bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ostracodes from the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary deposits on the reference section Yjid-Kamenka river (Pechora Uplift)
Authors:   Institute of Geology FRC Komi SC UB RAS, Sobolev D. B.
Published: February 2021

This article presents new data on ostracodes and their stratigraphic distribution in the boundary deposits of the Devonian and Carboniferous (D3-C1) in the reference section Kamenka River (Pechora Uplift). The positions of the Kamenka River section and stratotypic sections of the southern Urals relative to the transgressive-regressive sequence are considered. The ostracode assemblage of the Ps. venulosa — Cor. alba — Cr. primaris zone, which occurs in the section on the Kamenka River and appears in sections of the southern Urals from the base of this zone, is represented by the following taxa: Pseudoleperditia venulosa (Kummerov), Coryellina alba Kotschetkova, Bairdia zaninae Posner, Blessites feluyensis Tschigova, Shishaella alekseevae Tschigova, Knoxiella complanata (Kummerov), Cavellina subeichwaldi Buschmina. The taxonomic characteristics of the upper part of the Pseudoleperditia venulosa — Coryellina alba — Cribroconcha primaris ostracode zone (Gumerovian Regional Substage (Horizon)) are supplemented Acratia subordinaria Buschmina, Healdianella ex gr. alba Lethiers, Phlyctiscapha ? pusilla Gurevitsсh, Pustulobairdia ex gr. confragosa (S. et Sm.), Acanthoscapha pechorica Sobolev, Acratina romboiformis Sobolev, and Rectobairdia eleganta Sobolev first appear at this level A gradual and insignificant change in the ostracode association is observed during the transition from the Gumerovian Horizon to the Malevkian Horizon, which precludes drawing the boundary between them. It is suggested that it would have been more appropriate to draw the boundary at the base of the global Hangenberg transgressive event near the base of the Ps. venulosa — Cor. alba — Cr. primaris ostracode zone (South Urals), which coincides with the initial phase of this transgression.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Ukrainian Economy
Authors: Krivogouz M.
Published: February 2021

The article analyses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Ukrainian economy. The author analyses efforts of the Ukrainian government to support business and social sphere, as well as numerous forecasts and anti-crisis remedies. According to the Ukrainian establishment, the main way out of the crisis is the cooperation with the IMF. The conclusion of insufficiency of the government anti-crisis measures and prematurity of forecasts is made.
Grapevine berry shrivelling, water loss and cell death: an increasing challenge for growers in the context of climate change
Authors: Deloire Alain , Rogiers Suzy , Šuklje Katja , Antalick Guillaume , Zeyu Xiao , Pellegrino Anne
Published: February 2021

Late ripening berry dehydration is an important phenomenon that occurs through grape berry water loss due to the alteration of the fruit water budget when transpiration and potential water back ﬂow to the plant exceed the import of water into the berry through the phloem and xylem. Berry shrivelling can have a signiﬁcant economic impact, reducing yields by ≥25 % with consequences on berry composition and the resulting wine. Its occurrence and consequences are expected to increase due to predicted climate change, shifting grape development and ripening into warmer periods (i.e., heat waves and drought events).
Clinical Benefits of Conversion Surgery for Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Institution, Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Mataki Yuko , Kurahara Hiroshi , Idichi Tetsuya , Tanoue Kiyonori , Hozaka Yuto , Kawasaki Yota , Iino Satoshi , Maemura Kosei , Shinchi Hiroyuki , Ohtsuka Takao
Published: February 2021

BackgroundUnresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (UR-PDAC) has a poor prognosis. Conversion surgery is considered a promising strategy for improving the prognosis of UR-PDAC. This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefits of conversion surgery in patients with UR-PDAC.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with PDAC who were referred to our department for possible surgical resection between January 2006 and December 2019. Conversion surgery was performed only in patients with UR-PDAC who could expect R0 resection. We analyzed the prognostic factors for overall survival among patients who underwent conversion surgery. Results: Overall, 638 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study. According to resectability, resectable cancer (R) was present in 180 patients, borderline resectable cancer (BR) in 60, unresectable locally advanced cancer (UR-LA) in 252, and unresectable cancer with distant metastasis (UR-M) in 146. Conversion surgery was performed in 20 of the 398 UR cases (5.1%). The median period between the initial therapy and conversion surgery was 15.5 months. According to the RECIST evaluation, the treatment response was CR in one patient, PR in 13, SD in five, and PD in one. Downstaging was pathologically determined in all cases. According to the Evans grading system, grade I was observed in four patients (20%), grade IIb in seven (35%), III in seven (35%), and IV in two (10%). We compared the overall survival period from initial treatment among patients undergoing conversion surgery; the median overall survival durations in the conversion surgery, R, BR, UR-LA, and UR-M groups were 73.7, 32.7, 22.7, 15.7, and 8.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence or absence of CRT and the RECIST PR/CR for the main tumor were statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival among patients undergoing conversion surgery (p = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively).Conclusion: In UR-PDAC, it is important to perform multidisciplinary treatment, including CRT with conversion surgery.
LoRaWAN and Urban Waste Management – A Trial
Authors: Cruz Nuno , Cota Nuno , Tremoceiro João
Published: February 2021

The city of Lisbon, has any other capital of a European country, has a large number of issues while managing the waste and recycling containers spread throughout the city. This document presents the results of a study promoted by the Lisbon City Council for trialing LPWAN technology on the waste management vertical under the Lisbon Smart City initiative. Current waste management is done using GSM sensors, and the aim is to use LPWAN to reduce the costs, improve range and reduce provisioning times when changing the communications provider. After an initial study, LoRa was selected as the LPWAN of choice for the trials. The study is composed of multiple use cases at different distances, types of recycling waste containers, placements (underground and surface) and different kinds of waste level measurement LoRa sensors, deployed in order to assess the impact of the different use cases on the LoRa sensor usage. The results shown that the underground waste containers present the most difficult challenge, where the container itself imposes attenuation levels of 26dB on the link budget. The results promoted the deployment of a city wide LoRa network available to all departments inside the Lisbon City Council, and considering the network capacity the network, the network is also available to citizens to be used freely.
A Comparative Study on Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms for Copper Recovery Quality Prediction in a Leaching Process
Authors: Flores Victor , Leiva Claudio
Published: February 2021

The copper mining industry is increasingly using artificial intelligence methods to improve cop-per production processes. Recent studies reveal the use of algorithms such as Artificial Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest, among others, to develop models for predicting product quality. Other studies compare the predictive models developed with these machine learning algorithms in the mining industry, as a whole. However, not many copper mining studies published compare the results of machine learning techniques for copper recovery prediction. This study makes a detailed comparison between three models for predicting copper recovery by leaching, using four datasets resulting from mining operations in northern Chile. The algorithms used for developing the models were Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Artificial Neural Network. To validate these models, four indicators or values of merit were used: accuracy (acc), precision (p), recall (r), and Matthew’s correlation coefficient (mcc). This paper describes dataset preparation and the refinement of the threshold values used for the predictive variable most influential on the class (the copper recovery). Results show both a precision over 98.50% and also the model with the best behavior between the predicted and the real. Finally, the models obtained show the following mean values: acc=94.32, p=88.47, r=99.59, and mcc=2.31. These values are highly competitive as compared with those obtained in similar studies using other approaches in the context.
Performance of a Combined Treatment Approach on Elimination of Microbes from Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater
Authors: Meiramkulova Kulyash , Теmirbekova Aliya , Saspugayeva Gulnur , Kydyrbekova Assel , Devrishov Davud , Tulegenova Zhanar , Aubakirova Karlygash , Kovalchuk Nataliya , Meirbekov Abdilda , Mkilima Timoth
Published: February 2021

The efficiency of microbial inactivation in water is highly dependent on the type of treatment technology used as well as the characteristics of the water to be treated. Wastewater from poultry slaughterhouses carries a significant number of microorganisms posing threat to humans and the environment in general. Therefore, the treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater requires the use of appropriate purification systems with high removal efficiency for microbial agents. In this study, the performance of an integrated treatment plant with electrolysis, ultrafiltration, and ultraviolet radiation as the principal treatment units is investigated in terms of microbial inactivation from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. In this case, Total microbial number, Total coliform bacteria, Thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria, Pathogenic flora, including Salmonella coliphages, Spores of sulfite-reducing clostridia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus Enterococcus were studied. About 63.95% to 99.83% of the microbes were removed by the EC treatment unit, as well as 99.86% to 100% removal efficiency was achieved after the combined treatment. However, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the only microbial agent detected in the final effluent after the combined treatment. The phenomenon suggests that an upgrade to the treatment plant may be required to achieve 100% removal assurance for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Uncertainty Based Design Floods
Authors: Drobot Radu , Draghia Aurelian Florentin , Ciuiu Daniel , Trandafir Romică
Published: February 2021

Many statistical distributions approximate well the frequent values of the maximum discharges, but have a very large spread for medium or rare probabilities of exceedance. This scattering defines a range of uncertainty of maximum discharges outside the measured values. Based on the upper (U) and lower (L) values of the uncertainty interval, a maximum discharge flood (MDF) and a maximum volume flood (MVF) are defined for each probability of exceedance. This approach is in agreement with the bivariate analysis, the contour lines for a certain probability of exceedance putting into evidence an infinity of couples (maximum discharge, flood volume). If the most critical combinations are selected, the MDF and MVF are derived. Apart from maximum discharge and flood volume, the shape of the design flood, characterized by the time to peak and the total duration, is also important. The easiest way to obtain the design flood is to use an analytical curve that passes through the characteristic points of the flood. Another possibility, which was largely developed in this paper, is to normalize the floods, then to define clusters of floods with similar shapes, and to obtain an average dimensionless flood for each class. Finally, a family of design floods with different shapes, but characterized by the same parameters for each probability of exceedance, are derived. The use of these floods in the design or operation of hydrotechnical works or in the delineation of flooded areas is presented at the end.
Reverse Flood Routing in an Open Channel Using Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Azizipour Ali , Kashefipour Seyed Mahmood , Haghighi Ali
Published: February 2021

Flood routing in flood forecasting issue, calculation the height of flood bands, determining the river boundaries, and estimation of protective facilities for flood –exposed building is applicable. In many cases, due to the lack of measuring stations, the status of the upstream flood generating hydrograph is not known. The purpose of this study is to present an integrated method comprising of an optimization model and a hydrodynamic numerical model for flood modeling to determine the upstream hydrograph using the provided hydrograph at the downstream measuring station of a river. The routing procedure consists of three steps: (1) generating a hypothetical upstream hydrograph using genetic algorithm method; (2) hydrodynamic modeling using a numerical simulation model for flood routing according to the hypothetical hydrograph which is generated in the first step; (3) compare the calculated and observed hydrograph in downstream by using a fitness function. This recommended procedure was named as Reverse Flood Routing Method (RFRM) and was then applied to Karun River, the largest river in Iran. Comparing the generated upstream hydrograph by the RFRM model with the corresponding measured hydrograph at Ahvaz hydrometric station, as an ungauged river location, shows the high accuracy of the recommended model in this study.
Properties of SU(2) Center Vortex Structure in Smooth Configurstions
Authors: Golubich Rudolf , Faber Manfried
Published: February 2021

New analysis regarding the structure of center vortices and their color structure is presented: Using data from gluonic SU(2) lattice simulation with Wilson action a correlation of fluctuations in color space to curvature of vortex fluxes was found. Finite size effects of the S2-homogeneity hint at color homogeneous regions on the vortex surface.
guiBath y : A Graphical User Interface to Estimate Nearshore Bathymetry from Hovering Unmanned Aerial System Imagery
Authors: Bruder Brittany L. , Brodie Katherine L. , Hesser Tyler J. , Spore Nicholas J. , Farthing Matthew W. , Renaud Alexander D.
Published: February 2021

This US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, technical report details guiBathy, a graphical user interface to estimate nearshore bathymetry from imagery collected via a hovering Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). guiBathy provides an end-to-end solution for non-subject-matter-experts to utilize commercia-off-the-shelf UAS to collect quantitative imagery of the nearshore by packaging robust photogrammetric and signal-processing algorithms into an easy-to-use software interface. This report begins by providing brief background on coastal imaging and the photogrammetry and bathymetric inversion algorithms guiBathy utilizes, as well as UAS data collection requirements. The report then describes guiBathy software specifications, features, and workflow. Example guiBathy applications conclude the report with UAS bathymetry measurements taken during the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which compare favorably (root mean square error = 0.44 to 0.72 m; bias = -0.35 to -0.11 m) with in situ survey measurements. guiBathy is a standalone executable software for Windows 10 platforms and will be freely available at www.github.com/erdc.
Systemic immune‐inflammation index has prognostic significance in pancreatic carcinoma patients: a meta-analysis
Authors: Li Xiaocheng , Lin Huapeng , Ouyang Renbin , Yang Yaowei , Peng Jing
Published: February 2021

Background
Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is reportedly a prognostic indicator for several malignancies, including pancreatic carcinoma, although there exists no consensus regarding its significance. In the current study, we used a systematically meta-analysis to evaluate the association between SII and prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma patients.
Methods
We screened PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases, through May 2020, and retrieved studies describing the prognostic role of SII in pancreatic carcinoma. We calculated pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random or fixed effects models to reveal the correlation between SII and prognosis.
Results
A total of 4 studies, comprising 1,749 patients, met our inclusion criteria and were therefore eligible for inclusion. Our meta-analysis showed that elevated SII indicated significantly worse overall survival in patients with pancreatic carcinoma (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.24–1.65, P < 0.001), with subgroup analyses, stratified by the TNM stage and treatment, further validating these results. In addition, patients with high SII had poorer cancer-specific survival (HR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.55–3.48, P < 0.001). However, we found no significant associations between SII with disease-free and relapse-free survival.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that SII is a potential non-invasive and promising tool for predicting clinical outcomes of pancreatic carcinoma patients. However, further studies using adequate designs and larger sample sizes are required to validate our findings.
Perfecting the Imperfect: Introducing dorsoventral patterning into adult regenerating lizard tails with gene-edited embryonic neural stem cells.
Authors: Lozito Thomas , Londono Ricardo , Sun Aaron , Hudnall Megan
Published: February 2021

Lizards are able to regrow amputated tails, but the lizard tail regenerative process fails to recapitulate the dorsoventral patterning achieved during embryonic tail development. Regenerated lizard tails form ependymal tubes (ETs) that, like embryonic tail neural tubes (NTs), induce cartilage differentiation in surrounding cells via sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Embryonic NTs are, themselves, dorsoventrally patterned, with Pax7+ Shh- dorsal roof plate domains that restrict cartilage skeletal formation induced by Pax7- Shh+ floor domains to ventral tail regions. However, adult regenerated tail ETs lack characteristically roof plate-associated structures and express Shh throughout their circumferences, resulting in the formation of unpatterned cartilage tube skeletons. Both NTs and ETs contain populations of neural stem cells (NSCs), but only embryonic NSC populations are able to differentiate into roof plate identities and neurons. Embryonic NSCs transplanted into regenerated tail ETs retain the capacity to form roof domains but are ultimately ventralized by the unchecked hedgehog signaling of regenerated lizard tail environments. We hypothesized that only the simultaneous repression of hedgehog signaling and enhancement of NCS roof plate differentiation capacity would induce patterning in lizard ETs and, hence, regenerated cartilage. This was tested through the use of a novel genetic engineering process in which NSCs are isolated from embryos of the parthenogenetic lizard Lepidodactylus lugubris, gene-edited in vivo, and implanted back into clonally-identical adults to regulate tail regeneration. Embryonic lizard NSC lines unresponsive to hedgehog stimulation were generated through the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies to knockout (KO) the signaling regulator smoothened (Smo). Exogenous Smo KO NSCs were injected into adult tail spinal cords, where they engrafted to endogenous ependymal cell populations and contributed to dorsal domains in regenerated tail ETs. Embryonic Smo KO NSCs maintained roof plate identities in vivo, and lizards treated with edited NSCs regrew tails that lacked cartilage in dorsal regions. These studies represent an important milestone in the creation of the first regenerated lizard tails with dorsoventrally patterned ETs and skeletal tissues.
Contextual Prediction Errors Reorganize Naturalistic Episodic Memories in Time
Authors: Yazin Fahd , Das Moumita , Banerjee Arpan , Roy Dipanjan
Published: February 2021

Episodic memories are contextual experiences ordered in time. This is underpinned by associative binding between events within the same contexts. The role of prediction errors in declarative memory is well established but has not been investigated in the time dimension of complex episodic memories. Here we combine these two properties of episodic memory, extend them into the temporal domain and demonstrate that prediction errors in different naturalistic contexts lead to changes in the temporal ordering of event structures in them. The wrongly predicted older sequences were weakened despite reactivating them after. Interestingly, the newly encoded sequences with prediction errors, seen once, showed as high accuracy as control sequences which were viewed repeatedly without change. Drift-diffusion modelling revealed a lower decision threshold for the newer sequences compared to older sequences, reflected by their faster recall. Moreover participants’ adjustments to their decision threshold could significantly predict their relative speed of sequence memory recall. This suggests a temporally distinct and adaptive role for prediction errors in learning and reorganizing episodic sequences.
Potentilla Reptans L. Postconditioning Protects Reperfusion Injury Via The RISK/SAFE Pathways in An Isolated Rat Heart
Authors: Enayati Ayesheh , Salehi Aref , Alilou Mostafa , Stuppner Hermann , Polshekan Mirali , Rajaei Maryam , Pourabouk Mona , Mazaheri Zohreh , Yassa Narguess , Jabbari Ali , Moheimani Hamid Reza , Khori Vahid
Published: February 2021

Background: Our previous study indicated that Potentilla reptans root has a preconditioning effect by its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects in an isolated rat heart ischemia/reperfusion (IR) model. In the present study, we investigated the post-conditioning cardio-protective effects of Potentilla reptans and its active substances.Methods: The ethyl acetate fraction of P. reptans root (Et) was subjected to an IR model under 30 min of ischemia and 100 min of reperfusion. To investigate the postconditioning effect, Et was perfused for 15 min at the early phase of reperfusion. RISK/SAFE pathway inhibitors, 5HD and L-NAME, were applied individually 10 min before the ischemia, either alone or in combination with Et during the early reperfusion phase. The hemodynamic factors and ventricular arrhythmia were calculated during the reperfusion. Oxidative stress, apoptosis markers, GSK-3β and SGK1 proteins were assessed at the end of experiments.Results: Et postconditioning (Etpost) significantly reduced the infarct size, arrhythmia score, ventricular fibrillation incidence, and enhanced the hemodynamic parameters by decreasing the MDA level and increasing expression of Nrf2, SOD and CAT activities. Meanwhile, Etpost increased the BCl-2/BAX ratio and decreased Caspase-3 expression. The cardioprotective effect of Etpost was abrogated by L-NAME, Wortmannin (a PI3K/Akt inhibitor), and AG490 (a JAK/STAT3 inhibitor). Finally, Etpost reduced the expression of GSK-3β and SGK1 proteins pertaining to the IR group. Conclusion: P. reptans reveals the post-conditioning effects via the Nrf2 pathway, NO release, and the RISK/SAFE pathway. Also, Etpost decreased apoptotic indexes by inhibiting GSK-3β and SGK1 expressions. Hence, our data suggest that Etpost can be a suitable natural candidate to protect cardiomyocytes during reperfusion injury.
What is a prevention visit? A qualitative study of a structured approach to prevention and screening – the BETTER WISE project
Authors: Sopcak Nicolette , Fernandes Carolina , O'Brien Mary Ann , Ofosu Daniel , Wong Melanie , Wong Tracy , Kebbe Maryam , Manca Donna
Published: February 2021

Background: This qualitative study is a sub-component of BETTER WISE, a comprehensive and structured approach that proactively addresses chronic disease prevention, screening, and cancer survivorship, including screening for poverty and addressing lifestyle risks for patients aged 40 to 65. Patients (n=527) from 13 primary care clinics (urban, rural, and remote) in Alberta, Ontario, and Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada attended a one-hour prevention visit delivered by a Prevention Practitioner (PP) as part of BETTER WISE. We identified the key components of a BETTER WISE prevention visit based on patients’ and primary care providers’ perspectives. Methods: Primary care providers (PPs, physicians and their staff) participated in 14 focus groups and 19 key informant interviews to share their perspectives on the BETTER WISE project. Of 527 patients who attended a BETTER WISE prevention visit with a PP, we received 356 patient feedback forms. We also collected field notes and memos and employed thematic analysis using a constant comparative method focusing on the BETTER WISE prevention visit. Results: We identified four key themes related to a BETTER WISE prevention visit: 1) Creating a safe environment and building trust with patients: PPs provided sufficient time and a safe space for patients to share what was important to them, including their concerns related to poverty, alcohol consumption, and mental health, topics that were often not shared with physicians; 2) Providing personalized health education: PPs used the BETTER WISE tools to provide patients with a personalized overview of their health status and eligible screening; 3) Non-judgmental empowering of patients: Instead of directing patients on what to do, PPs evoked patients’ preferences and helped them to set goals (if desired); and 4) Integrating care for patients: PPs clarified information from patients’ charts and surveys with physicians and helped patients to navigate resources within and outside of the primary care team.Conclusions: The results of this study underscore the importance of personalized, trusting, non-judgmental, and integrated relationships between primary care providers and patients to effectively address chronic disease prevention, screening, and cancer survivorship as demonstrated by the BETTER WISE prevention visits. Trial registration: This qualitative study is a sub-component of the BETTER WISE pragmatic, cRCT, trial registration ISRCTN21333761 (date of registration 19/12/2016)
Comparing the Characteristics and Predicting the Survival of Head and Neck Melanoma versus Body Melanoma: A Population-based Study
Authors: Ding Yuxin , Jiang Runyi , Chen Yuhong , Jing Jing , Yang Xiaoshuang , Wu Xianjie , Zhang Xiaoyang , Xu Jiali , Xu Piaopiao , LiuHuang ShuChen , Lu Zhongfa
Published: February 2021

Background: Previous studies have reported poorer survival in head and neck melanoma (HNM) than in body melanoma (BM). Individualized tools to predict the prognosis for patients with HNM or BM remain insufficient. We aim to compare the characteristics of HNM and BM, and establish and validate the nomograms for predicting the 3-, 5- and 10-year survival of patients with HNM or BM.Methods: We studied patients with HNM or BM from 2004 to 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The HNM group and BM group were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. We performed the Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis, and used multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to identify independent prognostic factors. Nomograms for HNM patients or BM patients were developed via the rms package, and were measured by the concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and calibration plots.Results: Of 70605 patients acquired, 21% (n=15071) had HNM and 79% (n=55534) had BM. The HNM group contained more older patients, male patients, and lentigo maligna melanoma, and more frequently had thicker tumors and metastases than the BM group. The 5-year CSS and OS rates were 88.1±0.3% and 74.4±0.4% in the HNM group and 92.5±0.1% and 85.8±0.2% in the BM group, respectively. Eight independent prognostic factors (age, sex, histology, thickness, ulceration, stage, metastases, and surgery) were identified to construct nomograms for HNM patients or BM patients. The performance of the nomograms were excellent: the C-index of the CSS prediction for HNM patients and BM patients in the training cohort were 0.839 and 0.895, respectively; in the validation cohort, they were 0.848 and 0.888, respectively; the AUCs for the 3-, 5- and 10-year CSS rates of HNM were 0.871, 0.865 and 0.854 (training), and 0.881, 0.879 and 0.861 (validation), respectively; of BM, the AUCs were 0.924, 0.918 and 0.901 (training) and 0.916, 0.908 and 0.893 (validation), respectively; and the calibration plots showed great consistency.Conclusions: The characteristics of HNM and BM are heterogeneous, and we constructed and validated specific nomograms as practical prognostic tools for patients with HNM or BM.
Relationship between corticosteroid effect on dyspnea, prognosis prediction, and actual survival
Authors: Katayama Hideki , Tabata Masahiro , Mimura Yusuke , Kiura Katsuyuki , Matsuoka Junji , Kamei Haruhito , Maeda Yoshinobu
Published: February 2021

Background and Aim: The effect of corticosteroids on dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer is expected to be associated with patient prognosis, though details about this are unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between prognostic indicators, actual survival, and the effect of corticosteroid administration on dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer.Method: We predicted the prognosis using the PaP score (palliative prognostic score) at the time of corticosteroid administration in 56 consecutive patients with cancer who started corticosteroid treatment for dyspnea at a single palliative care unit, and compared it with the actual survival. In addition, we investigated the relationship between the effect of corticosteroids on dyspnea, the prognostic score before administration, the actual survival, and other background factors.Results: The effect of corticosteroids strongly correlated with the actual survival, but not the prognostic score before corticosteroid administration, although it was correlated with prognostic score and actual survival. In addition, the effect of corticosteroids on dyspnea was less associated with other factors.Conclusion: The corticosteroid effect strongly associated with actual survival, but not the prognostic score. It was suggested that the effect of corticosteroids in patients could be predicted by using a more accurate prognosis prediction in the future.
Is there a difference in the diagnosis and prognosis of local recurrence between autologous tissue and implant-based breast reconstruction?
Authors: Min Kyunghyun , Han Hyun Ho , Kim Eun Key , Lee Sae Byul , Kim Jisun , Chung Il Yong , Kim Hee Jeong , Ko Beom Seok , Lee Jong Won , Son Byung Ho , Ahn Sei Hyun , Eom Jin Sup
Published: February 2021

Purpose
Breast reconstruction has become common after total mastectomy; however, certain types of breast reconstruction may be associated with delayed local recurrence or poor survival. Here we investigated whether there are differences in the diagnosis and prognosis of local recurrence between autologous reconstruction and implant reconstruction.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing breast cancer surgery with autologous tissue or immediate implant reconstruction in a single center (January 2003–December 2017). Patient data including the period from cancer surgery to local recurrence diagnosis, tumor size at the time of recurrence, and survival times after cancer surgery and recurrence detection were analyzed.
Results
There was a significant difference (p = 0.021) in the time from surgery to recurrence between the autologous tissue (1,246 days) and implant (909 days) groups. Recurrence tumor size did not differ (autologous: 1.00 cm2 vs. implant: 0.90 cm2; p = 0.813). Survival time after surgery (p = 0.63) and recurrence detection (p = 0.74) did not statistically vary.
Conclusions
Local recurrence detection takes longer following autologous reconstruction. However, there is no difference in recurrence tumor size or survival, suggesting no variation in the prognosis of local recurrence according to the reconstruction method.
Initial Allocation of SO2 Emission Rights Based on the Combination Weighting Method: Evidence from China’s Thermal Power Plants
Authors: Qu Ying , Yuan Yingmin , Guo Lingling , Li Yusha
Published: February 2021

Emission trading system is an effective market-oriented means to control pollutant emission and reasonable initial allocation of emission rights is the premise of its smooth implementation. However, at present, the initial allocation of emission rights depends largely on the amount of emissions, which leads to weak positive guidance effect for enterprises. So to explore the optimal initial allocation method of SO2 emission rights, this paper takes 8 thermal power plants in Dalian, China as the research objects to calculate the initial allocation of SO2 emission rights. Because SO2 is the main cause of acid rain, which is one of the most serious air pollution in China, and thermal power plants are among the main SO2-emitters. Firstly, an indicator system is established considering enterprise size, pollutant discharge and social contributions, as well as pollution control capacity. Then, the combination weighting method is developed through integrating the subjective methods G1 and G2 with the objective ones, entropy and maximum deviation. The empirical results show that the enterprises with more desulfurization equipment or large heating supply are supposed to get more emission rights; the actual emission value of SO2 in half of the enterprises exceeds the theoretical ones; SO2 removal rate, desulfurization equipment quantity and heating supply exert the most positive effects on the initial allocation of emission rights. The constructed model can be used as a reference for future research of initial allocation of other pollutants' emission rights. Also, the implications have been proposed for the government, industry, and enterprises.
Synergistic Interferon Alpha-based Drug Combinations Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and other viral Infections in Vitro
Authors: Ianevski Aleksandr , Yao Rouan , Zusinaite Eva , Lello Laura , Wang Sainan , Jo Einji , Yang Jaewon , Lysvand Hilde , Loseth Kirsti , Oksenych Valentyn , Tenson Tanel , Windisch Marc , Poranen Minna , Nieminen Anni , Nordbø Svein Arne , Fenstad Mona , Grodeland Gunnveig , Akrust Pal , Troseid Marius , Kantele Anu , Merits Andres , Bjoras Magnar , Kainov Denis E
Published: February 2021

There is an urgent need for new antivirals with powerful therapeutic potential and tolerable side effects. In the present study, we found that recombinant human interferon-alpha (IFNa) triggered cell intrinsic and extrinsic antiviral responses and reduced replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human lung epithelial Calu-3 cells. However, IFNa alone was insufficient to completely abolish SARS-CoV-2 replication. Combinations of IFNa with camostat, remdesivir, EIDD-2801, cycloheximide or convalescent serum showed strong synergy and effectively inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, we demonstrated synergistic antiviral activity of IFNa2a with pimodivir against influenza A virus (FluAV) infection in human lung epithelial A549 cells, as well as of IFNa2a with lamivudine against human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection in human TZM-bl cells. Our results indicate that IFNa2a-based combinational therapies help to reduce drug dose and improve efficacy in comparison with monotherapies, making them attractive targets for further pre-clinical and clinical development.
Comparative transcriptomes and genome-wide identification reveal salt stress-responsive PP2C in Jute (Corchorus capsularis)
Authors: Ibrahim Aminu Kurawa , Xu Yi , He Qingyao , Niyitanga Sylvain , Afzal Muhammad Zohaib , Zhang Lilan , Qi Jianmin , Zhang Liwu
Published: February 2021

Background: The jute plant is of great significance and economic relevance to humanity, but its production has been hindered due to abiotic influences, especially salt stress. Hitherto, the molecular bases for this vital feature await future exploration. The abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway comprises many regulated genes and plays a role in plant response to stress, however, a balance between the multiple pathways is always needed for any plant developmental process. In this study, we used a transcriptomic approach to unveil the molecular bases behind this trait. Salt tolerant (J194) and sensitive (J7) germplasms were subjected to sodium chloride (NaCl) stress at a different time point, from which leaf and roots samples were taken for transcriptome analyses. Result: The plant hormone signal transduction pathway was the most abundant observed in the study; the Pyrrolysine (PYL) gene (Cc.03G0016680) was up-regulated, which supports the basic model of abscisic acid (ABA). The quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT –PCR) and the correlation analysis validated the Ribonucleic acid sequence (RNA-seq) results. The candidate genes’ relative expression level was higher in J194, especially in protein phosphate 2C (PP2C). Corchorus capsularis PP2C gene family revealed 38 members, phylogenetic analysis categorized PP2C into 15 based upon conserved domains. Eleven conserved motifs were identified, and most of the genes had the same number of conserved motifs. The exon-intron ranges of (3-21) and (2-20), respectively. Moreover, among the plant hormone signal transduction pathway PP2C genes, Cc.03G0016550 and Cc.07G0028160 were up-regulated in J194 root tissues at 6-hour exposure NaCl, as such recommended to be salt-tolerant candidature genes. It was noted that most of the Corchorus capsularis PP2C genes were involved from segmental duplication, and analysis of the key stress marker salt-tolerant PP2C genes validated the salt tolerance individuals. Conclusion: These results provided valuable insight into salt tolerance transcriptome and indicated that PP2C had provided a stepping-stone to the molecular mechanism in Corchorus capsularis. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes, motifs, gene structure, and the chromosomal location of salt tolerance candidate genes might have experienced functional divergence. As such, their further study will enhance salt tolerance in Corchorus capsularis.
WITHDRAWN: Preparation of side chain liquid crystal polyether chelating resin and its adsorption properties for Cu2+ in water
Authors: Qian Chaoyi , Li Meng , Wang Shuang , Gao Qing , Yao Huaiwei , Liang Zhengyong
Published: February 2021

With epoxycyclohexane as critical modifying monomer, the copolyether was obtained by cationic ring-opening polymerization of epichlorohydrin and epoxycyclohexane. Then biphenyl was used as the mesogen, and diglycolamidic acid was used as the terminal chelating group, a new type of side chain liquid crystal polyether chelating resin was prepared at last. The adsorption influence factors, reuse performance, adsorption model and adsorption kinetics of the chelated resin on Cu 2+ in water were studied systematically. The results showed that the resin has good adsorption and reuse performance for the treatment of Cu 2+ in water, and the adsorption of Cu 2+ is Langmuir monolayer adsorption, and the adsorption process conforms to a quasi-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption performances of the chelated resin has great potential for recovery of copper resource from non-ferrous smelting industry.
The Anti-Angiogenic Agent Lenvatinib Induces Tumor Vessel Normalization and Enhances Radiosensitivity in Hepatocellular Tumors
Authors: Une Norikazu , Takano-Kasuya Mayumi , Kitamura Narufumi , Ohta Mineto , Inose Tomoya , Kato Chihiro , Nishimura Ryuichi , Tada Hiroshi , Miyagi Shigehito , Ishida Takanori , Unno Michiaki , Kamei Takashi , Gonda Kohsuke
Published: February 2021

The evaluation of angiogenesis inhibitors requires the analysis of the precise structure and function of tumor vessels. The anti-angiogenic agents lenvatinib and sorafenib are multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have been approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the different effects on tumor vasculature between lenvatinib and sorafenib are not well understood. In this study we analyzed the effects of both drugs on vascular structure and function, including vascular normalization, and investigated whether the normalization had a positive effect on a combination therapy with the drugs and radiation using micro X-ray computed tomography with gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent, as well as immunohistochemical analysis and interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) measurement. In mice subcutaneously transplanted with mouse HCC cells, treatment with lenvatinib or sorafenib for 14 days inhibited tumor growth and reduced the tumor vessel volume density. However, analysis of integrated data on vessel density, rates of pericyte-covering and perfused vessels, tumor hypoxia, and IFP measured 4 days after drug treatment showed that treatment with 3 mg/kg of lenvatinib significantly reduced the microvessel density and normalized tumor vessels compared to treatment with 50 mg/kg of sorafenib. These results showed that lenvatinib induced vascular normalization and improved the intratumoral microenvironment in HCC tumors earlier and more effectively than sorafenib. Moreover, such changes increased the radiosensitivity of tumors and enhanced the effect of lenvatinib and radiation combination therapy, suggesting that this combination therapy is a powerful potential application against HCC.
Wind speed persistence at the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil
Authors: Silva Allan Robert , Stosic Tatijana , Stosic Borko
Published: February 2021

The use of wind energy has been growing worldwide continuously over the last years due to global efforts to combat climate change. The modern turbines are becoming ever more cost effective, and are gaining features that aim to reduce further the impact on the environment, such as reducing noise or increasing the height. In this context, the current study investigates the persistence of wind in Fernando de Noronha archipelago, an important Brazilian ecological site, using hourly wind speed data at 100m height. To this end, data from Era5 reanalysis were used, as they present high resolution and good performance in estimating meteorological data, and two well-known methods were applied to quantify wind persistence: duration curve and conditional probability. In addition, a novel method is proposed regarding persistence probability of periods of viable energy generation. The results obtained show that Fernando de Noronha archipelago presents rather high wind persistence on a monthly scale, with considerably long intervals of wind speed useful for wind power generation.
Intensification and Northward Extension of Northwest Pacific Anomalous Anticyclone in El Niño Decaying Mid-Summer: An Energetic Perspective
Authors: Tang Haosu , Hu Kaiming , Huang Gang , Wang Ya , Tao Weichen
Published: February 2021

The Northwest Pacific (NWP) anomalous anticyclone (AAC) intensifies and extends northward from El Niño decaying early to mid- summer despite the dissipating sea surface temperature anomalies in the North Indian Ocean, North Atlantic and tropical NWP. The present study investigates these two intraseasonal variations of AAC from the perspective of energetics. The efficiency of dry energy conversion from background mean flow to perturbations in the El Niño decaying mid-summer is high and well explains the intensification of El Niño-induced circulation anomalies over the East Asia (EA)-NWP. The baroclinic energy conversion plays a more dominant role in this process than barotropic energy conversion. Besides, mean state changes over the EA-NWP from early to mid- summer are found in favor of the northward shift of the preferred latitude of the circulation anomalies. Thus, the El Niño induced circulation anomalies over the EA-NWP are more northward-extended in the later period. Empirical orthogonal function analyses further confirm that the northward extension of El Niño-induced circulation anomalies over the EA-NWP stems from local optimal mode change from early to mid- summer.
Soluble ST2 and Risk of Cognitive Impairment after Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Zhu Yinwei , Fang Chongquan , Zhang Qi , Lu Yaling , Zhang Rui , Wang Aili , Bu Xiaoqing , Zhang Jintao , Ju Zhong , Zhang Yonghong , Xu Tan , Zhong Chongke
Published: February 2021

Background: Soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 (sST2) was reported to be associated with cognitive performance and risk of incident stroke. However, the impact of sST2 on cognitive function after ischemic stroke is unclear. We aimed to assess the association of sST2 and cognitive impairment at 3 months in acute ischemic stroke patients.Methods: Baseline plasma sST2 levels were measured in 619 ischemic stroke patient (mean age: 60.0 ± 10.5 years) from 7 participating hospitals of the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to assess cognitive status. Cognitive impairment was defined as a MoCA score <23 or MMSE score <27. The association between sST2 and cognitive impairment was evaluated by logistic regression analysis.Results: 325 (52.5%) or 323 (52.2%) participants developed cognitive impairment according to MoCA or MMSE. After adjustment for age, sex, education, and other covariates, the odds ratio for the highest vs lowest quartile of sST2 was 2.35 (95% CI, 1.41-3.94) and 1.77 (95% CI 1.07-2.95) risk of cognitive impairment defined by MoCA and MMSE score, respectively. Incorporation sST2 into a model containing conventional risk factors significantly improved discrimination and reclassification.Conclusions: Elevated plasma sST2 levels were significantly associated with post-stroke cognitive impairment.
Investigation of Arsenic-Resistant, Arsenite-Oxidizing Bacteria for Plant Growth Promoting Traits Isolated From Arsenic Contaminated Soils
Authors: Laha Aritri , Bhattacharyya Somnath , Sengupta Sudip , Bhattacharyya Kallol , GuhaRoy Sanjoy
Published: February 2021

The menace of arsenic (As) pollution being severe warrants opting for low cost microbial remediation strategies. The present study of identifying suitable bacterial strains led to isolation of eleven As-tolerant strains from the As contaminated rhizosphere soils of West Bengal, India. They were found to oxidize/reduce 55%-31.6% of 5 mM As(III) and 73%-37.6% of 5 mM As(V) within 12 hrs. The four isolates (BcAl-1, JN 73, LAR-2 and AR-30) had high level of As(III) oxidase activity along with higher level of As(V) and As(III) resistance. The presence of aoxB gene was observed in these four As(III) oxidizing isolates. Evaluation of plant growth promoting characteristics revealed that BcAl-1 (Burkholderia cepacia), JN73 (Burkholderia metallica), AR-30 (Burkholderia cenocepacia) and LAR-2 (Burkholderia sp) had enormous plant growth-promoting characteristics (PGP), including ability to solubilize phosphate, siderophore production, indole acetic acid like molecules production, ACC deaminase production and nodule formation under As stressed condition. BcAl-1 and JN73 emerged as the most promising traits in As removal as well as plant growth promotion.