bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Pathway Selection Mechanisms of Brain Networks
Authors: Chen Yanhui , Hu Yun , Liu Jinhui , Wang Yu , Li Aiting
Published: December 2022

Based on the dynamic reorganization mechanism of brain science and the fact that synaptic adaptability is affected by synaptic type, synaptic number and ion concentration, a bionic dynamic synaptic model is proposed and applied to a motif model and brain-like network model. By extracting the phase synchronization characteristics of the neural signals of node pairs in time sequence, and then deeply studying the regulation and control effect of synchronous discharge activities on effective links under the action of stimulating information, the path selection strategy is designed with the goal of maximizing the information transmission capacity between nodes. Four indicators are proposed: (1) pathway-synchronization-facilitation; (2) pathway-activation; (3) pathway-phase-selectivity; (4) pathway-switching-selectivity, which are used as the main basis for path selection in the network. The results show that the in-phase and anti-phase transition of neuron nodes under the action of time delay is an important way to form an effective link, and, in addition to the influence of synaptic strength and the number of central nodes on synchronization characteristics, the phase information carried by the stimulus signal also regulates the path selection. Furthermore, the paths between the pairs of stimulus nodes in the network have different phase preferences. In the brain-like network with twenty nodes, it is found that nearly 42% of the stimulus nodes have a strong phase preference; that is, the path can be selected and switched through the phase information carried by the information flow, and then the path with better representation information can be found. It also provides a new idea for how brain-like intelligences might better represent information.
Chaotic Behavior of the Zakharov-Kuznetsov Equation with Dual-Power Law and Triple-Power Law Nonlinearity
Authors: Li Yaxi , Kai Yue
Published: December 2022

The main idea of this paper is to study the chaotic behavior of Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation with perturbation. By taking the traveling wave transformation, we transform the perturbed Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation with dual-power law and triple-power law nonlinearity into planar dynamic systems, and then analyze how the external perturbed terms affect the chaotic behavior. We emphasize here that there is no chaotic phenomenon for the non-perturbed ZK equation, thus it is only caused by the external perturbed terms.
Nitrogen and Carbon Removal Capacity by Farmed Kelp Alaria marginata and Saccharina latissima Varies by Species
Authors: Umanzor Schery , Stephens Tiffany
Published: December 2022

An increasing body of evidence shows that seaweeds, including kelp, can be used as a tool to neutralize or remove excess nutrients and metals from the water column. Here we report on a preliminary field assessment showing potential nutrient and carbon removal differences in sugar kelp and ribbon kelp grown in common gardens. Seawater and tissue samples were collected systematically from two farms in Alaska. Results show differences between the %N and %C content between Alaria marginata and Saccharina latissima. Results also show that tissue nitrogen in ribbon kelp varies sharply due to nitrogen availability in the water column. In contrast, the percentage of tissue N in sugar kelp remains comparatively stable. Our outcomes provide insight into potential differences in nutrient removal and harvest timing for different kelp species.
Concentrations of Airborne Microplastics during the Dry Season at Five Locations in Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand
Authors: Sarathana Danuwas , Winijkul Ekbordin
Published: December 2022

Information on airborne microplastics (AMPs) in Thailand is still not available. This study monitored and identified AMPs in Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand. A high-volume air sampler was used to collect AMPs at five different locations in BMR. These five locations are university, roadside, urban park, dumpsite, and industrial estate. The results showed that AMPs concentration was averaged at 333.42 ± 142.99 per cubic meter (n/m3). The concentration of AMPs at the dumpsite was much higher than the concentration in the other areas. The relationship between AMPs and total suspended particles (TSP) was highly dependent on the locations and sources of microplastics nearby. Higher AMP with higher TSP were found at the university, dumpsite, and industrial estate. On the other hand, lower AMP with higher TSP were found at the roadside and urban park. Regarding the shape of the AMPs, the majority (97.22%) of the AMPs were in fragment form while only 2.78% were in fiber form. Polyethylene (PE) in the fragments and cellophane in the fibers were the major polymer types which were present in all locations.
Reponses of Land Surface Albedo to Global Vegetation Greening: An Analysis Using GLASS Data
Authors: Li Xijia , Qu Ying , Xiao Zhiqiang
Published: December 2022

Global vegetation greening during recent decades has been observed from various remote sensing data. The global and regional climate can be altered by an increase in carbon storage, as well as changes in land surface albedo (LSA) and evaporation. However, the LSA changes induced by global vegetation greening are still not clear, and contrasting responses of LSA to vegetation changes were reported in previous studies. In this study, we analyzed the LSA in response to global vegetation greening using the Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) data and a vegetation-induced LSA change model. The results showed that vegetation greening trends could be observed worldwide, which resulted in contrasting LSA responses at regional scales (LSA increased as leaf area index (LAI) increased, or LSA decreased as LAI increased). Moreover, these contrasting LSA responses to global vegetation greening were effectively explained by the albedo difference between a vegetation and soil background. The results provide new insights into the relationship between LSA changes and global vegetation dynamics, and can support recommendations for policies of vegetation protection, and large-scale afforestation and deforestation.
Application of Optimal Interpolation to Spatially and Temporally Sparse Observations of Aerosol Optical Depth
Authors: Miatselskaya Natallia , Milinevsky Gennadi , Bril Andrey , Chaikovsky Anatoly , Miskevich Alexander , Yukhymchuk Yuliia
Published: December 2022

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is one of the basic characteristics of atmospheric aerosol. A global ground-based network of sun and sky photometers, the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) provides AOD data with low uncertainty. However, AERONET observations are sparse in space and time. To improve data density, we merged AERONET observations with a GEOS-Chem chemical transport model prediction using an optimal interpolation (OI) method. According to OI, we estimated AOD as a linear combination of observational data and a model forecast, with weighting coefficients chosen to minimize a mean-square error in the calculation, assuming a negligible error of AERONET AOD observations. To obtain weight coefficients, we used correlations between model errors in different grid points. In contrast with classical OI, where only spatial correlations are considered, we developed the spatial-temporal optimal interpolation (STOI) technique for atmospheric applications with the use of spatial and temporal correlation functions. Using STOI, we obtained estimates of the daily mean AOD distribution over Europe. To validate the results, we compared daily mean AOD estimated by STOI with independent AERONET observations for two months and three sites. Compared with the GEOS-Chem model results, the averaged reduction of the root-mean-square error of the AOD estimate based on the STOI method is about 25%. The study shows that STOI provides a significant improvement in AOD estimates.
A Fast Novel Recursive Algorithm for Computing the Inverse of a Generalized Vandermonde Matrix
Authors: Arafat Ahmed , El-Mikkawy Moawwad
Published: December 2022

The main research object of this paper is to present a systematic computational procedure for computing the inverse of a generalized Vandermonde matrix. Short and rigorous proofs for the formulas of the determinant and the inverse of a generalized Vandermonde matrix are proposed. The computational cost of this method is O(n2). The proposed method can be used efficiently for hand calculation as well as for computer programming. Some examples are given for the sake of illustration. Furthermore, we present a simulation study to compare the time spent to calculate the inverse using the proposed algorithm and the inverse function in Maple.
Brain Tumor Detection and Classification Using Deep Learning and Sine-Cosine Fitness Grey Wolf Optimization
Authors: ZainEldin Hanaa , Gamel Samah A. , El-Kenawy El-Sayed M. , Alharbi Amal H. , Khafaga Doaa Sami , Ibrahim Abdelhameed , Talaat Fatma M.
Published: December 2022

Diagnosing a brain tumor takes a long time and relies heavily on the radiologist’s abilities and experience. The amount of data that must be handled has increased dramatically as the number of patients has increased, making old procedures both costly and ineffective. Many researchers investigated a variety of algorithms for detecting and classifying brain tumors that were both accurate and fast. Deep Learning (DL) approaches have recently been popular in developing automated systems capable of accurately diagnosing or segmenting brain tumors in less time. DL enables a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model for medical images, specifically for classifying brain cancers. The proposed Brain Tumor Classification Model based on CNN (BCM-CNN) is a CNN hyperparameters optimization using an adaptive dynamic sine-cosine fitness grey wolf optimizer (ADSCFGWO) algorithm. There is an optimization of hyperparameters followed by a training model built with Inception-ResnetV2. The model employs commonly used pre-trained models (Inception-ResnetV2) to improve brain tumor diagnosis, and its output is a binary 0 or 1 (0: Normal, 1: Tumor). There are primarily two types of hyperparameters: (i) hyperparameters that determine the underlying network structure; (ii) a hyperparameter that is responsible for training the network. The ADSCFGWO algorithm draws from both the sine cosine and grey wolf algorithms in an adaptable framework that uses both algorithms’ strengths. The experimental results show that the BCM-CNN as a classifier achieved the best results due to the enhancement of the CNN’s performance by the CNN optimization’s hyperparameters. The BCM-CNN has achieved 99.98% accuracy with the BRaTS 2021 Task 1 dataset.
Urinary Exosomal Tissue TIMP and Angiopoietin-1 Are Preoperative Novel Biomarkers of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Wang Chih-Yuan , Shih Shyang-Rong , Chen Kuen-Yuan , Huang Pei-Jie
Published: December 2022

Finding non-invasive and sensitive biomarkers for early screening of high-risk patients remains important in clinical practice. A higher concentration of urine exosomal thyroglobulin protein was found in late-stage patients with thyroid carcinoma compared to those with early stage in our previous study. This prospective study aims to find new prognostic biomarkers before surgery for decision-making with this platform. We enrolled patients newly diagnosed with papillary and follicular cancer from 2017 to 2018. Preoperative urine samples were collected and the exosomal proteins were analyzed. The association of the concentration of urine exosomal proteins with lymph node metastasis and MACIS score (metastasis, age, completeness of resection, invasion, and size) was analyzed with multiple logistic regression. In total, 21 patients were included, with a mean age of 51.29 ± 10.29 years and a majority of female patients (85.71%). The concentration of urine exosomal TIMP (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase) was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed association of urine exosomal TIMP (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99–9.6, p = 0.052), angiopoietin-1 (aOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 0.97–5.15, p = 0.058) with lymph node metastasis. However, no association was noted between MACIS score and various urine exosomal protein candidates. Preoperative urine exosomal data could suggest certain peptides having the potential as prognostic indicators for screening patients with high-risk before surgery. Further study with a large cohort and long follow-up is needed to identify the application of urine exosomal proteins on prognostic prediction.
Long-Term Treatment with Simvastatin Leads to Reduced Migration Capacity of Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Kafka Mona , Gruber Rebecca , Neuwirt Hannes , Ladurner Michael , Eder Iris E.
Published: December 2022

Statins have been shown to improve survival of metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). Nevertheless, their therapeutic use is still under debate. In the present study, we investigated the short-term effects of three different statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) in various PCa cell lines mimicking androgen-sensitive and -insensitive PCa. Moreover, we generated three new PCa cell lines (LNCaPsim, ABLsim, PC-3sim) that were cultured with simvastatin over several months. Our data showed that the three statins expressed highly diverse short-term effects, with the strongest growth-inhibitory effect from simvastatin in PC-3 cells and almost no effect from rosuvastatin in any of the cell lines. Long-term treatment with simvastatin resulted in a loss of response to statins in all three cell lines, which was associated with an upregulation of cholesterol and fatty acid pathways as revealed through RNA sequencing. Despite that, long-term treated cells exhibited diminished spheroid growth and significantly reduced migration capacity per se and to differentiated osteoclasts. These findings were strengthened by reduced expression of genes annotated to cell adhesion and migration after long-term simvastatin treatment. Notably, mPCa patients taking statins were found to have lower numbers of circulating tumor cells in their blood with reduced levels of PSA and alkaline phosphatase. Our data suggest that long-term usage of simvastatin hampers the metastatic potential of PCa cells and may therefore be a potential therapeutic drug for mPCa.
Tumor Biology and Microenvironment of Vestibular Schwannoma-Relation to Tumor Growth and Hearing Loss
Authors: Tesařová Michaela , Peterková Lenka , Šťastná Monika , Kolář Michal , Lacina Lukáš , Smetana Karel , Hynek Radovan , Betka Jan , Vlasák Aleš , Lukeš Petr , Fík Zdeněk
Published: December 2022

Vestibular schwannoma is the most common benign neoplasm of the cerebellopontine angle. It arises from Schwann cells of the vestibular nerve. The first symptoms of vestibular schwannoma include hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular symptoms. In the event of further growth, cerebellar and brainstem symptoms, along with palsy of the adjacent cranial nerves, may be present. Although hearing impairment is present in 95% of patients diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma, most tumors do not progress in size or have low growth rates. However, the clinical picture has unpredictable dynamics, and there are currently no reliable predictors of the tumor’s behavior. The etiology of the hearing loss in patients with vestibular schwannoma is unclear. Given the presence of hearing loss in patients with non-growing tumors, a purely mechanistic approach is insufficient. A possible explanation for this may be that the function of the auditory system may be affected by the paracrine activity of the tumor. Moreover, initiation of the development and growth progression of vestibular schwannomas is not yet clearly understood. Biallelic loss of the NF2 gene does not explain the occurrence in all patients; therefore, detection of gene expression abnormalities in cases of progressive growth is required. As in other areas of cancer research, the tumor microenvironment is coming to the forefront, also in vestibular schwannomas. In the paradigm of the tumor microenvironment, the stroma of the tumor actively influences the tumor’s behavior. However, research in the area of vestibular schwannomas is at an early stage. Thus, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and interactions between cells present within the tumor is crucial for the diagnosis, prediction of tumor behavior, and targeted therapeutic interventions. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge in the field of molecular biology and tumor microenvironment of vestibular schwannomas, as well as their relationship to tumor growth and hearing loss.
Erectile Dysfunction: Pharmacological Pathways with Understudied Potentials
Authors: Adam Doaa R. , Alem Manal M.
Published: December 2022

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a public health concern worldwide. In the past, it was perceived as a phenomenon attributed to age advancement. However, more individuals are affected every year that do not fall under that age criterion. Epidemiological research revealed that this abnormality has an association with endothelial dysfunction connected to several cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Currently, ED is interpreted as a clinical marker for future adverse events and not only as a present health issue that negatively affects the quality of life. The management of ED involves lifestyle modifications, therapeutic optimization for comorbid conditions, and pharmacological and psychosexual therapy. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are the first-line pharmacological agents to be prescribed for such a condition. Nonetheless, other pharmacological pathways and agents remain underinvestigated or were investigated at some stage. This review aimed to present to future researchers interested in this field with some pharmacological agents that showed favorable effects on a limited number of studies on human subjects or experimental models.
Elastic Fibers and F-Box and WD-40 Domain-Containing Protein 2 in Bovine Periosteum and Blood Vessels
Authors: Akiyama Mari
Published: December 2022

Elastic fibers form vessel walls, and elastic fiber calcification causes serious vascular diseases. Elastin is a well-known elastic fiber component; however, the insoluble nature of elastic fibers renders elastic fiber component analysis difficult. A previous study investigated F-box and WD-40 domain-containing protein 2 (FBXW2) in the cambium layer of bovine periosteum and hypothesized that fiber structures of FBXW2 are coated with osteocalcin during explant culture. Here, FBXW2 was expressed around some endothelial cells but not in all microvessels of the bovine periosteum. The author hypothesized that FBXW2 is expressed only in blood vessels with elastic fibers. Immunostaining and Elastica van Gieson staining indicated that FBXW2 was expressed in the same regions as elastic fibers and elastin in the cambium layer of the periosteum. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) was expressed in microvessels and periosteum-derived cells. Immunostaining and observation of microvessels with serial sections revealed that osteocalcin was not expressed around blood vessels at 6 and 7 weeks. However, blood vessels and periosteum connoted elastic fibers, FBXW2, and αSMA. These findings are expected to clarify the processes involved in the calcification of elastic fibers in blood vessels.
Development of Targeted Protein-Displaying Technology with a Novel Carbon Material
Authors: Nakanishi Akihito , Yamamoto Naotaka , Sakihama Yuri , Okino Tomoya , Matoba Naoki
Published: December 2022

This study reports a new carbon material and its specific display of targeted protein. The properties of the carbon materials fabricated with carbon black MOGUL® were analyzed. The carbon materials were spherical structures with 55.421 µm as a median value. The specific surface area, pore volume, average pore diameter, and total of the acidic functional group were 130 m2·g−1, 0.55 cm3·g−1, 17.2 nm, and 0.29 mEq·g−1, respectively. The adsorption–desorption isoform of the carbon materials showed type IV of the hysteresis loop as defined by IUPAC, indicating non-uniform mesoporous structures (2–50 nm). The distribution of the log differential pore volume also indicated non-uniform porous structures because (i) the difference between the average pore size and the most frequent pore size was significant and (ii) the σ value was larger than the average value regarding the pore sizes. However, 10–90% of the integrated values of the log differential pore volume were 57.4% of the total integrated values, and the distribution was similar to the Gauss distribution model. Although the value of the total of the acidic functional group was 2.5–5.4 times lower than the values of the HPLC columns, the carbon materials require good scaffold quality rather than good HPLC quality. Therefore, the amounts could be enough for the scaffold of biotin hydrazide. To demonstrate the property of displaying the targeted proteins, carbon materials displaying biotin hydrazide by covalent bonding were prepared and avidin-labeled horse radish peroxidase (HRP) was bound to the biotin region. The carbon materials were porous structures, so the unspecific adsorption of HRP was estimated. Then, the maintenance ratios of HRP activities were analyzed in the repeated-use-with-wash processes after each evaluation, resulting in the activities of HRP on the carbon materials being treated with biotin hydrazide being significantly maintained compared to that of the ones without biotin hydrazide. The study revealed the properties of the carbon materials and indicated the display of HRP, suggesting that the carbon materials could be a new material for displaying targeted proteins.
MiR-15b-5p Expression in the Peripheral Blood: A Potential Diagnostic Biomarker of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Hosokawa Rie , Yoshino Yuta , Funahashi Yu , Horiuchi Fumie , Iga Jun-ichi , Ueno Shu-ichi
Published: December 2022

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is known to have a high degree of heritability. Diagnosis of ASD is difficult because of the high heterogeneity of the clinical symptoms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can potentially be diagnostic biomarkers for ASD, and several studies have shown the relationship between miRNAs and ASD pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated ten miRNA and mRNA expression of target genes in peripheral blood to explore a diagnostic biomarker for ASD. Methods: We recruited control and ASD subjects for the discovery cohort (n = 6, each) and replication cohort (n = 20, each). Using qPCR, miRNA and mRNA expression was measured using the SYBR green and probe methods, respectively. In-silico prediction was used for identifying target genes of miRNAs. An in vitro experiment using HEK293 cells was conducted to investigate whether miR-15b-5p modulates the predicted target genes (TGFBR3 and MYBL1). Results: miR-15b-5p expression indicated an increased trend in the discovery cohort (p = 0.052) and a significant upregulation in the replication cohort (p = 0.021). In-silico analysis revealed that miR-15b-5p is relevant to cell development and Wnt signaling. The decreased trends of TGFBR3 and MYBL expression were the same as in previous RNA-seq data. MiR-15b-5p positively regulated TGFBR3 expression in in vitro experiments. Conclusions: Upregulated miR-15b-5p expression may represent a useful diagnostic marker of ASD subjects, and it may regulate TGFBR3 mRNA expression. These findings indicate a new perspective in the understanding of the pathogenesis of ASD.
Artificial Intelligence-Enabled End-To-End Detection and Assessment of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Voice
Authors: Agbavor Felix , Liang Hualou
Published: December 2022

There is currently no simple, widely available screening method for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), partly because the diagnosis of AD is complex and typically involves expensive and sometimes invasive tests not commonly available outside highly specialized clinical settings. Here, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered end-to-end system to detect AD and predict its severity directly from voice recordings. At the core of our system is the pre-trained data2vec model, the first high-performance self-supervised algorithm that works for speech, vision, and text. Our model was internally evaluated on the ADReSSo (Alzheimer’s Dementia Recognition through Spontaneous Speech only) dataset containing voice recordings of subjects describing the Cookie Theft picture, and externally validated on a test dataset from DementiaBank. The AI model can detect AD with average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.846 and 0.835 on held-out and external test set, respectively. The model was well-calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p-value = 0.9616). Moreover, the model can reliably predict the subject’s cognitive testing score solely based on raw voice recordings. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using the AI-powered end-to-end model for early AD diagnosis and severity prediction directly based on voice, showing its potential for screening Alzheimer’s disease in a community setting.
Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Embodied Sense-of-Self Scale
Authors: Patti Andrea , Santarelli Gabriele , Baccaredda Boy Ottone , Fascina Isotta , Altomare Arianna Ida , Ballerini Andrea , Ricca Valdo
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: The Embodied Sense-of-Self Scale (ESSS) is the only validated measure for self-assessing embodiment abnormalities, which differentiate people with anomalous embodied self-representations such as schizophrenic patients from controls. The aim of the current study was to translate the ESSS from English to Italian and to examine its factor structure, reliability, and validity in the Italian context. (2) Methods: We tested the fit of the original three-factor structure (agency, ownership, and narrative identity) across a community sample (N = 269) and the reliability as well as the convergent and divergent validity of the ESSS. (3) Results: The three-factor structure of the ESSS was confirmed. However, three different factors have emerged from our analysis (self-recognition, self-consistence, and self-awareness). Higher internal consistency of the ESSS was obtained by removing six items that seemed problematic. The three ESSS scales show highly intercorrelated constructs. The measure was reliable and positively correlated with schizotypy (via the Perceptual Aberration Scale) and aberrant salience (via the Aberrant Salience Inventory), and negatively correlated with empathy (via the Italian Short Empathy Quotient scale), generalized self-efficacy (via the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale), and social self-efficacy (via the Perceived Social Self-Efficacy Scale). (4) Conclusions: The 19-item Italian version of the ESSS is a suitable measure with which to assess embodiment abnormalities in Italian samples.
Structural Connectivity Reorganization Based on DTI after Cingulotomy in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Kierońska-Siwak Sara , Sokal Paweł , Jabłońska Magdalena , Rudaś Marcin , Bylinka Agnieszka
Published: December 2022

Bilateral cingulotomy is a procedure applied to patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This report presents the structural changes occurring within the forceps minor and arcuate fascicles nerve fibers after a successful bilateral anterior cingulotomy in the patient with refractory OCD. Cingulotomy mainly affects the values of FA, MD, and ADC in the treatment of the examined nerve bundles. This structural reorganization coexists with a good clinical effect. However, it is necessary to expand the study group and to investigate the correlation between the parameters of diffusion and anisotropy and the patient’s clinical condition (Y-BOCS scale).
2D Measurements of the Angle of the Vestibular Aqueduct Using CT Imaging
Authors: Jung Diane , Nagururu Nimesh , Hui Ferdinand , Pearl Monica S. , Carey John P. , Ward Bryan K.
Published: December 2022

Recently, Bächinger et al. developed a software that measures the angle between the vestibular aqueduct proximal to the vestibule and the distal vestibular aqueduct on computed tomography (CT) scans and found differences in the vestibular aqueduct angle between the hypoplastic and degenerative categories of Meniere’s disease (MD). Hypoplastic radiological findings were associated with the development of bilateral MD and hypoplastic changes were not found outside of fetal temporal bones and individuals with MD. The purpose of this study is to examine how the software developed by Bächinger et al. performs when applied to a large dataset of adult patients with varied otologic diagnoses. Adult patients who underwent high resolution flat panel CT scans without intravenous contrast (n = 301) were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements of the angle of the vestibular aqueduct were made using the previously developed software tool. The tool could be applied to measure the vestibular aqueduct angle in most CT scans of the temporal bones (n = 572 ears, 95%). While the majority of ears fell within the normal range of <120 degrees (n = 462, 80%), fourteen ears (2.3%) in 13 patients were found to have vestibular aqueduct angles that meet criteria for hypoplastic MD (>140 degrees). Only one of the 13 patients had a diagnosis of MD and not in the ear in the hypoplastic category. An inconsistent pattern of other otologic diagnoses were found among the 13 individuals meeting criteria for hypoplastic MD. Although prior reports indicate the software has prognostic value in individuals with MD, these results suggest that the software may have lower positive predictive value when applied to a large population of individuals with varied otologic diagnoses.
Research on the Influence Mechanism of Intention to Proximity Travel under the COVID-19
Authors: Chen Huan , Wang Luyao , Xu Shaogui , Law Rob , Zhang Mu
Published: December 2022

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought increasing attention to proximity travel. This mode of travel is a convenient travel setup for both tourists and neighboring destinations. With the help of the model of goal-directed behavior (MGB), this study investigates the influence of tourists’ perception of epidemic risk on their intentions for proximity travel during the normalization of epidemic prevention and control. This study takes Shenzhen, China as the research area, and carried out the investigation in the context of normalization of the epidemic in China. A total of 489 pieces of valid sample data were collected through questionnaire surveys. Statistical analysis software, such as SPSS26.0 and AMOS23.0, were used to analyze the collected data information quantitatively, including descriptive statistical analysis, reliability and validity test, CFA and SEM. The results showed that attitude, subjective norms, positive anticipated emotions, and perceptual behavior control have significant positive effects on travel desire. Travel desire has a significant positive impact on travel intention, whereas negative anticipated emotions have no significant effect on travel desire. Meanwhile, the epidemic risk perception has a significant positive effect on attitudinal travel desire and travel intention. Under the background of the COVID-19, the stronger that the epidemic risk is perceived by tourists, the more the desire and intention to proximity travel are enhanced.
Spatial Characteristics of the Abandonment Degree of Residential Quarters Based on Data of the Housing Sales Ratio—A Case Study of Kunming, China
Authors: Wang Yang , Yue Xiaoli , Wu Yingmei , Zhang Hong’ou , Liu Sa
Published: December 2022

The abandonment degree of an urban residential building can reflect the popularity of residential areas. This study uses this idea as a basis for proposing the concept of using residential quarters’ abandonment rate to measure the abandonment degree of an area. The spatial pattern of the abandonment rate and its clustering characteristics were obtained by taking 2517 residential quarters in Kunming’s Main Urban District as research object, and using their listing for sale ratio data. Thereafter, curve estimation was used to explore the influencing factors of abandonment rate. The results are as follows. (1) The abandonment rate of the four circles in Kunming’s Main Urban District increases from inside to outside, showing the pattern of the core area–second ring area–third ring area–new urban district, with evident “core–edge” characteristics. (2) The relationship between distance from the city center, housing ages, and abandonment rate can be well fitted using a quadratic function and shows an inverted “U”-shaped “rising–declining” trend. The relationship between housing prices and abandonment rate is fitted by the inverse function, showing an evident “up” trend. This study is a reference for managers of relevant departments and urban planners in formulating reasonable urban housing development policies.
Pre-Feasibility Study of a Multi-Product Biorefinery for the Production of Essential Oils and Biomethane
Authors: Carmo-Calado Luís , Mota-Panizio Roberta , Assis Ana Carolina , Nobre Catarina , Alves Octávio , Lourinho Gonçalo , Brito Paulo
Published: December 2022

Rural areas can benefit from the development of biorefineries for the valorization of endogenous feedstocks. In this study, a pre-feasibility assessment of an integrated multi-product biorefinery to produce essential oils and biomethane is carried out considering current technical and economic conditions. The proposed concept is based on the steam distillation of forestry biomass for the extraction of essential oils (2900 L/y) followed by biomethane production via syngas methanation using the spent biomass as feedstock (30.4 kg/h). In parallel, the anaerobic treatment of WWTP sludge (5.3 kg/h) is used to produce additional biomethane for mobile applications. The results show that the intended multi-product biorefinery delivers attractive benefits for investors as described by the calculated financial indicators: NPV of EUR 4342.6, IRR of 18.1%, and PB of 6 years. Overall, the pre-feasibility analysis performed in this study demonstrates that the proposed biorefinery concept is promising and warrants further investment consideration via cost and benefit analysis, ultimately promoting the implementation of multi-product biorefineries across Europe.
Age- and Sex-Matched Normal Leukocyte Subset Ranges in the General Population Defined with the EuroFlow Lymphocyte Screening Tube (LST) for Monoclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis (MBL) vs. Non-MBL Subjects
Authors: Criado Ignacio , Nieto Wendy G. , Oliva-Ariza Guillermo , Fuentes-Herrero Blanca , Teodosio Cristina , Lecrevisse Quentin , Lopez Antonio , Romero Alfonso , Almeida Julia , Orfao Alberto ,   The Primary Health Care Group of Salamanca for the Study of MBL
Published: December 2022

Reference ranges of blood-circulating leukocyte populations by, e.g., age and sex, are required for monitoring immune-cell kinetics. Most previous reports in which flow cytometry has been used to define the reference ranges for leukocyte counts included a limited number of donors and/or cell populations and/or did not consider age and sex simultaneously. Moreover, other factors not previously considered in the definition of normal ranges, such as the presence of chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia (CLL)-like low-count monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBLlo), might also be associated with an altered distribution of leukocytes in blood in association with an immunodeficiency and increased risk of infection and cancer. Here, we established reference cell-count ranges for the major populations of leukocytes in blood of non-MBL and MBLlo adult Caucasians matched by age and sex using the EuroFlow Lymphocyte Screening Tube (LST). A total of 706 Caucasian adult donors—622 non-MBL and 84 MBLlo—were recruited from the general population. Among non-MBL donors, the total leukocyte, neutrophil, basophil dendritic cell and monocyte counts remained stable through adulthood, while the absolute numbers of T- and B-cell populations and plasma cells decreased with age. The number of eosinophils and NK-cell increased over time, with clear differences according to sex for certain age ranges. In MBLlo subjects, few differences in the absolute cell counts by age (vs. non-MBL) were observed, and MBLlo men and women showed similar trends to non-MBL subjects except for the B-cell count drop observed in >70 y-men, which was more pronounced in MBLlo vs. non-MBL controls. Building robust age- and sex-matched reference ranges for the most relevant immune-cell populations in the blood of non-MBL donors is essential to appropriately identify an altered immune status in different clinical settings and highlight the altered immune-cell profiles of MBLlo subjects.
Pim-2 Kinase Regulates Energy Metabolism in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Liu Zhaoyun , Guo Yixuan , Liu Xiaohan , Cao Panpan , Liu Hui , Dong Xifeng , Ding Kai , Fu Rong
Published: December 2022

Pim-2 kinase is overexpressed in multiple myeloma (MM) and is associated with poor prognosis in patients with MM. Changes in quantitative metabolism, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways are reportedly markers of all tumor cells. However, the relationship between Pim-2 and glycolysis in MM cells remains unclear. In the present study, we explored the relationship between Pim-2 and glycolysis. We found that Pim-2 inhibitors inhibited glycolysis and energy production in MM cells. Inhibition of Pim-2 decreased the proliferation of MM tumor cells and increased their susceptibility to apoptosis. Our data suggest that reduced Pim-2 expression inhibits the energy metabolism process in MM, thereby inhibiting tumor progression. Hence, Pim-2 is a potential metabolic target for MM treatment.
Transarterial Radioembolization Planning and Treatment with Microspheres Containing Holmium-166: Determination of Renal and Intestinal Radionuclide Elimination, Effective Half-Life, and Regulatory Aspects
Authors: Kühnel Christian , Gühne Falk , Seifert Philipp , Freudenberg Robert , Freesmeyer Martin , Drescher Robert
Published: December 2022

After transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with microspheres loaded with holmium-166, radioactivity is excreted from the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate radioactive renal and intestinal excretions after TARE planning and treatment procedures with holmium-166-loaded microspheres and to correlate the findings with the intratherapeutic effective half-life. Urinary and intestinal excretions of patients who underwent TARE procedures were collected during postinterventional intervals of 24 h (TARE planning) and 48 h (TARE treatment). Whole-body effective half-life measurements were performed. Calibrations of the 166Ho measuring system showed evidence of long-living nuclides. For excretion determination, 22 TARE planning procedures and 29 TARE treatment procedures were evaluated. Mean/maximum total excretion proportions of the injected 166Ho were 0.0038%/0.0096% for TARE planning procedures and 0.0061%/0.0184% for TARE treatment procedures. The mean renal fractions of all measured excretions were 97.1% and 98.1%, respectively. Weak correlations were apparent between the injected and excreted activities (R2 planning/treatment: 0.11/0.32). Mean effective 166Ho half-lives of 24.03 h (planning) and 25.62 h (treatment) confirmed low excretions. Radioactive waste disposal regulations of selected jurisdictions can be met but must be reviewed before implementing this method into clinical practice. Inherent long-living nuclide impurities should be considered.
Endosomal Sorting Protein SNX27 and Its Emerging Roles in Human Cancers
Authors: Deb Shreya , Sun Jun
Published: December 2022

SNX27 belongs to the sorting nexin (SNX) family of proteins that play a critical role in protein sorting and trafficking in the endocytosis pathway. This protein family is characterized by the presence of a Phox (PX) domain; however, SNX27 is unique in containing an additional PDZ domain. Recently, SNX27 has gained popularity as an important sorting protein that is associated with the retromer complex and mediates the recycling of internalized proteins from endosomes to the plasma membrane in a PDZ domain-dependent manner. Over 100 cell surface proteins have been identified as binding partners of the SNX27–retromer complex. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms governed by SNX27 in tumorigenesis remains to be poorly understood. Many of its known binding partners include several G-protein coupled receptors, such as β2-andrenergic receptor and parathyroid hormone receptor, are associated with multiple pathways implicated in oncogenic signaling and tumorigenesis. Additionally, SNX27 mediates the recycling of GLUT1 and the activation of mTORC1, both of which can regulate intracellular energy balance and promote cell survival and proliferation under conditions of nutrient deprivation. In this review, we summarize the structure and fundamental roles of SNX proteins, with a focus on SNX27, and provide the current evidence indicating towards the role of SNX27 in human cancers. We also discuss the gap in the field and future direction of SNX27 research. Insights into the emerging roles and mechanism of SNX27 in cancers will provide better development strategies to prevent and treat tumorigenesis.
Unresectable Ovarian Cancer Requires a Structured Plan of Action: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Nieuwenhuyzen-de Boer Gatske M. , Kengsakul Malika , Boere Ingrid A. , van Doorn Helena C. , van Beekhuizen Heleen J.
Published: December 2022

Background: Patients with unresectable disease during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for advanced-stage ovarian cancer are underreported. Knowledge of treatment and survival after surgery is limited. The aim of this study is to address the knowledge gap about postoperative treatment and survival of patients whose surgery was abandoned due to unresectability after abdominal exploration. Methods: Women with FIGO stage IIIB-IV epithelial ovarian cancer whose disease was considered to be unresectable during surgery were included in this prospective study, a post hoc analysis of the PlaComOv study. The unresectable disease was defined as the inability to achieve at least suboptimal CRS without attempted CRS after careful inspection of the entire abdomen. Preoperative clinical data, perioperative findings, postoperative treatment and survival data were analyzed. Results: From 2018 to 2020, 27 patients were included in this analysis. Treatment ranged from the cessation of treatment to one or several lines of chemotherapy with or without maintenance therapy. The median overall survival was 16 (IQR 5–21) months (95%CI 14–18). At 24 months of follow-up, four patients (15%) were alive. Conclusions: This study indicated a two-year survival of 15%. Optimal treatment strategies in terms of survival benefits are still ill-defined. Further study of this specific group of patients is warranted. We advocate an (inter)national registry of patients with unresectable cancer and comprehensive follow-up.
Plasma Micronutrient Profile of Prostate Cancer Cases Is Altered Relative to Healthy Controls—Results of a Pilot Study in South Australia
Authors: Dhillon Varinderpal S. , Deo Permal , Fenech Michael
Published: December 2022

Emerging evidence suggests possible roles of micronutrients in cancer prevention. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that the concentration profile of plasma micronutrients (i.e., the nutriome) in prostate cancer patients is different from that of healthy controls. Plasma samples from 116 Caucasian men diagnosed with late onset of prostate cancer and 132 matched controls from the South Australian population were collected and analysed for their concentration of micronutrients. Plasma concentrations of lutein, lycopene, α-carotene and β-carotene were found to be significantly lower in prostate cancer patients (p = 0.03, 0.008, 0.002 and 0.002, respectively). Plasma levels of elements such as iron, copper, calcium and sulphur were significantly higher (p < 0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001 and p = 0.0003, respectively) while that of selenium was significantly lower (p = 0.002) in prostate cancer patients. Higher prostate cancer risk is significantly associated with plasma levels below the median of lycopene (OR: 2.24), α-carotene (OR: 2.13), β-carotene (OR: 1.97) and high levels above the median of iron (OR: 2.31), calcium (OR: 4.35) and sulphur (OR: 2.39). The results of this study suggest that the plasma nutriome could be a useful diagnostic of prostate cancer risk.
Exosome-Derived microRNA: Implications in Melanoma Progression, Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Ye Qiang , Li Zi , Li Yang , Li Yirong , Zhang Yan , Gui Runlin , Cui Yue , Zhang Qi , Qian Lu , Xiong Yuyan , Yu Yi
Published: December 2022

Melanoma is a malignant and aggressive cancer, and its progression is greatly affected by interactions between melanoma cells and their surroundings. Exploration on mechanism of melanoma and improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are becoming increasingly important. Unlike extracellular messengers that mainly work on targeted cells through corresponding receptors, exosomes are essential intercellular messengers that deliver biologically active substances such as nucleic acids and proteins to target cells for cell–cell communication. Of them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are common and important exosomal components that can regulate the expression of a wide range of target genes. Accordingly, exosome-derived miRNAs play a significant role in melanoma progression, including invasion and metastasis, microenvironment establishment, angiogenesis, and immune escape. MiRNA signatures of exosomes are specific in melanoma patients compared to healthy controls, thus circulating miRNAs, especially exosomal miRNAs, become potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for melanoma. This review aims to summarize recent studies on the role of exosomal miRNAs in melanoma as well as ongoing efforts in melanoma treatment.
Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Immunoediting and Their Potential as Oncoimmunotherapeutics
Authors: Najaflou Meysam , Shahgolzari Mehdi , Khosroushahi Ahmad Yari , Fiering Steven
Published: December 2022

The tumor microenvironment (TME) within and around a tumor is a complex interacting mixture of tumor cells with various stromal cells, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells. In the early steps of tumor formation, the local microenvironment tends to oppose carcinogenesis, while with cancer progression, the microenvironment skews into a protumoral TME and the tumor influences stromal cells to provide tumor-supporting functions. The creation and development of cancer are dependent on escape from immune recognition predominantly by influencing stromal cells, particularly immune cells, to suppress antitumor immunity. This overall process is generally called immunoediting and has been categorized into three phases; elimination, equilibrium, and escape. Interaction of tumor cells with stromal cells in the TME is mediated generally by cell-to-cell contact, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). The least well studied are EVs (especially exosomes), which are nanoparticle-sized bilayer membrane vesicles released by many cell types that participate in cell/cell communication. EVs carry various proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and small molecules that influence cells that ingest the EVs. Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) play a significant role in every stage of immunoediting, and their cargoes change from immune-activating in the early stages of immunoediting into immunosuppressing in the escape phase. In addition, their cargos change with different treatments or stress conditions and can be influenced to be more immune stimulatory against cancer. This review focuses on the emerging understanding of how TEVs affect the differentiation and effector functions of stromal cells and their role in immunoediting, from the early stages of immunoediting to immune escape. Consideration of how TEVs can be therapeutically utilized includes different treatments that can modify TEV to support cancer immunotherapy.