bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysm Treatment: First Reported Case of DERIVO®Flow-Diverter Placement by Direct Carotid Artery Puncture
Authors: Guzzardi Giuseppe , Del Sette Bruno , Stanca Carmelo , Paladini Andrea , Galbiati Andrea , Spinetta Marco , Cernigliaro Massimiliano , Leigheb Massimiliano , Carriero Alessandro
Published: May 2020

Brain health may be threatened by aneurysm ruptures, and early recognition of these vascular malformations allows for neuroradiological intervention. Neurointerventional procedures are usually performed with femoral artery access. In patients with severe anatomical complexity of the supra-aortic vessels, however, treatment by this approach could be hindered or impossible. Flow-diverter stent deployment is an effective and safe treatment for large, wide necked intracranial aneurysms, but it requires a complete and firm stability of the coaxial system to achieve a correct and precise deployment of the device. We present the first reported Italian case of a patient with an intracranial aneurysm which was treated with Flow-diverter stent (DERIVO®; AcandisGmbH & Co. KG; Pforzheim; Germany) by direct common carotid artery puncture due to severe tortuosity of supra-aortic trunks.
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy and Photodynamic Therapy for High-Grade Meningiomas
Authors: Nakahara Yukiko , Ito Hiroshi , Masuoka Jun , Abe Tatsuya
Published: May 2020

Meningiomas are the most common type of intracranial brain tumors in adults. The majority of meningiomas are benign with a low risk of recurrence after resection. However, meningiomas defined as grades II or III, according to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification, termed high-grade meningiomas, frequently recur, even after gross total resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are novel treatment modalities for malignant brain tumors, represented by glioblastomas. Although BNCT is based on a nuclear reaction and PDT uses a photochemical reaction, both of these therapies result in cellular damage to only the tumor cells. The aim of this literature review is to investigate the possibility and efficacy of BNCT and PDT as novel treatment modalities for high-grade meningiomas. The present review was conducted by searching PubMed and Scopus databases. The search was conducted in December 2019. Early clinical studies of BNCT have demonstrated activity for high-grade meningiomas, and a phase II clinical trial is in progress in Japan. As for PDT, studies have investigated the effect of PDT in malignant meningioma cell lines to establish PDT as a treatment for malignant meningiomas. Further laboratory research combined with proper controlled trials investigating the effects of these therapies is warranted.
Small Molecule KRAS Inhibitors: The Future for Targeted Pancreatic Cancer Therapy?
Authors: Gillson Josef , Ramaswamy Yogambha , Singh Gurvinder , Gorfe Alemayehu A. , Pavlakis Nick , Samra Jaswinder , Mittal Anubhav , Sahni Sumit
Published: May 2020

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest solid tumors in the world. Currently, there are no approved targeted therapies for PDAC. Mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) are known to be a major driver of PDAC progression, but it was considered an undruggable target until recently. Moreover, PDAC also suffers from drug delivery issues due to the highly fibrotic tumor microenvironment. In this perspective, we provide an overview of recent developments in targeting mutant KRAS and strategies to overcome drug delivery issues (e.g., nanoparticle delivery). Overall, we propose that the antitumor effects from novel KRAS inhibitors along with strategies to overcome drug delivery issues could be a new therapeutic way forward in PDAC.
Cigarette Smoking Is Associated with Increased Risk of Malignant Gliomas: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Ahn Stephen , Han Kyung-Do , Park Yong-Moon , Bae Jung Min , Kim Sang Uk , Jeun Sin-Soo , Yang Seung Ho
Published: May 2020

The association between cigarette smoking and the risk of developing malignant glioma (MG) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate this potential association in a large general population, using a well-established and validated longitudinal nationwide database. Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance System cohort, 9,811,768 people over 20 years old without any cancer history in 2009 were followed until the end of 2017. We documented 6100 MG cases (ICD-10 code C71) during the median follow-up period of 7.31 years. Current smokers had a higher risk of developing MG (HR = 1.22, CI: 1.13–1.32) compared with never-smokers, after adjusting for confounders. This association was stronger for those who smoked ≥ 20 cigarettes daily (HR = 1.50, CI: 1.36–1.64). Furthermore, having 30 or more pack-years of smoking over the course of one’s lifetime was associated with an increased risk of developing MG in a dose-dependent manner, compared with never-smokers (HR = 1.31, CI: 1.16–1.48 for 30–39 pack-years of smoking; HR = 1.36, CI: 1.17–1.59 for 40–49 pack-years of smoking; HR = 1.68; CI: 1.44–1.95 for ≥ 50 pack-years of smoking). These results suggest that cigarette smoking may be associated with developing MG. Further prospective studies could help elucidate this association.
A Machine-learning Approach for the Assessment of the Proliferative Compartment of Solid Tumors on Hematoxylin-Eosin-Stained Sections
Authors: Martino Francesco , Varricchio Silvia , Russo Daniela , Merolla Francesco , Ilardi Gennaro , Mascolo Massimo , dell’Aversana Giovanni Orabona , Califano Luigi , Toscano Guglielmo , De Pietro Giuseppe , Frucci Maria , Brancati Nadia , Fraggetta Filippo , Staibano Stefania
Published: May 2020

We introduce a machine learning-based analysis to predict the immunohistochemical (IHC) labeling index for the cell proliferation marker Ki67/MIB1 on cancer tissues based on morphometrical features extracted from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue samples. We provided a proof-of-concept prediction of the Ki67/MIB1 IHC positivity of cancer cells through the definition and quantitation of single nuclear features. In the first instance, we set our digital framework on Ki67/MIB1-stained OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma) tissue sample whole slide images, using QuPath as a working platform and its integrated algorithms, and we built a classifier in order to distinguish tumor and stroma classes and, within them, Ki67-positive and Ki67-negative cells; then, we sorted the morphometric features of tumor cells related to their Ki67 IHC status. Among the evaluated features, nuclear hematoxylin mean optical density (NHMOD) presented as the best one to distinguish Ki67/MIB1 positive from negative cells. We confirmed our findings in a single-cell level analysis of H&E staining on Ki67-immunostained/H&E-decolored tissue samples. Finally, we tested our digital framework on a case series of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), arranged in tissue microarrays; we selected two consecutive sections of each OSCC FFPE TMA (tissue microarray) block, respectively stained with H&E and immuno-stained for Ki67/MIB1. We automatically detected tumor cells in H&E slides and generated a “false color map” (FCM) based on NHMOD through the QuPath measurements map tool. FCM nearly coincided with the actual immunohistochemical result, allowing the prediction of Ki67/MIB1 positive cells in a direct visual fashion. Our proposed approach provides the pathologist with a fast method of identifying the proliferating compartment of the tumor through a quantitative assessment of the nuclear features on H&E slides, readily appreciable by visual inspection. Although this technique needs to be fine-tuned and tested on larger series of tumors, the digital analysis approach appears to be a promising tool to quickly forecast the tumor’s proliferation fraction directly on routinely H&E-stained digital sections.
Dynamic Characterization of Structural, Molecular, and Electrophysiological Phenotypes of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cerebral Organoids, and Comparison with Fetal and Adult Gene Profiles
Authors: Logan Sarah , Arzua Thiago , Yan Yasheng , Jiang Congshan , Liu Xiaojie , Yu Lai-Kang , Liu Qing-Song , Bai Xiaowen
Published: May 2020

Background: The development of 3D cerebral organoid technology using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides a promising platform to study how brain diseases are appropriately modeled and treated. So far, understanding of the characteristics of organoids is still in its infancy. The current study profiled, for the first time, the electrophysiological properties of organoids at molecular and cellular levels and dissected the potential age equivalency of 2-month-old organoids to human ones by a comparison of gene expression profiles among cerebral organoids, human fetal and adult brains. Results: Cerebral organoids exhibit heterogeneous gene and protein markers of various brain cells, such as neurons, astrocytes, and vascular cells (endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells) at 2 months, and increases in neural, glial, vascular, and channel-related gene expression over a 2-month differentiation course. Two-month organoids exhibited action potentials, multiple channel activities, and functional electrophysiological responses to the anesthetic agent propofol. A bioinformatics analysis of 20,723 gene expression profiles showed the similar distance of gene profiles in cerebral organoids to fetal and adult brain tissues. The subsequent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of select canonical pathways related to neural development, network formation, and electrophysiological signaling, revealed that only calcium signaling, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling in neurons, glutamate receptor signaling, and synaptogenesis signaling were predicted to be downregulated in cerebral organoids relative to fetal samples. Nearly all cerebral organoid and fetal pathway phenotypes were predicted to be downregulated compared with adult tissue. Conclusions: This novel study highlights dynamic development, cellular heterogeneity and electrophysiological activity. In particular, for the first time, electrophysiological drug response recapitulates what occurs in vivo, and neural characteristics are predicted to be highly similar to the human brain, further supporting the promising application of the cerebral organoid system for the modeling of the human brain in health and disease. Additionally, the studies from these characterizations of cerebral organoids in multiple levels and the findings from gene comparisons between cerebral organoids and humans (fetuses and adults) help us better understand this cerebral organoid-based cutting-edge platform and its wide uses in modeling human brain in terms of health and disease, development, and testing drug efficacy and toxicity.
Phenotyping the Chilling and Freezing Responses of Young Microspore Stage Wheat Spikes Using Targeted Metabolome and Lipidome Profiling
Authors: Cheong Bo Eng , Onyemaobi Olive , Wing Ho Ho William , Biddulph Thomas Ben , Rupasinghe Thusitha W. T. , Roessner Ute , Dolferus Rudy
Published: May 2020

Chilling and frost conditions impose major yield restraints to wheat crops in Australia and other temperate climate regions. Unpredictability and variability of field frost events are major impediments for cold tolerance breeding. Metabolome and lipidome profiling were used to compare the cold response in spikes of cold-tolerant Young and sensitive variety Wyalkatchem at the young microspore (YM) stage of pollen development. We aimed to identify metabolite markers that can reliably distinguish cold-tolerant and sensitive wheat varieties for future cold-tolerance phenotyping applications. We scored changes in spike metabolites and lipids for both varieties during cold acclimation after initial and prolonged exposure to combined chilling and freezing cycles (1 and 4 days, respectively) using controlled environment conditions. The two contrasting wheat varieties showed qualitative and quantitative differences in primary metabolites involved in osmoprotection, but differences in lipid accumulation most distinctively separated the cold response of the two wheat lines. These results resemble what we previously observed in flag leaves of the same two wheat varieties. The fact that this response occurs in tissue types with very different functions indicates that chilling and freezing tolerance in these wheat lines is associated with re-modelling of membrane lipid composition to maintain membrane fluidity.
Ascorbic Acid Promotes Functional Restoration after Spinal Cord Injury Partly by Epigenetic Modulation
Authors: Hong Jin Young , Davaa Ganchimeg , Yoo Hyunjin , Hong Kwonho , Hyun Jung Keun
Published: May 2020

Axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) is difficult to achieve, and no fundamental treatment can be applied in clinical settings. DNA methylation has been suggested to play a role in regeneration capacity and neuronal growth after SCI by controlling the expression of regeneration-associated genes (RAGs). The aim of this study was to examine changes in neuronal DNA methylation status after SCI and to determine whether modulation of DNA methylation with ascorbic acid can enhance neuronal regeneration or functional restoration after SCI. Changes in epigenetic marks (5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and 5-methylcytosine (5mC)); the expression of Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) family genes; and the expression of genes related to inflammation, regeneration, and degeneration in the brain motor cortex were determined following SCI. The 5hmC level within the brain was increased after SCI, especially in the acute and subacute stages, and the mRNA levels of Tet gene family members (Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3) were also increased. Administration of ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) to SCI rats enhanced 5hmC levels; increased the expression of the Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3 genes within the brain motor cortex; promoted axonal sprouting within the lesion cavity of the spinal cord; and enhanced recovery of locomotor function until 12 weeks. In conclusion, we found that epigenetic status in the brain motor cortex is changed after SCI and that epigenetic modulation using ascorbic acid may contribute to functional recovery after SCI.
Preliminary Trichinella spiralis Infection Ameliorates Subsequent RSV Infection-Induced Inflammatory Response
Authors: Chu Ki-Back , Lee Hae-Ahm , Kang Hae-Ji , Moon Eun-Kyung , Quan Fu-Shi
Published: May 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection affects the lives of neonates throughout the globe, causing a high rate of mortality upon hospital admission. Yet, therapeutic options to deal with this pulmonary pathogen are currently limited. Helminth therapy has been well received for its immunomodulatory role in hosts, which are crucial for mitigating a multitude of diseases. Therefore, in this study, we used the helminth Trichinella spiralis and assessed its capabilities for modulating RSV infection as well as the inflammatory response induced by it in mice. Our results revealed that RSV-specific antibody responses were enhanced by pre-existing T. spiralis infection, which also limited pulmonary viral replication. Diminished lung inflammation, indicated by reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory cell influx was confirmed, as well as through histopathological assessment. We observed that inflammation-associated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancement of activated B cells (NF-κB) and its phosphorylated forms were down-regulated, whereas antioxidant-associated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein expression was upregulated in mice co-infected with T. spiralis and RSV. Upregulated Nrf2 expression contributed to increased antioxidant enzyme expression, particularly NQO1 which relieved the host of oxidative stress-induced pulmonary inflammation caused by RSV infection. These findings indicate that T. spiralis can mitigate RSV-induced inflammation by upregulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes.
Chemical Reagents for Sensor Design and Development
Authors: Lai Edward P. C.
Published: May 2020

The combination of selective chemical reagents with sensitive physical transducers can often bring about new sensor designs and novel device construction that are capable of quantitative analysis of various sample matrices to determine important ionic or molecular analytes [...]
Chitosan Solution Containing Zein and Essential Oil as Bio Based Coating on Packaging Paper
Authors: Vrabič Brodnjak Urška , Tihole Katarina
Published: May 2020

Modifications of the packaging paper surface play an important role in a variety of industries, especially in the food sector. Uncoated paper has poor water and oil barrier properties due to its porous structure. In this study, packaging paper was successfully coated with six different coating solutions containing combinations of chitosan, zein and rosemary essential oil. The chitosan and zein were actually coated in two layers; the mixed chitosan–rosemary oil and the mixed zein–rosemary oil were each applied as one layer to the paper. The results showed increased oil barrier properties in the papers coated with mixed zein–rosemary oil and reduced water permeability in the papers coated with the chitosan–rosemary oil coating solution. The result of this two-layer coating showed excellent water (Cobb60 value of 2.18 g/m2) and oil barrier properties. All the coated papers showed a high thermal stability, especially those coated with chitosan, zein and rosemary oil layer by layer. Scanning electron microscopy was used to verify the surface differences of the coated papers, such as the closed structure, pores and smoother surface, especially in the layer-wise coated samples. Due to their good mechanical and chemical properties, coated papers with rosemary oil can be used in many applications, possibly also in the field of repellents.
The Effects of the Addition of Ti3SiC2 on the Microstructure and Properties of Laser Cladding Composite Coatings
Authors: Shi Qin , Zhu Hejun , Li Changsheng
Published: May 2020

This study explored the effects of Ti3SiC2 on the microstructure and properties of laser cladding coatings using X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, electrochemical workstation, and UMT-2 wear tester analyses. It was found that with the addition of Ti3SiC2, the reinforcing phases in the composite coating were TiC, Ti(B,C)2, honeycomb-like (Cr, Fe)23C6, and a novel composite ceramic with an “eyeball” structure, which had an inside core of Al2O3 and TiC outer surrounding structure. The microhardness, wear, and corrosion resistance of the composite coating were about 1.35, 2, and 4.3 times those of the original coating, respectively. The main wear mechanisms of the original coating were severe fatigue spalling and microcutting, while the main mechanisms of the composite coating were slight microcutting and the formation of the transferred film.
Fabrication, Wear, and Corrosion Resistance of HVOF Sprayed WC-12Co on ZE41 Magnesium Alloy
Authors: García-Rodríguez Sonia , López Antonio Julio , Bonache Victoria , Torres Belén , Rams Joaquín
Published: May 2020

This study shows that WC-12Co coatings with low porosity and high wear and corrosion resistance can be applied by high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) on a low melting and highly flammable ZE41 magnesium alloy. This provides a novel and promising use of the high-energy thermal spraying technique on low temperature melting substrates. The spraying distance used was 300 mm, which is between two and three times the recommended distanced for HVOF coating with WC-12Co on steels. Despite this, the WC-12Co coatings obtained were homogeneous, crack-free, and dense. The coatings were very well adhered to the substrates and the spraying distance allowed avoiding any thermal affectation of the substrate. The thickness of the coatings was limited to 45 μm to avoid a big mass increase in the samples. The effect of the number of layers, the O2/H2 ratio and the gas transport flow in the coating was studied. The coatings reduced the wear rate of the substrate by 104 times, making them wear resistant. Electrochemical corrosion tests were conducted to study the corrosion protection of the coatings, showing that it is possible to protect the magnesium substrate for 96 h in contact with 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution.
Evaluation of a Cyber-Physical Computing System with Migration of Virtual Machines during Continuous Computing
Authors: Bogatyrev Vladimir , Derkach Aleksey
Published: May 2020

The Markov model of reliability of a failover cluster performing calculations in a cyber-physical system is considered. The continuity of the cluster computing process in the event of a failure of the physical resources of the servers is provided on the basis of virtualization technology and is associated with the migration of virtual machines. The difference in the proposed model is that it considers the restrictions on the allowable time of interruption of the computational process during cluster recovery. This limitation is due to the fact that, if two physical servers fail, then object management is lost, which is unacceptable. Failure occurs if their recovery time is longer than the maximum allowable time of interruption of the computing process. The modes of operation of the cluster with and without system recovery in the event of a failure of part of the system resources that do not lead to loss of continuity of the computing process are considered. The results of the article are aimed at the possibility of assessing the probability of cluster operability while supporting the continuity of computations and its running to failure, leading to the interruption of the computational (control) process beyond the maximum permissible time. As a result of the calculation example for the presented models, it was shown that the mean time to failure during recovery under conditions of supporting the continuity of the computing process increases by more than two orders of magnitude.
Switchable Lens Design for Multi-View 2D/3D Switching Display with Wide-Viewing Window
Authors: Lee Tae-Hyun , Joo Kyung-Il , Kim Hak-Rin
Published: May 2020

We improved the three-dimensional (3D) crosstalk level of multi-view 3D displays using a lens array with small f-number, thereby facilitating a wide 3D viewing window. In particular, we designed a polarization-dependent-switching liquid crystal (LC)-based gradient refractive index (GRIN) lens array that could be switched between 2D and 3D viewing modes. For the GRIN lens with a small f-number (1.08), we studied the effect of the interfacial curvature between the plano-concave isotropic polymer layer and the plano-convex birefringent LC layer on the aberration properties. We examined the conventional spherical, quadratic polynomial aspherical, and a high-order (fourth-order) polynomial aspherical curvature. For the high-order polynomial aspherical curvature, the achievable transverse spherical aberration (TSA = 10.2 µm) was considerably lower than that with the spherical (TSA = 100.3 µm) and quadratic polynomial aspherical (TSA = 30.4 µm) curvatures. Consequently, the angular luminance distributions for each view were sharper for the high-order polynomial interfacial curvature. We designed multi-view (43-view) 3D displays using the arrays of switchable LC lenses with different curvatures, and the average adjacent crosstalk levels within the entire viewing window (50°) were 68.5%, 73.3%, and 60.0% for the spherical, quadratic polynomial aspherical, and high-order polynomial aspherical curvatures, respectively.
Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of a 2D Coordination Polymer, [Co(4-dpds)(bdc)(H2O)2] 4-dpds
Authors: Wang Chih-Chieh , Huang Zi-Ling , Tseng Yueh-Yi , Sheu Gia-Bin , Lu Shih-I , Lee Gene-Hsiang , Sheu Hwo-Shuenn
Published: May 2020

A two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymer, [Co(4-dpds)(bdc)(H2O)2]·4-dpds (1) (4-dpds = 4,4′-dipyridyldusulfide and bdc2− = dianion of benzenedicarboxylic acid), has been synthesized and structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractometer. In 1, the bdc2− and 4-dpds both act as bridging ligands connecting the Co(II) ions to form a 2D wrinkled-like layered coordination polymer. Two wrinkled-like layered coordination polymers are mutually penetrated to generate a doubly interpenetrated framework, and then extended to its 3D architecture via the supramolecular forces between doubly interpenetrated 2D frameworks and free 4-dpds ligands by intermolecular O–H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonding interaction. Crystal packing arrangements were characterized by fingerprint plots, which were derived from the Hirshfeld Surfaces analysis, and showed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions are the most important interactions on the construction of the crystal 1.
Degradation-Induced Actuation in Oxidation-Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Authors: Javed Mahjabeen , Tasmim Seelay , Abdelrahman Mustafa K. , Ambulo Cedric P. , Ware Taylor H.
Published: May 2020

Stimuli-responsive materials that exhibit a mechanical response to specific biological conditions are of considerable interest for responsive, implantable medical devices. Herein, we report the synthesis, processing and characterization of oxidation-responsive liquid crystal elastomers that demonstrate programmable shape changes in response to reactive oxygen species. Direct ink writing (DIW) is used to fabricate Liquid Crystal Elastomers (LCEs) with programmed molecular orientation and anisotropic mechanical properties. LCE structures were immersed in different media (oxidative, basic and saline) at body temperature to measure in vitro degradation. Oxidation-sensitive hydrophobic thioether linkages transition to hydrophilic sulfoxide and sulfone groups. The introduction of these polar moieties brings about anisotropic swelling of the polymer network in an aqueous environment, inducing complex shape changes. 3D-printed uniaxial strips exhibit 8% contraction along the nematic director and 16% orthogonal expansion in oxidative media, while printed LCEs azimuthally deform into cones 19 times their original thickness. Ultimately, these LCEs degrade completely. In contrast, LCEs subjected to basic and saline solutions showed no apparent response. These oxidation-responsive LCEs with programmable shape changes may enable a wide range of applications in target specific drug delivery systems and other diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Plasma Zinc Levels in Males with Androgenetic Alopecia as Possible Predictors of the Subsequent Conservative Therapy’s Effectiveness
Authors: Kondrakhina Irina N. , Verbenko Dmitry A. , Zatevalov Alexander M. , Gatiatulina Eugenia R. , Nikonorov Alexandr A. , Deryabin Dmitrij G. , Kubanov Alexey A.
Published: May 2020

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of progressive hair loss in man. The search for reliable predictors of the conservative treatment’s effectiveness is an urgent problem today. Forty-eight patients with AGA, stages I–IV by the Norwood–Hamilton scale, were treated for 4 months with 5% topical minoxidil joints with corrections for trace element and vitamin imbalances. In most cases, the positive therapy’s effect was shown in the parietal but not in the occipital area, whereas that effect was observed in others. The attempts to associate the therapy’s effectiveness with initially defined genetic, hormonal, and metabolic parameters showed the absence of differences between groups with positive and negative outcomes. Among the studied nutrient parameters (Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Se, as well as vitamins B12, E, D, and folic acid), differences between these groups was shown in zinc content only. The starting point from a zinc plasma level above 10 µmol/L likely provides the success of the subsequent conservative therapy and correlates with an increase in the hair density and diameter in the parietal area. The integral predictive value of the Zn plasma level was assessed as 72.3% (positive predictive value: −88%; and negative predictive value: −55%).
The Diagnostic Dilemma of Malignant Biliary Strictures
Authors: Dorrell Robert , Pawa Swati , Zhou Yi , Lalwani Neeraj , Pawa Rishi
Published: May 2020

The differential diagnosis for biliary strictures is broad. However, the likelihood of malignancy is high. Determining the etiology of a biliary stricture requires a comprehensive physical exam, laboratory evaluation, imaging, and ultimately tissue acquisition. Even then, definitive diagnosis is elusive, and many strictures remain indeterminant in origin. This literary review examines the diagnostic dilemma of biliary strictures and presents innovations in both histochemical and endoscopic techniques that have increased the diagnostic power of differentiating benign and malignant strictures. The field of tissue biopsy is revolutionizing with the advent of free DNA mutation profiling, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and methionyl t-RNA synthetase 1 (MARS 1), which allow for greater testing sensitivity. Endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cholangioscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, and intraductal ultrasound build upon existing endoscopic technology to better characterize strictures that would otherwise be indeterminate in etiology. This review uses recent literature to insert innovative technology into the traditional framework of diagnostic methods for malignant biliary strictures.
Recent Advances: The Imbalance of Immune Cells and Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Jayant Kumar , Habib Nagy , Huang Kai W. , Warwick Jane , Arasaradnam Ramesh
Published: May 2020

Recent advancement in the immunological understanding of genesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has implicated a decline in anti-tumour immunity on the background of chronic inflammatory state of liver parenchyma. The development of HCC involves a network of immunological activity in the tumour microenvironment involving continuous interaction between tumour and stromal cells. The reduction in anti-tumour immunity is secondary to changes in various immune cells and cytokines, and the tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in modulating the process of liver fibrosis, hepatocarcinogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor invasion and metastasis. Thus, it is considered as one of primary factor behind the despicable tumour behavior and observed poor survival; along with increased risk of recurrence following treatment in HCC. The primary intent of the present review is to facilitate the understanding of the complex network of immunological interactions of various immune cells, cytokines and tumour cells associated with the development and progression of HCC.
Assessment of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels on Coronary Flow in Patients with STEMI Undergoing Primary PCI
Authors: Dogdu Orhan
Published: May 2020

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) is a strong predictor of decreased myocardial salvage and subsequent higher risk of death in patients with STEMI, but no information has been published regarding the association of GDF-15 levels with coronary blood flow in STEMI. We hypothesized that elevated GDF-15 levels would be associated with impaired flow and perfusion in the setting of STEMI treated with primary PCI. Eighty consecutive patients who were admitted with STEMI within 6 h from symptom onset were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based upon the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade. Group 1 was defined as TIMI Grade 0, 1 and 2 flows. Angiographic success was defined as TIMI 3 flow (group 2). GDF-15 and high sensitive CRP were measured. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as stent thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction and in-hospital mortality. There were 35 patients (mean age 64 ± 11.8 and 20% female) in group 1 and 45 patients (mean age 66.8 ± 11.5 and 29% female) in group 2. GDF-15 and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (1670 ± 831pg/mL vs. 733 ± 124 pg/mL, p < 0.001; and 19.8 ± 10.6 vs. 11.3 ± 4.9, p < 0.001). GDF-15 level ≥920 pg/mL measured on admission had a 94% sensitivity and 91% specificity in predicting no-reflow at ROC curve analysis. In-hospital MACE was also significantly higher in group 1 (28.6% vs. 2.2%, p: 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between hs-CRP and GDF-15 (r: 0.6030.56; p < 0.001). The GDF-15 level on admission is a strong and independent predictor of poor coronary blood flow following primary PCI and in hospital MACE among patients with STEMI. Except for predictive value, GDF-15 levels may be a useful biomarker for the stratification of risk in patients with STEMI, and may carry further therapeutic implications.
Non-Linear Regression Modelling to Estimate the Global Warming Potential of a Newspaper
Authors: Lozano Alexis , Cabrera Pedro , Blanco-Marigorta Ana M.
Published: May 2020

Technological innovations are not enough by themselves to achieve social and environmental sustainability in companies. Sustainable development aims to determine the environmental impact of a product and the hidden price of products and services through the concept of radical transparency. This means that companies should show and disclose the impact on the environment of any good or service. This way, the consumer can choose in a transparent manner, not only for the price. The use of the eco-label as a European eco-label, which bases its criteria on life cycle assessment, could provide an indicator of corporate social responsibility for a given product. However, it does not give a full guarantee that the product was obtained in a sustainable manner. The aim of this work is to provide a way of calculating the value of the environmental impacts of an industrial product, under different operating conditions, so that each company can provide detailed information on the impacts of its products, information that can form part of its "green product sheet". As a case study, the daily production of a newspaper, printed by coldset, has been chosen. Each process involved in production was configured with raw material and energy consumption information from production plants, manufacturer data and existing databases. Four non-linear regression models have been trained to estimate the impact of a newspaper’s circulation from five input variables (pages, grammage, height, paper type, and print run) with 5508 data samples each. These non-linear regression models were trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt nonlinear least squares algorithm. The mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) obtained by all the non-linear regression models tested were less than 5%. Through the proposed correlations, it is possible to obtain a score that reports on the impact of the product for different operating conditions and several types of raw materials. Ecolabelling can be further developed by incorporating a scoring system for the impact caused by the product or process, using a standardised impact methodology.
Location-Aware Point-to-Point RPL in Indoor IR-UWB Networks
Authors: Jung Jiwon , Choi Yunyoung , Kwon Younggoo
Published: May 2020

Wireless multi-hop ad hoc routing is one of the critical design factors that determine the network performance of various wireless IoT applications. IETF has standardized the point-to-point RPL (P2P-RPL) routing protocol to overcome the inefficient routing overheads of RPL. However, P2P-RPL propagates the route discovery forwarding packets throughout the whole network. P2P-RPL suffers from the high energy consumption and the huge route discovery overhead in low-power and lossy networks (LLNs). In this paper, we propose a novel Location-Aware P2P-RPL (LA P2P-RPL), which achieves the energy-efficient P2P data delivery without reducing the networking reliability. The proposed algorithm introduces the Impulse-Response UWB (IR-UWB) based cooperative multi-hop self localization algorithm and the Location-Aware P2P-RPL algorithm for Indoor IR-UWB based networks. To increase the localization accuracy, smartphone based Inertial Navigation System (INS) with particle filtering is used in indoor multi-hop environments. The performance evaluations for Location-Aware P2P-RPL algorithm are compared with the traditional P2P-RPL and the ER-RPL algorithm to show the significant performance improvements for route discovery overheads and energy consumptions in LLNs.
Simultaneous Audio Encryption and Compression Using Compressive Sensing Techniques
Authors: Moreno-Alvarado Rodolfo , Rivera-Jaramillo Eduardo , Nakano Mariko , Perez-Meana Hector
Published: May 2020

The development of coding schemes with the capacity to simultaneously encrypt and compress audio signals is a subject of active research because of the increasing necessity for transmitting sensitive audio information over insecure communication channels. Thus, several schemes have been developed; firstly, some of them compress the digital information and subsequently encrypt the resulting information. These schemas efficiently compress and encrypt the information. However, they may compromise the information as it can be accessed before encryption. To overcome this problem, a compressing sensing-based system to simultaneously compress and encrypt audio signals is proposed in which the audio signal is segmented in frames of 1024 samples and transformed into a sparse frame using the discrete cosine transform (DCT). Each frame is then multiplied by a different sensing matrix generated using the chaotic mixing scheme. This fact allows that the proposed scheme satisfies the extended Wyner secrecy (EWS) criterion. The evaluation results obtained using several genres of audio signals show that the proposed system allows to simultaneously compress and encrypt audio signals, satisfying the EWS criterion.
Programming Pulse Width Assessment for Reliable and Low-Energy Endurance Performance in Al:HfO2-Based RRAM Arrays
Authors: Pérez Eduardo , González Ossorio Óscar , Dueñas Salvador , Castán Helena , García Héctor , Wenger Christian
Published: May 2020

A crucial step in order to achieve fast and low-energy switching operations in resistive random access memory (RRAM) memories is the reduction of the programming pulse width. In this study, the incremental step pulse with verify algorithm (ISPVA) was implemented by using different pulse widths between 10 μ s and 50 ns and assessed on Al-doped HfO 2 4 kbit RRAM memory arrays. The switching stability was assessed by means of an endurance test of 1k cycles. Both conductive levels and voltages needed for switching showed a remarkable good behavior along 1k reset/set cycles regardless the programming pulse width implemented. Nevertheless, the distributions of voltages as well as the amount of energy required to carry out the switching operations were definitely affected by the value of the pulse width. In addition, the data retention was evaluated after the endurance analysis by annealing the RRAM devices at 150 °C along 100 h. Just an almost negligible increase on the rate of degradation of about 1 μ A at the end of the 100 h of annealing was reported between those samples programmed by employing a pulse width of 10 μ s and those employing 50 ns. Finally, an endurance performance of 200k cycles without any degradation was achieved on 128 RRAM devices by using programming pulses of 100 ns width.
A Pipeline for Adaptive Filtering and Transformation of Noisy Left-Arm ECG to Its Surrogate Chest Signal
Authors: Mohaddes Farzad , da Silva Rafael , Akbulut Fatma , Zhou Yilu , Tanneeru Akhilesh , Lobaton Edgar , Lee Bongmook , Misra Veena
Published: May 2020

The performance of a low-power single-lead armband in generating electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the chest and left arm was validated against a BIOPAC MP160 benchtop system in real-time. The filtering performance of three adaptive filtering algorithms, namely least mean squares (LMS), recursive least squares (RLS), and extended kernel RLS (EKRLS) in removing white (W), power line interference (PLI), electrode movement (EM), muscle artifact (MA), and baseline wandering (BLW) noises from the chest and left-arm ECG was evaluated with respect to the mean squared error (MSE). Filter parameters of the used algorithms were adjusted to ensure optimal filtering performance. LMS was found to be the most effective adaptive filtering algorithm in removing all noises with minimum MSE. However, for removing PLI with a maximal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), RLS showed lower MSE values than LMS when the step size was set to 1 × 10−5. We proposed a transformation framework to convert the denoised left-arm and chest ECG signals to their low-MSE and high-SNR surrogate chest signals. With wide applications in wearable technologies, the proposed pipeline was found to be capable of establishing a baseline for comparing left-arm signals with original chest signals, getting one step closer to making use of the left-arm ECG in clinical cardiac evaluations.
Development of Full-Cycle Utilization of Chlorella sorokiniana Microalgae Biomass for Environmental and Food Purposes
Authors: Politaeva Natalia , Smyatskaya Yulia , Al Afif Rafat , Pfeifer Christoph , Mukhametova Liliya
Published: May 2020

The application of microalgae biomass of Chlorella sorokiniana as environmentally friendly biosorbents for removing potentially toxic elements (PTE) from water and as a source of biofuel has been thoroughly studied. In this paper, we investigate its physicochemical properties infrared spectroscopy (IR spectra), microstructure, adsorption properties); we have managed to isolate the lipid complex, which amounted to 20% of dry biomass. Studies of the lipid complex showed that 80.02% of lipids are unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1, C18:2, C18:3). Additionally, we have investigated the efficiency of using the residual biomass obtained after lipid extraction for water purification from rare-earth metals (REM) and PTE. To increase the sorption properties of residual biomass, its thermal modification was carried out and sorption materials based on heat-treated residual biomass and chitosan were created. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the obtained sorption materials were studied. The total sorption capacity was 31.9 mg/g for REM and 349.7 mg/g for PTE. Moreover, we propose a new method for the disposal of spent sorbents as additional fuel. Spent sorbents can be considered to be biofuel in terms of energy content (20.7 MJ*kg−1). The results of this study provide the basis for increased use of microalgae.
Leveraging Cell Expansion Sensing in State of Charge Estimation: Practical Considerations
Authors: Figueroa-Santos Miriam A. , Siegel Jason B. , Stefanopoulou Anna G.
Published: May 2020

Measurements such as current and terminal voltage that are typically used to determine the battery’s state of charge (SOC) are augmented with measured force associated with electrode expansion as the lithium intercalates in its structure. The combination of the sensed behavior is shown to improve SOC estimation even for the lithium ion iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, where the voltage–SOC relation is flat (low slope) making SOC estimation using measured voltage difficult. For the LFP cells, the measured force has a non-monotonic F–SOC relationship. This presents a challenge for estimation as multiple force values can correspond to the same SOC. The traditional linear quadratic estimator can be driven to an incorrect SOC value. To address these difficulties, a novel switching estimation gain is used based on determining the operating region that corresponds to the actual SOC. Moreover, a drift in the measured force associated with a shift of the cell SOC–expansion behavior over time is addressed with a bias estimator for the force signal. The performance of Voltage-based (V) and Voltage and Force-based (V&F) SOC estimation algorithms are then compared and evaluated against a desired ± 5 % absolute error bound of the SOC using a dynamic stress test current protocol that tests the proposed estimation scheme across wide range of SOC and current rates.
Solar PV Sustained Quasi Z-Source Network-Based Unified Power Quality Conditioner for Enhancement of Power Quality
Authors: Muthuvel K. , Vijayakumar M.
Published: May 2020

In this article, a Quasi Z-source inverter (QZSI)-based unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) backed by the solar photovoltaic (SPV) is presented in order to enhance power quality. The UPQC consists of converters connected in parallel and series. The active power filters (APFs) connected in parallel and series is one of the versatile custom power circuitries to reduce current and voltage instabilities. The main functions of QZSI can increase the variable direct current (DC) voltage to any given alternating current (AC) output voltage, reduce the necessary elements, and alleviate harmonic content. The UPQC’s compensation function primarily relies on the control system used for the generation of reference current and voltage. The enhanced second order generalized integrator (ESOGI) is used in this proposed system to extract the reference current of QZSI-UPQC. The proposed UPQC uses the SPV system, which has an energy storage unit to offset long-term current and voltage disruptions and fulfill the active power demands of the grid. The experimental results confirm that the proposed SPV-supported QZSI-UPQC generates sinusoidal grid currents of about 1.2% of total harmonic distortion (THD), thus increasing the power efficiency of the interconnected SPV power distribution network.
Scots Pine and Norway Spruce Wood Properties at Sites with Different Stand Densities
Authors: Šilinskas Benas , Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė Iveta , Aleinikovas Marius , Beniušienė Lina , Aleinikovienė Jūratė , Škėma Mindaugas
Published: May 2020

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different stand densities on wood density (WD), global modulus of elasticity (MOE), and bending strength (MOR) in 35-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) stands, representing the hemiboreal forest zone. Materials and Methods: Scots pine and Norway spruce sites, representing different stand densities of 3000–3100; 2000–2100 and 1000–1100 trees per hectare, were chosen. Visually healthy model pine and spruce trees were selected, and diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured for model trees; the competition index was calculated; the MOE and MOR were evaluated by the Standards EN 408:2006 and EN 384:2016, at 12% moisture content; WD and the knot diameter were measured; and the strength class of wood was determined by the Standard EN 338:2009. To predict wood quality characteristics based on stand and tree characteristics, linear regression models were developed. Results and Conclusions: Higher stand density led to a significant change in the main wood properties of both conifer species. The highest mean WD, MOE, and MOR were obtained at the sites with the highest stand density. The MOE and MOR were highly correlated, but relatively weak correlations were found between MOE and MOR with tree DBH and WD. Despite the lower quality of Scots pine wood, the Norway spruce wood from more dense sites corresponded to the strength class of C16, according the strength grading of softwoods. The linear regression models did not perform well in describing the relationship of wood properties with stand and tree characteristics. The models for MOR accounted for the highest variation of 62–65% for both Scots pine and Norway spruce. These relationships can be expected to change with increased stand age or with the inclusion of specific crown parameters.