bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-Reported Quality of Life Outcomes after Moderately Hypofractionated and Normofractionated Proton Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: Nakajima Koichiro , Iwata Hiromitsu , Hattori Yukiko , Nomura Kento , Hayashi Kensuke , Toshito Toshiyuki , Umemoto Yukihiro , Hashimoto Shingo , Ogino Hiroyuki , Shibamoto Yuta
Published: January 2022

We retrospectively evaluated the three-year patient-reported quality of life (QOL) after moderately hypofractionated proton therapy (MHPT) for localized prostate cancer in comparison with that after normofractionated PT (NFPT) using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-50. Patients who received MHPT (60–63 Gy (relative biological effectiveness equivalents; RBE)/20–21 fractions) (n = 343) or NFPT (74–78 Gy (RBE)/37–39 fractions) (n = 296) between 2013 and 2016 were analyzed. The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) threshold was defined as one-half of a standard deviation of the baseline value. The median follow-up was 56 months and 83% completed questionnaires at 36 months. Clinically meaningful score deterioration was observed in the urinary domain at 1 month in both groups and in the sexual domain at 6–36 months in the NFPT group, but not observed in the bowel domain. At 36 months, the mean score change for urinary summary was −0.3 (MHPT) and −1.6 points (NFPT), and that for bowel summary was +0.1 and −2.0 points; the proportion of patients with MCID was 21% and 24% for urinary summary and 18% and 29% for bowel summary. Overall, MHPT had small negative impacts on QOL over three years, and the QOL after MHPT and NFPT was similar.
CARD9 Forms an Alternative CBM Complex in Richter Syndrome
Authors: Maier Julia , Lechel André , Marienfeld Ralf , Barth Thomas F. E. , Möller Peter , Mellert Kevin
Published: January 2022

Richter syndrome (RS) is defined as the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into an aggressive lymphoma, mostly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Despite intensive therapy, patients with RS have an unfavorable clinical outcome. The detailed pathobiology of Richter transformation still needs to be elucidated. Here, we report high mRNA and protein levels of CARD9 in the RS cell line U-RT1. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed the assembly of a CBM complex using CARD9 instead of CARD11. CARD9 is known to be an activator of NF-кB signaling in myeloid cells. U-RT1 Western blot analyses showed phosphorylation of IκB as well as IKK, indicating a constitutively active canonical NF-кB pathway. This was further supported by the significant reduction in cell viability and CYLD cleavage products after CARD9 siRNA knockdown. We also showed immunostaining for CARD9 in 53% of cases analyzed in a series of RS tissue specimens, whereas other lymphomas rarely show CARD9 expression. This is the first report on ectopic expression and function of CARD9 in an aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Our findings suggest that CARD9 may contribute to the pathogenesis of RS.
Racial/Ethnic Differences and Trends in Pathologic Complete Response Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Ma Sung Jun , Serra Lucas M. , Yu Brian , Farrugia Mark K. , Iovoli Austin J. , Yu Han , Yao Song , Oladeru Oluwadamilola T. , Singh Anurag K.
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate nationwide trends in pathologic complete response (pCR) and its racial variations for breast cancer. The National Cancer Database was queried for women from 2010 to 2017 with non-metastatic breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoints, pCR and overall survival, were evaluated using Cochran-Armitage test, logistic, and Cox regression multivariable analyses. A total of 104,161 women were analyzed. Overall, pCR improved from 2010 to 2017 (15.1% to 27.2%, trend p < 0.001). Compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) women, Hispanic White (HW) women were more likely to have pCR for hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumors (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.53, p = 0.005). Black women were less likely to have pCR for HR-HER2+ tumors (aOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.89, p < 0.001) and triple negative (aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.77–0.87, p < 0.001) tumors, but more likely for HR+HER2- tumors (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24, p = 0.009). Among patients who achieved pCR, Asian or Pacific Islander (API) women were associated with better survival (adjusted hazards ratio (aHR) 0.52, 95% CI 0.33–0.82, p = 0.005) than NHW women. Despite positive trends in pCR rates, the likelihood of pCR and survival outcomes may be intricately dependent on racial/ethnic groups and tumor receptor subtypes.
Alternative NF-κB Signaling Discriminates Induction of the Tumor Marker Fascin by the Viral Oncoproteins Tax-1 and Tax-2 of Human T-Cell Leukemia Viruses
Authors: Heym Stefanie , Mohr Caroline , Engelbrecht Hanna , Fleckenstein Bernhard , Thoma-Kress Andrea
Published: January 2022

Transcriptional regulation of the actin-bundling protein and tumor marker Fascin is highly diverse depending on cell and tumor type. Previously, we discovered that the viral oncoprotein Tax-1 of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) considerably enhances Fascin expression in T-cells, depending on classical NF-κB signaling. In this study, we asked if the non-oncogenic Tax-2 of the related HTLV-2 is still able to induce Fascin by using luciferase assays, immunoblot, and qPCR. We found that Tax-2 only slightly induces Fascin expression compared to Tax-1; however, both Tax-1 and Tax-2 comparably activated a 1.6 kb fragment in the human Fascin promoter including Tax-responsive elements. Furthermore, we identified a link between Tax-induced activity of the alternative NF-κB pathway and Fascin induction. While treatment with the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC)-mimetic AZD5582, a compound known to robustly activate alternative NF-κB signaling, did not induce Fascin, combination of AZD5582 with activation of classical NF-κB signaling by Tax-2 significantly induced Fascin expression. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that both classical and alternative NF-κB activity are necessary for strong Fascin induction by the viral Tax oncoproteins, thus, shedding new light on the regulation of Fascin in T-cells and during viral transformation.
Recent Advances in Seawater Electrolysis
Authors: Jiang Siqi , Suo Hongli , Zhang Teng , Liao Caizhi , Wang Yunxiao , Zhao Qinglan , Lai Weihong
Published: January 2022

Hydrogen energy, as a clean and renewable energy, has attracted much attention in recent years. Water electrolysis via the hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode coupled with the oxygen evolution reaction at the anode is a promising method to produce hydrogen. Given the shortage of freshwater resources on the planet, the direct use of seawater as an electrolyte for hydrogen production has become a hot research topic. Direct use of seawater as the electrolyte for water electrolysis can reduce the cost of hydrogen production due to the great abundance and wide availability. In recent years, various high-efficiency electrocatalysts have made great progress in seawater splitting and have shown great potential. This review introduces the mechanisms and challenges of seawater splitting and summarizes the recent progress of various electrocatalysts used for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction in seawater electrolysis in recent years. Finally, the challenges and future opportunities of seawater electrolysis for hydrogen and oxygen production are presented.
Fabrication of Polyaniline Ni-Complex Catalytic Electrode by Plasma Deposition for Electrochemical Detection of Phosphate through Glucose Redox Reaction as Mediator
Authors: Lee Hyun-Woong , Yoo Jae-Ni , Yu In-Keun , Choi Seong-Ho
Published: January 2022

We report here the preparation and characterization of polyaniline Ni-complex catalytic electrode by one-pot plasma deposition for the electrochemical detection of phosphate via the redox reaction of glucose. We first prepared a precursory solution by combining NiCl2 and 3-aminobenzoic acid in a mixed solution of methanol (MeOH) and water, and adding aniline as a conductive polymeric precursor for increasing the electron transfer potential. We then synthesized the catalytic electrode in a one-step cold plasma process by preparing the precursors on ITO glass. We characterized the obtained Ni-coordinate catalytic electrode via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical methods. Electrochemical characterization produced stable redox properties of Ni3+/Ni2+ couples in a 0.1 M NaOH solution. Cyclic voltametric experiments have drastically increased electrocatalytic oxidation and reduction of glucose by increasing the concentration of phosphate (PO43−) ions using the prepared Ni-modified catalytic electrodes. From these results, the prepared catalytic electrode could be used as the electrochemical sensor for phosphate in actual water.
Metabolomics of COPD Pulmonary Rehabilitation Outcomes via Exhaled Breath Condensate
Authors: Maniscalco Mauro , Paris Debora , Cuomo Paola , Fuschillo Salvatore , Ambrosino Pasquale , Tramice Annabella , Palomba Letizia , Motta Andrea
Published: January 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by different phenotypes and clinical presentations. Therefore, a single strategy of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) does not always yield the expected clinical outcomes as some individuals respond excellently, others discreetly, or do not respond at all. Fifty consecutive COPD patients were enrolled. Of them, 35 starting a 5-week PR program were sampled at admission (T0), after 2 (T2W) and 5 (T5W) weeks, while 15 controls not yet on PR were tested at T0 and T5W. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiling of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and multivariate statistical analysis were applied to investigate the relationship between biomarkers and clinical parameters. The model including the three classes correctly located T2W between T0 and T5W, but 38.71% of samples partially overlapped with T0 and 32.26% with T5W, suggesting that for some patients PR is already beneficial at T2W (32.26% overlapping with T5W), while for others (38.71% overlapping with T0) more time is required. Rehabilitated patients presented several altered biomarkers. In particular, methanol from T0 to T5W decreased in parallel with dyspnea and fatigue, while the walk distance increased. Methanol could be ascribed to lung inflammation. We demonstrated that the metabolic COPD phenotype clearly evolves during PR, with a strict relationship between clinical and molecular parameters. Methanol, correlating with clinical parameters, represents a useful biomarker for monitoring personalized outcomes and establishing more targeted protocols.
Down-Regulation of the Longevity-Associated Protein SIRT1 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Treated HIV Patients
Authors: Gruevska Aleksandra , Moragrega Ángela B. , Galindo María J. , Esplugues Juan V. , Blas-García Ana , Apostolova Nadezda
Published: January 2022

The activity of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase with a critical role in several biological functions, decreases with age and its deficiency is associated with many inflammatory and age-related diseases. It also regulates the chronic immune activation and viral latency during an HIV infection. The life-span and particularly the health span of HIV patients are substantially shortened; however, the participation of SIRT1 in these effects is not clear. We performed a prospective cross-sectional monocentric study that included 70 HIV-infected patients and 43 BMI-, age- and sex-matched uninfected individuals. We found that in the PBMCs of the HIV patients, SIRT1 mRNA levels were significantly lower (p < 0.0001). This decrease, which was corroborated at the protein level, occurred irrespectively of the antiretroviral regimen these patients received and was not significantly related to the general, HIV-related or comorbidity-related parameters. The levels of the major mitochondrial sirtuin SIRT3 were not altered. Moreover, the strong correlations of SIRT1 with the leukocyte markers CD8A and CD19 present in the uninfected individuals were absent in the HIV patients. In conclusion, this study showed that the PBMCs of the HIV patients displayed diminished SIRT1 levels and altered correlations of SIRT1 with markers of CD8+ T cells and B cells, findings which may be relevant for understanding the complex pathogenic milieu in HIV patients.
Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Induce CCL18 Production by Mast Cells: A Possible Link to Angiogenesis
Authors: Shefler Irit , Salamon Pazit , Zitman-Gal Tali , Mekori Yoseph A.
Published: January 2022

Mast cells (MCs) function as a component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have both pro- and anti-tumorigenic roles depending on the tumor type and its developmental stage. Several reports indicate the involvement of MCs in angiogenesis in the TME by releasing angiogenic mediators. Tumor cells and other cells in the TME may interact by releasing extracellular vesicles (EVs) that affect the cells in the region. We have previously shown that tumor-derived microvesicles (TMVs) from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells interact with human MCs and activate them to release several cytokines and chemokines. In the present study, we characterized the MC expression of other mediators after exposure to TMVs derived from NSCLC. Whole-genome expression profiling disclosed the production of several chemokines, including CC chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18). This chemokine is expressed in various types of cancer, and was found to be associated with extensive angiogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. We now show that CCL18 secreted from MCs activated by NSCLC-TMVs increased the migration of human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs), tube formation and endothelial- to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), thus promoting angiogenesis. Our findings support the conclusion that TMVs have the potential to influence MC activity and may affect angiogenesis in the TME.
Neuron–Microglia Contact-Dependent Mechanisms Attenuate Methamphetamine-Induced Microglia Reactivity and Enhance Neuronal Plasticity
Authors: Bravo Joana , Ribeiro Inês , Terceiro Ana Filipa , Andrade Elva B. , Portugal Camila Cabral , Lopes Igor M. , Azevedo Maria M. , Sousa Mafalda , Lopes Cátia D. F. , Lobo Andrea C. , Canedo Teresa , Relvas João Bettencourt , Summavielle Teresa
Published: January 2022

Exposure to methamphetamine (Meth) has been classically associated with damage to neuronal terminals. However, it is now becoming clear that addiction may also result from the interplay between glial cells and neurons. Recently, we demonstrated that binge Meth administration promotes microgliosis and microglia pro-inflammation via astrocytic glutamate release in a TNF/IP3R2-Ca2+-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the contribution of neuronal cells to this process. As the crosstalk between microglia and neurons may occur by contact-dependent and/or contact-independent mechanisms, we developed co-cultures of primary neurons and microglia in microfluidic devices to investigate how their interaction affects Meth-induced microglia activation. Our results show that neurons exposed to Meth do not activate microglia in a cell-autonomous way but require astrocyte mediation. Importantly, we found that neurons can partially prevent Meth-induced microglia activation via astrocytes, which seems to be achieved by increasing arginase 1 expression and strengthening the CD200/CD200r pathway. We also observed an increase in synaptic individual area, as determined by co-localization of pre- and post-synaptic markers. The present study provides evidence that contact-dependent mechanisms between neurons and microglia can attenuate pro-inflammatory events such as Meth-induced microglia activation.
Structural Variability of Lipoarabinomannan Modulates Innate Immune Responses within Infected Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Authors: Liu Hanrui , Gui Xuwen , Chen Shixing , Fu Weizhe , Li Xiang , Xiao Tingyuan , Hou Jie , Jiang Tao
Published: January 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) is an intracellular pathogen persisting in phagosomes that has the ability to escape host immune surveillance causing tuberculosis (TB). Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), as a glycolipid, is one of the complex outermost components of the mycobacterial cell envelope and plays a critical role in modulating host responses during M. tb infection. Different species within the Mycobacterium genus exhibit distinct LAM structures and elicit diverse innate immune responses. However, little is known about the mechanisms. In this study, we first constructed a LAM-truncated mutant with fewer arabinofuranose (Araf) residues named M. sm-ΔM_6387 (Mycobacterium smegmatis arabinosyltransferase EmbC gene knockout strain). It exhibited some prominent cell wall defects, including tardiness of mycobacterial migration, loss of acid-fast staining, and increased cell wall permeability. Within alveolar epithelial cells (A549) infected by M. sm-ΔM_6387, the uptake rate was lower, phagosomes with bacterial degradation appeared, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) recruitment was enhanced compared to wild type Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis). We further confirmed that the variability in the removal capability of M. sm-ΔM_6387 resulted from host cell responses rather than the changes in the mycobacterial cell envelope. Moreover, we found that M. sm-ΔM_6387 or its glycolipid extracts significantly induced expression changes in some genes related to innate immune responses, including Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), class A scavenger receptor (SR-A), Rubicon, LC3, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), Bcl-2, and Bax. Therefore, our studies suggest that nonpathogenic M. smegmatis can deposit LC3 on phagosomal membranes, and the decrease in the quantity of Araf residues for LAM molecules not only impacts mycobacterial cell wall integrity but also enhances host defense responses against the intracellular pathogens and decreases phagocytosis of host cells.
Stem Cell Factor SOX9 Interacts with a Cell Death Regulator RIPK1 and Results in Escape of Cancer Stem Cell Death
Authors: Oh Mijung , Son Chaeyeon , Rho Seung Bae , Kim Minjeong , Park Kyoungsook , Song Sang Yong
Published: January 2022

High-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer, with high metastasis and recurrence. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for its apoptosis resistance, cancer metastasis, and recurrence. Thus, targeting CSCs would be a promising strategy for overcoming chemotherapy resistance and improving patient prognosis in HGOC. Among upregulated oncogenic proteins in HGOC, we found that transcription factor SOX9 showed a strong correlation with stemness-regulating ALDH1A1 and was localized predominantly in the cytoplasm of HGOC with lymph node metastasis. In order to address the role of unusual cytoplasmic SOX9 and to explore its underlying mechanism in HGOC malignancy, a Y2H assay was used to identify a necroptotic cell death-associated cytoplasmic protein, receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), as a novel SOX9-interacting partner and further mapped their respective interacting domains. The C-terminal region containing the transactivation domain of SOX9 interacted with the death domain of R1PK1. Consistent with its stemness-promoting function, SOX9 knockdown in vitro resulted in changes in cell morphology, cell cycle, stem cell marker expression, cell invasion, and sphere formation. Furthermore, in vivo knockdown completely inhibited tumor growth in mouse xenograft model. We propose that cytoplasmic SOX9-mediated cell death suppression would contribute to cancer stem cell survival in HGOC.
Addressing Common Pain Syndromes in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant: A Review
Authors: Harden Avis , Kresta Kimberly , Itzep Nelda
Published: January 2022

Assessment and management of pain for pediatric patients receiving stem cell transplants can be challenging for a health care team. Diagnostic evaluation and interventions vary between institutions and individual provider practices. In this review, we investigate and describe approaches to pain management for the most common sources of pain in pediatric patients undergoing stem cell transplants. Mucositis pain, abdominal pain, and hemorrhagic cystitis emerged as the most frequent sources of acute pain in children during conditioning and transplantation periods. Furthermore, psychosocial distress and psychological pain or distress constitute significant components of the total pain experienced by children undergoing stem cell transplantation. We will expand upon appropriate usage and escalation of opioids, as well as complementary interventions and timely initiation of interventions, in order to help control pain in these clinical syndromes.
Enhanced Electrochromic Performance of All-Solid-State Electrochromic Device Based on W-Doped NiO Films
Authors: Zhao Xin , Zhang Xiang , Yin Zhiwei , Li Wenjie , Yang Changpeng , Sun Wenhai , Zhang Hulin , Li Yao
Published: January 2022

Electrochromic materials have attracted much attention due to their promising applications in smart windows and thermal control. However, NiO is a weak point for a complementary ECD and needs to be improved due to its low optical modulation and charge density. In this work, the W-doped NiO films are designed and prepared by RF magnetron co-sputtering to improve the performance of the NiO. The results shows that the optical modulation of the W-NiO (52.7%) is significantly improved compared with pure NiO (33.8%), which can be assigned to the increase in lattice boundaries due to the W doping. The response time of W-NiO is 8.8 s for coloring and 7.2 s for bleaching, which is similar to that of NiO film. The all-solid-state electrochromic devices (ECDs) that employed W-NiO as a complementary layer are prepared and exhibit a high-transmittance modulation of 48.5% in wavelengths of 450–850 nm and an emittance modulation of 0.28 in 2.5–25 μm, showing great application potential in the field of smart windows and spacecraft thermal control devices. The strategy of preparing NiO doped by W indicates an innovative direction to obtain ECDs with high performance.
The Structure of Lenticular Crystals Formed in Plastically Deformed Titanium Nickelide
Authors: Noskov Fedor M. , Kveglis Ludmila I. , Abkaryan Artur K. , Sakenova Rimma Y.
Published: January 2022

Samples of Ni51Ti49 alloy subjected to plastic deformation have been studied. The microstructure was studied by transmission electron microscopy and microdifraction on a Hitachi 7700 microscope. The phase composition of the samples was determined by X-ray diffraction in a Bruker diffractometer. Magnetometric measurements were performed in an induction petlescope. Lenticular crystals (of the Ni2Ti3 phase containing bend–extinction contours indicating a significant curvature of the crystal lattice appearing in the localization zones of plastic deformation) were found in the deformation localization zones. It was revealed that the samples are non-magnetic before deformation, but after plastic deformation, they have non-zero magnetization, which is associated with the emergence of new phases. Under conditions of local curvature of the crystal lattice, special structural states arise in zones of increased interatomic distances, which increase the number of degrees of freedom in the deformable solid and thus contribute to the redistribution of the components of the initial solid solution and the appearance of new phases. It was shown that the crystalline structure of lenticular crystals is a phase constructed of a spinel structural type with a crystal lattice parameter of 11.53 ± 0.03 Å.
Dynamic Response and Numerical Interpretation of Three Kinds of Metals for EFP Liner under Explosive Loading
Authors: Ding Li , Shen Peihui , Ji Liuqi
Published: January 2022

In order to study the dynamic response of tungsten heavy alloy materials under explosive loading, two kinds of typical tungsten alloys for explosively formed projectile (EFP) liner and one kind of existing EFP liner were tested in a flash X-ray experiment, with copper liner as a reference. Results showed that copper liner could form a coherent EFP, while 90W–9Ni–Co and W–25Re liners fractured to different extents. The microscopic features of the three kinds of metals were examined and compared with the original liner, and the microstructure evolutions under explosive loading were analyzed with the fracture model and mechanism of the two kinds of tungsten alloys’ fracture determined. Associated with the stress and strain conditions by numerical simulation, the fracture mechanism of tungsten heavy alloys can be analyzed. The crack-tip plastic zones of 90W–9Ni–Co and W–25Re are much smaller than copper, and due to the severe stress concentration at the tip of cracks, it is easy for cracks to propagate and trigger the cleavage in tungsten alloys. The value of a crack-tip plastic zone r(θ) can be used to explain the fracture phenomenon in explosive loading, which can be an alternative guideline for the material selection criteria of the EFP liner. The research results are significant in understanding the dynamic forming, microstructure evolution, and fracture mechanism of tungsten heavy alloys.
The Pathway for New Cancer Drug Access in Canada
Authors: Gotfrit Joanna , Dempster William , Chambers Johanne , Wheatley-Price Paul
Published: January 2022

Cancer treatment has evolved significantly over the past decade with the emergence of a multitude of new treatments across cancer types. Alongside the pace of drug discovery, the cost of cancer drugs has also increased. In the face of this growth in development and spending, it is crucial to have an understanding of the processes and pressures new drugs navigate to get to the market in Canada. This paper is a review of the complex, multi-step regulatory and funding process undertaken by cancer drugs in Canada. It reviews the role of Health Canada, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, the Health Technology Assessment, the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, and finally, the provincial, territorial, and federal payers. Recent developments are highlighted. Strategies to minimize duplication of effort, improve timeliness, and increase efficiency are explored. The cancer drug regulatory and funding process in Canada is complex, and an understanding of the current system and ongoing evolution is essential.
Reproductive Health Experiences of Females Diagnosed with Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer: A Multi-Method Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Araujo Louise , Rebic Nevena , Dau Hallie , Brotto Lori , George Manju , De Vera Mary A.
Published: January 2022

Objective: Given the increasing risk of young-onset colorectal cancer (yCRC) among adults under 50 years, it is important to understand impacts on reproductive health. Our objective was to assess experiences with reproductive health after yCRC diagnosis among females. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among females, 18 years or older, who have been diagnosed yCRC and are able to communicate in English. Data were gathered using an online survey involving both quantitative (e.g., multiple choice) and qualitative (e.g., open-ended text) questions on pregnancy history, influence of yCRC on reproductive decisions, and experiences with reproductive healthcare. Results: Altogether, 101 females with yCRC participated, including 23 who had never been pregnant and 78 who had been pregnant. yCRC influenced family planning goals for one-third of participants. Furthermore, compared to participants who completed treatment, those currently undergoing treatment had higher odds of indicating their yCRC diagnosis influenced family planning goals (adjusted odds ratio 4.93; 95% confidence interval 1.29 to 18.78). Although 53 (52.5%) participants indicated having discussions regarding reproductive health with healthcare provider(s), 44 (43.6%) did not. Content analysis of open-ended survey questions identified themes on the emotional impacts, experiences with reproductive healthcare, reproductive and family planning considerations, and the related issue of sexual health impacts of yCRC. Conclusions: Gaps in care, related to limited reproductive health discussions, influence of yCRC on family planning, and experiencing lasting reproductive health impacts highlight the need for improving reproductive healthcare, particularly for females diagnosed with yCRC.
Genetic Diversity and Structure of Anax imperator Leach, 1815 Populations (Odonata: Aeshnidae) in Ponds at Regional and European Scales
Authors: Minot Marceau , Husté Aurélie
Published: January 2022

Anthropogenic activities cause loss and fragmentation of natural habitats and have strong effects on population maintenance by increasing their isolation. Pond ecosystems are scattered waterbodies that can interact as a network connected by dispersal events of freshwater organisms. Identifying local genetic differentiations and understanding how gene flow occurs across these networks is essential to prevent risks associated with environmental perturbations. This study aimed to investigate genetic diversity and structure of Anax imperator Leach, 1815 populations at both regional and European scales using seven microsatellites markers. Seven populations of A. imperator were sampled in northwestern France and four populations were sampled in Italy (Sicily), Czech Republic, Switzerland and United Kingdom (U.K.). French populations presented a low genetic differentiation indicating a high gene flow and confirming dispersal events of this species between ponds at regional scale. No pattern of isolation by distance was found at the European scale. The populations presented a low genetic differentiation and no pattern of isolation by distance, suggesting historical or current movements of individuals. Only the U.K. population presented a significant genetic differentiation from other European populations, suggesting that the English Channel might act as a barrier to gene flow for A. imperator. However, Bayesian analysis showed that some dispersal events could occur between the U.K. and France (Normandy), probably facilitated by prevailing winds.
Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP): Tumour Entity with a Short History. A Review on Challenges in Our Microscopes, Molecular and Ultrasonographic Profile
Authors: Kholová Ivana , Haaga Elina , Ludvik Jaroslav , Kalfert David , Ludvikova Marie
Published: January 2022

Since Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP) was introduced as a new thyroid tumour entity, many studies, and meta-analyses on diagnosing NIFTP have been published. NIFTP-revised histopathological criteria emerged in 2018. NIFTP is defined as a histological entity and its diagnosis requires a careful histological examination. Its molecular profile is similar to follicular-like tumours. Ultrasound features are unable to differentiate NIFTP. NIFTP is not a cytological diagnosis, but it influences the risk of malignancy in several categories of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology terminology.
Alpha-Enolase (ENO1) Correlates with Invasiveness of Cutaneous Melanoma—An In Vitro and a Clinical Study
Authors: Hippner Miriam , Majkowski Michal , Biecek Przemyslaw , Szkudlarek Teresa , Simiczyjew Aleksandra , Pieniazek Malgorzata , Nowak Dorota , Miazek Arkadiusz , Donizy Piotr
Published: January 2022

Alpha-enolase (ENO1) is a glycolytic metalloenzyme, and its overexpression occurs in numerous cancers, contributing to cancer cell survival, proliferation, and maintenance of the Warburg effect. Patients with an overexpression of ENO1 have a poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic significance of ENO1 in surgical resections from 112 melanoma patients and to assess its expression and enzymatic activity in normoxia and hypoxia in several melanoma cell lines. Overexpression of ENO1 in tumor cells from patients was correlated with unfavorable prognosticators such as Breslow thickness, Clark level, mitotic activity, and the presence of ulceration. The expression of ENO1 also positively correlated with a greater thickness of the neoplastic infiltrate and a worse long-term prognosis for patients with cutaneous melanoma. We report significantly higher expression of ENO1 in melanoma cell lines in comparison to normal melanocytes. To conclude, our in vitro and clinical models showed that overexpression of ENO1 promotes invasiveness of melanoma cells and correlates with aggressive clinical behavior. These observations open the way to further search of a potential prognostic and therapeutic target in cutaneous melanoma.
Prediction for Mitosis-Karyorrhexis Index Status of Pediatric Neuroblastoma via Machine Learning Based 18F-FDG PET/CT Radiomics
Authors: Feng Lijuan , Qian Luodan , Yang Shen , Ren Qinghua , Zhang Shuxin , Qin Hong , Wang Wei , Wang Chao , Zhang Hui , Yang Jigang
Published: January 2022

Accurate differentiation of intermediate/high mitosis-karyorrhexis index (MKI) from low MKI is vital for the further management of neuroblastoma. The purpose of this research was to investigate the efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT–based radiomics features for the prediction of MKI status of pediatric neuroblastoma via machine learning. A total of 102 pediatric neuroblastoma patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into training (68 patients) and validation sets (34 patients) in a 2:1 ratio. Clinical characteristics and radiomics features were extracted by XGBoost algorithm and were used to establish radiomics and clinical models for MKI status prediction. A combined model was developed, encompassing clinical characteristics and radiomics features and presented as a radiomics nomogram. The predictive performance of the models was evaluated by AUC and decision curve analysis. The radiomics model yielded AUC of 0.982 (95% CI: 0.916, 0.999) and 0.955 (95% CI: 0.823, 0.997) in the training and validation sets, respectively. The clinical model yielded AUC of 0.746 and 0.670 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The combined model demonstrated AUC of 0.988 (95% CI: 0.924, 1.000) and 0.951 (95% CI: 0.818, 0.996) in the training and validation sets, respectively. The radiomics features could non-invasively predict MKI status of pediatric neuroblastoma with high accuracy.
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors and Risk of Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study Using a Common Data Model
Authors: Lee Seung-Hwa , Park Jungchan , Park Rae Woong , Shin Seo Jeong , Kim Jinseob , Sung Ji Dong , Kim Dae Jung , Yang Kwangmo
Published: January 2022

Studies have reported conflicting results on the association between the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and cancer development. We compared the incidence of cancer between patients using RAAS inhibitors and other antihypertensive drugs. This retrospective observational cohort study used data from seven hospitals in Korea that were converted for use in the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. A total of 166,071 patients on antihypertensive therapy across the databases of the seven hospitals were divided into two groups according to the use of RAAS inhibitors. The primary outcome was the occurrence of cancer. A total of 166,071 patients across the databases of the seven hospitals was included in the final analysis; 26,650 (16%) were in the RAAS inhibitors group and 139,421 (84%) in the other antihypertensive drugs group. The meta-analysis of the whole cohort showed a lower incidence of cancer occurrence in the RAAS inhibitor group (9.90 vs. 13.28 per 1000 person years; HR, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75–0.88). After propensity-score matching, the RAAS inhibitor group consistently showed a lower incidence of cancer (9.90 vs. 13.28 per 1000 person years; HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81–0.91). The patients using RAAS inhibitors showed a lower incidence of cancer compared with those using other antihypertensive drugs. These findings support the association between the use of RAAS inhibitors and cancer occurrence.
Quantum Attacks on Sum of Even–Mansour Construction with Linear Key Schedules
Authors: Zhang Ping
Published: January 2022

Shinagawa and Iwata are considered quantum security for the sum of Even–Mansour (SoEM) construction and provided quantum key recovery attacks by Simon’s algorithm and Grover’s algorithm. Furthermore, quantum key recovery attacks are also presented for natural generalizations of SoEM. For some variants of SoEM, they found that their quantum attacks are not obvious and left it as an open problem to discuss the security of such constructions. This paper focuses on this open problem and presents a positive response. We provide quantum key recovery attacks against such constructions by quantum algorithms. For natural generalizations of SoEM with linear key schedules, we also present similar quantum key recovery attacks by quantum algorithms (Simon’s algorithm, Grover’s algorithm, and Grover-meet-Simon algorithm).
On Consensus and Stability under Denial-of-Service Attacks
Authors: Girejko Ewa
Published: January 2022

In the paper, discrete-time multi-agent systems under Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks are considered. Since in the presence of DoS attacks the stability of the whole system may be disturbed, sufficient stability conditions for the multi-agent system under DoS attacks are delivered. The consensus problem for the special case of the considered system under DoS attacks is also examined by delivering sufficient conditions. Theoretical considerations are illustrated by numerical examples.
STAFL: Staleness-Tolerant Asynchronous Federated Learning on Non-iid Dataset
Authors: Zhu Feng , Hao Jiangshan , Chen Zhong , Zhao Yanchao , Chen Bing , Tan Xiaoyang
Published: January 2022

With the development of the Internet of Things, edge computing applications are paying more and more attention to privacy and real-time. Federated learning, a promising machine learning method that can protect user privacy, has begun to be widely studied. However, traditional synchronous federated learning methods are easily affected by stragglers, and non-independent and identically distributed data sets will also reduce the convergence speed. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous federated learning method, STAFL, where users can upload their updates at any time and the server will immediately aggregate the updates and return the latest global model. Secondly, STAFL will judge the user’s data distribution according to the user’s update and dynamically change the aggregation parameters according to the user’s network weight and staleness to minimize the impact of non-independent and identically distributed data sets on asynchronous updates. The experimental results show that our method performs better on non-independent and identically distributed data sets than existing methods.
A Two-Stage Scheduling Model for the Tunnel Collapse under Construction: Rescue and Reconstruction
Authors: Cui Hongjun , Liu Lijun , Yang Ying , Zhu Minqing
Published: January 2022

In the process of transportation system construction, the tunnel is always an indispensable part of the traffic network due to terrain constraints. A collapse of the tunnel under construction may give rise to a potential for significant damage to the traffic network, complicating the road conditions and straining relief services for construction workers. To cope with the variety of vehicle types during the rescue effort, this paper divides them into small, medium, and large sizes, herein correcting the corresponding speed considering six road condition factors on account of the previous research. Given the influence of different special road conditions on the speed of different sized vehicles, a multi-objective model which contains two stages is presented to make decisions for rescue vehicle scheduling. Under the priority of saving human life, the first-stage objective is minimizing the arrival time, while the objective of the second stage includes minimizing the arrival time, unmet demand level, and scheduling cost. To solve the currently proposed model, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) with a real number coding method is developed. With a real tunnel example, the acceptability and improvement of the model are examined, and the algorithm’s optimization performance is verified. Moreover, the efficiency of applying real number coding to NSGA-II, the multi-objective gray wolf algorithm (MOGWO), and the traditional genetic algorithm (GA) is compared. The result shows that compared with the other two methods, the NSGA-II algorithm converges faster.
Noise Annoyance Prediction of Urban Substation Based on Transfer Learning and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Fan Shengping , Li Jun , Li Linyong , Chu Zhigang
Published: January 2022

The noise pollution caused by urban substations is an increasingly serious problem, as is the issue of local residents being disturbed by substation noise. To accurately assess the degree of noise annoyance caused by substations to surrounding residents, we established a noise annoyance prediction model based on transfer learning and a convolution neural network. Using the model, we took the noise spectrum as the input, the subjective evaluation result as the target output, and the AlexNet network model with a modified output layer and corresponding parameters as the pre-training model. In a fixed learning rate and epoch setting, the influence of different mini-batch size values on the prediction accuracy of the model was compared and analyzed. The results showed that when the mini-batch size was set to 4, 8, 16, and 32, all the data sets had convergence after 90 iterations. The root mean square error (RMSE) of all validation sets was lower than 0.355, and the loss of all validation sets was lower than 0.067. As the mini-batch size increased, the RMSE, loss, and mean absolute error (MAE) of the verification set gradually increased, while the number of iterations and the training duration decreased gradually. In this test, a mini-batch size value of four was appropriate. The resultant convolutional neural network model showed high accuracy and robustness, and the error between the prediction result and the subjective evaluation result was between 2% and 7%. The model comprehensively reflects the objective metrics affecting subjective perception, and accurately describes the subjective perception of urban substation noise on human ears.
Wind Speed Prediction for Offshore Sites Using a Clockwork Recurrent Network
Authors: Shi Yuxuan , Wang Yanyu , Zheng Haoran
Published: January 2022

Offshore sites show greater potential for wind energy utilization than most onshore sites. When planning an offshore wind power farm, the speed of offshore wind is used to estimate various operation parameters, such as the power output, extreme wind load, and fatigue load. Accurate speed prediction is crucial to the running of wind power farms and the security of smart grids. Unlike onshore wind, offshore wind has the characteristics of random, intermittent, and chaotic, which will cause the time series of wind speeds to have strong nonlinearity. It will bring greater difficulties to offshore wind speed predictions, which traditional recurrent neural networks cannot deal with for lacking in long-term dependency. An offshore wind speed prediction method is proposed by using a clockwork recurrent network (CWRNN). In a CWRNN model, the hidden layer is subdivided into several parts and each part is allocated a different clock speed. Under the mechanism, the long-term dependency of the recurrent neural network can be easily addressed, which can furthermore effectively solve the problem of strong nonlinearity in offshore speed winds. The experiments are performed by using the actual data of two different offshore sites located in the Caribbean Sea and one onshore site located in the interior of the United States, to verify the performance of the model. The results show that the prediction model achieves significant accuracy improvement.
Environmentally Safe Technology to Increase Efficiency of High-Viscosity Oil Production for the Objects with Advanced Water Cut
Authors: Palyanitsina Aleksandra , Safiullina Elena , Byazrov Roman , Podoprigora Dmitriy , Alekseenko Alexey
Published: January 2022

The depletion of conventional oil reserves creates a significant demand for the development and improvement of methods and technologies for the production of hard-to-recover oil. A huge potential for hard-to-recover oil in Western Siberia lies in the Pokur suite (PK). These deposits are characterized by high oil viscosity and, accordingly, early water breakthrough. This study identifies and substantiates an effective technology for oil production from such and similar deposits using polymer flooding. The obtained data are based on research of the geological structure, the main reservoir properties and those of its fluids, chemical and laboratory methods of analysis, and the results of mathematical and hydrodynamic modeling. According to the results of hydrodynamic modeling, the greatest technological effect of polymeric water flooding is observed in the model of collector permeability at 70 mD and above 1000 mD, but this technology is not recommended for reservoirs with an average permeability of less than 10 mD. Implementation of the best practices through the prism of the resource nexus allows sustainable water management by applying environment-friendly polymers for enhanced oil recovery and contributes to the UN Goal 6 of clean water and sanitation.
Reactive Transport Model of Gypsum Karstification in Physically and Chemically Heterogeneous Fractured Media
Authors: Águila Jesús F. , Samper Javier , Buil Belén , Gómez Paloma , Montenegro Luis
Published: January 2022

Gypsum dissolution leads to the development of karstic features within much shorter timescales than in other sedimentary rocks, potentially leading to rapid deterioration of groundwater quality and increasing the risk of catastrophes caused by subsidence. Here, we present a 2-D reactive transport model to evaluate gypsum karstification in physically and chemically heterogeneous systems. The model considers a low-permeability rock matrix composed mainly of gypsum and a discontinuity (fracture), which acts as a preferential water pathway. Several scenarios are analyzed and simulated to investigate the relevance for gypsum karstification of: (1) the dynamic update of flow and transport parameters due to porosity changes; (2) the spatial distribution of minerals in the rock matrix; (3) the time evolution of water inflows through the boundaries of the model; (4) the functions relating permeability, k, to porosity, ϕ. The average porosity of the matrix after 1000 years of simulation increases from 0.045 to 0.29 when flow, transport, and chemical parameters and the water inflows through the boundary are dynamically updated according to the porosity changes. On the contrary, the porosity of the matrix hardly changes when the porosity feedback effect is not considered, while its average increases to 0.13 if the water inflow occurs through the discontinuity. Moreover, the dissolution of small amounts of highly soluble sulfate minerals plays a major role in the development of additional fractures. The increase in hydraulic conductivity is largest for the power law with an exponent of n = 5, as well as the Kozeny-Carman and the modified Fair-atch k-ϕ relationships. The gypsum dissolution front propagates into the matrix faster when the power law with n = 2 and 3 and the Verma–Pruess k-ϕ relationships are used.