bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency-dependent Alterations in Complexity in Parkinson’s Disease and Prodromal Parkinson’s Disease: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Xiang Jie , Cheng Xueting , Cheng Chen , Guo Yuxiang , Wang Bin , Sun Jie , Li Dandan , Cui Xiaohong , Wei Jing , Xue Jiayue , Wang Pingzhi , Niu Yan
Published: December 2021

Parkinson’s disease manifests principally as resting tremor, rigidity, akinesia and postural instability and exhibits deficits in information-processing tasks and abnormalities in the striatum. Human brain is one of the most complex information processing systems and resting-state fMRI signals, which possess complex nonlinear dynamic properties, have been extensively applied to study changes in brain function. However, it remains unclear whether patients with Parkinson’s disease and prodromal Parkinson’s disease have an abnormal complexity in resting-state fMRI signals and whether the abnormalities are frequency band dependent. Therefore, we investigated the complexity of signals in 47 patients with Parkinson’s disease, 26 patients with prodromal Parkinson’s disease and 21 normal controls within four frequency bands with Fuzzy Entropy. After preprocessing, entropy maps of the whole brain were extracted within four different frequency bands. Then we performed a one-way analysis of variance and results in slow-2 and slow-3 bands revealed that Parkinson’s disease patients exhibited higher complexity than those with prodromal Parkinson’s disease and normal controls. Prodromal Parkinson’s disease patients exhibited lower complexity than normal controls. Significant differences were observed mainly in the precentral gyrus , precuneus, caudate, thalamus and superior frontal gyrus. Significant correlations were found between the Fuzzy Entropy and clinical characteristics, regional homogeneity, gray matter volume and gray matter density. The results indicated that Parkinson’s disease and prodromal Parkinson’s disease patients had abnormal intrinsic neural oscillations, mainly in slow-3 and slow-2 bands, depending on frequency bands. Complexity analysis of resting-state fMRI signals in multiple bands can help probe brain activity and pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.
Efficacy and Safety of Thalidomide in Crohn’s Disease Patients with Perianal Fistula and Abscess
Authors: Tian Zhenyi , Ning Lingying , Feng Rui , Xu Shu , Chen Baili , Zhang Shenghong , Mao Ren , Qiu Yun , Zeng Zhirong , Chen Minhu , He Yao
Published: December 2021

Background
Medical therapies of parianal Crohn’s disease (CD) are limited. Thalidomide is an effective medical therapy to alleviate disease activity of CD. However, the effects and safety of thalidomide in the treatment of perianal fistula and abscess was not evaluated.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary referral centre and recruited 73 patients with perianal CD who received thalidomide (50–100 mg) daily for 1 year. Data collected included demographics, medications, and disease behaviour. Clinical assessment of CD was conducted using the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and perianal lesions were evaluated using the Fistula Drainage Assessment index and Perianal Disease Activity Index (PDAI). At the same time, the occurrence of adverse effects was recorded during treatment. Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and Student’s t-test were used to analyse the data.
Results
The CDAI score and laboratory indices were significantly lower after thalidomide treatment than at baseline (all P < 0.01). The value of PDAI was significantly lower in patients with symptomatic perianal abscess after thalidomide treatment than at baseline (10 [6.25, 10] versus 2.5 [1, 3.75]; P = 0.05). PDAI was also significantly reduced in all patients treated with thalidomide whether with or without perianal abscess drainage (all P < 0.05). The rates of responsive patients were similar between the thalidomide group and thalidomide combined with azathioprine group (72.73% [8/11] and 84% [21/25], respectively; P = 0.65). In total, 31% (24/77) of patients experienced adverse events, and interventions were required in 15 patients to reduce or eliminate discomfort from adverse events. Four patients discontinued thalidomide due to adverse effects. Side effects (rash, diarrhoea, peripheral neuropathy, somnolence, constipation, and numbness) were mild and mostly transient.
Conclusions
Thalidomide is effective in inducing clinical remission and response in CD patients with perianal fistula and abscess with or without abscess drainage. Thalidomide in combination with azathioprine is also effective in these patients. Low-dose thalidomide is proven to be effective and safe in treating perianal CD patients.
Differential Occurrence of Cuticular Wax and Its Role In Leaf Tissues of Three Edible Aroids of Northeast India
Authors: Pieniazek Facundo , Dasgupta Madhumita , Messina Valeria , Sahoo Manas Ranjan
Published: December 2021

Localization of cuticular wax (CW) on the leaf epidermis and its interaction with physiological mechanisms of three edible aroids, Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma, were assessed. Scanning electron microscopy depicted the occurrence of CW in the leaf tissues, which was higher in Colocasia (10.61 mg dm-2) and Xanthosoma (11.36 mg dm-2) than in Alocasia (1.36 mg dm-2). Higher CW in Colocasia and Xanthosoma strengthened leaf epidermis and improved the physiological processes compared to Alocasia. CW acted as a protecting barrier against deleterious solar radiation in terms of sun protection factor (SPF). The glossy appearance of wax crystals in the Alocasia leaf cuticles resulted in higher SPF. The occurrence of CW was directly related to leaf chlorophyll stability, moisture retention ability, and cellular membrane integrity in the leaf tissues. Colocasia exhibited superhydrophobic properties with higher static contact angle (CA) >150o than hydrophobic Xanthosoma, and Alocasia with CA ranged between 99.0o to 128.7o. Colocasia CW highly influenced the qualitative and protective mechanisms of the leaf. Aroids are the cheapest sources of edible CW among the terrestrial plants, which could be used in food, agricultural and industrial applications.
A Collective Control Scheme to Solve Time-varying Formation Control Problem of Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles with Time Delay
Authors: Jia Yongnan , Zhang Weicun
Published: December 2021

Due to the limitation of complexity and uncertainty of the underwater environment, the related technologies of autonomous underwater vehicles(AUVs) develop slowly. Therefore, an ingenious solution characterized by low cost, convenient operation, and low individual intelligence is urgently required. Inspired from these collective behaviours of gregarious creatures in nature, the coordination control problem of multiple AUVs is endowed with new research significance to complete complex underwater operational tasks. This paper aims to propose a general control scheme to solve the time-varying formation control problem of multiple AUVs that take into account the communication time delay. Firstly, a complete six-degrees-of-freedom dynamical model is applied instead of the real AUVs in the following theoretical analysis and simulation verification. Then, a metric-based nearest neighbour interacted rule is introduced to build the communication network of the system. Periodic sampling technology and zero-order hold loop are adopted to simplify the communication problem of time delay. Based on the above dynamical model and communication mechanism, a distributed collective control protocol is proposed to enable these AUVs asymptotically converge to a desired geometrical configuration on the condition that the initial communication network is undirected and connected. During the evolutionary process, no collision happens between any two AUVs. The formation configuration can be maintained until a simple switching controller works for the configuration transformation tasks. Finally, the simulation results proved the effectiveness of the above collective control scheme and visually exhibited the three-dimensional dynamical evolutionary process.
Atmospheric emissions of volatile organic compounds from a mine soil treated with sewage sludge and tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum L.)
Authors: Fernández-Espinosa Antonio José , Peña-Heras Arancha , Rossini-Oliva Sabina
Published: December 2021

A laboratory study was carried out to investigate the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a mining soil amended with sewage sludge and irrigated with wastewater in comparison to the non-amended soil, with or without tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum L.). The study detected a total of nine VOCs emitted from the polluted soil: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene, styrene, benzene-1,2,4-trimethyl and tetrachloroethylene, among which the most abundant were toluene, m-xylene and styrene (82.2, 4.1 and 3% respectively). The results showed that soil amended with sewage sludge reduced the emission of VOCs (styrene in pots without plants and benzene and xylenes in pots with plants). On the other hand, tomato plants contributed to increase significantly the emissions of all VOCs except styrene in both amended and non-amended soils.
All-optical noise spectroscopy of a solid-state spin
Authors: Farfurnik Demitry , Singh Harjot , Luo Zhouchen , Bracker Allan , Carter Sam , Pettit Robert , Waks Edo
Published: December 2021

Noise spectroscopy elucidates the fundamental noise sources in spin systems, which is essential for developing spin qubits with long coherence times for quantum information processing, communication, and sensing. But noise spectroscopy typically relies on microwave coherent spin control to extract the noise spectrum, which becomes infeasible when there are high-frequency noise components stronger than the available microwave power. Here, we demonstrate an alternative all-optical approach to performing noise spectroscopy. Our approach utilises coherent Raman rotations of the spin state with controlled timing and phase to implement Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) pulse sequences. Analysing the spin dynamics under these sequences enables us to extract the noise spectrum of a dense ensemble of nuclear spins interacting with a single spin in a quantum dot, which has thus far only been modelled theoretically. By providing large spectral bandwidths of over 100 MHz, our Raman-based approach could serve as an important tool to study spin dynamics and decoherence mechanisms for a broad range of solid-state spin qubits.
CVID-Associated B Cell Activating Factor Receptor Variants Change Receptor Oligomerization, Ligand Binding and Signaling Responses
Authors: Block Violeta , Sevdali Eirini , Recher Mike , Abolhassani Hassan , Hammarstrom Lennart , Smulski Cristian R. , Plebani Alessandro , Speletas Matthaios , Warnatz Klaus , Voll Reinhard E. , Lougaris Vassilios , Schneider Pascal , Eibel Hermann
Published: December 2021

Purpose B cell activating factor (BAFF) binding to BAFF-receptor(BAFFR) activates essential cellular functions required forthe survival of mature, human B cells. Thus,deletion ofthe BAFFR gene blocks the development of B cells at the transition from immature to mature B cells resulting in B lymphopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia. In addition to complete BAFFR deficiency, single nucleotide variants changing the primary amino acid sequence of BAFFR gene exist. Some of these variants were foundin patients suffering from immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, or B cell lymphomas. However, it remains unclearto which extent such variants disturb the activity of BAFFR. Methods Since individual differences and genetic/environmental modifiers change the expression and activity of BAFFR, we developed a cellular system that allows the unbiased analysis of BAFFR variants P21R, A52T, G64V, Dup92-95, P146S, and H159Y regarding oligomerization, signaling, and ectodomain shedding.Results Here we show that several of these variants impair BAFFR oligomerization, direct interactions between BAFFR and the B cell receptor component CD79B, BAFFR ectodomain shedding and the activation of AKT and ERK1/2. Conclusion All of these variants are pathogenic and have the potential to contribute to the development of primary antibody deficiencies, autoimmunity and lymphoma, but they most likely do not cause B lymphopenia and agammaglobulinemia like complete BAFFR deficiency.
Big Problem or Not a Big Problem: Problems to Health Care Utilization by Residence in The Gambia Among Women of Reproductive Age. A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Barrow Ebrima , Sowe Alieu
Published: December 2021

Background: Ability to utilise healthcare services is desire for everyone in need. Unfortunately, challenges to health care utilization persist and they do so inequitably amongst social groups. This study aimed to examine problems to health care utilization and residential area equity in utilization among women of reproductive age in The Gambia. Methods: Data from The Gambia 2019-20 Demographic and Health Survey comprising of 11,865 women 15 – 49 years of age was used. A systematic selection method of equal probability was employed for the data collection interviews. Visiting any health facility in the last 12 months is the outcome. Problems to health care utilization was assessed using four primary factors of interest: permission to go, money needed for treatment, distance to health facility and not wanting to go alone as independent variables. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the frequency distribution and the association of the four factors and health care utilization by residence. The point estimates were reported in odds (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and p value <0.05 signified statistical significance.Results: Most women in rural (79%) and urban (83%) residential areas utilized health care services in the last 12 months. Women in urban areas who had a big problem getting permission to go and a big problem not wanting to go alone had lower odds of health care utilization compared to women who did not have a big problem getting permission to go and not wanting to go alone for health care. Women resident in rural areas who reported distance to health facility as a big problem had higher odds of health care utilization compared to women who did not have big problem concerning distance to health facility. Conclusions: Permission to go and not wanting to go alone appear to be associated with cultural norms and inadequate social support for women utilizing health care in urban residence. Policy makers should address harmful cultural norms and inadequate social support for women during health care visits to improve equity in health care utilization towards achieving universal health coverage.
Ceramides Are Early Responders In Metabolic Syndrome Development In Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Smith Alex , Schill Jonah P. , Gordillo Ruth , Gustafson Grace E. , Rhoads Timothy W. , Burhans Maggie S. , Broman Aimee T. , Colman Ricki J. , Scherer Philipp E. , Anderson Rozalyn M.
Published: December 2021

Metabolic syndrome increases risk of complicating co-morbidities. Current clinical indicators reflect established metabolic impairment, preventing earlier intervention strategies. Here we show that circulating sphingolipids are altered in the very early stages of insulin resistance development. The study involved 16 overweight but healthy, euglycemic monkeys, one-half of which spontaneously developed metabolic syndrome over the course of 2 years while the other half remained healthy. As previously reported, adiposity and glycemic status were equivalent across the cohort and did not explain divergent health outcomes. Using mass spectrometry, we detected and quantified circulating ceramides and other sphingolipids in healthy and impaired animals at both time points. Several ceramides were significantly different between healthy and impaired at time of diagnosis. Correlation analysis revealed differences in the interactions among ceramides in impaired animals at diagnosis and even pre-diagnosis, when animals were clinically indistinguishable from healthy controls. Importantly, correlations between ceramides and diacylglycerols and non-esterified fatty acids were distinct for healthy and impaired states, indicative of coordinated changes in lipid handling. Impaired animals displayed extensive differences in correlations among sphingolipids even in advance of loss of insulin sensitivity. These data suggest that circulating ceramides are clinically relevant in identifying disease risk and in devising preventative strategies.
Determining the Optimal Offshore Wind Power Station Using a Two-Stage MCDM-Based Spherical Fuzzy Set Approach
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Nguyen Ngoc-Ai-Thy , Dang Thanh-Tuan
Published: December 2021

In response to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change to achieve the goal of ensuring sustainable economic growth, offshore wind power development not only provides a clean and sustainable source of energy but also provides opportunities for economic growth and job creation. Offshore wind energy projects have been promptly suggested in Vietnam as a result of policy advancement, with the country's excellent wind resources. The success of an offshore wind energy project is decided mainly by choosing the best location for offshore wind power station (OWPS) construction, which is a complex multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem with the coexistence of conflicting factors. There is a problem with incomplete decision information use and information loss during the decision-making process, and it is easy to overlook the interaction difficulty in a fuzzy environment. To address the complex nature of the prioritization problem posed, this study proposes a hybrid MCDM framework combining the spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (SF-AHP) and weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS). SF-AHP is used in the first stage to determine the significance levels of OWPS evaluation criteria. WASPAS is then utilized to rank locations of OWPS. A comprehensive set of evaluation criteria developed based on the concept of sustainable development has been recognized by reviewing the literature review and interviewing experts to practice the two-stage MCDM model. A real case study for Vietnam is conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. The best location schemes have been determined by using the decision framework. The results of the sensitivity analysis and a comparison analysis demonstrate that the decision framework is practical and robust. Ultimately, the evaluation criteria and methodology presented in this work can serve as a theoretical foundation for the advancement of offshore wind energy and coastal development.
Emotional determinants of public responses to the risk of epidemics and pandemics: a systematic review
Authors: Kousoulis Antonis A. , Francis Mark R. , Grant Imogen , Larson Heidi J
Published: December 2021

Background

Understanding how people’s emotions influence their health decisions and behaviours at a population level is fundamental to designing effective communication strategies and public health interventions for infectious disease outbreaks. This review identifies relevant research to assess the role of emotional determinants and their impact on public responses to the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, specifically in relation to the uptake of public health interventions.
Methods

A comprehensive systematic review was conducted exploring the differences in public responses by emotion, infection, outcome and region. A basic consensus approach was followed in which emotional stimuli were categorised as being either pleasant or unpleasant, and predisposing people to bivalent behaviour (i.e., approach or withdrawal). All primary research studies published in five global databases between 1988-2019 were eligible for inclusion. Binomial tests (against a test proportion of 0.5 or 50% for each study outcome) were performed using the direction of effect observed in each study, i.e., either favouring or not favouring intervention uptake.
Results

A total of 75 studies from 28 different nations were eligible for inclusion in the review. A total of 97 correlations were made between 12 emotions, 10 infectious diseases, and the uptake of seven types of public health interventions. Unpleasant emotions were evoked much more often than pleasant following public health risk communications, with fear and anxiety being the most common. Overall, moderate anxiety-related emotions (worry, anxiety, stress, concern) seemed to be much more significant motivators for public action compared to extreme unpleasant emotions (fear, panic, hopelessness, shame), which had a statistically significantly negative effect on the uptake of public health interventions in several cases. Pleasant emotions (empathy, hope) also showed promise as motivators for public health intervention uptake, but more research is needed to corroborate this.
Conclusions

The results of this review show that the public’s emotional responses to epidemics in the past 30 years have played a clear role in determining how successful the rollout of public health interventions has been. Emotions need to be considered in crisis communications, and these research findings can help inform communications strategies in the evolving context of the COVID-19 pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Artificial Intelligence In Source Discrimination of Mine Water: A Deep Learning Algorithm For Water Source Discrimination
Authors: Yang Zhenwei , Yue Junchao , Lü Hang , Wang Xinyi
Published: December 2021

With increasing coal mining depth, the source of mine water inrush becomes increasingly complex. The problem of distinguishing the source of mine water in mines and tunnels has been addressed by studying the hydrochemical components of the Pingdingshan Coalfield and applying the artificial intelligence (AI) method to discriminate the source of the mine water. 496 data of mine water have been collected. Six ions of mine water are used as the input data set: Na++K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO2- 4, and HCO- 3. The type of mine water in the Pingdingshan coalfield is classified into surface water, Quaternary pore water, Carboniderous limestone karst water, Permian sandstone water, and Cambrian limestone karst water. Each type of water is encoded with the number 0 to 4. The one-hot code method is used to encode the numbers, which is the output set. On the basis of hydrochemical data processing, a deep learning model was designed to train the hydrochemical data. Ten new samples of mine water were tested to determine the precision of the model. Nine samples of mine water were predicted correctly. The deep learning model presented here provides significant guidance for the discrimination of mine water.
Reshaping the tumor microenvironment with oncolytic viruses, positive regulation of the immune synapse, and blockade of the immunosuppressive oncometabolic circuitry
Authors: Nguyen Teresa , Shin Dong Ho , Sohoni Sagar , Singh Sanjay , Rivera-Molina Yisel , Jiang Hong , Fan Xuejun , Gumin Joy , Lang Frederick , Alvarez-Breckenridge Christopher , Godoy-Vitorino Filipa , Zhai Lijie , Ladomersky Erik , Lauing Kristen , Alonso Marta , Wainwright Derek , Gomez-Manzano Candelaria , Fueyo Juan
Published: December 2021

Immune-related therapies have revolutionized the management of cancer. Oncolytic viruses are now considered part of the immunotherapy armamentarium and have shown promise in clinical trials of patients with glioblastoma. These studies have suggested that tumor microenvironment remodeling is required to achieve an effective response in solid tumors. Here, we showed that Delta-24-RGDOX (DNX-2440), an oncolytic adenovirus expressing the T cell activator OX40L, triggered antitumor immune responses. However, Delta-24-RGDOX also elicited paradoxical activation of the cytokine-driven immunosuppressive IDO-kynurenine-AhR circuitry. The IDO-kynurenine-AhR cascade had the dual effects of preventing optimum viral replication and decreasing the virus-initiated antitumor immune response. To enhance virotherapy, we combined Delta-24-RGDOX with clinically relevant IDO inhibitors. This combination therapy increased the frequency of activated CD8+ T cells and decreased the frequencies of immunosuppressive MDSC and Treg populations in animal models of gliomas and melanoma. Functional studies demonstrated that the IDO blockade-dependent activation of immune cells against tumor antigens could be reversed by the oncometabolite kynurenine. The concurrent targeting of effectors and suppressors in the tumor immune landscape significantly prolonged the survival of glioma- and melanoma-bearing mice. Our data identified the striking role of immunosuppressive pathways in the resistance of solid tumors to oncolytic virotherapy. Specifically, the activity of the tumor microenvironment IDO circuitry was responsible, at least partially, for the remodeling of local immunosuppression after tumor infection. Combining molecular and immune-related therapies may improve outcomes in human gliomas and other cancers treated with virotherapy.
Association of Dietary Factors with Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Korean Population: A 3-Year National Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Hyun Jin , Lee Juhyung , Yoon Chulyoung , Park Yesai , Joo Young-Hoon , Park Jun-Ook , Seo Young Joon , Park Kyoung-Ho
Published: December 2021

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a hearing impairment caused by various epidemiologic and clinical factors. Identifying the relationship between NIHL and nutrients could help reduce the prevalence of hearing loss. This study analyzed the relationship between NIHL and dietary factors using data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. The survey was taken by a total of 10,850 participants aged 20-65 years. Air conduction audiometry was measured at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000Hz in both ears. Metabolic syndrome, noise exposure, drink, smoke, income, marital status, and nutritional intake were evaluated. The differences between non-HI and HI participants in noise-exposed group have shown statistically significant differences in age, sex, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, fast glucose level, and triglyceride level (p<0.05). In a multiple regression analysis, the age factor showed a significant association with HI (OR: 0.604; 95% CI: 0.538-0.678). In multivariate analysis for dietary factors, Retinol (OR: 1.356; 95% CI: 1.068-1.722), Niacin (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.022-2.201) and Carbohydrates (OR: 0.692; 95% CI: 0.486-0.985) showed a significant association with NIHL. When the dietary factors of the noise exposure group were analyzed, high intake of Niacin and Retinol and low intake of Carbohydrates appear to prevent hearing loss.
Associations Between Night Sleep Duration and Fasting Glucose and Triglyceride To High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio Among Adults Free of Type 2 Diabetes or Without Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: He Jiangshan , Hong Chenglin , Zhang Li , Li Chunjun , Wang Yuxue , Fan Yaqi , Guo Pei , Zhang Binbin , Qi Xin , Chen Shuo , Niu Yujie , Liu Feng , Zhang Rong , Li Qiang , Ma Shitao , Zhang Mianzhi , Zhang Minying
Published: December 2021

Background

We aim to assess the associations between night sleep duration and fasting glucose (FG), triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, and body mass index (BMI) among adults free of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or without diagnosed T2D.
Methods

We analyzed the baseline data of a cohort. We included adults free of T2D or without diagnosed T2D who completed the validated questionnaire, biochemical and anthropometric measurements. Independent association between sleep duration and FG, TG/HDL-C, BMI was evaluated with multiple U-shaped or linear regressions.
Results

We included 32497 adults with a median of 44 years, 52.5% men. Overall, 12.80% and 9.67% reported night sleep duration <7h and ≥9h, 6.91% were with impaired FG and 3.57% had undiagnosed T2D. Sleep duration was independently U-shaped associated with FG [β1 (linear term) =-0.111, P=0.047; β2 (quadratic term) =0.008, P=0.026] with 6.9-hour sleep had the lowest FG, and negatively associated with BMI (β = -0.154, P<0.001). BMI mediated U-shaped association of sleep duration with TG/HDL-C (β1=-0.040, P=0.017; β2 = 0.003, P=0.023).
Conclusions

Both short and long night sleep was associated with elevated FG, shorter sleep was associated with increased BMI. BMI mediated the U-shaped association between sleep duration and TG/HDL-C.
Multi-path Convolutional Neural Network to identify Tumorous Sub-classes for Breast Tissue from Histopathological Images
Authors: Das Rangan , Maulik Utsav Bandyopadhyay , Boote Bikram , Sen Sagnik , Bhattacharya Saumik
Published: December 2021

Malignancy is one of the leading causes of death globally. It is on the rise in the developed and low-income countries with survival rates of less than 40%. However, early diagnosis may increase survival chances. Histopathology images acquired from the biopsy are a popular method for cancer diagnosis. In this article, we propose a deep convolutional neural network-based method that helps classify breast cancer tumor subtypes from histopathology images. The model is trained on the BreakHis dataset but is also tested on images from other datasets. The model is trained to recognized eight different tumor subtypes, and also to perform binary classification (malignant / non-malignant). The CNN model uses an encoder-decoder architecture as well as a parallel feed-forward network. The proposed model provides higher cumulative training accuracy and statistical scoring after five-fold cross-validation. Comparing with the other models, the accuracy of the proposed model is higher at different magnification and patient levels.
Weighted Means of Likelihood Ratio as Indices Measuring Similarity Between Densities
Authors: Ko Hideyoshi
Published: December 2021

Criteria for similarity between probability density functions are important in the field of statistics such as density estimation. In this short paper, a set of indices measuring similarity between probability densities is proposed using the weighted means of the likelihood ratio function. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the estimates of these indices are easily obtained from observations and could be useful for both parametric and nonparametric density estimation with numerical optimization.
Evaluation of Transabdominal and Transperineal Ultrasound-Derived Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Density and Clinical Utility Compared to MRI Prostate Volumes: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Pantelidou Maria , Caglic Iztok , George Anne , Blyuss Oleg , Gnanapragasam Vincent , Barrett Tristan
Published: December 2021

PurposeTo investigate the accuracy of surface-based ultrasound-derived PSA-density (US-PSAD) versus gold-standard MRI-PSAD as a risk-stratification tool. MethodsSingle-centre prospective study of patients undergoing MRI for suspected prostate cancer (PCa). Four combinations of US-volumes were calculated using transperineal (TP) and transabdominal (TA) views, with triplanar measurements to calculate volume and US-PSAD. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used tocompare US and MRI volumes. Categorical comparison of MRI-PSAD and US-PSAD was performed at PSAD cut-offs <0.15, 0.15-0.20, and >0.20 ng/mL2 to assess agreement with MRI-PSAD risk-stratification decisions.Results64 men were investigated, mean age 69 years and PSA 7.0 ng/mL. 36/64 had biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer (18 Gleason 3+3, 18 Gleason ≥3+4). Mean MRI-derived gland volume was 60 mL, compared to 56 mL for TA-US, and 65 mL TP-US. ICC demonstrated good agreement for all US volumes with MRI, with highest agreement for transabdominal US, followed by combined TA/TP volumes. Risk-stratification decisions to biopsy showed concordant agreement between triplanar MRI-PSAD and ultrasound-PSAD in 86-91% and 92-95% at PSAD thresholds of >0.15 ng/mL2 and >0.12 ng/mL2, respectively. Biopsy-decision making at threshold >0.12 ng/mL2, demonstrated sensitivity ranges of 81-100%, specificity 85-100%, PPV 86-100% and NPV 83-100%. Transabdominal US provided optimal sensitivity of 100% for this clinical decision, with specificity 85%, and transperineal US provided optimal specificity of 100%, with sensitivity 87%.ConclusionTransperineal-US and combined TA-TP US-derived PSA density values compare well with standard MRI-derived values and could be used to provide accurate PSAD at presentation and inform the need for further investigations.
Signals In Temperature Extremes Emerge in China During The Last Millennium Based On CMIP5 and CMIP6 Simulations
Authors: Sui Yue , Chen Yuting
Published: December 2021

Though the magnitude of any change is important, regions which have a larger signal of change relative to the background variations will potentially face greater risks than other regions, as they will see unusual or novel climate conditions more quickly (Frame et al. 2017). Providing more information about signal and noise on regional scales, and the associated attribution to particular causes, is therefore important for adaptation planning (Chen et al. 2021). However, whether a detectable signal in temperature extremes emerges in China at the local or regional level during 850−2005 has not been discussed. Based on six selected and bias-corrected global models under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5, relative to pre-industrial levels (ca 1850), we show that the temporal information of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) in annual temperature extremes are consistent with annual mean temperature variations in China during 850−2005. Before 1850, absolute values of regional mean S/N in temperature extremes under cold climatic conditions are generally larger than that under warm climatic conditions. At the level of S/N > 1, local increasing signals of cold extremes emerge in the second half of 13th century and in the early 19th century after intensively volcanic eruptions in 1257 and 1815 in most part of China, especially in southern China and Tibet Plateau. Over the past 150 years under global warming, absolute values of regional mean S/N in temperature extremes have increasing trends. The regional mean increasing signals of warm extremes over China begin to exceed natural variability in 1969 at the level of S/N > 1, and local warm signals first occur in 1929 in Tibet Plateau. These warming signals are related to greenhouse gas forcing.
Effect of growing season, Trichoderma and clinoptilolite applications on potentially toxic elements (PTEs) uptake by Cucumis melo L.
Authors: Brecchia Matteo , Buscaroli Enrico , Mazzon Martina , Blasioli Sonia , Braschi Ilaria
Published: December 2021

Aim:
The extent at which different agricultural strategies may affect the uptake of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by cropped plants is not completely understood at a field scale. This study dealt with the effect of seasonality, Trichoderma inoculation alone or combined to different applications of commercial grade clinoptilolite (i.e., foliar action, fertigation, and pellet) on the PTEs content of early- and late-ripening cultivars Cucumis Melo L.
Methods:
Two similar field experiments were performed in spring and summer. For each cultivar/treatment combination, the input of PTEs (namely, Cr, Cu, and Pb) to the soil-crop system through irrigation water, fertilizers, pesticides, and treatment products (i.e., Trichoderma and clinoptilolite products), as well as the PTE content of melon stem, leaves and fruit, were assessed through Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optic Emission Spectrometry.
Results:
Neither Trichoderma alone nor associated with clinoptilolite had visible effect on PTEs uptake by plants, while early season cultivation was strongly associated with lower uptake of Cu and Pb. The high correlation of Cu and Pb content with Ca content in stem and leaves, used as a proxy for different transpiration rates under different growing seasons, indicated a possible uptake of these metals through Ca-nonselective cation channels as a drought stress defence. Lower Cu and Pb concentration were found in early-ripening melon fruit cultivated in spring.
Conclusions:
To the scope of Cu and Pb risk management, in case of significant contamination in Mediterranean calcareous soils, the use of early-ripening Cucumis melo L. cultivars in place of late-ripening ones is suggested.
Impacts of Fertilization Optimization on Ammonia Volatilization, Soil Nitrification, Denitration Intensity From Wheat Fields and Nitrogen Utilization Under Water-saving Irrigation
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Yu Zhenwen , Zhang Yongli , Shi Yu
Published: December 2021

Scholars have proposed the practice of split N fertilizer application (SNFA), which has proven to be an effective approach for enhancing N use efficiency. However, the effect of SNFA on NH3 volatilization, nitrification and denitration in soil, remain largely unknown. As such, the current study assessed soil NH3 volatilization, nitrification and denitrification intensities, abundance of nitrogen cycle-related funetional genes, and invertase activity for different treatments. We applied a rate of 240 kg·ha-1 of N, and the following fertilizer ratios of the percent base to that of topdressing under water-saving irrigation: N1 (basal/dressing, 100%/0%), N2 (basal/dressing, 70%/30%), N3 (basal/dressing, 50%/50%), N4 (basal/dressing, 30%/70%), and N5 (basal/dressing, 0%/100%). N3 treatment resulted in a significant decrease in rate of NH3 volatilization. This treatment also significantly reduced nitrification and denitrification intensities, primarily owing to the reduced functional genes abundance involved in the nitrogen cycle (Amoa-AOB, nirK and nirS) and reduced invertase activity (urease, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase) in wheat-land soil. 15N tracer studies further demonstrated that N3 treatments significantly increased the grain nitrogen accumulation by 9.50-28.27% compared with that under other treatments. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the amount of N absorbed by wheat from soil and fertilizers, which was caused by an enhancement in total N uptake (7.2-21.81%). Collectively, these results suggest that the N3 treatment (basal/dressing, 50%/50%) improves N uptake by wheat, reduces the soil NH3 volatilization rate, and has the potential to reduce the amount of N2O generated by nitrification and denitrification.
Staying Current: Developing Just-in-time Evidence-Based Learning Objectives for a Maternal Cardiac Arrest Simulation Curriculum
Authors: Shields Andrea , Battistelli Jacqueline , Kavanagh Laurie , Ouellette Lara , Thomson Brook , Nielsen Peter
Published: December 2021

BackgroundOur objective was to review the latest evidence on resuscitation care for maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) and gain expert consensus on best practices to inform an evidence-based curriculum.MethodsWe convened a multidisciplinary panel of stakeholders in MCA to develop an evidence-based simulation training, Obstetric Life SupportTM (OBLS). To inform the learning objectives, we used a novel three-step process to achieve consensus on best practices for maternal resuscitation. First, we reaffirmed the evidence process on an existing MCA guideline using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II). Next, via systematic review, we evaluated the latest evidence on MCA and identified emerging topics since the publication of the MCA guideline. Finally, we applied a modified Research and Development (RAND) technique to gain consensus on emerging topics to include as additional just-in-time best practices.ResultsThe AGREE II survey results demonstrated unanimous consensus on reaffirmation of the 2015 American Heart Association (AHA) MCA guideline for inclusion into the OBLS curriculum. A systematic review with deduplication resulted in 11,871 articles for review. After categorizing and synthesizing the relevant literature, we presented twelve additional best practices to the expert panel using a modified RAND technique. Upon completion, the 2015 AHA statement and nine additional just-in-time best practices were affirmed to inform the OBLS curriculum.ConclusionsA novel three-step process including reaffirmation of evidence process, systematic review, and a modified RAND technique resulted in unanimous consensus from experts in MCA resuscitation on existing and new just-in-time best practices to inform the learning objectives for an evidence-based curriculum.
A Response Surface Methodology to Optimize Multiple Discharge Step Parameters for Sinking Electrical Discharge Machining
Authors: Kim Su-Jin , Byun Jai-Hyun , Jeong Hyun-Je , Oh Young-Jin
Published: December 2021

Conventional die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM) employs a single electrode operating under constant discharge conditions. We explored a two-electrode scenario, in which roughing and finishing were coupled. We developed a multiple discharge step (MDS) method that uses three discharge depths. The discharge current is highest in step 1 and lowest in step 3. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the discharge conditions. Experimentally, the MDS method combined with RSM decreased electrode edge wear and surface roughness compared to the conventional method, with no increase in the average discharge current.
An all-in-one adjuvanted therapeutic cancer vaccine targeting dendritic cell cytosol induces long-lived tumor suppression through NLRC4 inflammasome activation
Authors: Puth Sao , Verma Vivek , Hong Seol Hee , Tan Wenzhi , Lee Shee Eun , Rhee Joon Haeng
Published: December 2021

Therapeutic cancer vaccines (TCVs) should induce robust tumor-specific T cell responses. To achieve this, TCVs incorporate T cell epitopes and strong adjuvants. Here, we report an all-in-one adjuvanted cancer vaccine platform, which targets intracellular compartment of antigen presenting cells and subsequently induces effective cytotoxic T cell responses. We screened a novel peptide (DCpep6) that specifically binds and tranmits into CD11c+ cells through in vivo phage biopanning. We then engineered a protein-based TCV (DEF) consisting of DCpep6 (D), an optimized HPV E7 tumor antigen (E), and a built-in flagellin adjuvant (F) as a single molecule. DEF was stably expressed and each component was functional. In vivo administered DEF rapidly biodistributed in draining LNs and internalized into CD11c+ cells. DEF immunization elicited strong anti-tumor T cell responses and provided long-term survival of TC-1 tumor implanted mice. The DEF-mediated anti-tumor effect was abolished in NLRC4−/− mice. Taken together, we propose a protein-based all-in-one TCV platform that intracellularly co-delivers tumor antigen and inflammasome activator to DCs to induce long-lasting anti-tumor T cell responses.
Clinical and Prognostic Aspects of Patients With The Neuromyelitis Optic Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) From a Cohort in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Fukuda Thiago Gonçalves , Silva Ivã Taiuan Fialho , Santos Tayla Samanta Silva dos , Filho Marcos Baruch Portela , de Abreu Fernanda Ferreira , Oliveira-Filho Jamary
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is a rare inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) more frequent in women and Afro-descendants. No previous epidemiological or prognostic study has been conducted in the region of the state of Bahia, Brazilian Northeast. Objective: To evaluate clinical and prognostic aspects in patients with NMOSD from a cohort in northeastern Brazil. Material and Methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted with consecutive patients diagnosed with NMOSD. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were described. The degree of disability was expressed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Worsening disability were analyzed through negative binomial regression adjusted for disease duration. Results: Ninety-one patients were included, 72 (79.1%) female and 67 (73.6%) afro descendants. Mean age at onset was 36 (± 14) years and 73.3% were anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positive. Isolated transverse myelitis (32.9%) and isolated optic neuritis (22.4%) were the most frequent initial clinical syndromes. After multivariate analysis, optic neuritis (RR = 0.15; 95% CI=0.03 – 0.59; p = 0.008) and dyslipidemia (RR = 0.07; 95% CI=0.04 – 0.40; p < 0.001) were associated with slower disease progression. Area postrema involvement (RR = 29.69; 95% CI=3.40 – 226.07; p = 0.002) and age at onset (RR = 1.05; 95% CI=1.00 – 1.10; p = 0.037) were associated with faster disease progression. Conclusions: In the first clinical and prognostic study in northeastern Brazil, we identified area postrema involvement, age at onset, optic neuritis at fist syndrome and dyslipidemia as the main prognostic factors associated with disease progression.
Social Interaction is Unnecessary for Hindgut Microbiome Transmission in Honey Bees: the Effect of Diet and Social Exposure on Tissue-Specific Microbiome Assembly
Authors: Anderson Kirk E. , Ricigliano Vincent A. , Copeland Duan , Mott Brendon M. , Maes Patrick
Published: December 2021

Honey bees are a model for host-microbial interactions with experimental designs evolving towards conventionalized worker bees. Research on gut microbiome transmission and assembly has examined only a fraction of factors associated with the colony and hive environment. Here we studied the effects of diet and social isolation on tissue-specific bacterial and fungal colonization of the midgut and two key hindgut regions. We found that both treatment factors significantly influenced early hindgut colonization explaining similar proportions of microbiome variation. In agreement with previous work, social interaction with older workers was unnecessary for core hindgut bacterial transmission. Exposure to natural eclosion and fresh stored pollen resulted in gut bacterial communities that were taxonomically and structurally equivalent to those produced in the natural colony setting. Stressed diets of no pollen or autoclaved pollen in social isolation resulted in decreased fungal abundance and bacterial diversity, and atypical microbiome structure and tissue-specific variation of functionally important core bacteria. Without exposure to the active hive environment, the abundance and strain diversity of keystone ileum species Gilliamella apicola was markedly reduced. These changes were associated with significantly larger ileum microbiotas suggesting that extended exposure to the active hive environment plays an antibiotic role in hindgut microbiome establishment. We conclude that core hindgut microbiome transmission is facultative horizontal with 5 of 6 core hindgut species readily acquired from the built hive structure and natural diet. Our findings contribute novel insights into factors influencing assembly and maintenance of honey bee gut microbiota and facilitate future experimental designs.
DHMM-Based Asynchronous Finite-Time Sliding Mode Control for Markovian Jumping Lur’e Systems
Authors: NIE Rong , DU Wenli , LI Zhongmei , ZHOU Zhao , HE Shuping
Published: December 2021

This paper is concerned with the asynchronous problem for a class of Markovian jumping Lur’s system (MJLSs) via sliding mode control (SMC) in continuous-time domain. Specifically, the discrete hidden Markovian model (DHMM) is employed to describe the nonsynchronization between the controller modes and the MJLSs modes. In particular, considering the nonlinearity of MJLSs, a novel Lur’e-integral-type sliding surface is constructed. In order to ensure the finite-time stability of sliding mode dynamics and the accessibility of the specified sliding surface, the asynchronous Lur’e-type SMC law of the detector mode is presented. Finally, an example of DC motor is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.