bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of two screening strategies forChlamydia trachomatisandNeisseria gonorrhoeaeas part of the PrEP programme in the Netherlands: a modelling study
Authors: van Wifferen Francine , Hoornenborg Elske , Schim van der Loeff Maarten F , Heijne Janneke , van Hoek Albert Jan
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users are routinely tested four times a year (3 monthly) for asymptomaticChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) infections on three anatomical locations. Given the high costs of this testing to the PrEP programme, we assessed the impact of 3 monthly screening(current practice), compared with 6 monthly on the disease burden. We quantified the difference in impact of these two testing frequencies on the prevalence of CT and NG among all men who have sex with men (MSM) who are at risk of an STI, and explored the cost-effectiveness of 3-monthly screening compared with a baseline scenario of 6-monthly screening.

Methods

A dynamic infection model was developed to simulate the transmission of CT and NG among sexually active MSM (6500 MSM on PrEP and 29 531 MSM not on PrEP), and the impact of two different test frequencies over a 10-year period. The difference in number of averted infections was used to calculate incremental costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) as well as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) from a societal perspective.

Results

Compared with 6-monthly screening, 3-monthly screening of PrEP users for CT and NG cost an additional €46.8 million over a period of 10 years. Both screening frequencies would significantly reduce the prevalence of CT and NG, but 3-monthly screening would avert and extra ~18 250 CT and NG infections compared with 6-monthly screening, resulting in a gain of ~81 QALYs. The corresponding ICER was ~€430 000 per QALY gained, which exceeded the cost-effectiveness threshold of €20 000 per QALY.

Conclusions

Three-monthly screening for CT and NG among MSM on PrEP is not cost-effective compared with 6-monthly screening. The ICER becomes more favourable when a smaller fraction of all MSM at risk for an STI are screened. Reducing the screening frequency could be considered when the PrEP programme is established and the prevalence of CT and NG decline.
Subsidence et évolution thermique des bassins de la marge atlantique camerounaise : premiers résultats à partir des puits en mer du sous-bassin de Kribi-Campo (Marge passive Ouest Africaine, Golfe de Guinée)
Authors: Iboum Kissaaka Joseph Bertrand , Mvondo Owono François , Fowe Kwetche Paul Gustave , Ngo Elogan Ntem Jeannette , Angoua Biouele Serge Edouard , Ntamak-Nida Marie Joseph
Published: January 2021

L’histoire de la subsidence et de l’évolution thermique du sous-bassin de Kribi-Campo situé dans le Golfe de Guinée a été contrainte à l’aide de 10 puits en mer en utilisant la technique de délestage après décompaction. Quatre principales phases de subsidence ont été discriminées : la première, du Barrémien à l’Aptien (130–112 Ma); la deuxième, de l’Albien au Sénonien (112–65 Ma); la troisième, s'étendant du Paléocène au Miocène (65–5 Ma); et la quatrième du Pliocène au Pléistocène (5–2 Ma). Les cartes de quantité et de vitesse de subsidence et de sédimentation montrent une grande zone subsidente dans la partie ouest du bassin autour de Kribi. Le facteur d’extension β pour le modèle d’extension uniforme correspond à des valeurs allant de 1,04 à 1,06. Graphiquement, les courbes de subsidence tectonique apparaissent encadrées par les courbes correspondant à β = 1,03 et β = 1,09. Les pentes des courbes linéaires de la subsidence tectonique par rapport à la racine carrée du temps, t, ont permis d’avoir des paléotempératures des sédiments ainsi que des gradients géothermiques en parfait accord avec les valeurs observées dans les puits. Par exemple, un gradient de température de 35,316 °C·km−1 a été calculé avec les températures maximales tandis que celui obtenu à partir des puits est de 35,554 °C·km−1. La comparaison des valeurs calculées de la réflectance de la vitrinite Ro avec les valeurs mesurées montre une bonne correspondance. Ces valeurs de la vitrinite indiquent que les roches-mères d’âge Crétacé et Tertiaire inférieur ont probablement atteint la maturité thermique.
[38]Octaphyrin bis-Sn(IV) complexes with unique coordination geometries
Authors: Izawa Mondo , Nakai Akito , Suito Taisuke , Tanaka Takayuki , Osuka Atsuhiro
Published: January 2021

Metal complexation of octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) triggers unique ring-fixation aptitudes or unexpected rearrangement (cleavage) reactions. In this paper, a unique complexation behavior of [38]octaphyrin upon tin(IV) metalation is showcased. Two new [38]octaphyrin bis-Sn(IV) complexes 2Sn and 3Sn were isolated and characterized as weakly aromatic molecules. While 2Sn with the [Formula: see text] molecular symmetry displayed a similar characteristic to octaphyrin bis-Si(IV) and bis-Ge(IV) complexes reported previously, 3Sn showed a different coordination mode that is fixed by intramolecular hydrogen bondings between pyrrolic NH and axially ligated OH on the tin ion as revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. An unexpected dimeric structure was also observed during an attempt to grow crystals of 2Sn. These characteristic behaviors indicate that the ring-fixation aptitude of octaphyrin is quite sensitive to the nature of metal ions even for the same group 14 elements.
Optimal Employee Recruitment in Organizations under Attribute-Based Access Control
Authors: Roy Arindam , Sural Shamik , Majumdar Arun Kumar , Vaidya Jaideep , Atluri Vijayalakshmi
Published: January 2021

For any successful business endeavor, recruitment of a required number of appropriately qualified employees in proper positions is a key requirement. For effective utilization of human resources, reorganization of such workforce assignment is also a task of utmost importance. This includes situations when the under-performing employees have to be substituted with fresh applicants. Generally, the number of candidates applying for a position is large, and hence, the task of identifying an optimal subset becomes critical. Moreover, a human resource manager would also like to make use of the opportunity of retirement of employees to improve manpower utilization. However, the constraints enforced by the security policies prohibit any arbitrary assignment of tasks to employees. Further, the new employees should have the capabilities required to handle the assigned tasks. In this article, we formalize this problem as the Optimal Recruitment Problem (ORP), wherein the goal is to select the minimum number of fresh employees from a set of candidates to fill the vacant positions created by the outgoing employees, while ensuring satisfiability of the specified security conditions. The model used for specification of authorization policies and constraints is Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), since it is considered to be the
de facto
next-generation framework for handling organizational security policies. We show that the ORP problem is NP-hard and propose a greedy heuristic for solving it. Extensive experimental evaluation shows both the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed solution.
On the Origin of Carnivory: Molecular Physiology and Evolution of Plants on an Animal Diet
Authors: Hedrich Rainer , Fukushima Kenji
Published: January 2021

Charles Darwin recognized that carnivorous plants thrive in nutrient-poor soil by capturing animals. Although the concept of botanical carnivory has been known for nearly 150 years, its molecular mechanisms and evolutionary origins have not been well understood until recently. In the last decade, technical advances have fueled the genome and transcriptome sequencings of active and passive hunters, leading to a better understanding of the traits associated with the carnivorous syndrome, from trap leaf development and prey digestion to nutrient absorption, exemplified, for example, by the Venus flytrap ( Dionaea muscipula), pitcher plant ( Cephalotus follicularis), and bladderwort ( Utricularia gibba). The repurposing of defense-related genes is an important trend in the evolution of plant carnivory. In this review, using the Venus flytrap as a representative of the carnivorous plants, we summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying their ability to attract, trap, and digest prey and discuss the origins of plant carnivory in relation to their genomic evolution.
Factor Graphs: Exploiting Structure in Robotics
Authors: Dellaert Frank
Published: January 2021

Many estimation, planning, and optimal control problems in robotics have an optimization problem at their core. In most of these optimization problems, the objective to be maximized or minimized is composed of many different factors or terms that are local in nature—that is, they depend only on a small subset of the variables. A particularly insightful way of modeling this locality structure is to use the concept of factor graphs, a bipartite graphical model in which factors represent functions on subsets of variables. Factor graphs can represent a wide variety of problems across robotics, expose opportunities to improve computational performance, and are beneficial in designing and thinking about how to model a problem, even aside from performance considerations. I discuss each of these three aspects in detail and review several state-of-the-art robotics applications in which factor graphs have been used with great success.
Factors Associated with Medication Adherence for People Living with Acute HIV Infection in a Tertiary Chinese Hospital in Beijing
Authors: Wang Xiaolan , Li Dongmei , Gao Meixia , Zhou Yuefang , Guo Caiping , Zhang Tong , Zhang Lili , Wang Wen
Published: January 2021

Both the management and caregiving intervention of people living with HIV (PLWH), especially during acute HIV‐1 infection, represent a public health issue and a form of social support. This current study analyzed the demographic and clinical factors associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence of PLWH from positive HIV diagnosis to ART initiation in a tertiary Chinese hospital in Beijing. A total of 200 participants diagnosed with acute HIV‐1 infection were enrolled in this study. We collected demographic and clinical data by the use of a self‐reported questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine associations between potential variables and outcomes. We found that medication adherence was impacted by years of ART and number of reminders (all P < 0.05). In addition, medication adherence was associated with viral load at 48 weeks (P = 0.035). Future studies are needed to investigate effective interventions that could facilitate ART adherence.
Immune Cell Landscape in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Yang Yang , He Wei , Wang Zi-rui , Wang Yu-jiao , Li Lan-lan , Lu Jian-zhong , Tao Yan , Zhang Jing , Fu Sheng-jun , Wang Zhi-ping , Liu Shan-hui
Published: January 2021

Background. The tumor‐infiltrating immune cells are closely associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). This article is aimed at determining the composition change of immune cells and immune regulatory factors in GC and normal tissues, depicting their prognosis value in GC, and revealing the relationship between them and GC clinical parameters. Methods. We used CIBERSORT to calculate the proportion of 22 immune cells in the GC or normal tissues; a t‐test was applied to assess the expression difference of immune cells and immune regulatory factors in normal and GC tissues. The relationship of the immune cells, immune regulatory factors, and GC patients’ clinical characteristics was assessed by univariate analysis. Results. In this study, we found that the proportion of macrophages increased, while plasma cells and monocytes decreased in GC tissues. In these immune fractions, Tregs and naïve B cells were found to be correlated with GC patients’ prognosis. Interestingly, the expression of immune regulatory factors was ambiguous with their classical function in GC tissues. For example, TIM‐3, FOXP3, and CMTM6 were overexpressed, while CD27 and PD‐1 were underexpressed in GC tissues. We also found that IDO1, PD‐1, TIGIT, and TIM‐3 were highly expressed in high‐grade GC tissues, the HERC2 expression level was related to patients’ gender, and the TIGIT expression level was sensitive to targeted therapy. Furthermore, our results suggested that the infiltration of Tregs and naive B cells was strongly correlated with the T stage, radiation therapy, targeted molecular therapy, and the expression levels of TIM‐3 and FOXP3 in GC. Conclusion. The expression pattern of tumor‐infiltrating immune cells and immune regulatory factors was systematically depicted in the GC tumor microenvironment, indicating that individualized treatment based on the tumor‐infiltrating immune cells and immune regulatory factors may be beneficial to GC patients.
Association of Total Dietary Intake of Sugars with Prostate‐Specific Antigen (PSA) Concentrations: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003‐2010
Authors: Liu Zhangcheng , Chen Chi , Yu Fuxun , Yuan Dongbo , Wang Wei , Jiao Ke , Yang Shengbang , Zhang Yongqiang , Wang Yong , Liu Linhai , Xu Huali , Zhang Yang , Zhu Guohua , Hu Bin , Zhu Jianguo
Published: January 2021

Background. There is increasing evidence that dietary intake of sugars may be a risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa) and elevate the concentration of serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA). However, there is limited evidence of the correlation between total dietary intake of sugars and serum PSA concentrations for adult American males. Herein, we evaluated the association between total dietary intake of sugars and serum PSA concentrations in men without a malignant tumor diagnosis in the United States (US) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Material and Methods. In this secondary data analysis, a total of 6,403 men aged ≥40 years and without malignant tumor history were included from 2003 to 2010. The independent variable of this study was the total dietary intake of sugars, and the dependent variable was serum PSA concentrations. Covariates included dietary, comorbidity, physical examination, and demographic data. Results. The average age of participants included in this study was 58.1 years (±13.6). After adjusting for the dietary, comorbidity, physical examination, and demographic data, we observed that a dietary intake increase of one gram of total dietary intake of sugars was associated with an increase of serum PSA concentrations by 0.003 ng/mL (after log2 transformed, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.005) with a P value for trend less than 0.05. Sensitivity analysis using the generalized additive model (GAM) supported the linear association between total dietary intake of sugars and serum PSA concentrations. Conclusion. The total dietary intake of sugars is independently and positively associated with serum PSA concentrations in adult American males who are without a personal history of malignant tumors.
Alginate Oligosaccharide Ameliorates D‐Galactose‐Induced Kidney Aging in Mice through Activation of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Pan Hui , Feng Wenjing , Chen Ming , Luan Hong , Hu Yi , Zheng Xiaoyue , Wang Shan , Mao Yongjun
Published: January 2021

Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of age‐related progressive kidney injury. As a part of the aging process, kidney aging has been indicated to be associated with oxidative stress‐induced damage. Ameliorating oxidative damage is therefore considered a promising strategy for delaying kidney aging. Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) has been reported to have a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. However, no studies have focused on the role of AOS in delaying the kidney aging process. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential effects of AOS on kidney aging and its possible mechanisms. Subcutaneous injection of D‐galactose (D‐gal) (200 mg·kg-1·d-1) in C57BL/6J mice for 8 weeks was used to establish the aging model. AOS (200 mg·kg-1·d-1) was administered via oral gavage for the last four weeks. As a result, AOS inhibited the D‐gal‐induced upregulation of aging markers and significantly improved the kidney index and kidney function of D‐gal‐induced mice. In addition, AOS ameliorated the degree of tissue damage and fibrosis in the aging kidney. To further explore the potential mechanisms by which AOS attenuates the kidney aging process, the associated oxidative stress‐induced damage was analyzed in depth. The data showed that AOS upregulated the expression of Klotho and decreased malondialdehyde levels by increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, our results suggested that AOS activated the nuclear factor erythrogen‐2 associated factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway by promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation in aging mice and upregulated the downstream expression of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that AOS is a promising agent for attenuating kidney aging, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are related to the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.
The Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Whey-Fed Pork Loin after Salting, Dry Aging, and Sous Vide Cooking
Authors: Yang Fengqi , Lee Chi-Ho , Jeon Min-Young , Cho Won-Young , Seo Han Geuk
Published: January 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of whey-fed pork loin subjected to salting, dry aging, and sous vide cooking. We compared raw and treated pork loin from pigs fed a basal diet (control) and those fed a diet supplemented with whey powder. Treated pork was salted, dry aged for 0–30 d, and then cooked using sous vide. The crude fat, total lipid, and cholesterol content and shear force of raw whey powder-fed pork loin were significantly lower than those of the control, while the crude protein content was higher. Cooking loss, hardness, and gumminess were found to decrease with the aging period in sous vide-treated pork. Dietary supplementation with whey had positive effects on pork color stability, texture, and sensory evaluation, and it significantly inhibited the growth of bacteria. The results suggest that supplementing the diet of pigs with whey powder can enhance meat quality, especially when combined with salting, dry aging, and sous vide cooking.
Fingerprinting Indoor Positioning Method Based on Kernel Ridge Regression with Feature Reduction
Authors: Le Yanfen , Jin Shijialuo , Zhang Hena , Shi Weibin , Yao Heng
Published: January 2021

An important goal of indoor positioning systems is to improve positioning accuracy as well as reduce power consumption. In this paper, we propose an indoor positioning method based on the received signal strength (RSS) fingerprint. The proposed method used a certain criterion to select fixed access points (FPs) in an offline phase instead of an online phase for location estimation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to reduce the features of the RSS measurements but retain the most information possible for establishing the positioning model. Then, a kernel‐based ridge regression method was used to obtain the nonlinear relationship between the principal components of the RSS measures and the position of the target. We thoroughly investigated the performance of the proposed method in realistic wireless local area network (WLAN) and wireless sensor network (WSN) indoor environments and made comparisons with recently developed methods. The experimental results indicated that the proposed method was less dependent on the density of the reference points and had higher positioning accuracy than the commonly used positioning methods, and it adapts to different application environments.
Slope Stability Analysis under Complex Stress State with Saturated and Unsaturated Seepage Flow
Authors: Ma Zongyuan , Zhu Caihui , Yao Xiaoliang , Dang Faning
Published: January 2021

Seepage flow is one of the primary factors that trigger slopes and landslides’ failure. In this study, the slope stability under saturated or unsaturated conditions is analyzed. The influence of a complex stress state on the slope stability with the saturated or unsaturated seepage flow is proposed in this paper. Firstly, an elastoplastic constituted model for the soil under a complex stress state is established and as a user subroutine of the finite element method code of FLAC. Secondly, the 2D and 3D problems of slope stability influenced by the saturated or unsaturated seepage flow are analyzed via the finite difference method with the influence of the complex stress state. Finally, the influence of the intermediate principal stress and the saturated or unsaturated seepage flow on the slope stability is analyzed in this study.
Cytokines and Exhaled Nitric Oxide Are Risk Factors in Preterm Infants for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Zhang Zhenjie , Wu Wuchen , Hou Lian , Jiang Jingjing , Wan Weilin , Li Zhenghong
Published: January 2021

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of extremely preterm birth. This study was aimed at detecting cytokine and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels to evaluate their mechanisms and predicted significance for BPD. Preterm infants born at gestational age ≤ 32 weeks were recruited, and clinical data were collected. We detected ten cytokines, including IFN‐γ, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IL‐13, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TNF‐α on Days 1–3, Days 7–14, and Days 21–28 after birth by using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) technology. The FeNO levels of infants were measured when they met the discharge criteria. A total of 46 preterm infants were enrolled, consisting of 14 infants in BPD group and 32 infants in the control group. The gestational age (27.5 ± 1.3 vs. 29.9 ± 1.3 weeks) and birth weight (1021 ± 261 g vs. 1489 ± 357 g) were lower in the BPD group. The following were high‐risk factors for BPD, as determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis: gestational age < 30 weeks, birth weight < 1000 g, PDA, longer mechanical ventilation, and higher FeNO. The cytokines of IL‐6 and IL‐8 on Days 7–14 and IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TNF‐α on Days 21–28 were also high‐risk factors for BPD. IL‐6 contributed to BPD disease severity. Conclusion. The preterm infants with PDA and prolonged mechanical ventilation tended to develop BPD. The IL‐6 and IL‐8 were significantly increased on Days 7–14 and were high‐risk factors for BPD. Moreover, the IL‐6 level was associated with BPD disease severity. We speculated that NO was related to BPD via Th2 cell‐mediated inflammatory responses such as IL‐4 and IL‐6. Cytokines might predict the occurrence of BPD.
Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients Infected with COVID‐19 from Wuhan, China: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Dai Yujie , Liu Zhifen , Du Xingguo , Wei Honglan , Wu Yang , Li Hua , Tian Ming , Li Chengxu , Song Xiaohong , Wu Weicong , Cai Yuan , Yu Yikai , Hu Shaoxian , Dong Junwu
Published: January 2021

Background. Since the first diagnosed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2), there has been a rapid spread of the disease with an increasing number of cases confirmed every day, as well as a rising death toll. An association has been reported between acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2. Therefore, our study was conducted to explore possible risk factors of AKI as well as whether AKI was a risk factor for worse outcome, especially mortality among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). Methods. We included all hospital admissions with confirmed or clinically diagnosed COVID‐19 from January 29 to February 25, 2020. We collected demographic and epidemiological information, past medical history, symptoms, laboratory tests, treatments, and outcome data from electronic medical records. A total of 492 patients with diagnosed or clinically diagnosed COVID‐19 were included in this study. Results. The prevalence rate of AKI was 7.32%. Among the factors associated with AKI, males versus females (aOR 2.73), chronic kidney disease (aOR 42.2), hypertension (aOR 2.82), increased leucocytes (aOR 6.08), and diuretic use (aOR 7.89) were identified as independent risk factors for AKI among patients infected by SARS‐CoV‐2. There was a significant difference in hospital fees and death in patients with and without AKI (p < 0.05). The mortality rate in patients with AKI was 63.9%. Conclusions. AKI was widespread among patients with COVID‐19. The risk factors of AKI in COVID‐19 patients included sex, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, infection, and diuretic use. AKI may be associated with a worse outcome, especially mortality in COVID‐19 patients.
Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Methods for Prioritizing Distributed Stream Processing Frameworks for IoT Applications
Authors: Lin Zhimin , Huang Chao , Lin Mingwei
Published: January 2021

Distributed stream processing frameworks (DSPFs) are the vital engine, which can handle real-time data processing and analytics for IoT applications. How to prioritize DSPFs and select the most suitable one for special IoT applications is an open issue. To help developers of IoT applications to solve this complex issue, a novel probabilistic hesitant fuzzy multicriteria decision making (MCDM) model is put forward in this paper. To characterize the requirements for large-scale IoT data stream processing, a novel evaluation criteria system including qualitative and quantitative criteria is established. To accurately model the collective opinions from skilled developers and consider their psychological distance, the definition of probabilistic hesitant fuzzy sets (PHFSs) is used. To derive the importance degrees of criteria, a novel probabilistic hesitant fuzzy best-worst (PHFBW) method is proposed based on the score value. To prioritize the DSPFs and choose the most suitable one, a novel probabilistic hesitant fuzzy MULTIMOORA method is put forward. Finally, a practical case composed of four Apache stream processing frameworks, namely, Storm, Flink, Spark, and Samza, is studied. The obtained results indicate that throughput, latency, and reliability are considered to be the three most important criteria, and Flink is the most suitable stream framework.
Association between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Endocrinopathies: Clinical Implications
Authors: Singeap Ana-Maria , Stanciu Carol , Huiban Laura , Muzica Cristina Maria , Cuciureanu Tudor , Girleanu Irina , Chiriac Stefan , Zenovia Sebastian , Nastasa Robert , Sfarti Catalin , Cojocariu Camelia , Trifan Anca
Published: January 2021

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a rising prevalence worldwide. Its potential for evolution towards liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as associations with extrahepatic manifestations, represents a double burden for patients and physicians alike. Recently, there has been increasing evidence of the association between NAFLD and a number of endocrinopathies, such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hypopituitarism, growth hormone deficiency (GHD), hypogonadism, and hypercortisolism. Definite correlations are supported by clear evidence so far, but further studies are needed in order to completely clarify the pathogenic mechanisms and, especially, to identify therapeutic implications. In this review, we present the main relationships between NAFLD and endocrinopathies, emphasizing the reciprocal causality, evolutive interconnections, and current clinical scenarios of presentations of which the clinicians should be aware.
The Ratio of the Hemoglobin to Red Cell Distribution Width Combined with the Ratio of Platelets to Lymphocytes Can Predict the Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer Liver Metastasis
Authors: Zhai Zhao , Gao Jialiang , Zhu Ziyu , Cong Xiliang , Lou Shenghan , Han Bangling , Yin Xin , Zhang Yu , Xue Yingwei
Published: January 2021

Background. Hemoglobin/red cell distribution width (HR) and platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios are considered effective prognostic markers in various cancers. We have proposed a new prognostic parameter: HR+PLR. The aim of this study is to explore the prognostic value of the HR+PLR scoring system in patients with gastric cancer liver metastasis. Methods. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 306 patients with gastric cancer liver metastases admitted to our hospital from 2007 to 2014. According to the size of HR value and PLR value, we will divide the patients into three groups, namely, HR+PLR: (1) 0 points: HR > 1.02 and PLR < 128; (2) 1 point: HR > 1.02 and PLR > 128 and HR < 1.02 and PLR < 128; and (3) 2 points: HR < 1.02 and PLR > 128. Results. The HR+PLR score was statistically different from age (P = 0.049), T stage (P < 0.001), N stage (P = 0.017), number of liver metastases (P = 0.018), gastrectomy (P < 0.001), hepatectomy (P = 0.001), peritoneal metastasis (P = 0.012), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (P = 0.028), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P = 0.045). The HR+PLR scoring system has a higher area under the ROC curve (AUC value) than PNI, PLR, HR, and PLR (AUC = 0.798, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, gastrectomy (P = 0.001), hepatectomy (P < 0.001), chemotherapy (P = 0.014), and HR+PLR score (P < 0.001) were considered independent prognostic factors. Conclusion. For patients with gastric cancer liver metastasis, the HR+PLR score is a simple, reliable, and economic prognostic marker.
Joint Impact of Rain and Incidents on Traffic Stream Speeds
Authors: Elhenawy Mohammed , Rakha Hesham A. , Ashqar Huthaifa I.
Published: January 2021

Unpredictable and heterogeneous weather conditions and road incidents are common factors that impact highway traffic speeds. A better understanding of the interplay of different factors that affect roadway traffic speeds is essential for policymakers to mitigate congestion and improve road safety. This study investigates the effect of precipitation and incidents on the speed of traffic in the eastbound direction of I-64 in Virginia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that studies the relationship between precipitation and incidents as factors that would have a combined effect on traffic stream speeds. Furthermore, using a mixture model of two linear regressions, we were able to model the two different regimes that the traffic speed could be classified into, namely, free-flow and congested. Using INRIX traffic data from 2013 through 2016 along a 25.6-mi section of Interstate 64 in Virginia, results show that the reduction of traffic speed only due to incidents ranges from 41% to 75% if the road is already congested. In this case, precipitation was found to be statistically insignificant. However, regardless of the incident impact, the effect of light rain in free-flow conditions ranges from insignificant to a 4% speed reduction while the effect of heavy rain ranges from a 0.6% to a 6.5% speed reduction when the incident severity is low but has a roughly double effect when the incident severity is high.
Growth Factors in Oral Tissue Engineering: New Perspectives and Current Therapeutic Options
Authors: Fiorillo Luca , Cervino Gabriele , Galindo-Moreno Pablo , Herford Alan Scott , Spagnuolo Gianrico , Cicciù Marco
Published: January 2021

The present investigation is aimed at systematically analyzing the recent literature about the innovative scaffold involved in the reconstructive surgeries by applying growth factors and tissue engineering. An extensive review of the contemporary literature was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines by accessing the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus Elsevier databases. Authors performed the English language manuscript research published from 2003 to 2020. A total of 13 relevant studies were included in the present review. The present systematic review included only papers with significant results about correlation between scaffold, molecular features of growth factor, and reconstructive surgeries in oral maxillofacial district. The initial research with filters recorded about 1023 published papers. Beyond reading and considering of suitability, only 42 and then 36 full‐text papers were recorded for the revision. All the researches recorded the possibility of using growth factors on rebuilding atrophic jaws. Different growth factors like morphogenetic factors, cytokines, and inflammatory ones and their application over different scaffold materials were recorded. Further investigations should be required in order to state scientific evidence about a clear advantage of applying tissue engineering for therapeutic purpose.
Joint Encryption Scheme Based on the Chaotic DCT Matrix and SLM Algorithm in an OFDM-PON System
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Huang Liqun , Zhu Mingxu
Published: January 2021

In order to effectively solve the problem of data transmission security and peak-to-average ratio (PAPR) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing passive optical network (OFDM-PON) transmission system, in this paper, a joint encryption scheme of discrete cosine transform (DCT) and selective mapping (SLM) based on chaotic mapping is proposed. In this scheme, the chaotic sequence of a 3D Lorenz chaotic system is used as the row and column index of the DCT matrix and the phase factor of SLM to resist selective plaintext attack, and the system encryption is realized while reducing PAPR. The theoretical analysis and numerical simulation show that the common OFDM-PON, the proposed algorithm, can obtain a PAPR suppression gain of ∼4.8 dB and improve the receiver sensitivity by ∼4 dB

BER
@

10

−
3

. In addition, it shows that, with the increase of row/column index mismatch of the DCT matrix, the bit error rate of the system increases gradually. An encrypted data transmission of 8 GB/s 16-QAM optical OFDM signals is successfully simulated over a 20 km standard single-mode fiber, which proves the excellent confidentiality of the proposed secure transmission.
Evaluation of Newly Developed Easy‐Open Assistive Devices for Pneumatic Tube System Carriers for the Reduction of Work‐Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Authors: Chien Tzu-I , Liang Huey-Wen , Lee Ya-Fen , Liu Fei-Yun , Hsu Chi-Kwang , Liu Shao-Tseng , Lee Mo Siu-Mei , Wei Pin-Fei
Published: January 2021

Musculoskeletal disorders may affect labor efficiency, cause disability, impair one’s work ability, and lower one’s quality of life. This consequently leads to a larger expenditure of medical resources. We aimed to design easy‐to‐open assistive devices for pneumatic tube systems to improve ergonomics and reduce musculoskeletal complaints of workers. We followed a design control process, including designs of motors, gears, sensors, and V‐shaped connecting rods. Efficacy was evaluated by examining risks based on job strain index, user satisfaction, and musculoskeletal complaints of operators before and after the system’s implementation on a Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. We designed three assistive devices: two semiautomatic and one automatic. Each semiautomatic device costs about 300 US dollars and required space of 10 × 18 × 38 cm3. The automatic device costs about 3000 US dollars and required space of 28 × 38 × 50 cm3. The job strain index score decreased from 36 (very high risk) to 3 (low risk) with the semiautomatic devices and to 0 with the automatic device. Musculoskeletal complaints in the neck and upper limbs were reduced, with a significantly higher satisfaction rate for female operators. Our novel design of an automatic cap opening device for a pneumatic tube system was effective in improving ergonomics and reducing musculoskeletal complaints.
Increased SPHK1 and HAS2 Expressions Correlate to Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Yu Mengsi , Zhang Kainan , Wang Song , Xue Li , Chen Zhaoyun , Feng Ning , Ning Conghua , Wang Lijuan , Li Jing , Zhang Boke , Yang Changcheng , Zhang Zhaoxia
Published: January 2021

Objective. SPHK1 and HAS2 have been reported to play important roles in tumorigenesis and development. However, their expression and prognostic value in pancreatic cancer (PC) remain unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the expression of SPHK1 and HAS2 on the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods. The expression of SPHK1 and HAS2 in pancreatic cancer tissues was analyzed through TCGA and GTEx databases and validated by qRT‐PCR and Western blot in pancreatic cancer cell lines. χ2 test was used to explore the correlation of the SPHK1 and HAS2 expressions with clinical characteristics. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis and ROC curve were used to evaluate the prognostic and diagnostic roles of SPHK1 and HAS2 in pancreatic cancer. Additionally, Spearman correlation analysis was applied to assess the correlation between the SPHK1 and HAS2 in pancreatic cancer. GO analysis and KEGG analysis were applied to explore the possible signaling pathway that SPHK1 and HAS2 coregulated genes mediated. Results. The expression of SPHK1 and HAS2 was markedly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissue and cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between SPHK1 and HAS2 expressions. ROC curves showed that SPHK1 combine with HAS2 has good diagnostic value in pancreatic cancer patients with 85% sensitivity and 99.4% specificity. Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed that increased expression of SPHK1 and HAS2 was significantly associated with short overall survival (OS) of pancreatic cancer patients. GO and KEGG results revealed that SPHK1 and HAS2 mainly involved cell proliferation and invasion mediated by extracellular matrix‐ (ECM‐) receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and PI3K‐AKT signaling pathways. Conclusions. Overexpression of SPHK1 and HAS2 could be important markers for the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.
Benign Structures Mimicking Right Atrial Masses on Prenatal Ultrasound
Authors: Bhatia Snigdha , Qasim Amna , Jiwani Amyn K. , Aly Ashraf M.
Published: January 2021

Advances in imaging have resulted in more frequent reporting of primitive right atrial structures which can sometimes mimic cardiac tumors in prenatal ultrasound. Prominent crista terminalis and Chiari network are examples of these structures. We describe two cases of pregnant women referred to the fetal cardiology clinic for fetal echocardiography for right atrial masses seen on prenatal ultrasound suspicious of tuberous sclerosis. The first case subsequently diagnosed as crista terminalis and the second case as a prominent Chiari network. Postnatal ECHO confirmed the benign nature of these structures. It is important to differentiate tumors from prominent benign structures in the right atrium in fetal ECHO. The location and the similar echogenicity to the adjacent atrial tissue are clues for differentiation of these structures from atrial tumors.
A Retrospective Chart Review of Children in Neurocutaneous Clinic Who May Benefit from Further Evaluation Beyond Neurofibromatosis Type I
Authors: Hicks Stephanie R. , Cozart Amanda K. , Bellus Gary A. , Schneider Kami W.
Published: January 2021

While most individuals with a clinical diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have a detectable pathogenic variant in the NF1 gene, other conditions have phenotypic features overlapping with NF1. Without molecular confirmation, individuals may be misdiagnosed and have a different underlying condition. Namely, if a child has constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD), early detection and prevention strategies for cancer risk would include surveillance recommendations not typically recommended for children with NF1. This study aimed to explore phenotypes of individuals with a clinical diagnosis of NF1 to identify subpopulations who may benefit from further genetic counseling or testing for an alternate diagnosis. Retrospective review of 240 medical records of children who attended a neurocutaneous clinic identified 135 children with a molecularly confirmed pathogenic variant in NF1 or autosomal dominant pattern of clinical NF1 (“controls”) and 102 children deemed “at-risk” for another condition like CMMRD. Clinical presentation, family history of NF1, personal history of cancer, and family history of cancer were compared. When comparing clinical presentation, family history, and cancer history, minimal statistical differences were found, indicating that the at-risk population appears clinically indistinguishable from those with a clear diagnosis of NF1. Given the lack of distinguishable features between the at-risk and control population, this study suggests that tiered genetic testing for all individuals being evaluated for NF1 may be beneficial for identifying patients who may be misdiagnosed with NF1 and subsequently mismanaged. This study suggests that at-risk population with a suspected NF1 diagnosis may benefit from further evaluation. Correct diagnosis of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency is crucial to diagnose cancer at an early stage or prevent cancer from occurring.

Prevention relevance:

This study suggests that at-risk population with a suspected NF1 diagnosis may benefit from further evaluation. Correct diagnosis of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency is crucial to diagnose cancer at an early stage or prevent cancer from occurring.
Effect of Number of Electrodes Used to Elicit Electrical Stapedius Reflex Thresholds in Cochlear Implants
Authors: Charroó Lidia Esther , Bermejo Sandra , Paz Cordovez Antonio Simeón , Rodríguez Carina , Finley Charles C. , Saoji Aniket A.
Published: January 2021

Introduction: When mapping cochlear implant (CI) patients with limited reporting abilities, the lowest electrical stimulus level that produces a stapedial reflex (i.e., the electrical stapedius reflex threshold [eSRT]) can be measured to estimate the upper bound of stimulation on individual or a subset of CI electrodes. However, eSRTs measured for individual electrodes or a subset of electrodes cannot be used to predict the global adjustment of electrical stimulation levels needed to achieve comfortable loudness sensations that can be readily used in a speech coding strategy. In the present study, eSRTs were measured for 1-, 4-, and 15-electrode stimulation to (1) determine changes in eSRT levels as a function of the electrode stimulation mode and (2) determine which stimulation mode eSRT levels best approximate comfortable loudness levels from patients’ clinical maps. Methods: eSRTs were measured with the 3 different electrical stimulation configurations in 9 CI patients and compared with behaviorally measured, comfortable loudness levels or M-levels from patients’ clinical maps. Results: A linear, mixed-effects, repeated-measures analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) between eSRTs measured as a function of the stimulation mode. No significant differences (p = 0.059) were measured between 15-electrode eSRTs and M-levels from patients’ clinical maps. The eSRTs measured for 1- and 4-electrode stimulation differed significantly (p < 0.05) from the M-levels on the corresponding electrodes from the patients’ clinical map. Conclusion: eSRT profiles based on 1- or 4-electrode stimulation can be used to determine comfortable loudness level on either individual or a subset of electrodes, and 15-electrode eSRT profiles can be used to determine the upper bound of electrical stimulation that can be used in a speech coding strategy.
Bedeutung von Myositis-spezifischen Autoantikörpern bei der Dermatomyositis und Lungenbeteiligung
Authors: Sticherling Michael
Published: January 2021

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies, and to analyse the potential pathogenesis of anti-MDA5 antibodies. Methods: The clinical manifestations, serological tests, imaging features, treatments, and prognoses of 32 anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients diagnosed in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from September 2015 to August 2018 were analysed. Results: Of the 32 anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients, eleven patients were clinically diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF), ten patients were diagnosed with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), six patients were diagnosed with dermatomyositis (DM) and five patients were diagnosed with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS). Thirty patients had various degrees of pulmonary interstitial changes. The incidence of mortality, subcutaneous emphysema, hoarseness and dysphagia in patients who were positive for both anti-MDA5 and anti-Ro52 antibodies was significantly higher than in patients positive for only anti-MDA5 antibodies. The anti-MDA5 antibody-positive IPAF patients had a very poor prognosis, and mortality in these patients was as high as 54.55%. Conclusion: Anti-MDA5 antibodies are closely related to interstitial lung disease (ILD). The presence of both anti-MDA5 and anti-Ro52 antibodies indicates poor prognosis.
Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin with Streptozocin and Subsequent Therapies in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Rogers Jane E. , Lam Michael , Halperin Daniel M. , Dagohoy Cecile G. , Yao James C. , Dasari Arvind
Published: January 2021

We evaluated outcomes of treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), doxorubicin, and streptozocin (FAS) in well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) and its impact on subsequent therapy (everolimus or temozolomide). Advanced PanNET patients treated at our center from 1992 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients received bolus 5-FU (400 mg/m2), streptozocin (400 mg/m2) (both IV, days 1–5), and doxorubicin (40 mg/m2 IV, day 1) every 28 days. Overall response rate (ORR) was assessed using RECIST version 1.1. Of 243 eligible patients, 220 were evaluable for ORR, progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity. Most (≥90%) had metastatic, nonfunctional PanNETs; 14% had prior therapy. ORR to FAS was 41% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 36–48%). Median follow-up was 61 months. Median PFS was 20 (95% CI: 15–23) months; median overall survival (OS) was 63 (95% CI: 60–71) months. Cox regression analyses suggested improvement with first-line versus subsequent lines of FAS therapy. Main adverse events ≥ grade 3 were neutropenia (10%) and nausea/vomiting (5.5%). Dose reductions were required in 32% of patients. Post-FAS everolimus (n = 108; 68% second line) had a median PFS of 10 (95% CI: 8–14) months. Post-FAS temozolomide (n = 60; 53% ≥ fourth line) had an ORR of 13% and median PFS of 5.2 (95% CI: 4–12) months. In this largest reported cohort of PanNETs treated with chemotherapy, FAS demonstrated activity without significant safety concerns. FAS did not appear to affect subsequent PFS with everolimus; this sequence is being evaluated prospectively. Responses were noted with subsequent temozolomide-based regimens although PFS was possibly limited by line of therapy.
Modelagem da Informação da Paisagem
Authors: Sandre Adriana Afonso , Pellegrino Paulo Renato Mesquita
Published: January 2021

Este artigo apresenta a plataforma LIM vista como uma ferramenta para integrar e operacionalizar os projetos complementares de paisagem. Para tanto propõe o desenvolvimento do Landscape Information Modeling (LIM) que consiste em uma plataforma integrada de projeto capaz de simular aspectos dos espaços projetados, compatibilizando elementos construídos e processos naturais. Acredita-se que o projeto da paisagem, por ser uma dimensão integradora das camadas de intervenção no espaço, permite maior transparência e democratização do processo de decisão e execução, podendo ser orientado para o atendimento das demandas sociais, ecológicas, econômicas e do respeito as suas particularidades históricas. Para estruturar o LIM serão definidos um conjunto de parâmetros de projeto caracterizados por sua diversidade, adaptação e responsividade. Ao incluir diferentes parâmetros pode-se propor inúmeras variações para o modelo, de forma a objetivar diferentes soluções e avaliar seu grau de resposta e adaptação e, portanto, da sua inteligência, aqui entendida como a capacidade de adaptação do sistema as novas condições oferecidas pelo projeto.