bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Statistical Modeling for the Effects of Vegetative Growth on Power Distribution System Reliability
Authors: Pan Juming 
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of vegetative growth on the reliability of electric power distribution system under normal (storm exclusion) operating conditions, and to determine an effective vegetation maintenance schedule. Generalized statistical linear regression models, including Poisson, Negative Binomial, Zero-Inflated, and their mixed model variants are developed and are applied into a 5-years outage data along with vegetation maintenance history from a power company in Midwestern United States. From the methodological point of view, advanced statistical models such as zero-inflated models and mixed models are utilized the first time on outage data and provided good fit to the occurrence of outages. In practice, numerical results from this study suggest that an optimal cycle length of every 6 years could be greatly helpful for power companies in devising a cost-effective schedule, improving system reliability, and maintaining customer satisfaction.
Metataxonomic and Metabolic Impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation From Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Into Germ-Free Mice: A Pilot Study
Authors: Genton Laurence , Lazarevic Vladimir , Stojanovic Ozren , Spiljar Martina , Djaafar Souad , Koessler Thibaud , Dutoit Valérie , Gaïa Nadia , Mareschal Julie , Macpherson Andrew James , Herrmann Francois , Trajkovski Mirko , Schrenzel Jacques 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundBody weight (BW) loss is prevalent in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). Gut microbiota affects BW and is known to directly shape the host immune responses and antitumor immunity. This pilot study evaluated the link between gut microbiota, metabolic parameters and inflammatory/immune parameters, through the fecal material transplantation (FMT) of PC patients and healthy volunteers into germ-free (GF) mice.MethodsWe transplanted the feces from five PC patients and five age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers into two GF mice each. Mouse BW and energy intake were measured every 1-5 days, oral glucose on day 21, insulin tolerance on day 26, fecal bacterial taxonomic profile by 16S rRNA gene sequencing on day 5, 10, 15 and 30, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue T cells, plasma cytokines and weights of fat and muscle mass at sacrifice (day 34). Results are presented as mean ± SD. The continuous parameters of mice groups were compared by linear univariate regressions, and their bacterial communities by Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA), Bray-Curtis similarity and ANCOM test.ResultsRecipients of feces from PC patients and healthy volunteers had similar BW gain and food intake. Visceral fat was lower in recipients of feces from PC patients than from healthy individuals (0.72 ± 0.17 vs. 0.92 ± 0.14 g; coeff -0.19, 95% CI -0.38, -0.02, p=0.035). The other non-metataxonomic parameters did not differ between groups. In PCoA, microbiota from PC patients clustered apart from those of healthy volunteers and the same pattern was observed in transplanted mice. The proportions of Clostridium bolteae, Clostridium scindens, Clostridium_g24_unclassified and Phascolarctobacterium faecium were higher, while those of Alistipes obesi, Lachnospiraceae PAC000196_s and Coriobacteriaceae_unclassified species were lower in PC patients and in mice transplanted with the feces from these patients.ConclusionIn this pilot study, FMT from PC patients was associated with a decrease in visceral fat as compared to FMT from healthy individuals. Some of the differences in fecal microbiota between PC and control samples are common to humans and mice. Further research is required to confirm that feces contain elements involved in metabolic and immune alterations.
Impact of Upward Oxygen Diffusion From the Oceanic Crust on the Magnetostratigraphy and Iron Biomineralization of East Pacific Ridge-Flank Sediments
Authors: Höfken Adrian Felix , von Dobeneck Tilo , Kuhn Thomas , Kasten Sabine 
Published: October 2021

Recent measurements of pore-water oxygen profiles in ridge flank sediments of the East Pacific Rise revealed an upward-directed diffusive oxygen flux from the hydrothermally active crust into the overlying sediment. This double-sided oxygenation from above and below results in a dual redox transition from an oxic sedimentary environment near the seabed through suboxic conditions at sediment mid-depth back to oxic conditions in the deeper basal sediment. The potential impact of this redox reversal on the paleo- and rock magnetic record was analyzed for three sediment cores from the Clarion-Clipperton-Zone (low-latitude eastern North Pacific). We found that the upward-directed crustal oxygen flux does not impede high quality reversal-based and relative paleointensity-refined magnetostratigraphic dating. Despite low and variable sedimentation rates of 0.1–0.8 cm/kyr, robust magnetostratigraphic core chronologies comprising the past 3.4 resp. 5.2 million years could be established. These age-models support previous findings of significant local sedimentation rate variations that are probably related to the bottom current interactions with the topographic roughness of the young ridge flanks. However, we observed some obvious paleomagnetic irregularities localized at the lower oxic/suboxic redox boundaries of the investigated sediments. When analyzing these apparently remagnetized sections in detail, we found no evidence of physical disturbance or chemical alteration. A sharp increase in single-domain magnetite concentration just below the present lower oxic/suboxic redox boundary suggests secondary magnetite biomineralization by microaerophilic magnetotactic bacteria living as a separate community in the lower, upward oxygenated part of the sediment column. We therefore postulate a two-phased post-depositional remanent magnetization of ridge flank sediments, first by a shallow and later by a deep-living community of magnetotactic bacteria. These findings are the first evidence of a second, deep population of probably inversely oriented magnetotactic bacteria residing in the inverse oxygen gradient zone of ridge flank sediments.
Multistage Genesis of the Haerdaban Pb-Zn Deposit, West Tianshan: Constraints From Fluid Inclusions and H-O-S-Pb Isotopes
Authors: Xia Fang , Li Shun-Da , Chen Chuan , Gao Ling-Ling , Zhang Xue-Bing , Wang Ke-Yong 
Published: October 2021

The Haerdaban Pb-Zn deposit is located on the western edge of the Chinese Western Tianshan Orogen. This deposit consists of stratiform and veined mineralization hosted in Proterozoic carbonaceous and dolomitic limestone. Three metallogenic stages were recognized: an early sedimentary exhalative stage (stage 1), an intermediate metamorphic remobilization stage (stage 2), and a late magmatic-hydrothermal stage (stage 3). Fluid inclusions (FIs) present in stage 1 are liquid-rich aqueous, with homogenization temperatures of 206–246 C and salinities of 5.9–11.6 wt% NaCl eq. FIs present in stage 2 are also liquid-rich aqueous, with homogenization temperatures of 326–349 C and salinities of 3.4–6.6 wt% NaCl eq. FIs present in stage 3 include halite-bearing, vapor-rich aqueous, and liquid-rich aqueous FIs. Homogenization temperatures for these FIs span a range of 249–316 C. Halite-bearing, vapor-rich aqueous, and liquid-rich aqueous FIs yield salinities of 33.8–38.9, 2.6–3.5, and 4.2–8.1 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic data (δ18OH2O = 2.6–13.6‰, δDH2O = −94.7 to −40.7‰) indicate that the ore-forming fluids of stages 1–3 were derived from modified seawater, metamorphic water, and magmatic-meteoric mixed water, respectively. Sulfur isotopic data (δ34S = 2.1–16.3‰) reveal that ore constituents were derived from mixing of marine sulfate and magmatic materials. Lead isotopic data (206Pb/204Pb = 17.002–17.552, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.502–15.523, 208Pb/204Pb = 37.025–37.503) reveal that ore constituents were derived from a mixed crust-mantle source. We propose that the Haerdaban deposit was a Proterozoic sedimentary exhalative deposit overprinted by later metamorphic remobilization and magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization.
Antibody- Based Immunotherapy Combined With Antimycotic Drug TMP- SMX to Treat Infection With Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Authors: Boniche-Alfaro Camila , Kischkel Brenda , Thomaz Luciana , Carvalho-Gomes Monique Maria , Lopes-Bezerra Leila M. , Nosanchuk Joshua Daniel , Taborda Carlos Pelleschi 
Published: October 2021

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are promising alternatives to treat infectious diseases, especially given their potential for applications in combination therapies with antimicrobial drugs to enhance the antifungal efficacy. Protection mediated by mAbs used to treat experimental paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has been demonstrated previously. Our aim in the present work was to characterize a monoclonal antibody (mAbF1.4) raised against a cell wall glycoconjugate fraction of Paracoccidioides spp. and to analyze its efficacy combined with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) as treatment for experimental PCM. We demonstrated that the epitope recognized by mAbF1.4 is consistent with branched glucose residues present on a cell wall β-glucan polymer. In vitro, mAbF1.4 increased the phagocytic capacity and nitric oxide concentration induced by the macrophage cell line J774.1A, and this resulted in a significant reduction in the viability of the opsonophagocytized yeasts. In vivo, we detected a significant reduction in pulmonary fungal burdens of mice treated with mAbF1.4 in association with TMP/SMX, which correlated with increased pulmonary concentrations (determined by ELISA) of IFN- γ, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-17. In parallel, we observed a decrease in IL-4, suggesting that the treatment was associated with a mixed Th1-Th17 type immune response. Histopathology of lung segments from mice receiving the combination therapy showed a significant reduction in granulomas, which were well-defined, and improved maintenance of lung architecture. These findings demonstrate that mAbF1.4 + TMP/SMX therapy is a promising approach to combat PCM as well as decrease disease sequelae and highlights the potential benefits of immune mediators in PCM combined immunotherapy.
FUCA2 Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Correlated With an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Pan-Cancer
Authors: Zhong Anyuan , Chen Ting , Xing Yufei , Pan Xue , Shi Minhua 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundThe expression of Fucosidase, alpha-L-2 (FUCA2) varies across tumors. However, its role in various tumor types and relationship with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is poorly defined.MethodsWe analyzed profiles of FUCA2 expression using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Next, gene alteration, clinical characteristics and prognostic values of FUCA2 were elucidated based on TCGA pan-cancer data. This was followed by gene set enrichment analysis by R software. Relationships between FUCA2 expression and immune infiltration and immune-related genes were also evaluated. Moreover, the association of immune cell infiltration with FUCA2 expression was evaluated across three different sources of immune cell infiltration data, namely the TIMER online, ImmuCellAI databases, as well as a published study. In addition, MTT assays was also conducted to validate the oncogene role of FUCA2 in lung cancer cells.ResultsFUCA2 was upregulated in most tumors, and this was significantly associated with poor survival rates. Gene set enrichment analysis uncovered that FUCA2 correlated with immune pathways in different tumor types. FUCA2 expression was positively related to tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), especially M2-like TAMs. Moreover, FUCA2 level showed a positive relationship with most immunosuppression genes, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), and interleukin-10 (IL10) in most cancer types. FUCA2 knockdown inhibited the cell viability in lung cancer cells.ConclusionsOur study reveals that FUCA2 is a potential oncogene and is indicative biomarker of a worse prognosis in pan-cancer. High FUCA2 expression may contribute to increased infiltration of TAMs and associates with an immunosuppressive microenvironment, providing a potential target for tumor therapy.
Severe Patients With ARDS With COVID-19 Treated With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in China: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Lai Wei , Li Shuanglei , Du Zhongtao , Ma Xinhua , Lu Junyu , Gao Wei Dong , Abbott Geoffrey W. , Hu Zhaoyang , Kang Yan 
Published: October 2021

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global health crisis affecting over 200 countries worldwide. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly used in the management of COVID-19-associated end-stage respiratory failure. However, the exact effect of ECMO in the management of these patients, especially with regards to complications and mortality, is unclear.Methods: This is the largest retrospective study of ECMO treated COVID-19 patients in China. A total of 50 ECMO-treated COVID-19 patients were recruited. We describe the main characteristics, the clinical features, ventilator parameters, ECMO-related variables and management details, and complications and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that required ECMO support.Results: For those patients with ECMO support, 21 patients survived and 29 died (mortality rate: 58.0%). Among those who survived, PaO2 (66.3 mmHg [59.5–74.0 mmHg] and PaO2/FiO2 (68.0 mmHg [61.0–76.0 mmHg]) were higher in the survivors than those of non-survivors (PaO2: 56.8 mmHg (49.0–65.0 mmHg), PaO2/FiO2 (58.2 mmHg (49.0–68.0 mmHg), all P &lt; 0.01) prior to ECMO. Patients who achieved negative fluid balance in the early resuscitation phase (within 3 days) had a higher survival rate than those who did not (P = 0.0003).Conclusions: In this study of 50 cases of ECMO-treated COVID-19 patients, a low PO2/FIO2 ratio before ECMO commencement may indicate a poor prognosis. Negative fluid balance in the early resuscitation phase during ECMO treatment was a predictor of increased survival post-ECMO treatment.
Is qSOFA Suitable for Early Diagnosis of Sepsis Among Bacteremia Patients in Emergency Departments? Time for a Reappraisal of Sepsis-3 Criteria
Authors: Lee Ching-Chi , Ho Ching-Yu , Chen Po-Lin , Hsieh Chih-Chia , Wang William Yu Chung , Lin Chih-Hao , Ko Wen-Chien 
Published: October 2021

Background: For early recognition of patients with sepsis, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) was proposed by Sepsis-3 criteria as initial sepsis identification outside of intensive care units. However, the new definition has subsequently led to controversy and prompted much discussion for delayed treatment efforts. We aimed to validate Sepsis-3 criteria on bacteremia patients by investigating prognostic impacts of inappropriate administration of empirical antimicrobial therapy (EAT) and delayed source control (SC) compared to Sepsis-2 criteria.Methods: In the multicenter cohort of adults with community-onset bacteremia in emergency departments (EDs), adverse effects of delayed treatment efforts on 30-day mortality were examined in septic and non-septic patients by fulfilling the Sepsis-2 or Sepsis-3 criteria using the Cox regression model after adjusting independent determinants of mortality.Results: Of the 3,898 total adults, septic patients accounted for 92.8% (3,619 patients) by Sepsis-2 criteria (i.e., SIRS criteria). Using Sepsis-3 criteria, 1,827 (46.9%) patients were diagnosed with early sepsis (i.e., initial qSOFA scores ≥ 2) in EDs and 2,622 (67.3%) with sepsis during hospitalization (i.e., increased SOFA scores of ≥ 2 from ED arrival). The prognostic impacts of inappropriate EAT or delayed SC (for complicated bacteremia) were both significant in septic patients with fulfilling the Sepsis-2 or Sepsis-3 (i.e., SOFA) criteria, respectively. Meanwhile, these delayed treatment efforts trivially impact prognoses of non-septic patients recognized by the Sepsis-2 or Sepsis-3 (i.e., SOFA) definitions. Notably, prognostic effects of inappropriate EAT or delayed SC were disclosed for septic patients in EDs, specifically those with qSOFA scores of ≥ 2, and prognostic impacts of delayed treatment efforts remained significant for patients initially recognized early as being non-septic (i.e., initial qSOFA scores of &lt;2).Conclusions: For patients with community-onset bacteremia, inappropriate EAT and delayed SC might result in unfavorable outcomes of patients early identified as being non-septic on ED arrival based on the qSOFA scores (by Sepsis-3 criteria). Accordingly, a more prudent diagnosis of sepsis adopted among bacteremia patients in the ED is necessary.
Head-to-Head Comparison of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and Multiparametric MRI for Pelvic Lymph Node Staging Prior to Radical Prostatectomy in Patients With Intermediate to High-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Xueju , Wen Qiang , Zhang Haishan , Ji Bin 
Published: October 2021

PurposeTo compare the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and mpMRI for pelvic lymph node staging prior to radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer (PCa) patients based on per patient data.MethodsPubMed and Embase databases were searched until October 2020 for eligible studies evaluating head-to-head comparison of 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT and mpMRI for the detection of pelvic lymph node metastases (PLNMs) using pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) as gold standard. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC) were determined for the two imaging modalities.ResultsNine studies with 640 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC for 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT vs. mpMRI were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.48–0.86) vs. 0.40 (95% CI: 0.16–0.71), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88–0.95) vs. 0.92 (95% CI: 0.80–0.97), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88–0.95) vs. 0.82 (95% CI: 0.79–0.86), respectively. There was substantial heterogeneity for both imaging modalities, and meta-regression analysis revealed that the number of patients, prevalence of PLNMs, PSA level, reference standard, and risk classification might be the potential causes of heterogeneity.ConclusionThis meta-analysis of head-to-head comparison studies confirms that there is a trend toward a higher sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT compared to mpMRI for the detection of PLNMs in PCa patients. Nevertheless, according to current guidelines, PLND still needs to be recommended in case of negative results from 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT due to significant risk of malignancy.
Surgery After Conversion Therapy With PD-1 Inhibitors Plus Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Are Effective and Safe for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Study of Ten Patients
Authors: Zhang Wenwen , Hu Bingyang , Han Jun , Wang Zhanbo , Ma Guangyu , Ye Huiyi , Yuan Jing , Cao Junning , Zhang Ze , Shi Jihang , Chen Mingyi , Wang Xun , Xu Yinzhe , Cheng Yanshuang , Tian Lantian , Wang Hongguang , Lu Shichun 
Published: October 2021

Background and AimsImmunotherapy with PD-1 inhibitors combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been proven to be effective against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to identify the feasibility and safety of subsequent salvage surgery after this combination therapy.Methods and PatientsA retrospective analysis was performed on patients with primary HCC with major vascular invasion between 2018 and 2019. All cases were treated with a combination of a PD-1 inhibitor and TKI agents and subsequent surgery.ResultsA total of 10 HCC cases with major vascular invasion met the successful conversion criteria after the combination therapy, and eight patients underwent subsequent salvage surgery after both radiology and 3D quantitative oncological assessment. Partial response (PR) was recorded in 7 of 10 patients and complete response (CR) in 3 of 10 patients before salvage surgery. Salvage surgery included right hepatectomy, left hepatectomy, and anatomic segmental hepatectomy. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 1,650 ml (50–3,000 ml). No complications beyond Clavien–Dindo level III or postoperative mortality were observed. The viable tumor cell rate of the PR cases (modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, mRECIST) varied from 1.5% to 100%, and only one patient had pathology-proven pathological complete response (pCR). The postoperative median follow-up time was 19.7 months (9.1–24.9 months). The 12-month recurrence-free survival rate of all cases who underwent salvage surgery was 75%.ConclusionSalvage surgery was effective and safe after conversion therapy with PD-1 inhibitors plus TKIs and may increase the long-term oncological benefit for patients with unresectable HCC.
Antibiotic Treatment of Pulmonary Infections: An Umbrella Review and Evidence Map
Authors: Wu Man , Yang Xue , Tian Jinhui , Fan Hong , Zhang Yonggang 
Published: October 2021

Background: Considering the global burden of pulmonary infections, there is an urgent need for optimal empirical antimicrobial therapy strategies for pulmonary infections, which should rely on reliable evidence. Therefore, we aim to investigate the optimal treatment options for pulmonary infections in adults and assess the strength of that evidence.Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and China Biology Medicine disc to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on antimicrobial treatments for pulmonary infections. The outcomes of the included meta-analyses should include all-cause mortality or clinical treatment success. For each meta-analysis, we estimated relative risk (RR) with 95% CI. We also created an evidence map to show the efficacy of each antimicrobial treatment strategy and the certainty of the evidence.Results: Twenty-six meta-analyses and two new RCTs were included that contained 31 types of antimicrobial therapy strategies. We found that carbapenems were related to lower mortality than other β-lactams or fluoroquinolones alone or in combination with aminoglycosides for HAP patients (RR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–0.99). There was no statistical difference in all-cause mortality between the other antimicrobial therapy strategies. As for clinical cure, treatment with fluoroquinolones was associated with better success versus macrolides or β-lactams alone for CAP patients in both the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (RR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02–1.47) and clinically evaluable (CE) population (RR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.11–1.68). Treatment with carbapenems showed a better clinical cure over non-carbapenems for VAP patients (RR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.4). Adjunctive inhaled antibiotics compared with intravenous antibiotics alone showed a benefit for VAP (RR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.05–1.35). In addition, adjunctive nebulized aminoglycoside for nosocomial pneumonia was associated with a higher cure rate versus intravenous antibiotics alone in the ITT population (RR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.57), while no statistical difference in clinical cure was observed between other intervention groups.Conclusions: We cannot evaluate which antibiotic is the best choice for the treatment of pulmonary infection. Carbapenems or adjunctive inhaled antibiotics showed a reasonable choice for HAP or VAP. However, we do not find a statistical difference between most antimicrobial therapy strategies for CAP patients.