bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-amplification of Oxidative Stress With Tumour Microenvironment-activatable Iron-doped Nanoplatform for Targeting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Synergistic Cascade Therapy and Diagnosis
Authors: Zhou Qiao-Mei , Lu Yuan-Fei , Zhou Jia-Ping , Yang Xiao-Yan , Wang Xiao-Jie , Yu Jie-Ni , Du Yong-Zhong , Yu Ri-Sheng
Published: July 2021

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is insensitivity to chemotherapy drugs and conventional chemotherapy has long been regarded as ineffective against HCC. Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death with a definite Fenton reaction mechanism that converts endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH), expected to inhibit HCC in cooperation with chemotherapy.Methods: The organic/inorganic nanoplatform were characterized by various methods to analyze the morphology, element composition and tumour microenvironment response-ability. Determine the tumour-targeting efficiency and imaging capabilities of nanoplatform through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in vivo and in vitro. Confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and western blotting were used to study the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of complementary ferroptosis/apoptosis treatment of nanoplatform. Results: This nanoplatform consists of a silica shell doped with iron and disulfide bonds, and the etched core loaded DOX that generate H2O2 in situ to enhance the ferroptosis effect. The ultrasensitive nanoplatform relied on transferrin for precise delivery and could be activated by the tumour microenvironment (TME) in which the glutathione (GSH)-responsive biodegradability could synergize with the therapeutic interaction between DOX and iron and induce tumour cells death through complementary ferroptosis and apoptosis mechanisms. Simultaneously, the nanoplatform had a superparamagnetic framework that can be used for treatment guidance and monitoring under the guidance of T2-weighted MRI.Conclusion: The rationally designed nanoplatform is expected to realize the integration of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, and provides a new strategy for anti-tumour effects.
On The Outside Looking In: A Phenomenological Study of The Lived Experience of Australian Adults With A Disorder of The Corpus Callosum
Authors: Maxfield Maree , Cooper Monica S , Kavanagh Anne , Devine Alexandra , Gill-Atkinson Liz
Published: July 2021

Background While classified as a rare condition, a congenital disorder of the corpus callosum (DCC) is one of the most commonly identified brain anomalies in newborns, occurring in 1 :4000 live births. Advances in imaging techniques have improved early diagnosis for children, yet adults with a DCC – who may present with extreme heterogeneity in cause and impact - often experience challenges in receiving a definitive diagnosis and accessing appropriate services and supports. To date, the dearth of evidence documenting the lived experiences of adults with DCC has made it difficult to determine adequate policy and service responses. This exploratory research aims to address this gap by presenting the first qualitative examination of the experiences and impact of complete or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum among adults. ResultsEight face-to-face interviews were conducted with Australian adults, aged 23 to 72 years, to explore their lived experience. Data was collected in four Australian states from June to August 2017. Thematic and interpretive analyses were employed to analyse data. Three emergent themes described difficulties related to; 1) Reactions to the diagnosis; 2) Access to supports and key life domains, and 3) Identifying as an adult. Interview analysis described lived experiences typically outlining a lifetime of exclusion and misunderstanding from family, educators and disability and health support services. ConclusionsThis paper contributes to filling the knowledge gap around a rare congenital brain disorder affecting the lives of adults. Findings confirm a considerable lack of information and support for adults living with corpus callosum disorders. Greater professional and societal understanding is needed to improve access to the key life domains of education, employment and social inclusion for adults with a DCC. To instigate truly effective change, social research must tackle the issues of applicability and impact to alter the dominance of uninformed practices, hindered by prevailing myths. This research paves the way for further phenomenological studies in which participant narrative is vital. Further research will elicit stronger policy and service responses for all current and emerging adults with a DCC.
Prognostic Value of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Schistosomiasis-Associated Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Weixia , Zhang Yingyi , Liu Jican , Jing Hongyan , Lu Kui , Wang Limei , Zhu Ting , Xu Yanchao , Bu Dacheng , Cheng Meihong , Liu Jing , Shen Weidong , Yao Junxia , Huang Sinian
Published: July 2021

Aim: To investigate the relationship between schistosomiasis and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and the prognostic value of TILs in schistosomal colorectal cancer (CRC).Background: The association between TILs and CRC has long been suggested in the literature, but the association between TILs and schistosomiasis and the prognositic role of TILs in schistosomal CRC has never been reported previously.Methods: Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections of 351 CRC tumours, which were completely resected, were evaluated for density of TILs in intratumoural (iTIL) and stromal compartments (sTIL). Its relationship with clinicopathological features, including schistosomiasis, and clinical outcomes were evaluated and the prognostic role of sTILs in schistosomal CRC was explored.Results: Stromal TILs infiltration were correlated with smaller tumor size，less deeper pathological T stage, absence lymph node metastasis and less number of tumor budding (p＜0.05). However, there were no association between sTILs and shicstosomiasis. In the whole cohort, multivariate analysis identified gender, TNM Stage, Schistosomiasis, sTILs, lymph vascular invasion, lymph nodes positive for CRC were independent prognostic factors that associated with overall survival (OS) in CRC (p < 0.05). Patients were divided into two groups based on schistosomiasis infection status: colorectal cancer associated with schistosomiasis (CRC-NS set) and colorectal cancer without schistosomiasis (CRC-S set ). In the CRC-NS set, multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor budding, sTILs, lymph vascular invasion, lymph nodes positive for CRC were independent prognostic factors that associated with OS (p < 0.05). However, there were no association between sTILs and OS in CRC-S set (p＞0.05). Besides, sTILs were associated with favorable OS in CRC-NS patients but not in CRC-S patients, regardless of age. Conclusion: Stromal TILs in the whole cohort and in the CRC-NS set were identified as an independent prognostic factor, but it was lack of prognostic role in schistosomal CRC. Stromal TILs was associated with less aggressive tumor features. Stromal TILs was associated with OS in CRC-NS patients but not in CRC-S patients, regardless of age.
Agreement Between Echocardiogram and Right Heart Catheterization in the Daily Practice of Investigation of Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Rezende Camila Farnese , Mancuzo Eliane Viana , Nunes Maria Carmo P , Corrêa Ricardo de Amorim
Published: July 2021

Purpose: Studies in the context of research have shown a significant disagreement between the echocardiographic measurement of the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and right atrial pressure (RAP) and that obtained by right heart catheterization (RHC). We compare measurements of sPAP and RAP, verified by transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with those detected by RHC in patients being investigated for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Methods: Cross-sectional study was performed in a context of usual clinical practice in the public referral center for PH, including patients with high or intermediate echocardiographic probability of pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic PH. Bland-Altman test was used to assess the agreement amongthe values and ROC curve to identify sPAP and tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) values ​​with better accuracy. Clinically acceptable differences of 10 mmHg for sPAP and 5 mmHg for RAP were considered.Results: Ninety-five patients were included. The Bland-Altman analysis showed a bias of 8.03 mmHg for sPAP and -3.30 mmHg for RAP. Area under the curve for sPAP and TRV measured by TTE were 0.936(95% CI: 0.836-1.0) and 0.919(95% CI: 0.837-1.0), respectively. According to the pre-defined pressure differences, only 33.4% of the echocardiographic estimate of sPAP and 55.1% of RAP were accurate, as compared to the measurements obtained by RHC. Conclusions: Real life study revealed that echocardiographic evaluation demonstrated a high discriminatory power for diagnosis of PH, but sPAP and RAP measurements showed significant disagreements in relation to hemodynamic measures. The technical improvement of diagnostic services may contribute to the earlier recognition of this condition by TTE.
PaaS Platform Securityenhancement Using Fuzzy and Trust Based Signature
Authors: SRINIVAS PATHAKAMURI , Reddy B.V. Ramana , Kumar A.P. Siva
Published: July 2021

The study of PaaS platform security enhancement has occupied scholars from a number of disciplines, in previous works has so many security issues like Security problems can be a big barrier to cloud computing. System servers require trustworthy security measures to different data domains according to the system servers own operating mechanism. Problem is constructed by filtering out those cloud providers not conforming to high-level security requirements. By including low-level security requirements to be used for filtering the cloud provider space and formulating the optimisation function. To overcome all the above drawbacks our proposed work mainly focused on the security of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) as well as the most critical security issues that were documented regarding PaaS infrastructure. This work has two main aspects: First, suitable access control on user personal data, VMs and platform services and Second planning and adapting application deployments based on security requirements. In Fuzzy based access control to information sources is mainly realised by exploiting the CDO security feature. In Security feature code was modified to map the class and packet filter for any specific permission to our own class. If the Identity Provider (IdP) has included public security information on the two main parts in the small token on which Trust based Signature elements are placed, i.e., the whole token or the assertions included, this public key is used to validate the respective signature. The experimental results will show that our proposed method outperforms the traditional methods. Our proposed methodology was implemented in the platform of JAVA.
Deep reinforcement learning for diagnosing various types of cancer by TP53 mutation patterns
Authors: Rahmani Armaqan , Minaei-Bidgoli Behrouz , Ahangaran Meysam
Published: July 2021

One of the key challenges for classifying multiple cancer types is the complexity of Tumor Protein p53 mutation patterns and its individual effects on tumors. However, far too little attention has been paid to Deep reinforcement Learning on TP53 mutation patterns because of its extremely difficult result interpretations. We introduce a critic network by a long-short term memory, which is appropriated for discriminating the noise samples from a Feedback Generative Adversarial Network and analyzing the actor network. The correlation and analysis of the results in a belief network demonstrates significant relations between mutations and disease risk in cancer subtypes identification. In other words, the results indicate statically significant differences between the primary and secondary subtype groups of the most probable tumor.
Radiographic Optimization of The Lateral Position of The Knee Joint Aided by CT Images and The Maximum Intensity Projection Technique
Authors: Wang Shiming , Xiao Zhibo , Lu Yunfeng , Zhang Zhiwei , Lv Fajin
Published: July 2021

Background: Standard lateral knee-joint X-ray images are crucial for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of many knee joint-related conditions. However, it is difficult to obtain standard lateral knee-joint X-ray images in the current knee-joint lateral radiography position.Purpose: To optimize the lateral position of knee-joint for radiography aided by computed tomography (CT) images and the maximum intensity projection technique. Materials and Methods: One hundred cases of anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of knee-joints were included. Of these, 50 cases were for lateral radiography in conventional position, and the other 50 cases were for lateral radiography in optimized position. The optimized position was acquired by a retrospective analysis of one hundred cases of knee-joint CT images. The quality of the X-ray images in optimized group was compared with those in conventional group. The data were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: There were differences in the optimized position between males and females. The posterior condyles of the femoral epiphysis in optimized group were in perfect superimposition for most patients. However, the ones in conventional group were not. The average quality score of the lateral knee–joint X-ray images in optimized position was 3.76 ± 0.98, which is much higher than the 1.84 ± 1.15 score in conventional position. Moreover, the difference in the average quality score was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Optimization of the lateral position of knee-joint for radiography is possible with the aid of CT images and the maximum intensity projection technique.
The spatial landscape of clonal somatic mutations in benign and malignant tissue
Authors: Lundeberg Joakim , Erickson Andrew , Berglund Emelie , He Mengxiao , Marklund Maja , Mirzazadeh Reza , Schultz Niklas , Kvastad Linda , Andersson Alma , Bergenstråhle Ludvig , Bergenstråhle Joseph , Larsson Ludvig , Shamikh Alia , Basmaci Elisa , de Ståhl Teresita Diaz , Rajakumar Timothy , Thrane Kim , Ji Andrew , Khavari Paul , Tarish Firaz , Tanoglidi Anna , Maaskola Jonas , Colling Richard , Mirtti Tuomas , Hamdy Freddie , Woodcock Dan , Helleday Thomas , Mills Ian , Lamb Alastair
Published: July 2021

Defining the transition from benign to malignant tissue is fundamental to improve early diagnosis of cancer. Here, we provide an unsupervised approach to study spatial genome integrity in situ to describe previously unidentified clonal relationships. We employed spatially resolved transcriptomics to infer spatial copy number variations in >120 000 regions across multiple organs, in benign and malignant tissues. We demonstrate that genome-wide copy number variation reveals distinct clonal patterns within tumours and in nearby benign tissue using an organ-wide approach focused on the prostate. Our results suggest a model for how genomic instability arises in histologically benign tissue that may represent early events in cancer evolution. We highlight the power of capturing the molecular and spatial continuums in a tissue context and challenge the rationale for treatment paradigms, including focal therapy.
New Oral Anticoagulants Versus Low Molecular Weight Heparins for the Treatment of Cancer-associated Thrombosis: a Cost-effectiveness Analysis
Authors: Wumaier Kaidireyahan , Li Wenqian , Chen Naifei , Cui Jiuwei
Published: July 2021

Background: Recently, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been included in guidelines for the treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) to be extended to suitable cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of using NOACs and low molecular weight heparins(LMWHs) for treating CAT from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. Methods: A Markov model was constructed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the two strategies with a 6-month and 5-year time horizon. Input parameters were either sourced from the clinical trial, published literature. The primary outcome of the model was reported as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Sensitivity analyses were performed to test model uncertainty. Results: The 6-month cost of NOACs was $ 654.65 with 0.40 QALYs while the 6-month cost of LMWHs was $ 1719.31 with 0.37 QALYs. Similarly, treatment with NOACs had a lower cost ($ 657.85 vs. $ 1716.56) and more health benefits (0.40 QALY vs. 0.37 QALY) than treatment with LMWHs in a subgroup of patients with gastrointestinal malignancy. We found treatment with NOACs would result in a large reduction in cost($ 1447.22 vs. $ 3374.70) but a small reduction in QALYs (3.07 QALY vs. 3.09 QALY) compared with LMWHs over a 5-year time frame, resulting in an ICER of $ 112895.50/QALY. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. Conclusion: As compared to LMWHs, NOACs can be a cost-saving anticoagulant choice for the treatment of CAT in the general oncology population and gastrointestinal malignancy population.Classification codes: I.
A Peptide Encoding Gene MdCLE8 Regulates Lateral Root Development in Apple
Authors: Zhang Tian-en , Shi Yan , Li Xiu-ming , Zhao Qiang , You Chun-xiang
Published: July 2021

Nitrogen is not only an essential nutrient for plant, but also an important signal molecule to integrate and regulate gene expression, metabolism and growth. Plant peptides are considered as a new hormone, and play an important regulatory role in plant growth and development. However, there are few researches on the co-regulation network between nitrogen and peptide hormones in plant. Here we identified an apple MdCLE8 gene, which encodes a putative peptide, induced by nitrogen deficiency in apple. Ectopic expression of MdCLE8 inhibited lateral root formation in Arabidopsis under nitrogen deficiency. Similarly, overexpression of MdCLE8 inhibited lateral root development in apple adventitious roots, and this inhibition was amplified under nitrogen deficiency treatment. Further studies showed that MdCLE8 may inhibit the expression of several key genes during lateral root emergence stage in Arabidopsis, thereby inhibiting the emergence of lateral root from root cortex cells. Collectively, our study not only broadened the gene regulatory network under the influence of nitrogen in apple, but also expanded the function of CLE peptide hormones in apple.
Complete Nucleotide Sequence of an Endornavirus Isolated from Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum)
Authors: Okada Ryo , Moriyama Hiromitsu , Ogawara Takashi , Cizek Heather , Valverde Rodrigo A
Published: July 2021

A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of approximately 16 kbp was isolated from symptomless common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) plants. The size of the dsRNA suggested that it was the replicative form of an endornavirus. The dsRNA was sequenced, and it consisted of 15,677 nt containing a single open reading frame that potentially encoded a polyprotein of 5,190 aa. The polyprotein contained conserved domains for a viral methyltransferase, viral RNA helicase 1, MSCRAMM family adhesion SdrC, UDP-glycosyltransferase, and viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase 2. A site-specific nick in the plus strand was detected near the 5' end of the dsRNA. BLASTP analysis showed that the polyprotein shared the highest identity with the polyprotein of winged bean endornavirus 1. Results of phylogenetic analysis supported placing the novel virus from common buckwheat, which was provisionally named Fagopyrum esculentum endornavirus 1, in the genus Alphaendornavirus of the family Endornaviridae.
X-type Soliton, Resonance Y-type Soliton and Hybrid Solutions of a (2+1)-dimensional Hirota-Satsuma-Ito System for the Shallow Water Waves
Authors: Shen Yuan , Tian Bo , Zhou Tian-Yu , Gao Xiao-Tian
Published: July 2021

Water waves are observed in the rivers, lakes, oceans, etc. Under investigation in this paper is a (2+1)-dimensional Hirota-Satsuma-Ito system arising in the shallow water waves. Via the Hirota method and symbolic computation, we derive some X-type and resonance Y-type soliton solutions. We also work out some hybrid solutions consisting of the resonance Y-type solitons, solitons, breathers and lumps. Graphics we present reveal that the hybrid solutions consisting of the resonance Y-type solitons and solitons/breathers/lumps describe the interactions between the resonance Y-type solitons and solitons/breathers/lumps, respectively. The obtained results rely on the water-wave coefficient in that system.
Predicting Outcomes for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation With CT-Based Radiomics
Authors: Wang Fuqiang , Tan Boon Fei , Poh Sharon Shuxian , Siow Tian Rui , Lim Faye Lynette Wei Tching , Yip Connie Siew Poh , Wang Michael Lian Chek , Nei Wenlong , Tan Hong Qi
Published: July 2021

A feasibility study was performed to determine if CT-based radiomics could play an augmentative role in predicting neoadjuvant rectal score (NAR), locoregional failure free survival (LRFFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). CT images of 191 patients with LARC were used in this study. Primary tumour (GTV) and mesorectum (CTV) were contoured separately and radiomics features were extracted from both segments. Two NAR models (NAR>16 and NAR<8) models were constructed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and the survival models were constructed using regularized Cox regressions. Area under curve (AUC) and time-dependent AUC were used to quantify the performance of the LASSO and Cox regression respectively, using ten folds cross validations. The NAR>16 and NAR<8 models have an average AUCs of 0.68 ± 0.13 and 0.59 ± 0.14 respectively. There are statistically significant differences between the clinical and combined model for LRFFS (from 0.68 ± 0.04 to 0.72 ± 0.04), DMFS (from 0.68 ± 0.05 to 0.70 ± 0.05) and OS (from 0.64 ± 0.06 to 0.66 ± 0.06). CTV radiomics features were also found to be more important than GTV features in the NAR prediction model.
Energy Recovery Linac Based Fully Coherent Light Source
Authors: Zhao Z. T. , Wang Z. , Feng C. , Chen S. , Cao L.
Published: July 2021

Energy recovery linac (ERL) holds great promise for generating high repetition-rate and high brightness electron beams. The application of ERL to drive a free-electron laser is currently limited by its low peak current. In this paper, we consider the combination of ERL with the recently proposed angler-dispersion induced microbunching technique to generate fully coherent radiation pulses with high average brightness and tunable pulse length. Start-to-end simulations have been performed based on a low energy ERL (600 MeV) for generating coherent EUV radiation pulses. The results indicate an average brightness over 1025 phs/s/mm2/mrad2/0.1%BW and average power of about 100 W at 13.5 nm or 20 W with the spectral resolution of about 0.5 meV with the proposed technique. Further extension of the proposed scheme to shorter wavelength based on an ERL complex is also discussed.
Cytokine’s Imbalance, the Hallmark of Immune Dysfunction in HIV/AIDS Patients in Rwanda
Authors: Ngangali Jean Pierre , Mutesa Leon , NSANZIMANA Sabin , Munyemana Jean Bosco , INJERA Emonyi Wilfred , KIRTIKA Patel , GATARE Swaibu , Rutayisire Robert , NDISHIMYE Isabelle Valois , NTAGWABIRA Edouard , Nkinda Lilian , CHEMTAI Alex k.
Published: July 2021

Background: Cytokines network drive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) inflammation and pathogenesis. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) maintains low HIV viral load (VL) but chronic inflammation remains high in HIV subjects compared to HIV naïve population. To date, there is no surrogate biomarker that gives the hallmark picture of immune activation, chronic inflammation in HIV programs. This study aimed at determining the plasma cytokine levels and their association with HIV VL at initiation and after six months on HAART in Rwanda. Methods: We used a matching groups approach based on sex and systematic sampling within the groups were used to enrol fifty (50) patients in each group. Fifteen (15) HIV naive people were included in the study as control group. BD Flow cytometry was used to determine cytokine levels while revised WHO questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. Independent sample T tests (T) and Wilcoxon rank (W) were used to compare cytokine mean levels while Pearson's Product Moment Coefficient (PPMC) r was used for correlation of parameters at HAART initiation and after six months of treatment. The statistically significant differences and the correlation between assessed parameters were determined at p ≤0.05. Results: At the initiation of HAART, Interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6 plasma levels were higher while IFN-γ and TNF-α were lower compared to its levels after six months of HAART. The present study found a positive association between IL-10, IL-6 and HIV VL. Conclusion: Proinflammatory and antinflammatory cytokines levels change differently following HAART and correlate with the HIV VL. The IL-10, IL-6 plasma levels are an alternative biomarker for assessment of hallmark of immune activation and inflammation in HIV infection.
Vitiligo-Specific Soluble Biomarkers as Early Indicators of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Melanoma Patients
Authors: Carbone Maria Luigia , Madonna Gabriele , Bove Marianna , Mastroeni Simona , Levati Lauretta , Capone Mariaelena , Ascierto Paolo , De Galitiis Federica , D'Atri Stefania , Fortes Cristina , Failla Cristina Maria
Published: July 2021

Background: Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors strongly improved the outcome of metastatic melanoma patients. However, not all the patients respond to treatment and identification of prognostic biomarkers able to select patients who would respond to this therapy is of outmost importance. Considering that development of vitiligo-like depigmentation in melanoma patients represents both an adverse event of immunotherapy and a favorable prognostic factor for overall survival, we analyzed known soluble biomarkers of vitiligo to validate them as early indicators of response to checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic melanoma.Methods: Fifty-seven patients with metastatic melanoma receiving anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy were enrolled. Patient sera and plasma were evaluated for vitiligo biomarkers at pre-treatment and after 1 and 3 months of therapy. Patients were divided and analyzed according to the best overall response to treatment. Characteristic vitiligo proteins were analyzed by ELISA, while expression of circulating microRNAs, distinctive of vitiligo, was determined using real-time RT-PCR.Results: Basal serum CD25 levels were higher in stable and responder melanoma patients and remained higher during the first 3 months of anti-PD-1 therapy compared to non-responder patients. The chemokine CXCL9 was absent in non-responder patients before therapy beginning. Moreover, an increase of CXCL9 levels was observed at 1 and 3 months of therapy for all patients, although higher CXCL9 amounts were present in stable and responder compared to non-responder patients. Finally, higher levels of miR-19b, miR-25 and miR-16 were observed after 1 month of therapy in plasma of stable and responder compared to non-responder patients.Conclusions: Serum levels of CD25 and CXCL9 before and during the first months of treatment could represent biomarkers of response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma patients. Plasmatic miR-19b, miR-25 and miR-16 could also represent possible early biomarkers of response to anti-PD-1 treatment, but they must be validated in a higher number of patients.
Temporal Activity Patterns of Sympatric Bornean Carnivore Species: Implications for Niche Partitioning and Conservation
Authors: Nakabayashi Miyabi , Kanamori Tomoko , Matsukawa Aoi , Tangah Joseph , Tuuga Augustine , Malim Titol Peter , Bernard Henry , Ahmad Abdul Hamid , Matsuda Ikki , Hanya Goro
Published: July 2021

To propose proper conservation measures and to elucidate coexistence mechanisms of sympatric carnivore species, we assessed their temporal activity patterns using 37,379 photos collected for more than three years at three study sites in Borneo. We categorized activity patterns of nine carnivore species (one bear, three civets, two felids, one skunk, one mustelid, one linsang) by calculating the photo-capturing proportions at each period (day, night, twilight). We then evaluated temporal activity overlaps by calculating the overlap coefficients. We identified six nocturnal (three civets, one felid, one skunk, one linsang), two diurnal (one felids, one mustelid), and one cathemeral (bear) species. Temporal activity overlaps were high among the nocturnal species. The two felid species possessing morphological and ecological similarities exhibited clear temporal niche segregation, but the three civet species did not. Broad dietary breadth may compensate for the high temporal niche overlaps among the nocturnal species. Despite the high species richness of Bornean carnivores, almost half are threatened with extinction. By comparing individual radio-tracking and our data, we propose that a long-term study of at least three years is necessary to understand animals’ temporal activity patterns by camera-trapping and to avoid diverting conservationists away from effective protection measures.
Alpha and Theta Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Over the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Modulates Vigilance Performance, but Only When Arousal Levels Are Non-optimal
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Víctor , Tortajada Miriam , Palmero Lucía B. , Campoy Guillermo , Fuentes Luis J.
Published: July 2021

BackgroundCurrent theoretical accounts on the oscillatory nature of sustained attention predict that entrainment via transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at alpha and theta frequencies on the frontoparietal network could prevent the drops in vigilance across time-on-task. Nonetheless, most previous studies have neglected both the fact that vigilance comprises two dissociable components (i.e. arousal and executive vigilance) and the potential role of differences in arousal baseline. MethodWe examined the effects of theta- and alpha-tACS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on both components of vigilance and on participants that differed in arousal baseline according to their chronotype and the time of testing. Intermediate-types performed the vigilance tasks when their arousal baseline was at the optimal level, whereas evening-types performed the vigilance tasks when their arousal baseline was at non-optimal levels. ResultsBoth theta- and alpha-tACS improved arousal vigilance, whereas alpha-tACS, but not theta-tACS, improved accuracy and attenuated the typical vigilance decrement in the executive vigilance task. Importantly, these stimulation effects were only found when arousal baseline was low (i.e., with evening-types performing the tasks at their non-optimal time of day).ConclusionThe results support the multicomponent view of vigilance, the relevance of heeding individual differences in arousal baseline, and the role of alpha oscillations as a long-range cortical scale synchronization mechanism that compensates the decrements in performance as a function of time-on-task by exerting and maintaining cognitive control attributed to activation of the frontoparietal network.
Giants Among Dwarfs: The Arrival Of A New Clade Of Southern Dinosaurs In The Latest Cretaceous Of Europe
Authors: Vila Bernat , Selles Albert , Moreno-Azanza Miguel , Razzolini Novella , Gil-Delgado Alejandro , Canudo José , Galobart Àngel
Published: July 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The Impact of Mindfulness Training on the Attention to Facial Expressions
Authors: Bi Taiyong , Kou Hui , Li Xue , He Yuxia , Chen Siqi , Xie Qinhong
Published: July 2021

The improvements of attention by mindfulness training had been proved. But the effects of mindfulness training on attention to emotional stimuli were mixed. We employed a randomized, controlled design to investigate the effects of mindfulness training on the attention to emotional expressions, and investigated whether baseline levels of dispositional mindfulness and emotional intelligence would moderate the intervention effects. Forty participants received 8-week mindfulness training and another forty participants attended two lectures about mindfulness. All participants completed the visual search task, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Emotional Intelligence Scale at both pre-training and post-training. The improvements of search efficiencies were larger in the mindfulness group than those in the control group for sad and angry faces, but not for happy faces (F(2, 156)=4.04, p=0.019, η2=0.05). In addition, baseline emotional intelligence (βsadness=-4.49, t=-2.08, p=0.041, 95%CI [-8.78, -0.19]; βanger=-7.39, t=-4.08, p<0.001, 95%CI [-10.99, -3.78]) but not dispositional mindfulness (βsadness=3.17, t=1.56, p=0.124, 95%CI [-0.89, 7.22]; βanger=-1.89, t=-1.02, p=0.313, 95%CI [-5.61, 1.82]) played a significantly moderating role in the relationship between mindfulness training and emotional attention to sadness and anger. The search efficiencies of negative emotions (i.e., anger and sadness) but not positive emotions (i.e., happiness) were significantly improved by mindfulness training. Individuals with high level of baseline emotional intelligence showed significant improvement on the search efficiencies relative to those with low level of emotional intelligence.
Zinc Titanate Nanopowders. Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Gabal M , Angari Y.M. Al
Published: July 2021

Zinc titanates nanopowders viz.; Zn2TiO4, ZnTi3O8 and ZnTiO3 were synthesized through the thermal decomposition course of ZnC2O4.2H2O-TiO2 precursor (1:1 mole ratio), prepared via a new co-precipitation method up to 900oC. Thermogravimetric measurement (TG) was utilized to characterize the precursor decomposition while X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) were used to characterize the decomposition products as well as the phase transitions at different temperatures. XRD revealed the starting of titanates formation at 700oC via detecting Zn2TiO4 along with ZnO and TiO2 (anatase) diffraction peaks. By increasing the calcination temperature to 800oC, the ZnO content vanished with the appearing of Zn2Ti3O8 besides ZnTi2O4 and impurities of TiO2 (anatase). Finally at 900oC, the Zn2Ti3O8 content was decomposed into ZnTiO3. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm of the calcined precursor at 900oC indicated low specific surface area of 7.1 m2 g-1 in accordance with the agglomeration nature estimated via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. The conductivity measurements showed semiconducting behavior of the prepared titanates with ferroelectric transition in the range 200-308oC.The obtained low dielectric value suggests the uses of present titanates as a co-fired ceramic or resonator ceramics.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Outcomes: First Report from Single Center Retrospective Study in Kazakhstan
Authors: Saparbay Jamilya , Kulkayeva Gulnara , Kemaykin Vadim , Kuttymuratov Aset , Burlaka Zhanna , Zhakhina Gulnur , Adusheva Aisha , Dosayeva Saltanat
Published: July 2021

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common hematological malignancy in adults. In the last decade, internationally approved AML treatment guidelines, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are widely used in Kazakhstan. The categorization of acute myeloid leukemia was done according to the French-American British classification. The prognosis of patients at the time of diagnosis was determined by cytogenetic tests following the guidelines of the European LeukemiaNet. The overall survival and event-free survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and hazard ratios were defined with Cox regression. Totally 398 patients with AML were treated in the National Research Oncology Center between 2010 and 2020. The mean age was 38.3 years. We have found the correlation between ethnicity, cytogenetic group, white blood cell count, and treatment approaches with overall and event-free survival. There was a significantly longer OS in a cytogenetic group with a good prognosis compared with intermediate and poor prognosis. The median survival time in the group with a good prognosis was 43 months, 23 months in the intermediate group (p=0.7), and 12 months in the poor prognosis group (p=0.016). There was a significantly longer OS for the group of patients who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 52 months versus 10 months in the group who received chemotherapy only, p-value < 0.0001. Prognostic factors, such as cytogenetic group, initial WBC count, and treatment approaches are significantly associated with patient survival. Our study data were consistent with previous reports.
Cord and Maternal Blood Essential and Toxic Elements Levels in Occupationally Exposed Pregnant Women - Possible Implications in Asd Aetiogenesis
Authors: OMOTOSHO ISHIAQ , Akinade Olufunke
Published: July 2021

Background: Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in children as a neurodevelopmental abnormality is growing. Compounded by equivocal deductions from several genetic and environmental studies aimed at establishing its aetiology, it is becoming a global medical challenge. This work investigated placental transfer of some micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, Se) and toxic (Cd, Pb) metals in occupationally vulnerable pregnant mothers as possible basis of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in children with ASD. Method: 105 third trimester pregnant women comprising 50 occupationally exposed (cases) (27.68±5.57 years) and 55 non-occupationally exposed age-matched pregnant women (28.84±5.37 years) (controls) were recruited by convenient sampling method for this study. Blood (including cord blood) was collected from all participants. Trace and toxic elements levels were determined in the blood samples using Induction-Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy; anthropometric and sociodemographic data of the women along with the developmental milestone indices of the baby at infancy were also recorded.Results: Levels of trace elements were 328.02±109.99mg/L, 370.82±192.97umol/L, 8.61±0.89mg/dl, 1.52±0.26mg/dl and 10.17±1.22mg/L; 348.27±150.61mg/L, 416.80±276.73umol/L, 8.61±0.86mg/dl, 1.46±0.35mg/dl and 8.96±1.15 mg/L for Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg and Se in cases and controls respectively. The differences were not significant. Less than 10% of participants samples (maternal and cord blood) had detectable toxic metal levels. However, cord blood trace elements concentrations were 125.07±24.66mg/l, 525.38±45.86umol/L, 8.44±0.15mg/dl, 1.51±0.31mg/dl and 7.02±0.72mg/dl in cases and 91.05±13.27mg/l, 591.22±44.62umol/l, 1.63±0.15mg/dl and 8.19±0.78mg/L in control for Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg and Se respectively. Only cord blood Mg level was significantly different (p=0.013). Baby weight and head circumferences also correlated significantly with cord Zn and Cu levels (r=0.293, p=0.039), (r=0.478, p=0.010) respectively. Discussion: The observed downregulation of Mg and Se may have initiated a prooxidant reaction of the upregulated Cu in the foetus overwhelming the protective effects of Zn in scavenging the ROS produced by the combined effects of Cu and the toxic metals to which the cases were occupationally exposed. Our hypothesis is that given the role of Se, Cu and Mg in neurodevelopment, this may be the basis of the abnormal developmental milestones characteristic of ASD. Conclusion: The need to monitor environmental exposure in pregnancy may be an imperative step in stemming the growing incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in this environment.
Influence of Deep Learning Image Reconstruction (DLIR) and Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) on Coronary Artery Calcium Quantification
Authors: Wang Yiran , Zhan Hefeng , Wu Wenjie , Liu Jie , Gao Jianbo , Guo Ying , Zhang Yonggao
Published: July 2021

Deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) and Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) has been used for cardiac computed tomography imaging. However, DLIR and ASIR-V may influence the quantification of coronary artery calcification. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DLIR and ASIR-V on coronary calcium quantification compared to traditional filtered back projection (FBP). CT images of 96 patients were reconstructed by FBP, ASIR-V 50%, and three levels of DLIR (low [L], medium [M], and high [H], respectively). Image noise decreased significantly with ASIR-V 50% and increasing DLIR levels from L to H in comparison with FBP (all P < 0.001). There is a significantly decline with ASIR-V 50% and incremental DLIR levels in Agatston calcium score, volume score and mass score as compared to FBP (all P < 0.001). For all CAC score risk categories, Severity classification shows no significant differences among five reconstructions (all P > 0.05). DLIR-L has the minimal effect on coronary calcium quantification as compared to ASIR-V and DLIR at medium and high levels. it may be considered as an alternative to FBP for routine clinical use.
Effect of Minor Amount of Sc on the Thermomechanical Treatment of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr Alloy
Authors: Kheradmand Azam Beigi , Mirdamadi Shamseddin , Lalegani Zahra
Published: July 2021

In this study, mechanical and microstructural properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr cast alloy with 0.1% Sc under homogeneous, dissolution, and T6 and thermomechanical treatments with the aim of increasing the volume fraction of MgZn2 and Al3(Sc,Zr) reinforcing sediments were examined by hardness, microscopic examinations and tensile tests and software analysis. The results showed that firstly, the hardness results are well proportional to the results of tensile properties of alloys and secondly, the strength of the alloy with thermomechanical treatments compared to T6 treatments increased from 492 MPa to 620 MPa and the elongation increased from 8% to 17% and 100 % upgraded. Microstructural investigation and fracture cross section showed that Al3(Sc,Zr) nanoparticles were evenly distributed among MgZn2 particles and the alloy fracture was of semi-ductile type and in the fracture section nanoparticles less than 10 nm were observed at the end of the dimples. Also, the volume fraction of nanoparticles in the whole microstructure of thermomechanical treatment samples was much higher than that of T6 heat treated samples, so that the percentage of Al3(Sc,Zr) sediments from less than 1% in T6 operation to 8.28% in quench-controlled thermomechanical operation (with 50% deformation) has arrived. QI index in thermomechanical treatment samples is 19% higher than T6 samples, so that this index has increased from 641 in T6 operation to 760 in samples under thermomechanical treatment due to sediment morphology, volume fraction of sediments, their uniform distribution in the matrix, and nano sized sediments in samples under thermomechanical treatment.
Polyoxometallic chemistry towards all-in-one layered double hydroxides for boosting oxygen evolution electrocatalysis
Authors: Cai Zhengyang , Wang Ping , Yan Ya , Zhang Jiangwei , Wang Xianying
Published: July 2021

Nickel-iron based layered double hydroxides (NiFe LDH) have attracted tremendous research and industrial interests for oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysis (OER). However, methodologies on simultaneous multi-regulations remain scarce. Herein, we report a versatile polyoxometallic acids (POMs) etching approach for ingeniously designing NiFe LDH, including morphological nanolayers tailoring, reconfiguration of Fe3+ and α-Ni(OH)2 active species, creating multiple vacancies of Ni, Fe and O and manufacturing interlayered POM polyanionic clusters as surface kinetic accelerators. Our experimental and theoretical data reveal that the key influencing factors are simultaneously controlled, resulting in synergistical enhancement with electrocatalytic OER activity of η10 = 206 mV, stability (negligible change of η500 for 24 h), and turnover frequency value (TOFFe, mol) of 2.03 s− 1. To elucidate the evolution, we derive an empirical formula to quantitatively identifying the key performance-determining factors, coinciding with the work and most of literature data. The expression offers an opportunity for first and fast reliability on materials screening. Moreover, the electrocatalyst is further produced on a large scale with low cost and high performance, demonstrating its feasibility of promising configuration of NiFe LDH-PMo12(+) ‖ Ni@NiFe LDH(-) for practical anion-exchange membrane (AEM)-electrode-stack cells water electrolysis.
Impact of High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C on Cell-Free DNA and Syndecan-1 in Patients with Sepsis-Associated ARDS
Authors: Kashiouris Markos G.
Published: July 2021

Background:We set out to examine the effects of high dosage intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) infusion on plasma cell-free DNA and Syndecan-1, two mortality biomarkers that represent neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx.Methods: Post-hoc analysis of plasma cell-free DNA and syndecan-1 in patients enrolled in the randomized placebo-controlled trial: Vitamin C Infusion for Treatment in Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury, the CITRIS-ALI trial. Setting: Seven intensive care units in hospitals located in five different states in the U.S. Patients: Septic adults with ARDS between September 2014 to November 2017, final follow-up January 2018.Results: In 167 study patients, baseline plasma cfDNA levels in HDIVC (84 patients) and placebo (83 patients) were 2.18 ng/µL (SD 4.20 ng/µL) and 2.65 ng/µL (SD 3.87 ng/µL), respectively, p=0.45. At 48-hours, the cfDNA reduction was 1.02 ng/µL greater in HDIVC, compared to placebo, p=0.05. Mean baseline plasma syndecan-1 levels in HDIVC and placebo were 9.49 ng/mL (SD 5.57 ng/mL) and 10.83 ng/mL (SD 5.95 ng/mL) respectively, p=0.14. At 48 hours, patients in the placebo arm exhibited a 1.53 ng/mL (95% CI, 0.96 to 2.11) increase in syndecan-1 vs. 0.75 ng/mL (95% CI, 0.21 to 1.29), in HDIVC patients, p=0.05. The 48-hour plasma syndecan-1 levels in patients treated with HDIVC exhibited a linear association with improved oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2, beta= -18.9, p=0.004).Conclusions:HDIVC infusion significantly attenuated plasma cell-free DNA and syndecan-1, biomarkers known to be elevated in sepsis-induced ARDS. These results support the conclusion that high dosage intravenous vitamin C infusion reduces sepsis-induced vascular injury.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02106975