bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ensemble deep learning models for prediction and uncertainty quantification of ground magnetic perturbation
Authors: Siddique Talha , Mahmud Md Shaad
Published: November 2022

Geomagnetically Induced Currents are one of the most hazardous effects caused by geomagnetic storms. In the past literature, the variations in ground magnetic fields over time, dB/dt were used as a proxy value for GIC. Machine Learning (ML) techniques have emerged as a preferred methodology to predict dB/dt. However, space weather data are highly dynamic in nature, and the data distribution is subject to change over time due to environmental variability. The ML models developed are prone to the uncertainty in the input data and therefore suffer from high variance. In addition, a part of an ML architecture performance is conditional on the variables used to model the system in focus. Therefore, a single algorithm may not generate the required accuracy for a given dataset. In this work, a Bayesian Ensemble ML model has been developed to predict the variations over time of the local ground magnetic horizontal component, dBH/dt. The Ensemble methodology combines multiple ML models in the prediction process to predict dBH/dt. Bayesian statistics allow the estimation of model parameters and output as probability distributions, where the variance quantifies the uncertainty. The input data consists of solar-wind data from OmniWeb for the years 2001–2010. The local ground horizontal magnetic components for the corresponding time were calculated using SuperMAG data for the Ottawa ground magnetometer station for the years mentioned above. The years 2011–2015 were selected for model testing, as it encompasses the 5 August 2011 and 17 March 2015 geomagnetic storms. Five different accuracy metrics were considered; namely, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Probability of Detection (POD), Probability of False Detection (PFD), Proportion Correct (PC), and Heidke Skills Score (HSS). The parameter uncertainty of the models is quantified, and the mean predicted dBH/dt is generated with a 95% credible interval. It can be observed that different models perform better with different datasets and the ensemble model has an accuracy comparable to the models with a relatively strong performance.
The magnetosphere-ionosphere observatory (MIO) mission concept
Authors: Borovsky Joseph E. , Bauer Brian A. , Holloway Michael
Published: November 2022

MIO (Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Observatory) is designed to definitively fix a cause-and-effect problem: In the nightside magnetosphere-ionosphere system we don’t know what is connected to what. The MIO mission concept is to operate a powerful 1-MeV electron accelerator on a main spacecraft in the equatorial nightside magnetosphere: the electron beam is directed into the atmospheric loss cone to deposit ionizing electrons in the atmosphere sufficient to optically illuminate the magnetic footpoint of the spacecraft while 4 nearby daughter spacecraft make equatorial magnetospheric measurements. A network of ground-based optical imagers across Alaska and Canada will locate the optical beamspot thereby unambiguously establishing the magnetic connection between equatorial magnetospheric measurements and ionospheric phenomena. Critical gradient measurements will be made to discern magnetospheric field-aligned-current generator mechanisms. This enables the magnetospheric drivers of various aurora, ionospheric phenomena, and field-aligned currents to be determined. In support of the Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2022 Decadal Survey, an experienced team of engineers and scientists at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) have developed a NASA HMCS (Heliospheric Mission Concept Study) mission concept that can achieve the science objectives. The mission concept presented here is the result of trade studies that optimized the mission with regard to factors such as science objectives, concept study requirements, space environment, engineering constraints, and risk. This Methods paper presents an overview of the MIO concept.
Nanocarbon or indocyanine green: Which is superior for gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy to protect the parathyroid gland?
Authors: Ye Zhipeng , Wu Keren , Hu Zhao , Jin Fa
Published: November 2022

Background

Damage to the parathyroid glands remains a frequent complication after thyroidectomy, often resulting in hypoparathyroidism. Accordingly, identifying the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgical procedures is indispensable to prevent accidental surgical removal.

Methods

The participants were randomly divided into three groups (indocyanine green [ICG], nanocarbon [NC], and control group). To identify and protect parathyroid glands during neck lymph node dissection in patients with thyroid cancer, IG was intravenously administered to the ICG group, whereas the NC group received an intra-thyroid injection of the NC suspension before dissection. IG was intravenously administered to each group after dissection. Subsequently, we analyzed surgical outcomes, including operative time, number of lymph nodes, serum calcium, and number of parathyroid glands.

Results

We included 30 patients who underwent gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. Based on our findings, a greater number of parathyroid glands (P < 0.01) and higher postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were detected in the NC and ICG groups than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The number of parathyroid glands and postoperative PTH levels in the NC group were higher than those in the ICG group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy with NC and ICG for thyroid cancer could effectively protect the parathyroid gland and afford satisfactory clinical efficacy. NC could offer an advantage over ICG for protecting the parathyroid gland.
PN3b as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis and peritoneal recurrence in Borrmann type IV gastric cancer: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Yiran , Chen Yanyan , Wen Liping , Tou Laizhen , Wang Haiyong , Teng Lisong
Published: November 2022

Background

The clinicopathological features and surgical treatment strategies of Borrmann type IV gastric cancer (GC) remain controversial. Peritoneal metastasis is the most common recurrence pattern in patients with Borrmann type IV GC.

Methods

Among 2026 gastric cancer between January 2009 and August 2019, 159 cases of Borrmann type IV GC were included in this study (7.8%). We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of these patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards were applied to identify independent prognostic factors. Predictors related to peritoneal metastasis of type IV GC were analyzed by multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results

Borrmann type IV gastric cancer was associated with more advanced clinicopathological features at diagnosis than the other Borrmann type GC. Of the 159 patients with Borrmann type IV GC, the median OS was 23 months. The number of patients with peritoneal metastasis was 43, accounted for 27.0% of all the patients and 87.8% of the patients with distant metastasis. Multivariate analyses revealed lymph node metastasis to be independent prognostic factor for survival in Borrmann type IV GC patients. pN3b and tumor size > 50 mm showed to be risk factors for peritoneal metastasis.

Conclusions

Borrmann type IV GC is an important independent prognostic factor. pN3b is an independent prognostic factor and a predictor of peritoneal metastasis in patients with Borrmann type IV GC.
A mink (Neovison vison) model of self-injury: Effects of CBP-CREB axis on neuronal damage and behavior
Authors: Liu Chunxiao , Guo Xiaolan , Si Huazhe , Li Guangyu
Published: November 2022

Objective

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a clinically challenging problem in the general population and several clinical disorders. However, the precise molecular mechanism of SIB is still not clear. In this paper, the systematic investigation of the genesis and development of SIB is conducted based on behavioral and pathophysiology studies in mink (Neovison vison) models.

Method

The night-vision video was used to observe the mink behavior, and the duration was a month. HE stain was performed to characterize the pathology change in the brain of a mink. IHC assay was performed to conduct the protein level detection of Iba-1, p-CREB, CBP, and p300 in the brain tissues. Elisa assay was used to examine the levels of NfL and NfH in serum and CSF of mink. The qRT-PCR assay was used to detect the expression of Bcl-2, NOR1, FoxO4, c-FOS, CBP, and p300 in brain tissues. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of p-CREB, CBP, and p300 in brain tissues. We also used Evans Blue as a tracer to detect whether the blood-brain barrier was impaired in the brain of mink.

Result

The behavioral test, histopathological and molecular biology experiments were combined in this paper, and the results showed that CBP was related to SIB. Mechanism analysis showed that the dysregulation of CBP in brain-activated CREB signaling will result in nerve damage of the brain and SIB symptoms in minks. More importantly, the CBP-CREB interaction inhibitor might help relieve SIB and nerve damage in brain tissues.

Conclusion

Our results illustrate that the induction of CBP and the activation of CREB are novel mechanisms in the genesis of SIB. This finding indicates that the CBP-CREB axis is critical for SIB and demonstrates the efficacy of the CBP-CREB interaction inhibitor in treating these behaviors.
Establishment of fishing cat cell biobanking for sustainable conservation
Authors: Sukparangsi Woranop , Thongphakdee Ampika , Karoon Santhita , Suban Na Ayuthaya Nattakorn , Hengkhunthod Intira , Prakongkaew Ratchapon , Bootsri Rungnapa , Sikaeo Wiewaree
Published: November 2022

The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a vulnerable wild felid that is currently under threat from habitat destruction and other human activities. The zoo provides insurance to ensure the survival of the fishing cat population. Creating a biobank of fishing cats is a critical component of recent zoo strategies for securely stocking cell samples for long-term survival. Here, our goal was to compare cell biobanking techniques (tissue collection, primary culture, and reprogramming) and tissue sources (ear skin, abdominal skin, testis) from captive (n = 6)/natural (n = 6) vs. living (n = 8)/postmortem (n = 4) fishing cats. First, we show that dermal fibroblasts from the medial border of the helix of the ear pinna and abdominal tissues of living fishing cats can be obtained, whereas postmortem animals provided far fewer fibroblasts from the ears than from the testes. Furthermore, we can extract putative adult spermatogonial stem cells from the postmortem fishing cat's testes. The main barrier to expanding adult fibroblasts was early senescence, which can be overcome by overexpressing reprogramming factors through felid-specific transfection programs, though we demonstrated that reaching iPSC state from adult fibroblasts of fishing cats was ineffective with current virus-free mammal-based induction approaches. Taken together, the success of isolating and expanding primary cells is dependent on a number of factors, including tissue sources, tissue handling, and nature of limited replicative lifespan of the adult fibroblasts. This study provides recommendations for tissue collection and culture procedures for zoological research to facilitate the preservation of cells from both postmortem and living felids.
Elicitation of immune responses against Nipah virus by an engineered synthetic DNA vaccine
Authors: Choi Hyeree , Kudchodkar Sagar B. , Xu Ziyang , Ho Michelle , Xiao Peng , Ramos Stephanie , Humeau Laurent , Weiner David B. , Muthumani Kar
Published: November 2022

Nipah virus (NiV) is a re-emerging pathogen that causes severe disease in animals and humans. Current treatment measures for NiV infection are insufficient, and there is no approved vaccine against NiV for either humans or animals. Nipah virus is listed as a high-priority pathogen for vaccine and therapeutic research by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the present study, we employed synthetic enhanced DNA technologies developed to design and produce novel consensus NiV Fusion (NiV-F) and Glycoprotein (NiV-G) antigen sequences for inclusion in synthetic DNA vaccines for NiV. The expression of each vaccine antigen was confirmed in vitro using immune-binding assays. Electroporation-enhanced intramuscular injection of each NiV-F and NiV-G into mice induced potent cellular immune responses to multiple epitopes of NiV-G and NiV-F that included antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Both vaccines elicited high antibody titers in mice, with a single immunization sufficient to seroconvert 100% of immunized animals. Additionally, the NiV-F vaccine also induced antibodies to neutralize NiV-F-pseudotyped virus particles. These data support further study of these novel synthetic enhanced NiV nucleic acid-based antigens as potential components of an effective vaccine against the Nipah virus.
Personalized Federated Multi-Task Learning over Wireless Fading Channels
Authors: Mortaheb Matin , Vahapoglu Cemil , Ulukus Sennur
Published: November 2022

Multi-task learning (MTL) is a paradigm to learn multiple tasks simultaneously by utilizing a shared network, in which a distinct header network is further tailored for fine-tuning for each distinct task. Personalized federated learning (PFL) can be achieved through MTL in the context of federated learning (FL) where tasks are distributed across clients, referred to as personalized federated MTL (PF-MTL). Statistical heterogeneity caused by differences in the task complexities across clients and the non-identically independently distributed (non-i.i.d.) characteristics of local datasets degrades the system performance. To overcome this degradation, we propose FedGradNorm, a distributed dynamic weighting algorithm that balances learning speeds across tasks by normalizing the corresponding gradient norms in PF-MTL. We prove an exponential convergence rate for FedGradNorm. Further, we propose HOTA-FedGradNorm by utilizing over-the-air aggregation (OTA) with FedGradNorm in a hierarchical FL (HFL) setting. HOTA-FedGradNorm is designed to have efficient communication between the parameter server (PS) and clients in the power- and bandwidth-limited regime. We conduct experiments with both FedGradNorm and HOTA-FedGradNorm using MT facial landmark (MTFL) and wireless communication system (RadComDynamic) datasets. The results indicate that both frameworks are capable of achieving a faster training performance compared to equal-weighting strategies. In addition, FedGradNorm and HOTA-FedGradNorm compensate for imbalanced datasets across clients and adverse channel effects.
Leverage Boosting and Transformer on Text-Image Matching for Cheap Fakes Detection
Authors: La Tuan-Vinh , Dao Minh-Son , Le Duy-Dong , Thai Kim-Phung , Nguyen Quoc-Hung , Phan-Thi Thuy-Kieu
Published: November 2022

The explosive growth of the social media community has increased many kinds of misinformation and is attracting tremendous attention from the research community. One of the most prevalent ways of misleading news is cheapfakes. Cheapfakes utilize non-AI techniques such as unaltered images with false context news to create false news, which makes it easy and “cheap” to create and leads to an abundant amount in the social media community. Moreover, the development of deep learning also opens and invents many domains relevant to news such as fake news detection, rumour detection, fact-checking, and verification of claimed images. Nevertheless, despite the impact on and harmfulness of cheapfakes for the social community and the real world, there is little research on detecting cheapfakes in the computer science domain. It is challenging to detect misused/false/out-of-context pairs of images and captions, even with human effort, because of the complex correlation between the attached image and the veracity of the caption content. Existing research focuses mostly on training and evaluating on given dataset, which makes the proposal limited in terms of categories, semantics and situations based on the characteristics of the dataset. In this paper, to address these issues, we aimed to leverage textual semantics understanding from the large corpus and integrated with different combinations of text-image matching and image captioning methods via ANN/Transformer boosting schema to classify a triple of (image, caption1, caption2) into OOC (out-of-context) and NOOC (no out-of-context) labels. We customized these combinations according to various exceptional cases that we observed during data analysis. We evaluate our approach using the dataset and evaluation metrics provided by the COSMOS baseline. Compared to other methods, including the baseline, our method achieves the highest Accuracy, Recall, and F1 scores.
Effects of the Ingestion of Ripe Mangoes on the Squamous Gastric Region in the Horse
Authors: Silva Carolina J. F. L. , Trindade Keity L. G. , Cruz Raíssa K. S. , Manso Helena E. C. C. C. , Coelho Clarisse S. , Filho José D. Ribeiro , Nogueira Carlos E. W. , Aragona Francesca , Fazio Francesco , Manso Filho Helio Cordeiro
Published: November 2022

Erosions and gastric ulcers may be present in horses at any age and under different conditions of rearing and handling. In tropical regions, horses can feed on fruits rich in soluble carbohydrates, such as mangoes, but little is known about how these foods interact with their digestive systems. To test the hypothesis that the ingestion of ripe mangoes with peels could cause disturbances in the digestive processes of horses, an experiment was developed to monitor animals that had free access to ripe mangoes in their pasture areas. Horses (purebred Arabians, n = 5; ~340 kg, ~13 years) were evaluated by video gastroscopy and blood analysis. A controlled postprandial glucose curve for mango intake was also performed. Gastroscopies were performed at intervals of 15 days, starting in December, just before the beginning of the harvest, until the beginning of February, and days after the end of the harvest. Blood collection was performed on the same day between November and February for blood analysis. The results were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey’s test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Gastroscopies indicated that four out of five horses had erosions and ulcers in the squamous region between 15 and 30 days after the start of the season. Biochemical tests indicated a reduction in plasma proteins during the harvest period, and the postprandial glucose curve showed concentrations above 200 mg/dL between 30 and 180 min after ingestion of 5.37 kg mangoes. The animals were not treated and recovered after 15 days of harvest and without ripe mangoes on the ground. It is concluded that the indiscriminate ingestion of mangoes favors the appearance of lesions in the gastric squamous region, to varying degrees, and that animals recover naturally after an average of 15 days from the end of the season when the animals return to their regular feeding with hay and grass pasture.
Previous Exercise on a Water Treadmill at Different Depths Affects the Accelerometric Pattern Recorded on a Track in Horses
Authors: Saitua Aritz , Castejón-Riber Cristina , Requena Francisco , Argüelles David , Calle-González Natalie , de Medina Antonia Sánchez , Muñoz Ana
Published: November 2022

During a water treadmill (WT) exercise, horses change their accelerometric patterns. We aimed to analyze if these changes persist during terrestrial locomotion. Six horses were randomly subjected to 40 min duration WT exercises, without water (WW), at the depth of fetlock (FET), carpus (CAR) and stifle (STF), with a day off between them. Before and after 30 min after WT, horses were evaluated at walk and at trot on a track with a triaxial accelerometer fixed on the pectoral (PECT) and sacrum (SML) regions. The percent of change from baseline (before WT and after each exercise session) were calculated. Total, dorsoventral, longitudinal and mediolateral accelerometric activities and dorsoventral displacement increased with the accelerometer in PECT but decreased after WT at STF. Velocity increased with the accelerometer in PECT but decreased with the accelerometer in SML, particularly after WT at STF. A reduction in stride frequency was found with the accelerometer in PECT. SL increased with the accelerometer in SML but decreased with WT at STF. Some accelerometric changes that happened on WT remained shortly in terrestrial locomotion. The reduction in some parameters after WT at STF depth seems to indicate fatigue. This should be considered in training or rehabilitation programs for unfit animals.
6G Network Architecture Using FSO-PDM/PV-OCDMA System with Weather Performance Analysis
Authors: Singh Mehtab , Pottoo Sahil Nazir , Armghan Ammar , Aliqab Khaled , Alsharari Meshari , Abd El-Mottaleb Somia A.
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a novel 160 Gbps free space optics (FSO) communication system for 6G applications. Polarization division multiplexing (PDM) is integrated with an optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) technique to form a PDM-OCDMA hybrid. There are two polarization states: one is X-polarization generated from adjusting the azimuthal angle of a light source at 0° while the other is Y-polarization which is generated by adjusting the azimuthal angle of a light source at 90°. Each polarization state is used for the transmission of four independent users. Each channel is assigned by permutation vector (PV) codes and carries 20 Gbps data. Four different weather conditions are considered for evaluating the performance of our proposed model. These weather conditions are clear air (CA), foggy conditions (low fog (LF), medium fog (MF), and heavy fog (HF)), dust storms (low dust storm (LD), moderate dust storm (MD), heavy dust storm (HD)), and snowfall (wet snow (WS) and dry snow (DS)). Bit error rate (BER), Q-factors, maximum propagation range, channel capacity, and eye diagrams are used for evaluating the performance of the proposed model. Simulation results assure successful transmission of 160 Gbps overall capacity for eight channels. The longest FSO range is 7 km which occurred under CA while the minimum is achieved under HD, which is 0.112 km due to large attenuation caused by HD. Within fog conditions, the maximum propagation distances are 1.525 km in LF, 1.05 km in MF, and 0.85 km in HF. Likewise, under WS and DS, the proposed system can support transmission distances of 1.15 km and 0.28 km, respectively. All these transmission distances are achieved at BER less than 10−5.
C-Structures in Mesospheric Na and K Layers and Their Relations with Dynamical and Convective Instabilities
Authors: Andrioli Vania Fatima , Xu Jiyao , Batista Paulo Prado , Resende Laysa C. A. , Pimenta Alexandre A. , Martins Maria Paulete , Savio Siomel , Targon Cristiane Godoy , Yang Guotao , Jiao Jing , Wang Chi , Liu Zhengkuan
Published: November 2022

We analyzed the C-structures in the mesospheric metal layers. We used two datasets: one from a narrow band Sodium (Na) Density and Temperature LIDAR and the other from a high-resolution dual band Na and Potassium (K) LIDAR, both operated at São José dos Campos, Brazil (23° S, 46° W). We also investigated the Es layer occurrence and wind shear influences forming these structures. We found three C-type events over 82 analyzed nights in the first data set. They all showed lower temperatures inside C-structures compared to the borders. The squared Brunt-Väissälä frequency analyses showed positive values in the region of C-structures. In two out of three cases, dynamical instability was present (Ri < 0.25). We compared these results with the nine simultaneous C-type events identified in the 185 nights from the second data set. They showed height and time simultaneity correspondence as observed in the Na and K layers. Our results showed a low correlation between Es occurrence and C-structures. Additionally, strong wind shears in the altitude and time where C-structures appeared were always present. The advection of a metal cloud to the LIDAR station and a wind distortion seems to be the plausible mechanism that can explain all the observations.
Application of Chaos Theory to Time-Series Urban Measurements of Meteorological Variables and Radon Concentration: Analysis and Interpretation
Authors: Pacheco Patricio , Ulloa Héctor , Mera Eduardo
Published: November 2022

Through chaos theory, experimental data of hourly time series are analyzed. These time series consist of Radon concentration levels and meteorological variables of temperature, pressure, and relative humidity within the boundary layer and very close to the ground. Results were obtained in two urban dwellings for family use and for two different periods of time, of the order of one month and one month plus one week, respectively. Each time series was subjected to a chaotic analysis showing the existence of the characteristic chaotic parameters in the appropriate ranges: Lyapunov coefficient (λ), correlation dimension (Dc), Kolmogorov entropy (SK), Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZ), Hurst coefficient (H), maximum predictability time (τ), lost information (<ΔI>) and fractal dimension (D). The studied processes show to be irreversible. From the chaotic parameters, it is shown that the ratio between the entropy of each meteorological variable and the radon concentration is very sensitive to relative humidity. Likewise, the meteorological variables that most affect the concentration of Radon are relative humidity and temperature. The concordance between the results obtained and those delivered by analyzes carried out through other methodologies in longer periods is verified.
Characteristics of Environmental Parameters of Compound and Single Type Severe Convection in Hunan
Authors: Tang Jia , Xu Lin , Yao Rong , Ou Xiaofeng , Long Qingrou , Wang Xiaolei
Published: November 2022

Based on the multi-source observation data and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data in Hunan from 2002 to 2021, this study statistically analyzes the climatic characteristics of compound severe convection. The distribution characteristics and prediction thresholds of environmental parameters of compound severe convective weather, thermal hail, thunderstorm gale and short-term heavy precipitation events in Hunan, are compared and analyzed. The results show that: (1) The primary type of compound severe convection is a thunderstorm gale that accompanies short-term heavy precipitation. The compound severe convection mainly occurs in spring and summer, with the most common occurrence in July. There are seasonal differences in the types of compound severe convection. The primary type in spring is a thunderstorm gale with hail and hail with short-term heavy precipitation. The primary type in summer is a thunderstorm gale with short-term heavy precipitation. The probability of compound severe convection is the highest in southeastern Hunan, and the lowest in southwestern Hunan. (2) The values of the critical physical parameters required for the occurrence of thermal hail, such as the thermal instability stratification, CAPE and 0–6 km vertical wind shear, are the highest, followed by compound severe convection. Compound severe convection also requires high water vapor, which is only inferior to short-term heavy precipitation. (3) The critical physical parameters also differ in spring and summer. For the temperature difference between 850 and 500 hPa, the seasonal difference is not apparent, indicating that all types of severe convective weather need strong convective instability. CAPE is generally higher in summer than in spring, while the surface-specific humidity and 0–6 km vertical wind shear are higher in summer than in spring.
Greater Disability Is Associated with Worse Vestibular and Compensatory Oculomotor Functions in People Living with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Grove Colin R. , Wagner Andrew , Yang Victor B. , Loyd Brian J. , Dibble Leland E. , Schubert Michael C.
Published: November 2022

Globally, there are nearly three million people living with multiple sclerosis (PLW-MS). Many PLW-MS experience vertigo and have signs of vestibular dysfunction, e.g., low vestibulo–ocular reflex (VOR) gains or the presence of compensatory saccades (CSs), on video head impulse testing (vHIT). We examined whether the vestibular function and compensatory oculomotor behaviors in PLW-MS differed based on the level of MS-related disability. The VOR gain, CS frequency and latency, and gaze position error (GPE) were calculated from the individual traces obtained during six-canal vHIT for 37 PLW-MS (mean age 53.4 ± 12.4 years-old, 28 females) with vertigo and/or an imbalance. The subjects were grouped by their Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores: PLW-min-MS (EDSS = 1.0–2.5, n = 8), PLW-mild-MS (EDSS = 3.0–4.5, n = 23), and PLW-moderate-MS (EDSS = 5.0–6.0, n = 6). The between-group differences were assessed with Kruskal–Wallis tests. The VOR gains for most of the canals were higher for PLW-min-MS compared to PLW-mild- and mod-MS, respectively. CS occurred less often in PLW-min-MS versus PLW-mild- and mod-MS, respectively. No clear trend in CS latency was found. The GPE was often lower for PLW-min-MS compared to PLW-mild- and mod-MS, respectively. Thus, our data demonstrate that worse VOR and compensatory oculomotor functions are associated with a greater MS-related disability. PLW-MS may benefit from personalized vestibular physical therapy.
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Markers of Brain Injury in Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhu Zhicheng , Xu Jisheng , Jin Yu , Wang Lu , Li Xue
Published: November 2022

Objective: Drug dependence has become a major global public health problem. This study aimed to investigate the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on the blood–brain barrier and neurological damage in methamphetamine (MA)-dependent individuals. Methods: MA-dependent individuals (all males) were recruited and randomly divided into MA exercise group (MAE) and MA control group (MAC) by using random number table method. The MAE group underwent 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, and the MAC group underwent conventional detoxification. The Neurofilament light chain (NfL), S100 calcium binding protein b (S100b), and Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) levels in the blood of MA-dependent individuals were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: After the exercise intervention was implemented, the amount of change in NfL in the plasma of the MAE (1.75 ± 1.40) group was significantly different from that of the MAC (0.60 ± 1.21) group (p < 0.01); the amount of change in NSE in the serum of the MAE [−1.51 (−3.99~0.31)] group was significantly different from that of the MAC [0.03 (−1.18~1.16)] group (p < 0.05); and the amount of change in S100b in the serum of the MAE [0.66 (0.40~0.95)] group was not significantly different from that of the MAC (0.60 (0.21~1.04)) group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise treatment significantly promoted the recovery of blood–brain barrier and neurological damage in MA-dependent patients compared with conventional withdrawal.
Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Long RNA in Diagnosis and Prediction in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Liu Chang , Chen Jinying , Liao Jiatao , Li Yuchen , Yu Hui , Zhao Xinmin , Sun Si , Hu Zhihuang , Zhang Yao , Zhu Zhengfei , Fan Min , Huang Shenglin , Wang Jialei
Published: November 2022

(1) Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the plasma extracellular vesicle (EV)-specific transcriptional profile in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to explore the application value of plasma EV long RNA (exLR) in SCLC treatment prediction and diagnosis. (2) Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 57 SCLC treatment-naive patients, 104 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 59 healthy participants. The SCLC patients were divided into chemo-sensitive and chemo-refractory groups based on the therapeutic effects. The exLR profiles of the plasma samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatics approaches were used to investigate the differentially expressed exLRs and their biofunctions. Finally, a t-signature was constructed using logistic regression for SCLC treatment prediction and diagnosis. (3) Results: We obtained 220 plasma exLRs profiles in all the participants. Totals of 5787 and 1207 differentially expressed exLRs were identified between SCLC/healthy controls, between the chemo-sensitive/chemo-refractory groups, respectively. Furthermore, we constructed a t-signature that comprised ten exLRs, including EPCAM, CCNE2, CDC6, KRT8, LAMB1, CALB2, STMN1, UCHL1, HOXB7 and CDCA7, for SCLC treatment prediction and diagnosis. The exLR t-score effectively distinguished the chemo-sensitive from the chemo-refractory group (p = 9.268 × 10−9) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.9091 (95% CI: 0.837 to 0.9811) and distinguished SCLC from healthy controls (AUC: 0.9643; 95% CI: 0.9256–1) and NSCLC (AUC: 0.721; 95% CI: 0.6384–0.8036). (4) Conclusions: This study firstly characterized the plasma exLR profiles of SCLC patients and verified the feasibility and value of identifying biomarkers based on exLR profiles in SCLC diagnosis and treatment prediction.
Pre-Diagnostic Circulating Resistin Concentrations Are Not Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study
Authors: Pham Thu-Thi , Nimptsch Katharina , Aleksandrova Krasimira , Jenab Mazda , Reichmann Robin , Wu Kana , Tjønneland Anne , Kyrø Cecilie , Schulze Matthias B. , Kaaks Rudolf , Katzke Verena , Palli Domenico , Pasanisi Fabrizio , Ricceri Fulvio , Tumino Rosario , Krogh Vittorio , Roodhart Jeanine , Castilla Jesús , Sánchez Maria-Jose , Colorado-Yohar Sandra Milena , Harbs Justin , Rutegård Martin , Papier Keren , Aglago Elom K. , Dimou Niki , Mayen-Chacon Ana-Lucia , Weiderpass Elisabete , Pischon Tobias
Published: November 2022

Resistin is a polypeptide implicated in inflammatory processes, and as such could be linked to colorectal carcinogenesis. In case-control studies, higher resistin levels have been found in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients compared to healthy individuals. However, evidence for the association between pre-diagnostic resistin and CRC risk is scarce. We investigated pre-diagnostic resistin concentrations and CRC risk within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition using a nested case-control study among 1293 incident CRC-diagnosed cases and 1293 incidence density-matched controls. Conditional logistic regression models controlled for matching factors (age, sex, study center, fasting status, and women-related factors in women) and potential confounders (education, dietary and lifestyle factors, body mass index (BMI), BMI-adjusted waist circumference residuals) were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CRC. Higher circulating resistin concentrations were not associated with CRC (RR per doubling resistin, 1.11; 95% CI 0.94–1.30; p = 0.22). There were also no associations with CRC subgroups defined by tumor subsite or sex. However, resistin was marginally associated with a higher CRC risk among participants followed-up maximally two years, but not among those followed-up after more than two years. We observed no substantial correlation between baseline circulating resistin concentrations and adiposity measures (BMI, waist circumference), adipokines (adiponectin, leptin), or metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, C-peptide, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, reactive oxygen metabolites) among controls. In this large-scale prospective cohort, there was little evidence of an association between baseline circulating resistin concentrations and CRC risk in European men and women.
Depletion of Fumarate Hydratase, an Essential TCA Cycle Enzyme, Drives Proliferation in a Two-Step Model
Authors: Solaimuthu Balakrishnan , Lichtenstein Michal , Hayashi Arata , Khatib Anees , Plaschkes Inbar , Nevo Yuval , Tanna Mayur , Pines Ophry , Shaul Yoav D.
Published: November 2022

Fumarate hydratase (FH) is an evolutionary conserved TCA cycle enzyme that reversibly catalyzes the hydration of fumarate to L-malate and has a moonlight function in the DNA damage response (DDR). Interestingly, FH has a contradictory cellular function, as it is pro-survival through its role in the TCA cycle, yet its loss can drive tumorigenesis. Here, we found that in both non-cancerous (HEK-293T) and cancerous cell lines (HepG2), the cell response to FH loss is separated into two distinct time frames based on cell proliferation and DNA damage repair. During the early stages of FH loss, cell proliferation rate and DNA damage repair are inhibited. However, over time the cells overcome the FH loss and form knockout clones, indistinguishable from WT cells with respect to their proliferation rate. Due to the FH loss effect on DNA damage repair, we assumed that the recovered cells bear adaptive mutations. Therefore, we applied whole-exome sequencing to identify such mutated genes systematically. Indeed, we identified recurring mutations in genes belonging to central oncogenic signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT3, which we validated in impaired FH-KO clones. Intriguingly, we demonstrate that these adaptive mutations are responsible for FH-KO cell proliferation under TCA cycle malfunction.
Management of Recurrent Glioblastomas: What Can We Learn from the French Glioblastoma Biobank?
Authors: Clavreul Anne , Autier Lila , Lemée Jean-Michel , Augereau Paule , Soulard Gwénaëlle , Bauchet Luc , Figarella-Branger Dominique , Menei Philippe , Network FGB
Published: November 2022

Safe maximal resection followed by radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) is universally accepted as the first-line treatment for glioblastoma (GB), but no standard of care has yet been defined for managing recurrent GB (rGB). We used the French GB biobank (FGB) to evaluate the second-line options currently used, with a view to defining the optimal approach and future directions in GB research. We retrospectively analyzed data for 338 patients with de novo isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype GB recurring after TMZ chemoradiotherapy. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to investigate survival outcomes. Median overall survival after first surgery (OS1) was 19.8 months (95% CI: 18.5–22.0) and median OS after first progression (OS2) was 9.9 months (95% CI: 8.8–10.8). Two second-line options were noted for rGB patients in the FGB: supportive care and treatments, with systemic treatment being the treatment most frequently used. The supportive care option was independently associated with a shorter OS2 (p < 0.001). None of the systemic treatment regimens was unequivocally better than the others for rGB patients. An analysis of survival outcomes based on time to first recurrence (TFR) after chemoradiotherapy indicated that survival was best for patients with a long TFR (≥18 months; median OS1: 44.3 months (95% CI: 41.7–56.4) and median OS2: 13.0 months (95% CI: 11.2–17.7), but that such patients constituted only a small proportion of the total patient population (13.0%). This better survival appeared to be more strongly associated with response to first-line treatment than with response to second-line treatment, indicating that the recurring tumors were more aggressive and/or resistant than the initial tumors in these patients. In the face of high rates of treatment failure for GB, the establishment of well-designed large cohorts of primary and rGB samples, with the help of biobanks, such as the FGB, taking into account the TFR and survival outcomes of GB patients, is urgently required for solid comparative biological analyses to drive the discovery of novel prognostic and/or therapeutic clinical markers for GB.
Conversion Strategy in Left-Sided RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients with Unresectable Liver-Limited Disease: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Granieri Stefano , Cotsoglou Christian , Bonomi Alessandro , Salvatore Lisa , Filippi Roberto , Nigro Olga , Gelsomino Fabio , Zurlo Ina Valeria , Depetris Ilaria , Giampieri Riccardo , Berardi Rossana , Morelli Cristina , De Tursi Michele , Roberto Michela , Gjoni Elson , Germini Alessandro , de Angelis Nicola , Memeo Riccardo , Facciorusso Antonio , Garrone Ornella , Ramai Daryl , Ghidini Michele , Parisi Alessandro
Published: November 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients frequently develop liver metastases. Different treatment strategies are available according to the timing of appearance, the burden of metastatic disease, and the performance status of the patient. Systemic treatment (ST) represents the cornerstone of metastatic disease management. However, in select cases, combined ST and surgical resection can lead to remarkable survival outcomes. In the present multicentric cohort study, we explored the efficacy of a conversion strategy in a selected population of left-sided RAS/BRAF wild-type CRC patients with liver-limited metastatic disease. Methods: The primary endpoint was to compare survival outcomes of patients undergoing ST not leading to surgery, liver resection after conversion ST, and hepatic resection with perioperative ST. Furthermore, we explored survival outcomes depending on whether the case was discussed within a multidisciplinary team. Results: Between 2012 and 2020, data from 690 patients respecting the inclusion criteria were collected. Among these, 272 patients were deemed eligible for the analysis. The conversion rate was 24.1% of cases. Fifty-six (20.6%) patients undergoing surgical resection after induction treatment (i.e., ultimately resectable) had a significant survival advantage compared to those receiving systemic treatment not leading to surgery (176 pts, 64.7%) (5-year OS 60.8% and 11.7%, respectively, Log Rank test p < 0.001; HR = 0.273; 95% CI: 0.16–0.46; p < 0.001; 5-year PFS 22.2% and 6.3%, respectively, Log Rank test p < 0.001; HR = 0.447; 95% CI: 0.32–0.63; p < 0.001). There was no difference in survival between ultimately resectable patients and those who had liver resection with perioperative systemic treatment (potentially resectable—40 pts) (5-year OS 71.1%, Log Rank test p = 0.311. HR = 0.671; 95% CI: 0.31–1.46; p = 0.314; 5-year PFS 25.7%, Log Rank test p = 0.305. HR = 0.782; 95% CI: 0.49–1.25; p = 0.306). Conclusions: In our selected population of left-sided RAS/BRAF wild-type colorectal cancer patients with liver-limited disease, a conversion strategy was confirmed to provide a survival benefit. Patients not deemed surgical candidates at the time of diagnosis and patients judged resectable with perioperative systemic treatment have similar survival outcomes.
Persistent Thyroid Carcinoma and Pregnancy: Outcomes in an Italian Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Colombo Carla , De Leo Simone , Giancola Noemi , Trevisan Matteo , Ceruti Daniele , Frattini Francesco , Persani Luca , Fugazzola Laura
Published: November 2022

Scanty data are available on the progression risk in patients with persistent thyroid cancer (TC) before pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate this topic in our series and to review available literature data. This was a retrospective study performed in a tertiary care Italian TC center. We included 8 patients with persistent papillary TC who became pregnant after initial treatments (mean time interval of 62 months). Seven patients had the structural disease (lung and/or neck node metastases), while one patient had biochemical persistence. During a mean follow-up of 97 months, none of the patients showed disease progression either during pregnancy or during a follow-up of at least 12 months after delivery, and no additional treatments were needed. A sequential biochemical evaluation showed that thyroglobulin levels can significantly increase during pregnancy, returning to preconception levels after delivery. In conclusion, our data confirm that pregnancy is not associated with disease progression in patients with stable local and/or distant persistence before conception. Thus, pregnancy should not be contraindicated in metastatic women, although a precise clinical characterization, including the disease stage at diagnosis, the ATA risk class, and the dynamic risk stratification, should be conducted before conception.
Agri-Food By-Products in Cancer: New Targets and Strategies
Authors: Sorrentino Carmela , Di Gisi Martina , Gentile Giulia , Licitra Fabrizio , D’Angiolo Rosa , Giovannelli Pia , Migliaccio Antimo , Castoria Gabriella , Di Donato Marzia
Published: November 2022

The globalization and the changes in consumer lifestyles are forcing us to face a deep transformation in food demand and in the organization of the entire food production system. In this new era, the food-loss and food-waste security nexus is relevant in the global debate and avoiding unsustainable waste in agri-food systems as well as the supply chain is a big challenge. “Food waste” is useful for the recovery of its valuable components, thus it can assume the connotation of a “food by-product”. Sustainable utilization of agri-food waste by-products provides a great opportunity. Increasing evidence shows that agri-food by-products are a source of different bioactive molecules that lower the inflammatory state and, hence, the aggressiveness of several proliferative diseases. This review aims to summarize the effects of agri-food by-products derivatives, already recognized as promising therapeutics in human diseases, including different cancer types, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Here, we examine products modulating or interfering in the signaling mediated by the epidermal growth factor receptor.
A Review on Cement-Based Composites for Removal of Organic/Heavy Metal Contaminants from Water
Authors: Singh Vishvendra Pratap , Vaish Rahul , Yousef El Sayed
Published: November 2022

Building materials are traditionally known for their mechanical and structural properties. As environmental pollution has risen as a huge global issue, functional building materials with environmental remediation capabilities are the demand for the present time. In this context, cement and concrete with photocatalytic and adsorbent additives were explored for air and water remediation. The usage of functional building materials for self-cleaning and air cleaning is well documented and reviewed in earlier reports. This article gives an overview of the functional building material composites used for water remediation. Numerous different approaches, such as photocatalysis, adsorption, and antimicrobial disinfection, are discussed. Among all, photocatalysis for the degradation of organic compounds and antimicrobial effect has been the most studied method, with TiO2 being the first choice for a photocatalyst. Furthermore, some reports illustrate the impact of photocatalytic filler on hydration and mechanical properties, which is important in case these are used in construction. Adsorption was most preferred for heavy metal removal from the water. This article rationalizes the current status and future scope of cement-based functional composites for water cleaning and discusses their use in water cleaning facilities or regular construction.