bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy improves survival and reduces treatment time in squamous cell carcinoma of the anus: A National Cancer Data Base study
Authors: Elson Joshua K. , Kachnic Lisa A. , Kharofa Jordan R. 
Published: October 2018

BackgroundChemoradiation with 5‐fluorouracil and mitomycin remains the standard of care for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anal canal. A prolonged treatment time is associated with inferior disease‐specific outcomes. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial 0529 demonstrated decreased toxicity and fewer treatment breaks with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), but this has not been assessed in a randomized trial. Using data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), this study evaluated the impact of IMRT on treatment time and survival in anal SCC.MethodsThe NCDB was used to identify patients with anal cancer from 2004 to 2013. The included patients were those with stage I to III squamous cell cancer of the anal canal who had received definitive chemoradiation by IMRT or 3‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT). Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression, Kaplan‐Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards analysis, and propensity score–matched analysis.ResultsOf 6814 patients, 57.4% were treated with 3DCRT, whereas 42.6% received IMRT. Patients receiving IMRT had a reduced risk of a long treatment time in a multivariate analysis (P < .001). The 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates with IMRT and 3DCRT were 80.8% and 78.9%, respectively (P = .0036). According to a propensity analysis, patients receiving IMRT had improved OS (P = .039) and a reduced risk of a long treatment time (P < .0001) in a multivariate analysis.ConclusionsIMRT use was associated with significantly reduced overall treatment time and improved survival in comparison with 3DCRT. It is important to note that NCDB data are not as robust as randomized data. However, these results further support the use of IMRT as part of sphincter‐preserving therapy for the anal canal.
Using geneid to Identify Genes
Authors: Alioto Tyler , Blanco Enrique , Parra Genís , Guigó Roderic 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis unit describes the usage of geneid, an efficient gene‐finding program that allows for the analysis of large genomic sequences, including whole mammalian chromosomes. These sequences can be partially annotated, and geneid can be used to refine this initial annotation. Training geneid is relatively easy, and parameter configurations exist for a number of eukaryotic species. geneid produces output in a variety of standard formats. The results, thus, can be processed by a variety of software tools, including visualization programs. geneid software is in the public domain, and is undergoing constant development. It is easy to install and use. Exhaustive benchmark evaluations show that geneid compares favorably with other existing gene‐finding tools. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Uncoded M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation space‐time labeling diversity with three transmit antennas
Authors: Ayanda Dauda , Xu Hongjun , Pillay Narushan 
Published: October 2018

SummaryUncoded space‐time labeling diversity (USTLD) is a recent scheme that improves the error performance of space‐time block–coded wireless communication links. However, the existing space‐time labeling diversity technique used in USTLD only employs two transmit antennas. To further improve error performance in USTLD systems, this paper investigates USTLD systems with three transmit antennas. A heuristic approach is proposed to design the second and third mappers. Simulation results show superior error performance compared with the existing two transmit antenna USTLD. Furthermore, an analytical expression for a tight bound of the average bit error probability of the proposed system with three transmit antennas is derived. Moreover, complexity reduction analysis of the low‐complexity (LC) detector is proposed. It is shown that the proposed LC algorithm achieves near‐maximum likelihood detection accuracy, while reducing complexity by 51% and 96.5% for 16QAM and 64QAM, respectively.
Novel dynamic source routing protocol (DSR) based on genetic algorithm‐bacterial foraging optimization (GA‐BFO)
Authors: Zhang De‐gan , Liu Si , Liu Xiao‐huan , Zhang Ting , Cui Yu‐ya 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThe goal of mobile ad hoc network (MANET) routing protocol is to establish a correct and effective route with minimal control overhead and bandwidth consumption. Dynamic source routing protocol (DSR) is a simple on‐demand routing protocol designed specifically for MANETs. The choice of routing path only adopts the simplest minimum hop count algorithm, while it did not take the node energy into account. In order to improve the control overhead of the network, we comprehensively consider the node energy information when searching the routes to the destination nodes. We propose a genetic algorithm (GA)‐bacterial foraging optimization algorithm to perform the selection of the optimal routing. After searching out multiple routes to the destination node, the paths are initialized then the GA algorithm is started. This algorithm quickly finds the positions of the maximum probability optimal paths, which are the initial positions of bacteria for the bacteria foraging optimization (BFO) algorithm. Through using the BFO algorithm, it is easy to search out the extreme value and the optimal path in order to compensate for the poor accuracy of GA algorithm. Our proposed optimized strategy improves the routing selection algorithm without change the complexity of DSR and proves the convergence of the algorithm to the global optimal solution. The simulation shows that the proposed algorithm is feasible and applicable and also has better experimental result.
Millimeter‐wave signal generation and transmission to multiple radio access units by employing nonlinearity of the optical link
Authors: Mehmood Tayyab , Ghafoor Salman 
Published: October 2018

SummaryFifth‐generation communication demands seamless multi–giga‐bit per second data transmission in its small‐sized ultradense cells. The congestion‐free millimeter‐wave spectrum is the best option to be utilized for high data rate transmission. Generation and transmission of millimeter‐wave signals in the electrical domain is challenging mainly owing to bandwidth limitation of electronic components. Therefore, optical generation and transmission of these high‐frequency signals are a feasible option. In this work, we propose all‐optical millimeter‐wave signal generation and transmission in a centralized radio‐over‐fiber architecture. The proposed architecture performs all the major optical signal processing tasks at the central unit by eliminating the requirement of light sources and local oscillators at the multiple radio access units. Therefore, a potentially simplified and cost‐effective solution for fifth‐generation mobile networks is demonstrated through simulation results. Nonlinearity of the Mach‐Zehnder modulator and of a highly nonlinear dispersion‐shifted fiber is exploited to generate coherent optical carriers from a single centralized laser source instead of several separate laser sources. The coherent optical carriers are used to perform remote heterodyne detection at the radio access units and at the central unit to generate millimeter‐wave signals. Each of the four radio access units receives data from the central unit at a rate of 512 Mbps over two subcarrier multiplexed signals. Each of the radio access unit transmits the uplink data received from the mobile units at a rate of 128 Mbps and centered at a frequency of 25 GHz. It has been demonstrated through simulations that the proposed system gives acceptable bit error rate results.
Temporally sensitive neural measures of inhibition in preschool children across a spectrum of irritability
Authors: Deveney Christen M. , Briggs‐Gowan Margaret J. , Pagliaccio David , Estabrook Christopher R. , Zobel Elvira , Burns James L. , Norton Elizabeth S. , Pine Daniel S. , Brotman Melissa A. , Leibenluft Ellen , Wakschlag Lauren S. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIrritability is a prominent feature of chronic mental disorders and a developmental marker of their early emergence. The most salient feature of irritability in early childhood is temper tantrums. While temper tantrums are normative in young children, they can be clinically concerning when they are dysregulated, very frequent, and/or occur in unexpected contexts. The present study uses behavioral and event‐related brain potential (ERP) measures to characterize the relationship between irritability and neural markers of response inhibition in very young children. Forty‐six children (ages 4–7 years) completed a go/no‐go task under nonfrustrating and frustrating conditions. ERPs elicited by go and no‐go stimuli were examined as a function of frustration condition and irritability, operationalized via the well‐validated Temper Loss scale of the Multidimensional Assessment Profile of Disruptive Behavior (MAP‐DB). Higher Temper Loss scores were associated with larger N2no‐go amplitudes and reduced no‐go accuracy during frustration. This suggests that higher levels of irritability corresponded with increased conflict monitoring and poorer task performance during frustration. These findings add to a developing literature identifying the neurocognitive markers of varying levels of irritability in young children.
Meldonium long‐term excretion period and pharmacokinetics in blood and urine of healthy athlete volunteers
Authors: Rabin Olivier , Uiba Vladimir , Miroshnikova Yulia , Zabelin Maksim , Samoylov Aleksander , Karkischenko Vladislav , Semyonov Sergey , Astrelina Tatiana , Razinkin Sergey 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMeldonium is a metabolic drug whose inclusion in the 2016 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods followed the analysis of data collected under the 2015 World Anti‐Doping Agency Monitoring Program. In the early months of 2016, anti‐doping laboratories reported an unusually high number of cases in which urine samples contained high concentrations of meldonium. Consequently, the meldonium excretion period in healthy athletes and the substance's long‐term urine and blood (plasma) pharmacokinetics became central questions for the anti‐doping community to address, to ensure appropriate assessment of the scientific and medical situation, and also fair treatment of athletes from a result management and legal standpoint. At the present time, data on meldonium pharmacokinetics is limited to a few studies, with no known data available on long‐term excretion of high oral doses. The primary objective of this open‐label study was to determine long‐term urine and plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of meldonium in healthy volunteers. Study design included single and repeated functional load testing and assessment of L‐carnitine administration on meldonium excretion and pharmacokinetics. Thirty‐two volunteers were equally divided into two groups receiving either 1.0 g or 2.0 g of oral meldonium daily for 3 weeks. The study found meldonium takes several days to attain a steady state in blood and displays an elimination period over several months after cessation of treatment. Moreover, findings demonstrate that the daily dose, periodicity and duration of treatment with meldonium are the most important factors to consider in calculating the substance's elimination and complete body clearance.
Genetic evidence of female kin clusters in a continuous population of a solitary carnivore, the Eurasian lynx
Authors: Holmala Katja , Herrero Annika , Kopatz Alexander , Schregel Julia , Eiken Hans G. , Hagen Snorre B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLarge terrestrial carnivores can sometimes display strong family bonds affecting the spatial distribution of related individuals. We studied the spatial genetic relatedness and family structure of female Eurasian lynx, continuously distributed in southern Finland. We hypothesized that closely related females form matrilineal assemblages, clustering together with relatives living in the neighboring areas. We evaluated this hypothesis using tissue samples of 133 legally harvested female lynx (from year 2007 to 2015), genotyped with 23 microsatellite markers, and tested for possible spatial genetic family structure using a combination of Bayesian clustering, spatial autocorrelation, and forensic genetic parentage analysis. The study population had three potential family genetic clusters, with a high degree of admixture and geographic overlap, and showed a weak but significant negative relationship between pairwise genetic and geographic distance. Moreover, parentage analysis indicated that 64% of the females had one or more close relatives (sister, mother, or daughter) within the study population. Individuals identified as close kin consistently assigned to the same putative family genetic cluster. They also were sampled closer geographically than females on average, although variation was large. Our results support the possibility that Eurasian lynx forms matrilineal assemblages, and comparisons with males are now required to further assess this hypothesis.
Stand basal area and temperature interact to influence growth in white spruce in southwest Alaska
Authors: Wright Micah , Sherriff Rosemary L. , Miller Amy E. , Wilson Tammy 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWarming temperatures are having a disproportionate effect on boreal ecosystems, influencing the establishment and growth of tree species across their respective ranges. However, less is known about how competitive interactions influence growth–climate relationships. We used tree‐ring data from 26 study plots (836 trees) to investigate how the growth patterns of white spruce (Picea glauca) respond to variation in competition and climate in southwest Alaska. Using linear mixed‐effects models, we compared growth against covariates for stand basal area, competition, climate (temperature, precipitation), and spruce beetle mortality. We characterized competition at the tree level using two distance‐dependent competition indices: Hegyi index and a height advantage index. Furthermore, we assumed that stand‐level competition increased with basal area. We found that high summer temperatures resulted in reduced growth in stands with higher basal area (i.e., the most crowded stands), but increased growth at sites with low basal area. Our results suggest that historically productive stands may show declines in growth under warmer conditions, with important implications for future stand structure and productivity.
Empagliflozin directly improves diastolic function in human heart failure
Authors: Pabel Steffen , Wagner Stefan , Bollenberg Hannah , Bengel Philipp , Kovács Árpád , Schach Christian , Tirilomis Petros , Mustroph Julian , Renner André , Gummert Jan , Fischer Thomas , Van Linthout Sophie , Tschöpe Carsten , Streckfuss‐Bömeke Katrin , Hasenfuss Gerd , Maier Lars S. , Hamdani Nazha , Sossalla Samuel 
Published: October 2018

AimsEmpagliflozin, a clinically used oral antidiabetic drug that inhibits the sodium‐dependent glucose co‐transporter 2, has recently been evaluated for its cardiovascular safety. Surprisingly, empagliflozin reduced mortality and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) compared to placebo. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, our study aims to investigate whether empagliflozin may cause direct pleiotropic effects on the myocardium.Methods and resultsIn order to assess possible direct myocardial effects of empagliflozin, we performed contractility experiments with in toto‐isolated human systolic end‐stage HF ventricular trabeculae. Empagliflozin significantly reduced diastolic tension, whereas systolic force was not changed. These results were confirmed in murine myocardium from diabetic and non‐diabetic mice, suggesting independent effects from diabetic conditions. In human HF cardiomyocytes, empagliflozin did not influence calcium transient amplitude or diastolic calcium level. The mechanisms underlying the improved diastolic function were further elucidated by studying myocardial fibres from patients and rats with diastolic HF (HF with preserved ejection fraction, HFpEF). Empagliflozin beneficially reduced myofilament passive stiffness by enhancing phosphorylation levels of myofilament regulatory proteins. Intravenous injection of empagliflozin in anaesthetized HFpEF rats significantly improved diastolic function measured by echocardiography, while systolic contractility was unaffected.ConclusionEmpagliflozin causes direct pleiotropic effects on the myocardium by improving diastolic stiffness and hence diastolic function. These effects were independent of diabetic conditions. Since pharmacological therapy of diastolic dysfunction and HF is an unmet need, our results provide a rationale for new translational studies and might also contribute to the understanding of the EMPA‐REG OUTCOME trial.
A novel PSO algorithm for dynamic wireless sensor network multiobjective optimization problem
Authors: El‐Shorbagy M.A. , Elhoseny Mohamed , Hassanien Aboul Ella , Ahmed Syed Hassan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAll real‐life multiobjective optimization problems (MOPs) are considered dynamic. It is occurring due to fluctuations in environmental or the global market instabilities that lead to the quick fluctuations of prices. Wireless sensor network optimization problem, by nature, is considered one of the dynamic MOP (DMOP) and needs to be solved by a special method to save time and effort. Thus, this paper proposed a novel particle swarm optimization (PSO) for dynamic wireless sensor network MOP to accelerate data transfer in networks and reduce energy losses. Generally, in DMOPs, the optimization period is broken into several equal subperiods. In each subperiod, there is a dynamic parameter that changes. In the proposed approach, PSO is used to handle DMOPs without any changing of its structure and has fast convergence properties. However, a new mechanism to choose the personal and global preferred particles is introduced, which based on the distance between the nondominated solutions obtained so far and the particles positions by using Euclidean metric. In addition, two types of archives are used to maintain the nondominated solutions. The first one is used to store the nondominated solutions obtained by each particle, whereas the second type is used to store the nondominated solutions achieved by all particles. The novel methodology performance is proved by applying it on three benchmark problems that were chosen from the literature and one design problem from the engineering domain. The simulation results mentioned that the proposed algorithm is active and efficacious in solving DMOPs.
Lavender fragrance sol‐gel encapsulated in ORMOSIL nanospheres
Authors: Xiao Zuobing , Liu Min , Niu Yunwei , Zhu Guangyong , Deng Juan , Liu Sihong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLavender fragrance (LF) was encapsulated successfully in ORMOSIL (organically modified silica) via the sol‐gel approach. Silane precursor‐ethylsilicate (TEOS) was modified with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) to enhance the mechanical strength and compatibility of the wall material. Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was added as surfactant and polymer for the formation of nanospheres. An encapsulation efficiency of 96.36% was achieved under optimal conditions (water/ethanol ratio of 2 : 1, with pH 9.5, and with a surfactant concentration of 25 mM). Moreover, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the LF nanospheres showed that the nanospheres were spherical with good dispersibility. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated that LF was successfully encapsulated in organically modified silica. The result of thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed that the nanospheres had excellent thermal stability. Furthermore, the SEM image of aromatic wallpaper indicated a successful application of the LF nanospheres in wallpaper.
A model for entropy generation in stagnation‐point flow of non‐Newtonian Jeffrey, Maxwell, and Oldroyd‐B nanofluids
Authors: Almakki Mohamed , Nandy Samir Kumar , Mondal Sabyasachi , Sibanda Precious , Sibanda Dora 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe present a generalized model to describe the flow of three non‐Newtonian nanofluids, namely, Jeffrey, Maxwell, and Oldroyd‐B nanofluids. Using this model, we study entropy generation and heat transfer in laminar nanofluid boundary‐layer stagnation‐point flow. The flow is subject to an external magnetic field. The conventional energy equation is modified by the incorporation of nanoparticle Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects. A hydrodynamic slip velocity is used in the initial condition as a component of the stretching velocity. The system of nonlinear equations is solved numerically using three different methods, a spectral relaxation method, spectral quasilinearization method, and the spectral local linearization method, first to determine the most accurate of these methods, and second as a measure to validate the numerical simulations. The residual errors for each method are presented. The numerical results show that the spectral relaxation method is the most accurate of the three methods, and this method is used subsequently to solve the transport equations and thus to determine the empirical impact of the physical parameters on the fluid properties and entropy generation.
Thermal radiation and inclined magnetic field effects on MHD flow past a linearly accelerated inclined plate in a porous medium with variable temperature
Authors: Endalew Mehari Fentahun , Nayak Anita 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAn analysis of unsteady MHD natural convective flow, transfer of mass, and radiation past linearly accelerated slanted plate inserted in an immersed permeable medium with uniform permeability, variable temperature, and concentration within the sight of a slanted magnetic field has been done. The novelty of the current examination is to analyze the effect of a slanted magnetic field on the flow phenomena with heat source/sink and destructive reaction for linearly accelerated slanted plate. The governing equations have been solved by using Laplace transform strategy. The estimations of flow velocity, concentration, and temperature are exhibited graphically, while local skin friction, mass, and heat transfer rates are put on view in tabular form for different values of relevant stream parameters. It is fascinating to observe that the raise of inclination angle of an applied magnetic field diminishes both velocity profiles and local skin friction.
Assessment of PCM‐container interfacial heat transfer using a hot/cold probe technique
Authors: R Sudheer , Prabhu K. N. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA novel technique for assessing heat transfer characteristics of salt‐based phase change materials (PCM) was proposed here. The method is based on solution to inverse heat conduction problem. Nanoparticles (Graphite, Graphene, and multi wall carbon nanotube [MWCNT]) were dispersed in the PCM (KNO3) to assess their respective influence on heat transfer in the PCM. Graphite added PCM offered highest heat flow values and heating rates, while the pure salt‐PCM offered the least. The probe material had a significant influence on the heat transfer rates at the PCM‐probe interface.