bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer by Integrating Bone Marrow FDG Uptake and Radiomic Features of Primary Tumor in PET/CT
Authors: Lee Jeong Won , Park Sang-Heum , Ahn Hyein , Lee Sang Mi , Jang Su Jin
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of FDG uptake of bone marrow (BM SUV) and to investigate its role combined with radiomic features of primary tumors in improving the prediction of overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic cancer. We retrospectively enrolled 65 pancreatic cancer patients with staging FDG PET/CT. BM SUV and conventional imaging parameters of primary tumors including total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured. First-order and higher-order textural features of primary cancer were extracted using PET textural analysis. Associations of PET/CT parameters of bone marrow (BM) and primary cancer with OS were assessed. BM SUV as well as TLG and first-order entropy of pancreatic cancer were significant independent predictors of OS in multivariable analysis. A PET/CT scoring system based on the cumulative scores of these three independent predictors enabled patient stratification into three distinct prognostic groups. The scoring system yielded a good prognostic stratification based on subgroup analysis irrespective of tumor stage and treatment modality. BM SUV was an independent predictor of OS in pancreatic cancer patients. The PET/CT scoring system that integrated PET/CT parameters of primary tumors and BM can provide prognostic information in pancreatic cancer independent of tumor stage and treatment.
Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Frankart Andrew J. , Breneman John C. , Pater Luke E.
Published: July 2021

The use of radiation therapy is an important part of multimodality treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma. The specific doses, treatment volumes, and techniques used in radiation therapy can vary dramatically based upon a number of factors including location, tumor size, and molecular characteristics, resulting in complex decisions in treatment planning. This article reviews the principles of evaluation and management for head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma including a summary of the historical studies upon which current management is based.
CXCR6-CXCL16 Axis Promotes Breast Cancer by Inducing Oncogenic Signaling
Authors: Mir Hina , Kapur Neeraj , Gales Dominique N. , Sharma Praveen K. , Oprea-Ilies Gabriela , Johnson Anita T. , Singh Rajesh , Singh Shailesh
Published: July 2021

Precise mechanisms underlying breast cancer (BrCa) metastasis are undefined, which becomes a challenge for effective treatments. Chemokine signaling instigates the trafficking of cancer cells in addition to leukocytes. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical and biological significance of the CXCR6/CXCL16 signaling axis in the pathobiology of BrCa. Our data show a higher expression of CXCR6 in BrCa cell lines and tissues. Stage-III BrCa tissues express significantly higher CXCR6 compared to stage-II tissues. The ligand, CXCL16, could remain tethered to the cell surface, and, after proteolytic shedding of the ectodomain, the N-terminal fragment is released, converting it to its oncogenic, soluble form. Like CXCR6, N-terminal CXCL16 and ADAM-10 were significantly higher in stage-III than stage-II, but no significant difference was observed in the C-terminal fragment of CXCL16. Further, stimulation of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis activated Src, FAK, ERK1/2, and PI3K signaling pathways, as per antibody microarray analysis, which also underlie CXCL16-induced F-actin polymerization. The CXCR6/CXCL16 axis induces cytoskeleton rearrangement facilitating migration and invasion and supports BrCa cell survival by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. This study highlights the significance of the CXCR6/CXCL16 axis and ADAM10 as potential therapeutic targets for advanced-stage BrCa.
PET/MRI for Staging the Axilla in Breast Cancer: Current Evidence and the Rationale for SNB vs. PET/MRI Trials
Authors: Di Micco Rosa , Santurro Letizia , Gasparri Maria Luisa , Zuber Veronica , Cisternino Giovanni , Baleri Sara , Morgante Manuela , Rotmensz Nicole , Canevari Carla , Gallivanone Francesca , Scifo Paola , Savi Annarita , Magnani Patrizia , Neri Ilaria , Ferjani Nadia , Venturini Elena , Losio Claudio , Sassi Isabella , Bianchini Giampaolo , Panizza Pietro , Gianolli Luigi , Gentilini Oreste Davide
Published: July 2021

Axillary surgery in breast cancer (BC) is no longer a therapeutic procedure but has become a purely staging procedure. The progressive improvement in imaging techniques has paved the way to the hypothesis that prognostic information on nodal status deriving from surgery could be obtained with an accurate diagnostic exam. Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) is a relatively new imaging tool and its role in breast cancer patients is still under investigation. We reviewed the available literature on PET/MRI in BC patients. This overview showed that PET/MRI yields a high diagnostic performance for the primary tumor and distant lesions of liver, brain and bone. In particular, the results of PET/MRI in staging the axilla are promising. This provided the rationale for two prospective comparative trials between axillary surgery and PET/MRI that could lead to a further de-escalation of surgical treatment of BC. • SNB vs. PET/MRI 1 trial compares PET/MRI and axillary surgery in staging the axilla of BC patients undergoing primary systemic therapy (PST). • SNB vs. PET/MRI 2 trial compares PET/MRI and sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in staging the axilla of early BC patients who are candidates for upfront surgery. Finally, these ongoing studies will help clarify the role of PET/MRI in BC and establish whether it represents a useful diagnostic tool that could guide, or ideally replace, axillary surgery in the future.
Clinical and Imaging Features of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with G12C KRAS Mutation
Authors: Wu Markus Y. , Zhang Eric W. , Strickland Matthew R. , Mendoza Dexter P. , Lipkin Lev , Lennerz Jochen K. , Gainor Justin F. , Heist Rebecca S. , Digumarthy Subba R.
Published: July 2021

KRAS G12C mutations are important oncogenic mutations that confer sensitivity to direct G12C inhibitors. We retrospectively identified patients with KRAS+ NSCLC from 2015 to 2019 and assessed the imaging features of the primary tumor and the distribution of metastases of G12C NSCLC compared to those of non-G12C KRAS NSCLC and NSCLC driven by oncogenic fusion events (RET, ALK, ROS1) and EGFR mutations at the time of initial diagnosis. Two hundred fifteen patients with KRAS+ NSCLC (G12C: 83; non-G12C: 132) were included. On single variate analysis, the G12C group was more likely than the non-G12C KRAS group to have cavitation (13% vs. 5%, p = 0.04) and lung metastasis (38% vs. 21%; p = 0.043). Compared to the fusion rearrangement group, the G12C group had a lower frequency of pleural metastasis (21% vs. 41%, p = 0.01) and lymphangitic carcinomatosis (4% vs. 39%, p = 0.0001) and a higher frequency of brain metastasis (42% vs. 22%, p = 0.005). Compared to the EGFR+ group, the G12C group had a lower frequency of lung metastasis (38% vs. 67%, p = 0.0008) and a higher frequency of distant nodal metastasis (10% vs. 2%, p = 0.02). KRAS G12C NSCLC may have distinct primary tumor imaging features and patterns of metastasis when compared to those of NSCLC driven by other genetic alterations.
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Cancer Patients: A Single Centre Experience
Authors: So Alfred Chung Pui , McGrath Harriet , Ting Jonathan , Srikandarajah Krishnie , Germanou Styliani , Moss Charlotte , Russell Beth , Monroy-Iglesias Maria , Dolly Saoirse , Irshad Sheeba , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Enting Deborah
Published: July 2021

Emergency approval of vaccines against COVID-19 provides an opportunity for us to return to pre-pandemic oncology care. However, safety data in cancer patients is lacking due to their exclusion from most phase III trials. We included all patients aged less than 65 years who received a COVID-19 vaccine from 8 December 2020 to 28 February 2021 at our London tertiary oncology centre. Solicited and unsolicited vaccine-related adverse events (VRAEs) were collected using telephone or face-to-face consultation. Within the study period, 373 patients received their first dose of vaccine: Pfizer/BioNTech (75.1%), Oxford/AstraZeneca (23.6%), Moderna (0.3%), and unknown (1.1%). Median follow-up was 25 days (5–85). Median age was 56 years (19–65). Of the patients, 94.9% had a solid malignancy and 76.7% were stage 3–4. The most common cancers were breast (34.0%), lung (13.4%), colorectal (10.2%), and gynaecological (10.2%). Of the patients, 88.5% were receiving anti-cancer treatment (36.2% parenteral chemotherapy and 15.3% immunotherapy), 76.1% developed any grade VRAE of which 2.1% were grade 3. No grade 4/5 or anaphylaxis were observed. The most common VRAEs within 7 days post-vaccination were sore arm (61.7%), fatigue (18.2%), and headaches (12.1%). Most common grade 3 VRAE was fatigue (1.1%). Our results demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccines in oncology patients have mild reactogenicity.
An Approach to Cell Motility as a Key Mechanism in Oncology
Authors: López José I. , De la Fuente Ildefonso M.
Published: July 2021

Motility is an inherent characteristic of living cells manifesting cell migration, a fundamental mechanism of survival and development [...]
Calcitriol Promotes Differentiation of Glioma Stem-Like Cells and Increases Their Susceptibility to Temozolomide
Authors: Gerstmeier Julia , Possmayer Anna-Lena , Bozkurt Süleyman , Hoffmann Marina E. , Dikic Ivan , Herold-Mende Christel , Burger Michael C. , Münch Christian , Kögel Donat , Linder Benedikt
Published: July 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor, with a very high rate of recurrence and a median survival of 15 months after diagnosis. Abundant evidence suggests that a certain sub-population of cancer cells harbors a stem-like phenotype and is likely responsible for disease recurrence, treatment resistance and potentially even for the infiltrative growth of GBM. GBM incidence has been negatively correlated with the serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3, while the low pH within tumors has been shown to promote the expression of the vitamin D3-degrading enzyme 24-hydroxylase, encoded by the CYP24A1 gene. Therefore, we hypothesized that calcitriol can specifically target stem-like glioblastoma cells and induce their differentiation. Here, we show, using in vitro limiting dilution assays, quantitative real-time PCR, quantitative proteomics and ex vivo adult organotypic brain slice transplantation cultures, that therapeutic doses of calcitriol, the hormonally active form of vitamin D3, reduce stemness to varying extents in a panel of investigated GSC lines, and that it effectively hinders tumor growth of responding GSCs ex vivo. We further show that calcitriol synergizes with Temozolomide ex vivo to completely eliminate some GSC tumors. These findings indicate that calcitriol carries potential as an adjuvant therapy for a subgroup of GBM patients and should be analyzed in more detail in follow-up studies.
HO-1 and Heme: G-Quadruplex Interaction Choreograph DNA Damage Responses and Cancer Growth
Authors: Canesin Giacomo , Muralidharan Anindhita Meena , Swanson Kenneth D. , Wegiel Barbara
Published: July 2021

Many anti-cancer therapeutics lead to the release of danger associated pattern molecules (DAMPs) as the result of killing large numbers of both normal and transformed cells as well as lysis of red blood cells (RBC) (hemolysis). Labile heme originating from hemolysis acts as a DAMP while its breakdown products exert varying immunomodulatory effects. Labile heme is scavenged by hemopexin (Hx) and processed by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1, Hmox1), resulting in its removal and the generation of biliverdin/bilirubin, carbon monoxide (CO) and iron. We recently demonstrated that labile heme accumulates in cancer cell nuclei in the tumor parenchyma of Hx knockout mice and contributes to the malignant phenotype of prostate cancer (PCa) cells and increased metastases. Additionally, this work identified Hx as a tumor suppressor gene. Direct interaction of heme with DNA G-quadruplexes (G4) leads to altered gene expression in cancer cells that regulate transcription, recombination and replication. Here, we provide new data supporting the nuclear role of HO-1 and heme in modulating DNA damage response, G4 stability and cancer growth. Finally, we discuss an alternative role of labile heme as a nuclear danger signal (NDS) that regulates gene expression and nuclear HO-1 regulated DNA damage responses stimulated by its interaction with G4.
Assessment of Immunological Potential of Glial Restricted Progenitor Graft In Vivo—Is Immunosuppression Mandatory?
Authors: Kozlowska Urszula , Klimczak Aleksandra , Bednarowicz Karolina Anna , Zalewski Tomasz , Rozwadowska Natalia , Chojnacka Katarzyna , Jurga Stefan , Barnea Eytan R. , Kurpisz Maciej K.
Published: July 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease, causing motor neuron and skeletal muscle loss and death. One of the promising therapeutic approaches is stem cell graft application into the brain; however, an immune reaction against it creates serious limitations. This study aimed to research the efficiency of glial restricted progenitors (GRPs) grafted into murine CNS (central nervous system) in healthy models and the SOD1G93A ALS disease model. The cellular grafts were administered in semiallogenic and allogeneic settings. To investigate the models of immune reaction against grafted GRPs, we applied three immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory regimens: preimplantation factor (PiF); Tacrolimus; and CTLA-4, MR1 co-stimulatory blockade. We tracked the cells with bioluminescence imaging (BLI) in vivo to study their survival. The immune response character was evaluated with brain tissue assays and multiplex ELISA in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The application of immunosuppressive drugs is disputable when considering cellular transplants into the immune-privileged site/brain. However, our data revealed that semiallogenic GRP graft might survive inside murine CNS without the necessity to apply any immunomodulation or immunosuppression, whereas, in the situation of allogeneic mouse setting, the combination of CTLA-4, MR1 blockade can be considered as the best immunosuppressive option.
Diet-Induced Models of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Food for Thought on Sugar, Fat, and Cholesterol
Authors: Eng James M. , Estall Jennifer L.
Published: July 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 1 in 4 people worldwide and is a major burden to health care systems. A major concern in NAFLD research is lack of confidence in pre-clinical animal models, raising questions regarding translation to humans. Recently, there has been renewed interest in creating dietary models of NAFLD with higher similarity to human diets in hopes to better recapitulate disease pathology. This review summarizes recent research comparing individual roles of major dietary components to NAFLD and addresses common misconceptions surrounding frequently used diet-based NAFLD models. We discuss the effects of glucose, fructose, and sucrose on the liver, and how solid vs. liquid sugar differ in promoting disease. We consider studies on dosages of fat and cholesterol needed to promote NAFLD versus NASH, and discuss important considerations when choosing control diets, mouse strains, and diet duration. Lastly, we provide our recommendations on amount and type of sugar, fat, and cholesterol to include when modelling diet-induced NAFLD/NASH in mice.
Preparation of Organic Crystal Seed and Its Application in Improving the Functional Period of Biodegradable Agricultural Film
Authors: Qiao Runmeng , Wang Xin , Qin Guangjiong , Liu Qi , Liu Jialei , He Wenqing
Published: July 2021

White pollution caused by agricultural films has recently attracted great attention. In some areas, the content of micro plastic in the soil has reached 30 kg/ha. The most effective way to solve this problem is to replace traditional polyethylene agricultural films with degradable agricultural films. The consistency between the degradation rate and the crop growth period has become the biggest obstacle for the wide application of such novel agricultural films. In this paper, crystallinity regulation is used to adjust the functional period of degradable agricultural films. In addition, an organic nucleating agent of polyethylenimine (PEI) is selected by doping it to poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) polymers using a double-screw extruder. The PBAT doped with 1 wt% PEI films revealed a significant increase in mechanical properties, water holding capacity, and crystallinity compared with the pure PBAT film. There was a 31.9% increase in tensile strength, a 30.5% increase in elongation at break, a 29.6% increase in tear resistance, a 30.9% decrease in water vapor permeability, and a 3.1% increase in crystallinity. Furthermore, the induction period of PBAT doped with 1 wt% PEI under photoaging (without soil) was about 160 h longer than PBAT film, and the experienced biodegradation in soil (without light) was 1 week longer than PBAT film. Experimental results exhibited that the change of degradation degree was linearly proportional to the degree of crystallinity. This study proposes a convenient, low-cost, and effective method to adjust the crystallinity and change the degradation rate.
Quaternary Semiconductor Cd1−xZnxTe1−ySey for High-Resolution, Room-Temperature Gamma-Ray Detection
Authors: Chaudhuri Sandeep K. , Kleppinger Joshua W. , Karadavut OmerFaruk , Nag Ritwik , Mandal Krishna C.
Published: July 2021

The application of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te (CZT) single crystals, the primary choice for high-resolution, room-temperature compact gamma-ray detectors in the field of medical imaging and homeland security for the past three decades, is limited by the high cost of production and maintenance due to low detector grade crystal growth yield. The recent advent of its quaternary successor, Cd0.9Zn0.1Te1−ySey (CZTS), has exhibited remarkable crystal growth yield above 90% compared to that of ~33% for CZT. The inclusion of Se in appropriate stoichiometry in the CZT matrix is responsible for reducing the concentration of sub-grain boundary (SGB) networks which greatly enhances the compositional homogeneity and growth yield. SGB networks also host defect centers responsible for charge trapping, hence their reduced concentration ensures minimized charge trapping. Indeed, CZTS single crystals have shown remarkable improvement in electron charge transport properties and energy resolution over CZT detectors. However, our studies have found that the overall charge transport in CZTS is still limited by the hole trapping. In this article, we systematically review the advances in the CZTS growth techniques, its performance as room-temperature radiation detector, and the role of defects and their passivation studies needed to improve the performance of CZTS detectors further.
Tunable Low Frequency Band Gap and Waveguide of Phononic Crystal Plates with Different Filling Ratio
Authors: Zhang Shaobo , Liu Jiang , Zhang Hongbo , Wang Shuliang
Published: July 2021

Aiming at solving the NVH problem in vehicles, a novel composite structure is proposed. The new structure uses a hollow-stub phononic-crystal with filled cylinders (HPFC) plate. Any unit in the plate consists of a lead head, a silicon rubber body, an aluminum base as outer column and an opposite arranged inner pole. The dispersion curves are investigated by numerical simulations and the influences of structural parameters are discussed, including traditional hollow radius, thickness, height ratio, and the new proposed filling ratio. Three new arrays are created and their spectrum maps are calculated. In the dispersion simulation results, new branches are observed. The new branches would move towards lower frequency zone and the band gap width enlarges as the filling ratio decreases. The transmission spectrum results show that the new design can realize three different multiplexing arrays for waveguides and also extend the locally resonant sonic band gap. In summary, the proposed HPFC structure could meet the requirement for noise guiding and filtering. Compared to a traditional phononic crystal plate, this new composite structure may be more suitable for noise reduction in rail or road vehicles.
Missing in Action: Reports of Interdisciplinary Integration in Canadian Palliative Care
Authors: Robinson Maggie C. , Qureshi Maryam , Sinnarajah Aynharan , Chary Srini , de Groot Janet M. , Feldstain Andrea
Published: July 2021

Palliative care has an interdisciplinary tradition and Canada is a leader in its research and practice. Yet even in Canada, a full interdisciplinary complement is often lacking, with psychosocial presence ranging from 0–67.4% depending on the discipline and region. We sought to examine the most notable gaps in care from the perspective of Canadian palliative professionals. Canadian directors of palliative care programs were surveyed with respect to interdisciplinary integration. Participants responded in writing or by phone interview. We operationalized reports of interdisciplinary professions as either “present” or “under/not-represented”. The Vaismoradi, Turunen, and Bondas’ procedure was used for content analysis. Our 14 participants consisted of physicians (85.7%), nurses (14.3%), and a social worker (7.1%) from Ontario (35.7%), British Columbia (14.3%), Alberta (14.3%), Quebec (14.3%), Nova Scotia (14.3%), and New Brunswick (7.1%). Psychology and social work were equally and most frequently reported as “under/not represented” (5/14, each). All participants reported the presence of medical professionals (physicians and nurses) and these groups were not reported as under/not represented. Spiritual care and others (e.g., rehabilitation and volunteers) were infrequently reported as “under/not represented”. Qualitative themes included Commonly Represented Disciplines, Quality of Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Commonly Under-Represented Disciplines, and Special Concern: Psychosocial Care. Similar to previous reports, we found that (1) psychology was under-represented yet highly valued and (2) despite social work’s relative high presence in care, our participants reported a higher need for more. These finding highlight those psychosocial gaps in care are most frequently noted by palliative care professionals, especially psychology and social work. We speculate on barriers and enablers to addressing this need.
Genetic Structure and Diversity of the Yellowbelly Threadfin Bream Nemipterus bathybius in the Northern South China Sea
Authors: Yi Mu-Rong , Hsu Kui-Ching , Wang Jin-Xi , Feng Bo , Lin Hung-Du , Yan Yun-Rong
Published: July 2021

The genetic structure and demography of the yellowbelly threadfin bream, Nemipterus bathybius, in the northern South China Sea were examined using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene (1141 bp). High levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversities (0.98 and 5.26 × 10−3, respectively) showed that all populations exhibited a high level of genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), FST statistics, and haplotype networks suggested the absence of significant genetic differentiation along the coast of the northern South China Sea. Although the results suggested that the lack of differentiation within the population structure of N. bathybius was shaped by ocean currents, our results also showed that the Qiongzhou Strait limited their migration between Beibu Gulf and the northern South China Sea. Neutrality tests and mismatch distributions indicated population expansion, but the Bayesian skyline plots and approximate Bayesian computation approaches suggested that the population sizes recently contracted. The diversification of multiple stocks, which were induced by two ocean current systems, contributed to these discordant results. Although these analyses of demographic history revealed no evidence for recent population bottlenecks, the population demography needs to be evaluated further.
Digital Biomarkers for Neuromuscular Disorders: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Youn Bo-Young , Ko Youme , Moon Seunghwan , Lee Jinhee , Ko Seung-Gyu , Kim Jee-Young
Published: July 2021

Biomarkers play a vital role in clinical care. They enable early diagnosis and treatment by identifying a patient’s condition and disease course and act as an outcome measure that accurately evaluates the efficacy of a new treatment or drug. Due to the rapid development of digital technologies, digital biomarkers are expected to grow tremendously. In the era of change, this scoping review was conducted to see which digital biomarkers are progressing in neuromuscular disorders, a diverse and broad-range disease group among the neurological diseases, to discover available evidence for their feasibility and reliability. Thus, a total of 10 studies were examined: 9 observational studies and 1 animal study. Of the observational studies, studies were conducted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. Non-peer reviewed poster presentations were not considered, as the articles may lead to erroneous results. The only animal study included in the present review investigated the mice model of ALS for detecting rest disturbances using a non-invasive digital biomarker.
Combination of Plasma-Based Metabolomics and Machine Learning Algorithm Provides a Novel Diagnostic Strategy for Malignant Mesothelioma
Authors: Li Na , Yang Chenxi , Zhou Sicheng , Song Siyu , Jin Yuyao , Wang Ding , Liu Junping , Gao Yun , Yang Haining , Mao Weimin , Chen Zhongjian
Published: July 2021

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive and incurable carcinoma that is primarily caused by asbestos exposure. However, the current diagnostic tool for MM is still under-developed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the diagnostic significance of a strategy that combined plasma-based metabolomics with machine learning algorithms for MM. Methods: Plasma samples collected from 25 MM patients and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were randomly divided into train set and test set, after which analyzation was performed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Differential metabolites were screened out from the samples of the train set. Subsequently, metabolite-based diagnostic models, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Random Forest model (RF), were established, and their prediction accuracies were calculated for the test set samples. Results: Twenty differential plasma metabolites were annotated in the train set; 10 of these metabolites were validated in the test set. The seven most prevalent diagnostic metabolites were taurocholic acid), 0.7142 (uracil), 0.7142 (biliverdin), 0.8571 (histidine), 0.5000 (tauroursodeoxycholic acid), 0.8571 (pyrroline hydroxycarboxylic acid), and 0.7857 (phenylalanine). Furthermore, RF based on 20 annotated metabolites showed a prediction accuracy of 0.9286, and its optimized version achieved 1.0000 in the test set. Moreover, the comparison between the samples of peritoneal MM (n = 8) and pleural MM (n = 17) illustrated a significant increase in levels of taurocholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid, as well as an evident decrease in biliverdin. Conclusions: Our results revealed the potential diagnostic value of plasma-based metabolomics combined with machine learning for MM. Further research with large sample size is worthy conducting. Moreover, our data demonstrated dysregulated metabolism pathways in MM, which aids in better understanding of molecular mechanisms related to the initiation and development of MM.
Secret Communication Systems Using Chaotic Wave Equations with Neural Network Boundary Conditions
Authors: Chen Yuhan , Sano Hideki , Wakaiki Masashi , Yaguchi Takaharu
Published: July 2021

In a secret communication system using chaotic synchronization, the communication information is embedded in a signal that behaves as chaos and is sent to the receiver to retrieve the information. In a previous study, a chaotic synchronous system was developed by integrating the wave equation with the van der Pol boundary condition, of which the number of the parameters are only three, which is not enough for security. In this study, we replace the nonlinear boundary condition with an artificial neural network, thereby making the transmitted information difficult to leak. The neural network is divided into two parts; the first half is used as the left boundary condition of the wave equation and the second half is used as that on the right boundary, thus replacing the original nonlinear boundary condition. We also show the results for both monochrome and color images and evaluate the security performance. In particular, it is shown that the encrypted images are almost identical regardless of the input images. The learning performance of the neural network is also investigated. The calculated Lyapunov exponent shows that the learned neural network causes some chaotic vibration effect. The information in the original image is completely invisible when viewed through the image obtained after being concealed by the proposed system. Some security tests are also performed. The proposed method is designed in such a way that the transmitted images are encrypted into almost identical images of waves, thereby preventing the retrieval of information from the original image. The numerical results show that the encrypted images are certainly almost identical, which supports the security of the proposed method. Some security tests are also performed. The proposed method is designed in such a way that the transmitted images are encrypted into almost identical images of waves, thereby preventing the retrieval of information from the original image. The numerical results show that the encrypted images are certainly almost identical, which supports the security of the proposed method.
Variations in Circadian Rhythmicity and Students’ Gender-Related Psychological Conditions during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Sabaoui Ikram , Lotfi Said , Talbi Mohammed
Published: July 2021

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced around the world, new student lifestyles have had an impact on their daily behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine post-traumatic stress associated with the initial COVID-19 crisis in students (N = 280) with a mean age of 13 ± 1.70 and to determine the relationship between their reported daily behaviors in terms of their gender. The study was conducted primarily in Casablanca and Marrakech, the two cities most affected by the pandemic at the time of the study in Morocco in May 2020. Our sample consists of 133 high school students and 147 middle school students, 83.6% of whom are females. Students were asked to answer questions based on an Activity Biorhythm Questionnaire, the Post-Traumatic Stress Scale (Weathers et al., 1993), the Hamilton Scale (Hamilton, 1960), the Worry Domains Questionnaire (Tallis, Eyzenck, Mathews, 1992), and the Visual Analog Scale of Moods (VASM) (Stern et al., 1997). The results obtained confirm that there is a significant relationship between the circadian rhythm of some variables and gender in some activities such as academic study (p < 0.05) and TV and Internet use (p < 0.05) and was highly significant for physical activity (p = 0.001), while others are not significant in relation to other schedules of the same variables or in relation to others. Likewise, for the psychological conditions, significant relationships with mood states and depressive tendencies were confirmed. In lockdown, the students’ daily lives underwent changes in circadian rhythm and lifestyle. Therefore, it is necessary to treat their current psychological problems and avoid future complications.
Entrepreneurial Skills to Be Successful in the Global and Digital World: Proposal for a Frame of Reference for Entrepreneurial Education
Authors: Jardim Jacinto
Published: July 2021

For most professionals to succeed in the current job market, they need some entrepreneurial skills (ES). This study aimed to describe and systematize these skills, considering the current globalization and digital transformation phenomena. The documental analysis and the critical reflection on the collected data allowed us to identify the socio-economic and socio-cultural reasons for the relevance of this problem. Consequently, to elaborate a frame of reference intended to be adequate to the needs of the professionals of the current global and digital era. The results pointed to a tripartite ES model—to be open to novelty, to create solutions to emerging problems, and to communicate effectively—which integrates the following skills: Creativity and innovation, the spirit of initiative, self-efficacy and resilience, strategic planning, and evaluation, resolution of problems and decision-making, transformational leadership, clear and visual communication, teamwork and networking, and digital communication. In the continuation of this study, an ES scale will be created and validated according to this model, which will make it possible to measure the degree of development of these competencies.
Teacher Mobility in Punjab, Pakistan: Stayers and Movers within the Public and Private Schools
Authors: Siddiqui Nadia , Shaukat Sadia
Published: July 2021

Understanding the determinants of teacher mobility is important in order to implement effective policies for the recruitment, retention, and fair allocation of teachers. The teacher transfer policy implemented in Punjab, Pakistan, is intended to address corruption and a fair allocation of teachers in public schools. However, the policy has implications for teacher mobility. This paper presents survey findings on teacher mobility patterns in public schools in Punjab, Pakistan, examining the extent and determinants of mobility in comparison with teachers in private schools. In the survey, 1002 in-service teachers participated, and 46% reported changing school at least once during their teaching career. The findings show that teachers who changed schools in their early career, with an average of two years of teaching experience, gained higher salary benefits by changing schools compared to experienced teachers, with an average of 14 years of teaching experience, who never changed schools. In comparison with early career teachers, experienced teachers who never changed school had lower salaries but higher satisfaction with life in general and with the school as their workplace. The most common reasons for changing school were lack of teaching resources, difficulty in commuting to school, unmanageable student–teacher ratio, and no chance of promotion in their teaching career. Teacher mobility was slightly higher in public schools compared to private schools, despite implementation of a merit-based transfer policy. A binary logistic regression model was constructed with the outcome of teacher mobility (or not), with a base figure of 54%. By adding gender, marital status, school type, length of teaching experience, and teachers’ satisfaction, the model increased correct predictions to 62%. Teacher salary and teaching workload did not explain any variation in the model. These findings have implications for teacher transfer policy in public schools and lessons for private schools to retain teachers by offering longer contracts and reliable pension schemes. Policymakers must consider facilitating teachers’ satisfaction with their workplace, particularly by making public schools in rural areas attractive places for the retention of teachers in early career phases.
FPGA Implementation of Image Ordering and Packing Algorithm for TuMag Camera
Authors: Magdaleno Eduardo , Rodríguez Valido Manuel , Hernández David , Balaguer María , Ruiz Cobo Basilio , Díaz David
Published: July 2021

The TuMag instrument is a Tunable Magnetograph that has been designed to measure the magnetic field of the sun. This instrument and others will be connected to a telescope that will be sent into the stratosphere using a balloon for an uninterrupted observation of the sun for four days in the summer of 2022. The TuMag camera is a new development for implementing the image detector of the instrument. It is based on the GPIXEL GSENSE400-BSI scientific CMOS image sensor and an FPGA device in charge of controlling the image sensor, configuring it and grabbing images. FPGA device consists of an array of Configurable Logic Blocks. However, the sensor does not supply the image data in a row-by-column format. This task has to be done in the FPGA that controls the sensor because the frame grabber has a significant workload with the control of all the instruments, the telescope, the refrigeration, the navigation, and so on. This work describes the FPGA implementation of Image Ordering and Packing algorithm for TuMag Camera concerning the real-time ordering of the images before grabbing and sending to the Data Processing Unit.
How to Make Off-Grid Solar Electric Cooking Cheaper Than Wood-Based Cooking
Authors: Van Buskirk Robert , Kachione Lawrence , Robert Gilbert , Kanyerere Rachel , Gilbert Christina , Majoni James
Published: July 2021

Low-income sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) households rely on wood for cooking for the simple reason that it is the lowest cost cooking fuel. Thus, full attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) requires developing clean cooking technologies that are cheaper than wood cooking. This study provides a comparative marginal levelized cost of energy (MLCOE) analysis for wood cooking vs. innovative solar electric cooking technologies. The two key off-grid solar technologies evaluated are: (1) direct-use DC solar (DDS) electricity for cooking applications, and (2) high-cycle-life lithium titanate (LTO) batteries. MLCOE is reported in USD/kWh for energy delivered to cooked food. A low median MLCOE of USD 0.125/kWh is attained using DDS electricity which is output directly by a solar panel with little or no intervening electricity storage and few electricity conversion and control costs. DDS solar panel output has variable voltage and current that is managed by a specialized DDS cooker. LTO battery-regulated electricity has a median MLCOE of USD 0.24/kWh which declines to USD 0.16/kWh with electric pressure cooker use. The distributions of MLCOE for wood-based, DDS-electric, and LTO-electric cooking strongly overlap. The MLCOE cost model suggests specific means for modifying input costs, component lifetime, and system efficiency to improve solar MLCOE further relative to wood MLCOE.
A Review of Modeling and Diagnostic Techniques for Eccentricity Fault in Electric Machines
Authors: Liu Zijian , Zhang Pinjia , He Shan , Huang Jin
Published: July 2021

Research on the modeling and fault diagnosis of rotor eccentricities has been conducted during the past two decades. A variety of diagnostic theories and methods have been proposed based on different mechanisms, and there are reviews following either one type of electric machines or one type of eccentricity. Nonetheless, the research routes of modeling and diagnosis are common, regardless of machine or eccentricity types. This article tends to review all the possible modeling and diagnostic approaches for all common types of electric machines with eccentricities and provide suggestions on future research roadmap. The paper indicates that a reliable low-cost non-intrusive real-time online visualized diagnostic method is the trend. Observer-based diagnostic strategies are thought promising for the continued research.
Effects of CaO on the Clonal Growth and Root Adaptability of Cypress in Acidic Soils
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Jin Guoqing , Chen Tan , Zhou Zhichun
Published: July 2021

Cypress (Cupressus funebris Endl.) is a major tree species planted for forestland restoration in low-fertility soil and in areas where rocky desertification has occurred. Calcium (Ca) fertilizer can adjust the pH of soil and has an important effect on the growth of cypress. Soil and water losses are serious in Southern China, and soil acidification is increasing, which results in high calcium loss. However, the adaptability of cypress clones to different concentrations of calcium in acidic soils has not been studied. In this investigation, a potted-plant experiment was set up with three concentrations of calcium oxide (CaO) fertilizer (0, 3, and 6 g·kg−1) added under local soil conditions with 0 and 3 g·kg−1 nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer. The effects of CaO on the growth, root development, and nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency of cypress clones were analyzed. The growth, root development, and nutrient absorption and utilization of cypress differed when calcium fertilizer was applied to acidic soils with different degrees of fertility. In the soil with 0 g·kg−1 NPK fertilizer, the 3 and 6 g·kg−1 CaO treatments significantly increased the clonal growth of cypress seedling height, basal diameter, and dry-matter weight. In addition, the length, surface area, and volume of the roots less than 2.0 mm of root diameter also significantly increased, indicating that the fine cypress roots were somewhat able to adapt to differing Ca levels under lower fertility conditions. Moreover, the efficiency of N, P, and Ca accumulation was highest in the 3 g·kg−1 CaO treatment. After adding 3 g·kg−1 CaO fertilizer to the soil with 3 g·kg−1 NPK fertilizer, only the root dry-matter weight increased significantly, indicating that root development (including root length, surface area, and volume) in the D1–D3 diameter classes (≤1.5 mm in diameter) was significantly elevated. When CaO application reached 6 g·kg−1, the seedling height, basal diameter, and dry-matter weight of each organ decreased, as did the length, surface area, and volume of the roots in the all diameter classes, indicating that the addition of excessive CaO to fertile soil could inhibit the growth and root development of cypress. In Ca-deficient low-quality acidic soils, adding CaO fertilizer can promote the development of fine roots and the uptake and utilization of N, P, and Ca. The results of this study provide a basis for determining the optimal fertilization strategy when growing cypress in acidic soils in Southern China.
Maximizing the Standing Skyline Log Load Using a Variable Length Tagline
Authors: Sessions John , Lyons Kevin , Wimer Jeff
Published: July 2021

The standing skyline continues to be a common cable logging configuration. In payload analysis it is usually assumed that the tagline (line connecting the logs to the carriage) length is held constant while yarding a turn up the skyline corridor. We show this assumption severely limits the skyline load-carrying capacity for skylines operating with partial suspension. We suggest that smart carriage technology could markedly increase the log load capacity through the use of a variable length tagline, and thus logging productivity. A methodology for estimating the log load capacity for a standing skyline with variable tagline length is presented. We illustrate that increases of 30–40 percent in log load are possible with a variable length tagline.
Taxonomy and Molecular Phylogeny of Phellodon (Thelephorales) with Descriptions of Four New Species from Southwest China
Authors: Song Chang-Ge , Ji Xing , Liu Shun , He Xiao-Lan , Cui Bao-Kai
Published: July 2021

Phellodon is a genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi belonging to the group known as the stipitate hydnoids. It is associated with coniferous trees in forest ecosystems and is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere. Phellodon, together with Hydnellum, and Sarcodon, is classified in the Bankeraceae, members of which are generally considered as symbiotic fungi. Ectomycorrhizal fungi can help plant roots fix nitrogen and improve the absorption capacity of soil nutrients by trees, so they play an important role in ecosystem protection. Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Chinese Phellodon collections were carried out. Four new Phellodon species were discovered from southwestern China based on a combination of morphological characters and molecular data. Phellodon atroardesiacus is characterized by the blackish blue to dark grey pileus, dark grey to ash grey spines, and presence of clamp connections in spines. Phellodon cinereofuscus is distinguished by a cottony tomentose pileal margin, long spines which become clay-buff when dry, and echinulate basidiospores. Phellodon stramineus is characterized by a depressed and tomentose pileus, straw buff-colored pileal surface, and dark grey to ash grey spines. Phellodon yunnanensis is distinguished by a clay-pink to brown pileus, pale brown to white spines, and the presence of clamp connections in the outer layer of stipe. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and ecological traits for the new taxa are provided. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions confirmed that the four new species are distinct within Phellodon.
A Physics-Guided Deep Learning Model for 10-h Dead Fuel Moisture Content Estimation
Authors: Fan Chunquan , He Binbin
Published: July 2021

Dead fuel moisture content (DFMC) is a key driver for fire occurrence and is often an important input to many fire simulation models. There are two main approaches to estimating DFMC: empirical and process-based models. The former mainly relies on empirical methods to build relationships between the input drivers (weather, fuel and site characteristics) and observed DFMC. The latter attempts to simulate the processes that occur in the fuel with energy and water balance conservation equations. However, empirical models lack explanations for physical processes, and process-based models may provide an incomplete representation of DFMC. To combine the benefits of empirical and process-based models, here we introduced the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network and its combination with an effective physics process-based model fuel stick moisture model (FSMM) to estimate DFMC. The LSTM network showed its powerful ability in describing the temporal dynamic changes of DFMC with high R2 (0.91), low RMSE (3.24%) and MAE (1.97%). When combined with a FSMM model, the physics-guided model FSMM-LSTM showed betterperformance (R2 = 0.96, RMSE = 2.21% and MAE = 1.41%) compared with the other models. Therefore, the combination of the physics process and deep learning estimated 10-h DFMC more accurately, allowing the improvement of wildfire risk assessments and fire simulating.
Hazards of Risk: Identifying Plausible Community Wildfire Disasters in Low-Frequency Fire Regimes
Authors: McEvoy Andy , Kerns Becky K. , Kim John B.
Published: July 2021

Optimized wildfire risk reduction strategies are generally not resilient in the event of unanticipated, or very rare events, presenting a hazard in risk assessments which otherwise rely on actuarial, mean-based statistics to characterize risk. This hazard of actuarial approaches to wildfire risk is perhaps particularly evident for infrequent fire regimes such as those in the temperate forests west of the Cascade Range crest in Oregon and Washington, USA (“Westside”), where fire return intervals often exceed 200 years but where fires can be extremely intense and devastating. In this study, we used wildfire simulations and building location data to evaluate community wildfire exposure and identify plausible disasters that are not based on typical mean-based statistical approaches. We compared the location and magnitude of simulated disasters to historical disasters (1984–2020) in order to characterize plausible surprises which could inform future wildfire risk reduction planning. Results indicate that nearly half of communities are vulnerable to a future disaster, that the magnitude of plausible disasters exceeds any recent historical events, and that ignitions on private land are most likely to result in very high community exposure. Our methods, in combination with more typical actuarial characterizations, provide a way to support investment in and communication with communities exposed to low-probability, high-consequence wildfires.