bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiomics combined with transcriptomics to predict response to immunotherapy from patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for advanced NSCLC
Authors: Bouhamama Amine , Leporq Benjamin , Faraz Khuram , Foy Jean-Philippe , Boussageon Maxime , Pérol Maurice , Ortiz-Cuaran Sandra , Ghiringhelli François , Saintigny Pierre , Beuf Olivier , Pilleul Frank
Published: May 2023

Introduction

In this study, we aim to build radiomics and multiomics models based on transcriptomics and radiomics to predict the response from patients treated with the PD-L1 inhibitor.

Materials and methods

One hundred and ninety-five patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were included. For all patients, 342 radiomic features were extracted from pretreatment computed tomography scans. The training set was built with 110 patients treated at the Léon Bérard Cancer Center. An independent validation cohort was built with the 85 patients treated in Dijon. The two sets were dichotomized into two classes, patients with disease control and those considered non-responders, in order to predict the disease control at 3 months. Various models were trained with different feature selection methods, and different classifiers were evaluated to build the models. In a second exploratory step, we used transcriptomics to enrich the database and develop a multiomic signature of response to immunotherapy in a 54-patient subgroup. Finally, we considered the HOT/COLD status. We first trained a radiomic model to predict the HOT/COLD status and then prototyped a hybrid model integrating radiomics and the HOT/COLD status to predict the response to immunotherapy.

Results

Radiomic signature for 3 months’ progression-free survival (PFS) classification: The most predictive model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.94 on the training set and 0.65 on the external validation set. This model was obtained with the t-test selection method and with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Multiomic signature for PFS classification: The most predictive model had an AUROC of 0.95 on the training set and 0.99 on the validation set. Radiomic model to predict the HOT/COLD status: the most predictive model had an AUROC of 0.93 on the training set and 0.86 on the validation set. HOT/COLD radiomic hybrid model for PFS classification: the most predictive model had an AUROC of 0.93 on the training set and 0.90 on the validation set.

Conclusion

In conclusion, radiomics could be used to predict the response to immunotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. The use of transcriptomics or the HOT/COLD status, together with radiomics, may improve the working of the prediction models.
The effectiveness of pre-contoured titanium alloy rods in inducing thoracic kyphosis after sequential spinal releases in an in vitro biomechanical model
Authors: Shi Jinhui , Ordway Nathaniel R. , Sun Mike H. , Albanese Stephen A. , Lavelle William F.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Evaluate the ability of pre-contoured rods to induce thoracic kyphosis (TK) in human cadaveric spines and determine the effectiveness of sequential surgical adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) release procedures.

Methods

Six thoracolumbar (T3-L2) spine specimens were instrumented with pedicle screws bilaterally (T4–T12). Over correction using pre-contoured rods was performed for intact condition and Cobb angle was measured. Rod radius of curvature (RoC) was measured pre- and post-reduction. The process was repeated following sequential release procedures of (1) interspinous and supraspinous ligaments (ISL); (2) ligamentum flavum; (3) Ponte osteotomy; (4) posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL); and (5) transforaminal discectomy. Cobb measurements determined the effective contribution of release on TK and RoC data displayed effects of reduction to the rods.

Results

The intact TK (T4–12) was 38.0° and increased to 51.7° with rod reduction and over correction. Each release resulted in 5°–7°of additional kyphosis; the largest releases were ISL and PLL. All releases resulted in significant increases in kyphosis compared to intact with rod reduction and over correction. Regionally, kyphosis increased ∼2° for each region following successive releases. Comparing RoC before and after reduction showed significant 6° loss in rod curvature independent of release type.

Conclusion

Kyphosis increased in the thoracic spine using pre-contoured and over corrected rods. Subsequent posterior releases provided a substantial, meaningful clinical change in the ability to induce additional kyphosis. Regardless of the number of releases, the ability of the rods to induce and over correct kyphosis was reduced following reduction.
Feasibility and safety of a self-developed sleeve for the endoscopic removal of refractory foreign body incarceration
Authors: Yu Guangqiu , Li Li , Zhang Yirui , Zhong Xiaohuan , Wang Jing , Jiang Ling , Hu Duanmin , Zhou Weixia
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of a novel self-designed sleeve for the endoscopic removal of a refractory incarcerated foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGIT).

Methods

An interventional study was conducted between June and December 2022. A total of 60 patients who underwent an endoscopic removal of a refractory incarcerated foreign body from the UGIT were randomly allocated to the self-developed sleeve and the conventional transparent cap. The study evaluated and compared the operation time, successful removal rate, new injury length at the entrance of the esophagus, new injury length at the impaction site, visual field clarity, and postoperative complications between the two groups.

Results

The success rates of the two cohorts in the foreign body removal display no significant discrepancy (100% vs. 93%, P = 0.529). Nevertheless, the methodology of the novel overtube-assisted endoscopic foreign body removal has culminated in a significant reduction in the removal duration [40 (10, 50) min vs. 80 (10, 90) min, P = 0.01], reduction in esophageal entrance traumas [0 (0, 0) mm vs. 4.0 (0, 6) mm, P < 0.001], mitigation of injuries at the location of the foreign body incarceration [0 (0, 2) mm vs. 6.0 (3, 8) mm, P < 0.001], an enhanced visual field (P < 0.001), and a decrement in postoperative mucosal bleeding (23% vs. 67%, P < 0.001). The self-developed sleeve effectively negated the advantages of incarceration exclusion during removal.

Conclusion

The study findings support the feasibility and safety of the self-developed sleeve for the endoscopic removal of a refractory incarcerated foreign body in the UGIT, with advantages over the conventional transparent cap.
Multiple potential recombination events among Newcastle disease virus genomes in China between 1946 and 2020
Authors: Bahoussi Amina Nawal , Shah Pir Tariq , Zhao Jia-Qi , Wang Pei-Hua , Guo Yan-Yan , Wu Changxin , Xing Li
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) is a highly adaptable virus with large genetic diversity that has been widely studied for its oncolytic activities and potential as a vector vaccine. This study investigated the molecular characteristics of 517 complete NDV strains collected from 26 provinces across China between 1946-2020.

Methods

Herein, phylogenetic, phylogeographic network, recombination, and amino acid variability analyses were performed to reveal the evolutionary characteristics of NDV in China.

Results and discussions

Phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of two major groups: GI, which comprises a single genotype Ib, and GII group encompassing eight genotypes (I, II, III, VI. VII. VIII, IX and XII). The Ib genotype is found to dominate China (34%), particularly South and East China, followed by VII (24%) and VI (22%). NDV strains from the two identified groups exhibited great dissimilarities at the nucleotide level of phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), fusion protein (F), and haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) genes. Consistently, the phylogeographic network analysis revealed two main Network Clusters linked to a possible ancestral node from Hunan (strain MH289846.1). Importantly, we identified 34 potential recombination events that involved mostly strains from VII and Ib genotypes. A recombinant of genotype XII isolated in 2019 seems to emerge newly in Southern China. Further, the vaccine strains are found to be highly involved in potential recombination. Therefore, since the influence of recombination on NDV virulence cannot be predicted, this report’s findings need to be considered for the security of NDV oncolytic application and the safety of NDV live attenuated vaccines.
Low-Damage Corn Threshing Technology and Corn Threshing Devices: A Review of Recent Developments
Authors: Li Xinping , Zhang Wantong , Xu Shendi , Du Zhe , Ma Yidong , Ma Fuli , Liu Jing
Published: May 2023

Corn is a crucial crop and has a vital application value in many aspects of our lives. Mechanical grain harvesting is the developing direction of corn harvesting technology, with corn threshing as its most imperative procedure. The quality of the threshing device of the corn harvester has a major influence on its damage rate, loss rate, and other parameters. Therefore, it is of great significance to effectively lower the damage rate in the process of corn threshing. This review presents the research progress and the application status of corn threshing technology and corn threshing machinery. The conclusions and suggestions on low-damage corn threshing technology and corn threshing machinery are summarized to provide a reference for the reduction in the damage rate of mechanical grain harvesting and promote the development of mechanical grain harvesting technology.
Effects of the Ventilation System by Using Jet Fans during a Fire in Road Tunnels
Authors: Nematollahi Sarvestani Amir , Oreste Pierpaolo
Published: May 2023

People inside a road tunnel may be in grave danger if there is a fire. When a fire is developing, mechanical ventilation can be crucial in protecting occupants and facilitating the arrival of emergency crews. In this paper, a new calculation method that can analyze the evolution of the fire and of the airflow is illustrated. An assumed fire inside an 800 m long one-way road tunnel in Northern Italy was dealt with using the developed method. Subsequently, the acquired results were successfully compared to those of numerical modeling. By varying the position of the fire inside the studied tunnel, it was then possible to detect situations of high risk for the people when the fire is located at a limited distance from the upstream entrance. The newly developed calculation procedure was then able to verify how a simple different positioning of the pairs of jet fans inside the tunnel can eliminate the risks that people intent on escaping towards the upstream entrance can be reached by the fire fumes (back-layering phenomenon). It can therefore be a useful tool to improve the jet fan design in one-way road tunnels in accordance with safety principles.
Comparison of Ultra-Sonication and Microwave Extraction Followed by Filtration or Filtration and Solid-Phase Extraction Clean-Up for PAH Determination from Sediment and Sludge: Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment
Authors: Ndwabu Sinayo , Malungana Mncedisi , Mahlambi Precious
Published: May 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds originating from pyrogenic and petrogenic sources, which increases their potential introduction into the environment and possible exposure to humans. PAHs have been identified as compounds of concern due to their environmental persistence and toxicity to living organisms, leading to harmful health effects. As a consequence, the South African government (The Department of Water and Sanitation) has set national norms and standards for the assessment of waste for landfill disposal through the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (NEMWA) license (Act No. 59 of 2008). This study therefore evaluated the concentrations, origin sources, human health and ecological risk of PAHs in sediment and sludge samples, which is a requirement by the South African government. The PAHs were determined using ultrasonic extraction (UE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), followed by filtration, or filtration and clean-up with solid-phase extraction (SPE). The results obtained indicated that both methods can be used for the extraction of PAHs with relative accuracy and sensitivity. However, higher concentrations were obtained with F + SPE-cleaned samples (95.96–926.0 µg/kg) compared to filtered samples (21.61–380.6 µg/kg), with pyrene showing dominance over all other PAHs. The detected concentrations indicated that the PAHs were of petrogenic origin. These concentrations are currently within the total acceptable concentration levels of 5.0 × 104 µg/kg as prescribed by the NEMWA standards for sludge and sediments. However, the concentration above the effective medium range in river sediments revealed potential toxic effects to aquatic organisms. The ILCRderm values suggested a very high potential risk of cancer through dermal exposure to the inhabitants of the area. These findings indicate that continuous monitoring of these compounds is of paramount importance as the study area is not entirely safe for use even for recreational purposes.
Evaluation of Adhesive Properties of Different Mineral Compositions in Asphalt Mixtures with Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Analyses
Authors: Pan Fei , Fan Zepeng , Rochlani Mrinali , Falla Gustavo , Leischner Sabine , Oeser Markus , Yu Huayang , Liu Pengfei
Published: May 2023

The adhesion between bitumen and mineral composition plays a vital role for the performance of asphalt mixtures. This study compares the adhesion of limestone, dolomite, and granodiorite to bitumen and evaluates the effects of different mineral components on adhesion. Three kinds of aggregates were tested through rolling-bottle tests. Afterwards, the respective fillers were integrated into asphalt mastic in a 1.6:1 mass ratio with bitumen and were subjected to frequency scan tests separately. A modified Luis Ibrarra-A model, K. Ziegel-B model, and K-B-G model were used to evaluate the bitumen–filler interactions based on the rheology of the asphalt mastic. In addition, the interface behavior between eight mineral components from these fillers/aggregates and bitumen were investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The work of the adhesion and molecule concentration profiles were obtained from MD simulations. The results showed that the limestone and dolomite had better interfacial adhesion to the bitumen than the granodiorite. The calcium oxide and titanium oxide had the highest potential adsorption effect on the bitumen. Moreover, the high calcium oxide content contributed to better bitumen adhesion with the limestone and dolomite than with the granodiorite, which was further confirmed by additional molecule concentration profile analysis. This research contributes to the in-depth understanding of the effect of different chemical properties on the performance of asphalt mastic and the selection of suitable mineral components to improve the bitumen–filler/aggregate interface and asphalt mixture performance in general.
Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer
Authors: Silva-Cázares Macrina B. , Pérez-Plasencia Carlos , López-Camarillo César
Published: May 2023

For several decades, scientific research in cancer biology has focused mainly on the involvement of protein-coding genes [...]
Surgical Management of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma
Authors: Dominguez Dana A. , Sampath Sagus , Agulnik Mark , Liang Yu , Nguyen Bao , Trisal Vijay , Melstrom Laleh G. , Lewis Aaron G. , Paz Isaac Benjamin , Roberts Randall F. , Tseng William W.
Published: May 2023

Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). Surgery should be performed by a surgical oncologist with sub-specialization in this disease and in the context of a multidisciplinary team of sarcoma specialists. For primary RPS, the goal of surgery is to achieve the complete en bloc resection of the tumor along with involved organs and structures to maximize the clearance of the disease. The extent of resection also needs to consider the risk of complications. Unfortunately, the overarching challenge in primary RPS treatment is that even with optimal surgery, tumor recurrence occurs frequently. The pattern of recurrence after surgery (e.g., local versus distant) is strongly associated with the specific histologic type of RPS. Radiation and systemic therapy may improve outcomes in RPS and there is emerging data studying the benefit of non-surgical treatments in primary disease. Topics in need of further investigation include criteria for unresectability and management of locally recurrent disease. Moving forward, global collaboration among RPS specialists will be key for continuing to advance our understanding of this disease and find more effective treatments.
Estimating the Burden of Illness of Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma and Marginal Zone Lymphoma in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Kuruvilla John , Ewara Emmanuel M. , Elia-Pacitti Julia , Ng Ryan , Eberg Maria , Kukaswadia Atif , Sharma Arushi
Published: May 2023

Background: Many patients with advanced follicular lymphoma (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) relapse after first-line chemotherapy. Objective: To examine healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and cost, treatment patterns, progression, and survival of patients with FL and MZL who relapse after first-line treatment, in Ontario, Canada. Methods: A retrospective, administrative data study identified patients with relapsed FL and MZL (1 January 2005–31 December 2018). Patients were followed for up to three years post relapse to assess HCRU, healthcare costs, time to next treatment (TTNT), and overall survival (OS), stratified by first- and second-line treatment. Results: The study identified 285 FL and 68 MZL cases who relapsed after first-line treatment. Average duration of first-line treatment was 12.4 and 13.4 months for FL and MZL patients, respectively. Drug (35.9%) and cancer clinic costs (28.1%) were major contributors to higher costs in year 1. Three-year OS was 83.9% after FL and 74.2% after MZL relapse. No statistically significant differences were observed in TTNT and OS between patients with FL who received R-CHOP/R-CVP/BR in the first line only versus both the first- and second- line. A total of 31% of FL and 34% of MZL patients progressed to third-line treatment within three years of initial relapse. Conclusion: Relapsing and remitting nature of FL and MZL in a subset of patients results in substantial burden to patients and the healthcare system.
The Role of the Surgeon in the Germline Testing of the Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patient
Authors: Schick Stephanie , Manghelli Joshua , Ludwig Kandice K.
Published: May 2023

For patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, information regarding hereditary predisposition can influence treatment decisions. From a surgical standpoint, patients with known germline mutations may alter decisions of local therapy to reduce the risk of second breast primaries. This information may also be considered in the choice of adjuvant therapies or eligibility for clinical trials. In recent years, the criteria for the consideration of germline testing in patients with breast cancer has expanded. Additionally, studies have shown a similar prevalence of pathogenic mutations in those patients outside of these traditional criteria, prompting calls for genetic testing for all patients with a history of breast cancer. While data confirms the benefit of counseling by certified genetics professionals, the capacity of genetic counselors may no longer meet the needs of these growing numbers of patients. National societies assert that counseling and testing can be performed by providers with training and experience in genetics. Breast surgeons are well positioned to offer this service, as they receive formal genetics training during their fellowship, manage these patients daily in their practices, and are often the first providers to see patients after their cancer diagnosis.
Hybrid Techniques of X-ray Analysis to Predict Knee Osteoarthritis Grades Based on Fusion Features of CNN and Handcrafted
Authors: Khalid Ahmed , Senan Ebrahim Mohammed , Al-Wagih Khalil , Ali Al-Azzam Mamoun Mohammad , Alkhraisha Ziad Mohammad
Published: May 2023

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic disease that impedes movement, especially in the elderly, affecting more than 5% of people worldwide. KOA goes through many stages, from the mild grade that can be treated to the severe grade in which the knee must be replaced. Therefore, early diagnosis of KOA is essential to avoid its development to the advanced stages. X-rays are one of the vital techniques for the early detection of knee infections, which requires highly experienced doctors and radiologists to distinguish Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading. Thus, artificial intelligence techniques solve the shortcomings of manual diagnosis. This study developed three methodologies for the X-ray analysis of both the Osteoporosis Initiative (OAI) and Rani Channamma University (RCU) datasets for diagnosing KOA and discrimination between KL grades. In all methodologies, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm was applied after the CNN models to delete the unimportant and redundant features and keep the essential features. The first methodology for analyzing x-rays and diagnosing the degree of knee inflammation uses the VGG-19 -FFNN and ResNet-101 -FFNN systems. The second methodology of X-ray analysis and diagnosis of KOA grade by Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN) is based on the combined features of VGG-19 and ResNet-101 before and after PCA. The third methodology for X-ray analysis and diagnosis of KOA grade by FFNN is based on the fusion features of VGG-19 and handcrafted features, and fusion features of ResNet-101 and handcrafted features. For an OAI dataset with fusion features of VGG-19 and handcrafted features, FFNN obtained an AUC of 99.25%, an accuracy of 99.1%, a sensitivity of 98.81%, a specificity of 100%, and a precision of 98.24%. For the RCU dataset with the fusion features of VGG-19 and the handcrafted features, FFNN obtained an AUC of 99.07%, an accuracy of 98.20%, a sensitivity of 98.16%, a specificity of 99.73%, and a precision of 98.08%.
A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies CEP55 as a Potential Oncogene and Novel Therapeutic Target
Authors: Zaki Mohamed Samir A. , Eldeen Muhammad Alaa , Abdulsahib Waleed K. , Shati Ayed A. , Alqahtani Youssef A. , Al-Qahtani Saleh M. , Otifi Hassan M. , Asiri Ashwag , Hassan Hesham M. , Emam Mohammed Ahmed Hebatallah , Dawood Samy A. , Negm Amr , Eid Refaat A.
Published: May 2023

Emerging research findings have shown that a centrosomal protein (CEP55) is a potential oncogene in numerous human malignancies. Nevertheless, no pan-cancer analysis has been conducted to investigate the various aspects and behavior of this oncogene in different human cancerous tissues. Numerous databases were investigated to conduct a detailed analysis of CEP55. Initially, we evaluated the expression of CEP55 in several types of cancers and attempted to find the correlation between that and the stage of the examined malignancies. Then, we conducted a survival analysis to determine the relationship between CEP55 overexpression in malignancies and the patient’s survival. Furthermore, we examined the genetic alteration forms and the methylation status of this oncogene. Additionally, the interference of CEP55 expression with immune cell infiltration, the response to various chemotherapeutic agents, and the putative molecular mechanism of CEP55 in tumorigenesis were investigated. The current study found that CEP55 was upregulated in cancerous tissues versus normal controls where this upregulation was correlated with a poor prognosis in multiple forms of human cancers. Additionally, it influenced the level of different immune cell infiltration and several chemokines levels in the tumor microenvironment in addition to the response to several antitumor drugs. Herein, we provide an in-depth understanding of the oncogenic activities of CEP55, identifying it as a possible predictive marker as well as a specific target for developing anticancer therapies.
External Tertiary-Care-Hospital Validation of the Epidemiological SEER-Based Nomogram Predicting Downgrading in High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients Treated with Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Cano Garcia Cristina , Wenzel Mike , Piccinelli Mattia , Hoeh Benedikt , Landmann Lea , Tian Zhe , Humke Clara , Incesu Reha-Baris , Köllermann Jens , Wild Peter , Würnschimmel Christoph , Graefen Markus , Tilki Derya , Karakiewicz Pierre , Kluth Luis , Chun Felix , Mandel Philipp
Published: May 2023

We aimed to externally validate the SEER-based nomogram used to predict downgrading in biopsied high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) in a contemporary European tertiary-care-hospital cohort. We relied on an institutional tertiary-care database to identify biopsied high-risk prostate cancer patients in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) who underwent RP between January 2014 and December 2022. The model’s downgrading performance was evaluated using accuracy and calibration. The net benefit of the nomogram was tested with decision-curve analyses. Overall, 241 biopsied high-risk prostate cancer patients were identified. In total, 51% were downgraded at RP. Moreover, of the 99 patients with a biopsy Gleason pattern of 5, 43% were significantly downgraded to RP Gleason pattern ≤ 4 + 4. The nomogram predicted the downgrading with 72% accuracy. A high level of agreement between the predicted and observed downgrading rates was observed. In the prediction of significant downgrading from a biopsy Gleason pattern of 5 to a RP Gleason pattern ≤ 4 + 4, the accuracy was 71%. Deviations from the ideal predictions were noted for predicted probabilities between 30% and 50%, where the nomogram overestimated the observed rate of significant downgrading. This external validation of the SEER-based nomogram confirmed its ability to predict the downgrading of biopsy high-risk prostate cancer patients and its accurate use for patient counseling in high-volume RP centers.
Vardiational Bayesian Hybrid Multi-Bernoulli and CPHD Filters for Superpositional Sensors
Authors: Xu Wenjie , Zhang Huaguo , Li Gaiyou , Li Wanchun
Published: May 2023

This paper addresses the problem of multi-target tracking with superpositional sensors, while the covariance matrices of measurement noise are not known. The proposed method is based on the hybrid multi-Bernoulli cardinalized probability hypothesis density (HMB-CPHD) filter, which has been developed for superpositional sensors-based multi-target tracking with known measurement noises. Specifically, we firstly propose the Gaussian mixture (GM) implementation of the HMB-CPHD filter, and then the covariance matrices of measurement noises are augmented into the target state vector, resulting in the Gaussian and inverse Wishart mixture (GIWM) representation of the augmented state. Then the variational Bayesian (VB) method is exploited to approximate the posterior distribution so that it maintains the same form as the prior distribution. A remarkable feature of the proposed method is that it can jointly perform multi-target tracking and measurement noise covariance estimation. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated via simulations.
Consumers’ Neophobic and Variety-Seeking Tendency in Food Choices According to Their Fashion Involvement Status: An Exploratory Study of Korean Consumers
Authors: Seo Sangwoo , Kim Mina K.
Published: May 2023

With recent food innovation and technological advances, a considerable number of new food products are being developed and launched in the global food market, and various attempts have been made to collaborate between food and fashion businesses to achieve a competitive edge. Fashion and food are essential items in our daily lives, so people are intentionally and unintentionally exposed to consumption decisions regarding these two items on a regular basis. The objective of this study was to determine consumers’ neophobic and variety-seeking tendencies in food choices according to their involvement in fashion-related choices. Internet surveys were conducted (n = 215), which included questionnaires regarding the food neophobia scale (FNS), the variety-seeking scale (VARSEEK), and the fashion involvement scale (FIS), along with demographic-related questions. A negative correlation was observed between the FNS and FIS (r = −0.735, p < 0.0001), suggesting that consumers who are highly involved in fashion product choices have neophobic tendencies. A positive correlation was observed between VARSEEK and FIS scores (r = 0.353, p < 0.0001), as was expected from FNS and FIS results. No significant differences in demographic characteristics between those with high and low FIS scores were observed, suggesting that other factors may have influenced these results.
Alternative Arterial Access Routes for Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Study from the MR CLEAN Registry
Authors: Collette Sabine L. , van de Ven Elke A. , Luijckx Gert-Jan R. , Lingsma Hester F. , van Doormaal Pieter Jan , van Es Adriaan C. G. M. , van den Wijngaard Ido R. , Goldhoorn Robert-Jan B. , de Groot Jan Cees , van Zwam Wim H. , Majoie Charles B. L. M. , Dippel Diederik W. J. , Bokkers Reinoud P. H. , Uyttenboogaart Maarten ,   on behalf of the MR CLEAN Registry Investigators
Published: May 2023

Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) through femoral access is difficult to perform in some patients with acute ischemic stroke due to challenging vasculature. We compared outcomes of EVT through femoral versus alternative arterial access. Methods: In this observational study, we included patients from the MR CLEAN Registry who underwent EVT for acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation between 2014 and 2019 in the Netherlands. Patients who underwent EVT through alternative and femoral access were matched on propensity scores in a 1:3 ratio. The primary endpoint was favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2) at 90 days. Secondary endpoints were early neurologic recovery, mortality, successful intracranial reperfusion and puncture related complications. Results: Of the 5197 included patients, 17 patients underwent EVT through alternative access and were matched to 48 patients who underwent EVT through femoral access. Alternative access was obtained through the common carotid artery (n = 15/17) and brachial artery (n = 2/17). Favorable functional outcome was less often observed after EVT through alternative than femoral access (18% versus 27%; aOR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.05–2.74). The rate of successful intracranial reperfusion was higher for alternative than femoral access (88% versus 58%), although mortality (59% versus 31%) and puncture related complications (29% versus 0%) were more common after alternative access. Conclusions: EVT through alternative arterial access is rarely performed in the Netherlands and seems to be associated with worse outcomes than standard femoral access. A next step would be to compare the additional value of EVT through alternative arterial access after failure of femoral access.
Automated Retrieval of Heterogeneous Proteomic Data for Machine Learning
Authors: Rafay Abdul , Aziz Muzzamil , Zia Amjad , Asif Abdul R.
Published: May 2023

Proteomics instrumentation and the corresponding bioinformatics tools have evolved at a rapid pace in the last 20 years, whereas the exploitation of deep learning techniques in proteomics is on the horizon. The ability to revisit proteomics raw data, in particular, could be a valuable resource for machine learning applications seeking new insight into protein expression and functions of previously acquired data from different instruments under various lab conditions. We map publicly available proteomics repositories (such as ProteomeXchange) and relevant publications to extract MS/MS data to form one large database that contains the patient history and mass spectrometric data acquired for the patient sample. The extracted mapped dataset should enable the research to overcome the issues attached to the dispersions of proteomics data on the internet, which makes it difficult to apply emerging new bioinformatics tools and deep learning algorithms. The workflow proposed in this study enables a linked large dataset of heart-related proteomics data, which could be easily and efficiently applied to machine learning and deep learning algorithms for futuristic predictions of heart diseases and modeling. Data scraping and crawling offer a powerful tool to harvest and prepare the training and test datasets; however, the authors advocate caution because of ethical and legal issues, as well as the need to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data that are being collected.
Quantitative Landscape Analysis Using Earth-Observation Data: An Example from Chania, Crete, Greece
Authors: Jridi Linda , Kalaitzidis Chariton , Alexakis Dimitrios D.
Published: May 2023

Pursuing sustainability in a challenging world and under the influence of numerous natural and anthropogenic drivers of change presents one of the major global concerns. The transition towards a more sustainable development requires a harmonious balance between human well-being and environmental management. The concept of landscape is at the core of such a process. Hence, evaluating the different aspects of the landscape and their components is crucial for policy making, planning and management. In fact, landscape quality assessment has become a special focus of interest, especially with the directives of the European Landscape Convention. This research work aims to analyze the rural landscape of the Chania prefecture, West Crete, Greece, taking into account its multifold dimensions. The analysis was carried out using a series of quantitative spatial indicators. Consecutively, structural (mean patch area, contagion index, edge density and percentage of landscape occupied by a class of the highest share), ecological (density of ecological barriers, Modified Shannon diversity index), visual (share of positive land-cover forms, share of negative land-cover forms, form and color disharmony index, shape disharmony index) and cultural indices (historical monuments index) were estimated and analyzed in a GIS environment. The overall methodology incorporated different land-use/land-cover data (multitemporal Corine data and land use derived from the classification of Earth-observation (EO) data). The historical and current analysis of the landscape within Chania revealed quite high structural and visual values. The ecological dimension is rather stable, with a potential decrease by the year 2045. Additionally, the structural dimension seemed to be sensitive to the spatial resolution of the data source. The spatial extent, at which the landscape is evaluated, seemed to impact the landscape’s ecological, visual and cultural values.
Research on Lubrication Characteristics of Cage-Free Ball Bearing with Local Functional Slot
Authors: Zhang Jingwei , Zhang Yuan , Zhao Yanling , Han Wenguang
Published: May 2023

The factors affecting the lubrication effect of a ball bearing without cage and containing a functional slot are analyzed, including the structural parameters of the functional slot, the speed of the rolling element, and the deformation of the contact surface, in order to establish the initial oil volume equation. Based on the multiple mesh method and Matlab programming, the established model is solved by obtaining the distribution rules of oil film pressure, oil film thickness, and oil film flow rate between the rolling element, the conventional raceway, and the functional slot under different speed conditions, and by determining the optimal functional slot depth. Finally, through an experiment performed to verify the lubrication effect of the lubricating oil in the functional slot, the results show that the lubricating oil in the functional slot can have a lubricating effect, and the initial amount of lubricating oil needed increases with an increase in speed.
Reports of Plant-Derived Nanoparticles for Prostate Cancer Therapy
Authors: Elbagory Abdulrahman M. , Hull Rodney , Meyer Mervin , Dlamini Zodwa
Published: May 2023

Plants have demonstrated potential in providing various types of phytomedicines with chemopreventive properties that can combat prostate cancer. However, despite their promising in vitro activity, the incorporation of these phytochemicals into the market as anticancer agents has been hindered by their poor bioavailability, mainly due to their inadequate aqueous solubility, chemical instability, and unsatisfactory circulation time. To overcome these drawbacks, it has been suggested that the incorporation of phytochemicals as nanoparticles can offer a solution. The use of plant-based chemicals can also improve the biocompatibility of the formulated nanoparticles by avoiding the use of certain hazardous chemicals in the synthesis, leading to decreased toxicity in vivo. Moreover, in some cases, phytochemicals can act as targeting agents to tumour sites. This review will focus on and summarize the following points: the different types of nanoparticles that contain individual phytochemicals or plant extracts in their design with the aim of improving the bioavailability of the phytochemicals; the therapeutic evaluation of these nanoparticles against prostate cancer both in vitro and in vivo and the reported mode of action and the different types of anticancer experiments used; how the phytochemicals can also improve the targeting effects of these nanoparticles in some instances; and the potential toxicity of these nanoparticles.
Critical Reflections on the Western Welfare State, Racial Capitalism, and Migratory Movements
Authors: Lázaro Castellanos Rosa
Published: May 2023

This article presents a theoretical reflection on the structural causes that lead people to engage in migration processes from an anti-racist perspective. It looks at the historical context and the present times of neoliberal capitalism as a long term system, with its origins in the colonial enterprise. This is relevant as it gives rise to the asymmetries of power between North and South; to the racial division of labour; to the border control that turns immigrant people into the dangerous other, classifies people according to their origin, and grants them differential rights.
Primary care micro-teams: an international systematic review of patient and healthcare professional perspectives
Authors: Coombs Charles , Cohen Tanya , Duddy Claire , Mahtani Kamal R , Owen Emily , Roberts Nia , Saini Aman , Foster Alexander Staddon , Park Sophie
Published: May 2023

Background

International trends have shifted to creating large general practices. There is an assumption that interdisciplinary teams will increase patient accessibility and provide more cost-effective, efficient services. Micro-teams have been proposed to mitigate for some potential challenges of practice expansion, including continuity of care.

Aim

To review available literature and examine how micro-teams are described, and identify opportunities and limitations for patients and practice staff.

Design and setting

This was an international systematic review of studies published in English.

Method

Databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus) and grey literature were searched. Studies were included if they provided evidence about implementation of primary care micro-teams. Framework analysis was used to synthesise identified literature. The research team included a public contributor co-applicant. The authors conducted stakeholder discussions with those with and without experience of micro-team implementation.

Results

Of the 462 studies identified, 24 documents met the inclusion criteria. Most included empirical data from healthcare professionals, describing micro-team implementation. Results included characteristics of the literature; micro-team description; range of ways micro-teams have been implemented; reported outcomes; and experiences of patients and staff.

Conclusion

The organisation of primary care has potential impact on the nature and quality of patient care, safety, and outcomes. This review contributes to current debate about care delivery and how this can impact on the experiences and outcomes of patients and staff. This analysis identifies several key opportunities and challenges for future research, policy, and practice.
Cadenas agro-productivas para el desarrollo agrícola sostenible en Huancavelica
Authors: Vergara Ames Alberto , Gómez Ccora Raúl , Espinoza Quispe Carlos Enrique , Vilcas Mamani Sherly , Hinojosa Benavides René Antonio
Published: May 2023

Los retos para las cadenas agro-productivas se enmarcan en la eficiencia, no solo desde los costos sino también desde la capacidad de adaptación a los cambios del entorno. El objetivo del estudio es analizar las actividades de las seis principales cadenas agro-productivas de Huancavelica y su influencia en la dimensión económica del desarrollo agrícola sostenible de la provincia de Huancavelica. Se recopiló el estado de arte, tanto en la fase heurística como hermenéutica sobre cadenas agro-productivas y su relación con el desarrollo agrícola sostenible, recurriendo al motor de búsqueda Google Académico utilizando ecuaciones de búsqueda y operadores booleanos, posteriormente se realizó una encuesta utilizando un cuestionario estructurado de 12 preguntas a una muestra por conveniencia de 60 productores agropecuarios de la provincia de Huancavelica. Dada la alta competencia que enfrentan estas cadenas, son necesarias las evaluaciones internas y externas para su constitución con planeamiento en fases de almacenamiento, clasificación e industrialización que, actualmente siguen llevándose a cabo manualmente, siendo todavía insuficiente el apoyo que se recibe de organizaciones profesionales que fomentan la industrialización, el comercio y la producción. Se resalta entre las conclusiones que, gracias a las cadenas agro-productivas el desarrollo agrícola sostenible en su dimensión económica tiene un índice de sostenibilidad de IDS = 0.53 en Huancavelica, que equivale a la calificación como estado del sistema inestable, por lo que hace falta todavía la implementación de un nuevo modelo de gestión tecnológica en los procesos de dichas cadenas, y urge el uso de nuevas tecnologías y herramientas en todo su proceso.
Plan de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial de una corporación minera
Authors: Córdova Acosta Edcel Antonio , Borrero Carrasco Gabriel Ernesto , Sánchez García Ingrid Estefani , Agurto Cano Vanessa del Carmen , Rivera Calle Omar
Published: May 2023

La práctica de la minería trae consigo conflictos de intereses con las comunidades en las cuales desarrollan sus procesos. La Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE) de la corporación minera, en Perú, se convierte en la fórmula mediante la cual la comunidad, el Estado y la empresa minera puedan interactuar y lograr relaciones sostenibles, responsables y positivas con el fin de reducir el clima de conflicto; así como también contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas. Este artículo presenta las características de un Plan de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (PRSE) para atender las necesidades detectadas en 25 trabajadores de una corporación minera y 75 miembros de la comunidad aledaña en la cual ejecuta sus actividades la corporación. Los resultados muestran que los trabajadores consideran la necesidad de mayor capacitación y la comunidad manifiesta su interés por mejorar la calidad de vida a través del apoyo a los aspectos educativos. El PRSE se caracteriza por el desarrollo de las fases de planificación, ejecución, monitoreo y evaluación, cada una de ellas con sus objetivos, responsables y lapsos de duración. Este plan permite realizar actividades más efectivas para generar vínculos entre las compañías mineras, los grupos de interés o stakeholders y las comunidades.
Força muscular respiratória e controle postural na fase subaguda após o AVC
Authors: Da Silva Oliveira Yuri , Lopes de Sousa Juscimara , Reis dos Santos Marilucia , Pitágora Jucilene , Fonseca de Oliveira Figueiredo Fabianna , Guerreiro Caroline Ferreira
Published: May 2023

Introdução. O Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) é uma das principais causas de morte e incapacidade no mundo. Dentre as principais sequelas estão os déficits motores que limitam a recuperação funcional e a reintegração social. Objetivo. Investigar a correlação entre força muscular respiratória e o controle postural em indivíduos na fase subaguda após o AVC. Método. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, de delineamento transversal, composto por indivíduos de ambos o sexo, com idade entre 18 e 85 anos, com diagnóstico de AVC internados em um hospital de referência em neurologia da rede pública estadual, Salvador (BA). Para mensurar a força muscular respiratória (FMR), utilizou-se um manovacuômetro e para avaliação do controle postural a Escala de avaliação postural após AVC (PASS). A análise da correlação foi realizada utilizando-se o coeficiente de Spearman. Resultados. A amostra foi composta por 28 indivíduos, com média de idade de 57,39±15,1, tempo médio de internação de 21,6±18,0 dias, predominantemente com diagnóstico de AVC isquêmico 22 (78,6%) e sexo feminino 19 (67,9%). Os valores médios mensurados da PImáx e PEmáx foram abaixo dos preditos. Foi encontrada correlação positiva moderada entre a Pimáx e a escala de PASS (r=0,60; p=0,003), e entre Pemáx e a escala de PASS (r=0,64; p=0,001). Conclusão. Houve redução das pressões respiratórias máximas, sugerindo fraqueza muscular respiratória em indivíduos após o AVC desde a fase hospitalar e uma correlação positiva moderada entre estas e com o controle postural.