bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prediction‐based and power‐aware virtual machine allocation algorithm in three‐tier cloud data centers
Authors: Tarahomi Mehran , Izadi Mohammad 
Published: December 2018

SummaryWith the increasing popularity of cloud computing services, the more number of cloud data centers are constructed over the globe. This makes the power consumption of cloud data center elements as a big challenge. Hereby, several software and hardware approaches have been proposed to handle this issue. However, this problem has not been optimally solved yet. In this paper, we propose an online cloud resource management with live migration of virtual machines (VMs) to reduce power consumption. To do so, a prediction‐based and power‐aware virtual machine allocation algorithm is proposed. Also, we present a three‐tier framework for energy‐efficient resource management in cloud data centers. Experimental results indicate that the proposed solution reduces the power consumption; at the same time, service‐level agreement violation (SLAV) is also improved.
Performance analysis of IEEE 802.11ah wireless local area network under the restricted access window‐based mechanism
Authors: U. Sangeetha , A. V. Babu 
Published: December 2018

SummaryIEEE 802.11ah is an approved amendment to IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) standard to support growing demand for machine‐to‐machine (M2M) applications. To enable an efficient scheme for accessing the channel by a large number of stations (STAs) within the coverage of an access point, 802.11ah has developed a novel mechanism known as Restrictred Access Window (RAW). Here, a group of STAs attempts channel access during their designated RAW slot by following the carrier sense multiple access‐collission avoidance (CSMA‐CA)‐based enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) mechanism. In this paper, we develop an analytical model for finding the nonsaturation/saturation throughput of 802.11ah WLAN under the RAW‐based channel access mechanism. We describe an analytical model for finding the average frame delay as well. The impact of the number of STAs and number of groups on network throughput and average delay are presented. We establish that the RAW mechanism can improve the throughput while the average frame delay gets reduced. The analytical results are validated by extensive simulation studies.
The sensitivity of the forest carbon budget shifts across processes along with stand development and climate change
Authors: Collalti Alessio , Thornton Peter E. , Cescatti Alessandro , Rita Angelo , Borghetti Marco , Nolè Angelo , Trotta Carlo , Ciais Philippe , Matteucci Giorgio 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe future trajectory of atmospheric CO2 concentration depends on the development of the terrestrial carbon sink, which in turn is influenced by forest dynamics under changing environmental conditions. An in‐depth understanding of model sensitivities and uncertainties in non‐steady‐state conditions is necessary for reliable and robust projections of forest development and under scenarios of global warming and CO2 enrichment. Here, we systematically assessed if a biogeochemical process‐based model (3D‐CMCC‐CNR), which embeds similarities with many other vegetation models, applied in simulating net primary productivity (NPP) and standing woody biomass (SWB), maintained a consistent sensitivity to its 55 input parameters through time, during forest ageing and structuring as well as under climate change scenarios. Overall, the model applied at three contrasting European forests showed low sensitivity to the majority of its parameters. Interestingly, model sensitivity to parameters varied through the course of >100 yr of simulations. In particular, the model showed a large responsiveness to the allometric parameters used for initialize forest carbon and nitrogen pools early in forest simulation (i.e., for NPP up to ~37%, 256 g C·m−2·yr−1 and for SWB up to ~90%, 65 Mg C/ha, when compared to standard simulation), with this sensitivity decreasing sharply during forest development. At medium to longer time scales, and under climate change scenarios, the model became increasingly more sensitive to additional and/or different parameters controlling biomass accumulation and autotrophic respiration (i.e., for NPP up to ~30%, 167 g C·m−2·yr−1 and for SWB up to ~24%, 64 Mg C/ha, when compared to standard simulation). Interestingly, model outputs were shown to be more sensitive to parameters and processes controlling stand development rather than to climate change (i.e., warming and changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration) itself although model sensitivities were generally higher under climate change scenarios. Our results suggest the need for sensitivity and uncertainty analyses that cover multiple temporal scales along forest developmental stages to better assess the potential of future forests to act as a global terrestrial carbon sink.
Electrochemical Sensor for Caffeine Based on a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with an Attapulgite/Nafion Film
Authors: Tajeu Kevin Yemele , Ymele Ervice , Zambou Jiokeng Sherman Lesly , Tonle Ignas Kenfack 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn the present work, a simple and economic analytical method based on attapulgite/nafion coated glassy carbon electrode (AT/Naf/GCE) has been developped for the electrochemical determination of caffeine. Prior to its use, the ionic exchange properties and conductivity of AT/Naf/GCE were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Caffeine gave an irreversible oxidation peak around +1.41 V (vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode) in 0.1 M H2SO4 at pH 1.5. The peak current varied linearly with the square root of the scan rate, showing that the transfer process is controlled by diffusion. The heterogeneous rate constant, the transfer coefficient and the number of electrons involved were calculated. Upon optimization of key analytical parameters involved in the electroanalysis of caffeine by DPV, the recorded oxidation peak current varied linearly with caffeine concentration in the range from 0.1 to 4 μm, leading to a detection limit of 4.57×10−8 M (S/N=3). The developed electrode exhibited good stability and was easily regenerated. The effect of some important potential interfering compounds (ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, sulphite ions and glucose) on the signal of caffeine was also examined. The obtained electrode was successfully employed in the determination of caffeine content in a commercial drug.
Economic policy uncertainty, CDS spreads, and CDS liquidity provision
Authors: Wang Xinjie , Xu Weike , Zhong Zhaodong (Ken) 
Published: December 2018

AbstractUsing a news‐based index of economic policy uncertainty (EPU), we find that EPU is positively associated with credit default swap (CDS) spreads and negatively associated with the number of liquidity providers in the CDS market. A 10% increase in EPU leads to an 8.4% increase in CDS spreads and a 4.0% decrease in the number of liquidity providers. Furthermore, the effects of EPU are persistent and robust after controlling for macroeconomic variables. Our results are also robust to different econometric methodologies. Overall, our findings suggest that, when EPU is high, investors find credit protection more costly and difficult to purchase.
MEG imaging of recurrent gliomas reveals functional plasticity of hemispheric language specialization
Authors: Traut Tavish , Sardesh Nina , Bulubas Lucia , Findlay Anne , Honma Susanne M. , Mizuiri Danielle , Berger Mitchel S. , Hinkley Leighton B. , Nagarajan Srikantan S. , Tarapore Phiroz E. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIn patients with gliomas, changes in hemispheric specialization for language determined by magnetoencephalography (MEG) were analyzed to elucidate the impact of treatment and tumor recurrence on language networks. Demonstration of reorganization of language networks in these patients has significant implications on the prevention of postoperative functional loss and recovery. Whole‐brain activity during an auditory verb generation task was estimated from MEG recordings in a group of 73 patients with recurrent gliomas. Hemisphere of language dominance was estimated using the language laterality index (LI), a measure derived from the task. The initial scan was performed prior to resection; patients subsequently underwent surgery and adjuvant treatment. A second scan was performed upon recurrence prior to repeat resection. The relationship between the shift in LI between scans and demographics, anatomic location, pathology, and adjuvant treatment was analyzed. Laterality shifts were observed between scans; the median percent change was 29.1% across all patients. Laterality shift magnitude and relative direction were associated with the initial position of language dominance; patients with increased lateralization experienced greater shifts than those presenting more bilateral representation. A change in LI from left or right to bilateral (or vice versa) occurred in 23.3% of patients; complete switch occurred in 5.5% of patients. Patients with tumors within the language‐dominant hemisphere experienced significantly greater shifts than those with contralateral tumors. The majority of patients with glioma experience shifts in language network organization over time which correlate with the relative position of language lateralization and tumor location.
Regional multimodal relationships between tau, hypometabolism, atrophy, and fractional anisotropy in atypical Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Sintini Irene , Schwarz Christopher G. , Martin Peter R. , Graff‐Radford Jonathan , Machulda Mary M. , Senjem Matthew L. , Reid Robert I. , Spychalla Anthony J. , Drubach Daniel A. , Lowe Val J. , Jack Clifford R. , Josephs Keith A. , Whitwell Jennifer L. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) can present with atypical clinical forms where the prominent domain of deficit is not memory, that is, atypical AD. Atypical AD patients show cortical atrophy on MRI, hypometabolism on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, tau uptake on [18F]AV‐1451 PET, and white matter tract degeneration on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). How these disease processes relate to each other locally and distantly remains unclear. We aimed to examine multimodal neuroimaging relationships in individuals with atypical AD, using univariate and multivariate techniques at region‐ and voxel‐level. Forty atypical AD patients underwent MRI, FDG‐PET, tau‐PET, beta‐amyloid PET, and DTI. Patients were all beta‐amyloid positive. Partial Pearson's correlations were performed between tau and FDG standardized uptake value ratios, gray matter MRI‐volumes and white matter tract fractional anisotropy. Sparse canonical correlation analysis was applied to identify multivariate relationships between the same quantities. Voxel‐level associations across modalities were also assessed. Tau showed strong local negative correlations with FDG metabolism in the occipital and frontal lobes. Tau in frontal and parietal regions was negatively associated with temporoparietal gray matter MRI‐volume. Fractional anisotropy in a set of posterior white matter tracts, including the splenium of the corpus callosum, cingulum, and posterior thalamic radiation, was negatively correlated with parietal and occipital tau, atrophy and, predominantly, with hypometabolism. These results support the view that tau is the driving force behind neurodegeneration in atypical AD, and that a breakdown in structural connectivity is related to cortical neurodegeneration, particularly hypometabolism.
Dishonesty in health care practice: A behavioral experiment on upcoding in neonatology
Authors: Hennig‐Schmidt Heike , Jürges Hendrik , Wiesen Daniel 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDishonest behavior significantly increases the cost of medical care provision. Upcoding of patients is a common form of fraud to attract higher reimbursements. Imposing audit mechanisms including fines to curtail upcoding is widely discussed among health care policy‐makers. How audits and fines affect individual health care providers' behavior is empirically not well understood. To provide new evidence on fraudulent behavior in health care, we analyze the effect of a random audit including fines on individuals' honesty by means of a novel controlled behavioral experiment framed in a neonatal care context. Prevalent dishonest behavior declines significantly when audits and fines are introduced. The effect is driven by a reduction in upcoding when being detectable. Yet upcoding increases when not being detectable as fraudulent. We find evidence that individual characteristics (gender, medical background, and integrity) are related to dishonest behavior. Policy implications are discussed.
Randomized phase II/III confirmatory treatment selection design with a change of survival end points: Statistical design of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1216
Authors: Zhang Qiang (Ed) , Wu Qian , Harari Paul M. , Rosenthal David I. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundTo confirm the treatment effects of concurrent cetuximab plus docetaxel observed in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0234 and single out the effect of cetuximab, we designed RTOG 1216, a randomized phase II/III study, which uses an intermediate end point to select the best regimen for definitive testing of survival benefit.MethodsIn phase II, the best regimen should demonstrate statistically significant efficacy against the control with predefined advantage over the competing arm regarding disease‐free survival (DFS). We evaluate operating characteristics of the randomized II/III group sequential design through simulations and numerical integrations under the null and various alternative hypotheses.ResultsResults show the randomized II/III design yields substantial savings on sample size and time with well‐controlled type I and type II error rates.ConclusionOverall, the proposed randomized II/III design has desirable properties that offer cost effectiveness, operational efficiency, and, most importantly, scientific innovation that can be considered for similar clinical research settings.
Contemporary management of primary parapharyngeal space tumors
Authors: López Fernando , Suárez Carlos , Vander Poorten Vincent , Mäkitie Antti , Nixon Iain J. , Strojan Primož , Hanna Ehab Y. , Rodrigo Juan Pablo , de Bree Remco , Quer Miquel , Takes Robert P. , Bradford Carol R. , Shaha Ashok R. , Sanabria Alvaro , Rinaldo Alessandra , Ferlito Alfio 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe parapharyngeal space is a complex anatomical area. Primary parapharyngeal tumors are rare tumors and 80% of them are benign. A variety of tumor types can develop in this location; most common are salivary gland neoplasm and neurogenic tumors. The management of these tumors has improved greatly owing to the developments in imaging techniques, surgery, and radiotherapy. Most tumors can be removed with a low rate of complications and recurrence. The transcervical approach is the most frequently used. In some cases, minimally invasive approaches may be used alone or in combination with a limited transcervical route, allowing large tumors to be removed by reducing morbidity of expanded approaches. An adequate knowledge of the anatomy and a careful surgical plan is essential to tailor management according to the patient and the tumor. The purpose of the present review was to update current aspects of knowledge related to this more challenging area of tumor occurrence.
HLA class II expression on tumor cells and low numbers of tumor‐associated macrophages predict clinical outcome in oropharyngeal cancer
Authors: Cioni Bianca , Jordanova Ekaterina S. , Hooijberg Erik , van der Linden Rianne , de Menezes Renee X. , Tan Katherine , Willems Stefan , Elbers Joris B. W. , Broeks Annegien , Bergman Andries M. , Zuur Charlotte L. , de Boer Jan Paul 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is a highly immunogenic tumor and differences in tumor microenvironment might contribute to the improved survival of HPV‐positive OPSCC patient.MethodsA comprehensive multivariate analysis with clinical and immune variables (human leukocyte antigen [HLA] I/II, programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), programmed death receptor 1 (PD1), T cells, and macrophages) was performed in 142 OPSCC patients.ResultsWe found an inverse correlation between the expression of HLA class II molecules on tumor cells and CD68+ CD163+ tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs). High HLA‐DP/DQ/DR expression and low number of TAMs were associated with longer disease‐specific survival and disease‐free survival (DFS). Furthermore, a new population of CD8+ FoxP3+ T cells was correlated with shorter DFS in multivariate analysis.Conclusions\We identified new prognostic markers for patients with oropharyngeal cancer, which can be used for selecting patients that can benefit from immunotherapy.
LAIR‐1 overexpression and correlation with advanced pathological grade and immune suppressive status in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yang Lei‐Lei , Zhang Meng‐Jie , Wu Lei , Mao Liang , Chen Lei , Yu Guang‐Tao , Deng Wei‐Wei , Zhang Wen‐Feng , Liu Bing , Sun Wei‐Ke , Sun Zhi‐Jun 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundThis study aims to investigate the characteristic role of inhibitory receptor leukocyte‐associated immunoglobulin‐like receptor 1 (LAIR‐1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).MethodsThe expressions of LAIR‐1 and other immune‐related molecules were detected in a human OSCC tissue microarray. LAIR‐1 expression difference among different clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. The correlations of LAIR‐1 with several immune‐related markers were assessed.ResultsCompared with dysplasia and oral mucosa, the expression of LAIR‐1 was significantly upregulated in the stroma of OSCC, and its overexpression was correlated with advanced pathological grade. Overexpression of LAIR‐1 was significantly associated with tumor‐associated macrophage and myeloid‐derived suppressor cell markers (CD68, CD163; CD33, CD11b), indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) and two immune checkpoints (B7‐H3 and VISTA).ConclusionsOverexpression of LAIR‐1 was associated with advanced pathological grade and correlated with immune suppressive features in OSCC. Further studies are required to identify the specific immunological role of LAIR‐1.
Does the agglomeration effect occur in the hospital sector? The impact of agglomeration economies on the financial performance of hospitals—An evidence from Poland
Authors: Krzeczewski Bartłomiej , Krzeczewska Olga , Pluskota Anna , Pastusiak Radosław 
Published: December 2018

SummaryThe main aim of the article is to analyze the occurrence of agglomeration effect in the hospital sector on the basis of financial performance. The considerations are made on the example of hospitals in Poland—the country that survived the latest economic crisis relatively well, usually generating positive values of GDP, but where still there is an ongoing discussion on the final shape of healthcare financing model. The article is based on the assumption that there occur significant differences in financial performance between hospitals according to their location. The research hypothesis is as follows: Hospitals operating in big cities are featured by better financial condition than their counterparts operating in smaller towns. To verify the hypothesis, the methods of financial analysis and statistical hypothesis testing are used. As it is emphasized in the article, the assumption is true and the hypothesis can be verified positively.
Timing of pharmacist‐clinician collaborative visits after hospital discharge and their effect on readmission risk
Authors: Herges Joseph R. , Herges Lori B. , Dierkhising Ross A. , Mara Kristin C. , Angstman Kurt B. 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to determine whether pharmacist‐clinician collaborative (PCC) visits within 7 days after hospital discharge (early‐visit cohort) would reduce the risk of 30‐day hospital readmission compared with PCC visits eight or more days after hospital discharge (late‐visit cohort).MethodsThis retrospective study of adult primary care patients was conducted from July 26, 2013 to April 1, 2016. Patients who were included were receiving at least one medication that put them at high risk for emergent hospital admission and at least 10 total medications. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess 30‐day readmission risk between the two groups.ResultsThe early‐visit cohort included 393 patients; the late‐visit cohort included 109 patients. After adjusting for statistically different baseline characteristics and the LACE index score (which predicts the risk of death or unplanned readmission within 30 days after hospital discharge), 30‐day readmission risk was not significantly different between the late‐visit cohort and the early‐visit cohort (hazard ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34‐1.88; P = 0.61). Similarly, the difference was not significant 60 and 180 days after the PCC visit.ConclusionPatients in the early‐visit cohort had no greater risk of readmission 30 days after the visit than patients in the late‐visit cohort. Although previous research indicates that PCC visits may have significant benefits for decreasing readmission risk, delaying them may not increase the patient's risk. This finding may allow more flexibility in scheduling a pharmacist and a primary care clinician to meet with the patient.
The interaction of chitosan and BMP‐2 tuned by deacetylation degree and pH value
Authors: Wang Qun , Wang Menghao , Li Pengfei , Wang Kefeng , Fang Liming , Ren Fuzeng , Lu Guoming , Lu Xiong 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIntegrating proteins with chitosan (CS) can not only improve the biocompatibility of CS, but also enable the sustained release of proteins. The deacetylation degree (DD) and pH conditions are considered as the two most important factors affecting the interaction between CS and proteins. In this study, the effects of CS with different DDs and pH conditions on bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) adsorption were evaluated using the molecular dynamics (MD) method. The results showed that the interaction energy first increased and then decreased, with the increase of the DD in the range of 0–100%; the strongest interaction was found between BMP‐2 and 75% DD‐CS surface. Furthermore, decreasing pH values favor the interaction between BMP‐2 and CS surfaces. These results are useful to gain a better understanding of the interaction mechanism between polysaccharides and proteins and provide a meaningful reference for the application of CS with different DDs and pH conditions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 769–779, 2019.