bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A 3.5-GHz Class-F Power Amplifier with Current-Reused Topology in 0.13-μm CMOS for 5G Application
Authors: Li Dan , Du Sichun
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a 3.5-GHz class-F Power Amplifier with current-reused topology in 0.13-[Formula: see text]m CMOS for 5G application is presented. This proposed circuit has a two-stage structure by a current-reused topology driving to improve gain and the stability of PA. An output matching network is constructed by an open-circuited third harmonic resonator that can integrate the current and voltage waveform in the time domain adopted to improve the output power and reduce power consumption. The simulation results show that the proposed PA provides a 13[Formula: see text]dBm output power with a PAE of 50.5% and a small signal gain of 32.5[Formula: see text]dB that is higher than reported for a two-stage design in CMOS at the 3.5-GHz frequency, while the minimum output return loss ([Formula: see text]) is [Formula: see text]14.4[Formula: see text]dB with a minimum value of [Formula: see text]24.67[Formula: see text]dB. Many experiments are carried out to prove that the proposed PA has higher gain and higher efficiency compared to the traditional class-F power amplifier and is suitable for 5G short-range applications. Finally, the layout occupies a compact chip area of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm2, including testing pads.
Optimum Structure-Based Multi-level Inverter with Doubling Circuit Configuration
Authors: Majumdar Saikat , Mahato Bidyut , Jana Kartick Chandra
Published: November 2018

A single-phase cascaded generalized doubling circuit-based multi-level inverter configuration is presented that can generate maximum number of output voltage levels by distributing the total asymmetrical input DC link voltage among the cells using minimum number of power switches. A cell consists of [Formula: see text] numbers of sub-cells each having two DC voltage sources connected in series along with a half-bridge circuit and a polarity reversal unit. Moreover, an optimum structure of novel proposed MLI is presented and well described in the paper. A laboratory prototype of proposed 15-level MLI is developed and the experimental results are found at par with the simulation results. The experimental results are captured for different modulation indices to show the effectiveness of the proposed MLI that can be used for Photovoltaic (PV) applications.
Communication-Sensitive Pseudo-Tree Heuristics for DCOP Algorithms
Authors: Tabakhi Atena M. , Yeoh William , Tourani Reza , Natividad Francisco , Misra Satyajayant
Published: November 2018

Distributed Constraint Optimization Problem (DCOP) is a powerful paradigm to model multi-agent systems through enabling multiple agents to coordinate with each other to solve a problem. These agents are often assumed to be cooperative, that is, they communicate with other agents in order to optimize a global objective. However, the communication times between all pairs of agents are assumed to be identical in the evaluation of most DCOP algorithms. This assumption is impractical in almost all real-world applications. In this paper, we study the impact of empirically evaluating a DCOP algorithm under the assumption that communication times between pairs of agents can vary. In addition, we evaluate a DCOP algorithm using ns-2, a discrete-event simulator that is widely used in the computer networking community, to simulate the communication times, as opposed to the standard DCOP simulators that are used to evaluate DCOP algorithms in the AI community. Furthermore, we propose heuristics that exploit the non-uniform communication times to speed up DCOP algorithms that operate on pseudo-trees. Our empirical results demonstrate that the proposed heuristics improve the runtime of those algorithms up to 20%. These heuristics are evaluated on different benchmarks such as scale-free graphs, random graphs, and an instance of the smart grid, Customer-Driven Microgrid (CDMG) application.
Computing Robust Principal Components by A* Search
Authors: Shah Swair , He Baokun , Maung Crystal , Schweitzer Haim
Published: November 2018

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a classical dimensionality reduction technique that computes a low rank representation of the data. Recent studies have shown how to compute this low rank representation from most of the data, excluding a small amount of outlier data. We show how to convert this problem into graph search, and describe an algorithm that solves this problem optimally by applying a variant of the A* algorithm to search for the outliers. The results obtained by our algorithm are optimal in terms of accuracy, and are shown to be more accurate than results obtained by the current state-of-the- art algorithms which are shown not to be optimal. This comes at the cost of running time, which is typically slower than the current state of the art. We also describe a related variant of the A* algorithm that runs much faster than the optimal variant and produces a solution that is guaranteed to be near the optimal. This variant is shown experimentally to be more accurate than the current state-of-the-art and has a comparable running time.
On some properties of LS algebras
Authors: Chirivì Rocco
Published: November 2018

The discrete LS algebra over a totally ordered set is the homogeneous coordinate ring of an irreducible projective (normal) toric variety. We prove that this algebra is the ring of invariants of a finite abelian group containing no pseudo-reflection acting on a polynomial ring. This is used to study the Gorenstein property for LS algebras. Further we show that any LS algebra is Koszul.
Hydroxylamine-induced oxidation of ferrous CO-bound carboxymethylated-cytochrome c
Authors: Ascenzi Paolo , De Simone Giovanna , Ciaccio Chiara , Santucci Roberto , Coletta Massimo
Published: November 2018

The hexa-coordinated metal center of horse heart cyt[Formula: see text] (cyt[Formula: see text] is at the root of its low reactivity. In contrast, carboxymethylated cyt[Formula: see text] (CM-cyt[Formula: see text] displays myoglobin-like properties. Herein, kinetics of CO binding to ferrous CM-cyt[Formula: see text] (CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II)) and of the irreversible oxidation of ferrous carbonylated CM-cyt[Formula: see text] (CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II)-CO) by hydroxylamine (HA), at pH 5.8 and 20.0 [Formula: see text]C, are reported. HA irreversibly oxidizes CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II)-CO with the 1:2 stoichiometry leading to the formation of the ferric species (CM-cyt[Formula: see text](III)) without the observation of intermediates. Present data indicate that: (i) the rate of CO dissociation from CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II)-CO represents the rate-limiting step of HA-mediated oxidation of the carbonylated metal center, (ii) the fast oxidation of CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II)-CO from HA reflects the penta-coordination of the transient CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II) species, (iii) the HA-catalyzed conversion of CM-cyt[Formula: see text](II)-CO to CM-cyt[Formula: see text](III) could proceed via the geminate mechanism, (iv) values of the second-order rate constants for the carbonylation and the HA-mediated oxidation of ferrous heme-proteins are linearly correlated reflecting the penta- or hexa-coordination of the metal center, the free energy for the in-plane positioning of the heme-Fe atom in the unliganded species, and the arrangement of the distal portion of the heme pocket that affects ligand and/or electron transfer.
Investigate the Effect of Psychological Factors in Development of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I in Patients with Fracture of the Distal Radius: A Prospective Study
Authors: Farzad Maryam , Layeghi Fereydoun , Hosseini Ali , Dianat Al , Ahrari Nadiyeh , Rassafiani Mehdi , Mirzaei Hooshang
Published: November 2018

Background: To investigate the role of psychological factors (anxiety and depression) and pain measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) in the development of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) following the distal radius fracture (DRF).

Methods: A consecutive sample of patients (N=60) with a distal radius fracture was measured for signs of CRPS by Budapest criteria weekly till 8 weeks and then another follow-up one year after injury to determine the incidence and predictors of developing CRPS I in a prospective cohort study and also to discover whether there is difference between pain, depression, and anxiety level in the patients with and without CRPS I. The most of the patients were treated by Pin stabilization. The Beck depression inventoryshort form (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Numerical pain rating scale were used to determine the patients’ psychological features and pain intensity at the base line and 8 weeks after the fracture.

Results: CRPS I developed in 15 (25%) patients after eight weeks and just last in 10 (16.67%) patients after one year. No difference was found between the two groups (CRPS and non-CRPS group) in terms of state (STAI-I) and trait (STAI-II) anxiety, and BDI score. Pain at the base line was the most important risk factor in developing CRPS (odds ratio [OR] =1.52; 95% CI).

Conclusions: After fracturing the distal radius, patients who have high pain intensity have a higher risk of developing CRPS I. To following these patients closely for the development of CRPS I may be advantageous for early preventative and therapeutic interventions.
Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Radial Artery
Authors: Vaughn Natalie H. , Flemming Donald J. , Newell Jordan M. , Payatakes Alexander H.
Published: November 2018

Upper extremity adventitial cystic disease is rare, but the characteristic findings of this lesion should be known to the hand surgeon and used to guide treatment. We present a case of a young adult male who developed a painless mass in his distal forearm. Diagnostic imaging workup revealed a cystic mass that extended within and encased the radial artery. Both MRI and direct intraoperative visualization confirmed the presence of a stalk connecting the intra-mural radial artery mass to the radiocarpal joint. The mass and stalk were excised en bloc with fenestration of the volar capsule to prevent recurrence. This case demonstrates a less common example of upper extremity adventitial cystic disease and supports the articular theory of origin of these lesions. When surgical excision is performed, an attempt should be made to identify and excise the articular stalk in an effort to minimize risk of recurrence.
A service-oriented middleware framework for manufacturing industry 4.0
Authors: Al-Jaroodi Jameela , Mohamed Nader , Jawhar Imad
Published: November 2018

The advantages of the Internet of things (IoT) initiated the vision of Industry 4.0 in Europe and smart manufacturing in USA. Both visions aim to implement the smart factory to achieve similar objectives by utilizing new technologies. These technologies include cloud computing, fog computing, cyber-physical systems (CPS), and data analytics. Together they help automate and autonomize the manufacturing processes and controls to optimize the productivity, reliability, quality, cost-effeteness, and safety of these processes. While both visions are promising, developing and operating Industry 4.0 applications are extremely challenging. This is due to the complexity of the manufacturing processes as well as their management, controls, and integration dynamics. This paper introduces Man4Ware, a service-oriented middleware for Industry 4.0. Man4Ware can help facilitate the development and operations of cloud and fog-integrated smart manufacturing applications. Man4Ware offers many advantages through service level interfaces to enable easy utilization of new technologies and integration of different services to relax many of the challenges facing the development and operations of such applications
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Urban analytics in the context of public safety
Authors: Eftelioglu Emre
Published: November 2018

Given a collection of geolocated activities, the goal of urban analytics in the context of public safety is to discover the underlying motives of people that affect their movement/activity patterns in space and time. Understanding the spatial patterns from urban mobility/activity datasets is an important task in public safety, city planning and sociology since these may reveal the underlying causes of crimes and safety issues, as well as behavior changes of individuals. Avoidance patterns are a type of behavioral change characterized by a lack of movement contrary to expectation. Avoidance pattern detection is a challenging task due to the lack of observations (e.g. lack of movement), defining the expected "normal" movement and large datasets (i.e. high number of GPS trajectories which are spread across the study area and large road network graphs). In addition, these challenges are exacerbated by the complicated and often hidden drivers of human activities and the complex relationships and dependencies between the spatially associated features.

In this paper, we will provide a brief overview of the state-of-the-art spatial data science approaches in the context of avoidance patterns. First, we introduce the background from the domain (i.e. public safety) perspective, followed by an overview of the current state-of-the-art work. Then we will discuss possible future directions that may help shape future research on the topic.
Indoor location-based services
Authors: Cheema Muhammad Aamir
Published: November 2018

Billions of smartphone users throughout the world have come to expect, and rely upon, intuitive, reliable and accurate maps, directions, turn-by-turn navigation and other location-based services (LBSs). Those same users will over the next few years come to expect and then demand the same experience and services when they enter any large building or facility in the world whether that be a hospital, airport, shopping mall or university campus. Based on various reports and surveys, it is reported that indoor LBSs are expected to have an even bigger impact than outdoor LBSs mainly because indoor is where we spend our time and money, meet friends, and where business happens. Indoor LBSs have numerous applications including navigation, location based social networking, emergency services, location-based marketing, mobile games, asset tracking, and workforce location. In this paper, we describe the challenges that need to be solved in order to make indoor LBSs as ubiquitous as their outdoor counterpart and discuss the opportunity this provides.
Piezo1 mediates angiogenesis through activation of MT1-MMP signaling
Authors: Kang Hojin , Hong Zhigang , Zhong Ming , Klomp Jennifer , Bayless Kayla J. , Mehta Dolly , Karginov Andrei V. , Hu Guochang , Malik Asrar B.
Published: November 2018

Angiogenesis is initiated in response to a variety of external cues, including mechanical and biochemical stimuli; however, the underlying signaling mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the proangiogenic role of the endothelial mechanosensor Piezo1. Genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of Piezo1 reduced endothelial sprouting and lumen formation induced by wall shear stress and proangiogenic mediator sphingosine 1-phosphate, whereas Piezo1 activation by selective Piezo1 activator Yoda1 enhanced sprouting angiogenesis. Similarly to wall shear stress, sphingosine 1-phosphate functioned by activating the Ca2+ gating function of Piezo1, which in turn signaled the activation of the matrix metalloproteinase-2 and membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase during sprouting angiogenesis. Studies in mice in which Piezo1 was conditionally deleted in endothelial cells demonstrated the requisite role of sphingosine 1-phosphate-dependent activation of Piezo1 in mediating angiogenesis in vivo. These results taken together suggest that both mechanical and biochemical stimuli trigger Piezo1-mediated Ca2+ influx and thereby activate matrix metalloproteinase-2 and membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and synergistically facilitate sprouting angiogenesis.
The In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Properties of Moringa oleifera
Authors: Khor Kang Zi , Lim Vuanghao , Moses Emmanuel J. , Abdul Samad Nozlena
Published: November 2018

Moringa oleifera, a fast‐growing deciduous tree that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, is well known for its abundant uses. The tree is a source of food, shelter, and traditional medicine for many people, especially in developing countries. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the various claims of traditional medicine practitioners that the moringa tree can improve health and treat various diseases. The tree has a high nutritional profile, especially the nutrient rich leaves. Some reports also support the use of parts of the tree to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. These attractive properties have led researchers to look for other novel uses for the moringa tree, especially as a source of anticancer drugs. Researchers have tested extracts from various parts of the moringa tree both in vitro and in vivo on several types of cancers with varying success. This review explores the state of current research on the anticancer properties of M. oleifera.
Reference Intervals of Thyroid Hormones and Correlation of BMI with Thyroid Function in Healthy Zhuang Ethnic Pregnant Women
Authors: Sheng Yonghong , Huang Dongping , Liu Shun , Guo Xuefeng , Chen Jiehua , Shao Yantao , Zhang Guoqiang , Wei Liangjia , Zeng Xiaoyun , Qiu Xiaoqiang
Published: November 2018

Ethnic differences in the level of thyroid hormones exist among individuals. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends that an institution or region should establish a specific thyroid hormone reference value for each stage of pregnancy. To date, a limited number of studies have reported the level of thyroid hormones in Chinese minorities, and the exact relationship between BMI and thyroid function in pregnant women is ill. This study was performed to establish trimester-specific reference ranges of thyroid hormones in Zhuang ethnic pregnant women and explore the role of body mass index (BMI) on thyroid function. A total of 3324 Zhuang ethnic health pregnant women were recruited in this Zhuang population-based retrospective cross-sectional study. The values of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were determined by automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. Multivariate linear regression and binary logistic regression were constructed to evaluate the influence of BMI on the thyroid function. The established reference intervals for the serum thyroid hormones in three trimesters were as follows: TSH, 0.02–3.28, 0.03–3.22, and 0.08-3.71 mIU/L; FT4, 10.57–19.76, 10.05–19.23, and 8.96–17.75 pmol/L; FT3, 3.51–5.64, 3.42–5.42, and 2.93–5.03 pmol/L. These values were markedly lower than those provided by the manufacturers for nonpregnant adults which can potentially result in 6.10% to 19.73% misclassification in Zhuang pregnant women. Moreover, BMI was positively correlated with isolated hypothyroxinemia (OR=1.081, 95% CI=1.007–1.161), while the correlation between the BMI and subclinical hypothyroidism was not statistically significant (OR=0.991, 95% CI=0.917–1.072). This is the first study focusing on the reference ranges of thyroid hormones in Guangxi Zhuang ethnic pregnant women, which will improve the care of them in the diagnosis and treatment. We also found that high BMI was positively associated with the risk of isolated hypothyroxinemia.
Time Course of Upper Limb Function in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Klingels Katrijn , Meyer Sarah , Mailleux Lisa , Simon-Martinez Cristina , Hoskens Jasmine , Monbaliu Elegast , Verheyden Geert , Verbeke Geert , Molenaers Guy , Ortibus Els , Feys Hilde
Published: November 2018

Knowledge on long-term evolution of upper limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) is scarce. The objective was to report the five-year evolution in upper limb function and identify factors influencing time trends. Eighty-one children (mean age 9 y and 11 mo, SD 3 y and 3 mo) were assessed at baseline with follow-up after 6 months, 1, and 5 years. Passive range of motion (PROM), tone, muscle, and grip strength were assessed. Activity measurements included Melbourne Assessment, Jebsen-Taylor test, Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), and ABILHAND-Kids. At 5-year follow-up, PROM (p<0.001) and AHA scores (p<0.001) decreased, whereas an improvement was seen for grip strength (p<0.001), Melbourne Assessment (p=0.003), Jebsen-Taylor test (p<0.001), and ABILHAND-Kids (p<0.001). Age influenced the evolution of AHA scores (p=0.003), with younger children being stable over time, but from 9 years onward, children experienced a decrease in bimanual performance. Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels also affected the evolution of AHA scores (p=0.02), with stable scores in MACS I and deterioration in MACS II and III. In conclusion, over 5 years, children with unilateral CP develop more limitations in PROM, and although capacity measures improve, the spontaneous use of the impaired limb in bimanual tasks becomes less effective after the age of 9 years.
An Efficient Local Repair‐Based Multi‐Constrained Routing for Congestion Control in Wireless Mesh Networks
Authors: Shin Byoungheon , Lee Dongman
Published: November 2018

Multi‐constrained routing is a key driver to support quality‐of‐service (QoS) for real‐time multimedia applications in wireless mesh networks (WMNs). Due to the difficulty of applying strict admission control into a public WMN, it is inevitable to accommodate multiple application flows with different QoS requirements exceeding the capacity of a certain link shared by multiple flows. However, existing multi‐constrained routing protocols under such an environment find the QoS degradation based on end‐to‐end path quality probing and trigger flooding‐based route discovery from a scratch for resolving the QoS degradation, which incurs a longer recovery time and much routing overhead. In this paper, we propose a novel multi‐constrained routing protocol for WMNs that finds problematic links that may affect QoS degradation to end‐to‐end paths and replaces them with a detour path using a local repair principle. We model congestion threshold estimation for finding problematic links and design algorithms for quickly finding detour paths and selecting an optimal path by minimizing the negative effect on existing flows nearby the detour path. Simulation results show that the proposed routing protocol achieves up to 19.6% more goodput of live video streaming applications with up to 33% reduced routing overhead compared with an existing work.
Biocontrol of Penicillium digitatum on Postharvest Citrus Fruits by Pseudomonas fluorescens
Authors: Wang Zhirong , Jiang Mengyao , Chen Kewei , Wang Kaituo , Du Muying , Zalán Zsolt , Hegyi Ferenc , Kan Jianquan
Published: November 2018

The effectiveness of the bacteria antagonist Pseudomonas fluorescens to control green mold caused by Penicillium digitatum on oranges (Citrus sinensis Osbeck, cv. Jincheng) and the possible modes of action were evaluated. Whether in vitro or in vivo, treatments with cell-free autoclaved cultures or culture filtrate had limited capacity to suppress P. digitatum, while P. digitatum was significantly inhibited by bacterial fluid (P. fluorescens in the nutrient broth liquid medium) and bacterial suspension (P. fluorescens in sterile distilled water) with living cells. There was a positive relationship between the concentration of P. fluorescens in bacterial suspension and its biological efficacy. In addition, P. fluorescens was effective when applied preventatively but not when applied curatively. In the inoculated wounds, the population of P. fluorescens was an approximately 28- and 34-fold increase after being incubated at 20°C for 8 d and at 4°C for 16 d, respectively, and P. digitatum could effectively stimulate the growth and reproduction of P. fluorescens. Moreover, P. fluorescens was able to inhibit spore germination and germ tube elongation of P. digitatum as well as induce resistance on citrus peel by increasing the chitinase (CHI) activity and advancing the activities peaks of β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). All of these results support the potential application of P. fluorescens against green mold on postharvest citrus.
Deformation and Stability of Soft Foundation Improved by Prefabricated Vertical Drains Adjacent to River Bank
Authors: Qi Changqing , Li Liuyang , Qi Jiabing
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a finite element analysis on a soft embankment foundation improved by prefabricated vertical drains. A plane strain analysis was performed using equivalent permeability. The predictions of settlement, pore water pressure, and lateral displacement were compared with the available field measurement data, and a general fair agreement was observed. Numerical results indicate that the settlement below the left part of the embankment is obviously larger than that of the right part. The maximum settlement occurs below the left shoulder of the embankment and reaches 1.26 m. The entire shallow foundation shows a movement trend to the left toe. The designed left embankment shoulder was suggested to be 0.16 m higher than the right side. Monitoring and simulation results demonstrate that the foundation is stable during the construction. The factor of safety at the end of the final loading stage is about 1.81. The performance of the embankment is consistent with the design prescriptions, confirming the effectiveness of the soil improved technique included in this project.
Effect of Integrated Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers on Yield and Yield Components of Barley in Liben Jawi District
Authors: Abera Tolera , Tufa Tolcha , Midega Tesfaye , Kumbi Haji , Tola Buzuayehu
Published: November 2018

Barley is an important food and beverage crop in the highlands of Ethiopia, although intensive cultivation and suboptimal fertilizer application have caused nutrient depletion and yield decline. With this in view, integrated inorganic and organic fertilizer sources on yield and yield components of barley were studied. Ten treatments involving the sole NP, vermicompost, conventional compost, and farmyard manure based on N equivalency were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. Significantly higher grain yield and biomass yield of barley were obtained with the application of sole recommended NP and the integrated use of 50 : 50% vermicompost and conventional compost with recommended NP. Mean grain yield of 2567 and 2549 kg·ha−1barley was obtained from application of 50 :50% conventional compost and vermicompost based on N equivalence with recommended NP fertilizer rate, which markedly reduce the cost of chemical NP fertilizer required for the production of barley. The economic analysis confirmed the profitability of the integrated use of 50 : 50% conventional compost and vermicompost with recommended NP fertilizer for barley production. Therefore, the integrated use of 50 : 50% conventional compost and vermicompost based on N equivalency with recommended NP fertilizer was recommended for sustainable barley production in Chelia district and similar agroecology.
The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Gumiganghwal‐Tang in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Phase II Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study
Authors: Chang Sung Hae , Song Yun-Kyung , Nah Seong-Su
Published: November 2018

Background. Gumiganghwal‐tang (GMGHT) is a traditional herbal medicine consisting of nine different herbs. GMGHT inhibits the mRNA expression and production of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐ α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and TNF‐ β on lipopolysaccharide‐ (LPS‐) stimulated peritoneal macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. It is empirically used for the treatment of inflammatory disease, but there are few reports of clinical trials that investigate its efficacy and safety. The current study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of GMGHT in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. This was a multicenter, two‐armed, double‐blinded, randomized, placebo controlled study of GMGHT over 6 weeks. Eligible patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for OA were randomized to receive either GMGHT or the placebo. Clinical assessments included measurement of knee pain and function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), patient global assessment (PGA), and knee pain scores every 2 weeks. Results. A total of 128 patients were enrolled (91.4% female; mean age, 58.7 ± 8.1 years). At baseline, pain visual analogue score (VAS) was 67.2 ± 1.4, resp. 71.3 ± 1.6 (treatment, resp. placebo group, p=0.84), and total WOMAC score was 55.2 ± 1.6, resp. 55.6 ± 1.5 (p = 0.84). After 6 weeks, the pain VAS was 43.0 ± 2.5, resp. 61.6 ± 2.5 (p < 0.01) and the total WOMAC score was 34.1 ± 2.4, resp. 46.9 ± 1.8 (p < 0.01). No patients withdrew because of treatment emergent adverse events. Expected adverse events including dyspepsia, liver function abnormality, and lower extremity edema were comparable between both groups. Conclusions. Treatment with GMGHT resulted in significant improvement in pain, function, and global assessment, and it was generally safe and well tolerated in patients with OA.
Reconstruction of Positron Emission Tomography Images Using Gaussian Curvature
Authors: Mejia Jose , Mederos Boris , Zhao Jie , Ortega Leticia , Gordillo Nelly
Published: November 2018

Positron emission tomography (PET) provides images of metabolic activity in the body, and it is used in the research, monitoring, and diagnosis of several diseases. However, the raw data produced by the scanner are severely corrupted by noise, causing a degraded quality in the reconstructed images. In this paper, we proposed a reconstruction algorithm to improve the image reconstruction process, addressing the problem from a variational geometric perspective. We proposed using the weighted Gaussian curvature (WGC) as a regularization term to better deal with noise and preserve the original geometry of the image, such as the lesion structure. In other contexts, the WGC term has been found to have excellent capabilities for preserving borders and structures of low gradient magnitude, such as ramp-like structures; at the same time, it effectively removes noise in the image. We presented several experiments aimed at evaluating contrast and lesion detectability in the reconstructed images. The results for simulated images and real data showed that our proposed algorithm effectively preserves lesions and removes noise.
Screening of Cervical Cancer with Self-Collected Cervical Samples and Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Fan Yubo , Meng Yifan , Yang Shuo , Wang Ling , Zhi Wenhua , Lazare Cordelle , Cao Canhui , Wu Peng
Published: November 2018

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in female genital malignancies. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV is closely related to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Wide-scale HPV screening has already been implemented in developed countries. However, with advances in HPV testing methods, there are presently no better methods for the management of the increasing number of high-risk HPV-positive women except for periodic review. In order to improve screening coverage and achieve better triage of those women, we present current HPV testing methods with self-collected cervical samples, focusing on recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies as a promising screening technology for cervical cancer precursors.
Diagnostic Yield of Combined Pulmonary Cryobiopsies and Electromagnetic Navigation in Small Pulmonary Nodules
Authors: Taton Olivier , Bondue Benjamin , Gevenois Pierre Alain , Remmelink Myriam , Leduc Dimitri
Published: November 2018

Background. An increasing number of pulmonary nodules of unknown nature are detected as a result of screening by CT in high lung cancer risk patients. Objectives. The purposes of this study were to assess the diagnostic yield of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) combined with transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) and to compare it with standard transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in pulmonary nodules of less than 2 cm in diameter. Methods. We prospectively included 32 patients (18 men and 14 women, mean age 68 ± 9 years) with nodules of less than 2 cm in diameter and no metastasis at 18FDG PET-CT. The nodule position was determined by ENB, radial endobronchial ultrasonography miniprobe, and fluoroscopy. Eight samples were obtained, six by TBB and two by TBLC. Results. Nodule diameter averaged 16 ± 3 mm. Twenty-five nodules were malignant and 18 were surgically resected. Surgery was avoided in four patients as the biopsies revealed a benign disease. The samples obtained by TBLC were five times larger than those by TBB. The diagnostic yields of TBLC and TBB were 69% and 38%, respectively (p=0.017). Adverse events consisted in 15 mild or moderate bleedings and one pneumothorax. Conclusions. In the setting of peripheral pulmonary lesions of less than 20 mm in diameter, ENB-combined TBLC is feasible and safe, provides larger samples, and has higher diagnostic yield than TBB.
GSM‐RF Channel Characterization Using a Wideband Subspace Sensing Mechanism for Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: El Barrak Soumaya , El Gonnouni Amina , Serrano Salvatore , Puliafito Antonio , Lyhyaoui Abdelouahid
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we examine a spectrum sharing opportunities over the existing Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) networks, by identifying the unused channels at a specific time and location. For this purpose, we propose a wideband spectrum sensing mechanism to analyze the status of 51 channels at once, belonging to the 10  MHz bandwidth centered at the frequency 945  MHz, in four different areas. We propose a subspace based spectral estimation mechanism, adapted to deal with real measurements. The process begins with data collection using Secondary User (SU) device enabled with Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology, configured to operate in the GSM band. Obtained samples are used then to feed the sensing mechanism. Spectral analysis is delivered to estimate power density peaks and corresponding frequencies. Decision making phase brings together power thresholding technique and GSM control channel decoding to identify idle and busy channels. Experiments are evaluated using detection and false alarm probabilities emulated via Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. Obtained performances show better detection accuracy and robustness against variant noise/fading effects, when using our mechanism compared to Energy Detection (ED) based ones as Welch method, and Beamforming based ones as Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) method. Occupancy results exhibit considerable potential of secondary use in GSM based primary network.
Prognostic Significance of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hu Gang , Liu Qin , Ma Jian-ying , Liu Cheng-yuan
Published: November 2018

Introduction. Pretreatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been considered a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the application of PLR in the assessment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment PLR in cholangiocarcinoma. Methods. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library to identify studies assessing the prognostic significance of the pretreatment PLR in cholangiocarcinoma. Three databases were searched from inception to August 5, 2018. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and the secondary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Results. A total of 9 studies including 2395 patients were finally enrolled in the meta-analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All of the included studies were retrospective observational cohorts. Elevated PLR predicted poor OS (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19-1.62, P < 0.001) and RFS or PFS (HR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.27-1.88; P < 0.001). Moreover, elevated PLR was highly associated with male sex (male versus female OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.44-0.80, P < 0.001) and R1 resection margin (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.24-3.54, P = 0.006). Conclusion. The present meta-analysis demonstrated that pretreatment PLR might serve as a useful prognostic biomarker in cholangiocarcinoma.
Algal and Vegetable Oils as Sustainable Fish Oil Substitutes in Rainbow Trout Diets: An Approach to Reduce Contaminant Exposure
Authors: Bélanger-Lamonde Amélie , Sarker Pallab K. , Ayotte Pierre , Bailey Janice L. , Bureau Dominique P. , Chouinard P. Yvan , Dewailly Éric , Leblanc Alain , Weber Jean-Philippe , Vandenberg Grant W.
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to replace 75% of total fish oil (FO) and alter digestible protein/digestible energy (DP/DE) in rainbow trout feeds to minimize potentially hazardous environmental contaminant exposure. Two diets differing in DP/DE ratios (18 and 25) were combined with soybean (SO), canola (CO), and a blend of canola oil and Schizochytrium sp. (COS). Dietary lipids and DP/DE ratios did not affect apparent digestibility, growth, and somatic parameters. The n-3/n-6 levels decreased significantly in the growth trial, especially for the SO groups. A short washout trial restored n-3/n-6 levels for the CO and COS groups, irrespective of the DP/DE ratio, but not for the SO groups. At all sampling events, contaminant concentrations in fish flesh were lower than limits set by regulatory agencies in Canada, the US, and Europe. Contaminants were lower in the oil replacement diets compared to FO for toxaphenes, organochlorine pesticides, and PCBs but not flame retardants during the growth phase. At the end of the washout phase, no differences were detected. Thus, this study revealed that replacing 75% of total fish oil in rainbow trout feed by CO and COS, combined with a 25 DP/DE ratio, with a washout period seems to be the most efficient approach in terms of maximizing the total FO replacement and contribute to reducing POPs exposure.
Densities, Apparent Molar Volume, Expansivities, Hepler’s Constant, and Isobaric Thermal Expansion Coefficients of the Binary Mixtures of Piperazine with Water, Methanol, and Acetone at T = 293.15 to 328.15 K
Authors: Omar Qazi Mohammed , Jaubert Jean-Noël , Awan Javeed A.
Published: November 2018

The properties of 3 binary mixtures containing piperazine were investigated in this work. In a first step, the densities for the two binary mixtures (piperazine + methanol) and (piperazine + acetone) were measured in the temperature range of 293.15 to 328.15 K and 293.15 to 323.15 K, respectively, at atmospheric pressure by using a Rudolph research analytical density meter (DDM 2911). The concentration of piperazine in the (piperazine + methanol) mixture was varied from 0.6978 to 14.007 mol/kg, and the concentration of piperazine in the (piperazine + acetone) mixture was varied from 0.3478 to 1.8834 mol/kg. On the other hand, the density data for the (piperazine + water) mixture were taken from the literature in the temperature range of 298.15 to 328.15 K. In a second step, for the 3 investigated systems, the apparent molar volume (Vϕ) and the limiting apparent molar volume (Vϕ0) at infinite dilution were calculated using the Redlich–Mayer equation. The limiting apparent molar volumes (Vϕ0) were used to study the influence of the solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions. The temperature dependency of the apparent molar volumes was used to estimate the apparent molar expansibility, Hepler’s constant ∂2Vϕ0/∂T2P, and isobaric thermal expansion coefficients αP.
Medical Financial Hardship among Cancer Survivors in the United States: What Do We Know? What Do We Need to Know?
Authors: Yabroff K. Robin , Zhao Jingxuan , Zheng Zhiyuan , Rai Ashish , Han Xuesong
Published: November 2018

Rising costs of cancer care have led to increased concerns about medical financial hardship for cancer survivors and their families in the United States. In this commentary, we provide an overview of research describing medical financial hardship and introduce a conceptual framework for identifying risk factors and research gaps at the patient and family, provider and care team, health care system, employer, and state and national policy levels. We then use this framework to highlight measurement and data infrastructure gaps related to hardship, summarize existing interventions to minimize hardship, and identify opportunities for future intervention efforts.
Inhibition of BUB1 Kinase by BAY 1816032 Sensitizes Tumor Cells toward Taxanes, ATR, and PARP Inhibitors In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Siemeister Gerhard , Mengel Anne , Fernández-Montalván Amaury E. , Bone Wilhelm , Schröder Jens , Zitzmann-Kolbe Sabine , Briem Hans , Prechtl Stefan , Holton Simon J. , Mönning Ursula , von Ahsen Oliver , Johanssen Sandra , Cleve Arwed , Pütter Vera , Hitchcock Marion , von Nussbaum Franz , Brands Michael , Ziegelbauer Karl , Mumberg Dominik
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

The catalytic function of BUB1 is required for chromosome arm resolution and positioning of the chromosomal passenger complex for resolution of spindle attachment errors and plays only a minor role in spindle assembly checkpoint activation. Here, we present the identification and preclinical pharmacologic profile of the first BUB1 kinase inhibitor with good bioavailability.

Experimental Design:

The Bayer compound library was screened for BUB1 kinase inhibitors and medicinal chemistry efforts to improve target affinity and physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters resulting in the identification of BAY 1816032 were performed. BAY 1816032 was characterized for kinase selectivity, inhibition of BUB1 signaling, and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation alone and in combination with taxanes, ATR, and PARP inhibitors. Effects on tumor growth in vivo were evaluated using human triple-negative breast xenograft models.

Results:

The highly selective compound BAY 1816032 showed long target residence time and induced chromosome mis-segregation upon combination with low concentrations of paclitaxel. It was synergistic or additive in combination with paclitaxel or docetaxel, as well as with ATR or PARP inhibitors in cellular assays. Tumor xenograft studies demonstrated a strong and statistically significant reduction of tumor size and excellent tolerability upon combination of BAY 1816032 with paclitaxel or olaparib as compared with the respective monotherapies.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest clinical proof-of-concept studies evaluating BAY 1816032 in combination with taxanes or PARP inhibitors to enhance their efficacy and potentially overcome resistance.
FLI1 Exonic Circular RNAs as a Novel Oncogenic Driver to Promote Tumor Metastasis in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Lingyu , Li Wei , Chen Naifei , Zhao Haixin , Xu Guang , Zhao Yijing , Pan Xin , Zhang Xiaoying , Zhou Lei , Yu Dehai , Li Ailing , Hu Ji-Fan , Cui Jiuwei
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

The aberrantly upregulated Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (FLI1) is closely correlated with the malignant phenotype of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). It is interesting to note that the CRISPR gene knockout by Cas9 gRNAs that target the FLI1 coding region and the posttranscriptional knockdown by shRNAs that target the 3′ region of FLI1 mRNA yielded distinct antimetastasis effects in SCLC cells. This study attempts to examine if FLI1 exonic circular RNAs (FECR) function as a new malignant driver that determines the metastatic phenotype in SCLC.

Experimental Design:

The clinical relevance of FECRs was examined in 56 primary SCLC tissues and 50 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. The prognostic value of FECRs was examined by measuring serum exosomal FECRs in a longitudinal cohort of patients with SCLC. The oncogenic activity of FECRs was investigated in both SCLC cell lines and animal xenograft studies. Finally, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying these noncoding RNAs as a malignant driver.

Results:

Therapeutic comparison of CRISPR Cas9 knockout and shRNA knockdown of FLI1 identified FECRs as a new noncanonical malignant driver in SCLC. Using RNA FISH and quantitative PCR, we found that FECR1 (exons 4-2-3) and FECR2 (exons 5-2-3-4) were aberrantly upregulated in SCLC tissues (P < 0.0001), and was positively associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). Notably, serum exosomal FECR1 was associated with poor survival (P = 0.038) and clinical response to chemotherapy. Silencing of FECRs significantly inhibited the migration in two highly aggressive SCLC cell lines and reduced tumor metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we uncovered that FECRs sequestered and subsequently inactivated tumor suppressor miR584-3p, leading to the activation of the Rho Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase 1 gene (ROCK1).

Conclusions:

This study identifies FLI1 exonic circular RNAs as a new oncogenic driver that promotes tumor metastasis through the miR584–ROCK1 pathway. Importantly, serum exosomal FECR1 may serve as a promising biomarker to track disease progression of SCLC.
The Clinical Effects of Sildenafil for Erection in Patients after Kidney Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Ling-Yun , Sun Tao , Liu Yang , Sun Yan-Yan , Ma Fu-Zhe
Published: November 2018

Background: With the wide use of sildenafil in kidney-transplanted patients, it is vital to recognize the effectiveness and safety in clinical practice. Methods: Full-text articles involving the application of sildenafil after renal transplantation searched out in multiple databases were reviewed. All the meta-analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.0 software and bias analysis of the studies were conducted to examine the quality of articles. In addition, to estimate possible publication bias, funnel plot and the Egger’s test were used. Result: Finally 7 articles eventually satisfied the inclusion criteria. The penetration ability and maintenance frequency in sildenafil group were much larger than those of control group. Except orgasmic function, domains of the International Index of Erectile Function have showed larger scores in sildenafil group than those of control group. No significant difference of the concentration of cyclosporine was observed between sildenafil and control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed that treatment with sildenaﬁl in renal allograft recipients with erectile dysfunction is a valid and safe option.