bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distributed Outsourced Privacy-Preserving Gradient Descent Methods among Multiple Parties
Authors: Tan Zuowen , Zhang Haohan , Hu Peiyi , Gao Rui
Published: April 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the latest internet evolutions. Cloud computing is an important technique which realizes the computational demand of largely distributed IoT devices/sensors by employing various machine learning models. Gradient descent methods are widely employed to find the optimal coefficients of a machine learning model in the cloud computing. Commonly, the data are distributed among multiple data owners, whereas the target function is held by the model owner. The model owner can train its model over data owner’s data and provide predictions. However, the dataset or the target function’s confidentiality may not be kept in secret during computations. Thus, security threats and privacy risks arise. To address the data and model’s privacy mentioned above, we present two new outsourced privacy-preserving gradient descent (OPPGD) method schemes over horizontally or vertically partitioned data among multiple parties, respectively. Compared to previously proposed solutions, our methods improve in comprehensiveness in a more general scene. The data privacy and the model privacy are preserved during the whole learning and prediction procedures. In addition, the execution performance evaluation demonstrates that our schemes can help the model owner to optimize its target function and provide exact prediction with high efficiency and accuracy.
Determinants of Biogas Technology Adoption in Rural Households of Aleta Wondo District, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Geddafa Tale , Melka Yoseph , Sime Getachew
Published: April 2021

Biogas is environmentally sound and economically viable, clean, and renewable energy source. Despite its numerous benefits and dissemination efforts, the adoption of biogas technology has been low. The objective of this study was to assess factors determining adoption of biogas technology as an alternative energy source at household level in Aleta Wondo district, southern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select sample households. A total of 148 sample households, 51 biogas technology adopters, and 97 nonadopter households were surveyed. The collected data were analyzed by inferential statistics and econometric model using STATA version 13.1. Results from the probit model showed that education level of household head, annual income level, livestock holding size, access to technical support, and level of awareness have significant positive influence on households’ decision to adopt biogas technology. Other factors include poor performance of biogas plants associated to technical problems, and high installation costs unaffordable to the majority of rural population had a negative implication in adoption process. These are also the factors contributing to low adoption. Therefore, raising the population awareness on the benefits of biogas and assigning the biogas technicians who can give immediate maintenance services at “Kebele” level could extend the biogas technology.
BMC‐SDN: Blockchain‐Based Multicontroller Architecture for Secure Software‐Defined Networks
Authors: Derhab Abdelouahid , Guerroumi Mohamed , Belaoued Mohamed , Cheikhrouhou Omar
Published: April 2021

Multicontroller software‐defined networks have been widely adopted to enable management of large‐scale networks. However, they are vulnerable to several attacks including false data injection, which creates topology inconsistency among controllers. To deal with this issue, we propose BMC‐SDN, a security architecture that integrates blockchain and multicontroller SDN and divides the network into several domains. Each SDN domain is managed by one master controller that communicates through blockchain with the masters of the other domains. The master controller creates blocks of network flow updates, and its redundant controllers validate the new block based on a proposed reputation mechanism. The reputation mechanism rates the controllers, i.e., block creator and voters, after each voting operation using constant and combined adaptive fading reputation strategies. The evaluation results demonstrate a fast and optimal detection of fraudulent flow rule injection.
Artificial Intelligence–Assisted Amphiregulin and Epiregulin IHC Predicts Panitumumab Benefit in RAS Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Williams Christopher J.M. , Seligmann Jenny F. , Elliott Faye , Shires Michael , Richman Susan D. , Brown Sarah , Zhang Liping , Singh Shalini , Pugh Judith , Xu Xiao-Meng , Muranyi Andrea , Guetter Christoph , Lorsakul Auranuch , Kurkure Uday , Zhao Zuo , Martin Jim , Wang Xingwei , Nguyen Kien , Liu Wen-Wei , Yan Dongyao , West Nicholas P. , Barrett Jennifer H. , Barnes Michael , Bai Isaac , Seymour Matthew T. , Quirke Philip , Shanmugam Kandavel
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

High tumor mRNA levels of the EGFR ligands amphiregulin (AREG) and epiregulin (EREG) are associated with anti-EGFR agent response in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, ligand RNA assays have not been adopted into routine practice due to issues with analytic precision and practicality. We investigated whether AREG/EREG IHC could predict benefit from the anti-EGFR agent panitumumab.

Experimental Design:

Artificial intelligence algorithms were developed to assess AREG/EREG IHC in 274 patients from the PICCOLO trial of irinotecan with or without panitumumab (Ir vs. IrPan) in RAS wild-type mCRC. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were RECIST response rate (RR) and overall survival (OS). Models were repeated adjusting separately for BRAF mutation status and primary tumor location (PTL).

Results:

High ligand expression was associated with significant PFS benefit from IrPan compared with Ir [8.0 vs. 3.2 months; HR, 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.37–0.79; P = 0.001]; whereas low ligand expression was not (3.4 vs. 4.4 months; HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.74–1.49; P = 0.78). The ligand-treatment interaction was significant (Pinteraction = 0.02) and remained significant after adjustment for BRAF-mutation status and PTL. Likewise, RECIST RR was significantly improved in patients with high ligand expression (IrPan vs. Ir: 48% vs. 6%; P < 0.0001) but not those with low ligand expression (25% vs. 14%; P = 0.10; Pinteraction = 0.01). The effect on OS was similar but not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

AREG/EREG IHC identified patients who benefitted from the addition of panitumumab to irinotecan chemotherapy. IHC is a practicable assay that may be of use in routine practice.
Distinct Biomarker Profiles and TCR Sequence Diversity Characterize the Response to PD-L1 Blockade in a Mouse Melanoma Model
Authors: El Meskini Rajaa , Atkinson Devon , Kulaga Alan , Abdelmaksoud Abdalla , Gumprecht Michelle , Pate Nathan , Hayes Susana , Oberst Michael , Kaplan Ian M. , Raber Patrick , Van Dyke Terry , Sharan Shyam K. , Hollingsworth Robert , Day Chi-Ping , Merlino Glenn , Weaver Ohler Zoë
Published: April 2021

Only a subset of patients responds to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in melanoma. A preclinical model recapitulating the clinical activity of ICB would provide a valuable platform for mechanistic studies. We used melanoma tumors arising from an Hgftg;Cdk4R24C/R24C genetically engineered mouse (GEM) model to evaluate the efficacy of an anti–mouse PD-L1 antibody similar to the anti–human PD-L1 antibodies durvalumab and atezolizumab. Consistent with clinical observations for ICB in melanoma, anti–PD-L1 treatment elicited complete and durable response in a subset of melanoma-bearing mice. We also observed tumor growth delay or regression followed by recurrence. For early treatment assessment, we analyzed gene expression profiles, T-cell infiltration, and T-cell receptor (TCR) signatures in regressing tumors compared with tumors exhibiting no response to anti–PD-L1 treatment. We found that CD8+ T-cell tumor infiltration corresponded to response to treatment, and that anti–PD-L1 gene signature response indicated an increase in antigen processing and presentation, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and natural killer cell–mediated cytotoxicity. TCR sequence data suggest that an anti–PD-L1–mediated melanoma regression response requires not only an expansion of the TCR repertoire that is unique to individual mice, but also tumor access to the appropriate TCRs. Thus, this melanoma model recapitulated the variable response to ICB observed in patients and exhibited biomarkers that differentiate between early response and resistance to treatment, providing a valuable platform for prediction of successful immunotherapy.

Implications:

Our melanoma model recapitulates the variable response to anti–PD-L1 observed in patients and exhibits biomarkers that characterize early antibody response, including expansion of the TCR repertoire.
Clinical Features of Patients with Active Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Successfully Treated with Mepolizumab
Authors: Tsurikisawa Naomi , Oshikata Chiyako , Watanabe Maiko , Fukuda Nobuhiko , Yamaguchi Takanori , Kiyohara Hikari , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: April 2021

Background: In some patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), remission cannot be induced, despite treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. We evaluated the clinical features of patients with EGPA in whom mepolizumab was effective. Methods: There were 59 EGPA patients treated at Hiratsuka City Hospital, Japan, between April 2018 and September 2020, and 30 of them received mepolizumab. Twenty (66.7%) experienced a “marked effect” (the daily dose of corticosteroid or immunosuppressant could be decreased, or the interval between intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments could be prolonged) and 10 (33.3%) experienced a “weak effect” (these measures were not achieved). Eosinophil numbers, serum IgG levels, daily doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, and the interval between IVIG treatments at diagnosis and before and after mepolizumab initiation were determined. Results: Eosinophil numbers at diagnosis were significantly higher in the marked-effect group than in the weak-effect group (p < 0.05) but not before mepolizumab initiation or at the last visit. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Scores (BVASs) before mepolizumab initiation (p < 0.05) and at last visit (p < 0.01), and frequency of relapse before treatment initiation (p < 0.05) were significantly higher, and the serum IgG level before mepolizumab treatment was significantly lower in the weak-effect group than in the marked-effect group. The weak-effect group received higher doses of corticosteroids, even if the corticosteroid dose could be reduced for a while after mepolizumab initiation. Conclusion: High peripheral blood eosinophil numbers at EGPA diagnosis were suggestive of a positive clinical response to mepolizumab.
Effect of Marital Status on Depression and Mortality among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2014
Authors: Wang Zu-feng , Cheng Yi-chun , Zhang Nan-Hui , Luo Ran , Guo Kang-lin , Ge Shu-Wang , Xu Gang
Published: April 2021

Background: The relationship between marital status and CKD is rarely studied. We aimed to explore the effect of marital status on the depression and mortality of patients with CKD. Methods: The data sources came from the NHANES database during 2005–2014 and 3,865 participants were included in this study. We used logistic regression models to examine the relationship between marital status and depression of CKD patients. The Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between marital status and mortality of CKD patients. Results: In terms of depression in CKD patients, unmarried patients had a worse situation than married patients. Meanwhile, after adjusting the covariables, unmarried patients had increased risk of depression (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01–1.57) compared with married CKD patients, especially in males (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.02–2.06) and patients with more than college education level (OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 3.75–41.02). There was a significant relationship between marital status and mortality of general CKD patients (HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.17–1.58). Moreover, marriage showed a protective effect against death among male patients, patients with school graduate or less and more than college educational level, patients with high income, and patients in different estimated glomerular filtration rate groups. Conclusions: The use of large numbers of participants has revealed the effect of marital status on CKD patients. Unmarried ones had a higher risk of depression than married ones among CKD patients. Meanwhile, the risk of death was higher in unmarried ones than married ones among CKD patients in this study.
Diagnostic Pitfalls Related to Morular Metaplasia in Endometrioid Carcinoma: An Underestimated Issue
Authors: Travaglino Antonio , Raffone Antonio , Gencarelli Annarita , Saracinelli Serena , Zullo Fulvio , Insabato Luigi
Published: April 2021

Here, we present a case that highlights the crucial pitfalls related to the presence of morular metaplasia (MM) in endometrioid carcinoma, which are insufficiently recognized in the routine pathology practice. A 45-year-old woman underwent hysterectomy with rectosigmoidectomy due to a 11-cm mass involving uterus, right ovary, and rectosigmoid colon. Histologically, the lesion appeared as a predominantly solid carcinoma with a minor glandular component. Results of the first immunohistochemical analysis suggested a colorectal origin (PAX8-, CK7-, WT1-, hormone receptors-, and CDX2+ in the absence of mucinous features). Subsequent immunohistochemistry (nuclear β-catenin+, CD10+, and low ki67 in the solid areas) supported a diagnosis of endometrioid carcinoma with diffuse MM. This case remarks that morphological and immunohistochemical features of MM may conceal the glandular architecture and the typical immunophenotype of endometrioid carcinomas. Acknowledging the diagnostic issues related to MM appears crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate patient management.
Sondagens elétricas verticais na cartografia da vulnerabilidade à contaminação do Aquífero Adamantina, em Urânia, São Paulo
Authors: Barros Marina Fernandes Sanches , Louro Vinicius Hector Abud , Terada Rafael Kenji , Marques Carlos Henrique Gil , Saraiva Fernando Augusto , Hirata Ricardo
Published: April 2021

A cidade de Urânia enfrenta problemas de contaminação do Aquífero Adamantina desde a década de 1970, assim como muitas áreas urbanas paulistas. Uma das ferramentas fundamentais para o planejamento territorial é a cartografia da vulnerabilidade à contaminação de aquíferos. Uma das limitações de tal técnica é o difícil acesso ao aquífero, para o estabelecimento dos níveis aquíferos e das características litológicas da zona não saturada. Assim, este trabalho identificou as áreas de recarga do aquífero na região que são mais susceptíveis à degradação antrópica, a partir de uma técnica geofísica de sondagem elétrica vertical. Os resultados foram obtidos por meio das sondagens elétricas verticais e dos poços de monitoramento, e o índice de vulnerabilidade foi definido por meio do parâmetro de condutância longitudinal de Dar Zarrouk, aliado às características do aquífero, como o tipo de aquífero, o nível d’água e a litologia da zona não saturada. A partir do mapa de vulnerabilidade, foi possível indicar a área sudeste da região de estudo como a mais propensa à contaminação em razão do material geológico permeável e da pouca espessura da zona não saturada.
From Univariate to Multivariate Coupling Between Continuous Signals and Point Processes: A Mathematical Framework
Authors: Safavi Shervin , Logothetis Nikos K. , Besserve Michel
Published: April 2021

Time series data sets often contain heterogeneous signals, composed of both continuously changing quantities and discretely occurring events. The coupling between these measurements may provide insights into key underlying mechanisms of the systems under study. To better extract this information, we investigate the asymptotic statistical properties of coupling measures between continuous signals and point processes. We first introduce martingale stochastic integration theory as a mathematical model for a family of statistical quantities that include the phase locking value, a classical coupling measure to characterize complex dynamics. Based on the martingale central limit theorem, we can then derive the asymptotic gaussian distribution of estimates of such coupling measure that can be exploited for statistical testing. Second, based on multivariate extensions of this result and random matrix theory, we establish a principled way to analyze the low-rank coupling between a large number of point processes and continuous signals. For a null hypothesis of no coupling, we establish sufficient conditions for the empirical distribution of squared singular values of the matrix to converge, as the number of measured signals increases, to the well-known Marchenko-Pastur (MP) law, and the largest squared singular value converges to the upper end of the MP support. This justifies a simple thresholding approach to assess the significance of multivariate coupling. Finally, we illustrate with simulations the relevance of our univariate and multivariate results in the context of neural time series, addressing how to reliably quantify the interplay between multichannel local field potential signals and the spiking activity of a large population of neurons.
Skip-Connected Self-Recurrent Spiking Neural Networks With Joint Intrinsic Parameter and Synaptic Weight Training
Authors: Zhang Wenrui , Li Peng
Published: April 2021

As an important class of spiking neural networks (SNNs), recurrent spiking neural networks (RSNNs) possess great computational power and have been widely used for processing sequential data like audio and text. However, most RSNNs suffer from two problems. First, due to the lack of architectural guidance, random recurrent connectivity is often adopted, which does not guarantee good performance. Second, training of RSNNs is in general challenging, bottlenecking achievable model accuracy. To address these problems, we propose a new type of RSNN, skip-connected self-recurrent SNNs (ScSr-SNNs). Recurrence in ScSr-SNNs is introduced by adding self-recurrent connections to spiking neurons. The SNNs with self-recurrent connections can realize recurrent behaviors similar to those of more complex RSNNs, while the error gradients can be more straightforwardly calculated due to the mostly feedforward nature of the network. The network dynamics is enriched by skip connections between nonadjacent layers. Moreover, we propose a new backpropagation (BP) method, backpropagated intrinsic plasticity (BIP), to boost the performance of ScSr-SNNs further by training intrinsic model parameters. Unlike standard intrinsic plasticity rules that adjust the neuron's intrinsic parameters according to neuronal activity, the proposed BIP method optimizes intrinsic parameters based on the backpropagated error gradient of a well-defined global loss function in addition to synaptic weight training. Based on challenging speech, neuromorphic speech, and neuromorphic image data sets, the proposed ScSr-SNNs can boost performance by up to 2.85% compared with other types of RSNNs trained by state-of-the-art BP methods.
Nonlinear Decoding of Natural Images From Large-Scale Primate Retinal Ganglion Recordings
Authors: Kim Young Joon , Brackbill Nora , Batty Eleanor , Lee JinHyung , Mitelut Catalin , Tong William , Chichilnisky E. J. , Paninski Liam
Published: April 2021

Decoding sensory stimuli from neural activity can provide insight into how the nervous system might interpret the physical environment, and facilitates the development of brain-machine interfaces. Nevertheless, the neural decoding problem remains a significant open challenge. Here, we present an efficient nonlinear decoding approach for inferring natural scene stimuli from the spiking activities of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Our approach uses neural networks to improve on existing decoders in both accuracy and scalability. Trained and validated on real retinal spike data from more than 1000 simultaneously recorded macaque RGC units, the decoder demonstrates the necessity of nonlinear computations for accurate decoding of the fine structures of visual stimuli. Specifically, high-pass spatial features of natural images can only be decoded using nonlinear techniques, while low-pass features can be extracted equally well by linear and nonlinear methods. Together, these results advance the state of the art in decoding natural stimuli from large populations of neurons.
Collaborative Production in Science: An Empirical Analysis of Coauthorships in Economics
Authors: Anderson Katharine A. , Richards-Shubik Seth
Published: April 2021

This paper studies productivity and preferences in scientific research. Collaboration is increasingly important for innovation in science and other domains, but we have limited understanding of the factors researchers use to choose their collaborators and the projects they work on. Here, we use a model of strategic network formation and a recently developed econometric method to examine this question in the context of economics researchers. We learn that research teams with more collaborators tend to produce papers with higher impact, and without increasing individual costs of communication and coordination. This suggests the trend toward larger research teams in economics will continue.
Beliefs about Racial Discrimination and Support for Pro-Black Policies
Authors: Haaland Ingar , Roth Christopher
Published: April 2021

This paper provides representative evidence on beliefs about racial discrimination and examines whether information causally affects support for pro-black policies. Eliciting quantitative beliefs about the extent of hiring discrimination against blacks, we uncover large disagreement about the extent of racial discrimination with particularly pronounced partisan differences. An information treatment leads to a convergence in beliefs about racial discrimination but does not lead to a similar convergence in support of pro-black policies. The results demonstrate that while providing information can substantially reduce disagreement about the extent of racial discrimination, it is not sufficient to reduce disagreement about pro-black policies.
Paying Outsourced Labor: Direct Evidence from Linked Temp Agency-Worker-Client Data
Authors: Drenik Andres , Jäger Simon , Plotkin Pascuel , Schoefer Benjamin
Published: April 2021

We estimate how much firms differentiate pay premia between regular and outsourced workers in temp agency work arrangements. We leverage unique Argentinian administrative data that feature links between user firms (the workplaces where temp workers perform their labor) and temp agencies (their formal employers). We estimate that a high-wage user firm that pays a regular worker a 10% premium pays a temp worker on average only a 4.9% premium, compared to what these workers would earn in a low-wage user firm in their respective work arrangements. This 49% pass-through constitutes the midpoint between the benchmarks for insiders (one) and the competitive spot-labor market (zero).
Longer-Run Economic Consequences of Pandemics
Authors: Jordà Òscar , Singh Sanjay R. , Taylor Alan M.
Published: April 2021

What are the medium- to long-term effects of pandemics? Do they differ from other economic disasters? We study major pandemics using rates of return on assets stretching back to the fourteenth century. Significant macroeconomic after-effects of pandemics persist for decades, with rates of return substantially depressed. The responses are in stark contrast to what happens after wars. Our findings also accord with wage and output responses, using more limited data, and are consistent with the neoclassical growth model: capital is destroyed in wars but not in pandemics; pandemics instead may induce more labor scarcity or more precautionary savings, or both.
The Impact of Emergency Cash Assistance in a Pandemic: Experimental Evidence from Colombia
Authors: Londoño-Vélez Juliana , Querubín Pablo
Published: April 2021

We study the impact of money on households during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Colombia rolled out a new unconditional cash transfer (UCT) to 1 million households in poverty worth US$19 (PPP US$55.6) and paid every five to eight weeks. Using a randomized control trial and linked administrative and survey data, we find the UCT had positive (albeit modest) effects on measures of household well-being (e.g., financial health, food access). Moreover, the UCT boosted support for emergency assistance to households and firms during the crisis and promoted social cooperation. Finally, we explore the bottlenecks in expanding mobile money during a pandemic.
Negative Philosophy: Time, Death and Nothingness
Authors: Dastur Françoise
Published: April 2021

Retracing the way I have followed since the beginning of my philosophical studies, I focus on the main issues that have guided my teaching and research: Time, Death, and Nothingness, all of which take place in the domain of what I have called “negative philosophy”. My first interest was in the problem of language and logic in their relation to temporality, a special privilege being granted in this respect to poetry; subsequently I concentrated my work on the thematic of death and finitude, in order to show that mourning and relation to absence are what establish a fundamental difference between the human being and the animal; and finally, the critique of Western ontology has brought me to concentrate my research on Eastern thinking, with a special engagement with the thematic of nothingness in Indian and Japanese Buddhism. All my work in philosophy has been guided by Heidegger’s question of the relation between Being and Time.
A new species of the Goblin Spider genus Predatoroonops Brescovit, Rheims & Ott 2012 (Araneae, Dysderoidea: Oonopidae), with new records for the genus
Authors: PEREIRA MARIA PAULA , LABARQUE FACUNDO MARTÍN
Published: April 2021

The family Oonopidae Simon, 1890 is composed of tiny spiders between 0.5 and 4mm (Baehr et al. 2012) that are distributed all over the world (Platnick et al. 2020; World Spider Catalog 2021). They occupy diverse habitats, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions (Platnick et al. 2020), generally associated with the soil and litter fauna (Ranasinghe & Benjamin 2018). Oonopidae is among the eight most diverse spider families with 114 genera and 1872 species (World Spider Catalog 2021). Most of this diversity was discovered after 2006, as a result of the Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) project: Goblin Spider (Platnick et al. 2012). Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses recovered Oonopidae as monophyletic (Wheeler et al. 2017), hypothesis supported by the presence of a synapomorphic pair of completely fused testicles (Burger & Michalik 2010). Brazil has a great diversity of Oonopidae (e.g., Brescovit et al. 2012a; Platnick et al. 2013; Feitosa et al. 2017), including the genus Predatoroonops Brescovit, Rheims & Ott 2012, endemic to the Atlantic Forest, that includes 17 species (World Spider Catalog 2021). The genus can be recognized by the male chelicerae frontally modified, with one or two pairs of distally sclerotized, and sometimes branched, apophyses, and by the pars cephalica dorsally squared (Brescovit et al. 2012b). In this paper, we describe a new species of the genus, based on a male specimen from the State of Minas Gerais: Predatoroonops stani sp. nov.. Also, we give new records for Predatoroonops yautja Brescovit, Rheims & Santos, 2012 from the same state and a distribution map with all the records of Predatoroonops along the Atlantic Forest.
Revisiting the type of Cespitularia stolonifera Gohar, 1938 leads to the description of a new genus and a species of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)
Authors: BENAYAHU YEHUDA , OFWEGEN LEEN P. VAN , ALLAIS J. P. RUIZ , MCFADDEN CATHERINE S.
Published: April 2021

Because of the problematical identity and status of the type of the xeniid soft coral genus Cespitularia Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1850, the species C. stolonifera Gohar, 1938 is revised. Examination of the type colonies has led to the establishment of the new genus Unomia gen. n. which is described and depicted. This genus features a stalk, commonly divided into branches featuring a diffuse polypiferous part consisting of distal clustered polyps and proximal individual ones on the stalk or the basal membranous part of the colonies. The sclerites are ellipsoid platelets composed of dendritic calcite rods whose tips are distinct on the surface of the platelets. Freshly collected material from Venezuelan reefs where the species is invasive was subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis, the results of which substantiate the taxonomic assignment of the new genus under U. stolonifera comb. n. A new species, U. complanatis, from Japan and Green Island (Taiwan) is described and further illustrates the extent of the interspecific morphological variation within the genus. The results reveal that the biogeographic distribution of Unomia gen. n. includes Pacific Ocean reefs in addition to the previously reported invaded Caribbean reefs.
First study of the Polycladida (Rhabditophora, Platyhelminthes) from the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
Authors: SOUTULLO PATRICIA , CUADRADO DANIEL , NOREÑA CAROLINA
Published: April 2021

In the present work was carried out in the intertidal zone of Las Baulas de Guanacaste National Marine Park (PNMB) located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.                The main objective was to contribute to knowledge about the invertebrate diversity of the park, one of the richest bioregions on the planet, about which little is known. This study assesses the Order Polycladida Lang, 1884, a cornerstone of this ecosystem and one of the most cosmopolitan and plastic invertebrate taxa in the animal kingdom.                In total, 57 individuals were collected in the rocky intertidal zone of Carbón and Langosta beaches. Nine different species were identified, of which four are new for Costa Rica: Semonia bauliensis n. sp.; Cryptostylochus sesei n. sp.; Paraplanocera angeli n. sp., Prostheceraeus fitae n. sp.; and five new records: Paraplanocera oligoglena (Schmarda, 1859); Marcusia ernesti Hyman, 1953; Enchiridium magec Cuadrado, Moro & Noreña, 2017; Pseudobiceros bajae (Hyman, 1953); and the genus Boninia spp.
A Newly-Synthesized Chalcone Derivative of Ligustrazine Induces Caspase-Dependent and Apoptosis-Inducing Factor-Dependent Apoptosis in Cochlear Hair Cells
Authors: Man Rongjun , Yin Haiyan , Zhao Jia , Yang Qianqian , Yang Huiming , Yu Xiaoyu , Zhang Weiwei , Li Jianfeng
Published: April 2021

Objective: A newly synthesized derivative of ligustrazine chalcone, named as Z11, has shown a variety of promising biological activities. Here we aim to explore the effects of Z11 on the cochlear hair cells (HCs). Methods: Immunostaining and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM) were used to examine the survival of HCs and their morphological changes. Furthermore, apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and the mRNA expression of apoptosis related genes including Caspase-9, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and
Apaf1 were measured by RT-PCR. In addition, the protein expression of cleaved-Caspas-3 and cleaved-Caspase-9 were analyzed by Western blot respectively, and the protein expressionof AIF and cleaved-Caspase-3 were assessed by immunofluorescence as well. Results: Immunostaining showed
that Z11 was ototoxic to mouse cochlear hair cells and significantly triggered cell death in a concentration-, time- and location-dependent manner. TUNEL assays evidenced that Z11 exerts its cytotoxicity through induction of apoptosis of cochlear hair cells in vitro. Immunofluorescence
and western blot assay showed that Z11 activated the translation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and Caspase-9/Caspase-3 dependent apoptotic pathway in cochlear hair cells (HCs). Conclusion:These findings suggest that Z11 exhibits its ototoxicity through inducing apoptosis of HCs
via both Caspase-dependent and AIF translocation pathways in mouse cochlear cultures.
Potential Mechanisms of miR-143/Krupple Like Factor 5 Axis in Impeding the Proliferation of Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Ma Le , Liu Zhenyu , Fan Zhimin
Published: April 2021

Breast cancer is one of the most prevailing cancers in females, while the cancerous heterogeneity hinders its early diagnosis and subsequent therapy. miR-143-3p is a critical mediator in malignancy development and tumorigenesis as a tumor suppressor. Its role in various tumor entities
has been investigated, such as colon cancer and breast cancer. Using MCF-7 breast cancer cell model, we planned to explore the underlying mechanisms of miR-143/KLF-5 axis in retarding breast cancer cells growth. Bioinformatics analysis searched the target KLF5 of miR-143, and the miR-143-targeted
mimic and inhibitor were employed to detect the changes of KLF5. After transfection of mimic miR-143, the CCK-8 reagent assessed cell proliferation. Based on optimal stimulation time, miR-143 stimulation model was established, followed by determining expression of KLF5, EGFR and PCNA via western
blot and qPCR. Eventually, siRNA-KLF5 was applied to silencing KLF5 level to evaluate its role in MCF-7 cells. The transcription and translation levels of KLF5 were diminished in miR-143-mimic transfected MCF-7 cells, while enhanced in miR-143-inhibitor transfected MCF-7 cells. When MCF-7
cells were transfected with miR-143-mimic at different time points, 48 hours was found to be the optimal transfection time, with reduced transcription and translation levels of KLF5, EGFR and PCNA. The transcription and translation levels of PNCA and EGFR were declined after silencing KLF5
by siRNA. miR-143/KLF5 axis could retard the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
Lepidium sativumand Its Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Activate Immune Cells and Induce Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Ibrahim Essam H. , Ghramh Hamed A. , Alshehri Ali , Kilany Mona , Khalofah Ahlam , El-Mekkawy Haitham I. , Sayed Mahmoud A. , Alothaid Hani , Taha Ramadan
Published: April 2021

There is an increased demand for plants with antioxidants and anticancer properties.Lepidium sativumL. is an edible plant with medical importance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer activity; antioxidant capacity and antibacterial impact ofLepidium sativumL. seed acetone extract (LSSAExt), alone and with its biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). LSSAExt-produced AgNPs were characterized using SEM, XRD and Vis/UV analysis. Biomolecules in LSSAExt and LSSAExt + AgNPs were explored utilizing FTIR. The ability of LSSAExt and LSSAExt + AgNPs to induce apoptosis and mitotic cell arrest in the HT-29 colon cancer cells, compared to normal and repeated cell division activated splenic cells was determined by florescent stains and flow cytometry. Antibacterial power was tested using well diffusion technique. LSSAExt and LSSAExt + AgNPs showed a good antibacterial impact. LSSAExt contains ROS, which could help in cancer cells apoptosis. LSSAExt and LSSAExt+AgNPs were not toxic to splenic cells and increased the rate of their cell division. LSSAExt and LSSAExt+AgNPs increased p53 expression and could arrest cell division of HT-29 colon cancer cells but not of normal fast dividing cells. LSSAExt and LSSAExt+AgNPs caused apoptosis in cancer cells rather than necrosis. In conclusion, acetone preparation of the edible plantL. sativumis a good antibacterial agent, good anticancer preparation at least against colon cancer as it is shown to be targeted, effective and can boost immune cells.
Dual Role of Caveolin-1 in β-Catenin Signaling During Fracture Healing Induced by Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in Rabbits
Authors: Li Yun , Liu Guanghua , Xiao Feng , Gu Wenqin , Gao Zhengdong , Wu Yiming , Wang Ping , Shi Mingfang , Yang Mingzhen , Zhong Zongye , Liu Bangzhong
Published: April 2021

We did this research to observe the effect of LIPUS on long bone fracture repair and caveolin-1, β-catenin signaling expression in the radius defects of rabbits, to explore its possible molecular mechanisms. 24 male New Zealand rabbits with bilateral radial bone defects
were divided into 4 groups randomly, n = 6. The right side had daily LIPUS exposure for 20 minutes, while the left received sham treatment. After 7, 14, 21, 28 days, respectively, fracture healing was observed by X-ray imaging and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan, specimens
were harvested for histology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression analysis. We found that LIPUS brought forward endochondral ossification, increased the bone callus size without changes in Bone Mineral Density (BMD). The caveolin-1 expression increased first then decreased, while the
β-catenin kept growing during the process. These demonstrated that caveolin-1 participated in fracture healing accelerated by LIPUS, which was speculated to play a dual role in β-catenin signaling expression.
Performance Evaluation of Silicon-Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Heterostructure Based Steep Subthreshold Slope-Field Effect Transistor Using Non-Equilibrium Green’s Function
Authors: Kumar Prateek , Gupta Maneesha , Kumar Naveen , Cruz Marlon D. , Singh Hemant , Ishan  , Anand Kartik
Published: April 2021

With technology invading nanometer regime performance of the Metal-Oxide-semiconductor Field Effect Transistor is largely hampered by short channel effects. Most of the simulation tools available do not include short channel effects and quantum effects in the analysis which raises doubt
on their authenticity. Although researchers have tried to provide an alternative in the form of tunnel field-effect transistors, junction-less transistors, etc. but they all suffer from their own set of problems. Therefore, Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor remains the backbone
of the VLSI industry. This work is dedicated to the design and study of the novel tub-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor. For simulation Non-Equilibrium Green’s Function is used as the primary model of simulation. The device is analyzed under different physical variations
like work function, permittivity, and interface trap charge. This work uses Silicon-Molybdenum Disulphide heterojunction and Silicon-Tungsten Disulphide heterojunction as channel material. Results for both the heterojunctions are compared. It was analyzed that Silicon-Molybdenum Disulphide
heterojunction provides better linearity and Silicon-Tungsten Disulphide heterojunction provides better switching speed than conventional Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor.
Submesoscale Eddies in the Upper Ocean of the Kuroshio Extension from High-resolution Simulation: Energy Budget
Authors: Cao Haijin , Fox-Kemper Baylor , Jing Zhiyou
Published: April 2021

The submesoscale energy budget is complex and remains understood only in region-by-region analyses. Based on a series of nested numerical simulations, this study investigated the submesoscale energy budget and flux in the upper ocean of the Kuroshio Extension, including some innovations for examining submesoscale energy budgets in general. The highest-resolution simulation on a ~500 m grid resolves a variety of submesoscale instabilities allowing an energetic analysis in the submesoscale range. The frequency–wavenumber spectra of vertical vorticity variance (i.e., enstrophy) and horizontal divergence variance were used to identify the scales of submesoscale flows as distinct from those of inertia-gravity waves but dominating horizontal divergence variance. Next, the energy transfers between the background scales and the submesoscale were examined. The submesoscale kinetic and potential energy (SMKE and SMPE) were mainly contained in the mixed layer and energized through both barotropic (shear production) and baroclinic (buoyancy production) routes. Averaged over the upper 50 m of ROMS2, the baroclinic transfers amounted to approximately 75% of the sources for the SMKE (3.42 × 10−9 W/kg) versus the remaining 25% (1.12 × 10−9 W/kg) via barotropic downscale KE transfers. The KE field was greatly strengthened by energy sources through the boundary—this flux is larger than the mesoscale-to-submesoscale transfers in this region. Spectral energy production, importantly, reveals upscale KE transfers at larger submesoscales and downscale KE transfers at smaller submesoscales (i.e., a transition from inverse to forward KE cascade). This study seeks to extend our understanding of the energy cycle to the submesoscale and highlight the forward KE cascade induced by upper-ocean submesoscale activities in the research domain.
Agri-Environmental Sustainability of Indian Agriculture: A State Level Analysis
Authors: Mukherjee Sacchidananda
Published: April 2021

Improving economic viability of Indian agriculture is contingent upon agri-environmental sustainability (AES). Objective assessment of environmental costs of agriculture is lacking in India. Unless internalise environmental impacts of agriculture will be borne by the society at large, in terms of depletion and degradation of water resources, land degradation and emissions of greenhouse gases, etc. To assess AES of Indian agriculture, the present article builds a comprehensive agri-environmental sustainability index (AESI) based on 40 agri-environmental indicators. The study captures both spatial and temporal aspects of AES by covering 17 major Indian states over 24 years (1990–1991 to 2013–2014). The estimated AESI scores are validated with outcome indicators (e.g., groundwater depletion, depletion of soil nutrients). The results show that states having higher score in Sustainable Irrigation Index are facing lower fall in groundwater level and there are negative correlations across sub-indices of AESI and macronutrient deficiencies in soil. An inverse relationship between AESI scores and agricultural intensity (as measured by average productivity of foodgrains in kilograms per hectare) is also observed. The study comes out with policy suggestions which could help to attain AES of Indian agriculture.
Absolute lymphocyte count proliferation kinetics after CAR T-cell infusion impact response and relapse
Authors: Faude Sophia , Wei Jane , Muralidharan Kavitha , Xu Xiaoming , Wertheim Gerald , Paessler Michele , Bhoj Vijay G. , Grupp Stephan A. , Maude Shannon L. , Rheingold Susan R. , Pillai Vinodh
Published: April 2021

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells show characteristic proliferation kinetics after infusion that correlate with response. Clearance of circulating disease, B-cell aplasia (BCA), and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are used to observe CAR T-cell function, given the lack of commercial CAR T-cell measurement assays. We investigated the utility of common hematology laboratory parameters in 166 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) who were treated with CAR T-cell therapy targeting CD19. CAR T-cell infusion was followed by disappearance of circulating blasts in 86% of patients at a median of 6 days. After a lag phase, there was a rapid expansion in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in the second week that coincided with the appearance of atypical lymphocytes. The expansion phase was followed by a contraction phase with a concomitant decrease in atypical lymphocytes. In vitro CAR T-cell studies showed similar kinetics and morphological changes. Peak ALC and overall expansion was greater in sustained responders compared with that in nonresponders. Patients with early loss of BCA and those with eventual CD19+ minimal residual disease/relapse showed lower overall lymphocyte expansion compared with the controls. Pleomorphic lymphocytosis was noted in the cerebrospinal fluid at post-CAR time points. We conclude that lymphocyte counts and differential can also be used to evaluate CAR T-cell expansion after infusion, along with BCA and CRS. This is the first report to characterize the morphology of CAR T cells and determine the utility of lymphocyte kinetics.
Differences in physical symptoms between those with and without kidney disease: a comparative study across disease stages in a UK population
Authors: Wilkinson Thomas J. , Nixon Daniel G. D. , Palmer Jared , Lightfoot Courtney J. , Smith Alice C.
Published: April 2021

Background

Those living with kidney disease (KD) report extensive symptom burden. However, research into how symptoms change across stages is limited. The aims of this study were to 1) describe symptom burden across disease trajectory, and 2) to explore whether symptom burden is unique to KD when compared to a non-KD population.

Methods

Participants aged > 18 years with a known diagnosis of KD (including haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD)) and with a kidney transplant) completed the Leicester Kidney Symptom Questionnaire (KSQ). A non-KD group was recruited as a comparative group. Multinominal logistic regression modelling was used to test the difference in likelihood of those with KD reporting each symptom.

Results

In total, 2279 participants were included in the final analysis (age 56.0 (17.8) years, 48% male). The main findings can be summarised as: 1) the number of symptoms increases as KD severity progresses; 2) those with early stage KD have a comparable number of symptoms to those without KD; 3) apart from those receiving PD, the most frequently reported symptom across every other group, including the non-KD group, was ‘feeling tired’; and 4) being female independently increased the likelihood of reporting more symptoms.

Conclusions

Our findings have important implications for patients with KD. We have shown that high symptom burden is prevalent across the spectrum of disease, and present novel data on symptoms experienced in those without KD. Symptoms requiring the most immediate attention given their high prevalence may include pain and fatigue.

Trial registration

The study was registered prospectively as ISRCTN11596292.
Surgical choice of non-small cell lung cancer with unexpected pleural dissemination intraoperatively
Authors: Hu Junjie , Chen Yan , Zhu Xinsheng , Ma Qiang , Zhang Jing , Jiang Gening , Zhang Peng
Published: April 2021

Background

Whether patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with unexpected pleural dissemination (UPD) could get survival benefit from tumor resection remained controversial.

Methods

Totally, 169 patients with NSCLC with UPD were included between 2012 and 2016. Patients were divided into the tumor resection and open-close group. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared with a log-rank test. The multivariable Cox analysis was applied to identify prognostic factors.

Results

Sixty-five patients received open-close surgery and 104 patients underwent main tumor and visible pleural nodule resection. Tumor resection significantly prolonged OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.408, P < 0.001), local PFS (HR: 0.283, P < 0.001), regional PFS (HR: 0.506, P = 0.005), and distant metastasis (HR: 0.595, P = 0.032). Multivariable Cox analysis confirmed that surgical method was an independent prognostic factor for OS, local PFS and regional PFS, except distant metastasis. Subgroup analyses indicated that tumor resection could not improve OS in the patients who received targeted therapy (HR: 0.649, P = 0.382), however, tumor resection was beneficial for the patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy alone (HR: 0.322, P < 0.001). In the tumor resection group, lobectomy (HR: 0.960, P = 0.917) and systematic lymphadenectomy (HR: 1.512, P = 0.259) did not show survival benefit for OS.

Conclusions

Main tumor and visible pleural nodule resection could improve prognosis in patients with UPD who could not receive adjuvant targeted therapy. Sublobar resection without systematic lymphadenectomy may be the optimal procedure.