bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extra‐appendicular neuroendocrine tumors: A report from the TREP project (2000‐2020)
Authors: Virgone Calogero , Ferrari Andrea , Chiaravalli Stefano , De Pasquale Maria Debora , Inserra Alessandro , D'Angelo Paolo , Ogunleye Martina Funmilayo , Crocoli Alessandro , Vallero Stefano , Cesaro Simone , Alaggio Rita , Bisogno Gianni , Dall'Igna Patrizia 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundExtra‐appendicular neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are very rare tumors. While diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines are well established for adults, data on children and adolescents are lacking.Patients and MethodsPatients with a diagnosis of extra‐appendicular NET registered on the Tumori Rari in Età Pediatrica ‐ Rare Tumors in Pediatric Age (TREP) from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed. Clinical characteristics including patients’ presentation, tumor features, treatment, and outcome were reviewed.ResultsTwenty‐seven patients with extra‐appendicular NET registered on TREP with a median age of 173 months. The primary site was the pancreas (12) or bronchi (10) in the majority of cases. Other primary sites included the thymus, Meckel's diverticulum, and liver. Thirteen (48%) of tumors extended beyond the organ of origin: four invaded neighboring organs and/or regional nodes and nine involved distant metastases. The 3‐year event‐free survival (EFS) for those with localized disease was superior to those with metastatic disease (66.6% 95% CI 5‐95% vs 33% 95% CI 5‐68%, respectively; P = .005). A complete resection was feasible in 17 patients. The 3‐year EFS in these patients was superior to those with no or incomplete resection (R0 vs R1/R2, respectively; P = .007). Overall, 16 children had no evidence of disease at follow‐up, and one is alive with disease; five died, and five were lost to follow‐up.ConclusionsData from our experience demonstrated a wide heterogeneity of presentation and outcome of these tumors. Localized disease and complete surgical resection were the main prognostic factors of good outcome. Other therapies may have a role in prolonging survival in metastatic disease.
Transcranial Doppler screening in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease: A 10‐year longitudinal study on the SPPIBA cohort
Authors: Lagunju IkeOluwa A. , Labaeka Adeyemi , Ibeh Joy N. , Orimadegun Adebola E. , Brown Biobele J. , Sodeinde Olugbemiro O. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrimary stroke prevention programmes for children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have been shown to be feasible interventions in resource‐poor countries. Different hydroxyurea (HU) regimens have been utilised in ameliorating the severity of SCD.ObjectiveTo determine the long‐term outcomes of the stroke prevention programme for children with SCD in Ibadan (SPPIBA), Nigeria.MethodsA longitudinal study of 396 children with haemoglobin SS disease who had been on the stroke prevention programme for a minimum period of 5 years. All enrollees had nonimaging TCD performed at baseline and thereafter 3‐monthly or annually. Children with TCD velocities ≥170 cm/s were treated with HU by dose‐escalation regimen.ResultsThe mean age at first TCD examination was 102 ± 46.7 months and the period of follow‐up ranged from 5 to 10 years (mean = 7.2 ± 1.7). Time to significant decline in TCD velocities ranged from 5 to 35 months, (median = 10.0 months). The minimum dose of HU required to achieve significant decline in TCD velocities ranged from 15 to 31 mg/kg/day, mean 23.7 (±3.9). HU dose escalation beyond 20 mg/kg/day was required to attain significant reductions in the time‐averaged mean of maximal velocities (TAMMV) in 69.1% of the cases. Two stroke events occurred giving a stroke incidence of 0.08 per 100 patient‐years.ConclusionThe majority of Nigerian children with SCD and elevated TCD velocities achieved significant decline in TAMMV within the first year of HU therapy but on higher doses of HU. It might be important to individualise HU doses for optimal outcomes in primary stroke prevention.
Active fault tolerant control based on adaptive interval observer for uncertain systems with sensor faults
Authors: Wang Xianghua , Pin Tan Chee , Wang Youqing , Zhang Ziye 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this article, we present an active fault tolerant control scheme based on fault detection and isolation (FDI) for a class of uncertain systems subject to sensor faults. The FDI unit consists of a fault detection (FD) module and a fault isolation (FI) module, to determine when and where the sensor fault happens. It is noted that the FD module is based on a proposed adaptive interval observer where adaptive parameters instead of conservative uncertainty bounds are used, as a result, the sensitivity to faults is improved. When the FD module detects a fault, a compensation controller (CC) and an FI module are activated. The CC is designed to maintain some level of performance assuming all sensors are faulty. After the FI module determines the location of the fault, a reconfigured controller is activated to give improved performance with reduced conservatism. Importantly, the unmeasurable states and faulty output are approximated as a linear combination of their upper and lower bounds, and linear parameter are determined by adaptive laws. Finally, a simulation example is utilized to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Iron Selenide Microcapsules as Universal Conversion‐Typed Anodes for Alkali Metal‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lu Shiyao , Wu Hu , Xu Siyuan , Wang Yuankun , Zhao Jianyun , Li Yuhan , Abdelkader Amr M. , Li Jiao , Wang Wei (Alex) , Xi Kai , Guo Yuzheng , Ding Shujiang , Gao Guoxin , Kumar Ramachandran Vasant 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRechargeable alkali metal‐ion batteries (AMIBs) are receiving significant attention owing to their high energy density and low weight. The performance of AMIBs is highly dependent on the electrode materials. It is, therefore, quite crucial to explore suitable electrode materials that can fulfil the future requirements of AMIBs. Herein, a hierarchical hybrid yolk–shell structure of carbon‐coated iron selenide microcapsules (FeSe2@C‐3 MCs) is prepared via facile hydrothermal reaction, carbon‐coating, HCl solution etching, and then selenization treatment. When used as the conversion‐typed anode materials (CTAMs) for AMIBs, the yolk–shell FeSe2@C‐3 MCs show advantages. First, the interconnected external carbon shell improves the mechanical strength of electrodes and accelerates ionic migration and electron transmission. Second, the internal electroactive FeSe2 nanoparticles effectively decrease the extent of volume expansion and avoid pulverization when compared with micro‐sized solid FeSe2. Third, the yolk–shell structure provides sufficient inner void to ensure electrolyte infiltration and mobilize the surface and near‐surface reactions of electroactive FeSe2 with alkali metal ions. Consequently, the designed yolk–shell FeSe2@C‐3 MCs demonstrate enhanced electrochemical performance in lithium‐ion batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, and potassium‐ion batteries with high specific capacities, long cyclic stability, and outstanding rate capability, presenting potential application as universal anodes for AMIBs.
Nanostructure of Functional Larotaxel Liposomes Decorated with Guanine‐Rich Quadruplex Nucleotide–Lipid Derivative for Treatment of Resistant Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Xueqi , Li Jianwei , Xu Jiarui , Chen Kun , Zhang Zhan , Duan Jialun , Luo Qian , Du Yafei , Chen Songyue , Xie Ying , Lu Wanliang 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBreast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women all over the world and its chemotherapy outcome is restricted by multidrug resistance. Here, a nanostructure by functional larotaxel liposomes decorated with guanine‐rich quadruplex nucleotide‐lipid derivative for treatment of resistant breast cancer is developed. The studies are performed on the resistant breast cancer cells and the cancer‐bearing mice. The nucleotide–lipid derivative (DSPE‐PEG2000‐C6‐GT28nt) is synthesized by introducing a hydrophobic hexyl linkage between GT‐28nt (containing 17 guanines and 11 thymidines) and DSPE‐PEG2000‐NHS, and is incorporated on the functional larotaxel liposomes for specific binding with nucleolin receptor on the resistant cancer cells. The studies demonstrate that the liposomes had long circulatory effect, targeted capability, and significant anticancer efficacy in resistant cancer‐bearing mice. The studies further reveal their action mechanism, consisting of blocking depolymerization of microtubules, arresting cell cycle, blocking JAK‐STAT signaling pathway, and inhibiting activity of antiapoptotic proteins. In conclusion, the functional larotaxel liposomes can be used for effective treatment of drug‐resistant breast cancer, and this study also offers a novel targeted nanomedicine based on nucleotide–lipid derivative.
SNHG3 cooperates with ELAVL2 to modulate cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix accumulation by stabilizing SNAI2 in human trabecular meshwork cells under oxidative stress
Authors: Li Sizhen , Yang Qingsong , Zhou Zixiu , Fu Min , Yang Xiaodong , Hao Kuanxiao , Liu Yating 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGlaucoma is the main reason for irreversible blindness, and pathological increased intraocular pressure is the leading risk factor for glaucoma. It is reported that trabecular meshwork cell injury is closely associated with the elevated intraocular pressure. The current study aimed to investigate the role of small nucleolar RNA host gene 3 (SNHG3) in human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells under oxidative stress. A series of experiments including real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, subcellular fractionation assay, western blot analysis, cell counting kit‐8 assay, RNA pull down, flow cytometry analysis, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to explore the biological function and regulatory mechanism of SNHG3 in HTM cells under oxidative stress. First, we observed that H2O2 induced SNHG3 upregulation in HTM cells. Then, we found that SNHG3 silencing alleviated H2O2‐induced oxidative damage in HTM cells. Moreover, snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2) knockdown alleviated the oxidative damage induced by H2O2 in HTM cells. Mechanistically, SNHG3 bound with ELAV like RNA binding protein 2 (ELAVL2) to stabilize SNAI2. Finally, SNAI2 overexpression counteracted the effect of SNHG3 silencing on H2O2‐treated HTM cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that SNHG3 cooperated with ELAVL2 to modulate cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix accumulation by stabilizing SNAI2 in HTM cells under oxidative stress.
Swampland Conjectures for strings and membranes
Authors: Lanza Stefano , Marchesano Fernando , Martucci Luca , Valenzuela Irene 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Swampland criteria like the Weak Gravity Conjecture should not only apply to particles, but also to other lower-codimension charged objects in 4d EFTs like strings and membranes. However, the description of the latter is in general subtle due to their large backreaction effects. In the context of 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 EFTs, we consider $$ \frac{1}{2} $$

1
2

BPS strings and membranes which are fundamental, in the sense that they cannot be resolved within the EFT regime. We argue that, if interpreted from the EFT viewpoint, the 4d backreaction of these objects translates into a classical RG flow of their couplings. Constraints on the UV charges and tensions get then translated to constraints on the axionic kinetic terms and scalar potential of the EFT. This uncovers new relations among the Swampland Conjectures, which become interconnected by the physical properties of low-codimension objects. In particular, using that string RG flows describe infinite field distance limits, we show that the WGC for strings implies the Swampland Distance Conjecture. Similarly, WGC-saturating membranes generate a scalar potential satisfying the de Sitter Conjecture.
Stealth decaying spin-1 dark matter
Authors: Delaunay Cédric , Ma Teng , Soreq Yotam 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We consider models of decaying spin-1 dark matter whose dominant coupling to the standard model sector is through a dark-Higgs Yukawa portal connecting a TeV-scale vector-like lepton to the standard model (right-handed) electron. Below the electron-positron threshold, dark matter has very slow, loop-suppressed decays to photons and (electron) neutrinos, and is stable on cosmological time-scale for sufficiently small gauge coupling values. Its relic abundance is set by in-equilibrium dark lepton decays, through the freeze-in mechanism. We show that this model accommodates the observed dark matter abundance for natural values of its parameters and a dark matter mass in the ∼ 5 keV to 1 MeV range, while evading constraints from direct detection, indirect detection, stellar cooling and cosmology. We also consider the possibility of a nonzero gauge kinetic mixing with the standard model hypercharge field, which is found to yield a mild impact on the model’s phenomenology.
Two-loop five-parton leading-colour finite remainders in the spinor-helicity formalism
Authors: De Laurentis Giuseppe , Maître Daniel 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We present all two-loop five-parton leading-colour finite remainders in the spinor-helicity formalism by analysing numerical evaluations of their known expressions in terms of Mandelstam invariants. Recasting them in terms of spinor-helicity variables allows us to obtain expressions which are more compact, faster to evaluate, numerically more stable and manifestly free from poles of higher order than necessary. At the same time, due to the better scaling of our reconstruction strategy with the complexity of the input, we required one order of magnitude fewer numerical samples to complete the analytical reconstruction than were needed by the authors of ref. [1], albeit using higher numerical working precision. This places our reconstruction technique as an alternative to the finite-field single-numerator reconstruction for future applications.
Gesundheitliche Folgen sozialer Isolation: Qualitative Studie zu psychosozialen Belastungen und Ressourcen älterer Menschen im Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Welzel Franziska D. , Schladitz Katja , Förster Franziska , Löbner Margrit , Riedel-Heller Steffi G. 
Published: February 2021

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Mit dem SARS-CoV-2-Ausbruchsgeschehen („Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2“, COVID-19) ist es zu einer Verunsicherung über Erkrankungsrisiko und Folgen der Virusinfektion in der Bevölkerung gekommen. Ältere Menschen gelten als Risikogruppe für schwere Infektionsverläufe und wurden im besonderen Maße zu sozialer Distanzierung aufgerufen. Gleichzeitig wurde die Sorge geäußert, dass sich Erkrankungsrisiko und soziale Isolation negativ auf die psychische Gesundheit älterer Menschen auswirken würden.

Ziele der Arbeit
Erfassung von psychosozialen Belastungen, vorhandenen Bewältigungsstrategien, Unterstützungsbedarfen und Kohärenzerleben älterer Menschen im Zusammenhang mit dem COVID-19-Ausbruchsgeschehen.

Material und Methoden
Die Studie folgt einem qualitativen Untersuchungsdesign. Zwischen Mai und Juni 2020 wurden telefonische Interviews mit 11 älteren Personen (70+) durchgeführt. Die Durchführung der Interviews erfolgte leitfadengestützt. Die Daten wurden mittels Audioaufzeichnung festgehalten, transkribiert und inhaltsanalytisch nach Mayring und Fenzl (2019) unter Nutzung von MAXQDA ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse
Die Probanden waren im Durchschnitt 74,8 Jahre alt. Bei den Befragten zeigte sich ein überwiegend stabiles Befinden und gutes Zurechtkommen mit dem COVID-19-Geschehen. Als wesentliche Ressourcen wurden Lebenserfahrung, frühere bewältigte Krisen, eine optimistische Grundhaltung und Einsicht in die Notwendigkeit der Maßnahmen genannt. Externe Unterstützungsangebote seien kaum in Anspruch genommen worden. Das Schließen seniorenspezifischer Treffpunkte wurde kritisch bewertet.

Diskussion
Ältere Menschen scheinen sich ihre psychosoziale Gesundheit trotz COVID-19-Pandemie überwiegend zu erhalten. Die Bedeutsamkeit mentaler Ressourcen älterer Menschen für die Unterstützung jüngerer Generationen bleibt bisher unerkannt.
No impact of a short-term climatic “El Niño” fluctuation on gut microbial diversity in populations of the Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Authors: Ibáñez Alejandro , Bletz Molly C. , Quezada Galo , Geffers Robert , Jarek Michael , Vences Miguel , Steinfartz Sebastian 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGut microorganisms are crucial for many biological functions playing a pivotal role in the host’s well-being. We studied gut bacterial community structure of marine iguana populations across the Galápagos archipelago. Marine iguanas depend heavily on their specialized gut microbiome for the digestion of dietary algae, a resource whose growth was strongly reduced by severe “El Niño”-related climatic fluctuations in 2015/2016. As a consequence, marine iguana populations showed signs of starvation as expressed by a poor body condition. Body condition indices (BCI) varied between island populations indicating that food resources (i.e., algae) are affected differently across the archipelago during ‘El Niño’ events. Though this event impacted food availability for marine iguanas, we found that reductions in body condition due to “El Niño”-related starvation did not result in differences in bacterial gut community structure. Species richness of gut microorganisms was instead correlated with levels of neutral genetic diversity in the distinct host populations. Our data suggest that marine iguana populations with a higher level of gene diversity and allelic richness may harbor a more diverse gut microbiome than those populations with lower genetic diversity. Since low values of these diversity parameters usually correlate with small census and effective population sizes, we use our results to propose a novel hypothesis according to which small and genetically less diverse host populations might be characterized by less diverse microbiomes. Whether such genetically depauperate populations may experience additional threats from reduced dietary flexibility due to a limited intestinal microbiome is currently unclear and calls for further investigation.
On thermal stability of piezo-flexomagnetic microbeams considering different temperature distributions
Authors: Malikan Mohammad , Wiczenbach Tomasz , Eremeyev Victor A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBy relying on the Euler–Bernoulli beam model and energy variational formula, we indicate critical temperature causes in the buckling of piezo-flexomagnetic microscale beams. The corresponding size-dependent approach is underlying as a second strain gradient theory. Small deformations of elastic solids are assessed, and the mathematical discussion is linear. Regardless of the pyromagnetic effects, the thermal loading of the thermal environment varies in three states along with the thickness, which is linear, uniform, and parabolic forms. We then establish the results by developing consistent shape functions that independently evaluate boundary conditions. Next, we analytically develop and explore the effective properties of the studied beam concerning vital factors. It was achieved that piezomagnetic-flexomagnetic microbeams are more affected by the thermal environment while the thermal loading is parabolically distributed across the thickness, particularly when the boundaries involve simple supports.
Comparable incidence of periprosthetic tibial fractures in cementless and cemented unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Burger Joost A. , Jager Tjeerd , Dooley Matthew S. , Zuiderbaan Hendrik A. , Kerkhoffs Gino M. M. J. , Pearle Andrew D. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose
(I) To determine the incidence of periprosthetic tibial fractures in cemented and cementless unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and (II) to summarize the existing evidence on characteristics and risk factors of periprosthetic fractures in UKA.

Methods
Pubmed, Cochrane and Embase databases were comprehensively searched. Any clinical, laboratory or case report study describing information on proportion, characteristics or risk factors of periprosthetic tibial fractures in UKA was included. Proportion meta-analysis was performed to estimate the incidence of fractures only using data from clinical studies. Information on characteristics and risk factors was evaluated and summarized.

Results
A total of 81 studies were considered to be eligible for inclusion. Based on 41 clinical studies, incidences of fractures were 1.24% (95%CI 0.64–2.41) for cementless and 1.58% (95%CI 1.06–2.36) for cemented UKAs (9451 UKAs). The majority of fractures in the current literature occurred during surgery or presented within 3 months postoperatively (91 of 127; 72%) and were non-traumatic (95 of 113; 84%). Six different fracture types were observed in 21 available radiographs. Laboratory studies revealed that an excessive interference fit (press fit), excessive tibial bone resection, a sagittal cut too deep posteriorly and low bone mineral density (BMD) reduce the force required for a periprosthetic tibial fracture to occur. Clinical studies showed that periprosthetic tibial fractures were associated with increased body mass index and postoperative alignment angles, advanced age, decreased BMD, female gender, and a very overhanging medial tibial condyle.

Conclusion
Comparable low incidences of periprosthetic tibial fractures in cementless and cemented UKA can be achieved. However, surgeons should be aware that an excessive interference fit in cementless UKAs in combination with an impaction technique may introduce an additional risk, and could therefore be less forgiving to surgical errors and patients who are at higher risk of periprosthetic tibial fractures.

Level of evidence
V.
CD30+OX40+ Treg is associated with improved overall survival in colorectal cancer
Authors: Lam Jian Hang , Hong Michelle , Koo Si-Lin , Chua Clarinda Wei Ling , Lim Kah Ling , Wee Felicia , Wan Wei Keat , Leow Wei Qiang , Yeo Joo Guan , Tan Iain Bee Huat , Yeong Joe , Lim Tony Kiat Hon , Lim Tong Seng 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRegulatory T cells (Tregs) are often enriched in tumors, where their immunosuppressive function has a key role in tumor persistence and progression. In colorectal cancer (CRC), however, Tregs are frequently associated with an improved clinical outcome. Tumor-infiltrating Tregs have been shown to exhibit a distinct signature comprising the co-stimulatory molecules (OX40, 4-1BB), cytokine receptors (IL1R2, IL21R, CCR8, CD30), and co-inhibitory molecules (PD-L1, TIGIT). Here, we showed by flow cytometry that circulating CD45RO+Tregs from patients with CRC (n = 25) have elevated CD30 and OX40 expression compared to healthy subjects (n = 14). We identified co-expression of CD30 and OX40 on circulating CD45RO+Tregs using single-cell images captured by the DEPArray™system. The frequency of CD30+OX40+CD45RO+Tregs was significantly higher in CRC patients than in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). Importantly, receiver operating characteristic analysis confirmed that this CD30+OX40+Treg subset could strongly discriminate between CRC patients and healthy subjects with the highest accuracy of 92.3%, an AUC of 0.92, a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, a negative predictive value of 82.35%, and a trade-off value of 3.44%, compared to other Treg subsets. Consistently, multiplex-IHC/IF of tumor-infiltrating Tregs revealed a significant association between high densities of CD30+OX40+Tregs and improved overall survival; no such association was found for other subsets. These data suggest a potential role for CD30+OX40+Tregs as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in CRC.