bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shear Band Control for Improved Strength-Ductility Synergy in Metallic Glasses
Authors: Sha Zhendong , Teng Yun , Poh Leong Hien , Wang Tiejun , Gao Huajian
Published: October 2022

Aside from ultrahigh strength and elasticity, metallic glasses (MGs) possess a number of favorable properties. However, their lack of dislocation based plastic deformation mechanisms in crystalline metals and the resulting loss of ductility have restricted the engineering applications of MGs over the last 60 years. This review aims to provide an overview of deformation and failure mechanisms of MGs via formation and propagation of shear bands (SBs), with an emphasis on the control of SBs to promote strength-ductility synergy. With this goal in mind, we highlight some of the emerging strategies to improve the ductility of MGs. Topics covered include postprocessing techniques such as precompression, heterogeneity tuning, and rejuvenation, with a primary focus on recent progresses in structural design based methods including nanoglasses, notched MGs, and MG nanolattices, as future innovations toward strength-ductility synergy beyond the current benchmark ranges.
Effect of Exercise on Carotid Artery Intima–Media Thickness in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Yiyan , Wu Hengjing , Sun Jie , Wei Minqian , Wang Jiaqi , Li Husheng , Wu Xubo , Wu Jing
Published: October 2022

Background: Carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) is a validated surrogate marker of atherosclerosis that is independently associated with the risk for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies on the effect of exercise on cIMT have yielded conflicting results. Methods: Studies that were available up until October 30, 2021 from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases were included in the analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine the effects of the type, intensity, and duration of exercise on cIMT. Results: This review included 26 studies with 1370 participants. Compared with control participants, those who engaged in exercise showed a decline in cIMT (weighted mean difference [WMD] −0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.03 to −0.01; I2 = 90.1%). Participants who engaged in aerobic (WMD −0.02; 95% CI, −0.04 to −0.01; I2 = 52.7%) or resistance (WMD −0.01; 95% CI, −0.02 to −0.00; I2 = 38.5%) exercise showed lower cIMT compared with control participants. An exercise duration of >6 months was associated with a 0.02 mm reduction in cIMT. In participants with low cIMT at baseline (<0.7 mm), exercise alone was not associated with a change in cIMT (WMD −0.01; 95% CI, −0.03 to 0.00; I2 = 93.9%). Conclusions: Exercise was associated with reduced cIMT in adults. Aerobic exercise is associated with a greater decline in cIMT than other forms of exercise. Large, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are required to establish optimal exercise protocols for improving the pathological process of atherosclerosis.
Fast-Growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cells with a Constitutive Unfolded Protein Response and Their Potential for Lipidic Molecule Production
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Thi Mai , Ishiwata-Kimata Yuki , Kimata Yukio
Published: October 2022

The UPR is thought to be a cellular response to cope with the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. In
S. cerevisiae
cells, the UPR is severely repressed under nonstress conditions.
Casirivimab and Imdevimab Treatment Reduces Viral Load and Improves Clinical Outcomes in Seropositive Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Nonneutralizing or Borderline Neutralizing Antibodies
Authors: Hooper Andrea T. , Somersan-Karakaya Selin , McCarthy Shane E. , Mylonakis Eleftherios , Ali Shazia , Mei Jingning , Bhore Rafia , Mahmood Adnan , Geba Gregory P. , Dakin Paula , Weinreich David M. , Yancopoulos George D. , Herman Gary A. , Hamilton Jennifer D.
Published: October 2022

The clinical benefit of CAS+IMD in hospitalized seronegative patients with COVID-19 has previously been demonstrated, although these studies observed no clinical benefit in seropositive patients. As the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-seropositive individuals rises due to both vaccination and previous infection, it is important to understand whether there is a subset of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 who could benefit from anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody treatment.
Caspase-Mediated Regulation and Cellular Heterogeneity of the cGAS/STING Pathway in Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Infection
Authors: Tabtieng Tate , Lent Rachel C. , Kaku Machika , Monago Sanchez Alvaro , Gaglia Marta Maria
Published: October 2022

Type I interferons are key factors that dictate the outcome of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Thus, intricate cellular regulatory mechanisms are in place to control IFN responses.
Comparison of BinaxNOW and SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR Detection of the Omicron Variant from Matched Anterior Nares Swabs
Authors: Landaverde Lena , Turcinovic Jacquelyn , Doucette-Stamm Lynn , Gonzales Kevin , Platt Judy , Connor John H. , Klapperich Catherine
Published: October 2022

Our results suggest BinaxNOW can rule in SARS-CoV-2 infection but would miss infections if RDTs were exclusively used.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Alters the Root Endophyte Bacterial Microbiome in Maize Plants, but Not in the Stem or Rhizosphere Soil
Authors: Miranda-Carrazco Alejandra , Navarro-Noya Yendi E. , Govaerts Bram , Verhulst Nele , Dendooven Luc
Published: October 2022

We investigated the bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere, root, and stem of maize plants cultivated under different agricultural techniques, i.e., with or without N fertilization, and with or without tillage. We found that the bacterial community was defined mostly by the plant compartment and less by agricultural techniques.
MADET: a Manually Curated Knowledge Base for Microbiomic Effects on Efficacy and Toxicity of Anticancer Treatments
Authors: Zhang Jie , Chen Xiqian , Zou Jiaxin , Li Chen , Kang Wanying , Guo Yang , Liu Sheng , Zhao Wenjing , Mou Xiangyu , Huang Jiayuan , Ke Jia
Published: October 2022

Human microbiota plays an important role in mediating drug efficacy and toxicity in anticancer treatment. In this work, we developed a comprehensive online database, which documents over 480 microbiota-drug associations manually curated from 26 research articles.
Neighbourhood natural space and the narrowing of socioeconomic inequality in years of life lost: a cross-sectional ecological analysis of the Scottish Burden of Disease
Authors: Nicholls Natalie , Caryl Fiona , Olsen Jonathan R , Mitchell Richard
Published: October 2022

Background

Natural space is associated with reduced risk of, and narrower socioeconomic inequalities in, diseases that affect older populations, and some contributors to premature mortality in younger individuals. Burden of disease measures such as years of life lost (YLL) are influenced by premature poor health and death. We hypothesised some association between natural space and both rates of and inequalities in YLL might be present.

Methods

The outcome data were the YLL component from Scottish Burden of Disease 2016, provided at small-area level (datazone) for males and females under 65 years of age in Scotland, UK. Exposure variables were the percentages of land cover within each datazone defined as ‘natural space’ (NS), and ‘natural space and private gardens’ (NSG). Together with a measure of area income deprivation, these were fitted in a multilevel Poisson model accounting for intra-datazone level variation, and spatial autocorrelation between datazones.

Results

An increased percentage cover of NSG was associated with lower YLL in males (incident rate ratio (IRR) 0.993, 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.989 to 0.997) and females (IRR 0.993, CrI 0.987 to 0.998); each 10% increase of natural space cover was associated with a 7% decrease in the incidence rate. An increased amount of natural space within local areas was associated with reduced disparity in YLL between the most and least income deprived areas.

Conclusions

The health benefits of natural space also apply when indicators sensitive to health events at younger ages are used. An increased amount of natural space within local areas has the potential to reduce the disparity in YLL between the most and least income deprived areas—the ‘equigenic’ effect.
Biogeochemical responses to multiyear above-canopy applications of nitrogen at a jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forest in northern Alberta, Canada
Authors: McDonough Andrew M. , Watmough Shaun A. , Bird Adam W.
Published: October 2022

Elevated atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can alter forest biogeochemistry leading to adverse impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Experimental studies often apply N to the forest understorey at greatly elevated loads, bypassing important canopy interactions. Using a narrow N deposition gradient (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kg N·ha−1·year−1), we measured changes in jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forest biogeochemistry in the bituminous sands region of northern Alberta, Canada after 5 years of above-canopy N additions. The canopy intercepted approximately 46% of applied N across all treatments, but during the final year, N interception was reduced to 7% in the highest treatment. Nitrogen concentrations in nonvascular organisms increased with treatment and N was also immobilized in decomposing litter in the highest treatment. Otherwise, vascular plant biomass, foliar chemistry, and soil processes exhibited no relationship with treatment over 5 years. This work suggests that jack pine forests in the region have a high capacity to immobilize N inputs over the short-term (5 years), which restricts other biogeochemical responses traditionally associated with elevated N deposition.
Model independent measurements of standard model cross sections with domain adaptation
Authors: Camaiani Benedetta , Seidita Roberto , Anderlini Lucio , Ceccarelli Rudy , Ciulli Vitaliano , Lenzi Piergiulio , Lizzo Mattia , Viliani Lorenzo
Published: October 2022

With the ever growing amount of data collected by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC, fiducial and differential measurements of the Higgs boson production cross section have become important tools to test the standard model predictions with an unprecedented level of precision, as well as seeking deviations that can manifest the presence of physics beyond the standard model. These measurements are in general designed for being easily comparable to any present or future theoretical prediction, and to achieve this goal it is important to keep the model dependence to a minimum. Nevertheless, the reduction of the model dependence usually comes at the expense of the measurement precision, preventing to exploit the full potential of the signal extraction procedure. In this paper a novel methodology based on the machine learning concept of domain adaptation is proposed, which allows using a complex deep neural network in the signal extraction procedure while ensuring a minimal dependence of the measurements on the theoretical modeling of the signal.
The landscape of the quantum start-up ecosystem
Authors: Seskir Zeki Can , Korkmaz Ramis , Aydinoglu Arsev Umur
Published: October 2022

The second quantum revolution has been producing groundbreaking scientific and technological outputs since the early 2000s; however, the scientific literature on the impact of this revolution on the industry, specifically on start-ups, is limited. In this paper, we present a landscaping study with a gathered dataset of 441 companies from 42 countries that we identify as quantum start-ups, meaning that they mainly focus on quantum technologies (QT) as their primary priority business. We answer the following questions: (1) What are the temporal and geographical distributions of the quantum start-ups? (2) How can we categorize them, and how are these categories populated? (3) Are there any patterns that we can derive from empirical data on trends? We found that more than 92% of these companies have been founded within the last 10 years, and more than 50% of them are located in the US, the UK, and Canada. We categorized the QT start-ups into six fields: (i) complementary technologies, (ii) quantum computing (hardware), (iii) quantum computing (software/application/simulation), (iv) quantum cryptography/communication, (v) quantum sensing and metrology, and (vi) supporting companies, and analyzed the population of each field both for countries, and temporally. Finally, we argue that low levels of quantum start-up activity in a country might be an indicator of a national initiative to be adopted afterwards, which later sees both an increase in the number of start-ups, and a diversification of activity in different QT fields.
ρ‐Einstein Solitons on Warped Product Manifolds and Applications
Authors: Bin Turki Nasser , Shenawy Sameh , EL-Sayied H. K. , Syied N. , Mantica C. A.
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this research is to investigate how a ρ‐Einstein soliton structure on a warped product manifold affects its base and fiber factor manifolds. Firstly, the pertinent properties of ρ‐Einstein solitons are provided. Secondly, numerous necessary and sufficient conditions of a ρ‐Einstein soliton warped product manifold to make its factor ρ‐Einstein soliton are examined. On a ρ‐Einstein gradient soliton warped product manifold, necessary and sufficient conditions for making its factor ρ‐Einstein gradient soliton are presented. ρ‐Einstein solitons on warped product manifolds admitting a conformal vector field are also considered. Finally, the structure of ρ‐Einstein solitons on some warped product space‐times is investigated.
A Deep Longitudinal Model for Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s Disease Conversion Prediction in Low-Income Countries
Authors: Akhtar Adeem , Minhas Sidra , Sabahat Nosheen , Khanum Aasia
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal disease, due to the nonavailability of any permanent cure. Some treatments are under experimentation that can slow down and possibly pause the progression of the disease only if the disease is diagnosed earlier. The onset of AD can only be detected at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage in which slight memory loss is observed but daily routine functions are intact. A small fraction of the patient progresses from MCI to AD. In this research, we have designed a cascaded deep neural network model to identify those MCI subjects who will progress to AD in the following year. The analysis and experimentation have been performed using twenty longitudinal neuropsychological measures (NMs) provided by Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). After normalization and ranking of longitudinal data, the deep neural network regression model is trained and tuned to forecast the next in-sequence biomarker value using two previous follow-up readings for each marker. Then, the three time-domain window samples are fed into another deep neural network classifier model for the classification of MCI progressor (MCIp) and MCI stables (MCIs). Our model presented regression forecasting MAE of 0.13 and classification accuracy of 86.9% with AUC of 92.1% (Sensitivity: 67.7%, specificity: 92.3%) over 5-fold cross-validation. We conclude that time-domain measures of NM alone can deliver comparable MCI to AD conversion prediction performance without leveraging more expensive and invasive counterparts such as MR imaging, PET scans, and CSF measures. Middle and low-income countries will benefit from such cheap and effective solutions greatly.
Interferon-γ Stimulates Interleukin-27 Derived from Dendritic Cells to Regulate Th9 Differentiation through STAT1/3 Pathway
Authors: Xiong Peng , Liu Tonglin , Chen Yu , Xu Qianqian , Hu Xiaolin , Han Fei , Shi Lili
Published: October 2022

The initiation and progression of allergic asthma (AA) are associated with complex interactions between inflammation and immune response. Herein, we report the specific mechanisms underlying the molecular action of interferon (IFN)-γ in AA regulation. We speculated that IFN-γ inhibits Th9 differentiation by regulating the secretion of interleukin (IL)-27 from dendritic cells (DCs), thereby suppressing airway inflammation in asthma. We constructed a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced AA and overexpressed IFN-γ to evaluate the effect on the IL-27/Th9 axis via the in vitro effect of IFN-γ on IL-27 secretion by DCs and their influence on Th9 differentiation and asthmatic inflammation. IFN-γ overexpression reduced the proportion of Th9 cells and DCs and altered lung morphology and cytokine production in AA-induced mice, thus suppressing the AA phenotype. In addition, exogenous IFN-γ stimulation promoted the secretion of IL-27 and suppressed Th9 differentiation of CD4+ T cells via signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/3 (STAT1/3) signaling in a time-dependent manner. This study aimed to clarify the regulatory effect and mechanism of the IFN-γ/DCs/IL-27/Th9 axis on AA and provide novel insights for effective targeted treatment of asthma.
An Improved Metalearning Framework to Optimize Bearing Fault Diagnosis under Data Imbalance
Authors: Hu Xinqian , Man Junfeng , Yang Hengfu , Deng Jiangmin , Liu Yi
Published: October 2022

The intelligent diagnosis of rotating machinery with big data has been widely studied. However, due to the variability of working conditions and difficulty in marking fault samples, it is difficult to obtain enough high-quality fault marking data for training bearing fault diagnosis models in practical industrial application scenarios. Aiming at the problem of training data imbalance caused by lack of fault samples, a novel metalearning fault diagnosis method (MOFD) is proposed to get the bearing fault diagnosis solution under data imbalance. Firstly, in order to enhance the variety of fault samples, a Feature Space Density Adaptive Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (FSDA-SMOTE) is proposed in this paper, which takes the density difference of minority samples in the spatial domain within the class as the constraint of local neighbor similarity to generate new fault samples for data augmentation. In addition, in order to strengthen the model’s learning ability and diagnosis performance under limited fault samples, a residual-attention convolutional neural network (RA-CNN) was constructed to identify the deep features of fault signals, and a metalearning strategy based on parameter gradient optimization was applied to RA-CNN for refining the learning process of the diagnosis model. Finally, the reliability of the proposed method is verified through experimental analysis of public bearing dataset.
Free‐Living Amoebas in Extreme Environments: The True Survival in our Planet
Authors: Salazar-Ardiles Camila , Asserella-Rebollo Leyla , Andrade David C.
Published: October 2022

Free‐living amoebas (FLAs) are microorganisms, unicellular protozoa widely distributed in nature and present in different environments, such as water or soil; they are maintained in ecosystems and play a fundamental role in the biological control of bacteria, other protozoa, and mushrooms. In particular circumstances, some can reach humans or animals, promoting several health complications. Notably, FLAs are characterized by a robust capacity to survive in extreme environments. However, currently, there is no updated information on the existence and distribution of this protozoan in inhospitable places. Undoubtedly, the cellular physiology of these protozoan microorganisms is very particular. They can resist and live in extreme environments due to their encysting capacity and tolerance to different osmolarities, temperatures, and other environmental factors, which give them excellent adaptative resistance. In this review, we summarized the most relevant evidence related to FLAs and the possible mechanism, which could explain their adaptative capacity to several extreme environments.
Evaluation of Nutritional Status of Intensive Care Unit COVID-19 Patients Based on the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 Score
Authors: Ahmadi Sedigheh , Firoozi Donya , Dehghani Mohammad , Zare Morteza , Mehrabi Zeinab , Ghaseminasab-Parizi Maryam , Masoumi Seyed Jalil
Published: October 2022

Background. Patients with COVID-19 are susceptible to malnutrition, which is particularly concerning among critically ill patients. We evaluated the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) score in such patients and determined its relationship with the hospitalization outcome. Methods. This cross-sectional study involved COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, between February and March 2021. We assessed the nutritional status using NRS-2002 and determined disease severity with the APACHE II index. Demographic information, weight, height, clinical signs, previous illness, medications, biochemical test results, and history of anorexia and weight loss were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18. Results. The mean age of 100 patients was 55.36 ± 18.86 years. According to NRS-2002, 30%, 29%, and 41% of patients were at low risk, moderate risk, and high risk of malnutrition, respectively. Age and BUN increased significantly with NRS-2002, while albumin and hematocrit followed the opposite trend (

P
<
0.001

). Patients who died had lower albumin and hematocrit levels but higher age, NRS-2002 scores, and BUN/creatinine levels than those who recovered. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that for every unit increase in the NRS-2002 score, the odds of mortality increased by 354% (OR: 4.54, CI: 1.48, 13.95,

P
=
0.008

). Conclusion. NRS-2002 is a valuable prognostic tool for critically ill COVID-19 patients, with each unit's rise in the score being associated with a 354% rise in the odds of mortality. Increased malnutrition risk was linked with higher age and BUN and lower albumin and hematocrit levels.
Balloon-Expandable TAVR Bioprostheses: Area or Perimeter Sizing? A Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Halim Jonathan , den Heijer Peter , Vos Jeroen , Schölzel Bas E. , Meuwissen Martijn , van den Branden Ben , Baumbach Andreas , Ijsselmuiden Alexander J. J.
Published: October 2022

Objective. In TAVR, area sizing is used for balloon-expandable (BE) valves, whereas self-expanding valves are sized to annulus perimeter. For BE valves, this seems illogical: these frames force a circular shape even on an ellipsoid annulus. This can potentially lead to relative undersizing when area sizing is being applied. We developed a perimeter-based sizing algorithm to evaluate the safety and feasibility of perimeter sizing for the Myval BE valve. Methods. In this prospective single-center study, 60 patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with the Myval BE valve were included. Perimeter sizing was used with limited oversizing of 3.7% ± 1.3% compared to the annulus perimeter. After TAVR, clinical outcomes were evaluated at 30 days and 1 year. An echocardiographic follow-up took place at 30 days. Results. At 30 days, the need for PPI and stroke occurred in 2% and 3% of the patients, respectively. Moreover, cardiac death and moderate-severe PVL were absent. At 1-year, cardiac death and stroke were observed in 3% and 8% of the patients, respectively. In 33.3% of the patients, a larger valve size was implanted compared to the valve size calculated by area sizing. Conclusions. Perimeter sizing with the Myval BE valve leads to substantial use of larger valve sizes and favorable clinical outcomes, with low PPI and the absence of significant PVL. A randomized controlled trial is being planned to prove the superiority of this alternative sizing method.
Analysis of Acupoints Combination for Cancer-Related Anorexia Based on Association Rule Mining
Authors: Tang Yang , Liang Yanju , Wang Xing , Deng Li
Published: October 2022

We investigated the acupoint selection regulations and workable core acupoint combinations in cancer-related anorexia (CA) treatment. The Apriori algorithm, complemented by the FP-growth algorithm, was used to mine association rules based on retrieved randomized control trials (RCTs) and clinical control trials (CCTs). We searched the following databases for acupuncture treatment regimens for CA: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, WanFang Data, VIP, China Journal Full-Text Database (CNKI), and SinoMed (CBM). We extracted acupoints prescriptions from the 27 enrolled RCTs and CCTs for analysis. There have been 38 acupoints refined from 27 prescriptions. The pinnacle three regularly chosen acupoints were Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (RN12), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). We investigated 10 association rules, and the consequences confirmed that {RN4} ≥ {RN12}, {PC6} ≥ {ST36}, {RN12, SP6} ≥ {RN4}, {HT7} ≥ {RN12}, and {DU20} ≥ {RN12} had been the most frequent associated rules in the adoption literature. Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Guanyuan (RN4), Zhongwan (RN12), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), and Baihui (DU20) would be regarded as acupuncture prescriptions in the treatment of CA.
Assessment of Diversity among Important Brinjal (Solanum melongena) Cultivars Using Morphological Markers
Authors: Younas Zohaib , Naseer Samar , Kazmi Abeer , Ali Amir , Wahab Abdul , Sultana Tahira , Shoukat Irsa , Hameed Asma , Afzal Mubashar , Mashwani Zia-Ur-Rehman , Rahimi Mehdi
Published: October 2022

Background. Solanum melongena is a medicinally important vegetable crop that belongs to the family Solanaceae, which is cultivated worldwide. Methodology. In the present study, 22 eggplant varieties from the different ecogeographical regions were evaluated for nine quantitative and twenty-two qualitative morphological characters. A significant divergence was observed in all characters and wide regional variations for plant characteristics, flower, and fruit characteristics. Principle component analysis (PCA) was performed using PAST3 software to determine the relationship among eggplant accessions. Results. The principal component analysis showed that the first two principal component axes explained 97.17% of the total multivariate variation. Cluster analysis using the Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic Means (UPGMA) grouped the 22 eggplant accessions into two main clusters based on similarities in morphological characteristics. The study showed that the Solanum melongena accessions belonging to Pakistan and other geographical regions of the world possess marked variation in fruit weight, fruit shape, fruit color, leaf spine, number of locules in fruit, plant height, and flower color. Conclusion. Based on morphological diversity, the best cultivars of eggplant that show better yield can be selected for farmers.
FYU-Net: A Cascading Segmentation Network for Kidney Tumor Medical Imaging
Authors: Feng Houwei , Kou Xupeng , Tang Zhan , Li Lin
Published: October 2022

Automated segmentation of renal tumors is essential for the diagnostic evaluation of kidney cancer. However, renal tumor volume is generally small compared with the volume of the kidney and is irregularly distributed; moreover, the location and shape of renal tumors are highly variable, making the segmentation task extremely challenging. To solve the aforementioned problems, a cascaded segmentation model (FYU-Net) for computed tomography (CT) images is proposed in this paper to achieve automatic kidney tumor segmentation. The proposed model involves two main steps. In the first step, a fast scan of the kidney CT data is performed using a localization network to find slices containing tumors, and coarse segmentation is performed simultaneously. In the second step, a segmentation framework embedded with the feature pyramid network module is employed to finely segment kidney tumors. By building a feature pyramid structure, targets of different sizes are distributed to be detected on different feature layers to extract richer feature information. In addition, the top-down structure allows the information of the higher-level feature maps to be transferred to the lower-level feature maps, enhancing the semantic information of the lower-level feature maps. Comparative experiments were conducted on the Kidney PArsing Challenge 2022 public dataset; the average Jaccard coefficient and average Dice coefficient of tumor structure segmentation were more than 70.73% and more than 82.85%, respectively. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model for kidney tumor segmentation.
A Case Report about Glycogenic Hepatopathy
Authors: Plaza Enriquez L. , Konindala N. , Yeh H. , Khatiwada P. , Sanchez Valenzuela M. , Askari K.
Published: October 2022

Introduction. Glycogenic hepatopathy is a rare complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus that presents with hepatomegaly and transient elevation in serum aminotransferase enzymes. The underlying pathophysiology involves excessive accumulation of intrahepatic glycogen. Glycogenic hepatopathy is usually underdiagnosed because it is difficult to differentiate from other entities, such as the nonalcoholic fatty liver. The gold standard for diagnosis is liver biopsy. Glycogenic hepatopathy can be reversed by the achievement of adequate glycemic control. Case description. A 19-year-old female patient with a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus that resulted in several episodes of diabetes ketoacidosis requiring hospital admissions. The patient presented to the emergency room with generalized weakness and fatigue found to have diabetic ketoacidosis. Blood tests revealed abnormal liver function with aspartate aminotransferase 1129 U/L (13–37 U/L), alanine aminotransferase 766 U/L (13–56 U/L), alkaline phosphatase 216 U/L (45–117 U/L), total bilirubin 1.0 mg/dL (0.2–1.3 mg/dL), albumin 3.8 g/dL (3.4–5.0 g/dL), partial thromboplastin time < 20 s (23–31 s), prothrombin time 11.8 s (9.5–11.5 s), and international normalized ratio 1.1. Acute hepatitis serologies were negative. Epstein–Barr virus and cytomegalovirus were ruled out. Extensive autoimmune hepatitis tests were negative. Primary biliary cirrhosis was also ruled out. A liver biopsy was obtained, which was diagnostic of glycogenic hepatopathy. Conclusion. Glycogenic hepatopathy must be suspected in patients with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus who present with elevated liver enzymes and hepatomegaly. Treating this rare condition requires a timely diagnosis with liver biopsy and strict glycemic control.
A 2D Model Which Accounts for Transverse Strains in a Linear Elastic Thick Shell
Authors: Robert Nzengwa , Landry Djopkop Kouanang , Merlin Bodol Momha , Chills Amba Jean , Joseph Nkongho Anyi , Ambassa Zoa
Published: October 2022

In this paper we present a 2D four-parameter model that accounts for the variation of transverse deformation through-the-thickness in thick linear elastic shells. This model is deduced directly from the 3D elasticity equations of the traction-displacement boundary value problem. Transverse shear strains and thickness variation are accountable through additional terms which appear in the final equations besides well-known terms in the classical Kirchhoff-Love models for thin shells. A unique solution of the variational equation is established, and numerical and analytical results are compared with satisfaction.
Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Survival Analysis of Shenyang in Northeast China: A Population-Based Study from 2008 to 2017
Authors: Su Hongbo , Li Xun , Lv Yi , Qiu Xueshan
Published: October 2022

Background. To investigate the status of breast cancer incidence, trends, and survival in women in urban Shenyang from 2008–2017 using large Cancer Registry data. Methods. Breast cancer incidence and mortality data were abstracted from the Shenyang Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2017. The crude and age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated for each year. Average annual percentage changes (AAPC) were used to describe the change over time. Results. A total of 14,255 out of 18,782,956 women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2008 and 2017 in urban Shenyang. The overall crude and age-standardized incidences were 75.89 and 43.42 per 100,000, respectively. The crude incidence increased from 61.93 per 100,000 in 2008 to 90.07 per 100,000 in 2017, with an AAPC of 5.10%. The crude mortality increased from 11.41 per 100,000 in 2008 to 17.29 per 100,000 in 2017, with an AAPC of 4.60. The highest age-specific incidence occurs in the 55–59 year age group at a rate of 140.67 per 100,000. During the study period, 2,710 women died from breast cancer. The overall crude and age-standardized mortality rates were 14.43 and 7.43 per 100,000, respectively. The highest age-specific mortality occurs at 80–84 years old at a rate of 57.57 per 100,000. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates for female breast cancer in urban Shenyang from 2008 to 2013 were 85.61% and 77.39%, respectively, and both declined with age. Conclusion. The incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in Shenyang increased over time. Screening and control strategies should be enhanced, especially for perimenopausal females.
Adult Intestinal Malrotation Treated with Laparoscopic Ladd Procedure
Authors: Mizuta Noritoshi , Kikuchi Takuya , Fukuda Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2022

Intestinal malrotation is a rare congenital disease caused by abnormal intestinal rotation and fixation of the intestinal tract in the early embryonic state. Adult cases are rare. A laparoscopic Ladd procedure for adult intestinal malrotation is increasingly reported, but owing to the rarity, some important aspects of the disease and its treatment may be overlooked. Three adult cases of intestinal malrotation that underwent surgery at our hospital between January 2019 and October 2020 were retrospectively examined about patient backgrounds, short-term results, and complications. All patients were male, median age was 54.6 years, and the complaints were abdominal pain and/or distention. No midgut volvulus was observed. The laparoscopic Ladd procedure was performed for all cases. One patient underwent reoperation (duodenoduodenostomy) because of impaired passage of the duodenal descending section due to postoperative pancreatic fistula. The postoperative courses of the other two patients were good. No recurrence of symptoms was observed in any of the cases. The reason for reoperation in one of the cases is considered to be pancreatic injury when the severe curve from the duodenum to the upper jejunum near the pancreatic head was straightened. Correction of the curve is important to improve passage disorder of the duodenum, but special care is required to avoid organ damage, especially during a laparoscopic procedure with forceps. The laparoscopic Ladd procedure for adult intestinal malrotation is recommended if there is no midgut volvulus; it is minimally invasive and a comparatively simple technique, but surgeons should take special care to avoid organ damage.
Comparison of Electrocardiogram and QT Interval between Viral Hepatitis Cirrhosis and Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Authors: Lu Li-Hong , Lv Xue-Ya , Wu Qi-Ming , Dong Qian , Wang Zhao , Zhang Su-Juan , Fu Li , Wang Qian , Song Yu-Qing
Published: October 2022

Objective. This study aims to compare the electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and QT interval prolongation in 2,886 patients with viral hepatitis cirrhosis and 643 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis in order to understand the characteristics of ECG in patients with cirrhosis and provide information and evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods. The ECG data of patients with viral hepatitis cirrhosis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis in the outpatients and inpatients of our hospital from August 2012 to July 2018 were reviewed. The ECG data were recorded, and the ECG report was issued by ECG experts to analyze the abnormal ECG and QT interval of patients in these two groups. Results. In the present study, 1,132 (39.22%) of the 2,886 patients with viral liver cirrhosis and 322 (50.08%) of the 643 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis had an abnormal ECG (P < 0.001). Among patients with QT prolongation, 388 patients had viral liver cirrhosis (13.44%) and 170 patients had alcoholic liver cirrhosis (26.44%, P < 0.001). Conclusion. The hemodynamics and electrophysiology of the myocardium are often changed in patients with cirrhosis, and ECG changes may also occur. QT interval prolongation is one of the most common electrophysiological abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis, and QT prolongation is more common in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Prolonged QT is associated with severe arrhythmia and sudden death and can warn of malignant arrhythmia and sudden death. Therefore, the routine detection of abnormal ECG and QT interval in patients with liver cirrhosis is of significant importance for preventing malignant events.
A Novel Machine Language-Driven Data Aggregation Approach to Predict Data Redundancy in IoT-Connected Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Jagan G. C. , Jayarin P. Jesu
Published: October 2022

Real world data aggregation and delivery in Internet of Things (IoT) technology are essential to predict and retrieve target data in short time so that the end user feels no delay but ensures a high quality of information. In addition to habitat monitoring and disaster management, these networks have a wide range of other uses, including security and military operations. The processing capabilities of sensor nodes are restricted due to the fact that they have a limited battery life and hence a modest size and processing capacity. WSNs are also susceptible to failure as a result of the limited battery power available. In WSNs, data aggregation is practiced as an energy efficient strategy to reduce computing and transmission latency. It is because of sensor node distribution density that shares the same data at a time data redundancy comes to exist. It is possible to reduce redundancy by adopting a suitable machine learning algorithm while executing the data aggregation process. Researchers are still chasing behind algorithms and modeling strategies effectively to ease the process of developing an effective and acceptable data aggregation strategy from existing wireless sensor network (WSN) models. A three stage framework is proposed for an efficient data aggregation mechanism, and the stages are Modified LEACH, extreme learning machines (ELM), adaptive Kalman filter, and Bi-LSTM. This experiment result shows better performance than the existing methods.
Time Period Analysis of Orthotropic Skew Plate with 2-D Circular Thickness and 1-D Circular Density
Authors: Lather Neeraj , Bhardwaj Reeta , Sharma Amit , Kumar Kamal
Published: October 2022

In the present study, the time period of vibration of an orthotropic parallelogram plate with

2
−

D (two-dimensional) circular thickness under the effect of

2
−

D parabolic temperature is investigated for the first time. The different edge conditions are

C
C
C
C

,

C
C
C
F

,

C
F
C
F

,

C
S
C
F

, and

S
F
S
F

boundary conditions, where C, S, and F stands for clamped, simply supported, and free edges of the plate, respectively. The variation in density of plate material is considered to be

1
−

D (one-dimensional) circular. The Rayleigh–Ritz technique is used to solve the differential equation and evaluate the time period for the first two modes of vibration. A convergence study of an orthotropic parallelogram, rectangle plate, and square plate for modes of frequency at various edge conditions is also carried out. The authors performed a comparative analysis of the time period and modes of frequency of orthotropic parallelogram, rectangle plate, and isotropic square plate with the available published results at various edge conditions. The main conclusion which we made from this study is that by choosing the above-mentioned plate parameters, we obtained fewer modes of frequency in comparison to other variations mentioned in the literature. Also, the study suggests that the variation in modes of frequency is less in comparison to other variations.
Conceptual Aircraft Empennage Design Based on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Approach
Authors: Liu Yaolong , Jiang Tianhong
Published: October 2022

Within a conventional aircraft design process, the horizontal tail and vertical tail are generally sized via volume coefficient methods. In this manuscript, an improved method for conceptual aircraft tail design based on multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) approach with stability and control constraints has been developed. To develop this method, first, the tail design requirements have been derived from the regulations and the fundamental functionalities of tail plans. Then, the empennage design is formulated as an MDO problem. Eventually the design optimization of horizontal and vertical tail is combined with the design optimization of the aircraft wing. A test case is presented for concurrent wing and tail plane design, which resulted in more than 9% reduction in aircraft block fuel weight and more than 3% reduction in aircraft maximal takeoff weight, which indicates a great potential for fuel burn and carbon reductions with empennage design optimization at conceptual aircraft design phase.
Dynamic Connectedness of Major Digital Currencies: A Time‐Varying Approach
Authors: Tao Ran , Qi Shuyao
Published: October 2022

The continuous increase in the market capitalization of digital currencies has determined them to be an essential force driving global financial development. Research on digital currency connectedness has implications for the pricing of related financial products and the development of risk hedging strategies. This study aims to analyse the changing relationship among four prominent digital currencies over time. Our research period covers normal periods, outbreaks, and the post‐epidemic phase. A refined TVP‐VAR method was adopted to conduct this study, which ensures time‐varying analysis and avoids errors caused by the rolling‐window size and the calculation of the observation loss. It is found that the total connectedness of major digital currencies is in an upward trend in the majority of the time, which, however, dropped dramatically in 2020 as the epidemic spreads internationally. It is also found that ETH is a consistent spillover transmitter and that although BTC is often shown as a transmitter, its spillover initially declines considerably and then remains weak until recently. BNB and XRP are typically spillover recipients, with BNB’s spillover varying more greatly.
Lenalidomide and Eltrombopag for Treatment of Low- or Intermediate-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Result of a Phase II Clinical Trial
Authors: Gonzalez-Lugo Jesus D. , Kambhampati Suman , Yacoub Abdulraheem , Donnellan William B. , Berdeja Jesus , Bhagat Prafulla , Fehn Karen , Remy Cassady , Jasra Sakshi , Kazemi Mohammed , Pradhan Kith , Kim Mimi , Mantzaris Ioannis , Sica R. Alejandro , Shah Nishi , Goldfinger Mendel , Kornblum Noah , Gritsman Kira , Braunschweig Ira , Steidl Ulrich , Will Britta , Shastri Aditi , Verma Amit
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

Thrombocytopenia is a serious complication of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with an increased bleeding risk and worse prognosis. Eltrombopag (ELT), a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, can increase platelet counts and reverse anti-megakaryopoietic effects of lenalidomide (LEN) in preclinical studies. We hypothesized ELT would reduce the incidence of thrombocytopenia in MDS.

Patients and Methods:

We conducted a Phase II multicenter trial of ELT and LEN in adult patients with low- or intermediate-1–risk MDS with symptomatic or transfusion-dependent anemia or thrombocytopenia (NCT01772420). Thrombocytopenic patients were started on ELT and subsequently treated with LEN after platelets were increased. Patients without thrombocytopenia were started on LEN monotherapy and treated with ELT if they became thrombocytopenic.

Results:

Fifty-two patients were enrolled; mean age was 71 years (range 34–93). Overall response rate (ORR) in the intention-to-treat population was 35% (18/52). ELT monotherapy led to ORR of 33.3% (7/21), 29% achieving hematologic improvement (HI)-Platelets, and 24% bilineage responses. LEN monotherapy had 38% ORR (6/16) with all responders achieving HI-Erythroid. Fifteen patients received both ELT and LEN with ORR of 33.3%, 20% achieved HI-Erythroid, and 20% HI-Platelets with 13% bilineage responses. Median duration of response was 40 weeks for ELT (range 8–ongoing), 41 weeks (25–ongoing) for LEN, and 88 weeks (8.3–ongoing) for ELT/LEN. Non-hematologic grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events were infrequent. Among patients on ELT, 2 had major bleeding events, 1 had a reversible increase in peripheral blasts, and 1 developed marrow fibrosis after 6 years on ELT.

Conclusions:

ELT and LEN are well tolerated and effective in achieving hematologic improvement in patients with low-/intermediate-risk MDS.
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: A DESTINY-Breast01 Subgroup Analysis
Authors: Jerusalem Guy , Park Yeon Hee , Yamashita Toshinari , Hurvitz Sara A. , Modi Shanu , Andre Fabrice , Krop Ian E. , Gonzàlez Farré Xavier , You Benoit , Saura Cristina , Kim Sung-Bae , Osborne Cynthia R. , Murthy Rashmi K. , Gianni Lorenzo , Takano Toshimi , Liu Yali , Cathcart Jillian , Lee Caleb , Perrin Christophe
Published: October 2022

DESTINY-Breast01 (NCT03248492) evaluated trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd; DS-8201) in patients with heavily pretreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC). We present a subgroup of 24 patients with a history of treated brain metastases (BM), a population with limited treatment options. In patients with BMs, the confirmed objective response rate (cORR) was 58.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 36.6%–77.9%], and the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 18.1 months (95% CI, 6.7–18.1 months). In patients without BMs (n = 160), cORR was 61.3% and mPFS was 16.4 months. Eight patients (47.1%) experienced a best overall intracranial response of partial response or complete response. Seven patients (41.2%) had a best percentage change in brain lesion diameter from baseline consistent with stable disease. Two patients (8.3%) with BMs and two (1.3%) without BMs experienced progression in the brain. The safety profile of T-DXd was consistent with previous studies. The durable clinical activity of T-DXd in this population warrants further investigation.

Significance:

Advances in treating HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer have greatly improved patient outcomes, but intracranial progression remains an important risk for which few therapeutic options are currently available. T-DXd demonstrated durable efficacy in patients with stable, treated BMs.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2711