bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
VANET: A novel service for predicting and disseminating vehicle traffic information
Authors: Abdelatif Sahraoui , Derdour Makhlouf , Ghoualmi‐Zine Nacira , Marzak Bouchra 
Published: January 2020

SummaryThe arrival of cloud computing technology promises innovative solutions to the problems inherent in existing vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) networks. Because of the highly dynamic nature of these networks in crowded conditions, some network performance improvements are needed to anticipate and disseminate reliable traffic information. Although several approaches have been proposed for the dissemination of data in the vehicular clouds, these approaches rely on the dissemination of data from conventional clouds to vehicles, or vice versa. However, anticipating and delivering data, in a proactive way, based on query message or an event driven has not been defined so far by these approaches. Therefore, in this paper, a VANET‐Cloud layer is proposed for traffic management and network performance improvements during congested conditions. For the traffic management, the proposed layer integrates the benefits of the connected sensor network (CSN) to collect traffic data and the cloud infrastructure to provide on‐demand and automatic cloud services. In this work, traffic services use a data exchange mechanism to propagate the predicted data using a fuzzy aggregation technique. In the evaluation phase, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed VANET‐Cloud layer to dramatically improve traffic safety and network performance as compared with recent works.
Middleman covert channel establishment based on MORE routing protocol using network coding in ad hoc networks
Authors: Akhtari Sara , Moghim Neda , Mahdavi Mojtaba 
Published: January 2020

SummaryCovert channels have been recently the subject of the study in both creation and countermeasure aspects. There are many different ways to embed the covert data in network standards and protocols, especially in wireless networks. MORE (MAC‐independent opportunistic routing) is an opportunistic routing protocol which uses networks coding to enhance routing performance by reducing the repetitions. This protocol can be a suitable medium for covert channel establishment. A middleman covert channel establishment method is proposed in this paper over MORE routing protocol and with the use of network coding. Hidden data are transferred through packet's payload bytes. Covert sender manipulates coding mechanism by calculating packets' coefficients instead of random selection. The proposed covert channel provides the average throughput of 218 and 231 bps, using two different data length approaches which is relatively a good comparing to the previous network layer covert channels. The proposed covert channel is also a covert storage channel and cannot be removed or restricted. Effect of different network characteristics on the proposed method's capacity and security is investigated by a simulation study, and the results are discussed.
Bee communities and pollination services in adjacent crop fields following flower removal in an invasive forest shrub
Authors: Cunningham‐Minnick Michael J. , Peters Valerie E. , Crist Thomas O. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe habitat boundaries between crops and seminatural areas influence bee movements and pollination services to crops. Edges also provide favorable conditions for invasive plants, which may usurp pollinators and reduce visitation to native or crop plants. Alternatively, floral displays of alien plants may facilitate, or increase, the pollination success of adjacent plants by attracting more pollinators to the area. Therefore, pollination services of bees from seminatural habitats to crop areas should vary with the presence of invasive floral resources and distance from habitat edges. To test the hypothesis that floral resources of invasive forest shrubs affect the bee community and pollination services in adjacent crop fields, we conducted a 2‐yr field experiment along forest–crop edges at five isolated forest remnants. We removed flower buds from a dominant invasive shrub, Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle), along forest–crop edges and paired removals with controls of intact flowers. The bee community, their pollination services, and flower visitation rates were quantified along a 200‐m gradient into an adjacent crop field using pan traps and sentinel cucumber plants. Impacts to the bee community were dependent of bee functional traits. Larger bees visited fewer sentinel cucumber flowers in flower removal plots, which corresponded with decreased cucumber pollination compared to plots with honeysuckle flowers at distances >100 m from forest edges. Small‐bodied and weaker flying bees visited sentinel plants more frequently closer to the forest edge and increased pollination services to cucumber at distances <100 m from L. maackii shrubs in flower removal plots. After 2 yr, bee abundance and species richness increased within flower removal plots across all distances. High functional diversity of the bee community increased pollination services to sentinel plants and increased cucumber production within 200 m from forest remnants. Our findings suggest that dense floral resources of invasive shrubs suppressed forest‐edge bee communities and their pollination services, but also attracted large‐bodied generalist bees, which were effective pollinators. This study helps explain how life histories and functional attributes of bees can predict either facilitation or suppression of pollination services to crop or native plants in response to invasive floral resources.
Regional mapping of species‐level continuous foliar cover: beyond categorical vegetation mapping
Authors: Nawrocki Timm W. , Carlson Matthew L. , Osnas Jeanne L. D. , Trammell E. Jamie , Witmer Frank D. W. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe ability to quantify spatial patterns and detect change in terrestrial vegetation across large landscapes depends on linking ground‐based measurements of vegetation to remotely sensed data. Unlike non‐overlapping categorical vegetation types (i.e., typical vegetation and land cover maps), species‐level gradients of foliar cover are consistent with the ecological theories of individualistic response of species and niche space. We collected foliar cover data for vascular plant, bryophyte, and lichen species and 17 environmental variables in the Arctic Coastal Plain and Brooks Foothills of Alaska from 2012 to 2017. We integrated these data into a standardized database with 13 additional vegetation survey and monitoring data sets in northern Alaska collected from 1998 to 2017. To map the patterns of foliar cover for six dominant and widespread vascular plant species in arctic Alaska, we statistically associated ground‐based measurements of species distribution and abundance to environmental and multi‐season spectral covariates using a Bayesian statistical learning approach. For five of the six modeled species, our models predicted 36% to 65% of the observed species‐level variation in foliar cover. Overall, our continuous foliar cover maps predicted more of the observed spatial heterogeneity in species distribution and abundance than an existing categorical vegetation map. Mapping continuous foliar cover at the species level also revealed ecological patterns obscured by aggregation in existing plant functional type approaches. Species‐level analysis of vegetation patterns enables quantifying and monitoring landscape‐level changes in species, vegetation communities, and wildlife habitat independently of subjective categorical vegetation types and facilitates integrating spatial patterns across multiple ecological scales. The novel species‐level foliar cover mapping approach described here provides spatial information about the functional role of plant species in vegetation communities and wildlife habitat that are not available in categorical vegetation maps or quantitative maps of broadly defined vegetation aggregates.
Ice‐age persistence and genetic isolation of the disjunct distribution of larch in Alaska
Authors: Napier Joseph D. , Fernandez Matias C. , de Lafontaine Guillaume , Hu Feng Sheng 
Published: January 2020

AbstractLarix laricina (eastern larch, tamarack) is a transcontinental North American conifer with a prominent disjunction in the Yukon isolating the Alaskan distribution from the rest of its range. We investigate whether in situ persistence during the last glacial maximum (LGM) or long‐distance postglacial migration from south of the ice sheets resulted in the modern‐day Alaskan distribution. We analyzed variation in three chloroplast DNA regions of 840 trees from a total of 69 populations (24 new sampling sites situated on both sides of the Yukon range disjunction pooled with 45 populations from a published source) and conducted ensemble species distribution modeling (SDM) throughout Canada and United States to hindcast the potential range of L. laricina during the LGM. We uncovered the genetic signature of a long‐term isolation of larch populations in Alaska, identifying three endemic chlorotypes and low levels of genetic diversity. Range‐wide analysis across North America revealed the presence of a distinct Alaskan lineage. Postglacial gene flow across the Yukon divide was unidirectional, from Alaska toward previously glaciated Canadian regions, and with no evidence of immigration into Alaska. Hindcast SDM indicates one of the broadest areas of past climate suitability for L. laricina existed in central Alaska, suggesting possible in situ persistence of larch in Alaska during the LGM. Our results provide the first unambiguous evidence for the long‐term isolation of L. laricina in Alaska that extends beyond the last glacial period and into the present interglacial period. The lack of gene flow into Alaska along with the overall probability of larch occurrence in Alaska being currently lower than during the LGM suggests that modern‐day Alaskan larch populations are isolated climate relicts of broader glacial distributions, and so are particularly vulnerable to current warming trends.
Design and Development of Open Cathode PEM Fuel Cell – Flow Analysis Optimization by CFD
Authors: Gopi K. H. , Nambi A. , Rajalakshmi N. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAir‐cooled polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have emerged as a potential power generation source, due to its simple construction and operation. Flow‐field designing for the efficient distribution of reactants is of paramount importance in air‐cooled PEM fuel cells. The requirement of flow fields with uniform distribution amounting to minimal pressure drop across the flow area is necessary for high gas utilization and easy removal of water. Thus, the present work deals with the design of land and pillar flow field type for cathode, and further optimization of its flow pattern. A 3‐D computational fluid dynamics analysis tool for modeling fluid flow was used for simulating the reactant distribution profile and finalizing the flow field design. The effect of flow field design, inlet velocity and inlet ports dimension were studied in order to obtain flow pattern with uniform distribution. The optimized configuration showed higher percentage of flow area (76%) with outlet velocities ranging from 3.0–5.5 m s−1 in relation to inlet velocity of 4.4 m s−1. From the results it was inferred that, with the increase of air inlet velocity and modified flow design, the non‐uniform areas occurring in flow field are reduced leading to uniform air distribution throughout the flow volume.
Immobilization of nanocarriers within a porous chitosan scaffold for the sustained delivery of growth factors in bone tissue engineering applications
Authors: De Witte Tinke‐Marie , Wagner Angela M. , Fratila‐Apachitei Lidy E. , Zadpoor Amir A. , Peppas Nicholas A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractTo guide the natural bone regeneration process, bone tissue engineering strategies rely on the development of a scaffold architecture that mimics the extracellular matrix and incorporates important extracellular signaling molecules, which promote fracture healing and bone formation pathways. Incorporation of growth factors into particles embedded within the scaffold can offer both protection of protein bioactivity and a sustained release profile. In this work, a novel method to immobilize carrier nanoparticles within scaffold pores is proposed. A biodegradable, osteoconductive, porous chitosan scaffold was fabricated via the “freeze‐drying method,” leading to scaffolds with a storage modulus of 8.5 kPa and 300 μm pores, in line with existing bone scaffold properties. Next, poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized to the scaffold via carbodiimide‐crosslinker chemistry. A fluorescent imaging study confirmed that the conventional methods of protein and nanocarrier incorporation into scaffolds can lead to over 60% diffusion out of the scaffold within the first 5 min of implantation, and total disappearance within 4 weeks. The novel method of nanocarrier immobilization to the scaffold backbone via carbodiimide‐crosslinker chemistry allows full retention of particles for up to 4 weeks within the scaffold bulk, with no negative effects on the viability and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
MiR‐4282 inhibits tumor progression through down‐regulation of ZBTB2 by targeting LIN28B in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhang Zebiao , Huang Wanling , Zeng Jinbiao 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most aggressive type of head and neck cancer with an unsatisfactory 5‐year survival rate. MicroRNAs are a group of small noncoding RNAs reported to serve important roles in carcinogenesis, inhibiting certain gene expression via targeting the 3′‐untranslated region of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). MiR‐4282 has been newly discovered to be a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer, but it has never been studied in OSCC. The present study aimed to uncover the role of miR‐4282 in OSCC. We first confirmed that miR‐4282 was downregulated in OSCC and validated its prognostic significance. Through gain‐of‐function assays, miR‐4282 was discovered to inhibit proliferation, migration, and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, and induce apoptosis. By mechanistic research, we predicted via bioinformatics tools and confirmed by luciferase reporter and pulldown assays that miR‐4282 targeted LIN28B, an RNA‐binding protein, which has been reported to regulate RNA stability in cancers. Furthermore, we confirmed the interaction between LIN28B and zinc finger and BTB domain containing 2 (ZBTB2), and validated that miR‐4282 regulated mRNA stability of ZBTB2 by inhibiting LIN28B. Rescue assays proved that miR‐4282 inhibited tumor progression through LIN28B/ZBTB2 axis. In vivo assays proved that miR‐4282 inhibited tumor growth in OSCC. In conclusion, the present study revealed that miR‐4282 inhibited tumor progression through downregulation of ZBTB2 by targeting LIN28B in OSCC cells, indicating miR‐4282 as a novel biomarker for OSC.
Microenvironment‐induced TIMP2 loss by cancer‐secreted exosomal miR‐4443 promotes liver metastasis of breast cancer
Authors: Wang Jinyan , Zhang Qian , Wang Dandan , Yang Sujin , Zhou Siying , Xu Hanzi , Zhang Heda , Zhong Shanliang , Feng Jifeng 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the role of exosomal miR‐4443 in metastasis of breast cancer (BCa). In vitro wound‐healing assay and transwell invasion assay were used to investigate effect of miR‐4443 on BCa cells. Animal experiments were performed to confirm its effects in vivo. miR‐4443 promotes the metastasis of BCa cells through downregulating tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) and upregulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Highly invasive BCa cells have a higher expression of miR‐4443 in both cells and exosomes. The exosomes derived from highly invasive BCa cells mainly gather in the primary tumor and liver. In vivo, overexpression of miR‐4443 in noninvasive BCa cells induces liver metastasis, accompanied with downregulated TIMP2, and upregulated MMP‐2 in both the primary tumor and liver. When we armed MCF‐10A exosomes with miR‐4443 inhibitors to treat mice bearing high‐miR‐4443 tumors, exosomes accumulated in the primary tumor, and liver following the upregulation of TIMP2 and downregulation of MMP2, and the metastasis was inhibited. Highly invasive BCa cells destroy natural barriers against metastasis by delivering exosomal miR‐4443 to stromal cells of the primary tumor and impairing TIMP2, consequently activating MMP; circulating exosomal miR‐4443 might promote BCa cells lodging in future metastatic sites through the similar mechanisms.
Chyle leakage after robotic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Shyr Bor‐Uei , Shyr Bor‐Shiuan , Chen Shih‐Chin , Shyr Yi‐Ming , Wang Shin‐E 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundChyle leakage is a well‐known but poorly characterized complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). No study examined the chyle leakage after robotic PD (RPD).MethodsData regarding chyle leakage were prospectively collected and analyzed from patients undergoing RPD or open PD (OPD).ResultsThe study included 118 RPD and 165 OPD. Overall chyle leakage rate was 12.0%, with 13.6% for RPD and 10.9% for OPD. Chyle leakage was eventually resolved in all patients through conservative treatment. The drainage volumes were significantly higher in chyle leakage group from postoperative days (PODs) 1‐7, with a median of 240 mL on POD 1 and POD 7, as compared to 160 mL on POD 1 and 70 mL on POD 7 for those without chyle leakage. The number of lymph nodes involved and resected and pancreatic head adenocarcinoma affected the risk of developing chyle leakage, whereas the surgical approach used (RPD or OPD) did not.ConclusionsChyle leakage after PD is not rare, and it can eventually be resolved through conservative treatment. The extent and radicality of the surgery probably have a significant effect on the risk of developing chyle leakage, but the surgical approach used does not.
Differing mechanisms for the 2008 and 2016 wintertime cold events in southern China
Authors: Liao Zhen , Zhai Panmao , Chen Yang , Lu Hong 
Published: January 2020

AbstractSouthern China was hit by a severe cold event during January 21–25, 2016, characteristic of a drastic and sudden temperature drop, with new records of low temperatures set in widespread areas. This cold event was dynamically linked to the activity of the Arctic oscillation (AO) whose evolution led the event by about 2 weeks. Different from this short lasting but intense cold event in 2016, another cold event in the 2008 winter lasted much longer and occurred in tandem with freezing precipitation. Their differences in the duration and precipitation are essentially determined by differing behaviours of blocking highs at mid–high latitudes, the India–Burma Trough and the western Pacific subtropical high. The rapid southward invasion of cold air masses during the 2016 event resulted from the rapid decay of the blocking high, which emanated wave energies downstream and likewise lost wave energies to the local mean flow. By contrast, during the 2008 cold event, continuous upstream wave energy dispersion recurrently stimulated disturbances in the blocking domain, which then extracted energies from the mean flow efficiently to survive markedly longer. Moreover, in the 2008 case, the deepening of the India–Burma Trough and the westward extension of the western Pacific subtropical high jointly enhanced the moisture transport, leading to the freezing rain. This favourable configuration for precipitation was absent in the 2016 case, dictating its dry nature accordingly.
Higher lymph node harvest in patients with a pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer is associated with improved survival
Authors: Lutfi Waseem , Martinez‐Meehan Deirdre , Dhupar Rajeev , Christie Neil , Sarkaria Inderpal , Ekeke Chigozirim , Baker Nicholas , Luketich James D. , Okusanya Olugbenga T. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesLymph node harvest during esophagectomy has been associated with improved survival for esophageal cancer but the value of enhanced lymph node harvest following complete pathologic response (pCR) is debated. This study investigated if increasing lymph node harvest in esophageal cancer patients with a pCR after neoadjuvant therapy and esophagectomy is associated with improved survival.MethodsWe queried the National Cancer Data Base for patients with esophageal cancer between 2004 and 2014 who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy followed by esophagectomy found to have pCR. Multivariable Cox modeling was utilized to evaluate the impact of increasing lymph node counts on overall survival (OS).ResultsA total of 1373 patients met inclusion criteria. A National Comprehensive Cancer Network compliant lymphadenectomy of ≥15 nodes was associated with improved survival (66.7% vs 51.1%; P < .001). Cox modeling showed that the first node cutoff to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in OS was ≥7 nodes (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81, 0.68‐0.97; 5‐year OS: 54.2%) with a trend of decreasing and statistically significant HRs until ≥25 nodes (HR, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.37‐0.72; 5‐year OS: 68.4%).ConclusionsHigh negative node counts after neoadjuvant therapy and esophagectomy are associated with improved survival in patients with pCR.
Botulinum toxin A is an effective therapeutic tool for the management of parotid sialocele and fistula: A systematic review
Authors: Maharaj Shivesh , Mungul Sheetal , Laher Abdullah 
Published: January 2020

AbstractObjectivesIn the management of parotid sialocele and fistula, various conservative and surgical methods have been described. Some studies have described the use of Botulinum toxin A (Botox A) for the management of parotid sialocele and fistula. This is a less invasive and potentially equally effective option. We therefore conducted a systematic review on the current body of literature relating to this specific use of Botox A.MethodsA search strategy was conducted in July 2019 using the following electronic databases: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A search of all articles from inception until 31 August 2019 was performed.ResultsLiterature searches of electronic databases identified 67 articles eligible for review, of which 15 fulfilled all criteria. These studies were small and in total only 47 patients were included. The majority of sialoceles and fistulas presented as a complication of surgery (77%) with the remaining cases occurring as a result of trauma. The typical age at presentation was between 32 and 88 years of age (mean age of 52 years). All patients were initially treated with and failed other conservative measures. Botox A injection was considered as a final conservative treatment option. The toxin was administered percutaneously in all cases of parotid sialocele and fistula. Dosage of Botox ranged from 10 to 200 units with majority of patients (58%) requiring only one injection. The overall success rate for patients treated with Botox A injections ranged between 70 and 100% for parotid sialoceles and fistulas.ConclusionBotox A injections are successful in the treatment of parotid sialoceles and fistulas and should be considered before the use of invasive conventional options. Further studies with larger numbers are needed to ratify this recommendation. Success rate for patients, treated with Botox A injection was between 70 and 100% for parotid sialocele and fistula. Patients who failed initial treatment with Botox A were re‐administered with Botox A and eventually resolved.