bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: A novel occurrence of persistent left cranial vena cava coexisting with polycystic kidney disease in a cat
Authors: Cha Ye-Eun , Ro Woong-Bin , Song Seung-Ji , Lee Mi-Kyung , Kang Min-Hee , Park Hee-Myung
Published: October 2023

A 7-year-old castrated male Munchkin cat was presented with anorexia. This cat had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease due to polycystic kidney disease. Tachycardia with a systolic murmur (grade III/VI) was auscultated and for further diagnosis, echocardiography was performed. Based on echocardiography, persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) was suspected due to enlargement of the coronary sinus and confirmed by saline contrast echocardiography. The dilated coronary sinus compressed the left atrium, and left ventricular hypertrophy with the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, aortic regurgitation, and mitral regurgitation were identified. After medical management using atenolol, left atrial function and other hemodynamics of the heart were improved, including the disappearance of regurgitation and normalization of left ventricular wall thickness. This case report describes the echocardiographic characteristics, diagnostic procedures, and disease progression in a cat with PLCVC after medical management using atenolol. Additionally, this is the first report of a cat with PLCVC, coexisting with polycystic kidney disease.
Development of a High-Performance Low-Weight Hydraulic Damper for Active Vibration Control of the Main Rotor on Helicopters—Part 2: Preliminary Experimental Validation
Authors: Bertolino Antonio Carlo , Gaidano Matteo , Smorto Stefano , Porro Paolo Giovanni , Sorli Massimo
Published: October 2023

Vibrations generated by the main rotor-gearbox assembly in a helicopter are the principal cause of damage to cockpit instruments and crew discomfort in terms of cabin noise. The principal path of vibration transmission to the fuselage is through the gearbox’s rigid support struts. This article is Part 2 of a two-part paper presenting an innovative solution involving the replacement of rigid struts with low-weight, high-performance active dampers for vibration control developed by Elettronica Aster S.p.A. Part 1 provided a comprehensive overview of the system layout obtained through a model-based design process and presented a thorough description of the adopted nonlinear mathematical model. Part 2 focuses on the physical realization of the damper and its dedicated experimental test bench. The mathematical model parameter fitting procedure is presented in detail, as it has been used to help in the definition and optimization of the control schemes and the verification of the expected performance. The experimental results obtained in Part 2 not only demonstrate the compliance of the active damper prototype with the acceptance tests outlined in the ATP but also provide compelling evidence reinforcing the promise of the presented solution for effective vibration reduction.
Improving Environmental Water Supply in Wetlands through Optimal Cropping Patterns
Authors: Sedighkia Mahdi , Datta Bithin
Published: October 2023

This study improves the environmental water supply in a wetland using a novel framework in which the environmental impacts due to irrigation supply and the economic losses for agriculture are minimized through the proposal of an optimal cropping pattern that changes the total cropping area and cultivated area of each crop. The ecological degradation functions for rivers and wetlands were developed using a fuzzy approach and data-driven model. The net farming revenue was considered as the economic index to maximize benefits. The root mean square error (RMSE) and the Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE) were applied to evaluate ecological models. According to the results, the optimal cropping pattern simultaneously minimizes environmental impacts due to irrigation supply and maximizes farmers’ benefits. The optimal cropping pattern provides more than 50% of the ideal net revenue on the catchment scale, which means that ecological degradations due to reductions in inflow in rivers and wetlands, as well as farmers’ revenue losses, are minimized simultaneously. Furthermore, the results indicate that cropping patterns should be dynamic, which means that changing the cropping pattern annually based on the available water is essential to mitigating ecological impacts. This study demonstrates that the linking of cropping pattern optimization and environmental flow simulation in freshwater bodies should be considered in land-use policies due to the impact of cropping patterns on environmental degradation in wetland catchments.
Strategic, Economic, and Potency Assessment of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Development in the Tidal Swamplands of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Susilawati Susilawati , Surdianto Yanto , Erythrina Erythrina , Bhermana Andy , Liana Twenty , Syafruddin Syafruddin , Anshori Arif , Nugroho Wahyu Adi , Hidayanto Muhamad , Widiastuti Dwi P. , Sutrisna Nana , Baharudin Baharudin , Susanto Bambang , Sabran Muhamad , Supriadi Khojin , Qomariah Retna , Darsani Yanti Rina , Lesmayati Susi , Taufik Eka Nor
Published: October 2023

The potency and challenges of sorghum development in tidal swamplands in Indonesia have yet to be well studied. Thus, our study is the first to evaluate the land suitability, economic performance, and strategies for developing sorghum in the tidal swamplands in Central Kalimantan. We use the land suitability evaluation method, a gross margin and profit analysis, a break-even analysis, and a competitive analysis as the methods for assessing the potency and utilization of sorghum in this study. As a tool for decision-making, SWOT was also used, followed by a quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) analysis. The results show that 578,511 ha of arable land is suitable for sorghum development. Economically, sorghum farming can generate IDR 12,894,000 per ha with a revenue-cost ratio of 1.72; the break-even price would be IDR 2447 per kg, around 42% lower than the current market price. Sorghum is also more competitive than cassava (Q = 0.76), sweet potato (Q = 0.58), and soybeans (Q = 0.61) and less competitive than maize (Q = 1.33). Based on the QSPM analysis, five alternative strategies were obtained for developing sorghum in tidal swamplands: (1) optimization of productivity; (2) improvement in the quality of human resources for farmers; (3) facilitation of partnership cooperation; (4) application of site-specific technology; and (5) optimization of waste utilization. These strategies show that the expansion of sorghum planting has potential in the tidal swamplands and economic value for the community.
The Effects of Commercially-Relevant Disturbances on Sleep Behaviour in Laying Hens
Authors: Putyora Endre , Brocklehurst Sarah , Sandilands Victoria
Published: October 2023

Ensuring the welfare of commercially kept animals is a legal and ethical responsibility. Sleep behaviour can be sensitive to environmental perturbations and may be useful in assessing welfare state. The objective of this study was to use behavioural and electrophysiological (EEG) measures to observe the effects of 24 h stressors followed by periods of no stressors on laying hen sleep behaviour, and to investigate the use of sleep behaviour as a means of welfare assessment in commercial poultry. Ten laying hens surgically implanted with EEG devices to record their brain activity over four batches were used. Hens were subjected to undisturbed, disturbed and recovery periods for 24 h. Disturbed periods consisted of either feed deprivation, increased ambient temperature (28 °C) or simulated footpad pain via injection of Freund’s adjuvant into the footpad. Sleep state was scored using behaviour data from infrared cameras and EEG data. Over all periods, hens engaged in both SWS (average 60%) and REM sleep (average 12%) during the lights-off period. Feed deprivation and footpad pain had little to no effect on sleep states, while increased ambient temperature significantly reduced REM sleep (to near elimination, p < 0.001) and SWS (p = 0.017). During the lights-on period, footpad pain increased the proportion of time spent resting (p = 0.008) and in SWS (p < 0.001), with feed deprivation or increased ambient temperature (p > 0.05) having no effect. Increasing ambient temperatures are likely to affect sleep and welfare in commercially-kept laying hens in the face of global climate change.
Antibacterial and Anti-Efflux Activities of Cinnamon Essential Oil against Pan and Extensive Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Human and Animal Sources
Authors: Abdelatti Mohamed A. I. , Abd El-Aziz Norhan K. , El-Naenaeey El-sayed Y. M. , Ammar Ahmed M. , Alharbi Nada K. , Alharthi Afaf , Zakai Shadi A. , Abdelkhalek Adel
Published: October 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is notorious for its ability to develop a high level of resistance to antimicrobial agents. Resistance-nodulation-division (RND) efflux pumps could mediate drug resistance in P. aeruginosa. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and anti-efflux activities of cinnamon essential oil either alone or combined with ciprofloxacin against drug resistant P. aeruginosa originated from human and animal sources. The results revealed that 73.91% of the examined samples were positive for P. aeruginosa; among them, 77.78% were of human source and 72.73% were recovered from animal samples. According to the antimicrobial resistance profile, 48.73% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), 9.2% were extensive drug-resistant (XDR), and 0.84% were pan drug-resistant (PDR). The antimicrobial potential of cinnamon oil against eleven XDR and one PDR P. aeruginosa isolates was assessed by the agar well diffusion assay and broth microdilution technique. The results showed strong antibacterial activity of cinnamon oil against all tested P. aeruginosa isolates with inhibition zones’ diameters ranging from 34 to 50 mm. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of cinnamon oil against P. aeruginosa isolates ranged from 0.0562–0.225 µg/mL and 0.1125–0.225 µg/mL, respectively. The cinnamon oil was further used to evaluate its anti-efflux activity against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa by phenotypic and genotypic assays. The cartwheel test revealed diminished efflux pump activity post cinnamon oil exposure by two-fold indicating its reasonable impact. Moreover, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the expression levels of MexA and MexB genes of P. aeruginosa isolates treated with cinnamon oil when compared to the non-treated ones (fold changes values ranged from 0.4204–0.7474 for MexA and 0.2793–0.4118 for MexB). In conclusion, we suggested the therapeutic use of cinnamon oil as a promising antibacterial and anti-efflux agent against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
Estimation of Interaction Time for Students with Vision and Motor Problems when Using Computers and E-Learning Technology
Authors: Batanero-Ochaíta Concepción , Fernández-Sanz Luis , Rivera-Galicia Luis Felipe , Rueda-Bernao María José , López-Baldominos Inés
Published: October 2023

Students with disabilities can attend online education using virtual learning platforms and assistive technology adapted to their personal needs. However, access is not enough to avoid difficulties as they tend to require more time for interaction with learning resources. Analysis of the literature suggests that there is relevant interest among researchers in exploring the interaction time required by students with disabilities. The aim of this paper is to explore the average time required by students with disabilities for interaction with questionnaires, the most typical e-learning resource, in comparison to students without disabilities. This is especially relevant for computer and telecommunication engineering students since all of their teaching activities are computer-related. The average time required for interaction is estimated through empirical testing with 60 students filling out a questionnaire while attending two courses on digital technology in a total of four editions. The sample included students with three types of disability as well as non-disabled students as a control group, with ages ranging from 22 to 58. Results showed time ratios of 2.92, 1.88, and 1.58 times, respectively, for blind, partially sighted, and reduced motor capability students, compared to students without disabilities. Although the results are robust, the small sample of the reduced motor capability students and the variability of capabilities for this group recommend further research with additional samples for this type of disability. It is also recommended to continue experimentation with additional types of e-learning resources.
Ultraviolet Erythemal Irradiance (UVER) under Different Sky Conditions in Burgos, Spain: Multilinear Regression and Artificial Neural Network Models
Authors: García-Rodríguez S. , García-Rodríguez A. , Granados-López D. , García I. , Alonso-Tristán C.
Published: October 2023

Different strategies for modeling Global Horizontal UltraViolet Erythemal irradiance (GHUVE) based on meteorological parameters measured in Burgos (Spain) have been developed. The experimental campaign ran from September 2020 to June 2022. The selection of relevant variables for modeling was based on Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Multilinear Regression Model (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques were employed to model GHUVE under different sky conditions (all skies, overcast, intermediate, and clear skies), classified according to the CIE standard on a 10 min basis. ANN models of GHUVE outperform those based on MLR according to the traditional statistical indices used in this study (R2, MBE, and nRMSE). Moreover, the work proposes a simple all-sky ANN model of GHUVE based on usually recorded variables at ground meteorological stations.
Automatic Segmentation and Quantification of Abdominal Aortic Calcification in Lateral Lumbar Radiographs Based on Deep-Learning-Based Algorithms
Authors: Wang Kexin , Wang Xiaoying , Xi Zuqiang , Li Jialun , Zhang Xiaodong , Wang Rui
Published: October 2023

To investigate the performance of deep-learning-based algorithms for the automatic segmentation and quantification of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in lateral lumbar radiographs, we retrospectively collected 1359 consecutive lateral lumbar radiographs. The data were randomly divided into model development and hold-out test datasets. The model development dataset was used to develop U-shaped fully convolutional network (U-Net) models to segment the landmarks of vertebrae T12–L5, the aorta, and anterior and posterior aortic calcifications. The AAC lengths were calculated, resulting in an automatic Kauppila score output. The vertebral levels, AAC scores, and AAC severity were obtained from clinical reports and analyzed by an experienced expert (reference standard) and the model. Compared with the reference standard, the U-Net model demonstrated a good performance in predicting the total AAC score in the hold-out test dataset, with a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (p <0.001). The overall accuracy for the AAC severity was 0.77 for the model and 0.74 for the clinical report. Additionally, the Kendall coefficient of concordance of the total AAC score prediction was 0.89 between the model-predicted score and the reference standard, and 0.88 between the structured clinical report and the reference standard. In conclusion, the U-Net-based deep learning approach demonstrated a relatively high model performance in automatically segmenting and quantifying ACC.
Metabolic Fingerprinting for the Diagnosis of Clinically Similar Long COVID and Fibromyalgia Using a Portable FT-MIR Spectroscopic Combined with Chemometrics
Authors: Hackshaw Kevin V. , Yao Siyu , Bao Haona , de Lamo Castellvi Silvia , Aziz Rija , Nuguri Shreya Madhav , Yu Lianbo , Osuna-Diaz Michelle M. , Brode W. Michael , Sebastian Katherine R. , Giusti M. Monica , Rodriguez-Saona Luis
Published: October 2023

Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or Long COVID) is characterized by lingering symptomatology post-initial COVID-19 illness that is often debilitating. It is seen in up to 30–40% of individuals post-infection. Patients with Long COVID (LC) suffer from dysautonomia, malaise, fatigue, and pain, amongst a multitude of other symptoms. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder that often leads to functional disability and severe impairment of quality of life. LC and FM share several clinical features, including pain that often makes them indistinguishable. The aim of this study is to develop a metabolic fingerprinting approach using portable Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopic techniques to diagnose clinically similar LC and FM. Blood samples were obtained from LC (n = 50) and FM (n = 50) patients and stored on conventional bloodspot protein saver cards. A semi-permeable membrane filtration approach was used to extract the blood samples, and spectral data were collected using a portable FT-MIR spectrometer. Through the deconvolution analysis of the spectral data, a distinct spectral marker at 1565 cm−1 was identified based on a statistically significant analysis, only present in FM patients. This IR band has been linked to the presence of side chains of glutamate. An OPLS-DA algorithm created using the spectral region 1500 to 1700 cm−1 enabled the classification of the spectra into their corresponding classes (Rcv > 0.96) with 100% accuracy and specificity. This high-throughput approach allows unique metabolic signatures associated with LC and FM to be identified, allowing these conditions to be distinguished and implemented for in-clinic diagnostics, which is crucial to guide future therapeutic approaches.
Systems Biology and Cytokines Potential Role in Lung Cancer Immunotherapy Targeting Autophagic Axis
Authors: Khilwani Riya , Singh Shailza
Published: October 2023

Lung cancer accounts for the highest number of deaths among men and women worldwide. Although extensive therapies, either alone or in conjunction with some specific drugs, continue to be the principal regimen for evolving lung cancer, significant improvements are still needed to understand the inherent biology behind progressive inflammation and its detection. Unfortunately, despite every advancement in its treatment, lung cancer patients display different growth mechanisms and continue to die at significant rates. Autophagy, which is a physiological defense mechanism, serves to meet the energy demands of nutrient-deprived cancer cells and sustain the tumor cells under stressed conditions. In contrast, autophagy is believed to play a dual role during different stages of tumorigenesis. During early stages, it acts as a tumor suppressor, degrading oncogenic proteins; however, during later stages, autophagy supports tumor cell survival by minimizing stress in the tumor microenvironment. The pivotal role of the IL6-IL17-IL23 signaling axis has been observed to trigger autophagic events in lung cancer patients. Since the obvious roles of autophagy are a result of different immune signaling cascades, systems biology can be an effective tool to understand these interconnections and enhance cancer treatment and immunotherapy. In this review, we focus on how systems biology can be exploited to target autophagic processes that resolve inflammatory responses and contribute to better treatment in carcinogenesis.
Minimally Invasive Retrosigmoidal Parasterional Burr-Hole Approach: Technique and Neuropathic Pain Amelioration after Microvascular Decompression of the Trigeminal Nerve
Authors: Carrillo-Ruiz José Damián , Covaleda-Rodríguez Juan Camilo , Díaz-Martínez José Armando , Vallejo-Estrella Antonio , Navarro-Olvera José Luis , Velasco-Campos Francisco , Armas-Salazar Armando , Cid-Rodríguez Fátima Ximena
Published: October 2023

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia, a common condition in clinical practice, often occurs due to vascular compression caused by aberrant or ectopic arterial or venous vessels. Microvascular decompression through a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal approach has shown high rates of pain control, low complication rates, and excellent therapeutic results. Objective: To describe the surgical technique and clinical outcomes in terms of pain relief after microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve through a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal parasterional burr-hole technique. Methods: A group of patients with trigeminal neuralgia refractory to medical management who underwent microvascular decompression were examined. The records of the patients were considered retrospectively (2016–2018), and the outcomes were considered based on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale (BNIPS) added to a technical note of the surgical technique for a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal parasterional burr-hole. Results: Twenty-two patients were evaluated, and clinical assessment after surgical intervention showed a decrease in pain according to the VAS, resulting from an average preoperative state of 9.5 ± 0.37 to a postoperative condition of 1.32 ± 1.28, exhibiting statistically significant changes (p < 0.0001, d = 9.356). On the other hand, in relation to the BNIPS scale, a decrease from an average preoperative status of 4.55 ± 0.25 to a postoperative status at 12 months of 1.73 ± 0.54 was also demonstrated, showing significant changes (p < 0.0001, d = 3.960). Conclusion: Microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve through a minimally invasive retrosigmoidal parasterional burr-hole is feasible and can be a safe and effective technique for the management of pain. However, further research employing larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is necessary.
Calsarcin-2 May Play a Compensatory Role in the Development of Obese Sarcopenia
Authors: Liang Yu-Cheng , Cheng Kai-Pi , Kuo Hsin-Yu , Wang Chung-Teng , Chou Hsuan-Wen , Huang Kuan-Lin , Wu Hung-Tsung , Ou Horng-Yih
Published: October 2023

Although obese sarcopenia is a major public health problem with increasing prevalence worldwide, the factors that contribute to the development of obese sarcopenia are still obscure. In order to clarify this issue, a high-fat-diet-induced obese sarcopenia mouse model was utilized. After being fed with a high-fat diet for 24 weeks, decreased motor functions and muscle mass ratios were found in the C57BL/6 mice. In addition, the expression of calsarcin-2 was significantly increased in their skeletal muscle, which was determined by a microarray analysis. In order to clarify the role of calsarcin-2 in muscle, lentiviral vectors containing the calsarcin-2 gene or short hairpin RNA targeted to calsarcin-2 were used to manipulate calsarcin-2 expressions in L6 myoblasts. We found that an overexpression of calsarcin-2 facilitated L6 myoblast differentiation, whereas a calsarcin-2 knockdown delayed myoblast differentiation, as determined by the expression of myogenin. However, the calsarcin-2 knockdown showed no significant effects on myoblast proliferation. In addition, to clarify the relationship between serum calsarcin-2 and sarcopenia, the bilateral gastrocnemius muscle mass per body weight in mice and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index in humans were measured. Although calsarcin-2 facilitated myoblast differentiation, the serum calsarcin-2 concentration was negatively related to skeletal muscle mass index in mice and human subjects. Taken together, calsarcin-2 might facilitate myoblast differentiation and appear to play a compensatory role in sarcopenia.
Extract2Chip—Bypassing Protein Purification in Drug Discovery Using Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Paiva Ana C. F. , Lemos Ana R. , Busse Philipp , Martins Madalena T. , Silva Diana O. , Freitas Micael C. , Santos Sandra P. , Freire Filipe , Barrey Evelyne J. , Manival Xavier , Koetzner Lisa , Heinrich Timo , Wegener Ansgar , Grädler Ulrich , Bandeiras Tiago M. , Schwarz Daniel , Sousa Pedro M. F.
Published: October 2023

Modern drug discovery relies on combinatorial screening campaigns to find drug molecules targeting specific disease-associated proteins. The success of such campaigns often relies on functional and structural information of the selected therapeutic target, only achievable once its purification is mastered. With the aim of bypassing the protein purification process to gain insights on the druggability, ligand binding, and/or characterization of protein–protein interactions, herein, we describe the Extract2Chip method. This approach builds on the immobilization of site-specific biotinylated proteins of interest, directly from cellular extracts, on avidin-coated sensor chips to allow for the characterization of molecular interactions via surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The developed method was initially validated using Cyclophilin D (CypD) and subsequently applied to other drug discovery projects in which the targets of interest were difficult to express, purify, and crystallize. Extract2Chip was successfully applied to the characterization of Yes-associated protein (YAP): Transcriptional enhancer factor TEF (TEAD1) protein–protein interaction inhibitors, in the validation of a ternary complex assembly composed of Dyskerin pseudouridine synthase 1 (DKC1) and RuvBL1/RuvBL2, and in the establishment of a fast-screening platform to select the most suitable NUAK family SNF1-like kinase 2 (NUAK2) surrogate for binding and structural studies. The described method paves the way for a potential revival of the many drug discovery campaigns that have failed to deliver due to the lack of suitable and sufficient protein supply.
Civic-Moral Education Research in China (1992–2022): A Scoping Review
Authors: Shi Le , Chen Lingjun , Gong Rui
Published: October 2023

Civic-moral education is a topic that has been widely discussed globally. In China, civic-moral education has a long history and presents different characteristics and methods from other countries due to political, economic, and cultural factors. To summarize the current status of research on civic-moral education in China, we identified 715 papers in 30 years (1992–2022) under related topics and selected a total of 72 papers for further analysis. To show the study trend more clearly, we divided the result section into three parts: the historical and cultural resources of education, the current educational approaches, and the existing challenges in civic-moral education. China is rich in historical resources for civic-moral education, which had an impact across generations. Currently, Chinese educators employ many approaches to improve civic-moral education: building a civic-moral curriculum system, transforming the social climate, and making the most use of the campus. The emphasis on intelligence over morality and the emphasis on knowledge over action, however, may undermine the effectiveness of civic-moral education. To conclude, China attaches great importance to civic-moral education and has come up with many approaches inspired by ancient cultural resources.
Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Early Breast Cancer: Results of a Prospective Observational Multicenter BRIDE Study
Authors: Gori Stefania , Fabi Alessandra , Angiolini Catia , Turazza Monica , Salvini Piermario , Ferretti Gianluigi , Cretella Elisabetta , Gianni Lorenzo , Bighin Claudia , Toss Angela , Zamagni Claudio , Vici Patrizia , De Rossi Costanza , Russo Antonio , Bisagni Giancarlo , Frassoldati Antonio , Borgato Lucia , Cariello Anna , Cappelletti Claudia , Bordonaro Roberto , Cinieri Saverio , Modena Alessandra , Valerio Matteo , Alvisi Maria Francesca , De Simone Irene , Galli Francesca , Rulli Eliana , Santoni Anna , Nicolis Fabrizio
Published: October 2023

To evaluate the rate of early breast cancer (EBC) patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAT) in Italy, criteria of patient selection and types of therapies delivered, an analysis of 1276 patients with stage I-II-III was conducted out of 1633 patients enrolled in the multicenter prospective observational BRIDE study. A total of 177 patients (13.9%) were treated with NAT and 1099 (85.9%) with surgery; in multivariate analysis, menopausal status, cT, cN, grade, HER2-positive and Triple negative (TN) subgroups were significantly associated with the decision to administer NAT. The type of NAT delivered was influenced by EBC subtype. NAT was administered to 53.2% of HER2+/HR-negative, 27.9% of HER2+/HR+, 7.1% of HER2-negative/HR+ and 30.3% of TN EBC patients. The pCR rates were similar to the ones reported in the literature: 74.2% in HER2+/HR-negative, 52.3% in HER2+/HR+, 17.2% in HER2-negative/HR+ and 37.9% in TN. In clinical practice, patient and tumor characteristics influenced oncologists in the decision to administer NAT in EBC and in the choice of the type of systemic therapy, according to ESMO and AIOM Guidelines. Currently, it is recommended always to evaluate the use of NAT in EBC, mainly in HER2+ and TN patients, considering that pCR is associated with significantly better survival of the patient and that effective therapies are now available for residual disease.
Immune Cell Deconvolution Reveals Possible Association of γδ T Cells with Poor Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Parikh Anuraag S. , Li Yize , Mazul Angela , Yu Victoria X. , Thorstad Wade , Rich Jason , Paniello Randal C. , Caruana Salvatore M. , Troob Scott H. , Jackson Ryan S. , Pipkorn Patrik , Zolkind Paul , Qi Zongtai , Adkins Douglas , Ding Li , Puram Sidharth V.
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: The role of rare immune cell subtypes in many solid tumors, chief among them head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), has not been well defined. The objective of this study was to assess the association between proportions of common and rare immune cell subtypes and survival outcomes in HNSCC. (2) Methods: In this cohort study, we utilized a deconvolution approach based on the CIBERSORT algorithm and the LM22 signature matrix to infer proportions of immune cell subtypes from 517 patients with untreated HPV-negative HNSCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We performed univariate and multivariable survival analysis, integrating immune cell proportions with clinical, pathologic, and genomic data. (3) Results: We reliably deconvolved 22 immune cell subtypes in most patients and found that the most common immune cell types were M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and memory resting CD4 T cells. In the multivariable analysis, we identified advanced N stage and the presence of γδ T cells as independently predictive of poorer survival. (4) Conclusions: We uncovered that γδ T cells in the tumor microenvironment were a negative predictor of survival among patients with untreated HNSCC. Our findings underscore the need to better understand the role of γδ T cells in HNSCC, including potential pro-tumorigenic mechanisms, and whether their presence may predict the need for alternative therapy approaches.
The Promise of Semantic Segmentation in Detecting Actinic Keratosis Using Clinical Photography in the Wild
Authors: Derekas Panagiotis , Spyridonos Panagiota , Likas Aristidis , Zampeta Athanasia , Gaitanis Georgios , Bassukas Ioannis
Published: October 2023

AK is a common precancerous skin condition that requires effective detection and treatment monitoring. To improve the monitoring of the AK burden in clinical settings with enhanced automation and precision, the present study evaluates the application of semantic segmentation based on the U-Net architecture (i.e., AKU-Net). AKU-Net employs transfer learning to compensate for the relatively small dataset of annotated images and integrates a recurrent process based on convLSTM to exploit contextual information and address the challenges related to the low contrast and ambiguous boundaries of AK-affected skin regions. We used an annotated dataset of 569 clinical photographs from 115 patients with actinic keratosis to train and evaluate the model. From each photograph, patches of 512 × 512 pixels were extracted using translation lesion boxes that encompassed lesions in different positions and captured different contexts of perilesional skin. In total, 16,488 translation-augmented crops were used for training the model, and 403 lesion center crops were used for testing. To demonstrate the improvements in AK detection, AKU-Net was compared with plain U-Net and U-Net++ architectures. The experimental results highlighted the effectiveness of AKU-Net, improving upon both automation and precision over existing approaches, paving the way for more effective and reliable evaluation of actinic keratosis in clinical settings.
Effects of Interfraction Dose Variations of Target and Organs at Risk on Clinical Outcomes in High Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer
Authors: Washington Brien , Cheek Dennis , Fabian Denise , Kudrimoti Mahesh , Pokhrel Damodar , Wang Chi , Thayer-Freeman Cameron , Luo Wei
Published: October 2023

Meeting dose prescription is critical to control tumors in radiation therapy. Interfraction dose variations (IDVs) from the prescribed dose in high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) would cause the target dose to deviate from the prescription but their clinical effect has not been widely discussed in the literature. Our previous study found that IDVs followed a left-skewed distribution. The clinical effect of the IDVs in 100 cervical cancer HDR patients will be addressed in this paper. An in-house Monte Carlo (MC) program was used to simulate clinical outcomes by convolving published tumor dose response curves with IDV distributions. The optimal dose and probability of risk-free local control (RFLC) were calculated using the utility model. The IDVs were well-fitted by the left-skewed Beta distribution, which caused a 3.99% decrease in local control probability and a 1.80% increase in treatment failure. Utility with respect to IDV uncertainty increased the RFLC probability by 6.70% and predicted an optimal dose range of 83 Gy–91 Gy EQD2. It was also found that a 10 Gy dose escalation would not affect toxicity. In conclusion, HRCTV IDV uncertainty reduced LC probabilities and increased treatment failure rates. A dose escalation may help mitigate such effects.
A Novel Synthetic 3D Interconnected Porous Carbon-Rich Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Boosting Visible Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production and Dye Contaminant Degradation
Authors: Tian Cunzhang , Li Chunling , Zhao Congyue , Liu Dong , He Xinping
Published: October 2023

The use of photocatalysis to address environmental pollution and energy shortage is an attractive choice. Herein, we successfully synthesized a novel 3D interconnected porous carbon-rich g-C3N4 catalyst via facile thermal polymerization to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production and photodegradation of dye contaminants. Enhanced hydrogen evolution (1956.23 μmol g−1 h−1) and photocatalytic RhB degradation (96.74%) efficiency were achieved with the as-obtained catalysts. Based on the photocatalytic experimental data and characterization analyses, an enhancement mechanism was proposed. The 3D interconnected porous structure endowed the g-C3N4 with numerous active sites and a large specific surface area, and the carbon modification facilitated the separation and transfer of the photoinduced charge carriers. Nanoshape engineering and the carbon-rich structure showed a synergetic effect in increasing photocatalytic performance. This study offers an applicable methodology for the exploitation of an economical catalyst to alleviate environmental pollution and energy shortages.
PolyQ-Expansion Causes Mitochondria Fragmentation Independent of Huntingtin and Is Distinct from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)/Mechanical Stress-Mediated Fragmentation Which Results from Cell Death
Authors: Swinter Kelsey , Salah Dania , Rathnayake Rasika , Gunawardena Shermali
Published: October 2023

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported in many Huntington’s disease (HD) models; however, it is unclear how these defects occur. Here, we test the hypothesis that excess pathogenic huntingtin (HTT) impairs mitochondrial homeostasis, using Drosophila genetics and pharmacological inhibitors in HD and polyQ-expansion disease models and in a mechanical stress-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) model. Expression of pathogenic HTT caused fragmented mitochondria compared to normal HTT, but HTT did not co-localize with mitochondria under normal or pathogenic conditions. Expression of pathogenic polyQ (127Q) alone or in the context of Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) caused fragmented mitochondria. While mitochondrial fragmentation was not dependent on the cellular location of polyQ accumulations, the expression of a chaperone protein, excess of mitofusin (MFN), or depletion of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) rescued fragmentation. Intriguingly, a higher concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was observed in polyQ-expressing larval brains and inhibiting NO production rescued polyQ-mediated fragmented mitochondria, postulating that DRP1 nitrosylation could contribute to excess fission. Furthermore, while excess PI3K, which suppresses polyQ-induced cell death, did not rescue polyQ-mediated fragmentation, it did rescue fragmentation caused by mechanical stress/TBI. Together, our observations suggest that pathogenic polyQ alone is sufficient to cause DRP1-dependent mitochondrial fragmentation upstream of cell death, uncovering distinct physiological mechanisms for mitochondrial dysfunction in polyQ disease and mechanical stress.
Frequency Characteristics of High Strain Rate Compressions of Cf-MWCNTs/SiC Composites
Authors: Luan Kun , Ming Chen , Fang Xiaomeng , Liu Jianjun
Published: October 2023

The incorporation of ductile reinforcements into ceramics helps restrain crack deflection, which can enhance ceramics’ toughness and overcome the matrix’s brittleness. In this paper, we produced a ceramic composite reinforced by carbon fibers coated by multi-wall carbon nanotubes (shortened by Cf-MWCNT/SiC composites) for enhanced impact resistance at a high strain rate that commonly occurs in composite materials used in astronautics, marine, and other engineering fields. The fabrication process involves growing multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on a carbon fiber woven fabric (Cf) to create the fibril/fabric hybrid reinforcement. It is then impregnated by polymer solution (precursor of the ceramics), forming composites after the pyrolysis process, known as the liquid polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) technique. To assess the impact resistance of the Cf-MWCNT/SiC under high-strain rate compressions, the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique is employed. Since the failure behavior of the Cf-MWCNT/SiC composites in the absence of the ductile phase is not well understood, the study employs the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) to analyze the stress–time curves obtained from the SHPB experiments. By applying the HHT, we obtained the frequency–time spectrum and the marginal Hilbert spectrum of the stress signals. These analyses reveal the frequency characteristics of the Cf-MWCNT/SiC composite and provide insights into the relationship between transformed signal frequency and fracture behavior. By understanding the dynamic fracture behavior and frequency response of the Cf-MWCNT/SiC, it becomes possible to enhance its impact resistance and tailor its performance for specific protective requirements. Therefore, the findings of this study can guide the future design and optimization of Cf-MWCNT/SiC structures for various protective applications, such as body armor, civil structures, and protections for vehicles and aircraft.
Chemical Compositions of Chinese Glazed Tiles from an Imperial Mausoleum of the Liao Dynasty
Authors: Zhao Lan , Wan Xiongfei , Kang Baoqiang , Li He
Published: October 2023

Glazed tiles are characteristic architectural ceramics traditionally used in ancient Chinese royal buildings. Studies on their chemical compositions have provided valuable information regarding their compositional classifications and the provenances of their raw materials. Existing studies have mainly focused on the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD) or later. Research on earlier ages is limited because of a lack of samples. In this study, we used an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to analyze the chemical compositions of 18 glazed tiles unearthed from an imperial mausoleum (the Xinli site) from the Liao dynasty (969–982 AD). The glazes of the tiles had a SiO2–Al2O3–PbO ternary oxidic system and the bodies of the tiles had a SiO2–Al2O3 binary oxidic system. Certain compositional differences were observed among the samples with different types of decorations. Compared with samples from the Yuan dynasty and later periods, the Xinli samples had higher SiO2 and Al2O3 contents and lower PbO and CuO contents in the tile glazes. The tile bodies of the Xinli samples had compositions similar to those of tile bodies from the Qing dynasty (1616–1912 AD). We speculated that the Xinli samples with different decorations came from different kiln sites.
Cochlear Implantation in Children with Additional Disabilities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Caragli Valeria , Monzani Daniele , Genovese Elisabetta , Palma Silvia , Persico Antonio M.
Published: October 2023

This study examines the last 10 years of medical literature on the benefits of cochlear implantation in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) with additional disabilities. The most recent literature concerning cochlear implants (CIs) in DHH children with additional disabilities was systematically explored through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science from January 2012 to July 2023. Our two-stage search strategy selected a total of 61 articles concerning CI implantation in children with several forms of additional disabilities: autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, motor disorders, developmental delay, genetic syndromes, and intellectual disability. Overall, many children with additional disabilities benefit from CIs by acquiring greater environmental sound awareness. This, in turn, improves non-verbal communication and adaptive skills, with greater possibilities to relate to others and to be connected with the environment. Instead, despite some improvement, expressive language tends to develop more slowly and to a lesser extent compared to children affected by hearing loss only. Further studies are needed to better appreciate the specificities of each single disability and to personalize interventions, not restricting the analysis to auditory and language skills, but rather applying or developing cross-culturally validated instruments able to reliably assess the developmental trajectory and the quality of life of DHH children with additional disabilities before and after CI.
Color Polymorphism of Unfeathered Parts of the Great White Egret Ardea alba alba in Europe: An Analysis of the Internet Images
Authors: Cieślińska Karolina , Manikowska-Ślepowrońska Brygida , Jakubas Dariusz
Published: October 2023

Polymorphism has been described in many avian taxa including Ardeidae. This study investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of color polymorphic forms (with regard to the color of the unfeathered parts (legs/lores)) of the Great White Egret Ardea alba alba in internet images from Europe. In total, 140 images of presumed polymorphs from 16 countries (from 2006 to 2021) have been collected and examined. Eight coloration schemes of visible unfeathered parts were distinguished. Since some polymorphs may represent the subspecies Eastern Great Egret Ardea alba modesta, the ratio of beak length to total head length was compared among individuals representing the nominal and Eastern Great Egret subspecies. The ratio distributions were similar in all compared groups; thus, polymorph egrets may represent both of these subspecies. Most polymorph images originate from the Netherlands and the southwestern Norwegian coast. This may have resulted from specific local diets and contact with hormone-disrupting compounds. Nevertheless, some observation biases, such as the presence of local breeding population or high numbers of nature photographers, could have affected our observation pattern. Some analyzed features also followed temporal patterns. Most polymorphs were observed during the breeding season, suggesting disruptions of sex hormones as a possible cause. Studies of spatio-temporal patterns of polymorph occurrence may allow us to obtain insights into the causes of large variation in coloration schemes in polymorphic species.
FPGA-Based Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Emulation of Power Electronics Circuit Using Device-Level Behavioral Modeling
Authors: Baghdadi Mohamed , Elwarraki Elmostafa , Ait Ayad Imane
Published: October 2023

Accurate models of power electronic converters can greatly enhance the accuracy of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulators. This can result in faster and more cost-effective design cycles in industrial applications. This paper presents a detailed hardware model of the IGBT and power diode at the device level suggested for emulating power electronic converters on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The static visualization of the IGBT component involves an arrangement of equivalent models for both the MOSFET and bipolar transistor in a cascading configuration. The dynamic aspect is represented by inter-electrode nonlinear capacitances. In an effort to expedite the development process while still producing reliable results, the algorithm for the simulation system was built utilizing FPGA-based rapid prototyping via the HDL Coder in MATLAB software (R2019b). Essentially, the HDL Coder transforms the Simulink blocks of these devices within MATLAB into a hardware description language (HDL) suitable for implementation on an FPGA. To evaluate the suggested IGBT hardware model and the nonlinear circuit simulation technique, a chopper circuit is replicated, and an FPGA-in-the-loop simulation is carried out to compare the efficacy and accuracy of the model with both offline simulation results and real-time simulation results using MATLAB Simulink software and the Altera FPGA Cyclone IV GX development board.
Endoscopic Ultrasound in Pancreatic Duct Anomalies
Authors: Chatterjee Abhirup , Rana Surinder Singh
Published: October 2023

Embryological development of the pancreas is a complex phenomenon and, therefore, it can have multiple developmental aberrations. Fortunately, the majority of these pancreatic ductal anomalies are asymptomatic with no clinical relevance and are incidentally detected during diagnostic cross-sectional imaging or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or autopsy. Occasionally, pancreatic duct anomalies can result in symptoms like abdominal pain or recurrent pancreatitis. Also, an accurate pre-operative diagnosis of ductal anomalies can prevent inadvertent duct injury during surgery. Conventionally, ERCP had been used for an accurate diagnosis of pancreatic duct anomalies. However, because it is invasive and associated with a risk of pancreatitis, it has been replaced with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). MRCP has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ductal anomalies, which can be further improved with the use of secretin-enhanced MRCP. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a new diagnostic and interventional tool in the armamentarium of endoscopists and has demonstrated promising results in the detection of pancreatic duct variations and anomalies. Along with the visualization of the course and configuration of the pancreatic duct, EUS can also visualize changes in the pancreatic parenchyma, thereby helping with an early diagnosis of any co-existent pancreatic disease. Absence of the stack sign and crossed duct sign are important EUS features to diagnose pancreas divisum. EUS can also help with the diagnosis of other congenital ductal anomalies like annular pancreas, ansa pancreatica, and anomalous pancreaticobiliary union, although the published experience is limited.