bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cohort study of occupational cosmic radiation dose and cancer mortality in German aircrew, 1960–2014
Authors: Dreger Steffen , Wollschläger Daniel , Schafft Thomas , Hammer Gaël P , Blettner Maria , Zeeb Hajo 
Published: February 2020

ObjectivesTo determine cancer mortality compared with the general population and to examine dose-response relationships between cumulative occupational radiation dose and specific cancer outcomes in the German aircrew cohort.MethodsFor a cohort of 26 846 aircrew personnel, standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated. Dose-response analyses were carried out using Poisson regression to assess dose-related cancer risks for the period 1960–2014. Exposure assessment comprises recently available dose register data for all cohort members and newly estimated retrospective cabin crew doses for 1960–2003.ResultsSMR for all-cause, specific cancer groups and most individual cancers were reduced in all aircrew groups. The only increases were seen for brain cancer in pilots (n=23, SMR 2.01, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.28) and for malignant melanoma (n=10, SMR 1.88, 95% CI 0.78 to 3.85). Breast cancer mortality among female cabin crew was similar to the general population (n=71, SMR 1.06, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.44). Overall median cumulative effective dose was 34.2 mSv (max: 116 mSv) for 1960–2014. No dose-response associations were seen in any of the models. For brain cancer, relative risks were elevated across dose categories. An indicative negative trend with increasing dose category was seen for large intestine cancer in female cabin crew (n=23).ConclusionsThere was no evidence for significant dose-response patterns for the considered cancer types. Interpretation of results remains difficult as cumulative dose is closely related to age. Future work should focus on investigating radiation jointly with other risk factors that may contribute to risks for specific cancers among aircrew.
The changing epidemiology of genital ulcer disease in South Africa: has donovanosis been eliminated?
Authors: Muller Etienne E , Kularatne Ranmini 
Published: February 2020

ObjectivesWe used an in-house molecular assay for the detection ofKlebsiella granulomatisin ulcer specimens collected over a 12-year surveillance period in order to determine whether a diagnosis of donovanosis could be ascribed to genital ulcer disease (GUD) of unknown aetiology in our setting.MethodsBetween 2007 and 2018, a total of 974 genital ulcer specimens with no previously identified sexually transmitted (STI) pathogens were selected from STI aetiological surveys conducted in all nine provinces of South Africa. Giemsa-stained ulcer smears from the same participants had previously been routinely analysed for the presence of typical Donovan bodies within large mononuclear cells. AKlebsiellascreening assay targeting thephoE(phosphate porin) gene was used in combination with restriction digest analysis and sequencing to confirm the presence ofK. granulomatis.ResultsTheKlebsiellascreening assay tested positive in 19/974 (2.0%) genital ulcer specimens. Restriction digest analysis and nucleotide sequencing of thephoEgene confirmed that none of these specimens was positive forK. granulomatisDNA. Similarly, Donovan bodies were not identified in the Giemsa stained ulcer smears of these specimens.ConclusionsThis is the first study to assessK. granulomatisas a cause of genital ulceration in South Africa over a 12-year surveillance period using molecular methods. The results demonstrate thatK. granulomatisis no longer a prevalent cause of GUD in our population.
Abundant traveling wave solutions to the resonant nonlinear Schrödinger’s equation with variable coefficients
Authors: Rezazadeh Hadi , Tariq Kalim U. , Sabi’u Jamilu , Bekir Ahmet 
Published: February 2020

In this paper, some new traveling wave solutions to the resonant nonlinear Schrödinger’s equation (R-NLSE) with time-dependent coefficients are constructed. The well-known auxiliary equation method is applied to develop numerous interesting classes of nonlinearities, namely the Kerr law and parabolic law. Such approach provides an extensive mathematical tool to develop a family of traveling wave solutions such as bright, dark, singular and optical solutions to the nonlinear evolution model. Moreover, with the aid of symbolic computation the three-dimensional plot and contour plot have been carried out to demonstrate the dynamical behavior of the nonlinear complex model.
THE CRITICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE M. BICEPS FEMORIS FOR THE RISK OF INJURY — A SIMULATION STUDY
Authors: ERTELT THOMAS , GRONWALD THOMAS 
Published: February 2020

The behavior of the M. biceps femoris with regard to its enormous vulnerability to injuries in sport remains unclear. Despite prevention programs, the rate of injuries of the hamstring muscles has risen by more than 4% in recent years. To get more insights into its function, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of different muscle insertion characteristics and activation levels using a simulation. We created a multi-segmented muscle model for evaluating the critical behavior of M. biceps femoris during a one-legged stopping maneuver. We analyzed muscle function, movement of the knee angle after initial ground contact, the simulated muscle force and the stop torques in the knee joint. The insertion geometry has an elementary effect on knee joint function and contributes to knee extension. The muscle activity plays a decisive role in elementary muscle function regarding the knee joint and in this regard the internal load of the M. biceps femoris increased without showing any visible effects on the kinematics. The anthropometry and function of this muscle needs to be taken into account to assess its effects on injury risk.
Comparison of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among African Immigrants and African Americans: An Analysis of the 2010 to 2016 National Health Interview Surveys
Authors: Turkson‐Ocran Ruth‐Alma N. , Nmezi Nwakaego A. , Botchway Marian O. , Szanton Sarah L. , Golden Sherita Hill , Cooper Lisa A. , Commodore‐Mensah Yvonne 
Published: February 2020

Background

Racial/ethnic minorities, especially non‐Hispanic blacks, in the United States are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, less is known about the prevalence of
cardiovascular disease
risk factors among ethnic sub‐populations of blacks such as African immigrants residing in the United States. This study's objective was to compare the prevalence of
cardiovascular disease
risk factors among African immigrants and African Americans in the United States.

Methods and Results

We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of the 2010 to 2016 National Health Interview Surveys and included adults who were black and African‐born (African immigrants) and black and
US
‐born (African Americans). We compared the age‐standardized prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight/obesity, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity, and current smoking by sex between African immigrants and African Americans using the 2010 census data as the standard. We included 29 094 participants (1345 African immigrants and 27 749 African Americans). In comparison with African Americans, African immigrants were more likely to be younger, educated, and employed but were less likely to be insured (
P
<0.05). African immigrants, regardless of sex, had lower age‐standardized hypertension (22% versus 32%), diabetes mellitus (7% versus 10%), overweight/obesity (61% versus 70%), high cholesterol (4% versus 5%), and current smoking (4% versus 19%) prevalence than African Americans.

Conclusions

The age‐standardized prevalence of
cardiovascular disease
risk factors was generally lower in African immigrants than African Americans, although both populations are highly heterogeneous. Data on blacks in the United States. should be disaggregated by ethnicity and country of origin to inform public health strategies to reduce health disparities.
A new species of Streblospio (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: MUNARI CRISTINA , WOLF MARION A. , INFANTINI VANESSA , MORO ISABELLA , SFRISO ADRIANO , MISTRI MICHELE 
Published: February 2020

The present study describes a new species of spionid polychaete, Streblospio eridani n. sp., from the Italian coasts of the Northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea). This new spionid species was recorded from shallow lagoon and marine habitats: the soft bottoms of the Sacca di Goro (Po River Delta), on October 2017, and the Lido di Dante (Emilia Romagna), between 2016 and 2017. The re-assessment of spionid specimens from other lagoon systems (the Valli di Comacchio and the Valle di Gorino) led us to recognize the presence of this species in the northern Adriatic Sea since 2009. Streblospio eridani n. sp. had low occurrence and density at the marine site Lido di Dante and at the lagoon sites Valli di Comacchio and Valle di Gorino; whereas it reached the highest density of 21,213.3 ind. m-2 at the Sacca di Goro. Morphologically this new species is characterized by dorsal (occipital) papilla on the first chaetiger, sabre chaetae and hooded hooks first appearing on chaetigers 7, hooks with 4-5 pairs of small secondary teeth, pygidium with ventral lappets, and brooding branchiate structures between chaetigers 13 and 28. In the phylogenetic reconstruction, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, the Adriatic taxon results clearly indicate that this is distinct from the other species of the genus and formed a well-supported clade with other Streblospio sp. specimens from India. Nucleotide divergences calculated between the Adriatic specimens and the other Streblospio species are higher than the intraspecific range reported for the genus and support the description of a new species. Morphological characters important for differentiation of the new species herein described from congeneric species are discussed and an updated key for Streblospio species is provided.
A Novel Method for Interpolating Daily Station Rainfall Data Using a Stochastic Lattice Model
Authors: Khouider Boualem , Sabeerali C. T. , Ajayamohan R. S. , Praveen V. , Majda Andrew J. , Pai D. S. , Rajeevan M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRain gauge data are routinely recorded and used around the world. However, their sparsity and inhomogeneity make them inadequate for climate model calibration and many other climate change studies. Various algorithms and interpolation techniques have been developed over the years to obtain adequately distributed datasets. Objective interpolation methods such as inverse distance weighting (IDW) are the most widely used and have been employed to produce some of the most popular gridded daily rainfall datasets (e.g., India Meteorological Department gridded daily rainfall). Unfortunately, the skill of these techniques becomes very limited to nonexistent in areas located far away from existing recording stations. This is problematic as many areas of the world lack adequate rain gauge coverage throughout the recording history. Here, we introduce a new probabilistic interpolation method in an attempt to address this issue. The new algorithm employs a multitype particle interacting stochastic lattice model that assigns a binned rainfall value, from a given number of bins to each lattice site or grid cell, with a certain probability according to the rainfall amounts observed in neighboring sites and a background climatological rain rate distribution, drawn from the available data. Grid cells containing recording stations are not affected and are being used as “boundary” input conditions by the stochastic model. The new stochastic model is successfully tested and compared against two widely used gridded daily rainfall datasets over the Indian landmass for data from the summer monsoon seasons (June–September) for 1951–70.
Validity of an enhanced EQ-5D-5L measure with an added cognitive dimension in patients with stroke
Authors: de Graaf JA , Kuijpers MMT , Visser-Meily JMA , Kappelle LJ , Post MWM 
Published: February 2020

Objective: The 5-level EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) is a patient-reported outcome measure frequently used in stroke research. However, it does not assess the cognitive problems many patients with stroke experience. The aim of this article is to compare the content validity, internal consistency and discriminative ability of the EQ-5D-5L with and without an additional cognitive domain (EQ-5D-5L+C), administered three months post-stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Six general hospitals in the Netherlands. Subjects: In all, 360 individuals with stroke three months after the event. Interventions: Not applicable. Main measures: The modified Rankin Scale and EQ-5D-5L+C were administered in telephone interviews three months post-stroke. Results: A total of 360 patients with stroke were included. Mean age was 68.8 years (standard deviation (SD) = 11.7), 143 (40%) were female, 334 (93%) had had an ischemic stroke, 165 (46%) had a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ⩽ 4 at presentation and the Barthel Index was 17.2 (SD = 4) four days post-stroke. Cognitive problems were reported by 199 (55%) patients three months post-stroke. Internal consistencies of the EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-5L+C were 0.75 and 0.77, respectively. Adding a cognitive domain resulted in a decrease of the ceiling effect from 22% to 14%. Both EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-5L+C showed good discriminative ability, but differences between patients with different modified Rankin Scale scores and with/without reported decrease in health and daily activities were slightly larger with the EQ-5D-5L+C compared to the EQ-5D-5L. Conclusions: The EQ-5D-5L+C, which includes a cognitive domain that is highly significant for stroke patients, showed increased content validity and good discriminative ability, without losing internal consistency.
Assessment of the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Evidence from an updated meta-analysis
Authors: Frikha Rim 
Published: February 2020

Objective The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism is closely related to the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Several case–control studies have investigated this association; however, no conclusions could be drawn. A comprehensive updated meta-analysis is established to explain these contradictions and clarify the overall impact of this variant on the susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods Electronic searches were conducted to select published studies prior to June 2018. Pooled odds ratios and stratification analysis were performed under different genetic comparison models, age, and ethnicity. Results Totally, 66 case–control studies including 9619 acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases and 17,396 controls were selected. Our analyses showed that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism was protective mainly in Asian and European countries, under all genetic models and regardless of age, but leukemogenic in mixed population. Conclusion Thus, C677T polymorphism may be a promising acute lymphoblastic leukemia biomarker, but they should be interpreted with caution considering other factors such as folic acid intake, gene–gene and gene–environment interactions.
Transcriptomic analysis of the testicular fusion in Spodoptera litura
Authors: Chen Yaqing , Ou Jun , Liu Yucheng , Wu Qiong , Wen Liang , Zheng Sichun , Li Sheng , Feng Qili , Liu Lin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundLepidoptera is one group of the largest plant-feeding insects andSpodoptera litura(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most serious agricultural pests in Asia countries. An interesting and unique phenomenon for gonad development of Lepidoptera is the testicular fusion. Two separated testes fused into a single one during the larva-to-pupa metamorphosis, which is believed to contribute to sperm production and the prevalence in field. To study the molecular mechanism of the testicular fusion, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments of the testes from 4-day-old sixth instar larvae (L6D4) (before fusion), 6-day-old sixth instar larvae (L6D6, prepupae) (on fusing) and 4-day-old pupae (P4D) (after fusion) ofS. liturawere performed.ResultsRNA-seq data of the testes showed that totally 12,339 transcripts were expressed at L6D4, L6D6 and P4D stages. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated from L6D4 to L6D6, and then more genes were down-regulated from L6D6 to P4D. The DEGs mainly belongs to the genes related to the 20E signal transduction pathway, transcription factors, chitin metabolism related enzymes, the families of cytoskeleton proteins, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, ECM-related protein, its receptor integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes. The expression levels of these genes that were up-regulated significantly during the testicular fusion were verified by qRT-PCR. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were found to be the main enzymes related to the ECM degradation and contribute to the testicular fusion. The testis was not able to fuse if MMPs inhibitor GM6001 was injected into the 5th abdomen region at L6D6 early stage.ConclusionsThe transcriptome and DEGs analysis of the testes at L6D4, L6D6 and P4D stages provided genes expression information related to the testicular fusion inS. litura. These results indicated that cytoskeleton proteins, ECM-integrin interaction genes and ECM-related proteins were involved in cell migration, adhesion and fusion during the testicular fusion. The ECM degradation enzymes MMPs probably play a critical role in the fusion of testis.
Retrospective analysis of the immunogenic effects of intra-arterial locoregional therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma: a rationale for combining selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and immunotherapy
Authors: Craciun Ligia , de Wind Roland , Demetter Pieter , Lucidi Valerio , Bohlok Ali , Michiels Sébastien , Bouazza Fikri , Vouche Michael , Tancredi Ilario , Verset Gontran , Garaud Soizic , Naveaux Céline , Galdon Maria Gomez , Gallo Karen Willard , Hendlisz Alain , Derijckere Ivan Duran , Flamen Patrick , Larsimont Denis , Donckier Vincent 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundImmunotherapy represents a promising option for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients but its efficacy is currently inconsistent and unpredictable. Locoregional therapies inducing immunogenic cell death, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), have the potential to act synergistically with immunotherapy. For the development of new approaches combining locoregional treatments with immunotherapy, a better understanding of the respective effects of TACE and SIRT on recruitment and activation of immune cells in HCC is needed. To address this question, we compared intra-tumor immune infiltrates in resected HCC after preoperative treatment with TACE or SIRT.MethodsData fromr patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for HCC, without preoperative treatment (SURG,n = 32), after preoperative TACE (TACE,n = 16), or preoperative SIRT (n = 12) were analyzed. Clinicopathological factors, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), CD4+and CD8+T cells, and granzyme B (GZB) expression in resected HCC, and postoperative overall and progression-free survival were compared between the three groups.ResultsClinicopathological and surgical characteristics were similar in the three groups. A significant increase in TILs, CD4+and CD8+T cells, and GZB expression was observed in resected HCC in SIRT as compared to TACE and SURG groups. No difference in immune infiltrates was observed between TACE and SURG patients. Within the SIRT group, the dose of irradiation affected the type of immune infiltrate. A significantly higher ratio of CD3+cells was observed in the peri-tumoral area in patients receiving < 100 Gy, whereas a higher ratio of intra-tumoral CD4+cells was observed in patients receiving > 100 Gy. Postoperative outcomes were similar in all groups. Irrespective of the preoperative treatment, the type and extent of immune infiltrates did not influence postoperative survival.ConclusionsSIRT significantly promotes recruitment/activation of intra-tumor effector-type immune cells compared to TACE or no preoperative treatment. These results suggest that SIRT is a better candidate than TACE to be combined with immunotherapy for treatment of HCC. Evaluation of the optimal doses for SIRT for producing an immunogenic effect and the type of immunotherapy to be used require further evaluation in prospective studies.
Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) as a non-invasive, tissue cellularity marker to monitor cancer treatment response
Authors: Fliedner Frederikke Petrine , Engel Trine Bjørnbo , El-Ali Henrik H. , Hansen Anders Elias , Kjaer Andreas 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) holds great potential for monitoring treatment response in cancer patients shortly after initiation of radiotherapy. It is hypothesized that a decrease in cellular density of irradiated cancerous tissue will lead to an increase in quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. DW-MRI can therefore serve as a non-invasive marker of cell death and apoptosis in response to treatment. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the applicability of DW-MRI in preclinical models to monitor radiation-induced treatment response. In addition, we compared DW-MRI with ex vivo measures of cell density, cell death and apoptosis.

Methods
DW-MRI was tested in two different syngeneic mouse models, a colorectal cancer (CT26) and a breast cancer (4 T1). ADC values were compared with quantitative determinations of apoptosis and cell death by flow cytometry. Furthermore, ADC-values were also compared to histological measurement of cell density on tumor sections.

Results
We found a significant correlation between ADC-values and apoptotic state in the CT26 model (P = 0.0031). A strong correlation between the two measurements of ADC-value and apoptotic state was found in both models, which were also present when comparing ADC-values to cell densities.

Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate that DW-MRI can be used for non-invasive monitoring of radiation-induced changes in cell state during cancer therapy. ADC values reflect ex vivo cell density and correlates well with apoptotic state, and can hereby be described as a marker for the cell state after therapy and used as a non-invasive response marker.