bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guideline for Preliminary Design Phase of Trawler Type Yachts
Authors: TURAN Bülent İbrahim
Published: September 2023

Yacht design is a multidisciplinary process that consists of set of iterative sub-processes. The main aim of the whole process is to reach the optimum design that satisfies not only the engineering-related requirements, but also the user’s expectations. In the preliminary design process, determination of the type and the main dimensions of the yacht according to the user’s preferences is followed by the processes such as the general arrangement plan, determination of the hull form and superstructure design, estimation of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic characteristics, etc. In this research, it is aimed to obtain a parametric design framework which enables to reach hull form characteristics, layout parameters and resistance estimation values with respect to various speeds, only by using only LOA of trawler type motor yachts. In this content, 26 trawler type motor yachts were investigated and their hull were modeled for speed-resistance calculations. As a result of the research, graphics and tables were presented that allow to reach the characteristic parameters, which are important in terms of design and engineering, by using only the LOA value in the preliminary design phase of the trawler type motor yachts.
FAZLA KİLOLU BİREYLERDE UYKU KALİTESİ VE YAŞAM DOYUMUNUN FİZYOLOJİK DEĞİŞKENLER AÇISINDAN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: BAHAR Mustafa , SELVİ Hüseyin , BAHAR Leyla
Published: September 2023

Bu çalışmada, fazla kilolu bireyler üzerinde uygulanan uyku kalitesi ve yaşam doyumu ölçeklerinin sonuçları ile fizyolojik değişkenler arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu araştırmanın verileri 6 haftalık süreçte özel bir diyet merkezine başvuran ve Beden Kitle İndeksi (BKİ) 25 ve üzeri olan fazla kilolu bireylerden toplanmış olup, 60 kişidir. Çalışmada tanımlayıcı Soru Formu, ölçme aracı olarak “Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi (PUKİ)” ve “Yaşam doyumu” ölçekleri uygulandı. Ayrıca, vücut analiziyle katılımcıların fizyolojik verileri elde edildi. Çalışma sonucundaki verilerin analizinde, tanımlayıcı istatistikler ile korelasyon, çoklu regresyon analizi ve betimsel istatistikler kullanıldı. Araştırmaya katılan bireylerde PUKİ; 8.9±7,0 (Ort.±Std.S), Yaşam Doyumu; 15.91±4.54 değerlerinde bulundu. PUKİ parametrelerinden en yüksek değerde “alışılmış uyku etkinliği-P4”: 2.63±0.97 olduğu tespit edildi. Uyku kalitesi regresyon sonuçlarına göre “Öznel uyku kalitesi-P1 için; “günlük fiziksel aktivite”nin (P=0.041) ve düzenli kahvaltı yapmanın anlamlı olduğu bulundu (P=0.02). Yaşam doyumu regresyon sonuçlarında, günlük fiziksel aktivite açısından anlamlı fark gözlendi (P=0.041). Günlük fiziksel aktivitenin artırılması ve sağlıklı beslenerek kilo verilmesinin, yaşam doyumunu ve uyku kalitesini artıracağı belirlenmiştir.
THE ROLE AND ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEMIC IMMUNE-INFLAMMATION INDEX AS A NOVEL INFLAMMATORY MARKER IN PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL FACIAL PARALYSIS
Authors: DEMİR İsmail , ADIGÜZEL Ahmet
Published: September 2023

Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a novel inflammatory marker and is commonly used in clinical management such as prognosis and response to therapies. In this study, the outcomes and correlations of inflammatory markers in central and peripheral facial paralysis were evaluated. The study was planned retrospectively and cross-sectionally. Totally 133 patients (group 1; 53, group 2; 80) were included in the study. The neutrophil counts were 4.7 ± 1.6 and 3.7 ± 1.6 (p=0.001), and the lymphocyte counts were 2.8 ± 0.8 and 3.3 ± 1 (p=0.007) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. While Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was 1.8 ± 0.9 in patients with central facial paralysis, NLR was analysed as 1.4 ± 1 in patients with peripheral facial paralysis (p=0.001). Systemic immune-inflammation index was determined as 529.5 ± 297.4 in the first group and 408.2 ± 228.1 in the second group (p=0.029). There was a positive correlation between NLR and SII (r:0.787, p
The effects of SARS-CoV-2 on susceptible human cells
Authors: Klestova Zinaida
Published: September 2023

The biological consequences of viral infection result from biochemical, physiological, structural, morphological and genetic changes in infected cells. In productive infections, virus-induced biological changes in cells may be closely related to the efficiency of viral replication or to the recognition of these cells by the immune system. These changes are usually associated with cytocidal viruses, as in the case of the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Many of these changes are required for effective viral replication. The physiological state of living cells has a significant impact on the outcome of viral infection, as the host cell provides the synthetic machinery, key regulatory molecules and precursors for newly synthesised viral proteins and nucleic acids. This review focuses on novel target cell types for SARS-CoV-2 exposure outside the respiratory tract. Findings and examples are collected that provide information on virus-cell interactions. The identification of unusual target cells for SARS-CoV-2 may help to explain the diverse symptoms in COVID-19 patients and the long-lasting effects after infection. In particular, the discovery of previously undescribed target cells for SARS-CoV-2 action needs to be considered to improve treatment of patients and prevention of infection.
Biomaterials used for tissue engineering of barrier-forming cell monolayers in the eye
Authors: Sasseville Samantha , Karami Samira , Tchatchouang Ange , Charpentier Pascale , Anney Princia , Gobert Delphine , Proulx Stéphanie
Published: September 2023

Cell monolayers that form a barrier between two structures play an important role for the maintenance of tissue functionality. In the anterior portion of the eye, the corneal endothelium forms a barrier that controls fluid exchange between the aqueous humor of the anterior chamber and the corneal stroma. This monolayer is central in the pathogenesis of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). FECD is a common corneal disease, in which corneal endothelial cells deposit extracellular matrix that increases the thickness of its basal membrane (Descemet’s membrane), and forms excrescences (guttae). With time, there is a decrease in endothelial cell density that generates vision loss. Transplantation of a monolayer of healthy corneal endothelial cells on a Descemet membrane substitute could become an interesting alternative for the treatment of this pathology. In the back of the eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms the blood-retinal barrier, controlling fluid exchange between the choriocapillaris and the photoreceptors of the outer retina. In the retinal disease dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD), deposits (drusen) form between the RPE and its basal membrane (Bruch’s membrane). These deposits hinder fluid exchange, resulting in progressive RPE cell death, which in turn generates photoreceptor cell death, and vision loss. Transplantation of a RPE monolayer on a Bruch’s membrane/choroidal stromal substitute to replace the RPE before photoreceptor cell death could become a treatment alternative for this eye disease. This review will present the different biomaterials that are proposed for the engineering of a monolayer of corneal endothelium for the treatment of FECD, and a RPE monolayer for the treatment of dry AMD.
Parathyroid hormone therapy improves MRSA-infected fracture healing in a murine diabetic model
Authors: Kwon Hyuk-Kwon , Cahill Sean V. , Yu Kristin E. , Alder Kareme D. , Dussik Christopher M. , Jeong Jain , Back Jung Ho , Lee Francis Y.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) impairs fracture healing and is associated with susceptibility to infection, which further inhibits fracture healing. While intermittent parathyroid hormone (1-34) (iPTH) effectively improves fracture healing, it is unknown whether infection-associated impaired fracture healing can be rescued with PTH (teriparatide).

Methods

A chronic diet-induced type 2 diabetic mouse model was used to yield mice with decreased glucose tolerance and increased blood glucose levels compared to lean-fed controls. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was inoculated in a surgical tibia fracture model to simulate infected fracture, after which mice were treated with a combination of antibiotics and adjunctive teriparatide treatment. Fracture healing was assessed by Radiographic Union Scale in Tibial Fractures (RUST), micro-computed tomography (μCT), biomechanical testing, and histology.

Results

RUST score was significantly poorer in diabetic mice compared to their lean nondiabetic counterparts. There were concomitant reductions in micro-computed tomography (μCT) parameters of callus architecture including bone volume/total volume, trabecular thickness, and total mineral density in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. Biomechanicaltesting of fractured femora demonstrated diminished torsional rigidity, stiffness, and toughness to max torque. Adjuvant teriparatide treatment with systemic antibiotic therapy improved numerous parameters of bone microarchitecture bone volume, increased connectivity density, and increased trabecular number in both the lean and T2DM group. Despite the observation that poor fracture healing in T2DM mice was further impaired by MRSA infection, adjuvant iPTH treatment significantly improved fracture healing compared to antibiotic treatment alone in infected T2DM fractures.

Discussion

Our results suggest that teriparatide may constitute a viable adjuvant therapeutic agent to improve bony union and bone microarchitecture to prevent the development of septic nonunion under diabetic conditions.
Case report: Serious unexpected vascular events in two patients with lymphocytic variant hypereosinophilic syndrome
Authors: Torcida Nathan , Casalino Giulia , Bondue Antoine , Jodaitis Lise , Vanden Eynden Frederic , Roufosse Florence
Published: September 2023

Background

Lymphocytic-variant hypereosinophilic syndrome (L-HES) is a form of reactive hypereosinophilia, most commonly associated with interleukin-5 over-production by clonal, most commonly CD3−CD4+CD2hiCD5hiCD45RO+ T-cells. Patients often present with predominant cutaneous and soft-tissue manifestations, while cardiovascular involvement is uncommon.

Methods

We reviewed the medical files of two L-HES patients followed in our center who developed serious vascular complications and performed a literature review for similar cases.

Results

Patient 1, a 52-year-old female, presented with an ischemic stroke secondary to left middle cerebral artery dissection after 10 years of indolent L-HES. Blood eosinophilia was controlled with oral corticosteroids (OCS), but OCS-tapering attempts with hydroxyurea and pegylated interferon failed, prompting the introduction of mepolizumab with rapid normalization. Patient 2, a 62-year-old female, had been asymptomatic for 10 years without treatment when a NSTEMI occurred, due to coronary artery occlusion secondary to a large cauliflower-aneurysm of the proximal aorta and aneurysmal dilatation of several coronary arteries, requiring semi-urgent surgical management. Aortic wall staining for eosinophil major basic protein showed eosinophils in the adventitia. Blood eosinophilia was controlled with OCS.

Conclusions

Patients with apparently clinically benign L-HES may develop arterial complications, consisting in dissection and/or aneurysm dilatation of medium-to-large vessels with serious consequences. The value of performing regular vascular imaging and monitoring during follow-up has yet to be determined.
Mapping mining-induced ground fissures and their evolution using UAV photogrammetry
Authors: Fu Yaokun , Wu Yongzheng , Yin Xiwen , Zhang Yanjun
Published: September 2023

Due to its unique geomorphological characteristics, the loess gully region is easy to produce ground fissures under the action of coal mining, destroy the ground infrastructures, induce geological disasters, and threaten the safety of people’s lives and property. Therefore, it is particularly important to accurately obtain information about the development of mining-induced ground fissures and study their spatial-temporal evolution mechanism. Based on the 1212 working face of a mining area in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, this paper studies the extraction method and spatial-temporal evolution mechanism of ground fissures by combining remote sensing images and field survey data. The study shows that this proposed method significantly reduces noise points and mis-extraction, and the accuracy is more than 80%, improving the extraction accuracy of ground fissures and making the process more automated. By comparing the extraction accuracy of ground fissures at different flight altitudes, we determine that the optimal flight altitude for the research area is 60 m. At the beginning of the working face mining stage, the proportion of low-density areas of ground fissures continues to increase. Some low-density areas transition into high-density areas, which is consistent with the progress of the working face advancement. After the end of the working face retreat, the width of the ground fissures tends to be evenly distributed. The mining-induced ground fissures in the Loess gully and ravine region have good self-similarity. A dynamic development model of ground fissures is constructed to reveal its formation mechanism. The research conclusions can provide a technical support for geological disaster monitoring and land ecological restoration in mining areas.
A multiparametric-multilayer comparison of the preparation phase of two geophysical events in the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone: the 2019 M7.2 Kermadec earthquake and 2022 Hunga Ha’apai eruption
Authors: D’Arcangelo Serena , Regi Mauro , De Santis Angelo , Perrone Loredana , Cianchini Gianfranco , Soldani Maurizio , Piscini Alessandro , Fidani Cristiano , Sabbagh Dario , Lepidi Stefania , Di Mauro Domenico
Published: September 2023

The Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone represents one of the most active areas from both seismic and volcanic points of view. Recently, two planetary-scale geophysical events took place there: the 2019 M7.2 earthquake (EQ) with the epicentre in Kermadec Islands (New Zealand) and the astonishing 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano. Based on the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) models, we analysed the three geolayers with a multi-parametric approach to detect any effect on the occasion of the two events, through a comparison aimed at identifying the physics processes that interested phenomena of different nature but in the same tectonic context. For the lithosphere, we conducted a seismic analysis of the sequence culminating with the main shock in Kermadec Islands and the sequence of EQs preceding the HTHH volcanic eruption, in both cases considering the magnitude attributed to the released energy in the lithosphere within the respective Dobrovolsky area. Moving to the above atmosphere, the attention was focused on the parameters—gases, temperature, pressure—possibly influenced by the preparation or the occurrence of the events. Finally, the ionosphere was examined by means of ground and satellite observations, including also magnetic and electric field, finding some interesting anomalous signals in both case studies, in a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. The joint study of the effects seen before, during and after the two events enabled us to clarify the LAIC in this complex context. The observed similarities in the effects of the two geophysical events can be explained by their slightly different manifestations of releasing substantial energy resulting from a shared geodynamic origin. This origin arises from the thermodynamic interplay between a rigid lithosphere and a softer asthenosphere within the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, which forms the underlying tectonic context.
Strikingly low prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas in a teaching hospital in Uruguay
Authors: Pineyro Maria M. , Sosa Natalia , Rivero Florencia , Tripodi Diego , Negrotto Matias , Lima Ramiro
Published: September 2023

Background

Pituitary incidentalomas are an occurrence documented in 10.6% of post-mortem examinations, 4%–20% of computed tomography (CT) scans, and 10%–38% of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cases, primarily consisting of microincidentalomas (<1 cm in size). However, the prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas in Uruguay remains unexplored. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas at our hospital.

Methods

In this investigation, we retrospectively identified patients who underwent brain CT and MRI at our hospital over a 1-year span due to conditions other than suspected or known pituitary disorders. The time frame covered was from 1 January to 31 December 2017. Our analysis encompassed all scans, and we conducted interviews with patients discovered to have pituitary incidentalomas. Furthermore, we conducted biochemical assessments in accordance with clinical and imaging traits.

Results

During the study period, a total of 3,894 patients underwent imaging procedures. Of these, 1,146 patients underwent MRI scans, and 2,748 underwent CT scans. The mean age was 53.1 ± 19 years, with a relatively even distribution between genders (50.6% women). The majority of imaging requisitions originated from the emergency department (43%), followed by outpatient clinics (29%), and inpatient wards (28%). Common reasons for imaging requests included trauma (20.4%), headaches (11.3%), and stroke (10.9%). Among these cases, two pituitary incidentalomas were detected, resulting in a prevalence of 5 cases per 10,000 individuals annually (0.051%). Both of these cases were initially identified through CT scans, with subsequent MRI scans performed for further assessment. The final diagnoses were a vascular aneurysm and a sellar meningioma, with the latter patient also exhibiting secondary hypothyroidism. Notably, no instances of pituitary adenomas were encountered.

Conclusions

The prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas within our hospital was notably low. Further research is necessary to more comprehensively investigate the occurrence of pituitary incidentalomas in our country.
Deep learning-based meta-learner strategy for electricity theft detection
Authors: Shehzad Faisal , Ullah Zahid , Alhussein Musaed , Aurangzeb Khursheed , Aslam Sheraz
Published: September 2023

Electricity theft damages power grid infrastructure and is also responsible for huge revenue losses for electric utilities. Integrating smart meters in traditional power grids enables real-time monitoring and collection of consumers’ electricity consumption (EC) data. Based on the collected data, it is possible to identify the normal and malicious behavior of consumers by analyzing the data using machine learning (ML) and deep learning methods. This paper proposes a deep learning-based meta-learner model to distinguish between normal and malicious patterns in EC data. The proposed model consists of two stages. In Fold-0, the ML classifiers extract diverse knowledge and learns based on EC data. In Fold-1, a multilayer perceptron is used as a meta-learner, which takes the prediction results of Fold-0 classifiers as input, automatically learns non-linear relationships among them, and extracts hidden complicated features to classify normal and malicious behaviors. Therefore, the proposed model controls the overfitting problem and achieves high accuracy. Moreover, extensive experiments are conducted to compare its performance with boosting, bagging, standalone conventional ML classifiers, and baseline models published in top-tier outlets. The proposed model is evaluated using a real EC dataset, which is provided by the Energy Informatics Group in Pakistan. The model achieves 0.910 ROC-AUC and 0.988 PR-AUC values on the test dataset, which are higher than those of the compared models.
Online load-loss risk assessment based on stacking ensemble learning for power systems
Authors: Wang Yanwen , Sun Yanying , Dan Yangqing , Li Yalong , Cao Jiyuan , Han Xueqian
Published: September 2023

Power systems faces significant uncertainty during operation owing to the increased integration of renewable energy into power grids and the expansion of the scale of power systems, these factors lead to higher load-loss risks; therefore, realization of a fast online load-loss risk assessment is crucial to ensuring the operational safety and reliability of power systems. This paper presents an online load-loss risk assessment method for power systems based on stacking ensemble learning. First, a traditional load-loss risk assessment method based on power flow analysis was constructed to generate risk samples. The label of the sample is load-loss risk assessment index and the features are multiple operational variables of the power system. And the recursive feature elimination using cross validation (RFECV) was adopted for feature selection. Second, four different machine learning models, including support vector regression (SVR), extremely randomized trees (ET), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and elastic network (EN) were used to form a stacking ensemble learning model for sample training. Moreover, to further improve the model performance, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms was used for parameter optimization. Finally, based on this model, the online load-loss risk assessment of a power system was realized. The application of the proposed method on IEEE test systems demonstrated that the proposed method was more accurate than methods based on individual machine learning models, from which the stacking was designed, while still maintaining a significant advantage in terms of runtime compared to the traditional risk assessment method.
Assessing cross-boundary wildfire hazard, transmission, and exposure to communities in the Italy-France Maritime cooperation area
Authors: Salis Michele , Del Giudice Liliana , Alcasena-Urdiroz Fermin , Jahdi Roghayeh , Arca Bachisio , Pellizzaro Grazia , Scarpa Carla , Duce Pierpaolo
Published: September 2023

The growing threats posed by wildfires in Southern Europe are calling for the development of comprehensive and sound management and risk assessment strategies. In this work, we present the application of wildfire simulation modeling based on the minimum travel time (MTT) algorithm to assess fine-scale (100-m resolution) wildfire hazard, transmission, and exposure to communities in the Italy-France Maritime cooperation area (Sardinia, Corsica, Tuscany, Liguria and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur), which cover about 72,000 km2 of land. We simulated thousands of wildfires considering the current landscape and characterized and measured fine-scale wildfire risk factors and profiles by taking into account historical fire regimes, fuels, winds and fuel moisture conditions associated with the occurrence of the largest wildfires (>100 ha) that affected the study area in the last 20 years. Individual fires were simulated at 100-m resolution, consistent with the input files. Modeled annual burn probability and ignition probability revealed that Sardinia was the Region most affected by wildfires. The wildfire simulation outputs were then combined with main land uses and building footprint locations to characterize wildfire transmission and exposure to communities, and were summarized for main vegetation types and Regions. This study presents a cross-boundary and standardized approach based on wildfire spread modeling to analyze and quantify wildfire risk profiles in Southern Europe. The stochastic wildfire modeling systems we implemented used harmonized sets of data for a vast, fire-prone Mediterranean area, where previous similar studies were conducted at coarser resolutions and covered lower extent of lands. The approach presented in this work can be used as a reference pillar for the development and implementation of a common wildfire risk monitoring, management, and governance plan in the study area. The methods and findings of this study can be replicated in neighboring Mediterranean and other regions threatened by wildfires.
Epigenome-wide DNA methylation profiling in comparison between pathological and physiological hypertrophy of human cardiomyocytes
Authors: Shi Hangchuan , Chen Si , Meng Fanju W. , Ossip Deborah J. , Yan Chen , Li Dongmei
Published: September 2023

Background: Physiological and pathological stimuli result in distinct forms of cardiac hypertrophy, but the molecular regulation comparing the two, especially at the DNA methylation level, is not well understood.

Methods: We conducted an in vitro study using human cardiomyocytes exposed to angiotensin II (AngII) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to mimic pathologically and physiologically hypertrophic heart models, respectively. Whole genome DNA methylation patterns were profiled by the Infinium human MethylationEPIC platform with >850 K DNA methylation loci. Two external datasets were used for comparisons and qRT-PCR was performed for examining expression of associated genes of those identified DNA methylation loci.

Results: We detected 194 loci that are significantly differentially methylated after AngII treatment, and 206 significant loci after IGF-1 treatment. Mapping the significant loci to genes, we identified 158 genes corresponding to AngII treatment and 175 genes to IGF-1 treatment. Using the gene-set enrichment analysis, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was identified to be significantly enriched for both AngII and IGF-1 treatment. The Hippo signaling pathway was enriched after IGF-1 treatment, but not for AngII treatment. CDK6 and RPTOR are components of the PI3K-Akt pathway but have different DNA methylation patterns in response to AngII and IGF-1. qRT-PCR confirmed the different gene expressions of CDK6 and PRTOR.

Conclusion: Our study is pioneering in profiling epigenome DNA methylation changes in adult human cardiomyocytes under distinct stress conditions: pathological (AngII) and physiological (IGF-1). The identified DNA methylation loci, genes, and pathways might have the potential to distinguish between pathological and physiological cardiac hypertrophy.
Case report: A case of new mutation in SERPINC1 leading to thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Li Bing , Zhang Xiaohui , Lv Hailin , Yang Xiaoqing , Gao Yanxia , Hu Zhao , Ma Chengjun
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Hereditary antithrombin-III deficiency can significantly increase the risk for thrombosis, which is common in limb deep vein and pulmonary cases. However, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) caused by hereditary antithrombin deficiency is rare.

Case Presentation: We reported the case of a 32-year-old Chinese female patient with TMA with renal injury caused by decreased antithrombin-III activity due to a new mutation (chr1-173884049 c.50A>G) in SERPINC1, which encodes antithrombin-III. In this case, the patient had no history of relevant drug use, diabetes, or monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow puncture. Consequently, TMA of the kidney was considered secondary to hereditary antithrombin-III deficiency. Gene detection was the only clue that led us to suspect that TMA was caused by hereditary antithrombin deficiency.

Conclusion: Our findings indicated that for patients with repeated findings of antithrombin-III activity less than 50%, the possibility of antithrombin-III deficiency and complete gene detection must be considered immediately after excluding the use of anticoagulants and lack of availability to facilitate early detection, diagnosis, and intervention.
Patient-reported outcomes in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases in Japan: baseline results from a prospective observational study
Authors: Kanegane Hirokazu , Ishimura Masataka , Kawai Toshinao , Okada Satoshi , Okamatsu Nobuaki , Go Madoka , Noto Shinichi
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) are rare inherited diseases resulting in impaired immunity. People with PID experience lower health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) and disease-related burdens in daily activities. This ongoing, prospective observational study aims to evaluate disease activity, treatment status, treatment-related burden, daily activities, and HR-QOL in patients with PID in Japan over a 1-year period. In this interim report (database lock: July 29, 2022), we present baseline results.

Methods

Participants were enrolled between November 2021 and May 2022; data were collected four times/year per participant until May 2023 using an online electronic patient-reported outcomes system. Patients with PID and healthy volunteers aged ≥12 years, residing in Japan, and with access to a smartphone were eligible. HR-QOL (primary endpoint) was assessed by the EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Work productivity was assessed by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire. Other aspects of PID and burden were assessed with a new questionnaire developed in-house. The study is registered at the University hospital Medical Information Network clinical trials registry (UMIN000045622).

Results

The full interim analysis set comprised 71 patients with PID and 47 healthy volunteers. The most common International Union of Immunological Societies PID category was primary antibody deficiency (56.3% of patients). Complications were common, especially recurrent respiratory tract infections (63.4%). Most patients with PID were treated with immunoglobulin replacement therapy (73.2%); 22.4% of these patients had serum immunoglobulin levels <700 mg/dL. Among patients who did not undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation, EQ-5D-5L (n=67) and SF-36 (n=59) Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were significantly lower than in healthy volunteers (p < 0.001). WPAI absenteeism, work productivity loss, and activity impairment scores were significantly lower in 42 working patients with PID than in 37 working healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Other results indicated that patients with PID experience substantial burdens related to medical visits, expenses, work, and daily activities.

Discussion

This interim analysis confirms that patients with PID in Japan have lower HR-QOL and work productivity compared with healthy individuals and experience substantial limitations and burdens in their daily lives.
Combination of multiple omics techniques for a personalized therapy or treatment selection
Authors: Massa Chiara , Seliger Barbara
Published: September 2023

Despite targeted therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer patients, only a limited number of patients have long-term responses. Moreover, due to differences within cancer patients in the tumor mutational burden, composition of the tumor microenvironment as well as of the peripheral immune system and microbiome, and in the development of immune escape mechanisms, there is no “one fit all” therapy. Thus, the treatment of patients must be personalized based on the specific molecular, immunologic and/or metabolic landscape of their tumor. In order to identify for each patient the best possible therapy, different approaches should be employed and combined. These include (i) the use of predictive biomarkers identified on large cohorts of patients with the same tumor type and (ii) the evaluation of the individual tumor with “omics”-based analyses as well as its ex vivo characterization for susceptibility to different therapies.
Blockade of PD-1 and LAG-3 expression on CD8+ T cells promotes the tumoricidal effects of CD8+ T cells
Authors: Ma Jiajia , Yan Shufang , Zhao Ying , Yan Huifang , Zhang Qian , Li Xinxia
Published: September 2023

Background

The diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has the highest incidence of all lymphomas worldwide. To investigate the functions of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) in tissues and peripheral blood of patients with DLBCL, the expression of LAG-3 and PD-1 genes in DLBCL-TCGA were analyzed.

Methods

LAG-3 and PD-1 mRNA levels in DLBCL were analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Utilize the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database for assessing the variance in the expression of LAG-3, PD-1, and other associated factors between the tissues of DLBCL patients and healthy individuals. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of LAG-3 and PD-1 levels in 137 cases of DLBCL tissues and 20 cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. The prognostic value of LAG-3 and PD-1 were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier curve. The Estimation of Stromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumor tissues using Expression data (ESTIMATE) and ssGSEA algorithm were used to explore the immune microenvironment of DLBCL. Additionally, the expression and co-expression of LAG-3 and PD-1 were detected on CD4 and CD8 T cells in peripheral blood samples from 100 cases of DLBCL tissues and 30 cases of healthy individuals using flow cytometry.

Results

According to TCGA database, LAG-3 and PD-1 gene expression levels were significantly up-regulated in DLBCL tissues. LAG-3 and PD-1 levels were also strongly positively correlated with those of most infiltrating immune cells. Overall survival of patients with high LAG-3 and PD-1 co-expression was significantly shorter than that of patients with low co-expression. In DLBCL patients, LAG-3 and PD-1 were highly expressed in peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. In addition, LAG-3 was highly expressed in CD4+ T cells, while the expression of PD-1 in CD4+ T cells of DLBCL patients showed no significant difference compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, CD8+ T cells and SU-DHL6/OCI-LY3 from patients with DLBCL were co-cultured in vitro; after addition of LAG-3 and/or PD-1 inhibitors alone, an increased perforin and granzyme B secretion levels by CD8+ T cells were detected, as well as an increase in the overall proportion of tumor cells undergoing apoptosis.

Conclusion

High LAG-3 and PD-1 levels significantly inhibit CD8+ T cell function, resulting in weakened ability to kill tumor cells. Combined LAG-3 and PD-1 blockade can restore CD8+ T cell function and provides a potential avenue for development of personalized cellular immunotherapy for DLBCL.
Contribution of dissolved organic matter to seawater salinity measured by optic refractometer: a case study of DOM extracted from Aoshan Bay
Authors: Zhang Cong , Xiao Yuyang , Gao Wenyue , Fu Yujie , Zhou Zhensong , Chen Shiyu , Su Juan , Wu Chi , Wu Albert
Published: September 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater, consisted of a complex mixture of compounds and accounted for about 90% of marine organic carbon, is an important part of the global carbon cycle and also a part of absolute salinity of seawater. As the components of DOM are non-ionized in seawater, electric conductivity measurement cannot observe its contribution to salinity, which could lead to measurement error in salinity. Salinity measurement based on optic refractive index could reveal contribution of all dissolved matters in seawater including both non-ionized and ionized components. In this paper, a comparative study of DOM contribution to the salinity measurement by optic refractive index method and electric conductivity method was carried out for the first time. Adding DOM, extracted from Aoshan Bay, Qingdao, China, into Chinese Standard Seawater, our experimental results showed an increase of optic refractive index at 1.19×10-4 ± 4×10-6 per 1g/kg of DOM, which corresponds to a practical salinity increase of 0.697 ± 0.036 PSU per 1 g/kg of DOM. While, the conductivity of seawater measured by a conductivity-temperature sensor showed a decrease of 0.00065 ± 0.00008 mS/cm per 1 g/kg of DOM, which corresponded to a decrease of salinity at 0.00052 ± 0.00007 PSU per 1 g/kg of DOM. By comparing the optic and electric measurement results, the contribution of non-conductive components in the dissolved organic matters to salinity could be distinguished, which has great significance for the measurement of absolute salinity, global carbon cycle etc.
Development of a high-resolution marine ecosystem model for predicting the combined impacts of ocean acidification and deoxygenation
Authors: Bernardo Lawrence Patrick C. , Fujii Masahiko , Ono Tsuneo
Published: September 2023

An approach was developed to help evaluate and predict the combined effects of ocean acidification and deoxygenation on calcifying organisms along the coast of Japan. The Coastal and Regional Ocean COmmunity (CROCO) modeling system was set up to couple the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) to the Pelagic Interaction Scheme for Carbon and Ecosystem Studies (PISCES) biogeochemical model and used to reproduce physical and biochemical processes in the area around Miyako Bay, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Future scenario cases were also set up, which used initial and boundary conditions based on Future Ocean Regional Projection (FORP) simulations. Present day simulations were able to reproduce the general features of observed physical and biochemical parameters, except for some rapid decreases in salinity, pH and aragonite saturation state (Ωarag). This suggests that more local factors which have not been introduced into the model, such as submarine groundwater discharge, may be involved, or that river inputs may be underestimated. Results of the future projections suggest a significant impact of global warming and ocean acidification on calcifying organisms for the worst case of climate change under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario. In particular, it is feared that values of Ωaragwould approach the critical level for calcifying organisms (Ωarag< 1.1) throughout the year, under which decreased larval shell lengths and malformation have been observed experimentally for the locally grownHaliotis discus hannai(Ezo Abalone) species. However, these findings may not be true for a different coastal locality, and this study highlights and continues to stress the importance of developing model setups capable of incorporating both regional and local factors affecting ocean acidification and deoxygenation.
Review of the indexes to assess the ecological quality of coralligenous reefs: towards a unified approach
Authors: Di Camillo Cristina Gioia , Ponti Massimo , Storari Annalisa , Scarpa Clarissa , Roveta Camilla , Pulido Mantas Torcuato , Coppari Martina , Cerrano Carlo
Published: September 2023

There is an urgent need to better understand the stressors, namely heatwaves, changes in thermohaline circulation and mucilage events, that are rapidly re-shaping bioconstructions, such as coralligenous assemblages. This calls for increased monitoring efforts in these invaluable habitats that will improve our understanding of the resistance and resilience of bioconstructions. Since 2009, 16 indexes have been designed to assess the ecological quality of Mediterranean coralligenous reefs. The main objective of this work is to propose a framework to support the development of a shared, cost-effective, and practical index to assess the status of the coralligenous biocenosis. To achieve this, studies conceiving these 16 indexes were reviewed: comparing their objectives, metrics, and applied methodologies. A standardized nomenclature of anthropogenic pressures is supplied, using, when possible, definitions from the European Habitat Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Water Framework Directive. Additionally, given the unprecedented climatic conditions, we highlight that a common index should give particular attention to the response of the coralligenous to thermal stress and mucilage. A list of priority anthropogenic pressures/environmental stressors and relative indicators and metrics are suggested. This review stresses the urgency to align the methodologies at basin scale and highlights the pros and cons of the preexisting indexes that must be considered in the design of a new, shared procedure to evaluate the status of coralligenous assemblages.
Multi-band SAR intercomparison study in the Antarctic Peninsula for sea ice and iceberg detection
Authors: Salvó Constanza S. , Gomez Saez Ludmila , Arce Julieta C.
Published: September 2023

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems are one of the best resources to gather information in polar environments, but the detection and monitoring of sea ice types and icebergs using them is still a challenge. Limitations using single-frequency images in sea ice characterization are well known, and using different SAR bands has been revealed to be useful. In this paper, we present the quantitative results of an intercomparison experiment conducted by the Argentine Naval Hydrographic Service (SHN) using X-, C-, and L-bands from COSMO-SkyMed, Sentinel-1, and SAOCOM satellites, respectively. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate SAOCOM for its use on SHN products. There were 25 images with different SAR parameters that were analyzed, incorporating the diversity in the information that everyday Ice Services attend to. Particularly, iceberg detections, fast first-year ice, and belts and strips were studied in the Antarctic Sound, the surroundings of Marambio Island, and Erebus and Terror Gulf. The results show that the HV polarization channel of the L-band provides useful information for iceberg detection and fast first-year ice surface feature recognition and is a promising frequency for the study of strip identification under windy sea conditions and snow accumulation on first-year ice.
Ferroelectric tunnel junctions: current status and future prospect as a universal memory
Authors: Sharma Urvashi , Kumar Gulshan , Mishra Sachin , Thomas Reji
Published: September 2023

The semiconductor industry is actively looking for an all-encompassing memory solution that incorporates the advantageous aspects of current technology. This features non-volatility, like that of Flash memory, high scalability, like that of both Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) and Flash, quick operation, like that of Static RAM (SRAM), and durability, like that of both DRAM and SRAM. Ferroelectric thin films, which have electrically switchable bi-stable polarization, are one prospective technology that has the potential to revolutionize memory storage. However, due to difficulties with scalability and dependable industrial manufacturing, Ferro-Electric (FE) memory technology has not been able to effectively compete with DRAM and Flash. Research in this area has accelerated after the recent discovery of resistive switching in ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs). For FTJs to be successful, it is important to overcome some obstacles, such as preserving bi-stability in ferroelectric thin films over the critical thickness. Additionally, the existence of interfacial layers, sometimes known as a “dead layer”, between the electrode and the film can affect its characteristics. The article gives an overview of semiconductor memories with an emphasis on emerging technologies having the potential for future applications. It then goes into detail on the benefits of FTJ and its non-destructive reading capacity. The article also discusses the potential uses for FTJs in resistive switching while acknowledging their drawbacks and constraints.
Effect of various hepatectomy procedures on circulating tumor cells in postoperative patients: a case-matched comparative study
Authors: Lei YongRong , Wang XiShu , Tian YiChen , Xu Rong , Pei Jun , Fu YuNa , Sun Heng , Wang YaNi , Zheng Ping , Xia Feng , Wang JianHua
Published: September 2023

Background

The objective of this study is to elucidate the prevalence of systemic circulating tumor cells (CTCs) prior to and following resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to compare the disparities in postoperative CTCs in terms of quantity and classifications between the open liver resection (OPEN) and laparoscopic liver resection (LAP) cohorts.

Patients, materials, and methods

From September 2015 to May 2022, 32 consecutive HCC patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection at Southwest Hospital were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The clinicopathological data were retrieved from a prospectively collected computer database. Patients in the OPEN group matched at a 1:1 ratio with patients who underwent open liver resection during the study period on age, gender, tumor size, number of tumors, tumor location, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, TNM and Child-Pugh staging from the database of patients to form the control group. The Can-Patrol CTC enrichment technique was used to enrich and classify CTCS based on epithelial-mesenchymal transformation phenotypes. The endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS), and the Kaplan–Meier method and multiple Cox proportional risk model were used to analyze the influence of clinicopathological factors such as total CTCs and CTC phenotype on prognosis.

Results

The mean age of the 64 patients with primary liver cancer was 52.92 years (23–71), and 89.1% were male. The postoperative CTC clearance rate was more significant in the OPEN group. The total residual CTC and phenotypic CTC of the LAP group were significantly higher than those of the OPEN group (p = 0.017, 0.012, 0.049, and 0.030, respectively), which may increase the possibility of metastasis (p = 0.042). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, DFS was associated with several clinicopathological risk factors, including Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, tumor size, and vascular invasion. Of these analyses, BCLC Stage [p = 0.043, HR (95% CI) =2.03(1.022–4.034)], AFP [p = 0.007, HR (95% CI) =1.947 (1.238–3.062)], the number of positive CTCs [p = 0.004, HR (95% CI) =9.607 (2.085–44.269)] and vascular invasion [p = 0.046, HR (95% CI) =0.475 (0.22–1.023)] were significantly associated with DFS.

Conclusion

In comparison to conventional OPEN technology, LAP technology has the capacity to augment the quantity of epithelial, mixed, and mesenchymal circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Following the surgical procedure, there was a notable increase in the total CTCs, epithelial CTCs, and mixed CTCs within the LAP group, indicating a potential drawback of LAP in facilitating the release of CTCs.
Clinical features of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Tuhy Tijana , Hassoun Paul M.
Published: September 2023

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue characterized by disordered inflammation and fibrosis leading to skin thickening and visceral organ complications. Pulmonary involvement, in the form of pulmonary arterial hypertension and/or interstitial lung disease, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with scleroderma. There are no disease-specific therapies for pulmonary involvement of scleroderma, and pulmonary arterial hypertension in this cohort has typically been associated with worse outcomes and less clinical response to modern therapy compared to other forms of Group I pulmonary hypertension in the classification from the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension. Ongoing research aims to delineate how pathologic microvascular remodeling and fibrosis contribute to this poor response and offer a window into future therapeutic targets.