bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An anisotropic parameterization scheme for longwave irradiance and its impact on radiant load in urban outdoor settings
Authors: Wallenberg Nils , Holmer Björn , Lindberg Fredrik , Rayner David
Published: February 2023

A robust representation of the radiative properties in complex urban settings is important for accurate estimations of radiant load. Here, we present a new parameterization scheme in the SOlar and LongWave Environmental Irradiance Geometry (SOLWEIG) model that partitions the upper hemisphere into 153 patches. Partitioning of the upper hemisphere enables determination if longwave irradiance originates from the sky, vegetation, sunlit building surfaces, or shaded building surfaces from each patch. Furthermore, a model for anisotropic sky longwave irradiance where emissivity increases with zenith angle is included. Comparisons between observations and simulations show high correlation, with R2 and RMSE for Tmrt of 0.94 and 4.6 °C, respectively, and R2 and RMSE for longwave radiation of 0.89 and 14.1 Wm−2, respectively. Simulations show that mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) can be up to 1.5 °C higher with an anisotropic sky compared to a uniform sky as an effect of higher radiant load on the vertical of a human when sky longwave irradiance increases with zenith angle. In comparisons of simulated Tmrt with the new parameterization and old parameterization schemes, previously overestimated Tmrt under trees (high sky obstruction, sky view factor (SVF) < 0.3) can be decreased by up to 3 °C from more realistic estimations using the patches. Moreover, Tmrt close to sunlit walls (SVF ~ 0.5) is increased by up to 2–3 °C from increased exposure to sunlit surfaces. Concluding, anisotropic sky longwave radiation and directionality of longwave radiation from different sources are important in estimations of Tmrt of humans in outdoor settings.
A two-objective optimization of ship itineraries for a cruise company
Authors: Pillo Gianni Di , Fabiano Marcello , Lucidi Stefano , Roma Massimo
Published: February 2023

This paper deals with the problem of cruise itinerary planning which plays a central role in worldwide cruise ship tourism. In particular, the Day-by-day Cruise Itinerary Optimization (DCIO) problem is considered. Assuming that a cruise has been planned in terms of homeports and journey duration, the DCIO problem consists in determining the daily schedule of each itinerary so that some Key Performance Indicators are optimized. The schedule of an itinerary, i.e. the sequence of visited ports, the arrival and departure time at each port, greatly affect cruise operative costs and attractiveness. We propose a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation of the problem with the objective of minimizing the itinerary cost due to fuel and port costs, while maximizing an itinerary attractiveness index. This latter is strongly related to the ports visited as well as to the overall schedule of the itinerary. Therefore the problem turns out to be a bi-objective optimization problem. We provide its solution in terms of Pareto optimal solution points. Each single objective MILP problem which arises is solved by using an exact algorithm, implemented in a commercial solver. We consider the day-by-day itineraries of a major luxury cruise company in many geographical areas all over the world. Here we report, as illustrative examples, the results obtained on some of these real instances.
Materials, fuels, upgrading, economy, and life cycle assessment of the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass: a review
Authors: Osman Ahmed I. , Farghali Mohamed , Ihara Ikko , Elgarahy Ahmed M. , Ayyad Amir , Mehta Neha , Ng Kim Hoong , Abd El-Monaem Eman M. , Eltaweil Abdelazeem S. , Hosny Mohamed , Hamed Seham M. , Fawzy Samer , Yap Pow-Seng , Rooney David W.
Published: February 2023

Climate change issues are calling for advanced methods to produce materials and fuels in a carbon–neutral and circular way. For instance, biomass pyrolysis has been intensely investigated during the last years. Here we review the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass with focus on pyrolysis products and mechanisms, oil upgrading, combining pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion, economy, and life cycle assessment. Products include oil, gas, and biochar. Upgrading techniques comprise hot vapor filtration, solvent addition, emulsification, esterification and transesterification, hydrotreatment, steam reforming, and the use of supercritical fluids. We examined the economic viability in terms of profitability, internal rate of return, return on investment, carbon removal service, product pricing, and net present value. We also reviewed 20 recent studies of life cycle assessment. We found that the pyrolysis method highly influenced product yield, ranging from 9.07 to 40.59% for oil, from 10.1 to 41.25% for biochar, and from 11.93 to 28.16% for syngas. Feedstock type, pyrolytic temperature, heating rate, and reaction retention time were the main factors controlling the distribution of pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis mechanisms include bond breaking, cracking, polymerization and re-polymerization, and fragmentation. Biochar from residual forestry could sequester 2.74 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton biochar when applied to the soil and has thus the potential to remove 0.2–2.75 gigatons of atmospheric carbon dioxide annually. The generation of biochar and bio-oil from the pyrolysis process is estimated to be economically feasible.
Nanoparticle-mediated cancer cell therapy: basic science to clinical applications
Authors: Verma Jaya , Warsame Caaisha , Seenivasagam Rajkumar Kottayasamy , Katiyar Nirmal Kumar , Aleem Eiman , Goel Saurav
Published: February 2023

Every sixth person in the world dies due to cancer, making it the second leading severe cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. According to WHO, cancer claimed nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. The most common types of cancers reported have been breast (lung, colon and rectum, prostate cases), skin (non-melanoma) and stomach. In addition to surgery, the most widely used traditional types of anti-cancer treatment are radio- and chemotherapy. However, these do not distinguish between normal and malignant cells. Additional treatment methods have evolved over time for early detection and targeted therapy of cancer. However, each method has its limitations and the associated treatment costs are quite high with adverse effects on the quality of life of patients. Use of individual atoms or a cluster of atoms (nanoparticles) can cause a paradigm shift by virtue of providing point of sight sensing and diagnosis of cancer. Nanoparticles (1–100 nm in size) are 1000 times smaller in size than the human cell and endowed with safer relocation capability to attack mechanically and chemically at a precise location which is one avenue that can be used to destroy cancer cells precisely. This review summarises the extant understanding and the work done in this area to pave the way for physicians to accelerate the use of hybrid mode of treatments by leveraging the use of various nanoparticles.
Capturing writers’ typing while visually attending the emerging text: a methodological approach
Authors: Wengelin Åsa , Johansson Roger , Frid Johan , Johansson Victoria
Published: February 2023

Knowledge about writers’ eye movements and their effects on the writing process, and its product—the finally edited text—is still limited. Previous research has demonstrated that there are differences between reading texts written by someone else and reading one’s own emerging text and that writers frequently look back into their own texts (Torrance et al. in Psychol Res Psychologische Forschung 80(5):729–743, 2016.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-015-0683-8). For handwriting, Alamargot et al. (Writing and cognition: research and applications. Elsevier Science, pp 13–29, 2007) found support that these lookbacks could occur in parallel with transcription, but to our knowledge this type of parallel processing has not been explored further, and definitely not in the context of computer writing. Considering that language production models are moving away from previous sequential or serial models (e.g., Levelt in Speaking from intentions to articulation. MIT Press, 1989) towards models in which linguistic processes can operate in parallel (Olive in J Writ Res, 2014.https://doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2014.06.02.4), this is slightly surprising. In the present paper, we introduce a methodological approach to examine writers’ parallel processing in which we take our point of departure in visual attention rather than in the keystrokes. Capitalizing on New ScriptLog’s feature to link gaze with typing across different functional units in the writing task, we introduce and describe a method to capture and examine sequences of typing during fixations, outline how these can be examined in relation to each other, and test our approach by exploring typing during fixations in a text composition task with 14 competent adult writers.
Chironomus sp. as a Bioindicator for Assessing Microplastic Contamination and the Heavy Metals Associated with It in the Sediment of Wastewater in Sohag Governorate, Egypt
Authors: Khdre Azza M. , Ramadan Somaia A. , Ashry Ali , Alaraby Mohamed
Published: February 2023

The consequences of plastic waste pollution have imposed wide global concerns. One of these consequences is the production of micro- and nanosized particles (MNPLs) from aged plastics. The problem of MNPLs is magnified by their potential to transport various contaminants due to their large surface area and other variable physiochemical properties. From this point on, it is important to know the real concentration of MNPLs in our environment and their potential to internalize wild organisms as well as transfer contaminants that are completely highlighted. As a result, our study is the first to detect MP pollution in the upper Egypt wastewater environment. It could be utilized as a baseline to estimate MP wastes and develop management techniques, particularly in Sohag Governorate. The concentration and characterization of MPs in sludge, water, Chironomus sp. larvae, and their tubes were studied in this work. Chironomus sp. is a reliable bioindicator prevalent in such contaminated environments, and it was used to demonstrate how MPs invade biological barriers. Our results found that red and blue polyester fibers are much more prevalent than other polymers, colors, and shapes of MPs. While each dry kilogram of wastewater sludge contains 310 ± 84 particles, this amount is reduced to 1.55 ± 0.7 per liter in the water column. Biologically, the present study succeeded in detecting the MPs inside the wild organism, with concentrations reaching 71 ± 21 and 4.41 ± 1.1 particles per gram wet weight in Chironomus sp. larvae and their tubes (chironomid tubes), respectively. The potential hazard of MPs stems from their propensity to transfer pollutants. At this point, our findings revealed a corresponding and significant concentration of various heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni) detected in MPs or Chironomus sp. versus sludge. In conclusion, our findings not only proved the presence of MPs in wastewater but also demonstrated their ability to internalize cross-wild organisms, allowing toxins to accumulate inside their bodies, raising concerns about the possible health impacts of plastic pollution.
Imaging of pituitary tumors: an update with the 5th WHO Classifications—part 1. Pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET)/pituitary adenoma
Authors: Tsukamoto Taro , Miki Yukio
Published: February 2023

The pituitary gland is the body’s master gland of the endocrine glands. Although it is a small organ, many types of tumors can develop within it. The recently revised fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications (2021 World Health Organization Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors and 2022 World Health Organization Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors) revealed significant changes to the classification of pituitary adenomas, the most common type of pituitary gland tumor. This change categorized pituitary adenomas as neuroendocrine tumors and proposed the name to be revised to pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET). The International Classification of Diseases for Oncology behavior code for this tumor was previously “0” for benign tumor. In contrast, the fifth edition WHO classification has changed this code to “3” for primary malignant tumors as same to neuroendocrine tumor in other organs. Because the WHO classification made an important and significant change in the fundamental concept of the disease, in this paper, we will discuss the imaging diagnosis (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography) of PitNET/pituitary adenoma in detail, considering these revisions as per the latest version of the WHO classification.
Gestaltungsansätze für die Einführung und Nutzung von Kollaborationsplattformen – zwei KMU-Fallstudien aus der IT-Branche
Authors: Klötzer Stefan , Boos Margarete
Published: February 2023

Die Einführung und Nutzung von Kollaborationsplattformen zur Unterstützung der Zusammenarbeit in Teams und in der Organisation ist eine komplexe soziotechnische Gestaltungsaufgabe für Unternehmen. Im CollaboTeam-Projekt wurden zwei mittelständische Unternehmen der IT-Branche bei der Einführung von Kollaborationsplattformen für die Verbesserung der Team- und Projektarbeit begleitet. Es wurde untersucht, welche Strategien und Maßnahmen die Unternehmen nutzten, um die Anforderung der Arbeitsgestaltung bewältigen zu können. Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt das Modell für die Arbeit mit Kollaborationsplattformen vor und präsentiert konkrete Gestaltungsmaßnahmen aus den zwei IT-Fallstudien. Das Modell umfasst drei Ebenen: Strategie, bei der Ziele für den Einsatz der Kollaborationsplattformen definiert werden, Analyse, bei der die gegenwärtige Zusammenarbeit in Arbeitssystemen untersucht und Gestaltungsbedarf abgeleitet wird, und die Ebene Gestaltung, die im Fokus dieses Beitrags steht und bei der die Gestaltungsmaßnahmen in sechs Themenfeldern systematisiert werden. Es wurden N = 21 Leitfadeninterviews mit Führungskräften und Beschäftigten der KMU inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet.
A Rare Case of Submandibular Actinomycosis
Authors: Bajpai Sanchit , Parvathareddy Navya , Bhat Sweekritha N , Shenoy S Vijendra
Published: February 2023

Actinomycosis is caused by actinomyces israelii, a gram positive nonacid fast, anaerobic, commensal bacterium within the oral cavity. Though it is a commensal in oral cavity, it seldom presents as cervicofacial actinomycosis. But there is limited access to literature proving cervicofacial actinomycosis existence so far. We report a case of 35 year old gentleman who presented with painless progressive neck swelling associated with pain while chewing food. On examination, 3.5*2.5 swelling was noted in right submandibular gland area, radiologically a foreign body was detected in the right submandibular gland. Mass was excised in toto and sent for HPE which revealed submandibular gland actinomycosis. Post operatively, patient was managed with long-term broad-spectrum beta lactams and was on regular follow-up. No evidence of recurrence/ fresh complaints noted till date. Although cervicofacial actinomycosis is rare and dangerous with debilitating complications, timely diagnosis and early intervention with broad spectrum antibiotics and surgical excision (if required) shows promising results with complete eradication of disease leaving no residues.
Buying-shopping disorder, impulsivity, emotional dependence and attachment in adolescents
Authors: Etxaburu Nerea , Momeñe Janire , Herrero Marta , Chávez-Vera María Dolores , Olave Leticia , Iruarrizaga Itziar , Estévez Ana
Published: February 2023

In recent years, several studies have shown that the incidence of buying-shopping disorder (BSD) is increasing. Impulsivity is one of the factors involved in its aetiology and is related to emotional dependence. In addition, early affective deprivation may trigger emotional dependence. The aims of the present study weresal: to compare the types of attachment, levels of emotional dependence, impulsivity and BSD according to sex; to determine whether the proposed relational model is fulfilled; and analyse possible differences in this model in terms of the sample’s sex. The sample consisted of 1498 adolescents (53.8% men and 46.2% women) from Ecuador whose age ranged from 14 to 18 years (M = 15.77, SD = 1.21). The results showed that a preoccupied attachment style is indirectly related to a higher risk of BSD due to emotional dependence when impulsivity levels are medium or high because emotional dependence is moderated by impulsivity. The study variables are related in the same way in men and women but boys show higher levels of preoccupied attachment, impulsivity, emotional dependence and BSD. This study gives us a clearer picture of how these variables are related and provides information that could be of great use in assisting people with BSD. This knowledge could be applied to improve both the treatment and prevention of this problem.
Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by coconut coir dust as a low-cost adsorbent
Authors: Al Ashik Abdullah , Rahman Md. Ataur , Halder Debadas , Hossain Md. Mufazzal
Published: February 2023

Adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from its aqueous solution onto coconut coir dust was studied in batch method. Coconut coir dust was characterized before and after adsorption by FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface charge, pHzpcof the adsorbent was measured by the method suggested by Huang and Ostovic and was found to be 7.65 (± 0.05). Batch kinetic experiments were performed and effects of several operational parameters i.e., contact time, initial concentration, pH of the solution and temperature on adsorption process were investigated. The effect of pH on adsorption was examined using a MB solution of 31.98 mg L−1at 30 °C on coconut coir dust varying the pH range from 3.02 to 11.04. At basic condition, the uptake increased significantly and reached the maximum at pH 9.0. The batch adsorption model, based on the assumptions of the Lagergren’s pseudo-first order and the Ho’s pseudo-second order model were applied to investigate the kinetics of this adsorption process. The results showed that the kinetic data fit very well to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherms were determined at four different particle sizes which ranges from < 106 to 300 μm. Among them < 106 μm particle size was chosen for whole process because of comparatively good adsorption capacity. The adsorption isotherms at different temperatures maintaining pH at 7.68 were studied and results show that the amount adsorbed increases with the increase in the temperature under all conditions. The linear correlation coefficients indicate that the Langmuir isotherm best fitted with the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) were calculated. The values of ΔH and ΔS were found to be + 30.16 kJ mol−1 and + 0.128 kJ mol−1K−1 , respectively. At pH 7.68, the present system was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. It was found that when the temperature was increased from 303 to 333 K, the ΔG value decreased.
A retrospective survey of patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis treated with patisiran in real-world clinical practice in Belgium
Authors: De Bleecker Jan L. , Claeys Kristl G. , Delstanche Stéphanie , Van Parys Vinciane , Baets Jonathan , Tilleux Sébastien , Remiche Gauthier
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis, a genetic disease caused by mutations in the transthyretin gene, leads to progressive sensory and autonomic neuropathy and/or cardiomyopathy and is associated with renal and ophthalmologic manifestations and a poor prognosis.

Methods

This is a retrospective study based on data collected from the medical records of patients with hATTR amyloidosis treated with patisiran between 01 July 2018 and 01 February 2021. Six Belgian neuromuscular reference centers participated, covering all patisiran-treated hATTR amyloidosis patients at the study time. This study was conducted to collect data requested in the context of the reimbursement of patisiran in Belgium.

Results

Thirty-one patients were diagnosed with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy, Coutinho stage 1 or 2, and eligible for active treatment during the data collection period. Of the hATTR amyloidosis patients treated with patisiran (n = 12), seven and five had polyneuropathy stages 1 and 2, respectively. Six patients had cardiac symptoms (New York Heart Association class 2 or above). Follow-up information was available for nine patients. Following patisiran treatment, eight patients showed stable or improved assessments for most neurological or cardiological parameters. Only one patient presented with worsening statuses at the end of the data collection period.

Conclusions

The patients with hATTR amyloidosis in Belgium have similar baseline demographics and disease characteristics to those studied in the patisiran APOLLO study and show a similar therapeutic response in the real-world, altering the expected disease progression in most patients.
On the conservation laws, Lie symmetry analysis and power series solutions of a class of third-order polynomial evolution equations
Authors: Gwaxa B. , Jamal Sameerah , Johnpillai A. G.
Published: February 2023

In the present paper, we consider a special class of third-order polynomial evolutionary equations. These equations, via Lie theory admit the same one-parameter point transformations which leave the equations invariant. Reductions with these invariant functions lead to highly nonlinear third-order ordinary differential equations. We use a power series to establish interesting solutions to the reduced equations, whereby recurrence relations occur and convergence of the series may be tested. Finally, the conserved vectors of the class are constructed.
Evolutionary multiobjective optimization via efficient sampling-based offspring generation
Authors: He Cheng , Li Lianghao , Cheng Ran , Jin Yaochu
Published: February 2023

With the rising number of large-scale multiobjective optimization problems from academia and industries, some evolutionary algorithms (EAs) with different decision variable handling strategies have been proposed in recent years. They mainly emphasize the balance between convergence enhancement and diversity maintenance for multiobjective optimization but ignore the local search tailored for large-scale optimization. Consequently, most existing EAs can hardly obtain the global or local optima. To address this issue, we propose an efficient sampling-based offspring generation method for large-scale multiobjective optimization, where convergence enhancement and diversity maintenance, together with ad hoc local search, are considered. First, the decision variables are dynamically classified into two types for solving large-scale decision space in a divide-and-conquer manner. Then, a convergence-related sampling strategy is designed to handle those decision variables related to convergence enhancement. Two additional sampling strategies are proposed for diversity maintenance and local search, respectively. Experimental results on problems with up to 5000 decision variables have indicated the effectiveness of the algorithm in large-scale multiobjective optimization.
A practical guide to Registered Reports for economists
Authors: Arpinon Thibaut , Espinosa Romain
Published: February 2023

The current publication system in economics has encouraged the inflation of positive results in empirical papers. Registered Reports, also called Pre-Results Reviews, are a new submission format for empirical work that takes pre-registration one step further. In Registered Reports, researchers write their papers before running the study and commit to a detailed data collection process and analysis plan. After a first-stage review, a journal can give an In-Principle-Acceptance guaranteeing that the paper will be published if the authors carry out their data collection and analysis as pre-specified. We here propose a practical guide to Registered Reports for empirical economists. We illustrate the major problems that Registered Reports address (p-hacking, HARKing, forking, and publication bias), and present practical guidelines on how to write and review Registered Reports (e.g., the data-analysis plan, power analysis, and correction for multiple-hypothesis testing), with R and STATA codes. We provide specific examples for experimental economics, and show how research design can be improved to maximize statistical power. Last, we discuss some tools that authors, editors, and referees can use to evaluate Registered Reports (checklist, study-design table, and quality assessment).
Compression of Deep-Learning Models Through Global Weight Pruning Using Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers
Authors: Lee Kichun , Hwangbo Sunghun , Yang Dongwook , Lee Geonseok
Published: February 2023

Deep learning has shown excellent performance in numerous machine-learning tasks, but one practical obstacle in deep learning is that the amount of computation and required memory is huge. Model compression, especially in deep learning, is very useful because it saves memory and reduces storage size while maintaining model performance. Model compression in a layered network structure aims to reduce the number of edges by pruning weights that are deemed unnecessary during the calculation. However, existing weight pruning methods perform a layer-by-layer reduction, which requires a predefined removal-ratio constraint for each layer. Layer-by-layer removal ratios must be structurally specified depending on the task, causing a sharp increase in the training time due to a large number of tuning parameters. Thus, such a layer-by-layer strategy is hardly feasible for deep layered models. Our proposed method aims to perform weight pruning in a deep layered network, while producing similar performance, by setting a global removal ratio for the entire model without prior knowledge of the structural characteristics. Our experiments with the proposed method show reliable and high-quality performance, obviating layer-by-layer removal ratios. Furthermore, experiments with increasing layers yield a pattern in the pruned weights that could provide an insight into the layers’ structural importance. The experiment with the LeNet-5 model using MNIST data results in a higher compression ratio of 98.8% for the proposed method, outperforming existing pruning algorithms. In the Resnet-56 experiment, the performance change according to removal ratios of 10–90% is investigated, and a higher removal ratio is achieved compared to other tested models. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method with YOLOv4, a real-life object-detection model requiring substantial computation.
Socialization and Socioemotional Development in Chinese Children
Authors: Chen Xinyin
Published: February 2023

Children's early temperamental characteristics have a pervasive impact on the development of socioemotional functioning. Through socialization and social interaction processes, cultural beliefs and values play a role in shaping the meanings of socioemotional characteristics and in determining their developmental patterns and outcomes. This Element focuses on socialization and socioemotional development in Chinese children. The Element first briefly describes Chinese cultural background for child development, followed by a discussion of socialization cognitions and practices. Then, it discusses socioemotional characteristics in the early years of life, including temperamental reactivity and self-control, mainly in terms of their cultural meanings and developmental significance. Next, the Element reviews research on Chinese children's and adolescents' social behaviors, including prosocial behavior, aggression, and shyness. Given the massive social changes that have been occurring in China, their implications for socialization and socioemotional development are discussed in these sections. The Element concludes with suggestions for future research directions.
El niño en el cine argentino de la postdictadura (1983–2008)
Authors: Dufays Sophie
Published: February 2023

Interprets the allegorical role of the child character in Argentine cinema of the post-dictatorship era.
After Wagner
Authors: Berry Mark
Published: February 2023

Offers histories of music drama beginning with Wagner's Parsifal and then looking at works by Arnold Schoenberg, Richard Strauss, Luigi Dallapiccola, Luigi Nono and Hans Werner Henze.
The British Navy in the Baltic
Authors: Grainger John D.
Published: February 2023

A comprehensive overview of the activities of the British navy in the Baltic Sea from the earliest times until the twentieth century.
The DNA damage response in advanced ovarian cancer: functional analysis combined with machine learning identifies signatures that correlate with chemotherapy sensitivity and patient outcome
Authors: Walker Thomas D. J. , Faraahi Zahra F. , Price Marcus J. , Hawarden Amy , Waddell Caitlin A. , Russell Bryn , Jones Dominique M. , McCormick Aiste , Gavrielides N. , Tyagi S. , Woodhouse Laura C. , Whalley Bethany , Roberts Connor , Crosbie Emma J. , Edmondson Richard J.
Published: February 2023

Background

Ovarian cancers are hallmarked by chromosomal instability. New therapies deliver improved patient outcomes in relevant phenotypes, however therapy resistance and poor long-term survival signal requirements for better patient preselection. An impaired DNA damage response (DDR) is a major chemosensitivity determinant. Comprising five pathways, DDR redundancy is complex and rarely studied alongside chemoresistance influence from mitochondrial dysfunction. We developed functional assays to monitor DDR and mitochondrial states and trialled this suite on patient explants.

Methods

We profiled DDR and mitochondrial signatures in cultures from 16 primary-setting ovarian cancer patients receiving platinum chemotherapy. Explant signature relationships to patient progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed by multiple statistical and machine-learning methods.

Results

DR dysregulation was wide-ranging. Defective HR (HRD) and NHEJ were near-mutually exclusive. HRD patients (44%) had increased SSB abrogation. HR competence was associated with perturbed mitochondria (78% vs 57% HRD) while every relapse patient harboured dysfunctional mitochondria. DDR signatures classified explant platinum cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysregulation. Importantly, explant signatures classified patient PFS and OS.

Conclusions

Whilst individual pathway scores are mechanistically insufficient to describe resistance, holistic DDR and mitochondrial states accurately predict patient survival. Our assay suite demonstrates promise for translational chemosensitivity prediction.
Selective inhibition of HDAC6 promotes bladder cancer radiosensitization and mitigates the radiation-induced CXCL1 signalling
Authors: Tsai Yu-Chieh , Wang Tzu-Yin , Hsu Chia-Lang , Lin Wei-Chou , Chen Jyun-Yu , Li Jia-Hua , Pu Yeong-Shiau , Cheng Ann-Lii , Cheng Jason Chia-Hsien , Su Sheng-Fang
Published: February 2023

Background

Although trimodality therapy resecting tumours followed by chemoradiotherapy is emerged for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), chemotherapy produces toxicities. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have been identified as an effective strategy to enhance cancer radiotherapy (RT).

Methods

We examined the role of HDAC6 and specific inhibition of HDAC6 on BC radiosensitivity by performing transcriptomic analysis and mechanism study.

Results

HDAC6 knockdown or HDAC6 inhibitor (HDAC6i) tubacin exerted a radiosensitizing effect, including decreased clonogenic survival, increased H3K9ac andα-tubulin acetylation, and accumulated γH2AX, which are similar to the effect of panobinostat, a pan-HDACi, on irradiated BC cells. Transcriptomics of shHDAC6-transduced T24 under irradiation showed that shHDAC6 counteracted RT-induced mRNA expression of CXCL1, SERPINE1, SDC1 and SDC2, which are linked to cell migration, angiogenesis and metastasis. Moreover, tubacin significantly suppressed RT-induced CXCL1 and radiation-enhanced invasion/migration, whereas panobinostat elevated RT-induced CXCL1 expression and invasion/migration abilities. This phenotype was significantly abrogated by anti-CXCL1 antibody, indicating the key regulator of CXCL1 contributing to BC malignancy. Immunohistochemical evaluation of tumours from urothelial carcinoma patients supported the correlation between high CXCL1 expression and reduced survival.

Conclusion

Unlike pan-HDACi, the selective HDAC6i can enhance BC radiosensitization and effectively inhibit RT-induced oncogenic CXCL1-Snail-signalling, thus further advancing its therapeutic potential with RT.
Alternative methods to measure breast density in younger women
Authors: Lloyd Rachel , Pirikahu Sarah , Walter Jane , Cadby Gemma , Darcey Ellie , Perera Dilukshi , Hickey Martha , Saunders Christobel , Karnowski Karol , Sampson David D. , Shepherd John , Lilge Lothar , Stone Jennifer
Published: February 2023

Background

Breast density is a strong and potentially modifiable breast cancer risk factor. Almost everything we know about breast density has been derived from mammography, and therefore, very little is known about breast density in younger women aged <40. This study examines the acceptability and performance of two alternative breast density measures, Optical Breast Spectroscopy (OBS) and Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), in women aged 18–40.

Methods

Breast tissue composition (percent water, collagen, and lipid content) was measured in 539 women aged 18–40 using OBS. For a subset of 169 women, breast density was also measured via DXA (percent fibroglandular dense volume (%FGV), absolute dense volume (FGV), and non-dense volume (NFGV)). Acceptability of the measurement procedures was assessed using an adapted validated questionnaire. Performance was assessed by examining the correlation and agreement between the measures and their associations with known determinants of mammographic breast density.

Results

Over 93% of participants deemed OBS and DXA to be acceptable. The correlation between OBS-%water + collagen and %FGV was 0.48. Age and BMI were inversely associated with OBS-%water + collagen and %FGV and positively associated with OBS-%lipid and NFGV.

Conclusions

OBS and DXA provide acceptable and viable alternative methods to measure breast density in younger women aged 18–40 years.
Sodium preintercalation-induced oxygen-deficient hydrated potassium manganese oxide for high-energy flexible Mg-ion supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Shude , Kang Ling , Zhang Jian , Jun Seong Chan , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: February 2023

Layered potassium manganese oxides are promising candidates for use in aqueous supercapacitors owing to their wide potential windows, layered feature, and Faradaic redox reactions that occur on surfaces and in bulk regions. However, the practical application is hindered by rapid performance degradation due to their inherently low electrical conductivities and inferior structural stabilities. Here, we develop ultralong nanobelts comprising hydrated Na-intercalated oxygen-deficient potassium manganese oxide (H-Na-D-KMO), in which the Na+ ions are preintercalated and synchronously induce the generation of oxygen vacancies, as high-energy-density and durable electrodes for Mg-ion supercapacitors. The experimental results indicated that preintercalation of Na+ ions and formation of oxygen vacancies improved the electrical properties and ion diffusion, which accounted for the fast reaction kinetics and good cycling performance of H-Na-D-KMO. The optimized H-Na-D-KMO delivered a significantly enhanced specific capacitance and cycling performance compared to those of pure H-KMO. Asymmetric supercapacitors with H-Na-D-KMO as the cathode and as-prepared MoO2@carbon as the anode exhibited an ultrahigh energy density of 108.4 Wh kg–1 at 11,000 Wh kg−1, which is superior to most supercapacitors reported in the literature. Moreover, the assembled device exhibited good cycling stability for over 5000 cycles with a fading rate of 0.002% per cycle and good mechanical flexibility, which opens an avenue for further advancements in high-energy supercapacitors.
Home-based screening tools for amblyopia: a systematic review
Authors: Sii Samantha Siaw Zhen , Chean Chung Shen , Kuht Helen , Bunce Catey , Thomas Mervyn G. , Rufai Sohaib R.
Published: February 2023

Amblyopia is an important public health concern. While home-based screening may present an effective solution, this has not been rigorously assessed in a systematic review. A systematic review was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Clinicaltrials.gov. All studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of home-based screening tools for amblyopia among children were included. Studies involving orthoptist or ophthalmologist-led screening and adult subjects were excluded. The main outcome measure was the diagnostic accuracy expressed as sensitivity and specificity. Among 3670 studies identified, 28 were eligible for inclusion in our systematic review. The age range of patients were less than 1 month to 16 years old. 7 studies used internet-based tools, 16 used smartphone/tablet applications, 3 used digital cameras, and 3 used home-based questionnaires and visual acuity tools. All studies included a reference standard except one, which was a longitudinal study. 21 studies had full ophthalmological examination whilst 6 studies had validated visual acuity measurement tools as gold standards. Of the 27 studies which compared against a reference test, only 25 studies reported sensitivity and specificity values. Using the QUADAS-2 tool, 50% of studies were deemed to have applicability concern due to patient selection from tertiary centres and unclear methods for recruitment. There is a need to improve the quality of diagnostic accuracy studies, standardise thresholds for detecting amblyopia, and ensure consistent reporting of results. Further research is needed to evaluate the suitability of these tools for amblyopia screening.
Enzyme adaptation to habitat thermal legacy shapes the thermal plasticity of marine microbiomes
Authors: Marasco Ramona , Fusi Marco , Coscolín Cristina , Barozzi Alan , Almendral David , Bargiela Rafael , Nutschel Christina Gohlke neé , Pfleger Christopher , Dittrich Jonas , Gohlke Holger , Matesanz Ruth , Sanchez-Carrillo Sergio , Mapelli Francesca , Chernikova Tatyana N. , Golyshin Peter N. , Ferrer Manuel , Daffonchio Daniele
Published: February 2023

Microbial communities respond to temperature with physiological adaptation and compositional turnover. Whether thermal selection of enzymes explains marine microbiome plasticity in response to temperature remains unresolved. By quantifying the thermal behaviour of seven functionally-independent enzyme classes (esterase, extradiol dioxygenase, phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, nuclease, transaminase, and aldo-keto reductase) in native proteomes of marine sediment microbiomes from the Irish Sea to the southern Red Sea, we record a significant effect of the mean annual temperature (MAT) on enzyme response in all cases. Activity and stability profiles of 228 esterases and 5 extradiol dioxygenases from sediment and seawater across 70 locations worldwide validate this thermal pattern. Modelling the esterase phase transition temperature as a measure of structural flexibility confirms the observed relationship with MAT. Furthermore, when considering temperature variability in sites with non-significantly different MATs, the broadest range of enzyme thermal behaviour and the highest growth plasticity of the enriched heterotrophic bacteria occur in samples with the widest annual thermal variability. These results indicate that temperature-driven enzyme selection shapes microbiome thermal plasticity and that thermal variability finely tunes such processes and should be considered alongside MAT in forecasting microbial community thermal response.
Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA
Authors: Davies Mark R. , Keller Nadia , Brouwer Stephan , Jespersen Magnus G. , Cork Amanda J. , Hayes Andrew J. , Pitt Miranda E. , De Oliveira David M. P. , Harbison-Price Nichaela , Bertolla Olivia M. , Mediati Daniel G. , Curren Bodie F. , Taiaroa George , Lacey Jake A. , Smith Helen V. , Fang Ning-Xia , Coin Lachlan J. M. , Stevens Kerrie , Tong Steven Y. C. , Sanderson-Smith Martina , Tree Jai J. , Irwin Adam D. , Grimwood Keith , Howden Benjamin P. , Jennison Amy V. , Walker Mark J.
Published: February 2023

A new variant of Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M1 (designated ‘M1UK’) has been reported in the United Kingdom, linked with seasonal scarlet fever surges, marked increase in invasive infections, and exhibiting enhanced expression of the superantigen SpeA. The progenitor S. pyogenes ‘M1global’ and M1UK clones can be differentiated by 27 SNPs and 4 indels, yet the mechanism for speA upregulation is unknown. Here we investigate the previously unappreciated expansion of M1UK in Australia, now isolated from the majority of serious infections caused by serotype M1 S. pyogenes. M1UK sub-lineages circulating in Australia also contain a novel toxin repertoire associated with epidemic scarlet fever causing S. pyogenes in Asia. A single SNP in the 5’ transcriptional leader sequence of the transfer-messenger RNA gene ssrA drives enhanced SpeA superantigen expression as a result of ssrA terminator read-through in the M1UK lineage. This represents a previously unappreciated mechanism of toxin expression and urges enhanced international surveillance.
PROCURE European consensus on breast cancer multigene signatures in early breast cancer management
Authors: Curigliano Giuseppe , Cardoso Fatima , Gnant Michael , Harbeck Nadia , King Judy , Laenkholm Anne-Vibeke , Penault-Llorca Frédérique , Prat Aleix
Published: February 2023

Breast cancer multigene signatures (BCMS) have changed how patients with early-stage breast cancer (eBC) are managed, as they provide prognostic information and can be used to select patients who may avoid adjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical guidelines make recommendations on the use of BCMS; however, little is known on the current use of BCMS in clinical practice. We conduct a two-round Delphi survey to enquire about current use and perceived utility for specific patient profiles, and unmet needs of BCMS. Overall, 133 panellists experienced in breast cancer across 11 European countries have participated, most using BCMS either routinely (66.2%) or in selected cases (27.1%). Our results show that BCMS are mainly used to assess the risk of recurrence and to select patients for adjuvant chemotherapy; notably, no consensus has been reached on the lack of utility of BCMS for selecting the type of chemotherapy to administer. Also, there are discrepancies between the recommended and current use of BCMS in clinical practice, with use in certain patient profiles for which there is no supporting evidence. Our study suggests that physician education initiatives are needed to ensure the correct use and interpretation of BCMS to, ultimately, improve management of patients with eBC.
Risk factors for wound healing complications after revascularization for MMD with complete Y-shaped incision
Authors: Wang Chenchao , Li Hongwei , Dong Yang , Wang Hao , Li Dongpeng , Zhao Chengbin , Cao Lei , Sun Kaiwen , Geng Jiefeng , Yang Bo
Published: February 2023

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic occlusive cerebrovascular disease that can be treated with revascularization. Surgery increases the risk of poor wound healing (PWH) due to the impact on the blood supply to the flap. We aimed to analyze risk factors for PWH in MMD with a complete Y-shaped incision. A total of 125 patients with MMD were enrolled in this prospective observational study. The wounds were assessed and measured on the third and seventh days after surgery. The mean age of these patients was 43.3 ± 10.0 years. The ratio of male to female was 1:1.3. 15 (12.0%) patients had incision complications. 5 patients (4.0%) had redness; 2 patients (1.6%) had swelling; 2 patients (1.6%) had fat necrosis; 3 patients (2.4%) had incision infection; and 3 patients (2.4%) had flap necrosis. Student’s t test showed significant differences in BMI (P = 0.040) and fever time (P = 0.050). The standard chi-squared test showed significant differences in incision infection (P = 0.010), suture mode (P = 0.047), and cutting off large branch vessels in the flap (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that incision infection (P = 0.026, OR 12.958), using a skin stapler (P = 0.030, OR 4.335), cutting off large branch vessels in the flap (P = 0.009, OR 5.227), and BMI (P = 0.027, OR 1.204) were risk factors. The area under the curve for risk factors for PWH on a receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.853. Incision infection, using a skin stapler, higher BMI, and cutting off large branch vessels in the flap are risk factors for PWH.
The clinical characteristics of anemia in native adults living at different altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Fang Jie , Li Ran , Ye Dongdong , Chen Liang , Zhuo Ma Luo Bu , Zhang Yinyin , Zhu Jun , Gao Xiaodong , Xu Pengpeng , Zheng Yu , Li Xiaoyang , You Jianhua , Jiang Chuanhe , Qing Kai , Yue Fei , Li Junmin , Wang Dui Pu Bu , Xue Kai
Published: February 2023

To provide evidence-based medicine references for formulating prevention and control policies in plateau areas, we explore the characteristics of anemia patients in Tibet (the plateau areas of China), especially those located at an altitude above 4500 m. We collected clinical data from 379 Tibetan anemia patients over the age of 18 years. We found those female patients accounted for the majority of Tibetan anemia patients. Almost half of the anemia patients aged from 28 to 47 years. The percentage of severe anemia and extremely severe anemia was 45.4% and 2.4%, respectively. 88.7% of patients are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, and 81.5% of patients just graduated from primary school or below. The most common causes of anemia were nutritional anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia. At high-altitude localities, folic acid-deficiency anemia needs more attention. Overall, this study showed that altitude influences the incidence, severity, and cause of anemia. Peasants and herdsmen, low education levels, young and middle-aged women, and nutrition status should be paid attention to in future anemia control.
Two wild carnivores selectively forage for prey but not amino acids
Authors: Dwyer Georgia K. , Stoffels Rick J. , Silvester Ewen , Rees Gavin N.
Published: February 2023

In nutritional ecology the intake target is the diet that maximises consumer fitness. A key hypothesis of nutritional ecology is that natural selection has acted upon the behavioural and physiological traits of consumers to result in them Selectively Consuming prey to match the Intake Target (SCIT). SCIT has been documented in some herbivores and omnivores, which experience strong heterogeneity in the nutritional quality of available foods. Although carnivores experience a prey community with a much more homogeneous nutrient composition, SCIT by carnivores has nevertheless been deemed highly likely by some researchers. Here we test for SCIT for micronutrients (amino acids) in two freshwater carnivores: the river blackfish and the two-spined blackfish. Although both blackfishes exhibited non-random consumption of prey from the environment, this resulted in non-random consumption of amino acids in only one species, the river blackfish. Non-random consumption of amino acids by river blackfish was not SCIT, but instead an artefact of habitat-specific foraging. We present hypotheses to explain why wild populations of freshwater carnivores may not exhibit SCIT for amino acids. Our work highlights the need for careful, critical tests of the hypotheses and assumptions of nutritional ecology and its application to wild populations.