bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Validation of Three PDAC Subtypes and Individualized GSVA Immune Pathway-Related Prognostic Risk Score Formula in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Zhang Deyu , Wang Meiqi , Peng Lisi , Yang Xiaoli , Li Keliang , Yin Hua , Xia Chuanchao , Cui Fang , Huang Haojie , Jin Zhendong
Published: December 2021

Background. With the progress of precision medicine treatment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), individualized cancer-related medical examination and prediction are of great importance in this high malignant tumor and tumor-immune microenvironment with changed pathways highly enrolled in the carcinogenesis of PDAC. Methods. High-throughput data of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. After batch normalization, the enrichment pathway and relevant scores were identified by the enrichment of immune-related pathway signature using gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Then, cancerous subtype in TCGA and GEO samples was defined through the NMF methods by cancertypes packages in R software, respectively. Subsequently, the significance between the characteristics of each TCGA sample and cancer type and the significant prognosis-related pathway with risk score formula is calculated through t-test and univariate Cox analysis. Next, the prognostic value of gained risk score formula and each significant prognosis-related pathway were validated in TCGA and GEO samples by survival analysis. The pivotal hub genes in the enriched significant prognosis-related pathway are identified and validated, and the TIMER database was used to identify the potential role of hub genes in the PDAC immune environment. The potential role of hub genes is promoting the transdifferentiation of cancer-associated fibroblasts. Results. The enrichment pathway and relevant scores were identified by GSVA, and 3 subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were defined in TCGA and GEO samples. The clinical stage, tumor node metastasis classification, and tumor grade are strongly relative to the subtype above in TCGA samples. A risk formula about GSVA significant pathway “GSE45365_WT_VS_IFNAR_KO_CD11B_DC_MCMV_INFECTION_DN ∗ 0.80 + HALLMARK_GLYCOLYSIS ∗ 16.8 + GSE19888_CTRL_VS_T_CELL_MEMBRANES_ACT_MAST_CELL_DN ∗ 14.4” was identified and validated in TCGA and GEO samples through survival analysis with significance. DCN, VCAN, B4GALT7, SDC1, SDC2, B3GALT6, B3GAT3, SDC3, GPC1, and XYLT2 were identified as hub genes in these GSVA significant pathways and validated in silico. Conclusions. Three pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma subtypes are identified, and an individualized GSVA immune pathway score-related prognostic risk score formula with 10 hub genes is identified and validated. The predicted function of the 10 upregulated hub genes in tumor-immune microenvironment was promoting the infiltration of cancer-associated fibroblasts. These findings will contribute to the precision medicine of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment and tumor immune-related basic research.
Inferences for Exponentiated Gamma Constant‐Stress Partially Accelerated Life Test Model Based on Generalized Type‐I Hybrid Censored Data
Authors: Rabie Abdalla , Ahmad Abd-EL-Baset A. , Barry Thierno Souleymane , Aljohani Hassan M. , Alfaer Nada M. , Alghamdi Abdulaziz S.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the exponentiated gamma distribution (EGD) with generalized Type‐I hybrid censored data under constant‐stress partially accelerated life test (CSPALT) model is considered. The Bayesian and E‐Bayesian estimation methods, as well as the maximum likelihood estimation method, are discussed for the parameter of the distribution and the acceleration factor. The E‐Bayesian and Bayesian estimates are derived by using the squared error loss (SEL) and the LINEX loss functions. The MCMC method is applied for deriving the Bayesian and then E‐Bayesian estimates. Moreover, a real data set is given for the illustrative purpose. After all, an evaluation is performed for the results of the proposed methods.
High Expression of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 39 and Its Roles in Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Liao Yu , Li Lin , Liu Huabao , Song Yi
Published: December 2021

Background. Ubiquitin-specific protease 39 is mainly involved in mRNA splicing and multiple kinds of tumors. Accumulating evidence has shown that USP39 participated in the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aimed to demonstrate the association between USP39 expression and clinical features and the diagnostic value in HCC based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Methods. A comprehensive analysis for expression of USP39 in HCC was conducted by using multiple databases. The mRNA level of USP39, clinical features, survival rate, and diagnostic value in HCC were analyzed using data from TCGA. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to analyze signaling pathways correlated with USP39 expression in HCC. Results. The mRNA level of USP39 was significantly elevated in HCC. The expression of USP39 showed significant correlation with T stage, pathologic stage, tumor status, age, and histologic grade. Logistic analysis demonstrated that high expression of USP39 was significantly associated with older age, tumor status, advanced pathologic stage, T stage, and higher histologic grade. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that high expression of USP39 was significantly associated with advanced T stage, pathological stage, and tumor status. Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed the result that USP39 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in HCC. Results of Kaplan–Meier curves showed that high expression of USP39 had a significant association with poor OS, disease-free survival (DSS), and progress-free interval (PFI) in HCC. ROC analysis indicated that USP39 could be regarded as a promising marker for distinguishing HCC from nontumor. Conclusion. The increased USP39 might play roles in the progression, diagnosis, and prognosis of HCC.
Research on Crude Oil Trade Procurement Model Based on DEA-Malmquist Algorithm
Authors: Yan Liu
Published: December 2021

To retain valuable information to the maximum extent and enhance the ability to mine the crude oil trade purchase price demand, this paper proposes a crude oil trade purchase model based on the DEA-Malmquist algorithm. The intranet of the management and control platform shall share the same database, and the intranet shall only allow managers to access and manage the system and only allow all registered users to access and realize data exchange between the intranet and the intranet through two-dimensional code scanning; moreover, due to the resource sharing between the intranet and the intranet for crude oil trade procurement, suppliers and other registered users can immediately grasp the procurement trends of enterprises. Under the DEA-Malmquist algorithm, the uncertainty of procurement management is analyzed by fuzzy theory, and the refined procurement decision model with fuzzy parameters is established. The optimal order time and purchase quantity are determined through the symbol distance and the method of the center of gravity. Experimental results show that the method can effectively retain valuable information in the initial sequence and has better practical application value of material procurement demand intelligent mining. The proposed model obtained the highest accuracy of 98.62%.
Detection of Touchscreen-Based Urdu Braille Characters Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Shokat Sana , Riaz Rabia , Rizvi Sanam Shahla , Khan Inayat , Paul Anand
Published: December 2021

Revolution in technology is changing the way visually impaired people read and write Braille easily. Learning Braille in its native language can be more convenient for its users. This study proposes an improved backend processing algorithm for an earlier developed touchscreen-based Braille text entry application. This application is used to collect Urdu Braille data, which is then converted to Urdu text. Braille to text conversion has been done on Hindi, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, English, and other languages. For this study, Urdu Braille Grade 1 data were collected with multiclass (39 characters of Urdu represented by class 1, Alif (ﺍ), to class 39, Bri Yay (ے). Total (N = 144) cases for each class were collected. The dataset was collected from visually impaired students from The National Special Education School. Visually impaired users entered the Urdu Braille alphabets using touchscreen devices. The final dataset contained (N = 5638) cases. Reconstruction Independent Component Analysis (RICA)-based feature extraction model is created for Braille to Urdu text classification. The multiclass was categorized into three groups (13 each), i.e., category-1 (1–13), Alif-Zaal (ﺫ - ﺍ), category-2 (14–26), Ray-Fay (ﻒ - ﺮ), and category-3 (27–39), Kaaf-Bri Yay (ے - ﻕ), to give better vision and understanding. The performance was evaluated in terms of true positive rate, true negative rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive rate, total accuracy, and area under the receiver operating curve. Among all the classifiers, support vector machine has achieved the highest performance with a 99.73% accuracy. For comparisons, robust machine learning techniques, such as support vector machine, decision tree, and K-nearest neighbors were used. Currently, this work has been done on only Grade 1 Urdu Braille. In the future, we plan to enhance this work using Grade 2 Urdu Braille with text and speech feedback on touchscreen-based android phones.
Comparative Study of the Near-Surface Typhoon Wind Profile Fitting between Offshore and Onshore Areas
Authors: Wang Kai , Guo Yun , Wang Xu
Published: December 2021

The study of typhoon wind profiles, especially offshore typhoon wind profiles, has been constrained by the scarcity of observational data. In this study, the Doppler wind lidar was used to observe the offshore wind profiles during Super Typhoon Mangkhut and onshore wind profiles during Super Typhoon Lekima. Four wind profile models, including the power law, logarithmic law, Deaves–Harris (D-H), and Gryning, were selected in the height range of 0–300 m to fit the wind profile. The variations in the power exponent with the mean wind speed and roughness length were also analyzed. The results showed that the wind profiles fitted by the four models were generally in good agreement with the observed wind profiles with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98 and root mean square deviations less than 0.5 m s−1. For the offshore case, the fitting degree of all wind profile models improved with increasing mean wind speed. Specifically, the D-H model had the highest fitting degree when the horizontal mean wind speed at 40 m was in the range of 8–25 m s−1, while the log-law model had the highest fitting degree when the wind speed exceeded 30 m s−1. For the onshore case, the fitting degree of the four wind profile models deteriorated with increasing mean wind speed, and the log-law model had the highest fitting degree in all wind speed intervals from 8 to 30 m s−1. For both offshore and onshore cases, the power exponent was less affected by mean wind speed and increased with increasing roughness length, and the logarithmic empirical model proposed in this study could well characterize the relationship between the power exponent and roughness length.
Characterization of Nanoscale Pores in Tight Gas Sandstones Using Complex Techniques: A Case Study of a Linxing Tight Gas Sandstone Reservoir
Authors: Lyu Chaohui , Zhong Liguo , Ning Zhengfu , Wang Qing , Cole David R.
Published: December 2021

Pore structures with rich nanopores and permeability in tight gas reservoirs are poorly understood up to date. Advanced techniques are needed to be employed to accurately characterize pore structures, especially tiny pores which include micron and nanopores. In this study, various experimental techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

T

2

, nitrogen adsorption method, and NMR cryoporometry (NMRC) are combined to interrogate the complex pore systems of the tight gas reservoir in the Linxing formation, Ordos Basin, China. Results show that tight gas sandstones are primarily comprised of residual interparticle and clay-dominated pores. Clay and quartz are two dominate minerals while pyrite occupies a nontrivial amount as well. The permeability of tight gas sandstones is very low, exhibiting an extremely poor positive correlation with porosity. While pore types and relative pore contents are more influential factors on the permeability, accurate characterization of pore size distribution is critical for the permeability of tight gas sandstones. Therefore, complementary characterization methods are carried out, indicating that neither small pores with

radii
<
100
 
nm

(around peak 1 in NMR

T

2

distribution) nor large pores with

radii
>
5
 
μ
m

(around peak 3 in NMR

T

2

distribution) control the permeability by analyzing the connectivity of the pores in various size ranges, but rather pores averaging approximately

350
±
X
 
nm

(around peak 2 in NMR

T

2

distribution) have sufficient connectivity to host and transmit hydrocarbons. The pore size of tight gas sandstones is dominated by the clay-rich mineral assemblage. The study shows that the NMRC technique can be a very promising method, especially when referred to as a promising “roadmap” on how to interrogate tight formations such as the tight gas sands or even shale especially for the nanopore characterization.
Novel Metaheuristic Based on Iterated Constructive Stochastic Heuristic: Dhouib-Matrix-3 (DM3)
Authors: Dhouib Souhail
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a new metaheuristic named Dhouib-Matrix-3 (DM3) inspired by our recently developed constructive stochastic heuristic Dhouib-Matrix-TSP2 (DM-TSP2) and characterized by only one parameter: the number of iterations. The proposed metaheuristic DM3 is an iterative algorithm in which every iteration is based on two relay hybridization techniques. At first, the constructive stochastic heuristic DM-TSP2 starts by generating a different initial basic feasible solution and then each solution is intensified by the novel procedure Far-to-Near which exchanges far cities by closer ones using three perturbation techniques: insertion, exchange, and 2-opt. Experimental results carried out on the classical travelling salesman problem using the well-known TSP-LIB benchmark instances demonstrate that our approach DM3 outclasses the simulated annealing algorithm, the genetic algorithm, and the cellular genetic algorithm. Furthermore, the proposed DM3 is statistically concurrent to the hybrid simulated annealing cellular genetic algorithm. Nevertheless, DM3 is easier to implement and needs only one parameter to identify (the maximum number of iterations).
Efficient and Energy-Saving Computation Offloading Mechanism with Energy Harvesting for IoT
Authors: Zhang Yawen , Miao Yifeng , Pan Shujia , Chen Siguang
Published: December 2021

In order to effectively extend the lifetime of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, improve the energy efficiency of task processing, and build a self-sustaining and green edge computing system, this paper proposes an efficient and energy-saving computation offloading mechanism with energy harvesting for IoT. Specifically, based on the comprehensive consideration of local computing resource, time allocation ratio of energy harvesting, and offloading decision, an optimization problem that minimizes the total energy consumption of all user devices is formulated. In order to solve such optimization problem, a deep learning-based efficient and energy-saving offloading decision and resource allocation algorithm is proposed. The design of deep neural network architecture incorporating regularization method and the employment of the stochastic gradient descent method can accelerate the convergence rate of the developed algorithm and improve its generalization performance. Furthermore, it can minimize the total energy consumption of task processing by integrating the momentum gradient descent to solve the resource optimization allocation problem. Finally, the simulation results show that the mechanism proposed in this paper has significant advantage in convergence rate and can achieve an optimal offloading and resource allocation strategy that is close to the solution of greedy algorithm.
ZC3H15 Correlates with a Poor Prognosis and Tumor Progression in Melanoma
Authors: Li Qian , Hou Jianbing , Guo Chengda , Zhang Yanli , Liu Lichao , Hu Huanrong , Shi Shaomin , Ji Yacong , Guo Leiyang , Shi Yaqiong , Liu Yaling , Cui Hongjuan
Published: December 2021

Zinc figure CCCH‐type containing 15 (ZC3H15), also called developmentally regulated GTP‐binding protein 1 (DRG1) family regulatory protein 1 (DFRP1), is a zinc finger containing protein. Despite playing a role in cellular signaling, it is found overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia and also an independent prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. However, the biological effect of ZC3H15 in malignant melanoma (MM) remains unexplored. The expression of ZC3H15 in patients was analyzed using the R2: Genomics Analysis and Visualization Platform database. Immunohistochemical analysis, western blot, and qRT‐PCR were used to detect ZC3H15 expression in melanoma tissues and cell lines. MTT, BrdU, flow cytometry assay, transwell, and western blot were performed to explore the proliferation, cell cycle, invasion, and migration of melanoma cells. We undertaken colony formation assay in vitro and tumor xenograft in vivo to detect the tumorigenicity of melanoma cells. In the present study, ZC3H15 was demonstrated highly expressed in melanoma tissues and cells. Elevated ZC3H15 impairs the survival of melanoma patients. Meanwhile, attenuation of ZC3H15 in melanoma cells inhibited cell proliferation and induced cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Consistently, the expression of cell cycle‐related proteins cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), CDK6, and cyclin D1 (CCND1) was decreased while p21 was upregulated. Furthermore, we found the migration and invasion abilities were inhibited in ZC3H15‐knockdown melanoma cells. In addition, downregulation of ZC3H15 resulted in inhibition of colony formation abilities in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. ZC3H15 promotes proliferation, migration/invasion, and tumorigenicity of melanoma cells. As a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in MM, ZC3H15 is worthy of further exploration.
Lane Change Control Combined with Ramp Metering: A Strategy to Manage Delays at On-Ramp Merging Sections
Authors: Nagalur Subraveti Hari Hara Sharan , Knoop Victor L. , van Arem Bart
Published: December 2021

Control measures at merging locations aimed at either the mainline traffic or on-ramp traffic do not lead to a fairness in the distribution of total delay across the two streams. This paper presents a control strategy of combining a lane change control with a ramp metering system at motorway merges. The control strategy presents the opportunity to control the delays incurred at the two traffic streams of the merge. An optimization problem is formulated for a multilane motorway with an on-ramp with the aim to minimize the total travel time of the system. The proposed strategy is tested using an incentive-based lane-specific traffic flow model. Results revealed a 17% reduction in the total travel time due to the proposed strategy. Moreover, it was shown that the distribution of delays over the mainline and on-ramp could be controlled via the proposed strategy. The performance of the combined control was also compared to the individual control measures. It was observed that the individual control measures (lane change only and ramp metering only) lead to high delays on either the mainline or on-ramp compared to the combined control, where the balance between the delay for the drivers on the mainline and on-ramp could be regulated. The combined lane change and ramp metering control presents opportunities for the road authorities to manage the total delay distribution across the two traffic streams.
Strong Convergence of an Inertial Iterative Algorithm for Generalized Mixed Variational-like Inequality Problem and Bregman Relatively Nonexpansive Mapping in Reflexive Banach Space
Authors: Fahad Aldosary Saud , Cholamjiak Watcharaporn , Ali Rehan , Farid Mohammad
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we consider a generalized mixed variational-like inequality problem and prove a Minty-type lemma for its related auxiliary problems in a real Banach space. We prove the existence of a solution of these auxiliary problems and also prove some properties for the solution set of generalized mixed variational-like inequality problem. Furthermore, we introduce and study an inertial hybrid iterative method for solving the generalized mixed variational-like inequality problem involving Bregman relatively nonexpansive mapping in Banach space. We study the strong convergence for the proposed algorithm. Finally, we list some consequences and computational examples to emphasize the efficiency and relevancy of the main result.
Research on Video Quality Evaluation of Sparring Motion Based on BPNN Perception
Authors: Changbi Zhao , Jinjuan Wang , Li Ke
Published: December 2021

The quality of boxing video is affected by many factors. For example, it needs to be compressed and encoded before transmission. In the process of transmission, it will encounter network conditions such as packet loss and jitter, which will affect the video quality. Combined with the proposed nine characteristic parameters affecting video quality, this paper proposes an architecture of video quality evaluation system. Aiming at the compression damage and transmission damage of leisure sports video, a video quality evaluation algorithm based on BP neural network (BPNN) is proposed. A specific Wushu video quality evaluation algorithm system is implemented. The system takes the result of feature engineering of 9 feature parameters of boxing video as the input and the subjective quality score of video as the training output. The mapping relationship is established by BPNN algorithm, and the objective evaluation quality of boxing video is finally obtained. The results show that using the neural network analysis model, the characteristic parameters of compression damage and transmission damage used in this paper can get better evaluation results. Compared with the comparison algorithm, the accuracy of the video quality evaluation method proposed in this paper has been greatly improved. The subjective characteristics of users are evaluated quantitatively and added to the objective video quality evaluation model in this paper, so as to make the video evaluation more accurate and closer to users.
Beneficiation of Commiphora africana Plant: Extraction and Application of Green Softener on Cotton Fabric
Authors: Asmelash Fisaha , Ayele Million
Published: December 2021

This paper aims at the extraction and application of eco- and user-friendly natural gum obtained from Commiphora Africana tree. The result obtained is also compared with fabric treated with a commercial softener of the same concentration. The gum was extracted by puncturing the stem of the plant and the extracted gum was applied directly to 100% cotton fabric through a padding process with different concentrations of extracted gum (i.e., 20 gram per litre (g/l), 25 g/l, and 30 g/l). Another similar fabric sample was treated with a silicon softener of the same concentration. The fabric samples treated with both natural gum and silicon softener were tested for their stiffness, crease recovery, and drapability. The results show that the change in fabric softness depends on the concentration of softener used in both cases. As the concentration of the softener increased, there was a decrease in bending length and drape coefficient for both fabric samples. The drape coefficient of fabric sample treated with natural gum has a comparable result with fabric treated with silicon/commercial softener. Maximum increases in recovery angle were seen in fabric treated with natural gum at a concentration of 30 g/l.
An XGB-Based Reliable Transmission Method in the mMTC Scenarios
Authors: Zheng Tongyi , Ning Lei , Ye Qingsong , Jin Fan
Published: December 2021

Massive machine-type communications (mMTCs) for Internet of things are being developed thanks to the fifth-generation (5G) wireless systems. Narrowband Internet of things (NB-IoT) is an important communication technology for machine-type communications. It supports many different protocols for communication. The reliability and performance of application layer communication protocols are greatly affected by the retransmission time-out (RTO) algorithm. In order to improve the reliability and performance of machine-type communications, this study proposes a novel RTO algorithm UDP-XGB based on the user datagram protocol (UDP) and NB-IoT. It combines traditional algorithms with machine learning. The simulation results show that real round-trip time (RTT) is close to the RTO, which is obtained by this algorithm, and the reliability and performance of machine-type communications have improved.
Late Endocrine Effects after Stem Cell Transplant in a Young Girl with Griscelli Syndrome
Authors: Mencher Shana R. , Tamborlane William V. , Patel Anisha D.
Published: December 2021

Background. Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare disorder characterized by partial albinism and silver hair with alteration in genes necessary for melanin transport. Type 2 GS is fatal due to severe immunodeficiency without curative stem cell transplant (SCT). Late endocrinopathies are quite common in other disorders after SCT. These complications have not been reported in GS. Case Presentation. A 7-year-old female presented for growth failure with a history of GS status post curative SCT and consequently developed graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). She also had a history of eosinophilic enterocolitis, for which she was taking supraphysiologic glucocorticoids for the past year. She presented with severe short stature along with mild hyperthyroxinemia with subsequent diagnosis of Graves’ disease, which was treated with methimazole. GH therapy was commenced due to persistent growth failure, with a robust increase in growth parameters. She started spontaneous puberty; however, initial biochemical evaluation revealed hypergonadotropic hypogonadism with undetectable anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) consistent with low ovarian reserve and premature ovarian failure. Discussion. Growth failure was multifactorial due to her inflammatory condition and poor weight gain from multiple underlying illnesses, including hyperthyroidism, as well as chronic supraphysiologic glucocorticoid use. Although hypothyroidism is more commonly seen after SCT, rare cases of hyperthyroidism have been reported. In addition to SCTs, GvHD and GS have been associated with autoimmune conditions. It is important to monitor pubertal progression as the majority of those treated with alkylating agents prior to SCT have pubertal and ovarian failure and remain at risk for premature menopause.
Tumor Suppressor PLK2 May Serve as a Biomarker in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer for Improved Response to PLK1 Therapeutics
Authors: Gao Yang , Kabotyanski Elena B. , Shepherd Jonathan H. , Villegas Elizabeth , Acosta Deanna , Hamor Clark , Sun Tingting , Montmeyor-Garcia Celina , He Xiaping , Dobrolecki Lacey E. , Westbrook Thomas F. , Lewis Michael T. , Hilsenbeck Susan G. , Zhang Xiang H.-F. , Perou Charles M. , Rosen Jeffrey M.
Published: December 2021

Polo-like kinase (PLK) family members play important roles in cell-cycle regulation. The founding member PLK1 is oncogenic and preclinically validated as a cancer therapeutic target. Paradoxically, frequent loss of chromosome 5q11–35, which includes PLK2, is observed in basal-like breast cancer. In this study, we found that PLK2 was tumor suppressive in breast cancer, preferentially in basal-like and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes. Knockdown of PLK1 rescued phenotypes induced by PLK2 loss both in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrated that PLK2 directly interacted with PLK1 at prometaphase through the kinase but not the polo-box domains of PLK2, suggesting PLK2 functioned at least partially through the interaction with PLK1. Furthermore, an improved treatment response was seen in both Plk2-deleted/low mouse preclinical and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) TNBC models using the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib alone or in combination with carboplatin. Reexpression of PLK2 in an inducible PLK2-null mouse model reduced the therapeutic efficacy of volasertib. In summary, this study delineates the effects of chromosome 5q loss in TNBC that includes PLK2, the relationship between PLK2 and PLK1, and how this may render PLK2-deleted/low tumors more sensitive to PLK1 inhibition in combination with chemotherapy.

Significance:

The tumor-suppressive role of PLK2, and its relationship with oncogene PLK1, provide a mechanistic rationalization to use PLK1 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy to treat PLK2-low/deleted tumors. TNBC, and other cancers with low PLK2 expression, are such candidates to leverage precision medicine to identify patients who might benefit from treatment with these inhibitors.
Depressive Symptoms, Subjective Cognitive Decline, and Subjective Sleep Quality Are Associated with Slips and Falls: Data from the Community Health Survey in Korean Adults
Authors: Kim Ji Hee , Song Joon Ho , Wee Jee Hye , Lee Jung Woo , Choi Hyo Geun
Published: December 2021

Background: Identifying the risk factors for falls among the elderly population is arguably one of the most imperative public health issues in the current aging society. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the associations between depressive symptoms, subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and poor subjective sleep quality and the risk of slips/falls in a Korean older population. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 228,340 elderly individuals living in Korea. Measurements included self-reported depressive symptoms, SCD, and self-reported sleep quality. The risk of slips/falls was dichotomized depending on whether slips/falls had occurred during the past year, and the associations between different risk factors and slips/falls were explored. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Complex sampling methods were used to estimate the weighted value of each participant. Results: The risk of slips/falls was significantly associated with high levels of depressive symptoms (adjusted OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05–1.07) and SCD (adjusted OR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19–1.50). Regarding each sleep quality component, the adjusted ORs for slips/falls were 1.85 for very poor sleep quality, 1.49 for long sleep latency, 1.04 for <5 h of sleep duration, 1.32 for low sleep efficiency, 2.78 for high sleep disturbance, 1.52 for the use of sleep medication ≥3 times a week, and 1.82 for high daytime dysfunction due to sleep problems compared to the respective good sleep conditions. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that depressive symptoms, SCD, and poor subjective sleep quality are independent factors affecting the occurrence of slips/falls. Thus, efforts to manage depressive symptoms and cognitive decline early and to improve sleep quality can be an alternative strategy to decrease the likelihood of falls.
Alterations in Toll-Like Receptor 7 and -9 mRNA Levels in Lungs after Ovariohysterectomy in a Pyometra Mouse Model
Authors: Kyriakopoulos Konstantinos , Katsimpoulas Michael , Mylonas Konstantinos S. , Lidoriki Irene , Ziogas Ioannis A. , Perivolioti Efstathia P. , Stamataki Despoina K. , Chrelias Charalampos , Schizas Dimitrios , Alexandrou Andreas , Liakakos Theodoros , Kapelouzou Alkistis
Published: December 2021

Background: Pyometra (P) leads to sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogens which can cause P. The aim of this study was to investigate TLR-7 and -9 via the MYD88 pathway and the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) response in the uterus of a P mouse model before and after ovariohysterectomy (RP) as well as potential lung injury. Materials and Methods: 200 female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into groups (N = 10/subgroup; sham 1, 2, 3, 7; P1, 2, 3, 7; 1RP1, 2, 3, 7; 2RP1, 2, 3, 7; 3RP1, 2, 3, 7) according to the day of euthanasia. Pathogens were administrated in the groups P and RP in order to induce P. Results: Alterations in blood chemistry, histopathology, and RT-qPCT analysis before (P) and after RP were observed. Significant correlations were also found between MYD88, NFκB, and TLR9 in P and RP groups in the lungs and in RP groups in the uterus, suggesting that the immune system responded via the TLR9-MYD88 pathway. Conclusions: This is the first report of immunohistochemical TLR-7 and -9 localization and of TLR-7, -9, MYD88, and NFκB mRNA expression in the uterus causing lung injury in a P mouse model.
Report on Unusual Sites of Lymph Node Metastases in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Nguyen Van Dang , Nguyen Thao Bich , Nguyen Thi Nhung Thu , Le Van Quang
Published: December 2021

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is amongst the most common malignancies of head and neck cancers. Most patients are admitted to the hospital with advanced disease. NPC has a tendency toward early metastatic spread to cervical lymph nodes, and levels II and III are most commonly involved. A few reports have indicated specific metastatic sites of nasopharyngeal cancer, including lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Evidence of histopathology and immunohistochemistry is required to prove NPC origin. In many cases, surgery can be performed to obtain accurate evidence of the pathology. However, surgery can also affect the overall treatment plan and strategy for NPC and should be considered in the specific circumstances of the disease. Multidisciplinary consultation is required for these uncommonly specific metastases. Paying attention to the specific lymph node metastasis sites of NPC plays an important role in accurately diagnosing the stage, thereby giving an appropriate treatment strategy. It is also important in determining radiotherapy volumes because radiotherapy is the standard therapy for this disease. Herein, we are reporting 2 cases of NPC with clinical metastasis to unusual lymph node sites such as the parotid salivary gland and the cheek. Histological analyses from the resected specimens confirmed its nasopharyngeal origin. Lymph node metastases in the parotid gland and the cheek are unusual. In diagnosis and follow-up, it is necessary to evaluate carefully to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans for patients as well as early detect recurrent metastases at uncommon sites of lymph nodes.
The Case for Early Antibiotic Commencement and Source Control in Paediatric Subdural Empyema: A Single-Centre Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Rasul Fahid Tariq , Chari Aswin , Iqbal Mohammed Omar , Silva Geeth , Hatcher James , Hartley John , Tahir Muhammad Zubair
Published: December 2021

Background: Subdural empyema is a neurosurgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. There is a debate between the benefits and risks of starting early antibiotics prior to surgical drainage as this is purported to reduce the rate of microbiological diagnosis. Here, we describe our experience of treating this potentially life-threatening condition, advocating for the early commencement of antibiotics and importance of source control in its treatment. Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected electronic departmental database included all patients who were admitted to our unit with a diagnosis of subdural empyema over an 11-year period (2008–2018). Basic demographic data were collected. Further data pertaining to mode of presentation, surgical approach, causative organism, post-operative antibiotic regime, anti-seizure medications, length of hospital stay, further surgery, and neurological outcomes were extracted. Results: Thirty-six children underwent 44 operations for subdural empyema at our institution during the study period. Median age was 11.0 (range 0.2–15.8); 47.2% (17/36) were female. Over time, there was decreasing use of burr holes and increasing use of craniectomy as the index surgery. Using a combination of extended culture and polymerase chain reaction, a microbiological diagnosis was achieved in all 36 cases; the commonest causative microorganism was of the Streptococcus anginosus group of bacteria. Seven patients underwent repeat surgery, and 4 patients underwent a concurrent ENT procedure. No risk factors were significant in predicting the likelihood of re-operation (location of subdural empyema, age, index surgery type, inflammatory markers, concurrent ENT procedure, and microorganism) although it was notable that none of the patients undergoing a concurrent ENT procedure underwent repeat surgery (p = 0.29). Median length of stay was 12 days (range 3–74), and there were no inpatient or procedure-related mortalities. Clinical outcomes were good with 94.4% (34/36) categorized as modified Rankin Scale 0–3 at discharge and there were 2 cranioplasty-related complications. Conclusions: We observed an evolution of practice from limited surgical approaches towards more extensive index surgery over the study period. Given that a microorganism was isolated in all cases using a comprehensive approach, initiation of antibiotic therapy should not be delayed on presentation. Concurrent ENT surgery may be an important factor in providing aggressive source control thereby reducing the need for repeat surgery.
Colonoscopic Treatment of a Fecaloma at the Anastomotic Site after Colectomy
Authors: Homma Yuko , Mimura Toshiki , Sadatomo Ai , Koinuma Koji , Horie Hisanaga , Lefor Alan Kawarai , Sata Naohiro
Published: December 2021

Fecalomas most commonly occur in constipated patients and are rarely reported after colectomy. A 55-year-old Japanese female presented with a fecaloma after colectomy, which was impacted at a functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA) site. Four and a half years ago, she underwent sigmoidectomy for colon cancer. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an 11 cm incidental fecaloma. The patient was advised to undergo surgery, but she desired nonoperative management because of minimal symptoms, and was referred to our institution. On the day of admission (day 1), mechanical fragmentation of the fecaloma was attempted during the first colonoscopy. Although a large block of stool was evacuated after a second colonoscopic fragmentation on day 8, the third colonoscopy on day 21 and CT scan on day 22 showed no significant change in the fecaloma. Frequent colonoscopic fragmentation was performed, with a fourth, fifth, and sixth colonoscopy on days 24, 29, and 31, respectively. After the size reduction was confirmed at the sixth colonoscopy, the patient was discharged home on day 34. The fecaloma completely resolved after the seventh colonoscopic fragmentation on day 44. Sixteen months after treatment, there is no evidence of recurrent fecaloma. According to the literature, risk factors for fecaloma after colectomy include female gender, left-side colonic anastomosis, and FEEA. FEEA might not be recommended for anastomoses in the left colon, particularly in female patients, to avoid this complication. Colonoscopic fragmentation is recommended for fecalomas at an anastomotic site after colectomy in patients without an absolute indication for surgery.
Timing as a Mechanism of Development and Evolution in the Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Fenlon Laura R.
Published: December 2021

One of the biggest mysteries in neurobiology concerns the mechanisms responsible for the diversification of the brain over different time scales, i.e. during development and evolution. Subtle differences in the timing of biological processes during development, e.g. onset, offset, duration, speed and sequence, can trigger large changes in phenotypic outcomes. At the level of a single organism, altered timing of developmental events can lead to individual variability, as well as malformation and disease. At the level of phylogeny, there are known interspecies differences in the timing of developmental events, and this is thought to be an important factor that drives phenotypic variation across evolution, known as heterochrony. A particularly striking example of phenotypic variation is the evolution of human cognitive abilities, which has largely been attributed to the development of the mammalian-specific neocortex and its subsequent expansion in higher primates. Here, I review how the timing of different aspects of cortical development specifies developmental outcomes within species, including processes of cell proliferation and differentiation, neuronal migration and lamination, and axonal targeting and circuit maturation. Some examples of the ways that different processes might “keep time” in the cortex are explored, reviewing potential cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms. Further, by combining this knowledge with known differences in timing across species, timing changes that may have occurred during evolution are identified, which perhaps drove the phylogenetic diversification of neocortical structure and function.
Mass Shootings and Their Proximity to a Public or Private School: Protecting the Health and Livelihood of Our Children
Authors: Sen-Crowe Brendon , Autrey Cody , Newsome Kevin , Mckenney Mark , Elkbuli Adel
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Firearm-related violence occupies the third leading age-adjusted mortality rate among all mechanisms of injury. We aim to analyze the distribution of mass shootings in relation to the distance to the nearest public/private school in the United States.

Methods

A retrospective study investigating mass shootings and proximity to school areas. Information regarding mass shootings was obtained from the Gun Violence Archive. The locations of public/private schools for the 2019-2020 school year were obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Euclidian distance from a mass shooting to the nearest school was measured.

Results

There were 417 mass shootings in 2019 and 610 in 2020. The average distance from a mass shooting to the nearest public/private school was 0.52 miles in 2019 and 0.57 miles in 2020. Most mass shootings occurred within 0.30 miles of a school in 2019 and 0.40 miles in 2020. There was no significant association between average distance of a mass shooting to a public/private school and the population density in 2019 ( P = .313) or 2020 ( P = .351).

Conclusion

The growing number of mass shootings from 2019-2020 was associated with an average distance of <0.60 miles from the location of a mass shooting to a public or private school, highlighting the danger posed to children living and learning in these areas. Mass shootings are prevalent throughout the country and the close proximity of these events to places of learning warrants further investigation into policies and preventive measures aimed at preventing gun violence occurring near schools.
Trauma and COVID-Induced Severe Rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Riccardi Julia , Fredericks Charles J , Callcut Rachael A
Published: December 2021

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has been implicated in a number of extra-pulmonary manifestations including rhabdomyolysis. It is hypothesized to be secondary to direct muscle damage from the virus. The usual treatment of rhabdomyolysis is resuscitation with aggressive fluid management to prevent acute renal failure. However, the combination of blunt thoracic trauma and COVID pneumonia has posed additional challenges for critical care management. A 68-year-old male presented to our institution after being found down for an unknown duration of time. He was diagnosed symptomatic COVID pneumonia. His traumatic injuries included 4 rib fractures, a rectus sheath hematoma, and rhabdomyolysis with a creatinine kinase (CK) level of 16,716 U/L. He was initially treated with steroids, prone positioning, and aggressive fluid administration. Despite treatment his CK level peaked at 146,328 U/L. Here we present the case of trauma and COVID-induced rhabdomyolysis with an extremely elevated CK level.
The Effect of Reading Prisoner Poetry on Stigma and Public Attitudes: Results from a Multigroup Survey Experiment
Authors: Dum Christopher P. , Socia Kelly M. , George Bengt , Neiderman Halle M.
Published: December 2021

We examine how public attitudes toward currently/formerly incarcerated people and their reentry into society are affected by consuming information about imprisoned people. Over 1,500 respondents from a national online survey were randomly assigned one of five sources of written information about currently and formerly incarcerated people (CFIP) (three informative pieces and two sets of incarceree poetry). They then reported their views toward them and support for reentry policies. While no differences in support for reentry initiatives across conditions were uncovered, those reading poetry with a humanizing theme applied the least amount of stigma toward currently/formerly incarcerated people.
Establishment of the three-dimensional model of the nonwoven structure with fiber scale based on the GAN algorithm
Authors: Wang Jiang , Shi Qianqian , Akankwasa Nicholus Tayari , Zhang Yuze , Wang Jun
Published: December 2021

The structure of nonwovens gives special functions, and the establishment of the structure model has important reference significance for the realization of functions. In this work, the two-dimensional configuration of polyester fibers in a spunlaced nonwoven fabric was extracted, and the configurational feature points of 2500 fibers were obtained. Combined with the generative adversarial nets algorithm, the generation model of the two-dimensional configuration of fibers was proposed after learning the configuration feature of 2500 fibers. Based on the assumption that the fibers are randomly distributed in the nonwoven fabric, we established a three-dimensional model of the spunlaced nonwoven fabric on the fiber scale using ABAQUS software. In addition, the water diffusion experiment and simulation were carried out to visualize the diffusion process of a water droplet in the nonwoven fabric, verifying the accuracy of the model. This method provides a novel idea for the modeling of textile structure on the fiber scale, which can be regarded as a model basis for the subsequent simulation analysis and function research.
A National Survey of Children’s Experiences of Parental Separation and Support Needs in Australia
Authors: Ridout Brad , Fletcher Jennifer , Smith-Merry Jennifer , Collyer Brian , Dalgleish John , Campbell Andrew
Published: December 2021

We used a mixed-methods online survey to recruit 616 young Australians whose parents had separated, to understand their experiences and how to better support them throughout the separation process. Persistent themes included conflict, lack of communication and agency, mental health concerns, and feelings of confusion, frustration, loss, and grief. Some suggested it would have been useful to talk about reasons for the separation, their rights, opinions and feelings, with some indicating the separation process affected their ongoing mental health and relationships. There was a general preference for face-to-face counseling, closely followed by online counseling and online peer-to-peer support, indicating that a “one size fits all” approach is not suitable for young people. Young people should be offered services early in the separation process that can be extended in content to other issues such as new partners, school life and mental health, and continued beyond the timeframe of the separation process.