bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers in individualized management of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy
Authors: Du Mengyi , Hari Parameswaran , Hu Yu , Mei Heng 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy has achieved promising results, both in clinical studies and in commercial products for patients with hematologic malignancies. Despite high remission rates of CAR-T cell therapy in previously untreatable, refractory and/or relapsed patients, several challenges in CAR-T therapy remain to be overcome, especially in integrating such therapies into personalized disease management approaches. Given the unique characteristics of CAR-T therapy, it is particularly urgent to identify biomarkers to maximize their clinical benefits. This systematic review summarizes clinically relevant biomarkers that may help individualized disease management in patients receiving CAR-T cell therapy in terms of toxicity warning, efficacy prediction and relapse monitoring. We summarize data from 18 clinical trials, including traditional indicators like cytokines, biochemical proteins, tumor burden, as well as potential novel indicators such as CAR-T cell expansion and persistency. The establishment of a biomarker-based system aimed at individualized management is recommended to guide better clinical application of CAR-T products.
On K-means clustering-based approach for DDBSs design
Authors: Amer Ali A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn Distributed Database Systems (DDBS), communication costs and response time have long been open-ended challenges. Nevertheless, when DDBS is carefully designed, the desired reduction in communication costs will be achieved. Data fragmentation (data clustering) and data allocation are on popularity as the prime strategies in constant use to design DDBS. Based on these strategies, on the other hand, several design techniques have been presented in the literature to improve DDBS performance using either empirical results or data statistics, making most of them imperfect or invalid particularly, at least, at the initial stage of DDBSs design. In this paper, thus, a heuristic k-means approach for vertical fragmentation and allocation is introduced. This approach is primarily focused on DDBS design at the initial stage. Many techniques are being joined in a step to make a promising work. A brief yet effective experimental study, on both artificially-created and real datasets, has been conducted to demonstrate the optimality of the proposed approach, comparing with its counterparts, as the obtained results has been shown encouraging.
Inner structure- and surface-controlled hollow MnO nanocubes for high sensitive MR imaging contrast effect
Authors: Kukreja Aastha , Kang Byunghoon , Han Seungmin , Shin Moo-Kwang , Son Hye Young , Choi Yuna , Lim Eun-Kyung , Huh Yong-Min , Haam Seungjoo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractManganese oxide (MnO) nanocubes were fabricated and their surface were modified by ligand encapsulation or ligand exchange, to render them water-soluble. And then, MnO formed the hollow structure by etching using acidic solution (phthalate buffer, pH 4.0). Depending on the ligand of the MnO surface, it increases the interaction between MnO and water molecules. Also, the hollow structure of MnO, as well as the ligand, can greatly enhance the accessibility of water molecules to metal ions by surface area-to-volume ratio. These factors provide high R1 relaxation, leading to strong T1 MRI signal. We have confirmed T1-weighted MR contrast effect using 4-kinds of MnO nanocubes (MnOEn, MnOEnHo, MnOEx and MnOExHo). They showed enough a MR contrast effect and biocompatibility. Especially, among them, MnOExHo exhibited high T1 relaxivity (r1) (6.02 mM−1 s−1), even about 1.5 times higher sensitivity than commercial T1 MR contrast agents. In vitro/in vivo studies have shown that MnOExHo provides highly sensitive T1-weighted MR imaging, thereby improving diagnostic visibility at the disease site.
Reducing withdrawal and failure rates in introductory programming with subgoal labeled worked examples
Authors: Margulieux Lauren E. , Morrison Briana B. , Decker Adrienne 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background
Programming a computer is an increasingly valuable skill, but dropout and failure rates in introductory programming courses are regularly as high as 50%. Like many fields, programming requires students to learn complex problem-solving procedures from instructors who tend to have tacit knowledge about low-level procedures that they have automatized. The subgoal learning framework has been used in programming and other fields to breakdown procedural problem solving into smaller pieces that novices can grasp more easily, but it has only been used in short-term interventions. In this study, the subgoal learning framework was implemented throughout a semester-long introductory programming course to explore its longitudinal effects. Of 265 students in multiple sections of the course, half received subgoal-oriented instruction while the other half received typical instruction.

Results
Learning subgoals consistently improved performance on quizzes, which were formative and given within a week of learning a new procedure, but not on exams, which were summative. While exam performance was not statistically better, the subgoal group had lower variance in exam scores and fewer students dropped or failed the course than in the control group. To better understand the learning process, we examined students’ responses to open-ended questions that asked them to explain the problem-solving process. Furthermore, we explored characteristics of learners to determine how subgoal learning affected students at risk of dropout or failure.

Conclusions
Students in an introductory programming course performed better on initial assessments when they received instructions that used our intervention, subgoal labels. Though the students did not perform better than the control group on exams on average, they were less likely to get failing grades or to drop the course. Overall, subgoal labels seemed especially effective for students who might otherwise struggle to pass or complete the course.
Effects of cadmium perturbation on the microbial community structure and heavy metal resistome of a tropical agricultural soil
Authors: Salam Lateef B. , Obayori Oluwafemi S. , Ilori Mathew O. , Amund Olukayode O. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe effects of cadmium (Cd) contamination on the microbial community structure, soil physicochemistry and heavy metal resistome of a tropical agricultural soil were evaluated in field-moist soil microcosms. A Cd-contaminated agricultural soil (SL5) and an untreated control (SL4) were compared over a period of 5 weeks. Analysis of the physicochemical properties and heavy metals content of the two microcosms revealed a statistically significant decrease in value of the soil physicochemical parameters (P < 0.05) and concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Fe, Cu, Se) content of the agricultural soil in SL5 microcosm. Illumina shotgun sequencing of the DNA extracted from the two microcosms showed the predominance of the phyla, classes, genera and species of Proteobacteria (37.38%), Actinobacteria (35.02%), Prevotella (6.93%), and Conexibacter woesei (8.93%) in SL4, and Proteobacteria (50.50%), Alphaproteobacteria (22.28%), Methylobacterium (9.14%), and Methylobacterium radiotolerans (12,80%) in SL5, respectively. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference between the metagenomes was observed at genus and species delineations. Functional annotation of the two metagenomes revealed diverse heavy metal resistome for the uptake, transport, efflux and detoxification of various heavy metals. It also revealed the exclusive detection in SL5 metagenome of members of RND (resistance nodulation division) protein czcCBA efflux system (czcA, czrA, czrB), CDF (cation diffusion facilitator) transporters (czcD), and genes for enzymes that protect the microbial cells against cadmium stress (sodA, sodB, ahpC). The results obtained in this study showed that Cd contamination significantly affects the soil microbial community structure and function, modifies the heavy metal resistome, alters the soil physicochemistry and results in massive loss of some autochthonous members of the community not adapted to the Cd stress.
Port site recurrence of esophageal adenocarcinoma after minimally invasive esophagectomy: a case report
Authors: Horino Taichi , Baba Yoshifumi , Nomoto Daichi , Harada Kazuto , Hiyoshi Yukiharu , Nagai Yohei , Iwatsuki Masaaki , Iwagami Shiro , Miyamoto Yuji , Yoshida Naoya , Baba Hideo 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background
Port site recurrence has been observed after a variety of oncologic resection procedures. However, few have reported port site recurrence of esophageal cancer.

Case presentation
A 51-year-old man underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for pT3(AD)N3M0 adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. One year after surgery, he presented with a rapidly growing tumor on the right thoracic wall. Contrast computed tomography demonstrated an enhancing tumor with uptake on positron emission tomography. We performed resection of the thoracic wall, including the skin and subcutis. The pathologic diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, consistent with metastasis of esophageal origin.

Conclusion
This was the first report on thoracic port site recurrence of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We recommend elimination of leakage around the thoracoscopic ports to prevent such recurrence. We should provide prudent postoperative clinical surveillance.
A study of environmental disclosures practices in Chinese energy industry
Authors: Chiu Candy Lim , Zhang Jingxin , Li Mingrui , Wei Siyu , Xu Shengnan , Chai Xiaotong 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn 2016, China increased sustainability practices among companies listed on China’s stock market, making environmental regulations one of their integral policies. This states that highly polluting industries like the energy industry are required to comply with the sustainability requirements set. Concerning this event, research was conducted in 2016 to 2017, on the development of environmental disclosure (ED) practices in China and the impact of different variables on environmental disclosure index (EDI). Focusing on 150 energy companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange, the findings show that if the company had a better ROA, firm size, leverage and environmental accreditation certificate, they would like to publish more relevant environmental information.
Recent insights into peroxisome biogenesis and associated diseases
Authors: Fujiki Yukio , Abe Yuichi , Imoto Yuuta , Tanaka Akemi J. , Okumoto Kanji , Honsho Masanori , Tamura Shigehiko , Miyata Non , Yamashita Toshihide , Chung Wendy K. , Kuroiwa Tsuneyoshi 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
Peroxisomes are single-membrane organelles present in eukaryotes. The functional importance of peroxisomes in humans is represented by peroxisome-deficient peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs), including Zellweger syndrome. Defects in the genes that encode the 14 peroxins that are required for peroxisomal membrane assembly, matrix protein import and division have been identified in PBDs. A number of recent findings have advanced our understanding of the biology, physiology and consequences of functional defects in peroxisomes. In this Review, we discuss a cooperative cell defense mechanisms against oxidative stress that involves the localization of BAK (also known as BAK1) to peroxisomes, which alters peroxisomal membrane permeability, resulting in the export of catalase, a peroxisomal enzyme. Another important recent finding is the discovery of a nucleoside diphosphate kinase-like protein that has been shown to be essential for how the energy GTP is generated and provided for the fission of peroxisomes. With regard to PBDs, we newly identified a mild mutation, Pex26-F51L that causes only hearing loss. We will also discuss findings from a new PBD model mouse defective in Pex14, which manifested dysregulation of the BDNF–TrkB pathway, an essential signaling pathway in cerebellar morphogenesis. Here, we thus aim to provide a current view of peroxisome biogenesis and the molecular pathogenesis of PBDs.
Evidence for macromolecular crowding as a direct apoptotic stimulus
Authors: Rana Priyanka S. , Kurokawa Manabu , Model Michael A. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
Potassium loss and persistent shrinkage have both been implicated in apoptosis but their relationship and respective roles remain controversial. We approached this problem by clamping intracellular sodium and potassium in HeLa or MDCK cells using a combination of ionophores. Although ionophore treatment caused significant cell swelling, the initial volume could be restored and further reduced by application of sucrose. The swollen cells treated with ionophores remained viable for at least 8 h without any signs of apoptosis. Application of sucrose and the resulting shrinkage caused volume-dependent intrinsic apoptosis with all its classical features: inversion of phosphatidylserine, caspase activation and Bcl-2-dependent release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. In other experiments, apoptosis was induced by addition of the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine at various degrees of swelling. Our results show that: (1) persistent shrinkage can cause apoptosis regardless of intracellular sodium or potassium composition or of the state of actin cytoskeleton; (2) strong potassium dependence of caspase activation is only observed in swollen cells with a reduced density of cytosolic proteins. We conclude that macromolecular crowding can be an important factor in determining the transition of cells to apoptosis.
Asymmetric Michael Addition of Isobutyraldehyde to Nitroolefins Using an α,α-Diphenyl-(S)-prolinol-Derived Chiral Diamine Catalyst
Authors: Han Wei , Oriyama Takeshi 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The enantioselective Michael addition of isobutyraldehyde to nitroolefin analogs was achieved by utilizing an α,α-diphenyl-(S)-prolinol-derived chiral diamine catalyst 1b. In this protocol, catalyst and additive loadings were reduced to 5 mol% respectively, due to the presence of the tertiary amine moiety in 1b.
COVID-19 Pandemic & Skin Care Guidelines for Health Care Professionals
Authors: Masood Sadia , Tabassum Saadia , Naveed Shaheen , Jalil Palwasha 
Published: May 2020

The Novel corona virus is bringing multiple challenges for health care professionals. Skin is the biggest organ and the first line of defense against different infections and external factors. Being the front line warriors, health care professionals are susceptible to various skin conditions due to prolonged use of personal protective equipment. These adverse skin conditions are redness, irritation, itching, contact dermatitis, and aggravation of underlying skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and acne vulgaris. In the current global situation, the potential incidence of such adverse dermatological effects does not in any manner cause the HCPs to deviate from the strict specific precautionary hygiene rules. These skin problems are manageable with the few precautionary measures. This article explores the different skin conditions that result from personal hygiene measures and usage of protective gear and will suggest some practical advice about how to manage and protect from these different adverse skin conditions.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2748
How to cite this:Masood S, Tabassum S, Naveed S, Jalil P. COVID-19 Pandemic & Skin Care Guidelines for Health Care Professionals. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):COVID19-S115-S117. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2748
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Reduced dengue incidence following deployments of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: a quasi-experimental trial using controlled interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Indriani Citra , Tantowijoyo Warsito , Rancès Edwige , Andari Bekti , Prabowo Equatori , Yusdi Dedik , Ansari Muhammad Ridwan , Wardana Dwi Satria , Supriyati Endah , Nurhayati Indah , Ernesia Inggrid , Setyawan Sigit , Fitriana Iva , Arguni Eggi , Amelia Yudiria , Ahmad Riris Andono , Jewell Nicholas P. , Dufault Suzanne M. , Ryan Peter A. , Green Benjamin R. , McAdam Thomas F. , O'Neill Scott L. , Tanamas Stephanie K. , Simmons Cameron P. , Anders Katherine L. , Utarini Adi 
Published: May 2020

Background: Ae. aegypti mosquitoes stably transfected with the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis (wMel strain) have been deployed for biocontrol of dengue and related arboviral diseases in multiple countries. Field releases in northern Australia have previously demonstrated near elimination of local dengue transmission from Wolbachia-treated communities, and pilot studies in Indonesia have demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the method. We conducted a quasi-experimental trial to evaluate the impact of scaled Wolbachia releases on dengue incidence in an endemic setting in Indonesia. Methods: In Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, following extensive community engagement, wMel Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes were released every two weeks for 13–15 rounds over seven months in 2016–17, in a contiguous 5 km2 area (population 65,000). A 3 km2 area (population 34,000) on the opposite side of the city was selected a priori as an untreated control area. Passive surveillance data on notified hospitalised dengue patients was used to evaluate the epidemiological impact of Wolbachia deployments, using controlled interrupted time-series analysis. Results: Rapid and sustained introgression of wMel Wolbachia into local Ae. aegypti populations was achieved. Thirty-four dengue cases were notified from the intervention area and 53 from the control area (incidence 26 vs 79 per 100,000 person-years) during 24 months following Wolbachia deployment. This corresponded in the regression model to a 73% reduction in dengue incidence (95% confidence interval 49%,86%) associated with the Wolbachia intervention. Exploratory analysis including 6 months additional post-intervention observations showed a small strengthening of this effect (30 vs 115 per 100,000 person-years; 76% reduction in incidence, 95%CI 60%,86%). Conclusions: We demonstrate a significant reduction in dengue incidence following successful introgression of Wolbachia into local Ae. aegypti populations in an endemic setting in Indonesia. These findings are consistent with previous field trials in northern Australia, and support the effectiveness of this novel approach for dengue control.
Impact of cigarette tax increase on health and financing outcomes in four Indian states
Authors: Wu Daphne C. , Sheel Vikas , Gupta Pooja , Essue Beverley M. , Luong Linh , Jha Prabhat 
Published: May 2020

Background: In India, about one million deaths occur every year due to smoking. Tobacco taxation is the most effective intervention in reducing smoking. In this paper, we examine the impact of a one-time large cigarette price increase, through an increase in excise tax, on health and financing outcomes in four Indian states. Methods: We used extended cost-effectiveness analysis to estimate, across income quintiles, the life-years gained, treatment cost averted, number of men avoiding catastrophic health expenditures and extreme poverty, additional tax revenue collected, and savings to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) with a cigarette price increase to Indian Rupees (INR) 10 plus 10% ad valorem in four Indian states. Results: With the price increase, about 1.5 million men would quit smoking across the four states, with the bottom income group having 7.4 times as many quitters as the top income group (485,725 vs 65,762). As a result of quitting, about 665,000 deaths would be averted. This would yield about 11.9 million life-years, with the bottom income group gaining 7.3 times more than the top income group. Of the INR 1,729 crore in treatment cost averted, the bottom income group would avert 7.4 times more than the top income group. About 454,000 men would avoid catastrophic health expenditures and 75,000 men would avoid falling into extreme poverty. The treatment cost and impoverishment averted would save about INR 672 crore in AB-PMJAY. The tax increase would in turn, generate an additional tax revenue of about INR 4,385 crore. In contrast to the distribution of health benefits, the extra revenue generated from the top income group would be about 3.1 times that from the bottom income group. Conclusions: Cigarette tax increase can provide significant health and economic gains and is a pro-poor policy for India.
Study of a highly sensitive refractive index sensor designed with a subwavelength grating
Authors: Li Xu-feng , Zhou Xue-ying , Zhao Ya-li , Peng Wei 
Published: May 2020

This paper puts forward a subwavelength grating for highly sensitive refractive index (RI) sensing. The light-coupling condition of the grating covered by the liquid to be detected is sensitive to changes in RI of the liquid. The influence of the grating period and thickness on the coupling is studied. At the large angle of incidence, it is found that the effective RI of the grating slab is varied with the incidence angle, from which the coupling originating from the guided-mode resonance (GMR) impacted by such variation is revealed. Incidence angle is scanned at a fixed wavelength of 623.8 nm, and the calculated results indicate that the sensor sensitivity is mainly dependent on the period, while the resolution is controlled by the thickness. After the period and thickness have been optimized in sequence, an averaged sensitivity of 249.7°/RIU and resolution ranging from 0.1° to 0.3° are obtained; those of the grating sensor are better than those of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, which has high sensitivity supported by a substrate with low RI.
Dispersion tailoring in wedge microcavities for Kerr comb generation
Authors: Fujii L. , Inga M. , Soares J. H. , Espinel Y. A. V. , Mayer Alegre T. P. , Wiederhecker G. S. 
Published: May 2020

The shaping of group velocity dispersion in microresonators is an important component in the generation of wideband optical frequency combs. Small resonators—with tight bending radii—offer the large free-spectral range desirable for wide comb formation. However, the tighter bending usually limits comb formation as it enhances normal group velocity dispersion. We experimentally demonstrate that engineering the sidewall angle of a small-radius (

∼

100

µ

m

), 3-µm-thick silica wedge microdisk enables dispersion tuning in both normal and anomalous regimes, without significantly affecting the free spectral range. A microdisk with a wedge angle of 55° (anomalous dispersion) is used to demonstrate a 300 nm bandwidth Kerr optical frequency comb.
Carbon nanotube-synchronized dual-color fiber laser for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy
Authors: Li Yan , Zhao Kangjun , Cao Bo , Xiao Xiaosheng , Yang Changxi 
Published: May 2020

In this Letter, we present a passively synchronized dual-color fiber laser at 1.03 and 1.53 µm for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. This fiber laser consists of both Yb- and Er-doped laser cavities, combined by an

∼

1.2

m

common branch with a single-walled carbon-nanotube-based saturable absorber. Stable passively synchronized mode-locked state is obtained within a total cavity length mismatch of 50 µm. We demonstrate the capability of the synchronized dual-color fiber laser for CARS spectroscopy in both low- and high-wavenumber regions, with a resolution of

6.6

c
m

−
1

. Furthermore, a CARS image in the field of view

150

×

60

µ

m

2

of polystyrene at the Raman shift of

3041

c
m

−
1

has also been achieved. The results show the feasibility of our passively synchronized dual-color fiber laser to be employed as a stable and low-cost ultrafast laser source for CARS.