bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical application of multiple 3D-printed guide plates for precise reduction and fixation of comminuted patellar fractures
Authors: Long Zhi-Sheng , Gong Fei-Peng , Dong Xie-Ping , Li Jing-Tang
Published: November 2020

Because of the lack of anatomical landmarks during reduction of multiple articular surfaces and fragments in comminuted patellar fractures, loss of bone fragments or aggravation of soft tissue and ligament injuries readily occurs. In the present case, we used multiple three-dimensional (3D)-printed guide plates to reduce and fix a comminuted patellar fracture. A 22-year-old man was hospitalized for 2 days because of left knee joint pain and limited movement caused by a traffic accident. Preoperative imaging revealed a comminuted fracture of the left patella (type 34-C3 according to the AO/OTA classification). Throughout a 2-year follow-up, the patient remained in generally good condition with no significant limitation of his left knee joint activity. Application of multiple 3D-printed guide plates is a safe and effective auxiliary technique for the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures. This novel technique can shorten the operation time, reduce the number of fluoroscopic procedures, and ensure fracture healing and recovery of knee joint function through reliable reduction of the articular surface.
Is Ghana’s Law Against Human Trafficking a Success?
Authors: Mohammed Abdulai Kuyini
Published: November 2020

This article assessed the success or otherwise of the Ghana Human Trafficking Act (GHTA), 2005, in curbing human trafficking. On the basis of interviews and secondary information, the assessment was done along the program, process, and politics dimensions. The evidence showed that GHTA achieved fairly its program objectives. However, failures occurred in all the phases of the Act’s enactment process. In particular, agenda setting suffered from definitional ambiguity surrounding human trafficking and implementation was mired by resource constraints and financial impropriety. The findings also revealed that an integrated model of human trafficking has greater explanatory power than a single one, but there is inattention to this in extant literature. The article concludes that lessons should be drawn from the specific type as well as the overall program, process, and political failures of the Act. As in this case, an exclusive focus on technical learning to the neglect of potential process and political failures has increased rather than decreased the chances of policy failure. Moreover, the accent on legislative bans to the neglect of other interventions is futile.
Enabling Advance Care Planning in Dementia Care: A Primary Care Approach
Authors: Lee Linda , Hillier Loretta M. , Lu Stephanie K. , Ward Donna
Published: November 2020

Background:

Lack of tools to support advance care planning (ACP) has been identified as a significant barrier to implementing these discussions.

Aim:

We pilot tested an ACP framework tool for use with persons living with dementia (PLWD) in primary care-based memory clinics and an Adult Day Program; this study describes user and recipient experiences with this framework.

Methods:

We used a mixed methods approach. Health professionals completed an online survey following pilot testing and PLWD and substitute decision makers (SDM) completed survey immediately following the ACP discussion assessing their satisfaction (5-point scale) with the framework and exploring potential outcomes. Interviews with health professionals, PLWD, and SDM were conducted to gather more in-depth information on their perceptions of the ACP framework/ discussion.

Results:

Surveys were completed by 12 health professionals, 13 PLWD, and 16 SDM. While PLWD and SDM were satisfied with the ACP discussion (M = 4.0/5), health professionals were minimally satisfied with the ease of use of the framework (M = 2.0/5), acceptability for patients (M = 2.4/5) and feasibility in practice (M = 1.9/5). Sixteen interviews were completed with 8 health professionals, 1 PLWD, and 7 SDM. While health professionals valued ACP, lack of time and training were identified barriers to framework use. SDM felt better prepared for future decisions and PLWD were put at ease, knowing that their wishes for care were understood.

Conclusion:

PLWD and SDM value the opportunity for ACP, and although health professionals identified some concerns with framework administration, they acknowledge the value and importance of ACP. Continuing efforts to refine ACP processes are justified.
COVID-19 memes going viral: On the multiple multimodal voices behind face masks
Authors: Dynel Marta
Published: November 2020

Advancing the concept of multimodal voicing as a tool for describing user-generated online humour, this paper reports a study on humorous COVID-19 mask memes. The corpus is drawn from four popular social media platforms and examined through a multimodal discourse analytic lens. The dominant memetic trends are elucidated and shown to rely programmatically on nested (multimodal) voices, whether compatible or divergent, as is the case with the dissociative echoing of individuals wearing peculiar masks or the dissociative parodic echoing of their collective voice. The theoretical thrust of this analysis is that, as some memes are (re)posted across social media (sometimes going viral), the previous voice(s) – of the meme subject/author/poster – can be re-purposed (e.g. ridiculed) or unwittingly distorted. Overall, this investigation offers new theoretical and methodological implications for the study of memes: it indicates the usefulness of the notions of multimodal voicing, intertextuality and echoing as research apparatus; and it brings to light the epistemological ambiguity in lay and academic understandings of memes, the voices behind which cannot always be categorically known.
New evidence for early human habitation in the Nyingchi Region, Southeast Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Yanren , Gao Yu , Yang Jishuai , Tan Yunyao , Shargan Wangdue , Zhang Shuai , Yang Xiaoyan
Published: November 2020

The lack of archaeological work has long impeded our understanding of prehistoric and historical human inhabitation and East-West interactions on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP). In this study, we conducted a series of systematic archaeological investigations in the Nyingchi region, on the southeastern TP. We examined archaeological stratigraphies from 10 sites and collected charred seeds and charcoals for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating. The 26 radiocarbon dates show that the earliest inhabitation in the Nyingchi region can be traced back to as early as the fifth millennium BP. In addition, results of summed probability distribution (SPD) of radiocarbon dates suggest that intensive human activities occurred between c. 2700 and 2000 cal. yr BP. Together with the pottery net sinkers found in previous investigation, the newly identified archaeobotanical assemblages, including crops such as barley ( Hordeum vulgare), naked barley ( Hordeum vulgare var. nudum), wheat ( Triticum aestivum) and pea ( Pisum sativum), also confirm that cultivation and fishing were important subsistence strategies for people living in the prehistoric Nyingchi. The discoveries of domesticated crops from Southwest Asia also suggest that the southeastern TP, represented by the Nyingchi region, was part of the early communication network between the East and the West, predating historical Highland Silk Road.
CD14 (C-159T) polymorphism is associated with increased susceptibility to SLE, and plasma levels of soluble CD14 is a novel biomarker of disease activity: A hospital-based case-control study
Authors: Panda Aditya K , Tripathy Rina , Das Bidyut K
Published: November 2020

Background

Cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) plays a crucial role in the innate immune response of the host in protection against various pathogens. The importance of soluble CD14 in autoimmune disorders has been described in different populations. However, the role of sCD14 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is poorly understood. Further, the association of functional variants at the promoter region of the CD14 gene (−159 C > T) with susceptibility to SLE or disease severity needs to be defined.

Methods

Two hundred female SLE patients diagnosed on systemic lupus international collaborating clinics (SLICC) classification criteria and age, sex, matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to genotype CD14 (C-159 T) polymorphism. Plasma levels of IFN-α, TNF-α, and sCD14 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Prevalence of mutant genotypes (CT and TT) and minor allele (T) of CD14 (C-159T) polymorphism was significantly higher in SLE cases compared to healthy controls (CT: P < 0.0001; OR = 3.26, TT:P < 0.0001; OR = 3.39; T:P = 0.0009, OR = 1.62). Further, lupus nephritis patients had a higher prevalence of homozygous mutants (TT) and mutant allele (T)(TT: P = 0.0002, OR = 8.07; T: P = 0.001, OR = 1.32). SLE patients displayed significantly increased plasma sCD14, TNF-α, and IFN-α levels in comparison to healthy controls. These cytokines were significantly elevated in patients of lupus nephritis compared to those without kidney involvement. Interestingly, sCD14 levels correlated positively with SLE disease activity index-2K (SLEDAI-2K) scores and 24 hours proteinuria.

Conclusion

CD14 (C-159T) polymorphism is associated with an increased predisposition to the development of SLE and lupus nephritis: sCD14 is a promising novel biomarker for assessing disease activity and lupus nephritis.
Effect of Metformin on Development of Tendinopathy Due to Mechanical Overloading in an Animal Model
Authors: Zhang Jianying , Li Feng , Nie Daibang , Onishi Kentaro , Hogan MaCalus V. , Wang James H-C.
Published: November 2020

Background:

Tendinopathy is a debilitating tendon disorder that affects millions of Americans and costs billions of health care dollars every year. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a known tissue damage signaling molecule, has been identified as a mediator in the development of tendinopathy due to mechanical overloading of tendons in mice. Metformin (Met), a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, specifically inhibits HMGB1. This study tested the hypothesis that Met would prevent mechanical overloading-induced tendinopathy in a mouse model of tendinopathy created by intensive treadmill running (ITR).

Methods:

C57BL/6J mice (female, 3 months old) were equally separated into 4 groups and treated for 24 weeks as follows: group 1 had cage control activities, group 2 received a single intraperitoneal injection of Met (50 mg/kg body weight) daily, group 3 underwent ITR to induce tendinopathy, and group 4 received daily Met injection along with ITR to inhibit HMGB1. Tendinopathic changes were assessed in Achilles tendons of all mice using histology, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results:

ITR induced HMGB1 release into the tendon matrix and developed characteristics of tendinopathy as evidenced by the expression of macrophage marker CD68, proinflammatory molecules (COX-2, PGE2), cell morphological changes from normal elongated cells to round cells, high levels of expression of chondrogenic markers (SOX-9, collagen type II), and accumulation of proteoglycans in tendinopathic tendons. Daily injection of Met inhibited HMGB1 release and decreased these degenerative changes in ITR tendons.

Conclusions:

Inhibition of HMGB1 by injections of Met prevented tendinopathy development due to mechanical overloading in the Achilles tendon in mice.

Clinical Relevance:

Met may be able to be repurposed as a therapeutic option for preventing the development of tendinopathy in high-risk patients.
Wave propagation in micromorphic anisotropic continua with an application to tetragonal crystals
Authors: Daví Fabrizio
Published: November 2020

We study the coupled macroscopic and lattice wave propagation in anisotropic crystals seen as continua with affine microstructure (or micromorphic). In the general case, we obtain qualitative information on the frequencies and the dispersion relations. These results are then specialized to crystals of the tetragonal point group for various propagation directions: exact representation for the acoustic and optic frequencies and for the coupled vibrations modes are obtained for propagation directions along the tetragonal c-axis.
To ligate or not to ligate hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas in kidney transplant patients
Authors: Abreo Kenneth , Sachdeva Bharat , Abreo Adrian P
Published: November 2020

There is significant disagreement about maintenance or ligation of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in kidney transplant patients (KTPs). Potential harms from maintaining AVFs are their impact on cardiac function, cosmetic concerns and complications such as bleeding and rupture. High flow AVFs can place a strain on the heart and cause or exacerbate pre-existing cardiac dysfunction. There is an improvement in cardiac function after kidney transplantation independent of vascular access status. Studies comparing cardiac parameters in patients with and without AVFs after renal transplantation have shown conflicting results. Ligation of high flow AVFs in KTPs resulted in improvement in cardiac function and prevention of heart failure. In KTPs with deteriorating renal function and high flow AVFs, banding of the AVFs to reduce flow is an option. Patients who retain AVFs after renal transplant have the advantage of immediate, optimal access should the transplant fail and may have preserved kidney function. The patient’s post-transplant kidney function, risk factors for transplant loss, AVF blood flow, and cardiac function play an important role when making the decision to ligate or preserve AVFs.
Contemporary Fire Regimes Provide a Critical Perspective on Restoration Needs in the Mexico-United States Borderlands
Authors: Villarreal Miguel L , Iniguez José M , Flesch Aaron D , Sanderlin Jamie S , Cortés Montaño Citlali , Conrad Caroline R , Haire Sandra L
Published: November 2020

The relationship between people and wildfire has always been paradoxical: fire is an essential ecological process and management tool, but can also be detrimental to life and property. Consequently, fire regimes have been modified throughout history through both intentional burning to promote benefits and active suppression to reduce risks. Reintroducing fire and its benefits back into the Sky Island mountains of the United States-Mexico borderlands has the potential to reduce adverse effects of altered fire regimes and build resilient ecosystems and human communities. To help guide regional fire restoration, we describe the frequency and severity of recent fires over a 32-year period (1985-2017) across a vast binational region in the United States-Mexico borderlands and assess variation in fire frequency and severity across climate gradients and in relation to vegetation and land tenure classes. We synthesize relevant literature on historical fire regimes within 9 major vegetation types and assess how observed contemporary fire characteristics vary from expectations based on historical patterns. Less than 28% of the study area burned during the observation period, excluding vegetation types in warmer climates that are not adapted to fire (eg, Desertscrub and Thornscrub). Average severity of recent fires was low despite some extreme outliers in cooler, wetter environments. Midway along regional temperature and precipitation gradients, approximately 64% of Pine-Oak Forests burned at least once, with fire frequencies that mainly corresponded to historical expectations on private lands in Mexico but less so on communal lands, suggesting the influence of land management. Fire frequency was higher than historical expectations in extremely cool and wet environments that support forest types such as Spruce-Fir, indicating threats to these systems possibly attributable to drought and other factors. In contrast, fires were absent or infrequent across large areas of Woodlands (~73% unburned) and Grasslands (~88% unburned) due possibly to overgrazing, which reduces abundance and continuity of fine fuels needed to carry fire. Our findings provide a new depiction of fire regimes in the Sky Islands that can help inform fire management, restoration, and regional conservation planning, fostered by local and traditional knowledge and collaboration among landowners and managers.
Lessons From the First Wave of the Pandemic: Skin Features of COVID-19 Can Be Divided Into Inflammatory and Vascular Patterns
Authors: Naderi-Azad Sheida , Vender Ron
Published: November 2020

This review examines the clinical, morphological, and systemic factors related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cutaneous manifestations. The EMBASE, Medline, and Pubmed Central databases were searched from February 1, 2020 until April 25, 2020, using the search words “(COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 OR coronavirus-19) AND (skin OR cutaneous OR dermatologic)”. Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 were included. The cutaneous manifestations can be classified into 2 types. Patients with inflammatory reactions consisted of morbilliform, varicella-like, urticarial eruptions, and vesiculobullous manifestations. These manifestations were mainly found on the trunk, limbs, and faces of patients and had mainly positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction findings (97.7%). Furthermore, there were 516 patients with acral vascular lesions: chilblains, livedo lesions, cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis, and other noninflammatory purpura. These were often nonpruritic (88%) and not seen in severe disease (88.7%). The cutaneous lesions have potential for early diagnosis of COVID-19 and prevention of disease transmission. The implications of COVID-19 in the field of dermatology continue to evolve as more clinical data becomes available.
The tale of transparent and predictable working conditions intertwined with work-life balance: Assessing the impact of the new social policy directives on decent working conditions and social protection
Authors: Bednarowicz Bartłomiej
Published: November 2020

Precarious employment is often associated with job insecurity and limited corollary entitlements to income support. More specifically, what makes the jobs precarious are factors such as in-work poverty and low pay, insufficient labour law and social security protection, high levels of stress and health problems, limited career development and training options or low levels of collective rights. Precarious workers engaged in atypical forms of employment such as casual work, zero-hours contracts or platform-mediated work are particularly prone to experiencing precarious working conditions and often consequently, in-work poverty and thus social exclusion. A question therefore emerges as to the adequate response at EU level to combat precarious employment and provide for decent jobs with fair working conditions including protection against discrimination and also access to adequate social protection. Against this background, this article takes stock of the two first legally binding roll-out initiatives from the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), namely Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union and Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers, to assess their impact on decent working and employment conditions, and social protection, while also exploring in greater detail their coverage and potential limitations.
“Backstage moments during the campaign”: The interactive use of Instagram by Spanish political leaders
Authors: Pineda Antonio , Bellido-Pérez Elena , Barragán-Romero Ana I
Published: November 2020

The political use of social media is a well-established field of research. We perform a content analysis of the messages posted on Instagram—one of the fastest growing social networking sites—by the leaders of the four main political parties in Spain, with special emphasis on the interactive use of this platform and the functions played by the posts. The sample of Instagram posts includes a non-election period and a period of regional elections. The results point to a practically irrelevant use of interactive tools, and an emphasis on the self-promotion of leaders and their parties. Accordingly, the data show that Instagram is basically used by Spanish leaders as a supplement to their campaign efforts and strategic objectives. These findings are discussed and linked to broader theoretical issues such as the hypothesis of normalization and the use of the Internet for broadcasting.
Analysis of tool wear and deformation in friction stir welding of unequal thickness dissimilar Al alloys
Authors: Majeed Tanveer , Mehta Yashwant , Siddiquee Arshad Noor
Published: November 2020

Friction stir welding between plates of unequal thickness, which are made from similar or dissimilar materials, finds wide range of applications in the aerospace and automotive sectors. Friction stir welding of plates made from dissimilar materials having unequal thicknesses is challenging. One of the major challenges is the control of rapid tool degradation which occurs during welding. This work reports a maiden study on tool degradation of high thickness ratio unequal thickness dissimilar material joints made between 6.3 mm thick AA2024-T3 and 2.5 mm thick AA7475-T7 plates. The degradation of friction stir welding tool made of T4 tool steel having tapered cylindrical pin and scrolled shoulder was analyzed. The geometry of tool (before and after welding) was compared; the degradation was categorized, characterized, and analyzed in the light of measured welding temperature, process forces, and process parameters. It was found that the pin undergoes significant degradation in the form of wear and deformation compared to the tool shoulder. The experimental results demonstrated that lower flow stresses caused by higher process temperature leads to lower tool wear and deformation, and vice versa. In addition to temperature and process forces, the surface tilt angle was found to significantly affect the pin deformation. The higher surface tilt angle caused an increase in tool wear and deformation.
Making labor visible in the food movement: Outreach to farmworkers in Michigan
Authors: Saldanha Kennedy
Published: November 2020

While the food movement includes many critical positive initiatives, it shows little recognition of the labor contributions of the farmworkers who produce the food. A visit to a few local towns in western Michigan revealed farmworkers are invisible in “farm to table” tropes. A study was undertaken to explore farmworkers and their living conditions, and the links between their local invisibility and historic, political, and global processes. Using ethnographic fieldwork, the author visited housing camps, spoke with farmworkers, rode along with outreach workers, and volunteered at migrant summer schools. A framework of structural violence informed the analysis. The findings include descriptions of migrant housing camps, in which migrants face substandard and overcrowded conditions, and their placement in hard to access locations. The study describes how outreach is conducted, highlighting strategies and methods outreach staff/interns use to connect with farmworkers in labor camps, taking information and services directly to them, sensitive to their circumstances, which include limited time availability and communal living conditions. The study also highlights the invisible faciality of farmworkers locally and in international agribusiness restructuring and concludes with a discussion on the role of social work in increasing farmworkers’ visibility in the food movement and practice.
The perplexities of a pandemic: A black Canadian scholar’s perspective
Authors: Taiwo Akin
Published: November 2020

Covid-19 presented an existential and ontological threat to a Black professor of Social Work at a liberal arts college in Canada. This paper is a reflective account of the tremendous shift in gear regarding his pedagogy and vulnerabilities and their implication for social work education and the resilience of his students.
Working in the department of social services in the shadow of the coronavirus
Authors: Hadar Keren
Published: November 2020

In this article, I present a position and share my thoughts about working in the Department of Social Services in Israel in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. I will reflect on the unprecedented challenges created by the coronavirus, such as the uncertainty over health, employment and finances, the increased stress factors on social workers and how this affects team cooperation, as well as coronavirus fears and how this has impacted social work practice. The aim of this article is to shed light on the importance of the care and support provided by social workers, particularly during times of great uncertainty.
Social perceptions and bioethical implications of birth plans: A qualitative study
Authors: Sánchez-García Maria José , Martínez-Rojo Francisco , Galdo-Castiñeiras Jesús A , Echevarría-Pérez Paloma , Morales-Moreno Isabel
Published: November 2020

Background

The birth plan is a tool that allows the self-learning and thoughtful analysis of the women during the birthing process, facilitating their making of decisions and participation, in agreement with the bioethical principles of autonomy and no malfeasance. Goal: To understand the perception and satisfaction of women who presented a birth plan. Methodology: Qualitative, descriptive, observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study. The population of the study was composed of 21 women who presented a birth plan regulated in a Hospital ever since the recording of the presentation of the birth plan was started (2011) until 2015. Place: Cartagena (Murcia, Spain). Techniques/methods: Semistructured interview. Results-Discussion: Most women considered the plan as a useful self-learning tool on the meaning of the birthing process, as it favored the communication between the expectant mothers/health professionals. Our informants sought information related to the birthing process from informal sources; most perceived a level of respect of their wishes during the process of giving birth. The use of the birth plan did not imply the perception of loss of the degree of control during the birth, although attention to the written document could be improved.

Conclusions

The use of the birth plan is a very satisfactory and useful experience for their involvement in their self-care, although in some cases, the births did not proceed according to their plans. Nevertheless, the prevalence of the principle of Non-Malfeasance over Autonomy was evidenced.
Finnish teachers’ participation in local curriculum development: A study of processes in five school contexts
Authors: Heikkilä Mia
Published: November 2020

For many years, teachers have been involved in developing the national curricula in Finland in various ways. Teachers’ involvement in curriculum design and implementation has, during the last national curriculum implementation process, increased locally to strengthen their confidence in and knowledge of the national curriculum’s multifaceted content. The purpose of this article is to broaden the knowledge of teacher involvement in the recent curriculum process in Finland; more specifically, to examine teachers’ participation in local curriculum work. In this qualitative study, interviews were the primary method used to gather empirical data. Hansén’s (1998) ideas of different levels of teacher professionalization are used as a framework for the analysis. The results show that ways of organizing involvement, management of involvement and use of time in the local curriculum process are crucial factors in teachers’ participation and partly determine their degree of participation. The results also suggest that teachers’ awareness of how the curriculum is linked to their collective collaborative and continuous work is relatively high, but it is not entirely clear how the four steps are integrated in the professional language.
A study on design and properties of woven-nonwoven multi-layered hybrid geotextiles
Authors: Li Ting-Ting , Zhou Xiangyu , Wang Zhike , Fan Yuyang , Zhang Xiayun , Lou Ching-Wen , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: November 2020

The area of forests continues decreasing while the water/soil loss becomes worse. In these complicated environments, mechanical properties, stability, high modulus and low elongation of geotextiles are required. On a premise of the acquisition of good mechanical properties and the improvement in the deformation and puncture resistance of nonwoven fabric, woven/nonwoven hybrid geotextiles are designed and made with needle punch processing technology in this study. The test results indicate that the mechanical properties of hybrid geotextiles are improved significantly when the areal density of nylon fabrics is increased. In particular, with the areal density of 400 g/m2, hybrid geotextiles exhibit the maximal mechanical properties and puncture resistance. Moreover, the pore fraction of hybrid geotextiles decreases as a result of a rise in the areal density of nylon top/bottom layers. The use of a 3 D mesh fabric as the interlayer provides the needle punched composite geotextiles with the highest tensile resistance, puncture resistance. The composite geotextiles are treated with acid and alkali to simulate the corrosion under natural conditions of stabilized soil. The resultant geotextile has good mechanical properties and acid/alkali degradation resistance. This allows the hybrid geotextiles to stabilize water and soil conservation in complicated conditions.
Transcriptomics and Prognosis Analysis to Identify Critical Biomarkers in Invasive Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Wu Jun , Liu Xiao-Jun , Hu Jia-Nan , Liao Xu-Hui , Lin Fei-Fei
Published: November 2020

Objective:

Invasive breast cancer (BRCA) is one of the prevalent types of invasive tumors with high mortality worldwide. Due to the lack of effective treatment to control the recurrence of distant metastases, the prognosis of BRCA is still very unsatisfactory. We aimed to find some biomarkers by bioinformatics analysis for survival prediction.

Methods:

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out based on tumor group and normal group. Then, the weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify the clinically associated gene sets. Meanwhile, the enrichment analyses were performed for the functional annotation of the critical genes. The Kaplan Meier analysis calculated the essential genes’ prognostic value.

Results:

After threshold screening, 1655 DEGs were obtained for subsequent analysis. 51 out of 1655 DEGs were significantly associated with BRCA patients’ estrogen receptor status via WGCNA. Three genes (FABP7, CXCL3, and LOC284578) out of the 51 genes were associated with overall survival, and 3 genes were relapse-free survival associated. Finally, we obtained 5 essential prognostic associated genes (FABP7, CXCL3, LOC284578, CAPN6, and NRG2), which could be used as prognostic factors for BRCA.

Conclusion:

Our findings obtained a gene module associated with BRCA clinical trait and several key genes that acted as essential components in the prognostic of cancer, which may improve its treatment.
LC3B in Malignant Cells Correlates With Immune Infiltrate in Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Gao Sifan , Chen Jun , Han Xiaowen , Wei Dangjun , Wu Zhengsheng , Gao Chaobing
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the between autophagy activity and local immune response in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). Herein, we observed the expression of autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (MAP1LC3B), CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), CD39 (regulatory T cells Tregs) and CD163 (tumor-associated macrophages TAMs) in HSCC, and determined the prognostic roles of CD8+/CD39+ and CD8+/CD163+ in patients with HSCC. The expression of light chain 3B (LC3B) and CD8+/CD39+ was found to be significantly lower in HSCC tissues than in adjacent non-tumor mucosa tissue samples; LC3B expression was positively correlated with the infiltration rate of CD8+/CD39+ in HSCC. Further studies revealed that the ratio of CD8+/CD39+ immune cells was negatively correlated with tumor lymph node metastasis and TNM classification, while the ratio of CD8+/CD163+ immune cells was negatively correlated with TNM classification. Moreover, the expression of LC3B was analyzed and the patients were grouped according to their immune infiltration characteristics. The 5-year cumulative survival rates of LC3B+, CD8+/CD39+, and CD8+/CD163+ patients were significantly higher than those of other group patients. Collectively, our studies indicated that the expression of LC3B in HSCC was correlated with the infiltration ratio of immune cells, and a change in autophagy activity may affect the cellular immunity in HSCC. The ratios of tCD8+/CD39+ and tCD8+/CD163+ may serve as prognostic factors for HSCC.
Down-Regulation of C3aR/C5aR Inhibits Cell Proliferation and EMT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Bendong , Zhou Wenyan , Tang Chaofeng , Wang Genwang , Yuan Peng , Zhang Yawen , Bhushan Sah Chandra , Ma Jinlong , Leng Junzhi
Published: November 2020

Complement 3a (C3a) and complement 5a (C5a), small cleavage fragments generated by complement activation, has been previously shown to be obviously up-regulated in highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, their functional roles in HCC cells remains unclear. Here, we investigated the biological function of G protein-coupled receptor C3aR/C5aR using small interference RNA in HCC cells. Our data showed that C3aR and C5aR knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells using CCK-8, colony formation and transwell assays. Flow cytometry assay showed C3aR and C5aR knockdown induced cell cycle G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells. Moreover, we found down-regulation of C3aR/C5aR obviously down-regulated the expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin) in HCC cells. Collectively, our data demonstrated that targeting C3aR/C5aR may hold promise for the treatment of HCC.
Comprehensive Comparison of Progressive Optimization Algorithm Based Automatic Plan and Manually Planned Treatment Technique for Cervical-Thoracic Esophageal Cancers
Authors: Zhou Yongqiang , Xiang Xiaojun , Xiong Jianping , Gong Changfei
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

The purpose of the present study was first to apply the progressive optimization algorithm based automatic volumetric modulated arc therapy (POA-VMAT) technology to accelerate and improve the radiotherapy of cervicothoracic esophageal cancer (CTEC). We comprehensive analyze the feasibility, normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) and dosimetric results of POA-VMAT, manual based VMAT and step-shoot intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans in the treatment of CTEC.

Methods:

Sixty patients with CTEC with or without concomitant chemotherapy at our institution between 2017 and 2019 were retrospectively identified. The manual 7field-IMRT (7f-IMRT), Single-arc-VMAT and Double-arc-VMAT (Single-Arc/Double-Arc) plans were generated in all cases. The POA-VMAT was designed using the automatic dual-arc VMAT technology of Pinnacle3 9.10 planning system based on progressive optimization algorithm. Specially, it includes the selection of treatment techniques, the running of automated planning scripts, and the evaluation of the final radiotherapy regimen. Subsequently, quantitative evaluation of plans was performed by means of standard dose–volume histograms, homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI).

Results:

Target dose conformity of the 7f-IMRT plan was inferior to all plans, whereas the Double-Arc plan was slightly inferior to the POA-VMAT but superior to the Single-Arc and 7f-IMRT plan. The HI for 7f-IMRT, Single-Arc, Double-Arc and POA-VMAT were 0.17 ± 0.08, 0.28 ± 0.06, 0.29 ± 0.06 and 0.28 ± 0.03, respectively. For the NTCP results, there was significant statistical difference among POA-VMAT, IMRT and VMAT plans. The total MU was reduced by 48.3% and 42.1% in Single-Arc and POA-VMAT plans compare to IMRT plans.

Conclusions:

By comprehensive consideration, POA-VMAT efficiently generate acceptable treatment plans for CTEC without dose escalation to OARs and overall superior to manual planning which is a good option for treating CTEC.
Pleurotus highking mushrooms potentiate antiproliferative and antimigratory activity against triple-negative breast cancer cells by suppressing Akt signaling
Authors: Haque Md. Anwarul , Reza A. S. M. Ali , Nasrin Mst. Samima , Rahman Md. Atiar
Published: November 2020

In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects of the Pleurotus highking mushroom on the human triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and HCC-1937 and attempted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The antiproliferative effects of P. highking purified fraction-III (PEF-III) were investigated using colony formation and MTS assays. The antimigratory effects of PEF-III were determined by wound healing, transwell migration, and matrigel cell invasion assays. The protein expression levels were evaluated using Western blot analysis. The effect of PEF-III on tumor-sphere formation was examined in a 3D sphere-forming medium, and the mRNA expressions of proliferation- and migration-related genes in the cells from the tumor spheres were determined using RT-qPCR. PEF-III treatment caused a potent and concentration-dependent decrease in the numbers of colonies and viable cells. It also remarkably suppressed the migratory ability of the cells. Mechanistically, PEF-III treatment reduced the expression of pAkt, matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), and vimentin. Furthermore, PEF-III reduced the number and size of the tumor spheres in the 3D culture system. It also significantly reduced the mRNA expression of Ki-67, MMP-9, and vimentin in the PEF-III-treated tumor-sphere cells. PEF-III exerted promising antiproliferative and antimigratory effects in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines by suppressing Akt signaling. Therefore, P. highking mushrooms may be considered a potential source for the development of potent anticancer drug(s) for the treatment of breast cancer.
Research on autonomous collision avoidance of merchant ship based on inverse reinforcement learning
Authors: Zheng Mao , Xie Shuo , Chu Xiumin , Zhu Tianquan , Tian Guohao
Published: November 2020

To learn the optimal collision avoidance policy of merchant ships controlled by human experts, a finite-state Markov decision process model for ship collision avoidance is proposed based on the analysis of collision avoidance mechanism, and an inverse reinforcement learning (IRL) method based on cross entropy and projection is proposed to obtain the optimal policy from expert’s demonstrations. Collision avoidance simulations in different ship encounters are conducted and the results show that the policy obtained by the proposed IRL has a good inversion effect on two kinds of human experts, which indicate that the proposed method can effectively learn the policy of human experts for ship collision avoidance.
Improving the reading skills of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: Preliminary study from Botswana
Authors: Mensi Marina , Baiocco Roberto , Otukile-Mongwaketse Mpho , Paganotti Giacomo Maria , Kubina Richard Michael
Published: November 2020

In Botswana, Special Needs Education has been implemented for 25 years with some success but there is still a need for evidence-based methods like Frequency Building, behavioural fluency, and Precision Teaching to be used to measure and improve school performance and learning. We explored the impact of these behavioural technologies on reading performances of four children with learning disorders (ADHD, speech impairment and acquired brain disorder) in a special school in Gaborone. At the assessment, two children were unable to read letter sounds and two could not read sight words. Reading performances were measured with frequency and displayed on a standard celeration chart. During the intervention, the length of the tasks was reduced and then augmented. Findings revealed that after 3 months of intervention children significantly increased their score stimulating self-confidence and enthusiasm during activities. This work demonstrates that behavioural technologies can be applied in Africa without using expensive or time-consuming resources.
Clinical features of and risk factors for intracranial aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease
Authors: Yang Hecheng , Zhang Limin , Wang Menghan , Wang Jingtao , Chen Lijie , Lu Hong
Published: November 2020

Background

The clinical features of aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease (MMD) and risk factors for the formation and rupture of aneurysms are not well defined.

Aims

In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of MMD patients and examined the potential risk factors for the formation and rupture of aneurysms in these patients.

Methods

The medical records of all MMD patients in our hospital from April 2012 to May 2019 were reviewed. The logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent association between various potential risk factors and the presence or rupture of intracranial aneurysms in MMD patients.

Results

Of 2230 MMD patients, 182 (8.2%) cases had intracranial aneurysms. The mean age of onset in patients with aneurysms was 47.2 years, which was significantly higher when compared with those without aneurysms ( p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, age of onset remained significantly associated with the presence of intracranial aneurysms, while female gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease were not. Besides, intracranial aneurysms were significantly associated with intracranial hemorrhage in MMD patients (odds ratio [OR] = 5.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.80–7.09). About 60% aneurysms >5 mm in size, and 62.1% aneurysms with irregularly shaped morphology were ruptured. Aneurysms located in basilar tip, collateral or moyamoya vessels were more likely to present with rupture.

Conclusions

Age was an important risk factor for intracranial aneurysms formation in MMD patients. Aneurysms increased the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in MMD patients, and their ruptures were correlated with aneurysms size, location, and morphology.
Biomarker-guided targeted and immunotherapies in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Yang Haitang , Xu Duo , Schmid Ralph A. , Peng Ren-Wang
Published: November 2020

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a lethal thoracic malignancy whose incidence is still increasing worldwide. MPM is characterized by frequent inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs), e.g., the homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/2B and various genetic alterations that inactivate BAP1, NF2, LATS1/2, and TP53. The leading cause for the poor prognosis of patients with MPM is the lack of effective treatment options, with conventional chemotherapy being the standard of care in the clinic, which has remained unchanged for almost 20 years. Precision oncology, a burgeoning effort to provide precise cancer treatment tailored to unique molecular changes in individual patients, has made tremendous progress in the last decade in several cancers, but not in MPM. Recent studies indicate a high degree of tumor heterogeneity in MPM and the importance to optimize histological and molecular classifications for improved treatment. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of recent advances in MPM by focusing on new stratifications of tumor subgroups, specific vulnerabilities associated with functional loss of TSGs and other biomarkers, and potential clinical implications. The molecularly based subdivisions not only deepen our understanding of MPM pathobiology, but more importantly, they may raise unprecedented new hopes for personalized treatment of MPM patients with biomarker-guided targeted and immunotherapies.
Intra-arterial onyx embolisation of sphenobasilar sinus fistula using pressure cooker technique: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Sahu Chandra Dev , Bhargava Nishant
Published: November 2020

Dural arterio-venous fistulas of the middle cranial fossa may occur within the dura of lesser or greater sphenoid wings. Lesser sphenoid wing fistulas rarely recruit cortical venous drainage and mostly drain in the cavernous sinus. On the other hand, greater sphenoid wing dural fistulas, also known as paracavernous fistulas or sphenobasilar and sphenopetrosal sinus fistulas, are much more notorious as they almost always connect with the superficial middle cerebral vein resulting in secondary cortical venous reflux and varix formation. Curative transarterial or transvenous endovascular embolisation of fistulous connection is the primary therapeutic strategy, particularly using onyx via the transarterial approach. In the present case we describe a 62-year-old man who presented with significant subarachnoid haemorrhage, intraparenchymal and intra-ventricular bleed. Digital subtraction angiography showed a middle cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistula in the region of the sphenobasilar sinus with cortical venous reflux and varix formation. The patient underwent successful transarterial endovascular embolisation with complete elimination of the fistula using onyx 34, onyx 18, squid 12 and a Scepter XC balloon using the pressure cooker technique. We also report the development of facial nerve palsy due to inadvertent reflux of onyx in the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery.
A new reference line for coronal head CT to align with MRI: development of a standardised approach
Authors: Ozturk Kerem , Spano Anthony , Nascene David
Published: November 2020

Background and purpose

There are great variations in how different technologists create the different imaging planes that can make a precise comparison of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging difficult. We aimed to identify a reference line for the coronal images on a computed tomography topography parallel to the posterior borderline of the brainstem (PB), matching standard coronal magnetic resonance imaging planes.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed computed tomography topography images of 80 consecutive patients to determine a computed tomography plane to match the PB on magnetic resonance imaging. These included the tuberculum sella (TS)–anterior arch of the C1 vertebra (C1), TS–tip of dens axis (D), dorsum sellae (DS)–C1 and DS–D. We compared these methods of prescribing the coronal computed tomography plane to coronal magnetic resonance imaging planes by measuring the angles between TS–C1 and PB, TS–M and PB, DS–C1 and PB, DS–D and PB on midsagittal brain magnetic resonance images. Bland–Altman plots were created to assess intra-observer reliability.

Results

The angles between the PB line and each topogram-determined line are as follows: TS–C1, 10.40° ± 4.86°; TS–D, 22.46° ± 5.23°; DS–C1, 3.01° ± 3.16°; and DS–D, 11.53° ± 4.10°. The mean angles between the DS–C1 and the PB lines were significantly smaller than the mean angle between any other line (DS–D, TS–C1, or TS–D, all P < 0.001). Intra-observer agreement regarding the angular position of the reformatted coronal images on the lateral scout image was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.900, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The DS–C1 is almost parallel to the PB and easily identifiable on the lateral scout topography of brain computed tomography. Utilising the DS–C1 line as the baseline for brain computed tomography could allow better corroboration with coronal magnetic resonance imaging angulation.