bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-Automated and Direct Localization and Labeling of EEG Electrodes Using MR Structural Images for Simultaneous fMRI-EEG
Authors: Bhutada Abhishek S. , Sepúlveda Pradyumna , Torres Rafael , Ossandón Tomás , Ruiz Sergio , Sitaram Ranganatha
Published: December 2020

Electroencephalography (EEG) source reconstruction estimates spatial information from the brain’s electrical activity acquired using EEG. This method requires accurate identification of the EEG electrodes in a three-dimensional (3D) space and involves spatial localization and labeling of EEG electrodes. Here, we propose a new approach to tackle this two-step problem based on the simultaneous acquisition of EEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For the step of spatial localization of electrodes, we extract the electrode coordinates from the curvature of the protrusions formed in the high-resolution T1-weighted brain scans. In the next step, we assign labels to each electrode based on the distinguishing feature of the electrode’s distance profile in relation to other electrodes. We then compare the subject’s electrode data with template-based models of prelabeled distance profiles of correctly labeled subjects. Based on this approach, we could localize EEG electrodes in 26 head models with over 90% accuracy in the 3D localization of electrodes. Next, we performed electrode labeling of the subjects’ data with progressive improvements in accuracy: with ∼58% accuracy based on a single EEG-template, with ∼71% accuracy based on 3 EEG-templates, and with ∼76% accuracy using 5 EEG-templates. The proposed semi-automated method provides a simple alternative for the rapid localization and labeling of electrodes without the requirement of any additional equipment than what is already used in an EEG-fMRI setup.
Menstrual Cycle Variations in Gray Matter Volume, White Matter Volume and Functional Connectivity: Critical Impact on Parietal Lobe
Authors: Meeker Timothy J. , Veldhuijzen Dieuwke S. , Keaser Michael L. , Gullapalli Rao P. , Greenspan Joel D.
Published: December 2020

The role of gonadal hormones in neural plasticity remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of naturally fluctuating hormone levels over the menstrual cycle in healthy females. Gray matter, functional connectivity (FC) and white matter changes over the cycle were assessed by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), resting state fMRI, and structural MRIs, respectively, and associated with serum gonadal hormone levels. Moreover, electrocutaneous sensitivity was evaluated in 14 women in four phases of their menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal). Electrocutaneous sensitivity was greater during follicular compared to menstrual phase. Additionally, pain unpleasantness was lower in follicular phase than other phases while pain intensity ratings did not change over the cycle. Significant variations in cycle phase effects on gray matter volume were found in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) using voxel-based morphometry. Subsequent Freesurfer analysis revealed greater thickness of left IPL during the menstrual phase when compared to other phases. Also, white matter volume fluctuated across phases in left IPL. Blood estradiol was positively correlated with white matter volume both in left parietal cortex and whole cortex. Seed-driven FC between left IPL and right secondary visual cortex was enhanced during ovulatory phase. A seed placed in right IPL revealed enhanced FC between left and right IPL during the ovulatory phase. Additionally, we found that somatosensory cortical gray matter was thinner during follicular compared to menstrual phase. We discuss these results in the context of likely evolutionary pressures selecting for enhanced perceptual sensitivity across modalities specifically during ovulation.
RatLesNetv2: A Fully Convolutional Network for Rodent Brain Lesion Segmentation
Authors: Valverde Juan Miguel , Shatillo Artem , De Feo Riccardo , Gröhn Olli , Sierra Alejandra , Tohka Jussi
Published: December 2020

We present a fully convolutional neural network (ConvNet), named RatLesNetv2, for segmenting lesions in rodent magnetic resonance (MR) brain images. RatLesNetv2 architecture resembles an autoencoder and it incorporates residual blocks that facilitate its optimization. RatLesNetv2 is trained end to end on three-dimensional images and it requires no preprocessing. We evaluated RatLesNetv2 on an exceptionally large dataset composed of 916 T2-weighted rat brain MRI scans of 671 rats at nine different lesion stages that were used to study focal cerebral ischemia for drug development. In addition, we compared its performance with three other ConvNets specifically designed for medical image segmentation. RatLesNetv2 obtained similar to higher Dice coefficient values than the other ConvNets and it produced much more realistic and compact segmentations with notably fewer holes and lower Hausdorff distance. The Dice scores of RatLesNetv2 segmentations also exceeded inter-rater agreement of manual segmentations. In conclusion, RatLesNetv2 could be used for automated lesion segmentation, reducing human workload and improving reproducibility. RatLesNetv2 is publicly available at https://github.com/jmlipman/RatLesNetv2.
Metabolic Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Mukha Anna , Dubrovska Anna
Published: December 2020

Most human tumors possess a high heterogeneity resulting from both clonal evolution and cell differentiation program. The process of cell differentiation is initiated from a population of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are enriched in tumor‐regenerating and tumor‐propagating activities and responsible for tumor maintenance and regrowth after treatment. Intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies, as well as a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, makes CSCs hard-to-target tumor cell population. Reprogramming of CSC metabolic pathways plays an essential role in tumor progression and metastatic spread. Many of these pathways confer cell adaptation to the microenvironmental stresses, including a shortage of nutrients and anti-cancer therapies. A better understanding of CSC metabolic dependences as well as metabolic communication between CSCs and the tumor microenvironment are of utmost importance for efficient cancer treatment. In this mini-review, we discuss the general characteristics of CSC metabolism and potential metabolic targeting of CSC populations as a potent strategy to enhance the efficacy of conventional treatment approaches.
Thymic Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Population-Based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Analysis
Authors: Yang Xudong , Zhao Kejia , Li Chuan , Yang Yanbo , Guo Chenglin , Pu Yi , Liu Lunxu
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Thymic squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a rare neoplasm that has been sparsely cited in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine disease characteristics and prognostic factors of patients in a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) analysis.

Methods

Cases from 1990–2016 were retrieved from the SEER database and demographics, treatments, and survival outcomes were analyzed.

Results

The TSCC accounted for 72.4% of the thymic carcinomas and 7.2% of thymic tumors. The 276 patients (165 men) selected for analysis had a median age of 65 (24–85) years, and 201 patients were diagnosed with Masaoka-Koga stage III/IV. The median survival of TSCC was 59 months with a 49.0% 5-year OS rate, a better prognosis than lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (32.1%) and undifferentiated carcinoma (33.3%). Multivariate analysis revealed the Masaoka-Koga stage (p = 0.003) and surgical types (complete resection, incomplete resection, and none; p < 0.001) were determinants of survival. Complete resection had the best prognosis with a 72.7% 5-year OS rate. Chemotherapy was an independent protective factor (HR = 0.555, 95% CI 0.347–0.886; p = 0.014) though poor survival was showed in univariate analysis. And the survival benefit of chemotherapy was validated in PSM analysis (3-year OS rate was 77.7% with chemotherapy vs. 52.8% without chemotherapy; p = 0.014).

Conclusions

TSCC was frequently diagnosed in older patients with advanced Masaoka-Koga stage and had more favorable survival than other subtypes of thymic carcinomas. Complete resection is the preferred treatment. Masaoka-Koga stage and chemotherapy had a strong association with prognosis.
Assessment of Healthcare Provider Workload in Neonatal Resuscitation
Authors: Zehnder Emily C. , Law Brenda H. Y. , Schmölzer Georg M.
Published: December 2020

Objective: Human errors or protocol deviations during neonatal resuscitation are common. Excess workload has been proposed as a contributor to human error during medical tasks. We aim to characterize healthcare providers' perceived workload during neonatal resuscitation.

Design: Perceived workload was measured using a multi-dimensional retrospective National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX) survey. The NASA TLX collects data on mental, physical, and temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration. Each section is rated independently by participants on a scale of 0–20 (0 being lowest and 20 being highest). The Raw-TLX score is a composite score of all dimensions and presented on a scale of 0–100. Healthcare providers complete a paper and pencil survey after attending delivery room resuscitations within 3 months.

Setting: Level three neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Participants: All neonatal healthcare providers who attended deliveries.

Exposure: Participation in the delivery room care of newborns.

Measurement: Raw TLX scores as a measure of overall workload and scores for each dimension of workload.

Main Results: During the study period, ~880 neonatal resuscitation events occurred, and a total of 204 surveys were completed. Healthcare providers completed one survey for 179 deliveries, two surveys for 20 deliveries, and three surveys for 5 deliveries. The mean (standard deviation) gestational age was 35 (5) weeks, and the median (interquartile range) birth weight was 2,690 (1,830–3,440) g. Interventions at delivery were (i) stimulation 149 (73%), suction 130 (64%), continuous positive airway pressure 120 (59%), positive pressure ventilation 105 (52%), intubation 33 (16%), chest compression 10 (5%), and epinephrine 4 (2%). The overall median (interquartile range) Raw-TLX was 34 (18–49). The scores varied by dimension with mental demand 10 (5–14), physical demand 4 (1–6), temporal demand 8 (3–14), performance 4 (2–6), effort 8 (4–13), and frustration 4 (1–10). Raw-TLX scores were higher when healthcare providers performed any intervention compared to no intervention [35 (22–49) vs. 8 (6–18), p = 0.0011]; intubation and no intubation was [55 (46–62) vs. 30 (17–46), p = 0.0001], and between performing chest compression vs. no chest compression [55 (49–64) vs. 33 (18–47), p = 0.001].

Conclusion: Perceived workload of neonatal healthcare providers increases during higher acuity deliveries. Healthcare providers' workload during neonatal resuscitation can be measured using NASATLX and was inversely associated with 5-min Apgar score. Future studies assessing healthcare providers' perceived workload during neonatal resuscitation in different settings are warranted.
“How Dare You!”—The Influence of Fridays for Future on the Political Attitudes of Young Adults
Authors: Parth Anne-Marie , Weiss Julia , Firat Rojda , Eberhardt Manuel
Published: December 2020

In recent years, young adults have increasingly expressed their displeasure with climate policies, arguing that the preservation of the earth for future generations is not secured by existing policies. A growing number of young citizens demands action from politicians and accuses them of a lack of responsiveness. At the same time, young adults are undergoing political socialization, not only within their families, but especially in school, where they learn to lead an independent life and to form their own political opinions. However, what happens if students question the knowledge on the political system that they have acquired in school? This paper analyses how the exogenous “shock” of Fridays for Future has influenced pupils' political attitudes compared to other continuous skills that pupils learn in school. Relying on a unique survey experiment among pupils from different school types and among students in Germany (more than 300 respondents), we find that priming for Fridays for Future and protest participation significantly change perceived political responsiveness and satisfaction with democracy. The results demonstrate that the efforts of schools to prepare young citizens for professional life have no effect, while equal treatment in school is explanatory for varying political satisfaction. Protest participation seems to have a great influence on how the political attitudes of the young cohort develop.
Serial Multiple Mediation of Professional Identity, and Psychological Capital in the Relationship Between Work-Related Stress and Work-Related Well-Being of ICU Nurses in China: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Hao Cuiping , Zhu Lina , Zhang Suzhen , Rong Shan , Zhang Yaqing , Ye Jiuhang , Yang Fuguo
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to investigate the serial-multiple mediation effect of professional identity, psychological capital (PsyCap), work-related stress, and work-related wellbeing among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in China. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 2017 to May 2017 in two Grade III A general hospitals (with more than 2000 beds) in Jining, Shandong Province, China. Cluster sampling was used to recruit participants from the two hospitals. A total of 330 ICU nurses participated in the study. The nurses’ work stress scale, Chinese nurse’s professional identity scale, the PsyCap questionnaire, and Chinese work-related wellbeing scale were used to collect the data. Descriptive analysis, independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data (P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). The average score for the work-related wellbeing of ICU nurses was 85.91 ± 13.94. Work-related stress, professional identity, and PsyCap correlated significantly with work-related wellbeing. The major predictors of work-related wellbeing were PsyCap, work-related stress, professional identity, and monthly salary. The serial-multiple mediation effects of professional identity and PsyCap in the relationship between work-related stress and work-related wellbeing were statistically significant. Positive professional identity and PsyCap were sequentially associated with decreased work-related stress, which in turn was related to increased work-related wellbeing among ICU nurses. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of ICU nurses’ work-related stress on work-related wellbeing, as well as the mediating effect of professional identity and PsyCap. It is hoped that hospital care managers will pay attention to the mental health of ICU nurses, increase their professional identity, and reduce work-related stress to improve the quality of the ICU nursing service and stabilize nursing work.
Structural and Extralinguistic Aspects of Code-Switching: Evidence From Papiamentu-Dutch Auditory Sentence Matching
Authors: Suurmeijer Luuk , Parafita Couto M. Carmen , Gullberg Marianne
Published: December 2020

Despite a wealth of studies on effects of switch locations in code-switching (CS), we know relatively little about how structural factors such as switch location and extralinguistic factors such as directionality preferences may jointly modulate CS (cf., Stell and Yapko,2015). Previous findings in the nominal domain suggest that within-constituent switching (within the noun phrase) may be easier to process than between-constituent switching (a structural effect), and that there may also be directionality effects with switches preferred only in one language direction (an extra-linguistic effect). In this study we examine a different domain, namely how VP-external (preverbal) vs. VP-internal (postverbal) switch location and switch directionality affects the processing of Papiamentu–Dutch mixed subject-verb-object (SVO) sentences. We manipulated switch location (preverbal/postverbal), and directionality of switch (PD/DP) and tested 50 Papiamentu–Dutch bilinguals on an auditory sentence matching task. The results from the mixed conditions showed no effect of switch location. Instead, we found only an effect of directionality and in an unexpected direction for this population, with switches from Dutch to Papiamentu being processed faster than switches from Papiamentu to Dutch regardless of switch location. The results highlight the importance of taking extralinguistic factors into account, but also the challenges of studying CS, particularly in lesser studied speech communities, and the need for a data-driven, cross-disciplinary approach to the study of CS.
Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Di Mattei Valentina Elisabetta , Perego Gaia , Rancoita Paola Maria Vittoria , Taranto Paola , Carnelli Letizia , Mangili Giorgia , Sarais Veronica , Bergamini Alice , Candiani Massimo
Published: December 2020

Objective

Gonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment.

Methods

Fifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms.

Results

Compared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future.
Statistical Significance Filtering Overestimates Effects and Impedes Falsification: A Critique of Endsley (2019)
Authors: Bakdash Jonathan Z. , Marusich Laura R. , Kenworthy Jared B. , Twedt Elyssa , Zaroukian Erin G.
Published: December 2020

Whether in meta-analysis or single experiments, selecting results based on statistical significance leads to overestimated effect sizes, impeding falsification. We critique a quantitative synthesis that used significance to score and select previously published effects for situation awareness-performance associations (Endsley, 2019). How much does selection using statistical significance quantitatively impact results in a meta-analytic context? We evaluate and compare results using significance-filtered effects versus analyses with all effects as-reported. Endsley reported high predictiveness scores and large positive mean correlations but used atypical methods: the hypothesis was used to select papers and effects. Papers were assigned the maximum predictiveness scores if they contained at-least-one significant effect, yet most papers reported multiple effects, and the number of non-significant effects did not impact the score. Thus, the predictiveness score was rarely less than the maximum. In addition, only significant effects were included in Endsley’s quantitative synthesis. Filtering excluded half of all reported effects, with guaranteed minimum effect sizes based on sample size. Results for filtered compared to as-reported effects clearly diverged. Compared to the mean of as-reported effects, the filtered mean was overestimated by 56%. Furthermore, 92% (or 222 out of 241) of the as-reported effects were below the mean of filtered effects. We conclude that outcome-dependent selection of effects is circular, predetermining results and running contrary to the purpose of meta-analysis. Instead of using significance to score and filter effects, meta-analyses should follow established research practices.
HoBi-Like Pestivirus and Reproductive Disorders
Authors: Decaro Nicola
Published: December 2020

HoBi-like pestivirus (HoBiPeV) is an emerging group of pestiviruses that has been detected in cattle and other ruminants in South America, Europe, and Asia. Analogous to other bovine pestiviruses, namely bovine viral diarrhea (BVDV) 1 and 2, HoBiPeV is able to cause a variety of clinical forms that range from asymptomatic infections to fatal disease, having a great impact on cattle productions and causing substantial economic losses, mainly as a consequence of the occurrence of reproductive failures. The manuscript aims to provide an updated review of the currently available literature about the impact of HoBiPeV infection on cattle reproduction. The reproductive disorders observed in cattle due to natural and experimental infections caused by this virus are reported along with the few available in-vitro studies involving the reproductive tract. HoBiPeV should be considered among the bovine pathogens that impact on reproduction, but there is a need for more specific and sensitive diagnostic methods, while the cross-protection elicited by commercially available BVDV vaccines should be better investigated.
New Approach for Radial Basis Function Based on Partition of Unity of Taylor Series Expansion with Respect to Shape Parameter
Authors: Bawazeer Saleh A. , Baakeem Saleh S. , Mohamad Abdulmajeed A.
Published: December 2020

Radial basis function (RBF) is gaining popularity in function interpolation as well as in solving partial differential equations thanks to its accuracy and simplicity. Besides, RBF methods have almost a spectral accuracy. Furthermore, the implementation of RBF-based methods is easy and does not depend on the location of the points and dimensionality of the problems. However, the stability and accuracy of RBF methods depend significantly on the shape parameter, which is primarily impacted by the basis function and the node distribution. At a small value of shape parameter, the RBF becomes more accurate, but unstable. Several approaches were followed in the open literature to overcome the instability issue. One of the approaches is optimizing the solver in order to improve the stability of ill-conditioned matrices. Another approach is based on searching for the optimal value of the shape parameter. Alternatively, modified bases are used to overcome instability. In the open literature, radial basis function using QR factorization (RBF-QR), stabilized expansion of Gaussian radial basis function (RBF-GA), rational radial basis function (RBF-RA), and Hermite-based RBFs are among the approaches used to change the basis. In this paper, the Taylor series is used to expand the RBF with respect to the shape parameter. Our analyses showed that the Taylor series alone is not sufficient to resolve the stability issue, especially away from the reference point of the expansion. Consequently, a new approach is proposed based on the partition of unity (PU) of RBF with respect to the shape parameter. The proposed approach is benchmarked. The method ensures that RBF has a weak dependency on the shape parameter, thereby providing a consistent accuracy for interpolation and derivative approximation. Several benchmarks are performed to assess the accuracy of the proposed approach. The novelty of the present approach is in providing a means to achieve a reasonable accuracy for RBF interpolation without the need to pinpoint a specific value for the shape parameter, which is the case for the original RBF interpolation.
Research on Vehicle Trajectory Prediction and Warning Based on Mixed Neural Networks
Authors: Shen Chih-Hsiung , Hsu Ting-Jui
Published: December 2020

When driving on roads, the most important issue for driving is safety. There are various vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians, that increase the complexity of road conditions and the burden on drivers. In order to improve driving safety, a deep learning framework is applied to predict and announce the trajectory of a car. This research is divided into three parts. Lane line detection is adopted first. Secondly, car object detection is employed. Lastly, car trajectory prediction is a key part of our research. In addition, real images and videos in the driving recorder are used to simulate the real situation the driver sees from the driver’s seat. Car detection is utilized to obtain the coordinates of the car in these images, reaching an accuracy of 0.91 and then predicting the future trajectory of the car, obtaining a loss of 0.00024 and costing 12 milliseconds. It can precisely mark the position of the car, accurately detect the lane line, and predict the future car’s trajectory. Through the prediction and announcement of the car trajectory, we verified that our model can correctly predict the car trajectory and truly enhance the safety of driving.
Suppression of Metastatic Melanoma Growth in Lung by Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia Monitored by a Minimally Invasive Heat Stress Testing Approach in Mice
Authors: Thomas Mbuotidem Jeremiah , Major Enikő , Benedek Anett , Horváth Ildikó , Máthé Domokos , Bergmann Ralf , Szász Attila Marcell , Krenács Tibor , Benyó Zoltán
Published: December 2020

Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) is a novel complementary therapy in oncology which is based on the higher conductivity and permittivity of cancerous tissues due to their enhanced glycolytic activity and ionic content compared to healthy normal tissues. We aimed to evaluate the potential of mEHT, inducing local hyperthermia, in the treatment of pulmonary metastatic melanoma. Our primary objective was the optimization of mEHT for targeted lung treatment as well as to identify the mechanism of its potential anti-tumor effect in the B16F10 mouse melanoma pulmonary metastases model while investigating the potential treatment-related side effects of mEHT on normal lung tissue. Repeated treatment of tumor-bearing lungs with mEHT induced significant anti-tumor effects as demonstrated by the lower number of tumor nodules and the downregulation of Ki67 expression in treated tumor cells. mEHT treatment provoked significant DNA double-strand breaks indicated by the increased expression of phosphorylated H2AX protein in treated tumors, although treatment-induced elevation of cleaved/activated caspase-3 expression was insignificant, suggesting the minimal role of apoptosis in this process. The mEHT-related significant increase in p21waf1 positive tumor cells suggested that p21waf1-mediated cell cycle arrest plays an important role in the anti-tumor effect of mEHT on melanoma metastases. Significantly increased CD3+, CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and F4/80+CD11b+ macrophage density in the whole lung and tumor of treated animals emphasizes the mobilizing capability of mEHT on immune cells. In conclusion, mEHT can reduce the growth potential of melanoma, thus offering itself as a complementary therapeutic option to chemo- and/or radiotherapy.
Social Jetlag and Prostate Cancer Incidence in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hu Liang , Harper Andrew , Heer Emily , McNeil Jessica , Cao Chao , Park Yikyung , Martell Kevin , Gotto Geoffrey , Shen-Tu Grace , Peters Cheryl , Brenner Darren , Yang Lin
Published: December 2020

We investigated the association of social jetlag (misalignment between the internal clock and socially required timing of activities) and prostate cancer incidence in a prospective cohort in Alberta, Canada. Data were collected from 7455 cancer-free men aged 35–69 years enrolled in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) from 2001–2007. In the 2008 survey, participants reported usual bed- and wake-times on weekdays and weekend days. Social jetlag was defined as the absolute difference in waking time between weekday and weekend days, and was categorized into three groups: 0–<1 h (from 0 to anything smaller than 1), 1–<2 h (from 1 to anything smaller than 2), and 2+ h. ATP facilitated data linkage with the Alberta Cancer Registry in June 2018 to determine incident prostate cancer cases (n = 250). Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regressions, adjusting for a range of covariates. Median follow-up was 9.57 years, yielding 68,499 person-years. Baseline presence of social jetlag of 1–<2 h (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.01), and 2+ hours (HR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.15 to 2.46) were associated with increased prostate cancer risk vs. those reporting no social jetlag (p for trend = 0.004). These associations remained after adjusting for sleep duration (p for trend = 0.006). With respect to chronotype, the association between social jetlag and prostate cancer risk remained significant in men with early chronotypes (p for trend = 0.003) but attenuated to null in men with intermediate (p for trend = 0.150) or late chronotype (p for trend = 0.381). Our findings suggest that greater than one hour of habitual social jetlag is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Longitudinal studies with repeated measures of social jetlag and large samples with sufficient advanced prostate cancer cases are needed to confirm these findings.
Incorporating the Patient Voice in Sarcoma Research: How Can We Assess Health-Related Quality of Life in This Heterogeneous Group of Patients? A Study Protocol
Authors: den Hollander Dide , Fiore Marco , Martin-Broto Javier , Kasper Bernd , Casado Herraez Antonio , Kulis Dagmara , Nixon Ioanna , Sodergren Samantha C. , Eichler Martin , van Houdt Winan J. , Desar Ingrid M. E. , Ray-Coquard Isabelle , Piccinin Claire , Kosela-Paterczyk Hanna , Miah Aisha , Hentschel Leopold , Singer Susanne , Wilson Roger , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Husson Olga
Published: December 2020

Sarcomas comprise 1% of adult tumors and are very heterogeneous. Long-lasting and cumulative treatment side-effects detract from the (progression-free) survival benefit of treatment. Therefore, it is important to assess treatment effectiveness in terms of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as well. However, questionnaires capturing the unique issues of sarcoma patients are currently lacking. Given the heterogeneity of the disease, the development of such an instrument may be challenging. The study aims to (1) develop an exhaustive list of all HRQoL issues relevant to sarcoma patients and determine content validity; (2) determine a strategy for HRQoL measurement in sarcoma patients. We will conduct an international, multicenter, mixed-methods study (registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04071704) among bone or soft tissue sarcoma patients ≥18 years, using EORTC Quality of Life Group questionnaire development guidelines. First, an exhaustive list of HRQoL issues will be generated, derived from literature and patient (n = 154) and healthcare professional (HCP) interviews (n = 30). Subsequently, another group of sarcoma patients (n = 475) and HCPs (n = 30) will be asked to rate and prioritize the issues. Responses will be analyzed by priority, prevalence and range of responses for each item. The outcome will be a framework for tailored HRQoL measurement in sarcoma patients, taking into account sociodemographic and clinical variables.
A Comprehensive Molecular and Clinical Analysis of the piRNA Pathway Genes in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lee Eunice , Lokman Noor A. , Oehler Martin K. , Ricciardelli Carmela , Grutzner Frank
Published: December 2020

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, yet molecular mechanisms underlying its origin and progression remain poorly understood. With increasing reports of piRNA pathway deregulation in various cancers, we aimed to better understand its role in OC through a comprehensive analysis of key genes: PIWIL1-4, DDX4, HENMT1, MAEL, PLD6, TDRD1,9 and mutants of PIWIL1 (P1∆17) and PIWIL2 (PL2L60). High-throughput qRT-PCR (n = 45) and CSIOVDB (n = 3431) showed differential gene expression when comparing benign ovarian tumors, low grade OC and high grade serous OC (HGSOC). Significant correlation of disparate piRNA pathway gene expression levels with better progression free, post-progression free and overall survival suggests a complex role of this pathway in OC. We discovered PIWIL3 expression in chemosensitive but not chemoresistant primary HGSOC cells, providing a potential target against chemoresistant disease. As a first, we revealed that follicle stimulating hormone increased PIWIL2 expression in OV-90 cells. PIWIL1, P1∆17, PIWIL2, PL2L60 and MAEL overexpression in vitro and in vivo decreased motility and invasion of OVCAR-3 and OV-90 cells. Interestingly, P1∆17 and PL2L60, induced increased motility and invasion compared to PIWIL1 and PIWIL2. Our results in HGSOC highlight the intricate role piRNA pathway genes play in the development of malignant neoplasms.
The Lung Microbiome: A Central Mediator of Host Inflammation and Metabolism in Lung Cancer Patients?
Authors: Weinberg Frank , Dickson Robert P. , Nagrath Deepak , Ramnath Nithya
Published: December 2020

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Over the past 5–10 years lung cancer outcomes have significantly improved in part due to better treatment options including immunotherapy and molecularly targeted agents. Unfortunately, the majority of lung cancer patients do not enjoy durable responses to these new treatments. Seminal research demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome in dictating responses to immunotherapy in melanoma patients. However, little is known regarding how other sites of microbiota in the human body affect tumorigenesis and treatment responses. The lungs were traditionally thought to be a sterile environment; however, recent research demonstrated that the lung contains its own dynamic microbiota that can influence disease and pathophysiology. Few studies have explored the role of the lung microbiome in lung cancer biology. In this review article, we discuss the links between the lung microbiota and cancer, with particular focus on immune responses, metabolism and strategies to target the lung microbiome for cancer prevention.
Addendum: Tellez, P.H.; et al. Relationships between Foliar Fungal Endophyte Communities and Ecophysiological Traits of CAM and C3 Epiphytic Bromeliads in a Neotropical Rainforest. Diversity 2020, 12, 378
Authors: Tellez Peter H. , Woods Carrie L. , Formel Stephen , Van Bael Sunshine A.
Published: December 2020

In the original article [...]
Associations between Neurocardiovascular Signal Entropy and Physical Frailty
Authors: Knight Silvin P. , Newman Louise , O’Connor John D. , Davis James , Kenny Rose Anne , Romero-Ortuno Roman
Published: December 2020

In this cross-sectional study, the relationship between noninvasively measured neurocardiovascular signal entropy and physical frailty was explored in a sample of community-dwelling older adults from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). The hypothesis under investigation was that dysfunction in the neurovascular and cardiovascular systems, as quantified by short-length signal complexity during a lying-to-stand test (active stand), could provide a marker for frailty. Frailty status (i.e., “non-frail”, “pre-frail”, and “frail”) was based on Fried’s criteria (i.e., exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, weakness, slowness, and low physical activity). Approximate entropy (ApEn) and sample entropy (SampEn) were calculated during resting (lying down), active standing, and recovery phases. There was continuously measured blood pressure/heart rate data from 2645 individuals (53.0% female) and frontal lobe tissue oxygenation data from 2225 participants (52.3% female); both samples had a mean (SD) age of 64.3 (7.7) years. Results revealed statistically significant associations between neurocardiovascular signal entropy and frailty status. Entropy differences between non-frail and pre-frail/frail were greater during resting state compared with standing and recovery phases. Compared with ApEn, SampEn seemed to have better discriminating power between non-frail and pre-frail/frail individuals. The quantification of entropy in short length neurocardiovascular signals could provide a clinically useful marker of the multiple physiological dysregulations that underlie physical frailty.
Sludge Stabilization Process, Drying Depth and Polymeric Material Addition: Implication on Nitrogen Content, Selected Chemical Properties and Land Requirement in Sand Drying Beds
Authors: Badza Taruvinga , Tesfamariam Eyob H. , Cogger Craig
Published: December 2020

Drying beds are a simple and economical means to dewater municipal sludge and are widely used in places with a suitable climate for air-drying. However, research-based information on drying thickness/drying depth effects on nutrient content and land size requirements for sludge drying is scarce. In this study, aerobically digested (AeD), and anaerobically digested without polymer (AnDP0) and with polymer (AnDP1) sludge types were dried in sand drying beds at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm depths in South Africa. Measured nitrogen (N) fractions and other parameters were more strongly influenced by sludge types than by drying depth. Total N content followed the order of AeD > AnDP1 > AnDP0. Polymeric material addition tended to increase total and inorganic N content and reduce the length of sludge drying period and land size requirement. The study showed that larger land size is required to dry sludge at shallower depths, even though the sludge dried more quickly. Drying sludge at 15 cm was the best option across sludge types in winter, taking an average land area between 261 and 383 m2 over the fewest days of sludge drying, whereas in spring, drying at 20 to 25 cm depth was most favorable. The findings suggest that drying bed management can be based on land area requirements with little concern for biosolid quality changes. For wastewater treatment plants relying on drying in beds, adding polymeric materials may be beneficial where land area for drying beds is limited, but not otherwise. Therefore, land availability is critical in decision making for sustainable sludge drying thickness.
Molecular Investigation on the Displacement Characteristics of CH4 by CO2, N2 and Their Mixture in a Composite Shale Model
Authors: Gong Liang , Zhang Yuan , Li Na , Gu Ze-Kai , Ding Bin , Zhu Chuan-Yong
Published: December 2020

The rapid growth in energy consumption and environmental pollution have greatly stimulated the exploration and utilization of shale gas. The injection of gases such as CO2, N2, and their mixture is currently regarded as one of the most effective ways to enhance gas recovery from shale reservoirs. In this study, molecular simulations were conducted on a kaolinite–kerogen IID composite shale matrix to explore the displacement characteristics of CH4 using different injection gases, including CO2, N2, and their mixture. The results show that when the injection pressure was lower than 10 MPa, increasing the injection pressure improved the displacement capacity of CH4 by CO2. Correspondingly, an increase of formation temperature also increased the displacement efficiency of CH4, but an increase of pore size slightly increased this displacement efficiency. Moreover, it was found that when the proportion of CO2 and N2 was 1:1, the displacement efficiency of CH4 was the highest, which proved that the simultaneous injection of CO2 and N2 had a synergistic effect on shale gas production. The results of this paper will provide guidance and reference for the displacement exploitation of shale gas by injection gases.
Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Coal Ash
Authors: Yu Shi , Chu Ruizhi , Li Xiao , Wu Guoguang , Meng Xianliang
Published: December 2020

Both molecular dynamics (MD) and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were performed to simulate coal ashes using the Guillot-Sator model in this work. The structural and transport properties of coal ashes at high temperatures have been obtained. Superheating of coal ash system with anorthite crystal structure initial configuration has been observed for MD simulation which explains the discrepancy between previous MD simulation results and FactSage thermochemical calculations. The fluxing effects of both calcium oxide and sodium oxide have been investigated systematically through MD and NEMD simulations. Moreover, the viscosities of coal ash systems have been computed by two methods: (1) Stokes-Einstein equation; (2) NEMD simulations. Estimations of viscosities for various coal ash systems based on Stokes-Einstein equation exhibit a strong temperature dependence of viscosity, which agrees with previous experimental results. On the other hand, NEMD simulation results that showed a strong shear-thinning feature, failed to reproduce this strong temperature dependence of viscosity, possibly due to the short simulation time. Nevertheless, NEMD simulations not only provide us detailed information about atoms dynamics under shear, but also allow us to model the coal ash system far from equilibrium which cannot be accessed by thermodynamics calculation using software like FactSage.
Impact of Forest Logging Ban on the Welfare of Local Communities in Northeast China
Authors: Geng Yude , Sun Siboyu , Yeo-Chang Youn
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives: In order to effectively protect and restore natural forest resources, the Chinese government banned logging in state-owned forests of northeast China in April 2015. This is an enormous change for people who live in that region, especially forestry workers and their families, who depend on state-owned forestry enterprises. Following the welfare changes in worker households in a timely manner is conducive to gaining a better understanding of the development status of state-owned forest areas, so as to provide a scientific basis for the government to formulate forest policies that will contribute to sustainable development. Materials and Methods: Using Sen’s theory of welfare measurement, we measured the change in welfare of forestry worker households based on an empirical research framework that measures the function and gap in welfare before and after the logging ban. Results: (1) The welfare of worker households changed due to the logging ban in terms of function; social security, dwelling conditions, and psychological conditions improved, whereas economic status and social opportunity declined. (2) The logging ban had different impacts on the welfare of forestry worker households depending on their livelihood. Low-income households solely dependent on forestry work or engaged in this work for diversified income were impacted most by the ban, while high-income households engaged in forestry as a major source of income or for complementary income were impacted less. (3) The logging ban seems to affect social welfare distribution: the proportion of households classified as low welfare increased, while that of high-welfare households decreased.
Prevalence and Indicators of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency among Young Women of Childbearing Age
Authors: Al-Musharaf Sara , McTernan Philip G. , Hussain Syed Danish , Aleisa Khalid Abdullah , Alnaami Abdullah M. , Wani Kaiser , Saravanan Ponnusamy , Al-Daghri Nasser
Published: December 2020

Vitamin B12 insufficiency is a global health issue among women of childbearing age, yet few studies have investigated its prevalence and risk factors among healthy Middle Eastern populations. This cross-sectional study included 346 Saudi women aged 19–30 years and enrolled at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A series of questionnaires were administered to record the study participants’ sociodemographic status, medical history, dietary intake, and physical activity. Participants’ anthropometric data were also recorded and their fasting blood samples were analyzed. The rate of vitamin B12 insufficiency (≤220 pmol/L) was approximately 6% among the study participants. After adjusting for confounding factors, it was observed that the risk factors for vitamin B12 insufficiency included daily sitting time ≥ 7 h, low income (<10,000 Saudi riyal) and increasing age. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B12 (>2.4 mcg/day) has been shown to confer reasonable protection against vitamin B12 insufficiency. These study findings highlight that a combination of increased physical activity and dietary vitamin B12 intake above the current recommended dietary allowance may help improve the serum vitamin B12 levels of young women of childbearing age, especially those with a low socioeconomic status. Timely detection and protection against vitamin B12 insufficiency in this subpopulation are important to prevent maternal and fetal health risks.
Expanding Social, Psychological, and Physical Indicators of Urbanites’ Life Satisfaction toward Residential Community: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis
Authors: Peng Chuanyu , Yuan Guoping , Mao Yanhui , Wang Xin , Ma Jianhong , Bonaiuto Marino
Published: December 2020

Attention on, and interest in, life satisfaction has increased worldwide. However, research on life satisfaction focused toward the urban dwellers’ residential community is mainly from western countries, and the limited research from China is solely focused on the geriatric population via a narrowly constrained research perspective. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate urbanites’ life satisfaction toward their community, combining the psychological (behavioral community engagement, mental state of flow, and cognitive community identity), physical (PREQIs-perceived residential environment quality indicators: e.g., green area), and social perspectives (social capital). The proposed conceptual model was tested on a regionally representative sample of 508 urban community residents in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. Data were analyzed via a structure equation modelling approach in AMOS software. Findings suggested that all of the psychological, physical and social factors contributed to a prediction of life satisfaction. Specifically, social capital mediated the path from community engagement and flow to life satisfaction, and community identity mediated the path from flow experience and green area to life satisfaction. Additionally, social capital contributed to predict life satisfaction through its influence on community identity. Findings provide suggestions for urban designers and policymakers to focus on creating an urban community equipped with green area, which helps to promote physical activities that are flow-productive, to enhance residents’ identification to their residential community and, therefore, increase life satisfaction.