bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influences of preoperative metformin on immunological factors in early breast cancer
Authors: Tsukioki Takahiro , Shien Tadahiko , Tanaka Takehiro , Suzuki Yoko , Kajihara Yukiko , Hatono Minami , Kawada Kengo , Kochi Mariko , Iwamoto Takayuki , Ikeda Hirokuni , Taira Naruto , Doihara Hiroyoshi , Toyooka Shinichi 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Metformin has been suggested to possibly reduce cancer risk. However, the mechanism underlying the positive effects of metformin on cancer treatment remains unclear. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the effects of preoperative metformin in patients with early breast cancer.

Method
We evaluated the effects on immunological factors (TILs, CD4 + , CD8 + , PD-L1, IFNγ and IL-2) by comparing core needle biopsies (CNB) obtained before metformin treatment with surgical specimens. Seventeen patients were enrolled in this prospective study from January to December 2016. We also analyzed 59 patients undergoing surgery during the same period to reveal the correlation of immune factors between CNB and surgical specimen.

Result
There was a moderate correlation between CNB and surgical specimens on TILs and CD8 + lymphocyte. (TILs Rs = 0.63, CD4 + Rs = 0.224, CD8 + Rs = 0.42) In the metformin group, TILs increases were confirmed in five (29%) patients, while a decrease was confirmed in two (12%). The expressions of CD4 + and CD8 + by TILs were increased in 41% and 18% of surgical specimens, respectively. However, TILs number (p = 0.0554), CD4+ (p = 0.0613) and CD8 + (p = 0.0646) expressions did not significantly increased. Furthermore, IFNγ expression appeared to be increased in response to metformin (p = 0.08).

Conclusion
Preoperative metformin tends to increase TILs, as well as the numbers of CD4 and CD8 positive lymphocytes, and IFNγ levels. Metformin might improve immune function and have a possibility of chemo-sensitivity and thereby increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy, based on the results of this preliminary study.
Predicting the presence of coronary artery disease by transesophageal echocardiography
Authors: Schneider Matthias , Heidari Houtan , Ran Hong , Roth Christian , Hengstenberg Christian , Binder Thomas , Goliasch Georg 
Published: June 2020

Summary
Background
The accuracy of ultrasound signs as predictors for the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been evaluated extensively in the 1990s and 2000s. Imaging quality has improved tremendously over the last decades.

Hypothesis
High-end ultrasound systems allow for accurate prediction of the presence or absence of CAD.

Methods
All patients who underwent a transesophageal echocardiography examination (TEE) between 2007 and 2016 and who had coronary angiography within 24 months before or after the TEE were retrospectively evaluated.

Results
A total of 242 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 60% were male. Mean age was 70 years (SD ± 13 years). In multivariate regression analysis, plaque in the ascending aorta (odds ratio [OR] 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–5.32, p = 0.017), plaque in at least one of the thoracic aortic segments (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.02–4.22, p = 0.045), and the presence of mitral annular calcification (MAC, OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.01–3.36, p = 0.046) were predictors of significant CAD. The isolated finding of aortic stenosis (AS) (OR 2.53, 95%CI 1.23–5.21, p = 0.012) was a significant predictor for the absence of normal coronary arteries.

Conclusion
With an negative predictive value (NPV) of 80%, the absence of MAC, AS, and aortic plaque makes the presence of significant CAD unlikely. If at least mild AS is present, normal coronary arteries are improbable.
Arsenotučekite, Ni18Sb3AsS16, a new mineral from the Tsangli chromitites, Othrys ophiolite, Greece
Authors: Zaccarini Federica , Bindi Luca , Tsikouras Basilios , Grammatikopoulos Tassos , Stanley Christopher J. , Garuti Giorgio 
Published: June 2020

AbstractArsenotučekite, Ni18Sb3AsS16, is a new mineral discovered in the abandoned chromium mine of Tsangli, located in the eastern portion of the Othrys ophiolite complex, central Greece. Tsangli is one of the largest chromite deposit at which chromite was mined since 1870. The Tsangli chromitite occurs as lenticular and irregular bodies. The studied chromitites are hosted in a strongly serpentinized mantle peridotite. Arsenotučekite forms anhedral to subhedral grains that vary in size between 5 μm up to 100 μm, and occurs as single phase grains or is associated with pentlandite, breithauptite, gersdorffite and chlorite. It is brittle and has a metallic luster. In plane-polarized light, it is creamy-yellow, the bireflectance is barely perceptible and the pleochroism is weak. In crossed polarized reflected light, the anisotropic rotation tints vary from pale blue to brown. Internal reflections were not observed. Reflectance values of arsenotučekite in air (Ro, Re′ in %) are: 41.8–46.4 at 470 nm, 47.2–50.6 at 546 nm, 49.4–52.3 at 589 nm, and 51.3–53.2 at 650 nm. The empirical formula of arsenotučekite, based on 38 atoms per formula unit, and according to the structural results, is (Ni16.19Co1.01Fe0.83)Σ18.03Sb3(As0.67Sb0.32)Σ0.99S15.98. The mass density is 6.477 g·cm−3. The simplified chemical formula is (Ni,Co,Fe)18Sb3(As,Sb)S16. The mineral is tetragonal and belongs to space group I4/mmm, with a = 9.7856(3) Å, c = 10.7582(6) Å, V = 1030.2(6) Å3 and Z = 2. The structure is layered (stacking along the c-axis) and is dominated by three different Ni-coordination polyhedral, one octahedral and two cubic. The arsenotučekite structure can be considered as a superstructure of tučekite resulting from the ordering of Sb and As. The name of the new mineral species indicates the As-dominant of tučekite. Arsenotučekite occurs as rims partly replacing pentlandite and irregularly developed grains. Furthermore, it is locally associated with chlorite. These observations suggest that it was likely precipitated at relatively low temperatures during: 1) the late hydrothermal stages of the ore-forming process by reaction of Sb- and As-bearing solutions with magmatic sulfides such as pentlandite, or 2) during the serpentinization of the host peridotite. The mineral and its name have been approved by the Commission of New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (number 2019–135).
Responses of food web to hypolimnetic aeration in Lake Vesijärvi
Authors: Ruuhijärvi Jukka , Malinen Tommi , Kuoppamäki Kirsi , Ala-Opas Pasi , Vinni Mika 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe studied the responses of a food web, especially fish and zooplankton, to summertime aeration, pumping of oxygen-rich epilimnetic water to the hypolimnion in Lake Vesijärvi, southern Finland. The aim of hypolimnetic aeration was to reduce internal loading of phosphorus from sediment. The population of smelt (Osmerus eperlanus L.), the main planktivore of the pelagial area, collapsed during the two 1st years of aeration due to increased temperature and low oxygen concentrations in the hypolimnion. The population recovered after the 4th year of hypolimnetic aeration, when oxygen conditions were improved. Despite elevated hypolimnetic temperature, smelt reached exceptionally high abundance, which led to a significant reduction in cladoceran body size. The density of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) increased at first, but then decreased when the proportion of smelt and cyprinids increased. Biomasses of Daphnia decreased probably as a result of the disappearance of dark, low-oxygen deep-water refuge against fish predation and low availability of nutritionally high-quality algae. Occasionally filamentous cyanobacteria, such as turbulence tolerant Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont), were abundant, suggesting deteriorated food resources for zooplankton. The responses of food web were controversial with respect to the aim of the management, which was to prevent the occurrence of harmful algal blooms.
Professional Development for Enhancing Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness in Preschool Professionals
Authors: Petersson Bloom Linda 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe current study describes the design, implementation, and analysis of a professional development programme using a Lesson Study model to enhance awareness in preschool professionals regarding inclusive education for children with autism spectrum disorder. The mixed method approach included pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, audio-recordings of group seminars, and an interview. The results indicated an increase in autism awareness among the professionals, suggesting that professionals changed their practice as a result of the programme. This was particularly clear regarding making adjustments to the learning environment and taking measures to prevent challenging situations. In addition to describing the implementation of a professional development programme in a preschool, this paper emphasises the importance of appropriate conditions for such initiatives.
Machine learning method for cosmetic product recognition: a visual searching approach
Authors: Umer Saiyed , Mohanta Partha Pratim , Rout Ranjeet Kumar , Pandey Hari Mohan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA cosmetic product recognition system is proposed in this paper. For this recognition system, we have proposed a cosmetic product database that contains image samples of forty different cosmetic items. The purpose of this recognition system is to recognize Cosmetic products with there types, brands and retailers such that to analyze a customer experience what kind of products and brands they need. This system has various applications in such as brand recognition, product recognition and also the availability of the products to the vendors. The implementation of the proposed system is divided into three components: preprocessing, feature extraction and classification. During preprocessing we have scaled and transformed the color images into gray-scaled images to speed up the process. During feature extraction, several different feature representation schemes: transformed, structural and statistical texture analysis approaches have been employed and investigated by employing the global and local feature representation schemes. Various machine learning supervised classification methods such as Logistic Regression, Linear Support Vector Machine, Adaptive k-Nearest Neighbor, Artificial Neural Network and Decision Tree classifiers have been employed to perform the classification tasks. Apart from this, we have also performed some data analytic tasks for Brand Recognition as well as Retailer Recognition and for these experimentation, we have employed some datasets from the ‘Kaggle’ website and have obtained the performance due to the above-mentioned classifiers. Finally, the performance of the cosmetic product recognition system, Brand Recognition and Retailer Recognition have been aggregated for the customer decision process in the form of the state-of-the-art for the proposed system.
Comment on “Hyperchaos in constrained Hamiltonian system and its control” by J. Li, H. Wu and F. Mei
Authors: Szumiński Wojciech , Przybylska Maria , Maciejewski Andrzej J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe aim of this comment is to show that discovery of hyperchaos in three systems investigated in Li et al. (Nonlinear Dyn 94(3):1703–1720, 2018) is not correct. It is justified both theoretically and numerically. Corrected calculations of Lyapunov exponents and corresponding bifurcation diagram are given. Examples of hyperchaotic Hamiltonian multiple pendulum systems are presented.
The interplay between vegetation and water in mangroves: new perspectives for mangrove stand modelling and ecological research
Authors: Peters Ronny , Walther Marc , Lovelock Catherine , Jiang Jiang , Berger Uta 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIt is commonly accepted that vegetation patterns and water supply mutually define each other. In mangroves, soil water salinity and the corresponding osmotic potential are the main drivers of plant water supply. Below-ground processes thus may be key for the structure and dynamics of mangrove stands. Nevertheless, existing simulation models describing mangrove forest dynamics do not quantify the water uptake of the single plant from the soil and traditionally neglect any feedback of the vegetation on the water availability, but instead use empirical, statistical models for plant competition affecting growth. We provide a brief review on the state of the art of mangrove forest models with an emphasis on how below-ground processes are regarded. We follow mainly two directions: (1) phenomenological concepts for competition for below-ground resources and (2) assessing the impact of salinity and water supply on the vegetation and possible feedback mechanisms from the vegetation to the below-ground conditions. We hypothesise that a coupled vegetation-groundwater model would avail us to better understand the dynamics and properties of mangrove systems, their capability to persist or rehabilitate under stressful hydrological conditions, as well as their response to environmental changes related to the groundwater system and transport. The benefits of such a joint approach would (i) constitute an intrinsic below-ground competition description close to the governing processes and (ii) concurrently exploit secondary, constraining information from vegetation patterns to derive a new concept to acquire knowledge on subsurface heterogeneity and parametrisation. The aim of this paper is to lay the theoretical groundwork and guidelines for future modellers to follow in the creation of a more realistic mangrove model coupling above- and below-ground processes. The proposed modelling approach has the potential to be useful for a broad audience based particularly in forest sciences and plant ecology in general, but also for hydrodynamic modelling (e.g. subsurface flow and transport detected by vegetation patterns as above-ground proxy).
Population Dynamics with Threshold Effects Give Rise to a Diverse Family of Allee Effects
Authors: Fadai Nabil T. , Simpson Matthew J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe Allee effect describes populations that deviate from logistic growth models and arises in applications including ecology and cell biology. A common justification for incorporating Allee effects into population models is that the population in question has altered growth mechanisms at some critical density, often referred to as a threshold effect. Despite the ubiquitous nature of threshold effects arising in various biological applications, the explicit link between local threshold effects and global Allee effects has not been considered. In this work, we examine a continuum population model that incorporates threshold effects in the local growth mechanisms. We show that this model gives rise to a diverse family of Allee effects, and we provide a comprehensive analysis of which choices of local growth mechanisms give rise to specific Allee effects. Calibrating this model to a recent set of experimental data describing the growth of a population of cancer cells provides an interpretation of the threshold population density and growth mechanisms associated with the population.
Improvement of Corrosion Resistance of 13CrMo4-5 Steel by Ni-Based Laser Cladding Coatings
Authors: Koclęga Damian , Radziszewska Agnieszka , Dymek Stanisław , Morgiel Jerzy , Maj Łukasz , Kranzmann Axel 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe 13CrMo4-5 ferritic steel is commonly used in power plants, due to its favorable mechanical properties. According to EN10028-2, this steel can be used at temperatures up to 570 °C because of its creep behavior. The inefficient corrosion resistance limits the application of this steel to lower temperatures depending on the gas temperature and slag formation. Therefore, the application of a highly resistant Ni-based coating is proposed to extend the corrosion resistance of elements made of ferritic steel. The corrosion test was performed in an environment containing a mixture of gases, like O2, COx, and SOx, and deposited ashes with elements, e.g., Na, Cl, Ca, Si, C, Fe, and Al. The exposure time was, respectively, 240 h, 1000 h and 4500 h at a temperature of 600 °C. The oxide scale formed on the 13CrMo4-5 steel was significantly thicker than on the IN686 coating. The microstructure and chemical and phase compositions of the oxide scale were investigated using light optical microscopy together with scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Energy dispersive x-ray analyses were preformed when appropriate.
Second-order and local characteristics of network intensity functions
Authors: Eckardt Matthias , Mateu Jorge 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe last decade has witnessed an increase of interest in the spatial analysis of structured point patterns over networks whose analysis is challenging because of geometrical complexities and unique methodological problems. In this context, it is essential to incorporate the network specificity into the analysis as the locations of events are restricted to areas covered by line segments. Relying on concepts originating from graph theory, we extend the notions of first-order network intensity functions to second-order and local network intensity functions. We consider two types of local indicators of network association functions which can be understood as adaptations of the primary ideas of local analysis on the plane. We develop the nodewise and cross-hierarchical type of local functions. A real data set on urban disturbances is also presented.
Study of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) on the access to oncology drugs and predictive biomarkers in Spain
Authors: Rodríguez-Lescure A. , de la Peña F. A. , Aranda E. , Calvo A. , Felip E. , Garrido P. , Vera R. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) has carried out a study to analyse the conditions of access to oncology drugs in clinical practice in Spain. For the first time, the access of predictive biomarkers has also been analyzed.

Methods
A questionnaire was sent to 146 hospitals in Spain to collect information on the process of approval of 11 oncology drugs of an unquestionable clinical benefit and five predictive biomarkers of mandatory determination for specific treatments.

Results
Results highlight the still existing differences in the access of oncology drugs, as well as the
newly identified differences in the access to predictive biomarkers between Autonomous Communities (AACC) in Spain, as well as between different hospitals within the same Autonomous Community.

Conclusions
The SEOM considers it necessary to reduce the differences identified, increase homogeneity, and improve conditions of access to oncology drugs and biomarkers, and makes proposals to address these issues.
Towards a simulation-based understanding of smart remanufacturing operations: a comparative analysis
Authors: Okorie Okechukwu , Charnley Fiona , Ehiagwina Augustine , Tiwari Divya , Salonitis Konstantinos 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWhile the majority of literature on remanufacturing operations examines an end-of-life (EOL) strategy which is both manual and mechanised, authors generally agree that digitalisation of remanufacturing is expected to increase in the next decade. Subsequently, a new research area described as digitally-enabled remanufacturing, remanufacturing 4.0 or smart remanufacturing is emerging. This is an automated, data-driven system of remanufacturing by means of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) paradigms. Insights into smart remanufacturing can be provided through simulation modelling of the remanufacturing process. While the use of simulation modelling in order to predict responses and behaviour is prevalent in remanufacturing, the use of these tools in smart remanufacturing is still limited in literature. The goal of this research is to present, as a first of its kind, a comparative understanding of simulation modelling in remanufacturing in order to suggest the ideal modelling tool for smart remanufacturing. The proposed comparison includes system dynamics, discrete event simulation and agent based modelling techniques. We apply these modelling techniques on a smart remanufacturing space of a sensor-enabled product and use assumptions derived from industry experts. We then proceed to model the remanufacturing operation from sorting and inspection of cores to final inspection of the remanufactured product. Through our analysis of the assumptions utilised and simulation modelling results we conclude that, while individual modelling techniques present important strategic and operational insights, their individual use may not be sufficient to offer comprehensive knowledge to remanufacturers due to the challenge of data complexity that smart remanufacturing offers.
How far musicality and perfect pitch are derived from genetic factors?
Authors: Szyfter Krzysztof , Witt Michał P. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThere is an agreement about joint genetic and environmental background of musical reception and performance. Musical abilities tend to cluster in families. The studies done on a random population, twins and families of gifted musicians provided a strong support for genetic contribution. Modern biomolecular techniques exploring linkage analysis, variation of gene copy number, scanning for whole-genome expression helped to identify genes, or chromosome regions associated with musical aptitude. Some studies were focused on rare ability to recognize tone without reference that is known as a perfect pitch where a far ethnic differentiation was established. On the other hand, gene deletion leading to dysfunction in amusical individuals also indicated appropriate loci “by negation.” The strongest support for an association of genes with musicality was provided for genes: AVPR1 (12q14.2), SLC6A4 (17q11.2), GALM (2p22), PCDH7 (4p15.1), GATA2 (3q21.3), and few others as well for 4q22, 4q23, and 8q13–21 chromosome bands.
The Air‐Sea Response During Hurricane Irma's (2017) Rapid Intensification Over the Amazon‐Orinoco River Plume as Measured by Atmospheric and Oceanic Observations
Authors: Rudzin Johna E. , Chen Sue , Sanabia Elizabeth R. , Jayne Steven R. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractHurricane Irma (2017) underwent rapid intensification (RI) while passing over the Amazon‐Orinoco River plume in the tropical Atlantic. The freshwater discharge from the plume creates a vertical salinity gradient that suppresses turbulent heat flux from the cool, ocean subsurface. The stability within the plume reduces sea surface temperature (SST) cooling and promotes energetic air‐sea fluxes. Hence, it is hypothesized that this ocean feature may have facilitated Irma's RI through favorable upper ocean conditions. This hypothesis is validated using a collection of atmospheric and oceanic observations to quantify how the ocean response influences surface flux and atmospheric boundary layer thermodynamics during Hurricane Irma's RI over the river plume. Novel aircraft‐deployed oceanic profiling floats highlight the detailed evolution of the ocean response during Irma's passage over the river plume. Analyses include quantifying the ocean response and identifying how it influenced atmospheric boundary layer temperature, moisture, and equivalent potential temperature (θE). An atmospheric boundary layer recovery analysis indicates that surface fluxes were sufficient to support the enhanced boundary layer θE (moist entropy) observed, which promotes inner‐core convection and facilitates TC intensification. The implicit influence of salinity stratification on Irma's intensity during RI is assessed using theoretical intensity frameworks. Overall, the findings suggest that the salinity stratification sustained SST during Irma's passage, which promoted energetic air‐sea fluxes that aided in boundary layer recovery and facilitated Irma's intensity during RI. Examination of the air‐sea coupling over this river plume, corresponding atmospheric boundary layer response, and feedback on TC intensity was previously absent in literature.