bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pan-cancer whole genome comparison of primary and metastatic solid tumors
Authors: Cuppen Edwin , Martinez-Jimenez Francisco , Movasati Ali , Brunner Sascha , Nguyen Luan , Priestley Peter , Hoeck Arne van
Published: July 2022

Metastatic cancer remains almost inevitably a lethal disease. A better understanding of disease progression and response to therapies therefore remains of utmost importance. Here, we characterize the genomic differences between early-stage untreated primary tumors and late-stage treated metastatic tumors using a harmonized pan-cancer (re-)analysis of 7,152 whole-genome-sequenced tumors. In general, our analysis shows that metastatic tumors have a low intra-tumor heterogeneity, high genomic instability and increased frequency of structural variants with comparatively a modest increase in the
number of small genetic variants. However, these differences are cancer type specific and are heavily impacted by the exposure to cancer therapies. Five cancer types, namely breast, prostate, thyroid, kidney clear carcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine, are a clear exception to the rule, displaying an extensive
transformation of their genomic landscape in advanced stages. These changes were supported by increased genomic instability and involved substantial differences in tumor mutation burden, clock-based molecular signatures and the landscape of driver alterations as well as a pervasive increase in structural variant burden. The majority of cancer types had either moderate genomic differences (e.g., cervical and colorectal cancers) or highly consistent genomic portraits (e.g., ovarian cancer and skin melanoma) when comparing early- and late-stage disease. Exposure to treatment further scars the tumor genome and introduces an evolutionary bottleneck that selects for known therapy-resistant drivers in approximately half of treated patients. Our data showcases the potential of whole-genome analysis to understand tumor evolution and provides a valuable resource to further investigate the biological basis of cancer and
resistance to cancer therapies.
Sickle cell disease-related knowledge and perceptions of traditional healers in tribal communities in India: implications on sickle cell disease programme
Authors: Babu Bontha V. , Srid Parikipandla , Surti Shaily B. , Bhat Deepa , Sarmah Jatin , Sudhakar Godi , Sharma Yogita
Published: July 2022

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a progressively debilitating genetic disease, and India is the second most affected nation in SCD births. SCD births are high among Indian indigenous tribal communities, whose health care is pluralistic. Traditional healers are an essential part of tribal pluralistic care. This study aimed to understand the extent of SCD-related knowledge and practices of traditional healers and their willingness to be part of the programme. Following the grounded theory approach, data were collected by in-depth interviews with 40 traditional healers selected from five SCD endemic districts. Text data were coded through a deductive approach, and thematic content analysis was carried out. A few healers knew the SCD. However, almost all are aware of anaemia and its symptoms. Most were unaware of the cause of SCD and mentioned that malnutrition and anaemia are reasons for the recurrence of SCD-related symptoms. Most of the traditional healers did not give any treatment. Some gave symptomatic treatment and provided herbal medicines along with some rituals. Though some healers treated some of the typical symptoms of SCD like spleen enlargement, jaundice, swelling and pains in joints, they could not link them with SCD. All traditional healers expressed the concern and said they support the government-run SCD programme. The programme should recognise the role and importance of traditional healers. Necessary orientation may be given to the healers. Such involvement and orientation empower the traditional healers in appropriately guiding the people concerning SCD care.
Comparison Between Buccal Fat Pad Flap and Buccal Advancement Flap for Closure of Oroantral Fistula: A Systematic Review
Authors: Quinzi Vincenzo , Gallusi Gianni , Cannatelli Matteo , Marchetti Enrico , Fiasca Fabiana , Mummolo Stefano
Published: July 2022

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the success rate of two different surgical techniques used to close oroantral fistula.Material and Methods: A systematic Review was conducted based on the PRISMA guideline. Selected reports from electronic databases (PubMed, LILACS, Semantic Scholar, Cochrane Library, Rutgers University Library and Europe PMC) for studies conducted from 1959 to 2021 were initially evaluated. The inclusion criteria were recent English-language studies, all human studies and studies comparing buccal fat pad (BFP) and buccal advancement flap (BAF).The research individuated 1455 records. After screening, only 4 studies were assessed; 1 retrospective study and 3 comparative studies.Results: The pooled RR was significant, showing a probability of success of Buccal Advancement Flap slightly lower than the Buccal Fat Pad Flap for closure of an oroantral fistula (RR 0.914, 95% CI: 0.836 - 0.998). Heterogeneity between the included studies was absent (I2 0.0%, P=0.452).Conclusion: Both techniques are safe, simple and with a high success rate. BFP is ideal in the closure of oroantral fistulas of more than 5 mm, when it is necessary to preserve the depth of the vestibular sulcus or when the buccal advancement flap fails.
Risk of second primary malignancy after radioiodine for thyroid carcinoma: a SEER-based study
Authors: Wu Weiming , Li Shujie , Zhang Ruyi , Wang Miao , Jia Qiang , Tan Jian , Li Ning , Wang Shen , Ji Yanhui , Xu Ke , Meng Zhaowei
Published: July 2022

Purpose
The objective of this study is to evaluate the benefits of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment and the risk of second primary malignant (SPM) in RAI treated patients.
Methods
The cohort for this analysis consisted of individuals diagnosed with a first primary differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), reported by SEER database in 1988–2016. Overall survival (OS) difference was estimated by Kaplan–Meier curves and Log-Rank test, and hazard ratios (HR) was obtained by cox proportional hazard model to evaluate the association between RAI and SPM. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated to assess cancer incidence in relation to RAI and no-RAI groups and the general population.
Results
Among 130,902 patients, 61,210 received RAI and 69,692 did not and a total of 8,604 patients developed SPM. We found that OS was significantly higher in patients who received RAI than those who did not (P < 0.001). DTC survivors treated with RAI had increased risk of SPM in females (6.27% versus 5.97%, P = 0.043), particularly for SPM occurred in ovary (RAI group: 0.17%, no-RAI group: 0.12%, P = 0.039) and leukemia (RAI group: 0.22%, no-RAI group: 0.12%, P < 0.0001). In addition, RAI group in all age subgroups demonstrated higher SPM incidence than no-RAI group, and the incidence increased with age. Patients with primary thyroid cancer had a 16% elevated risk of developing SPM in all sites (SIR:1.16), 243% elevated risk in salivary glands (SIR:3.43), 119% elevated risk in kidneys (SIR:2.19), and 46% elevated risk in hematopoietic System (SIR:1.46). In general, the risk of developing SPM was higher in RAI group than in no-RAI group and general population.
Conclusions
Increased risks of SPM occur in female DTC survivors treated with RAI, which become more obvious with age increasing. Our research findings were beneficial to the formulation of radioactive iodine treatment strategies and the prevention of secondary tumors for patients with thyroid cancer of different genders and different ages.
Makespan Optimization of Workflow Application based on Bandwidth Allocation Algorithm in Fog-Cloud Environment
Authors: Dougani Bentabet , Dennai Abdeslem
Published: July 2022

Fog computing technology has emerged to handle the large amount of data generated by Internet of Things (IoT) terminals and cope with latency-sensitive application requests by allocating computation and storage resources at the edge of the Internet. In many IoT applications, the data acquisition procedures must apply the Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) to get real-time results. The principal goal of DAG scheduling is to reduce total completion time without breaking priority constraints by properly allocating tasks to processors and arranging task execution sequencing. In this paper, we propose a bandwidth-aware workflow allocation (BW-AWA) that schedules tasks by priority to the resource that minimizes the total execution time (Makespan) in the entire heterogeneous computing system without affecting the increase in energy consumed. The task selection process needs to consider the dependency between tasks. The proposed approach is tested with a road safety case study, and the results are compared to well-known approaches to demonstrate the effectiveness in reducing the Makespan.
Improved adherence to test, treat, and track (T3) malaria strategy among Over-the- Counter Medicine Sellers (OTCMS) through interventions implemented in selected rural communities of Fanteakwa North district, Ghana
Authors: Soniran Olajoju Temidayo , Mensah Benedicta Ayiedu , Cheng Ndong Ignatius , Abuaku Benjamin , Ahorlu Collins Stephen
Published: July 2022

Background: Prompt diagnosis and treatment of malaria prevents a mild case from developing into severe disease and death. Unfortunately, parasitological testing of febrile children is greater in the public and formal private sector than in the informal private sector where many patients with malaria-like symptoms first seek treatment. This study was aimed at improving implementation of the T3 policy among OTCMS using some interventions that could be scaled-up easily at the national level.Methods: Interventions were evaluated using a two-arm, cluster randomized trial across 8 rural communities (4 clusters per arm), in two adjacent districts of Ghana. A total of 7 OTCMS in the intervention arm and 5 OTCMS in the control arm in the selected communities participated in the study. Five (5) interventions were implemented in the intervention arm only. These were acquisition of subsidized malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) kits, training of OTCMS, supportive visits to OTCMS, community sensitization on malaria, and introduction of malaria surveillance tool. The primary outcome was the proportion of children under 10 years with fever or suspected to have malaria visiting OTCMS and getting tested (using mRDT) before treatment. Secondary outcomes included OTCMS adherence to national malaria treatment guidelines and the recommended mRDT retail price. Outcomes were measured using mystery client (an adult who pretends to be a real patient) surveys supplemented by a household survey. Proportions were compared using chi-square test or fisher exact test.Results: Following deployment of interventions, mystery client survey showed that OTCMS’ adherence to malaria protocol in the intervention arm increased significantly (p<0.05) compared to the control arm. Household surveys in the intervention arm showed that Caregivers self-treating their children or visiting drug vendors significantly decreased in favor of visits to OTCMS shops for treatment (p<0.001). End-line malaria testing rate was higher compared with the baseline rate, though not statistically significant (30.8% vs 10.5%; p=0.1238). OTCMS in the intervention arm also adhered to the subsidized mRDT retail price of GHc2.40.Conclusion: Interventions targeting OTCMS in rural communities have the potential of improving adherence to the T3 malaria policy and subsequently improving management of uncomplicated malaria in Ghana.Trial registration: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN77836926. Registered on 4 November 2019.
Caesarean section and childhood obesity at age 3 years: a large-scale birth cohort study— the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Terashita Shintaro , Yoshida Taketoshi , Matsumura Kenta , Hatakeyama Takehiro , Inadera Hidekuni
Published: July 2022

Background
Caesarean section (CS) birth is widely reported to be a risk factor for childhood obesity, but it is unclear whether this association also applies in the Japanese population.
Objectives
To assess the impact of CS birth on obesity at 3 years of age in Japanese children.
Methods
We obtained data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a large-scale birth cohort study that includes 103,057 pregnancies, on delivery mode and covariates. Obesity was determined by body mass index measured at 3 years of age. Adjusted odds ratios were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results
From 60,417 mother–toddler pairs analysed, 11,125 toddlers (18.4%) had a CS birth and 12,713 toddlers (21.0%) were obese. The adjusted odds ratio for obesity at 3 years of age when born by CS compared with vaginal delivery was 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.19). This increased odds ratio was significant for girls (1.20, 95% CI 1.11–1.30) but not boys (1.07, 95% CI 0.996–1.15).
Conclusions
CS birth modestly increases the risk of obesity at 3 years of age in Japanese children, especially girls.
Characterization of co-existing adenoma and adenocarcinoma in comparison with conventional adenocarcinoma of gallbladder
Authors: Zou Rui-Qi , Hu Hai-Jie , Lv Tian-Run , Wang Jun-Ke , Liu Fei , Dai Yu-Shi , Hu Ya-Fei , Ma Wen-Jie , Li Fu-Yu
Published: July 2022

Background
Gallbladder adenoma-adenocarcinoma is a rare pathway of gallbladder malignancy, while little is known about the clinicopathological characteristics and surgical outcomes about co-existing adenoma and adenocarcinoma of gallbladder (CAAG).
Methods
Between January 2010 and December 2020, 73 CAAG patients who underwent curative surgical resection at West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively reviewed.
Results
The clinicopathological characteristics of CAAG were distinct from conventional gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GBAC). Patients with CAAG were less likely to have liver parenchyma invasion (P = 0.010), and more commonly to have smaller tumor sizes (P = 0.040), early T stage (P < 0.001) and lower CA19-9 level (P < 0.001). Compared with conventional GBAC patients, CAAG patients showed significantly better overall survival (OS) (36.0 vs 25.0 months; P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed tumor size (P = 0.047), T stage (P = 0.007), surgical margin (P < 0.001) and histological subtypes (P = 0.037) as independent prognostic factors influencing OS of patients with CAAG. Furthermore, compared with none-papillary CAAG, papillary CAAG patients showed even worse survival outcome (30.0 vs 40.0 months, P = 0.005).
Conclusion
CAAG always has mild biological behaviors and better survival outcomes after curative surgery. Larger tumor size, advanced T stage and positive surgical margin were associated with inferior OS in patients with CAAG. The histological subtype of papillary CAAG patients showed the worse survival outcome.
High-efficiency microwave-optical quantum transduction based on a cavity electro-optic superconducting system with long coherence time
Authors: Zorzetti Silvia , Wang Changqing , Gonin Ivan , Grassellino Anna , Kazakov Sergey , Romanenko Alexander , Yakovlev Vyacheslav
Published: July 2022

Frequency conversion between microwave and optical photons is a key enabling technology to create links between superconducting quantum processors and to realize distributed quantum networks. We propose a microwave-optical transduction platform based on long-coherence time superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities coupled to electro-optic optical cavities to mitigate the loss mechanisms that limit the attainment of high conversion efficiency. In the design, we optimize the microwave-optical field overlap and optical coupling losses, while achieving long microwave and optical photon lifetime at milli-Kelvin temperatures. This represents a significant enhancement of the transduction efficiency up to 50% under pump power of 140 μW, corresponding to few-photon quantum regime. Furthermore, this scheme exhibits high resolution for optically reading out the dispersive shift induced by a superconducting transmon qubit coupled to the SRF cavity. We also show that the fidelity of heralded entanglement generation between two remote quantum systems is enhanced by the low microwave losses. Finally, high-precision in quantum sensing can be reached below the standard quantum limit.
Application of UPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS targeted metabolomics in screening of allelochemicals and model plants of ginseng
Authors: Meng Xiang-Ru , Huang Xin , Li Qiong , Wang En-Peng , Chen Chang-Bao
Published: July 2022

Purpose
Allelopathy coordinated with multi-factors leading to continuous cropping obstacle, caused serious decline in yield and quality of ginseng. The cultivation of ginseng is affected by self-toxicity of allelochemicals in soil. Due to the long growth cycle and low survival rate of ginseng, rapid allelopathic activity screening is difficult. Therefore, it is very important to systematically analyze allelochemicals and find model plants with similar allelopathic respondence of ginseng.
Methods
Based on UPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS targeted metabolomics and allelopathic activity verification, soil with continuous cropping problem was determined. Allelochemicals markers were screened by OPLS-DA. The seeds and seedlings of maize, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, green beans, wheat, sunflower and oats were selected as receptors. The model plants with similar allelopathic respondence as ginseng were evaluated by comparison of morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics.
Results
The allelopathic activity of n-butanol extract of soil with continuous cropping problem was most significant. 23 ginsenosides and their contributions to allelopathic effect were screened out and evaluated. The allelopathic effects of ginsenosides Rd, Rg2, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rg1, Re, and Ro, were consistent with the previous results of our group and literature. Under the action of allelochemicals, seeds and seedlings of cucumber showed similar growth inhibition tendency with ginseng.
Conclusion
Metabolomics could be applied to screen allelochemicals in soil and predict their allelopathic effects. And the established plant model could be used to rapid screen allelopathic activity of ginseng. This study provided methodology reference for allelopathy research of ginseng.
Facilitators and barriers to an organisation-based communication skills training program: an interview study
Authors: Wolderslund Maiken , Waidtløw Karin , Kofoed Poul-Erik , Ammentorp Jette
Published: July 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the facilitators and barriers experienced by department managements (DMs) and communication skills trainers (trainers) during the implementation of a 3-day communication skills training (CST) programme for healthcare professionals (HCPs).Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 DMs and 10 trainers from 11 departments concurrently with the implementation of the CST programme. The interviews were conducted from 2012 to 2015 and focused on barriers and facilitators as experienced by DMs and trainers. Thematic analysis was conducted to elucidate the themes across the interviews.Results: The following five themes were developed: resource consumption, bumps in the road, management support, efforts and outcomes, and lack of systematic follow-up. Although the DMs and trainers were, by large, in agreement, the theme: lack of systematic follow-up, derived exclusively from the interviews with the trainers, as did two of the subthemes within bumps in the road: seniority, profession and cultural differences and the trainers' competencies.Conclusion: The greatest perceived barrier was the number of resources needed to be allocated to the CST courses. In addition, DMs found planning and staff resistance to be a challenge. However, after having participated, the HCPs' resistance diminished or even changed to satisfaction. The mandatory approach served as both a facilitator, and a barrier, DMs’ support was an essential facilitator. To ensure sustainability over time, systematic follow-up and continuous training of trainers are needed. Furthermore, explicit communication related to the resource demands, expectations in terms of planning and participation are essential whereas management support and allocation of resources are crucial.
Depression links with the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Mayeli Mahsa , Shafie Mahan , Shiravi Maryam , Mirsepassi Zahra , Rahiminejad Fatemeh , Sattarpour Reza , Aghamollaii Vajiheh
Published: July 2022

Background: The non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their potential role in early diagnosis are recent debates. Herein, we aimed to investigate the association between depression and non-motor symptoms of PD including sleep disorders, hyposexuality, hyposmia, constipation, and orthostatic hypotension. Methods: After obtaining written informed consent, the diagnosis was confirmed using the criteria developed by the United Kingdom PD Society Brain Bank for the clinical diagnosis of PD. The stage and the severity of the disease were determined using the UPDRS and Hoehn & Yahr criteria. Demographics as well as the family history, habitual history, and past medical history data were obtained. Depression was determined through a psychiatric consultation based on DSMV criteria and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQ), and Epworth and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Sleep Questionnaire (RBDSQ) was applied to investigate daytime sleepiness and REM sleep disorders, respectively. Cognitive disorders were also investigated using Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA).Results: 93 patients were enrolled. The BDI score was significantly correlated with hyposexuality, MoCA scores, and PSQ scores. Depression was significantly more severe in those with hyposexuality (p-value = 0.018). After adjustments, a significant association existed between the BDI score and the MoCA score and hyposexuality.Conclusions: Besides the known correlations of depression with cognitive decline in PD, depression is also significantly associated with hyposexuality in these patients. The etiological underpinnings of these associations are to be explored in the future.
DoS Attack on SDN: a study on control plane strategies in-band and out-of-band
Authors: Neves Rafael H. , Silva Anderson. A. A. , Gava Vagner , Azevedo Marcelo T. , Sandoval Jonathan F. R. , Oliveira Fabio S. , Guelfi Adilson E. , Kofuji Sergio T.
Published: July 2022

A Software Defined Network (SDN) assumes a centralized control plane independent of the data planes of the network elements. This central-ization in itself represents a relevant aspect concerning SDN security, which, added to its operation of reactive nature, can represent an opportunity to carry out denial of service attacks. In turn, the SDN control plane can be implemented in two ways: (1) in-band and (2) out-of-band. An out-of-band control plane adopts a separate exclusive network for control communication, consequently increasing implementation costs. On the other hand, an in-band control plane has a lower implementation cost, but it demands sharing the physical medium between data communication and control communication. This work’s purpose is to study the impact of a denial of service attack directed at an SDN from the optic of implementing the control plane: (1) in-band and (2) out-of-band. Subsequently, the form of implementation 1 Springer Nature 2021 L A T E X template DoS Attack on SDN: a study on control plane strategies in-band and out-of-band of the SDN control plane is reviewed to determine if it influences the behavior of the network, given the scenarios established for this work.
Application of PCT, CRP and white blood cell count for the rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile in patients with IBD
Authors: Xie Shuhua , Wu Zhongwen , Chen Peisong , Wang Dong , Liao Kang , Liu Min , Zhang Shihong , Chen Yili
Published: July 2022

Background
The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in recent years in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). C. difficile is a toxin-producing bacterium, and CDI results in the worsening of the underlying IBD, increasing the risks of IBD treatment failure, surgery and hospitalization. Since the symptoms of CDI overlap with those of IBD, it is challenging to make a differential diagnosis. Therefore, early, rapid and reliable diagnostic tools that can identify CDI in IBD patients would be valuable to clinicians.
Methods
This study enrolled 135 patients with IBD. Among them, 44 patients were diagnosed with CDI, and 42 patients were diagnosed with viral or fungal infections; 49 patients without infections were enrolled in the control group. The diagnostic values of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and the white blood cell count (WBC) in the peripheral blood were examined. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyse the diagnostic value of these parameters.
Results
In this study, the PCT and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with CDI than in non-CDI patients (including patients with viral/fungal infections and the control group; p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). In the ROC curve analysis of the IBD-CDI group and the control group, PCT and CRP predicted IBD-CDI with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.826 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.743–0.909, p = 0.000] and 0.663 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.551–0.774, p = 0.007], respectively. The WBC count was inferior as diagnostic tool for CDI. The sensitivity was 56.82% (95% CI: 41.03–71.65%), the specificity was 91.84% (95% CI: 80.40–97.73%), and the LR (+) was 6.96 for PCT for the diagnosis of CDI.
Conclusions
The present study demonstrated the superiority of PCT over CRP and the WBC for the rapid diagnosis of CDI in IBD patients. Additionally, PCT can be used to predict the clinical outcomes.
The burden of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations among Vietnamese women and their associated factors: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tran Phuc , Tran Duc , Vu Chi , Phan Quang , Nguyen Anh
Published: July 2022

IntroductionBRCA1 and BRCA2 (also known as BRCA) mutation carriers are now frequently provided genetic counselling. A precise estimation of the prevalence of BRCA gene mutations is essential for the counsellor to provide an appropriate risk prediction. However, these data on Vietnamese women and their associated factors will be explored and confirmed further. The objective of this protocol is to provide a new systematic review with meta-analysis using the present methodology to reveal these hitherto unknown data.Methods and AnalysisPRISMA-P, a set of criteria for conducting systematic reviews, was followed in developing and reporting this protocol. From the databases' inception, a comprehensive search will be undertaken in electronic PubMed and Scopus databases. In two stages, title/abstract screening and full-text screening, two independent authors will assess all retrieved articles for inclusion. This review includes papers providing the relevant results reflecting the prevalence of BRCA gene mutations in Vietnamese women at least 18 years old and with or without cancer. Predefined selection criteria will be used to establish each publication's eligibility. Using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane Risk of Bias tools, the quality of included studies will be assessed, and overall evidence quality will be appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Initially, all pertinent data from the included articles will be entered into an online MS Excel spreadsheet for meta-analysis. Then it will be imported into Rstudio software. Meta-analyses using random effects will be used to obtain the pooled percentages. The chi-squared test and the I2 parameter will be used to evaluate heterogeneity. Publication bias will be investigated visually using funnel plots for asymmetry and Egger's statistical tests.Ethics and DisseminationNot applicable.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022340152 (Registered status)
Clinical T2N0 rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus local excision
Authors: Suzuki Toshiyuki , Sadahiro Sotaro , Okada Kazutake , Miyakita Hiroshi , Ogimi Takeshi , Chan Lin Fung , Kamei Yutaro , Yamamoto Seiichiro
Published: July 2022

Aim: Total mesorectal excision is the standard treatment for clinical T2 (cT2) rectal cancer; however, this procedure can result in postoperative dysfunction, decreased quality of life, and stoma creation in some patients. We investigated neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) plus local excision (LE) as an alternative treatment strategy for patients with cT2N0 rectal cancer.Method: Fifty-six patients with cT2N0M0 rectal cancer (anal verge, ≤8 cm; tumor size, <30 mm; and well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma) underwent LE following nCRT. Chemoradiotherapy was administered at 40 or 45 Gy in 20–25 fractions with concurrent oral UFT (tegafur/uracil; 400 mg/m2) or S-1 (tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil; 80 mg/m2).Results: Histologically, the excision margin was negative in all patients, and four patients with ypT3 disease underwent total mesorectal excision. Recurrence was observed in 15 patients (27%); local recurrence in 7 (13%) and distant in 10 (18%). The salvage surgery was possible for the local recurrence group. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 68.4% and 84.9%, respectively. Although 7 (26%) out of 27 patients with a tumor regression grade (TRG) of 3 or 4 developed local recurrence and 6 (22%) had distant metastasis, 25 patients with a TRG of 1 or 2 did not exhibit local recurrence, and only 1 (4%) experienced distant metastasis.Conclusion: nCRT plus LE may be an alternative treatment for patients with cT2N0 rectal cancer who achieved a TRG of 1 or 2. Additional treatment was required in patients with a TRG of 3 or 4.
Robotic Simultaneous Repair of Rectovesical Fistula with Bladder Neck Contracture after Radical Prostatectomy: Step-by-Step Technique and Outcomes
Authors: Sayegh Aref S. , Riva Anibal La , Perez Laura C. , Medina Luis G. , Poncel Jaime , Ortega David G. , Lizana Maria A. , Forsyth Edward , Sotelo Rene
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to report our experience and outcomes using a novel robotic technique for the simultaneous repair of rectovesical fistula (RVF) with bladder neck contracture (BNC) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Between 2019 and 2021, four consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted simultaneous repair of RVF with concurrent BNC after RP were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes were examined and reported. Complications were graded using the modified Clavien-Dindo classification system and the European Association of Urology Complication Panel Assessment and Recommendations. Four cases with a median age of 68.5 (63.3–72.3) years were treated. Interposition omentum flaps were used in all our cases. One case had perineal urethral mobilization to reach healthy urethral margins and tension-free vesicourethral anastomosis. Surgeries were uneventful, with no intraoperative complications reported. Median operative time, estimated blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 370 (291.3–453) minutes, 255 (175–262.5) mL, and 2.5 (2–3) days, respectively. Median Jackson-Pratt drains, Double-J stents and Foley catheter removal days were 6 (6–10), 38 (32–43), and 30 (27–41) days, respectively. No postoperative complications were reported. The median follow-up time was 13 (6–16) months, and no fistula recurrence was shown. Robotic-assisted repair could represent a feasible and effective approach for the simultaneous repair of RVF with concomitant BNC. Larger studies and treatment standardization are needed to assess the role of minimally invasive surgery in the simultaneous management of RVF with BNC after radical prostatectomy.
The composition and structure of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon contamination on van der Waals materials
Authors: Pálinkás András , Kálvin György , Vancsó Péter , Kandrai Konrád , Szendrő Márton , Németh Gergely , Németh Miklós , Pekker Áron , Pap József S. , Petrik Péter , Kamarás Katalin , Tapaszto Levente , Nemes-Incze Péter
Published: July 2022

The behavior of single layer van der Waals (vdW) materials is profoundly influenced by the immediate atomic environment at their surface, a prime example being the myriad of emergent properties in artificial heterostructures. Equally significant are adsorbates deposited onto their surface from ambient. While vdW interfaces are well understood, our knowledge regarding the atmospheric contamination is severely limited, even after the last decades of intense research in the field. Here we show that the common ambient contamination on the surface of: graphene, graphite, hBN and MoS2 is composed of a self-organized molecular layer, which forms during a few days of ambient exposure. Using low-temperature STM measurements we image the atomic structure of this adlayer and in combination with infrared spectroscopy identify the contaminant molecules as normal alkanes with lengths of 20–26 carbon atoms. Through its ability to self-organize, the alkane layer displaces the manifold other airborne contaminant species, capping the surface of vdW materials and possibly dominating their interaction with the environment.
Oman Strong Motion Network (OSMN) and Site-specific Characterization for the Entire Strong Motion Stations in Muscat Region
Authors: Mohamed A M E , El-Hussain Issa , Deif Ahmed , Al-Shijby Y , Ezzelarab M
Published: July 2022

In 2001, the earthquake monitoring center (EMC) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) started monitoring earthquakes that occur in and around the sultanate of Oman through 10 short-period stations. The number of monitoring stations grew to 20 broadband seismic stations between 2004 and 2011 deployed in different parts of the sultanate. In 2014, EMC-SQU began an extensive project for updating and improving the monitoring network by adding 6 broadband stations and establishing a strong motion network consisting of 67 monitoring stations. This provides a good opportunity to investigate the influences of the seismic source, path, and site effects in the ground motion, particularly in the near-source area. Such data are essential for improving seismic hazard maps and consequently seismic building codes and earthquake-resistant design. A wide site selection survey was carried out for the entire proposed stations taking into account the standard site selection criteria. In order to use the strong motion recordings at their full potential, information on the site response at the recording site is needed. So, site investigation at 25 stations in Muscat region was performed in terms of noise level, resonance frequency (using horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method), P-wave velocity (using shallow seismic refraction tomography (SRT) technique), and S-wave velocity (using multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) tool), in addition to the available geotechnical boreholes. The results reflect the site classification in the light of NEHRP/IBC standards and consequently the seismic hazard level at the ground surface.
WITHDRAWN: Effects of equivalence ratio and wall properties on the heat transfer characteristics of microchannel reactors for hydrogen production
Authors: Chen Junjie
Published: July 2022

There is a continuing effort to perform steam reforming reactions in thermally integrated microchannel chemical reactors. However, the mechanisms for the effects of design factors on heat transfer characteristics are still not fully understood. This study relates to a thermochemical process for producing hydrogen by the catalytic endothermic reaction of methanol with steam in a thermally integrated microchannel reforming reactor. Computational fluid dynamics simulations are conducted to better understand the consumption, generation, and exchange of thermal energy between endothermic and exothermic processes in the reactor. The effects of equivalence ratio and wall properties on heat transfer characteristics and reactor performance are investigated. The results indicate that there are issues of efficiency loss for fuel-rich combustion cases. Loss of flame stability due to external heat losses are main issues that require thermal management. The thermal conductivity of the channel walls is fundamentally important. Materials with high thermal conductivity are preferred for the channel walls. Thermally conductive ceramics and metals are well-suited. Wall materials with poor heat conduction properties degrade the reactor performance. The heat released by the exothermic reaction could be entirely consumed by the endothermic reaction, thereby avoiding heat imbalances within the reactor or reducing the likelihood of the formation of hot spots within the catalyst layers. No flame combustion is involved in the process. Design recommendations are made to improve thermal performance for the reactor.
Female Sexual Function in Different Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Yarjanli Mahsa , Sadatmahalleh Shahideh Jahanian , Mirzaei Negin , Azarbajani Khadijeh
Published: July 2022

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) coexisting mood disorders along with a combination of aesthetic manifestations may have a detrimental effect on women's sexual function. Hence, different phenotypes of PCOS have different clinical and biochemical signs and symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare women's sexual function (SF) in different phenotypes of PCOS.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 364 women who met the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria to compare different PCOS phenotypes (A=95, B=78, C=95, and D=95). All patients were invited to fill out the female sexual function index (FSFI).Results: Significant differences were observed between the different phenotypes in terms of the total score, sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction (P<0.001); however, no significant differences were found between them in the terms of pain (P>0.05) and orgasm (P>0.05). In addition, phenotype B had the lowest mean score of total FSFI (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated that women's SF is significantly different in different PCOS phenotypes. It is concluded that in order to solve the SF problems of women with PCOS, different treatment and care measures should be considered according to the relevant phenotype.
3D mapping of intra-articular calcaneal fractures
Authors: Shi Guang , Lin Zhao , Liao Xun , Liu Wei , Zhan Hongrui , Cai Xiyu
Published: July 2022

Background: To determine the pattern of intra-articular calcaneal fractures (ICFs) by a three-dimensional (3D) mapping and determine whether there were consistent fracture patterns and comminution zones. Methods: Sixty-seven patients with ICFS by CT scan were included. The calcaneal fractures fragments in CT were multiplanar reconstructed and virtual reduced. 3D heat mapping was subsequently created by graphically superimposing all fracture lines onto a standard calcaneal template.Results: The cohort included 26 (38.8%) left calcaneal fractures, 27 (40.30%) right calcaneal fractures, and 14 (20.9%) cases with bilateral fractures. Comminuted fractures accounted for 92.5%. Sagittal 3D mapping shows that the fracture line is mainly concentrated at the critical angle of Gissane and extending rear to the posterior of the tuberosity of the lateral wall and the anterior of the medial process of the calcaneus tuberosity but with more significant variation in the medial wall. The average angle of fracture lines concerning the long calcaneal axis (LCA) was 29.1°and 19.2° in the lateral and medial walls. Axial 3D mapping shows that fracture lines were primarily concentrated in the anterior area to the posterior joint facet and extending along the rear joint facet and calcaneus sulcus to the posteriorly of the tuberosity. The mean angle of fracture lines concerning the LAC was 11° in the axial wall. Conclusion: The data provided elucidated that ICFs have consistent characteristic fracture patterns and comminution zones. This study provides visual guidelines for understanding fracture morphology, which may assist with fracture classification, preoperative planning, development of fixation concepts.
«Business-Education-Science» Coopetition and Innovation Transfer for Sustainable Developmen
Authors: Samoilikova Anastasiia , Zhylinska Oksana , Pal Zsolt , Kuttor Daniel
Published: July 2022

Today «business-education-science» coopetition is an innovative approach to achieving sustainable development goals on different levels of economy and in various spheres of human life. In particular, there is great potential in the context of the fourth, eighth, and ninth sustainable development goals. That is why the article aims to analyze key trends and empirically prove and formalize the impact of «business-education-science» coopetition on sustainable development. The key directions of multidisciplinary study on «business-education-science» coopetition for sustainable development are determined by bibliometric analysis of 6035 documents for 38 years using the Scopus database tools and VOSviewer software. The obtained results allowed to form 7 clusters of multidisciplinary studies on this issue. A comparative analysis of Ukraine and the top 10 countries' levels of sustainable development, innovation development, and business-education competition were conducted. Besides a dynamic analysis of sustainable and innovation development in Ukraine, a dynamic analysis of business and education coopetition in Ukraine, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden was made for 2012-2021. The sample from the top 10 countries in the Sustainable Development Rating in 2021 (Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Ireland, and Estonia) are formed for 10 past years (2012-2021) to investigate the relationship between the level of «business – education – science» coopetition and the level of sustainable development, in particular the scores of University-Industry Collaboration Indicator and Sustainable Development Index. The Shapiro-Wilk test for normal data and Pearson / Spearman correlation analysis was used at the first stage of empirical confirmation of the hypothesis about the impact of «business – education – science» coopetition on sustainable development. In the second stage, the regression model of system dynamic panel-data estimation (The Arellano–Bover / Blundell–Bond model) is built to formalize and determine this impact. Then Arellano-Bond test for zero autocorrelation in first-differenced errors is made to show that there is no present evidence that the model is misspecified. It is proved that if the level of «business – education – science» coopetition (on the example of the score of the University-Industry Collaboration Indicator) increases by 1%, the level of sustainable development (in particular, the score of the Sustainable Development Index) will increase on 0,04% too. The obtained results could be useful for business, education, science institutions, and governance for further research and strengthening sustainable and innovation development levels.
Rain-shelter Cultivation Affects the Accumulation of Volatiles in ‘Shuijing’ Grape Berries during Development
Authors: Sun Qingyang , Zhao Yue , Zhu Shusheng , Du Fei , Mao Ruzhi , Liu Lijing , Zhu Yifan , Li Su , Sun Meng , Tian Bin
Published: July 2022

Rain-shelter cultivation could protect grape berries from many diseases and affect grape berry quality. However, there have been few studies of the effects of rain-shelter cultivation on the accumulation of volatiles in Shuijing grapes grown in Yunnan Province. Therefore, the goal of this research was to explore the effects of rain-shelter cultivation on the accumulation of volatiles in Shuijing grape berries during development. The Shuijing grapes used during this study were grown in the Yunnan Province of southwest China in two consecutive vintages (2018 and 2019). The results showed that rain-shelter cultivation promoted grape ripening and inhibited volatiles synthesis in Shuijing grape berries. However, the application of rain shelters did not affect the accumulation patterns of volatiles; instead, it affected the concentrations of volatiles in Shuijing grape berries, especially during the maturation phase [12–15 weeks after flowering (WAF)]. The concentrations of isoprenoid-derived volatiles (2019), fatty acid-derived volatiles, and amino acid-derived benzenoids in Shuijing grape berries were decreased by rain-shelter cultivation during the maturation phase. The concentration of 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)-furanone (mesifurane) was also decreased by rain-shelter cultivation during the late maturation phase (14 and 15 WAF). A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the vintage had a much greater influence on the physicochemical parameters and volatiles of the Shuijing grape berries than the cultivation method. This work reveals the formation and accumulation patterns of volatiles of Shuijing grape berries under rain-shelter cultivation during development and has significance for exploring the potential of rain-shelter cultivation in grape-producing regions with excessive rainfall.
Trends in Statistical Analysis Software Use for Horticulture Research between 2005 and 2020
Authors: Curtis Marina L. , Nunez Gerardo H.
Published: July 2022

Courses are the main source of data analysis training for students. The statistical software training taught in those courses can affect student career readiness. However, lack of information about statistical software use in horticulture leads students and mentors to select statistics courses based on course availability and/or anecdotal evaluations. This research aimed to describe statistical software use trends in horticulture research to inform student course selection. We surveyed ≈50% of all articles published in HortScience, HortTechnology, and the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science (JASHS) between 2005 and 2020. We found that SAS, SPSS, and R were the most frequently used software packages in this period. SAS use frequency decreased in HortScience and JASHS, but not in HortTechnology. SPSS use increased in JASHS and R use increased in all journals. Results from this retrospective survey suggest that training in SAS, SPSS, and R can help align students with horticulture research practices.
Worker in Video Game Industry
Authors: Akbar Maulana , Asmara Indri Juwita
Published: July 2022

The Indonesian video game industry is gaining good momentum as the national video game market continues to grow. However, the contribution of local video game developers is still very minimal. This study will look at the composition of local video games from the point of view of their human resources, from two entities that often appear, namely incorporated and indie. The results of this study indicate that the striking difference between the two entities is in the utilization of human resources from their educational background. While the most common is the habit of using outsourced labor.