bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of clinical and non-clinical parameters among partial and total mastectomy patients
Authors: Alizadeh Reza , Aghsaeifard Ziba , Abbasvandi Fereshteh , Hazrati Ebrahim
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mastectomy is a common surgical procedure performed on the breast cancer patients. A number of factors influence the choice regarding the type of mastectomy and postoperative outcomes including survival rate.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to compare clinical and nonclinical parameters among partial (breast conserving surgery) and total mastectomy patients referred to our center.

Method:

In this retrospective study, 279 women who underwent partial or total mastectomy were included. A questionnaire comprising of demographic data such as; age, marital status, employment status, education level and smoking, clinical data such as; grade of tumor, tumor side, breast reconstruction (prosthesis status), biopsy status, involvement of lymph node and postoperative stress and data regarding comorbidities was drafted for all the patients.

Result:

Overall, 78 and 201 underwent total and partial mastectomy, respectively. Patients who underwent partial mastectomy were significantly younger p < 0.001, underwent radiation and chemotherapy p < 0.001 and p = 0.018, respectively, had significantly greater incidence of heart disease p = 0.012 and were presented with greater postoperative stress p < 0.001. Patients who received total mastectomy were more to receive breast reconstruction (prosthesis) p = 0.035 and had greater lymph node involvement. The grade and side of tumor, employment status, diabetes, smoking, thyroid disease and type of incision was not significant among the two groups.

Conclusion:

Our study concludes that a number of clinical and nonclinical parameters can affect the decision of the type of mastectomy among the patients. Studies regarding postoperative outcomes such as recurrence and mortality need to be added to this data.

Highlights:
Congenital heart defects in patients with isolated microtia: evaluation using colour Doppler echocardiographic image
Authors: Guo Fengfeng , Lin Lin , Yu Xiaobo , Song YuPeng , Yang Qinghua , He LeRen , Pan Bo , Jiang Haiyue
Published: November 2020

Background:

The objective of this study was to delineate the characteristics and incidence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in patients with isolated microtia and to determine whether the prevalence of CHD among patients with isolated microtia increases with the severity of microtia.

Methods:

A total of 804 consecutive patients had a pre-operative colour Doppler echocardiographic examination. A retrospective study was performed with the clinical and imaging data from November, 2017 to January, 2019. The χ2 test was performed to analyse the interaction between isolated microtia and CHD.

Results:

With the colour Doppler echocardiographic examination’s data from 804 consecutive isolated microtia patients, we found CHD, including atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus, and others, occurred in 52 of 804 patients (6.5%). Atrial septal defect prevalence in patients with isolated microtia was significantly higher than ventricular septal defect (24/804 versus 11/804, p < 0.05) and patent ductus arteriosus (24/804 versus 2/804, p < 0.001). Ventricular septal defect prevalence in patients with isolated microtia was significantly higher than patent ductus arteriosus (11/804 versus 2/804, p < 0.05). All four types of microtia (concha-type microtia, small concha-type microtia, lobule-type microtia, and anotia) had similar incidences of CHD with no difference in the incidences among these types (p > 0.05 respectively). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the incidence of the atrial septal defect among the four subtypes (p > 0.05 respectively). Similarly, ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus also showed no differences (p > 0.05 respectively).

Conclusions:

The overall incidences of CHD and three most common CHD subtypes (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus) in patients with isolated microtia are higher than general population. The prevalence of CHD among patients with isolated microtia does not increase with the severity of microtia. According to our experience in this study, we suggest colour Doppler echocardiographic imaging should be performed for isolated microtia patients soon after birth if possible. Furthermore, for the plastic surgeon and anaesthesiologist, it is important to take pre-operative colour Doppler echocardiographic images which can help evaluate heart function to ensure the safety of the peri-operative period. Future studies when investigating CHDs associated with isolated microtia could focus on genetic and molecular mechanisms.
Tectono‐Magmatic, Sedimentary, and Hydrothermal History of Arsinoes and Pyrrhae Chaos, Mars
Authors: Luzzi Erica , Rossi Angelo Pio , Carli Cristian , Altieri Francesca
Published: November 2020

Arsinoes and Pyrrhae Chaos are two adjacent chaotic terrains located east of Valles Marineris and west of Arabia Terra, on Mars. In this work, we produced a morpho‐stratigraphic map of the area, characterized by a volcanic bedrock disrupted into polygonal mesas and knobs (Chaotic Terrain Unit) and two nondisrupted units. The latter present a spectral variation, likely associated with hydrated minerals, and they are here interpreted as sedimentary units. The reconstructed geological history of the area starts with the emplacement of the basaltic bedrock, followed by the collapse that caused the formation of the chaotic terrains. Since evidences of volcano‐tectonic activity are widespread across the area (e.g., fissure vents/graben, radial and concentric systems of faults, y‐shaped conjunctions, lava flows, and pit chains), and an intricate system of lava conduits is hypothesized for the occurrence of such features, we propose the possibility that the whole collapse was caused primarily by volcano‐tectonic processes. In a late stage, after the end of the volcano‐tectonic activity, a lacustrine/evaporitic depositional environment could have set, with the deposition of the nondisrupted units. The hydrated minerals found in the periphery of the Chaos could be the result of hydrothermal alteration of the basaltic bedrock.
Multi‐Timescale Analysis of Tidal Variability in the Indian Ocean Using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Devlin Adam T. , Pan Jiayi , Lin Hui
Published: November 2020

Ocean tides have been observed to be changing worldwide for nonastronomical reasons, which can combine with rising mean sea level (MSL) to increase the long‐term impact to coastal regions. Tides can also exhibit variability at shorter timescales, which may be correlated with short‐term variability in MSL. This short‐term coupling may yield higher peak water levels and increased impacts of exceedance events that may be equally significant as long‐term sea level rise. Previous studies employed the tidal anomaly correlation (TAC) method to quantify the sensitivity of tides to MSL fluctuations at long‐period (>20 years) tide gauges in basin‐scale surveys of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, finding that TACs exist at most locations. The Indian Ocean also experiences significant sea level rise and tidal variability yet has been less studied due to a sparse network of tide gauges. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, more tide gauges have been established in a wider geographical range, bringing the possibility of better estimates of tidal and MSL variability. Here, we improve the TAC approach, using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method to analyze tidal amplitudes and sea level at multiple frequency bands, allowing a more effective use of shorter record tide gauges and better understanding of multiple timescales of tidal variability. We apply this approach to 73 tide gauges in the Indian Ocean to better quantify tidal variability in these under‐studied regions, finding that the majority of locations exhibit significant correlations of tides and MSL.
Tropical Instability Waves in the Atlantic Ocean: Investigating the Relative Role of Sea Surface Salinity and Temperature From 2010 to 2018
Authors: Olivier L. , Reverdin G. , Hasson A. , Boutin J.
Published: November 2020

We identify and analyze tropical instability waves (TIWs) in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean during 2010–2018 using satellite derived observations of sea surface salinity (SSS), sea surface temperature (SST), sea level anomaly, and Argo profiles. In particular, the weekly 50‐km resolution SSS time series from the climate change initiative project provides an unprecedented opportunity to observe the salinity structure at a scale closer to the SST scale. We examine the relative contributions of SSS and SST to the horizontal surface density gradient on seasonal and interannual time scales and how they contribute to the TIW properties and energetics. For the central Atlantic TIWs, the maximum of the SST contribution to the density anomaly lags the SSS one by approximately one month. Argo vertical profiles indicate that temperature and salinity both significantly contribute to TIW‐related density anomalies. In May–June, salinity contributes to 50% of the perturbation potential energy in the top 60 m, and between 30% and 45% from July to September. While variations in SST appear to be related to dynamic processes, the interannual variability of SSS is also influenced by precipitations. However, the two leading modes of variability in the region (Atlantic Meridional and Zonal modes) do not well explain at 1°N these interannual variations.
Influence of Saharan Dust on the Large‐Scale Meteorological Environment for Development of Tropical Cyclone Over North Atlantic Ocean Basin
Authors: Sun Yue , Zhao Chuanfeng
Published: November 2020

The tropical cyclones (TCs) frequently occur in the North Atlantic Ocean Basin, which is adjacent to West Africa, the largest global source of atmospheric dust. However, few studies have conducted systematic observational research of how dust affects the genesis conditions of TCs at large scales which includes sea surface temperature (SST), vorticity, vertical wind shear, and specific humidity. This study focused on the period from June–September in the years 2000 to 2018 to investigate the horizontal and vertical distributions of aerosol optical depth (AOD) (dust) and meteorological parameters. Dust can be transported at 600 hPa upward and is mixed well within the troposphere over land, while it is mainly distributed in the lower troposphere over the ocean. The SST is significantly suppressed by dust due to direct radiation effects, but the atmospheric temperature is warmer at 20–40°W between 700 and 850 hPa. The vertical distributions of temperature and specific humidity are similar. Dust decreases specific humidity in the lower troposphere over the ocean, especially in high AOD regions, but enhances midlevel moisture. Dust heats the lower troposphere and favors the development of convection and positive vorticity at heights of approximately 800–1,000 hPa. The warming effect of dust on the lower atmosphere over land and the nearby oceans results in strengthened West African monsoons and vertical wind shear. Thus, dust suppresses the SST and low‐level specific humidities and favors wind shear and positive relative vorticity, which further influence environmental conditions in the TC genesis region.
Spatial Distribution and Scaling Properties of Lidar‐Derived Snow Depth in the Extratropical Andes
Authors: Mendoza Pablo A. , Shaw Thomas E. , McPhee James , Musselman Keith N. , Revuelto Jesús , MacDonell Shelley
Published: November 2020

We characterize elevational gradients, probability distributions, and scaling patterns of lidar‐derived snow depth at the hillslope scale along the extratropical Andes. Specifically, we analyze snow depth maps acquired near the date of maximum accumulation in 2018 at three experimental sites: (i) the Tascadero catchment (31.26°S, 3,270–3,790 m), (ii) the Las Bayas catchment (33.31°S, 3,218–4,022 m); and (iii) the Valle Hermoso (VH) catchment (36.91°S, 1,449–2,563 m). We examine two subdomains in the latter site: one with (VH West) and one without (VH East) shrub cover. The comparison across sites reveals that elevational gradients are site‐dependent, and that the gamma and normal distributions are more robust than the lognormal function to characterize the spatial variability of snow depth. Multiscale behavior in snow depth is obtained in all sites, with up to three fractal regimes, and the magnitude of primary scale breaks is found to be related to the mean separation distance between local snow depth peaks. The differences in snow depth fractal parameters between VH West—the only vegetated subdomain—and the remaining sites suggest that local topographic and land cover properties are dominant controls on the spatial structure of snow, rather than average hydroclimatic conditions. Overall, the results presented here provide, for the first time, insights into the spatial structure of snow depth along the extratropical Andes Cordillera, showing notable similarities with other mountain regions in the Northern Hemisphere and providing guidance for future snow studies.
ZEB1-activated LINC01123 accelerates the malignancy in lung adenocarcinoma through NOTCH signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Miao , Han Yaguang , Zheng Yi , Zhang Yan , Zhao Xin , Gao Zhenlin , Liu Xinyan
Published: November 2020

Growing incidence of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been detected recently. Multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven as tumor facilitators or inhibitors by extensive works. Present study concentrated on characterizing the potential role of LINC01123 in LUAD. We explored the differential expression of LINC01123 through qRT-PCR and found the amplification of LINC01123 in LUAD cell lines. It was ascertained that LINC01123 was definitely responsible for the malignant processes of LUAD cells. Further, we validated the ceRNA network of LINC01123/miR-449b-5p/NOTCH1 in LUAD via mechanical experiments. As a transcriptional factor related to epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), ZEB1 was responsible for the transcriptional activation of both LINC01123 and NOTCH1. The involvement of NOTCH signaling in LUAD was interrogated through evaluating functional changes after treating with FLI-06 (NOTCH pathway suppressor). It showed that FLI-06-caused NOTCH signaling inactivation suppressed malignant functions in LUAD cells. Additionally, LINC01123 facilitated NOTCH1-dependent NOTCH signaling activation. Rescue experiments probed the modulatory function of LINC01123/miR-449b-5p/NOTCH1 in LUAD cellular processes. Altogether, ZEB1-activated LINC01123 accelerates the malignancy in LUAD through miR-449b-5p/NOTCH1 axis-mediated NOTCH signaling pathway, while NOTCH1 boosts ZEB1 in return. These observations suggest the huge potential of LINC01123 as a new target for LUAD therapy.
Mesenchymal stem cells protect against malaria pathogenesis by reprogramming erythropoiesis in the bone marrow
Authors: Thakur Reva S. , Awasthi Vikky , Sanyal Anirban , Chatterjee Samit , Rani Swati , Chauhan Rubika , Kalkal Meenu , Tiwari Mrinalini , Pande Veena , Das Jyoti
Published: November 2020

Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide. The immune mechanisms that mediate protection against malaria are still unclear. Previously, we reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a critical role in host protection against malaria by altering the dynamic balance of T regulatory cells and effector T cells producing inflammatory cytokines. Here, we report that MSCs reprogram haematopoiesis in primary (bone marrow) and secondary (spleen) lymphoid organs to provide host protection against malaria. Adoptive transfer of MSCs from malaria-infected mice to naïve recipient mice that were subsequently infected with malaria parasites dramatically accelerated the formation of colony-forming units-erythroid cells in the bone marrow. Adoptively transferred MSCs also induced expression of the key erythroid cell differentiation factor GATA-1 in the spleen of recipient animals. Interestingly, we further observed a subtle increase in the CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in lymphoid organs, including spleen and lymph nodes. Infusion of MSCs also enhanced T cell proliferation, resulting in increased numbers of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen. MSCs also inhibited the induction of the negative co-stimulatory receptor programmed death-1 by T cells in recipient animals upon infection with malaria parasites. Taken together, our findings suggest that MSCs play a critical role in host protection against malaria infection by modulating erythropoiesis and lymphopoiesis.
Experimental evaluation of the deadtime phenomenon for GM detector: deadtime dependence on operating voltages
Authors: Almutairi Bader , Alam Syed , Akyurek Tayfun , Goodwin Cameron S. , Usman Shoaib
Published: November 2020

A detailed analysis of Geiger Mueller counter deadtime dependence on operating voltage is presented in the manuscript using four pairs of radiation sources. Based on two-source method, detector deadtime is calculated for a wide range of operating voltages which revealed a peculiar relationship between the operating voltage and the detector deadtime. In the low voltage range, a distinct drop in deadtime was observed where deadtime reached a value as low as a few microseconds (22 µs for 204Tl, 26 µs for 137Cs, 9 µs for 22Na). This sharp drop in the deadtime is possibly due to reduced recombination with increasing voltage. After the lowest point, the deadtime generally increased rapidly to reach a maximum (292 µs for 204Tl, 277 µs for 137Cs, 258 µs for 22Na). This rapid increase in the deadtime is mainly due to the on-set of charge multiplication. After the maximum deadtime values, there was an exponential decrease in the deadtime reaching an asymptotic low where the manufacturer recommended voltage for operation falls. This pattern of deadtime voltage dependence was repeated for all sources tested with the exception of 54Mn. Low count rates leading to a negative deadtime suggested poor statistical nature of the data collected for 54Mn and the data while being presented here is not used for any inference.
Painful stimulation increases spontaneous blink rate in healthy subjects
Authors: Paparella Giulia , Di Stefano Giulia , Fasolino Alessandra , Di Pietro Giuseppe , Colella Donato , Truini Andrea , Cruccu Giorgio , Berardelli Alfredo , Bologna Matteo
Published: November 2020

Spontaneous blink rate is considered a biomarker of central dopaminergic activity. Recent evidence suggests that the central dopaminergic system plays a role in nociception. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether pain modulates spontaneous blink rate in healthy subjects. We enrolled 15 participants. Spontaneous blink rate was quantified with an optoelectronic system before and after: (1) a painful laser stimulation, and (2) an acoustic startling stimulation. In control experiments, we investigated whether laser stimulation effects depended on stimulation intensity and whether laser stimulation induced any changes in the blink reflex recovery cycle. Finally, we investigated any relationship between spontaneous blink rate modification and pain modulation effect during the cold pressor test. Laser, but not acoustic, stimulation increased spontaneous blink rate. This effect was independent of stimulation intensity and negatively correlated with pain perception. No changes in trigeminal-facial reflex circuit excitability were elicited by laser stimulation. The cold pressor test also induced an increased spontaneous blink rate. Our study provides evidence on the role of dopamine in nociception and suggests that dopaminergic activity may be involved in pain modulation. These findings lay the groundwork for further investigations in patients with pathological conditions characterized by dopaminergic deficit and pain.
Influence of the sanitary sewage application method to closed-end furrows on the macronutrient extraction capacity and productivity of elephant grass
Authors: Marques Marcus Vinícius Araújo , de Matos Antonio Teixeira , Silvério Thiago Henrique Ribeiro , Pereira Ana Paula Miranda
Published: November 2020

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the form of raw sanitary sewage (RS) application in closed-end and level-bottom furrows on the dry matter yield and macronutrient extraction capacity (extraction of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) by the aerial part (stem and leaves) of elephant grass. Fertigation of elephant grass with RS were conducted for 3 uninterrupted years, and the RS application dose was established as a function of the amount of sodium fed to the soil (300 kg ha−1 year−1). In the experimental planning four treatments were established, where two experimental plots received RS and the water demand was complemented by treated water from the public supply network (TW), with and without alternation in the position of RS application in the furrows (TFA and TFN, respectively); and as a control there were two experimental plots in which the plants received conventional mineral fertilization, where the grass was irrigated with TW, with and without alternation in the position of water application in the furrows (TWA and TWN, respectively). The greatest mean dry matter yield (29.9 Mg ha−1 year−1) and mean macronutrient extraction values were found for plants submitted to TFA (688, 102, 508 kg ha−1 year−1 of N, P and K, respectively), compared to those obtained in the other treatments.
DNA-encoded Chemistry and Its Use in Discovering Chemical Probes
Authors: Keefe Anthony D.
Published: November 2020

This chapter first introduces the concept of a DNA-encoded chemical library and describes the different forms that such libraries may take as a result of the different methodologies that may be used to create them. Methods by which such libraries can be used to discover specific engagers of arbitrary protein targets are then discussed, followed by a review of literature examples of chemical probes discovered from within such libraries.
Ion-selective polymer dots for photoelectrochemical detection of potassium ions
Authors: Qian Yingzi , Li Yu , Qin Yu , Jiang Dechen , Chen Hong-Yuan
Published: November 2020

Potassium-selective polymer dots (K-Pdots) containing potassium ionophores were for the first time used for photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis and yielded sensitive and specific detection of potassium ions.
Evolution from a single relaxation process to two-step relaxation processes of Dy2 single-molecule magnets via the modulations of the terminal solvent ligands
Authors: Li Dawei , Ding Man-Man , Huang Yuan , Tello Yepes David Felipe , Li Haiyan , Li Yahong , Zhang Yi-Quan , Yao Jinlei
Published: November 2020

Three Dy2 SMMs were synthesized and characterized. The target of evolution from a single relaxation process to two-step relaxation processes was achieved by adjusting the sizes of the terminal solvent ligands.
Iron-based nanoparticles encapsulated in super-large 3D carbon nanotube networks as a bifunctional catalyst for ultrastable rechargeable zinc–air batteries
Authors: Yang Fan , Xie Jinhao , Liu Xiaoqing , Zeng Yinxiang , Chen Minghua , Lu Xihong
Published: November 2020

The advancement of rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs) largely relies on reasonable design and fabrication of robust oxygen electrocatalysts.
Acetylation/deacetylation and microtubule associated proteins influence flagellar axonemal stability and sperm motility
Authors: Chawan Veena , Yevate Smita , Gajbhiye Rahul , Kulkarni Vijay , Parte Priyanka
Published: November 2020

PTMs and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are known to regulate microtubule dynamicity in somatic cells. Reported literature on modulation of α-tubulin acetyl transferase (αTAT1) and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in animal models and cell lines illustrate disparity in correlating tubulin acetylation status with stability of MT. Our earlier studies showed reduced acetyl tubulin in sperm of asthenozoospermic individuals. Our studies on rat sperm showed that on inhibition of HDAC6 activity, although tubulin acetylation increased, sperm motility was reduced. Studies were therefore undertaken to investigate the influence of tubulin acetylation/deacetylation on MT dynamicity in sperm flagella using rat and human sperm. Our data on rat sperm revealed that HDAC6 specific inhibitor Tubastatin A (T) inhibited sperm motility and neutralized the depolymerizing and motility debilitating effect of Nocodazole. The effect on polymerization was further confirmed in vitro using pure MT and recHDAC6. Also polymerized axoneme was less in sperm of asthenozoosperm compared to normozoosperm. Deacetylase activity was reduced in sperm lysates and axonemes exposed to T and N+T but not in axonemes of sperm treated similarly suggesting that HDAC6 is associated with sperm axonemes or MT. Deacetylase activity was less in asthenozoosperm. Intriguingly, the expression of MDP3 physiologically known to bind to HDAC6 and inhibit its deacetylase activity remained unchanged. However, expression of acetyl α-tubulin, HDAC6 and microtubule stabilizing protein SAXO1 was less in asthenozoosperm. These observations suggest that MAPs and threshold levels of MT acetylation/deacetylation are important for MT dynamicity in sperm and may play a role in regulating sperm motility.
Efficient implementation of LMS adaptive filter‐based FECG extraction on an FPGA
Authors: Vasudeva Bhavya , Deora Puneesh , Pradhan Pradhan Mohan , Dasgupta Sudeb
Published: November 2020

In this Letter, the field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of a foetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring system is presented. The system comprises a preprocessing unit to remove various types of noise, followed by a foetal electrocardiogram (FECG) extraction unit and an FHR detection unit. To improve the precision and accuracy of the arithmetic operations, a floating‐point unit is developed. A least mean squares algorithm‐based adaptive filter (LMS‐AF) is used for FECG extraction. Two different architectures, namely series and parallel, are proposed for the LMS‐AF, with the series architecture targeting lower utilisation of hardware resources, and the parallel architecture enabling less convergence time and lower power consumption. The results show that it effectively detects the R peaks in the extracted FECG with a sensitivity of 95.74–100% and a specificity of 100%. The parallel architecture shows up to an 85.88% reduction in the convergence time for non‐invasive FECG databases while the series architecture shows a 27.41% reduction in the number of flip flops used when compared with the existing FPGA implementations of various FECG extraction methods. It also shows an increase of 2–7.51% in accuracy when compared to previous works.
Low‐complexity sub‐optimal cell ID estimation in NB‐IoT system
Authors: Savaux Vincent , Kanj Matthieu
Published: November 2020

The cell identity (ID) estimation is one of the essential steps performed by the narrowband‐internet of things (NB‐IoT) user equipment (UE) during its initial access to the network. The cell ID value is carried by the narrowband secondary synchronisation signal (NSSS) that is periodically transmitted in even radio frames. In this study, the authors proposed a novel technique of cell ID estimation for the NB‐IoT UE. The proposed technique is based on a sub‐optimal estimator that applies auto‐correlation over the received observations and which is 30 times less complex than the optimal maximum likelihood (ML) estimator based on cross‐correlation. In addition, they presented three methods that allow the receiver to take advantage of the periodicity of the NSSS. Finally, the advantages and the drawbacks of the presented methods are discussed with a performance analysis through simulation results. Results show that these methods reach the performance of ML with lower overall complexity.
Indoor 3D visible light positioning system based on adaptive parameter particle swarm optimisation
Authors: Xu Shiwu , Wu Yi , Wang Xufang , Wei Fen
Published: November 2020

Visible light positioning has become a new research hotspot in recent years. In this study, a new Gaussian model of hybrid noise and multipath reflection is established for noise interference in line‐of‐sight (LOS) communication and multipath reflection in non‐LOS (NLOS) communication. First, the likelihood function of the ranging error is established according to the Gaussian hybrid model, and the analytical expression of Cramer–Rao lower bound is derived. Second, the novel adaptive parameter particle swarm optimisation (AP‐PSO) algorithm is proposed to calculate the three‐dimensional (3D) coordinates of the target. In order to avoid falling into the local optimal solution, a novel particle adaptive mutation algorithm, namely AP‐PSO‐M algorithm is also proposed. Simulation results show that if the NLOS propagation probability is 0.3 and the swarm size is 20, compared with Newton–Raphson (NR), particle swarm optimisation (PSO), dissipative PSO (DPSO) and simulated annealing PSO (SA‐PSO) algorithms, the average positioning error based on AP‐PSO‐M algorithm can be reduced by 45.43, 38.98, 25.37 and 26.42%, respectively. If similar positioning accuracy is obtained, compared with PSO, DPSO and SA‐PSO algorithms, the average calculation time required by the AP‐PSO‐M algorithm can be reduced by 48.16, 30.24 and 26.14%, respectively.
Tensor decomposition‐based 3D positioning with a single‐antenna receiver in 5G millimetre wave systems
Authors: Dan Zesheng , Lian Baowang , Tang Chengkai , Xu Haowei
Published: November 2020

Exploiting a single‐antenna receiver to realise three‐dimensional (3D) positioning in a millimetre‐wave (mmWave) system is considered. The primary motivation is that the massive antenna arrays will be deployed in the fifth‐generation (5G) base stations shortly soon, which not only tremendously promote the data transmission rate, but also enable the user equipment to realise high‐precision positioning with a single antenna. Based on the sparsity of the mmWave channel, the tensor decomposition is proposed to be utilised as an effective mathematical tool to realise 3D positioning. Specifically, the authors model the received signals as a third‐order tensor for the inherent third‐order low‐rank tensor structure of the mmWave channel with a single‐antenna receiver and then, the positioning parameters (including the angles of departure and the time of arrival) are estimated from the corresponding factor matrices via CAMDECOMP/PARAFAC (CP) decomposition. Moreover, Cramér–Rao bounds (CRBs) on 3D position uncertainty are derived. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method based on CP decomposition realises nearly the same positioning accuracy as the state‐of‐the‐art compressed sensing‐based algorithm in the 5G mmWave systems with lower computation complexity, and the root mean square errors of the 3D positioning results obtained via the proposed approach are close to their CRBs.
Integration of wind turbines in distribution systems and development of an adaptive overcurrent relay coordination scheme with considerations for wind speed forecast uncertainty
Authors: Dindar Amin , Ardehali Morteza M. , Vakilian Mehdi
Published: November 2020

The integration of renewable energy (RE)‐based distributed generation (DG) with electric power distribution systems (DSs) in association with smart grid technology has numerous benefits, however, due to their intermittent nature, the utilisation of RE‐based DG may pose threats to the proper operation of conventional overcurrent (OC) protection schemes. The resulting threats, malfunctions, and non‐selective actions could occur by relays within the DS, and the development of efficient protection schemes is necessary. The objective of this study is to propose and simulate an adaptive OC protection scheme in DSs in the presence of doubly‐fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines based on wind speed forecast data with considerations for wind speed forecast uncertainty and a low‐voltage ride‐through requirement for wind turbines. In each time interval and possible operating mode, the output power of DFIG‐based wind turbines and relay setting parameters are determined offline. The results show that the proposed protection scheme prevents malfunctions and non‐selective operations of relays, and also provides faster fault isolations, as compared to the conventional OC protection scheme.
Decomposition approach for the interdependency analysis of integrated power and transportation systems
Authors: Zhou Zhe , Zhang Xuan , Guo Qinglai , Sun Hongbin
Published: November 2020

The increasing deployment of fast charging infrastructure is coupling the operation of power and transportation systems. However, how to evaluate the coupling relationship between these two systems is less studied. This study proposes a look‐ahead decentralised framework to solve the integrated power‐traffic flow problem using the optimality condition decomposition (OCD) technique. By exploring the similarity between the iterative procedure of the algorithm and the interactive decision‐making process of the systems, this study adds two original contributions to this literature. First, the authors show that the convergence performance of the OCD algorithms is closely related to the interdependency between the power and transportation systems. Numerical oscillations or failure of convergence could occur in highly interdependent systems. This can be used as a metric for assessing whether the coordinated operation of the two systems is essential. Second, they employ a dynamic multiplier‐based OCD algorithm to solve the integrated flow problem in a decentralised manner with improved convergence performance. Their proposed algorithm considers the sensitivity of the electricity prices to the charging demand, which reduces the price fluctuations at some congested electrical nodes to enhance the convergence speed. The case study demonstrates factors that influence the coupling relationship between the power and transportation systems.
Energy management of islanded microgrid for reliability and cost trade‐off with PV, energy storage, and diesel generator
Authors: Thirugnanam Kannan , Kerk See Gim , Tushar Wayes , Yuen Chau
Published: November 2020

Uncertainties in the solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation, random behaviour of consumer load power demand, and unexpected failures are the major factors for the consumer power interruption (CPI) hours, which reduce the reliable power supply rate or reliability index, of an islanded microgrid (IMG). One way to address this challenge is to complement the IMG with solar PV, energy storage system (ESS), and diesel generator (DG). This study first defines the reliability index of an IMG that equipped with solar PV, ESS, and DG. Then the authors propose an energy management strategy (EMS) for an IMG to maintain the reliability index above a given threshold limit while lowering the cost through higher utilisation of PV, lower CPI hours, and lower DG operating hours. They utilise real IMG consumers load power demand and solar radiance data for simulation studies to show how the proposed EMS achieves the desired trade‐off in reliability and cost.
Fault‐tolerant control of inverter for the integration of solar PV under abnormal conditions
Authors: Moradmand Anahita , Dorostian Mehrdad , Ramezani Amin , Sajadi Amirhossein , Shafai Bahram
Published: November 2020

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is a prominent technology for the generation of electricity and its utility is on the rise. The PV‐based generation facilities are susceptible to faults which if mismanaged, can result in an interruption in the supply of load demand and damage to the system. Faults in PV systems are caused by a broad range of reasons and hence, it is crucial to situate a fault‐tolerant system for reliable operation. This study proposes a fault‐tolerant control strategy for power electronics inverters for the integration of PV systems into power systems. This is a supervisory mechanism designed to aid PV systems to continue their operation during faults. A computer simulation verifies the performance of the proposed control strategy under a series of common fault conditions assuming a wide range of configurations for the PV system and load variations.
Radiobiologie des très fortes doses par fraction : connaissances en 2020 et nouvelles modélisations précliniques
Authors: Bertho A. , Dos Santos M. , François A. , Milliat F.
Published: November 2020

La radiothérapie en conditions stéréotaxiques, ou radiothérapie stéréotaxique, résulte des améliorations techniques de délivrance de dose, par l’optimisation de l’imagerie, de la précision du positionnement des patients et dans la modulation de la balistique des faisceaux. La précision balistique assure une conformation précise au volume tumoral et réduit les marges, minimisant ainsi le volume de tissus sains exposés et le risque de toxicité. Cette réduction de volume irradié autorise l’utilisation de fortes doses par fraction et assure un excellent contrôle tumoral en particulier sur les cancers bronchiques non à petites cellules inopérables de stade précoce. La possibilité d’utiliser de fortes doses par fraction a considérablement modifié les schémas de fractionnement, changeant ainsi les réponses des tissus sains et tumoraux aux rayonnements ionisants et probablement globalement la radiobiologie tissulaire. Ces nouvelles modalités thérapeutiques nécessitent la mise en place de modèles précliniques de plus en plus complexes. Grâce à l’évolution technique une fois encore, il est aujourd’hui possible de modéliser l’irradiation en conditions stéréotaxiques chez le rongeur. Ces nouveaux modèles permettront d’appréhender la réponse des tumeurs et des tissus sains à ces nouveaux protocoles de radiothérapie.
Radiological safety and assessment of the performance of X-ray systems in veterinary facilities
Authors: Economides S. , Hourdakis C.J. , Pafilis C. , Simantirakis G. , Tritakis P. , Kalathaki M. , Koukorava C. , Kaissas I. , Carinou E.
Published: November 2020

This paper concerns an analysis regarding the performance of X-ray equipment as well as the radiological safety in veterinary facilities. Data were collected from 380 X-ray veterinary facilities countrywide during the on-site regulatory inspections carried out by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission. The analysis of the results shows that the majority of the veterinary radiographic systems perform within the acceptable limits; moreover, the design and shielding of X-ray rooms as well as the applied procedures ensure a high level of radiological safety for the practitioners, operators and the members of the public. An issue that requires specific attention in the optimization process for the proper implementation of veterinary radiology practices in terms of radiological safety is the continuous training of the personnel. The above findings and the regulatory experience gained were valuable decision-making elements regarding the type of the regulatory control of veterinary radiology practices in the new radiation protection framework.
Alpha-robust mean-variance investment strategy for DC pension plan with uncertainty about jump-diffusion risk
Authors: Li Danping , Bi Junna , Hu Mengcong
Published: November 2020

This paper considers an α-robust optimal investment problem for a defined contribution (DC) pension plan with uncertainty about jump and diffusion risks in a mean-variance framework. Our model allows the pension manager to have different levels of ambiguity aversion, rather than only consider the extremely ambiguity-averse attitude. Moreover, in the DC pension plan, contributions are supposed to be a predetermined amount of money as premiums and the pension funds are allowed to be invested in a financial market which consists of a risk-free asset, and a risky asset satisfying a jump-diffusion process. Notice that a part of pension members could die during the accumulation phase, and their premiums should be withdrawn. Thus, we consider the return of premiums clauses by an actuarial method and assume that the surviving members will share the difference between the return and the accumulation equally. Taking account of the pension fund size and the volatility of the accumulation, a mean-variance criterion as the investment objective for the DC plan can be formulated. By applying a game theoretic framework, the equilibrium investment strategies and the corresponding equilibrium value functions can be obtained explicitly. Economic interpretations are given in the numerical simulation, which is presented to illustrate our results.
Sirolimus for Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma and Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon in a Neonate
Authors: Cabrera Trevor B. , Speer Allison L. , Greives Matthew R. , Goff Donna A. , Menon Neethu M. , Reynolds Eric W.
Published: November 2020

We present a case of a neonate born with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE), complicated by Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) and other serious conditions, who was successfully treated with sirolimus. In addition to complications from thrombocytopenia and fluid overload, during the course of therapy, our patient experienced supratherapeutic drug levels at the commonly accepted starting dose of sirolimus. Patients with KHE and KMP should be closely monitored for potential complications of both the initial disease and unexpected side effects of treatments.
Ultraviolet light exposure enhances the protective ability of synthetic melanin
Authors: Frank Jodi Ackerman
Published: November 2020

Study shows refractive index and light absorption of melanin thin films increase after intense UV radiation exposure.
The Cockayne syndrome group A and B proteins are part of a ubiquitin–proteasome degradation complex regulating cell division
Authors: Paccosi Elena , Costanzo Federico , Costantino Michele , Balzerano Alessio , Monteonofrio Laura , Soddu Silvia , Prantera Giorgio , Brancorsini Stefano , Egly Jean-Marc , Proietti-De-Santis Luca
Published: November 2020

Significance

Here, we demonstrate that CSA and CSB proteins, primarily defined as DNA repair factors, are part of a ubiquitin/proteasome degradation process during cytokinesis. Both CSA and CSB localize at the midbody, a transient structure located at the intercellular bridge, where they recruit a ubiquitination/proteasomal degradation complex for the degradation of PRC1, thus allowing the separation of the daughter cells. Defects in CSA or CSB result in perturbation of the abscission, leading to cytokinesis defects that might explain part of the Cockayne syndrome phenotypes. Our results enlighten the role played by CSA and CSB in a ubiquitin/proteasome degradation process involved not only in transcription and DNA repair, but also in cell division.
Parental benefits and offspring costs reflect parent–offspring conflict over the age of fledging among songbirds
Authors: Jones Todd M. , Brawn Jeffrey D. , Ausprey Ian J. , Vitz Andrew C. , Rodewald Amanda D. , Raybuck Douglas W. , Boves Than J. , Fiss Cameron J. , McNeil Darin J. , Stoleson Scott H. , Larkin Jeffery L. , Cox W. Andrew , Schwarzer Amy C. , Horsley Noah P. , Trumbo Evalynn M. , Ward Michael P.
Published: November 2020

Significance

Parent–offspring conflict has explained a variety of ecological phenomena across animal taxa, but its role in mediating when songbirds fledge remains controversial. Our analysis of nesting and postfledging survival rates within 18 songbird species found that offspring commonly leave safer nesting environments for riskier postfledging ones—known as postfledging bottlenecks. This timing of fledging incurs a cost for offspring survival, but benefits adults by increasing their likelihood of raising at least one offspring to independence. Parents therefore appear to manipulate offspring into fledging earlier than expected based on the offspring’s ensuing survival prospects. Our results suggest that parent–offspring conflict and associated variation in parental benefits explain variation in fledging age among songbird species and why postfledging bottlenecks occur.
Thirst recruits phasic dopamine signaling through subfornical organ neurons
Authors: Hsu Ted M. , Bazzino Paula , Hurh Samantha J. , Konanur Vaibhav R. , Roitman Jamie D. , Roitman Mitchell F.
Published: November 2020

Significance

The maintenance of body fluid homeostasis is critical for survival and very subtle deviations from fluid balance can prompt corrective action. These minute changes are detected by first order homeostatic neurons within circumventricular organs of the lamina terminalis but must be passed along to circuitry for motivated behavior. Water-predictive cues evoke robust increases in dopamine signaling in thirsty rats. We demonstrate that this cue-evoked phasic dopamine response is gated by body fluid status, the dipsogenic hormone angiotensin II, and select neurons of the subfornical organ. These data provide critical insight into the conversion of homeostatic imbalance into invigorated action.
Targeting the renin−angiotensin signaling pathway in COVID-19: Unanswered questions, opportunities, and challenges
Authors: Sriram Krishna , Loomba Rohit , Insel Paul A.
Published: November 2020

The role of the renin−angiotensin signaling (RAS) pathway in COVID-19 has received much attention. A central mechanism for COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed: imbalance of angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE)1 and ACE2 (ACE2 being the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] virus “receptor”) that results in tissue injury from angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated signaling. This mechanism provides a rationale for multiple therapeutic approaches. In parallel, clinical data from retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cohorts has revealed that ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may be beneficial in COVID-19. These findings have led to the initiation of clinical trials using approved drugs that target the generation (ACEIs) and actions (ARBs) of Ang II. However, treatment of COVID-19 with ACEIs/ARBs poses several challenges. These include choosing appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria, dose optimization, risk of adverse effects and drug interactions, and verification of target engagement. Other approaches related to the RAS pathway might be considered, for example, inhalational administration of ACEIs/ARBs (to deliver drugs directly to the lungs) and use of compounds with other actions (e.g., activation of ACE2, agonism of MAS1 receptors, β-arrestin−based Angiotensin receptor agonists, and administration of soluble ACE2 or ACE2 peptides). Studies with animal models could test such approaches and assess therapeutic benefit. This Perspective highlights questions whose answers could advance RAS-targeting agents as mechanism-driven ways to blunt tissue injury, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19.