bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Planning of Surgical Treatment of Deep Pelvic Endometriosis
Authors: Manti Francesco , Battaglia Caterina , Bruno Iennarella , Ammendola Michele , Navarra Giuseppe , Currò Giuseppe , Laganà Domenico
Published: June 2022

Background

To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the planning of surgical treatment of deep pelvic endometriosis.

Materials and Methods

From January 2020 to December 2021, we evaluated 72 patients with symptoms characteristic of endometriosis to plan appropriate surgical treatment. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive and negative predictive values (VPP/VPN), and the accuracy of MRI for the detection of deep pelvic endometriosis were calculated.

Results

Seventy-two patients (mean age, 35.5 years; range, 20–46 years) suspected of having pelvic endometriosis were recruited. Pelvic endometriosis was confirmed at pathologic examination in 56 (77.7%) of 72 patients. A total of 22 (39.3%) of 56 patients were subjected to video laparoscopy (VLS), and 16 (72.2%) of 22 were treated by surgery. Se, Sp, VPP, and VPN in intestinal endometriosis diagnosis were, respectively, 100%, 93.3%, 100%, and 87.5%, and diagnostic accuracy was 95.4%. MRI Se in ureteral endometriosis diagnosis was 50%, Sp 100%, VPP 100%, VPN 78%, and diagnostic accuracy 82%. MRI Se in endometrioma diagnosis was 92.3%, Sp 100%, VPP 100%, VPN 90%, and diagnostic accuracy 95.4%. MRI Se in rectum-vaginal septum (SRV) endometriosis diagnosis was 80%, Sp 100%, VPP 100% VPN 85.7%, and diagnostic accuracy 91%. The MRI Se in the diagnosis of endometriosis involving ULS was 100%, Sp 92.8%, VPP 89%, VPN 100%, and diagnostic accuracy 95.4%. Complete concordance results in a 100% accuracy for all calculated values in diagnosing bladder endometriosis localizations.

Conclusion

MR imaging demonstrates high accuracy in detecting deep pelvic endometriosis in specific locations. It allows the localization of deep pelvic lesions with highly fibrotic components that are hardly recognizable with other imaging methods and not visible with VLS.
A Data-Driven Analysis of the Economic Cost of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions: A Cross-Country Comparison of Kenya, Singapore, and Thailand
Authors: Briones Jamaica , Wang Yi , Prawjaeng Juthamas , Wee Hwee Lin , Kairu Angela , Orangi Stacey , Barasa Edwine , Teerawattananon Yot
Published: June 2022

Objective: To estimate the economic impact of border closure and social distancing by estimating the decline of gross domestic product (GDP) in Kenya, Singapore and Thailand.

Methods: We analysed secondary data retrospectively. To calculate impact of NPIs on GDP, the relationship between GDP and stock market index was examined using ordinary least squares (OLS). Then, autoregressive and moving averages (ARMA) model was used to examine the impact of NPI on stock market index. The change in GDP due to NPIs was derived by multiplying coefficients of OLS and ARMA models.

Results: An increase in stock market index correlated with an increase in GDP, while both social distancing and border closure negatively correlated with stock market index. Implementation of NPIs correlated with the decline in GDP. Thai border closure had a greater decline in GDP than social distancing; Kenya exhibited the same trends; Singapore had the opposite trend.

Conclusion: We quantified the magnitude of economic impact of NPIs in terms of GDP decline by linking stock market index and GDP. This approach may be applicable in other settings.
Kaolin Improves Photosynthetic Pigments, and Antioxidant Content, and Decreases Sunburn of Mangoes: Field Study
Authors: Hamdy Ashraf E. , Abdel-Aziz Hosny F. , El-khamissi Haitham , AlJwaizea Nada Ibrahim , El-Yazied Ahmed Abou , Selim Samy , Tawfik Moataz M. , AlHarbi Khadiga , Ali Mohamed S. M. , Elkelish Amr
Published: June 2022

The Keitt mango tree has a low canopy that leads to an increase in sunburned fruits. Hence, the fruit quality is markedly reduced due to the fruit being exposed to physiological disorders. The sunburn injury problem is common due to high levels of solar radiation and the low number of leaves, which minimizes the protection of small, newly formed fruits. Kaolin spray has emerged as a promising approach for mango trees since it improves vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality in new lands. This search aimed to study the influence of spraying kaolin on Keitt mango trees grafted on ‘Succary’ rootstock. The treatments were as follows: control, 2%, 4%, and 6% of kaolin. Our results indicated that the applications of kaolin significantly improved leaf area, tree canopy volume, photosynthesis pigments such as chlorophyll-a and b, carotenoids of leaf and yield (kg/tree), and the physical and chemical characteristics of Keitt mango cultivar in comparison with the control. A higher concentration of kaolin decreased the leaf content of antioxidants such as total phenolic, total flavonoid, CAT, POX, and PPO enzyme activities. Furthermore, the number of sunburned fruits was significantly reduced after the application of kaolin in comparison to control fruits. Regarding vegetative growth, our results indicated that adding kaolin at 6% enhanced the leaf surface area and tree canopy volume compared to the control and other treatments. A similar trend was noticed regarding yield and fruit quality, whereas the best values were obtained when kaolin was sprayed at a concentration of 6%. In conclusion, the application of kaolin can improve the production and fruit quality of Keitt mango trees by reducing the effects of adverse summer conditions.
Molecular Epidemiological Survey for Degenerative Myelopathy in German Shepherd Dogs in Japan: Allele Frequency and Clinical Progression Rate
Authors: Maki Shinichiro , Islam Md Shafiqul , Itoh Tomohito , Nurimoto Masanobu , Yabuki Akira , Furusawa Yu , Kamishina Hiroaki , Kobatake Yui , Rakib Tofazzal Md , Tacharina Martia Rani , Yamato Osamu
Published: June 2022

Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an adult-onset, chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease reported in multiple canine breeds, including the German Shepherd Dog (GSD). Clinical signs include progressive motor neuron paralysis, which begins in the pelvic limbs and eventually leads to respiratory distress, which may necessitate euthanasia. A common DM-associated mutation is a single nucleotide substitution that causes an amino acid substitution (c.118G>A, p.E40K) in the canine SOD1 gene. This SOD1 mutation and the clinical progression rate of A/A risk genotype in the Japanese GSD population have not been analyzed before. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the mutated allele and analyze the clinical progression rate in the Japanese GSD population. We studied 541 GSDs registered with the Japanese German Shepherd Dog Registration Society between 2000 and 2019. Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR with DNA extracted from the hair roots of each dog. The study revealed 330 G/G dogs (61%), 184 G/A dogs (34%), and 27 A/A dogs (5%), indicating a frequency of the mutant allele of 0.220, which are in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We analyzed the clinical signs in A/A dogs with an age limit of 10 years based on information obtained from the dogs’ owners. Of the seven A/A dogs older than 10 years, owners reported DM-related clinical signs, indicating a clinical progression rate of 100%. These results, further genotyping, and thorough clinical examinations of SOD1 A/A risk genotype will help control and prevent DM in the Japanese GSD population.
Evaluation of Three Carbapenemase-Phenotypic Detection Methods and Emergence of Diverse VIM and GES Variants among Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates in Tunisia
Authors: Ferjani Sana , Maamar Elaa , Ferjani Asma , Kanzari Lamia , Boubaker Ilhem Boutiba Ben
Published: June 2022

Background: Since 2012, few reports on the molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were reported in Tunisia. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate carbapenem-resistance determinants and molecular epidemiology and to compare the carbapenemase-phenotypic detection methods of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. Methods: During a period of four years (2014 to 2017), all imipenem-ceftazidime-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates were retrospectively selected at the microbial laboratory of Charles Nicolle hospital of Tunis. These isolates were examined by the modified Hodge test, modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), and another mCIM, called CIMTris, and their performance was evaluated using PCR analysis as the gold standard. Results: A total of 35 isolates were recovered among patients hospitalized in different units. All strains were colistin-susceptible.All carbapenem-resistant isolates showed a high-level resistance to carbapenems. CIMTris and mCIM showed 96.15% and 46.15% sensitivity and 44.44% and 100% specificity, respectively, for detecting carbapenemase production.Conclusions: CIMTris is a promising approach for detecting carbapenemase activity in P. aeruginosa and merits further testing. Moreover, this study described the first detection of GES-5- and GES-9-producing P. aeruginosa in Tunisia as well as the co-occurrence of the blaGES-5 and blaVIM-11 carbapenemase genes in one isolate. These findings are of great concern because the rapid dissemination of MDR strains represents a major therapeutic and epidemiological threat.
Puerarin Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Ferroptosis via AMPK/PGC1α/Nrf2 Pathway after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Huang Yi , Wu Honggang , Hu Yongmei , Zhou Chenhui , Wu Jiawei , Wu Yiwen , Wang Haifeng , Lenahan Cameron , Huang Lei , Nie Sheng , Gao Xiang , Sun Jie
Published: June 2022

Puerarin was shown to exert anti-oxidative and anti-ferroptosis effects in multiple diseases. The goal of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effect of puerarin on early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. A total of 177 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used. SAH was included via endovascular perforation. Intranasal puerarin or intracerebroventricular dorsomorphin (AMPK inhibitor) and SR18292 (PGC1α inhibitor) were administered. The protein levels of pAMPK, PGC1α, Nrf2, 4HNE, HO1, MDA, ACSL4, GSSG, and iron concentration in the ipsilateral hemisphere were significantly increased, whereas SOD, GPX4, and GSH were decreased at 24 h after SAH. Moreover, puerarin treatment significantly increased the protein levels of pAMPK, PGC1α, Nrf2, HO1, SOD, GPX4, and GSH, but decreased the levels of 4HNE, MDA, ACSL4, GSSG, and iron concentration in the ipsilateral hemisphere at 24 h after SAH. Dorsomorphin or SR18292 partially abolished the beneficial effects of puerarin exerted on neurological dysfunction, oxidative stress injury, and ferroptosis. In conclusion, puerarin improved neurobehavioral impairments and attenuated oxidative-stress-induced brain ferroptosis after SAH in rats. The neuroprotection acted through the activation of the AMPK/PGC1α/Nrf2-signaling pathway. Thus, puerarin may serve as new therapeutics against EBI in SAH patients.
Cold Argon Athmospheric Plasma for Biomedicine: Biological Effects, Applications and Possibilities
Authors: Martusevich Andrew K. , Surovegina Alexandra V. , Bocharin Ivan V. , Nazarov Vladimir V. , Minenko Inessa A. , Artamonov Mikhail Yu.
Published: June 2022

Currently, plasma medicine is a synthetic direction that unites the efforts of specialists of various profiles. For the successful formation of plasma medicine, it is necessary to solve a large complex of problems, including creating equipment for generating cold plasma, revealing the biological effects of this effect, as well as identifying and justifying the most promising areas of its application. It is known that these biological effects include antibacterial and antiviral activity, the ability to stimulate hemocoagulation, pro-regenerative properties, etc. The possibility of using the factor in tissue engineering and implantology is also shown. Based on this, the purpose of this review was to form a unified understanding of the biological effects and biomedical applications of argon cold plasma. The review shows that cold plasma, like any other physical and chemical factors, has dose dependence, and the variable parameter in this case is the exposure of its application. One of the significant characteristics determining the specificity of the cold plasma effect is the carrier gas selection. This gas carrier is not just an ionized medium but modulates the response of biosystems to it. Finally, the perception of cold plasma by cellular structures can be carried out by activating a special molecular biosensor, the functioning of which significantly depends on the parameters of the medium (in the field of plasma generation and the cell itself). Further research in this area can open up new prospects for the effective use of cold plasma.
Associations between Circulating SELENOP Level and Disorders of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yu Ruirui , Wang Zhoutian , Ma Miaomiao , Xu Ping , Liu Longjian , Tinkov Alexey A. , Lei Xin Gen , Zhou Ji-Chang
Published: June 2022

Selenoprotein P (SELENOP) is an extracellular antioxidant, selenium transporter, and hepatokine interfering with glucose and lipid metabolism. To study the association between the circulating SELENOP concentration and glucose and lipid metabolic diseases (GLMDs), including gestational diabetes (GD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, as well as the individual markers, a meta-analysis was conducted by searching multiple databases from their establishment through March 2022 and including 27 articles published between October 2010 and May 2021, involving 4033 participants. Participants with GLMDs had higher levels of SELENOP than those without GLMDs (standardized mean difference = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.16 to 1.51), and the SELENOP levels were positively correlated with the markers of GLMDs (pooled effect size = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.15). Subgroup analyses showed that the SELENOP concentrations were higher in women with GD and lower in individuals with MetS than their counterparts, respectively. Moreover, SELENOP was positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but not with the other markers of GLMDs. Thus, the heterogenicity derived from diseases or disease markers should be carefully considered while interpreting the overall positive association between SELENOP and GLMDs. Studies with a larger sample size and advanced design are warranted to confirm these findings.
The Impact of Quercetin and Its Methylated Derivatives 3-o-Methylquercetin and Rhamnazin in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in Porcine Intestinal Cells
Authors: Karancsi Zita , Kovács Dóra , Palkovicsné Pézsa Nikolett , Gálfi Péter , Jerzsele Ákos , Farkas Orsolya
Published: June 2022

Oxidative stress in the small intestine can lead to inflammation and barrier malfunction. The present study describes the effect of quercetin (Q), 3-o-methylquercetin (QM), and rhamnazin (R) on cell viability, paracellular permeability, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) after challenging jejunal cells (IPEC-J2) with different types (Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O111:B4, and E. coli O127:B8) of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) applied in 10 µg/mL concentration. The intracellular ROS level increased after all LPS treatments, which could be decreased by all tested flavonoid compounds in 50 µM concentration. Extracellular H2O2 production significantly increased after Q and R treatment (50 µM). S. Typhimurium LPS could significantly increase IL-6 production of enterocytes, which could be alleviated by Q, QM, and R (50 µM) as well. Using fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD4) tracer dye, we could demonstrate that S. Typhimurium LPS significantly increased the permeability of the cell layer. The simultaneous treatments of S. Typhimurium LPS and the flavonoid compounds showed no alteration in FD4 penetration compared to untreated cells. These results highlight that Q, QM, and R are promising substances that can be used to protect intestinal epithelial cells from the deteriorating effects of oxidative stress.
Analysis of Available Solutions for the Improvement of Body Posture in Chairs
Authors: Ordean Mircea-Nicolae , Oarcea Alexandru , Stan Sergiu-Dan , Dumitru Diana-Mirela , Cobîlean Victor , Bîrză Marius-Constantin
Published: June 2022

Due to the nature of current lifestyles, many people find themselves sitting for prolonged periods of time. Combined with an improper body posture, this leads to a rise in health issues. The most common ones consist of headaches and pain in the back and neck area. Other issues that may occur are changes to the spine and digestive problems, as well as anxiety and depression, which could result in declined productivity. The purpose of this study is to determine which of the available solutions is the most effective in improving the body posture while in a seated position by considering multiple aspects, such as the discrete characteristics of the solutions analyzed and the characteristics related to the manufacturability of products including the analyzed detection solution. This study considers specific criteria related to the manufacturing and behavior of systems to detect body posture in a seated position, such as invasiveness, accuracy, portability, reliability, manufacturability, privacy, and scalability. The main analysis methods involved in this study are AHP to determine the individual weights of the previously mentioned criteria, and PUGH to determine the optimal solution, taking into consideration the resulting weight of each criterion. Using the AHP method and comparing the criteria, we were able to set a priority order for the criteria. The next step consisted of constructing a PUGH matrix. This matrix is used to find out which of the available solutions is optimal based on the imposed criteria, while taking into consideration the weights resulting from the AHP method.
Spectroscopy of Alkali Atoms in Solid Matrices of Rare Gases: Experimental Results and Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Braggio Caterina , Calabrese Roberto , Carugno Giovanni , Fiscelli Giuseppe , Guarise Marco , Khanbekyan Alen , Noto Antonio , Passante Roberto , Rizzuto Lucia , Ruoso Giuseppe , Tomassetti Luca
Published: June 2022

We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of the spectroscopy of dilute alkali atoms in a solid matrix of inert gases at cryogenic temperatures, specifically Rubidium atoms in a solid Argon or Neon matrix, and related aspects of the interaction energies between the alkali atoms and the atoms of the solid matrix. The system considered is relevant for matrix isolation spectroscopy, and it is at the basis of a recently proposed detector of cosmological axions, exploiting magnetic-type transitions between Zeeman sublevels of alkali atoms in a magnetic field, tuned to the axion mass, assumed in the meV range. Axions are one of the supposed constituents of the dark matter (DM) of the Universe. This kind of spectroscopy could be also relevant for the experimental search of new physics beyond the Standard Model, in particular the search of violations of time-reversal or parity-charge-conjugation (CP) symmetry. In order to efficiently resolve the axion-induced transition in alkali-doped solid matrices, it is necessary to reduce as much as possible the spectral linewidth of the electronic transitions involved. The theoretical investigation presented in this paper aims to estimate the order of magnitude of the inhomogeneous contribution to the linewidth due to the alkali–matrix interactions (Coulomb/exchange and dispersion), and to compare the theoretical results with our experimental measurements of spectra of dilute Rubidium atoms in Argon and Neon solid matrix. The comparison of the expected or measured spectral linewidths will be important for selecting the most appropriate combination of alkali atoms and matrix inert elements to be used in the proposed axion detection scheme. It is finally suggested that dilute Lithium atoms diffused in a cold parahydrogen solid matrix could be, overall, a good system upon which the proposed detector could be based.
Enlargements of Viewing Zone and Screen Size of Holographic Displays Using MEMS SLM Combined with Scanning Systems
Authors: Takaki Yasuhiro
Published: June 2022

The problems of conventional holographic display techniques, which are the requirements of a sub-micron pixel pitch and ultra-high resolution for spatial light modulators (SLMs) to enlarge the viewing zone and screen size, can be addressed using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) SLMs combined with spatial scanning systems. Various scanning systems have been efficiently combined with high-speed image generation of MEMS SLMs based on the time-multiplexing technique. The horizontal scanning system enlarged the viewing zone and screen size, the circular scanning system provided 360° three-dimensional (3D) images, and the RGB scanning system generated color 3D images. The screen size can be increased scalably using a multichannel system based on the space-multiplexing technique. The use of a short laser pulse illumination system eliminates the mechanical scanning system and greatly simplifies the display system. The measurements of the accommodation responses of human eyes showed that 3D images generated by the screen scanning holographic display have a possibility to solve the visual fatigue issue caused by the vergence–accommodation conflict, which prevents the long-time usage of conventional 3D displays.
Determination of Optimum TBARS Conditions for Evaluation of Cow and Sheep Milk Oxidative Stability
Authors: Oancea Alexandra-Gabriela , Untea Arabela Elena , Dragomir Catalin , Radu Gabriel Lucian
Published: June 2022

Having a complex fatty acid profile, milk is the subject of several oxidation processes that are different to those in other food matrices. Considering this, is important to appreciate the degradation status of milk using rapid and simple methods to quantify the main degradation products. The aim of this study was to adapt a simple and rapid method for determination of milk oxidative stability and to quantify malondialdehyde, one of the lipid oxidation products. Four parameters (trichloroacetic acid concentration—TCA, antioxidant type, incubation time, and thiobarbituric acid—TBA concentration) were modified to establish the best experimental sequence. It was concluded that the relevant results were obtained by precipitating milk proteins using 20% TCA; incubating samples for 90 min with 0.8% TBA, without adding antioxidant; and registering absorbance at three different wavelengths (450, 495, and 532 nm). This method was successfully applied to cow and sheep milk samples and the absorbance values obtained provided information about degradation of fatty acids for both milk types. The Pearson correlation showed a positive relationship between the fatty acid profiles of milk samples and the absorbance values that characterized their oxidation pattern during storage.
Convolutional Neural Network-Based Travel Mode Recognition Based on Multiple Smartphone Sensors
Authors: Guo Lin , Huang Jincai , Ma Wei , Sun Longzhi , Zhou Lianjie , Pan Jianping , Yang Wentao
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, large-scale human mobility has led to increasingly severe traffic congestion in cities, how to accurately identify people’s travel mode has become particularly important for urban traffic planning and management. However, traditional methods are based on telephone interviews or questionnaires, which makes it difficult to obtain accurate and effective data. Nowadays, numbers of smartphones are equipped with various sensors, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and GPS, providing a novel social sensing data source to detect people’s travel modes. The fusion of multiple sensor data is a promising way for travel mode detection. However, how to use these sensor data to accurately detect travel mode is still a challenging task. In this paper, we presented a light-weight method for travel mode detection based on four types of smartphone sensor data collected from an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and barometer, and a prototype application was developed. Then, a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) was designed to identify five representative travel modes (walk, bicycle, bus, car, and metro). We compared the overall performance of the proposed method via different hyperparameters, and the experimental results show that the F value of the proposed method reaches 97%, which verified the effectiveness of the proposed method for travel mode classification.
Optimization Method for Low Tilt Sensitivity of Secondary Mirror Based on the Nodal Aberration Theory
Authors: Li Jing , Ding Yalin , Cai Yiming , Yuan Guoqin , Zhang Mingqiang
Published: June 2022

The optical system that combines imaging and image motion compensation is conducive to the miniaturization of aerial mapping cameras, but the movement of optical element for image motion compensation will cause a decrease in image quality. To solve this problem, reducing the sensitivity of moving optical element is one of the effective ways to ensure the imaging quality of aerial mapping cameras. Therefore, this paper proposes an optimization method for the low tilt sensitivity of the secondary mirror based on the Nodal aberration theory. In this method, the analytical expressions of the tilt sensitivity of the secondary mirror in different tilt directions are given in the form of zernike polynomial coefficients, and the influence of the field of view on the sensitivity is expressed in the mathematical model. The desensitization optimization function and desensitization optimization method are proposed. The catadioptric optical system with a focal length of 350 mm is used for desensitization optimization. The results show that the desensitization function proposed in this paper is linearly related to the decrease of sensitivity within a certain range, and the standard deviation of the system after desensitization is 0.020, which is 59% of the system without desensitization. Compared with the traditional method, the method in this paper widens the range of angle reduction sensitivity and has a better desensitization effect. The research results show that the optimization method for low tilt sensitivity of the secondary mirror based on the Nodal aberration theory proposed in this paper reduces the tilt sensitivity of the secondary mirror, revealing that the reduction of the sensitivity depends on the reduction of the aberration coefficient related to the misalignment in the field of view, which is critical for the development of an optical system for aerial mapping cameras that combines imaging and image motion compensation.
Lung Cancer Prediction Using Robust Machine Learning and Image Enhancement Methods on Extracted Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix Features
Authors: Hussain Lal , Alsolai Hadeel , Hassine Siwar Ben Haj , Nour Mohamed K. , Duhayyim Mesfer Al , Hilal Anwer Mustafa , Salama Ahmed S. , Motwakel Abdelwahed , Yaseen Ishfaq , Rizwanullah Mohammed
Published: June 2022

In the present era, cancer is the leading cause of demise in both men and women worldwide, with low survival rates due to inefficient diagnostic techniques. Recently, researchers have been devising methods to improve prediction performance. In medical image processing, image enhancement can further improve prediction performance. This study aimed to improve lung cancer image quality by utilizing and employing various image enhancement methods, such as image adjustment, gamma correction, contrast stretching, thresholding, and histogram equalization methods. We extracted the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features on enhancement images, and applied and optimized vigorous machine learning classification algorithms, such as the decision tree (DT), naïve Bayes, support vector machine (SVM) with Gaussian, radial base function (RBF), and polynomial. Without the image enhancement method, the highest performance was obtained using SVM, polynomial, and RBF, with accuracy of (99.89%). The image enhancement methods, such as image adjustment, contrast stretching at threshold (0.02, 0.98), and gamma correction at gamma value of 0.9, improved the prediction performance of our analysis on 945 images provided by the Lung Cancer Alliance MRI dataset, which yielded 100% accuracy and 1.00 of AUC using SVM, RBF, and polynomial kernels. The results revealed that the proposed methodology can be very helpful to improve the lung cancer prediction for further diagnosis and prognosis by expert radiologists to decrease the mortality rate.
Optimal Configurations of Mueller Polarimeter for Gaussian–Poisson Mixed Noise
Authors: Hu Zheng , Zhao Qianhao , Ma Hui
Published: June 2022

The accuracy of the Mueller polarimeter is usually affected by Gaussian–Poisson mixed noise, and by optimizing the instrument matrices of polarization state generator and polarization state analyzer in the measurement system, the estimation variance caused by Gaussian noise can be suppressed, and the estimation variance caused by Poisson noise can be made independent of the sample. However, the optimization procedure usually targets only the numerical value of the instrument matrix without considering how to configure the measurement system to achieve the optimal instrument matrix. In this paper, we investigate how to make the measurement system optimal for different measurement systems by combining geometric optimization on the Poincaré sphere and finally propose a series of measurement configurations for different applications.
Calculation Method of the Blasting Throwing Energy and Its Variation Affected by the Burden
Authors: Huang Yonghui , Zhao Zixiang , Zhang Zhiyu , Zhou Jiguo , Li Hongchao , Li Yanlin
Published: June 2022

Precise control of casting velocity and effective throwing kinetic energy conversion efficiency in blasting engineering are challenges. To provide a theoretical basis and reference for the implementation plan and fine construction of the cast blasting project, we study the problems of casting velocity and energy consumption ratio of broken rock under the impact load of explosions in this manuscript. The calculation methods of casting velocity and throwing energy of broken rock under two blasting modes of spherical charge and cylindrical charge are established by using the theory of dimensional analysis and rock breaking by blasting. A large number of model tests are carried out by using high-speed photography. The results indicate that the casting velocity of broken rock after explosive initiation has two evident stages: instantaneous acceleration to a certain value and subsequent fluctuation; the velocity presents an ordinary distribution law with the step height, and the fitting correlation of high-speed photography results is more than 91%. With the minimum burden increasing from 0.12 m to 0.2 m, the energy consumption decreases from 1306.88 J to 747.49 J and the proportion of energy consumption decreases from 14.77% to 8.45%.
Analysis of Numerical Artifacts Using Tetrahedral Meshes in Low Frequency Numerical Dosimetry
Authors: Conchin Gubernati Alice , Freschi Fabio , Giaccone Luca , Scorretti Riccardo
Published: June 2022

Anatomical realistic voxel models of human beings are commonly used in numerical dosimetry to evaluate the human exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields. The downside of these models is that they do not correctly reproduce the boundaries of curved surfaces. The stair-casing approximation errors introduce computational artifacts in the evaluation of the induced electric field and the use of post-processing filtering methods is essential to mitigate these errors. With a suitable exposure scenario, this paper shows that tetrahedral meshes make it possible to remove stair-casing errors. However, using tetrahedral meshes is not a sufficient condition to completely remove artifacts, because the quality of the tetrahedral mesh plays an important role. The analyses carried out show that in real exposure scenarios, other sources of artifacts cause peak values of the induced electric field even with regular meshes. In these cases, the adoption of filtering techniques cannot be avoided.
Acute and Chronic Effects of Fin Amputation on Behavior Performance of Adult Zebrafish in 3D Locomotion Test Assessed with Fractal Dimension and Entropy Analyses and Their Relationship to Fin Regeneration
Authors: Audira Gilbert , Suryanto Michael Edbert , Chen Kelvin H.-C. , Vasquez Ross D. , Roldan Marri Jmelou M. , Yang Chun-Chuen , Hsiao Chung-Der , Huang Jong-Chin
Published: June 2022

The fin is known to play an important role in swimming for many adult fish, including zebrafish. Zebrafish fins consist of paired pectoral and pelvic with unpaired dorsal, anal, and caudal tail fins with specific functions in fish locomotion. However, there was no study comparing the behavior effects caused by the absence of each fin. We amputated each fin of zebrafish and evaluated their behavior performance in the 3D locomotion test using fractal dimension and entropy analyses. Afterward, the behavior recovery after the tail fin amputation was also evaluated, together with the fin regeneration process to study their relationship. Finally, we conducted a further study to confirm whether the observed behavior alterations were from pain elicited by fin amputation procedure or not by using lidocaine, a pain-relieving drug. Amputation in the caudal fin resulted in the most pronounced behavior alterations, especially in their movement complexity. Furthermore, we also found that their behavior was fully recovered before the caudal fin was fully regenerated, indicating that these behavioral changes were not majorly due to a mechanical change in tail length; instead, they may come from pain elicited from the fin amputation, since treatment with lidocaine could ameliorate the behavioral effects after the amputation procedure. However, lidocaine did not accelerate the behavior recovery process; instead, it caused the fishes to display some slight side effects. This study highlights the potential moderate severity of fin amputation in zebrafish and the importance of analgesia usage. However, side effects may occur and need to be considered since fin amputation is routinely conducted for various research, especially genomic screening.
Atypically Shaped Cardiomyocytes (ACMs): The Identification, Characterization and New Insights into a Subpopulation of Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Omatsu-Kanbe Mariko , Fukunaga Ryo , Mi Xinya , Matsuura Hiroshi
Published: June 2022

In the adult mammalian heart, no data have yet shown the existence of cardiomyocyte-differentiable stem cells that can be used to practically repair the injured myocardium. Atypically shaped cardiomyocytes (ACMs) are found in cultures of the cardiomyocyte-removed fraction obtained from cardiac ventricles from neonatal to aged mice. ACMs are thought to be a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes or immature cardiomyocytes, most closely resembling cardiomyocytes due to their spontaneous beating, well-organized sarcomere and the expression of cardiac-specific proteins, including some fetal cardiac gene proteins. In this review, we focus on the characteristics of ACMs compared with ventricular myocytes and discuss whether these cells can be substitutes for damaged cardiomyocytes. ACMs reside in the interstitial spaces among ventricular myocytes and survive under severely hypoxic conditions fatal to ventricular myocytes. ACMs have not been observed to divide or proliferate, similar to cardiomyocytes, but they maintain their ability to fuse with each other. Thus, it is worthwhile to understand the role of ACMs and especially how these cells perform cell fusion or function independently in vivo. It may aid in the development of new approaches to cell therapy to protect the injured heart or the clarification of the pathogenesis underlying arrhythmia in the injured heart.
Novel Phenotyping for Acute Heart Failure—Unsupervised Machine Learning-Based Approach
Authors: Urban Szymon , Błaziak Mikołaj , Jura Maksym , Iwanek Gracjan , Zdanowicz Agata , Guzik Mateusz , Borkowski Artur , Gajewski Piotr , Biegus Jan , Siennicka Agnieszka , Pondel Maciej , Berka Petr , Ponikowski Piotr , Zymliński Robert
Published: June 2022

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening, heterogeneous disease requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. The clinical severity and medical procedures differ according to a complex interplay between the deterioration cause, underlying cardiac substrate, and comorbidities. This study aimed to analyze the natural phenotypic heterogeneity of the AHF population and evaluate the possibilities offered by clustering (unsupervised machine-learning technique) in a medical data assessment. We evaluated data from 381 AHF patients. Sixty-three clinical and biochemical features were assessed at the admission of the patients and were included in the analysis after the preprocessing. The K-medoids algorithm was implemented to create the clusters, and optimization, based on the Davies-Bouldin index, was used. The clustering was performed while blinded to the outcome. The outcome associations were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional-hazards regressions. The algorithm distinguished six clusters that differed significantly in 58 variables concerning i.e., etiology, clinical status, comorbidities, laboratory parameters and lifestyle factors. The clusters differed in terms of the one-year mortality (p = 0.002). Using the clustering techniques, we extracted six phenotypes from AHF patients with distinct clinical characteristics and outcomes. Our results can be valuable for future trial constructions and customized treatment.
Macrophage Phenotype in Combination with Tumor Microbiome Composition Predicts RCC Patients’ Survival: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kovaleva Olga V. , Podlesnaya Polina , Sorokin Maxim , Mochalnikova Valeria , Kataev Vladimir , Khlopko Yuriy A. , Plotnikov Andrey O. , Stilidi Ivan S. , Kushlinskii Nikolay E. , Gratchev Alexei
Published: June 2022

The identification of new prognostic markers of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an urgent problem in oncourology. To investigate the potential prognostic significance of tumor microbiome and stromal inflammatory markers, we studied a cohort of 66 patients with RCC (23 clear cell RCC, 19 papillary RCC and 24 chromophobe RCC). The microbiome was analyzed in tumor and normal tissue by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Characterization of the tumor stroma was performed using immunohistochemistry. A significant difference in alpha diversity was demonstrated between normal kidney tissue and all types of RCC. Further, we demonstrated that the bacterial burden was higher in adjacent normal tissue than in a tumor. For the first time, we demonstrated a significant correlation between bacterial burden and the content of PU.1+ macrophages and CD66b+ neutrophils in kidney tumors. Tumors with high content of PU.1+ cells and CD66b+ cells in the stroma were characterized by a lower bacterial burden. In the tumors with high bacterial burden, the number of PU.1+ cells and CD66b+ was associated with a poor prognosis. The identified associations indicate the great prognostic potential of a combined tumor microbiome and stromal cell analysis.
The Potential Role of Myokines/Hepatokines in the Progression of Neuronal Damage in Streptozotocin and High-Fat Diet-Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mice
Authors: Lee Heaji , Lim Yunsook
Published: June 2022

Background: Diabetes is highly prevalent, and the number of patients with diabetic sarcopenia and cognitive impairment has grown, leading to decreased quality of life. Although the exact mechanisms between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment have not been elucidated, it is speculated that muscle and liver-derived mediators might contribute to brain function. This study examined the molecular mechanisms associated with muscle-brain interaction accompanied by insulin resistance (IR) caused by aberrant energy metabolism via myokines/hepatokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. Methods: T2DM was induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. Behavior tests were conducted to analyze grip strength and cognitive function. Histopathological changes in skeletal muscle and brain tissue were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the protein levels of biomarkers related to energy metabolism via myokines/hepatokines were measured by western blot. Results: T2DM caused peripheral and central IR. Furthermore, T2DM led to aberrant energy metabolism through the reduced fibroblast growth factor 21 dependent AMP-activated kinase (AMPK)/surtuin1/proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α pathway in T2DM. Subsequently, reduced circulating myokines/hepatokines were in accordance with their levels with hippocampal neuronal markers in T2DM mice. Accordingly, skeletal muscle (muscle strength: 2.83 ± 0.39 vs. 2.187 ± 0.51, p = 0.004) and brain function (PAT: 38.5 ± 57.91 vs. 11.556 ± 12.03, p = 0.02) impairment and morphological changes (muscle cross-sectional area: 872.43 ± 242.87 vs. 743.68 ± 169.31, p = 0.01; density of neurons in hippocampus: 145 ± 15.13 vs. 77 ± 35.51, p = 0.05; density of neurons in cortex: 138.333 ± 6.66 vs. 78 ± 17.35, p = 0.05) were shown in T2DM mice. In addition, the working ability demonstrated by Y-maze was positively correlated with % lean mass (p = 0.046, R = 0.3426). Conclusions: T2DM led to aberrant energy in skeletal muscle and brain via myokines/hepatokines. This study suggested that myokines and hepatokines might have potential roles in skeletal muscle and central metabolic functions which can mediate cognitive function in T2DM mice.
Changes in the Brain Metabolism Associated with Central Post-Stroke Pain in Hemorrhagic Pontine Stroke: An 18F-FDG-PET Study of the Brain
Authors: Choi Soo-jin , Kim Na-young , Kim Jun-yup , An Young-sil , Kim Yong-wook
Published: June 2022

Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is an intractable neuropathic pain that can occur following central nervous system injuries. Spino-thalamo-cortical pathway damage contributes to CPSP development. However, brain regions involved in CPSP are unknown and previous studies were limited to supratentorial strokes with cortical lesion involvement. We analyzed the brain metabolism changes associated with CPSP following pontine hemorrhage. Thirty-two patients with isolated pontine hemorrhage were examined; 14 had CPSP, while 18 did not. Brain glucose metabolism was evaluated using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography images. Additionally, regions revealing metabolic correlation with CPSP severity were analyzed. Patients with CPSP showed changes in the brain metabolism in the cerebral cortices and cerebellum. Compared with the control group, the CPSP group showed significant hypometabolism in the contralesional rostral anterior cingulum and ipsilesional primary motor cortex (Puncorrected < 0.001). However, increased brain metabolism was observed in the ipsilesional cerebellum (VI) and contralesional cerebellum (lobule VIIB) (Puncorrected < 0.001). Moreover, increased pain intensity correlated with decreased metabolism in the ipsilesional supplementary motor area and contralesional angular gyrus. This study emphasizes the role of the many different areas of the cortex that are involved in affective and cognitive processing in the development of CPSP.
Numerical Assessment of Different Phase Change Materials as a Passive Strategy to Reduce Energy Consumption in Buildings under Tropical Climates
Authors: Chen Austin Miguel , Araúz Jesús , Mora Dafni
Published: June 2022

The building envelope design constrains how much HVAC systems must work to provide comfort. High thermal mass in walls is preferable to delay heat gain, as well as reduce it. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) seem to proportionate more thermal mass without increasing wall thickness because of their high latent heat. Thus, this work studies various PCM-based envelope layouts in four case studies, H060, H100, H200, and OB, under the tropical climate of Panama City, via building energy performance simulation. Energy and thermal comfort performance were used as criteria to determine an optimal PCM-based layout for such a climate through optimization analysis and to compare PCM-based and non-PCM-based envelope layouts. Results showed that among the considered combinations, PCM-based roof configurations provide more optimum solutions than PCM-based wall configurations. The PCM layout with a melting temperature of 27 °C allowed completion of the PCM cycle throughout the year. Although other PCM layouts did not present a complete charge/discharge cycle, such as the most frequent options at H060, H100, and H200, it suggests that PCM on liquid or solid phase provides better thermal performance than other considered combinations.
Comprehensive Comparison of 22C3 and SP263 PD-L1 Expression in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Using Routine Clinical and Conditioned Archives
Authors: Kim Sue Youn , Kim Tae-Eun , Park Chan Kwon , Yoon Hyoung-Kyu , Sa Young Jo , Kim Hyo Rim , Woo In Sook , Kim Tae-Jung
Published: June 2022

PD-L1 harmonization studies revealed a strong correlation between the 22C3 and SP263 assays in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the assays’ characteristics have yet to be validated in a variety of clinical and analytical settings. The results of 431 NSCLC samples tested concurrently in routine clinical practice with the PD-L1 22C3 and SP263 assays were reviewed, and both assays were performed on 314 archives of surgically resected NSCLCs to assess PD-L1 expression in relation to variables such as FFPE block age and FFPE section storage condition. In routine clinical samples, 22C3 showed the highest concordance rate with 94.5% of SP263 tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥50% and 92.3% of SP263 TPS ≥1%, while SP263 showed a concordance rate with 79.6% of 22C3 TPS ≥50% and 89.9% of 22C3 TPS ≥1%. In the archival analysis, the high TPS of 22C3 and SP263 (versus TPS 1%) were significantly associated with a more recent block (<3 years versus ≥3 years) (p = 0.007 and p = 0.009, respectively). Only the TPS of 22C3 was reduced when FFPE sections were stored at room temperature compared to SP263. However, when stored at 4 °C, the storage duration had no effect on expression in either assay. For 22C3 TPS 1–49 percent and ≥50 percent (OR = 1.73, p = 0.006 and OR = 1.98, p = 0.002, respectively). There was a considerably larger chance of preserved 22C3 expression in recent room-temperature paraffin section storage, although SP263 demonstrated preserved expression in prolonged room-temperature section storage. Despite the good association between PD-L1 22C3 and SP263 in routine clinical samples, FFPE blocks older than 3 years and sections held at room temperature for more than 1 week may result in an underestimation of PD-L1 status, particularly for the 22C3 test. However, the SP263 assay was more sensitive under these conditions.