bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preoperative diagnosis of BRCA1/2 mutation impacts decision-making for risk-reducing mastectomy in breast cancer patients
Authors: Woo Jinsun , Gwak Geumhee , Park Inseok , Bae Byung Noe , Lee Se Kyung , Chae Byung Joo , Yu Jonghan , Lee Jeong Eon , Kim Seok Won , Nam Seok Jin , Ryu Jai Min 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDecision to undergo risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) needs to consider several factors, including patient’s preference, surgeon’s preference, family history, and genetic predisposition. The aim of this study was to examine whether preoperative diagnosis ofBRCA1/2mutation status could influence surgical decision-making in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. We retrospectively reviewed ipsilateral breast cancer patients withBRCA1/2mutation who underwent primary surgery between January 2008 and November 2019 at a single institution in Korea. Of 344 eligible patients, 140 (40.7%) patients were aware of their mutation status ‘prior to surgery’, while 204 (59.3%) did not. Contralateral RRM rate was significantly higher in the group withBRCA1/2mutation status identified ‘prior to surgery’ compared to the group with mutation status identified ‘after surgery’ [45.0% (63/140) vs. 2.0% (4/204)] (p < 0.001). Reduced turnaround time ofBRCA1/2testing (p < 0.001) and the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.001) were associated withBRCA1/2mutation status identified prior to surgery. Although not statistically significant, higher incidence of developing contralateral breast cancer forBRCA1/2mutation carriers who underwent ipsilateral surgery-only compared to those who underwent contralateral RRM was observed [12.1% (95% CI: 7.7–17.7%)] (p = 0.1618). Preoperative diagnosis ofBRCA1/2mutation could impact surgical decision-making for breast cancer patients to undergo risk-reducing surgery at the time of initial surgery.
Biaxial 360-degree scanning LIDAR using a liquid crystal control
Authors: Nishiwaki Seiji 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSophisticated non-mechanical technology for LIDARs is needed to realize safe autonomous cars. We have confirmed the operating principle of a non-mechanical LIDAR by combining concentric circular-grating couplers (CGCs) with a coaxially aligned rod lens. Laser light incident vertically on the center of the inner CGC along the center axis of the lens is radiated from the outer CGC and passes through the side surface of the lens. It is converted to a parallel beam that scans in two axes by applying voltages to two area-segmented electrode layers sandwiching the CGCs and a liquid crystal layer formed on the CGCs. We have demonstrated scanning whose motion ranges were 360 degrees horizontally and 10° vertically. A beam with a spread angle of 0.3° × 0.8° at a minimum swept vertically up to a frequency of 100 Hz and ten equally spaced beams scanned rotationally with a 6-degree cycle variation of spread of between 0.8° and 3.5°.
Structural basis for the structural dynamics of human mitochondrial chaperonin mHsp60
Authors: Wang Joseph Che-Yen , Chen Lingling 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHuman mitochondrial chaperonin mHsp60 is essential for mitochondrial function by assisting folding of mitochondrial proteins. Unlike the double-ring bacterial GroEL, mHsp60 exists as a heptameric ring that is unstable and dissociates to subunits. The structural dynamics has been implicated for a unique mechanism of mHsp60. We purified active heptameric mHsp60, and determined a cryo-EM structure of mHsp60 heptamer at 3.4 Å. Of the three domains, the equatorial domains contribute most to the inter-subunit interactions, which include a four-stranded β sheet. Our structural comparison with GroEL shows that mHsp60 contains several unique sequences that directly decrease the sidechain interactions around the β sheet and indirectly shorten β strands by disengaging the backbones of the flanking residues from hydrogen bonding in the β strand conformation. The decreased inter-subunit interactions result in a small inter-subunit interface in mHsp60 compared to GroEL, providing a structural basis for the dynamics of mHsp60 subunit association. Importantly, the unique sequences are conserved among higher eukaryotic mitochondrial chaperonins, suggesting the importance of structural dynamics for eukaryotic chaperonins. Our structural comparison with the single-ring mHsp60-mHsp10 shows that upon mHsp10 binding the shortened inter-subunit β sheet is restored and the overall inter-subunit interface of mHsp60 increases drastically. Our structural basis for the mHsp10 induced stabilization of mHsp60 subunit interaction is consistent with the literature that mHsp10 stabilizes mHsp60 quaternary structure. Together, our studies provide structural bases for structural dynamics of the mHsp60 heptamer and for the stabilizing effect of mHsp10 on mHsp60 subunit association.
The impact of different thresholds on optical coherence tomography angiography images binarization and quantitative metrics
Authors: Arrigo Alessandro , Aragona Emanuela , Saladino Andrea , Amato Alessia , Bandello Francesco , Battaglia Parodi Maurizio 
Published: July 2021

AbstractOptical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) provides several data regarding the status of retinal capillaries. This information can be further enlarged by employing quantitative metrics, such as vessel density (VD). A mandatory preliminary step of OCTA quantification is image binarization, a procedure used to highlight retinal capillaries on empty background. Although several binarization thresholds exist, no consensus is reached about the thresholding technique to be used. In this study, we tested thirteen binarization thresholds on a dataset made by thirty volunteers. The aim was to assess the impact of binarization techniques on: (I) detection of retinal capillaries, assessed by the calculation of overlapping percentages between binarized and original images; (II) quantitative OCTA metrics, including VD, vessel tortuosity (VT) and vessel dispersion (Vdisp); (III) foveal avascular zone (FAZ) detection. Our findings showed Huang, Li, Mean and Percentile as highly reliable binarization thresholds (p < 0.05), whereas the worst binarization thresholds were Intermodes, MaxEntropy, RenylEntropy and Yen (p < 0.05). All the thresholds variably underestimated VD metric and FAZ detection, with respect to the original OCTA images, whereas VT and Vdisp turned out to be more stable. The usage of a Fixed threshold resulted extremely useful to reduce VD and FAZ underestimations, although bound to operators’ experience.
Indexing cerebrovascular health using near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Afkhami Rashid , Walker Frederick R. , Ramadan Saadallah , Wong Rachel , Johnson Sarah J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractNear-infrared spectroscopy (NiRS) is a relatively new technology of brain imaging with its potential in the assessment of cerebrovascular health only recently discovered. Encouraging early results suggest that NiRS can be used as an inexpensive and portable cerebrovascular health tracking device using a recently proposed pulse relaxation function (PReFx). In this paper, we propose a new NiRS timing index, $$\text {TI}_{\rm NiRS}$$

TI
NiRS

, of cerebrovascular health. $$\text {TI}_{\rm NiRS}$$

TI
NiRS

is a novel use of the NiRS technology. $$\text {TI}_{\rm NiRS}$$

TI
NiRS

is motivated by the previously proved relationship of the timing of the reflected wave with vascular resistance and compliance in the context of pressure waveforms. We correlated both $$\text {TI}_{\rm NiRS}$$

TI
NiRS

and PReFx against age, a non-exercise cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) index, and two existing indices of cerebrovascular health, namely transcranial Doppler (TCD) augmentation index, $$\text {AI}_{\rm TCD}$$

AI
TCD

, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) blood flow pulsatility index, $$\text {PI}_{\rm MRI}$$

PI
MRI

. The $$\text {TI}_{\rm NiRS}$$

TI
NiRS

correlations with Age, CRF, $$\text {PI}_{\rm MRI}$$

PI
MRI

and $$\text {AI}_{\rm TCD}$$

AI
TCD

all are significant, i.e., $$r=0.53$$

r
=
0.53

($$p=0.002$$

p
=
0.002

), $$r=-0.44$$

r
=
-
0.44

($$p=0.011$$

p
=
0.011

), $$r=0.45$$

r
=
0.45

($$p=0.012$$

p
=
0.012

) and $$r=0.46$$

r
=
0.46

($$p=0.010$$

p
=
0.010

), respectively. PReFx, however, did not have significant correlations with any of the vascular health factors. The proposed timing index is a reliable indicator of cerebrovascular aging factors in the NiRS waveform.
APOE E4 is associated with hyperlipidemia and obesity in elderly schizophrenic patients
Authors: Li Wei , Liu Fengju , Liu Rui , Zhou Xinmei , Li Guanjun , Xiao Shifu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObesity is a critical issue in patients with schizophrenia, which is considered to be brought about by both environmental and genetic factors. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphisms might be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, however, the effect of APOE gene polymorphism on obesity has never been investigated in Chinese aging with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of obesity on cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in elderly participants with schizophrenia. At the same time, we also discussed the inner link between APOE E4 and obesity. 301 elderly participants with schizophrenia and 156 normal controls were included in the study. Their cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and APOE gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of obesity in elderly schizophrenic patients and healthy controls accounted for 15.9% (48/301) and 10.3% (16/156), respectively, with no statistically significant difference. By using stepwise linear regression analysis, we found that elevated fasting blood glucose, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were risk factors for obesity in elderly schizophrenic patients. Although there was no direct correlation between APOE E4 and obesity in patients with schizophrenia, it was significantly correlated with hyperlipemia(r = − 0.154, p = 0.008), suggesting that APOE E4 may induce obesity in elderly patients with schizophrenia through hyperlipemia, However, the above conclusions do not apply to the normal elderly. What’s more, we did not find a link between obesity and cognitive function or mental symptoms for both patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. APOE E4 is associated with hyperlipidemia in elderly schizophrenic patients, which may be a risk factor for obesity, however, the above conclusion does not apply to the normal elderly.
Nomogram and a predictive model for postoperative hemorrhage in preoperative patients of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodectomy
Authors: Li Dongrui , Du Chengxu , Zhang Jiansheng , Xing Zhongqiang , Liu Jianhua 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTo develop a predictive model and a nomogram for predicting postoperative hemorrhage in preoperative patients undergoing laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). A total of 409 LPD patients that underwent LPD by the same surgical team between January 2014 and December 2020 were included as the training cohort. The preoperative data of patients were statistically compared and analyzed for exploring factors correlated with postoperative hemorrhage. The predictive model was developed by multivariate logistic regression and stepwise (stepAIC) selection. A nomogram based on the predictive model was developed. The discriminatory ability of the predictive model was validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and leave-one-out method. The statistical analysis was performed using R 3.5.1 (www.r-project.org). The predictive model including the risk-associated factors of postoperative hemorrhage was as follows: 2.695843 − 0.63056 × (Jaundice = 1) − 1.08368 × (DM = 1) − 2.10445 × (Hepatitis = 1) + 1.152354 × (Pancreatic tumor = 1) + 1.071354 × (Bile duct tumor = 1) − 0.01185 × CA125 − 0.04929 × TT − 0.08826 × APTT + 26.03383 × INR − 1.9442 × PT + 1.979563 × WBC − 2.26868 × NEU − 2.0789 × LYM − 0.02038 × CREA + 0.00459 × AST. A practical nomogram based on the model was obtained. The internal validation of ROC curve was statistically significant (AUC = 0.7758). The validation by leave-one-out method showed that the accuracy of the model and the F measure was 0.887 and 0.939, respectively. The predictive model and nomogram based on the preoperative data of patients undergoing LPD can be useful for predicting the risk degree of postoperative hemorrhage.
Combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation with motor control exercise can improve lumbar multifidus activation in individuals with recurrent low back pain
Authors: Songjaroen Sranya , Sungnak Panakorn , Piriyaprasarth Pagamas , Wang Hsing-Kuo , Laskin James J. , Wattananon Peemongkon 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMotor control exercise (MCE) is commonly prescribed for patients with low back pain. Although MCE can improve clinical outcomes, lumbar multifidus muscle (LM) activation remains unchanged. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be used to re-activate motor units prior to MCE which should result in increased LM activation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the immediate effects of NMES combined with MCE on LM activation and motor performance. Twenty-five participants without low back pain (NoLBP) and 35 participants with movement control impairment (MCI) were recruited. Participants with MCI were further randomized to combined NMES with MCE (COMB) or sham-NMES with MCE (MCE) group. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure LM thickness at rest, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and NMES with MVIC. These data were used to calculate LM activation. Quadruped rocking backward was used to represent motor performance. LM activation and motor performance were measured at baseline and after one-session of intervention. Results showed that both COMB and MCE groups had significantly lower (P < 0.05) LM activation compared with NoLBP group at baseline. Additionally, both COMB and MCE groups demonstrated significant improvement (P < 0.05) in motor performance while COMB group demonstrated significantly greater improvement (P < 0.05) in LM activation compared with MCE group. Individuals with MCI still have persisting LM activation deficit. Our key findings suggest that combined NMES and MCE may have better ability to improve LM activation in individuals with MCI. These findings would support the utility of NMES to induce a priming effect before MCE.
Genomic context of NTRK1/2/3 fusion-positive tumours from a large real-world population
Authors: Westphalen C. B. , Krebs M. G. , Le Tourneau C. , Sokol E. S. , Maund S. L. , Wilson T. R. , Jin D. X. , Newberg J. Y. , Fabrizio D. , Veronese L. , Thomas M. , de Braud F. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractNeurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are rare oncogenic drivers in solid tumours. This study aimed to interrogate a large real-world database of comprehensive genomic profiling data to describe the genomic landscape and prevalence of NTRK gene fusions. NTRK fusion-positive tumours were identified from the FoundationCORE® database of >295,000 cancer patients. We investigated the prevalence and concomitant genomic landscape of NTRK fusions, predicted patient ancestry and compared the FoundationCORE cohort with entrectinib clinical trial cohorts (ALKA-372-001 [EudraCT 2012-000148-88]; STARTRK-1 [NCT02097810]; STARTRK-2 [NCT02568267]). Overall NTRK fusion-positive tumour prevalence was 0.30% among 45 cancers with 88 unique fusion partner pairs, of which 66% were previously unreported. Across all cases, prevalence was 0.28% and 1.34% in patients aged ≥18 and <18 years, respectively; prevalence was highest in patients <5 years (2.28%). The highest prevalence of NTRK fusions was observed in salivary gland tumours (2.62%). Presence of NTRK gene fusions did not correlate with other clinically actionable biomarkers; there was no co-occurrence with known oncogenic drivers in breast, or colorectal cancer (CRC). However, in CRC, NTRK fusion-positivity was associated with spontaneous microsatellite instability (MSI); in this MSI CRC subset, mutual exclusivity with BRAF mutations was observed. NTRK fusion-positive tumour types had similar frequencies in FoundationCORE and entrectinib clinical trials. NTRK gene fusion prevalence varied greatly by age, cancer type and histology. Interrogating large datasets drives better understanding of the characteristics of very rare molecular subgroups of cancer and allows identification of genomic patterns and previously unreported fusion partners not evident in smaller datasets.
Travelling colourful patterns in self-organized cellulose-based liquid crystalline structures
Authors: Silva Pedro E. S. , Chagas Ricardo , Fernandes Susete N. , Pieranski Pawel , Selinger Robin L. B. , Godinho Maria Helena 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCellulose-based systems are useful for many applications. However, the issue of self-organization under non-equilibrium conditions, which is ubiquitous in living matter, has scarcely been addressed in cellulose-based materials. Here, we show that quasi-2D preparations of a lyotropic cellulose-based cholesteric mesophase display travelling colourful patterns, which are generated by a chemical reaction-diffusion mechanism being simultaneous with the evaporation of solvents at the boundaries. These patterns involve spatial and temporal variation in the amplitude and sign of the helix´s pitch. We propose a simple model, based on a reaction-diffusion mechanism, which simulates the observed spatiotemporal colour behaviour.
Phosphate and fibroblast growth factor 23 in diabetes
Authors: van der Vaart Amarens , Yeung Stanley M.H. , van Dijk Peter R. , Bakker Stephan J.L. , de Borst Martin H. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDiabetes is associated with a strongly elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, which is even more pronounced in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Currently available guideline-based efforts to correct traditional risk factors are only partly able to attenuate this risk, underlining the urge to identify novel treatment targets. Emerging data point towards a role for disturbances in phosphate metabolism in diabetes. In this review, we discuss the role of phosphate and the phosphate-regulating hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in diabetes. We address deregulations of phosphate metabolism in patients with diabetes, including diabetic ketoacidosis. Moreover, we discuss potential adverse consequences of these deregulations, including the role of deregulated phosphate and glucose as drivers of vascular calcification propensity. Finally, we highlight potential treatment options to correct abnormalities in phosphate and FGF23. While further studies are needed to more precisely assess their clinical impact, deregulations in phosphate and FGF23 are promising potential target in diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.
A novel epigenetic drug conjugating flavonoid and HDAC inhibitor confer suppression of acute myeloid leukemogenesis
Authors: Zhang Juan , Gao Xuefeng , Wei Mingming , Li Yonghui , Yang Guang , Yang Cheng , Yu Li 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation has long been identified as a key driver of leukemogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, epigenetic drugs such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) targeting epigenetic alterations in AML have obtained only limited clinical efficiency without clear mechanism. Fortunately, we screened out a novel epigenetic agent named Apigenin–Vorinostat-Conjugate (AVC), which provides us a possibility to handle the heterogeneous malignancy. Its inhibition on HDACs was presented by HDACs expression, enzyme activity, and histone acetylation level. Its efficacy against AML was detected by cell viability assay and tumor progression of AML mouse model. Apoptosis is the major way causing cell death. We found that AVC efficiently suppresses leukemogenesis while sparing the normal human cells. Kasumi-1 cells are at least 20-fold higher sensitive to AVC (IC50 = 0.024 μM) than vorinostat (IC50 = 0.513 μM) and Ara-C (IC50 = 0.4366 μM). Furthermore, it can efficiently regress the tumorigenesis in AML mouse model while keeping the pivotal organs safe, demonstrating a feasibility and favorable safety profile in treatment of AML. Collectively, these preclinical data suggest a promising potential utilizing flavonoid–HDACi-conjugate as a next-generation epigenetic drug for clinical therapy against AML.
Aging Effect on Mandarin Chinese Vowel and Tone Identification in Six-Talker Babble
Authors: Liu Chang , Xu Can , Wang Yuxia , Xu Lilong , Zhang Hui , Yang Xiaohu 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to measure Mandarin Chinese vowel-plus-tone identification in quiet and noise for younger and older listeners.

Method
Two types of noise served as the masker, namely, six-talker babble and babble-modulated noise, at two signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of −4 and −8 dB. Fourteen listeners from both age groups were recruited, and three sets of data analyses were conducted: the identification of vowel plus tone, the identification of vowel, and the identification of tone.

Results
Younger listeners outperformed older listeners in all listening conditions, whereas the younger–older listener difference became greater in noise than in quiet, indicating a more detrimental effect of noise for older listeners than for younger listeners. In addition, vowel identification showed slightly better scores than tone identification in noise, suggesting that noise appeared to affect tone perception more negatively than vowel perception in Mandarin Chinese. At −4 dB SNR, there was a significantly greater amount of informational masking (IM) and a greater amount of energetic masking (EM) for older listeners than for younger listeners. At −8 dB SNR, there was a greater amount of EM for older listeners than for younger listeners but with no group difference in the amount of IM.

Conclusion
These results suggest that older listeners received a more negative impact of noise for Mandarin Chinese phonemic and tone recognition and had a larger amount of IM or EM from competing speech noise than younger listeners, depending on the SNR.
Design and analysis of a novel coupled converter with high‐voltage insulation protection in magnetic isolated way
Authors: Fu Ming , Zhang Donglai , Zhang Di , Zhang Xiantao 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a novel coupled converter with high‐voltage insulation protection in magnetic isolated way by taking the case of heater/ignitor/keeper supply for powering discharge cathode in the space ion electric propulsion (EP) thruster. The topology, working principle and igniting timing, as well as the adaptive closed‐loop control and heating‐igniting interlock control are also illustrated. For the proposed converter, the coupled topology and control strategy only adopt three straddling magnetic components to realize all functions. Meanwhile, the number of electronic components suspending over the high‐voltage side of beam supply is small enough. Additionally, the test on the coupled converter prototype shows that, the maximum efficiency is 88.6%, close to the traditional tightly coupled supply; the proposed converter could realize the function of heating/igniting/keeping for the discharge cathode under the magnetic isolated way and corresponding control strategy; and there is no “spark phenomenon” for the converter during low‐pressure discharge test. Hence, the magnetic isolated way to obtain the physical separation between high‐voltage and low‐voltage side in the converter is useful to achieve the high‐voltage insulation protection.