bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study on the Elemental Sulfur Solubility in Sour Gas Mixtures
Authors: Zhang Rui , Gu Shaohua , Huang Liang , Zeng Daqian , Li Tong , Zhang Guangdong 
Published: October 2021

The investigation of elemental sulfur solubility plays critical roles on sour gas reservoir development. In this paper, the solubility of elemental sulfur was directly measured by static method with gas samples from well M1 of a sour gas reservoir in Sichuan Basin. The results show that the solubility of elemental sulfur ranges from 0.001 g/cm3 to 0.968 g/cm3 at 40–98.9 MPa and 15–49.8 MPa. The elemental sulfur solubility increases with increasing temperature and pressure, especially when the pressure is greater than 30 MPa. Moreover, the H2S content in sour gas mixtures is also an important factor affecting elemental sulfur solubility. The elemental sulfur solubility increases with increasing H2S content of the sour gas mixtures. The experimental data in this paper display a consistent trend with the reported experimental data. Based on the experimental results, the chrastil-type model, Robert’s model and Hu’s model were investigated and compared. The results show that the chrastil-type model by fitting experimental data in this paper has less error and higher accuracy in calculating elemental sulfur solubility in M gas reservoir. The chrastil-type models proposed in the literature, meanwhile, are only based on the regression of specific gas components and experimental conditions, which lead to a large error in the calculation of elemental sulfur solubility of sour gas samples in this research. The research results provide important basic data and technical support for the development of M gas reservoir.
Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity as Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer Prognosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lu Yu , Tao Jing 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundUrinary bladder carcinoma is common in developed settings, and prognosis may be impacted by lifestyle factors such as excess body weight and diabetes mellitus. The present meta-analysis aimed to systematically collate and analyze evidence on the impact of diabetes and excess BMI on bladder cancer outcomes.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were screened for relevant studies that examined the association between bladder cancer outcomes and diabetes and/or excess body weight. The primary outcomes for this study were mortality (both all-cause and cancer-specific), risk of cancer progression, and recurrence. Strength of association was presented in the form of pooled adjusted hazard ratios (HR). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 16.0.ResultsTwenty-five articles met inclusion criteria. Nine of these examined diabetes mellitus while 16 studied body mass index. All studies were retrospective. Diabetic patients had significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality (HR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.44, n=3), cancer specific mortality (HR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.16, n=7), disease progression (HR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.06, n=8), and recurrence (HR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.48, n=8) compared to non-diabetics. No statistically significant risk change for all-cause mortality, cancer specific mortality, disease progression, and recurrence was found for overweight patients. However, obese individuals were at higher risk for disease progression (HR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.41, 2.50, n=3) and recurrence (HR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.40, n=7) compared to normal BMI patients.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that diabetes and excess body weight negatively influences bladder cancer prognosis and outcome. The increased risk of mortality due to diabetes was similar to that in the general population. Since retrospective studies are potentially susceptible to bias, future prospective studies on this subject are required.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Nano-Silica Modified Cement-Based Materials Mixed With Supplementary Cementitious Materials Based on Response Surface Method
Authors: Zhang Xiuzhi , Lin Liming , Bi Mengdi , Sun Hailong , Chen Heng , Li Qinfei , Mu Ru 
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates the effect of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) on the fresh and mechanical properties of nano-silica modified cement-based materials (NSMCBM) based on the response surface method (RSM). Fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), and silica fume (SF) were selected and the Box-Behnken design (BBD) method was used to design mix proportion. Besides, the quadratic term model was used to describe the relationship between independent variables and responses including fluidity, yield stress, plastic viscosity, thixotropy, and 3, 7, 28, and 56 d compressive strength. Based on the quadratic term model, the response surface of each response was drawn to understand the influence of SCMs. Results showed that FA had significant effect on fluidity and thixotropy while three kinds of SCMs had extremely significant effect on plastic viscosity. Response surface plot showed that NS could increase the plastic viscosity of NSMCBM to 1.445 Pa•s (M16). However, the addition of FA and GGBFS decreased the plastic viscosity to 0.9 Pa•s, which was comparable with the reference sample (M17). Such value was 37.7% lower than that of M16. Meanwhile, NS complemented the reduction of compressive strength caused by SCMs. Thus, the synergy effect of SCMs and NS could improve both fresh and mechanical properties. At last, multi-objective optimization was utilized to optimize the proportion of SCMs considering the interaction between SCMs to achieve desirable parameters.
The Value of Effective Lung Ventilation Area Ratio Based on CT Image Analysis Is a New Index to Predict the Shorter Outcome of Anti-melanoma Differentiation-Associated Protein 5 Positive Dermatomyositis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Wang Changjian , Du Jinfeng , Mei Xilong , Guo Lingchao , Li Fangzhao , Luo Hong , Li Fen 
Published: October 2021

Background: Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) positive dermatomyositis (MDA5+DM) patients have poor outcomes due to rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD). The accurate assessment of lung involvement is an urgent focus of research.Methods: A computer-aided lung interstitial image analysis technology has been developed, and a quantitative indicator named effective lung ventilation area ratio (ELVAR) that calculates the proportion of the area outside the lung interstitium in lung tissue has been established. 55 newly diagnosed MDA5+DM patients and 46 healthy individuals, matched for age and gender, were enrolled in this study. MDA5+DM patients were classified into early death group or early survival group according to their survival state within 3 months after diagnosis. Clinical characteristics, laboratory and immunological test results, lung involvement (including ELVAR value) and treatment were compared between early death group and early survival group to determine an index that can predict prognoses of patients with MDA5+DM.Results: There were significant differences between early death MDA5+DM patients and early survival MDA5+DM patients about 12 indices including age of onset, CRP, ferritin, albumin, and pulmonary involvement including severity of type I respiratory failure at diagnosis, P/F ratio, oxygen supplementation, values of ELVAR, FVC, and DLCO. The results of ROC analysis and correlation analysis showed the value of ELVAR had good diagnostic value and widely correlation with many clinical characteristics. Univariate analysis and Multivariate analysis showed four factors including age of onset, ferritin, value of ELVAR, and oxygen supplementation &gt;4 L/min significantly value for poor prognosis in MDA5+DM patients. A cutoff value of 0.835 about ELVAR had good predictive power for mortality within 3 months in 54.2% of MDA5+DM patients.Conclusion: The value of ELVAR derived from computed tomography image analysis is a new index that can predict poor outcomes in MDA5+DM patients with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease.
Clinical Characteristics of Patients and Whole Genome Sequencing-Based Surveillance of Escherichia coli Community-Onset Bloodstream Infections at a Non-tertiary Hospital in CHINA
Authors: Chen Fenghong , Lv Tao , Xiao Yupeng , Chen Aizhi , Xiao Yonghong , Chen Yunbo 
Published: October 2021

Background:Escherichia coli is the most common pathogens in patients with community-onset blood stream infections (COBSI). Knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease is crucial to improve allocation of health resources, formulate isolation strategies that prevent transmission, and guide empirical antibiotic therapy.Methods: This retrospective observational study examined patients with E. coli COBSI (EC-COBSI) at a non-tertiary hospital in China. Whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the isolates was performed. The relationships of clinical variables with antimicrobial resistance and the genetic background of the isolates were examined.Results: There were 148 isolates in patients with EC-COBSI. All isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime/avibactam, carbapenems, and tigecycline; 35.1% were positive for extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL+); and blaCTX–M–14 was the most common ESBL gene. Patients with ESBL- isolates were more likely to receive appropriate empiric treatment than those with ESBL+ isolates (61.5% vs. 91.4%, p &lt; 0.001), but these two groups had similar mortality rates. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 9.5%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates were diverse, and that the main sequence types (STs) were ST95, ST131, and ST69. Intra-abdominal infection was the primary source of disease, and isolates from these patients had lower frequencies of virulence genes.Conclusion: The mortality rate of patients with EC-COBSI was unrelated to ESBL status of the isolates. Most isolates had low resistance to most of the tested antimicrobial agents. The isolates were diverse, and multiple strains were related. Prevention and control of EC-COBSI should target prevention of patient colonization and the living environment.
EEG Alpha and Beta Band Functional Connectivity and Network Structure Mark Hub Overload in Mild Cognitive Impairment During Memory Maintenance
Authors: Fodor Zsuzsanna , Horváth András , Hidasi Zoltán , Gouw Alida A. , Stam Cornelis J. , Csukly Gábor 
Published: October 2021

Background: While decreased alpha and beta-band functional connectivity (FC) and changes in network topology have been reported in Alzheimer’s disease, it is not yet entirely known whether these differences can mark cognitive decline in the early stages of the disease. Our study aimed to analyze electroencephalography (EEG) FC and network differences in the alpha and beta frequency band during visuospatial memory maintenance between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients and healthy elderly with subjective memory complaints.Methods: Functional connectivity and network structure of 17 MCI patients and 20 control participants were studied with 128-channel EEG during a visuospatial memory task with varying memory load. FC between EEG channels was measured by amplitude envelope correlation with leakage correction (AEC-c), while network analysis was performed by applying the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) approach, which reconstructs the critical backbone of the original network.Results: Memory load (increasing number of to-be-learned items) enhanced the mean AEC-c in the control group in both frequency bands. In contrast to that, after an initial increase, the MCI group showed significantly (p &lt; 0.05) diminished FC in the alpha band in the highest memory load condition, while in the beta band this modulation was absent. Moreover, mean alpha and beta AEC-c correlated significantly with the size of medial temporal lobe structures in the entire sample. The network analysis revealed increased maximum degree, betweenness centrality, and degree divergence, and decreased diameter and eccentricity in the MCI group compared to the control group in both frequency bands independently of the memory load. This suggests a rerouted network in the MCI group with a more centralized topology and a more unequal traffic load distribution.Conclusion: Alpha- and beta-band FC measured by AEC-c correlates with cognitive load-related modulation, with subtle medial temporal lobe atrophy, and with the disruption of hippocampal fiber integrity in the earliest stages of cognitive decline. The more integrated network topology of the MCI group is in line with the “hub overload and failure” framework and might be part of a compensatory mechanism or a consequence of neural disinhibition.
Effect of Pre-exposure Use of Amantadine on COVID-19 Infection: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study in Patients With Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Kamel Walaa A. , Kamel Mohmed I. , Alhasawi Almunther , Elmasry Sameh , AlHamdan Fajer , Al-Hashel Jasem Y. 
Published: October 2021

Background: Amantadine has been proposed to inhibit E-channel conductance in reconstituted lipid bilayers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We aimed to study whether patients on amantadine have altered risks of contracting COVID-19 infection.Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, observational, retrospective cohort study using data for patients on amantadine supported by data given by the patients through an online questionnaire. We included registered amantadine users in our hospital for 6 months or more on March 1, 2020, and non-amantadine users to act as the control group. We used forced entry, multiple logistic regression models to estimate adjusted ORs for amantadine adjusting for the confounders.Findings: Between September 1, 2019, and March 1, 2020, 212 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) received greater than one equal to two prescriptions of amantadine. We selected a random sample of diagnoses which matched 424 patients of non-amantadine users (1:2) as a control group (424 patients). Between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021, 256 patients responded to our online questionnaire, 87 patients were on amantadine (group I), and 169 patients were not (control group, group II). COVID-19 disease infection proved to be 5.7 and 11.8% in group I and II patients, respectively. Increased odds of COVID-19 in multivariable-adjusted models were associated with old age and history of contact with COVID cases. Amantadine was associated with a significantly reduced risk of COVID-19 disease infection (adjusted OR 0.256, 95% CI 0.074–0.888).Interpretation: Amantadine is associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 infection after adjusting for a broad range of variables. History of contact with COVID cases and old age are risk factors for COVID-19 infection. Therefore, we recommended randomized clinical trials investigating amantadine use for the prevention of COVID-19.
Robust Glycogene-Based Prognostic Signature for Proficient Mismatch Repair Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Yixi , Li Dehua , Chen Yang , Lu Yongping , Zhou Fangbin , Li Chunhong , Zeng Zhipeng , Cai Wanxia , Lin Liewen , Li Qiang , Ye Mingjun , Dong Jingjing , Yin Lianghong , Tang Donge , Zhang Gong , Dai Yong 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundProficient mismatch repair (pMMR) colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRAC) metastasizes to a greater extent than MMR-deficient CRAC. Prognostic biomarkers are preferred in clinical practice. However, traditional biomarkers screened directly from sequencing are often not robust and thus cannot be confidently utilized.MethodsTo circumvent the drawbacks of blind screening, we established a new strategy to identify prognostic biomarkers in the conserved and specific oncogenic pathway and its regulatory RNA network. We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for messenger RNA (mRNA) and noncoding RNA in six pMMR CRAC patients and constructed a glycosylation-related RNA regulatory network. Biomarkers were selected based on the network and their correlation with the clinicopathologic information and were validated in multiple centers (n = 775).ResultsWe constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network using RNA-seq. Genes associated with glycosylation pathways were embedded within this scale-free network. Moreover, we further developed and validated a seven-glycogene prognosis signature, GlycoSig (B3GNT6, GALNT3, GALNT8, ALG8, STT3B, SRD5A3, and ALG6) that prognosticate poor-prognostic subtype for pMMR CRAC patients. This biomarker set was validated in multicenter datasets, demonstrating its robustness and wide applicability. We constructed a simple-to-use nomogram that integrated the risk score of GlycoSig and clinicopathological features of pMMR CRAC patients.ConclusionsThe seven-glycogene signature served as a novel and robust prognostic biomarker set for pMMR CRAC, highlighting the role of a dysregulated glycosylation network in poor prognosis.
Comparison of: (2S,4R)-4-[18F]Fluoroglutamine, [11C]Methionine, and 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]Fluoro-D-Glucose and Two Small-Animal PET/CT Systems Imaging Rat Gliomas
Authors: Miner Maxwell W. G. , Liljenbäck Heidi , Virta Jenni , Helin Semi , Eskola Olli , Elo Petri , Teuho Jarmo , Seppälä Kerttu , Oikonen Vesa , Yang Guangli , Kindler-Röhrborn Andrea , Minn Heikki , Li Xiang-Guo , Roivainen Anne 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe three positron emission tomography (PET) imaging compounds: (2S,4R)-4-[18F]Fluoroglutamine ([18F]FGln), L-[methyl-11C]Methionine ([11C]Met), and 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) were investigated to contrast their ability to image orthotopic BT4C gliomas in BDIX rats. Two separate small animal imaging systems were compared for their tumor detection potential. Dynamic acquisition of [18F]FGln was evaluated with multiple pharmacokinetic models for future quantitative comparison.ProceduresUp to four imaging studies were performed on each orthotopically grafted BT4C glioma-bearing BDIX rat subject (n = 16) on four consecutive days. First, a DOTAREM® contrast enhanced MRI followed by attenuation correction CT and dynamic PET imaging with each radiopharmaceutical (20 min [11C]Met, 60 min [18F]FDG, and 60 min [18F]FGln with either the Molecubes PET/CT (n = 5) or Inveon PET/CT cameras (n = 11). Ex vivo brain autoradiography was completed for each radiopharmaceutical and [18F]FGln pharmacokinetics were studied by injecting 40 MBq into healthy BDIX rats (n = 10) and collecting blood samples between 5 and 60 min. Erythrocyte uptake, plasma protein binding and plasma parent-fraction were combined to estimate the total blood bioavailability of [18F]FGln over time. The corrected PET-image blood data was then applied to multiple pharmacokinetic models.ResultsAverage BT4C tumor-to-healthy brain tissue uptake ratios (TBR) for PET images reached maxima of: [18F]FGln TBR: 1.99 ± 0.19 (n = 13), [18F]FDG TBR: 1.41 ± 0.11 (n = 6), and [11C]Met TBR: 1.08 ± 0.08, (n = 12) for the dynamic PET images. Pharmacokinetic modeling in dynamic [18F]FGln studies suggested both reversible and irreversible uptake play a similar role. Imaging with Inveon and Molecubes yielded similar end-result ratios with insignificant differences (p &gt; 0.25).ConclusionsIn orthotopic BT4C gliomas, [18F]FGln may offer improved imaging versus [11C]Met and [18F]FDG. No significant difference in normalized end-result data was found between the Inveon and Molecubes camera systems. Kinetic modelling of [18F]FGln uptake suggests that both reversible and irreversible uptake play an important role in BDIX rat pharmacokinetics.
A Novel Radiogenomics Biomarker Based on Hypoxic-Gene Subset: Accurate Survival and Prognostic Prediction of Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Gao Jiahao , Ye Fangdie , Han Fang , Wang Xiaoshuang , Jiang Haowen , Zhang Jiawen 
Published: October 2021

PurposeTo construct a novel radiogenomics biomarker based on hypoxic-gene subset for the accurate prognostic prediction of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).Materials and MethodsInitially, we screened for the desired hypoxic-gene subset by analysis using the GSEA database. Through univariate and multivariate cox regression hazard ratio analysis, survival-related hypoxia genes were identified, and a genomics signature was constructed in the TCGA database. Building on this, a hypoxia-gene related radiogenomics biomarker (prediction of hypoxia-genes signature by contrast-enhanced CT radiomics) was constructed in the TCIA-KIRC database by extracting features in the venous phase of contrast-enhanced CT images, selecting features using the mRMR and LASSO algorithms, and building logistic regression models. Finally, we validated the prognostic capability of the new biomarker for patients with ccRCC in an independent validation cohort at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.ResultsThe hypoxia-related genomics signature consisting of five genes (IFT57, PABPN1, RNF10, RNF19B and UBE2T) was shown to be significantly associated with survival for patients with ccRCC in the TCGA database, delineated by grouping of the signature expression as either low- or high-risk. In the TCIA database, we constructed a radiogenomics biomarker consisting of 13 radiomics features that were optimal predictors of hypoxia-gene signature expression levels (low- or high-risk) in patients at each institution, that demonstrated AUC values of 0.91 and 0.91 in the training and validation groups, respectively. In the independent validation cohort at Huashan Hospital, our radiogenomics biomarker was significantly associated with prognosis in patients with ccRCC (p=0.0059).ConclusionsThe novel prognostic radiogenomics biomarker that was constructed achieved excellent correlation with prognosis in both the cohort of TCGA/TCIA-KIRC database and the independent validation cohort of Huashan hospital patients with ccRCC. It is anticipated that this work may assist in clinical preferential treatment decisions and promote the process of precision theranostics in the future.
Accelerated Stack-of-Spirals Free-Breathing Three-Dimensional Ultrashort Echo Time Lung Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Feasibility Study in Patients With Breast Cancer
Authors: Cha Min Jae , Ahn Hye Shin , Choi Hyewon , Park Hyun Jeong , Benkert Thomas , Pfeuffer Josef , Paek Mun Young 
Published: October 2021

PurposeTo investigate the clinical feasibility of accelerated free-breathing stack-of-spirals (spiral) three-dimensional (3D) ultrashort echo time (UTE) lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using iterative self‐consistent parallel imaging reconstruction from arbitrary k‐space (SPIRiT) algorithm in patients with breast cancer.MethodsThe institutional review board approved this prospective study and patients’ informed consents were obtained. Between June and August 2018, 29 female patients with breast cancer underwent 3-T MRI including accelerated free-breathing spiral 3D UTE (0.98-mm isotropic spatial resolution; echo time, 0.05 msec) of the lungs and thin-section chest computed tomography (CT). Two radiologists evaluated the image quality and pulmonary nodules on MRI were assessed and compared, CT as a reference.ResultsThe pulmonary vessels and bronchi were visible consistently up to the sub-sub-segmental and sub-segmental branch levels, respectively, on accelerated spiral 3D UTE. The overall image quality was evaluated as good and excellent for 70.7% of accelerated spiral 3D UTE images (reviewer [R]1, 72.4% [21/29]; R2, 69.0% [20/29]) and acceptable for 20.7% (both R1 and R2, 20.7% [6/29]). Five patients on CT revealed 141 pulmonary metastatic nodules (5.3 ± 2.6 mm); the overall nodule detection rate of accelerated spiral 3D UTE was sensitivity of 90.8% (128/141), accuracy of 87.7%, and positive predictive value of 96.2%. In the Bland-Altman plot analysis comparing nodule size between CT and MRI, 132/141 nodules (93.6%) were inside the limits of agreement.ConclusionAccelerated free-breathing spiral 3D UTE using the SPIRiT algorithm could be a potential alternative to CT for oncology patients.