bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zinc Signaling in the Mammary Gland: For Better and for Worse
Authors: Chakraborty Moumita , Hershfinkel Michal
Published: September 2021

Zinc (Zn2+) plays an essential role in epithelial physiology. Among its many effects, most prominent is its action to accelerate cell proliferation, thereby modulating wound healing. It also mediates affects in the gastrointestinal system, in the testes, and in secretory organs, including the pancreas, salivary, and prostate glands. On the cellular level, Zn2+ is involved in protein folding, DNA, and RNA synthesis, and in the function of numerous enzymes. In the mammary gland, Zn2+ accumulation in maternal milk is essential for supporting infant growth during the neonatal period. Importantly, Zn2+ signaling also has direct roles in controlling mammary gland development or, alternatively, involution. During breast cancer progression, accumulation or redistribution of Zn2+ occurs in the mammary gland, with aberrant Zn2+ signaling observed in the malignant cells. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of in Zn2+ the mammary gland, and the proteins controlling cellular Zn2+ homeostasis and signaling, including Zn2+ transporters and the Gq-coupled Zn2+ sensing receptor, ZnR/GPR39. Significant advances in our understanding of Zn2+ signaling in the normal mammary gland as well as in the context of breast cancer provides new avenues for identification of specific targets for breast cancer therapy.
Father–Child Interactions in Preschool Children with ASD: A Systematic Review
Authors: Perzolli Silvia , Bentenuto Arianna , Bertamini Giulio , de Falco Simona , Venuti Paola
Published: September 2021

Studies on parental interaction in the context of ASD has mainly focused on mothers, even if fathers and their children seem to form close and supportive relationships that may have unique effects on child development. Given the impact of ASD symptoms on a child’s ability to interact with significant others, recent findings strengthen the importance of including caregivers during treatment to guarantee a better adaptation to the child’s impairments. Despite this, fathers are scarcely involved, and interventions seem to not be tailored to their interactive characteristics and needs. For this reason, a systematic review was conducted to investigate fathers and children with ASD behaviors during interaction. This review found 12 observational studies that identified social, cognitive, and affective interactive modalities in father–child dyads through three psychology-focused journal databases: PubMed, PsycINFO and Scopus. The significant variation in both sample size and in the measures used to assess dyadic outcomes limits the ability of this work to make robust recommendations for intervention. Despite this, the results revealed characteristic behaviors of this dyad that consequently allow specific targets to be worked on during intervention. In fact, from fathers’ individual strengths and weaknesses, it is possible to implement interventions that are complementary with maternal characteristics from the perspective of personalized and optimized treatment.
Variations of en Bloc Resection for Advanced External Auditory Canal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Detailed Anatomical Considerations
Authors: Komune Noritaka , Kuga Daisuke , Miki Koichi , Nakagawa Takashi
Published: September 2021

Currently, only lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) and subtotal temporal bone resection (STBR) are widely utilized for the surgical treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal (EAC-SCC). However, there are few descriptions of variations on these surgical approaches. This study aimed to elucidate the variations of en bloc resection for advanced EAC-SCC. We dissected the four sides of cadaveric heads to reveal the anatomical structures related to temporal bone resection. From the viewpoint of surgical anatomy, surgical patterns of temporal bone cutting can be divided into four categories: conventional LTBR, extended LTBR, conventional STBR, and modified STBR. Extended LTBR is divided into four types: superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior extensions. Several extension procedures can be combined based on the extension of the tumor. Furthermore, en bloc resection with the temporomandibular joint or glenoid fossa increases the technical difficulty of a surgical procedure because the exposure and manipulation of the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery are limited from the middle cranial fossa. Surgical approaches for advanced SCC of the temporal bone are diverse. They require accurate preoperative evaluation of the tumor extension and preoperative consideration of the exact line of resection to achieve marginal negative resection.
Non-Invasive Ultrasonic Description of Tumor Evolution
Authors: Griffon Jerome , Buffello Delphine , Giron Alain , Bridal S. Lori , Lamuraglia Michele
Published: September 2021

Purpose: There is a clinical need to better non-invasively characterize the tumor microenvironment in order to reveal evidence of early tumor response to therapy and to better understand therapeutic response. The goals of this work are first to compare the sensitivity to modifications occurring during tumor growth for measurements of tumor volume, immunohistochemistry parameters, and emerging ultrasound parameters (Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) and dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS)), and secondly, to study the link between the different parameters. Methods: Five different groups of 9 to 10 BALB/c female mice with subcutaneous CT26 tumors were imaged using B-mode morphological imaging, SWE, and CEUS at different dates. Whole-slice immunohistological data stained for the nuclei, T lymphocytes, apoptosis, and vascular endothelium from these tumors were analyzed. Results: Tumor volume and three CEUS parameters (Time to Peak, Wash-In Rate, and Wash-Out Rate) significantly changed over time. The immunohistological parameters, CEUS parameters, and SWE parameters showed intracorrelation. Four immunohistological parameters (the number of T lymphocytes per mm2 and its standard deviation, the percentage area of apoptosis, and the colocalization of apoptosis and vascular endothelium) were correlated with the CEUS parameters (Time to Peak, Wash-In Rate, Wash-Out Rate, and Mean Transit Time). The SWE parameters were not correlated with the CEUS parameters nor with the immunohistological parameters. Conclusions: US imaging can provide additional information on tumoral changes. This could help to better explore the effect of therapies on tumor evolution, by studying the evolution of the parameters over time and by studying their correlations.
Next-Generation Sequencing-Directed Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Bruzas Simona , Kuemmel Sherko , Harrach Hakima , Breit Elisabeth , Ataseven Beyhan , Traut Alexander , Rüland Anna , Kostara Athina , Chiari Ouafaa , Dittmer-Grabowski Christine , Reinisch Mattea
Published: September 2021

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) followed by matched therapy has opened up new therapeutic options to patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Here we report our experience with this approach in everyday clinical practice. This retrospective study included 95 patients with mBC who were genotyped with the FoundationOne® (CDx) assay in a commercial molecular pathology laboratory. Genetic alterations were identified in all tumor specimens, and 83 patients (87.4%) had a median of 2 (range, 1–6) potentially actionable alterations. A multidisciplinary tumor board recommended genomically guided therapy to 63 patients, 30 of whom received such treatment. Everolimus (n = 15) and anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy (n = 6) were most frequently administered. The ratio of progression-free survival (PFS) under NGS-based therapy to PFS under the last line of standard therapy prior to NGS was >1.3 in 13 (43.3%) patients, indicative of a clinical benefit to NGS-directed therapy. One-year overall survival rates were 22.7% (95% CI, 6.5–44.4) in 65 patients allocated to the standard therapy versus 62.9% (95% CI, 41.6–78.2) in 30 patients receiving the matched therapy. In conclusion, NGS-matched treatment improved the clinical outcomes in a subgroup of mBC patients.
The Influence of Young Age on Difficulties in the Surgical Resection of Carotid Body Tumors
Authors: Katagiri Kartsunori , Shiga Kiyoto , Ikeda Aya , Saito Daisuke , Oikawa Shin-ichi , Tsuchida Kodai , Miyaguchi Jun , Kusaka Takahiro , Tamura Akio , Nakayama Manabu , Izumisawa Mitsuru , Yoshida Kenji , Ogasawara Kuniaki , Takahashi Fumiaki
Published: September 2021

This study evaluated patient characteristics that affect the complexity and difficulties of performing surgery to resect carotid body tumors (CBTs). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 20 patients with 21 CBTs who were enrolled in the study. The median patient age was 46 years and the mean tumor diameter was 37.6 mm. The mean blood loss and operative time were 40.3 mL and 183 min, respectively. Four patients underwent resection of the carotid artery followed by reconstruction. These four patients were between 18 to 23 years of age at the time of surgery. The mean blood loss and operative time in these patients were 166 mL and 394 min, respectively, which differed significantly from those of older patients. Therefore, young age influenced the difficulties faced in surgical resection of CBT, with an increased risk of blood loss and carotid artery resection.
Liver Stiffness-Based Risk Prediction Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Lee Jae Seung , Sinn Dong Hyun , Park Soo Young , Shin Hye Jung , Lee Hye Won , Kim Beom Kyung , Park Jun Yong , Kim Do Young , Ahn Sang Hoon , Oh Joo Hyun , Lee Jung Il , Kim Seung Up
Published: September 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. We established and validated a liver stiffness (LS)-based risk prediction model for HCC development in patients with NAFLD. A total of 2666 and 467 patients with NAFLD were recruited in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. NAFLD was defined as controlled attenuated parameter ≥238 dB/m by transient elastography. Over a median of 64.6 months, HCC developed in 22 (0.8%) subjects in the training cohort. Subjects who developed HCC were older and had higher prevalence of diabetes and cirrhosis, lower platelet count, and higher AST levels compared to those who did not develop HCC (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, age ≥60 years (hazard ratio (HR) = 9.1), platelet count <150 × 103/μL (HR = 3.7), and LS ≥9.3 kPa (HR = 13.8) were independent predictors (all p < 0.05) that were used to develop a risk prediction model for HCC development, together with AST ≥34 IU/L. AUCs for predicting HCC development at 2, 3, and 5 years were 0.948, 0.947, and 0.939, respectively. This model was validated in the validation cohort (AUC 0.777, 0.781, and 0.784 at 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively). The new risk prediction model for NAFLD-related HCC development showed acceptable performance in the training and validation cohorts.
Genomic Determinants of Homologous Recombination Deficiency across Human Cancers
Authors: Qing Tao , Wang Xinfeng , Jun Tomi , Ding Li , Pusztai Lajos , Huang Kuan-Lin
Published: September 2021

Germline BRCA1/2 mutations associated with HRD are clinical biomarkers for sensitivity to poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) treatment in breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. However, it remains unclear whether other mutations may also lead to HRD and PARPi sensitivity across a broader range of cancer types. Our goal was to determine the germline or somatic alterations associated with the HRD phenotype that might therefore confer PARPi sensitivity. Using germline and somatic genomic data from over 9000 tumors representing 32 cancer types, we examined associations between HRD scores and pathogenic germline variants, somatic driver mutations, and copy number deletions in 30 candidate genes involved in homologous recombination. We identified several germline and somatic mutations (e.g., BRCA1/2, PALB2, ATM, and ATR mutations) associated with HRD phenotype in ovarian, breast, pancreatic, stomach, bladder, and lung cancer. The co-occurrence of germline BRCA1 variants and somatic TP53 mutations was significantly associated with increasing HRD in breast cancer. Notably, we also identified multiple somatic copy number deletions associated with HRD. Our study suggests that multiple cancer types include tumor subsets that show HRD phenotype and should be considered in the future clinical studies of PARPi and synthetic lethality strategies exploiting HRD, which can be caused by a large number of genomic alterations.
Immune Checkpoints in Cancers: From Signaling to the Clinic
Authors: Pisibon Céline , Ouertani Amira , Bertolotto Corine , Ballotti Robert , Cheli Yann
Published: September 2021

The immune system is known to help fight cancers. Ten years ago, the first immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting CTLA4 was approved by the FDA to treat patients with metastatic melanoma. Since then, immune checkpoint therapies have revolutionized the field of oncology and the treatment of cancer patients. Numerous immune checkpoint inhibitors have been developed and tested, alone or in combination with other treatments, in melanoma and other cancers, with overall clear benefits to patient outcomes. However, many patients fail to respond or develop resistance to these treatments. It is therefore essential to decipher the mechanisms of action of immune checkpoints and to understand how immune cells are affected by signaling to be able to understand and overcome resistance. In this review, we discuss the signaling and effects of each immune checkpoint on different immune cells and their biological and clinical relevance. Restoring the functionality of T cells and their coordination with other immune cells is necessary to overcome resistance and help design new clinical immunotherapy strategies. In this respect, NK cells have recently been implicated in the resistance to anti-PD1 evoked by a protein secreted by melanoma, ITGBL1. The complexity of this network will have to be considered to improve the efficiency of future immunotherapies and may lead to the discovery of new immune checkpoints.
Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy (HITOC) after Cytoreductive Surgery for Pleural Malignancies—A Retrospective, Multicentre Study
Authors: Ried Michael , Kovács Julia , Markowiak Till , Müller Karolina , Huppertz Gunnar , Koller Michael , Winter Hauke , Klotz Laura V. , Hatz Rudolf , Zimmermann Julia , Passlick Bernward , Schmid Severin , Hassan Mohamed , Eichhorn Martin E. , Hofmann Hans-Stefan
Published: September 2021

In the context of quality assurance, the objectives were to describe the surgical treatment and postoperative morbidity (particularly renal insufficiency). A retrospective, multicentre study of patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with cisplatin-based HITOC was performed. The study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation (GZ: RI 2905/3-1)). Patients (n = 350) with malignant pleural mesothelioma (n = 261; 75%) and thymic tumours with pleural spread (n = 58; 17%) or pleural metastases (n = 31; 9%) were analyzed. CRS was accomplished by pleurectomy/decortication (P/D: n = 77; 22%), extended P/D (eP/D: n = 263; 75%) or extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP: n = 10; 3%). Patients received cisplatin alone (n = 212; 61%) or cisplatin plus doxorubicin (n = 138; 39%). Low-dose cisplatin (≤125 mg/m2 BSA) was given in 67% of patients (n = 234), and high-dose cisplatin (>125 mg/m2 BSA) was given in 33% of patients (n = 116). Postoperative renal insufficiency appeared in 12% of the patients (n = 41), and 1.4% (n = 5) required temporary dialysis. Surgical revision was necessary in 51 patients (15%). In-hospital mortality was 3.7% (n = 13). Patients receiving high-dose cisplatin were 2.7 times more likely to suffer from renal insufficiency than patients receiving low-dose cisplatin (p = 0.006). The risk for postoperative renal failure is dependent on the intrathoracic cisplatin dosage but was within an acceptable range.
MLKL and CaMKII Are Involved in RIPK3-Mediated Smooth Muscle Cell Necroptosis
Authors: Zhou Ting , DeRoo Elise , Yang Huan , Stranz Amelia , Wang Qiwei , Ginnan Roman , Singer Harold A. , Liu Bo
Published: September 2021

Receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-mediated smooth muscle cell (SMC) necroptosis has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). However, the signaling steps downstream from RIPK3 during SMC necroptosis remain unknown. In this study, the roles of mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in SMC necroptosis were investigated. We found that both MLKL and CaMKII were phosphorylated in SMCs in a murine CaCl2-driven model of AAA and that Ripk3 deficiency reduced the phosphorylation of MLKL and CaMKII. In vitro, mouse aortic SMCs were treated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) plus Z-VAD-FMK (zVAD) to induce necroptosis. Our data showed that both MLKL and CaMKII were phosphorylated after TNFα plus zVAD treatment in a time-dependent manner. SiRNA silencing of Mlkl-diminished cell death and administration of the CaMKII inhibitor myristoylated autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (Myr-AIP) or siRNAs against Camk2d partially inhibited necroptosis. Moreover, knocking down Mlkl decreased CaMKII phosphorylation, but silencing Camk2d did not affect phosphorylation, oligomerization, or trafficking of MLKL. Together, our results indicate that both MLKL and CaMKII are involved in RIPK3-mediated SMC necroptosis, and that MLKL is likely upstream of CaMKII in this process.
Setting Mental Health Priorities in Ghana: A 15-Year Contextual Analysis of the Presidential State of the Nation Address
Authors: Quarshie Emmanuel , Davies Priscilla , Otoo Pearl
Published: September 2021

Globally, mental health issues have been neglected and allowed to be suppressed by stigma and discrimination for a very long time, although mental disorders are responsible for about 30% of the global non-fatal disease burden. Thus, the global call for solution to this challenge admonishes governments, donors, and mental health service users to prioritise mental health. Towards this end, speeches by key political actors can be used to garner public support and set out strong arguments for the prioritisation of mental health. Guided by the agenda-setting theory, this study sought to contribute to the evidence on the mental health priorities in Ghana by conducting a summative qualitative content analysis of the state of the nation addresses (SONAs) presented by presidents of Ghana from 2007 to 2021. Findings show that no mental health condition was highlighted in any of the SONAs, and mental health priorities in terms of policy and investment were superficial, inadequate, and woefully incomparable to those of physical health. It is suggested that government should heighten mental health priorities, given that mental disorders are leading the top 10 causes of the years lived with disability burden in the country.
A Simplified Framework for Modelling Viscoelastic Fluids in Discrete Multiphysics
Authors: Duque-Daza Carlos , Alexiadis Alessio
Published: September 2021

A simplified modelling technique for modelling viscoelastic fluids is proposed from the perspective of Discrete Multiphysics. This approach, based on the concept of linear additive composition of energy potentials, aims to integrate Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) with an equivalent elastic potential tailored for fluid flow simulations. The model was implemented using a particle-based software, explored and thoroughly validated with results from numerical experiments on three different flow conditions. The model was able to successfully capture a large extent of viscoelastic responses to external forcing, ranging from pure viscous flows to creep-dominated Bingham type of behaviour. It is concluded that, thanks to the modularity and tunable characteristics of the parameters involved, the proposed modelling approach can be a powerful simulation tool for modelling or mimicking the behaviour of viscoelastic substances.
A Short Version of the EFECO Online Questionnaire for the Assessment of Executive Functions in School-Age Children
Authors: Barrios-Fernandez Sabina , Gozalo Margarita , Amado-Fuentes Maria , Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Garcia-Gomez Andres
Published: September 2021

Executive function (EF) is a group of processes that allow individuals to be goal-oriented and to have adaptive functioning, so that adequate performance is essential for success in activities of daily living, at school and in other activities. The present study aims to create a short version of the Executive Functioning Questionnaire (EFECO) since there is a gap in the Spanish literature due to the lack of behavioural observation questionnaires at school age. A total of 3926 participants completed the online questionnaire. Subsequently, the validity and reliability of the data are analysed. The results show that the short version of the questionnaire, the EFECO-S, has a structure with five dimensions (emotional self-control, initiation, working memory, inhibition, and spatial organisation), as well as a second-order factor (global executive skill) and high reliability (ordinal Alpha = 0.68–0.88). The EFECO is composed of 67 items, while the EFECO-S has 20 items, four per factor, which turns it into a quick and easy to apply test. Therefore, it becomes an interesting alternative to be applied in screening processes with children who may be experiencing executive difficulties.
Detection of Scratch on Transparent Plate with Strong Scattering Noise by Digital Holographic Technique
Authors: Yu Yeh-Wei , Wang Wen-Li , Lin Yong-Sheng , Ko Han-Shin , Ma Shih-Hsin , Sun Ching-Cherng , Wu Wen-Hsuan , Yang Tsung-Hsun
Published: September 2021

We applied a digital holographic detection technique to detect the scratches on glass surfaces with scattering noise. In the experiment, scratches with widths of 1.67 µm were generated on the front sides of the glass slides, and three different gray levels were painted on the back sides of the glass slides to generate the scattering noise. It demonstrated that the digital holographic detection method can enhance the image contrast of the scratch under high scattering noise. The high defocus tolerance promises a detection process without optical focusing and thus benefits the high-speed automatic optical inspection.
First-Principles Study on the Stability and Electronic Structure of the Charge-Ordered Phase in α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3
Authors: Tsumuraya Takao , Seo Hitoshi , Miyazaki Tsuyoshi
Published: September 2021

We theoretically study the structural and electronic properties of a molecular conductor, α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3, using first-principles density-functional theory calculations, especially in its low-temperature charge-ordered state at ambient pressure. We apply a hybrid functional approach and compare the results with a conventional exchange-correlation functional within the generalized gradient approximation. By performing structural optimization, we found a stable charge-ordered solution for the former, in contrast to the latter approach where the magnitude of the charge imbalance becomes considerably small compared to that when the experimental structure is adopted. The electronic band structure near the Fermi level, with and without structural optimization, as well as the molecule-dependent local density of states of the charge-ordered state are discussed.
Application of eDNA Metabarcoding for Detecting Anura on a Tropical Island
Authors: Li Wenhao , Song Tianjian , Hou Xianglei , Qin Mingshuo , Xu Chunxia , Li Yiming
Published: September 2021

As anuran biodiversity quickly declines, it is important to understand local patterns of anuran occurrence. However, the limitations of traditional sampling methods make anuran biodiversity surveys inadequate. Tropical environments are rich in anuran species, which makes biodiversity measurements more difficult. Therefore, it is important to develop a rapid, inexpensive and nondestructive method to measure anuran biodiversity in tropical environments. We used eDNA metabarcoding to measure anuran diversity at 288 sites in 18 regions of Hainan Island. We also used traditional methods and compared the results with those obtained through the eDNA metabarcoding methods. We detected 9 anuran species by traditional sampling methods. We produced 626 million reads by eDNA metabarcoding and assigned them to 15 anuran species. Therefore, eDNA metabarcoding can be used for rapid and large-scale anuran biodiversity surveys.
Mechanical Properties of Lumbar and Cervical Paravertebral Muscles in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Garrido-Castro Juan L. , Aranda-Valera I. Concepción , Peña-Amaro José , Martínez-Galisteo Alfonso , González-Navas Cristina , Rodrigues-de-Souza Daiana P. , Alcaraz-Clariana Sandra , García-Luque Lourdes , Sánchez Iago R. Martínez , López-Medina Clementina , Collantes-Estévez Eduardo , Alburquerque-Sendín Francisco
Published: September 2021

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) affects spinal muscles, due to inflammation and structural damage. The mechanical properties of the muscles, such as tone or stiffness, could be altered in axSpA. The aim of this work is to analyze the mechanical properties of cervical and lumbar spine muscles in axSpA patients and their relationship with metrology measures, function, disease activity, structural damage and quality of life. Methods: axSpA patients and age/gender/BMI matched healthy controls were recruited. The muscle mechanical properties (MMPs), such as tone or frequency, stiffness, decrement (linear elastic properties), relaxation and creep (viscoelastic properties), of cervical (semispinalis capitis) and lumbar (erector spinae) muscles were bilaterally measured at rest using myotonometry. Additionally, conventional metrology, BASMI (metrology index), BASDAI (disease activity index), mSASSS (radiological structural damage index) and SF-12 (health-related quality of life questionnaire) were used in the axSpA group. Between-groups comparison, intra-group correlations and multivariable regression analyses were performed to achieve the study aims. Results: Thirty-four axSpA patients (mean age: 46.21 ± 8.53 y) and 34 healthy volunteers (mean age: 43.97 ± 8.49 y) were recruited. Both in cervical and lumbar spine, linear elastic parameters were significantly higher in axSpA patients in comparison with controls, while viscoelastic parameters were significantly lower. Lumbar muscle frequency, stiffness, relaxation, creep and cervical muscle elasticity were fair to strongly correlated (|0.346| < r < |0.774|) with age, functional status, activity of disease, structural damage and quality of life in axSpA patients. Furthermore, moderate to good fitted multivariate models (0.328 < R2 < 0.697) were obtained combining age, conventional metrology, activity of the disease and function for the estimation of cervical and lumbar MMPs. Conclusion: Mechanical properties of spinal muscles of axSpA patients differ from controls. Lumbar and cervical muscles exhibit greater linear elastic properties and lower viscoelastic properties, which are related with age, clinical and psychophysiological features of axSpA.
Artificial Intelligence Model to Detect Real Contact Relationship between Mandibular Third Molars and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Based on Panoramic Radiographs
Authors: Zhu Tianer , Chen Daqian , Wu Fuli , Zhu Fudong , Zhu Haihua
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to develop a novel detection model for automatically assessing the real contact relationship between mandibular third molars (MM3s) and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) based on panoramic radiographs processed with deep learning networks, minimizing pseudo-contact interference and reducing the frequency of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) use. A deep-learning network approach based on YOLOv4, named as MM3-IANnet, was applied to oral panoramic radiographs for the first time. The relationship between MM3s and the IAN in CBCT was considered the real contact relationship. Accuracy metrics were calculated to evaluate and compare the performance of the MM3–IANnet, dentists and a cooperative approach with dentists and the MM3–IANnet. Our results showed that in comparison with detection by dentists (AP = 76.45%) or the MM3–IANnet (AP = 83.02%), the cooperative dentist–MM3–IANnet approach yielded the highest average precision (AP = 88.06%). In conclusion, the MM3-IANnet detection model is an encouraging artificial intelligence approach that might assist dentists in detecting the real contact relationship between MM3s and IANs based on panoramic radiographs.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Dong Hwan , Choi Sang Hyun , Shim Ju Hyun , Kim So Yeon , Lee Seung Soo , Byun Jae Ho , Kim Kyung Won , Choi Joon-Il
Published: September 2021

Our meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of surveillance magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to compare the diagnostic performance of sMRI between different protocols. Original articles about the diagnostic accuracy of sMRI for detecting HCC were found in major databases. The meta-analytic pooled sensitivity and specificity of sMRI for detecting HCC were determined using a bivariate random effects model. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of full MRI and abbreviated MRI protocols were compared using bivariate meta-regression. In the total seven included studies (1830 patients), the pooled sensitivity of sMRI for any-stage HCC and very early-stage HCC were 85% (95% confidence interval, 79–90%; I2 = 0%) and 77% (66–85%; I2 = 32%), respectively. The pooled specificity for any-stage HCC and very early-stage HCC were 94% (90–97%; I2 = 94%) and 94% (88–97%; I2 = 96%), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of abbreviated MRI protocols were 87% (80–94%) and 94% (90–98%), values that were comparable with those of full MRI protocols (84% [76–91%] and 94% [89–99%]; p = 0.83). In conclusion, sMRI had good sensitivity for detecting HCC, particularly very early-stage HCC. Abbreviated MRI protocols for HCC surveillance had comparable diagnostic performance to full MRI protocols.
Portuguese Version of COVID-19 Perceived Risk Scale and COVID-19 Phobia Scale: Psychometric Properties
Authors: Leite Ângela , Vidal Diogo Guedes , Sousa Hélder Fernando Pedrosa e , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta , Magano José
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic scenario has a psychological impact on individuals and society. A higher level of perceived risk concerning COVID-19 has been found when compared to other potential health threats. A misperception of risk in contrast with the real risk may lead people to develop disruptive cognitive, affective, or behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, namely, coronaphobia. Validated instruments are needed to evaluate such responses. This work aims to validate the COVID-19 Perceived Risk Scale (C19PRS) and the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19PS) in the Portuguese population. The two scales were translated from English to Portuguese using the back-translation technique. The cultural adaptation was framed in the context of establishing the validity and reliability of the instruments. In two studies, C19PRS and C19PS were validated for the adult Portuguese population (N = 1122; women = 725 (64.6%); mean age of 31.91 years old) through exploratory factorial analysis, followed by a confirmatory factorial analysis. Convergent validity was calculated by composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) values. Discriminant validity was assessed by square roots of the AVE values and their comparison with the C19PRS and C19PS dimensions’ cross-correlations. Both C19PRS and C19PS present a good adjustment model and solid reliability and validity and have significant correlations with fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 anxiety scales.
Procedure for Verifying Population Exposure Limits to the Magnetic Field from Double-Circuit Overhead Power Lines
Authors: Landini Marco , Mazzanti Giovanni , Mandrioli Riccardo
Published: September 2021

The verification of the limits of the population’s exposure to the magnetic field generated by double-circuit power lines from field measurements carried out on site is not trivial. It requires knowledge of the power line current instant values during the measurement period, the determination of the relationship between current and field at the measurement points (made more complex by the double-circuit overhead line configuration) and the use of that relationship to extrapolate the field values. Nevertheless, the verification of exposure limits for double-circuit power lines from on-site measurements is often conducted with rough, or not particularly stringent, procedures. A practical and straightforward procedure of general validity for non-optimized double-circuit lines is proposed here. No specific measurement position or conductors disposition knowledge is required as well as no complex three-dimensional finite element method code is necessary. The procedure, potentially also applicable to high- and extra-high-voltage lines, is validated on a medium-voltage (15 kV) double-circuit overhead power line study case. Exposure limits assessment suggests that if the line is operated at its rated capacity (230/285 A), the 3 μT quality target is missed. Results are provided with a 95% confidence interval ranging from ±100 nT to ±140 nT in all the cases.
Survey of IoT for Developing Countries: Performance Analysis of LoRaWAN and Cellular NB-IoT Networks
Authors: Ugwuanyi Stephen , Paul Greig , Irvine James
Published: September 2021

Recently, Internet of Things (IoT) deployments have shown their potential for aiding the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Concerns regarding how the IoT can specifically drive SDGs 6, 11 and 9 in developing countries have been raised with respect to the challenges of deploying licensed and unlicensed low-power wide area network (LPWAN) IoT technologies and their opportunities for IoT consumers and service providers. With IoT infrastructure and protocols being ubiquitous and each being proposed for different SDGs, we review and compare the various performance characteristics of LoRaWAN and NB-IoT networks. From the performance analysis of our networks, NB-IoT, one of the standardised promising cellular IoT solutions for developing countries, is more expensive and less energy-efficient than LoRaWAN. Utilising the same user equipment (UE), NB-IoT consumed an excess of 2 mAh of power for joining the network and 1.7 mAh more for a 44-byte uplink message compared to LoRaWAN. However, NB-IoT has the advantage of reliably and securely delivering higher network connection capacity in IoT use cases, leveraging existing cellular infrastructure. With a maximum throughput of 264 bps at 837 ms measured latency, NB-IoT outperformed LoRaWAN and proved robust for machine-type communications. These findings will help IoT consumers and service providers understand the performance differences and deployment challenges of NB-IoT and LoRaWAN and establish new research directions to tackle IoT issues in developing countries. With Nigeria as a case study, for consumers and organisations at a crossroads in their long-term deployment decisions, the proposed LPWAN integrated architecture is an example of the deployment opportunities for consumer and industrial IoT applications in developing countries.
Array Pattern Synthesis Using a Hybrid Differential Evolution and Analytic Algorithm
Authors: Li Rui , Xu Le , Chen Xiaoqun , Yang Yong , Yang Xiaoning , Wang Jianxiao , Cai Yuanming , Wei Feng
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a hybrid differential evolution and weight total least squares method (HDE-WTLSM) is proposed for antenna array pattern synthesis. A variable diagonal weight matrix is introduced in total least squares method. Then, the weight matrix is optimized by differential evolution (DE) algorithm to control the differences of the desired level and the obtained level in different directions. This algorithm combines the advantages of evolutionary algorithm and numerical algorithm, so it has a wider application range and faster convergence speed. To compare HDE-WTLSM with DE algorithm and typical numerical algorithms, these methods are applied to a linear antenna array and a conformal truncated conical array. Using our method, lower sidelobe levels and deeper nulls are obtained. The simulation results verify the validity and efficiently of HDE-WTLSM.
A Machine Learning SDN-Enabled Big Data Model for IoMT Systems
Authors: Haseeb Khalid , Ahmad Irshad , Awan Israr Iqbal , Lloret Jaime , Bosch Ignacio
Published: September 2021

In recent times, health applications have been gaining rapid popularity in smart cities using the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Many real-time solutions are giving benefits to both patients and professionals for remote data accessibility and suitable actions. However, timely medical decisions and efficient management of big data using IoT-based resources are the burning research challenges. Additionally, the distributed nature of data processing in many proposed solutions explicitly increases the threats of information leakages and damages the network integrity. Such solutions impose overhead on medical sensors and decrease the stability of the real-time transmission systems. Therefore, this paper presents a machine-learning model with SDN-enabled security to predict the consumption of network resources and improve the delivery of sensors data. Additionally, it offers centralized-based software define network (SDN) architecture to overcome the network threats among deployed sensors with nominal management cost. Firstly, it offers an unsupervised machine learning technique and decreases the communication overheads for IoT networks. Secondly, it predicts the link status using dynamic metrics and refines its strategies using SDN architecture. In the end, a security algorithm is utilized by the SDN controller that efficiently manages the consumption of the IoT nodes and protects it from unidentified occurrences. The proposed model is verified using simulations and improves system performance in terms of network throughput by 13%, data drop ratio by 39%, data delay by 11%, and faulty packets by 46% compared to HUNA and CMMA schemes.
CZT Detectors-Based SPECT Imaging: How Detector and Collimator Arrangement Can Determine the Overall Performance of the Tomograph
Authors: Santarelli Maria Filomena , Mori Anna , Bertasi Michelangelo , Positano Vincenzo , Gimelli Alessia , Scipioni Michele , Marzullo Paolo , Landini Luigi
Published: September 2021

A technical comparison is described between two SPECT systems, one dedicated to cardiovascular studies and one general-purpose, to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of their use in an organ-specific clinical setting. The comparison was made between a dedicated cardiac SPECT (Alcyone, Discovery NM 530c, GE Healthcare) scanner and a general-purpose one (Discovery NM/CT 670 CZT, GE Healthcare). The two scanners differ in terms of hardware, mainly in the arrangement of the detectors and collimators, which are the main components of SPECT. A standard NEMA phantom was used to characterize the energy resolution, spatial resolution, and sensitivity for the two systems. Then, using a custom-made cardiac phantom, more specific indices were computed to evaluate the quality of cardiac images, such as signal-to-background noise ratio (SBNR), tissue-background contrast-to-noise ratio (TBCNR), and uniformity. Finally, the same indices were computed for clinical images acquired with the two systems from 11 subjects. Alcyone showed superior performance for dedicated cardiac imaging; however, its excellent qualities are aimed only at the study of the heart and only at patients with a low body-mass index, unlike Discovery NM/CT 670 CZT, which can be used for every anatomic district area and for every type of patient.
Mechanism and Optimization of a Novel Automobile Pneumatic Suspension Based on Dynamic Analysis
Authors: Sun Zhibo , Shi Yan , Wang Na , Zhang Jian , Wang Yixuan , Xu Shaofeng
Published: September 2021

Pneumatic suspension is the most significant subsystem for an automobile. In this paper, a simplified and novel pneumatic spring structure with only a conical rubber surface is presented and designed to reduce the influence of external factors besides the pneumatic. The nonlinear stiffness of the pneumatic spring is analyzed based on the ideal gas model and material mechanics. Natural frequency analysis and the transmission rate of the pneumatic suspension are obtained as two effect criteria for the dynamic model. The vibration isolation system platform is established in both simulation and prototype tests. With the results from the simulation, the rules of the pneumatic suspension are analyzed, and the optimal function of mass and pressure is achieved. The experiment results show the analysis of the simulation to be effective. This achievement will become an important basis for future research concerning precise active control of the pneumatic suspension in vehicles.
COREA: Delay- and Energy-Efficient Approximate Adder Using Effective Carry Speculation
Authors: Seok Hyelin , Seo Hyoju , Lee Jungwon , Kim Yongtae
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a delay- and energy-efficient approximate adder design exploiting an effective carry speculation scheme with error reduction. The proposed scheme reduces the delay and improves the energy efficiency without any significant accuracy degradation by effectively adding the predicted carry input using the OR operation. Additionally, the error reduction technique improves the overall computation accuracy at the expense of a few logic gates. As a result, the proposed adder achieves 3.84- and 7.79-times greater energy and energy-delay product (EDP) efficiencies than the traditional adder when implemented in 65-nm CMOS technology. In particular, when jointly analyzed with hardware accuracy, our design attains 69% and 70% reductions of the energy- and EDP-normalized mean error distance (NMED) products, respectively, compared to the other approximate adders under consideration. Furthermore, the proposed adder’s efficacy over the existing adders is demonstrated by adopting it in a machine learning application.
Discrete Human Activity Recognition and Fall Detection by Combining FMCW RADAR Data of Heterogeneous Environments for Independent Assistive Living
Authors: Saeed Umer , Shah Syed Yaseen , Shah Syed Aziz , Ahmad Jawad , Alotaibi Abdullah Alhumaidi , Althobaiti Turke , Ramzan Naeem , Alomainy Akram , Abbasi Qammer H.
Published: September 2021

Human activity monitoring is essential for a variety of applications in many fields, particularly healthcare. The goal of this research work is to develop a system that can effectively detect fall/collapse and classify other discrete daily living activities such as sitting, standing, walking, drinking, and bending. For this paper, a publicly accessible dataset is employed, which is captured at various geographical locations using a 5.8 GHz Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) RADAR. A total of ninety-nine participants, including young and elderly individuals, took part in the experimental campaign. During data acquisition, each aforementioned activity was recorded for 5–10 s. Through the obtained data, we generated the micro-doppler signatures using short-time Fourier transform by exploiting MATLAB tools. Subsequently, the micro-doppler signatures are validated, trained, and tested using a state-of-the-art deep learning algorithm called Residual Neural Network or ResNet. The ResNet classifier is developed in Python, which is utilised to classify six distinct human activities in this study. Furthermore, the metrics used to analyse the trained model’s performance are precision, recall, F1-score, classification accuracy, and confusion matrix. To test the resilience of the proposed method, two separate experiments are carried out. The trained ResNet models are put to the test by subject-independent scenarios and unseen data of the above-mentioned human activities at diverse geographical spaces. The experimental results showed that ResNet detected the falling and rest of the daily living human activities with decent accuracy.
Federated-Access Management System and Videoconferencing Applications: Results from a Pilot Service during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Jo Jinyong , Chae Yeonghun , Jang Heejin , Kong JongUk
Published: September 2021

Videoconferencing has become a crucial enabler for sustainable collaboration and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, national regulations often restrict public institutions from introducing commercial videoconferencing services. Open-source software is an attractive option for institutions if it can be protected from potential security threats while ensuring high usability. Unfortunately, to the best of our knowledge, we hardly find available open-source videoconferencing applications in the literature that stress their usability and adopt security-related frameworks. This study presents a federated-access management system called trustHub, which was developed to enable flexible and elaborate access control and protocol-agnostic user authentication. In addition, we introduce two videoconferencing applications that aim to improve the usability of leveraged open-source software. They are prototyped to operate in concert with trustHub to take firm access control and accept various types of identity providers. Consequently, using data collected from trustHub and a prototyped videoconferencing application over a 10-month period, we conduct a comprehensive analysis to understand the usage patterns of federated access and videoconferencing during the pandemic and, thus, verify their feasibility indirectly.
The Potential of Simulating Energy Systems: The Multi Energy Systems Simulator Model
Authors: Bottecchia Luigi , Lubello Pietro , Zambelli Pietro , Carcasci Carlo , Kranzl Lukas
Published: September 2021

Energy system modelling is an essential practice to assist a set of heterogeneous stakeholders in the process of defining an effective and efficient energy transition. From the analysis of a set of open-source energy system models, it emerged that most models employ an approach directed at finding the optimal solution for a given set of constraints. On the contrary, a simulation model is a representation of a system used to reproduce and understand its behaviour under given conditions without seeking an optimal solution. In this paper, a new open-source energy system model is presented. Multi Energy Systems Simulator (MESS) is a modular, multi-energy carrier, multi-node model that allows the investigation of non optimal solutions by simulating an energy system. The model was built for urban level analyses. However, each node can represent larger regions allowing wider spatial scales to be represented as well. In this work, the tool’s features are presented through a comparison between MESS and Calliope, a state of the art optimization model, to analyse and highlight the differences between the two approaches, the potentialities of a simulation tool and possible areas for further development. The two models produced coherent results, showing differences that were tracked down to the different approaches. Based on the comparison conducted, general conclusions were drawn on the potential of simulating energy systems in terms of a more realistic description of smaller energy systems, lower computational times and increased opportunity for participatory processes in planning urban energy systems.