bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Memory Th17 cell-mediated protection against lethal secondary pneumococcal pneumonia following influenza infection
Authors: Li Yong , Yang Ying , Chen Dafan , Wang Yan , Zhang Xinyun , Li Wenchao , Chen Shengsen , Wong Sandy M. , Shen Mengwen , Akerley Brian J. , Shen Hao
Published: May 2023

Streptococcus pneumoniae
(
Sp
) frequently causes secondary pneumonia after influenza A virus (IAV) infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Concomitant pneumococcal and influenza vaccination improves protection against coinfection but does not always yield complete protection. Impaired innate and adaptive immune responses have been associated with attenuated bacterial clearance in influenza virus-infected hosts. In this study, we showed that preceding low-dose IAV infection caused persistent
Sp
infection and suppression of bacteria-specific T-helper type 17 (Th17) responses in mice. Prior
Sp
infection protected against subsequent IAV/
Sp
coinfection by improving bacterial clearance and rescuing bacteria-specific Th17 responses in the lungs. Furthermore, blockade of IL-17A by anti-IL-17A antibodies abrogated the protective effect of
Sp
preinfection. Importantly, memory Th17 responses induced by
Sp
preinfection overcame viral-driven Th17 inhibition and provided cross-protection against different
Sp
serotypes following coinfection with IAV. These results indicate that bacteria-specific Th17 memory cells play a key role in providing protection against IAV/
Sp
coinfection in a serotype-independent manner and suggest that a Th17-based vaccine would have excellent potential to mitigate disease caused by coinfection.

IMPORTANCE

Streptococcus pneumoniae
(
Sp
) frequently causes secondary bacterial pneumonia after influenza A virus (IAV) infection, leading to increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current pneumococcal vaccines induce highly strain-specific antibody responses and provide limited protection against IAV/
Sp
coinfection. Th17 responses are broadly protective against
Sp
single infection, but whether the Th17 response, which is dramatically impaired by IAV infection in naïve mice, might be effective in immunization-induced protection against pneumonia caused by coinfection is not known. In this study, we have revealed that
Sp
-specific memory Th17 cells rescue IAV-driven inhibition and provide cross-protection against subsequent lethal coinfection with IAV and different
Sp
serotypes. These results indicate that a Th17-based vaccine would have excellent potential to mitigate disease caused by IAV/
Sp
coinfection.
Coding-Complete Genome Sequences of an Omicron Subvariant (BA.5.2.20) of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Rhazzar Zineb , Hemlali Mouhssine , Melloul Marouane , Ouarab Maha , Nyabi Omar , Elouennass Mostafa , El Fahime Elmostafa , Touil Nadia , Gala Jean-Luc , Ennibi Khalid
Published: May 2023

Here, we present the complete coding sequences of two severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains that were recovered from a nasopharyngeal swab from a female patient and the second viral passage in cell culture. After testing, both strains were identified as BA.5.2.20, a subvariant of Omicron.
Supplemental Material: Coexisting Nb‐enriched basalts and arc volcanic rocks in the northern Qiangtang Terrane, China: Implications for the effects of ambient mantle on subduction zone magmatism
Authors: Zhang Ze , Chen  , al. et
Published: May 2023

Contains zircon CL images (Figure S1), ilmenite transillumination image (Figure S2), references for the Permian to Triassic magmatic rocks in the northern Qiangtang in Figures 1A and 3B, analytical results for zircon U-Pb data (Table S1), trace element data of the ilmenite in NEBs (Table S2), and model parameters used in mixing and melting calculations in Figure 10D (Table S3).
Supplemental Material: Genesis of volcanic-hosted Cu vein deposits in the foreland fold-thrust belt, southeastern Tibetan Plateau: Insights from ore geology, C-O-S-Pb-Cu isotopes, and fluid inclusions at Wenyu
Authors: Sun Xiang , Deng Jun , et al.
Published: May 2023

Table S1: Descriptions of samples. Table S2: Electron microprobe data and calculated formulas of sulfides from the Wenyu Cu deposit. Table S3: Microthermometric data of fluid inclusions. Table S4: In-situ oxygen isotope data for quartz at Wenyu. Table S5: In-situ sulfur-oxygen isotope data for sulfates at Wenyu. Table S6: In-situ sulfur isotope data for sulfides at Wenyu.
Supplemental Material: Isotopic behavior and age interpretations of U-Pb, Sm-Nd, and 40Ar/39Ar systems in polymetamorphic granulite terranes: A case study from the Prydz Belt and adjacent Vestfold Block, East Antarctica
Authors: Liu Xiaochun , et al.
Published: May 2023

Table S1: SHRIMP U-Pb zircon analyses for mafic granulites from the southwestern Vestfold Hills. Table S2: LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon analyses for rocks from the Prydz Belt. Table S3: LA-ICP-MS rare earth element analyses (ppm) of zircon from rocks in the Prydz Belt. Table S4: LA-ICP-MS rare earth element analyses (ppm) of garnet from rocks in the Prydz Belt. Table S5: Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of minerals and whole rocks from the Prydz Belt and the Vestfold Block. Table S6: 40Ar/39Ar analyses of hornblendes and biotites in rocks from the Prydz Belt and the Vestfold Block.
Supplemental Material: Vanished evaporites, halokinetic structure, and Zn-Pb mineralization in the world-class Angouran deposit, northwestern Iran
Authors: Zhuang Liangliang , Song Yucai , et al.
Published: May 2023

Figure S1: (A) Raman spectra of anhydrite and dolomite inclusions in S1 sphalerite. (B) Raman spectra of dolomite and spherical calcite inclusions in double-terminated quartz. (C) Raman spectra of tabular dolomite inclusion and the host double-terminated quartz. Figure S2: Concentrations of Li, Na, and K versus Al of the double-terminated quartz at Angouran. Table S1: U-Pb data of zircons from Miocene tuffaceous pyroclastic rocks and volcanic clasts-bearing breccias in the Angouran deposit. Table S2: Sulfur isotope composition of sulfides in the Angouran deposit. Table S3: Quantitative LA-ICP-MS trace element data of double-terminated quartz in the Angouran deposit (concentrations in ppm). Table S4: Oxygen isotope composition of quartz from the sulfide ores and footwall schist in the Angouran deposit.
Conformal Envelopes of Novikov–Poisson Algebras
Authors: Kolesnikov P. S. , Nesterenko A. A.
Published: May 2023

We prove that every Novikov–Poisson algebra over a field of zero characteristic
can be embedded into a commutative conformal algebra with a derivation.
As a corollary, we show that every commutator Gelfand–Dorfman algebra
obtained from a Novikov–Poisson algebra is special, i.e., embeddable into
a differential Poisson algebra.
Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing conservative versus liberal intravenous fluid administration in patients with sepsis or septic shock at risk of fluid overload
Authors: Bharwani Aadil , Pérez María Lucía , Englesakis Marina , Meyhoff Tine Sylvest , Perner Anders , Sivapalan Praleene , Wilcox Mary Elizabeth
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Intravenous crystalloid fluid resuscitation forms a crucial part of the early intervention bundle for sepsis and septic shock, with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommending a 30 mL/kg fluid bolus within the first hour. Compliance with this suggested target varies in patients with comorbidities such as congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease and cirrhosis due to concerns regarding iatrogenic fluid overload. However, it remains unclear whether resuscitation with higher fluid volumes puts them at greater risk of adverse outcomes. Thus, this systematic review will synthesise evidence from existing studies to assess the effects of a conservative as compared with a liberal approach to fluid resuscitation in patients at greater perceived risk of fluid overload due to comorbid conditions.

Methods and analysis

This protocol was registered on PROSPERO and has been drafted following the checklist of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. We will search MEDLINE, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process, In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase, Embase Classic, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL Complete and ClinicalTrials.gov. A preliminary search of these databases was performed from their inception to 30 August 2022. The risk of bias and random errors will be assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised clinical trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case–control and cohort studies. If a sufficient number of comparable studies are identified, we will perform a meta-analysis applying random effects model. We will investigate heterogeneity using a combination of visual inspection of the funnel plot as well as the Egger’s test.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethics approval is required for this study since no original data will be collected. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022348181.
Classification of Visually Evoked Potential EEG Using Hybrid Anchoring-based Particle Swarm Optimized Scaled Conjugate Gradient Multi-Layer Perceptron Classifier
Authors: Janapati Ravichander , Dalal Vishwas , Desai Usha , Sengupta Rakesh , Kulkarni Shrirang A. , Hemanth D. Jude
Published: May 2023

Brain-Computer Interface is an emerging field that focuses on transforming brain data into machine commands. EEG-based BCI is widely used due to the non-invasive nature of Electroencephalogram. Classification of EEG signals is one of the primary components in BCI applications. Steady-State Visually Evoked Potential (SSVEP) paradigms have gained importance because of lesser training time, higher precision, and improved information transfer rate compared to P300 and motor imagery paradigms. In this paper, a novel hybrid Anchoring-based Particle Swarm Optimized Scaled Conjugate Gradient Multi-Layer Perceptron classifier (APS-MLP) is proposed to improve the classification accuracy of SSVEP five classes viz. 6.66, 7.5, 8.57, 10 and 12 Hz, signals. Scaled Conjugate Gradient descent anchors the initial position of Particle Swarm Optimization. The best position, Pbest, of each particle initializes an SCG-MLP, the accuracy of APS-MLP is obtained by averaging the accuracies of each SCG-MLP. The proposed method is compared with standard classifiers namely, k-NN, SVM, LDA and MLP. In which, the proposed algorithm achieves improved training and testing accuracies of 88.69% and 95.4% respectively, which is 12–15% higher than the standard EEG-based BCI classifiers. The proposed algorithm is robust, with a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.96, and will be used in applications such as motion control and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
On the Implicit Bias in Deep-Learning Algorithms
Authors: Vardi Gal
Published: May 2023

Examining the implicit bias in training neural networks using gradient-based methods.
AI in the Enterprise
Authors: Meil Doug
Published: May 2023

The
Communications
website, https://cacm.acm.org, features more than a dozen bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of
Communications
, we'll publish selected posts or excerpts.

twitter

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/blogCACM

https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm

Doug Meil identifies the development behaviors that offer the highest chance of success for enterprise artificial intelligence efforts.
Standards to Secure the Sensors That Power IoT
Authors: Kugler Logan
Published: May 2023

Existing security standards do not always offer sufficient protection to secure the Internet of Things.
The Parchment Path?
Authors: Neville-Neil George V.
Published: May 2023

Is there ever a time when learning is not of value---for its own sake?
Joint Inference of Diffusion and Structure in Partially Observed Social Networks Using Coupled Matrix Factorization
Authors: Ramezani Maryam , Ahadinia Aryan , Ziaei Bideh Amirmohammad , Rabiee Hamid R.
Published: May 2023

Access to complete data in large-scale networks is often infeasible. Therefore, the problem of missing data is a crucial and unavoidable issue in the analysis and modeling of real-world social networks. However, most of the research on different aspects of social networks does not consider this limitation. One effective way to solve this problem is to recover the missing data as a pre-processing step. In this paper, a model is learned from partially observed data to infer unobserved diffusion and structure networks. To jointly discover omitted diffusion activities and hidden network structures, we develop a probabilistic generative model called “DiffStru.” The interrelations among links of nodes and cascade processes are utilized in the proposed method via learning coupled with low-dimensional latent factors. Besides inferring unseen data, latent factors such as community detection may also aid in network classification problems. We tested different missing data scenarios on simulated independent cascades over LFR networks and real datasets, including Twitter and Memetracker. Experiments on these synthetic and real-world datasets show that the proposed method successfully detects invisible social behaviors, predicts links, and identifies latent features.
QuickCSGModeling: Quick CSG Operations Based on Fusing Signed Distance Fields for VR Modeling
Authors: Chen Shuangmin , Xu Rui , Xu Jian , Xin Shiqing , Tu Changhe , Yang Chenglei , Lu Lin
Published: May 2023

The latest advancements in Virtual Reality (VR) enable the creation of 3D models within a holographic immersive simulation environment. In this article, we create
QuickCSGModeling
, a user-friendly mid-air interactive modeling system. We first prepare a dataset consisting of diverse components and precompute the discrete signed distance function (SDF) for each component. During the modeling phase, users can freely design complicated shapes with a pair of VR controllers. Based on the discrete SDF representation, any CSG-like operation (union, intersection, and subtraction) can be performed voxel-wisely. Also, we maintain a single dynamic SDF for the whole scene, whose zero-level set surface exactly encodes the most recent constructed shape. Both SDF fusion and surface extraction are implemented via GPU for a smooth user experience. A total of 34 volunteers were asked to create their favorite models using QuickCSGModeling. With a simple training, most of them can create a fascinating shape or even a descriptive scene quickly. We also discuss how to extend our system to create articulated models with hinges, where an adaptive cube subdivision has to be enforced to improve the reconstruction accuracy around the hinge part, followed by a Dual Contouring-based surface extraction.

1
Electrode Blocking Due to Redox Reactions in Aluminum Chloride-Sodium Iodide Molten Salts
Authors: Maraschky Adam M. , Percival Stephen J. , Lee Rose Y. , Meyerson Melissa L. , Peretti Amanda S. , Spoerke Erik D. , Small Leo J.
Published: May 2023

Iodide redox reactions in molten NaI/AlCl3 are shown to generate surface-blocking films, which may limit the useful cycling rates and energy densities of molten sodium batteries below 150 °C. An experimental investigation of electrode interfacial stability at 110 °C reveals the source of the reaction rate limitations. Electrochemical experiments in a 3-electrode configuration confirm an increase of resistance on the electrode surface after oxidation or reduction current is passed. Using chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the film formation is shown to depend on the electrode material (W, Mo, Ta, or glassy carbon), as well as the Lewis acidity and molar ratio of I−/I3
− in the molten salt electrolytes. These factors impact the amount of charge that can be passed at a given current density prior to developing excessive overpotential due to film formation that blocks the electrode surface. The results presented here guide the design and use of iodide-based molten salt electrolytes and electrode materials for grid scale battery applications.
Electrolytic Reduction of ZnO in the CaCl2-NaCl Molten Salt
Authors: Ji Nan , Peng Hao
Published: May 2023

Electrolytic reduction technology plays a significant role in industrial metal production. In present work, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) were applied to study the electrochemical behaviors of ZnO cathode in the CaCl2-NaCl melt at 873 K. During the experiment, we found that the dissolution-electrodeposition mechanism (ZnO = Zn2+ + O2−, Zn2+ + 2e− = Zn) dominates the electrolytic reduction of ZnO, and the contribution of the direct-reduction from solid phase (ZnO + 2e− = Zn + O2−) is small. Furthermore, the electro-reduction of ZnO was conducted by potentiostatic electrolysis. The peak potential of ZnO to Zn was −0.48 V vs Ag/Ag+. Therefore, the metallic Zn can be obtained at an applied potential of −0.80 V (vs Ag/Ag+). When the applied potential increased to −2.00 V (vs Ag/Ag+), the Zn and CaZn3 alloy were formed simultaneously. The electrolytic products were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. This study proved the feasibility of electro-reduction technology to prepare Zn metal through the reduction of ZnO material.
A Project to Distribute Personal Protective Equipment to Homecare Agencies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Association with the Sense of Security Improvement among Homecare Nurses/Helpers
Authors: Sakka Mariko , Nagamine Yuiko , Yoshie Satoru , Hirahara Yumi , Nagata Satoko , Jinnouchi Hiroshige , Yamamoto-Mitani Noriko
Published: May 2023

During the early period of COVID-19 pandemic, there was a serious shortage of personal protective equipments (PPEs), which caused difficulty in homecare agencies to make home visits to those (possible) positive COVID-19 cases. An organization with the help of several foundations started a special program to distribute PPEs to those agencies in which there was a possible case or those cases that had close contact with the positive cases. This study examined whether this voluntary activity contributed to increasing the sense of security in providing care among homecare workers. We conducted a survey with homecare agencies that received PPEs from the program between July 2020 and February 2021. The participants were agency managers who applied for PPEs. We conducted the survey twice, before and after receiving PPEs. In the questionnaire, we asked about the overall sense of security in providing care for those infected with COVID-19, reasons for applying for PPE, symptoms of the client or his/her family who caused the PPE request, and the agency’s and clients’ characteristics. We analyzed the data from 802 responses. Before PPE distribution, the sense of security was associated with the focal client having a cognitive impairment (β = −0.096), having cough (β = −0.088), fatigue (β = −0.085), or headache (β = −0.078). Agencies that did not visits those (possibly) positive cases (β = −0.123) had lower sense of security. Overall, the mean sense of security increased after receiving PPE. Factors that contributed to the increase in sense of security included a lower sense of security before the application (β = −0.529), visiting clients without dyspnoea (β = −0.109), the agency that did not visit positive cases before the application (β = −0.089), and with higher satisfaction with the days of PPEs received (β = 0.144). These results underline the benefit of the special PPsE distribution program.
Effects of Functional Oligosaccharides Extracted from Straw on the Growth, Feeding, Physiology, Histology, Muscle Texture, and Gut Microbiota of Micropterus salmoides
Authors: Wu Benli , Huang Long , Wu Cangcang , Chen Jing , Chen Xiajun , Wang Xiang , Cui Kai , Liu Zhigang , He Jixiang
Published: May 2023

We conducted an 8-week feeding trial to investigate the effect of mixed functional oligosaccharides (chitosan oligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharide, and xylooligosaccharide) extracted from wheat straw on the growth, feeding, physiology, histology, muscle texture, and gut microbiota of Micropterus salmoides. Six diets were formulated by incrementally adding mixed functional oligosaccharides (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg) to the control diet. 30 individuals with initial body weight of

25.1
±
3.5

 g were randomly allocated to 6 triplicate tanks and fed to apparent satiation twice daily. The fish fed 1.0 mg/kg additives displayed maximum growth, and the feed conversion ratio decreased with the increase in additives from 0 to 1.0 mg/kg (

P
<
0.05

) but did not decline further with the addition of more than 1.0 mg/kg (

P
>
0.05

). The villus height and width were significantly higher in the supplementation groups than in the control group, while the gut and liver structures presented abnormalities with excessive supplementation above 1.5 mg/kg. There were significant differences in muscle texture indices for M. salmoides over the fed additive gradient, and the hardness, gumminess, and chewiness were highest in the 1.0 mg/kg group. High oligosaccharide levels, such as 2.0 mg/kg, decreased the LZM level, while there were no significant differences in the SOD and MDA levels. Gut microbiome analysis revealed no significant differences in richness and diversity for groups fed the functional oligosaccharide gradient; however, the PCoA results showed that the microbial community composition changed markedly in response to different addition levels, and the 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg supplementation groups were far apart from the lower and higher supplementation groups. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was lower in the 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg addition groups, while that of the phyla Fusobacteria and Firmicutes were higher in these two groups. Functional classification showed that microbes related to carbohydrate metabolism were more abundant in the 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg groups than in the other groups.
Isosorbide-Based Thermoplastic Polyurethane with Different Polyols and Soft/Hard Ratios
Authors: Min Jin-Gyu , Lim Won-Bin , Lee Ju-Hong , Kwon Chung Ryeol , Song Gwang-Seok , Bae Ji-Hong , Huh PilHo
Published: May 2023

A series of isosorbide-based thermoplastic polyurethanes (ISB-TPUs) with different soft/hard ratios have been successfully step polymerized using individual two types of polycaprolactone diol (PCL) or poly (tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) for soft segment and bio-based isosorbide (ISB) or methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) for hard segment, based on the similar molecular weight. The effect of the molecular structure on the mechanical and thermal properties has been evaluated in terms of the types of soft/hard and polyol, ranging from 6/4 to 9/1 ratio values. With the increasing of PCL content, the thermal properties of the ISB-TPU have enhanced gradually. When the range from PCL was 6/4, the tensile strength has achieved the maximum value in comparison with that of the PTMG block. Elongation at break has increased with the increase of hard segment concentration, due to the superior interaction between ester groups and urethane groups. The obtained ISB-TPUs can be a promising resin for soft, flexible, and biocompatible application fields.
Effects of Replacing Fish Meal with Enzymatic Cottonseed Protein on the Growth Performance, Immunity, Antioxidation, and Intestinal Health of Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)
Authors: Qiu Zongsheng , Zhao Jiantao , Xie Dazhang , de Cruz Clement R. , Zhao Jianhua , Xu Hong , Xu Qiyou
Published: May 2023

The dietary effects of replacing fish meal with enzymatic cottonseed protein (ECP) on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant, and intestinal health of Chinese soft-shelled turtles have not been explored. An eight-week feeding trial was conducted with a quadruplicated group of turtles (

3.44
±
0.01
 
g

) that were randomly assigned to 16 cages (

0.6
 
m
×
0.6
 
m
×
0.6
 
m

) with 30 turtles that were stocked in each cage. Four dietary groups were fed with diets supplemented with 0, 2%, 4%, and 6% (ECP0 group (control group), ECP2 group, ECP4 group, ECP6 group) of enzymatic cottonseed protein replacing fishmeal. The present study illustrated that the final weight and WG in the ECP2 and ECP4 groups were significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

) compared with the control group. The ECP2, ECP4, and ECP6 groups significantly reduced the feed coefficient (

P
<
0.05

) and significantly increased the SGR (

P
<
0.05

). The serum TP and ALB of the ECP4 group were significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

). The ECP2, ECP4, and ECP6 groups significantly increased the activity of intestinal pepsin (

P
<
0.05

), and the activity of intestinal lipase of the EPC4 group was significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

). The intestinal villus height of the EPC4 group and EPC6 group, the villus width of the EPC2 group and EPC4 group, and the intestinal muscle thickness of the EPC4 group were significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

). At the same time, replacing fishmeal with enzymatic cottonseed protein also affected the intestinal inflammation-related genes compared with the control group. Besides that, the expression of the IL-10 gene in the experimental group was significantly upregulated (

P
<
0.05

). Nevertheless, the expression of TNF-α and IL-8 genes in the ECP2 group and TNF-α and IL-1β genes in the ECP4 group was significantly downregulated (

P
<
0.05

). In summary, replacing fish meal with enzymatic cottonseed protein positively affects the growth, immunity, and intestinal health of Chinese soft-shelled turtles. The appropriate proportion of enzymatic cottonseed protein to replace fish meal in turtle feed is 4%.
Privacy Protection of Digital Images Using Watermarking and QR Code-based Visual Cryptography
Authors: Arora Akanksha , Garg Hitendra , Shivani Shivendra
Published: May 2023

The increase in information sharing in terms of digital images imposes threats to privacy and personal identity. Digital images can be stolen while in transfer and any kind of alteration can be done very easily. Thus, privacy protection of digital images from attackers becomes very important. Encryption, steganography, watermarking, and visual cryptography techniques to protect digital images have been proposed from time to time. The present paper is focused on the enhancement of privacy protection of digital images utilizing watermarking and a QR code-based expansion-free and meaningful visual cryptography approach which generates visually appealing QR codes for transmitting meaningful shares. The original secret image is processed with a watermark image (copyright logo, signature, and so on), and then halftoning of the watermarked image has been done to limit pixel expansion. Then, the halftoned image has been partitioned using VC into two shares. These shares are embedded with a QR code to make the shares meaningful. Lossless compression has been performed on the QR code-based shares. The compression method employed in visual cryptography would save space and time. The proposed approach keeps the beauty of visual cryptography, i.e., computation-free decryption, and the size of the recovered image the same as the original secret image. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Accuracy of Time to Treatment Initiation Data in Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Lawrenz Joshua M. , Vega Jose F. , George Jaiben , Curtis Gannon L. , Gordon Jaymeson , Maggiotto Amanda , Tullio Katherine , Shepard Dale R. , Reith John D. , Schwartz Herbert S. , Nystrom Lukas M. , Mesko Nathan W.
Published: May 2023

Background. Time to treatment initiation (TTI) is a quality metric in cancer care. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of TTI data from a single cancer center registry that reports to the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for sarcoma diagnoses. Methods. A retrospective analysis of a single Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited cancer center’s tumor registry between 2006 and 2016 identified 402 patients who underwent treatment of a musculoskeletal soft tissue sarcoma and had TTI data available. Registry-reported TTI was extracted from the tumor registry. Effective TTI was manually calculated by medical record review as the number of days from the date of tissue diagnosis to initiation of first effective treatment. Effective treatment was defined as oncologic surgical excision or initiation of radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Registry-reported TTI and effective TTI values were compared for concordance in all patients. Results. In the entire cohort, 25% (99/402) of patients had TTI data discordance, all related to surgical treatment definition. For patients with a registry-reported value of TTI = 0 days, 74% (87/118) had a diagnostic surgical procedure coded as their first treatment event, with 73 unplanned incomplete excision procedures and 14 incisional biopsies. In these patients, effective TTI was on average 59 days (

P
<
0.001

). For patients with a registry-reported value of TTI >0 days, only 4% (12/284) had discordant TTI values. Conclusions. Nearly three-fourths of patients with a registry-reported value of TTI = 0 days in a large, CoC-accredited cancer center registry had a diagnostic procedure coded as their first treatment event, though their effective treatment had not yet started. These data suggest that TTI is likely longer than what is reported to the NCDB. Redefinition of what constitutes surgical treatment should be considered to improve the accuracy of data used in measuring TTI in sarcoma.
Dietary Bile Acid Supplementation Could Regulate the Glucose, Lipid Metabolism, and Microbiota of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Fed with a High-Lipid Diet
Authors: Yang Liping , Liu Mingyu , Zhao Mengjuan , Zhi Shaoyang , Zhang Wenlei , Qu Leya , Xiong Jinrui , Yan Xiao , Qin Chaobin , Nie Guoxing , Wang Shengpeng
Published: May 2023

This study sought to examine the role of bile acids in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, intestinal flora, and growth in high-fat diet-fed common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Fish (

6.34
±
0.07
 
g

) were fed for 56 days with three different diets, the control diet (CO, 5.4% lipid), high-fat diet (HF, 11% lipid), and high-fat diet with 60 mg/kg bile acids (BAs, 11% lipid). The results showed that high-fat diets resulted in poor growth performance and increased triglyceride (TG) in serum and the liver. The addition of bile acids significantly alleviated the adverse effects of a high-fat diet. The mRNA expression results indicated that bile acids may improve lipid metabolism through the enhancement of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARa). The expression of gluconeogenesis-related phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) mRNA was inhibited, while fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) was significantly higher. Bile acids reshaped the intestinal microflora community, with the level of Bacteroidetes increasing. The correlation analysis indicated that Patescibacteria, Dependentiae, Myxococcota, and Planctomycetota in the gut are associated with genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. These results indicated that bile acids could ameliorate the negative effects of high-fat diets on common carp.
Supplementary Table 7 from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance among Individuals with Cirrhosis: Trends by Payer, Etiology, and Calendar Year, from a Statewide, Multi-Payer Dataset, 2010–2018
Authors: Hsu Christine D. , Henderson Louise M. , Jackson Bradford E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Funk Michele Jonsson , Olshan Andrew F. , Gupta Parul , Barritt A. Sidney , Sanoff Hanna K. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Moon Andrew M. , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table 7 includes baseline characteristics of individuals with cirrhosis eligible for HCC surveillance – Medicare only (N, %) (N=32,723).
Supplementary Table S11 from Circulating Sex Hormone Levels and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Zhang Yingfan , Lagergren Jesper , Li Shanshan , Li Jingru , Zhou Zhixian , Hu Zhijian , Xie Shao-Hua
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table S11 shows statistically significant associations between prediagnostic circulating levels of sex hormone and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer NOT included in meta-analysis.
Supplementary Figure S4 from Circulating Sex Hormone Levels and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Zhang Yingfan , Lagergren Jesper , Li Shanshan , Li Jingru , Zhou Zhixian , Hu Zhijian , Xie Shao-Hua
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Figure S4 shows forest plots, sensitivity analysis and funnel plot of the associations between prediagnostic circulating sex hormone levels and pancreatic cancer risk.
Supplementary Figure S3 from Circulating Sex Hormone Levels and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Zhang Yingfan , Lagergren Jesper , Li Shanshan , Li Jingru , Zhou Zhixian , Hu Zhijian , Xie Shao-Hua
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Figure S3 shows forest plots (1), sensitivity analysis (2) and funnel plots (3) of the associations between prediagnostic circulating sex hormone levels and liver cancer risk.
Supplementary Table 14 from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance among Individuals with Cirrhosis: Trends by Payer, Etiology, and Calendar Year, from a Statewide, Multi-Payer Dataset, 2010–2018
Authors: Hsu Christine D. , Henderson Louise M. , Jackson Bradford E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Funk Michele Jonsson , Olshan Andrew F. , Gupta Parul , Barritt A. Sidney , Sanoff Hanna K. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Moon Andrew M. , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table 14 includes the two-year cumulative incidences by cirrhosis etiology and by insurance, excluding individuals with decompensated cirrhosis (% and 95% confidence intervals).
Supplementary Table 12 from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance among Individuals with Cirrhosis: Trends by Payer, Etiology, and Calendar Year, from a Statewide, Multi-Payer Dataset, 2010–2018
Authors: Hsu Christine D. , Henderson Louise M. , Jackson Bradford E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Funk Michele Jonsson , Olshan Andrew F. , Gupta Parul , Barritt A. Sidney , Sanoff Hanna K. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Moon Andrew M. , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table 12 includes the one-year cumulative incidences for HCC surveillance overall and by insurance type, by calendar year of cirrhosis diagnosis, excluding individuals with decompensated cirrhosis (% and 95% confidence intervals).
Supplementary Table 1 from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance among Individuals with Cirrhosis: Trends by Payer, Etiology, and Calendar Year, from a Statewide, Multi-Payer Dataset, 2010–2018
Authors: Hsu Christine D. , Henderson Louise M. , Jackson Bradford E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Funk Michele Jonsson , Olshan Andrew F. , Gupta Parul , Barritt A. Sidney , Sanoff Hanna K. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Moon Andrew M. , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table 1 includes the validated algorithms and ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes for cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and cirrhosis etiologies.
Table S3 from Incidence Trends and Survival in Early-Onset Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: A Swedish Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Radkiewicz Cecilia , Asplund Johannes , Lagergren Jesper
Published: May 2023

Early- (20-49) and later-onset (50-99) esophagogastric adenocarcinoma age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 person-years by calendar period and age-adjusted annual percentage change over 1993-2019, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Supplemental Table 1 from Estimated Ovulatory Years Prior to Menopause and Postmenopausal Endogenous Hormone Levels
Authors: Cramer Daniel W. , Vitonis Allison F. , Huang Tianyi , Shafrir Amy L. , Eliassen A. Heather , Barbieri Robert L. , Hankinson Susan E.
Published: May 2023

Supplemental Table 1: Adjusted geometric mean hormone levels by lifetime ovulatory years quartile among postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy at the time of blood draw in the Nurses' Health Study; excluding hysterectomized women whose age at menopause was n=1683
Table S1 from Incidence Trends and Survival in Early-Onset Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: A Swedish Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Radkiewicz Cecilia , Asplund Johannes , Lagergren Jesper
Published: May 2023

Esophagogastric adenocarcinoma subtypes according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology 2nd revision (ICD-O-2).
Figure S3 from Incidence Trends and Survival in Early-Onset Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: A Swedish Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Radkiewicz Cecilia , Asplund Johannes , Lagergren Jesper
Published: May 2023

Early- (age 20-54 years, solid) and later-onset (age 55-99 years, dashed line) esophagogastric adenocarcinoma excess mortality rate (EMR) per 1,000 person-years over 5 years from diagnosis.
Data from Circulating Sex Hormone Levels and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Zhang Yingfan , Lagergren Jesper , Li Shanshan , Li Jingru , Zhou Zhixian , Hu Zhijian , Xie Shao-Hua
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackground:
Sex hormones may influence the development of gastrointestinal cancer, but evidence is inconsistent.
Methods:
We systematically searched MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify prospective studies examining associations between prediagnostic circulating levels of sex hormones and risk of five gastrointestinal cancers: esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. Pooled ORs and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using random-effects models.
Results:
Among 16,879 identified studies, 29 were included (11 cohort, 15 nested case–control, and three case–cohort studies). Comparing the highest versus lowest tertiles, levels of most sex hormones were not associated with the studied tumors. Higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were associated with increased risk of gastric cancer (OR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.72), but such associations were restricted in men only (OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10–1.85) when stratified by sex. Higher SHBG levels were associated with increased risk of liver cancer (OR = 2.07; 95% CI, 1.40–3.06). Higher testosterone levels were associated with increased risk of liver cancer overall (OR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.48–2.96), particularly in men (OR = 2.63; 95% CI, 1.65–4.18), Asian populations (OR = 3.27; 95% CI, 1.57–6.83), and in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive individuals (OR = 3.90; 95% CI, 1.43–10.64). Higher levels of SHBG and testosterone were associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer in men (OR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80–0.98 and OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80–0.97, respectively) but not in women.
Conclusions:
Circulating levels of SHBG and testosterone may influence the risk of gastric, liver, and colorectal cancer.
Impact:
Further clarifying the role of sex hormones in the development of gastrointestinal cancer may unravel future novel targets for prevention and treatment.
Data from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance among Individuals with Cirrhosis: Trends by Payer, Etiology, and Calendar Year, from a Statewide, Multi-Payer Dataset, 2010–2018
Authors: Hsu Christine D. , Henderson Louise M. , Jackson Bradford E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Funk Michele Jonsson , Olshan Andrew F. , Gupta Parul , Barritt A. Sidney , Sanoff Hanna K. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Moon Andrew M. , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackground:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is underutilized, with <25% of individuals with cirrhosis receiving surveillance exams as recommended. The epidemiology of cirrhosis and HCC in the United States has also shifted in recent years, but little is known about recent trends in surveillance utilization. We characterized patterns of HCC surveillance by payer, cirrhosis etiology, and calendar year in insured individuals with cirrhosis.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of individuals with cirrhosis using claims data from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans in North Carolina. We included individuals ≥ 18 years with a first occurrence of an ICD-9/10 code for cirrhosis between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2018. The outcome was HCC surveillance by abdominal ultrasound, CT, or MRI. We estimated 1- and 2-year cumulative incidences for HCC surveillance and assessed longitudinal adherence to surveillance by computing the proportion of time covered (PTC).
Results:
Among 46,052 individuals, 71% were enrolled through Medicare, 15% through Medicaid, and 14% through private insurance. The overall 1-year cumulative incidence of HCC surveillance was 49% and the 2-year cumulative incidence was 55%. For those with an initial screen in the first 6 months of their cirrhosis diagnosis, the median 2-year PTC was 67% (Q1, 38%; Q3, 100%).
Conclusions:
HCC surveillance initiation after cirrhosis diagnosis remains low, though it has improved slightly over time, particularly among individuals with Medicaid.
Impact:
This study provides insight into recent trends in HCC surveillance and highlights areas to target for future interventions, particularly among patients with nonviral etiologies.
Immunogenomic Landscape of Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer
Authors: Bhinder Bhavneet , Ferguson Alison , Sigouros Michael , Uppal Manik , Elsaeed Ahmed G. , Bareja Rohan , Alnajar Hussein , Eng Kenneth Wha , Conteduca Vincenza , Sboner Andrea , Mosquera Juan Miguel , Elemento Olivier , Beltran Himisha
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

Patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) are often managed with immunotherapy regimens extrapolated from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). We sought to evaluate the tumor immune landscape of NEPC compared with other prostate cancer types and SCLC.

Experimental Design:

In this retrospective study, a cohort of 170 patients with 230 RNA-sequencing and 104 matched whole-exome sequencing data were analyzed. Differences in immune and stromal constituents, frequency of genomic alterations, and associations with outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

In our cohort, 36% of the prostate tumors were identified as CD8+ T-cell inflamed, whereas the remaining 64% were T-cell depleted. T-cell–inflamed tumors were enriched in anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages and exhausted T cells and associated with shorter overall survival relative to T-cell–depleted tumors (HR, 2.62; P < 0.05). Among all prostate cancer types in the cohort, NEPC was identified to be the most immune depleted, wherein only 9 out of the 36 total NEPC tumors were classified as T-cell inflamed. These inflamed NEPC cases were enriched in IFN gamma signaling and PD-1 signaling compared with other NEPC tumors. Comparison of NEPC with SCLC revealed that NEPC had poor immune content and less mutations compared with SCLC, but expression of checkpoint genes PD-L1 and CTLA-4 was comparable between NEPC and SCLC.

Conclusions:

NEPC is characterized by a relatively immune-depleted tumor immune microenvironment compared with other primary and metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma except in a minority of cases. These findings may inform development of immunotherapy strategies for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Passos da dança nas redes: circulação da cultura em mídias digitais
Authors: Guilherme Sofia Franco , Soares Rosana de Lima
Published: May 2023

Este artigo tem como objetivo compreender de que modo, ao produzir seu próprio conteúdo em mídias digitais, as companhias de dança procuram um caminho de comunicação alternativo aos grandes veículos e ao jornalismo cultural apresentado na imprensa e na televisão. Por esse meio, elas podem contar suas próprias histórias, mostrar seus processos de criação, exibir seus espetáculos e se comunicar com um público bastante específico. Para demonstrar esses processos, escolhemos como objeto de análise o documentário Temporada em Construção, da São Paulo Companhia de Dança (São Paulo), uma das poucas companhias de dança mantidas com financiamento público no Estado de São Paulo.
Som de Rádio
Authors: Wall Tim , Gambaro Daniel
Published: May 2023

O campo dos estudos radiofônicos cresceu consideravelmente nas últimas duas décadas, edificando-se sobre um comprometimento acadêmico desigual com a centenária história do meio. O renascimento dos estudos do rádio encontra paralelo com a expansão de um novo campo de estudos do som, e as percepções produzidas pelas duas áreas são mutualmente benéficas. Este ensaio busca identificar as maneiras férteis pelas quais o rádio tem sido – e pode ser – estudado, em termos de sua existência como som culturalmente assimilado. Isso significa compreender o rádio como produto de culturas nacionais distintas em momentos históricos particulares.
Bursaphelenchus ogawanus n. sp. isolated from bark material of Fagus japonica Maxim. from Japan
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi , Masuya Hayato
Published: May 2023

A Bursaphelenchus species belonging to the abietinus group was isolated from a bark sample of Fagus japonica infested by an unidentified Dryocoetes bark beetle. The species is typologically characterised by its two-lined lateral field, mitten-shaped spicule possessing a well-developed and dorsally truncate condylus, narrow triangular rostrum and a distinct cucullus, the presence of seven (P1, P2, P3 papilliform and P5 gland-opening-like) male genital papillae, female vulva with side flap and the long, smoothly tapering and ventrally recurved female tail with strongly ventrally recurved distal part. The species is typologically close to B. irokophilus and B. rainulfi but can be distinguished from these two species by the shape of spicule rostrum, which is narrower in the new species. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a well-supported clade with B. rainulfi but can be distinguished from them by the differences in the SSU and D2-D3 LSU sequences. The new species is described as Bursaphelenchus ogawanus n. sp.
A taxonomic revision of Neodietrichia (Araneae: Linyphiidae), a rarely encountered but widespread spider taxon
Authors: MILNE MARC A. , O’NEIL CAYLIE , BERTAUX JAMES
Published: May 2023

The linyphiid spider Dietrichia hesperia was described from California in 1933 by Crosby and Bishop. The genus was renamed to Neodietrichia in 2008 by Özdikmen since Dietrichia was already occupied by a fossil bivalve. Until now, this rarely collected arboreal spider was the sole member of Neodietrichia. Herein we revise the genus by redescribing Neodietrichia hesperia (Crosby and Bishop, 1933), transferring Lophomma depressum (Emerton, 1882) to Neodietrichia as Neodietrichia depressum n. comb., and provide the first description of the female of this species.
Description of the larva of Hypsilara (Coleoptera: Elmidae)
Authors: LAŠŠOVÁ KRISTÍNA , ČIAMPOROVÁ-ZAŤOVIČOVÁ ZUZANA , JR FEDOR ČIAMPOR
Published: May 2023

The mature larva of the Larainae riffle beetle genus Hypsilara Maier & Spangler, 2011 is described here for the first time, based on larvae of Hypsilara autanai Laššová, Čiampor Jr, Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, 2014. The larvae were collected with adults in the stream near the tepui Cerro Autana and Cerro Cuao (southwestern Venezuela) and associated together using DNA barcoding. Larvae of Hypsilara strongly resemble those of Phanoceroides, here we present important morphological diagnostic characters. This description complements the descriptions of the Larainae larvae in the Neotropics, as the larva of Hypsilara was the last one of the group missing so far.