and stable isotope data on rainbow trout sampled in stream and lake habitats in a southwestern Alaska watershed during summer and compared them with data on sympatric stream- and lake-specialist char species, Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma (Walbaum in Artedi, 1792)) and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)), respectively. Rainbow trout in streams fed largely on aquatic insects, while those in the lake ate primarily benthic snails and amphipods. The trophic segregation of stream-resident and lake-migrant rainbow trout mirrored but was less extreme than the divergence of lotic Dolly Varden and lentic Arctic char in the same system. Spawning sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum in Artedi, 1792)) provided a nutrient subsidy in the form of eggs that supported rainbow trout in both stream and lake (littoral) habitats, causing their isotopic signatures to converge. This study augments knowledge of partial migration and trophic divergence within populations.
Thermodynamic properties of a spin-1 model with long-range interactions
Authors: Hou Ji-Xuan , Yu Xu-Chen
Published: February 2018

The long-range interacting spin-1 chain placed in a staggered magnetic field is studied by means of microcanonical approach. Firstly, we study the microcanonical entropy of the system in the thermodynamic limit and find the system is non-ergodic and can exhibit either first-order phase transition or second-order phase transition by shifting the external magnetic field strength. Secondly, we construct the global phase diagram of the system and find a phase transition area in the phase diagram corresponding to the temperature jump of the first-order phase transition.
First-principles calculations of LiNbO3 optical properties: From far-infrared to ultraviolet
Authors: Saleev Vladimir , Shipilova Alexandra
Published: February 2018

We perform first-principles calculations of optical properties for ferroelectric phase of LiNbO3 crystal using density functional theory (DFT) for wide range of wavelengths, from far-infrared (IR) to ultraviolet. We study frequency dependence of complex dielectric tensor and related quantities, such as refractive and reflection indices, absorption coefficients, etc. Our calculation incorporates advantages of numerical approaches based on atomic-orbital all-electron Gaussian-type basis sets, as it is realized in CRYSTAL14 program. We compared predictions obtained in general-gradient approach with PBESOL exchange-correlation functional and in hybrid approach with PBESOL0 functional, and we have found that hybrid PBESOL0 functional is more applicable to describe the wide set of the experimental data.
An auxiliary optimization method for complex public transit route network based on link prediction
Authors: Zhang Lin , Lu Jian , Yue Xianfei , Zhou Jialin , Li Yunxuan , Wan Qian
Published: February 2018

Inspired by the missing (new) link prediction and the spurious existing link identification in link prediction theory, this paper establishes an auxiliary optimization method for public transit route network (PTRN) based on link prediction. First, link prediction applied to PTRN is described, and based on reviewing the previous studies, the summary indices set and its algorithms set are collected for the link prediction experiment. Second, through analyzing the topological properties of Jinan’s PTRN established by the Space R method, we found that this is a typical small-world network with a relatively large average clustering coefficient. This phenomenon indicates that the structural similarity-based link prediction will show a good performance in this network. Then, based on the link prediction experiment of the summary indices set, three indices with maximum accuracy are selected for auxiliary optimization of Jinan’s PTRN. Furthermore, these link prediction results show that the overall layout of Jinan’s PTRN is stable and orderly, except for a partial area that requires optimization and reconstruction. The above pattern conforms to the general pattern of the optimal development stage of PTRN in China. Finally, based on the missing (new) link prediction and the spurious existing link identification, we propose optimization schemes that can be used not only to optimize current PTRN but also to evaluate PTRN planning.
Vibration and Buckling Analysis of Internally Cracked Square Plates by the MLS-Ritz Approach
Authors: Huang C. S. , Lee M. C. , Chang M. J.
Published: February 2018

Based on the classical thin plate theory, this paper proposes new sets of enriched basis functions for in-plane and out-of-plane displacements of square plates that can yield admissible functions for the Ritz method using the moving least-squares (MLS) approach. These admissible functions display the discontinuities of displacement and slope across a crack; give the correct singularity order for the stress resultants at the crack tips; and enhance the Ritz method’s ability to recognize the existence of an internal crack in a plate. To confirm the validity of the proposed approach, convergence studies were performed on the buckling loads and vibration frequencies of plates with central horizontal cracks, and the results obtained agree closely with the published ones as well as those generated by the commercial finite element software. To demonstrate the importance of including all the in-plane stress resultant components in the analysis, the effects of different in-plane stress resultant components on the buckling loads and vibration frequencies of simply supported center-cracked square plates under uniaxial uniform loading were investigated. The present approach was further employed to study the effects of cracks’ lengths, orientations, and locations on the buckling loads and frequencies of cracked square plates under different boundary conditions and in-plane loading conditions.
A cosmological study of Einstein–Skyrme model in anisotropic Kantowski–Sachs spacetime using Lie and Noether symmetries
Authors: Mondal Santu , Dutta Sourav , Tarafdar Manjusha , Chakraborty Subenoy
Published: February 2018

The present work deals with anisotropic (but zero heat flux) Skyrme fluid in a locally rotational Kantowski–Sachs (KS) spacetime in the background of Einstein gravity. The Lie point symmetry is imposed to the system of Einstein field equations and unknown parameters are either determined or interrelated by the imposition of the symmetry. Subsequently, Noether symmetry, a point-like symmetry of the Lagrangian is used and it is found that the Lie algebra of the Noether symmetry is a subalgebra of the corresponding Lie algebra of the Lie symmetry. Then a point transformation in the 2D augmented space is taken in such a manner that one of the variables becomes cyclic and hence the Lagrangian as well as the evolution equations are simplified to a great extent. Finally, solutions to the physical system are presented and are analyzed physically.
A Handheld Robot for Pediatric PIVC: Device Design and Preclinical Trial
Authors: Cheng Zhuoqi , Davies Brian L. , Caldwell Darwin G. , Mattos Leonardo S.
Published: February 2018

Peripheral Intravenous Catheterization (PIVC) is often required in hospitals to fulfill urgent needs for blood sampling or fluid/medication administration. Although PIVC is often easy and successful in adults, it is a very difficult procedure for young pediatric patients. Multiple attempts of catheter insertion are typically needed before a successful placement, especially for clinical personnel lacking specific expertise on this task. The risks of such multiple attempts can be severe and life-threatening as they can cause serious extravasation injuries. Given the levels of precision and controllability needed for PIVC, robotic systems have large potential to effectively assist the operation and improve its success rate. Therefore, this research aims to provide such robotic assistance by focusing on the most challenging part of the operation: the insertion depth control to precisely access the target vein. A handheld robot for controlling the insertion and detecting venipuncture is introduced and evaluated in this paper. The device is small and lightweight, based on a single linear actuator and a real-time electrical impedance sensing system able to identify contact with blood and precisely stop the needle inside the target vein. It works in collaboration with the user, providing the needed assistance to significantly facilitate and improve PIVC operations. This is assessed through a series of comparative experiments conducted on a realistic PIVC scenario involving a baby arm phantom and naïve subjects. The experimental results proved the new handheld robot significantly improves the success rate of pediatric PIVC, allowing an amazing first-stick success rate of 60% and 100% success within two attempts. In addition, the system was highly rated in terms of usability based on feedback received from post-trial questionnaires. These results support continued investment in the technology to bring it to clinical use as soon as possible.
Relations between surface and underground karst forms inferred from terrestrial laser scanning
Authors: Petrović Aleksandar S. , Ćalić Jelena , Spalević Aleksandra , Pantić Marko
Published: February 2018

This paper details methods that contribute towards solving the problem of the spatial relations between surface and underground karst morphology – relationships that are often unclear. The karst landforms studied in this context are karst valleys, through-caves and natural bridges. Two study sites are situated in the Carpatho-Balkan Mountains of eastern Serbia: the dry valley of the Radovanska Reka River on Mt Kučaj (together with the Pećura through-cave) and the Zamna Cave in the wider area of the Danube Gorge. The caves and the closest adjoining parts of the valleys were measured in detail using the terrestrial laser scanning method. The data obtained showed that some previous measurements at these locations, performed with classical traditional instruments, are insufficiently accurate and may lead to wrong conclusions.
Integration of Information Systems and Cybersecurity Countermeasures
Authors: Baskerville Richard , Rowe Frantz , Wolff François-Charles
Published: February 2018

This paper investigates the relationship between Information Systems (IS) integration and the use of cybersecurity countermeasures using an adapted exposure to risk perspective which considers both the probability of a risk through vulnerability points theory and the impact of the risk if it occurs. Based on an econometric analysis of a survey sample of 9,721 French firms, the study finds that higher degrees of system integration entail higher degrees of cybersecurity usage. Whereas previously it was thought that systems integration reduces the number of vulnerabilities and thus the need for cybersecurity countermeasures, we find that the more the system is integrated, the greater the use of self-protective cybersecurity countermeasures. We theorize that this finding comes from the elimination of many uncontrollable vulnerabilities and the presence of fewer, but controllable, vulnerability points. This finding holds both for internal and external integration but is stronger in the latter case. Moreover, results show that internal dynamism is positively correlated with cybersecurity countermeasures. Our reasoning applies to cybersecurity in terms of self-protective security measures but not necessarily to risk-transfer security measures.
Emerging therapeutics in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Hensley Matthew K. , Levine Andrea , Gladwin Mark T. , Lai Yen-Chun
Published: February 2018

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and often fatal illness presenting with nonspecific symptoms of dyspnea, lower extremity edema, and exercise intolerance. Pathologically, endothelial dysfunction leads to abnormal intimal and smooth muscle proliferation along with reduced apoptosis, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and elevated pulmonary pressures. PH is subdivided into five World Health Organization groups based on the disease pathology and specific cause. While there are Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; Group 1 PH), as well as for chronic thromboembolic PH (Group 4 PH), the morbidity and mortality remain high. Moreover, there are no approved therapies for other forms of PH (Groups 2, 3, and 5) at present. New research has identified molecular targets that mediate vasodilation, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic changes within the pulmonary vasculature. Given that PAH is the most commonly studied form of PH worldwide and because recent studies have led to better mechanistic understanding of this devastating disease, in this review we attempt to provide an updated overview of new therapeutic approaches under investigation for the treatment of PH, with a particular focus on PAH, as well as to offer guidelines for future investigations.
Robust Semi-Supervised Manifold Learning Algorithm for Classification
Authors: Chen Mingxia , Wang Jing , Li Xueqing , Sun Xiaolong
Published: February 2018

In the recent years, manifold learning methods have been widely used in data classification to tackle the curse of dimensionality problem, since they can discover the potential intrinsic low-dimensional structures of the high-dimensional data. Given partially labeled data, the semi-supervised manifold learning algorithms are proposed to predict the labels of the unlabeled points, taking into account label information. However, these semi-supervised manifold learning algorithms are not robust against noisy points, especially when the labeled data contain noise. In this paper, we propose a framework for robust semi-supervised manifold learning (RSSML) to address this problem. The noisy levels of the labeled points are firstly predicted, and then a regularization term is constructed to reduce the impact of labeled points containing noise. A new robust semi-supervised optimization model is proposed by adding the regularization term to the traditional semi-supervised optimization model. Numerical experiments are given to show the improvement and efficiency of RSSML on noisy data sets.
Effect of Coronary Slow Flow on Intrinsicoid Deflection of QRS Complex
Authors: Seyis Sabri
Published: February 2018

Coronary slow flow is a rare, clinically important entity observed in acute coronary syndrome. The pathophysiological mechanism is not fully elucidated. We investigated patients with chest pain who had angiographic features consistent with the coronary slow flow. One hundred ten patients were included. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, and angiography results were retrospectively noted. The mean age was 56.4. Fifty-eight were male, and fifty-two were female. The control group consisted of patients with normal angiography. Patients had higher diastolic blood pressure, lower mean ejection fraction, higher average left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and higher mean left atrial size than the control group (p=0.009,p=0.017,p=0.041,andp<0.001, resp.). Patients had higher average V1 ID, V6 ID, P wave dispersion, TFC LAD, TFC Cx, TFC RCA, and TFC levels than the control group. A significant linear positive relationship was found between the V1 ID and the TFC LAD, TFC Cx, TFC RCA, and TFC; also between the V6 ID and the TFC LAD, TFC Cx, TFC RCA, and TFC. Angiographic and electrocardiographic features are suggestive and diagnostic for the coronary slow flow syndrome. Although when regarded as a benign condition, coronary slow flow should be diagnosed, followed up, and treated as many of laboratory features suggest ischemic events.
Morphologic and Chemical Properties of PMMA/ATH Layers with Enhanced Abrasion Resistance Realised by Cold Plasma Spraying at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Wallenhorst L. , Rerich R. , Vovk M. , Dahle S. , Militz H. , Ohms G. , Viöl W.
Published: February 2018

This study investigated the morphologic and chemical properties of coatings based on PMMA/ATH powder and deposited by cold plasma spraying on wood and glass. Since the deposition of pure PMMA/ATH powder with air as process gas yielded coatings with insufficient abrasion resistance, two modifications of the basic process were investigated. Previous studies showed that replacing air as process gas with forming gas did not enhance the abrasion resistance, but the addition of a phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF) succeeded in stabilising the particle coatings. In this work, results from morphologic and chemical analysis suggested an encasement of the PMMA/ATH particles by plasma-modified PF and thus a fusion of individual particles, explaining the enhanced bonding. Moreover, adhesion tests confirmed an outstanding bonding between the coating and wood as well as glass, which is assumed to result from interactions between the PF’s hydroxyl groups and functional groups on the substrates’ surfaces. Studies on the wettability revealed a hydrophobic character of such coatings, therefore generally indicating a possible application, for example, to reduce water uptake by wooden materials.
Preparation of InSe Thin Films by Thermal Evaporation Method and Their Characterization: Structural, Optical, and Thermoelectrical Properties
Authors: Boolchandani Sarita , Srivastava Subodh , Vijay Y. K.
Published: February 2018

The indium selenium (InSe) bilayer thin films of various thickness ratios, InxSe(1-x) (x = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75), were deposited on a glass substrate keeping overall the same thickness of 2500 Ǻ using thermal evaporation method under high vacuum atmosphere. Electrical, optical, and structural properties of these bilayer thin films have been compared before and after thermal annealing at different temperatures. The structural and morphological characterization was done using XRD and SEM, respectively. The optical bandgap of these thin films has been calculated by Tauc’s relation that varies within the range of 1.99 to 2.05 eV. A simple low-cost thermoelectrical power measurement setup is designed which can measure the Seebeck coefficient “S” in the vacuum with temperature variation. The setup temperature variation is up to 70°C. This setup contains a Peltier device TEC1-12715 which is kept between two copper plates that act as a reference metal. Also, in the present work, the thermoelectric power of indium selenide (InSe) and aluminum selenide (AlSe) bilayer thin films prepared and annealed in the same way is calculated. The thermoelectric power has been measured by estimating the Seebeck coefficient for InSe and AlSe bilayer thin films. It was observed that the Seebeck coefficient is negative for InSe and AlSe thin films.
On a New Extension of Mulholland’s Inequality in the Whole Plane
Authors: Yang Bicheng , Zhong Yanru , Chen Qiang
Published: February 2018

A new, more accurate extension of Mulholland’s inequality in the whole plane with a best possible constant factor is presented by introducing independent parameters, applying weight coefficients and using Hermite-Hadamard’s inequality. Moreover, the equivalent forms, some particular cases, and the operator expressions are considered.
Modification of the Properties of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films by Plasma-Immersion Ion Implantation
Authors: Burdyukh Sergey , Berezina Olga , Pergament Alexander
Published: February 2018

The paper describes the effect of doping with hydrogen and tungsten by means of plasma-immersion ion implantation (PIII) on the properties of vanadium dioxide and hydrated vanadium pentoxide films. It is shown that the parameters of the metal-insulator phase transition in VO2 thin films depend on the hydrogen implantation dose. Next, we explore the effect of PIII on composition, optical properties, and the internal electrochromic effect (IECE) in V2O5·nH2O films. The variations in the composition and structure caused by the hydrogen insertion, as well as those caused by the electrochromic effect, are studied by nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray structural analysis. It is shown that the ion implantation-induced hydrogenation can substantially enhance the manifestation and performance of the IECE in V2O5 xerogel films. Finally, the effect of PIII-assisted doping with W on the parameters of electrical switching in Au/V2O5·nH2O/Au sandwich structures is examined. It is shown that implanting small tungsten doses improves the switching parameters after forming. When implanting large doses, switching is observed without electroforming, and if electroforming is applied, the switching effect, on the contrary, disappears.
Adjuvant Transarterial Chemoembolization for HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Resection: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Wang Zheng , Ren Zhenggang , Chen Yi , Hu Jie , Yang Guohuan , Yu Lei , Yang Xinrong , Huang Ao , Zhang Xin , Zhou Shaolai , Sun Huichuan , Wang Yanhong , Ge Ningling , Xu Xiaoyu , Tang Zhaoyou , Lau Wanyee , Fan Jia , Wang Jiping , Zhou Jian
Published: February 2018

Purpose: The survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after curative resection is usually poor. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HBV-related HCC patients with an intermediate (a single tumor larger than 5 cm without microvascular invasion) or high risk (a single tumor with microvascular invasion, or two or three tumors) of recurrence.

Experimental Design: In this randomized phase 3 trial, 280 eligible patients were assigned to adjuvant TACE (n = 140) or no adjuvant treatment (control; n = 140) groups. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS); secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and safety. Multivariable Cox-proportional hazards model was used to determine the independent impact of TACE on patients' outcomes.

Results: Patients who received adjuvant TACE had a significantly longer RFS than those in the control group [56.0% vs. 42.1%, P = 0.01; HR, 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.49–0.93]. Patients in the adjuvant TACE group had 7.8% higher 3-year OS rate than the control group (85.2% vs. 77.4%; P = 0.04; HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36–0.97). The impact of adjuvant TACE on RFS and OS remained significant after controlling for other known prognostic factors (HR, 0.67; P = 0.01 for RFS; and HR, 0.59; P = 0.04 for OS). There was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity after adjuvant TACE.

Conclusions: For patients with HBV-related HCC who had an intermediate or high risk of recurrence after curative hepatectomy, our study showed adjuvant TACE significantly reduced tumor recurrence, improved RFS and OS, and the procedure was well tolerated. Clin Cancer Res; 24(9); 2074–81. ©2018 AACR.
Long Interspersed Element-1 Methylation Level as a Prognostic Biomarker in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Authors: Baba Yoshifumi , Yagi Taisuke , Sawayama Hiroshi , Hiyoshi Yukiharu , Ishimoto Takatsugu , Iwatsuki Masaaki , Miyamoto Yuji , Yoshida Naoya , Baba Hideo
Published: February 2018

Epigenetic changes play a crucial role in human cancer development. DNA methylation is a central epigenetic process that regulates levels of gene expression. Changes in DNA methylation that occur in human tumors include global DNA hypomethylation and site-specific CpG island promoter hypermethylation. Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) is a repetitive DNA retrotransposon that duplicates via a copy-and-paste genetic mechanism. As LINE-1 constitutes approximately 17% of the human genome, the extent of LINE-1 methylation is regarded as a surrogate marker of global DNA methylation. In a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, LINE-1 hypomethylation is strongly associated with a poor prognosis, supporting its potential role as a prognostic biomarker. In this article, we summarize current knowledge regarding LINE-1 methylation and its prognostic impact in GI cancers.
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Adenocarcinomas of the Esophagogastric Junction
Authors: Nagami Yasuaki , Ominami Masaki , Otani Koji , Hosomi Shuhei , Tanaka Fumio , Taira Koichi , Kamata Noriko , Yamagami Hirokazu , Tanigawa Tetsuya , Shiba Masatsugu , Watanabe Toshio , Fujiwara Yasuhiro
Published: February 2018

Background: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is uncommon in Eastern countries, including Japan, but it is believed that the incidence of EGJ adenocarcinoma will increase in Asia in the future due to the decreasing incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive and curative treatment that allows precise pathological assessment. Summary: Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging may be useful for differential diagnoses and for delineating the cancer margin of EGJ adenocarcinoma, but subsquamous carcinoma extension, which is the invasion of EGJ adenocarcinoma beneath the normal esophageal squamous epithelium, makes it difficult to detect cancer margins of the oral side in ESD for EGJ adenocarcinoma. Since subsquamous carcinoma extension was reported to be less than 1 cm in most cases, the oral safety margin that is placed 1 cm from the squamocolumnar junction is useful for negative cancerous horizontal margin. A multicenter retrospective study of esophageal adenocarcinoma including EGJ adenocarcinoma showed that mucosal and submucosal cancer within 500 μm from the muscularis mucosa without lymphovascular involvement, a poorly differentiated component, and lesion size over 3 cm were not associated with metastasis. Several retrospective studies about ESD for EGJ adenocarcinoma have suggested feasible short-term and long-term outcomes using curative criteria based on gastric cancer guidelines. Key Messages: ESD would be a good first-line treatment for superficial EGJ adenocarcinoma, including Barrett’s adenocarcinoma. Additional information about the incidence of metastasis would help confirm the indication of ESD for EGJ adenocarcinoma.
Tacrolimus Dose Optimization Strategy for Refractory Ulcerative Colitis Based on the Cytochrome P450 3A5 Polymorphism Prediction Using Trough Concentration after 24 Hours
Authors: Onodera Motoyuki , Endo Katsuya , Naito Takeo , Moroi Rintaro , Kuroha Masatake , Kanazawa Yoshitake , Kimura Tomoya , Shiga Hisashi , Kakuta Yoichi , Negoro Kenichi , Kinouchi Yoshitaka , Shimosegawa Tooru
Published: February 2018

Background: In the tacrolimus treatment for refractory ulcerative colitis (UC), dose adjustment is necessary because the required doses to keep appropriate drug concentrations are significantly different among individuals. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 polymorphism affects tacrolimus blood concentrations. However, it is difficult to obtain genetic information in real clinical practice. In the present study, we investigated possible factors that may predict CYP3A5 polymorphism and proposed a dose optimization strategy based on the obtained predicting factors. Summary: We retrospectively analyzed 41 patients who underwent remission induction therapy with tacrolimus for UC in our hospital. First, we performed a correlation analysis of CYP3A5 polymorphism and pharmacokinetics. In the CYP3A5 non-expressers, the dose of tacrolimus (mg/kg) was lower and dose-adjusted trough levels (ng/mL per mg/kg) were higher compared with those in expressers. Next, we investigated factors that could predict CYP3A5 polymorphism. Trough concentration 24 h following tacrolimus administration was extracted as a significant factor. When the trough cutoff value at 24 h was set to 2.6 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity for estimation of CYP3A5 polymorphism were 63 and 96% respectively. Therefore, when the trough concentration 24 h after administration is ≤2.6 ng/mL, the patient can be estimated as a CYP3A5 expresser and an increase in dose should be proposed. Key Message: The trough concentration 24 h after the first tacrolimus administration appears to be a useful predictor of ­CYP3A5 polymorphism. Performing dose optimization strategy based on the prediction of CYP3A5 polymorphism can lead to earlier and safer remission induction.
A Pooled Analysis of Pharmacokinetic Variability Information for Common Probe Substrates Used in Drug-Drug Interaction Studies
Authors: He Chunsheng , Griffies Amber , Liu Xuan , Adamczyk Robert , Huang Shu-Pang
Published: February 2018

Sample size estimates for drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies are often based on variability information from the literature or from historical studies, but small sample sizes in these sources may limit the precision of the estimates obtained. This project aimed to create an intra-subject variability library of the pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure parameters, area under the curve, and maximum plasma concentration, for probes commonly used in DDI studies. Data from 66 individual DDI studies in healthy subjects relating to 18 common probe substrates were pooled to increase the effective sample size for the identified probes by 1.5- to 9-fold, with corresponding improvements in precision of the intra-subject PK variability estimates in this library. These improved variability estimates will allow better assessment of the sample sizes needed for DDI studies in future.