bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune-Related Endocrine Dysfunctions in Combined Modalities of Treatment: Real-World Data
Authors: Chan Wing-Lok , Choi Horace Cheuk-Wai , Ho Patty Pui-Ying , Lau Johnny Kin-San , Tse Rosa Pui-Ying , Au Joyce , Lam Vivian , Liu Ronald , Ho Isaac , Wong Charlotte , Cheung Ben , Lam Eric , Chow Daryn , Lam Ka-On , Yuen Kwok-Keung , Kwong Dora Lai-Wan
Published: July 2021

The number of immune-related endocrine dysfunctions (irEDs) has concurrently increased with the widespread use of immunotherapy in clinical practice and further expansion of the approved indications for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in cancer management. A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients ≥18 years of age with advanced solid malignancies who had received at least one dose of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) and/or anti-CTLA4 antibodies between January 2014 and December 2019 at a university hospital in Hong Kong. Patients were reviewed up to two months after the last administration of an ICI. The types, onset times and grades of irEDs, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, adrenal insufficiency and immune-related diabetes mellitus, were recorded. Factors associated with irEDs were identified using multivariate analysis. A total of 953 patients (male: 603, 64.0%; median age: 62.0 years) were included. Of these, 580 patients (60.9%) used ICI-alone, 132 (13.9%) used dual-ICI, 187 (19.6%) used an ICI combined with chemotherapy (chemo + ICI), and 54 (5.70%) used immunotherapy with a targeted agent (targeted + ICI). A significantly higher proportion of patients using targeted + ICI had irEDs and hypothyroidism; in contrast, a higher proportion of patients using dual-ICI had adrenal insufficiency. There was no significant difference in the incidence of irED between the younger (<65 years) and older (≥65 years) patients. Using logistic regression, only treatment type was significantly associated with irEDs. Notably, older patients had a higher risk of having immune-related diabetes mellitus. This large, real-world cohort demonstrates that targeted + ICI has a higher risk of overall irED and hypothyroidism. Immunotherapy is safe and well-tolerated regardless of age, but close monitoring of fasting glucose is essential in older populations.
Altona Prognostic Index: A New Prognostic Index for ER-Positive and Her2-Negative Breast Cancer of No Special Type
Authors: Wegscheider Anne-Sophie , Ulm Bernhard , Friedrichs Kay , Lindner Christoph , Niendorf Axel
Published: July 2021

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease representing a number of different histopathologic and molecular types which should be taken into consideration if prognostic or predictive models are to be developed. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the validity of the long-known Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) in a large retrospective study (n = 6654 women with a first primary unilateral and unifocal invasive breast cancer diagnosed and treated between April 1996 and October 2018; median follow-up time of breast cancer cases was 15.5 years [14.9–16.8]) from a single pathological institution. Furthermore, it was intended to develop an even superior risk stratification model considering an additional variable, namely the patient’s age at the time of diagnosis. Heterogeneity of these cases was addressed by focusing on estrogen receptor-positive as well as Her2-negative cases and taking the WHO-defined different tumor types into account. Calculating progression free survival Cox-regression and CART-analysis revealed significantly superior iAUC as well as concordance values in comparison to the NPI based stratification, leading to an alternative, namely the Altona prognostic index (API). The importance of the histopathological tumor type was corroborated by the fact that when calculated separately and in contrast to the most frequent so-called “No Special Type” (NST) carcinomas, neither NPI nor API could show valid prognostic stratification.
ENDOG Impacts on Tumor Cell Proliferation and Tumor Prognosis in the Context of PI3K/PTEN Pathway Status
Authors: Barés Gisel , Beà Aida , Hernández Luís , Navaridas Raul , Felip Isidre , Megino Cristina , Blasco Natividad , Nadeu Ferran , Campo Elías , Llovera Marta , Dolcet Xavier , Sanchis Daniel
Published: July 2021

EndoG influences mitochondrial DNA replication and is involved in somatic cell proliferation. Here, we investigated the effect of ENDOG/Endog expression on proliferation in different tumor models. Noteworthy, ENDOG deficiency reduced proliferation of endometrial tumor cells expressing low PTEN/high p-AKT levels, and Endog deletion blunted the growth of PTEN-deficient 3D endometrial cultures. Furthermore, ENDOG silencing reduced proliferation of follicular thyroid carcinoma and glioblastoma cell lines with high p-AKT expression. High ENDOG expression was associated with a short time to treatment in a cohort of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a B-cell lymphoid neoplasm with activation of PI3K/AKT. This clinical impact was observed in the less aggressive CLL subtype with mutated IGHV in which high ENDOG and low PTEN levels were associated with worse outcome. In summary, our results show that reducing ENDOG expression hinders growth of some tumors characterized by low PTEN activity and high p-AKT expression and that ENDOG has prognostic value for some cancer types.
Synthetic Lethality Screening Highlights Colorectal Cancer Vulnerability to Concomitant Blockade of NEDD8 and EGFR Pathways
Authors: Invrea Federica , Punzi Simona , Petti Consalvo , Minelli Rosalba , Peoples Michael D. , Bristow Christopher A. , Vurchio Valentina , Corrado Alessia , Bragoni Alberto , Marchiò Caterina , Bertotti Andrea , Trusolino Livio , Bardelli Alberto , Isella Claudio , Carugo Alessandro , Draetta Giulio F. , Medico Enzo
Published: July 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease showing significant variability in clinical aggressiveness. Primary and acquired resistance limits the efficacy of available treatments, and identification of effective drug combinations is needed to further improve patients’ outcomes. We previously found that the NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor pevonedistat induced tumor stabilization in preclinical models of poorly differentiated, clinically aggressive CRC resistant to available therapies. To identify drugs that can be effectively combined with pevonedistat, we performed a “drop-out” loss-of-function synthetic lethality screening with an shRNA library covering 200 drug-target genes in four different CRC cell lines. Multiple screening hits were found to be involved in the EGFR signaling pathway, suggesting that, rather than inhibition of a specific gene, interference with the EGFR pathway at any level could be effectively leveraged for combination therapies based on pevonedistat. Exploiting both BRAF-mutant and RAS/RAF wild-type CRC models, we validated the therapeutic relevance of our findings by showing that combined blockade of NEDD8 and EGFR pathways led to increased growth arrest and apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Pathway modulation analysis showed that compensatory feedback loops induced by single treatments were blunted by the combinations. These results unveil possible therapeutic opportunities in specific CRC clinical settings.
Bimetallic Pd-Co Nanoparticles Supported on Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Formic Acid Electrooxidation
Authors: Hossain SK Safdar , Alwi Mohammad Mudassir , Saleem Junaid , Al-Hashem Hussain Taj , McKay Gordon , Mansour Said , Ali Syed Sadiq
Published: July 2021

In this work, bimetallic PdxCoy nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide catalysts were synthesized and tested for formic acid oxidation as potentially efficient and durable electrocatalysts. Graphene oxide was nitrogen doped through hydrothermal chemical reduction with urea as a nitrogen source. The PdxCoy nanoparticles were deposited on the nitrogen-doped graphene oxide support using the impregnation-reduction method with sodium borohydride as a reducing agent and sodium citrate dihydrate as a stabilizing agent. The structural features, such as phases, composition, oxidation states, and particle sizes, of the nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Pd nanoparticle sizes in Pd1Co1/N-rGO, Pd/N-rGO, and Pd1Co1/CNT were 3.5, 12.51, and 4.62 nm, respectively. The electrochemical performance of the catalysts was determined by CO stripping, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. Pd1Co1/N-rGO showed the highest mass activity of 4833.12 mA–1 mg Pd, which was twice that of Pd1Co1/CNT. Moreover, Pd1Co1/N-rGO showed a steady-state current density of 700 mA–1 mg Pd after 5000 s in chronoamperometry carried out at +0.35 V. Apart from the well-known bifunctional effect of Co, nitrogen-doped graphene contributed to the performance enhancement of the Pd1Co1/N-rGO catalyst.
Improving Photoelectrochemical Activity of ZnO/TiO2 Core–Shell Nanostructure through Ag Nanoparticle Integration
Authors: Wang Zeli , Chen Zhen , Dan Jiadong , Chen Weiqiang , Zhou Chenghang , Shen Zexiang , Sum Tze Chien , Wang Xue-Sen
Published: July 2021

In solar energy harvesting using solar cells and photocatalysts, the photoexcitation of electrons and holes in semiconductors is the first major step in the solar energy conversion. The lifetime of carriers, a key factor determining the energy conversion and photocatalysis efficiency, is shortened mainly by the recombination of photoexcited carriers. We prepared and tested a series of ZnO/TiO2-based heterostructures in search of designs which can extend the carrier lifetime. Time-resolved photoluminescence tests revealed that, in ZnO/TiO2 core–shell structure the carrier lifetime is extended by over 20 times comparing with the pure ZnO nanorods. The performance improved further when Ag nanoparticles were integrated at the ZnO/TiO2 interface to construct a Z-scheme structure. We utilized these samples as photoanodes in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell and analyzed their solar water splitting performances. Our data showed that these modifications significantly enhanced the PEC performance. Especially, under visible light, the Z-scheme structure generated a photocurrent density 100 times higher than from the original ZnO samples. These results reveal the potential of ZnO-Ag-TiO2 nanorod arrays as a long-carrier-lifetime structure for future solar energy harvesting applications.
Two Sides to Every Question: Attempts to Activate Chicken Innate Immunity in 2D and 3D Hepatic Cell Cultures
Authors: Sebők Csilla , Tráj Patrik , Vörösházi Júlia , Mackei Máté , Papp Márton , Gálfi Péter , Neogrády Zsuzsanna , Mátis Gábor
Published: July 2021

The liver with resident tissue macrophages is the site of vivid innate immunity, activated also by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) leaking through the intestinal barrier. As gut-derived inflammatory diseases are of outstanding importance in broiler chickens, the present study aimed to establish a proper hepatic inflammatory model by comparing the action of different PAMPs from poultry pathogens on chicken 2D and 3D primary hepatocyte—non-parenchymal cell co-cultures, the latter newly developed with a magnetic bioprinting method. The cultures were challenged by the bacterial endotoxins lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Staphylococcus aureus and by enterotoxin (ETxB) from Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium derived flagellin, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as a model proinflammatory agent and polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) for mimicking viral RNA exposure. Cellular metabolic activity was assessed with the CCK-8 test, membrane damage was monitored with the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay and interleukin-6 and -8 (Il-6 and -8) concentrations were measured in cell culture medium with a chicken specific ELISA. Both LPS and LTA increased the metabolic activity of the 3D cultures, concomitantly decreasing the LDH leakage, while in 2D cultures ETxB stimulated, PMA and poly I:C depressed the metabolic activity. Based on the moderately increased extracellular LDH activity, LTA seemed to diminish cell membrane integrity in 2D and poly I:C in both cell culture models. The applied endotoxins remarkably reduced the IL-8 release of 3D cultured cells, suggesting the effective metabolic adaptation and the presumably initiated anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the 3D spheroids. Notwithstanding that the IL-6 and IL-8 production of 2D cells was mostly not influenced by the endotoxins used, only the higher LTA dose was capable to evoke an IL-8 surge. Flagellin, PMA and poly I:C exerted proinflammatory action in certain concentrations in both 2D and 3D cultures, reflected by the increased cellular IL-6 release. Based on these data, LTA, flagellin, PMA and poly I:C can be considered as potent candidates to induce inflammation in chicken primary hepatic cell cultures, while LPS failed to trigger proinflammatory cytokine production, suggesting the relatively high tolerance of avian liver cells to certain bacterial endotoxins. These results substantiate that the established 3D co-cultures seemed to be proper tools for testing potential proinflammatory molecules; however, the remarkable differences between 2D and 3D models should be addressed and further studied.
Kinins and Their Receptors as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Retinal Pathologies
Authors: Othman Rahmeh , Cagnone Gael , Joyal Jean-Sébastien , Vaucher Elvire , Couture Réjean
Published: July 2021

The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) contributes to retinal inflammation and neovascularization, notably in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Bradykinin type 1 (B1R) and type 2 (B2R) receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that sense and mediate the effects of kinins. While B2R is constitutively expressed and regulates a plethora of physiological processes, B1R is almost undetectable under physiological conditions and contributes to pathological inflammation. Several KKS components (kininogens, tissue and plasma kallikreins, and kinin receptors) are overexpressed in human and animal models of retinal diseases, and their inhibition, particularly B1R, reduces inflammation and pathological neovascularization. In this review, we provide an overview of the KKS with emphasis on kinin receptors in the healthy retina and their detrimental roles in DR and AMD. We highlight the crosstalk between the KKS and the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), which is known to be detrimental in ocular pathologies. Targeting the KKS, particularly the B1R, is a promising therapy in retinal diseases, and B1R may represent an effector of the detrimental effects of RAS (Ang II-AT1R).
Monitoring of Lactate in Interstitial Fluid, Saliva and Sweat by Electrochemical Biosensor: The Uncertainties of Biological Interpretation
Authors: Spehar-Délèze Anna-Maria , Anastasova Salzitsa , Vadgama Pankaj
Published: July 2021

Lactate electrochemical biosensors were fabricated using Pediococcus sp lactate oxidase (E.C. 1.1.3.2), an external polyurethane membrane laminate diffusion barrier and an internal ionomeric polymer barrier (sulphonated polyether ether sulphone polyether sulphone, SPEES PES). In a needle embodiment, a Pt wire working electrode was retained within stainless steel tubing serving as pseudoreference. The construct gave linearity to at least 25 mM lactate with 0.17 nA/mM lactate sensitivity. A low permeability inner membrane was also unexpectedly able to increase linearity. Responses were oxygen dependent at pO2 < 70 mmHg, irrespective of the inclusion of an external diffusion barrier membrane. Subcutaneous tissue was monitored in Sprague Dawley rats, and saliva and sweat during exercise in human subjects. The tissue sensors registered no response to intravenous Na lactate, indicating a blood-tissue lactate barrier. Salivary lactate allowed tracking of blood lactate during exercise, but lactate levels were substantially lower than those in blood (0–3.5 mM vs. 1.6–12.1 mM), with variable degrees of lactate partitioning from blood, evident both between subjects and at different exercise time points. Sweat lactate during exercise measured up to 23 mM but showed highly inconsistent change as exercise progressed. We conclude that neither tissue interstitial fluid nor sweat are usable as surrogates for blood lactate, and that major reappraisal of lactate sensor use is indicated for any extravascular monitoring strategy for lactate.
Is a Parry Fracture—An Isolated Fracture of the Ulnar Shaft—Associated with the Probability of Abuse in Children between 2 and 16 Years Old?
Authors: Hermans Kyra , Fransz Duncan , Walbeehm-Hol Lisette , Hustinx Paul , Staal Heleen
Published: July 2021

A parry fracture is an isolated fracture of the ulnar shaft. It occurs when the ulna receives the full force of an impact when the forearm is raised to protect the face. The aim of this study is to assess a possible association between a parry fracture and the probability of abuse in children. In this retrospective, observational, multicenter study, we identified patients between 2 and 16 years old who had been treated for an isolated ulnar shaft fracture. Patient characteristics were registered, anonymized radiographs were rated, and charts were screened for referral to a child protective team. A total of 36 patients were analyzed. As no referrals were registered during follow-up, the primary outcome was changed to a perpendicular force as trauma mechanism. Univariable regression analysis and independent t-test both showed no significant association between patient factors or radiographic classification, and the reported trauma mechanism. We were unable to determine an association between a parry fracture and the probability of abuse. Since trauma mechanism does have a biomechanical effect on the fracture type, we would advise that a very clear reconstruction (and documentation) of the trauma mechanism should be established when a parry fracture is identified on radiographs.
The Piston Elastic: A Novel Device for Treating Entrapped Ectopic Permanent Molars
Authors: Kim Ik-Hwan , Kang Chung-Min , Song Je Seon , Lee Jaeho , Choi Hyung-Jun , Kim Seong-Oh
Published: July 2021

Ectopic eruption of the permanent molar may absorb the distal root of the primary second molar and may result in a decreased arch length or delayed eruption of the permanent tooth, requiring timely treatment. Therefore, we devised an effective and convenient method to unlock the entrapped tooth using a novel device called a “piston-elastic”. This case report aims to explain the design and clinical application of this piston-elastic and to describe successful cases. Three patients (aged 6, 13, and 16 years) with ectopically erupted maxillary and mandibular molars, respectively, were treated with a piston-elastic. It was bound to the locked molar to improve the eruption path. After a certain time period, the repulsive force pushed the surface of the adjacent tooth, improving the eruption path of the entrapped tooth. The piston-elastic is a novel device that simply and effectively changes the direction of eruption of ectopically entrapped molars. As it can be manufactured and attached to the chair side, impression acquisition on a model cast and laboratory procedures are unnecessary. Compared to existing methods, the piston-elastic can be easily produced and delivered, causes little irritation, and is inexpensive.
Identifying a Unique Communication Mechanism of Thermochromic Liquid Crystal Printing Ink
Authors: Strižić Jakovljević Maja , Lozo Branka , Gunde Marta Klanjšek
Published: July 2021

Thermochromic liquid crystal materials are commonly used in printing inks, opening up a wide range of possible applications. In order to ensure and control the most accurate application, the occurrence of the so-called colour play effect, i.e., the appearance of iridescent (rainbow) colours as a function of temperature, must be determined precisely. For this purpose, the temperature-dependent reflection of a sample must be measured using a spectrometer with an integrating sphere. The same values should be obtained for each sample containing the same thermochromic liquid crystalline material, irrespective of the spectrometer used, integrating sphere, layer thickness and the surface properties of the substrate. To describe this intrinsic property of the thermochromic liquid crystal material, the term communication mechanism might be considered. The research has shown how this mechanism is obtained experimentally.
Temperature-Modulated Pyroelectricity Measurements of a Thin Ferroelectric Crystal with In-Plane Polarization and the Thermal Analysis Based on One-Dimensional Layer Models
Authors: Yamamoto Kaoru , Kawasaki Ayumi , Chinen Takumi , Ryugo Kayo
Published: July 2021

A temperature-modulated pyroelectricity measurement system for a small single crystal is developed and applied to standard sample measurements performed on a thin single crystal of lithium niobate. The modulation measurement is based on the AC technique, in which the temperature of the sample is periodically oscillated, and the synchronized pyroelectric signal is extracted using a lock-in amplifier. Temperature modulation is applied by irradiating periodic light on the sample placed in the heat exchange gas. To apply this technique to the transparent reference sample, a commercially available black resin is coated on the sample’s surface to absorb the light energy and transmits it to the specimen. The experimental results are analyzed using a two-layer heat transfer model to verify the effect of the light-absorbing layer as well as the radiative temperature modulation system.
Advancing Academic Cancer Clinical Trials Recruitment in Canada
Authors: Xu Rebecca Y. , Kato Diana , Pond Gregory R. , Sundquist Stephen , Schoales James , Lalani Saher , Dancey Janet E.
Published: July 2021

The Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN) was established in 2014 to address the decline in academic cancer clinical trials (ACCT) activity. Funding was provided to cancer centres to conduct a Portfolio of ACCTs. Larger centres received core funding and were paired with smaller centres to enable support and sharing of resources. All centres were eligible for incentive-based funding for recruitment above pre-3CTN baseline. Established performance measures were collected and tracked. The overall recruitment target was 50% above pre-3CTN baseline by Year 4. An analysis was completed to identify predictive success factors and descriptive statistics were used to summarize site characteristics and outcomes. From 2014–2018, a total of 11,275 patients were recruited to 559 Portfolio trials, an overall increase of 59.6% above pre-3CTN baseline was observed in Year 4. Twenty-five (51%) adult centres met the Year 4 recruitment target and the overall recruitment target was met within three years. Three factors that correlated with sites’ achieving recruitment targets were: time period, region and number of baseline trials. 3CTN was successful in meeting its objectives and will continue to support ACCTs and member cancer centres, monitor performance over time and seek continued funding to ensure success, better trial access and outcomes for patients.
Narratives of Survivorship: A Study of Breast Cancer Pathographies and Their Place in Cancer Rehabilitation
Authors: Mohlin Åsa , Bernhardsson Katarina
Published: July 2021

The focus on cancer rehabilitation has increased, but breast cancer patients still report unmet rehabilitation needs. Since many women today will live long beyond their diagnosis, there are multiple challenges for the healthcare system in supporting these women in their new life situation. A more individualized approach is seen as necessary to optimize the rehabilitation for survivors. Pathographies, i.e., autobiographical or biographical accounts of experiences of illness, expose us to personal accounts of the journey through illness and treatment, offering us details, emotions, phrasings, and imagery from an individual perspective. In this literary study, we have analyzed two contemporary Swedish-speaking pathographies about breast cancer. In our analysis, we have presented perspectives on survivorship, and the authors’ ways of conveying their breast cancer experiences through narrative. The pathographies envision the prominent impact the breast cancer has on the authors’ lives. Narratives of survivorship have the potential to complement the more general medical knowledge with their nuanced and multifaceted stories of breast cancer. Learning from this type of material may improve the understanding of the complexity of breast cancer survivorship issues. This may be a way to become more attuned to identifying individual needs and preferences of breast cancer patients.
Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen Assay in a Resource-Limited Setting in Pakistan
Authors: Abid Adeel , Uddin Murad , Muhammad Taj , Awan Safia , Applegate Tanya , Dore Gregory J. , Cloherty Gavin , Hamid Saeed
Published: July 2021

The diagnosis of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be challenging due to its cost and a lack of access to centralized testing. There is an urgent need to develop simplified HCV testing algorithms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of a Hepatitis C core antigen (HCVcAg) assay in a decentralized, resource-limited setting. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study from a highly endemic area of Karachi, Pakistan. Between October 2019 and July 2020, subjects aged 12 years and above who screened positive for HCV antibodies were simultaneously tested for HCV RNA (Xpert HCV Viral Load, GeneXpert® IV, Cepheid, France) and HCVcAg (ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay, Abbott® Diagnostics) to confirm active HCV infection. An Abbott ARCHITECT® i1000SR Immunoassay Analyser was installed at a local district hospital as a point-of-care (POC) facility for HCVcAg testing, while samples for HCV RNA were tested in a central lab. Two hundred individuals (mean age 46.4 ± 14.5 years, 71.5% females), who screened positive for HCV antibody, were included in the study. HCV RNA was detected in 128 (64.0%) while HCVcAg was reactive in 119 (59.5%) cases. Performance of the Immunoassay Analyser was excellent with a higher throughput and quicker readout value compared to the GeneXpert System. The sensitivity and specificity of HCVcAg (≥10 fmol/L) at HCV RNA thresholds of ≥12 was 99.1% (95% CI: 95–100%) and 87.6% (95%CI: 78.4–94%). A strong agreement was observed between the HCVcAg assay and HCV RNA. The ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay showed high sensitivity and specificity compared to HCV RNA in a decentralized, resource-limited setting. It can therefore be used as a confirmatory test in HCV elimination programs, particularly for low-income countries such as Pakistan.
Molecular Imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT and 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT in Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica Generalisata
Authors: Holzgreve Adrien , Fabritius Matthias P. , Knösel Thomas , Mittlmeier Lena M. , Rübenthaler Johannes , Tiling Reinhold , Auernhammer Christoph J. , Bartenstein Peter , Unterrainer Marcus
Published: July 2021

Benign so-called “brown tumors” secondary to hyperparathyroidism are a rare diagnostic pitfall due to their impressively malignant-like character in various imaging modalities. We present the case of a 65-year-old male patient with multiple unclear osteolytic lesions on prior imaging suspicious for metastatic malignant disease. Eventually, findings of 18F-FDG PET/CT staging and 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy resulted in revision of the initially suspected malignant diagnosis. This case illustrates how molecular imaging findings non-invasively corroborate the correct diagnosis of osteitis fibrosa cystica generalisata with the formation of multiple benign brown tumors.
Postmortem Cardiopulmonary Pathology in Patients with COVID-19 Infection: Single-Center Report of 12 Autopsies from Lausanne, Switzerland
Authors: Berezowska Sabina , Lefort Karine , Ioannidou Kalliopi , Ndiaye Daba-Rokhya , Maison Damien , Petrovas Constantinos , Rotman Samuel , Piazzon Nathalie , Milowich Dina , Sala Nathalie , Tsai Chun-Yi , Multone Eleonore , Bochud Pierre-Yves , Oddo Mauro , Bisig Bettina , de Leval Laurence
Published: July 2021

We report postmortem cardio-pulmonary findings including detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue in 12 patients with COVID-19. The 5 women and 7 men (median age: 73 years; range 35–96) died 6–38 days after onset of symptoms (median: 14.5 days). Eight patients received mechanical ventilation. Ten patients showed diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), 7 as exudative and 3 as proliferative/organizing DAD. One case presented as acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia. Seven patients (58%) had acute bronchopneumonia, 1/7 without associated DAD and 1/7 with aspergillosis and necrotic bronchitis. Microthrombi were present in 5 patients, only in exudative DAD. Reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR detected high virus amounts in 6 patients (50%) with exudative DAD and symptom-duration ≤14 days, supported by immunohistochemistry and in-situ RNA hybridization (RNAscope). The 6 patients with low viral copy levels were symptomatic for ≥15 days, comprising all cases with organizing DAD, the patient without DAD and one exudative DAD. We show the high prevalence of DAD as a reaction pattern in COVID-19, the high number of overlying acute bronchopneumonia, and high-level pulmonary virus detection limited to patients who died ≤2 weeks after onset of symptoms, correlating with exudative phase of DAD.
Shannon Entropy Loss in Mixed-Radix Conversions
Authors: Vennos Amy , Michaels Alan
Published: July 2021

This paper models a translation for base-2 pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) to mixed-radix uses such as card shuffling. In particular, we explore a shuffler algorithm that relies on a sequence of uniformly distributed random inputs from a mixed-radix domain to implement a Fisher–Yates shuffle that calls for inputs from a base-2 PRNG. Entropy is lost through this mixed-radix conversion, which is assumed to be surjective mapping from a relatively large domain of size 2J to a set of arbitrary size n. Previous research evaluated the Shannon entropy loss of a similar mapping process, but this previous bound ignored the mixed-radix component of the original formulation, focusing only on a fixed n value. In this paper, we calculate a more precise formula that takes into account a variable target domain radix, n, and further derives a tighter bound on the Shannon entropy loss of the surjective map, while demonstrating monotonicity in a decrease in entropy loss based on increased size J of the source domain 2J. Lastly, this formulation is used to specify the optimal parameters to simulate a card-shuffling algorithm with different test PRNGs, validating a concrete use case with quantifiable deviations from maximal entropy, making it suitable to low-power implementation in a casino.
Contextuality in Classical Physics and Its Impact on the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Wallentin Fritiof
Published: July 2021

It is shown that the hallmark quantum phenomenon of contextuality is present in classical statistical mechanics (CSM). It is first shown that the occurrence of contextuality is equivalent to there being observables that can differentiate between pure and mixed states. CSM is formulated in the formalism of quantum mechanics (FQM), a formulation commonly known as the Koopman–von Neumann formulation (KvN). In KvN, one can then show that such a differentiation between mixed and pure states is possible. As contextuality is a probabilistic phenomenon and as it is exhibited in both classical physics and ordinary quantum mechanics (OQM), it is concluded that the foundational issues regarding quantum mechanics are really issues regarding the foundations of probability.
Time-Delay Identification Using Multiscale Ordinal Quantifiers
Authors: Soriano Miguel C. , Zunino Luciano
Published: July 2021

Time-delayed interactions naturally appear in a multitude of real-world systems due to the finite propagation speed of physical quantities. Often, the time scales of the interactions are unknown to an external observer and need to be inferred from time series of observed data. We explore, in this work, the properties of several ordinal-based quantifiers for the identification of time-delays from time series. To that end, we generate artificial time series of stochastic and deterministic time-delay models. We find that the presence of a nonlinearity in the generating model has consequences for the distribution of ordinal patterns and, consequently, on the delay-identification qualities of the quantifiers. Here, we put forward a novel ordinal-based quantifier that is particularly sensitive to nonlinearities in the generating model and compare it with previously-defined quantifiers. We conclude from our analysis on artificially generated data that the proper identification of the presence of a time-delay and its precise value from time series benefits from the complementary use of ordinal-based quantifiers and the standard autocorrelation function. We further validate these tools with a practical example on real-world data originating from the North Atlantic Oscillation weather phenomenon.
The Effects of Academic Self-Efficacy on Vocational Students Behavioral Engagement at School and at Firm Internships: A Model of Engagement-Value of Achievement Motivation
Authors: Hong Jon-Chao , Zhang Hui-Ling , Ye Jian-Hong , Ye Jhen-Ni
Published: July 2021

There has been a marked increase in internship participation in recent decades. Many students who take cooperative programs consider internships to be the most appropriate entry point into their chosen careers. However, few studies have investigated factors related to internships from an engagement-value perspective that can influence the intention to continue doing internships with firms. This study concluded that academic self-efficacy was positively related to school and firm engagement; school engagement did not significantly relate to, but firm engagement did positively relate to the perceived usefulness of internships; and perceived usefulness of internships was positively related to intention to continue doing internships.
Multi-Objective Optimization of a Battery-Supercapacitor Hybrid Energy Storage System Based on the Concept of Cyber-Physical System
Authors: Pan Chenyun , Tao Shengyu , Fan Hongtao , Shu Mengyao , Zhang Yong , Sun Yaojie
Published: July 2021

Optimal operation of energy storage systems plays an important role in enhancing their lifetime and efficiency. This paper combines the concepts of the cyber–physical system (CPS) and multi-objective optimization into the control structure of the hybrid energy storage system (HESS). Owing to the time-varying characteristics of HESS, combining real-time data with physical models via CPS can significantly promote the performance of HESS. The multi-objective optimization model designed in this paper can improve the utilization of supercapacitors, reduce energy consumption, and prevent the state of charge (SOC) of HESS from exceeding the limitation. The new control scheme takes the characteristics of the components of HESS into account and is beneficial in reducing battery short-term power cycling and high discharge currents. The rain-flow counting algorithm is applied for battery life prediction to quantify the benefits of the HESS under the control scheme proposed. A much better power-sharing relationship between the supercapacitor and the lithium–ion battery (LiB) can be observed from the SIMULINK results and the case study with our new control scheme. Moreover, compared to the traditional low-pass filter control method, the battery lifetime is quantifiably increased from 3.51 years to 10.20 years while the energy efficiency is improved by 1.56%.
Mobile Communications for Tourism and Hospitality: A Review of Historical Evolution, Present Status, and Future Trends
Authors: Chen Sirong , Law Rob , Zhang Mu , Si Yuqi
Published: July 2021

As the fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication technology captures public attention, reviewing the first to fourth generations with the anticipated implications of 5G and afterward, and future research would present a useful value to the literature. This study uses a systematic content analysis methodology to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary review of mobile communication research in tourism and hospitality to help academic researchers and industry practitioners understand the research area. The study also analyzes the future changes that mobile communication technologies and their applications will bring to tourism and hospitality research trends and industry practices. This study not only contributes to identifying some research gaps in the extant research, but can also provide significant theoretical guidance and practical implications for further academic and industrial research related to mobile communication technologies in tourism and hospitality.
Improving Semi-Supervised Learning for Audio Classification with FixMatch
Authors: Grollmisch Sascha , Cano Estefanía
Published: July 2021

Including unlabeled data in the training process of neural networks using Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL) has shown impressive results in the image domain, where state-of-the-art results were obtained with only a fraction of the labeled data. The commonality between recent SSL methods is that they strongly rely on the augmentation of unannotated data. This is vastly unexplored for audio data. In this work, SSL using the state-of-the-art FixMatch approach is evaluated on three audio classification tasks, including music, industrial sounds, and acoustic scenes. The performance of FixMatch is compared to Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) trained from scratch, Transfer Learning, and SSL using the Mean Teacher approach. Additionally, a simple yet effective approach for selecting suitable augmentation methods for FixMatch is introduced. FixMatch with the proposed modifications always outperformed Mean Teacher and the CNNs trained from scratch. For the industrial sounds and music datasets, the CNN baseline performance using the full dataset was reached with less than 5% of the initial training data, demonstrating the potential of recent SSL methods for audio data. Transfer Learning outperformed FixMatch only for the most challenging dataset from acoustic scene classification, showing that there is still room for improvement.
Dual-Band/Dual-Mode Rat-Race/Branch-Line Coupler Using Split Ring Resonators
Authors: Ghaffarian Mohammad Saeid , Moradi Gholamreza , Khajehpour Somayyeh , Honari Mohammad Mahdi , Mirzavand Rashid
Published: July 2021

A novel dual-band/dual-mode compact hybrid coupler which acts as a dual-band branch-line coupler at the lower band and as a rat-race coupler at the higher band is presented in this paper. One of the most interesting features of the proposed structure is that outputs of the proposed coupler in each mode of operation are on the same side. This unique design is implemented using artificial transmission lines (ATLs) based on open split ring resonators (OSRR). The low-cost miniaturized coupler could be operated as a dual-band 90° branch-line coupler at 3.3 and 3.85 GHz and 180° rat-race coupler at 5.3 GHz. The proposed coupler could be utilized in the antenna array feeding circuit to form the antenna beam. The structure’s analytical circuit design based on its equivalent circuit model is provided and verified by measurement results.
Real-Time Sentiment Analysis for Polish Dialog Systems Using MT as Pivot
Authors: Wołk Krzysztof
Published: July 2021

We live in a time when dialogue systems are becoming a very popular tool. It is estimated that in 2021 more than 80% of communication with customers on the first line of service will be based on chatbots. They enter not only the retail market but also various other industries, e.g., they are used for medical interviews, information gathering or preliminary assessment and classification of problems. Unfortunately, when these work incorrectly it leads to dissatisfaction. Such systems have the possibility of contacting a human consultant with a special command, but this is not the point. The dialog system should provide a good, uninterrupted and fluid experience and not show that it is an artificial creation. Analysing the sentiment of the entire dialogue in real time can provide a solution to this problem. In our study, we focus on studying the methods of analysing the sentiment of dialogues based on machine learning for the English language and the morphologically complex Polish language, which also represents a language with a small amount of training resources. We analyse the methods directly and use the machine translator as an intermediary, thus checking the quality changes between models based on limited resources and those based on much larger English but machine translated texts. We manage to obtain over 89% accuracy using BERT-based models. We make recommendations in this regard, also taking into account the cost aspect of implementing and maintaining such a system.
Sensorless Control of Voltage Peaks in Class-E Single-Ended Resonant Inverter for Induction Heating Rice Cooker
Authors: Oh Yongseung , Yeon Jaeeul , Kang Jayoon , Galkin Ilya , Oh Wonsoek , Cho Kyumin
Published: July 2021

Single-ended (SE) resonant inverters are widely used as power converters for high-pressure rice cooker induction, with 1200 V insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) being used as switching devices for kW-class products. When voltage fluctuations occur at the input stage of an SE resonant inverter, the resonant voltage applied to the IGBT can be directly affected, potentially exceeding the breakdown voltage of the IGBT, resulting in its failure. Consequently, the resonant voltage should be limited to below a safety threshold—hardware resonant voltage limiting methods are generally used to do so. This paper proposes a sensorless resonant voltage control method that limits the increase in the resonant voltage caused by overvoltage or supply voltage fluctuations. By calculating and predicting the resonance voltage through the analysis of the resonance circuit, the resonance voltage is controlled not to exceed the breakdown voltage of the IGBT. The experimental results of a 1.35 kW SE resonant inverter for a high-pressure induction heating rice cooker were used to verify the validity of the proposed sensorless resonant voltage limiting method.
Mapping of Meteorological Observations over the Island of Ireland to Enhance the Understanding and Prediction of Rain Erosion in Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Nash James W. K. , Zekos Iasonas , Stack Margaret M.
Published: July 2021

Leading edge erosion is becoming increasingly important as wind turbine size and rainfall are predicted to increase. Understanding environmental conditions is key for laboratory testing, maintenance schedules and lifetime estimations to be improved, which in turn could reduce costs. This paper uses weather data in conjunction with a rain texture model and wind turbine RPM curve to predict and characterise rain erosion conditions across Ireland during rainfall events in terms of droplet size, temperature, humidity and chemical composition, as well as the relative erosivity, in terms of number of annual impacts and kinetic energy, as well as seasonal variations in these properties. Using a linear regression, the total annual kinetic energy, mean temperature and the mean humidity during impact are mapped geospatially. The results indicate that the west coast of Ireland and elevated regions are more erosive with higher kinetic energy. During rain events, northern regions tend to have lower temperatures and lower humidities and mountainous regions have lower temperatures and higher humidities. Irish rain has high levels of sea salt, and in recent years, only a slightly acidic pH. Most erosion likely occurs during winters with frequent rain infused with salt due to increased winds. After this analysis, it is concluded that Ireland’s largest wind park (Galway) is placed in a moderate-highly erosive environment and that RET protocols should be revisited.
Results-Based Financing (RBF) for Modern Energy Cooking Solutions: An Effective Driver for Innovation and Scale?
Authors: Stritzke Susann , Sakyi-Nyarko Carlos , Bisaga Iwona , Bricknell Malcolm , Leary Jon , Brown Edward
Published: July 2021

Results-based financing (RBF) programmes in the clean cooking sector have gained increasing donor interest over the last decade. Although the risks and advantages of RBF have been discussed quite extensively for other sectors, especially health services, there is limited research-documented experience of its application to clean cooking. Due to the sheer scale of the important transition from ‘dirty’ to clean cooking for the 4 billion people who lack access, especially in the Global South, efficient and performance-proven solutions are urgently required. This paper, undertaken as part of the work of the UKAid-funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, aims to close an important research gap by reviewing evidence-based support mechanisms and documenting essential experiences from previous and ongoing RBF programmes in the clean cooking and other sectors. On this basis, the paper derives key strategic implications and learning lessons for the global scaling of RBF programmes and finds that qualitative key performance indicators such as consumer acceptance as well as longer-term monitoring are critical long-term success factors for RBF to ensure the continued uptake and use of clean cooking solutions (CCS), however securing the inclusion of these indicators within programmes remains challenging. Finally, by discussing the opportunities for the evolution of RBF into broader impact funding programmes and the integration of energy access and clean cooking strategies through multi-sector approaches, the paper illustrates potential steps to enhance the impact of RBF in this sector in the future.
Technical Limits of Passivity-Based Control Gains for a Single-Phase Voltage Source Inverter
Authors: Rymarski Zbigniew , Bernacki Krzysztof
Published: July 2021

Passivity-based control (PBC) seems to be predicted for the control algorithms in the voltage source inverters (VSI) for voltage backup systems. This paper presents limitations of the improved (IPBC) version of the PBC (directly measuring the output voltage) maximum voltage and current gains. In a microprocessor-controlled inverter, these depend on the PWM modulator dynamic properties, the switching frequency, the modulation index value (avoiding modulator saturation and enabling the rapid increase of the filter inductor current), and the parameters of the VSI output filter. A single switching period delay of the digital PWM modulator was considered in the theoretical calculations based on a discrete inverter model. The simulations for the standard nonlinear rectifier RC load enabled the initial adjustment of the IPBC border gains, which depended on the switching frequency. Some small harmonics oscillations of the output voltage were acceptable for the test rectifier RC load or dynamic load. However, oscillations of the inductor current increased the power losses in the coil core. Experimental verification of the simulation results using a laboratory VSI model is also presented.