bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune and Microbial Signatures Associated with PD-1 Blockade Sensitivity in a Preclinical Model for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Díaz-Rivera Jennifer , Rodríguez-Rivera Michael A. , Meléndez-Vázquez Natalie M. , Godoy-Vitorino Filipa , Dorta-Estremera Stephanie M.
Published: May 2024

The United States is suffering from an epidemic associated with high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) predominantly responsible for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1 has shown poor efficacy in HNSCC patients, observing only a 20–30% response. Therefore, biological marker identification associated with PD-1 blockade response is important to improve prognosis and define novel therapeutics for HNSCC patients. Therapy response was associated with increased frequencies of activated CD27+T cells, activated CD79a+ B cells, antigen-presenting CD74+ dendritic and B cells, and PD-L1+ and PD-L2+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The oral microbiota composition differed significantly in mice bearing tongue tumors and treated with anti-PD-1. A higher abundance of Allobaculum, Blautia, Faecalibacterium, Dorea, or Roseburia was associated with response to the therapy. However, an increase in Enterococcus was attributed to tongue tumor-bearing non-responding mice. Our findings indicate that differences in immune phenotypes, protein expression, and bacterial abundance occur as mice develop tongue tumors and are treated with anti-PD-1. These results may have a clinical impact as specific bacteria and immune phenotype could serve as biomarkers for treatment response in HNSCC.
Acute and Long-Term Toxicity after Planned Intraoperative Boost and Whole Breast Irradiation in High-Risk Patients with Breast Cancer—Results from the Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy Boost Quality Registry (TARGIT BQR)
Authors: Goerdt Lukas , Schnaubelt Robert , Kraus-Tiefenbacher Uta , Brück Viktoria , Bauer Lelia , Dinges Stefan , von der Assen Albert , Meye Heidrun , Kaiser Christina , Weiss Christel , Clausen Sven , Schneider Frank , Abo-Madyan Yasser , Fleckenstein Katharina , Berlit Sebastian , Tuschy Benjamin , Sütterlin Marc , Wenz Frederik , Sperk Elena
Published: May 2024

In the context of breast cancer treatment optimization, this study prospectively examines the feasibility and outcomes of utilizing intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a boost in combination with standard external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for high-risk patients. Different guidelines recommend such a tumor bed boost in addition to whole breast irradiation with EBRT for patients with risk factors for local breast cancer recurrence. The TARGIT BQR (NCT01440010) is a prospective, multicenter registry study aimed at ensuring the quality of clinical outcomes. It provides, for the first time, data from a large cohort with a detailed assessment of acute and long-term toxicity following an IORT boost using low-energy X-rays. Inclusion criteria encompassed tumors up to 3.5 cm in size and preoperative indications for a boost. The IORT boost, administered immediately after tumor resection, delivered a single dose of 20 Gy. EBRT and systemic therapy adhered to local tumor board recommendations. Follow-up for toxicity assessment (LENT SOMA criteria: fibrosis, teleangiectasia, retraction, pain, breast edema, lymphedema, hyperpigmentation, ulceration) took place before surgery, 6 weeks to 90 days after EBRT, 6 months after IORT, and then annually using standardized case report forms (CRFs). Between 2011 and 2020, 1133 patients from 10 centers were preoperatively enrolled. The planned IORT boost was conducted in 90%, and EBRT in 97% of cases. Median follow-up was 32 months (range 1–120, 20.4% dropped out), with a median age of 61 years (range 30–90). No acute grade 3 or 4 toxicities were observed. Acute side effects included erythema grade 1 or 2 in 4.4%, palpable seroma in 9.1%, punctured seroma in 0.3%, and wound healing disorders in 2.1%. Overall, chronic teleangiectasia of any grade occurred in 16.2%, fibrosis grade ≥ 2 in 14.3%, pain grade ≥ 2 in 3.4%, and hyperpigmentation in 1.1%. In conclusion, a tumor bed boost through IORT using low-energy X-rays is a swift and feasible method that demonstrates low rates in terms of acute or long-term toxicity profiles in combination with whole breast irradiation.
Healthcare Resource Utilization and Associated Costs among Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy or Immunotherapy in Spain: A Single-Center, Real-World, Exploratory Study
Authors: Ginés Rubió Jorge , Delgado Olga , Callejo Angel , Domínguez Marta , Torres Covadonga
Published: May 2024

The objective of this observational, single-center, retrospective study conducted in a Spanish tertiary hospital was to describe the real-world (RW) healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) who received chemotherapy (CT) or immunotherapy (IT) as first and second lines of treatment. A total of 173 patients diagnosed with aNSCLC and treated between January 2016 and August 2020 were included. The standardized average costs per patient/year were EUR 40,973.2 and EUR 22,502.4 for first-line CT and IT and EUR 140,601.3 and EUR 20,175.9 for second-line CT and IT, respectively. The average annual costs per patient associated with adverse-event (AE) onset were EUR 29,939.7 and EUR 460.7 for first-line CT and IT and EUR 35,906.4 and EUR 3206.1 for second-line CT and IT, respectively. The costs associated with disease management were EUR 33,178.0 and EUR 22,448.4 for first-line CT and IT and EUR 127,134.2 and EUR 19,663.9 for second-line CT and IT, respectively. In conclusion, IT use showed a lower average annual cost per patient, which was associated with lower HCRU for both disease and AE management, compared to the use of CT. However, these results should be further confirmed in the context of the currently implemented treatment schemes, including the combination of CT with single or dual IT.
Validation of a Blood-Based Protein Biomarker Panel for a Risk Assessment of Lethal Lung Cancer in the Physicians’ Health Study
Authors: Song Lulu , Irajizad Ehsan , Rundle Andrew , Sesso Howard D. , Gaziano John Michael , Vykoukal Jody V. , Do Kim-Anh , Dennison Jennifer B. , Ostrin Edwin J. , Fahrmann Johannes F. , Perera Frederica , Hanash Samir
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to assess a four-marker protein panel (4MP)’s performance, including the precursor form of surfactant protein B, cancer antigen 125, carcinoembryonic antigen, and cytokeratin-19, for predicting lung cancer in a cohort enriched with never- and ever-smokers. Blinded pre-diagnostic plasma samples collected within 2 years prior to a lung cancer diagnosis from 25 cases and 100 sex-, age-, and smoking-matched controls were obtained from the Physicians’ Health Study (PHS). The 4MP yielded AUC performance estimates of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.61–0.92) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.56–0.82) for predicting lung cancer within one year and within two years of diagnosis, respectively. When stratifying into ever-smokers and never-smokers, the 4MP had respective AUCs of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.63–0.92) and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.17–1.00) for a 1-year risk of lung cancer. The AUCs of the 4MP for predicting metastatic lung cancer within one year and two years of the blood draw were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.87–1.00) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.62–0.94), respectively. Our findings indicate that a blood-based biomarker panel may be useful in identifying ever- and never-smokers at high risk of a diagnosis of lung cancer within one-to-two years.
Characterizing the Relationship between Expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTLs), DNA Methylation Quantitative Trait Loci (mQTLs), and Breast Cancer Risk Variants
Authors: Ho Peh Joo , Khng Alexis , Tan Benita Kiat-Tee , Khor Chiea Chuen , Tan Ern Yu , Lim Geok Hoon , Yuan Jian-Min , Tan Su-Ming , Chang Xuling , Tan Veronique Kiak Mien , Sim Xueling , Dorajoo Rajkumar , Koh Woon-Puay , Hartman Mikael , Li Jingmei
Published: May 2024

Purpose: To assess the association of a polygenic risk score (PRS) for functional genetic variants with the risk of developing breast cancer. Methods: Summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and heterogeneity in dependent instruments (HEIDI) were used to identify breast cancer risk variants associated with gene expression and DNA methylation levels. A new SMR-based PRS was computed from the identified variants (functional PRS) and compared to an established 313-variant breast cancer PRS (GWAS PRS). The two scores were evaluated in 3560 breast cancer cases and 3383 non-cancer controls and also in a prospective study (n = 10,213) comprising 418 cases. Results: We identified 149 variants showing pleiotropic association with breast cancer risk (eQTLHEIDI > 0.05 = 9, mQTLHEIDI > 0.05 = 165). The discriminatory ability of the functional PRS (AUCcontinuous [95% CI]: 0.540 [0.526 to 0.553]) was found to be lower than that of the GWAS PRS (AUCcontinuous [95% CI]: 0.609 [0.596 to 0.622]). Even when utilizing 457 distinct variants from both the functional and GWAS PRS, the combined discriminatory performance remained below that of the GWAS PRS (AUCcontinuous, combined [95% CI]: 0.561 [0.548 to 0.575]). A binary high/low-risk classification based on the 80th centile PRS in controls revealed a 6% increase in cases using the GWAS PRS compared to the functional PRS. The functional PRS identified an additional 12% of high-risk cases but also led to a 13% increase in high-risk classification among controls. Similar findings were observed in the SCHS prospective cohort, where the GWAS PRS outperformed the functional PRS, and the highest-performing PRS, a combined model, did not significantly improve over the GWAS PRS. Conclusions: While this study identified potentially functional variants associated with breast cancer risk, their inclusion did not substantially enhance the predictive accuracy of the GWAS PRS.
Influence of Previous Therapy for Neutropenia Caused by Combination Therapy of Ramucirumab and Docetaxel
Authors: Ohno Hiroyuki , Hayashi Takahiro , Torii Shota , Niwa Miduki , Katagiri Nanae , Nakao Yuri , Mano Shota , Takimoto Norio , Hirashita Tomoyuki
Published: May 2024

In the present study, the influence of previous immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy with ramucirumab (RAM) + docetaxel (DTX) therapy on the occurrence of severe neutropenia in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was evaluated, taking into account the influences of cytotoxic chemotherapy used in pretreatment. The study participants included patients who received a combination therapy of RAM and DTX as cancer chemotherapy for NSCLC. The influences of previous ICI treatment and pretreatment with cytotoxic anticancer agents on the development of grade ≥ 3 neutropenia were analysed. A total of 89 patients, including 50 with and 39 without a history of ICI treatment, were analysed. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significant difference in the influence of previous ICI treatment on the development of grade ≥ 3 neutropenia (p = 0.006). Moreover, Cox regression analysis identified a history of ICI treatment and prophylactic administration of G-CSF as factors associated with the development of grade ≥ 3 neutropenia (p = 0.018 and p < 0.001, respectively). This study found that previous treatment with ICIs reduced the incidence of grade ≥ 3 neutropenia after RAM + DTX therapy in patients with NSCLC, regardless of the influences of pretreatment with cytotoxic anticancer agents.
The Safety of Novel Therapies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Era of Intermittent Fasting: A Pharmacology-Based Review
Authors: Benkhadra Maria , Fituri Nuha , Aboukhalaf Soha , Ghasoub Rola , Mattar Mervat , Alfarsi Khalil , Alshemmari Salem , Yassin Mohamed A.
Published: May 2024

Intermittent fasting (IF) has recently gained popularity due to its emerging benefits in reducing weight and improving metabolic health. Concurrently, novel agents (NAs) like venetoclax and Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Unfortunately, it is unclear whether the associated risks of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) are increased in IF practitioners receiving NAs. This review explored the literature available on the permissibility of IF in CLL patients undergoing treatment with first-line NAs (FLNAs). Literature was scoped to identify IF patterns and the available data on TLS and GIB risks associated with food and fluid intake in CLL patients receiving FLNAs. Although current evidence is insufficient to recommend IF in this population, it may be possible for patients on venetoclax to conservatively practice fluid-liberal IF, provided that adequate hydration and the consistent administration of food are achieved. In contrast, considering the significant risk of TLS and the pharmacokinetics of venetoclax, patients should be discouraged from practicing fluid-restricted IF, especially during the ramp-up phase. Moreover, patients on BTKIs ought to refrain from IF due to the possible risk of GIB until further data are available. Further research is needed to provide conclusive recommendations.
Prostate Cancer Lung Metastasis: Clinical Insights and Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed M. , Moustafa Amr , Day Carter , Ahmed Mohamed E. , Zeina Wael , Marzouk Usama M. , Basourakos Spyridon , Haloi Rimki , Mahon Mindie , Muniz Miguel , Childs Daniel S. , Orme Jacob J. , Riaz Irbaz Bin , Kendi A. Tuba , Stish Bradley J. , Davis Brian J. , Kwon Eugene D. , Andrews Jack R.
Published: May 2024

Prostate cancer lung metastasis represents a clinical conundrum due to its implications for advanced disease progression and the complexities it introduces in treatment planning. As the disease progresses to distant sites such as the lung, the clinical management becomes increasingly intricate, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies to address the unique characteristics of metastatic lesions. This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge surrounding prostate cancer metastasis to the lung, shedding light on the diverse array of clinical presentations encountered, ranging from subtle radiological findings to overt symptomatic manifestations. By examining the diagnostic modalities utilized in identifying this metastasis, including advanced imaging techniques and histopathological analyses, this review aims to provide insights into the diagnostic landscape and the challenges associated with accurately characterizing lung metastatic lesions in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, this review delves into the nuances of therapeutic interventions employed in managing prostate cancer lung metastasis, encompassing systemic treatments such as hormonal therapies and chemotherapy, as well as metastasis-directed therapies including surgery and radiotherapy.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Evolving Role of Systemic Therapies as a Bridging Treatment to Liver Transplantation
Authors: Saleh Yacob , Abu Hejleh Taher , Abdelrahim Maen , Shamseddine Ali , Chehade Laudy , Alawabdeh Tala , Mohamad Issa , Sammour Mohammad , Turfa Rim
Published: May 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Classically, liver transplantation (LT) can be curative for HCC tumors within the Milan criteria. Bridging strategies to reduce the dropouts from LT waiting lists and/or to downstage patients who are beyond the Milan criteria are widely utilized. We conducted a literature-based review to evaluate the role of systemic therapies as a bridging treatment to liver transplantation (LT) in HCC patients. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can be used as a systemic bridging therapy to LT in patients with contraindications for locoregional liver-directed therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment can be utilized either as a monotherapy or as a combination therapy with bevacizumab or TKIs prior to LT. Acute rejection after liver transplantation is a concern in the context of ICI treatment. Thus, a safe ICI washout period before LT and cautious post-LT immunosuppression strategies are required to reduce post-LT rejections and to optimize clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, prospective clinical trials are needed to establish definitive conclusions about the utility of systemic therapy as a bridging modality prior to LT in HCC patients.
Water-Soluble Fe(III) Complex Catalyzed Coupling Aquathermolysis of Water-Heavy Oil-Methanol
Authors: Chen Shijun , Zhang Shu , Feng Jinchao , Long Xiaolong , Hu Tianbao , Chen Gang
Published: May 2024

In this experimental study, diverse water-soluble Fe(III) complexes were synthesized and employed to catalyze the aquathermolysis of heavy oil. A ternary reaction system comprising heavy oil, water, and methanol was established to facilitate the process. Viscometry, thermogravimetric analysis, DSC, and elemental analysis were utilized to thoroughly investigate the treated heavy oil. The findings reveal that, under optimal conditions of water, catalyst, and methanol dosage, the viscosity of heavy oil can be significantly reduced by up to 88.22% after reacting at 250 °C for 12 h. Notably, apart from viscosity reduction, the catalytic aquathermolysis also effectively removes heteroatoms such as sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, enabling in situ modification and viscosity reduction of heavy oil. This study demonstrates the potential of water-soluble Fe(III) complexes in enhancing the efficiency of heavy oil extraction and processing.
Grain Refinement and Mechanical Enhancement of Titanium Matrix Composites with Nickel-Coated Graphene Nanoflakes: Influence of Particle-Size Mismatch
Authors: Zhang Jie , Min Byung-Won , Gu Hai , Wu Guo-Qing , Dai Guo-Qing , Sun Zhong-Gang
Published: May 2024

A novel type of titanium matrix composite (TMC) with a uniform network microstructure has been successfully fabricated by adjusting particle-size mismatch (Φ). This study can also improve the understanding of the effects of particle size on microstructure and mechanical properties, particularly in titanium matrix composites reinforced with graphite flakes (GNFs). Microstructural analysis reveals the absence of noticeable defects, and significant grain refinements have been realized. The experimental results indicate that the yield strength of the mismatched composite is improved by 24.75% compared to that of normal composites. The micro-hardness also exhibits a 10.3% increase. These enhancements can be attributed to the introduction of particle-size mismatch, the refinement of the microstructure, and the deflection of interface cracks. The presence of distorted GNF lattices in the interface micro-region of the composites primarily results from the appropriate sizing of different particles.
Highly Efficient Terahertz Waveguide Using Two-Dimensional Tellurium Photonic Crystals with Complete Photonic Bandgaps
Authors: Wang Yong , Feng Luyao , Huang Hongwei , Zeng Zhifeng , Liu Yuhan , Liu Xiaotong , Li Xingquan , Yang Kaiming , Zheng Zhijian , Xu Biaogang , He Wenlong , Zhan Shaobin , Wang Wenli
Published: May 2024

A novel, highly efficient terahertz fully polarized transmission line is designed by two-dimensional tellurium photonic crystals consisting of square lattice rod arrays with a complete photonic bandgap. The TE and TM photonic bandgaps of the tellurium photonic crystals, which are computed by plane wave expansion, happen to coincide, and the complete photonic bandgap covers from 2.894 to 3.025 THz. The function of the designed waveguide is simulated by the finite element method, and the transmission characteristics are optimized by accurately adjusting its structural parameters. The transmission efficiency of the waveguide for TE mode achieves a peak value of −0.34 dB at a central frequency of 2.950 THz and keeps above −3 dB from 2.82 THz to 3.02 THz, obtaining a broad relative bandwidth of about 6.84 percent. The operating bandwidth of the tellurium photonic crystals’ waveguide for TM mode is narrower than that of TE mode, whose relative bandwidth is about 4.39 percent or around 2.936 THz above −5 dB. The designed terahertz photonic crystals’ waveguide can transmit both TE and TM waves, and not only can it be used as a high-efficiency transmission line, but it also provides a promising approach for implementing fully polarized THz devices for future 6G communication systems.
Tailoring the Magnetic and Hyperthermic Properties of Biphase Iron Oxide Nanocubes through Post-Annealing
Authors: Attanayake Supun B. , Chanda Amit , Das Raja , Phan Manh-Huong , Srikanth Hariharan
Published: May 2024

Tailoring the magnetic properties of iron oxide nanosystems is essential to expanding their biomedical applications. In this study, 34 nm iron oxide nanocubes with two phases consisting of Fe3O4 and α-Fe2O3 were annealed for 2 h in the presence of O2, N2, He, and Ar to tune the respective phase volume fractions and control their magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements were carried out post-treatment to evaluate changes in the treated samples compared to the as-prepared samples, showing an enhancement of the α-Fe2O3 phase in the samples annealed with O2 while the others indicated a Fe3O4 enhancement. Furthermore, the latter samples indicated enhancements in crystallinity and saturation magnetization, while coercivity enhancements were the most significant in samples annealed with O2, resulting in the highest specific absorption rates (of up to 1000 W/g) in all the applied fields of 800, 600, and 400 Oe in agar during magnetic hyperthermia measurements. The general enhancement of the specific absorption rate post-annealing underscores the importance of the annealing atmosphere in the enhancement of the magnetic and structural properties of nanostructures.
Combustion-Induced Endothermic Process in Carbon Dots Synthesized on Magnetite Nanoparticle Substrate
Authors: Zouhri Khalid , Snyder Luke J. , McFarland Michael , Laubie Parker O. , Fernando K. A. Shiral , Bunker Christopher E.
Published: May 2024

Carbon dots are synthesized alone and in the presence of commercial magnetite nanoparticles using a simple hydrothermal reaction. The spectroscopic and structural characteristics of CDot and CDot–magnetite materials are presented and their behaviors under combustion conditions are studied. A careful examination of their combustion behaviors reveals interesting results for the CDot–magnetite material: it undergoes early catalytic combustion at ~200 °C and a strong endothermic process that quenches combustion. By investigating the physical mixtures of pre-formed CDots and magnetite and the starting material ascorbic acid and magnetite, it is determined that the strong endothermic behavior requires intimate interactions between the carbon source and the magnetite, highlighting the importance of the nano-interface of the CDots being synthesized onto the magnetite substrate. The results are discussed in the context of the fuels used for low-temper combustion, materials with stored endothermic potential, and the use of combustion-quenching materials for fire control.
Molecular Dynamics Analysis of Collison Cascade in Graphite: Insights from Multiple Irradiation Scenarios at Low Temperature
Authors: Alnairi Marzoqa M. , Jaser Banisalman Mosab
Published: May 2024

In our study, we utilize molecular dynamics simulations, specifically through the Reactive Empirical Bond Order, to unravel atomic-scale dynamics in graphite, an essential component in many advanced technologies, under varying irradiation scenarios. We shed light on the behavior of graphite when exposed to Primary Knock-on Atom (PKA) energies of 10, 20, 40, and 80 keV. The findings highlight the radiation vulnerability of graphite, especially when influenced by hydride inclusion. Both pristine graphite and its hydride variant exhibited an increase in Frenkel pairs (FPs) with escalating PKA energies. Notably, carbon PKAs manifested significant FP effects, whereas hydrogen PKAs influenced defect formation through variable diffusivity. In tested radiation scenarios, particularly in Mode C and the R1 region, cascade patterns identified distinct defect forms of diamond-like and elongated-diamond-like shapes, distinct from the typical PKA collision clusters. Furthermore, our cascade findings emphasize the formation of three-coordinated graphite rings, particularly as PKA energies increase. The graphite population statistics reveal a decline in threefold-coordinated atoms and an increase in other types of defects, with 7-carbon atom rings being the most common. Our research highlights the significance of understanding three-coordinated graphite rings, especially as PKA energies rise. Graphite population statistics reveal a decline in threefold-coordinated atoms and a rise in other defects. Notably, 7-carbon atom rings are the most common. From a clustering perspective, self-interstitial atom (SIA) clusters predominated in pristine graphite, while this trend balanced in the hydride variant. Our research highlights the importance of understanding atomic behaviors in graphite under several radiation scenarios. This knowledge is needed for advancing reliable and efficient technological applications, particularly in the field of nuclear technology. Our research underscores the need to understand atomic behaviors in graphite under radiation, paving the way for detailed study on reliable efficient technological applications.
The Elasmobranch Fossil Record of the Indo-Australian Archipelago since the Miocene: A Literature Review and New Discoveries from Northern Borneo
Authors: Kocsis László
Published: May 2024

The Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) today exhibits the highest marine biodiversity, which has been evolving since the early Miocene. The existence of this high palaeobiodiversity is attested to by the presence of many fossil invertebrates; however, the region’s fossil fish record is sparse and understudied, which is also the case for cartilaginous fishes. Elasmobranch fossils are dominantly represented by shark and ray teeth in the geological record and can give a quick overview of the composition of the fauna. The first IAA elasmo fossils, shark teeth were described from Java (Indonesia) at the end of the 19th century, and until today, most of the publications are known from this island. In the early and middle of the 20th century, remarkable fossils were also reported from the islands of Madura (NE Java) and Sulawesi, some with detailed taxonomical descriptions. In addition, only sporadic reports on fossil occurrences exist elsewhere from the IAA, but these lack any detailed taxonomic accounts. In 2019 our research group reported a late Miocene elasmobranch fauna from Brunei (Borneo), which is now the most diverse known shallow water fossil assemblage from the entire IAA. This fauna was described from a single fossiliferous outcrop, called Ambug Hill. However, several new localities have been discovered and studied over the years, as a result the number of fossils increased, and their age range extended. Here we provide an overview of these new sites and their elasmobranch fossils, and describe remains from ten taxa among, of which eight are new to the IAA fossil record (Chiloscyllium sp., cf. Hemitriakis sp., Paragaleus sp., Carcharhinus borneensis, C. limbatus, Lamiopsis sp., Scoliodon sp., Rhinobatos sp.). The overall north Bornean elasmo assemblage is then compared with other IAA occurrences. An extended fauna list is given based on literature review and preliminary investigation of the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre collection in Leiden (The Netherlands) where most of the fossil fishes of the early explorations are stored. These assemblages are also briefly summarized, and attention is drawn to some of the unique and thus far unreported taxa (e.g., Dalatias licha).
Insect Abundance and Richness Response to Ecological Reclamation on Well Pads 5–12 Years into Succession in a Semi-Arid Natural Gas Field
Authors: Curran Michael F. , Allison Jasmine , Robinson Timothy J. , Robertson Blair L. , Knudson Alexander H. , Bott Bee M. M. , Bower Steven , Saleh Bobby M.
Published: May 2024

Natural gas extraction is a critical driver of the economy in western North America. Ecological reclamation is important to ensure surface disturbance impacts associated with natural gas development are not permanent and to assist native biota. Previous studies in semi-arid natural gas fields within Sublette County, Wyoming, USA have shown insects respond favorably to 1–3-year-old well pads undergoing reclamation compared to older successional reference vegetation communities dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. Wyomingensis). Here, we examined well pads which were initially seed 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 years prior to our study. We used a free, image-based software called SamplePointv. 1.60 to quantify vegetation on these well pads and adjacent reference areas from cell phone camera photographs. Insects were collected with a sweep net and identified to the family and morphospecies level. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare both vegetation and insect communities between reclamation sites and their paired reference area. We found little statistical difference between vegetation communities across our study but found significantly more insect abundance on reclaimed well pads than reference areas in 3 of 5 years and significantly higher family and morphospecies richness on reclaimed well pads in 4 of 5 years. A total of 2036 individual insects representing 270 species from 71 families across 11 orders were identified across this study. A total of 1557 individuals (76.5%) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 479 (23.5%) were found in reference areas across the entire study. A total of 233 species (86.3% of total) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 121 species (44.8% of total) were found in reference areas across the entire study. A total of 67 families (94.4% of total) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 45 families (63.4% of total) were found in reference areas across the entire study. All 11 orders found in the study were found on reclamation sites, whereas 9 orders were found in reference areas across the entire study. Our results suggest reclamation of natural gas well pads within an old successional stand of sagebrush continues to support higher levels of insect biodiversity and abundance for at least 12 years. As insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and because they provide a wide array of ecosystem services, our findings suggest ecological reclamation plays an important role in returning biodiversity and ecosystem functionality to a semi-arid and old successional sagebrush–steppe ecosystem.
Trajectory of Diastolic Function after Heart Transplantation as Assessed by Left Atrial Deformation Analysis
Authors: Edvi Borbála , Assabiny Alexandra , Teszák Tímea , Tolvaj Máté , Fábián Alexandra , Hartyánszky István , Pólos Miklós , Lakatos Bálint Károly , Vágó Hajnalka , Sax Balázs , Merkely Béla , Kovács Attila
Published: May 2024

Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is a prevalent and clinically significant complication after heart transplantation (HTX). We aimed to characterize the diastolic function of HTX recipients with both short-term and long-term follow-ups by applying left atrial (LA) deformation analysis. We consecutively enrolled and followed up with 33 HTX patients. Three assessments were performed one month, 3–5 months, and 3–5 years after surgery. Beyond conventional echocardiographic measurements, apical four-chamber views optimized for speckle tracking analysis were acquired and post-processed by dedicated software solutions (TomTec AutoStrain LA and LV). Left atrial phasic functions were characterized by reservoir, conduit, and contraction strains. We categorized diastolic function according to current guidelines (normal diastolic function, indeterminate, DD). At the first assessment, nine (27%) patients were in the DD category, and eleven (33%) were indeterminate. At the second assessment, only one patient (3%) remained in the DD category and six (18%) were indeterminate. At the third assessment, 100% of patients were categorized as having normal diastolic function. LA reservoir strain gradually increased over time. LA contraction strain significantly improved from the second to the third assessment. We found a correlation between the LA reservoir strain and NT-proBNP (r = 0.40, p < 0.05). DD is prevalent immediately after HTX but rare until the end of the first postoperative quarter. Speckle tracking analysis enables the characterization of LA phasic functions that may reflect both short- and long-term changes in diastolic function and correlate with NT-proBNP.
Comparison of Vendor-Independent Software Tools for Liver Proton Density Fat Fraction Estimation at 1.5 T
Authors: Zsombor Zita , Zsély Boglárka , Rónaszéki Aladár D. , Stollmayer Róbert , Budai Bettina K. , Palotás Lőrinc , Bérczi Viktor , Kalina Ildikó , Maurovich Horvat Pál , Kaposi Pál Novák
Published: May 2024

(1) Background: Open-source software tools are available to estimate proton density fat fraction (PDFF). (2) Methods: We compared four algorithms: complex-based with graph cut (GC), magnitude-based (MAG), magnitude-only estimation with Rician noise modeling (MAG-R), and multi-scale quadratic pseudo-Boolean optimization with graph cut (QPBO). The accuracy and reliability of the methods were evaluated in phantoms with known fat/water ratios and a patient cohort with various grades (S0–S3) of steatosis. Image acquisitions were performed at 1.5 Tesla (T). (3) Results: The PDFF estimates showed a nearly perfect correlation (Pearson r = 0.999, p < 0.001) and inter-rater agreement (ICC = from 0.995 to 0.999, p < 0.001) with true fat fractions. The absolute bias was low with all methods (0.001–1%), and an ANCOVA detected no significant difference between the algorithms in vitro. The agreement across the methods was very good in the patient cohort (ICC = 0.891, p < 0.001). However, MAG estimates (−2.30% ± 6.11%, p = 0.005) were lower than MAG-R. The field inhomogeneity artifacts were most frequent in MAG-R (70%) and GC (39%) and absent in QPBO images. (4) Conclusions: The tested algorithms all accurately estimate PDFF in vitro. Meanwhile, QPBO is the least affected by field inhomogeneity artifacts in vivo.
Image-Guided Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease: A Practical Overview of Current Possibilities
Authors: Taninokuchi Tomassoni Makoto , Braccischi Lorenzo , Russo Mattia , Adduci Francesco , Calautti Davide , Girolami Marco , Vita Fabio , Ruffilli Alberto , Manzetti Marco , Ponti Federico , Matcuk George R. , Mosconi Cristina , Cirillo Luigi , Miceli Marco , Spinnato Paolo
Published: May 2024

Lumbar back pain is one of the main causes of disability around the world. Most patients will complain of back pain at least once in their lifetime. The degenerative spine is considered the main cause and is extremely common in the elderly population. Consequently, treatment-related costs are a major burden to the healthcare system in developed and undeveloped countries. After the failure of conservative treatments or to avoid daily chronic drug intake, invasive treatments should be suggested. In a world where many patients reject surgery and prefer minimally invasive procedures, interventional radiology is pivotal in pain management and could represent a bridge between medical therapy and surgical treatment. We herein report the different image-guided procedures that can be used to manage degenerative spine-related low back pain. Particularly, we will focus on indications, different techniques, and treatment outcomes reported in the literature. This literature review focuses on the different minimally invasive percutaneous treatments currently available, underlining the central role of radiologists having the capability to use high-end imaging technology for diagnosis and subsequent treatment, allowing a global approach, reducing unnecessary surgeries and prolonged pain-reliever drug intake with their consequent related complications, improving patients’ quality of life, and reducing the economic burden.
A Novel Framework for Data Assessment That Uses Edge Technology to Improve the Detection of Communicable Diseases
Authors: Anjum Mohd , Min Hong , Ahmed Zubair
Published: May 2024

Spreading quickly throughout populations, whether animal or human-borne, infectious illnesses provide serious risks and difficulties. Controlling their spread and averting disinformation requires effective risk assessment and epidemic identification. Technology-enabled data analysis on diseases allows for quick solutions to these problems. A Combinational Data Assessment Scheme intended to accelerate disease detection is presented in this paper. The suggested strategy avoids duplicate data replication by sharing data among edge devices. It uses indexed data gathering to improve early detection by using tree classifiers to discern between various kinds of information. Both data similarity and index measurements are considered throughout the data analysis stage to minimize assessment errors. Accurate risk detection and assessment based on information kind and sharing frequency are ensured by comparing non-linear accumulations with accurate shared edge data. The suggested system exhibits high accuracy, low mistakes, and decreased data repetition to improve overall effectiveness in illness detection and risk reduction.
Co-Infection of SARS-CoV-2 and Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chagas Angelica de Lima das , Araújo Joilma Cruz da Silva , Serra Jaqueline Correia Pontes , Araújo Kelliane Martins de , Cunha Marcos de Oliveira , Correia Amanda dos Reis , Gonçalves Laura Maria Barbosa , Carneiro Lilian Carla
Published: May 2024

The study aimed to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 and Klebsiella spp. coinfection across continents. Conducted following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review utilized PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, searching for literature in English published from December 2019 to December 2022, using specific Health Sciences descriptors. A total of 408 records were identified, but only 50 were eligible, and of these, only 33 were included. Thirty-three references were analyzed to evaluate the correlation between COVID-19 and Klebsiella spp. infections. The tabulated data represented a sample group of 8741 coinfected patients. The findings revealed notable disparities in co-infection rates across continents. In Asia, 23% of individuals were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae, while in Europe, the proportion of co-infected patients stood at 15%. Strikingly, on the African continent, 43% were found to be infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae, highlighting significant regional variations. Overall, the proportion of Klebsiella pneumoniae co-infections among COVID-positive individuals were determined to be 19%. Particularly concerning was the observation that 1 in 6 ICU coinfections was attributed to Klebsiella pneumoniae, indicating its substantial impact on patient outcomes and healthcare burden. The study underscores the alarming prevalence of co-infection between COVID-19 and Klebsiella pneumoniae, potentially exacerbating the clinical severity of patients and posing challenges to treatment strategies. These findings emphasize the importance of vigilant surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of bacterial coinfections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Insights on Molecular Autopsy in Sudden Death: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tomassini Luca , Ricchezze Giulia , Fedeli Piergiorgio , Lancia Massimo , Gambelunghe Cristiana , De Micco Francesco , Cingolani Mariano , Scendoni Roberto
Published: May 2024

Sudden unexpected deaths often remain unresolved despite forensic examination, posing challenges for pathologists. Molecular autopsy, through genetic testing, can reveal hidden causes undetectable by standard methods. This review assesses the role of molecular autopsy in clarifying SUD cases, examining its methodology, utility, and effectiveness in autopsy practice. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42024499832). Searches on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified English studies (2018–2023) on molecular autopsy in sudden death cases. Data from selected studies were recorded and filtered based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics analyzed the study scope, tissue usage, publication countries, and journals. A total of 1759 publications from the past 5 years were found, with 30 duplicates excluded. After detailed consideration, 1645 publications were also excluded, leaving 84 full-text articles for selection. Out of these, 37 full-text articles were chosen for analysis. Different study types were analyzed. Mutations were identified in 17 studies, totaling 47 mutations. Molecular investigations are essential when standard exams fall short in determining sudden death causes. Expertise in molecular biology is crucial due to diverse genetic conditions. Discrepancies in post-mortem protocols affect the validity of results, making standardization necessary. Multidisciplinary approaches and the analysis of different tissue types are vital.
Next-Gen Remote Airport Maintenance: UAV-Guided Inspection and Maintenance Using Computer Vision
Authors: Yang Zhiyuan , Nashik Sujit , Huang Cuiting , Aibin Michal , Coria Lino
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a novel system for the automated monitoring and maintenance of gravel runways in remote airports, particularly in Northern Canada, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and computer vision technologies. Due to the geographic isolation and harsh weather conditions, these airports face unique challenges in runway maintenance. Our approach integrates advanced deep learning algorithms and UAV technology to provide a cost-effective, efficient, and accurate means of detecting runway defects, such as water pooling, vegetation encroachment, and surface irregularities. We developed a hybrid approach combining the vision transformer model with image filtering and thresholding algorithms, applied on high-resolution UAV imagery. This system not only identifies various types of defects but also evaluates runway smoothness, contributing significantly to the safety and reliability of air transport in these areas. Our experiments, conducted across multiple remote airports, demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in real-world scenarios, offering significant improvements over traditional manual inspection methods.
Multi-UAV Cooperative Localization Using Adaptive Wasserstein Filter with Distance-Constrained Bare Bones Self-Recovery Particles
Authors: Xin Xiuli , Pan Feng , Wang Yuhe , Feng Xiaoxue
Published: May 2024

Aiming at the cooperative localization problem for the dynamic UAV swarm in an anchor-limited environment, an adaptive Wasserstein filter (AWF) with distance-constrained bare bones self-recovery particles (CBBP) is proposed. Firstly, to suppress the cumulative error from the inertial navigation system (INS), a position-prediction strategy based on transition particles is designed instead of using inertial measurements directly, which ensures that the generated prior particles can better cover the ground truth and provide the uncertainties of nonlinear estimation. Then, to effectively quantify the difference between the observed and the prior data, the Wasserstein measure based on slice segmentation is introduced to update the posterior weights of the particles, which makes the proposed algorithm robust against distance-measurement noise variance under the strongly nonlinear model. In addition, to solve the problem of particle impoverishment caused by traditional resampling, a diversity threshold based on Gini purity is designed, and a fast bare bones particle self-recovery algorithm with distance constraint is proposed to guide the outlier particles to the high-likelihood region, which effectively improves the accuracy and stability of the estimation. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is robust against cumulative error in an anchor-limited environment and achieves more competitive accuracy with fewer particles.
View-Driven Multi-View Clustering via Contrastive Double-Learning
Authors: Liu Shengcheng , Zhu Changming , Li Zishi , Yang Zhiyuan , Gu Wenjie
Published: May 2024

Multi-view clustering requires simultaneous attention to both consistency and the diversity of information between views. Deep learning techniques have shown impressive abilities to learn complex features when working with extensive datasets; however, existing deep multi-view clustering methods often focus only on either consistency information or diversity information, making it difficult to balance both aspects. Therefore, this paper proposes a view-driven multi-view clustering using the contrastive double-learning method (VMC-CD), aiming to generate better clustering results. This method first adopts a view-driven approach to consider information from other views to encourage diversity, thus guiding feature learning. Additionally, it presents the idea of dual contrastive learning to enhance the alignment of views at both the clustering and feature levels. The VMC-CD method’s superiority over various cutting-edge methods is substantiated by experimental findings across three datasets, affirming its effectiveness.
Revisiting the Transferability of Few-Shot Image Classification: A Frequency Spectrum Perspective
Authors: Zhang Min , Wang Zhitao , Wang Donglin
Published: May 2024

Few-shot learning, especially few-shot image classification (FSIC), endeavors to recognize new categories using only a handful of labeled images by transferring knowledge from a model trained on base categories. Despite numerous efforts to address the challenge of deficient transferability caused by the distribution shift between the base and new classes, the fundamental principles remain a subject of debate. In this paper, we elucidate why a decline in performance occurs and what information is transferred during the testing phase, examining it from a frequency spectrum perspective. Specifically, we adopt causality on the frequency space for FSIC. With our causal assumption, non-causal frequencies (e.g., background knowledge) act as confounders between causal frequencies (e.g., object information) and predictions. Our experimental results reveal that different frequency components represent distinct semantics, and non-causal frequencies adversely affect transferability, resulting in suboptimal performance. Subsequently, we suggest a straightforward but potent approach, namely the Frequency Spectrum Mask (FRSM), to weight the frequency and mitigate the impact of non-causal frequencies. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed FRSM method significantly enhanced the transferability of the FSIC model across nine testing datasets.