bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Role of Extracellular Vesicles and Cellular Communication in Metastasis
Authors: Forder Aisling , Hsing Chi-Yun , Trejo Vazquez Jessica , Garnis Cathie
Published: December 2021

Communication between cancer cells and the surrounding stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in promoting metastasis, which is the major cause of cancer death. Small membrane-bound particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released from both cancer and stromal cells and have a key role in mediating this communication through transport of cargo such as various RNA species (mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA), proteins, and lipids. Tumor-secreted EVs have been observed to induce a pro-tumorigenic phenotype in non-malignant cells of the stroma, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and local immune cells. These cancer-associated cells then drive metastasis by mechanisms such as increasing the invasiveness of cancer cells, facilitating angiogenesis, and promoting the formation of the pre-metastatic niche. This review will cover the role of EV-mediated signaling in the TME during metastasis and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways to develop biomarkers and novel treatment strategies.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) Administration Sex-Specifically Affects Blood Insulin Levels and Liver Steatosis in Obese Ay Mice
Authors: Makarova Elena , Kazantseva Antonina , Dubinina Anastasia , Denisova Elena , Jakovleva Tatiana , Balybina Natalia , Bgatova Nataliya , Baranov Konstantin , Bazhan Nadezhda
Published: December 2021

FGF21 is a promising candidate for treating obesity, diabetes, and NAFLD; however, some of its pharmacological effects are sex-specific in mice with the Ay mutation that evokes melanocortin receptor 4 blockade, obesity, and hepatosteatosis. This suggests that the ability of FGF21 to correct melanocortin obesity may depend on sex. This study compares FGF21 action on food intake, locomotor activity, gene expression, metabolic characteristics, and liver state in obese Ay males and females. Ay mice were administered FGF21 for seven days, and metabolic parameters and gene expression in different tissues were assessed. Placebo-treated females were more obese than males and had lower levels of blood insulin and liver triglycerides, and higher expression of genes for insulin signaling in the liver, white adipose tissue (WAT) and muscles, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver. FGF21 administration did not affect body weight, and increased food intake, locomotor activity, expression of Fgf21 and Ucp1 in brown fat and genes related to lipolysis and insulin action in WAT regardless of sex; however, it decreased hyperinsulinemia and hepatic lipid accumulation and increased muscle expression of Cpt1 and Irs1 only in males. Thus, FGF21’s beneficial effects on metabolic disorders associated with melanocortin obesity are more pronounced in males.
Carbon Monoxide Regulates Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization toward the M2 Phenotype through Upregulation of Heme Oxygenase 1
Authors: Kang In-Soon , Kim Rang-Ie , Kim Chaekyun
Published: December 2021

Carbon monoxide (CO) is generated by heme oxygenase (HO), and HO-1 is highly induced in monocytes and macrophages upon stimulation. Monocytes differentiate into macrophages, including pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) cells, in response to environmental signals. The present study investigated whether CO modulates macrophage differentiation and polarization, by applying the CO-releasing molecule-3 (CORM-3). Results showed that murine bone marrow cells are differentiated into macrophages by CORM-3 in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor. CORM-3 increases expressions of macrophage markers, including F4/80 and CD11b, and alters the cell morphology into elongated spindle-shaped cells, which is a typical morphology of M2 cells. CORM-3 upregulates the expressions of genes and molecules involved in M2 polarization and M2 phenotype markers, such as STAT6, PPARγ, Ym1, Fizz1, arginase-1, and IL-10. However, exposure to CORM-3 inhibits the iNOS expression, suggesting that CO enhances macrophage differentiation and polarization toward M2. Increased HO-1 expression is observed in differentiated macrophages, and CORM-3 further increases this expression. Hemin, an HO-1 inducer, results in increased macrophage differentiation, whereas the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX inhibits differentiation. In addition, CORM-3 increases the proportion of macrophages in peritoneal exudate cells and enhances the expression of HO-1 and arginase-1 but inhibits iNOS. Taken together, these results suggest that the abundantly produced CO in activated macrophages enhances proliferation, differentiation, and polarization toward M2. It will probably help clear apoptotic cells, resolve inflammation, and promote wound healing and tissue remodeling.
HSP70s in Breast Cancer: Promoters of Tumorigenesis and Potential Targets/Tools for Therapy
Authors: Kabakov Alexander E. , Gabai Vladimir L.
Published: December 2021

The high frequency of breast cancer worldwide and the high mortality among women with this malignancy are a serious challenge for modern medicine. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and emergence of metastatic, therapy-resistant breast cancers would help development of novel approaches to better treatment of this disease. The review is dedicated to the role of members of the heat shock protein 70 subfamily (HSP70s or HSPA), mainly inducible HSP70, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78 or HSPA5) and GRP75 (HSPA9 or mortalin), in the development and pathogenesis of breast cancer. Various HSP70-mediated cellular mechanisms and pathways which contribute to the oncogenic transformation of mammary gland epithelium are reviewed, as well as their role in the development of human breast carcinomas with invasive, metastatic traits along with the resistance to host immunity and conventional therapeutics. Additionally, intracellular and cell surface HSP70s are considered as potential targets for therapy or sensitization of breast cancer. We also discuss a clinical implication of Hsp70s and approaches to targeting breast cancer with gene vectors or nanoparticles downregulating HSP70s, natural or synthetic (small molecule) inhibitors of HSP70s, HSP70-binding antibodies, HSP70-derived peptides, and HSP70-based vaccines.
Commander Complex—A Multifaceted Operator in Intracellular Signaling and Cargo
Authors: Laulumaa Saara , Varjosalo Markku
Published: December 2021

Commander complex is a 16-protein complex that plays multiple roles in various intracellular events in endosomal cargo and in the regulation of cell homeostasis, cell cycle and immune response. It consists of COMMD1–10, CCDC22, CCDC93, DENND10, VPS26C, VPS29, and VPS35L. These proteins are expressed ubiquitously in the human body, and they have been linked to diseases including Wilson’s disease, atherosclerosis, and several types of cancer. In this review we describe the function of the commander complex in endosomal cargo and summarize the individual known roles of COMMD proteins in cell signaling and cancer. It becomes evident that commander complex might be a much more important player in intracellular regulation than we currently understand, and more systematic research on the role of commander complex is required.
Synthesis and Structural Characterisation of Yttrium-Doped α-Zirconium Phosphate
Authors: Suri Gurpreet Singh
Published: December 2021

There has been a considerable amount of interest in the ion-exchange properties of layered zirconium phosphates. Potential applications in the remediation of nuclear waste have renewed interest in these inorganic materials, due to their high stability under the acidic conditions typically found in legacy waste pools. It has been well documented that the substitution of metals with different ionic radii into the frameworks of inorganic materials can alter the chemical properties including ion-exchange selectivity. The work presented here focusses on the synthesis and characterisation of yttrium-doped α-zirconium phosphates which are reported for the first time. Two different synthetic methods were used, reflux and hydrothermal syntheses, and the products were characterised by various methods such as powdered X-ray diffraction, MAS-NMR and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that up to 15% of zirconium could be replaced by yttrium before any noticeable impurity phases could be observed. Rietveld refinement from the doping showed that the products did not obey the Vegard’s law. However, the ion-exchange results clearly showed enhanced capacities and selectivity towards Co2+ ions for the substituted materials.
Flexible Low-Temperature Ammonia Gas Sensor Based on Reduced Graphene Oxide and Molybdenum Disulfide
Authors: Ren Zhe , Shi Yunbo , Song Tianming , Wang Tian , Tang Bolun , Niu Haodong , Yu Xiaoyu
Published: December 2021

Owing to harsh working environments and complex industrial requirements, traditional gas sensors are prone to deformation damage, possess a limited detection range, require a high working temperature, and display low reliability, thereby necessitating the development of flexible and low-temperature gas sensors. In this study, we developed a low-temperature polyimide (PI)-based flexible gas sensor comprising a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/MoS2 composite. The micro-electro-mechanical system technology was used to fabricate Au electrodes on a flexible PI sheet to form a “sandwiched” sensor structure. The rGO/MoS2 composites were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The gas-sensing response was the highest for the composite comprising 10% rGO. The structure of this material was characterized, and a PI-based flexible gas sensor comprising rGO/MoS2 was fabricated. The optimal working temperature of the sensor was 141 °C, and its response-recovery time was significantly short upon exposure to 50–1500 ppm NH3. Thus, this sensor exhibited high selectivity and a wide NH3 detection range. Furthermore, it possessed the advantages of low power consumption, a short response-recovery time, a low working temperature, flexibility, and variability. Our findings provide a new framework for the development of pollutant sensors that can be utilized in an industrial environment.
Macrocycle-Functionalized RGO for Gas Sensors for BTX Detection Using a Double Transduction Mode
Authors: Ruiz Elisa , Gueye Thiaka , Masson Claire , Varenne Christelle , Pauly Alain , Brunet Jérôme , Ndiaye Amadou L.
Published: December 2021

To fabricate mass and resistive sensors based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO), we investigated the functionalization of RGO by tetra tert-butyl phthalocyanine (PcH2tBu), which possesses a macroring and tert-butyl peripheral groups. Herein, we present the gas sensor responses of the functionalized RGO toward benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) vapors. The RGO was obtained by the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using citrate as a reducing agent, while the functionalization was achieved non-covalently by simply using ultrasonic and heating treatment. The sensor devices based on both QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) and resistive transducers were used simultaneously to understand the reactivity. Both the GO and the RGO showed less sensitivity to BTX vapors, while the RGO/PcH2tBu presented enhanced sensor responses. These results show that the p-network plays a very important role in targeting BTX vapors. The resistive response analysis allowed us to state that the RGO is a p-type semiconductor and that the interaction is governed by charge transfer, while the QCM response profiles allowed use to determine the differences between the BTX vapors. Among BTX, benzene shows the weakest sensitivity and a reactivity in the higher concentration range (>600 ppm). The toluene and xylene showed linear responses in the range of 100–600 ppm.
Trauma in Rapes and Assaults
Authors: Darves-Bornoz Jean-Michel
Published: December 2021

Psychological trauma primarily affects children and adolescents; it mostly results from physical and sexual maltreatment. In the Medico-Judicial Unit Center for Sexual Violence Victims in Tours, France, which I joined in 1992 for research and to give treatment, underage patients represented about three-quarters of patients. At the same time, a national survey was conducted in collaboration with Marie Choquet’s “Adolescent Health” group (INSERM), which targeted several thousand adolescents representing the general population. It revealed that almost one out of five adolescents had experienced physical or sexual assault, and that although the number of sexual assaults probably does not exceed that of physical assaults, most of the time their psychological consequences do considerably exceed those of physical assaults. Several symptoms appear after experiencing rapes or assaults. They have a distinct semiology and independent evolutions. We isolated three of them: dissociative and phobic traumatic syndrome, re-experiencing traumatic syndrome, and borderline-like traumatic syndrome. They are generally triggered all at the same time or in close succession. Re-experiencing traumatic syndrome is profound, but the other two are often more worrying, particularly in relation to children and adolescents, because they generate disorders in their psychological development.
COVID-19 Lesson for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Hygiene Works
Authors: Gastaldi Andrea , Donà Daniele , Barbieri Elisa , Giaquinto Carlo , Bont Louis J. , Baraldi Eugenio
Published: December 2021

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in infants worldwide. The global direct medical cost associated with RSV LRTIs reaches billions of dollars, with the highest burden in low–middle-income countries. Many efforts have been devoted to improving its prevention and management, including both non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical strategies, often with limited routine use in high-income countries due to high costs. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a dramatic decrease in RSV infections (up to 70–90%) has been reported around the globe, directly related to the implementation of containment measures (face masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing). Primary prevention has demonstrated the highest cost effectiveness ratio in reducing the burden of a respiratory infection such as RSV, never reached before. Thus, we emphasize the importance of non-pharmaceutical preventive hygiene measures that should be implemented and maintained even after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Overall Warming with Reduced Seasonality: Temperature Change in New England, USA, 1900–2020
Authors: Young Stephen S. , Young Joshua S.
Published: December 2021

The ecology, economy, and cultural heritage of New England is grounded in its seasonal climate, and this seasonality is now changing as the world warms due to human activity. This research uses temperature data from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN) to analyze annual and seasonal temperature changes in the New England region of the United States from 1900 to 2020 at the regional and state levels. Results show four broad trends: (1) New England and each of the states (annually and seasonally) have warmed considerably between 1900 and 2020; (2) all of the states and the region as a whole show three general periods of change (warming, cooling, and then warming again); (3) the winter season is experiencing the greatest warming; and (4) the minimum temperatures are generally warming more than the average and maximum temperatures, especially since the 1980s. The average annual temperature (analyzed at the 10-year and the five-year average levels) for every state, and New England as a whole, has increased greater than 1.5 °C from 1900 to 2020. This warming is diminishing the distinctive four-season climate of New England, resulting in changes to the region’s ecology and threatening the rural economies throughout the region.
Comparative Study on Complex Modulus and Dynamic Modulus of High-Modulus Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Guo Licheng , Xu Qinsheng , Zeng Guodong , Wu Wenjuan , Zhou Min , Yan Xiangpeng , Zhang Xiaomeng , Wei Jincheng
Published: December 2021

In the French high-modulus asphalt mixture design system, the complex modulus of the mixture under the conditions of 15 °C and 10 Hz is taken as the design index. However, in China, the dynamic modulus under the conditions of 15 °C, 10 Hz, 20 °C, 10 Hz and 45 °C, 10 Hz was taken as the stiffness modulus index of high-modulus asphalt mixture. The difference in modulus values between the two systems caused the pavement structure layer to be thicker and the construction cost to be higher in China. In order to find out the appropriate modulus value of high-modulus asphalt mixture suitable for China’s modulus parameter conditions to better carry out the reasonable design and evaluation of high-modulus asphalt mixture in China, the modulus of four types of high-modulus asphalt mixtures under the two systems through the two-point bending complex modulus test of the CRT-2PT trapezoidal beam and the SPT uniaxial compression dynamic modulus test were analyzed in this paper. Under the premise of meeting the stiffness modulus index of the French high-modulus asphalt mixture, the relationship conversion models between the dynamic modulus and complex modulus of high-modulus asphalt mixture under different temperatures were established. According to the conversion models, the design evaluation value range of dynamic modulus suitable for China’s condition was recommended. It is recommended that the dynamic modulus of China’s high-modulus asphalt mixture at 15 °C and 10 Hz is not less than 16,000 MPa, the dynamic modulus at 20 °C and 10 Hz is not less than 14,000 MPa, and the dynamic modulus at 45 °C and 10 Hz is not less than 2500 MPa. Five kinds of high-modulus asphalt mixtures used in actual road engineering were tested to verify the reliability of the recommended dynamic modulus values based on the modulus conversion model, and the results are consistent with the recommended value range of the model.
The Influence of Magnetron Sputtering Process Temperature on ZnO Thin-Film Properties
Authors: Kaim Paulina , Lukaszkowicz Krzysztof , Szindler Marek , Szindler Magdalena M. , Basiaga Marcin , Hajduk Barbara
Published: December 2021

The important research direction in surface engineering and photovoltaics is the development of new materials that can replace the previously used expensive films. A prospective compound is zinc oxide (ZnO), characterized by optical and electrical properties similar to ITO and a lower production cost. One of the key factors influencing the properties of the ZnO thin films is the technique and parameters of their production. The comprehensive investigation results of the influence of ZnO thin-films deposition process temperature on their structure, optical properties, and adhesion are presented in the paper. ZnO films were deposited by the magnetron sputtering method. The structural characteristics of the tested films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while the optical properties of the films were studied by the UV/VIS spectroscopy. Thickness and adhesion measurements of the obtained films were performed using the spectroscopic ellipsometry technique and the scratch test, respectively. The obtained research results showed the influence of the deposition process temperature on the morphology, crystallite size and adhesion of the thin films to the substrate. The effect of process temperature on optical properties, the value of the optical bandgap and crystal structures were analyzed and described. The results of this work have a meaning for the development of surface engineering and may serve as a clue in future studies in the field of modern photovoltaic structures.
Fermi Surface Structure and Isotropic Stability of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov Phase in Layered Organic Superconductor β″-(BEDT-TTF)2SF5CH2CF2SO3
Authors: Sugiura Shiori , Akutsu Hiroki , Nakazawa Yasuhiro , Terashima Taichi , Yasuzuka Syuma , Schlueter John A. , Uji Shinya
Published: December 2021

The Fermi surface structure of a layered organic superconductor β″-(BEDT-TTF)2SF5CH2CF2SO3 was determined by angular-dependent magnetoresistance oscillations measurements and band-structure calculations. This salt was found to have two small pockets with the same area: a deformed square hole pocket and an elliptic electron pocket. Characteristic corrugations in the field dependence of the interlayer resistance in the superconducting phase were observed at any in-plane field directions. The features were ascribed to the commensurability (CM) effect between the Josephson vortex lattice and the periodic nodal structure of the superconducting gap in the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase. The CM effect was observed in a similar field region for various in-plane field directions, in spite of the anisotropic nature of the Fermi surface. The results clearly showed that the FFLO phase stability is insensitive to the in-plane field directions.
A State-of-the-Art Review on Suitability of Granite Dust as a Sustainable Additive for Geotechnical Applications
Authors: Amulya Gudla , Moghal Arif Ali Baig , Almajed Abdullah
Published: December 2021

The increase in infrastructure requirement drives people to use all types of soils, including poor soils. These poor soils, which are weak at construction, must be improved using different techniques. The extinction of natural resources and the increase in cost of available materials require us to think of alternate resources. The usage of industry by-products and related methods for improving the properties of different soils has been studied for several years. Granite dust is an industrial by-product originating from the primary crushing of aggregates. The production of huge quantities of granite dust in the industry causes severe problems from the handling to the disposal stage. Accordingly, in the civil engineering field, the massive utilization of granite dust has been proposed for various applications to resolve these issues. In this context, the present review provides precise and valuable content on granite dust characterization, its effect as a stabilizer on the behavior of different soils, and its interaction mechanisms. The efficacy of the granite dust in replacing sand in concrete is explored followed by its ability to improve the geotechnical characteristics of clays of varying plasticity are explored. The review is even extended to study the effect of binary stabilization on clays with granite dust in the presence of calcium-based binders. The practical limitations encountered and its efficiency over other stabilizers are also assessed. This review is further extended to analyze the effect of the granite dust dosage for various field applications.
Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (Caelyx®) as Adjuvant Treatment in Early-Stage Luminal B-like Breast Cancer: A Feasibility Phase II Trial
Authors: Dellapasqua Silvia , Trillo Aliaga Pamela , Munzone Elisabetta , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Pagan Eleonora , Montagna Emilia , Cancello Giuseppe , Ghisini Raffaella , Sangalli Claudia , Negri Mara , Mazza Manuelita , Iorfida Monica , Cardillo Anna , Sciandivasci Angela , Bianco Nadia , De Maio Ana Paula , Milano Monica , Campennì Giuseppe Maria , Sansonno Loredana , Viale Giuseppe , Morra Anna , Leonardi Maria Cristina , Galimberti Viviana , Veronesi Paolo , Colleoni Marco
Published: December 2021

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy for Luminal B-like breast cancers usually includes anthracycline-based regimens. However, some patients are reluctant to receive chemotherapy because of side-effects, especially alopecia, and ask for a “less intensive” or personalized approach. Patients and methods: We conducted a phase II feasibility trial to evaluate pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Caelyx®) as adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients who received surgery for pT1–3, any N, and luminal B-like early-stage breast cancer (EBC) candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy were included. PLD was administered intravenously at 20 mg/m2 biweekly for eight courses. Endocrine therapy was given according to menopausal status. Trastuzumab was administered in HER2-positive disease. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the feasibility of this regimen, defined as the ability of a patient to achieve a relative dose intensity (RDI) of at least 85% of the eight cycles of treatment. Secondary endpoints included adverse events (AEs), tolerability, breast cancer-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Results: From March 2016 to July 2018, 63 patients were included in the trial. Median age was 49 years (range: 33–76), with mostly pre- and peri-menopausal (65%) and stage I–II (94%). Only 5% of patients had HER2-positive EBC. Median RDI was 100% (range: 12.5–100%; interquartile range, IQR: 87.5–100%). The proportion of patients meeting the primary endpoint was 84% (95% confidence interval, CI: 73–92%). Overall, 55 out of 63 enrolled patients completed treatment (87%, 95% CI: 77–94%). Most common AEs were palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (12.2%), fatigue (10.4%), and mucositis (8.5%). Only 13% of patients had G3 AEs. None had alopecia. After a median follow-up of 3.9 years (range: 0.3–4.7) two distant events were observed, and all patients were alive at the date of last visit. Conclusions: The trial successfully met its primary endpoint: the regimen was feasible and well tolerated and could be considered for further evaluation as a treatment option for patients with contraindications to standard anthracyclines or requiring a personalized, less intensive approach.
Real-World Pattern of Treatment and Clinical Outcomes of EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Single Academic Centre in Quebec
Authors: Agulnik Jason S. , Kasymjanova Goulnar , Pepe Carmela , Hurry Manjusha , Walton Ryan N. , Sakr Lama , Cohen Victor , Small David
Published: December 2021

The discovery of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) for the treatment of EGFR mutant (EGFRm) metastatic NSCLC is regarded as a landmark in lung cancer. EGFR-TKIs have now become a standard first-line treatment for EGFRm NSCLC. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to describe real-world patterns of treatment and treatment outcomes in patients with EGFRm metastatic NSCLC who received EGFR-TKI therapy outside of clinical trials. One hundred and seventy EGFRm metastatic NSCLC patients were diagnosed and initiated on first-line TKI therapy between 2004 and 2018 at the Peter Brojde Lung Cancer Centre in Montreal. Following progression of the disease, 137 (80%) patients discontinued first-line treatment. Moreover, 80/137 (58%) patients received second-line treatment, which included: EGFR-TKIs, platinum-based, or single-agent chemotherapy. At the time of progression on first-line treatment, 73 patients were tested for the T790M mutation. Moreover, 30/73 (41%) patients were found to be positive for the T790M mutation; 62/80 patients progressed to second-line treatment and 20/62 were started on third-line treatment. The median duration of treatment was 11.5 (95% CI; 9.62–13.44) months for first-line treatment, and 4.4 (95% CI: 1.47–7.39) months for second-line treatment. Median OS from the time of diagnosis of metastatic disease was 23.5 months (95% CI: 16.9–30.1) and median OS from the initiation of EGFR-TKI was 20.6 months (95% CI: 13.5–27.6). We identified that ECOG PS ≤ 2, presence of exon 19 deletion mutation, and absence of brain metastases were associated with better OS. A significant OS benefit was observed in patients treated with osimertinib in second-line treatment compared to those who never received osimertinib. Overall, our retrospective observational study suggests that treatment outcomes in EGFRm NSCLC in real-world practice, such as OS and PFS, reflect the result of RCTs. However, given the few observational studies on real-world treatment patterns of EGFR-mutant NSCLC, this study is important for understanding the potential impact of EGFR-TKIs on survival outside of clinical trials. Further real-world studies are needed to characterize patient outcomes for emerging therapies, including first-line osimertinib use and combination of osimertinib with chemotherapy and potential future combination of osimertinib and novel anticancer drug, outside of a clinical trial setting.
Probiotics Evaluation in Oncological Surgery: A Systematic Review of 36 Randomized Controlled Trials Assessing 21 Diverse Formulations
Authors: Cogo Elise , Elsayed Mohamed , Liang Vivian , Cooley Kieran , Guerin Christilynn , Psihogios Athanasios , Papadogianis Peter
Published: December 2021

Background: Objectives were to evaluate probiotics safety and efficacy in oncological surgery. Methods: Systematic review methodology guided by Cochrane, PRISMA, SWiM, and CIOMS. Protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018086168). Results: 36 RCTs (on 3305 participants) and 6 nonrandomized/observational studies were included, mainly on digestive system cancers. There was evidence of a beneficial effect on preventing infections, with 70% of RCTs’ (21/30) direction of effect favoring probiotics. However, five RCTs (17%) favored controls for infections, including one trial with RR 1.57 (95% CI: 0.79, 3.12). One RCT that changed (balanced) its antibiotics protocol after enrolling some participants had mortality risk RR 3.55 (95% CI: 0.77, 16.47; 7/64 vs. 2/65 deaths). The RCT identified with the most promising results overall administered an oral formulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 + Lactobacillus plantarum + Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 + Saccharomyces boulardii. Methodological quality appraisals revealed an overall substantial risk-of-bias, with only five RCTs judged as low risk-of-bias. Conclusions: This large evidence synthesis found encouraging results from most formulations, though this was contrasted by potential harms from a few others, thus validating the literature that “probiotics” are not homogeneous microorganisms. Given microbiome developments and infections morbidity, further high-quality research is warranted using those promising probiotics identified herein.
A Simple Conservation Tool to Aid Restoration of Amphibians following High-Severity Wildfires: Use of PVC Pipes by Green Tree Frogs (Hyla cinerea) in Central Texas, USA
Authors: Suriyamongkol Thanchira , Forks Kaitlyn , Villamizar-Gomez Andrea , Wang Hsiao-Hsuan , Grant William E. , Forstner Michael R. J. , Mali Ivana
Published: December 2021

Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class based on the IUCN Red List. Their decline has been linked to anthropogenic activities, with wildfires being among the most conspicuous agents of habitat alterations affecting native amphibians. In 2011, the most destructive wildfire in Texas history occurred in the Lost Pines ecoregion of central Texas, USA, burning 39% of the 34,400 ha forest and drastically decreasing available habitats for many native wildlife species, including the green tree frog (Hyla cinerea). We investigated use of PVC pipes as artificial refuges for green tree frogs in different habitats within this post-fire pine forest. We monitored green tree frog use of small (diameter 38.1-mm, 1.5 inch) and large (diameter 50.8-mm, 2 inch) pipes located adjacent to, and 5 m from, ponds in burned and unburned areas over a 5-month period. We caught 227 frogs, 101 (24 adults and 77 juveniles) in burned and 126 (61 adults, 63 juveniles, and 2 unknown) in unburned areas. A relationship between pipe use by adults and/or juveniles and pipe location in burned versus unburned areas was found, but pipe use by adults and/or juveniles and pipe size were independent. Pipe use by adults and/or juveniles and pipe size were also independent. Juveniles were more frequently observed in pipes located adjacent to ponds. Our results confirmed that PVC pipes merit consideration as a simple, inexpensive, conservation tool to aid in restoration of green tree frog populations after high-severity wildfires. Such artificial refuges may be particularly important for survival of juveniles in severely altered post-fire habitats.
Mesophotic Gorgonian Corals Evolved Multiple Times and Faster Than Deep and Shallow Lineages
Authors: Sánchez Juan A. , González-Zapata Fanny L. , Prada Carlos , Dueñas Luisa F.
Published: December 2021

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) develop on a unique environment, where abrupt environmental changes take place. Using a time-calibrated molecular phylogeny (mtDNA: mtMutS), we examined the lineage membership of mesophotic gorgonian corals (Octocorallia: Cnidaria) in comparison to shallow and deep-sea lineages of the wider Caribbean-Gulf of Mexico and the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Our results show mesophotic gorgonians originating multiple times from old deep-sea octocoral lineages, whereas shallow-water species comprise younger lineages. The mesophotic gorgonian fauna in the studied areas is related to their zooxanthellate shallow-water counterparts in only two clades (Gorgoniidae and Plexauridae), where the bathymetrical gradient could serve as a driver of diversification. Interestingly, mesophotic clades have diversified faster than either shallow or deep clades. One of this groups with fast diversification is the family Ellisellidae, a major component of the mesophotic gorgonian coral assemblage worldwide.
Association and Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mitra Amal K. , Bhuiyan Azad R. , Jones Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2021

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. Epidemiologic studies show that sleep apnea increases cardiovascular diseases risk factors including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. OSA is also responsible for serious illnesses such as congestive heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias, and bronchial asthma. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate evidence for the association between OSA and cardiovascular disease morbidities and identify risk factors for the conditions. In a review of 34 studies conducted in 28 countries with a sample of 37,599 people, several comorbidities were identified in patients with severe OSA—these were: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, asthma, COPD, acute heart failure, chronic heart failure, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disease, cerebral infarct or embolism, myocardial infarction, and psychological comorbidities including stress and depression. Important risk factors contributing to OSA included: age > 35 years; BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2; alcoholism; higher Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS); mean apnea duration; oxygen desaturation index (ODI); and nocturnal oxygen desaturation (NOD). Severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30) was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and oxygen desaturation index. The risk of OSA and associated disease morbidities can be reduced by controlling overweight/obesity, alcoholism, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.
Stochastic Collisional Quantum Thermometry
Authors: O’Connor Eoin , Vacchini Bassano , Campbell Steve
Published: December 2021

We extend collisional quantum thermometry schemes to allow for stochasticity in the waiting time between successive collisions. We establish that introducing randomness through a suitable waiting time distribution, the Weibull distribution, allows us to significantly extend the parameter range for which an advantage over the thermal Fisher information is attained. These results are explicitly demonstrated for dephasing interactions and also hold for partial swap interactions. Furthermore, we show that the optimal measurements can be performed locally, thus implying that genuine quantum correlations do not play a role in achieving this advantage. We explicitly confirm this by examining the correlation properties for the deterministic collisional model.
An Information Gain-Based Model and an Attention-Based RNN for Wearable Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Liu Leyuan , He Jian , Ren Keyan , Lungu Jonathan , Hou Yibin , Dong Ruihai
Published: December 2021

Wearable sensor-based HAR (human activity recognition) is a popular human activity perception method. However, due to the lack of a unified human activity model, the number and positions of sensors in the existing wearable HAR systems are not the same, which affects the promotion and application. In this paper, an information gain-based human activity model is established, and an attention-based recurrent neural network (namely Attention-RNN) for human activity recognition is designed. Besides, the attention-RNN, which combines bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) with attention mechanism, was tested on the UCI opportunity challenge dataset. Experiments prove that the proposed human activity model provides guidance for the deployment location of sensors and provides a basis for the selection of the number of sensors, which can reduce the number of sensors used to achieve the same classification effect. In addition, experiments show that the proposed Attention-RNN achieves F1 scores of 0.898 and 0.911 in the ML (Modes of Locomotion) task and GR (Gesture Recognition) task, respectively.
Entropy for the Brain and Applied Computation
Authors: Zivieri Roberto , Medlej Israa , Fioravanti Ambra
Published: December 2021

Entropy is a quantity expressing the measure of disorder or unpredictability in a system, and, from a more general point of view, it can be regarded as an irreversible source of energy [...]
Probabilistic Autoencoder Using Fisher Information
Authors: Zacherl Johannes , Frank Philipp , Enßlin Torsten A.
Published: December 2021

Neural networks play a growing role in many scientific disciplines, including physics. Variational autoencoders (VAEs) are neural networks that are able to represent the essential information of a high dimensional data set in a low dimensional latent space, which have a probabilistic interpretation. In particular, the so-called encoder network, the first part of the VAE, which maps its input onto a position in latent space, additionally provides uncertainty information in terms of variance around this position. In this work, an extension to the autoencoder architecture is introduced, the FisherNet. In this architecture, the latent space uncertainty is not generated using an additional information channel in the encoder but derived from the decoder by means of the Fisher information metric. This architecture has advantages from a theoretical point of view as it provides a direct uncertainty quantification derived from the model and also accounts for uncertainty cross-correlations. We can show experimentally that the FisherNet produces more accurate data reconstructions than a comparable VAE and its learning performance also apparently scales better with the number of latent space dimensions.
Decision Rules Derived from Optimal Decision Trees with Hypotheses
Authors: Azad Mohammad , Chikalov Igor , Hussain Shahid , Moshkov Mikhail , Zielosko Beata
Published: December 2021

Conventional decision trees use queries each of which is based on one attribute. In this study, we also examine decision trees that handle additional queries based on hypotheses. This kind of query is similar to the equivalence queries considered in exact learning. Earlier, we designed dynamic programming algorithms for the computation of the minimum depth and the minimum number of internal nodes in decision trees that have hypotheses. Modification of these algorithms considered in the present paper permits us to build decision trees with hypotheses that are optimal relative to the depth or relative to the number of the internal nodes. We compare the length and coverage of decision rules extracted from optimal decision trees with hypotheses and decision rules extracted from optimal conventional decision trees to choose the ones that are preferable as a tool for the representation of information. To this end, we conduct computer experiments on various decision tables from the UCI Machine Learning Repository. In addition, we also consider decision tables for randomly generated Boolean functions. The collected results show that the decision rules derived from decision trees with hypotheses in many cases are better than the rules extracted from conventional decision trees.
Randomness and Irreversiblity in Quantum Mechanics: A Worked Example for a Statistical Theory
Authors: Pomeau Yves , Le Berre Martine
Published: December 2021

The randomness of some irreversible quantum phenomena is a central question because irreversible phenomena break quantum coherence and thus yield an irreversible loss of information. The case of quantum jumps observed in the fluorescence of a single two-level atom illuminated by a quasi-resonant laser beam is a worked example where statistical interpretations of quantum mechanics still meet some difficulties because the basic equations are fully deterministic and unitary. In such a problem with two different time scales, the atom makes coherent optical Rabi oscillations between the two states, interrupted by random emissions (quasi-instantaneous) of photons where coherence is lost. To describe this system, we already proposed a novel approach, which is completed here. It amounts to putting a probability on the density matrix of the atom and deducing a general “kinetic Kolmogorov-like” equation for the evolution of the probability. In the simple case considered here, the probability only depends on a single variable θ describing the state of the atom, and p(θ,t) yields the statistical properties of the atom under the joint effects of coherent pumping and random emission of photons. We emphasize that p(θ,t) allows the description of all possible histories of the atom, as in Everett’s many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. This yields solvable equations in the two-level atom case.
The Influencing Effects of Industrial Eco-Efficiency on Carbon Emissions in the Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Li Zaijun , Zheng Xiang , Sun Dongqi
Published: December 2021

A low-carbon economy is the most important requirement to realize high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Utilizing the following models: a super-efficiency slacks-based measure model, a spatio-temporal correlation model, a bivariate LISA model, a spatial econometric model, and a geographically weighted random forest model, this study measured urban industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) and then analyzed its influencing effects on carbon emission in the Yangtze River Delta from 2000 to 2017. The influencing factors included spatio-temporal correlation intensity, spatio-temporal association type, direct and indirect impacts, and local importance impacts. Findings showed that: (1) The temporal correlation intensity between IEE and scale efficiency (SE) and carbon emissions exhibited an inverted V-shaped variation trend, while the temporal correlation intensity between pure technical efficiency (PTE) and carbon emissions exhibited a W-shaped fluctuation trend. The negative spatial correlation between IEE and carbon emissions was mainly distributed in the developed cities of the delta, while the positive correlation was mainly distributed in central Anhui Province and Yancheng and Taizhou cities. The spatial correlation between PTE and carbon emissions exhibited a spatial pattern of being higher in the central part of the delta and lower in the northern and southern parts. The negative spatial correlation between SE and carbon emissions was mainly clustered in Zhejiang Province and scattered in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, with the cities with positive correlations being concentrated around two locations: the junction of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, and within central Jiangsu Province. (2) The direct and indirect effects of IEE on carbon emissions were significantly negative, indicating that IEE contributed to reducing carbon emissions. The direct impact of PTE on carbon emissions was also significantly negative, while its indirect effect was insignificant. Both the direct and indirect effects of SE on carbon emissions were significantly negative. (3) It was found that the positive effect of IEE was more likely to alleviate the increase in carbon emissions in northern Anhui City. Further, PTE was more conducive to reducing the increase in carbon emissions in northwestern Anhui City, southern Zhejiang City, and in other cities including Changzhou and Wuxi. Finally, it was found that SE played a relatively important role in reducing the increase in carbon emissions only in four cities: Changzhou, Suqian, Lu’an, and Wenzhou.
A QoS-Aware Machine Learning-Based Framework for AMI Applications in Smart Grids
Authors: Khan Asfandyar , Umar Arif , Munir Arslan , Shirazi Syed , Khan Muazzam , Adnan Muhammad
Published: December 2021

The Internet of things (IoT) enables a diverse set of applications such as distribution automation, smart cities, wireless sensor networks, and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). In smart grids (SGs), quality of service (QoS) and AMI traffic management need to be considered in the design of efficient AMI architectures. In this article, we propose a QoS-aware machine-learning-based framework for AMI applications in smart grids. Our proposed framework comprises a three-tier hierarchical architecture for AMI applications, a machine-learning-based hierarchical clustering approach, and a priority-based scheduling technique to ensure QoS in AMI applications in smart grids. We introduce a three-tier hierarchical architecture for AMI applications in smart grids to take advantage of IoT communication technologies and the cloud infrastructure. In this architecture, smart meters are deployed over a georeferenced area where the control center has remote access over the Internet to these network devices. More specifically, these devices can be digitally controlled and monitored using simple web interfaces such as REST APIs. We modify the existing K-means algorithm to construct a hierarchical clustering topology that employs Wi-SUN technology for bi-directional communication between smart meters and data concentrators. Further, we develop a queuing model in which different priorities are assigned to each item of the critical and normal AMI traffic based on its latency and packet size. The critical AMI traffic is scheduled first using priority-based scheduling while the normal traffic is scheduled with a first-in–first-out scheduling scheme to ensure the QoS requirements of both traffic classes in the smart grid network. The numerical results demonstrate that the target coverage and connectivity requirements of all smart meters are fulfilled with the least number of data concentrators in the design. Additionally, the numerical results show that the architectural cost is reduced, and the bottleneck problem of the data concentrator is eliminated. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed framework is evaluated and validated on the CloudSim simulator. The simulation results of our proposed framework show efficient performance in terms of CPU utilization compared to a traditional framework that uses single-hop communication from smart meters to data concentrators with a first-in–first-out scheduling scheme.
Research on Dynamic Modeling of KF Algorithm for Detecting Distorted AC Signal
Authors: Nie Haoyao , Nie Xiaohua
Published: December 2021

Kalman filter (KF) is often based on two models, which are phase angle vector (PAV) model and orthogonal vector (OV) model, in the application of distorted grid AC signal detection. However, these two models lack rigorous and detailed derivation from the principle of dynamic modeling. This paper presents a phase angle vector dynamic (PAVD) model and an orthogonal vector dynamic (OVD) model, which are combined with Kalman filter for detecting distorted grid AC signal. They reveal that the state noise covariance of the dynamic model−based KF is related to the sampling cycle, and overcome the defect of more detecting error for conventional model−based KF. Experiment and evaluation results show that the proposed KF algorithms are reasonable and effective. Therefore, this paper contributes a guiding significance for the application of KF algorithm in harmonic detection.