bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute glycemic variability and risk of mortality in patients with sepsis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Zhang Daofu , Chen Yongxin , Ye Weiwei , Wu Shuang , Lou Lianqing , Zhu Yanshuang
Published: April 2022

Background

Acute glycemic variability (GV) has been correlated with the severity of sepsis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential association between acute GV and mortality risk in patients with sepsis.

Methods

Cohort studies comparing the risk of death within 3 months between septic patients with higher versus lower acute GV were retrieved by systematic search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang and CNKI databases. We used a random-effect model to pool the data by incorporating the between-study heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the stability of the findings.

Results

Ten studies including 4296 patients were available for the meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that septic patients with higher acute GV had significantly increased mortality risk compared to those with lower acute GV, as evidenced by results using different parameters including standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG, risk ratio [RR]: 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36–2.24, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%), coefficient of variation of blood glucose (RR: 1.91, 95% CI 1.57–2.31, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (RR: 1.81. 95% CI 1.36–2.40, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%), and glycemic lability index (RR: 2.52, 95% CI 1.72–3.68, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%). Sensitivity analyses by excluding one study at a time did not significantly affect the results (p all < 0.05).

Conclusions

Higher acute GV may be a predictor of mortality risk in patients with sepsis.
Refractory flare-up of severe bronchial asthma controlled with mepolizumab due to Pneumocystis pneumonia: a case report
Authors: Takeda Kazuya , Sumi Toshiyuki , Nagahisa Yuta , Matsuura Keigo , Sekikawa Motoki , Watanabe Hiroki , Yamada Yuichi , Chiba Hirofumi
Published: April 2022

Background

Biologics dramatically improve symptoms of severe asthma; however, various exacerbating factors may induce flare-up. Pneumocystis spp. have not been reported as a cause of asthma exacerbation during biologic use, although patients with severe asthma have high levels of antibodies against Pneumocystis spp.

Case presentation

An 87-year-old female with severe asthma that was well-controlled with mepolizumab, who developed a steroid-resistant refractory flare-up. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral ground glass opacities, and results of polymerase chain reaction tests on induced sputum were positive for Pneumocystis DNA. Therefore, a diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia was made. The clinical symptoms improved after treatment with sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be aware of Pneumocystis pneumonia as a cause of refractory exacerbation of bronchial asthma during use of interleukin-5 inhibitors.
Management of primary choroidal lymphoma presenting as extensive serous retinal detachment and salmon patch of bulbar conjunctiva: a case report
Authors: Mahdizad Zahra , Khalili Pour Elias , Mehrabi Bahar Mohammadreza , Esfandiari Amirreza , Masoomian Babak , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Mirshahi Ahmad , Ghassemi Fariba
Published: April 2022

Background

We describe the outcome of ultra-low-dose radiotherapy plus intravitreal methotrexate and rituximab injections for a patient with primary choroidal lymphoma who presented with nodular conjunctival salmon patches and extensive serous retinal detachment.

Case presentation

A 34-year-old Iranian man presented with a nodular patch of bulbar conjunctiva in the right eye, and 1+ vitritis. A nearly complete shallow serous retinal detachment, retinal folds, and multifocal yellow choroidal infiltrates were seen during a fundus examination of the right eye. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography revealed macular retinal folds and an uneven, undulating, “seasick” appearance of the choroidal surface with choriocapillaris compression, intraretinal and subretinal fluid, and clusters of optically dense material at the outer retinal level. An incisional biopsy of the conjunctival lesion confirmed the diagnosis of primary choroidal lymphoma with epibulbar involvement. The patient was treated with ultra-low-dose “boom-boom” radiation (4 Gy delivered in two fractions over two consecutive days) as well as intravitreal methotrexate and rituximab injections. After a year, the lesions had completely disappeared, with no adverse effects or recurrence.

Conclusion

Ultra-low-dose (boom-boom) radiotherapy combined with intravitreal chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy may be an effective treatment for primary choroidal lymphoma with anterior epibulbar extension and diffuse subretinal fluid with favorable response and minimal side effects.
PPARβ/δ priming enhances the anti-apoptotic and therapeutic properties of mesenchymal stromal cells in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury
Authors: Sarre Charlotte , Contreras-Lopez Rafael , Nernpermpisooth Nitirut , Barrere Christian , Bahraoui Sarah , Terraza Claudia , Tejedor Gautier , Vincent Anne , Luz-Crawford Patricia , Kongpol Kantapich , Kumphune Sarawut , Piot Christophe , Nargeot Joel , Jorgensen Christian , Djouad Farida , Barrere-Lemaire Stéphanie
Published: April 2022

Background

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) have been widely used for their therapeutic properties in many clinical applications including myocardial infarction. Despite promising preclinical results and evidences of safety and efficacy in phases I/ II, inconsistencies in phase III trials have been reported. In a previous study, we have shown using MSC derived from the bone marrow of PPARβ/δ (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors β/δ) knockout mice that the acute cardioprotective properties of MSC during the first hour of reperfusion are PPARβ/δ-dependent but not related to the anti-inflammatory effect of MSC. However, the role of the modulation of PPARβ/δ expression on MSC cardioprotective and anti-apoptotic properties has never been investigated.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PPARβ/δ modulation (inhibition or activation) in MSC therapeutic properties in vitro and ex vivo in an experimental model of myocardial infarction.

Methods and results

Naïve MSC and MSC pharmacologically activated or inhibited for PPARβ/δ were challenged with H2O2. Through specific DNA fragmentation quantification and qRT-PCR experiments, we evidenced in vitro an increased resistance to oxidative stress in MSC pre-treated by the PPARβ/δ agonist GW0742 versus naïve MSC. In addition, PPARβ/δ-priming allowed to reveal the anti-apoptotic effect of MSC on cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells in vitro. When injected during reperfusion, in an ex vivo heart model of myocardial infarction, 3.75 × 105 PPARβ/δ-primed MSC/heart provided the same cardioprotective efficiency than 7.5 × 105 naïve MSC, identified as the optimal dose in our experimental model. This enhanced short-term cardioprotective effect was associated with an increase in both anti-apoptotic effects and the number of MSC detected in the left ventricular wall at 1 h of reperfusion. By contrast, PPARβ/δ inhibition in MSC before their administration in post-ischemic hearts during reperfusion decreased their cardioprotective effects.

Conclusion

Altogether these results revealed that PPARβ/δ-primed MSC exhibit an increased resistance to oxidative stress and enhanced anti-apoptotic properties on cardiac cells in vitro. PPARβ/δ-priming appears as an innovative strategy to enhance the cardioprotective effects of MSC and to decrease the therapeutic injected doses. These results could be of major interest to improve MSC efficacy for the cardioprotection of injured myocardium in AMI patients.
Surge: a fast open-source chemical graph generator
Authors: McKay Brendan D. , Yirik Mehmet Aziz , Steinbeck Christoph
Published: April 2022

Chemical structure generators are used in cheminformatics to produce or enumerate virtual molecules based on a set of boundary conditions. The result can then be tested for properties of interest, such as adherence to measured data or for their suitability as drugs. The starting point can be a potentially fuzzy set of fragments or a molecular formula. In the latter case, the generator produces the set of constitutional isomers of the given input formula. Here we present the novel constitutional isomer generator based on the canonical generation path method. uses the package to compute automorphism groups of graphs. We outline the working principles of and present benchmarking results which show that is currently the fastest structure generator. is available under a liberal open-source license.
Prediction of multiple pH compartments by deep learning in magnetic resonance spectroscopy with hyperpolarized 13C-labelled zymonic acid
Authors: Fok Wai-Yan Ryana , Grashei Martin , Skinner Jason G. , Menze Bjoern H. , Schilling Franz
Published: April 2022

Background

Hyperpolarization enhances the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance experiments by between four and five orders of magnitude. Several hyperpolarized sensor molecules have been introduced that enable high sensitivity detection of metabolism and physiological parameters. However, hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) often suffers from poor signal-to-noise ratio and spectral analysis is complicated by peak overlap. Here, we study measurements of extracellular pH (pHe) by hyperpolarized zymonic acid, where multiple pHe compartments, such as those observed in healthy kidney or other heterogeneous tissue, result in a cluster of spectrally overlapping peaks, which is hard to resolve with conventional spectroscopy analysis routines.

Methods

We investigate whether deep learning methods can yield improved pHe prediction in hyperpolarized zymonic acid spectra of multiple pHe compartments compared to conventional line fitting. As hyperpolarized 13C-MRSI data sets are often small, a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) were trained with either a synthetic or a mixed (synthetic and augmented) data set of acquisitions from the kidneys of healthy mice.

Results

Comparing the networks’ performances compartment-wise on a synthetic test data set and eight real kidney data shows superior performance of CNN compared to MLP and equal or superior performance compared to conventional line fitting. For correct prediction of real kidney pHe values, training with a mixed data set containing only 0.5% real data shows a large improvement compared to training with synthetic data only. Using a manual segmentation approach, pH maps of kidney compartments can be improved by neural network predictions for voxels including three pH compartments.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that CNNs offer a reliable, accurate, fast and non-interactive method for analysis of hyperpolarized 13C MRS and MRSI data, where low amounts of acquired data can be complemented to achieve suitable network training.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation ameliorates experimental colitis by modulating the tolerogenic dendritic and regulatory T cell formation
Authors: Cui Xiufang , Ye Ziping , Wang Di , Yang Yan , Jiao ChunHua , Ma Jingjing , Tang Nana , Zhang Hongjie
Published: April 2022

Background

Intestinal immune dysfunction is involved in the onset of Crohn’s disease (CD). Dendritic cells (DCs), antigen-presenting cells, play a key role in the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor widely expressed in various immune cells, including DCs. Although AhR plays an important role in immune tolerance, its role in the DCs is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the activation of AhR can induce tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) and the differentiation of regulatory T (Treg) cells, as well as ameliorate experimental colitis.

Results

AhR activation in the DCs resulted in a lower expression of surface markers such as CD80, CD83, CD86, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and higher anti-inflammatory production (IL-1β, IL-23, and IL-12) compared to the control DCs. The surface dendrites in DCs were significantly reduced following AhR activation by 6-formylindolo [3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ). Such DCs with FICZ-mediated activation of AhR, namely tolDCs, promoted Treg cell differentiation. Adoptive transfer of tolDCs to a TNBS-induced colitis mouse model significantly alleviated the severity of inflammation by improving the colon length and decreasing the disease activity index (DAI) and histopathological score. Moreover, the transferred tolDCs decreased the frequency of Th17 cells and increased the frequency of Treg cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) in murine colitis models.

Conclusions

Activation of AhR in the DCs could induce tolDCs, and the transplantation of tolDCs may help in relieving intestinal inflammation and maintaining the Th17/Treg differentiation balance. Thus, our data suggest that AhR may be a potential therapeutic target for CD.
Heterogeneity of the tumor immune microenvironment and its clinical relevance
Authors: Jia Qingzhu , Wang Aoyun , Yuan Yixiao , Zhu Bo , Long Haixia
Published: April 2022

During the course of tumorigenesis and subsequent metastasis, malignant cells gradually diversify and become more heterogeneous. Consequently, the tumor mass might be infiltrated by diverse immune-related components, including the cytokine/chemokine environment, cytotoxic activity, or immunosuppressive elements. This immunological heterogeneity is universally presented spatially or varies temporally along with tumor evolution or therapeutic intervention across almost all solid tumors. The heterogeneity of anti-tumor immunity shows a profound association with the progression of disease and responsiveness to treatment, particularly in the realm of immunotherapy. Therefore, an accurate understanding of tumor immunological heterogeneity is essential for the development of effective therapies. Facilitated by multi-regional and -omics sequencing, single cell sequencing, and longitudinal liquid biopsy approaches, recent studies have demonstrated the potential to investigate the complexity of immunological heterogeneity of the tumors and its clinical relevance in immunotherapy. Here, we aimed to review the mechanism underlying the heterogeneity of the immune microenvironment. We also explored how clinical assessments of tumor heterogeneity might facilitate the development of more effective personalized therapies.
Metagenomic sequencing reveals time, host, and body compartment-specific viral dynamics after lung transplantation
Authors: Widder Stefanie , Görzer Irene , Friedel Benjamin , Rahimi Nina , Schwarz Stefan , Jaksch Peter , Knapp Sylvia , Puchhammer-Stöckl Elisabeth
Published: April 2022

Background

The virome of lung transplant recipients (LTRs) under immunosuppressive therapy is dominated by non-pathogenicAnelloviridaeand further includes several pathogenic viruses such as Herpesviruses or respiratory viruses. It is unclear whether the donor-derived virome in the transplanted lung influences recipient virome dynamics in other body compartments and if so, to which degree. Likewise, it is unknown whether dependencies exist among virus populations that mutually shape viral loads and kinetics.

Results

To address these questions, we characterized viral communities in airways and plasma of 49 LTRs and analyzed their abundance patterns in a data modeling approach. We found distinct viral clusters that were specific for body compartments and displayed independent dynamics. These clusters robustly gathered specific viral species across the patient cohort. In the lung, viral cluster abundance associated with time after transplantation and we detected mutual exclusion of viral species within the same human host. In plasma, viral cluster dynamics were associated with the indication for transplantation lacking significant short-time changes. Interestingly, pathogenic viruses in the plasma co-occurred specifically withAlpha torque virusgenogroup 4 andGamma torque virusstrains suggesting shared functional or ecological requirements.

Conclusions

In summary, the detailed analysis of virome dynamics after lung transplantation revealed host, body compartment, and time-specific dependency patterns among viruses. Furthermore, our results suggested genetic adaptation to the host microenvironment at the level of the virome and support the hypothesis of functional complementarity betweenAnellovirusgroups and other persistent viruses.
Seismic data summarization with content-aware resizing
Authors: Gómez Julián Luis , Velis Danilo R.
Published: April 2022

Seam carving (SC) is a computer vision algorithm that resizes natural images by removing their least informative regions. We adapt SC as a novel application to reduce the size of 2D and 3D seismic data with amplitude preservation. Unlike decimation and conventional resizing, the proposed structure-aware reduction algorithm keeps the data’s most important structures and textures. In practice, the SC method uses a gradient-based energy operator and dynamic optimization to find the optimal reduction of the seismic data. We introduce an energy function that uses Gaussian kernels of variable size to compute the magnitude of the data derivatives and implement a quantitative measure to compare different SC alternatives. The proposed Gaussian-based algorithm yields reduced seismic data sets that preserve the main structures and textures of the original data even in the presence of noise. The reduced data are not downsized versions of the original image or volume. We see the seismic summary as representative new data that can help interpreters and processors in gaining insight and assessing the results of filters and seismic attributes with fewer computational resources. Keeping this in mind, the proposed content-aware method is a valuable tool for assisting users in seismic data analysis and interpretation.
Resolution of, and Risk of Incident Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease With Changes in Serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Status
Authors: Kim Yejin , Chang Yoosoo , Ryu Seungho , Cho In Young , Kwon Min-Jung , Sohn Won , Kim Mi Kyung , Wild Sarah H , Byrne Christopher D
Published: April 2022

Context

A protective or causative role of vitamin D status on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains inconclusive.

Objective

To evaluate the association between changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status during follow-up and the risk of incident NAFLD and resolution of preexisting NAFLD.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Kangbuk Samsung Health Study based on routine health screening examinations.

Participants

Korean adults (mean age, 36.8 years; range, 18-96 years) who underwent comprehensive health examinations including assessment of serum 25(OH)D levels

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcomes were (1) incidence and (2) resolution of NAFLD assessed by liver ultrasound. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs for outcomes according to serum 25(OH)D levels.

Results

Among 139 599 participants without NAFLD at baseline, 27 531 developed NAFLD during follow-up. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly and inversely associated with NAFLD development. Among 48 702 participants with NAFLD at baseline, 13 449 showed NAFLD resolution. Multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for NAFLD resolution comparing 25(OH)D 10 to <20, 20 to <30, and ≥30 ng/mL to <10 ng/mL were 1.09 (1.03-1.15), 1.13 (1.06-1.21), and 1.21 (1.09-1.35), respectively. Additionally, an increase in 25(OH)D levels between baseline and the subsequent visit (median, 1.8 years) was associated with decreased NAFLD incidence, while persistently adequate 25(OH)D levels over time was associated with decreased incidence and increased resolution of NAFLD.

Conclusions

Maintaining adequate serum 25(OH)D concentrations may be beneficial for both prevention as well as resolution of NAFLD.
Actions of Parathyroid Hormone Ligand Analogues in Humanized PTH1R Knockin Mice
Authors: Daley Eileen J , Yoon Sung-Hee , Reyes Monica , Bruce Michael , Brooks Daniel J , Bouxsein Mary , Potts John T , Kronenberg Henry M , Wein Marc N , Lanske Beate , Jüppner Harald , Gardella Thomas J
Published: April 2022

Rodent models are commonly used to evaluate parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) ligands and analogues for their pharmacologic activities and potential therapeutic utility toward diseases of bone and mineral ion metabolism. Divergence, however, in the amino acid sequences of rodent and human PTH receptors (rat and mouse PTH1Rs are 91% identical to the human PTH1R) can lead to differences in receptor-binding and signaling potencies for such ligands when assessed on rodent vs human PTH1Rs, as shown by cell-based assays in vitro. This introduces an element of uncertainty in the accuracy of rodent models for performing such preclinical evaluations. To overcome this potential uncertainty, we used a homologous recombination-based knockin (KI) approach to generate a mouse (in-host strain C57Bl/6N) in which complementary DNA encoding the human PTH1R replaces a segment (exon 4) of the murine PTH1R gene so that the human and not the mouse PTH1R protein is expressed. Expression is directed by the endogenous mouse promoter and hence occurs in all biologically relevant cells and tissues and at appropriate levels. The resulting homozygous hPTH1R-KI (humanized) mice were healthy over at least 10 generations and showed functional responses to injected PTH analog peptides that are consistent with a fully functional human PTH1R in target bone and kidney cells. The initial evaluation of these mice and their potential utility for predicting behavior of PTH analogues in humans is reported here.
Extensive retroperitoneal multiloculated abscesses after open cholecystectomy associated with bile leak: a case report
Authors: Huang Yuting , Haleem Zarah , Patel Harsh , Pandey Ankur , Sandhu Preetinder Singh , Kim Raymond
Published: April 2022

Retroperitoneal abscesses are rare and life-threatening. The incidence of abscesses after open cholecystectomies is <1% disregarding location. 11 cases reporting post-cholecystectomy retroperitoneal abscesses were archived on PubMed, 7 associated with gallstone retaining or spillage. Hereby, we present a case of extensive retroperitoneal multiloculated abscesses after open cholecystectomy complicated with bile leak, while no gallstone was noted. Early evaluation for retroperitoneal abscesses is critical if the patient does not clinically improve after cholecystectomy. Early treatment with drainage of the abscesses, antibiotics, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography intervention to achieve source control can greatly improve the clinical outcome.
Minimally invasive delivery of ethanol for the treatment of urinary bladder fistulas
Authors: Nanapragasam Andrew , Mahmood Syed Umair , Mafeld Sebastian , Haslam Philip
Published: April 2022

Urinary bladder fistula formation is a complication of significant morbidity and mortality following pelvic surgery or radiotherapy. Surgical treatment is the definitive management, but it may be contraindicated in patients with significant comorbidities. The alternative approach is to divert urine away from the fistula with stents and catheters, and allow time for healing. The case illustrated herein describes the use of alcohol to accelerate the fibrotic healing of a urinary bladder fistula, based on the premise that sclerosing agents have been effective in the treatment of pancreatic fistulas and renal cysts.

A Foley catheter is inserted through the external fistula orifice and passed along the fistula tract into the urinary bladder. The Foley catheter balloon is inflated and pulled back to occlude the fistula. Following this, a vascular sheath is placed alongside the catheter and ethanol is injected into the tract. The alcohol is left to dwell in the fistula for a few minutes, after which time the catheter and sheath are removed. The sclerosant effect of the ethanol aims to induce fibrosis, and therefore occlusion, of the fistula.
Hepatic sclerosing haemangioma showing restricted diffusion: A case report with histopathologic correlation
Authors: Takinoshita Shintaro , Ishimaru Hideki , Okano Shinji , Otsuka Tetsuhiro , Ishimaru Yutaka , Miyazaki Shuhei , Nakagawa Jun , Koga Miyuki , Soyama Akihiko , Hidaka Masaaki , Fukumoto Masayuki , Eguchi Susumu , Uetani Masataka
Published: April 2022

Hepatic sclerosing haemangiomas are rare benign tumours that are often difficult to distinguish from malignant tumours because these tumours do not show the typical imaging features of cavernous haemangiomas. We report a case of a sclerosing haemangioma that showed restricted diffusion and was difficult to differentiate from a malignancy.

A 60-year-old female was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a hepatic mass that was incidentally diagnosed after a CT scan for right lower quadrant abdominal pain.

Contrast-enhanced dynamic CT showed hepatic capsular retraction, with a small peripheral enhancement of the mass. The lesion appeared homogeneously hypointense on T1W images, heterogeneously hyperintense on T2W images, hyperintense on diffusion-weighted images, and hypointense on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. The lesion was suspected to be a cholangiocellular carcinoma and was surgically resected, but a final diagnosis of hepatic sclerosing haemangioma was made.

Hepatic sclerosing/sclerosed haemangiomas are usually considered to show an increased ADC, which is useful for distinguishing them from malignant tumours. However, in this particular case, most of the lesion contained many obliterated or narrowed vascular channels, which might have acted as septa restricting the diffusion of water molecules in the intervening fibrous and/or hyalinised tissue. Hepatic sclerosing haemangiomas in the process of becoming completely fibrotic may show restricted diffusion, similar to malignant tumours.
Magnetization transfer imaging of ovarian cancer: initial experiences of correlation with tissue cellularity and changes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Deen Surrin S , McLean Mary A , Gill Andrew B , Crawford Robin A F , Latimer John , Baldwin Peter , Earl Helena M , Parkinson Christine A , Smith Sarah , Hodgkin Charlotte , Jimenez-Linan Mercedes , Brodie Cara R , Patterson Ilse , Addley Helen C , Freeman Susan J , Moyle Penelope M , Graves Martin J , Sala Evis , Brenton James D , Gallagher Ferdia A
Published: April 2022

Objectives:

To investigate the relationship between magnetization transfer (MT) imaging and tissue macromolecules in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and whether MT ratio (MTR) changes following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods:

This was a prospective observational study. 12 HGSOC patients were imaged before treatment. MTR was compared to quantified tissue histology and immunohistochemistry. For a subset of patients (n = 5), MT imaging was repeated after NACT. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess for normality of data and Spearman’s rank-order or Pearson’s correlation tests were then used to compare MTR with tissue quantifications. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess for changes in MTR after treatment.

Results:

Treatment-naïve tumour MTR was 21.9 ± 3.1% (mean ± S.D.). MTR had a positive correlation with cellularity, rho = 0.56 (p < 0.05) and a negative correlation with tumour volume, ρ = −0.72 (p = 0.01). MTR did not correlate with the extracellular proteins, collagen IV or laminin (p = 0.40 and p = 0.90). For those patients imaged before and after NACT, an increase in MTR was observed in each case with mean MTR 20.6 ± 3.1% (median 21.1) pre-treatment and 25.6 ± 3.4% (median 26.5) post-treatment (p = 0.06).

Conclusion:

In treatment-naïve HGSOC, MTR is associated with cellularity, possibly reflecting intracellular macromolecular concentration. MT may also detect the HGSOC response to NACT, however larger studies are required to validate this finding.

Advances in knowledge:

MTR in HGSOC is influenced by cellularity. This may be applied to assess for cell changes following treatment.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of masticatory muscle dysfunction in unilateral exodontia rabbits
Authors: Chen Xuexia , Huang Yi , Liu Simin , Yi Jingru , Chen Weiwei , Wang Yang , Pan Chu
Published: April 2022

Objective:

Occlusal alteration due to tooth loss may cause overload of masticatory muscle and promote muscle dysfunction. This study explored the feasibility of using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate muscle dysfunction in an established unilateral exodontia animal model.

Methods:

6 rabbits were extracted right maxillary molars. T2 mapping, T2* mapping and Iterative Decomposition of water and fat with Echo Asymmetry and Least Square Estimation (IDEAL-IQ) were performed one day before extraction and every 2 weeks (2th~12th week) after extraction. The T2 and T2* values and fat fraction (FF) of bilateral temporal muscle (TM), masseter muscle (MM) and medial pterygoid muscle (MPM) were measured and compared between the extraction side and the contralateral side. Parameters of three monitoring time points (0th, 6th, 12th week) were also analyzed.

Results:

T2 values of MM on extraction side were significantly higher than those of contralateral side-from fourth week to 12th week after extraction (p < 0.05). T2 values of MM and MPM on extraction side and TM on contralateral side were significantly higher in 12th week than those in 0th week (p < 0.05). And FF of bilateral MM was significantly higher in 12th week than those in 0th week (p < 0.05). T2* value showed no significant difference between extraction side and contralateral side and also at above three time points.

Conclusion:

T2 and T2* value and FF can be used as indicators of masticatory muscle dysfunction. fMRI is expected to be a non-invasive method for in vivo and real-time evaluation of masticatory muscle functional abnormality.
Assessment of lower third molar space: A comparative radiographic study
Authors: Aoun Yasmina , Husseini Bachar , Younes Ronald , Ghosn Nabil , Bouserhal Joseph
Published: April 2022

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess lower third molar space using four different radiographic reconstructed Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images: orthopantomogram, lateral cephalogram, multiplanar CBCT and a newly introduced three-dimensional (3D) simulation technique.

Methods:

The CBCT scans of 32 individuals (20.97 ± 2.152 years) with a total of 50 lower third molars were collected and analyzed. The ratio between the necessary space and available space for lower third molars was calculated on each radiographic reconstructed image. Repeated-measure analysis of variance followed by multiple comparison tests were used.

Results:

The mean ratio was significantly smaller with cephalograms (0.611 ± 0.263), followed respectively by orthopantomograms (0.756 ± 0.221), multiplanar CBCT (0.789 ± 0.191) and 3D simulation technique (0.807 ± 0.193) (p < 0.001). The lowest mean difference was recorded between multiplanar CBCT and 3D simulation technique (0.017). Intraclass correlation coefficient was strong (>0.90) for all techniques except cephalograms.

Conclusions:

The assessment of the lower third molar space differs according to the adopted imaging technique. Three-dimensional simulation technique is a useful novel technology that allows an exploration of the crown in many different dimensions and orientations, giving more predictable results than the conventional methods.
SOFTWARE ESCROW CONTRACTS
Authors: Hamidović Haris
Published: April 2022

Because for many companies, continuous operation and maintenance of custom software are crucial, they usually want to ensure that this continues even if the software licenser cannot operate in the future, for example, due to bankruptcy. The easiest way to overcome this for the licensee is to get a copy of the updated source code. Software developers are understandably reluctant to give a copy of their proprietary source code to the customer. The most significant asset of software developers is usually their source code, which can contain valuable trade secrets. One of the ways a software developer can deal with a client that requires access to the source code is to agree to store the source code using a triple escrow agreement. Under the escrow source code agreement, the developer provides a copy of the source code and documentation to a neutral party for safekeeping. The third party will hand over the source code to the buyer only after certain conditions defined by the contract have been met, such as the bankruptcy of software developers. That keeps the developer's source code confidential while, in theory, giving the user access to it if necessary. In this paper, we present the term software escrow contract.
COMPANIES AND TAX EVASION AS A CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL OFFENSE
Authors: Lazić Dragana , Stanković Sanja , Danilović Aleksandra
Published: April 2022

The paper discusses the issues of justification and social acceptance of taxes by legal entities and the frequency of related abuses. The discussion covers two research questions. The first item is the terminological delimitation of categorical terms related to tax policy. The second is the analysis of the ten-year frequency of the crime of tax evasion in the Republic of Serbia. The research aims to confirm the hypothetical assumption that tax evasion is a crime against the economy. In addition to damaging the budget system and damaging the company image, it is a significant obstacle to further economic development and the international economic reputation of the country. The paper uses the following methods: searching scientific databases on the subject, general scientific statistical and comparative methods, and documents' content analysis methods. There are two main findings in the paper. The first is that tax evasion negatively affects the economic picture of the Republic of Serbia and has a detrimental effect on the value structure of public revenues of the "common treasury of all citizens". Second, the frequency of committing the crime of tax evasion affects the development of the economy and demands for greater involvement of all institutions of Serbian society and a radical tightening of penal policy and court practice for this type of crime.
EFFICIENCY OF BUSINESS ENTITIES IN THE FUNCTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
Authors: Živanović Nada , Živanović Vlada , Bogavac Milija
Published: April 2022

Global market business, characterized by constant quantitative and qualitative changes, forces organizations to monitor business trends to achieve business efficiency and meet set standards. Changes are continuous, and this creates increasing challenges for industrial companies to solve the set market requirements by improving human resources, innovative processes, and technologies. Regardless of whether the changes are hard or soft, employees are responsible for adequately preparing and training for solving work tasks. From an organizational point of view, continuous and quality training of employees can contribute to more efficient acceptance, implementation, and stabilization of the work process. That clearly shows that in contemporary business conditions, in addition to the organization, the psychological aspect is also significant in accepting changes in both management and employees. Organizations should provide an efficient strategic plan framework that includes permanent and adequate training, education, training, etc., to achieve the goal and maximize the employees' potential. For the company's efficiency, in contemporary business conditions, it is significant to develop the main strategic factors that need to be incorporated by managers and leaders to achieve a quality product and the success of the entire company. At the heart of market change, designing an efficient training model is of particular importance for company effectiveness. The paper presents research on the structural process model of training, which is considered one of the main components of a company's success.
ASSESSMENT OF LIFE QUALITY OF WORKFORCE IN RUSSIAN REGIONS
Authors: Zakirova Alsu , Klychova Guzaliya , Nigmatullina Nuriya , Nikitenko Igor' , Zakirov Ayaz
Published: April 2022

The social and economic development of the country and individual regions involves ensuring the well-being of the population. One of the key indicators that reflect the level of social and economic development of the country and individual regions is the life quality. In this regard, one of the priority areas of the state social policy, contributing to the development of the regional economy and strengthening the economic and political positions of Russia, is to improve the quality of life of the population. The main purpose of the study is to assess the life quality of workforce in the regions of the Volga Federal District of the Russian Federation and develop recommendations for improving it. In the course of the study, the change in the value of the composite (integral) index of the quality of life of workforce of the regions of the Russian Federation was analyzed. The analysis made it possible to draw conclusions about the state of the quality of life of workforce in the subjects of Volga Federal District of the Russian Federation. The Republic of Bashkortostan and the Republic of Tatarstan were assigned to the regions of the leading group in terms of the dynamics of the values of the index of the life quality of workforce. The index in these regions was 0.3 and 0.4, respectively. The regions of the lagging group in terms of the dynamics of the values of the quality of life index of workforce were the Republic of Mari El, the Republic of Mordovia, the Udmurt Republic, the Chuvash Republic, Kirov region, Penza region, Saratov region, Ulyanovsk region. At the same time, it should be noted that in almost all regions of Volga Federal District in the period from 2012-2020 there was a decrease in the quality index of workforce. As directions for improving the quality of life of workforce, the following were identified: stimulation and support of entrepreneurial activity; attraction of investors; increasing tourist attractiveness; development of mutually beneficial interregional and foreign economic cooperation; active implementation of anti-corruption policy; renewal of personnel in public authorities; redistribution of budgetary funds for carrying out social and cultural events and for housing and communal services
ANALYSIS AND TRENDS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT FARMS IN THE CONDITIONS OF DIGITALIZATION
Authors: Subaeva Asiya , Kalimullin Marat , Nizamutdinov Marat , Zalaltdinov Marat , Asadullin Nail
Published: April 2022

In the course of agrarian transformations in agriculture in recent decades, there have been profound social and economic changes in the framework of agrarian reform. There has been a trend of transition to new innovative realities in the form of digital transformation of agribusiness, which served as the main goal of the study in the form of analyzing the readiness of agricultural sectors for technical and technological modernization of production and identifying barriers to digitalization of agribusiness. Using generally accepted empirical research methods in the form of a comparison of agribusiness indicators over a number of years, an ambiguous trend in the development of the main production indicators was revealed. From 2011 to 2020 the share of crop production in the Russian Federation in the total volume of agricultural production increased from 50.56% to 53.63%, while the share of animal husbandry decreased by 3.07 percentage points and amounted to 46.37% by 2020. This trend could be a good basis for the introduction of digital technologies. The survey made it possible to cover a large number of respondents and identify a number of problems facing farmers in the transition to a digital economy. Among them: the lack of state support, the high cost of digital products, the lack of awareness of digital innovations, the underdevelopment of infrastructure, the lack of high-tech equipment and personnel with digital competencies. Based on the identified factors hindering the development of digital transformation, the authors propose the main instruments of state and market regulation of the digital transformation of agriculture, which can become the basis for solving a number of problems that have arisen
VARIABILITY OF GRAIN YIELDS AND LEGUMINOUS CROPS IN KIROV REGION
Authors: Mukhamadiarov Farzutdin , Permyakova Ekaterina
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the research is to identify the trends and factors of variability in the yield of the main agricultural crops in Kirov region. The study was conducted on the basis of data from the territorial body of Federal State Statistics Service for Kirov region for 2001-2020. An analysis of the regression equations showed that the yield dynamics for the analyzed period is most accurately described by a 2nd degree polynomial. The yield of grain and leguminous crops over a twenty-year period varied from 12.6 to 21.7 q/ha. The average yield for five years varied from 14.2 q/ha in 2001-2005 up to 19.6 c/ha in 2015-2020 The yield variation coefficient for five years varied from 8.6 to 15.5%, and the yield stability coefficient - from 91.4 to 84.5%, respectively. The highest yield was achieved in the last five years, due to the use of intensive production technologies. In addition to agricultural technology, productivity is also affected by factors of agrometeorological origin. According to the results of calculations, about 10% of the yield depends on the influence of weather and climatic conditions, respectively, 90% of the yield variation is due to the culture of agriculture. According to the results of calculations of positive and negative deviations of the actual yield from the dynamic average, it was revealed that the increase in yield in favorable years in terms of weather and climatic conditions can be 4.1 centners per hectare, and the shortfall in yield in unfavorable years will be 3.7 centners per hectare. Calculation of the climatic component according to the method of Pasov V.M. showed that the Kirov region belongs to the zone of moderately stable crops
TO THE QUESTION OF FORECASTING THE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC VEGETABLES BASED ON CONSUMER PREFERENCES
Authors: Tarasova Anastasiya , Galeev Marat
Published: April 2022

A study conducted to study the consumer preferences of Russians in relation to organic products. The work is carried out by questioning the inhabitants of the Perm Territory. The results of the analysis of which can be used to predict the likely production of organic vegetables in the region. Among all respondents living in Perm Territory, 31.8 % answered that they were ready to buy organic vegetables that cost 20…30 % more than traditional ones. Buyers' incomes have a great influence on demand (correlation coefficient, r = 0.301). Most often, women, regardless of their age and place of residence, gave positive answers and men living in the city, of working age with an income of 30.0 thousand rubles/month expected per family member and higher. Considered that the demand for this type of product largely depends on the income of consumers and, accordingly, the price of products, it is necessary to support farmers from the state during the transition period, and the coverage also requires additional costs for certification and purchase of biological products containing substrates.The actual market capacity of the Perm Territory during the period of the research amounted to 172.9 thousand tons of potatoes and 219.3 thousand tons of vegetables, of which 55.0 thousand tons and 69.7 thousand tons, respectively, may belong to the objects of purchase-sale on the organic market. The potential market capacity is 234.0 thousand tons of potatoes and 361.2 thousand tons of vegetables, of which 74.3 thousand tons can be occupied by organic tuber crops and 115.6 thousand tons by organic vegetables. However, today only 12 farms are engaged in organic vegetable growing in Russia, and they are not able to meet the needs of the population, which opens up opportunities for certification of other enterprises
DIRECT FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM WITH ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED RING VALVE
Authors: Gabdrafikov Fanil' , Harisov Denis , Galiev Ilgiz
Published: April 2022

The studies were carried out with the aim of developing a method for skipping fuel supplies (turning off individual working piston strokes) at low crankshaft rotational speeds and at partial engine operating modes at low load in direct-acting fuel supply systems to improve fuel efficiency. The developed method is easily implemented using an electronically controlled ring-type discharge valve. A valve made in the form of rigid elastic ring and installed in the high-pressure line above the plunger pair regulates fuel skip. An electromagnet located in the cavity of the annular valve controls it using an electronic regulator, acting at the right time according to the signals coming from the sensors of the engine crankshaft speed, the volume of incoming air and the position of the piston. The proposed fuel supply system of direct action with an electronically controlled annular valve reliably ensures the speed and load characteristics of the engine by influencing the number of cycle fuel supplies. With a decrease in the load and speed of the engine crankshaft, the number of fuel supply cycle’s decreases due to a decrease in signals to the electromagnet winding and, as a result, the valve is not attracted and the fuel supply is skipped. A decrease in the unevenness of the fuel supply in terms of the dynamic component that occurs when the supply is turned off is ensured by a decrease in the inertia of the regulator action due to the electronic control of the annular valve. The developed mathematical model of a direct-acting fuel supply system with an annular pressure valve makes it possible to reveal the relationship between the fuel supply parameters and the design dimensions of the split ring. Such a fuel supply system of direct action with an electronically controlled delivery valve allows, due to skipping of working strokes in low load and idle modes, redistributing the provided volume of fuel to working cylinders, significantly reduce fuel consumption