bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nomograms of Combining MRI Multisequences Radiomics and Clinical Factors for Differentiating High-Grade From Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma
Authors: Li Cuiping , Wang Hongfei , Chen Yulan , Zhu Chao , Gao Yankun , Wang Xia , Dong Jiangning , Wu Xingwang
Published: June 2022

Objective

To compare the performance of clinical factors, FS-T2WI, DWI, T1WI+C based radiomics and a combined clinic-radiomics model in predicting the type of serous ovarian carcinomas (SOCs).

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, 138 SOC patients were confirmed by histology. Significant clinical factors (P < 0.05, and with the area under the curve (AUC) > 0.7) was retained to establish a clinical model. The radiomics model included FS-T2WI, DWI, and T1WI+C, and also, a multisequence model was established. A total of 1,316 radiomics features of each sequence were extracted; the univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, cross-validations were performed to reduce valueless features and then radiomics signatures were developed. Nomogram models using clinical factors, combined with radiomics features, were developed in the training cohort. The predictive performance was validated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA). A stratified analysis was conducted to compare the differences between the combined radiomics model and the clinical model in identifying low- and high-grade SOC.

Results

The AUC of the clinical model and multisequence radiomics model in the training and validation cohorts was 0.90 and 0.89, 0.91 and 0.86, respectively. By incorporating clinical factors and multi-radiomics signature, the AUC of the radiomic-clinical nomogram in the training and validation cohorts was 0.98 and 0.95. The model comparison results show that the AUC of the combined model is higher than that of the uncombined models (P= 0.05, 0.002).

Conclusion

The nomogram models of clinical factors combined with MRI multisequence radiomics signatures can help identifying low- and high-grade SOCs and a provide a more comprehensive, effective method to evaluate preoperative risk stratification for SOCs.
Elevated Carcinoembryonic Antigen at the Time of Recurrence as a Poor Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Authors: Shin Jung Kyong , Huh Jung Wook , Lee Woo Yong , Yun Seong Hyeon , Kim Hee Cheol , Cho Yong Beom , Park Yoon Ah
Published: June 2022

There are few studies on the prognostic impact of CEA level at the time of recurrence in recurrent colorectal cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of serum CEA levels at the time of recurrence in patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Between 2007 and 2014, 962 consecutive recurrent patients for colorectal cancer were analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups according to CEA level at the time of recurrence (r-CEA): high r-CEA (≥5 ng/ml) (n = 428) and normal r-CEA (<5 ng/ml) (n = 534). The prognostic effects of r-CEA were evaluated by one-to-one propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust factors between groups. After matching, a total of 778 patients, 389 per group, were analyzed. After matching, the 5-year disease-free survival rate for the high r-CEA group was significantly lower than that for the normal r-CEA group. The 5-year overall survival rate was 56.5% in the high r-CEA group and 66.0% in the normal r-CEA group (p = 0.008). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 61.7% in the high group and 67.5% in the normal group (p = 0.035). In a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors, high preoperative CEA level at the time of recurrence, poor histologic grade, and lymphatic invasion were associated with poorer overall survival. The high r-CEA level group showed significantly poorer prognosis than the normal r-CEA group. Therefore, the r-CEA level can be used as a prognostic factor in recurrent colorectal cancer. Aggressive adjuvant treatment needs to be considered for patients with an initially high CEA level and lymph node positivity who are prone to recurrence.
Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Map–Based Radiomics Features for Differential Diagnosis of Pleomorphic Adenomas and Warthin Tumors From Malignant Tumors
Authors: Wen Baohong , Zhang Zanxia , Zhu Jing , Liu Liang , Li Yinhua , Huang Haoyu , Zhang Yong , Cheng Jingliang
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings may overlap due to the complex content of parotid gland tumors and the differentiation level of malignant tumor (MT); consequently, patients may undergo diagnostic lobectomy. This study assessed whether radiomics features could noninvasively stratify parotid gland tumors accurately based on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps.

Methods

This study examined diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) obtained with echo planar imaging sequences. Eighty-eight benign tumors (BTs) [54 pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) and 34 Warthin tumors (WTs)] and 42 MTs of the parotid gland were enrolled. Each case was randomly divided into training and testing cohorts at a ratio of 7:3 and then was compared with each other, respectively. ADC maps were digitally transferred to ITK SNAP (www.itksnap.org). The region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn around the whole tumor margin on each slice of ADC maps. After feature extraction, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling TEchnique (SMOTE) was used to remove the unbalance of the training dataset. Then, we applied the normalization process to the feature matrix. To reduce the similarity of each feature pair, we calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) value of each feature pair and eliminated one of them if the PCC value was larger than 0.95. Then, recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to process feature selection. After that, we used linear discriminant analysis (LDA) as the classifier. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the ADC.

Results

The LDA model based on 13, 8, 3, and 1 features can get the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) in differentiating BT from MT, PA from WT, PA from MT, and WT from MT on the validation dataset, respectively. Accordingly, the AUC and the accuracy of the model on the testing set achieve 0.7637 and 73.17%, 0.925 and 92.31%, 0.8077 and 75.86%, and 0.5923 and 65.22%, respectively.

Conclusion

The ADC-based radiomics features may be used to assist clinicians for differential diagnosis of PA and WT from MTs.
A Dual-Energy CT Radiomics of the Regional Largest Short-Axis Lymph Node Can Improve the Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Rectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Dongqing , Zhuang Zijian , Wu Shuting , Chen Jixiang , Fan Xin , Liu Mengsi , Zhu Haitao , Wang Ming , Zou Jinmei , Zhou Qun , Zhou Peng , Xue Jing , Meng Xiangpan , Ju Shenghong , Zhang Lirong
Published: June 2022

Objective

To explore the value of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) radiomics of the regional largest short-axis lymph nodes for evaluating lymph node metastasis in patients with rectal cancer.

Materials and Methods

One hundred forty-one patients with rectal cancer (58 in LNM+ group, 83 in LNM- group) who underwent preoperative total abdominal DECT were divided into a training group and testing group (7:3 ratio). After post-processing DECT venous phase images, 120kVp-like images and iodine (water) images were obtained. The highest-risk lymph nodes were identified, and their long-axis and short-axis diameter and DECT quantitative parameters were measured manually by two experienced radiologists who were blind to the postoperative pathological results. Four DECT parameters were analyzed: arterial phase (AP) normalized iodine concentration, AP normalized effective atomic number, the venous phase (VP) normalized iodine concentration, and the venous phase normalized effective atomic number. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were recorded one week before surgery. Radiomics features of the largest lymph nodes were extracted, standardized, and reduced before modeling. Radomics signatures of 120kVp-like images (Rad-signature120kVp) and iodine map (Rad-signatureImap) were built based on Logistic Regression via Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO).

Results

Eight hundred thirty-three features were extracted from 120kVp-like and iodine images, respectively. In testing group, the radiomics features based on 120kVp-like images showed the best diagnostic performance (AUC=0.922) compared to other predictors [CT morphological indicators (short-axis diameter (AUC=0.779, IDI=0.262) and long-axis diameter alone (AUC=0.714, IDI=0.329)), CEA alone (AUC=0.540, IDI=0.414), and normalized DECT parameters alone (AUC=0.504-0.718, IDI=0.290-0.476)](P<0.05 in Delong test). Contrary, DECT iodine map-based radiomic signatures showed similar performance in predicting lymph node metastasis (AUC=0.866). The decision curve showed that the 120kVp-like-based radiomics signature has the highest net income.

Conclusion

Predictive model based on DECT and the largest short-axis diameter lymph nodes has the highest diagnostic value in predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with rectal cancer.
Retrospective Analysis of 118 Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Polgárová Kamila , Polívka Jindřich , Kodet Ondřej , Klener Pavel , Trněný Marek
Published: June 2022

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) represent rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) with an incidence less than 1 per 100,000 inhabitants. The most common type of CTCL is mycosis fungoides (MF), which represents approximately 60% of all CTCL, followed by Sézary syndrome (SS), approximately 5%. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 118 patients with MF (n=96) and SS (n=22) treated between the years 1998 and 2021 at the Charles University General Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. The ratio between men and women was 1.2:1 (62 men, and 56 women). The median age at diagnosis was 62 years (23 to 92 years). From the MF cohort 48 patients (50% out of MF cohort) presented with advanced stage disease. Ninety patients (77%) received a systemic treatment at any time from the diagnosis; the median number of therapy lines was two. At the time of database lock, the overall survival (OS) of 96 patients with MF reached 17.7 years with the median follow-up 4.0 years. With the median follow-up 2.6 years, the median OS of 22 patients with SS was 3.5 years. The most common type of systemic therapy for MF included low-dose methotrexate (61%), interferon-alpha (58%), bexarotene (28%), and chlorambucil (25%). The most common type of therapy for SS included bexarotene (64%), extracorporeal photopheresis (50%), and interferon-alpha (45%). Only the minority of patients received innovative targeted agents including brentuximab vedotin, mogamulizumab, or pembrolizumab. Besides the retrospective analysis of the CTCL cohort, current standards and future perspectives of selected innovative agents are summarized and discussed. The analyzed cohort represents the largest cohort of CTCL patients in the Czech Republic. Overall, the survival parameters of our CTCL cohort are comparable to those previously published by other groups. In conclusion, our analysis of 118 real world cohort of consecutive CTCL patients treated at the single center confirmed the efficacy of immune response modifiers and underlines the urgent need for ample implementation of innovative agents and their combinations into earlier lines of therapy.
Risk Factors for Biochemical Recurrence After PSMA-PET-Guided Definitive Radiotherapy in Patients With De Novo Lymph Node-Positive Prostate Cancer
Authors: Spohn Simon K.B. , Birkenmaier Viktoria , Ruf Juri , Mix Michael , Sigle August , Haehl Erik , Adebahr Sonja , Sprave Tanja , Gkika Eleni , Rühle Alexander , Nicolay Nils H. , Kirste Simon , Grosu Anca L. , Zamboglou Constantinos
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as the preferred treatment option for newly diagnosed node-positive (cN1) prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, implementation of positron emission tomography targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA-PET) in the staging of primary PCa patients has a significant impact on RT treatment concepts. This study aims to evaluate outcomes and their respective risk factors on patients with PSMA-PET-based cN1 and/or cM1a PCa receiving primary RT and ADT.

Methods

Forty-eight patients with cN0 and/or cM1a PCa staged by [18F]PSMA-1007-PET (n = 19) or [68Ga]PSMA-11-PET (n = 29) were retrospectively included. All patients received EBRT to the pelvis ± boost to positive nodes, followed by boost to the prostate. The impact of different PET-derived characteristics such as maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) and number of PET-positive lymph nodes on biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) (Phoenix criteria) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) was determined using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses.

Results

Median follow-up was 24 months. Median initial serum prostate-specific antigen was 20.2 ng/ml (IQR 10.2–54.2). Most patients had cT stage ≥ 3 (63%) and ISUP grade ≥ 3 (85%). Median dose to the prostate, elective nodes, and PET-positive nodes was 75 Gy, 45 Gy, and 55 Gy, respectively. Ninety percent of patients received ADT with a median duration of 9 months (IQR 6–18). In univariate analysis, cM1a stage (p = 0.03), number of >2 pelvic nodes (p = 0.01), number of >1 abdominal node (p = 0.02), and SUVmax values ≥ median (8.1 g/ml for 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 7.9 g/ml for 18F-PSMA-1007) extracted from lymph nodes were significantly associated with unfavorable BRFS, but classical clinicopathological features were not. Number of >2 pelvic nodes (n = 0.03), number of >1 abdominal node (p = 0.03), and SUVmax values ≥ median extracted from lymph nodes were associated with unfavorable MFS. In multivariate analysis, number of >2 pelvic lymph nodes was significantly associated with unfavorable BRFS (HR 5.2, p = 0.01) and SUVmax values ≥ median extracted from lymph nodes had unfavorable MFS (HR 6.3, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

More than 2 PET-positive pelvic lymph nodes are associated with unfavorable BRFS, and high SUVmax values are associated with unfavorable MFS. Thus, the number of PET-positive lymph nodes and the SUVmax value might be relevant prognosticators to identify patients with favorable outcomes.
Improved Prediction of Survival Outcomes Using Residual Cancer Burden in Combination With Ki-67 in Breast Cancer Patients Underwent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Kim Ji-Yeon , Oh Jung Min , Lee Se Kyung , Yu Jonghan , Lee Jeong Eon , Kim Seok Won , Nam Seok Jin , Park Yeon Hee , Ahn Jin Seok , Kim Kyunga , Im Young-Hyuck
Published: June 2022

We developed a model for improving the prediction of survival outcome using postoperative Ki-67 value in combination with residual cancer burden (RCB) in patients with breast cancer (BC) who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We analyzed the data from BC patients who underwent NAC between 2010 and 2019 at Samsung Medical Center and developed our residual proliferative cancer burden (RPCB) model using semi-quantitative Ki-67 value and RCB class. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to develop our RPCB model according to disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In total, 1,959 patients were included in this analysis. Of 1,959 patients, 905 patients were excluded due to RCB class 0, and 32 were due to a lack of Ki-67 data. Finally, an RPCB model was developed using data from 1,022 patients. The RPCB score was calculated for DFS and OS outcomes, respectively (RPCB-DFS and RPCB-OS). For further survival analysis, we divided the population into 3 classes according to the RPCB score. In the prediction of DFS, C-indices were 0.751 vs 0.670 and time-dependent areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) at 3-year were 0.740 vs 0.669 for RPCB-DFS and RCB models, respectively. In the prediction of OS, C-indices were 0.819 vs 0.720 and time-dependent AUCs at 3-year were 0.875 vs 0.747 for RPCB-OS and RCB models, respectively. The RPCB model developed using RCB class and semi-quantitative Ki-67 had superior predictive value for DFS and OS compared with that of RCB class. This prediction model could provide the basis to decide risk-stratified treatment plan for BC patients who had residual disease after NAC.
Reduced Dose Intensity of Daunorubicin During Remission Induction for Low-Risk Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study of the Chinese Children’s Cancer Group
Authors: Zhuang Yong , Wu Kefei , Zhu Xiaofan , Cai Jiaoyang , Hu Shaoyan , Gao Ju , Jiang Hua , Zhai Xiaowen , Tian Xin , Fang Yongjun , Jin Runming , Hu Qun , Jiang Hui , Wang Ningling , Sun Lirong , Leung Wing Kwan , Yang Minghua , Pan Kaili , Wu Xuedong , Liang Changda , Shen Shuhong , Yu Jie , Ju Xiuli
Published: June 2022

It is urgently necessary to reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy while maintaining their cure high rates for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The present study aimed to determine whether the dose intensity of daunorubicin during the remission-induction phase could be reduced for low-risk patients with ALL. A total of 2396 eligible patients, who participated in CCCG-ALL-2015 study and were provisionally assigned to the low-risk group, were included and divided into single-dose group and double-dose group according to the dosage of daunorubicin during the remission-induction phase. For patients with ETV6-RUNX1 positive ALL or hyperdiploidy ALL, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups. For other patients, the 5-year event-free survival rate was significantly better and the 5-year cumulative risk of any relapse was significantly lower in the double-dose group compared with the single-dose group. Both the 5-year overall survival rate and the risk of early deaths were not significantly different between the two groups. Our results suggested that only B-lineage ALL patients with ETV6-RUNX1 positivity or hyperdiploidy who achieved an early negative minimal residual disease status were suitable candidates for dosage reduction of daunorubicin during the remission-induction phase.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=10115, identifier ChiCTR-IPR-14005706.
Intermodal Detection of Lumbar Instability in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis is Superior to Functional Radiographs
Authors: Krenzlin Harald , Keric Naureen , Ringel Florian , Kantelhardt Sven Rainer
Published: June 2022

Purpose

In this study, we compare different imaging modalities to find the most sensitive and efficient way of detecting instability in lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Methods

Patients presenting with spondylolisthesis from June 01, 2018 to May 31, 2020 with functional radiographs and either CT scans or MRI images were included in our single-center retrospective cohort study. The amount of translation, in millimeters, was measured on supine MRI images, CT scans, and radiographs of inclination while sitting, standing, or prone and reclination while standing using the Meyerding technique. The amount of translation was compared among the different modalities.

Results

A total of 113 patients with spondylolisthesis on 125 vertebral levels were included in this study. The mean patient age was 73.52 ± 12.59 years; 69 (60.5%) patients were females. The most affected level was L4/5 (62.4%), followed by L3/4 (16%) and L5/S1 (13.6%). The average translations measured on supine CT were 4.13 ± 5.93 mm and 4.42 ± 3.49 mm on MRI (p = 0.3 for the difference between MRI and CT). The difference of inclination while sitting radiograph to slice imaging was 3.37 ± 3.64 mm (p < 0.0001), inclination while standing to slice imaging was 2.67 ± 3.03 mm (p < 0.0001), reclination while standing to slice imaging was 1.6 ± 3.15 mm (p = 0.03), and prone to slice imaging was 2.19 ± 3.02 mm (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

We found that a single radiograph in either inclination, reclination, or prone position compared to a CT scan or an MRI image in supine position can detect instability in spondylolisthesis more efficiently than comparison of functional radiographs in any position.
Case Report: Unusual Heterotopic Ossification of the Hindfoot
Authors: Danya Falcioni , Marco Baldini , Valentino Coppa , Mario Marinelli , Antonio Pompilio Gigante
Published: June 2022

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a pathologic condition in which aberrant lamellar bone deposits in soft tissues, outside of the normal skeleton. Pathogenesis is still unclear, but different risk factors are known. Here we report a case of a 14 year-old girl presenting with pain in the medial calcaneal region and evidence of a rapidly growing, firm and solid neoformation. The lesion was diagnosed 6 years earlier, but it was consistently smaller and asymptomatic so that the patient did not undergo any follow up. The patient had no previous trauma or surgery, no other risk factors for HO and did not show any clinically evident HO in other districts. Xray and CT showed a heterogeneous bony lesion in the context of soft tissues, isolated from the calcaneus. After complete excision, histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of HO. In conclusion, lone non congenital HO can occur regardless of known risk factors. Small HO lesion may also enter a proliferative phase without evidence of triggering events. More studies are required to better understand etiopathogenesis of HO in these clinical settings.
AUTS: A Novel Approach to Mapping Winter Wheat by Automatically Updating Training Samples Based on NDVI Time Series
Authors: Wang Chunyang , Zhang Huan , Wu Xifang , Yang Wei , Shen Yanjun , Lu Bibo , Wang Jianlong
Published: June 2022

Accurate and rapid access to crop distribution information is a significant requirement for the development of modern agriculture. Improving the efficiency of remote sensing monitoring of winter wheat planting area information, a new method of automatically updating training samples (AUTS), is proposed herein. Firstly, based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, a Sentinel-2 image with a spatial resolution of 10 m was selected to extract the distribution map of winter wheat in the city of Shijiazhuang in 2017. Secondly, combined with the NDVI time series, the weighted correlation coefficients from 2017, 2018, and 2019 were calculated. Then, the 2017 winter wheat distribution map and its most significant relevant areas were used to extract sample points from 2018 and 2019 automatically. Finally, the distribution map of winter wheat in Shijiazhuang in 2018 and 2019 was generated. In addition, to test the applicability of the automatically updating training sample at different scales and regions, the proposed method was applied to Landsat 8 image data with a spatial resolution of 30 m, as well as to Handan and Baoding. The results showed that the calculated winter wheat planting area is comparable with the officially published statistics, based on Sentinel-2, extracting three years of winter wheat, the R2 values for all three years were above 0.95. The R2 values for 2018 and 2019, based on Landsat 8 extractions, were 0.95 and 0.90, respectively. The R2 values extracted from Handan and Baoding in 2018 were 0.94 and 0.86, respectively. These results indicate that the proposed method has high accuracy and can provide technical support and reference for winter wheat area monitoring and yield estimation.
Acute Dehydration Impairs Performance and Physiological Responses in Highly Trained Judo Athletes
Authors: Ceylan Bayram , Kons Rafael L. , Detanico Daniele , Šimenko Jožef
Published: June 2022

Background: The present study investigated highly trained male judo athletes and how a 5% body mass dehydration affects their judo-specific performance and physiological responses. Methods: Nine highly trained international-level male judo athletes who are weight-cyclers voluntarily participated in the study. The study had a controlled crossover design in nature. Athletes completed three sessions, including a familiarisation session and two experimental sessions (dehydration (DEHY) and control (CON)) with judo-specific tests, including maximal handgrip strength test (HGS), judogi grip strength tests (JGST), and the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT). Results: Intergroup analysis revealed a significant increase in urine specific gravity (USG) and decreased body mass following DEHY condition compared to CON. Furthermore, significant decreases were determined in HGS, JGSTs, and a number of throws in the first and third series of SJFTs, as well as higher heart rate (HR) responses in the second and third series of SJFT and worse SJFT index in DEHY condition (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We concluded that 5% dehydration of body mass led to impairment in dynamic and isometric strength in upper limbs and in judo-specific performance, as well as elevated HR during the SJFT.
Finite-Time Stochastic Stability Analysis of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors with Noise Perturbation
Authors: Ma Caoyuan , Shi Hongjun , Nie Pingping , Wu Jiaming
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we study the finite-time stability of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) with noise perturbation. To eliminate the chaos in a PMSM and allow it to reach a steady state more quickly within a finite time, we propose a novel adaptive controller based on finite-time control theory. Finite-time stability implies optimal convergence time and better robustness. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of our new results.
Thermal—Airflow Coupling in Hourly Energy Simulation of a Building with Natural Stack Ventilation
Authors: Michalak Piotr
Published: June 2022

Natural ventilation dominates in Polish residential buildings. It is a simple and low-cost system but its performance is affected by varying environmental conditions. Hence, setting up constant ventilation airflow results in errors when calculating heating and cooling energy. In this paper, an attempt to integrate the buoyancy effect in natural ventilation of a residential building at hourly resolution with the hourly simulation method of EN ISO 13790 to obtain energy use for space heating and cooling is presented. The ping-pong coupling algorithm was proposed and applied. Hourly variation of ventilation airflow rate was from −26.8 m3/h (flow from outdoor to the interior of the building) to 87.2 m3/h with 55 m3/h on average. The lack of a cooling system resulted in overheating during summer and indicated the necessity of its application or use of other techniques to reduce solar gains. Application of the cooling system resulted in an hourly ventilation rate from −38.0 m3/h to 87.2 m3/h. Detailed simulation in EnergyPlus and statistical analysis proved the applicability of the proposed method in stack-induced ventilation assessment. The coefficient of determination R2 = 0.936, mean squared error MAE = 5.72 m3/h and root mean square error RMSE = 7.86 m3/h.
Power Production from Produced Waters via Reverse Electrodialysis: A Preliminary Assessment
Authors: Cosenza Alessandro , Campisi Giovanni , Giacalone Francesco , Randazzo Serena , Cipollina Andrea , Tamburini Alessandro , Micale Giorgio
Published: June 2022

Wastewaters generated by crude oil extraction processes, called “produced waters” (PWs), are complex solutions that contain organic compounds, mainly hydrocarbons, and often exhibit high salinity. The large amounts of PWs represent a global issue because of their environmental impact. An approach widely used in the oil industry is the reinjection of this wastewater into the extraction wells after a suitable treatment. The high salt concentration of such solutions may be used in salinity gradient technologies to produce green electricity. Among these technologies, reverse electrodialysis (RED) is one of the most promising. In this work, the application of RED for energy generation from two different real oil industry brines was investigated. An experimental campaign was performed by testing 10 × 10 cm2 units in long-run continuous operations, monitoring the performance for more than 25 days. Fouling phenomena, occurring during the continuous operation, decrease the unit performance and several anti-fouling strategies were adopted to tackle this issue. As a result, a positive net power density for up to 18 days of continuous operation was obtained. A maximum power density of about 2.5 W/m2 was observed, demonstrating how the RED technology could be an important strategy to harvest energy from an industrial waste.
A Catalytic Effectiveness Factor for a Microbial Electrolysis Cell Biofilm Model
Authors: Flores-Estrella René Alejandro , Alcaraz-Gonzalez Victor , Haarstrick Andreas
Published: June 2022

The aim of this work is to propose a methodology to obtain an effectiveness factor for biofilm in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) system and use it to reduce a partial differential equation (PDE) biofilm MEC model to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) MEC model. The biofilm mass balances of the different species are considered. In addition, it is considered that all the involved microorganisms are attached to the anodic biological film. Three effectiveness factors are obtained from partial differential equations describing the spatial distributions of potential and substrate in the biofilm. Then, a model reduction is carried out using the global mass balances of the different species in the system. The reduced model with three uncertain but bounded effectiveness factors is evaluated numerically and analyzed in the sense of stability and parametric sensibility to demonstrate its applicability. The reduced ODE model is compared with a validated model taken from the literature, and the results are in good agreement. The biofilm effectiveness factor in MEC systems can be extended to the reduction of PDE models to obtain ODE models that are commonly used in optimization and control problems.
Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mexican Population: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hernández-Díaz Yazmín , Genis-Mendoza Alma Delia , Ramos-Méndez Miguel Ángel , Juárez-Rojop Isela Esther , Tovilla-Zárate Carlos Alfonso , González-Castro Thelma Beatriz , López-Narváez María Lilia , Nicolini Humberto
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on mental health in the general population, but no systematic synthesis of evidence of this effect has been undertaken for the Mexican population. Relevant studies were identified through the systematic search in five databases until December, 2021. The selection of studies and the evaluation of their methodological quality were performed in pairs. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for study quality appraisal. The protocol of this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (protocol ID: CRD42021278868). This review included 15 studies, which ranged from 252 to 9361 participants, with a total of 26,799 participants. The findings show that COVID-19 has an impact on the Mexican population’s mental health and is particularly associated with anxiety, depression, stress and distress. Females and younger age are risk factors for development mental health symptoms. Mitigating the negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health should be a public health priority in Mexico.
Repurposing Histaminergic Drugs in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Amadio Susanna , Conte Federica , Esposito Giorgia , Fiscon Giulia , Paci Paola , Volonté Cinzia
Published: June 2022

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease with a strong neuroinflammatory component that contributes to severe demyelination, neurodegeneration and lesions formation in white and grey matter of the spinal cord and brain. Increasing attention is being paid to the signaling of the biogenic amine histamine in the context of several pathological conditions. In multiple sclerosis, histamine regulates the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursors, reduces demyelination, and improves the remyelination process. However, the concomitant activation of histamine H1–H4 receptors can sustain either damaging or favorable effects, depending on the specifically activated receptor subtype/s, the timing of receptor engagement, and the central versus peripheral target district. Conventional drug development has failed so far to identify curative drugs for multiple sclerosis, thus causing a severe delay in therapeutic options available to patients. In this perspective, drug repurposing offers an exciting and complementary alternative for rapidly approving some medicines already approved for other indications. In the present work, we have adopted a new network-medicine-based algorithm for drug repurposing called SAveRUNNER, for quantifying the interplay between multiple sclerosis-associated genes and drug targets in the human interactome. We have identified new histamine drug-disease associations and predicted off-label novel use of the histaminergic drugs amodiaquine, rupatadine, and diphenhydramine among others, for multiple sclerosis. Our work suggests that selected histamine-related molecules might get to the root causes of multiple sclerosis and emerge as new potential therapeutic strategies for the disease.
Benzo[a]pyrene—Environmental Occurrence, Human Exposure, and Mechanisms of Toxicity
Authors: Bukowska Bożena , Mokra Katarzyna , Michałowicz Jaromir
Published: June 2022

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the main representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and has been repeatedly found in the air, surface water, soil, and sediments. It is present in cigarette smoke as well as in food products, especially when smoked and grilled. Human exposure to B[a]P is therefore common. Research shows growing evidence concerning toxic effects induced by this substance. This xenobiotic is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP P450) to carcinogenic metabolite: 7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), which creates DNA adducts, causing mutations and malignant transformations. Moreover, B[a]P is epigenotoxic, neurotoxic, and teratogenic, and exhibits pro-oxidative potential and causes impairment of animals’ fertility. CYP P450 is strongly involved in B[a]P metabolism, and it is simultaneously expressed as a result of the association of B[a]P with aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), playing an essential role in the cancerogenic potential of various xenobiotics. In turn, polymorphism of CYP P450 genes determines the sensitivity of the organism to B[a]P. It was also observed that B[a]P facilitates the multiplication of viruses, which may be an additional problem with the widespread COVID-19 pandemic. Based on publications mainly from 2017 to 2022, this paper presents the occurrence of B[a]P in various environmental compartments and human surroundings, shows the exposure of humans to this substance, and describes the mechanisms of its toxicity.
Cross-Talk between the (Endo)Cannabinoid and Renin-Angiotensin Systems: Basic Evidence and Potential Therapeutic Significance
Authors: Mińczuk Krzysztof , Baranowska-Kuczko Marta , Krzyżewska Anna , Schlicker Eberhard , Malinowska Barbara
Published: June 2022

This review is dedicated to the cross-talk between the (endo)cannabinoid and renin angiotensin systems (RAS). Activation of AT1 receptors (AT1Rs) by angiotensin II (Ang II) can release endocannabinoids that, by acting at cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs), modify the response to AT1R stimulation. CB1R blockade may enhance AT1R-mediated responses (mainly vasoconstrictor effects) or reduce them (mainly central nervous system-mediated effects). The final effects depend on whether stimulation of CB1Rs and AT1Rs induces opposite or the same effects. Second, CB1R blockade may diminish AT1R levels. Third, phytocannabinoids modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme-2. Additional studies are required to clarify (1) the existence of a cross-talk between the protective axis of the RAS (Ang II—AT2 receptor system or angiotensin 1-7—Mas receptor system) with components of the endocannabinoid system, (2) the influence of Ang II on constituents of the endocannabinoid system and (3) the (patho)physiological significance of AT1R-CB1R heteromerization. As a therapeutic consequence, CB1R antagonists may influence effects elicited by the activation or blockade of the RAS; phytocannabinoids may be useful as adjuvant therapy against COVID-19; single drugs acting on the (endo)cannabinoid system (cannabidiol) and the RAS (telmisartan) may show pharmacokinetic interactions since they are substrates of the same metabolizing enzyme of the transport mechanism.
Hypothalamic NPY-Y1R Interacts with Gonadal Hormones in Protecting Female Mice against Obesity and Neuroinflammation
Authors: Oberto Alessandra , Bertocchi Ilaria , Longo Angela , Bonzano Sara , Paterlini Silvia , Meda Clara , Della Torre Sara , Palanza Paola , Maggi Adriana , Eva Carola
Published: June 2022

We previously demonstrated that Npy1rrfb mice, which carry the conditional inactivation of the Npy1r gene in forebrain principal neurons, display a sexually dimorphic phenotype, with male mice showing metabolic, hormonal and behavioral effects and females being only marginally affected. Moreover, exposure of Npy1rrfb male mice to a high-fat diet (HFD) increased body weight growth, adipose tissue, blood glucose levels and caloric intake compared to Npy1r2lox male controls. We used conditional knockout Npy1rrfb and Npy1r2lox control mice to examine whether forebrain disruption of the Npy1r gene affects susceptibility to obesity and associated disorders of cycling and ovariectomized (ovx) female mice in a standard diet (SD) regimen or exposed to an HFD for 3 months. The conditional deletion of the Npy1r gene increased body weight and subcutaneous white adipose tissue weight in both SD- and HFD-fed ovx females but not in cycling females. Moreover, compared with ovx control females on the same diet regimen, Npy1rrfb females displayed increased microglia number and activation, increased expression of Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactivity (IR) and decreased expression of proopiomelanocortin-IR in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). These results suggest that in the ARC NPY-Y1R reduces the susceptibility to obesity of female mice with low levels of gonadal hormones and that this effect may be mediated via NPY-Y1R ability to protect the brain against neuroinflammation.
The Hydrophilic Loop of Arabidopsis PIN1 Auxin Efflux Carrier Harbors Hallmarks of an Intrinsically Disordered Protein
Authors: Bilanovičová Veronika , Rýdza Nikola , Koczka Lilla , Hess Martin , Feraru Elena , Friml Jiří , Nodzyński Tomasz
Published: June 2022

Much of plant development depends on cell-to-cell redistribution of the plant hormone auxin, which is facilitated by the plasma membrane (PM) localized PIN FORMED (PIN) proteins. Auxin export activity, developmental roles, subcellular trafficking, and polarity of PINs have been well studied, but their structure remains elusive besides a rough outline that they contain two groups of 5 alpha-helices connected by a large hydrophilic loop (HL). Here, we focus on the PIN1 HL as we could produce it in sufficient quantities for biochemical investigations to provide insights into its secondary structure. Circular dichroism (CD) studies revealed its nature as an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), manifested by the increase of structure content upon thermal melting. Consistent with IDPs serving as interaction platforms, PIN1 loops homodimerize. PIN1 HL cytoplasmic overexpression in Arabidopsis disrupts early endocytic trafficking of PIN1 and PIN2 and causes defects in the cotyledon vasculature formation. In summary, we demonstrate that PIN1 HL has an intrinsically disordered nature, which must be considered to gain further structural insights. Some secondary structures may form transiently during pairing with known and yet-to-be-discovered interactors.
Accumulation of Deleterious Effects in Gastric Epithelial Cells and Vascular Endothelial Cells In Vitro in the Milieu of Helicobacter pylori Components, 7-Ketocholesterol and Acetylsalicylic Acid
Authors: Gajewski Adrian Ł. , Gawrysiak Mateusz , Krupa Agnieszka , Rechciński Tomasz , Chałubiński Maciej , Gonciarz Weronika , Chmiela Magdalena
Published: June 2022

The Gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori (HP) may influence the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). H. pylori induce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which transform cholesterol to 7-ketocholesterol (7-kCh), a CHD risk factor. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)—an Anti-aggregation drug used in CHD patients—may increase gastric bleeding and inflammation. We examined whether H. pylori driven ROS effects in the cell cultures of gastric epithelial cells (AGS) and vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) progress in the milieu of 7-kCh and ASA. Cell cultures, exposed to 7-kCh or ASA alone or pulsed with the H. pylori antigenic complex—Glycine acid extract (GE), urease (UreA), cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) protein or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), alone or with 7-kCh and ASA—were examined for ROS, apoptosis, cell integrity, interleukin (IL)-8, the activation of signal transducer, the activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and wound healing. ASA and 7-kCh alone, and particularly in conjunction with H. pylori components, increased the ROS level and the rate of apoptosis, which was followed by cell disintegration, the activation of STAT3, and IL-8 elevation. AGS cells were unable to undergo wound healing. The cell ROS response to H. pylori components may be elevated by 7-kCh and ASA.
Different Sources of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Tissue Regeneration: A Guide to Identifying the Most Favorable One in Orthopedics and Dentistry Applications
Authors: Costela-Ruiz Victor J. , Melguizo-Rodríguez Lucía , Bellotti Chiara , Illescas-Montes Rebeca , Stanco Deborah , Arciola Carla Renata , Lucarelli Enrico
Published: June 2022

The success of regenerative medicine in various clinical applications depends on the appropriate selection of the source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Indeed, the source conditions, the quality and quantity of MSCs, have an influence on the growth factors, cytokines, extracellular vesicles, and secrete bioactive factors of the regenerative milieu, thus influencing the clinical result. Thus, optimal source selection should harmonize this complex setting and ensure a well-personalized and effective treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be obtained from several sources, including bone marrow and adipose tissue, already used in orthopedic regenerative applications. In this sense, for bone, dental, and oral injuries, MSCs could provide an innovative and effective therapy. The present review aims to compare the properties (proliferation, migration, clonogenicity, angiogenic capacity, differentiation potential, and secretome) of MSCs derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and dental tissue to enable clinicians to select the best source of MSCs for their clinical application in bone and oral tissue regeneration to delineate new translational perspectives. A review of the literature was conducted using the search engines Web of Science, Pubmed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. An analysis of different publications showed that all sources compared (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs), and dental tissue mesenchymal stem cells (DT-MSCs)) are good options to promote proper migration and angiogenesis, and they turn out to be useful for gingival, dental pulp, bone, and periodontal regeneration. In particular, DT-MSCs have better proliferation rates and AT and G-MSC sources showed higher clonogenicity. MSCs from bone marrow, widely used in orthopedic regenerative medicine, are preferable for their differentiation ability. Considering all the properties among sources, BM-MSCs, AT-MSCs, and DT-MSCs present as potential candidates for oral and dental regeneration.
Study on Photocatalytic Performance of Ag/TiO2 Modified Cement Mortar
Authors: Wu Linsong , Pei Xiaofang , Mei Mengjun , Li Zhen , Lu Shiwei
Published: June 2022

In this paper, Ag-TiO2 photocatalysts with different Ag contents (1 mol%–5 mol%) were prepared and applied to cement mortar. The photocatalytic performance of Ag-TiO2 and photocatalytic cement mortar under UV light and simulated solar light was evaluated. The results showed that Ag loading on the surface of TiO2 could reduce its band gap width and increase its absorbance in the visible region, and 2% Ag-TiO2 had the highest photocatalytic activity under UV light, the degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) was 95.5% at 30 min, and the first-order reaction constant k was 0.0980 min−1, which was 61.7% higher than that of TiO2, and 5% Ag-TiO2 had the highest photocatalytic activity under solar light, the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) was 69.8% at 40 min, and the first-order reaction constant k was 0.0294 min−1, which was 90.9% higher than that of TiO2. The photocatalytic mortar prepared by the spraying method has high photocatalytic performance, The MO degradation rate of sample S2 under UV light was 87.5% after 120 min, MB degradation rate of sample S5 under solar light was 75.4% after 120 min. The photocatalytic reaction conforms to the zero-order reaction kinetics, which was 1.5 times–3.3 times higher than that of the mixed samples and has no effect on the mechanical properties of mortar.
Sharp Bounds of Hankel Determinant on Logarithmic Coefficients for Functions of Bounded Turning Associated with Petal-Shaped Domain
Authors: Shi Lei , Arif Muhammad , Rafiq Ayesha , Abbas Muhammad , Iqbal Javed
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this article is to obtain the sharp estimates of the first four initial logarithmic coefficients for the class BTs of bounded turning functions associated with a petal-shaped domain. Further, we investigate the sharp estimate of Fekete-Szegö inequality, Zalcman inequality on the logarithmic coefficients and the Hankel determinant H2,1Ff/2 and H2,2Ff/2 for the class BTs with the determinant entry of logarithmic coefficients.
Improved Deep Neural Network (IDNN) with SMO Algorithm for Enhancement of Third Zone Distance Relay under Power Swing Condition
Authors: Sriram Cholleti , Somlal Jarupula , Goud B. Srikanth , Bajaj Mohit , Elnaggar Mohamed F. , Kamel Salah
Published: June 2022

A zone 3 distance relay is utilized to provide remote backup protection in the event that the primary protection fails. However, under stressful situations such as severe loads, voltage, and transient instability, the danger of malfunction in distance relay is relatively high since it collapses the system’s stability and reliability. During maloperation, the relay does not function properly to operate the transmission line. To overcome this problem, an advanced power swing blocking scheme has been developed. An improved DNN-based power swing blocking system is proposed to avoid the maloperation of the distance relay and improve the system’s reliability. The current and voltage signal of the system is sensed, and the sensed data is fed into the Improved Discrete Wavelet Transform (IMDWT). The IMDWT generates the coefficient value of the sensed data and further computes the standard deviation (SD) from the coefficient, which is used to detect the condition of a system, such as normal or stressed. The SD value is given to the most valuable algorithm for the improved Deep Neural Network (IDNN). In the proposed work, the improved DNN operates in two modes, the first mode is RDL-1 (normal condition), and the second mode is RDL-2 (power swing condition). The performance of the IDNN is enhanced by using the threshold-based blocking approach. Based on the threshold value, the proposed method detects an appropriate condition of the system. The proposed method is implemented in the Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC) IEEE 9 bus system, and the results are validated in MATLAB/Simulink software. The overall accuracy of the proposed method is 97%. The proposed method provides rapid operation and detects the power swing condition to trip the distance relay.