bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prognostic model for elderly patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer: a population-based study
Authors: Chen Siying , Gao Chunxia , Du Qian , Tang Lina , You Haisheng , Dong Yalin 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a main pathological type of non-small cell lung cancer. It is common among elderly patients with poor prognosis. We aimed to establish an accurate nomogram to predict survival for elderly patients (≥ 60 years old) with SCC based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Methods
The gerontal patients diagnosed with SCC from 2010 to 2015 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The independent prognostic factors were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, which were utilized to conduct a nomogram for predicting survival. The novel nomogram was evaluated by Concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results
32,474 elderly SCC patients were included in the analysis, who were randomly assigned to training cohort (n = 22,732) and validation cohort (n = 9742). The following factors were contained in the final prognostic model: age, sex, race, marital status, tumor site, AJCC stage, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Compared to AJCC stage, the novel nomogram exhibited better performance: C-index (training group: 0.789 vs. 0.730, validation group: 0.791 vs. 0.733), the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training set (1-year AUC: 0.846 vs. 0.791, 3-year AUC: 0.860 vs. 0.801, 5-year AUC: 0.859 vs. 0.794) and the validation set (1-year AUC: 0.846 vs. 0.793, 3-year AUC: 0.863 vs. 0.806, 5-year AUC: 0.866 vs. 0.801), and the 1-, 3- and 5-year calibration plots. Additionally, the NRI and IDI and 1-, 3- and 5-year DCA curves all confirmed that the nomogram was a great prognosis tool.

Conclusions
We constructed a novel nomogram that could be practical and helpful for precise evaluation of elderly SCC patient prognosis, thus helping clinicians in determining the appropriate therapy strategies for individual SCC patients.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes influence chondrocytes to alter BMP antagonist expression demonstrating an interaction between the two prominent cell types involved in endochondral bone formation
Authors: Simonds Megan M. , Schlefman Amanda R. , McCahan Suzanne M. , Sullivan Kathleen E. , Rose Carlos D. , Brescia AnneMarie C. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
To examine critical interactions between juvenile idiopathic arthritis synovial fibroblasts (JFLS) and chondrocytes (Ch), and their role in bony overgrowth seen in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods
Control (CFLS) and JFLS were cultured in synoviocyte media containing recombinant BMP4. Ch were cultured in either CFLS or JFLS conditioned-media without stimulation. Media supernatants were analyzed by ELISA. RNA from conditioned media experiment was analyzed by ClariomS microarray.

Results
As expected, genes expressed in untreated JFLS and CFLS cultured in synoviocyte media were similar to each other and this expression differed from untreated Ch cultured in chondrocyte media. JFLS favor BMP ligand gene expression while downregulating TGFβ receptors’ expression. Noggin and chordin, antagonists with high affinity for BMP4, are JFLS- but not Ch-preferred regulators of BMP signaling. Compared to Ch, JFLS overexpress collagen X (COLX), a marker of chondrocyte hypertrophy. Exogenous BMP4 causes JFLS to significantly decrease expression of noggin and collagen II (COL2), a marker of chondrocyte proliferation, and causes overexpression of COLX and alkaline-phosphatase (ALP). Chondrocytes cultured in JFLS-conditioned media (Ch-JFLS) express BMP genes and favor chordin protein expression over other antagonists. Ch-JFLS have significantly increased expression of COL2 and significantly decreased expression of COLX.

Conclusions
These data suggest JFLS, in the presence of BMP4, undergo hypertrophy and that JFLS-conditioned media influence chondrocytes to become highly proliferative. To the authors’ knowledge, no prior study has shown that JFLS and chondrocytes play a direct role in the bony overgrowth in joints of patients with JIA and that BMPs or regulation of these growth factors influence the interaction between two prominent synovial cell types.
Metabolomic signatures for visceral adiposity and dysglycaemia in Asian Chinese and Caucasian European adults: the cross-sectional TOFI_Asia study
Authors: Wu Zhanxuan E. , Fraser Karl , Kruger Marlena C. , Sequeira Ivana R. , Yip Wilson , Lu Louise W. , Plank Lindsay D. , Murphy Rinki , Cooper Garth J. S. , Martin Jean-Charles , Poppitt Sally D. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundAsian Chinese are more susceptible to deposition of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) development than European Caucasians when matched for gender, age and body mass index (BMI). Our aims were: (i) characterise the ethnicity-specific metabolomic signature of visceral adiposity measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and (ii) identify individuals susceptible to worse metabolic health outcomes.MethodsFasting plasma samples from normoglycaemic (n = 274) and prediabetic (n = 83) participants were analysed with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry using untargeted metabolomics. Multiple linear regression adjusting for age, gender and BMI was performed to identify metabolites associated with FPG and VAT calculated as percentage of total body fat (%VATTBF) in each ethnic group. Metabolic risk groups in each ethnicity were stratified based on the joint metabolomic signature for FPG and %VATTBFand clinically characterised using partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and t-tests.ResultsFPG was correlated with 40 and 110 metabolites in Caucasians and Chinese respectively, with diglyceride DG(38:5) (adjusted β = 0.29,p = 3.00E−05) in Caucasians and triglyceride TG(54:4) (adjusted β = 0.28,p = 2.02E−07) in Chinese being the most significantly correlated metabolite based on the p-value. %VATTBFwas correlated with 85 and 119 metabolites in Caucasians and Chinese respectively, with TG(56:2) (adjusted β = 0.3,p = 8.25E−09) in Caucasians and TG(58:3) (adjusted β = 0.25,p = 2.34E−08) in Chinese being the most significantly correlated. 24 metabolites associated with FPG were common to both ethnicities including glycerolipid species. 67 metabolites associated with %VATTBFwere common to both ethnicities including positive correlations with dihydroceramide, sphingomyelin, glycerolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethnolamine, and inverse correlations with ether-linked phosphatidylcholine. Participant re-stratification found greater total and central adiposity, worse clinical lipid profiles, higher serum glucoregulatory peptides and liver enzymes in normal fasting glucose (NFG) individuals with a prediabetic metabolomic profile than NFG individuals with a normoglycaemic metabolomic profile in both ethnicities.ConclusionsUntargeted metabolomics identified common and disparate metabolites associated with FPG and %VATTBF, with an ethnic-dimorphic signature for these metabolic traits. These signatures could improve risk stratification and identify NFG individuals with an adverse cardiometabolic and T2D risk profile.
Novel biomarkers with promising benefits for diagnosis of cervical neoplasia: a systematic review
Authors: Onyango Calleb George , Ogonda Lilian , Guyah Bernard , Shiluli Clement , Ganda Gregory , Orang’o Omenge Elkanah , Patel Kirtika 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
Cervical cancer screening is slowly transitioning from Pappanicolaou cytologic screening to primary Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) or HPV testing as an effort to enhance early detection and treatment. However, an effective triage tests needed to decide who among the VIA or HPV positive women should receive further diagnostic evaluation to avoid unnecessary colposcopy referrals is still lacking. Evidence from experimental studies have shown potential usefulness of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCC Ag), Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (M-CSF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), MicroRNA, p16INKa / ki-67, HPV E6/E7/mRNA, and DNA methylation biomarkers in detecting premalignant cervical neoplasia. Given the variation in performance, and scanty review studies in this field, this systematic review described the diagnostic performance of some selected assays to detect high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) with histology as gold standard.

Methods
We systematically searched articles published in English between 2012 and 2020 using key words from PubMed/Medline and SCOPUS with two reviewers assessing study eligibility, and risk of bias. We performed a descriptive presentation of the performance of each of the selected assays for the detection of CIN2 + .

Results
Out of 298 citations retrieved, 58 articles were included. Participants with cervical histology yielded CIN2+ proportion range of 13.7–88.4%. The diagnostic performance of the assays to detect CIN2+ was; 1) SCC-Ag: range sensitivity of 78.6–81.2%, specificity 74–100%. 2) M-CSF: sensitivity of 68–87.7%, specificity 64.7–94% 3) VEGF: sensitivity of 56–83.5%, specificity 74.6–96%. 4) MicroRNA: sensitivity of 52.9–67.3%, specificity 76.4–94.4%. 5) p16INKa / ki-67: sensitivity of 50–100%, specificity 39–90.4%. 6) HPV E6/E7/mRNA: sensitivity of 65–100%, specificity 42.7–90.2%, and 7) DNA methylation: sensitivity of 59.7–92.9%, specificity 67–98%.

Conclusion
Overall, the reported test performance and the receiving operating characteristics curves implies that implementation of p16ink4a/ki-67 assay as a triage for HPV positive women to be used at one visit with subsequent cryotherapy treatment is feasible. For the rest of assays, more robust clinical translation studies with larger consecutive cohorts of women participants is recommended.
Health-care organization for the management and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children during pandemic in Campania region, Italy
Authors: Nunziata Francesco , Bruzzese Eugenia , Poeta Marco , Pierri Luca , Catzola Andrea , Ciccarelli Gian Paolo , Vassallo Edoardo , Montella Emma , Lo Vecchio Andrea , Guarino Alfredo 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
In comparison with adults, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children has a milder course. The management of children with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) needs to be appropriately targeted.

Methods
We designed a hub-and-spoke system to provide healthcare indications based on the use of telemedicine and stringent admission criteria, coordinate local stakeholders and disseminate information.

Result
Between March 24th and September 24th 2020, the Hub Centre managed a total of 208 children (52% males, median age, 5.2, IQR 2–9.6 years) with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Among them, 174 were managed in cooperation with family pediatricians and 34 with hospital-based physicians. One hundred-four (50%) received a final diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Application of stringent criteria for hospital admission based on clinical conditions, risk factors and respect of biocontainment measures, allowed to manage the majority of cases (74, 71.1%) through telemedicine. Thirty children (28%) were hospitalized (median length 10 days, IQR 5–19 days), mainly due to the presence of persistent fever, mild respiratory distress or co-infection occurring in infant or children with underlying conditions. However, the reasons for admission slightly changed over time.

Conclusion
An hub-and-spoke system is effective in coordinate territorial health-care structures involved in management paediatric COVID-19 cases through telemedicine and the definition of stringent hospital admission criteria.
The management of children with COVID-19 should be based on clinical conditions, assessed on a case-by-case critical evaluation, as well as on isolation measures, but may vary according to local epidemiological changes.
Molecular identification of native Wolbachia pipientis in Anopheles minimus in a low-malaria transmission area of Umphang Valley along the Thailand-Myanmar border
Authors: Tongkrajang Nongnat , Ruenchit Pichet , Tananchai Chatchai , Chareonviriyaphap Theeraphap , Kulkeaw Kasem 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
Wolbachia, obligate intracellular bacteria, infect the majority of arthropods, including many mosquito species of medical importance. Some Wolbachia strains interfere with the development of Plasmodium parasites in female Anopheles, a major vector of malaria. The use of Wolbachia as a means to block malaria transmission is an emerging vector control strategy in highly endemic areas. Hence, identification of native Wolbachia strains in areas where malaria transmission is low may uncover a particular Wolbachia strain capable of Plasmodium interference. This study aims to identify native Wolbachia strains in female Anopheles spp. that are predominant in a low-malaria transmission area in mainland Southeast Asia.

Methods
Following a 2-year survey of malaria vectors in Umphang Valley of Tak Province, Thailand, DNA extracts of female An. minimus, An. peditaeniatus, and An. maculatus were subjected to amplification of the conserved region of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene. The DNA sequences of the amplicons were phylogenetically compared with those of known Wolbachia strains.

Results
Among three Anopheles spp., amplification was detected in only the DNA samples from An. minimus. The DNA sequencing of amplicons revealed 100% similarity to Wolbachia pipientis, confirming the specificity of amplification. The Wolbachia-positive An. minimus samples were devoid of Plasmodium 18S rRNA amplification. The phylogenetic trees indicate a close relationship with Wolbachia strains in subgroup B.

Conclusion
To the best of our knowledge, the data presented herein provide the first molecular evidence of a Wolbachia strain in An. minimus, hereinafter named wAnmi, in a low-malaria transmission area in the Umphang Valley of western Thailand. Further biological characterization is required to examine its potential for malaria transmission control in the field.

Graphical Abstract
Interchanging a limit and an integral: necessary and sufficient conditions
Authors: Kamihigashi Takashi 
Published: November 2020

AbstractLet $\{f_{n}\}_{n \in \mathbb {N}}$

{

f
n

}

n
∈
N

be a sequence of integrable functions on a σ-finite measure space $(\Omega, \mathscr {F}, \mu )$
(
Ω
,
F
,
μ
)
. Suppose that the pointwise limit $\lim_{n \uparrow \infty } f_{n}$

lim

n
↑
∞

f
n

exists μ-a.e. and is integrable. In this setting we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the following equality to hold: $$ \lim_{n \uparrow \infty } \int f_{n} \, d\mu = \int \lim_{n \uparrow \infty } f_{n} \, d\mu. $$

lim

n
↑
∞

∫

f
n

d
μ
=
∫

lim

n
↑
∞

f
n

d
μ
.
Identities involving 3-variable Hermite polynomials arising from umbral method
Authors: Raza Nusrat , Zainab Umme , Araci Serkan , Esi Ayhan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we employ an umbral method to reformulate the 3-variable Hermite polynomials and introduce the 4-parameter 3-variable Hermite polynomials. We also obtain some new properties for these polynomials. Moreover, some special cases are discussed and some concluding remarks are also given.
Association of gut microbiota with metabolism in juvenile Atlantic salmon
Authors: Dvergedal H. , Sandve S. R. , Angell I. L. , Klemetsdal G. , Rudi K. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe gut microbiome plays a key role in animal health and metabolism through the intricate functional interconnection between the feed, gut microbes, and the host. Unfortunately, in aquaculture, the links between gut microbes and fish genetics and production phenotypes are not well understood.In this study, we investigate the associations between gut microbial communities, fish feed conversion, and fish genetics in the domestic Atlantic salmon. Microbial community composition was determined for 230 juvenile fish from 23 full-sib families and was then regressed on growth, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and feed efficiency. We only found weak associations between host genetics and microbial composition. However, we did identify significant (p < 0.05) associations between the abundance of three microbial operational taxonomical units (OTUs) and fish metabolism phenotypes. Two OTUs were associated with both carbon metabolism in adipose tissue and feed efficiency, while a third OTU was associated with weight gain.In conclusion, this study demonstrates an intriguing association between host lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota composition in Atlantic salmon.
A firefly algorithm based hybrid method for structural topology optimization
Authors: Gebremedhen Hailu Shimels , Woldemichael Dereje Engida , Hashim Fakhruldin Mohd 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a firefly algorithm based hybrid algorithm through retaining global convergence of firefly algorithm and ability to generate connected topologies of optimality criteria (OC) method is proposed as an alternative method to solve stress-based topology optimization problems. The lower and upper limit of design variables (0 and 1) were used to find initial material distribution to initialize the firefly algorithm based section of the hybrid algorithm. Input parameters, the number of fireflies, and the number of function evaluations were determined before the implementation of the firefly algorithm to solve formulated problems. Since the direct application of the firefly algorithm cannot generate connected topologies, outputs from the firefly algorithm were used as an initial input material distribution for the OC method. The proposed method was validated using two-dimensional benchmark problems and the results were compared with results using the OC method. Weight percentage reduction, maximum stress-induced, optimal material distribution, and compliance were used to compare results. Results from the proposed method showed that the proposed method can generate connected topologies which are free from the interference of end-users, and only depend on boundary conditions or design variables. From the results, the objective function (weight of the design domain) can be further reduced in the range of 5 to 15% compared to the OC method.
Patient and tumor factors contributing to distant metastasis in well-differentiated thyroid cancer: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Khan Usman , Al Afif Ayham , Aldaihani Abdullah , MacKay Colin , Rigby Matthew H. , Rajaraman Murali , Imran Syed Ali , Bullock Martin J. , Taylor S. Mark , Trites Jonathan R. B. , Hart Robert D. 
Published: November 2020

Background Distant metastasis in thyroid cancer significantly reduces survival in patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC). There is limited information available to clinicians regarding pathological features that confer a higher risk of distant metastasis (DM). This study aimed to identify patient and tumor factors that were associated with the development of DM over time in patients with WDTC. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis of patients with WDTC ( n = 584) at our institution was performed between 2007 and 2017. A total of 39 patients with DM and 529 patients with no DM (NDM) were included. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics and patient survival were compared between the DM and NDM groups using a univariate analysis. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the risk of developing distant metastasis over time. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare survival between the DM and NDM groups. Results Distant metastasis had a substantial impact on disease-specific survival (DSS) at 5 and 10-years in the DM group; 71.0% (SE 8.4%) and 46.9% (SE 11.6%) respectively, compared to 100% survival in the NDM group ( p < 0.001). The DM group had significantly higher proportions of males, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), nodal metastasis (NM), large tumor size (TS), extrathyroidal extension (ETE), positive resection margins, multifocality, follicular thyroid cancer (FTC), tall cell variant of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC), when compared to the NDM group ( p < 0.05). A TS ≥ 2 cm (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.370), NM (HR 3.806) and FTC (HR 7.068) were associated with a significantly increased hazard of developing distant metastasis in patients with WDTC. Conclusions TS ≥ 2 cm, NM and FTC are associated with a significantly increased propensity for developing DM in our cohort of WDTC patients. Graphical Abstract
Surgical treatment of fourth branchial apparatus anomalies: A case series study
Authors: Li Wan-Xin , Dong Yanbo , Zhang Aobo , Tian Jun , Lu Cheng , Jeannon Jean Pierre , Liu Liangfa 
Published: November 2020

Background Fourth branchial apparatus anomalies, are rare clinical entities, and present as complex cysts, sinuses and fistulae in the neck that can be difficult to manage. Methods This is a retrospective review of a series of consecutive patients with fourth branchial apparatus anomalies treated at Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, from Apr 2014 to Nov 2019. Results Ten patients with fourth branchial apparatus anomalies were identified, including 8 patients with fourth branchial fistula, and 2 patients with fourth branchial pouch sinus. There were 6 female patients and 4 male patients. Their age was from 6 years old to 39 years old (average age 20.4 years old, median age was 21 years old). All 8 fistulae were on the left side, while 2 pouch sinuses were both on the right side. Pre-operative examination with fiberoptic laryngoscope, barium swallow X-ray, CT or MRI identified internal orifice at pyriform fossa apex in 8 (80%) patients. All patients underwent challenging surgical resection by the senior author. Intra-operative direct laryngoscope confirmed or identified internal orifice in 9 (90%) patients. The tracts were all followed to the vicinity of inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage and the cricothyroid space. Complete resection of cervical lesions and their attachment to hypopharynx were achieved in 9 cases. No complication occurred. One recurrence was detected, in the only patient whose internal orifice could not be located pre- or intra-operatively, and the hypopharyngeal attachment could not be removed. Conclusions Direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia is a reliable method of diagnosis for the fourth branchial apparatus anomalies. Complete surgical removal of fourth branchial apparatus anomalies, including their hypopharyngeal attachment, is the treatment of choice, and the key to prevent recurrence.
Comparison of sort algorithms in Hadoop and PCJ
Authors: Nowicki Marek 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSorting algorithms are among the most commonly used algorithms in computer science and modern software. Having efficient implementation of sorting is necessary for a wide spectrum of scientific applications. This paper describes the sorting algorithm written using the partitioned global address space (PGAS) model, implemented using the Parallel Computing in Java (PCJ) library. The iterative implementation description is used to outline the possible performance issues and provide means to resolve them. The key idea of the implementation is to have an efficient building block that can be easily integrated into many application codes. This paper also presents the performance comparison of the PCJ implementation with the MapReduce approach, using Apache HadoopTeraSortimplementation. The comparison serves to show that the performance of the implementation is good enough, as the PCJ implementation shows similar efficiency to the Hadoop implementation.