bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An air-fluidized magnetic separator and its separation performance for steel slag
Authors: Hou Xinkai , Wu Shaosong , Wang Xiangfeng , Xi Zhentong , Sun Jiaoyang
Published: March 2024

In order to address the issue of magnetic agglomeration leading to poor magnetic separation efficiency and low activity enhancement, resulting in limited utilization of steel slag fine powder material, this study proposes a novel dry magnetic separator with air fluidization as the feeding method. The new separator incorporates adjustable magnetic field strength based on the material’s magnetic properties, enabling individual particle separation through a magnetic mesh while simultaneously enhancing mechanical and ultrasonic composite vibration. In addition, it enhances competitiveness by incorporating negative pressure suction. Primary magnetic separation tests on a steel slag fine powder material demonstrate that the air fluidized dry magnetic separator effectively separates inert minerals from active minerals in the steel slag powder. The iron grade in the magnetic products reaches 21.81%, which is 6.88% higher than that of the original steel slag, while the iron grade in non-magnetic products decreases to 11.93%, representing a 3% reduction compared to the original steel slag composition. Further sweeping and selection processes are expected to further improve these results, ultimately achieving effective utilization of steel slag.
Stability analysis of power quality under complex operating conditions
Authors: Yang Wenjing , Wang Gang , Gao Wei , Yin Jingyu , Shen Yan
Published: March 2024

This article draws inspiration from the derivation of the failure model of ordinary components under impulse loads and obtains a calculation method for the forced outage rate of power equipment under impulse loads. Based on the revised forced outage rate, the reliability of the power system under impulse loads is evaluated. By comparing and analyzing the reliability of the power grid under two scenarios: impulse loads and conventional loads, the impact of impulse loads on the operational risk of the power grid is obtained.
The connection between Darwin’s finches and bacterial flagellar motors
Authors: Kaplan Mohammed
Published: March 2024

The evolution of specialized biological tools used by organisms tells a story about the environments that shaped them.
Disillusionment with climate models
Authors: Lovejoy Shaun
Published: March 2024

Predicting Our Climate Future: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and What We Can’t Know, David Stainforth
Embodied interaction with face masks and social distancing
Authors: Schröder Ulrike , Gonçalves Sineide
Published: March 2024

In this article, we ask how interlocutors proceed with their daily activities in the first months of the Covid-19
pandemic when faced with new ways of communication due to social distancing and the use of face masks. We carried out a
fine-grained analysis of different micropractices from daily work in a healthcare center in Brazil and built our analysis on
multimodal conversation analysis (MCA), interactional linguistics (IC), as well as gesture studies (GS). The analysis revealed
that particularly the following recurrent patterns seem to be characteristic for communication during the pandemic in the given
microcontexts: (a) a high use of deictic gestures, (b) an intensification of prosodic means, (c) verbal strategies such as
reformulation and repetition, (d) the integration of object manipulation and (e) mitigation strategies in case of new formats that
imply intrusion such as controls at travel checkpoints.
Numerical study of plasmas start-up by electron cyclotron waves in NCST spherical tokamak and CN-H1 stellarator
Authors: LIU 刘 Yizhuohang 亿卓行 , ZHENG 郑 Pingwei 平卫 , GONG 龚 Xueyu 学余 , YIN 尹 Lan 岚 , CHEN 陈 Xiaochang 小昌 , ZHONG 钟 Yijun 翊君 , YANG 杨 Wenjun 文军
Published: March 2024

According to the physics of tokamak start-up, this study constructs a zero-dimensional (0D) model applicable to electron cyclotron (EC) wave assisted start-up in NCST spherical torus (spherical tokamak) and CN-H1 stellarators. Using the constructed 0D model, the results obtained in this study under the same conditions are compared and validated against reference results for pure hydrogen plasma start-up in tokamak. The results are in good agreement, especially regarding electron temperature, ion temperature and plasma current. In the presence of finite Ohmic electric field in the spherical tokamak, a study on the EC wave assisted start-up of the NCST plasma at frequency of 28 GHz is conducted. The impact of the vertical magnetic field B
v on EC wave assisted start-up, the relationship between EC wave injection power P
inj, Ohmic electric field E, and initial hydrogen atom density n
H0 are explored separately. It is found that under conditions of Ohmic electric field lower than ITER (~ 0.3 V m−1), EC wave can expand the operational space to achieve better plasma parameters. Simulating the process of 28 GHz EC wave start-up in the CN-H1 stellarator plasma, the plasma current in the zero-dimensional model is replaced with the current in the poloidal coil of the stellarator. Plasma start-up can be successfully achieved at injection powers in the hundreds of kilowatts range, resulting in electron densities on the order of 1017–1018 m–3.
Vertebrates can be more important pollinators than invertebrates on islands: the case of Malva (=Lavatera) arborea L.
Authors: Robles Cristina , Romero-Egea Víctor , Traveset Anna , Ruiz de Ybáñez Rocío , Hervías-Parejo Sandra
Published: March 2024

Premise of the study: On islands, flowering plants tend to be more generalist in their pollination needs, as insects (the main pollinators of flowering plants) are underrepresented in these ecosystems compared to the mainland. In addition, some vertebrate species that are typically insectivorous or granivorous on the mainland are forced to broaden their diet and consume other resources such as nectar or pollen on the islands. The shrub Malva arborea, with its large and colourful flowers, attracts different groups of potential pollinators. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of vertebrates versus insects in an insular population of M. arborea and to investigate its reproductive system. Methods: For three groups of taxa (insects, birds and lizards), we assessed the two components of pollination effectiveness: (i) the quantitative component (i.e. number of visits and number of flowers contacted) through direct observations of flowers; and (ii) the qualitative component (fruit and seed set, number and size of seeds and proportion of seedling emergence) through pollinator exclusion experiments. Key results: Vertebrates (birds and lizards) were quantitatively the most effective pollinators, followed by insects. However, when all three groups visited the flowers, fruit and seed set were higher than when any of them were excluded. We also found that M. arborea has hermaphrodite flowers and is able to reproduce by autogamy, although less efficiently than when pollinated by animals. Conclusions: Both vertebrates and insects play an important role in the reproduction of M. arborea. Although the plant does not need pollinators to produce seeds, its reproductive success increases when all pollinators are allowed to visit the flowers. Besides providing new information on M. arborea, these findings may help to better understand the role of different pollinator groups in the reproduction of other plant species, especially on islands where the co-occurrence of vertebrate and invertebrate pollination in the same plant species is usual.
TransGCN: a semi-supervised graph convolution network–based framework to infer protein translocations in spatio-temporal proteomics
Authors: Wang Bing , Zhang Xiangzheng , Han Xudong , Hao Bingjie , Li Yan , Guo Xuejiang
Published: March 2024

Protein subcellular localization (PSL) is very important in order to understand its functions, and its movement between subcellular niches within cells plays fundamental roles in biological process regulation. Mass spectrometry–based spatio-temporal proteomics technologies can help provide new insights of protein translocation, but bring the challenge in identifying reliable protein translocation events due to the noise interference and insufficient data mining. We propose a semi-supervised graph convolution network (GCN)–based framework termed TransGCN that infers protein translocation events from spatio-temporal proteomics. Based on expanded multiple distance features and joint graph representations of proteins, TransGCN utilizes the semi-supervised GCN to enable effective knowledge transfer from proteins with known PSLs for predicting protein localization and translocation. Our results demonstrate that TransGCN outperforms current state-of-the-art methods in identifying protein translocations, especially in coping with batch effects. It also exhibited excellent predictive accuracy in PSL prediction. TransGCN is freely available on GitHub at https://github.com/XuejiangGuo/TransGCN.
Elevated incidence of somatic mutations at prevalent genetic sites
Authors: Wang Mengyao , Li Shuai Cheng , Shen Bairong
Published: March 2024

The common loci represent a distinct set of the human genome sites that harbor genetic variants found in at least 1% of the population. Small somatic mutations occur at the common loci and non-common loci, i.e. csmVariants and ncsmVariants, are presumed with similar probabilities. However, our work revealed that within the coding region, common loci constituted only 1.03% of all loci, yet they accounted for 5.14% of TCGA somatic mutations. Furthermore, the small somatic mutation incidence rate at these common loci was 2.7 times that observed in the non-common. Notably, the csmVariants exhibited an impressive recurrent rate of 36.14%, which was 2.59 times of the ncsmVariants. The C-to-T transition at the CpG sites accounted for 32.41% of the csmVariants, which was 2.93 times for the ncsmVariants. Interestingly, the aging-related mutational signature contributed to 13.87% of the csmVariants, 5.5 times that of ncsmVariants. Moreover, 35.93% of the csmVariants contexts exhibited palindromic features, outperforming ncsmVariant contexts by 1.84 times. Notably, cancer patients with higher csmVariants rates had better progression-free survival. Furthermore, cancer patients with high-frequency csmVariants enriched with mismatch repair deficiency were also associated with better progression-free survival. The accumulation of csmVariants during cancerogenesis is a complex process influenced by various factors. These include the presence of a substantial percentage of palindromic sequences at csmVariants sites, the impact of aging and DNA mismatch repair deficiency. Together, these factors contribute to the higher somatic mutation incidence rates of common loci and the overall accumulation of csmVariants in cancer development.
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Complex Cystic and Solid Breast Masses—A Feasibility Study
Authors: Shi Haiyuan , Chee Charlyn Chai Hoon , Seng Angela Peck Ying , Koh Xuan Han , Teoh Wey Chyi , Mahmood Rameysh Danovani
Published: March 2024

Objective

Complex cystic and solid breast mass (CCSBM) is a radiological diagnosis based on grayscale B-mode sonographic features. Because of potential for malignancy, biopsy is typically recommended. We examined the feasibility of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) as a tool to identify benign CCSBMs.

Methods

This Institutional Review Board–approved prospective observational study performed targeted CEUS of 14 CCSBMs that were subsequently biopsied. CEUS images were independently reviewed by two readers blinded to other sonographic features, noting presence or absence of enhancement and time to perceived optimal enhancement. Interobserver agreement for presence or absence of enhancement was analyzed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. From retrospective review of initial diagnostic US examinations, descriptive CCSBM sizes, subtypes, and Doppler information were recorded. Histopathologies were categorized as benign, benign with upgrade potential (BWUP), and malignant. Measures of diagnostic accuracy and 95% CIs were calculated for CEUS enhancement.

Results

Of 14 CCSBMs, 12 were nonmalignant (9 benign, 3 BWUP) and 2 were malignant. There was perfect interobserver agreement (Cohen’s kappa 1.00) between the 2 readers for CEUS enhancement. CEUS was 100% sensitive, 25% specific, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.625 (95% CI, 0.50–0.75) in differentiating nonmalignant from malignant lesions. It was 100% sensitive, 33.3% specific, with an AUROC of 0.667 (95% CI, 0.50–0.85) in differentiating benign from surgically significant (BWUP and malignant) CCSBMs.

Conclusion

This small feasibility study highlighted the potential of CEUS as a safe noninvasive tool to identify the proportion of CCSBMs that are benign and can avoid tissue biopsy.
Measuring insecticide resistance in a vacuum: exploring next steps to link resistance data with mosquito control efficacy
Authors: Lehane Áine , Parker‑Crockett Casey , Norris Edmund , Wheeler Sarah S , Harrington Laura C
Published: March 2024

Insecticide resistance is a great challenge facing mosquito operational control agencies across the United States, where few active ingredients with unique modes of action are available for use, increasing resistance pressure and further hampering resistance management strategies. Emergence and expansion of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes can be detected by resistance monitoring programs; however, there are gaps in our knowledge regarding the link between resistance bioassay results and operational control outcomes. Here, we review both public health and agricultural studies on pesticide resistance bioassays and control outcomes. A discussion on the main gaps in our knowledge of insecticide resistance and a review of resistance management practices is also presented. We conclude with research questions that can advance our understanding of resistance monitoring and control.
Phylogenetic placement of the leaf-footed bug tribes Agriopocorini, Amorbini, and Manocoreini (Heteroptera: Coreidae) using ultraconserved elements
Authors: Forthman Michael , Phan Hannah , Miller Christine W , Kimball Rebecca T
Published: March 2024

The phytophagous insect superfamily Coreoidea (Heteroptera) is a diverse group of ~3100 species in five extant families, with many of agricultural importance and model organisms in behavioural studies. Most species (~2800 species) are classified in the family Coreidae (four subfamilies, 37 tribes). While previous phylogenetic studies have primarily focused on the larger and more diverse subfamilies and tribes of Coreidae, several smaller tribes remain poorly studied in a phylogenetic context. Here, we investigated the phylogenetic positions of three less diverse tribes using ultraconserved elements: Agriopocorini, Amorbini, and Manocoreini. Our study is the first to test phylogenetic hypotheses for the Agriopocorini and Amorbini in a cladistic analysis. All three tribes were recovered within the subfamily Coreinae with robust support. The monophyletic Agriopocorini were supported as the sister-group of Colpurini, the monophyletic Amorbini as sister to Mictini, and the monogeneric Manocoreini as sister to Dasynini + Homoeocerini. We briefly discuss the evolution of wing development in Coreidae, putative synapomorphies for clades of interest, and taxonomic considerations. Our study emphasizes the importance of including smaller, less diverse groups in phylogenetic analyses. By doing so, we gain valuable insights into evolutionary relationships, identify future investigations of trait evolution, and resolve systematic controversies.
CRISPRals: A Web Database for Assessing the CRISPR Defense System in the Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex to Avoid Phage Resistance
Authors: Motoche-Monar Cristofer , Andrade Diego , Pijal Washington D. , Hidrobo Francisco , Armas Rolando , Sánchez-Real Emily , Rocha-Chauca Gabriela , Castillo José A.
Published: March 2024

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) has been widely characterized as a defense system against phages and other invading elements in bacteria and archaea. A low percentage of Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) strains possess the CRISPR array and the CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) that would confer immunity against various phages. To provide a wide-range screen of the CRISPR presence in the RSSC, we analyzed 378 genomes of RSSC strains to find the CRISPR locus. We found that 20.1, 14.3, and 54.5% of the R. solanacearum, R. pseudosolanacearum, and R. syzygii strains, respectively, possess the CRISPR locus. In addition, we performed further analysis to identify the respective phages that are restricted by the CRISPR arrays. We found 252 different phages infecting different strains of the RSSC, by means of the identification of similarities between the protospacers in phages and spacers in bacteria. We compiled this information in a database with web access called CRISPRals ( https://crisprals.yachaytech.edu.ec/ ). Additionally, we made available a number of tools to detect and identify CRISPR array and Cas genes in genomic sequences that could be uploaded by users. Finally, a matching tool to relate bacteria spacer with phage protospacer sequences is available. CRISPRals is a valuable resource for the scientific community that contributes to the study of bacteria−phage interaction and a starting point that will help to design efficient phage therapy strategies.
Second-stage Reverse Abdominoplasty after Goldilocks Mastectomy: A Safe Autologous Reconstructive Option in Obese Patients
Authors: Schwartz Jean-Claude D.
Published: March 2024

Obese patients undergoing mastectomy have been documented to have improved outcomes after autologous reconstruction. The Goldilocks mastectomy (GM) has been proposed as a low-risk first-stage bridge to a second-stage definitive reconstruction. Goldilocks patients who desire autologous reconstruction with significant volume increase must consent to a second-stage flap, which typically requires a donor site with additional scarring and morbidity. We have found that many obese Goldilocks patients have significant excess upper abdominal subcutaneous tissue and are good candidates for a second-stage reverse abdominoplasty, which can provide them a completely autologous reconstruction. This approach adds minimal additional scarring, improves upper abdominal contour, and has a low rate of donor site complications. Here, we present 15 consecutive obese patients who underwent first-stage GM followed by second-stage reverse abdominoplasty, providing them with a completely autologous, low-risk reconstructive option.
The King of Chinese Medicine——Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): All-round Inquiry in its Chemical Composition, Pharmacodynamics, Traditional and Medicinal Value
Authors: Dang Lingling , Jin Yajing , Yuan Ye , Shao Rui , Wang Yu
Published: March 2024

Licorice, a perennial herb of Leguminosa, is one of the oldest and most widely used herbal medicines worldwide. Its distinct sweet flavor and rich medicinal value make it an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulations, which continue to be widely employed. The main chemical constituents of licorice include triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that various extracts and pure compounds derived from licorice exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, immune-regulatory, and neuroprotective activities. The bioactive constituents of licorice offer therapeutic benefits for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and liver disorders. This comprehensive review discusses the primary chemical constituents of licorice and their pharmacological activities, describes in vivo and in vitro models employed for studying licorice, and its potential targets and mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we discuss the toxicological profile, side effects, dosage recommendations, and clinical applications of licorice. This review aims to establish a foundation for further research on the safe and effective utilization of licorice while facilitating an in-depth exploration of its properties and fostering the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Graphical abstract: http://links.lww.com/AHM/A102
Erdheim–Chester Disease With Eyelid and Orbital Involvement: A Review of Treatment Modalities at One Institution From 2014 to 2022
Authors: Sharma Meghan , Stevens Shanlee M. , Maeng Michelle M. , Nagornaya Natalya , Bhatia Rita G. , Wester Sara T.
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To review all cases of Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) with orbital involvement treated at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida from 2014 to 2022 and compare presentations, treatment modalities, and outcomes.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of all patients diagnosed with ECD who presented to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from 2014 to 2022 was performed. Data collected included demographics, pretreatment history and ophthalmic examination, pathology report, treatment, subsequent examination, and relevant laboratory results. Histopathology, treatments, and outcomes were reviewed and compared between patients.

Results:

Four cases were included. Primary treatments included vemurafenib (n = 2), cobimetinib (n = 1), and prednisone (n = 1). All patients demonstrated improvement of ophthalmic symptoms. Vemurafenib was the only medical treatment that was tolerated well and resulted in significant improvement in proptosis despite some reported dry eye; all other medications were discontinued due to intolerable side effects.

Conclusions:

BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib have been used as novel therapy in the treatment of ECD. Vemurafenib demonstrated its utility in reducing proptosis in ECD patients at one ophthalmic institution. Vemurafenib may be a favorable treatment option for BRAF-positive ECD patients presenting with orbital disease.
Primary Orbital Respiratory Epithelial Cyst: A Systematic Review and Two Case Reports
Authors: Laezza Maria Paola , Alqahtani Reham , Lanni Vittoria , Iuliano Adriana , Althaqib Rawan N. , Maktabi Azza , Costagliola Ciro , Strianese Diego
Published: March 2024

A primary orbital respiratory cyst is a congenital choristoma that presents in the orbit and with different signs and symptoms depending on the location, which might also change the surgical approach. The aim of this report is to describe 2 new cases of primary respiratory epithelial cysts and to review the literature on presentation, management, and risk factors with different surgical approaches and complications. Two cases presenting with gradually increased proptosis had a confirmed diagnosis of a respiratory epithelial cyst. CT and MRI imaging revealed a thin-walled intraconal cystic lesion. Complete surgical removal was not possible and an incisional biopsy of the wall was performed. Rarely, orbital respiratory epithelium cysts are primary lesions. The high risk of breaking the capsule during surgery and the presence of residual epithelial cells within the orbit may cause cyst’s recurrence. Indeed, we recommend careful attention during dissection maneuvers and a long-term follow-up.
Long-term safety, durability of response, cessation and switching of biologics
Authors: Mohan Arjun , Qiu Anna Y. , Lugogo Njira
Published: March 2024

Purpose of review

Severe asthma patients suffer from decreased quality of life, and increased asthma symptoms, exacerbations, hospitalizations, and risk of death. Biologics have revolutionized treatment for severe asthma. However, with multiple biologic agents now available, clinicians must consider initial selection the long-term effectiveness of biologics. Additionally, patients have overlapping eligibilities and clinicians may consider switching between biologics for improved response. Finally, careful assessment of biologics cessation is needed for severe asthma patients who depend on these add-on therapies for asthma control.

Recent findings

Evidence for long-term durability and safety varies by biologic agent. In general, initial benefits noted from these agents (ex. exacerbation reduction) is, at minimum, sustained with long term use. Rates of adverse events and serious adverse events, including those requiring cessation of a biologics are low with long term use. Further studies are needed to understand the development of antidrug antibodies but currently their prevalence rates are low. Adverse events and insufficient efficacy are common reasons for biologic cessation or switching. Discontinuation maybe associated with waning of benefits but can be considered in certain situations. Biologic switching can be associated with improved asthma control.

Biologics are safe and effective long-term therapies for the management of asthma. Discontinuation must be carefully considered and if possible avoided. Reasons for insufficient efficacy must be evaluated and if needed, biologic switching should be considered.
Metastasis-directed therapy in oligometastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Miszczyk Marcin , Soeterik Timo , Marra Giancarlo , Matsukawa Akihiro , Shariat Shahrokh F.
Published: March 2024

Purpose of review

To summarize the recent findings on the subject of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) in the treatment of oligometastatic prostate cancer (omPCa).

Recent findings

Evidence from two randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and a meta-analysis show favorable toxicity profiles, and the potential to delay androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for up to two years in nearly half of patients with metachronous hormone-sensitive omPCa. Another RCT showed promising results of MDT as treatment-escalation method combined with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) in first-line treatment for castration-resistant omPCa.

Surveys by radiation oncologists and consensus guidelines advocate for MDT across various omPCa scenarios. Multiple single-arm trials present encouraging results; however, the evidence for the benefit of MDT is still weak requiring further investigation to assess its impact on pivotal endpoints, such as survival and quality of life.

MDT is a promising approach in omPCa, and can be used to defer ADT in newly diagnosed metachronous omPCa patients, or to add to ARSI treatment at first diagnosis of castration-resistance. Ongoing prospective trials are needed to guide its optimal utilization in other settings, and patients should be informed about the evolving landscape of systemic therapies with proven survival benefits alongside MDT options.
Severe euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor: case report and literature review
Authors: El Ess Malak S. , ElRishi Mohamed A.
Published: March 2024

Introduction and importance:

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been implemented in treating diabetic patients for the past 10 years. Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) can be a life-threatening complication in diabetic patients. The authors report a severe euDKA with lactic acidosis in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patient. This report highlights the importance of the early detection and treatment of EuDKA to avoid complications.

Case presentation:

Forty-four-year-old female with T2DM had multiple visits to the emergency department with recurrent diarrhoea and vomiting. On her third visit, she presented with shortness of breath and tachypnoea, found to have severe metabolic acidosis with euglycemia. She was admitted to ICU with euDKA secondary to SGLT2i and was managed accordingly.

Clinical discussion:

The association between SGLT2i and euDKA in T2DM is controversial. SGLT2i leads to euDKA by stimulating lipolysis and ketogenesis in the setting of volume depletion, carbohydrate deficiency, and upregulation of counter-regulatory stress hormones. EuDKA can be life-threatening, especially if not diagnosed and managed properly. The treatment protocol is similar to hyperglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Our case has been reported in line with the CARE criteria.34

Conclusion:

SGLT2i benefits in diabetic patients outweigh the risks. Clinicians are advised to counsel diabetic patients maintained on SGLT2 and educate them regarding holding the medication in the setting of acute illness, volume depletion, decreased oral intake, and surgery. In addition, there should be a high index of suspicion for patients presenting with metabolic acidosis in the background of SGLT2i use to provide early diagnosis and management.
Secondary neoplasm to non-hodgkin lymphoma treatment manifesting as a cancer of unknown primary: The first case in literature
Authors: Bashour George , Kheyrbek Nina , Dway Ali , Salloum Elias , Georgeos Michael , Alshehabi Zuheir
Published: March 2024

Introduction:

Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) is a tumor metastasis with no detectable primary origin. A Secondary Neoplasm (SN) is defined as a tumor secondary to a prior tumor treatment and has no histological relation to that primary tumor.

Case Presentation:

We report a case of a 72-year-old female patient who presented with back pain and had a history of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treated with RCHOP 12 years ago. MRI showed a compression fracture in T5 and T7 vertebrae, while the PET/CT only showed hypermetabolic lytic bone lesions in these vertebrae. Pathological examination of a biopsy of these lesions suggested metastatic breast cancer, but the mammography was normal. The above clinical description indicates that our case is a Secondary Neoplasm (SN) to RCHOP treatment manifested as a cancer of unknown origin.

Discussion:

Cancer of Unknown primary is diagnosed when all screening procedures fail to find the original tumor. On the other hand, the literature showed that RCHOP treatment of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma has a 0.68% chance of causing a SN. After an extensive literature search, we found that our case, which has the combination of both CUP and SN, is the first documented case.

Conclusion:

Our case suggests that cancer patients who received chemical or radiological treatment should be screened more carefully on the long term as it is possible to developed secondary neoplasms without a primary tumor in areas difficult to diagnose with traditional screening tools.
Prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy for inferior vena cava filter infection following emphysematous pyelonephritis and cystitis: A case report
Authors: Suzuki Yasuhiro , Kuriyama Akira
Published: March 2024

Introduction and importance:

Infections of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are rare. We present a case of IVC filter infection following concurrent emphysematous urinary tract infections that was finally treated with prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy (PSAT).

Case presentation:

A 68-year-old man with pemphigoid and type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had undergone IVC filter placement, was transferred with decreased consciousness, respiratory failure, and hypotension. Computed tomography revealed gas in the left renal parenchyma and bladder wall, suggesting a diagnosis of concurrent emphysematous pyelonephritis and cystitis. While blood and urine cultures were positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, and the patient’s general condition improved with proper antibiotic therapy, bacteremia persisted until day 10 from symptom onset. After ruling out abscesses and infectious endocarditis, the cause of persistent bacteremia was suspected to be IVC filter infection. As the IVC had been placed 12 years before, we did not remove it to avoid complications. PSAT with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was continued after 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy. The patient had an uneventful course over the year following hospital discharge.

Clinical discussion:

PSAT is considered for device-related infections in patients with cardiac assist devices and artificial joints when the infection flares up or recurs even after antibiotic treatment of an adequate duration. There is no consensus regarding the optimal duration of antimicrobial therapy for IVC filter infections.

Conclusion:

Infections of implanted devices, such as IVC filters, secondary to severe infections can cause persistent bacteremia. PSAT may be an alternative option to treat IVC filter infection, when the IVC filter is considered difficult to remove.
Similar rates of reoperation for neuroma after transtibial amputations with and without targeted muscle reinnervation
Authors: Smith Thomas P. , Cognetti Daniel J. , Cook Alyssa , Lynch Thomas B. , Alderete Joseph F. , Lybeck Dustin O. , Dowd Thomas C.
Published: March 2024

Objective:

To compare the rates of revision surgery for symptomatic neuromas in patients undergoing primary transtibial amputations with and without targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR).

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Level I trauma hospital and tertiary military medical center.

Patients/Participants:

Adult patients undergoing transtibial amputations with and without TMR.

Intervention:

Transtibial amputation with targeted muscle reinnervation.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Reoperation for symptomatic neuroma.

Results:

During the study period, there were 112 primary transtibial amputations performed, 29 with TMR and 83 without TMR. Over the same period, there were 51 revision transtibial amputations performed, including 23 (21%) in the patients undergoing primary transtibial amputation at the study institution. The most common indications for revision surgery were wound breakdown/dehiscence (42%, n = 25), followed by symptomatic neuroma 18% (n = 9/51) and infection/osteomyelitis (17%, n = 10) as the most common indications. However, of the patients undergoing primary amputation at the study's institution, there was no difference in reoperation rates for neuroma when comparing the TMR group (3.6%, n = 1/28) and no TMR group (4.0%, n = 3/75) (P = 0.97).

Conclusions:

Symptomatic neuroma is one of the most common reasons for revision amputation; however, this study was unable to demonstrate a difference in revision surgery rates for neuroma for patients undergoing primary transtibial amputation with or without targeted muscle reinnervation.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
AI-Based Measurement of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis on MRI
Authors: Bogdanovic Sanja , Staib Matthias , Schleiniger Marco , Steiner Livio , Schwarz Leonardo , Germann Christoph , Sutter Reto , Fritz Benjamin
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The aim of this study was to clinically validate a fully automated AI model for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–based quantifications of lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included lumbar spine MRI of 100 consecutive clinical patients (56 ± 17 years; 43 females, 57 males) performed on clinical 1.5 (51 examinations) and 3 T MRI scanners (49 examinations) with heterogeneous clinical imaging protocols. The AI model performed segmentations of the thecal sac on axial T2-weighted sequences. Based on these segmentations, the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) distance, and the area of the thecal sac were measured in a fully automated manner. For comparison, 2 fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists performed the same segmentations and measurements independently. Statistics included 1-sample t tests, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and Dice coefficients. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The average measurements of the AI model, reader 1, and reader 2 were 194 ± 72 mm2, 181 ± 71 mm2, and 179 ± 70 mm2 for thecal sac area, 13 ± 3.3 mm, 12.6 ± 3.3 mm, and 12.6 ± 3.2 mm for AP distance, and 19.5 ± 3.9 mm, 20 ± 4.3 mm, and 19.4 ± 4 mm for ML distance, respectively. Significant differences existed for all pairwise comparisons, besides reader 1 versus AI model for the ML distance and reader 1 versus reader 2 for the AP distance (P = 0.1 and P = 0.21, respectively). The pairwise mean absolute errors among reader 1, reader 2, and the AI model ranged from 0.59 mm and 0.75 mm for the AP distance, from 1.16 mm to 1.37 mm for the ML distance, and from 7.9 mm2 to 15.54 mm2 for the thecal sac area. Pairwise ICCs among reader 1, reader 2, and the AI model ranged from 0.91 and 0.94 for the AP distance and from 0.86 to 0.9 for the ML distance without significant differences. For the thecal sac area, the pairwise ICC between both readers and the AI model of 0.97 each was slightly, but significantly lower than the ICC between reader 1 and reader 2 of 0.99. Similarly, the Dice coefficient and Hausdorff distance between both readers and the AI model were significantly lower than the values between reader 1 and reader 2, overall ranging from 0.93 to 0.95 for the Dice coefficients and 1.1 to 1.44 for the Hausdorff distances.

Conclusions

The investigated AI model is reliable for assessing the AP and the ML thecal sac diameters with human level accuracies. The small differences for measurement and segmentation of the thecal sac area between the AI model and the radiologists are likely within a clinically acceptable range.
Typical Bone Scintigraphy Presentation of Erdheim-Chester Disease in a Patient Diagnosed With IgG4-Related Disease
Authors: François Chloé , Rousselin Clémentine , Quemeneur Thomas , Demailly Franck , Collet Guillaume , Fagart Alexandre
Published: March 2024

A 50-year-old woman presented a dry syndrome, joint pain, inflammatory syndrome, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and tubulointerstitial nephritis. Imaging studies (including FDG PET/CT) revealed infrarenal retroperitoneal fibrosis with periaortitis and hypermetabolic osteosclerotic lesions. Bone scintigraphy demonstrated intense uptake in the femoral, tibial, and radial regions, suggestive of non-Langerhans histiocytosis, specifically Erdheim-Chester disease. A bone biopsy confirmed the presence of IgG4-positive plasma cells but no histiocytes. The patient received corticosteroid therapy followed by rituximab, resulting in a complete response. This case suggests an atypical manifestation of bone lesions in IgG4-related disease, emphasizing the diagnostic challenge between IgG4-related disease and Erdheim-Chester disease.
Increased Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Uptake in a Gallbladder Stone
Authors: Li Hui , Song Le , Zhao Meixin , Zhang Weifang
Published: March 2024

An Al 18F–prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) Q PET/CT scan was performed in a 67-year-old man to identify any potential recurrent prostate cancer lesions, which revealed no recurrent or metastatic lesions. However, a large gallbladder stone with increased PSMA uptake was incidentally detected, which could be a potential pitfall in the interpretation of PSMA PET imaging.
Device for Axon - Cancer cell Interaction Testing in 2D & 3D: DACIT
Authors: Velazquez-Quesada Ines , Alizadeh Vahid , Allison Kara , Belova Elizaveta , Kallogjerovic Svetllana , Hesketh Natasha , Zhang Xiaotian , Thomas Gareth , Tuzel Erkan , Gligorijevic Bojana
Published: March 2024

There is increasing interest in studying the role of peripheral innervation in tumor growth and metastasis. However,in vitrostudies of interactions between cancer cells and axonal projections are technically challenging. To address this, we have developed a microfluidic Device for Axon-Cancer cell Interaction Testing in 2D and 3D (DACIT). We show that DACIT successfully separates neuronal soma from the axons and cancer cells into two compartments, which can be exposed to similar, or different growth conditions, depending on the experimental needs. We compare neoaxonogenesis using either the PC-12 cell line or primary embryonic or adult sensory neurons, demonstrating superior neurite growth in primary cells. Additionally, we show that DACIT can accommodate assessing growth and 3D invasion of tumor spheroids, due to its unique height profile. Hence, DACIT can be used to analyze cancer cell interactions with axons in most typical cell biology assays such as proliferation, invasion, and calcium activity which we demonstrate on examples of imaging transients in GCaMP6-labeled neurons, invadopodia assay, and 3D cancer spheroid invasion.
Physical-Chemical Features Selection Reveals That Differences in Dipeptide Compositions Correlate Most with Protein-Protein Interactions
Authors: Teimouri Hamid , Medvedeva Angela , Kolomeisky Anatoly B.
Published: March 2024

The ability to accurately predict protein-protein interactions is critically important for our understanding of major cellular processes. However, current experimental and computational approaches for identifying them are technically very challenging and still have limited success. We propose a new computational method for predicting protein-protein interactions using only primary sequence information. It utilizes a concept of physical-chemical similarity to determine which interactions will most probably occur. In our approach, the physical-chemical features of protein are extracted using bioinformatics tools for different organisms, and then they are utilized in a machine-learning method to identify successful protein-protein interactions via correlation analysis. It is found that the most important property that correlates most with the protein-protein interactions for all studied organisms is dipeptide amino acid compositions. The analysis is specifically applied to the bacterial two-component system that includes histidine kinase and transcriptional response regulators. Our theoretical approach provides a simple and robust method for quantifying the important details of complex mechanisms of biological processes.
PROTAC-mediated dual degradation of BCL-xL and BCL-2 is a highly effective therapeutic strategy in small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Khan Sajid , Cao Lin , Wiegand Janet , Zhang Peiyi , Zajac-Kaye Maria , Kaye Frederic J. , Zheng Guangrong , Zhou Daohong
Published: March 2024

BCL-xL and BCL-2 are validated therapeutic targets in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Targeting these proteins with navitoclax (formerly ABT263, a dual BCL-xL/2 inhibitor) induces dose-limiting thrombocytopenia through on-target BCL-xL inhibition in platelets. Therefore, platelet toxicity poses a barrier in advancing the clinical translation of navitoclax. We have developed a strategy to selectively target BCL-xL in tumors, while sparing platelets, by utilizing proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that hijack the cellular ubiquitin proteasome system for target ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. In our previous study, the first-in-class BCL-xL PROTAC, called DT2216, was shown to have synergistic antitumor activities when combined with venetoclax (formerly ABT199, BCL-2-selective inhibitor) in a BCL-xL/2 co-dependent SCLC cell line, NCI-H146 (hereafter referred to as H146),in vitroand in a xenograft model. Guided by these findings, we evaluated our newly developed BCL-xL/2 dual degrader, called 753b, in three BCL-xL/2 co-dependent SCLC cell lines and the H146 xenograft models. 753b was found to degrade both BCL-xL and BCL-2 in these cell lines. Importantly, it was considerably more potent than DT2216, navitoclax, or DT2216+venetoclax to reduce the viability of BCL-xL/2 co-dependent SCLC cell lines in cell culture.In vivo, 5 mg/kg weekly dosing of 753b leads to significant tumor growth delay similar to the DT2216+venetoclax combination in H146 xenografts by degrading both BCL-xL and BCL-2. Additionally, 753b administration at 5 mg/kg every four days induced tumor regressions. 753b at this dosage was well tolerated in mice without induction of severe thrombocytopenia as seen with navitoclax nor induced significant changes in mouse body weights. These results suggest that the BCL-xL/2 dual degrader could be an effective and safe therapeutic for a subset of SCLC patients warranting clinical trials in future.
Learning Continuous 2D Diffusion Maps from Particle Trajectories without Data Binning
Authors: Kumar Vishesh , Bryan J. Shepard , Rojewski Alex , Manzo Carlo , Pressé Steve
Published: March 2024

Diffusion coefficients often vary across regions, such as cellular membranes, and quantifying their variation can provide valuable insight into local membrane properties such as composition and stiffness. Toward quantifying diffusion coefficient spatial maps and uncertainties from particle tracks, we use a Bayesian method and place Gaussian Process (GP) Priors on the maps. For the sake of computational efficiency, we leverage inducing point methods on GPs arising from the mathematical structure of the data giving rise to non-conjugate likelihood-prior pairs. We analyze both synthetic data, where ground truth is known, as well as data drawn from live-cell singlemolecule imaging of membrane proteins. The resulting tool provides an unsupervised method to rigorously map diffusion coefficients continuously across membranes without data binning.
Immunostaining ofDrosophilaBrains to Study Optic Lobe Development
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Xin
Published: March 2024

TheDrosophilaoptic lobe is a unique system to study neural development. It contains around 200 different types of neurons, which constitute four different neuropils: the lamina, medulla, lobula, and lobula plate. Neural development starts at the larval stage and ends at the pupal stage, resulting in a stereotypical structure at the adult stage. Here, we provide an immunostaining protocol for use on brains from larval, pupal, and adult stages, with a focus on different mounting orientations that can be used to study different aspects of optic lobe development. Images obtained using this protocol illustrate the complex structure of the optic lobe at different stages.
Can blockchain prevent the deterioration of building handover information quality for higher education institutions?
Authors: Chang Janet , Jaskula Klaudia , Papadonikolaki Eleni , Rovas Dimitrios , Parlikad Ajith Kumar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This research investigates the distinct characteristics of blockchain technology to safeguard against the deterioration of handover information quality in the post-construction phase. The significance of effective management of handover information is highlighted by global building failures, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in London, UK. Despite existing technological interventions, there remains a paucity of understanding regarding the factors contributing to the decline in the quality of handover information during the post-construction phase.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a multi-case studies approach across five higher education institutions. It involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 52 asset management professionals, uncovering the underlying reasons for the decline in handover information quality. Building on these insights, the study performed a mapping exercise to align these identified factors with blockchain technology features and information quality dimensions, aiming to evaluate blockchain’s potential in managing quality handover information.

Findings

The study findings suggest that blockchain technology offers advantages but has limitations in addressing all the identified quality issues of managing handover information. Due to the lack of an automated process and file-based information exchange, updating handover information still requires an error-prone manual process, leading to potential information loss. Additionally, no solutions are available for encoding drawings for updates and validation.

Originality/value

This study proposes a framework integrating blockchain to enhance the information management process and improve handover information quality.