bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using peer code review to improve computational thinking in a blended learning environment: A randomized control trial
Authors: Lin Xuefen , Ma Yanghui , Ma Weifeng , Liu Yang , Tang Wei 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAlthough the importance of computational thinking (CT) has been widely recognized, we still poorly understand how to effectively teach this skill. The aim of this study is to investigate whether peer code review (PCR) could affect CT, learning engagement, and learning satisfaction in a blended learning environment. To achieve this, we carried out a randomized control trial study involving 84 first‐year undergraduates (second semester) from different majors. There was no difference in CT before this experiment and after the experiment, general CT, specific CT, learning engagement, and satisfaction were measured. An independent sample t test showed that students learning with code peer review showed better performance on computational concepts, computational perspectives, learning engagement, and learning satisfaction (p < .001). Bayesian t test further showed substantial or strong evidence for the improvement of computational concepts, learning engagement, learning satisfaction, and computational perspectives. Moreover, the absolute values of Cohen's effect sizes of computational concept, computational perspectives, emotional engagement, behavior engagement, learning engagement, learning satisfaction were all above 0.4, which is viewed as educationally meaningful. Although there was no difference in the general CT, we still saw evidence of improvement over the course of the experiment. Overall, our findings suggest instructors to use PCR reasonably to further improve CT, learning engagement, and satisfaction in programming courses.
Establishment of a prognostic model of four genes in gastric cancer based on multiple data sets
Authors: Zhou Liqiang , Li Shi H. , Wu You , Xin Lin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGastric cancer (GC) is a kind of malignancy with a high mortality and recurrence. An effective prediction model based on ideal biomarkers to assess prognosis could benefit patients for optimization of treatment. Bioinformatics has played an increasingly important role in the study of cancer diseases. Therefore, this study started with bioinformatics to establish a reliable prognostic model of gastric cancer. The gene expression data and clinical data of GC tissues and normal tissues were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Genotype‐Tissue Expression (GTEx), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) profile database. We finally identified a four gene signature and constructed a prognostic model. The results of internal and external validation showed that the model is highly reliable. In addition, we also constructed a nomogram based on the model, which was verified by a calibration curve to show its predicted accuracy. Comprehensive analysis indicated that the four genes in the model are related to the occurrence and development of tumors, perhaps they are potential targets for tumor treatment. Generally, this prognostic model can bring potential benefits to patients with gastric cancer.
Fzd7/Wnt7b signaling contributes to stemness and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Zhang Zhongbo , Xu Yuanhong , Zhao Chenghai 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMining databases and data obtained from assays on human specimens had shown that Fzd7 is closely associated with Wnt7b, that Fzd7/Wnt7b expression is upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with normal tissues, and its expression is negatively correlated with survival. Fzd7/Wnt7b knockdown in Capan‐2 and Panc‐1 cells reduced the proliferative capacity of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs), reduced drug resistance, decreased the percentage of CD24+CD44+ subset of cells and the levels of ABCG2, inhibited cell‐sphere formation, and reduced gemcitabine (GEM) resistance. In contrast, Fzd7/Wnt7b overexpression increased the percentage of the CD24+CD44+ subset of cells, and increased the levels of ABCG2 detected in cell spheroids. The gem‐resistant cells exhibited higher levels of Fzd7/Wnt7b expression, an increased percentage of CD24+CD44+ cells, and higher levels of ABCG2 compared with the parental cells. Taken together, Fzd7/Wnt7b knockdown can reduce PDAC cell stemness and chemoresistance by reducing the percentage of CSCs. Mechanistically, Fzd7 binds with Wnt7b and modulates the levels of β‐catenin, and they may exert their role via modulation of the canonical Wnt pathway.
Risk factors of cervical cancer after a negative cytological diagnosis in Polish cervical cancer screening programme
Authors: Macios Anna , Didkowska Joanna , Wojciechowska Urszula , Komerska Katarzyna , Glińska Patrycja , Kamiński Michał F. , Nowakowski Andrzej 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRisk factors of cervical cancer (CC) development are well investigated, however, those influencing the risk of a potential false negative cytology preceding diagnosis of an invasive CC are not. We have aimed to explore these factors according to the data from Organised Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (OCCSP) in Poland. A total of 2.36 million of Pap tests sampled in 2010–2012 within OCCSP were merged with the Polish National Cancer Registry to identify CC cases after abnormal cytology and after normal cytology within 3 years of screening. Of 1460 invasive CCs, 1025 were preceded by abnormal and 399 by normal cytology result. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that the presence of microorganisms in the Pap (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.65–2.87), evaluation by smaller (below 9000 slides processed per year) laboratories (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.22–2.09) and non‐squamous histology of cancer increased the odds for a potential false negative result (OR = 3.39, 95% CI 2.37–4.85 for adenocarcinoma, OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.11–3.55 for other types of carcinoma), whereas cervical ectropion, other macroscopic changes on the cervix and smoking decrease the odds for a potential false negative Pap test result preceding CC (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.45–0.82, OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.25–0.67, OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.46–0.78, respectively). Proper triage of women with microscopic signs of microorganisms in the Pap smear should be reconsidered and cytology should be assessed in laboratories processing over 9000 slides annually to decrease the odds for negative Pap test result in 2 years before CC diagnosis. Information on macroscopic changes on the cervix provided to cytomorphologist may reduce the risk of a potential false negative cytology result.
The low expression of NUP62CL indicates good prognosis and high level of immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ren Shiqi , Wang Wei , Zhang Chenlin , Sun Yidan , Sun Mengjing , Wang Yingjing , Zhang Xiaojing , Lu Bing , Yao Lanlan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA primary factor in tumor morbidity and mortality, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is known to be a major subtype of lung cancer, having the lowest survival rate among all other cancers. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database the relationship between the immune infiltrate and the NUP62CL was explored and the value of the NUP62CL expression in the prognosis and diagnosis LUAD was examined. Using the logistic regression and the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test the relationship between the NUP62CL and the clinico‐pathological features was analyzed. There was a significant correlation between the clinical stage (p = 0.005), the N (p = 0.004), and the decreased expression of NUP62CL. The prognosis of LUAD with high NUP62CL expression was revealed to be worse than that with low NUP62CL expression (p < 0.001) by the Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis. The potentiality of NUP62CL to be a significant factor of prognosis for LUAD was indicated by the analyses of the multivariate and the univariate Cox regression models. In LUAD, the crucial role of recombination and maintenance of telomere as a significant pathway for NUP62CL was suggested by the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). To analyze the correlation between the genes and the tumor infiltrating immune cells the CIBERSORT was used. Moreover the positive correlation with the NUP62CL expression in LUAD of the infiltration level of the tumor infiltrating B lymphocytes and memory CD4+ T cells was exhibited by CIBERSORT. Therefore, NUP62CL may be a new valuable prognostic indicator for LUAD.
The addition of chemotherapy to adjuvant radiation is associated with inferior survival outcomes in intermediate‐risk HPV‐negative HNSCC
Authors: Tasoulas Jason , Lenze Nicholas R. , Farquhar Douglas , P. Schrank Travis , Shen Colette , Shazib M. Ali , Singer Bart , Patel Shetal , Grilley Olson Juneko E. , Hayes David N. , Gulley Margaret L. , Chera Bhishamjit S. , Hackman Trevor , Olshan Andrew F. , Weiss Jared , Sheth Siddharth 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundOnly high‐risk tumors with extranodal extension (ENE) and/or positive surgical margins (PSM) benefit from adjuvant therapy (AT) with concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) compared to radiation therapy (RT) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Optimal treatment for intermediate‐risk tumors remains controversial. We categorized patients based on their surgical pathologic risk factors and described AT treatment patterns and associated survival outcomes.MethodsPatients were identified from CHANCE, a population‐based study, and risk was classified based on surgical pathology review. High‐risk patients (n = 204) required ENE and/or PSM. Intermediate‐risk (n = 186) patients had pathological T3/T4 disease, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), or positive lymph nodes without ENE. Low‐risk patients (n = 226) had none of these features.ResultsWe identified 616 HPV‐negative HNSCC patients who received primary surgical resection with neck dissection. High‐risk patients receiving AT had favorable OS (HR 0.50, p = 0.013) which was significantly improved with the addition of chemotherapy compared to RT alone (HR 0.47, p = 0.021). When stratified by node status, the survival benefit of AT in high‐risk patients persisted only among those who were node‐positive (HR: 0.17, p < 0.0005). On the contrary, intermediate‐risk patients did not benefit from AT (HR: 1.26, p = 0.380) and the addition of chemotherapy was associated with significantly worse OS compared to RT (HR: 1.76, p = 0.046).ConclusionIn high‐risk patients, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy improved OS compared to RT alone. The greatest benefit was in node‐positive cases. In intermediate‐risk patients, the addition of chemotherapy to RT increased mortality risk and therefore should only be used cautiously in these patients.
A novel five‐gene signature predicts overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhigang , Pan Leyu , Guo Deliang , Luo Xiaofeng , Tang Jie , Yang Weihua , Zhang Yuxian , Luo Anni , Gu Yang , Pan Yuxuan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common public health challenges, worldwide. Because of molecular complexity and tumor heterogeneity, there are no effective predictive models for prognosis of HCC. This underlines the unmet need for accurate prognostic models for HCC. Analysis of GSE14520 data from gene omnibus (GEO) database identified multiple differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) between HCC and normal tissues. After randomly stratifying the patients into the training and testing groups, we performed univariate, lasso, and multivariable Cox regression analyses to delineate the prognostic gene signature in training set. We then used Kaplan–Meier plot, time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), multivariable Cox regression analysis of clinical information, nomogram, and decision curve analysis (DCA) to evaluate the predictive and overall survival value of a novel five‐gene signature (CNIH4, SOX4, SPP1, SORBS2, and CCL19) within and across sets, separately and combined. We also validated the prognostic value of the five‐gene signature using The Cancer Genome Atlas—Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA‐LIHC), GSE54236 and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) sets. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the five‐gene signature and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival of HCC patients in GSE14520 and TCGA‐LIHC. Combining TNM stage clinical pathological parameters and nomogram greatly improved the prognosis prediction of HCC. Further gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed enrichment of KEGG pathways related to cell cycle in the high‐risk group and histidine metabolism in the low‐risk group. Finally, all these five mRNAs are overexpressed between 12 pairs of HCC and adjacent normal tissues by quantitative real‐time PCR validation. In brief, a five‐gene prognostic signature and a nomogram were identified and constructed, respectively, and further validated for their HCC prognostic value. The five‐gene risk score together with TNM stage models could aid in rationalizing customized therapies in HCC patients.
Associations between hepatitis B virus exposure and the risk of extrahepatic digestive system cancers: A hospital‐based, case–control study (SIGES)
Authors: Wang Hui , Chen Xin‐Zu , Chen Xiao‐Long , Zhang Wei‐Han , Liu Kai , Wang You‐Juan , Tang Huai‐Rong , Hu Jian‐Kun ,   the SIGES research group
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectivesThis case–control study was aimed to investigate associations between HBV infection and extrahepatic digestive system cancers.MethodsThe patients of gastric, small intestinal, colonic, rectal, anal, biliary tract, and pancreatic cancers were retrospectively collected between 2016.5 and 2017.12. Simultaneously, the healthy controls were collected from the health check‐up registry, and cancer‐free status was confirmed based on medical records. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce bias. Multinomial logit model and conditional logistic regression model were used to assess the risk of individual cancer according to HBV serological markers and classifications.ResultsTotally, 4748 patients involving seven cancers, and 57,499 controls were included. After matching, HBsAg was associated with increased risk of gastric cancer (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.05–1.85), and anti‐HBs served as a protective factor for gastric (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61–0.85), colonic (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.89), rectal (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63–0.85), and pancreatic (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42–0.82) cancers. Compared to subgroups with non‐infection and vaccination status, inactive HBsAg carriers and active HBV infection subgroup were correlated with gastric carcinogenesis (aOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.03–1.93). However, no clear association was found between HBV infection and other cancers.ConclusionsHBV infection was potentially associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. The development mechanism of HBV‐associated gastric cancer needs to investigate further.
Chemical process fault diagnosis based on a combined deep learning method
Authors: Bao Yu , Wang Bo , Guo Pandeng , Wang Jingtao 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe study on fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) of chemical processes has always been the top priority of the chemical process safety. In this paper, a fault diagnosis method combining the deep convolutional with the recurrent neural network (DCRNN) is proposed. In this method, the data from chemical processes are input to the deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to extract features in spatial domains, and then, the features are fused into the bidirectional recurrent neural network (BRNN). Due to the powerful capabilities of DCNN to extract features in spatial domains and the sensitivity to time series of RNN, the combined method can adaptively learn the dynamic information of the raw data in both spatial and temporal domains and has unique advantages in multivariate chemical processes. The application of the DCRNN model in the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process demonstrates the high accuracy of this proposal in identifying abnormal conditions for the chemical process, compared with the traditional fault identification algorithms of deep learning.
The influence of sulphate on the treatment of azo dye‐containing wastewater in an anaerobic‐microaerobic compartmentalized fixed‐bed bioreactor
Authors: Carvalho Marcelo G. P. , Marcelino Denise M. S. , Menezes Osmar , Foresti Eugenio , Damianovic Marcia H. Z. , Kato Mario T. , Florêncio Lourdinha , Gavazza Savia 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA fixed bed reactor (FBR) comprised of an anaerobic zone (AZ) coupled to a micro‐aerated zone (MAZ) was used for the biological treatment of synthetic textile wastewater. The azo dye in the textile effluent is expected to be reduced to aromatic amines (decolouration) in AZ followed by biological degradation of the aromatic amines due to oxygen exposure in MAZ. We focused on assessing the effect of sulphate, a common component of textile wastewaters, on the degradation of the tetra‐azo dye Direct Black 22 (DB22). The influence of sulphide, a product of sulphate biological reduction, on the removal of aromatic amines, toxic by‐products of DB22 degradation, was also analyzed. The AZ and the MAZ were filled with expanded clay balls and polyurethane foam, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand and sulphate ratio (COD/SO4−2) in the feed started at 4.8 ± 0.2 and was later changed to 0.8 ± 0.1 by increasing the sulphate content. This change consequently increased DB22 removal efficiency from 38 ± 11% to 72 ± 6% in AZ and from 56 ± 7% to 75 ± 7% at MAZ, but also resulted in high sulphide concentration and reduced redox potential (ORP) at the MAZ inlet. However, the change negatively affected the degradation of aromatic amines in the MAZ. Aromatic amines were removed only at redox potential values higher than −228 mV and biogenic sulphide concentrations lower than 44 mg HS−/L.
Perspective on the controlled polymer‐modification of chitosan and cellulose nanocrystals: Towards the design of functional materials
Authors: Garcia‐Valdez Omar , Champagne Pascale , Cunningham Michael F. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe development of reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) opened a vast number of possibilities for the synthesis of exotic macromolecular architectures with tailored properties for diverse applications. Given the advantages that RDRP provides, it is possible to obtain such architectures with good control over molecular weight distribution, morphology, composition, and functionality. A field of great interest for many research groups is the modification of natural polymers (or polysaccharides) with synthetic polymers via polymer grafting using RDRP approaches, such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP), and reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) since the properties of the resulting materials can be tailored. Two polysaccharides that stand out due to their properties and potential applications after polymer modification are chitosan and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). Chitosan is a derivative of chitin, desirable for its biocompatibility, degradability, low toxicity, and ability to act as a chelating agent with potential applications in the biomedical and pharmacy fields or wastewater treatment. CNC are well known for their outstanding mechanical properties, such as high specific strength and modulus and high surface area. For both chitosan and CNC, however, their hydrophilic nature makes them incompatible with non‐polar systems, limiting their potential applications. This feature article highlights the most recent development and our personal perspective of polymer grafting techniques on CNC and chitosan via RDRP for the design of different architectures, the design of responsive materials from such polysaccharides, potential water treatment applications, and our opinion of the future of this attractive research field.
The need for Pan‐European automatic pollen and fungal spore monitoring: A stakeholder workshop position paper
Authors: Tummon Fiona , Arboledas Lucas Alados , Bonini Maira , Guinot Benjamin , Hicke Martin , Jacob Christophe , Kendrovski Vladimir , McCairns William , Petermann Eric , Peuch Vincent‐Henri , Pfaar Oliver , Sicard Michaël , Sikoparija Branko , Clot Bernard 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundInformation about airborne pollen concentrations is required by a range of end users, particularly from the health sector who use both observations and forecasts to diagnose and treat allergic patients. Manual methods are the standard for such measurements but, despite the range of pollen taxa that can be identified, these techniques suffer from a range of drawbacks. This includes being available at low temporal resolution (usually daily averages) and with a delay (usually 3–9 days from the measurement). Recent technological developments have made possible automatic pollen measurements, which are available at high temporal resolution and in real time, although currently only scattered in a few locations across Europe.Materials & MethodsTo promote the development of an extensive network across Europe and to ensure that this network will respond to end user needs, a stakeholder workshop was organised under the auspices of the EUMETNET AutoPollen Programme. Participants discussed requirements for the groups they represented, ranging from the need for information at various spatial scales, at high temporal resolution, and for targeted services to be developed.ResultsThe provision of real‐time information is likely to lead to a notable decrease in the direct and indirect health costs associated with allergy in Europe, currently estimated between €50–150 billion/year.1Discussion & ConclusionA European measurement network to meet end user requirements would thus more than pay for itself in terms of potential annual savings and provide significant impetus to research across a range of disciplines from climate science and public health to agriculture and environmental management.
Compound‐Specific Imaging of Methanol Fuel Cell for Performance and Degradation Studies Using a Mini Positron Emission Tomograph
Authors: Sarkadi‐Priboczki Eva , Varga Mate , Valastyan Ivan , Brezovcsik Karoly , Fenyvesi Andras , Molnar Jozsef 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDirect methanol fuel cell is a promising electrical energy source. Performance improvements, such as higher energy density and improved electrocatalyst are hot topics in fuel cell research. The goal of this study is the introduction of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) as molecular imaging technique in the visualization of the methanol fuel cell process. The compound specific imaging method, using a small PET camera and radiolabeled 11C methanol, can visualize the electrocatalytic processes, the coverage degree and the distribution of the methanol and its derivatives on the total electrocatalyst surface. The undesirable methanol crossover effect was also detected by imaging the additional layers of the cell. The fuel cell layers were studied in different conditions, such as well‐functioning and temporarily or permanently degraded, during short‐ and long‐term operations. The experimental results confirmed the PET imaging method is applicable in the methanol fuel cell development.