bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Panel Sequencing of Primary Cutaneous B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Wobser Marion , Schummer Patrick , Appenzeller Silke , Kneitz Hermann , Roth Sabine , Goebeler Matthias , Geissinger Eva , Rosenwald Andreas , Maurus Katja
Published: October 2022

Background: Primary cutaneous follicular B-cell lymphoma (PCFBCL) represents an indolent subtype of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, being clinically characterized by slowly growing tumors of the skin and common cutaneous relapses, while only exhibiting a low propensity for systemic dissemination or fatal outcome. Up to now, only few studies have investigated underlying molecular alterations of PCFBCL with respect to somatic mutations. Objectives: Our aim was to gain deeper insight into the pathogenesis of PCFBCL and to delineate discriminatory molecular features of this lymphoma subtype. Methods: We performed hybridization-based panel sequencing of 40 lymphoma-associated genes of 10 cases of well-characterized PCFBCL. In addition, we included two further ambiguous cases of atypical B-cell-rich lymphoid infiltrate/B-cell lymphoma of the skin for which definite subtype attribution had not been possible by routine investigations. Results: In 10 out of 12 analyzed cases, we identified genetic alterations within 15 of the selected 40 target genes. The most frequently detected alterations in PCFBCL affected the TNFRSF14, CREBBP, STAT6 and TP53 genes. Our analysis unrevealed novel mutations of the BCL2 gene in PCFBCL. All patients exhibited an indolent clinical course. Both the included arbitrary cases of atypical B-cell-rich cutaneous infiltrates showed somatic mutations within the FAS gene. As these mutations have previously been designated as subtype-specific recurrent alterations in primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), we finally favored the diagnosis of PCMZL in these two cases based on these molecular findings. Conclusions: To conclude, our molecular data support that PCFBCL shows distinct somatic mutations which may aid to differentiate PCFBCL from pseudo-lymphoma as well as from other indolent and aggressive cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. While the detected genetic alterations of PCFBCL did not turn out to harbor any prognostic value in our cohort, our molecular data may add adjunctive discriminatory features for diagnostic purposes on a molecular level.
CFR-PEEK Pedicle Screw Instrumentation for Spinal Neoplasms: A Single Center Experience on Safety and Efficacy
Authors: Joerger Ann-Kathrin , Seitz Sebastian , Lange Nicole , Aftahy Amir K. , Wagner Arthur , Ryang Yu-Mi , Bernhardt Denise , Combs Stephanie E. , Wostrack Maria , Gempt Jens , Meyer Bernhard
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Surgery for spinal metastases has gained a decisive role in modern oncological treatment. Recently, carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR) polyethyl-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) pedicle screw systems were introduced, reducing artifacts on imaging and showing less perturbation effects on photon radiation. Preliminary clinical experience with CFR-PEEK implants for spinal metastases exists. The aim of this monocentric study is to report on the safety and efficacy of CFR-PEEK pedicle screw systems for spinal neoplasms in a large cohort of consecutive patients. (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed prospectively the collected data of consecutive patients being operated on from 1 August 2015 to 31 October 2021 using a CFR-PEEK pedicle screw system for posterior stabilization because of spinal metastases or primary bone tumors of the spine. (3) Results: We included 321 patients of a mean age of 65 ± 13 years. On average, 5 ± 2 levels were instrumented. Anterior reconstruction was performed in 121 (37.7%) patients. Intraoperative complications were documented in 30 (9.3%) patients. Revision surgery for postoperative complications was necessary in 55 (17.1%) patients. Implant-related complications, such as intraoperative screw breakage (3.4%) and screw loosening (2.2%), were rare. (4) Conclusions: CFR-PEEK is a safe and efficient alternative to titanium for oncological spinal instrumentation, with low complication and revision rates in routine use and with the advantage of its radiolucency.
Timely Leukapheresis May Interfere with the “Fitness” of Lymphocytes Collected for CAR-T Treatment in High Risk DLBCL Patients
Authors: Farina Mirko , Chiarini Marco , Almici Camillo , Accorsi Buttini Eugenia , Zuccalà Francesco , Piva Simone , Volonghi Irene , Poli Loris , Bernardi Simona , Colnaghi Federica , Re Federica , Leoni Alessandro , Polverelli Nicola , Turra Alessandro , Morello Enrico , Galvagni Anna , Moratto Daniele , Brugnoni Duilio , Cattaneo Chiara , Ferrari Emilio , Bianchetti Andrea , Malagola Michele , Re Alessandro , Russo Domenico
Published: October 2022

The development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematological diseases. However, approximately 60% of patients relapse after CAR-T cell therapy, and no clear cause for this failure has been identified. The objective of the Bio-CAR-T BS study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05366569) is to improve our understanding of the lymphocyte harvest to maximize the quality of the CAR-T cell product. Of the 14 patients enrolled, 11 were diagnosed with DLBCL, 2 with PMBCL, and 1 with ALL. Five of 11 DLBCL patients met the criteria for “pre-emptive” Lymphocytes-apheresis (being at high risk of second relapse), and 6 were included in the standard-of-care Lymphocytes-apheresis group. Previous autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and age were significantly different between the two groups. At the time of Lymphocyte-apheresis, patients in the “pre-emptive” group had more “fit” lymphocytes (higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio; higher naïve T cells levels) compared with standard group, probably due to the impact of ASCT. At the same time, also being older than 60 years results in a more “exhausted” lymphocyte profile. Overall, “pre-emptive” Ly-apheresis in DLBCL patients at high risk of relapse appears to be feasible and may allow the timely collection of “fit” lymphocytes for CAR-T cell manufacturing.
Comprehensive Characterization of the Regulatory Landscape of Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Novel Transcription Factors and Targets Associated with Prognosis
Authors: Muzzi João C. D. , Magno Jéssica M. , Souza Jean S. , Alvarenga Larissa M. , de Moura Juliana F. , Figueiredo Bonald C. , Castro Mauro A. A.
Published: October 2022

We reconstructed a transcriptional regulatory network for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) using transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-ACC cohort. We investigated the association of transcriptional regulatory units (regulons) with overall survival, molecular phenotypes, and immune signatures. We annotated the ACC regulons with cancer hallmarks and assessed single sample regulon activities in the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) cohort. We found 369 regulons associated with overall survival and subdivided them into four clusters: RC1 and RC2, associated with good prognosis, and RC3 and RC4, associated with worse outcomes. The RC1 and RC3 regulons were highly correlated with the ‘Steroid Phenotype,’ while the RC2 and RC4 regulons were highly correlated with a molecular proliferation signature. We selected two regulons, NR5A1 (steroidogenic factor 1, SF-1) and CENPA (Centromeric Protein A), that were consistently associated with overall survival for further downstream analyses. The CENPA regulon was the primary regulator of MKI-67 (a marker of proliferation KI-67), while the NR5A1 regulon is a well-described transcription factor (TF) in ACC tumorigenesis. We also found that the ZBTB4 (Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 4) regulon, which is negatively associated with CENPA in our transcriptional regulatory network, is also a druggable anti-tumorigenic TF. We anticipate that the ACC regulons may be used as a reference for further investigations concerning the complex molecular interactions in ACC tumors.
Association between Immunologic Markers and Cirrhosis in Individuals from a Prospective Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort
Authors: Argirion Ilona , Brown Jalen , Jackson Sarah , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Lam Tram Kim , O’Brien Thomas R. , Yu Kelly J. , McGlynn Katherine A. , Petrick Jessica L. , Pinto Ligia A. , Chen Chien-Jen , Hildesheim Allan , Yang Hwai-I , Lee Mei-Hsuan , Koshiol Jill
Published: October 2022

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can affect immune response and inflammatory pathways, leading to severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In a prospective cohort of chronically HCV-infected individuals, we sampled 68 individuals who developed cirrhosis, 91 controls who did not develop cirrhosis, and 94 individuals who developed HCC. Unconditional odds ratios (ORs) from polytomous logistic regression models and canonical discriminant analyses (CDAs) were used to compare categorical (C) baseline plasma levels for 102 markers in individuals who developed cirrhosis vs. controls and those who developed HCC vs. cirrhosis. Leave-one-out cross validation was used to produce receiver operating characteristic curves to assess predictive ability of markers. Lastly, biological pathways were assessed in association with cirrhotic development compared to controls. Results: After multivariable adjustment, DEFA-1 (OR: C2v.C1 = 7.73; p < 0.0001), ITGAM (OR: C2v.C1 = 4.03; p = 0.0002), SCF (OR: C4v.C1 = 0.19; p-trend = 0.0001), and CCL11 (OR: C4v.C1 = 0.31; p-trend= 0.002) were all associated with development of cirrhosis compared to controls; these markers, together with clinical/demographics variables, improved prediction of cirrhosis from 55.7% (in clinical/demographic-only model) to 74.9% accuracy. A twelve-marker model based on CDA results further increased prediction of cirrhosis to 88.0%. While six biological pathways were found to be associated with cirrhosis, cell adhesion was the only pathway associated with cirrhosis after Bonferroni correction. In contrast to cirrhosis, DEFA-1 and ITGAM levels were inversely associated with HCC risk. Conclusions: Pending validation, these findings highlight the important role of immunological markers in predicting HCV-related cirrhosis even 11 years post-enrollment.
A Novel Plasma-Based Methylation Panel for Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Early Detection
Authors: Peng Cheng , Zhao Guodong , Pei Bing , Wang Kai , Li Hui , Fei Sujuan , Song Lishuang , Wang Chunkai , Xiong Shangmin , Xue Ying , He Qibin , Zheng Minxue
Published: October 2022

Background: Upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGC) is an important cause of cancer death in China, with low five-year survival rates due to the majority of UGC patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop cost-effective, reliable and non-invasive methods for the early detection of UGC. Methods: A novel plasma-based methylation panel combining simultaneous detection of three methylated biomarkers (ELMO1, ZNF582 and TFPI2) and an internal control gene were developed and used to examine plasma samples from 186 UGC patients and 190 control subjects. Results: The results indicated excellent PCR amplification efficiency and reproducibility of ELMO1, ZNF582 and TFPI2 in the range of 10–100,000 copies per PCR reaction of fully methylated genomic DNA. The methylation levels of ELMO1, ZNF582 and TFPI2 were significantly higher in UGC samples than those in control subjects. The sensitivities of ELMO1, ZNF582 and TFPI2 alone for UGC detection were 32.3%, 61.3% and 30.6%, respectively; when three markers were combined, the sensitivity was improved to 71.0%, with a specificity of 90.0%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.870 (95% CI: 0.832–0.902). Conclusion: Methylated ELMO1, ZNF582 and TFPI2 were specific for UGC and the three-methylated gene panel provided an alternative non-invasive choice for UGC early detection.
Immunotherapy and Modern Radiotherapy Technique for Older Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Proposed Paradigm by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group
Authors: Nguyen Nam P. , Kim Lyndon , Thariat Juliette , Baumert Brigitta G. , Mazibuko Thandeka , Gorobets Olena , Vinh-Hung Vincent , Giap Huan , Mehmood Tahir , Vincent Felix , Chi Alexander , Basu Trinanjan , Loganadane Gokoulakrichenane , Mohammadianpanah Mohammad , Karlsson Ulf , Oboite Eromosele , Oboite Joan , Ali Ahmed , Page Brandi R.
Published: October 2022

The standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer is concurrent chemoradiation or postoperative irradiation with or without chemotherapy. Surgery may not be an option for older patients (70 years old or above) due to multiple co-morbidities and frailty. Additionally, the standard chemotherapy of cisplatin may not be ideal for those patients due to oto- and nephrotoxicity. Though carboplatin is a reasonable alternative for cisplatin in patients with a pre-existing hearing deficit or renal dysfunction, its efficacy may be inferior to cisplatin for head and neck cancer. In addition, concurrent chemoradiation is frequently associated with grade 3–4 mucositis and hematologic toxicity leading to poor tolerance among older cancer patients. Thus, a new algorithm needs to be developed to provide optimal local control while minimizing toxicity for this vulnerable group of patients. Recently, immunotherapy with check point inhibitors (CPI) has attracted much attention due to the high prevalence of program death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in head and neck cancer. In patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, CPI has proven to be superior to conventional chemotherapy for salvage. Those with a high PD-L1 expression defined as 50% or above or a high tumor proportion score (TPS) may have an excellent response to CPI. This selected group of patients may be candidates for CPI combined with modern radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated image-guided radiotherapy (IM-IGRT), volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) or proton therapy if available, which allow for the sparing of critical structures, such as the salivary glands, oral cavity, cochlea, larynx and pharyngeal muscles, to improve the patients’ quality of life. In addition, normal organs that are frequently sensitive to immunotherapy, such as the thyroid and lungs, are spared with modern radiotherapy techniques. In fit or carefully selected frail patients, a hypofractionated schedule may be considered to reduce the need for daily transportation. We propose a protocol combining CPI and modern radiotherapy techniques for older patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer who are not eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy and have a high TPS. Prospective studies should be performed to verify this hypothesis.
Prognostic Potential of Immune Inflammatory Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Truffi Marta , Sottotetti Federico , Gafni Nadav , Albasini Sara , Piccotti Francesca , Morasso Carlo , Tibollo Valentina , Mocchi Michela , Zanella Valentina , Corsi Fabio
Published: October 2022

Immune inflammatory biomarkers are easily obtained and inexpensive blood-based parameters that recently showed prognostic and predictive value in many solid tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of these biomarkers in predicting distant relapse in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). All breast cancer patients who referred to our Breast Unit and underwent NACT were retrospectively reviewed. The pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) were calculated from complete blood counts. The primary outcome was 5-year distant-metastasis-free survival (DMFS). In receiver operating characteristic analyses, the optimal cutoff values for the NLR, PLR, MLR, and PIV were determined at 2.25, 152.46, 0.25, and 438.68, respectively. High levels of the MLR, but not the NLR, PLR, or PIV, were associated with improved 5-year DMSF in the study population using both univariate (HR 0.52, p = 0.03) and multivariate analyses (HR, 0.44; p = 0.02). Our study showed that the MLR was a significant independent parameter affecting DMFS in breast cancer patients undergoing NACT. Prospective studies are required to confirm this finding and to define reliable cutoff values, thus leading the way for the clinical application of this biomarker.
A Deep Learning Model System for Diagnosis and Management of Adnexal Masses
Authors: Li Jianan , Chen Yixin , Zhang Minyu , Zhang Peifang , He Kunlun , Yan Fengqin , Li Jingbo , Xu Hong , Burkhoff Daniel , Luo Yukun , Wang Longxia , Li Qiuyang
Published: October 2022

Appropriate clinical management of adnexal masses requires a detailed diagnosis. We retrospectively collected ultrasound images of 1559 cases from the first Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital and developed a fully automatic deep learning (DL) model system to diagnose adnexal masses. The DL system contained five models: a detector, a mass segmentor, a papillary segmentor, a type classifier, and a pathological subtype classifier. To test the DL system, 462 cases from another two hospitals were recruited. The DL system identified benign, borderline, and malignant tumors with macro-F1 scores that varied from 0.684 to 0.791, a benefit to preventing both delayed and overextensive treatment. The macro-F1 scores of the pathological subtype classifier to categorize the benign masses varied from 0.714 to 0.831. The detailed classification can inform clinicians of the corresponding complications of each pathological subtype of benign tumors. The distinguishment between borderline and malignant tumors and inflammation from other subtypes of benign tumors need further study. The accuracy and sensitivity of the DL system were comparable to that of the expert and intermediate sonographers and exceeded that of the junior sonographer.
Modified Albumin-Bilirubin Grade and Alpha-Fetoprotein Score (mALF Score) for Predicting the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Hepatectomy
Authors: Kaibori Masaki , Yoshii Kengo , Matsui Kosuke , Matsushima Hideyuki , Kosaka Hisashi , Yamamoto Hidekazu , Aoi Kazunori , Yamaguchi Takashi , Yoshida Katsunori , Hatanaka Takeshi , Hiraoka Atsushi , Tada Toshifumi , Kumada Takashi , Sekimoto Mitsugu
Published: October 2022

We developed and evaluated a modified albumin-bilirubin grade and α-fetoprotein (mALF) score, a nutritional and oncological assessment tool for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection. Patients (n = 480) who underwent R0 resection between 2010 and 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The mALF score assigned one point for a modified albumin-bilirubin (mALBI) grade 2b or 3 and one point for an α-fetoprotein (AFP) level ≥ 100 ng/mL. Patients were classified by mALF scores of 0 (mALBI grade 1/2a, AFP < 100 ng/mL), 1 (mALBI grade 2b/3 or AFP ≥ 100 ng/mL), or 2 (mALBI grade 2b/3, AFP ≥ 100 ng/mL) points. Liver reserve deteriorated and cancer progressed with increasing score. Postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo classification ≥ 3) differed significantly among groups. The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 34.8%, 11.2%, and 0.0% for 0, 1, and 2 points, respectively (1 or 2 versus 0 points, p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 66.0%, 29.7%, and 17.8% for 0, 1, and 2 points, respectively (1 or 2 versus 0 points, p < 0.001). The mALF score was an independent prognostic predictor of RFS and OS. In HCC, the mALF score was effective for predicting postoperative complications and long-term survival.
Re-Whole Brain Radiotherapy May Be One of the Treatment Choices for Symptomatic Brain Metastases Patients
Authors: Ono Takashi , Nemoto Kenji
Published: October 2022

Generally, patients with multiple brain metastases receive whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Although, more than 60% of patients show complete or partial responses, many experience recurrence. Therefore, some institutions consider re-WBRT administration; however, there is insufficient information regarding this. Therefore, we aimed to review re-WBRT administration among these patients. Although most patients did not live longer than 12 months, symptomatic improvement was sometimes observed, with tolerable acute toxicities. Therefore, re-WBRT may be a treatment option for patients with symptomatic recurrence of brain metastases. However, physicians should consider this treatment cautiously because there is insufficient data on late toxicity, including radiation necrosis, owing to poor prognosis. A better prognostic factor for survival following radiotherapy administration may be the time interval of >9 months between the first WBRT and re-WBRT, but there is no evidence supporting that higher doses lead to prolonged survival, symptom improvement, and tumor control. Therefore, 20 Gy in 10 fractions or 18 Gy in five fractions may be a reasonable treatment method within the tolerable total biological effective dose 2 ≤ 150 Gy, considering the biologically effective dose for tumors and normal tissues.
Focus on the Dynamics of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Guo Yusheng , Xiang Dongqiao , Wan Jiayu , Yang Lian , Zheng Chuansheng
Published: October 2022

Background: A number of studies have reported an association between the dynamics of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and clinical efficacy in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but there is still a lack of a meta-analysis or systematic review. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched until September 2022 for studies reporting on the association between the change in NLR after ICI treatment and clinical outcomes. Outcome measures of interest included: change in NLR before and after treatment, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 4154 patients in 38 studies were included. The pooled percentage of patients with increased NLR was 49.7% (95CI%: 43.7–55.8%). Six studies discussing the change in NLR in patients with different tumor responses all showed that the NLR level in patients without response to immunotherapy may increase after ICI treatment. The upward trend in NLR was associated with shorter OS (pooled HR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.79–2.35, p < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR: 1.89, 95%CI: 1.66–2.14, p < 0.001) and higher ORR (pooled OR: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.19–0.39, p < 0.001), and downward trend in NLR was associated with longer OS (pooled HR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.42–0.58, p < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.48–0.63, p < 0.001) and lower ORR (pooled OR: 3.26, 95%CI: 1.92–5.53, p < 0.001). In addition, post-treatment high NLR was associated with more impaired survival than baseline high NLR (pooled HR of baseline high NLR: 1.82, 95%CI: 1.52–2.18; pooled HR of post-treatment high NLR: 2.93, 95%CI: 2.26–3.81), but the NLR at different time points may have a similar predictive effect on PFS (pooled HR of baseline high NLR: 1.68, 95%CI: 1.44–1.97; pooled HR of post-treatment high NLR: 2.00, 95%CI: 1.54–2.59). Conclusions: The NLR level of tumor patients after ICI treatment is stable overall, but the NLR level in patients without response to immunotherapy may increase after ICI treatment. Patients with an upward trend in NLR after ICI treatment were associated with worse clinical outcomes; meanwhile, the downward trend in NLR was associated with better clinical outcomes. Post-treatment high NLR was associated with more impaired survival than baseline high NLR.
Cardiovascular Outcomes in Children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Treated with Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
Authors: Tunçer Tunç , Varol Fatih
Published: October 2022

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is a new, rare, post-infectious complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. The aim of this study was to display the role of therapeutic plasma exchange on cardiovascular outcomes in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Methods: This study included children who met the diagnostic criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome and who were admitted to the intensive care unit. This is a prospective single-center study conducted between August 2020 and September 2021. Subjects had cardiac involvement which was defined as elevated troponin I, abnormal electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings. Patients were followed by a pediatric cardiologist throughout the intensive care unit stay and after discharge for 12 months. Patients were divided into two groups which received therapeutic plasma exchange and which did not. Results: 38 children were included in this study. There were 16 patients in the no plasma exchange group and 22 patients in the plasma exchange group. The two groups were similar in age, sex, leucocyte, thrombocyte count, neutrophil percentage, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, ferritin, fibrinogen, D-dimer, IL-6, troponin I, number of electrocardiographic abnormalities and patients with mitral valve regurgitation detected at admission (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of duration of normalization of electrocardiographic abnormalities and disappearance of mitral valve regurgitation (p > 0.05). Duration of normalization of troponin I (2, IQR 1–4, versus 5, IQR 3–9 days; p = 0.044) and length of hospital stay (7, IQR 6–10, versus 13, 8–20 days; p = 0.001) was longer in the plasma exchange group. Conclusions: We did not observe any significant improvement in children having undergone plasma exchange as compared to children who did not. On the opposite, their length of hospital stay and time to troponin I normalisation were even longer. Some baseline differences in cardiac attainment severity may partly explain this finding.
Flood Hazard and Management in Cambodia: A Review of Activities, Knowledge Gaps, and Research Direction
Authors: Phy Sophea Rom , Sok Ty , Try Sophal , Chan Ratboren , Uk Sovannara , Hen Chhordaneath , Oeurng Chantha
Published: October 2022

Cambodia is located in one of the most severe flood-vulnerable zones in mainland Southeast Asia. Flooding is the country’s most recurrent and impactful hazard among other natural hazards. This hazard alone, observed in many river basins, has been inflicting huge damages on livelihoods, social infrastructure, and the country’s economy. This study aims to review the current status of flood hazards, impacts, driving factors, management capacity, and future research directions on floods in Cambodia. The findings of this study suggested that there is still a lack of flood-related studies on flood hazard mapping, risk and damage assessment, and future flood analysis in Cambodia. The existing related studies mainly focused on the Tonle Sap Basin and its tributaries, the Lower Mekong Basin, the whole Mekong River Basin, and some of the tributaries of the Mekong River in Cambodia. The fundamental driving factors of the current flooding in Cambodia are impacts of climate change, land-use change, water infrastructure development, and weather extremes. The applications of mathematical and statistical tests and indices, conceptual and physically-based modeling, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and remote sensing are recommended to focus on future research directions on flood in Cambodia in the areas of land-use change, existing and planned operation of water infrastructure, flood hazard and damage assessment, and flood forecasting. The outcomes from these studies and applications would improve the understanding of flood hazard characteristics, reinforce flood management, and achieve flood damage reduction.
Flames and Viruses: Australian and Hungarian Media Representation of the Australian Bushfires and the COVID-19 Pandemic, A Case Study
Authors: Hafenscher Priszcilla , Jankó Ferenc
Published: October 2022

This study addresses the difference in media coverage of the Australian bushfires and the pandemic, using an Australian and a Hungarian news site. After a frame analysis of text and imagery, a narration analysis was conducted. Our results provided evidence that crises were covered in different ways. For a distant news portal, it was an obvious option to use the bushfires in order to visualize climate change. In contrast, the bushfire–climate link has been a politicized subject in Australia for decades; hence, the exceptional bushfire season was also unable to get the issue on the agenda. Although the Australian news media in our sample strived to portray a crisis under control, when compared to the pandemic, it was not so effective. Therefore, localization is a major challenge for effective climate communication, where lessons from the pandemic, using more economic and social frames, could be helpful.
The Economic Value of Natural Resources and Its Implications for Pakistan’s Economic Growth
Authors: Shah Zar , Zaman Khalid , Khan Haroon ur Rashid , Rashid Awais
Published: October 2022

Natural resources and ecological services provide the foundation for manufactured capital, increasing public financing and decreasing inequality by diversifying the economy. The exploitation of natural resources is frequently the backbone of economic stability in developing and middle-income nations. As a result of their importance, natural resources need vigilant and long-term management. Recent research has tested two hypotheses, the natural resource blessing hypothesis and the natural resource curse hypothesis, on the impact of a country’s natural resources on its economy. This research is an essential contribution to the growing body of work that attempts to quantify natural resource endowments’ role in national economic growth. Investigations focus on Pakistan and span the years 1975 through 2020. Robust Least Square (RLS) estimations show that coal rents, energy use, inbound FDI, and oil rents contribute to a country’s economic growth. While consumption of renewable energy sources and industrial value-added have a detrimental effect. Natural resources, foreign direct investment, energy consumption, and industrial ecology are predicted to significantly impact economic growth during the next decade, according to the Impulse Response Function (IRF) and the Variance Decomposition Analysis (VDA). The findings may provide helpful information for academic and governmental institutions to develop natural resource management policies for sustainable development.
The Methodology for Assessing and Predicting the Geotechnical Stability of Agricultural Facilities Based on the Methods of Chaos Theory and Multiparametric Analysis
Authors: Grecheneva Anastasia , Khudyakova Elena , Shitikova Alexandra , Stepantsevich Marina
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to describe a methodology for assessing the geotechnical stability of agricultural facilities, enabling prediction of the state of the geotechnical system, taking into account the influence of external factors and combinations of reactions of the geotechnical system under study. According to the methodology, the heterogeneous geotechnical monitoring data obtained are used in an adjusted geotechnical system model, allowing a bifurcation analysis to be carried out. The bifurcation analysis determines critical values of influencing factors, and the limits of stability of the geotechnical system studied parameters are adjusted. The developed methodology was used to assess and predict the geotechnical stability of agricultural facilities during the processing of geoelectric, resistive acoustic, accelerometric and strain-gauge control data obtained in the period from 2016 to 2021. A feature of the geotechnical system under study is the periodic flooding of the building basement caused by the processes of reclamation and irrigation, leading to changes in the groundwater level. The results show that the permissible calculated elastic limit of the foundation elements (32.2–35.1 MPa) before the loss of stability should be significantly reduced with a change in the water content coefficient (W) of the soil base: at W = 0.15 Eb = 30.7–32.0 MPa; at W = 0.35 Eb = 26.8–28.2 MPa; at W = 0.55 Eb = 24.9–25.3 MPa.
Expression and Signaling Pathways of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Pro-NGF in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bruno Francesco , Arcuri Domenico , Vozzo Francesca , Malvaso Antonio , Montesanto Alberto , Maletta Raffaele
Published: October 2022

Breast cancer represents the most common type of cancer and is the leading cause of death due to cancer among women. Thus, the prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer is of primary urgency, as well as the development of new treatments able to improve its prognosis. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor involved in the regulation of neuronal functions through the binding of the Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) and the Nerve Growth Factor receptor or Pan-Neurotrophin Receptor 75 (NGFR/p75NTR). In addition, its precursor (pro-NGF) can extert biological activity by forming a trimeric complex with NGFR/p75NTR and sortilin, or by binding to TrkA receptors with low affinity. Several examples of in vitro and in vivo evidence show that NGF is both synthesized and released by breast cancer cells, and has mitogen, antiapoptotic and angiogenic effects on these cells through the activation of different signaling cascades that involve TrkA and NGFR/p75NTR receptors. Conversely, pro-NGF signaling has been related to breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Other studies suggested that NGF and its receptors could represent a good diagnostic and prognostic tool, as well as promising therapeutic targets for breast cancer. In this paper, we comprehensively summarize and systematically review the current experimental evidence on this topic. INPLASY ID: INPLASY2022100017.
Mapping the Distribution and Dispersal Risks of the Alien Invasive Plant Ageratina adenophora in China
Authors: Zhang Xiaojuan , Wang Yanru , Peng Peihao , Wang Guoyan , Zhao Guanyue , Zhou Yongxiu , Tang Zihao
Published: October 2022

Identifying the distribution dynamics of invasive alien species can help in the early detection of and rapid response to these invasive species in newly invaded sites. Ageratina adenophora, a worldwide invasive plant, has spread rapidly since its invasion in China in the 1940s, causing serious damage to the local socioeconomic and ecological environment. To better control the spread of this invasive plant, we used the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS based on field survey data and online databases to simulate and predict the spatial and temporal distribution patterns and risk areas for the spread of this species in China, and thus examined the key factors responsible for this weed’s spread. The results showed that the risk areas for the invasion of A. adenophora in the current period were 18.394° N–33.653° N and 91.099° E–121.756° E, mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of China, and densely distributed along rivers and well-developed roads. The high-risk areas are mainly located in the basins of the Lancang, Jinsha, Yalong, and Anning Rivers. With global climate change, the trend of continued invasion of A. adenophora is more evident, with further expansion of the dispersal zone towards the northeast and coastal areas in all climatic scenarios, and a slight contraction in the Yunnan–Guizhou plateau. Temperature, precipitation, altitude, and human activity are key factors in shaping the distribution pattern of A. adenophora. This weed prefers to grow in warm and precipitation-rich environments such as plains, hills, and mountains; in addition, increasing human activities provide more opportunities for its invasion, and well-developed water systems and roads can facilitate its spread. Measures should be taken to prevent its spread into these risk areas.
Insight into the Taxonomic Resolution of Apiospora: Introducing Novel Species and Records from Bamboo in China and Thailand
Authors: Monkai Jutamart , Phookamsak Rungtiwa , Tennakoon Danushka S. , Bhat Darbhe Jayarama , Xu Sheng , Li Qinxian , Xu Jianchu , Mortimer Peter E. , Kumla Jaturong , Lumyong Saisamorn
Published: October 2022

Taxonomic studies of bambusicolous fungi in China and Thailand have resulted in the collection of three fascinating saprobic coelomycetes strains. Morphology coupled with combined gene analysis of ITS, LSU, TUB2, and TEF1-α DNA sequence data showed that they belong to the genus Apiospora, family Apiosporaceae. A new species from Thailand, Apiospora mukdahanensis, and new records of A. locuta-pollinis from China are herein described. In addition, based on both morphological data coupled with phylogenetics and nomenclatural analyses, A. mori is proposed as a new combination. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species obtained in this study. Newly obtained strains are compared with morphologically- and phylogenetically-related taxa. The comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and updated phylogeny are provided and discussed for intra-and intergeneric relationships within Apiospora species.
Homomorphic Encryption-Based Federated Privacy Preservation for Deep Active Learning
Authors: Kurniawan Hendra , Mambo Masahiro
Published: October 2022

Active learning is a technique for maximizing performance of machine learning with minimal labeling effort and letting the machine automatically and adaptively select the most informative data for labeling. Since the labels on records may contain sensitive information, privacy-preserving mechanisms should be integrated into active learning. We propose a privacy-preservation scheme for active learning using homomorphic encryption-based federated learning. Federated learning provides distributed computation from multiple clients, and homomorphic encryption enhances the privacy preservation of user data with a strong security level. The experimental result shows that the proposed homomorphic encryption-based federated learning scheme can preserve privacy in active learning while maintaining model accuracy. Furthermore, we also provide a Deep Leakage Gradient comparison. The proposed scheme has no gradient leakage compared to the related schemes that have more than 74% gradient leakage.
Thermal Radiation Energy Performance on Stagnation-Point Flow in the Presence of Base Fluids Ethylene Glycol and Water over Stretching Sheet with Slip Boundary Condition
Authors: Abbas Imran , Hasnain Shahid , Alatawi Nawal A. , Saqib Muhammad , Mashat Daoud S.
Published: October 2022

Nanoparticles are useful in improving the efficiency of convective heat transfer. The current study addresses this gap by making use of an analogy between Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles in various base fluids across a stretched sheet conjunction with f. Base fluids include ethylene glycol and water. We address, for the first time, the stagnation-point flow of a boundary layer of γ-Al2O3 nanofluid over a stretched sheet with slip boundary condition. Al2O3 nanofluids employ Brinkman viscosity and Maxwell’s thermal conductivity models with thermal radiations, whereas γ-Al2O3 nanofluids use viscosity and thermal conductivity models generated from experimental data. For the boundary layer, the motion equation was solved numerically using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method and the shooting approach. Plots of the velocity profile, temperature profile, skin friction coefficient and reduced Nusselt number are shown. Simultaneous exposure of the identical nanoparticles to water and ethylene glycol, it is projected, would result in markedly different behaviors with respect to the temperature profile. Therefore, this kind of research instills confidence in us to conduct an analysis of the various nanoparticle decompositions and profile structures with regard to various base fluids.
A Novel Hybrid Excitation Doubly Salient Generator with Separated Windings by PM Inserted in Stator Slot for HEVs
Authors: Wang Mengyao , Kou Baoquan , Zhang Lu , Zhao Yuansheng , Xu Jian
Published: October 2022

Aiming to design a generator with high reliability, high efficiency, and especially a constant output voltage over a wide speed range for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), this paper proposes a novel topology of a hybrid excitation doubly salient generator with separate windings (HEDSGSW). The topology herein utilizes a hybrid excitation type of PMs and DC windings to generate parallel magnetic circuits. In addition, PMs are embedded in the magnetic bridge to insulate the excitation windings with armature windings. This design can achieve compactness, efficiency, and especially constant output capability over a wide speed range. The geometry and flux regulation principles, including magnetic flux circuits, are elaborated. After comparing three power generation modes, the most suitable mode, namely, the doubly salient generation 2 (DSG2) mode, is confirmed to ensure a stable voltage output performance. Then, considering the non-uniformity effect of the stator and rotor slots, the no-load back electromotive force (EMF) expressions are derived based on the EMF to air-gap relative permeance method. Furthermore, a 1 kW HEDSGSW FEA model, with an output voltage of 42 V and a rated speed of 6000 rpm, is built to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, the operating properties of the HEDSGSW, such as no-load characteristics and adjustment characteristics, are analyzed to further verify the rationality of its magnetic flux circuit and the flexibility of the excitation regulation capability.
Analysis of Using Soot Application in the Processing of Zinc-Bearing Waste Materials
Authors: Smalcerz Albert , Ptak Szymon , Łabaj Jerzy , Półka Marzena , Kula Adam , Blacha Leszek
Published: October 2022

In metallurgical processes, coke is used, among other materials, in order to implement the process of removing zinc from waste by reduction and evaporation. Due to the implemented de-carbonization policy, we are dealing with an increase in costs and decreasing availability of coke, which leads to an intensive search for other possibilities for conducting the process, which may generate a fire and explosion hazard in the technological process. This article analyzes the possibility of using soot in the process of reducing the zinc content in deposited metallurgical waste, taking into account the issue of fire and explosion safety. The results of the research proved the possibility of the safe use of the reductor, which is soot and anthracite, as a material replacing coke in pyrometallurgical processes.
Machine-Learning-Based Modeling of a Hydraulic Speed Governor for Anomaly Detection in Hydropower Plants
Authors: Bütüner Mehmet Akif , Koşalay İlhan , Gezer Doğan
Published: October 2022

Hydroelectric power plants (HEPPs) are renewable energy power plants with the highest installed power in the world. The control systems are responsible for stopping the relevant unit safely in case of any malfunction while ensuring the desired operating point. Conventional control systems detect anomalies at certain limits or predefined threshold values by evaluating analog signals regardless of differences caused by operating conditions. In this study, using real data from a large hydro unit (>150 MW), a normal behavior model of a hydraulic governor’s oil circulation in an operational HEPP is created using several machine learning methods and historical data obtained from the HEPP’s SCADA system. Model outputs resulted in up to 96.45% success of prediction with less than 1% absolute deviation from actual measurements and an R2 score of 0.985 with the random forest regression method. This novel approach makes the model outputs far more appropriate to use as an active threshold value changing for different operating conditions, eliminating insufficiency of the constant threshold, resulting in the detection of anomalies in early stages and taking precautions accordingly. The study fills the gap in the literature on anomaly detection in hydraulic power units, which is a demanding task with state-of-the-art methods.
Control Strategy and Parameter Optimization Based on Grid Side Current Dynamic Change Rate for Doubly-Fed Wind Turbine High Voltage Ride Through
Authors: Deng Jun , Qi Zhenghao , Xia Nan , Gao Tong , Zhang Yang , Duan Jiandong
Published: October 2022

High voltage ride through (HVRT) control strategies for doubly-fed induction wind turbines (DFIG) have mostly focused on the rotor side converter, while the reactive power compensation capability of the grid side converter and the impact of grid side converter current transients have often been ignored on the DC bus voltage and reactive power. Therefore, a control strategy based on grid side current dynamic change characteristics is proposed, which resets the reference values of the grid side active and reactive currents for wind turbine HVRT to ensure partial absorption of reactive power on the grid side. Secondly, the key parameter in the proposed control strategy is optimization to get the most suitable DC bus voltage value with the grey wolf algorithm. Finally, the grid-integrated wind turbine simulation model is built on the MATLAB/SIMULINK and RT-Lab platforms. The simulation test results show that the proposed HVRT control strategy and its parameter optimization method are effective, DFIG can achieve HVRT when the wind turbine voltage rises to 1.3 pu.
Improved Semi-Supervised Data-Mining-Based Schemes for Fault Detection in a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System
Authors: Bouyeddou Benamar , Harrou Fouzi , Taghezouit Bilal , Sun Ying , Hadj Arab Amar
Published: October 2022

Fault detection is a necessary component to perform ongoing monitoring of photovoltaic plants and helps in their safety, maintainability, and productivity with the desired performance. In this study, an innovative technique is introduced by amalgamating Latent Variable Regression (LVR) methods, namely Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Square (PLS), and the Triple Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (TEWMA) statistical monitoring scheme. The TEWMA scheme is known for its sensitivity to uncovering changes of small magnitude. Nevertheless, TEWMA can only be utilized for monitoring single variables and ignoring the correlation among monitored variables. To alleviate this difficulty, the LVR methods (i.e., PCR and PLS) are used as residual generators. Then, the TEWMA is applied to the obtained residuals for fault detection purposes, where the detection threshold is computed via kernel density estimation to improve its performance and widen its applicability in practice. Real data with different fault scenarios from a 9.54 kW photovoltaic plant has been used to verify the efficiency of the proposed schemes. Results revealed the superior performance of the PLS-TEWMA chart compared to the PLS-TEWMA chart, particularly in detecting anomalies with small changes. Moreover, they have almost comparable performance for large anomalies.