bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Platinum exposure and cause‐specific mortality among patients with testicular cancer
Authors: Groot Harmke J. , van Leeuwen Flora E. , Lubberts Sjoukje , Horenblas Simon , de Wit Ronald , Witjes J. Alfred , Groenewegen Gerard , Poortmans Philip M. , Hulshof Maarten C. C. M. , Meijer Otto W. M. , de Jong Igle J. , van den Berg Hetty A. , Smilde Tineke J. , Vanneste Ben G. L. , Aarts Maureen J. B. , Jóźwiak Katarzyna , van den Belt‐Dusebout Alexandra W. , Gietema Jourik A. , Schaapveld Michael
Published: November 2019

Background

Although testicular cancer (TC) treatment has been associated with severe late morbidities, including second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and ischemic heart disease (IHD), cause‐specific excess mortality has been rarely studied among patients treated in the platinum era.

Methods

In a large, multicenter cohort including 6042 patients with TC treated between 1976 and 2006, cause‐specific mortality was compared with general population mortality rates. Associations with treatment were assessed with proportional hazards analysis.

Results

With a median follow‐up of 17.6 years, 800 patients died; 40.3% of these patients died because of TC. The cumulative mortality was 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.5%‐10.7%) 25 years after TC treatment. In comparison with general population mortality rates, patients with nonseminoma experienced 2.0 to 11.6 times elevated mortality from lung, stomach, pancreatic, rectal, and kidney cancers, soft‐tissue sarcomas, and leukemia; 1.9‐fold increased mortality (95% CI, 1.3‐2.8) from IHD; and 3.9‐fold increased mortality (95% CI, 1.5‐8.4) from pneumonia. Seminoma patients experienced 2.5 to 4.6 times increased mortality from stomach, pancreatic, bladder cancer and leukemia. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were associated with 2.1 (95% CI, 1.8‐2.5) and 2.5 times higher SMN mortality (95% CI, 2.0‐3.1), respectively, in comparison with the general population. In a multivariable analysis, patients treated with platinum‐containing chemotherapy had a 2.5‐fold increased hazard ratio (HR; 95% CI, 1.8‐3.5) for SMN mortality in comparison with patients without platinum‐containing chemotherapy. The HR for SMN mortality increased 0.29 (95% CI, 0.19‐0.39) per 100 mg/m2 platinum dose administered (Ptrend < .001). IHD mortality was increased 2.1‐fold (95% CI, 1.5‐4.2) after platinum‐containing chemotherapy in comparison with patients without platinum exposure.

Conclusions

Platinum‐containing chemotherapy is associated with a dose‐dependent increase in the risk of SMN mortality.
Pan‐cancer clinical and molecular analysis of racial disparities
Authors: Lara Olivia D. , Wang Ying , Asare Amma , Xu Tao , Chiu Hua‐Sheng , Liu Yuexin , Hu Wei , Sumazin Pavel , Uppal Shitanshu , Zhang Lin , Rauh‐Hain J. Alejandro , Sood Anil K.
Published: November 2019

Background

Racial disparities in cancer outcomes are increasingly recognized, but comprehensive analyses, including molecular studies, are limited. The objective of the current study was to perform a pan‐cancer clinical and epigenetic molecular analysis of outcomes in African American (AA) and European American (EA) patients.

Methods

Cross‐platform analyses using cancer databases (the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database and the National Cancer Data Base) and a molecular database (The Cancer Genome Ancestry Atlas) were performed to evaluate clinical and epigenetic molecular differences between AA and EA patients based on genetic ancestry.

Results

In the primary pan‐cancer survival analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2,045,839 patients; 87.5% EA and 12.5% AA), AA patients had higher mortality rates for 28 of 42 cancer types analyzed (hazard ratio, >1.0). AAs continued to have higher mortality in 13 cancer types after adjustment for socioeconomic variables using the National Cancer Database (5,150,023 patients; 11.6% AA and 88.4% EA). Then, molecular features of 5,283 tumors were analyzed in patients who had genetic ancestry data available (87.2% EA and 12.8% AA). Genes were identified with altered DNA methylation along with increased microRNA expression levels unique to AA patients that are associated with cancer drug resistance. Increased miRNAs (miR‐15a, miR‐17, miR‐130‐3p, miR‐181a) were noted in common among AAs with breast, kidney, thyroid, or prostate carcinomas.

Conclusions

The current results identified epigenetic features in AA patients who have cancer that may contribute to higher mortality rates compared with EA patients who have cancer. Therefore, a focus on molecular signatures unique to AAs may identify actionable molecular abnormalities.
An improved energy‐low clustering hierarchy protocol based on ensemble algorithm
Authors: Xie Penghua , Lv Ming , Zhao Juanjuan
Published: November 2019

LEACH (low‐energy adaptive clustering hierarchy) protocol is an important part of wireless sensor network (WSN) and consisting of a good deal of energy‐constrained nodes. LEACH is widely used but also faces various challenges and constraints. The biggest constraint is that the energy is limited and the network life is finite. In the article, an improved ensemble algorithm based on energy‐efficient LEACH is proposed. The ensemble algorithm benefits from the cuckoo search algorithm (CS), glowworm swarm optimization (GSO), and bacterial foraging optimization (BFO). The paper enhances local and global search capabilities by modify the CS GSO and BFO algorithm. To verify results, this paper performs statistical comparatives with oriented cuckoo search (OCS), bat algorithm with characteristics of Levy flights, particle swarm optimization, and adaptive differential evolution algorithm. Comparison results shows that the new method is effective. Moreover, the research also showed the universal applicability of the ensemble strategy in solving diverse problems by using above different optimization algorithms. To further exploit our mind, this paper applies the improved coupling algorithm to LEACH for selecting the cluster‐head node. Computational experiments illustrate that the method proposed in this paper can provide very competitive results compared to these bio‐inspired LEACH, both in terms of reducing the network energy consumption and improving the lifecycle of nodes.
Optimized traffic flow prediction based on cluster formation and reinforcement learning
Authors: Rajkumar S.C. , L. Jegatha Deborah , P. Vijayakumar
Published: November 2019

In recent days, the traffic flow information is collected using the global positioning system through the Internet, which is yet to become ubiquitous. A novel technique is proposed for the intelligent transportation system, which leads to reduce the traffic congestion that will become an unavoidable phenomenon in the near future. This system uses a magnetic sensor to identify the type of the vehicle and the exact vehicle count in the traffic environment based on variation in the magnetic flux. This information is transmitted to the cloud server with the help of cluster by utilizing the nearby proximity services. An intelligent agent that uses reinforcement learning is implemented in the cloud server to learn the real‐time traffic flow from multiple sources for the prediction of a valid and optimized route suggestion for the registered users. This work is implemented, and implementation results show that the proposed work achieves an accuracy of 98.36%. Hence, this intelligence method for VANETs will certainly account for improved traffic prediction to the vehicle transportation. It can reduce the vehicles waiting time in traffic and that would minimize the fuel consumption. It will make an eco‐friendly environment of reduced carbon dioxide emissions in urban cities.
Analyzing lifetime of energy harvesting underwater wireless sensor nodes
Authors: Erdem H. Emre , Gungor V. Cagri
Published: November 2019

Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) are utilized to monitor underwater environments that pose many challenges to researchers. One of the key complications of UWSNs is the difficulty of changing node batteries after their energy is depleted. This study aims to diminish the issues related to battery replacement by improving node lifetime. For this goal, three energy harvesting devices (turbine harvester, piezoelectric harvester, and hydrophone harvester) are analyzed to quantitate their impacts on node lifetime. In addition, two different power management schemes (schedule‐driven and event‐driven power management schemes) are combined with energy harvesters for further lifetime improvement. Performance evaluations via simulations show that energy harvesting methods joined by power management schemes can improve node lifetime substantially when actual conditions of Istanbul Bosporus Strait are considered. In this respect, turbine harvester makes the biggest impact and provides lifetime beyond 2000 days for most cases, while piezoelectric harvester can perform the same only for low duty cycle or event arrival values at short transmission ranges.
Facultative mycorrhizal associations promote plant naturalization worldwide
Authors: Pyšek Petr , Guo Wen‐Yong , Štajerová Kateřina , Moora Mari , Bueno C. Guillermo , Dawson Wayne , Essl Franz , Gerz Maret , Kreft Holger , Pergl Jan , van Kleunen Mark , Weigelt Patrick , Winter Marten , Zobel Martin
Published: November 2019

Mycorrhizal symbiosis has received relatively little attention as a mechanism explaining plant naturalizations at a global scale. Here, we combined data on vascular plant species occurrences in over 840 mainland and island regions from the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database with up‐to‐date databases of mycorrhizal associations. We tested whether the mycorrhizal type (arbuscular, AM; ectomycorrhizal, ECM; and non‐mycorrhizal, NM) and status (facultative and obligate) were associated with two measures of naturalization success, (1) naturalization incidence (reflecting the ability to naturalize, and expressed as whether or not a plant species is recorded as naturalized anywhere in the world) and (2) naturalization extent (expressed as the number of GloNAF regions where the species occurs). In total, we found information on mycorrhizal type and status for 3211 naturalized plant species and 4200 non‐naturalized plant species. Mycorrhizal plant species, both AM and ECM, were more likely to be naturalized and naturalized to a greater extent than NM plants. The effect of being an AM species was always stronger, with AM species having a greater naturalization extent than ECM species. Being the same mycorrhizal type or status, annual species were generally more likely to be naturalized than perennials. Species with facultative mycorrhizal associations were more successful than those with obligate mycorrhizal associations, but both groups tended to have a greater chance of being naturalized than NM species. These results indicate that being NM is generally less favorable for naturalization. Overall, our results confirm, at the global scale, those of regional studies that facultative association with AM provides plant species with a naturalization advantage. For the first time, we have shown that being mycorrhizal contributes not only to the size of the naturalized range, reflecting the ability to spread, but also to the ability to become naturalized in the first instance.
Response mechanisms of sediment microbial communities in different habitat types in a shallow lake
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Yi Yujun , Yang Yufeng , Zhou Yang , Jia Wenfei , Zhang Shanghong , Wang Xuan , Yang Zhifeng
Published: November 2019

Microorganisms are important drivers of material and energy circulation in freshwater ecosystems. Altered aquatic sedimentary environments disturbed by human activities affect microbial community composition. Concentrations of heavy metals, and sediment physicochemical properties, are described for 25 sediment samples collected from five habitat types (residential, duck farm, lotus pond, fish farm, and a reference reserve shallow freshwater lake site) around Baiyangdian Lake, China. Bacterial and fungal communities in sediments were determined using 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA high‐throughput sequencing technology. Sediment physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations vary significantly among habitat types. Bacterial genera involved in S and N cycles are most abundant, followed by those that degrade organic pollutants, and are tolerant of heavy metals. Sediment bacterial Chao1 index is predominantly regulated by cobalt concentrations. The microbial communities within replicate samples within habitats are more similar to each other than they are between habitats. Redundancy analysis indicates Zn, pH, and TP are the main environment factors structuring bacterial communities, while fungal communities are most significantly influenced by Co and TP. The genus Cryptomonas is a food source for small zooplankton and fishes, and is mainly distributed in fish farm and lotus pond habitats. Species of Pseudallescheria that cause mycetoma, maduromycosis, and other infections in humans are highly abundant in duck farm and residential habitats. Species of Aleuria are saprobes; decompose organic matter, dead organisms, or biological excrement; and are highly accumulated in duck farm habitat.
Manganese Complexes: Hydrogen Generation and Oxidation
Authors: Kaim Vishakha , Kaur‐Ghumaan Sandeep
Published: November 2019

Innovative breakthroughs by designing cheap, sustainable and efficient systems for the conversion and storage of renewable energy sources can help to solve the energy demand. An economically viable way could be the production of hydrogen. Designing noble metal‐free catalysts can play an important role in the path towards sustainable hydrogen economy. Nobel metal catalysts are limited by their cost and scalability. In nature, the hydrogenases and photosystem II use iron, nickel and manganese ions for catalysis. Drawing inspiration from nature, several attempts have been made by chemists to design cheap and robust catalysts. Though there are many reviews on the Fe and Ni complexes, there are very few that have discussed Mn. Therefore, in this review a comprehensive description is given on Mn‐based complexes reported as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions.
Numerical investigation of gas‐liquid displacement between borehole and gassy fracture using response surface methodology
Authors: Ma Tianshou , Tang Tao , Chen Ping , Li Zhilin , Liu Shaohu
Published: November 2019

Gas‐liquid displacement occurs often in fractured gas reservoirs, and can cause gas kick and mud leakage, resulting in a very high risk of losing well control. To analyze gas‐liquid displacement between borehole and gassy fracture, we used computational fluid dynamics to simulate its behaviors. We also used response surface methodology (RSM) to design numerical experiments. The effects of fracture width, bottom‐hole differential pressure, mud density, mud viscosity, and mud displacement were taken into account. We used RSM to determine the influence of the multifactor interaction of gas‐liquid displacement and established an empirical formula for the gas displacement rate. The results show that gas‐liquid displacement is proportional to fracture width, bottom‐hole differential pressure, mud density, and mud displacement; however, the displacement is inversely proportional to mud viscosity. The sensitivity sequence of the gas‐liquid displacement rate is fracture width > bottom‐hole differential pressure > mud viscosity > mud density > mud velocity. The impact of fracture width is clearly higher than that of the other factors, while the mud velocity has almost no impact. Our established empirical formula can be used to predict bottom‐hole gas kick and drilling mud leakage and to inversely predict the fracture width and formation gas pressure.
Woven Wearable Electronic Textiles as Self‐Powered Intelligent Tribo‐Sensors for Activity Monitoring
Authors: Zhang Xiuling , Wang Jiaona , Xing Yi , Li Congju
Published: November 2019

Wearable and shape‐adaptive electronic textiles (E‐textiles) for human activities detection such as diversity joints motion are highly desired. However, conventional E‐textiles still remain great challenges, such as flexibility, air permeability, and large‐area fabrication. Here, a fabric E‐textile is developed as a self‐powered textile for tracking active motion signals. The fiber‐shaped coaxial tribo‐sensor is fabricated with silver yarn (Ag) and polytetrafluoroethylene yarn, which allows for integrating well with cloths at large scales due to its satisfactory breathability, good washability, and desirable flexibility. Based on the coaxial‐structured design, the fabricated E‐textile is optimized to generate the output performance with maximum short‐current (Isc) of 90 nA and open‐voltage (Voc) of 8 V. Moreover, the E‐textile can also be utilized as a self‐powered activity tribo‐sensor to monitor the motion signals of the human body. More significantly, the obtained E‐textile performs outstanding finger‐touching sensitivity, which can be applied in a wireless controller, active sensor, and human–machine interactions. This work presents a new way for a multifunctional E‐textile with potential applications in smart home systems, wearable electronics, and personalized healthcare.
Late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the southern Great Xing'an Range, northeastern China: Constraints from detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopes of Late Cretaceous sandstones in the southwestern Songliao Basin
Authors: Liu Jia‐Lin , Qin Ming‐Kuan , Cai Yu‐Qi , Liu Zhang‐Yue , Zhang Zhan‐Ming , Yao Lei
Published: November 2019

The late Mesozoic magmatism and associated ore deposits were extensively developed in the southern Great Xing'an Range (SGXR), northeastern China. The geodynamic evolution of the SGXR during the late Mesozoic, however, remains controversial. Here, we present new detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data of the Late Cretaceous sandstones of the Yaojia and Qingshankou formations from the southwestern Songliao Basin, aiming at constraining their provenance and the late Mesozoic geotectonic evolution of the SGXR. The detrital zircon U–Pb ages of the sandstone samples display similar distribution patterns and mainly fall into two groups (i.e., 267–223 Ma and 169–122 Ma), indicating that they may have a common source area. Furthermore, these zircons have εHf (t) values similar to those of the magmatic rocks in the SGXR and northern North China Block (NCB). Integrated with zircon morphology, zircon U–Pb and Hf isotope indicate that both the SGXR and northern margin of the NCB (limited to the southwest of the Songliao Basin) have provided a dominant provenance for the Yaojia and Qingshankou formations. Similar age distribution patterns and the youngling age trend of the late Mesozoic igneous rocks from the SGXR to the northern margin of the NCB indicate that the Late Jurassic–early Early Cretaceous magmatism in the study area was associated with the evolution of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. In addition, the age distribution patterns, distinct variability of zircon Th/U ratios and development of A‐type granites, volcanic rocks, and metamorphic core complexes demonstrate that the SGXR and northern margin of the NCB have undergone an extensional process since middle Late Jurassic. We therefore propose that the middle Late Jurassic–early Early Cretaceous magmatism in the SGXR and adjacent northern margin of the NCB was associated with an extensional regime induced by collapse or delamination of thickened continental crust corresponding to the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean.
Enhanced striatal and prefrontal activity is associated with individual differences in nonreinforced preference change for faces
Authors: Salomon Tom , Botvinik‐Nezer Rotem , Oren Shiran , Schonberg Tom
Published: November 2019

Developing effective preference modification paradigms is crucial to improve the quality of life in a wide range of behaviors. The cue‐approach training (CAT) paradigm has been introduced as an effective tool to modify preferences lasting months, without external reinforcements, using the mere association of images with a cue and a speeded button response. In the current work for the first time, we used fMRI with faces as stimuli in the CAT paradigm, focusing on face‐selective brain regions. We found a behavioral change effect of CAT with faces immediately and 1‐month after training, however face‐selective regions were not indicative of behavioral change and thus preference change is less likely to rely on face processing brain regions. Nevertheless, we found that during training, fMRI activations in the ventral striatum were correlated with individual preference change. We also found a correlation between preference change and activations in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex during the binary choice phase. Functional connectivity among striatum, prefrontal regions, and high‐level visual regions was also related to individual preference change. Our work sheds new light on the involvement of neural mechanisms in the process of valuation. This could lead to development of novel real‐world interventions.
SMARCB1 (INI‐1) and NUT immunoexpression in a large series of head and neck carcinomas in a Brazilian reference center
Authors: Neves‐Silva Rodrigo , Almeida Luciana Y. , Silveira Heitor A. , Colturato Carla B. N. , Duarte Andressa , Ferrisse Tulio M. , Silva Evânio V. , Vanzolin Bárbara F. , Bufalino Andreia , Ribeiro‐Silva Alfredo , León Jorge E.
Published: November 2019

Background

SMARCB1 (INI‐1)‐deficient carcinomas and NUT carcinomas are aggressive neoplasms, often affecting the sinonasal region. Not uncommonly, their diagnoses are made retrospectively.

Methods

Through SMARCB1 (INI‐1) and NUT immunomarkers, 643 head and neck carcinomas were assessed retrospectively. Moreover, SMARCB1 (INI‐1)‐deficient and NUT carcinomas were additionally evaluated by immunohistochemistry, as well as in situ hybridization analysis for HPV and EBV.

Results

Four SMARCB1 (INI‐1)‐deficient carcinomas (located in lower lip, soft palate, hypopharynx and vocal cord, this latter high‐risk HPV positive) and three NUT carcinomas (all located in oropharynx) were detected, previously diagnosed as nonkeratinizing or moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. All cases showed squamous differentiation. NUT carcinomas than SMARCB1 (INI‐1)‐deficient carcinomas showed low overall survival rate.

Conclusion

The current cases expand the clinicopathological spectrum of SMARCB1 (INI‐1)‐deficient carcinomas and NUT carcinomas. Notably, the diagnosis of these cases is easily reached through immunohistochemistry, with impact on their accurate classification, treatment, and prognosis.
Incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries after implementing the Triepi‐45 tool to improve episiotomy angle in instrumental deliveries
Authors: Gonzalez‐Díaz Enrique , Fernández Fernández Camino , Gonzalo Orden Jose Manuel , Fernández Corona Alfonso
Published: November 2019

Objective

To assess the impact of Triepi‐45—a tool that enables an episiotomy angle of 45° to be marked on the perineum at rest—on the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) during operative vaginal delivery (OVD).

Method

A retrospective–prospective cohort study was performed among successive women who underwent OVD at Complejo Asistencial Universitario de de León, Spain, between 2011 and 2013 (preintervention cohort, n=986) and between 2014 and 2016 (intervention cohort, n=986) after implementation of an interventional programme in 2013 to improve the episiotomy angle, including use of Triepi‐45, in OVD.

Results

The intervention cohort had a lower incidence of OASIS than the preintervention cohort (70/986 [7.1%] vs 93/986 [9.4%]), but the difference was not significant, owing to the low use of Triepi‐45 in the intervention cohort (n=375). However, the OASIS incidence was significantly lower in the Triepi‐45 cohort than in the preintervention cohort (18/375 [4.8%] vs 93/986 [9.4%]; odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.86).

Conclusion

Use of Triepi‐45 had a positive impact on reducing OASIS in OVD. It remains essential to raise obstetricians’ awareness of the importance of the episiotomy angle and to implement the systematic use of tools to reduce the incidence of OASIS.
In vitro effects of standard antioxidants on lactoperoxidase enzyme–A molecular docking approach
Authors: Kalin Ramazan , Koksal Zeynep , Kalin Pinar , Karaman Muhammet , Gulcin İlhami , Ozdemir Hasan
Published: November 2019

Lactoperoxidase (LPO), an antioxidant enzyme, is a natural antimicrobial system that eliminates the harmful effects of microorganisms in milk. It has a wide range of applications and is also preferred in cosmetic and clinical applications, as well as used in foods. The use of antioxidants is well recognized in the food and feed industries to improve the shelf life of products. This study aimed to determine the in vitro inhibition effects of Trolox, α‐tocopherol, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, and propyl gallate, which are commonly used as antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical products. For this purpose, LPO was first purified in a single step using sepharose‐4B‐l‐tyrosine‐sulfanilamide affinity gel chromatography. Also, some inhibition parameters, including half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), Ki values, and inhibition types, were calculated for each antioxidant molecule. The IC50 values of these molecules, which exhibited competitive inhibition, varied between 377.7 and 3397.8 nM. Molecular docking studies were also performed for all compounds. According to the binding scores, α‐tocopherol was shown to exhibit the most effective inhibitor property (IC50: 377.7 nM and Ki: 635.8 ± 16.8 nM) among the standard antioxidants used in this study. Inhibiting the LPO activity by standard antioxidants results in the weakening of the immune system during lactation, which is important for metabolism.
A note on one inequality of Drápal–Valent type
Authors: Kepka Tomáš J. , Němec Petr C.
Published: November 2019

In this note, an elementary proof of a generalized Drápal–Valent type‐inequality is presented.
Correlation of pre‐operative circulating inflammatory cytokines with restenosis and rapid angiographic stenotic progression risk in coronary artery disease patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with drug‐eluting stents
Authors: Sun Jinling , Yu Hui , Liu Haining , Pu Dongyu , Gao Junhui , Jin Xiaodong , Liu Xiqiang , Yan Aiguo
Published: November 2019

Background

This study aimed to explore the associations of common inflammatory cytokine levels with restenosis and rapid angiographic stenotic progression (RASP) risk in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug‐eluting stents (DES).

Methods

Two hundred and ten CAD patients underwent PCI with DES were consecutively recruited, then pre‐operative serum levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐17A, IL‐21, and IL‐23 were determined by ELISA. The 12‐month in‐stent restenosis and RASP of non‐intervened lesion were assessed by quantitative coronary angiography analysis.

Results

The pre‐operative TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐17A, and IL‐23 expressions were increased while IL‐4 expression was decreased in restenosis patients compared with non‐restenosis patients. Further analysis revealed that IL‐6, IL‐8, hypercholesteremia, diabetes mellitus, and HsCRP could independently predict restenosis risk, and subsequent ROC curve revealed that their combination was able to differentiate restenosis patients from non‐restenosis patients with an AUC of 0.951 (95%CI: 0.925‐0.978). Meanwhile, the pre‐operative TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐17A, IL‐21, and IL‐23 expressions were increased whereas IL‐4 level was decreased in RASP patients compared with non‐RASP patients. Further analysis revealed that TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐23, hypercholesteremia, SUA, HsCRP, and multivessel artery lesions could independently predict RASP risk, and subsequent ROC curve disclosed that their combination could discriminate RASP patients from non‐RASP patients with an AUC of 0.886 (95%CI: 0.841‐0.931).

Conclusions

This study unveils the potentiality of pre‐operative circulating inflammatory cytokines as markers for predicting restenosis and RASP risk in CAD patients underwent PCI with DES.
Secrets on both sides of the couch
Authors: Newman Stephanie
Published: November 2019

This paper considers omissions and lies in the consulting room, discussing what is known about the nature, extent, and underlying causes of therapists’ deceptions and secrets. The author offers clinical vignettes to illustrate common omissions and deceptions, considers potential ramifications thereof, and concludes with recommendations for clinical practice.
From victims to citizens: Emerging activist identities in the anti‐fracking movement in Bulgaria
Authors: Mihaylov Nikolay L.
Published: November 2019

Aims

The anti‐fracking movement in Bulgaria, 2011–2013, was a successful grassroots effort to influence national environmental policy. The study draws on social movements and community psychology scholarship to investigate the emergence, development, and implications of activist identities as an important force for the movement's success.

Methods

Within a qualitative design, data were collected from interviews with activists, observations of organizing events, movement documents, and media publications. Structured and open coding followed by qualitative analyses produced descriptions and explanations of the construction and use of identities in the movement.

Results

Four major identities emerged in social and discursive interactions among activists and between activists and contextual forces: Victims, Bulgarians, Nature‐protectors, and Citizens. The four identities were used interchangeably and afforded differential empowerment and opportunities for participation in policy‐making.

Conclusion

The emerging activist identities were processes and products of the complex relationships between agency and context. The study contributes in illuminating the links between policy context, empowerment, participation, and political action.
Recovery home networks as social capital
Authors: Jason Leonard A. , Guerrero Mayra , Lynch Gabrielle , Stevens Ed , Salomon‐Amend Meghan , Light John M.
Published: November 2019

Ensuring recovery home residents’ social integration into a home environment is important for preventing early dropout and facilitating sustained recovery. Social capital theory may provide an explanation for how recovery homes may protect residents and improve recovery rates. However, little is known about how social capital in recovery home environments is structured and accessed. Recovery homes may increase social capital by sharing bonds through friendships, lending money, and advice‐seeking. The current study describes social network cross sectional data obtained from a study of 42 Oxford House recovery homes, in three locations in the US (North Carolina, Texas, and Oregon). The residents rated each member of their house on the dimensions of friendship, money loaning, and advice seeking to assess how each resident views one another on these dimensions. The research used baseline data from a larger longitudinal study, and although some data were presented for the full sample (APL, isolates, mean reciprocity and density), the results primarily focused on case studies for three of the participating Oxford Houses—with examples of low, median, and high “connected” houses respectively. Standard measures of network structures were calculated for each home. Although all Oxford Houses follow the same house rules, they were found to vary in network structure. Findings indicated a considerable range of interconnectedness among residents in these houses, with friendship being the most common relationship, willingness to lend money less common, and advice‐seeking the least common. The findings on friendship, willingness to lend, and advice‐seeking provide promising leads about what occurs among the social networks within these complex eco‐systems, and may provide ways to better understand and facilitate resident social integration into these settings.
Understanding and improving the experience of claiming social security for mental health problems in the west of Scotland: A participatory social welfare study
Authors: Ploetner Caroline , Telford Morgan , Brækkan Karina , Mullen Kenneth , Turnbull Sue , Gumley Andrew , Allan Stephanie
Published: November 2019

A growing body of literature links claimant interactions with the UK social security system and negative psychological consequences. Psychologists for social change developed a framework to outline proposed mechanisms of psychological impact from austerity. This codesigned study aimed to make an informed comment on areas of dis(agreement) between the Austerity Ailments framework and how people claiming for mental health problems describe their own experiences. In line with the participatory social welfare design of the study, qualitative analysis was performed by both claimants and academics. The overall findings indicate that existing framework mostly captured claimant experiences. However, some aspects of the claimant experience (particularly social aspects) were not well captured. Claimants were keen to utilise this study as an opportunity to gather claimant ideas on how to improve the system. Therefore, we report their suggestions that may be useful for those designing and improving social welfare systems
Regulation of TRPM8 channel activity by Src‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation
Authors: Manolache Alexandra , Selescu Tudor , Maier G. Larisa , Mentel Mihaela , Ionescu Aura Elena , Neacsu Cristian , Babes Alexandru , Szedlacsek Stefan Eugen
Published: November 2019

The transient receptor potential melastatin type 8 (TRPM8) receptor channel is expressed in primary afferent neurons where it is the main transducer of innocuous cold temperatures and also in a variety of tumors, where it is involved in progression and metastasis. Modulation of this channel by intracellular signaling pathways has therefore important clinical implications. We investigated the modulation of recombinant and natively expressed TRPM8 by the Src kinase, which is known to be involved in cancer pathophysiology and inflammation. Human TRPM8 expressed in HEK293T cells is constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated by Src which is expressed either heterologously or endogenously. Src action on TRPM8 potentiates its activity, as treatment with PP2, a selective Src kinase inhibitor, reduces both TRPM8 tyrosine phosphorylation and cold‐induced channel activation. RNA interference directed against the Src kinase diminished the extent of PP2‐induced functional downregulation of TRPM8, confirming that PP2 acts mainly through Src inhibition. Finally, the effect of PP2 on TRPM8 cold activation was reproduced in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, and this action was antagonized by the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate, confirming that TRPM8 activity is sensitive to the cellular balance between tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. This positive modulation of TRPM8 by Src kinase may be relevant for inflammatory pain and cancer signaling.
Effect of Levetiracetam on Time to High‐Dose Methotrexate Clearance in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Lou Uvette , Kwok Jamie , Nguyen Thu Anne , Zhou Allen , Luk Samantha O.
Published: November 2019

High‐dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is a commonly used treatment for hematologic malignancies involving the central nervous system. Two case reports described possible delayed methotrexate clearance in patients receiving concurrent levetiracetam, while a retrospective cohort study did not find this association. The objective of this single‐center, retrospective case‐control study of 121 patients who received their first cycle of HDMTX was to investigate the association between HDMTX clearance time and concomitant levetiracetam use. The most common diagnosis was primary central nervous system lymphoma (47.9%). The mean HDMTX dose was 4601 mg/m2 (standard deviation [SD], 2052.6 mg/m2). Concurrent levetiracetam was administered in 30 of 121 patients (24.8%), with a mean total daily levetiracetam dose of 1434.4 mg (SD, 622.9 mg; range, 900‐3000 mg). Baseline characteristics were similar between patients who received concomitant levetiracetam and those who did not. The mean time to methotrexate clearance was 82.5 hours (SD, 51.2; 95% confidence interval, 69.4‐95.7) in the concomitant levetiracetam group and 72.4 hours (SD, 31.2; 95% confidence interval, 61.7‐83.0) in the nonlevetiracetam group, which was not significantly different (P > .05), even in the subgroup receiving methotrexate doses >3500 mg/m2. Grade 3 or higher toxicity occurred in 33.3% of the concomitant levetiracetam group and in 34.1% of nonconcomitant levetiracetam patients. This study, which, to our knowledge, is the first examining levetiracetam effect on only the first dose of HDMTX, supports the larger retrospective study finding no significant effect of levetiracetam on HDMTX clearance time, and suggests that administering concomitant levetiracetam does not affect HDMTX toxicity.
The effects of intrinsic and extrinsic acids on nanofilled and bulk fill resin composites: Roughness, surface hardness, and scanning electron microscopy analysis
Authors: Alencar Milena F. , Pereira Mirella T. , De‐Moraes Maria D. R. , Santiago Sérgio L. , Passos Vanara F.
Published: November 2019

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of extrinsic or intrinsic acids on nanofilled and bulk fill resin materials in vitro. A total of 90 disks were prepared using dental restorative material (Filtek Z350XT, GrandioSO, Filtek Bulk Fill, X‐tra fil). Thirty disks of each material were sub‐divided into three groups (n = 10) that were immersed for 7 days in deionized water (DW), 5% citric acid (CA—pH 2.1), or 0.1% hydrochloric acid (HCl—pH = 1.2). Surface hardness and roughness (stylus profilometer by Ra parameter) analysis were performed before and after immersion. Morphological changes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The data were analyzed by two‐way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). All tested materials did not show significant differences in the effects of the DW, CA, or HCl solutions on surface roughness (p = .368). Likewise, the hardness loss was not affected by the solutions tested (p = .646), but there was a difference in the resin type (p = .002). Filtek Bulk Fill resin hardness was less affected, while Filtek Z350XT and GrandioSO presented the most hardness loss after 7 days of solution immersion. In terms of this experimental study, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the mechanical properties (roughness and hardness surface) of nanofilled and bulk fill resin materials to resist erosion from extrinsic and intrinsic acids, therefore being potential candidates for dental applications.
What impact could DMPA use have had in South Africa and how might its continued use affect the future of the HIV epidemic?
Authors: Beacroft Leo , Smith Jennifer A , Hallett Timothy B
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Some studies suggest that use of the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) may increase susceptibility to HIV infection. We aim to determine the influence that such an association could have had on the HIV epidemic in South Africa.

Methods

We simulate the heterosexual adult HIV epidemic in South Africa using a compartmental model stratified by age, behavioural risk group, sex, male circumcision status and contraceptive use. We model two possible scenarios: (1) The “With Effect” scenario assumes that DMPA increases susceptibility to HIV infection by 1.20‐fold (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.36) based on a combination of the results of a recent randomised controlled trial (ECHO trial) and a number of observational studies. (2) The “No Effect” scenario assumes that DMPA has no effect on HIV acquisition risk. We calculate the difference in HIV‐related outcomes between the With Effect and No Effect scenarios to determine the potential impact that DMPA use could have had on the HIV epidemic.

Results

A causal association between DMPA and HIV acquisition could have caused 430,000 (90% of model runs 160,000 to 960,000) excess HIV infections and 230,000 (90,000 to 470,000) AIDS deaths in South Africa from 1980 to 2017. These figures represent 4.3% (1.6% to 9.6%) and 6.9% (2.6% to 15.2%) of the total modelled estimates of HIV infections and AIDS deaths respectively in South Africa in that period. Of the additional infections, 36% (25% to 48%) would have occurred among men. If DMPA use continues at current levels, a potential causal association could cause an additional 130,000 (50,000 to 270,000) infections between 2018 and 2037. The excess infections would have required an additional 640,000 (190,000 to 1,660,000) years of ART from 1980 to 2017, and a further 2,870,000 (890,000 to 7,270,000) years of ART from 2018 to 2037.

Conclusions

If there is a causal association between DMPA use and HIV risk, it could have substantially increased the scale of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, affecting not only the users of DMPA, but also their partners and the wider population. The magnitude of this potential effect demands careful data collection and a careful consideration of policy choices for contraception in settings with large HIV epidemics.
Genetic association of polymorphisms at the intergenic region between PRDM1 and ATG5 with hepatitis B virus infection in Han Chinese patients
Authors: Li Na , Fan Xiude , Wang Xiaoyun , Zhang Xiaoge , Zhang Kun , Han Qunying , Lv Yi , Liu Zhengwen
Published: November 2019

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is related to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the interplay between the virus and host immune response leads to different outcomes of the infection. PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1) and autophagy‐related protein 5 (ATG5) are involved in immune response and HBV infection. An intergenic region between PRDM1 and ATG5 (PRDM1‐ATG5 region) has been identified, and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this region were shown to be involved in immune regulation. This study investigated the functionally relevant rs548234, rs6937876, and rs6568431 polymorphisms at the PRDM1‐ATG5 region in a Han Chinese population (403 patients with chronic HBV infection [171 chronic hepatitis, 119 cirrhosis, and 113 HCC], 70 infection resolvers, and 196 healthy controls). The frequencies of the rs6568431 allele A in HBV patients (P = .005) and genotype CA in infection resolvers (P = .005) were significantly higher than in healthy controls. In the dominant model, HCC patients had significantly higher frequencies of rs548234 genotypes CC + TC than cirrhosis patients (P = .009). Rs548234 was an independent factor for HCC in comparison with either cirrhosis (P = .005) or all chronic HBV infection without HCC (P = .018). Functional annotation showed evidence of the role of the SNPs in gene regulation. In conclusion, through this study it is revealed for the first time that rs6568431 may be associated with susceptibility to HBV infection and that rs548234 may be associated with HCC risk in chronic HBV infection, supporting the presence of HBV‐related disease‐causing regulatory polymorphisms in the PRDM1‐ATG5 intergenic region.
A novel gate driver circuit for depletion‐mode a‐IGZO TFTs
Authors: Oh Jongsu , Jung Kyung‐Mo , Lee Jungwoo , Jung Eun Kyo , Jeon Jae‐Hong , Park KeeChan , Kim Yong‐Sang
Published: November 2019

In this paper, a novel gate driver circuit, which can achieve high reliability for depletion mode in a‐InGaZnO thin‐film transistors (TFTs), was proposed. To prevent the leakage current paths for Q node effectively, the new driving method was proposed by adopting the negative gate‐to‐source voltage (VGS) value for pull‐down units. The results showed all the VOUT voltage waveforms were maintained at VGH voltage despite depletion‐mode operation. The proposed circuit could also obtain stable VOUT voltage when the threshold voltage for all TFTs was changed from −6.5 to +11.5 V. Therefore, the circuit can achieve high reliability regardless of threshold voltage value for a‐IGZO TFTs. In addition, the output characteristics and total power consumption were shown for the alternating current (AC)–driven and direct current (DC)–driven methods based on 120‐Hz full‐HD graphics (1920 × 1080) display panel. The results showed that the AC‐driven method could achieve improved VOUT characteristics compared with DC‐driven method since the leakage current path for Q node can be completely eliminated. Although power consumption of the AC‐driven method can be slightly increased compared with the DC‐driven method for enhancement mode, consumption can be lower when the operation has depletion‐mode characteristics by preventing a leakage current path for pull‐down units. Consequently, the proposed gate driver circuit can overcome the problems caused by the characteristics of a‐IGZO TFTs.
Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum: A genomic analysis
Authors: Reynolds Ian S. , O'Connell Emer , Fichtner Michael , McNamara Deborah A. , Kay Elaine W. , Prehn Jochen H. M. , Furney Simon J. , Burke John P.
Published: November 2019

Background and Objectives

Mucinous adenocarcinoma is a distinct subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC) with a worse prognosis when compared with non‐mucinous adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare somatic mutations and copy number alteration (CNA) between mucinous and non‐mucinous CRC.

Methods

Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas‐colon adenocarcinoma and rectum adenocarcinoma projects were utilized. Mucinous and non‐mucinous CRC were compared with regard to microsatellite status, overall mutation rate, the most frequently mutated genes, mutations in genes coding for mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and genes coding for mucin glycoproteins. CNA analysis and pathway analysis was undertaken.

Results

Mucinous CRC was more likely to be microsatellite instability‐high (MSI‐H) and hypermutated. When corrected for microsatellite status the single‐nucleotide variation and insertion‐deletion rate was similar between the two cohorts. Mucinous adenocarcinoma was more likely to have mutations in genes coding for MMR proteins and mucin glycoproteins. Pathway analysis revealed further differences between the two histological subtypes in the cell cycle, RTK‐RAS, transforming growth factor‐β, and TP53 pathways.

Conclusions

Mucinous CRC has some distinct genomic aberrations when compared with non‐mucinous adenocarcinoma, many of which are driven by the increased frequency of MSI‐H tumors. These genomic aberrations may play an important part in the difference seen in response to treatment and prognosis in mucinous adenocarcinoma.