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In this paper, we derive the solution of anti-plane deformation for two circular cylindrical holes embedded in an elastic matrix of infinite extent under remote shears. The two holes may have different radii and distance between each other. The matrix is subjected to arbitrary direction of remote shears. The solution is obtained via the boundary integral formulation in conjunction with the degenerate kernel of bipolar coordinates instead of Möbius transformation using complex variables. Several examples are revisited to compare with those data of Honein et al. Three differences between the present result and those of Morse and Feshbach and Lebedev et al. are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A dual-function phantom designed to quantify the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in different fat contents (FCs) and glass bead densities (GBDs) to simulate the human tissues has not been documented yet. We propose a dual-function phantom to quantify the FC and to measure the ADC at different FCs and different GBDs. Methods: A fat-containing diffusion phantom comprised by 30 glass-bead-containing fat-water emulsions consisting of six different FCs (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) multiplied by five different GBDs (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g/50 mL). The FC and ADC were measured by the "iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation-IQ," IDEAL-IQ, and single-shot echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging, SS-EP-DWI, sequences, respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship among the fat fraction (FF) measured by IDEAL-IQ, GBD, and ADC. Results: The ADC was significantly, negatively, and linearly associated with the FF (the linear slope ranged from -0.005 to -0.017, R2 = 0.925 to 0.986, all p < 0.001). The slope of the linear relationship between the ADC and the FF, however, varied among different GBDs (the higher the GBD, the lower the slope). ADCs among emulsions across different GBDs and FFs were overlapped. Emulsions with low GBDs plus high FFs shared a same lower ADC range with those with median or high GBDs plus median or lower FFs. Conclusions: A novel dual-function phantom simulating the human tissues allowed to quantify the influence of FC and GBD on ADC. Relevance statement: The study developed an innovative dual-function MRI phantom to explore the impact of FC on ADC variation that can affect clinical results. The results revealed the superimposed effect on FF and GBD density on ADC measurements. Key points: • A dual-function phantom made of glass bead density (GBD) and fat fraction (FF) emulsion has been developed. • Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values are determined by GBD and FF. • The dual-function phantom showed the mutual ADC addition between FF and GBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was inspired by the specialized facial masks made of rayon non-woven fabrics which contained collagen peptides for improving moisturizing function. This study explored the moisturizing function of a rayon fabric containing collagen peptides extracted from tilapia fish scales under various conditions of relative humidity. This research had implications for the development of clothing that can prevent dry skin. A two-stage nested design experiment was adopted. The first-stage factor such as the fabric has two levels and the second-stage factor such as the relative humidity with three levels nested under each level of the first-stage factor. Preliminary results indicated that introducing a new variable (i.e., fabric moisturizing value, which combines the moisture regains of adsorption and desorption) would be useful. The moisturizing value of the novel rayon fabric and regular rayon fabric increased with the increase in relative humidity, and moisturizing effect of the novel rayon fabric with collagen peptides was better than that of the regular rayon fabric. Therefore, the novel rayon fabric may be suitable for preventing dry skin in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-regulation, the ability to guide behavior according to one's goals, plays an integral role in understanding loss of control over unwanted behaviors, for example in alcohol use disorder (AUD). Yet, experimental tasks that measure processes underlying self-regulation are not easy to deploy in contexts where such behaviors usually occur, namely outside the laboratory, and in clinical populations such as people with AUD. Moreover, lab-based tasks have been criticized for poor test–retest reliability and lack of construct validity. Smartphones can be used to deploy tasks in the field, but often require shorter versions of tasks, which may further decrease reliability. Here, we show that combining smartphone-based tasks with joint hierarchical modeling of longitudinal data can overcome at least some of these shortcomings. We test four short smartphone-based tasks outside the laboratory in a large sample (N = 488) of participants with AUD. Although task measures indeed have low reliability when data are analyzed traditionally by modeling each session separately, joint modeling of longitudinal data increases reliability to good and oftentimes excellent levels. We next test the measures' construct validity and show that extracted latent factors are indeed in line with theoretical accounts of cognitive control and decision-making. Finally, we demonstrate that a resulting cognitive control factor relates to a real-life measure of drinking behavior and yields stronger correlations than single measures based on traditional analyses. Our findings demonstrate how short, smartphone-based task measures, when analyzed with joint hierarchical modeling and latent factor analysis, can overcome frequently reported shortcomings of experimental tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid wireless–wireline access networks (HWWANs), which allow coordinated and simultaneous use of wireless and wireline interfaces, are a promising network architecture for achieving more coverage, better reliability, and higher throughput, particularly for underserved wireline networks. Existing resource management schemes lack the flexibility and scalability to cope with the dynamic traffic fluctuations from users with diverse quality of service (QoS) requirements. Moreover, these schemes lack resource isolation capability and are incompatible with the HWWAN architecture. This paper proposes a hierarchical radio resource allocation framework for a network slicing-enabled HWWAN, which consists of an upper inter-slice layer and a lower intra-slice layer. Firstly, an inter-slice radio resource allocation problem is formulated to maximize the aggregate network throughput by allocating a pool of resource blocks among the slices, subject to slice-specific QoS requirements. An efficient, low-complexity, demand-oriented greedy resource allocation algorithm is then developed to solve this problem. Secondly, an intra-slice radio resource allocation problem is formulated to maximize the total throughput of individual slices by reallocating the resource blocks secured by individual slices in the upper inter-slice layer to their respective users, subject to their QoS requirements. This problem is decomposed into two smaller sub-problems and solved using convex optimization. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms other baseline schemes in terms of average throughput, fairness, and customer satisfaction rate, thereby providing service providers with a flexible and efficient resource allocation solution in the era of next-generation fixed mobile convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within psychiatric research fields, there has been a marked uptick of interest in service user involvement in recent years. Nevertheless, it is often unclear how robust or impactful common forms of inclusion are, and the extent to which they have included individuals with psychosis. Using collective auto-ethnography, this paper describes the experiences of 8 academic and non-academic members of the 'lived experience' and participatory research workgroup of a global psychosis Commission and our navigation of power and power hierarchies, differences in background and training, and multiple vectors of identity, diversity, and privilege. We conclude that the realities of "involvement" are much messier, more fraught, and less intrinsically empowering than often signaled in calls for involvement and co-production. We nevertheless stress the power of collective dialogue and support—between and among a pluralistic group—and of honesty and transparency about challenges, barriers, and the colonial underpinnings and geopolitics of global mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: μ-receptor opioids are associated with unwanted gastrointestinal side effects and respiratory depression. A long-acting non-μ-receptor parenteral opioid is not currently available for management of acute and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). This double-blind clinical trial tested an extended-release κ-receptor agonist, sebacoyl dinalbuphine ester (SDE, Naldebain®) for management of surgical pain after laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive a single intramuscular injection of SDE (150 mg, n = 30) or vehicle solution (n = 30) at > 12 h before surgery. All patients received standard perioperative multimodal analgesia (MMA). The primary endpoint was the pain intensity in the beginning 7 days after operation. The secondary endpoints were adverse reactions up to 7 days and incidence of CPSP at 3 months after surgery. Results: Compared with placebos, the area under curves of visual analog scale (VAS) for 0–48 h after operation were significantly reduced in SDE group (143.3 ± 65.4 and 105.9 ± 36.3, P = 0.025). There were significantly fewer patients in the SDE group who had moderate-to-severe pain (VAS ≥ 4) (16.7% vs 50%; P = 0.012) at postoperative 48 h. Pain intensities were similar between the two groups at 72 h and 7 days postoperatively. The incidence of CPSP at 3 months was not different. SDE did not increase drug-related systemic adverse events. Conclusion: In addition to the standard perioperative MMA, a single-dose injection of long-acting κ-receptor agonist SDE provides significantly better pain management for 48 h following laparoscopic bariatric surgery. A long-acting κ-receptor agonist opioid could improve in-hospital pain management and potentiate early discharge after operation without increasing drug-related systemic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female solo travel is experiencing a global increase and specifically, gaining popularity in Asia. This study explores how personal values and female solo travel motivation affect travel behavior. Using a sample comprising 381 single females in Taiwan, partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized to investigate the hypotheses. The results revealed Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 3 are supported, which verifies personal internal values significantly affect female solo travel motivation, and are identified as significant factors influencing female solo travel intention. Additionally, Hypothesis 5 is partially support, indicating the female solo travel motivations of escape/relaxation, relationship, and self-actualization contribute to the formation of positive female solo travel intention. As Hypothesis 2 and Hypothesis 4 are unsupported, external values have no impact on female solo travel motivation or any significant effect on female solo travel intention. This research adds to the vast gap in tourism literature by identifying the personal values and motivations of female solo travel, and benefits the development of the female solo travel market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current treatment paradigm for atrial fibrillation (AF) prioritizes rate control over rhythm control; however, rhythm control has shown benefits over other AF strategies. This study compares the outcomes of rivaroxaban with and without concomitant antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), using propensity score matching to correct for statistical effects of baseline discrepancies. This multi-center retrospective study included 1,477 patients with non-permanent AF who took rivaroxaban for at least one month between 2011 and 2016 and had not received catheter ablation. Concomitant AAD use was compared against clinical outcome endpoints for effectiveness, safety, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Associations with concomitant AAD use were evaluated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. Patients were divided into two matched groups: rivaroxaban alone (n = 739) and with concomitant AADs (n = 738). The cumulative incidences of safety (p = 0.308), effectiveness (p = 0.583), and MACE (p = 0.754) were similar between the two groups, and multivariate analysis showed no significant differences. The new thromboembolism and all-cause death rates were higher in rivaroxaban alone (2.7% vs 0.8%, p = 0.005; and 10% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.032, respectively). The heart failure readmission rate was higher in the concomitant-AAD group (8.4% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.003). The concomitant use of rivaroxaban with AADs appears to be well-tolerated, with lower rates of thromboembolism and all-cause death, but is associated with more occurrences of congestive heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The site selectivity for lysine conjugation on a native protein is difficult to control and characterize. Here, we applied mass spectrometry to examine the conjugation kinetics of Trastuzumab-IgG (Her-IgG) and α-lactalbumin under excess linker concentration ([L]0) based on the modified Michaelis–Menten equation, in which the initial rate constant per amine (kNH2 = Vmax/NH2/KM) was determined by the maximum reaction rate (Vmax/NH2) under saturated accessible sites and initial amine–linker affinity (1/KM). Reductive amination (RA) displayed 3–4 times greater Vmax/NH2 and a different panel of conjugation sites than that observed for N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (NHS) chemistry using the same length of polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers. Moreover, faster conversion power rendered RA site selectivity among accessible amine groups and a greater tunable range of linker/protein ratio for aldehyde-linkers compared to those of the same length of NHS-linkers. Single conjugation with high yield or poly-conjugations with site homogeneity was demonstrated by controlling [L]0 or gradual addition to minimize the [L]0/KM ratio. Formaldehyde, the shortest aldehyde-linker with the greatest 1/KM, exhibited the highest selectivity and was shown to be a suitable probe to predict conjugation profile of aldehyde-linkers. Four linkers on the few probe-predicted hot spots were elucidated by kinetically controlled RA with conserved drug efficacy when conjugated with the payload. This study provides insights into controlling factors for homogenous and predictable amine bioconjugation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rivaroxaban reduces the risk of thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, who often also receive antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) to maintain sinus rhythm. Current guidelines contraindicate concomitant use of rivaroxaban with the popular AAD dronedarone, despite little data demonstrating interactions with AADs. This study investigates the outcomes of concomitant rivaroxaban and AAD drug use in a real-world cohort. Methods: This retrospective study included 1777 non-permanent AF patients taking rivaroxaban for ≥ 1 month between 2011 and 2016 from a multicenter cohort in Taiwan, and compared concomitant AAD use against clinical outcome endpoints for safety, effectiveness, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to evaluate the association between concomitant AAD use and outcomes. Results: Patients were divided into rivaroxaban alone (n = 1205) and with concomitant amiodarone (n = 177), dronedarone (n = 231), or propafenone (n = 164) groups. The proportion of patients using rivaroxaban 10 mg was highest in the concomitant dronedarone group: rivaroxaban alone, 53.6%; with amiodarone, 57.6%; with dronedarone, 77.1%; and with propafenone, 46.3% (p < 0.001). The cumulative incidences of safety (p = 0.892), effectiveness (p = 0.336), and MACE (p = 0.674) were similar between the four groups; however, there were significantly fewer new systemic thromboembolisms in the dronedarone group: rivaroxaban alone, 2.5%; with amiodarone, 0.6%; with dronedarone, 0%; and with propafenone, 1.2% (p = 0.029). The all-cause death rate was also lowest in the dronedarone group: rivaroxaban alone, 9.0%; with amiodarone, 9.6%; with dronedarone, 3.0%; and with propafenone: 6.1% (p = 0.013). After covariate adjustment, there were no differences in the safety, effectiveness, and MACE endpoints between patients receiving or not receiving AADs. Conclusion: Concomitant use of rivaroxaban with AADs appears to be well tolerated, warranting further investigation into the apparent benefits of a reduced dose of rivaroxaban combined with dronedarone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy is a promising epigenetic silencing strategy. However, its widespread adoption has been severely impeded by its ineffective delivery into the cellular environment. Here, a biocompatible injectable gelatin-based hydrogel with positive-charge tuned surface charge is presented as an effective platform for siRNA protection and delivery. We demonstrate a two-step synthesis of a gelatin-tyramine (Gtn-Tyr) hydrogel with simultaneous charge tunability and crosslinking ability. We discuss how different physiochemical properties of the hydrogel interact with siSPARC (siRNA for secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine), and study the positive-charge tuned gelatin hydrogel as an effective delivery platform for siSPARC in anti-fibrotic treatment. Through in vitro studies using mouse tenon fibroblasts, the positive-charge tuned Gtn-Tyr hydrogel shows sustained siSPARC cellular internalization and effective SPARC silencing with excellent biocompatibility. Similarly, the same hydrogel platform delivering siSPARC in an in vivo assessment employing a rabbit model shows an effective reduction in subconjunctival scarring in post glaucoma filtration surgery, and is non-cytotoxic compared to a commonly used anti-scarring agent, mitomycin-C. Overall, the current siRNA delivery strategy involving the positive-charge tuned gelatin hydrogel shows effective delivery of gene silencing siSPARC for anti-fibrotic treatment. The current charge tunable hydrogel delivery system is simple to fabricate and highly scalable. We believe this delivery platform has strong translational potential for effective siRNA delivery and epigenetic silencing therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous kidney biopsy is a challenge for interventionists as US artefacts prevent accurate viewing of the biopsy needle tip. Automatic needle tracking and trajectory prediction can increase operator confidence in performing biopsies, reduce procedure time, minimize the risk of inadvertent biopsy bleedings, and enable future image-guided robotic procedures. Methods: In this paper, we propose a tracking-by-segmentation model with spatial and channel "Squeeze and Excitation" (scSE) for US needle detection and trajectory prediction. We adopt a light deep learning architecture (e.g. LinkNet) as our segmentation baseline network and integrate the scSE module to learn spatial information for better prediction. The proposed model is trained with the US images of anonymized kidney biopsy clips from 8 patients. The contour is obtained using the border-following algorithm and area calculated using Green formula. Trajectory prediction is made by extrapolating from the smallest bounding box that can capture the contour. Results: We train and test our model on a total of 996 images extracted from 102 short videos at a rate of 3 frames per second from each video. A set of 794 images is used for training and 202 images for testing. Our model has achieved IOU of 41.01%, dice accuracy of 56.65%, F1-score of 36.61%, and root-mean-square angle error of 13.3 ∘ . We are thus able to predict and extrapolate the trajectory of the biopsy needle with decent accuracy for interventionists to better perform biopsies. Conclusion: Our novel model combining LinkNet and scSE shows a promising result for kidney biopsy application, which implies potential to other similar ultrasound-guided biopsies that require needle tracking and trajectory prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare disease. Current recommendations are largely extrapolated from the colorectal literature. For node-negative (N −ve) cases, optimally stratifying cases into high or low risk, may help define optimal management. The objective of this analysis was to determine the importance of lymph node sampling for prognostication and to define what number of lymph nodes sampled is adequate. Methods: Cases of non-metastatic SBA with complete staging, pathologic, and demographic information were selected from the SEER database and SAS 9.4 software was used. Variables included age, gender, race, grade, TNM staging, and number of lymph nodes were examined. Comparisons were made between N −ve and N +ve cases. Survival analysis using N −ve cases was performed to characterize the impact of nodal sampling on survival and to determine which nodal cut-offs best predict survival. Results: A total of 523 cases from 2004 to 2014 were included in this analysis. Statistically significant differences identified included the median number of nodes sampled between the N −ve and N +ve groups, and the distribution of T stage and grade. Survival analysis in the N −ve cases demonstrated that the strongest predictor of survival was sampling of 16 or more lymph nodes. Conclusion: In this analysis, lymph node sampling was shown to be the most important pathologic predictor of survival in cases of N −ve SBA. Replicating these findings in a secondary dataset and determining whether a clinical benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy exists for SBA patients with inadequate sampling are both important next steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity may be a risk factor for kidney donors to develop reduced renal function. The Framingham heart study suggested that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) confers a more adverse metabolic profile compared with subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Asians tend to have a higher VAT composition and it is unclear if their kidney function is affected differently. We hypothesized that Asian living kidney donors who have visceral obesity are at a higher risk of renal function deterioration 1 year after donation. Methods: Between 2011 and 2014, we retrospectively evaluated data from 73 consecutive patients (52% male; mean age 44.9 ± 11.7 years) before they underwent donor nephrectomy and at their 1 year routine follow-up. VAT and SAT were measured at the level of the umbilicus on pre-operative computerized tomography (CT). Visceral obesity (VO) was defined as a VAT > 100 cm [2] and patients were then further divided and compared in two subgroups: VAT > 100 and < 100 cm [2]. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min per 1.73 m [2]) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation pre-operatively and 1 year post-operatively. Results: Both subgroups had similar baseline kidney function (P = NS) pre-operatively. At the 1 year follow-up, patients with VO experienced a more significant decline of renal function (109 ± 9 to 89 ± 8 mL/min per 1.73 m2), compared to those without VO (111 ± 12 to 96 ± 11 mL/min per 1.73 m2, P = 0.013). VO was associated with a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 (P < 0.001), male gender (P < 0.001) and older age at the time of donor nephrectomy (48.0 vs 39.5 years, P = 0.01). The presence of hypertension or hyperlipidaemia pre-operatively, choice of surgical approach, and post-operative complication rates, did not differ significantly between the subgroups. Conclusions: Visceral obesity as defined by VAT > 100 cm2 at the level of the umbilicus on cross-sectional imaging, may have a significant impact on early renal function after donor nephrectomy. Adiposity markers, as measured by cross-sectional CT imaging, may be incorporated into routine pre-operative kidney donor workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red tides that occur off coasts have become a worldwide phenomenon over the past decades. In order to mitigate the damage of the red tides on the aquatic ecosystems, it is crucial to develop a method for predicting algicidal activities that requires less labor and time, and most importantly, this method can quickly screen potential algicides to control red tides. In this study, we have investigated the algicidal activity of 19 natural flavonoids against a typical red tide alga, Phaeocystis globosa. Our results indicate that after 5 days of flavonoid exposure, the half inhibition concentrations (IC50) ranged from 0.068 to 3.065 mg L−1, which showed the strong algicidal activities of the flavonoids. Furthermore, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model has been carried out between negative scale logarithm (pIC50) of the flavonoids and the corresponding molecular descriptors. The developed model was validated, both internally and externally, which displayed statistical robustness (R2 = 0.867, p = 0.0002, Q2LOO = 0.825, RMSEC = 0.182, Q2extF3 = 0.896, RMSEP = 0.161, CCC = 0.935). This indicates that the developed model was obtained successfully with satisfactory predictability and robustness for the future rapid screening of natural flavonoids with high inhibition activity on the red tide alga growth. Moreover, the main descriptors in the QSAR model were the molar refractivity, partition coefficient, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and highest occupied molecular orbital, illustrating that the molecular electro-chemical characteristics are significant in the algicidal actions of the flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop an user-interface package mTEXO in the Maplet application for testing exponential upper and/or lower outliers. The distributions of some well-known test statistics for exponential outliers in the literature can be easily evaluated using mTEXO, saving considerable computational time performing numerical integrations and combinatorial algebra necessary in the traditional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of vehicle accident queue lengths can assist traffic managers in providing improved plans for traffic control. Few studies that have analyzed the influence of highway incidents on traffic flow have discussed the length of vehicle queues during incidents. Therefore, the present study applied artificial neural network and regression methods to construct models for estimating the length of vehicle accident queues. The factors influencing the occurrence of accidents are numerous and complex. To estimate vehicle accident queue lengths, the models incorporated various data from accidents, including accident characteristics, traffic data, illumination, weather conditions, and road geometry characteristics. All raw data were collected from two public agencies and were integrated and cross-checked. Before model development, a correlation analysis was performed to reduce the scale of interrelated features or variables. In the model evaluation, the mean absolute percentage error of the most suitable model was below 50%, indicating that the proposed model and procedure provide a reasonable estimate of vehicle accident queue lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Totally implantable vascular access device (TIVAD)-related complications interfere in the anticancer treatment and increase medical expenses. We examined whether the implantation side of central line TIVADs is associated with the occurrence of thrombotic or occlusion events.Methods: We enrolled patients with cancer who required central line TIVADs and randomised them to receive the TIVAD implantation on either the left or right side. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of catheter-related thrombotic or occlusion events.Results: We randomised 240 patients, of which 235 received TIVAD implantation according to the protocol. In the per-protocol cohort, 117 and 118 patients received implantation on the left and right sides, respectively. Catheter-related thrombotic or occlusion events occurred in 9 (4%) patients, accounting for 0.065 events per 1000 catheter-days. Between the patients with left- and right-sided implantations, the occurrence rates (P=0.333) and the time from catheter implantation to the occurrence of thrombotic or occlusion events (P=0.328) were both similar. In the multivariate analysis, the side of implantation remained unassociated with the occurrence of thrombotic or occlusion events.Conclusions: The side of central line TIVAD implantation was not associated with the occurrence of catheter-related thrombotic or occlusion events in patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing femtocell resource allocation schemes for Long Term Evolution or LTE-Advanced femtocell networks do not jointly achieve efficient resource utilization, fairness guarantee, interference mitigation and reduced complexity in a satisfactory manner. In this paper, a multi-objective resource allocation scheme is proposed to achieve these desired features simultaneously. We first formulate three objective functions to respectively maximize resource utilization efficiency, guarantee a high degree of fairness and minimize interference. A weighted sum approach is then used to combine these objective functions to form a single multi-objective optimization problem. An ant colony optimization algorithm is employed to find the Pareto-optimal solution to this problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme performs jointly well in all aspects, namely resource utilization, fairness and interference mitigation. Additionally, it maintains satisfactory performance in the handover process and has a reasonably low complexity compared to the existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction to: I Scientific Reports i https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07466-z, published online 08 March 2022 The original version of this Article contained an error in Affiliation 2, which was incorrectly given as 'Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, MacKay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan'. The correct affiliation is listed below: Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan. [Extracted from the article]

CI should, therefore, be considered in resting HF status and warrants CLS for effective HR adaptation, particularly in physically inactive patients. To ensure that HR response was modulated by stress rather than only motion, a closed loop stimulation (CLS) pacing program (DDD-CLS; Biotronik Evia DR-T) was chosen over a conventional rate-responsive, accelerometer-equipped sensor, or newer peak endocardial acceleration pacemaker. Keywords: Closed loop stimulation; Chronotropic incompetence; Heart failure; CLS; Pacemaker EN Closed loop stimulation Chronotropic incompetence Heart failure CLS Pacemaker 229 230 2 04/07/22 20220301 NES 220301 A 67-year-old female patient had coronary artery disease, but her elective total revascularization did not improve the symptoms of heart failure. [Extracted from the article]

Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been widely used for rectal cancer to improve local tumor control. The varied response of individual tumors encouraged us to search for useful biomarkers to predict the therapeutic response. The study was aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of lipid biosynthesis-associated biomarkers in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Through analysis of the previously published gene expression profiling database focusing on genes associated with lipid biosynthesis, we found that HSD17B2 and HMGCS2 were the top two significantly upregulated genes in the non-responders. We further evaluated their expression by immunohistochemistry in the pre-treatment tumor specimens from 172 patients with rectal cancer and statistically analyzed the associations between their expression and various clinicopathological factors, as well as survival. High expression of HMGCS2 or HSD17B2 was significantly associated with advanced pre- and post-treatment tumor or nodal status ( P < 0.001) and lower tumor regression grade ( P < 0.001). More importantly, high expression of either HMGCS2 or HSD17B2 was of prognostic significance, with HMGCS2 overexpression indicating poor prognosis for disease-free survival ( P = 0.0003), local recurrence-free survival ( P = 0.0115), and metastasis-free survival ( P = 0.0119), while HSD17B2 overexpression was associated with poor prognosis for disease-free survival ( P <0.0001), local recurrence-free survival ( P = 0.0009), and metastasis-free survival ( P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, only HSD17B2 overexpression remained as an independent prognosticator for shorter disease-free survival ( P < 0.001) and metastasis-free survival ( P = 0.008). In conclusion, high expression of either HSD17B2 or HMGCS2 predicted poor susceptibility of rectal cancer to preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Both acted as promising prognostic factors, particularly HSD17B2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designed an ambient intelligence (AmI)-based decision support system that combined an electromagnetism-like mechanism (EM) and sensory data to aid human operators in making decisions regarding the management of cascade hydropower systems. Currently, cascade hydropower systems are the primary source of hydropower in Taiwan, and the Dajia Hydropower System is the largest one in Taiwan. The operational considerations of the various plants in this system include water levels constraints, minimal water release constraints, and maximal water release constraints. These considerations must be emphasized to plan the hourly water release rate and to maximize the power generation profitability of the overall system. Although extant operations are viable, an accurate calculation method for maximizing the economic efficiency of hydropower generation is yet to be developed. The AmI-based system proposed in this study can be used to determine the periodic water release at each plant in the system, thereby maximizing the company's power-generation profit. In addition, the proposed system was compared with the scheduling system currently employed by the Dajia Hydropower System. The scheduling operations of the Dajia Hydropower System for 23 nonsummer days and a whole year were examined, respectively, and the hydropower plant's original scheduling method was compared with that of the proposed system. Test results indicated that the scheduling plan obtained from the proposed system increased the profit of the Taiwan Power Company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Highly expressed in cancer protein 1 (Hec1) is an oncogene and a promising molecular target for novel anticancer drugs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of a Hec1 inhibitor, TAI-95, as a treatment for primary liver cancer. Methods: In vitro and in vivo methods were used to test the activity of TAI-95. Gene expression analysis was used to evaluate clinical correlation of the target. Results: In vitro growth inhibition results showed that TAI-95 has excellent potency on a wide range of primary liver cancer cell lines (hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma) (GI 30-70 nM), which was superior to sorafenib and other cytotoxic agents. TAI-95 was relatively inactive in non-cancerous cell lines (GI > 10 μM). TAI-95 disrupts the interaction between Hec1 and Nek2 and leads to degradation of Nek2, chromosomal misalignment, and apoptotic cell death. TAI-95 showed synergistic activity in selected cancer cell lines with doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and topotecan, but not with sorafenib. TAI-95 shows excellent potency in a Huh-7 xenograft mouse model when administered orally. Gene expression analysis of clinical samples demonstrated increased expression of Hec1/NDC80 and associated genes (Nek2, SMC1A, and SMC2) in 27 % of patients, highlighting the potential for using this therapeutic approach to target patients with high Hec1 expression. Conclusion: Inhibition of Hec1 using small molecule approach may represent a promising novel approach for the treatment of primary liver cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular prognostic adjunct in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) still remains obscured. Through data mining from published transcriptomic database, alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) was first identified as a differentially upregulated gene in NPC tissues, which is a key enzyme for isometric conversion of fatty acids entering the β-oxidation. Given the roles of AMACR in prognostication and frontline therapeutic regimen of common carcinomas, such as prostate cancer, we explored AMACR immunoexpression status and its clinical significance in NPC patients. AMACR immunohistochemistry was retrospectively performed and analyzed using H-score for biopsy specimens from 124 NPC patients who received standard treatment without distant metastasis at initial diagnosis. Those cases with H-score larger than the median value were construed as featuring AMACR overexpression. The findings were correlated with the clinicopathological variables, disease-specific survival (DSS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Endogenous AMACR protein expressions were assessed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting in NPC cells and non-neoplastic mucosal cells. AMACR overexpression was significantly associated with increment of primary tumor status ( P = 0.009) and univariately predictive of adverse outcomes for DSS, DMFS, and LRFS. In the multivariate comparison, AMACR overexpression still remained prognostically independent to portend worse DSS ( P = 0.006, hazard ratio = 2.129), DMFS ( P = 0.001, hazard ratio = 2.795), and LRFS ( P = 0.041, hazard ratio = 2.009), together with advanced American Joint of Cancer Committee (AJCC) stages III-IV. Compared with non-neoplastic cells, both HONE1 and TW01 NPC cells demonstrated markedly increased AMACR expression. AMACR overexpression was identified as an important prognosticator and a potential therapeutic target in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Vomer flap repair is assumed to improve maxillary growth because of reduced scarring in growth-sensitive areas of the palate. Our aim was to evaluate whether facial growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate was significantly affected by the technique of hard palate repair (vomer flap versus two-flap). Materials and methods: For this retrospective longitudinal study, we analyzed 334 cephalometric radiographs from 95 patients with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent hard palate repair by two different techniques (vomer flap versus two-flap). Clinical notes were reviewed to record treatment histories. Cephalometry was used to determine facial morphology and growth rate. The associations among facial morphology at age 20, facial growth rate, and technique of hard palate repair were assessed using generalized estimating equation analysis. Results: The hard palate repair technique significantly influenced protrusion of the maxilla (SNA: β = −3.5°, 95 % CI = −5.2-1.7; p = 0.001) and the anteroposterior jaw relation (ANB: β = −4.2°, 95 % CI = −6.4-1.9; p = 0.001; Wits: β = −5.7 mm, 95 % CI = −9.6-1.2; p = 0.01) at age 20, and their growth rates (SNA p = 0.001, ANB p < 0.01, and Wits p = 0.02). Conclusions: The results suggest that in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, vomer flap repair has a smaller adverse effect than two-flap on growth of the maxilla. This effect on maxillary growth is on the anteroposterior development of the alveolar maxilla and is progressive with age. We now perform hard palate closure with vomer flap followed by soft palate closure using Furlow palatoplasty. Clinical relevance: These findings may improve treatment outcome by modifying the treatment protocol for patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reversine, a small synthetic purine analogue, has been reported to be effective in tumor suppression. In the present study, we demonstrated an antitumor activity of reversine that could suppress cellular proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines. Methods: To evaluate whether reversine could suppress cell growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and induce cell death, the cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were determined in this study. Results: Reversine treatment in human breast cancer cells reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle accumulation at the G/M phase in reversine-treated cells was also determined. Moreover, polyploidy was also found in reversine-treated cells. Apoptosis in reversine-treated cells was exhibited with PARP cleavage and caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation, but not caspase-9 activation, indicating that caspase-dependent apoptosis mediated by an extrinsic pathway took place in reversine-treated cells. Furthermore, reversine attenuated cell death in cells pretreated with a pan-caspase inhibitor before reversine treatment. Conclusions: In the present study, we demonstrated that reversine contributes to growth inhibition in human breast cancer cells through cell cycle arrest, polyploidy, and/or apoptosis induction. The apoptosis mediated by reversine was induced by the mitochondria-independent pathway. Therefore, the potential role of reversine as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer is worthy of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Drosophila cerebrum originates from about 100 neuroblasts per hemisphere, with each neuroblast producing a characteristic set of neurons. Neurons from a neuroblast are often so diverse that many neuron types remain unexplored. We developed new genetic tools that target neuroblasts and their diverse descendants, increasing our ability to study fly brain structure and development. Common enhancer-based drivers label neurons on the basis of terminal identities rather than origins, which provides limited labeling in the heterogeneous neuronal lineages. We successfully converted conventional drivers that are temporarily expressed in neuroblasts, into drivers expressed in all subsequent neuroblast progeny. One technique involves immortalizing GAL4 expression in neuroblasts and their descendants. Another depends on loss of the GAL4 repressor, GAL80, from neuroblasts during early neurogenesis. Furthermore, we expanded the diversity of MARCM-based reagents and established another site-specific mitotic recombination system. Our transgenic tools can be combined to map individual neurons in specific lineages of various genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deregulated β-adrenoceptor/cAMP-PKA pathway is implicated in a range of human diseases, such as neuronal loss during aging, cardiomyopathy and septic shock. The molecular mechanism of this process is, however, only poorly understood. We recently had demonstrated that the β-adrenoceptor/cAMP-PKA pathway triggers apoptosis through the transcriptional induction of the pro-apoptotic BH3-only Bcl-2 family member BIM in tissues, such as the thymus and the heart. Induction of BIM is driven by the transcriptional co-activator CBP (CREB Binding Protein) together with the proto-oncogene c-Myc. Association of CBP with c-Myc leads to altered histone acetylation and methylation pattern at the BIM promoter site [Lee et al., Cell Death Difference 20(7):941–952 ( 2013 )]. However since CBP is a co-factor for multiple transcription factors, BH-3 only proteins other than Bim could also contribute to this apoptosis pathway. Here we provide evidence for the involvement of p53-CBP axis in apoptosis through Puma/Noxa induction, in response to β-adrenoceptor activation. Our findings highlight the molecular complexity of pathophysiology associated with a deregulated neuro-endocrine system and for developing novel therapeutic strategies for these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly crystalline and thermally stable undoped CeO and Y-doped mesoporous CeO particles have been synthesized from cerium(III) nitrate hexahydrate [Ce(NO)·6HO] by the sol-gel method. Mesoporous CeO doped with 2 mol.% YO and calcined at 500°C possesses specific surface area of 130.39 m/g and retains a surface area of 91.84 m/g at 600°C. In comparison, undoped calcined materials have smaller specific surface areas of 43.23 m/g and 20.24 m/g at 500°C and 600°C, respectively. Results from x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis indicated that the synthesized undoped CeO and Y-doped mesoporous CeO have the fluorite structure of bulk CeO. The crystallite size of CeO is also considerably reduced by doping. The optical bandgap was found to be 3.24 eV for the undoped and 3.36 eV for the doped samples with calcination at 600°C. These results suggest that there are potential applications of Y-doped mesoporous CeO with nanocrystals in the design of photocatalysts and optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of ecosystems suggests principles by which energy flows generate hierarchies in all systems. All ecosystems in the landscapes are associated with energy transformation and the convergence of transformed products toward higher hierarchical levels, the recycling of materials to dispersed backgrounds, and feedbacks to reinforce the supporting environment. A hierarchy can be seen as an organized pattern with many small units at one level contributing to fewer units at the next higher level. Due to spatial variability in the natural environment, different types and amounts of energy received on the earth are not homogeneous; this in turn generates a heterogeneous pattern on the landscape. Energy from life-support and production systems of a heterogeneous landscape is transformed and converged spatially toward consumption centers. All energy transformation can be arranged in a series. The concept of transformity is used in this paper to indicate the position of an energy flow in the series. A hierarchical system can help to explain how energy and matter can be produced and recycled through each level of energy transfer. Building on the brief reviews of the concept of hierarchy in the landscape and the theoretical development of the concept of an ecological energetic hierarchy, this paper proposes two principles of energetic hierarchy for landscape sustainability. First, the landscape must be arranged spatially according to its energy hierarchy. Evaluation of normalized energy flows (emergy) can help identify zones of different spatial hierarchies, which will help establish the strategies needed for the landscapes to be sustainable. Second, a sustainable landscape must comprise a hierarchy of self-organizing ecosystems that can enable the systems to maximize useful power at all levels of the energy hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A novel and effective treatment is urgently needed to deal with the current treatment dilemma in incurable differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Reversine, a small synthetic purine analogue (2,6-disubstituted purine), has been shown to be effective in tumor suppression. Methods: We performed in vitro evaluation of anti-tumor effects of reversine on proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis in human PDTC, ATC, and follicular thyroid cancer cell lines, respectively. Results: Treatment of these three lines with reversine inhibited proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. G2/M accumulation was demonstrated in cell cycle analysis. Reversine induced apoptosis in PDTC cells with caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation, but not caspase-9. Use of a pan-caspase inhibitor before treatment with reversine attenuated cell death. Reversine also showed in vivo growth inhibitory effects on ATC cells in a xenograft nude mice model. Conclusions: Data demonstrated that reversine is effective in inhibiting the growth of thyroid cancer cells by cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, especially with the more aggressive ATC and PDTC. Apoptosis was induced by the mitochondria-independent pathway. Reversine is therefore worthy of further investigation in clinical therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The farm pond system for irrigation is the most prominent feature in the Taoyuan area, Taiwan, giving the region a unique landscape and hydrological character. Although this area had more than 3,290 ponds in the 1970s, fewer than 1,800 now remain. This study analyzes changes in irrigation farm ponds and the canal network landscape in the Taoyuan area. The spatial and temporal changes to ponds and the canal network on the Taoyuan plain were examined graphically for each spatial unit (2,765 m × 2,525 m) using aerial photographs for 1979 and 2005. Landscape metrics were calculated to analyze landscape change associated with increased urbanization. Landscape indices of connectivity and circuitry were utilized to describe changes in the configuration of ponds and canal networks. The total length of canals and total number of ponds in the study area decreased significantly during 1979-2005. The average values of connectivity indices (γ- and α-index) also decreased during 1979-2005, reflecting degradation of canal networks due to urban sprawl. A multivariate technique was applied to portion the study area into three zones according to changes to land cover, ponds, and canal networks. The effects of urban sprawl on the spatial pattern of ponds and canal networks are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, owing to global warming and the rising sea levels, beach nourishment and groin building have been increasingly employed to protect coastal land from shoreline erosion. These actions may degrade beach habitats and reduce biomass and invertebrate density at sites where they were employed. We conducted an eco-environmental evaluation at the Anping artificial beach-nourishment project area. At this site, sand piles within a semi-enclosed spur groin have been enforced by use of eco-engineering concepts since 2003. Four sampling sites were monitored during the study period from July 2002 to September 2008. The environmental impact assessment and biological investigations that we conducted are presented here. The results from this study indicate that both biotic (number of species, number of individual organisms, and Shannon-Wiener diversity) and abiotic parameters (suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, median diameter, and water content) showed significant differences before and after beach engineering construction. Biological conditions became worse in the beginning stages of the engineering but improved after the restoration work completion. This study reveals that the composition of benthic invertebrates changed over the study period, and two groups of organisms, Bivalvia and Gastropoda, seemed to be particularly suitable to this habitat after the semi-enclosed artificial structures completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel PVA/Hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite polymer membrane was prepared by the direct blend process and solution casting method. The characteristic properties of the PVA/HAP composite polymer membranes were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy and the AC impedance method. An alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell, consisting of an air cathode with MnO2 carbon inks based on Ni-foam, an anode with PtRu black on Ni-foam, and the PVA/HAP composite polymer membrane, was assembled and investigated. It was found that the alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell comprising of a novel cheap PVA/HAP composite polymer membrane showed an improved electrochemical performance in ambient temperature and air. As a result, the maximum power density of the alkaline DEFC, using a PtRu anode based on Ni-foam (10.74 mW cm−2), is higher than that of DEFC using an E-TEK PtRu anode based on carbon (7.56 mW cm−2) in an 8M KOH + 2M C2H5OH solution at ambient temperature and air. These PVA/HAP composite polymer membranes are a potential candidate for alkaline DEFC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwanese longline (LL) fisheries operating in the Indian Ocean usually target albacore tuna (ALB), swordfish (SWO) and yellowfin tuna (YFT) using regular LL. Bigeye tuna (BET), however, is targeted using deep LL. Thus, these two types of LL are considered to be different gears as they target different tuna species. Regular or deep LL fishing is defined by number of hooks per basket (NHB): regular LL if 6 ≤ NHB ≤ 10 and deep LL if 11 ≤ NHB ≤ 20. However, NHB information was available in only some of the recent LL data (1995–1999). This situation had caused problems of biased results in stock analysis in the past. Thus, the objective of our study was to explore an effective method to separate the two types of LL fishing by considering species composition. Some intervals of BET catch ratios were found to be effective in separating the regular and deep LL catches, i.e. 0.0 ≤ BET/(BET + ALB + SWO) ≤ 0.4 and 0.8 ≤ BET/(BET + ALB) ≤ 1.0, respectively. Using these two separators, the LL known data set (1995–1999) (learning data set) was classified. Correct classification occurred in 67.7% of the data, while 23.1% of the data were unclassified (11.9% due to zero catches and 11.2% due to classification into both LL types), and 9.2% were misclassifications. Then, using the methods developed, the LL unknown data set in the historical data (1979–1999) was classified and nominal CPUE values were calculated for four species. The CPUE trends based on this study were likely to be more reliable than those of previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]