bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Sparse Distributed Gigascale Resolution Material Point Method
Authors: Qiu Yuxing , Reeve Samuel Temple , Li Minchen , Yang Yin , Slattery Stuart Ryan , Jiang Chenfanfu
Published: November 2022

In this article, we present a four-layer distributed simulation system and its adaptation to the Material Point Method (MPM). The system is built upon a performance portable
C++
programming model targeting major High-Performance-Computing (HPC) platforms. A key ingredient of our system is a hierarchical block-tile-cell sparse grid data structure that is distributable to an arbitrary number of Message Passing Interface (MPI) ranks. We additionally propose strategies for efficient dynamic load balance optimization to maximize the efficiency of MPI tasks. Our simulation pipeline can easily switch among backend programming models, including OpenMP and CUDA, and can be effortlessly dispatched onto supercomputers and the cloud. Finally, we construct benchmark experiments and ablation studies on supercomputers and consumer workstations in a local network to evaluate the scalability and load balancing criteria. We demonstrate massively parallel, highly scalable, and gigascale resolution MPM simulations of up to 1.01 billion particles for less than 323.25 seconds per frame with 8 OpenSSH-connected workstations.
Cross-Domain WiFi Sensing with Channel State Information: A Survey
Authors: Chen Chen , Zhou Gang , Lin Youfang
Published: November 2022

The past years have witnessed the rapid conceptualization and development of wireless sensing based onChannel State Information (CSI)with commodity WiFi devices. Recent studies have demonstrated the vast potential of WiFi sensing in detection, recognition, and estimation applications. However, the widespread deployment of WiFi sensing systems still faces a significant challenge: how to ensure the sensing performance when exposing a pre-trained sensing system to new domains, such as new environments, different configurations, and unseen users, without data collection and system retraining. This survey provides a comprehensive review of recent research efforts on cross-domain WiFi Sensing. We first introduce the mathematical model of CSI and explore the impact of different domains on CSI. Then we present a general workflow of cross-domain WiFi sensing systems, which consists of signal processing and cross-domain sensing. Five cross-domain sensing algorithms, including domain-invariant feature extraction, virtual sample generation, transfer learning, few-shot learning and big data solution, are summarized to show how they achieve high sensing accuracy when encountering new domains. The advantages and limitations of each algorithm are also summarized and the performance comparison is made based on different applications. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges to further promote the practical usability of cross-domain WiFi sensing systems.
The Evolving Chronology of Moon Formation
Authors: Borg Lars E. , Carlson Richard W.
Published: November 2022

Defining the age of the Moon has proven to be an elusive task because it requires reliably dating lunar samples using radiometric isotopic systems that record fractionation of parent and daughter elements during events that are petrologically associated with planet formation. Crystallization of the magma ocean is the only event that unambiguously meets this criterion because it probably occurred within tens of millions of years of Moon formation. There are three dateable crystallization products of the magma ocean: mafic mantle cumulates, felsic crustal cumulates, and late-stage crystallization products known as urKREEP (uniform residuum K, rare earth elements, and P). Although ages for these materials in the literature span 200 million years, there is a preponderance of reliable ages around 4.35 billion years recorded in all three lunar rock types. This age is also observed in many secondary crustal rocks, indicating that they were produced contemporaneously (within uncertainty of the ages), possibly during crystallization and overturn of the magma ocean.
▪The duration of planet formation is key information in understanding the mechanisms by which the terrestrial planets formed.▪Ages of the oldest lunar rocks range widely, reflecting either the duration of Moon formation or disturbed ages caused by impact metamorphism.▪Ages determined for compositionally distinct crust and mantle materials produced by lunar magma ocean differentiation cluster near 4.35 Gyr.▪The repeated occurrence of 4.35 Gyr ages implies that Moon formation occurred late in Solar System history, likely by giant impact into Earth.
Metabolism and Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sedlak Joseph C. , Yilmaz Ömer H. , Roper Jatin
Published: November 2022

Reprogrammed metabolism is a hallmark of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC cells are geared toward rapid proliferation, requiring nutrients and the removal of cellular waste in nutrient-poor environments. Intestinal stem cells (ISCs), the primary cell of origin for CRCs, must adapt their metabolism along the adenoma-carcinoma sequence to the unique features of their complex microenvironment that include interactions with intestinal epithelial cells, immune cells, stromal cells, commensal microbes, and dietary components. Emerging evidence implicates modifiable risk factors related to the environment, such as diet, as important in CRC pathogenesis. Here, we focus on describing the metabolism of ISCs, diets that influence CRC initiation, CRC genetics and metabolism, and the tumor microenvironment. The mechanistic links between environmental factors, metabolic adaptations, and the tumor microenvironment in enhancing or supporting CRC tumorigenesis are becoming better understood. Thus, greater knowledge of CRC metabolism holds promise for improved prevention and treatment.
Impact of a PEO-based Interphase at the Negative Electrode of “Zero Excess” Lithium-Metal Batteries
Authors: Geng Katrin , Eisenmann Tobias , Parmar Rahul , Rezvani Javad , Gunnella Roberto , Amati Matteo , Gregoratti Luca , Stepien Dominik , Diemant Thomas , Bresser Dominic
Published: November 2022

“Zero-excess” lithium-metal batteries represent a very promising next-generation battery concept, enabling extremely high energy densities. However, lithium metal deposition is often non-uniform and accompanied by severe side reactions with the electrolyte, limiting Coulombic efficiency and, thus, energy density and cycle life. To address this issue, we introduced a thin polymer-based artificial interphase at the negative electrode. The influence of this interphase on the lithium deposition, and generally the reactions occurring at the negative electrode, was evaluated by galvanostatic stripping/plating tests and a thorough ex situ analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning photoemission microscopy (SPEM), and soft-X-ray absorption spectroscopy (soft-XAS). The results demonstrate that the introduction of such a polymer-based interlayer allows for more stable cycling and reduces dendritic lithium growth owing to the formation of a more homogeneous, thin, and fluorine-rich passivation layer.
Electrochemical Methods of Transference Number Determination for Polymer Electrolyte Systems: A Comparative Study
Authors: Bublil Shaul , Peta Gayathri , Fayena-Greenstein Miryam , Alon-Yehezkel Hadas , Raskin Ortal , Elias Yuval , Aurbach Doron
Published: November 2022

The transference number for cations, t

+
, is one of the most important parameters for characterizing polymeric and/or composite solid electrolytes. It expresses the contribution of the positive charge carriers to the total conductivity, which in turn reflects the degree of polarization due to the negative carriers in the electrolyte systems. Four electrochemical methods based on different equations commonly used for obtaining t

+
are compared. A series of experiments were conducted with solid polymer electrolytes based on polyethylene oxide with and without TiO2 ceramic additive. Interestingly, the oldest method developed and presented four decades ago, emerges as the most simple, reliable, sensitive, repeatable, and stable option for determining t

+
values over time.
Mn3P2O8/TiN on Titanium Substrate for Superapacitor Electrode with Long Cycle Stability in KOH and Na2SO4 Aqueous Eletrolytes
Authors: Bao Xu , Han Xiong-Wei , Zhang Wei-Bin , Zhou Xia , Zhang Xian-Li , Chai Shan-Shan , Guo Shao-Bo , Long Jianping
Published: November 2022

The limitation of low-cost and high-safety aqueous manganese-based materials for electrochemical energy storage is largely hampered by their poor cyclic stability, which is usually caused by the manganese dissolution and interfacial kinetics. Here we synthesize a composite electrode which possesses unique structural properties for aqueous supercapacitor application and exhibits higher area specific capacitance. The remarkable long cycle stability of Mn3P2O8/TiN on titanium (Mn3P2O8/TiN@Ti) outperforms that most manganese-based pseudocapacitive electrode materials. The designed unique structure is attractive for quick charge migration, which confirms that the appropriate anodizing of substrate, electrodeposition of active substances and their in situ loading, is an efficient strategy to improve kinetics for high power density pseudocapacitive supercapacitor energy storage application.
Rose-like VS2 Self-Assembled from Nanosheets with Superior Sodium Storage Performance
Authors: Zang Haoting , Yang Fei , Cao Shilei , Yang Mingzhi , Liu Weiliang , Ren Manman , Wang Yuanhao
Published: November 2022

Recently, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have exhibited great application potential in the area of renewable energy storage. However, developing anodes for SIBs with excellent cycling stability and high capacity is a great challenge. In recent years, VS2 attracts more attention due to its high specific capacity. In this work, three-dimensional (3D) rose-like VS2 self-assembled from nanosheet was prepared via a solvothermal method using N-methylpyrrolidone as the solvent. The special 3D structure facilitates electron/Na+ transport and can relieve the volume change during Na+ insertion/extraction. Benefitting from the 3D self-assembled structure, VS2 exhibits outstanding cycling stability at high current density. Even when tested at 5 A g−1, the 3D VS2 electrode can maintain a high capacity of 565 mA h g−1 after 350 cycles. Through pseudo-capacitance contribution calculation, we speculate that the high capacitance contribution confers the superior high rate performance to the VS2. This work sheds a new light on the design and preparation 3D VS2, which can be utilized as an excellent anode for SIBs.
Population burst propagation across interacting areas of the brain
Authors: Chen Yu , Douglas Hannah , Medina Bryan J. , Olarinre Motolani , Siegle Joshua H. , Kass Robert E.
Published: November 2022

We developed a novel statistical method for identifying coordinated propagation of activity across populations of spiking neurons, with high temporal accuracy. Using simultaneous recordings from three visual areas we document precise timing relationships on a trial-by-trial basis, and we show how previously existing techniques can fail to discover coordinated activity in cases where the new approach finds very strong cross-area correlation.
Parietofrontal oscillations show hand-specific interactions with top-down movement plans
Authors: Blohm Gunnar , Cheyne Douglas O. , Crawford J. Douglas
Published: November 2022

The brain must generate different motor signals depending on which hand is used. The distribution and timing of hand use/instructed motor plan integration are not understood at the whole brain level. Using MEG we show that different action planning subnetworks code for hand usage and integrating hand use into a hand-specific motor plan. The timing indicates that frontal cortex first creates a general motor plan and then integrates hand specificity to produce a hand-specific motor plan.
Sex Disparity in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Luan Xiaoyi , Niu Penghui , Wang Wanqing , Zhao Lulu , Zhang Xiaojie , Zhao Dongbing , Chen Yingtai
Published: November 2022

Objective. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to ascertain whether sex-based differences influence clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of gastric cancer patients. Background. Gastric cancer in females has received less attention than in males. Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of females with gastric cancer have been reported in several studies with controversial results. Methods. We systematically reviewed clinical studies from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science published up to June 2022. The effect sizes of the included studies were estimated using odds ratios (ORs). Heterogeneity was investigated using the χ2 and I2 tests, while sensitivity analyses were performed to identify the source of substantial heterogeneity. All data used in this study were obtained from previously published studies obviating the need for ethical approval and patient consent. Results. Seventy-six studies with 775,003 gastric cancer patients were included in the meta-analysis. Gastric cancer patients were less likely to be females (

P

 < 0.00001). Female patients were younger in age (

P

 < 0.00001) and showed a higher percentage of distal (

P

 < 0.00001), non-cardia (

P

 < 0.00001), undifferentiated (

P

 < 0.00001), diffuse (

P

 < 0.00001), and signet-ring cell carcinoma (

P

 < 0.00001). Female patients showed better prognosis in both 3-year (

P

 = 0.0003) and 5-year overall survival (OS) (

P

< 0.00001), especially White patients. However, females were associated with lower 5-year OS relative to males in the younger patients (

P

 = 0.0001). Conclusions. In conclusion, gender differences were observed in clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of gastric cancer. Different management of therapy will become necessary for different genders.
Colovesical Fistula: An Uncommon Cause of Hematuria and Rectal Bleeding
Authors: Than Jeffrey K. , Cohen Greg S.
Published: November 2022

Colovesical fistula is an infrequent complication of diverticular disease that presents with pneumaturia, fecaluria, dysuria and, rarely, hematuria or hematochezia. Here we present a case of concurrent hematuria and rectal bleeding arising from a diverticular bleed traversing a previously undiagnosed colovesical fistula. Other causes of colovesical fistula include Crohn’s disease, radiation, and malignancy, though it is most commonly caused by complicated diverticulitis as in this case. Computed tomography (CT) imaging, cystoscopy, and gastrograffin enema have been described as high-yield diagnostic tests. Interestingly, colonoscopy is only successful in diagnosing colovesical fistula in approximately 55% of cases. Management often requires surgical intervention, as in this case, given limited success with conservative management. Colovesical fistula should be considered in patients presenting with fecaluria, pneumaturia, and dysuria as well as in cases of hematuria.
Investigation of Pharmacological Mechanisms of Yinhua Pinggan Granule on the Treatment of Pneumonia through Network Pharmacology and In Vitro
Authors: Jin Liang , Zhang Yumei , Yang Jiehong , Zhou Huifen , Jia Gaozhi , He Yu , Wan Haitong
Published: November 2022

Yinhua pinggan granule (YHPGKL), a traditional Chinese medical compound, could treat pneumonia. Although previous studies demonstrated the protective and therapeutic effects of YHPGKL on pneumonia, its potential molecular mechanisms and its effective components are still elusive. Herein, we performed a network pharmacology analysis to determine the possible signaling pathways involved in the protective effects of components of YHPGKL. A total of 119 components and 257 target proteins of YHPGKL were identified, among which 117 effective components interacted with 113 proteins related to pneumonia. Then, a compound‐effective component‐target protein network was established to screen the effective hub components. The top three effective components, namely luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin, were selected. Moreover, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of 113 proteins revealed a significant enrichment term associated with host immune and anti‐infectious responses. Furthermore, by constructing a protein‐protein interaction network between common proteins, ten hub proteins were identified, among which three hub components hit eight proteins. A further molecular docking analysis confirmed that the three effective hub components had a good affinity with six hub proteins. Eventually, the interactions were further visualized and screened on account of an infectious macrophage model in vitro. The results noted that three components could inhibit proinflammatory related hub genes but had no effect on survival‐related hub genes. Thus, the three effective hub components and corresponding hub genes may play essential roles in the treatment of YHPGKL on pneumonia.
Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Chinvararak Chotiman , Garcia-Borreguero Diego
Published: November 2022

Introduction. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are prevalent in the general population. Moreover, early studies found that the two conditions are associated bidirectionally and lead to poor health outcomes. The prevalence of comorbid MDD in OSA patients could be as high as two-thirds. A sedentary lifestyle and psychological stress in the globalisation age may increase the risk of MDD and OSA. Method. We reported a case of an MDD patient with OSA as well as discussed the assessment method and also reviewed the treatment of both conditions. We aimed to raise awareness for psychiatrists to differentiate other medical conditions when the symptomatology of MDD is atypical and unresponsive to standard psychiatric treatment. Conclusion. Early detection and effective treatment for MDD and OSA are essential to achieve patient outcomes. Furthermore, it can reduce complications from both conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation should be made to determine the diagnoses when physicians suspect overlapping MDD and OSA.
CT-Based Predictor for the Success of 12/14-Fr Ureteral Access Sheath Placement
Authors: Hu Jieping , Yu Yue , Liu Wei , Zhong Jialei , Zhou Xiaochen , Xi Haibo
Published: November 2022

Purpose. Ureteral access sheaths (UAS) are widely used in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and this study aimed to develop a model for predicting the success of UAS placement based on computed tomography. Methods. We analyzed the clinical data of 847 patients who received ureteroscopy. Data on patient and stone characteristics and several computed tomography (CT)-based measurements were collected. A nomogram predicting the success of UAS placement was developed and validated using R software. Results. Two hundred and forty-seven patients were identified. Twenty-five patients (10.1%) failed to pass through the UAS. A model with three factors including the short diameter of ureteral calculi, the short diameter of hydronephrosis, and the diameter of the narrowest part of the renal parenchyma was to be strongly practical and had a high area under the curve on internal validation (80.3%). Using a threshold cutoff of 92%, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting UAS placement were 0.35 and 0.92, respectively. Conclusion. Our study provides a nomogram for predicting the success of UAS placement, and this model could help discriminate patients who are likely to suffer from failed UAS insertion; preoperative ureteral stenting is recommended according to the prediction.
Correlation of Psoas Muscle Index with Fragility Vertebral Fracture: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of Middle-Aged and Elderly Women
Authors: Zhang Yihui , Dilixiati Yilihamu , Jiang Wei , Cao Xiufeng , Chen Yuanyuan , Guo Hui
Published: November 2022

Objective. To investigate the correlation of psoas muscle index (PMI) with fragility vertebral fracture. Methods. A total of 184 middle-aged and elderly women were included in the study. We measured the bilateral psoas muscle area on the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) from computed tomography images and calculated PMI. We observed lateral radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine and assessed vertebral fractures using the Genant semiquantitative method. The T-score, bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar (L)1-4, femoral neck, and trochanter were measured by dual-energyX-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The data was collected and then statistically analyzed. Results. The PMI of the nonosteoporosis group was higher than that of the osteoporosis group (

P

value = 0.006). Height in the nonosteoporosis group was higher than that in the osteoporosis group (

P

value = 0.013). Weight, body mass index (BMI), left psoas muscle area, BMD of the L1-4, femoral neck, femoral trochanter, and T-score in the nonosteoporosis group were higher than those in the osteoporosis group (

P

value <0.001). The right psoas muscle area in the nonosteoporosis group was higher than that in the osteoporosis group (

P

value = 0.008). The incidence of combined thoracolumbar fracture was significantly higher in the osteoporosis group than that in the nonosteoporosis group (

P

value <0.001). For nonosteoporosis subjects, the PMI of the vertebral fracture group was lower than that of the nonvertebral fracture group (

P

value = 0.034). Conclusions. A decrease in height, weight, BMI, bilateral psoas muscle area, and PMI is associated with osteoporosis. Combined thoracolumbar fractures are more common in osteoporosis. Sarcopenia may be an independent risk factor for nonosteoporotic vertebral fractures.
Modeling Limited-Stop Bus Corridor Services with Fare Payment Mode Choice and Trip Purpose Consideration
Authors: Tang Chunyan , Ge Ying-En , Zhang Jiyu , Xu Qi
Published: November 2022

This paper proposes a novel model for optimizing limited-stop bus corridor services with consideration of varied payment modes and different trip purposes. In the proposed model, the bus dwell time at a stop is dependent on the fare payment modes and the number of passengers getting off and waiting at the stop while those with the similar trip purpose are grouped into one user class. Given an origin–destination (OD) passenger trip matrix and a set of candidate bus lines serving a corridor, the proposed model is to minimize the total social cost that consists of the cost to the bus operator and the cost to the passengers. In the formulation of the optimization problem, a weighting parameter is adopted to balance the operator cost and the passenger cost. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the importance of considering passenger flow impacts on bus (and passenger) travel times in the proposed model. We also investigate effects on the optimal limited-stop services (e.g., short-turn, skip-stop, and express) taking into account the choice of fare payment modes (e.g., on-board fare collection including payment by cash, magnetic strip or smart card, off-board fare collection) and different values of travel time due to passenger trip purposes. It is shown that the off-board payment mode would be more efficient in a high-demand corridor, that more passengers prefer to express and skip-stop services rather than normal regular services in the four collection systems, and that different limited-stop service plans should be used for different periods of the day in response to temporal variation in OD passenger travel patterns. The intellectual merit of this paper is not the seemingly obvious conclusions but that the proposed model can handle the problem of limited-stop bus corridor service design with the consideration of fare payment mode choice and trip purposes.
Fu Fang Zhen Zhu Tiao Zhi Capsules Protect against Myocardial Ischemia by Inhibiting Cardiomyocyte Pyroptosis
Authors: Shao Xiaoqi , Huang Bingying , Tan Huiling , Wang Ruonan , Huang Xueying , Diao Hongtao , Cheng Jiawen , Sun Mengxian , Wang Dongwei , Wu Kaili , Yan Meiling , Rong Xianglu , Zhang Yue , Guo Jiao
Published: November 2022

Background. Fu Fang Zhen Zhu Tiao Zhi (FTZ) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription widely used to treat dyslipidemia, metabolic diseases, and diabetic coronary disorders. Cardiomyocyte death and loss of regenerative ability cause cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. FTZ can effectively treat diabetic cardiomyopathy and macrovascular diseases; however, the mechanism behind the phenomenon is still unclear. Here, we determined the mechanism of action of FTZ in treating myocardial infarction. Methods. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with 2.4 or 1.2 g/kg FTZ, or administered saline by oral gavage daily for four weeks, and a 24-hour ligation was administered to the artery. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function. Hematoxylin and eosin and Evans blue/triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining were carried out by staining the cardiac tissue, used to evaluate cardiac function and infarct size. Using western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we determined the relative levels of NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP) 3, ASC, cleaved caspase-l (C-Caspase-1), GSDMD, and GSDMD-N. TUNEL, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine cell death and NLRP3 expression. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Results. FTZ reduced ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte cell death in vivo and H2O2-induced cell death in vitro by maintaining cardiac architecture and restoring cardiac function. FTZ decreased the NLRP3 expression and inhibited pyroptosis-correlated genes, including NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD, C-Caspase-1, and GSDMD-N. NLRP3 overexpression impaired the efficacy of FTZ by inducing pyroptosis. Conclusion. FTZ could preserve cardiac function resulting from ischemic insult by inhibiting pyroptosis, which was partially reversed by NLRP3 overexpression, indicating that NLRP3 could be a potential target of FTZ in treating myocardial infarction.
Equilibrium Decisions on Pricing and the Greenness Degree in Supply Chains under Single- and Cross-Distribution Channels of Green and Nongreen Products and Government Subsidies
Authors: Lee Doo Ho , Yoon Jong-Chul
Published: November 2022

Rapid economic growth and industrialization have brought us material abundance and greater convenience, while also causing socio-environmental problems such as the rapid depletion of resources, unexpected natural disasters, and environmental destruction. For these reasons, environmental issues have attracted public and governmental attention around the world over the past few decades. As a result, environmental sustainability has become a critical indicator for evaluating the success and efficiency of supply chain management schemes. For a sustainable supply chain, many governments are employing subsidy policies to encourage consumers to purchase environment-friendly (green) products. This article considers a supply chain composed of two competing manufacturers and two retailers. The first manufacturer produces a green product, while the second manufacturer produces a nongreen product. Each of the two retailers can sell only a green product, only a nongreen product, or both green and nongreen products. In the market, consumers purchasing the first manufacturer’s green products can receive certain subsidies from the government. The amounts of the government subsidies that a consumer receives depend on the greenness degree of the product. Using a three-stage Stackelberg game framework, this article discusses equilibrium decisions on pricing and greenness for four different distribution channel structures. Major findings of this study reveal that (i) the government subsidy has a positive impact on the greenness degree and the demand for green products; (ii) the government subsidy level depends on the manufacturers’ distribution channel strategy types; and (iii) the greater the environmentally negative impact of a green product, the lower the level of the government subsidy paid for purchasing green products. Based on these findings, this article suggests that policymakers focus on establishing the policies that encourage the purchase of green products for the sustainability of a society and a supply chain.
Association of Calcium and Phosphate Levels with Incident Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Hypoparathyroidism: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Gosmanova Elvira O. , Ayodele Olulade , Chen Kristina , Cook Erin E. , Mu Fan , Young Joshua A. , Rejnmark Lars
Published: November 2022

Objective. Reasons for the increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism are poorly understood. This study evaluated associations between levels of albumin-corrected serum calcium, serum phosphate, and calcium-phosphate product and the odds of CKD development in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism. Design. A retrospective nested case-control study of adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism who had ≥1 prescription for calcitriol who developed CKD and matched controls who did not develop CKD were selected from the IBM® Explorys electronic medical record database. Patients. The study included a cohort of 300 patients for the albumin-corrected serum calcium analysis and 80 patients for the serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product analyses. Measurements. We examined associations between albumin-corrected serum calcium, serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product levels, and the risk of devloping CKD (defined as ≥2 outpatient estimated glomerular filtration values <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 occuring ≥3 months apart or ≥1 diagnostic code for CKD stages 3–5). Results. Individuals who had ≥67% of albumin-corrected serum calcium measurements outside, above, or below the study-defined range (2.00–2.25 mmol/L [8.0–9.0 mg/dL]) had 3.5-, 2.9-, and 2.7-fold higher odds of developing CKD (adjusted odds ratios [95% CI]: 3.46 [1.82–6.56], 2.85 [1.30–6.28], and 2.68 [1.16–6.15]), respectively, compared with patients who had <33% of albumin-corrected calcium measurements in those ranges. There was no association between developing CKD and having any serum phosphate measurements or any calcium-phosphate product measurements above normal population ranges. Conclusion. In adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism, a higher proportion of albumin-corrected calcium measurements outside of the 2.00–2.25 mmol/L (8.0–9.0 mg/dL) range was associated with higher odds of developing CKD.
Flexural Behavior of Insulated Concrete Sandwich Panels using FRP-Jacketed Steel-Composite Connectors
Authors: Wang Yi , Wang Jun , Zhao Donghui , Hota Gangarao , Liang Ruifeng , Hui David
Published: November 2022

This study presented the experimental and theoretical results of insulated concrete Sandwich panels with innovative dumbbell-shaped steel fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite bar (SFCB) connectors under flexural load. The influences of FRP thickness and raised thickness of dumbbell ends of connectors, axial compression ratio, the content of vitrified microspheres in the wythes, and loading direction were discussed. The increase in thickness of a glass FRP (GFRP) jacket on the hybrid bar from 2 to 3 mm led to increased initial cracking load, ultimate load, and flexural stiffness of the Sandwich panels by 75, 49, and 16%, respectively. The increase in the thickness of dumbbell ends from 4 to 6 mm led to increased initial cracking load, ultimate load, and flexural stiffness of the Sandwich panels of 18, 46, and 9%, respectively. The incorporation of vitrified microspheres in concrete wythes resulted in a significant increase in the load-carrying capacity of Sandwich panels but decreased ductility. Increased axial compression ratio from 0/1 to 0.2/1 contributed in improving the crack resistance and ultimate loads of Sandwich panels. Further increase of the axial compression ratio to 0.4/1 led to crushing failure of concrete wythe ends. Specimens under negative loads had higher ultimate loads than the counterparts under positive loads. Three-dimensional finite-element (FE) models were developed to simulate Sandwich panel flexural behavior and numerical results compared with the test data. Then, the verified FE model was used to analyze the influence of the arrangement of dumbbell-shaped SFCB connectors. Increased connector spacing from 550 to 650 mm was found to have an insignificant influence on load-deflection responses. Moreover, analytical solutions for deflection of Sandwich panels under combined axial-flexural load were obtained, in which the effect of slipping between the facade and structural wythes and shear deflection were considered. The predicted deflection at the ultimate load agreed well with the test results. This study provided a theoretical basis and design reference for FRP-jacketed steel-composite connectors in applications of Sandwich wall panels with large insulation layer thickness.
Analysis of Reciprocal Thermal Conductivity on Free Convection Flow along a Wavy Vertical Surface
Authors: Saha Tinni , Parveen Nazma , Islam Tarikul
Published: November 2022

The effects of thermal conductivity which depend on temperature are conversely proportional with the linear function of temperature on free convective flow where the fluid is viscous and incompressible along a heated uniform and the vertical wavy surface has been examined in this study. The boundary layer equations with the associated boundary conditions that govern the flow are converted into a nondimensional form by using an appropriate transformation. In the domain of a vertical plate that is flat, the resulting method of nonlinear PDEs is mapped and then worked out numerically by applying the implicit central finite difference technique with Newton’s quasilinearization method, and the block Thomas algorithm is well known as the Keller-box method. The outputs are obtained in the terms of the heat transferring rate, the frictional coefficient of skin, the isotherms, and streamlines. The outcomes showed that the local heat transferring rate, the local skin friction coefficient, the temperature, and the velocity all are decreasing, and both the thermal layer of boundary and velocity become narrower with the rising values of reciprocal variation of temperature-dependent thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the friction coefficient of skin, the velocity, and the temperature decrease where the friction coefficient of skin and velocity decrease by 43% and 64%, respectively, but the heat transfer rate increases by 61% approximately, and both the boundary layer thermal and velocity become thinner when the Prandtl number increases.
Stacking-Based Ensemble Learning Method for the Recognition of the Pedestrian Crossing Intention
Authors: Zhang Hongjia , Gao Song , Wang Pengwei
Published: November 2022

Accurate recognition of pedestrian crossing intentions is essential for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on urban roads. However, the current pedestrian crossing intention recognition model has the problems of relatively low recognition accuracy and short recognition advance time. Based on the above problems, this paper carried out a study on the recognition model of pedestrian crossing intention. Firstly, the pedestrian and vehicle crossing data were collected through laser radar and a high-definition monitor, and 1980 groups of valid samples were selected. Secondly, the pedestrian crossing intention characterization parameter set was determined through statistical analysis. Finally, this paper proposes a pedestrian crossing intention recognition model based on stacking ensemble learning. The ensemble learning framework integrates random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), long short-term memory network (LSTM), an attention mechanism, and bidirectional LSTM (AT-Bi-LSTM). Compared with traditional machine learning methods, the proposed method shows greater advantages in recognition accuracy. The model recognition accuracy reaches 95.36% when the model is recognized at 0.5 s before crossing the zebra crossing, and the model recognition accuracy is 89.27% when the model is recognized at 1s before crossing the zebra crossing. The research in this paper is of great significance for building a more intelligent pedestrian-vehicle collaboration and promoting the industrial application of the autonomous vehicle.
Severe Hypothyroidism and Large Goiter due to Iodine Deficiency in an Adolescent Male in the United States: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Moore Claire E. , Sasidharan Pillai Sabitha , Austin Juliana , Fredette Meghan E. , Serrano-Gonzalez Monica
Published: November 2022

Acquired hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency is extremely rare in the United States due to the introduction of table salt iodization in the 1920s (Leung et al., 2012). We present the case of an adolescent male with a history of mild autism spectrum disorder and an extremely restrictive diet who was found to have iodine deficiency as the etiology for his rapidly enlarging goiter and antibody-negative hypothyroidism. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was 416 μIU/mL (0.350–5.500 μIU/mL), free thyroxine (T4) was <0.1 ng/dL (0.80–1.80 ng/dL), and triiodothyronine (T3) was 41 ng/dL (82–213 mg/dL) at diagnosis. The patient’s 24-hour urinary iodine was undetectable. He was started on iodine supplementation with rapid visible improvement of goiter within two weeks and normalization of thyroid function tests within four weeks. Thorough dietary history and nutritional screening are important in cases of acquired hypothyroidism and/or goiter. Alternatively, diets that are low in iodized salt, dairy, bread, and seafood should raise concern for iodine deficiency, and patients with suspected or proven iodine deficiency should be screened for hypothyroidism.
Pulmonary Salivary Gland Tumor, Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma: A Literature Review
Authors: Hu Shumin , Gong Jiali , Zhu Xiu , Lu Hongyang
Published: November 2022

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor in the lungs and accounts for 0.1-0.2% of all lung malignancies in adults. It has no specific epidemiological or clinical characteristics. Correct diagnosis requires the combined examinations of images, laboratories, pathology, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) as well as molecular characteristics. PMEC tumors are characterized by squamous, intermediate, and mucus-secreting cells. Currently, histological appearance, mitotic frequency, cellular atypia, and necrocytosis allow the classification of PMEC into low grade or high grade. Molecular changes are crucial to pathological diagnosis. The driver of PMEC seems to be the fusion protein MECT1-MAML2 that is generated from a genetic mutation in t (11; 19) (q21; p13), while other gene mutations are also reported. However, no treatment of PMEC exists so far; surgical excision is still the primary treatment, while the efficacies of chemotherapy or radiotherapy are undefined. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy and immunotherapy showed to have significant therapeutic effects but require more investigation and better understanding. This review focuses on the clinical characteristics, imaging and pathologic features, immunohistochemical examination, mutation analysis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of PMEC.
Accidentals of the DNA Symphony
Authors: Wu Anjui , Attard Gerhardt
Published: November 2022

Cancer epigenome profiling such as DNA methylation (5mC) and DNA hydroxymethylation (5hmC) is emerging as a sensitive approach for cancer detection and risk stratification. 5mC modification has been widely described in many cancer types including prostate cancer; however, the 5hmC landscape is yet to be explored. In this issue of Cancer Research, Sjöström and colleagues have comprehensively incorporated genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic, including 5hmC, data to interrogate the molecular evolution of prostate cancer.

See related article by Sjöström et al., p. 3888
Phase I Study of Niraparib in Combination with Radium-223 for the Treatment of Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Quinn Zachary , Leiby Benjamin , Sonpavde Guru , Choudhury Atish D. , Sweeney Christopher , Einstein David , Szmulewitz Russell , Sartor Oliver , Knudsen Karen , Yang Eddy Shih-Hsin , Kelly Wm. Kevin
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

To identify the safety of niraparib, a PARP inhibitor, in combination with Radium-223 for the treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in men without known BRCA mutations.

Patients and Methods:

Men with progressive mCPRC following ≥1 line of androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy and bone metastases but no documented BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 alterations or bulky visceral disease were included. Niraparib dose was escalated in combination with standard dosing of Radium-223 using a time-to-event continual reassessment method. The highest dose level with a DLT probability <20% was defined as MTD. Secondary endpoints included PSA change and progression-free survival. Exploratory analyses included assessing DNA mutations found in ctDNA as well as gene expression changes assessed in whole blood samples.

Results:

Thirty patients were treated with niraparib and radium-223: 13 patients received 100 mg, 12 received 200 mg, and 5 patients received 300 mg of niraparib. There were six DLT events: two (13%) for neutropenia, two (13%) for thrombocytopenia, whereas fatigue and nausea each occurred once (3%). Anemia (2/13%) and neutropenia (2/13%) were the most common grade 3 adverse events. For patients with prior chemotherapy exposure, the MTD was 100 mg, whereas the MTD for chemotherapy naïve patients was 200 mg. Whole blood gene expression of PAX5 and CD19 was higher in responders and ARG-1, IL2R, and FLT3 expression was higher in nonresponders.

Conclusions:

Combining niraparib with Radium-223 in patients with mCRPC was safe; however, further studies incorporating biomarkers will better elucidate the role of combinations of PARP inhibitors with DNA damaging and other agents.
The RPL/RPS Gene Signature of Melanoma CTCs Associates with Brain Metastasis
Authors: Bowley Tetiana Y. , Lagutina Irina V. , Francis Carol , Sivakumar Sinduja , Selwyn Reed G. , Taylor Erik , Guo Yan , Fahy Bridget N. , Tawfik Bernard , Marchetti Dario
Published: November 2022

Melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) is linked to poor prognosis and low overall survival. We hypothesized that melanoma circulating tumor cells (CTC) possess a gene signature significantly expressed and associated with MBM. Employing a multipronged approach, we provide first-time evidence identifying a common CTC gene signature for ribosomal protein large/small subunits (RPL/RPS) which associate with MBM onset and progression. Experimental strategies involved capturing, transcriptional profiling, and interrogating CTCs, either directly isolated from blood of patients with melanoma at distinct stages of MBM progression or from CTC-driven MBM in experimental animals. Second, we developed the first MRI CTC-derived MBM xenograft model (MRI-MBM CDX) to discriminate MBM spatial and temporal growth, recreating MBM clinical presentation and progression. Third, we performed the comprehensive transcriptional profiling of MRI-MBM CDXs, along with longitudinal monitoring of CTCs from CDXs possessing and/or not possessing MBM. Our findings suggest that enhanced ribosomal protein content/ribogenesis may contribute to MBM onset. Because ribosome modifications drive tumor progression and metastatic development by remodeling CTC translational events, overexpression of the CTC RPL/RPS gene signature could be implicated in MBM development. Collectively, this study provides important insights for relevance of the CTC RPL/RPS gene signature in MBM, and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention to improve patient care for patients with melanoma diagnosed with or at high risk of developing MBM.

Significance:

This study reports first evidence of RPL/RPS gene signature driving melanoma brain metastasis. Complex multilevel approach was performed to identify MBM signature and confirm its relevance to clinical settings. Novel MRI CTC-derived MBM mouse xenograft was established to monitor MBM spatial and temporal development and progression.
Adalimumab Monotherapy in the Treatment of Idiopathic Multifocal Choroiditis: A Case Report
Authors: Maleki Arash , Philip Andrew , Foster C. Stephen
Published: November 2022

In this study, we report a case of multifocal choroiditis that was successfully treated with adalimumab monotherapy. A 25-year-old male presented with a history of bilateral multifocal choroiditis which was resistant to a combination of azathioprine, valacyclovir, and prednisone. Dilated fundoscopy revealed small creamy-yellow lesions around the arcades in both eyes (OU). Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) revealed active hypocyanescent lesions around the arcades and macula OU. Valacyclovir was stopped, adalimumab subcutaneous injections biweekly were added to the regimen, and prednisone was tapered after the second adalimumab loading dose. At 3-month follow-up, ocular examination and ICGA were unremarkable OU. After 30 months of remission, azathioprine was tapered and stopped. After 40 months of remission, adalimumab was tapered and stopped. Four months after stopping adalimumab injections, the patient returned with new floaters in his right eye (OD). ICGA and macular optical coherence tomography detected active lesions OU. The patient was restarted on adalimumab subcutaneous injections as monotherapy. At 3-month follow-up visit, his symptoms had resolved, and ICGA showed resolution of the lesions OD and improvement of the lesions in the left eye (OS). He has been in remission for 6 months at the time of writing since restarting adalimumab monotherapy. We conclude from this study that long-term adalimumab monotherapy can be employed effectively and safely in the re-treatment of patients with multifocal choroiditis resistant to other immunomodulatory therapy even after successful tapering and discontinuation of concurrent therapies.
Clinicopathological Features of Early-Stage Esophageal Carcinosarcoma
Authors: Kubo Kentaro , Oguma Junya , Utsunomiya Daichi , Kanematsu Kyohei , Fujii Yusuke , Kurita Daisuke , Ishiyama Koshiro , Abe Seiichiro , Sekine Shigeki , Daiko Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

Esophageal carcinosarcoma (EC) is a rare malignant tumor, accounting for 0.5–2.8% of esophageal cancers. Most are advanced cancers that are detected as polypoid lesions and are treated with multidisciplinary therapy with a focus on surgery. However, endoscopic findings, pathological findings, and long-term outcomes of early-stage EC are often unclear because there are very few reported cases. This paper reports three cases of EC confined to the mucosal layer. The macroscopic type of all tumors was polypoid lesion with a slightly depressed lesion. All cases were clinically diagnosed as invasive cancer before treatment. Pathological diagnosis of tumor depth showed that one case had invaded the lamina propria mucosae, and two cases had invaded the muscularis mucosae (MM). One case of diagnosed MM had lymphoid invasion and lymph node metastasis to the upper mediastinum. After 1 year, although adjuvant treatment had been administered, there was lymph node recurrence in the left upper clavicle, and thus chemoradiation therapy was performed. Two other cases survived without recurrence. Early-stage EC is characterized by polypoid lesions with a slightly depressed lesion, and it is challenging to predict the histology on biopsy. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine the depth of invasion in the MM and submucosal layer in squamous cell carcinoma by endoscopy alone, and hence depth diagnosis by multiple modalities should be considered.