bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucose-Regulated Protein 94 Modulates the Response of Osteosarcoma to Chemotherapy
Authors: Huang Chien-Yu , Wei Po-Li , Wang Jin-Wun , Makondi Precious Takondwa , Huang Ming-Te , Chen Hsin-An , Chang Yu-Jia
Published: January 2019

Background. Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common and most aggressive primary solid malignant bone tumor in children and young adults and has high rates of recurrence and metastasis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway is important in regulating the chemo-responsiveness of cancer. However, the role of glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94) in regulating the response of OS to chemotherapy has never been explored. Methods. In this study, two OS cell lines, MG63 and 143B cells, were used to evaluate the mechanism by which GRP94 modulates the response of osteosarcoma to chemotherapy. GRP94-knockdown (GRP94-KD) OS cells were generated using short hairpin RNAs, and the response to chemotherapy was assessed using an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Cell apoptosis was quantified with propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. Results. Silencing of GRP94 in MG63 and 143B cells did not influence the growth and migration of the cells, but reduced the colony formation. GRP94-KD OS cells were more resistant to paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and epirubicin treatments than cells transfected with the scrambled control, and more cells transfected with the scrambled control underwent apoptosis after paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and epirubicin treatments than GRP94-KD cells. Conclusions. Therefore, GRP94 silencing may increase the resistance of MG63 and 143B cells to paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and epirubicin treatments by inhibiting the induction of apoptosis. Thus, GRP94 may be a key biomarker for the chemotherapeutic response of OS.
Converting a Periplasmic Binding Protein into a Synthetic Biosensing Switch through Domain Insertion
Authors: Ribeiro Lucas F. , Amarelle Vanesa , Ribeiro Liliane F. C. , Guazzaroni María-Eugenia
Published: January 2019

All biosensing platforms rest on two pillars: specific biochemical recognition of a particular analyte and transduction of that recognition into a readily detectable signal. Most existing biosensing technologies utilize proteins that passively bind to their analytes and therefore require wasteful washing steps, specialized reagents, and expensive instruments for detection. To overcome these limitations, protein engineering strategies have been applied to develop new classes of protein-based sensor/actuators, known as protein switches, responding to small molecules. Protein switches change their active state (output) in response to a binding event or physical signal (input) and therefore show a tremendous potential to work as a biosensor. Synthetic protein switches can be created by the fusion between two genes, one coding for a sensor protein (input domain) and the other coding for an actuator protein (output domain) by domain insertion. The binding of a signal molecule to the engineered protein will switch the protein function from an “off” to an “on” state (or vice versa) as desired. The molecular switch could, for example, sense the presence of a metabolite, pollutant, or a biomarker and trigger a cellular response. The potential sensing and response capabilities are enormous; however, the recognition repertoire of natural switches is limited. Thereby, bioengineers have been struggling to expand the toolkit of molecular switches recognition repertoire utilizing periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) as protein-sensing components. PBPs are a superfamily of bacterial proteins that provide interesting features to engineer biosensors, for instance, immense ligand-binding diversity and high affinity, and undergo large conformational changes in response to ligand binding. The development of these protein switches has yielded insights into the design of protein-based biosensors, particularly in the area of allosteric domain fusions. Here, recent protein engineering approaches for expanding the versatility of protein switches are reviewed, with an emphasis on studies that used PBPs to generate novel switches through protein domain insertion.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Pathology Requests and Reports Are Lacking Important Information
Authors: Al-Qarqaz Firas , Bodoor Khaldon , Al-Tarawneh Awad , Eloqayli Haytham , Al Gargaz Wisam , Alshiyab Diala , Muhaidat Jihan , Alqudah Mohammad , Almomani Rowida , Marji Maha
Published: January 2019

Introduction.Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer affecting humans. Luckily it has negligible risk for metastasis; however it can be locally destructive to surrounding tissue. The diagnosis of this tumor relies on clinical and dermoscopic features; however confirmation requires biopsy and histologic examination. Based on clinical and pathologic findings, BCC is classified as low or high risk subtype. The clinician requesting pathology examination for BCC should provide the pathologist with detailed information including patient details, relevant clinical and medical history, site and type of the biopsy, and whether this is a primary or recurrent lesion. The pathologist on the other hand should write an adequate report containing a minimum of core set of parameters including type of BCC, depth of invasion, presence of lymphovascular or perineural invasion, and the excision margins.Objectives.The objective of this study is to evaluate whether requests by clinicians and pathology reports of BCC are adequate.Methods.This is a retrospective analysis done at the dermatology department, faculty of medicine at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. Reports for the period from January 2003 to December 2017 were retrieved and analyzed for data completeness.Results.Most clinical request forms of BCC provided by clinicians are inadequate and lack important relevant information especially in regard to lesion history, patient medical history, and whether BCC is a primary or a recurrent one. Pathology reports for BCC cases also have significant deficiency especially in describing the histologic subtype, depth of invasion, and presence of lymphovascular and perineural invasion. However, the tumor excision margins are adequately described in almost all reports.Conclusions.The study shows that clinicians do not provide adequate clinical information when submitting a request for histopathologic examination of BCC. Similarly, pathologists write incomplete reports that lack important pathologic features. Having pre-set forms (electronic proforma) can help overcome missing information.
Investigation of the Thermal Performance of Salt Hydrate Phase Change of Nanoparticle Slurry Flow in a Microchannel
Authors: Memon Safi A. , Sajid M. B. , Malik M. S. , Alquaity Awad B. S. , Rehman M. Mohib ur. , Cheema Taqi A. , Kwak Moon Kyu , Park Cheol Woo
Published: January 2019

Computational study was conducted to investigate the thermal performance of water-based salt hydrate S44 nanoparticles as the phase change material (PCM) in a microchannel heat sink. Constant heat dissipation was applied on the top wall of the heat sink. Forced internal convection of the PCM slurry flow was performed through a homogeneous approach. Three thermal performance parameters, including effectiveness ratio, performance index, and Merit number, were used to quantify the cooling performance of S44 for various concentrations of the PCM nanoparticles. The thermal performance of the salt hydrate S44 slurry was also compared with a similar study conducted for lauric acid nanoparticle slurry found in the literature. Specific operating conditions were identified. The salt hydrate S44 would provide better thermal performance than lauric acid, and vice versa. Finally, Nusselt number correlations have been developed for the microchannel PCM heat sink for Reynolds numbers in the range 12.23 to 47.14 and Prandtl numbers in the range 3.74 to 5.30. A design guideline for manufacturing PCM particles and microchannel heat sinks is provided. With this guideline, the heat absorption ability of the heat sink is maximized, and the pumping power and the losses related to the addition of the particles are minimized.
Auxiliary Principle for a System of Generalized Set-Valued Nonlinear Mixed Variational-Like Inequalities in Banach Spaces
Authors: Qiu Yangqing , Zhan Xiaolin , Ceng Luchuan
Published: January 2019

In this paper, the auxiliary principle technique is extended to study a system of generalized nonlinear mixed variational-like inequalities problem for set-valued mappings without compact values in Banach spaces with p-uniformly convex bidual spaces. First, the existence of the solutions of the related auxiliary problem is proved. Then, a new iterative algorithm based on the system of auxiliary variational inequalities is constructed. Finally, both the existence of the solutions of the original problem and the convergence of the iterative sequences generated by the algorithm are proved. And we also present a numerical example to demonstrate the result. Our results improve and extend some known results.
An Empirical Study of Cross-Platform Mobile Development in Industry
Authors: Biørn-Hansen Andreas , Grønli Tor-Morten , Ghinea Gheorghita , Alouneh Sahel
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study is to report on the industry’s perspectives and opinions on cross-platform mobile development, with an emphasis on the popularity, adoption, and arising issues related to the use of technical development frameworks and tools. We designed and conducted an online survey questionnaire, for which 101 participants were recruited from various developer-oriented online forums and websites. A total of five questions are reported in this study, of which two employed a Likert scale instrument, while three were based on multiple choice. In terms of technical frameworks, we find that PhoneGap, the Ionic Framework, and React Native were the most popular in use, both in hobby projects and in professional settings. The participants report an awareness of trade-offs when embracing cross-platform technologies and consider penalties in performance and user experience to be expected. This is also in line with what is reported in academic research. We find patterns in the reported perceived issues which match both older and newer research, thus rendering the findings a point of departure for further endevours.
Transvenous Extraction and Removal of Pacing Leads Placed after Cardiac Transplantation
Authors: Norton Caleb , Holmes Benjamin , Al Aboud Asad , Kim Eun-Jeong , Gonzales Holly , Ellis Christopher , John Roy , Crossley George H. , Montgomery Jay
Published: January 2019

There is an increasing prevalence of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) due to expanding adoption and availability of these evidence-based therapies. With the increased prevalence of these life-saving devices, there has also been an increased demand for lead removal and lead extraction. Understanding the specific subgroups of patients at high risk for complications during and after lead extraction has become imperative to properly manage endovascular CIED leads. There have been multiple published studies describing clinical variables that predict adverse outcomes in CIED system extractions; however, the risk of complications in leads placed after cardiac transplantation has not specifically been addressed to date. We present four cases of transvenous extraction and removal of pacing leads placed after cardiac transplantation. There were no major complications related to extraction in these four cases; however, three of the four patients died within one year after the procedure. While the etiology of death in these cases seemed to be unrelated to the extraction procedure, the indications for extraction (infection in the setting of immunosuppression and calcineurin-associated ESRD and poor sensing/capture possibly secondary to chronic rejection and/or frequent right heart biopsies) likely contributed at least indirectly to the subsequent death.
H∞ Guaranteed Cost Fault‐Tolerant Control of Double‐Fault Networked Control Systems: Piecewise Delay Method
Authors: Zhu Qixin , Lu Kaihong , Zhu Yonghong
Published: January 2019

The term double‐fault networked control system means that sensor faults and actuator faults may occur simultaneously in networked control systems. The issues of modelling and an H∞ guaranteed cost fault‐tolerant control in a piecewise delay method for double‐fault networked control systems are investigated. The time‐varying properties of sensor faults and actuator faults are modelled as two time‐varying and bounded parameters. Based on the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, an H∞ guaranteed cost fault‐tolerant controller in a piecewise delay method is proposed to guarantee the reliability and stability for the double‐fault networked control systems. Simulations are included to demonstrate the theoretical results of the proposed method.
Experimental and Theoretical Research on Shear Strength of Seismic‐Damaged SRC Frame Columns Strengthened with Enveloped Steel Jackets
Authors: Xu Chengxiang C. X. , Sheng Peng S. , Wan Chong C.
Published: January 2019

The experimental and shear strength analytical investigations carried out on seismic‐damaged steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns strengthened with enveloped steel jacket subjected to cyclic loading are presented in this paper. Four 1/2‐scale SRC columns were designed and manufactured and the postearthquake damage, enveloped steel jacket‐confined, and destructive tests were carried out under lateral cyclic loading. The effects of postearthquake damage degree and enveloped steel jacket‐confined on shear capacity and ductility capacity were all well examined. Test results indicate that the ductility of seismic‐damaged SRC columns strengthened with enveloped steel jacket increases with the reduction of the postearthquake damage degree. The results indicate that the calculation formula of shear bearing capacity of SRC columns is feasible. Based on GB50010‐2010, ACI318‐08, and CSA‐04, three different shear models were established, and the calculated values of shear capacity are quite different, and the analysis of the shear strength of RC in the strengthened seismic‐damaged SRC column cannot be ignored. The formula is verified, and the calculated results are consistent well with the experimental results.
Changes in Number and Weight of Wheat and Triticale Grains to Manipulation in Source-Sink Relationship
Authors: Ballesteros-Rodríguez E. , Martínez-Rueda C. G. , Morales-Rosales E. J. , Estrada-Campuzano G. , González G. F.
Published: January 2019

The source-sink ratio experimental manipulation has helped to define whether a crop is limited by source or sink or co-limited by both. There is no evidence in triticale of source-sink manipulations effects on yield and yield components. Two experiments were accomplished during 2008 and 2009 growing seasons at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, México, and one in 2010 at the National Institute of Agricultural Technology in Pergamino, Argentina. Two triticale cultivars (line 4 and 7) and one wheat cultivar (Tollocan) were used. Source-sink relations were modified at anthesis by thinning, degraining, shading, and total defoliation procedures. Changes in the source-sink relation affected yields in both species differentially. The changes in yield due to cultivars and treatments were explained mainly by the number of grains rather than by their individual grain weight. The number of grains was affected by all treatments in both species, while the individual grain weight was increased by thinning and degraining mainly in triticale. A greater number of fertile florets in triticale were associated with their higher rate of abortion compared to wheat. These results could help to better understand crop management and genetic improvement.
Oscillation for Forced Second-Order Impulsive Nonlinear Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
Authors: Huang Mugen , Wen Kunwen
Published: January 2019

As the unification and development of impulsive differential equations and difference equations, impulsive dynamic equations on time scales are a powerful tool to simulate the natural and social phenomena. In this paper, we study the interval oscillation of a type of forced second-order nonlinear impulsive dynamic equations with changing signs coefficients. By using the Riccati transformation technique, we obtain some new interval oscillation criteria, based only on information of a sequence of subintervals of positive axis. In addition, we provide an example to illustrate the use of our oscillatory results.
A Case Study of Complex Policy Design: The Systems Engineering Approach
Authors: Buzuku Shqipe , Farfan Javier , Harmaa Kari , Kraslawski Andrzej , Kässi Tuomo
Published: January 2019

Design, structure, modelling, and analysis of complex systems can significantly benefit from a systematic approach. One way to address a complex system using a systematic approach is to combine creative and analytical methods, such as general morphological analysis and design structure matrix. The aim is to propose a framework to address complex systems in two stages: first, formulation and generation of alternatives through general morphological analysis, and second, improvement and integration with design structure matrix for sequence optimization and cluster analysis. Moreover, general morphological analysis is further optimized through a novel sensitivity analysis approach reducing up to 80% the iteration time. The proposed approach is showcased in a case study of sustainable policy formulation for a wastewater treatment plant at a pulp and paper industry in Brazil. The results show that it is possible to generate a solution space that highlights the best possible combinations of the given alternatives while also providing an optimal sequence and grouping for an optimized implementation. The paper contributes to the field of conceptual modelling by offering a systematic approach to integrate sustainability.
Atrial Fibrillation Detection by the Combination of Recurrence Complex Network and Convolution Neural Network
Authors: Wei Xiaoling , Li Jimin , Zhang Chenghao , Liu Ming , Xiong Peng , Yuan Xin , Li Yifei , Lin Feng , Liu Xiuling
Published: January 2019

In this paper, R wave peak interval independent atrial fibrillation detection algorithm is proposed based on the analysis of the synchronization feature of the electrocardiogram signal by a deep neural network. Firstly, the synchronization feature of each heartbeat of the electrocardiogram signal is constructed by a Recurrence Complex Network. Then, a convolution neural network is used to detect atrial fibrillation by analyzing the eigenvalues of the Recurrence Complex Network. Finally, a voting algorithm is developed to improve the performance of the beat-wise atrial fibrillation detection. The MIT-BIH atrial fibrillation database is used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the algorithm can achieve 94.28%, 94.91%, and 94.59%, respectively. Remarkably, the proposed method was more effective than the traditional algorithms to the problem of individual variation in the atrial fibrillation detection.
Human Visceral Adipose Tissue Macrophages Are Not Adequately Defined by Standard Methods of Characterization
Authors: Blaszczak Alecia M. , Jalilvand Anahita , Liu Joey , Wright Valerie P. , Suzo Andrew , Needleman Bradley , Noria Sabrena , Lafuse William , Hsueh Willa A. , Bradley David
Published: January 2019

Obesity is associated with a state of chronic low-grade inflammation both systemically and within specific tissues, including adipose tissue (AT). In murine models of obesity, there is a shift in the inflammatory profile of the AT immune cells, with an accumulation of proinflammatory M1 macrophages that surround the expanding adipocyte. However, much less is known about the immune cell composition and how to best define AT macrophages in humans.Objective. The goals of the current study were to determine the contribution of macrophages to the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in lean versus obese human visceral AT (VAT); examine the expression of common M1, M2, and pan macrophage markers; and determine the association of specific macrophage types with known biomarkers of obesity-related cardiometabolic disease.Research Design and Methods. VAT biopsies were obtained from obese (n=50) and lean (n=8) patients during elective surgery. Adipocytes and SVF were isolated, and the SVF was subjected to flow cytometry analyses.Results. Our results indicate that VAT macrophages are increased in obesity and associate with biomarkers of CVD but that many macrophages do not fall into currently defined M1/M2 classification system based on CD206 receptor expression levels.Conclusions. VAT macrophages are increased in obese subjects, but the current markers used to define macrophage populations are inadequate to distinguish differences in human obesity. Further studies are needed to delineate the function of AT macrophages in the maintenance and progression of human AT inflammation in obesity.
Design and Analysis of Output Feedback Constraint Control for Antilock Braking System with Time‐Varying Slip Ratio
Authors: He Youguo , Lu Chuandao , Shen Jie , Yuan Chaochun
Published: January 2019

This paper is concerned with the problem of constraint control for an Antilock Braking System (ABS) with time‐varying asymmetric slip ratio constraints. A quarter vehicle braking model with system uncertainties and a Burckhardt’s tire model are considered. The Time‐varying Asymmetric Barrier Lyapunov Function (TABLF) is embedded into the controllers for handling the time‐varying asymmetric slip ratio constraint problems. Two adaptive nonlinear control methods (TABLF1 and TABLF2) based on TABLF are proposed not only to track the optimal slip ratio but also to guarantee no violation on the slip ratio constraints. Simulation results show that the proposed controllers can guarantee no violation on slip ratio constraints and avoid self‐locking. In the meantime, TABLF1 controller can achieve a faster convergence rate, shorter stopping time, and shorter distance, compared to TABLF2 controller with the same control parameters.
Fault Diagnosis of Variable Load Bearing Based on Quantum Chaotic Fruit Fly VMD and Variational RVM
Authors: Xu Bo , Li Huipeng , Zhou Fengxing , Yan Baokang , Liu Yi , Ma Yajie
Published: January 2019

Under normal circumstances, bearings generally run under variable loading conditions. Under such conditions, the vibration signals of the bearing malfunctions are often nonstationary signals, which are difficult to process effectively. In order to accurately and effectively diagnose the failure types and damage degree of bearings under variable load conditions, an intelligent diagnostic model based on the variational mode decomposition (VMD) of quantum chaotic fruit fly optimization algorithm (QCFOA) and a multiclassification variational relevance vector machine (VRVM) is proposed. First, the key parameters of the VMD are selected using the QCFOA. Secondly, the known bearing fault signal is decomposed by the optimized VMD, and the center frequency and marginal spectral entropy (MSE) of each natural modal component are extracted to construct two‐dimensional MSE. Then, the probit model is used to replace the logistic model, and a simpler and more practical multiclassification model is constructed. The two‐dimensional MSE of each intrinsic modal component is used as a learning sample for VRVM. Finally, the bearing fault data under 1 hp load are taken as training samples, and the bearing fault data under two loads of 0 hp and 3 hp are used as test samples to verify the effectiveness of the intelligent diagnosis model. The experimental results show that the intelligent fault diagnosis method proposed in this paper can accurately diagnose the type of fault and the degree of damage and has high robustness.
Simultaneous Determination of Several Fiber Contents in Blended Fabrics by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Calibration
Authors: Chen Hui , Lin Zan , Tan Chao
Published: January 2019

The qualitative and quantitative determination of the components of textile fibers takes an important position in quality control. A fast and nondestructive method of simultaneously analyzing four fiber components in blended fabrics was studied by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate calibration. Two sample sets including 39 and 25 samples were designed by simplex mixture lattice design methods and used for experiment. Four components include wool, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, and nylon and their mixture is one of the most popular formulas of textiles. Uninformative variable elimination-partial least squares (UVEPLS) and the full-spectrum partial least squares (PLS) were used as the tool. On the test set, the mean standard error of prediction (SEP) and the mean ratio of the standard deviation of the response variable and SEP (RPD) of the full-spectrum PLS model and UVEPLS model were 0.38, 0.32 and 7.6, 8.3, respectively. This result reveals that the UVEPLS can construct local models with acceptable and better performance than the full-spectrum PLS. It indicates that this method is valuable for nondestructive analysis in the field of wool content detection since it can avoid time-consuming, costly, and laborious wet chemical analysis.
Arranging Student Scientific Research as an Educational Technology: The Experience of Regional Universities of Russia
Authors: Bazhenov Ruslan I.
Published: January 2019

Nowadays, student scientific research is a significant component for training specialists for Industry 4.0. However, many students do not feel like wanting much to participate in this kind of activity when studying at university. Therefore, there is a challenge in facing educators, i.e., to make a climate of learning in such a way so that learners would not only be able to acquire skills, competences, and proficiencies according to their major but also be able to promote their willingness for independent search for getting new knowledge and mastering research methods and practical techniques to solve scientific challenges and analyze various information flows. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for arranging student scientific research, which enables to provide with skilled professional employees. To accomplish the declared goal, the authors developed the online course The Basic Scientific Research, the methodology for involving students in scientific research; recommendations to include special subject matters in the content of academic course, for stimulating joint studies of educators and students; and the online course on training lecturers to the technology presented. The experiment was conducted from 2014 to 2018 among students of IT and economics at regional Russian universities. 242 students and 46 lecturers took part in it. Using the developed system by educators resulted in the following achievements: the students published more than 450 scientific articles, won 28 grants of various levels, and participated and became prize winners in more than 50 scientific research contests. One-third of the participants in the experiment received a merit semester scholarship for scientific research regularly. They participated and won competitions for the President of the Russian Federation grants, the Government of the Russian Federation. Business representatives gave top marks for graduate theses. The educational technology presented in the paper is prepared for scaling and be applied at universities.
Synthesis of Poly(AN-co-VP)/Zeolite Composite and Its Application for the Removal of Brilliant Green by Adsorption Process: Kinetics, Isotherms, and Experimental Design
Authors: Tanyol Mehtap , Kavak Nevroz , Torğut Gülben
Published: January 2019

In this study, a poly(acrylonitrile-co-N-vinyl pyrrolidone)/zeolite (poly(AN-co-VP)/zeolite) composite was synthesized by in situ free radical polymerization (FRP). The structural properties of the composite were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The characterization results indicated that the composite had a homogeneous and 3-dimensional (3D) structure. The decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature (Tg) were found as 410°C and 152°C, respectively. A poly(AN-co-VP)/zeolite composite was used to investigate the adsorption of brilliant green (BG) which is a water-soluble cationic dye. The kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics of adsorption were examined, and results showed that equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir isotherm model, and the adsorption kinetics of BG followed pseudo-second-order model. According to the thermodynamic properties, the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Response surface methodology (RSM), which was improved by the application of the quadratic model associated with the central composite design, was employed for the optimization of the study conditions such as adsorbent mass, time, and initial dye concentration. The RSM indicated that maximum BG removal (99.91%) was achieved at the adsorbent mass of 0.20 g/50 mL, an initial BG concentration of 40.20 mg/L, and a contact time of 121.60 minutes.
Developing a Travel Time Estimation Method of Freeway Based on Floating Car Using Random Forests
Authors: Cheng Juan , Li Gen , Chen Xianhua
Published: January 2019

Travel time of traffic flow is the basis of traffic guidance. To improve the estimation accuracy, a travel time estimation model based on Random Forests is proposed. 7 influence variables are viewed as candidates in this paper. Data obtained from VISSIM simulation are used to verify the model. Different from other machine learning algorithm as black boxes, Random Forests can provide interpretable results through variable importance. The result of variable importance shows that mean travel time of floating car t-f, traffic state parameter X, density of vehicle Kall, and median travel time of floating car tmenf are important variables affecting travel time of traffic flow; meanwhile other variables also have a certain influence on travel time. Compared with the BP (Back Propagation) neural network model and the quadratic polynomial regression model, the proposed Random Forests model is more accurate, and the variables contained in the model are more abundant.
CNDP1, NOS3, and MnSOD Polymorphisms as Risk Factors for Diabetic Nephropathy among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Malaysia
Authors: Yahya Mohd Jokha , Ismail Patimah Binti , Nordin Norshariza Binti , Akim Abdah Binti Md , Binti Md Yusuf Wan Shaariah , Adam Noor Lita Binti , Zulkifli Nurul Fasihah
Published: January 2019

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high incidence of nephropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of a genetic polymorphism of carnosinase (CNDP1-D18S880and -rs2346061), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3-rs1799983), and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD-rs4880) genes with the development of diabetic nephropathy among Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients. A case-control association study was performed using 652 T2DM patients comprising 227 Malays (without nephropathy = 96 and nephropathy = 131), 203 Chinese (without nephropathy = 95 and nephropathy = 108), and 222 Indians (without nephropathy = 136 and nephropathy = 86). DNA sequencing was performed for theD18S880ofCNDP1, while the rest were tested using DNA Sequenom MassARRAY to identify the polymorphisms. DNA was extracted from the secondary blood samples taken from the T2DM patients. The alleles and genotypes were tested using four genetic models, and the best mode of inheritance was chosen based on the leastpvalue. Thers2346061ofCNDP1was significantly associated with diabetic nephropathy among the Indians only with OR = 1.94 and 95% CI = (1.76–3.20) and fitted best the multiplicative model, whileD18S880was associated among all the three major races with the Malays having the strongest association with OR = 2.46 and 95% CI = (1.48–4.10), Chinese with OR = 2.26 and 95% CI = (1.34–3.83), and Indians with OR = 1.77 and 95% CI = (1.18–2.65) in the genotypic multiplicative model. The best mode of inheritance for bothMnSODandNOS3was the additive model. ForMnSOD-rs4880, the Chinese had OR = 2.8 and 95% CI = (0.53–14.94), Indians had OR = 2.4 and 95% CI = (0.69–2.84), and Malays had OR = 2.16 and 95% CI = (0.54–8.65), while forNOS3-rs1799983, the Indians had the highest risk with OR = 3.16 and 95% CI = (0.52–17.56), followed by the Chinese with OR = 3.55 and 95% CI = (0.36–35.03) and the Malays with OR = 2.89 and 95% CI = (0.29–28.32). The four oxidative stress-related polymorphisms have significant effects on the development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes patients. The genes may, therefore, be considered as risk factors for Malaysian subjects who are predisposed to T2DM nephropathy.
Dynamic Modeling of the Angiogenic Switch and Its Inhibition by Bevacizumab
Authors: Csercsik Dávid , Kovács Levente
Published: January 2019

We formulate a dynamic model of vascular tumor growth, in which the interdependence of vascular dynamics with tumor volume is considered. The model describes the angiogenic switch; thus the inhibition of the vascularization process by antiangiogenic drugs may be taken into account explicitly. We validate the model against volume measurement data originating from experiments on mice and analyze the model behavior assuming different inputs corresponding to different therapies. Furthermore, we show that a simple extension of the model is capable of considering cytotoxic and antiangiogenic drugs as inputs simultaneously in qualitatively different ways.
Synergistic O2-/Li+ Dual Ion Transportation at Atomic Scale
Authors: Meng F. Q. , Zhang Q. H. , Gao A. , Liu X. Z. , Zhang J. N. , Peng S. Y. , Lu X. , Gu L. , Li H.
Published: January 2019

The ion migration during electrochemical process is a fundamental scientific issue for phase transition behavior and of technical importance for various functional devices, where cations or anions are active under electrical bias. Usually only one type of functional ion, O2- or Li+, is activated due to their different migration energy barriers, cooperated by the valence change of other immobile ions in the host lattice matrix, e.g., Co2+/Co3+ and Mn3+/Mn4+ redox couples, owing to the charge neutralization. Here we select spinel Li4Ti5O12 as anode and construct an all-solid-state battery under a transmission electron microscope; a synergistic transportation of O2- and Li+ driven by an electrical bias was directly observed at the atomic scale. A small amount of oxygen anions was extracted firstly as a result of its lowest vacancy formation energy under 2.2 V, leading to the vertical displacement of oxygen. Up to 2.7 V, an ordered phase with both Li- and O- deficiency formed. The Li+ and O2- ions are simultaneously extracted out from the [LiO4] tetrahedra due to the electroneutrality principle. The migration paths of O and Li have been proposed and verified by first-principles calculations. These results reveal a brand new synergistic ion migration manner and may provide up-to-date insights on the transportation process of lithium ion conductors.
Fault‐Tolerant Supervisory Control for Dynamic Positioning of Ships
Authors: Lin Xiaogong , Li Heng , Liang Kun , Nie Jun , Li Juan
Published: January 2019

A fault‐tolerant supervisory control method for dynamic positioning of ships with actuator failures and sensor failures is presented in this paper. Unlike the traditional fault detection and control, fault detection and fault‐tolerant controller are designed as a unit in this paper through a supervisor. By introducing a nonlinear estimation error and virtual controller, the sensor failures are separated from the actuator failures in the supervisory control system. It guarantees that the detectability property and matching property of the switched system are satisfied. Firstly, a new extended state observer is designed to match the models of different actuator failures. Secondly, by introducing a virtual controller, the detectability property of the switched system is guaranteed. Finally, a nonlinear estimation error operator is used in the designing of switching logic to guarantee stability of the closed‐loop system with sensor failures. When sensor failures and actuator failures occur, we show that all the states of the closed‐loop system are guaranteed to be bounded. The effectiveness of the fault‐tolerant control is verified by simulation experiments.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge, Intention to Practice and Predictors among Primiparous Women in Enugu South-East, Nigeria
Authors: Ihudiebube-Splendor Chikaodili N. , Okafor Chinyelu B. , Anarado Agnes N. , Jisieike-Onuigbo Nonyelum N. , Chinweuba Anthonia U. , Nwaneri Ada C. , Arinze Joyce C. , Chikeme Paulina C.
Published: January 2019

Breastfeeding is considered as the most complete nutritional source for infants because breast milk contains the essential carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive and resist infection in the formative first year of life. Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among women is essential when promoting optimal breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed knowledge and intention to practice EBF and its associated factors during pregnancy among primiparous women in selected communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total population study that applied inclusion criteria was used to recruit 201 primiparous mothers attending their third trimester antenatal care from selected health facilities in rural and urban communities in Enugu State. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ knowledge and intention to practice EBF. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize categorical and continuous variables while Chi-square and Wald statistic tests predicted demographic data associated with knowledge status and intention to practice EBF of the participants. More than half (58.7%) of primiparous mothers had inadequate knowledge of EBF and only 62.7% had intention to exclusively breastfeed for 4–6 months. The Chi-square test result showed significant difference in the participants’ place of residence (p = 0.024), EBF knowledge sources (p = 0.001), and EBF knowledge. The Wald statistic in Logistic regression model indicated the coefficient of age (p = 0.026), educational attainment (p = 0.046), EBF knowledge (p = 0.016), and sources of information about EBF (p = 0.027) to be significant predictors of good intention to practise EBF. Poor EBF knowledge and intention to practice in this population may be improved by combining facility-based and in-house methods of breastfeeding counseling, education, and support especially to intending and expectant mothers. Further studies are needed to be done using the multiparous women as well as assessing the effects of in-house EBF supportive-educative intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes.
A New Distance Vector-Hop Localization Algorithm Based on Half-Measure Weighted Centroid
Authors: Jian Yin Lu
Published: January 2019

Considering the defects of the Distance Vector-Hop (DV-Hop) localization algorithm making errors and having error accumulation in wireless sensor network (WSN), we proposed a new DV-Hop localization algorithm based on half-measure weighted centroid. This algorithm followed the two-dimensional position distribution, designed the minimum communication radius, and formed a reasonable network connectivity firstly. Then, the algorithm corrected the distance between the beacon node and its neighbour node to form a more accurate jump distance so that the shortest path can be optimized. Finally, we theorized the proposed localization algorithm and verified it in simulation experiments, including same communication radius, different communication radii, and different node densities in same communication radius, and have compared the localization error and localization accuracy, respectively, between the proposed algorithm and the DV-Hop localization algorithm. The experiment’s result shows that the proposed localization algorithm have reduced the localization’s average error and improved the localization’s accuracy.
The Effectiveness of Topical Cerium Nitrate-Silver Sulfadiazine Application on Overall Outcome in Patients with Calciphylaxis
Authors: Darres Amandine , Delaval Ronan , Fournier Alain , Tournier Emilie , Cointault Olivier , Moussion Francoise , Chauveau Dominique , Seigneuric Bruno , Lumbroso Catherine , Kamar Nassim , Ribes David , Leou Sylvie , Huart Antoine , Testevuide Pascale , Faguer Stanislas
Published: January 2019

Background: Calciphylaxis (CPX) is a rare and life-threatening disease characterized by vascular calcification and development of painful and necrotizing skin lesions with a challenging management. Mechanisms of CPX are complex and include an imbalance between vascular calcification promoters and inhibitors, and frequently vitamin K deficiency. Objectives: To describe the various presentations and identify predictive factors of death in patients with CPX. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, we included 71 CPX patients followed in South-West France (n = 26) and in French Polynesia (n = 45), and who all received sodium thiosulfate (25 g thrice weekly for a median of 61 days). Results: Characteristics at presentation significantly differed between metropolitan and Polynesian French patients. Polynesians were less frequently on regular dialysis at the onset of CPX, had a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus and obesity, more disturbances of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, and received vitamin K antagonists less frequently than patients from South-West France. Despite intensive management, the 1-year mortality rate was 66% and median time to death was 200 days (IQR, 40; 514). The number of body areas involved (i.e., three: OR 2.70 [1.09; 6.65], p = 0.031; four: OR 8.79 [1.54; 50.29], p = 0.015) was the only predictive factor for death, whereas application of topical cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine was protective (OR 0.44 [0.20; 0.99], p = 0.046). Surgical debridement, hyperbaric oxygenation therapy, and geographical origin were not associated with overall outcomes. Conclusions: Cerium nitrate may lead to vascular decalcification and chelation of reactive oxygen species, and prevent infection. Cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine was associated with better outcomes and should be tested in a prospective comparative trial in CPX patients.
Occupational Retronychia: A Report of a Case in a UPS Employee
Authors: Nagrani Nicole , Castillo David E. , Al-Mohanna Hind , Tosti Antonella
Published: January 2019

Retronychia is a frequently misdiagnosed nail disorder characterized by proximal ingrowth of the nail into the proximal nail plate. Often presenting with chronic paronychia, retronychia is commonly misdiagnosed and treated ineffectively with antimicrobials. The main cause is repeated micro-trauma to the affected nail, therefore a thorough history of exposures and insults to the toenail is crucial in identifying the cause of this nail abnormality. Herein, we describe a case of a UPS employee who presented with a painful nail after dropping a package on her foot that was unresponsive to medical treatment for 2 years. This case highlights the importance of taking a thorough history and physical examination for diagnosing retronychia.
Microbiological Progress in Patients with Bronchial Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Treated with Nebulised Colistin
Authors: Bruguera-Àvila Núria , Garcia-Olive Ignasi , Marin Alicia , Prat Cristina , Lacoma Alicia , Gil Montserrat , Abad Capa Jorge
Published: January 2019

Background: Inhaled antibiotics allow the delivery of higher drug concentrations at the site of infection without the systemic adverse effects observed with the use of parenteral or oral antibiotics. These antibiotics have shown to decrease the number of exacerbations, reduce bacterial load or improve pulmonary function in several chronic respiratory conditions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe changes in the bacteriology of sputum in patients with chronic bronchial infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa treated with nebulised colistin. Material and Methods: All patients with chronical infection with P. aeruginosa treated with nebulised colistin attending a day care unit during a 5-year (January 2010 to December 2014) period were included. Repeated-measures t tests were used to assess whether the introduction of colistin was associated with changes in the number of exacerbations or the length of the hospitalisations. Results: Treatment with colistin was associated with a decrease in the number of ambulatory exacerbations (1.87–1.1, p = 0.007), of hospital exacerbations (1.3–0.7, p = 0.010) and of length of stay (15.7–8.6 days, p = 0.005). There was no linear trend in the proportion of isolate Enterobacteriaceae, gram-positive cocci, Haemophilus influenzae or fungi. Isolation of Enterobacteriaceae within 1 year after the beginning of the treatment with nebulised colistin was associated with an increase in the number of ambulatory exacerbations (incidence rate ratio 1.99, 95% CI 1.05–3.79). Conclusions: Nebulised colistin was effective in the treatment of chronic infection with P. aeruginosa, and no significant changes in the microbiological evolution were observed. Isolation of Enterobacteriaceae within 1 year after the beginning of the treatment with nebulised colistin was associated with an increase in the number of exacerbations.
Predictive Value of Susceptibility Vessel Sign for Arterial Recanalization and Clinical Improvement in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Darcourt Jean , Withayasuk Pattarawit , Vukasinovic Ivan , Michelozzi Caterina , Bellanger Guillaume , Guenego Adrien , Adam Gilles , Roques Margaux , Januel Anne Christine , Tall Philippe , Meyrignac Olivier , Rousseau Vanessa , Garcia Cédric , Albucher Jean François , Payrastre Bernard , Bonneville Fabrice , Olivot Jean Marc , Cognard Christophe
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose—

Our goal was to evaluate whether the presence of a low signal intensity known as susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on T2*-gradient echo imaging sequence was predictive of arterial recanalization and the early clinical improvement after mechanical thrombectomy.

Methods—

This observational study was based on a prospective database of acute ischemic strokes treated by mechanical thrombectomy. Inclusion criteria were patients with acute anterior ischemic stroke, diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, including a T2*-gradient echo imaging sequence, and treated by mechanical thrombectomy. Two independent readers assessed the presence of an SVS. Successful recanalization was defined as a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b-3 after mechanical thrombectomy. Early clinical improvement was estimated by the difference between the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on day 1 after treatment

Results—

The SVS was detected in 137 (76%) out of 180 patients. The kappa interrater agreement was 0.71 with a 95% CI of 0.59 to 0.82. Successful recanalization was associated with an SVS+ with odds ratio, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.05–5.74;
P
=0.03. The early clinical improvement was better in patients with an SVS+ (median, −6; interquartile range, −11 to 0) compared with SVS− patients (median, −1; interquartile range, −10 to 3) with
P
=0.01.

Conclusions—

The visualization of SVS is a reliable and easily accessible predictive factor of recanalization success and early clinical improvement.
Typification of Terfezia fanfani (Ascomycota, Pezizaceae)
Authors: VIZZINI ALFREDO , ARENAS FRANCISCO , RODRÍGUEZ ANTONIO , MELLO ANTONIETTA , LAINÉ PATRICE , MUÑOZ-MOHEDANO JUSTO M. , MORTE ASUNCIÓN
Published: January 2019

Terfezia fanfani Mattirolo (1900: 65) is an ecologically distinctive species that is widely distributed in southern Europe in areas with Mediterranean climates, on acidic grasslands, associated with Tuberaria guttata (Cistaceae) from March to May (Bordallo et al. 2013).